I want to spend my life
00:00:01.96\00:00:08.00
Mending broken people
00:00:08.04\00:00:12.91
I want to spend my life
00:00:12.94\00:00:19.08
Removing pain
00:00:19.11\00:00:24.12
Lord, let my words
00:00:24.15\00:00:30.39
Heal a heart that hurts
00:00:30.43\00:00:35.00
I want to spend my life
00:00:35.03\00:00:40.74
Mending broken people
00:00:40.77\00:00:46.24
I want to spend my life
00:00:46.27\00:00:51.81
Mending broken people
00:00:51.85\00:00:55.98
Oh, hello. I'm
Shelley Quinn. JD Quinn.
00:01:08.63\00:01:11.30
And we welcome you
to 3ABN Family Worship.
00:01:11.33\00:01:15.17
We're so excited that
the Sabbath has rolled in
00:01:15.20\00:01:18.91
and I just want, let's...
00:01:18.94\00:01:20.68
Before I go on
about the Sabbath,
00:01:20.71\00:01:22.08
let's go ahead and introduce
the family at the table,
00:01:22.11\00:01:24.91
JD, you wanna do that first?
00:01:24.95\00:01:26.28
I'm gonna start over to my left.
00:01:26.31\00:01:27.65
This is Gayle.
00:01:27.68\00:01:29.02
Glad to have Gayle,
00:01:29.05\00:01:30.39
this is her
first family worship.
00:01:30.42\00:01:31.75
We're just tickled
that you're here with us.
00:01:31.79\00:01:33.12
Thank you. We got...
00:01:33.15\00:01:34.49
Breathe deeply.
00:01:34.52\00:01:35.86
We got Pastor
John, our pastor. Yes.
00:01:35.89\00:01:37.86
Our good friend and
his precious wife Angie.
00:01:37.89\00:01:40.53
Yes. I think,
everyone knows them.
00:01:40.56\00:01:42.46
And, of course, my
precious little wife, Shelley.
00:01:42.50\00:01:44.80
Well, I'll tell you what?
00:01:44.83\00:01:46.50
I want to encourage
the young people at home.
00:01:46.53\00:01:49.74
We have people...
00:01:49.77\00:01:51.11
I'll put it this
way of experience
00:01:51.14\00:01:52.97
sitting at the table.
00:01:53.01\00:01:54.34
But if you're young,
don't just tune out and say,
00:01:54.38\00:01:56.24
well, what can
I learn from them?
00:01:56.28\00:01:57.81
Because tonight we will be
talking about unending joy.
00:01:57.85\00:02:02.38
And my experience has been,
00:02:02.42\00:02:04.19
this is a lesson
that we learn better
00:02:04.22\00:02:07.79
as we mature in Christ.
00:02:07.82\00:02:09.92
And the points
we're going to make
00:02:09.96\00:02:11.63
is the difference
between happiness and joy.
00:02:11.66\00:02:14.33
Joy rises above
persecution and pain.
00:02:14.36\00:02:18.03
Joy is promised to
all who abide in the Lord.
00:02:18.07\00:02:21.80
It's the fruit of the Spirit.
00:02:21.84\00:02:23.94
God's word is our source of joy
00:02:23.97\00:02:27.38
because it reveals His promises.
00:02:27.41\00:02:29.41
And how can we restore joy?
00:02:29.44\00:02:32.61
We go all around the
United States in the world,
00:02:32.65\00:02:36.89
and we meet joyful people,
00:02:36.92\00:02:38.72
but then we meet
a lot of Christians
00:02:38.75\00:02:40.39
who just look like they've
been sucking on a persimmon.
00:02:40.42\00:02:43.83
And so we want,
00:02:43.86\00:02:46.29
I think it's important to
know that joy can be unending.
00:02:46.33\00:02:51.30
That's right.
00:02:51.33\00:02:52.67
And let me tell you at home
00:02:52.70\00:02:54.24
if you are not
familiar with the Sabbath,
00:02:54.27\00:02:57.34
why we are so joyful
when the Sabbath rolls in
00:02:57.37\00:03:00.44
because it is,
the Bible tells us,
00:03:00.48\00:03:02.78
it's a reminder
that God is our Creator.
00:03:02.81\00:03:05.38
He's the one who recreates
us in the image of Jesus.
00:03:05.41\00:03:08.72
He is our deliverer.
00:03:08.75\00:03:10.72
But my favorite scripture
on the Sabbath is John,
00:03:10.75\00:03:13.56
excuse me, Exodus 31:13,
00:03:13.59\00:03:16.66
where God says,
"He gave us his Sabbath
00:03:16.69\00:03:19.29
as a sign that He is
the one who sanctifies us."
00:03:19.33\00:03:24.03
Amen. That's right.
00:03:24.07\00:03:25.40
How many of you have
tried to sanctify yourself?
00:03:25.43\00:03:27.24
And that doesn't
mean to set yourself
00:03:27.27\00:03:28.80
apart from sins.
00:03:28.84\00:03:30.31
It's impossible
without His power,
00:03:30.34\00:03:33.81
without Him working in us.
00:03:33.84\00:03:35.31
That's right.
So, we're so excited.
00:03:35.34\00:03:37.98
John, why don't
you open with prayer?
00:03:38.01\00:03:39.55
Sure. Okay.
00:03:39.58\00:03:40.92
Loving Father in heaven, it
is a joy to study Your Word.
00:03:40.95\00:03:44.35
And thank You for the joy
00:03:44.39\00:03:46.12
that we're going to find
sharing what You reveal to us.
00:03:46.15\00:03:50.03
Bless us now in
the Sabbath hours,
00:03:50.06\00:03:52.33
with Your presence
and Your power we ask,
00:03:52.36\00:03:54.86
in Jesus' name, amen.
00:03:54.90\00:03:57.20
Amen. Amen.
00:03:57.23\00:03:58.57
So, JD, would
you like to introduce
00:03:58.60\00:04:02.20
the other person of our family.
00:04:02.24\00:04:03.84
Yes.
00:04:03.87\00:04:05.21
First of all, we
have Farah Barry.
00:04:05.24\00:04:06.98
She's gonna be
playing our special music
00:04:07.01\00:04:10.48
that we're all
gonna participate in.
00:04:10.51\00:04:12.71
And, oh, I just love singing,
can't sing, but that's okay.
00:04:12.75\00:04:16.15
You know.
00:04:16.18\00:04:17.59
We have two
singers at this table,
00:04:17.62\00:04:19.22
I think in way and
they are at both the ends.
00:04:19.25\00:04:22.02
And we're gonna be singing
00:04:22.06\00:04:23.49
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,
00:04:23.53\00:04:25.99
and in the Adventist
hymnal lesson number 469.
00:04:26.03\00:04:29.50
But we'll also have the lyrics
00:04:29.53\00:04:31.13
at the bottom of
the screen for you.
00:04:31.17\00:04:33.00
So sing along.
Sing along with us.
00:04:33.03\00:04:34.64
We're gonna make a joyful noise.
00:04:34.67\00:04:36.34
That's right.
00:04:36.37\00:04:37.71
What a
fellowship, what a joy divine
00:04:42.84\00:04:47.62
Leaning on the everlasting arms
00:04:47.65\00:04:51.95
What a blessedness,
what a peace is mine
00:04:51.99\00:04:56.32
Leaning on the everlasting arms
00:04:56.36\00:05:00.03
Leaning, leaning
00:05:00.06\00:05:04.33
Safe and secure from all alarms
00:05:04.37\00:05:08.57
Leaning, leaning
00:05:08.60\00:05:12.54
Leaning on the everlasting arms
00:05:12.57\00:05:16.75
O how sweet to
walk in this pilgrim way
00:05:16.78\00:05:21.22
Leaning on the everlasting arms
00:05:21.25\00:05:25.15
O how bright the
path grows from day to day
00:05:25.19\00:05:29.32
Leaning on the everlasting arms
00:05:29.36\00:05:33.40
Leaning, leaning
00:05:33.43\00:05:37.60
Safe and secure from all alarms
00:05:37.63\00:05:41.47
Leaning, leaning
00:05:41.50\00:05:45.54
Leaning on the everlasting arms
00:05:45.57\00:05:49.91
What have I to
dread, what have I to fear
00:05:49.94\00:05:54.75
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
00:05:54.78\00:05:58.95
I have blessed
peace with my Lord so near
00:05:58.99\00:06:03.09
Leaning on the everlasting arms
00:06:03.12\00:06:07.23
Leaning, leaning
00:06:07.26\00:06:11.07
Safe and secure from all alarms
00:06:11.10\00:06:15.34
Leaning, leaning
00:06:15.37\00:06:19.44
Leaning on the everlasting arms
00:06:19.47\00:06:25.95
Amen. Thank you, Farah.
00:06:25.98\00:06:27.65
And, boy, what?
00:06:27.68\00:06:29.15
You know, it's interesting
00:06:29.18\00:06:30.52
I had that virus that
scarred my vocal folds.
00:06:30.55\00:06:34.96
I was trying to sing
00:06:34.99\00:06:36.32
and my voice wouldn't
even come out on that key.
00:06:36.36\00:06:39.69
You made a joyful noise.
00:06:39.73\00:06:42.36
That's because I wasn't singing.
00:06:42.40\00:06:43.73
It wouldn't come out.
It's a joy to hear you sing.
00:06:43.77\00:06:46.57
If you heard it, then
you've got great ears.
00:06:46.60\00:06:49.87
Okay, let's just
jump right into this.
00:06:49.90\00:06:53.71
What is the difference
between happiness and joy?
00:06:53.74\00:06:59.11
Normally, happiness
depends upon our circumstances,
00:07:02.12\00:07:04.75
something happens around you,
00:07:04.79\00:07:06.65
you know, you're either
up or you're down subject
00:07:06.69\00:07:09.46
to that particular environment.
00:07:09.49\00:07:11.69
I think that's what I found.
00:07:11.73\00:07:13.06
So happiness can be transitory,
it's not a permanent thing.
00:07:13.09\00:07:16.67
I mean, it's hard to be happy
00:07:16.70\00:07:20.07
when your loved one is in ICU,
00:07:20.10\00:07:22.90
and they're dying of cancer say.
00:07:22.94\00:07:26.57
So, as the circumstances change,
00:07:26.61\00:07:28.74
happiness comes and goes.
00:07:28.78\00:07:30.28
Yeah. Well, what is joy?
00:07:30.31\00:07:34.32
I used to think it
was the same thing.
00:07:34.35\00:07:35.95
You know, and
really until this study,
00:07:37.09\00:07:39.79
and really getting into it.
00:07:39.82\00:07:41.26
I didn't really
know the difference.
00:07:42.96\00:07:44.79
And so, some of the scriptures
00:07:44.83\00:07:46.33
didn't really ring
really well with me.
00:07:46.36\00:07:50.20
And now it's really great
00:07:50.23\00:07:51.93
to really
understand what that is.
00:07:51.97\00:07:54.14
Praise God.
00:07:54.17\00:07:55.50
So joy, our joy, it's a
gift of the Holy Spirit.
00:07:55.54\00:08:00.11
And it's founded on God's
unchanging nature on His love.
00:08:00.14\00:08:06.01
And let me share
something with you.
00:08:06.05\00:08:07.55
We're very familiar
if you go to church,
00:08:07.58\00:08:10.52
you hear agape all the time.
00:08:10.55\00:08:12.32
And that's a Greek word.
00:08:12.35\00:08:13.99
It's used in the New Testament.
00:08:14.02\00:08:15.36
It means unconditional love.
00:08:15.39\00:08:18.19
And people don't realize
00:08:18.23\00:08:20.20
there's a word to me
that surpasses agape.
