I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Removing pain
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Lord, let my words
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Heal a heart that hurts
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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Hello and welcome to
another Family Worship
00:01:11.17\00:01:13.70
with your family at 3ABN.
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My name is John Dinzey
and this is my wife, Idalia.
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And it's a
pleasure and joy for us
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to tell you happy Sabbath.
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Sabbath. That's right, friends.
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Well, I know you've
been anticipating this moment
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because we've had a heavy week,
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and it's so beautiful
to set this time aside
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and come to Jesus feet,
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go through His Word,
and draw closer to Him,
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closer to each
other as a family.
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And we just want to let you know
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that we love you in the Lord,
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and we pray for
everyone of you at home,
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those that are listening
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or watching the program on 3ABN.
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Yes, and we are happy to have
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part of the family here with us,
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and we'll start with my
left, this one right here.
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And we're glad to have Brother
Brian Dickens here with us.
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Welcome. Thank you, Pastor John.
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It's blessing to be here.
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Anytime I'm able to come on
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and be able to
share in God's Word
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is always a wonderful
thing, wonderful experience.
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Amen. Amen. That's right. Amen.
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And, Idalia, will you
please tell our friends
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where our friends are
coming from our family?
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Well, it's part of
the family, of course.
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It's Rosemary.
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Welcome. You came all
the way from Australia.
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You were willing to
bring your husband with you.
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I was. I was.
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I wouldn't go
anywhere without him.
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You guys said don't
leave home without him.
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Well, I don't
leave home without him.
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There you go.
There you go. Amen. Amen.
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You guys are the head
of the 3ABN Australia.
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And, of course, you
guys are like family,
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how many years have you
been associated with 3ABN?
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You know, Idalia, it's 2002
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that we commenced
our work with 3ABN.
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And we started out
traveling around Australia
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in a little green kermit,
telling people about 3ABN
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and getting satellite dishes on.
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Amen. Well, what's the kermit?
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It was a little green
short wheel bike land cruiser.
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That was very rough to ride in.
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And it was like
this all the way.
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Very loud, very
noisy. But, you know...
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Well, you are
such an inspiration
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to 3ABN Australia, and
your ministry it's just...
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When I hear the stories
you share, it's inspiring.
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Yes, we share many times
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in the Spanish
speaking countries as we travel,
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and we share
about your testimony
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how you folks would provide
a satellite dish to family.
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And if they don't
want it any longer,
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then you put it in another home.
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And that is an idea
that Johnny and I have been
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contemplating with MySDA TV,
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you know, you just
purchase the apparatus,
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and then just take
it to someone's house,
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and let them watch
it online or on their TV
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and see how the Lord leads.
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But most of the times,
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people do not want to
take that down, right?
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We used to call it
the 3ABN Dish Initiative.
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Dish Initiative? Right.
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And so you come
back in about 30 days,
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and what do you ask them?
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We give them
about 3 months I think.
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We give them
two or three months,
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and say if you like it.
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Well, then you can purchase it
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which enables you then to
go on and purchase another one
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to share with someone else.
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So you outlay one
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and you can
reach how many people?
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Five or six people in a year.
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That's right. Praise the Lord.
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Plus, what we find something
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that we see fit
for our family friend,
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who is going through
some type of troubles
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or what have
you, we invite them.
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It's like, "Oh,
download the app right now.
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That program is really
good, it's gonna bless you,
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you've got to watch this."
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So they may not be of our faith,
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of our denomination,
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but, you know, the
Word of God is for everyone.
00:04:55.42\00:04:58.16
And it brings
life, it brings hope,
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and it brings strength,
00:05:00.53\00:05:01.86
and mends the
broken heart, so...
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You know, John, I
just want to say something.
00:05:04.70\00:05:06.23
You mentioned that
this is our ministry.
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I want to tell
you it's not ours,
00:05:09.17\00:05:10.51
it belongs to God.
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We are only servants.
00:05:12.24\00:05:13.58
And every
ministry belongs to God.
00:05:13.61\00:05:16.01
And if He puts you
there, we do our best, you know.
00:05:16.04\00:05:18.88
And we want to serve the Lord,
and I know people out there
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would want to serve the
Lord in the ministry of God.
00:05:21.52\00:05:25.22
So we get caught up on that.
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We got to be careful
because we are indispensable.
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We are
dispensable. We are dispensable.
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God is indispensable. Yeah.
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Well, we like to go
to the Lord in prayer,
00:05:34.60\00:05:36.36
and we like to invite you
at home to join us in prayer.
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Pause with us and join us
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as we approach
God's throne of grace.
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So let's pray.
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Our loving heavenly Father,
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we just want to thank You, Lord,
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that we can put the
challenges of life behind us,
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the activities, the
worries, and concerns,
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put them all behind us and rest.
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Rest in the
knowledge that You are with us,
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rest in the knowledge
that the Sabbath day has come.
00:06:01.46\00:06:04.29
We end all the business
things and all the work,
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and lay them aside
to rest in the Lord.
00:06:07.56\00:06:11.13
We thank You for the Sabbath day
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that You have given to us.
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We remember that You
have told us to remember,
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"Remember the
Sabbath day to keep it holy."
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And we thank You, Lord,
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that one day You will
give us the blessed rest,
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the rest from the
attacks of the enemy,
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from temptations, and
trials, and tribulations.
00:06:28.35\00:06:31.42
And we thank You
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that Jesus Christ
has made this possible.
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We pray that You will bless
all of the friends and families
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that join us all
around the world.
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We pray for our
discussion to be a blessing,
00:06:40.93\00:06:43.20
and to lift someone and
draw them close to Jesus.
00:06:43.23\00:06:47.14
We ask you for these things
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in Jesus' holy and
blessed name, amen.
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Amen. Amen.
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Well, we are happy
to have you with us.
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And we hope that when
we sing this next song
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that you will also sing with us.
00:07:01.95\00:07:04.42
And perhaps it may
be somebody's favorite.
00:07:04.45\00:07:07.46
That's right.
What are we singing?
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It's a
beautiful message in song,
00:07:08.99\00:07:10.73
and it's
entitled, "Marvelous Grace,"
00:07:10.76\00:07:12.99
and it's number 109,
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and we'll be singing
the first and third stanza.
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Marvelous grace
of our loving Lord
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Grace that exceeds
our sin and our guilt
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Yonder on
Calvary's mount out-poured
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There where the
blood of the Lamb was spilt
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Grace, grace, God's grace
00:07:57.14\00:08:03.41
Grace that will
pardon and cleanse within
00:08:03.45\00:08:09.82
Grace, grace, God's grace
00:08:09.85\00:08:16.09
Grace that is
greater than all our sin
00:08:16.12\00:08:23.26
Marvelous,
infinite, matchless grace
00:08:23.30\00:08:29.90
Freely bestowed
on all who believe
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You that are
longing to see His face
00:08:36.78\00:08:43.32
Will you this
moment His grace receive
00:08:43.35\00:08:50.16
Grace, grace, God's grace
00:08:50.19\00:08:56.93
Grace that will
pardon and cleanse within
00:08:56.97\00:09:03.74
Grace, grace, God's grace
00:09:03.77\00:09:10.28
Grace that is
greater than all our sin
00:09:10.31\00:09:17.99
Amen. Amen. It's
a beautiful hymn.
00:09:18.02\00:09:21.26
This hymn is
entitled Marvelous Grace.
00:09:21.29\00:09:24.89
I don't really
know if there are words
00:09:24.93\00:09:26.80
to describe
God's marvelous grace.
00:09:26.83\00:09:30.07
Well, it's amazing
grace. It's marvelous grace.
00:09:30.10\00:09:31.87
It's amazing grace.
It's marvelous grace.
00:09:31.90\00:09:33.64
And I'm thinking of
the verse that says,
00:09:33.67\00:09:36.74
"That where sin abounds,
much more grace abounds."
00:09:36.77\00:09:43.51
Precious, precious words.
00:09:43.55\00:09:45.11
And this grace is extended
00:09:45.15\00:09:47.78
to each and every single person.
00:09:47.82\00:09:50.72
Every single
person has the opportunity
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to accept God's grace
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because His grace
is extended to all.
00:09:55.79\00:09:58.29
And, you know,
there in the book,
00:09:58.33\00:10:01.13
Steps to Christ, one
of my favorite books.
00:10:01.16\00:10:04.53
It says,
"Because of Jesus Christ,
00:10:04.57\00:10:06.57
because of His
death on the cross,
00:10:06.60\00:10:09.00
God has blessed this world
00:10:09.04\00:10:12.21
with an atmosphere of grace."
00:10:12.24\00:10:16.38
And that's
something is powerful. Amen.
00:10:16.41\00:10:19.05
And His grace is
bigger than all our sin,
00:10:19.08\00:10:22.15
you know, thank God
for His grace like that.
00:10:22.18\00:10:26.05
Amen. Amen.
00:10:26.09\00:10:27.86
Well, you know, we have the...
00:10:27.89\00:10:29.62
We were talking
about the Sabbath day,
00:10:29.66\00:10:31.56
and for some people this...
00:10:31.59\00:10:33.19
Sabbath day? What day is that?
00:10:33.23\00:10:36.56
'Cause there may be a
new word for some people
00:10:36.60\00:10:38.33
that maybe, you
know, a Sabbath day.
00:10:38.37\00:10:39.90
Well, I've heard of Sunday,
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
00:10:39.93\00:10:42.87
but which one is this one?
00:10:42.90\00:10:45.04
Well, the Bible
doesn't really give the names
00:10:45.07\00:10:49.64
Sunday, Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
00:10:49.68\00:10:52.71
but it does name a day
and calls it the Sabbath day.
00:10:52.75\00:10:56.12
There's another day,
00:10:56.15\00:10:57.49
it's called the preparation day,
00:10:57.52\00:10:58.85
which is the sixth
day, and that is Friday.
00:10:58.89\00:11:01.76
And the Sabbath
day is the seventh day,
00:11:01.79\00:11:03.69
which is Saturday.
00:11:03.73\00:11:05.29
And so I like to
read to you from Luke 4:16
00:11:05.33\00:11:10.80
where we see the
example Jesus gave us,
00:11:10.83\00:11:14.80
set before us, and that is...
00:11:14.84\00:11:17.51
It says in Luke 4:16.
00:11:17.54\00:11:19.84
"So He came," that
is Jesus, "to Nazareth,
00:11:19.87\00:11:22.44
where he had been brought
up, and as His custom was,
00:11:22.48\00:11:27.22
He went into the
synagogue on the Sabbath day,
00:11:27.25\00:11:31.19
and stood up to read."
00:11:31.22\00:11:35.26
And notice what happened.
00:11:35.29\00:11:36.83
Verse 17, "And He was handed
the book of the Prophet Isaiah.
