WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.220 Thank you all. If you have your Bible, I want to turn to Genesis chapter 50. 00:00:10.960 --> 00:00:15.400 Genesis chapter 50. If you're one of those that mark your Bibles and puts the date and 00:00:15.400 --> 00:00:20.699 ! I know I preached part of this passage a couple of weeks ago. I haven't lost it, 00:00:21.400 --> 00:00:27.699 but I'm not going to say the same thing, I hope. I guess I'll never forget it. I played football 00:00:27.699 --> 00:00:33.719 in high school, and as a senior, we got a new coach who was a head coach for the first 00:00:33.719 --> 00:00:40.799 time, and he came in with a lot of vigor and took it out on us. He's a great coach. He won 00:00:40.799 --> 00:00:46.159 as long as he coached, and I'm thankful that he is now a wonderful Christian. I wish he 00:00:46.159 --> 00:00:51.760 had acted more like one when he treated us the way he treated us in practice. Summer 00:00:51.760 --> 00:00:57.539 camp started with what he called county fair, which sounded fun to me, and I came with a 00:00:57.539 --> 00:01:03.000 lot of excitement. Little did I know that we'd be running around cones on our hands and feet 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:10.640 and pushing sleds with coaches standing on them, big sleds with big coaches, and they'd 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:17.659 put us in a circle and let other guys take shots at us, and water? Well, you didn't need 00:01:17.659 --> 00:01:24.359 water in those days. I didn't believe in it. And whenever they did give it to you, maybe 00:01:24.359 --> 00:01:32.439 once, that you ran over to a PVC pipe that was attached to the dugout with holes drilled 00:01:32.439 --> 00:01:40.960 in it, and like a pack of dogs eating out of one food bowl, you tried to get a sip of water. 00:01:40.960 --> 00:01:48.359 It was awful, but boy, it was great, you know. And when we thought we couldn't take it anymore, 00:01:48.359 --> 00:01:56.439 he'd sit us down, and he'd go over the intangibles. In the locker room, there were a piece of plywood 00:01:56.439 --> 00:02:07.319 that had been painted with either words or statements put on them. I contacted two guys that I played 00:02:07.319 --> 00:02:11.479 football with this week and said, remind me of a couple of those. He called them intangibles. 00:02:11.479 --> 00:02:17.679 Remind me of a couple more of those intangibles, and they couldn't remember anything either. So I remember 00:02:17.679 --> 00:02:22.519 one of them, and so what he'd do, he taught us those things, and then before football game, we'd go to 00:02:22.519 --> 00:02:27.399 middle school, and before we would have our meal, our pregame meal, we'd sit in the library at the 00:02:27.399 --> 00:02:33.479 middle school to get us away from the high school atmosphere. And he'd say, let's go over the intangibles. 00:02:33.479 --> 00:02:41.079 Give me an intangible. Some of them would say, Oski. So when you hear Oski, what does that mean? 00:02:42.199 --> 00:02:46.919 That means somebody intercepted the ball. And that means that if you were playing defense, 00:02:47.560 --> 00:02:52.359 when somebody yells Oski, you turn around and start blocking. You look for somebody to hit. And so 00:02:52.359 --> 00:02:58.199 somebody with a lot of vigor would say, you find somebody to hit. You go the different way, you know. 00:02:58.199 --> 00:03:03.879 Yeah. But the one I really stands out to me, and I think that's how I remember as much as I do 00:03:03.879 --> 00:03:12.599 anything. Any old nag can start a race, but it takes a thoroughbred to finish. We had a bunch of 00:03:12.599 --> 00:03:18.519 people go out to start with, and then they'd fall out like flies when they got in the heat. And every 00:03:18.519 --> 00:03:24.599 time somebody'd fall out, he'd stand before us and go, any old nag can start a race, but it takes a 00:03:24.599 --> 00:03:31.000 thoroughbred to finish. It was such a memorable statement. As the summer went on, we ridiculed the 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:38.199 quitters. Any old nag can start a race. My heart ran through my head as I ran the sprints in the summer, 00:03:38.199 --> 00:03:44.759 and boys would be leaning over the fence, losing their breakfast, and oh, what a life. Any old nag can 00:03:44.759 --> 00:03:51.319 start a race. It takes thoroughbred to finish. Echoed in my bones as my bones rattled, my fingers crushed, 00:03:51.319 --> 00:03:58.759 and I fell. I don't think I mounted much, but I was there to the end. And there's something to be said 00:03:58.759 --> 00:04:11.719 about being there until the end. Because a lot of people can start out strong, but that don't mean 00:04:11.719 --> 00:04:21.879 much. Have you ever watched the 400 meters or the 800 meter races? What you'll notice is that 00:04:23.399 --> 00:04:28.920 the guys who usually start out winning that race are not the ones that win it. The ones that are 00:04:28.920 --> 00:04:34.839 leading in the beginning usually pale out. Kentucky Derby. Love to watch the Kentucky Derby. Those horses 00:04:34.839 --> 00:04:41.399 that come out of the gate strong, very seldom are the ones that win in the end. It's all about finishing. 00:04:42.280 --> 00:04:49.400 Hardly ever is the winner in front at the start, but that leads, those that lead at first sometimes 00:04:49.400 --> 00:04:54.120 never make it to the end. And the reality is the Christian life is a lot like that. 00:04:55.400 --> 00:05:02.440 So many claim to be saved and they claim to love God and to be faithful. However, time tells another story. 00:05:02.439 --> 00:05:10.120 As they go on, something changes. Too many fall by the spiritual wayside. And it's not that some are 00:05:10.120 --> 00:05:18.120 perfect and others are not. It's not that at all. All of us are imperfect. But some of us keep coming to the 00:05:18.120 --> 00:05:25.800 perfect one. Some of us keep going to the one that can help us while others lean on their own 00:05:25.800 --> 00:05:33.800 ability or try to find help from another source. And well, we're not only to start for Jesus, we're to finish 00:05:33.800 --> 00:05:45.319 the course. We look today at two men who were faithful for their entire lives. They were not perfect by any 00:05:45.319 --> 00:05:52.759 means. Thankfully, because if they were, we couldn't relate to them. And I believe that 00:05:52.759 --> 00:06:03.560 God puts these men in Scripture for us to watch and to learn from. And Scripture is so true. It shows 00:06:03.560 --> 00:06:12.959 everything. It tells the real story. This morning, we look at Joseph and his father, Jacob. Joseph, as we've 00:06:12.959 --> 00:06:20.480 seen, did live a good, faithful life, regardless of what came. But he was not perfect. And Jacob, his father, 00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:26.439 was faithful to God. Perfect by no means. He needed a course in fatherhood especially. 