Participants: Shelley & J. D. Quinn (Host), Mollie Steenson & Dee Hilderbrand & Luis Capote & Tim Parton
Series Code: TDYFW
Program Code: TDYFW017029A
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:18 Removing pain 00:23 Lord, let my words 00:29 Heal a heart that hurts 00:34 I want to spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:45 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people 01:08 Hello, and welcome to 3ABN Family Worship, 01:11 happy Sabbath. 01:12 We're so glad that you've joined us 01:15 and we have the 3ABN family around the table. 01:18 And we're going to study tonight in God's Word. 01:22 We're going to talk about relying on His power, 01:26 His power to walk the Christian walk. 01:29 Honey, why don't you introduce everybody, 01:32 I'm Shelley Quinn. 01:33 I'm her husband JD. 01:34 Yes, Shelley I will. 01:36 We have Mollie over here. 01:38 We love Mollie, Mollie takes care of all of us, 01:41 we're all her little chickens. 01:43 And we have our precious Dee right here. 01:45 Dee takes care of all of us too. 01:47 In a different way. In a different way. 01:50 We have Luis, 01:51 Luis is a good friend of ours as well as Tim. 01:54 And so we're just glad to be able to spend 01:56 the Sabbath hours here together. 02:00 You know, there's some, 02:02 I love my biological brother and sister, 02:04 just absolutely love them. 02:06 I love my spiritual children, 02:09 my spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ too. 02:12 And those who get to choose and so it's wonderful 02:15 that we can be here together this evening. 02:16 You know what, sometimes you hear people say often actually 02:20 that it's, you know, you can't choose your family, 02:23 you choose your, well, I guess we choose each other 02:26 but I've heard so many people say 02:29 that their brothers and sisters in Christ 02:31 are closer to them than even their own family. 02:33 And I think that's because we're like-minded. 02:36 Well, let me ask a quick question 02:38 before we send Tim scurrying for the piano. 02:43 Tell me something 02:45 what is your favorite part of the Sabbath? 02:48 Anybody? The fellowship. 02:50 Just being able to know out of all the things 02:53 that are happening during the week 02:54 there's this 24 hour period 02:56 that you can just be one on one with God 03:00 without any hindering thought. 03:03 You know, you can spend it in nature, 03:05 you can spend it helping others, 03:07 you can actually see God's mighty power 03:11 in those 24 hours. 03:13 And it's something that unless 03:14 you really have learned to experience, 03:17 you have no idea what it's about. 03:20 When the Sabbath starts usually it's when the enemy 03:27 tries to keep you the most hectic. 03:29 You know, you're trying to finish your chores, 03:31 you're trying to finish your things 03:33 but then when you are in that beginning, 03:36 when the Sabbath morning starts and you come to church, 03:40 and you can just relax, and you just let God guide you. 03:46 It is the most fulfilling and the most wonderful experience 03:50 that I get to have, 03:52 and I get to have it every week. 03:54 Amen. Amen. 03:55 You know, ET Edward was sharing with me 03:58 what she heard a Rabbi say, and what the Rabbi said was, 04:05 "You can tell how you value the Sabbath 04:09 by your preparation." 04:11 And boy that spoke, I mean that shouted at me 04:14 because there are times that my preparation, 04:18 I mean, I'm ready for the Sabbath 04:19 but I'm not always ready to make it a special time. 04:23 And I thought that was quite important. 04:26 Well, Tim, we're going to ask you 04:27 if you will to play piano for us. 04:30 And while he's going over there, 04:33 we're going to look at 04:37 from the Seventh-day Adventist hymnal, 04:40 this is number 319, 04:43 Lord I want to be a Christian. 04:45 And we're going to make a joyful noise to the Lord. 04:50 Amen. 04:59 Lord, I want to be a Christian 05:02 In my heart, in my heart 05:07 Lord, I want to be a Christian 05:11 In my heart In my heart 05:18 In my heart 05:22 Lord, I want to be a Christian 05:26 In my heart 05:30 Lord, I want to be more loving 05:34 In my heart, in my heart 05:38 Lord, I want to be more loving 05:42 In my heart In my heart 05:49 In my heart 05:53 Lord, I want to be more loving 05:57 In my heart 06:01 Lord, I want to be more holy 06:06 In my heart In my heart 06:10 Lord, I want to be more holy 06:14 In my heart In my heart 06:22 In my heart 06:26 Lord, I want to be more holy 06:30 In my heart 06:34 Lord, I want to be like Jesus 06:38 In my heart, in my heart 06:43 Lord, I want to be like Jesus 06:47 In my heart In my heart 06:55 In my heart 06:59 Lord, I want to be like Jesus 07:03 In my heart 07:09 Amen. Amen. 07:11 I'll tell you, I just absolutely love singing. 07:15 I just love singing, I just wish I could sing better. 07:18 What a beautiful song, 07:19 what a beautiful tempo that was. 07:23 Thank you, Tim. 07:24 You know, we always start with a prayer. 07:28 And somebody might think, 07:29 "Hey, you didn't start with a prayer." 07:31 Yes, we did. 07:33 This was, you know, when a song is being sung 07:37 directly to the Lord, 07:38 when you're addressing the Lord, 07:39 that's just a prayer set to music. 07:42 And I just, I'm going to put my little plug in right here, 07:47 oh, when we were singing at church 07:49 and it's a song that you're singing 07:50 directly to the Lord. 07:52 Don't be talking to your neighbor 07:54 because it's like you're interrupting them 07:56 during a prayer time. 07:58 But let's do have a prayer, 08:00 Mollie, I am gonna ask you to start. 08:01 We'll just have a prayer of praise 08:04 and go around the table, 08:05 something you want to praise God for. 08:07 Our Heavenly Father, we come before You 08:09 in the name of Jesus and we thank You, Lord 08:12 for Your grace and mercy, 08:13 set us new day every morning. 08:15 Thank you, Father for Your love for us in Jesus' name. 08:18 Amen. 08:19 Oh, Father, I thank You for the power 08:21 that You used to work in my life. 08:23 I just want to praise You that You can change us, Father. 08:28 Thank you. Amen. 08:29 Thank you, Jesus that we can come to You in Your name. 08:32 Thank You, Jesus, for this Sabbath Day. 08:34 Thank You, Lord that this is a day 08:35 that You set aside that You've created. 08:38 And, Father, that we can participate. 08:41 Thank You for my brothers and sisters in Christ. 