00:08:20.23\00:08:24.60
And it's a Hebrew word used
throughout the Old Testament,
00:08:24.63\00:08:28.60
hesed, H-E-S-E-D
00:08:28.64\00:08:30.87
and you cannot
find one single word
00:08:30.91\00:08:36.48
in the English language
into which we can translate
00:08:36.51\00:08:40.62
or hesed can be translated into.
00:08:40.65\00:08:43.42
So sometimes
00:08:43.45\00:08:44.79
it will be translated
into His loving kindness,
00:08:44.82\00:08:47.09
His love, His
mercy, His faithfulness,
00:08:47.12\00:08:50.33
but hesed is all of
that wrapped up in one.
00:08:50.36\00:08:55.10
And throughout
the Old Testament,
00:08:55.13\00:08:57.27
over, I think it's 270 times,
it talks about God's hesed.
00:08:57.30\00:09:02.30
So this is...
00:09:02.34\00:09:04.17
We can have a
permanent sense of well being,
00:09:04.21\00:09:08.71
and an
experience, joy in the Lord,
00:09:08.74\00:09:13.55
in the midst of
sadness and suffering.
00:09:13.58\00:09:17.09
One of our favorite
verses from Nehemiah, John.
00:09:18.45\00:09:22.26
Oh, Nehemiah 8:10,
00:09:22.29\00:09:23.63
"The joy of the
Lord is your strength."
00:09:23.66\00:09:25.79
What does that mean?
00:09:25.83\00:09:27.16
That means the joy that
we experience is not from us,
00:09:27.20\00:09:31.13
it's the joy of the Lord.
00:09:31.17\00:09:33.27
So therefore like
you said a moment ago,
00:09:33.30\00:09:35.07
the fruit of the Spirit,
00:09:35.10\00:09:36.44
that's another
gift from the Lord.
00:09:36.47\00:09:38.27
The fruit of the
Spirit is amazing.
00:09:38.31\00:09:39.84
Love, joy, the first
two, they're together.
00:09:39.87\00:09:42.84
One agape, as you
mentioned, and hesed,
00:09:42.88\00:09:45.71
the other one joy,
both from the Lord,
00:09:45.75\00:09:47.85
but I like that because
the source of believer's joy
00:09:47.88\00:09:51.85
is a relationship
with our Heavenly Father.
00:09:51.89\00:09:53.66
Amen. It's a
sovereign connection.
00:09:53.69\00:09:56.59
So, you know, if your dad is
00:09:56.62\00:09:58.73
like the kid
that was on the plane,
00:09:58.76\00:10:00.10
and the plane was
shaking everywhere
00:10:00.13\00:10:01.46
and everybody was nervous.
00:10:01.50\00:10:02.86
And when the plane landed,
00:10:02.90\00:10:04.80
one of the
passengers couldn't help,
00:10:04.83\00:10:06.17
but ask the kid,
"Why were you not nervous,
00:10:06.20\00:10:07.90
when the plane was
falling all over the sky?"
00:10:07.94\00:10:10.91
She said, "Because
the pilot is my dad,
00:10:10.94\00:10:12.77
he was just taking me home."
00:10:12.81\00:10:14.14
Amen.
00:10:14.18\00:10:15.51
So she had that
relationship with the...
00:10:15.54\00:10:16.88
She knew who was in the cockpit.
00:10:16.91\00:10:18.25
Everybody's nervous, and
she says, "He's my daddy,
00:10:18.28\00:10:20.12
he's just taken us home."
00:10:20.15\00:10:21.48
So she was joyful and at peace
00:10:21.52\00:10:24.82
because of the
presence of her father.
00:10:24.85\00:10:27.42
That's the same
thing with us, right?
00:10:27.46\00:10:29.62
When we have
security in His love.
00:10:29.66\00:10:31.59
Security and salvation
by grace through faith.
00:10:31.63\00:10:35.13
It's just such
a beautiful thing.
00:10:35.16\00:10:37.00
Angie, why don't
you read Jude 1:24?
00:10:37.03\00:10:40.74
Hey, I love this text.
00:10:40.77\00:10:42.57
Now, in the King
James says, onto him,
00:10:42.60\00:10:45.17
"Now to Him who is able
to keep you from stumbling,
00:10:45.21\00:10:49.04
and to present you faultless
00:10:49.08\00:10:50.98
before the presence of His glory
00:10:51.01\00:10:53.21
with exceeding joy."
00:10:53.25\00:10:55.92
Why we have
that text right here?
00:10:55.95\00:10:59.15
Well, to me, it's very simple,
00:10:59.19\00:11:01.22
if it to me, if
it is indeed true
00:11:01.26\00:11:04.03
that the joy of the
Lord is your strength,
00:11:04.06\00:11:06.96
well, then it should
be the joy of the Lord
00:11:07.00\00:11:09.33
that is able to
keep you from stumble.
00:11:09.36\00:11:11.37
Oh, that's good.
00:11:11.40\00:11:12.73
'Cause He's the
one that's in charge,
00:11:12.77\00:11:15.40
and He wants good and
perfect gifts for His children.
00:11:15.44\00:11:17.67
Amen. Amen. That's really good.
00:11:17.71\00:11:19.94
And now with that together,
but it's very well said.
00:11:19.97\00:11:22.54
But you know,
00:11:22.58\00:11:24.01
I don't know about you all.
00:11:24.05\00:11:25.51
But like I said
about the Sabbath.
00:11:25.55\00:11:27.62
I tried for 50 years of my life,
00:11:27.65\00:11:31.09
to be a good little girl.
00:11:31.12\00:11:33.25
I tried to please the Lord.
00:11:33.29\00:11:35.29
I tried to do what I
thought He wanted me to do
00:11:35.32\00:11:38.16
and do everything right
what everybody expected of me.
00:11:38.19\00:11:41.66
And I found it impossible.
00:11:41.70\00:11:43.93
And I finally, it was just,
00:11:43.97\00:11:46.27
you know, there
was ups and downs,
00:11:46.30\00:11:47.97
peaks and valleys.
00:11:48.00\00:11:49.74
But it was when I learned
that salvation belongs to God,
00:11:49.77\00:11:54.34
when I was really
learning about grace
00:11:54.38\00:11:56.75
and to know
00:11:56.78\00:11:58.41
that He is gonna
keep me from stumbling,
00:11:58.45\00:12:02.02
to know that He is
gonna present me faultless.
00:12:02.05\00:12:05.82
Amen.
00:12:05.85\00:12:07.19
That's when joy
came into my heart.
00:12:07.22\00:12:10.03
That's when
that's what you just said
00:12:10.06\00:12:11.69
about this relationship,
the security of relationship.
00:12:11.73\00:12:16.56
So, the reason everyone at this,
00:12:16.60\00:12:18.73
is at this table
00:12:18.77\00:12:20.37
is I know each one
of you have experienced
00:12:20.40\00:12:24.77
joy rises above
persecution and pain.
00:12:24.81\00:12:29.81
JD, let's read
about Jesus in Hebrews 12.
00:12:29.84\00:12:33.21
Hebrews 12, I wanna
read Hebrews 12:1-2.
00:12:33.25\00:12:37.12
I love this because a
lot, you'll understand,
00:12:37.15\00:12:40.09
"Let us run with endurance
the race that is set before us,
00:12:40.12\00:12:44.03
looking unto Jesus,
00:12:44.06\00:12:45.59
the author and the
finisher of our faith,
00:12:45.63\00:12:49.26
for the joy that
was set before Him
00:12:49.30\00:12:52.20
endured the cross,
despising the shame,
00:12:52.23\00:12:54.57
and has sat down
at the right hand
00:12:54.60\00:12:56.40
of the throne of God."
00:12:56.44\00:12:58.21
So what was the joy
that was set before Him?
00:12:58.24\00:13:01.88
Well, the joy of
accomplishing His Father's will.
00:13:01.91\00:13:05.51
You know, His life
was in a life of joy.
00:13:05.55\00:13:09.08
But the joy came in knowing
00:13:09.12\00:13:10.79
that whether He
was being persecuted,
00:13:10.82\00:13:12.79
whether He was being reviled,
00:13:12.82\00:13:14.99
whether He was being praised,
00:13:15.02\00:13:16.66
whether He was
being wrongly accused,
00:13:16.69\00:13:20.30
He kept His mind set
on the will of the Father.
00:13:20.33\00:13:24.17
And He said, "I came to
do the will of the Father."
00:13:24.20\00:13:26.43
So when you get to
that point in your life,
00:13:26.47\00:13:28.60
and sadly enough,
00:13:28.64\00:13:30.07
He was on the cross when
He said, "It is finished."
00:13:30.11\00:13:32.14
He didn't say I'm finished,
He said, it is finished.
00:13:32.17\00:13:35.58
I'm so glad
that my work is done.
00:13:35.61\00:13:38.15
I could die in peace.
00:13:38.18\00:13:39.95
And that was the joy
00:13:39.98\00:13:41.32
that kept Him
all the way through.
00:13:41.35\00:13:42.68
And I like that text which says,
00:13:42.72\00:13:44.05
the joy that was set before Him,
00:13:44.09\00:13:46.39
endured the cross, you know,
00:13:46.42\00:13:47.76
beyond this cross is joy.
00:13:47.79\00:13:49.62
As Maya Angelou who
said this to Oprah Winfrey,
00:13:49.66\00:13:51.53
when she said, "What do you do
when the trials of life come?"
00:13:51.56\00:13:54.40
And Maya Angelou said,
00:13:54.43\00:13:55.76
"Well, I just know that
00:13:55.80\00:13:57.13
whatever on the
other side of that trial
00:13:57.17\00:13:58.50
is better than
what I have right now."
00:13:58.53\00:14:00.44
So was it joy that
was set before Him?
00:14:00.47\00:14:02.47
He endured the cross
00:14:02.50\00:14:03.84
because on the
other side of that
00:14:03.87\00:14:05.21
He could come out and say,
00:14:05.24\00:14:06.57
I've accomplished it,
00:14:06.61\00:14:07.94
so that every one of My children
00:14:07.98\00:14:09.84
can be saved.
00:14:09.88\00:14:11.21
Amen. That's some serious joy.
00:14:11.25\00:14:12.58
That is some serious joy.
00:14:12.61\00:14:13.95
And that means that,
00:14:13.98\00:14:15.98
I think you misspoke
00:14:16.02\00:14:17.35
when you said His
life wasn't a life of joy.
00:14:17.39\00:14:19.25
His life wasn't a
life of happiness.
00:14:19.29\00:14:22.96
But He knew this
joy in His Father.
00:14:22.99\00:14:28.06
And it's something
that you know, Paul said,
00:14:28.10\00:14:31.63
we are sorrowful,
yet always rejoicing.
00:14:31.67\00:14:36.84
Gayle, tell us the story of,
00:14:36.87\00:14:40.98
you know, all of us
here have lost someone.
00:14:41.01\00:14:43.18
I know, you lost
your mom not too long ago.
00:14:43.21\00:14:45.45
Yes.
00:14:45.48\00:14:46.82
And you know, I
don't have any living,
00:14:46.85\00:14:49.78
no immediate family left at all.
00:14:49.82\00:14:51.92
We don't have family.
00:14:51.95\00:14:53.29
I mean, this is
my family right here.
00:14:53.32\00:14:54.66
Well, I have brother and sister,
00:14:54.69\00:14:56.19
but no mom and dad.
00:14:56.22\00:14:57.56
I don't even have
that. Yeah, only sibling.
00:14:57.59\00:14:59.33
I have no blood
relatives left. Wow.
00:14:59.36\00:15:02.20
So as you lose
them and you realize,
00:15:02.23\00:15:05.43
hey, I would be
all alone in the world,
00:15:05.47\00:15:07.77
except I know the Lord's
always with me and this...
00:15:07.80\00:15:09.60
Well, Shelley, you
could add me to your will,
00:15:09.64\00:15:11.14
I'll let you.
