Our Heavenly
Father, I want to thank you
00:01:01.44\00:01:02.81
for Your love and mercy to us,
00:01:02.84\00:01:05.39
Your kindness and Your goodness.
00:01:05.42\00:01:09.68
I want to thank you for
this Michigan Men of Faith.
00:01:09.71\00:01:11.45
I want to thank
you for Pastor Jim
00:01:11.48\00:01:12.93
and those who worked around
him to put it all together.
00:01:12.96\00:01:15.09
I want to thank you
for pastors who encouraged.
00:01:15.12\00:01:17.80
I want to thank you
for men who brought men.
00:01:17.83\00:01:20.40
I want to thank you for men who
came and took the risk to come.
00:01:20.43\00:01:24.20
I want to thank
you, Heavenly Father,
00:01:24.23\00:01:25.60
for the Holy Spirit
that's been poured out here
00:01:25.63\00:01:28.02
and continues to be poured out.
00:01:28.05\00:01:30.10
Lord, we know that
Jesus is coming again soon.
00:01:30.13\00:01:32.40
We know we have great
events in front of us.
00:01:32.43\00:01:35.93
We want to plead with
You that we might be all
00:01:35.96\00:01:38.21
that You called us to be,
that we might truly fulfill
00:01:38.24\00:01:42.07
that great quote,
"The greatest want
00:01:42.10\00:01:45.08
of the world is
the want of men."
00:01:45.11\00:01:48.82
Make us those kinds of men.
00:01:48.85\00:01:51.45
In the name of
Jesus' we pray. Amen.
00:01:51.48\00:01:54.36
Over a hundred years ago,
Ellen White penned these words,
00:02:17.21\00:02:23.39
"The greatest want of
the world is the want of men.
00:02:23.42\00:02:29.43
Men who will not
be bought or sold,
00:02:29.46\00:02:35.27
men who in their inmost
souls are true and honest,
00:02:35.30\00:02:41.89
men who do not fear to
call sin by its right name,
00:02:41.92\00:02:47.68
men whose
conscience is as true to duty
00:02:47.71\00:02:51.86
as the needle to the pole,
00:02:51.89\00:02:55.17
men who will
stand for the right,
00:02:55.20\00:02:58.35
though the heavens fall."
00:02:58.38\00:02:59.75
Let's bow our heads for prayer.
00:03:03.73\00:03:05.28
Loving Father, dare we
00:03:08.16\00:03:13.10
trust our hearts to thee
00:03:15.10\00:03:18.12
that we could be such men.
00:03:18.15\00:03:20.04
Oh, Lord, we know
that in and of ourselves
00:03:22.75\00:03:26.92
we can be nothing.
00:03:26.95\00:03:30.34
Only as we die to self
can we receive that life
00:03:30.37\00:03:37.68
which is so abundant,
that life which empowers us
00:03:37.71\00:03:42.31
to be the men You want us to be.
00:03:42.34\00:03:45.74
And so, Father, bless us
00:03:45.77\00:03:47.14
these last moments
of this blessed day.
00:03:47.17\00:03:50.42
In Jesus' name. Amen.
00:03:50.45\00:03:53.13
There was a
great Scottish preacher
00:03:55.86\00:03:58.83
by the name of
Alexander MacLaren.
00:03:58.86\00:04:03.18
Elder Vandeman used
to love to tell the story
00:04:03.21\00:04:07.26
of MacLaren who
is a very godly man.
00:04:07.29\00:04:13.49
And he told how
that Alexander MacLaren
00:04:13.52\00:04:16.02
was sleeping one night
00:04:16.05\00:04:18.97
and suddenly in
his sleep he cried out
00:04:19.00\00:04:21.49
and his wife reached
over and shook him awake.
00:04:21.52\00:04:25.22
And she said,
"Alex, what's wrong?"
00:04:25.25\00:04:28.90
And her husband rubbed his eyes
00:04:28.93\00:04:30.77
and he shook
himself and he said,
00:04:30.80\00:04:32.57
"Wife, I've just
had a terrible dream.
00:04:32.60\00:04:37.56
I dreamed I was in
Pilate's judgment hall
00:04:37.59\00:04:43.13
and I was standing
watching the soldiers
00:04:43.16\00:04:45.20
as they were
bringing the horrible
00:04:45.23\00:04:50.22
whip down on his back.
00:04:50.25\00:04:52.74
I saw the blood ooze from his
back and I could not stand it,
00:04:52.77\00:04:57.49
I ran forward
and I grabbed his arm
00:04:57.52\00:05:00.29
and he turned
and he looked at me.
00:05:00.32\00:05:02.85
And wife, it was I.
00:05:02.88\00:05:06.55
I was looking into my own face."
00:05:06.58\00:05:08.63
Shall I crucify my
Savior or shall I crown Him
00:05:12.20\00:05:16.20
the Lord of all is
the question that faces
00:05:16.23\00:05:19.61
every one of us this afternoon.
00:05:19.64\00:05:22.22
Is Christ the Savior
in your life, your Lord?
00:05:24.94\00:05:32.60
You see the one whom
you have come to trust
00:05:32.63\00:05:35.28
and know has a better
idea for your life than you do.
00:05:35.31\00:05:39.30
Have you come to the
place where you believe
00:05:42.65\00:05:44.70
what Paul says, when he says
00:05:44.73\00:05:46.60
"I'm crucified with Christ
and, nevertheless, I live yet,
00:05:46.63\00:05:51.03
not I but Christ
lives within me."
00:05:51.06\00:05:55.90
Are you crucified?
00:05:58.41\00:06:01.16
You see, God's
solution to our problems,
00:06:01.19\00:06:04.95
men, is very radical.
00:06:04.98\00:06:08.49
God doesn't want to
give us a refresher course.
00:06:08.52\00:06:11.10
That's not His idea.
00:06:11.13\00:06:14.17
It's not God's idea to simply
restore us with a little paint
00:06:14.20\00:06:20.08
and a little glue and
a little patch up job.
00:06:20.11\00:06:23.94
That's not His idea.
00:06:23.97\00:06:25.92
He doesn't even want
us to come here today
00:06:25.95\00:06:29.00
and to make a lot of
new resolutions necessarily.
00:06:29.03\00:06:32.33
What He would like is that
most radical of experiences
00:06:32.36\00:06:36.54
and that is for you to be
willing to die to self, to self.
00:06:36.57\00:06:44.52
I want to talk to
you a few moments about
00:06:44.55\00:06:47.87
the dreaded word "Submission."
00:06:47.90\00:06:53.57
I've often
preached on this word.
