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This is not 31 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:29,839 Speaker 4: an offer to buy yourself security s noor is it investment, 32 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 4: legal or tax advice. 33 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 3: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 34 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 5: Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 35 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 5: the ministry. If you enjoy today's message, why don't you 36 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 5: be a blessing and share it with a friend. We 37 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 5: appreciate you and pray for God's very best in your life. Well, 38 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 5: God bless you, and thanks so much for letting us 39 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 5: come into your homes. And if you're ever in our area, 40 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 5: please stop by and be a part of one of 41 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 5: our services. I promise you we'll make you feel right 42 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 5: at home. But thanks so much for tuning in, and 43 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:12,920 Speaker 5: thank you again for coming out today. And I like 44 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 5: to start with something funny and I heard about this 45 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 5: husband and wife. They had been arguing and now they 46 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 5: were giving each other the silent treatment. The man had 47 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 5: to get up early and catch a flight the next day, 48 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 5: and he needed his wife to wake him up. Not 49 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 5: wanting to break the silence, he left a note on 50 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 5: her side of the bed. 51 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:35,360 Speaker 3: It said, please wake me up at five am. 52 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 5: The next morning, he got up at eight o'clock missed 53 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 5: his flight. He was so upset he went in to 54 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 5: find out why she didn't wake him up. 55 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 3: There was a note on his side of the bed. 56 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:49,519 Speaker 3: He opened it. It read, wake up. It's five. Hold 57 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:52,399 Speaker 3: up your Bible. Say it like you mean it. This 58 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 3: is my Bible. I am what it says. I am. 59 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 5: I have what it says I have. I can do 60 00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:00,440 Speaker 5: what it says I can do. Today I will be 61 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:04,240 Speaker 5: taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind 62 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 5: is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 63 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:12,520 Speaker 5: the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want 64 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 5: to talk to you today about serving one another. Jesus said, 65 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 5: if you want to be great in the kingdom, if 66 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 5: you want to live a blessed life, it's very simple. 67 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 3: You have to serve other people. 68 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:29,639 Speaker 5: He wasn't talking about an event that takes place every 69 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 5: once in a while. He was talking about a lifestyle 70 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 5: where you live to help others. You're always looking for 71 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 5: ways to serve. You're helping a friend, volunteering at the hospital, 72 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 5: taking care of a relative. It's not something you force 73 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 5: yourself to do. It becomes a part of who you are. 74 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 5: You've developed that attitude of serving, that's when you'll have 75 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 5: true happiness, true fulfillment. Not living to get, but living 76 00:03:58,440 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 5: to give. 77 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 3: This is the reason a lot of people are unhappy. 78 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 5: They're only focused on themselves, my dreams, my. 79 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 3: Goals, my problems. That's going to limit you. You were created 80 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 3: to give. 81 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 5: God puts people in our path on purpose, so we 82 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 5: can be a blessing to them. Every morning we should 83 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 5: ask God, show me my assignment today. 84 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 3: Help me to see the people that you want me 85 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:25,919 Speaker 3: to be good to. 86 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 5: My friend, Johnny, I've known practically my whole life for 87 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:35,720 Speaker 5: over forty years. He's always serving other people, running somebody 88 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 5: to the airport, taking a friend to dinner, helping a 89 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:40,599 Speaker 5: relative with their project. 90 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 3: When my dad was on dialysis and one of. 91 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 5: The family members couldn't take him, we'd always ask Johnny. 92 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 3: We knew he would gladly do it. 93 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 5: One time I called him on a hot Saturday afternoon. 94 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 5: He answered, and it was very noisy in the background. 