1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil. 2 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 1: But to the counselors of peace is joy Proverbs twelve twenty. 3 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 1: Dear God, thank you for being a loving and kind 4 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:17,279 Speaker 1: example of honesty. Allow my mind to see beyond the 5 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: lies I tell to myself that hinder me from reaching 6 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 1: my full potential. Help me to walk in your footsteps 7 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: of honesty as I pursue peace in my life. Help 8 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:32,159 Speaker 1: me to focus on your word to build and shape 9 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:35,640 Speaker 1: my character so that I can be the best version 10 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 1: of myself. Allow people into my life who embody your light, 11 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:44,520 Speaker 1: and please help me to focus on maintaining honest connections 12 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:47,479 Speaker 1: with others so that I can grow in my faith. 13 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 2: Daily. 14 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: Amen, thank you for listening to today's daily prayer. For 15 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 1: more inspiration and an incredible message from our feature pastor. 16 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 1: Stay tuned to pray COM's Sunday service. 17 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 2: Pray dot com audience. 18 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 3: I'm Pastor Chad Roberts, and I am so excited to 19 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 3: share discernment with you today. It's called for your joy, 20 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 3: and I know that it's going to encourage you and 21 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 3: it's going to help you. Have you ever struggled in 22 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 3: your faith? I know that's how I felt when I 23 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 3: went completely blind in twenty eighteen at the age of 24 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 3: thirty eight. This is exactly why I have written my 25 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 3: new book, Blind Faith, Seeing God through Darkness. It's published 26 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 3: by our partners at LifeWay and being h Publishing, and 27 00:01:55,120 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 3: you know it releases this week nationwideenth twenty twenty six 28 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 3: is the release date, and I would love for you 29 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 3: to go right now and get your very own copy. 30 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:11,399 Speaker 3: The book is available anywhere that you buy books. It's 31 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 3: also available in any format including audio. You can go 32 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 3: right now to Amazon, you can go to Chad Roberts 33 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 3: dot org, or you can go to the official website, 34 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:29,080 Speaker 3: which is read Blindfaith dot com. And if you feel 35 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:32,799 Speaker 3: like what you hear today strengthens you and build your 36 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:36,799 Speaker 3: faith and gives you hope and inspiration, then think about 37 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:39,959 Speaker 3: someone in your life that needs these things and pick 38 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 3: up a copy of the book for them. So go 39 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 3: now to read Blindfaith dot com and get your copy today. 40 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:53,959 Speaker 3: I hope you enjoy this wonderful word called for your joy. 41 00:02:56,919 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 2: Well, I want to invite you today to Galatians chapter five, 42 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 2: verse twenty two. We are in a nine week series 43 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 2: on the fruit of the Spirit. We're calling it a 44 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 2: fruitful faith. And today we come to week two that 45 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:17,840 Speaker 2: we are going to examine. We're going to dive deep 46 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:24,080 Speaker 2: into the fruit of joy. Now we're also going to 47 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 2: be primarily in Philippians chapter four, Versus four and five. 48 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 2: So really you can you can take a look at 49 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 2: Galatians five twenty two twenty three. That's where the nine 50 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 2: fruits of the spirit are listed for us. But we're 51 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 2: going to expound and we're going to explain, and God's willing, 52 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 2: God willing, we are going to apply Philippians chapter four, 53 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 2: verse number four. How many of you would like to 54 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 2: if you could have the ability to increase your joy? 55 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 2: Do you believe you can increase in joy? Do you 56 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 2: think that you could end this year more joyful than 57 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:22,040 Speaker 2: how you even began? I believe you can, because I 58 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:27,040 Speaker 2: believe that joy is a fruit, and a fruit has 59 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 2: the ability to produce. A fruit has the ability to increase. 60 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:37,159 Speaker 2: And I know one thing that I want for my 61 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 2: own personal life, for my own family, for my own marriage. 