00:15:11.17\00:15:13.61
I'd be your relative.
00:15:13.64\00:15:14.98
That would be joy for me.
00:15:15.01\00:15:16.34
All right. Amen.
00:15:16.38\00:15:17.71
But the one thing, I think that,
00:15:17.75\00:15:22.02
you know as a couple,
00:15:22.05\00:15:23.39
we know as a couple of the pain
00:15:23.42\00:15:25.85
of not being
able to have a child.
00:15:25.89\00:15:27.86
Exactly. Right.
00:15:27.89\00:15:29.22
But I remember praying
when I was just 13 years old,
00:15:29.26\00:15:32.86
saying, Lord, please don't...
00:15:32.89\00:15:35.33
I wanted six babies.
00:15:35.36\00:15:38.07
I wanted six, but I said, Lord,
00:15:38.10\00:15:40.20
please don't ever
let me have a child,
00:15:40.24\00:15:42.50
if that child
will die before me.
00:15:42.54\00:15:45.71
Because I had watched a
woman that I babysat for
00:15:45.74\00:15:49.38
when her
two-year-old was killed.
00:15:49.41\00:15:51.31
It was so painful
00:15:51.35\00:15:53.11
that I thought I
cannot imagine a worst pain
00:15:53.15\00:15:56.65
and you've been
through that pain.
00:15:56.69\00:15:58.85
I have.
00:15:58.89\00:16:00.22
Tell us your story.
00:16:00.26\00:16:02.86
It's gonna be three years
now in January, January 22.
00:16:02.89\00:16:08.30
I was living in Hawaii,
00:16:08.33\00:16:10.03
and my son Eric
was living there also
00:16:10.07\00:16:13.34
and was on a Sunday,
I'll never forget it.
00:16:13.37\00:16:19.77
And the police came
00:16:19.81\00:16:21.14
and told me that
my son had drowned.
00:16:21.18\00:16:23.88
And I thought,
00:16:23.91\00:16:25.25
what was he doing out
there in those crazy waves?
00:16:25.28\00:16:28.22
Because I knew in January,
the waves are really bad,
00:16:28.25\00:16:32.82
especially at
some of the beaches
00:16:32.85\00:16:34.19
where he was on,
00:16:34.22\00:16:35.56
we were on the Big
Island and he was south of Hilo,
00:16:35.59\00:16:37.69
and he was at a beach
00:16:37.73\00:16:39.36
and two people had
gotten out in the surf
00:16:39.39\00:16:42.03
and couldn't get back in
00:16:42.06\00:16:44.33
because the waves
were so treacherous,
00:16:44.37\00:16:46.84
and he went in to
help them, which he did.
00:16:46.87\00:16:50.51
They made it out,
but my son didn't.
00:16:50.54\00:16:55.24
And...
00:16:55.28\00:16:56.61
How old was he, Gayle?
00:16:56.64\00:16:57.98
He was 43, and, yeah,
00:16:58.01\00:17:02.58
it's some of that
is a big blur still.
00:17:02.62\00:17:07.12
But my daughter,
I have a daughter,
00:17:07.16\00:17:10.49
and she lives in
Washington State.
00:17:10.53\00:17:12.79
And she said, "Mom,
00:17:12.83\00:17:14.66
I want you to
come live with us."
00:17:14.70\00:17:16.36
So I'm now living in Washington,
00:17:16.40\00:17:18.13
but, you know it.
00:17:18.17\00:17:21.74
I remember reading
some of these passages
00:17:21.77\00:17:24.01
and you know, it talks about,
00:17:24.04\00:17:25.37
okay, joy in every circumstance.
00:17:25.41\00:17:27.08
And I thought, Lord,
that makes no sense to me.
00:17:27.11\00:17:31.31
But I read something
00:17:31.35\00:17:35.58
just last night in
the Desire of Ages.
00:17:35.62\00:17:38.75
And hopefully I
can get through this.
00:17:38.79\00:17:41.12
It says, "Christ
is coming with clouds
00:17:41.16\00:17:43.36
and with great glory,
00:17:43.39\00:17:45.33
a multitude of shining
angels will attend to Him,
00:17:45.36\00:17:48.00
He will come to raise the dead
00:17:48.03\00:17:49.76
and to change the living
saints from glory to glory."
00:17:49.80\00:17:52.77
He will, excuse me,
00:17:52.80\00:17:54.90
"He will come to honor
those who have left him
00:17:54.94\00:17:57.47
and kept His commandments
and to take them to Himself,
00:17:57.51\00:18:01.44
He has not forgotten
them, nor His promise,
00:18:01.48\00:18:04.75
there will be a
rethinking or excuse me,
00:18:04.78\00:18:07.12
a relinking of the family chain.
00:18:07.15\00:18:09.92
When we look upon our dead,
we may think of the morning
00:18:09.95\00:18:13.12
when the trump
of God just sound,
00:18:13.15\00:18:14.86
when the dead shall
be raised incorruptible,
00:18:14.89\00:18:17.33
and we shall all be
changed," 1 Corinthians 15:52."
00:18:17.36\00:18:22.13
A little longer,
00:18:22.16\00:18:23.57
and we shall see the King
in His beauty a little longer.
00:18:23.60\00:18:28.20
And He will wipe
all tears from our eyes,
00:18:28.24\00:18:30.87
a little longer,
00:18:30.91\00:18:32.37
and He will present spotless
00:18:32.41\00:18:34.48
before the presence of His glory
00:18:34.51\00:18:36.44
with exceeding joy," 2:24.
00:18:36.48\00:18:40.25
So how did you,
00:18:40.28\00:18:42.48
how long did it take you
00:18:42.52\00:18:44.62
in going through
the pain of that loss?
00:18:44.65\00:18:47.42
I mean, I know it
had to be overwhelming.
00:18:51.03\00:18:54.10
But how long did
it take you to feel
00:18:54.13\00:18:57.83
that joy of
relationship with the Lord?
00:18:57.87\00:19:00.20
Did that ever break
or did you find that?
00:19:00.24\00:19:03.77
I mean, was it
sustained all the way through,
00:19:07.11\00:19:09.74
the joy of your
relationship with God?
00:19:09.78\00:19:13.08
You know, it was amazing.
00:19:13.11\00:19:14.88
I think the Lord really worked
00:19:18.12\00:19:19.99
because He brought a lot of
Eric's friends into my life.
00:19:20.02\00:19:24.36
And I was able
to share with them
00:19:24.39\00:19:26.19
and learn actually
that from one of them
00:19:26.23\00:19:29.70
that Eric had
shared God with him,
00:19:29.73\00:19:31.97
which kind of
surprised me that in,
00:19:32.00\00:19:35.67
you know, it gave me such hope
00:19:35.70\00:19:37.04
because I know in the
mercy and the love of God,
00:19:37.07\00:19:39.87
I'm going to see my son again.
00:19:39.91\00:19:41.54
And it never
really, I just trust it.
00:19:41.58\00:19:45.61
You know, I knew
I didn't understand,
00:19:45.65\00:19:47.62
but I knew God knows the best
00:19:47.65\00:19:51.05
and He works things to our best.
00:19:51.09\00:19:55.16
And I just felt comfort in that,
00:19:55.19\00:19:57.69
but I also realized
I've been in depression
00:19:57.73\00:20:01.30
for a long time.
00:20:01.33\00:20:02.66
And that only ended probably,
00:20:02.70\00:20:05.57
actually while I
was down here, finally.
00:20:05.60\00:20:09.67
I think that's
interesting because service...
00:20:09.70\00:20:11.94
And that really does
fit into Hebrews 12:1-2,
00:20:11.97\00:20:15.01
you know, let it, let us
run the race of the parents.
00:20:15.04\00:20:18.35
You know, and looking to Jesus,
00:20:18.38\00:20:21.02
who's the author and
the finisher of our faith.
00:20:21.05\00:20:23.79
Please, Lord,
increase my faith, you know,
00:20:23.82\00:20:25.75
I do wanna finish this race
00:20:25.79\00:20:28.06
and you do make a
difference around here.
00:20:28.09\00:20:30.89
You should know that. Thank you.
00:20:30.93\00:20:32.99
It's been a blessing. Yup.
00:20:33.03\00:20:35.20
Hey, you made a
point a moment ago,
00:20:35.23\00:20:36.56
and I'm glad you put
that back in context.
00:20:36.60\00:20:39.13
When I said Jesus
is not a man of joy,
00:20:39.17\00:20:41.24
actually, not a
lot of happiness.
00:20:41.27\00:20:43.54
Because when Isaiah
says he was a man of sorrow
00:20:43.57\00:20:46.01
acquainted with grief.
00:20:46.04\00:20:48.04
You know, it's
crazy that you could be,
00:20:48.08\00:20:50.51
you know sorrow, be
acquainted with grief,
00:20:50.55\00:20:54.12
and still have joy in
the midst of all that.
00:20:54.15\00:20:56.48
Because this is,
00:20:56.52\00:20:57.85
who for the joy
that was before Him,
00:20:57.89\00:21:01.26
so that moment, He's saying,
00:21:01.29\00:21:04.06
through all of
His sorrow and grief,
00:21:04.09\00:21:06.93
joy is waiting to embrace me.
00:21:06.96\00:21:08.96
I'm gonna know it,
I'm gonna experience it.
00:21:09.00\00:21:11.17
And I looked at
this again for the joy
00:21:11.20\00:21:14.74
that was set before
Him, the joy was coming,
00:21:14.77\00:21:18.21
He had joy doing
His Father's will,
00:21:18.24\00:21:19.87
but there was a
greater joy coming.
00:21:19.91\00:21:21.98
Can you imagine in
the morning when He said,
00:21:22.01\00:21:23.51
"All authority is given to Me,
00:21:23.55\00:21:25.78
you know, I am the
resurrection of the life."
00:21:25.81\00:21:28.32
That day there was nothing,
00:21:28.35\00:21:29.92
they could not
reverse that scenario
00:21:29.95\00:21:31.69
and re-persecute Him,
00:21:31.72\00:21:33.22
or retry Him or
re-nail Him to the cross.
00:21:33.25\00:21:35.79
So, yeah, we got to
look at the things that
00:21:35.82\00:21:37.39
when you're in
that grief and sorrow,
00:21:37.43\00:21:39.26
the joy is still leading you.
00:21:39.29\00:21:41.63
And that reminds me, why
don't you read on page 2,
00:21:41.66\00:21:44.63
James 1:2-4,
00:21:44.67\00:21:49.87
because this is an
interesting, James 1:2-4.
00:21:49.90\00:21:56.34
Angie, would you
read that for us?
00:21:56.38\00:21:57.71
Sure. Yeah.
00:21:57.75\00:21:59.08
"My brethren, count it all joy
00:21:59.11\00:22:00.95
when you fall
into various trials,
00:22:00.98\00:22:03.69
knowing that the
testing of your faith
00:22:03.72\00:22:05.95
produces patience.
00:22:05.99\00:22:07.79
But let patience
have its perfect work,
00:22:07.82\00:22:10.93
that you may be
perfect and complete,
00:22:10.96\00:22:13.50
lacking nothing."
00:22:13.53\00:22:16.03
Well, I tell you what?
00:22:16.06\00:22:17.40
That takes a
conscious commitment,
00:22:17.43\00:22:19.83
does it not?
00:22:19.87\00:22:21.20
You know, I
remember when my sister died
00:22:21.24\00:22:23.10
and it was so unexpected
00:22:23.14\00:22:24.71
and she was for all
practical purpose is my baby,
00:22:24.74\00:22:27.94
she was four
years younger than I.
00:22:27.98\00:22:29.91
And I'd always
basically been her mother,
00:22:29.94\00:22:32.75
she had a very,
very difficult life.
