Participants:
Series Code: TDYFW
Program Code: TDYFW190036A
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:08 Mending broken people 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:19 Removing pain 00:24 Lord, let my words 00:30 Heal a heart that hurts 00:35 I want to spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:46 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people 01:08 Oh, hello. I'm Shelley Quinn. JD Quinn. 01:11 And we welcome you to 3ABN Family Worship. 01:15 We're so excited that the Sabbath has rolled in 01:18 and I just want, let's... 01:20 Before I go on about the Sabbath, 01:22 let's go ahead and introduce the family at the table, 01:24 JD, you wanna do that first? 01:26 I'm gonna start over to my left. 01:27 This is Gayle. 01:29 Glad to have Gayle, 01:30 this is her first family worship. 01:31 We're just tickled that you're here with us. 01:33 Thank you. We got... 01:34 Breathe deeply. 01:35 We got Pastor John, our pastor. Yes. 01:37 Our good friend and his precious wife Angie. 01:40 Yes. I think, everyone knows them. 01:42 And, of course, my precious little wife, Shelley. 01:44 Well, I'll tell you what? 01:46 I want to encourage the young people at home. 01:49 We have people... 01:51 I'll put it this way of experience 01:53 sitting at the table. 01:54 But if you're young, don't just tune out and say, 01:56 well, what can I learn from them? 01:57 Because tonight we will be talking about unending joy. 02:02 And my experience has been, 02:04 this is a lesson that we learn better 02:07 as we mature in Christ. 02:09 And the points we're going to make 02:11 is the difference between happiness and joy. 02:14 Joy rises above persecution and pain. 02:18 Joy is promised to all who abide in the Lord. 02:21 It's the fruit of the Spirit. 02:23 God's word is our source of joy 02:27 because it reveals His promises. 02:29 And how can we restore joy? 02:32 We go all around the United States in the world, 02:36 and we meet joyful people, 02:38 but then we meet a lot of Christians 02:40 who just look like they've been sucking on a persimmon. 02:43 And so we want, 02:46 I think it's important to know that joy can be unending. 02:51 That's right. 02:52 And let me tell you at home 02:54 if you are not familiar with the Sabbath, 02:57 why we are so joyful when the Sabbath rolls in 03:00 because it is, the Bible tells us, 03:02 it's a reminder that God is our Creator. 03:05 He's the one who recreates us in the image of Jesus. 03:08 He is our deliverer. 03:10 But my favorite scripture on the Sabbath is John, 03:13 excuse me, Exodus 31:13, 03:16 where God says, "He gave us his Sabbath 03:19 as a sign that He is the one who sanctifies us." 03:24 Amen. That's right. 03:25 How many of you have tried to sanctify yourself? 03:27 And that doesn't mean to set yourself 03:28 apart from sins. 03:30 It's impossible without His power, 03:33 without Him working in us. 03:35 That's right. So, we're so excited. 03:38 John, why don't you open with prayer? 03:39 Sure. Okay. 03:40 Loving Father in heaven, it is a joy to study Your Word. 03:44 And thank You for the joy 03:46 that we're going to find sharing what You reveal to us. 03:50 Bless us now in the Sabbath hours, 03:52 with Your presence and Your power we ask, 03:54 in Jesus' name, amen. 03:57 Amen. Amen. 03:58 So, JD, would you like to introduce 04:02 the other person of our family. 04:03 Yes. 04:05 First of all, we have Farah Barry. 04:07 She's gonna be playing our special music 04:10 that we're all gonna participate in. 04:12 And, oh, I just love singing, can't sing, but that's okay. 04:16 You know. 04:17 We have two singers at this table, 04:19 I think in way and they are at both the ends. 04:22 And we're gonna be singing 04:23 Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, 04:26 and in the Adventist hymnal lesson number 469. 04:29 But we'll also have the lyrics 04:31 at the bottom of the screen for you. 04:33 So sing along. Sing along with us. 04:34 We're gonna make a joyful noise. 04:36 That's right. 04:42 What a fellowship, what a joy divine 04:47 Leaning on the everlasting arms 04:51 What a blessedness, what a peace is mine 04:56 Leaning on the everlasting arms 05:00 Leaning, leaning 05:04 Safe and secure from all alarms 05:08 Leaning, leaning 05:12 Leaning on the everlasting arms 05:16 O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way 05:21 Leaning on the everlasting arms 05:25 O how bright the path grows from day to day 05:29 Leaning on the everlasting arms 05:33 Leaning, leaning 05:37 Safe and secure from all alarms 05:41 Leaning, leaning 05:45 Leaning on the everlasting arms 05:49 What have I to dread, what have I to fear 05:54 Leaning on the everlasting arms? 05:58 I have blessed peace with my Lord so near 06:03 Leaning on the everlasting arms 06:07 Leaning, leaning 06:11 Safe and secure from all alarms 06:15 Leaning, leaning 06:19 Leaning on the everlasting arms 06:25 Amen. Thank you, Farah. 06:27 And, boy, what? 06:29 You know, it's interesting 06:30 I had that virus that scarred my vocal folds. 06:34 I was trying to sing 06:36 and my voice wouldn't even come out on that key. 06:39 You made a joyful noise. 06:42 That's because I wasn't singing. 06:43 It wouldn't come out. It's a joy to hear you sing. 06:46 If you heard it, then you've got great ears. 06:49 Okay, let's just jump right into this. 06:53 What is the difference between happiness and joy? 07:02 Normally, happiness depends upon our circumstances, 07:04 something happens around you, 07:06 you know, you're either up or you're down subject 07:09 to that particular environment. 07:11 I think that's what I found. 07:13 So happiness can be transitory, it's not a permanent thing. 07:16 I mean, it's hard to be happy 07:20 when your loved one is in ICU, 07:22 and they're dying of cancer say. 07:26 So, as the circumstances change, 07:28 happiness comes and goes. 07:30 Yeah. Well, what is joy? 07:34 I used to think it was the same thing. 07:37 You know, and really until this study, 07:39 and really getting into it. 07:42 I didn't really know the difference. 07:44 And so, some of the scriptures 07:46 didn't really ring really well with me. 07:50 And now it's really great 07:51 to really understand what that is. 07:54 Praise God. 07:55 So joy, our joy, it's a gift of the Holy Spirit. 08:00 And it's founded on God's unchanging nature on His love. 08:06 And let me share something with you. 08:07 We're very familiar if you go to church, 08:10 you hear agape all the time. 08:12 And that's a Greek word. 08:14 It's used in the New Testament. 08:15 It means unconditional love. 08:18 And people don't realize 08:20 there's a word to me that surpasses agape. 