00:11:36.86\00:11:40.80
And when He had opened the book,
00:11:40.83\00:11:42.16
He found the place
where it was written,
00:11:42.20\00:11:46.07
'The Spirit of
the Lord is upon Me,
00:11:46.10\00:11:48.50
because He has anointed Me
00:11:48.54\00:11:50.54
to preach the
gospel to the poor,
00:11:50.57\00:11:52.77
He has sent Me to
heal the brokenhearted,
00:11:52.81\00:11:54.98
to proclaim
liberty to the captives
00:11:55.01\00:11:57.55
and recovery of
sight to the blind,
00:11:57.58\00:12:00.12
to set at liberty
those who are oppressed,
00:12:00.15\00:12:02.92
to proclaim the
acceptable year of the Lord.'"
00:12:02.95\00:12:06.39
Then He closed the book,
00:12:06.42\00:12:07.76
and gave it back to
the attendant and sat down.
00:12:07.79\00:12:09.82
And the eyes of all
who were in the synagogue
00:12:09.86\00:12:11.99
were fixed on Him.
00:12:12.03\00:12:14.33
So this tells me that
Jesus knew the scriptures
00:12:14.36\00:12:17.03
'cause they gave
Him the Book of Isaiah.
00:12:17.07\00:12:19.13
And back in those days,
00:12:19.17\00:12:21.30
as far as we know,
they didn't have chapter,
00:12:21.34\00:12:23.34
divisions, and things like that.
00:12:23.37\00:12:24.71
He found the place.
00:12:24.74\00:12:27.28
I went like
this, but it was a roll
00:12:27.31\00:12:31.15
where it said
exactly what we just read.
00:12:31.18\00:12:33.31
Well, actually
when we were in Israel,
00:12:33.35\00:12:35.18
they told us that they
would read a portion every week,
00:12:35.22\00:12:40.79
and they would
just roll the scroll,
00:12:40.82\00:12:43.02
they would roll it like this,
00:12:43.06\00:12:45.59
and then they would just read
the next portion the next week,
00:12:45.63\00:12:49.20
and rolled this,
you know, like a...
00:12:49.23\00:12:50.83
They would just read.
00:12:50.87\00:12:52.20
Yes, they would just
read down the section.
00:12:52.23\00:12:54.20
And that in this case,
00:12:54.24\00:12:55.57
that was actually the
very next section to be read.
00:12:55.60\00:12:58.31
And it was...
00:12:58.34\00:12:59.67
They asked Jesus to read it,
00:12:59.71\00:13:01.71
and it happened to be
right on the prophecy of Him.
00:13:01.74\00:13:05.31
That's the marvelous
amazing thing of Him.
00:13:05.35\00:13:07.82
I don't think it
was a coincidence,
00:13:07.85\00:13:09.48
it was providential.
00:13:09.52\00:13:11.35
That's how God
works. That's right, amen.
00:13:11.39\00:13:13.36
And so I didn't read it,
00:13:13.39\00:13:15.06
but if you keep reading
it, it says that He said,
00:13:15.09\00:13:19.59
"This day is the scripture
fulfilled in you hearing."
00:13:19.63\00:13:24.67
That's right. Marvelous.
00:13:24.70\00:13:26.37
And so why did I
read this scripture...
00:13:26.40\00:13:28.60
As His custom
was, Jesus' custom,
00:13:28.64\00:13:30.24
His custom was to
go to the synagogue
00:13:30.27\00:13:32.14
on the Sabbath day.
00:13:32.17\00:13:33.51
And this is a
something He has left for us
00:13:33.54\00:13:36.38
as an example to follow.
00:13:36.41\00:13:38.95
Reminding us, of
course, of Exodus 20:8-11.
00:13:38.98\00:13:43.59
One of the Ten
Commandments is the number four,
00:13:43.62\00:13:45.25
which says,
"Remember the Sabbath day
00:13:45.29\00:13:46.86
to keep it holy."
00:13:46.89\00:13:48.22
And this is why we
say to you happy Sabbath.
00:13:48.26\00:13:51.39
Amen.
00:13:51.43\00:13:52.76
Well, you know, it's interesting
00:13:52.79\00:13:54.20
how there's a time of the year
00:13:54.23\00:13:57.27
that we need to do our yard work
00:13:57.30\00:13:59.57
the most here in the States.
00:13:59.60\00:14:01.80
And so we need the help
00:14:01.84\00:14:04.71
for the maintenance of
the property, of the land.
00:14:04.74\00:14:08.91
And so when we
try to find some help,
00:14:08.94\00:14:12.85
people will say, "Hey,
I can do the job for you.
00:14:12.88\00:14:15.65
I'm available Saturday."
00:14:15.68\00:14:18.32
And it's like, you know what,
00:14:18.35\00:14:21.66
we would like for you, if
you're going to do the job,
00:14:21.69\00:14:25.09
not to do it on
Friday night or Sabbath.
00:14:25.13\00:14:28.40
And if you will,
00:14:28.43\00:14:29.76
you can do it on Sunday
or Monday or any given date.
00:14:29.80\00:14:33.23
Really? Yes.
00:14:33.27\00:14:35.30
We're Sabbath keepers.
00:14:35.34\00:14:36.84
And Seventh-day Adventists,
we keep the Sabbath holy.
00:14:36.87\00:14:40.38
And so any business that we do
00:14:40.41\00:14:43.04
has to be
outside of Sabbath hours.
00:14:43.08\00:14:46.31
And, you know, this is
an opportunity to witness,
00:14:46.35\00:14:48.98
and, you know, it doesn't matter
00:14:49.02\00:14:50.49
how desperate we may feel
00:14:50.52\00:14:52.35
that something needs to be done,
00:14:52.39\00:14:54.42
don't rob
yourself of a blessing.
00:14:54.46\00:14:57.56
Just leave it for the next
day, and enjoy your Sabbath day
00:14:57.59\00:15:01.23
that the Lord God
has set aside for us.
00:15:01.26\00:15:03.33
Amen. Amen.
00:15:03.37\00:15:04.70
How do you feel when
Sabbath comes around, Brian?
00:15:04.73\00:15:07.00
Oh, I rest for
the most part. Amen.
00:15:07.04\00:15:11.07
It's my favorite
time of the week.
00:15:11.11\00:15:12.44
Yeah.
00:15:12.47\00:15:13.81
This past weekend,
00:15:13.84\00:15:15.18
we had a wonderful opportunity
for health connection fair
00:15:15.21\00:15:19.51
to go out and help
minister, help the people
00:15:19.55\00:15:23.55
even on the Sabbath.
00:15:23.59\00:15:24.92
You know, which, you know,
00:15:24.95\00:15:26.69
Jesus went and healed
people on the Sabbath.
00:15:26.72\00:15:29.66
You know, that's one of
the things that He always,
00:15:29.69\00:15:32.39
you know, always
got in trouble for,
00:15:32.43\00:15:35.06
where they
always wanted, you know.
00:15:35.10\00:15:37.93
He kept getting told,
00:15:37.97\00:15:39.30
"You cannot go out
and heal on the Sabbath."
00:15:39.33\00:15:42.24
He knew that His Father
was happy with healing people
00:15:42.27\00:15:46.47
on the Sabbath.
00:15:46.51\00:15:47.84
I would love to have walked
00:15:47.88\00:15:50.28
when Jesus was here
on earth and witness
00:15:50.31\00:15:53.52
what we read
about that happened.
00:15:53.55\00:15:55.38
And you know what?
00:15:55.42\00:15:56.75
I believe that a
lot of the healing
00:15:56.79\00:15:58.69
and a lot of His work
is still going on today.
00:15:58.72\00:16:01.79
He is still alive
and on the throne,
00:16:01.82\00:16:03.83
and I am a miracle that He has
done here in the last century,
00:16:03.86\00:16:09.36
you know, so in this
century, in the 21st century so.
00:16:09.40\00:16:13.37
But God and His grace...
00:16:13.40\00:16:15.54
And, you know, if we
could just have half or a fourth
00:16:15.57\00:16:18.64
of the grace that God
has for us, for other people,
00:16:18.67\00:16:21.94
imagine what the
world would be like, right?
00:16:21.98\00:16:25.11
It would be much nicer
place. Right, Rose, Rosemary.
00:16:25.15\00:16:28.05
Now you were
talking about Sabbath,
00:16:28.08\00:16:30.02
you know, I look forward
to the Sabbath, I really do.
00:16:30.05\00:16:33.12
All the week my mind is occupied
00:16:33.15\00:16:34.96
with the things of the world.
00:16:34.99\00:16:36.73
And then come Friday afternoon,
00:16:36.76\00:16:39.16
I get cleaned
up, and I sit down,
00:16:39.19\00:16:41.96
I think I don't have to think
about the things of the world.
00:16:42.00\00:16:46.47
It's the time that
I can spend with God.
00:16:46.50\00:16:49.57
And that's what it is,
spending time with God.
00:16:49.60\00:16:51.77
Yes, spending time with God.
00:16:51.81\00:16:53.64
And what I really
enjoy, also, is like,
00:16:53.68\00:16:56.14
there is no
interruptions of the every day,
00:16:56.18\00:16:59.61
you know, the usual
interruptions that we get.
00:16:59.65\00:17:02.62
So it's just 24 hours
that you wish lasted 48 hours.
00:17:02.65\00:17:07.99
And, of course,
00:17:08.02\00:17:09.36
you must take time every
day to sit at Jesus' feet,
00:17:09.39\00:17:12.26
to have your devotional,
to listen to a hymn or song
00:17:12.29\00:17:15.70
that just embraces the God
and connects you with heaven.
00:17:15.73\00:17:18.87
So it's encouraging
in our daily walk here
00:17:18.90\00:17:22.20
with the Lord to do that.
00:17:22.24\00:17:23.71
I look forward
to the Sabbath too,
00:17:23.74\00:17:25.61
thanks that we...
00:17:25.64\00:17:27.58
I will usually
cook extra food. Yes.
00:17:27.61\00:17:29.88
So that we have the opportunity
00:17:29.91\00:17:31.65
to invite someone
for lunch after church,
00:17:31.68\00:17:35.08
and also we like to
visit people in the afternoon,
00:17:35.12\00:17:39.99
whether it's in a
nursing home or in their home,
00:17:40.02\00:17:43.59
we'd like to spend that
time to go and see people
00:17:43.63\00:17:46.76
that we don't get a chance
to do for the rest of the week,
00:17:46.80\00:17:49.66
and to be a blessing.
00:17:49.70\00:17:51.77
Yes, amen.
00:17:51.80\00:17:53.20
You know, I like to say this
00:17:53.23\00:17:54.57
because sometimes
there's a misunderstanding here.
00:17:54.60\00:17:57.51
When people are
learning about the Sabbath day
00:17:57.54\00:18:00.14
and that is you...
00:18:00.18\00:18:04.51
We talk about the
seventh day especial,
00:18:04.55\00:18:07.05
you can go to
church every single day.
00:18:07.08\00:18:10.49
In fact, if you go
to a Spanish country,
00:18:10.52\00:18:12.12
most of the churches,
they are there on Sunday night,
00:18:12.15\00:18:14.82
they are there on Monday,
they are there on Wednesday,
00:18:14.86\00:18:17.39
they are there on Friday.
