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.
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We welcome you
to this special time
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we can have together with you
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and with the
family here at 3ABN.
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And it's my joy and
pleasure to say to you,
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Jesus loves you
and happy Sabbath.
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Happy Sabbath. Amen.
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Happy Sabbath. Happy Sabbath.
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Well, we have
part of the family here
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that we would like
for you to once again
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hear their names,
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and a little bit of
what they do here at 3ABN,
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get a little bit
acquainted again,
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and then we will
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worship together
and study together.
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I will start to my left,
we have Brother Don Owen here.
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Now, tell us a little
bit about what you do?
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Thank you for having
us on here, appreciate it.
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I always enjoy doing
these Family Worships.
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It's just, I don't
know, something about it,
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just it's a great time.
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What I do here, I
work pastoral full time.
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So it's been a
blessing to be in pastoral.
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I'm really growing a lot
and my brain is exploding
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with scriptures, and
stories, and testimonies.
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It's just been incredible so.
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And hearing people's stories,
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that's just been
a blessing to me.
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And I kind of think,
like what Isaiah say,
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you know, "Who am I, Lord will?"
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I really feel that way.
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I'm really privileged
and blessed to be here,
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so thankful. A
tremendous blessing.
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Yes, yes. Amen.
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Amen. And next to you...
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I was gonna say,
you brought your wife,
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but you came together.
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Yes. We're not
attached to the hip.
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But this is my wife Janelle.
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Yes. Yes. My
name is Janelle Owen,
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and I work in the
publishing department.
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And it's really hard
to summarize what we do.
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What my main function
is the 3ABN World Magazine.
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We also do print and
web, all kinds of projects.
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So that kind of, I
guess, that's a good summary.
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So you have to be in prayer
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for the Lord to give
you some creative ideas?
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Yes, He's always
given us creativity
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and helps us do a
lot with little time,
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yeah, and little staff.
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Yes, sometimes we pass
by and see on the door,
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do not disturb,
deadline, you know.
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Yeah.
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Yeah, deadlines are
a part of everything
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that we do in there, so, yeah.
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There you go, we're
glad that you're here.
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Thank you.
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And to my right,
we have Jonathan Bab.
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Welcome. Thank
you. Good to be here.
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And tell us a little
bit about what you do?
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Well, now I manage
all the office computers.
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I keep
everything running, try to.
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And if you walk by my office,
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you generally
won't find me there.
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You're on location.
Yeah, most of the time. Yeah.
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Well, we are glad also
that we have Tim Parton.
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Yes, I am general manager
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of the Praise Him Music Network.
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And I am creating
content and just...
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If it has music involved, I
wanna be in the middle of it.
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Wonderful.
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So I'm very blessed
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to be able to praise
the Lord through music.
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Wonderful.
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And blessed to be
here on this Sabbath.
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Amen. It's a pleasure.
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Thank you.
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And my name is John Dinzey,
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and I'm glad to
be with you also,
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and we hope that you
will join along as we sing
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in this beautiful hymn,
it's called "Draw me nearer".
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And this is a
wonderful, wonderful hymn that
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we hope that you'll sing along.
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Perhaps, you may
know it by memory.
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So we will listen to the
piano and start together.
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I am Thine, O Lord
I have heard Thy voice
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And it told Thy love to me
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But I long to rise
in the arms of faith
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And be closer drawn to Thee
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Draw me nearer,
nearer blessed Lord
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To the cross
where Thou hast died
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Draw me nearer,
nearer blessed Lord
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To Thy precious, bleeding side
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Consecrate me now
to Thy service, Lord
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By the power of grace divine
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May my soul look up
with a steadfast hope
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And my will be lost in Thine
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Draw me nearer,
nearer, blessed Lord
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To the cross
where Thou hast died
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Draw me nearer,
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nearer blessed Lord
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To Thy precious, bleeding side
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Oh, the pure
delight of a single hour
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That before Thy throne I spend
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When I kneel in
prayer, and with Thee, my God
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I commune as friend with friend
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Draw me nearer,
nearer blessed Lord
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To the cross
where Thou hast died
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Draw me nearer,
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nearer blessed Lord
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To Thy precious,
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bleeding side
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Amen. Amen.
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Amen. This is a beautiful hymn.
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You know, you
look at these hymns,
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and you know, way back
in 1875 it was written,
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but it still has a powerful,
wonderful message for us.
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And it really speaks of
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what we want to
happen in our lives
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is to be drawn
nearer to the Lord.
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Amen.
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I was focused on this time
in this verse 3 where it says,
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"I commune as
friend with friend." Amen.
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And you know, when
you think about Jesus
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where He says that
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He's a friend that
sticketh closer than a brother.
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That is interesting
to think about that,
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that Jesus is
willing to be close to us,
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closer than a brother,
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you know, somebody that's there
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in your own
family that you can see.
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And that's an experience that
I think the Lord longs for us
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to not only want, but to
search or seek to have with Him.
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Amen. Amen.
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Something that to bounce
off what you just said it,
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I may think of
Jonathan and David,
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and he was a friend of
David but he was supposed to...
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Actually, Jonathan was supposed
to be the next in the line
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for the kingdom but he knew
that David was the chosen one.
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So he's humbled himself
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and let David take the
reign, and he could have fought.
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But that's a beautiful thing.
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A friend would step
down, humble himself,
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and let David take
the rightful place that
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God had provided for him so.
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Yes, wonderful.
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And then Jesus is
doing the same thing,
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stepping down from
His heavenly throne
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to be our friend,
to take our punishment.
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Oh, amen. So, yeah, for sure.
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Great friends. Wonderful.
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Priceless
friendship, relationship
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that we have with Christ.
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Amen. Amen, amen.
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Well, I think we'd like
to go to the Lord in prayer.
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Maybe, Sister Janelle, if
you could lead us this time?
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Sure.
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Dear Heavenly Father,
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thank You for the
privilege of gathering together.
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Thank You for the
blessing of the Sabbath,
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and how it reminds
us of how You created us
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and who You are in our lives.
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We just ask now
that Your Holy Spirit
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would be present
as we meet together
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and talk of Your goodness.
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In Jesus' name, amen.
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Amen. Amen.
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Amen. Amen.
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You know, when I
think of the Sabbath,
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it's one of those things that,
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you know, you're
busy during the week.
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And it says,
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"Six days shall you
labor and do all your work,
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but the seventh
day is the Sabbath
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of the Lord your God."
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In other words, it
gives us an opportunity to,
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"Wait a minute,
you know, you're busy,
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you can go to the Lord,
you can go to church every day.
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But on this particular day,
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it's like you
have more opportunity
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because you're not
supposed to be busy
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with the
everyday things of life."
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And so it's more...
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It's like you have
more of an opportunity
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to do so and rest.
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And I think it's...
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From my personal
experience, I've seen that
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it has provided me an
opportunity to do that.
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And I think that as
we think of this topic,
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because we
decided to talk about,
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well, how do we
draw nearer to the Lord?
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What are the steps we can take?
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And then you start
thinking, "What are the benefits
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of being close to
the Lord, you know?"
00:10:01.00\00:10:03.87
So I like to go back
to the Garden of Eden
00:10:03.90\00:10:09.60
for a moment and think about
00:10:09.64\00:10:12.21
the wonderful
experience and blessing
00:10:12.24\00:10:16.64
that was before Adam
and Eve, and their children
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and their children's
children and children's children
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had not sin
entered into the world.
00:10:22.85\00:10:25.22
And it was supposed to
be a growing experience
00:10:25.25\00:10:29.36
in the Lord that they
will get to know the Lord more.
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And the more they
lived, they will be interested
00:10:33.63\00:10:36.67
in knowing more
about the Lord that,
00:10:36.70\00:10:38.07
"You created all this
wonderful stuff for us,"
00:10:38.10\00:10:42.10
you know.
00:10:42.14\00:10:44.14
But it was interrupted by sin.
00:10:44.17\00:10:46.68
And unfortunately, it
created this separation.
00:10:46.71\00:10:51.88
But there is a scripture that,
it says that after they sinned,
00:10:51.91\00:10:55.55
it says that they heard
00:10:55.58\00:10:58.22
the voice of the
Lord. walking in the garden.
00:10:58.25\00:11:01.72
And that helps me to understand
00:11:01.76\00:11:03.93
that this was
something that the Lord did
00:11:03.96\00:11:08.63
or planned on doing with them,
00:11:08.66\00:11:11.30
coming to spend
time with them, you know.
00:11:11.33\00:11:14.17
Yeah.
00:11:14.20\00:11:15.54
And so sin created a separation.
00:11:15.57\00:11:18.11
But in the midst
of, "Oh-oh, you know,
00:11:21.71\00:11:24.21
we're in trouble,
what's gonna happen now?
00:11:24.25\00:11:26.82
God did say that
when we eat of this tree
00:11:26.85\00:11:30.22
that we were not
supposed to eat of,
00:11:30.25\00:11:32.12
we're supposed
to die and... Boy!
00:11:32.15\00:11:36.76
They're in this fear,
I would say, you know.
00:11:36.79\00:11:40.96
I don't know, how many
have gone before a judge
00:11:41.00\00:11:43.57
when you're in trouble? Yeah.
00:11:43.60\00:11:44.93
Anybody here? Yeah.
00:11:44.97\00:11:46.43
And you're wondering,
"Okay, what's gonna happen?"
00:11:46.47\00:11:48.94
Because even most countries have
00:11:48.97\00:11:52.11
what you call
the minimum sentence
00:11:52.14\00:11:54.68
or the maximum sentence.
00:11:54.71\00:11:56.61
And if you been
before the judge before
00:11:56.64\00:11:59.71
and then you're back, it's like,
00:11:59.75\00:12:01.62
you're gonna have to
get punished a little harder
00:12:01.65\00:12:03.65
this time because, you know,
this is like the fifth time.
00:12:03.69\00:12:06.96
you're here.
00:12:06.99\00:12:09.32
And so people are in fear,
"Okay, what's gonna happen?"
00:12:09.36\00:12:12.99
But God tells them a
little bit of their suffering,
00:12:13.03\00:12:15.96
but then He communicates hope.
00:12:16.00\00:12:18.10
And that's why, you
know, I like to consider
00:12:18.13\00:12:20.70
Genesis 3:15.
00:12:20.74\00:12:23.04
If somebody can read
that for us, Genesis 3:15
00:12:23.07\00:12:25.41
is the first
communication of hope after sin.
00:12:25.44\00:12:29.54
Amen.
00:12:29.58\00:12:30.91
And it was supposed to
bring a message of hope to them,
00:12:30.95\00:12:34.62
and it brings a
message of hope to us.
00:12:34.65\00:12:36.12
Does anybody have it
that would like to read it?
00:12:36.15\00:12:37.49
Sure.
00:12:37.52\00:12:38.85
"And I will put enmity
between thee and the woman,
00:12:38.89\00:12:42.62
and between thy
seed and her seed,
00:12:42.66\00:12:44.49
it shall bruise thy head,
00:12:44.53\00:12:46.06
and thou shalt bruise his heel."
00:12:46.09\00:12:48.33
Okay.
00:12:48.36\00:12:49.70
So there's the message of
hope hidden in there for us.
00:12:49.73\00:12:54.40
What would you
like to say about that
00:12:54.44\00:12:55.77
that will help you understand
that there's hope for us
00:12:55.80\00:12:57.77
in this message?
00:12:57.81\00:12:59.14
I've this marked in my Bible
as the first gospel promise,
00:12:59.17\00:13:02.71
like you're
saying that's the hope.
00:13:02.74\00:13:04.98
And it is the hope.
00:13:05.01\00:13:06.92
And you know,
like, think about...
00:13:06.95\00:13:09.95
If He wouldn't have done that,
00:13:09.98\00:13:11.32
you know, where would we be,
like, what hope would we have?