08:44 Heavenly Father, we praise You and thank You 08:46 for Your three greatest gifts of grace, 08:49 our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 08:51 Your Holy Spirit and Your Word. 08:55 Our loving Father, I thank You so much for Your power, 08:58 Your power to forgive and Your power to save. 09:02 Lord, and I thank You because You have shown to us, 09:06 You have given us Your Spirit, 09:08 You have poured out Your spirit in this area. 09:10 Lord, and we hear countless individuals 09:13 that the Spirit has touched them 09:14 and they have been able to feel the victory. 09:17 And I thank You, Lord, 09:18 for being such a mighty and powerful God. 09:20 In Christ name Lord. Amen. 09:23 Father God, I thank You that while we were yet sinners 09:26 You made a way, and I am so honored to know You 09:30 and to love You and to live for You. 09:31 And yes, I want to be more like You. 09:35 And thank You for this opportunity today 09:37 to worship and study You 09:39 and to again be with friends that are like-minded. 09:42 You are so wonderful, 09:44 You are God and I adore You in Jesus' name. 09:47 Amen. Amen. 09:49 Hallelujah. 09:51 Our topic tonight is going to be relying on His power. 09:57 And if we're going to be more like Jesus, 10:00 if we're going to be more loving in our hearts 10:03 and be more holy in our hearts 10:05 and be a Christian in our hearts, 10:08 then we can't do it on our own, 10:10 we've got to come before the Lord 10:13 and rely on His power. 10:14 So let me read to you an affirmation 10:17 and an affirmation is simply taking God's word 10:20 in either speaking it over your life 10:23 or praying it back to the Lord. 10:25 Let me read you an affirmation 10:27 and then we will see all of the scriptures 10:29 that we'll look at tonight 10:32 or how this are in this affirmation. 10:35 And this is in the form of a prayer. 10:38 "Father, I am relying on the power of Your Word 10:40 and Your Spirit to work within me, 10:42 to cause me to will 10:44 and to act according to Your good purpose. 10:46 I gladly confess my weaknesses to You, 10:49 for Your grace is sufficient. 10:52 Thank You for making 10:53 Your power perfect in my weakness. 10:55 Just as a branch must be connected to the vine 10:58 for life and vitality, 11:01 I know my union to Christ is critical for success. 11:06 Apart from Christ, I can do nothing, 11:08 nothing to change myself 11:10 and nothing of eternal consequence. 11:13 But by the power of the Holy Spirit, 11:15 I can put to death the misdeeds of my flesh. 11:17 I thank You, Father, for the confidence 11:19 You have given me in Christ. 11:21 I can do all things through Christ 11:24 who continues to strengthen me day by day, 11:27 the life of Christ in me 11:29 as His temple is my hope of glory." 11:32 Amen. Amen. 11:33 So as we look at these scriptures that support this, 11:39 you'll get an idea 11:40 of how you can just take scripture 11:42 and pray it back to the Lord, 11:44 because what does Isaiah 55:11 say? 11:47 "His Word does not return to Him void, 11:50 but it accomplishes every purpose 11:53 for which he sent it. 11:54 And God is watching over His Word to perform it." 11:57 So okay, we've all chosen scriptures, 11:59 mine happens to, 12:01 say I took what was left over here 12:02 and it's Philippians 2:13. 12:06 Let's read that. 12:07 Let's go to Philippians 2, 12:10 and I'd like to begin 12:12 with the B part of the verse before this. 12:16 Philippians 2:12. 12:18 Paul writes to the Philippians and he says, 12:21 "Work out your own salvation in fear and trembling." 12:28 How many of you have ever tried 12:30 to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling? 12:33 I'm telling you until I, 12:38 until God took me on the sanctuary, 12:40 to the sanctuary message in a study of the sanctuary 12:44 to understand His grace in the Old Testament. 12:48 Until He did, I constantly was trying to work out 12:52 my own salvation with fear and trembling 12:54 and it was knees knocking, performance oriented. 12:59 I didn't grew up as a Seventh-day Adventist, 13:01 I did not understand grace. 13:04 And it was something that I just never felt like 13:07 that's gonna be good enough for God. 13:10 But then He says, you know, 13:12 we can't separate 13:14 from Philippians 2:13 13:17 because basically he's saying, 13:19 work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13:22 don't rely on yourself in other words. 13:25 And he goes on, he says but not in your own strength, 13:28 "For it is God who works in you 13:32 both to will and to do for His good pleasure." 13:37 So I think of this as a two stage work. 13:41 God works in us, you know, here's God and His will, 13:45 there's His channel of blessing. 13:48 If you're outside of His will 13:50 what God does first is He works on your mind 13:54 through His Word, through His Spirit 13:56 to help you begin to desire to do His will. 14:01 And He gets your will lined up with His will. 14:04 You know, and sometimes, 14:06 I remember once I told the Lord, 14:07 Lord, I'm... 14:11 You know, I said, "I'm willing to do Your will." 14:13 And what I heard in my mind was, "No, you are not." 14:16 And I thought, oh, no. 14:19 And I said, "Lord, I'm willing to be made willing." 14:23 And then what I heard was, "That's all I ask." 14:27 So when we're willing to be made willing, 14:30 God will start changing the things that you desire 14:34 and He changes the way you think. 14:37 Now He's got you, He's working in you to will 14:40 according to His good pleasure. 14:41 But something that I've found is that that's not enough 14:46 because God will never force you to act. 14:49 So once He's changed your will 14:51 what He asks is that we take a step of faith, 14:56 and when you step out in faith, 14:58 the power of the Holy Spirit shows up 15:01 and God works in us to act. 15:05 So to me this is relying on His power 15:11 is the only way to walk the Christian walk. 15:15 So this is a terrific promise 15:17 and held on fast to Philippians 2:13. 15:21 And you can pray and say thank You, Father 15:23 that You're working in me 15:25 to will and to do Your good pleasure. 15:28 And remember that He is doing that 15:30 and He's gonna perfect the good work He began in you. 15:34 I believe Tim, you are next, tell us what your scripture is? 15:37 Right. 15:38 I just want to comment and say that God has a job security 15:43 in that, in that He is working in us 15:46 to will and do according to His good pleasure 15:49 'cause He constantly has to be working in me so. 15:52 My scripture is 2 Corinthians 12:9. 15:57 And this is Paul talking about a flesh, 16:00 a thorn that was in his flesh, 16:04 a messenger of Satan to buffet him, 16:08 to keep him from being excessively exalted. 16:10 That's what verse 7 sets this verse up. 16:13 Verse 9, "But Christ said to me, 16:17 'My grace, My favor and loving kindness.' 