08:24 And it's a Hebrew word used throughout the Old Testament, 08:28 hesed, H-E-S-E-D 08:30 and you cannot find one single word 08:36 in the English language into which we can translate 08:40 or hesed can be translated into. 08:43 So sometimes 08:44 it will be translated into His loving kindness, 08:47 His love, His mercy, His faithfulness, 08:50 but hesed is all of that wrapped up in one. 08:55 And throughout the Old Testament, 08:57 over, I think it's 270 times, it talks about God's hesed. 09:02 So this is... 09:04 We can have a permanent sense of well being, 09:08 and an experience, joy in the Lord, 09:13 in the midst of sadness and suffering. 09:18 One of our favorite verses from Nehemiah, John. 09:22 Oh, Nehemiah 8:10, 09:23 "The joy of the Lord is your strength." 09:25 What does that mean? 09:27 That means the joy that we experience is not from us, 09:31 it's the joy of the Lord. 09:33 So therefore like you said a moment ago, 09:35 the fruit of the Spirit, 09:36 that's another gift from the Lord. 09:38 The fruit of the Spirit is amazing. 09:39 Love, joy, the first two, they're together. 09:42 One agape, as you mentioned, and hesed, 09:45 the other one joy, both from the Lord, 09:47 but I like that because the source of believer's joy 09:51 is a relationship with our Heavenly Father. 09:53 Amen. It's a sovereign connection. 09:56 So, you know, if your dad is 09:58 like the kid that was on the plane, 10:00 and the plane was shaking everywhere 10:01 and everybody was nervous. 10:02 And when the plane landed, 10:04 one of the passengers couldn't help, 10:06 but ask the kid, "Why were you not nervous, 10:07 when the plane was falling all over the sky?" 10:10 She said, "Because the pilot is my dad, 10:12 he was just taking me home." 10:14 Amen. 10:15 So she had that relationship with the... 10:16 She knew who was in the cockpit. 10:18 Everybody's nervous, and she says, "He's my daddy, 10:20 he's just taken us home." 10:21 So she was joyful and at peace 10:24 because of the presence of her father. 10:27 That's the same thing with us, right? 10:29 When we have security in His love. 10:31 Security and salvation by grace through faith. 10:35 It's just such a beautiful thing. 10:37 Angie, why don't you read Jude 1:24? 10:40 Hey, I love this text. 10:42 Now, in the King James says, onto him, 10:45 "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, 10:49 and to present you faultless 10:51 before the presence of His glory 10:53 with exceeding joy." 10:55 Why we have that text right here? 10:59 Well, to me, it's very simple, 11:01 if it to me, if it is indeed true 11:04 that the joy of the Lord is your strength, 11:07 well, then it should be the joy of the Lord 11:09 that is able to keep you from stumble. 11:11 Oh, that's good. 11:12 'Cause He's the one that's in charge, 11:15 and He wants good and perfect gifts for His children. 11:17 Amen. Amen. That's really good. 11:19 And now with that together, but it's very well said. 11:22 But you know, 11:24 I don't know about you all. 11:25 But like I said about the Sabbath. 11:27 I tried for 50 years of my life, 11:31 to be a good little girl. 11:33 I tried to please the Lord. 11:35 I tried to do what I thought He wanted me to do 11:38 and do everything right what everybody expected of me. 11:41 And I found it impossible. 11:43 And I finally, it was just, 11:46 you know, there was ups and downs, 11:48 peaks and valleys. 11:49 But it was when I learned that salvation belongs to God, 11:54 when I was really learning about grace 11:56 and to know 11:58 that He is gonna keep me from stumbling, 12:02 to know that He is gonna present me faultless. 12:05 Amen. 12:07 That's when joy came into my heart. 12:10 That's when that's what you just said 12:11 about this relationship, the security of relationship. 12:16 So, the reason everyone at this, 12:18 is at this table 12:20 is I know each one of you have experienced 12:24 joy rises above persecution and pain. 12:29 JD, let's read about Jesus in Hebrews 12. 12:33 Hebrews 12, I wanna read Hebrews 12:1-2. 12:37 I love this because a lot, you'll understand, 12:40 "Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 12:44 looking unto Jesus, 12:45 the author and the finisher of our faith, 12:49 for the joy that was set before Him 12:52 endured the cross, despising the shame, 12:54 and has sat down at the right hand 12:56 of the throne of God." 12:58 So what was the joy that was set before Him? 13:01 Well, the joy of accomplishing His Father's will. 13:05 You know, His life was in a life of joy. 13:09 But the joy came in knowing 13:10 that whether He was being persecuted, 13:12 whether He was being reviled, 13:15 whether He was being praised, 13:16 whether He was being wrongly accused, 13:20 He kept His mind set on the will of the Father. 13:24 And He said, "I came to do the will of the Father." 13:26 So when you get to that point in your life, 13:28 and sadly enough, 13:30 He was on the cross when He said, "It is finished." 13:32 He didn't say I'm finished, He said, it is finished. 13:35 I'm so glad that my work is done. 13:38 I could die in peace. 13:39 And that was the joy 13:41 that kept Him all the way through. 13:42 And I like that text which says, 13:44 the joy that was set before Him, 13:46 endured the cross, you know, 13:47 beyond this cross is joy. 13:49 As Maya Angelou who said this to Oprah Winfrey, 13:51 when she said, "What do you do when the trials of life come?" 13:54 And Maya Angelou said, 13:55 "Well, I just know that 13:57 whatever on the other side of that trial 13:58 is better than what I have right now." 14:00 So was it joy that was set before Him? 14:02 He endured the cross 14:03 because on the other side of that 14:05 He could come out and say, 14:06 I've accomplished it, 14:07 so that every one of My children 14:09 can be saved. 14:11 Amen. That's some serious joy. 14:12 That is some serious joy. 14:13 And that means that, 14:16 I think you misspoke 14:17 when you said His life wasn't a life of joy. 14:19 His life wasn't a life of happiness. 14:22 But He knew this joy in His Father. 14:28 And it's something that you know, Paul said, 14:31 we are sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. 14:36 Gayle, tell us the story of, 14:41 you know, all of us here have lost someone. 14:43 I know, you lost your mom not too long ago. 14:45 Yes. 14:46 And you know, I don't have any living, 14:49 no immediate family left at all. 14:51 We don't have family. 14:53 I mean, this is my family right here. 14:54 Well, I have brother and sister, 14:56 but no mom and dad. 14:57 I don't even have that. Yeah, only sibling. 14:59 I have no blood relatives left. Wow. 15:02 So as you lose them and you realize, 15:05 hey, I would be all alone in the world, 15:07 except I know the Lord's always with me and this... 15:09 Well, Shelley, you could add me to your will, 15:11 I'll let you. 15:13 I'd be your relative. 