00:06:27.480 --> 00:06:31.420 However, both finished well. And we can learn from their example. 00:06:32.720 --> 00:06:35.680 Genesis 50, beginning in verse 15, says this, 00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:39.460 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, 00:06:39.540 --> 00:06:44.400 It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him. 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:47.520 So they sent a message to Joseph saying, 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:51.899 Your father gave this command before he died. Say to Joseph, 00:06:51.899 --> 00:06:54.579 Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sins, 00:06:54.740 --> 00:07:00.959 because they did evil to you. And now please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father. 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:04.740 Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 00:07:05.740 --> 00:07:08.180 His brothers also came and fell down before him 00:07:08.180 --> 00:07:10.780 and said, Behold, we are your servants. 00:07:10.780 --> 00:07:13.000 But Joseph said to them, Do not fear, 00:07:13.139 --> 00:07:14.780 for am I in the place of God? 00:07:16.780 --> 00:07:18.920 As for you, 00:07:19.379 --> 00:07:21.360 you meant evil against me, 00:07:21.639 --> 00:07:23.000 but God meant it for good 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:25.019 to bring it about that many people should be 00:07:25.019 --> 00:07:27.060 kept alive as they are today. 00:07:28.220 --> 00:07:29.280 So do not fear. 00:07:30.180 --> 00:07:31.199 I will provide 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:32.860 for you and your little ones. 00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:35.319 Thus he comforted 00:07:35.319 --> 00:07:37.240 them and spoke kindly. 00:07:37.240 --> 00:07:39.300 To them. 00:07:41.060 --> 00:07:42.900 So Joseph remained in Egypt. 00:07:43.860 --> 00:07:45.480 He and his father's house. 00:07:46.379 --> 00:07:47.160 Joseph lived 00:07:47.160 --> 00:07:49.199 110 years. 00:07:49.980 --> 00:07:51.819 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children 00:07:51.819 --> 00:07:53.900 of the third generation. 00:07:55.780 --> 00:07:56.699 The children also 00:07:56.699 --> 00:07:57.379 of Bacar, 00:07:57.500 --> 00:07:59.040 the son of Manasseh, 00:07:59.340 --> 00:08:00.379 were counted as 00:08:00.379 --> 00:08:02.560 Joseph's own. 00:08:02.560 --> 00:08:02.639 Amen. 00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:09.720 And Joseph said to his brothers, 00:08:09.980 --> 00:08:11.579 I'm about to die, 00:08:12.199 --> 00:08:13.639 but God will visit you 00:08:13.639 --> 00:08:15.340 and bring you out of this land 00:08:15.340 --> 00:08:16.379 to the land he swore 00:08:16.379 --> 00:08:16.939 to Abraham, 00:08:17.180 --> 00:08:17.660 to Isaac, 00:08:17.740 --> 00:08:18.360 and to Jacob. 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:19.360 Then Joseph 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:21.180 made the sons of Israel 00:08:21.180 --> 00:08:21.579 swear, 00:08:21.699 --> 00:08:21.960 saying, 00:08:22.040 --> 00:08:23.460 God will surely visit you 00:08:23.460 --> 00:08:24.819 and you shall carry 00:08:24.819 --> 00:08:26.259 my bones from here. 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:28.340 So Joseph died 00:08:28.340 --> 00:08:30.800 being 110 years old. 00:08:30.800 --> 00:08:32.259 They embalmed him 00:08:32.259 --> 00:08:32.919 and he was put 00:08:32.919 --> 00:08:33.639 in a coffin 00:08:33.639 --> 00:08:35.580 in Egypt. 00:08:36.779 --> 00:08:38.279 Whether young or old, 00:08:38.360 --> 00:08:39.220 if you're a Christian, 00:08:39.980 --> 00:08:40.820 there is a journey 00:08:40.820 --> 00:08:41.840 ahead for you. 00:08:42.379 --> 00:08:43.340 You're in the midst 00:08:43.340 --> 00:08:44.240 of that journey, 00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:45.139 but there is more 00:08:45.139 --> 00:08:45.639 to come. 00:08:46.180 --> 00:08:47.080 You have not 00:08:47.080 --> 00:08:48.320 reached the end. 00:08:48.620 --> 00:08:49.220 Your job 00:08:49.220 --> 00:08:50.080 is not done. 00:08:50.279 --> 00:08:50.860 There's more 00:08:50.860 --> 00:08:51.799 to come. 00:08:52.539 --> 00:08:53.440 You may have 00:08:53.440 --> 00:08:53.919 today. 00:08:54.919 --> 00:08:56.019 You may have 00:08:56.019 --> 00:08:56.639 a year. 00:08:56.639 --> 00:08:58.080 You may have 00:08:58.080 --> 00:08:58.840 a generation 00:08:58.840 --> 00:08:59.600 or two. 00:09:00.419 --> 00:09:01.539 But whatever we have, 00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:02.480 we are to pursue 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:04.100 God's goal for us. 00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:06.159 Jacob and Joseph 00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:07.019 gives us 00:09:07.019 --> 00:09:07.980 some guidelines 00:09:07.980 --> 00:09:09.879 on how to finish 00:09:09.879 --> 00:09:10.759 well. 00:09:11.580 --> 00:09:12.080 First, 00:09:12.559 --> 00:09:13.740 Jacob shows us 00:09:13.740 --> 00:09:16.220 that we ought 00:09:16.220 --> 00:09:17.100 to be a blessing 00:09:17.100 --> 00:09:18.759 to our families. 00:09:19.679 --> 00:09:20.279 We ought to be 00:09:20.279 --> 00:09:20.620 a blessing 00:09:20.620 --> 00:09:21.259 to our families. 00:09:21.379 --> 00:09:22.019 Hebrews 11, 00:09:22.120 --> 00:09:22.960 verse 21 says, 00:09:23.059 --> 00:09:23.539 By faith, 00:09:23.659 --> 00:09:23.939 Jacob, 00:09:23.939 --> 00:09:25.039 when dying, 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:25.939 blessed each 00:09:25.940 --> 00:09:26.700 of the sons 00:09:26.700 --> 00:09:27.380 of Joseph, 00:09:28.100 --> 00:09:29.060 bowing in worship 00:09:29.060 --> 00:09:29.820 over the head 00:09:29.820 --> 00:09:30.620 of his staff. 