62 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 2: I want to increase this year in joy. But that 63 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 2: is far easier said than done. As a matter of fact, 64 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 2: I've been quite surprised the last few weeks as so 65 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 2: many of you know. My new book Blind Faith, Seeing 66 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 2: God through Darkness releases nationwide in eight weeks. I thought 67 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:18,360 Speaker 2: that as I am nearing the finish line and I 68 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 2: am working with so many professionals and book publishing and 69 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:29,159 Speaker 2: having meetings and doing all of these things, I thought 70 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 2: that it's just different. It's good. I'm enjoying it. But 71 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 2: what I was not prepared for is to struggle the 72 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 2: struggle of so many emotions and feelings that I first 73 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:54,120 Speaker 2: had when I first went blind. How many of you 74 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 2: have been there before, where you felt like you were 75 00:05:57,279 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 2: past something, You felt like you had moved on from something, 76 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:10,040 Speaker 2: only to have it resurface. And over the last several weeks, 77 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 2: I have found myself back where I started when I 78 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 2: first began walking this difficult path of blindness, to where 79 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:28,360 Speaker 2: joy does not feel automatic. Joy is not found in 80 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 2: what I'm accomplishing. Joy is not in what God is 81 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 2: allowing me to do. And what I find myself particularly 82 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:44,800 Speaker 2: the last few weeks, is I have to choose joy. 83 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:47,280 Speaker 2: I have to choose it. 84 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:53,080 Speaker 3: I hope that you are enjoying this sermon, and if 85 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:56,479 Speaker 3: you are, I want to tell you how you can find. 86 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 2: Our entire library. 87 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 3: The whole collection of sermons. It's on a free app 88 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 3: our ministry app called Awakened to Grace. When you download 89 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 3: Awakened to Grace, you can get all of our content 90 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 3: for free. You can find us on YouTube, you can 91 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:18,320 Speaker 3: find us on social media, you can find us on podcast. 92 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:23,040 Speaker 3: It's all under Awakened to Grace with Chad Roberts. 93 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 2: Philippians Chapter four, verse four helps me. It enables me 94 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 2: to do this, perhaps more than any other scripture. If 95 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 2: we're going to understand this morning, what true, what biblical 96 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:48,120 Speaker 2: joy is, then we must first understand what it is not. 97 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 2: Last night, I asked my AI, give me a definition 98 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 2: of joy? Now? Who am I to disagree with a I? 99 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:13,119 Speaker 2: But this is what she said. Joy is a feeling. Oooh, 100 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 2: I disagree. Joy is a feeling of happiness. I disagree, Oh, 101 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 2: brother sister, there's a great difference between joy and happiness. 102 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 2: She went on. Joy is a feeling of happiness and delight. 103 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:43,720 Speaker 2: It is an emotion. I disagree. It is an emotion 104 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:52,080 Speaker 2: you feel when something great has happened. I asked Ai. 105 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 2: Then what do you do when something terrible happens? What 106 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 2: a shallow? What a shallow? Definition of joy? Now? Do 107 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:14,920 Speaker 2: you know what true biblical joy is. It's found in 108 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 2: Philippians four, verse four. Now remember that Paul is in 109 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 2: a prison cell as he writes this. He's not in 110 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 2: the kind of prison cell where he has a tablet 111 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 2: and commissary. And Paul who God sent all over the 112 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:50,080 Speaker 2: known world at that time, Paul who could walk into 113 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:55,960 Speaker 2: a city and flip it upside down, Paul who could 114 00:09:56,000 --> 00:10:01,080 Speaker 2: take a pen and a scroll and change the centuries. 115 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 2: Seemingly it looked as though God had set him on 116 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:14,840 Speaker 2: a shelf. Paul who was used to the wild seas, 117 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:19,880 Speaker 2: Paul who was used to the largest metropolis cities. 118 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:20,680 Speaker 4: There were. 119 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 2: Paul who pushed towards Rome, Paul who changed Ephesus, Paul 120 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:32,800 Speaker 2: who went to Emptioch, Paul who stirred things up in Jerusalem. 121 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:37,439 Speaker 2: And now he is confined, and now he is limited, 122 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:45,679 Speaker 2: and now he is sitting in a prison cell. And 123 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 2: what would he say to us, Rejoice in the Lord? 124 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 2: What do you mean, Paul? When I hear the word rejoice, 125 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 2: I tell you what comes to my mind. The vivid 126 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 2: image that comes to me is an outburst, an outburst 127 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 2: of joy. Right this, It just burst out. That's what 128 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:19,040 Speaker 2: I think of when I think of rejoicing. But you know, 129 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 2: that's just the opposite of what this verse means. It 130 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 2: doesn't mean a sudden outburst. If you're going to take notes, 131 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 2: note what the meaning of this word is, the Biblical word, 132 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:38,839 Speaker 2: the Greek word for rejoice. It means are you ready 133 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:41,480 Speaker 2: for this? Say amen, if you're ready for this. It 134 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:56,400 Speaker 2: means a continuous It means a habitual, perpetual joy. In 135 00:11:56,440 --> 00:12:01,200 Speaker 2: other words, it is the opposite of joy being a feeling. 