15:15 That would be joy for me. 15:16 All right. Amen. 15:17 But the one thing, I think that, 15:22 you know as a couple, 15:23 we know as a couple of the pain 15:25 of not being able to have a child. 15:27 Exactly. Right. 15:29 But I remember praying when I was just 13 years old, 15:32 saying, Lord, please don't... 15:35 I wanted six babies. 15:38 I wanted six, but I said, Lord, 15:40 please don't ever let me have a child, 15:42 if that child will die before me. 15:45 Because I had watched a woman that I babysat for 15:49 when her two-year-old was killed. 15:51 It was so painful 15:53 that I thought I cannot imagine a worst pain 15:56 and you've been through that pain. 15:58 I have. 16:00 Tell us your story. 16:02 It's gonna be three years now in January, January 22. 16:08 I was living in Hawaii, 16:10 and my son Eric was living there also 16:13 and was on a Sunday, I'll never forget it. 16:19 And the police came 16:21 and told me that my son had drowned. 16:23 And I thought, 16:25 what was he doing out there in those crazy waves? 16:28 Because I knew in January, the waves are really bad, 16:32 especially at some of the beaches 16:34 where he was on, 16:35 we were on the Big Island and he was south of Hilo, 16:37 and he was at a beach 16:39 and two people had gotten out in the surf 16:42 and couldn't get back in 16:44 because the waves were so treacherous, 16:46 and he went in to help them, which he did. 16:50 They made it out, but my son didn't. 16:55 And... 16:56 How old was he, Gayle? 16:58 He was 43, and, yeah, 17:02 it's some of that is a big blur still. 17:07 But my daughter, I have a daughter, 17:10 and she lives in Washington State. 17:12 And she said, "Mom, 17:14 I want you to come live with us." 17:16 So I'm now living in Washington, 17:18 but, you know it. 17:21 I remember reading some of these passages 17:24 and you know, it talks about, 17:25 okay, joy in every circumstance. 17:27 And I thought, Lord, that makes no sense to me. 17:31 But I read something 17:35 just last night in the Desire of Ages. 17:38 And hopefully I can get through this. 17:41 It says, "Christ is coming with clouds 17:43 and with great glory, 17:45 a multitude of shining angels will attend to Him, 17:48 He will come to raise the dead 17:49 and to change the living saints from glory to glory." 17:52 He will, excuse me, 17:54 "He will come to honor those who have left him 17:57 and kept His commandments and to take them to Himself, 18:01 He has not forgotten them, nor His promise, 18:04 there will be a rethinking or excuse me, 18:07 a relinking of the family chain. 18:09 When we look upon our dead, we may think of the morning 18:13 when the trump of God just sound, 18:14 when the dead shall be raised incorruptible, 18:17 and we shall all be changed," 1 Corinthians 15:52." 18:22 A little longer, 18:23 and we shall see the King in His beauty a little longer. 18:28 And He will wipe all tears from our eyes, 18:30 a little longer, 18:32 and He will present spotless 18:34 before the presence of His glory 18:36 with exceeding joy," 2:24. 18:40 So how did you, 18:42 how long did it take you 18:44 in going through the pain of that loss? 18:51 I mean, I know it had to be overwhelming. 18:54 But how long did it take you to feel 18:57 that joy of relationship with the Lord? 19:00 Did that ever break or did you find that? 19:07 I mean, was it sustained all the way through, 19:09 the joy of your relationship with God? 19:13 You know, it was amazing. 19:18 I think the Lord really worked 19:20 because He brought a lot of Eric's friends into my life. 19:24 And I was able to share with them 19:26 and learn actually that from one of them 19:29 that Eric had shared God with him, 19:32 which kind of surprised me that in, 19:35 you know, it gave me such hope 19:37 because I know in the mercy and the love of God, 19:39 I'm going to see my son again. 19:41 And it never really, I just trust it. 19:45 You know, I knew I didn't understand, 19:47 but I knew God knows the best 19:51 and He works things to our best. 19:55 And I just felt comfort in that, 19:57 but I also realized I've been in depression 20:01 for a long time. 20:02 And that only ended probably, 20:05 actually while I was down here, finally. 20:09 I think that's interesting because service... 20:11 And that really does fit into Hebrews 12:1-2, 20:15 you know, let it, let us run the race of the parents. 20:18 You know, and looking to Jesus, 20:21 who's the author and the finisher of our faith. 20:23 Please, Lord, increase my faith, you know, 20:25 I do wanna finish this race 20:28 and you do make a difference around here. 20:30 You should know that. Thank you. 20:33 It's been a blessing. Yup. 20:35 Hey, you made a point a moment ago, 20:36 and I'm glad you put that back in context. 20:39 When I said Jesus is not a man of joy, 20:41 actually, not a lot of happiness. 20:43 Because when Isaiah says he was a man of sorrow 20:46 acquainted with grief. 20:48 You know, it's crazy that you could be, 20:50 you know sorrow, be acquainted with grief, 20:54 and still have joy in the midst of all that. 20:56 Because this is, 20:57 who for the joy that was before Him, 21:01 so that moment, He's saying, 21:04 through all of His sorrow and grief, 21:06 joy is waiting to embrace me. 21:09 I'm gonna know it, I'm gonna experience it. 21:11 And I looked at this again for the joy 21:14 that was set before Him, the joy was coming, 21:18 He had joy doing His Father's will, 21:19 but there was a greater joy coming. 21:22 Can you imagine in the morning when He said, 21:23 "All authority is given to Me, 21:25 you know, I am the resurrection of the life." 21:28 That day there was nothing, 21:29 they could not reverse that scenario 21:31 and re-persecute Him, 21:33 or retry Him or re-nail Him to the cross. 21:35 So, yeah, we got to look at the things that 21:37 when you're in that grief and sorrow, 21:39 the joy is still leading you. 21:41 And that reminds me, why don't you read on page 2, 21:44 James 1:2-4, 21:49 because this is an interesting, James 1:2-4. 21:56 Angie, would you read that for us? 21:57 Sure. Yeah. 21:59 "My brethren, count it all joy 22:00 when you fall into various trials, 22:03 knowing that the testing of your faith 22:05 produces patience. 22:07 But let patience have its perfect work, 22:10 that you may be perfect and complete, 22:13 lacking nothing." 22:16 Well, I tell you what? 22:17 That takes a conscious commitment, 22:19 does it not? 22:21 You know, I remember when my sister died 22:23 and it was so unexpected 22:24 and she was for all practical purpose is my baby, 22:27 she was four years younger than I. 22:29 And I'd always basically been her mother, 22:32 she had a very, very difficult life. 22:36 And, oh, man, it just caught me off guard, 22:40 because I wasn't expecting it. 22:42 Yet, when they did an autopsy because she died at home, 22:46 she just went to bed for a nap and didn't wake up. 22:50 The autopsy revealed that she had a heart condition, 22:54 a heart valve condition, 22:57 and also that she had a liver condition. 