16:20 " I'm sorry, let me just go over here to the scripture, 16:22 the New King James Version. 16:24 My grace, "God said to me, 16:26 'My grace is sufficient for you, 16:27 for My strength is made perfect in weakness.'" 16:30 My grace is sufficient for you, 16:32 my strength is made perfect in weakness. 16:37 You know if the very fact that we have these situations 16:42 that come up in our lives, I often think if I were God, 16:47 I would handle things differently. 16:49 You know, first of all I wouldn't have, 16:52 I wouldn't have the... 16:54 There would be no problems. 16:55 You know, I mean why would I want for my children 16:57 to have troubles and problems. 16:59 Well, that would make us awful weak, 17:02 that would make us awfully flimsy, 17:04 you know for it 17:05 because that's what builds us muscle. 17:08 And so first of all the fact that we do have weaknesses, 17:12 each of us are possibly even born 17:14 maybe even I don't, I don't want to say 17:17 that God puts those weaknesses in us from the beginning, 17:23 it's our nature. 17:26 We will learn later about the things 17:29 that can't be changed, 17:30 zebra can't change its stripes and those kind of things. 17:33 We are human 17:35 and but the fact that we have a grace that is, 17:40 that we can give ourselves, 17:44 finding Christ we can follow Him 17:46 and find that His grace is sufficient for us. 17:50 It also makes us common, 17:52 we have those weaknesses in common 17:55 so that we can understand each others problems better. 18:00 If and that is huge we talk about the community 18:03 and the fellowship that we have with one another, 18:07 knowing that I think that also that helps us 18:10 be more kind and loving and tender with each other. 18:15 But the very bottom line is 18:17 that it is God's grace that is sufficient for us 18:21 and that we can rely on Him too. 18:24 He doesn't see us as having to be perfect 18:27 but knowing that we have weaknesses 18:32 we pray to Him, 18:33 it keeps us in constant contact with Him 18:35 if we're, if we're smart 18:37 and if we know what's best for us, 18:39 well, we will constantly be drawn to Him. 18:42 You know what, as I was following you there, 18:44 to me I think 18:46 it's an absolutely perfect term sufficient. 18:50 Nice. Yeah. 18:52 Boy, what a term 18:53 because we all have speed bumps in life. 18:56 We got a little speed bump, He says that's all right, JD, 18:59 My grace, My favor 19:00 is sufficient for that situation. 19:03 Oh-oh, tomorrow there is Pike's Peak. 19:06 Wow, what word does He use? 19:08 Sufficient. 19:09 Sufficient. Very nice. 19:11 So it makes Him no difference because He is almighty. 19:15 So whether something small that's happening to you, 19:18 whether something that's way bigger than you, 19:23 just call upon His name 'cause My grace is sufficient, 19:27 I will intercede. 19:29 You know, I'm reminded when he was talking about 19:31 strength through trials, when you're talking about, 19:34 I went to the Biodome that they made in Arizona 19:38 that was supposed to be better than Earth, 19:39 you know, when they first made it. 19:41 And when we got there, 19:43 there was these beautiful tall trees 19:45 and what they were saying is this trees are falling down 19:48 because they've never learned resistance, 19:51 we have never, we've forgotten to put the air on the wind 19:55 to keep them from counting down 19:58 from putting the root farther and farther out. 20:01 And it's the same thing with us, 20:03 it's the same thing 20:04 what this verse is trying to say, 20:05 I'm trying to create roots that are so deep 20:08 that you are so strong that you are so powerful 20:11 that My grace will be sufficient for you 20:13 because the enemy is going to try to take that grace 20:16 away from you. 20:17 And when humans tried to say 20:20 that they can do better than God, 20:22 they always fail that the things that 20:24 because they want to take the trials 20:26 and the tribulations, 20:27 they want to take the hard stuff up 20:28 and it's the stuff that gets us the strength 20:30 and it's the stuff 20:31 that allows us to reflect Christ. 20:33 Amen, amen. 20:34 You know, the thought that I have is that 20:38 so few people understand 20:39 what grace is and you know they'll say, 20:42 of course, and it's an accurate definition 20:45 is that grace is God's unearned, 20:48 undeserved favor, 20:51 but it's more than that when you look 20:53 at His three greatest gifts of grace. 20:56 Jesus is His greatest gift. 20:59 The Holy Spirit is His second greatest gift 21:02 and then the Word of God 21:04 that every word that was given by His inspiration. 21:08 So when you think of that, 21:10 and when I read that verse this is what comes to my mind 21:14 is He is saying My grace, My Son living in you, 21:18 My Holy Spirit working in you, but the Word of God 21:22 that when it's planted in your heart 21:24 has the power to save your soul, 21:27 My grace is sufficient. 21:29 And then He says, My power and here it says 21:33 My strength in the King James version, 21:35 but that word there is dunamis, 21:37 it's the power, it's God's dynamite power. 21:41 My power is made perfect in your weakness. 21:45 So one thing I've learned from this sweet man, 21:47 what do you pray every day, Lord increase my... 21:51 Increase my humility, increase my wisdom. 21:54 Increase my humility is where I wanted you to go. 21:57 If you think about this, humility, 22:01 I've come to understand 22:02 that humility means to be absolutely, 22:06 totally dependent upon God, 22:08 and any time we're not walking in dependence on God, 22:12 that's when we are airing our own little independence, 22:17 thinking our way is better than God's way. 22:19 You know, I'm reminded of just something I observed in church, 22:23 ever just kind of quietly sit back and observe sometimes. 22:28 There was a gentleman that had special music, 22:31 he was perfect. 22:33 I mean, nobody could have touched his natural talent 22:38 and ability. 22:40 And he sang a beautiful song, it was just kind of blah. 22:44 Why? 22:45 No anointing. No anointing. 22:48 Because where was his, what was he relying on, 22:52 was he relying that in his weakness, 22:55 God would make him strong. 22:57 No, he had all the natural ability, 22:59 but it was just kind of flat and dead. 23:02 Then there was this man, 23:04 this older man had a rough voice 23:06 used to sing in bars. 23:07 I'm sure that's called, I think it's a cigarette voice, 23:11 you know, it's when and he would get up 23:14 and he would sing his total confidence 23:18 must have been in God 23:19 because he other than he could carry a tune okay. 23:22 But he had none of that natural ability, 23:25 but his total confidence was in God 23:27 and it would touch our hearts and bring tears to our eyes. 23:30 Why? 23:32 Because his confidence was in God and he was anointed. 