WEBVTT - Chad Roberts - Oct 24 - 8:30 pm

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<v Speaker 1>Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil,

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<v Speaker 1>but to the counselors of peace is joy. Proverbs 12.20

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<v Speaker 1>Dear God, thank you for being a loving and kind

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<v Speaker 1>example of honesty. Allow my mind to see beyond the

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<v Speaker 1>lies I tell to myself that hinder me from reaching

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<v Speaker 1>my full potential. Help me to walk in your footsteps

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<v Speaker 1>of honesty as I pursue peace in my life. Help

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<v Speaker 1>me to focus on your word to build and shape

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<v Speaker 1>my character so that I can be the best version

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<v Speaker 1>of myself. Allow people into my life who embody your light,

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<v Speaker 1>and please help me to focus on maintaining honest connections

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<v Speaker 1>with others so that I can grow in my faith daily.

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<v Speaker 2>Amen.

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<v Speaker 1>Thank you for listening to today's daily prayer. For more

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<v Speaker 1>inspiration and an incredible message from our feature pastor, Stay

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<v Speaker 1>tuned to Pray.com's Sunday service.

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<v Speaker 3>Pray.com audience. I'm Pastor Chad Roberts, and I am so

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<v Speaker 3>excited to share this sermon with you today. It's called

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<v Speaker 3>For Your Joy, and I know that it's going to

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<v Speaker 3>encourage you and it's going to help you.

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<v Speaker 4>Have you ever struggled in your faith?

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<v Speaker 3>I know that's how I felt when I went completely

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<v Speaker 3>blind in 2018 at the age of 38. This is

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<v Speaker 3>exactly why I have written my new book, Blind Faith,

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<v Speaker 3>Seeing God Through Darkness. It's published by our partners at

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<v Speaker 3>Lifeway and B &amp; H Publishing. And you know, it

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<v Speaker 3>releases this week nationwide. March 10th, 2026 is the release date.

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<v Speaker 3>And I would love for you to go right now

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<v Speaker 3>and get your very own copy. The book is available

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<v Speaker 3>anywhere that you buy books. It's also available in any format,

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<v Speaker 3>including audio. You can go right now to Amazon.com. You

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<v Speaker 3>can go to chadroberts.org or you can go to the

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<v Speaker 3>official website, which is readblindfaith.com. And if you feel like

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<v Speaker 3>what you hear today strengthens you and builds your faith

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<v Speaker 3>and gives you hope and inspiration, then think about someone

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<v Speaker 3>in your life that needs these things and pick up

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<v Speaker 3>a copy of the book for them.

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<v Speaker 4>So go now to readblindfaith.com.

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<v Speaker 3>I hope you enjoy this wonderful word called, For Your Joy.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, I want to invite you today to Galatians chapter 5,

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<v Speaker 2>verse 22. We are in a nine-week series on the

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<v Speaker 2>fruit of the Spirit. We're calling it a fruitful faith.

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<v Speaker 2>And today we come to week two. that we are

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<v Speaker 2>going to examine. We're going to dive deep into the.

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<v Speaker 5>Fruit of joy.

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<v Speaker 2>Now, we're also going to be primarily in Philippians chapter 4,

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<v Speaker 2>verses 4 and 5. So really, you can take a

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<v Speaker 2>look at Galatians 5, 22, 23. That's where the nine

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<v Speaker 2>fruits of the Spirit are listed for us. But we're

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<v Speaker 2>going to expound and we're going to explain. And God willing,

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<v Speaker 2>we are going to apply Philippians chapter 4.

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<v Speaker 5>Verse number 4.

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<v Speaker 2>How many of you would like to, if you could,

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<v Speaker 2>have the ability to increase your joy? Do you believe

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<v Speaker 2>you can increase in joy? Do you think that you

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<v Speaker 2>could end this year more joyful than how you even began?

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<v Speaker 5>I believe you can.

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<v Speaker 2>Because I believe that joy is a fruit. And a

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<v Speaker 2>fruit has the ability to produce. A fruit has the

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<v Speaker 2>ability to increase. And I know one thing that I

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<v Speaker 2>want for my own personal life, for my own family,

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<v Speaker 2>for my own marriage, I want to increase this year

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<v Speaker 2>in joy. But that is far easier said than.

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<v Speaker 5>Done.

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<v Speaker 2>As a matter of fact, I've been quite surprised the

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<v Speaker 2>last few weeks.

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<v Speaker 5>As so many of.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, my new book, Blind Faith, Seeing God Through

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<v Speaker 2>Darkness releases nationwide in eight weeks.

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<v Speaker 5>I thought that.

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<v Speaker 2>As I am nearing the finish line and I am

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<v Speaker 2>working with so many professionals in book publishing and having

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<v Speaker 2>meetings and doing all of these things, I thought that

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<v Speaker 2>it's just different.

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<v Speaker 5>It's good. I'm enjoying it.

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<v Speaker 2>But what I was not prepared for is the struggle.

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<v Speaker 2>The struggle of so many emotions and feelings that I

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<v Speaker 2>first had when I first went blind. How many of

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<v Speaker 2>you have been there before where you felt like you

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<v Speaker 2>were past something? You felt like you had moved on

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<v Speaker 2>from something. only to have it resurface. And over the

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<v Speaker 2>last several weeks, I have found myself back where I

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<v Speaker 2>started when I first began walking this difficult path of

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<v Speaker 2>blindness to where joy does not feel automatic.

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<v Speaker 5>Joy is not found in what I'm accomplishing.

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<v Speaker 2>Joy is not in what God is allowing me to do.

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<v Speaker 2>And what I find myself, particularly the last few weeks,

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<v Speaker 2>is I have to choose.

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<v Speaker 6>Joy.

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<v Speaker 5>I have to choose it.

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<v Speaker 4>I hope that you are enjoying this sermon.

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<v Speaker 3>And if you are, I want to tell you how

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<v Speaker 3>you can find our entire library, the whole.

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<v Speaker 4>Collection of sermons.

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<v Speaker 3>It's on a free app, our ministry app called Awakened

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<v Speaker 3>to Grace. When you download Awakened to Grace, you can

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<v Speaker 3>get all of our content for free.

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<v Speaker 4>You can find us on YouTube. You can find us

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<v Speaker 4>on social media.

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<v Speaker 3>You can find us on podcast. It's all under Awakened

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<v Speaker 3>to Grace with Chad Roberts.

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<v Speaker 2>Philippians chapter 4, verse 4 helps me. It enables me

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<v Speaker 2>to do this perhaps more than any other scripture.

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<v Speaker 5>If we're going to understand this morning.

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<v Speaker 2>What true, what biblical joy is, then we must first

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<v Speaker 2>understand what it is not. Last night I asked my AI,

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<v Speaker 2>give me a definition of joy. Now, who am I

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<v Speaker 2>to disagree with AI?

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<v Speaker 5>But this is what she said. Joy is a feeling. Oh,

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<v Speaker 5>I disagree. Joy is a feeling of happiness. I disagree.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh, brother, sister, there's a great difference between joy and happiness.

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<v Speaker 2>She went on, joy is a feeling of happiness and delight.

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<v Speaker 5>It is an emotion. I disagree.

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<v Speaker 2>It is an emotion you feel when something.

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<v Speaker 4>Great has happened.

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<v Speaker 2>I say, then what do you do when something terrible happens?

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<v Speaker 5>What a shallow.

