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, I'm Shelley Quinn,
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and we welcome
you to Family Worship.
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It is so good to
sit around the table
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and open up our Bibles.
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And we hope you have your Bible.
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We hope you have a pen and pad.
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And next to me is my
wonderful godly husband.
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Thank you, darling. Hi, honey.
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I've introduced yourself
for the rest of the people.
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We were
flirting. So this is fun.
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JD, anyway JD Quinn.
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We're just glad
that you're with us
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this evening.
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We're going to have a
wonderful time together,
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wherever some of
our wonderful friends,
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I'll just go
around, and we got Tim.
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Yep.
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We got Ryan, of
course little Shelley.
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We got Dee, and we have Robert.
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Now this is the first time
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that Robert's been able
to spend the evening with us
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and we just love Robert.
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What all do you
do at 3ABN, Robert?
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Well, I'm in the
production department,
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and I do editing and
some computer programming
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and design work, and
just kind of errands,
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little bit of everything so.
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He's a smart guy with
incredible background.
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He's very valuable to us,
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he's been modest,
he has a lot of talent.
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Well, I'm proud to be here
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and honored to be
here, so thank you.
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Amen.
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And, Robert, we're
excited that you're here
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with us at the table.
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And we're
excited that all of you,
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our family at
home or joining us.
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There is something so
special about the Sabbath.
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And I'll tell you upfront,
if it weren't for the Sabbath,
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I would probably work
myself into an early grave,
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because the Sabbath
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is something that
gives me permission.
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JD always tell me, slow down,
slow down, do this, do that.
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And when the Sabbath rolls
in, and you can just kind of...
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And exhale.
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So, that's what we're
going to do here tonight.
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We're going to talk
about how to keep a finger
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on your spiritual pulse.
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But first we're
going to open with prayer.
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And then we'll have a
song "Blessed Assurance,"
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and the lyrics will be
at the bottom of the page,
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the bottom of the screen
and we invite you to join us.
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Honey, you want to
pray? Most certainly.
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Father, as we come to You
this evening, the Sabbath day.
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We just want to thank You, Lord,
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for Your mercies for Your grace.
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Thank You, Lord,
that we can be here
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to concentrate on Your Word.
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And, Father, we
invite the Holy Spirit in,
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the Holy Spirit
that will be there
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to just to enrich us with
additional thoughts, Lord,
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and so, Father, as
we just start this,
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we just want to thank You.
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Thank You for each other.
Thank You for our loved ones.
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Thank You for Your
hedge of protection.
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We ask this in
the name of Jesus.
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Amen. Amen.
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Amen. All right.
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Now, at least,
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we've got a couple
of singers in the group.
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But we invite you to join us
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in making a
joyful noise to the Lord.
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Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
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Oh, what a
foretaste of glory divine!
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Heir of
salvation, purchase of God
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Born of His
Spirit, washed in His blood
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This is my
story, this is my song
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Praising my
Savior all the day long
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This is my
story, this is my song
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Praising my
Savior all the day long
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Perfect
submission, all is at rest
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I in my Savior
am happy and blest
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Watching and
waiting, looking above
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Filled with His
goodness, lost in His love
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This is my
story, this is my song
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Praising my
Savior all the day long
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This is my
story, this is my song
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Praising my Savior
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All the day long
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Amen.
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It's a beautiful
song. I love that song.
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JD picked that song,
yeah, but it's beautiful song.
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Thank you. Yeah, I
love blessed assurance.
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I love the way that Tim plays.
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Amen. Amen.
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Well, let's begin
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by opening to 1
Corinthians 10:12.
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1 Corinthians 10:12.
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Isn't it amazing how?
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Do you ever do this
when you're up speaking
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and you know
where you want to go?
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And you can't find it
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just because your
mind is somewhere else,
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that's me.
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1 Corinthians 10:12.
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I remember when a gentleman,
when I was first on 3ABN,
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I volunteered
here a couple of years,
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did quite a bit of
programming up here.
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But I had a gentleman
called me and he said,
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"Sister Queen, I'm
enjoying your programs,"
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but he said, "don't
forget 1 Corinthians 10:12."
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And I jumped on it,
and without looking it up,
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I said, "Yes, therefore
let him who thinks he stands."
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Yes. "Take heed lest he fall."
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Right.
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That is
something that I had prayed
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for a long time because I think,
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I'm following Paul's example.
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That sometimes we can think
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we're in a good
place with the Lord,
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but what we have
to think about here
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because I believe
we can get so busy
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doing good things,
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we forget the best thing
and the best thing is that
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we maintain
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that intimate
relationship with God.
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So we have to keep that
finger on our spiritual pulse
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and make sure that we
are standing in Christ
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that we really are united.
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Now, honey, you've got 2
Corinthians I think, 13:5.
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We just want to open up
with a couple of scriptures
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and we're just
going to go for it.
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That's 2 Corinthians 13:5.
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Yes.
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"Examine yourselves
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as to whether
you are in the faith.
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Test yourselves.
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Do you not know yourselves
that Jesus Christ is in you,
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unless indeed you
are disqualified?"
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Wow!
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Now, here's the question.
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We know that if
we are in Christ,
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we have assurance of salvation.
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Nothing that we
can do can save us.
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Only we are saved by the
grace in the blood of our Lord
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and Savior, Jesus Christ.
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But it's important to make sure
what Jesus said in John 15:5.
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You know, I mean,
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he says, I am the
vine, you are the branches.
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But then I think it's
John 15: 5 where He says,
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"Apart from Me,
you can do nothing."
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We can't even
stand apart from Him.
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So how do we...
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If we wanted to put a
finger on our spiritual pulse,
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how can we examine ourselves
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and know that we
are standing in Christ?
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All right.
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Well, the way that
I start, first of all,
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is I start
every day with prayer.
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You know, to me, that's...
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And I think I picked
that up from you, Shelley.
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I used to have
Shelley all the time,
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because Shelley was
a role model of mine
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for many, many years.
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Because she was in the
Lord and I was searching.
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I probably had a
better foundation
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then she did,
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but I was lazy.
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So I just kind of floated along.
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So I kept asking, Shelley, says,
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I want to know the
same Jesus that you know.
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And, you know, she
said two things to me.
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Number one was,
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you have to
surrender to the Lord.
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Well, that kind of
threw me off a little bit.
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You know, you try to surrender,
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but if you don't
really understand the term,
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you really don't know
what that really means.
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And the second thing she said,
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"Start every
day off with prayer,
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give Him permission to come in
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and to be the
light to your path."
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And so personally,
every morning I start off,
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"Lord, I just give
the Holy Spirit permission
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to work in me, through me
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to be my guide,
to be my comforter."
00:10:10.31\00:10:12.27
Amen.
00:10:12.31\00:10:13.64
So that's how I
personally start.
00:10:13.68\00:10:15.84
Why is prayer so important?
00:10:15.88\00:10:17.75
Well, even
starting off with prayer,
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I mean, I try to hit,
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I try to pray first
thing in the morning.
00:10:21.38\00:10:23.35
However, even prayer sometimes,
00:10:23.39\00:10:27.59
it's how we're praying,
where we are for prayer.
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Because I work at a ministry,
I'm the church treasurer,
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I'm doing this, I'm doing that,
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I am talking
about God all the time.
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God is part of my life.
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It's ministry is just
what I am and what I do.
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However,
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if you start the prayer off
in the morning and you're...
00:10:49.88\00:10:54.45
Am I really talking to God,
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or am I just
doing prayer by rote?
00:10:56.22\00:10:58.82
That's a wonderful point.
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See, we have to get,
00:11:00.36\00:11:02.36
the prayer has to
be the relationship,
00:11:02.39\00:11:05.33
even with your...
00:11:05.36\00:11:08.86
Even with your spouse,
00:11:08.90\00:11:11.03
you can get into a
rut with good morning,
00:11:11.07\00:11:13.17
hi, once you
breakfast, bye, out the door,
00:11:13.20\00:11:15.07
quick kiss and you're gone.
00:11:15.10\00:11:17.24
You're not having a relationship
00:11:17.27\00:11:18.87
with your spouse,
00:11:18.91\00:11:20.24
you're going
through the motions.
00:11:20.28\00:11:24.45
And if you're going
through the motions with God,
00:11:24.48\00:11:28.18
and it's not a
real conversation,
00:11:28.22\00:11:31.69
your pulse is off
in one place there.
00:11:31.72\00:11:35.62
So the prayer
can't be just a prayer.
00:11:35.66\00:11:40.50
And there has to be with prayer.
00:11:40.53\00:11:43.03
And I know you
pray throughout the day,
00:11:43.06\00:11:44.57
you start off.
00:11:44.60\00:11:45.93
But I think with prayer,
00:11:45.97\00:11:47.30
we've got to do
more than seek His hand.
00:11:47.34\00:11:50.47
You know, we can't just
be praying about situations
00:11:50.51\00:11:54.68
and what we need and everything.
00:11:54.71\00:11:56.08
I think we've got to really
seek the face of the Lord.
00:11:56.11\00:11:58.58
Amen.
00:11:58.61\00:11:59.95
And for me personally,
00:11:59.98\00:12:01.32
and you know, it was
when the Lord taught me
00:12:01.35\00:12:03.99
to press into His presence.
00:12:04.02\00:12:06.19
When I was praying,
00:12:06.22\00:12:07.56
and I say when,
because right now I'm not.
00:12:07.59\00:12:10.26
But when I was
praying an hour every morning.
00:12:10.29\00:12:15.00
I mean, you
really taken that time to
00:12:15.03\00:12:18.03
and then sit at
His feet and listen.
00:12:18.07\00:12:21.10
I mean, my spiritual
life just, so now and I just,
00:12:21.14\00:12:27.34
you know, it's not a requirement
00:12:27.38\00:12:29.31
to pray an hour a day,
00:12:29.34\00:12:30.68
but I guarantee you,
if you do, it will...
00:12:30.71\00:12:34.28
It's so rewarding.
00:12:34.32\00:12:36.42
But you do have to be, I think,
00:12:36.45\00:12:40.56
going to the Lord
to talk to the Lord.
00:12:40.59\00:12:44.23
And then I
think that you need to
00:12:44.26\00:12:45.86
get to that point.
00:12:45.89\00:12:47.96
The reason I
think it's different
00:12:48.00\00:12:49.90
when I'm not praying
for a long time is that,
00:12:49.93\00:12:53.57
I rarely hear
the voice of the Lord
00:12:53.60\00:12:57.24
and I'm talking
about the impression
00:12:57.27\00:12:58.91
of God's Spirit.
00:12:58.94\00:13:00.68
If I rush in
00:13:00.71\00:13:02.24
and ten minutes
later I rush out,
00:13:02.28\00:13:04.45
it's like you don't
get in that still space
00:13:04.48\00:13:09.12
where you can be still
and know that He is God.
00:13:09.15\00:13:11.39
But if you're praying
and waiting and expecting it
00:13:11.42\00:13:14.99
to be a two way
conversation, that's incredible.
00:13:15.02\00:13:18.43
Well, you don't
go to McDonald's,
00:13:18.46\00:13:19.79
or maybe I shouldn't say,
00:13:19.83\00:13:21.56
you don't go to fast
food and expect a hot meal,
00:13:21.60\00:13:27.10
like you would if you
were to go to a restaurant,
00:13:27.14\00:13:29.67
you know, three
store, five store, five star.