136 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:06,920 Speaker 2: Because my feelings and your feelings they fluctuoing. They go up, 137 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 2: they go down, they go up, they go down. They're 138 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 2: all over the map, they're all over the place. They 139 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:16,840 Speaker 2: respond to whatever's going on, and life and our feelings 140 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:23,280 Speaker 2: are constantly fluctuating. But not true biblical joy. Why Because 141 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 2: biblical joy is not a feeling, It is not an emotion. 142 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 2: It is a fruit that is born of the Holy Spirit. 143 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:41,080 Speaker 2: It transcends how I feel, It transcends my emotions, It 144 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:49,040 Speaker 2: transcends the circumstances that I'm walking through. It far surpasses it. 145 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:54,679 Speaker 2: Why because it's not fruit of my flesh. It's not 146 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 2: the fruit of my self will, it's not the fruit 147 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:03,200 Speaker 2: of my stre it's not the fruit of my determination. No, 148 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 2: what is it? It is the fruit of the spirit. 149 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 2: It's something beyond me. It is a deep, inner, abiding 150 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:32,239 Speaker 2: gladness that nothing in life can shake a man. Rejoice, 151 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:41,960 Speaker 2: not a outburst, not a feeling, not an emotion, but 152 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:50,679 Speaker 2: a deep, abiding gladness that is habitual, that is continuous, 153 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:59,199 Speaker 2: and it's not fluctuating, but is stable, is steady and constant. 154 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:13,839 Speaker 2: Thank God for it. He then says, rejoice now, Paul, 155 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:18,679 Speaker 2: Paul says some very difficult things. Did you know that 156 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:23,280 Speaker 2: one of the most googled Bible What do you think 157 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 2: is the most googled Bible verse? Well, I'll be honest, 158 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 2: I haven't looked in a long time, so it could 159 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:44,480 Speaker 2: have changed. But back when I looked, when I had eyesight, 160 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 2: I mean, you'll want to fact check this. Philippians four 161 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:56,440 Speaker 2: six was the most searched verse in the Bible. And 162 00:14:56,520 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 2: what does Philippians for six say? Do not be anxious 163 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 2: for anything? Now that does not humanly make sense? Be 164 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:17,800 Speaker 2: anxious for nothing? What are you talking about? I mean, 165 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 2: is it realistic that you can go throughout your day 166 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:31,280 Speaker 2: and not feel anxious? Huh? Can you really go through 167 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:37,200 Speaker 2: your days and not worry. So what we do is 168 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 2: we read this scripture of like Philippians for six, and 169 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 2: we read that and we go, I can't do that, 170 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:49,680 Speaker 2: No one can do that, and we just let it go. 171 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:55,200 Speaker 2: But see Philippians four six is only a portion of 172 00:15:55,240 --> 00:16:00,120 Speaker 2: the remedy. You gotta take the whole remedy. To go 173 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:03,240 Speaker 2: back to verse four. And you have to understand, if 174 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 2: I'm going to be anxious for nothing, then where does 175 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 2: it begin? And I'll tell you where it begins. Rejoice 176 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:16,560 Speaker 2: in the Lord, always say. Then. It doesn't say rejoice 177 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 2: in the Lord when everything is smooth, rejoice in the 178 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 2: Lord when you're on the mountaintop, rejoice in the Lord 179 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 2: when everything is easy and everything is comfortable, and everything 180 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:30,600 Speaker 2: is working right. No, it says, rejoice in the Lord 181 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:36,080 Speaker 2: when always, and when I get that down in my spirit, 182 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:40,600 Speaker 2: that I can rejoice in the Lord. I may not 183 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:43,520 Speaker 2: be able to rejoice in what's happening. I may not 184 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:46,240 Speaker 2: be able to rejoice in how I feel. I may 185 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 2: not be able to rejoice in what seemingly doesn't change. 186 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:53,880 Speaker 2: But what I can rejoice in is the Lord and 187 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 2: his goodness and his faithfulness and his power and his 188 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:05,919 Speaker 2: sovereignty I can rejoice in, and when it transcends, it 189 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:11,159 Speaker 2: goes above how I feel. Then I'm walking in a 190 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 2: different realm. I'm walking in a different power. I'm walking 191 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:20,200 Speaker 2: in a different truth that I don't have on my own. 192 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:33,720 Speaker 2: Rejoice in the Lord when always I love how there's 193 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:39,320 Speaker 2: no stipulations, there, there are no qualifiers, there are no conditions. 