WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.820 What a blessing it is to have guest speakers in. 00:00:04.560 --> 00:00:08.359 And Brother Sharp's served the Lord for many, many years. 00:00:09.019 --> 00:00:09.400 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.939 I think you have a future high tenor singer over there on one side too, right? 00:00:36.460 --> 00:00:38.640 And so that was good to see that. 00:00:38.780 --> 00:00:41.140 And so much a blessing today. 00:00:41.799 --> 00:00:43.439 We are so glad to be here. 00:00:43.539 --> 00:00:48.460 My wife Elaine and I made the trip up here this week. 00:00:48.460 --> 00:00:54.159 And just getting acquainted with your area a little bit. 00:00:54.519 --> 00:00:56.600 And it's a blessing to be here. 00:00:57.299 --> 00:00:59.359 You all have a friendly group of folks. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:01.179 That's always a good sign. 00:01:01.240 --> 00:01:01.420 Amen? 00:01:01.960 --> 00:01:05.039 A lot of you came up and introduced yourself, shook my hand. 00:01:05.500 --> 00:01:06.659 And that's a good thing. 00:01:07.039 --> 00:01:07.959 A very good thing. 00:01:08.099 --> 00:01:14.900 Good to show your pastors been working hard here to be training you to be a friendly group. 00:01:14.900 --> 00:01:19.700 And a group of folks that love others and love people. 00:01:20.239 --> 00:01:21.700 We're from southwest Missouri. 00:01:21.819 --> 00:01:22.939 I grew up on a dairy farm. 00:01:23.140 --> 00:01:28.819 So if something comes out that's a little bit homespun, then please understand that's just part of me. 00:01:28.819 --> 00:01:32.859 But it's a joy to be a preacher of the Word of God. 00:01:32.959 --> 00:01:37.739 God has blessed us with many good times and pastoring. 00:01:37.939 --> 00:01:41.239 And now when I'm retired, I'm not retired. 00:01:41.239 --> 00:01:43.339 I still get to preach some. 00:01:43.439 --> 00:01:43.559 Amen? 00:01:43.799 --> 00:01:44.979 And still witness to people. 00:01:45.280 --> 00:01:48.479 And I can't help but hand out a tract to somebody else. 00:01:48.879 --> 00:01:52.879 And give the Word of God to someone that needs it. 00:01:52.879 --> 00:01:57.899 Today, I want to share with you a message about hope for the future. 00:01:58.439 --> 00:02:02.039 And building hope for the future in 2 Timothy chapter 2. 00:02:02.299 --> 00:02:04.079 So I hope you'll open your Bible there. 00:02:04.359 --> 00:02:07.219 We're going to read it together, verses 1 through 4. 00:02:07.759 --> 00:02:10.219 2 Timothy chapter 2. 00:02:10.599 --> 00:02:13.060 Paul, of course, was writing to Timothy. 00:02:13.900 --> 00:02:16.500 Wonderful relationship they had. 00:02:16.500 --> 00:02:22.120 He was a mentor for this young preacher and leader in the church there. 00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:31.240 And as he wrote, he shared some very important truths with Timothy that I think will be a blessing to us. 00:02:31.300 --> 00:02:33.699 Would you stand with me as we read the Scripture together? 00:02:34.180 --> 00:02:36.060 And you can read along with me if you like. 00:02:36.659 --> 00:02:37.500 Just read aloud. 00:02:37.639 --> 00:02:38.699 We'll enjoy the Scripture. 00:02:39.020 --> 00:02:40.300 Verses 1 through 4. 00:02:40.860 --> 00:02:41.120 All right. 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:44.580 Chapter 2, verses 1 through 4. 00:02:44.580 --> 00:02:45.219 Verse 1. 00:02:45.940 --> 00:02:51.340 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 00:02:52.040 --> 00:02:55.560 And the things that thou hast heard among many witnesses, 00:02:56.220 --> 00:03:01.920 the same commit thou to faithful men, and shall be able to teach others also. 00:03:02.740 --> 00:03:07.439 Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 00:03:08.060 --> 00:03:12.800 No man that woreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, 00:03:12.800 --> 00:03:17.380 that he may please him who had chosen him to be a soldier. 00:03:17.860 --> 00:03:18.680 Let us pray. 00:03:18.780 --> 00:03:20.700 Father in heaven, we thank you for your word. 00:03:21.200 --> 00:03:27.400 Thank you, Lord, that we are encouraged today to know that you will help us to be strong 00:03:27.400 --> 00:03:31.600 and have the hope for the future that you lay out before us. 00:03:32.100 --> 00:03:33.500 Pray you'll bless everyone here. 00:03:33.900 --> 00:03:36.840 And if there's anyone here today that, Lord, maybe they're discouraged, 00:03:36.840 --> 00:03:42.020 I pray you'd give them help and, Lord, courage for the facing of the day. 00:03:42.659 --> 00:03:50.740 Lord, maybe there's someone here today that's never really made that important and wonderful decision 00:03:50.740 --> 00:03:52.439 to trust Christ as their Savior. 00:03:53.099 --> 00:03:55.199 I pray that today would be their day. 00:03:55.640 --> 00:03:58.080 That they would say, yes, I want Jesus today. 00:03:58.480 --> 00:04:00.099 I'm not going to wait another day. 00:04:00.180 --> 00:04:01.520 I'm not going to wait another minute. 00:04:01.659 --> 00:04:02.599 I'm coming now. 00:04:02.599 --> 00:04:05.799 May you bless today our time together. 00:04:06.340 --> 00:04:08.219 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:04:09.319 --> 00:04:10.180 You may be seated. 00:04:10.299 --> 00:04:10.680 Thank you. 00:04:11.280 --> 00:04:15.799 We are blessed to open up the word of God today with you. 00:04:16.439 --> 00:04:20.699 And I want to share with you a message about building hope for the future. 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:22.740 Hope for the future. 00:04:23.560 --> 00:04:26.500 I wonder sometimes if a lot of folks look at the future 00:04:26.500 --> 00:04:30.779 and they look at the future with a lot of apprehension. 00:04:30.779 --> 00:04:35.299 Some of them are just plain scared of what's going on in our world. 00:04:35.979 --> 00:04:38.539 And some are concerned about the economy. 00:04:39.099 --> 00:04:42.979 Of course, we have wars going on in our world today 00:04:42.979 --> 00:04:47.239 and other situations that they may face personally. 00:04:48.659 --> 00:04:55.639 You know, we notice that the days that we live in are really unlike any we've seen, 00:04:55.739 --> 00:04:59.099 and yet they're a lot like what we've seen in the past few decades. 