00:18:17.43\00:18:18.76
Not Thursday for the
most part. Not Thursday.
00:18:18.79\00:18:21.33
But the commandment says,
00:18:21.36\00:18:25.17
"To cease from all your labors."
00:18:25.20\00:18:26.53
So all the other
days, you can go to church,
00:18:26.57\00:18:28.27
but you're also having to work,
00:18:28.30\00:18:29.64
you're also doing
business activities,
00:18:29.67\00:18:31.31
you're also doing
secular minded things.
00:18:31.34\00:18:34.71
The Sabbath day is
separate in the sense
00:18:34.74\00:18:36.71
that you're not
supposed to do those things.
00:18:36.75\00:18:38.08
You are supposed to
set those things aside
00:18:38.11\00:18:40.32
and dedicate this time
to rest from those burdens,
00:18:40.35\00:18:43.59
from those concerns,
00:18:43.62\00:18:45.65
and dedicate the time
to fellowship with God,
00:18:45.69\00:18:48.32
and fellowship with one another.
00:18:48.36\00:18:50.56
And so this is why you
learn that the Sabbath is sweet,
00:18:50.59\00:18:54.66
the Sabbath is a joy,
the Sabbath is a delight,
00:18:54.70\00:18:57.47
the Sabbath is a special day.
00:18:57.50\00:18:59.80
God sanctified
and He made it holy
00:18:59.83\00:19:02.40
because there's a blessing in it
00:19:02.44\00:19:05.17
for those that
keep the Sabbath day.
00:19:05.21\00:19:07.31
And if you have never done
it, we encourage you to do it.
00:19:07.34\00:19:10.21
If you want more information
on that, contact 3ABN,
00:19:10.25\00:19:14.22
so that you can
receive information.
00:19:14.25\00:19:16.05
But we would like to discuss
something with you today,
00:19:16.08\00:19:19.25
and that is found in Luke 15.
00:19:19.29\00:19:21.89
We're talking about
grace. We sang about grace.
00:19:21.92\00:19:25.26
And there is a
story here about a person
00:19:25.29\00:19:29.96
that identifies with
just about everybody.
00:19:30.00\00:19:33.87
And that is the
story of the Prodigal Son.
00:19:33.90\00:19:37.11
And the Prodigal
Son is found in Luke 15,
00:19:37.14\00:19:40.01
and maybe we can
read a portion each.
00:19:40.04\00:19:43.48
So maybe... Really,
John, you can start.
00:19:43.51\00:19:46.95
I need to get to Luke 15.
00:19:46.98\00:19:48.58
Luke 15, and we're
starting in verse 1?
00:19:48.62\00:19:51.15
Eleven. Eleven, sorry.
00:19:51.19\00:19:52.52
Eleven, yes.
00:19:52.55\00:19:53.89
Says, "And he said, 'A
certain man had two sons.
00:19:53.92\00:19:56.73
And the younger of
them said to his father,
00:19:56.76\00:19:58.79
'Father, give me the portion
of goods that falleth to me.'
00:19:58.83\00:20:02.36
And he divided
unto them his living.
00:20:02.40\00:20:06.17
And not many days after
00:20:06.20\00:20:07.54
the younger son
gathered all together,
00:20:07.57\00:20:09.44
and took his
journey into a far country,
00:20:09.47\00:20:11.67
and there wasted his
substance with riotous living.
00:20:11.71\00:20:15.61
And when he had spent all,
00:20:15.64\00:20:17.88
there arose a
mighty famine in the land,
00:20:17.91\00:20:19.81
and he began to be in want.
00:20:19.85\00:20:21.82
And he went and joined himself
to a citizen of that country,
00:20:21.85\00:20:24.95
and he sent him into
the fields to feed swine.'"
00:20:24.99\00:20:28.36
That's good,
we'll stop right there.
00:20:28.39\00:20:30.86
Boy, this is
really something from...
00:20:30.89\00:20:36.10
From being in
such good, good status
00:20:36.13\00:20:39.47
to wanting to eat of the swine.
00:20:39.50\00:20:42.54
Well, he was even
looking after swine.
00:20:42.57\00:20:44.77
Even looking after swine.
00:20:44.81\00:20:46.51
So perhaps, Sister Rosemary,
00:20:46.54\00:20:48.64
can you read the
next four verses.
00:20:48.68\00:20:50.01
We'll come back and
discuss all this when we end.
00:20:50.05\00:20:55.12
So I start from verse 16, is it?
00:20:55.15\00:20:56.48
Sixteen. Yes.
00:20:56.52\00:20:57.85
"And he would fain have
filled his belly with the husks
00:20:57.89\00:21:01.32
that the swine did eat.
00:21:01.36\00:21:02.89
And no man gave unto him.
00:21:02.92\00:21:05.23
And when he came to himself,
00:21:05.26\00:21:07.16
he said, 'How many
hired servants of my father's
00:21:07.20\00:21:11.20
have bread enough and to
spare, and I perish with hunger!
00:21:11.23\00:21:15.90
I will arise
and go to my father,
00:21:15.94\00:21:17.84
and will say unto him,
00:21:17.87\00:21:19.21
'Father, I have sinned
against heaven, and before thee,
00:21:19.24\00:21:22.84
and am no more
worthy to be called thy son.
00:21:22.88\00:21:26.31
Make me as one of
thy hired servants.'"
00:21:26.35\00:21:29.78
Wow, Idalia.
00:21:29.82\00:21:31.15
"So he got up and
went to his father.
00:21:31.19\00:21:33.89
But while he was
still a long way off,
00:21:33.92\00:21:37.36
his father saw him and was
filled with compassion for him,
00:21:37.39\00:21:42.33
he ran to his son,
00:21:42.36\00:21:43.77
threw his arms
around him and kissed him.
00:21:43.80\00:21:47.10
'The son said to him,
00:21:47.14\00:21:48.77
'Father, I have sinned
against heaven and against you.
00:21:48.80\00:21:52.77
I am no longer worthy
to be called your son.'
00:21:52.81\00:21:57.58
But the father
said to his servants,
00:21:57.61\00:21:59.41
'Quick! Bring the best
robe and put it on him.
00:21:59.45\00:22:03.89
Put a ring on his
finger and sandals on his feet.
00:22:03.92\00:22:08.86
Bring the
fattened calf and kill it.
00:22:08.89\00:22:13.19
Let's have a
feast and celebrate.'"
00:22:13.23\00:22:16.33
Wow! How exciting, huh?
00:22:16.36\00:22:18.97
But he didn't
have shoes on his feet.
00:22:19.00\00:22:20.67
That's right.
00:22:20.70\00:22:22.04
Now it says here in verse
24, "For this my son was dead
00:22:22.07\00:22:26.04
and is alive again, he
was lost and is found.'
00:22:26.07\00:22:30.18
And they began to be merry.
00:22:30.21\00:22:32.38
'And his older
son was in the field.
00:22:32.41\00:22:35.45
And as he came and
drew near to the house,
00:22:35.48\00:22:39.25
he heard music and dancing.
00:22:39.29\00:22:41.76
So he called one of the servants
00:22:41.79\00:22:43.56
and asked what
these things meant.
00:22:43.59\00:22:46.23
And he said to him,
'Your brother has come,
00:22:46.26\00:22:49.10
and because he has
received him safe and sound,
00:22:49.13\00:22:52.33
your father has
killed the fatted calf.'"
00:22:52.37\00:22:57.51
Wow.
00:22:57.54\00:22:58.97
Brother Brian,
can you read the rest?
00:22:59.01\00:23:00.34
I sure will.
00:23:00.38\00:23:01.94
"But he was angry
and would not go in.
00:23:01.98\00:23:04.01
Therefore his father
came out and pleaded with him.
00:23:04.05\00:23:07.02
So he answered and
said to his father,
00:23:07.05\00:23:09.25
'Lo, these many years
I have been serving you,
00:23:09.28\00:23:12.35
I never transgressed
your commandment at any time,
00:23:12.39\00:23:16.66
and yet you never
gave me a young goat
00:23:16.69\00:23:20.16
that I might make
merry with my friends.
00:23:20.20\00:23:24.43
But as soon as
this son of yours came,
00:23:24.47\00:23:27.44
who had devoured your
livelihood with harlots,
00:23:27.47\00:23:31.37
you killed the
fatted calf for him.'
00:23:31.41\00:23:35.58
And he said to him,
'Son, you are always with me,
00:23:35.61\00:23:39.18
and all that I have is yours.
00:23:39.21\00:23:41.88
It was right that we
should make merry and be glad,
00:23:41.92\00:23:45.62
for your brother was
dead and is alive again,
00:23:45.65\00:23:49.72
and was lost and is found.'"
00:23:49.76\00:23:52.13
Amen. Amen.
00:23:52.16\00:23:54.43
Wow, what a powerful story.
00:23:54.46\00:23:57.10
If you've never
heard this story before,
00:23:57.13\00:23:59.47
it is a powerful, powerful story
00:23:59.50\00:24:01.20
to consider all that took place.
00:24:01.24\00:24:04.21
And it's amazing to me
when I read the parables,
00:24:04.24\00:24:07.74
the way Jesus describes
something that perhaps would
00:24:07.78\00:24:11.31
take me many, many more
words, in just a few words,
00:24:11.35\00:24:14.82
you get a
picture of the scenery,
00:24:14.85\00:24:17.49
and it's marvelous.
00:24:17.52\00:24:18.85
And you can retain
it. And you can retain it.
00:24:18.89\00:24:21.29
So let's go back
and look at this story,
00:24:21.32\00:24:24.03
and perhaps from
your experiences,
00:24:24.06\00:24:26.09
perhaps even reading
this in previous times.
00:24:26.13\00:24:29.80
The Lord has led
you to an understanding
00:24:29.83\00:24:33.07
or something
that has blessed you
00:24:33.10\00:24:36.74
during your
reading of this story.
00:24:36.77\00:24:40.21
So we go back to Luke 15,
and we started in verse 11.
00:24:40.24\00:24:45.11
And, of course, it says
here that "A man had two sons.
00:24:45.15\00:24:48.98
And it was the younger one."
00:24:49.02\00:24:52.12
"It was the
younger one that said,
00:24:52.15\00:24:53.49
'Father, give me the portion of
the goods that belong to me.'"
00:24:53.52\00:24:56.09
In other words, what
he was supposed to get
00:24:56.12\00:24:59.39
when his father passed
away, he was asking now.
00:24:59.43\00:25:02.70
I want it right now.
00:25:02.73\00:25:05.43
And we don't see any
objection by the father.
00:25:05.47\00:25:09.20
He gave him what
he was asking for.
00:25:09.24\00:25:13.11
The thing is, he was
looking at the positions,
00:25:13.14\00:25:16.51
and he didn't want to be there.
00:25:16.54\00:25:18.31
I want to be
somewhere other than this,
00:25:18.35\00:25:20.15
but I don't have
any way of doing it.
