Participants:
Series Code: TDYFW
Program Code: TDYFW017025A
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:06 Mending broken people 00:11 I want to spend my life 00:17 Removing pain 00:22 Lord, let my words 00:28 Heal a heart that hurts 00:33 I want to spend my life 00:38 Mending broken people 00:44 I want to spend my life 00:50 Mending broken people 01:06 Hello, and welcome to another 3ABN Today, Family Worship. 01:10 I hope you've had a wonderful week. 01:12 I know here at 3ABN, it's always a busy week, 01:14 but it's a wonderful week. 01:16 It's always a blessing to serve the Lord 01:18 and so happy Sabbath is a blessing 01:20 to be able to spend this time together 01:22 with our 3ABN Family, 01:23 but also with you and ultimately, 01:26 with the Lord Jesus Christ because He is the one 01:28 who sanctify the Sabbath day and made it holy. 01:31 So anyway, thank you again, for joining us as you do 01:33 each and every day, but especially, 01:35 for the family worships, each Friday night, 01:38 it's a blessing to open the Sabbath hours together 01:41 with some music, opening the word of God, 01:44 studying, discussing. 01:45 And we hope that you participate 01:47 with us at home. 01:48 It's not just watching on the television 01:50 or your computer screen or your mobile device 01:52 or listening on the radio, 01:53 it's actually participating because it's... 01:56 I think we gained that blessing by doing it 01:58 together as a group. 01:59 Amen. Sabbath is about community. 02:01 I mean, it's about the Word of God, 02:03 it's about spending time with Jesus, the word, 02:06 but Sabbath is community, and whether you might be 02:09 at home and, you know, sweetheart, 02:10 we get letters from people, 02:11 who would say, I live alone and I'm a widow, 02:14 we're widower or a single mom, and I don't have someone 02:18 to open the Sabbath hours with. 02:19 And so you are part of the 3ABN Family. 02:22 And as you open up Sabbath with us, 02:25 join us because we're all part of the family of God 02:28 and you don't have to feel alone there in your home, 02:30 as we open up the Sabbath hours together. 02:33 And we have beside you at home, 02:34 our wonderful 3ABN Family around the table. 02:37 We do. 02:38 And we love each one of these people. 02:39 Oh, we do. 02:41 On this side, we have Brother John Dinzey and Adalia Denzey, 02:43 and it's a privilege to have both you here. 02:46 Oh, it is. Thank you. It's a privilege to be here. 02:49 And Family Worship is something that we really are blessed by. 02:52 Amen. 02:54 And I say to you, guys, I've been here forever 02:55 because I came here just a little guy 02:58 and you guys were here when I came. 03:01 Yes. But they're still young. 03:02 They're still young. Yes. 03:03 That's right. We want to clarify that. 03:05 That's correct. Thank you. You're not old. 03:08 And you have two wonderful children 03:09 who are serving the Lord 03:11 and involved with schooling right now, 03:13 and no longer here attending our school 03:15 because we only go to certain grade here. 03:17 Yeah. But Samuel is in college. 03:20 That's right. Lincoln, Nebraska. 03:22 It's amazing. Mm-hmm. 03:23 He was just a little guy when I guess, it's amazing. 03:25 Yes. And then Caleb is in academy. 03:27 Yes, yes. He loves academy life. 03:31 And, you know, it's interesting how the Lord 03:34 just has blessed us with these kids 03:38 that continue the family traditions 03:41 because they love it. 03:43 You know, what they learned at home 03:44 and they're saying, "Mom, trust us. 03:47 And trust in what you've taught us. 03:49 We're going to do that. You just have to trust us." 03:52 I'm like, "Well, you need for God to be your God, 03:55 not mommy and poppy's God. 03:56 That's right. 03:57 You know, so of course, as parents we encourage 03:59 the kids to walk daily with Christ. 04:01 Amen. 04:03 And you both are the directors of 3ABN Latino, 04:05 which has now been in existence for how many years the network? 04:09 How many? As we speak, we're 14 years. 04:11 That's amazing. Wow! 04:13 Praise what God has done. 04:14 It's amazing because just miracles every day 04:16 how God is opening doors and the lives you're touching. 04:19 Yes. Amen. 04:21 Well, now that you mentioned 3ABN Latino, 04:22 I must say that we on the 3ABN Latino Channel 04:27 are airing a family worship, but in Spanish. 04:30 Yes. It's fantastic. 04:32 It's amazing. 04:33 How the non-Adventists even look forward 04:36 to receiving Sabbath 04:37 because we're teaching Bible truths 04:40 and Bible doctrines of the son of the Adventist Church 04:43 and they're like, "But how do you keep Sabbath?" 04:45 I mean, how special could this be? 04:47 And literally, we have families with their children, 04:50 teenagers as well, sitting with their mom and dad 04:53 receiving Sabbath together. 04:55 That's great. Isn't that encouraging? 04:56 It is. Very well. 04:57 Very encouraging. Amen. 04:59 And over here, we don't want to leave out 05:00 the rest of our family. 05:01 We have J.D. and Shelley Quinn. Amen. 05:03 You both are such a blessing to Greg and I 05:05 and to the Ministry here. 05:07 And thank you for joining us. 05:08 And we just want you know that we love you and of course, 05:11 the Dinzeys as well. 05:12 It's a privilege. 05:14 You know, growing up, I never had a family worship. 05:17 Wow. Never. 05:19 And of course, we weren't Sabbath-keepers, 05:20 but my family never got together 05:22 for a family worship. 05:24 So it's very special to me having family worship, 05:27 in particularly to open the Sabbath. 05:29 Yeah. Amen. 05:31 Well, it's just wonderful to be with our family. 05:33 It is, isn't it? 05:34 You know, we're blessed with two families. 05:36 I have a brother and a sister that I adore 05:39 and there are long ways off, 05:43 my other family who I just adore, 05:46 you know, we get to see daily. 05:48 And it's so important 05:50 because we live and some people say, 05:52 "Well, you're all live in a bubble." 05:54 Well, it's a wonderful bubble to live in. 05:56 Amen. Amen. 05:57 That's all. You know, there is... 05:59 We don't wake up here 06:00 and people cursing all day long. 06:01 Yes. Yes. 06:03 You know, we wake up and with prayer 06:05 and thanksgiving. 06:06 I mean, it's fantastic. Amen. 06:09 And we just love each one as you obviously, 06:12 and we love all of our viewers. 06:13 Amen. Amen. 06:14 And in case, some people are just joining us 06:16 and are not familiar with 3ABN, 06:17 you're a head of the 3ABN Pastoral Department. 06:19 Yep. Wear multiple hats. 06:20 Shelly Quinn, you're in charge of Program Development, 06:23 wear multiple hats as well. 06:25 Again, I appreciate which each and every one of you do. 06:27 And again, this is a family, you know, 06:28 as we were preparing for this program, 06:31 Joe O'Brien, who's in part of your staff. 06:34 I was waiting outside the makeup room 06:36 and unfortunately, yeah, we do have to wear 06:37 a little something to keep the lights, 06:39 from lights just reflecting and maybe blinding you. 06:42 And I was waiting outside the makeup room 06:43 and he passed down the hall 06:45 and he made a really powerful comment. 06:47 Someone else was standing outside there too and he said, 06:49 you know, he says, someday, he said, by God's grace, 06:52 he said, in heaven. 06:54 He said, we'll build, maybe pass each other 06:55 in the halls of heaven and we want to describe that. 06:58 We will have to be like, 06:59 maybe working in that sort of thing, 07:00 but be in heaven together as a family. 