95 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:58,839 Speaker 5: Could tell a lot was going on, said Johnny, where 96 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 5: are you? He said, I'm on top of a house. 97 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 5: My friend's next door neighbor is an elderly woman, and 98 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 5: we promised we would reroot her house this weekend. He 99 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 5: didn't even know the lady. It was his next door 100 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 5: neighbor's friend. But he's developed this habit to serve one another. 101 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:22,839 Speaker 5: When you serve others, you are serving God. When you 102 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 5: do it for them, you're doing it for him. Jesus said, 103 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:30,160 Speaker 5: if you give a cup of cold water to someone 104 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 5: in need, you will surely be rewarded. 105 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:37,919 Speaker 3: Every time you serve, God sees it. Every time you 106 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:38,720 Speaker 3: help others. 107 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:41,720 Speaker 5: You go out of your way to pick up that friend, 108 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:44,799 Speaker 5: you come early to sing in the choir, you stay 109 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 5: late to train that co worker. God is keeping the records. 110 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:54,839 Speaker 5: Nothing goes unnoticed, he says, you will surely be rewarded. 111 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 5: That word surely means you can count on it. Have 112 00:05:58,640 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 5: no doubt it will happen. 113 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:01,480 Speaker 3: Now here's the key. 114 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 5: Don't look for people to pay you back. People may 115 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 5: not say thank you. You may not get the. 116 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:09,480 Speaker 3: Credit you deserve. 117 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 5: Nobody may be giving you an applause. Let me assure you, 118 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:17,920 Speaker 5: when you serve others, there is an applause for you. 119 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 5: In Heaven, Almighty God sees your sacrifice. You don't need 120 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:27,240 Speaker 5: people cheering you on. You don't need somebody clapping for you. 121 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 5: You're not doing it for people. You're doing it for God. 122 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 5: He's the one that matters. He sees every act of kindness. 123 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 5: He sees you volunteering at the hospital. He sees you 124 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:41,279 Speaker 5: working in the nursery each week. He sees you taking 125 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 5: your neighbor to their doctor's appointment on your day off. 126 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:48,480 Speaker 5: When you serve others, God promises you will be great 127 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 5: in the kingdom. JJ Moses right here on the front row, 128 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 5: was a star football player in college. He was drafted 129 00:06:56,800 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 5: by the Houston Texans and played for them for five seasons. 130 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:04,160 Speaker 3: JJ was the kickoff and punk returner. 131 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 5: He's as fast as lightning, so quick when he'd get 132 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 5: the ball, he would electrify the crowd darting here. 133 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 3: And they're amazing to watch. In the football world. 134 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 5: He was at the pinnacle of success career wise, at 135 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 5: the very top, playing in the National Football League. 136 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 3: Every week in front of millions of people. 137 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 5: But during the off season or whenever he didn't have 138 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 5: a game, do you know where. 139 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 3: He was every Saturday night. 140 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 5: Not at home with his feet up, not out enjoying 141 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 5: his celebrity. 142 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:41,280 Speaker 3: He was right over here, ushering in this section, welcoming 143 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 3: to visitors. 144 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 5: Seating people, passing the offering plates. 145 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 3: Many people they. 146 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 5: Didn't know he was a star professional football player. 147 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 3: In the stadium. All the lights were on him. 148 00:07:57,000 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 5: Everybody wanted to get a picture, everybody tried to get 149 00:07:59,520 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 5: an auto. 150 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 3: He could have let that go to his head. Thought, 151 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:04,560 Speaker 3: I'm not gonna usher anymore. 152 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:09,200 Speaker 5: I'm big time, I'm JJ Moses, I'm the original JJ, 153 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 5: before JJ Watt I was here. I don't want to 154 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 5: wait on anybody. I want people to wait on me. No, still, 155 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:21,000 Speaker 5: every Saturday night he's ushering, week after week. He told me, Joel, 156 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 5: my greatest honor was not playing in front of eighty 157 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 5: thousand people in the stadium each week. My greatest honor 158 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 5: is to volunteer at Lakewood each Saturday night. 159 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 3: What am I saying? 