I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Removing pain
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Lord, let my words
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Heal a heart that hurts
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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Welcome to Family Worship.
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My name is John Dinzey,
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and it's a blessing and
a privilege to be with you
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during this hour where
we bring in the Sabbath
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in Family Worship.
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I would like to introduce to you
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the members of the
family that are with us today.
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We have JD Quinn
from Pastoral Ministries.
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Amen, just love.
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Always love
bringing the Sabbath in.
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Amen. So this is special.
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I'm really excited about
these new guys over here.
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You know our
family, this is growing.
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Yes.
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And we would like
to introduce to you
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Bill Wells from ASAP Ministries.
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Welcome. Thank you.
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Amen.
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Thank you for being
with us during this hour.
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And next to you is, we
have... Scott Griswold.
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Scott Griswold, thank
you for being with us.
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Good to be here.
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And this is going to be a topic
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that I believe
is very important,
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of vital importance if I may say
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because it's talking
about God is worthy of praise.
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And before we do this,
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we would like to go
to the Lord in prayer,
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asked for His blessing upon us
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and upon you
that are joining us,
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wherever you may be.
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We encourage
you to consider that
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God is there because
He is the Almighty God.
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And He has promised
to be with us always,
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even until the end of the world.
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Let's go to the Lord in prayer.
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Our loving Heavenly Father,
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we want to pause and thank You
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for Your goodness
and kindness to us.
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During all this week,
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we have faced
difficulties, trials,
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and perhaps some of us
may have been near death.
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And yet, we have
this moment to look back
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and see that You have been good,
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You have protected
us, You have been with us,
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You have supplied our needs.
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Perhaps we may look and see that
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not all of our
problems are solved.
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But we can have assurance
that You have the best solution.
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We ask You, Lord, to guide
us, bless us and be with us,
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and help those
that are discouraged
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and cast down to look up
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and see that
there is a mighty God
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that cares for them.
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And we pray, Heavenly Father,
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for Your peace to
be upon Your children,
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that the peace that
Jesus offered to His disciples,
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they will receive and
that they will hear that
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Jesus is saying to
them as well, "Peace,
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I give to you, my
peace give I unto you."
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We pray, Heavenly
Father, for a blessing upon all,
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and we ask it in the holy
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and blessed name of Jesus, amen.
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Amen. Amen.
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Thank you, Jesus.
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Well, this is the
welcoming of the Sabbath,
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and for those of
you that are watching on
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what you would
call Friday night,
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perhaps this is
something new to you.
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And you're saying, "Why
are they saying Sabbath?"
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When we say Sabbath,
we're talking about Saturday,
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which is also referred
to as Sabbath in the Bible.
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And the Bible does
not use the word Saturday.
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But the word Sabbath
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is what the name of
the day was recognized.
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The seventh-day of the week
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was recognized
as the Sabbath day.
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And so we would
like to share with you
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some things in the Bible
that help us understand that
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this is the Sabbath day.
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Well, we like to go to
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Genesis Chapter 2 to begin with,
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to consider once again
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the origin of the
Sabbath day for us
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that live upon this earth.
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In Genesis Chapter
2, beginning at verse 1,
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we have the words that say,
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"Thus the heavens and the earth,
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and all the host of
them, were finished."
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And they were finished by God.
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And it says, "And
on the seventh day God
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ended His work
which He had done,
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and He rested on the seventh day
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from all His work
which He had done."
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It wasn't that He
was tired and exhausted.
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But it means
that He stopped doing
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the work of creating this world.
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Then God blessed
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the seventh day
and sanctified it,
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because in it, He
rested from all His work
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which God had created and made.
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And this is the
origin of the seventh day
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for those of us on the earth.
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And this is why we remember
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the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
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God blessed it
and sanctified it.
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In other words, He set it
apart from the other days.
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Now the other days,
we can praise the Lord.
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The other days, we
can go to church as well.
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But He not only
sanctified it and blessed it,
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but He also asked us
to rest from our work.
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And that's why we
would like to read
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Exodus 20:8-11,
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which gives us a
little more detail
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about resting
on the seventh day,
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and things that should be done
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and should not be done.
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So if we have, these
going to be different.
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I can read verse 8, Exodus 20:8,
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"Remember the
Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
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Six days you shall
labor and do all your work,
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but the seventh day is
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the Sabbath of
the Lord your God.
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In it you shall do no work:
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you, nor your
son, nor your daughter,
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nor your male servant,
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nor your female servant,
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nor your cattle,
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nor your stranger
who is within your gates.
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For in six days the Lord
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made the heavens and the earth,
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the sea, and
all that is in them,
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and rested the seventh day.
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Therefore the Lord blessed
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the Sabbath day
and hallowed it."
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And thank you, Jesus.
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Because I think
that most people today,
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it's our culture to work.
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It's our gift to work. Yes.
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And you know, I know that
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I look forward every
day to be able to get up
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and go and do things,
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the more gray
hair that you have,
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the more excited you are
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because there's a lot of people
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that really
don't have a lot to do.
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So I'm just, you know,
just very, very fortunate.
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But I certainly do look
forward to that seventh day.
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Amen.
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And when does
that seventh day start?
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They'll start sundown
sunset, just as the day started.
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Evening and morning,
it was a day in Genesis.
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And so, from evening to evening,
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we celebrate the Sabbath.
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Moses writes that elsewhere
in the Book of Exodus as well.
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Amen. Amen.
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And I love how it shows here
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that God has a heart
not just for you and me,
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but for our family,
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for anybody
that's working for us
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and even the stranger,
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the foreigner
that's in our midst.
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He wants everybody
to have the day off
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and just spend time
with the Creator God.
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Even animals. Yeah,
even the cattle, donkeys.
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That's right, even the
donkeys get the rest, get break.
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Praise the Lord.
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So in Leviticus 23:3,
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I like to share
a scripture there
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because it helps
us also to understand
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something important
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that should take
place on the Sabbath day.
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It says there, "Six
days shall work be done,
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but the seventh day is
a Sabbath of solemn rest,
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a holy convocation.
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You shall do no work on it,
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it is the Sabbath of the
Lord in all your dwellings."
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So among the
things that can be done
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and should be done,
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on the seventh day used
to have a holy convocation.
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And that's why God calls
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all His children to
come to worship Him,
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in God's house of prayer,
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the church, and worship Him
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in spirit and in
truth, it's a blessing.
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So on the Sabbath day,
I would like to say this,
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I know some
people may be shocked
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when I say this,
but this is something
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that you should avoid, you know,
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the Sabbath day
is a day of rest.
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And it says that we
should do all our work
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and all our
stuff that would honors
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during the six days
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on the seventh
day going shopping.
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That does that does
not fall under the category
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because shopping,
you're thinking about yourself,
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you're thinking about things
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that are unnecessary
for you and spending money.
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And so this is something
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that should not be
done on the Sabbath day.
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And I would even
go as far as to say,
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if you're going to call a friend
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and they're going to talk to you
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about the sports of the
week and things of that nature,
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takes your
thoughts off the solemnity,
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the blessing of the Sabbath day.
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It's a time that you
can get to know one another.
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A time to praise the Lord.
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You can go out in nature
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and see the marvelous
things He has created,
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and say what a
marvelous God we have.
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Look at all
these beautiful things
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He has created for our
delight, and to praise Him.
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I don't know if you want to
add something to what I've said.
00:10:20.58\00:10:23.85
Yeah, I really
appreciate the Sabbath
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and also opportunities to serve.
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To serve, to minister
to others in various ways,
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capacities in the community.
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It's a time to think of
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what God has
done for other people,
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you know, and to
find ways how can I,
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how can I bring
the Sabbath blessing
00:10:45.14\00:10:46.68
to someone else in
their discouragement,
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maybe visitation
or prayer or food.
00:10:50.75\00:10:54.42
I mean, when I was a teenager,
00:10:54.45\00:10:57.09
I'm in high school, I
remember our youth group,
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I would gather
together our young people.
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And on Sabbath afternoon,
probably once or twice a month,
00:11:01.72\00:11:04.63
I encourage all of our youth,
00:11:04.66\00:11:05.99
hey, bring food,
we're going to bag,
00:11:06.03\00:11:07.86
we're going to bag it all up.
00:11:07.90\00:11:09.23
And then once or twice a month,
00:11:09.26\00:11:10.60
we take out, we'd
go into the community
00:11:10.63\00:11:12.40
and we deliver food to
people in need in our community,
00:11:12.43\00:11:15.04
and it was just a way
to get our young people.
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Let's get out and do something
00:11:17.24\00:11:18.81
and make Sabbath a
delight by blessing others.
00:11:18.84\00:11:21.24
Amen. Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:11:21.28\00:11:22.81
And it's a good habit to take
00:11:22.84\00:11:24.21
and continue for
the rest of their life.
00:11:24.25\00:11:26.88
I mean I think it's always,
00:11:26.92\00:11:28.25
it's always wonderful to be
able to serve and to give, yes.
00:11:28.28\00:11:32.55
Well, there are many things
00:11:32.59\00:11:34.86
we could continue to
say about the Sabbath day,
00:11:34.89\00:11:37.09
really we can talk
probably for hours about this.
00:11:37.13\00:11:39.39
But our topic for today
is, God is worthy of praise.
00:11:39.43\00:11:45.53
God is worthy of praise.
00:11:45.57\00:11:47.14
And I know that you may have
00:11:47.17\00:11:50.27
something you'd like to share
00:11:50.31\00:11:51.64
about even just the word praise.
00:11:51.67\00:11:54.38
To you, when you
think of the word praise,
00:11:54.41\00:11:56.21
what kind of things
come into your mind,
00:11:56.24\00:11:58.28
do you have a definition
you want to share that
00:11:58.31\00:12:01.95
could help us
enter into this topic
00:12:01.98\00:12:04.29
and have a good foundation
00:12:04.32\00:12:06.72
for what we're going to share?
00:12:06.76\00:12:10.63
Go ahead, Scott.
You can take it all.
00:12:10.66\00:12:14.36
Yeah, it seems
kind of obvious to me,
00:12:14.40\00:12:15.96
praises to give
someone honor to be thankful,
00:12:16.00\00:12:18.10
to be grateful.
00:12:18.13\00:12:19.47
It's not hard
to know what it is,
00:12:19.50\00:12:21.27
it's just that we're
constantly forgetting to do it.
00:12:21.30\00:12:24.17
Now we can get caught
up with all of our problems
00:12:24.21\00:12:25.97
that are busyness
and everything else
00:12:26.01\00:12:27.58
and I just feel like, that's,
00:12:27.61\00:12:30.91
you know, I
studied my Bible, I pray.
00:12:30.95\00:12:34.02
I work for God.
00:12:34.05\00:12:35.38
But this is the area
that easily gets wiped out,
00:12:35.42\00:12:39.39
because it's just the
way we are human nature.
