I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Removing pain
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Lord, let my words
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Heal a heart that hurts
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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Hello and welcome
to Family Worship.
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This is Friday night
when we welcome the Sabbath,
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and some people have
some questions about,
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"What's Sabbath?
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What is that?"
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We'll talk about
that in a moment.
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But my name is John Dinzey.
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And I'm glad to be
with you for this hour.
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We have some
other family members
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that are here with
us that I would like
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to introduce at this time.
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And to my right we
have Jonathan Babb.
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Welcome.
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Tell us a little bit
about what you do at 3ABN?
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As many of the people
here, I do several things,
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but my primary job is to work on
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and maintain the computers
here that everybody uses,
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that are very important.
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That's right.
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And sometimes those things,
they say they're a headache.
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One of those things,
say, "Why doesn't it work?"
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people ask.
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Thank you so much
for what you do at 3ABN
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for the cause of God.
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We have next to you,
we have Kenny Poling.
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Welcome. Tell us
what you... Thank you.
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Some of the
things you do at 3ABN?
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Well, my official
role is an IT technician
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for the engineering department.
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So I keep the
servers up and running.
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I help with some automation,
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scripting, and
other things like that.
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I also occasionally
help with the computers
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along with Jonathan, so.
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Okay. Great.
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Well, for some people,
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we don't even
know what a server is,
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can you give us a
little bit to understand,
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what's a server?
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Servers, basically,
just another computer,
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the only difference is
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it's hosting things like the web
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or just a database or
whatever, just that...
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And usually the
computers that we use here
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as the regular office workers,
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they will
connect to that server,
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and that's where they
get all our resources.
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Okay. Very good. Thank you.
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And we have your
brother here, Kevin Poling.
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Welcome.
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Tell us some of the
things you do at 3ABN?
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I work in radio, so I
edit the radio programs,
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record them, and we
get it ready for air.
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And I also schedule promos
between programs and make CDs,
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and little of everything.
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All right.
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So there are some
of the radio programs
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that our viewers
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and listeners are listening to.
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You have edited
some of those programs.
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And when you're
editing these radio programs,
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what is it that
you're looking for,
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so that when the
people listen, they know that
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they have received
something that is better having,
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if you don't
edit it, what happens?
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What gets out there? Noise, huh?
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Yeah, noise, various,
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like gaps and
stuff that people...
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Like, if we had to stop
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and start or do
something like that,
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you know, change it
how we said something,
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you know, I put in
the new way of saying it.
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I look for just the
right format for things.
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Make sure it's the
right length and volume level
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and things like that, too.
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All right. Very good.
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A lot of behind the
scenes things take place
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at 3ABN that help,
keep the ministry running.
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And by God's grace
every day is, to me,
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a miracle that
we're on the air because,
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you know, Satan does not
want 3ABN to be on the air.
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So every day is a
miracle because God's Word
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is being preached and
brought to millions of people.
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So we are grateful
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for what God has
done and for the prayers
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that you offer for us.
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We all need prayer.
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Would you guys say
that we need prayer?
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Absolutely. Yes.
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We all need
prayer. That's right.
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So let's begin.
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Before we continue,
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let's begin this part
of the program with prayer.
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And we ask you to join us
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as we approach
God's throne of grace.
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Let's pray together.
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Our loving Heavenly Father,
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we come before
You in Jesus' name.
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And we want to thank You,
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Lord, for bringing us
to this moment in life
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where we could be
together to pray together
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and to worship
Your name and to study.
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We ask You to
guide our conversations,
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we ask You to lead
us in such a way that
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You will bring to
our remembrance things
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that we need to share.
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Bless us with Your Holy Spirit.
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We pray that this
will be a blessing to us,
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and to all those
that are joining us
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in whatever part of
this world they are.
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We pray, Lord, that Your
name may be glorified in us
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and that they may
see and hear Jesus in us.
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May Your name be glorified,
we ask in Jesus' name, amen.
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Amen.
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Well, we said,
happy Sabbath to you.
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Perhaps, we can just
give a brief little thing
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about what is the Sabbath?
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Can you guys help us out?
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What's the
Sabbath? What is that?
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How do people
know what a Sabbath is?
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It's a day of rest.
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Particularly, when
we refer to the Sabbath,
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it's one that God
has set aside for us
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to have a weekly day,
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to not only rest
from our regular work,
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but to also commune with
Him and spend time with Him
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as we would our father
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or any other of
our family members.
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He just wants to
spend time with us
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and that Sabbath
gives us that time.
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Amen. Amen.
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Anyone else would like to share
something about the Sabbath?
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And when we
refer to the Sabbath,
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we refer to the
seventh day, Saturday.
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That's right, the
seventh day Saturday,
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which the Sabbath.
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And I'm going to
go to two scriptures.
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And once again, I'm
going to read Genesis 1.
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No, Chapter 2. Chapter 2.
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And I'm going to
read three verses.
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And I'm going to
ask Kevin Poling,
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if you'll read Exodus 20:8-11,
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after I read, Genesis 2:1-3.
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Here we have, like,
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seems like a summary of
what God did as creating
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and then it gives more
details in Genesis Chapter 2,
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after verse 3.
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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 on the seventh day,"
just now Jonathan mentioned,
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"and on the seventh
day God ended His work
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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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Now when it says, "He rested,"
doesn't mean He was tired,
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it means He stopped
doing the work He was doing.
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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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Genesis 2:1-3.
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So we see here that
God from the beginning,
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before there was
any distinction of race,
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as far as you
talk about Chinese,
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people from Spain,
people from Afghanistan,
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Dominican Republic, I'm
from Dominican Republic,
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Latin America,
United States of America,
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before there was
any distinction God
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set aside this day,
sanctified it, made it holy.
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So we've now...
Any comment about that?
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Let's go to Exodus 20:8-11,
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and Brother Kevin
will read that for us.
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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
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is the Sabbath of
the Lord your God.
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In it you shall do no
work, you, nor your son,
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nor your daughter,
nor your male servant,
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nor your female
servant, 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 made the heavens
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and the earth, the sea,
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and all that is in them,
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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Amen. Amen.
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I praise the Lord for
the Sabbath day, you know.
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I know that, I don't know
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if any of you
are in this category,
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I know that I
have met people and I,
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myself as well,
00:08:59.90\00:09:01.80
had not been for
the seventh day Sabbath
00:09:01.84\00:09:04.74
wherein I understand that
I must stop, work, and rest,
00:09:04.77\00:09:10.05
and make a more vital
connection with the Lord.
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You seek to be
connected to the Lord all week.
00:09:13.68\00:09:16.72
But now, setting those
things aside that perhaps
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would grab our
attention, center of focus,
00:09:19.82\00:09:22.06
to such a degree that we
may not even think about God
00:09:22.09\00:09:25.39
because people get
consumed in their work.
00:09:25.43\00:09:27.76
And some people
work with their minds
00:09:27.80\00:09:29.56
and they have to be
trying to figure things out,
00:09:29.60\00:09:31.17
like you guys in computers.
00:09:31.20\00:09:33.03
And some people
work with their hands.
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And so different
things perhaps make us so busy
00:09:35.50\00:09:40.38
that we don't
think much about God.
00:09:40.41\00:09:42.48
But the seventh
day, God has set it aside
00:09:42.51\00:09:44.61
to have a moment
of time with Him,
00:09:44.65\00:09:46.85
a sanctified, make it holy.
00:09:46.88\00:09:49.68
To me, the Sabbath has been
a blessing throughout my life.
00:09:49.72\00:09:53.09
Anything you would
like to add concerning
00:09:53.12\00:09:54.46
what we read or perhaps
00:09:54.49\00:09:55.82
how the Sabbath has
been a blessing to you?
00:09:55.86\00:09:58.46
Well, I just love
the time to focus on God
00:09:58.49\00:10:00.80
'cause, I mean, like I
said, with the busy lives,
00:10:00.83\00:10:02.83
it's so easy to get
wrapped up in everything.
00:10:02.86\00:10:04.93
And I mean, it's
just the time to sit back
00:10:04.97\00:10:08.90
and I mean, to unwind it.
00:10:08.94\00:10:12.64
Like, for me
it's, I have to focus
00:10:12.67\00:10:14.08
on something else to unwind.
00:10:14.11\00:10:15.44
So if I could focus on God,
00:10:15.48\00:10:17.15
not only am I filled with peace,
00:10:17.18\00:10:18.55
but I also get to
release the stress
00:10:18.58\00:10:19.95
from the week
00:10:19.98\00:10:21.32
and just to be
refreshed for the next week.
00:10:21.35\00:10:26.15
Amen. Amen.
00:10:26.19\00:10:27.52
Some people think that,
00:10:27.56\00:10:28.89
working in a
ministry like ours, that,
00:10:28.92\00:10:30.86
"Oh, you're
always doing God's work.
00:10:30.89\00:10:32.69
You're always..."
00:10:32.73\00:10:34.06
Which is true,
00:10:34.10\00:10:35.43
but you get caught
up in ministerial work,
00:10:35.46\00:10:38.47
no differently than
any other work that,
00:10:38.50\00:10:40.80
you know, yes, we may be working
00:10:40.84\00:10:42.84
on stuff involving God all day.
00:10:42.87\00:10:45.84
But that doesn't mean
00:10:45.87\00:10:47.21
we're spending
any more quality time
00:10:47.24\00:10:49.51
with Him than anybody else.
00:10:49.54\00:10:51.18
So the Sabbath
00:10:51.21\00:10:52.55
is just as
important for those of us
00:10:52.58\00:10:54.58
that work in ministry
than those that don't.
00:10:54.62\00:10:58.15
That's right. That's right.
00:10:58.19\00:10:59.52
And at different
stages in my life,
00:10:59.55\00:11:00.89
I have seen that the Sabbath,
I look back and you say,
00:11:00.92\00:11:03.79
"Wow!
00:11:03.83\00:11:05.16
That was really good to
be able to have that time
00:11:05.19\00:11:07.03
with God without
any distractions."
00:11:07.06\00:11:11.13
And you said
something interesting
00:11:11.17\00:11:12.50
which is very important,
00:11:12.53\00:11:15.07
and that is that we
have this opportunity
00:11:15.10\00:11:19.87
to be with God
in a more direct way
00:11:19.91\00:11:24.08
because really,
life has many challenges,
00:11:24.11\00:11:27.72
many things that try
to grab our attention.
00:11:27.75\00:11:30.02
And during the Sabbath day,
00:11:30.05\00:11:31.42
the enemy tries to
lead your mind away
00:11:31.45\00:11:33.59
from focusing on God.