00:13:11.35\00:13:14.79
And the fact that He
put the enmity there,
00:13:14.82\00:13:18.49
it shows you that,
00:13:18.53\00:13:19.86
you know, that
God wants to save us
00:13:19.89\00:13:21.73
because He wants
to make a distinction
00:13:21.76\00:13:23.73
between life and death
00:13:23.77\00:13:25.10
and to give us an
opportunity to choose life.
00:13:25.13\00:13:27.90
Yeah. Yes, yes.
00:13:27.94\00:13:29.74
And... Preparation.
00:13:29.77\00:13:32.04
What would you say is...
00:13:32.07\00:13:34.48
Why would we want to
get closer to the Lord?
00:13:34.51\00:13:37.15
I mean, we have people
listening that are wondering,
00:13:37.18\00:13:40.28
"Well, why would
I wanna do that?"
00:13:40.32\00:13:42.78
Why would we want to
get closer to the Lord?
00:13:42.82\00:13:45.12
Is there any benefit?
00:13:45.15\00:13:47.22
Is there any anything
00:13:47.26\00:13:48.59
that would be
good for us to do that?
00:13:48.62\00:13:50.69
What would be some thoughts
that you could share with us?
00:13:50.73\00:13:54.70
I will say, from what
I understand in the Word,
00:13:54.73\00:13:57.67
it's the Spirit that draws us.
00:13:57.70\00:14:00.40
So the fact that
00:14:00.44\00:14:03.10
it's truly nothing that
we do even to honk to want
00:14:03.14\00:14:07.28
to be near to God.
00:14:07.31\00:14:09.31
You know, because we have
all kinds of rules and laws
00:14:09.34\00:14:12.71
that you can live by
as secular in the world
00:14:12.75\00:14:16.28
that will make you a
perfectly good time citizen,
00:14:16.32\00:14:19.25
respectable
among your neighbors,
00:14:19.29\00:14:21.22
and you can
obey the speed limit,
00:14:21.26\00:14:23.02
but the
separation is the Holy Spirit
00:14:23.06\00:14:26.19
that draws you to God.
00:14:26.23\00:14:28.60
Amen. Yes.
00:14:28.63\00:14:29.96
So I believe we
have to start there.
00:14:30.00\00:14:32.20
Yes.
00:14:32.23\00:14:33.57
And then to be
able to build on that
00:14:33.60\00:14:35.20
to become more like Him
00:14:35.24\00:14:36.71
is out of a love
after you realize
00:14:36.74\00:14:39.37
what He has done for
you, what He's done for me.
00:14:39.41\00:14:41.98
I want to be more like Him
00:14:42.01\00:14:43.35
just to honor Him and serve Him.
00:14:43.38\00:14:45.28
Amen.
00:14:45.31\00:14:46.65
Bottom line, just to
be like Him, so I can...
00:14:46.68\00:14:48.32
We all have idols of...
00:14:48.35\00:14:50.82
All right,
maybe, they're not idols
00:14:50.85\00:14:52.42
but someone we
idolize... Yes, you're right.
00:14:52.45\00:14:53.92
Or someone we'd love to
be, we'd like to be like,
00:14:53.96\00:14:56.86
even in not
necessarily the negative sense.
00:14:56.89\00:15:00.03
But as a kid, we have
somebody we look up to,
00:15:00.06\00:15:02.53
whether it be a
fireman, or a doctor,
00:15:02.56\00:15:04.27
or something that
we'd love to be like.
00:15:04.30\00:15:07.24
And so in that same
way, in a small way,
00:15:07.27\00:15:11.91
I think we want
to be attained to
00:15:11.94\00:15:15.28
what we read as
Christ is in the Word,
00:15:15.31\00:15:18.25
we want to be more like Him.
00:15:18.28\00:15:19.65
Yeah, I think to
kind of touch note
00:15:19.68\00:15:21.12
on what you're saying, you know,
00:15:21.15\00:15:22.48
to fast forward,
we're talking about
00:15:22.52\00:15:23.85
the Adam and Eve story,
but when we go into Israel,
00:15:23.89\00:15:25.42
we see that Israel
fell into obviously slavery.
00:15:25.45\00:15:29.59
They're under bondage.
00:15:29.62\00:15:31.03
And how many of us are
under bondage or something?
00:15:31.06\00:15:33.53
We're talking
about the idea of idols
00:15:33.56\00:15:34.96
and different things.
00:15:35.00\00:15:36.33
And I think about how
Israel is under bondage
00:15:36.36\00:15:37.80
and what was God's purpose
for getting them out of Egypt.
00:15:37.83\00:15:42.10
He wanted to have
a people separate,
00:15:42.14\00:15:44.41
a people separate
that would follow Him,
00:15:44.44\00:15:46.21
and that Sabbath was
really nestled in them.
00:15:46.24\00:15:48.54
They lost that
concept of the Sabbath,
00:15:48.58\00:15:51.98
they lost the concept of
who they were as identified
00:15:52.01\00:15:54.52
as a people in God.
00:15:54.55\00:15:55.88
And I think
that idea of bondage,
00:15:55.92\00:15:57.25
we all find ourselves
in some kind of bondage
00:15:57.29\00:15:59.25
whether it be, you
know, outwardly, externally,
00:15:59.29\00:16:01.36
we can talk about, you know,
drug addictions, cigarettes,
00:16:01.39\00:16:03.59
all kinds of sexual stuff,
00:16:03.63\00:16:05.09
or inwardly we're
talking about pride,
00:16:05.13\00:16:06.66
you know,
gossip, all these things.
00:16:06.70\00:16:08.56
We have something
that we're in bondage too,
00:16:08.60\00:16:10.97
but God wants to break
us out of that bondage.
00:16:11.00\00:16:13.44
And He gave us that right
there in that Genesis 3:15,
00:16:13.47\00:16:16.14
I will put enmity,
and I'm gonna get you out.
00:16:16.17\00:16:18.37
Amen.
00:16:18.41\00:16:19.74
So I think, to
me, that's powerful.
00:16:19.77\00:16:21.11
It is very
powerful. That speaks.
00:16:21.14\00:16:22.48
That is powerful.
00:16:22.51\00:16:23.85
You know, I like to
focus a little bit...
00:16:23.88\00:16:27.38
Well, as much as we
want to on what Tim said,
00:16:27.42\00:16:30.25
because what we see is
that God takes the initiative.
00:16:30.29\00:16:33.42
God takes the first
step, and continues appealing
00:16:33.46\00:16:37.39
to the person
to come and accept.
00:16:37.43\00:16:42.23
What you would say,
an offer of friendship,
00:16:42.26\00:16:45.47
an offer of companionship,
an offer of adoption,
00:16:45.50\00:16:49.57
because the Bible
even speaks to us as
00:16:49.60\00:16:52.84
that we can be adopted.
00:16:52.87\00:16:54.98
And so many wonderful
messages in the Bible.
00:16:55.01\00:16:57.35
Yeah.
00:16:57.38\00:16:58.71
So God takes the initiative
and tries to draw us to Him.
00:16:58.75\00:17:02.02
And when we
respond, it's when...
00:17:02.05\00:17:04.29
Yeah, that's the
key, the responding.
00:17:04.32\00:17:08.36
When we respond, and yes,
lest, we should talk about that.
00:17:08.39\00:17:11.86
Because God is making
a call even when you...
00:17:11.89\00:17:14.66
I mean, so many
different things tell us that.
00:17:14.70\00:17:18.17
Consider the
parable of the lost sheep,
00:17:18.20\00:17:21.30
you know, where
Jesus tells this parable
00:17:21.34\00:17:23.91
about this
shepherd that has 100 sheep,
00:17:23.94\00:17:27.71
but then there's one that
somehow wandered off and...
00:17:27.74\00:17:33.21
"Well, I have 99,
that's a lot. I only lost one.
00:17:33.25\00:17:37.99
Why worry about one, you know."
00:17:38.02\00:17:39.85
And as a matter of fact,
when you talk about a shepherd
00:17:39.89\00:17:42.22
that has to go
searching for a sheep,
00:17:42.26\00:17:43.93
there's danger out
there, because he has to go
00:17:43.99\00:17:46.63
and find this one
that wandered off,
00:17:46.66\00:17:50.00
but there are wolves out there
and there are others that...
00:17:50.03\00:17:54.00
Robbers, thieves.
00:17:54.04\00:17:55.37
Robbers and thieves,
00:17:55.40\00:17:56.74
so there's a
certain amount of danger
00:17:56.77\00:17:58.87
for the shepherd.
00:17:58.91\00:18:00.54
And that's an illustration
of what God was willing to do,
00:18:00.58\00:18:07.35
you know, come to this world
00:18:07.38\00:18:10.42
to search for us, to rescue us.
00:18:10.45\00:18:13.22
For the one lost sheep.
00:18:13.25\00:18:14.59
The world is the one lost sheep.
00:18:14.62\00:18:15.96
Yes.
00:18:15.99\00:18:17.33
I guess I can just
share a quick story
00:18:17.36\00:18:18.69
that I've been
actually given permission,
00:18:18.73\00:18:20.06
I think this might
plug in really well here.
00:18:20.10\00:18:22.03
Couple ladies, I just noticed
a few days ago on YouTube,
00:18:22.06\00:18:24.20
they were into
the lesbian lifestyle.
00:18:24.23\00:18:27.14
They were gonna get married.
00:18:27.17\00:18:28.50
They actually approve
it, I could share this,
00:18:28.54\00:18:29.87
so thank you.
00:18:29.90\00:18:31.24
They're actually
gonna watch this too so.
00:18:31.27\00:18:32.94
But they came to
this lesbian lifestyle.
00:18:32.97\00:18:35.64
They started
reading the Bible together.
00:18:35.68\00:18:37.65
So they're reading the Bible,
00:18:37.68\00:18:39.01
they're studying,
and they're thinking,
00:18:39.05\00:18:40.38
"Man, I still wanna get married,
00:18:40.42\00:18:41.75
but I'm not sure."
00:18:41.78\00:18:43.12
So in her mind, one lady,
00:18:43.15\00:18:44.49
she said, "Lord,
you're gonna help me,
00:18:44.52\00:18:45.85
You have to help me because
we're gonna go through this.
00:18:45.89\00:18:47.36
We're gonna do this.
00:18:47.39\00:18:48.72
And if this is a right way,
you have to show me a sign."
00:18:48.76\00:18:51.23
And so she's praying that,
so she goes to the courthouse
00:18:51.26\00:18:53.90
to get documents, to get
these marriage certificates.
00:18:53.93\00:18:56.73
And this lady who
printed it up there
00:18:56.77\00:18:58.73
at the court county clerks,
00:18:58.77\00:19:00.34
she actually
printed the certificate up,
00:19:00.37\00:19:02.44
cut her finger
on the certificate.
00:19:02.47\00:19:04.07
She said, "Over 30
years, I've been doing this.
00:19:04.11\00:19:05.64
I've never done this once." Wow!
00:19:05.67\00:19:07.14
And the lady goes, "Whoa!
00:19:07.18\00:19:08.51
That's
definitely a sign from God."
00:19:08.54\00:19:10.35
So then she walked out
the courthouse and she said,
00:19:10.38\00:19:12.61
she walked down,
different paths she took,
00:19:12.65\00:19:14.72
she looked down as there's
bird feather or bird wing,
00:19:14.75\00:19:18.09
there's a bird wing
that was ripped off,
00:19:18.12\00:19:19.52
just recently.
00:19:19.55\00:19:20.89
And she looked closer
and it was a dove's wing.
00:19:20.92\00:19:22.76
She's like, "God, you are
definitely telling me that
00:19:22.79\00:19:24.49
I should not be
getting married to this woman."
00:19:24.53\00:19:26.86
Unbeknownst to
her the other woman
00:19:26.90\00:19:28.70
was praying the same thing.
00:19:28.73\00:19:30.30
"Lord, if this is not
right, show me a sign."
