I'm gonna share something
that is so special to me.
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You know, I grew up
with our role models
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and I'm sure that
there're plenty of people here
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that grew up
with their role models
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that were really too
spectacular to follow,
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very spectacular.
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And so when I read the
Bible, I look for role models.
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And I'm going to share with you
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this morning about a role model
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that I found recently
in my personal devotions.
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A couple of weeks ago I
was reading a scripture.
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I was going through Psalm 34--
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and the title of
this morning's message is,
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"It Is Well." It Is Well.
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Doesn't always
feel well, does it?
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But we're gonna find out,
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how it can be well all the time.
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How many of you
would like that, today?
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I was reading through Psalms 34
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and it says, in verse 17,
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well its verse 15, it says,
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"The eyes of the Lord
are upon the righteous
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and his ears are
open to their cry."
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Aren't you thankful
for that today? Yeah.
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It says in verse 17, it says,
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"The righteous
cry and the Lord hears
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and delivers
them out of how many
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of their troubles." All.
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All of their troubles.
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And then next verse
is even more stunning,
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it says in verse 19, it says,
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"Many are the
afflictions of the righteous,
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but the Lord delivers them."
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Out of how may of
them? "All of them."
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It doesn't always
feel that way, does it?
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Sometimes it's not just
what scripture we're looking at,
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sometimes it's just a
position of these scriptures,
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or where they're
placed in relation
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to each other is
really interesting,
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because as I
looked at those scriptures
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and was trying to
take in the magnitude
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of what it was saying.
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My eye fell to the very
next scripture in verse 20
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and it says of Jesus.
It's a prophecy it says,
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"He keepeth all His bones;
not one of them is broken."
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Not one of them is broken.
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That's an amazing
prophecy we all know here today
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that is a prophecy about, what?
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Jesus Christ and His death.
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He was what? He was murdered.
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He was murdered on the cross
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by unjust men
at an unfair trial.
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So how do those scriptures
in Psalms apply to Him?
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How do they apply to you and me,
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when we don't feel
like we're delivered?
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Well, as I
pondered and meditated
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upon those scriptures
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the Lord led me
to Hebrews Chapter 5.
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And in Hebrews Chapter 5,
it talks about the struggle
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that Jesus had before He died.
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And it says, in
verse 7, it says,
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"Who in the days of His flesh,
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when He had offered up prayers
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and supplications
with strong crying
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and tears unto him
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that was able to
save him from death."
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Did Jesus cry to
be saved from death?
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Did He cry out to the
father to be saved from death?
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He did and it says,
in that and He was heard.
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It said, "He
prayed with strong crying
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and tears unto to Him
that was able to save Him
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from death and was
heard in that He feared."
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Jesus was heard by the Father,
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but He was murdered.
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But He was murdered.
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How do we reconcile this?
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Jesus was heard
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and He was not
delivered from death.
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But friends,
brothers and sisters,
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He had victory over it.
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He had victory over it.
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You may have cancer
and you may cry to God
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with strong prayers
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and cry in tears to be delivered
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and you may not be delivered,
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but you can have
victory over it, amen. Yeah.
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You may have a
thorn in your flesh
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that just won't to go away
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and you can pray to
be delivered from it.
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And it may not leave you
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but you can
have victory over it.
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Friends, that's what it means.
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That's what those
scriptures mean today.
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That's what they mean to me.
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We can have
victory over anything
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that devil throws our way,
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when we're under God's
protective umbrella, amen.
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We can have
victory over something
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that even kills us because
it cannot separate us from God.
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Who shall separate
us from the love of God?
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So persecution, or
famine, or the sword,
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or trials, or tribulations,
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no, in all these things
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we're more than conquerors. Why?
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Because that's
circumstance cannot destroy you
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and separate you from God.
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You can have victory over
anything brothers and sisters.
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And today, we're
gonna take a look
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at a wonderful story
that has meant a lot to me
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and I thought
about it very much.
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And I want to share it with you.
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I'd like you if
you have your Bibles
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to turn to Second Kings,
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Second Kings, Chapter 4.
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It's a story that
we all know very well.
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But I'd like to unpack it today.
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And see what we can
learn about the kind of faith,
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the kind of
holding on that we need.
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Because when you go
home from this place
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circumstances are
gonna hit you, right?
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Your environment
is gonna hit you.
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Those old
temptations are gonna hit you.
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Your genetics
are still with you.
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And the Lord says,
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you can have
victory over those things.
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By His grace you
can learn to hold on,
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but it's by faith,
not in our own strength,
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not in our own
works but in our God.
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This is a story
we're starting in verse 8.
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Oh, you're supposed to guess.
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Chapter 4, sorry.
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Second Kings 4, Chapter 4.
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And it's a story of
the Shunammite woman.
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The story of the
Shunammite woman.
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And we're gonna
start at verse 8.
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It says, "It fell on a day
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that Elisha passed to Shunem
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where there, was a what?
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There was a great
woman, a great woman.
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She constrained Him
to come and eat bread.
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And so it was that is
all of as He passed by
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He turned wither to eat bread.
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Here was a great
woman she was busy.
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Is there anybody
here that isn't busy?
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Is there any one
who is isn't busy.
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If you're not
busy please call me
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I've a job for you.
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We're all so busy.
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This woman was not only
busy, she was accomplished.
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She found her niche.
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She knew who she
was and she was in it.
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And yet she took time
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to notice need.
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She took time to
notice the needs of others.
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My husband gives me
the greatest advice,
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I just appreciate him so much.
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And he told me one time
when we first got married,
00:09:01.08\00:09:03.68
he said Vicki, people
are not interested in you.
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They're not interested in me.
00:09:07.82\00:09:10.11
And if you want to make friends
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ask somebody about themselves
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and they'll tell you
all about themselves.
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And when they
leave your presence,
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they'll say that Vicki Griffin,
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she is just the greatest.
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And they don't
know a thing about you.
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People love and
need to be noticed.
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We're so
isolated. We're so cut-off.
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She took time to notice
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the needs of
another human being.
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And in verse 9, it says,
"She said to her husband,
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behold now, I perceive
that this is a holy man of God
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which passes by us
continually her perception."
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She was sensitive
to the man of God.
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When Jesus passes
by, do we notice Him?
00:10:03.49\00:10:09.16
There're so
many times every day.
00:10:09.17\00:10:11.55
When we're making
decisions and we're so confused
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and we're so perplexed
and we needed an answer
00:10:14.68\00:10:16.73
and Jesus is passing by.
00:10:16.74\00:10:19.49
But are we noticing?
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Are we looking for Him?
00:10:21.50\00:10:25.55
She said, I perceive
that this is a man of God.
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Do we perceive
the presence of Christ
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when we hear the counsel
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and advice of
others in the writings
00:10:33.32\00:10:36.01
and the leadings
of the Holy Spirit?
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Are we looking for His
providences in our lives?
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He's passing by
everyday, isn't He?
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And then she said,
lets make a chamber.
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Let's make a
little chamber for Him.
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I pray thee on the wall
let us set for Him a bed
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and a table and a
stool and a candlestick.
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It shall be when He comes
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we'll have a
place ready for Him.
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Do we need today
brothers and sisters
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more than anything
else a sense of anticipation
00:11:09.50\00:11:13.64
and waiting upon
God and are looking for
00:11:13.65\00:11:16.17
and hastening the
appearing of our God.
00:11:16.18\00:11:19.25
You know, Dane preaches a
sermon that I really love.
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It's called up
close and personal.
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Up close and personal.
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And so many times we
ask each other questions.
00:11:26.27\00:11:32.28
You know, when we are
interviewing young people
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for positions at camp
meeting or something like this.
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You know, we'll say do you--
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Jim Micheff has
talked about this,
00:11:37.95\00:11:39.29
he is Youth Director.
00:11:39.30\00:11:41.54
He'll talk to these young people
00:11:41.55\00:11:42.68
and he'll say do you love Jesus.
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Oh, oh yes. Oh,
yes I love Jesus.
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And they talk a
little while longer
00:11:48.93\00:11:52.07
and He'll ask them
another question, He will say.
00:11:52.08\00:11:54.42
Would you like to serve Jesus?
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Oh, yes, I wanna
serve Jesus. Oh yes.