00:12:39.42\00:12:43.36
Focus on our problems
instead of greatness of God.
00:12:43.39\00:12:46.23
And that's too bad,
that shouldn't be that way.
00:12:46.26\00:12:48.60
That's right.
00:12:48.63\00:12:49.96
It seems like whenever
00:12:50.00\00:12:51.33
I was looking at the
different definitions,
00:12:51.37\00:12:52.77
it kept narrowing it
down to these three words,
00:12:52.80\00:12:56.60
recognizing Jesus
00:12:56.64\00:13:00.44
because He is the only
one that truly deserves it.
00:13:00.48\00:13:04.68
So it's recognition to Him.
00:13:04.71\00:13:06.72
Lord, we praise Your name,
we're recognizing Your name.
00:13:06.75\00:13:10.49
All good and perfect
things come from You.
00:13:10.52\00:13:13.09
Thank You, Jesus.
00:13:13.12\00:13:14.92
And because of that, then
so many just kind of like,
00:13:14.96\00:13:18.33
like the funnel comes
down, you know, and then, boys,
00:13:18.36\00:13:22.90
you turn that
funnel upside down.
00:13:22.93\00:13:25.30
It just opens up a big
door of how He blesses us
00:13:25.33\00:13:28.14
in all these different
ways, because of our praise.
00:13:28.17\00:13:33.41
What do you
think? Yeah, absolutely.
00:13:33.44\00:13:36.75
When I think about praise,
00:13:36.78\00:13:39.05
praise, praising God is
really about His character,
00:13:39.08\00:13:44.19
who He is, what He's done.
00:13:44.22\00:13:46.79
It's about praising Him
for what He's done in the past.
00:13:46.82\00:13:50.23
And we see this a
lot in the Psalms.
00:13:50.26\00:13:52.96
I've got several Psalms here.
00:13:52.99\00:13:54.33
I'd love to refer to,
but take Psalm 92 for example
00:13:54.36\00:14:00.24
which is a psalm to
be sung on the Sabbath.
00:14:00.27\00:14:04.11
So, and it begins with just
such a beautiful introduction,
00:14:04.14\00:14:07.44
it is good to give
things to the Lord,
00:14:07.48\00:14:10.58
to sing praises
to the Most High.
00:14:10.61\00:14:12.71
Amen.
00:14:12.75\00:14:14.08
Here on the Sabbath,
it is good to give thanks
00:14:14.12\00:14:16.38
and sing praises.
00:14:16.42\00:14:17.75
And so,
thanksgiving is a gratitude
00:14:17.79\00:14:20.46
for what God has done,
00:14:20.49\00:14:21.82
praising I see is
about praising God
00:14:21.86\00:14:25.29
for who He is, and
His acts in history.
00:14:25.33\00:14:27.86
Amen.
00:14:27.90\00:14:29.23
God is redeemed, God is renewed,
00:14:29.26\00:14:31.83
and God is just and faithful.
00:14:31.87\00:14:35.97
It goes on
these... Excuse me, John.
00:14:36.00\00:14:37.34
Sure. Go ahead.
00:14:37.37\00:14:38.71
Now it goes on then to say,
00:14:38.74\00:14:40.11
to declare our
loving-kindness to Him
00:14:40.14\00:14:44.45
and our faithfulness,
so we start our day off,
00:14:44.48\00:14:47.42
the loving-kindness.
00:14:47.45\00:14:48.78
Thank You, Lord, for being part,
00:14:48.82\00:14:50.15
we just ask,
Lord, that You will just
00:14:50.19\00:14:53.69
level that path
before us that you know that,
00:14:53.72\00:14:57.06
that Your Word will
be a lamp to our feet.
00:14:57.09\00:15:00.80
And then as the evening goes,
00:15:00.83\00:15:02.33
as the day goes through
and everything, thank you,
00:15:02.36\00:15:04.67
Lord, for Your faithfulness.
00:15:04.70\00:15:06.47
We got through this day,
00:15:06.50\00:15:08.30
hopefully we had
divine appointments.
00:15:08.34\00:15:10.04
Hopefully we did something
that we were a servant,
00:15:10.07\00:15:12.67
you know, that we
were able to hand out bread
00:15:12.71\00:15:15.28
to different
people in different ways,
00:15:15.31\00:15:16.75
you know, so.
00:15:16.78\00:15:18.88
I have here a definition
00:15:18.91\00:15:20.25
from the 1828 Webster dictionary
00:15:20.28\00:15:23.69
that I would like
to share with you.
00:15:23.72\00:15:25.85
And it's very
simple and very clear.
00:15:25.89\00:15:31.03
It mainly says, "The
expression of gratitude
00:15:31.06\00:15:36.16
for personal favors conferred,
a glorifying or extolling."
00:15:36.20\00:15:41.87
And it even quotes a
scripture here, it says,
00:15:41.90\00:15:44.91
"He has put a
new song in my mouth,
00:15:44.94\00:15:46.84
even praise to our God."
00:15:46.88\00:15:48.51
Psalm 40:3.
00:15:48.54\00:15:50.55
And so, praise is something
00:15:50.58\00:15:53.52
that brings glory to God
00:15:53.55\00:15:58.42
for things He has done.
00:15:58.45\00:16:00.39
Expression of
gratitude, you know,
00:16:00.42\00:16:02.22
it brings us into
00:16:02.26\00:16:06.13
closer relationship to God.
00:16:06.16\00:16:08.60
From the human perspective,
00:16:08.63\00:16:12.23
I don't know how you would feel,
00:16:12.27\00:16:15.50
for example, let's say,
let's say you built a house,
00:16:15.54\00:16:20.08
you went out there, you worked,
00:16:20.11\00:16:22.61
you put all of
the effort into it.
00:16:22.64\00:16:24.65
Nobody helped you. You
did it all by yourself.
00:16:24.68\00:16:26.95
And then somebody is coming
by and starts looking at it.
00:16:26.98\00:16:32.19
And, wow, what
a beautiful house.
00:16:32.22\00:16:34.82
This is tremendous.
00:16:34.86\00:16:36.26
Look how nice it is, the colors
00:16:36.29\00:16:38.89
and how strong
the foundation looks
00:16:38.93\00:16:41.46
and a beautiful home.
00:16:41.50\00:16:43.83
And somebody comes
along and says, "I made that.
00:16:43.87\00:16:47.20
I built this house."
00:16:47.24\00:16:48.70
But you know that
you're the one that did it.
00:16:48.74\00:16:50.67
How would you feel
00:16:50.71\00:16:52.44
if you hear
somebody taking the credit
00:16:52.47\00:16:54.91
for something that you have done
00:16:54.94\00:16:56.85
and you have sweat and you have
00:16:56.88\00:16:58.38
put hours and
hours of work into?
00:16:58.41\00:17:00.72
All my human nature is
very selfish and jealous.
00:17:00.75\00:17:05.55
I think this is
where we ask the question,
00:17:05.59\00:17:07.56
wait a minute,
00:17:07.59\00:17:08.92
why is God
asking us to praise Him?
00:17:08.96\00:17:10.56
I mean, who of us
goes around and says,
00:17:10.59\00:17:12.06
you know, tell me how good I am.
00:17:12.09\00:17:13.80
We don't like that.
00:17:13.83\00:17:15.16
But God is of entirely
different caliber than us.
00:17:15.20\00:17:18.23
And He has an
entirely higher love.
00:17:18.27\00:17:21.00
So when He asks
us to praise Him,
00:17:21.04\00:17:23.24
He's not trying
to build up His ego,
00:17:23.27\00:17:25.57
He's recognizing
that the very best thing
00:17:25.61\00:17:28.14
He could do for us is
to help turn our eyes off
00:17:28.18\00:17:30.58
our piddly little
things that we do,
00:17:30.61\00:17:34.05
and our problems
and our successes
00:17:34.08\00:17:36.12
and point them up to the God
00:17:36.15\00:17:37.52
who is the source of everything.
00:17:37.55\00:17:39.75
So out of a
fullness, He is inviting us
00:17:39.79\00:17:42.26
to enjoy His
fullness and His adequacy.
00:17:42.29\00:17:44.89
That's right.
00:17:44.93\00:17:46.26
You know, if I can bring a
little bit of brain science
00:17:46.29\00:17:49.26
here that some
research shows in the brain that
00:17:49.30\00:17:52.90
when we meditate
on a God of love,
00:17:52.93\00:17:54.84
when we meditate on who God is,
00:17:54.87\00:17:57.01
His faithfulness, His mercy,
His justice, His kindness is,
00:17:57.04\00:18:01.74
as you're
meditating on a God of love,
00:18:01.78\00:18:04.55
parts of our brain
actually begin to strengthen.
00:18:04.58\00:18:08.38
And the parts of our
brain that relate to altruism,
00:18:08.42\00:18:12.42
and selflessness, grow,
and develop, and strengthen.
00:18:12.45\00:18:16.09
So the more we
meditate upon a God of love
00:18:16.12\00:18:18.89
and praise Him for who He is,
00:18:18.93\00:18:22.66
the more selfless our brain
begins to become wired towards.
00:18:22.70\00:18:28.64
Amazing.
00:18:28.67\00:18:30.01
I saw some study recently
00:18:30.04\00:18:31.87
as well
concerning the brain and,
00:18:31.91\00:18:34.34
for example, they have measured,
00:18:34.38\00:18:36.28
they have science
behind the idea of you
00:18:36.31\00:18:39.35
complimenting
someone and saying, you know,
00:18:39.38\00:18:42.55
this meal you
prepared is delicious,
00:18:42.58\00:18:45.59
it's just has so much taste.
00:18:45.62\00:18:48.09
I really enjoyed eating this.
00:18:48.12\00:18:50.53
And this expression of gratitude
00:18:50.56\00:18:54.03
does something in the
brain that is beneficial
00:18:54.06\00:18:57.77
to the person expressing
00:18:57.80\00:19:00.04
the compliment
to someone as well.
00:19:00.07\00:19:03.17
So it's
interesting that this idea,
00:19:03.20\00:19:07.34
this
understanding that praising God
00:19:07.38\00:19:11.21
is a good thing
00:19:11.25\00:19:12.58
also has a
personal benefit for us.
00:19:12.61\00:19:15.72
Not that we should
do it for that reason,
00:19:15.75\00:19:18.15
it should come natural for us
00:19:18.19\00:19:20.86
as we consider how many great
00:19:20.89\00:19:23.86
and marvelous
things God has done for us
00:19:23.89\00:19:27.86
and does every day.
00:19:27.90\00:19:29.90
I can say every day
God does something for us.
00:19:29.93\00:19:33.40
More than one thing, of course.
00:19:33.44\00:19:36.04
You know, it reminds me,
00:19:36.07\00:19:37.57
Shelley and I were
talking last night.
00:19:37.61\00:19:39.27
She just had a severe
surgery back in January,
00:19:39.31\00:19:41.74
I mean, December,
December the night.