23:35 You know that's why when I read this opening statement 23:38 that you made it said, 23:40 I gladly confess my weaknesses and I thought, 23:42 well, I don't know, 23:44 I don't want to gladly confess my weakness 23:46 but in verse 10 of Chapter 12 23:49 Paul says over this for the sake of Christ 23:51 I am well pleased and take pleasure 23:53 in my weakness, in my infirmities and insults 23:56 and hardships, persecution, perplexities and distresses. 24:00 For when I am weak in my human strength, 24:02 then I am very strong. 24:04 And you know, it makes you think like... 24:05 When I grew up, like I said, 24:08 I tried to be so strong for the Lord. 24:10 And I think, Dee, you said earlier 24:13 that before we started the program 24:14 how that's a hard thing for men. 24:17 You're taught, it's good to be independent, 24:22 you're taught all of these things. 24:24 We program our children, don't we? 24:27 We're growing them up and we're trying to teach them 24:29 how to live independently and be self-sufficient. 24:33 And you, boy, you're proud when you get there 24:36 but that's not what being a Christian is all about, 24:39 it's all about looking to the Lord 24:41 and being dependant upon Him. 24:43 You know, one of the things that just brought to my mind 24:46 is that that is the one thing 24:48 that individuals do not understand as Christians 24:51 that when we're going through trials and tribulation, 24:53 we have this big old smile on our faces. 24:56 And people say what is wrong with you? 24:57 Sometimes. 24:58 Has that ever... 25:00 No, but let's just think about it, 25:01 even though there are some things 25:03 that are difficult but at the end I remember, 25:06 I'm just remembering when my mom had her cancer 25:09 and everybody was around her 25:12 and she was kind of consulting with everybody 25:14 and making them feel great, 25:15 when everybody was sad that she was about to pass away, 25:18 she was about to die. 25:20 And it's like 25:21 there was the smile that doctors 25:23 and the nurses are saying, 25:24 "What is wrong with your family? 25:25 What is wrong with you guys? 25:27 There's something about you 25:28 that in the time where we all would be crazy 25:32 because we think that our loved one is gonna die 25:36 and you guys have this aura of happiness, 25:38 this aura of peace." 25:40 And this is what this is talking about 25:42 that God will has enough grace and love over us that no matter 25:48 when He is trying to bring us, like you were mentioning, 25:50 bring us into His grace, 25:52 into His power that we come boldly and with joy. 25:56 Sometimes we struggle 25:58 and sometimes we put our foot down. 26:01 But for the most part when we do, it's such a joy. 26:04 Amen. Amen. 26:06 The strength, the power. 26:08 You know we're looking at today, 26:10 relying on His power. 26:13 And one of Jesus' most vivid 26:16 and powerful illustrations to we believers 26:21 is the relationship between the vine and the branches. 26:27 And Jesus gives this illustration 26:29 as He is preparing His disciples 26:33 for His death and His departure. 26:36 That's in John 15:5, so let's read that together. 26:40 Jesus says, "I am the vine, you are the branches. 26:45 He who abides in Me, and I in him, 26:50 he bears much fruit, 26:52 for apart from Me you can do absolutely nothing." 26:56 Now ain't that a wonderful lesson for us to learn? 26:59 Without Him, you know, it's in our, 27:02 in our inability He's our all ability, 27:04 in our insufficiency He's our all sufficiency. 27:09 We can do all things 27:10 and these are scriptures we're looking at 27:12 but it's only through Him as He strengthens us. 27:17 And so in this He says, "He who abides in Me." 27:22 And I wanted to look at that word abides. 27:26 What does it mean to abide 27:28 in Jesus as branches in the vine? 27:32 And I wanted to kind of look at three areas. 27:35 First, if you're abiding in Jesus, 27:38 if the vine is the branch, it's abiding in the vine. 27:43 What has there got to be? Connection. 27:45 You've got to be connected. 27:48 The connection is mutual. 27:50 Now that's something I find so beautiful in this. 27:53 We abide in Him but it also says He abides in us. 27:58 If there's no connection, there's no life. 28:02 If you cut the branch off from the vine, you know, 28:07 it may have, let's say it's got buds on it, 28:11 flowers on it. 28:12 And you know that the bud may eventually flower. 28:16 Have you ever seen that, you know, you can, 28:18 and so you're thinking well, everything's just fine 28:20 but what's going to happen in time. 28:22 If you're not vitally connected to the vine, 28:26 the branch is going to die. 28:29 And next is we need to be dependent, 28:32 totally dependent. 28:34 We the branches 28:35 are totally dependent on the vine. 28:37 The vine isn't dependent on the branches. 28:41 Sap flows from the vine to the branches, 28:46 without that sap 28:48 from the vine again the branch dies. 28:51 We are dependent upon Jesus for everything that counts. 28:56 Without Him we can't do, 28:58 and I'm gonna say what the scriptures said, 29:01 we can do absolutely nothing. 29:03 And then there's continuance. 29:06 The Greek word for abide is Meno, 29:09 M-E-N-O which means to remain or stay or to continue. 29:15 There's never a time to quit, 29:17 we're in this for the long haul. 29:19 And there's never a time we can disconnect 29:22 from that vine 29:24 because you disconnect from the vine 29:26 and there is no life giving virtue flowing into you. 29:31 It is like having, 29:33 you can have all the greatest gifts, 29:35 talents and abilities as I was mentioning earlier. 29:38 But if you're not vitally connected to the vine, 29:41 it may look good, it may sound good, 29:44 but there's no life producing potential within it. 29:47 Amen. 29:48 You know, I think of, 29:50 when the branch and you said it, 29:52 when the branch is connected to the vine, 29:54 what keeps that branch vital? 29:57 It's the sap, the sap. 29:59 And I think of the sap, I got an acronym for sap, 30:02 the spirit's anointing power. 30:04 Amen. 30:06 So it is as you are connected to the Lord, 30:09 that the Holy Spirit flows into you 30:12 and through you and that's how He works in you to will 30:16 and to do His good pleasure. 30:17 But it, does it surprise you that He says, apart from me, 30:20 you can do nothing? 30:23 Nothing. Nothing. 30:24 And I think, you know, you think 30:26 people who are gifted 30:29 and who seem to be doing something 30:31 but it's nothing of eternal consequence. 