Hello, friends,
welcome to 3ABN Worship Hour.
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I'm Pastor John Lomacang,
I want to just say to you,
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welcome to 2022.
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The Lord has put on my
heart a message I believe that
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will encourage you as
we step into the unknown.
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But before we
dive into the message,
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allow me to invite the
Lord's presence to be with us
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so we can hear what the Spirit
says to your heart and to mine.
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Father in heaven, we thank You,
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You have delivered
us safely from 2021
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and now that we step into 2022,
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we pray that our hearts
and minds can be recommitted
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to You that You can
calibrate our thoughts,
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our intentions that our desires
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and Your
desires would be merged.
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Lord, consume anything
that is not a part of Your plan
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and give us the courage
to face what tomorrow brings
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whether we are
aware of it or not.
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Help us to place
complete trust in You
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as You guide us
through this unknown year,
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we ask in Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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Once again, welcome to
2022, the year of the unknown,
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the year of the
unknown and the possibilities,
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the year of
challenges and blessings.
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And I begin by saying
this year is unlike any other
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because you've
never lived it before.
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Its pages are clear.
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There's nothing written
about your thoughts, actions,
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deeds, or words,
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and God has
given you a clean slate
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to begin a new walk with
Him a journey into the unknown.
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What has 2021 taught us?
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2021 gave us 365
days to live our lives,
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365 days to plan for our future.
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2021 allowed us to
inventory where we have been,
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what we have done,
how we have failed,
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and how we have succeeded.
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Now that we step into
this brand new unsalted year,
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God is saying to us,
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give me complete control
because eye have not seen,
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ear has not heard,
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neither has it entered
into the hearts of men,
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the things that God
has prepared for those
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that love Him.
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Friends, let me encourage you,
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2021 brought us with
a lot of disappointments
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and a lot of plans that we
wish never came to fruition,
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but this year
doesn't have to be the same.
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This year will present to
us unlimited opportunities.
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And let me also say
all of those opportunities
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presented by God will
come to fruition by God's plan.
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So as we look back on
the failures and success,
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remember that 2022 now gives us
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the privilege to
get rid of the old
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and begin to
make room for the new.
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A number of years
ago I read a story about
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how the New Year was celebrated
in the older times of Italy.
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I don't know if it's
done still to this day
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but I was
impressed by the story.
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Let me share that with you.
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Come with me to New
Year's Eve in Italy.
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As midnight on New
Year's Eve approached,
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the streets are cleared.
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Picture this with
me. There is no traffic.
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There are no pedestrians,
even the police take cover.
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Suddenly, at the
stroke of midnight,
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the windows of the
houses are swung wide open
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and to the sound of laughter,
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music, and fireworks,
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each member of the family begins
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to throw
something out of the window.
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Now you see why
everyone including
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the police took cover.
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Some throw out old garments,
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some throw out hated
furniture that plaid couch
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that you just
couldn't get rid of.
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Others throw out personal
possessions that remind them
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of something they want
to forget about their past
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that they were determined
to remove from their lives.
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So the question is,
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if that custom was
celebrated in your family,
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here's the question,
what would you throw out?
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What would you get rid
of as you step into 2022?
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What in your life have
you been yearning to get rid
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of that you've been
praying for God to remove
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that you are saying,
Lord, don't allow me to take
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that into a brand new year,
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I want to get rid of the
old and begin to make room
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for the new.
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So 2022 is giving
you the opportunity
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to get rid of the old
and make room for the new.
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A number of times
I meet young people
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and I put out this
paradoxical question
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that I posed to you today?
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How do we get to
where we're going,
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when we don't
know where we're going?
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And I love to stand
back and watch the young folk
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just try to
figure the answer out,
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how do we get to
where we're going,
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when we really don't
know where we're going?
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And I respond after I
see them in a quandary
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after their thoughts hit a wall.
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I say, commit the
unknown future to the known God.
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Why?
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Because God says to us,
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I know the plans I
have for you says the Lord,
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plans to prosper you
and plans not to harm you
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to give you a future and a hope.
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And 2022 may just be the year
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when the plans that God has
for your life come to fruition,
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maybe it's
advancing your education,
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maybe it's getting
married for those of you
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who are single,
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maybe it's moving
from where you are,
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to where you know God
has been saying to you,
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that's what I desire for you.
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Whatever the year may be,
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this is the year to
commit the unknown future
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to the known God.
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When we look back at
the children of Israel,
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we have to come
to the conclusion
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that they didn't know
where they were going either.
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And Paul the Apostle records
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the journey of Israel
and is filled with lessons
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as we face the unknown,
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but one thing he says to us
that I want to convey to you
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is found in 1 Corinthians 10:11.
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Listen to the words
of the Apostle Paul,
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when he looks at the life
of the children of Israel,
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when he looks at their
journey in the wilderness
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and records all the
things that they faced,
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the challenges
that confronted them,
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the blessings they received,
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even the curses and the
loss of valuable possessions
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and even some of
their loved ones.
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He says these
words to you in 2022,
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he says in 1 Corinthians 10:11.
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"Now all these things
happened to them as examples,"
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look at their lives,
compared with your life,
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"and they were
written for our admonition,
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upon whom the ends
of the ages have come."
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There's a lot in the Bible
about the children of Israel,
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there's a lot about the
things that they desired.
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The Lord brought them
out of Egypt in a single day,
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but it took Him 40 years
to bring Egypt out of them.
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Are you one of those individuals
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that the Lord has been
wrestling with for many,
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many years, maybe even decades?
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You know, the way that
you were raised was right,
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you know that what your mom
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and dad taught
you was scriptural,
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but you've been
wrestling because you desire
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so much of where you come from,
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that you've been hesitant
to go where God is leading you.
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And you've stuck in the
rut of, I'm going nowhere fast.
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Well, look at the
life of the Israelites,
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a journey that should have taken
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just a short period of time,
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extended to a 40-year journey,
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because it took one day
to get Israel out of Egypt,
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but it took 40 years to
get Egypt out of Israel.
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So the question to you
as you enter this new year,
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what in your
life is still there?
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What putrid behavior is
still funking up your life
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and causing you to feel
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less than what God
intends for you to be?
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What are you facing that
you're refusing to give to God?
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What habit? What practice?
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What desire are
you going back to?
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Are you
fighting with cigarettes,
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with alcohol, with immorality?
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What are you fighting with?
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Are you fighting
with whether or not
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to honor God's holy Sabbath?
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Are you fighting with
whether or not you believe
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that God exists
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or you're falling
for the atheistic lie
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that there is no God?
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What are you fighting with?
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Remember, the Israelites
face many of the same things
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but they learned
the very hard way
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that it is only by trusting
God with your day-by-day walk,
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that you will ever
get to the destination
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that God foresees is
in your blessed future.
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Consider the picture
as I walk you through some
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of the journey
of the Israelites,
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from the land of
Egypt to the land of Canaan,
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at the Red Sea
when pursued by the army
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of the Egyptians.
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The Egyptian
army was extinguished
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like the flame of
the tip of a candle.
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How? By the power of God's hand.
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And, friends,
you must understand
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that the enemy will pursue
you all the days of your life
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but as God stepped to the plate
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and fought the
battle for the Israelites,
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he is willing to
fight the battle for you.
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He said to them in Exodus 14,
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stand still and
see the salvation
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of the Lord for the
enemy that you see today
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you'll see no more forever.
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You got enemies in your
past? Commit your past to God.
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Commit your present to God.
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Allow the Lord to
fight your battles for you.
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When they traveled that road,
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the same road that became
the highway of deliverance
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for Israel was the way of
death for the armies of Pharaoh.
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It was the same
road but the question is,
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whose army are you in?
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Let me encourage you,
get into the Lord's army.
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If you're on the right
road, but in the wrong army,
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the same results
could happen to you
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that happened to Pharaoh's army,
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you could be on the
same road as the Israelites
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but your
destination is not the same.
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You're moving
down the way of death,
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when they were moving down
the way of the Promised Land.
00:10:28.82\00:10:31.76
Slavery in Egypt was terrible.
00:10:31.79\00:10:33.76
It had tragic memories
for the children of Israel
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but on the other
side of the Jordan,
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the past began to lose
its impact on their minds.
00:10:40.07\00:10:45.77
And through one of Israel's
greatest journeys, today,
00:10:45.81\00:10:48.78
God wants to teach us a lesson,
00:10:48.81\00:10:50.48
He wants to teach
us a vivid lesson.
00:10:50.51\00:10:52.91
I'm gonna break it
down to three categories,
00:10:52.95\00:10:55.08
the timing of their journey,
the location of their journey,
00:10:55.12\00:10:58.52
and the
challenges of their journey.
00:10:58.55\00:11:00.76
The timing, the
location, and the challenges.
00:11:00.79\00:11:04.29
The timing of the
story was from the wilderness
00:11:04.33\00:11:07.60
to the Promised Land,
00:11:07.63\00:11:08.96
a journey intended to
take just a few months,
00:11:09.00\00:11:12.03
extended to more
than four decades.
00:11:12.07\00:11:14.40
The location of the story,
the crossing of the Jordan.
00:11:14.44\00:11:18.77
In that crossing,
00:11:18.81\00:11:20.48
angry voices
challenged them at the Exodus,
00:11:20.51\00:11:23.78
the army of the
Egyptians desired nothing more
00:11:23.81\00:11:26.41
than to crush these
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who are being delivered
by the mighty hand of God.
00:11:28.65\00:11:31.45
The angry voices
were silenced though
00:11:31.49\00:11:34.32
when they got to the Jordan.
00:11:34.36\00:11:35.96
However, in their
journey, gravestones dotted
00:11:35.99\00:11:39.46
the wilderness journey.
00:11:39.49\00:11:41.36
Those who chose not to obey God,
00:11:41.40\00:11:43.47
He freed them on no conditions,
00:11:43.50\00:11:46.90
but there were conditions
to go into the Promised Land.
00:11:46.94\00:11:49.74
Past failures and
victories merged at the border
00:11:49.77\00:11:52.67
of the Promised Land.
00:11:52.71\00:11:55.14
Yet they failed to
completely trust God.
00:11:55.18\00:11:58.95
However, they
knew in their journey,
00:11:58.98\00:12:00.82
and God put this in their heart,
00:12:00.85\00:12:02.58
God gave them a
last push, a final hill,
00:12:02.62\00:12:06.45
a grand finale.
00:12:06.49\00:12:08.49
In that desert, they
learned that God in the midst
00:12:08.52\00:12:11.66
of all their trials,
all their challenges,
00:12:11.69\00:12:14.43
He could still give
them the desire to push
00:12:14.46\00:12:16.26
to go on to that final hill
00:12:16.30\00:12:19.10
to go forward to
that grand finale.
00:12:19.13\00:12:22.00
And after 40 years,
Joshua and Caleb of the men
00:12:22.04\00:12:25.41
that were 20
years old and older,
00:12:25.44\00:12:27.34
entered into the Promised Land.
00:12:27.38\00:12:28.71
Why? Because they trusted God.
