1 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:07,360 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. I'm the pastor of Elevation 2 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:10,480 Speaker 1: Church and this is our podcast. Be sure to subscribe 3 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: so we can get you these new sermons every week. 4 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: I hope you're blessed today. 5 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:40,360 Speaker 2: Good morning, Wow, what more times for the Lord? All right, 6 00:00:40,479 --> 00:00:44,880 Speaker 2: praise God, you can be seated. I love you too. 7 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 2: You know, we we tell each other we love each 8 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 2: other all the time, but I really really do love Halloween, Stephen. 9 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 2: And it's kind of funny you have connections with certain 10 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 2: people and I met him, I don't know how many 11 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 2: years ago at a Hillsong conference in Australia and there 12 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 2: was just like an immediate bond. And so it's an 13 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:15,680 Speaker 2: honor for me to be here today. And I want 14 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:21,320 Speaker 2: to teach you something that will you'll enjoy have fun with, 15 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 2: but it will also make you come a pyre because 16 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 2: we're living in a day that really, to be honest, 17 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 2: we talk about how hard it is, but God shows 18 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 2: us for this time. We didn't just end up here 19 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty five accidentally. We're here for a purpose 20 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 2: and the world is very dark, but we have the 21 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 2: privilege of being lights in a dog for it. And 22 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 2: I think we need to shine a lot little brighter 23 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 2: than what we are. Amen. And you know, everybody, you 24 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 2: all have a pulpit. Maybe it's not this one. It 25 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 2: might be your backyard fence or your desk at work, 26 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 2: but you've all got a pulpit. And most people that 27 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 2: will come to the Lord will come through somebody like you. 28 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 2: Your influence, because the ones that really need it aren't 29 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 2: here today. But they are different places in your world. 30 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 2: And really we're not supposed to be doing all the 31 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 2: work anyway, Paul said. You train them up so they 32 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 2: go out and do the work of the ministry. You know. Well, 33 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 2: first of all, I'll tell you I have four grown children, 34 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 2: and my baby will be forty five in December. My 35 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 2: oldest son will be sixty. I don't know how that 36 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 2: all worked out, since I'm only fifty's that's an odd thing. 37 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 2: But we have four grown children. Dave actually ended up 38 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:10,960 Speaker 2: with some kind of virus and couldn't come this weekend. 39 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:15,919 Speaker 2: And we have four grown children. We have twelve grandchildren 40 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 2: and twelve great grandchildren. And so I feel like all 41 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:26,800 Speaker 2: I do is write checks all year, don't take them 42 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 2: very long, and all they wants money, like five or 43 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 2: six years old, they got their hand out for the cash. 44 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 2: Dave and I in January will be married fifty nine years, 45 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 2: and we are not alike at all. So don't tell 46 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 2: me that you can't get along with somebody that's different 47 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 2: than you are, because you can if you want to. 48 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 2: And I've actually had the great privilege. I can't. I 49 00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 2: can't think of having the privilege of doing anything greater 50 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 2: than actually handling and teaching the Word of God, the 51 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 2: most important thing that we have. And I've been teaching 52 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 2: for fifty years, and i want to talk to you 53 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 2: today about well. I actually put two titles on it. 54 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 2: The first one was acceptable Sins, which I think that 55 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:34,040 Speaker 2: we think there are some of those, and I think 56 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:36,360 Speaker 2: there are things that are sin that we have forgotten 57 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 2: our sin. But I decided to change the title to 58 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:46,839 Speaker 2: just a little bit, because you know, that's the biggest 59 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 2: lie the devil tells people. It's just a little bit, 60 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:54,640 Speaker 2: that's not a big deal, that doesn't matter. I think 61 00:04:54,920 --> 00:05:00,119 Speaker 2: the hardest thing for a sincere Christian to do is 62 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 2: to keep the balance between holiness and legalism, because see, 63 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:11,560 Speaker 2: I've been legalistic, and I don't want to be legalistic. 64 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 2: I don't want to feel like I can never do 65 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 2: anything or never have any fun, you know, but all 66 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 2: I can do is spiritual things. However, if I have 67 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 2: to choose to lean toward holiness, I'm going to always 68 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 2: lean toward holiness. And some people will call that legalism, 69 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 2: but it's not. And God has called us to be 70 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 2: a holy people. And we live in a more casual 71 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 2: society today, and I don't know that I think it's good. 72 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 2: But maybe that's because I'm older. I don't know, but 73 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 2: it seems like the more casual our society gets, the 74 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:59,839 Speaker 2: more casual our morals get. And I think we have 75 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:04,359 Speaker 2: to be really careful because we are a unique generation 76 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 2: that has been called far such a time as this. 77 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 2: Do you know that Jesus actually really could come back 78 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 2: in our lifetime? I mean, he really could call the 79 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 2: church home at any day. And I don't ever want 80 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:27,279 Speaker 2: to be ashamed when I stand before him. When fifty 81 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 2: years ago, just as I was starting to teach home 82 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 2: Bible studies, I was going to a Walgames drug store 83 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 2: one day, and I remember I was walking down the 84 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 2: street to get there, and I saw a penny laying 85 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 2: on the street and I just kind of kicked it. 86 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:45,280 Speaker 2: Walked over it, and I got about this far, and 87 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 2: the Lord spoke very clearly to me, and he said, 88 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 2: if you pick up pennies, you'll always be blessed. But 89 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:53,560 Speaker 2: I knew it had nothing to do with the penny. 