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
3ABN Today Family Worship
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and happy Sabbath to you.
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I'm Jason Bradley,
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and it's always a joy to
spend the Sabbath with you.
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And I'm excited about our topic
that we will be discussing,
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which is perseverance.
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Perseverance,
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and with me to
discuss that we have JD Quinn.
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My pleasure, this is always fun
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to sit around on Sabbath evening
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and being able to share.
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Yes, yes.
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It's always comfortable. Yes.
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And so it's great to
hear what the Lord gives you
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to share with us.
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And we have Shelley
Quinn, the bride by your side.
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Amen, my claim to fame.
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I'm JD Quinn's wife now.
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We're so glad to be here.
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It's always fun to
open the Word of God.
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And we're so glad
that you are joining us.
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Amen. Yes, amen.
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And Donald Owen. Yes.
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Just a blessing to be here.
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And I'm just so thankful
this concept of perseverance
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and what that looks like
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and the journey
that we're all on
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to persevere for the end goal.
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Amen. I'm excited.
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Amen.
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Before we dive into the topic,
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Shelley, if you don't mind,
if you'd have prayer for us.
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I'd love to, thank you.
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Our gracious and
loving heavenly Father,
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we come before You
in the name of Jesus to.
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Lord, dedicate this time to You.
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We thank You, Father,
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for this Sabbath day
that is a memorial that
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You are not only our Creator,
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but the one who
recreates us in Jesus.
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That You are our Redeemer,
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Lord, that You are
the one who sanctifies us,
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who sets us apart from evil.
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So, Father, we thank
You for Jesus Christ,
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for Your Holy
Spirit and Your Word.
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And right now, Lord,
as we open Your Word,
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may everyone,
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us and everyone who's watching
or listening to our voices,
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be blessed.
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Send your Holy
Spirit to be our teacher
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in Jesus' name. Amen.
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Amen. Thank you.
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I've always liked
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the definitions of words, right?
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So perseverance:
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persistence in doing something
despite difficulty or delay
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in achieving success.
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So it's kind of like
denying self gratification
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or immediate gratification.
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But persistence
in doing something
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despite difficulty or
delay in achieving success.
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So what comes to your mind?
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And I'm just throwing
this out there on the floor.
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What comes to your mind
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when you think of
the word perseverance?
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Endurance.
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I've been persevering
for the last 16 months.
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After my surgeries,
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you know, there's a time,
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sometimes it seems that
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circumstances
can be overwhelming.
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And if you don't keep
your eyes on the Lord,
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if you don't remember
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all of His
blessings and benefits,
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it's easy just to give up,
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you know, we need
to remember who He is,
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remember what He's done for us
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and endure our circumstances.
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We need to push
forward a day at a time.
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Amen.
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To me, it's also means
being committed to a goal.
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There you go, that's good.
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So I'm committed to this.
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I'm committed to Jesus Christ
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and it's nice to
be able to state that
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because it
helps keep me on track
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because I know sometimes
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you get tired, you get worn out.
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If it wasn't for a commitment,
straying on a covenant,
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well then you
can certainly wonder.
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That's good. Yeah.
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I liked that when
you said that, JD,
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about commitment.
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What came on my mind about
this word perseverance is that
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God persevere with us.
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Amen.
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God is
long-suffering towards us.
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I just want to share
this, it's in Exodus 34:6-7.
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"So then the Lord passed by
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before, I'm talking about Moses,
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and proclaimed the Lord,
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the Lord, God
merciful and gracious,"
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there's a big
word, long-suffering,
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"long suffering and
abundant in goodness and truth,
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keeping mercy for
thousands for giving iniquity
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and transgression and sin,
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and that will by no
means clear the guilty."
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So I think that
word long-suffering
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and that forgiving
iniquity that longstanding,
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I think, long-suffering to me.
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Amen.
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Well, Jesus certainly
persevered, did He not?
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He had that
commitment to the goal.
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He set His face determinately
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and He followed the
path that God out for Him.
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That's right.
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You know, when I think
of the word perseverance,
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I think of
operating off of principle,
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because if you're
going off of feeling,
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you will not persevere.
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You cannot,
because what happens is
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when you're operating
based on your feelings,
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solely on feelings,
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feelings have their place.
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But when you're
operating solely off of feelings
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and not principles,
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you're all over
the place, you know?
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And so, I love
what you guys are saying
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because it's standing
firm on the Word of God.
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Yeah.
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And as you go from,
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I remember a term
deficiency motivation.
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Deficiency motivation
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was the different
stages that we have in life.
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And so as a young
child, I had these feelings
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and then I found myself
going to the next password.
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I didn't, I got out of diapers,
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you know, and I
started wearing pants.
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And so now that's a
different situation.
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Then you go more
and more, lot of,
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I'm very fortunate,
I still wear my belt.
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There's a lot of
people wear suspenders,
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you know, at my age.
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And I take my hat off to,
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some day I might wear suspenders
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and I haven't
figured it out yet.
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That's the reason I
don't wear suspenders.
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But anyway,
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well, you do go through
different transitions in life.
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And so if it was
dealt on feelings,
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we would, as you just
said, be all over the place
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because there's so
many changes in our life.
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Principles
hopefully don't change.
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That's right.
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You know, sometimes
you think of perseverance
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as when you've got
an overwhelming schedule
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and a lot of
projects do persevere.
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I mean, you can
look at that and just go,
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"Oh, I'm overwhelmed."
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But perseverance is
like eating an elephant.
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How do you eat an elephant?
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One bite at a time.
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Perseverance is just putting
one foot in front of the other
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to reach a goal.
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Amen. I like that.
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I think of this champion.
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Perseverance, you
know, it came on my end.
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I think one of the questions
here is a difficult time.
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And when this idea of
perseverance came to me,
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we, prior to coming to 3ABN,
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both my wife and I
lost our jobs in 2018.
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And so we just had
bought a house in 2001.
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We're thinking, okay, Lord,
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we've got $700
house payment a month.
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I've got like
$100 coming in a month.
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I've got a week I should say,
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how am I going to
pay for electric bills,
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the water bills,
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how am I going
to pay for all this?
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I can't put food on the table.
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By the grace of
God we could go to,
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thankfully in our
community we had food pantries.
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And we also had a place
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that would help pay for
electric for a few months.
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So I was very thankful,
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but persevering through that
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and not having
hardly any money at all,
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but then coming here
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and how God is
when we moved here,
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He changed everything.
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Everything's paid off.
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I got all my
credit cards paid off.
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I can easily put
food in the table now,
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and I'm sitting here,
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but it was through
that trial in my life
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that God gave, got us through.
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He brought us closer to Him.
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It was in that
trial, that difficulty
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that I learned to
lean and depend on Him.
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So... Amen.
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So in other words,
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what I'm hearing
you saying, say is that
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there are benefits that
can come out of a trial.
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Right.
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Yes.
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So let's look at
how we persevere.
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Donald, if you'll
take 1 Chronicles 16:11.
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Sure, and it says there,
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"Seek the Lord and His strength,
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seek His face ever more."
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This is the New
King James Version,
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but I also like the
King James, it says,
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"Seek his face continually."
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Yes.
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Continually really
speaks to me, it's constant.
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And that made me think of
1 Thessalonians 5:17 says,
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"Pray without ceasing."
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So I'm thinking about
that concept of like prayer is,
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it's a constant thing, a thread,
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like a constant
thread that just woven.
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And we need to have
that constant prayer,
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pray without ceasing,
that really spoke to me.
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You know what it
says to me like David,
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God told King David,
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"Seek My face."
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And he said,
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"Lord, when You
said, seek my face,
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Your face I seek."
00:09:49.78\00:09:51.12
I think sometimes in prayer,
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we're asking for things,
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we're asking for a blessing for,
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you know, we're
interceding for other people.
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But what God
wants us to recognize
00:10:02.60\00:10:05.03
is prayer is
communication between.
00:10:05.07\00:10:07.40
And when he said seek my face,
00:10:07.44\00:10:10.17
to me, that's really trying
to get to know God in prayer,
00:10:10.21\00:10:15.68
you let Him speak to
you through the Word.
00:10:15.71\00:10:18.21
And then you speak to Him.
00:10:18.25\00:10:19.58
It's getting to know
God in an intimate way.
00:10:19.61\00:10:22.75
Yes, building that relationship.
00:10:22.78\00:10:24.15
Yes.
00:10:24.19\00:10:25.52
There's a devotion we
usually read in our pastoral.
00:10:25.55\00:10:27.42
We were doing this book
called Our Father Cares,
00:10:27.46\00:10:29.69
which we switched
now to the other one
00:10:29.72\00:10:31.06
Noble Character.
00:10:31.09\00:10:32.43
But this is our recent one.
00:10:32.46\00:10:33.80
It's just an interesting,
00:10:33.83\00:10:35.16
we were talking about
the timing of this idea
00:10:35.20\00:10:36.53
of persevering
00:10:36.56\00:10:37.90
and how it got your attention.
00:10:37.93\00:10:39.27
But I read this as just recent
00:10:39.30\00:10:40.84
this idea of persevering prayer.
00:10:40.87\00:10:42.60
I won't try to take too long,
00:10:42.64\00:10:43.97
it says, the idea of prayer.
00:10:44.01\00:10:45.34
It says, "Important
lessons are presented to us
00:10:45.37\00:10:47.84
in the experience of Elijah.
00:10:47.88\00:10:49.21
When upon a Mount Carmel,
he offered the prayer for rain.
00:10:49.24\00:10:52.25
His faith was tested,
00:10:52.28\00:10:53.62
but he persevered in making
known his request unto God."
00:10:53.65\00:10:56.22
And this is
interesting, next paragraph,
00:10:56.25\00:10:57.65
"The servant
watched while Elijah prayed,
00:10:57.69\00:11:00.52
six times he
returned from the watch
00:11:00.56\00:11:02.42
saying, there's nothing,
00:11:02.46\00:11:03.79
no cloud, no sign of rain,
00:11:03.83\00:11:05.69
but the prophet did not
give up in discouragement,"
00:11:05.73\00:11:07.90
you catch that,
00:11:07.93\00:11:09.26
"but praying, he
kept reviewing his life."
00:11:09.30\00:11:11.13
This is powerful.
00:11:11.17\00:11:12.50
"He kept
reviewing his life to see
00:11:12.53\00:11:13.87
where he had
failed to honor God.
00:11:13.90\00:11:15.44
As he searched his heart,
he seemed to be less and less,
00:11:15.47\00:11:18.61
both in his own estimation
and in the sight of God,
00:11:18.64\00:11:21.44
it seemed to him
that he was nothing
00:11:21.48\00:11:23.04
and that God was everything.
00:11:23.08\00:11:24.85
And when he reached
00:11:24.88\00:11:26.21
to the point of renouncing self,
00:11:26.25\00:11:28.55
while he clung to the Savior
00:11:28.58\00:11:29.92
as his only
strength and righteousness,
00:11:29.95\00:11:32.19
the answer came."
00:11:32.22\00:11:34.19
That's a powerful point. Yes.
00:11:34.22\00:11:35.56
"The servant appeared and said,
00:11:35.59\00:11:36.93
'Behold, there arises
00:11:36.96\00:11:38.29
the little cloud out of the sea,
00:11:38.33\00:11:39.66
like a man's hand."
00:11:39.69\00:11:41.03
This next paragraph you
just touched on, Shelley.
00:11:41.06\00:11:42.40
"We have a God
00:11:42.43\00:11:43.77
whose ear is not
closed to our petitions.
00:11:43.80\00:11:45.23
And if we prove His
word, he will honor our faith.