160 00:08:34,920 --> 00:08:38,120 Speaker 5: You're never too important to serve, never too big never 161 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:41,720 Speaker 5: too influential. I know a man that was worth nine 162 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 5: billion dollars with the b he's in heaven now. He 163 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 5: started off with nothing, got into oil business and obviously 164 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 5: made it very, very big. He loved God. He's a 165 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:56,840 Speaker 5: good man, always helping others. He owned, among other things, 166 00:08:57,120 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 5: a big retreat center where couples could go and spend 167 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:03,680 Speaker 5: the weekend and be refreshed. One day, this couple came 168 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 5: to the front desk. The receptionist had stepped away, and 169 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:10,319 Speaker 5: it just so happened he was there. He was an 170 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:14,079 Speaker 5: older gentleman, very kind, very friendly. So he checked them in, 171 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 5: gave them their key. Then he picked up their suitcases 172 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:21,600 Speaker 5: and carried them to their room. He got them all 173 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 5: set up, laid out their bags, even got them some ice. 174 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:28,200 Speaker 5: When he was about to leave, the lady reached in 175 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 5: her purse and gave him a five dollar tip. She 176 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 5: thought he was the bellman. And I love the fact 177 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:37,800 Speaker 5: that he wasn't too important to serve. He could have said, 178 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 5: excuse me, do you know who I am? I own 179 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:42,440 Speaker 5: all this. I don't need you five dollars. Now here's 180 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:45,959 Speaker 5: what I've learned. It takes a big person to do 181 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:50,560 Speaker 5: something small. It takes humility to say I don't have 182 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:54,320 Speaker 5: to do this. It's not required of me. Nobody will 183 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 5: fault me if I don't do it. But I know 184 00:09:57,160 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 5: in order to serve God, I need to serve other 185 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 5: And if you want to have a great life, it 186 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:08,200 Speaker 5: doesn't just come from success, having a bigger house, more accomplishments. 187 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 3: That's all great. 188 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:12,079 Speaker 5: God wants you to be blessed, But if you're going 189 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:15,959 Speaker 5: to be truly fulfilled, you have to develop this attitude 190 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:20,800 Speaker 5: of serving one another. You were created to make somebody 191 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:26,079 Speaker 5: else's life better. Somebody needs what you have. Somebody needs 192 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 5: your smile. They need your love, your encouragement, your gifts. 193 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 5: When you serve others, you will feel a satisfaction that 194 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 5: money cannot buy. There will be a joy, a peace 195 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:43,200 Speaker 5: of fulfillment that only God can give. One time, Jesus 196 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 5: and his disciples had traveled a great distance to the 197 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:51,160 Speaker 5: city of Samerian. They were very tired and hungry. Jesus 198 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:54,240 Speaker 5: sent the disciples into town to get some food. While 199 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 5: he waited by a well, he met a woman, told 200 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 5: her about her future, and gave her a new beginning. 201 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 5: In a few hours, the disciples came back with the food, 202 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:08,560 Speaker 5: but Jesus wasn't hungry anymore. He was sitting by the well, 203 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 5: refreshed at peace. They offered him something to eat, but 204 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:16,840 Speaker 5: he wouldn't take it. He said, I have food that 205 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 5: you know nothing about. Well, they thought maybe somebody came 206 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 5: and gave him something to eat while they were away. 207 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:26,840 Speaker 5: They started talking about it. He was hungry a little 208 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:29,560 Speaker 5: while ago, and now he's not. He was tired, but 209 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:31,119 Speaker 5: now he looks so refreshed. 210 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 3: How could that be? 211 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 5: And Jesus overheard them discussing it. He told them the secret. 212 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 3: He said in John four. 213 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 5: My food comes from doing the will of Him who 214 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:47,560 Speaker 5: sent me to accomplish his work. He was saying, I 215 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:50,319 Speaker 5: get fed by doing what God. 216 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 3: Asked me to do. My nourishment comes from helping people. 217 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 5: My food, my strength, my peace, my joy, my satisfaction, 218 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 5: it comes when I serve others. Sometimes you can work 219 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:06,080 Speaker 5: all day and naturally at the end you're kind of tired. 220 00:12:06,679 --> 00:12:10,160 Speaker 5: But there are times when you serve others. You get 221 00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 5: up early to help that coworker, You swing by the 222 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 5: hospital and pray for that friend. 