00:25:20.18\00:25:22.52
So I've got to get hold of this,
00:25:22.55\00:25:25.25
that he decide to discern,
I've got to get hold of this,
00:25:25.29\00:25:27.92
so I can go and do
what all I want to do,
00:25:27.96\00:25:30.63
and not be in the house
where I can't enjoy life.
00:25:30.66\00:25:36.40
So many children
want to leave home.
00:25:36.43\00:25:38.60
As a parent,
and I have two boys.
00:25:38.63\00:25:42.60
I'm like, Lord,
"Help my children,
00:25:42.64\00:25:44.71
but help us to
keep our children home
00:25:44.74\00:25:48.44
until it's time for
them to move along."
00:25:48.48\00:25:51.18
But I say, "Lord, I don't know
00:25:51.21\00:25:56.92
how much grace I
will have with my kids."
00:25:56.95\00:25:59.42
You know, this
story just shows that
00:25:59.45\00:26:02.32
the father just forgave him,
00:26:02.36\00:26:05.63
forgave
everything that had happened.
00:26:05.66\00:26:08.20
He didn't even ask
questions, "Where were you?
00:26:08.23\00:26:11.17
What were you
doing? Who were you with?
00:26:11.20\00:26:12.97
Why are you dressed
like this? Why do you stink?
00:26:13.00\00:26:14.77
Why? Why? Why? Why?"
00:26:14.80\00:26:16.67
Like we parents do.
00:26:16.71\00:26:18.44
Mind you, I'm not trying
to tell the young people,
00:26:18.47\00:26:20.44
you don't have to
tell your parents a reasons
00:26:20.48\00:26:22.41
and whereabouts you were.
00:26:22.44\00:26:25.48
But, you know, it's interesting
00:26:25.51\00:26:27.02
that the grass is
greener on the other side.
00:26:27.05\00:26:29.82
And when you're young,
you just want to venture out
00:26:29.85\00:26:32.49
and see what's out
there, you know, and which is...
00:26:32.52\00:26:36.16
The time will come
00:26:36.19\00:26:37.53
which is appropriate
for you to go out there,
00:26:37.56\00:26:39.66
and be responsible,
and what have you but,
00:26:39.69\00:26:42.80
you know, the thing
that had stuck with me
00:26:42.83\00:26:45.10
from the story is
that his heart was at home.
00:26:45.13\00:26:49.04
His heart was not out
there, only his mind was,
00:26:49.07\00:26:52.11
you know, just for distraction.
00:26:52.14\00:26:53.74
But his heart
was, "You know what?
00:26:53.78\00:26:55.71
I'm going to go back home."
00:26:55.74\00:26:57.61
When it came
time. When it came time.
00:26:57.65\00:26:59.45
When I look at that, it says,
"A certain man had two sons."
00:26:59.48\00:27:02.45
So here we are family,
just like you have two sons.
00:27:02.48\00:27:05.02
The interesting thing is
00:27:05.05\00:27:06.42
they would have, I
believe, had the same love,
00:27:06.45\00:27:08.76
they had the same upbringing,
they were fed the same,
00:27:08.79\00:27:11.49
they had all this, you
know, the environment there
00:27:11.53\00:27:14.70
for the family to be
consistent with their children,
00:27:14.73\00:27:17.47
but one of them was not.
00:27:17.50\00:27:19.33
And so the question arises,
00:27:19.37\00:27:20.87
"In families, do
all kids turn out good?"
00:27:20.90\00:27:24.14
No.
00:27:24.17\00:27:25.51
Well, we see it from the
very beginning, Cain and Abel.
00:27:25.54\00:27:28.14
When God says, you know,
00:27:28.18\00:27:29.54
He gives everybody free
choice, even your children.
00:27:29.58\00:27:34.15
At a certain early age,
00:27:34.18\00:27:35.78
they have the
opportunity to make decisions.
00:27:35.82\00:27:38.15
Jesus started at the age of 12.
00:27:38.19\00:27:40.36
And our children, teenagers
also start at an early age.
00:27:40.39\00:27:44.06
And you see, the
devil works with that.
00:27:44.09\00:27:46.59
And he plays on the
minds, and you can see here that
00:27:46.63\00:27:49.86
this was not the
influence of the father.
00:27:49.90\00:27:51.93
I'm sure it wasn't.
00:27:51.97\00:27:53.30
Right, right. No, no.
00:27:53.34\00:27:54.74
And actually, I'm
going to go back...
00:27:54.77\00:27:57.21
Going to go to the end
of the story and come back.
00:27:57.24\00:28:00.54
You know, it's later that
he realizes how good he had it.
00:28:00.58\00:28:05.08
So apparently the conditions
in the home were in such,
00:28:05.11\00:28:08.45
you know, that, "I can't
wait to get out of here."
00:28:08.48\00:28:11.42
It's, you know,
it's interesting,
00:28:11.45\00:28:13.79
but we are living in this world
00:28:13.82\00:28:16.59
where there's a
great controversy
00:28:16.62\00:28:17.96
between good and evil.
00:28:17.99\00:28:19.33
And the devil is trying to
cause division in every home.
00:28:19.36\00:28:22.73
He is trying to do
something in every home
00:28:22.76\00:28:27.27
to cause problems.
00:28:27.30\00:28:28.90
And here Idalia said,
you know, some people say
00:28:28.94\00:28:31.87
the grass is
greener on the other side.
00:28:31.91\00:28:33.48
The other side, that's right.
00:28:33.51\00:28:34.84
The devil is
there to tempt people.
00:28:34.88\00:28:36.78
You know, you could have,
00:28:36.81\00:28:38.15
you could be
better off somewhere else,
00:28:38.18\00:28:40.75
you could have a
better car, a better home,
00:28:40.78\00:28:44.32
a better whatever it may
be, you could have more money
00:28:44.35\00:28:46.65
if only you would be
given the opportunity,
00:28:46.69\00:28:49.22
if only you were in charge,
00:28:49.26\00:28:50.59
you know, you could
do things differently.
00:28:50.63\00:28:53.23
And so the devil works in
the minds of every individual.
00:28:53.26\00:28:56.73
And it's up to every individual
00:28:56.77\00:28:58.10
to decide what
we're going to do.
00:28:58.13\00:29:00.04
This guy, he decided
that, "I'm going to go."
00:29:00.07\00:29:04.11
I just need to go.
00:29:04.14\00:29:05.47
For some reason,
he left the home.
00:29:05.51\00:29:06.84
He went to live it up.
00:29:06.88\00:29:08.21
No rules to go to
a bye-bye. We were...
00:29:08.24\00:29:10.31
I kind of smiled when
our older son, Samuel,
00:29:10.35\00:29:16.35
he said to us, I
forgot what age...
00:29:16.38\00:29:19.62
how young he was, and he says,
00:29:19.65\00:29:21.29
"I think, I'll leave home
when I'm 39 or something."
00:29:21.32\00:29:26.09
Oh, yes, because the
conversation was such as this.
00:29:26.13\00:29:31.73
Some friends of his said,
00:29:31.77\00:29:33.34
they can't wait till
they were 18 years old
00:29:33.37\00:29:35.30
to move out of their
home and be on their own.
00:29:35.34\00:29:38.17
And so I'm like,
00:29:38.21\00:29:39.54
"Okay, you're busy telling
me about what your friend said,
00:29:39.57\00:29:41.54
but what's in
your heart, you know?
00:29:41.58\00:29:43.61
When you're 18, are you
going to move away, Samuel?
00:29:43.65\00:29:46.08
Are you going to move
away, Caleb when you're 18
00:29:46.11\00:29:48.98
because you're already
'adult' or what have you?"
00:29:49.02\00:29:51.85
And that's when Samuel said,
"No, I'm moving out in my 30s."
00:29:51.89\00:29:55.46
I'm like, "30s! Why? Why
would you be home so long?"
00:29:55.49\00:29:59.73
"Well, I figure out
I'll buy my car by then,
00:29:59.76\00:30:02.36
I'll have my computer."
00:30:02.40\00:30:03.83
And, you know, buy
all whatever he needed it
00:30:03.87\00:30:07.34
or he thought he
needed, and then move out
00:30:07.37\00:30:10.44
and, you know, just get himself
a house and what have you.
00:30:10.47\00:30:13.07
"Don't you think you're going
to live here for free, kid?"
00:30:13.11\00:30:15.44
You know, you work,
you study, you work,
00:30:15.48\00:30:17.91
and you're going to help out.
00:30:17.95\00:30:19.55
But it's
interesting, and Caleb said that
00:30:19.58\00:30:21.38
he would move out of his
40s, you know, so I'm like,
00:30:21.42\00:30:25.45
"Okay, well, look at that now."
00:30:25.49\00:30:27.82
They must be very happy at home.
00:30:27.86\00:30:30.13
So I said,
00:30:30.16\00:30:31.49
"Well, they apparently
are happy to be home."
00:30:31.53\00:30:33.29
They just like tweet.
00:30:33.33\00:30:34.66
You know, when you get
to your 20s or something,
00:30:34.70\00:30:38.10
you begin, you know,
thinking differently.
00:30:38.13\00:30:40.64
So anyway, this guy
decides to leave home,
00:30:40.67\00:30:44.11
and in a few verses,
I mean, like two versus,
00:30:44.14\00:30:50.01
it tells us that he spent all.
00:30:50.05\00:30:52.51
Well, he gathered everything
and noticed the scripture says,
00:30:52.55\00:30:56.25
Brian, that he
went to a far country.
00:30:56.28\00:31:00.39
Where nobody knew him.
00:31:00.42\00:31:03.16
So they can't hear me party,
00:31:03.19\00:31:04.83
so they can't hear
me do whatever I did,
00:31:04.86\00:31:07.20
and the news doesn't
get back to the family.
00:31:07.23\00:31:10.37
And so he went
far away, and so...
00:31:10.40\00:31:14.60
He ended up
squandering all that he had
00:31:14.64\00:31:17.21
that he'd gotten
from his father, you know.
00:31:17.24\00:31:19.41
His father had so
many wonderful things
00:31:19.44\00:31:21.34
for him and so much blessings.
00:31:21.38\00:31:23.48
But yet he took it all and left.
00:31:23.51\00:31:25.88
The wonderful home that he had
00:31:25.91\00:31:27.75
and everything that
kept him sheltered and safe,
00:31:27.78\00:31:33.09
and then he went
to a distant land,
00:31:33.12\00:31:35.32
squandered it all, and
then when he had nothing left,
00:31:35.36\00:31:38.36
he finally
realized, what did I...
00:31:38.39\00:31:42.53
"Why did I leave there?"
00:31:42.56\00:31:43.90
You know, everything
was, you know, so safe,
00:31:43.93\00:31:48.40
and so much of a
loving environment
00:31:48.44\00:31:51.51
that he just had to come back,
and crawling in that in fact,
00:31:51.54\00:31:55.28
you know, on his
knees, basically, saying,
00:31:55.31\00:31:57.81
you know, "Forgive me, father."