00:11:45.27\00:11:48.60
He wants us to
have all our interests
00:11:48.64\00:11:50.47
interwoven with His interest.
00:11:50.51\00:11:52.37
And then he can safely bless us.
00:11:52.41\00:11:54.68
We shall not then
take glory to self
00:11:54.71\00:11:56.95
when the blessing is ours,
00:11:56.98\00:11:58.55
but shall render
all the praise to God."
00:11:58.58\00:12:00.38
Here it is.
00:12:00.42\00:12:01.75
"God does not
always answer prayer,
00:12:01.78\00:12:03.49
answer our prayers
00:12:03.52\00:12:04.85
the first time we call upon Him,
00:12:04.89\00:12:06.59
for should he do this,
00:12:06.62\00:12:08.22
we might take it for granted
00:12:08.26\00:12:09.62
that we had a right to
all the blessings and favors
00:12:09.66\00:12:13.40
He bestowed upon us.
00:12:13.43\00:12:14.76
Instead of searching our hearts
00:12:14.80\00:12:16.13
to see if any evil
was entertained by us
00:12:16.16\00:12:19.00
as any sin indulged,
00:12:19.03\00:12:20.37
we should become
careless and fail to realize
00:12:20.40\00:12:22.40
our dependence on Him."
00:12:22.44\00:12:23.77
So I thought that
was really a powerful,
00:12:23.81\00:12:25.67
that just really
spoke to me this idea
00:12:25.71\00:12:27.94
of sometimes people pray
00:12:27.98\00:12:29.31
and they're not
getting what they want,
00:12:29.34\00:12:30.68
but it said that,
00:12:30.71\00:12:32.05
you know, He
does not always answer
00:12:32.08\00:12:33.42
our prayers the first time.
00:12:33.45\00:12:34.78
He wants us to
search like Elijah did.
00:12:34.82\00:12:37.02
Yes.
00:12:37.05\00:12:38.39
Yeah, I'll tell you what
I wouldn't be sitting here
00:12:38.42\00:12:39.85
if it wasn't for my
mom persevering in prayer,
00:12:39.89\00:12:43.99
being persistent and
fervent with her prayers.
00:12:44.03\00:12:47.50
So yes, I
definitely appreciate that.
00:12:47.53\00:12:50.10
Probably true with
each one of our lives here,
00:12:50.13\00:12:52.40
you know, as
our praying parents.
00:12:52.43\00:12:55.80
Amen. Yes.
00:12:55.84\00:12:57.34
Shelley, you've
got our next verse.
00:12:57.37\00:12:59.07
Okay. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.
00:12:59.11\00:13:03.75
Paul writes to the
Corinthians saying,
00:13:03.78\00:13:06.65
"Do you not know that
00:13:06.68\00:13:08.02
those who run in a race all run,
00:13:08.05\00:13:10.35
but one receives the prize?
00:13:10.39\00:13:13.62
Run in such a way
that you may obtain it."
00:13:13.66\00:13:16.83
Let me just pause.
00:13:16.86\00:13:19.19
In the city of
Corinth, they had these games
00:13:19.23\00:13:22.03
and what they were competing for
00:13:22.06\00:13:27.80
was a laurel wreath,
00:13:27.84\00:13:30.17
just a little wreath
that went around their head
00:13:30.21\00:13:32.31
show that they
crown the winner, right?
00:13:32.34\00:13:35.44
And I just want to say this
00:13:35.48\00:13:37.61
when he says run in such a
way that you may obtain it.
00:13:37.65\00:13:40.85
Winners aren't
born, they train to win.
00:13:40.88\00:13:44.72
And these people
would have understood.
00:13:44.75\00:13:47.16
First you have to meet the
basic training requirements
00:13:47.19\00:13:51.13
to even compete.
00:13:51.16\00:13:52.79
But then there
is strict training
00:13:52.83\00:13:56.36
that comes along
and it's a struggle.
00:13:56.40\00:13:59.53
They strive from start to finish
00:13:59.57\00:14:02.30
for excellence, right?
00:14:02.34\00:14:04.41
Now, they are going to
look at this next thought.
00:14:04.44\00:14:09.04
He says,
00:14:09.08\00:14:10.41
"Everyone who
competes for the prize
00:14:10.45\00:14:12.61
is temperate in all things."
00:14:12.65\00:14:15.28
So self-control is
crucial to the victory,
00:14:15.32\00:14:19.82
is it not?
00:14:19.85\00:14:21.19
Oh, very much so.
00:14:21.22\00:14:22.56
Temperance, endurance,
00:14:22.59\00:14:23.93
I mean, athletes
are competing by rules
00:14:23.96\00:14:29.46
and they have a lot
of rules before the game.
00:14:29.50\00:14:33.54
He says, now they do it
to obtain a perishable crown.
00:14:33.57\00:14:38.27
That's the little laurel wreath,
00:14:38.31\00:14:41.04
but we do it for
an imperishable crown.
00:14:41.08\00:14:45.58
That's the crown of
life that we're going to get.
00:14:45.61\00:14:48.98
So if athletes train that hard,
00:14:49.02\00:14:51.95
how much more
should we as Christians
00:14:51.99\00:14:53.79
is what he's really saying.
00:14:53.82\00:14:55.66
Then Paul says
something interesting.
00:14:55.69\00:14:58.16
Therefore I run thus
not with uncertainty.
00:14:58.19\00:15:04.33
Thus, I fight not as
one who beats the air.
00:15:04.37\00:15:08.60
Have you ever
seen a shadow boxer?
00:15:08.64\00:15:10.01
Yes.
00:15:10.04\00:15:11.37
Boy, they're
flailing their arms around.
00:15:11.41\00:15:13.31
They don't have
an opponent really,
00:15:13.34\00:15:15.44
they're shadow boxing.
00:15:15.48\00:15:17.45
But as Christians, some
of us are shadow boxing.
00:15:17.48\00:15:22.58
We are the ones
who talk the talk,
00:15:22.62\00:15:25.62
but don't walk the walk,
00:15:25.65\00:15:28.22
and we've got a
very real opponent.
00:15:28.26\00:15:31.83
So then he says,
00:15:31.86\00:15:33.19
"I discipline my body and
bring it into subjection."
00:15:33.23\00:15:39.80
We've got to
discipline our bodies
00:15:39.83\00:15:42.34
under the guidance
of the Holy Spirit.
00:15:42.37\00:15:45.11
Be temperate in our appetite,
be temperate in our lifestyle
00:15:45.14\00:15:49.51
and not overindulge.
00:15:49.54\00:15:51.78
You know, Paul
persevered like a boxer.
00:15:51.81\00:15:55.32
I mean, he did everything
he could to knock out corrupt,
00:15:55.35\00:16:00.72
sinful nature
and bodily impulses.
00:16:00.76\00:16:04.19
And then he says, I
discipline my body up,
00:16:04.23\00:16:07.16
bring it to subjection,
00:16:07.20\00:16:09.40
lest when I preached to others,
I myself become disqualified.
00:16:09.43\00:16:14.87
The imperishable
crown is a gift from God.
00:16:14.90\00:16:19.01
Salvation is a gift from God,
00:16:19.04\00:16:21.64
but because of
covenant love and loyalty,
00:16:21.68\00:16:25.48
we should be striving
to meet the high standards
00:16:25.51\00:16:29.62
that God has given us.
00:16:29.65\00:16:30.99
Amen. Amen.
00:16:31.02\00:16:32.89
You know, it's interesting
00:16:32.92\00:16:34.26
how we can get so
caught up on temporary things,
00:16:34.29\00:16:38.39
you know, but
keeping sight of eternity.
00:16:38.43\00:16:43.23
So, so
important. That's excellent.
00:16:43.26\00:16:45.40
Thank you for
sharing that, Shelley.
00:16:45.43\00:16:47.80
JD, you have Philippians.
00:16:47.84\00:16:50.17
Yes. I love Philippians.
00:16:50.21\00:16:52.47
You know, I appreciate Paul
00:16:52.51\00:16:54.88
because I played a
lot of ball growing up,
00:16:54.91\00:16:58.15
and I understand working out,
00:16:58.18\00:17:01.62
I understand the discipline
of getting in shape, focusing.
00:17:01.65\00:17:06.32
And Paul was, he...
00:17:06.35\00:17:08.02
Paul is one of those
guys that could super focus
00:17:08.06\00:17:11.79
and he has so much wisdom.
00:17:11.83\00:17:14.30
Philippians 3:13-14
00:17:14.33\00:17:16.26
"Brothers,
brethren and brothers,
00:17:16.30\00:17:18.73
I do not count
myself to have apprehended."
00:17:18.77\00:17:21.40
In other words, I
haven't reached that place
00:17:21.44\00:17:23.41
that I haven't
obtained the prize yet,
00:17:23.44\00:17:26.81
but I am a work in progress.
00:17:26.84\00:17:29.08
"But one thing that I do know,
00:17:29.11\00:17:32.11
forget those things behind me,
00:17:32.15\00:17:34.58
reach forward to those
things which are ahead.
00:17:34.62\00:17:37.99
I press toward the goal
00:17:38.02\00:17:39.45
for the prize of the upward call
00:17:39.49\00:17:41.52
of God in Christ Jesus."
00:17:41.56\00:17:43.46
Amen. Fantastic.
00:17:43.49\00:17:45.29
Because I think a lot of
people spend their life looking
00:17:45.33\00:17:48.36
in the rear view mirror.
00:17:48.40\00:17:50.43
As they're
driving down the road,
00:17:50.47\00:17:52.80
their eyes keep
going, what's behind them.
00:17:52.83\00:17:55.54
And there's all kinds of
junk that we left behind us
00:17:55.57\00:17:58.27
so that we could follow,
00:17:58.31\00:18:00.18
you know, progress
toward this new trip
00:18:00.21\00:18:02.51
that we've chosen.
00:18:02.54\00:18:04.28
And if I was to
pass any wisdom along,
00:18:04.31\00:18:08.45
it would stop wasting
your time reliving, rehashing
00:18:08.48\00:18:12.65
what's back behind you,
00:18:12.69\00:18:14.89
keep your eyes focused,
shift into another gear.
00:18:14.92\00:18:18.29
You can say this,
shift into another gear
00:18:18.33\00:18:21.26
and go on down the
road from yesteryear.
00:18:21.30\00:18:24.43
Amen.
00:18:24.47\00:18:25.80
You know what that
reminded me of Isaiah 48:13
00:18:25.83\00:18:29.90
or Isaiah 43:18.
00:18:29.94\00:18:33.61
Isaiah 43:18, where God says,
00:18:33.64\00:18:37.28
"Do not remember the
thing, the former things."
00:18:37.31\00:18:41.35
And you know,
when the Bible talks
00:18:41.38\00:18:43.79
about God remembering,
00:18:43.82\00:18:45.69
it means He's
going to act on it.
00:18:45.72\00:18:47.12
When it talks
about God forgetting,
00:18:47.16\00:18:48.96
it means he's not
going to act on it.
00:18:48.99\00:18:51.36
We can't totally
erase our memory.
00:18:51.39\00:18:54.46
But when He's saying,
00:18:54.50\00:18:55.93
don't remember
the former things.
00:18:55.96\00:18:57.53
He's saying, quit
acting on the former things.
00:18:57.57\00:18:59.77
There are some
people, like you said, honey,
00:18:59.80\00:19:02.10
who are trapped in the past,
00:19:02.14\00:19:04.91
they're constantly
rehearsing the past
00:19:04.94\00:19:08.38
and they can't
persevere because they're stuck.