30:34 That's the issue there, apart from Me, 30:37 you can do nothing, 30:39 that's nothing of any value, nothing of value. 30:44 Yeah, you know I think about the workers here at 3ABN 30:49 and each of you wear so many hats 30:53 and you are constantly working, 30:55 and I think of the programs and the things 30:58 that you are involved in and I think could I, 31:02 you know I am the least of these. 31:05 And so you, I just think for them to have that power, 31:11 to stay connected is so vital 31:12 because you can't give what you don't have. 31:16 And so that's very good, you can give something, 31:19 you can say a bunch of words and you could, you know, 31:21 quote some of the things that you've memorized 31:24 but until you know it in power 31:26 and in the strength and in the realness of it. 31:28 And so I think for each of us as Christians 31:31 to be able to witness and to share with other people, 31:36 we have to be constantly getting that sap, 31:39 you know what I mean. 31:40 And you can get it in any position. 31:42 When you were talking about the doctors didn't understand 31:45 and the nurses didn't understand 31:48 what your mother was going through 31:50 and why your family was acting that way. 31:52 The issue was, 31:54 no matter what the position the tree is in, 31:58 if the roots are still connected it doesn't matter. 32:01 So not too long ago we saw a tree and it was down, 32:05 it was laying on the ground and someone said, 32:08 "Well, it's still growing, it's still blooming. 32:10 What is going on there?" 32:11 And we went around and we looked, 32:13 its roots were still connected to the ground. 32:17 So even when you're walking through lost, 32:19 even when you're down, if your roots are connected, 32:23 you are still blooming. 32:26 Can I? May I? 32:27 I feel that is really powerful. 32:29 It made me think of Micah 7:8, 32:32 where he says, "Do not rejoice over me my enemy, 32:36 when I fall I will arise, when I sit in darkness, 32:40 the Lord will be a light to me." 32:42 And I think that what we forget 32:45 and somewhere here in Micah he goes on and says, 32:48 even if you fall seven times, 32:50 the Lord's gonna bring you back up. 32:52 What we forget is we will get knocked down from time to time 32:56 but as long we're connected, 32:57 we're still blooming and blossoming 32:59 and God will rise us up again. 33:01 That's powerful. 33:03 I just, I love what you gave me, 33:06 is it too soon to move on to Jeremiah? 33:08 So we were looking at verses in Jeremiah 13:23. 33:15 What that says, Jeremiah 13:23. 33:22 "Can the Ethiopian change his skin 33:24 or the leopard its spots? 33:28 Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil." 33:35 See, I know there is people out there 33:36 that are very strong, I was not that strong. 33:40 So we have to remember when we're talking about this 33:43 because sometimes people say, 33:44 well, I can do this or I can do that. 33:46 Some people are strong, you can change your habits, 33:49 you can change how you act or what you do, 33:52 but the thing is that is outward. 33:55 What God is talking about here is the inward. 33:58 And the reason that this book so deeply to me 34:01 it's because it says then may you also do good 34:04 who are accustomed to do evil. 34:06 There's a hymn out there that really spoke to me, 34:10 it says, sinking deep in sin never to rise again. 34:13 I'm not sure if I got that quite right or not. 34:16 But I was sinking deep in sin, I was anchored in the mire. 34:19 I could not pull myself out and I couldn't see 34:24 beyond that to where God could save me 34:27 or do anything for me 34:28 because I just was so weak and so I didn't have it. 34:33 So when I actually surrendered to him, 34:36 I couldn't change the inside. 34:39 See you can change your outward behavior 34:41 if you're strong enough, 34:43 but God changes the inside who you really are. 34:50 I am not the person I used to be, 34:53 I am not rolling around in that sin. 34:57 I'm not even, 34:59 that's not even where I want to be, 35:01 but it's God's power that did that in me. 35:04 I had nothing to do with it except willing to be willing. 35:08 Lord, please change me, I don't want to live like this, 35:11 I don't want to be who I am, but I couldn't change it, 35:15 I know other people who don't want to be 35:17 who they are like they are. 35:18 But they can't change it because it's God's power. 35:21 So he came in, I willed to do His will and wanted to help me, 35:26 help me, help me. 35:28 And so he came in to mean it's been a long journey, 35:31 I was a tough one. 35:34 But I watched how He changed me, 35:36 I know that inside I am a new man. 35:40 Now does Satan go after me? 35:42 He absolutely goes after me. 35:46 But I just know that 35:47 if you think you can change yourself, 35:50 you can do the outward but it's God's power 35:54 who changes the inward of who you really are. 35:58 And that's what all, 35:59 that's what we're talking about. 36:01 And when you allow God's power to come in and change you, 36:04 you really are a strong person then 36:08 because it's God strength in you, 36:10 together abiding in that vine 36:14 so that your roots are together and they're strong. 36:19 So Christians are strong but it's God's power 36:23 that they are strong in. 36:24 Absolutely. You know what? 36:26 I just got to say it real quick. 36:27 When you said the song I was thinking deep in sin, 36:31 the song is love lifted me. 36:33 And it's not until we recognize 36:36 and come to understand God's love. 36:38 You know, some people don't understand 36:40 the character of God 36:41 and they have such a hard time accepting His love. 36:45 Because we, I was unlovable. 36:48 I, God can love me, I was just too unlovable. 36:53 But when you realize that God really does love you 36:57 and it is that true love, it is the real love, 36:59 it's the agape love that cannot be moved or changed 37:04 that He really loves me just the way I am 37:07 and then His power will change me. 37:09 Amen. 37:11 Well, I was thinking about 37:12 one step at a time, sweet Jesus. 37:14 Yeah, one day at a time. 37:16 One step and one day at a time. Yeah, yeah. 37:17 Amen. 37:18 You know, I love the fact that it says 37:20 an Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots 37:23 because there are people 37:25 who will never accept Christ as their Savior 37:29 because they think that they aren't, they aren't good 37:33 and that is true but it's not, 37:36 that's not got anything to do with it. 37:38 The fact is that we are born in a sinful state 37:42 and we're all in that same situation. 