00:19:41.78\00:19:44.68
And so seven months,
00:19:44.71\00:19:46.05
she's been fighting
these different battles
00:19:46.08\00:19:47.52
between her back
00:19:47.55\00:19:48.88
and between a torn rotator cuff,
00:19:48.92\00:19:50.89
which she had surgery.
00:19:50.92\00:19:52.32
I know that Idalia has been
00:19:52.35\00:19:53.69
going through a
serious situation,
00:19:53.72\00:19:55.72
you know, for two years now?
00:19:55.76\00:19:58.59
Almost three.
Almost three years.
00:19:58.63\00:20:00.96
And Shelley was saying,
00:20:01.00\00:20:02.33
you know that
what got me through
00:20:02.36\00:20:04.63
so far is having
a positive attitude.
00:20:04.67\00:20:08.40
Even whenever I
had all the pain,
00:20:08.44\00:20:10.71
and I didn't think I'd
go any further, you know,
00:20:10.74\00:20:13.34
I would claim His promises.
00:20:13.38\00:20:16.18
And so, having those positive,
00:20:16.21\00:20:18.71
that head positive attitude
00:20:18.75\00:20:20.78
that increases our faithfulness,
00:20:20.82\00:20:24.55
and giving
affirmations or whatever,
00:20:24.59\00:20:27.66
but it tells us
what she loved was,
00:20:27.69\00:20:33.13
of course, was
Thessalonians 5:16-17.
00:20:33.16\00:20:35.43
"Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing,
00:20:35.46\00:20:37.80
and everything give thanks,
00:20:37.83\00:20:39.17
for this is the will of
God in Christ Jesus for you."
00:20:39.20\00:20:42.77
And so that is,
Lord, increase my faith,
00:20:42.80\00:20:45.61
Lord, thank You that I
can call upon Your name.
00:20:45.64\00:20:48.11
I know that You've been there
at these times, in these times.
00:20:48.14\00:20:51.71
And so it just helps.
00:20:51.75\00:20:53.82
It helped lift her
feet to take the next step,
00:20:53.85\00:20:57.72
talking about our
positive attitude,
00:20:57.75\00:21:00.39
you know, and
how the brain works.
00:21:00.42\00:21:01.76
Yeah.
00:21:01.79\00:21:03.12
And I think it's a
really good point to make.
00:21:03.16\00:21:04.49
Because like when we
think about David and this,
00:21:04.53\00:21:07.56
and many of the
songs that he wrote,
00:21:07.60\00:21:09.06
he went through some
very difficult times.
00:21:09.10\00:21:11.23
Where was God?
00:21:11.27\00:21:12.83
I mean, the king is chasing me,
00:21:12.87\00:21:15.44
you know, around and
around the mountain, like,
00:21:15.47\00:21:17.11
where is God in all of this,
00:21:17.14\00:21:18.64
and I think we can
resonate with that.
00:21:18.67\00:21:21.18
Where is God and, you know,
00:21:21.21\00:21:22.64
I've been suffering
with back pain for 30 years,
00:21:22.68\00:21:25.65
or, you know, or
this abuse, or trauma,
00:21:25.68\00:21:29.35
or whatever it may be,
where was God in all of this?
00:21:29.38\00:21:32.35
And I think it's really,
00:21:32.39\00:21:33.72
really key to keep in mind that,
00:21:33.76\00:21:36.73
that in the midst of the pain,
00:21:36.76\00:21:38.09
the suffering,
whatever it may be we be,
00:21:38.13\00:21:40.30
we're going through,
00:21:40.33\00:21:41.96
there is still a God in
heaven that we can give thanks
00:21:42.00\00:21:44.87
and praises to
because ultimately
00:21:44.90\00:21:46.84
His promise will be fulfilled.
00:21:46.87\00:21:48.20
We'll have a new body,
a new mind, a new heart,
00:21:48.24\00:21:51.31
and we will be healed
when Jesus comes again.
00:21:51.34\00:21:54.58
And that can be something
that can give us that hope,
00:21:54.61\00:21:57.28
that encouragement
just to keep pressing on
00:21:57.31\00:21:59.68
in the midst of the pain
00:21:59.71\00:22:01.05
and the suffering
we may be experiencing.
00:22:01.08\00:22:02.42
Yes, beautiful.
00:22:02.45\00:22:05.25
You know, people
listening to this,
00:22:05.29\00:22:08.02
some of them are just
naturally positive people
00:22:08.06\00:22:10.49
and they're doing this
00:22:10.53\00:22:11.86
and others are
listening and they're saying,
00:22:11.89\00:22:14.03
"I don't know how I get started.
00:22:14.06\00:22:15.66
I'm just hurt so bad, I
can't even imagine, you know,
00:22:15.70\00:22:19.70
praising God and thanking Him."
00:22:19.73\00:22:21.84
And I just, I want
to encourage anybody
00:22:21.87\00:22:26.81
who's listening to that to say,
00:22:26.84\00:22:28.18
you don't have to
feel it to speak it.
00:22:28.21\00:22:30.15
And that doesn't mean
that it has to be fake.
00:22:30.18\00:22:34.02
It's not like
you have to fake it.
00:22:34.05\00:22:35.38
You can simply say, God
said to me, rejoice always,
00:22:35.42\00:22:39.52
pray without
ceasing and thank Him,
00:22:39.55\00:22:41.99
praise Him continually.
00:22:42.02\00:22:43.36
All these commands,
God's Word itself is powerful,
00:22:43.39\00:22:46.83
it recreates, it
creates what it says.
00:22:46.86\00:22:49.73
So if He commands
you to do something,
00:22:49.76\00:22:51.33
He's got the power in
that word to make it possible.
00:22:51.37\00:22:53.94
So you take that and
you step out in faith
00:22:53.97\00:22:55.87
and you say just
like the paralytic
00:22:55.90\00:22:57.51
when He said rise up and walk,
00:22:57.54\00:22:58.97
Jesus says rise up
and walk, well he can't.
00:22:59.01\00:23:01.28
But he takes hold of the command
00:23:01.31\00:23:02.88
and he does it.
00:23:02.91\00:23:04.25
So in that moment,
we can simply choose
00:23:04.28\00:23:07.52
and as we began
to do it, it comes.
00:23:07.55\00:23:10.99
My wife has a practice
00:23:11.02\00:23:12.65
of writing down
three things every day
00:23:12.69\00:23:15.59
that she's thankful for.
00:23:15.62\00:23:17.13
And she has
done it consistently.
00:23:17.16\00:23:18.66
She's got bookfull,
00:23:18.69\00:23:20.03
books full of
things she has put down.
00:23:20.06\00:23:22.86
Sometimes it's like, I
can't think of anything.
00:23:22.90\00:23:25.23
But you know, that
process of writing it down,
00:23:25.27\00:23:27.74
you begin to
develop the attitude
00:23:27.77\00:23:30.24
that makes a big difference.
00:23:30.27\00:23:32.61
I think that's a
very good practice.
00:23:32.64\00:23:34.51
Very good practice.
Takes a lot of discipline too.
00:23:34.54\00:23:37.68
It takes discipline, yes.
00:23:37.71\00:23:40.38
This is a good
practice to get you dedicate
00:23:40.42\00:23:43.59
but to write it
down is even better.
00:23:43.62\00:23:45.92
So I think I would
like to start that myself.
00:23:45.95\00:23:48.16
It's a good one.
00:23:48.19\00:23:49.52
You know, you may
want to use your phone.
00:23:49.56\00:23:51.06
I just got an
email from a friend
00:23:51.09\00:23:53.13
I happen to see
on the way yesterday.
00:23:53.16\00:23:55.30
She's fighting ALS
00:23:55.33\00:23:56.90
and her speech
is starting to slur
00:23:56.93\00:23:59.13
and different things
and uncertain future,
00:23:59.17\00:24:01.47
family
surrounded her, helping her,
00:24:01.50\00:24:03.00
but she has days
when she gets discouraged
00:24:03.04\00:24:05.31
and she started
to blog and share.
00:24:05.34\00:24:07.61
And she said the other day,
00:24:07.64\00:24:08.98
she went outside
00:24:09.01\00:24:10.35
and she was stepping on stickers
00:24:10.38\00:24:12.01
and getting burrs in her clothes
00:24:12.05\00:24:13.78
and she just said, yeah,
00:24:13.82\00:24:15.15
that's just the way
my life is right now
00:24:15.18\00:24:17.02
and just feeling sad and crying.
00:24:17.05\00:24:19.52
And then she said, "I
was starting to feel low,
00:24:19.55\00:24:21.99
low as I started walking up
00:24:22.02\00:24:23.36
for breakfast and
encountered the birds.
00:24:23.39\00:24:25.29
Then somehow my
mind shifted to praise
00:24:25.33\00:24:27.90
as I started praising the
Lord for many random things,
00:24:27.93\00:24:31.27
little and big, family,
00:24:31.30\00:24:32.63
friends, ducks,
clouds, granola, a roof.
00:24:32.67\00:24:35.47
It was as if my
heart renewed a little
00:24:35.50\00:24:37.84
with each praise and each step.
00:24:37.87\00:24:39.87
It's a simple concept
really, but powerful."
00:24:39.91\00:24:42.74
Amen.
00:24:42.78\00:24:44.11
And then she went on to say
00:24:44.15\00:24:45.48
how she's found
different praise quotes
00:24:45.51\00:24:46.85
and put them into her phone.
00:24:46.88\00:24:48.22
So she just clicks there
00:24:48.25\00:24:49.58
and reminds herself,
00:24:49.62\00:24:50.95
this is what I have to be about.
00:24:50.99\00:24:52.32
What's her first name? Amen.
00:24:52.35\00:24:53.69
Shelley. Shelley.
00:24:53.72\00:24:56.02
Let's pray for
Shelley right now.
00:24:56.06\00:24:57.39
Thank you.
00:24:57.43\00:24:58.76
Loving Father, as we
come together right now,
00:24:58.79\00:25:00.36
we just lift up
Shelley, dear Father.
00:25:00.40\00:25:02.36
Father, bless her little heart,
00:25:02.40\00:25:04.37
going through all
this newness of life, Lord,
00:25:04.40\00:25:06.70
that she's not used to and,
00:25:06.74\00:25:08.47
Father, trying to hold her back.
00:25:08.50\00:25:09.84
But, Father, she
continues to stretch out,
00:25:09.87\00:25:12.77
go into territory that
she hasn't gone before.
00:25:12.81\00:25:15.14
And, Father,
she's praising Your name
00:25:15.18\00:25:16.88
in spite of this enemy
that's trying to hold her down.
00:25:16.91\00:25:19.71
So we're just asking, Lord,
00:25:19.75\00:25:21.18
that she will just continue
to intercede in her life and,
00:25:21.22\00:25:24.62
Father, that she does
not become discouraged
00:25:24.65\00:25:27.76
'cause she knows
who the Creator is.