90 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 2: What he was saying to me was, if you pay 91 00:06:56,200 --> 00:07:02,920 Speaker 2: attention to little things, I'll always bless your life. And 92 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:06,679 Speaker 2: he has. And We've picked up many pennies in our life. 93 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 2: I will dig them out of the dirt. I won't 94 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 2: leave them there because they have a very special meaning 95 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 2: to me. And we've tried the best we can to 96 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 2: run our ministry with integrity and excellence. But I think 97 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 2: it's time to tighten our belt of truth just a 98 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 2: little bit tighter. You know Ephesians six, when it talks 99 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:35,640 Speaker 2: about warfare, one of the first things that says is 100 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 2: tighten the belt of truth. Tighten it so you may 101 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 2: know the word, but God wants us to lean in 102 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 2: on it a little bit more. Make sure we're living it, 103 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 2: not just not just talking about it. And so I 104 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:55,120 Speaker 2: think that there are things that we do that we 105 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 2: shouldn't do, but we do them because the devil says 106 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 2: it's just a little bit. Everybody does it. I mean 107 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 2: maybe you're not here because I know their integrity. But 108 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 2: there are pastors I know that do things that God 109 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 2: won't let me do, and I used to. I went 110 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 2: to God complaining about it one time because there was 111 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 2: a movie that was out that I really wanted to see, 112 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:33,080 Speaker 2: and I just knew God didn't want me to go 113 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 2: see it. But I mean, my pastors were seeing it. 114 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:38,440 Speaker 2: Everybody was seeing it, and I got a little miffed. 115 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 2: I thought, why is it that everybody else can do 116 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 2: stuff and I can't do anything? And you know what 117 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 2: he said to me. Look, Joyce, you asked me for 118 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 2: a lot. Do you want it or not? So you know, 119 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 2: everybody wants everything that you here talked about, but not 120 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:59,319 Speaker 2: everybody's willing to live the lifestyle they need to live 121 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 2: to get it. I want to read your story. It's 122 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 2: by a woman named Annette Nee. Many parents are working 123 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 2: hard to explain to their children and teens why some 124 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 2: video games, music, movies, books, and magazines are not acceptable 125 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:20,839 Speaker 2: material for them to see or bring into their homes. 126 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 2: One parent came up with an original idea that's hard 127 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:27,560 Speaker 2: to refute. He listened to all the reasons his children 128 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:31,079 Speaker 2: gave for wanting to see a particular PG thirteen movie. 129 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:33,840 Speaker 2: It had their favorite actors. Everyone else was seeing it. 130 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 2: Even church members said it was great. It was only 131 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:40,679 Speaker 2: rated PG thirteen because of the suggestion of sex. They 132 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 2: never really showed anything. The language was pretty good. They 133 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:46,240 Speaker 2: only used a large name in vain three times in 134 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 2: the whole movie. The video effects were fabulous, The plot 135 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 2: was power packed. Video effects were fabulous. Yes, there was 136 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 2: those this one scene where they blew up a bunch 137 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 2: of people in kill them, But you know, not violence 138 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 2: as normal stuff today. It wasn't really that bad. Even 139 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:08,480 Speaker 2: after all these explanations for the rating, the father would 140 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 2: not give in. He didn't even give them a satisfying 141 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 2: explanation for saying no. He just said no. A little 142 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 2: later that evening, the father said to his teens, if 143 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:24,079 Speaker 2: you'd like some brownies, I've made some fresh. He explained 144 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 2: he'd taken the family's favorite recipe and added a little 145 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 2: something new. They said, what is it, and he calmly 146 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 2: replied that he had added just a little bit of 147 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 2: dog poop. He said, but it's just a little as 148 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:49,600 Speaker 2: in this whole batch of brownie. You won't even taste it, 149 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 2: But all the other ingredients or gourmet quality. He had 150 00:10:56,520 --> 00:10:58,840 Speaker 2: taken great care to bake the brownies at the precise 151 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:02,439 Speaker 2: temperature at the exact time. He was sure they'd be superb. 152 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 2: Even with all the explanations of the perfect attributes of 153 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 2: the brownies, the teens, not one teen would even try one. 154 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:18,560 Speaker 2: The father acted surprised. Well, there's only one little element 155 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 2: in there that I don't know. Why you actually stubborn? 156 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:30,079 Speaker 2: He said, I assure you you won't notice it, you 157 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 2: won't taste it, if at all. But they all held 158 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:37,120 Speaker 2: firm and not one would even try the brownies. He 159 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:39,320 Speaker 2: then explained that the movie they wanted to see was 160 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:42,839 Speaker 2: just like those brownies. Stand enters our minds and our 161 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 2: homes by deceiving us into believing that just a little 162 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 2: bit won't matter, just a little bit won't make any difference. 