07:02 You know, that's a powerful thought, isn't it? 07:04 Amen. 07:05 We could be here together, you're at home. 07:07 We may not ever meet you on this earth, but in heaven, 07:09 if we're favoring to Jesus Christ. 07:11 What a wonderful day that will be. 07:13 Amen. 07:14 So we need to start with prayer or song, our topic for today. 07:18 Let's start with prayer. 07:20 I think as we start our family worship here 07:21 and going to sing music next, 07:23 but let's invite the Lord Jesus Christ 07:24 to be part of this. 07:26 Pastor Johnny, 07:27 do you mind to open the prayer for us, please? 07:28 Sure. 07:30 Our loving Heavenly Father, we do want to thank You 07:34 for it is You, Lord, that has brought us 07:35 to another end of a week. 07:38 We thank You, Lord, for the Sabbath day 07:40 and we thank You for the invitation 07:42 to come aside and rest awhile. 07:45 We thank You, Lord, that in You, 07:48 we can have rest and we pray, Lord, 07:50 that as we are gathered together here, 07:54 worship in Your name, we pray that You will also 07:57 bless Your children that wherever they may be, 07:59 around the world, they also may worship 08:01 Your name with us. 08:03 And we pray that in all things, Your name will be honored 08:06 and glorified, in Jesus' name, amen. 08:08 Amen. Amen, amen. 08:10 Well, our topic this evening is we're talking about 08:13 the Sermon on the Mount. 08:14 And that is a huge topic. 08:15 Matthew, 5:7, we could never cover it all, 08:18 but we're gonna pick up right after the Beatitudes. 08:21 But before we do that, I want to encourage you 08:23 to open up your Bible to Matthew 5, 08:26 so you'll be ready to follow along, 08:27 but we have Summer Boyd on the piano. 08:30 And she's such a blessing. 08:31 I have the privilege of working with her in the office. 08:34 And she's a wonderful minister of music 08:37 and a wonderful woman of God. 08:38 And what the song we're gonna be doing, 08:40 you could say, the young at heart like, 08:42 the kids like, but I think any age can enjoy this song. 08:45 I enjoy this song. 08:46 This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. 08:50 Sing with us. 08:51 And there are hand emotions to this song, too. 08:53 So, hopefully, you might join us with that. 08:55 Let's do it. 08:56 This little light of mine, 08:59 I'm gonna let it shine 09:02 This little light of mine, 09:05 I'm gonna let it shine 09:07 Let it shine, let it shine, 09:10 Let it shine 09:12 Hide it under a bushel, no! 09:15 I'm gonna let it shine 09:18 Hide it under a bushel, no! 09:21 I'm gonna let it shine 09:24 Let it shine, let it shine, 09:27 Let it shine 09:29 All around the neighborhood, 09:33 I'm gonna let it shine 09:36 All around the neighborhood, 09:39 I'm gonna let it shine 09:41 Let it shine, let it shine, 09:44 Let it shine 09:47 Amen. Amen. 09:49 Thank to Jesus. One of the fun songs. 09:50 It is a fun song. 09:51 It reminds me to the Sabbath school days. 09:53 Yes. Amen. 09:55 It's great to know all the words. 09:56 Yes. And the hand emotions. Yeah. 09:58 And the hand movements, too. 10:00 You know, it's such a blessing to for the family sent home 10:04 when they're children, 10:06 engage into the activity, you know. 10:08 So they enjoy the words and they enjoy the actions, 10:11 singing again, teach them the message in the song. 10:14 You know, that's a good point 'cause I remember 10:15 as a young child, my parents and we'd have family worship 10:18 and we'd do some of these songs. 10:19 You know, I had a lot of that... 10:21 I was very hyper. 10:22 He had a lot of energy. Yes, I did. 10:25 So I think it was good for me because my mom would do 10:27 songs ever so often, I think so I could get my energy out, 10:29 but like the trees are gently swain, you know, 10:31 I like to do this number. 10:32 And I liked the one about the bunny rabbits, 10:34 somehow there's one of the funny rabbits. 10:35 So I get to hop up and down in the living room. 10:38 I think she did it on purpose to get my energy out. 10:41 And tired you out, so you can listen to the story. 10:43 The Bible story. 10:45 You know, what that shows is she made worship fun. 10:47 It was fun. Amen. 10:49 And we should make worship fun. 10:50 And whether we're young or old whatever age, 10:53 but worship should be a time of joy, 10:55 not a time of drudgery, but a time of joy. 10:57 Yes. 10:59 I believe that we need to be creative 11:01 and we also need to fill 11:04 the need of everyone in the family 11:06 because the maturity is different. 11:08 And I remember when we had our kids, 11:11 it was so short family worship. 11:15 Of course, you already know that at the beginning 11:17 John Dinzey wanted to do a sermon. 11:19 It's like, you know, these are kids, we can't, 11:22 we can't prolong it because the kids 11:24 are gonna get bored and they begin to think 11:25 that serving the Lord is boring. 11:27 So we must take that into consideration 11:30 that for a children, depending under age, 11:33 we need to complement it with the time and activities. 11:35 Yeah, it's interesting for them. 11:37 Yeah, that way you look forward to worship. 11:38 Amen. Sure. 11:40 We're in Matthew 5, 11:42 looking at just after the Beatitudes, 11:44 the blessed are the... 11:46 And there's a whole bunch of those, 11:47 but we're picking up right after that. 11:49 We're looking at believers as salt and light, 11:51 that's why we picked the song, "This is the light of mine" 11:54 'cause God calls us to do that. 11:56 But first, Jesus talks about being the salt. 11:58 So who has that here? Shelley? 12:01 I've got it. Oh, you got it J.D.? 12:02 Yes, you want... 12:04 Thirteen, about the salt. Okay. 12:06 "You are the salt of the earth. 12:08 But if the salt loses its flavor, 12:10 how shall it be seasoned? 12:12 It is then good for nothing, but to be thrown out 12:15 and trampled underfoot by man." 12:16 Mm-hmm. 12:18 So what does Jesus mean when he says, 12:19 "You are the salt of the earth." 12:21 What is the purpose of salt 12:22 and what's He mean there specific? 12:25 You know, salt had so many different functions. 12:30 Salt was used as a preservative 12:31 because they had no refrigeration. 12:33 It was used as a... 12:36 Salt is a septic, so it was used 12:39 as a purifying agent, it was used to heal wounds, 12:43 it was used to add flavor, 12:46 it was used to melt cold things like ice. 12:50 Oh, that's true. 12:51 So when you think about it when He says, 12:54 "You're like the salt of the earth, 12:55 " I think this has to do with our character. 12:58 He is basically saying to us that as a preservative, 13:03 as a purifier, we are to as Christians 13:06 our function is to arrest the corruption in the world. 13:13 We are to be out there, you know, adding flavor, 13:17 it should be a benefit to somebody to heal, 13:20 to melt cold hearts. 13:21 So I think that the interesting thing to me 13:26 is that when he says, "If you lose your flavor." 13:31 So salt being the salt of the earth, 13:34 that's like the care. 13:35 Have you ever heard somebody say, 13:37 "Oh, she's a salt of the earth, he's a salt of the earth." 13:39 That's talking about your character. 13:42 So if you began living unrighteously, 13:47 you have lost your Christian influence. 13:49 Man is going to trample that under his feet because, 13:53 you know, you no longer have a testimony. 13:55 And what they did with salt back then 13:58 that had lost its flavor is they spread it on the ground 14:03 where they wanted to kill vegetation. 