00:11:33.62\00:11:35.79
So we have to
guard also those things.
00:11:35.82\00:11:38.03
But it's a blessing.
00:11:38.06\00:11:39.39
And we encourage you
to experience the Sabbath.
00:11:39.43\00:11:42.63
And it's a wonderful time.
00:11:42.66\00:11:45.07
The Lord looks
forward to that, I would say.
00:11:45.10\00:11:48.24
The Lord looks
forward to that time with us.
00:11:48.27\00:11:50.64
Praise the Lord.
00:11:50.67\00:11:52.01
Yes, in ministry, we
get involved in ministry
00:11:52.04\00:11:55.61
to such a degree
that some people think,
00:11:55.64\00:11:58.15
"Oh, you guys are always,"
00:11:58.18\00:11:59.51
but no, we have
to focus on things
00:11:59.55\00:12:01.58
like the computers,
that grab your attention,
00:12:01.62\00:12:05.02
right, trying to
edit those programs.
00:12:05.05\00:12:07.36
Yes, thanks be to
God for the seventh day.
00:12:07.39\00:12:11.09
I was going to say, you
know, it's very interesting
00:12:11.13\00:12:12.96
that they have done
experiments on people
00:12:12.99\00:12:16.67
to figure out there,
and they have figured out,
00:12:16.70\00:12:19.40
I think they call
it circadian rhythm,
00:12:19.43\00:12:22.30
where they have noticed that
00:12:22.34\00:12:23.67
there's a
natural need for humans
00:12:23.71\00:12:27.08
to rest every seven days.
00:12:27.11\00:12:29.68
There's a natural need.
00:12:29.71\00:12:31.31
And if they don't do
this, and if they persist in
00:12:31.35\00:12:35.55
or they continue
working, and working,
00:12:35.58\00:12:37.05
and working, and working,
and working without rest,
00:12:37.09\00:12:39.59
we can get sick.
00:12:39.62\00:12:41.22
So it is a blessing
that the Lord has put in us
00:12:41.26\00:12:45.03
this desire for rest,
00:12:45.06\00:12:47.06
not only in the
sense of stopping work,
00:12:47.10\00:12:49.40
but also in connecting with God.
00:12:49.43\00:12:52.13
This is something
very much needed for us.
00:12:52.17\00:12:55.60
Well, our main topic that
we want to discuss is faith
00:12:55.64\00:13:00.61
in the midst of trials,
00:13:00.64\00:13:03.68
fears, and what else?
00:13:03.71\00:13:08.15
Faith in the midst of
trial, fear, and trials.
00:13:08.18\00:13:11.65
Faith, trials, and fears.
00:13:11.69\00:13:13.52
You know, we face
many challenges in life.
00:13:13.56\00:13:16.59
And our faith is
going to be tested
00:13:16.62\00:13:20.76
in one way or another.
00:13:20.80\00:13:22.13
What do you do
00:13:22.16\00:13:23.50
when you're facing
problems, difficulties?
00:13:23.53\00:13:27.07
And we use the word
trial to speak of an experience
00:13:27.10\00:13:32.17
that we are going through
00:13:32.21\00:13:33.78
where our faith is being tested,
00:13:33.81\00:13:36.98
to believe in
God, to trust in God,
00:13:37.01\00:13:38.91
to bring us
through that situation,
00:13:38.95\00:13:41.75
that difficulty trusting in Him.
00:13:41.78\00:13:45.49
And our faith is even
going to be tested to find out,
00:13:45.52\00:13:48.42
"Are you going to serve
God or serve the devil?"
00:13:48.46\00:13:52.49
So different phases of trial.
00:13:52.53\00:13:54.06
We're not going to focus
so much on trials and fear.
00:13:54.10\00:13:59.83
We're going to
talk about those things.
00:13:59.87\00:14:01.40
But my hope is that
00:14:01.44\00:14:04.71
we will leave our
friends and family
00:14:04.74\00:14:07.68
that are listening
with the understanding that
00:14:07.71\00:14:10.58
we should have faith
in God, trust in God that
00:14:10.61\00:14:13.05
He is going to be
with us no matter what.
00:14:13.08\00:14:17.15
Amen.
00:14:17.19\00:14:18.52
So we want to share some stories
00:14:18.55\00:14:19.89
and some
scriptures that helped us
00:14:19.92\00:14:21.99
during the time of trials.
00:14:22.02\00:14:23.53
And we're going to look
at some scriptures to show
00:14:23.56\00:14:27.83
how some of God's
people face difficulties
00:14:27.86\00:14:30.90
and what they did
during those times,
00:14:30.93\00:14:32.83
where they were
facing trials and even fear.
00:14:32.87\00:14:36.71
You think of fear
00:14:36.74\00:14:38.07
and you look in
the Bible and you say,
00:14:38.11\00:14:39.44
"Well, who faced fear?
00:14:39.47\00:14:40.81
Who had a life
and death situation?"
00:14:40.84\00:14:43.71
Well, you can read the
Book of Hebrews Chapter 11,
00:14:43.75\00:14:48.02
and you'll see many people
00:14:48.05\00:14:50.35
faced difficult life
threatening situations
00:14:50.39\00:14:54.19
and what they
did in those times.
00:14:54.22\00:14:55.62
And some people think,
00:14:55.66\00:14:56.99
I don't know if one of
you is going to share this,
00:14:57.03\00:14:58.36
but here's the time
00:14:58.39\00:15:00.53
when Nebuchadnezzar
set up the huge image,
00:15:00.56\00:15:04.07
and he said,
00:15:04.10\00:15:05.43
"We're going to
play the instruments,"
00:15:05.47\00:15:06.80
and they were told.
00:15:06.84\00:15:08.17
"We're going to
play these instruments,
00:15:08.20\00:15:09.54
and everybody must," what?
00:15:09.57\00:15:11.37
"Bow down and
worship the image."
00:15:11.41\00:15:14.41
And we have the
scriptures tell us that
00:15:14.44\00:15:16.54
three people out of
the, who knows how many,
00:15:16.58\00:15:19.75
hundreds of thousands,
00:15:19.78\00:15:21.55
they bow down and
worship the image,
00:15:21.58\00:15:23.15
but three guys
decided, I'm not gonna do that.
00:15:23.18\00:15:26.79
I'm not gonna do that. We
don't know where Daniel was.
00:15:26.82\00:15:29.29
But we have Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego.
00:15:29.32\00:15:32.56
They decided not to bow down.
00:15:32.59\00:15:36.26
And what was the threat?
00:15:36.30\00:15:38.23
They're going to be
thrown into a fiery furnace.
00:15:38.27\00:15:41.84
So their faith was tested.
00:15:41.87\00:15:45.34
And, of course,
00:15:45.37\00:15:47.18
when you're
right before a furnace
00:15:47.21\00:15:48.81
that's burning, you
have to ask yourself,
00:15:48.84\00:15:53.45
because the king even
gave him another opportunity.
00:15:53.48\00:15:55.98
There's like, he had
some interest in them.
00:15:56.02\00:16:00.79
They were good
guys. They worked hard.
00:16:00.82\00:16:03.02
He appreciated what they did.
00:16:03.06\00:16:05.09
"I'm gonna give
you another chance,"
00:16:05.13\00:16:06.90
he says, "And we're gonna
play these instruments again.
00:16:06.93\00:16:10.47
And if you do not bow
down, we're gonna throw you
00:16:10.50\00:16:13.20
in the fiery furnace."
00:16:13.23\00:16:15.84
Basically, they say,
00:16:15.87\00:16:17.21
"Don't even worry
about playing instruments,
00:16:17.24\00:16:19.24
we're not going to bow down."
00:16:19.27\00:16:21.31
And in the face of danger,
00:16:21.34\00:16:23.28
they chose to
be faithful to God.
00:16:23.31\00:16:26.25
Question. Did God
turn off the furnace?
00:16:26.28\00:16:29.85
No, He did not. No, He did not.
00:16:29.88\00:16:31.92
The furnace continued to burn.
00:16:31.95\00:16:34.29
And, in fact, it
says in the Bible,
00:16:34.32\00:16:36.83
in the Book of Daniel,
00:16:36.86\00:16:38.19
that the king asked for it
00:16:38.23\00:16:39.56
to be burning
seven times hotter.
00:16:39.59\00:16:44.17
Now, I don't know
how they could do that.
00:16:44.20\00:16:46.40
But the Babylonians
are experts on making fire.
00:16:46.43\00:16:49.94
So were the Romans by the way.
00:16:49.97\00:16:51.74
They were
experts on making fire.
00:16:51.77\00:16:53.54
They just added more
to intensify the heat.
00:16:53.58\00:16:58.11
And I know that
everybody that's listening to me
00:16:58.15\00:17:02.22
has been burned at
one time or another,
00:17:02.25\00:17:04.75
either to a stove,
candle, or sunlight,
00:17:04.79\00:17:07.76
you have been burned.
00:17:07.79\00:17:09.12
And it does not
feel good, does it?
00:17:09.16\00:17:11.09
Does not feel good at all.
00:17:11.13\00:17:12.86
So these guys in
the midst of fear,
00:17:12.89\00:17:15.50
and God did not
remove the furnace,
00:17:15.53\00:17:17.23
but He blessed them through it.
00:17:17.27\00:17:19.43
And the Bible says,
00:17:19.47\00:17:20.80
not even their
clothing smelled like smoke.
00:17:20.84\00:17:25.47
I say, "Wow!
00:17:25.51\00:17:27.24
What a miracle that is!"
00:17:27.28\00:17:28.61
Because you've been at a
fire, when you're having a...
00:17:28.64\00:17:33.72
Bonfire.
00:17:33.75\00:17:35.08
A bonfire, and
you're singing songs,
00:17:35.12\00:17:36.99
when you get home,
00:17:37.02\00:17:38.35
you're like, "Oh, I
smell like smoked wood."
00:17:38.39\00:17:42.16
And even when you go into places
00:17:42.19\00:17:44.06
where people are smoking, you,
00:17:44.09\00:17:45.46
and I've been in
places, and you come out,
00:17:45.49\00:17:47.66
I was only there a
minute to pay for the gasoline,
00:17:47.70\00:17:49.86
came out, "Wow, I
already smell like smoke."
00:17:49.90\00:17:52.87
So this is
something amazing that
00:17:52.90\00:17:55.34
they were able to testify,
00:17:55.37\00:17:56.71
not even their
clothing smell like smoke.