00:06:53.60\00:06:55.30
In fact, it's often been
in the context of a sermon
00:06:55.33\00:07:00.99
for wives and for women.
00:07:01.02\00:07:07.08
And I've noticed that in
days following this that men
00:07:07.11\00:07:11.40
have come to me
puzzled as to what my sermon
00:07:11.43\00:07:15.40
was about because they
would go home to whip the wife
00:07:15.43\00:07:18.55
and to shape and to take
charge and to suggest to her,
00:07:18.58\00:07:22.84
"didn't you hear
the pastor's sermon?
00:07:22.87\00:07:24.82
He suggested that
you be submitted to me."
00:07:24.85\00:07:30.03
And I began to realize
that there was something
00:07:30.06\00:07:31.99
grossly missing in my message.
00:07:32.02\00:07:35.56
And as I began to
study the word of submission,
00:07:35.59\00:07:37.65
I began to recognize
that scripture teaches
00:07:37.68\00:07:42.74
that a man is under greater
submission than his wife.
00:07:42.77\00:07:48.70
In fact, submission is
that wonderful position
00:07:48.73\00:07:53.64
that we take
when we die to self.
00:07:53.67\00:07:56.98
We position ourselves
where love flows down.
00:07:57.01\00:08:01.94
We position
ourselves under Christ
00:08:01.97\00:08:04.02
because Christ is
positioned under His father.
00:08:04.05\00:08:07.71
Paul says that a wife will
be submitted to her husband
00:08:07.74\00:08:11.62
who is submitted to Christ
who is submitted to His Father.
00:08:11.65\00:08:17.42
Interesting. Jesus
submitted. Why? Yes.
00:08:17.45\00:08:21.27
Because love
originates with the Father.
00:08:21.30\00:08:24.02
The Father who has this
love bestows it on His Son
00:08:24.05\00:08:29.79
and His Son comes to the world
00:08:29.82\00:08:31.45
and shows us what
it is like to love.
00:08:31.48\00:08:34.92
And a man
submits himself to Jesus.
00:08:34.95\00:08:38.70
And only a man who
has submitted to Jesus
00:08:38.73\00:08:41.15
is worthy to have a
wife be submitted to him
00:08:41.18\00:08:47.24
because he has
something to give her.
00:08:47.27\00:08:50.28
He has God's; love.
00:08:50.31\00:08:53.62
It's interesting how when you
go to the book of Ephesians--
00:08:53.65\00:08:56.13
I used to think that
the book of Ephesians
00:08:56.16\00:08:58.33
was the great
wedding book, you know,
00:08:58.36\00:09:01.42
because the fifth chapter
where Paul says for husbands
00:09:01.45\00:09:07.73
to love their wives and women
to be submitted and all of this.
00:09:07.76\00:09:11.95
And I began to recognize
that the book of Ephesians
00:09:11.98\00:09:14.76
can be broken down
into three very simple words
00:09:14.79\00:09:18.45
as enunciated by a
great Chinese preacher
00:09:18.48\00:09:22.37
by the name of Watchman Nee.
00:09:22.40\00:09:25.48
Watchman Nee suggested
that the book of Ephesians
00:09:25.51\00:09:28.88
says that Christians must assume
00:09:28.91\00:09:32.54
three postures,
sit, walk, stand.
00:09:32.57\00:09:40.51
And he says you must
notice that scripture prescribes
00:09:40.54\00:09:44.16
in what order this takes place,
that first we learn to sit
00:09:44.19\00:09:47.90
with Christ in
heavenly places before we walk.
00:09:47.93\00:09:53.54
Interesting concept.
00:09:53.57\00:09:54.94
We normally exercise and walk
00:09:54.97\00:09:56.77
and then get tired and then sit.
00:09:56.80\00:09:58.69
In fact, it's probably--
it's probably interpreted
00:09:58.72\00:10:02.90
into our lives by
the fact that as children
00:10:02.93\00:10:06.24
we emphasize praying at
night before we go to bed
00:10:06.27\00:10:09.33
so that we can
have a goodnight's rest,
00:10:09.36\00:10:12.25
an easy conscience.
00:10:12.28\00:10:15.60
But the book of Ephesians
says that a man begins his life
00:10:15.63\00:10:18.58
by sitting with
Christ in heavenly places.
00:10:18.61\00:10:22.52
And as a man sits with
Christ in heavenly places,
00:10:22.55\00:10:25.44
he learns to walk
with Christ on earth.
00:10:25.47\00:10:30.19
He walks with Christ
only after he has sat
00:10:30.22\00:10:32.81
with Christ in heavenly places.
00:10:32.84\00:10:34.43
He is now fit to walk.
00:10:34.46\00:10:36.63
And it is interesting
that right in the middle
00:10:36.66\00:10:38.68
of this discussion
on walking with Christ,
00:10:38.71\00:10:40.74
Paul drops this little metaphor.
00:10:40.77\00:10:43.71
He says you wanna know a
man who walks with Christ?
00:10:43.74\00:10:47.57
He loves his wife.
00:10:47.60\00:10:50.55
A man who walks with Christ
loves his wife like Christ
00:10:50.58\00:10:54.13
loved His bride, the church
00:10:54.16\00:10:56.44
and he gives
himself for his bride.
00:10:56.47\00:10:59.13
That's the way a
man loves his wife.
00:10:59.16\00:11:02.26
Submission, dying to live.
00:11:02.29\00:11:07.30
I was interested in
discovering that the word
00:11:07.33\00:11:09.56
humility is related to the word
00:11:09.59\00:11:13.71
humus or soil, dirt.
00:11:13.74\00:11:18.80
Now I'm a gardener.
00:11:21.65\00:11:24.14
And you don't dare
desecrate this word, soil.
00:11:24.17\00:11:26.55
Soil is very precious.
00:11:26.58\00:11:29.40
Soil is that
substance from which everything
00:11:29.43\00:11:31.80
we have comes from.
00:11:31.83\00:11:35.01
The chairs you're
sitting on, the metal,
00:11:35.04\00:11:36.93
the plastic, the
clothes you wear,
00:11:36.96\00:11:39.78
everything comes
out of the ground.
00:11:39.81\00:11:41.75
Humus, humble, submission,
00:11:43.46\00:11:50.63
that place where
love falls-- flows down,
00:11:50.66\00:11:54.32
that resource, that
place where we receive,
00:11:54.35\00:11:57.22
where we die,
where we spring forth
00:11:57.25\00:11:59.76
with new life to bear fruit.