223 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:17,439 Speaker 3: You mow your neighbor's lawn. 224 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 5: After work, You should be tired and run down, but 225 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:26,200 Speaker 5: you leave re energized, You leave stronger, you leave refreshed. 226 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 5: Why is that because when you do the will of 227 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 5: your father, it doesn't drain you, It replenishes you. Many 228 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:39,520 Speaker 5: of you today you serve. You volunteer here at Lakewood. 229 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:42,760 Speaker 5: Maybe in your community you get up early and go 230 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:45,719 Speaker 5: to church on your day off, to work in the 231 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:47,560 Speaker 5: children's ministry, to sing in the. 232 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 3: Choir, to help others. 233 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 5: Maybe you go clean neighborhoods on Saturday morning with our 234 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:56,559 Speaker 5: community outreach. Perhaps you spend an afternoon at the prison 235 00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:58,400 Speaker 5: encouraging the inmates. 236 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 3: You'd think you'd be tired, run down. 237 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:04,000 Speaker 5: Man, I gotta go home and rest. I've been volunteering 238 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 5: all day. No, just like with Jesus, when you do 239 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:12,680 Speaker 5: what he asks you to do, you're being fed. Strength comes, 240 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:17,520 Speaker 5: energy comes, joy comes, peace comes. You should be run down, 241 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 5: But when you serve others, God recharges, re energizes, refreshes. 242 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 5: You don't leave down, you leave up, You don't leave low, 243 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:27,200 Speaker 5: you leave high. 244 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:28,720 Speaker 3: God pays you back. 245 00:13:29,640 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 5: I know every time I leave this auditorium after a service, 246 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:37,280 Speaker 5: I always leave stronger than I was before. 247 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 3: Why is that? 248 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 5: Because when you serve others, when you make somebody else's 249 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 5: life better. When you lift people, when you help heal 250 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:51,080 Speaker 5: those that are hurting, not only are they being blessed, 251 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 5: but you're being blessed. 252 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 3: You're being refueled. You're getting filled back up. 253 00:13:57,320 --> 00:14:01,040 Speaker 5: Now, if you never have any energy, no joy, no strength, 254 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:03,320 Speaker 5: one reason, not the only one. 255 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:06,120 Speaker 3: One reason may be because. 256 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 5: You're not doing anything for anybody else. You got to 257 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:13,720 Speaker 5: get your mind off of yourself. Go to the senior's 258 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 5: home and cheer somebody up. Bake your neighbor, a cake, 259 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:22,240 Speaker 5: coach the little league team. When you lift others, God. 260 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 3: Will always lift you. 261 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 5: And this should be something we do, not every once 262 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:28,000 Speaker 5: in a while if we have. 263 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:29,000 Speaker 3: Some extra time. 264 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 5: No, this should be a lifestyle where it's a part 265 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 5: of our nature. We're always looking for ways to be 266 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:40,320 Speaker 5: a blessing, and it doesn't have to be something big. 267 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:42,320 Speaker 3: It can be something small. 268 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 5: Simple words of encouragement can brighten somebody's day. One time, 269 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 5: Victoria was walking through the hallway after service. We had 270 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 5: just dismissed and there were hundreds of people in the corridor. 271 00:14:56,160 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 5: As Victoria passed a young lady, she stopped her, looked 272 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 5: her in the eyes, and said, you are so beautiful. 273 00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:07,680 Speaker 5: Ten second conversation, no big deal. They both went on 274 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:11,880 Speaker 5: their ways. A couple of weeks later, the young lady 275 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 5: told me how that was a turning point in her life. 276 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 5: She had just gone through an abusive relationship, and she 277 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 5: felt so unattractive, so bad about herself, so beaten down 278 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:25,040 Speaker 5: by life. 279 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:26,960 Speaker 3: She said, when. 280 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 5: Victorious said those words, you are so beautiful, it was 281 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:35,160 Speaker 5: like a chain was broken off of my mind. Something 282 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:38,520 Speaker 5: came back to life on the inside. 