00:19:08.41\00:19:11.21
But God says,
00:19:11.25\00:19:12.58
"Behold, I do a new thing.
00:19:12.61\00:19:15.75
Now it shall appear,
do you not perceive it?"
00:19:15.78\00:19:18.02
Amen.
00:19:18.05\00:19:19.39
Right, something that
you just touched on, Shelley.
00:19:19.42\00:19:20.76
I had a lady call a
while back on our prayer line.
00:19:20.79\00:19:23.02
And she said that,
00:19:23.06\00:19:24.39
she did
something to her daughter
00:19:24.43\00:19:25.76
when his daughter
was five years old.
00:19:25.79\00:19:27.13
Daughter's now 50.
00:19:27.16\00:19:28.56
This is some 45 years later.
00:19:28.60\00:19:31.07
And she was still beating
herself up for that thing
00:19:31.10\00:19:32.93
she did 45 years ago.
00:19:32.97\00:19:34.60
And I said, "Well, have you
confessed that to the Lord?"
00:19:34.64\00:19:36.94
She said, "Yes, I have."
00:19:36.97\00:19:38.57
I said, "You know what
1 John 1:9 says, right?
00:19:38.61\00:19:41.01
Said, "If we confess our sins,
00:19:41.04\00:19:42.38
He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins
00:19:42.41\00:19:44.15
and cleanse us from
all unrighteousness."
00:19:44.18\00:19:47.12
I said, "Do you
know what that means?"
00:19:47.15\00:19:48.48
She goes, "No, I don't really."
00:19:48.52\00:19:49.85
I said, "What that
means is Jesus takes,
00:19:49.88\00:19:51.22
you'd make that
prayer confession,
00:19:51.25\00:19:52.65
He takes His blood and
cover that over your record
00:19:52.69\00:19:54.66
is gone out.
00:19:54.69\00:19:56.02
It's wiped out.'
00:19:56.06\00:19:57.39
She went, "Are you
kidding me? Are you serious?"
00:19:57.43\00:19:58.76
I said, "Yes." I
said, "It's gone."
00:19:58.79\00:20:00.13
She's, "I can't
believe." She got so excited.
00:20:00.16\00:20:02.33
She's like, "No way.'
00:20:02.36\00:20:03.70
I said, "Yes, it's,
00:20:03.73\00:20:05.43
you don't have to
hold on to it anymore.
00:20:05.47\00:20:06.80
It's no longer you."
00:20:06.84\00:20:08.17
She got so happy.
00:20:08.20\00:20:09.54
It was just a
fact she didn't realize
00:20:09.57\00:20:10.91
for 45 years,
00:20:10.94\00:20:12.27
just holding on.
00:20:12.31\00:20:13.64
Long time to be caring.
00:20:13.68\00:20:15.01
They come to be looking
in the rear room mirror.
00:20:15.04\00:20:16.68
Absolutely.
00:20:16.71\00:20:18.15
Bad things happen
00:20:18.18\00:20:19.51
when you just look
in the rear view mirror,
00:20:19.55\00:20:21.02
don't focus on what lies ahead.
00:20:21.05\00:20:24.39
Yes.
00:20:24.42\00:20:25.75
And we're going to
look at Hebrews 12:1-2.
00:20:25.79\00:20:30.46
And it says,
00:20:30.49\00:20:31.83
"Therefore, we also,
00:20:31.86\00:20:33.50
since we are surrounded
00:20:33.53\00:20:35.36
by so great a
cloud of witnesses,
00:20:35.40\00:20:38.13
let us lay aside every weight,"
00:20:38.17\00:20:41.30
that 45 year old weight,
00:20:41.34\00:20:43.34
"and the sin, which
so easily ensnares us
00:20:43.37\00:20:47.68
and let us run with endurance
00:20:47.71\00:20:50.35
the race that is set
before us looking unto Jesus,
00:20:50.38\00:20:54.58
the author and
finisher of our faith,
00:20:54.62\00:20:57.29
who for the joy
that was set before Him
00:20:57.32\00:20:59.89
endured the cross,
00:20:59.92\00:21:02.22
despising the shame
00:21:02.26\00:21:04.26
and is set down
00:21:04.29\00:21:05.63
at the right hand
of the throne of God."
00:21:05.66\00:21:09.33
That's powerful
00:21:09.36\00:21:10.70
because in all things
00:21:10.73\00:21:12.07
we should be
looking toward Jesus.
00:21:12.10\00:21:14.30
I think about, you know,
when Peter got out of the boat
00:21:14.34\00:21:18.71
and he stepped on the water
00:21:18.74\00:21:21.34
and you know, he was probably
00:21:21.38\00:21:23.81
just like, whoa,
like I'm walking on,
00:21:23.85\00:21:27.18
but he took his eyes off Jesus.
00:21:27.22\00:21:30.15
And when he did that,
00:21:30.19\00:21:33.62
he started sinking
00:21:33.66\00:21:35.82
and he was like, Lord
help me, Lord help me.
00:21:35.86\00:21:39.23
Ever try to
visualize that here comes.
00:21:39.26\00:21:41.06
I don't know how
Jesus, if He ran,
00:21:41.10\00:21:42.43
I don't know how
He walks, but anyways,
00:21:42.46\00:21:43.83
a fully grown man
standing on water,
00:21:43.87\00:21:46.30
pulls a fully
grown man out of water.
00:21:46.33\00:21:48.30
Yes. How do you?
00:21:48.34\00:21:50.37
Visually, I can't
even, I can't even see that.
00:21:50.41\00:21:52.74
I mean, how do you pull
grown man out of the water
00:21:52.77\00:21:54.81
and put him on the boat.
00:21:54.84\00:21:57.35
Jesus is amazing.
00:21:57.38\00:21:58.71
That blows your mind.
You can ask Him some day.
00:21:58.75\00:22:00.48
Yeah, it's amazing.
00:22:00.52\00:22:02.55
I was just thinking about this,
00:22:02.58\00:22:04.12
lay aside every
weight in the sin,
00:22:04.15\00:22:06.29
which so easily ensnares us.
00:22:06.32\00:22:09.46
Once again,
00:22:09.49\00:22:10.83
that's why it's good
to let go off the past.
00:22:10.86\00:22:12.49
But you know,
Paul told the Romans
00:22:12.53\00:22:15.66
make no provision for the flesh,
00:22:15.70\00:22:18.33
sometimes to lay
aside the weight.
00:22:18.37\00:22:22.50
If you have a problem,
00:22:22.54\00:22:25.17
let's say that you're
overindulging in sweets
00:22:25.21\00:22:27.64
or if you're
smoking or if God forbid,
00:22:27.68\00:22:31.38
if drugs are your problem,
00:22:31.41\00:22:34.02
we need to make no
provision for the flesh.
00:22:34.05\00:22:37.09
That means clear out
00:22:37.12\00:22:40.06
what clear out
your paraphernalia,
00:22:40.09\00:22:42.72
clear out your cabinets,
find an accountability partner,
00:22:42.76\00:22:46.46
go to someone who can help you
00:22:46.49\00:22:49.20
because it's not that
there is so much sin around us
00:22:49.23\00:22:54.30
that so easily ensnares us.
00:22:54.34\00:22:56.57
I had a friend
that couldn't watch.
00:22:56.60\00:22:58.91
She was watching the soap operas
00:22:58.94\00:23:02.94
and it was
creating lust in her heart.
00:23:02.98\00:23:06.01
So to make no
provision for the flesh,
00:23:06.05\00:23:09.35
to lay aside
every weight and the sin
00:23:09.38\00:23:11.82
that so easily ensnares us,
00:23:11.85\00:23:14.12
she quit watching soap operas.
00:23:14.16\00:23:15.89
So I think
that's important. Yeah.
00:23:15.92\00:23:18.29
I think you've
brought up an excellent point
00:23:18.33\00:23:20.53
because you don't want to
put yourself in the position
00:23:20.56\00:23:23.47
to be tempted
in the first place.
00:23:23.50\00:23:26.43
Amen.
00:23:26.47\00:23:27.80
So, yeah, no, that's,
that's very, very good.
00:23:27.84\00:23:29.20
Laying aside. Yes.
00:23:29.24\00:23:30.77
And I think that,
00:23:30.81\00:23:32.14
you know, we
need to be cognizant
00:23:32.17\00:23:33.51
of how wonderful God truly is.
00:23:33.54\00:23:35.84
But how do we do that
00:23:35.88\00:23:37.38
if we don't have a relationship?
00:23:37.41\00:23:39.45
We have to experience,
00:23:39.48\00:23:40.82
oh, taste and see
that the Lord is good.
00:23:40.85\00:23:43.25
So, Donald, if you
want to take Psalm 138:8.
00:23:43.28\00:23:49.22
Psalm 138:8 says here,
00:23:49.26\00:23:51.86
"The Lord will perfect
that which concerns me."
00:23:51.89\00:23:55.43
Hallelujah.
00:23:55.46\00:23:56.80
"Your mercy, oh
Lord endures forever.
00:23:56.83\00:24:00.37
Do not forsake the
work of your hands."
00:24:00.40\00:24:02.44
And that word we
shared in Hebrews 12:1-2,
00:24:02.47\00:24:05.37
that endurance, like you
mentioned earlier, Shelley,
00:24:05.41\00:24:07.68
endurance really
means to suffer patiently.
00:24:07.71\00:24:11.45
Yeah.
00:24:11.48\00:24:12.81
We're going to talk
about a little later,
00:24:12.85\00:24:14.18
maybe some of the
scriptures that relate,
00:24:14.22\00:24:15.55
but they are
suffering patiently.
00:24:15.58\00:24:16.92
I think of a gentleman.
00:24:16.95\00:24:18.29
This is back, I don't
remember what time period was,
00:24:18.32\00:24:19.85
but anyways, they
threw him in a vat of...
00:24:19.89\00:24:21.92
I don't wanna go
into too much detail,
00:24:21.96\00:24:23.29
but was this pit
of all this nastiness,
00:24:23.32\00:24:26.26
all this junk.
00:24:26.29\00:24:27.63
And in the middle of all that
00:24:27.66\00:24:29.03
and the
persecution he was under,
00:24:29.06\00:24:30.63
he prayed to the
Lord, and as he prayed
00:24:30.67\00:24:32.83
this little
white lily came up...
00:24:32.87\00:24:36.37
Wow. He met him there.
00:24:36.40\00:24:37.74
And he knew that God was
in the midst of his trial
00:24:37.77\00:24:40.31
and he could endure this
thing he was going under,
00:24:40.34\00:24:42.94
but he saw this lily just pop up
00:24:42.98\00:24:45.01
a midst all this
nasty stuff he was in.
00:24:45.05\00:24:47.45
I won't go in detail,
but suffering patiently.
00:24:47.48\00:24:50.82
My favorite part
of that scripture is
00:24:50.85\00:24:53.99
the Lord will perfect
that which concerns me.
00:24:54.02\00:24:58.89
You know,
Philippians 1:6 says that
00:24:58.93\00:25:01.70
"God will complete the good work
00:25:01.73\00:25:04.67
He's begun in you."
00:25:04.70\00:25:06.03
What? To persevere.
00:25:06.07\00:25:08.04
You can't do it
in your own flesh.
00:25:08.07\00:25:10.31
To persevere,
00:25:10.34\00:25:11.77
you've got to rely
totally on the Lord.
00:25:11.81\00:25:15.61
And that's what His plan
of salvation is all about.
00:25:15.64\00:25:18.95
It's total dependence upon Him.
00:25:18.98\00:25:22.12
And He gives us His Holy Spirit,
00:25:22.15\00:25:24.19
works in us to will and
to do His good pleasure.