00:25:27.79\00:25:30.36
And He spoke and it was done.
00:25:30.39\00:25:32.96
So let us never forget that,
00:25:32.99\00:25:34.43
Lord, that He is there
to make up that difference.
00:25:34.46\00:25:37.83
Bless our precious Shelley,
00:25:37.87\00:25:39.20
dear Father, we ask
this in Your name, amen.
00:25:39.23\00:25:41.80
Amen. Amen.
00:25:41.84\00:25:43.17
Thank you so much.
00:25:43.20\00:25:44.54
You know, that's also
what the Sabbath is about,
00:25:44.57\00:25:46.54
celebrating our Creator,
00:25:46.57\00:25:47.91
which means
celebrate His power to sanctify
00:25:47.94\00:25:50.25
and redeem, Ezekiel
20:12, and 20, right?
00:25:50.28\00:25:52.75
Amen.
00:25:52.78\00:25:54.12
The sign of God
who makes you holy.
00:25:54.15\00:25:56.32
He makes you holy
through the power of His Word.
00:25:56.35\00:25:57.69
Yeah.
00:25:57.72\00:25:59.05
You know what you said
Shelley is doing is something
00:25:59.09\00:26:03.39
that others can grab a
hold of and do as well.
00:26:03.43\00:26:06.86
I mean, she
started to praise the Lord
00:26:06.90\00:26:08.46
in the midst of her suffering
00:26:08.50\00:26:09.83
and found herself
being feeling better
00:26:09.86\00:26:13.37
as she continued to find reasons
00:26:13.40\00:26:15.64
to praise the Lord.
00:26:15.67\00:26:17.04
Let's praise the Lord for that.
00:26:17.07\00:26:19.11
A good, good thing to do.
00:26:19.14\00:26:20.88
I would like to
mention something
00:26:20.91\00:26:22.34
I mentioned before
in at least one program,
00:26:22.38\00:26:25.61
I would say.
00:26:25.65\00:26:26.98
I remember one
time I took, you know,
00:26:27.02\00:26:29.32
the different
calls come in for prayer.
00:26:29.35\00:26:31.72
And this
gentleman, after I said,
00:26:31.75\00:26:35.69
what you normally say
when you answer the phone,
00:26:35.72\00:26:37.46
he said, "What do I
have to be thankful for?"
00:26:37.49\00:26:41.06
And it caught me a
little off guard as they say,
00:26:41.10\00:26:44.33
and the Lord blessed
with some things to say
00:26:44.37\00:26:46.94
I started asking
him some questions.
00:26:46.97\00:26:49.40
"Are you in jail right now?"
00:26:49.44\00:26:52.44
"No."
00:26:52.47\00:26:54.11
"You shall be thankful for that.
00:26:54.14\00:26:55.54
Are you in the
hospital right now?"
00:26:55.58\00:26:58.01
"No."
00:26:58.05\00:26:59.38
"You should be
thankful for that.
00:26:59.41\00:27:00.75
And so I say, you in
a mental institution?"
00:27:00.78\00:27:03.65
"No."
00:27:03.69\00:27:05.02
"You should be
thankful for that.
00:27:05.05\00:27:06.69
Did you get to eat today?"
00:27:06.72\00:27:08.82
"Yeah, I did eat today."
00:27:08.86\00:27:10.19
"You should be
thankful for that."
00:27:10.23\00:27:11.69
And so, yes,
there are things that
00:27:11.73\00:27:14.50
we can be thankful for if
we stop and think about it,
00:27:14.53\00:27:17.53
because God has been
involved in these things.
00:27:17.57\00:27:19.87
And so we
mentioned a few other things.
00:27:19.90\00:27:21.24
And he said, "Well, I
guess I do have some things
00:27:21.27\00:27:23.10
to thank God about."
00:27:23.14\00:27:24.84
And so, yes, we all have
00:27:24.87\00:27:26.88
something to
thank the Lord about.
00:27:26.91\00:27:28.51
Well, you know, sometimes,
this is kind of an old term.
00:27:28.54\00:27:32.18
I guess it's still
used, I would call it being,
00:27:32.21\00:27:34.38
calling high center.
00:27:34.42\00:27:36.38
Being a farm boy, you know,
00:27:36.42\00:27:37.75
you'll go out and there's times
00:27:37.79\00:27:39.12
whenever you get
the vehicle caught,
00:27:39.15\00:27:40.72
say, on a little mound
or something like that,
00:27:40.76\00:27:44.96
and you got the four wheels
00:27:44.99\00:27:46.33
that are just sitting there,
you're not going anywhere.
00:27:46.36\00:27:48.76
You can accelerate
all that you want to,
00:27:48.80\00:27:51.27
but you're
caught on high center.
00:27:51.30\00:27:53.80
And sometimes we get
caught on high center.
00:27:53.84\00:27:56.50
Maybe like this guy, I don't,
00:27:56.54\00:27:57.94
I don't really realize
that I have any blessings.
00:27:57.97\00:28:01.84
And so you start complaining.
00:28:01.88\00:28:03.55
But then hopefully if
you got somebody with you
00:28:03.58\00:28:06.51
and get on the back of
that car or that vehicle,
00:28:06.55\00:28:08.72
that ATV whenever it bounce,
00:28:08.75\00:28:11.02
and one of those
wheels is going to just
00:28:11.05\00:28:12.62
catch right there
00:28:12.65\00:28:13.99
and you're going to
get off high center,
00:28:14.02\00:28:15.72
and then there's
going to bring the reality.
00:28:15.76\00:28:17.89
Wow, there is someone out
there that's paying attention.
00:28:17.93\00:28:21.90
I thought I could be
here the rest of the day,
00:28:21.93\00:28:23.67
just sitting here
until I ran out of gas,
00:28:23.70\00:28:25.73
just pushing down
on the accelerator.
00:28:25.77\00:28:28.24
But God takes
care of His children.
00:28:28.27\00:28:30.64
Thank you, Jesus. Amen.
00:28:30.67\00:28:32.21
He does. Amen. Amen.
00:28:32.24\00:28:33.61
You know, it's interesting
that we sometimes forget that
00:28:33.64\00:28:38.78
the devil is busy trying
to take our eyes off the Lord.
00:28:38.81\00:28:44.19
And yes, we may have,
00:28:44.22\00:28:47.16
you may be
walking down the street
00:28:47.19\00:28:49.12
and stumble over
something, hurt your toe.
00:28:49.16\00:28:52.59
And all of a sudden,
00:28:52.63\00:28:53.96
the devil says,
"Boy, you're doing,
00:28:54.00\00:28:55.50
you're having a bad day.
00:28:55.53\00:28:56.90
Look at what happened to you,
00:28:56.93\00:28:58.27
you just stubbed your
toe and this other thing
00:28:58.30\00:29:00.00
happened to you
and this other thing,"
00:29:00.04\00:29:01.37
and you start thinking,
00:29:01.40\00:29:02.74
your mind continues to go
00:29:02.77\00:29:05.91
from here to
thinking of other things
00:29:05.94\00:29:08.74
that may have happened to you
and your mindset is thrown off.
00:29:08.78\00:29:12.75
And we forget that the devil
can put thoughts in your mind,
00:29:12.78\00:29:15.25
the devil can put
thoughts in your mind,
00:29:15.28\00:29:16.89
what you do with those thoughts
00:29:16.92\00:29:18.72
is completely up to you.
00:29:18.75\00:29:20.26
So you can choose to think about
00:29:20.29\00:29:23.09
those negative things
that may have happened to you
00:29:23.12\00:29:25.83
or you can
concentrate on the good things.
00:29:25.86\00:29:28.40
You know, I remember reading,
00:29:28.43\00:29:30.47
I think it's the
book Steps to Christ.
00:29:30.50\00:29:32.33
I don't remember which
book and it's like two people
00:29:32.37\00:29:37.11
were going through a garden
00:29:37.14\00:29:38.91
and one of them is thinking,
00:29:38.94\00:29:41.74
"Look at all
these beautiful flowers
00:29:41.78\00:29:43.48
and these roses and,
00:29:43.51\00:29:45.31
oh, they smell so good and etc."
00:29:45.35\00:29:47.82
And the other person
says, "Yeah, it's too bad,
00:29:47.85\00:29:49.92
they're covered with thorns."
00:29:49.95\00:29:51.85
So you can have
this type of focus.
00:29:51.89\00:29:55.52
So look at all those
thorns and those flowers.
00:29:55.56\00:29:57.76
So you can say,
look at all those flowers
00:29:57.79\00:29:59.39
that are
surrounded, you know how,
00:29:59.43\00:30:03.20
look at how those thorns
are surrounded by flowers.
00:30:03.23\00:30:06.40
And your
perspective can be different.
00:30:06.43\00:30:08.64
And you enter into praising God.
00:30:08.67\00:30:11.54
Unfortunately, sin has
entered into this world.
00:30:11.57\00:30:14.18
That's why we have thorns,
and I have good news for you,
00:30:14.21\00:30:17.05
those thorns will be
gone once the world is over.
00:30:17.08\00:30:22.38
You can grab flowers
without the fear of thorns.
00:30:22.42\00:30:25.49
And so praise the Lord for that.
00:30:25.52\00:30:27.22
There are things that are here,
00:30:27.26\00:30:28.86
experiences that
we will go through
00:30:28.89\00:30:30.79
because sin exists and
God is going to do away
00:30:30.83\00:30:33.90
with all these things.
00:30:33.93\00:30:35.26
And so, rejoice
in the Lord always.
00:30:35.30\00:30:38.63
Amen. Amen. Amen.
00:30:38.67\00:30:40.47
Yes, there's another
trick my wife has taught me.
00:30:40.50\00:30:43.47
She's been through
00:30:43.51\00:30:45.01
a lot of struggles
at her mission years
00:30:45.04\00:30:46.57
and faced a lot of challenges
00:30:46.61\00:30:48.54
and has really
helped me to learn.
00:30:48.58\00:30:50.91
And that is, it's
a joke in our family
00:30:50.95\00:30:52.88
when we hear her singing,
00:30:52.91\00:30:54.25
we don't know if
she's happy or depressed,
00:30:54.28\00:30:57.42
downhearted or, you know,
00:30:57.45\00:30:58.79
excited because she
makes that choice to seeing
00:30:58.82\00:31:02.66
even when she's struggling
and that lifts her up.
00:31:02.69\00:31:06.19
There's a quote in
an old magazine Review
00:31:06.23\00:31:08.43
and Herald,
August 5, 1900 that says,
00:31:08.46\00:31:10.97
"Begin to educate
your tongues to praise.