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I want to serve Jesus.
00:12:01.31\00:12:03.56
And they talk a
little while longer.
00:12:03.57\00:12:06.30
And then He'll ask them.
00:12:06.31\00:12:08.66
What's your
devotional life like?
00:12:08.67\00:12:11.79
And the heads go down.
00:12:11.80\00:12:14.37
It's not there or
it's almost not there.
00:12:14.38\00:12:19.99
But the Lord has promised
that we spent time with Him,
00:12:20.00\00:12:23.16
when we make a chamber for Him
00:12:23.17\00:12:24.65
and when we invite Him
and spent time with Him,
00:12:24.66\00:12:27.43
He says, I'll
guide you continually.
00:12:27.44\00:12:32.17
He says, you'll
hear a voice behind you
00:12:32.18\00:12:35.05
saying this is the
way whether you turn
00:12:35.06\00:12:38.02
to the right
hand or to the left.
00:12:38.03\00:12:39.86
Walk yee in it.
00:12:39.87\00:12:42.83
And I've tried
and tried and tried
00:12:42.84\00:12:45.39
to impress upon our people
00:12:45.40\00:12:46.86
that the health
message is not a list.
00:12:46.87\00:12:50.04
It's a relationship.
00:12:50.05\00:12:52.12
It's not a set of
rules and regulation.
00:12:52.13\00:12:54.24
It's a principle
implanted by the Holy Spirit,
00:12:54.25\00:12:56.65
that will help you
to do what is right
00:12:56.66\00:12:58.38
under each circumstances
that is the most appropriate
00:12:58.39\00:13:01.31
for you and the
people you're ministering to.
00:13:01.32\00:13:03.75
The Ten
Commandments are the same way.
00:13:03.76\00:13:05.66
It is a spiritual thing.
00:13:05.67\00:13:08.36
Because we can
wrongly apply right principles
00:13:08.37\00:13:12.67
and destroy with the law of God.
00:13:12.68\00:13:16.76
The letter kills but
the spirit makes alive,
00:13:16.77\00:13:20.13
it's the same
with the health message
00:13:20.14\00:13:21.42
we can destroy
with the health message.
00:13:21.43\00:13:23.59
No friends don't
go back to your church
00:13:23.60\00:13:25.06
and destroy people.
00:13:25.07\00:13:29.44
They're hurting people.
00:13:29.45\00:13:31.40
We're looking at their habits
00:13:31.41\00:13:33.31
and missing them by a mile.
00:13:33.32\00:13:35.50
The Bible says, "I'll
guide you with my eye.
00:13:40.75\00:13:44.48
Don't be like a mule."
00:13:44.49\00:13:47.12
The needs are better or brittle.
00:13:47.13\00:13:50.71
Anybody ever had the
privilege of owning a donkey.
00:13:50.72\00:13:54.66
Did you love it? No--
she's shaking her head no.
00:13:54.67\00:13:59.61
We had a bad donkey.
00:13:59.62\00:14:01.87
Oh, she was a bad donkey.
00:14:01.88\00:14:03.06
We said that donkey every thing
00:14:03.07\00:14:04.82
that you could imagine.
00:14:04.83\00:14:06.86
All she had to do is take
the kids for a lunch walk.
00:14:06.87\00:14:10.40
And that thing--
it sit on her hunches
00:14:10.41\00:14:13.27
and whining like a dog.
00:14:13.28\00:14:16.49
She was out to pasture.
00:14:16.50\00:14:18.66
The Lord says, "I
wanna guide you with my eye."
00:14:18.67\00:14:21.73
She said let us
make a little chamber
00:14:26.14\00:14:28.04
and it will be
when He comes to us.
00:14:28.05\00:14:30.98
You know, the Bible
says, blessed are those
00:14:30.99\00:14:33.05
who that are watching
and waiting for their Lord,
00:14:33.06\00:14:35.72
not only when He
comes but everyday. Amen.
00:14:35.73\00:14:39.89
Are you watching
and waiting for Him
00:14:39.90\00:14:42.06
to get you
through the lunch-line?
00:14:42.07\00:14:44.24
Are you watching
and waiting for Him
00:14:44.25\00:14:46.24
to get you through the
family entertainment time?
00:14:46.25\00:14:48.84
Through being
nice to people at work,
00:14:48.85\00:14:52.44
having worship with
your family whatever it is,
00:14:52.45\00:14:54.78
are you watching
and waiting for Him.
00:14:54.79\00:14:56.11
It just falls flat
without Jesus, doesn't it?
00:14:56.12\00:14:59.64
And when we try
and do the right things
00:14:59.65\00:15:01.39
without the presence of Jesus,
00:15:01.40\00:15:03.30
we become as sounding
brass and a tinkling cymbal.
00:15:03.31\00:15:09.24
It fell on a day
that He came thither,
00:15:09.25\00:15:11.20
and He turned into
the chamber and lay there.
00:15:11.21\00:15:13.44
And he said to
Gehazi his servant,
00:15:13.45\00:15:15.55
Call this Shunammite.
00:15:15.56\00:15:18.20
When he called her she
stood behind Him, before him.
00:15:18.21\00:15:25.79
This busy women, had
her priorities straight.
00:15:25.80\00:15:31.80
She had her priorities straight
00:15:31.81\00:15:33.55
and friends the
hardest thing for us to do
00:15:33.56\00:15:37.90
is to give our schedule to God.
00:15:37.91\00:15:41.17
I mean that's the hardest thing.
00:15:41.18\00:15:43.39
I mean no, we've got to
give him our heart, okay.
00:15:43.40\00:15:47.29
That can be hardest thing.
00:15:47.30\00:15:49.62
But all those
schedules how we hang to them.
00:15:49.63\00:15:53.33
Did you know that
God is easier on you
00:15:53.34\00:15:55.49
than you are on yourself?
00:15:55.50\00:15:57.77
Good is the enemy of best.
00:15:57.78\00:16:00.06
We cramp so much into our lives
00:16:00.07\00:16:02.01
that we run around like rabbits.
00:16:02.02\00:16:04.44
And the best and
most important thing
00:16:04.45\00:16:06.23
is just blow
right over our heads,
00:16:06.24\00:16:08.08
because we're so busy.
00:16:08.09\00:16:10.85
We've got to put God first,
00:16:10.86\00:16:14.14
our time with Him first.
00:16:14.15\00:16:18.01
His priorities first
and everything else fits.
00:16:18.02\00:16:21.79
The laundry can wait.
00:16:21.80\00:16:25.29
You can change your oil
tomorrow but do change it.
00:16:25.30\00:16:28.22
We've a friend that
just blew her engine up.
00:16:28.23\00:16:30.20
She didn't put
anything in there.
00:16:30.21\00:16:32.20
I've done that
before too. It's not good.
00:16:32.21\00:16:38.66
And He calls her and
the minute He calls her
00:16:38.67\00:16:41.30
she had already
made a chamber for him
00:16:41.31\00:16:42.73
and so her attitude was right.
00:16:42.74\00:16:44.33
And when He
called her she did, what?
00:16:44.34\00:16:46.52
She stood before him.
00:16:46.53\00:16:47.70
Sometimes when Jesus calls us
00:16:47.71\00:16:49.14
we run around
the corner, don't we.
00:16:49.15\00:16:52.11
But she had
made a place for Him.
00:16:52.12\00:16:54.66
She prepared a place for Him.
00:16:54.67\00:16:55.96
And so when He
called she was there
00:16:55.97\00:16:58.89
and she stood before Him.
00:16:58.90\00:17:02.30
And it's really interesting
a test comes to this woman.
00:17:02.31\00:17:05.29
Now, this is a prophet.
00:17:05.30\00:17:07.26
This is a man of God.
00:17:07.27\00:17:09.54
She was responsive,
she was prompt to obey.
00:17:09.55\00:17:15.34
And when we've been
convicted about something,
00:17:15.35\00:17:17.26
how prompt are we?
00:17:17.27\00:17:19.22
If you're
convicted or if I'm convicted
00:17:19.23\00:17:21.16
that I've been rude to somebody
00:17:21.17\00:17:23.67
or I've gossiped
or whatever it is.
00:17:23.68\00:17:27.23
You know, it's so easy
for us to look at externals.