00:09:32.120 --> 00:09:33.620 As Jacob's 00:09:33.620 --> 00:09:34.480 journey wound 00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:35.320 down to a close, 00:09:35.680 --> 00:09:36.200 he didn't get 00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:36.800 selfish. 00:09:37.720 --> 00:09:39.080 Jacob had been 00:09:39.080 --> 00:09:40.160 blessed and was 00:09:40.160 --> 00:09:40.920 determined to be 00:09:40.920 --> 00:09:41.420 a blessing, 00:09:41.920 --> 00:09:42.900 so he blessed. 00:09:43.960 --> 00:09:44.740 After Joseph 00:09:44.740 --> 00:09:45.580 was reunited 00:09:45.580 --> 00:09:46.380 with his father 00:09:46.380 --> 00:09:47.240 after many years, 00:09:47.540 --> 00:09:48.380 he soon found 00:09:48.380 --> 00:09:48.900 that his father 00:09:48.900 --> 00:09:49.440 was dying, 00:09:49.520 --> 00:09:49.820 and therefore 00:09:49.820 --> 00:09:50.920 he took his sons, 00:09:51.060 --> 00:09:52.360 Manasseh and Ephraim, 00:09:52.360 --> 00:09:54.020 to his father, 00:09:54.340 --> 00:09:54.600 Jacob, 00:09:54.600 --> 00:09:56.120 and asked his 00:09:56.120 --> 00:09:56.860 father to bless 00:09:56.860 --> 00:09:57.180 them. 00:09:57.279 --> 00:09:57.620 That's in 00:09:57.620 --> 00:09:58.620 Genesis chapter 00:09:58.620 --> 00:09:59.180 48. 00:10:00.200 --> 00:10:01.100 And when I say 00:10:01.100 --> 00:10:01.820 bless them, 00:10:01.899 --> 00:10:02.540 what do I mean 00:10:02.540 --> 00:10:02.879 by that? 00:10:02.940 --> 00:10:04.779 I mean he directed 00:10:04.779 --> 00:10:06.100 them with a word 00:10:06.100 --> 00:10:06.800 from the Lord. 00:10:06.899 --> 00:10:07.659 He encouraged 00:10:07.659 --> 00:10:08.560 them to go 00:10:08.560 --> 00:10:10.100 forward in God, 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:10.920 and he laid 00:10:10.920 --> 00:10:12.000 his hands upon 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:13.399 them and prayed 00:10:13.399 --> 00:10:13.700 for them. 00:10:13.720 --> 00:10:14.259 He didn't focus 00:10:14.259 --> 00:10:15.000 on himself, 00:10:15.700 --> 00:10:16.620 he focused on 00:10:16.620 --> 00:10:17.080 others. 00:10:18.500 --> 00:10:18.759 Friend, 00:10:18.820 --> 00:10:19.379 that's not only 00:10:19.379 --> 00:10:20.240 a good way to die, 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:20.700 that's a good way 00:10:20.700 --> 00:10:21.080 to live. 00:10:21.080 --> 00:10:23.800 Genesis 49 00:10:23.800 --> 00:10:24.740 tells us the same 00:10:24.740 --> 00:10:25.200 thing happened 00:10:25.200 --> 00:10:25.800 with his own 00:10:25.800 --> 00:10:26.240 sons. 00:10:27.420 --> 00:10:28.280 So special 00:10:28.280 --> 00:10:29.200 events in 00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:30.020 crucial times. 00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:32.580 I want all 00:10:32.580 --> 00:10:33.340 of us to 00:10:33.340 --> 00:10:34.000 finish well. 00:10:36.820 --> 00:10:37.639 That's what I 00:10:37.639 --> 00:10:38.520 asked the deacons 00:10:38.520 --> 00:10:38.920 for. 00:10:40.600 --> 00:10:41.379 Just a few 00:10:41.379 --> 00:10:42.180 days after I 00:10:42.180 --> 00:10:42.639 was out of the 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:43.440 hospital after a 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:44.139 cardiac arrest, 00:10:44.139 --> 00:10:46.140 I asked, 00:10:46.140 --> 00:10:47.820 as the book 00:10:47.820 --> 00:10:48.300 of James 00:10:48.299 --> 00:10:49.159 tells us, 00:10:50.299 --> 00:10:51.319 I asked the 00:10:51.319 --> 00:10:51.859 elders of the 00:10:51.859 --> 00:10:52.679 church to come 00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:54.059 to lay hands 00:10:54.059 --> 00:10:54.439 on me and 00:10:54.439 --> 00:10:55.139 pray for me. 00:10:57.019 --> 00:10:57.679 And when I 00:10:57.679 --> 00:10:58.099 asked them to 00:10:58.099 --> 00:10:58.799 pray, I told 00:10:58.799 --> 00:11:00.259 them, pray that 00:11:00.259 --> 00:11:00.620 I'm not 00:11:00.620 --> 00:11:01.139 compromised. 00:11:02.979 --> 00:11:03.620 Pray that I'm 00:11:03.620 --> 00:11:04.240 not weakened. 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:06.319 Pray that I'll 00:11:06.319 --> 00:11:07.159 be strong until 00:11:07.159 --> 00:11:07.679 the end. 00:11:10.740 --> 00:11:11.399 God's doing 00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:12.459 wonderful things 00:11:12.459 --> 00:11:12.859 in Pickens 00:11:12.859 --> 00:11:13.359 First Baptist 00:11:13.359 --> 00:11:13.879 Church. 00:11:14.699 --> 00:11:15.199 I don't want to 00:11:15.199 --> 00:11:15.620 do anything to 00:11:15.620 --> 00:11:16.299 be a hindrance to 00:11:16.299 --> 00:11:17.139 that, and I 00:11:17.139 --> 00:11:17.419 don't want to 00:11:17.419 --> 00:11:17.959 slow down at 00:11:17.959 --> 00:11:18.219 all. 00:11:18.299 --> 00:11:19.559 So, maybe 00:11:19.559 --> 00:11:20.539 make me wiser 00:11:20.539 --> 00:11:22.639 in how to 00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:24.079 do it, but 00:11:24.079 --> 00:11:24.579 Lord, give me 00:11:24.579 --> 00:11:26.539 the strength to 00:11:26.539 --> 00:11:27.039 carry out as 00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:27.379 long as you 00:11:27.379 --> 00:11:27.959 give me breath. 00:11:29.179 --> 00:11:30.719 Well, we 00:11:30.719 --> 00:11:31.120 ought to live 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:31.719 well, too. 00:11:33.319 --> 00:11:33.939 Don't wait 00:11:33.939 --> 00:11:34.240 until your 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:34.979 final breath, 00:11:35.379 --> 00:11:36.559 but the 00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:38.919 blessings don't 00:11:38.919 --> 00:11:40.479 have to be at 00:11:40.479 --> 00:11:40.979 the end of our 00:11:40.979 --> 00:11:41.179 lives. 00:11:41.219 --> 00:11:41.919 As God told 00:11:41.919 --> 00:11:43.059 Abraham in 00:11:43.059 --> 00:11:44.240 Genesis 12, he 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:44.819 tells us through 00:11:44.819 --> 00:11:45.299 the cross. 00:11:45.699 --> 00:11:46.279 In Genesis 12, 00:11:46.319 --> 00:11:46.740 he told Abraham, 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:47.599 I blessed you. 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:48.899 Now, I'll 00:11:48.899 --> 00:11:49.560 make you a 00:11:49.560 --> 00:11:50.259 blessing, and 00:11:50.259 --> 00:11:51.279 now you go 00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:52.080 be a blessing. 