WEBVTT

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 Thank you, Sue, what a blessing.

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 If you have Bibles, I want you to turn to Genesis chapter 40.

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 Genesis chapter 40, we are studying a life that is filled

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 with ups and downs.

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 If you study the life of Joseph, man, what a rollercoaster

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 ride.

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 And when you think about it, that's kind of like life,

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 ain't it?

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 Filled with ups and downs.

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 Life can be like a rollercoaster ride.

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 If you're on your way up, hey, don't be surprised when it

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 flattens out.

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 And if you feel like you're going downhill, relax.

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 It's going to level out soon.

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 Life is topsy-turvy, and we see that.

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 Probably no better in anyone's story than in the life of Joseph.

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 Just as a reflection, remember he was the favored son.

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 He was a dreamer and a dude with a fine-looking coat.

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 Not only was it had multiple colors, but also it was a cuffed coat,

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 which meant that he's not a working man.

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 That's a royal coat.

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 And he stayed at home with mom and dad while his brothers were in the field shepherding.

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 And so when his dad tells him to go check on his brothers, he goes into that field to check on their status.

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 They've moved around some.

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 He ended up going 50 miles in the desert before he found them.

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 And he did all that with that royal robe on.

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 And they see him coming.

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 And they didn't like it.

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 For one, he had dreams of his own success over them and was stupid enough to tell them.

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 And then he also had that robe that nobody else had.

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 And he's wearing that across the desert as they see him coming.

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 And they think, who in the world does he think he is?

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 Instead of killing him, they sold him into slavery because they debated about killing him.

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 And after he was sold into slavery, he prospered as a servant, being promoted as house manager,

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 even a state executive in a prominent official's house, a prominent official of Egypt.

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 He was entrusted with the management of the whole estate until he was set up by the master's wife.

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 She yelled sexual assault and he went to prison.

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 However, when he was in prison, he prospered again.

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 And he was entrusted with managing the prisoners.

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 And I want you to notice the similarity of what happened in Potiphar's house,

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 that official's house that he was working in, as well as what happened to him in the prison.

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 In Potiphar's house, Genesis 39 verse 6 says,

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 So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, speaking of Potiphar leaving it all in Joseph's charge,

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 and because of him, he had no concern about anything.

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 Then when you talk about the keeper of the prison in Genesis 39 verse 22, it says,

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 And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in prison.

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 Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it.

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 And the reason was the same as well.

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 In Genesis 39 verse 3, it says,

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 His master saw that the Lord was with him,

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 and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands.

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 So in other words, his success was due to the Lord being with him.

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 And the same thing in Genesis 39 verse 23 says,

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 Now that does not mean there wasn't hard times in the midst of that.

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 Of course there was.

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 But I want you to remember that Joseph was a dreamer.

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 He dreamed of prosperity at an early age,

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 and God spoke to him through dreams.

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 He foresaw his future through dreams.

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 And when he shared those dreams with his family,

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 it caused conflict between he and his brothers.

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 But what he dreamed was from God, and what he dreamed was true.

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 However, God spoke to him through those dreams,

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 and gave him the ability to interpret dreams.

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 Now as that is the back story, let's look at Genesis chapter 40.

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 Because Genesis chapter 40 says in verse 1,

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 Sometime after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker

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 committed an offense against their lord, the king of Egypt.

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 And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers,

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 the chief cupbearer and the chief baker,

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 and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard

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 in prison where Joseph was confined.

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 The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them,

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 and he attended them.

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 He continued for some time in custody.

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 Now listen, we don't know why they were imprisoned,

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 but let's let our spiritual imagination get away from us for just a moment.

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 Okay?

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 The baker is, of course, the cook.

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 So did he fix a bad meal for Pharaoh,

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 or did some food poison,

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 or did he try to poison Pharaoh,

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 or was it just bad eggs,

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 or was it just not done,

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 or was it too done?

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 I mean, an overcooked steak deserves a jail sentence.

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 The cupbearer is the guy that is responsible for making sure

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 that nothing is wrong with the food and the drink,

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 and the first to taste the food and to drink the drink.

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 And if he makes it, then the Pharaoh can eat.

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 So did they try to set him up,

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 or were they set up,

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 or was it a misunderstanding?

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 We don't know,

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 but I guarantee you it had something to do

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 with the culinary responsibilities

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 that put them where they were.