00:17:27.24\00:17:30.30
Oh, I ate too late you know,
00:17:30.31\00:17:31.67
I'm gonna do this or
that whatever repent.
00:17:31.68\00:17:33.57
What about our attitudes?
00:17:33.58\00:17:35.26
What about
relations with other people?
00:17:35.27\00:17:38.14
Darling, I
didn't spend enough time
00:17:38.15\00:17:39.88
with you this week.
00:17:39.89\00:17:42.21
Husbands--you know,
those jobs are second
00:17:42.22\00:17:46.12
to that wife, right.
00:17:46.13\00:17:48.49
The wife and the family.
00:17:48.50\00:17:52.35
It's such a
wonderful cleansing thing,
00:17:52.36\00:17:53.91
but if we put it off,
it hardens our own hearts.
00:17:53.92\00:17:57.39
That's why Jesus said,
00:17:57.40\00:17:59.11
if your right eye
offends you pluck it out.
00:17:59.12\00:18:03.94
If your hand offends you
00:18:03.95\00:18:05.77
and if you're foot offends you.
00:18:05.78\00:18:06.81
What you see? What you do?
00:18:06.82\00:18:08.28
Where you go? How you act?
00:18:08.29\00:18:10.02
It hardens our own
hearts, doesn't it?
00:18:10.03\00:18:12.81
And so we need to pray
00:18:12.82\00:18:14.02
for sensitiveness to the spirit.
00:18:14.03\00:18:16.12
Now this man of God
speaks to this woman.
00:18:16.13\00:18:21.34
In verse 13 it says,
"Behold, you have been careful
00:18:21.35\00:18:27.67
for us with all this care,
what is to be done for you?
00:18:27.68\00:18:33.77
What would you like?
00:18:33.78\00:18:35.99
You have ministered to my need.
00:18:36.00\00:18:39.34
Now I wanna minister to you."
00:18:39.35\00:18:40.93
And He asks the
most unusual question.
00:18:40.94\00:18:46.65
He says, "Would you be
spoken for in front of the king?
00:18:46.66\00:18:52.60
Would you like some position?
00:18:52.61\00:18:54.56
Would you like me to talk to you
00:18:54.57\00:18:56.59
to the captain of
the host about you?
00:18:56.60\00:18:58.87
Or send the letter to the king.
00:18:58.88\00:19:01.90
Now would you expect this
to come from a man of God?
00:19:01.91\00:19:07.03
In other words this is a
test that has come for her.
00:19:07.04\00:19:09.11
He's asking her do
you want promotion.
00:19:09.12\00:19:11.71
Do you want promotion?
00:19:11.72\00:19:15.39
She says, no. No
I'm not into that.
00:19:15.40\00:19:18.53
I really just want to serve you
00:19:18.54\00:19:20.34
and so often it's so easy
without us even realizing it,
00:19:20.35\00:19:25.85
that we when we
come into God's church
00:19:25.86\00:19:29.06
would become active members.
00:19:29.07\00:19:31.54
It's so easy to expect
God to do something for us.
00:19:31.55\00:19:37.72
I've done all this for you.
00:19:37.73\00:19:39.61
Why aren't you
doing this for me?
00:19:39.62\00:19:42.42
Have you ever done that?
00:19:42.43\00:19:44.36
I've the first time
we had a big a big thing
00:19:44.37\00:19:48.09
here in Michigan
that was involving me
00:19:48.10\00:19:50.37
and cost some money.
00:19:50.38\00:19:52.65
Not nearly the people
turned out that I thought,
00:19:52.66\00:19:54.97
what I mean I was having visions
00:19:54.98\00:19:56.58
of the whole town turning out.
00:19:56.59\00:19:58.17
And we'd to turn people away
00:19:58.18\00:20:00.26
and bus loads of
people would be coming
00:20:00.27\00:20:02.65
because this
message is so wonderful
00:20:02.66\00:20:04.68
and they're going to hear.
00:20:04.69\00:20:06.97
We'd to scrunch the chairs up
00:20:06.98\00:20:08.72
so that it would feel crowded.
00:20:08.73\00:20:12.72
I wanted to die.
00:20:12.73\00:20:14.79
I was so upset with God.
00:20:14.80\00:20:17.35
I said, what
have you done to me?
00:20:17.36\00:20:20.44
I've done all this for you.
00:20:20.45\00:20:22.44
What have you done for me now?
00:20:22.45\00:20:23.76
Why didn't you bring them?
00:20:23.77\00:20:25.08
You know, it's the
truth it's right, it's this.
00:20:25.09\00:20:27.64
You know, when I'm
going down my list with God
00:20:27.65\00:20:29.44
I did it very politely.
00:20:29.45\00:20:30.64
I wanted you to
know because I fear God.
00:20:30.65\00:20:34.29
But the Lord said, I talked
to another evangelist he said,
00:20:38.68\00:20:41.27
hey I've had evangelistic
series and nobody showed up.
00:20:41.28\00:20:45.89
Zip. You just keep going.
00:20:45.90\00:20:49.86
It's God's business.
Outcomes are His business.
00:20:49.87\00:20:55.24
I tell you I've to pick my
selves up by the bootstraps.
00:20:55.25\00:21:00.24
So I had to divorce myself
from it something being in it.
00:21:00.25\00:21:04.36
For me, it's not my
program, it's God's.
00:21:04.37\00:21:09.06
So He called her, she came.
00:21:13.12\00:21:15.32
She said I'm not
looking for promotion.
00:21:15.33\00:21:20.12
And then He speaks
to His servant Gehazi
00:21:20.13\00:21:22.58
who by the ways is being tested
00:21:22.59\00:21:23.90
because in the next
Chapter with Naaman,
00:21:23.91\00:21:26.06
we begin to see the selfishness
00:21:26.07\00:21:27.60
of this man coming out.
00:21:27.61\00:21:29.91
And the Lord is
working with the Gehazi
00:21:29.92\00:21:31.76
through the prophet.
00:21:31.77\00:21:35.21
And Gehazi is
into it at this point.
00:21:35.22\00:21:37.66
He says the woman has no child.
00:21:37.67\00:21:42.26
And so He speaks to
her He calls her again.
00:21:42.27\00:21:47.90
And she stood at the door
every time the Lord called.
00:21:47.91\00:21:53.02
Every time the
prophet called she was there.
00:21:53.03\00:21:56.79
Don't you want
that in your life today?
00:21:56.80\00:21:58.98
Don't you wanna be
there, when He calls?
00:21:58.99\00:22:02.16
Do you know that we're told
00:22:02.17\00:22:03.20
that we should pray
for sensitiveness to sin?
00:22:03.21\00:22:07.22
And we pray that we
won't recognize it sometimes.
00:22:07.23\00:22:09.32
I mean sometimes we
just don't want to hear it,
00:22:09.33\00:22:10.90
we don't want to think about it.
00:22:10.91\00:22:11.91
It's just not an issue we
want to deal with our friends.
00:22:11.92\00:22:14.16
We need to allow God
to take off the layers
00:22:14.17\00:22:16.58
in the order He want
to take them off, amen.
00:22:16.59\00:22:19.62
And we mustn't take off
00:22:19.63\00:22:20.69
somebody else's layers for them.
00:22:20.70\00:22:23.30
So the prophet
comes to this woman.
00:22:27.95\00:22:32.74
"And He says about this season
00:22:32.75\00:22:35.34
according to the time of life,
00:22:35.35\00:22:36.74
though shalt embrace a son."
00:22:36.75\00:22:40.53
She said no. No my Lord.
00:22:40.54\00:22:47.31
The man of God, do
not lie unto thy handmaid.
00:22:47.32\00:22:53.54
Do not lie unto thy handmaid.
00:22:53.55\00:22:55.84
You know, the question is,
00:22:55.85\00:22:57.00
are we still living
in the land of unbelief?
00:22:57.01\00:22:59.98
Are we living in the
land of the impossible?
00:22:59.99\00:23:03.31
In Mathew 19, verse 26, it says,
00:23:03.32\00:23:05.58
"All things are possible."
00:23:05.59\00:23:07.23
Just believe and then it stated
00:23:07.24\00:23:09.16
exactly the
opposite way in Mathew 17:20,
00:23:09.17\00:23:12.02
it says,
"Nothing is impossible."