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<v Speaker 2>What a shallow definition of joy. No, do you know

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<v Speaker 2>what true biblical joy is? It's found in Philippians 4

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<v Speaker 2>verse 4. Now remember that Paul is in a prison

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<v Speaker 2>cell as he writes this. He's not in the kind

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<v Speaker 2>of prison cell where he has a tablet and commissary.

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<v Speaker 2>And Paul who God sent all over the known world.

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<v Speaker 5>At that time.

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<v Speaker 2>Paul who could walk into a city and flip it

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<v Speaker 2>upside down. Paul who could take a pen and a

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<v Speaker 2>scroll and change.

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<v Speaker 5>The centuries.

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<v Speaker 2>Seemingly it looked as though God had set him on

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<v Speaker 2>a shelf.

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<v Speaker 5>Paul who was used to the Wild seas.

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<v Speaker 2>Paul who was used to the largest metropolis cities there were.

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<v Speaker 2>Paul who pushed toward Rome. Paul who changed Ephesus. Paul

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<v Speaker 2>who went to Antioch. Paul who stirred things up in Jerusalem.

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<v Speaker 2>And now he is confined. And now he is limited.

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<v Speaker 2>And now he is sitting in a prison cell. And

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<v Speaker 2>what would he say to us? Rejoice in the Lord.

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<v Speaker 5>What do you mean, Paul?

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<v Speaker 2>When I hear the word rejoice, I tell you what

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<v Speaker 2>comes to my mind. The vivid image that comes to

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<v Speaker 2>me is an outburst, right? An outburst of joy, right?

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<v Speaker 2>It just burst out. That's what I think of when

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<v Speaker 2>I think of rejoicing. But do you know that's just

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<v Speaker 2>the opposite of what this verse means? It doesn't mean

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<v Speaker 2>a sudden outburst. If you're going to take notes, note

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<v Speaker 2>what the meaning of this word is. The biblical word,

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<v Speaker 2>the Greek word for rejoice, it means, are you ready

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<v Speaker 2>for this? Say amen if you're ready for this. It

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<v Speaker 2>means a continuous. It means a habitual, perpetual joy. In

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<v Speaker 2>other words, it is the opposite of joy being a

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<v Speaker 2>feeling because my feelings and your feelings, they fluctuate. They

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<v Speaker 2>go up, they go down, they go up, they go down.

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<v Speaker 5>They're all over the map. They're all over the place.

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<v Speaker 2>They respond to whatever's going on in life, and our

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<v Speaker 2>feelings are constantly fluctuating, but not true biblical joy. Why?

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<v Speaker 2>Because biblical joy is not a feeling.

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<v Speaker 5>It is not an emotion. It is a fruit that

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<v Speaker 5>is born of the Holy Spirit.

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<v Speaker 2>It transcends how I feel. It transcends my emotions. It

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<v Speaker 2>transcends the circumstances that I'm walking through.

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<v Speaker 5>It far surpasses it. Why?

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<v Speaker 2>Because it's not fruit of my flesh. It's not the

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<v Speaker 2>fruit of my self-will. It's not the fruit of my strength.

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<v Speaker 2>It's not the fruit of my determination.

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<v Speaker 5>No, what is it? It is the fruit of the.

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<v Speaker 2>It's something beyond me. It is a deep, inner, abiding

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<v Speaker 2>gladness that nothing in life can shake.

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<v Speaker 5>Amen. Rejoice. Not a.

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<v Speaker 2>Not a feeling.

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<v Speaker 5>Not an emotion.

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<v Speaker 2>But a deep abiding gladness.

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<v Speaker 5>That is habitual.

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<v Speaker 2>That is continuous.

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<v Speaker 5>And is not fluctuating. But is stable. Is steady. And constant.

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<v Speaker 2>Thank God for it.

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<v Speaker 5>He then says. Rejoice. Now, Paul. Paul says some very

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<v Speaker 5>difficult things.

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<v Speaker 2>Did you know that one of the most Googled Bible...

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<v Speaker 2>What do you think is the most Googled Bible verse?

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<v Speaker 2>Psalm 136. Well, I'll be honest, I haven't looked in

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<v Speaker 2>a long time, so it could have changed. But back

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<v Speaker 2>when I looked, when I had eyesight, I mean, you'll

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<v Speaker 2>want to fact check this. Philippians 4, 6 was the

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<v Speaker 2>most searched verse in the Bible. And what does Philippians 4,

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<v Speaker 2>6 say? Do not be anxious for anything. Now that

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<v Speaker 2>does not humanly make sense. Be anxious for nothing. What

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<v Speaker 2>are you talking about? I mean, is it realistic that

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<v Speaker 2>you can go throughout your day and not feel anxious?

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<v Speaker 2>Can you really go through your days and not worry?

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<v Speaker 2>So what we do is we read this scripture like

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<v Speaker 2>Philippians 4, 6. And we read that and we go,

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<v Speaker 2>I can't do that. No one can do that.

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<v Speaker 5>And we just let it go.

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<v Speaker 2>But see, Philippians 4, 6 is only a portion of

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<v Speaker 2>the remedy.

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<v Speaker 5>You got to take the whole remedy.

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<v Speaker 2>You got to go back to verse four and you

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<v Speaker 2>have to understand if I'm going to be anxious for nothing,

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<v Speaker 2>then where does it begin? And I'll tell you where

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<v Speaker 2>it begins. Rejoice in the Lord always.

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<v Speaker 5>Amen.

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<v Speaker 2>It doesn't say rejoice in the Lord when everything is smooth.

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<v Speaker 2>Rejoice in the Lord when you're on the mountaintop. Rejoice

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<v Speaker 2>in the Lord when everything is easy and everything is

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<v Speaker 2>comfortable and everything is working right.

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<v Speaker 5>No, it says rejoice in the Lord when?

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<v Speaker 7>Always.

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<v Speaker 5>And when I get that down in my spirit, that

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<v Speaker 5>I can rejoice in the Lord.

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<v Speaker 2>I may not be able to rejoice in what's happening.

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<v Speaker 2>I may not be able to rejoice in how I feel.

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<v Speaker 2>I may not be able to rejoice in what seemingly

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<v Speaker 2>doesn't change. But what I can rejoice in is the

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<v Speaker 2>Lord and his goodness and his faithfulness and his power

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<v Speaker 2>and his sovereignty.

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<v Speaker 5>That I can rejoice in.

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<v Speaker 2>And when it transcends, it goes above how I feel,

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<v Speaker 2>then I'm walking in a different realm. I'm walking in

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<v Speaker 2>a different power. I'm walking in a different truth that

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<v Speaker 2>I don't have on my own. Rejoice in the Lord when?

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<v Speaker 7>Always.

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<v Speaker 2>I love how there's no stipulations there.

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<v Speaker 5>There are no qualifiers. There are no conditions. Rejoice in

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<v Speaker 5>the Lord.

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<v Speaker 1>Always.

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<v Speaker 5>Highs and lows. Good and bad. Certainty and uncertainty.

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<v Speaker 2>Always rejoice in the Lord.

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<v Speaker 5>When I get that down, then.

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<v Speaker 5>I can fulfill.

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<v Speaker 2>Philippians 4, 6. Chad, be anxious for nothing.

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<v Speaker 5>Now, does that mean anxiety is never going to come?