00:31:11.00\00:31:14.40
Praise Him and train your hearts
00:31:14.44\00:31:16.67
to make melody to
God, and when the evil one
00:31:16.71\00:31:19.11
begins to settle
his gloom about you,
00:31:19.14\00:31:21.24
sing praise to God,
when things go crossways
00:31:21.28\00:31:23.91
at your homes
00:31:23.95\00:31:25.28
and they can sure go
crossways in any home,
00:31:25.31\00:31:27.55
strike up a song
about the matchless charms
00:31:27.58\00:31:29.75
of the Son of God.
00:31:29.78\00:31:31.12
And I tell you, when
you touch the strain,
00:31:31.15\00:31:32.65
Satan will leave you."
00:31:32.69\00:31:34.16
Praise the Lord. Marvelous.
00:31:34.19\00:31:35.82
Where's that again?
00:31:35.86\00:31:37.19
That's in the Review
and Herald, August 5, 1900.
00:31:37.23\00:31:40.33
That's beautiful. That
reminds me here in Psalms.
00:31:40.36\00:31:43.80
Boy, there's a
million psalms. That's right.
00:31:43.83\00:31:46.13
I mean, it's just a...
00:31:46.17\00:31:47.50
Book of praise. You bet.
00:31:47.54\00:31:49.60
Psalm 64:10, "The
righteous will rejoice,"
00:31:49.64\00:31:53.38
I'm thinking of your wife.
00:31:53.41\00:31:55.61
"The righteous
will rejoice in the Lord
00:31:55.64\00:31:57.98
and take refuge in Him,
00:31:58.01\00:31:59.91
all the upright in the
heart with glory in Him."
00:31:59.95\00:32:05.22
In other words,
00:32:05.25\00:32:06.59
God is there to
assist us in our time.
00:32:06.62\00:32:09.79
You know, we may not realize
00:32:09.82\00:32:11.49
how good a day
it's going to be yet.
00:32:11.53\00:32:13.73
And we just say something
00:32:13.76\00:32:15.10
just right just to start
that path just perfectly so.
00:32:15.13\00:32:19.43
Yeah. I was blessed by my wife.
00:32:19.47\00:32:23.74
I mean, it literally
brought a tear to my eye.
00:32:23.77\00:32:27.68
This is when we were
in both in the hospital.
00:32:27.71\00:32:31.01
I mean, she was in the hospital,
00:32:31.05\00:32:33.05
I was accompanying her.
00:32:33.08\00:32:35.05
We had our accident
and she had 10 broken ribs.
00:32:35.08\00:32:39.25
And it was difficult to breathe,
00:32:39.29\00:32:42.16
difficult to talk.
00:32:42.19\00:32:44.33
And this was one time
when I went to do something
00:32:44.36\00:32:48.03
and I'm coming back and
I normally don't do this,
00:32:48.06\00:32:52.47
but I'm walking towards
the room in the hospital,
00:32:52.50\00:32:56.54
you know, coming
through the basement
00:32:56.57\00:32:58.27
and all this and
I open the phone.
00:32:58.31\00:33:02.14
And I hardly
ever go to Facebook.
00:33:02.18\00:33:04.35
But I decided to go to Facebook
00:33:04.38\00:33:05.71
to see if what
people were saying about,
00:33:05.75\00:33:08.75
you know, she had
posted some things.
00:33:08.78\00:33:11.09
And I opened and I saw a video
she was actually doing a live,
00:33:11.12\00:33:17.26
Facebook Live at the moment
I am walking towards the room.
00:33:17.29\00:33:21.76
And she was singing,
00:33:21.80\00:33:25.67
'Thank you, Lord, in
the midst of her pain,
00:33:25.70\00:33:28.84
Thank You, Lord,
for giving me life.
00:33:28.87\00:33:30.57
Thank you, Lord,
for bringing me joy.
00:33:30.61\00:33:33.31
And she could,
you could tell that
00:33:33.34\00:33:34.81
she could hardly sing.
00:33:34.84\00:33:36.95
And I had to pause
and say, Thank You, Lord,
00:33:36.98\00:33:39.95
that You have given my wife
00:33:39.98\00:33:41.32
this gratitude for
knowing that You have helped us
00:33:41.35\00:33:44.72
and it's a
blessing to realize that,
00:33:44.75\00:33:48.96
yes, we may be
facing some difficult thing.
00:33:48.99\00:33:52.69
But in reality,
00:33:52.73\00:33:54.06
it could even be
worse than it is.
00:33:54.10\00:33:56.70
It hadn't.
00:33:56.73\00:33:58.10
Let me say it this way.
00:33:58.13\00:33:59.67
If it was not for God
restraining the devil,
00:33:59.70\00:34:04.71
imagine how horrible,
00:34:04.74\00:34:07.01
how much more
horrible the things
00:34:07.04\00:34:09.21
that you have gone
through could have been?
00:34:09.24\00:34:12.21
Because the devil would
like to do you more harm,
00:34:12.25\00:34:15.45
more suffering than
you have gone through.
00:34:15.48\00:34:17.95
But God says no, no, no, no,
00:34:17.99\00:34:19.79
you can't do
that, can't do that.
00:34:19.82\00:34:23.39
And so God puts
restraint upon this devil
00:34:23.43\00:34:26.29
that wants to do us harm
00:34:26.33\00:34:27.66
because he's out to
kill, to destroy, to harass,
00:34:27.70\00:34:32.30
and God says, "No,
you can't do that."
00:34:32.33\00:34:35.44
And I praise the Lord for that.
00:34:35.47\00:34:36.81
So praise the Lord for
that. He's worthy of praise.
00:34:36.84\00:34:39.34
That's a good word
00:34:39.37\00:34:40.71
that people need
to hear right there,
00:34:40.74\00:34:42.08
you know, know that our God
00:34:42.11\00:34:45.01
is out there
restraining so much, you know,
00:34:45.05\00:34:48.15
just everything could
be a lot worse than it is.
00:34:48.18\00:34:50.29
Yeah.
00:34:50.32\00:34:51.65
You know, about five years ago,
00:34:51.69\00:34:53.02
my wife nearly
died in an accident.
00:34:53.05\00:34:55.19
It's a Friday evening.
00:34:55.22\00:34:56.56
She had her young people,
the youth group of the church.
00:34:56.59\00:34:59.39
They're all out at the park,
00:34:59.43\00:35:00.80
enjoying some time
fellowshipping together
00:35:00.83\00:35:03.57
to open the Sabbath and just,
00:35:03.60\00:35:05.13
so they're having
some fun playing tag.
00:35:05.17\00:35:07.37
And before they
started a Bible study
00:35:07.40\00:35:09.40
to get some
exercise and fresh air,
00:35:09.44\00:35:11.21
just enjoying a beautiful park
00:35:11.24\00:35:14.24
there in Berrien
Springs, Michigan.
00:35:14.28\00:35:15.61
And so, as she's running
00:35:15.64\00:35:17.28
and just about to
touch one of the kids,
00:35:17.31\00:35:18.95
her foot catches
underneath the board,
00:35:18.98\00:35:20.85
she falls on her face,
00:35:20.88\00:35:22.22
her knee snaps
backward, she almost died
00:35:22.25\00:35:24.45
because it
punctured her femoral artery.
00:35:24.49\00:35:27.99
And it's, and in
that journey, you know,
00:35:28.02\00:35:32.96
the five years of seeing
her recover from that journey,
00:35:32.99\00:35:36.06
and seeing you know,
00:35:36.10\00:35:37.43
from place where she almost died
00:35:37.47\00:35:38.97
to now she's alive.
00:35:39.00\00:35:40.67
And while none of us
wants to ever go through
00:35:40.70\00:35:45.07
a difficult situation,
00:35:45.11\00:35:46.44
the reality is that
00:35:46.47\00:35:47.81
when we go
through those hardships,
00:35:47.84\00:35:50.11
we have, we can
have a deeper ability
00:35:50.15\00:35:55.58
to praise God for who He is
00:35:55.62\00:35:57.92
and His faithfulness
00:35:57.95\00:35:59.29
and His acts in our lives
00:35:59.32\00:36:00.66
and His
interventions in our lives
00:36:00.69\00:36:02.02
in ways that, you know,
00:36:02.06\00:36:04.09
for others who have
not been through that,
00:36:04.13\00:36:06.39
they can't really,
they don't know the depth
00:36:06.43\00:36:08.30
of what that prays
to God is all about,
00:36:08.33\00:36:10.37
that praise God for Your glory
00:36:10.40\00:36:12.83
and Your healing and
Your renewing in my life.
00:36:12.87\00:36:16.74
And so, it's so important
00:36:16.77\00:36:19.87
that we keep that in
mind as we praise God.
00:36:19.91\00:36:23.81
Amen. Amen.
00:36:23.85\00:36:25.65
I would like to read this to you
00:36:25.68\00:36:27.12
because, you know, I
don't like to share bad news,
00:36:27.15\00:36:30.49
but this is bad news
that we need to hear.
00:36:30.52\00:36:33.09
And it's from a book
00:36:33.12\00:36:34.69
called Christ
Object Lessons, page 302.
00:36:34.72\00:36:38.93
And it says the following words,
00:36:38.96\00:36:40.93
"The sin of the
world today is the sin that
00:36:40.96\00:36:45.23
brought destruction upon Israel,
00:36:45.27\00:36:47.94
ingratitude to God, the neglect
of opportunities and blessings,
00:36:47.97\00:36:53.81
the selfish
appropriation of God's gifts.
00:36:53.84\00:36:56.88
These were comprised in the sin
that brought wrath upon Israel.
00:36:56.91\00:37:01.12
They are bringing
ruin upon the world today.
00:37:01.15\00:37:05.25
So notice, in gratitude,
00:37:05.29\00:37:09.92
neglect of
opportunities and blessing,
00:37:09.96\00:37:12.99
and the selfish
appropriation of God's gifts,
00:37:13.03\00:37:15.93
these are things
00:37:15.96\00:37:17.53
that are
detrimental, they do you harm.
00:37:17.57\00:37:21.24
So be thankful.
00:37:21.27\00:37:23.61
Be thankful,
express gratitude to God
00:37:23.64\00:37:26.51
because apparently,
00:37:26.54\00:37:28.14
it is a sin not to
express gratitude to God.
00:37:28.18\00:37:31.75
And I encourage you to consider
00:37:31.78\00:37:35.42
what wonderful
things God has done for you.
00:37:35.45\00:37:38.19
It's like we fall into
one ditch to the other.
00:37:38.22\00:37:40.32
We're either
boasting about the things
00:37:40.36\00:37:43.63
we've done and
feeling great about ourselves
00:37:43.66\00:37:45.66
because of all we've done,
forgetting every good thing
00:37:45.69\00:37:47.96
comes from God.
00:37:48.00\00:37:49.33
Or we're on the other
side feeling depressed
00:37:49.36\00:37:51.03
because nothing good
ever happened in my life
00:37:51.07\00:37:52.93
and I haven't
accomplished anything
00:37:52.97\00:37:54.34
after all these years.