00:17:56.74\00:17:58.11
The only thing
that burned was what?
00:17:58.14\00:18:00.18
The ropes. The ropes.
00:18:00.21\00:18:01.54
The ropes that
were binding them.
00:18:01.58\00:18:04.31
And so the Bible says that
00:18:04.35\00:18:06.31
there was somebody
that showed up with them.
00:18:06.35\00:18:08.92
And I think this is something
important to understand.
00:18:08.95\00:18:13.46
The king was able
to see a fourth person.
00:18:13.49\00:18:16.32
And he says this fourth
person is like one of the gods,
00:18:16.36\00:18:21.03
like the Son of God.
00:18:21.06\00:18:22.50
It's interesting to see that
00:18:22.53\00:18:24.10
because it's a
message for us that
00:18:24.13\00:18:26.94
whenever you're
going through trial,
00:18:26.97\00:18:30.01
Jesus is with you.
00:18:30.04\00:18:32.41
You may not see Him,
but you may feel Him.
00:18:32.44\00:18:36.48
You may sense His
presence in some way.
00:18:36.51\00:18:40.22
And so that's a marvelous
experience to understand.
00:18:40.25\00:18:42.62
So let's hear
about your stories.
00:18:42.65\00:18:44.29
How about Kevin?
00:18:44.32\00:18:46.82
My story is focused more
on someone's faith interceding
00:18:46.86\00:18:51.49
for someone else.
00:18:51.53\00:18:53.46
I think of the centurion
00:18:53.50\00:18:55.33
that came to Jesus for
a servant to be healed.
00:18:55.36\00:18:59.50
Yeah, that's in Matthew 8.
00:18:59.53\00:19:01.57
And I just tried...
00:19:01.60\00:19:03.27
That's interesting
how his faith helped
00:19:03.30\00:19:05.64
his servant to be healed.
00:19:05.67\00:19:07.01
I mean, I don't
know the relationship
00:19:07.04\00:19:08.38
between the servant.
00:19:08.41\00:19:09.74
I imagined it must
have been close in some way
00:19:09.78\00:19:11.11
or maybe it was
his favorite servant.
00:19:11.15\00:19:12.78
'Cause I mean, going
through all the trouble
00:19:12.81\00:19:14.18
just for your servant,
most people, you'd think,
00:19:14.22\00:19:15.98
"Why would somebody do that?"
00:19:16.02\00:19:18.25
And I'm just amazed
that his faith allowed him
00:19:18.29\00:19:21.99
to feel that he
get his servant healed.
00:19:22.02\00:19:24.66
I mean, even Jesus was amazed
by the faith of a centurion.
00:19:24.69\00:19:28.06
I mean, it makes you wonder
where he picked up the gospel
00:19:28.10\00:19:30.83
from because I
mean, being a soldier,
00:19:30.87\00:19:32.93
you wouldn't, I mean,
00:19:32.97\00:19:34.44
unless you overheard it
or maybe from somewhere,
00:19:34.47\00:19:36.24
I mean, be curious to know
00:19:36.27\00:19:37.61
where he originally
came in contact with it too.
00:19:37.64\00:19:41.74
Great.
00:19:41.78\00:19:43.11
You know, it's good
to read these stories
00:19:43.14\00:19:44.95
and ask questions in your mind.
00:19:44.98\00:19:46.45
How that he
learned? He knew about Jesus.
00:19:46.48\00:19:49.68
I was actually listening
to that as part of my devotion
00:19:49.72\00:19:54.29
this morning.
00:19:54.32\00:19:55.66
And this man said, "I
did not even think myself
00:19:55.69\00:20:01.30
worthy to come before you."
00:20:01.33\00:20:03.70
And that's why he sent,
00:20:03.73\00:20:05.07
so I didn't even
think myself worthy
00:20:05.10\00:20:06.57
to come before you.
00:20:06.60\00:20:07.94
He showed great
faith in God in saying,
00:20:07.97\00:20:11.61
"Just say the word, and
my servant will be healed.
00:20:11.64\00:20:14.84
Just say the word." And Jesus...
00:20:14.88\00:20:16.75
This is one of the times
00:20:16.78\00:20:18.11
when Jesus was amazed, and said,
00:20:18.15\00:20:21.32
"I have not found so
great faith, not in Israel,
00:20:21.35\00:20:25.09
because this man
was not an Israelite,
00:20:25.12\00:20:26.96
but he had great faith in God.
00:20:26.99\00:20:29.22
Amazing.
00:20:29.26\00:20:31.39
Any comments about that
story you guys want to bring up?
00:20:31.43\00:20:33.26
This is definitely
one of great faith.
00:20:37.07\00:20:38.63
Yes. Yes. Amen. Amen.
00:20:38.67\00:20:40.37
How about, Kenny, anything,
you'd like to share a story?
00:20:40.40\00:20:43.37
Well, I was...
00:20:43.41\00:20:45.21
You were going to
share the story I shared?
00:20:45.24\00:20:46.57
Yeah, we want
to talk about that.
00:20:46.61\00:20:48.48
But there is something
that you did not bring up
00:20:48.51\00:20:50.15
that I wanted to also bring out.
00:20:50.18\00:20:51.51
Wonderful.
00:20:51.55\00:20:52.88
Specifically, was
their answer that they gave.
00:20:52.91\00:20:56.02
They didn't just say,
00:20:56.05\00:20:57.39
"Oh, no, we're
not going to do it."
00:20:57.42\00:20:59.29
They specifically
said, starting in verse 17,
00:20:59.32\00:21:03.69
after saying, "We have no reason
00:21:03.73\00:21:06.33
to answer you in this matter."
00:21:06.36\00:21:09.93
Verse 17, it says,
"If that is the case,
00:21:09.96\00:21:14.20
our God whom we
serve is able to deliver us
00:21:14.24\00:21:17.51
from the burning fiery furnace,
00:21:17.54\00:21:19.41
and He will deliver us
from your hand, oh, king."
00:21:19.44\00:21:22.74
See, they had
faith in His power.
00:21:22.78\00:21:25.38
But the very next
verse starts out with,
00:21:25.41\00:21:28.65
"But if not," you see,
they knew, they knew that
00:21:28.68\00:21:33.29
God's power and faith in God
00:21:33.32\00:21:35.32
doesn't necessarily mean
that you will not ever die
00:21:35.36\00:21:39.49
or go through trials.
00:21:39.53\00:21:41.36
They knew that
sometimes God allows His people
00:21:41.40\00:21:46.50
to go through these things,
00:21:46.53\00:21:47.87
even terrible things,
and even die horribly.
00:21:47.90\00:21:53.14
But they said, "But if not,
00:21:53.17\00:21:55.08
let it be known to you,
00:21:55.11\00:21:56.81
oh, king, that we
do not serve your gods,
00:21:56.85\00:22:00.95
nor will we
worship the golden image
00:22:00.98\00:22:03.95
which you have set up."
00:22:03.99\00:22:05.35
They decided, no
matter what happens,
00:22:05.39\00:22:10.23
we will trust God,
00:22:10.26\00:22:12.33
we will not
worship the other gods,
00:22:12.36\00:22:16.03
we will stand up for Him,
00:22:16.06\00:22:19.87
literally, in this case.
00:22:19.90\00:22:22.80
They knew that God
may not actually save them
00:22:22.84\00:22:28.14
but they had faith that
00:22:28.18\00:22:31.55
even if they were to die,
00:22:31.58\00:22:36.25
God had the power,
and God was the one that
00:22:36.28\00:22:39.75
they were supposed
to give their lives for.
00:22:39.79\00:22:43.83
They loved Him that much,
they honored Him that much.
00:22:43.86\00:22:48.83
They had that much faith.
00:22:48.86\00:22:50.57
Amen, amen.
00:22:50.60\00:22:51.93
What chapter of
Daniel is that again?
00:22:51.97\00:22:53.80
That's Chapter 3. Chapter 3.
00:22:53.84\00:22:56.07
You know, as we think
about that experience,
00:22:56.10\00:22:59.57
sometimes people look
at the stories in the Bible
00:22:59.61\00:23:01.84
as just stories.
00:23:01.88\00:23:03.24
They're not just
stories, they're not a story
00:23:03.28\00:23:06.18
that somebody
came up with nuance,
00:23:06.21\00:23:07.55
these are real
experiences they had.
00:23:07.58\00:23:09.85
And that's a
very important point
00:23:09.88\00:23:11.22
that you brought up,
00:23:11.25\00:23:12.59
because it could
have been that God said,
00:23:12.62\00:23:17.89
"You guys have been faithful,
00:23:17.93\00:23:19.49
the best
testimony you could give,
00:23:19.53\00:23:22.46
is to face death,
00:23:22.50\00:23:25.00
knowing that you're
not going to be rescued,"
00:23:25.03\00:23:27.84
and they were
willing to do that.
00:23:27.87\00:23:29.94
It's amazing that
the declaration they made
00:23:29.97\00:23:32.97
"Even if God does not,
we're not going bow down."
00:23:33.01\00:23:36.54
I don't know maybe somebody
that is listening right now,
00:23:36.58\00:23:39.61
they may have to
face a similar situation
00:23:39.65\00:23:42.42
where they are called
upon to serve the devil
00:23:42.45\00:23:48.26
or do something that it
contradicts their faith.
00:23:48.29\00:23:54.00
Are you willing to give
up your life for the truth?
00:23:54.03\00:23:56.56
These guys were
willing to do that.
00:23:56.60\00:23:58.20
And so how did they arrive
at that experience, you think?
00:23:58.23\00:24:01.54
What did they do to be
able to face this situation
00:24:01.57\00:24:08.11
and willing to die?
00:24:08.14\00:24:10.15
What made them
do that, you think?
00:24:10.18\00:24:13.21
Their whole lives, they were,
00:24:13.25\00:24:16.12
you know, they
were following God
00:24:16.15\00:24:18.02
their whole lives
from a very young age
00:24:18.05\00:24:20.29
when they were
first brought to Babylon.
00:24:20.32\00:24:22.92
And through
they chose very young
00:24:22.96\00:24:26.86
to follow God no matter what.
00:24:26.90\00:24:28.96
And so they were, by
that point specially,
00:24:29.00\00:24:33.23
they were well versed,
so to speak in trusting God.
00:24:33.27\00:24:38.81
And, you know,
they could have been
00:24:38.84\00:24:40.68
just as easily killed
when they first got there
00:24:40.71\00:24:42.71
and refused to
eat the king's food.
00:24:42.74\00:24:44.61
That's right.