14:06 And so when you think about it, if we are unrighteous, 14:13 nothing grows where we go. 14:16 You know, we have no influence for the Kingdom of God. 14:22 You know, this is interesting because this verse comes 14:26 after Jesus said something that was shocking to people. 14:31 Yes, okay. 14:33 Notice verse 11, "Blessed are ye, 14:36 when men shall revile you and persecute you 14:39 and shall say all manner of evil 14:41 against you falsely for my sake." 14:43 So in Jesus considering this, when you look at 14:47 you are the salt, he says you're supposed 14:49 to react differently then because the normal thing is, 14:54 you know, when I was little... 14:56 The practice was that if somebody said you're ugly 14:58 then you're supposed to say something worse to that 15:00 or you are uglier than I am, you know. 15:03 And so that, Jesus now said, 15:09 "You are the salt of the earth." 15:10 Praise the Lord, you're converted. 15:12 You're supposed to do something differently. 15:14 And that's why when people would say... 15:17 And even today, you know, people ask, 15:20 why don't we do that? 15:22 Somebody smites you on one side, you say, 15:24 okay, here's the other. 15:26 You have the other cheek. 15:27 But only by God's grace, can you do that? 15:29 You see, because without Him, we can really cannot be salt, 15:33 without Him we can really cannot be light. 15:35 And in the context of that we are supposed to be 15:38 the light of the world, as we were singing. 15:40 I guess we're gonna talk about that in a moment. 15:41 No, that's great. 15:43 Our witness in the adverse conditions, 15:47 it's a light to other, it's salt to other. 15:50 And I like the one, never, never really gave much thought 15:54 to the idea that salt melts. 15:56 You know there are some people are cold as ice? 15:57 Yeah. 15:59 You say, hello or good morning. What's so good about it? 16:01 You know... Yeah. 16:04 So true. It is. 16:06 By God's grace, we can do those things. 16:07 Yeah. 16:09 And we're gonna putting this in context, you know, 16:10 here you got the disciples sitting here on the side 16:12 of the hill listen to the beatitudes and, 16:15 you know, you've got other people surrounded too, 16:17 and he's talking specifically to the disciples, 16:20 as he, there are some Pharisees that are gathered around. 16:24 And so, you know, he's doing a comparison in there. 16:27 And then also like, whenever you're walking away, 16:31 here you've got... 16:32 Let just say, the road to Jerusalem 16:34 and this salt is lost its savor and so now, it's white, 16:38 but those that follow they track that salt 16:41 for so long and they take it. 16:43 So that which is good, you know is good, 16:45 but that which is bad, you can't get away from 16:48 and tell it's just been trampled down so much 16:51 and then here again, it loses its savor, you know. 16:53 That's right. 16:54 So the question, can I ask how salty are we? 16:58 How salty can... That's a good question. 17:00 Well, I know how salty you are. 17:05 So I mean, I know all joking aside and all, 17:08 but it's so much fun to evaluate our spiritual life. 17:12 You know, and so practical. You know salt. 17:14 You talk about, oh, we need to be salty 17:17 and people are like, "What? 17:18 What are they talking about salt? 17:20 You know, it's not good for you or, you know, 17:21 my blood pressure, all right, and my heart rate, 17:26 but we're talking about a different type of salt. 17:29 And of course, when you have that savor or flavor or spice, 17:36 I don't know which other way to identify it as. 17:41 People will be drawn to you, you know, they feel safe zone. 17:47 And it's the saltiness, you know, 17:50 that you're gonna bringing this flavor of Jesus 17:53 into their life, light of hope. 17:55 You know, just shed some hop into somebody's life today, 17:59 so... 18:00 Yeah, I like that too 'cause really, 18:02 we are not the ones that provide against the flavor 18:03 or the saltiness, right? 18:05 That's right. Yes. 18:06 That's Christ like, you were saying. 18:07 It's the one who provide that the light, 18:09 we'll talk about next. 18:10 Amen. Yeah, that's a good point. 18:11 Yeah, because that's true. 18:13 I just think when we're talking about salt. 18:14 A lot of times salty can be kind of bad, isn't it? 18:16 When they've mention it like the salty old sea captain 18:18 is someone that's kind of crabby. 18:21 That's right. Maybe swear. 18:22 Yeah, we're not talking about being salty. 18:24 We're talking a positive salt flavor for good. 18:27 Now never thought about healing wounds. 18:29 Yes. That's great. 18:30 Yeah. 18:32 Melting ice. Yeah. 18:34 Actually that's really deep, if you start looking 18:36 at each one of those avenues. 18:37 It melts the coldest. Yes. 18:39 Oh, yeah. Oh, that's great. 18:41 Not fighting evil with good than salty. 18:44 Yes. Yeah, very true. 18:45 Yep. Let's look at light, verse 14. 18:49 You have that, Shelley? Yes. 18:50 Maybe we should do 14 through 16, 18:52 you think, the whole section. 18:53 Yes. Okay. 18:54 "You are the light of the world, 18:56 a city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden 18:58 nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, 19:02 but on the lamp stand and it gives light to all 19:05 who are in the house. 19:07 Let your light so shine before men 19:10 that they may see your good works 19:12 and glorify your Father in heaven." 19:15 Amen. 19:16 And what do you think 'cause obviously Jesus wanted 19:19 to make this illustration. 19:21 This analogy that we are to be His witness 19:25 to other people, but He used salt and light. 19:29 Now He could've just used salt or He could've just use light. 19:32 So there must be some differences 19:35 between the two, otherwise at least, 19:37 that's the way my mind works. 19:39 Otherwise, why would He have given it 19:41 two different examples? 19:42 So, is there a difference between the salt and the light? 19:45 I think so. 19:46 I think salt is more what we are. 19:49 It's about our moral character, 19:51 whereas light is more about what we do. 19:54 It is about the mission, it is about 19:58 the spiritual conduct that and how, you know, 20:03 and when you think about it, 20:05 the smallest light can dispel darkness. 20:08 There's a commercial on TV, 20:10 where they've got a football field 20:12 away in darkness and they light this 20:15 one little light, a little candle. 20:19 And you can see at a football field away 20:21 'cause it dispels the darkness. 20:23 It is incredible. 20:24 And so, I think that being light is, you know, 20:30 Jesus said in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world." 20:35 So as we are filled with His light 20:39 and reflect His lightness 20:41 and go about doing the mission of dispelling darkness 20:47 in the world, that's how I see it. 20:50 You know, I remember we were in the Sea of Galilee 20:54 and it was dark, you know, there wasn't really a cloud, 20:58 there was no moon, it was dark and we were out there 21:01 and all we're hearing, you know, 21:02 is just a little tug in another boat. 21:04 And in the middle, let's just say, 21:07 that I don't know the size of the Sea of Galilee, 21:10 three miles, about five miles, but anyway, 21:12 you can see any direction at any time. 21:14 Midnight, we're looking out there 21:17 and there's just a circle of lights 21:19 and so as he was talking here, he says, 21:22 "A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden, 21:25 talking about the light." 