00:23:12.03\00:23:16.60
It's really interesting.
00:23:16.61\00:23:18.81
There was a boy
in graduate school
00:23:18.82\00:23:24.62
and he wrote a
paper for his thesis
00:23:24.63\00:23:29.58
about a dream that he had.
00:23:29.59\00:23:32.10
About an overnight
package delivery system
00:23:32.11\00:23:36.38
that would encompass the world.
00:23:36.39\00:23:38.53
In 24 hours you can
have a package delivered.
00:23:38.54\00:23:42.54
The professor said
00:23:42.55\00:23:43.82
that is the
most ridiculous thing
00:23:43.83\00:23:45.43
I've ever heard it in
my life he got to see.
00:23:45.44\00:23:47.99
The boy was so discouraged.
00:23:48.00\00:23:49.63
He quit school
and started FedEx.
00:23:49.64\00:23:52.26
Circumstances do not limit God.
00:23:57.61\00:24:01.46
Circumstances do not limit God.
00:24:01.47\00:24:06.27
Our limitations
don't even limit God.
00:24:06.28\00:24:12.59
There was a man in
Florida, this is a true story.
00:24:12.60\00:24:15.98
He lived beside a lake
00:24:15.99\00:24:18.20
and elderly women drove her car
00:24:18.21\00:24:20.39
off the bridge into the lake.
00:24:20.40\00:24:25.47
He saw it happened
he ran into the garage
00:24:25.48\00:24:29.87
and grabbed the hammer.
00:24:29.88\00:24:32.93
He raced, he just
raced out to the lake
00:24:32.94\00:24:36.53
jumped into the
waters swam to the car
00:24:36.54\00:24:38.90
broke the window
before it was submerged.
00:24:38.91\00:24:41.58
Hold this woman out of the car
00:24:41.59\00:24:43.72
dragged her to
shore and saved her life.
00:24:43.73\00:24:47.93
Well the interesting
thing about that story
00:24:47.94\00:24:52.18
is that he forgot two things.
00:24:52.19\00:24:54.14
Number one, he forget
00:24:54.15\00:24:55.22
that the waters were
infested with crocodiles.
00:24:55.23\00:24:59.02
And he forgot that he
didn't know how to swim.
00:24:59.03\00:25:05.48
And at this moment
this woman is living
00:25:05.49\00:25:07.17
in the land of the impossible.
00:25:07.18\00:25:08.80
She believes he is a man of God.
00:25:08.81\00:25:10.24
She perceives him she makes
a room for him in her heart.
00:25:10.25\00:25:13.58
She's responsive she's there.
00:25:13.59\00:25:15.54
But belief hasn't
latched on to omnipotence.
00:25:15.55\00:25:20.43
And friends,
that's the step we miss.
00:25:20.44\00:25:22.52
That's the step we
need to get through
00:25:22.53\00:25:24.41
the time of trouble to
grab on to his omnipotence.
00:25:24.42\00:25:28.24
The Bible says, "Nothing
will be impossible to you."
00:25:28.25\00:25:32.03
In other words
you'll get through
00:25:32.04\00:25:35.23
anything that I put you in.
00:25:35.24\00:25:38.02
And I'm gonna get
you to the place Vicki,
00:25:38.03\00:25:39.89
where there's no
such thing as the straw
00:25:39.90\00:25:41.96
that breaks the camel's back.
00:25:41.97\00:25:44.59
But that's our test.
00:25:44.60\00:25:45.91
There is one prayer
that Jesus did not pray.
00:25:45.92\00:25:48.57
He said I pray not that
you take him out of the world,
00:25:48.58\00:25:51.52
but that you
keep them from evil.
00:25:51.53\00:25:54.49
We look to the cross.
00:25:54.50\00:25:57.84
That's what happened to Jesus.
00:25:57.85\00:25:59.19
He prayed for deliverance.
00:25:59.20\00:26:00.28
He was heard and He had victory.
00:26:00.29\00:26:02.29
He was not delivered.
00:26:02.30\00:26:03.92
We're looking
for the wrong thing
00:26:03.93\00:26:05.50
and we get disappointed at God.
00:26:05.51\00:26:07.16
We get mad at God
00:26:07.17\00:26:08.23
because we don't get
delivered from the circumstance.
00:26:08.24\00:26:10.31
He wants to give
you victory over it.
00:26:10.32\00:26:16.98
Now, her dream is coming true.
00:26:16.99\00:26:20.55
She conceived, she had a babe.
00:26:20.56\00:26:26.87
In verse 20, it says,
00:26:26.88\00:26:30.16
oh in verse 19 the little
boy is working out with his dad,
00:26:30.17\00:26:34.31
"and said unto his
father my head my head."
00:26:34.32\00:26:38.82
And he said to the lad.
Carry him to his mother.
00:26:38.83\00:26:43.30
And when he had taken him
00:26:43.31\00:26:45.02
and brought him to his mother.
00:26:45.03\00:26:46.33
She sat on her knees until noon.
00:26:46.34\00:26:51.40
And then he was all better
00:26:51.41\00:26:52.55
because after all
it was a gift from God.
00:26:52.56\00:26:54.52
Right? What happened?
00:26:54.53\00:26:57.61
The babe died-- died.
00:26:57.62\00:27:02.84
Her most cherished
possession her every hope
00:27:02.85\00:27:06.59
her dream her posterity died.
00:27:06.60\00:27:13.22
But her faith
did not die with it.
00:27:13.23\00:27:19.03
She went up.
00:27:19.04\00:27:21.34
She went to the place
where she last saw the light.
00:27:21.35\00:27:24.22
She took that dead body
and she laid it on the bed.
00:27:24.23\00:27:28.10
Where she last saw the light?
00:27:28.11\00:27:30.89
And she said this is
where I last saw God.
00:27:30.90\00:27:34.07
I don't see Him now.
00:27:34.08\00:27:36.28
But I'm taking my
trouble where I know.
00:27:36.29\00:27:38.48
There is power.
00:27:38.49\00:27:40.65
She laid him on that bed.
00:27:45.11\00:27:47.24
She shut the door. And she left.
00:27:47.25\00:27:53.96
God says, in
Psalms 50, verse 15.
00:27:53.97\00:27:57.95
"Call upon me in
the day of trouble.
00:27:57.96\00:28:00.69
I will hear thee and
that shall glorify me."
00:28:00.70\00:28:04.96
In Psalm 91, verse 15 it says,
00:28:04.97\00:28:06.65
"He will call upon
me, I will answer Him.
00:28:06.66\00:28:09.85
I will deliver Him
and I will honor Him."
00:28:09.86\00:28:14.56
You're gonna glorify
me. I'm gonna honor you.
00:28:14.57\00:28:16.74
It sounds like a pact.
00:28:16.75\00:28:21.25
This woman knew where to
go when she was in trouble.
00:28:21.26\00:28:27.77
You know, why
she knew where to go
00:28:27.78\00:28:29.25
when she was in trouble.
00:28:29.26\00:28:31.13
Because she knew where to
go when she wasn't in trouble.
00:28:31.14\00:28:36.74
When we're not
seeking God daily.
00:28:36.75\00:28:38.84
When we're not seeking
His will in our lives daily
00:28:38.85\00:28:42.32
we don't have to find
Him when we're in trouble.
00:28:42.33\00:28:48.50
The Bible says in Micah 7:8,
00:28:48.51\00:28:50.79
"when I, when I
fall I shall arise."
00:28:50.80\00:28:57.43
Do you make mistakes?
00:28:57.44\00:28:59.12
Allen White, says, "do
not let this discourage you."
00:28:59.13\00:29:03.71
Go to the Lord.
00:29:03.72\00:29:09.60
And he will heal you
00:29:09.61\00:29:14.74
and he will
help you to take heed
00:29:14.75\00:29:16.31
that you be not overtaken again.
00:29:16.32\00:29:20.31
I would go to Dane I just
kick myself around the world.
00:29:20.32\00:29:25.15
When I do wrong sometimes.
00:29:25.16\00:29:27.66
Sometimes I'm too
easy on myself friends.
00:29:27.67\00:29:29.80
You note what I mean.