00:12:28.74\00:12:30.81
Today, God is saying to you,
He wants you to be a Joshua,
00:12:30.85\00:12:33.88
He wants you to be a
Caleb, and who were they?
00:12:33.92\00:12:37.12
When the false reports came back
00:12:37.15\00:12:38.79
from the leaders of Israel,
00:12:38.82\00:12:40.59
when the men that
God had commissioned
00:12:40.62\00:12:42.66
to give direction to
the 12 tribes of Israel,
00:12:42.69\00:12:45.83
decided not to
embrace God's promises,
00:12:45.86\00:12:48.56
they brought
back a false report.
00:12:48.60\00:12:52.10
However, Joshua and
Caleb kept trusting the Lord.
00:12:52.13\00:12:55.84
When the 10 leaders decided
that the Giants were too great,
00:12:55.87\00:12:59.87
and the Amalekites, the
Hittites, the Jebusites,
00:12:59.91\00:13:02.78
the Amorites, all of those
who dwelt in the Promised Land
00:13:02.81\00:13:05.68
that they were going to inherit.
00:13:05.71\00:13:07.22
When they looked at the
people, they had a faint heart,
00:13:07.25\00:13:10.25
but Joshua and Caleb
didn't look at the people,
00:13:10.29\00:13:13.76
they looked at the God
that had given them the promise.
00:13:13.79\00:13:17.03
You see, the people may be big,
00:13:17.06\00:13:18.69
the trials may be big,
00:13:18.73\00:13:20.20
the challenges of your past may
step over into 2022 with you,
00:13:20.23\00:13:25.53
but they're not
bigger than your God.
00:13:25.57\00:13:27.44
Never allow your challenges
to appear bigger than your God.
00:13:27.47\00:13:30.97
What God did for
Caleb and Joshua,
00:13:31.01\00:13:33.54
God wants to do for you.
00:13:33.58\00:13:35.88
But there was a
challenge in the journey
00:13:35.91\00:13:38.48
because God allowed
Moses to take the children
00:13:38.51\00:13:41.15
of Israel only so far.
00:13:41.18\00:13:44.02
And when Joshua
accepted the call,
00:13:44.05\00:13:46.15
to take the wheel and decide
to lead the children of Israel,
00:13:46.19\00:13:50.86
because of his
lack of experience,
00:13:50.89\00:13:52.69
he was
challenged by more than two
00:13:52.73\00:13:54.73
and a half million Israelites.
00:13:54.76\00:13:57.13
And yet we're going to focus
on the parting words of Moses,
00:13:57.17\00:14:00.04
which became the
marching orders of Joshua.
00:14:00.07\00:14:04.17
If you have your
Bibles, go there with me.
00:14:04.21\00:14:06.21
I'm going to read now,
00:14:06.24\00:14:07.58
in the Book of
Deuteronomy 10:20,
00:14:07.61\00:14:11.05
all the way to Deuteronomy 11:6.
00:14:11.08\00:14:15.45
It seems like it's
long, but it's not.
00:14:15.48\00:14:17.39
But I want you to hear
the parting words of Moses
00:14:17.42\00:14:20.59
to that young man named Joshua.
00:14:20.62\00:14:23.09
Two and a half million people,
how is he going to guide them?
00:14:23.12\00:14:28.10
Listen to Moses' words.
00:14:28.13\00:14:30.43
Deuteronomy
10:20, Moses is speaking,
00:14:30.47\00:14:34.27
"You shall fear
the Lord your God,
00:14:34.30\00:14:36.60
you shall serve Him and to Him,
00:14:36.64\00:14:39.27
you shall hold fast."
00:14:39.31\00:14:40.91
Notice those words,
serve Him, fear Him, hold fast,
00:14:40.94\00:14:45.98
"and take oaths in His name."
00:14:46.01\00:14:49.15
Verse 21, "He is your praise,
00:14:49.18\00:14:51.95
and He is your God,
00:14:51.99\00:14:54.16
who has done for you
these great and awesome things
00:14:54.19\00:14:57.59
which your eyes have seen?"
00:14:57.63\00:14:59.09
Have you ever paused and asked
00:14:59.13\00:15:00.76
who has delivered me as God has?
00:15:00.80\00:15:02.36
Who has blessed me as God has?
00:15:02.40\00:15:04.13
That is what Moses
is saying to Joshua.
00:15:04.17\00:15:06.43
Who can do for you
what God has done for you?
00:15:06.47\00:15:09.30
Who can bring you
from that land of slavery
00:15:09.34\00:15:12.97
to the journey of
the land of promise?
00:15:13.01\00:15:14.44
Who can fight all your
battles and keep the serpents
00:15:14.48\00:15:17.25
and scorpions from bringing you
00:15:17.28\00:15:19.58
to your demise
in the wilderness?
00:15:19.61\00:15:21.08
Only God can.
00:15:21.12\00:15:23.39
Then he continues
in Deuteronomy 10:22,
00:15:23.42\00:15:26.99
"Your fathers went down
to Egypt with 70 persons,
00:15:27.02\00:15:31.53
and now the Lord
your God has made you,"
00:15:31.56\00:15:34.66
listen to this,
00:15:34.70\00:15:36.03
"as the stars of
heaven in multitude."
00:15:36.06\00:15:39.73
What is he saying to Joshua?
00:15:39.77\00:15:41.34
You may begin with a little,
00:15:41.37\00:15:43.24
but God can multiply
your little and make it much.
00:15:43.27\00:15:47.38
God is amazing.
00:15:47.41\00:15:48.74
God can take your little as
he did for Joshua and Moses,
00:15:48.78\00:15:52.78
and multiply it
like the stars of heaven.
00:15:52.81\00:15:56.02
But he continues
speaking, Deuteronomy 11:1,
00:15:56.05\00:15:59.95
he says, "Therefore,
00:15:59.99\00:16:01.62
you shall love
the Lord your God,
00:16:01.66\00:16:04.53
and keep His charge,
His statutes, His judgments,
00:16:04.56\00:16:08.33
and His commandments always."
00:16:08.36\00:16:10.40
You see, friends,
00:16:10.43\00:16:11.77
blessings always are
connected to conditions.
00:16:11.80\00:16:13.94
God wants to bless you,
but He does not bless you
00:16:13.97\00:16:15.84
without conditions.
00:16:15.87\00:16:17.21
Obedience is the
prerequisite to blessings.
00:16:17.24\00:16:20.01
If God is saying,
do this, understand,
00:16:20.04\00:16:22.21
there is no second
category, you cannot receive
00:16:22.24\00:16:24.98
the blessings of God in 2022
00:16:25.01\00:16:27.62
without complying
with the conditions
00:16:27.65\00:16:29.48
of those blessings.
00:16:29.52\00:16:30.99
He continues in
Deuteronomy, 11:2, he says,
00:16:31.02\00:16:35.42
"Know today that I do
not speak with your children,
00:16:35.46\00:16:41.00
who have not known
and who have not seen
00:16:41.03\00:16:44.33
the chastening of
the Lord your God,
00:16:44.37\00:16:46.37
His greatness
and His mighty hand,
00:16:46.40\00:16:48.50
and His outstretched arm."
00:16:48.54\00:16:50.61
Verse 3, "His signs and His acts
00:16:50.64\00:16:53.44
which He did in
the midst of Egypt,
00:16:53.48\00:16:56.21
to Pharaoh king of
Egypt, and to all his land."
00:16:56.24\00:16:59.81
Look at verse 4,
00:16:59.85\00:17:01.18
"What he did to
the army of Egypt,
00:17:01.22\00:17:02.98
to their horses,
and their chariots:
00:17:03.02\00:17:05.02
how he made the waters
of the Red Sea overflow them
00:17:05.05\00:17:08.96
as they pursued you."
00:17:08.99\00:17:11.43
And he continues,
00:17:11.46\00:17:13.70
"And how the Lord has
destroyed them to this day,
00:17:13.73\00:17:17.90
what he did for you in
the wilderness until you
00:17:17.93\00:17:20.10
came to this place,
and what He did to Dathan,
00:17:20.14\00:17:25.04
and Abiram the son of Eliab,
00:17:25.07\00:17:29.44
the son of Ruben:
00:17:29.48\00:17:30.95
how the earth opened its
mouth and swallowed them up,
00:17:30.98\00:17:34.78
their households, their tents,
00:17:34.82\00:17:36.85
and all their substance
that was in their possession,
00:17:36.89\00:17:40.12
in the midst of all Israel."
00:17:40.16\00:17:41.92
What is Moses saying to Joshua?
00:17:41.96\00:17:44.36
God, by His
grace, and by His power,
00:17:44.39\00:17:47.23
by His outstretched
arm has made sure that
00:17:47.26\00:17:50.87
every obstacle that
was placed before you
00:17:50.90\00:17:53.37
by the enemy,
everything he intended
00:17:53.40\00:17:55.80
to destroy you
in the wilderness,
00:17:55.84\00:17:58.57
by your obedience, I
stepped in to defend you,
00:17:58.61\00:18:01.78
by your willingness to
continue following me by faith,
00:18:01.81\00:18:05.11
although you did not
see the Promised Land,
00:18:05.15\00:18:07.62
I brought those things to past.
00:18:07.65\00:18:09.48
And God is saying
the same to you for 2022.
00:18:09.52\00:18:12.12
You don't see
what your future is,
00:18:12.15\00:18:13.96
you may have some idea,
00:18:13.99\00:18:15.82
but God sees it much clearer
than you will ever see it.
00:18:15.86\00:18:19.09
God is saying, look at
how you survived to this day.
00:18:19.13\00:18:22.90
Do you think you did that
00:18:22.93\00:18:25.80
by some great
and wonderful plan?
00:18:25.83\00:18:27.40
No, I was beating
back the enemy every day
00:18:27.44\00:18:31.61
of your life.
00:18:31.64\00:18:32.97
I stood firmly with you.
00:18:33.01\00:18:34.81
And he's saying to Joshua,
00:18:34.84\00:18:36.41
I'm going to pass
the mantle to you,
00:18:36.44\00:18:38.81
the God that I trusted,
00:18:38.85\00:18:40.52
I want you to be the
God that you will trust.
00:18:40.55\00:18:43.28
In the same way,
he's saying to Joshua,
00:18:43.32\00:18:45.95
as I'm saying to
you, he said to Joshua,
00:18:45.99\00:18:48.82
leave Egypt
behind, I'm saying to you,
00:18:48.86\00:18:52.19
leave 2021 behind.
00:18:52.23\00:18:54.10
The Lord is saying to us,
00:18:54.13\00:18:55.66
here we stand on
the wet paint of 2022
00:18:55.70\00:19:00.37
and we could cite
any number of reasons
00:19:00.40\00:19:03.47
why we could be discouraged.
00:19:03.51\00:19:05.11
Any number of reasons
can come to the forefront
00:19:05.14\00:19:07.98
why we can't do
this or can't do that.