00:04:59.100 --> 00:05:06.340 We're watching war times, scenes around the world, bombings and things like that. 00:05:06.740 --> 00:05:09.200 I don't know about you, but I don't enjoy that. 00:05:09.280 --> 00:05:09.580 Do you? 00:05:09.900 --> 00:05:15.379 I don't enjoy seeing the destruction that's taking place like it did back in World War II even. 00:05:15.560 --> 00:05:17.320 That was before my time, by the way. 00:05:17.420 --> 00:05:19.160 I'm not that far that old. 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:20.720 Praise the Lord. 00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:24.640 I was born in 1950, so you can figure that out. 00:05:25.640 --> 00:05:29.160 But I'm so thankful today that we can have hope for the future. 00:05:30.280 --> 00:05:35.020 The Scripture tells us here, and Paul wrote to Timothy in chapter 1. 00:05:35.180 --> 00:05:38.580 I'm going to just touch a couple of things before we get into chapter 2. 00:05:39.860 --> 00:05:45.180 Paul was encouraging Timothy to just trust in the Lord and continue to be faithful 00:05:45.180 --> 00:05:47.600 and to have hope for the future. 00:05:48.120 --> 00:05:50.360 He said in verse 7, it says, 00:05:50.740 --> 00:05:56.259 But for God hath not given us a spirit of fear, and of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 00:05:56.639 --> 00:05:59.340 And he also said in verse 12, he said, 00:05:59.339 --> 00:06:00.579 He said, 00:06:00.579 --> 00:06:02.079 He said, 00:06:02.459 --> 00:06:07.259 For which cause I also suffer these things, nevertheless I'm not ashamed. 00:06:07.879 --> 00:06:09.639 For I know whom I have believed. 00:06:10.039 --> 00:06:13.279 What a wonderful thing that is, to know whom you believe. 00:06:13.639 --> 00:06:20.899 I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he may keep that which I have committed unto him in the midst that day. 00:06:21.559 --> 00:06:28.439 And so he'd been trying to encourage Timothy and us, because we're reading it now. 00:06:28.439 --> 00:06:28.680 Amen? 00:06:28.899 --> 00:06:30.560 And it's for us as well. 00:06:31.139 --> 00:06:35.180 Notice he says there in chapter 2, verse 1, he said, 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:41.779 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 00:06:43.019 --> 00:06:47.939 Let me just say today, there's solid ground for hope. 00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:51.279 There's reason for you to have hope for tomorrow, for the future. 00:06:52.379 --> 00:06:54.800 Paul was inspired by God to write this. 00:06:54.800 --> 00:07:03.120 And as he did, he gave instructions to Timothy and a plan to follow, really, some things that he could do here that would help. 00:07:03.800 --> 00:07:06.660 He was sharing with his son in the faith. 00:07:07.379 --> 00:07:10.080 First of all, notice, he said, 00:07:10.340 --> 00:07:14.980 Building hope in your life requires the strength of God's grace. 00:07:15.920 --> 00:07:17.460 The strength of God's grace. 00:07:17.459 --> 00:07:28.139 Thou therefore, he says, or because of this, my son, he said, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 00:07:29.419 --> 00:07:31.680 Paul was a senior age preacher. 00:07:32.799 --> 00:07:36.839 Here preaching and teaching and writing from prison. 00:07:36.839 --> 00:07:40.939 And he knew his departure was coming. 00:07:41.619 --> 00:07:48.219 He knew one day he would be brought up and his life would be finished on this earth. 00:07:48.899 --> 00:07:49.759 And he did this. 00:07:49.799 --> 00:07:51.560 And he came down to this point in his life. 00:07:51.639 --> 00:07:56.659 He said, Timothy, I want you to know that you can be strong in the grace of God. 00:07:57.219 --> 00:07:59.539 You can be strong in the grace of God. 00:07:59.540 --> 00:08:04.640 He encouraged him, don't live in fear of the future. 00:08:05.740 --> 00:08:07.540 Don't live in fear of the future. 00:08:07.980 --> 00:08:11.620 You know, I see many people today and they watch the news. 00:08:12.060 --> 00:08:18.879 And by the way, don't you notice, a lot of the news channels you might listen to today or might hear, 00:08:19.259 --> 00:08:20.800 they want you to be panicking. 00:08:21.840 --> 00:08:25.360 You know, panicking here, the price of oil is going to go up. 00:08:25.460 --> 00:08:26.259 Then it goes down. 00:08:26.460 --> 00:08:27.300 Then it goes back up. 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:28.060 And then it goes down. 00:08:28.060 --> 00:08:30.319 And the price of this and that. 00:08:30.519 --> 00:08:34.279 Not only that, but our young men are on the battlefield. 00:08:34.899 --> 00:08:36.600 Young men and women serving our country. 00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:41.279 And so many other things that cause people to look at life and they say, 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:43.299 I'm concerned, I'm worried. 00:08:43.399 --> 00:08:44.620 And a lot of people are. 00:08:45.700 --> 00:08:48.879 But notice he says, be strong in the grace of God. 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:51.080 Rely upon the grace of God. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:53.960 You know, we're saved by grace through faith. 00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:56.620 Ephesians 2.89 tells us that, doesn't it? 00:08:56.620 --> 00:08:59.399 For by grace are you saved through faith. 00:08:59.919 --> 00:09:01.139 And that not of yourselves. 00:09:01.320 --> 00:09:02.580 It's a gift of God. 00:09:03.539 --> 00:09:05.679 Not of works lest any man should boast. 00:09:06.179 --> 00:09:08.259 I was saved in 1972. 00:09:08.580 --> 00:09:10.000 I was 21 years old. 00:09:10.580 --> 00:09:13.200 I'd been a pretty good person, but I was born a sinner. 00:09:13.379 --> 00:09:13.600 Amen. 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:17.740 I got baptized when I was 10, but I just came up a wet sinner. 00:09:18.980 --> 00:09:22.180 Because I never had a change in my life until I was 21. 00:09:22.440 --> 00:09:27.460 When I bowed my knee at an altar one Sunday night and asked Christ to come into my life. 00:09:27.820 --> 00:09:29.259 Asked him to save my soul. 00:09:29.639 --> 00:09:31.899 And I want you to know that he did by his grace. 00:09:32.300 --> 00:09:33.980 By his grace he saved me. 00:09:33.980 --> 00:09:42.379 And I can share that with you today knowing that one day we'll, those of you that are believers and saved too, we'll all meet around the throne. 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:42.700 Amen. 00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:47.019 And we'll all bow our knees to the one who gave his life for us. 00:09:47.180 --> 00:09:49.480 We're saved by grace through faith. 