00:29:29.81\00:29:32.12
Sometimes I'm total too hard.
00:29:32.13\00:29:34.85
Or I get excited at the meeting
00:29:34.86\00:29:36.22
and interrupt dozen times.
00:29:36.23\00:29:40.32
And I go to Dane.
00:29:40.33\00:29:41.42
And I'll Dane why
can't I just be home knitting
00:29:41.43\00:29:44.33
that's what I was going to do.
00:29:44.34\00:29:45.41
I didn't ask for this job.
00:29:45.42\00:29:46.77
I was just gonna. You
know, I will start going on.
00:29:46.78\00:29:49.76
And he'll say, you look at me
00:29:49.77\00:29:51.08
and he'll say Vicki
do you make mistakes.
00:29:51.09\00:29:54.92
Allen White says, "Do
not let this discourage you.
00:29:54.93\00:29:57.81
Go to the Lord, go to those
00:29:57.82\00:29:59.10
that you know love the Lord
00:29:59.11\00:30:02.82
and learn how to do better.
00:30:02.83\00:30:04.53
So she left her burden
there and then she called
00:30:08.89\00:30:12.49
and said to her husband,
"Get me one of the young men,
00:30:12.50\00:30:15.37
one of the asses, that I may run
00:30:15.38\00:30:17.43
to the man of
God and come again."
00:30:17.44\00:30:20.14
And he said, "Wherefore
wilt thou go to him today."
00:30:22.73\00:30:26.69
Her husband said, why
are you going there today?
00:30:26.70\00:30:28.20
Why? Why are you leaving?
00:30:28.21\00:30:29.92
It's not a new
moon, it's not a Sabbath.
00:30:31.72\00:30:33.87
And what did she
say? What is her answer?
00:30:35.43\00:30:38.16
What is her
answer to her husband?
00:30:38.17\00:30:41.28
Bone of a bone,
flesh of a flesh.
00:30:41.29\00:30:43.92
What did she say? She
says, it is well, it is well.
00:30:43.93\00:30:48.41
He's an older man,
it wasn't his test,
00:30:51.92\00:30:56.33
it wasn't his
burden, it was hers.
00:30:56.34\00:30:58.99
She didn't burden her
husband with a trial that may be
00:31:01.96\00:31:05.06
he wouldn't be able to bare
and how often we bare burdens
00:31:05.07\00:31:10.65
that are hard for
other people to bare.
00:31:10.66\00:31:13.96
Does that mean we should
never share with anybody,
00:31:15.28\00:31:17.16
never share our
troubles, never tell anybody
00:31:17.17\00:31:21.04
that we're having struggles, no!
00:31:21.05\00:31:22.99
But friends if some one
has been rude to me at work,
00:31:24.05\00:31:29.64
do I need to go tell
the switch board operator.
00:31:29.65\00:31:33.01
Ah, oh, it's nice to do
that because you know what?
00:31:33.02\00:31:36.09
Oh, I'll get all the
sympathy I need for the day.
00:31:36.10\00:31:40.76
Not our specific
switch board operator,
00:31:40.77\00:31:42.60
now this is a
hypothetical situation.
00:31:42.61\00:31:45.25
None of us do this, right.
00:31:45.26\00:31:46.87
I'll hear just what I want
to hear, if I go to the Lord
00:31:50.43\00:31:53.00
with that, what's He gonna do.
00:31:53.01\00:31:56.30
Vicki, you've got an attitude.
00:31:56.31\00:31:59.73
I want you to be
nice to that lady
00:31:59.74\00:32:01.40
and find a way to help her,
00:32:01.41\00:32:02.79
even though she is
gossiping about you.
00:32:02.80\00:32:05.59
Oh, Lord, come on.
00:32:05.60\00:32:08.86
What about your righteous anger,
00:32:08.87\00:32:10.84
I've got a speech all ready.
00:32:10.85\00:32:12.82
That's why I am telling
you the law is spiritual
00:32:15.74\00:32:17.94
and so is the health message.
00:32:17.95\00:32:20.04
I could find a text to
do just what I wanna do
00:32:20.05\00:32:22.68
under almost any circumstance.
00:32:22.69\00:32:24.56
Friends it is
only the Holy Spirit
00:32:24.57\00:32:26.23
that can give you your list.
00:32:26.24\00:32:27.59
And so she tells her husband,
it will be well, it is well.
00:32:33.49\00:32:38.90
Abraham, when God told Abraham,
00:32:38.91\00:32:41.51
take your son up to the mountain
00:32:41.52\00:32:43.25
and slay him as
a burnt offering.
00:32:43.26\00:32:46.89
Did he go run
and tell Sarah? No.
00:32:46.90\00:32:49.10
Probably for two reasons,
probably for two reasons,
00:32:49.11\00:32:53.10
probably he felt that she
would not be able to bare it
00:32:53.11\00:32:56.19
and the other reason
was may be he was afraid
00:32:56.20\00:32:57.85
she will talk him out of it.
00:32:57.86\00:32:59.36
He knew he heard
the voice of God,
00:33:01.60\00:33:03.54
he knew he had to
act upon it and friends
00:33:03.55\00:33:05.82
if you're under conviction
about something don't go,
00:33:05.83\00:33:09.11
talk to somebody about it that
has the same problem you do.
00:33:09.12\00:33:12.33
They'll talk you out of it.
00:33:12.34\00:33:14.87
I love this part,
"She saddled that ass,
00:33:20.79\00:33:24.59
she said to her
servant, Drive, go forward,
00:33:24.60\00:33:26.75
slack not thy riding
for me, except I bid thee."
00:33:26.76\00:33:29.45
She knew where the help
was, she knew how to get there,
00:33:32.60\00:33:38.93
because she'd been there before.
00:33:40.05\00:33:42.95
She needed help in a hurry.
00:33:42.96\00:33:44.57
She was used to
standing in His presence.
00:33:44.58\00:33:47.29
Now she knew how to get
to Him when he was far away.
00:33:47.30\00:33:51.65
Sure when he's standing
right there and eating with you,
00:33:51.66\00:33:54.15
always so easy to
see Jesus and find Him,
00:33:54.16\00:33:56.27
but when He is far
away, how do you find Him?
00:33:56.28\00:33:58.82
She knew the path and she
knew how to be the path to Him
00:34:00.33\00:34:04.04
because she was
acquainted with Him.
00:34:04.05\00:34:05.77
She had practiced the
presence of Jesus Christ
00:34:05.78\00:34:08.65
in her life every
day and now she knew
00:34:08.66\00:34:11.26
how to find Him when
He seem like He was gone.
00:34:11.27\00:34:13.60
And the Bible tells us
00:34:17.21\00:34:18.85
that God sees us
while we are far off.
00:34:18.86\00:34:21.93
Look at the story, it says,
00:34:21.94\00:34:24.17
"The man of God saw her coming."
00:34:24.18\00:34:26.57
It says He saw her
coming far off and he said,
00:34:28.69\00:34:32.25
"Is that Shunammite?"
00:34:32.26\00:34:34.21
Do you think He
knew something was wrong,
00:34:34.22\00:34:36.22
to see a women wildly galloping
00:34:36.23\00:34:38.66
on an ass towards his house.
00:34:38.67\00:34:40.34
The Bible says,
"When the prodigal came
00:34:44.24\00:34:47.49
to the father,
that father saw him
00:34:47.50\00:34:50.39
when he was far
away and He calls for us
00:34:50.40\00:34:53.50
when we're so far from Him"
00:34:53.51\00:34:55.28
And yet we are so
unmerciful to others.
00:34:55.29\00:34:58.83
I wanna dwell on how far
away I am and how longing
00:34:58.84\00:35:03.71
the father is after
me and that helps me
00:35:03.72\00:35:05.62
to be merciful to
others. Amen. Amen.
00:35:05.63\00:35:08.28
Not only does He see us
far off and come to meet us
00:35:12.25\00:35:15.43
in our sin, He also understands
00:35:15.44\00:35:18.84
where we come from and
where He wants us to go.
00:35:20.24\00:35:23.23
And He sees all the way
down the stream of history
00:35:23.24\00:35:26.08
to the day you were born.