00:19:08.01\00:19:10.98
There are multiple instances
00:19:11.01\00:19:13.52
where you
almost did not make it.
00:19:13.55\00:19:15.92
And we can complain sometimes
that the journey took so long.
00:19:15.95\00:19:19.92
However, here you are today.
00:19:19.95\00:19:21.96
Why are you here today?
00:19:21.99\00:19:23.32
Because God's dream for you
is not going to be faltered,
00:19:23.36\00:19:28.06
not going to be prevented
00:19:28.10\00:19:29.43
by what happened in 2021
because He still says I know
00:19:29.46\00:19:32.80
the plans I have for you.
00:19:32.83\00:19:34.37
Let me tell you my
personal experience.
00:19:34.40\00:19:36.10
Nobody could've ever told me
00:19:36.14\00:19:37.61
I will be doing what I am today.
00:19:37.64\00:19:40.08
It took a long time to get here,
00:19:40.11\00:19:42.04
but I trusted God
on the days of plenty
00:19:42.08\00:19:44.88
and on the days of lean.
00:19:44.91\00:19:46.25
I trusted God when it seemed
like the future was bleak.
00:19:46.28\00:19:49.52
When it seemed like
the enemy had finally found
00:19:49.55\00:19:52.05
my Achilles' heel.
00:19:52.09\00:19:53.42
I kept trusting God
and I'm still here today.
00:19:53.46\00:19:55.59
To God be the glory.
00:19:55.62\00:19:57.09
I'm saying to
you all your battles
00:19:57.13\00:19:59.19
are no reason to be discouraged,
00:19:59.23\00:20:00.70
all the things you faced in 2021
00:20:00.73\00:20:02.96
is no reason to give up
00:20:03.00\00:20:05.33
because we're standing
on the promises of God.
00:20:05.37\00:20:07.67
Look at Deuteronomy 11:7-9.
00:20:07.70\00:20:11.77
Here's what
Moses said to Joshua,
00:20:11.81\00:20:15.14
"But your eyes have
seen every great act
00:20:15.18\00:20:19.48
the Lord which he did.
00:20:19.51\00:20:21.75
Therefore, listen,
00:20:21.78\00:20:23.39
you shall keep every commandment
00:20:23.42\00:20:26.09
which I command you
today, that you may be strong,
00:20:26.12\00:20:30.49
and go in and possess the land,
00:20:30.53\00:20:32.69
which you cross over to possess,
00:20:32.73\00:20:35.53
and that you may
prolong your days in the land,
00:20:35.56\00:20:38.73
which the Lord swore
to give your fathers,
00:20:38.77\00:20:42.10
to them and their descendants."
00:20:42.14\00:20:43.91
Notice what kind of land,
00:20:43.94\00:20:45.27
"A land flowing
with milk and honey."
00:20:45.31\00:20:48.98
You might say,
"I don't drink milk,
00:20:49.01\00:20:50.35
and I'm not too
crazy about honey."
00:20:50.38\00:20:52.11
Those are just symbols
of the blessings of God.
00:20:52.15\00:20:55.18
God wasn't saying that all
they're going to get is milk
00:20:55.22\00:20:57.59
and honey but
what God was saying,
00:20:57.62\00:20:59.85
these are lands that are flowing
00:20:59.89\00:21:01.22
with abundant
provision from My hand.
00:21:01.26\00:21:03.36
Let me say to
you, friends, 2022,
00:21:03.39\00:21:05.43
God has abundant
provisions for your land.
00:21:05.46\00:21:08.03
God has abundant provisions
00:21:08.06\00:21:09.76
that He wants to
put in your hand,
00:21:09.80\00:21:11.43
the land of abundant provision,
00:21:11.47\00:21:13.34
and the hand that
God says will embrace
00:21:13.37\00:21:15.77
those abundant provisions.
00:21:15.80\00:21:18.07
So while the
world is getting weaker,
00:21:18.11\00:21:20.11
God is saying to you,
00:21:20.14\00:21:21.78
be strong, and stand
firm with My command.
00:21:21.81\00:21:26.98
You see the very thing that
God did for Moses and Joshua,
00:21:27.02\00:21:30.49
He's willing to do for you,
00:21:30.52\00:21:33.05
He's willing to
do for your family,
00:21:33.09\00:21:34.79
He's willing to
do for your children,
00:21:34.82\00:21:36.26
for your spouse,
He's willing to do
00:21:36.29\00:21:38.26
for your educational goals,
00:21:38.29\00:21:40.26
He's willing to do
for your spiritual goals.
00:21:40.30\00:21:42.93
God can take your
humdrum Bible study life
00:21:42.96\00:21:46.80
to a magnificent
excursion through the Word
00:21:46.84\00:21:49.34
if you just simply
commit yourself to Him.
00:21:49.37\00:21:51.44
As Moses challenged
Joshua, he says, "Be strong.
00:21:51.47\00:21:54.64
Let God's Word be your guide."
00:21:54.68\00:21:56.44
I'm saying to you, 2022
doesn't have to be a repeat
00:21:56.48\00:21:59.65
of the humdrum
Bible study life of 2021.
00:21:59.68\00:22:02.72
It doesn't have to be
the time where your schedule
00:22:02.75\00:22:05.02
was so busy that you
didn't have time for God.
00:22:05.05\00:22:08.22
And sometimes God may
interrupt your greatest plans
00:22:08.26\00:22:11.13
to simply say, I
miss my time with you.
00:22:11.16\00:22:14.43
So, friends, husbands,
lead your family to the altar
00:22:14.46\00:22:18.17
of worship daily.
00:22:18.20\00:22:19.80
Husbands, be the priest
of your homes as your wife
00:22:19.83\00:22:22.97
is looking for someone to
be the light in the house,
00:22:23.00\00:22:26.64
to be the one who can
reflect the character of Jesus.
00:22:26.68\00:22:30.15
Be the husband that
molds the mind of your children
00:22:30.18\00:22:33.25
that they can know that
even when the day seemed
00:22:33.28\00:22:35.58
to be filled with challenges
00:22:35.62\00:22:37.79
that God can carry them through.
00:22:37.82\00:22:39.99
Be the one that mold
the mind of your daughter
00:22:40.02\00:22:42.12
and your son so
that when they grow up,
00:22:42.16\00:22:45.33
you can
understand that it was God
00:22:45.36\00:22:47.16
that led their parents
and the same God that led you
00:22:47.20\00:22:50.87
when they were growing up
is the same God that's going
00:22:50.90\00:22:53.27
to lead them
when they get older.
00:22:53.30\00:22:56.97
God wants to do
the same for you.
00:22:57.01\00:22:58.74
But the first
ingredient for 2022
00:22:58.77\00:23:01.38
is that we have to
be strong in the Lord.
00:23:01.41\00:23:03.85
Look at Joshua 1:1.
00:23:03.88\00:23:06.92
The Bible says in Joshua 1:1,
00:23:06.95\00:23:09.48
"After the death of
Moses the servant of the Lord,
00:23:09.52\00:23:14.92
it came to past that
the Lord spoke to Joshua,
00:23:14.96\00:23:18.13
the son of Nun,
Moses' assistant,"
00:23:18.16\00:23:21.00
and the Lord gave him some words
00:23:21.03\00:23:22.36
that I'm going to share
with you in just a moment,
00:23:22.40\00:23:23.93
the Lord gave Joshua some words
00:23:23.97\00:23:26.27
that he wants to
leave with you today.
00:23:26.30\00:23:28.47
Let me make the very important
point, however, you see,
00:23:28.50\00:23:31.81
God listened to
Joshua when Joshua spoke,
00:23:31.84\00:23:35.44
because Joshua
listened to God when He spoke.
00:23:35.48\00:23:39.18
Friends, if you want God
to hear you when you speak,
00:23:39.21\00:23:41.95
you've got to hear
God when He speaks.
00:23:41.98\00:23:44.05
If you want God
to follow your plans,
00:23:44.09\00:23:46.49
you got to first
follow God's plans.
00:23:46.52\00:23:49.06
If you want your life to
be a blessing to your family
00:23:49.09\00:23:51.49
and your friends, you
got to first allow the Lord
00:23:51.53\00:23:53.93
to be the blessing of your life.
00:23:53.96\00:23:55.80
You will never pour out
00:23:55.83\00:23:57.57
what God has not poured in
and expect it to be a blessing.
00:23:57.60\00:24:00.37
If you want your plans to
be that which brings great
00:24:00.40\00:24:04.11
and untold
blessings in the future,
00:24:04.14\00:24:05.61
you got to allow those plans
00:24:05.64\00:24:06.98
to be in harmony with God's will
00:24:07.01\00:24:09.21
because He says
whatsoever you ask in My name,
00:24:09.24\00:24:11.71
I will do that the
Son may be glorified.
00:24:11.75\00:24:15.95
God is not going to
bless you that will cause you
00:24:15.98\00:24:18.72
to take the glory from Him.
00:24:18.75\00:24:21.16
If you're planning
things that are not in harmony
00:24:21.19\00:24:22.82
with God's will, you
are running backward.
00:24:22.86\00:24:25.26
You are running 10
miles an hour on a treadmill
00:24:25.29\00:24:29.70
going absolutely nowhere.
00:24:29.73\00:24:31.73
That treadmill of your
promises will exhaust you,
00:24:31.77\00:24:35.44
but if you stand on the
solid ground of God's promises,
00:24:35.47\00:24:37.87
He will prosper you.
00:24:37.91\00:24:39.27
I'm saying to you
today, listen to God.
00:24:39.31\00:24:41.71
If you expect
God to listen to you.
00:24:41.74\00:24:44.15
Joshua believed God.
00:24:44.18\00:24:47.08
He didn't just have
a commitment to God.
00:24:47.12\00:24:49.65
He believed God.
00:24:49.68\00:24:51.02
Abraham believed God
00:24:51.05\00:24:53.15
and that's why he was called
the father of the faithful.
00:24:53.19\00:24:56.26
He got ready for the
land that he saw by faith.
00:24:56.29\00:24:59.23
Why? Because God
made the promise.
00:24:59.26\00:25:01.20
If God made a
promise to you two years ago,
00:25:01.23\00:25:03.50
or five years ago,
00:25:03.53\00:25:04.87
trust God because God knows.
00:25:04.90\00:25:07.50
I'll say that again.
00:25:07.54\00:25:08.87
Only God knows when those
plans are to come to fruition.
00:25:08.90\00:25:13.94
Sometimes I get phone
calls from people that say,
00:25:13.98\00:25:16.01
"Pastor, I need a job."
00:25:16.04\00:25:17.91
And I say to them,
"God knows you need a job.
00:25:17.95\00:25:19.78
Did you pray about it?"
00:25:19.81\00:25:21.15
They say, "I prayed about it
00:25:21.18\00:25:22.52
but it still
hasn't happened yet."
00:25:22.55\00:25:23.89
But God wants to do a new thing.
00:25:23.92\00:25:25.45
You got to wait on the
Lord, wait upon the Lord,
00:25:25.49\00:25:28.19
and He will renew your strength.