194 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:49,840 Speaker 2: Rejoice in the Lord always highs and lows, good and bad, 195 00:17:50,359 --> 00:17:56,439 Speaker 2: certainty and uncertainty. Always rejoice in the Lord. When I 196 00:17:56,600 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 2: get that down, then I can fulfill Philippians four six. Chad, 197 00:18:06,920 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 2: be anxious for nothing? Now does that mean anxiety is 198 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:15,040 Speaker 2: never gonna come? Oh no, No, it will sneak up 199 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:24,080 Speaker 2: on you quicker, and you can turn around so many 200 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 2: times that anxiety will try to take its clutches into me. 201 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 2: But what's the remedy be anxious for nothing? Wait? Is 202 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:42,159 Speaker 2: that the full remedy? No, that sounds more like sticking 203 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:45,680 Speaker 2: your head in the sand. That sounds more like being fake. 204 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:50,560 Speaker 2: That sounds more like fake it till you make it. 205 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 2: I mean, is that right? Or is that wrong? It's 206 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:58,240 Speaker 2: only part No. If I am going to be anxious 207 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:02,399 Speaker 2: for nothing, where does it start? Art rejoice in the 208 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:08,359 Speaker 2: Lord always. So when I feel wrong, or when I 209 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:15,879 Speaker 2: feel overwhelmed, or when I feel whatever, the negativity, whatever 210 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:20,199 Speaker 2: that is causing that, when I feel those things, no, 211 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:24,840 Speaker 2: I align my feelings to the truth of God's Word, 212 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:27,920 Speaker 2: and I say, I'm not responding to what I feel. 213 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:32,159 Speaker 2: I'm responding to what I know. And the Word says, 214 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:38,199 Speaker 2: rejoice in the Lord always. Do you see how that 215 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 2: lines us right up to the truth of God's word? 216 00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:46,160 Speaker 2: Too many of us just we sit in our mess, 217 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:49,760 Speaker 2: we sit in our problems, we sit in our negativity, 218 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 2: and that's not the will of God. Now say, amen, 219 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:56,679 Speaker 2: if you're with me right now, do you think it 220 00:19:56,960 --> 00:20:05,240 Speaker 2: is the will of God to just barely survive your day? 221 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:08,160 Speaker 2: That was better than the non thirty service, the non 222 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:10,639 Speaker 2: thirty services, Like, I don't know where you're going. I 223 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 2: don't know if I should. I'm just not gonna respond 224 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:19,159 Speaker 2: because I don't know which way this is going. Is 225 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:26,480 Speaker 2: it God's will to just barely make it by? As 226 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 2: a pastor, you wouldn't believe how many people say things 227 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:34,480 Speaker 2: to me like Pastor said, I'm just praying that God 228 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:38,960 Speaker 2: helps me make it through the day. Is that God's will? 229 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:44,439 Speaker 2: And I'm not saying people have their wrong heart. I'm saying, 230 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 2: brothers and sisters, if we're not careful, we'll have the 231 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:52,280 Speaker 2: wrong perspective. Is it God's will for me to pray 232 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:54,639 Speaker 2: and just say, Oh God. 233 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:57,520 Speaker 5: If you could just Lord, if you could just help 234 00:20:57,600 --> 00:21:01,960 Speaker 5: me make it through this day, help me, help me 235 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:04,280 Speaker 5: make it? 236 00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:10,400 Speaker 2: Is that praying in faith? I understand often it's how 237 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:13,359 Speaker 2: we feel, But that's not praying in faith. You know, 238 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:16,880 Speaker 2: if I'm not careful, you know what I'll catch myself doing. 239 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:23,480 Speaker 2: I'll pray these really small prayers to an even smaller God, 240 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:27,800 Speaker 2: Prayers like God, just help me make it through the 241 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:32,240 Speaker 2: days of very small prayer. Because let me tell you, brothers, sisters, 242 00:21:32,280 --> 00:21:37,639 Speaker 2: what the Bible says, this is the day that the 243 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 2: Lord has made. Now, if I can just barely make 244 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:48,320 Speaker 2: it through? Is that what it says? Put my covers 245 00:21:48,359 --> 00:21:51,960 Speaker 2: over my head, God, if you'll just get me through it. 246 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:57,680 Speaker 2: Does that glorify God? Does that strengthen you? No? No, 247 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:03,840 Speaker 2: it's when you rise up and you say, I will rejoice. 248 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:08,600 Speaker 2: My emotions may not feel it, but my will feels it. 249 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:13,200 Speaker 2: I will rejoice. I'll take God out of his word. 250 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:17,080 Speaker 2: I'll take every promise of God. I will take his 251 00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:20,639 Speaker 2: strength and I will let the fruits of the Holy 252 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:25,600 Speaker 2: Spirit produce in me and through me. Why because it's 253 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:31,760 Speaker 2: not me, it's the God who in dwells me. Is 254 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:37,920 Speaker 2: that a different perspective than just making it through? Some 255 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 2: of us have been praying the wrong way. And you 256 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:44,760 Speaker 2: know why God isn't helping some of us because we're 257 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:48,680 Speaker 2: not letting him help us. We got him so confined 258 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:52,680 