00:25:24.22\00:25:26.79
It's just...
00:25:26.82\00:25:28.76
God's in the
perfection business, isn't He?
00:25:28.79\00:25:31.16
He does the heavy lifting. Yes.
00:25:31.19\00:25:33.16
Amen.
00:25:33.19\00:25:34.53
Cast your cares on Him.
00:25:34.56\00:25:36.00
Amen. Awesome.
00:25:36.03\00:25:37.90
Shelley, you've
got Lamentations?
00:25:37.93\00:25:39.80
Oh, I'm so glad
you gave me this.
00:25:39.83\00:25:44.21
Lamentations 3:22-24.
00:25:44.24\00:25:49.71
And it says,
00:25:49.74\00:25:51.51
"Through the Lord's
mercies, we are not consumed
00:25:51.55\00:25:56.18
because His
compassions fail not,
00:25:56.22\00:25:58.82
they are new every morning."
00:25:58.85\00:26:03.43
And then He breaks
out and prays and says,
00:26:03.46\00:26:07.73
great is your faithfulness.
00:26:07.76\00:26:10.73
The Lord is my portion,
therefore, I hope in Him."
00:26:10.77\00:26:15.17
Now, here's why. I'm
glad I've got this one.
00:26:15.20\00:26:19.14
When it says
through the Lord's mercies
00:26:19.17\00:26:22.98
we're not consumed,
00:26:23.01\00:26:24.35
his compassions fail not,
00:26:24.38\00:26:27.98
Real quickly.
00:26:28.02\00:26:29.42
There are two covenant terms.
00:26:29.45\00:26:34.52
That one from the
old, one from the new.
00:26:34.56\00:26:38.86
In the Old Testament,
the covenant term was hesed.
00:26:38.89\00:26:43.60
In the New Testament,
the covenant term is grace.
00:26:43.63\00:26:49.20
These are covenant terms.
00:26:49.24\00:26:52.51
So this is hesed, that's the...
00:26:52.54\00:26:56.04
When it says His compassions
00:26:56.08\00:26:58.18
it's, this is the Old
Testament equivalent for grace.
00:26:58.21\00:27:03.18
And it's used 250
times in the Old Testament.
00:27:03.22\00:27:06.02
But let me tell you something.
00:27:06.05\00:27:07.52
It's more than what
we think of as grace.
00:27:07.56\00:27:10.79
The Hebrew word hesed
00:27:10.83\00:27:13.19
cannot be translated
into one English word.
00:27:13.23\00:27:16.36
It envelops all the
wonderful attributes of God,
00:27:16.40\00:27:20.70
so listen to this.
00:27:20.74\00:27:23.27
Hesed, if you were going
to try to define it, means
00:27:23.30\00:27:27.38
love, covenant faithfulness,
00:27:27.41\00:27:29.58
mercy, grace, kindness, loyalty.
00:27:29.61\00:27:33.31
In short, God goes
beyond our expectations
00:27:33.35\00:27:40.16
to meet us where
we are and to help us.
00:27:40.19\00:27:42.86
Hesed is usually
His loving kindness
00:27:42.89\00:27:45.33
or His compassion or His mercy.
00:27:45.36\00:27:47.76
But this is a beautiful word
00:27:47.80\00:27:51.60
because it is only by
God's hesed in the Hebrew
00:27:51.63\00:27:57.11
or God's grace in the Greek
00:27:57.14\00:27:59.91
that we're ever going
to persevere, that's it.
00:27:59.94\00:28:03.48
I'll tell you what?
00:28:03.51\00:28:04.85
I'm glad you got
Lamentations too.
00:28:04.88\00:28:06.48
Oh, I love that word.
00:28:06.51\00:28:08.18
That is wonderful.
00:28:08.22\00:28:09.75
That is...
Yeah. That's powerful.
00:28:09.78\00:28:13.02
Let me piggyback off
00:28:13.05\00:28:14.59
of what Shelley was mentioning
earlier on Philippians 1:6,
00:28:14.62\00:28:19.33
and which is exactly right.
00:28:19.36\00:28:22.33
I want to take it a step further
00:28:22.36\00:28:23.70
because I think that we
can both look at the church.
00:28:23.73\00:28:26.33
I think that that's
what this was talking about
00:28:26.37\00:28:28.37
and individually.
00:28:28.40\00:28:30.07
And it's one of my,
00:28:30.11\00:28:31.74
it's one of my favorite promises
00:28:31.77\00:28:33.88
because He says
we can be confident.
00:28:33.91\00:28:37.85
In other words,
we have a choice.
00:28:37.88\00:28:39.38
Yes or no,
00:28:39.41\00:28:40.75
but we can be confident
if you choose yes, yes.
00:28:40.78\00:28:43.49
In this case being
choose Jesus, His assistance
00:28:43.52\00:28:47.46
that He, Jesus,
00:28:47.49\00:28:49.92
who has begun a good work in you
00:28:49.96\00:28:51.99
will complete it,
00:28:52.03\00:28:54.56
will complete it.
00:28:54.60\00:28:55.93
He will.
00:28:55.96\00:28:57.30
Hallelujah.
00:28:57.33\00:28:58.67
We step that, we
take that step of faith.
00:28:58.70\00:29:01.14
I just say that I'm at a corner
00:29:01.17\00:29:03.74
and I'm getting
ready to cross the street.
00:29:03.77\00:29:05.61
And the minute that I
take a step on to the street,
00:29:05.64\00:29:08.68
I feel like, you
know, my journey has begun
00:29:08.71\00:29:11.81
and hopefully the stoplight,
00:29:11.85\00:29:14.05
stoplight's up there,
the people they are obeying,
00:29:14.08\00:29:16.35
they're not going
to run the stoplight,
00:29:16.38\00:29:18.05
walk across freely.
00:29:18.09\00:29:21.52
Now in normal life,
00:29:21.56\00:29:26.46
one plus one is two,
00:29:26.49\00:29:28.96
but in here
00:29:29.00\00:29:30.67
I'm seeing it
00:29:30.70\00:29:32.03
as He's
multiplying one times Jesus,
00:29:32.07\00:29:36.04
then that assistant,
00:29:36.07\00:29:38.47
He allows us to be supercharged.
00:29:38.51\00:29:40.98
And at that particular
time, His timing takes over,
00:29:41.01\00:29:44.71
his taken time.
00:29:44.75\00:29:46.08
And so instead of
taking baby steps,
00:29:46.11\00:29:47.78
now I can take giant steps.
00:29:47.82\00:29:49.35
Amen.
00:29:49.38\00:29:50.72
The time will go by
00:29:50.75\00:29:52.09
because we're in
the center of His will.
00:29:52.12\00:29:54.49
I know in my case here at
3ABN, we've been here 16 years.
00:29:54.52\00:29:59.26
Man, I'd plucked that
test if they would say,
00:29:59.29\00:30:01.30
well, what does, how
long does it seem like it was?
00:30:01.33\00:30:04.63
Maybe a year?
00:30:04.67\00:30:06.37
Just because I
choose to believe that
00:30:06.40\00:30:08.37
I've been in the
center of God's will.
00:30:08.40\00:30:09.74
Amen.
00:30:09.77\00:30:11.11
I think each one
of us can say that.
00:30:11.14\00:30:12.47
Amen.
00:30:12.51\00:30:13.84
We probably all came here broken
00:30:13.88\00:30:15.21
in some way or the other.
00:30:15.24\00:30:16.58
And we came here
00:30:16.61\00:30:17.95
to make a difference
in other people's lives...
00:30:17.98\00:30:19.31
Amen.
00:30:19.35\00:30:20.68
But then He got a hold of us
00:30:20.72\00:30:22.85
and we were the ones
that were cleaned up.
00:30:22.88\00:30:25.32
Right. Amen.
00:30:25.35\00:30:26.69
And which allows us
00:30:26.72\00:30:28.06
to make a difference
in other people's lives.
00:30:28.09\00:30:30.13
You just touched on
00:30:30.16\00:30:31.49
what my wife
and I know, Janelle.
00:30:31.53\00:30:32.89
She is like, she was kicking
and screaming to come here.
00:30:32.93\00:30:35.03
I have to be honest, you know,
she didn't want to come here.
00:30:35.06\00:30:37.17
But then as she reflected,
00:30:37.20\00:30:38.60
she thought, man,
how God will just,
00:30:38.63\00:30:40.07
how He works so amazingly,
00:30:40.10\00:30:41.44
because He was
chiseling junk off of us.
00:30:41.47\00:30:43.71
So we came here
00:30:43.74\00:30:45.07
and just like, you look back,
00:30:45.11\00:30:46.44
you're like, wow,
what an amazing work
00:30:46.47\00:30:47.81
that God is doing.
00:30:47.84\00:30:49.18
You know, I was thinking,
00:30:49.21\00:30:50.55
as we're talking
about this idea of grace.
00:30:50.58\00:30:52.25
2 Corinthians 12:9, I
just have to share it.
00:30:52.28\00:30:54.35
And he said,
and he said unto me.
00:30:54.38\00:30:55.72
He says, Jesus, of course,
00:30:55.75\00:30:57.09
"My grace is sufficient for you,
00:30:57.12\00:30:58.92
for my strength is
made perfect in weakness.
00:30:58.95\00:31:02.06
Most gladly therefore
00:31:02.09\00:31:03.43
will I rather
glory my infirmities,"
00:31:03.46\00:31:04.86
this is Paul speaking now,
00:31:04.89\00:31:06.43
"that the power of
Christ may rest upon me."
00:31:06.46\00:31:08.10
I'm thinking about that,
00:31:08.13\00:31:09.46
you know, this
idea of perfection
00:31:09.50\00:31:11.13
and how God sees
what we will become.
00:31:11.17\00:31:13.47
I really like that He sees in us
00:31:13.50\00:31:14.84
what we will become.
00:31:14.87\00:31:16.20
And somebody said
this the other day,
00:31:16.24\00:31:17.57
if we can only see people
in their spiritual nature,
00:31:17.61\00:31:20.38
not in their fleshly nature,
00:31:20.41\00:31:22.11
that was really powerful.
00:31:22.14\00:31:23.65
If we can see them
in our spiritual nature,
00:31:23.68\00:31:25.18
not in their fleshly nature
00:31:25.21\00:31:26.55
because we look at
the outer appearance
00:31:26.58\00:31:28.18
and not what's in here.
00:31:28.22\00:31:29.55
Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely.
00:31:29.58\00:31:31.42
That's deep.
00:31:31.45\00:31:32.85
I want to open this up
for discussion as well.
00:31:32.89\00:31:36.62
What's the time where
you've stepped out on faith
00:31:36.66\00:31:40.13
and what happened?
00:31:40.16\00:31:41.50
Oh, boy.
00:31:41.53\00:31:43.47
Or share a few times
00:31:43.50\00:31:44.83
'cause I know it's
hard to limit it to one.
00:31:44.87\00:31:46.30
Yeah, yeah.
00:31:46.33\00:31:47.67
Well, we'll just the big
one we did back in 2017 was
00:31:47.70\00:31:50.64
when they had the solar eclipse.
00:31:50.67\00:31:52.47
It's going to be the
longest here in this area.
00:31:52.51\00:31:54.84
And we decided to go.
00:31:54.88\00:31:56.85
Ozzy Osbourne was coming to town
00:31:56.88\00:31:58.21
and lot of people
know Ozzy Osbourne is,
00:31:58.25\00:31:59.81
and we're like,
we need to get there.
00:31:59.85\00:32:01.65
So God opened the
door to get there,
00:32:01.68\00:32:03.52
and I'll try to
make it quick in.