00:19:30.33\00:19:32.63
So that night she got
a dream, she had a dream.
00:19:32.67\00:19:36.17
And there's four parties
that were getting married,
00:19:36.20\00:19:38.17
and it had this
rejoice celebration,
00:19:38.41\00:19:39.97
celebratory thing.
00:19:40.01\00:19:41.34
And then it was come to
their turn to get married.
00:19:41.38\00:19:44.18
No, celebration
nothing, completely cold.
00:19:44.21\00:19:46.65
And she said, "God you
are definitely telling me
00:19:46.68\00:19:48.28
we're not to get married.
00:19:48.32\00:19:49.65
Neither one wanted
to tell each other.
00:19:49.68\00:19:51.02
Neither one wanted to
tell each other either.
00:19:51.05\00:19:52.39
And it was
incredible. They sat down.
00:19:52.42\00:19:53.92
She said, "I have
to tell you something.
00:19:53.96\00:19:55.92
We're not to get married.
God told me in a dream."
00:19:55.96\00:19:58.59
And they were being
drawn by the Word of God
00:19:58.63\00:20:00.33
and just a powerful testimony.
00:20:00.36\00:20:01.70
I could share a lot more
00:20:01.73\00:20:03.06
but that's kind of
the nuts and bolts of it.
00:20:03.10\00:20:05.13
But the cool
thing was she said that
00:20:05.17\00:20:06.50
that was not even
supposed to leak on YouTube.
00:20:06.53\00:20:07.94
Oh.
00:20:07.97\00:20:09.30
I said, "Well, thanks
to God, sneaky Jesus."
00:20:09.34\00:20:11.07
You know, it's amazing
because they're actually...
00:20:11.11\00:20:14.71
Their ministry is
booming right now.
00:20:14.74\00:20:17.28
So God will make a way
for us through His Word
00:20:17.31\00:20:21.25
that we can come
out of that bondage.
00:20:21.28\00:20:22.62
And He ooze us.
Yeah, and He ooze us.
00:20:22.65\00:20:24.39
And He's calling to us.
00:20:24.42\00:20:25.85
As you mentioned, He's
calling to us, you know.
00:20:25.89\00:20:27.76
He wants to fix us,
He wants to heal us.
00:20:27.79\00:20:29.42
So Psalm 103:2, says,
"Bless the Lord, O my soul,
00:20:29.46\00:20:32.59
and forget not
all of His benefits."
00:20:32.63\00:20:35.00
His benefits.
00:20:35.03\00:20:36.36
So they are
reading the scriptures
00:20:36.40\00:20:37.73
and finding that
00:20:37.77\00:20:39.10
they can find strength
in the Lord to do His will
00:20:39.13\00:20:41.60
and learning many new things.
00:20:41.64\00:20:43.54
Now they're sisters in Christ.
00:20:43.57\00:20:44.91
They're baptized?
00:20:44.94\00:20:46.27
Yep, they're baptized and
they're sisters in Christ.
00:20:46.31\00:20:47.64
Well, praise the Lord!
00:20:47.68\00:20:49.01
Yeah, it's
incredible how God ooze us
00:20:49.04\00:20:50.68
out of those things
like, "This is a wrong path."
00:20:50.71\00:20:52.81
You know, Holy
Spirit, "Don't go down there."
00:20:52.85\00:20:55.38
And like how we
respond to that can be,
00:20:55.42\00:20:57.85
you know, that might
be our last opportunity.
00:20:57.89\00:20:59.89
And that's why
it's like, you know,
00:20:59.92\00:21:02.39
depending on the
life that we're in, like,
00:21:02.42\00:21:04.26
sometimes God has to
really get our attention for it
00:21:04.29\00:21:06.63
to open our eyes and
get us to make a decision.
00:21:06.66\00:21:10.87
Yes.
00:21:10.90\00:21:12.23
And even in Revelation 3:20,
00:21:12.27\00:21:15.77
we have this
powerful message of the Lord.
00:21:15.80\00:21:20.34
And I said it before,
00:21:20.38\00:21:21.71
but I think it's
important to say it again.
00:21:21.74\00:21:23.85
In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says,
00:21:23.88\00:21:26.05
"Behold, I stand
at the door and knock.
00:21:26.08\00:21:30.55
And if anyone hears my
voice and opens the door,"
00:21:30.59\00:21:34.52
there's the part
that we have to do,
00:21:34.56\00:21:36.39
"opens the door,
I will come into him
00:21:36.42\00:21:38.43
and sup with
him and he with Me."
00:21:38.46\00:21:41.73
And so, I'm glad that's
written in the present tense,
00:21:41.76\00:21:46.43
you know, it's not,
00:21:46.47\00:21:47.80
"Behold, I was standing
at the door and I knocked,
00:21:47.84\00:21:50.37
and you didn't hear
My voice, and so I left."
00:21:50.41\00:21:52.57
You know, so, I think
that today, as you hear
00:21:52.61\00:21:57.28
what we're saying
is Jesus is standing,
00:21:57.31\00:22:00.02
knocking at the
door of your heart.
00:22:00.05\00:22:01.75
And if you open the
door, Jesus will come in.
00:22:01.78\00:22:04.62
And when He comes in,
wonderful things happen.
00:22:04.65\00:22:07.69
Well, just to get
Jonathan's feet a little wet,
00:22:07.72\00:22:10.29
I'm gonna ask
him to read for me.
00:22:10.33\00:22:12.09
If you read Psalm 16:11.
00:22:12.13\00:22:15.96
And if you have any comments
about that, please share them.
00:22:16.00\00:22:20.40
Psalm 16:11.
00:22:20.44\00:22:23.00
In Psalm 16:11,
00:22:23.04\00:22:24.71
we find some of the benefits
of drawing closer to the Lord.
00:22:24.74\00:22:29.38
All right.
00:22:29.41\00:22:30.75
It says, "You will
show me the path of life,
00:22:30.78\00:22:33.28
in Your presence
is fullness of joy,
00:22:33.31\00:22:36.05
at Your right hand are
pleasures forevermore."
00:22:36.08\00:22:39.79
Amen. Wonderful. Wow!
00:22:39.82\00:22:41.56
What would you like
to share about that?
00:22:41.59\00:22:44.23
All right.
00:22:44.26\00:22:45.79
So much.
00:22:45.83\00:22:48.36
Now show me the
path of your life?
00:22:48.40\00:22:50.50
Who doesn't wonder
what their goal in life is?
00:22:50.53\00:22:55.07
What you're doing?
00:22:55.10\00:22:56.44
You know, we just,
00:22:56.47\00:22:57.81
you know, so many people
just going through emotions,
00:22:57.84\00:22:59.54
"Oh, I'm supposed to
get rich," or this or that.
00:22:59.57\00:23:03.75
You know, how many
people truly understand
00:23:03.78\00:23:06.55
and know what their life is?
00:23:06.58\00:23:09.98
So, you know, one reason
we come to God is to know
00:23:10.02\00:23:14.22
and to learn,
"What is my purpose?"
00:23:14.26\00:23:17.13
Yeah, that's true.
00:23:17.16\00:23:18.49
And you know, God may
not show us right away.
00:23:18.53\00:23:21.16
We may not fully
understand our path,
00:23:21.20\00:23:24.23
but He shows us
enough of our path to know
00:23:24.27\00:23:26.40
that we're on the right one.
00:23:26.43\00:23:28.40
And it's so much
more fulfilling than
00:23:28.44\00:23:30.81
just going through life,
00:23:30.84\00:23:32.27
wondering what's this all for.
00:23:32.31\00:23:33.64
Yeah. Amen.
00:23:33.68\00:23:35.01
That's true purpose.
Wonderful. Thank you.
00:23:35.04\00:23:36.38
I like that part
in there, it says,
00:23:36.41\00:23:37.75
"In Thy presence
is fullness of joy."
00:23:37.78\00:23:40.18
And having fullness of joy
and that doesn't always mean
00:23:40.22\00:23:42.98
that we're gonna always
be, like elated and happy,
00:23:43.02\00:23:46.15
and you know,
it's mean abiding joy,
00:23:46.19\00:23:48.29
like that's consistent.
00:23:48.32\00:23:50.43
That doesn't change
with our circumstance,
00:23:50.46\00:23:52.93
that we still have
that joy even though
00:23:52.96\00:23:55.50
the emotion
might not be, you know,
00:23:55.53\00:23:58.00
a high emotion like, you know.
00:23:58.03\00:24:00.30
But for me, that's comforting,
because you know, God gives us
00:24:00.34\00:24:04.04
that fullness that we
can't find anywhere else.
00:24:04.07\00:24:06.74
I think too, in this verse,
it speaks to me is the idea
00:24:06.78\00:24:09.04
of the pleasures forevermore.
00:24:09.08\00:24:10.45
And pleasures of this
world, all they are is misery,
00:24:10.48\00:24:13.31
and pain, and
suffering, and woe.
00:24:13.35\00:24:16.02
You know, I can kind
of share just a little bit
00:24:16.05\00:24:17.65
about our paths with
dealing with alcohol.
00:24:17.69\00:24:20.36
I mean, you wake up next
day, "I'm feeling I'm sick."
00:24:20.39\00:24:23.73
You know, and you feel nasty...
00:24:23.76\00:24:25.69
And then you come to the
Lord and He just rids that off
00:24:25.73\00:24:28.16
and you got so
much time on your hands,
00:24:28.20\00:24:30.00
you got things to do,
you can read the book,
00:24:30.03\00:24:31.50
now you can read the
Bible, you can watch 3ABN,
00:24:31.53\00:24:34.14
all those kinds of things.
00:24:34.17\00:24:35.50
But just those pleasures,
00:24:35.54\00:24:36.87
there's much more peace in that.
00:24:36.91\00:24:38.51
You're not like, okay,
like you said, you know,
00:24:38.54\00:24:40.04
we're talking a little
earlier about the cop, you know,
00:24:40.08\00:24:41.98
driving and
stuff and you're like,
00:24:42.01\00:24:43.78
"If I'm breaking
the law, you know,
00:24:43.81\00:24:46.72
I don't know if
they're gonna catch me or not,
00:24:46.75\00:24:48.12
I don't know, but
I got to do this."
00:24:48.15\00:24:50.15
And you're kind of
worried and then if you get
00:24:50.19\00:24:51.55
pulled over, then what you do...
00:24:51.59\00:24:52.92
You know, it's having
that constant assurance that,
00:24:52.95\00:24:55.99
you know, you don't have
to worry about that anymore.
00:24:56.02\00:24:57.36
It's done. You have that peace.
00:24:57.39\00:24:59.69
Amen, amen.
00:24:59.73\00:25:01.06
That is an amazing thing.
00:25:01.10\00:25:02.43
This whole Psalm is
just packed full of...
00:25:02.46\00:25:05.50
In fact, the
first verse starts out,
00:25:05.53\00:25:06.87
"Keep and protect me, O God."
00:25:06.90\00:25:08.24
So if you're wanting
a closer walk with God,
00:25:08.27\00:25:11.74
being drawn nearer,
00:25:11.77\00:25:14.28
this is a
beautiful Psalm to pray.
00:25:14.31\00:25:16.81
But that last verse is
just kind of a summation
00:25:16.85\00:25:20.42
and the freedom
that is in that, knowing,
00:25:20.45\00:25:23.25
like you said, Jonathan,
to know the path of life
00:25:23.28\00:25:26.52
and to know your
purpose, it doesn't...
00:25:26.55\00:25:28.96
I don't think...
00:25:28.99\00:25:30.33
I mean the life
doesn't come with a manual.
00:25:30.36\00:25:32.49
So you know,
00:25:32.53\00:25:33.86
we would all have to
kind of do follow a path
00:25:33.90\00:25:36.67
and just gonna put
your feelers out there
00:25:36.70\00:25:39.70
and see if it's a
good feel for you.