00:24:44.65\00:24:45.98
So not that they
wouldn't have been scared
00:24:46.01\00:24:49.15
facing the fiery furnace,
who wouldn't that scared,
00:24:49.18\00:24:52.79
but they were
building up their faith
00:24:52.82\00:24:55.42
from the very beginning
to knowing to trust God
00:24:55.46\00:24:59.83
in all things they
had seen as evidence
00:24:59.86\00:25:02.26
and knew to trust Him.
00:25:02.30\00:25:05.17
Amen. Amen.
00:25:05.20\00:25:06.53
They were willing to face death,
00:25:06.57\00:25:08.24
God had lead them
through different experiences
00:25:08.27\00:25:10.61
is what I hear you saying,
00:25:10.64\00:25:12.27
and then it's
true, I believe that,
00:25:12.31\00:25:14.24
I believe that God prepares you
00:25:14.28\00:25:19.38
for trials that are coming.
00:25:19.41\00:25:21.35
Different experiences we face
00:25:21.38\00:25:23.52
on a daily
basis are preparing us
00:25:23.55\00:25:26.29
for our faith to be tested.
00:25:26.32\00:25:27.99
Every victory helps us
00:25:28.02\00:25:31.23
to be strengthened
for another victory.
00:25:31.26\00:25:33.90
And that's a
marvelous thing to understand.
00:25:33.93\00:25:36.26
I mean, even the defeats
and the failures also teach us
00:25:36.30\00:25:38.80
too so that we learn that,
00:25:38.83\00:25:41.60
God is, felt like
God's patient with us.
00:25:41.64\00:25:43.84
And even though we
choose the wrong way,
00:25:43.87\00:25:46.07
often He uses that
as a learning experience
00:25:46.11\00:25:48.54
to help us to understand that
00:25:48.58\00:25:50.08
God's way was
better to begin with,
00:25:50.11\00:25:52.55
sometimes even leads us back
00:25:52.58\00:25:53.92
around to the original decision,
00:25:53.95\00:25:55.28
again, to where we know now
00:25:55.32\00:25:57.35
that where we
actually went before,
00:25:57.39\00:26:00.19
it caused pain,
it caused suffering,
00:26:00.22\00:26:02.22
it probably hurt other people,
00:26:02.26\00:26:05.23
and just overall
was not as good as
00:26:05.26\00:26:08.43
what God wanted for us.
00:26:08.46\00:26:10.30
Now you said
something interesting,
00:26:10.33\00:26:12.83
that sometimes
you have to go back
00:26:12.87\00:26:14.60
to the original decision,
00:26:14.64\00:26:15.97
can you expound a
little bit about that?
00:26:16.00\00:26:18.07
Well, in my
experience, it's just I've seen,
00:26:18.11\00:26:20.81
it's where
sometimes you get distracted
00:26:20.84\00:26:24.81
by whatever sin
you happen to choose.
00:26:24.85\00:26:28.75
And frequently, you learn
00:26:28.78\00:26:31.05
all these wrong
habits you start,
00:26:31.09\00:26:32.55
especially if you keep
continuing down the road
00:26:32.59\00:26:34.56
of whatever you picked.
00:26:34.59\00:26:36.42
And so or even if you
didn't necessarily choose it,
00:26:36.46\00:26:40.16
but fell into it
and continued in it,
00:26:40.20\00:26:41.70
and choose to
continue afterwards,
00:26:41.73\00:26:43.97
that you end up sometimes
00:26:44.00\00:26:46.00
the thing that you
had to decide originally,
00:26:46.03\00:26:48.84
you still have
to decide, you just,
00:26:48.87\00:26:52.01
I say I'm not sure
exactly the best way to put it,
00:26:52.04\00:26:54.04
but it's just it seems like
00:26:54.08\00:26:56.41
you still have
to choose to serve,
00:26:56.44\00:26:58.11
like if you were to
choose to serve God or not,
00:26:58.15\00:27:01.55
that frequently
start to come back
00:27:01.58\00:27:03.02
to the same choice
to surrender to God,
00:27:03.05\00:27:05.65
even if it's a re-surrender.
00:27:05.69\00:27:08.02
You know, it is true.
00:27:08.06\00:27:12.26
I have seen that experience,
00:27:12.29\00:27:14.30
as well, where
you face the trial,
00:27:14.33\00:27:17.03
perhaps you failed.
00:27:17.07\00:27:18.90
And it's like you have
to face the same situation,
00:27:18.93\00:27:22.60
and you have to make a decision,
00:27:22.64\00:27:25.81
"Will I choose to fail or
will I choose to trust God
00:27:25.84\00:27:28.44
for the victory?"
00:27:28.48\00:27:29.81
And that's one of the
things to understand is that
00:27:29.84\00:27:31.65
we have to trust
God for the victory.
00:27:31.68\00:27:33.92
Now we look at
these three Hebrews,
00:27:33.95\00:27:36.45
sometimes they say
the Hebrew worthies
00:27:36.48\00:27:40.02
and they faced this
trial, their faith was tested.
00:27:40.06\00:27:44.59
But this is an important
thing to understand that
00:27:44.63\00:27:49.06
we have to cross this obstacle,
00:27:49.10\00:27:53.50
if you want to call it,
00:27:53.54\00:27:55.00
of fear to trust
God, no matter what.
00:27:55.04\00:27:59.97
Trust this challenge of fear,
00:28:00.01\00:28:03.58
to trust God, no matter what.
00:28:03.61\00:28:07.78
And so faith is,
00:28:07.82\00:28:10.82
I want to read that scripture
that talks about what faith is.
00:28:10.85\00:28:14.79
And for that we need to go
00:28:14.82\00:28:16.99
to the Book of
Hebrews Chapter 12,
00:28:17.03\00:28:22.36
if memory serves right.
00:28:22.40\00:28:25.40
And if somebody finds it first,
00:28:25.43\00:28:27.67
I think it's the
first three verses.
00:28:27.70\00:28:29.60
Can you read
that for us, please?
00:28:29.64\00:28:32.64
Hebrews Chapter 12,
the definition of faith,
00:28:32.67\00:28:36.08
one of the definitions of faith.
00:28:36.11\00:28:39.08
Actually, it's
Hebrews Chapter 11.
00:28:39.11\00:28:40.75
Eleven, yes.
00:28:40.78\00:28:42.12
How about, Kenny. All right.
00:28:45.52\00:28:48.02
"Now faith is the
substance of things hoped for,
00:28:48.06\00:28:51.39
the evidence of things not seen.
00:28:51.43\00:28:54.20
For by it,
00:28:54.23\00:28:55.56
the elders
obtained a good testimony.
00:28:55.60\00:28:58.43
By faith, we understand
00:28:58.47\00:29:00.60
that the worlds were
framed by the word of God.
00:29:00.64\00:29:04.54
So that the
things which are seen
00:29:04.57\00:29:06.98
or not made of
things which are visible."
00:29:07.01\00:29:10.41
Amen. Amen.
00:29:10.45\00:29:11.78
So when you read
this text, what is,
00:29:11.81\00:29:13.62
doesn't tell you their faith is.
00:29:13.65\00:29:17.72
It's evidence, it's substance,
00:29:17.75\00:29:20.39
it's something that gives
us something we can hold on to,
00:29:20.42\00:29:26.59
to know that God
who we can't hold on to,
00:29:26.63\00:29:31.03
is real, He's with us,
00:29:31.07\00:29:33.90
and He's doing all
these things for us.
00:29:33.94\00:29:36.60
We have, I mean, typically,
00:29:36.64\00:29:40.08
when we look
for evidence we see,
00:29:40.11\00:29:41.91
okay, the evidence
00:29:41.94\00:29:43.95
that this table in front of us
00:29:43.98\00:29:47.18
can hold the
weight of what we have on,
00:29:47.22\00:29:50.12
it's that it's, you know, it is,
00:29:50.15\00:29:52.05
we can see it holding it.
00:29:52.09\00:29:54.09
We know how sturdy
it is, we can touch it.
00:29:54.12\00:29:56.96
But, and there's
several other things,
00:29:56.99\00:29:59.06
we have video evidence of
things that have happened,
00:29:59.09\00:30:03.20
we have testimony of people
that have heard things happen.
00:30:03.23\00:30:08.04
But evidence for something
00:30:08.07\00:30:10.41
that you can't
see and can't hear,
00:30:10.44\00:30:13.07
that's harder to obtain,
and that's where we have faith.
00:30:13.11\00:30:17.75
Amen. Amen.
00:30:17.78\00:30:19.28
It's interesting the way
the Bible uses the words,
00:30:19.31\00:30:23.28
because it uses
the word substance.
00:30:23.32\00:30:26.22
And when you define,
00:30:26.25\00:30:28.32
when you look at the
definition for substance,
00:30:28.36\00:30:30.36
it talks about
something physical,
00:30:30.39\00:30:33.80
matter, material,
and so faith is that.
00:30:33.83\00:30:37.93
And so faith is
something tangible,
00:30:37.97\00:30:42.40
if you want to say it that way,
00:30:42.44\00:30:43.91
that exists even
though you can't see it.
00:30:43.94\00:30:47.44
Because it says
faith is the evidence
00:30:47.48\00:30:49.21
of things unseen.
00:30:49.24\00:30:51.88
So we are trusting in God,
00:30:51.91\00:30:53.85
that it will
rain, and it will rain.
00:30:53.88\00:30:58.95
I'm reminded of the
story, I think it was Georgia,
00:30:58.99\00:31:04.23
where it had not
rained for many, many weeks.
00:31:04.26\00:31:08.90
And they were
desperate for rain.
00:31:08.93\00:31:11.87
And I had listened to
the news before going to work
00:31:11.90\00:31:15.74
that the
Christians had decided...
00:31:15.77\00:31:18.71
Actually it was either the mayor
00:31:18.74\00:31:21.11
or the governor had
called Christians to come.
00:31:21.14\00:31:24.88
He couldn't call them inside,
00:31:24.91\00:31:26.25
but he says in front
of the government building
00:31:26.28\00:31:29.88
to pray for rain,
00:31:29.92\00:31:31.35
and hundreds of
Christians showed up.
00:31:31.39\00:31:34.26
But guess who else showed up?
00:31:34.29\00:31:36.66
Demonstrators, atheists,
00:31:36.69\00:31:39.29
that were saying
God does not exist.
00:31:39.33\00:31:41.30
It's not going to rain.
00:31:41.33\00:31:42.86
So they were demonstrating.