00:32:03.55\00:32:05.19
Our biggest prayer was that,
00:32:05.22\00:32:06.55
Lord, we're going
to do this in faith,
00:32:06.59\00:32:07.92
but no other tents were
allowed or nobody else, none.
00:32:07.96\00:32:10.86
We didn't have to
pay a single penny.
00:32:10.89\00:32:12.73
They allowed us to
put our tents there.
00:32:12.76\00:32:14.16
And our biggest prayer was
00:32:14.20\00:32:15.90
that we could
get these materials
00:32:15.93\00:32:17.27
in people's hand, in their cars.
00:32:17.30\00:32:19.03
What kind of materials?
00:32:19.07\00:32:20.40
Talking about the Hacksaw,
00:32:20.44\00:32:22.00
Hero of Hacksaw Ridge, the book.
00:32:22.04\00:32:23.94
So we were thousands of them.
00:32:23.97\00:32:25.61
But so our prayer was that
we could get them in the cars
00:32:25.64\00:32:27.88
'cause we figured
00:32:27.91\00:32:29.24
people just throw
them all over the ground.
00:32:29.28\00:32:30.65
So my wife Janelle,
00:32:30.68\00:32:32.28
she went to the
area of parking cars
00:32:32.31\00:32:33.65
and like she said,
00:32:33.68\00:32:35.02
"Can we put a table here
in and have these books."
00:32:35.05\00:32:37.29
If you do that, you
slow down our traffic.
00:32:37.32\00:32:38.85
We're kicking out of here.
00:32:38.89\00:32:40.22
She said, "Tell you
what we're going to do.
00:32:40.26\00:32:41.59
You give our girls the books
00:32:41.62\00:32:42.96
and we'll pass
them out for them."
00:32:42.99\00:32:44.33
I going, what? That's amazing.
00:32:44.36\00:32:45.99
So we go home,
00:32:46.03\00:32:47.46
we're napping at
night and going to bed
00:32:47.50\00:32:48.90
and they're still
passing out the books.
00:32:48.93\00:32:50.27
Praise God. Yeah.
00:32:50.30\00:32:51.63
He kept giving the
books and just boom.
00:32:51.67\00:32:53.00
Yes.
00:32:53.03\00:32:54.37
I think for us,
00:32:54.40\00:32:55.74
a huge step of faith was in 1999
00:32:55.77\00:32:57.27
when I sensed God was calling me
00:32:57.31\00:33:00.51
to full-time ministry
00:33:00.54\00:33:02.61
at the end of 1999,
00:33:02.64\00:33:04.71
and JD was working out of town.
00:33:04.75\00:33:06.88
I went to see him
for New Year's Eve,
00:33:06.92\00:33:10.92
and long story short,
00:33:10.95\00:33:14.86
God had told me, it
had to be his decision.
00:33:14.89\00:33:19.66
We had just
started a new company.
00:33:19.69\00:33:21.66
We were getting ready to launch.
00:33:21.70\00:33:24.20
It was going to
be very lucrative.
00:33:24.23\00:33:26.20
I had worked for
what eight months,
00:33:26.23\00:33:28.70
putting together
all of the presentations
00:33:28.74\00:33:31.34
and we had all of the equipment.
00:33:31.37\00:33:33.31
So we're going down the road.
00:33:33.34\00:33:35.61
And JD says to me,
"Honey, what's wrong with you?"
00:33:35.64\00:33:39.21
And I said, "What do you mean?"
00:33:39.25\00:33:40.58
He said,
00:33:40.62\00:33:41.95
"You were so
excited about this business
00:33:41.98\00:33:43.72
and now you don't
seem as excited as well."
00:33:43.75\00:33:46.86
I go, yeah.
00:33:46.89\00:33:48.22
And he's so long story short.
00:33:48.26\00:33:51.39
He says, "If you could be
doing anything in the world,
00:33:51.43\00:33:53.63
what would you
want to be doing?"
00:33:53.66\00:33:55.00
And I said,
00:33:55.03\00:33:56.36
"I would want to
be teaching people
00:33:56.40\00:33:59.20
how to have a
relationship with God,
00:33:59.23\00:34:01.94
not how to teach them
00:34:01.97\00:34:03.67
how to make more
money in their business."
00:34:03.71\00:34:06.24
And then I told
him, I said this,
00:34:06.27\00:34:10.55
"God, I know God's calling
me to full-time ministry.
00:34:10.58\00:34:13.15
I don't know if it's
now or later, but..."
00:34:13.18\00:34:15.72
And he said, "You do know,"
00:34:15.75\00:34:18.15
that's what JD says.
00:34:18.19\00:34:19.75
And I said,
00:34:19.79\00:34:21.12
"Well, yeah, I feel
like He's calling me now."
00:34:21.16\00:34:24.26
Without
blinking an eye, JD said,
00:34:24.29\00:34:26.46
"Who might argue with God."
00:34:26.49\00:34:28.26
And here we invested
00:34:28.30\00:34:29.83
all of this
money in this business
00:34:29.86\00:34:31.50
that was scheduled to launch.
00:34:31.53\00:34:34.17
I mean, we had all
these dates scheduled.
00:34:34.20\00:34:37.71
We just stopped it
00:34:37.74\00:34:39.51
and went into
full-time ministry.
00:34:39.54\00:34:42.01
I did.
00:34:42.04\00:34:43.38
And it didn't pay anything.
00:34:43.41\00:34:45.01
So poor little JD ended up
00:34:45.05\00:34:46.98
with all of the weight
00:34:47.02\00:34:49.45
on his shoulders to bring forth,
00:34:49.48\00:34:51.82
you know, to meet our payments.
00:34:51.85\00:34:53.56
But we've never regretted it.
00:34:53.59\00:34:55.92
Amen. Yeah.
00:34:55.96\00:34:57.29
That's huge. That's huge.
00:34:57.33\00:34:58.93
Tell you when, whenever talking
about Jesus being in our life,
00:34:58.96\00:35:02.96
because that's
the center of this,
00:35:03.00\00:35:04.50
you know, we're
talking about perseverance.
00:35:04.53\00:35:06.20
We did persevere.
00:35:06.23\00:35:08.34
I mean, Shelley
had a better glimpse
00:35:08.37\00:35:11.11
of what we were doing than I did
00:35:11.14\00:35:13.34
because I mean, I'm now I'm...
00:35:13.38\00:35:15.64
I'm outside our comfort zone.
00:35:18.91\00:35:21.68
And then we, and I
remember talking with...
00:35:21.72\00:35:24.95
We went to a...
00:35:24.99\00:35:26.86
We went to a 3ABN
function and I met Danny Shelton
00:35:26.89\00:35:31.76
and 'cause I
carried Shelley's luggage.
00:35:31.79\00:35:33.70
That was my new job, you know?
00:35:33.73\00:35:36.03
And I was pretty
good at carrying luggage.
00:35:36.06\00:35:38.00
You know, it
didn't take a lot of sense
00:35:38.03\00:35:39.70
and I had a strong back.
00:35:39.73\00:35:42.17
And so as we're
talking with Danny,
00:35:42.20\00:35:44.31
Danny says, boy, y'all
need to come to 3ABN, JD.
00:35:44.34\00:35:46.84
And Shelley says,
00:35:46.88\00:35:48.21
well, you know,
that's JD's decision.
00:35:48.24\00:35:49.91
So Danny talks to me, he says,
"You need to come to 3ABN."
00:35:49.94\00:35:53.35
And I'm going to
get to perseverance here
00:35:53.38\00:35:55.92
a little bit.
00:35:55.95\00:35:57.29
And so, so let's pray about it.
00:35:57.32\00:35:59.92
And we did pray about
it and we prayed about it
00:35:59.95\00:36:01.99
and the time came
whenever the time was right.
00:36:02.02\00:36:04.63
So we came and then,
so Mollie Steenson called,
00:36:04.66\00:36:06.86
bless her little heart.
00:36:06.90\00:36:08.23
She says,
00:36:08.26\00:36:10.03
"JD, have you made a
decision about coming to 3ABN?"
00:36:10.07\00:36:11.67
I says, "Well, we're
still praying about it."
00:36:11.70\00:36:14.00
And said so,
00:36:14.04\00:36:17.64
"Have you
thought what you might do
00:36:17.67\00:36:19.01
when you get here?"
00:36:19.04\00:36:20.68
Well, I mean, I had
more of a business background
00:36:20.71\00:36:22.48
and so I thought,
00:36:22.51\00:36:23.85
well, I'd probably get
into marketing or something.
00:36:23.88\00:36:25.81
And she said,
00:36:25.85\00:36:27.18
"JD, I think we've got
the right place for you."
00:36:27.22\00:36:31.22
Now this is how God works.
00:36:31.25\00:36:33.19
Hold on to your seat.
00:36:33.22\00:36:34.56
She says,
00:36:34.59\00:36:35.92
"I think you'd fit
perfectly in pastoral."
00:36:35.96\00:36:38.89
Wow.
00:36:38.93\00:36:40.26
Wow is right. Yeah.
00:36:40.30\00:36:42.33
Then let's transfer,
00:36:42.36\00:36:43.70
then of course,
thank you, Jesus.
00:36:43.73\00:36:45.80
So we pack up, we moved to 3ABN,
00:36:45.83\00:36:47.97
my first day in pastoral.
00:36:48.00\00:36:50.44
And please don't
hold me up for this.
00:36:50.47\00:36:53.24
I'm sure in my heart, I
could barely spell Jesus.
00:36:53.27\00:36:57.75
And I'm in pastoral.
00:36:57.78\00:37:00.72
A very respected place.
00:37:00.75\00:37:02.78
And all I had was
one of Shelley's books,
00:37:02.82\00:37:04.79
you know, on affirmation.
00:37:04.82\00:37:06.42
So people would
call in and want to pray.
00:37:06.45\00:37:08.42
And I would pray from my heart.
00:37:08.46\00:37:10.36
I learned from my dad.
00:37:10.39\00:37:11.79
Basically, we
just had a rope prayer,
00:37:11.83\00:37:14.60
let God direct us.
00:37:14.63\00:37:16.33
And I found out that
00:37:16.36\00:37:18.37
I can't spend
the rest of my life
00:37:18.40\00:37:20.04
to saying let God direct us.
00:37:20.07\00:37:22.30
So help me, Holy Spirit.
00:37:22.34\00:37:24.17
Wow.
00:37:24.21\00:37:25.54
We... It's kind of like
the dome just opened up.
00:37:25.57\00:37:29.48
And I said a prayer that
00:37:29.51\00:37:31.38
I just knew
where that coming from.
00:37:31.41\00:37:34.05
And the Lord has
blessed tremendously.
00:37:34.08\00:37:38.02
It's where I needed
to be is where I am.
00:37:38.05\00:37:39.92
It's my home.
00:37:39.95\00:37:41.29
It's my... It's my world.
00:37:41.32\00:37:44.03
And, but it was,
00:37:44.06\00:37:46.33
and like I was
saying a while ago,
00:37:46.36\00:37:48.90
one year, it seems
like we've been here
00:37:48.93\00:37:50.80
one year when you're 16 years,
00:37:50.83\00:37:52.93
because the gift of being
00:37:52.97\00:37:54.30
where you're
supposed to be, time flies.
00:37:54.34\00:37:57.21
So, you know, you
look and you see that,
00:37:57.24\00:37:59.87
of course being
thousand years in heaven gonna.
00:37:59.91\00:38:02.68
I mean, I can see
where he's saying it
00:38:02.71\00:38:04.18
that's a day.