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 Verse 5 says,

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 And one night they both dreamed,

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 the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt,

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 who were confined in the prison,

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 each his own dream,

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 and each dream with his own interpretation,

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 when Joseph came to them in the morning,

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 he saw that they were troubled.

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 So he asked Pharaoh's officers,

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 who were with him in custody in his master's house,

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 why are your faces downcast today?

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 And they said to him,

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 we have had dreams,

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 and there is no one to interpret them.

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 And Joseph said to them,

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 do not interpretations belong to God?

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 Please tell them to me.

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 So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph

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 and said to him,

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 in my dream there was a vine before me.

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 And on the vine there were three branches.

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 As soon as it budded,

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 its blossoms shot forth,

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 and the clusters ripened into grapes.

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 Pharaoh's cup was in my hand,

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 and I took the grapes

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 and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup

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 and placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand.

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 Then Joseph said to him,

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 this is the interpretation,

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 the three branches are three days.

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 In three days,

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 Pharaoh will lift up your head

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 and restore you to your office,

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 and you shall place Pharaoh's cup in his hand

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 as formerly when you were his cupbearer.

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 Only remember me when it is well with you,

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 and please do me the kindness

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 to mention me to Pharaoh.

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 And so get me out of this house.

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 For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews,

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 and here also I have done nothing

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 that they should put me into the pit.

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 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation

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 was favorable,

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 he said to Joseph,

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 I also had a dream.

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 There were three cake baskets on my head,

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 and to the uppermost basket,

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 there were a sort of baked food for Pharaoh,

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 but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head.

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 And Joseph answered and said,

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 this is the interpretation.

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 The three baskets are three days.

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 In three days,

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 Pharaoh will lift up your head

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 from you

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 and hang you on a tree,

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 and the birds will eat the flesh with you.

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 And I think he said,

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 I want a second opinion.

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 And I bet Joseph said,

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 you're ugly too.

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 But on the third day,

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 which was Pharaoh's birthday,

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 he made a feast for all of his servants

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 and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer

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 and the head of the chief baker

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 among his servants.

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 He restored the chief cupbearer

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 to his position,

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 and he placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand,

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 but he hanged the chief baker

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 as Joseph had interpreted to them,

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 yet the chief cupbearer

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 did not remember Joseph,

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 but forgot him.

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 Joseph was forgotten.

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 He was a man who was faithful to his parents,

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 and then he was abducted and sold into slavery.

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 He succeeded at that level above and beyond

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 and was wronged and imprisoned

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 and in prison he succeeded above and beyond

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 and helped someone with influence out,

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 the cupbearer,

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 who was the Pharaoh's side daily.

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 All you have to do is mention me

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 at some point along the way,

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 and he was forgotten.

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 He was not mentioned.

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 He was not vouched for.

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 He was forgotten.

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 Genesis 41, verse 41,

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 tells us that he was forgotten for two years

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 until he was dragged out of that pit.

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 A pit he was in

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 because he was forgotten.

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 Can you imagine how lonely he was?

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 I mean, we don't know if anybody else

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 was in that pit or not around him,

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 but I am thoroughly convinced

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 that no matter how many people were in that pit,

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 no matter how many people were in that house,

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 no matter how many people were in that prison,

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 it might have been full of people,

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 he was still in a pit

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 and most likely still felt very lonely.

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 Do you know that sometimes

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 you can be in a crowd of people

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 like we are today

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 and still be lonely?

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 You might be sitting here today

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 shaking hands with folks

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 and smiling and looking at your Sunday best

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 and still feel alone.

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 Have you ever felt alone?

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 I believe there's much we can learn from Joseph

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 and I believe God put this

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 in this book

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 so we could learn from his circumstances

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 because I believe a lot of us

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 have felt forgotten,

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 felt alone,

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 might even feel it today.

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 And that, my friend,

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 is the part of the difficulty

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 that can be so encouraging

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 and such a gift in the midst of the mess.

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 Not that his relief is over

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 because he endured it for two years,

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 but that in the middle of it,

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 in the pit,

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 seemingly forgotten,

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 seemingly alone.

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 Seemingly alone.

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 There are three truths

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 that I want to show you

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 this morning about Joseph's life.

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 One of them is

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 God never forgot him.

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 God never forgot him.

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 It may seem like he did.

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 He may feel like it did,

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 but he never forgot him.

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 The time was coming

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 when the cupbearer would remember him.

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 It'd take two years to do that,

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 but God never forgot him.