163 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:58,440 Speaker 2: So now when the father's children want to do something 164 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 2: they shouldn't do, he just says, would you like a brownie? Now? 165 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:08,600 Speaker 2: I have one main thing that I want to get 166 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:11,480 Speaker 2: out today, and so I'll have to just kind of 167 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:14,560 Speaker 2: give you a little dust over so we all have 168 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 2: a good idea. Okay, I doubt that any one of 169 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 2: you is going to rob a bank next week. I 170 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 2: doubt that anybody here is planning to rob the local 171 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 2: mini march. I doubt that anybody here is planning a murder. 172 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 2: But there are some of you here this morning that 173 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 2: harbor jealousy. Oh yeah, it is a sin. Bible says, 174 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 2: Jealousy rots the bones. You know, it's amazing to me 175 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:56,400 Speaker 2: that we don't see this center. Everything that God tells 176 00:12:56,480 --> 00:12:58,880 Speaker 2: us to do or not to do is not for 177 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:04,320 Speaker 2: his benefit, it's for ours. He just tells us to 178 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 2: do what will make us happy, and what will make 179 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 2: us better, and what will that make us healthier and 180 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:13,679 Speaker 2: make us live long. Jealousy rots the bones. It has 181 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 2: an actual effect on your health. But let's just say 182 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 2: that there's a woman at work that is not a believer, 183 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:30,640 Speaker 2: and there's an office that's opened up. There weren't enough 184 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 2: offices for everybody, but certain people got offices and somebody 185 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 2: had quit, and so now this office was open. And 186 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:45,839 Speaker 2: you're a Christian and you prayed for that office. You 187 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:48,160 Speaker 2: even gave a little extra that week in the offering 188 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 2: because you wanted that office. But this girl who wasn't 189 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:59,199 Speaker 2: even a Christian got it. Now, all of a sudden, 190 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 2: you can't like her anymore, because as soon as you 191 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:10,080 Speaker 2: become jealous of somebody, you can no longer have a 192 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:13,720 Speaker 2: loving right relationship with him. Or maybe let's say it's 193 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 2: a sibling rivalry. Maybe just somebody here today maybe or 194 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 2: somebody watching on television. Maybe you have a brother or 195 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 2: sister that's smarter than you are. I had one son 196 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:39,000 Speaker 2: that got straight a's and never had to crack a book, 197 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 2: and another another one that a girl's. She got good grades, 198 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 2: but I mean she studied so hard. That was all 199 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 2: the girl did. And then I had two who didn't care. 200 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 2: And one of those two the ministry now. And because 201 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:14,760 Speaker 2: he wasn't a book guy, he was a hands on guy. 202 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 2: And everybody has gifts, and you should never be jealous 203 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:26,760 Speaker 2: of somebody else's because what happens if you're jealous of 204 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 2: somebody else's gifts. It causes you not to see your own, 205 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:36,600 Speaker 2: and then we end up being robbed. Because God put 206 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 2: that gift in them for you. The gift that's in 207 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:47,480 Speaker 2: me makes me work. You get to enjoy it, right, 208 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 2: and so I need your gift and you need mine. 209 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:55,640 Speaker 2: But if we get jealous of each other, then it 210 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 2: doesn't happen. What if my eyes said, you know, I'm 211 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:02,880 Speaker 2: really tired of just looking at that ring. I've looked 212 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 2: at that ring all my life and I'm just tired 213 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:09,840 Speaker 2: of it, and I want my own ring. Now. What 214 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:13,160 Speaker 2: if God said, oh, okay, well there you have it. 215 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 2: So now I've just messed up everything. I got my ring, 216 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 2: I got my way, but now I can't see what 217 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 2: I'm doing or or where I'm going in life? Amen? 218 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 2: Or what about unforgiveness? And you know, I know you 219 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 2: hear a lot about unforgiveness, but it's the single biggest 220 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 2: problem in the church. You would be absolutely astonished at 221 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 2: how many people are in here today that are angry 222 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 2: with someone and you don't forgive them because you don't 223 00:16:56,520 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 2: think they deserve it, or you know, it's it's funny 224 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 2: when somebody does something that hurts us, how well we 225 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 2: remember it, but how quickly we forget the things that 226 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 2: we do to other people. 227 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:10,120 Speaker 1: Wow. 228 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:18,359 Speaker 2: Wow. Amen. And you want to forgive some of you, 229 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:20,959 Speaker 2: some of you don't. But if you want to forgive, 230 00:17:23,119 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 2: people get mixed up because they think forgiveness is a feeling. 231 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 2: So you pray to forgive and you don't feel any 232 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 2: different about that person when you see them, you still 233 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:36,879 Speaker 2: want to knock them down. But forgiveness is not a feeling. 234 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 2: It's a decision you make about how you will treat someone. Now, 235 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:44,040 Speaker 2: I want you to get that, so that'll help so 236 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:49,560 Speaker 2: many of you. The Bible says that we are to 237 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:53,879 Speaker 2: do three things. Pray for our enemies. So if you 238 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 2: want to forgive somebody, you pray for them. You pray 239 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:57,879 Speaker 2: for them to be blessed. And you think, well, I 240 00:17:57,880 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 2: don't want them to be blessed. Well, you pray for 241 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 2: them to be blessed anyway. And that doesn't mean God's 242 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:07,199 Speaker 2: going to give them a new house. Maybe He'll give 243 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:10,920 Speaker 2: them some revelation about how they treat people. You pray 244 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:15,040 Speaker 2: for them to be blessed, you bless and do not 245 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:20,199 Speaker 2: curse them, And that means in that way that you 246 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 2: speak well of them, you don't speak evil of them, 247 