Speaker 2: to where God is just saying, you don't even think 259 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:55,680 Speaker 2: I am who I am. You don't think I can 260 00:22:55,720 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 2: do what I can do. I'll just let you figure 261 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:02,560 Speaker 2: it out. Your your little ones ever do that to you. 262 00:23:02,840 --> 00:23:05,920 Speaker 2: My boys will bring something to me God, Dad, Dad, Dad, 263 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:07,639 Speaker 2: take it, and I'll take and then they'll take it 264 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 2: right out of my hands. Dad, I can't open that, 265 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 2: and then they'll take it right back. Well, then you 266 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:21,439 Speaker 2: do it, or if you're like me, take it to 267 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:30,399 Speaker 2: your mother. No, I'm kidding, that's a joke. But I 268 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:34,560 Speaker 2: don't want to pray small prayers to an even smaller God. No, 269 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:38,199 Speaker 2: I don't want that. I don't want to waste my days. 270 00:23:38,359 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 2: I don't want to I don't want to barely make it. 271 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:43,720 Speaker 2: I don't want to just survive. I don't want to 272 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:46,560 Speaker 2: just get through it. No, I want to live with 273 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:52,600 Speaker 2: a joy that is so unique that it can only 274 00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:57,880 Speaker 2: come from Jesus. So let's understand, brothers, sisters, Philippines. For 275 00:23:57,880 --> 00:24:02,959 Speaker 2: for rejoice, not a burst of emotion, not a feeling 276 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:10,720 Speaker 2: that fluctuates, but a continuous, a habitual, a stable joy 277 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:16,800 Speaker 2: that nothing can shake. Where do we rejoice? Not in 278 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:20,159 Speaker 2: the way things are going, but in the Lord. Let 279 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:23,439 Speaker 2: me take it a step further. It does not even 280 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:27,199 Speaker 2: say pay attention to this. It doesn't even say to 281 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:34,480 Speaker 2: rejoice an answered prayer. Isn't that interesting? But rejoice in 282 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:40,800 Speaker 2: the Lord. How many of you you are with me 283 00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:45,159 Speaker 2: and you agree with me that God is indeed and 284 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:49,199 Speaker 2: in fact going to open my eyes? How many of 285 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:56,760 Speaker 2: you truly believe that? Amen? Now if you don't believe that, 286 00:24:56,760 --> 00:25:00,240 Speaker 2: that's okay. Just keep hanging out with us, and and 287 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:02,720 Speaker 2: you know what's gonna happen. Faith comes by hearing and 288 00:25:02,760 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 2: hearing by the word, and faith is going to come 289 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:09,480 Speaker 2: into your heart. Amen, So just keep hanging out, Just 290 00:25:09,560 --> 00:25:15,639 Speaker 2: hang out. I have no doubt that when God says 291 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:20,280 Speaker 2: enough is enough, scales are going to fall from my eyes. 292 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:30,520 Speaker 2: I got no doubt that the question is when, and 293 00:25:30,560 --> 00:25:35,199 Speaker 2: the reality is that's not for me to know. So 294 00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:45,000 Speaker 2: if my joy was rooted in the answer to that prayer, 295 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:53,000 Speaker 2: how frustrated would I stay? But see, my joy is 296 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:58,440 Speaker 2: not in the outcome or the result or the effect 297 00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:03,600 Speaker 2: of the prayer. My joy jo isn't God and God alone. 298 00:26:04,040 --> 00:26:08,080 Speaker 2: And so God in his infinite wisdom, and God in 299 00:26:08,119 --> 00:26:12,560 Speaker 2: his sovereign counsel, and God in his love and his grace, 300 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:15,840 Speaker 2: has said, Chad, you are going to be blind for 301 00:26:16,040 --> 00:26:19,479 Speaker 2: this period of time. I don't know what that is, 302 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:24,280 Speaker 2: but the Lord's told me, just as there is scheduled 303 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:29,800 Speaker 2: the beginning, there will be a scheduled ending that. Had 304 00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:36,679 Speaker 2: my joy been in the outcome of the prayer, in 305 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:40,800 Speaker 2: the result of the prayer, look how many years I 306 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:48,960 Speaker 2: would have already wasted frustrated. No, our joy is in 307 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:53,719 Speaker 2: the Lord and the Lord alone. This is why Jesus 308 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:59,560 Speaker 2: said Mark eleven twenty two. Have faith in God, not 309 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:07,760 Speaker 2: out Rejoice in the Lord always, not when you feel 310 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:10,680 Speaker 2: like it, not when things are smooth, not when things 311 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:16,479 Speaker 2: are convenient, not when prayer seems to be answered. But 312 00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:21,280 Speaker 2: rejoice in the Lord always. That doesn't, did it? David says, 313 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:26,800 Speaker 2: I'm thirty fourd Bless the Lord, oh my soul, all 314 00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:29,520 Speaker 2: that is within me, Bless his holy name. I will 315 00:27:29,560 --> 00:27:36,560 Speaker 2: bless his name. His praise. Shall what continuously forever be 316 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:38,760 Speaker 2: in my mouth. 317 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:40,800 Speaker 4: Always. 318 00:27:42,600 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 2: It's so emphatic that Paul says again, I say rejoice. 