00:09:50.139 --> 00:09:51.960 Rely upon the grace of God. 00:09:52.800 --> 00:09:55.779 We serve and proclaim the gospel by his grace. 00:09:55.779 --> 00:10:02.059 Paul, as he encouraged there for Timothy, he said, we're not given the spirit of fear. 00:10:02.679 --> 00:10:07.879 We're not to live in a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind. 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:09.620 Of the power of God. 00:10:09.779 --> 00:10:10.500 It's amazing. 00:10:11.059 --> 00:10:14.199 And yet it's not just amazing, it's true. 00:10:15.059 --> 00:10:18.879 God's word will do a work in your life if you'll just take it in. 00:10:19.539 --> 00:10:20.799 It has power. 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:22.600 It is the word of God. 00:10:22.740 --> 00:10:25.379 And it will help you in so many ways. 00:10:25.779 --> 00:10:31.179 And we serve and proclaim the gospel of God's grace by his own help. 00:10:31.559 --> 00:10:34.759 God used Paul when he was making tents. 00:10:35.539 --> 00:10:40.240 There was times that he had to be bivocational, if you want to call it that. 00:10:40.319 --> 00:10:42.179 He was a tent maker and a preacher. 00:10:42.799 --> 00:10:48.939 And he would also go out and he would walk many miles from one town to another. 00:10:49.659 --> 00:10:54.360 Just a couple of years ago, my wife and I were privileged to make a trip over to Greece. 00:10:54.360 --> 00:11:00.360 And we walked through some of the areas that the Apostle Paul traveled through that country from Macedonia. 00:11:01.100 --> 00:11:03.720 As you remember Macedonia, that's northern Greece. 00:11:03.899 --> 00:11:09.360 And he walked down all the way through to a place called Thessalonica. 00:11:10.220 --> 00:11:11.960 It's called Thessaloniki today. 00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:13.659 We traveled down that way. 00:11:13.659 --> 00:11:16.740 And I thought, he was covering all this ground on foot. 00:11:17.480 --> 00:11:19.059 Not only that, but he climbed mountains. 00:11:19.179 --> 00:11:22.959 And up on top of one of those mountains, we came to a place called Apollonia. 00:11:23.439 --> 00:11:30.039 And as we were up there, I noticed you could look for many miles on top of that hill, on top of that mountain. 00:11:30.219 --> 00:11:32.179 And you could see forever and ever. 00:11:32.219 --> 00:11:33.559 You could see so many places. 00:11:33.559 --> 00:11:36.659 And in that place, he started preaching God's word. 00:11:37.439 --> 00:11:43.379 And they said whenever, just a few years later, there were many house churches that were started 00:11:43.379 --> 00:11:51.419 because the Apostle Paul walked through that place on foot, gave them the gospel, and then moved on to the next place. 00:11:51.959 --> 00:11:56.559 There's only one little sentence that's been put in the scripture about that. 00:11:56.919 --> 00:12:00.319 He went through Apollonia and he went on to the next place. 00:12:00.320 --> 00:12:08.720 I want you to know, sometimes your life may feel like, well, I can't, my life is not in the limelight of the world. 00:12:08.860 --> 00:12:10.640 I'm not in getting a lot of publicity. 00:12:11.260 --> 00:12:16.080 You may not get on, be placed on the screens, so to speak. 00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:17.520 You may not be put on that. 00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:23.760 But if you're serving the Lord by the grace of God, you can be strong in the grace that's in Christ Jesus. 00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:26.400 You can be strong enough to continue. 00:12:26.900 --> 00:12:28.840 I'm so glad you came to church this morning. 00:12:28.920 --> 00:12:29.120 Amen? 00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:31.399 I like to be in church on Sunday. 00:12:32.060 --> 00:12:35.519 Very, very few times have I missed because of illness. 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:40.519 But I will tell you, today, I'm glad to be here with you today as well. 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:42.980 We are encouraged here. 00:12:43.419 --> 00:12:48.960 We can build hope by the strength of God's grace, by the strength of God's grace. 00:12:49.740 --> 00:12:56.060 Today, I want you to know that not only do we see that and we rely on God's strength, 00:12:56.059 --> 00:13:00.119 not our own strength, standing ready to serve Him. 00:13:00.119 --> 00:13:06.759 The second thing I want you to notice in building hope, it involves sharing the gospel. 00:13:07.459 --> 00:13:09.879 It involves sharing the gospel message. 00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:29.360 Today, I'm sharing with you things that I learned whenever I was a believer and a young believer at that, 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:31.519 when I had dark hair like many of you. 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:39.299 And those times I learned from men who were much more experienced, if you know what I mean. 00:13:39.620 --> 00:13:41.659 This stuff here is called experience, right? 00:13:42.059 --> 00:13:45.740 And he had all of that to grow through. 00:13:45.740 --> 00:13:51.980 Notice, Paul told Timothy, the things that you've heard, the things you've been taught, 00:13:52.060 --> 00:13:56.120 the things that your pastor has been teaching you and leading you in, 00:13:56.419 --> 00:14:01.200 the things that you've learned from the Word of God, the same you share with others. 00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:03.200 Share that with others. 00:14:03.799 --> 00:14:08.560 The things, the truths of the Word of God are too important to keep to yourself. 00:14:10.100 --> 00:14:12.039 They're too important to hold back. 00:14:12.039 --> 00:14:17.719 I want you to know, my friend, there's so much power in the Word of God and the gospel. 00:14:17.980 --> 00:14:19.679 It's a life-changing thing. 00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:28.339 Even those of you that maybe, as you're going through your education and your time of going through different things in your life, 00:14:28.620 --> 00:14:32.899 if you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior, you can share that faith with others. 00:14:34.659 --> 00:14:39.599 Building hope for the future involves sharing that truth with someone else that you know. 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:47.980 the condition of our culture is one that makes us realize that there's a whole lot of doubt in this world. 