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:27,320 Speaker 2: so you don't run around telling everybody else what they did. 248 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 2: And Thirdly, if they have a need, who that's the 249 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:39,399 Speaker 2: out you one. If they have a need, you meet 250 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:43,600 Speaker 2: that need. Now, forgiveness doesn't necessarily mean that you have 251 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 2: to be around the person. You don't have to have 252 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 2: a reconciliation of the relationship. But how you feel about 253 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 2: them in your heart, you release them in your heart, 254 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:01,920 Speaker 2: You release them into God's hands, and you do yourself 255 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:06,359 Speaker 2: a favor when you do that, not them you because 256 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:10,640 Speaker 2: you can't. It messes your love life up if you're 257 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:12,280 Speaker 2: mad at people. And I tell you, I want to 258 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:15,400 Speaker 2: be so good at forgiveness that I'm forgiving somebody while 259 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 2: they're still trying to offend me. So that's I just 260 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:23,440 Speaker 2: wanted to give you an idea, But I got to 261 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:28,120 Speaker 2: get going here to get to the real stuff. One 262 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:32,160 Speaker 2: I want to mention is lying. There are a lot 263 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:37,119 Speaker 2: of Christian liars, because any time you don't keep your word, 264 00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:45,679 Speaker 2: you're lying. Now we're gonna get down to the little stuff, 265 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:49,760 Speaker 2: because I think God cares about the pennies. If you 266 00:19:50,040 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 2: tell somebody, I'll call you back this afternoon. And and really, 267 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:02,359 Speaker 2: if the truth were told, you already know when you 268 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:04,440 Speaker 2: say that you're not going to call him back this afternoon. 269 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:11,159 Speaker 2: You've just found a way to get rid of them. 270 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:14,920 Speaker 2: I tell you how God cured me of that. We 271 00:20:14,920 --> 00:20:22,359 Speaker 2: were in Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, ministering several different churches and 272 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:25,679 Speaker 2: we kind of really hooked up with this one couple 273 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:28,840 Speaker 2: that were pastors, and so we said to them. I 274 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:32,119 Speaker 2: said to them, hey, you guys ought to come to 275 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:36,560 Speaker 2: Saint Louis sometime and stay for about a week, and 276 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:39,080 Speaker 2: we'll take you to the arch and you know, we'll 277 00:20:39,119 --> 00:20:43,960 Speaker 2: do all these things. Well, I don't even know why 278 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:47,120 Speaker 2: I said it. I didn't really say it. I didn't 279 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:51,800 Speaker 2: really say it because I wanted them to come. I 280 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 2: just was trying to be nice. Well, about a month 281 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 2: went buying the man calling, he said, well, we're ready. 282 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 2: I said, ready for what? He said, We're ready to 283 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:14,880 Speaker 2: come to Saint Louis. And I thought, oh, And I said, 284 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:16,600 Speaker 2: to god, God, what am I going to do? I 285 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 2: can't have company for a week right now. I'm just 286 00:21:20,359 --> 00:21:22,440 Speaker 2: up to my eyeballs and work. And he said, I'll 287 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:24,640 Speaker 2: tell you exactly what you're gonna do. You're gonna tell 288 00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:27,119 Speaker 2: them to come, and you're going to put them in 289 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:30,200 Speaker 2: a good hotel and you're going to spend the week 290 00:21:30,240 --> 00:21:33,960 Speaker 2: with them. And that's going to teach you not to 291 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:43,359 Speaker 2: say things that you really don't mean. And ma'am, don't 292 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:46,040 Speaker 2: tell people. I'll pray for you, and then don't pray 293 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:49,400 Speaker 2: for them. I'll pray for you as a good way 294 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:52,880 Speaker 2: to get rid of people too. Sometimes I'm gonna pray 295 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:55,360 Speaker 2: for you about that. Well, then you pray for them 296 00:21:55,359 --> 00:21:57,879 Speaker 2: about that. If you tell somebody you're going to call 297 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:00,760 Speaker 2: them back, you call them back. If you say I'll 298 00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:02,600 Speaker 2: call you in a few weeks and we'll go to lunch, 299 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:09,200 Speaker 2: call them and take them to lunch. We expect God 300 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:15,240 Speaker 2: to keep his word, and God expects us to keep 301 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:22,400 Speaker 2: our word. Amen. I mean these to me are areas 302 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:27,240 Speaker 2: where you could lean a little toward legalism and it 303 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:35,080 Speaker 2: wouldn't hurt I honestly try before God, anything that I 304 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:40,080 Speaker 2: tell somebody I'm going to do to the best of 305 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:44,119 Speaker 2: my knowledge, I do it. And if there's anything I've forgotten, Lord, 306 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:47,920 Speaker 2: please remind me. But the thing I actually want to 307 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:53,040 Speaker 2: talk to you about today is a big sin, but 308 00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:56,000 Speaker 2: one that people I don't think you even think it's 309 00:22:56,040 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 2: a sin, and that's complaining. I don't know if you 310 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:11,840 Speaker 2: know who Madam Guyan is, but she lived in the 311 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:18,600 Speaker 2: sixteen hundreds and some of her books have really helped me. 312 00:23:20,359 --> 00:23:25,280 Speaker 2: Pretty strict, but they've really helped me. And she said 313 00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:27,639 Speaker 2: something is just like God, You've got to be kidding. 314 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:33,680 Speaker 2: She said, even if you sigh, it's a sign of discontentment. 315 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:37,160 Speaker 2: So let me just tell you I've got a ways 316 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 2: to go, because I still do sigh. In numbers twenty one, 317 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:46,400 Speaker 2: verses four through seven, the Bible says, and they journeyed 318 00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:49,119 Speaker 2: from Mount Horror by way to the Red Sea to 319 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:53,240 Speaker 2: go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient, depressed, 320 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 2: much discouraged because of the trials of the way. And 321 00:23:57,080 --> 00:24:00,879 Speaker 2: the people spoke against God and against Moses. Why have 322 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:03,720 Speaker 2: you brought us out of Egypt to die in this wilderness. 