00:13:29.70\00:13:33.34
You know because fast
food is different from food
00:13:33.38\00:13:36.81
that you have to wait for it.
00:13:36.85\00:13:38.18
Because the cook,
00:13:38.21\00:13:39.55
they don't have
it already made up.
00:13:39.58\00:13:41.08
So in that kind
of same atmosphere,
00:13:41.12\00:13:43.95
you know, it's not,
he's not a fast food chef,
00:13:43.99\00:13:48.36
even an oxymoron.
00:13:48.39\00:13:49.72
That works.
00:13:49.76\00:13:51.09
The point that I
was making is that...
00:13:51.13\00:13:52.46
It is.
00:13:52.49\00:13:53.83
The point that I was
making is, made like that,
00:13:53.86\00:13:56.53
"Choose this day who
you're going to serve."
00:13:56.56\00:13:58.37
Amen.
00:13:58.40\00:13:59.73
So as I get up in the morning,
I can automatically say,
00:13:59.77\00:14:02.57
"Well, what am I
going to wear today?
00:14:02.60\00:14:05.14
Or who am I going to see?
How am I going to pay this?
00:14:05.17\00:14:07.78
How am I gonna be..."
00:14:07.81\00:14:09.14
But I just choose,
00:14:09.18\00:14:10.51
and this is a great
practice I think we gonna...
00:14:10.55\00:14:12.68
As you open your eyes
00:14:12.71\00:14:14.05
and as you take that first step,
00:14:14.08\00:14:16.12
"Jesus," and that's the point.
00:14:16.15\00:14:18.45
And then as the day progresses,
00:14:18.49\00:14:20.72
I think that from then
you probably call on Him
00:14:20.76\00:14:24.19
10,000 times, 100,000
times through the day.
00:14:24.23\00:14:27.63
And choose this
day who you serve.
00:14:27.66\00:14:29.73
I try to keep an
ongoing prayer going.
00:14:29.76\00:14:31.87
Amen.
00:14:31.90\00:14:33.23
What works for me, I don't know
what works for other people,
00:14:33.27\00:14:35.30
but when I know that
my relationship is...
00:14:35.34\00:14:39.87
The direction it's
supposed to be going
00:14:39.91\00:14:41.91
is when I start my prayer,
00:14:41.94\00:14:43.55
when I start
conversing with the Lord
00:14:43.58\00:14:46.11
is focusing on Him
and not myself at first.
00:14:46.15\00:14:48.18
Seek ye space.
00:14:48.22\00:14:49.55
I love to start out
praising and thanking Him.
00:14:49.58\00:14:53.89
Amen. And focus on what He did?
00:14:53.92\00:14:58.49
Who He is? Who He is?
00:14:58.53\00:15:00.30
What He did for me?
00:15:00.33\00:15:01.66
And if I start out on
Him first in my prayer
00:15:01.70\00:15:06.00
and then
eventually work down to me.
00:15:06.03\00:15:08.30
Because how does your
relationships work best?
00:15:08.34\00:15:11.24
When you are
giving to the other person
00:15:11.27\00:15:13.38
that you want the
relationship with.
00:15:13.41\00:15:16.24
And so I don't know how other,
everybody has their own way.
00:15:16.28\00:15:20.35
But praise and thanksgiving
is just the way to start.
00:15:20.38\00:15:26.62
Amen.
00:15:26.65\00:15:27.99
But the point I
think that we can make
00:15:28.02\00:15:29.59
because we want to
hit several other things,
00:15:29.62\00:15:31.26
but with prayer,
00:15:31.29\00:15:33.33
prayer is
communicating with God.
00:15:33.36\00:15:36.16
And as you said, Dee,
00:15:36.20\00:15:37.83
if you don't have
an open communication
00:15:37.87\00:15:41.17
with someone,
00:15:41.20\00:15:42.54
then you know your
relationship isn't as strong.
00:15:42.57\00:15:45.41
But if you're
trying to keep a finger
00:15:45.44\00:15:47.64
on your spiritual pulse,
00:15:47.68\00:15:49.81
check your prayer life.
00:15:49.84\00:15:51.18
If your prayer life is waning,
if you see that it's just not
00:15:51.21\00:15:58.05
what it used to
be, that could be,
00:15:58.09\00:16:01.06
you know, a
little red flag to say,
00:16:01.09\00:16:02.72
hey, I'm kind of
backsliding here,
00:16:02.76\00:16:05.16
because I'm not
depending on the Lord.
00:16:05.19\00:16:07.40
But something
that happened with me,
00:16:07.43\00:16:10.37
when God was teaching me
to press into His presence.
00:16:10.40\00:16:13.57
I was praying an hour
a day for about a week.
00:16:13.60\00:16:16.40
I forget what it is but,
00:16:16.44\00:16:18.97
and I still didn't
feel super connected to God,
00:16:19.01\00:16:23.98
until I started
praying the Word.
00:16:24.01\00:16:27.65
And boy, I'll tell you what,
00:16:27.68\00:16:29.98
when I started
praying God's Word,
00:16:30.02\00:16:33.25
that made all the
difference in the world.
00:16:33.29\00:16:37.03
Let's talk about the importance
00:16:37.06\00:16:40.00
if we're trying to keep a finger
00:16:40.03\00:16:41.60
on our spiritual pulse, Ryan,
00:16:41.63\00:16:43.93
and you're not
spending any time in the Word,
00:16:43.97\00:16:47.34
is that going to
weaken your condition?
00:16:47.37\00:16:48.70
Oh, absolutely.
00:16:48.74\00:16:50.07
In fact, personally I see prayer
00:16:50.11\00:16:52.57
and the aspect of studying
00:16:52.61\00:16:54.61
or communing
with God in His Word,
00:16:54.64\00:16:57.65
that's kind of a, you
know, step A, step B type thing.
00:16:57.68\00:17:00.35
In other words, you know,
prayer is not a monologue,
00:17:00.38\00:17:03.55
it should be a dialogue.
00:17:03.59\00:17:04.99
The conversation, as
it should be a dialogue.
00:17:05.02\00:17:06.79
Have you ever
talked with someone
00:17:06.82\00:17:08.16
who just hogs the conversation
00:17:08.19\00:17:09.52
or just you can't
get a word in edgewise.
00:17:09.56\00:17:11.13
And sometimes I
think we approach
00:17:11.16\00:17:13.26
a communicative relationship
with God in that way,
00:17:13.29\00:17:17.20
that it's all us and not Him.
00:17:17.23\00:17:18.73
You know, we don't allow
time for Him to speak to us.
00:17:18.77\00:17:21.77
And so when I go
to the Lord in prayer,
00:17:21.80\00:17:23.64
you know, there are times
that I do ask things of God.
00:17:23.67\00:17:26.24
In fact, He says,
00:17:26.27\00:17:27.61
"You don't receive
because you don't ask."
00:17:27.64\00:17:29.38
But yet there are
things that when I ask,
00:17:29.41\00:17:31.95
I plead for the Lord.
00:17:31.98\00:17:33.31
And this is very
important we're talking about,
00:17:33.35\00:17:35.02
you know, checking
our spiritual pulse,
00:17:35.05\00:17:37.19
you know, I find
myself often praying, Lord,
00:17:37.22\00:17:39.69
and this is a hard
prayer because you never know
00:17:39.72\00:17:42.19
what the
response is going to be.
00:17:42.22\00:17:44.59
"Lord if there's
anything in my life
00:17:44.63\00:17:47.00
that is not in
harmony with Your will,
00:17:47.03\00:17:48.63
God, please reveal it
to me, show it to me."
00:17:48.66\00:17:51.27
And I often find
myself praying a prayer
00:17:51.30\00:17:53.17
that I've actually had
Christian told me one time,
00:17:53.20\00:17:55.54
"Do not pray this
prayer unless you mean it."
00:17:55.57\00:17:57.27
And I've asked the
Lord on many occasions,
00:17:57.31\00:17:59.01
Lord, humble me.
00:17:59.04\00:18:00.84
Humble me, make
me a humble servant.
00:18:00.88\00:18:03.88
Now, does God audibly respond,
00:18:03.91\00:18:06.18
do the heavens open
00:18:06.21\00:18:07.55
and you know,
the clouds roll back,
00:18:07.58\00:18:08.92
and you know, well,
you gonna hear that?
00:18:08.95\00:18:10.29
Absolutely not.
00:18:10.32\00:18:11.65
But then there comes
the follow up response
00:18:11.69\00:18:13.59
from the Lord,
00:18:13.62\00:18:14.96
most 99% of the
time through His Word.
00:18:14.99\00:18:16.96
Amen.
00:18:16.99\00:18:18.33
And you know, talking again
about the aspect of spiritual,
00:18:18.36\00:18:21.16
checking your
spiritual pulse, how can I know.
00:18:21.20\00:18:24.00
I think of this
special scripture
00:18:24.03\00:18:25.70
and it's Psalm Chapter...
00:18:25.73\00:18:28.60
Psalm 119:11, of
course tells us that,
00:18:28.64\00:18:32.87
"I have hid thy
word in my heart,
00:18:32.91\00:18:36.61
that I might not
sin against thee."
00:18:36.64\00:18:39.55
You know, God's Word has power,
it has life transforming power.
00:18:39.58\00:18:45.65
And God will speak
to us through His Word,
00:18:45.69\00:18:47.69
He will reveal His
will to us through His Word.
00:18:47.72\00:18:51.46
And so when I'm
praying to the Lord
00:18:51.49\00:18:53.19
and I'm looking for a response,
00:18:53.23\00:18:54.83
like I said, 99% of the
time as I'm in the Word daily.
00:18:54.86\00:18:58.70
Jesus said in Matthew 4:4,
00:18:58.73\00:19:01.37
"Man shall not
live by bread alone,
00:19:01.40\00:19:02.80
but by every word that proceeds
out of the mouth of God."
00:19:02.84\00:19:06.24
We live daily
because we have to eat.
00:19:06.27\00:19:08.04
We need the nutrition,
00:19:08.08\00:19:09.41
we need that
energy for us to continue.
00:19:09.44\00:19:11.51
Well, Jesus likened the Word
of God unto real food, bread.
00:19:11.55\00:19:16.05
And so we need to eat
of the Word of God daily,
00:19:16.08\00:19:18.85
that we might be filled up,
00:19:18.89\00:19:20.32
that we might have
that open connection
00:19:20.36\00:19:22.06
and open response to
Him that He may fill us up.
00:19:22.09\00:19:25.16
You know, in
another word, another thing,
00:19:25.19\00:19:26.73
I know this is kind of on a,
00:19:26.76\00:19:28.10
kind of a scripture
that we usually don't speak
00:19:28.13\00:19:31.17
of much more and more
than a prophetic sense
00:19:31.20\00:19:32.93
because it is a
prophetic scripture.
00:19:32.97\00:19:34.70
But you know, we are
living in the last days
00:19:34.74\00:19:37.07
and Jesus said that,
00:19:37.11\00:19:38.44
you know, the love of many
00:19:38.47\00:19:39.81
in the last days will grow cold.