37:44 The reason we... 37:45 The reason that the leopard has spots is 37:47 because his parents had spots and their parents had spots, 37:51 they were created that way. 37:53 My mother used to say big ones have little ones. 37:56 And, but I love the fact 37:59 that even when we use the excuse, 38:02 well, I'm only human. 38:04 Well, that's not really our excuse, 38:06 that's God's excuse for not killing us. 38:09 But so we need to know that, 38:12 yeah, we're all born in a state of rottenness 38:16 but it is God who loved us and sent His Son to die for us. 38:20 So I do like, I do like that verse. 38:23 Again relying on His power, 38:25 therefore if any man be in Christ, 38:28 he's a new creature. 38:29 Right. 38:30 A new species of being that never before existed. 38:33 Old things are passed away, behold, all things become new. 38:38 Well, it doesn't happen, it does happen instantaneously. 38:41 Yes, it does. It happens instantly. 38:43 But then there's this walk of sanctification. 38:46 And you know the power 38:48 that's in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. 38:51 When you make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life, 38:53 you are a new creature 38:55 and you have been covered in the blood. 38:58 That mercy seat is covered in the blood 39:01 and when God looks at you, 39:03 He looks at you through the mercy seat, 39:06 He looks at you 39:07 through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. 39:09 And that blood is saying mercy over Dee Hildebrand. 39:13 And that blood, 39:14 when God looking at you through the blood, 39:16 do you know He sees you as though, Tim Parton, 39:20 you had never done one sin since the day you were born, 39:24 since your mother's womb 39:26 you have always been pure and clean. 39:28 Well, we know that's not true 39:31 but God looking at us 39:32 through the blood of His son says that's true. 39:35 So old things truly do pass away, 39:38 old things do get kind of new. 39:39 Thank You, Lord. 39:41 And you know, and I just want to add one thing 39:42 'cause you both mentioned, Dee and Tim, 39:45 you both mentioned that people sometimes feel so bad 39:49 that they think God, their unlovable God 39:51 couldn't possibly love them. 39:53 And that's why they don't accept the Lord. 39:55 But allow Him to love them, I guess. 39:59 But there's the other side of that coin is 40:01 there are people who think they're good enough 40:04 that they don't see their need for a savior. 40:09 And so, this is something 40:11 that's critical to understanding our sin, 40:15 to understanding God's standards 40:18 and His righteousness, 40:20 but just remember that God's not asking you 40:24 to live up to His standards by your own strength. 40:28 It's as you're connected to the vine, 40:30 then He is going to work in you 40:32 to will and to do His good pleasure. 40:34 It's His grace that's sufficient. 40:37 And the good news is thank You, 40:40 Jesus is not a hundred yard dash. 40:44 I've known Dee for 12 years, 40:46 I've known you for say for three years. 40:48 And on my score card, you're both wonderful people. 40:52 Here you're going back and say, 40:54 "Hey, man I had all these warts and everything." 40:57 And perhaps you did but I never saw those people 41:01 because life is a marathon. 41:02 God does change you. 41:04 I don't think there's people from my past 41:06 that would even recognize me. 41:08 But you know and He did perform some miracles instantaneously. 41:13 I've had a long walk but in the very beginning 41:17 when I submitted and committed, 41:19 He did do miracles over my life 41:21 and change certain things instantaneously. 41:24 I had, you know, 41:27 my language wasn't what it should have been, 41:29 it wasn't as bad as many I've heard, 41:31 but it wasn't what it should have been. 41:32 Once I accepted Him and came, He took that away from me. 41:36 I never had to struggle with it 41:38 and those words never came out again. 41:40 Praise God. 41:42 You know, I have the pleasure of two hours a week 41:45 to do prison ministry. 41:48 And when you started talking about not loving yourself 41:52 and that God can't love you, 41:53 I get to see 40 men in their eyes, 41:54 so that's what they feel every day. 41:57 When I talk to them and I tell them about a God 42:00 that loves them. 42:01 This is the first time that they have heard 42:04 that word from somebody. 42:06 They have never heard somebody tell you, 42:08 "Brother, I love you. 42:10 Son, I love you." 42:11 And when they hear that, their eyes start tearing up. 42:15 And when you see that, 42:17 when you get to experience the power of the ching ching, 42:21 the power that God can do in your life 42:23 and change individuals. 42:25 I've had some of them who says, "I'm not good enough for God." 42:29 And I've had to tell them when I says, 42:30 you don't understand the price that God paid for you. 42:34 You don't understand that Christ, 42:35 that God loved you, not anybody else, 42:38 God loved you so enough 42:40 that He sent His only Son to die for you, 42:43 so don't tell me you're not worth enough 42:45 because the price that was paid for you was so astronomical, 42:50 more than there isn't any money in this world to be able to pay 42:53 for the value that God has put in you. 42:56 Society has told you that you're not worthy, 42:59 the enemy has told you that you're not worthy, 43:01 but I'm telling you that what the man that brought, 43:03 that wrote this beautiful love letter 43:05 is telling you that you are so worth to Him. 43:09 And it's not until then 43:10 and then tears just flow through their eyes 43:13 because sometimes we do feel it. 43:16 But let me tell you something when you truly understand 43:18 what God's love is, 43:20 when you truly understand 43:22 that there is nothing that we can change of ourselves, 43:25 that is holy God who does it for us. 43:28 That's when we truly need to sit back and say, 43:30 "Oh, Holy Father, I thank You for Your grace 43:34 and I thank You for Your love. 43:35 Amen. 43:36 Amen and amen. 43:41 This is one of my favorite scripture says all of us, 43:43 we have many scriptures that we draw on 43:46 and we identify with different situations 43:48 in our life, but this is one 43:50 that I didn't really understand exactly the words 43:56 because I had problems deciphering it 44:00 and that the simplicity is Philippians 4:13. 44:03 Philippians 4:13 is the one that everybody probably knows. 44:08 And that is according to the King James 44:11 and the New King James, 44:13 "I can do all things through Christ 44:14 who strengthens me." 44:16 Every one of us has called upon that 44:18 and we've stood on that. 44:20 Let me read to you what it says in the Amplified, 44:25 the Amplified translation. 