21:26 And so this is what I think that he was drawing on 21:30 and what you were saying, he was saying, 21:31 "Hey, this is your responsibility, 21:34 I'm bringing light and giving it to you." 21:37 I remember, I was reminiscing last night, 21:41 probably around 3 o'clock in the morning and so... 21:43 I'm not kidding. 21:45 Believe, I still remember because most of us know 21:47 what it's like to have an epiphany 21:50 and you'll never gonna forget that 21:52 and you wake up in the morning, you're so excited, 21:54 but you can't remember what it was. 21:55 Yeah. Right. 21:57 So I have certainly learned that, 21:58 boy, if I get something and I think it is important, 22:00 I get up and I jot it down. 22:02 But anyway, let's just imagine that we're in a grain field, 22:06 but I've done this many times in grain field 22:08 then the rows are a mile long. 22:12 We're on one end and we start to harvest. 22:15 So we got those combines and we're just sitting there 22:18 and just listening to the, to the roar of the engine, 22:21 you know, and hearing the corn or the maize 22:24 or whatever hitting against the beaters 22:26 and but, man, it's lonely. 22:28 All we've got at the midnight now is just the lives 22:30 that are shining right in front of you. 22:32 Oh, wow. 22:33 And boys, you're going and you're just, 22:34 it's us against the world. 22:37 It's that thought, you know. I could remember it's so dark. 22:41 And it should go, the darkness just engulfs you. 22:45 But then as you get closer and closer, 22:47 do as I say it because you're trying 22:50 to reach the other end 22:51 because that's where you can dump, okay? 22:54 And you'll start seeing a reflector off of a trailer. 22:58 And then you're drawn to that reflector 23:00 because the light is throwing it out to catch you 23:06 as the reflector to come back to you. 23:09 And so here I think is what Jesus is saying. 23:12 "I am the light of the world and I'm looking for those 23:18 that have are light minded." 23:20 And so first, it's through the reflection and then, 23:24 you know, then that reflection then becomes a light. 23:27 Mm-hmm. 23:28 Yeah, I think it's interesting because God says, 23:30 you know, "I'm the light of the world," 23:31 but then right here in this verse, it says, 23:32 "You are the light of the world." 23:35 Yes. So take in the reflection. 23:36 Yeah, correct. We're not the source. 23:39 As you mentioned earlier, Pastor Johnny. 23:41 It comes from Christ. Mm-hmm. 23:42 That's right. That's the way we can reflect. 23:45 We reflect God's love, God's light and that is how 23:50 we can bring a life into somebody 23:54 that is going through darkness. 23:55 I mean, we have the privilege of speaking to so many viewers 23:58 that are interested in darkness and agony, 24:01 not certain about the future and they forget 24:03 because we're too focused in the small problem 24:06 when we serve a great big God. 24:08 So we encouraged, as we encourage others 24:12 that are struggling in darkness and then we bring to light, 24:16 you know, God's work, God's promises 24:19 and we end up motivated, you know, blessed. 24:21 Amen. 24:22 You know, that's really, well said. 24:24 I guess I can just add so many wonderful things 24:26 we can talk about in the light. 24:29 I would say two things then. 24:34 You know, if you wake up at night 24:37 and you don't have a little night light, 24:39 you don't turn on your little phone like, 24:41 my wife now does. 24:42 Yes. To see where you're going? 24:44 You're going to stumble, 24:46 you're going to fall over something 24:47 and you couldn't injure yourself, 24:48 maybe even kill yourself. 24:50 So you can say, you would say then that light is good 24:54 because it lights your way. 24:57 And we see in Psalms 119:105, it says, 25:01 "Your word is a light on to my feet 25:04 and the light on to my path." 25:07 And so we need the light that God has for us. 25:10 Amen. Amen. 25:11 And I would like to consider... 25:14 You remember Moses, 25:16 when he spent time with the Lord, 25:17 his face was radiating the light of God. 25:21 And he had to cover his face with a veil. 25:25 Question? 25:26 Did he have to wear that veil all his life? 25:28 No. Eventually the light. 25:31 So we need to be continually close to the Lord 25:33 that His light gonna shine through us. 25:35 Amen. Amen. 25:37 Okay, I'll wait on the other thing. 25:38 Oh, just say it. No, please. 25:40 Yeah, yeah. Go ahead and say it. 25:42 Tell us. 25:44 Well, I mentioned this before some other time, 25:46 but God is good. 25:49 Mm-hmm. Yeah. 25:51 You know, He doesn't... 25:52 What happens if you are in total darkness 25:55 and suddenly you light one of these big old, 25:58 what does those big lights? 25:59 A flood we call it. Spotlight. 26:01 Oh, it hurts your eyes. 26:03 And you have to wait for the light to adjust. 26:05 God doesn't bring us all the light of God's word 26:09 in a moment. 26:10 He gives us the light that we can take. 26:13 And that's why we have an illustration 26:15 everyday of this because when you wake up 26:17 in the morning, the sun slowly rises 26:24 and your eyes adjust to the light. 26:26 And I'm sure, you've been a victim of somebody 26:29 doesn't know you're there or they do it on purpose 26:30 that you're sleeping and then doom! 26:33 They turn on the light. Oh, you know. 26:35 Yeah, it's rough. It's rough, isn't it? 26:37 But God is a gentleman, isn't He? 26:38 Amen. 26:39 The light of the sun turns on slowly and then at night, 26:42 He doesn't suddenly turn off the sun. 26:44 Yeah. Yeah. 26:45 Gradually the sun goes down, our eyes adjust to it. 26:48 And so here on earth, we are learning to... 26:54 From the light of God's love that at when we come to see him 26:57 and when he transforms us the light, His light, 27:01 we will be accustomed to the light that he has. 27:03 Amen. 27:04 That's beautiful, Pastor Johnny. 27:06 I like that. 27:07 Because God is such a loving God. 27:08 He's loving kindness and how He reaches out toward us, 27:11 and He calls us His brothers and sisters to reach out 27:14 toward others with that same kindness, 27:17 with that same love, not overwhelming. 27:18 Respect. That's right. 27:20 I wanna share two scriptures. 27:22 I just found these this morning 27:23 and hopefully this will make sense, 27:25 but if you compare salt and light, 27:28 salt is used in the New Testament 7 times, 27:31 but light 91 times. 27:35 And there is a couple, one verse in John 1 27:37 and then one verse in Mark. 27:39 If we turn to John 1 and you're probably 27:41 familiar with this one. 27:44 John 1:1. 27:47 And it was just an interesting comparison 27:49 with the salt and the light. 27:52 John 1:5, "This is the message we have heard from Him 27:58 and declare to you. 27:59 God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 28:03 If we say that we have fellowship with Him 28:06 and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth, 28:10 but if we walk in the light as he is in the light." 28:13 You see what happens? 28:15 We have fellowship with one another. 28:18 And you see in verse 9:10, the same thing. 28:21 "He who says He is in the light and hates His brother 28:25 is in darkness until now, He who loves His brother 28:29 abides in the light." 28:31 And there is no cause for stumbling in Him." 28:33 This is verse 9 and 10, Chapter 2. 28:35 Oh, Chapter 2, okay. Sorry, my fault. 28:37 Chapter 2:9-10. 28:40 "He who says He is in the light in hates His brother 28:42 is in darkness until now." 28:44 Verse 10:2, "He who loves His brother abides in the lie 28:48 and there is no cause for stumbling in Him." 28:51 So what's interesting to me as we walk in the light, 28:55 as we are in Christ Jesus, what happens? 