00:25:28.22\00:25:30.73
Sometimes
before you get the job,
00:25:30.76\00:25:32.69
the company has to be built,
or the position has to open,
00:25:32.73\00:25:36.67
wait on the Lord,
don't be in a hurry.
00:25:36.70\00:25:39.37
Abraham believed God
not because he had proof
00:25:39.40\00:25:42.60
but because he had God.
00:25:42.64\00:25:44.47
If you have God,
you have everything.
00:25:44.51\00:25:46.78
God will provide all
of your need according
00:25:46.81\00:25:48.54
to His riches and glory.
00:25:48.58\00:25:50.45
Even the Apostle
Paul can tell you,
00:25:50.48\00:25:52.71
when he was going
to Rome as a prisoner,
00:25:52.75\00:25:55.12
even in the midst
of a difficult journey,
00:25:55.15\00:25:58.72
his belief was
padded by his faith in God,
00:25:58.75\00:26:03.29
with the storms of life
swirling all around him,
00:26:03.32\00:26:06.53
ready to consume
him in an instant,
00:26:06.56\00:26:09.06
he believed God
00:26:09.10\00:26:10.83
because God's Word
was continually with him.
00:26:10.87\00:26:13.23
He said, "I believe
God that it shall be just
00:26:13.27\00:26:15.70
as it was told to me."
00:26:15.74\00:26:17.27
Look at Acts 27:25.
00:26:17.31\00:26:19.87
And I'm saying this
to you today, friends,
00:26:19.91\00:26:21.94
believe God, not
because you have proof,
00:26:21.98\00:26:25.68
but because you have God.
00:26:25.71\00:26:27.12
Look at Acts 27:25,
"Therefore, take heed men,
00:26:27.15\00:26:33.05
for I believe God
that it will be just
00:26:33.09\00:26:36.69
as it was told to me."
00:26:36.73\00:26:39.26
It's going to be just as
God said it's going to be.
00:26:39.29\00:26:41.63
It's not going to be
how you hope it to be.
00:26:41.66\00:26:43.47
It's going to be just as
God said it's going to be.
00:26:43.50\00:26:45.93
What is that
like? How am I supposed?
00:26:45.97\00:26:48.24
How am I supposed to
know what that's going to be?
00:26:48.27\00:26:51.74
You got to trust God.
00:26:51.77\00:26:53.14
Give God time to work
out His plans for your life.
00:26:53.17\00:26:56.08
You see, on the surface,
it may seem that God's plan
00:26:56.11\00:26:59.48
and God's word is
difficult to follow,
00:26:59.51\00:27:02.48
but difficulty is the result
00:27:02.52\00:27:05.22
of choosing not
to follow God's Word.
00:27:05.25\00:27:08.82
Let me also encourage
you, the day is coming
00:27:08.86\00:27:10.49
when we won't have
God's Word to follow.
00:27:10.53\00:27:12.53
The day is coming
when the plans of God
00:27:12.56\00:27:14.06
would not be
visible on the written page.
00:27:14.10\00:27:16.26
That's why you got
to do like David did,
00:27:16.30\00:27:17.80
"Thy word I hid in my heart
00:27:17.83\00:27:19.73
that I might not
sin against You."
00:27:19.77\00:27:21.64
Allow the Word of God
to be your daily meditation
00:27:21.67\00:27:24.54
and then you'll be able to say,
00:27:24.57\00:27:25.91
let the words of my mouth
00:27:25.94\00:27:27.28
and the meditations of my heart
be acceptable in Your sight.
00:27:27.31\00:27:31.35
God's plans are there.
00:27:31.38\00:27:32.91
He'll work them out.
00:27:32.95\00:27:34.28
But there's a day coming.
00:27:34.32\00:27:35.65
There's a great
crisis on the horizon.
00:27:35.68\00:27:38.15
When will it occur?
00:27:38.19\00:27:39.52
We have no idea,
00:27:39.55\00:27:40.89
but we can trust
the words of God.
00:27:40.92\00:27:42.86
You see, the reason why
we should study God's Word
00:27:42.89\00:27:45.33
is because the days are coming
00:27:45.36\00:27:47.10
as prophesied by God
through the Prophet Amos.
00:27:47.13\00:27:51.93
Listen to what he
says, which is the reason
00:27:51.97\00:27:54.27
why the Word of God
should be near and dear to us.
00:27:54.30\00:27:57.31
Amos 8:11-12.
00:27:57.34\00:27:59.77
Here are the words of the Lord.
00:27:59.81\00:28:01.24
He says, "Behold, the days
are coming, says the Lord God,
00:28:01.28\00:28:05.71
that I will send a
famine on the land,
00:28:05.75\00:28:08.48
not a famine of bread,
nor a thirst for water,
00:28:08.52\00:28:12.85
but of hearing the
words of the Lord,"
00:28:12.89\00:28:15.62
and watch this,
00:28:15.66\00:28:16.99
"they shall
wander from sea to sea,
00:28:17.03\00:28:19.69
and from north to east,
00:28:19.73\00:28:22.16
they shall run to and fro
seeking the word of the Lord,
00:28:22.20\00:28:25.97
but shall not find it."
00:28:26.00\00:28:28.74
What's going to happen?
00:28:28.77\00:28:30.11
The days are coming
00:28:30.14\00:28:31.47
when our Bibles are
going to be confiscated.
00:28:31.51\00:28:33.27
And I'm not being a
prophet of negativity.
00:28:33.31\00:28:36.31
I'm just simply telling
you what God's Word has says.
00:28:36.34\00:28:38.71
The days are
coming when the thing
00:28:38.75\00:28:40.38
that we take for granted
will no longer be accessible.
00:28:40.42\00:28:43.99
What are the reason can you give
00:28:44.02\00:28:45.35
for making the
Word of God your study?
00:28:45.39\00:28:47.82
What are the purpose
can you give for saying,
00:28:47.86\00:28:50.33
I want God's Word to
be stored in my heart,
00:28:50.36\00:28:53.40
while I still have access to it?
00:28:53.43\00:28:55.46
The days are coming.
00:28:55.50\00:28:56.83
God wants to do a new thing
00:28:56.87\00:28:58.53
by reigniting
your love for His Word.
00:28:58.57\00:29:02.54
The second thing is this,
00:29:02.57\00:29:05.27
dedication to God's
Word will create in you
00:29:05.31\00:29:08.31
a desire for a new thing.
00:29:08.34\00:29:11.85
Why do we need a new thing?
00:29:11.88\00:29:13.38
Because the devil is busy
trying to divert our minds
00:29:13.42\00:29:16.48
from the new thing
that God wants to do in us.
00:29:16.52\00:29:19.19
He's trying to distract
us whether by social media,
00:29:19.22\00:29:22.96
by entertainment, by problems
and trials and tribulations,
00:29:22.99\00:29:26.23
whatever the method may be.
00:29:26.26\00:29:27.93
He's trying to distract us
so that we can put our hope
00:29:27.96\00:29:30.30
and trust in things that God
never made a promise through.
00:29:30.33\00:29:34.74
Be very careful when
the devil reaches out
00:29:34.77\00:29:37.24
and tries to give you that
lollipop of false promises,
00:29:37.27\00:29:40.84
and say, if you follow this,
then you will be prosperous.
00:29:40.88\00:29:44.35
Don't fall for the lie.
00:29:44.38\00:29:45.85
There are many people
today that know the truth,
00:29:45.88\00:29:48.38
but they don't love the truth.
00:29:48.42\00:29:49.98
They don't love the truth,
00:29:50.02\00:29:51.35
the way that God
desires for them to love it.
00:29:51.39\00:29:53.62
Do you love the truth or
do you just know the truth?
00:29:53.66\00:29:56.79
There's quite a difference
between knowing the truth
00:29:56.83\00:29:59.16
and loving the truth.
00:29:59.19\00:30:00.56
When you love the truth,
00:30:00.60\00:30:01.93
you build a
shield against deception
00:30:01.96\00:30:04.20
and why is that
vitally important?
00:30:04.23\00:30:06.33
Because the
days are also coming,
00:30:06.37\00:30:08.17
that many who
have known the truth
00:30:08.20\00:30:10.57
and have not
embraced the truth like Joshua
00:30:10.61\00:30:13.31
and Moses and
Caleb, like Elijah,
00:30:13.34\00:30:15.81
and John the Baptist
and Paul and Abraham.
00:30:15.84\00:30:17.98
These men were serious
about their walk with God.
00:30:18.01\00:30:20.62
And so many of our
contemporary leaders,
00:30:20.65\00:30:22.72
I have learned that
the greatest blessing
00:30:22.75\00:30:24.15
in my own life is when I
take God's Word seriously,
00:30:24.19\00:30:28.22
and study it,
00:30:28.26\00:30:29.59
and pray for God to
reveal something more to me
00:30:29.62\00:30:31.13
that I've not yet seen.
00:30:31.16\00:30:32.63
When you do
that you build a wall
00:30:32.66\00:30:34.96
that will shield
you from deception.
00:30:35.00\00:30:37.40
Listen to 2 Thessalonians 2:10.
00:30:37.43\00:30:40.40
The Bible speaks
about the day that's coming,
00:30:40.44\00:30:43.27
"And with all
unrighteous deception
00:30:43.30\00:30:45.41
among those who perish," why?
00:30:45.44\00:30:47.64
"Because they did not
receive the love of the truth
00:30:47.68\00:30:50.48
that they might be saved."
00:30:50.51\00:30:53.35
I hope you're ready
for what I'm about to say,
00:30:53.38\00:30:56.58
we are living in a day and age
00:30:56.62\00:30:57.95
where lies are
swirling all around us.
00:30:57.99\00:31:00.86
Contemporary
lies, internet lies,
00:31:00.89\00:31:04.66
political lies, religious lies,
00:31:04.69\00:31:07.60
we are being
swarmed by an army of lies,
00:31:07.63\00:31:11.87
trying to distract our
minds away from the Word of God.
00:31:11.90\00:31:15.94
That's why God's
Word is the only safeguard
00:31:15.97\00:31:18.07
against deception.
00:31:18.11\00:31:19.64
Without the Word of God,
00:31:19.67\00:31:21.18
the smallest problem will
present the largest challenge.
00:31:21.21\00:31:24.71
Without the Word of God,
00:31:24.75\00:31:26.11
the weakest foe will
have the strongest impact.
00:31:26.15\00:31:30.35
Ellen White says in the
book Darkness before Dawn,
00:31:30.39\00:31:33.56
page 36, and paragraph 2,
very short, but very profound.
00:31:33.59\00:31:37.46
She says, listen to this.
00:31:37.49\00:31:39.49
None but those who
have fortified the mind
00:31:39.53\00:31:43.47
with the truths of the Bible
00:31:43.50\00:31:45.33
will stand through
the last great conflict.
00:31:45.37\00:31:48.44
What does she say?
00:31:48.47\00:31:49.80
None but those who
have fortified their minds
00:31:49.84\00:31:52.47
with the truth will stand
00:31:52.51\00:31:53.94
through the last great conflict.