323 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:07,000 Speaker 2: There's no bread here, neither is there any water. And 324 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 2: we loathe this light, contemptible, unsubstantial manna. Then the Lord 325 00:24:22,119 --> 00:24:26,200 Speaker 2: sent fiery burning serpents among the people, and they bit 326 00:24:26,320 --> 00:24:30,120 Speaker 2: the people, and many Israelites died. It was twenty three 327 00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:34,280 Speaker 2: thousand exactly. And so they went to Moses and said, 328 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:42,680 Speaker 2: we have sinned. Duh. Sometimes it takes us a long 329 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 2: time to get the idea that God's trying to get 330 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:52,840 Speaker 2: something across to us and we're just not paying any attention. 331 00:24:54,480 --> 00:25:00,880 Speaker 2: Oh joyce, does the Bible really say complaining is sin? Well, 332 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:03,159 Speaker 2: it says give thanks in all things, no matter what 333 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 2: the circumstances. Might be be thankful and give thanks for 334 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:08,239 Speaker 2: this is the will of God for those of you 335 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:14,240 Speaker 2: who are in Christ Jesus. Well, that was a lousy clap, 336 00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:26,600 Speaker 2: that was Pye. And then over in the New Testament 337 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:32,520 Speaker 2: in First Corinthians eight through eleven, it repeats that whole 338 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:39,280 Speaker 2: thing again, that's in numbers, and Paul said these things 339 00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:42,680 Speaker 2: befell them by way of a figure as an example 340 00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:49,480 Speaker 2: and a warning to us, a warning. You know, everything 341 00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:51,920 Speaker 2: that you hear in church is not supposed to make 342 00:25:51,960 --> 00:25:56,800 Speaker 2: you feel great. And that's one of the problems we 343 00:25:56,880 --> 00:26:00,760 Speaker 2: have today. People just go to get their blessing and 344 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 2: they want to feel good. Tell me how wonderful I am, 345 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:08,960 Speaker 2: Tell me all the good things that the Bible has 346 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:12,360 Speaker 2: to say about me. Well, you know, I just went 347 00:26:12,359 --> 00:26:14,400 Speaker 2: through a season of doing that. I spent about six 348 00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:17,320 Speaker 2: weeks telling the whole world how wonderful they were. Now 349 00:26:17,359 --> 00:26:26,480 Speaker 2: I feel led to go in another direction. I feel 350 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:31,160 Speaker 2: a new annoying coming on me for a season. One 351 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:40,040 Speaker 2: of those Mama's thinkings, we must not gratify evil desire 352 00:26:40,080 --> 00:26:43,680 Speaker 2: and indulge in immorality, as some of them did. God 353 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:47,840 Speaker 2: called what they were doing immorality. They were crabbing and 354 00:26:47,880 --> 00:26:52,639 Speaker 2: complaining about this miracle that God's raining down out of 355 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:57,480 Speaker 2: the sky. You think miracles would keep you happy, They 356 00:26:57,520 --> 00:27:03,479 Speaker 2: really won't because we get too used to things. I 357 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:05,480 Speaker 2: bet they were excited about that Man of the first 358 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:12,520 Speaker 2: few days, But you know, we get familiarity with things. 359 00:27:12,560 --> 00:27:15,240 Speaker 2: I remember saying to the Lord once, why don't you 360 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:19,959 Speaker 2: do the things that you used to do? When I 361 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:22,040 Speaker 2: was first baptized in the Holy Spirit? I mean, I 362 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:24,600 Speaker 2: had so many supernatural things happening. It was just like 363 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:28,879 Speaker 2: I'd ask God for an answer to something and open 364 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:35,680 Speaker 2: my Bible and that would be the answer. Why don't 365 00:27:35,680 --> 00:27:38,520 Speaker 2: you do the things you used to do? And boy 366 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:41,120 Speaker 2: did he shock me? He said, Oh, I still do them. 367 00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:52,760 Speaker 2: You've just gotten used to them. How many amazing things 368 00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:56,359 Speaker 2: is God doing in your life every day that you 369 00:27:56,359 --> 00:28:04,920 Speaker 2: don't even recognize as amazing anymore? Do you know how 370 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:07,199 Speaker 2: amazing it is just to have a church like this 371 00:28:07,359 --> 00:28:17,560 Speaker 2: to go to? I mean, really amazing. There's so many 372 00:28:17,600 --> 00:28:20,840 Speaker 2: amazing things that God does for us. But we have 373 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:30,080 Speaker 2: gotten Yes, God's our friend, but he's also sovereign, and 374 00:28:30,119 --> 00:28:33,399 Speaker 2: he means what he says, and when he says to 375 00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:36,840 Speaker 2: do something, if we don't do it. We're going to 376 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:40,400 Speaker 2: feel it in our own life. Remember what I say. 377 00:28:40,560 --> 00:28:43,480 Speaker 2: I think if you get this, it'll really help you. 378 00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:47,479 Speaker 2: Everything that God tells us to do or not to 379 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:51,880 Speaker 2: do is for our benefit. It's not for his. It's 380 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:56,920 Speaker 2: for our better. He's telling us what will make us happy, 381 00:28:57,080 --> 00:28:59,480 Speaker 2: what will make us powerful, what will put us in 382 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:03,880 Speaker 2: a position where the devil can't touch us. He's telling 383 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:07,000 Speaker 2: us how to live a life that is so far 384 00:29:07,200 --> 00:29:13,920 Speaker 2: superior that you can't hardly believe it. And we have 385 00:29:14,040 --> 00:29:21,400 Speaker 2: the audacity to obey him. Yes, but just a little bit. 386 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:28,440 Speaker 2: There's just a little bit that we You know, Saul, 387 00:29:28,520 --> 00:29:34,240 Speaker 2: when God told him to go in and kill all 388 00:29:34,280 --> 00:29:38,360 Speaker 2: the women, the men, the babies, the cattle, don't leave anything. 389 00:29:40,080 --> 00:29:45,800 Speaker 2: And Saul did a little too much thinking, and instead 390 00:29:45,840 --> 00:29:47,840 Speaker 2: of just doing what God told him to do, he 391 00:29:48,800 --> 00:29:53,680 Speaker 2: killed everybody, kept got rid of everything except the good stuff. 392 00:29:56,080 --> 00:29:59,120 Speaker 2: And when Saul confronted him about it, the prophet Saul, 393 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:02,400 Speaker 2: he said, well, I just kept the good things to 394 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:07,960 Speaker 2: sacrifice them to the Lord. Now you're really getting light. 395 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:16,360 Speaker 2: I just did it for you. Lord. Well, I desire sacrifice. 396 00:30:16,360 --> 00:30:20,479 Speaker 2: I desire obedience, not sacrifice. And I think Sometimes we 397 00:30:20,560 --> 00:30:23,600 Speaker 2: don't obey God in something, and then we will do 398 00:30:23,680 --> 00:30:28,960 Speaker 2: something like give extra money in the offering, and I 399 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:31,080 Speaker 2: think it just happened so fast. Sometimes we don't even 400 00:30:31,080 --> 00:30:34,320 Speaker 2: realize what we're doing. We're trying to make up for 401 00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:39,240 Speaker 2: something else that we should have done and we didn't do. 402 00:30:40,760 --> 00:30:43,400 Speaker 2: Wonder how happy it would make the Lord if everybody 403 00:30:43,440 --> 00:30:49,920 Speaker 2: that's a Christian never complained. I'd be happy if I 404 00:30:49,920 --> 00:30:54,320 Speaker 2: could make it through one whole day. And I mean, 405 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:58,440 Speaker 2: I really try to do this. I'll tell you what 406 00:30:58,480 --> 00:31:04,280 Speaker 2: we don't do very well is inconvenience. We are just spoiled, 407 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:14,480 Speaker 2: rotten inconvenience. Well, my electric went off for two hours. 