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<v Speaker 2>Oh, no. No. It will sneak up on you quicker

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<v Speaker 2>than you can turn around. So many times that anxiety

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<v Speaker 2>will try to take its clutches into me. But what's

0:18:31.359 --> 0:18:34.500
<v Speaker 2>the remedy? Be anxious for nothing.

0:18:36.280 --> 0:18:39.900
<v Speaker 5>Wait, is that the full remedy? No.

0:18:40.960 --> 0:18:43.000
<v Speaker 2>That sounds more like sticking your head in the sand.

0:18:44.280 --> 0:18:48.240
<v Speaker 2>That sounds more like being fake. That sounds more like

0:18:49.580 --> 0:18:50.510
<v Speaker 2>fake it till you make it.

0:18:51.480 --> 0:18:54.080
<v Speaker 5>I mean, is that right or is that wrong? It's

0:18:54.100 --> 0:18:54.920
<v Speaker 5>only part.

0:18:55.440 --> 0:18:58.860
<v Speaker 2>No, if I am going to be anxious for nothing,

0:18:59.160 --> 0:19:00.260
<v Speaker 2>where does it start?

0:19:01.560 --> 0:19:03.300
<v Speaker 5>Rejoice in the Lord always.

0:19:04.900 --> 0:19:10.290
<v Speaker 2>So when I feel wrong, or when I feel overwhelmed,

0:19:10.630 --> 0:19:16.980
<v Speaker 2>or when I feel whatever the negativity brings, Whatever that

0:19:17.060 --> 0:19:18.020
<v Speaker 2>is causing that.

0:19:18.240 --> 0:19:19.820
<v Speaker 5>When I feel those things.

0:19:20.130 --> 0:19:24.850
<v Speaker 2>No, I align my feelings to the truth of God's word.

0:19:25.109 --> 0:19:27.869
<v Speaker 2>And I say, I'm not responding to what I feel.

0:19:28.270 --> 0:19:32.210
<v Speaker 2>I'm responding to what I know. And the word says,

0:19:32.510 --> 0:19:38.260
<v Speaker 2>rejoice in the Lord always. Do you see how that

0:19:38.380 --> 0:19:41.920
<v Speaker 2>lines us right up to the truth of God's word?

0:19:43.330 --> 0:19:44.330
<v Speaker 5>Too many of us just.

0:19:44.869 --> 0:19:47.920
<v Speaker 2>We sit in our mess. We sit in our problems.

0:19:48.240 --> 0:19:51.040
<v Speaker 2>We sit in our negativity. And that's not the will

0:19:51.080 --> 0:19:54.080
<v Speaker 2>of God. Now say amen if you're with me right now.

0:19:55.680 --> 0:19:58.440
<v Speaker 2>Do you think it is the will of God to

0:20:01.060 --> 0:20:06.950
<v Speaker 2>just barely survive your day? That was better than the

0:20:06.950 --> 0:20:09.130
<v Speaker 2>930 service. The 930 service was.

0:20:09.050 --> 0:20:11.050
<v Speaker 5>Like, I don't know where you're going. I don't know

0:20:11.109 --> 0:20:11.570
<v Speaker 5>if I should.

0:20:12.770 --> 0:20:14.669
<v Speaker 2>I'm just not going to respond because I don't know

0:20:14.710 --> 0:20:15.830
<v Speaker 2>which way this is going.

0:20:19.080 --> 0:20:24.760
<v Speaker 5>Is it God's will to just barely make it by?

0:20:26.380 --> 0:20:30.440
<v Speaker 2>As a pastor, you wouldn't believe how many people say

0:20:30.520 --> 0:20:34.169
<v Speaker 2>things to me like, Pastor Chad, I'm just praying that

0:20:34.210 --> 0:20:38.389
<v Speaker 2>God helps me make it through the day. Is that

0:20:38.430 --> 0:20:43.560
<v Speaker 2>God's will? And I'm not saying people have the wrong heart.

0:20:43.940 --> 0:20:46.800
<v Speaker 2>I'm saying, brothers and sisters, if we're not careful, we'll

0:20:46.820 --> 0:20:51.640
<v Speaker 2>have the wrong perspective. Is it God's will for me

0:20:51.740 --> 0:20:55.940
<v Speaker 2>to pray and just say, Oh God, if you could just, Lord,

0:20:56.080 --> 0:20:59.860
<v Speaker 2>if you could just help me make it through this day.

0:21:00.859 --> 0:21:05.300
<v Speaker 5>Help me, help me make it. Is that praying in faith?

0:21:08.880 --> 0:21:11.600
<v Speaker 2>I understand often it's how we feel, but that's not

0:21:11.640 --> 0:21:15.480
<v Speaker 2>praying in faith. You know, if I'm not careful, you

0:21:15.500 --> 0:21:19.320
<v Speaker 2>know what I'll catch myself doing? I'll pray these really

0:21:19.420 --> 0:21:26.570
<v Speaker 2>small prayers to an even smaller God. Prayers like, God,

0:21:26.630 --> 0:21:28.510
<v Speaker 2>just help me make it through the days, a very

0:21:28.570 --> 0:21:32.389
<v Speaker 2>small prayer. Because let me tell you, brothers, sisters, what

0:21:32.410 --> 0:21:38.090
<v Speaker 2>the Bible says. This is the day that the Lord

0:21:38.170 --> 0:21:38.950
<v Speaker 2>has made.

0:21:38.970 --> 0:21:41.930
<v Speaker 5>Now, if I can just barely make it through.

0:21:41.950 --> 0:21:45.510
<v Speaker 2>Is that what it says?

0:21:46.970 --> 0:21:51.090
<v Speaker 5>But my covers over my head. God, if you'll just

0:21:51.130 --> 0:21:51.950
<v Speaker 5>get me through it.

0:21:53.200 --> 0:21:55.940
<v Speaker 2>Does that glorify God? Does that strengthen you? No.

0:21:56.680 --> 0:21:56.760
<v Speaker 5>No.

0:21:57.660 --> 0:22:00.740
<v Speaker 2>No, it's when you rise up and you say, I

0:22:01.840 --> 0:22:06.960
<v Speaker 2>will rejoice. My emotions may not feel it, but my

0:22:07.260 --> 0:22:12.629
<v Speaker 2>will feels it. I will rejoice. I'll take God at

0:22:12.670 --> 0:22:16.610
<v Speaker 2>his word. I'll take every promise of God. I will

0:22:16.650 --> 0:22:20.149
<v Speaker 2>take his strength and I will let the fruits of

0:22:20.190 --> 0:22:24.420
<v Speaker 2>the Holy Spirit produce in me and through me.

0:22:24.740 --> 0:22:26.160
<v Speaker 5>Why? Because it's not me.

0:22:27.160 --> 0:22:32.510
<v Speaker 2>It's the God who indwells me. Isn't that a different

0:22:32.570 --> 0:22:38.369
<v Speaker 2>perspective than just making it through? Some of us have

0:22:38.410 --> 0:22:42.520
<v Speaker 2>been praying the wrong way. And you know why God

0:22:42.640 --> 0:22:45.760
<v Speaker 2>isn't helping some of us? Because we're not letting him

0:22:45.820 --> 0:22:49.800
<v Speaker 2>help us. We got him so confined to where God

0:22:50.160 --> 0:22:53.260
<v Speaker 2>is just saying, you don't even think I am who

0:22:53.359 --> 0:22:56.149
<v Speaker 2>I am. You don't think I can do what I

0:22:56.170 --> 0:22:56.490
<v Speaker 2>can do.