00:31:57.85\00:31:59.18
You know, and that's
the most wonderful thing
00:31:59.21\00:32:01.55
about this parable is it
shows the father's forgiveness
00:32:01.58\00:32:07.29
for even somebody
making a mistake that big,
00:32:07.32\00:32:11.29
you know, and still to be able
to come back, and be forgiven,
00:32:11.33\00:32:15.40
and taken in is just,
00:32:15.43\00:32:17.10
you know, it's a
wonderful parable,
00:32:17.13\00:32:19.13
and such a blessing.
00:32:19.17\00:32:20.50
Amen. Amen.
00:32:20.54\00:32:21.87
You know what
amazed me in the story?
00:32:21.90\00:32:23.24
That the father
divided the heirs.
00:32:23.27\00:32:24.77
Now I'm a father,
and I've got children.
00:32:24.81\00:32:27.54
And I could imagine one of them
saying, "Give me my potion."
00:32:27.58\00:32:31.78
That's interesting.
00:32:31.81\00:32:33.15
The Bible doesn't say,
but the father divided it.
00:32:33.18\00:32:36.12
Now I want to suggest
00:32:36.15\00:32:37.65
because he came
back to his father
00:32:37.69\00:32:39.45
after he had lost everything,
00:32:39.49\00:32:40.82
his father must had a
great love for his sons.
00:32:40.86\00:32:44.63
For him to do that,
00:32:44.66\00:32:45.99
that's the irony why I
believe that you would do that.
00:32:46.03\00:32:49.10
Because I know deep down
in the heart of every father
00:32:49.13\00:32:51.60
that he wants
his son to be safe.
00:32:51.63\00:32:54.44
And you can either do it
with love, safe, here as well,
00:32:54.47\00:32:58.44
you can do it with love
00:32:58.47\00:32:59.81
or you could
force your son away.
00:32:59.84\00:33:02.18
So the father knew
that if he gave him,
00:33:02.21\00:33:05.41
and showed him his
love, some time in the future,
00:33:05.45\00:33:08.75
at some time, he would come back
00:33:08.78\00:33:11.25
because he realized what
his father had done for him.
00:33:11.29\00:33:14.62
I think also that the father,
00:33:14.66\00:33:17.89
obviously, was a
wonderful loving father.
00:33:17.93\00:33:20.93
But both of his
sons were dysfunctional.
00:33:20.96\00:33:24.10
We've got no idea of
anything to do with his wife.
00:33:24.13\00:33:28.90
But this father knew that
00:33:28.94\00:33:30.94
if he tried to stop
his son from going or said,
00:33:30.97\00:33:33.91
"No way am I doing that?
00:33:33.94\00:33:36.38
You are not entitled to
that until after I'm dead."
00:33:36.41\00:33:40.05
The son would have
been more rebellious.
00:33:40.08\00:33:43.35
He would have been more...
00:33:43.39\00:33:45.42
And take a nasty
towards the father.
00:33:45.45\00:33:48.56
But instead in allowing
him to do what he wanted to do,
00:33:48.59\00:33:53.29
the father knew
the consequences,
00:33:53.33\00:33:54.96
the son did not.
00:33:55.00\00:33:57.23
He didn't look
from cause to effect,
00:33:57.27\00:33:58.93
he didn't look at the future.
00:33:58.97\00:34:00.87
But the father did, and he said,
00:34:00.90\00:34:03.61
"I'm going to be
here for my son."
00:34:03.64\00:34:05.27
I'm going to be watching
out for him because he's...
00:34:05.31\00:34:07.94
You know, by God's grace,
he will come back one day.
00:34:07.98\00:34:11.88
And I will then
shower my love upon him.
00:34:11.91\00:34:15.95
He hasn't obviously
recognized my love yet.
00:34:15.98\00:34:20.12
But he would not be there.
00:34:20.16\00:34:21.72
I mean, I know,
as a youth, myself,
00:34:21.76\00:34:26.16
just in my own situation,
00:34:26.19\00:34:27.63
when your parents say
"No," you get your back up.
00:34:27.66\00:34:31.30
"Excuse me, I want that."
00:34:31.33\00:34:33.07
You know, and
you feel indignant...
00:34:33.10\00:34:35.50
No, you will never stray,
you know, I wouldn't do that.
00:34:35.54\00:34:38.17
You feel rebellious.
00:34:38.21\00:34:40.48
And so as a parent,
00:34:40.51\00:34:42.11
you really have to be
very diplomatic in the way
00:34:42.14\00:34:46.15
that you treat your
children in trying to help them
00:34:46.18\00:34:48.25
to not do the wrong things.
00:34:48.28\00:34:49.62
But sometimes you got
to let them have their way,
00:34:49.65\00:34:51.85
so they can get the consequence.
00:34:51.89\00:34:53.29
I think too also as parents,
00:34:53.32\00:34:56.52
we want to be a good
influence to our children.
00:34:56.56\00:34:59.23
That's right.
00:34:59.26\00:35:00.60
And so because
we have lived life,
00:35:00.63\00:35:02.70
and we know from
experience the pitfalls,
00:35:02.73\00:35:05.07
if I can put it that way,
00:35:05.10\00:35:06.67
young people think they know it.
00:35:06.70\00:35:09.70
But in reality...
00:35:09.74\00:35:11.07
When you've been
young, you realized it.
00:35:11.11\00:35:12.57
Yeah, if the parents are around,
00:35:12.61\00:35:15.28
and the children
are willing to listen,
00:35:15.31\00:35:17.98
they will become good citizens,
00:35:18.01\00:35:19.61
and they will have
a better walk in life.
00:35:19.65\00:35:22.18
But the moment you
go out on your own,
00:35:22.22\00:35:24.25
I went out on my
own when I was 17,
00:35:24.29\00:35:26.45
not because I
wanted to leave home,
00:35:26.49\00:35:28.79
but because of
the circumstances,
00:35:28.82\00:35:30.39
if you wanted to be educated,
we lived in the country,
00:35:30.43\00:35:33.70
we had to go to the city.
00:35:33.73\00:35:35.36
But in the city,
00:35:35.40\00:35:37.20
there are many things to
squander in your money on,
00:35:37.23\00:35:40.50
and your life on but my mom
and dad were always telling me,
00:35:40.54\00:35:44.21
reminding me, you
know, "What you're there for?
00:35:44.24\00:35:46.47
You are there to
get an education.
00:35:46.51\00:35:48.41
You know, have an
ability to raise a family
00:35:48.44\00:35:51.01
and do those sorts of things."
00:35:51.05\00:35:52.98
So there's
continual advice there,
00:35:53.01\00:35:54.68
the moment you're
away from your parents,
00:35:54.72\00:35:58.02
if you don't consult God
00:35:58.05\00:35:59.39
and you haven't
got God in your life,
00:35:59.42\00:36:01.06
you consult human
wisdom and reasoning,
00:36:01.09\00:36:03.66
and that's dangerous.
00:36:03.69\00:36:05.03
You pick the wrong friends,
the friends who live off you...
00:36:05.06\00:36:07.70
Oh, yeah. That's right.
00:36:07.73\00:36:09.06
Like parasites, and that's
what happened in the parable.
00:36:09.10\00:36:11.50
You know, it's
interesting you mention that
00:36:11.53\00:36:12.97
because you mentioned parasites.
00:36:13.00\00:36:17.51
I remember when I was younger,
00:36:17.54\00:36:18.97
and that my father would give
like a little allowance that...
00:36:19.01\00:36:25.81
I was like, "Wow!"
00:36:25.85\00:36:27.18
I felt like I had a lot of money
00:36:27.22\00:36:28.55
even though it wasn't
really a lot looking back.
00:36:28.58\00:36:31.35
But I, you know, could
buy myself a few things.
00:36:31.39\00:36:34.39
I never got an allowance.
00:36:34.42\00:36:36.09
You got an allowance?
00:36:36.12\00:36:37.46
I'll share more details
later. That's unheard of.
00:36:37.49\00:36:40.56
Well, it was more
like a gift he gave.
00:36:40.60\00:36:42.66
But any way, I would go
out to the neighborhood,
00:36:42.70\00:36:46.03
and I'm buying
things, and all of a sudden,
00:36:46.07\00:36:48.07
I have more friends...
00:36:48.10\00:36:49.44
Oh, they come
out of the cupboards.
00:36:49.47\00:36:51.07
Because I would say,
"Oh, you, would like one too?"
00:36:51.11\00:36:53.84
"Oh, yeah, sure."
00:36:53.88\00:36:55.31
So you seem to have friends
when you are, like he was,
00:36:55.34\00:36:59.58
he had all his
possessions, he had wealth.
00:36:59.61\00:37:02.52
And so he wasted apparently
in a short time all the living.
00:37:02.55\00:37:07.19
And his friends enjoyed it.
00:37:07.22\00:37:09.29
His friends enjoyed it.
00:37:09.32\00:37:10.69
He enjoyed the moment too.
00:37:10.73\00:37:12.19
He enjoyed the
moment too. Oh, yes.
00:37:12.23\00:37:13.56
But his friends did.
00:37:13.60\00:37:14.93
And when he came,
when everything was gone,
00:37:14.96\00:37:16.83
the friends were
gone as well, you know.
00:37:16.87\00:37:18.73
You know, it's interesting.
00:37:18.77\00:37:20.10
When you go from the
country into the city,
00:37:20.14\00:37:21.80
the city perceived
country folk is easy, picky.
00:37:21.84\00:37:25.97
And so they really do,
they take advantage of you.
00:37:26.01\00:37:29.81
And so they will
guide you in the way
00:37:29.84\00:37:32.91
that you know in your
mind is not good for you,
00:37:32.95\00:37:35.75
but it's in their interest.
00:37:35.78\00:37:37.49
And this is what happened.
00:37:37.52\00:37:38.85
Yes.
00:37:38.89\00:37:40.22
Well, it's also the
immaturity of the person too.
00:37:40.26\00:37:44.53
You know, there are some
kids that are really mature.
00:37:44.56\00:37:47.86
"How old are you kid?"
00:37:47.90\00:37:49.43
You know, they will be like,
00:37:49.46\00:37:51.00
"Oh, I'm just 19 or 20."
00:37:51.03\00:37:52.90
And here I'm thinking,
"You are 29 or 30 by now."
00:37:52.93\00:37:56.47
But the maturity
level, of course,
00:37:56.50\00:37:59.84
what his passion was
just to get away from it all.
00:37:59.87\00:38:04.61
You know, have a
change of environment,
00:38:04.65\00:38:07.02
you know, because he was
raised in this environment,
00:38:07.05\00:38:10.49
this is what we have.
00:38:10.52\00:38:11.85
And when we don't have...
00:38:11.89\00:38:14.06
When we lose what we have,
00:38:14.09\00:38:15.42
then that's when we
realized how good we have it.