283 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 3: The scripture says. 284 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 5: Kind words work wonders all through the day. We can 285 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 5: serve God by speaking kind words, giving a compliment, giving encouragement. Hey, 286 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 5: I love you, Hey, you look beautiful. I believe in you. 287 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 5: I'm praying for you. Simple things can make a big difference. 288 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:02,880 Speaker 5: And really this should start in our homes. 289 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 3: It's great to serve. 290 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 5: People when you're out in public, that's important, but make 291 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:14,800 Speaker 5: sure you serve your own family husbands, serve your wife. Honey, 292 00:16:14,840 --> 00:16:17,600 Speaker 5: I'm going into the kitchen. Can I bring you anything back? 293 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 5: Or let me run get your car filled up with 294 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 5: gas so you don't have to tomorrow. Let me help 295 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 5: the kids do the homework. You take a night off, 296 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 5: be a blessing to your spouse. I'm convinced if we 297 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,880 Speaker 5: would have this servant's mentality, more of our marriages would 298 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 5: stay together. Now, I know husbands that they expect their 299 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 5: wife to do everything for them. 300 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:41,200 Speaker 3: I'm not gonna serve her. 301 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 5: I want her to serve me, cook clean, bring me 302 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 5: my food, make sure my clothes or walk, keep this 303 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 5: house straightened up. 304 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 3: That's not a wife, that's a maid. 305 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:52,960 Speaker 5: You might as well call a cleaning service. 306 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 3: You can hire somebody to do that. 307 00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:59,760 Speaker 5: If you want a wife, if you want a friend, 308 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 5: a lover, somebody to make your life great, you've got 309 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:07,400 Speaker 5: to serve that woman. Make her feel special, bring her 310 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 5: breakfast in bed, pick up your own stinky clothes, help 311 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:18,000 Speaker 5: with the children. It's not a dictatorship, it's a partnership. 312 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:20,920 Speaker 3: Well, Joe, the Bible says. 313 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:25,080 Speaker 5: The wife, I have a feeling there's more. 314 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:29,400 Speaker 3: Ladies here than men. But Joel, the Bible says the wife. 315 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:32,119 Speaker 5: Is to submit to her husband, the only scripture A 316 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 5: lot of men know. Yes, but it also says the 317 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:41,159 Speaker 5: husband is to love his wife like Christ loved the church. 318 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:47,480 Speaker 5: Jesus modeled a servant's attitude. He had all the power 319 00:17:47,560 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 5: in the world, the most influential person that ever lived. 320 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:54,879 Speaker 5: Yet he bowed down and washed his disciples feet. 321 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:57,119 Speaker 3: He could have hired somebody to do it. 322 00:17:57,640 --> 00:17:59,840 Speaker 5: He could have called an angel down from heaven and said, hey, 323 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:00,720 Speaker 5: wash their feet. 324 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:02,600 Speaker 3: I don't feel like it. They stink today. 325 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 5: Matthew's got some fungus on his toes. 326 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 3: Peter needs some motor eaters. 327 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:10,919 Speaker 5: No, he willingly bowed down, pulled out his towel. 328 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:13,480 Speaker 3: Washed their feet one by one. 329 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 5: He did this as an example so we would know 330 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:21,240 Speaker 5: we're never too important to be good to people. You're 331 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 5: never too high to where you can't bow down low 332 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:29,000 Speaker 5: and serve somebody else. The more humility you walk in, 333 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 5: the more you serve others, the higher God can take you. 334 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 3: And some of you. 335 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 5: If you'd start serving your wife, serving your husband, you'd 336 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:41,600 Speaker 5: see that marriage go to a new level. I heard 337 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:44,000 Speaker 5: about this guy. He was bragging to all of his 338 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 5: buddies about how he was the head of his house. 339 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:51,200 Speaker 5: He said, yeah, I run things around my house. About 340 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:53,960 Speaker 5: that time, his wife walked up. He said, I run 341 00:18:54,040 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 5: the vacuum, I run the dishwasher. Victoria and I made 342 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:01,320 Speaker 5: an agreement when we got married that I would make 343 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:05,480 Speaker 5: all the major decisions. She would make all the minor decisions. 344 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:08,680 Speaker 5: It's funny, in twenty six years of marriage, there's never 345 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 5: been a major decision. Let me ask you, who are 346 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:17,240 Speaker 5: you serving? Who are you lifting up? Who are you 347 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:20,760 Speaker 5: being good? To be on the lookout for ways that 348 00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:23,879 Speaker 5: you can be a blessing. God puts people in our 349 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 5: path so we can brighten their day. A few months 350 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:30,879 Speaker 5: ago I was able to baptize nearly eight hundred people 351 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 5: on a Saturday. 