0:22:57.510 --> 0:23:01.510
<v Speaker 5>I'll just let you figure it out. Your little ones

0:23:01.590 --> 0:23:04.169
<v Speaker 5>ever do that to you? My boys will bring something

0:23:04.210 --> 0:23:06.990
<v Speaker 5>to me. God, dad, dad, dad, take this.

0:23:07.030 --> 0:23:11.170
<v Speaker 2>And then they'll take it right out of my hands. Dad,

0:23:11.230 --> 0:23:14.240
<v Speaker 2>I can't open this. And then they'll take it right back. Well,

0:23:14.260 --> 0:23:14.919
<v Speaker 2>then you do it.

0:23:20.440 --> 0:23:22.300
<v Speaker 5>Or if you're like me, take it to your mother. No,

0:23:22.340 --> 0:23:22.760
<v Speaker 5>I'm kidding.

0:23:23.100 --> 0:23:23.600
<v Speaker 4>That's a joke.

0:23:30.430 --> 0:23:33.550
<v Speaker 5>I don't want to pray small prayers. To an even

0:23:33.609 --> 0:23:36.919
<v Speaker 5>smaller God. No I don't want that. I don't want

0:23:36.960 --> 0:23:38.919
<v Speaker 5>to waste my days. I don't want to.

0:23:40.160 --> 0:23:42.020
<v Speaker 2>I don't want to barely make it. I don't want

0:23:42.040 --> 0:23:44.820
<v Speaker 2>to just survive. I don't want to just get through it.

0:23:45.700 --> 0:23:46.260
<v Speaker 5>No I want to.

0:23:46.260 --> 0:23:51.990
<v Speaker 2>Live with a joy. That is so unique. That it

0:23:52.030 --> 0:23:53.730
<v Speaker 2>can only come from Jesus.

0:23:55.390 --> 0:23:57.639
<v Speaker 5>So let's understand brothers. Sisters. Philippians 4.4.

0:23:57.630 --> 0:23:57.830
<v Speaker 2>Rejoice.

0:23:57.890 --> 0:23:58.180
<v Speaker 5>Not a.

0:24:00.530 --> 0:24:05.470
<v Speaker 2>Burst of emotion, not a feeling that fluctuates, but a continuous,

0:24:05.890 --> 0:24:12.219
<v Speaker 2>a habitual, a stable joy that nothing can shake.

0:24:13.359 --> 0:24:14.520
<v Speaker 5>Where do we rejoice?

0:24:15.200 --> 0:24:18.900
<v Speaker 2>Not in the way things are going, but in the Lord.

0:24:20.100 --> 0:24:23.050
<v Speaker 2>Let me take it a step further. It does not

0:24:23.119 --> 0:24:27.110
<v Speaker 2>even say, pay attention to this. It doesn't even say

0:24:27.150 --> 0:24:32.100
<v Speaker 2>to rejoice in answered prayer. Isn't that interesting?

0:24:33.600 --> 0:24:36.050
<v Speaker 5>But rejoice in the Lord.

0:24:37.510 --> 0:24:41.170
<v Speaker 2>How many of you, you are with me and you

0:24:41.230 --> 0:24:45.930
<v Speaker 2>agree with me that God is indeed and in fact

0:24:46.690 --> 0:24:48.020
<v Speaker 2>going to open my eyes?

0:24:48.840 --> 0:24:50.240
<v Speaker 5>How many of you truly believe that?

0:24:50.640 --> 0:24:57.520
<v Speaker 2>Amen. Now, if you don't believe that, that's okay. Just

0:24:57.560 --> 0:25:00.800
<v Speaker 2>keep hanging out with us. And you know what's going

0:25:00.820 --> 0:25:03.659
<v Speaker 2>to happen? Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word.

0:25:04.300 --> 0:25:05.859
<v Speaker 2>And faith is going to come into your heart.

0:25:06.220 --> 0:25:12.530
<v Speaker 5>Amen? So just keep hanging out. Just hang out. I

0:25:12.570 --> 0:25:13.480
<v Speaker 5>have no doubt.

0:25:14.700 --> 0:25:19.090
<v Speaker 2>That when God says enough is enough, scales are going

0:25:19.109 --> 0:25:24.590
<v Speaker 2>to fall from my eyes. I got no doubt. But

0:25:24.609 --> 0:25:31.910
<v Speaker 2>the question is when? And the reality is that's not

0:25:31.950 --> 0:25:42.940
<v Speaker 2>for me to know. So if my joy was rooted

0:25:43.160 --> 0:25:49.040
<v Speaker 2>in the answer to that prayer, how frustrated would I stay?

0:25:51.230 --> 0:25:55.510
<v Speaker 2>But see, my joy is not in the outcome or

0:25:55.570 --> 0:25:59.149
<v Speaker 2>the result of Or the effect of the prayer.

0:25:59.510 --> 0:26:00.310
<v Speaker 5>My joy.

0:26:01.250 --> 0:26:05.450
<v Speaker 2>Isn't God and God alone. And so God. In his

0:26:05.810 --> 0:26:10.800
<v Speaker 2>infinite wisdom. And God in his sovereign counsel. And God

0:26:10.859 --> 0:26:11.760
<v Speaker 2>in his love.

0:26:11.800 --> 0:26:14.020
<v Speaker 5>And his grace. Has said Chad.

0:26:14.359 --> 0:26:17.500
<v Speaker 2>You are going to be blind for this period of time.

0:26:18.619 --> 0:26:22.560
<v Speaker 5>I don't know what that is. But the Lord has

0:26:22.619 --> 0:26:22.959
<v Speaker 5>told me.

0:26:23.020 --> 0:26:25.540
<v Speaker 2>Just as there is scheduled beginning. There will be a

0:26:25.580 --> 0:26:34.980
<v Speaker 2>scheduled ending. But had my joy been in the outcome

0:26:35.020 --> 0:26:39.600
<v Speaker 2>of the prayer, in the result of the prayer, look

0:26:39.640 --> 0:26:44.820
<v Speaker 2>how many years I would have already wasted, frustrated.

0:26:46.000 --> 0:26:46.280
<v Speaker 8>No.

0:26:47.160 --> 0:26:52.409
<v Speaker 2>Our joy is in the Lord and the Lord alone.

0:26:52.690 --> 0:26:54.770
<v Speaker 2>This is why Jesus said, Mark 11, 22, have faith

0:26:54.850 --> 0:26:55.040
<v Speaker 2>in God.

0:26:59.500 --> 0:27:00.320
<v Speaker 5>Not outcomes.

0:27:02.440 --> 0:27:08.159
<v Speaker 2>Rejoice in the Lord always. Not when you feel like it.

0:27:08.260 --> 0:27:11.640
<v Speaker 2>Not when things are smooth. Not when things are convenient.

0:27:13.300 --> 0:27:17.399
<v Speaker 2>Not when prayer seems to be answered. But rejoice in

0:27:17.440 --> 0:27:22.290
<v Speaker 2>the Lord always. Didn't David say Psalm 34.

0:27:22.290 --> 0:27:25.010
<v Speaker 5>Bless the Lord. Oh my soul.

0:27:26.630 --> 0:27:27.710
<v Speaker 2>All that is within me.

0:27:27.850 --> 0:27:31.070
<v Speaker 5>Bless his holy name. I will bless his name. His

0:27:31.160 --> 0:27:33.189
<v Speaker 5>praise shall, what?