00:11:59.79\00:12:03.89
Paul was deadly concerned
about the people in Corinth
00:12:03.92\00:12:07.54
because he had
planted the church there.
00:12:07.57\00:12:11.03
He had preached the
wonder of the gospel
00:12:11.06\00:12:13.36
and he had instructed
them as to how to have church
00:12:13.39\00:12:17.48
and later he came
back, 3 years later,
00:12:17.51\00:12:19.99
to visit them and he
was sorely disappointed
00:12:20.02\00:12:23.04
and something that,
probably, is the secret
00:12:23.07\00:12:28.37
of why our
lives are so impotent.
00:12:28.40\00:12:33.69
He said I want to
congratulate you on the fact
00:12:33.72\00:12:36.42
that you're a
gifted congregation.
00:12:36.45\00:12:38.92
You have the gifts.
00:12:38.95\00:12:41.15
I want to
congratulate you for continuing
00:12:41.18\00:12:43.43
to have church and so forth.
00:12:43.46\00:12:45.90
He praised them but
then he said I'm deeply
00:12:45.93\00:12:48.70
saddened by the fact
that you're still carnal.
00:12:48.73\00:12:51.47
Some of you are
still carnal, he said.
00:12:51.50\00:12:53.55
He divided them into two types.
00:12:56.26\00:12:58.06
He said there
are carnal Christians
00:12:58.09\00:12:59.55
and there are
spiritual Christians.
00:12:59.58\00:13:01.40
And spiritual
Christians are the ones
00:13:01.43\00:13:03.90
who are able to
bear the true fruit.
00:13:03.93\00:13:06.93
Their spirit-filled life
is the life that represents
00:13:06.96\00:13:11.99
and reflects the
character of God.
00:13:12.02\00:13:14.38
And he said, you know, we
have to keep feeding you milk
00:13:16.09\00:13:20.28
because of your arrested growth.
00:13:20.31\00:13:23.57
You're still
children. You're still babies.
00:13:23.60\00:13:28.60
I thought it was interesting,
a book I read recently,
00:13:28.63\00:13:30.89
the author divided
men into three categories.
00:13:30.92\00:13:34.71
He said that we're
born and we become boys.
00:13:34.74\00:13:39.03
And he said, you know,
all boys don't become men.
00:13:39.06\00:13:42.89
He said they just
become stronger boys.
00:13:42.92\00:13:46.30
They become richer boys.
00:13:46.33\00:13:47.70
They're able to buy
bigger toys, better toys.
00:13:47.73\00:13:50.11
I was telling the
man that my friend
00:13:52.14\00:13:53.63
Doug Batchelor was
sharing with me the fact
00:13:53.66\00:13:55.89
that there was
some incongruity between
00:13:55.92\00:13:58.49
him and his father
who is a true pagan.
00:13:58.52\00:14:01.15
Doug, a new convert, a
man now whose life has--
00:14:03.05\00:14:07.44
is a new life and
Christ was so incompatible
00:14:07.47\00:14:11.60
with his father who
was such a heathen man.
00:14:11.63\00:14:15.39
But his father was a
man who loved his son
00:14:15.42\00:14:17.83
as much as he
could and he asked him,
00:14:17.86\00:14:20.36
he said, "what do
I give a person like
00:14:20.39\00:14:22.45
you now for Christmas
gift or a birthday gift?"
00:14:22.48\00:14:28.71
And Doug said,
"Oh, I don't know dad."
00:14:28.74\00:14:30.64
He says "you don't have
to really give me anything.
00:14:30.67\00:14:32.49
I know you love me."
00:14:32.52\00:14:34.60
But the father
couldn't stand it.
00:14:34.63\00:14:36.00
He remembered that Doug as
a little boy loved tonka toys.
00:14:36.03\00:14:40.62
And so one day on a Christmas,
00:14:40.65\00:14:42.35
Doug was surprised when a great,
00:14:43.90\00:14:45.93
big semi with a
big trailer on the back
00:14:45.96\00:14:49.76
pulled up to his ranch,
his farm in Northern California
00:14:49.79\00:14:52.97
and had a big, big
tractor on the back.
00:14:53.00\00:14:57.15
It was just a bigger tonka toy.
00:14:58.52\00:15:00.53
I said, "Doug, what do
you do with this thing?"
00:15:03.14\00:15:04.94
He said, "I drive it
around my ranch and dig holes."
00:15:04.97\00:15:08.51
There are a lot of
boys who never become men.
00:15:15.49\00:15:17.68
They just get bigger toys.
00:15:17.71\00:15:20.33
I don't mean to infer by
that that Doug is still a boy.
00:15:20.36\00:15:23.77
He certainly is not.
Proven so many times.
00:15:23.80\00:15:28.27
But I must tell you
that down in St. Petersburg,
00:15:28.30\00:15:32.95
the place where there
are so many retired people,
00:15:32.98\00:15:37.10
those old men down there
are just old boys, old boys.
00:15:37.13\00:15:43.94
The writer of this
book went on to say
00:15:45.06\00:15:46.75
that some boys become men.
00:15:46.78\00:15:48.50
Men are those boys who become
00:15:48.53\00:15:52.07
provisionary proprietary males.
00:15:52.10\00:15:56.07
What does that mean?
00:15:56.10\00:15:57.47
Well, proprietary simply
means they're responsible.
00:15:57.50\00:16:00.56
They take responsibility.
00:16:00.59\00:16:03.97
They know what
they're supposed to do
00:16:04.00\00:16:05.60
because they consult
often with the fountain,
00:16:05.63\00:16:09.07
the fountain of wisdom.
00:16:09.10\00:16:10.53
They know what they must do
00:16:10.56\00:16:12.09
and so they become proprietary.
00:16:12.12\00:16:15.55
They are proprietary in their
relationship with their wives.
00:16:15.58\00:16:18.45
They know they have a
responsibility as husbands
00:16:18.48\00:16:21.34
to love them like
Christ loves the church,
00:16:21.37\00:16:24.64
to nurture them, to adorn
them for the coming of Jesus
00:16:24.67\00:16:28.47
by the way they
love their wives.
00:16:28.50\00:16:31.56
And they're provisionary.
A man is provisionary.
00:16:31.59\00:16:36.44
A provisionary
man-- just break it down.
00:16:36.47\00:16:38.77
"Pro-vision." He
goes before his family.
00:16:38.80\00:16:42.90
He charts out the land.
He scouts out the dangers.
00:16:42.93\00:16:46.24
He knows what is
safe for his family.
00:16:46.27\00:16:49.39
His home is a
refugee that is safe
00:16:49.42\00:16:51.76
for his children to grow up in.