319 00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:52,800 Speaker 2: Paul knows this is not an easy saying. Paul knows 320 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:55,560 Speaker 2: this is not something that is easy to accomplish. This 321 00:27:55,600 --> 00:28:00,520 Speaker 2: is not convenient. You have to fight for this. You 322 00:28:00,560 --> 00:28:07,440 Speaker 2: have to intentionally choose this. So tomorrow you may wake 323 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:13,359 Speaker 2: up and you may have a true Monday where you 324 00:28:13,400 --> 00:28:17,440 Speaker 2: don't feel joyful. The question is not what you feel. 325 00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:21,240 Speaker 2: The question is what are you gonna choose? And what 326 00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:24,600 Speaker 2: you can do is before you get out of bed, 327 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:29,240 Speaker 2: you can say, this is the day the Lord has made. 328 00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:37,439 Speaker 2: I will rejoice and be glad in it. Amen. And 329 00:28:37,480 --> 00:28:39,800 Speaker 2: I want the kind of joy that I'm telling you. 330 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:46,240 Speaker 2: Other people can't take it away from me. Other people's 331 00:28:46,280 --> 00:28:54,239 Speaker 2: harsh words or their negative opinions, it can't steal it. 332 00:28:55,400 --> 00:29:00,280 Speaker 2: My own negative thoughts can't shake it. 333 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:00,800 Speaker 4: It is a. 334 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 2: Joy that is so unique. Why because it only comes 335 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:09,280 Speaker 2: from Jesus. What did Jesus say, he said, my joy 336 00:29:09,680 --> 00:29:13,480 Speaker 2: I give you. And see if you and I, brothers 337 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:17,040 Speaker 2: and sisters, if we're going to obtain this kind of 338 00:29:17,040 --> 00:29:20,200 Speaker 2: biblical joy that's far beyond a feeling or in emotion, 339 00:29:20,600 --> 00:29:23,080 Speaker 2: but as a spiritual fruit, how do we get it? 340 00:29:23,360 --> 00:29:29,360 Speaker 2: We shared it last week John fifteen point five. Jesus said, 341 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:34,520 Speaker 2: I am the vine. You are the branches. Apart from me, 342 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:39,640 Speaker 2: you can do nothing. And how do we glorify God 343 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:43,160 Speaker 2: by bearing much fruit? And see, brothers and sisters, when 344 00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:47,360 Speaker 2: I rejoicing is in the Lord. We are connected to 345 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:51,440 Speaker 2: the vine. As we are connected to the vine, every 346 00:29:51,520 --> 00:29:55,239 Speaker 2: single thing that we need flows into our life and 347 00:29:55,320 --> 00:30:01,560 Speaker 2: it will produce that precious fruit of joy. And then 348 00:30:02,240 --> 00:30:04,280 Speaker 2: your joy is not going to be in other people, 349 00:30:05,160 --> 00:30:09,120 Speaker 2: or in you, or in the outcomes or the circumstances 350 00:30:09,120 --> 00:30:14,120 Speaker 2: of life. Your joy, hear me, will be in your 351 00:30:14,160 --> 00:30:21,880 Speaker 2: spiritual connection, not in your life's circumstances. Did you hear 352 00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:27,480 Speaker 2: that your joy will be in your spiritual connection, the 353 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:33,040 Speaker 2: branch to the vine, not in life circumstances, because that's 354 00:30:33,080 --> 00:30:37,400 Speaker 2: always going to fluctuate and be up and down. Rejoice 355 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:40,640 Speaker 2: from the Lord always again, I say, rejoice. Now, Look 356 00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:49,120 Speaker 2: at verse five. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone, 357 00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:53,840 Speaker 2: for the Lord is at hand. I like this word reasonableness. 358 00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:58,320 Speaker 2: That's fun to say, say it three times, real fast reasonableness. 359 00:31:01,680 --> 00:31:04,480 Speaker 2: But what's it mean? If you're going to take notes, 360 00:31:04,520 --> 00:31:10,480 Speaker 2: I want you to write this down. The word reasonableness 361 00:31:11,480 --> 00:31:20,680 Speaker 2: means a right mature response. Oh how big that is. 362 00:31:24,320 --> 00:31:32,120 Speaker 2: It means a right and a mature response. It's how 363 00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:39,880 Speaker 2: you and I react. Now, one thing I have truly learned. 364 00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:45,360 Speaker 2: I'll tell you two things that I've learned. One. The 365 00:31:45,360 --> 00:31:49,320 Speaker 2: first thing that I have learned in my journey of 366 00:31:49,320 --> 00:31:55,480 Speaker 2: blindness is that I cannot control anything. I cannot even 367 00:31:55,560 --> 00:32:02,280 Speaker 2: control what my body does. It's out of my control. 368 00:32:04,720 --> 00:32:06,760 Speaker 2: There are so many things that we go through in 369 00:32:06,840 --> 00:32:10,360 Speaker 2: life that that's just the reality. They are outside of 370 00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:15,760 Speaker 2: our control. But what I have learned is there is 371 00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:20,880 Speaker 2: one thing I can control, and that's how I respond. 372 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:24,920 Speaker 2: The other thing that I've learned, you know, this month 373 00:32:25,160 --> 00:32:29,720 Speaker 2: makes twenty five years that I have pastored in the 374 00:32:30,160 --> 00:32:37,840 Speaker 2: I can't believe it. They tell me I have gray 375 00:32:37,840 --> 00:32:44,920 Speaker 2: in my beard, but I don't believe it. Can I 376 00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:47,400 Speaker 2: tell you the most difficult lesson I have learned in 377 00:32:47,480 --> 00:32:51,959 Speaker 2: twenty five years of shepherding. The hardest lesson that I 378 00:32:52,040 --> 00:32:58,200 Speaker 2: had to learn in pastoring people, it's this, there are 379 00:32:58,280 --> 00:33:02,400 Speaker 2: many good people. I would even go so far as 380 00:33:02,480 --> 00:33:10,160 Speaker 2: to say that there are many godly people that are 381 00:33:10,200 --> 00:33:16,120 Speaker 2: not emotionally healthy. You can be a good person and 382 00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:23,760 Speaker 2: emotionally immature. You can be godly and truly love the Lord, 383 00:33:24,920 --> 00:33:29,280 Speaker 2: but not be emotionally mature. And you know what I 384 00:33:29,320 --> 00:33:36,320 Speaker 2: have found, it's people who are emotionally unhealthy that are 385 00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:42,640 Speaker 2: the most hurtful people, even if they're godly. That's been 386 00:33:42,640 --> 00:33:46,360 Speaker 2: a hard lesson to learn. And what I have had 387 00:33:46,560 --> 00:33:51,760 Speaker 2: to learn is that I cannot control other people. I 388 00:33:51,800 --> 00:33:57,080 Speaker 2: can't control what people think. I can't control how they act. 389 00:33:58,200 --> 00:34:03,719 Speaker 2: I certainly can't control what they say. I cannot control anyone. 