00:38:15.46\00:38:18.56
You see, so he would no
longer provide a lifestyle
00:38:18.59\00:38:22.66
that he was
receiving all his life,
00:38:22.70\00:38:26.23
but he was giving
it to his friends,
00:38:26.27\00:38:28.07
his buddies, and, you
know, people he just met,
00:38:28.10\00:38:31.04
you know, in the
activities that they were at
00:38:31.07\00:38:34.14
because I'm like, "Well, I know
that a friend brings a friend,
00:38:34.18\00:38:37.71
someone I'd never met before,
00:38:37.75\00:38:39.98
and if you're in
a party environment,
00:38:40.02\00:38:41.88
then you're going
to all party together,
00:38:41.92\00:38:43.32
and you're going to
end up all being friends."
00:38:43.35\00:38:45.59
Never hear from them again,
00:38:45.62\00:38:47.29
but, you know,
the money is gone,
00:38:47.32\00:38:48.92
your resources are gone,
00:38:48.96\00:38:51.23
but this young man,
00:38:51.26\00:38:54.76
I don't know why...
00:38:54.80\00:38:57.07
I just don't know why.
00:38:57.10\00:38:58.63
The words that
he was contemplating
00:38:58.67\00:39:00.80
and telling his
father is to forgive him.
00:39:00.84\00:39:03.24
"I have sinned against
you and against heavens."
00:39:03.27\00:39:06.47
He could have said
something else like,
00:39:06.51\00:39:09.21
"Hey, I'm back.
00:39:09.24\00:39:10.58
I'm out of all the
resources, and you're my dad,
00:39:10.61\00:39:12.98
and you're
supposed to take care of me
00:39:13.01\00:39:14.35
and provide for me."
00:39:14.38\00:39:15.75
What would you
do if your child...
00:39:15.78\00:39:18.05
I wouldn't have
taken him back in.
00:39:18.09\00:39:22.02
You know, that's not the way
that he came up to the father.
00:39:22.06\00:39:24.63
You know, like I said,
00:39:24.66\00:39:25.99
he came up on his knees
and begging for forgiveness,
00:39:26.03\00:39:29.46
humbly begging for forgiveness
00:39:29.50\00:39:31.57
'cause he knew
that he had done wrong.
00:39:31.60\00:39:34.24
Like whenever John said,
00:39:34.27\00:39:35.60
when he was 17, he
ventured out on his own too.
00:39:35.64\00:39:38.41
I basically tried to do about
the same thing when I was 18.
00:39:38.44\00:39:41.74
You know, when me and my father
didn't agree on something,
00:39:41.78\00:39:46.01
and I was like,
00:39:46.05\00:39:47.38
"Well, I think I'm going
to be better out on my own."
00:39:47.42\00:39:49.62
And I tried that
for about six months,
00:39:49.65\00:39:53.36
and I came back
basically almost on my knees.
00:39:53.39\00:39:56.16
So I can very well
relate to the parable
00:39:56.19\00:40:00.46
of the Prodigal Son.
00:40:00.50\00:40:02.73
And my father did.
00:40:02.76\00:40:04.10
He took me back in,
00:40:04.13\00:40:05.57
you know, he gave me
another chance at home,
00:40:05.60\00:40:07.47
and, you know, I became a
lot better for him, you know.
00:40:07.50\00:40:11.14
Amen. Amen.
00:40:11.17\00:40:12.51
It's interesting too.
00:40:12.54\00:40:13.88
You know, when you talk
and think about inheritance,
00:40:13.91\00:40:15.24
I know that some people
may be due for inheritance
00:40:15.28\00:40:18.25
because their
parents are getting old.
00:40:18.28\00:40:20.22
When we don't
have to work for money,
00:40:20.25\00:40:22.75
we really don't
know the value of it.
00:40:22.78\00:40:25.55
I remember, I had to earn,
00:40:25.59\00:40:27.72
I was on a wage when I
started at $27 or $28 a week.
00:40:27.76\00:40:32.63
Out of that I had to put money
aside for my board and keep
00:40:32.66\00:40:35.56
'cause I was
studying in the city.
00:40:35.60\00:40:38.07
And the rest of
it was to be used
00:40:38.10\00:40:40.20
for whatever way
I desired to use it.
00:40:40.24\00:40:42.97
But I learnt very quickly.
00:40:43.00\00:40:44.47
It took a lot to
earn that one dollar,
00:40:44.51\00:40:47.61
but it went just like that.
00:40:47.64\00:40:50.15
So you learn to many...
00:40:50.18\00:40:51.51
So he used to drive home
to his mother on the weekends
00:40:51.55\00:40:53.48
to get her to do his washing.
00:40:53.52\00:40:57.12
What a blessing.
00:40:57.15\00:40:58.49
It was. What a blessing.
00:40:58.52\00:40:59.85
But you see, this young man,
he didn't really understand.
00:40:59.89\00:41:03.56
He suddenly had a lot of money.
00:41:03.59\00:41:05.79
Now a lot of young
people get a lot of money,
00:41:05.83\00:41:08.36
and what did they do?
00:41:08.40\00:41:09.73
You hear stories of people
winning lotteries or whatever.
00:41:09.76\00:41:13.34
And within a short
time, the money's gone,
00:41:13.37\00:41:15.30
and they're as poor
as they were before.
00:41:15.34\00:41:17.31
Or worse off. Yeah.
00:41:17.34\00:41:19.01
But this young man
had the sense to remember
00:41:19.04\00:41:23.14
that his dad loved him,
00:41:23.18\00:41:25.08
and he could go
back to his father.
00:41:25.11\00:41:27.62
And that was his means of
getting out of his problem.
00:41:27.65\00:41:32.12
'Cause this story really
relates to our Heavenly Father.
00:41:32.15\00:41:36.56
And so when we
look at this young man,
00:41:36.59\00:41:39.39
every one of us has
the same opportunity,
00:41:39.43\00:41:42.23
we may go astray,
00:41:42.26\00:41:43.60
we may do things
that are not right,
00:41:43.63\00:41:46.23
but we can always return to God.
00:41:46.27\00:41:48.70
Preferably, not
make the mistake.
00:41:48.74\00:41:50.77
Yes.
00:41:50.81\00:41:52.14
But if you do, God
accepts you right where you are.
00:41:52.17\00:41:53.91
That's right.
00:41:53.94\00:41:55.28
If you fail, try
again, and again, and again.
00:41:55.31\00:41:57.68
And, you know, as I
contemplate the story,
00:41:57.71\00:42:00.88
I remember, for
example of the children
00:42:00.92\00:42:03.35
going mission trips or
class trips, and etcetera.
00:42:03.39\00:42:07.42
And they need spending money.
00:42:07.46\00:42:09.72
And so I would
require of them a receipt.
00:42:09.76\00:42:12.59
I don't care what you
bought if it was Bon-Bon,
00:42:12.63\00:42:15.23
you know, a sucker
or something to drink,
00:42:15.26\00:42:18.13
"You're kidding me, mom, right?
00:42:18.17\00:42:19.80
Are you kidding?"
00:42:19.83\00:42:21.17
"No, I'm not kidding you.
00:42:21.20\00:42:22.54
I want you to set an envelope
aside, and all the receipts,
00:42:22.57\00:42:25.04
I want you to
put them in there."
00:42:25.07\00:42:26.78
Because once you give them money
00:42:26.81\00:42:28.24
and you do not
hold them accountable,
00:42:28.28\00:42:30.21
you know, they
just waste it like...
00:42:30.25\00:42:32.91
Like it's water, you know.
00:42:32.95\00:42:35.12
So what did you
do with the money?
00:42:35.15\00:42:36.95
"Oh, I don't know,
Mom. I ate here and there."
00:42:36.99\00:42:39.12
"No, you're not
going to tell me that."
00:42:39.15\00:42:40.89
So sure enough, I
received an envelope,
00:42:40.92\00:42:43.86
and it was full
of little receipts.
00:42:43.89\00:42:46.16
And I'm just praising the Lord,
00:42:46.19\00:42:48.16
you know, and I said to Samuel,
Caleb, when you understand
00:42:48.20\00:42:52.23
where you're
spending your money in,
00:42:52.27\00:42:54.37
then you're going to
make wiser decisions.
00:42:54.40\00:42:56.94
So it's not just...
00:42:56.97\00:42:59.17
This is just a
little "parentheses"
00:42:59.21\00:43:01.54
that I'm doing for the parents.
00:43:01.58\00:43:04.75
It's a good idea to
hold your child accountable.
00:43:04.78\00:43:07.58
So my husband,
like he just said,
00:43:07.62\00:43:10.12
he got allowance,
00:43:10.15\00:43:11.89
something that I never received.
00:43:11.92\00:43:13.82
She doesn't even
know what it means.
00:43:13.86\00:43:17.76
But I used to, you
know, cook something
00:43:17.79\00:43:21.36
and sell it with my
mom or recycling cans
00:43:21.40\00:43:23.77
and stuff like that.
00:43:23.80\00:43:26.13
Because mom said,
00:43:26.17\00:43:27.50
"No, you have to
work for your money."
00:43:27.54\00:43:28.87
Okay, same thing
I tell with my kids.
00:43:28.90\00:43:31.07
"You have to
work for your money."
00:43:31.11\00:43:32.44
Now the responsibility
00:43:32.47\00:43:36.34
that I want to
share with the parents
00:43:36.38\00:43:37.71
is like hold
your child accountable
00:43:37.75\00:43:39.78
until they are of age because...
00:43:39.81\00:43:42.78
Just because there
is a school activity,
00:43:42.82\00:43:44.65
and we're happy
we are providing,
00:43:44.69\00:43:46.72
but you're also knowing
what your kids' interests are,
00:43:46.76\00:43:50.19
what are they investing on,
00:43:50.23\00:43:52.06
and, you know,
00:43:52.09\00:43:53.50
I didn't think they were going
to spend money on something
00:43:53.53\00:43:56.40
that was not good for them.
00:43:56.43\00:43:58.10
But it's just nice to see...
00:43:58.13\00:43:59.80
Interest him. Yeah.
00:43:59.83\00:44:01.17
That's right.
00:44:01.20\00:44:02.54
Something valuable
for them to learn in life.
00:44:02.57\00:44:04.21
I would like to
go back to Luke 15
00:44:04.24\00:44:06.54
because there's a
little phrase here
00:44:06.57\00:44:08.64
that captures my attention,
00:44:08.68\00:44:10.01
and that's Luke 15:17.
00:44:10.05\00:44:13.55
Because I want
to hear in the story
00:44:13.58\00:44:17.09
the father is really
like a picture of God.
00:44:17.12\00:44:20.39
But notice here what
happens with the son in Luke 15.
00:44:20.42\00:44:24.06
And what verse did I say, 17?
00:44:24.09\00:44:26.59
It says, talking
about the Prodigal Son.
00:44:26.63\00:44:29.73
Actually I read
verse 16 to get a context.
00:44:29.76\00:44:31.50
"And when he would have
filled his belly with the husk
00:44:31.53\00:44:35.57
that the swine did eat,
and no man gave unto him."
00:44:35.60\00:44:39.31
You see a picture here
of someone in great need,
00:44:39.34\00:44:42.14
starving.