22:59 And what a doctor told me is 23:01 they could not have treated her for her liver condition 23:04 because of her heart condition. 23:05 They could not have treated her for her heart 23:08 because of her liver. 23:10 So I was as sad as I was, 23:14 I was really quite joyful 23:16 that the Lord had spared her of all of that. 23:20 And because I know I'll see her again and I have, 23:24 I'll get to spend eternity with her. 23:26 Yes, you will. Amen. 23:28 And that's what God show... 23:29 Can you imagine going through 23:30 the death of your beloved mother 23:32 without the blessed hope? 23:37 Well, it's been three years tomorrow 23:39 since I lost my mom. 23:40 And it's so painful. 23:42 But John said to me, 23:44 because I said, why does she have to go? 23:46 You know, she was 89 years old, 23:49 but I still didn't want her to die. 23:51 And you said to me, honey, look, 23:53 it was gradual the way she went, 23:56 imagine if it was sudden, the pain and it's true, 23:59 it was a gradual, it was very gradual 24:02 how she went downhill, 24:03 but as Bible says we'll have eternity together 24:06 and that gives me such hope and joy eternity. 24:10 Can I bring something up here I know that we're talking about 24:14 robbing of our loved ones, Lord, and that is death. 24:18 James 1:1, 2,4. 24:20 Again it says, "Count it all joy 24:21 when you fall into the various trials." 24:23 There's all kinds of trials out there when alive. 24:25 And knowing that the testing your faith produces patience. 24:29 Every morning here at 3ABN, we have a time of worship, 24:33 every department gets together and we have time of worship. 24:35 I like to just take one only one paragraph 24:38 that this is from Ellen White. 24:41 Those that know Ellen White know 24:42 that she knows she's a wordsmith, 24:45 and those that don't, 24:46 oh, this is absolutely fantastic. 24:49 And this is, if you have one of those trials 24:51 and how the Lord fits into your life. 24:53 This comes from what? 24:54 This is The Faith that I Live By, 24:55 it's a devotional book. 24:57 By God's mighty cleaver, 25:00 key word, By God's mighty cleaver of truth 25:03 we have been taken from the quarry of the world 25:06 and brought into the workshop of the Lord to be prepared 25:08 for a place in His temple. 25:11 In this work... 25:13 He's in the quarry, He's got the cleaver. 25:15 In this work the hammer 25:17 and the chisel must act their part, 25:20 and then comes the polishing. 25:22 Rebel not under this process of grace. 25:26 You may be a rough stone, 25:27 on which much work must be done 25:29 before you are prepared for the place 25:30 that God designs you to fill. 25:33 But you need not be surprised 25:35 if the hammer and the chisel of God's trial 25:38 cuts away your defects of character. 25:41 He alone can accomplish this work. 25:42 And be assured 25:44 that He will not strike one useless blow. 25:48 If you are going through a trial, 25:52 if you're going through a test, 25:54 just know that the creator of all 25:57 with His hammer and He's got you in sight, 26:01 and He knows exactly where to make this knock 26:06 with the hammer or the chisel or whatever. 26:08 And then the end result fits into that temple, 26:12 His temple perfectly. 26:14 That's right. Amen. 26:15 What a promise. 26:16 But to me, just the words 26:18 that are used at the special time, 26:20 you know, 'cause most of us are visual. 26:23 And we can just see, so, good news. 26:27 The good news is though, 26:28 even though we do go through these times, 26:31 the end result is gonna be perfection. 26:33 So, John, have you ever had a time this scripture 26:37 what you're saying right here 26:38 talking about the hammer and the chisel. 26:41 Have you ever had a time that the trial 26:43 that you've proven this scripture 26:45 because it says in James1:3, 26:48 when he sang count it all joy when you fall into trials, 26:51 and He says, knowing that 26:53 the testing of your faith produces patience 26:57 and He's going to complete you. 26:59 Can you talk about a time when the testing of your faith, 27:02 did it drive you to deeper communion with the Lord? 27:05 I remember, it was probably about now 13 years ago, 27:08 I think, yeah, 13 years ago, we were here. 27:12 And I remember, it was just before camp meeting, 27:14 and we had been going through particular trial. 27:17 And I remember people are gathered, 27:20 the day before, 27:22 the camp meeting was on Wednesday. 27:23 And I said, to those who are gathering that day, 27:28 I was in the blender, emotionally. 27:31 And I said, have you ever felt like, 27:33 have you ever on your way to church 27:35 felt like just driving by... 27:37 I remember when you said that. And not stopping? 27:40 I said, that's how I feel right now. 27:42 And I broke down right there 27:44 because the Lord was chiseling me. 27:48 And you know, the chiseling, 27:49 as the Lord chastens those whom He love, 27:56 and He says, endure the chastening with the Father, 27:58 as one, as knowing that He loves you. 28:01 He said, but no chastening for the present 28:04 seems to be joyful, 28:05 but after it yields 28:06 the peaceable fruit of the Spirit. 28:08 So I went though that and I thought, wow, 28:12 and pulling off the side of the highway 28:16 and just saying, 28:17 why am I going through this, Lord? 28:20 And you know, 28:21 the Lord once again was chiseling away 28:23 who I am, 28:25 so that He could show it more. 28:26 And, you know, we all have marveled 28:28 at some of the most beautiful sculptors, 28:30 sculptors that we've seen, 28:33 some of the most ornate 28:34 finishing products of great masters. 28:37 But they didn't get that place 28:38 without a lot of hammering and a sawing. 28:40 Yeah. And a lot of chiseling away. 28:42 So here's the point. 28:43 I've told the Lord and my wife, and I know this, 28:46 so whatever it takes to get me ready. 28:48 So, you know, John 1:1-3, 28:51 you know, it does not yet appear 28:52 what we shall be, that's the big old stone. 28:55 1 John, but we do know that when He is revealed, 28:58 we will be like Him. 29:00 So He's chiseling away, 29:01 everything that does not resemble Himself. 29:02 That's why one person asked the sculptor, he said, 29:06 "How do you make these masterpieces?" 29:09 He said, "Whatever I chisel away, 29:11 I chisel away 29:12 whatever doesn't look like the finished product." 29:15 Whatever doesn't look like the finished product, 29:17 I chisel it away. 29:18 And God is doing that. So here I am, 13 years later. 