0:27:34.109 --> 0:27:38.490
<v Speaker 2>Continuously, forever be in my mouth.

0:27:40.290 --> 0:27:40.790
<v Speaker 7>Always.

0:27:42.630 --> 0:27:49.020
<v Speaker 2>It's so emphatic that Paul says, again, I say rejoice.

0:27:49.230 --> 0:27:52.780
<v Speaker 2>Paul knows this is not an easy saying. Paul knows

0:27:52.820 --> 0:27:55.500
<v Speaker 2>this is not something that is easy to accomplish. This

0:27:55.580 --> 0:28:00.530
<v Speaker 2>is not convenient. You have to fight for this. You

0:28:00.570 --> 0:28:07.480
<v Speaker 2>have to intentionally choose this. So tomorrow you may wake

0:28:07.660 --> 0:28:13.439
<v Speaker 2>up and you may have a true Monday where you

0:28:13.460 --> 0:28:17.430
<v Speaker 2>don't feel joyful. The question is not what you feel.

0:28:17.490 --> 0:28:21.050
<v Speaker 2>The question is what are you going to choose? And

0:28:21.090 --> 0:28:24.630
<v Speaker 2>what you can do is before you get out of bed,

0:28:26.720 --> 0:28:29.280
<v Speaker 2>You can say this is the day the Lord has made.

0:28:30.060 --> 0:28:34.679
<v Speaker 2>I will rejoice and be glad in it.

0:28:34.960 --> 0:28:35.520
<v Speaker 5>Amen.

0:28:37.420 --> 0:28:39.840
<v Speaker 2>And I want the kind of joy that I'm telling you.

0:28:41.260 --> 0:28:46.200
<v Speaker 2>Other people can't take it away from me. Other people's

0:28:46.290 --> 0:28:54.230
<v Speaker 2>harsh words or their negative opinions. It can't steal it.

0:28:55.360 --> 0:29:00.700
<v Speaker 2>My own negative thoughts can't shake it. It is a

0:29:00.760 --> 0:29:02.780
<v Speaker 2>joy that is so unique.

0:29:02.840 --> 0:29:06.660
<v Speaker 5>Why? Because it only comes from Jesus. What did Jesus say?

0:29:07.180 --> 0:29:10.970
<v Speaker 5>He said, my joy I give you.

0:29:11.930 --> 0:29:14.710
<v Speaker 2>And see, if you and I, brothers and sisters, if

0:29:14.750 --> 0:29:18.370
<v Speaker 2>we're going to obtain this kind of biblical joy that's

0:29:18.430 --> 0:29:21.010
<v Speaker 2>far beyond a feeling or an emotion, but is a

0:29:21.120 --> 0:29:23.000
<v Speaker 2>spiritual fruit, how do we get it?

0:29:23.370 --> 0:29:24.990
<v Speaker 5>We shared it last week.

0:29:25.090 --> 0:29:31.920
<v Speaker 2>John 15, 5. Jesus said, I am the vine. You

0:29:32.000 --> 0:29:36.530
<v Speaker 2>are the branches. Apart from me, you can do nothing.

0:29:38.530 --> 0:29:41.200
<v Speaker 2>And how do we glorify God? By bearing much fruit.

0:29:41.500 --> 0:29:44.400
<v Speaker 2>And see brothers and sisters. When our rejoicing is in

0:29:44.440 --> 0:29:49.090
<v Speaker 2>the Lord. We are connected to the vine. As we

0:29:49.140 --> 0:29:52.710
<v Speaker 2>are connected to the vine. Every single thing that we

0:29:52.790 --> 0:29:57.390
<v Speaker 2>need flows into our life. And it will produce that

0:29:57.550 --> 0:29:58.630
<v Speaker 2>precious fruit.

0:29:59.260 --> 0:30:01.760
<v Speaker 5>Of joy. And then.

0:30:02.240 --> 0:30:04.320
<v Speaker 2>Your joy is not going to be in other people.

0:30:05.160 --> 0:30:05.980
<v Speaker 2>Or in you.

0:30:06.810 --> 0:30:11.190
<v Speaker 5>Or in the outcomes. Or the circumstances of life. Your joy.

0:30:11.670 --> 0:30:12.050
<v Speaker 5>Hear me.

0:30:13.270 --> 0:30:18.710
<v Speaker 2>Will be in your spiritual connection. Not in your life circumstances.

0:30:21.430 --> 0:30:22.080
<v Speaker 5>Did you hear that?

0:30:23.120 --> 0:30:27.000
<v Speaker 2>Your joy will be in your spiritual connection.

0:30:27.280 --> 0:30:28.920
<v Speaker 5>The branch to the vine.

0:30:28.940 --> 0:30:33.620
<v Speaker 2>Amen. Not in life circumstances. Because that's always going to

0:30:33.700 --> 0:30:38.320
<v Speaker 2>fluctuate and be up and down. Rejoice in the Lord always.

0:30:38.380 --> 0:30:43.650
<v Speaker 2>Again I say rejoice. Now look at verse 5. Let

0:30:43.690 --> 0:30:46.990
<v Speaker 2>your reasonableness.

0:30:47.670 --> 0:30:50.530
<v Speaker 5>Be known to everyone. For the Lord is at hand.

0:30:51.770 --> 0:30:55.360
<v Speaker 2>I like this word reasonableness. That's fun to say. Say

0:30:55.400 --> 0:30:56.540
<v Speaker 2>it three times real fast.

0:30:57.040 --> 0:30:57.960
<v Speaker 4>Reasonableness.

0:30:59.180 --> 0:30:59.320
<v Speaker 2>Hmm.

0:31:01.730 --> 0:31:04.510
<v Speaker 5>But what's it mean? If you're going to take notes,

0:31:04.590 --> 0:31:05.690
<v Speaker 5>I want you to write this down.

0:31:09.040 --> 0:31:19.959
<v Speaker 2>The word reasonableness means a right, mature response. Oh, how

0:31:20.020 --> 0:31:30.070
<v Speaker 2>big that is. It means a right and a mature response.

0:31:31.550 --> 0:31:38.560
<v Speaker 2>It's how you and I react. Now, one thing I

0:31:38.930 --> 0:31:44.940
<v Speaker 2>have truly learned. I'll tell you two things that I've learned. One,

0:31:45.280 --> 0:31:49.200
<v Speaker 2>the first thing that I have learned in my journey

0:31:49.260 --> 0:31:52.760
<v Speaker 2>of blindness is that I cannot control anything.

0:31:54.790 --> 0:31:56.670
<v Speaker 5>I cannot even control.

0:31:56.610 --> 0:32:04.920
<v Speaker 2>What my body does. It's out of my control. There

0:32:04.960 --> 0:32:07.050
<v Speaker 2>are so many things that we go through in life

0:32:07.410 --> 0:32:11.030
<v Speaker 2>that that's just the reality. They are outside of our control.

0:32:11.690 --> 0:32:16.550
<v Speaker 2>But what I have learned is there is one thing

0:32:16.790 --> 0:32:20.410
<v Speaker 2>I can control. And that's how I respond.

0:32:22.690 --> 0:32:25.670
<v Speaker 5>The other thing that I've learned, you know, this month makes.

0:32:25.410 --> 0:32:30.560
<v Speaker 2>25 years that I have pastored in the I can't

0:32:30.600 --> 0:32:38.380
<v Speaker 2>believe it. They tell me I have gray in my beard,

0:32:38.440 --> 0:32:45.550
<v Speaker 2>but I don't believe it. Can I tell you the

0:32:45.570 --> 0:32:49.210
<v Speaker 2>most difficult lesson I have learned in 25 years of shepherding?