00:44:42.18\00:44:43.95
And when verse 17 says,
00:44:43.98\00:44:45.31
"And when he came to himself."
00:44:45.35\00:44:46.68
That's the little phrase.
00:44:46.72\00:44:48.18
It says, and when
he came to himself."
00:44:48.22\00:44:49.75
In other words, he
came to his senses.
00:44:49.78\00:44:51.95
"He said how many
hired servants of my father's
00:44:51.99\00:44:54.32
have bread enough
to eat and to spare,
00:44:54.36\00:44:59.56
and I perish with hunger."
00:44:59.59\00:45:01.20
So now, he says
he came to himself,
00:45:01.23\00:45:03.80
and that's really
what happens to people
00:45:03.83\00:45:07.54
when they walk away from God
00:45:07.57\00:45:08.90
because this story
can also be understood
00:45:08.94\00:45:13.17
to mean somebody
that knows the Lord,
00:45:13.21\00:45:15.88
has served the
Lord, but decides,
00:45:15.91\00:45:18.35
"You know, I think I'm
going to go out into the world
00:45:18.38\00:45:21.58
and do my own thing."
00:45:21.62\00:45:23.15
That's right.
00:45:23.18\00:45:24.52
This story is
telling us this as well
00:45:24.55\00:45:26.42
and how God is willing
to accept the person back.
00:45:26.45\00:45:30.46
It says like the person
was not really thinking right
00:45:30.49\00:45:33.66
because he came to himself.
00:45:33.70\00:45:35.93
In other words, he came back,
"Wait a minute, wait, hold on."
00:45:35.96\00:45:39.13
"You know, this is not as good
as I thought it was, you know."
00:45:39.17\00:45:41.84
He is thinking about himself,
we call that selfishness.
00:45:41.87\00:45:44.37
Selfishness.
00:45:44.41\00:45:45.74
So when we
think about ourselves,
00:45:45.77\00:45:47.11
we don't discern
what's happening around us.
00:45:47.14\00:45:49.71
We only think,
"This is what I want.
00:45:49.74\00:45:51.91
This is what I'm going to do."
Notice, I, I want to do, and I.
00:45:51.95\00:45:55.42
I'm doing. I'm doing.
00:45:55.45\00:45:57.09
But when you
come to your senses,
00:45:57.12\00:45:58.69
when you're in that point
00:45:58.72\00:46:00.06
where you suddenly
realize, you know...
00:46:00.09\00:46:02.72
Someone else.
00:46:02.76\00:46:06.03
"This is not what I wanted.
00:46:06.06\00:46:08.16
This hasn't worked
out like I wanted."
00:46:08.20\00:46:10.77
So he knows, he
knows this one good truth.
00:46:10.80\00:46:13.90
And I have some
friends that have left the Lord
00:46:13.94\00:46:16.97
and eventually came back,
00:46:17.01\00:46:19.04
but, you know,
here is, in this moment,
00:46:19.07\00:46:22.04
I'd like to link
Luke 15 with Romans 2:4
00:46:22.08\00:46:25.51
because really we don't...
00:46:25.55\00:46:28.75
The story doesn't tell
us that the father was,
00:46:28.78\00:46:31.32
you know, following the son,
00:46:31.35\00:46:33.92
keeping an eye on him
00:46:33.96\00:46:35.62
or that he sent the
servant to keep an eye on him.
00:46:35.66\00:46:39.69
But really, when we
walk away from the Lord,
00:46:39.73\00:46:43.43
the Holy Spirit still
is tugging at the heart.
00:46:43.47\00:46:46.80
Yes, amen.
00:46:46.84\00:46:48.17
Still it's
talking to the person.
00:46:48.20\00:46:49.84
And the Lord sends
messages through circumstances
00:46:49.87\00:46:54.48
or even people
that help us understand
00:46:54.51\00:46:58.58
because Romans 2:4 says,
00:46:58.61\00:47:00.88
"Or do you despise the
riches of His goodness,"
00:47:00.92\00:47:05.39
that's God's goodness,
00:47:05.42\00:47:06.76
"forbearance,
and longsuffering,"
00:47:06.79\00:47:08.49
His patience, "not
knowing that the goodness of God
00:47:08.52\00:47:11.76
leads you to repentance?"
00:47:11.79\00:47:13.80
So here, this prodigal
son comes to his senses
00:47:13.83\00:47:17.93
and it's a
picture of the Holy Spirit
00:47:17.97\00:47:19.97
working in his
heart that he says,
00:47:20.00\00:47:22.30
"Wow, I really was
better off where I was."
00:47:22.34\00:47:26.27
And then, like
Idalia said, he's repented.
00:47:26.31\00:47:28.81
He wants to say to the father,
00:47:28.84\00:47:30.35
"I'm not good enough to
even be your son anymore.
00:47:30.38\00:47:33.45
Just make me a
servant. Just make me a servant.
00:47:33.48\00:47:35.85
I'm not good enough
to be your son anymore."
00:47:35.88\00:47:37.85
Because of the wickedness,
the wicked things he had done.
00:47:37.89\00:47:41.72
And this is a picture of God,
00:47:41.76\00:47:44.43
and anybody is out there
00:47:44.46\00:47:45.79
watching this program or
listening to this program,
00:47:45.83\00:47:48.26
that is not
following the Lord right now,
00:47:48.30\00:47:50.63
this is a message for you.
00:47:50.67\00:47:52.00
God's goodness
has been leading you,
00:47:52.03\00:47:55.10
helping you to repentance.
00:47:55.14\00:47:56.71
And I remember this
young man that left the Lord,
00:47:56.74\00:47:59.47
and he is there in a dance.
00:47:59.51\00:48:05.01
And in that dance,
00:48:05.05\00:48:06.38
the girl that
was dancing with him,
00:48:06.41\00:48:08.32
they started talking
about God on the table.
00:48:08.35\00:48:12.29
They were dancing on the table
00:48:12.32\00:48:13.66
or where they
had been dancing...
00:48:13.69\00:48:15.02
In the dance, they
were at the table talking.
00:48:15.06\00:48:17.19
Okay, okay.
00:48:17.23\00:48:19.33
In the dance hall.
00:48:19.36\00:48:20.70
In the dance hall,
maybe I didn't word it right.
00:48:20.73\00:48:23.43
But anyway, the young lady
starts talking about the Bible.
00:48:23.47\00:48:27.84
And well, he started saying,
00:48:27.87\00:48:29.30
"Well, that's not
what the Bible says.
00:48:29.34\00:48:30.67
The Bible says such and such."
00:48:30.71\00:48:32.04
He's giving her a Bible
study and that, and she says,
00:48:32.07\00:48:36.21
"You go to church."
00:48:36.24\00:48:37.58
He said, "Well,
no, no. I don't."
00:48:37.61\00:48:40.82
She says, "Well, you seem
to know a lot about the Bible."
00:48:40.85\00:48:43.32
"Well, I used to go
to church, you know."
00:48:43.35\00:48:45.62
And this is the Holy
Spirit working his heart,
00:48:45.65\00:48:50.19
telling him,
helping him to understand,
00:48:50.23\00:48:52.56
"you know
something very valuable."
00:48:52.59\00:48:54.80
And this person is
hungry to know more about God,
00:48:54.83\00:48:58.50
and you have information.
00:48:58.53\00:49:01.10
And so, see, the Holy
Spirit, God works in every heart
00:49:01.14\00:49:04.54
trying to lead that person back.
00:49:04.57\00:49:06.47
And this young man in the story,
00:49:06.51\00:49:09.54
I like the part when
he's finally returning home.
00:49:09.58\00:49:13.65
And somebody read it,
well, he was yet what?
00:49:13.68\00:49:16.48
A long way on.
00:49:16.52\00:49:17.85
A long way on. A long way on.
00:49:17.89\00:49:19.22
You know, and I
pictured the father,
00:49:19.25\00:49:20.82
I'm at the point where
things are getting little blurry
00:49:20.86\00:49:23.59
far behind, far away.
00:49:23.63\00:49:26.06
That's why I'm still
wearing glasses to see things.
00:49:26.09\00:49:29.63
But I still
recognize somewhat faces,
00:49:29.66\00:49:32.67
and from far away,
if it was my son coming,
00:49:32.70\00:49:35.50
I could recognize the
walk, the general figure,
00:49:35.54\00:49:39.37
and this one says,
00:49:39.41\00:49:41.04
"When he was yet
a great way off."
00:49:41.08\00:49:43.24
What did the father
see? He saw his son...
00:49:43.28\00:49:46.72
Even though he was in rags.
00:49:46.75\00:49:48.08
Yes. Even though he was
in rag, he recognized him,
00:49:48.12\00:49:51.25
he wasn't passing by. He
saw him coming toward him.
00:49:51.29\00:49:55.46
He dropped what he was
doing and ran to meet his son.
00:49:55.49\00:49:59.76
And not only that, his
son had been with the pigs.
00:49:59.79\00:50:03.23
Yes. He had been
feeding the pigs.
00:50:03.26\00:50:05.73
He stank.
00:50:05.77\00:50:07.10
We know somebody
that works with pigs.
00:50:07.14\00:50:09.64
He stank.
00:50:09.67\00:50:11.01
He was living with them
basically in all their slosh.
00:50:11.04\00:50:13.74
That's right.
00:50:13.78\00:50:15.11
He was a slave
basically with the pigs,
00:50:15.14\00:50:17.35
and he was so smelly,
and he was wearing rags.
00:50:17.38\00:50:20.22
And that would've
been filthy dirty.
00:50:20.25\00:50:21.58
He would've been filthy dirty,
00:50:21.62\00:50:23.45
but his father came and
fell and hugged him close.
00:50:23.49\00:50:29.12
You know, and cried,
00:50:29.16\00:50:31.33
I mean, that father was
just so happy to see his son.
00:50:31.36\00:50:35.83
And it would've
broken his son's heart
00:50:35.86\00:50:37.87
'cause the son had no
idea while he was away
00:50:37.90\00:50:40.20
that his
father's heart was broken,
00:50:40.24\00:50:42.50
that his father kept
looking for him every day.
00:50:42.54\00:50:45.34
He didn't know that.
00:50:45.37\00:50:46.81
But now he realizes how
much his father loves him.
00:50:46.84\00:50:49.84
Amen.
00:50:49.88\00:50:51.21
And it would have
broken his heart even more
00:50:51.25\00:50:53.55
than the repentance
that he was already feeling.
00:50:53.58\00:50:56.25
But his father
just welcomed him back.
00:50:56.28\00:50:58.29
And do you know one
of the important things
00:50:58.32\00:50:59.79
of finding this
story when it comes
00:50:59.82\00:51:01.16
to our
relationship with God is that
00:51:01.19\00:51:03.43
he said, "Go and put
the best robe on him."
00:51:03.46\00:51:05.66
That's right.
00:51:05.69\00:51:07.03
Now would they have put it
over top of his filthy rags?
00:51:07.06\00:51:09.26
Would they put it on
him while he was so dirty?