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:52.860 And that's 00:11:52.860 --> 00:11:53.500 exactly what he 00:11:53.500 --> 00:11:54.320 wants us to do. 00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:55.480 He wants us to 00:11:55.480 --> 00:11:56.040 be a blessing. 00:11:56.540 --> 00:11:57.180 Regardless of 00:11:57.180 --> 00:11:57.940 what you did or 00:11:57.940 --> 00:11:58.600 didn't do for 00:11:58.600 --> 00:12:00.580 God yesterday, be 00:12:00.580 --> 00:12:02.139 a blessing today. 00:12:03.379 --> 00:12:05.060 Bless others as 00:12:05.060 --> 00:12:05.860 long as God 00:12:05.860 --> 00:12:07.240 gives you breath. 00:12:08.379 --> 00:12:09.279 The second thing 00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:09.980 he told us about 00:12:09.980 --> 00:12:10.480 finishing the 00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:11.560 course was Joseph 00:12:11.560 --> 00:12:13.259 shows us to be at 00:12:13.259 --> 00:12:13.840 peace. 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:13.960 peace. 00:12:15.160 --> 00:12:15.860 Be at peace. 00:12:17.060 --> 00:12:17.720 Joseph had a lot 00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:18.120 to be bitter 00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:18.500 about. 00:12:19.100 --> 00:12:19.560 He did. 00:12:20.220 --> 00:12:21.200 So much that his 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:21.960 brothers were scared 00:12:21.960 --> 00:12:23.000 of him after their 00:12:23.000 --> 00:12:23.660 dad died. 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:26.920 But Joseph was not 00:12:26.920 --> 00:12:27.480 superficial. 00:12:28.560 --> 00:12:29.780 He knew the story 00:12:29.780 --> 00:12:30.899 was bigger than his 00:12:30.899 --> 00:12:31.220 brothers. 00:12:31.379 --> 00:12:32.899 He saw the bigger 00:12:32.899 --> 00:12:33.399 picture. 00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:35.980 To read verse 20 is 00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:37.040 powerful and life 00:12:37.040 --> 00:12:37.480 changing. 00:12:38.360 --> 00:12:39.160 It's one of the most 00:12:39.160 --> 00:12:40.180 significant passages in 00:12:40.180 --> 00:12:40.860 the book of Genesis. 00:12:41.280 --> 00:12:42.440 And in Genesis chapter 50 00:12:42.440 --> 00:12:43.200 verse 20 it says, 00:12:43.500 --> 00:12:44.320 as for you, you meant 00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:45.300 evil against me but 00:12:45.300 --> 00:12:46.540 God meant it for good. 00:12:47.260 --> 00:12:48.300 To bring it about that 00:12:48.300 --> 00:12:49.120 many people should be 00:12:49.120 --> 00:12:50.640 kept alive as they are 00:12:50.640 --> 00:12:51.640 today. 00:12:52.820 --> 00:12:53.440 One of the most 00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:54.920 ungodly feelings that 00:12:54.920 --> 00:12:55.900 we can feel is 00:12:55.900 --> 00:12:56.300 bitterness. 00:12:58.260 --> 00:13:00.020 To refuse to 00:13:00.020 --> 00:13:00.480 forgive. 00:13:02.620 --> 00:13:03.800 Not only does that 00:13:03.800 --> 00:13:04.780 destroy our 00:13:04.780 --> 00:13:05.920 relationships with 00:13:05.920 --> 00:13:07.740 hate but it is 00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:08.860 systemic. 00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:11.080 You cannot 00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:12.539 compartmentalize that 00:13:12.539 --> 00:13:13.200 kind of stuff. 00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:16.039 Especially if it is 00:13:16.039 --> 00:13:17.340 those you are close 00:13:17.340 --> 00:13:17.639 to. 00:13:18.680 --> 00:13:20.360 It affects you and 00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:21.379 you affect other 00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:22.080 relationships. 00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:23.720 And that all is a 00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:25.600 serious matter to God. 00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:26.460 I want you to notice 00:13:26.460 --> 00:13:27.560 what Christ says about 00:13:27.560 --> 00:13:27.680 it. 00:13:27.860 --> 00:13:28.480 It's in Matthew 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:30.320 chapter 5 verse 23 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:30.960 and 24. 00:13:31.560 --> 00:13:32.560 And he says this. 00:13:33.060 --> 00:13:35.379 So if you, so if 00:13:35.379 --> 00:13:36.100 you're offering your 00:13:36.100 --> 00:13:37.279 gift to the altar and 00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:38.440 there remember that your 00:13:38.440 --> 00:13:39.120 brother has something 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:39.740 against you. 00:13:40.440 --> 00:13:41.640 Leave your gift there 00:13:41.640 --> 00:13:43.000 before the altar and go. 00:13:43.940 --> 00:13:45.500 First be reconciled to 00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:47.180 your brother and then 00:13:47.180 --> 00:13:49.900 come and offer your 00:13:49.900 --> 00:13:50.360 gift. 00:13:51.040 --> 00:13:53.420 Now I will add a 00:13:53.420 --> 00:13:54.200 pastoral note there. 00:13:54.300 --> 00:13:55.080 Notice that he says 00:13:55.080 --> 00:13:56.000 leave your gift. 00:13:56.300 --> 00:13:56.580 Okay. 00:13:57.160 --> 00:13:57.900 You don't take it with 00:13:57.900 --> 00:13:58.060 you. 00:13:58.440 --> 00:13:59.160 Leave your gift. 00:13:59.960 --> 00:14:01.220 In reality what he's 00:14:01.220 --> 00:14:02.700 saying is when the 00:14:02.700 --> 00:14:03.800 Holy Spirit of God 00:14:03.800 --> 00:14:06.120 convicts you, not 00:14:06.120 --> 00:14:07.000 enough of y'all laughed 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:07.280 at that. 00:14:07.340 --> 00:14:07.840 I was kidding. 00:14:08.440 --> 00:14:09.160 Somewhat. 00:14:10.020 --> 00:14:11.480 Jesus is saying when the 00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:12.940 Holy Spirit convicts you 00:14:12.940 --> 00:14:14.660 about a strained 00:14:14.660 --> 00:14:18.540 relationship, go above 00:14:18.540 --> 00:14:20.180 and beyond to take care 00:14:20.180 --> 00:14:20.620 of that. 00:14:21.780 --> 00:14:23.320 When the Holy Spirit of 00:14:23.320 --> 00:14:26.540 God speaks to you when 00:14:26.540 --> 00:14:27.740 you worship together in 00:14:27.740 --> 00:14:30.260 this place, don't ignore 00:14:30.260 --> 00:14:31.220 it when you leave here. 00:14:32.740 --> 00:14:34.380 Deal with it as God 00:14:34.380 --> 00:14:35.200 allows you to. 00:14:35.660 --> 00:14:36.700 And keep some things in 00:14:36.700 --> 00:14:36.880 mind. 