00:19:39.84\00:19:41.18
So if there's ever a generation,
00:19:41.21\00:19:42.54
ever a people that needs to be
checking their spiritual pulse,
00:19:42.58\00:19:45.88
it is us in these last days
00:19:45.91\00:19:47.42
prior to the
second coming of Jesus.
00:19:47.45\00:19:49.38
Amos 8:11 brings a
clear reality to us.
00:19:49.42\00:19:52.59
It says, "Behold,
the days are coming,
00:19:52.62\00:19:54.69
says the Lord God and I
will send a famine in the land."
00:19:54.72\00:19:56.96
Notice that bread aspect,
we need to eat every day,
00:19:56.99\00:20:00.63
okay, for that nutrition,
00:20:00.66\00:20:02.06
but we also need
of the Word every day.
00:20:02.10\00:20:03.97
But you noticed
what he says here
00:20:04.00\00:20:05.53
in regards to this famine,
00:20:05.57\00:20:07.14
"I will send a
famine in the land,"
00:20:07.17\00:20:08.50
not a famine of
bread nor thirst of water,
00:20:08.54\00:20:12.74
but of hearing of
the words of the Lord.
00:20:12.77\00:20:15.08
You know, I heard a
sermon by Pastor Ivor Myers,
00:20:15.11\00:20:17.91
it was camp
meeting I think 2016 maybe,
00:20:17.95\00:20:20.92
and he talked about how we
need to be gathering bread now,
00:20:20.95\00:20:23.42
kind of like Joseph.
00:20:23.45\00:20:24.79
He went, his
purpose was to free Egypt,
00:20:24.82\00:20:26.42
he was gathering bread.
00:20:26.45\00:20:27.99
Because there's
gonna come a time
00:20:28.02\00:20:29.36
when there's a famine
00:20:29.39\00:20:30.73
and those who
have gathered bread
00:20:30.76\00:20:32.09
will have enough to share it.
00:20:32.13\00:20:33.46
So checking
that spiritual pulse,
00:20:33.50\00:20:34.83
how do I know for sure, Lord,
00:20:34.86\00:20:36.67
that I'm in good standing
with You, that I'm in that,
00:20:36.70\00:20:40.07
I'm involved and engaged
00:20:40.10\00:20:41.44
in that saving
relationship with You.
00:20:41.47\00:20:43.51
We have to be in the Word daily,
00:20:43.54\00:20:46.04
every moment.
00:20:46.07\00:20:47.41
And let me say something
because I don't want people.
00:20:47.44\00:20:49.24
There are actually days
in my even recent experience
00:20:49.28\00:20:55.02
where you get up and you think,
00:20:55.05\00:20:56.69
okay, I'll do this
or I'm running late,
00:20:56.72\00:20:58.72
I'll do it when I get to
work and you come to work
00:20:58.75\00:21:00.96
and it's just like...
00:21:00.99\00:21:02.32
Everything's out the window.
00:21:02.36\00:21:03.79
Now at the end of the day,
00:21:03.83\00:21:05.56
I'm not unsaved if I
haven't been in the Word.
00:21:05.59\00:21:09.50
And so I didn't want
to give that impression.
00:21:09.53\00:21:12.33
But what you do that
for two or three days
00:21:12.37\00:21:15.40
and you will find
yourself in a spiritual...
00:21:15.44\00:21:19.07
Well, you can go
several days without food.
00:21:19.11\00:21:20.81
Yeah, it's just like
if you fast with it...
00:21:20.84\00:21:23.45
Fasting from the Word,
00:21:23.48\00:21:24.81
you're going to end up
spiritually weakened so.
00:21:24.85\00:21:26.18
Right.
00:21:26.21\00:21:27.55
Now I do want to say one
thing and then point this over.
00:21:27.58\00:21:31.02
When you said, it is I agree,
00:21:31.05\00:21:32.85
I use the Word of God to...
00:21:32.89\00:21:35.26
This is primarily how
He communicates with us.
00:21:35.29\00:21:37.63
Absolutely.
00:21:37.66\00:21:38.99
But 1 Kings 19:12,
00:21:39.03\00:21:41.70
this is one of
my favorite verses
00:21:41.73\00:21:44.87
about Elijah's experience
after he prayed in the rain
00:21:44.90\00:21:49.90
and he's up on the mountain
00:21:49.94\00:21:51.34
and you know, he's
run from Ahab and Jezebel.
00:21:51.37\00:21:55.58
And God comes to
him and he goes out
00:21:55.61\00:22:00.42
and there's a wind that
comes and an earthquake, fire.
00:22:00.45\00:22:03.92
And he keeps saying,
the Lord wasn't in the wind,
00:22:03.95\00:22:06.45
He wasn't in the fire,
00:22:06.49\00:22:07.82
It's not like the
burning bush experience.
00:22:07.86\00:22:10.19
But what it says
in 1 Kings 19:12 was,
00:22:10.23\00:22:14.23
"After the fire a
still small voice."
00:22:14.26\00:22:17.83
And I do believe,
00:22:17.87\00:22:19.73
you know, the audible
voice of God in the Bible
00:22:19.77\00:22:21.80
is like thunder
hitting many waters, you know.
00:22:21.84\00:22:25.24
And it's, I think
the still small voice
00:22:25.27\00:22:28.04
is when the Holy Spirit
00:22:28.08\00:22:29.48
impresses a
thought upon your mind.
00:22:29.51\00:22:31.95
And I would even
go so far to say,
00:22:31.98\00:22:34.92
if you've not had, I mean,
00:22:34.95\00:22:37.65
we've all experienced
it sitting at this table,
00:22:37.69\00:22:39.59
haven't we?
00:22:39.62\00:22:41.99
If you've never
experienced that,
00:22:42.02\00:22:44.63
then you want to ask God,
00:22:44.66\00:22:47.26
you know, because
for me personally,
00:22:47.30\00:22:49.50
when I go for a while
00:22:49.53\00:22:50.87
with not being
impressed by the Lord,
00:22:50.90\00:22:53.40
I think oops,
00:22:53.44\00:22:55.37
I'm losing that intimacy
in my relationship with Him.
00:22:55.40\00:22:59.21
So to me that's something,
00:22:59.24\00:23:01.04
that's very important
and I just want to say that.
00:23:01.08\00:23:03.55
You know, go ahead, I'm sorry.
00:23:03.58\00:23:05.51
I wanted to give Robert
a chance to say something
00:23:05.55\00:23:09.18
because he's brand
new and he probably
00:23:09.22\00:23:10.72
won't chop in here.
00:23:10.75\00:23:12.32
JD was talking
about when he gets up,
00:23:12.35\00:23:16.42
he prays and his prayer
is a prayer of surrender.
00:23:16.46\00:23:20.00
When you said you want
God to make you humble.
00:23:20.03\00:23:22.36
You know what humility is?
00:23:22.40\00:23:24.40
Absolute total
dependence upon God.
00:23:24.43\00:23:26.53
Absolutely.
00:23:26.57\00:23:27.90
You know when Paul said,
00:23:27.94\00:23:30.01
"Let this mind be in
you that was in Christ Jesus
00:23:30.04\00:23:33.31
who humbled himself."
00:23:33.34\00:23:35.48
So when you're saying, Lord,
humble me, it's let me make,
00:23:35.51\00:23:40.12
make me aware
00:23:40.15\00:23:41.48
that I am
totally dependent on you.
00:23:41.52\00:23:44.95
But so JD is praying
and he had trouble at first
00:23:44.99\00:23:48.52
with the word surrender.
00:23:48.56\00:23:50.23
It just means to yield,
00:23:50.26\00:23:53.23
to submit, give consent
to God to being in charge.
00:23:53.26\00:23:58.57
That's right.
00:23:58.60\00:24:00.30
That is the most
critical thing in the morning
00:24:00.34\00:24:02.54
to pray to be filled
with the Holy Spirit.
00:24:02.57\00:24:05.77
And you always say, you
know, increase my humility,
00:24:05.81\00:24:08.74
increase my faith,
increase my courage,
00:24:08.78\00:24:12.81
and my wisdom.
00:24:12.85\00:24:15.32
But you, Robert, had
the most amazing story
00:24:15.35\00:24:20.26
about the Japanese chef
00:24:20.29\00:24:23.12
that kind of goes
with that surrender.
00:24:23.16\00:24:24.76
I had the same
problem to the surrendering.
00:24:24.79\00:24:27.60
And I wrestled with that
00:24:27.63\00:24:29.43
my whole life actually,
my whole Christian life.
00:24:29.46\00:24:31.80
And the Lord was recently
helping me with that concept.
00:24:31.83\00:24:34.74
And it came
through interesting way
00:24:34.77\00:24:38.07
in the way the Lord does.
00:24:38.11\00:24:40.74
There's a concept in
the Japanese culture,
00:24:40.78\00:24:42.78
and there's a
word called omakase.
00:24:42.81\00:24:45.18
And omakase literally means,
00:24:45.21\00:24:47.25
"I respectfully
leave it up to you."
00:24:47.28\00:24:50.42
And where that comes
from is in their culture.
00:24:50.45\00:24:52.85
If you go into a
Japanese restaurant,
00:24:52.89\00:24:55.49
the chef, there are
often very small restaurants
00:24:55.52\00:24:58.13
and the chef is the
owner, and the proprietor,
00:24:58.16\00:25:01.90
and the shopper for the food,
and the creator of the menu.
00:25:01.93\00:25:05.63
And when you go in,
00:25:05.67\00:25:08.64
the American way
or our way of culture
00:25:08.67\00:25:10.44
might be just look for a
menu and then pick off the items
00:25:10.47\00:25:13.78
that you want in menu.
00:25:13.81\00:25:15.14
But in their culture,
00:25:15.18\00:25:16.51
their ideal way or the best way
00:25:16.54\00:25:18.58
is to choose the
omakase experience.
00:25:18.61\00:25:21.28
And what that means is
00:25:21.32\00:25:22.65
you go into the
chef's restaurant,
00:25:22.68\00:25:24.09
you say, "I'm here, I
respectfully leave it to you
00:25:24.12\00:25:28.72
to pick what you think
is best for me for the meal.
00:25:28.76\00:25:31.56
And, boy, the Lord
really touched my heart
00:25:31.59\00:25:34.73
with that idea that
He is our great chef.
00:25:34.76\00:25:38.13
He's only created as
00:25:38.17\00:25:39.50
and so it helped me to
move from surrendering to this,
00:25:39.53\00:25:46.01
you know, omnipotent God.
00:25:46.04\00:25:49.94
You know who as you know,
00:25:49.98\00:25:51.78
this, our lives lined
out for us much more into,
00:25:51.81\00:25:55.78
He's our great chef.
00:25:55.82\00:25:57.79
He's our Creator.
He's the one who loves us.
00:25:57.82\00:26:00.16
And If will allow Him,
00:26:00.19\00:26:01.96
He has the best
experience for us for our meal.
00:26:01.99\00:26:05.03
And when you go
into that experience,
00:26:05.06\00:26:08.90
they will
suggest an item for you.
00:26:08.93\00:26:11.67
And then they'll
actually take the watch
00:26:11.70\00:26:13.17
how you react to the flavors.
00:26:13.20\00:26:15.94
And they will tailor
your continued meal for you
00:26:15.97\00:26:18.57
and your party depending on
00:26:18.61\00:26:21.21
what they know
from their experience,
00:26:21.24\00:26:22.58
and they're the experts.