00:51:09.30\00:51:12.13
Or would they have
cleaned him up first?
00:51:12.17\00:51:14.00
I would think that
they would cleaned him up
00:51:14.04\00:51:15.84
and gave him all
the royal treatment.
00:51:15.87\00:51:17.64
That's right.
Because in Zachariah 4,
00:51:17.67\00:51:20.94
it talks about
Joshua, the high priest,
00:51:20.98\00:51:23.88
and Satan's accusing
him, and he's in filthy rags
00:51:23.91\00:51:27.72
that represents
his sinful stage.
00:51:27.75\00:51:30.09
You know that our
sins are as filthy rags,
00:51:30.12\00:51:32.05
the Bible says or
all our righteousness
00:51:32.09\00:51:34.22
is what we think
is righteousness.
00:51:34.26\00:51:36.22
And God says,
"Take off the filthy rags
00:51:36.26\00:51:40.23
and put the robe,"
the white robe on Joshua.
00:51:40.26\00:51:44.00
And that's what
the father was doing,
00:51:44.03\00:51:47.27
"Go and put the
best robe on my son
00:51:47.30\00:51:49.60
and put the ring on his finger."
00:51:49.64\00:51:51.37
And God does that for us. Amen.
00:51:51.41\00:51:53.21
He doesn't cover over our sin,
00:51:53.24\00:51:56.81
he takes the sin away
00:51:56.85\00:51:58.31
and gives us new
clothing and cleans us up.
00:51:58.35\00:52:01.05
Amen. Amen.
00:52:01.08\00:52:02.42
Exactly.
00:52:02.45\00:52:03.79
If we could just do
that with everyone, you know.
00:52:03.82\00:52:05.15
Yes. If we would
be that merciful.
00:52:05.19\00:52:06.52
Brian, what do you...
00:52:06.55\00:52:07.89
When you see this picture,
00:52:07.92\00:52:09.26
I mean, as
Rosemary described it,
00:52:09.29\00:52:10.63
what do you see
there? What does it tell you?
00:52:10.66\00:52:11.99
What I see is the uncleanliness
of what he was doing,
00:52:12.03\00:52:16.06
you know, feeding the
swine, eating the swine,
00:52:16.10\00:52:18.10
and things like that.
00:52:18.13\00:52:19.93
Basically, it's the
sin that he was taking on
00:52:19.97\00:52:22.27
after he left his father
00:52:22.30\00:52:24.11
and the sin that
he was engulfed in,
00:52:24.14\00:52:28.88
you know, in his way of
living from that point on.
00:52:28.91\00:52:32.91
Like you said,
whenever he came back
00:52:32.95\00:52:34.58
and was cleansed by his father
00:52:34.62\00:52:39.35
with the new robes
and a ring on his finger.
00:52:39.39\00:52:41.96
You know, which at the time,
00:52:41.99\00:52:43.32
I believe it was like
the seal of the family,
00:52:43.36\00:52:46.66
you know, to make decisions.
00:52:46.70\00:52:48.30
You know, he gave
him that back again too.
00:52:48.33\00:52:51.77
He gave him the authority
of being in his family.
00:52:51.80\00:52:54.30
Yes. Amen.
00:52:54.34\00:52:55.67
You know, once he got
the cleanliness again.
00:52:55.70\00:52:58.64
That's right. You know, so...
00:52:58.67\00:53:00.04
He was back as a son.
00:53:00.08\00:53:01.41
Yeah. His father
forgave him of all of his sins
00:53:01.44\00:53:04.45
as our Father does
for us every single day.
00:53:04.48\00:53:07.68
You know, all we have
to do is die every day
00:53:07.72\00:53:11.39
and pray to Him and
commune with our Father
00:53:11.42\00:53:15.76
for the forgiveness of our sins.
00:53:15.79\00:53:17.26
That's right.
00:53:17.29\00:53:18.63
We don't have to clean
ourselves up before we come.
00:53:18.66\00:53:20.56
No, no.
00:53:20.60\00:53:21.93
We come to God as
we are. As we are.
00:53:21.96\00:53:23.40
We come to Him
with all of our sins
00:53:23.43\00:53:25.27
on our shoulders.
00:53:25.30\00:53:27.44
I think it's amazing,
the response of this father
00:53:27.47\00:53:31.37
because as a father,
I could've well said,
00:53:31.41\00:53:33.68
"See, I told you so.
You wasted all that money.
00:53:33.71\00:53:36.95
What sort of a son are
you?" Yes. That's right.
00:53:36.98\00:53:39.21
But he wasn't like that.
He doesn't bring up anything.
00:53:39.25\00:53:41.08
Because this is the love of God.
00:53:41.12\00:53:43.08
This is not the love of man
now that we're talking about.
00:53:43.12\00:53:45.42
This is the love of God.
00:53:45.45\00:53:46.79
He wants to accept you no matter
00:53:46.82\00:53:48.46
what you've been
through, what you've done.
00:53:48.49\00:53:50.63
If you turn to Him and repent,
00:53:50.66\00:53:52.86
He welcomes you
back with His arms open
00:53:52.89\00:53:55.46
and loves you.
00:53:55.50\00:53:56.83
Amen.
00:53:56.87\00:53:58.20
And so that is the
thing that loves people...
00:53:58.23\00:54:00.80
That example is
an incredible example
00:54:00.84\00:54:03.27
for dads to show
to their children.
00:54:03.30\00:54:05.94
In Zachariah 4, we see
that it's the devil who is,
00:54:05.97\00:54:09.78
or Satan who is, the
accuser of the brethren.
00:54:09.81\00:54:11.88
That's right.
00:54:11.91\00:54:13.25
But God is the one who
doesn't bring up the past.
00:54:13.28\00:54:15.65
He just gives you a new future.
00:54:15.68\00:54:17.22
You know, there may be
a young person watching
00:54:17.25\00:54:20.16
or someone who has walked
away from the Lord, and...
00:54:20.19\00:54:23.89
Or has never known Him maybe.
00:54:23.93\00:54:25.39
Who has not known Him,
00:54:25.43\00:54:26.76
but has never
forgotten the teachings
00:54:26.80\00:54:29.93
of the Bible teachings
that they learned in church,
00:54:29.96\00:54:33.44
and for whatever
circumstances in life,
00:54:33.47\00:54:35.97
they have decided
that, "You know what,
00:54:36.00\00:54:38.11
I'm through with this.
00:54:38.14\00:54:40.18
You know, the church
is full of hypocrites.
00:54:40.21\00:54:42.38
The church is this,
the church is that."
00:54:42.41\00:54:44.25
Or for whatever reason,
00:54:44.28\00:54:46.38
the Satan has used
someone to discourage you,
00:54:46.41\00:54:49.28
the Lord is longing for
you to come back to the fold.
00:54:49.32\00:54:53.42
It's your family, and I pray
also along with your parents,
00:54:53.46\00:54:58.19
your family, your siblings,
whoever else is praying
00:54:58.23\00:55:01.33
and waiting for
that wonderful return
00:55:01.36\00:55:03.67
of someone who has walked away
00:55:03.70\00:55:06.84
that we all know
how to just embrace you
00:55:06.87\00:55:10.81
and receive you back
with that same mercy,
00:55:10.84\00:55:14.14
not asking where you've
been, what have you done,
00:55:14.18\00:55:16.14
or that's what you'll get,
00:55:16.18\00:55:17.88
but welcome home and
let's work at this together
00:55:17.91\00:55:23.08
because Christ is at the door
and sure, we get discouraged,
00:55:23.12\00:55:27.69
young, old, older
people, we all get discouraged,
00:55:27.72\00:55:31.06
but we don't stay there.
00:55:31.09\00:55:33.29
Don't let the
devil neutralize you.
00:55:33.33\00:55:35.80
You have life
eternal offered to you.
00:55:35.83\00:55:38.77
Don't walk away from it.
00:55:38.80\00:55:40.27
And it is the gift
00:55:40.30\00:55:41.64
that the Lord is
offering you today.
00:55:41.67\00:55:43.54
So it doesn't
matter how far you went.
00:55:43.57\00:55:46.51
I don't care if you were
dancing with the prostitutes,
00:55:46.54\00:55:49.64
like it says here, you
know, or partying away.
00:55:49.68\00:55:53.08
It doesn't matter.
00:55:53.11\00:55:54.55
What matters is that
00:55:54.58\00:55:56.28
just as this
father in this parable
00:55:56.32\00:55:59.95
gave his son another chance,
00:55:59.99\00:56:02.72
the Lord is giving
you a greater chance.
00:56:02.76\00:56:05.29
So that is what's in
my heart to share with you
00:56:05.33\00:56:09.53
and for the parents to continue
to pray for the young people
00:56:09.56\00:56:13.90
that have walked
away from your children,
00:56:13.94\00:56:16.27
from your siblings.
00:56:16.30\00:56:18.71
My siblings have
walked away from the Lord,
00:56:18.74\00:56:20.58
so I'm praying and believing
00:56:20.61\00:56:22.64
that the Lord will
answer that prayer,
00:56:22.68\00:56:24.98
and they will come,
00:56:25.01\00:56:26.35
and that I will
see them from afar,
00:56:26.38\00:56:28.58
arriving at the church, and say,
00:56:28.62\00:56:29.98
"Oh, they're back."
00:56:30.02\00:56:31.35
So anyway, amen, hallelujah.
00:56:31.39\00:56:35.59
Well, I want to thank
Brother John Malkiewycz
00:56:35.62\00:56:38.16
for being with us.
00:56:38.19\00:56:39.73
Sister Rosemary
00:56:39.76\00:56:41.50
and Brother Brian,
thank you for being with us.
00:56:41.53\00:56:45.27
Pleasure is always mine.
And everyone for sharing.
00:56:45.30\00:56:47.57
I know we could talk
a lot more about this.
00:56:47.60\00:56:49.17
Oh, it's so beautiful.
00:56:49.20\00:56:50.54
Because God's grace is something
00:56:50.57\00:56:53.21
that we can continue talking on.
00:56:53.24\00:56:54.81
And it is marvelous.
00:56:54.84\00:56:57.25
And so we want to thank you.
00:56:57.28\00:56:59.68
I just said, yes,
it is. Amen. Amen.
00:56:59.71\00:57:02.32
And so we want to
thank you at home,
00:57:02.35\00:57:04.85
in the hospital, in the
prison, wherever you are,
00:57:04.89\00:57:08.59
if you have
been listening to us,
00:57:08.62\00:57:12.26
you may want to
consider that God is calling you
00:57:12.29\00:57:16.43
to come back to Him,
00:57:16.46\00:57:18.47
give Him your heart and
the marvelous thing is that
00:57:18.50\00:57:22.60
He will meet
you a great way off.
00:57:22.64\00:57:25.91
He will love you, hug you,
forgive you, and accept you.
00:57:25.94\00:57:30.88
Come to Him today.
00:57:30.91\00:57:32.35
Come in. Amen.
00:57:32.38\00:57:34.32