0:32:50.270 --> 0:32:54.810
<v Speaker 2>The hardest lesson that I had to learn in pastoring people.

0:32:56.150 --> 0:32:59.430
<v Speaker 5>It's this. There are many good people.

0:33:00.530 --> 0:33:03.630
<v Speaker 2>I would even go so far as to say that

0:33:03.670 --> 0:33:11.450
<v Speaker 2>there are many godly people that are not emotionally healthy.

0:33:14.570 --> 0:33:20.250
<v Speaker 2>You can be a good person and emotionally immature. You

0:33:20.270 --> 0:33:25.310
<v Speaker 2>can be godly and truly love the Lord, but not

0:33:25.370 --> 0:33:26.830
<v Speaker 2>be emotionally mature.

0:33:28.670 --> 0:33:29.710
<v Speaker 5>And you know what I have found?

0:33:30.990 --> 0:33:36.770
<v Speaker 2>It's people who are emotionally unhealthy that are the most

0:33:36.830 --> 0:33:42.970
<v Speaker 2>hurtful people. Even if they're godly. That's been a hard

0:33:43.010 --> 0:33:46.990
<v Speaker 2>lesson to learn. And what I have had to learn

0:33:47.010 --> 0:33:52.540
<v Speaker 2>is that I cannot control other people. I can't control

0:33:52.600 --> 0:33:58.340
<v Speaker 2>what people think. I can't control how they act. I

0:33:58.420 --> 0:34:03.050
<v Speaker 2>certainly can't control what they say. I cannot control anyone.

0:34:04.200 --> 0:34:10.969
<v Speaker 2>But there is one thing that I can control. That's

0:34:11.010 --> 0:34:16.290
<v Speaker 2>my response. And that's why this scripture would say, Chad,

0:34:18.450 --> 0:34:26.220
<v Speaker 2>let your maturity, let your spiritual maturity, let your reasonableness,

0:34:26.260 --> 0:34:28.980
<v Speaker 2>let your right reactions change.

0:34:31.040 --> 0:34:36.439
<v Speaker 5>To others. The reality is. Brothers and sisters. Certainly don't

0:34:36.480 --> 0:34:44.490
<v Speaker 5>respond to this. Process this. How many relationships. Of our past.

0:34:45.469 --> 0:34:47.989
<v Speaker 5>How many friendships. Whether it's.

0:34:48.380 --> 0:34:54.590
<v Speaker 2>Family relationships. Whether it's work relationships. Whether it's friend groups.

0:34:54.670 --> 0:35:00.770
<v Speaker 2>Or whether it's church life. How many relationships. Have been damaged.

0:35:01.170 --> 0:35:04.690
<v Speaker 5>Or even destroyed. Because of our.

0:35:07.370 --> 0:35:16.969
<v Speaker 2>Wrong reaction. How many people have hurt you. Because of

0:35:17.050 --> 0:35:18.290
<v Speaker 2>their wrong response.

0:35:21.219 --> 0:35:21.879
<v Speaker 5>Scripture says.

0:35:21.980 --> 0:35:23.700
<v Speaker 2>Let your maturity.

0:35:24.960 --> 0:35:29.739
<v Speaker 5>Let your right reaction. Be known to everyone. God wants

0:35:29.780 --> 0:35:37.790
<v Speaker 5>his people mature. Amen. So where does it begin?

0:35:39.270 --> 0:35:39.509
<v Speaker 7>Well.

0:35:41.370 --> 0:35:43.180
<v Speaker 5>I tell you the best way. God matures us.

0:35:44.880 --> 0:35:48.339
<v Speaker 2>It's through the difficulties of life and us learning to

0:35:48.400 --> 0:35:49.279
<v Speaker 2>rejoice in.

0:35:49.260 --> 0:35:50.020
<v Speaker 5>The midst of them.

0:35:51.980 --> 0:35:57.920
<v Speaker 2>Well, as that happens, something tremendous begins to take place.

0:35:58.860 --> 0:36:03.370
<v Speaker 2>There's something in this maturing spiritually.

0:36:03.670 --> 0:36:07.770
<v Speaker 5>That all of a sudden you let go of the anxieties.

0:36:07.850 --> 0:36:11.590
<v Speaker 5>You let go of the worries. You start to pray.

0:36:13.780 --> 0:36:15.200
<v Speaker 5>more biblical prayers.

0:36:15.320 --> 0:36:18.540
<v Speaker 2>Instead of saying, God, help me to get through it,

0:36:18.560 --> 0:36:21.879
<v Speaker 2>you're going to start saying, God, I rejoice in what

0:36:21.920 --> 0:36:26.170
<v Speaker 2>I'm going through. Brothers, sisters, that one perspective alone will

0:36:26.190 --> 0:36:31.070
<v Speaker 2>change your life if you let it. Instead of saying, God,

0:36:31.989 --> 0:36:34.470
<v Speaker 2>help me to get through, you're going to say, God,

0:36:35.430 --> 0:36:36.370
<v Speaker 2>help me to rejoice.

0:36:37.710 --> 0:36:38.570
<v Speaker 5>Oh, what a difference.

0:36:39.390 --> 0:36:42.280
<v Speaker 2>And you know what happens as that begins to form

0:36:42.340 --> 0:36:47.040
<v Speaker 2>and Develop within you. Then you're going to mature in

0:36:47.080 --> 0:36:53.109
<v Speaker 2>the Lord. And that means other people. Through whatever their

0:36:53.120 --> 0:36:59.930
<v Speaker 2>wrong reaction is. Whatever their emotional immaturity is. Whatever their

0:37:00.050 --> 0:37:03.509
<v Speaker 2>negativity is. Whatever their craziness is.

0:37:03.950 --> 0:37:05.649
<v Speaker 5>Whatever their issues are.

0:37:06.330 --> 0:37:09.570
<v Speaker 2>It's not going to steal your joy. Can we say

0:37:09.670 --> 0:37:10.830
<v Speaker 2>amen to that?

0:37:10.850 --> 0:37:18.170
<v Speaker 5>Amen. Amen. And then what happens?

0:37:19.430 --> 0:37:24.070
<v Speaker 2>You're going to find yourself not being anxious about anything.

0:37:24.930 --> 0:37:25.219
<v Speaker 5>Why?

0:37:25.300 --> 0:37:29.580
<v Speaker 2>Because the way you've learned to rejoice has taught you

0:37:31.040 --> 0:37:36.820
<v Speaker 2>God's in control of everything. God's not haphazard. God's not coincidental.

0:37:37.560 --> 0:37:41.549
<v Speaker 2>God makes no accidents. And far beyond all of that,

0:37:41.630 --> 0:37:47.620
<v Speaker 2>God wastes. And so everything that comes into my life

0:37:47.960 --> 0:37:53.430
<v Speaker 2>comes with purpose. Everything that touches my life touches with purpose.

0:37:54.130 --> 0:37:57.270
<v Speaker 5>Everything is working together.

0:37:57.050 --> 0:37:59.310
<v Speaker 2>For my good. Why?

0:37:59.710 --> 0:38:00.950
<v Speaker 5>So that God.

0:38:00.650 --> 0:38:06.310
<v Speaker 2>Would bear in me and through me this precious fruit.