00:31:53.98\00:31:56.41
And how is that?
00:31:56.44\00:31:57.78
When Jesus faced
temptation in the wilderness.
00:31:57.81\00:32:01.42
Hear me carefully, the
contemporary Christian,
00:32:01.45\00:32:03.79
hear me carefully, the one who
loves the music that we sing.
00:32:03.82\00:32:08.12
There's nothing wrong with
music but don't forget this,
00:32:08.16\00:32:12.06
when Jesus faced the trials
and temptations of the enemy,
00:32:12.09\00:32:15.70
He didn't say it is
sung, He said, "It is written."
00:32:15.73\00:32:19.37
He pointed to the
unwavering powerful Word of God.
00:32:19.40\00:32:22.54
"The Word of God
is powerful and quick,
00:32:22.57\00:32:24.47
and sharper than
any two-edged sword,
00:32:24.51\00:32:27.21
piercing even to the
dividing of soul and spirit
00:32:27.24\00:32:30.61
and joints and marrows,
00:32:30.65\00:32:31.98
and it is a
discerner of the thoughts
00:32:32.01\00:32:34.58
and intents of the heart."
00:32:34.62\00:32:36.28
Hebrews 4:12.
00:32:36.32\00:32:37.75
Let the Word of
God be your sword.
00:32:37.79\00:32:39.59
Let the Word of
God be your defense."
00:32:39.62\00:32:41.72
I love music.
00:32:41.76\00:32:43.09
I'm a Christian singer.
00:32:43.12\00:32:44.46
I love music, but I will
tell you in my hour of deep,
00:32:44.49\00:32:47.40
deep need, in my hour
where I needed counsel,
00:32:47.43\00:32:50.93
I turned to the
unfailing Word of God,
00:32:50.97\00:32:53.07
and I have not been ashamed.
00:32:53.10\00:32:54.77
In crossing the Jordan,
00:32:54.80\00:32:56.64
Joshua witnessed
the power of God.
00:32:56.67\00:32:58.67
Why?
00:32:58.71\00:33:00.04
Because just as Moses told him,
00:33:00.08\00:33:02.51
he trusted the God who had a
retinue of miracles behind him.
00:33:02.54\00:33:07.68
You see, the God of your past
00:33:07.72\00:33:09.32
can do even more in
your future journey,
00:33:09.35\00:33:11.89
but you got to keep walking.
00:33:11.92\00:33:13.72
Sometimes God is not
going to part the waters
00:33:13.76\00:33:15.56
of your challenges until
you put your foot in the water.
00:33:15.59\00:33:18.76
He is not unable
to move but sometimes
00:33:18.79\00:33:21.53
He's saying to
you, you've got to move
00:33:21.56\00:33:24.07
if you want to see My hand move.
00:33:24.10\00:33:25.87
What happened in
Joshua's experience?
00:33:25.90\00:33:27.70
Look at Joshua 3:17,
00:33:27.74\00:33:29.90
when they decided to
take that step of faith,
00:33:29.94\00:33:32.97
the Bible says, "All Israel
crossed over on dry ground,
00:33:33.01\00:33:37.51
until all the people
had crossed completely
00:33:37.55\00:33:40.15
over the Jordan."
00:33:40.18\00:33:41.52
That's right, but they had
to take that step of faith.
00:33:41.55\00:33:45.29
How is your faith in 2022?
00:33:45.32\00:33:47.86
Have you brought a fractured
faith to a brand new year?
00:33:47.89\00:33:51.16
Do you still feel
that God is not with you?
00:33:51.19\00:33:54.33
Friends, let me encourage you,
00:33:54.36\00:33:55.70
don't base your
future on feeling.
00:33:55.73\00:33:57.13
Feeling is just as
deceptive as the day changes.
00:33:57.17\00:34:00.17
A sunny day you may feel good,
00:34:00.20\00:34:01.54
a rainy day you
may feel discouraged.
00:34:01.57\00:34:03.81
A snowy day you may
just feel shut down,
00:34:03.84\00:34:06.27
depending on where you live.
00:34:06.31\00:34:07.84
A day of
prosperity God is all in all,
00:34:07.88\00:34:10.95
but a day of
adversity you ask the question,
00:34:10.98\00:34:13.18
where is God?
00:34:13.21\00:34:14.55
Friends, let me tell
you, He is the same yesterday,
00:34:14.58\00:34:17.52
today, and forever.
00:34:17.55\00:34:18.89
God doesn't change
but it's us that change.
00:34:18.92\00:34:21.72
When God called the children
of Israel to go through,
00:34:21.76\00:34:24.59
there were many
battles ahead of them.
00:34:24.63\00:34:26.53
When you look at
the story of the leading
00:34:26.56\00:34:27.93
of the children of Israel,
00:34:27.96\00:34:29.30
the battle of Jericho
was still ahead of them.
00:34:29.33\00:34:31.70
Achan in the camp
was still in the camp.
00:34:31.73\00:34:35.20
The victory of Ai
was still ahead of them,
00:34:35.24\00:34:38.37
but they trusted God.
00:34:38.41\00:34:40.18
You see, why did they trust God?
00:34:40.21\00:34:41.54
Because the
promises of God was sure,
00:34:41.58\00:34:43.85
but there are conditions
to the promises of God.
00:34:43.88\00:34:47.88
The point is before
we claim the promises,
00:34:47.92\00:34:50.82
we must abide by the conditions.
00:34:50.85\00:34:53.86
Listen to this,
friends, Joshua 1:6.
00:34:53.89\00:34:57.06
What did Moses
tell Joshua to do?
00:34:57.09\00:34:59.43
Listen to these words,
which I now challenge you with.
00:34:59.46\00:35:02.53
He says, "Be strong
and of good courage..."
00:35:02.56\00:35:06.53
Get it for 2020.
00:35:06.57\00:35:08.34
"Be strong and of good courage,
00:35:08.37\00:35:10.61
for to these
people you shall divide
00:35:10.64\00:35:13.78
as an inheritance
the land, get this,
00:35:13.81\00:35:16.98
which I swore to
their fathers to give them."
00:35:17.01\00:35:20.08
Let me pause and say something,
00:35:20.12\00:35:21.52
they didn't get the
land by winning the battle.
00:35:21.55\00:35:24.29
The Lord won the
battle and gave them the land,
00:35:24.32\00:35:26.59
but they focused
on the giants there,
00:35:26.62\00:35:28.62
rather than the
God that was greater
00:35:28.66\00:35:30.36
than all of their giants.
00:35:30.39\00:35:31.89
Joshua 1:7,
00:35:31.93\00:35:34.46
"Only be strong
and very courageous."
00:35:34.50\00:35:38.00
Let me tell you something,
if you don't have any courage,
00:35:38.03\00:35:40.74
buy yourself a can
of courage and drink it.
00:35:40.77\00:35:43.07
Get on your knees
and pray and say, Lord,
00:35:43.10\00:35:44.87
strengthen my courage.
00:35:44.91\00:35:46.24
My courage is
weak but strengthen it.
00:35:46.27\00:35:48.68
Only be strong and very,
00:35:48.71\00:35:50.51
very courageous
that you may observe
00:35:50.55\00:35:53.05
and do all
according to all the law
00:35:53.08\00:35:56.22
which Moses my
servant commanded you."
00:35:56.25\00:35:59.32
And watch this.
00:35:59.35\00:36:00.69
God does not
want us to vacillate.
00:36:00.72\00:36:02.62
He said to Joshua,
00:36:02.66\00:36:04.26
"Do not turn from
it to the right hand,
00:36:04.29\00:36:07.20
or to the left, that you
may prosper wherever you go."
00:36:07.23\00:36:11.97
Prosperity is
always conditional.
00:36:12.00\00:36:14.74
And look at verse 8,
00:36:14.77\00:36:16.10
"This Book of the Law shall
not depart from your mouth."
00:36:16.14\00:36:19.41
What is he saying?
00:36:19.44\00:36:20.78
Let your words be
flavored with the presence
00:36:20.81\00:36:23.51
and power of God's Word.
00:36:23.55\00:36:25.38
"But you shall
meditate in it day and night
00:36:25.41\00:36:28.55
that you may
observe to do according
00:36:28.58\00:36:30.89
to all that is written in it.
00:36:30.92\00:36:34.22
For then you will
make your way prosperous,
00:36:34.26\00:36:37.86
then you will
have good success."
00:36:37.89\00:36:41.06
Did you get that?
00:36:41.10\00:36:42.43
He said to Joshua,
00:36:42.46\00:36:43.87
when you meditate on God's Word,
00:36:43.90\00:36:46.17
God's Word will
be in your mouth.
00:36:46.20\00:36:48.27
I've discovered,
00:36:48.30\00:36:49.64
people have a lot
of issues of life.
00:36:49.67\00:36:51.71
Those issues begin here,
00:36:51.74\00:36:53.84
then they find their place here,
00:36:53.88\00:36:55.84
then they reveal themselves here
00:36:55.88\00:36:57.78
but if God's Word is
hidden in your heart,
00:36:57.81\00:37:00.15
and stored in your mind,
00:37:00.18\00:37:01.52
you will speak the
Word of God as He said,
00:37:01.55\00:37:03.52
then the Word of God
will be in your mouth,
00:37:03.55\00:37:05.79
and you will have good success.
00:37:05.82\00:37:07.99
The blessings of
God are always connected
00:37:08.02\00:37:12.36
to the leading of God,
00:37:12.39\00:37:14.66
always connected to us being
willing to be obedient to God.
00:37:14.70\00:37:19.73
But don't miss this next point.
00:37:19.77\00:37:21.90
God may not lead you
00:37:21.94\00:37:23.41
where you want to go
but He always leads us
00:37:23.44\00:37:26.61
where it's best for us to go.
00:37:26.64\00:37:28.84
God may not lead you
where you want to go as Jonah,
00:37:28.88\00:37:33.08
but God will always lead you
00:37:33.11\00:37:34.98
where He knows is
best for you to go.
00:37:35.02\00:37:38.22
Now, my third
point, the third point,
00:37:38.25\00:37:41.32
when God is with you,
there is no reason to fear.
00:37:41.36\00:37:45.59
When God is with you,
00:37:45.63\00:37:46.96
and He promises to
be with you in 2022,
00:37:47.00\00:37:50.43
He promises to
be with your family,
00:37:50.47\00:37:52.30
He promises to be
with your children.
00:37:52.33\00:37:54.30
I know people that have
been praying for decades
00:37:54.34\00:37:56.04
for their children, "Pastor,
will my children be saved?"
00:37:56.07\00:37:59.44
Let me tell you,
friends, God says,
00:37:59.47\00:38:01.11
I will contend with
those who contend with Me
00:38:01.14\00:38:03.11
and I will save their children.
00:38:03.14\00:38:04.68
There is no need to fear
that God is not concerned
00:38:04.71\00:38:07.12
about your children.