00:26:22.61\00:26:23.95
And so that has helped me a lot
00:26:23.98\00:26:25.31
and that idea of
surrendering to God,
00:26:25.35\00:26:28.92
it's not a loss, it's a gain.
00:26:28.95\00:26:32.92
How arrogant and
prideful it is to walk
00:26:32.95\00:26:35.72
into Japanese experts chefs
00:26:35.76\00:26:37.86
who have spent their whole
life creating that experience.
00:26:37.89\00:26:40.60
How arrogant is to
walk in there and say,
00:26:40.63\00:26:42.13
"Well, I think I should have
some of that and some of that.
00:26:42.16\00:26:44.83
Could you put that together
this way and leave off the,
00:26:44.87\00:26:46.63
you know whatever."
00:26:46.67\00:26:50.14
You know, on the
face of is so arrogant,
00:26:50.17\00:26:52.01
and yet that's what we
do with God a lot of times.
00:26:52.04\00:26:53.88
I know that's what I've done.
00:26:53.91\00:26:55.91
And we'd be much better
off to just say, "omakase."
00:26:55.94\00:27:00.02
As you wish. Amen.
00:27:00.05\00:27:01.45
Tim, where in you a
Christian experience
00:27:01.48\00:27:05.35
because I do know that you
are led by the Holy Spirit.
00:27:05.39\00:27:08.26
And I know that
surrender is something that,
00:27:08.29\00:27:11.69
you know, if you make it
through the end of the day
00:27:11.73\00:27:13.90
and realize that you
haven't been dependent upon God,
00:27:13.93\00:27:17.63
if you put the finger
on your spiritual pulse,
00:27:17.67\00:27:20.30
that's an idea
that it's weakened.
00:27:20.34\00:27:21.70
But where did that
00:27:21.74\00:27:24.37
the whole
concept of letting God,
00:27:24.41\00:27:27.94
going the
omakase route with God.
00:27:27.98\00:27:31.51
When did that
become real for you?
00:27:31.55\00:27:34.95
I think that,
00:27:34.98\00:27:38.29
you know, having been
raised in a Christian family
00:27:38.32\00:27:40.49
was to my advantage.
00:27:40.52\00:27:42.62
And I realized again
00:27:42.66\00:27:44.09
that didn't get me
into the kingdom of God.
00:27:44.13\00:27:46.96
God doesn't have grandchildren.
00:27:47.00\00:27:48.40
But the fact that just it
has been a pattern for me.
00:27:48.43\00:27:53.60
It has been,
00:27:53.64\00:27:55.20
I was led that way
from the beginning.
00:27:55.24\00:27:59.61
I mean, you know,
00:27:59.64\00:28:00.98
my parents instilled that in me.
00:28:01.01\00:28:02.34
And so it's, it's again
it's a matter of knowing the...
00:28:02.38\00:28:05.08
Yeah, I'm very blessed.
00:28:05.11\00:28:07.22
Knowing the steps of
like this checking your pulse,
00:28:07.25\00:28:11.65
you know, we have
even listed on our notes.
00:28:11.69\00:28:13.89
Some kind of a routine of
what we should go through,
00:28:13.92\00:28:17.99
the prayer, and
reading, and studying.
00:28:18.03\00:28:21.76
So all those have
been instilled within me
00:28:21.80\00:28:25.03
and I don't know that
I've ever questioned it.
00:28:25.07\00:28:27.74
I just have believed it
and it's worked so well that,
00:28:27.77\00:28:32.67
you know...
00:28:32.71\00:28:34.54
Was part of your
experience the fact
00:28:34.58\00:28:36.54
that you saw the results
of doing that in your family?
00:28:36.58\00:28:40.22
I guess you could say that.
00:28:40.25\00:28:42.28
I think it's, you know...
00:28:42.32\00:28:44.12
This work so this
is what I want to do.
00:28:44.15\00:28:46.86
So you knew the
importance of the Holy Spirit
00:28:46.89\00:28:49.16
even growing up?
00:28:49.19\00:28:50.53
Right, yeah.
00:28:50.56\00:28:51.89
See, I grew up in a
Sunday keeping church
00:28:51.93\00:28:53.86
that I never even heard about.
00:28:53.90\00:28:57.57
I mean, we never
talked about Him.
00:28:57.60\00:29:00.64
And I remember when I came
to Ephesians 3:16 through 20
00:29:00.67\00:29:06.81
somewhere in there.
00:29:06.84\00:29:08.18
When you know,
00:29:08.21\00:29:09.54
He talks about that
we will be strengthened
00:29:09.58\00:29:12.95
by the power of God.
00:29:12.98\00:29:14.68
He's talking
about the Holy Spirit.
00:29:14.72\00:29:16.12
And that Christ
lives in our hearts
00:29:16.15\00:29:18.42
by faith
through the Holy Spirit.
00:29:18.45\00:29:20.46
And that's when,
00:29:20.49\00:29:22.49
"Oh mercy, I was in
my late 20s, early 30s
00:29:22.52\00:29:25.36
when it really
became real to me.
00:29:25.39\00:29:28.56
And I think this
whole idea of surrender,
00:29:28.60\00:29:31.13
I mean, I would pray
but I didn't really get
00:29:31.17\00:29:34.30
into surrender till
maybe I was in my...
00:29:34.34\00:29:38.87
When God called me
to full time ministry
00:29:38.91\00:29:40.81
is when He
really taught me that.
00:29:40.84\00:29:43.21
You know, I thought
I was a good Christian,
00:29:43.24\00:29:44.71
but He taught me that.
00:29:44.75\00:29:47.38
I was just going to
say as we have been in,
00:29:47.42\00:29:52.99
maybe it's
because I have been in...
00:29:53.02\00:29:55.49
I'm almost 50 years old.
00:29:55.52\00:29:57.16
So I've been in this long
time and I don't claim at all.
00:29:57.19\00:30:00.86
In fact it says, "Therefore
let him who thinks he stands
00:30:00.90\00:30:03.00
take heed lest he fall."
00:30:03.03\00:30:04.40
So I'm always cautious of that.
00:30:04.43\00:30:07.24
But I think that...
00:30:07.27\00:30:09.77
Sometimes I
think, are we still...
00:30:09.80\00:30:14.11
I know how to eat really
well, because I do it every day.
00:30:14.14\00:30:16.58
Amen.
00:30:16.61\00:30:17.95
I know how to take
a bath really well,
00:30:17.98\00:30:19.35
because I do it
every other day, maybe.
00:30:19.38\00:30:22.38
You know, so, right? Exactly.
00:30:22.42\00:30:25.39
You don't know when I don't.
00:30:25.42\00:30:28.02
So, you know, in the
same way, I think it's just...
00:30:28.06\00:30:31.26
I mean these are
the things that we do,
00:30:31.29\00:30:36.26
but the thing about it
is if we don't put to death,
00:30:36.30\00:30:40.50
the old man...
00:30:40.54\00:30:41.87
Amen.
00:30:41.90\00:30:43.24
If we don't put to death sin,
00:30:43.27\00:30:45.07
if we don't pluck our
eye and throw it from us,
00:30:45.11\00:30:48.28
instead of putting it
in a box in our top drawer,
00:30:48.31\00:30:52.55
for you know, when we
need to go back to it,
00:30:52.58\00:30:54.62
to see something,
00:30:54.65\00:30:56.79
you know, it's a matter of
putting to death the things
00:30:56.82\00:30:59.85
that are not of God.
00:30:59.89\00:31:01.69
And I know that
sounds, maybe trivial.
00:31:01.72\00:31:06.23
But that's part
of the relationship.
00:31:06.26\00:31:09.20
If your prayer life...
00:31:09.23\00:31:10.67
What we have talked about,
00:31:10.70\00:31:12.03
if your prayer life is
real and it's a relationship...
00:31:12.07\00:31:18.04
And see, I hear
people say all time,
00:31:18.07\00:31:20.11
"If God would just
tell me what to do."
00:31:20.14\00:31:22.21
He's trying to
when you read His Word.
00:31:22.24\00:31:24.71
That's how He's
trying to tell you what do.
00:31:24.75\00:31:27.78
Then you see, you
get into the surrender,
00:31:27.82\00:31:30.09
because you see
that is the choice,
00:31:30.12\00:31:32.45
because it's all this
building of relationship.
00:31:32.49\00:31:35.32
Right, yeah.
00:31:35.36\00:31:36.69
And when our
relationship breaks down,
00:31:36.73\00:31:39.43
it's exactly what
happened to Adam and Eve.
00:31:39.46\00:31:43.23
When all of a sudden,
00:31:43.26\00:31:45.57
we feel guilty or we're afraid,
00:31:45.60\00:31:50.37
so if we're not praying,
00:31:50.41\00:31:52.61
and we realize our pulse is off,
00:31:52.64\00:31:54.88
we're not reading the Word,
00:31:54.91\00:31:57.81
we're not
walking into surrender.
00:31:57.85\00:31:59.75
Then Satan comes in,
and he drags us into fear,
00:31:59.78\00:32:04.65
and embarrassment, and
all these human emotions.
00:32:04.69\00:32:09.76
And then, we
stop the relationship
00:32:09.79\00:32:12.76
because we're afraid.
00:32:12.79\00:32:14.13
We feel guilty, we
avoid God. We feel guilty.
00:32:14.16\00:32:16.20
So we start avoiding God,
and then our pulse gets weaker,
00:32:16.23\00:32:19.43
and weaker, and weaker.
00:32:19.47\00:32:21.37
I have this beautiful
little book next to my bed,
00:32:21.40\00:32:23.81
I love it.
00:32:23.84\00:32:25.17
It's "Letters to the
Lord from His daughter,"
00:32:25.21\00:32:28.68
and it's from the daughter.
00:32:28.71\00:32:30.25
So we'll say,
every once in a while,
00:32:30.28\00:32:33.65
especially if I am feeling
00:32:33.68\00:32:36.69
not where I'm supposed to
be, or I'm feeling guilty,
00:32:36.72\00:32:38.62
'cause there's this
wonderful person there is,
00:32:38.65\00:32:40.69
"Lord, I failed you again.
00:32:40.72\00:32:43.32
I love you. I'm so sorry.
00:32:43.36\00:32:45.93
Help me come back.
00:32:45.96\00:32:48.83
Lead me back, I
surrender, Father."
00:32:48.86\00:32:51.63
So there's all
these different prayers
00:32:51.67\00:32:53.03
for different situations.
00:32:53.07\00:32:55.50
And I read this little
book for encouragement.
00:32:55.54\00:32:58.41
But if we're going to be
doers of the Word after...
00:32:58.44\00:33:02.51
If we're gonna
have this relationship,
00:33:02.54\00:33:05.71
it is reading God's Word
00:33:05.75\00:33:07.15
that will help us
overcome the guilt
00:33:07.18\00:33:10.15
and what we really
need to tell ourselves.
00:33:10.19\00:33:14.12
I keep in mind,
00:33:14.16\00:33:16.69
"God loves me so much,
00:33:16.73\00:33:18.06
He wants me in heaven
with every part of His being,
00:33:18.09\00:33:21.36
and He's doing
everything to get me there.