29:21 I knew, it was a trial. Yes. 29:23 We've gone through all the trials too in life, 29:26 but look at what Jesus has done for us. 29:29 He's so good. 29:31 And He's healed so many people, 29:33 you know, He's acquainted with grief and sorrow. 29:36 Yet, He went and heal the sick, raise the dead, 29:40 He brought joy to so many homes. 29:42 So many lives, 29:44 and what a wonderful God He is. 29:46 And He brings joy to our life too... 29:48 That's right. Amen. 29:50 Every day. 29:51 It's kind of like Romans 8:28, it says, 29:54 that He works all things together for the good of those, 29:56 I mean, He didn't cause those circumstances, 29:58 but He used them for the chiseling. 30:00 Because the Bible says, 30:02 He works all things together for the good of those 30:04 who love Him and are called according to His purpose. 30:07 And he goes on to say so that in other words, 30:11 the purpose is that we can be 30:16 like His Son Jesus. 30:17 Amen. 30:18 And, you know, it says those He foreknew, 30:20 He predestined to be conformed 30:24 to the image of Jesus. 30:26 So, when the bad things happen 30:29 and doesn't mean God cause them, 30:31 but when He allows that in our life, 30:34 boy, it's amazing how... 30:37 The worst year of my life was, 30:39 ended up being the best year of my life, 30:42 because it caused me to press into the presence of the Lord, 30:46 I learned the power of His Word, 30:48 and I learned what it means to really abide. 30:50 Let's look at John 15:9-11. 30:54 Here Jesus is talking about the vine 30:56 and He's just got through saying 30:58 that abide in Me and I knew 31:01 and He says, Hey, apart from Me you can do nothing, 31:03 but read verse 9, John 15:9, Angie. 31:06 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you, 31:10 abide in My love." 31:13 And keep going? 31:14 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, 31:19 just as I have kept My Father's commandments 31:22 and abide in His love. 31:25 These things I have spoken to you, 31:27 that My joy may remain in you, 31:30 and that your joy may be full." 31:33 So what's He saying there? 31:36 To me that says obedience is the pathway to blessings. 31:40 Yes. And joy. 31:42 And joy, that's the source of our joy, isn't it? 31:45 And, you know, it's so funny how many people, 31:49 you know, if you use the word obedience, 31:52 they think that you're unlearned in grace. 31:55 No, we can only obey by grace because when... 31:59 The greatest gifts of God's grace, 32:02 God so loved the world, 32:03 He gave His only begotten Son, 32:05 the Holy Spirit and His Word. 32:09 All three are working in us 32:12 to will and to do His good pleasure. 32:14 We can't do His good pleasure without that. 32:18 He's the one that shows us the path of life. 32:21 So you mentioned... 32:22 Why don't you read Galatians 5:22, 32:24 since we mentioned it, 32:25 the joys of fruit of the Spirit? 32:28 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, 32:31 peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness." 32:36 And self control. 32:37 I didn't go all the way, did I? 32:38 Okay. And that's verse 23. 32:40 Yeah. Gentleness and self control. 32:42 Gentleness and self control. 32:43 I think of that 32:44 as the 3D effect of the fruit of the Spirit. 32:50 Love, joy and peace is something 32:51 that we experience internally. 32:57 Joy, I mean, peace, love, joy and peace, long suffering, 33:01 kindness and goodness is what we express to others. 33:05 Right. 33:07 But the faithfulness, and the gentleness or meekness, 33:11 and self control, 33:12 this is about covenant relationship 33:15 with the Lord, is it not? 33:17 But I love, Gayle, why don't you read Jeremiah 15? 33:22 To me what brings 33:24 the greatest source of joy is the word of God. 33:28 Amen. 33:30 Because we know His thoughts and it reveals His promises. 33:34 Okay, Jeremiah 15:16, 33:36 "Your words were found, and I ate them, 33:39 and Your word was to me 33:42 the joy and rejoicing of my heart, 33:44 For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts." 33:48 Your word that was the joy and the rejoicing of my heart. 33:54 JD, you tell me stories every day, 33:58 about people who've called in, 34:00 and you give them a word from God, 34:03 and they go from being down in the dumps, 34:06 poor pitiful me to feeling joyful 34:09 because they grab hold of the promise of God. 34:13 Yes. 34:15 Well, this is all over the place, 34:17 because I've got three stories right here and... 34:20 Jump in there. 34:21 Well, first of all, as I was looking at this, 34:24 I was so excited, 34:26 because, you know, I'm just learning the word, 34:29 just like a lot of, a lot of you out there. 34:34 So I messed up 34:36 the first two thirds of my life. 34:38 I'm playing catch up, 34:39 but I'll guarantee you with the Lord's help, 34:40 you'll get caught up. 34:42 That's right. And it's absolutely fantastic. 34:44 But as I was reading this, you know, when He's talking, 34:47 Your words were found and I ate them. 34:49 That means that we're feeding on His words, 34:52 we're feeding on His words. 34:53 And then because of those words, 34:56 then it's just saying like supernaturally, 34:58 there's where that joy and rejoicing comes from. 35:01 But then it took me to Psalms 19:10. 35:05 Psalms 19:10. 35:06 I just love this. 35:07 And the words that he were talking about here, 35:10 that's what defined, 35:11 that your words were found, and I ate them. 35:15 How come they were so sweet? 35:18 And in Psalms 19:10, this is what David said. 35:22 Sweet mean that they're sweeter than honey, 35:26 and also sweeter than honeycomb. 35:29 And, wow, you know, now you can see that 35:32 and now you can taste that. 35:34 And if David could taste that at certain place in his life, 35:38 if you're at that place in your life, 35:40 those words apply to you too. 35:42 Yes. That's right. 35:43 But I was just thinking about as you were saying this, 35:45 I had the neatest call, 35:47 yesterday, I think or day before yesterday, 35:49 and this guy was calling 35:51 and he says, "Hello, may I talk to someone in pastoral." 35:54 I says, "I can help you." 35:56 And he says, "I need help, 36:00 does Jesus love me?" 36:02 And I says, "He will never leave you, 36:04 He never forsake you. 36:06 And he started crying. 36:08 And he says, "Do you think that it would be all right 36:14 if I write it my sins even at my own expense? 36:18 And I says, "Be more specific." 36:20 He says, "Well, I stole a whole lot of stuff years ago, 36:26 and I cannot get past that, the Holy Spirit 36:28 is just absolutely 36:31 given me a love spanking. 36:34 And I just feel like I've got to go see these people. 36:39 And I've got to confess, 36:41 and I don't know exactly how they'll take it. 36:46 I come back, 36:47 because I don't know how they'll take it either. 36:51 But it's not my place 36:52 to get in the way of that love spanking. 