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:38.000 And I love what Paul said 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:39.200 in Romans 12 verse 18. 00:14:39.580 --> 00:14:42.039 He said, if possible, so 00:14:42.039 --> 00:14:43.659 far as it depends on you, 00:14:45.059 --> 00:14:47.600 live peaceably with all. 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:49.899 Do all you can. 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:50.740 There ain't so much you 00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:51.820 can do, but do all you 00:14:51.820 --> 00:14:54.779 can to live peaceably with 00:14:54.779 --> 00:14:55.019 others. 00:14:55.100 --> 00:14:55.840 Some people don't want to 00:14:55.840 --> 00:14:56.480 live peaceably. 00:14:57.480 --> 00:14:58.439 And because they ain't 00:14:58.439 --> 00:14:59.519 happy, they don't want you 00:14:59.519 --> 00:14:59.879 happy. 00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:01.559 They don't want you to live 00:15:01.559 --> 00:15:02.039 peaceably. 00:15:02.039 --> 00:15:04.439 But don't be that person, 00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:04.939 okay? 00:15:05.459 --> 00:15:06.759 Just don't be that person. 00:15:08.299 --> 00:15:09.500 There's also something 00:15:09.500 --> 00:15:11.259 biblical that you can do 00:15:11.259 --> 00:15:12.339 daily. 00:15:13.399 --> 00:15:15.259 Ephesians chapter 4 verse 26 00:15:15.259 --> 00:15:16.339 and 27 says this. 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:19.279 Be angry and do not sin. 00:15:20.539 --> 00:15:21.959 Don't let your son go down 00:15:21.959 --> 00:15:23.959 on the anger and give no 00:15:23.959 --> 00:15:26.399 opportunity to the devil. 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:30.379 Our stubborn natures or maybe 00:15:30.379 --> 00:15:32.799 our hurt feelings will let 00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:34.360 stuff hang around way too 00:15:34.360 --> 00:15:34.899 long. 00:15:35.620 --> 00:15:36.840 And if you let it stay there, 00:15:36.919 --> 00:15:38.899 it'll fester, it'll infect, 00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:40.139 it'll run over. 00:15:41.819 --> 00:15:43.259 Bitterness will take you over 00:15:43.259 --> 00:15:45.679 like kutzu will if you're not 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:47.539 determined to give that up to 00:15:47.539 --> 00:15:47.980 the Lord. 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:51.220 So solve it every day. 00:15:51.659 --> 00:15:52.639 Don't go to bed angry. 00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:55.819 Joseph had a lot to be angry 00:15:55.819 --> 00:15:56.360 about. 00:15:56.799 --> 00:15:58.899 But he chose to bury the axe. 00:15:59.080 --> 00:16:00.679 And he didn't bury it in his 00:16:00.679 --> 00:16:01.480 brother's necks. 00:16:03.860 --> 00:16:05.939 He did it long before they came 00:16:05.939 --> 00:16:07.319 to him scared, I believe. 00:16:08.100 --> 00:16:09.299 As a matter of fact, it seems 00:16:09.299 --> 00:16:11.699 obvious to me that he did it 00:16:11.699 --> 00:16:13.240 before he saw him coming for 00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.159 food the first time. 00:16:15.179 --> 00:16:16.199 He dealt with it. 00:16:17.220 --> 00:16:18.720 But not only did he forgive him, 00:16:18.779 --> 00:16:19.519 but he told him. 00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:21.799 He told him. 00:16:21.799 --> 00:16:22.580 He was at peace. 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:22.720 Peace. 00:16:24.419 --> 00:16:25.919 Don't ever misunderstand the 00:16:25.919 --> 00:16:26.519 word peace. 00:16:27.059 --> 00:16:28.220 Peace does not mean the 00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:29.259 absence of conflict. 00:16:29.860 --> 00:16:31.480 You will have conflict in this 00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:31.840 life. 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:33.539 If that's what you're looking 00:16:33.539 --> 00:16:34.500 for is an absence of 00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:35.819 conflict, it's not going to 00:16:35.819 --> 00:16:36.580 happen on this earth. 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:37.199 And you know why? 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:39.319 Because we are an imperfect 00:16:39.319 --> 00:16:39.819 people. 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:42.179 And we are an imperfect people 00:16:42.179 --> 00:16:44.199 and who live in the midst of 00:16:44.199 --> 00:16:44.559 sinners. 00:16:44.939 --> 00:16:46.100 And some of those sinners are 00:16:46.100 --> 00:16:46.919 saved by grace. 00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:48.740 And some of those sinners are 00:16:48.740 --> 00:16:49.120 not. 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:51.179 And so we live in the midst of 00:16:51.179 --> 00:16:51.319 that. 00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:52.700 We're going to have conflict 00:16:52.700 --> 00:16:53.420 along the way. 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:54.140 It's going to happen. 00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:56.340 Our sin causes conflict. 00:16:57.140 --> 00:16:58.520 Peace is not an absence of 00:16:58.520 --> 00:16:58.960 conflict. 00:16:59.280 --> 00:17:00.960 It is instead God's intervention 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:03.780 into the midst of the conflict. 00:17:03.780 --> 00:17:08.320 It is the calmness that passes all 00:17:08.320 --> 00:17:08.820 understanding. 00:17:08.819 --> 00:17:14.899 It is the presence in the midst of 00:17:14.899 --> 00:17:15.339 the storm. 00:17:18.139 --> 00:17:21.359 In 2011, we went to the Southern 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:22.980 Baptist Convention in Phoenix, 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:23.480 Arizona. 00:17:23.919 --> 00:17:25.200 We lived in Mississippi at the 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:25.539 time. 00:17:26.819 --> 00:17:28.819 And because the convention from 00:17:28.819 --> 00:17:30.200 time to time, it used to be about 00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:31.079 every seven years. 