408 00:31:17,040 --> 00:31:20,800 Speaker 2: None of my electronics would work. I couldn't use my epad, 409 00:31:20,880 --> 00:31:27,720 Speaker 2: you paid epad, whatever they are, there's too many, too 410 00:31:27,760 --> 00:31:38,200 Speaker 2: many things. It's YouTube and whatever the pad is. I forget. 411 00:31:44,040 --> 00:31:47,120 Speaker 2: I mean, we can't live if we don't have all 412 00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:51,280 Speaker 2: of our electric stuff. I mean, I left my phone 413 00:31:51,320 --> 00:31:54,840 Speaker 2: at home on this trip, and I was kind of 414 00:31:54,840 --> 00:31:56,400 Speaker 2: proud of myself. I thought, I'm gonna see how I 415 00:31:56,400 --> 00:31:57,840 Speaker 2: do without it. But they figured out a way to 416 00:31:57,840 --> 00:32:02,080 Speaker 2: get it to me and I got I had it 417 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:08,840 Speaker 2: by the time I got here. Okay, listen to what 418 00:32:08,880 --> 00:32:13,360 Speaker 2: Poe says in First Corinthians. First Corinthians ten eight. We 419 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:17,600 Speaker 2: must not gratify evil desire and indulge in immorality, as 420 00:32:17,640 --> 00:32:21,040 Speaker 2: some of them did, and twenty three thousand suddenly fell 421 00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:28,800 Speaker 2: dead in a single day. Wow. We should not tempt 422 00:32:28,800 --> 00:32:32,680 Speaker 2: the lord try his patience, become a trial to him 423 00:32:34,560 --> 00:32:39,440 Speaker 2: by critically appraising him and exploiting his goodness, as some 424 00:32:39,520 --> 00:32:44,440 Speaker 2: of them did and were killed by poisonous serpents. Nor 425 00:32:44,520 --> 00:32:49,920 Speaker 2: should we discontentedly complain, as some of them did, and 426 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:53,280 Speaker 2: were put out of the way entirely by the destroyer. 427 00:32:54,640 --> 00:32:57,200 Speaker 2: Now these things befell them by way of a figure, 428 00:32:57,280 --> 00:33:01,720 Speaker 2: as an example and a warning to us. They were 429 00:33:01,720 --> 00:33:05,280 Speaker 2: written to admonish and fit us for right action by 430 00:33:05,320 --> 00:33:10,920 Speaker 2: good instruction, we in whose days the ages have reached 431 00:33:10,920 --> 00:33:13,920 Speaker 2: their climax. You know, the Bible doesn't say that we 432 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:17,160 Speaker 2: are just to be encouraged, Paul told Timothy. Preach the 433 00:33:17,200 --> 00:33:30,920 Speaker 2: word encourage, urge, warn, and rebuke. So we need a 434 00:33:30,920 --> 00:33:34,080 Speaker 2: healthy diet of all of it in order to be balanced. Yes, 435 00:33:34,160 --> 00:33:37,280 Speaker 2: we need to be encouraged. There are times when we 436 00:33:37,320 --> 00:33:41,600 Speaker 2: need to be rebuked. There's times when the sermon needs 437 00:33:41,600 --> 00:33:45,719 Speaker 2: to make you squirm just a little bit in your seats. 438 00:33:45,760 --> 00:33:47,800 Speaker 2: And you know, I mean, if we're not going to 439 00:33:47,960 --> 00:33:52,120 Speaker 2: learn anything, you got to learn something when you go 440 00:33:52,160 --> 00:33:55,640 Speaker 2: to church. I mean it's great, the worship is great, 441 00:33:55,640 --> 00:33:57,840 Speaker 2: and it's great to jump around and be happy, and 442 00:33:58,160 --> 00:34:01,880 Speaker 2: we all need that. But you need to listen to 443 00:34:01,960 --> 00:34:10,319 Speaker 2: every word that Stephen says. Don't ever be the kind 444 00:34:10,320 --> 00:34:12,920 Speaker 2: of person if somebody asks you what did Stephen preach 445 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:16,759 Speaker 2: on the day, say it was good? I know it 446 00:34:16,800 --> 00:34:21,400 Speaker 2: was good. I want you to know. Well into the 447 00:34:21,400 --> 00:34:24,000 Speaker 2: middle of next week, if somebody asks you, oh, I 448 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:25,600 Speaker 2: heard Joyce is at your church. On you what does 449 00:34:25,640 --> 00:34:27,960 Speaker 2: she preach on? I want you to be able to 450 00:34:28,040 --> 00:34:31,920 Speaker 2: tell them that we have to stop just letting a 451 00:34:32,040 --> 00:34:35,600 Speaker 2: little bit of sin into our lives because a little 452 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:42,600 Speaker 2: bit doesn't matter. And when you have something inconvenient, I 453 00:34:42,680 --> 00:34:46,720 Speaker 2: want you to when you start to complain, to remember, oops, 454 00:34:47,080 --> 00:34:52,520 Speaker 2: that's something I'm not supposed to do. Yeah, go on, 455 00:34:52,520 --> 00:34:56,640 Speaker 2: how many of you complain? Everybody in the whole church 456 00:34:56,680 --> 00:35:03,920 Speaker 2: is sinning. Let me ask you a sincere question. Do 457 00:35:04,840 --> 00:35:07,440 Speaker 2: you believe that little things like this make a difference, 458 00:35:10,880 --> 00:35:12,880 Speaker 2: so it's not the big things that we're guilty of. 459 00:35:16,360 --> 00:35:21,840 Speaker 2: It's all the little stuff. A man that I knew, 460 00:35:24,160 --> 00:35:29,920 Speaker 2: his wife had divorced him and he had met another 461 00:35:29,960 --> 00:35:36,000 Speaker 2: guy and they both claimed to be Christians. And this 462 00:35:36,120 --> 00:35:39,560 Speaker 2: other guy was living with his girlfriend, had been for 463 00:35:39,640 --> 00:35:42,440 Speaker 2: quite some time. And he says to the guy that 464 00:35:42,520 --> 00:35:46,759 Speaker 2: I know, I've got a good idea. Why don't we 465 00:35:47,040 --> 00:35:55,920 Speaker 2: fast once a week and pray together for God to 466 00:35:55,920 --> 00:36:00,120 Speaker 2: do these certain things they wanted him to do. Nay, 467 00:36:00,239 --> 00:36:12,560 Speaker 2: excuse me, but that's just stupid. I mean, why even bother? Yeah, 468 00:36:12,800 --> 00:36:15,520 Speaker 2: but you know, somehow or another, he had himself convinced 469 00:36:15,520 --> 00:36:18,440 Speaker 2: that what he was doing wasn't wrong. And that's the 470 00:36:18,480 --> 00:36:22,600 Speaker 2: scary part. The Bible says that the heart is deceitful 471 00:36:22,719 --> 00:36:28,200 Speaker 2: above all things. Who can know his own heart? That's 472 00:36:28,239 --> 00:36:33,680 Speaker 2: why we got to have some meetings with ourselves. I mean, 473 00:36:33,719 --> 00:36:35,680 Speaker 2: at least once a week. You used to have a 474 00:36:35,680 --> 00:36:40,440 Speaker 2: meeting with yourself and just really ask God, am I 475 00:36:40,520 --> 00:36:44,200 Speaker 2: doing okay? Here? Is there something you need to remind 476 00:36:44,239 --> 00:36:47,520 Speaker 2: me of? Do I need a little kick in the rear? 477 00:36:52,840 --> 00:36:56,480 Speaker 2: And See, this doesn't mean that you have to live 478 00:36:56,520 --> 00:37:00,279 Speaker 2: this rigid, legalistic life where you can never do any 479 00:37:00,320 --> 00:37:04,600 Speaker 2: things or have never have any fun. But how about 480 00:37:04,600 --> 00:37:06,800 Speaker 2: if I throw this out? What if you start listening 481 00:37:06,840 --> 00:37:13,080 Speaker 2: to your conscience. That's one of the best things that 482 00:37:13,120 --> 00:37:16,640 Speaker 2: God has given us as a conscience, it's part of 483 00:37:16,680 --> 00:37:25,680 Speaker 2: our spirit. Conscience comes from their intuition revelation. So I 484 00:37:25,719 --> 00:37:27,719 Speaker 2: can sit and talk to your head all day, but 485 00:37:27,840 --> 00:37:30,160 Speaker 2: I want it to fall from your head to your 486 00:37:30,160 --> 00:37:34,160 Speaker 2: spirit and become a revelation. We have got so much information, 487 00:37:36,719 --> 00:37:40,320 Speaker 2: but we needed to become revelation because when it's revelation, 488 00:37:40,520 --> 00:37:51,560 Speaker 2: that's when you start really doing it. One of the 489 00:37:51,600 --> 00:37:57,120 Speaker 2: definitions I found for complain, to complain means to remain. 490 00:38:01,520 --> 00:38:05,160 Speaker 2: So the Israelites remained in the wilderness forty years, trying 491 00:38:05,160 --> 00:38:10,040 Speaker 2: to make an eleven day trip, and one of the 492 00:38:10,040 --> 00:38:14,080 Speaker 2: reasons found. I have found ten reasons why they stayed 493 00:38:14,120 --> 00:38:19,719 Speaker 2: out there, but one of them was just complaining. They 494 00:38:19,800 --> 00:38:24,360 Speaker 2: just complained every time it was inconvenient. Now it's God's fault, 495 00:38:24,400 --> 00:38:26,759 Speaker 2: it's Moses's fault, and we wish we would have stayed 496 00:38:26,800 --> 00:38:31,560 Speaker 2: in Egypt where we had those onions and leaks and garlic. Whew. 497 00:38:34,040 --> 00:38:36,120 Speaker 2: I might rather try a brownie than that. I don't 498 00:38:36,120 --> 00:38:47,640 Speaker 2: know if we could just understand what we give up 499 00:38:50,840 --> 00:38:52,919 Speaker 2: in an effort to try to get what we think 500 00:38:53,000 --> 00:39:04,440 Speaker 2: we want. God doesn't answer complaints, He answers prayers. Philippians 501 00:39:04,440 --> 00:39:12,279 Speaker 2: four six Philippians for six. Do not fret or have 502 00:39:12,360 --> 00:39:17,719 Speaker 2: any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, 503 00:39:17,840 --> 00:39:25,680 Speaker 2: by prayer and petition, definite request with thanksgiving. Now, you know, 504 00:39:25,719 --> 00:39:27,400 Speaker 2: the Lord says a lot of stuff to me that 505 00:39:30,840 --> 00:39:32,719 Speaker 2: I just don't get by with much. Not that I'm 506 00:39:32,760 --> 00:39:37,960 Speaker 2: trying to, but I don't. And I was praying for 507 00:39:38,000 --> 00:39:41,560 Speaker 2: something one time, and the Lord said, why should I 508 00:39:41,600 --> 00:39:45,480 Speaker 2: give you that? You're already complaining about what you've got. 509 00:39:46,680 --> 00:39:48,720 Speaker 2: Why should I give you something else to complain about. 