00:31:42.90\00:31:44.40
And so the news
interviewed both.
00:31:44.43\00:31:48.20
"No, it's not going to
rain. God does not exist.
00:31:48.24\00:31:49.90
These people are
wasting their time.
00:31:49.94\00:31:51.41
They're just fools, you know."
00:31:51.44\00:31:52.97
And then they interview
00:31:53.01\00:31:54.34
some of the
people that were saying,
00:31:54.38\00:31:55.71
"Oh, yes, we're
praying for rain,
00:31:55.74\00:31:57.41
and God is gonna
bless with rain."
00:31:57.45\00:31:59.51
And they listened to,
it was very short story.
00:31:59.55\00:32:02.75
So I left to work.
00:32:02.78\00:32:04.75
And then I got home
at five thirty, six,
00:32:04.79\00:32:09.19
I think six,
00:32:09.22\00:32:10.56
and I tried to
listen to the news
00:32:10.59\00:32:11.93
to see if they would report
if it had rained in that area.
00:32:11.96\00:32:17.73
And you know
what? They said nothing.
00:32:17.77\00:32:21.14
And so I said, "Oh, no,
00:32:21.17\00:32:22.50
I'm gonna have to stay
awake till 10 o'clock at night
00:32:22.54\00:32:24.57
to watch the news
to see if they report
00:32:24.61\00:32:27.28
that it rained there."
00:32:27.31\00:32:29.14
Because to me,
00:32:29.18\00:32:30.68
they were the
atheists challenging God,
00:32:30.71\00:32:33.11
"It's not gonna rain."
00:32:33.15\00:32:34.78
So I listened to
the 10 o'clock news
00:32:34.82\00:32:37.52
ended at 10.30.
00:32:37.55\00:32:39.15
And they said nothing.
00:32:39.19\00:32:40.52
I said, "Man," I said,
00:32:40.56\00:32:43.69
"Is God gonna let
this opportunity pass?"
00:32:43.73\00:32:47.60
And sometimes God
chooses to do that,
00:32:47.63\00:32:49.46
because there's enough evidence
out there that He exists.
00:32:49.50\00:32:53.84
But I decided to
listen to the next program,
00:32:53.87\00:32:56.20
which was a some
kind of a news documentary
00:32:56.24\00:32:59.14
about something,
00:32:59.17\00:33:00.51
and they were
talking about the Gulf War,
00:33:00.54\00:33:03.41
and what things were
happening over there.
00:33:03.45\00:33:07.02
And he says, "When we come back,
00:33:07.05\00:33:08.38
we're going to show you
00:33:08.42\00:33:09.75
what the soldiers are doing
etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
00:33:09.78\00:33:11.99
Oh, and by the way,
00:33:12.02\00:33:14.96
and I say, "Wait a minute."
00:33:14.99\00:33:16.76
By the way, today,
00:33:16.79\00:33:18.49
Christians were
praying for rain in Georgia.
00:33:18.53\00:33:22.23
And it's raining
tonight in Georgia."
00:33:22.26\00:33:24.27
And I say, "Praise God.
00:33:24.30\00:33:26.33
Praise God."
00:33:26.37\00:33:27.70
So yes, faith is real.
00:33:27.74\00:33:31.47
I mean, believing
in God, God is real,
00:33:31.51\00:33:33.64
and He makes
wonderful things happen.
00:33:33.68\00:33:36.31
Jonathan, do you have a
story you like to share?
00:33:36.34\00:33:37.68
I do.
00:33:37.71\00:33:39.68
As I was
thinking about the topic,
00:33:39.71\00:33:42.62
and thinking of the many stories
00:33:42.65\00:33:45.02
in the Bible,
00:33:45.05\00:33:46.92
you know, I kind of
realized, the Bible is filled,
00:33:46.96\00:33:49.99
overall theme of Bible, love.
00:33:50.03\00:33:52.86
That's, you know,
every evidence of love
00:33:52.89\00:33:55.30
in the Bible.
00:33:55.33\00:33:56.67
But right alongside of
it is examples of faith.
00:33:56.70\00:33:59.97
Every story in the
Bible of every character
00:34:00.00\00:34:03.47
involves faith of some kind.
00:34:03.51\00:34:05.91
But one of the ones
that stuck out to me
00:34:05.94\00:34:08.94
is the story of
Abraham and Isaac.
00:34:08.98\00:34:11.85
Here, God...
00:34:11.88\00:34:13.62
And that's found in Genesis 22.
00:34:13.65\00:34:16.08
Genesis 22.
00:34:16.12\00:34:17.75
And the first
verse of Genesis 22 says,
00:34:17.79\00:34:23.43
"Now it came to pass
00:34:23.46\00:34:24.83
after these things
that God tested Abraham,
00:34:24.86\00:34:27.66
and said to him, 'Abraham,'
00:34:27.70\00:34:29.66
and he said, 'Here I am.'"
00:34:29.70\00:34:31.40
Verse 2, He says,
00:34:31.43\00:34:32.83
"Then He said,
'Take now your son,
00:34:32.87\00:34:35.00
your only son, Isaac,
00:34:35.04\00:34:37.07
whom you love, and go
to the land of Moriah,
00:34:37.11\00:34:40.41
and offer him
there as a burnt offering
00:34:40.44\00:34:43.14
on one of the mountains
of which I should tell you.'"
00:34:43.18\00:34:45.31
If God tells you that
or anybody tells you that,
00:34:48.48\00:34:51.65
you first start like
"Did I hear that right?"
00:34:51.69\00:34:54.42
I mean, being told
00:34:54.46\00:34:56.86
that you need
to go and sacrifice
00:34:56.89\00:34:59.66
your only son,
the son whom you love.
00:34:59.69\00:35:03.83
It doesn't make sense. Yeah.
00:35:03.87\00:35:05.93
And that was the
child of promise.
00:35:05.97\00:35:08.74
If you know the
context of Abraham and Isaac,
00:35:08.77\00:35:11.91
that was the child
that God promised him
00:35:11.94\00:35:13.74
he would have,
00:35:13.78\00:35:15.18
when Sarah was, what,
90 years old at the time
00:35:15.21\00:35:18.05
when she had him, it was...
00:35:18.08\00:35:20.32
A miracle.
00:35:20.35\00:35:21.75
Yeah, so, you
know, Isaac was a miracle
00:35:21.78\00:35:23.85
in the first place and now here,
00:35:23.89\00:35:25.22
God's asking him to
go and sacrifice him.
00:35:25.25\00:35:28.42
But the Bible
doesn't necessarily say,
00:35:28.46\00:35:32.19
you know, give all the
details, but doesn't Abraham,
00:35:32.23\00:35:36.16
he may have complained or
talked to God a little bit.
00:35:36.20\00:35:39.63
But in the end,
Abraham went, he believed,
00:35:39.67\00:35:45.07
you know, we don't know
00:35:45.11\00:35:46.44
what was going
through Abraham's mind,
00:35:46.47\00:35:47.81
we don't know
if Abraham believed
00:35:47.84\00:35:49.84
that God was going to substitute
00:35:49.88\00:35:52.81
something else in the end.
00:35:52.85\00:35:54.75
But all we know is
Abraham had the faith
00:35:54.78\00:35:57.29
and trust in God
to proceed with it.
00:35:57.32\00:36:01.36
And even when Isaac asked,
he said, "God will provide."
00:36:01.39\00:36:06.09
Amen.
00:36:06.13\00:36:07.46
And when you
talk about the faith,
00:36:07.50\00:36:10.00
so Abraham there
had incredible faith.
00:36:10.03\00:36:13.50
But even Isaac did.
00:36:13.54\00:36:15.57
There, once Isaac found out
00:36:15.60\00:36:17.61
there was evidence
00:36:17.64\00:36:18.97
that he was meant
to be the offering.
00:36:19.01\00:36:22.48
Bible again
doesn't say what was,
00:36:22.51\00:36:24.61
you know, what conversation
may have taken place.
00:36:24.65\00:36:27.12
But clearly,
Isaac didn't run away.
00:36:27.15\00:36:30.62
He didn't try and avoid it.
00:36:30.65\00:36:33.96
So Isaac had
shared in Abraham's faith
00:36:33.99\00:36:37.23
and trust in God
00:36:37.26\00:36:38.59
that if "I'm
meant to be sacrificed,
00:36:38.63\00:36:42.23
so be it."
00:36:42.26\00:36:43.60
That's, you know, to me,
00:36:43.63\00:36:45.50
that just seems an ultimate form
00:36:45.53\00:36:48.54
of faith and trust,
00:36:48.57\00:36:50.84
because, you
know, it's one thing
00:36:50.87\00:36:52.31
with Daniel's
friends and believing that,
00:36:52.34\00:36:55.38
"Okay, if I stand up, trust God,
00:36:55.41\00:36:57.45
I may be killed."
00:36:57.48\00:37:00.02
That's still very
much a trial. Yes.
00:37:00.05\00:37:02.22
But in my mind, at
least, this is worse.
00:37:02.25\00:37:06.59
Not giving your own life up,
00:37:06.62\00:37:09.32
but giving up
somebody else's life,
00:37:09.36\00:37:12.66
your own son's life.
00:37:12.69\00:37:16.73
To me, I just,
00:37:16.77\00:37:18.10
how can you have more
faith or trust in God than that?
00:37:18.13\00:37:21.74
And yet Abraham had a
history of faith one moment,
00:37:21.77\00:37:25.07
and not faith the other.
00:37:25.11\00:37:27.64
But in Hebrews
Abraham is one of my beloved.
00:37:27.68\00:37:31.68
That's right. That's right.
00:37:31.71\00:37:33.52
Praise the Lord.
00:37:33.55\00:37:35.02
That is a
tremendous test of faith.
00:37:35.05\00:37:41.19
I looked up the verse
while you were talking
00:37:41.22\00:37:44.93
and it's Hebrews Chapter 11.
00:37:44.96\00:37:48.13
Hebrews Chapter 11,
speaks of this experience,
00:37:48.16\00:37:52.90
and tells us about
the faith of Abraham.
00:37:52.93\00:37:56.94
And it says in Hebrews 11:17,
00:37:56.97\00:38:00.58
"By faith,
Abraham, when he was tested,
00:38:00.61\00:38:06.05
offered up Isaac,
00:38:06.08\00:38:07.88
and he who had
received the promises
00:38:07.92\00:38:10.52
offered up his
only begotten son."