00:17:31.159 --> 00:17:33.059 Now it's more like every five years 00:17:33.059 --> 00:17:33.399 or so. 00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:34.299 Go out west. 00:17:34.299 --> 00:17:36.319 We always try to make a trip of it 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:36.960 to see something. 00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:41.139 And we had bought a new van and we 00:17:41.139 --> 00:17:44.019 loaded up the kids and we drove 00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:48.000 across the Panhandle of Texas and out 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:50.379 to Albuquerque and Phoenix and saw 00:17:50.379 --> 00:17:52.960 Santa Fe and went to the convention 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:56.500 and then drove up, saw the Grand Canyon 00:17:56.500 --> 00:17:59.559 and Durango and Colorado Springs and came 00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:00.259 across Kansas. 00:18:00.259 --> 00:18:01.400 It was a great trip. 00:18:03.740 --> 00:18:06.879 And while we were gone, my grandmother 00:18:06.879 --> 00:18:07.680 had got sick. 00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:12.420 And on the last morning of that trip, we 00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:14.759 were about to head out after being gone 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:15.420 for two weeks. 00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:18.420 I called my mom and dad to check on 00:18:18.420 --> 00:18:20.500 grandma and I found out she had passed 00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.059 in the night. 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:25.440 We went to our home in Mississippi that 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:25.579 day. 00:18:25.640 --> 00:18:26.720 That was our last day on the road. 00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:28.059 And we went to our home and we washed 00:18:28.059 --> 00:18:29.480 our drawers as fast as we could and we 00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:30.960 loaded back up and went to South Carolina. 00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:35.579 Along with her pastor, I preached my 00:18:35.579 --> 00:18:36.339 grandmother's funeral. 00:18:38.940 --> 00:18:40.900 Now my grandmother loved Jesus as much 00:18:40.900 --> 00:18:42.420 as anyone that I've ever met. 00:18:44.180 --> 00:18:47.779 She was an independent, free will, hard 00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:50.579 shell, jugular vein, blood washed, 00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:53.380 spirit filled, sanctified to the bone, 00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:54.579 Baptist child of God. 00:18:55.059 --> 00:18:55.740 Praise God. 00:18:55.740 --> 00:18:58.660 And if you don't know what that means, I'm 00:18:58.660 --> 00:18:58.980 sorry. 00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:00.299 You've missed it. 00:19:01.819 --> 00:19:03.759 She had been to the spout when the glory 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:05.500 came out and she hadn't got over it. 00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:07.640 And she was 96 years old. 00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:13.120 And in her last years, she wondered what 00:19:13.120 --> 00:19:14.200 the Lord was waiting on. 00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:16.700 But she trusted him. 00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:20.859 She leaned on him and she was at peace 00:19:20.859 --> 00:19:21.240 with him. 00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:23.980 When her pastor would come to see her, 00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:26.359 she'd tell him, just keep telling people 00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:27.839 that Jesus still saves. 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:33.180 The last time I saw her alive, we gathered 00:19:33.180 --> 00:19:36.599 in a circle to pray as my family left 00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:39.539 Greenville to go back to Mississippi about 00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:40.980 three months before she died. 00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:44.079 And my mama asked her to pray. 00:19:44.900 --> 00:19:46.019 And pray she did. 00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:49.559 The rafters shook when grandma prayed. 00:19:50.599 --> 00:19:52.400 And that's because she had a lot of practice. 00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:56.720 She prayed for a hedge of protection around us. 00:19:56.779 --> 00:19:58.940 She prayed that God would put angels to ride 00:19:58.940 --> 00:20:00.200 on the bumpers of the car. 00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:02.599 The spirit of God would lead us. 00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:05.599 I drove faster home because my grandma had 00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:06.160 prayed for me. 00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:11.140 And I was told that as she laid on her deathbed, 00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:15.320 she prayed, Lord, I've tried to live my life 00:20:15.320 --> 00:20:17.140 to honor you in every way, Lord Jesus. 00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:18.460 Please have mercy on me. 00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:20.660 And he did. 00:20:21.820 --> 00:20:23.220 And she went on to glory. 00:20:24.620 --> 00:20:27.900 As was written in her obituary, 00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:30.960 1 Timothy chapter 4 says, 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:34.200 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering. 00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:36.940 And the time of my departure has come. 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:38.080 I've fought the good fight. 00:20:38.160 --> 00:20:39.220 I've finished the race. 00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:40.880 I've kept the faith. 