510 00:39:53,320 --> 00:39:59,240 Speaker 2: We're supposed to be thankful. People I love be thankful 511 00:39:59,280 --> 00:40:04,160 Speaker 2: and say so. It's not enough to say, well, I'm 512 00:40:04,200 --> 00:40:08,640 Speaker 2: a thankful person. Well, how many people are in your 513 00:40:08,680 --> 00:40:11,240 Speaker 2: life that are blessings to you that you haven't thanked 514 00:40:11,280 --> 00:40:16,440 Speaker 2: in a long, long, long long time. You know, if 515 00:40:16,440 --> 00:40:18,799 Speaker 2: the word thank you was around your house as more 516 00:40:18,920 --> 00:40:29,560 Speaker 2: marriages would last a lot longer. Dave told me the 517 00:40:29,600 --> 00:40:33,840 Speaker 2: other day to get him something, and I said, say please, 518 00:40:38,640 --> 00:40:40,400 Speaker 2: and he didn't say it. I said, you're not getting it. 519 00:40:40,400 --> 00:40:49,919 Speaker 2: Till you say please. Don't take me for granted. Even 520 00:40:49,960 --> 00:40:52,200 Speaker 2: in your home, you need to say please and thank you. 521 00:40:54,920 --> 00:41:03,000 Speaker 2: It's amazing. I mean, if we just had better manners. See, 522 00:41:03,040 --> 00:41:04,960 Speaker 2: how can you be a light in a dark world? 523 00:41:05,280 --> 00:41:07,480 Speaker 2: Get out there and you know, you don't really have 524 00:41:07,560 --> 00:41:12,000 Speaker 2: to preach to everybody. I forget the famous person that 525 00:41:12,080 --> 00:41:14,239 Speaker 2: said it, but somebody said preach at all times and 526 00:41:14,280 --> 00:41:20,719 Speaker 2: if necessary, use words. Who was it, Mike Saint Francis 527 00:41:20,719 --> 00:41:26,080 Speaker 2: of Assissi. He's like my brain when mine gives out. 528 00:41:30,560 --> 00:41:32,680 Speaker 2: I say, there's so much stuff I forget. Now it's 529 00:41:32,719 --> 00:41:37,600 Speaker 2: just gotten to be hilarious. I don't even argue with 530 00:41:37,640 --> 00:41:39,680 Speaker 2: my kids anymore when they tell me you told us 531 00:41:39,680 --> 00:41:45,040 Speaker 2: that last week. I just said, okay, if you say so, 532 00:41:46,680 --> 00:41:48,880 Speaker 2: I don't remember it. But if you say so, but 533 00:41:49,000 --> 00:41:51,520 Speaker 2: I tell you. You know, when you don't remember things as good. 534 00:41:51,560 --> 00:41:58,120 Speaker 2: It's great for movies because I can watch a movie 535 00:41:58,120 --> 00:42:00,000 Speaker 2: and not see it for two months and go back 536 00:42:00,080 --> 00:42:07,080 Speaker 2: watch it again, just like a brand new movie. You 537 00:42:07,120 --> 00:42:11,520 Speaker 2: know what, You're gonna get old, and you better make 538 00:42:11,520 --> 00:42:13,080 Speaker 2: your mind up now. I just made up my mind. 539 00:42:13,120 --> 00:42:16,600 Speaker 2: I'm gonna be a funny old person. I'm I'm not 540 00:42:16,719 --> 00:42:21,120 Speaker 2: gonna be cranky and crabby and hard to get along with. 541 00:42:24,760 --> 00:42:27,960 Speaker 2: I just I just want to be funny, and my 542 00:42:28,040 --> 00:42:32,840 Speaker 2: kids think I'm hilarious. So I don't know what I 543 00:42:32,920 --> 00:42:36,719 Speaker 2: was saying before I got off on that. See there 544 00:42:36,760 --> 00:42:51,959 Speaker 2: you go, mm hmm, it's in there. It comes back. 545 00:42:54,320 --> 00:42:56,439 Speaker 2: So how can you be a light in a dark world? 546 00:42:57,000 --> 00:42:58,640 Speaker 2: You know? I think a lot of people they get 547 00:42:58,680 --> 00:43:02,759 Speaker 2: they get real can when somebody says you need to witness, 548 00:43:04,200 --> 00:43:06,959 Speaker 2: because we automatically think that means we got to back 549 00:43:07,000 --> 00:43:11,839 Speaker 2: somebody into a corner and preach to him. When I 550 00:43:11,880 --> 00:43:17,279 Speaker 2: wanted to be used of God, I didn't know yet 551 00:43:17,320 --> 00:43:19,160 Speaker 2: that God wanted me to preach, and so I just 552 00:43:20,560 --> 00:43:22,920 Speaker 2: anything they asked us to do at church. I tried it. 553 00:43:23,000 --> 00:43:26,880 Speaker 2: And one of the first things I did was it 554 00:43:26,960 --> 00:43:29,480 Speaker 2: was in a season when passing out tracks was a 555 00:43:29,480 --> 00:43:34,160 Speaker 2: big thing, and so our church would take a group 556 00:43:34,200 --> 00:43:38,000 Speaker 2: of people on Saturday morning to downtown Saint Louis and 557 00:43:38,520 --> 00:43:43,560 Speaker 2: pass out tracks. So I tried street preaching. 558 00:43:44,560 --> 00:43:50,560 Speaker 3: I hated it, did not like it, And that doesn't 559 00:43:50,600 --> 00:43:59,120 Speaker 3: make God mad for me to say that. 560 00:43:54,560 --> 00:43:57,879 Speaker 2: That didn't fit. You know, if you don't know what 561 00:43:58,239 --> 00:44:00,520 Speaker 2: you believe, God wants you to do. Act like a 562 00:44:00,560 --> 00:44:09,600 Speaker 2: woman buying a new outfit. You just keep trying on 563 00:44:09,680 --> 00:44:18,080 Speaker 2: stuff till something fits, and then we're too afraid of 564 00:44:18,080 --> 00:44:25,200 Speaker 2: being wrong, and it just paralyzes us. It doesn't matter 565 00:44:25,239 --> 00:44:27,560 Speaker 2: if you try something and it's not the right thing 566 00:44:27,600 --> 00:44:30,000 Speaker 2: for you. Your heart's right. You're just trying to find 567 00:44:30,000 --> 00:44:33,880 Speaker 2: out what God wants you to do. And it's not 568 00:44:34,080 --> 00:44:40,160 Speaker 2: that hard. You find something you're good at. Everybody's good 569 00:44:40,200 --> 00:44:47,320 Speaker 2: at something. You just keep trying on stuff till it fits. 570 00:44:47,360 --> 00:44:50,680 Speaker 2: So I tried street ministry and didn't like that. I 571 00:44:50,760 --> 00:44:52,600 Speaker 2: tried working in the nursery and me and are the 572 00:44:52,680 --> 00:44:59,600 Speaker 2: kids like that? I got over that in two weeks. 573 00:45:04,920 --> 00:45:09,280 Speaker 2: But when I finally got around to try to teach, 574 00:45:11,320 --> 00:45:13,799 Speaker 2: I had led a girl to the Lord in the 575 00:45:13,840 --> 00:45:20,040 Speaker 2: bathroom at work, and when we started to go back 576 00:45:20,040 --> 00:45:22,080 Speaker 2: to our desks, the Lord simply said to me, what 577 00:45:22,080 --> 00:45:23,319 Speaker 2: are you going to do with her? And I said, well, 578 00:45:23,360 --> 00:45:26,040 Speaker 2: what do you want me to do with her? He said, 579 00:45:26,040 --> 00:45:30,439 Speaker 2: teach her. I don't know how to do that, he said, 580 00:45:30,480 --> 00:45:38,799 Speaker 2: I do. Whoever says God's going to call you to 581 00:45:38,800 --> 00:45:45,440 Speaker 2: do something, you know how to do. That's the fun 582 00:45:45,520 --> 00:45:50,080 Speaker 2: part is stepping out blindly and watching God work through you. 583 00:45:50,760 --> 00:45:52,759 Speaker 2: Why is He called the weak and the foolish things 584 00:45:52,760 --> 00:45:55,240 Speaker 2: of the world to confound the wise, so we can't 585 00:45:55,280 --> 00:45:58,440 Speaker 2: take the credit. I mean, I am the least likeliest 586 00:45:58,480 --> 00:46:01,000 Speaker 2: person on the earth to be doing what I'm doing. 587 00:46:06,160 --> 00:46:08,800 Speaker 2: I mean, right, this message that I'm preaching here today 588 00:46:09,480 --> 00:46:12,640 Speaker 2: will go around the world in one hundred and seven 589 00:46:12,680 --> 00:46:23,920 Speaker 2: different languages. And that's that's amazing. It's amazing. I don't know. 590 00:46:24,000 --> 00:46:25,360 Speaker 2: I don't know. I don't know how I've written one 591 00:46:25,440 --> 00:46:28,920 Speaker 2: hundred and fifty books. I thought one day, how did 592 00:46:28,920 --> 00:46:30,279 Speaker 2: I do that? I don't know how I did that? 593 00:46:31,200 --> 00:46:33,920 Speaker 2: And people say to me, how have you done all this? 594 00:46:34,120 --> 00:46:41,719 Speaker 2: I don't know. I don't know. If you're willing, God 595 00:46:41,760 --> 00:46:46,600 Speaker 2: will use you. But don't don't get all torn up 596 00:46:46,680 --> 00:46:48,840 Speaker 2: if the first thing you try doesn't work or the 597 00:46:48,880 --> 00:46:51,719 Speaker 2: second thing doesn't work. You're not a failure until you 598 00:46:51,800 --> 00:47:03,120 Speaker 2: quit trying. A man, be happy in your faith and 599 00:47:03,200 --> 00:47:08,640 Speaker 2: rejoice and be glad hearted continually. One of the things 600 00:47:08,719 --> 00:47:10,640 Speaker 2: we can do to be enlighten in a dark world 601 00:47:11,000 --> 00:47:18,279 Speaker 2: is just smile. Seriously, just don't get out in the 602 00:47:18,280 --> 00:47:23,920 Speaker 2: world and be a crank, be