00:25:39.73\00:25:41.87
My son just started a
job as a car salesman,
00:25:41.90\00:25:45.94
and I just got a
message from him saying that
00:25:45.97\00:25:50.25
he was so glad to
have his own cubicle
00:25:50.28\00:25:54.58
at this car dealership.
00:25:54.62\00:25:56.58
And so you know, he's
been in the service industry
00:25:56.62\00:25:58.69
for a long time, waiting tables.
00:25:58.72\00:26:00.52
But now, you
know, so this is a new.
00:26:00.56\00:26:03.22
He's 20 years old. This
is a new page in his path.
00:26:03.26\00:26:07.50
But you know, we have
been praying about it.
00:26:07.53\00:26:10.77
And so you know, God
just reveals, like you say,
00:26:10.80\00:26:13.03
a little bit at a time,
00:26:13.07\00:26:14.74
and he's already
found joy in that,
00:26:14.77\00:26:18.64
in this little piece that
he has to the puzzle right now,
00:26:18.67\00:26:21.51
and then
pleasures forevermore. Amen.
00:26:21.54\00:26:24.61
He has salvation.
00:26:24.65\00:26:25.98
And so that that alone,
00:26:26.01\00:26:27.75
you know, in the distance
is pleasure forevermore.
00:26:27.78\00:26:30.62
But what freedom,
and just a beautiful,
00:26:30.65\00:26:32.75
beautiful scripture!
That's how we can draw near.
00:26:32.79\00:26:34.12
Amen. Amen.
00:26:34.16\00:26:35.49
What most people don't realize,
00:26:35.52\00:26:36.86
you know, it says
pleasures forevermore,
00:26:36.89\00:26:38.93
and you're talking about,
00:26:38.96\00:26:40.56
you know, people think,
you know, you read the Bible.
00:26:40.60\00:26:43.23
You think about what God
wants us to do and think,
00:26:43.26\00:26:45.13
"Well, that's all
just restrictions."
00:26:45.17\00:26:47.47
But you know, how many people
once you start diving into it,
00:26:47.50\00:26:52.84
it's a pleasure to
not do what you used to.
00:26:52.87\00:26:55.24
Yep.
00:26:55.28\00:26:56.75
Because misery follows
when you do something wrong.
00:26:56.78\00:26:58.45
Right. Exactly.
00:26:58.48\00:27:01.82
You know, those two
ladies who were talking about.
00:27:01.85\00:27:04.29
If they weren't finding
joy in what they were reading,
00:27:04.32\00:27:07.59
why would they have regarded
00:27:07.62\00:27:08.96
what the Bible
was saying at all?
00:27:08.99\00:27:10.33
Yeah. Yeah, it's true.
00:27:10.36\00:27:11.69
You know, so they're
learning what the Bible says
00:27:11.73\00:27:16.00
and what's truth is,
but they're also learning
00:27:16.03\00:27:19.03
why that is better way,
00:27:19.07\00:27:21.87
that there is pleasure
in it that it's not just,
00:27:21.90\00:27:24.84
"Oh, you can't do
this. You can't do that."
00:27:24.87\00:27:26.91
You know, you learn
what truly is the pleasure.
00:27:26.94\00:27:30.81
God substitutes what
we thought were pleasure
00:27:30.85\00:27:34.35
for true pleasures.
00:27:34.38\00:27:35.72
Well, I got to
balance on what you said,
00:27:35.75\00:27:37.32
just came to my mind, the
idea is that fullness of joy,
00:27:37.35\00:27:39.95
we get to share
that testimony now.
00:27:39.99\00:27:41.46
Yes. Amen.
00:27:41.49\00:27:42.82
That's where the
joy is. Oh, yes, yes.
00:27:42.86\00:27:44.19
Because now you're bringing
other people along your journey
00:27:44.23\00:27:46.29
with you and they're like,
00:27:46.33\00:27:47.66
"Wow! They can
do it. I can do it."
00:27:47.70\00:27:49.43
Here's the joy, fullness of joy.
00:27:49.46\00:27:50.97
You kind of just
made me think of that,
00:27:51.00\00:27:52.63
it snapped in my head.
00:27:52.67\00:27:54.00
So yeah, I think
about that the story.
00:27:54.04\00:27:55.37
We all have a story,
we've all been on a journey.
00:27:55.40\00:27:57.77
I like what Mr. CA used
to say, "I've got stuff.
00:27:57.81\00:28:00.08
You got stuff.
We've all got stuff."
00:28:00.11\00:28:01.98
Right, right. That's good.
00:28:02.01\00:28:03.48
So we all got
something we're dealing with,
00:28:03.51\00:28:04.95
and you know,
that fullness of joy
00:28:04.98\00:28:06.51
is when we get to
share that testimony,
00:28:06.55\00:28:08.02
"God gave me the
victory. Look at this.
00:28:08.05\00:28:10.02
I'm not that person anymore.
I'm something different."
00:28:10.05\00:28:12.75
That brings me joy, so. Amen.
00:28:12.79\00:28:14.52
Amen, amen.
00:28:14.56\00:28:15.99
You know, we have
Jacob in Genesis Chapter 28.
00:28:16.02\00:28:21.86
And something
happens there in Genesis 28
00:28:21.90\00:28:24.70
that is a
message for us, really.
00:28:24.73\00:28:28.30
I'm gonna read Genesis 28.
00:28:28.34\00:28:30.34
I'm gonna read a few verses,
00:28:30.37\00:28:32.34
because there's a
very visual message
00:28:32.37\00:28:36.21
there for us concerning
how God is trying to tell us
00:28:36.24\00:28:40.38
that He wants to have
this connection with us.
00:28:40.42\00:28:44.22
So in Genesis 28,
beginning in verse 10, it says,
00:28:44.25\00:28:47.29
"Now Jacob went out
00:28:47.32\00:28:48.66
from Beersheba
and went toward Haran.
00:28:48.69\00:28:51.96
So he came to a certain place
and stayed there all night,
00:28:51.99\00:28:54.66
because the sun had set.
00:28:54.70\00:28:56.73
And he took one of
the stones of that place
00:28:56.77\00:28:59.13
and put it at his head,
00:28:59.17\00:29:01.00
and he lay down in
that place to sleep."
00:29:01.04\00:29:03.84
It wasn't a
jacket rock, I guess.
00:29:03.87\00:29:05.24
I hope not.
Sounding that's comfortable.
00:29:05.27\00:29:07.24
Oh, that's sounds comforting.
00:29:07.28\00:29:08.84
A smooth rock. A smooth rock.
00:29:08.88\00:29:11.58
"Then he dreamed, and behold,
00:29:11.61\00:29:13.18
a ladder was
set up on the earth,
00:29:13.21\00:29:15.62
and its top reached to heaven,
and there the angels of God
00:29:15.65\00:29:19.39
were ascending
and descending on it.
00:29:19.42\00:29:22.09
And behold, the Lord
stood above it and said,
00:29:22.12\00:29:24.49
'I am the Lord, God
of Abraham, your father,
00:29:24.53\00:29:27.46
and the God of Isaac.
00:29:27.50\00:29:29.16
The land on which you
lie I will give to you
00:29:29.20\00:29:32.30
and your descendants.
00:29:32.33\00:29:33.80
Also your descendants shall
be as the dust of the earth.
00:29:33.84\00:29:37.34
And you shall spread abroad
to the west and to the east,
00:29:37.37\00:29:40.08
to the north and the south,
00:29:40.11\00:29:41.44
and in you and in your seed
00:29:45.18\00:29:47.52
all the families of
the earth shall be blessed.
00:29:47.55\00:29:50.42
Behold, I am with you
00:29:50.45\00:29:52.45
and will keep
you wherever you go,
00:29:52.49\00:29:55.16
and will bring
you back to this land,
00:29:55.62\00:29:57.16
for I will not leave
you until I have done
00:29:57.19\00:29:59.86
what I have spoken to you.'
00:29:59.89\00:30:01.23
Wow!
00:30:01.26\00:30:02.60
What a wonderful
message Jacob receives.
00:30:02.63\00:30:06.10
And this ladder is, you know...
00:30:06.13\00:30:12.17
Sin brought a separation.
00:30:12.21\00:30:14.58
But God is trying to say,
00:30:14.61\00:30:15.98
"I made a
bridge, I've made a way,
00:30:16.01\00:30:18.25
and that way is Jesus Christ."
00:30:18.28\00:30:19.68
Jesus says, "I am the
way, the truth, and the life."
00:30:19.71\00:30:22.05
In many different
ways, you can look at that.
00:30:22.08\00:30:24.05
But I am the way,
the truth, and the life.
00:30:24.09\00:30:26.02
Through Jesus, heaven and
earth are connected again.
00:30:26.05\00:30:29.59
Amen. Right.
00:30:29.62\00:30:30.96
And He is that ladder.
00:30:30.99\00:30:32.39
He is that letter.
00:30:32.43\00:30:33.76
Amen. Yes.
00:30:33.80\00:30:35.13
He is...
00:30:35.16\00:30:36.77
And that message
that he received,
00:30:36.80\00:30:38.80
"I am going to be
with you wherever you go."
00:30:38.83\00:30:41.84
Make me think of Isaiah 58:12,
00:30:41.87\00:30:43.71
yeah, it's so good,
restorers of the breach
00:30:43.74\00:30:45.41
and repairers of
the paths to dwell in.
00:30:45.44\00:30:47.31
That's what Christ, and I
think I get this little nugget
00:30:47.34\00:30:49.11
in Desire of Ages,
here in my Bible says,
00:30:49.14\00:30:50.85
"Christ is the
ladder that Jacob saw
00:30:50.88\00:30:53.15
the base resting on the earth
00:30:53.18\00:30:54.62
and this top most realm
reaching to the gate of heaven
00:30:54.65\00:30:57.32
to the very threshold of glory.
00:30:57.35\00:30:59.12
If that ladder had failed
00:30:59.15\00:31:00.49
by a single step
of reaching the earth,
00:31:00.52\00:31:02.82
we should have been lost."
00:31:02.86\00:31:04.43
Wow! Wow!
00:31:04.46\00:31:05.79
"But Christ
reaches us where we are."
00:31:05.83\00:31:08.13
Amen. Man!
00:31:08.16\00:31:09.86
"He took our nature and overcame
00:31:09.90\00:31:11.60
that we through taking
His nature might overcome."
00:31:11.63\00:31:15.10
Amen. Wow! That's so powerful.
00:31:15.14\00:31:18.41
I like the
visualization of the ladder.
00:31:18.44\00:31:20.64
I hadn't thought of it before.
00:31:20.68\00:31:22.54
You know, angels,
the angels can fly.
00:31:22.58\00:31:25.01
God and the angels,
they don't need anything
00:31:25.05\00:31:26.88
to get between heaven and earth.
00:31:26.92\00:31:29.88
God could have shown a
vision of just the angels
00:31:29.92\00:31:31.99
flying to and fro.
00:31:32.02\00:31:33.39
But there'd still
that be that divide.
00:31:33.42\00:31:36.56
But He made a path, a bridge
connecting earth and heaven
00:31:36.59\00:31:40.86
through something we
recognize, a ladder as a bridge.
00:31:40.90\00:31:45.13
Amen.
00:31:45.17\00:31:46.67
That's very good, very good.
00:31:46.70\00:31:48.50
You know, it's interesting
00:31:48.54\00:31:49.87
that when we call upon the Lord,
00:31:49.90\00:31:51.24
sometimes even before we call,
00:31:51.27\00:31:52.67
He's already
started the answer coming.
00:31:52.71\00:31:54.94
Amen. Yes.
00:31:54.98\00:31:56.58
I remember my dad,
when I was younger,
00:31:56.61\00:31:59.38
he said,
00:31:59.41\00:32:01.65
the time it takes an angel
to come from heaven to earth
00:32:01.68\00:32:05.99
has been calculating.