00:38:10.55\00:38:13.52
Isn't that interesting,
the way it's expressed,
00:38:13.56\00:38:15.42
"Offered up his
only begotten son, "
00:38:15.46\00:38:17.29
leads you to believe
00:38:17.33\00:38:18.66
that he sacrificed
and notice how he speaks.
00:38:18.69\00:38:21.23
"Of whom it was said,
00:38:21.26\00:38:22.60
in Isaac your
seed shall be called."
00:38:22.63\00:38:25.40
So here, Abraham, like
you said, has this promise
00:38:25.43\00:38:28.64
that because God was
talking to Abraham one day,
00:38:28.67\00:38:32.91
and Abraham said, "Lord,
what are you going to give me?
00:38:32.94\00:38:35.18
I don't even have a child."
00:38:35.21\00:38:37.38
And the Lord
promised him a child
00:38:37.41\00:38:38.81
and that promise was
going to be fulfilled
00:38:38.85\00:38:43.32
through Isaac,
00:38:43.35\00:38:44.69
your seed is going to be
as the stars in the heavens.
00:38:44.72\00:38:49.32
And now God is
asking him to sacrifice
00:38:49.36\00:38:52.33
his only begotten son.
00:38:52.36\00:38:53.70
Would you mind
reading the next verse there?
00:38:53.73\00:38:55.13
Yeah, it was, you know,
00:38:55.16\00:38:56.56
that gives us an insight
into what Abraham was thinking.
00:38:56.60\00:38:59.97
So it says, in
verse 19, it says,
00:39:00.00\00:39:02.37
"Concluding
00:39:02.40\00:39:03.74
that God was
able to raise him up,
00:39:03.77\00:39:05.87
even from the dead,
00:39:05.91\00:39:07.64
from which he also received
him in a figurative sense.
00:39:07.68\00:39:11.01
So, you know, Abraham,
00:39:11.05\00:39:13.68
he had faith
00:39:13.72\00:39:15.05
that either God
was going to give him
00:39:15.08\00:39:18.02
another
sacrifice there at the end.
00:39:18.05\00:39:19.85
Or, as this verse says, that,
00:39:19.89\00:39:23.02
if Isaac's meant
to be the seed that,
00:39:23.06\00:39:26.53
He'll raise him up from
the dead to fulfill that.
00:39:26.56\00:39:29.43
Amen.
00:39:29.46\00:39:30.80
That is tremendous faith.
00:39:30.83\00:39:32.17
That is tremendous
faith. Praise the Lord.
00:39:32.20\00:39:34.10
These are wonderful experiences
that we see in the Bible,
00:39:34.14\00:39:37.37
that help us to
face life's challenges,
00:39:37.41\00:39:41.21
and help build our faith
to trust God in situations,
00:39:41.24\00:39:46.85
difficult situations.
00:39:46.88\00:39:49.35
We have as well some stories,
00:39:49.38\00:39:51.65
perhaps even you want
to share a personal story,
00:39:51.69\00:39:53.86
I'm trying to
find one in my mind
00:39:53.89\00:39:55.22
to share at this point.
00:39:55.26\00:39:57.46
You know, it's very interesting,
00:39:57.49\00:39:58.89
we face many things in life,
00:39:58.93\00:40:01.30
and God is trying
to teach us things,
00:40:01.33\00:40:05.63
by the experiences that we
face so that we can trust Him.
00:40:05.67\00:40:09.54
And we have the past experiences
00:40:09.57\00:40:13.27
to build on,
00:40:13.31\00:40:14.64
you guys mentioned
that these three Hebrew guys
00:40:14.68\00:40:17.18
that were thrown
into the fiery furnace,
00:40:17.21\00:40:20.02
they had other experiences
that help build up their faith.
00:40:20.05\00:40:24.15
Because the Bible does
tell us in the Book of Jude,
00:40:24.19\00:40:26.62
that God will not allow
us to go through something
00:40:26.65\00:40:30.59
that we cannot
handle, I'm paraphrasing that.
00:40:30.63\00:40:33.43
He's not going to allow
you to go through something
00:40:33.46\00:40:34.96
that we cannot handle.
00:40:35.00\00:40:36.33
Every single temptation
that He allows us to face,
00:40:36.36\00:40:39.80
every single trial
that He allows us to face
00:40:39.83\00:40:43.24
has been
measured to the minuteness
00:40:43.27\00:40:46.27
so that it's not
more than we can handle
00:40:46.31\00:40:50.55
by trusting in
God, by trusting in God.
00:40:50.58\00:40:54.02
And the Bible tells us
00:40:54.05\00:40:55.38
that with God all
things are possible.
00:40:55.42\00:40:59.19
And so this is
something that we can rely on.
00:40:59.22\00:41:04.23
I'm trying to not share a story
00:41:04.26\00:41:05.86
that will take a long time.
00:41:05.89\00:41:07.90
Because I would like for
you guys to have the opportunity
00:41:07.93\00:41:11.20
to also share some story.
00:41:11.23\00:41:13.64
But there was a time
00:41:13.67\00:41:17.37
when I was facing
some difficult situation.
00:41:17.41\00:41:23.31
And really,
there are many things
00:41:23.35\00:41:26.78
you face that the
only answer is God,
00:41:26.82\00:41:29.75
you don't have a way
to see this thing solved
00:41:29.78\00:41:34.89
other than God
bringing a blessing.
00:41:34.92\00:41:37.29
And so, one of the
things that happened to us
00:41:37.33\00:41:40.93
I remember that,
00:41:40.96\00:41:43.16
we put this to
the Lord in prayer.
00:41:43.20\00:41:45.93
And our car was making...
00:41:45.97\00:41:49.57
It was not a life
and death situation,
00:41:49.60\00:41:51.57
but it was a real situation
of transportation for us.
00:41:51.61\00:41:54.41
Our car was having
some serious struggle.
00:41:54.44\00:41:57.98
As a matter of fact,
00:41:58.01\00:41:59.35
we were thinking
of using this car
00:41:59.38\00:42:01.28
to go on a trip to
Wisconsin to see the family.
00:42:01.32\00:42:04.45
And the Lord was kind enough
00:42:04.49\00:42:07.96
to bless us in such a way
00:42:07.99\00:42:10.73
so that we did not have to
face the problem on the road.
00:42:10.76\00:42:15.83
So I called my wife and I
said, "Are you ready to go?
00:42:15.86\00:42:18.73
Are you packed?"
00:42:18.77\00:42:20.10
'Cause I was working.
00:42:20.14\00:42:21.47
I was working till...
It's like a Friday afternoon.
00:42:21.50\00:42:24.01
I was working to 12 that
day, so we had enough time.
00:42:24.04\00:42:26.14
And I said "Are
you almost ready?"
00:42:26.17\00:42:28.18
And she goes, "I
am not ready yet.
00:42:28.21\00:42:31.85
And I hope
00:42:31.88\00:42:34.78
that you're not
thinking of coming right now
00:42:34.82\00:42:36.28
to pick me up."
00:42:36.32\00:42:38.05
I said "I'm going
to go ahead and get gas
00:42:38.09\00:42:40.06
that will give you more time."
00:42:40.09\00:42:42.52
And so I went to get gas.
00:42:42.56\00:42:44.99
I purchased the
gas in West Frankfort,
00:42:45.03\00:42:47.30
you guys know where that is.
00:42:47.33\00:42:49.13
So that's about 10 miles
00:42:49.16\00:42:50.77
to Thompsonville where we lived.
00:42:50.80\00:42:52.73
So when I went to Thompsonville,
00:42:52.77\00:42:54.10
filled up the tank,
00:42:54.14\00:42:55.47
because at that time
the gasoline was very high
00:42:55.50\00:42:57.84
in Thompsonville.
00:42:57.87\00:42:59.21
So I filled up the tank.
00:42:59.24\00:43:01.81
And on the way back,
00:43:01.84\00:43:05.35
the car was having trouble
going above 35 miles an hour
00:43:05.38\00:43:09.35
and I'm pressing the gas.
00:43:09.38\00:43:12.25
And it would just
go 16, I mean, 36, 37
00:43:12.29\00:43:17.89
and I'm pressing
the gas for the car
00:43:17.93\00:43:19.33
to be just going down the
road, but it's not doing it.
00:43:19.36\00:43:23.20
And so I'm pressing the gas
00:43:23.23\00:43:24.97
and the car was not speeding up,
00:43:25.00\00:43:26.33
it was not speeding up,
to make a long story short,
00:43:26.37\00:43:28.77
I filled up the
tank in West Frankfort,
00:43:28.80\00:43:31.11
like I said it took me...
00:43:31.14\00:43:32.94
By the time I
got to Thompsonville
00:43:32.97\00:43:34.31
I had consumed
half a tank of gasoline.
00:43:34.34\00:43:37.61
And the car
smelled like gasoline.
00:43:37.65\00:43:39.81
I took it to the mechanic.
00:43:39.85\00:43:41.48
And he says...
00:43:41.52\00:43:43.69
He opened the trunk and he goes,
00:43:43.72\00:43:45.55
I mean, to see the engine.
00:43:45.59\00:43:47.42
He goes,
00:43:47.46\00:43:48.79
"Oh, there's a
strong smell of gasoline."
00:43:48.82\00:43:50.43
He says here,
00:43:50.46\00:43:51.79
"You have a
serious engine problem."
00:43:51.83\00:43:53.80
And he told me
why don't you go...
00:43:53.83\00:43:55.16
We don't do this
type of work here.
00:43:55.20\00:43:56.63
Why don't you go to Benton,
00:43:56.67\00:43:58.00
there are some good
mechanics over there.
00:43:58.03\00:43:59.50
And he gave the
name and I went there.
00:43:59.53\00:44:01.50
And they were very
busy. But they listened to it.
00:44:01.54\00:44:04.61
And he says "You have a
serious engine problem."
00:44:04.64\00:44:07.64
And so we're too busy to
even take a look at this.
00:44:07.68\00:44:10.81
"I'm sorry,
00:44:10.85\00:44:12.18
the next moment we can
take a look at your car
00:44:12.21\00:44:14.45
is probably Wednesday
or Thursday of next week."
00:44:14.48\00:44:16.99
And this was
Friday, we needed to go.
00:44:17.02\00:44:18.75
So I said I'm going
to try a third mechanic.
00:44:18.79\00:44:21.26
So I went to Ronnie
Shelton, Danny's brother,
00:44:21.29\00:44:23.26
he was doing
mechanic work at that time.
00:44:23.29\00:44:25.79
And, "Well, John, I
have some bad news for you.
00:44:25.83\00:44:28.56
Your car has the
death rattle, he says.