36:55 That's right. You see. 36:57 So I says, "You know, this is a time 37:00 that we need to go to the Holy Spirit 37:02 and the Holy Spirit promises to make it very clear to you, 37:05 if you are prepared to go confess something 37:08 that you don't know if your reward will be. 37:11 Thank you for sharing, go and sin no more," 37:14 or whether they'll say, "Hold on one second, 37:17 we're gonna call the police." 37:20 So we don't know. 37:22 And I said, "Which one of those is more important to you? 37:24 Which would you?" 37:26 He says, "I don't care, I've just got to call." 37:28 Praise the lord, that was the Holy Spirit. 37:30 It was the Holy Spirit. 37:32 And so I choose to believe that he was gonna call 37:36 when we got off the phone. 37:38 I gave him my extension, because now I'm invested. 37:42 Yeah. 37:43 I want to know, how, what's gonna happen here. 37:45 I'm curious. 37:47 And so I haven't heard today, 37:50 but today's early, 37:52 but I hope at least I'll get to hear by Monday 37:54 that he will call back. 37:56 Amen. Amen. Amen. 37:59 So, it's fair to say 38:02 that when you're not feeling too joyful, 38:05 you can get into the Word and find some promise 38:09 in the Word that is going to turn you back 38:14 to where you're, you know, looking into Jesus, 38:17 the author and finisher of your faith. 38:19 I love to read the Psalms. 38:22 I love because what we want to spend the last few minutes 38:25 of this program 38:26 is focusing on how we can restore joy. 38:30 We know that joy can overcome 38:33 and rise above pain and persecution. 38:36 We know that joy comes as we abide in Christ 38:40 and one of those things is that we walk in obedience, 38:44 that's abiding in Christ. 38:46 We know that the Word is the source of joy 38:49 because all of His promises 38:51 are yes and amen in Christ Jesus. 38:54 We know that that word belongs to us, 38:57 it doesn't return void. 38:58 He watches over His word to perform it. 39:01 But, John, let's talk about Psalms 42. 39:05 Okay. 39:06 And David was in a funk. 39:11 He was in a fiery trial. Yes. 39:14 But what did he say in verse 5? 39:17 He says, Psalms 42:5, 39:19 "Why are you cast down, O my soul? 39:23 And why are you disquieted within me? 39:26 Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him 39:30 for the help of His countenance." 39:33 Wow. 39:35 He's asking himself, why do I feel like this? 39:38 Yeah. 39:41 It would seem strange, but he asked a question 39:44 that probably some of you asked. 39:47 Christians, it's not unusual for us to ask God, 39:50 why do I feel this way? 39:51 And we asked that question because we know Him. 39:54 So if I know God, why do I feel this way? 39:56 That's what David is saying. 39:58 Why am I so empty inside, disquieted? 40:02 That's what he's in essence saying, 40:04 "Why is my inside just not at peace?" 40:06 And we've all been at that place before. 40:09 I remember one evening, I was just so out of it. 40:12 I praise the Lord for my wife, 40:13 because that evening and several occasions 40:15 this has happened when I'm just all worn out. 40:17 But this particular night, 40:18 she just said, I'm gonna read the Bible for you. 40:21 And she just kept reading and kept reading 40:23 and kept reading and kept reading 40:24 and I just lay there still, I mean, I just like motionless, 40:28 until like a car that was empty, 40:30 that you get enough fuel to restart the engine. 40:34 It got to the point 40:35 where my needle started moving off spiritually. 40:39 And I said, I got up and picked up my Bible, 40:41 and then I just couldn't stop it, 40:43 she said, "I gotta go to bed." 40:44 No. "Could you turn the light off?" 40:46 She filled up my empty tank with the Word of God 40:48 and that's what I love when going back a little bit, 40:51 your word was to me, the joy of my rejoicing. 40:55 So when you're at that place 40:56 where you feel like your soul is disquieted, 40:58 and you can't do something, let your physical emotions, 41:02 let your physical body just reach out for the Bible, 41:04 even though you feel that 41:06 it's not gonna do anything for you. 41:07 And then you find that 41:08 the Word of God is living, it's like... 41:10 Active. 41:12 The Bible is living and active, it's powerful, 41:13 if you just let it come in, 41:15 it'd be like a car whose tank is on E 41:18 and just dripping like an ounce at a time. 41:22 And when there's enough gas for that thing 41:23 to pull it in the carburetor, it's gonna start up. 41:25 I've had that experience many, many times 41:28 where I was just empty. 41:30 And God's word got poured in. 41:31 So I know, and then he said, hope in God, 41:35 keep pouring, keep pouring, while I shall yet praise Him 41:39 for the help of His countenance. 41:40 And, you know, hope isn't like, 41:43 well, maybe it will happen or not happen, 41:46 hope, especially in the Greek it 41:47 meant eager expectation. 41:48 That's right. 41:50 So you're expecting God to show up. 41:51 Come on. 41:52 That reminds me of a story. 41:54 We haven't thought about this in 20 years, 41:57 but this guy, he was needing some help, 42:00 he was down on his luck and I said, "Can I help you?" 42:03 And he says, "Well, I'm just totally out of fuel, 42:07 I know, I'm on fumes. 42:08 And I've got some places very important to going. 42:10 I said, "Why don't we just go down 42:12 and I'll gift you with a tank of fuel." 42:15 And you do that? 42:17 And I said, "Yes." 42:19 And so I don't know service stations 42:20 maybe half a block away, so anyway we go down there. 42:24 And he's so excited, 42:25 and I says, "Why don't we get a double pleasure out of this? 42:29 Why don't we just turn the key on 42:32 and watch that gauge as it fills up? 42:36 And we set there and you know put it on automatic 42:39 and it's just running, 42:41 and you're just watching that gauge 42:42 over here on empty, and with that, 42:46 he's getting more excited. 42:47 I was getting more excited. 42:49 How interesting? 42:50 And then the tank was full. 42:52 And we didn't have the car started, 42:53 we just had, let crisp them, 42:55 I mean, you know, it's not smart. 42:56 Don't do that, kids, don't do that. 42:59 Do as I say, not as I do. 43:02 But anyway, I didn't thought about that, 43:04 but what a gift that was to both of us 43:07 to actually see the miracle of God at work... 43:11 Restoration. Seeing it. 43:13 Yeah. Amen. 43:15 Hope in God. Have you ever...? 43:17 I love Psalm 51. 43:20 If there's a time in my life 43:23 that I feel that I need to repent, 43:26 I just go read Psalm 51 again, because it's such a beautiful. 43:31 And sometimes, wouldn't you agree 43:33 sometimes when you're feeling really disquieted 43:35 is because there's something between you and God or... 43:41 Well, anyway, in Psalm 51:2, when David... 