friendly. High How are 603 00:47:23,920 --> 00:47:33,000 Speaker 2: you today, smile and be one of the very unusual 604 00:47:33,120 --> 00:47:43,160 Speaker 2: people that don't complain. You're complaining everywhere you go. Next 605 00:47:43,200 --> 00:47:50,520 Speaker 2: time you feel like complaining about waiting in traffic, just 606 00:47:50,600 --> 00:47:52,680 Speaker 2: be glad you're not one of the people that have 607 00:47:52,800 --> 00:47:59,560 Speaker 2: no legs and can't even walk. The next time, you 608 00:48:03,000 --> 00:48:04,640 Speaker 2: just for the ladies. The next time you want to 609 00:48:04,640 --> 00:48:11,160 Speaker 2: complain about your husband, there's a lot of lonely people 610 00:48:11,160 --> 00:48:26,359 Speaker 2: that will take him off your hands. Well, that's going 611 00:48:26,360 --> 00:48:34,759 Speaker 2: over better than my thoughts. Maybe I better say something 612 00:48:34,760 --> 00:48:42,279 Speaker 2: to the men too. Own you. I mean, really, once 613 00:48:42,320 --> 00:48:45,040 Speaker 2: your eyes are open to it, you see how ridiculous 614 00:48:45,080 --> 00:48:51,279 Speaker 2: it is to complain. God does so much for us. 615 00:48:53,560 --> 00:48:56,279 Speaker 2: And you know, part of the reason why there's so 616 00:48:56,320 --> 00:49:02,879 Speaker 2: many divorces is people forget about the good stuff, and 617 00:49:02,920 --> 00:49:07,080 Speaker 2: they laser in on the one or two things that 618 00:49:07,200 --> 00:49:14,919 Speaker 2: aggravates them, and that's all they think about. One time, 619 00:49:14,960 --> 00:49:18,320 Speaker 2: I was having a hard time with Dave over something, 620 00:49:18,800 --> 00:49:24,000 Speaker 2: and God put on my heart to make two lists, 621 00:49:24,040 --> 00:49:26,520 Speaker 2: one everything I liked about him and everything I didn't 622 00:49:26,600 --> 00:49:31,040 Speaker 2: like about him. And the list of stuff I liked 623 00:49:31,120 --> 00:49:33,840 Speaker 2: was so much longer than the list of stuff that 624 00:49:33,920 --> 00:49:36,560 Speaker 2: I didn't like. And that's usually what it comes down to, 625 00:49:36,880 --> 00:49:41,040 Speaker 2: people will get divorced over a couple of little things 626 00:49:41,040 --> 00:49:44,040 Speaker 2: that they don't like and forget about all the things 627 00:49:44,040 --> 00:49:50,000 Speaker 2: that you love about them. The Bible says that love 628 00:49:50,160 --> 00:49:53,160 Speaker 2: covers a multitude of sins. And I'll tell you something 629 00:49:53,200 --> 00:49:57,719 Speaker 2: that will help you in your homes. Stop every time 630 00:49:57,800 --> 00:50:08,600 Speaker 2: somebody makes a mistake, telling them they did. We have 631 00:50:08,800 --> 00:50:12,719 Speaker 2: lived in our home for twenty years, and for at 632 00:50:12,880 --> 00:50:19,200 Speaker 2: least eighteen of those twenty years sometimes I'm slow. Eighteen 633 00:50:19,239 --> 00:50:23,600 Speaker 2: of those twenty years. Every time Dave left his closet 634 00:50:23,640 --> 00:50:28,719 Speaker 2: light on, which is all the time, I would say 635 00:50:28,760 --> 00:50:33,320 Speaker 2: you left your closet light on? Again, I finally decided 636 00:50:33,320 --> 00:50:37,239 Speaker 2: to shut up and just turn it off, because if 637 00:50:37,280 --> 00:50:39,040 Speaker 2: I tell him you left your closet light on, you 638 00:50:39,120 --> 00:50:41,160 Speaker 2: know what he says. Do you know what he says? 639 00:50:41,680 --> 00:50:44,600 Speaker 2: He says, I didn't leave it on. You must have 640 00:50:44,680 --> 00:50:48,719 Speaker 2: turned it on. Now, why would I go to his 641 00:50:48,800 --> 00:50:53,760 Speaker 2: closet and turn on the light. The man has three 642 00:50:53,960 --> 00:50:57,120 Speaker 2: different kinds of hearing aids, and he won't wear any 643 00:50:57,160 --> 00:51:01,279 Speaker 2: of them. He won't wear any of them, and he 644 00:51:01,360 --> 00:51:06,080 Speaker 2: says that he's not hard at hearing that I'm mumble. Now, 645 00:51:06,160 --> 00:51:08,359 Speaker 2: let me ask have you heard me mumble one time 646 00:51:08,400 --> 00:51:16,759 Speaker 2: here today? But you know what, you know what I 647 00:51:16,800 --> 00:51:20,120 Speaker 2: really love about Dave. He lets me do anything I 648 00:51:20,160 --> 00:51:26,359 Speaker 2: want to just anything I want to do, he lets 649 00:51:26,360 --> 00:51:30,680 Speaker 2: me do it. Well, that's worth turning off a closet 650 00:51:30,760 --> 00:51:35,160 Speaker 2: light and keeping your mouth shut. If I went home 651 00:51:35,200 --> 00:51:37,279 Speaker 2: and said, you know, honey, I feel like I need 652 00:51:37,320 --> 00:51:41,840 Speaker 2: to spend some time alone, I'm gonna I'm gonna just 653 00:51:41,920 --> 00:51:43,719 Speaker 2: leave for a couple of weeks and spend some time 654 00:51:43,760 --> 00:51:52,839 Speaker 2: with the Lord, he said, okay, okay, So see, look 655 00:51:52,840 --> 00:51:56,200 Speaker 2: at the good things in people. Look at the good 656 00:51:56,239 --> 00:51:58,960 Speaker 2: things about your job. Instead of complaining about your job, 657 00:51:59,040 --> 00:52:01,680 Speaker 2: be glad you've got it. There's so many people that 658 00:52:01,760 --> 00:52:08,520 Speaker 2: don't even have a job. Amen. Let's appreciate everything good 659 00:52:08,560 --> 00:52:12,280 Speaker 2: that God does for us, and let's just not complain 660 00:52:12,320 --> 00:52:17,439 Speaker 2: about anything. Amen. How many of you if we pray 661 00:52:17,480 --> 00:52:21,880 Speaker 2: together today, how many of you We'll just make a 662 00:52:21,920 --> 00:52:24,920 Speaker 2: commitment to just try to tighten your belt just a 663 00:52:24,960 --> 00:52:32,640 Speaker 2: little bit and then let's all stand up together. I 664 00:52:32,680 --> 00:52:35,319 Speaker 2: really forgot to ask how they like to close services here, 665 00:52:35,320 --> 00:52:36,960 Speaker 2: But I'm going to pray for you and then give 666 00:52:36,960 --> 00:52:42,280 Speaker 2: it back to Stephens. Now this has been very serious 667 00:52:42,320 --> 00:52:46,760 Speaker 2: to me today. I never go anywhere and preach without 668 00:52:46,960 --> 00:52:50,759 Speaker 2: feeling like I've got the word of the Lord. And 669 00:52:50,920 --> 00:52:55,200 Speaker 2: so this is very simple. You're not going to forget it, 670 00:52:55,280 --> 00:53:02,200 Speaker 2: but at the same time very profound. Don't it's just 671 00:53:02,239 --> 00:53:08,200 Speaker 2: a little bit now, And don't do it because everybody 672 00:53:08,200 --> 00:53:11,680 Speaker 2: else is doing it. You're only going to have to 673 00:53:11,680 --> 00:53:17,319 Speaker 2: answer for yourself. You do what's right if everybody else 674 00:53:17,320 --> 00:53:20,960 Speaker 2: in the world wants to do it wrong. Amen, Father, 675 00:53:21,040 --> 00:53:24,719 Speaker 2: we love you so very much, and we're so appreciative 676 00:53:24,960 --> 00:53:30,279 Speaker 2: that you love us. And I want to thank you 677 00:53:30,360 --> 00:53:33,160 Speaker 2: for reminding us that we need to pay attention to 678 00:53:33,200 --> 00:53:38,040 Speaker 2: little things, because it is the little foxes that spoiled 679 00:53:38,040 --> 00:53:44,400 Speaker 2: the vine. So we're all making a fresh commitment today 680 00:53:46,560 --> 00:53:48,520 Speaker 2: to always be sure that we do what we say 681 00:53:48,560 --> 00:53:55,040 Speaker 2: we're going to do, not harbor things like jealousy and 682 00:53:55,840 --> 00:54:01,920 Speaker 2: petty things, a little hang on, little anger issues, but 683 00:54:02,440 --> 00:54:09,080 Speaker 2: to just let that stuff go. Let it go and 684 00:54:09,200 --> 00:54:14,280 Speaker 2: help us to appreciate everything you do for us. And God, 685 00:54:14,360 --> 00:54:17,440 Speaker 2: put a watch over our mouth lest we sin against 686 00:54:17,440 --> 00:54:21,920 Speaker 2: you with our tongue by complaining. And let the words 687 00:54:21,960 --> 00:54:24,120 Speaker 2: of our mouth and the meditation of our heart be 688 00:54:24,239 --> 00:54:29,839 Speaker 2: acceptable in your sight in Jesus's name, Amen, thank you 689 00:54:29,880 --> 00:54:30,840 Speaker 2: for having me today. 690 00:54:33,400 --> 00:54:36,000 Speaker 1: Hey, I hope you enjoyed the podcast, and if you did, 691 00:54:36,520 --> 00:54:39,120 Speaker 1: make sure to share it and subscribe so we can 692 00:54:39,120 --> 00:54:41,719 Speaker 1: get you all of these new messages as soon as 693 00:54:41,760 --> 00:54:44,560 Speaker 1: they're available. I also want to take a moment and 694 00:54:44,640 --> 00:54:46,400 Speaker 1: thank all of you who are a part of Elevation. 695 00:54:46,920 --> 00:54:50,279 Speaker 1: Whether you support us financially, or serve with us, or 696 00:54:50,680 --> 00:54:53,359 Speaker 1: just share these messages, it's because of you that we're 697 00:54:53,400 --> 00:54:54,240 Speaker 1: able to reach. 698 00:54:54,040 --> 00:54:57,080 Speaker 2: People all around the world. And if you want more 699 00:54:57,120 --> 00:54:58,560 Speaker 2: information on how. 700 00:54:58,400 --> 00:55:01,080 Speaker 1: To be a part of Elevation, click the link in 701 00:55:01,160 --> 00:55:03,920 Speaker 1: the description. Thanks again for listening. Make sure to leave 702 00:55:03,960 --> 00:55:16,280 Speaker 1: a review, share the message, and subscribe. God bless you.