00:44:28.60\00:44:31.50
I suggest that you do not
go anywhere with this car.
00:44:31.53\00:44:35.97
It's time for you to
consider getting another car."
00:44:36.00\00:44:38.17
So this was the
situation I was facing.
00:44:38.21\00:44:40.21
So we put this to
the Lord in prayer.
00:44:40.24\00:44:42.54
We didn't have
money at that time
00:44:42.58\00:44:43.98
to purchase another car.
00:44:44.01\00:44:45.98
So we brought it
to the Lord in prayer
00:44:46.01\00:44:48.18
trusting that He
has the solution.
00:44:48.22\00:44:50.72
And about three days
later, two days later,
00:44:50.75\00:44:53.86
I can't remember exactly.
00:44:53.89\00:44:56.12
Somebody comes into my office
00:44:56.16\00:44:58.46
and gives us a car for free.
00:44:58.49\00:45:03.43
He didn't even
know we needed a car.
00:45:03.47\00:45:06.57
He says, "We
decided to give the car
00:45:06.60\00:45:09.44
to you and your family."
00:45:09.47\00:45:10.81
So it's like, "Praise God."
00:45:10.84\00:45:12.84
We had no idea how
the Lord would solve it.
00:45:12.87\00:45:15.48
But He made a way for us.
00:45:15.51\00:45:17.78
So praise the Lord for that.
00:45:17.81\00:45:19.35
Any story you guys
would like to share?
00:45:19.38\00:45:22.98
My story is a few years old.
00:45:23.02\00:45:27.46
In fact, it's still ongoing.
00:45:27.49\00:45:30.66
Back in 2009, I was around 16.
00:45:30.69\00:45:37.43
We had just come
back from a big youth camp
00:45:37.47\00:45:41.10
for those who
understand what it is,
00:45:41.14\00:45:43.07
it's Pathfinders.
00:45:43.10\00:45:44.44
It was a big
international camporee
00:45:44.47\00:45:46.47
that we were all there.
00:45:46.51\00:45:48.31
Some of us on
the way home though,
00:45:48.34\00:45:50.45
were feeling sick
00:45:50.48\00:45:51.81
because a bug had
been going around.
00:45:51.85\00:45:56.02
Some of the other Illinois clubs
00:45:56.05\00:45:58.65
had spent some time with
us and they had gotten sick.
00:45:58.69\00:46:00.96
So then some of
us were sick now.
00:46:00.99\00:46:03.26
And I started feeling sick too.
00:46:03.29\00:46:04.63
So I was like
"Okay, it's just that."
00:46:04.66\00:46:08.43
It didn't go away.
00:46:08.46\00:46:10.90
So I'm going through
this, my stomach's hurting,
00:46:10.93\00:46:14.80
I'm just wondering,
"Why am I constantly hurting?
00:46:14.84\00:46:19.57
Why can't I eat without pain?
00:46:19.61\00:46:21.88
Why can't I drink
water without pain?"
00:46:21.91\00:46:24.21
Eventually, I get the
ability to go to the doctor.
00:46:24.25\00:46:28.78
And he does a few tests on me.
00:46:28.82\00:46:33.96
I won't describe the tests
00:46:33.99\00:46:35.32
because we don't
need to hear that.
00:46:35.36\00:46:37.69
But eventually, he tells me
00:46:37.73\00:46:40.93
you have Crohn's
disease, which...
00:46:40.96\00:46:44.03
It's chronic, you
can't really get rid of it.
00:46:44.07\00:46:46.74
It's an autoimmune disease.
00:46:46.77\00:46:48.50
It's just, it's gonna be
there, you can only manage it,
00:46:48.54\00:46:51.27
you can do all this.
00:46:51.31\00:46:54.51
I did start feeling better.
00:46:54.54\00:46:56.08
I am feeling better now.
00:46:56.11\00:46:57.58
It's, but it's,
you know, it's ongoing.
00:46:57.61\00:46:59.85
And one thing
that that has taught me
00:46:59.88\00:47:03.02
through all this,
00:47:03.05\00:47:04.92
I did not expect
this kind of thing
00:47:04.95\00:47:06.29
to happen to me.
00:47:06.32\00:47:07.66
I'm young. I'm not...
00:47:07.69\00:47:11.49
I haven't been here long.
00:47:11.53\00:47:14.50
And, you know, you
expect that your younger years,
00:47:14.53\00:47:17.93
your late teens, your early 20s,
00:47:17.97\00:47:20.04
are going to be spent all
just being perfectly healthy,
00:47:20.07\00:47:24.04
nothing can hit you
down, nothing can get you.
00:47:24.07\00:47:28.31
And then this just hits you.
00:47:28.34\00:47:30.31
What do you do with it?
00:47:30.35\00:47:32.15
How do you handle being sick
00:47:32.18\00:47:37.19
when you're really
not supposed to be sick?
00:47:37.22\00:47:40.26
And one thing
that that has taught me
00:47:40.29\00:47:41.62
over this time
00:47:41.66\00:47:42.99
is God does allow
you to go through things
00:47:43.02\00:47:45.63
sometimes to
strengthen your character,
00:47:45.66\00:47:48.93
sometimes to
strengthen your faith.
00:47:48.96\00:47:54.50
And that's exactly
what this ended up doing.
00:47:54.54\00:47:57.41
Because what I realized was,
00:47:57.44\00:48:00.51
God doesn't just take
away what is ailing you,
00:48:00.54\00:48:05.88
like the story of
the fiery furnace,
00:48:05.91\00:48:09.68
He didn't just
take it away from them.
00:48:09.72\00:48:13.76
What He did, is
He was there with me,
00:48:13.79\00:48:17.13
and I could feel
Him there with me.
00:48:17.16\00:48:18.99
I could feel, I felt
like I could talk to Him.
00:48:19.03\00:48:23.47
I developed this
relationship with Him
00:48:23.50\00:48:25.30
where I would just
stop and talk and say,
00:48:25.33\00:48:28.77
"Hey, this is what's going on.
00:48:28.80\00:48:32.54
I mean, I know you
know, but I need to say it."
00:48:32.57\00:48:35.58
And we kept talking.
00:48:35.61\00:48:39.41
He helped me to mature,
00:48:39.45\00:48:40.78
He helped me to
grow closer to Him.
00:48:40.82\00:48:45.42
And that has molded my life.
00:48:45.45\00:48:49.36
And so faith is not something
to take away your pain.
00:48:49.39\00:48:55.93
Faith isn't...
00:48:55.96\00:48:57.30
Faith and by extension grace
00:48:57.33\00:49:00.37
isn't something to make
all of your worries go away,
00:49:00.40\00:49:03.71
all of your problems go away.
00:49:03.74\00:49:05.44
Faith is the hand of God.
00:49:05.47\00:49:07.48
Grace is the hand of God
00:49:07.51\00:49:09.04
that you can hold while
you're going through it.
00:49:09.08\00:49:11.91
Amen. Praise the
Lord. Praise the Lord.
00:49:11.95\00:49:14.12
So we ask
00:49:14.15\00:49:15.48
for your
continued prayers for Kenny
00:49:15.52\00:49:17.02
as he continues this
ongoing test of faith,
00:49:17.05\00:49:21.39
and anybody else?
00:49:21.42\00:49:25.89
I always like to
go back to the story
00:49:25.93\00:49:28.00
of when we were traveling to...
00:49:28.03\00:49:29.60
It was another Pathfinder
00:49:29.63\00:49:30.97
that I do not remember
which one it was at the time
00:49:31.00\00:49:33.13
but we are all...
00:49:33.17\00:49:34.54
It was just in one minivan
going up to Chicago area.
00:49:34.57\00:49:38.61
And like a five
and a half hour drive
00:49:38.64\00:49:40.51
from here.
00:49:40.54\00:49:41.88
And so we're heading and
we hit this patch of rain
00:49:41.91\00:49:44.75
that I'm to this day
00:49:44.78\00:49:46.78
still haven't
seen rain that heavy
00:49:46.82\00:49:48.15
and we could not
see in front of the van
00:49:48.18\00:49:50.32
and we're on the interstate.
00:49:50.35\00:49:51.95
You know, we're probably
going 10, 15 miles an hour
00:49:51.99\00:49:54.36
and just hoping we
don't hit something.
00:49:54.39\00:49:56.42
And one of the staff members,
00:49:56.46\00:50:02.20
I believe it was Lorraine
that was with us at that time.
00:50:02.23\00:50:05.07
She just, I heard and she said,
"Lord Jesus, stop the rain, "
00:50:05.10\00:50:10.14
you know, and we
had been praying and so,
00:50:10.17\00:50:12.31
I mean, there's
this collective prayer
00:50:12.34\00:50:13.68
going out.
00:50:13.71\00:50:15.04
And it was the weirdest thing,
00:50:15.08\00:50:16.41
'cause we went
under the overpass,
00:50:16.44\00:50:18.21
where the road was
going over the interstate,
00:50:18.25\00:50:19.71
and on the other
side of the overpass,
00:50:19.75\00:50:21.08
there was no rain,
not even a drop falling.
00:50:21.12\00:50:23.32
Wow. Praise the Lord.
00:50:23.35\00:50:24.69
And to this day,
that sticks out to my mind
00:50:24.72\00:50:26.12
of God's intervention.
00:50:26.15\00:50:27.59
I mean, some
people might call it
00:50:27.62\00:50:28.96
coincidence and stuff.
00:50:28.99\00:50:30.33
But it's like,
00:50:30.36\00:50:31.69
when we're driving in this
rain for probably 30 minutes,
00:50:31.73\00:50:34.66
and then it just
suddenly stops after,
00:50:34.70\00:50:37.07
you know, well, we
all prayed for it to stop.
00:50:37.10\00:50:39.13
I mean, to me,
that's an answer to prayer.
00:50:39.17\00:50:41.04
Amen. Amen.
00:50:41.07\00:50:42.57
How about, Jonathan,
00:50:42.60\00:50:43.94
do you have a story
you'd like to share?
00:50:43.97\00:50:45.74
As usual things like,
00:50:45.77\00:50:47.48
I can't think of
any specific instance
00:50:47.51\00:50:49.24
at the moment.
00:50:49.28\00:50:50.61
But I know,
00:50:50.65\00:50:53.25
you know, there
have been many instances
00:50:53.28\00:50:56.08
of God's revealing
presence in my life.
00:50:56.12\00:51:02.29
Just going to college,
you know, college isn't cheap.
00:51:02.32\00:51:07.00
That's right.