00:38:07.15\00:38:08.48
He told Peter,
the Lord is not slack
00:38:08.52\00:38:11.15
concerning His promises
as some men count slackness,
00:38:11.19\00:38:14.49
but He's
long-suffering towards us,
00:38:14.52\00:38:16.93
not willing that
any should perish,
00:38:16.96\00:38:19.69
but that all
should come to repentance.
00:38:19.73\00:38:21.70
God is fighting for the
salvation of your children.
00:38:21.73\00:38:24.27
God is fighting for the
salvation of your spouse.
00:38:24.30\00:38:27.14
God is fighting
for the salvation
00:38:27.17\00:38:28.84
of your cousins and your in-laws
00:38:28.87\00:38:30.41
and your aunts and your uncles.
00:38:30.44\00:38:32.11
Keep them before
the Lord in prayer.
00:38:32.14\00:38:34.38
I tell you something about God.
00:38:34.41\00:38:36.18
He has to work long because
the human heart is recalcitrant.
00:38:36.21\00:38:39.68
But God can work longer than
the human heart can resist Him.
00:38:39.71\00:38:44.15
God will always be with you.
00:38:44.19\00:38:45.52
There is no reason to fear.
00:38:45.55\00:38:47.06
Joshua 1:9.
00:38:47.09\00:38:48.62
Look what the Lord told Joshua.
00:38:48.66\00:38:50.99
He says, "Have I
not commanded you?
00:38:51.03\00:38:54.56
Have I not commanded you?
00:38:54.60\00:38:56.26
Be strong and of good courage.
00:38:56.30\00:38:58.03
Do not be afraid, nor be dismay,
00:38:58.07\00:39:00.90
for the Lord your God
is with you," get this,
00:39:00.94\00:39:03.34
"wherever you go."
00:39:03.37\00:39:05.37
My wife and I have
been to a lot of places.
00:39:05.41\00:39:08.04
We've been on shaky airplanes.
We've been in terrible storms.
00:39:08.08\00:39:11.41
We've been on ships that have
been tossed in the night winds
00:39:11.45\00:39:14.72
and the waves that
were angry but God told us,
00:39:14.75\00:39:18.65
be strong and of good courage.
00:39:18.69\00:39:20.66
Your God is with
you wherever you go.
00:39:20.69\00:39:23.46
I tell the story about a
pastor who was on a plane.
00:39:23.49\00:39:26.53
This was a story
that was told a while ago,
00:39:26.56\00:39:28.60
it was in our time of flight.
00:39:28.63\00:39:30.90
When the plane was being tossed,
00:39:30.93\00:39:33.00
he said I whispered a prayer.
00:39:33.03\00:39:35.47
I whispered a prayer.
00:39:35.50\00:39:37.01
And he says, I knew that God
was going to answer my prayer
00:39:37.04\00:39:41.04
and that the
passengers would be safe.
00:39:41.08\00:39:43.24
I was on a flight one
day coming back from Florida,
00:39:43.28\00:39:46.55
on Southwest Airlines.
00:39:46.58\00:39:48.15
And I was coming home to
change and the very next day
00:39:48.18\00:39:51.05
go to the Philippines to
join with the Heritage Singers,
00:39:51.09\00:39:54.06
as I was singing
with them in 1991.
00:39:54.09\00:39:56.89
And I remember very
well coming into St. Louis,
00:39:56.93\00:39:59.39
it had a stormy
part of the year.
00:39:59.43\00:40:01.83
If you had not
live in the Midwest,
00:40:01.86\00:40:03.70
it could be 70
degrees one day, 30 the next,
00:40:03.73\00:40:06.90
strong storms, and then snow,
00:40:06.94\00:40:08.54
it just changes randomly.
00:40:08.57\00:40:10.54
We say here in the Midwest
if you don't like the weather,
00:40:10.57\00:40:12.37
just wait, it's gonna change.
00:40:12.41\00:40:14.44
But here we were
descending in St. Louis.
00:40:14.48\00:40:16.81
And I was sitting next to
a lady who was sitting next
00:40:16.85\00:40:18.65
to her husband and the plane
was dancing through the sky.
00:40:18.68\00:40:22.92
I mean, it was
going down and coming up.
00:40:22.95\00:40:25.59
It was shaking,
rattling, and rolling.
00:40:25.62\00:40:28.32
It was fairly
frightening but I was listening
00:40:28.36\00:40:31.79
to my songs in my headset,
I was listening to the music
00:40:31.83\00:40:35.13
that I was practicing.
00:40:35.16\00:40:36.63
So when I joined
with the rest of the group
00:40:36.67\00:40:38.37
in the
Philippines, there in Mindanao,
00:40:38.40\00:40:40.64
the Heritage Singers,
that I would know the songs,
00:40:40.67\00:40:43.00
I would bring
them back to my memory.
00:40:43.04\00:40:45.24
And I remember listening
to a song that simply says,
00:40:45.27\00:40:48.28
I know the peace
speaker, I know him by name.
00:40:48.31\00:40:52.51
And I heard that
lady next to me whimpering
00:40:52.55\00:40:54.15
and burying her head
in her husband shoulder
00:40:54.18\00:40:57.45
and just, when
the plane would dip,
00:40:57.49\00:40:59.35
she would let
out a small scream,
00:40:59.39\00:41:02.06
but I heard it and
I had some headsets on
00:41:02.09\00:41:05.73
and I took them off
and I tapped the lady
00:41:05.76\00:41:07.43
on the shoulder and
I said I have a song
00:41:07.46\00:41:08.83
I want you to listen to.
00:41:08.86\00:41:13.27
She says, "Who are you?"
00:41:13.30\00:41:15.34
And I said, "I'm John Lomacang,
00:41:15.37\00:41:16.71
I'm a pastor."
00:41:16.74\00:41:19.44
"What song do you
want me to listen to?"
00:41:19.47\00:41:20.81
Just listen to it.
00:41:20.84\00:41:23.51
And she put the headsets on.
00:41:23.55\00:41:25.85
And she listened to that song
00:41:25.88\00:41:27.22
peace speaker until
the plane landed safely
00:41:27.25\00:41:30.62
at the St. Louis Airport.
00:41:30.65\00:41:32.35
She took the headsets off.
00:41:32.39\00:41:33.72
She says what do you do?
00:41:33.76\00:41:35.12
I said, I told you I'm a pastor.
00:41:35.16\00:41:37.63
See, she said,
"Well, why are you so calm?"
00:41:37.66\00:41:40.30
She said, "You should
be a motivational speaker."
00:41:40.33\00:41:42.46
I said, "I'm not a
motivational speaker,
00:41:42.50\00:41:44.33
but I trust God's Word."
00:41:44.37\00:41:46.23
And these words I never forgot.
00:41:46.27\00:41:48.00
She said to me,
"Thank you for allowing me
00:41:48.04\00:41:51.84
to travel with you."
00:41:51.87\00:41:53.54
You see, friends, I
know the peace speaker
00:41:53.58\00:41:55.31
I know him by name.
00:41:55.34\00:41:57.35
And when the storms of
life rattle your faith,
00:41:57.38\00:42:00.22
when the difficulties of life
00:42:00.25\00:42:01.58
challenge the
things you have read,
00:42:01.62\00:42:03.92
when the storms
of life say to you,
00:42:03.95\00:42:06.22
it's only by God's grace
that you will land on the ground
00:42:06.25\00:42:09.69
of God's promises.
00:42:09.72\00:42:11.06
Hold on to the Lord.
00:42:11.09\00:42:12.73
When she said
thank you for allowing me
00:42:12.76\00:42:15.60
to travel with her, with me...
00:42:15.63\00:42:18.20
Thank you for
allowing me to travel with you,
00:42:18.23\00:42:19.93
she told me that.
00:42:19.97\00:42:21.30
I thought, wow, praise God.
00:42:21.34\00:42:23.14
Once I was on my
way to Lake Tahoe.
00:42:23.17\00:42:25.44
This is my wife and I
were living in California
00:42:25.47\00:42:27.91
and I saw a sticker one day
00:42:27.94\00:42:29.61
and I cut off
just a small portion
00:42:29.64\00:42:32.58
that I really liked.
00:42:32.61\00:42:34.12
And on the back
of our forerunner,
00:42:34.15\00:42:36.22
when people drove behind us,
00:42:36.25\00:42:37.59
we had this black sticker
with the white lettering.
00:42:37.62\00:42:40.59
I'm on a mission for God.
00:42:40.62\00:42:42.82
And I loved it when people
pulled us over at rest areas
00:42:42.86\00:42:44.89
they say I saw your sticker.
00:42:44.93\00:42:46.26
And they said, "What do you do?"
00:42:46.29\00:42:47.63
I said, "I'm a pastor,
I'm on a mission from God."
00:42:47.66\00:42:49.86
Friends, I want you to
be on a mission for God.
00:42:49.90\00:42:52.63
When you are on
a mission for God,
00:42:52.67\00:42:54.44
you can accept
the words of Joshua,
00:42:54.47\00:42:56.47
for the Lord your God is
with you wherever you go.
00:42:56.50\00:43:00.31
You see the simple math
is this to all who seek Him,
00:43:00.34\00:43:03.28
Christ will become the
present help in time of need,
00:43:03.31\00:43:06.15
and they will
have a strong faith
00:43:06.18\00:43:07.68
in the day of trial.
00:43:07.72\00:43:09.28
When you trust God, you
will have a strong faith
00:43:09.32\00:43:13.96
in the day of trial.
00:43:13.99\00:43:15.79
Why is that necessary?
00:43:15.82\00:43:17.49
Because in 2022,
00:43:17.53\00:43:18.89
the economy may not be with you,
00:43:18.93\00:43:21.26
but God is.
00:43:21.30\00:43:22.63
Your family may not
be with you, but God is.
00:43:22.66\00:43:26.97
Your diagnosis
may not be the best,
00:43:27.00\00:43:30.74
but God is always at His best.
00:43:30.77\00:43:34.24
But the Lord cannot
bless you and do a new thing
00:43:34.28\00:43:37.05
if you are content with the old.
00:43:37.08\00:43:40.48
Be strong and of good courage.
00:43:40.52\00:43:42.42
God will be with
you wherever you go.
00:43:42.45\00:43:45.75
But the next condition
is God cannot bless you
00:43:45.79\00:43:48.86
with a new thing if you
are content with the old.
00:43:48.89\00:43:54.26
Here are the words
of the Apostle Paul
00:43:54.30\00:43:55.66
in 2 Corinthians 5:17.
00:43:55.70\00:43:58.33
Listen to this and this
applies very much to 2022.
00:43:58.37\00:44:01.90
As a matter of fact,
every day of your life.
00:44:01.94\00:44:04.31
He says, "Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ,
00:44:04.34\00:44:08.04
he is a new creation.
00:44:08.08\00:44:10.05
Old things have passed away,
00:44:10.08\00:44:12.25
behold, all
things have become new."
00:44:12.28\00:44:15.08
Now I've applied
that to 2021, and 2022.