00:32:06.02\00:32:07.36
It's only point
something seconds,
00:32:07.39\00:32:09.09
or x amount of seconds.
00:32:09.12\00:32:11.09
And I said, "Really?"
00:32:11.13\00:32:12.46
And I was like,
"Wow! That's amazing!"
00:32:12.49\00:32:14.96
Because, you know,
I look up in the sky
00:32:15.00\00:32:16.36
and heaven is way, way up there.
00:32:16.40\00:32:17.97
You know, you don't know
where exactly is God's throne.
00:32:18.00\00:32:22.27
When I was
little, I used to wonder,
00:32:22.30\00:32:23.64
"Okay, where would God be?
00:32:23.67\00:32:26.44
Where and which part of the sky,
00:32:26.47\00:32:28.31
you know, does He live?
00:32:28.34\00:32:29.68
Does He live by the moon?
00:32:29.71\00:32:31.05
Does He live by
those stars over there?"
00:32:31.08\00:32:32.81
But God is trying to tell us,
00:32:32.85\00:32:35.22
you know, "I'm gonna be with you
00:32:35.25\00:32:36.58
wherever you are."
00:32:36.62\00:32:37.95
So that's trying to tell,
"I'm gonna be close to you
00:32:37.99\00:32:39.32
wherever you are.
00:32:39.35\00:32:40.69
So I'm gonna be there."
00:32:40.72\00:32:42.06
And so it's a
wonderful message by...
00:32:42.09\00:32:43.86
And eventually, I
understood that there's...
00:32:43.89\00:32:46.93
My father is
talking about that scripture
00:32:46.96\00:32:49.73
where Daniel is praying,
00:32:49.76\00:32:51.90
and somebody had
calculated reading that,
00:32:51.93\00:32:54.00
how many
seconds it took to read.
00:32:54.04\00:32:56.54
Oh, that's good.
00:32:56.57\00:32:57.91
How many
seconds it took to read.
00:32:57.94\00:32:59.27
So he said, "So many seconds."
00:32:59.31\00:33:00.64
God is there. That's fun.
00:33:00.68\00:33:02.01
So it was very interesting.
00:33:02.04\00:33:03.38
But it helped me
to understand that,
00:33:03.41\00:33:05.55
you know, God is not far away.
00:33:05.58\00:33:07.32
God is very near to us.
00:33:07.35\00:33:08.75
And not only that...
00:33:08.78\00:33:12.02
Jesus is knocking at the
door of our heart to say,
00:33:12.05\00:33:14.26
"I'm going to be
with you, inside you,
00:33:14.29\00:33:16.99
and be with you
wherever you go."
00:33:17.03\00:33:18.96
And that's really powerful.
00:33:18.99\00:33:20.33
The other
comforting thing to me is,
00:33:20.36\00:33:22.10
you know, when He came
to this earth as a baby,
00:33:22.13\00:33:25.70
He lived His life on the earth
00:33:25.73\00:33:29.80
to give us an example.
00:33:29.84\00:33:31.17
And not only did
He die for our sins,
00:33:31.21\00:33:34.78
He lived to show us an example.
00:33:34.81\00:33:37.15
And through His sufferings,
all the things He went through,
00:33:37.18\00:33:40.05
there's something that
each of us can relate to.
00:33:40.08\00:33:42.42
And that just makes it
so much more personal to me.
00:33:42.45\00:33:45.15
You know, He didn't just
come and die for our sins,
00:33:45.19\00:33:48.86
but He actually walked and lived
00:33:48.89\00:33:50.76
and mingled with the people.
00:33:50.79\00:33:54.13
And that's a relatable Savior.
00:33:54.16\00:33:56.36
That communicates
a lot right there.
00:33:56.40\00:33:59.00
Relatable Savior.
00:33:59.03\00:34:00.37
Yes, I like that.
00:34:00.40\00:34:04.17
He could have said,
"Well, you guys are on your own.
00:34:04.21\00:34:06.57
I told you not to
eat of that tree."
00:34:06.61\00:34:08.14
Now look. Sorry.
00:34:08.18\00:34:09.51
No, but God
brought the solution.
00:34:09.54\00:34:11.95
And there's that
scripture in Romans 5:8 says,
00:34:11.98\00:34:15.82
"And God
commendeth His love toward us
00:34:15.85\00:34:17.95
and that while
we were yet sinners,
00:34:17.99\00:34:19.75
Christ died for us."
00:34:19.79\00:34:23.76
And don't
concentrate on the "us",
00:34:23.79\00:34:25.19
concentrate that
Christ died for me.
00:34:25.23\00:34:27.40
And that helps me to understand
00:34:27.43\00:34:29.03
that His loves
reached out to me,
00:34:29.06\00:34:31.43
reached out to you.
00:34:31.47\00:34:33.03
And I'd like to...
00:34:33.07\00:34:34.40
Perhaps, you
have some scriptures
00:34:34.44\00:34:35.77
that help us
understand that God is near.
00:34:35.80\00:34:39.47
There's one that
not only says He's near,
00:34:39.51\00:34:41.71
but He can be inside you.
00:34:41.74\00:34:43.51
I was thinking of John 12:32,
00:34:43.55\00:34:46.08
and it said there,
00:34:46.11\00:34:47.85
"If I be lifted up,
00:34:47.88\00:34:49.22
I will draw all
men unto Myself."
00:34:49.25\00:34:52.72
So that really speaks to
me, you know, when Christ died,
00:34:52.75\00:34:55.36
He gave us that
victory over death.
00:34:55.39\00:34:56.89
Amen.
00:34:56.93\00:34:58.26
And He is in us and
we will get that victory.
00:34:58.29\00:34:59.93
Another scripture says,
you know, this temporal is...
00:34:59.96\00:35:03.53
This temporal world,
you know, it's fading away,
00:35:03.57\00:35:06.33
but the eternal life, that's...
00:35:06.37\00:35:07.84
The things which
are seen are temporal,
00:35:07.87\00:35:09.24
the things that
are unseen are eternal.
00:35:09.27\00:35:11.34
And we get that
eternal life promised to us
00:35:11.37\00:35:13.24
because Christ did
conquer death at the cross.
00:35:13.27\00:35:16.68
That's what speaks to me.
00:35:16.71\00:35:18.65
John 12:32? John 12:32.
00:35:18.68\00:35:20.02
Perhaps, our family
members that are out there,
00:35:20.05\00:35:24.85
we wanna write
some of these down
00:35:24.89\00:35:26.22
to read them again,
00:35:26.25\00:35:27.59
because they are
very, very powerful.
00:35:27.62\00:35:29.72
Well, while you're
looking, I will read one also.
00:35:29.76\00:35:33.76
In Psalms
00:35:33.80\00:35:35.13
34:18,
00:35:35.16\00:35:40.84
we have this wonderful message.
00:35:40.87\00:35:43.37
"The Lord is near to those
00:35:43.41\00:35:46.57
who have a broken heart,
00:35:46.61\00:35:48.68
and say such as
have a contrite spirit."
00:35:48.71\00:35:52.98
And that speaks to
me very powerfully.
00:35:53.01\00:35:55.48
You know,
00:35:55.52\00:35:56.85
sometimes when people are
going through difficult times,
00:35:56.89\00:35:59.79
they think, "I'm all alone."
00:35:59.82\00:36:01.59
And they start
thinking about friends or family
00:36:01.62\00:36:03.83
that are not there for them.
00:36:03.86\00:36:05.73
But God says,
00:36:05.76\00:36:07.26
"I am near to those
that have a broken heart."
00:36:07.30\00:36:09.86
And when we open our
mind to understand that,
00:36:09.90\00:36:13.34
we're going to be comforted
in knowing that God is near.
00:36:13.37\00:36:17.87
Amen.
00:36:17.91\00:36:19.24
And not only that,
He's gonna help us through
00:36:19.27\00:36:20.61
whatever we're going through.
00:36:20.64\00:36:22.01
Whatever we're
going through, He is near.
00:36:22.04\00:36:24.11
Amen.
00:36:24.15\00:36:25.48
Anyone else like
to share with us?
00:36:25.51\00:36:26.85
That was Psalms
34:18, by the way,
00:36:26.88\00:36:28.68
if you want to write that down.
00:36:28.72\00:36:30.29
I like 1 Corinthians 10:13,
00:36:30.32\00:36:34.92
verse most of us
are familiar with,
00:36:34.96\00:36:37.89
but it's always been blessing
to me in times of trouble
00:36:37.93\00:36:41.23
and just says,
00:36:41.26\00:36:42.80
not only how powerful God is,
00:36:42.83\00:36:44.63
but how much He does for us.
00:36:44.67\00:36:47.04
That's 1 Corinthians 10:13,
00:36:47.07\00:36:49.67
"No temptation has overtaken you
00:36:49.70\00:36:52.37
except such as is common to man,
00:36:52.41\00:36:55.21
but God is faithful,
00:36:55.24\00:36:57.05
who will not
allow you to be tempted
00:36:57.08\00:36:59.01
beyond what you are able,
00:36:59.05\00:37:00.65
but with the temptation
00:37:00.68\00:37:02.12
will also make
the way of escape,
00:37:02.15\00:37:04.29
that you may be
able to bear it."
00:37:04.32\00:37:06.15
Amen. Amen.
00:37:06.19\00:37:07.52
God's all powerful
00:37:07.56\00:37:08.89
that He
controls the temptations.
00:37:08.92\00:37:10.29
Amen.
00:37:10.33\00:37:12.06
You know, He will not allow them
00:37:12.09\00:37:13.96
to be too powerful for us.
00:37:14.00\00:37:16.06
Anytime we're
struggling through something,
00:37:16.10\00:37:18.90
you can look to
this verse and know,
00:37:18.93\00:37:21.40
"Okay, through
with God's strength,
00:37:21.44\00:37:25.04
we can bear it and
there's a way out."
00:37:25.07\00:37:26.81
Amen. Amen.
00:37:26.84\00:37:28.18
That's awesome. Amen.
00:37:28.21\00:37:29.54
And the same is true.
00:37:29.58\00:37:30.91
You know, we
think of temptation,
00:37:30.95\00:37:32.28
but also trials,
difficulties that come to us.
00:37:32.31\00:37:35.18
Let's say you're
having financial trouble,
00:37:35.22\00:37:36.58
let's say you're
having some difficulty
00:37:36.62\00:37:39.12
in some other area of your life,
00:37:39.15\00:37:40.49
God will make a
way of escape for us.
00:37:40.52\00:37:43.02
He's gonna find a
solution for our situation.
00:37:43.06\00:37:46.53
And He is in control.
00:37:46.56\00:37:49.76
I like that, He
is in control of...
00:37:49.80\00:37:52.23
You know, if God did not
place control upon the devil,
00:37:52.27\00:37:56.30
I mean, I know
you have suffered,
00:37:56.34\00:37:58.31
I know I have suffered,
00:37:58.34\00:37:59.91
but if God didn't put a,
00:37:59.94\00:38:01.28
"Okay, you can only
go this far right here,
00:38:01.31\00:38:04.11
not an inch more
not a millimeter more,
00:38:04.15\00:38:07.52
this is as far as you can go."
00:38:07.55\00:38:09.85
And so that's it, and
the devil can do nothing
00:38:09.88\00:38:13.25
beyond what God allows.
00:38:13.29\00:38:15.32
And for some reason,
00:38:15.36\00:38:16.69
the good thing is
that we also are told that
00:38:16.73\00:38:19.43
whatever God allows,
00:38:19.46\00:38:21.03
not only has He
made a way of escape,
00:38:21.06\00:38:22.53
but somehow
00:38:22.56\00:38:25.63
He works out
something good for us
00:38:25.67\00:38:28.60
in that experience, you know.
00:38:28.64\00:38:30.37
It's true. Yeah.
00:38:30.41\00:38:31.74
In Genesis 50:20,
00:38:31.77\00:38:33.11
"What you meant for
evil, God meant good."