0:38:06.610 --> 0:38:09.490
<v Speaker 2>And do you know where the resting comes, brothers and sisters?

0:38:09.910 --> 0:38:15.670
<v Speaker 2>Do you know where... Rather than anxiety. Don't be anxious

0:38:15.730 --> 0:38:20.050
<v Speaker 2>for anything. But rather Jesus said come to me and rest.

0:38:20.350 --> 0:38:28.010
<v Speaker 2>You know where that's found? Instead of chasing happiness. Instead

0:38:28.050 --> 0:38:34.490
<v Speaker 2>of chasing people's approval. Instead of chasing affirmations.

0:38:35.870 --> 0:38:36.390
<v Speaker 5>You know what?

0:38:37.130 --> 0:38:40.730
<v Speaker 2>I'm going to start bearing fruit. God doesn't want you

0:38:40.810 --> 0:38:44.719
<v Speaker 2>chasing anything. God wants you bearing fruit today. Can we

0:38:44.800 --> 0:38:48.540
<v Speaker 2>say amen to that? So I'm not going to fall

0:38:48.620 --> 0:38:50.819
<v Speaker 2>for this shallow.

0:38:51.680 --> 0:38:54.520
<v Speaker 5>AI joy.

0:38:57.739 --> 0:39:00.110
<v Speaker 2>I'm going to root myself in the word of God.

0:39:01.130 --> 0:39:06.630
<v Speaker 2>And I'm going to let real fruit, nourishing, life-giving fruit

0:39:07.130 --> 0:39:11.750
<v Speaker 2>produce in me and through me to God's glory.

0:39:12.960 --> 0:39:16.710
<v Speaker 5>Let's bow our heads today. Are you walking in joy?

0:39:18.130 --> 0:39:26.100
<v Speaker 5>Or are you chasing happiness? There's a difference. Are you

0:39:26.180 --> 0:39:27.620
<v Speaker 5>trusting in God?

0:39:30.360 --> 0:39:34.640
<v Speaker 2>Or is your faith in the answers to your prayer?

0:39:36.140 --> 0:39:36.980
<v Speaker 5>There's a difference.

0:39:38.680 --> 0:39:40.660
<v Speaker 2>Today I want to invite you to.

0:39:42.280 --> 0:39:43.780
<v Speaker 4>Go deeper with the Lord.

0:39:44.680 --> 0:39:49.080
<v Speaker 2>Connect yourself to the vine. As scripture says in Colossians,

0:39:49.100 --> 0:39:50.830
<v Speaker 2>be rooted.

0:39:51.830 --> 0:39:53.850
<v Speaker 5>And built up in Christ.

0:39:56.550 --> 0:39:59.700
<v Speaker 2>Today, if in any way you feel like your faith,

0:40:01.540 --> 0:40:10.400
<v Speaker 2>your prayers, your perspective of God has been small, why

0:40:10.440 --> 0:40:14.739
<v Speaker 2>don't you ask God to change that today? Why don't

0:40:14.800 --> 0:40:19.200
<v Speaker 2>you just confess that and say, God, I have limited you.

0:40:19.340 --> 0:40:29.000
<v Speaker 2>I've I've just, I've prayed small prayers. And I've made

0:40:29.020 --> 0:40:33.360
<v Speaker 2>you to be a small God and I repent of that. Today, God,

0:40:33.420 --> 0:40:39.299
<v Speaker 2>I take you at your word. Today, I'm going to

0:40:39.380 --> 0:40:45.020
<v Speaker 2>connect myself to the vine. God, I'm asking you produce

0:40:45.140 --> 0:40:46.140
<v Speaker 2>fruit in me.

0:40:46.920 --> 0:40:48.469
<v Speaker 5>Fruit that will remain forever.

0:40:49.810 --> 0:40:51.950
<v Speaker 2>You know, I love that phrase. We're going to explore

0:40:51.989 --> 0:40:55.109
<v Speaker 2>that more in the series. But, you know, fruit goes

0:40:55.180 --> 0:40:55.860
<v Speaker 2>bad quick.

0:40:57.180 --> 0:41:02.020
<v Speaker 5>You buy fresh fruit in it. But you know what

0:41:02.040 --> 0:41:03.120
<v Speaker 5>the Bible says.

0:41:02.950 --> 0:41:09.810
<v Speaker 2>About the fruit of the Spirit? It remains forever. Isn't

0:41:09.830 --> 0:41:13.029
<v Speaker 2>that remarkable? The joy that God produces in you is

0:41:13.090 --> 0:41:16.660
<v Speaker 2>an eternal joy. The love that God sheds abroad in

0:41:16.680 --> 0:41:20.040
<v Speaker 2>your heart is an eternal love. It's something that we

0:41:20.080 --> 0:41:23.380
<v Speaker 2>will enjoy forever and ever and ever.

0:41:25.060 --> 0:41:29.600
<v Speaker 5>So, brothers, sisters, let's not neglect these things. Some of us,

0:41:29.630 --> 0:41:30.029
<v Speaker 5>you know, in the.

0:41:29.989 --> 0:41:34.230
<v Speaker 2>Book of James, it says that our lives is like

0:41:34.250 --> 0:41:38.170
<v Speaker 2>a garden that's rampant with weeds. It's overgrown.

0:41:39.060 --> 0:41:44.340
<v Speaker 5>With sin. And so what happens? Fruit can't produce.

0:41:45.160 --> 0:41:48.500
<v Speaker 2>Because weeds of sin have choked it out.

0:41:49.000 --> 0:41:51.580
<v Speaker 5>That may be what's happening with you, brother and sister.

0:41:53.200 --> 0:41:55.580
<v Speaker 2>Weeds of sin may be choking out.

0:41:57.640 --> 0:41:59.370
<v Speaker 5>This fruit of joy.

0:41:59.590 --> 0:42:08.759
<v Speaker 2>And God has so much more for you. The Lord

0:42:08.800 --> 0:42:13.410
<v Speaker 2>told me this morning when I walked into the auditorium, Chad,

0:42:13.430 --> 0:42:15.810
<v Speaker 2>whatever your anticipation is, increase it.

0:42:16.989 --> 0:42:23.589
<v Speaker 5>Whatever your expectations are, increase it.

0:42:23.710 --> 0:42:26.140
<v Speaker 2>I'm just going to speak it out this morning. I'm

0:42:26.820 --> 0:42:29.120
<v Speaker 2>just going to speak this out because it's where the

0:42:29.180 --> 0:42:33.399
<v Speaker 2>enemy has been wearing me out. The devil just over

0:42:33.440 --> 0:42:36.819
<v Speaker 2>the last few weeks has been telling me, Chad, you're

0:42:36.840 --> 0:42:37.780
<v Speaker 2>going to be stuck.

0:42:38.820 --> 0:42:40.920
<v Speaker 5>You're going to be stuck in blindness.

0:42:41.000 --> 0:42:44.440
<v Speaker 2>Everything's moving. Everything's bypassing you.

0:42:44.719 --> 0:42:46.020
<v Speaker 5>And you're going to be stuck.

0:42:46.300 --> 0:42:49.850
<v Speaker 2>And I walked into the worship set today and God said, no,

0:42:50.410 --> 0:42:54.050
<v Speaker 2>I'm going to do a swift work. You get stuck

0:42:54.210 --> 0:42:57.110
<v Speaker 2>out of your head, stuck out of your mind, stuck

0:42:57.210 --> 0:42:59.489
<v Speaker 2>out of your heart. What I'm going to do is

0:42:59.530 --> 0:43:00.750
<v Speaker 2>going to be swift.