00:37:54.37\00:37:55.77
And both of those are sin.
00:37:55.80\00:37:57.71
Both of those
are not acknowledging
00:37:57.74\00:37:59.67
God's goodness in
all of the situation.
00:37:59.71\00:38:02.88
He needs to give us a new heart.
00:38:02.91\00:38:05.11
Amen. Go ahead, Bill.
00:38:05.15\00:38:08.72
Well, you know, it's, again,
00:38:08.75\00:38:12.75
coming back to the Psalms.
00:38:12.79\00:38:15.69
I just love, I
just love how David
00:38:15.72\00:38:18.13
and many other authors
of the Psalms write it.
00:38:18.16\00:38:21.16
And you know,
when we think about
00:38:21.20\00:38:24.33
the two ditches
and the importance
00:38:24.37\00:38:26.57
of praising God and
keeping our focus central
00:38:26.60\00:38:29.74
and fully on God.
00:38:29.77\00:38:31.71
Psalm 147 is a great psalm
00:38:31.74\00:38:35.04
that has this
beautiful connection here.
00:38:35.08\00:38:37.05
So in Psalm 147, we see
how the psalmist is writing.
00:38:37.08\00:38:42.48
And I'll just read a
couple examples here.
00:38:42.52\00:38:46.45
"The Lord is
rebuilding Jerusalem,
00:38:46.49\00:38:47.82
bringing exiles back to Israel."
00:38:47.86\00:38:49.32
Psalm 147:2, "He
heals the brokenhearted
00:38:49.36\00:38:52.16
and bandages their wounds.
00:38:52.19\00:38:54.56
He counts the stars
and call them by name."
00:38:54.60\00:38:57.57
And so here, verse 3 and 4
00:38:57.60\00:39:00.07
is just one
example that God is close.
00:39:00.10\00:39:04.24
I'm healing your
wounds and your broken heart.
00:39:04.27\00:39:07.48
Excellent.
00:39:07.51\00:39:08.84
And then you have God faraway,
far out and in His Majesty,
00:39:08.88\00:39:12.65
He counts the
stars, and His all glories.
00:39:12.68\00:39:16.69
And so Psalm 147 goes
back and forth, God is close.
00:39:16.72\00:39:20.89
God is majestic
and faraway over,
00:39:20.92\00:39:23.89
Lord of all of the universe.
00:39:23.93\00:39:25.53
God is close, God is
majesty back and forth,
00:39:25.56\00:39:28.86
the psalmist
compares, like, this is the God
00:39:28.90\00:39:32.20
that we have and
we can praise Him
00:39:32.23\00:39:33.90
because He's close,
and He's really broad
00:39:33.94\00:39:36.54
and He's over all things.
00:39:36.57\00:39:38.07
Beautiful, beautiful.
00:39:38.11\00:39:40.18
But I found interesting
and talking about Psalms
00:39:40.21\00:39:42.44
and how important praise
00:39:42.48\00:39:44.41
is or Psalms
146, 147, 148, 49, 50.
00:39:44.45\00:39:50.25
Okay, all five
starts with praise the Lord.
00:39:50.29\00:39:55.59
And the last
verse in this chapter
00:39:55.62\00:39:57.79
is praise the Lord.
00:39:57.83\00:39:59.46
Uh, interesting.
00:39:59.49\00:40:00.83
Yeah, so it's just,
this is a model for us.
00:40:00.86\00:40:05.23
Praise the Lord
for whatever reason.
00:40:05.27\00:40:08.07
Remember He is worthy
00:40:08.10\00:40:10.07
and there's a specialness
whenever you praise Lord
00:40:10.11\00:40:14.21
because He hears you.
00:40:14.24\00:40:16.41
And I don't know
how that all works,
00:40:16.44\00:40:19.81
but I know that He is
there, either praising,
00:40:19.85\00:40:22.75
they're praising,
this assisting this,
00:40:22.78\00:40:24.79
this assisting this and, boy,
00:40:24.82\00:40:28.46
things happen that you
may never think would happen,
00:40:28.49\00:40:32.56
because you know you
are praising the Lord.
00:40:32.59\00:40:35.60
And we've all asked Lord that,
00:40:35.63\00:40:36.97
that since He has a
plan for our life, you know,
00:40:37.00\00:40:40.27
just to help us be all
that we can be in His name.
00:40:40.30\00:40:44.07
And praise the Lord.
00:40:44.11\00:40:45.54
Praise the Lord.
00:40:45.57\00:40:46.91
He heals the brokenhearted,
00:40:46.94\00:40:48.28
binds up their wounds,
counting over the stars,
00:40:48.31\00:40:50.61
calls them by name.
00:40:50.65\00:40:51.98
That's the God that we serve.
00:40:52.01\00:40:53.35
Yeah. Amen.
00:40:53.38\00:40:54.72
Amen.
00:40:54.75\00:40:56.08
Were told in
Testimonies volume 5, page 317.
00:40:56.12\00:40:59.65
"If the loving kindness of God
00:40:59.69\00:41:01.22
called forth more
thanksgiving and praise,
00:41:01.26\00:41:03.96
we would have far
more power in prayer."
00:41:03.99\00:41:07.66
So I love it when I hear,
00:41:07.70\00:41:09.56
I just heard a
group in Thailand,
00:41:09.60\00:41:12.63
primarily
Filipinos that are working,
00:41:12.67\00:41:14.17
they're teaching
on a united prayer
00:41:14.20\00:41:16.30
call this last weekend.
00:41:16.34\00:41:17.77
And they went on
for like 45 minutes
00:41:17.81\00:41:20.28
united prayer
00:41:20.31\00:41:21.64
and that fourfold way
of breaking things down,
00:41:21.68\00:41:24.51
begins with praise and ends
00:41:24.55\00:41:26.21
with thanksgiving and confession
00:41:26.25\00:41:27.98
and requests in the middle.
00:41:28.02\00:41:29.75
But they went on
just praising God,
00:41:29.78\00:41:32.05
you could just feel
the power of those prayers.
00:41:32.09\00:41:35.19
Amen. Amen.
00:41:35.22\00:41:36.66
I'm going to
read from Psalms 103.
00:41:36.69\00:41:40.40
I will begin in verse 1.
00:41:40.43\00:41:45.10
"Bless the Lord, O my
soul, and all that is within me,
00:41:45.13\00:41:49.30
bless His holy name!
00:41:49.34\00:41:51.64
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
00:41:51.67\00:41:53.38
and forget not all His benefits:
00:41:53.41\00:41:56.41
Who forgiveth
all thine iniquities,
00:41:56.44\00:41:58.81
who healeth all thy diseases,
00:41:58.85\00:42:01.52
who redeemeth thy
life from destruction,
00:42:01.55\00:42:04.79
who crowneth thee
with loving-kindness
00:42:04.82\00:42:07.26
and tender mercies,
00:42:07.29\00:42:09.46
who satisfies thy
mouth with good things,
00:42:09.49\00:42:13.03
So that thy youth is
renewed like the eagle's."
00:42:13.06\00:42:16.73
And it continues,
saying many wonderful things,
00:42:16.77\00:42:20.20
including this one.
00:42:20.24\00:42:22.24
Try to put this in your
mind and think about it.
00:42:22.27\00:42:24.77
"As far as the
east is from the west,
00:42:24.81\00:42:27.94
so far has He removed
our transgressions from us."
00:42:27.98\00:42:32.71
I say, praise the
Lord. Praise the Lord.
00:42:32.75\00:42:34.98
Exactly right.
00:42:35.02\00:42:37.25
For we all need to hear that.
00:42:37.29\00:42:38.62
And I love verse 13.
00:42:38.65\00:42:39.99
The next one, "After
the Lord is like a father
00:42:40.02\00:42:42.86
to his children
tender and compassionate
00:42:42.89\00:42:45.13
to those who fear Him."
00:42:45.16\00:42:46.49
And that is, this has been,
00:42:46.53\00:42:48.66
I'm glad you
referenced Psalm 103
00:42:48.70\00:42:50.57
'cause this has
been an anchor chapter
00:42:50.60\00:42:52.33
for me for years.
00:42:52.37\00:42:54.10
Because in very
difficult moments of my life,
00:42:54.14\00:42:57.77
my parents divorced in
trying to live on my own
00:42:57.81\00:43:03.51
and navigate
life as a young adult
00:43:03.55\00:43:06.51
and this chapter
was so important to me
00:43:06.55\00:43:10.12
as it just reminded
me, God is my father,
00:43:10.15\00:43:13.42
He's removed my sins
00:43:13.46\00:43:14.79
as far as east
from the west like,
00:43:14.82\00:43:17.06
I love just verse 8.
00:43:17.09\00:43:18.43
You know, the Lord is
compassionate and merciful,
00:43:18.46\00:43:20.36
slow to angry, slow to get angry
00:43:20.40\00:43:22.66
and filled with unfailing love,
00:43:22.70\00:43:24.03
and it's just so beautiful like,
00:43:24.07\00:43:25.87
that this picture gave
me strength and courage
00:43:25.90\00:43:29.60
through my young adult years,
00:43:29.64\00:43:31.97
in so many ways
just to remind me,
00:43:32.01\00:43:34.38
God is here with me, I
don't need to be afraid.
00:43:34.41\00:43:37.31
Amen. Amen.
00:43:37.35\00:43:39.35
Well, I can praise the Lord for,
00:43:39.38\00:43:42.85
maybe that's what we
should think of something
00:43:42.88\00:43:44.79
you praise the Lord for.
00:43:44.82\00:43:46.19
I would like to praise the Lord
00:43:46.22\00:43:47.56
because I can think of
several times in my life
00:43:47.59\00:43:51.06
where I was near death,
close to either some accident
00:43:51.09\00:43:56.16
or something along the way.
00:43:56.20\00:43:58.67
That I'm alive to say,
00:43:58.70\00:44:02.17
"The Lord brought me
through those things."
00:44:02.20\00:44:06.04
I would like to praise
the Lord for something.
00:44:06.07\00:44:09.04
Now God's always on time.
00:44:09.08\00:44:11.71
I remember I was a young man,
00:44:11.75\00:44:14.18
maybe 22-23,
something like that,
00:44:14.22\00:44:16.95
maybe even younger.
00:44:16.99\00:44:18.35
And I went to a lake party.
00:44:18.39\00:44:20.89
And a lot of people were there
00:44:20.92\00:44:23.12
and had skiing and inner tubing
00:44:23.16\00:44:28.76
and everything like that.
00:44:28.80\00:44:30.27
And the
objective was to go sunk on
00:44:30.30\00:44:34.34
one of these boat rides here.
00:44:34.37\00:44:36.24
And their objective
was to throw you off,
00:44:36.27\00:44:39.24
and your
objective was to hold on.
00:44:39.27\00:44:42.84
It was the...
00:44:42.88\00:44:45.35
Bless their hearts.