00:22:32.78\00:22:36.45
And, oh, man, it
just caught me off guard,
00:22:36.48\00:22:40.26
because I wasn't expecting it.
00:22:40.29\00:22:42.66
Yet, when they did an autopsy
because she died at home,
00:22:42.69\00:22:46.76
she just went to bed for
a nap and didn't wake up.
00:22:46.80\00:22:50.20
The autopsy revealed that
she had a heart condition,
00:22:50.23\00:22:54.40
a heart valve condition,
00:22:54.44\00:22:57.37
and also that she
had a liver condition.
00:22:57.41\00:22:59.54
And what a doctor told me is
00:22:59.57\00:23:01.58
they could not have treated
her for her liver condition
00:23:01.61\00:23:04.01
because of her heart condition.
00:23:04.05\00:23:05.95
They could not have
treated her for her heart
00:23:05.98\00:23:08.58
because of her liver.
00:23:08.62\00:23:10.22
So I was as sad as I was,
00:23:10.25\00:23:14.76
I was really quite joyful
00:23:14.79\00:23:16.66
that the Lord had
spared her of all of that.
00:23:16.69\00:23:20.13
And because I know I'll
see her again and I have,
00:23:20.16\00:23:24.10
I'll get to spend
eternity with her.
00:23:24.13\00:23:26.74
Yes, you will. Amen.
00:23:26.77\00:23:28.10
And that's what God show...
00:23:28.14\00:23:29.47
Can you imagine going through
00:23:29.50\00:23:30.84
the death of your beloved mother
00:23:30.87\00:23:32.87
without the blessed hope?
00:23:32.91\00:23:37.05
Well, it's been
three years tomorrow
00:23:37.08\00:23:39.21
since I lost my mom.
00:23:39.25\00:23:40.88
And it's so painful.
00:23:40.92\00:23:42.58
But John said to me,
00:23:42.62\00:23:44.32
because I said, why
does she have to go?
00:23:44.35\00:23:46.82
You know, she was 89 years old,
00:23:46.86\00:23:49.22
but I still
didn't want her to die.
00:23:49.26\00:23:51.23
And you said to me, honey, look,
00:23:51.26\00:23:53.40
it was gradual the way she went,
00:23:53.43\00:23:56.33
imagine if it was
sudden, the pain and it's true,
00:23:56.36\00:23:59.30
it was a gradual,
it was very gradual
00:23:59.33\00:24:02.07
how she went downhill,
00:24:02.10\00:24:03.44
but as Bible says
we'll have eternity together
00:24:03.47\00:24:06.94
and that gives me
such hope and joy eternity.
00:24:06.98\00:24:10.85
Can I bring something up here
I know that we're talking about
00:24:10.88\00:24:14.82
robbing of our loved
ones, Lord, and that is death.
00:24:14.85\00:24:18.65
James 1:1, 2,4.
00:24:18.69\00:24:20.59
Again it says, "Count it all joy
00:24:20.62\00:24:21.96
when you fall into
the various trials."
00:24:21.99\00:24:23.49
There's all kinds of
trials out there when alive.
00:24:23.53\00:24:25.89
And knowing that the testing
your faith produces patience.
00:24:25.93\00:24:29.13
Every morning here at
3ABN, we have a time of worship,
00:24:29.16\00:24:33.10
every department gets together
and we have time of worship.
00:24:33.13\00:24:35.77
I like to just take
one only one paragraph
00:24:35.80\00:24:38.47
that this is from Ellen White.
00:24:38.51\00:24:41.04
Those that know Ellen White know
00:24:41.08\00:24:42.48
that she knows
she's a wordsmith,
00:24:42.51\00:24:45.18
and those that don't,
00:24:45.21\00:24:46.55
oh, this is
absolutely fantastic.
00:24:46.58\00:24:49.08
And this is, if you
have one of those trials
00:24:49.12\00:24:51.02
and how the Lord
fits into your life.
00:24:51.05\00:24:53.15
This comes from what?
00:24:53.19\00:24:54.52
This is The
Faith that I Live By,
00:24:54.56\00:24:55.92
it's a devotional book.
00:24:55.96\00:24:57.59
By God's mighty cleaver,
00:24:57.63\00:25:00.50
key word, By God's
mighty cleaver of truth
00:25:00.53\00:25:03.37
we have been taken
from the quarry of the world
00:25:03.40\00:25:06.30
and brought into the workshop
of the Lord to be prepared
00:25:06.33\00:25:08.60
for a place in His temple.
00:25:08.64\00:25:09.97
In this work...
00:25:11.21\00:25:13.48
He's in the quarry,
He's got the cleaver.
00:25:13.51\00:25:15.81
In this work the hammer
00:25:15.84\00:25:17.45
and the chisel
must act their part,
00:25:17.48\00:25:20.28
and then comes the polishing.
00:25:20.32\00:25:22.48
Rebel not under
this process of grace.
00:25:22.52\00:25:26.12
You may be a rough stone,
00:25:26.15\00:25:27.56
on which much work must be done
00:25:27.59\00:25:29.42
before you are
prepared for the place
00:25:29.46\00:25:30.79
that God designs you to fill.
00:25:30.83\00:25:33.70
But you need not be surprised
00:25:33.73\00:25:35.43
if the hammer and
the chisel of God's trial
00:25:35.46\00:25:38.10
cuts away your
defects of character.
00:25:38.13\00:25:41.10
He alone can
accomplish this work.
00:25:41.14\00:25:42.90
And be assured
00:25:42.94\00:25:44.57
that He will not
strike one useless blow.
00:25:44.61\00:25:48.51
If you are
going through a trial,
00:25:48.54\00:25:52.05
if you're going through a test,
00:25:52.08\00:25:54.48
just know that
the creator of all
00:25:54.52\00:25:57.52
with His hammer and
He's got you in sight,
00:25:57.55\00:26:01.52
and He knows exactly
where to make this knock
00:26:01.56\00:26:06.46
with the hammer or
the chisel or whatever.
00:26:06.49\00:26:08.76
And then the end
result fits into that temple,
00:26:08.80\00:26:12.20
His temple perfectly.
00:26:12.23\00:26:14.14
That's right. Amen.
00:26:14.17\00:26:15.50
What a promise.
00:26:15.54\00:26:16.87
But to me, just the words
00:26:16.91\00:26:18.81
that are used at
the special time,
00:26:18.84\00:26:20.64
you know, 'cause
most of us are visual.
00:26:20.68\00:26:23.04
And we can just
see, so, good news.
00:26:23.08\00:26:27.02
The good news is though,
00:26:27.05\00:26:28.48
even though we do
go through these times,
00:26:28.52\00:26:31.32
the end result is
gonna be perfection.
00:26:31.35\00:26:33.66
So, John, have you ever
had a time this scripture
00:26:33.69\00:26:37.13
what you're saying right here
00:26:37.16\00:26:38.49
talking about the
hammer and the chisel.
00:26:38.53\00:26:40.96
Have you ever had
a time that the trial
00:26:41.00\00:26:43.60
that you've
proven this scripture
00:26:43.63\00:26:45.07
because it says in James1:3,
00:26:45.10\00:26:48.40
when he sang count it all
joy when you fall into trials,
00:26:48.44\00:26:51.77
and He says, knowing that
00:26:51.81\00:26:53.54
the testing of your
faith produces patience
00:26:53.58\00:26:57.35
and He's going to complete you.
00:26:57.38\00:26:59.38
Can you talk about a time
when the testing of your faith,
00:26:59.41\00:27:02.65
did it drive you to
deeper communion with the Lord?
00:27:02.68\00:27:05.25
I remember, it was
probably about now 13 years ago,
00:27:05.29\00:27:08.42
I think, yeah, 13
years ago, we were here.
00:27:08.46\00:27:12.53
And I remember, it was
just before camp meeting,
00:27:12.56\00:27:14.76
and we had been going
through particular trial.
00:27:14.80\00:27:17.77
And I remember
people are gathered,
00:27:17.80\00:27:20.84
the day before,
00:27:20.87\00:27:22.20
the camp meeting
was on Wednesday.
00:27:22.24\00:27:23.81
And I said, to those
who are gathering that day,
00:27:23.84\00:27:28.41
I was in the
blender, emotionally.
00:27:28.44\00:27:31.65
And I said, have
you ever felt like,
00:27:31.68\00:27:33.48
have you ever on
your way to church
00:27:33.52\00:27:35.38
felt like just driving by...
00:27:35.42\00:27:37.42
I remember when you
said that. And not stopping?
00:27:37.45\00:27:40.39
I said, that's
how I feel right now.
00:27:40.42\00:27:42.82
And I broke down right there
00:27:42.86\00:27:44.89
because the Lord
was chiseling me.
00:27:44.93\00:27:48.26
And you know, the chiseling,
00:27:48.30\00:27:49.90
as the Lord
chastens those whom He love,
00:27:49.93\00:27:55.97
and He says, endure the
chastening with the Father,
00:27:56.00\00:27:58.27
as one, as
knowing that He loves you.
00:27:58.31\00:28:01.54
He said, but no
chastening for the present
00:28:01.58\00:28:04.01
seems to be joyful,
00:28:04.05\00:28:05.41
but after it yields
00:28:05.45\00:28:06.78
the peaceable
fruit of the Spirit.
00:28:06.82\00:28:08.88
So I went though
that and I thought, wow,
00:28:08.92\00:28:12.22
and pulling off
the side of the highway
00:28:12.25\00:28:16.32
and just saying,
00:28:16.36\00:28:17.73
why am I going
through this, Lord?
00:28:17.76\00:28:20.16
And you know,
00:28:20.20\00:28:21.53
the Lord once
again was chiseling away
00:28:21.56\00:28:23.63
who I am,
00:28:23.67\00:28:25.10
so that He could show it more.
00:28:25.13\00:28:26.74
And, you know,
we all have marveled
00:28:26.77\00:28:28.67
at some of the most
beautiful sculptors,
00:28:28.70\00:28:30.91
sculptors that we've seen,
00:28:30.94\00:28:33.14
some of the most ornate
00:28:33.17\00:28:34.64
finishing
products of great masters.
00:28:34.68\00:28:37.28
But they didn't get that place
00:28:37.31\00:28:38.71
without a lot of
hammering and a sawing.
00:28:38.75\00:28:40.42
Yeah. And a lot
of chiseling away.
00:28:40.45\00:28:42.28
So here's the point.
00:28:42.32\00:28:43.75
I've told the Lord and
my wife, and I know this,
00:28:43.79\00:28:46.49
so whatever it
takes to get me ready.
00:28:46.52\00:28:48.02
So, you know, John 1:1-3,
00:28:48.06\00:28:51.03
you know, it does not yet appear
00:28:51.06\00:28:52.39
what we shall be,
that's the big old stone.
00:28:52.43\00:28:55.63
1 John, but we do know
that when He is revealed,
00:28:55.66\00:28:58.63
we will be like Him.
00:28:58.67\00:29:00.00
So He's chiseling away,
00:29:00.04\00:29:01.37
everything that does
not resemble Himself.
00:29:01.40\00:29:02.90
That's why one person
asked the sculptor, he said,
00:29:02.94\00:29:06.17
"How do you make
these masterpieces?"
00:29:06.21\00:29:09.48
He said,
"Whatever I chisel away,
00:29:09.51\00:29:11.08
I chisel away
00:29:11.11\00:29:12.45
whatever doesn't look
like the finished product."
00:29:12.48\00:29:15.22
Whatever doesn't look
like the finished product,
00:29:15.25\00:29:16.99
I chisel it away.
00:29:17.02\00:29:18.55
And God is doing that. So
here I am, 13 years later.
00:29:18.59\00:29:21.56
I knew, it was a trial. Yes.
00:29:21.59\00:29:23.56
We've gone through all
the trials too in life,
00:29:23.59\00:29:26.83
but look at what
Jesus has done for us.