00:51:07.03\00:51:08.93
And I didn't know
00:51:08.96\00:51:11.57
how I was going to
go through college.
00:51:11.60\00:51:14.07
But I did with the
help of family members
00:51:14.10\00:51:16.64
and church and, you
know, God, paving the way.
00:51:16.67\00:51:21.71
And there have been many times
in my capacity here at 3ABN,
00:51:21.74\00:51:25.98
that we've had instances
of God's revealing hand in,
00:51:26.01\00:51:32.89
especially when we have events,
when we go to ASI or GYC,
00:51:32.92\00:51:37.46
or, you know,
something on the road,
00:51:37.49\00:51:39.13
especially,
00:51:39.16\00:51:41.26
something always
happens on the way.
00:51:41.30\00:51:45.33
The trucks seem to be magnets
00:51:45.37\00:51:47.20
for breaking
down on the way there
00:51:47.24\00:51:48.77
or something like that.
00:51:48.80\00:51:50.14
The devil does all he can
00:51:50.17\00:51:51.51
to keep us from
spreading God's word.
00:51:51.54\00:51:53.98
But God always steps in
00:51:54.01\00:51:55.64
and shows His hand
and gets us on our way
00:51:55.68\00:51:59.11
where we need to be
00:51:59.15\00:52:00.48
and being able to
broadcast on time when needed.
00:52:00.52\00:52:05.52
There's just been
so many instances.
00:52:05.55\00:52:08.62
That's right. Praise the Lord.
00:52:08.66\00:52:09.99
There are many instances,
you know, we can tell you,
00:52:10.03\00:52:15.53
I mean, given time,
00:52:15.56\00:52:16.93
stories will come to mind
00:52:16.97\00:52:18.30
of how the Lord
did this or did that,
00:52:18.33\00:52:21.04
I mean, I
remember a time, you know,
00:52:21.07\00:52:22.90
as you were telling
your story about the rain.
00:52:22.94\00:52:25.57
I remember one time I
was just driving in Chicago,
00:52:25.61\00:52:28.91
many years ago,
I was single then.
00:52:28.94\00:52:30.81
And there's a thing called...
00:52:30.85\00:52:34.85
I forgot what they
call this when your car is,
00:52:34.88\00:52:37.59
when it's raining,
00:52:37.62\00:52:38.95
and your car seems
to be above the water...
00:52:38.99\00:52:40.36
Hydroplaning.
00:52:40.39\00:52:41.72
Hydroplaning,
00:52:41.76\00:52:43.09
so I was driving in the highway,
00:52:43.12\00:52:46.19
there were cars, I
think on both sides.
00:52:46.23\00:52:48.70
But my car started hydroplaning
00:52:48.73\00:52:50.90
and heading towards a
truck that all I could...
00:52:50.93\00:52:55.54
I just said, "Lord, help me!"
00:52:55.57\00:52:57.64
And the car went like this,
00:52:57.67\00:52:59.57
and suddenly when I
say "Help me" it started,
00:52:59.61\00:53:01.24
it went back on the
same lane that I was.
00:53:01.28\00:53:04.08
And I said, "Thank you,
Jesus. Thank you, Lord."
00:53:04.11\00:53:06.31
Because, you know,
00:53:06.35\00:53:08.52
sometimes the
only thing you can do,
00:53:08.55\00:53:10.99
you can't bow, you
can't kneel and pray,
00:53:11.02\00:53:13.59
but "Lord, help me."
00:53:13.62\00:53:14.99
You acknowledge God,
00:53:15.02\00:53:16.49
and ask Him to help
you and He will help you.
00:53:16.52\00:53:18.49
I could tell you, you know,
00:53:18.53\00:53:21.10
other stories of
situations that you say,
00:53:21.13\00:53:25.03
"Well, God did that,"
00:53:25.07\00:53:26.70
you know, you
think of another time
00:53:26.74\00:53:29.67
when we had another,
00:53:29.70\00:53:34.01
I guess these stories about cars
00:53:34.04\00:53:35.84
keep coming of mine.
00:53:35.88\00:53:38.71
You know, cars are
frequently in our lives.
00:53:38.75\00:53:40.82
Frequently in our lives.
00:53:40.85\00:53:43.52
The interesting thing
00:53:43.55\00:53:44.89
is that I was on
my way to Wisconsin,
00:53:44.92\00:53:48.09
and my car developed a problem
that could happen to anyone,
00:53:48.12\00:53:54.23
it could happen to anyone.
00:53:54.26\00:53:57.23
And I was trying to get
there at a certain time.
00:53:57.27\00:54:00.10
I wasn't speeding, but
I was trying to get there
00:54:00.14\00:54:01.64
at a certain time.
00:54:01.67\00:54:03.17
And all of a
sudden, it's nighttime,
00:54:03.20\00:54:05.71
the lights start
going dim in the car.
00:54:05.74\00:54:09.28
And I said, "Oh,
that's not a good thing."
00:54:09.31\00:54:15.02
And so, before you know it,
00:54:15.05\00:54:16.79
my car just
literally died on the highway.
00:54:16.82\00:54:21.52
And I say, "Wow,
this is the first time
00:54:21.56\00:54:23.29
that I have to face
something like this. "
00:54:23.32\00:54:25.79
Do you know that
within five minutes
00:54:25.83\00:54:30.00
a truck stops.
00:54:30.03\00:54:31.60
Now I don't know, they
tell me that they do this,
00:54:31.63\00:54:35.94
but I haven't seen them before,
and I haven't seen them after.
00:54:35.97\00:54:40.54
A truck stop, and so
"Having some problems?"
00:54:40.58\00:54:45.21
"Yes, I am."
00:54:45.25\00:54:46.68
And he said,
"What's the problem?"
00:54:46.72\00:54:48.18
"I don't know. My
car just stopped."
00:54:48.22\00:54:50.42
And he looked at he says "I
think you just need a jump."
00:54:50.45\00:54:53.56
He gave me a jump.
00:54:53.59\00:54:54.92
It was a truck from
the city of Chicago.
00:54:54.96\00:54:57.43
He gave me a jump,
the car started right up.
00:54:57.46\00:54:59.89
And he says, "There you go."
00:54:59.93\00:55:01.26
And I said, "How
much do I owe for this?"
00:55:01.30\00:55:02.63
"No, no. It's a
service of the city."
00:55:02.66\00:55:07.30
"Wow, I didn't know that."
00:55:07.34\00:55:08.67
"Yeah, so we just go
around and see people
00:55:08.70\00:55:10.11
and we help them."
00:55:10.14\00:55:11.91
Apparently, it is, I don't know,
00:55:11.94\00:55:13.27
I never checked into it.
00:55:13.31\00:55:14.74
But I took it as a...
00:55:14.78\00:55:17.71
That's what they do.
00:55:17.75\00:55:19.18
I was able to
make it all the way
00:55:19.21\00:55:21.35
to travel another
hour and 15 minutes.
00:55:21.38\00:55:27.26
And the reason my car
died is because the cable,
00:55:27.29\00:55:32.09
the belt that runs
the generator had broken.
00:55:32.13\00:55:38.40
So your car's not
going to get a charge.
00:55:38.43\00:55:40.77
So that's the reason,
00:55:40.80\00:55:42.14
and that could happen to anyone.
00:55:42.17\00:55:43.57
And whether your car
is new or old, you know.
00:55:43.61\00:55:46.11
And so that's what happened.
00:55:46.14\00:55:47.91
And God blessed in such a way
00:55:47.94\00:55:49.88
that, you know,
just when I needed that,
00:55:49.91\00:55:53.52
I mean, I literally
had just opened the trunk,
00:55:53.55\00:55:56.12
the hood to figure
out what's going on.
00:55:56.15\00:55:59.79
And I said, "Oh, no,
the belt is not there."
00:55:59.82\00:56:02.72
And so I was
trying to figure out
00:56:02.76\00:56:04.09
what do you do?
00:56:04.13\00:56:05.46
That was in the days
00:56:05.49\00:56:06.83
where you didn't have
cell phones, what do you do?
00:56:06.86\00:56:08.20
And here comes this
truck to help me out.
00:56:08.23\00:56:09.56
Praise God. Praise God.
00:56:09.60\00:56:10.93
I want to read this to
you from Acts of the Apostles.
00:56:10.97\00:56:14.04
It's a book by
Ellen G. White, page 576.
00:56:14.07\00:56:19.47
Notice, this is marvelous.
00:56:19.51\00:56:21.84
"Through trial, and
persecution, the glory,
00:56:21.88\00:56:25.71
the character of God is
revealed in His chosen ones.
00:56:25.75\00:56:30.25
The believers in Christ hated
00:56:30.29\00:56:32.39
and persecuted by the world
00:56:32.42\00:56:34.39
are educated and disciplined
in the School of Christ.
00:56:34.42\00:56:38.16
On earth they
walk in narrow paths,
00:56:38.19\00:56:40.96
they are purified in
the furnace of affliction.
00:56:41.00\00:56:45.03
They follow Christ
through sore conflicts,
00:56:45.07\00:56:47.74
they endure
self-denial and experience
00:56:47.77\00:56:50.91
bitter disappointments,
00:56:50.94\00:56:52.57
but thus they learn
the guilt and woe of sin,
00:56:52.61\00:56:55.74
and they look upon
it with abhorrence.
00:56:55.78\00:56:58.35
Being partakers of
Christ's sufferings,
00:56:58.38\00:57:01.02
they can look beyond the gloom
00:57:01.05\00:57:03.35
to the glory saying,
00:57:03.39\00:57:05.35
'I reckon that the sufferings
00:57:05.39\00:57:07.39
of this present
time are not worthy
00:57:07.42\00:57:09.76
to be compared with the glory
00:57:09.79\00:57:11.96
which shall be revealed in us.'"
00:57:11.99\00:57:14.53
Acts of the Apostle, page 576.
00:57:14.56\00:57:18.00
Thank you for joining us.
00:57:18.03\00:57:19.37
I want to thank Jonathan,
00:57:19.40\00:57:20.80
Kenny, and Kevin
for being with us.
00:57:20.84\00:57:23.07
And, of course,
we want to thank you
00:57:23.10\00:57:24.71
for joining us.
00:57:24.74\00:57:26.07
And remember, give your
heart to the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:57:26.11\00:57:28.91
and you will begin to
have peace and happiness
00:57:28.94\00:57:30.65
that begins in this
world and continues forever.
00:57:30.68\00:57:33.45
God bless you.
00:57:33.48\00:57:34.82