Yeah, bless their hearts.
00:44:45.38\00:44:48.12
And I really didn't care
for water in the first place.
00:44:48.15\00:44:51.72
You know, Texans,
especially Central Texas,
00:44:51.75\00:44:53.96
there's not a lot of
water, so we drank ours.
00:44:53.99\00:44:57.26
So, but anyway, I
went to this party
00:45:00.30\00:45:02.53
and it came my time.
00:45:02.56\00:45:03.90
And so anyway,
we're sitting here
00:45:03.93\00:45:05.27
and going around,
00:45:05.30\00:45:06.63
I chose an inner
tube because I thought
00:45:06.67\00:45:08.00
I could hold on to it
better than stay up on skis.
00:45:08.04\00:45:10.34
And as they came
in, it was after lunch
00:45:10.37\00:45:12.37
and it changed the lengths
of the rope behind the boat.
00:45:12.41\00:45:15.74
And I came into,
as they brought me in,
00:45:15.78\00:45:18.75
I was much more, I
was closer to the slip.
00:45:18.78\00:45:22.08
And I came in and
I hit a boat dock,
00:45:22.12\00:45:24.55
just about like
this at 45 miles an hour.
00:45:24.59\00:45:27.52
Oh, no.
00:45:27.56\00:45:28.89
And just like this
and it hit me right here.
00:45:28.92\00:45:33.53
And, boy, I mean, went down,
00:45:33.56\00:45:38.03
went down in the water.
00:45:38.07\00:45:40.47
And it's kind of like,
00:45:40.50\00:45:42.67
I just kicked for everything
that I could and I got back up.
00:45:42.70\00:45:46.98
I'll thank you, Jesus.
00:45:47.01\00:45:48.34
Thank you, Jesus. And
I went back down again.
00:45:48.38\00:45:51.61
But so I'm kicking I'm thinking,
00:45:51.65\00:45:52.98
oh, boy, my life is
00:45:53.01\00:45:54.35
flashed in front
of me right then.
00:45:54.38\00:45:55.72
I thought, oh, my goodness,
you know, help me Jesus.
00:45:55.75\00:45:58.85
And then I came
back up the third time,
00:45:58.89\00:46:01.36
and there was a loose
line, electric line up there.
00:46:01.39\00:46:05.59
And I just thought, boy,
00:46:05.63\00:46:06.96
if I could just get up that high
00:46:07.00\00:46:08.33
and grab that line
up there, I'll be safe.
00:46:08.36\00:46:12.83
I set my thinking, you
know, and fighting all this,
00:46:12.87\00:46:15.70
your life
flashing and everything.
00:46:15.74\00:46:17.67
And I grabbed
that line up there.
00:46:17.71\00:46:20.08
Oh, thank you.
00:46:20.11\00:46:21.44
And it was just, it was so old
00:46:21.48\00:46:23.11
that it just crushed in
my hand and I went back down.
00:46:23.14\00:46:27.48
And I just thought, boy, I
mean, I was very discouraged.
00:46:27.52\00:46:31.05
And we were talking
about just instantaneous.
00:46:31.09\00:46:33.66
Just very discouraged
00:46:33.69\00:46:35.02
there for a second
and praise the Lord.
00:46:35.06\00:46:39.39
There were so many
people around that probably
00:46:39.43\00:46:41.56
about 10 guys jumped
in at that particular time
00:46:41.60\00:46:44.77
and pulled me out, you know,
00:46:44.80\00:46:47.40
or it might have
had a different end,
00:46:47.44\00:46:50.11
you know, but
that was a time that
00:46:50.14\00:46:52.07
I've always praised the Lord.
00:46:52.11\00:46:53.58
You know, He was on time.
00:46:53.61\00:46:55.78
I learned a valuable lesson.
00:46:55.81\00:46:58.28
Number one, don't
get to inner tubes.
00:46:58.31\00:47:02.18
But more important, you know is,
00:47:02.22\00:47:03.79
is make good decisions.
00:47:03.82\00:47:06.79
Yes.
00:47:06.82\00:47:08.16
I mean, it's just comes down
to that just, you know, think,
00:47:08.19\00:47:10.23
try to think things that
00:47:10.26\00:47:11.79
don't get caught up in
peer pressure doing things
00:47:11.83\00:47:14.60
that you shouldn't and etc, etc.
00:47:14.63\00:47:16.73
But I just thank you Jesus
00:47:16.77\00:47:18.10
for being there on
time saved my life and...
00:47:18.13\00:47:22.67
How about you, Bill?
00:47:22.70\00:47:24.04
You know, there's so many things
00:47:24.07\00:47:26.31
and I praise God that
00:47:26.34\00:47:29.48
He brought my wife into my life
00:47:29.51\00:47:30.95
and that's been one of the most
00:47:30.98\00:47:33.55
rewarding experiences
00:47:33.58\00:47:36.79
that I've had is getting married
00:47:36.82\00:47:38.15
and we're three
years celebrating marriage
00:47:38.19\00:47:41.76
and I'm just, I just
praise God for that and,
00:47:41.79\00:47:45.26
but as I think about that,
00:47:45.29\00:47:47.70
you know as I've
reflected on my life
00:47:47.73\00:47:49.90
and my life journey,
struggling with addictions and,
00:47:49.93\00:47:53.94
you know, broken
home and just all the pain
00:47:53.97\00:47:57.31
that really comes with that.
00:47:57.34\00:47:58.97
I look back and I can say,
00:47:59.01\00:48:01.54
I praise God that
00:48:01.58\00:48:03.11
He's been my Father
all the way through.
00:48:03.14\00:48:05.78
And I really
sensed that when I was 16,
00:48:05.81\00:48:08.45
I committed my life to
Jesus really for the first time.
00:48:08.48\00:48:13.36
I'm baptized at 12,
00:48:13.39\00:48:14.72
but committed my life, you know,
00:48:14.76\00:48:16.22
intellectually to
Jesus at 16 with my heart,
00:48:16.26\00:48:19.29
and I just really sense that,
00:48:19.33\00:48:21.13
that time Psalm 27:10,
became fulfilled in my life.
00:48:21.16\00:48:25.27
And I'll read this,
00:48:25.30\00:48:26.70
because it is
such a powerful text,
00:48:26.74\00:48:28.74
Psalm 27:10, "Even if my father
00:48:28.77\00:48:32.41
and mother abandoned me,
the Lord will hold me close."
00:48:32.44\00:48:35.34
And so I praise God
that He has been my father.
00:48:35.38\00:48:38.61
He's held me close
00:48:38.65\00:48:39.98
in the midst of
the ups and downs
00:48:40.02\00:48:42.25
of life's journey,
00:48:42.28\00:48:43.99
battling addiction,
battling brokenness, you know,
00:48:44.02\00:48:47.49
addressing the
baggage that I've carried,
00:48:47.52\00:48:53.16
but He's been a
faithful father to me.
00:48:53.19\00:48:55.63
He's been a
faithful parent to me,
00:48:55.66\00:48:57.03
and I praise God for that.
00:48:57.07\00:48:58.40
Amen. Amen.
00:48:58.43\00:48:59.93
That's beautiful. Wow.
00:48:59.97\00:49:02.64
Yes, like in 10
seconds or less, right?
00:49:02.67\00:49:05.04
Although many things you have.
00:49:05.07\00:49:06.41
Although many things to
praise God for His mercy.
00:49:06.44\00:49:08.14
You have a few minutes.
00:49:08.18\00:49:10.45
No, there is so much
and so much I'm thankful.
00:49:10.48\00:49:15.85
But I think everyday life
00:49:15.88\00:49:19.25
is so challenging
in our complex world,
00:49:19.29\00:49:23.22
where we have
decisions to be making
00:49:23.26\00:49:25.83
that seem like life altering,
00:49:25.86\00:49:27.96
either for
ourselves or for our children,
00:49:28.00\00:49:30.10
or for somebody
we're trying to help.
00:49:30.13\00:49:32.03
And so, even though
00:49:32.07\00:49:33.74
it may seem like a mundane thing
00:49:33.77\00:49:35.27
compared to
these amazing stories
00:49:35.30\00:49:37.07
that you've just shared,
the reality that God says,
00:49:37.11\00:49:41.68
ask of Me and I
will give you wisdom.
00:49:41.71\00:49:44.08
James 1:5, He's
just so clear, ask.
00:49:44.11\00:49:46.72
And by the way,
00:49:46.75\00:49:48.08
don't you be
doubting, not even a little bit.
00:49:48.12\00:49:51.35
Just know it. This is true.
00:49:51.39\00:49:52.72
I'm going to do this for you.
00:49:52.75\00:49:54.09
God has helped me so much
00:49:54.12\00:49:55.92
and just trying
to make decisions
00:49:55.96\00:49:57.83
and you can go for
weeks without coming through
00:49:57.86\00:50:00.90
and you're like,
"Okay, where's the answer,"
00:50:00.93\00:50:03.13
but it's on its way,
God is working with us.
00:50:03.16\00:50:05.63
He is, He's not just interested
in giving us a quick answer
00:50:05.67\00:50:08.44
and we go off on our own.
00:50:08.47\00:50:09.80
He wants to walk with us.
00:50:09.84\00:50:11.34
He wants us to
be in His presence.
00:50:11.37\00:50:13.51
And so that's,
that's just beautiful thing
00:50:13.54\00:50:16.58
that I really
appreciate about God.
00:50:16.61\00:50:18.51
He is faithful to His Word.
00:50:18.55\00:50:20.68
He is faithful to
answer our questions
00:50:20.72\00:50:22.88
and our struggles,
00:50:22.92\00:50:24.25
all those beautiful
things, saving our lives,
00:50:24.29\00:50:26.49
just so much He brings us joy.
00:50:26.52\00:50:29.29
And I think the last thing
00:50:29.32\00:50:30.66
that I just tie to with that is,
00:50:30.69\00:50:33.66
again, for those
who are listening,
00:50:33.70\00:50:35.30
and they're saying, you know,
00:50:35.33\00:50:36.97
I'm almost seeing the
light at the end of the tunnel,
00:50:37.00\00:50:40.40
but I think it might
be a train, you know.
00:50:40.44\00:50:43.71
It can hit you. Yeah.
00:50:43.74\00:50:45.77
I just, I can't get
past what I'm going through.
00:50:45.81\00:50:48.28
I'm hurting the
most, I don't know that
00:50:48.31\00:50:49.98
I can even get those words
out to start singing a song
00:50:50.01\00:50:52.58
or praising or maybe I
could write in a journal.
00:50:52.61\00:50:55.28
But the promise, the
promise of righteousness
00:50:55.32\00:50:58.55
by faith through Jesus
Christ fits this exactly.
00:50:58.59\00:51:02.62
What is He giving us
00:51:02.66\00:51:03.99
when He gives us
Christ, our righteousness?