00:14:48.560 --> 00:14:49.980 We live in a doubting world. 00:14:50.519 --> 00:14:53.680 A lot of times people say, well, I don't know if that's really true. 00:14:54.600 --> 00:14:56.460 I'm not sure I can follow that. 00:14:57.320 --> 00:15:01.279 Well, the Word of God is too powerful to hold back. 00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:09.059 Look, the gospel of Christ, the gospel of our salvation is too powerful to keep to ourselves. 00:15:09.860 --> 00:15:12.379 Many people have no idea how to be saved. 00:15:13.419 --> 00:15:14.980 We live in the Bible Belt. 00:15:16.059 --> 00:15:19.939 Some people have called the town I live in the buckle of the Bible Belt. 00:15:20.079 --> 00:15:21.019 It's Springfield, Missouri. 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:25.939 We've had several Bible colleges there and a lot of preaching that's gone on. 00:15:25.940 --> 00:15:32.940 And yet I still find people in the city there that have no clue how to really be saved. 00:15:33.620 --> 00:15:34.800 They've gone to church. 00:15:35.060 --> 00:15:36.820 They say, well, I need to be a good person. 00:15:36.920 --> 00:15:37.920 Well, that's all good. 00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:43.480 But there has to come a time when we repent of our sins and trust Christ to forgive us, 00:15:43.580 --> 00:15:46.780 take that sin away because he paid for it on Calvary. 00:15:47.660 --> 00:15:51.980 Today, we build hope by giving that life-giving message. 00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:57.620 Many people are listening to false teachers online or maybe on the television set. 00:15:58.120 --> 00:16:01.420 They'll say, well, you can do this and be saved. 00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:03.440 And by the way, send your offering in. 00:16:04.340 --> 00:16:04.820 Amen. 00:16:05.560 --> 00:16:07.860 There's always going to be taken up another offering. 00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:10.180 And you'll get this free gift. 00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:14.000 You can get a bucket of survival food some places. 00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:17.899 Some of you know what I'm talking about, don't you? 00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:19.560 Did you buy a bucket, brother? 00:16:19.659 --> 00:16:20.080 I don't know. 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:21.379 At any rate. 00:16:22.680 --> 00:16:26.259 You can send in so much money and you get this dehydrated food. 00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:27.159 Boy, it looks good. 00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:28.200 All these little packets. 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:30.399 You put water in it and boom, press full. 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:33.860 You get some kind of a piece of meat. 00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:35.000 I'm not sure about it. 00:16:35.019 --> 00:16:35.399 Are you? 00:16:35.980 --> 00:16:38.680 Some of you are saying, no, that don't sound good to me. 00:16:39.320 --> 00:16:40.100 No, it doesn't. 00:16:40.519 --> 00:16:47.220 And yet, my friend, any gimmick in the world people will give money to thinking they might get a little bit of peace. 00:16:47.920 --> 00:16:51.019 You won't get peace in your heart until you come to Jesus. 00:16:51.019 --> 00:16:51.419 Amen. 00:16:51.419 --> 00:16:51.419 00:16:51.419 --> 00:16:52.419 Amen. 00:16:52.419 --> 00:16:52.579 Amen. 00:16:52.579 --> 00:17:05.599 You won't have the peace that you really want and desire in your life and in your marriage and in your personal life and even in the things you do at work unless you give your heart and life to Jesus Christ. 00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:09.240 Building hope in the future involves sharing the gospel. 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:14.900 People can be very confused about what it means to be saved. 00:17:14.980 --> 00:17:16.960 But I want you to know we can help them. 00:17:17.059 --> 00:17:20.240 You can help them with this hope-filled message. 00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:21.940 Jesus loves you. 00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:23.660 He loves you. 00:17:23.660 --> 00:17:24.900 He went to the cross. 00:17:26.060 --> 00:17:31.460 He was nailed to an old rugged cross so that your sins and my sins could be paid for. 00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:35.860 I can't imagine what an agony he went through. 00:17:36.360 --> 00:17:37.759 I can't imagine that. 00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:39.180 But I do know this. 00:17:39.259 --> 00:17:39.820 It's true. 00:17:40.660 --> 00:17:42.279 And he went there for me. 00:17:42.580 --> 00:17:43.700 He went there for you. 00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:46.060 He paid the price for us. 00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:58.799 We build hope in our lives because by giving out this wonderful message of Christ, we build hope into our lives by relying on God's strength. 00:17:59.259 --> 00:18:01.700 Be strong in the grace that's in Christ Jesus. 00:18:02.159 --> 00:18:03.799 I want to share with you something else. 00:18:05.059 --> 00:18:07.659 Building hope involves enduring hardness. 00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:09.679 Enduring hardness. 00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:16.140 Notice it says there in verse number three, thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 00:18:18.180 --> 00:18:22.279 No man that warreth entangleth him with the affairs of this life. 00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:30.519 Notice with me, it says thou therefore, in other words, because of God's grace in your life, because of what he's done for you, 00:18:30.860 --> 00:18:34.420 because that message we have will give hope to anyone. 00:18:34.560 --> 00:18:37.519 It'll give salvation to anyone who will believe. 00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:40.000 Remember you're a soldier. 00:18:41.700 --> 00:18:44.180 Remember you're a soldier by God's grace. 00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:48.920 And it says, thou therefore endure hardness. 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:53.379 I don't know about you, but I don't enjoy trial. 