352 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 3: There was an. 353 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:36,359 Speaker 5: Older gentleman there that he had had a stroke and 354 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:40,080 Speaker 5: he didn't have any kind of mobility, couldn't walk, and 355 00:19:40,119 --> 00:19:43,120 Speaker 5: they rolled him in in a wheelchair. The young man 356 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 5: that was pushing him, he looked to be about my age, 357 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:49,160 Speaker 5: and you could tell he really cared about this man. 358 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:52,200 Speaker 5: He went to great links to make sure he was okay. 359 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:54,960 Speaker 5: And to get into baptistry you have to walk up 360 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:58,240 Speaker 5: some stairs and then walk back down into the water, 361 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:02,680 Speaker 5: and some of the workers lifted up the older gentleman. 362 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 5: That young man, he put one arm under his knees, 363 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:10,800 Speaker 5: one arm under his back, and he carried him into 364 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:15,080 Speaker 5: the baptistry waters. Was a very moving scene seeing this 365 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:18,639 Speaker 5: older man cripple, couldn't walk, yet he was so determined 366 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:20,879 Speaker 5: he wanted to be baptized, and. 367 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:24,080 Speaker 3: Seeing the young man carry him down into the waters. 368 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:26,800 Speaker 5: After we got him baptized, we put him back in 369 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:29,000 Speaker 5: the wheelchair and I said to the young man, is 370 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:29,800 Speaker 5: that your father? 371 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:33,680 Speaker 3: He shook his head no. I said, was he your relative? 372 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 3: Your uncle? Who is this? 373 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:38,960 Speaker 5: He told how he was a random man that he 374 00:20:39,119 --> 00:20:43,119 Speaker 5: sat by one Sunday at Lakewood. Never met him before, 375 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:45,679 Speaker 5: but it was the Sunday that I announced that I 376 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 5: would be baptizing people in water. The older man turned 377 00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:51,479 Speaker 5: to him and just in passing, he said, Wow, I 378 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:54,679 Speaker 5: wish I could be baptized. I guess I waited too long. 379 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:57,919 Speaker 5: I can't walk anymore, so I guess I missed my chance. 380 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:00,600 Speaker 5: The young man told him that he would help him 381 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 5: to get baptized, and that older man said, I don't 382 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:07,200 Speaker 5: have a ride, and I don't have any family here, 383 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 5: and I can't walk. He said, don't worry about it. 384 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:12,200 Speaker 5: I'm gonna take care of you. He went and picked 385 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 5: him up, got him to the fourth floor, had him baptized. 386 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 5: He had only met the man one time before. My 387 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:23,760 Speaker 5: prayer is God, help us to have that same compassion, 388 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:28,040 Speaker 5: Help us to not be so busy, so preoccupied with 389 00:21:28,119 --> 00:21:33,359 Speaker 5: our own affairs, that we can't serve somebody else. God 390 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:39,080 Speaker 5: is asking us today, will you carry someone, Maybe not physically, 391 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:42,240 Speaker 5: but will you help lighten their load? Will you help 392 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:44,800 Speaker 5: make their dreams come to pass? Will you go out 393 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:48,080 Speaker 5: of your way to be a blessing to them? Helping 394 00:21:48,280 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 5: less fortunate people is the closest thing to the heart 395 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:55,560 Speaker 5: of God. I will never forget that image of that 396 00:21:55,720 --> 00:22:00,199 Speaker 5: young man carrying that crippled man into the baptistry as 397 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:03,720 Speaker 5: long as I live. I could understand it if it 398 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:06,680 Speaker 5: was his father. It would make sense to me if 399 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:10,240 Speaker 5: it was a relative, a longtime friend. But he did 400 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:14,959 Speaker 5: it for a total stranger. He gave up his Saturday. 401 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:18,080 Speaker 5: He could have been out goofing off on his day off, 402 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:21,000 Speaker 5: down at the beach, working out, hanging with friends. Nothing 403 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:25,480 Speaker 5: wrong with that. But his attitude was, I have an assignment. 404 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:28,800 Speaker 5: There's somebody God put in my path on. 405 00:22:28,800 --> 00:22:31,159 Speaker 3: Purpose, so I can serve somebody. 406 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:33,960 Speaker 5: I can brighten their day, somebody I can make a 407 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:35,000 Speaker 5: difference in their life. 408 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:38,920 Speaker 3: Jesus said, when you do it to the least of these, 409 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:40,240 Speaker 3: you're doing it under me. 410 00:22:40,840 --> 00:22:43,240 Speaker 5: I love the fact that this young man. He wasn't 411 00:22:43,240 --> 00:22:47,040 Speaker 5: looking for any recognition. He wasn't making some big announcement. 