00:38:33.14\00:38:34.48
I love that verse.
00:38:34.51\00:38:35.84
Which one is that?
00:38:35.88\00:38:37.21
Genesis 50:20,
00:38:37.25\00:38:38.58
"What you meant for
evil, God meant for good."
00:38:38.61\00:38:39.95
Something to
that effect, but yeah.
00:38:39.98\00:38:41.32
Excellent. Excellent.
00:38:41.35\00:38:42.68
I like also Romans 8:1,
00:38:42.72\00:38:44.85
"There is therefore
now no condemnation,"
00:38:44.89\00:38:47.72
that's a great word,
00:38:47.76\00:38:49.09
"no condemnation to them
which are in Christ Jesus,
00:38:49.12\00:38:52.23
who walk not after the
flesh, but after the spirit."
00:38:52.26\00:38:54.63
So no condemnation,
00:38:54.66\00:38:56.67
that really speaks
00:38:56.70\00:38:58.03
when you feel the
world pressing you in.
00:38:58.07\00:38:59.93
And you got people saying,
00:38:59.97\00:39:01.30
"Oh, I caught you
doing this or doing that."
00:39:01.34\00:39:03.04
And they're condemning you.
00:39:03.07\00:39:04.54
A lot of people
would wanna judge
00:39:04.57\00:39:05.91
or they see a beam
00:39:05.94\00:39:07.28
or speck in your
eye or something,
00:39:07.31\00:39:08.64
and they wanna
come and berate you,
00:39:08.68\00:39:10.15
you know, having that.
00:39:10.18\00:39:11.51
Jesus even said it
again in John 3:17,
00:39:11.55\00:39:14.02
"He didn't come in
the world to condemn it,
00:39:14.05\00:39:15.42
but that the world
through Him would be saved."
00:39:15.45\00:39:17.29
Wonderful!
00:39:17.32\00:39:18.65
So that no condemnation
and Christ doesn't condemn.
00:39:18.69\00:39:21.12
Amen. Amen.
00:39:21.16\00:39:22.72
I was just
thinking of the verse.
00:39:22.76\00:39:24.79
It's here in John Chapter 10.
00:39:24.83\00:39:28.06
And actually,
00:39:28.10\00:39:29.73
there's a
couple of verses there.
00:39:29.76\00:39:32.07
I'm gonna read verse 4.
00:39:32.10\00:39:34.47
It says, "And
when he putteth forth
00:39:34.50\00:39:35.97
His own sheep,
00:39:36.00\00:39:37.34
He goeth before them,
and the sheep follow Him,
00:39:37.37\00:39:39.07
for they know His voice."
00:39:39.11\00:39:42.94
Actually, I'll read verse 5 too.
00:39:42.98\00:39:44.41
"And a stranger
will they not follow,
00:39:44.45\00:39:46.35
but will flee from him,
00:39:46.38\00:39:47.72
for they know not
the voice of strangers."
00:39:47.75\00:39:50.82
But just the idea
of hearing God's voice
00:39:50.85\00:39:53.69
and, you know,
00:39:53.72\00:39:55.96
like when I was thinking
00:39:55.99\00:39:58.26
and praying about this
topic of drawing near to God,
00:39:58.29\00:40:00.90
I was thinking of
the different ways
00:40:00.93\00:40:03.43
that we can hear God's voice.
00:40:03.47\00:40:05.17
And for me, I think
the number one thing
00:40:05.20\00:40:08.97
that helps me is being in nature
00:40:09.00\00:40:11.37
and just being
among God's creation.
00:40:11.41\00:40:17.38
I just feel so blessed to
be able to be in the country
00:40:17.41\00:40:19.88
where I can do that
00:40:19.91\00:40:21.75
and just to hear from
Him more clearly in nature,
00:40:21.78\00:40:26.22
to have that opportunity
00:40:26.25\00:40:27.59
because when
there's a lot of noise
00:40:27.62\00:40:30.66
and distractions
and things like that,
00:40:30.69\00:40:32.59
it's really hard for me
to be able to hear from God.
00:40:32.63\00:40:36.43
And so that's been
a major thing for me
00:40:36.46\00:40:39.43
to be able to have that time,
00:40:39.47\00:40:41.10
that intentional
time in nature with God,
00:40:41.14\00:40:44.04
and also just be
surrounded by godly friends.
00:40:44.07\00:40:50.25
And not only, you
know, church family,
00:40:50.28\00:40:53.18
but just godly friends too,
00:40:53.21\00:40:55.82
and having that
personal devotion time.
00:40:55.85\00:40:59.49
But hearing His
voice is so important
00:40:59.52\00:41:01.79
to draw near to Him.
00:41:01.82\00:41:03.49
And I think that for me,
definitely the nature has been,
00:41:03.53\00:41:08.13
you know...
00:41:08.16\00:41:09.50
I'm just thankful that
God made what He made for us,
00:41:09.53\00:41:12.63
the birds, the trees, the grass,
00:41:12.67\00:41:14.80
just the beauty of
nature, it's just, it's amazing.
00:41:14.84\00:41:18.57
And it just speaks of God's...
00:41:18.61\00:41:20.54
Yes, so.
00:41:20.58\00:41:22.11
You know, you
mentioned something
00:41:22.14\00:41:23.48
that brought back memories to me
00:41:23.51\00:41:25.45
from when I used
to live in Chicago.
00:41:25.48\00:41:28.08
And I remember...
00:41:28.12\00:41:31.32
I guess you get
used to the noise,
00:41:31.35\00:41:32.79
you know,
00:41:32.82\00:41:34.16
because that's all you
hear in Chicago is just noise,
00:41:34.19\00:41:36.89
cars passing by, people talking.
00:41:36.93\00:41:38.66
And it was just...
00:41:38.69\00:41:40.46
Even when you're
inside your house,
00:41:40.50\00:41:42.46
you may hear,
00:41:42.50\00:41:44.30
you know, the alarms
00:41:44.33\00:41:45.67
and some kind
of alarm going off,
00:41:45.70\00:41:47.64
ambulance, police,
whatever it may be.
00:41:47.67\00:41:50.11
And so I used to look forward
to what we call camp meeting.
00:41:50.14\00:41:55.41
That's when all the
churches get together,
00:41:55.44\00:41:57.61
and we used to
go out of the city
00:41:57.65\00:42:00.22
into the country.
00:42:00.25\00:42:01.58
And there we were...
00:42:01.62\00:42:02.95
And it was...
00:42:02.98\00:42:04.32
I mean, we would only go Friday,
00:42:04.35\00:42:09.09
Thursday or Friday,
00:42:09.12\00:42:10.46
and we were there
till Saturday afternoon.
00:42:10.49\00:42:14.36
We left the city,
and you're out in nature.
00:42:14.40\00:42:18.03
And it was just such a blessing,
00:42:18.07\00:42:20.17
it's like peaceful being out,
out there in middle of nature.
00:42:20.20\00:42:25.27
And for a while
00:42:25.31\00:42:26.64
to disconnect
yourself from the noise,
00:42:26.68\00:42:29.61
and I usually use the
word hustle and bustle,
00:42:29.64\00:42:33.15
and the stress of
people passing by,
00:42:33.18\00:42:35.58
cars passing by, and
all these types of things.
00:42:35.62\00:42:38.25
It's really a blessing
that God has given to us.
00:42:38.29\00:42:40.69
Nature is one of the ways
00:42:40.72\00:42:43.32
in which God tries
to communicate with us,
00:42:43.36\00:42:45.26
you know.
00:42:45.29\00:42:46.63
And so there are many
ways, there are many ways.
00:42:46.66\00:42:49.80
I see that Brother Tim
has found some scripture
00:42:49.83\00:42:51.33
or something.
00:42:51.37\00:42:52.70
No, I mean, you
know, it's full of...
00:42:52.73\00:42:55.24
John as you were
reading is full of His nearness
00:42:55.27\00:43:00.38
and Him being a friend
00:43:00.41\00:43:01.78
and no one has
greater love than to lay down
00:43:01.81\00:43:07.42
or give up his own
life for his friends.
00:43:07.45\00:43:10.55
And He says, "You are My friends
00:43:10.59\00:43:11.92
if you keep on doing the things
which I command you to do."
00:43:11.95\00:43:15.09
Where are you reading from?
00:43:18.66\00:43:20.46
From John, John 15:13 and 14,
00:43:20.50\00:43:25.73
just the fact that He
would lay His life down for me
00:43:25.77\00:43:29.37
to draw me near to Him.
00:43:29.40\00:43:32.54
That's just
something we hear often,
00:43:32.57\00:43:35.98
and we just need to be reminded
that that's the kind of love
00:43:36.01\00:43:39.55
He has for us to be
drawing close to us.
00:43:39.58\00:43:42.08
And also the fact
that in the next chapter,
00:43:42.12\00:43:45.02
John 16:7
00:43:45.05\00:43:47.19
how He talks
about when He leaves,
00:43:47.22\00:43:51.16
He left but He said
00:43:51.19\00:43:52.53
that He was going to
leave us the Holy Spirit,
00:43:52.56\00:43:54.93
a comforter, a
counselor, a helper, advocate,
00:43:54.96\00:43:57.57
intercessor,
strengthener, stand-by,
00:43:57.60\00:44:00.67
the amplified version
goes into all those that,
00:44:00.70\00:44:03.91
you know, that He
would care enough,
00:44:03.94\00:44:05.44
because He's got a plan.
00:44:05.47\00:44:06.81
He was going away,
00:44:06.84\00:44:08.18
but so that everyone
could encounter His goodness.
00:44:08.21\00:44:11.71
You know, He couldn't do that
in His physical state on earth,
00:44:11.75\00:44:15.15
but He was going to...
00:44:15.18\00:44:16.52
He had a plan
00:44:16.55\00:44:18.09
that everybody could
have an in-dwelling helper
00:44:18.12\00:44:21.72
and the Spirit to guide
us through our everyday life.
00:44:21.76\00:44:25.39
That's how much He cares.
00:44:25.43\00:44:26.76
And so we don't
only have the Word,
00:44:26.80\00:44:29.46
but it's the Word,
00:44:29.50\00:44:30.83
the Holy Spirit
that quickens us,
00:44:30.87\00:44:33.10
you know, to go to place
to study the Word and to...
00:44:33.13\00:44:37.14
Even through life, we
can count on His Spirit
00:44:37.17\00:44:41.08
to guide us.
00:44:41.11\00:44:42.44
He's made every
provision for us.
00:44:42.48\00:44:44.11
I've mentioned this
case, I mentioned that verse.
00:44:44.15\00:44:47.02
Yeah, I had a lady in pastoral
00:44:47.05\00:44:48.42
that called a while
back just few days ago.
00:44:48.45\00:44:50.99
And she had mentioned
when she was eight years old,
00:44:51.02\00:44:52.62
she's already out of
the house on the streets.
00:44:52.65\00:44:54.26
Eight, eight years old.
00:44:54.29\00:44:56.36
Fourteen, she became an atheist.
00:44:56.39\00:44:58.83
Fifteen, she
already had a child.
00:44:58.86\00:45:00.90
Next year, had another child.
00:45:00.93\00:45:02.26
She had three
children, four children,
00:45:02.30\00:45:03.90
and they got
adopted out, all of them.
00:45:03.93\00:45:06.27
And then by 33,
something spoke to her,
00:45:06.30\00:45:07.94
the Holy Spirit says,
00:45:07.97\00:45:09.30
"You need to surrender
your heart to the Lord."
00:45:09.34\00:45:11.11
And she did at 33.
00:45:11.14\00:45:12.47
And now she's
growing in the Lord.
00:45:12.51\00:45:13.84
So you know, even
at eight years old,
00:45:13.88\00:45:15.24
I can't imagine being
on a street by yourself
00:45:15.28\00:45:17.51
at eight years old,
going from party house
00:45:17.55\00:45:19.21
to party house at eight.