00:29:26.86\00:29:29.63
He's so good.
00:29:29.66\00:29:31.17
And He's healed so many people,
00:29:31.20\00:29:33.64
you know, He's acquainted
with grief and sorrow.
00:29:33.67\00:29:36.40
Yet, He went and heal
the sick, raise the dead,
00:29:36.44\00:29:40.24
He brought joy to so many homes.
00:29:40.28\00:29:42.78
So many lives,
00:29:42.81\00:29:44.51
and what a wonderful God He is.
00:29:44.55\00:29:46.65
And He brings joy
to our life too...
00:29:46.68\00:29:48.88
That's right. Amen.
00:29:48.92\00:29:50.25
Every day.
00:29:50.29\00:29:51.62
It's kind of like
Romans 8:28, it says,
00:29:51.65\00:29:54.32
that He works all things
together for the good of those,
00:29:54.36\00:29:56.86
I mean, He didn't
cause those circumstances,
00:29:56.89\00:29:58.69
but He used them
for the chiseling.
00:29:58.73\00:30:00.60
Because the Bible says,
00:30:00.63\00:30:01.96
He works all things
together for the good of those
00:30:02.00\00:30:04.50
who love Him and are
called according to His purpose.
00:30:04.53\00:30:07.14
And he goes on to say
so that in other words,
00:30:07.17\00:30:11.57
the purpose is that we can be
00:30:11.61\00:30:16.04
like His Son Jesus.
00:30:16.08\00:30:17.41
Amen.
00:30:17.45\00:30:18.78
And, you know, it
says those He foreknew,
00:30:18.81\00:30:20.72
He predestined to be conformed
00:30:20.75\00:30:24.12
to the image of Jesus.
00:30:24.15\00:30:26.22
So, when the bad things happen
00:30:26.25\00:30:29.12
and doesn't mean God cause them,
00:30:29.16\00:30:31.43
but when He
allows that in our life,
00:30:31.46\00:30:34.76
boy, it's amazing how...
00:30:34.80\00:30:37.33
The worst year of my life was,
00:30:37.37\00:30:39.73
ended up being the
best year of my life,
00:30:39.77\00:30:42.60
because it caused me to press
into the presence of the Lord,
00:30:42.64\00:30:46.07
I learned the power of His Word,
00:30:46.11\00:30:48.18
and I learned what it
means to really abide.
00:30:48.21\00:30:50.58
Let's look at John 15:9-11.
00:30:50.61\00:30:54.25
Here Jesus is
talking about the vine
00:30:54.28\00:30:56.72
and He's just got through saying
00:30:56.75\00:30:58.69
that abide in Me and I knew
00:30:58.72\00:31:01.02
and He says, Hey, apart
from Me you can do nothing,
00:31:01.06\00:31:03.83
but read verse
9, John 15:9, Angie.
00:31:03.86\00:31:06.86
"As the Father loved
Me, I also have loved you,
00:31:06.90\00:31:10.87
abide in My love."
00:31:10.90\00:31:13.10
And keep going?
00:31:13.13\00:31:14.57
"If you keep My commandments,
you will abide in My love,
00:31:14.60\00:31:19.34
just as I have kept
My Father's commandments
00:31:19.37\00:31:22.91
and abide in His love.
00:31:22.94\00:31:25.15
These things I
have spoken to you,
00:31:25.18\00:31:27.62
that My joy may remain in you,
00:31:27.65\00:31:30.55
and that your joy may be full."
00:31:30.59\00:31:33.36
So what's He saying there?
00:31:33.39\00:31:36.79
To me that says obedience
is the pathway to blessings.
00:31:36.83\00:31:40.43
Yes. And joy.
00:31:40.46\00:31:42.36
And joy, that's the
source of our joy, isn't it?
00:31:42.40\00:31:45.87
And, you know, it's
so funny how many people,
00:31:45.90\00:31:49.30
you know, if you
use the word obedience,
00:31:49.34\00:31:52.74
they think that
you're unlearned in grace.
00:31:52.77\00:31:55.08
No, we can only obey
by grace because when...
00:31:55.11\00:31:59.85
The greatest
gifts of God's grace,
00:31:59.88\00:32:02.22
God so loved the world,
00:32:02.25\00:32:03.59
He gave His only begotten Son,
00:32:03.62\00:32:05.59
the Holy Spirit and His Word.
00:32:05.62\00:32:09.39
All three are working in us
00:32:09.42\00:32:12.06
to will and to do
His good pleasure.
00:32:12.09\00:32:14.66
We can't do His good
pleasure without that.
00:32:14.70\00:32:18.40
He's the one that
shows us the path of life.
00:32:18.43\00:32:21.17
So you mentioned...
00:32:21.20\00:32:22.54
Why don't you
read Galatians 5:22,
00:32:22.57\00:32:24.41
since we mentioned it,
00:32:24.44\00:32:25.77
the joys of fruit of the Spirit?
00:32:25.81\00:32:27.98
"But the fruit of
the Spirit is love, joy,
00:32:28.01\00:32:31.78
peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness."
00:32:31.81\00:32:36.12
And self control.
00:32:36.15\00:32:37.49
I didn't go all the way, did I?
00:32:37.52\00:32:38.85
Okay. And that's verse 23.
00:32:38.89\00:32:40.59
Yeah. Gentleness
and self control.
00:32:40.62\00:32:41.99
Gentleness and self control.
00:32:42.02\00:32:43.56
I think of that
00:32:43.59\00:32:44.93
as the 3D effect of
the fruit of the Spirit.
00:32:44.96\00:32:50.53
Love, joy and peace is something
00:32:50.57\00:32:51.93
that we experience internally.
00:32:51.97\00:32:57.51
Joy, I mean, peace, love,
joy and peace, long suffering,
00:32:57.54\00:33:01.64
kindness and goodness is
what we express to others.
00:33:01.68\00:33:05.81
Right.
00:33:05.85\00:33:07.18
But the faithfulness, and
the gentleness or meekness,
00:33:07.22\00:33:11.39
and self control,
00:33:11.42\00:33:12.75
this is about
covenant relationship
00:33:12.79\00:33:15.36
with the Lord, is it not?
00:33:15.39\00:33:17.39
But I love, Gayle, why
don't you read Jeremiah 15?
00:33:17.43\00:33:22.63
To me what brings
00:33:22.66\00:33:24.80
the greatest source of
joy is the word of God.
00:33:24.83\00:33:28.70
Amen.
00:33:28.74\00:33:30.07
Because we know His thoughts
and it reveals His promises.
00:33:30.11\00:33:34.21
Okay, Jeremiah 15:16,
00:33:34.24\00:33:36.78
"Your words were
found, and I ate them,
00:33:36.81\00:33:39.81
and Your word was to me
00:33:39.85\00:33:42.22
the joy and
rejoicing of my heart,
00:33:42.25\00:33:44.69
For I am called by Your
name, O Lord God of hosts."
00:33:44.72\00:33:48.59
Your word that was the joy
and the rejoicing of my heart.
00:33:48.62\00:33:54.20
JD, you tell me
stories every day,
00:33:54.23\00:33:58.27
about people who've called in,
00:33:58.30\00:34:00.57
and you give
them a word from God,
00:34:00.60\00:34:02.97
and they go from
being down in the dumps,
00:34:03.00\00:34:06.27
poor pitiful me
to feeling joyful
00:34:06.31\00:34:09.54
because they grab
hold of the promise of God.
00:34:09.58\00:34:13.88
Yes.
00:34:13.92\00:34:15.82
Well, this is
all over the place,
00:34:15.85\00:34:17.19
because I've got three
stories right here and...
00:34:17.22\00:34:20.46
Jump in there.
00:34:20.49\00:34:21.82
Well, first of all,
as I was looking at this,
00:34:21.86\00:34:24.76
I was so excited,
00:34:24.79\00:34:26.13
because, you know, I'm
just learning the word,
00:34:26.16\00:34:29.66
just like a lot of,
a lot of you out there.
00:34:29.70\00:34:34.14
So I messed up
00:34:34.17\00:34:36.37
the first two thirds of my life.
00:34:36.40\00:34:38.01
I'm playing catch up,
00:34:38.04\00:34:39.37
but I'll guarantee
you with the Lord's help,
00:34:39.41\00:34:40.74
you'll get caught up.
00:34:40.78\00:34:42.11
That's right. And
it's absolutely fantastic.
00:34:42.14\00:34:44.41
But as I was reading this,
you know, when He's talking,
00:34:44.45\00:34:47.72
Your words were
found and I ate them.
00:34:47.75\00:34:49.88
That means that
we're feeding on His words,
00:34:49.92\00:34:52.19
we're feeding on His words.
00:34:52.22\00:34:53.96
And then because of those words,
00:34:53.99\00:34:56.12
then it's just
saying like supernaturally,
00:34:56.16\00:34:57.99
there's where that joy
and rejoicing comes from.
00:34:58.03\00:35:01.13
But then it took
me to Psalms 19:10.
00:35:01.16\00:35:05.00
Psalms 19:10.
00:35:05.03\00:35:06.53
I just love this.
00:35:06.57\00:35:07.94
And the words that he
were talking about here,
00:35:07.97\00:35:10.41
that's what defined,
00:35:10.44\00:35:11.77
that your words were
found, and I ate them.
00:35:11.81\00:35:15.01
How come they were so sweet?
00:35:15.04\00:35:18.45
And in Psalms 19:10,
this is what David said.
00:35:18.48\00:35:22.28
Sweet mean that
they're sweeter than honey,
00:35:22.32\00:35:26.22
and also sweeter than honeycomb.
00:35:26.25\00:35:29.52
And, wow, you know,
now you can see that
00:35:29.56\00:35:32.49
and now you can taste that.
00:35:32.53\00:35:34.26
And if David could taste that
at certain place in his life,
00:35:34.30\00:35:38.47
if you're at that
place in your life,
00:35:38.50\00:35:40.47
those words apply to you too.
00:35:40.50\00:35:42.14
Yes. That's right.
00:35:42.17\00:35:43.51
But I was just thinking
about as you were saying this,
00:35:43.54\00:35:45.24
I had the neatest call,
00:35:45.27\00:35:47.08
yesterday, I think
or day before yesterday,
00:35:47.11\00:35:49.74
and this guy was calling
00:35:49.78\00:35:51.41
and he says, "Hello, may I
talk to someone in pastoral."
00:35:51.45\00:35:54.52
I says, "I can help you."
00:35:54.55\00:35:56.12
And he says, "I need help,
00:35:56.15\00:36:00.19
does Jesus love me?"
00:36:00.22\00:36:02.32
And I says, "He
will never leave you,
00:36:02.36\00:36:04.49
He never forsake you.
00:36:04.53\00:36:06.19
And he started crying.
00:36:06.23\00:36:08.36
And he says, "Do you
think that it would be all right
00:36:08.40\00:36:14.24
if I write it my sins
even at my own expense?
00:36:14.27\00:36:18.41
And I says, "Be more specific."
00:36:18.44\00:36:20.71
He says, "Well, I stole a
whole lot of stuff years ago,
00:36:20.74\00:36:26.21
and I cannot get
past that, the Holy Spirit
00:36:26.25\00:36:28.38
is just absolutely
00:36:28.42\00:36:31.29
given me a love spanking.
00:36:31.32\00:36:34.56
And I just feel like I've
got to go see these people.
00:36:34.59\00:36:39.29
And I've got to confess,
00:36:39.33\00:36:41.23
and I don't know
exactly how they'll take it.
00:36:41.26\00:36:46.17
I come back,
00:36:46.20\00:36:47.67
because I don't know
how they'll take it either.
00:36:47.70\00:36:51.54
But it's not my place
00:36:51.57\00:36:52.91
to get in the way
of that love spanking.