00:33:21.40\00:33:23.57
He loves me."
00:33:23.60\00:33:25.43
If you are out of
sorts with your spouse,
00:33:25.47\00:33:27.84
or your child, or your friend,
00:33:27.87\00:33:29.47
or any one that you have
a close relationship with,
00:33:29.50\00:33:34.04
do they forgive you
when things get out of sort?
00:33:34.08\00:33:36.78
If you go back to them
00:33:36.81\00:33:38.15
and say, "I'm so sorry, sweetie.
00:33:38.18\00:33:41.28
I did this, or I did
that, or can we talk?"
00:33:41.32\00:33:45.25
No, they embrace
you. They love you.
00:33:45.29\00:33:47.39
They want you back as bad
as you want their relationship.
00:33:47.42\00:33:50.79
As long as it's not a habit.
00:33:50.83\00:33:53.29
Oh, that's a good point. Right.
00:33:53.33\00:33:56.40
There are
boundaries on things. Yes.
00:33:56.43\00:33:59.83
If you have a normal
healthy relationship,
00:33:59.87\00:34:02.74
and we've all done
that where you said
00:34:02.77\00:34:05.27
we didn't read the Word today.
00:34:05.31\00:34:07.74
You get into a day
where you're so busy,
00:34:07.78\00:34:10.25
things get away from you.
00:34:10.28\00:34:11.61
And all of a
sudden you look around
00:34:11.65\00:34:12.98
and go, "Whoops,
00:34:13.01\00:34:14.38
I'm neglecting
my relationships."
00:34:14.42\00:34:17.42
Right. I am a doer.
00:34:17.45\00:34:20.16
I am very focused
one. You're a Martha.
00:34:20.19\00:34:22.62
I'm a Martha.
00:34:22.66\00:34:24.26
You're a Martha.
Get the job done.
00:34:24.29\00:34:27.40
And we're talking for
those who may be watching us
00:34:27.43\00:34:30.60
and don't know
00:34:30.63\00:34:31.97
what we're talking about Martha,
00:34:32.00\00:34:34.00
Mary and Martha
were sisters of Lazarus.
00:34:34.04\00:34:37.41
And when Jesus
would come to their house,
00:34:37.44\00:34:40.28
Mary would be
sitting at His feet,
00:34:40.31\00:34:42.18
listening to Jesus.
00:34:42.21\00:34:43.55
And Martha would
just be in the kitchen,
00:34:43.58\00:34:45.85
rattling the pots and pans.
00:34:45.88\00:34:48.38
And, you know, really
I'm not Mary at heart,
00:34:48.42\00:34:52.39
but I live in a Martha's world.
00:34:52.42\00:34:53.99
So it gets really crazy.
00:34:54.02\00:34:55.96
So let me ask this
question. Wait a second.
00:34:55.99\00:34:58.53
Oh, I'm sorry. I
want to tell one thing.
00:34:58.56\00:35:00.00
The Lord told me,
being a Martha is okay,
00:35:00.03\00:35:01.93
'cause He made me this way.
00:35:01.96\00:35:03.30
Sure.
00:35:03.33\00:35:04.67
I just cannot
neglect the relationship.
00:35:04.70\00:35:07.97
Amen.
00:35:08.00\00:35:09.34
And He will take
in and help soften.
00:35:09.37\00:35:12.57
I mean, people around
here have seen me soften some.
00:35:12.61\00:35:18.51
God is working in on me.
00:35:18.55\00:35:20.75
So if you don't get in my
way when I have a purpose,
00:35:20.78\00:35:25.45
then later, I'll come
back and have a relationship.
00:35:25.49\00:35:28.46
And so, the Lord
helps me. Okay, duly noted.
00:35:28.49\00:35:32.69
Yeah, the Lord knows, you know,
when I've got to get this done,
00:35:32.73\00:35:36.90
and then it's
like, "Okay, Lord, Dee,
00:35:36.93\00:35:39.40
you need to come
back and sit at My feet
00:35:39.43\00:35:41.67
and be a Mary and feed on me
00:35:41.70\00:35:44.74
so that you can get
the job done in My Spirit
00:35:44.77\00:35:49.48
and not your own."
00:35:49.51\00:35:50.85
And we can always tell
00:35:50.88\00:35:52.21
when you've been
sitting at His feet.
00:35:52.25\00:35:54.08
Can we look at Romans 8:13
because something you said,
00:35:54.12\00:35:59.15
Tim, I just want to make sure
00:35:59.19\00:36:01.72
I agree with what
you were saying is that,
00:36:01.76\00:36:04.29
this idea of putting to death.
00:36:04.33\00:36:07.46
You know, Paul said,
"I die daily, brethren."
00:36:07.50\00:36:10.20
And Jesus said,
00:36:10.23\00:36:11.57
"You know, when you
are to pick up your cross,
00:36:11.60\00:36:14.64
die to self is what
this means and follow Him."
00:36:14.67\00:36:18.17
But you know, this is one thing
00:36:18.21\00:36:20.74
that I just really
wanted to get across.
00:36:20.78\00:36:23.85
It is important that
2 Corinthians 5:17 says,
00:36:23.88\00:36:27.82
"When we are in
Christ, we're new creations.
00:36:27.85\00:36:31.35
Old has gone, new has come."
00:36:31.39\00:36:33.49
But in Romans 8:13,
Robert, why don't you read that?
00:36:33.52\00:36:39.53
"For if you live
according to the flesh,
00:36:39.56\00:36:41.53
you will die
00:36:41.56\00:36:42.90
but if by the
Spirit you put to death
00:36:42.93\00:36:44.53
the deeds of the
body, you will live."
00:36:44.57\00:36:46.17
Okay.
00:36:46.20\00:36:47.77
So who helps us put to
death the deeds of the body?
00:36:47.80\00:36:51.71
Spirit. It's the Spirit.
00:36:51.74\00:36:53.68
See, we can't even
do that without Him.
00:36:53.71\00:36:55.98
Right.
00:36:56.01\00:36:57.35
I mean, that's
what's so critical.
00:36:57.38\00:37:01.02
That's really a cooperation.
00:37:01.05\00:37:05.92
It takes the Holy Spirit and us,
00:37:05.95\00:37:07.46
because he says,
00:37:07.49\00:37:08.82
"If by the Spirit
you put to death."
00:37:08.86\00:37:12.73
So you have to
cooperate with the Holy Spirit,
00:37:12.76\00:37:15.43
He's not going to force
you, but neither can he do it
00:37:15.46\00:37:21.50
without your cooperation.
00:37:21.54\00:37:22.87
Right.
00:37:22.90\00:37:24.24
You have to open the door,
00:37:24.27\00:37:25.61
and He'll come
in and do the work.
00:37:25.64\00:37:26.98
Yeah, yeah.
00:37:27.01\00:37:28.34
So talk about
being doers of the Word
00:37:28.38\00:37:30.11
because this is what James said.
00:37:30.15\00:37:32.28
Yeah, absolutely.
00:37:32.31\00:37:33.65
So you know,
the Bible teaches us
00:37:33.68\00:37:35.65
that we should be
doers of the Word,
00:37:35.68\00:37:38.92
not just hearers only.
00:37:38.95\00:37:41.19
And, you know, I
gotta pause for a moment,
00:37:41.22\00:37:43.83
because I got to
just kind of set this up.
00:37:43.86\00:37:45.73
And then somebody
else can build on this,
00:37:45.76\00:37:47.10
because I don't
want to hog all the time.
00:37:47.13\00:37:48.46
But I got a lot to say.
00:37:48.50\00:37:51.27
You know, when you're talking
about having a relationship
00:37:51.30\00:37:53.84
with Christ,
there are many people
00:37:53.87\00:37:55.50
out there that
have this mentality.
00:37:55.54\00:37:56.91
As we're sitting here talking
about prayer and Bible study,
00:37:56.94\00:37:59.87
and I'm sure we're going to note
00:37:59.91\00:38:01.24
just a few more
things that we must do
00:38:01.28\00:38:04.18
as a response of being saved,
00:38:04.21\00:38:06.82
as being in a
relationship with God.
00:38:06.85\00:38:08.98
But yet, you know, I
grew up multidenominational.
00:38:09.02\00:38:12.72
I mean, I was Pentecostal
for many years of my life.
00:38:12.75\00:38:14.62
But God set me on a journey
00:38:14.66\00:38:16.32
where I was, you
know, studying with
00:38:16.36\00:38:18.06
Baptist
Christians for a few years,
00:38:18.09\00:38:20.33
Methodist, and Church of Christ,
00:38:20.36\00:38:21.76
and I just kind of went on
this nice denominational tour
00:38:21.80\00:38:24.67
where I was
studying and trying to gather
00:38:24.70\00:38:26.80
and understand from a
different perspective,
00:38:26.84\00:38:30.17
you know, the gospel
and the understanding
00:38:30.21\00:38:32.81
of where people are coming from.
00:38:32.84\00:38:34.64
But I was
taught in many aspects,
00:38:34.68\00:38:36.48
at least from
certain people's perspective,
00:38:36.51\00:38:38.18
and that is, "You know what,
00:38:38.21\00:38:40.28
all I have to do is
just believe in God,"
00:38:40.32\00:38:44.75
You know,
manipulation of John 3:16,
00:38:44.79\00:38:46.72
"Just believe in the
Lord, and I shall be saved."
00:38:46.76\00:38:49.02
And so I know I believe in Him,
00:38:49.06\00:38:50.43
I put my trust in
Him that He has done
00:38:50.46\00:38:53.46
what I cannot do,
and that is good enough.
00:38:53.50\00:38:56.26
So don't tell me that
I have to pray every day,
00:38:56.30\00:38:58.33
don't tell me that I have
to read my Bible every day,
00:38:58.37\00:39:00.54
don't tell me that I
have to do all these things
00:39:00.57\00:39:02.34
because now you're applying
a works approach to salvation
00:39:02.37\00:39:06.37
when really,
"I'm already saved."
00:39:06.41\00:39:08.31
But really, the Bible supports
the fact that we must be not
00:39:08.34\00:39:11.88
just hearers of the Word,
but also we should respond.
00:39:11.91\00:39:15.65
That is the
response of being saved
00:39:15.68\00:39:18.05
or in a saving
relationship with Christ.
00:39:18.09\00:39:20.42
I think of that
famous text where Jesus said,
00:39:20.46\00:39:22.32
"If you love Me," John
14:15, "keep My commandments."
00:39:22.36\00:39:27.10
Peter, when he was preaching,
00:39:27.13\00:39:28.96
you know, to the people
in the Book of Acts, he says,
00:39:29.00\00:39:31.17
you know, we should
obey God rather than man.
00:39:31.20\00:39:33.27
There's an obedience factor.
00:39:33.30\00:39:35.24
And so once I come to Christ,
00:39:35.27\00:39:37.17
and I realize
that He has saved me,
00:39:37.21\00:39:39.14
and that I am now engaged
in a saving relationship,
00:39:39.17\00:39:42.64
it should be my
natural response.
00:39:42.68\00:39:44.88
And I'm gonna use
the four famous words
00:39:44.91\00:39:46.98
of my good friend,
Dennis Priebe, he says,
00:39:47.02\00:39:49.28
"Really, the human mind
should only have two words.