28:57 Automatically, we love our brothers and sisters. 29:01 And if I hate my brothers and sisters that means, 29:05 I'm walking in darkness. 29:07 Amen. 29:08 I'm not walking in the light of Jesus. 29:10 So I see something with the light of God 29:12 in relationship to our relationship 29:14 to other people. 29:16 That's good. 29:17 And there's a verse in Mark 9, which is interesting. 29:19 And it talks about salt 29:21 in relationship to other people, 29:24 which I had never processed before. 29:27 Mark 9:50. 29:31 Fifty? Yeah. 29:32 Do you have that, sweetie? 29:34 Yeah, Mark 9:50 says, "Salt is good, 29:37 but if the salt have lost his saltiness or saltness, 29:42 where with will you season it? 29:44 Have salt in yourselves 29:46 and have peace with one another." 29:48 Isn't that interesting? 29:49 Wow, so put salt and peace with one another. 29:51 So it's the same connection if we have that salt. 29:54 If we are the salt of the earth, 29:56 we will live in peace with others. 29:58 And the same thing, if we have the light of Jesus, 30:01 we would be at peace with others. 30:02 I had never seen that before. 30:04 It was really, that's was really precious. 30:06 Could I share a scripture? 30:08 Yeah, please. Please. 30:09 As J.D. was talking 30:10 because it's interesting that Jesus says, 30:12 you're the light of the earth and now He's talking 30:14 about a lamp on a candlestick, but then He talks about 30:18 the light of the city. 30:20 And it occurred to me that, you know, 30:23 I usually have thought of it that the lamp is, 30:27 you know, for the house 30:28 and how you're witnessing in the family, 30:30 and whereas, the city is coming outside, 30:33 but it occurred to me that we could also think of it 30:36 as the lamp as being our individual candle 30:40 and the city as being the corporate, 30:42 the church that's, you know, on the hill. 30:45 And here's the script... 30:47 Well, I don't know when you were thinking this 30:48 or taking this came to my mind. 30:50 Let's look at Philippians 2. Oh, yay! 30:56 And we will look at verse 14, 15, excuse me. 31:02 I'm trying to see, but there it is, 15. 31:04 And Paul says that, he's praying, 31:07 "That the Philippians may be blameless and harmless, 31:10 children of God, without fault 31:12 in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation, 31:16 among whom, among this generation, 31:19 you shine as lights in the world, how, 31:24 holding fast the word of life." 31:27 It's good. 31:28 And there's some translations that say 31:32 that you shine as lights in the world 31:36 as you hold out the word of life. 31:39 And I had an experience when I was at the farm. 31:42 I used to... 31:44 I was probably the only one that lived out in the country 31:46 who walk their dogs on a leash. 31:48 But I had a little Yorkie, who would take off 31:52 across the fields and in depth near, 31:54 she would be in danger 31:55 because of a neighboring farmers. 31:58 Mean, nasty dog. 32:00 So I would... I mean, he would... 32:02 That was not on a leash. 32:04 Right, you know, he was not a lease, okay? 32:05 He would eat up anything. 32:07 I mean, he used to eat chickens and peacocks and other dogs 32:10 and he wasn't attack dog. 32:12 Then make sure you love your neighbor. 32:14 That's right. 32:16 That's right, we're talking about that. 32:17 Amen. Taking as a biblical example. 32:19 Yes. 32:21 But anyway, so one night as I was out walking, 32:25 I looked up at the sky and it was just like 32:29 black velvet with thousands of diamonds attached 32:35 'cause the stars were so bright. 32:37 You know, when you're out in the country in still light. 32:39 And so it was crisp and I'm walking the dogs... 32:42 And this scripture came to my mind 32:45 and I was just speaking it as an affirmation saying, 32:48 "Father, I thank You that You've made me 32:50 like a light in the world, 32:53 as I hold forth the word of life." 32:56 And then I thought, Lord, is this what You see 32:59 when You look down? 33:01 Do You see this black darkness? 33:04 And then 'cause and then all of these little stars 33:08 that were shining like stars in the universe, Paul said, 33:11 but some there's just little flickery little stars 33:15 and then some of those huge stars. 33:17 So maybe this little flickery star 33:19 was Shelley Quinn and this huge star 33:21 was Mark Finley outdoing evangelism series, 33:24 but the point is, I wonder if that's the way 33:27 God looks down and sees us 33:29 as stars shining in the universe. 33:32 Wow. Yeah, that's a great picture. 33:34 Very interesting. 33:36 You know, verse 16 of Mark, Matthew 5. 33:40 Yeah. Yeah. 33:43 That word there let... 33:45 Amen. No. 33:47 When you say, somebody wants to say something 33:52 and somebody else's talking. 33:53 Say let him, in other words, if we remove the obstacles 33:58 then the light of the Lord can shine through us. 34:00 Amen. That's good. 34:01 But I would like to maybe summarize also this by saying, 34:05 you know, if you look at yourself 34:07 when we look at ourselves and we see darkness, 34:09 things that are not good. 34:12 What we understand is that light dispels darkness. 34:15 That's right. And Jesus is the light. 34:17 As we come close to Him, the darkness in us 34:20 begins to disappear. 34:21 And the more time we spend with him, 34:27 it will dispel the darkness completely. 34:30 Even that's not just character as much. 34:33 I mean, that can be emotions, too. 34:34 Because I was thinking, when I was so sick, 34:37 one day I was feeling a little down. 34:40 I just got down and I was thinking 34:42 kind of negative thoughts. 34:44 And sometimes when you've been sick 34:46 for protracted amount of time, you get to where you feel like, 34:50 will I ever be well? 34:52 You know and... 34:54 Anyway, so it just Lord brought it to my attention, 34:58 I was kind of in a dark spot. 35:00 So I got into His word and I was singing songs to Him. 35:06 And it was amazing how His light just came in 35:10 and that that whole mood just was, it dissipated. 35:15 So that light's important for us, connection. 35:19 I know we want to move on, 35:21 but I just was thinking about before we moves on, is that 35:23 you know, it mentions in here about a light on a hill. 35:26 That's up, right? I'm thinking elevation. 35:28 And it mentions on a candlestick, 35:30 I don't know what verse that is? 35:32 Is that... Yeah, that's 15. 35:33 Fifteen? It's on fifteen. 35:34 Put on a candlestick. 35:36 So there's something to be said about light, 35:38 but there's also something to be said 35:39 about light elevated up. 35:42 Elevated. Yeah, elevated somehow. 35:44 So just quickly, any thoughts regarding that 35:46 because again, we don't want to put ourselves on a pedestal 35:48 saying, okay, I want to be a light, 35:50 so we not physically climb up a tower, 35:52 but you know what I'm saying? 35:53 Say, okay, I want to be a light, 35:54 so let me just, I gonna let it shine, 35:57 but it's not shine in their appropriate way. 35:58 So how do you think that that height, 36:00 how would we approach that you think in these verses? 36:02 A city on a hill, 36:04 we definitely understand, it can be seen. 36:05 That's good. 36:07 But how do we get to that height? 36:08 Any thoughts on that? 36:09 Elevated. 36:11 Well, before, before... 36:13 You know, you gave me some, some thoughts on that. 36:15 It's very interesting. 36:17 When there's a ship out in the sea 36:18 and it's dark and there's a storm, 36:20 where is the, where is the light? 