43:46 Verse 12, when David was praying 43:48 and he had confessed his sin, 43:49 this was after his sin with Bathsheba, Nathan, 43:54 you know, Nathan had come to him, 43:56 he sent Uriah off, Uriah had been killed. 43:59 So Nathan came and told him the story of the man, 44:02 the rich man that took the poor man's one little lamb. 44:05 And then he says, you're the man. 44:07 You're the man. You know, sure he did. 44:08 So David is repenting. 44:12 But he says something that it's so beautiful to me 44:14 because he says, "Restore to me 44:18 the joy of Your salvation." 44:21 That's right. 44:22 You know, what I have found? 44:25 No matter how bad circumstances are, 44:28 I don't care what's going on around you. 44:31 And I think this is why 44:33 when Paul and Silas were imprisoned and beaten, 44:36 and they were singing and everything, 44:38 they knew the joy of salvation. 44:41 When you think about God came to earth, 44:45 to become a man and then to die on the cross for us, 44:50 to give us the gift of salvation. 44:54 And once you learn, you can't earn salvation, 44:58 that robs your joy. 44:59 That's right. That's right. 45:01 But once you learn that that's a gift 45:04 and that your obedience is just covenant faithfulness. 45:07 Boy, I'll tell you, I can be down in the mouth 45:10 and all of a sudden, I'm just, "Thank you, Lord, 45:13 for what You've done for me." 45:14 And next thing I know I'm through the roof. 45:16 Amen. 45:17 Have you ever had an experience like that, 45:22 Gayle, where you felt like 45:25 maybe you were trying to save yourself 45:27 and it wouldn't work in and you weren't very joyful? 45:29 Oh, for years, probably. 45:33 Yeah. 45:36 I'm trying to think of something in particular, 45:38 but you know, a lot of my life, 45:43 I made some really poor decisions in my life 45:45 and trying to get out of those on my own. 45:50 That was, yeah, it's like on a treadmill. 45:54 You just keep going round and round 45:56 and round and getting nowhere. 45:58 And then when I would actually 46:02 seriously give it to the Lord 46:04 and watch Him work in my life. 46:10 It's just so amazing because He does, 46:14 even though we've tried to hold on 46:16 to all these things all this time ourselves 46:18 and trying to, you know, work out our own salvation 46:22 in whatever circumstance it is. 46:24 And when we give it to Him, 46:28 He does, He takes it and He does make a change. 46:32 And all of a sudden, the doors are open. 46:34 And, you know, I'm out of that circumstance. 46:38 And I didn't think I was really going to be, 46:43 I wasn't sure if I was gonna make it seriously out. 46:46 Did you always know about righteousness 46:48 by faith or there was ever...? 46:49 No. Okay. 46:50 So, I want you to read Isaiah 61:10. 46:54 Because to me, this is one, 46:57 and I'm just gonna tell you at home. 46:58 If you wanna restore your joy, 47:00 meditate on Isaiah 61:10, 47:05 because this ought 47:06 to put your joy through the roof. 47:09 "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, 47:11 my soul shall be joyful in my God, 47:14 for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, 47:18 He has covered me 47:19 with the robe of righteousness." 47:26 I mean, that's a two hander. Yes. 47:27 Because it says we recognize, 47:32 He is the one who gives us the robe of right... 47:35 Righteousness by faith to me 47:37 is the most exciting teaching that there is. 47:42 And I know that's what increases my joy. 47:44 Mm-hmm. 47:46 I'm glad you did that two hander there 47:48 because sometimes we read through the text, 47:51 but if you pause and say, 47:53 where did you get your garment from? 47:56 He clothed me with the garment of salvation. 48:00 He has covered me with a robe of righteousness. 48:04 That's beautiful that you say that a lot of times 48:06 that goes over our head 48:08 because, you know, it sounds like a mantra sometimes, 48:09 where His righteousness, His Holiness, 48:12 His faithfulness, but when you think about 48:15 who we are that we can never add to anything. 48:18 And then someone comes along, 48:20 looks at us, filthy, outcast, ready for death, 48:26 miserable, poor, blind, naked. 48:28 And then, He says, close your eyes 48:31 and I gonna redress you. 48:32 Amen. 48:34 And then He does a Joshua thing. 48:35 Amen. 48:37 He just does the Joshua thing. 48:39 He did it to Isaiah, he touched his lips 48:41 where he purified his lips, 48:42 He did it to Peter, He said, Peter... 48:44 And I like this. 48:45 He said, to tell us, 48:47 ask for Me, ask to sift his weed. 48:49 And you know that to me, I told Angie, 48:52 I identify with Peter in so many ways, 48:54 and I remember that the Lord didn't say I'm gonna stop it. 48:57 I'm not gonna stop it from shaking you. 48:59 But I love this. He was a weed, not a tare. 49:01 He says, He wants to sift to his weed. 49:03 Right. 49:04 He was one of God's people. 49:06 He was weed. He was weed, not a tare. 49:08 But then I love this part. 49:10 He didn't say, if you return and He said when? 49:13 When? 49:14 Amen. 49:15 I got to put you through the wringer, 49:17 when you come back, strengthen the brethren. 49:20 And Peter was changed forever, was he not? 49:23 He was changed forever. He never went back. 49:25 The day of Pentecost, the Lord had to get Peter 49:27 out of the way for in time for that sermon 49:28 on the day of Pentecost. 49:29 Amen. 49:31 He was a preacher on the schedule, 49:33 but the Lord just never showed him. 49:34 I got your name under preach, I gotta put you 49:36 through the dryer before I get out to preach. 49:38 And when he got out there, he could say on that day, 49:41 repent and be converted, 49:43 because that's what he experienced. 49:44 Amen. 49:45 He couldn't preach what he did not experience. 49:47 So we got to go through the trials of life 49:48 sometimes to get that garment of salvation, 49:51 that robe of righteousness. 49:55 I like this. It feels good. Oh, boy. 49:57 And it's not just a feeling, it's a reality. 49:59 Praise God for that. I love this topic, Shelley. 50:00 Okay. 50:02 When you said, you just said... 50:03 Angie, I'm gonna give you the next scripture 50:05 because he just got through saying, 50:06 you can't preach what you don't know. 50:09 How true. 50:11 Right. 50:12 And when we are talking about restoring joy, 50:15 I know that this little gal over here, 50:19 my sister, you are a person of prayer and thanksgiving. 50:25 You're constantly giving thanks. 50:27 You know, to me that's so important in my prayer. 50:30 I spent more than 50% of my prayer in thanksgiving. 50:33 Because it puts me in the right attitude. 50:35 And be very grateful. 50:36 Read Psalm 107, because to restore your joy, 50:42 you need a thankful heart. 50:44 A thankful heart is a joyful heart. 