00:18:54.879 --> 00:18:55.799 He wasn't there with me. 00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:59.180 I don't go around saying, well, praise the Lord, I'm going through a hard time. 00:18:59.240 --> 00:18:59.440 No. 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:07.539 But I do know this, every one of us, every one of us will go through some kind of trials in our life. 00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:14.200 Thou therefore, he says, endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 00:19:15.180 --> 00:19:22.279 Whenever a soldier is in training, they're trained to be strong and to stand strong and stand with the other soldiers, 00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:24.839 because that's the way you win a battle. 00:19:25.160 --> 00:19:27.559 That's the way you win in that conflict. 00:19:28.119 --> 00:19:31.619 We're to endure hard things that happen to us, problems. 00:19:32.339 --> 00:19:34.180 And sometimes it's persecution. 00:19:35.379 --> 00:19:37.119 Sometimes it's illness. 00:19:37.339 --> 00:19:38.940 And sometimes it's just weariness. 00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:42.660 There's some times that you think, well, I'm not doing any good. 00:19:42.660 --> 00:19:46.660 I worked in a place in Springfield you've probably heard of. 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:48.900 It's probably called O'Reilly Automotive. 00:19:49.380 --> 00:19:50.580 Many years ago. 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:53.160 I'm talking 50 years ago, okay. 00:19:53.220 --> 00:19:54.060 This is a long time. 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:56.640 They didn't have a store in every town then. 00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:59.940 They had one warehouse and two or three stores in Springfield. 00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:03.320 I worked in the warehouse for a while. 00:20:05.400 --> 00:20:08.120 And the guys that I worked with found out I was a Christian. 00:20:09.620 --> 00:20:12.460 So they would take a jab at me every once in a while. 00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:16.519 They would say, well, you want to go out and go drinking with us? 00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:18.279 I said, no, I don't think so. 00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:19.340 I don't want to do that. 00:20:20.340 --> 00:20:24.900 I've got a wife and kids at home, a little girl at home. 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:32.060 They kept after me and they would finally say, well, we're all going to go out and party. 00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:32.640 Why don't you? 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:33.860 What's wrong with you? 00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:35.700 There wasn't anything wrong with me. 00:20:35.980 --> 00:20:37.259 By the way, thank you for the water. 00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:39.240 I'm glad that's for drinking, right? 00:20:41.060 --> 00:20:41.500 Amen. 00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:43.599 It's not for baptizing or anything. 00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:46.599 So making sure. 00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:50.640 As I was working with those fellows, I thought this isn't doing any good. 00:20:51.480 --> 00:20:55.099 Well, I moved on to a different job and God called me in ministry. 00:20:55.099 --> 00:21:03.839 A little bit later, I went by and I called one of those stores and talked to one of the men I used to work with. 00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:09.959 He said, by the way, he said, Bob, I want to thank you for being a witness to me. 00:21:11.299 --> 00:21:13.699 He said, I can't give my heart to Christ. 00:21:14.399 --> 00:21:15.219 He'd been saved. 00:21:15.220 --> 00:21:20.019 Not only that, but he said, he named one after another. 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:24.019 Three or four other guys got saved later after I'd already gone. 00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:27.579 You may think you're not doing any good. 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:32.440 You may think, well, I've witnessed and I've witnessed and nobody's getting saved. 00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:34.079 You just go ahead and witness. 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:37.259 You just go ahead and share that life-giving message. 00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:39.119 And you endure some hardness. 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:43.039 There'll be times that they won't appreciate that. 00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:49.119 They might feel convicted about the fact that you're trying to be faithful to God in front of them. 00:21:50.599 --> 00:21:52.019 But be a good soldier. 00:21:53.299 --> 00:21:59.539 You are needed in this church and in the work of God. 00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:09.279 Whatever your age, even young, old, wherever we are in life, you are needed in this conflict we have in this world 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:14.200 where we are fighting against the forces of evil that don't want people to be saved. 00:22:14.899 --> 00:22:17.480 They don't even like it that you showed up today. 00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:21.639 There's some folks that just didn't like that and the devil sure didn't like it. 00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:28.539 But I want you to know that we can be strong in the grace of God, enduring hardness. 00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:31.259 He said, beware of entanglements. 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:37.619 He said, no man that woreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life. 00:22:38.399 --> 00:22:42.700 Well, there's some things if you get tangled up into them, they're going to mess you up. 00:22:43.899 --> 00:22:50.720 Here lately, we've heard of two different families where someone in the family got hooked on pornography 00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:54.539 or one thing or another and their life was totally wrecked. 00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:57.039 Totally wrecked. 00:22:57.039 --> 00:23:04.720 I want you to know it's not fun to listen to a tearful wife on the phone saying, 00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:06.240 I don't know what happened. 