44:27 It just touches my heart because I can see it, 44:30 I'm a very visual person, 44:31 if I can see it, I can make it work. 44:35 If I got to step out in faith, 44:37 it's a little bit tougher, you know. 44:39 But there's a lot of people like that. 44:42 But what it says in the Amplified, 44:44 "I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me." 44:51 I'm ready for anything, I'm equal to anything 44:54 because it's you Jesus, 44:56 Him that infuses that inner strength into me. 45:02 He takes my insufficiency and makes it sufficient. 45:07 Wow. 45:08 Thank you, God because that means 45:10 that if I call out for you, empty me of me, 45:13 Lord, fill me with You. 45:15 It's You that then empowers me. 45:19 It's not anything that I can do. 45:22 And that's what we're talking about today 45:25 relying on His power. 45:27 Thank You, Jesus, as I was able to get this 45:30 because this is one that I can sit 45:32 and take 30 seconds and make it into an hour 45:36 because the Holy Spirit then wraps His arms around you 45:39 and then He guides you. 45:41 It's Him, He empowers you. 45:44 Thank you, Jesus. 45:45 You know what, JD, and this verse is such a small verse 45:48 but everybody understands the word strengthen, 45:51 such a big word everybody knows what strength is, 45:55 everybody knows what God does in our lives. 45:57 The one word that everybody struggles 46:00 with it's the smallest of them which is all. 46:03 People don't understand that one, 46:05 the strength part is great, the all part they're saying, 46:07 "Oh, no, He can't do that for me. 46:09 Oh, no, He cannot do that for me." 46:11 What part of all don't you understand? 46:14 You know what I mean? 46:15 And that's where it's so struggle 46:16 because I'm struggling with that, 46:18 I've been struggling with issues 46:20 until I watched one of the today shows with Mollie 46:24 that day we're talking about will. 46:26 What is your will? 46:28 And that really opened my eyes up 46:30 because as long as your will is to be connected to the vine, 46:36 the stumbles in your lives are just gonna be things 46:39 that are gonna strengthen you. 46:41 That doesn't mean you give up because all is all 46:46 and it's the one that is going to give you the strength. 46:49 It's not you, who is giving you? 46:51 God is giving you, He's doing the oiling, not you. 46:55 You know and that's what sometimes we forget 46:58 that we feel that we have something to do 47:01 inject into the equation 47:03 but here it says, 47:04 "All things are possible through," whom? 47:09 He doesn't say through Luis, does it? 47:10 I think maybe it said that, no, it says through Christ, 47:14 so Christ is the one that's doing the all. 47:16 So who are we to say 47:18 that all things are not possible? 47:19 Amen. 47:21 You know, this is kind of silly except 47:23 for the fact that it happened to me. 47:24 And I was driving 47:27 and I was trying to give this verse to a friend in a text. 47:32 You didn't hear me just say I was driving and texting. 47:33 I didn't hear you say that. 47:35 But I was, so I spoke into Siri. 47:38 And I said Siri, I can do all things through Christ 47:41 who strengthens me. 47:43 And Siri or Hill, whoever it is, 47:45 well usually give me you know, they will go to the website 47:49 and you know give me the reference. 47:52 Instead they came back and said, 47:54 "I never said you couldn't." 47:58 And so for what you're saying, you know, that all 48:01 and that was just you know really, 48:03 that was powerful to me to know that, 48:07 to remind me that yes, I can do all things through Christ 48:10 who strengthens me. 48:12 God spoke to you through Siri. Right. Exactly. 48:14 So anyway. 48:15 It just reminds me of Ephesians 3:16 48:19 where Paul says, he's praying that God would grant them 48:21 according to the riches of God's glory 48:24 to be strengthened with might with that dunamis 48:28 through His Spirit in the inner man 48:32 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith 48:35 that you will be rooted and grounded in love, 48:38 able to comprehend with all the saints, 48:40 the width, the length, the depth and the height, 48:43 the love of Christ which passes all understanding. 48:46 So as we are as Mollie was saying, 48:51 as we've got that vital connection 48:53 and then the Holy Spirit flows into us, 48:57 Christ lives in our heart, 48:59 that's how we, He strengthens us. 49:01 This is how, you know, and it's so important 49:04 because there's, 49:06 even though we teach on the Holy Spirit quite often, 49:09 there's a lot of people 49:11 and I've come to this conclusion recently, 49:14 I feel surrendered to the Lord 90% of the time, 49:18 then 10% of the time I'm up doing, 49:21 I mean, I'm working for Him 49:22 but I'm doing it in my own strength, 49:24 you know what I'm saying. 49:26 So if you're not surrendered totally, 49:32 you're not surrendered at all. 49:35 And it's just one of those things, 49:36 you look like you're ready to say something. 49:38 Well, I just wonder looking at this table 49:40 every one of us have had opportunities 49:42 to speak at one time or another. 49:44 And I know what it is to minister 49:48 under the anointing of God, 49:49 and I know what it is to minister 49:51 in my own strength, 49:53 I much prefer the anointing of Almighty God. 49:56 And it's I that make that choice 49:58 and it's the word that you use surrender to the degree 50:01 that I'm surrendered to Him 50:03 is the degree that He can flow through me. 50:06 It's what it is that the theo preacher said, 50:09 when you minister 50:10 under the anointing of God you perspire. 50:13 When you minister 50:15 without the anointing of God you sweat. 50:17 I'd much rather perspire. 50:20 And it's kind of interesting 'cause I did speak one time 50:23 and the Lord had given it to me and it was under, 50:26 and I had a lot of people say something 50:28 but I knew it was the Lord. 50:29 Well, somebody had heard it said, 50:31 do you need to say, 50:32 do this again in another church. 50:34 Oh, I've got this. I did it once before. 50:38 I struggled the second time, I struggled through it 50:41 and I don't think I touched anybody. 50:44 So it doesn't matter even if you know what you're doing, 50:49 you have to be and so submit it. 50:52 That created the problem, of course, for road. 50:55 I think the roots were severed. 50:56 Yeah, the roots got cut but they grew back real quick. 51:01 I learned my lessons, I try anyway. 