50:46 Yes. Okay. 50:47 Here it is. 50:49 "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! 50:52 For His mercy endures forever. 50:56 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, 51:00 And for His wonderful works to the children of men! 51:05 For He satisfies the longing soul, 51:08 and fills the hungry soul with goodness." 51:12 That's a thankful heart, isn't it? 51:13 That's right. 51:15 And, you know, I am gonna tell a story, 51:18 there's a lady that calls, I've not met her, 51:21 but I minister to her a lot. 51:23 And sometimes I tell her, 51:26 you realize you're doing the poor pitiful parole act? 51:29 I mean, she's melodramatic, 51:33 she's kind of the chicken little, 51:34 the sky is falling, the sky is falling. 51:36 And she can feel really sorry for herself. 51:40 I mean, you know, what? 51:41 Self pity is straight from the pits of hell. 51:44 Yes. It is. 51:46 And so she will get start 51:48 and then I'll say, Okay, let's make a gratitude list. 51:53 Let's talk about what you have, 51:56 and even, I mean, 51:57 you know, I've been going through a lot of back pain. 52:00 Yes. 52:01 But I praise the Lord that I can walk, 52:03 I praise the Lord that I can see that I can hear. 52:05 You know, you can always look at something, 52:08 you know, what's that old saying? 52:10 I was something about having... 52:12 I was feeling bad about having no shoes 52:15 till I saw a man with no feet. 52:17 So this is something that I think thankfulness 52:21 is the quickest way to restore your joy. 52:23 And when I walk through this with her, 52:27 by the time she gets down to, 52:29 I don't know what I've got to be thankful for? 52:31 You have running water, is it hot water? 52:33 I mean... 52:35 Ready to pull it out. 52:36 Some people, they like that. 52:38 But as soon as you do, guess what? 52:41 She's excited again. 52:43 She's got a joyful heart, when you get off the phone. 52:47 You probably deal with people. 52:49 Yeah, I had a phone call today with someone that called me 52:53 and they were all depressed and everything's going wrong 52:58 with them, nothing's going right. 53:00 And I said, "Well, you have a lot to be thankful for. 53:04 You have a sound mind." 53:06 And when I prayed with her, I pray that prayer, 53:07 you have a sound mind. 53:09 You can walk and talk, so many people, 53:11 they can't talk 53:13 or they don't have what you have. 53:15 And you know, she said, you know, you are so right. 53:17 And those words, the Lord gave me, it was lot more. 53:21 But those words the Lord gave me to encourage her 53:23 because she was just down and out. 53:26 And I'm like, pick your chin up, 53:29 you gonna be okay. 53:30 I think that's why, you know, the Bible says, 53:32 what is it Psalm 100:4, 53:34 that says, "Enter His gates with thanksgiving 53:37 and into His courts with praise." 53:39 I think that as we begin our prayer with thanksgiving, 53:42 no matter how down in the mount we are, 53:45 when we come, 53:46 we're recognizing Him for who He is. 53:48 That's right. 53:49 That He is our Shepherd, we will not want 53:51 and we start giving Him thanks and showing gratitude 53:56 and then the praise, 53:57 and pretty soon our prayer is not about ourself, 54:00 it's for everybody else we know in God's work and the world. 54:04 Okay, we gotta to end on this. 54:06 And, JD, why don't you read this? 54:08 This scripture, I always use this. 54:12 Well, I can't since I've been to 3ABN, 54:15 I don't send out a lot of cards, 54:17 Christmas cards, but I used to always use this, 54:20 but I do in texts. 54:22 I don't have time to do cards anymore. 54:23 Yeah. No one does. 54:25 That's Romans 15:13, JD. 54:27 Oh, wow. 54:29 This is one of my favorites. 54:30 Me too. 54:32 "Now may the God of hope." 54:34 Remember, Shelley, said while ago hope in Greek 54:36 is eager expectation. 54:37 Oh, yeah. 54:39 So now let's read it the way it would perhaps sounding Greek, 54:41 except in English. 54:43 "Now may the God of eager expectation fill you 54:46 with all joy and peace in believing, 54:48 that you may abound in hope and eager expectation 54:52 by the power of the Holy Spirit." 54:54 Amen. 54:55 Man, we've got everybody involved here. 54:57 We got you involved here. 54:58 We got God involved here. 55:00 We got Jesus involved here 55:01 and we got the Holy Spirit involved here. 55:03 And whatever you do, 55:07 in whatever situation you're in, give Him thanks. 55:10 That's right. 55:11 And, Lord, increase my faith, 55:14 thank You, Jesus that I do have that promise of hope. 55:18 And I'm just waiting like a little bird, 55:20 you know, waiting for mama to come feeding, you know. 55:24 And I'm gonna receive that. That's right. 55:26 You know, that bothered me for a long time ago. 55:30 My prayer is this 55:32 and they would say I receive it. 55:35 For some reason I just kind of like 55:37 they're chalking against the blackboard, 55:39 you know, but the more I thought about 55:41 when I was a little bit more mature, 55:43 think, good for you that you are receiving that. 55:45 That's right. 55:47 And so this is a promise that we can all receive 55:50 whatever name you put in there, 55:52 may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace 55:54 in believing that you may abound in hope 55:58 by the power of the Holy Spirit. 55:59 I like the way, I don't have an Amplified version with me, 56:02 but the Amplified version says, so that you can bubble 56:06 over with hope that your heart will just bubble 56:09 over with eager expectation of what's God, 56:13 you know, we have a... 56:15 Here in the United States, 56:17 we have a national holiday, Thanksgiving. 56:21 And often, people stop and they go around the table 56:26 at the meal and they say, one thing they're thankful for, 56:29 but we should be doing that every day. 56:32 Because if you want to restore your joy, 56:35 get into the Word, trust in the Lord. 56:38 Rejoice that His salvation is yours. 56:43 Have a thankful heart 56:46 and eager expectation. 56:49 Thank you all, so much for being here. 56:50 It's wonderful. It just went real fast. 56:53 Thank you, Gayle, for being here. 56:55 Honey, it's always such a pleasure 56:58 and we will be praying afterwards 57:00 because we don't have time to pray right now. 57:03 But just know that 57:04 as we continue in this Sabbath day, 57:07 we pray for you all the time, don't we? 57:09 Yes, we do. 57:10 And our primary prayer for you 57:13 is that the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 57:17 and the love, the hesed of the Father, 57:20 and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit 57:24 will be with you, not only this Sabbath day, 57:27 but every day for the rest of your life. 57:29 Thank you for joining us, and let your joy be unending. 57:33 Amen. Amen. 57:34 Amen. That was good. |
Revised 2019-12-02