00:36:52.94\00:36:55.44
That's right. You see.
00:36:55.48\00:36:57.18
So I says, "You
know, this is a time
00:36:57.21\00:37:00.95
that we need to
go to the Holy Spirit
00:37:00.98\00:37:02.58
and the Holy Spirit promises
to make it very clear to you,
00:37:02.62\00:37:05.75
if you are prepared
to go confess something
00:37:05.79\00:37:08.79
that you don't know
if your reward will be.
00:37:08.82\00:37:11.73
Thank you for
sharing, go and sin no more,"
00:37:11.76\00:37:14.86
or whether they'll
say, "Hold on one second,
00:37:14.90\00:37:17.87
we're gonna call the police."
00:37:17.90\00:37:20.77
So we don't know.
00:37:20.80\00:37:22.24
And I said, "Which one of
those is more important to you?
00:37:22.27\00:37:24.94
Which would you?"
00:37:24.97\00:37:26.31
He says, "I don't
care, I've just got to call."
00:37:26.34\00:37:28.14
Praise the lord,
that was the Holy Spirit.
00:37:28.18\00:37:30.31
It was the Holy Spirit.
00:37:30.35\00:37:32.18
And so I choose to
believe that he was gonna call
00:37:32.21\00:37:36.95
when we got off the phone.
00:37:36.99\00:37:38.62
I gave him my extension,
because now I'm invested.
00:37:38.65\00:37:42.09
Yeah.
00:37:42.12\00:37:43.46
I want to know, how,
what's gonna happen here.
00:37:43.49\00:37:45.89
I'm curious.
00:37:45.93\00:37:47.26
And so I haven't heard today,
00:37:47.30\00:37:50.67
but today's early,
00:37:50.70\00:37:52.53
but I hope at least
I'll get to hear by Monday
00:37:52.57\00:37:54.74
that he will call back.
00:37:54.77\00:37:56.10
Amen. Amen. Amen.
00:37:56.14\00:37:59.11
So, it's fair to say
00:37:59.14\00:38:02.24
that when you're
not feeling too joyful,
00:38:02.28\00:38:05.95
you can get into the
Word and find some promise
00:38:05.98\00:38:09.58
in the Word that is
going to turn you back
00:38:09.62\00:38:14.52
to where you're, you
know, looking into Jesus,
00:38:14.56\00:38:17.43
the author and
finisher of your faith.
00:38:17.46\00:38:19.69
I love to read the Psalms.
00:38:19.73\00:38:22.16
I love because what we want
to spend the last few minutes
00:38:22.20\00:38:25.27
of this program
00:38:25.30\00:38:26.63
is focusing on how
we can restore joy.
00:38:26.67\00:38:30.51
We know that joy can overcome
00:38:30.54\00:38:33.94
and rise above
pain and persecution.
00:38:33.98\00:38:36.85
We know that joy
comes as we abide in Christ
00:38:36.88\00:38:40.45
and one of those things
is that we walk in obedience,
00:38:40.48\00:38:44.35
that's abiding in Christ.
00:38:44.39\00:38:46.05
We know that the
Word is the source of joy
00:38:46.09\00:38:49.86
because all of His promises
00:38:49.89\00:38:51.69
are yes and
amen in Christ Jesus.
00:38:51.73\00:38:54.16
We know that that
word belongs to us,
00:38:54.20\00:38:57.03
it doesn't return void.
00:38:57.07\00:38:58.73
He watches over
His word to perform it.
00:38:58.77\00:39:01.80
But, John, let's
talk about Psalms 42.
00:39:01.84\00:39:05.07
Okay.
00:39:05.11\00:39:06.44
And David was in a funk.
00:39:06.47\00:39:11.91
He was in a fiery trial. Yes.
00:39:11.95\00:39:14.02
But what did he say in verse 5?
00:39:14.05\00:39:17.45
He says, Psalms 42:5,
00:39:17.49\00:39:19.42
"Why are you
cast down, O my soul?
00:39:19.45\00:39:23.46
And why are you
disquieted within me?
00:39:23.49\00:39:26.63
Hope in God, for I
shall yet praise Him
00:39:26.66\00:39:30.73
for the help of
His countenance."
00:39:30.77\00:39:33.54
Wow.
00:39:33.57\00:39:35.10
He's asking himself,
why do I feel like this?
00:39:35.14\00:39:38.84
Yeah.
00:39:38.87\00:39:41.24
It would seem strange,
but he asked a question
00:39:41.28\00:39:44.51
that probably some of you asked.
00:39:44.55\00:39:47.52
Christians, it's not
unusual for us to ask God,
00:39:47.55\00:39:50.29
why do I feel this way?
00:39:50.32\00:39:51.75
And we asked that
question because we know Him.
00:39:51.79\00:39:54.16
So if I know God,
why do I feel this way?
00:39:54.19\00:39:56.66
That's what David is saying.
00:39:56.69\00:39:58.03
Why am I so empty
inside, disquieted?
00:39:58.06\00:40:02.63
That's what he's
in essence saying,
00:40:02.66\00:40:04.07
"Why is my inside
just not at peace?"
00:40:04.10\00:40:06.77
And we've all been
at that place before.
00:40:06.80\00:40:09.20
I remember one evening,
I was just so out of it.
00:40:09.24\00:40:12.41
I praise the Lord for my wife,
00:40:12.44\00:40:13.78
because that evening
and several occasions
00:40:13.81\00:40:15.74
this has happened
when I'm just all worn out.
00:40:15.78\00:40:17.41
But this particular night,
00:40:17.45\00:40:18.78
she just said, I'm
gonna read the Bible for you.
00:40:18.81\00:40:21.62
And she just kept
reading and kept reading
00:40:21.65\00:40:23.28
and kept
reading and kept reading
00:40:23.32\00:40:24.65
and I just lay there still,
I mean, I just like motionless,
00:40:24.69\00:40:28.32
until like a car that was empty,
00:40:28.36\00:40:30.76
that you get enough
fuel to restart the engine.
00:40:30.79\00:40:34.20
It got to the point
00:40:34.23\00:40:35.56
where my needle
started moving off spiritually.
00:40:35.60\00:40:38.97
And I said, I got up
and picked up my Bible,
00:40:39.00\00:40:41.17
and then I just
couldn't stop it,
00:40:41.20\00:40:43.10
she said, "I gotta go to bed."
00:40:43.14\00:40:44.47
No. "Could you
turn the light off?"
00:40:44.51\00:40:46.37
She filled up my empty
tank with the Word of God
00:40:46.41\00:40:48.81
and that's what I love
when going back a little bit,
00:40:48.84\00:40:51.71
your word was to me,
the joy of my rejoicing.
00:40:51.75\00:40:55.28
So when you're at that place
00:40:55.32\00:40:56.65
where you feel like
your soul is disquieted,
00:40:56.69\00:40:58.55
and you can't do something,
let your physical emotions,
00:40:58.59\00:41:02.36
let your physical body
just reach out for the Bible,
00:41:02.39\00:41:04.79
even though you feel that
00:41:04.83\00:41:06.16
it's not gonna
do anything for you.
00:41:06.19\00:41:07.53
And then you find that
00:41:07.56\00:41:08.90
the Word of God is
living, it's like...
00:41:08.93\00:41:10.83
Active.
00:41:10.87\00:41:12.20
The Bible is living
and active, it's powerful,
00:41:12.23\00:41:13.57
if you just let it come in,
00:41:13.60\00:41:15.00
it'd be like a
car whose tank is on E
00:41:15.04\00:41:18.31
and just dripping
like an ounce at a time.
00:41:18.34\00:41:21.98
And when there's
enough gas for that thing
00:41:22.01\00:41:23.51
to pull it in the
carburetor, it's gonna start up.
00:41:23.55\00:41:25.85
I've had that
experience many, many times
00:41:25.88\00:41:28.18
where I was just empty.
00:41:28.22\00:41:30.02
And God's word got poured in.
00:41:30.05\00:41:31.39
So I know, and then
he said, hope in God,
00:41:31.42\00:41:35.82
keep pouring, keep pouring,
while I shall yet praise Him
00:41:35.86\00:41:39.19
for the help of His countenance.
00:41:39.23\00:41:40.90
And, you know, hope isn't like,
00:41:40.93\00:41:43.57
well, maybe it will
happen or not happen,
00:41:43.60\00:41:46.00
hope, especially in the Greek it
00:41:46.03\00:41:47.37
meant eager expectation.
00:41:47.40\00:41:48.74
That's right.
00:41:48.77\00:41:50.11
So you're
expecting God to show up.
00:41:50.14\00:41:51.47
Come on.
00:41:51.51\00:41:52.91
That reminds me of a story.
00:41:52.94\00:41:54.38
We haven't thought
about this in 20 years,
00:41:54.41\00:41:57.38
but this guy, he
was needing some help,
00:41:57.41\00:42:00.45
he was down on his luck
and I said, "Can I help you?"
00:42:00.48\00:42:03.59
And he says, "Well, I'm
just totally out of fuel,
00:42:03.62\00:42:07.09
I know, I'm on fumes.
00:42:07.12\00:42:08.66
And I've got some
places very important to going.
00:42:08.69\00:42:10.56
I said, "Why
don't we just go down
00:42:10.59\00:42:12.49
and I'll gift you
with a tank of fuel."
00:42:12.53\00:42:15.80
And you do that?
00:42:15.83\00:42:17.93
And I said, "Yes."
00:42:17.97\00:42:19.30
And so I don't
know service stations
00:42:19.33\00:42:20.94
maybe half a block away,
so anyway we go down there.
00:42:20.97\00:42:24.07
And he's so excited,
00:42:24.11\00:42:25.87
and I says, "Why don't we get
a double pleasure out of this?
00:42:25.91\00:42:29.61
Why don't we
just turn the key on
00:42:29.64\00:42:32.18
and watch that
gauge as it fills up?
00:42:32.21\00:42:36.08
And we set there and
you know put it on automatic
00:42:36.12\00:42:39.65
and it's just running,
00:42:39.69\00:42:41.02
and you're just
watching that gauge
00:42:41.06\00:42:42.42
over here on
empty, and with that,
00:42:42.46\00:42:46.33
he's getting more excited.
00:42:46.36\00:42:47.80
I was getting more excited.
00:42:47.83\00:42:49.16
How interesting?
00:42:49.20\00:42:50.53
And then the tank was full.
00:42:50.57\00:42:52.20
And we didn't
have the car started,
00:42:52.23\00:42:53.57
we just had, let crisp them,
00:42:53.60\00:42:55.14
I mean, you
know, it's not smart.
00:42:55.17\00:42:56.64
Don't do that,
kids, don't do that.
00:42:56.67\00:42:59.47
Do as I say, not as I do.
00:42:59.51\00:43:02.34
But anyway, I
didn't thought about that,
00:43:02.38\00:43:04.91
but what a gift
that was to both of us
00:43:04.95\00:43:07.55
to actually see the
miracle of God at work...
00:43:07.58\00:43:11.95
Restoration. Seeing it.
00:43:11.99\00:43:13.32
Yeah. Amen.
00:43:13.36\00:43:15.22
Hope in God. Have you ever...?
00:43:15.26\00:43:17.56
I love Psalm 51.
00:43:17.59\00:43:20.73
If there's a time in my life
00:43:20.76\00:43:23.50
that I feel that
I need to repent,
00:43:23.53\00:43:26.80
I just go read Psalm 51 again,
because it's such a beautiful.
00:43:26.84\00:43:31.14
And sometimes,
wouldn't you agree
00:43:31.17\00:43:33.58
sometimes when you're
feeling really disquieted
00:43:33.61\00:43:35.94
is because there's something
between you and God or...
00:43:35.98\00:43:41.72
Well, anyway, in
Psalm 51:2, when David...