51:05 Luis? 51:06 You know as we were preparing for this, 51:08 I had given you two other verses to choose 51:10 and you had said those are taken 51:12 and you've given me this one to choose from. 51:15 And now I see why God asked you to give me this one. 51:19 It says Romans 8:13, 51:21 "For if you live according to the sinful nature, 51:26 you will die." 51:29 You know as I was talking about the prison ministry, 51:32 all of these, I see those individuals, 51:35 I look in their eyes and I looked up in their eyes 51:37 they had no life in them 51:39 because they had been living in their what? 51:41 In their sinful nature. 51:43 But thankfully the verse doesn't stop there, 51:45 the verse continues. 51:47 And it says, "But if by the Spirit 51:50 you put to death 51:53 the misdeeds of your body, you will live." 51:58 Amen. 51:59 You know as we're talking about relying in His power. 52:05 I come from a communist country. 52:08 I had to rely on His power. 52:10 For everywhere that I have gone, 52:12 I've had to make sure that I did that, 52:15 I asked the first prayer I asked, 52:17 "Lord, please shut the doors that need to be shut." 52:21 I don't say open doors 52:23 because the doors are always gonna be opened, 52:26 there's always doors 52:27 but many times we don't ask God to shut those 52:30 that we need not enter to. 52:32 I was just listening to a program yesterday 52:34 and there was a gentleman 52:35 that went to ask for a bank account 52:37 and they shut it off and God said walk away, 52:40 go to the next bank and they went to the next bank 52:42 and they gave them more money than he asked for, 52:44 and they gave him a better interest that he asked for, 52:46 but sometimes we're so stubborn 52:48 that we want to go through those doors 52:51 that God is not wanting us to 52:54 because we're not asking Him to give us that power. 52:57 And this is what is so beautiful. 52:59 When we are in the spirit, 53:01 when we take on the armor of God, 53:04 then God opens up, 53:06 there're so much things that flows that we have no idea 53:09 what we've been capable of doing. 53:11 Like Miss Mollie was talking about. 53:12 I remember one time, they asked me to preach, 53:15 I just went to visit my family. 53:17 And the pastor was inspired to say, 53:19 "Luis, would you like to preach today?" 53:23 I had no preparation. 53:24 I said, I'm going to, he said, "I'm going to sing a song 53:26 and the moment you're feeling a song, 53:28 you will give me the answer." 53:29 I got up and let me tell you when you are, 53:33 when you are filled with the spirit, 53:37 the things that flow out of your mouth is so amazing 53:40 and you cannot give yourself credit for any of it 53:44 because it is God who's working through you. 53:47 And the life that you get, 53:48 please listen to this verse very carefully. 53:51 The life that you get 53:54 when you put on the Spirit of God, 53:57 it is a phenomenal life 53:59 that you will not understand the joy. 54:03 And it's so exhilarating 54:06 that it's like going in a roller coaster 54:08 and you have your hands up 54:09 because you're having so much fun 54:11 because you know all you can do 54:13 is let God and the Spirit guide you. 54:17 And that is when you truly can sit back and then say, 54:20 "Oh, wow. 54:21 What a blessed and privileged person I am. 54:24 Amen. And you give Him the glory. 54:26 Amen. Amen. 54:27 You know what I love about 54:29 this is one of my favorite scriptures Romans 8:13. 54:33 Of course if you live according to the flesh, 54:35 your sinful nature you die. 54:38 But now look what he says what happens to help, 54:42 how do we put to death the misdeeds of our body. 54:45 It doesn't say if you put to death 54:48 the misdeeds of your body you will live, 54:50 it doesn't say if the Spirit puts to death 54:54 the misdeeds of the body you will live. 54:56 It says that the two of you have to be working together 55:00 because the Holy Spirit isn't going to force us. 55:03 So it says if you by the power of the Holy Spirit. 55:09 Again it's got to be that connection 55:12 and the Holy Spirit has to have your permission, 55:15 you have to yield 55:17 and be willing to surrender control. 55:21 And that's how it comes 55:23 because you know back to your scripture. 55:26 You know, Jeremiah 13:23, we can't change ourselves 55:29 but, boy, do we try sometimes. 55:30 Yeah. 55:32 And something has to happen, death needs to happen. 55:34 You see and that's what people don't understand. 55:36 When you put in the will of Christ, 55:39 something has to die 55:40 which is your will and your way of life 55:43 in order for you to be able to have everlasting life. 55:46 You can't just come, put the armor of God 55:48 and continue the way you are, it cannot do it. 55:51 Once you accept that union, then something in you dies 55:55 which needed to have died, 55:57 which is your stubbornness and it's the self 55:59 and then now you have this abundant life 56:03 that only comes through Christ Jesus. 56:04 Amen. Absolute joyful life. 56:06 When every single time I allow the spirit, 56:09 I always have that free choice, and when the spirits in me 56:13 and I give him that choice, there is joy and victory. 56:16 Amen. 56:18 Mollie, we have just a minute, 56:19 can you want to just go over 56:21 your last scripture very quickly. 56:23 Colossians 1:27, "To them God has chosen 56:26 to make known among the Gentiles, 56:28 the glorious riches of this mystery 56:30 which is Christ in you the hope of glory." 56:33 You are nothing because of who you are, 56:36 you are something because of what you contained. 56:38 And the scriptures go on in 1 Corinthians 3:16, 56:41 in 1 Corinthians 6:19, 56:44 those two scriptures shows us 56:45 that the power of the Godhead bodily 56:47 has set up residence within us, 56:49 we are nothing because of who we are 56:51 but because of what we contain. 56:53 Amen. 56:54 I can't believe how quickly our time has gone 56:56 but, you know, if we want, when it says that Christ in you 57:00 is your hope of glory, it's that, 57:03 that's the hope of obtaining God's character, is it not? 57:07 So it's only as Christ is in us. 57:09 And I don't know if I've got time to do this, 57:11 but I'll try real quickly. 57:13 Father, I'm relying on the power of Your Word 57:14 and Your Spirit to work within me, 57:16 to cause me to will and to act according to Your good purpose. 57:19 I gladly confess my weaknesses to you, 57:22 for Your grace is sufficient. 57:24 Thank you for making your power perfect in my weakness. 57:26 Our prayer for you 57:28 is that the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 57:30 the love of the Father 57:31 and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit 57:33 will be with you always. 57:35 Amen. |
Revised 2017-10-09