00:16:51.79\00:16:54.68
He knows that
it's best not to have
00:16:54.71\00:16:57.80
the instruments of
the devil in his home.
00:16:57.83\00:17:00.35
He knows what is insidiously
00:17:01.77\00:17:04.26
destroying the
character of his children.
00:17:04.29\00:17:06.43
That is a provisionary man.
00:17:06.46\00:17:08.96
The word provisionary
was used for men like
00:17:10.11\00:17:12.41
the scouts in the west, like
00:17:12.44\00:17:14.41
Kit Carson and Jim
Bridger, you recall.
00:17:14.44\00:17:17.32
They were sent out
ahead of the wagon trains
00:17:17.35\00:17:20.54
in order to know
where the danger was.
00:17:20.57\00:17:22.39
That's a man.
00:17:22.42\00:17:25.12
And then the
author said that a man
00:17:25.15\00:17:26.76
as he grows older
should become a patriarch.
00:17:26.79\00:17:31.29
A patriarch.
00:17:31.32\00:17:32.80
And I love the
way he described this
00:17:32.83\00:17:34.45
because so many men do
not grow into patriarchs.
00:17:34.48\00:17:37.99
They just grow into old codgers.
00:17:38.02\00:17:40.03
They just become
old sages that sit
00:17:41.93\00:17:44.35
at the court house steps
and tell how all is hopeless.
00:17:44.38\00:17:49.27
But you see, when an old man
becomes more and more like Jesus
00:17:51.57\00:17:57.67
he is a greater lover
and he is a greater giver.
00:17:57.70\00:18:02.22
And the whole
church becomes his family.
00:18:02.25\00:18:05.69
There is no one in the
church that will go alone
00:18:05.72\00:18:08.29
as long as this man is there
because he is a greater giver.
00:18:08.32\00:18:13.66
He has died to
self and he is living
00:18:13.69\00:18:17.48
because Jesus lives in him.
00:18:17.51\00:18:19.47
That's a patriarch.
00:18:19.50\00:18:22.48
I'm thankful for
the patriarchs we have.
00:18:22.51\00:18:24.80
The man who wants to
reflect the character of Jesus,
00:18:33.00\00:18:40.47
I've discovered
as I've grown older,
00:18:40.50\00:18:45.42
will become a man of prayer.
00:18:45.45\00:18:48.03
I wish I had the
words, men, to convince you.
00:18:50.91\00:18:54.26
If I could convince you what
will take place in your life,
00:18:57.61\00:19:02.86
if you will make prayer
the most important thing
00:19:02.94\00:19:07.63
that you want to
learn in the next few days.
00:19:07.66\00:19:10.27
It should trouble
most men in our church
00:19:13.70\00:19:16.37
that it would take a
man, formally a Satanist,
00:19:16.40\00:19:21.10
a Satanist who is a
salesman in the North East
00:19:21.13\00:19:23.78
to become the great prayer guru
00:19:23.81\00:19:25.77
of our church, Roger Morneau.
00:19:25.80\00:19:29.56
It should shame us
the fact that somehow
00:19:29.59\00:19:32.34
we all send our
letters to him and say,
00:19:32.37\00:19:34.88
"You pray for my child." Why?
00:19:34.91\00:19:37.62
Because God says every
man may be an intercessor.
00:19:37.65\00:19:41.16
In fact,
scripture says God wondered
00:19:41.19\00:19:44.39
that there was no intercessor.
00:19:44.42\00:19:47.60
You have the
privilege of joining with Jesus,
00:19:47.63\00:19:50.29
the great intercessor,
where two or three--
00:19:50.32\00:19:52.90
well, any time you pray
for your family, your wife,
00:19:52.93\00:19:55.62
your child, there are
two at least, you and Jesus,
00:19:55.65\00:19:59.90
praying and
interceding for your family.
00:19:59.93\00:20:03.41
Oh, man, I wish I
could convince you
00:20:03.44\00:20:05.91
that prayer is
what you need to do.
00:20:05.94\00:20:09.37
Jesus didn't teach his
disciples how to preach.
00:20:09.40\00:20:12.09
He didn't teach them
how to teach or to heal.
00:20:12.12\00:20:16.74
He taught them how to pray.
00:20:16.77\00:20:19.92
And when He left
and went back to heaven
00:20:19.95\00:20:21.96
and entrusted His
work unto these lonely men,
00:20:21.99\00:20:24.80
He said "you will be ready
if you go to the upper room
00:20:24.83\00:20:27.73
and pray for 30 days and fast.
00:20:27.76\00:20:30.49
You will be ready then."
00:20:30.52\00:20:32.87
And then there are things
00:20:32.90\00:20:34.27
that we need to
accomplish in our families.
00:20:34.30\00:20:36.02
There are things
we need to accomplish
00:20:36.05\00:20:37.56
in our personal lives
that only prayer will do.
00:20:37.59\00:20:41.70
Only prayer will take them
out of our hearts, our lives,
00:20:41.73\00:20:44.66
will perform the
necessary surgery
00:20:44.69\00:20:47.08
to get rid of the
cancer that's there.
00:20:47.11\00:20:50.62
I've discovered
marvelous things in prayers.
00:20:50.65\00:20:52.95
I pray and pray for my wife.
00:20:52.98\00:20:55.12
I've seen with my very
eyes God working in my own heart
00:20:55.15\00:20:59.00
and making me the kind of person
00:20:59.03\00:21:01.68
that enables my wife to
be a more beautiful person.
00:21:01.71\00:21:05.56
A husband who is a
godly man is a person
00:21:05.59\00:21:08.18
who leaves a
legacy for his children.
00:21:08.21\00:21:10.45
In fact, it's interesting,
Paul uses the modality that--
00:21:10.48\00:21:14.17
that we are living epistles.
00:21:14.20\00:21:16.57
We are books being
read, he says, by all people.
00:21:18.36\00:21:21.48
I want to tell you a secret.
00:21:21.51\00:21:23.63
There is certainly some
who are reading your book.
00:21:23.66\00:21:26.41
It's your wife
and it's your kids.
00:21:26.44\00:21:29.43
They know what's in that
book and they are reading it.
00:21:29.46\00:21:33.71
When I was dean, a man
at Andrews University--
00:21:33.74\00:21:37.61
I had in my dorm an
awful lot of young men
00:21:37.64\00:21:40.18
who were the sons
of auspicious fathers.