00:44:15.12\00:44:18.39
Old things have
passed away 2021,
00:44:18.42\00:44:22.22
all things have become
new, but how are they new?
00:44:22.26\00:44:25.59
If anyone is in Christ,
that person, that young man,
00:44:25.63\00:44:29.36
that young woman, that
husband, that wife, that family,
00:44:29.40\00:44:31.67
that marriage,
that is a new thing,
00:44:31.70\00:44:34.47
a new creation.
00:44:34.50\00:44:35.84
God can make something
new out of something old.
00:44:35.87\00:44:39.41
God can bring blessings
out of the pit of your life.
00:44:39.44\00:44:42.74
God can turn your
dark days into sunny days.
00:44:42.78\00:44:45.68
God can do anything that
has never been the challenge.
00:44:45.71\00:44:49.28
But the challenge is,
do you want to trust God?
00:44:49.32\00:44:51.92
Do you want to be a new thing?
00:44:51.95\00:44:54.39
Here's my words
of encouragement,
00:44:54.42\00:44:55.76
four very quick points.
00:44:55.79\00:44:57.13
Don't focus on
what you came out of,
00:44:57.16\00:44:59.46
focus on where
God is leading you.
00:44:59.49\00:45:01.40
Don't focus on
what you came out of,
00:45:01.43\00:45:03.97
focus on where
God is leading you.
00:45:04.00\00:45:05.97
That is why, get this,
that is why the rearview mirror
00:45:06.00\00:45:10.17
is so much smaller
than the windshield.
00:45:10.21\00:45:12.54
So many of you spend
your time looking back,
00:45:12.57\00:45:15.14
God is saying look at the
grand possibilities before you.
00:45:15.18\00:45:18.25
Don't become a
rearview mirror Christian,
00:45:18.28\00:45:21.38
focus on the promises of
God that are ahead of you.
00:45:21.42\00:45:24.39
When we focus on the
promises of God ahead of us,
00:45:24.42\00:45:26.99
we don't get
distracted by the failures
00:45:27.02\00:45:29.19
that are behind us.
00:45:29.22\00:45:30.56
Second thing,
00:45:30.59\00:45:31.93
don't focus on the
deserted wilderness behind you,
00:45:31.96\00:45:35.13
focus on the abundant
Promised Land ahead of you.
00:45:35.16\00:45:38.60
Don't focus on the
deserted wilderness behind you,
00:45:38.63\00:45:41.84
focus on the abundant
field of promises ahead of you.
00:45:41.87\00:45:45.87
And while time is winding down,
00:45:45.91\00:45:48.14
make sure your
prayers are going up.
00:45:48.18\00:45:51.71
Time is winding down.
00:45:51.75\00:45:53.45
But now more than ever before,
00:45:53.48\00:45:55.48
we should make sure that
our prayers are going up.
00:45:55.52\00:45:58.09
We will learn
that the only thing
00:45:58.12\00:45:59.92
that is good about bad
news is it is temporary
00:45:59.95\00:46:04.73
and it will
keep us on our knees.
00:46:04.76\00:46:06.56
God allows
difficulty to come to remind us
00:46:06.59\00:46:09.36
that we should not feel
that we can stand on our feet
00:46:09.40\00:46:13.60
until we have learned that
we could kneel on our knees.
00:46:13.64\00:46:17.97
Don't focus on the
things that we can't control.
00:46:18.01\00:46:20.88
Focus on the one
that is still in control.
00:46:20.91\00:46:23.85
The problem is not God.
00:46:23.88\00:46:26.28
The problem is us.
00:46:26.31\00:46:28.02
We try to control
things that only God knows
00:46:28.05\00:46:30.32
He can control.
00:46:30.35\00:46:31.69
And when often
we settle for less,
00:46:31.72\00:46:34.19
help us to remember Lord,
00:46:34.22\00:46:35.72
don't settle for less
than what God desires for you.
00:46:35.76\00:46:39.33
God wants to do a new thing.
00:46:39.36\00:46:44.03
Many years ago, I read a story
about one of our presidents
00:46:44.07\00:46:46.63
and I looked at his life.
00:46:46.67\00:46:48.00
It's just like the
journey of all the Christians.
00:46:48.04\00:46:49.77
When we look at the
life of where this president
00:46:49.80\00:46:52.64
eventually ended up.
00:46:52.67\00:46:54.41
He had the life like
Joshua, listen to his resume.
00:46:54.44\00:46:57.85
Difficult childhood,
00:46:57.88\00:46:59.68
less than one year
of formal schooling,
00:46:59.71\00:47:02.68
failed in business in 1831.
00:47:02.72\00:47:05.35
Defeated for
Legislature in 1832.
00:47:05.39\00:47:09.19
Again failed in
business in 1833.
00:47:09.22\00:47:12.19
Elected to Legislature in 1834.
00:47:12.23\00:47:15.36
That's what happened.
00:47:15.40\00:47:16.73
He was elected to
Legislature in 1834.
00:47:16.77\00:47:19.23
Fiancee died.
00:47:19.27\00:47:20.90
His fiancee died, she died.
00:47:20.94\00:47:23.87
When did she die? In 1835.
00:47:23.91\00:47:26.81
He was defeated for
speaker of the house in 1838.
00:47:26.84\00:47:32.38
Defeated for electorate in 1840.
00:47:32.41\00:47:34.62
He got married in 1842.
00:47:34.65\00:47:37.75
Only one of his sons
lived past the age of 18.
00:47:37.79\00:47:41.22
Defeated for Congress in 1843.
00:47:41.26\00:47:44.66
It keeps going.
00:47:44.69\00:47:46.03
Elected to Congress in 1846.
00:47:46.06\00:47:48.43
Defeated again
for Congress in 1848.
00:47:48.46\00:47:52.17
Defeated for Senate in 1855.
00:47:52.20\00:47:54.80
Defeated for President in 1856.
00:47:54.84\00:47:57.97
Defeated for Senate in 1858.
00:47:58.01\00:48:01.44
Elected president in 1860.
00:48:01.48\00:48:04.75
Who am I talking about?
00:48:04.78\00:48:06.61
Notice all the
defeats and all the failures,
00:48:06.65\00:48:08.52
but he kept going.
00:48:08.55\00:48:09.88
He kept going
because he believed
00:48:09.92\00:48:11.32
that the God he served
00:48:11.35\00:48:12.69
and when you study
about this man's life,
00:48:12.72\00:48:14.56
he had a connection with God.
00:48:14.59\00:48:17.26
Let me tell you what he said
before I tell you who he is.
00:48:17.29\00:48:21.06
He said the probability
that we may fail in the struggle
00:48:21.10\00:48:26.00
ought not to deter us
from the support of the cause
00:48:26.03\00:48:29.04
we believe to be just,
His name is Abraham Lincoln.
00:48:29.07\00:48:33.14
Failed, failed,
failed, defeated, defeated,
00:48:33.17\00:48:35.31
defeated eventually
became president in 1860.
00:48:35.34\00:48:39.58
So many of us fail
when we're that much closer
00:48:39.61\00:48:42.72
to our destination
than we used to be.
00:48:42.75\00:48:45.59
So many people fall
short of the blessing of God
00:48:45.62\00:48:49.02
because they cannot endure
the defeats of their lives.
00:48:49.06\00:48:51.69
And I'm sure that you
listening to me today.
00:48:51.73\00:48:53.90
I'm sure you've had defeats.
00:48:53.93\00:48:55.56
I'm sure you had
trials and tribulations.
00:48:55.60\00:48:57.30
I'm sure that you faced things
00:48:57.33\00:48:59.30
that have taken your faith
00:48:59.33\00:49:01.17
almost to the
point of exhaustion,
00:49:01.20\00:49:03.77
but learn from
those who stuck in there,
00:49:03.81\00:49:05.77
who hung in there.
00:49:05.81\00:49:07.14
Winston Churchill said,
00:49:07.18\00:49:09.01
"Success is never final
and failure is never fatal.
00:49:09.04\00:49:13.08
It is the courage to
continue that counts."
00:49:13.11\00:49:17.65
When you study how Winston
Churchill became a statesman,
00:49:17.69\00:49:21.06
that many people
inspired, that was the cadence,
00:49:21.09\00:49:24.33
that was the mantra of his life.
00:49:24.36\00:49:26.46
Success is never final
and failure is never fatal.
00:49:26.49\00:49:30.73
It is the courage to
continue that counts.
00:49:30.77\00:49:33.84
If God brought you to 2022,
00:49:33.87\00:49:36.77
He wants to give you
the courage to continue,
00:49:36.81\00:49:39.34
and the courage
to trust His Word
00:49:39.37\00:49:41.44
is what's going
to count in the end.
00:49:41.48\00:49:43.24
You can give up in
the wilderness and say
00:49:43.28\00:49:44.78
God is unfaithful.
00:49:44.81\00:49:46.15
God has not
giving me what I desire.
00:49:46.18\00:49:49.45
The reason may be
because what you desire
00:49:49.48\00:49:51.12
is not what God
wants you to have.
00:49:51.15\00:49:52.95
And He'll hold you
back until you say,
00:49:52.99\00:49:56.09
let me accept what
God alone has for me.
00:49:56.12\00:49:59.26
Remember, once again,
He's the one that says,
00:49:59.29\00:50:01.96
I know the plans I have for you,
00:50:02.00\00:50:04.07
plans to prosper
you, not to harm you,
00:50:04.10\00:50:07.30
to give you a
future, and the hope.
00:50:07.34\00:50:09.14
Henry Ford forgot to put a
reverse gear in his first car.
00:50:09.17\00:50:13.51
Can you imagine that?
00:50:13.54\00:50:14.88
The very first Ford
car had no reverse gear.
00:50:14.91\00:50:17.65
Now that may be an epiphany.
00:50:17.68\00:50:19.31
Maybe he never
intended to go backwards
00:50:19.35\00:50:22.88
but we know the story,
00:50:22.92\00:50:24.25
he just forgot to
put a reverse gear
00:50:24.29\00:50:25.89
but that was the way he thought.
00:50:25.92\00:50:27.99
When you build something,
it's intended to go forward,
00:50:28.02\00:50:30.96
why put a gear to go backward.
00:50:30.99\00:50:33.83
Some of us only
need a forward gear
00:50:33.86\00:50:36.20
because some of
us are too familiar
00:50:36.23\00:50:38.20
with going backward.
00:50:38.23\00:50:39.63
Success is not how you start
00:50:39.67\00:50:41.97
but success is how you finish.
00:50:42.00\00:50:45.47
Friends, God's got a
tremendous plan for your life.
00:50:45.51\00:50:48.48
Success is not how you start
but success is how you finish.
00:50:48.51\00:50:53.82
For Paul the Apostle,
Jerusalem was a tough place.
00:50:53.85\00:50:57.59
But he continued trusting God.
00:50:57.62\00:50:59.42
It was a place of
torment and tribulation.
00:50:59.45\00:51:01.86
But Jerusalem was
not his goal, heaven was.