00:35:26.09\00:35:27.47
He sees you far off
and He knows the dangers
00:35:27.48\00:35:31.57
that surround you and
He wants to protect you
00:35:31.58\00:35:34.49
and that's why he is giving you
00:35:34.50\00:35:36.18
biblical principals of
living, to protect you,
00:35:36.19\00:35:40.42
because He sees you far off.
00:35:40.43\00:35:42.34
He not only sees
back far in the past,
00:35:42.35\00:35:44.66
he also sees
what's in your future.
00:35:44.67\00:35:46.40
And He's trying to prepare you
00:35:46.41\00:35:47.60
for the Goliath on the horizon.
00:35:47.61\00:35:49.39
He is personally acquainted
with your situation and mine.
00:35:52.47\00:35:55.01
His name is
jealous. His name is jealous.
00:35:55.02\00:35:58.14
I am so thankful
for that name of God.
00:35:58.15\00:35:59.93
I do not feel that
God is picky with me.
00:35:59.94\00:36:02.91
I feel like He is
jealous for me and I love it,
00:36:02.92\00:36:05.65
I am so thankful for
that, I grew up, my, you know,
00:36:05.66\00:36:08.19
it hadn't been a
run away and stuff
00:36:08.20\00:36:09.39
and my dad left
home when I was young,
00:36:09.40\00:36:11.31
then my mom had to go to work
00:36:11.32\00:36:12.61
and she was the
one that was abusive.
00:36:12.62\00:36:14.27
She beat me up all the time
00:36:14.28\00:36:16.92
and so I grew up,
sort of by myself.
00:36:16.93\00:36:19.13
She was gone
although almost all the time.
00:36:19.14\00:36:21.62
So I had to do everything.
00:36:21.63\00:36:24.32
Now, I don't need
any pity or anything,
00:36:24.33\00:36:25.86
this is just the facts.
00:36:25.87\00:36:27.71
I raised myself and I
did a bad job, pretty bad.
00:36:27.72\00:36:32.05
But then I left home
for good and came back
00:36:32.06\00:36:35.25
when I found out
that she had cancer,
00:36:35.26\00:36:36.83
she was dying of lymphoma.
00:36:36.84\00:36:37.95
No one wanted to
take care of her,
00:36:37.96\00:36:40.04
so I came back and
it was just her and I
00:36:40.05\00:36:42.99
for a long-long
time and when she died,
00:36:43.00\00:36:47.76
I was living in my
house with no furniture in it.
00:36:47.77\00:36:51.40
The house I grew
up in and with no--
00:36:51.41\00:36:53.59
sleeping on the floor
and I dragged a plant in
00:36:53.60\00:36:55.91
so that I would feel
like I was in nature at least,
00:36:55.92\00:36:58.83
you know, kind of camping out.
00:36:58.84\00:37:00.98
Well I went to
college at that time,
00:37:00.99\00:37:02.73
I signed up for
last year and I signed up
00:37:02.74\00:37:05.98
after a while,
after little bit of this.
00:37:05.99\00:37:07.56
I signed up to
live in a dormitory.
00:37:07.57\00:37:09.48
And the girls in my
room said, are you crazy,
00:37:11.02\00:37:15.51
you have all this freedom.
00:37:15.52\00:37:17.42
What on earth are you signing,
00:37:17.43\00:37:20.01
now you are on somebody's
list and they're gonna check
00:37:20.02\00:37:22.68
and make sure you're
in the room every night.
00:37:22.69\00:37:24.38
And I said, girls
you don't understand,
00:37:24.39\00:37:26.35
if I died in that house,
I am not on anybody's list.
00:37:26.36\00:37:29.76
Nobody would know, nobody
would find my rotting carcass.
00:37:29.77\00:37:34.45
At least I am on
a list somewhere.
00:37:34.46\00:37:37.49
We are on God's list. Amen.
00:37:40.47\00:37:44.56
He cares about you, He
wants to look after you,
00:37:46.13\00:37:48.26
He want to nip at
your heels, let Him do it.
00:37:48.27\00:37:50.57
He loves you, He
wants to surround you.
00:37:50.58\00:37:52.91
But we want freedom
00:37:55.03\00:37:56.26
and it's not freedom,
00:37:58.50\00:37:59.74
its bondage, its misery, its
loneliness and its isolation.
00:37:59.75\00:38:04.17
The devil wants
us to feel helpless,
00:38:04.18\00:38:05.82
hopeless and worthless.
00:38:05.83\00:38:07.08
He knows we're
most likely to kill
00:38:07.09\00:38:08.58
ourselves in that circumstance.
00:38:08.59\00:38:11.97
And many of us are
slowly doing it with our habits,
00:38:11.98\00:38:14.45
but its suicide nonetheless.
00:38:16.23\00:38:17.89
And so he saw her,
00:38:20.33\00:38:25.69
it was not a
journey in vain, was it?
00:38:27.34\00:38:30.45
And our journey to God
is never, never in vain.
00:38:30.46\00:38:34.13
He told to Gehazi,
run out and meet her,
00:38:36.07\00:38:38.22
say unto her, is
it well with you?
00:38:38.23\00:38:41.04
What a loaded question.
You talk about the obvious.
00:38:41.05\00:38:44.66
Is it well with her husband,
is it well with the child.
00:38:46.18\00:38:48.57
God wants us to be
specific, doesn't He? Thank you.
00:38:50.17\00:38:54.47
God wants us to be specific.
00:38:58.30\00:39:00.43
You know, what did
Jesus say to blind Bart?
00:39:00.44\00:39:02.34
Here, you know,
blind Bart, he's at the--
00:39:02.35\00:39:04.18
he's at the gate
and he's like this
00:39:04.19\00:39:05.44
and he has the
blindness and his eyes,
00:39:05.45\00:39:07.13
they go back and forth you know,
00:39:07.14\00:39:08.46
all that in a stigmas and
stuff and his arms are waving.
00:39:08.47\00:39:10.58
He says Jesus, oh son
of David have mercy on me.
00:39:10.59\00:39:13.67
Jesus comes up to him
and says, what would thou?
00:39:13.68\00:39:16.84
What would thou?
Was he being mean,
00:39:16.85\00:39:19.74
trying to embarrass him.
00:39:19.75\00:39:21.27
No, he says if
you're specific with me,
00:39:22.80\00:39:25.05
I am gonna give
you a specific answer.
00:39:25.06\00:39:26.52
It's gonna build your faith,
It's gonna build your faith.
00:39:26.53\00:39:29.94
So Gehazi goes out there,
she knows where she's going,
00:39:32.13\00:39:35.21
there's no
intermediary, there's no priest,
00:39:35.22\00:39:37.82
there's nobody that
can intercede for her.
00:39:37.83\00:39:40.95
Mary isn't gonna
do it, the priest
00:39:40.96\00:39:42.81
doesn't gonna do it,
nobody's gonna do it.
00:39:42.82\00:39:44.72
She knows where
to go and she's gonna
00:39:44.73\00:39:46.41
get to her man and
that's where she head.
00:39:46.42\00:39:48.12
She says it is well. I
don't have time to talk to you.
00:39:48.13\00:39:51.39
There's only one
that can intercede for me
00:39:51.40\00:39:53.18
and that's the
man of God himself.
00:39:53.19\00:39:55.57
And the Bible says,
"That Jesus ever lives
00:39:55.58\00:39:58.09
to make intercession for
us because we can come boldly
00:39:58.10\00:40:00.94
to the throne of grace
and receive help and mercy
00:40:00.95\00:40:05.26
in time of need and
grace in time of need."
00:40:05.27\00:40:07.94
So she passes him by, then
she comes to the man of God.
00:40:11.88\00:40:15.56
Gehazi start to show his colors.
00:40:15.57\00:40:17.26
He's is little offended
you know, he was an Embassary,
00:40:17.27\00:40:19.71
he had a job, the title.
00:40:19.72\00:40:20.98
But he was bypassed. How do
we act when we're passed by?
00:40:24.16\00:40:27.32
She came to the man of
God, she caught him by the feet.
00:40:31.05\00:40:34.73
Gehazi came by
to thrust her away.
00:40:34.74\00:40:39.41
But the man of God would
not let anyone interfere with
00:40:44.56\00:40:48.40
her relationship and that's
the way it is with God too.