412 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:49,439 Speaker 5: Look at me, everybody, I'm doing a good deed. He 413 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:53,720 Speaker 5: didn't have anybody cheering him on. He was quietly serving 414 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:56,959 Speaker 5: this other man. Nobody would have known about it if 415 00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:57,600 Speaker 5: I hadn't. 416 00:22:57,400 --> 00:22:58,119 Speaker 3: Have said something. 417 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 5: Many of you, like him are constantly being good to people, 418 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:06,560 Speaker 5: going out of your way to be a blessing, making 419 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:11,680 Speaker 5: sacrifices nobody knows about. Let me tell you. God sees 420 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:16,359 Speaker 5: what you're doing. He sees your heart of compassion. Nobody 421 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:19,280 Speaker 5: may be clapping for you down here, but up there, 422 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 5: all of Heaven is cheering you on. 423 00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:22,040 Speaker 3: See. 424 00:23:22,119 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 5: I realize I'm receiving some of my reward right now. 425 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:30,360 Speaker 5: People thank me, cheer for me, clap for me. I'm 426 00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:34,280 Speaker 5: very grateful, I'm very flattered. But when nobody is clapping 427 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:37,320 Speaker 5: for you, when you're not being told thank you, you're 428 00:23:37,359 --> 00:23:41,399 Speaker 5: not getting the recognition. Don't be discouraged and think that 429 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:46,320 Speaker 5: you're being overlooked. Your reward will be greater when people 430 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:49,560 Speaker 5: give you credit. That's part of your thank you, that's 431 00:23:49,600 --> 00:23:53,080 Speaker 5: part of your reward. But when nobody's given you credit, 432 00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:58,080 Speaker 5: the scripture says what you do in secret, God will 433 00:23:58,119 --> 00:24:01,359 Speaker 5: reward you in the open. And when it comes time 434 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:04,159 Speaker 5: for the rewards to be passed out, some of us 435 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:06,560 Speaker 5: that are in the front now are going to have 436 00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:10,200 Speaker 5: to step back. And the people that were behind the scenes, 437 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 5: the ones that volunteered year after year with no great applause, 438 00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:18,240 Speaker 5: the ones like this young man that went to great 439 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:22,760 Speaker 5: sacrifices to make somebody else's dreams come to pass. The 440 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:26,719 Speaker 5: ones that have given time, energy, money that nobody knew about. 441 00:24:27,359 --> 00:24:31,000 Speaker 5: Those who are going to be the greater rewards. Not 442 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:33,399 Speaker 5: long ago, one of our ushers went to be with 443 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:37,879 Speaker 5: the Lord. He had volunteered here for nearly thirty years, as. 444 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:38,919 Speaker 3: Faithful as can be. 445 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:42,840 Speaker 5: He was an older gentleman, and he always dressed nice, 446 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:47,199 Speaker 5: had a pleasant smile, a quiet demeanor. I don't know 447 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:49,880 Speaker 5: that I ever spoke to him personally, but I remember 448 00:24:49,920 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 5: seeing him month after month, service after service. You could 449 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:57,640 Speaker 5: count on him. My mother helped officiate at the funeral. 450 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:01,160 Speaker 5: One of his request is that he would be buried 451 00:25:01,560 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 5: wearing his Lakewood Usher's badge. And there he was in 452 00:25:05,359 --> 00:25:08,639 Speaker 5: the casket in his finest suit, and on it was 453 00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:11,240 Speaker 5: the badge that he had worn for nearly thirty years. 454 00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:14,000 Speaker 3: He was so proud to be an usher. 455 00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:17,240 Speaker 5: He could have been buried with anything he wanted, but 456 00:25:17,359 --> 00:25:20,320 Speaker 5: his greatest honor was serving other people. 457 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 3: Don't you know? 458 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:26,240 Speaker 5: When he arrived in heaven there was an amazing welcoming ceremony. 459 00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:30,520 Speaker 5: I can hear the angels sing, I can see people clapping, 460 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:32,480 Speaker 5: I can see the trumpets blowing. 461 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:37,120 Speaker 3: See there wasn't a lot of fanfare, not a. 462 00:25:37,040 --> 00:25:41,440 Speaker 5: Lot of applause for his life of service and generosity 463 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:42,520 Speaker 5: here on the earth. 464 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:46,800 Speaker 3: But nothing goes unnoticed. You will be rewarded. 465 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:51,320 Speaker 5: The scripture tells how when Stephen went to Heaven, Jesus 466 00:25:51,359 --> 00:25:55,639 Speaker 5: stood up to welcome him. Jesus is normally seated at 467 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:58,280 Speaker 5: the right hand of the Father. But I believe there 468 00:25:58,320 --> 00:26:01,720 Speaker 5: are times like with this Usher when he arrived in 469 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:05,399 Speaker 5: unsung hero, there will be times when Jesus says, you 470 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:08,320 Speaker 5: know what, this one deserves a standing ovation. 