00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:44.720 Henceforth there is laid up for me 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:45.660 the crown of righteousness, 00:20:45.880 --> 00:20:47.480 which the Lord, the righteous judge, 00:20:47.840 --> 00:20:49.860 will award to me on that day. 00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:51.440 And not only to me, 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:55.539 but also to all who have loved his appearing. 00:20:56.799 --> 00:21:00.080 My grandma died at peace with the Lord. 00:21:00.180 --> 00:21:00.880 And do you know why? 00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:04.160 Because she lived at peace. 00:21:04.200 --> 00:21:05.900 Peace with the Lord. 00:21:06.860 --> 00:21:07.799 So did Joseph. 00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:12.160 Be at peace with the Lord. 00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:16.779 And lastly, go out with vision. 00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:22.539 When the eyes of Jacob and Joseph 00:21:22.539 --> 00:21:24.120 grew dim in their life, 00:21:25.360 --> 00:21:28.120 their vision for God only grew brighter 00:21:28.119 --> 00:21:30.639 as they approached their home going. 00:21:32.639 --> 00:21:35.219 Jacob and Joseph had seen the hand of God. 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:38.219 They had heard the will of God. 00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:40.879 They had trusted the vision of God. 00:21:41.939 --> 00:21:46.039 And Jacob told them at the end of chapter 49, 00:21:46.719 --> 00:21:49.019 bury me with my family. 00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:51.599 Now listen, when Jacob says bury my family, 00:21:51.659 --> 00:21:52.639 that's not just any family. 00:21:52.640 --> 00:21:56.640 His family is Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, 00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:59.759 the patriarchs of the chosen people, 00:21:59.880 --> 00:22:00.740 the nation of Israel. 00:22:00.820 --> 00:22:02.180 He said, that's where I belong. 00:22:02.580 --> 00:22:03.700 Bury me with them. 00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:08.960 And Joseph knew that the same God 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:11.020 would lead his people out of Egypt 00:22:11.020 --> 00:22:14.340 and would bring them to a land 00:22:14.340 --> 00:22:16.160 that he had promised them. 00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:18.380 That was his vision. 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:21.640 That was his confidence in the Lord. 00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:23.580 That was his direction by the hand of God. 00:22:24.040 --> 00:22:26.519 He saw God's vision shine 00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:30.160 even as earth's vision dimmed. 00:22:33.140 --> 00:22:34.000 And my friend, 00:22:35.140 --> 00:22:37.259 as long as God gives us breath, 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:39.620 that's what we ought to do. 00:22:41.080 --> 00:22:42.320 Not get selfish, 00:22:44.320 --> 00:22:45.380 but have vision. 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:48.300 For what God's got in store. 00:22:49.220 --> 00:22:50.180 Beyond us. 00:22:51.320 --> 00:22:52.840 Let's get beyond us. 00:22:54.040 --> 00:22:55.259 What's God gonna do? 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:59.340 I was on the treadmill this week 00:22:59.340 --> 00:23:01.120 at cardiac rehab. 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:04.100 And there was a quote 00:23:04.100 --> 00:23:06.440 taped to that treadmill 00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:08.480 that said this, 00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:12.660 Don't count the days. 00:23:13.660 --> 00:23:15.880 Make the days count. 00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:18.080 My friend, 00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:21.460 maybe you've started well. 00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:23.900 And maybe you haven't. 00:23:25.380 --> 00:23:26.580 Maybe you came out of the gate 00:23:26.580 --> 00:23:27.279 a little slow. 00:23:28.860 --> 00:23:29.259 Regardless, 00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:30.200 the good news is 00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:31.840 today's a new day. 00:23:33.120 --> 00:23:34.279 And it's the first day 00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:35.500 of the rest of your life. 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:38.840 And so as long as God gives us breath, 00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:39.860 let's live for his glory. 00:23:39.859 --> 00:23:42.240 Let's live a legacy. 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:43.240 Leave a legacy. 00:23:43.439 --> 00:23:43.619 Let's 00:23:43.619 --> 00:23:44.759 let's 00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:46.159 finish well 00:23:46.159 --> 00:23:47.079 through obedience. 00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:49.259 A life 00:23:49.259 --> 00:23:50.119 that is filled 00:23:50.119 --> 00:23:51.039 with sacrifice. 00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:53.399 A life 00:23:53.399 --> 00:23:54.059 that's filled 00:23:54.059 --> 00:23:54.779 with commitment. 00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:57.579 A life 00:23:57.579 --> 00:23:58.119 that's not filled 00:23:58.119 --> 00:23:58.719 with us. 00:24:00.199 --> 00:24:01.000 A life 00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:01.339 that's filled 00:24:01.339 --> 00:24:01.879 with Jesus. 00:24:01.880 --> 00:24:05.320 With every head 00:24:05.320 --> 00:24:05.580 bowed 00:24:05.580 --> 00:24:05.840 and every eye 00:24:05.840 --> 00:24:06.300 closed, 00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:08.120 I want to ask you 00:24:08.120 --> 00:24:08.540 this morning 00:24:08.540 --> 00:24:09.320 if you've ever 00:24:09.320 --> 00:24:09.920 given your heart 00:24:09.920 --> 00:24:10.260 and life 00:24:10.260 --> 00:24:10.660 to the Lord 00:24:10.660 --> 00:24:11.340 Jesus Christ. 