00:23:08.399 --> 00:23:11.420 But he's not what he used to be. 00:23:11.899 --> 00:23:13.099 Beware of entanglements. 00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:15.079 Beware of entanglements. 00:23:15.639 --> 00:23:20.119 We today are in a great conflict. 00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:23.319 And a lot of things will distract you. 00:23:24.059 --> 00:23:27.559 They'll distract you from the things that you ought to be doing. 00:23:28.219 --> 00:23:29.799 Sin entangles the mind. 00:23:30.439 --> 00:23:32.179 It eats away at your peace. 00:23:32.959 --> 00:23:39.439 Sin will eat away at the desire in your life to serve Jesus. 00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:42.680 Remember, this is a war. 00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:45.480 This is a war. 00:23:47.180 --> 00:23:50.299 And a war, it takes effort. 00:23:51.059 --> 00:23:52.460 It takes your attention. 00:23:53.420 --> 00:23:58.700 It takes the fact that, you know, you just kind of slide through life and not really pay attention to what's happening. 00:23:59.259 --> 00:24:02.220 Sooner or later, you're going to find that your peace has been gone. 00:24:02.220 --> 00:24:04.200 You don't have any peace in your life. 00:24:05.660 --> 00:24:08.539 You don't have the joy that you once had. 00:24:09.640 --> 00:24:13.740 Beware of the entanglements of life. 00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:17.480 No man that wars, that wins. 00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:20.759 Hey, fellas, you got a wife. 00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:22.279 I want you to know. 00:24:23.259 --> 00:24:24.319 She's your best friend. 00:24:25.960 --> 00:24:26.299 Amen. 00:24:26.900 --> 00:24:28.140 Ladies, you got a husband. 00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:30.259 Make sure he's your best friend. 00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:30.579 Amen. 00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:34.839 A little marital advice on the side, by the way. 00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:41.240 I'm just telling you, after 55 years, that girl right there is still my girl. 00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:42.720 Amen. 00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:49.839 After 58 years, actually, because we were dating for three years before we got married. 00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:51.940 Yep. 00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:53.860 And I'm sure glad we did. 00:24:55.279 --> 00:24:58.440 Because I've had a best friend with me through life. 00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:00.100 Her and Jesus. 00:25:00.259 --> 00:25:00.519 Amen. 00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:05.539 I want you to know that you today, your life can be so blessed. 00:25:06.379 --> 00:25:09.859 As you beware and stay away from the entanglements. 00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:14.599 1 Corinthians 10 verse 13 is a verse I want to share with you too. 00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:18.799 1 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 13. 00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:30.940 So many times folks say, well, how do I go through life and I wonder, am I the only one going through a hard time? 00:25:31.720 --> 00:25:32.899 Are you the only one? 00:25:34.659 --> 00:25:37.139 Are you the only one that faces temptation? 00:25:37.140 --> 00:25:45.860 1 Corinthians 10 verse 13 says, it says, and she'll find it maybe sometime, but if you found it, that's good too. 00:25:46.580 --> 00:25:52.680 It says, there is, there hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man. 00:25:52.680 --> 00:25:54.680 But God is faithful. 00:25:54.680 --> 00:25:55.380 But God is faithful. 00:25:56.500 --> 00:26:05.299 Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that you may be able to bear it. 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:08.380 God is faithful. 00:26:08.380 --> 00:26:14.920 There's no temptation that comes to you that isn't also coming to someone else. 00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:18.760 Someone else is facing the same things you are facing. 00:26:19.540 --> 00:26:22.500 Someone else is going through the trial you're going through. 00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:28.800 Someone else in God's family has, has been, or will go through what you face today. 00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:33.040 It's common to man, but God is faithful. 00:26:33.620 --> 00:26:35.820 I put a big amen after that. 00:26:35.880 --> 00:26:36.100 Amen. 00:26:36.100 --> 00:26:37.560 A big hallelujah. 00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:40.360 God is faithful. 00:26:41.100 --> 00:26:46.960 He won't suffer you to be tempted above that you're able by his help, by his grace. 00:26:48.060 --> 00:26:49.680 Oh, you just be a faithful husband. 00:26:49.800 --> 00:26:49.980 Amen. 00:26:51.080 --> 00:26:52.260 Be a faithful wife. 00:26:52.900 --> 00:26:54.180 Be a faithful church member. 00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:58.380 And beware of the entanglements of sin that are in the world. 00:26:59.140 --> 00:27:01.080 Remember, this is a war. 00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:02.360 It's not a game of cards. 00:27:02.360 --> 00:27:04.600 This is a conflict. 00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:07.240 And there will be a way. 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:09.799 God will make a way of escape from temptation. 00:27:10.359 --> 00:27:12.500 He will help you get away from that. 00:27:14.079 --> 00:27:15.440 God will make a way. 00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:17.819 Endure hardness for Jesus Christ. 00:27:17.819 --> 00:27:21.720 And you say, well, what's in it for me? 00:27:22.879 --> 00:27:23.659 Pleasing him. 00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:27.159 It's not self-glory. 00:27:27.960 --> 00:27:30.279 It's not to say, I'm going to get the praise for this. 00:27:30.339 --> 00:27:33.399 If you go for self-glory, you'll get that, but it won't be real. 00:27:33.439 --> 00:27:34.399 It'll be pretty empty. 00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:39.800 If you serve the Lord just for self-glory, it will be empty after a while. 