00:21:40.21\00:21:43.66
I had sons in my dorm who
were the sons of professors
00:21:43.69\00:21:48.73
and General
Conference Vice Presidents
00:21:48.76\00:21:52.58
and very well known
authors and teachers.
00:21:52.61\00:21:57.19
And the thing that must
have amazed me as a young man,
00:21:59.23\00:22:01.80
a young dean,
because I had a father
00:22:01.83\00:22:05.27
who is very
nurturing and deeply spiritual,
00:22:05.30\00:22:08.36
was to discover that
some of these young men--
00:22:08.39\00:22:12.41
some of these young
men had read an epistle
00:22:12.44\00:22:14.79
at home that destroyed
all their faith in God.
00:22:14.82\00:22:21.15
I had a young man whose father
was in the General Conference
00:22:21.18\00:22:23.93
whose name was well known.
00:22:23.96\00:22:25.33
And since this
was many years ago,
00:22:25.36\00:22:27.27
I think that I can
safely tell the story.
00:22:27.30\00:22:31.09
This young man hated
00:22:31.12\00:22:32.49
everything we stood
for there at the school.
00:22:32.52\00:22:34.32
And I called him into my office
00:22:34.35\00:22:36.33
because I could see
the sour look on his face
00:22:36.36\00:22:39.22
and the enormous
dissatisfaction in his life.
00:22:39.25\00:22:42.57
And I asked him, "Why
don't you enjoy worship?
00:22:42.60\00:22:45.24
Why don't you come?
00:22:45.27\00:22:46.64
Why--what is the problem?"
00:22:46.67\00:22:48.31
And being young
and inexperienced,
00:22:48.34\00:22:50.17
I reminded him, after
all you are the son of the--
00:22:50.20\00:22:54.96
this very, very famous man.
00:22:57.90\00:23:00.61
And his face got
sour and he curled his lip
00:23:03.17\00:23:08.01
and he did everything
but curse at me when he said
00:23:08.04\00:23:10.66
"I do not want the
religion of my dad."
00:23:10.69\00:23:13.59
I used to play intramural
sports out there occasionally
00:23:18.35\00:23:20.97
on the field to try and develop
rapport with some of the guys
00:23:21.00\00:23:24.57
that I couldn't reach,
it seemed, in other ways.
00:23:24.60\00:23:27.02
And I'm not sure that's
correct but I did it then.
00:23:27.05\00:23:30.60
And I remember
sometimes brushing up against
00:23:30.63\00:23:34.47
some of the young men who
were the sons of faculty there.
00:23:34.50\00:23:37.12
And I remember one time
00:23:37.15\00:23:40.09
I'd just read a book that
one of our faculty had written.
00:23:40.12\00:23:42.94
It was a wonderful
book and I asked the son,
00:23:42.97\00:23:46.05
I said "have you
read your dad's book?"
00:23:46.08\00:23:49.13
He said "No. Did
my dad write a book?"
00:23:49.16\00:23:51.96
I said "yes. It's a good book.
00:23:51.99\00:23:54.20
I bet it's a book that
will really be well-read.
00:23:54.23\00:23:57.21
It's a good book." Huh.
00:23:57.24\00:24:00.56
He didn't seem very
well impressed with it.
00:24:00.59\00:24:02.65
I said "are you telling
me you're not interested?"
00:24:02.68\00:24:05.48
He said "No."
00:24:05.51\00:24:06.97
He said "I don't
care what my dad writes."
00:24:07.00\00:24:10.53
And I thought to
myself, yes, you do.
00:24:10.56\00:24:12.61
You're reading it. The
epistle your dad is writing.
00:24:14.65\00:24:17.53
And it's making a
deep impact on your life.
00:24:19.99\00:24:24.05
Men, we are living epistles.
00:24:24.08\00:24:27.31
We are being read.
00:24:27.34\00:24:29.96
I wonder if we understand
what it means how when--
00:24:29.99\00:24:34.15
for instance, let me just--
00:24:34.18\00:24:35.56
if you have your
Bibles turn with me.
00:24:35.59\00:24:37.40
I wanna show you something
00:24:37.43\00:24:38.80
that just thrills
me when I read this.
00:24:38.83\00:24:42.86
It's the story
that everyone knows
00:24:42.89\00:24:45.07
but it's not the
part of the story
00:24:45.10\00:24:46.60
that you would assume I
would want to emphasize.
00:24:46.63\00:24:49.40
It's the story of the lost boy.
00:24:49.43\00:24:52.29
Luke 15.
00:24:52.32\00:24:53.90
In reality it's not
the story of a lost boy.
00:24:58.29\00:25:02.23
For many of you it's the story
of a father, isn't that right?
00:25:02.26\00:25:09.00
And for many of us, it's
the story of an older brother.
00:25:09.03\00:25:12.92
And it's the older brother
00:25:12.95\00:25:14.32
I'd like for you to
look at for a few moments.
00:25:14.35\00:25:17.64
I'd like for you to
notice verse 25, reading on,
00:25:17.67\00:25:24.07
"Now his older
son was in the field
00:25:24.10\00:25:27.61
and as he came and
drew near to the house,
00:25:27.64\00:25:31.07
he heard music and dancing.
00:25:31.10\00:25:33.75
So he called one of the servants
00:25:33.78\00:25:35.30
and he asked what
these things meant?
00:25:35.33\00:25:38.51
And he said to him,
your brother has come
00:25:38.54\00:25:40.50
and because he has
received him safe and sound,
00:25:40.53\00:25:43.82
your father has
killed the fatted calf.
00:25:43.85\00:25:46.97
But he was
angry, would not go in.
00:25:47.00\00:25:50.73
Therefore, his father
came out and pleaded with him.
00:25:50.76\00:25:54.33
So he answered and
said to his father,
00:25:54.36\00:25:56.21
"lo, these many years
I've been serving you.
00:25:56.24\00:26:00.34
I never
transgressed your commandment
00:26:00.37\00:26:02.29
at any time and yet you
never gave me a young goat
00:26:02.32\00:26:06.59
that I might make
merry with my friends.
00:26:06.62\00:26:09.99
But as soon as
this son of yours came,
00:26:10.02\00:26:12.31
who has devoured your
livelihood with harlots,
00:26:12.34\00:26:14.83
you killed the
fatted calf for him."
00:26:14.86\00:26:18.03
And he said to him,
"Son, you are always with me
00:26:18.06\00:26:21.90
and all that I have is yours."
00:26:21.93\00:26:24.16
Oh, my friend, it's almost
as though the heavenly Father
00:26:25.95\00:26:31.83
has lifted the
trumpet and He sounded
00:26:31.86\00:26:35.00
to every man in this room,
00:26:35.03\00:26:36.53
"Do you realize,
sons, that you are with Me
00:26:36.56\00:26:41.53
and all that I have is yours?