36:23 The lighthouse is... 36:24 The lighthouse is high and it's elevated. 36:27 And so there's a benefit in life being high. 36:31 If you have a lamp, 36:33 if you have a lamp and you have a shade on it, 36:37 it's gonna light just that area, 36:38 but the higher you bring it, the more the light is spread. 36:43 The broader, the broader the... 36:44 Yeah. Yeah. 36:45 Because I think if you had a candle 36:47 if candle could talk and said, 36:48 okay, so I'm just down here in this person's little house. 36:50 I wanna be that light in that lighthouse. 36:51 And, you know, 36:53 I think what I'm getting at is really we need to be that light 36:55 wherever God has placed us to be 36:56 and we are making that impact wherever God has placed us 37:00 'cause it's sometimes easy to look and say, 37:02 oh, I wanna be that lighthouse or I wanna be that city, 37:06 I wanna be the city 37:07 and I need to focus on my candle, 37:09 my experience, it maybe just... 37:11 Let's say, Jill and I were in the jungle 37:12 and it's just the two of us, 37:13 want you to let my light shine bright 37:15 just for her, for two of us. 37:17 You know, that is very musical. 37:19 I know I don't know what you were gonna share, 37:20 but there's a song in Spanish 37:22 that I have never heard in English. 37:24 And it's "Brilla en el sitio donde estes." 37:27 Maybe she can comment about that. 37:28 Shine in the place where you are. 37:30 Shine in the place where you are. 37:31 The song is in English too, but what I wanted to say... 37:35 Is that brightening the corner where you are? 37:36 Brightening the corner where you are. 37:38 That's right. I couldn't think of it. 37:39 We have that in English. Yeah. 37:41 You know, you're talking about 37:42 how do we project the light without being, you know, 37:46 thinking that we have to be so up on a hill? 37:48 You are the hill your community 37:50 in your neighborhood. 37:52 You know, I think that by your testimony, 37:56 you are a light to the people that live in my vicinity. 38:00 I mean, I had some company coming 38:03 and they got lost because it's just cornfields 38:06 and they're like, it's the maize out here. 38:09 So some of the people on the road, 38:12 we had not met just years ago, 38:14 but my friends from Wisconsin stopped at some people's house 38:18 and say, "Oh, you must be talking 38:20 about that family that lives," you know, 38:24 they may not know you by name, 38:26 but they see what you're doing. 38:28 Your good works, you know. 38:30 And it's not to put ourselves over anybody else's work 38:33 because of the Lord, moving and impressing you, 38:38 what to do and equipping you to do a couple... 38:41 He chooses and then He gives us the ability to do it. 38:45 So I think that we are a hill in our neighborhood. 38:51 All around the neighborhood, I'm gonna let it shine. 38:54 So I don't know if that goes with your thoughts, 38:57 but you know, you caught me on that question. 39:00 I mean, I never thought about it. 39:01 I'm like, okay, you have to be high on the hill, what? 39:04 But we need to be a light in the community. 39:07 Yeah, in our neighborhood, so... 39:10 Well said. 39:12 I know this is gonna bring some thoughts and some, 39:15 you know, how you say things and people visualize it. 39:19 I don't know who in the world has not seen this 39:24 that you turn on a light 39:25 and little cockroaches start trying to find a place to go. 39:28 And I was trying to say, how do you apply that? 39:30 Because the light has been turned on and this little... 39:32 They want the darkness. 39:34 They don't like the light. 39:36 So anyway, you know, 39:38 as you were talking about your experience 39:39 that you were sick and that you were getting down. 39:44 Let's say for now 39:46 that these little cockroaches are the enemy. 39:48 Little demons. Insects. 39:49 Yes. 39:51 So what we need is to allow the light of God 39:53 to come into our hearts and these, they're going to go. 39:56 They have to go. They cannot... 39:58 Where there's praise, 40:00 where there's a worship of the Lord, 40:03 the enemy doesn't like to be there. 40:04 He wants to go away. That's right. 40:06 So if you want the enemy to go away, 40:07 start singing some songs and praise to God. 40:09 Oh, yeah. That works so good. 40:10 This is a great word 40:12 for somebody that's out there listening 40:13 because, you know, this is a serious issue. 40:16 And that, you know, 40:17 we're getting more calls all the time 40:19 and put that praise music on, you know, 40:22 sing praise to the Lord. 40:23 That's right. Lord increased my faith. 40:25 And the Lord inhabits the praises of people, 40:28 so the devil must leave because he can't be in His presence. 40:32 And then that's attractive too, isn't it, to people 40:33 then like, wow, we want to be a part of that. 40:35 But let me ask you this. 40:37 What do you think he meant 40:38 by don't hide your light under a basket. 40:44 That's another good question. 40:46 That's good. 40:47 You know, a thought occurred to me 40:49 because we were watching something 40:53 a program on Jerusalem, 40:55 all commerce was done 41:00 and their packaging 41:02 or their way of getting things around from baskets. 41:06 And I got to thinking, 41:07 so maybe basket could be your be labor 41:11 that I mean, as working. 41:14 So sometimes, we put, 41:17 we let our work duties, be a basket. 41:24 Like a bushel that we've turned upside down over our light 41:27 even in ministry I got to thinking about this 41:30 that maybe even in ministry you can get so busy 41:34 doing things for God's "Work" 41:39 that you're not letting your light shine 41:41 because as you said, 41:42 maybe you've not been spending that time with God, 41:46 so you're on the third day in the radiance is losing you. 41:49 You don't have to have the veil anymore, 41:51 does that makes sense? 41:52 It makes a lot of sense. Yeah. 41:54 It's beautiful. That's really good. 41:55 Not only that, you know, 41:57 what I think that some people feel 41:58 like they may not be as equipped as they should 42:00 to be able to share what the Lord has given them. 42:04 And so they may hide purposely, you know, because they... 42:10 But let me, let me share, 42:13 let me share a testimony with you. 42:16 Okay. 42:17 Many times if I felt inadequate... 42:20 but I have learned 42:21 that if the Holy Spirit puts that thought on you, 42:24 He is the author and the finisher. 42:27 So don't let Satan talk you out of being a blessing 42:32 at the same time receiving a blessing, 42:34 so just cowboy up, go right in there, you know, 42:41 and allow the Holy Spirit in your heart 42:44 and this also gives you a holy bonus 42:46 for the next event that comes your way. 42:49 So don't... 42:50 And be embarrassed, you know, 42:53 and hide the gift that the Lord has given you. 42:55 Wow. I agree. 42:57 I think fear comes into it a lot. 42:58 You know, because we're afraid, 43:00 maybe I don't know enough or peer pressure, you know, 43:04 what are they gonna think if I make a stand for principle 43:07 or if I stand for Jesus. 43:09 I don't want to look like a fool. 43:10 I don't want to look like, 43:11 so I just won't say anything right now 43:13 when really we ought to. 43:15 There's times when God calls us to make a stand 43:18 and to say something and to speak for Him 43:22 and then maybe we're afraid. 43:23 So I love what you said, J.D. 43:25 You know, step out by faith, 43:27 know that all his biddings are enabling, isn't that? 43:30 He will give us what we need. 43:32 You know, you reminded me of a skit 43:35 that was done in our church when I was a teenager. 