00:40:48.41\00:40:50.85
Do you think someone is wrecking
00:40:50.86\00:40:52.17
your relationship with God?
00:40:52.18\00:40:54.44
Do you think someone is
ruining your time with God?
00:40:54.45\00:40:56.73
You know, I am
gonna be honest with you,
00:40:56.74\00:40:58.85
I have done this to my kid.
00:40:58.86\00:40:59.90
Well, I was just fine this
morning until you came down
00:40:59.91\00:41:04.65
to that table with that face.
00:41:04.66\00:41:06.20
Now I am not happy
and it's your fault.
00:41:09.30\00:41:11.81
Have you ever done that?
Don't ever do it, it's wrong.
00:41:13.20\00:41:17.29
Do you realize what
a guilt trip that is?
00:41:19.52\00:41:22.63
It's not somebody else's
fault that I chose to get
00:41:22.64\00:41:24.83
sour face because of somebody
else's behavior, no, no.
00:41:24.84\00:41:29.72
It's so wrong,
it's manipulative to do
00:41:29.73\00:41:32.38
that kind of thing and God says
00:41:32.39\00:41:33.94
we're to be
transparent as His people.
00:41:33.95\00:41:35.81
We're not to blame
other people for our bad mood.
00:41:35.82\00:41:38.01
Don't do it. Now my
husband heard me say that
00:41:38.02\00:41:43.26
and I mean it, I am
not gonna do it either.
00:41:43.27\00:41:45.43
He will come down, oh
and his family I mean,
00:41:48.11\00:41:50.50
I am saying this publicly
but his family all recognize
00:41:50.51\00:41:52.88
the man in his family,
have these poker faces,
00:41:52.89\00:41:56.30
even if though, even
at weddings you know,
00:41:58.28\00:42:00.95
and day we come down of
course I was gonna fix him.
00:42:00.96\00:42:05.23
He come down and I go,
well hi, you know, he's hi.
00:42:05.24\00:42:08.85
He's editing, he's up
there, upstairs, editing
00:42:08.86\00:42:11.30
and doing all the
stuffs he's got this face.
00:42:11.31\00:42:12.93
And he doesn't even realize,
he didn't realize of course
00:42:14.70\00:42:16.62
this is years ago, years ago.
00:42:16.63\00:42:19.66
And I go, I go into my
Italian thing you know,
00:42:22.14\00:42:25.27
"Hay what's the matter
with you, can't you smile,
00:42:25.28\00:42:27.22
what, you know what, what
you trying to do? Ruin my day."
00:42:27.23\00:42:31.08
You can't put a
smile on, you know,
00:42:31.09\00:42:32.91
oh that just really
generates a lot of warmth.
00:42:34.26\00:42:36.56
Why should I let somebody
else separate me from God?
00:42:44.04\00:42:46.47
Why should I separate them
from God by my nasty behavior,
00:42:46.48\00:42:50.38
and my lack of
sympathy and patience?
00:42:50.39\00:42:52.31
So the man of God is there,
she catches him by the feet
00:42:56.97\00:42:59.98
and she coarse
her heart out to him.
00:43:02.97\00:43:06.54
The man of God, he says to her,
00:43:06.55\00:43:09.80
"Let her alone,
her soul is vexed.
00:43:12.11\00:43:15.28
The Lord hid it from
me and has not told me.
00:43:15.29\00:43:17.73
And then she
pours out her grief.
00:43:17.74\00:43:21.89
She fell at his
feet and she tells him
00:43:21.90\00:43:24.81
all that's on her heart.
00:43:24.82\00:43:26.03
And friends we need to talk
to God about out troubles, amen.
00:43:26.04\00:43:30.11
But we need to talk
with faith and hope,
00:43:30.12\00:43:32.48
claiming the promises of God.
00:43:32.49\00:43:34.91
And she says, "Why did you
do this? I don't understand."
00:43:34.92\00:43:38.21
Well, they go back together,
00:43:40.46\00:43:42.33
they go back together
00:43:42.34\00:43:44.95
and in verse 34.
00:43:47.04\00:43:50.08
He sends Gehazi
back, it doesn't work,
00:43:52.61\00:43:54.60
so he goes back with this woman.
00:43:54.61\00:43:56.01
She rides all the
way back with Him.
00:43:56.02\00:43:58.45
And it says,
when they get there.
00:44:02.85\00:44:04.01
Now look at, if
this was you or me,
00:44:04.02\00:44:05.37
this is the odd
thing of the story.
00:44:05.38\00:44:06.99
They get to the room
where this dead body is laying,
00:44:07.00\00:44:09.72
they get up to the
upper chamber and what does
00:44:09.73\00:44:13.08
the man of God do?
What does Elisha do?
00:44:13.09\00:44:14.91
He takes the woman and Gehazi
00:44:16.33\00:44:19.75
and he puts them
outside and shuts the door.
00:44:19.76\00:44:23.99
Now if that was you
or me, wouldn't you say,
00:44:25.74\00:44:29.15
"Sister, you've
been responsive to me,
00:44:29.16\00:44:32.24
you opened your heart to
me, you made a room for me,
00:44:32.25\00:44:35.04
you beat a path to me
when you're in trouble,
00:44:35.05\00:44:38.74
you clung to me,
we rode to the trouble
00:44:38.75\00:44:41.62
together to solve it.
00:44:41.63\00:44:43.08
Now I want you to come
in and witness a miracle."
00:44:43.09\00:44:46.35
But he doesn't do
that, he puts her outside
00:44:46.36\00:44:49.92
and he shuts the door.
00:44:49.93\00:44:51.55
What a lesson that
is to you and to me.
00:44:54.40\00:44:59.65
Sometimes God works
His miracles in the dark
00:44:59.66\00:45:04.92
and he wants you to know
00:45:04.93\00:45:06.92
that you don't have
a thing to do with it.
00:45:06.93\00:45:09.24
We pray for our children,
we labor for our children
00:45:11.02\00:45:14.08
but friends it is God
that works the miracle.
00:45:14.09\00:45:17.55
Only God can raise the dead,
00:45:17.56\00:45:20.51
only He can
resurrect the dead heart
00:45:20.52\00:45:22.91
and when we try to
do that work by cajoling
00:45:22.92\00:45:26.13
and lecturing and
bending and hammering,
00:45:26.14\00:45:30.19
it never raises a
soul, it doesn't work.
00:45:33.28\00:45:37.90
Can't you understand
this? Why don't you join this?
00:45:39.20\00:45:41.78
If you would only
understand that you're just--
00:45:41.79\00:45:43.58
You know, is there a
place for exhortation? Is there?
00:45:43.59\00:45:47.63
But the
resurrection of a dead soul,
00:45:47.64\00:45:50.45
the quickening from death to
life is a personal experience
00:45:50.46\00:45:53.54
between a soul and God.
00:45:53.55\00:45:55.31
It's easy for us parents
to forget that, isn't it?
00:45:55.32\00:45:58.35
It's easy to forget that.
00:45:58.36\00:46:00.41
One day I was thinking
about my son and my daughter
00:46:00.42\00:46:04.44
and I tell you I had
such a bad time in the world
00:46:04.45\00:46:07.06
that I was just determined
that they were gonna be
00:46:07.07\00:46:08.90
Christians no
matter what, no matter
00:46:08.91\00:46:12.11
what I had to do to them.
00:46:12.12\00:46:13.81
We lived on a
mountain and I remember Dane
00:46:15.21\00:46:18.07
and I was sitting on a
couch one day talking about them
00:46:18.08\00:46:20.68
giving their hearts to
God, they were younger children
00:46:20.69\00:46:22.63
and I said, "If that boy
doesn't give his heart to God,
00:46:22.64\00:46:27.10
I believe I'll
chase him with the broom"
00:46:27.11\00:46:29.96
I won't even
know what else to do,
00:46:29.97\00:46:32.50
that's the only thing I
have left is just to chase him.
00:46:32.51\00:46:36.50
Dane said, "I don't
think that's gonna work."
00:46:36.51\00:46:38.05
It's God who works
the miracles. Amen.
00:46:43.68\00:46:46.06
In Verse 35, "He
returned, He walked
00:46:48.54\00:46:51.71
in the house to
and fro, He went up,
00:46:51.72\00:46:53.30
he stretched himself upon him."