00:26:41.56\00:26:44.36
All that I have is yours."
00:26:44.39\00:26:47.48
What more, men, do you
want than what the Father
00:26:47.51\00:26:51.82
has when He says,
"Everything I have is yours?"
00:26:51.85\00:26:57.02
The affliction of
a Laodicean church
00:26:57.05\00:27:00.15
that is lukewarm is
a church whose works
00:27:00.18\00:27:04.96
are pitiful in the mouth of
God because we have not accessed
00:27:04.99\00:27:10.31
the very character
and goodness of God.
00:27:10.34\00:27:13.72
The God who is so loving,
00:27:13.75\00:27:16.17
who want's to give
us everything He has.
00:27:16.20\00:27:19.57
It's right there.
00:27:19.60\00:27:21.12
All that I have is yours. All.
00:27:24.46\00:27:28.30
Oh, I think--
00:27:31.64\00:27:33.10
I think of how it is
that we live our lives
00:27:38.16\00:27:40.84
so often that in
our-- with our families
00:27:40.87\00:27:43.14
and our neighbors
and our fellow workers.
00:27:43.17\00:27:46.62
So much of our
behavior is reactionary
00:27:46.65\00:27:49.68
instead of
pro-actionary, if you will.
00:27:49.71\00:27:55.23
We're sensitive.
We're easily offended.
00:27:55.26\00:27:59.61
We play the game according
to how it's played at us.
00:27:59.64\00:28:02.92
And finally as I was praying
about God working in my life
00:28:02.95\00:28:09.00
and helping me to truly
represent Christ in my home
00:28:09.03\00:28:12.50
and in my neighborhood,
the final piece of the puzzle
00:28:12.53\00:28:15.96
came when I--one day
I was reading scripture
00:28:15.99\00:28:19.80
and discovered
Jesus was never offended
00:28:19.83\00:28:24.53
except when His
Father was being desecrated.
00:28:24.56\00:28:29.49
Jesus was never offended
00:28:29.52\00:28:32.03
and I thought how
easily I am offended.
00:28:32.06\00:28:34.33
How easily I react.
00:28:34.36\00:28:39.21
And then I
discovered the greatest--
00:28:39.24\00:28:41.26
the greatest of
all rules in the Bible.
00:28:41.29\00:28:43.58
It's even greater
than the golden rule.
00:28:43.61\00:28:45.52
It goes like this,
"Freely you've received,
00:28:45.55\00:28:47.88
freely--" what's the rest?
00:28:47.91\00:28:49.95
"Freely give."
00:28:49.98\00:28:51.35
If my wife gives me
00:28:53.57\00:28:55.66
words that are offensive,
00:28:58.06\00:29:00.58
it is my privilege to give her
words that God has spoken to me.
00:29:03.26\00:29:08.42
I told the men in my
seminar how that there was a boy
00:29:13.12\00:29:15.87
playing football in Oklahoma,
who was asked by the reporter,
00:29:15.90\00:29:21.75
it must be easy
to play in Oklahoma.
00:29:21.78\00:29:23.92
That's the only
thing going there.
00:29:23.95\00:29:25.47
You have these huge crowds
coming out to see your games.
00:29:25.50\00:29:28.64
It must be
inspiring to hear the crowds.
00:29:28.67\00:29:31.00
He said, "We don't
play to the crowds.
00:29:31.03\00:29:33.38
We play to the coach."
00:29:35.37\00:29:36.87
Man, it's about time we
stop playing to the crowd.
00:29:39.20\00:29:43.80
We've got to play our lives
according to the will of God.
00:29:43.83\00:29:49.41
Not only does God have
a purpose for your life
00:29:51.41\00:29:53.79
and a will for your
life, He's willing to provide
00:29:53.82\00:29:56.11
you the very thing that
will help you fulfill it.
00:29:56.14\00:30:00.66
Everything He has is yours.
00:30:00.69\00:30:02.20
He will provide
you His very will.
00:30:02.23\00:30:05.67
And when I talk about
prayer, I would want to describe
00:30:05.70\00:30:12.14
to you a type of
prayer that goes far beyond
00:30:12.17\00:30:16.75
the kind of prayer
that merely informs God
00:30:16.78\00:30:19.30
what you want Him to do.
00:30:19.33\00:30:20.70
Learn to pray
where you get beyond
00:30:22.45\00:30:24.66
your list and discover His list.
00:30:24.69\00:30:27.79
Learn to pray to the
point where you discover
00:30:27.82\00:30:30.26
that everything God
has will for your life
00:30:30.29\00:30:32.74
is much better than you
have will for your life.
00:30:32.77\00:30:36.52
Learn to pray to the extent
that you have discovered God
00:30:36.55\00:30:39.77
and that God is
bigger than you are.
00:30:39.80\00:30:42.26
God is bigger
than anything you face.
00:30:42.29\00:30:44.83
The biggest
issue that will face us
00:30:44.86\00:30:46.50
as we face the
time at the end is
00:30:46.53\00:30:48.32
how big your God
is, your faith in Him.
00:30:48.35\00:30:52.21
There were 10,
there were 12 spies
00:30:53.82\00:30:55.51
that were sent
out when, you know,
00:30:55.54\00:30:57.12
they came out of Egypt and God
wanted to take them into Canaan.
00:30:57.15\00:31:01.54
God doesn't want to
just take you out of sin.
00:31:01.57\00:31:03.73
He wants to take you
right into His blessed life.
00:31:03.76\00:31:07.07
That is His purpose.
00:31:07.10\00:31:08.57
And there's an interesting
story of the 12 as they went in.
00:31:08.60\00:31:11.42
They saw the giants.
00:31:11.45\00:31:12.82
They saw a land that
seemed inconquerable.
00:31:12.85\00:31:15.79
And they came
back and 10 men said,
00:31:15.82\00:31:17.87
"No, we can never
ever conquer that land.
00:31:17.90\00:31:20.74
They are giants."
00:31:20.77\00:31:22.14
Two men saw the same giants
and they said, "It's ours.
00:31:23.56\00:31:28.07
It's ours. God has
already promised it to us."
00:31:28.10\00:31:30.61
What was the difference?
00:31:30.64\00:31:33.30
Two men had a
God that was bigger
00:31:33.33\00:31:35.05
than the giants, ten didn't.
00:31:35.08\00:31:37.98
That was the difference.