43:39 And it's really impacting. 43:41 I still remember to this day 43:42 even though I'm not a teenager anymore. 43:44 And I thought maybe we should do this on 3ABN 43:47 and it was a person that, you know, 43:51 you imagine the whole church is watching, 43:52 the person comes and hides behind some kind of furniture 43:55 in the platform 43:57 and then looks around and goes to another one 43:59 and hides again, 44:00 and then when it's apparently safe, 44:02 he comes to the front and he goes, 44:06 "Sshh, I'm a Christian." 44:10 That's good. And he sneaks off again. 44:12 And it was an illustration of 44:13 that sometimes we don't let the light shine. 44:16 And this verse says let your light shine. 44:18 And in situations where peer pressure 44:20 or sometimes the Lord put something in our minds 44:23 to say to someone and you so, should I say that? 44:27 And it's a good thing that you're gonna say. 44:29 And so let your light so shine, say thank you, say please, 44:32 you know, those are letting light shine as well. 44:35 And so there are many ways to let your light shine 44:38 and that allows people to see Jesus 44:41 in a way they perhaps never seen him before. 44:44 You know, even our demeanor 44:45 doesn't even have to be words we speak. 44:46 That's right. Reflection on somebody. 44:48 I guess I was a little too serious this past week 44:50 and somebody said, "Smile." 44:52 And I was like, "Am I not smiling?" 44:54 And they're like, "No." 44:55 So even just a smile, it doesn't have to be a word. 44:58 That's right, that's right. Absolutely right. 45:00 Could I add something 'cause I don't think 45:02 we're really gonna get to the next thing... 45:03 No, no. That's okay. 45:05 That's all right. 45:07 This is fun. 45:08 But when you, when you said, say, please and thank you. 45:12 I just want to encourage 45:14 those of you who are working at home. 45:16 To me, if you want to know 45:18 if somebody really is letting the light of Jesus 45:21 shine out of them, 45:23 you see what's going on in their home. 45:26 Because you can't be one thing in your home 45:30 and then come out and be another. 45:33 I mean, have sincerity in your heart 45:35 and be doing something else. 45:38 So when you said that about saying, please and thank you. 45:41 My sister came to visit J.D. and I, when we lived in Texas. 45:46 And about the second day that she was there. 45:50 She said... 45:52 I heard her on the phone talking to her husband. 45:54 She says, "Oh, my goodness." 45:56 She said, "This is just sickening." 45:59 She said, "Please, honey. Thank you, honey." 46:02 Da-da-da-da. 46:03 She said, "They are nicer." 46:05 She said, "They are nicer to each other 46:07 than you would be to a complete stranger." 46:09 So I waited, I waited, until she got off the phone. 46:13 And then I told. 46:15 I said, I overheard and I said, 46:16 "Why wouldn't you wanna be nicer to your spouse 46:19 and you would be to a stranger?" 46:21 And she said, "Oh, you guys are so sickeningly sweet." 46:25 Well, now, here's the interesting thing. 46:27 You would've to know my sister, she was a pistol. 46:30 But the interesting thing was, 46:33 two days after that 46:36 I heard her on the phone one night, 46:38 I was passing down the hallway. 46:40 And she said, "Honey, we've got to give this a try." 46:43 She said, "it is so peaceful here 46:47 and the love of God is just..." 46:50 She said, "We need to start being nicer to each other." 46:54 That gives the fact, what you were saying 46:56 about the light in your own home, 46:58 you know, that's right. 46:59 Yeah, that's amazing. Go ahead. 47:00 if I may, you know, raising two boys, 47:03 people say, oh, it must be so difficult to raise boys, 47:07 I prefer girls. 47:08 "No, well, the Lord blessed me 47:10 and answered my prayer requests. 47:12 And I was in supplication. 47:14 I said, "Lord, please give me boy. 47:16 So I'm up for boy." 47:18 So but anyhow, this goes for single mom or parents as well. 47:25 You know, please and thank you 47:26 it's not just for outside the door. 47:28 And if you noticed your child talking to their sibling 47:33 demanding, you know, hey, do this. 47:36 And I say, "Where's the please? 47:38 Where is the please? 47:39 What do you have to tell your brother? 47:41 You're not gonna give orders to your brother." 47:43 So and the same thing, 47:45 when they're addressing their father... 47:47 this was when they were younger and need training, of course. 47:50 And sometimes they would say, "Poppy, da-da-da-da." 47:53 "Excuse me. 47:55 Where is the please and thank you? 47:56 You're talking to your father." 47:58 So, poppy, would you please, da-da-da-da, you know. 48:01 I didn't want to and they were up there, 48:04 there are things, you know, their conversation, 48:07 but yet, as a parent under the same roof 48:11 you have got to bring in the fact 48:14 that you have to be gentle or kind to your parents 48:18 as well to your sibling 48:19 because then it will be easier for them to do it, 48:22 you know, at the church, in the community, at school, 48:25 wherever they are. Rest of their life. 48:26 But please and thank you is very important 48:28 in their shedding light, I believe. 48:30 Absolutely. 48:32 Because I don't think Jesus was rude at all, you know. 48:36 So the kindness comes in different packages. 48:40 So a kind word, a kind smile and a kind gesture, you know, 48:45 that you're bringing light or life into somebody's life, 48:48 so for whatever's worth. 48:50 That's wonderful. 48:52 You know, and we have just a couple of moments left 48:53 and then we're gonna to our prayer. 48:55 But I wanted to just ask one question because obviously, 48:58 we won't get to anymore of the sermon on the mount here. 49:01 But this is a wonderful study. 49:04 You know, on being salt and light. 49:05 And I just want to ask, 49:07 we're talking practical things is what we're talking now? 49:09 The please and the thank you 49:11 and being practical Christianity, 49:13 practically living out your light. 49:15 So what if someone's watching at home. 49:17 And they're saying, 49:19 I don't know how to spread my light. 49:21 I don't know how to be a light in my community 49:24 or in my neighborhood. 49:26 I feel like, I'm in a dark place 49:28 and I don't know how to get out. 49:30 What, is there any counsel, any advice, 49:32 any of you would share? 49:33 Well, I know what I would say. 49:36 I would say, God has a plan for your life. 49:39 He didn't just put you here to be a stomp over, 49:42 you know, just against the wall there. 49:44 Give the Holy Spirit permission, 49:46 you will know, He will make it perfectly clear, 49:50 if the fields are wipe. 49:54 They're looking for laborers. 49:56 So don't hesitate to say, 49:59 Lord, I know that you've a plan for my life, 50:02 just let me know little. 50:03 It was something little that'd be great 50:05 because I was thinking about this the other day. 50:10 I don't think that Abraham Lincoln 50:13 woke up one day when he was a boy 50:15 and says, "I wanna be famous." 50:18 What made Abraham Lincoln? 50:19 And I was thinking about H.M.S. Richards. 50:22 What made these legends in our time was that 50:27 they started early, they were consistent 50:30 because they did one step at a time. 50:33 And I would think that we all whatever that youthfulness be 50:37 could be 70 years old when you're starting your walk, 50:40 but start, be consistent, 50:43 the Lord will reward you with attaboys of some type of the... 50:47 So that you know that you're on the right path. 50:51 To me, it's as simple as that. 50:52 I don't think that there's any formula or hoops 50:55 that you have to jump through 50:56 because He wants you to do something. 