00:39:49.32\00:39:52.45
We can only have two
words in our vocabulary.
00:39:52.49\00:39:54.49
It should be Yes, Lord.
00:39:54.52\00:39:56.73
Yes, Lord."
00:39:56.76\00:39:58.09
You know, whatever is required,
00:39:58.13\00:40:00.00
and I have to even
use that word requirement
00:40:00.03\00:40:01.66
but nonetheless,
00:40:01.70\00:40:03.03
you know, sometimes,
00:40:03.06\00:40:04.40
you know, God will
call us to respond in a way
00:40:04.43\00:40:07.07
that we may
think, "Oh, you know,
00:40:07.10\00:40:08.44
that's not necessary
because I'm already saved."
00:40:08.47\00:40:10.41
But yet, we must
be respondent to God,
00:40:10.44\00:40:13.94
and doing what is
required, in showing forth
00:40:13.98\00:40:17.45
that wonderful
Christ-like spirit,
00:40:17.48\00:40:19.61
and that wonderful character.
00:40:19.65\00:40:21.35
And, you know,
00:40:21.38\00:40:23.02
we live in a world and
I hate to even say this,
00:40:23.05\00:40:25.05
but, you know,
you've heard the expression,
00:40:25.09\00:40:26.42
"Monkey see, monkey do."
00:40:26.45\00:40:27.82
You know, people look
upon us and they look,
00:40:27.86\00:40:29.86
you know, they they're looking
00:40:29.89\00:40:31.23
and I know, we're
getting to this point,
00:40:31.26\00:40:32.59
I don't want to
jump too far ahead
00:40:32.63\00:40:33.96
but we're getting to the point
00:40:34.00\00:40:35.33
where we're going to talk about,
00:40:35.36\00:40:36.70
you know,
producing spiritual fruit.
00:40:36.73\00:40:38.07
You know, when you are
a doer of the Word also,
00:40:38.10\00:40:40.44
and not just to hear
00:40:40.47\00:40:42.00
that you will produce
the fruits of the Spirit.
00:40:42.04\00:40:44.24
The fruits of the Spirit
will be evident in your life
00:40:44.27\00:40:46.47
and those around you
00:40:46.51\00:40:47.84
will be able to
look upon your life,
00:40:47.88\00:40:49.28
your actions, your deeds,
00:40:49.31\00:40:50.78
and they will be able
to see because of that,
00:40:50.81\00:40:53.01
they will duly note that,
okay, this person's different.
00:40:53.05\00:40:55.82
This person does have a
relationship with Jesus.
00:40:55.85\00:40:58.55
So back to that, again,
checking your spiritual pulse,
00:40:58.59\00:41:02.59
you know, are you
responding to the gospel
00:41:02.62\00:41:05.93
in doing something
for the kingdom of God?
00:41:05.96\00:41:08.83
Are you not just reading
the Word and listening to it,
00:41:08.86\00:41:11.53
and then saying,
well, I'm already saved,
00:41:11.57\00:41:12.90
I don't need to do anything else
00:41:12.93\00:41:14.27
because I'm not going
to work my way to heaven.
00:41:14.30\00:41:16.30
We don't work our way
to heaven to be saved,
00:41:16.34\00:41:19.01
we do the works of a
Christian because we are saved.
00:41:19.04\00:41:24.31
Go ahead. I just
want to say one word.
00:41:24.35\00:41:27.15
I do believe
00:41:27.18\00:41:29.48
that all you have to
do is believe in Jesus
00:41:29.52\00:41:31.62
and you'll be saved.
00:41:31.65\00:41:32.99
But let me explain,
00:41:33.02\00:41:34.36
I'm not contradicting
what you just said.
00:41:34.39\00:41:35.89
No, yeah. Absolutely not.
00:41:35.92\00:41:37.26
Because the word
believe in the Greek means
00:41:37.29\00:41:40.33
to adhere to.
00:41:40.36\00:41:42.46
To be living in, to
put all your faith upon,
00:41:42.50\00:41:46.13
so if we are disciples of Jesus,
00:41:46.17\00:41:51.91
you know,
00:41:51.94\00:41:53.27
1 John says that, "We
must walk as He walked."
00:41:53.31\00:41:58.05
And so this is something
that He patterned for us.
00:41:58.08\00:42:01.95
But it's something that,
00:42:01.98\00:42:03.49
you know,
00:42:03.52\00:42:04.85
do you remember when
you first fell in love?
00:42:04.89\00:42:08.36
Did your heart not beat strong,
00:42:08.39\00:42:10.36
did your pulse not
maybe get a little,
00:42:10.39\00:42:12.93
you know, we get excited
when you're around somebody.
00:42:12.96\00:42:16.23
We need to be filled
with that spiritual zeal
00:42:16.26\00:42:19.47
in the love for God.
00:42:19.50\00:42:21.87
That it isn't when
we say that obedience,
00:42:21.90\00:42:26.27
some people get all bent
out of shape for the Word.
00:42:26.31\00:42:29.78
But I believe with all my heart
that we only obey by grace.
00:42:29.81\00:42:34.88
It is as God puts
His Holy Spirit in us,
00:42:34.92\00:42:38.72
He works to cause us,
00:42:38.75\00:42:41.29
to be what He's called us to be.
00:42:41.32\00:42:42.89
He works in us to will.
00:42:42.92\00:42:44.63
Just a quick object lesson,
00:42:44.66\00:42:45.99
to kind of cap off
what I was saying earlier.
00:42:46.03\00:42:48.93
You know, my
wife often tells me,
00:42:48.96\00:42:50.60
you know, I'm looking at
the relationship with God,
00:42:50.63\00:42:52.03
I know it's not
exactly the same,
00:42:52.07\00:42:53.40
but it's similar.
00:42:53.44\00:42:54.84
And, my wife often tells me,
00:42:54.87\00:42:57.17
and out of nowhere she'll just
look at me and she'll smile,
00:42:57.21\00:42:59.54
and I'll look over and
like, Why are you smiling me?
00:42:59.57\00:43:01.34
It's kind of weird, you know.
00:43:01.38\00:43:02.71
I'll see, she'll
just give me a smile.
00:43:02.74\00:43:04.25
And I should say, I know,
00:43:04.28\00:43:05.75
but she will
say, she wants to say
00:43:05.78\00:43:07.12
I know that you really love me.
00:43:07.15\00:43:08.78
And I'm like, well,
of course, I love you.
00:43:08.82\00:43:10.25
She's like, we know.
But I know that you love me.
00:43:10.29\00:43:12.15
I'm like, well,
what are you getting at?
00:43:12.19\00:43:13.96
And she said, Well,
I know that you love me
00:43:13.99\00:43:15.32
because of these
little things you do for me.
00:43:15.36\00:43:17.96
You don't just
tell me, you love me.
00:43:17.99\00:43:19.73
You show me that you love me
00:43:19.76\00:43:21.10
by doing these
little things for me
00:43:21.13\00:43:22.56
that you don't have to do.
00:43:22.60\00:43:23.93
You just do it.
00:43:23.97\00:43:25.30
And so that makes me feel good,
00:43:25.33\00:43:26.67
it makes me feel
00:43:26.70\00:43:28.04
all warm and fuzzy
inside to know that my wife,
00:43:28.07\00:43:29.40
you know, notices those things.
00:43:29.44\00:43:30.77
And I do the same for her.
00:43:30.81\00:43:32.14
I noticed that the
little thing she does,
00:43:32.17\00:43:33.51
and just back
again to the whole point
00:43:33.54\00:43:34.88
of a relationship,
00:43:34.91\00:43:36.24
you know, a relationship
00:43:36.28\00:43:37.61
you can't go and tell
your wife or your spouse,
00:43:37.65\00:43:38.98
you know, just walk
through the house and say,
00:43:39.01\00:43:40.35
"Oh, honey, I love you."
00:43:40.38\00:43:41.72
But yet, there's no
outward showing of that.
00:43:41.75\00:43:43.28
There's no response of that.
00:43:43.32\00:43:44.82
So again, being
doers of the word,
00:43:44.85\00:43:46.55
not just hearers of the word.
00:43:46.59\00:43:47.92
Amen. JD, you had a thought.
00:43:47.96\00:43:49.29
Well, I just want a new board,
00:43:49.32\00:43:50.66
you just segue right into it
00:43:50.69\00:43:52.03
'cause there's the see
part of this particular verse.
00:43:52.06\00:43:55.80
"Be doers of the
word, and not hearers only,
00:43:55.83\00:43:58.97
deceiving yourself."
00:43:59.00\00:44:01.04
So it's kind of like
you just added right there,
00:44:01.07\00:44:03.20
you could just
walk through the house.
00:44:03.24\00:44:04.67
Yep, you know.
00:44:04.71\00:44:06.04
That's James 1:22.
00:44:06.07\00:44:07.41
James 1:22.
00:44:07.44\00:44:08.78
That's just
what we were reading.
00:44:08.81\00:44:10.15
What is the main cause
00:44:10.18\00:44:13.25
of a relationship?
00:44:13.28\00:44:16.65
Breakdown. Breakdown.
00:44:16.69\00:44:18.22
What is the
root reason? Neglect.
00:44:18.25\00:44:21.32
Like intimidation and neglect.
00:44:21.36\00:44:23.12
So, well, finish your thought.
00:44:23.16\00:44:24.86
Well, no.
00:44:24.89\00:44:26.23
And so it just
as we were saying,
00:44:26.26\00:44:28.46
there's got to be
00:44:28.50\00:44:30.00
some relationship in there.
00:44:30.03\00:44:32.33
Yeah.
00:44:32.37\00:44:34.57
The thing that,
00:44:34.60\00:44:36.30
if you do have a
relationship with the Lord,
00:44:36.34\00:44:41.08
or if you want
00:44:41.11\00:44:42.44
to have a
relationship with the Lord,
00:44:42.48\00:44:43.95
I think it's
very important to know
00:44:43.98\00:44:45.78
that the Creator of the universe
00:44:45.81\00:44:47.18
has the
supernatural power to woo us.
00:44:47.22\00:44:51.92
And wooing us,
00:44:51.95\00:44:53.86
then we're interested
00:44:53.89\00:44:55.46
because there's
something going on.
00:44:55.49\00:44:58.13
And then I think we can
go, then as we fall in love,
00:44:58.16\00:45:01.96
then we want to
demonstrate that love.
00:45:02.00\00:45:04.33
I mean, it just comes natural.
00:45:04.37\00:45:05.93
We're in Jeremiah 31:3,
00:45:05.97\00:45:07.84
you know, He says,
00:45:07.87\00:45:09.20
"I have loved you
with an everlasting love.
00:45:09.24\00:45:10.94
Therefore, I have to
run you with cords of love.
00:45:10.97\00:45:15.14
I enjoy that.
00:45:15.18\00:45:16.75
Robert, I know that
you have been very active
00:45:16.78\00:45:20.62
in your Christian life,
00:45:20.65\00:45:21.98
and in teaching
classes, and leading,
00:45:22.02\00:45:26.76
how do you feel
about fruit bearing?
00:45:26.79\00:45:29.59
The thing that helps
me in this conversation
00:45:32.89\00:45:34.70
is first principles,
00:45:34.73\00:45:37.57
when I saw the title,
pulse, taking the pulse.