00:38:04.21\00:38:05.98
You know, I'm
firmly convinced this.
00:38:06.01\00:38:09.25
Mollie talked to me
00:38:09.28\00:38:10.62
and she said, I know God said,
00:38:10.65\00:38:11.99
he's supposed to be in pastoral.
00:38:12.02\00:38:14.16
JD has a master's in psychology.
00:38:14.19\00:38:17.06
And he was
working on his doctorate.
00:38:17.09\00:38:18.76
And then he, when he quit school
00:38:18.79\00:38:21.13
and the interesting thing was,
00:38:21.16\00:38:23.80
he's always had
interest in people.
00:38:23.83\00:38:28.14
He just had the
wrong information
00:38:28.17\00:38:30.27
because what he
was being trained.
00:38:30.31\00:38:32.07
We first got
married, I used to say to him.
00:38:32.11\00:38:34.61
He'd say something from his,
all of his psychology training.
00:38:34.64\00:38:38.01
I'd say that's not
what the Bible says.
00:38:38.05\00:38:40.95
He gets mad at me.
00:38:40.98\00:38:42.52
But now once he got here,
00:38:42.55\00:38:45.82
he knew he had to be
dependent upon the Holy Spirit.
00:38:45.85\00:38:48.99
He became
dependent upon the Word.
00:38:49.02\00:38:50.56
Right.
00:38:50.59\00:38:51.93
And I just
watched him, God took him.
00:38:51.96\00:38:54.63
And he was like
this in his walk,
00:38:54.66\00:38:56.70
he prayed every day,
he did the right things,
00:38:56.73\00:38:59.33
but he took him from his walk
00:38:59.37\00:39:00.94
and the trajectory
just went in six months.
00:39:00.97\00:39:03.81
Yes.
00:39:03.84\00:39:05.17
Because you know,
00:39:05.21\00:39:06.54
now we see you in that position
00:39:06.57\00:39:08.81
and you're an excellent fit,
00:39:08.84\00:39:10.18
like people will
just want to tell you
00:39:10.21\00:39:11.81
their whole life story,
00:39:11.85\00:39:13.18
because you're so
easy to speak with
00:39:13.21\00:39:15.15
and everything like that.
00:39:15.18\00:39:16.52
And you, you know,
God has blessed you
00:39:16.55\00:39:18.15
to be able to share
00:39:18.19\00:39:19.52
some tremendous wisdom as well.
00:39:19.55\00:39:21.66
The bottom line is perseverance.
00:39:21.69\00:39:23.96
If you just step out in
faith, Lord, I know nothing.
00:39:23.99\00:39:27.50
And let Him take over,
00:39:27.53\00:39:29.66
then supernaturally
this is who He is.
00:39:29.70\00:39:33.57
And he, I'd like to
think we got some of His genes.
00:39:33.60\00:39:37.01
I don't know how that all works.
00:39:37.04\00:39:39.14
You that's way above,
they say above your pay scale,
00:39:39.17\00:39:41.41
I don't know.
00:39:41.44\00:39:42.78
Oh, I think 2
Peter 1:3-4, says that
00:39:42.81\00:39:45.01
it's the divine nature
00:39:45.05\00:39:47.08
that we partake
of his divine nature.
00:39:47.12\00:39:49.45
So that's our new DNA.
00:39:49.48\00:39:50.95
I was thinking
about what you're saying.
00:39:50.99\00:39:52.59
It's interesting how
you said he had psychology.
00:39:52.62\00:39:55.89
God turned that gift
00:39:55.92\00:39:57.26
and that talent that he learned
00:39:57.29\00:39:58.63
from a secular field.
00:39:58.66\00:40:00.00
He turned it around to be
able to be used for His kingdom.
00:40:00.03\00:40:02.83
Can I... I'm going to
correct you on something.
00:40:02.86\00:40:04.53
Okay, what's that?
00:40:04.57\00:40:05.90
I think God gave him the gift.
00:40:05.93\00:40:07.54
He didn't learn
it in psychology.
00:40:07.57\00:40:09.70
I think God gave him this gift
00:40:09.74\00:40:13.04
and that he misdirected it
in his study of psychology.
00:40:13.07\00:40:17.38
And then God took
it and redirected it
00:40:17.41\00:40:20.75
and made him who he is today.
00:40:20.78\00:40:22.45
Isn't that amazing? Yeah, it is.
00:40:22.48\00:40:23.95
That's an excellent point.
00:40:23.99\00:40:25.32
You know, when I
stepped out on faith,
00:40:25.35\00:40:26.69
I remember getting
a call from my mother.
00:40:26.72\00:40:28.42
She was telling me, said,
00:40:28.46\00:40:29.79
"Hey, Jay, you know,
00:40:29.82\00:40:31.16
I wish you would
just come out here
00:40:31.19\00:40:32.53
and visit and just
take a look around.
00:40:32.56\00:40:34.53
I needed an
assistant in all of this."
00:40:34.56\00:40:37.57
And so I was
living in Atlanta, Georgia
00:40:37.60\00:40:40.50
at the time I was
managing a sports bar
00:40:40.54\00:40:42.84
and I was working
about 70 hours a week.
00:40:42.87\00:40:45.17
So I said, okay,
mom, I'll come out there.
00:40:45.21\00:40:47.01
I wasn't, you know, I'll take
a look around and everything.
00:40:47.04\00:40:48.91
And I clearly wasn't
walking with the Lord
00:40:48.94\00:40:51.38
or anything like that.
00:40:51.41\00:40:52.91
And, but she had
been praying for me
00:40:52.95\00:40:55.25
and it was the day of prayer.
00:40:55.28\00:40:57.39
And I remember
Mr. Danny Shelton,
00:40:57.42\00:41:00.02
I call him pop
00:41:00.06\00:41:01.39
and pop was up there.
00:41:01.42\00:41:02.92
He was speaking and he
was just talking to everyone.
00:41:02.96\00:41:05.89
And he was
telling a story I believe.
00:41:05.93\00:41:07.93
And he said, if
you leave this place
00:41:07.96\00:41:09.76
and you can't get
it out of your mind,
00:41:09.80\00:41:12.13
then perhaps this is
where God would have you to be.
00:41:12.17\00:41:15.07
And I was sitting there like,
you know, I live in Atlanta
00:41:15.10\00:41:18.04
and there's
plenty of restaurants.
00:41:18.07\00:41:19.71
I love to eat
00:41:19.74\00:41:21.18
and there's
plenty of places to eat,
00:41:21.21\00:41:24.18
things to do all of that stuff.
00:41:24.21\00:41:25.81
And where we're
located is a little rural.
00:41:25.85\00:41:28.48
Okay.
00:41:28.52\00:41:29.85
And I didn't see
that many restaurants
00:41:29.88\00:41:33.12
in the vicinity,
00:41:33.15\00:41:34.49
it's grown a little bit.
00:41:34.52\00:41:35.86
Yeah.
00:41:35.89\00:41:37.23
But I went back to
Atlanta to my 70 hour week job
00:41:37.26\00:41:40.83
and just, I just kept
thinking 3ABN, 3ABN, 3ABN.
00:41:40.86\00:41:45.73
I didn't think that I
would be back in church,
00:41:45.77\00:41:49.44
let alone full time ministry,
but God had other plans.
00:41:49.47\00:41:53.51
So I stepped out on faith.
00:41:53.54\00:41:55.04
I resigned from my
sports bar job and...
00:41:55.08\00:41:58.95
Making a lot more money.
00:41:58.98\00:42:00.32
Yes. Yeah.
00:42:00.35\00:42:01.68
I was making a lot
more money out there.
00:42:01.72\00:42:03.05
And I left that
and I came out here
00:42:03.08\00:42:06.55
and it was the best
decision I've ever made.
00:42:06.59\00:42:09.39
Since being here,
00:42:09.42\00:42:10.76
there was a time where I
almost moved to California
00:42:10.79\00:42:14.56
and you know, I
was impressed that
00:42:14.60\00:42:17.20
that was going to
be the wrong decision.
00:42:17.23\00:42:19.60
And I had moved back home.
00:42:19.63\00:42:21.74
I moved back to
my mom's place then,
00:42:21.77\00:42:24.31
'cause I was
trying to save money
00:42:24.34\00:42:25.67
because basically wherever
you move to California from,
00:42:25.71\00:42:29.58
you might be
homeless in the beginning
00:42:29.61\00:42:31.01
'cause it's so
expensive to live out here.
00:42:31.05\00:42:33.82
So I want to save some money.
00:42:33.85\00:42:35.98
And when I made
the decision to stay,
00:42:36.02\00:42:39.55
I called my old landlord.
00:42:39.59\00:42:42.26
And she said that
00:42:42.29\00:42:44.49
it's interesting that
00:42:44.53\00:42:45.86
you should call
at this very moment.
00:42:45.89\00:42:47.33
Your old
apartment just opened up.
00:42:47.36\00:42:50.23
We're not going to
charge you a security deposit.
00:42:50.27\00:42:52.97
And we'll also charge
you the same amount of rent
00:42:53.00\00:42:55.94
that you were paying before.
00:42:55.97\00:42:57.64
So it was just God confirming
that step in faith and saying,
00:42:57.67\00:43:01.91
son, if you walk
with Me, I've got you.
00:43:01.94\00:43:07.55
And that was powerful.
00:43:07.58\00:43:09.45
And you know, I think
about Philippians 4:13, it says,
00:43:09.48\00:43:13.12
"I can do all
things through Christ
00:43:13.15\00:43:15.79
who strengthens me."
00:43:15.82\00:43:17.63
So for those
difficult situations
00:43:17.66\00:43:19.56
or, you know, when
we encounter things
00:43:19.59\00:43:21.76
that we're like, how
are we going to do this?
00:43:21.80\00:43:23.93
What is this going to look like?
00:43:23.97\00:43:25.77
We just need to
claim Philippians 4:13
00:43:25.80\00:43:29.30
and say, you know,
00:43:29.34\00:43:30.67
I can do all
things through Christ
00:43:30.71\00:43:32.04
who strengthens me.
00:43:32.07\00:43:33.41
Amen. It's amazing.
00:43:33.44\00:43:34.78
You know, I was
just talking about
00:43:34.81\00:43:36.14
when we did that
solar eclipse thing in.
00:43:36.18\00:43:37.51
Yeah, it was just amazing
00:43:37.55\00:43:38.88
to see the number
of people in there.
00:43:38.91\00:43:40.25
And these are people you
would not think they got,
00:43:40.28\00:43:41.62
I'm not trying to be
rude, but tattoos, no shirt,
00:43:41.65\00:43:44.19
you know, pierced ears
00:43:44.22\00:43:45.55
and funky hair
color and everything.
00:43:45.59\00:43:47.36
Some would come
up and they're like,
00:43:47.39\00:43:48.72
you know, we are so
blessed that you're here.
00:43:48.76\00:43:50.23
We're so
thankful that you're here.
00:43:50.26\00:43:51.69
This is so encouraging.
00:43:51.73\00:43:53.06
You know, I had one
guy calling me, said,
00:43:53.09\00:43:54.43
"I send my kids
to VBS every summer."
00:43:54.46\00:43:56.06
I said, "Really?"
00:43:56.10\00:43:57.43
You would not,
you wouldn't see him
00:43:57.47\00:43:59.27
that this person
sends his kids to VBS,
00:43:59.30\00:44:01.00
but you just don't know
where God's going to place you
00:44:01.04\00:44:03.30
where you can be a blessing.