00:31:38.01\00:31:40.64
You have Meshach and
Shadrach and Abednego,
00:31:40.67\00:31:43.29
men who, Ellen White tells us,
00:31:43.32\00:31:45.00
were hardly over 20, maybe 18,
19 years of age, just teenagers.
00:31:45.03\00:31:49.98
Standing up in a bow
down world, standing up, why?
00:31:51.36\00:31:54.97
Because they were serving a God
00:31:55.00\00:31:56.85
that was bigger than a furnace.
00:31:56.88\00:32:00.18
A God big enough to
face what they were facing.
00:32:00.21\00:32:03.67
In fact, when you come to
know God and His character
00:32:05.78\00:32:08.63
and it's straight and
it's accurate and it's real
00:32:08.66\00:32:11.32
and you've discovered
this through great prayer.
00:32:11.35\00:32:14.55
Praying and praying in humility
and meekness in searching God,
00:32:14.58\00:32:18.47
searching His
heart, searching His will.
00:32:18.50\00:32:20.77
When you come to know this God,
00:32:20.80\00:32:22.60
you will know the God
that Job knew when he said,
00:32:22.63\00:32:25.51
"Though he slay me,
yet will I serve Him."
00:32:25.54\00:32:29.05
That's the God Job
knew. Do you know Him?
00:32:29.08\00:32:32.48
It is your
privilege to know Him.
00:32:34.51\00:32:36.47
I think of how
eclectic our religion is.
00:32:42.65\00:32:47.57
We try to put together all
these different philosophies,
00:32:47.60\00:32:51.31
all these different
ideas and we've figured
00:32:51.34\00:32:53.45
that the more we know and
the more knowledge we have
00:32:53.48\00:32:55.87
and the better educated we are
00:32:55.90\00:32:57.40
in certain areas
he better we will be.
00:32:57.43\00:33:00.72
But I think, men, that it
truly comes down to the point
00:33:00.75\00:33:03.96
of this view of
God that you have,
00:33:03.99\00:33:06.85
this faith in
Christ that you have.
00:33:06.88\00:33:10.40
Do you have faith in Him?
00:33:10.43\00:33:13.17
Is your faith sound in Him?
00:33:13.20\00:33:16.36
Do you truly trust Christ
with your life, with your wife,
00:33:16.39\00:33:20.04
with everything you face?
00:33:20.07\00:33:21.44
Do you really?
00:33:21.47\00:33:24.22
I think of the story that
was sent to me not too long ago
00:33:24.25\00:33:28.32
about a boy that went
off to war to Vietnam.
00:33:28.35\00:33:34.27
And this young man
before he went to Vietnam
00:33:34.30\00:33:37.26
had a hobby with his father
who is very, very wealthy.
00:33:37.29\00:33:41.86
They used to
purchase very expensive art.
00:33:41.89\00:33:45.81
They would buy, you know,
the famous artist pictures,
00:33:45.84\00:33:49.30
Van Gogh and Renoir,
00:33:49.33\00:33:51.86
and Wuwu-- and these other guys.
00:33:51.89\00:33:53.77
And they would put these
pictures up there, you know,
00:33:53.80\00:33:56.58
on the wall and admire them
00:33:56.61\00:33:58.22
and realize what an
investment this was.
00:33:58.25\00:34:01.41
And then the boy
went off to Vietnam.
00:34:03.28\00:34:05.26
And word soon
came that the man's son
00:34:08.06\00:34:11.83
whom he adored and loved,
00:34:11.86\00:34:13.94
had invested his
life in had been killed.
00:34:13.97\00:34:17.38
The old man's
heart began to fade.
00:34:19.10\00:34:21.04
And he used to sit
in front of the hearth
00:34:21.07\00:34:23.67
and he would
mourn and he would sob.
00:34:23.70\00:34:27.46
And they realized that he
was dying of a broken heart.
00:34:27.49\00:34:30.31
And one day a
ring came at the door
00:34:30.34\00:34:32.75
and he went to the door.
00:34:32.78\00:34:34.74
There was a young
soldier standing there.
00:34:34.77\00:34:38.05
He had something rolled
up in his arm and he said,
00:34:38.08\00:34:40.35
"Sir, you don't know me."
00:34:40.38\00:34:41.75
He said, "Are you
so and so's father?"
00:34:41.78\00:34:44.55
He said, "Yes,
did you know him?"
00:34:44.58\00:34:45.95
He said, "Yes, I
served with him in Vietnam."
00:34:45.98\00:34:49.69
He said, "I found his address.
00:34:49.72\00:34:51.38
I didn't know he lived
in something like this.
00:34:51.41\00:34:53.24
My goodness" he said.
00:34:53.27\00:34:55.86
The old man invited him in
00:34:55.89\00:34:57.29
because it was
refreshing to see someone
00:34:57.32\00:34:59.61
who could tell him
something about his boy.
00:34:59.64\00:35:02.61
So the young solder came in
and he brought his package in
00:35:02.64\00:35:05.70
that he had under his
arm and he said, "Sir."
00:35:05.73\00:35:07.74
He said, "The
reason I came was your son
00:35:07.77\00:35:09.81
was such a fine young man."
00:35:09.84\00:35:11.23
And he said, "I am
an amateur artist."
00:35:11.26\00:35:14.67
Evidently the son had not
told this boy that these guys
00:35:14.70\00:35:17.44
were really,
really experts in art.
00:35:17.47\00:35:20.08
And so he said, "I
am an amateur artist
00:35:20.11\00:35:21.88
and I had a
photograph of your son
00:35:21.91\00:35:23.48
and I painted this
picture of your son
00:35:23.51\00:35:25.38
and I thought
you might like it."
00:35:25.41\00:35:27.14
The old man said, "Oh."
00:35:27.17\00:35:28.60
He took the picture and he said,
00:35:28.63\00:35:30.00
"That does looks--
that does look like him."
00:35:30.03\00:35:32.14
He said. "Oh, I will
treasure this picture" he said.
00:35:32.17\00:35:35.75
And he put the
picture right over the mantle.
00:35:35.78\00:35:39.49
And they said, he
would sit for hours
00:35:39.52\00:35:41.55
and stare and
look at the picture.
00:35:41.58\00:35:44.66
He would never look at his
treasures, just the picture.
00:35:44.69\00:35:49.65
The old man died.
00:35:49.68\00:35:52.37
Soon there was an
auction at the mansion
00:35:52.40\00:35:54.40
and people from
all over the world
00:35:54.43\00:35:56.60
who were art aficionados
came to bid on this art.