471 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:12,359 Speaker 3: He'll stand up for welcome you home. I heard about 472 00:26:12,359 --> 00:26:14,000 Speaker 3: this older missionary couple. 473 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:18,560 Speaker 5: They had served over in Africa for more than sixty years, 474 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:22,560 Speaker 5: helping the less fortunate people, given their whole life and 475 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:25,919 Speaker 5: done so much good. Now they were returning home to 476 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:29,560 Speaker 5: New York city to finally retire. It just so happened. 477 00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:33,640 Speaker 5: They were booked on the same ship with President Teddy Roosevelt. 478 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:38,040 Speaker 5: He was returning home from one of his big hunting expeditions. 479 00:26:38,680 --> 00:26:40,880 Speaker 5: When the ship pulled into the dock in New York, 480 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:45,200 Speaker 5: there was all this fanfare. Band was playing. The mayor 481 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:48,720 Speaker 5: and other dignitaries lined up, balloons going up in the air, 482 00:26:48,840 --> 00:26:53,399 Speaker 5: confetti coming down. When the crowd saw President Roosevelt step 483 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:56,679 Speaker 5: off the boat, they begin to cheer. Tens of thousands 484 00:26:56,680 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 5: of them waving, cheering, trying to snap a picture. The 485 00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:05,320 Speaker 5: missionary said to his wife, doesn't seem right. We've given 486 00:27:05,359 --> 00:27:08,760 Speaker 5: our whole life to help other people, to give, to serve, 487 00:27:08,840 --> 00:27:12,080 Speaker 5: to make a difference. He goes on a vacation and 488 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:16,800 Speaker 5: the whole world welcomes him home. Nobody even knows we're here. 489 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:20,840 Speaker 5: They got off the ship very discouraged. That night he 490 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:24,720 Speaker 5: was praying, said God, I don't understand it. He goes 491 00:27:24,800 --> 00:27:28,000 Speaker 5: on vacation and comes home to the fanfare of the world, 492 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:30,960 Speaker 5: and we come home after a whole life of service 493 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:33,040 Speaker 5: and nobody even says hello. 494 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:36,520 Speaker 3: Down in here, he heard God speak to him. 495 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:40,879 Speaker 5: He said, son, it's because you're not home yet. 496 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:45,080 Speaker 3: There will be a celebration. There will be a reward. 497 00:27:46,240 --> 00:27:49,480 Speaker 5: You will hear a band playing like you've never heard before. 498 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:52,760 Speaker 5: It will be the angels. All of heaven will welcome 499 00:27:52,760 --> 00:27:58,480 Speaker 5: you home. Many of you have been faithful, given, served, volunteered, 500 00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:03,520 Speaker 5: be encouraged. Today God sees every act of kindness. 501 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:07,240 Speaker 3: Nothing goes unnoticed. You will be rewarded. 502 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:10,160 Speaker 5: Remember when you do what God asks you to do, 503 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:15,080 Speaker 5: you're being fed. You're getting stronger, refreshed, re energized. So 504 00:28:15,280 --> 00:28:18,119 Speaker 5: be on the lookout this week for ways that you 505 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:21,639 Speaker 5: can be good to people. If you'll develop this lifestyle 506 00:28:21,760 --> 00:28:25,560 Speaker 5: of serving, God says you will be great in the kingdom. 507 00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:30,080 Speaker 5: Now I believe and declare, because you serve others, you're. 508 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:31,320 Speaker 3: Coming into your reward. 509 00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:35,880 Speaker 5: You're coming into favor, coming into healing, coming into promotion, 510 00:28:36,119 --> 00:28:37,320 Speaker 5: coming into breakthroughs. 511 00:28:37,680 --> 00:28:38,600 Speaker 3: You're coming in to. 512 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:42,800 Speaker 5: New levels of God's goodness. In Jesus' name, if you 513 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:44,560 Speaker 5: receive it, can you say amen? 514 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:44,920 Speaker 3: Today? 515 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:49,719 Speaker 5: We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 516 00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:52,760 Speaker 5: an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 517 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:53,880 Speaker 3: Would you pray with me? 518 00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:59,840 Speaker 5: Just say, Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins come 519 00:28:59,840 --> 00:29:00,680 Speaker 5: in my heart. 520 00:29:01,720 --> 00:29:03,520 Speaker 3: I make you my Lord and savior. 521 00:29:05,080 --> 00:29:07,520 Speaker 5: Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you 522 00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:10,760 Speaker 5: got born again. Get in a good Bible based church. 523 00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:13,920 Speaker 5: Keep God first place. He's going to take your places 524 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:15,080 Speaker 5: that you've never dreamed of. 525 00:29:15,920 --> 00:29:19,360 Speaker 6: Thank you for listening to the Joel Osteine podcast. Help 526 00:29:19,440 --> 00:29:22,160 Speaker 6: us continue to share the message of hope with those 527 00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:26,160 Speaker 6: all over the world. Visit Joelostin dot com slash give 528 00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:27,920 Speaker 6: Hope to give a gift today. 529 00:29:29,200 --> 00:29:31,640 Speaker 3: Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 530 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:34,520 Speaker 5: I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 531 00:29:34,560 --> 00:29:37,600 Speaker 5: podcast to keep you inspired all through the week. 532 00:29:37,840 --> 00:29:40,720 Speaker 3: We're praying for you. 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