00:45:19.25\00:45:21.12
And here's the
Lord says, "I love you.
00:45:21.15\00:45:23.25
You're my child.
00:45:23.28\00:45:24.62
I see you,
00:45:24.65\00:45:25.99
and I'm gonna pick
you up out of this junk.
00:45:26.02\00:45:27.36
And I'm gonna clean you
up and make you My daughter."
00:45:27.39\00:45:30.36
That's powerful.
00:45:30.39\00:45:32.06
Laying down your life.
00:45:32.09\00:45:33.43
We have kind... It is powerful.
00:45:33.46\00:45:37.50
We have mentioned
it in different ways,
00:45:37.53\00:45:39.43
but if we were...
00:45:39.47\00:45:41.57
If somebody is listening
to us and is wondering,
00:45:41.60\00:45:44.37
"Well, how do I
get close to the Lord?
00:45:44.41\00:45:46.68
You told me that
the Lord is near.
00:45:46.71\00:45:48.48
And you told me that
the Lord is knocking, "
00:45:48.51\00:45:50.58
and we said about opening,
"Well, how do I open the door?"
00:45:50.61\00:45:54.05
I've had young
people asked that,
00:45:54.08\00:45:56.62
"Well, how do I open the door?
00:45:56.65\00:45:58.55
You know, Jesus is knocking,
how do I open the door?"
00:45:58.59\00:46:00.66
Right.
00:46:00.69\00:46:02.02
And so what is it that
we need to do to respond
00:46:02.06\00:46:05.06
the Holy Spirit is drawing us?
00:46:05.09\00:46:06.83
What do we need to
do to respond to God
00:46:06.86\00:46:10.47
drawing us closer to Him?
00:46:10.50\00:46:13.00
I think of like,
Samuel came to my mind,
00:46:13.03\00:46:16.20
you know, "Here I am Lord."
00:46:16.24\00:46:18.01
He responds, "Here I
am, Lord, I'm listening.
00:46:18.04\00:46:20.48
What you need me to do?"
00:46:20.51\00:46:21.84
And I think prayer is so...
00:46:21.88\00:46:23.21
I mean, you talk
about the armor of God,
00:46:23.24\00:46:25.31
obviously, we missed
the one piece of armor
00:46:25.35\00:46:27.15
which is in there is the prayer.
00:46:27.18\00:46:28.75
And I think praying,
00:46:28.78\00:46:30.12
"Lord, I don't know who You are,
00:46:30.15\00:46:31.49
please show me who You are.
00:46:31.52\00:46:33.62
Help me to understand."
00:46:33.66\00:46:34.99
You know, like these ladies,
again, I revert back to them.
00:46:35.02\00:46:36.86
They said, "If this is a
right, Lord, show me a sign.
00:46:36.89\00:46:39.49
I need something, you
know, show me something.
00:46:39.53\00:46:41.53
I wanna make sure you're real.
00:46:41.56\00:46:43.30
And I mean, are
you real in my life?"
00:46:43.33\00:46:44.80
I think prayer
is really powerful.
00:46:44.83\00:46:46.23
He's a big God,
He can handle it,
00:46:46.27\00:46:48.17
He'll show you who He is.
00:46:48.20\00:46:49.54
That's right.
00:46:49.57\00:46:50.91
I think prayer, to me, is a key,
00:46:50.94\00:46:52.27
you know, and have nothing else.
00:46:52.31\00:46:53.64
You just, "God,
just show yourself,"
00:46:53.68\00:46:55.01
you know.
00:46:55.04\00:46:56.38
And giving Him
that invitation just,
00:46:56.41\00:46:57.75
you know, allowing Him to speak
00:46:57.78\00:46:59.25
into our lives, and just say,
00:46:59.28\00:47:00.75
"I'm open to hear from you,"
00:47:00.78\00:47:03.39
you know. Yeah. Wonderful!
00:47:03.42\00:47:04.89
Someone else?
00:47:04.92\00:47:06.25
Something I saw recently
that's really spoken to me,
00:47:06.29\00:47:09.86
and it's...
00:47:09.89\00:47:11.33
I've been a Christian
all my life, so to speak.
00:47:11.36\00:47:15.26
But just it really hit home,
00:47:15.30\00:47:18.13
talked about
00:47:18.17\00:47:20.37
how we are dead
to sin as Christians.
00:47:20.40\00:47:23.64
And so we are to
pluck our eye out
00:47:23.67\00:47:28.88
or cut our hand off.
00:47:28.91\00:47:30.78
And as even as Christians,
00:47:30.81\00:47:35.55
if we have an issue in our life
for we will deal with it by,
00:47:35.58\00:47:39.15
this person said, taking
a butter knife to our wrist,
00:47:39.19\00:47:42.32
and saying "Oh, I'm sorry,"
00:47:42.36\00:47:44.09
you know, but we're
commanded to be dead to sin.
00:47:44.13\00:47:49.26
And so I would encourage,
00:47:49.30\00:47:51.43
be you a young
person or a young,
00:47:51.47\00:47:55.10
someone who is just stepping
00:47:55.14\00:47:57.04
into wanting to
become a Christian
00:47:57.07\00:47:59.41
or if you've been a
Christian all your life,
00:47:59.44\00:48:01.41
and you have an issue
00:48:01.44\00:48:02.78
that you can't
seem to get rid of,
00:48:02.81\00:48:04.38
Bible says we are dead to sin.
00:48:04.41\00:48:07.85
And so pluck your eye
out and throw it away.
00:48:07.88\00:48:11.05
This person said,
00:48:11.09\00:48:12.42
we often put our
eye in our pocket,
00:48:12.45\00:48:15.19
you know, that way
we keep it near to us.
00:48:15.22\00:48:17.63
But no, it says
to get rid of it.
00:48:17.66\00:48:20.50
Like, if it were a bomb or
whatever those hand grenade,
00:48:20.53\00:48:25.23
you know, you
don't pull the plug
00:48:25.27\00:48:27.94
and then run it
up toward the person,
00:48:27.97\00:48:29.60
you're gonna say,
"Here, hold this."
00:48:29.64\00:48:31.31
But while you're standing there,
00:48:31.34\00:48:32.77
you get rid of it.
00:48:32.81\00:48:34.14
You know, throw it up
00:48:34.18\00:48:35.51
and so it doesn't blow
up and blow up in your face.
00:48:35.54\00:48:36.98
Yeah. Anyway, the same idea.
00:48:37.01\00:48:38.95
We are dead to sin,
so be dead, take a stand.
00:48:38.98\00:48:42.15
And if you're serious about,
00:48:42.18\00:48:43.52
you know,
00:48:43.55\00:48:44.89
your walk with Christ,
00:48:44.92\00:48:46.25
you will be dead
whatever the situation is.
00:48:46.29\00:48:48.92
We nurse our sin,
we nurse our habits,
00:48:48.96\00:48:52.03
we nurse our addictions.
00:48:52.06\00:48:53.40
Come on.
00:48:53.43\00:48:54.76
You know, and it's frustrating
because I do the same thing.
00:48:54.80\00:48:58.00
So it's not I'm
blaming anybody else.
00:48:58.03\00:49:00.94
I'm saying.
00:49:00.97\00:49:02.67
Right here's this...
00:49:02.70\00:49:04.04
And it's for our own
good that He's telling us,
00:49:04.07\00:49:06.37
"Be dead to it,
be done with it."
00:49:06.41\00:49:08.98
So what that looks
like in our lives is,
00:49:09.01\00:49:11.18
"Okay, that music
is not good for you,
00:49:11.21\00:49:13.42
that stuff you're
eating is not good for you,
00:49:13.45\00:49:15.82
those people that
you're hanging out with
00:49:15.85\00:49:17.52
are taking you back
down those bad roads,
00:49:17.55\00:49:21.29
those places you're going,"
00:49:21.32\00:49:22.69
you know, all of
that, God will show you
00:49:22.72\00:49:25.26
at the right
time and make it clear
00:49:25.29\00:49:28.20
and to be ready to do that
00:49:28.23\00:49:30.30
when He calls
because it is a journey
00:49:30.33\00:49:32.60
and it's not easy.
00:49:32.63\00:49:33.97
You will have those struggles,
but He takes us where we're at,
00:49:34.00\00:49:36.40
and He wants us to
grow, and we can't grow
00:49:36.44\00:49:39.21
if we're holding
on to all that stuff.
00:49:39.24\00:49:41.24
And petting the skunk,
00:49:41.28\00:49:42.61
like we heard
someone describing sin
00:49:42.64\00:49:44.15
as petting the skunk
'cause you never know
00:49:44.18\00:49:45.61
when it's gonna spray you,
00:49:45.65\00:49:46.98
you know?
00:49:47.02\00:49:48.35
Right. Yeah.
00:49:48.38\00:49:49.72
I've never heard of that.
00:49:49.75\00:49:51.09
So that's pet skunk.
00:49:51.12\00:49:52.45
You make me think of
Hebrews 12 talks about in there.
00:49:52.49\00:49:54.22
It talks about how
He disciplines those
00:49:54.26\00:49:55.79
He loves.
00:49:55.82\00:49:57.23
If He didn't
discipline us, then we'd be,
00:49:57.26\00:49:58.93
in a sense,
illegitimate children
00:49:58.96\00:50:00.63
and not sons and
daughters of God.
00:50:00.66\00:50:02.30
So He's doing that
because He wants you home.
00:50:02.33\00:50:05.53
He wants you coming home,
00:50:05.57\00:50:06.90
and He wants to
chisel you and refine you.
00:50:06.94\00:50:08.27
Some people are,
like you're saying,
00:50:08.30\00:50:09.74
putting in that
refusal or putting the eye,
00:50:09.77\00:50:11.41
well, spiritually
putting eye in your pocket
00:50:11.44\00:50:13.04
or taking a little butternut,
00:50:13.07\00:50:14.54
I mean, you just wanna give Him
00:50:14.58\00:50:15.91
just that little piece
here is this, you know.
00:50:15.94\00:50:18.28
He wants to give you
a spiritual root canal.
00:50:18.31\00:50:19.65
Right.
00:50:19.68\00:50:21.02
Just rip that
thing out there. Yeah.
00:50:21.05\00:50:22.38
It's kind of like
too, if you think about,
00:50:22.42\00:50:23.75
it's the Tower of Babel
where they were trying to...
00:50:23.79\00:50:28.02
They didn't ever
wanna be flooded again.
00:50:28.06\00:50:31.39
And so they were
building this tower
00:50:31.43\00:50:32.76
and like, "Oh, we're gonna
take matters in our own hands."
00:50:32.79\00:50:34.66
And you know, they were
just trying to deal with it
00:50:34.70\00:50:37.80
on their own.
00:50:37.83\00:50:39.17
And we tend to do
that sometimes as,
00:50:39.20\00:50:41.17
you know, we just
wanna have our backup plan,
00:50:41.20\00:50:43.77
you know?
00:50:43.81\00:50:45.14
Right.
00:50:45.17\00:50:46.51
Well, I like to read
from Colossians Chapter 1.
00:50:46.54\00:50:50.31
Very good.
00:50:50.35\00:50:51.68
Colossians Chapter 1,
00:50:51.71\00:50:53.31
this is another
one of those scriptures
00:50:53.35\00:50:56.62
that help us
understand the nearness
00:50:56.65\00:51:00.36
that God wants to be with us.
00:51:00.39\00:51:02.89
And so I will read
Colossians 1:26 and 27.
00:51:02.92\00:51:08.60
And it says,
00:51:08.63\00:51:09.96
"The mystery which
has been hidden from ages
00:51:10.00\00:51:12.50
and from generations,
00:51:12.53\00:51:13.94
but now has been
revealed to His saints,
00:51:13.97\00:51:16.81
to them God willed to make known
00:51:16.84\00:51:19.31
what are the riches
00:51:19.34\00:51:21.01
of the glory of this
mystery among the Gentiles,
00:51:21.04\00:51:24.31
which is Christ in
you, the hope of glory."