00:44:03.34\00:44:04.67
And if you just follow
what He's asking you to do,
00:44:04.71\00:44:07.01
He's going to
show, like you said,
00:44:07.04\00:44:08.38
He's going to bless
you and He's going to do,
00:44:08.41\00:44:09.74
then you bless others.
00:44:09.78\00:44:11.11
It's just incredible.
00:44:11.15\00:44:12.48
So... And that's...
00:44:12.51\00:44:13.85
And I'm glad you said that
00:44:13.88\00:44:15.22
because you don't
know where they've been,
00:44:15.25\00:44:16.58
perhaps that was their past,
00:44:16.62\00:44:17.95
you know, tattoos
and stuff like that.
00:44:17.99\00:44:19.42
That's a permanent thing. Right.
00:44:19.45\00:44:21.39
Unless you get it laser removed.
00:44:21.42\00:44:23.39
So they could be the
greatest Christian on earth.
00:44:23.43\00:44:25.49
And you have no idea.
00:44:25.53\00:44:26.86
That's why we can't judge
by the outward appearance,
00:44:26.90\00:44:28.80
I love that.
00:44:28.83\00:44:30.17
God pledges by the heart.
00:44:30.20\00:44:31.83
Yeah. Okay.
00:44:31.87\00:44:33.77
Well, I get to do Colossians.
00:44:33.80\00:44:36.60
And I'm going to begin.
This is Colossians Chapter 1.
00:44:36.64\00:44:41.21
I'm going to
begin with verse 10,
00:44:41.24\00:44:42.74
if you don't mind,
instead of verse 11,
00:44:42.78\00:44:45.38
because I think it
brings this all together.
00:44:45.41\00:44:48.48
Colossians 1, we'll
look at verses 10 through 12.
00:44:48.52\00:44:54.16
Paul's praying
for the Colossians.
00:44:54.19\00:44:56.86
And he says, I'm praying that
00:44:56.89\00:44:58.63
you may walk worthy of the Lord,
00:44:58.66\00:45:02.36
fully pleasing Him,
00:45:02.40\00:45:04.27
being fruitful
in every good work
00:45:04.30\00:45:06.67
and increasing in
the knowledge of God."
00:45:06.70\00:45:10.07
To walk worthy of
the Lord, He's saying,
00:45:10.11\00:45:14.31
let our life,
00:45:14.34\00:45:18.25
let the way we live
00:45:18.28\00:45:20.55
our conduct be pleasing to God.
00:45:20.58\00:45:24.05
We're supposed to follow
in His, Christ's footsteps.
00:45:24.09\00:45:28.66
And he says increasing in
the knowledge of the Lord.
00:45:28.69\00:45:31.86
Let me tell you something.
00:45:31.89\00:45:33.46
If all, if you have children,
00:45:33.50\00:45:36.03
if all you tell
them about are the rules,
00:45:36.06\00:45:39.93
you can't do
this, you can't do that.
00:45:39.97\00:45:42.30
You gotta do
this, you gotta do that.
00:45:42.34\00:45:44.97
Rules without relationship
result in rebellion.
00:45:45.01\00:45:48.94
What you want to
teach your children,
00:45:48.98\00:45:51.18
your grandchildren,
00:45:51.21\00:45:52.55
and maybe you've never
gone through this yourself.
00:45:52.58\00:45:56.79
What you want
00:45:56.82\00:45:58.35
is to have an increasing
00:45:58.39\00:46:01.29
intimate knowledge of the Lord
00:46:01.32\00:46:04.26
to understand how
much He loves you.
00:46:04.29\00:46:06.76
And to when you
understand how He loves you.
00:46:06.80\00:46:11.13
You know, the
Bible says, 1 John says,
00:46:11.17\00:46:13.70
"We love Him
because He first loved us."
00:46:13.74\00:46:16.50
Then we will walk
out of love for God,
00:46:16.54\00:46:20.28
you know, in an
obedience of His commandments.
00:46:20.31\00:46:23.98
But he says, increase,
00:46:24.01\00:46:25.91
he says, being
fruitful in every good work.
00:46:25.95\00:46:28.98
Our faith should
be ever expanding
00:46:29.02\00:46:32.25
and it should
include good deeds.
00:46:32.29\00:46:36.12
But now look at verse 11,
00:46:36.16\00:46:38.99
because if you want the
power to persevere here it is.
00:46:39.03\00:46:43.40
He says,
"Strengthened with all might,"
00:46:43.43\00:46:46.53
that's dunamis.
00:46:46.57\00:46:48.30
That's the dynamite
power of the Holy Spirit.
00:46:48.34\00:46:54.11
'Strengthened with all might
00:46:54.14\00:46:55.71
according to
His glorious power."
00:46:55.74\00:46:59.95
And you know, this
reminds me of Ephesians 3:16
00:46:59.98\00:47:02.75
when Paul says,
00:47:02.78\00:47:04.12
"Oh, I would pray
00:47:04.15\00:47:05.55
that the Holy
Spirit would be in you,
00:47:05.59\00:47:08.49
that you would be,
00:47:08.52\00:47:11.03
"strengthened with might
00:47:11.06\00:47:13.83
through His Spirit
in your inner being.'
00:47:13.86\00:47:17.83
So the way to
persevere is to yield
00:47:17.87\00:47:22.34
to say, I can't do it.
00:47:22.37\00:47:24.21
Oh Lord, I can't do it.
00:47:24.24\00:47:25.57
Amen. That's powerful.
00:47:25.61\00:47:26.94
Oh, Lord, help me,
00:47:26.98\00:47:29.98
fill me with Your Holy Spirit.
00:47:30.01\00:47:32.71
Because when I'm
strengthened with all might,
00:47:32.75\00:47:35.78
I can walk worthy of You.
00:47:35.82\00:47:37.89
And then he says,
00:47:37.92\00:47:39.25
"Strengthened with all might
00:47:39.29\00:47:41.16
for all patience
and long-suffering,
00:47:41.19\00:47:47.20
giving thanks to the Father
00:47:47.23\00:47:48.60
who has qualified
us to be partakers
00:47:48.63\00:47:50.83
of the inheritance
of the saints of light."
00:47:50.87\00:47:53.57
I just want to say something,
00:47:53.60\00:47:55.64
patience is enduring
difficult circumstances.
00:47:55.67\00:48:00.98
I've had some
difficult circumstances
00:48:01.01\00:48:03.24
this last 16 months.
00:48:03.28\00:48:05.65
Long-suffering
00:48:05.68\00:48:07.55
is dealing with
difficult people.
00:48:07.58\00:48:11.12
And you know, God
calls us to persevere in both
00:48:11.15\00:48:16.39
to have that's one of the...
00:48:16.42\00:48:19.53
The fruit of the spirit.
00:48:19.56\00:48:20.90
That's one of the sides
of the fruit of the spirit.
00:48:20.93\00:48:23.57
Amen.
00:48:23.60\00:48:25.00
So you're touching on,
Shelley, I was just reading on,
00:48:25.03\00:48:27.54
this is in Ministry of Healing.
00:48:27.57\00:48:29.80
It's a really powerful quote.
00:48:29.84\00:48:31.17
We're talking about this
idea of persevering continuous.
00:48:31.21\00:48:33.71
"The Christian life
is a battle and a march.
00:48:33.74\00:48:36.71
In this warfare
there is no release,
00:48:36.75\00:48:39.68
the effort must be
continuous and persevering.
00:48:39.71\00:48:41.98
It is by unceasing
endeavor that we maintain
00:48:42.02\00:48:45.12
the victory over the
temptations of Satan.
00:48:45.15\00:48:47.79
Christian integrity
00:48:47.82\00:48:49.16
must be sought
with resistless energy
00:48:49.19\00:48:51.03
and maintained with a
resolute fixedness of purpose."
00:48:51.06\00:48:53.76
Amen.
00:48:53.80\00:48:55.13
That's in Ministry
of Healing, page 453.
00:48:55.16\00:48:58.17
Yeah. It's powerful.
00:48:58.20\00:48:59.67
You know, that
unceasing endeavor.
00:48:59.70\00:49:01.17
Christian integrity must be
sought with resistless energy
00:49:01.20\00:49:04.07
and maintained with a
resolute fixedness of purpose."
00:49:04.11\00:49:06.47
So the purpose,
00:49:06.51\00:49:07.94
and you're saying
JD about that goal,
00:49:07.98\00:49:09.74
the end goal, eternal life.
00:49:09.78\00:49:12.31
Amen. That's right.
00:49:12.35\00:49:13.68
Amen. That's right.
00:49:13.72\00:49:15.12
Okay.
00:49:15.15\00:49:16.48
You've given me
this one here, Jason,
00:49:16.52\00:49:18.49
and I'll cheat
a little bit here,
00:49:18.52\00:49:21.72
but don't hold that against me.
00:49:21.76\00:49:24.46
You know, it's in a good way.
00:49:24.49\00:49:28.16
The scripture that you
give me is 2 Thessalonians 3:5,
00:49:28.20\00:49:32.00
I'm going to
quickly take you to 3:1,
00:49:32.03\00:49:33.77
because I think that
00:49:33.80\00:49:35.14
we're beginning to
get the picture here
00:49:35.17\00:49:36.50
because of the way that Paul,
00:49:36.54\00:49:38.21
the way that he teaches
00:49:38.24\00:49:39.57
because of the sportsmanship
00:49:39.61\00:49:42.14
and because of the
games and everything
00:49:42.18\00:49:44.11
during that particular time.
00:49:44.15\00:49:45.85
And so he's basically saying,
00:49:45.88\00:49:47.65
hey, through life,
00:49:47.68\00:49:49.58
in your
relationship with the Lord,
00:49:49.62\00:49:51.19
you will run swiftly,
00:49:51.22\00:49:53.12
but don't forget that I,
Jesus is going to be there
00:49:53.15\00:49:56.62
to deliver you from those
unreasonable and wicked man
00:49:56.66\00:50:00.60
that don't have the
same faith as you do.
00:50:00.63\00:50:03.23
But remember that
the Lord is faithful,
00:50:03.26\00:50:05.20
that He will guard
you from the evil one.
00:50:05.23\00:50:08.04
And that you have the confidence
00:50:08.07\00:50:09.60
that we were
talking about earlier,
00:50:09.64\00:50:11.67
to confidence in me,
00:50:11.71\00:50:13.04
that I will be
there to assist you
00:50:13.07\00:50:14.41
in your time of need.
00:50:14.44\00:50:15.84
And then the
verse that I've got,
00:50:15.88\00:50:17.88
and now may the
Lord direct your hearts
00:50:17.91\00:50:19.91
into the love of God and
to the patience of Christ.
00:50:19.95\00:50:23.28
So this is so Paul like
00:50:23.32\00:50:25.45
in saying, hey,
here's your battles,
00:50:25.49\00:50:28.22
but now let's
stand by the promise
00:50:28.26\00:50:30.73
that he has
given each one of us,
00:50:30.76\00:50:32.86
that the Lord
will direct your heart,
00:50:32.89\00:50:35.36
that He will fill
your heart with love
00:50:35.40\00:50:38.13
and that with your patience,
00:50:38.17\00:50:40.97
the road's going
to be a lot smoother.
00:50:41.00\00:50:43.30
And then he ends up
00:50:43.34\00:50:44.67
by stating in the last in three,
00:50:44.71\00:50:46.54
in 2 Thessalonians 3:13.
00:50:46.57\00:50:49.81
"But as for
you, my dear brothers
00:50:49.84\00:50:52.41
do not grow
weary in doing good."
00:50:52.45\00:50:56.85
Amen. Amen.
00:50:56.89\00:50:59.15
Could I add something
00:50:59.19\00:51:00.52
because it comes
from his first letter
00:51:00.56\00:51:02.59
to the Thessalonians.