00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.200 If you've ever 00:24:14.200 --> 00:24:15.240 confessed your sins 00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:15.620 to him 00:24:15.620 --> 00:24:18.400 and asked you 00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:19.260 to come into your life 00:24:19.260 --> 00:24:20.000 and save you 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:20.680 and change you. 00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:24.200 if that's 00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:24.759 never happened 00:24:24.759 --> 00:24:25.180 to you, 00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:26.000 I want to 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:26.620 encourage you 00:24:26.620 --> 00:24:27.120 today 00:24:27.120 --> 00:24:28.519 to give your 00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:29.380 life to Christ. 00:24:31.420 --> 00:24:32.140 To trust 00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:32.320 him. 00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:34.259 We're going to 00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:35.080 stand in just a moment 00:24:35.080 --> 00:24:35.880 and we're going to sing 00:24:35.880 --> 00:24:37.600 and as we do, 00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:38.440 I encourage you 00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:38.920 if you've never 00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:39.480 given your life 00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:39.840 to Christ, 00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:40.340 you come 00:24:40.340 --> 00:24:41.740 and say, 00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:42.019 Pastor, 00:24:42.080 --> 00:24:42.920 I need to be saved. 00:24:45.340 --> 00:24:46.000 Maybe you're here 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:47.100 and you have done that 00:24:47.100 --> 00:24:48.180 and you've never 00:24:48.180 --> 00:24:49.060 acknowledged that 00:24:49.060 --> 00:24:50.320 publicly through baptism. 00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:52.440 We plan to baptize 00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:53.120 next Sunday. 00:24:54.080 --> 00:24:55.060 I'd love to talk 00:24:55.060 --> 00:24:55.860 to you about that 00:24:55.860 --> 00:24:56.560 if you've never 00:24:56.560 --> 00:24:57.480 followed the Lord 00:24:57.480 --> 00:24:58.580 in obedience baptism. 00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:01.779 Maybe you're here 00:25:01.779 --> 00:25:02.460 and God's leading you 00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.440 to First Baptist Church 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:04.180 and I'm thankful 00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:06.360 for God's blessing us 00:25:06.360 --> 00:25:07.940 and moving in our midst 00:25:07.940 --> 00:25:08.560 and I'm thankful 00:25:08.560 --> 00:25:09.039 for that. 00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:10.840 And if you feel like 00:25:10.840 --> 00:25:11.779 the Lord's leading you 00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:12.279 to come, 00:25:12.360 --> 00:25:13.400 I encourage you to come. 00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:15.460 I'd love to talk 00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:16.120 to you about that. 00:25:17.660 --> 00:25:18.920 Or maybe you're here 00:25:18.920 --> 00:25:20.019 like most of us 00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:21.200 and you look 00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:21.940 at your life 00:25:21.940 --> 00:25:22.940 and you see things 00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:24.480 that you need 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:24.960 to lay down 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:25.700 before the Lord. 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:29.859 Today's the first day 00:25:29.859 --> 00:25:30.839 of the rest of our lives. 00:25:32.299 --> 00:25:33.279 So why don't we live 00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.299 the rest of our lives 00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:36.259 to please Him, 00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:38.900 to honor Him 00:25:38.900 --> 00:25:40.000 in all we do? 00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:44.480 Whether it be 00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:45.759 in the pew 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:46.460 where you'll stand 00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:47.099 in just a moment 00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:47.559 or whether it be 00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:48.079 at this altar 00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:48.579 or whether it be 00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:49.039 with a pastor 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:49.859 praying for you. 00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:52.379 Obey God. 00:25:54.179 --> 00:25:54.740 Trust Him. 00:25:54.939 --> 00:25:55.639 Respond to Him. 00:25:56.819 --> 00:25:58.119 And then leave here 00:25:58.119 --> 00:25:59.699 different 00:25:59.699 --> 00:26:01.980 however He's told you 00:26:01.980 --> 00:26:02.599 to be different. 00:26:04.439 --> 00:26:05.119 Lord Jesus, 00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:05.819 I love you 00:26:05.819 --> 00:26:06.619 and I thank you 00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:07.319 for the love 00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:08.419 that you have for us. 00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:10.440 and I ask 00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:10.860 to your God 00:26:10.860 --> 00:26:11.620 that you'll work 00:26:11.620 --> 00:26:12.400 and you'll move 00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:13.340 in our midst 00:26:13.340 --> 00:26:15.240 right now 00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:16.779 that you'll have 00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:17.220 your will 00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:18.039 and your way. 00:26:18.340 --> 00:26:19.140 Help us to be obedient 00:26:19.140 --> 00:26:19.820 to follow you 00:26:19.820 --> 00:26:21.039 as you lead. 00:26:22.380 --> 00:26:23.900 In Jesus' precious name, 00:26:24.039 --> 00:26:24.279 Amen. 00:26:24.279 --> 00:26:24.420 Amen. 00:26:24.519 --> 00:26:24.680 Stay tuned.