00:51:01.89\00:51:05.39
Listen to the words
of the Apostle Paul,
00:51:05.43\00:51:07.30
in Acts 20:24,
notice what he says.
00:51:07.33\00:51:11.10
He says, "But none of
these things moved me,"
00:51:11.13\00:51:13.74
all that he went through,
none of these things moved him,
00:51:13.77\00:51:16.07
he said, none of them moved him.
00:51:16.10\00:51:17.87
"Nor do I count my life
dear to myself, he said,
00:51:17.91\00:51:21.94
so that I may finish my
race with joy and the ministry,
00:51:21.98\00:51:26.72
which I received
from the Lord Jesus,
00:51:26.75\00:51:30.29
to testify to the
gospel of the grace of God."
00:51:30.32\00:51:33.89
He says that if you're
going to continue going forward,
00:51:33.92\00:51:36.19
you need the grace of God.
00:51:36.22\00:51:37.76
That's why toward
the end of his life,
00:51:37.79\00:51:39.39
he made the statement,
I fought a good fight,
00:51:39.43\00:51:42.40
I finished my
course, I kept the faith,
00:51:42.43\00:51:45.40
I'm going to say that to you.
00:51:45.43\00:51:46.94
2022 is just
beginning, but let me tell you,
00:51:46.97\00:51:50.21
as never before,
fight a good fight of faith,
00:51:50.24\00:51:53.34
stay in there and
finish the course.
00:51:53.38\00:51:55.21
So one day you can
say I kept the faith.
00:51:55.24\00:51:57.15
And then you will be able to say
00:51:57.18\00:51:58.51
what the Apostle
Paul continued to say,
00:51:58.55\00:52:00.72
there is, therefore,
a crown of righteousness
00:52:00.75\00:52:03.89
laid up for me,
and not from me only,
00:52:03.92\00:52:06.89
but unto all those
that love His appearing.
00:52:06.92\00:52:10.26
Are you looking for the crown?
00:52:10.29\00:52:12.26
Well, if you
remember the life of Jesus,
00:52:12.29\00:52:13.73
the cross comes
before the crown.
00:52:13.76\00:52:16.87
But God is the
specialist and God will work
00:52:16.90\00:52:20.24
through your
failures to reverse them
00:52:20.27\00:52:23.30
to become successes.
00:52:23.34\00:52:24.81
Well, how do I know that?
00:52:24.84\00:52:26.27
How do I know that God
can work through our failures
00:52:26.31\00:52:29.91
and turn them
around into successes?
00:52:29.94\00:52:32.31
How do I know that God
can take the worst plans,
00:52:32.35\00:52:35.12
and later on turn
those plans around
00:52:35.15\00:52:37.59
that His better plans
will rise to the surface?
00:52:37.62\00:52:41.62
Paul knows that.
00:52:41.66\00:52:42.99
Romans 8:28, have
you forgotten that?
00:52:43.02\00:52:45.16
He says, and we know
00:52:45.19\00:52:47.26
that all things
work together for good,
00:52:47.30\00:52:52.00
not all good things,
but all things the bad
00:52:52.03\00:52:54.17
and the good, the
ugly and the pretty,
00:52:54.20\00:52:56.27
the up and the down,
the plenty and the few,
00:52:56.30\00:52:58.97
all things work
together for good to those who,
00:52:59.01\00:53:01.84
get this, love God.
00:53:01.88\00:53:03.78
The question
is, do you love God?
00:53:03.81\00:53:05.45
If you love God,
all the things you face
00:53:05.48\00:53:08.18
young lady is going to work out.
00:53:08.22\00:53:10.45
Patient husband,
it's going to work out.
00:53:10.49\00:53:12.79
Desperate single lady,
desperate, single young man,
00:53:12.82\00:53:16.62
wondering what your future
is, it's going to work out.
00:53:16.66\00:53:18.99
If you love God,
it's going to work out.
00:53:19.03\00:53:21.20
If you are one of the
called according to His purpose,
00:53:21.23\00:53:25.63
it's going to work out.
00:53:25.67\00:53:27.40
But as I close, let me give
you some very important counsel.
00:53:27.44\00:53:30.41
The question is do we believe?
00:53:30.44\00:53:33.04
Do we really believe
that all things work together
00:53:33.07\00:53:36.04
for good to those who love God?
00:53:36.08\00:53:37.81
Here's the formula for God
to do a new thing in your life.
00:53:37.85\00:53:41.42
You cannot start the
next chapter of your life
00:53:41.45\00:53:44.32
if you keep
reading the last one.
00:53:44.35\00:53:46.32
Did you hear what I said?
00:53:46.35\00:53:47.69
You can't start the
next chapter of your life
00:53:47.72\00:53:49.32
if you are stuck in the
chapter of 2021 or 2019 or 18.
00:53:49.36\00:53:54.30
Stop reading the last chapter
00:53:54.33\00:53:56.56
and let God do a
new thing in your life.
00:53:56.60\00:54:00.40
The formula for God to take you
on a new walk, a new journey,
00:54:00.44\00:54:03.77
you will never make
room in your mind for Canaan
00:54:03.81\00:54:07.14
if you keep
looking back to Egypt.
00:54:07.18\00:54:09.54
Yeah, you had failures,
00:54:09.58\00:54:11.21
you have the things you
did that you wish you never did
00:54:11.25\00:54:13.92
but make room in
your mind for Canaan,
00:54:13.95\00:54:16.35
and stop making room
in your mind for Egypt.
00:54:16.38\00:54:19.59
The formula for getting ready
for God to do a new thing is,
00:54:19.62\00:54:23.22
it is not what we
need, but it is whom we need.
00:54:23.26\00:54:26.46
It is not what we paid
for, but what Jesus paid for.
00:54:26.49\00:54:31.63
It is not the
thrill of getting more,
00:54:31.67\00:54:34.04
but it is the
blessing of being more.
00:54:34.07\00:54:37.11
It is not the
connection to earthly relatives,
00:54:37.14\00:54:40.18
but the connection
to our Heavenly Father.
00:54:40.21\00:54:43.28
Yes, God wants to do
a new thing in your life
00:54:43.31\00:54:45.71
for 2022, but are you
ready for that new thing?
00:54:45.75\00:54:48.42
God can do amazingly,
00:54:48.45\00:54:51.25
abundantly above all
that you can ask or think.
00:54:51.29\00:54:54.92
Well, how do I know that?
00:54:54.96\00:54:56.73
There were
intervals in my ministry
00:54:56.76\00:54:58.43
that I wanted to give up,
00:54:58.46\00:54:59.93
but I look back on those days
00:54:59.96\00:55:01.30
when I was about to break
like a bruised reed in the wind
00:55:01.33\00:55:04.97
and I heard a still
small voice say to me,
00:55:05.00\00:55:06.87
"Hold on, the
best is yet to come."
00:55:06.90\00:55:09.97
Pastor John wouldn't be talking
00:55:10.01\00:55:11.44
to you today if he had given up
00:55:11.47\00:55:13.24
in the
difficult moments of life.
00:55:13.27\00:55:14.98
My wife and I would
not be in our 30th year
00:55:15.01\00:55:16.95
of marriage if we
allow the difficulties
00:55:16.98\00:55:18.85
of the world to crush us.
00:55:18.88\00:55:20.42
We could have been
working somewhere else
00:55:20.45\00:55:22.02
doing something
else because God allows
00:55:22.05\00:55:24.45
those trials to
come to refine us,
00:55:24.49\00:55:26.59
not to break us,
not to bruise us,
00:55:26.62\00:55:29.06
God desires to do something new.
00:55:29.09\00:55:31.63
And the fact of the matter is,
00:55:31.66\00:55:32.99
we are not already there yet.
00:55:33.03\00:55:34.36
But here are the parting
words of the Apostle Paul.
00:55:34.40\00:55:36.93
He says in Philippians
3:12-14, hear these words,
00:55:36.97\00:55:40.94
as I talk about the new thing
00:55:40.97\00:55:42.30
that God wants
to do in your life.
00:55:42.34\00:55:44.17
2021 is gone,
00:55:44.21\00:55:47.08
it's buried, it's
never going to come back.
00:55:47.11\00:55:49.31
And some of you are
saying to God be the glory,
00:55:49.34\00:55:51.51
I don't want to see it again
00:55:51.55\00:55:53.48
but 2022 lies
before you clear pages.
00:55:53.52\00:55:57.15
Here are the words
of a man who understands
00:55:57.19\00:55:59.69
what it means to press.
00:55:59.72\00:56:01.32
Philippians 3:12,
00:56:01.36\00:56:03.12
"Not that I
have already attained
00:56:03.16\00:56:05.53
or am already
perfected, but I press on,
00:56:05.56\00:56:08.70
friends, time to press on,
00:56:08.73\00:56:10.67
that I may lay hold of
that for which Christ Jesus
00:56:10.70\00:56:13.47
has also laid hold of me.
00:56:13.50\00:56:16.10
Brethren, he says in," verse 13,
00:56:16.14\00:56:18.11
"I do not count
myself to have apprehended
00:56:18.14\00:56:21.08
but one thing I do,"
00:56:21.11\00:56:22.81
if there's one
thing you do here it is,
00:56:22.84\00:56:24.95
"forgetting those
things which are behind,
00:56:24.98\00:56:27.95
and reaching
forward to those things
00:56:27.98\00:56:29.52
which are ahead.
00:56:29.55\00:56:30.99
I press toward
the goal for the prize
00:56:31.02\00:56:34.59
of the upward call
of God in Christ Jesus."
00:56:34.62\00:56:37.99
And in one of my favorite books,
00:56:38.03\00:56:39.36
Desire of Ages,
00:56:39.39\00:56:40.73
God's servant says
this on page 224 and 225,
00:56:40.76\00:56:43.97
God never leads His children
00:56:44.00\00:56:46.40
otherwise then they
would choose to be led
00:56:46.43\00:56:50.47
if they could see the
end from the beginning,
00:56:50.51\00:56:53.81
and discern the
glory of the purpose,
00:56:53.84\00:56:56.34
which they are fulfilling
as co-workers with Him.
00:56:56.38\00:57:00.35
Friends, God wants
to do a new thing in us,
00:57:00.38\00:57:04.59
but it can only occur
00:57:04.62\00:57:06.79
if we allow the
Lord to be in us.
00:57:06.82\00:57:09.32
2022 is before you.
00:57:09.36\00:57:11.69
God is with you.
00:57:11.73\00:57:13.06
Be strong and of good courage.
00:57:13.09\00:57:14.93
The future is
going to be bright.
00:57:14.96\00:57:16.63
There are gonna
be some rainy days,
00:57:16.67\00:57:18.23
but the sun will come out
00:57:18.27\00:57:19.83
tomorrow as a songwriter said,
00:57:19.87\00:57:22.10
God wants to do a new thing
and I say to you once again,
00:57:22.14\00:57:25.74
welcome to 2022,
00:57:25.77\00:57:28.11
let us paint dry on
the promises of God.
00:57:28.14\00:57:31.61