390 00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:10,960 Speaker 2: But there is one thing that I can control. That's 391 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:16,240 Speaker 2: my response. And that's why this scripture would say, Chad, 392 00:34:18,480 --> 00:34:26,240 Speaker 2: let your maturity, let your spiritual maturity, let your reasonableness, 393 00:34:26,320 --> 00:34:33,920 Speaker 2: Let your right reactions be to others. The reality is 394 00:34:33,960 --> 00:34:37,640 Speaker 2: brothers and sisters. And certainly don't respond to this, but 395 00:34:39,280 --> 00:34:46,920 Speaker 2: process this. How many relationships of our past, how many friendships, 396 00:34:47,239 --> 00:34:53,560 Speaker 2: whether it's family relationships, whether it's work relationships, whether it's 397 00:34:53,640 --> 00:34:59,200 Speaker 2: friend groups, or whether it's church life. How many relationships 398 00:34:59,440 --> 00:35:08,160 Speaker 2: have been damage or even destroyed because of our wrong reaction. 399 00:35:13,400 --> 00:35:18,279 Speaker 2: How many people have hurt you because of their wrong response. 400 00:35:21,120 --> 00:35:27,239 Speaker 2: Scripture says, let your maturity, Let your right reaction be 401 00:35:27,400 --> 00:35:36,920 Speaker 2: known to everyone. God wants his people mature. Amen. So 402 00:35:36,960 --> 00:35:42,239 Speaker 2: where does it begin. Well, I'll tell you the best way. 403 00:35:42,320 --> 00:35:47,719 Speaker 2: God matures us through the difficulties of life, in us 404 00:35:47,800 --> 00:35:52,319 Speaker 2: learning to rejoice in the midst of them. Well, as 405 00:35:52,360 --> 00:35:59,080 Speaker 2: that happens, something tremendous begins to take place. Something There's 406 00:35:59,080 --> 00:36:04,600 Speaker 2: something in this maturing spiritually that all of a sudden, 407 00:36:04,640 --> 00:36:08,640 Speaker 2: you let go of the anxieties, you let go of 408 00:36:08,719 --> 00:36:15,680 Speaker 2: the worries, You start to pray more biblical prayers. Instead 409 00:36:15,719 --> 00:36:18,680 Speaker 2: of saying, God, help me to get through it, you're 410 00:36:18,719 --> 00:36:24,560 Speaker 2: gonna start saying, God, I rejoice in what I'm going through. Brothers, sisters. 411 00:36:24,600 --> 00:36:27,160 Speaker 2: That one perspective alone will change your life if you 412 00:36:27,280 --> 00:36:33,120 Speaker 2: let it. Instead of saying, God help me to get through, 413 00:36:33,400 --> 00:36:37,920 Speaker 2: You're gonna say, God, help me to rejoice. Oh what 414 00:36:38,000 --> 00:36:41,440 Speaker 2: a difference. And you know what happens As that begins 415 00:36:41,480 --> 00:36:46,560 Speaker 2: to form and develop within you, then you're going to 416 00:36:46,640 --> 00:36:52,040 Speaker 2: mature in the Lord. And that means other people through 417 00:36:52,320 --> 00:36:58,279 Speaker 2: whatever their wrong reaction is, whatever their emotional immaturity is, 418 00:36:59,239 --> 00:37:04,560 Speaker 2: whatever their negativity is, whatever their craziness is, whatever their 419 00:37:04,640 --> 00:37:09,160 Speaker 2: issues are, it's not gonna steal your joy. Can we 420 00:37:09,239 --> 00:37:19,560 Speaker 2: say Amen to that? Amen? And then what happens? You're 421 00:37:19,560 --> 00:37:25,720 Speaker 2: gonna find yourself not being anxious about anything. Why because 422 00:37:25,960 --> 00:37:31,360 Speaker 2: the way you've learned to rejoice has taught you. God's 423 00:37:31,400 --> 00:37:36,840 Speaker 2: in control of everything. God's not haphazard, God's not coincidental. 424 00:37:37,520 --> 00:37:41,480 Speaker 2: God makes no accidents. And far beyond all of that, 425 00:37:41,600 --> 00:37:47,239 Speaker 2: God wastes nothing. And so everything that comes into my 426 00:37:47,320 --> 00:37:52,640 Speaker 2: life comes with purpose. Everything that touches my life touches 427 00:37:52,719 --> 00:37:59,280 Speaker 2: with purpose. Everything is working together for my good. Why 428 00:37:59,640 --> 00:38:03,920 Speaker 2: so that God would bear in me and through me 429 00:38:04,400 --> 00:38:08,480 Speaker 2: this precious fruit? And do you know where the resting comes? 430 00:38:08,520 --> 00:38:14,360 Speaker 2: Brothers and sisters? Do you know where? Rather than anxiety, 431 00:38:14,560 --> 00:38:18,359 Speaker 2: don't be anxious for anything, but rather Jesus said, come 432 00:38:18,400 --> 00:38:22,880 Speaker 2: to me and rest. You know where that's found. Instead 433 00:38:22,880 --> 00:38:32,640 Speaker 2: of chasing happiness, instead of chasing people's approval, instead of 434 00:38:32,800 --> 00:38:38,880 Speaker 2: chasing affirmations, you know what, I'm gonna start bearing fruit. 435 00:38:39,880 --> 00:38:43,360 Speaker 2: God doesn't want you chasing anything. God wants you bearing 436 00:38:43,520 --> 00:38:47,560 Speaker 2: fruit today. Can we say amen to that? So I'm 437 00:38:47,560 --> 00:38:58,160 Speaker 2: not gonna fall for this shallow ai joy. I'm gonna 438 00:38:58,239 --> 00:39:01,640 Speaker 2: root myself in the word of God, and I'm gonna 439 00:39:01,680 --> 00:39:08,759 Speaker 2: let real fruit, nourishing, life giving fruit produce in me 440 00:39:09,520 --> 00:39:14,800 Speaker 2: and through me to God's glory. Let's bow our heads today. 441 00:39:15,320 --> 00:39:20,680 Speaker 2: Are you walking and joy or are you chasing happiness? 442 00:39:22,520 --> 00:39:30,640 Speaker 2: There's a difference. Are you trusting in God or is 443 00:39:31,680 --> 00:39:38,920 Speaker 2: your faith in the answers to your prayer? There's a difference. Today, 444 00:39:38,960 --> 00:39:43,640 Speaker 2: I want to invite you to go deeper with the Lord. 445 00:39:44,640 --> 00:39:49,120 Speaker 2: Connect yourself to the vine a scripture says and Colossians 446 00:39:49,200 --> 00:39:57,360 Speaker 2: be rooted and built up in Christ. Today. If in 447 00:39:57,400 --> 00:40:04,560 Speaker 2: any way you feel like your faith, your prayers, your 448 00:40:04,640 --> 00:40:11,040 Speaker 2: perspective of God has been small, why don't you ask 449 00:40:11,080 --> 00:40:15,800 Speaker 2: God to change that today? Why don't you just confess 450 00:40:15,920 --> 00:40:21,360 Speaker 2: that and say, God, I have limited you. I've just 451 00:40:23,719 --> 00:40:29,440 Speaker 2: I've prayed small prayers and I've made you to be. 452 00:40:29,400 --> 00:40:30,160 Speaker 4: A small God. 453 00:40:30,239 --> 00:40:33,920 Speaker 2: And I repent of that today. God, I take you 454 00:40:33,960 --> 00:40:40,320 Speaker 2: at your word. And today I'm going to connect myself 455 00:40:40,400 --> 00:40:45,400 Speaker 2: to the vine. And God, I'm asking you produce fruit 456 00:40:45,440 --> 00:40:50,040 Speaker 2: in me, fruit that will remain forever. You know, I 457 00:40:50,080 --> 00:40:52,560 Speaker 2: love that phrase. We're going to explore that more in 458 00:40:52,600 --> 00:40:57,239 Speaker 2: the series. But you know, fruit goes bad quick you 459 00:40:57,280 --> 00:41:02,120 Speaker 2: buy fresh fruit in it. But you know what the 460 00:41:02,160 --> 00:41:07,280 Speaker 2: Bible says about the fruit of the spirit. It remains forever. 