00:27:39.860 --> 00:27:41.800 And you'll say, well, what's the use of doing this? 00:27:42.320 --> 00:27:50.940 But if you serve the Lord by his grace to please him who has saved you and called you into his wonderful family, 00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:54.820 then that brings wonderful joy. 00:27:55.059 --> 00:27:55.960 It brings peace. 00:27:56.700 --> 00:28:04.660 We don't endure hardness for fame and fortune, but we do so because he endured so much for us. 00:28:05.559 --> 00:28:07.480 He endured so much for us. 00:28:08.360 --> 00:28:11.320 Notice it says there in our text, 00:28:11.319 --> 00:28:23.299 Oh, there's so many things you can get tangled up with. 00:28:24.379 --> 00:28:25.399 You're tangled up in. 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:27.720 Because today, 00:28:29.099 --> 00:28:37.859 endure hardness because someone you may meet has never heard or understood how to be saved. 00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:40.240 I'm still amazed. 00:28:40.240 --> 00:28:44.420 I still run across people that don't really understand what it means to be saved. 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:46.680 I talked to them about being saved. 00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:48.160 They said, well, I used to go to church. 00:28:48.279 --> 00:28:49.599 Going to church won't save you. 00:28:50.940 --> 00:28:52.240 Well, I went to church. 00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:55.420 I got baptized down here at so-and-so church. 00:28:56.279 --> 00:28:57.480 Baptism won't save you. 00:28:59.240 --> 00:29:01.259 You say, well, I'm trying to be a good person. 00:29:02.380 --> 00:29:03.859 You know, I don't cheat anybody. 00:29:04.920 --> 00:29:06.200 Haven't robbed any banks. 00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:07.779 Well, I'm glad you haven't done that. 00:29:07.779 --> 00:29:12.539 You've tried to be a decent person, being truthful. 00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:18.519 But I want you to know that the Bible says we've all come short of the glory of God. 00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:25.940 The purity, the wholeness, the holiness that would allow us to go in the very presence of God. 00:29:26.879 --> 00:29:35.579 And so he wants us to be able to share the gospel with someone who's never heard it or doesn't understand. 00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:37.759 I want to share one more thing with you. 00:29:38.220 --> 00:29:40.059 Our hope is to please him. 00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:44.039 I just touched on that, but that's my fourth thought. 00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:53.419 Building hope in the future involves pleasing the one who's chosen us to be a soldier. 00:29:53.420 --> 00:29:57.940 You know, soldiers still salute the flag. 00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:09.720 My father was a World War II veteran, private first class, expert marksman with a rifle, also trained with a bazooka. 00:30:10.800 --> 00:30:11.840 I can't imagine that. 00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:15.320 He was trained on that and so forth, some of those other things. 00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:16.160 World War II. 00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:18.800 Came home with an honorable discharge. 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:24.759 Came home, couldn't hear out of one ear because of being wounded in action. 00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:32.299 I want you to know whenever that flag was flying, it meant something. 00:30:33.139 --> 00:30:33.379 Amen? 00:30:33.879 --> 00:30:35.480 It means something to us. 00:30:36.539 --> 00:30:37.680 Salute that flag. 00:30:38.399 --> 00:30:45.720 Put your hand over your heart when we sing the national anthem and whenever we say the pledge of allegiance to the flag. 00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:49.039 Soldiers bear the scars of battle. 00:30:50.299 --> 00:30:57.279 Soldiers are faithful men and women of God who know what sacrifice is and what discipline is. 00:30:58.140 --> 00:31:02.660 Endurance, ready obedience and cooperation. 00:31:04.339 --> 00:31:06.980 Soldiers follow the command of their commander. 00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:10.140 And I want you to know we have the greatest commander. 00:31:11.140 --> 00:31:12.180 His name is Jesus. 00:31:12.180 --> 00:31:19.440 He said, go you therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. 00:31:19.660 --> 00:31:20.980 He said, go you therefore. 00:31:21.340 --> 00:31:26.000 That means go here and go abroad through all the world. 00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:27.980 I see your missionary letters. 00:31:28.100 --> 00:31:29.920 You support those missionaries. 00:31:30.380 --> 00:31:36.140 Pray for them and then go yourself to that person next door down the street. 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:39.440 Be a faithful believer at your job. 00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:43.440 The people you work with should know that you're a child of God. 00:31:44.420 --> 00:31:48.380 The people that your neighbors should know that you're a child of God. 00:31:49.059 --> 00:31:55.480 The people in your family, in your neighborhood, in your school, in your circle of friends. 00:31:56.200 --> 00:31:59.700 Be a faithful believer to please Him. 00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:06.460 Remember, it wasn't always easy for God's people to be faithful. 00:32:06.460 --> 00:32:09.519 Remember Joseph? 00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:16.140 Joseph was one that he was sold into slavery by his brothers. 00:32:17.059 --> 00:32:19.860 Boy, that's a dysfunctional family if you ever saw it. 00:32:19.940 --> 00:32:20.039 Amen. 00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:24.640 And then he was sold into slavery. 00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:27.279 Then he was bought by Potiphar. 00:32:27.819 --> 00:32:33.059 Potiphar's wife accused him of wrongdoing and their morality and things like that. 00:32:33.140 --> 00:32:34.960 And so he was thrown in prison. 00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:37.140 He spent years in prison. 