00:51:04.03\00:51:05.79
He's giving us Jesus
00:51:05.83\00:51:07.50
who is full of praise
and full of glory to God.
00:51:07.53\00:51:10.13
But in Hebrews 13:15,
00:51:10.17\00:51:12.77
it talks again about
this sacrifice of praise.
00:51:12.80\00:51:16.07
And it is a sacrifice.
00:51:16.10\00:51:17.44
We're sacrificing
complaints and gloominess.
00:51:17.47\00:51:21.18
We gotten so used to
them, they're like friends,
00:51:21.21\00:51:23.11
and we feel like
we're giving them up
00:51:23.14\00:51:24.48
when we start to praise.
00:51:24.51\00:51:25.85
But listen how he says.
00:51:25.88\00:51:27.22
He says, "Therefore,"
this is Hebrews 13:15,
00:51:27.25\00:51:29.82
"Therefore by
Him, let us continually
00:51:29.85\00:51:33.02
offer the
sacrifice of praise to God,
00:51:33.05\00:51:35.79
the fruit of our lips,
giving thanks to His name."
00:51:35.82\00:51:38.69
Even this is only possible
by the miracle of Christ
00:51:38.73\00:51:42.86
in our hearts
that enables us to have
00:51:42.90\00:51:45.57
love, joy, peace,
long suffering, etc.
00:51:45.60\00:51:49.24
So I am especially thankful
00:51:49.27\00:51:51.74
that it's not in
our own strength.
00:51:51.77\00:51:53.88
It's Christ, our
righteousness in our life.
00:51:53.91\00:51:56.18
Amen.
00:51:56.21\00:51:57.88
And I'll read here in Psalm,
we talked about Psalms 27,
00:51:57.91\00:52:00.78
where there's so many
nuggets in Psalms 27:14,
00:52:00.82\00:52:04.15
wait on the Lord.
00:52:04.19\00:52:06.39
So those that are
kind of, you know,
00:52:06.42\00:52:09.32
maybe running a fast pace
00:52:09.36\00:52:10.89
and their whole
life just runs fast.
00:52:10.93\00:52:13.36
Maybe, wait, wait on the
Lord, be of good courage.
00:52:13.40\00:52:17.60
Be strong, stand tall,
00:52:17.63\00:52:19.80
and He shall
strengthen your heart.
00:52:19.83\00:52:22.40
Now there's where
because all of a sudden
00:52:22.44\00:52:24.44
you know this,
00:52:24.47\00:52:26.37
something
besides you is rising up,
00:52:26.41\00:52:29.64
you know, and this,
maybe I can do this.
00:52:29.68\00:52:33.31
Oh, Lord, I want to hear you.
00:52:33.35\00:52:36.18
And He says, just
wait, and it goes up,
00:52:36.22\00:52:38.72
he makes us absolute.
00:52:38.75\00:52:40.32
Wait I say, wait on the
Lord, wait I say on the Lord.
00:52:40.36\00:52:46.59
Lord give me
patience, give me understanding,
00:52:46.63\00:52:50.47
you know, worthy
is the name of Jesus
00:52:50.50\00:52:54.34
to be prayed.
00:52:54.37\00:52:58.11
Amen. Amen.
00:52:58.14\00:53:00.01
Now I was
reading this right quick
00:53:00.04\00:53:01.38
here in John and then you can.
00:53:01.41\00:53:04.38
I was playing the other day.
00:53:04.41\00:53:06.95
This is my Lego set right here.
00:53:06.98\00:53:09.45
The Christian's life should be
00:53:09.48\00:53:10.89
one of faith, of victory
and joy in Christ, joy in God.
00:53:10.92\00:53:16.19
And He gave me four
scriptures to tie in here
00:53:16.22\00:53:18.86
and we're talking about
waiting patience, worthiness.
00:53:18.89\00:53:22.90
Nehemiah 8:10,
00:53:22.93\00:53:24.90
"The joy of the
Lord is your strength."
00:53:24.93\00:53:27.50
Thus praise the Lord.
00:53:27.54\00:53:29.70
Philippians 4:4,
"Rejoice in the Lord always
00:53:29.74\00:53:33.07
I say it again rejoice."
00:53:33.11\00:53:35.84
Praise Him.
00:53:35.88\00:53:37.41
1 Thessalonians 5:16 and 18,
00:53:37.45\00:53:40.55
"Rejoice always,
pray continually,
00:53:40.58\00:53:42.48
give thanks in
all circumstances,
00:53:42.52\00:53:44.09
for this is God's will
for you in Christ Jesus."
00:53:44.12\00:53:47.16
Thus praise Him.
00:53:47.19\00:53:49.36
Ephesians 3:19,
00:53:49.39\00:53:51.59
"That you may be filled
with all the fullness of God."
00:53:51.63\00:53:55.30
Thus praise Him.
00:53:55.33\00:53:58.07
So it comes down
to thus praising Him
00:53:58.10\00:54:01.90
that opens up all these doors
that allows us to go through.
00:54:01.94\00:54:06.21
Sometimes you got to
skinny up a little bit
00:54:06.24\00:54:08.24
maybe to get
through that little crack,
00:54:08.28\00:54:10.11
but you'll get through
it, you know, praise Him.
00:54:10.15\00:54:13.35
I was just reflecting
00:54:13.38\00:54:14.72
on this praise
and righteousness.
00:54:14.75\00:54:17.05
And when we think of the Psalms,
00:54:17.09\00:54:19.82
a lot of this,
many of the Psalms
00:54:19.85\00:54:21.96
reflect about
praise and what event
00:54:21.99\00:54:24.99
do they almost always refer to?
00:54:25.03\00:54:27.53
The Exodus.
00:54:27.56\00:54:29.63
They refer to the Exodus,
deliverance at the Red Sea.
00:54:29.66\00:54:33.57
They're pointing
back, look how God saved us.
00:54:33.60\00:54:38.17
We can praise Him
for what He's done.
00:54:38.21\00:54:41.18
Look at how God has delivered us
00:54:41.21\00:54:43.04
from the enemies
and we can rejoice Him
00:54:43.08\00:54:46.11
at all times and
rejoice in the Lord.
00:54:46.15\00:54:49.32
Look at how God
00:54:49.35\00:54:50.69
has brought
justice to our enemies,
00:54:50.72\00:54:52.92
our persecutors, our oppressors,
00:54:52.95\00:54:55.16
redeemed us and ransomed us.
00:54:55.19\00:54:56.83
And so, this praise
00:54:56.86\00:54:58.99
and righteousness by
faith come hand in hand
00:54:59.03\00:55:01.56
as we look back through
the story of the people of God.
00:55:01.60\00:55:05.53
Faith is praise.
00:55:05.57\00:55:07.10
And we haven't even
mentioned 2 Chronicles 20,
00:55:07.14\00:55:09.64
incredible story of victory
00:55:09.67\00:55:12.21
where it becomes
because they went out praising
00:55:12.24\00:55:15.88
and singing.
00:55:15.91\00:55:17.35
We as a family have made a
book called an Ebenezer book
00:55:17.38\00:55:21.35
where we, even when
the kids were little,
00:55:21.38\00:55:23.45
they would draw
pictures of stories
00:55:23.49\00:55:25.12
where God did something for them
00:55:25.15\00:55:26.49
and we put that in.
00:55:26.52\00:55:27.89
And that is, that
is a book we go back to
00:55:27.92\00:55:30.36
and we read and we
see what He has done.
00:55:30.39\00:55:32.79
And that returns that joy
00:55:32.83\00:55:35.16
to see where God
has led in the past.
00:55:35.20\00:55:37.27
Amen. Amen.
00:55:37.30\00:55:38.83
I'm reading to you
from Christ Object Lessons
00:55:38.87\00:55:41.90
beginning in page 299.
00:55:41.94\00:55:44.57
It says, "To
praise God in fullness
00:55:44.61\00:55:47.18
and sincerity of heart
00:55:47.21\00:55:49.11
is as much a
duty as this prayer.
00:55:49.14\00:55:52.75
We are to show to the world
00:55:52.78\00:55:54.52
and to all the
heavenly intelligences
00:55:54.55\00:55:57.32
that we appreciate
the wonderful love of God
00:55:57.35\00:56:00.32
for fallen humanity,
00:56:00.36\00:56:02.06
and that we are expecting larger
00:56:02.09\00:56:04.59
and yet larger blessings
from His infinite fullness
00:56:04.63\00:56:08.86
far more than we do.
00:56:08.90\00:56:11.00
We need to speak of
the precious chapters
00:56:11.03\00:56:13.54
in our experience.
00:56:13.57\00:56:15.07
After a special
outpouring of the Holy Spirit,
00:56:15.10\00:56:17.54
our joy in the
Lord and our efficiency
00:56:17.57\00:56:20.74
in His service will
be greatly increased by
00:56:20.78\00:56:23.58
recounting His
goodness and His wonderful works
00:56:23.61\00:56:26.68
in behalf of His children."
00:56:26.72\00:56:29.08
What happens when you do this?
00:56:29.12\00:56:31.02
"These exercises drive
back the power of Satan,
00:56:31.05\00:56:34.86
they expel the
spirit of murmuring
00:56:34.89\00:56:38.56
and complaint and
the tempter loses ground.
00:56:38.59\00:56:41.43
They cultivate those
attributes of character
00:56:41.46\00:56:43.87
which will fit
the dwellers on earth
00:56:43.90\00:56:45.83
for the heavenly mansions.
00:56:45.87\00:56:47.54
Such a testimony will
have an influence upon others.
00:56:47.57\00:56:50.97
No more effective means
00:56:51.01\00:56:52.54
can be employed for
winning souls to Christ".
00:56:52.57\00:56:55.64
Amen.
00:56:55.68\00:56:57.01
Christ Object
Lessons starting on page 299.
00:56:57.05\00:57:00.92
Well, our time is over.
00:57:00.95\00:57:04.02
I know we have more to share,
00:57:04.05\00:57:05.52
but our time is
over for this program.
00:57:05.55\00:57:08.12
I want to thank JD
Quinn for being with us.
00:57:08.16\00:57:10.86
Amen. Thank you.
00:57:10.89\00:57:12.46
Thank you for being with us.
00:57:12.49\00:57:14.43
Bill, we want to thank
you for being with us as well.
00:57:14.46\00:57:17.30
And, of course, Scott,
00:57:17.33\00:57:19.17
thank you for being with
us also during this time.
00:57:19.20\00:57:21.97
And we want to thank you
00:57:22.00\00:57:23.74
for being with
us during this hour.
00:57:23.77\00:57:25.97
We hope you have been blessed
00:57:26.01\00:57:27.34
and we hope you
continue to pray for 3ABN
00:57:27.38\00:57:29.61
and continue to praise the Lord
00:57:29.64\00:57:31.98
because it is
good and He's waiting.
00:57:32.01\00:57:35.25