00:35:56.63\00:36:02.16
They could hardly wait because
00:36:02.19\00:36:03.56
there were priceless
treasures in this collection.
00:36:03.59\00:36:05.71
And as they sat
there, the auctioneer stood
00:36:05.74\00:36:10.17
and he said, "We
have one bit of business
00:36:10.20\00:36:12.02
to take care of
before the rest is done."
00:36:12.05\00:36:16.18
And he held up this picture
of the son and people murmured
00:36:16.21\00:36:19.28
and complained and
said, "What picture is that?
00:36:19.31\00:36:21.51
I've not seen that painting."
00:36:21.54\00:36:22.96
And he said,
"Well, it's a picture,
00:36:22.99\00:36:24.73
an amateur picture of the son
00:36:24.76\00:36:27.50
of the man who owns all
this art, owned all this art."
00:36:27.53\00:36:32.06
They said, "Well,
it's just a piece of junk."
00:36:32.09\00:36:34.50
They said, "Hurry
up and get rid of it.
00:36:34.53\00:36:38.62
Throw it away."
00:36:38.65\00:36:40.13
But the old janitor
was standing in the back
00:36:40.16\00:36:42.44
who had served and
worked in this family
00:36:42.47\00:36:44.38
and he knew the boy.
00:36:44.41\00:36:46.22
He recognized the piece
and he thought to himself,
00:36:46.25\00:36:48.60
I don't have any money.
00:36:48.63\00:36:50.00
Let's see. He
looked in his pocket.
00:36:50.03\00:36:51.50
He had $5. He
said, "I'll give $5.
00:36:51.53\00:36:55.14
I knew the boy.
00:36:55.17\00:36:56.54
Sure I'd like to have
that." And so he pulled out $5.
00:36:56.57\00:36:59.31
And the auctioneer said,
"going, gone to you sir, $5."
00:36:59.34\00:37:03.51
And people
shouted, "Yeah, great.
00:37:03.54\00:37:06.11
Let's get on with the auction."
00:37:06.14\00:37:08.18
Well, the auctioneer
came down with his gavel
00:37:08.21\00:37:10.68
and he said,
"The auction is over.
00:37:10.71\00:37:13.06
He that gets the
son gets everything."
00:37:13.09\00:37:16.17
Man--man, he who gets
00:37:20.50\00:37:27.42
the son must die.
00:37:27.45\00:37:32.15
You need to die to self.
00:37:32.18\00:37:34.81
Whatever it takes,
you need to do that.
00:37:34.84\00:37:37.06
Ours is the only
religion that requires a man
00:37:41.60\00:37:47.38
to die for his Lord in order to
receive the new life in Christ.
00:37:47.41\00:37:53.74
It is symbolized by baptism.
00:37:53.77\00:37:56.64
But, man it is real.
You must die to self.
00:37:56.67\00:38:01.62
You cannot continue this
old impotent self any longer.
00:38:01.65\00:38:07.73
You cannot go home
tonight the same man
00:38:07.76\00:38:10.97
that came here this morning.
00:38:11.00\00:38:13.88
Every single one
of us can go home
00:38:15.11\00:38:17.93
having been
improved by the vision
00:38:17.96\00:38:20.26
we have received
here by a gracious God.
00:38:20.29\00:38:23.20
But, my man, nothing
can happen in your life
00:38:24.35\00:38:27.56
that is real to God unless
you're willing to die to self.
00:38:27.59\00:38:32.08
You must die to
self in order to live.
00:38:32.11\00:38:37.21
He who gets the
son gets everything.
00:38:37.24\00:38:42.24
I think the greatest
hymn that was ever written
00:38:42.27\00:38:45.87
in all the history
of the church is a hymn
00:38:45.90\00:38:48.85
that I was overjoyed to
see printed in your song sheet.
00:38:48.88\00:38:53.78
It is that wonderful
song that was penned by
00:38:55.36\00:38:57.50
Charles Wesley, "And Can it Be."
00:38:57.53\00:39:01.46
And I believe the greatest
stanza of any hymn at any time
00:39:01.49\00:39:08.57
is that third stanza that says,
"Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
00:39:08.60\00:39:15.91
fast bound in sin
and nature's night.
00:39:15.94\00:39:19.46
Thine eye
diffused to quickening ray,
00:39:19.49\00:39:21.94
the dungeon flamed with light.
00:39:21.97\00:39:25.08
My chains fell
off, my soul was free,
00:39:25.11\00:39:28.60
I rose, went forth
and followed Thee."
00:39:28.63\00:39:32.42
Man, when we die,
we begin to recognize
00:39:34.10\00:39:38.36
the life God has in mind.
00:39:38.39\00:39:41.19
Don't you want it?
00:39:41.22\00:39:42.80
Let's bow our heads.
00:39:45.58\00:39:47.00
Father, unless You
have spoken to these men
00:39:52.29\00:39:56.91
what I've said is
of absolutely no worth.
00:39:59.10\00:40:05.42
Oh, God, there are
men here this evening
00:40:05.45\00:40:12.96
who need to die and
perhaps, all of us, Father,
00:40:12.99\00:40:18.74
like Paul when he said, "I
die daily," need to die anew.
00:40:18.77\00:40:23.25
Lord, if there is
anything left in us
00:40:25.42\00:40:27.29
that represents self,
help us to give it up.
00:40:27.32\00:40:32.62
Help us to lay it down.
00:40:33.96\00:40:36.83
Help us to recognize
that submission is the freedom
00:40:36.86\00:40:40.19
from the tyranny of
having to have our own way.
00:40:40.22\00:40:44.57
That having to have our own
way and being selfish is a ugly,
00:40:44.60\00:40:48.19
awful heavy burden that if we
give it up and become a giver,
00:40:48.22\00:40:53.41
a lover, a server,
00:40:53.44\00:40:55.96
a kindly, gentle, strong man
00:40:57.71\00:41:03.52
that we will
recognize that growth
00:41:07.97\00:41:11.55
that takes place when the
seed has died in the soil.
00:41:11.58\00:41:14.56
Bless every single man here.
00:41:16.80\00:41:18.89
Teach him how to pray.
00:41:20.21\00:41:22.95
Teach him how, oh,
Lord, to understand Your will.
00:41:22.98\00:41:26.58
Teach him how to pray
00:41:26.61\00:41:27.98
for Your will,
Your list in his life.
00:41:28.01\00:41:30.30
And, Father, when Jesus comes,
00:41:32.23\00:41:34.48
may the circle not
break where I stand.
00:41:36.42\00:41:39.61
I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
00:41:41.31\00:41:43.91