0:43:01.850 --> 0:43:03.310
<v Speaker 5>Oh, I receive it. Amen.

0:43:04.850 --> 0:43:05.250
<v Speaker 7>Swift.

0:43:06.850 --> 0:43:07.150
<v Speaker 5>Swift.

0:43:07.170 --> 0:43:07.570
<v Speaker 2>Swift.

0:43:08.719 --> 0:43:09.400
<v Speaker 5>And so now I.

0:43:09.520 --> 0:43:15.379
<v Speaker 2>Have a choice. Sit in what I feel or go

0:43:15.500 --> 0:43:16.720
<v Speaker 2>forward in what I know.

0:43:23.219 --> 0:43:28.850
<v Speaker 5>You have a choice. Sit in your negativity. Listen to

0:43:28.890 --> 0:43:34.170
<v Speaker 5>the voices of others. Replay all that negative stuff. Stay

0:43:34.210 --> 0:43:35.430
<v Speaker 5>in your past.

0:43:36.910 --> 0:43:42.000
<v Speaker 2>Or go forward enjoy in Jesus' name. And I'll tell

0:43:42.040 --> 0:43:44.160
<v Speaker 2>you God's will. God's will for.

0:43:44.050 --> 0:43:49.150
<v Speaker 5>You is to go forward. So choose it today. Embrace

0:43:49.250 --> 0:43:49.790
<v Speaker 5>it today.

0:43:51.590 --> 0:43:54.469
<v Speaker 2>So God, we give you glory and we thank you

0:43:54.550 --> 0:43:57.490
<v Speaker 2>today that when the enemy comes in like a flood,

0:43:57.910 --> 0:44:01.649
<v Speaker 2>you raise a standard against him. Thank you for that,

0:44:01.710 --> 0:44:06.839
<v Speaker 2>Lord Jesus. And now, God, I speak a blessing over

0:44:06.960 --> 0:44:10.430
<v Speaker 2>all of your people I speak a blessing over each

0:44:10.489 --> 0:44:15.109
<v Speaker 2>of them today, God, that joy would be ours, that

0:44:15.170 --> 0:44:20.020
<v Speaker 2>joy will be born and produced in our life, not

0:44:20.140 --> 0:44:26.160
<v Speaker 2>through us, but by the Holy Spirit, the precious Holy

0:44:26.320 --> 0:44:32.910
<v Speaker 2>Spirit that indwells us. Do a great work, Lord, a

0:44:32.969 --> 0:44:38.020
<v Speaker 2>great work in all of our lives. together for your glory.

0:44:38.200 --> 0:44:42.360
<v Speaker 5>In Jesus' name, we thank you. In Jesus' name, amen.

0:44:42.400 --> 0:44:44.700
<v Speaker 2>Can we just thank the Lord this morning?

0:44:48.180 --> 0:44:50.730
<v Speaker 3>Friends, we're going to end today's episode with a bonus.

0:44:50.830 --> 0:44:53.710
<v Speaker 3>I'm going to share with you some music by our

0:44:53.810 --> 0:44:54.710
<v Speaker 3>worship team.

0:44:54.790 --> 0:44:58.489
<v Speaker 4>This is Awakened Music, and you can find us.

0:44:58.830 --> 0:45:03.690
<v Speaker 3>You can stream through Apple, Spotify, and I know you're

0:45:03.710 --> 0:45:06.149
<v Speaker 3>going to be encouraged by this.

0:45:06.190 --> 0:45:08.440
<v Speaker 4>You can also get our music on the.

0:45:08.380 --> 0:45:12.379
<v Speaker 3>Awakened to Grace app when you download that. I hope

0:45:12.440 --> 0:45:15.820
<v Speaker 3>you enjoy this great song from our great team. I

0:45:15.860 --> 0:45:16.759
<v Speaker 3>know it's going to help you.

0:45:17.580 --> 0:45:22.480
<v Speaker 8>When I'm at my end, you're just getting started.

0:45:23.160 --> 0:45:27.759
<v Speaker 9>When I hit a wall, you just walk through.

0:45:28.660 --> 0:45:34.419
<v Speaker 5>When I face a mountain, You are the maker, so

0:45:34.560 --> 0:45:37.000
<v Speaker 5>it's got to move.

0:45:39.800 --> 0:45:44.680
<v Speaker 8>When I'm out of faith and you are still faithful.

0:45:45.280 --> 0:45:48.600
<v Speaker 8>When I'm at my worst and you.

0:45:48.600 --> 0:45:52.339
<v Speaker 5>Are still good. In all of my.

0:45:52.140 --> 0:45:58.690
<v Speaker 9>Questions, you are the answer. It all points to you.

0:46:02.350 --> 0:46:07.900
<v Speaker 9>Cause you're the God of the breakthrough. When I'm breaking down,

0:46:08.040 --> 0:46:10.540
<v Speaker 9>you'll be working away.

0:46:11.790 --> 0:46:16.680
<v Speaker 8>There's no way out. There's one thing I know. You're

0:46:16.739 --> 0:46:23.440
<v Speaker 8>still on your throne. So whatever I feel, I still.

0:46:23.280 --> 0:46:31.200
<v Speaker 10>Got a reason to praise, praise, praise.

0:46:43.940 --> 0:46:51.830
<v Speaker 7>You're the God of the breakthrough. When I break you down,

0:46:52.130 --> 0:47:10.339
<v Speaker 7>you'll be one. When there's no will, there's one thing

0:47:10.620 --> 0:47:17.490
<v Speaker 7>I know. You're still on your throne. So whatever I'm feeling,

0:47:17.510 --> 0:47:27.480
<v Speaker 7>I still got a reason to praise. Praise. Praise.

0:47:27.500 --> 0:47:41.610
<v Speaker 10>I still got a reason to praise. Still got a

0:47:41.760 --> 0:47:43.200
<v Speaker 10>reason to pray.

0:47:58.370 --> 0:48:04.110
<v Speaker 7>When you come around, my heart starts to beat again.

0:48:04.190 --> 0:48:10.750
<v Speaker 7>I'm not stressed to breathe you in. Soul's just erupting

0:48:10.830 --> 0:48:15.890
<v Speaker 7>to praise. When you come around, travels become the light.

0:48:16.410 --> 0:48:20.970
<v Speaker 7>Desert to paradise, don't you start rolling away. When you

0:48:20.989 --> 0:48:27.900
<v Speaker 7>come around, my heart starts to beat again. Love starts

0:48:28.000 --> 0:48:33.630
<v Speaker 7>to bring you in. The soul's just steamed up into praise.

0:48:33.650 --> 0:48:38.509
<v Speaker 7>You're the God of the breakthrough.

0:48:38.550 --> 0:48:39.710
<v Speaker 10>When I'm breaking.

0:48:39.390 --> 0:48:48.739
<v Speaker 6>Down, you'll be working away through me. This one thing

0:48:48.820 --> 0:48:52.750
<v Speaker 6>I know, you're still on your throne.

0:48:52.890 --> 0:49:04.270
<v Speaker 7>So whatever I'm feeling, I still got a reason to praise, praise, praise.

0:49:04.310 --> 0:49:09.360
<v Speaker 10>I still got a reason to praise.

0:49:17.340 --> 0:49:19.969
<v Speaker 7>Still got a reason to pray.