50:58 Amen. 50:59 Go ahead. Oh, I'm sorry. 51:01 Let me share an experience that I had 51:04 when I was in the corporate world, 51:05 I worked... 51:07 I was doing symposiums to CPAs 51:10 and I wasn't allowed to talk about religion and... 51:15 But so what I would do is I would pray and say, 51:19 Lord, let me give me a divine appointment today. 51:24 And so as I... 51:25 We would be doing these training symposiums, 51:28 you know, I wouldn't talk about the Lord, 51:29 but it was interesting 51:31 because somebody come up and say 51:33 you're a Christian, aren't you? 51:35 We'd be doing our lunch or dinner having dinner. 51:38 You're a Christian, aren't you? 51:39 And I'd say, "Yeah. 51:41 How'd you know?" 51:42 I can just tell. 51:43 And then here you are at a table 51:45 with maybe eight people 51:47 and because of that question then the conversation, 51:51 God kept opening up doors 51:53 that I could just be a witness for Him. 51:56 Just testify to His goodness. 51:58 You don't have to know, the 2,300 days, 52:01 just all you have to know is God's love. 52:04 Amen. Amen. 52:05 Pray for divine appointment. 52:06 Yeah, for sure. Amen. 52:08 Now we are down to five minutes and a few seconds left. 52:11 We want to have some prayer time 52:12 because that's part of worship too 52:14 talking to our creator God, 52:16 our friend, our Savior, our provider. 52:18 So let's just... 52:20 J.D., let's start with you. 52:21 We'll just go around the circle and have prayers. 52:24 Father, as we come to You in the name of Jesus, 52:26 we want to thank You for the opportunity 52:28 that You give each one of us, Lord, to be a little light. 52:31 And, Father, whether we're a light on a hill 52:34 or a light in a room, 52:36 we thank You for the opportunity. 52:38 Father, we just all asking that You lead God 52:40 direct each one of us, Lord, 52:42 so that we will be more Christ-like, 52:44 we give You permission, Lord, 52:45 to work in us and through us, Lord. 52:47 Just give us the holy bonus to have ears that want to hear, 52:51 so that we can follow Your instructions. 52:54 Thank You, Lord, for my brothers and sisters. 52:56 Thank You for my family. 52:58 Thank You for the Sabbath day, Lord. 53:00 Father, we prayed that You will just receive our praise 53:03 because You are worthy of all praise. 53:06 And, Lord, we are so grateful to You 53:08 for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, 53:11 the gift of the Holy Spirit, the gift of Your word, Lord. 53:14 And we know how totally dependent we are upon You 53:17 but, Father, we pray in Jesus' name 53:19 that for each one of us who is at this table 53:24 and everybody all of our family members 53:27 who are watching Lord or listening on the radio, 53:30 we ask in the name of Jesus', Father, 53:32 that You would pour out Your Holy Spirit on us 53:35 and cause us to be salt and light in Jesus' name. 53:39 Amen. 53:42 And we thank You, Father, 53:43 they have called us and we respond, 53:47 here I am, send me. 53:49 So I pray, Lord, 53:51 that You will give us and equip us the ability 53:54 to let our light so shine before them. 53:57 Yes. Amen. 53:58 And we thank You, Lord, 54:00 for we see that Jesus wants us to shine 54:04 and as He told us without Him, we can do nothing. 54:07 Thank You for the invitation that we see in the scriptures 54:10 that tell us that Jesus is knocking at our door, 54:13 we must open the door that He may come in 54:16 and that we can be shining for You. 54:18 Amen. Amen. 54:20 Father, as we continue in prayer, 54:22 we just thank You for your presence. 54:24 Right now, I just lift up our brothers and sisters at home. 54:27 And those who might feel my light is smokey 54:30 and I'm afraid it's about ready to go out. 54:33 Lord, I ask that by the power of Your spirit, 54:36 You would bring courage and strength and comfort, 54:39 You would pull their feet out of mighty clay 54:42 and set them up on a rock. 54:44 Lord, Jesus, I ask that You would do a new thing 54:47 in each one of our hearts and lives 54:49 that every day as we surrender to You, 54:52 as we spend time into Your word, 54:54 Jesus the light of the world would shine upon us 54:58 and Your light, Your glory, Your character 55:02 would be revealed to each and every person 55:05 that we come in contact with. 55:07 Thank You that You've given each one of us 55:10 the privilege of shining for Jesus. 55:13 Amen. Amen. 55:14 Father in Heaven, thank You that You are the one 55:18 that gives us the flavor for the salt, 55:20 You're the one that provides us, 55:22 gives us the light. 55:23 Lord, we want to reflect You, 55:24 we want to be the right flavor to others. 55:27 Thank You that all of us are here on this earth 55:30 for a purpose 55:31 or none of us are just here, 55:33 just to like sit in the corner like, J.D. was saying, 55:35 but we're here, Lord, to spread Your gospel, 55:37 Your love to others, 55:39 so help us to reflect to You this tomorrow Sabbath, 55:43 this evening with our families, 55:45 this coming week with maybe our coworkers, 55:47 those we don't even know by name, 55:49 but maybe just pass in the halls 55:51 or at the grocery store. 55:52 Lord, we want to be a light 55:54 that is shining brightly for You. 55:56 We thank You again for your love and care for us, 55:58 and in Jesus' name we pray, amen. 56:00 Amen. 56:02 Amen, amen. 56:04 Thank you, all, for joining us. Amen. 56:05 You know, I was thinking about 56:07 the whole salt and light thing, too. 56:09 You know, sometimes I think it could be easy to, you know, 56:12 let's say, I'm just for example, 56:15 heading out of Wal-Mart 56:16 and I've got 25 bags in exaggeration 56:19 in my arms, you know, 56:20 and I can't even get the door open 56:22 and someone just I'm like, 56:23 why are they even holding the door for me? 56:25 You know, you know, and so, you know, 56:27 we can start to thinking about other people, 56:29 but, you know, why are they doing this 56:30 and why are they doing that? 56:32 And, man, don't they see, I'm in need? 56:33 You know, it's easy to get stuck in ourselves. 56:36 And so talking about little steps 56:39 is just to do maybe just a small thing. 56:41 And while it can just turn into something big. 56:44 I know quickly here, I liked as a child, 56:46 I like the challenge of starting a fire with one match, 56:50 no other matches, one match and it was neat 56:52 'cause you get to that point 56:54 if you get the tender and everything just right 56:55 and then you strike the match and that little flame. 56:58 Small. Wow. 57:00 Turns into eventually a big born fire. 57:02 So you don't know, but you would like. 57:05 No, I was just saying. 57:06 You just say something wonderful 57:08 that you're spreading the fire. 57:10 And you see, as this one person who can help others 57:13 say, yes, we need to do this, 57:14 we need to be a light for others 57:16 and you can make greater light. 57:18 It's kind of that ripple effect. 57:20 Ripple effect. Yes. 57:21 Thank you again for joining us. 57:22 Thank you, Dinzeys. 57:24 Thank you, Quinns. 57:25 Thank you for joining us. 57:26 We hope that you have a wonderful Sabbath 57:28 and a wonderful week. 57:29 Don't forget to let your light shine, 57:31 Christ's shine out of you this coming week. 57:33 God bless you. Have a wonderful Sabbath. |
Revised 2017-09-11