00:45:37.60\00:45:39.90
Pulse is a measurement.
00:45:39.93\00:45:41.27
It's vitality, a
measurement of our vitality
00:45:41.30\00:45:43.37
of our aliveness if you will.
00:45:43.41\00:45:46.27
And what helps me is thinking
about the first principle,
00:45:46.31\00:45:48.38
that's the first
principle of our human bodies
00:45:48.41\00:45:50.28
is our pulse,
00:45:50.31\00:45:51.75
getting down to
first principle's on it.
00:45:51.78\00:45:53.75
One thing that helps
me as the Great Commission
00:45:53.78\00:45:56.79
is we're called to be
disciples and to make disciples.
00:45:56.82\00:45:59.69
When you said disciple,
and that kind of segue,
00:45:59.72\00:46:01.96
I thought, well, maybe
God wants me to share that.
00:46:01.99\00:46:05.33
If I'm a disciple, a
disciple is a learner.
00:46:05.36\00:46:07.76
And if we're going to
be a disciple of someone,
00:46:07.80\00:46:10.17
we have to spend time with them.
00:46:10.20\00:46:11.53
We have to learn from them.
00:46:11.57\00:46:13.84
And you don't do that by,
00:46:13.87\00:46:15.30
you know, going about
your duties to the day
00:46:15.34\00:46:17.67
and then, you know,
checking in at night
00:46:17.71\00:46:19.97
before you go to bed.
00:46:20.01\00:46:21.34
And so God...
00:46:21.38\00:46:23.85
Like you said,
lose us and loves us
00:46:23.88\00:46:25.38
but our relationship
00:46:25.41\00:46:28.15
I think foremost
is as His disciples.
00:46:28.18\00:46:29.88
We're learners,
we're following Him,
00:46:29.92\00:46:32.29
He's given us a course,
He's given us a mission.
00:46:32.32\00:46:35.99
And for me, that
helps me to couch it
00:46:36.02\00:46:38.13
in terms of I'm
a disciple of Jesus
00:46:38.16\00:46:41.73
and His disciples
spent time with Him.
00:46:41.76\00:46:44.03
They had the
privilege and the honor
00:46:44.07\00:46:46.03
of being in person with Him.
00:46:46.07\00:46:47.64
We don't have that.
They walked in His footsteps.
00:46:47.67\00:46:49.87
But we can do the
same thing. Right.
00:46:49.90\00:46:51.87
One last thing. Sure.
00:46:51.91\00:46:53.24
We talked earlier about
hearing the still small voice,
00:46:53.27\00:46:55.18
and we do have all heard that.
00:46:55.21\00:46:57.01
But it only comes
when we quiet ourselves.
00:46:57.05\00:47:00.78
Absolutely. And so
those prayer times.
00:47:00.82\00:47:02.38
If, you know, have
people that want to,
00:47:02.42\00:47:03.92
haven't heard the
still small voice of God
00:47:03.95\00:47:05.59
and want to hear it more,
00:47:05.62\00:47:09.12
I don't know how to,
00:47:09.16\00:47:10.49
I don't know
there's a formula for it,
00:47:10.53\00:47:11.86
but what I do know
is your odds go way up,
00:47:11.89\00:47:14.06
if you'll pray and meditate.
00:47:14.10\00:47:15.53
Be still and know that I am God.
00:47:15.56\00:47:17.83
So I encourage everybody
to do that, myself included.
00:47:17.87\00:47:21.54
I just gotta add something
'cause you set it up nice
00:47:21.57\00:47:25.27
where I was
going with something.
00:47:25.31\00:47:26.64
I think there's a major aspect
00:47:26.68\00:47:28.48
of checking
your spiritual pulse.
00:47:28.51\00:47:30.81
One of the common
questions that I would receive
00:47:30.85\00:47:34.52
while I was travelling on
the road as an evangelist,
00:47:34.55\00:47:36.45
I would have people
come to me and say, Ryan,
00:47:36.48\00:47:38.29
how can I know that I know God?
00:47:38.32\00:47:40.62
And how can I know
00:47:40.66\00:47:41.99
that I'm being led
by the Holy Spirit?
00:47:42.02\00:47:43.49
Now, I think all of
us would agree that in,
00:47:43.53\00:47:46.26
you know, in
checking our spiritual pulse
00:47:46.29\00:47:48.10
to make sure that we're in,
00:47:48.13\00:47:49.83
you know, engaged
and actively living
00:47:49.86\00:47:51.87
in that saving
relationship with Christ
00:47:51.90\00:47:53.64
on a day to day basis.
00:47:53.67\00:47:55.00
We must not just
hear the Holy Spirit,
00:47:55.04\00:47:57.84
because the Holy Spirit's
going to speak to everyone.
00:47:57.87\00:48:00.04
But we have to respond
to now of the Holy Spirit
00:48:00.08\00:48:03.31
that is bestowed upon us.
00:48:03.35\00:48:04.91
And one aspect of the gospel
00:48:04.95\00:48:06.88
that many people don't consider
00:48:06.92\00:48:08.28
and you said it earlier,
you mentioned the commission.
00:48:08.32\00:48:11.19
You mentioned the commission.
00:48:11.22\00:48:13.25
You know, a person
00:48:13.29\00:48:14.62
who bears the
spiritual fruit of a Christian
00:48:14.66\00:48:17.93
is someone who is
going to respond accordingly
00:48:17.96\00:48:22.16
when they receive
that guiding spirit.
00:48:22.20\00:48:25.10
And one thing
that comes to my mind,
00:48:25.13\00:48:27.54
I remember years ago I saw this,
00:48:27.57\00:48:30.04
one of the series that I
saw by Pastor Lee Venden called,
00:48:30.07\00:48:34.04
"All About Jesus
Revival Seminars."
00:48:34.08\00:48:36.18
And it really,
really helped me understand,
00:48:36.21\00:48:38.95
have a better understanding too.
00:48:38.98\00:48:41.18
You know, making
Jesus the focal point
00:48:41.22\00:48:44.15
of your relationship with God
00:48:44.19\00:48:47.72
and so, I remember
him saying in there
00:48:47.76\00:48:50.59
and in throughout the seminar,
00:48:50.63\00:48:51.96
he sets up what is called
the three legs of the stool.
00:48:51.99\00:48:55.53
And the three legs of the stool,
00:48:55.56\00:48:56.90
of course, is, we've talked
00:48:56.93\00:48:58.27
about a couple of them so
far, prayer, okay, is one.
00:48:58.30\00:49:00.64
Bible study is another.
00:49:00.67\00:49:02.00
And these are
just very fundamental.
00:49:02.04\00:49:03.37
He's not saying
this is the only thing
00:49:03.41\00:49:04.74
but very fundamental,
00:49:04.77\00:49:06.11
you have to have
these three major aspects
00:49:06.14\00:49:07.48
in order to be
able to say, okay,
00:49:07.51\00:49:09.51
I'm heading in
the right direction,
00:49:09.54\00:49:11.08
I'm in a saving relationship.
00:49:11.11\00:49:12.85
But the third leg of the stool,
00:49:12.88\00:49:14.22
of course, is
witnessing, sharing.
00:49:14.25\00:49:17.79
And you remove any one of those
and the stool isn't stable.
00:49:17.82\00:49:20.16
Absolutely.
00:49:20.19\00:49:21.52
You're moving one of
those, the stool is not stable.
00:49:21.56\00:49:23.09
So the scripture
that comes to my mind,
00:49:23.12\00:49:24.99
that's always
stuck out to me again,
00:49:25.03\00:49:26.36
I have people saying, Ryan,
00:49:26.39\00:49:27.73
how can I make sure
I have the Holy Spirit?
00:49:27.76\00:49:29.10
What's one of the indicators
00:49:29.13\00:49:30.47
that I'm being
led by the Holy Spirit
00:49:30.50\00:49:31.83
or that I've received
the Spirit of God in my life,
00:49:31.87\00:49:33.77
and I'm following that?
00:49:33.80\00:49:35.30
Acts 1:9, okay.
00:49:35.34\00:49:37.41
I love this verse.
00:49:37.44\00:49:38.87
And it really, really
gives us some insight here.
00:49:38.91\00:49:40.64
I'm sorry, Acts?
00:49:40.68\00:49:42.01
Acts 1:9, and
the Bible says here,
00:49:42.04\00:49:46.35
"But you shall receive power,
00:49:46.38\00:49:49.25
when the Holy
Spirit has come upon you.
00:49:49.28\00:49:52.05
You shall be
witnesses to me, in Jerusalem,
00:49:52.09\00:49:54.39
and all Judea, and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth."
00:49:54.42\00:49:58.46
So how can I make sure?
00:49:58.49\00:50:00.00
What is one of the indicators,
those pulse indicators that
00:50:00.03\00:50:03.80
that I'm living in
a saving relationship,
00:50:03.83\00:50:05.93
I'm being led by God.
00:50:05.97\00:50:07.64
When we receive the Holy Spirit,
00:50:07.67\00:50:09.50
one of the natural responses
we can't keep our mouth shut.
00:50:09.54\00:50:12.57
We want to go, we want
to go shout His goodness,
00:50:12.61\00:50:14.88
we want to go tell people
about what He's done for us.
00:50:14.91\00:50:17.61
And, you know, I'm not trying
to be critical or judgmental
00:50:17.65\00:50:20.18
because I've
been in this situation
00:50:20.22\00:50:21.98
so many times in my life.
00:50:22.02\00:50:23.59
Where you just kind of
become complacent, and stagnant,
00:50:23.62\00:50:26.72
and you kind of stop
sharing Christ in the way
00:50:26.76\00:50:29.39
that the Bible encourages us to
00:50:29.42\00:50:31.89
because we kind of get settled
00:50:31.93\00:50:33.40
in the fact that
we're already saved,
00:50:33.43\00:50:35.40
you know, we go to church,
00:50:35.43\00:50:36.87
you know, we do these,
00:50:36.90\00:50:38.23
we're in the motion,
we're following emotion.
00:50:38.27\00:50:39.60
But you know, if you
really stop for a moment
00:50:39.63\00:50:41.00
and ask yourself that question,
00:50:41.04\00:50:42.54
when's the last time
00:50:42.57\00:50:43.91
I really shared
Jesus with someone?
00:50:43.94\00:50:46.37
How many people lately
have I pointed towards Jesus?
00:50:46.41\00:50:49.24
How many people have I
won to the kingdom of God
00:50:49.28\00:50:52.61
because I've shared
the goodness of Jesus?
00:50:52.65\00:50:54.58
That's a great
spiritual indicator.
00:50:54.62\00:50:56.99
If you're being
led by the Spirit,
00:50:57.02\00:50:58.79
the same spirit that
God gave to the disciples
00:50:58.82\00:51:01.26
and those on the
day of Pentecost,
00:51:01.29\00:51:02.76
then you know, that same
spirit is still at work today.
00:51:02.79\00:51:05.16
Can I give the...
00:51:05.19\00:51:07.23
Something that I
think precedes that?
00:51:07.26\00:51:09.60
When someone asks me
00:51:09.63\00:51:11.47
and it ties right
into what you're saying
00:51:11.50\00:51:13.97
because I agree 100%.
00:51:14.00\00:51:15.47
When some of you
might want to turn
00:51:15.50\00:51:16.97
to 1 Thessalonians 3:12.