00:46:53.31\00:46:54.87
So he's thinking, he's
thinking, he's working,
00:46:54.88\00:46:56.91
he has a plan and his plan for
00:46:56.92\00:46:58.92
every dead human
being is different.
00:46:58.93\00:47:00.95
We have directions
and instructions though
00:47:00.96\00:47:02.83
from the spirit of God.
00:47:02.84\00:47:03.90
Ellen White tells
that speak to the living,
00:47:03.91\00:47:06.90
speak to the dead as
though they are living,
00:47:06.91\00:47:08.81
speak to the dead as
though they are living,
00:47:08.82\00:47:13.15
inspire people with hope
and courage in a better way.
00:47:13.16\00:47:16.13
He stretched himself
upon and the child sneezed
00:47:19.33\00:47:21.46
and the child opened his
eyes, he became one with him.
00:47:21.47\00:47:26.63
Jesus is the elder
brother of our race.
00:47:26.64\00:47:29.42
He is touched with the
feelings of our infirmities.
00:47:29.43\00:47:32.68
He was tempted in all
points like as we are.
00:47:32.69\00:47:37.30
He was born under
the law, born of a woman,
00:47:37.31\00:47:41.68
born under the
law of sin and death.
00:47:41.69\00:47:45.00
Well he does
this and he calls her,
00:47:45.01\00:47:46.76
she stands there
again, every time he calls her
00:47:48.63\00:47:52.80
she is
responsive and she's there
00:47:52.81\00:47:54.41
whether she's gonna get
something out if it or not.
00:47:54.42\00:47:57.24
Verse 36, "He called Gehazi
and says call the Shunammite.
00:48:00.14\00:48:04.81
He called her, when
she was come unto Him,
00:48:04.82\00:48:08.21
He said, take up your son."
00:48:08.22\00:48:11.92
Verse 37, "She took
time to praise and thank God.
00:48:13.76\00:48:17.92
She went in, she
fell at His feet,
00:48:17.93\00:48:19.93
she bowed herself to the ground,
00:48:19.94\00:48:21.96
she took up her
son and she went out."
00:48:21.97\00:48:26.34
The Bible says that
God inhabits praise. Amen.
00:48:26.35\00:48:33.36
He inhabits praise.
Praise is not something
00:48:33.37\00:48:36.52
that we do out of feeling.
00:48:36.53\00:48:39.02
It is something we
do out of obedience.
00:48:39.03\00:48:41.86
We praise God
because we love him.
00:48:41.87\00:48:43.80
We do not praise Him
because things are going well.
00:48:43.81\00:48:46.40
We praise Him
because of who He is.
00:48:46.41\00:48:49.40
There is a difference
between thankfulness and praise.
00:48:49.41\00:48:51.84
I am thankful that I
have food in the refrigerator,
00:48:51.85\00:48:54.47
I am thankful for my husband,
00:48:54.48\00:48:55.45
I am thankful for all
these goodies I have in my life.
00:48:55.46\00:48:57.65
But I praise Him
because of who He is,
00:48:57.66\00:49:00.05
everyday I have
something to praise.
00:49:00.06\00:49:02.62
I may not always feel thankful.
00:49:02.63\00:49:06.41
I may not have a
material thing to thank God for,
00:49:06.42\00:49:09.69
but I can always praise God
00:49:09.70\00:49:12.54
for who He is and
what's He gonna do.
00:49:12.55\00:49:14.29
It says, it is impossible
to please God without faith.
00:49:14.30\00:49:20.57
Because He that cometh to
him must believe that he is
00:49:23.10\00:49:25.56
and that He is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek Him.
00:49:25.57\00:49:28.97
Well did they leave a word out?
00:49:28.98\00:49:30.27
What do you mean,
believe that He is, is what?
00:49:30.28\00:49:32.50
That He is who He says He is.
00:49:32.51\00:49:34.58
Everyday I can
praise God because
00:49:34.59\00:49:36.53
He is who He says He is.
00:49:36.54\00:49:39.27
That's what Bible
study does for me.
00:49:39.28\00:49:42.68
You know we use
the-- we use the Bible
00:49:42.69\00:49:45.36
like Ouija board, okay God
00:49:45.37\00:49:46.94
I've go this
totally, show me the text.
00:49:46.95\00:49:49.84
I am gonna open up,
put my finger on it,
00:49:49.85\00:49:51.77
that's the one for me.
00:49:51.78\00:49:53.05
No, that's not why
we study the Bible,
00:49:53.06\00:49:54.86
it's not the Ouija board.
00:49:54.87\00:49:56.81
We study the Bible
because it shows us who God is.
00:49:56.82\00:50:03.29
Because we're gonna
see him face to face.
00:50:05.02\00:50:07.17
We will see Him as He is.
00:50:09.11\00:50:10.54
We have to know who He is,
00:50:10.55\00:50:12.20
if we're gonna see Him as He is.
00:50:12.21\00:50:14.30
She went out, she
continued forward.
00:50:16.94\00:50:20.36
She continued on with her life.
00:50:20.37\00:50:22.56
And friends there are some
terrible things happen to us.
00:50:22.57\00:50:25.68
We had some
tragedies, some of those dead
00:50:25.69\00:50:28.24
don't get raised,
we got to go forward.
00:50:28.25\00:50:31.25
You got to go forward.
00:50:31.26\00:50:33.05
You got to leave
them with God and go on
00:50:33.06\00:50:35.36
with your ministry in
your life, amen. Amen.
00:50:35.37\00:50:38.95
I am just gonna read part of
the song very quickly because
00:50:40.62\00:50:42.59
Dr. Messene is
with us, he's gonna have
00:50:42.60\00:50:44.15
some closing remarks,
this is the words to a song
00:50:44.16\00:50:49.37
and I think we will do well
to pay attention to these words.
00:50:49.38\00:50:52.50
There lived a man and a
woman in a town called Shunem,
00:50:54.52\00:50:58.06
he made a-- and made a home
00:50:58.07\00:51:00.96
for Elisha and
found favor in his eyes.
00:51:00.97\00:51:05.12
So God sent a miracle, the
only thing they longed for.
00:51:05.13\00:51:09.73
Within the year they would hold
00:51:09.74\00:51:12.10
a son as Elisha prophesied.
00:51:12.11\00:51:16.07
One day they
went from the field,
00:51:16.08\00:51:19.12
brought the child to his mother.
00:51:19.13\00:51:20.92
She held his
head there on his knee
00:51:20.93\00:51:23.38
until he died at noon of day.
00:51:23.39\00:51:25.69
She didn't tell
anyone, she ran straight
00:51:25.70\00:51:29.70
to the man of God
and if anybody asked her,
00:51:29.71\00:51:32.59
she replied, while on her
way, it is well, it is well.
00:51:32.60\00:51:39.36
There is peace in my
despair knowing God will hear
00:51:39.37\00:51:43.39
my prayer and I will cling
to the promise that He brings.
00:51:43.40\00:51:47.33
Even death can have no
sting, no power in hell
00:51:47.34\00:51:52.35
in His presence, I
will dwell where it is well.
00:51:52.36\00:51:57.67
She had learned the lesson
00:51:57.68\00:51:59.30
that wherever
God is, it is well.
00:51:59.31\00:52:02.89
Elisha stood by the bed side
00:52:02.90\00:52:05.01
where she laid
the boy when he died.
00:52:05.02\00:52:07.76
He prayed a prayer upon him
00:52:07.77\00:52:09.14
and he breathed new life again.
00:52:09.15\00:52:11.12
Friend, God doesn't ever change,
00:52:11.13\00:52:14.49
if you'll have
that woman's faith.
00:52:14.50\00:52:16.78
He'll send you a
miracle and until then
00:52:16.79\00:52:20.55
you can say it
is well, it is well.
00:52:20.56\00:52:24.92
There is peace in my
despair knowing God has heard
00:52:24.93\00:52:28.57
my prayer and I will cling
to the promise that He brings.
00:52:28.58\00:52:32.32
Even death will have no
sting, no power in hell.
00:52:32.33\00:52:37.21
In His presence, I
will dwell where it is well.
00:52:37.22\00:52:42.25