00:51:02.62\00:51:04.19
Absolutely. I love this.
00:51:04.23\00:51:06.06
When he said in 2 Thessalonians,
00:51:06.09\00:51:08.36
where were you, honey?
00:51:08.40\00:51:09.73
2 Thessalonians 3:5,
00:51:09.76\00:51:11.83
"May the Lord direct your hearts
00:51:11.87\00:51:15.60
into the love of God
and the patience of Christ."
00:51:15.64\00:51:18.71
Let me read what he said
00:51:18.74\00:51:20.08
in his first letter
to the Thessalonians.
00:51:20.11\00:51:22.71
This, one of my
favorite scriptures.
00:51:22.74\00:51:25.41
1 Thessalonians 3:12, he says,
00:51:25.45\00:51:31.55
"May the Lord make you increase
00:51:31.59\00:51:35.19
and abound in love."
00:51:35.22\00:51:37.59
Who's doing the work here?
00:51:37.63\00:51:39.96
God is doing the work.
00:51:40.00\00:51:42.80
Abound in love to
one another to all
00:51:42.83\00:51:45.80
just as we do to you
00:51:45.83\00:51:47.50
so that, anytime you
see that or so that, or so,
00:51:47.54\00:51:52.51
it's a purpose statement.
00:51:52.54\00:51:54.18
So Paul is saying,
00:51:54.21\00:51:55.74
"Oh, my God cause you
00:51:55.78\00:51:57.71
to increase and abound
in love for this purpose
00:51:57.75\00:52:02.15
that he may
establish your hearts
00:52:02.18\00:52:04.85
blameless in holiness
00:52:04.89\00:52:07.06
before our God and Father
00:52:07.09\00:52:09.22
at the coming of our Lord
00:52:09.26\00:52:10.59
and Savior Jesus Christ."
00:52:10.63\00:52:13.63
Wow! Do you
realize what that says?
00:52:13.66\00:52:17.37
Romans 5:5, says,
00:52:17.40\00:52:18.73
"God pours His
love into our hearts
00:52:18.77\00:52:21.20
by the power of
the Holy Spirit,"
00:52:21.24\00:52:23.67
just like the priest
poured the oil into the candle,
00:52:23.71\00:52:28.81
the last seven candlestick
lampstand in every day.
00:52:28.84\00:52:34.02
God pours His
love into our hearts.
00:52:34.05\00:52:37.09
But what he's saying here
00:52:37.12\00:52:39.25
is that he may
establish our holiness,
00:52:39.29\00:52:44.53
that he says that
00:52:44.56\00:52:45.89
your hearts may be
blameless in holiness.
00:52:45.93\00:52:49.80
So what it's
saying is the more we love
00:52:49.83\00:52:55.37
as we grow in love,
00:52:55.40\00:52:57.34
we grow in holiness.
00:52:57.37\00:52:59.31
You know, holiness just
means to be separated from sin.
00:52:59.34\00:53:05.65
When it says, be
holy as God is holy.
00:53:05.68\00:53:08.48
It's being separated from sin
as God is separated from sin.
00:53:08.52\00:53:12.85
And I just say it this
way, love consumes sin.
00:53:12.89\00:53:18.59
When it says that
our God is a God of...
00:53:18.63\00:53:24.57
How does it say it?
00:53:24.60\00:53:25.93
Our God is a
fire... Consuming fire.
00:53:25.97\00:53:28.54
Thank you for that.
00:53:28.57\00:53:30.14
He's a consuming fire.
00:53:30.17\00:53:32.77
Love consumes sin.
00:53:32.81\00:53:34.74
If we were to go before
God in our sinful condition,
00:53:34.78\00:53:38.28
He... Yeah, consume us.
00:53:38.31\00:53:40.02
But when He
pours His love into us,
00:53:40.05\00:53:43.79
this is what the
commandments were all about.
00:53:43.82\00:53:46.25
The first table of commandments
00:53:46.29\00:53:47.92
was about loving
the Lord, your God
00:53:47.96\00:53:49.62
with all of your
heart, soul and strength.
00:53:49.66\00:53:51.79
The second was the
last six commandments
00:53:51.83\00:53:55.26
were how to love your neighbor,
00:53:55.30\00:53:58.03
and love consume sin.
00:53:58.07\00:54:01.74
If you love somebody
00:54:01.77\00:54:03.51
you're not going
to sin against them.
00:54:03.54\00:54:05.47
So that's what I love
how Paul's always saying,
00:54:05.51\00:54:09.08
it's God who
directs you into this love.
00:54:09.11\00:54:12.91
Hallelujah.
00:54:12.95\00:54:14.28
It's interesting how
there's that contrast,
00:54:14.32\00:54:15.88
because there's also that
verse and I forgot where it is.
00:54:15.92\00:54:18.22
I think it's in Proverbs,
00:54:18.25\00:54:19.59
but it talks about
00:54:19.62\00:54:20.99
how soft answer
turns away wrath.
00:54:21.02\00:54:23.76
And so like, it's,
it's just incredible
00:54:23.79\00:54:25.69
to see those
different, the contrast there,
00:54:25.73\00:54:29.06
you know, you don't
meet wrath with wrath.
00:54:29.10\00:54:32.13
Unless you want
to escalate things.
00:54:32.17\00:54:33.54
Exactly.
00:54:33.57\00:54:34.90
That's not going to
deescalate the situation.
00:54:34.94\00:54:36.30
Right. So, yeah.
00:54:36.34\00:54:38.01
I love that. I love that.
00:54:38.04\00:54:39.51
Excellent point,
Shelley. Peacemakers.
00:54:39.54\00:54:40.88
We should be peacemakers, right?
00:54:40.91\00:54:42.44
That's right.
What it tells us to do.
00:54:42.48\00:54:44.61
Pursuing peace with all people
00:54:44.65\00:54:46.45
as far as it is
from possible with you.
00:54:46.48\00:54:48.68
Yeah, Hebrews. Definitely.
00:54:48.72\00:54:50.45
It looks like I
got Hebrews 10:23,
00:54:50.49\00:54:52.45
but before I share that
00:54:52.49\00:54:54.09
something that you
touched on, Shelley,
00:54:54.12\00:54:55.46
I just read this morning.
00:54:55.49\00:54:56.83
I've been reading
through the Old Testament.
00:54:56.86\00:54:58.36
Here I was in Zachariah 4.
00:54:58.39\00:54:59.73
And he's talking
about what the vision
00:54:59.76\00:55:01.10
that Zachariah saw on verse 2,
00:55:01.13\00:55:02.96
he saw the candlestick.
00:55:03.00\00:55:05.53
But this is what's
saying, Christ Object Lessons.
00:55:05.57\00:55:07.44
You just touched on it.
00:55:07.47\00:55:08.80
It is the love of God
continually transferred,
00:55:08.84\00:55:11.44
transferred to man
00:55:11.47\00:55:13.14
that enables him to impart light
00:55:13.17\00:55:15.44
into the hearts of all
00:55:15.48\00:55:16.81
who are united to
God by faith and golden,
00:55:16.85\00:55:19.85
yeah, by faith golden
oil of love flows freely
00:55:19.88\00:55:23.52
to shine out again in good works
00:55:23.55\00:55:25.25
in real
heartfelt service for God."
00:55:25.29\00:55:27.62
So...
00:55:27.66\00:55:28.99
And oil is a
symbol of the Holy Spirit.
00:55:29.02\00:55:30.56
So, yeah, hallelujah.
00:55:30.59\00:55:32.43
See how that works.
00:55:32.46\00:55:33.96
But Hebrews 10:23 says this,
00:55:34.00\00:55:36.77
"Let us hold fast the
confession of our hope,"
00:55:36.80\00:55:40.64
I like this,
00:55:40.67\00:55:42.00
"without wavering,
00:55:42.04\00:55:43.37
for he who
promised is faithful."
00:55:43.41\00:55:45.97
Boy, that's, that's
powerful right there, hold fast.
00:55:46.01\00:55:48.51
You know, I
think about that woman
00:55:48.54\00:55:49.88
who've been
bleeding for 12 years.
00:55:49.91\00:55:52.41
You know, she was
looking for some type of remedy.
00:55:52.45\00:55:54.42
Nobody could help her.
00:55:54.45\00:55:55.78
I mean, think about
the money she poured out
00:55:55.82\00:55:57.15
and all the
promises she were given
00:55:57.19\00:55:58.62
and people aren't probably like,
00:55:58.65\00:56:00.26
yeah, we're going to
give this remedy to you.
00:56:00.29\00:56:01.62
This is going to heal
you and nothing for 12 years.
00:56:01.66\00:56:04.49
I'm sure the doctor's like,
00:56:04.53\00:56:05.86
yeah, we got
itching kind of thing.
00:56:05.89\00:56:08.00
But for her no relief
00:56:08.03\00:56:09.90
until she heard
of Jesus, of course.
00:56:09.93\00:56:11.47
And she held fast to
the hem of His garment.
00:56:11.50\00:56:14.77
Yes.
00:56:14.80\00:56:16.14
That faithful hold healed her.
00:56:16.17\00:56:18.07
So I think that
00:56:18.11\00:56:19.44
he has promised, He is
faithful, He'll heal us.
00:56:19.47\00:56:21.74
Absolutely. So we
need to have faith.
00:56:21.78\00:56:23.75
Psalms 27:14 says,
00:56:23.78\00:56:26.28
"Wait on the Lord,
be of good courage,
00:56:26.31\00:56:29.52
and He shall
strengthen your heart.
00:56:29.55\00:56:31.72
Wait I say on the Lord."
00:56:31.75\00:56:33.72
So often we want to take things
00:56:33.76\00:56:35.09
into our own hands,
00:56:35.12\00:56:36.46
but we need to wait on the Lord
00:56:36.49\00:56:37.89
and it's Him,
that He strengthens us.
00:56:37.93\00:56:40.33
Amen.
00:56:40.36\00:56:41.70
So we see clearly perseverance,
00:56:41.73\00:56:47.20
you know, the Christian race
00:56:47.24\00:56:48.87
when Paul said run the race,
00:56:48.90\00:56:51.07
the Christian
race is not a sprint.
00:56:51.11\00:56:54.01
It's a marathon.
00:56:54.04\00:56:55.71
You cannot persevere
without the Holy Spirit,
00:56:55.74\00:56:59.61
without the Lord
directing your heart
00:56:59.65\00:57:01.52
into His love
00:57:01.55\00:57:02.88
without holding fast to His Word
00:57:02.92\00:57:05.22
and just don't give up.
00:57:05.25\00:57:06.59
Prayer.
00:57:06.62\00:57:07.96
That's crucial. Say that again.
00:57:07.99\00:57:09.32
It's not a sprint...
00:57:09.36\00:57:10.69
Yeah, it's a
marathon. It's a marathon. Yes.
00:57:10.73\00:57:13.53
And thank God that
we are running the race.
00:57:13.56\00:57:16.83
Thank God that He
is carrying us along.
00:57:16.87\00:57:19.63
I want to thank you
for your contributions
00:57:19.67\00:57:21.94
that you've made this evening.
00:57:21.97\00:57:23.57
And we want to
thank you for joining us
00:57:23.61\00:57:27.08
and wish you a happy Sabbath...
00:57:27.11\00:57:28.84
Amen.
00:57:28.88\00:57:30.21
Until we see you next time,
00:57:30.25\00:57:31.58
may God continue to
bless you and persevere.
00:57:31.61\00:57:34.98
Yes. Amen.
00:57:35.02\00:57:36.55