00:32:37.819 --> 00:32:41.579 Finally, one day they needed someone to interpret a dream for the king. 00:32:42.220 --> 00:32:43.440 And he did that. 00:32:43.840 --> 00:32:45.059 He was called up. 00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:50.779 He was called up and said, can you tell us what this dream is all about? 00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:56.799 And Joseph said, it's not me, but I know the God that does. 00:32:57.900 --> 00:33:01.380 I want you to know that he endured hardness. 00:33:01.640 --> 00:33:02.740 He went through hard times. 00:33:02.740 --> 00:33:11.559 He was put in prison and he was put in locked up in shackles for a while. 00:33:12.880 --> 00:33:15.940 Beware of those things that will harm you. 00:33:17.019 --> 00:33:20.180 Stay focused in your faith on Jesus Christ. 00:33:21.039 --> 00:33:22.880 Stay focused upon Him. 00:33:23.799 --> 00:33:25.400 He is our steadfast hope. 00:33:25.400 --> 00:33:30.340 He will never fail to be with you through whatever you go through. 00:33:31.160 --> 00:33:35.880 I want you to know that there may be a time, listen carefully, I'm almost done. 00:33:37.080 --> 00:33:48.180 But get this, there's going to be a time when you may have to face the world or the hostilities of those who don't want Christ and don't want anything to do with Him. 00:33:48.180 --> 00:33:50.180 You may face that alone. 00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:53.120 You may have to stand alone. 00:33:54.060 --> 00:34:00.500 And when you do, and if you do, and when you do, I want you to know He will never leave you. 00:34:00.940 --> 00:34:02.519 He will always be there with you. 00:34:02.620 --> 00:34:04.920 He will carry you through whatever you go through. 00:34:05.640 --> 00:34:08.260 Whatever it is, He will be with you. 00:34:08.260 --> 00:34:13.020 Maybe you face a difficult medical situation in your life. 00:34:13.340 --> 00:34:14.980 He will never forsake you. 00:34:15.980 --> 00:34:17.000 The Scripture says, 00:34:17.800 --> 00:34:20.860 Let your conversation, your lifestyle be without covetousness. 00:34:21.300 --> 00:34:23.240 And be content with such things as you have. 00:34:23.320 --> 00:34:24.020 For He has said, 00:34:24.360 --> 00:34:27.200 I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. 00:34:27.700 --> 00:34:29.060 He will be with you. 00:34:29.700 --> 00:34:34.000 He will be with you when you pay all the bills and there's nothing left. 00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:40.760 Maybe a few pennies or a quarter or two or five dollars, ten dollars. 00:34:41.280 --> 00:34:42.480 And you paid all the bills. 00:34:43.139 --> 00:34:45.280 If you've never been there, bless your heart. 00:34:45.719 --> 00:34:46.679 Praise God for you. 00:34:47.719 --> 00:34:51.400 But if you have a dollar in your pocket today, be thankful. 00:34:52.599 --> 00:34:52.920 Amen. 00:34:53.840 --> 00:34:55.920 If you have a family today, be thankful. 00:34:57.000 --> 00:34:59.199 Do you have a church to come to like this? 00:34:59.199 --> 00:35:10.139 There's so many places that they don't even have, they don't have the church to come to where they can hear the Word of God and sing those praises, those wonderful thoughts from the Word of God. 00:35:10.839 --> 00:35:13.039 Today, you and I have hope. 00:35:13.599 --> 00:35:16.819 We have hope that He will carry us through. 00:35:17.719 --> 00:35:19.480 He will be the one that will carry you through. 00:35:19.619 --> 00:35:23.000 I want you to know we can follow Him today. 00:35:23.000 --> 00:35:42.760 Building hope will be something you can do in your own life by the strength of God's grace, by sharing the living hope of the gospel message, by enduring hardness, enduring the hardness that comes in your life. 00:35:44.139 --> 00:35:45.820 And to please your Savior. 00:35:46.519 --> 00:35:47.900 To please your Savior. 00:35:48.039 --> 00:35:48.840 Not for self. 00:35:49.699 --> 00:35:50.599 Not for self. 00:35:50.599 --> 00:35:56.039 I am, today I'm so thankful I could share this message with you. 00:35:57.319 --> 00:36:05.239 God allows us to live in His grace and His love and His mercy and His peace today to serve Him. 00:36:05.860 --> 00:36:07.739 I wonder, do you have that peace today? 00:36:08.799 --> 00:36:10.279 Do you know Him as your Savior? 00:36:11.400 --> 00:36:13.719 Do you know if you were to die today, you'd go to heaven? 00:36:14.880 --> 00:36:16.099 You say, was that very important? 00:36:16.299 --> 00:36:17.199 Oh, yes, it is. 00:36:17.819 --> 00:36:19.920 It's the most important thing in all the world. 00:36:19.920 --> 00:36:24.400 If you've never trusted Him, my friend, today would be your day. 00:36:25.099 --> 00:36:27.300 Today would be the best day for you. 00:36:27.980 --> 00:36:33.680 And if you need hope today, maybe you're a child of God already, but you just need some hope. 00:36:34.440 --> 00:36:35.860 You just need some hope. 00:36:36.659 --> 00:36:38.039 You just need some assurance. 00:36:38.820 --> 00:36:39.860 It's going to be all right. 00:36:40.740 --> 00:36:43.180 You need some help right now. 00:36:43.240 --> 00:36:44.220 It's going to be okay. 00:36:44.219 --> 00:36:48.059 Let's bring your needs to the Lord. 00:36:48.699 --> 00:36:53.839 In this troubled age we're living in, when everyone's saying panic about this and panic about that, 00:36:54.139 --> 00:36:56.059 God's people can live by faith. 00:36:56.779 --> 00:37:03.319 We live by faith in Him and what He's done and sharing a message that gives life. 00:37:04.059 --> 00:37:05.599 Would you bow your heads with me, please? 00:37:05.599 --> 00:37:10.480 We're going to have a brief time of invitation. 00:37:10.699 --> 00:37:19.779 If you've never trusted in Christ as your personal Savior, let me encourage you today to take this time in your own life to trust Him, 00:37:20.579 --> 00:37:23.739 to believe in Him, to give your life to Him. 00:37:23.739 --> 00:37:26.579 You say, will that cost me anything? 00:37:27.379 --> 00:37:34.799 The only thing it costs is to humble yourself before Him and say, Lord, I need you. 00:37:35.779 --> 00:37:38.139 Please forgive my sin and save my soul. 00:37:39.519 --> 00:37:42.759 If you've already done that, you're saved, you know you're saved. 00:37:42.899 --> 00:37:44.119 Maybe you need a church home. 00:37:44.219 --> 00:37:50.219 Maybe you need a place like this to be a part of a godly pastor that leads this flock 00:37:50.219 --> 00:37:53.679 and also a place you can find friends and family. 00:37:54.059 --> 00:37:56.359 This invitation will be open for you as well.