00:51:17.01\00:51:21.61
1 Thessalonians
3:12, people will ask me,
00:51:21.64\00:51:25.51
how do I know, if I
have the Holy Spirit?
00:51:25.55\00:51:30.25
Well, in 1 Thessalonians 3:12,
00:51:30.29\00:51:33.86
Paul says,
00:51:33.89\00:51:35.22
"May the Lord make you
increase and abound in love."
00:51:35.26\00:51:38.99
So who's doing the work here?
00:51:39.03\00:51:42.16
God.
00:51:42.20\00:51:44.27
"To one another and to
all just as we do to you,
00:51:44.30\00:51:47.64
so that He may establish."
00:51:47.67\00:51:50.71
He's again the one
that's doing the work.
00:51:50.74\00:51:53.17
"Your hearts
blameless in holiness."
00:51:53.21\00:51:57.78
Boy, don't we wanna
be blameless in holiness?
00:51:57.81\00:51:59.91
Right.
00:51:59.95\00:52:01.28
How does Paul say,
00:52:01.32\00:52:02.65
"Growing love,
grow in holiness."
00:52:02.68\00:52:05.22
So he says,
00:52:05.25\00:52:06.79
"Blameless and holiness
before our God and Father,
00:52:06.82\00:52:09.02
the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ
00:52:09.06\00:52:11.93
with all his saints."
00:52:11.96\00:52:13.50
Romans 5:5 says that,
00:52:13.53\00:52:15.10
"God pours His
love into our hearts
00:52:15.13\00:52:17.63
by the power of
the Holy Spirit."
00:52:17.67\00:52:19.27
Love, unselfish love
00:52:19.30\00:52:22.77
is the essence of His character.
00:52:22.80\00:52:25.54
The fruit of the Spirit is love.
00:52:25.57\00:52:27.78
When you have the
Spirit living in your heart,
00:52:27.81\00:52:33.01
the love of God loves
the fulfillment of the law,
00:52:33.05\00:52:36.05
loving with all your
heart, soul, mind and strength.
00:52:36.08\00:52:38.05
Love your neighbor as yourself.
00:52:38.09\00:52:40.32
It is love,
00:52:40.36\00:52:42.22
His character in you
that makes you wanna win.
00:52:42.26\00:52:44.59
Absolutely. Absolutely.
00:52:44.63\00:52:46.56
It allows you to see,
witnessing opportunities.
00:52:46.59\00:52:49.56
If you're
looking out at the world
00:52:49.60\00:52:51.57
through God's
eyes, spirit of love,
00:52:51.60\00:52:55.80
we don't witness
to certain people
00:52:55.84\00:52:57.64
because we don't
see that their need.
00:52:57.67\00:53:01.44
And it's God's
love and the Holy Spirit
00:53:01.48\00:53:03.55
that lets us see the need
and the opportunity to witness.
00:53:03.58\00:53:08.68
Amen.
00:53:08.72\00:53:10.29
Let's turn.
00:53:10.32\00:53:11.65
We're just almost out of time,
00:53:11.69\00:53:13.02
there's one scripture I
really, really want to get in.
00:53:13.05\00:53:17.43
And I didn't come
with a list of scriptures,
00:53:17.46\00:53:19.83
it just, they keep popping up.
00:53:19.86\00:53:21.36
We can do these for hours.
00:53:21.40\00:53:23.63
Amen.
00:53:23.67\00:53:25.00
But we do wanna
mention what we're looking
00:53:25.03\00:53:26.37
at here and everything
00:53:26.40\00:53:27.74
when it comes to witnessing,
00:53:27.77\00:53:29.10
it may be as simple
00:53:29.14\00:53:30.47
as having a prayer with someone.
00:53:30.51\00:53:31.84
Oh, absolutely. Thank you.
00:53:31.87\00:53:33.21
And there's
people that need prayer
00:53:33.24\00:53:34.81
on every block.
00:53:34.84\00:53:36.18
Absolutely. yeah.
00:53:36.21\00:53:37.55
Amen.
00:53:37.58\00:53:38.91
2 Corinthians.
00:53:38.95\00:53:40.28
2 Corinthians? Yes.
00:53:40.32\00:53:41.95
And actually we'll
begin with verse 17, 3:17.
00:53:41.98\00:53:45.02
2 Corinthians Chapter 3,
let's begin with verse 17.
00:53:45.05\00:53:51.69
It says, "Now the
Lord is the spirit
00:53:51.73\00:53:53.70
and where the
Spirit of the Lord is,
00:53:53.73\00:53:55.20
there is liberty.
00:53:55.23\00:53:56.56
But we all, with unveiled face
00:53:56.60\00:53:59.83
beholding as in a mirror
00:53:59.87\00:54:01.97
the glory of the
Lord," what is the...
00:54:02.00\00:54:03.64
Do you have the Amplified today?
00:54:03.67\00:54:05.14
What does that say, beholding?
00:54:05.17\00:54:07.31
"And all of this, all of us
with unveiled face continued
00:54:07.34\00:54:10.35
to behold in the Word of God."
00:54:10.38\00:54:11.98
In the Word of God.
00:54:12.01\00:54:13.78
Beholding the glory of the Lord
00:54:13.82\00:54:17.69
are being
transformed into the same image,
00:54:17.72\00:54:21.52
from glory to glory,
00:54:21.56\00:54:22.92
just as by the
Spirit of the Lord.
00:54:22.96\00:54:25.26
I think what this is saying,
00:54:25.29\00:54:26.66
and this is another way
00:54:26.70\00:54:28.43
to keep a finger on
your spiritual pulse.
00:54:28.46\00:54:31.03
When your eyes are
focused on Jesus Christ,
00:54:31.07\00:54:33.90
the author and
finisher of your faith.
00:54:33.94\00:54:37.57
The Holy
Spirit's working in you.
00:54:37.61\00:54:39.57
If you don't see
transformation in your life,
00:54:39.61\00:54:41.94
you better check
your spiritual pulse.
00:54:41.98\00:54:44.01
So the Holy Spirit when He says,
00:54:44.05\00:54:46.31
from glory to glory,
00:54:46.35\00:54:48.45
when Moses showed his glory,
00:54:48.48\00:54:51.85
or God showed
His glory to Moses,
00:54:51.89\00:54:53.82
what did he do?
00:54:53.86\00:54:55.26
He declared his character.
00:54:55.29\00:54:56.89
So it's kind of like
00:54:56.93\00:54:58.26
from one level
of God's character,
00:54:58.29\00:55:01.03
to the next.
00:55:01.06\00:55:02.40
We should be
progressing, and if we're not.
00:55:02.43\00:55:05.53
The only way to do that
00:55:05.57\00:55:07.54
is as you're
saying here beholding Him,
00:55:07.57\00:55:09.74
you know, I think it
was Mrs. White that said.
00:55:09.77\00:55:12.47
In no other part of the Bible
is salvation made more plain
00:55:12.51\00:55:15.61
than in John Chapter 3
00:55:15.64\00:55:17.01
and Christ's
conversation with Nicodemus
00:55:17.05\00:55:19.48
and in John 3:14,
00:55:19.51\00:55:21.05
to feed on what you just said,
00:55:21.08\00:55:22.85
Jesus says in verse 14,
00:55:22.88\00:55:25.02
"And as Moses lifted up
the serpent in the wilderness,
00:55:25.05\00:55:27.62
even so must the Son
of man be lifted up."
00:55:27.66\00:55:30.53
And you go back to
that story in Numbers 21,
00:55:30.56\00:55:32.86
and you focus on
what's happening there.
00:55:32.89\00:55:35.26
You know, Moses puts
the serpent on a pole
00:55:35.30\00:55:37.47
and the only way they
could be saved as by beholding.
00:55:37.50\00:55:40.50
And I think of also what
Christ said in John 12:32,
00:55:40.54\00:55:44.41
"And I, if I am
lifted up from the earth,
00:55:44.44\00:55:46.41
I will draw all
people to Myself."
00:55:46.44\00:55:48.51
So just the practicality
of what we're talking about
00:55:48.54\00:55:51.11
during this study
00:55:51.15\00:55:52.48
is it's just as
simple as, you know, Ryan,
00:55:52.51\00:55:54.62
I'm not really
praying like I should, Ryan,
00:55:54.65\00:55:56.18
I'm not really
studying my Bible like I should,
00:55:56.22\00:55:58.02
you know, I'm not
witnessing like I should.
00:55:58.05\00:55:59.92
But I think what really
kind of gets us on that path
00:55:59.95\00:56:03.53
is simply take our
minds off the distractions
00:56:03.56\00:56:06.33
that the devil is setting
to eclipse that of Jesus.
00:56:06.36\00:56:09.43
And then put Jesus,
behold it in front of us,
00:56:09.46\00:56:11.97
uplift him,
00:56:12.00\00:56:13.34
place him
before us at all times,
00:56:13.37\00:56:15.47
and as we focus on the love
00:56:15.50\00:56:17.54
and the wonderful
character of Christ,
00:56:17.57\00:56:19.71
all of these
things begin to fall.
00:56:19.74\00:56:21.81
Turn your eyes upon
Jesus. There you go.
00:56:21.84\00:56:23.75
Things of this world
will fade. That's right.
00:56:23.78\00:56:26.85
You're going this way,
00:56:26.88\00:56:28.22
you can look in
your rear view mirror
00:56:28.25\00:56:29.58
and all those places there,
they get smaller and smaller
00:56:29.62\00:56:32.55
until you don't
even recognize it.
00:56:32.59\00:56:34.22
Strangely down, brother.
00:56:34.26\00:56:35.59
Love Jesus, folks. Love Jesus.
00:56:35.62\00:56:37.13
And you won't
have to worry about it.
00:56:37.16\00:56:38.49
Well, you know,
none of us here ahead...
00:56:38.53\00:56:40.20
I just want to
thank each one of you
00:56:40.23\00:56:42.06
for joining us and
for your contribution.
00:56:42.10\00:56:44.87
But what we want
to tell you at home is
00:56:44.90\00:56:47.04
none of us here feel
that we've made the mark.
00:56:47.07\00:56:51.84
I mean, we're not
trying to set the standard.
00:56:51.87\00:56:55.04
We all...
00:56:55.08\00:56:57.05
We each try to keep
a spiritual inventory,
00:56:57.08\00:57:00.88
where we're
constantly having it.
00:57:00.92\00:57:03.82
And I think when
you're in a public eye,
00:57:03.85\00:57:07.39
it would be easy
to get a big head.
00:57:07.42\00:57:09.89
I'm just going to say that.
00:57:09.92\00:57:11.26
But if you've got
pride in your life,
00:57:11.29\00:57:14.70
it's just taking
you in the opposite way.
00:57:14.73\00:57:16.87
So what you've got to do
00:57:16.90\00:57:18.37
is keep your finger
on your spiritual pulse,
00:57:18.40\00:57:20.87
and ask the Lord
cause me the hunger
00:57:20.90\00:57:23.54
and thirst for righteousness.
00:57:23.57\00:57:25.61
Fill me, Lord. Fill me.
00:57:25.64\00:57:27.88
And just rely on Him.
00:57:27.91\00:57:29.48
Amen. Amen.
00:57:29.51\00:57:31.01