461 00:41:09,560 --> 00:41:12,480 Speaker 2: Isn't that remarkable? The joy that God produces in you 462 00:41:12,920 --> 00:41:16,520 Speaker 2: is an eternal joy. The love that God sheds abroad 463 00:41:16,560 --> 00:41:19,799 Speaker 2: in your heart is an eternal love. It's something that 464 00:41:19,840 --> 00:41:26,320 Speaker 2: we will enjoy forever and ever and ever. So, brothers, sisters, 465 00:41:26,400 --> 00:41:29,799 Speaker 2: let's not neglect these things some of us. You know, 466 00:41:29,800 --> 00:41:33,680 Speaker 2: in the Book of James, it says that our lives 467 00:41:33,840 --> 00:41:38,160 Speaker 2: is like a garden that's rampant with weeds. It's overgrown 468 00:41:39,040 --> 00:41:46,440 Speaker 2: with sin. And so what happens fruit can't produce because 469 00:41:46,520 --> 00:41:48,520 Speaker 2: weeds of sin have choked it out. 470 00:41:48,960 --> 00:41:49,920 Speaker 4: That may be what's. 471 00:41:49,760 --> 00:41:54,319 Speaker 2: Happening with you, brother and sister. Weeds of sin may 472 00:41:54,320 --> 00:42:01,920 Speaker 2: be choking out this fruit of joy. And God has, Oh, 473 00:42:02,000 --> 00:42:09,000 Speaker 2: God has so much more for you. The Lord told 474 00:42:09,040 --> 00:42:13,400 Speaker 2: me this morning when I walked into the auditorium, Chad, 475 00:42:13,440 --> 00:42:19,319 Speaker 2: whatever your anticipation is increasing, whatever your expectations are increasing, 476 00:42:23,640 --> 00:42:25,799 Speaker 2: I'm just gonna speak it out this morning. I'm just 477 00:42:25,840 --> 00:42:28,959 Speaker 2: gonna I'm just gonna speak this out because it's where 478 00:42:29,000 --> 00:42:33,080 Speaker 2: the enemy has been wearing me out. The devil just 479 00:42:33,200 --> 00:42:36,560 Speaker 2: over the last a few weeks has been telling me, Chad, 480 00:42:36,600 --> 00:42:40,960 Speaker 2: you're gonna be stuck. You're gonna be stuck in blindness. 481 00:42:41,000 --> 00:42:46,000 Speaker 2: Everything's moving, everything's bypassing you, and you're gonna be stuck. 482 00:42:46,239 --> 00:42:49,640 Speaker 2: And I walked into the worship set today and God said, no, 483 00:42:50,320 --> 00:42:54,319 Speaker 2: I'm gonna do a swift work. You get stuck out 484 00:42:54,360 --> 00:42:57,319 Speaker 2: of your head, stuck out of your mind, stuck out 485 00:42:57,320 --> 00:42:59,880 Speaker 2: of your heart. What I'm gonna do is going to 486 00:42:59,880 --> 00:43:08,799 Speaker 2: be swift. Oh, I receive it, Amen, swift, swift. And 487 00:43:08,840 --> 00:43:13,799 Speaker 2: so now I have a choice set in what I 488 00:43:13,960 --> 00:43:15,920 Speaker 2: feel or go forward. 489 00:43:15,960 --> 00:43:16,600 Speaker 4: And what I know. 490 00:43:23,200 --> 00:43:28,840 Speaker 2: You have a choice set in your negativity. Listen to 491 00:43:28,880 --> 00:43:34,160 Speaker 2: the voices of others, replay all that negative stuff, stay 492 00:43:34,160 --> 00:43:41,239 Speaker 2: in your past, or go forward. En joy in Jesus' name. 493 00:43:41,440 --> 00:43:44,239 Speaker 2: And I'll tell you God's will. God's will for you 494 00:43:44,560 --> 00:43:49,760 Speaker 2: is to go forward. So choose it today, embrace it today. 495 00:43:51,560 --> 00:43:54,440 Speaker 2: So God, we give you glory and we thank you 496 00:43:54,520 --> 00:43:57,440 Speaker 2: today that when the enemy comes in like a flood, 497 00:43:57,920 --> 00:44:02,560 Speaker 2: you raise a standard against Thank you for that, Lord, Jesus. 498 00:44:03,520 --> 00:44:07,200 Speaker 2: And now God, I speak a blessing over all of 499 00:44:07,239 --> 00:44:11,359 Speaker 2: your people. Us speak a blessing over each of them today, God, 500 00:44:12,320 --> 00:44:16,920 Speaker 2: that joy would be ours. That joy will be born 501 00:44:17,120 --> 00:44:22,640 Speaker 2: and produced in our life, not through us, but by 502 00:44:22,840 --> 00:44:27,799 Speaker 2: the Holy Spirit, the precious Holy Spirit that dwells us. 503 00:44:29,960 --> 00:44:33,960 Speaker 2: Do a great work, Lord, great work in all of 504 00:44:33,960 --> 00:44:39,480 Speaker 2: our lives. Together for your glory. In Jesus' name. We 505 00:44:39,640 --> 00:44:43,120 Speaker 2: thank you in Jesus' name. Amen. Can we just thank 506 00:44:43,160 --> 00:44:44,720 Speaker 2: the Lord this morning? 507 00:44:48,080 --> 00:44:50,719 Speaker 3: Friends, We're going to end today's episode with a bonus. 508 00:44:50,760 --> 00:44:53,640 Speaker 3: I'm going to share with you some music by our 509 00:44:53,760 --> 00:44:58,520 Speaker 3: worship team. This is Awakened Music and you can find us. 510 00:44:58,840 --> 00:45:03,680 Speaker 3: You can stream through Apple Spotify, and I know you're 511 00:45:03,680 --> 00:45:07,440 Speaker 3: gonna be encouraged by this. You can also get our 512 00:45:07,520 --> 00:45:11,360 Speaker 3: music on the Awakened to Grace app when you download that. 513 00:45:12,080 --> 00:45:15,279 Speaker 3: I hope you enjoy this great song from our great team. 514 00:45:15,680 --> 00:45:16,759 Speaker 3: I know it's gonna help you. 515 00:45:17,560 --> 00:45:24,040 Speaker 6: When I'm at my you're justkin stuning. When I hit 516 00:45:24,239 --> 00:45:30,560 Speaker 6: on whol you just walk through. When I face some mountain, 517 00:45:31,600 --> 00:45:35,720 Speaker 6: you are a maker. So it's God. 518 00:45:39,719 --> 00:45:41,280 Speaker 2: When I'm out. 519 00:45:40,880 --> 00:45:46,040 Speaker 6: Of fake and you are still faithful when I'm at 520 00:45:46,200 --> 00:45:51,680 Speaker 6: my worst, and you are still guy in all of 521 00:45:51,719 --> 00:45:55,560 Speaker 6: my questions, you are in answer. 522 00:45:56,320 --> 00:45:58,520 Speaker 4: Get off points to you. 523 00:46:00,120 --> 00:46:07,720 Speaker 6: You sure don't cut of the break when I'm breaking down. 524 00:46:08,080 --> 00:46:10,200 Speaker 4: You'll be working. 525 00:46:09,960 --> 00:46:16,600 Speaker 6: Away when there's away biggest one thing I know, You're 526 00:46:16,760 --> 00:46:18,480 Speaker 6: still on your front. 527 00:46:19,400 --> 00:46:36,440 Speaker 4: To whatever I feel, I still caught me sing the prasad. 528 00:46:38,160 --> 00:46:44,600 Speaker 7: Kill man, a story down on the cross shuting a 529 00:46:44,840 --> 00:46:53,440 Speaker 7: brace of the brain first reab No, still can't cut us, 530 00:46:57,880 --> 00:47:03,120 Speaker 7: shut that cut off Ray from when I pray time, 531 00:47:03,440 --> 00:47:09,320 Speaker 7: You'll be work getting away from the snow away. There's 532 00:47:09,480 --> 00:47:13,920 Speaker 7: one thing, Dona, You're still on your throat. 533 00:47:14,760 --> 00:47:21,640 Speaker 4: So whatever I be, I still job Rings and the Press, 534 00:47:22,360 --> 00:47:32,720 Speaker 4: where Supra, I still John Rings and the friends. 535 00:47:33,520 --> 00:47:39,520 Speaker 7: Ray. 536 00:47:40,360 --> 00:47:43,640 Speaker 4: Still calling the Rings and the Gray. 537 00:47:47,320 --> 00:47:55,440 Speaker 7: And you come around. Jobs comes to don siss. 538 00:47:54,160 --> 00:47:55,319 Speaker 4: Star sister. 539 00:47:58,080 --> 00:47:59,799 Speaker 2: From when you come around. 540 00:47:59,560 --> 00:48:05,960 Speaker 4: My starts to be non sens to free in songs, just. 541 00:48:06,120 --> 00:48:13,360 Speaker 7: Staying to press when you come around, Suggles, he comes about. 542 00:48:13,719 --> 00:48:19,080 Speaker 4: Dancers to parade songs, a start away. 543 00:48:20,440 --> 00:48:23,960 Speaker 7: When you come around, the hot starts to be again 544 00:48:24,680 --> 00:48:30,320 Speaker 7: constance to free in souls, just stay up. It's a break. 545 00:48:34,600 --> 00:48:40,400 Speaker 4: The shure got the break when our break down, you 546 00:48:40,840 --> 00:48:50,800 Speaker 4: be miss one thing. I know you're still on your cloth, 547 00:48:51,680 --> 00:48:51,960 Speaker 4: So what. 548 00:48:54,840 --> 00:48:57,480 Speaker 7: Are still got to? 549 00:48:57,719 --> 00:49:09,240 Speaker 4: Friends? Bread? I still John said, The grass 550 00:49:12,640 --> 00:49:21,320 Speaker 6: Suppress, so still joy reson the grass