00:51:24.35\00:51:29.98
So this is how near
God wants to be with us.
00:51:30.02\00:51:34.59
Christ in you communicates,
00:51:34.62\00:51:37.76
"You don't need
to worry anymore."
00:51:37.79\00:51:40.80
If Christ is in you,
00:51:40.83\00:51:42.16
because you have His protection,
00:51:42.20\00:51:44.73
He's gonna give you His peace,
00:51:44.77\00:51:46.43
and He's going
to provide for you.
00:51:46.47\00:51:47.97
He will take care of you.
00:51:48.00\00:51:49.84
Of course, this
doesn't mean that you say,
00:51:49.87\00:51:51.67
"Well, I'm just gonna
lay back and enjoy life.
00:51:51.71\00:51:55.61
Christ is gonna do
everything for me."
00:51:55.64\00:51:57.91
We are to cooperate with Him
00:51:57.95\00:51:59.58
in the process of our
relationship with Him.
00:51:59.61\00:52:01.52
Because, you know,
you think of a marriage.
00:52:01.55\00:52:07.26
And if only one is
saying, "I love you.
00:52:07.29\00:52:10.66
You're the most wonderful
thing in the life for to me."
00:52:10.69\00:52:13.63
And the other
person, "Well, thank you."
00:52:13.66\00:52:16.56
That's cold.
That's just a little cold.
00:52:16.60\00:52:18.53
"Appreciate it. I
know it. Thank you."
00:52:18.57\00:52:20.47
But doesn't respond to that love
00:52:20.50\00:52:22.87
and doesn't reciprocate,
00:52:22.90\00:52:24.24
is that's the word?
00:52:24.27\00:52:25.61
Right. That's
exactly, reciprocate.
00:52:25.64\00:52:26.98
Yeah, reciprocate. Reciprocate.
00:52:27.01\00:52:28.34
And so yes, respond
and answer to that love.
00:52:28.38\00:52:31.61
And so that's where
00:52:31.65\00:52:33.75
wonderful things
begin to happen for us.
00:52:33.78\00:52:35.98
And we will have
this fullness of joy.
00:52:36.02\00:52:38.99
We wanna share
Christ with others
00:52:39.02\00:52:40.96
and God is going to
provide with us opportunities
00:52:40.99\00:52:43.69
to know Him more on
a more personal level.
00:52:43.73\00:52:48.60
Christ in you,
the hope of glory.
00:52:48.63\00:52:50.53
So how in the
world does that happen?
00:52:50.57\00:52:52.47
Well, we talked
about Jesus Christ saying,
00:52:52.50\00:52:54.10
"Behold, I stand
at the door and knock.
00:52:54.14\00:52:56.71
And if any man hears My
voice and opens the door, "
00:52:56.74\00:52:58.71
it's you responding say,
"Yes, Lord, come in, come in.
00:52:58.74\00:53:02.34
I'm giving you
complete access to me, come in."
00:53:02.38\00:53:05.51
And He will come in.
00:53:05.55\00:53:06.88
Amen. Amen.
00:53:06.92\00:53:08.25
I was gonna mentioning,
going back Colossians,
00:53:08.28\00:53:09.62
what we talked about just a bit,
00:53:09.65\00:53:10.99
verse 13 in Chapter 1,
00:53:11.02\00:53:12.55
we have to look
at that scripture,
00:53:12.59\00:53:13.92
it's so awesome.
00:53:13.96\00:53:15.29
We're talking about Jesus here,
00:53:15.32\00:53:16.66
what Christ has
done and verse 13 says,
00:53:16.69\00:53:18.06
"Who hath delivered us
from the power of darkness, "
00:53:18.09\00:53:21.03
you know, it says in
darkness "and hath translated us
00:53:21.06\00:53:24.27
into the kingdom
of His dear Son."
00:53:24.30\00:53:26.50
That speaks to me.
00:53:26.53\00:53:27.87
You know, how many
of us are in darkness?
00:53:27.90\00:53:29.24
We're playing with
something we shouldn't.
00:53:29.27\00:53:30.61
We're going down paths
that are leading us astray,
00:53:30.64\00:53:33.27
and He's delivering us
from that power of darkness.
00:53:33.31\00:53:37.31
I think that...
00:53:37.35\00:53:38.68
Well, don't stop there.
00:53:38.71\00:53:40.05
Read the next verse.
00:53:40.08\00:53:41.62
Oh, yes.
00:53:41.65\00:53:42.98
How can we forget that?
00:53:43.02\00:53:44.35
"In whom we have
redemption through His, "
00:53:44.39\00:53:46.19
whose blood is that?
00:53:46.22\00:53:47.56
That's Christ, right?
00:53:47.59\00:53:48.92
"Even the
forgiveness of sin." Right.
00:53:48.96\00:53:50.86
Wow.
00:53:50.89\00:53:52.26
That's a great... I mean,
Colossians 1 is just great.
00:53:52.29\00:53:54.00
We have under three
minutes, under four,
00:53:54.03\00:53:57.20
three and a half minutes.
00:53:57.23\00:53:58.57
So let's start
really quick over here
00:53:58.60\00:54:00.07
and give us one last
capsule of hope and blessing.
00:54:00.10\00:54:05.07
Well, I just wanna say that
the nearness of God is my good,
00:54:05.11\00:54:08.61
and I want Christ to live in me,
00:54:08.64\00:54:11.05
and I want to be dead to my sin.
00:54:11.08\00:54:14.48
And knowing that
dead men have no habits,
00:54:14.52\00:54:18.55
so I want to be dead in me.
00:54:18.59\00:54:20.69
I want to be alive in Christ.
00:54:20.72\00:54:22.06
Amen. Amen. Amen.
00:54:22.09\00:54:24.13
I was wondering how
we get nearer to God.
00:54:24.16\00:54:27.40
Well, God has
given us the Sabbath.
00:54:27.43\00:54:28.90
And Christians,
00:54:28.93\00:54:32.50
we tend to struggle,
00:54:32.53\00:54:33.87
"Okay, what do we
do on the Sabbath?"
00:54:33.90\00:54:35.47
We know what we
aren't supposed to do.
00:54:35.50\00:54:38.21
But what, you know,
do you do, it came to me,
00:54:38.24\00:54:43.08
"What do you do when you
go on vacation to see family?
00:54:43.11\00:54:47.72
You're going there to
spend the time with them.
00:54:47.75\00:54:49.92
You do what they wanna do,
00:54:49.95\00:54:51.29
you spend time with them
to enrich your relationship."
00:54:51.32\00:54:54.09
Yes.
00:54:54.12\00:54:55.46
Well, we go on
vacation to see God.
00:54:55.49\00:54:58.59
We're seeing God every day.
00:54:58.63\00:55:00.56
But Sabbath especially,
is when we go to His house,
00:55:00.60\00:55:04.87
and we spend the
whole day with Him,
00:55:04.90\00:55:06.80
whether that's out in nature,
00:55:06.84\00:55:09.40
you know, with our mind on Him,
00:55:09.44\00:55:11.04
in the Bible,
praying, combination of it all,
00:55:11.07\00:55:15.08
it's our day to spend with
Him and that draws us to Him.
00:55:15.11\00:55:19.05
That's good. Thank you so much.
00:55:19.08\00:55:20.85
Janelle? Very good.
00:55:20.88\00:55:22.28
You know, I've
been convicted lately
00:55:22.32\00:55:23.65
that I need to
read the Bible more.
00:55:23.69\00:55:26.45
I read it,
00:55:26.49\00:55:27.82
you know, but not,
I think as deep as,
00:55:27.86\00:55:31.13
I think, I should be.
00:55:31.16\00:55:32.49
And I think that would
really make an impact on,
00:55:32.53\00:55:36.87
you know, hearing from God more.
00:55:36.90\00:55:38.83
And you know,
00:55:38.87\00:55:40.20
when we have those
scriptures in our minds,
00:55:40.24\00:55:42.24
I would really like to
memorize more scriptures too.
00:55:42.27\00:55:44.64
You know, and just to
be able to share those
00:55:44.67\00:55:46.57
because there's
always divine appointments
00:55:46.61\00:55:48.98
that we can share a
word of hope to somebody.
00:55:49.01\00:55:51.65
So if I'm reading my Bible,
00:55:51.68\00:55:54.18
you know, asking God to help me
00:55:54.22\00:55:55.62
remember those
scriptures and just to share it.
00:55:55.65\00:55:58.35
So I think that's encouragement.
00:55:58.39\00:56:01.36
Thank you. And, Don?
00:56:01.39\00:56:02.72
I'll just say the idea of hope
00:56:02.76\00:56:04.26
is when we let
Christ in our heart,
00:56:04.29\00:56:05.66
He can transform us.
00:56:05.69\00:56:07.76
He can make us into His
sons and daughters of God.
00:56:07.80\00:56:09.86
And I get the opportunity
00:56:09.90\00:56:11.23
to share that with many people.
00:56:11.27\00:56:12.60
And I just see,
when we show them
00:56:12.63\00:56:13.97
the picture of who they can be
00:56:14.00\00:56:15.34
as a son or daughter of God,
00:56:15.37\00:56:17.54
it breaks all the bonds,
it literally breaks the...
00:56:17.57\00:56:20.81
sets the captive free.
00:56:20.84\00:56:22.18
And that's what
Christ came to do.
00:56:22.21\00:56:23.65
He came to set the captive free.
00:56:23.68\00:56:25.81
He came to break them out
of the bonds of wickedness.
00:56:25.85\00:56:29.28
And we can have that opportunity
00:56:29.32\00:56:30.65
if we just give somebody
00:56:30.69\00:56:32.02
a little
encouragement, that hope.
00:56:32.05\00:56:33.39
And giving promises
from the Bible's huge.
00:56:33.42\00:56:35.12
I do that every day
in the prayer lines.
00:56:35.16\00:56:36.73
And these people are just being,
00:56:36.76\00:56:38.19
just stories of them
hearing is just miraculous.
00:56:38.23\00:56:40.26
So transformation,
allowing Christ in your heart,
00:56:40.30\00:56:42.63
and He's going to
get you through this.
00:56:42.66\00:56:44.47
Amen, amen.
00:56:44.50\00:56:45.90
I like to leave
one last scripture.
00:56:45.93\00:56:47.57
Isaiah 55:6 and 7,
00:56:47.60\00:56:49.47
"Seek the Lord
while He may be found.
00:56:49.50\00:56:53.07
Call upon Him while He is near.
00:56:53.11\00:56:55.71
Let the wicked forsake his way,
00:56:55.74\00:56:57.35
and the
unrighteous man his thoughts.
00:56:57.38\00:56:59.28
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him,
00:56:59.31\00:57:02.75
And to our God, for He
will abundantly pardon."
00:57:02.78\00:57:06.09
Amen.
00:57:06.12\00:57:07.46
And so there it is,
00:57:07.49\00:57:08.82
"Seek the Lord
while He may be found."
00:57:08.86\00:57:10.19
He is near.
00:57:10.23\00:57:11.56
And we want to thank you
00:57:11.59\00:57:12.93
for being with
us during this hour.
00:57:12.96\00:57:14.43
We hope you have been blessed.
00:57:14.46\00:57:16.03
And I encourage you
to do just as we read,
00:57:16.06\00:57:18.80
"Seek the Lord
while He may be found."
00:57:18.83\00:57:21.57
And I invite you once again.
00:57:21.60\00:57:23.07
Give your heart to
the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:57:23.10\00:57:24.61
and you will find
peace and happiness
00:57:24.64\00:57:25.97
that begins in this
world and continues forever.
00:57:26.01\00:57:28.94
Happy Sabbath. God bless.
00:57:28.98\00:57:30.31
Happy Sabbath. Happy Sabbath.
00:57:30.35\00:57:31.68