00:43:41.75\00:43:46.15
Verse 12, when David was praying
00:43:46.19\00:43:48.42
and he had confessed his sin,
00:43:48.46\00:43:49.79
this was after his sin
with Bathsheba, Nathan,
00:43:49.82\00:43:54.23
you know,
Nathan had come to him,
00:43:54.26\00:43:55.96
he sent Uriah off,
Uriah had been killed.
00:43:56.00\00:43:59.30
So Nathan came and told
him the story of the man,
00:43:59.33\00:44:02.40
the rich man that took the
poor man's one little lamb.
00:44:02.44\00:44:05.51
And then he
says, you're the man.
00:44:05.54\00:44:07.08
You're the man.
You know, sure he did.
00:44:07.11\00:44:08.78
So David is repenting.
00:44:08.81\00:44:12.25
But he says something
that it's so beautiful to me
00:44:12.28\00:44:14.85
because he says, "Restore to me
00:44:14.88\00:44:18.19
the joy of Your salvation."
00:44:18.22\00:44:21.02
That's right.
00:44:21.06\00:44:22.39
You know, what I have found?
00:44:22.42\00:44:25.29
No matter how bad
circumstances are,
00:44:25.33\00:44:28.56
I don't care what's
going on around you.
00:44:28.60\00:44:31.73
And I think this is why
00:44:31.77\00:44:33.54
when Paul and Silas
were imprisoned and beaten,
00:44:33.57\00:44:36.50
and they were
singing and everything,
00:44:36.54\00:44:38.37
they knew the joy of salvation.
00:44:38.41\00:44:41.08
When you think
about God came to earth,
00:44:41.11\00:44:45.95
to become a man and then
to die on the cross for us,
00:44:45.98\00:44:50.79
to give us the
gift of salvation.
00:44:50.82\00:44:54.22
And once you learn,
you can't earn salvation,
00:44:54.26\00:44:58.36
that robs your joy.
00:44:58.39\00:44:59.73
That's right. That's right.
00:44:59.76\00:45:01.10
But once you
learn that that's a gift
00:45:01.13\00:45:03.97
and that your obedience is
just covenant faithfulness.
00:45:04.00\00:45:07.44
Boy, I'll tell you, I
can be down in the mouth
00:45:07.47\00:45:10.64
and all of a sudden,
I'm just, "Thank you, Lord,
00:45:10.67\00:45:13.41
for what You've done for me."
00:45:13.44\00:45:14.78
And next thing I
know I'm through the roof.
00:45:14.81\00:45:16.51
Amen.
00:45:16.54\00:45:17.88
Have you ever had an
experience like that,
00:45:17.91\00:45:22.08
Gayle, where you felt like
00:45:22.12\00:45:25.59
maybe you were
trying to save yourself
00:45:25.62\00:45:27.62
and it wouldn't work in
and you weren't very joyful?
00:45:27.66\00:45:29.96
Oh, for years, probably.
00:45:29.99\00:45:33.09
Yeah.
00:45:33.13\00:45:36.16
I'm trying to think of
something in particular,
00:45:36.20\00:45:38.63
but you know, a lot of my life,
00:45:38.67\00:45:43.04
I made some really
poor decisions in my life
00:45:43.07\00:45:45.87
and trying to get
out of those on my own.
00:45:45.91\00:45:50.61
That was, yeah,
it's like on a treadmill.
00:45:50.65\00:45:54.85
You just keep
going round and round
00:45:54.88\00:45:56.32
and round and getting nowhere.
00:45:56.35\00:45:58.15
And then when I would actually
00:45:58.19\00:46:02.02
seriously give it to the Lord
00:46:02.06\00:46:04.46
and watch Him work in my life.
00:46:04.49\00:46:07.00
It's just so
amazing because He does,
00:46:10.87\00:46:14.07
even though
we've tried to hold on
00:46:14.10\00:46:16.30
to all these things
all this time ourselves
00:46:16.34\00:46:18.77
and trying to, you know,
work out our own salvation
00:46:18.81\00:46:22.08
in whatever circumstance it is.
00:46:22.11\00:46:24.88
And when we give it to Him,
00:46:24.91\00:46:28.28
He does, He takes it
and He does make a change.
00:46:28.32\00:46:31.99
And all of a
sudden, the doors are open.
00:46:32.02\00:46:34.79
And, you know, I'm
out of that circumstance.
00:46:34.82\00:46:38.89
And I didn't think I
was really going to be,
00:46:38.93\00:46:43.70
I wasn't sure if I was
gonna make it seriously out.
00:46:43.73\00:46:46.40
Did you always
know about righteousness
00:46:46.43\00:46:48.20
by faith or there was ever...?
00:46:48.24\00:46:49.57
No. Okay.
00:46:49.60\00:46:50.94
So, I want you to
read Isaiah 61:10.
00:46:50.97\00:46:54.04
Because to me, this is one,
00:46:54.08\00:46:57.01
and I'm just
gonna tell you at home.
00:46:57.05\00:46:58.38
If you wanna restore your joy,
00:46:58.41\00:47:00.65
meditate on Isaiah 61:10,
00:47:00.68\00:47:05.15
because this ought
00:47:05.19\00:47:06.89
to put your joy
through the roof.
00:47:06.92\00:47:09.09
"I will greatly
rejoice in the Lord,
00:47:09.12\00:47:11.86
my soul shall be
joyful in my God,
00:47:11.89\00:47:14.76
for He has clothed me
with the garments of salvation,
00:47:14.80\00:47:18.43
He has covered me
00:47:18.47\00:47:19.80
with the robe of righteousness."
00:47:19.83\00:47:21.57
I mean, that's
a two hander. Yes.
00:47:26.07\00:47:27.94
Because it says we recognize,
00:47:27.98\00:47:32.21
He is the one who
gives us the robe of right...
00:47:32.25\00:47:35.05
Righteousness by faith to me
00:47:35.08\00:47:37.49
is the most exciting
teaching that there is.
00:47:37.52\00:47:42.22
And I know that's
what increases my joy.
00:47:42.26\00:47:44.89
Mm-hmm.
00:47:44.93\00:47:46.33
I'm glad you did
that two hander there
00:47:46.36\00:47:48.46
because sometimes we
read through the text,
00:47:48.50\00:47:51.60
but if you pause and say,
00:47:51.63\00:47:53.54
where did you get
your garment from?
00:47:53.57\00:47:56.00
He clothed me with
the garment of salvation.
00:47:56.04\00:48:00.24
He has covered me with
a robe of righteousness.
00:48:00.28\00:48:04.71
That's beautiful that
you say that a lot of times
00:48:04.75\00:48:06.72
that goes over our head
00:48:06.75\00:48:08.08
because, you know, it
sounds like a mantra sometimes,
00:48:08.12\00:48:09.95
where His
righteousness, His Holiness,
00:48:09.98\00:48:12.05
His faithfulness,
but when you think about
00:48:12.09\00:48:15.66
who we are that we
can never add to anything.
00:48:15.69\00:48:18.96
And then someone comes along,
00:48:18.99\00:48:20.63
looks at us, filthy,
outcast, ready for death,
00:48:20.66\00:48:26.13
miserable, poor, blind, naked.
00:48:26.17\00:48:28.10
And then, He
says, close your eyes
00:48:28.14\00:48:31.41
and I gonna redress you.
00:48:31.44\00:48:32.94
Amen.
00:48:32.97\00:48:34.31
And then He does a Joshua thing.
00:48:34.34\00:48:35.78
Amen.
00:48:35.81\00:48:37.15
He just does the Joshua thing.
00:48:37.18\00:48:39.15
He did it to
Isaiah, he touched his lips
00:48:39.18\00:48:41.08
where he purified his lips,
00:48:41.12\00:48:42.45
He did it to
Peter, He said, Peter...
00:48:42.48\00:48:44.42
And I like this.
00:48:44.45\00:48:45.79
He said, to tell us,
00:48:45.82\00:48:47.16
ask for Me, ask
to sift his weed.
00:48:47.19\00:48:49.66
And you know that
to me, I told Angie,
00:48:49.69\00:48:52.29
I identify with
Peter in so many ways,
00:48:52.33\00:48:53.96
and I remember that the Lord
didn't say I'm gonna stop it.
00:48:54.00\00:48:57.63
I'm not gonna stop
it from shaking you.
00:48:57.67\00:48:59.83
But I love this. He
was a weed, not a tare.
00:48:59.87\00:49:01.77
He says, He wants
to sift to his weed.
00:49:01.80\00:49:03.34
Right.
00:49:03.37\00:49:04.71
He was one of God's people.
00:49:04.74\00:49:06.68
He was weed. He
was weed, not a tare.
00:49:06.71\00:49:08.84
But then I love this part.
00:49:08.88\00:49:10.45
He didn't say, if you
return and He said when?
00:49:10.48\00:49:13.01
When?
00:49:13.05\00:49:14.38
Amen.
00:49:14.42\00:49:15.75
I got to put you
through the wringer,
00:49:15.78\00:49:17.19
when you come back,
strengthen the brethren.
00:49:17.22\00:49:20.26
And Peter was
changed forever, was he not?
00:49:20.29\00:49:23.26
He was changed
forever. He never went back.
00:49:23.29\00:49:25.16
The day of Pentecost,
the Lord had to get Peter
00:49:25.19\00:49:27.10
out of the way for
in time for that sermon
00:49:27.13\00:49:28.46
on the day of Pentecost.
00:49:28.50\00:49:29.83
Amen.
00:49:29.86\00:49:31.83
He was a
preacher on the schedule,
00:49:31.87\00:49:33.23
but the Lord
just never showed him.
00:49:33.27\00:49:34.60
I got your name under
preach, I gotta put you
00:49:34.64\00:49:36.60
through the dryer
before I get out to preach.
00:49:36.64\00:49:38.41
And when he got out
there, he could say on that day,
00:49:38.44\00:49:41.38
repent and be converted,
00:49:41.41\00:49:42.98
because that's
what he experienced.
00:49:43.01\00:49:44.35
Amen.
00:49:44.38\00:49:45.71
He couldn't preach
what he did not experience.
00:49:45.75\00:49:47.08
So we got to go
through the trials of life
00:49:47.12\00:49:48.58
sometimes to get
that garment of salvation,
00:49:48.62\00:49:51.45
that robe of righteousness.
00:49:51.49\00:49:55.19
I like this. It
feels good. Oh, boy.
00:49:55.22\00:49:57.49
And it's not just a
feeling, it's a reality.
00:49:57.53\00:49:59.56
Praise God for that. I
love this topic, Shelley.
00:49:59.59\00:50:00.93
Okay.
00:50:00.96\00:50:02.30
When you said, you just said...
00:50:02.33\00:50:03.67
Angie, I'm gonna give
you the next scripture
00:50:03.70\00:50:05.13
because he just
got through saying,
00:50:05.17\00:50:06.57
you can't preach
what you don't know.
00:50:06.60\00:50:09.14
How true.
00:50:09.17\00:50:11.01
Right.
00:50:11.04\00:50:12.37
And when we are
talking about restoring joy,
00:50:12.41\00:50:15.38
I know that this
little gal over here,
00:50:15.41\00:50:19.58
my sister, you are a person
of prayer and thanksgiving.
00:50:19.61\00:50:25.22
You're constantly giving thanks.
00:50:25.25\00:50:27.82
You know, to me that's
so important in my prayer.
00:50:27.86\00:50:30.13
I spent more than 50% of
my prayer in thanksgiving.
00:50:30.16\00:50:33.66
Because it puts me
in the right attitude.
00:50:33.70\00:50:35.50
And be very grateful.
00:50:35.53\00:50:36.87
Read Psalm 107,
because to restore your joy,
00:50:36.90\00:50:42.10
you need a thankful heart.
00:50:42.14\00:50:44.17
A thankful heart
is a joyful heart.
00:50:44.21\00:50:46.54
Yes. Okay.
00:50:46.57\00:50:47.91
Here it is.
00:50:47.94\00:50:49.28
"Oh, give thanks to
the Lord, for He is good!
00:50:49.31\00:50:52.38
For His mercy endures forever.
00:50:52.41\00:50:56.02
Oh, that men would give thanks
to the Lord for His goodness,
00:50:56.05\00:51:00.49
And for His wonderful
works to the children of men!
00:51:00.52\00:51:05.06
For He satisfies
the longing soul,
00:51:05.09\00:51:08.33
and fills the
hungry soul with goodness."
00:51:08.36\00:51:12.13
That's a
thankful heart, isn't it?
00:51:12.17\00:51:13.84
That's right.
00:51:13.87\00:51:15.37
And, you know, I
am gonna tell a story,
00:51:15.40\00:51:18.41
there's a lady that
calls, I've not met her,
00:51:18.44\00:51:21.44
but I minister to her a lot.
00:51:21.48\00:51:23.24
And sometimes I tell her,
00:51:23.28\00:51:26.15
you realize you're doing
the poor pitiful parole act?
00:51:26.18\00:51:29.32
I mean, she's melodramatic,
00:51:29.35\00:51:33.19
she's kind of
the chicken little,
00:51:33.22\00:51:34.66
the sky is
falling, the sky is falling.
00:51:34.69\00:51:36.96
And she can feel
really sorry for herself.
00:51:36.99\00:51:40.26
I mean, you know, what?
00:51:40.30\00:51:41.63
Self pity is straight
from the pits of hell.
00:51:41.66\00:51:44.33
Yes. It is.
00:51:44.37\00:51:46.30
And so she will get start
00:51:46.33\00:51:48.10
and then I'll say, Okay,
let's make a gratitude list.
00:51:48.14\00:51:53.74
Let's talk about what you have,
00:51:53.78\00:51:56.34
and even, I mean,
00:51:56.38\00:51:57.91
you know, I've been going
through a lot of back pain.
00:51:57.95\00:51:59.98
Yes.
00:52:00.02\00:52:01.35
But I praise the
Lord that I can walk,
00:52:01.38\00:52:03.35
I praise the Lord that
I can see that I can hear.
00:52:03.39\00:52:05.45
You know, you can
always look at something,
00:52:05.49\00:52:08.12
you know,
what's that old saying?
00:52:08.16\00:52:10.89
I was something about having...
00:52:10.93\00:52:12.66
I was feeling bad
about having no shoes
00:52:12.69\00:52:15.03
till I saw a man with no feet.
00:52:15.06\00:52:17.67
So this is something
that I think thankfulness
00:52:17.70\00:52:21.27
is the quickest way
to restore your joy.
00:52:21.30\00:52:23.67
And when I walk
through this with her,
00:52:23.71\00:52:27.41
by the time she gets down to,
00:52:27.44\00:52:29.58
I don't know what I've
got to be thankful for?
00:52:29.61\00:52:31.61
You have running
water, is it hot water?
00:52:31.65\00:52:33.85
I mean...
00:52:33.88\00:52:35.22
Ready to pull it out.
00:52:35.25\00:52:36.89
Some people, they like that.
00:52:36.92\00:52:38.49
But as soon as
you do, guess what?
00:52:38.52\00:52:41.32
She's excited again.
00:52:41.36\00:52:43.29
She's got a joyful heart,
when you get off the phone.
00:52:43.32\00:52:47.63
You probably deal with people.
00:52:47.66\00:52:49.33
Yeah, I had a phone call today
with someone that called me
00:52:49.36\00:52:53.67
and they were all depressed
and everything's going wrong
00:52:53.70\00:52:58.14
with them,
nothing's going right.
00:52:58.17\00:53:00.31
And I said, "Well, you
have a lot to be thankful for.
00:53:00.34\00:53:04.28
You have a sound mind."
00:53:04.31\00:53:05.98
And when I prayed with
her, I pray that prayer,
00:53:06.01\00:53:07.72
you have a sound mind.
00:53:07.75\00:53:09.22
You can walk and
talk, so many people,
00:53:09.25\00:53:11.92
they can't talk
00:53:11.95\00:53:13.29
or they don't
have what you have.
00:53:13.32\00:53:15.52
And you know, she said,
you know, you are so right.
00:53:15.56\00:53:17.96
And those words, the
Lord gave me, it was lot more.
00:53:17.99\00:53:21.33
But those words the
Lord gave me to encourage her
00:53:21.36\00:53:23.67
because she was
just down and out.
00:53:23.70\00:53:26.53
And I'm like, pick your chin up,
00:53:26.57\00:53:29.30
you gonna be okay.
00:53:29.34\00:53:30.67
I think that's why,
you know, the Bible says,
00:53:30.71\00:53:32.87
what is it Psalm 100:4,
00:53:32.91\00:53:34.68
that says, "Enter His
gates with thanksgiving
00:53:34.71\00:53:37.65
and into His
courts with praise."
00:53:37.68\00:53:39.71
I think that as we begin
our prayer with thanksgiving,
00:53:39.75\00:53:42.85
no matter how down
in the mount we are,
00:53:42.88\00:53:45.22
when we come,
00:53:45.25\00:53:46.59
we're recognizing
Him for who He is.
00:53:46.62\00:53:48.36
That's right.
00:53:48.39\00:53:49.72
That He is our
Shepherd, we will not want
00:53:49.76\00:53:51.33
and we start giving Him
thanks and showing gratitude
00:53:51.36\00:53:56.03
and then the praise,
00:53:56.06\00:53:57.57
and pretty soon our
prayer is not about ourself,
00:53:57.60\00:54:00.47
it's for everybody else we know
in God's work and the world.
00:54:00.50\00:54:04.64
Okay, we gotta to end on this.
00:54:04.67\00:54:06.17
And, JD, why
don't you read this?
00:54:06.21\00:54:08.91
This scripture,
I always use this.
00:54:08.94\00:54:12.81
Well, I can't
since I've been to 3ABN,
00:54:12.85\00:54:15.28
I don't send out a lot of cards,
00:54:15.32\00:54:17.32
Christmas cards, but I
used to always use this,
00:54:17.35\00:54:20.36
but I do in texts.
00:54:20.39\00:54:22.49
I don't have time
to do cards anymore.
00:54:22.52\00:54:23.86
Yeah. No one does.
00:54:23.89\00:54:25.23
That's Romans 15:13, JD.
00:54:25.26\00:54:27.93
Oh, wow.
00:54:27.96\00:54:29.33
This is one of my favorites.
00:54:29.36\00:54:30.83
Me too.
00:54:30.87\00:54:32.20
"Now may the God of hope."
00:54:32.23\00:54:34.07
Remember, Shelley,
said while ago hope in Greek
00:54:34.10\00:54:36.30
is eager expectation.
00:54:36.34\00:54:37.67
Oh, yeah.
00:54:37.71\00:54:39.04
So now let's read it the way
it would perhaps sounding Greek,
00:54:39.07\00:54:41.21
except in English.
00:54:41.24\00:54:43.28
"Now may the God of
eager expectation fill you
00:54:43.31\00:54:46.31
with all joy and
peace in believing,
00:54:46.35\00:54:48.75
that you may abound in
hope and eager expectation
00:54:48.78\00:54:52.45
by the power of
the Holy Spirit."
00:54:52.49\00:54:54.49
Amen.
00:54:54.52\00:54:55.86
Man, we've got
everybody involved here.
00:54:55.89\00:54:57.59
We got you involved here.
00:54:57.63\00:54:58.96
We got God involved here.
00:54:58.99\00:55:00.33
We got Jesus involved here
00:55:00.36\00:55:01.70
and we got the Holy
Spirit involved here.
00:55:01.73\00:55:03.63
And whatever you do,
00:55:03.67\00:55:07.10
in whatever situation
you're in, give Him thanks.
00:55:07.14\00:55:10.11
That's right.
00:55:10.14\00:55:11.94
And, Lord, increase my faith,
00:55:11.97\00:55:14.01
thank You, Jesus that I
do have that promise of hope.
00:55:14.04\00:55:18.61
And I'm just
waiting like a little bird,
00:55:18.65\00:55:20.75
you know, waiting for
mama to come feeding, you know.
00:55:20.78\00:55:24.92
And I'm gonna
receive that. That's right.
00:55:24.95\00:55:26.79
You know, that
bothered me for a long time ago.
00:55:26.82\00:55:30.76
My prayer is this
00:55:30.79\00:55:32.13
and they would say I receive it.
00:55:32.16\00:55:35.00
For some reason
I just kind of like
00:55:35.03\00:55:37.67
they're chalking
against the blackboard,
00:55:37.70\00:55:39.37
you know, but the
more I thought about
00:55:39.40\00:55:41.30
when I was a
little bit more mature,
00:55:41.34\00:55:43.20
think, good for you
that you are receiving that.
00:55:43.24\00:55:45.77
That's right.
00:55:45.81\00:55:47.14
And so this is a
promise that we can all receive
00:55:47.18\00:55:50.05
whatever name you put in there,
00:55:50.08\00:55:52.01
may the God of hope fill
you with all joy and peace
00:55:52.05\00:55:54.12
in believing that
you may abound in hope
00:55:54.15\00:55:58.02
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
00:55:58.05\00:55:59.69
I like the way, I don't have
an Amplified version with me,
00:55:59.72\00:56:02.69
but the Amplified version
says, so that you can bubble
00:56:02.72\00:56:06.36
over with hope that
your heart will just bubble
00:56:06.39\00:56:09.53
over with eager
expectation of what's God,
00:56:09.56\00:56:13.27
you know, we have a...
00:56:13.30\00:56:15.80
Here in the United States,
00:56:15.84\00:56:17.51
we have a national
holiday, Thanksgiving.
00:56:17.54\00:56:21.38
And often, people stop
and they go around the table
00:56:21.41\00:56:26.25
at the meal and they say,
one thing they're thankful for,
00:56:26.28\00:56:29.45
but we should be
doing that every day.
00:56:29.48\00:56:32.12
Because if you want
to restore your joy,
00:56:32.15\00:56:35.56
get into the
Word, trust in the Lord.
00:56:35.59\00:56:38.53
Rejoice that His
salvation is yours.
00:56:38.56\00:56:43.20
Have a thankful heart
00:56:43.23\00:56:46.17
and eager expectation.
00:56:46.20\00:56:49.37
Thank you all, so
much for being here.
00:56:49.40\00:56:50.87
It's wonderful. It
just went real fast.
00:56:50.91\00:56:53.81
Thank you,
Gayle, for being here.
00:56:53.84\00:56:55.74
Honey, it's
always such a pleasure
00:56:55.78\00:56:58.38
and we will be
praying afterwards
00:56:58.41\00:57:00.88
because we don't have
time to pray right now.
00:57:00.92\00:57:03.35
But just know that
00:57:03.39\00:57:04.72
as we continue
in this Sabbath day,
00:57:04.75\00:57:07.12
we pray for you
all the time, don't we?
00:57:07.16\00:57:09.19
Yes, we do.
00:57:09.22\00:57:10.56
And our primary prayer for you
00:57:10.59\00:57:13.13
is that the grace of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
00:57:13.16\00:57:17.03
and the love, the
hesed of the Father,
00:57:17.07\00:57:20.94
and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit
00:57:20.97\00:57:24.07
will be with you, not
only this Sabbath day,
00:57:24.11\00:57:27.31
but every day for
the rest of your life.
00:57:27.34\00:57:29.51
Thank you for joining us,
and let your joy be unending.
00:57:29.54\00:57:33.55
Amen. Amen.
00:57:33.58\00:57:34.92
Amen. That was good.
00:57:34.95\00:57:36.28