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 I want to remind you

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 of some passages

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 that you need to keep in mind

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 and enlighten you

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 on some that you may not know.

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 And one of them is found

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 in Psalms 145 verse 17,

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 and it says this,

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 the Lord is righteous

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 in all his ways

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 and kind in all his works.

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 The Lord is near

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 to all who call on him,

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 to all who call on him in truth.

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 He fulfills the desires

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 of those who fear him.

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 He also hears the cry

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 and saves them.

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 The Lord preserves

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 all who love him,

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 but all the wicked

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 he will destroy.

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 God did not forget him,

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 and he never does.

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 Second truth about his life

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 is this,

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 God never left him.

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 Joseph probably felt

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 like God left him,

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 but God's presence

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 in his life

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 was not based upon

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 his feelings.

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 It was,

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 it is,

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 based upon God's promises.

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 Do you know what God says

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 about our feelings

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 and our thoughts?

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 Isaiah 55, 8, 9 says,

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 for my thoughts

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 are not your thoughts,

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 neither are your ways

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 my ways,

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 declares the Lord.

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 For as the heavens

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 are higher than the earth,

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 so my ways

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 are higher than your ways

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 and my thoughts

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 than your thoughts.

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 God never left him.

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 Even though a two-year-long pit

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 may make you feel like it,

00:13:46.379 --> 00:13:47.500
 God never left him.

00:13:48.579 --> 00:13:49.319
 And the third truth

00:13:49.319 --> 00:13:50.299
 about his life is this,

00:13:50.299 --> 00:13:52.620
 God never stopped working.

00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:55.599
 He never stopped working

00:13:55.599 --> 00:13:56.179
 in his life.

00:13:56.459 --> 00:13:57.819
 God was working in him,

00:13:57.959 --> 00:13:59.339
 God was working on him,

00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:01.079
 God was working through him

00:14:01.079 --> 00:14:02.379
 the whole time.

00:14:02.539 --> 00:14:04.099
 I want you to notice something.

00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:07.479
 It's back in verses 6 and 7

00:14:07.479 --> 00:14:08.120
 that we looked at

00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:08.719
 a few moments ago.

00:14:08.779 --> 00:14:09.199
 It says this,

00:14:09.599 --> 00:14:11.839
 when Joseph came to them

00:14:11.839 --> 00:14:12.679
 in the morning,

00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:15.620
 he saw that they were troubled.

00:14:15.620 --> 00:14:18.580
 So he asked Pharaoh's officers

00:14:18.580 --> 00:14:19.580
 who were with him

00:14:19.580 --> 00:14:20.060
 in custody

00:14:20.060 --> 00:14:20.919
 in his master's house,

00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:22.620
 why are your faces

00:14:22.620 --> 00:14:23.799
 downcast today?

00:14:25.179 --> 00:14:26.299
 I hope you get this

00:14:26.299 --> 00:14:27.560
 because I got this this week

00:14:27.560 --> 00:14:28.539
 and it was just good to me.

00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:30.240
 Joseph was in prison

00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:31.879
 on false charges.

00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:32.940
 It would have been

00:14:32.940 --> 00:14:34.120
 very easy for him

00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:35.620
 to be throwing a pity party,

00:14:35.860 --> 00:14:37.700
 only worried about himself.

00:14:38.039 --> 00:14:38.799
 And instead,

00:14:39.899 --> 00:14:41.340
 he wasn't coming out

00:14:41.340 --> 00:14:41.560
 and saying,

00:14:41.659 --> 00:14:42.100
 let me tell you

00:14:42.100 --> 00:14:42.879
 about my dreams.

00:14:42.940 --> 00:14:43.799
 He wasn't saying that,

00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:44.559
 not at all.

00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:47.059
 Selfishness and pity

00:14:47.059 --> 00:14:47.779
 will probably

00:14:47.779 --> 00:14:49.500
 make your prison cell

00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:50.399
 that much smaller.

00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:51.679
 It'll make your pit

00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:52.620
 that much deeper.

00:14:52.859 --> 00:14:53.939
 It'll make your loneliness

00:14:53.939 --> 00:14:55.779
 that much more lonely.

00:14:56.099 --> 00:14:57.659
 The walls will creep in

00:14:57.659 --> 00:14:58.519
 on you quickly

00:14:58.519 --> 00:14:59.799
 when you fill yourself

00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:00.959
 with negativity like that.

00:15:01.019 --> 00:15:01.240
 No,

00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:03.000
 he looked beyond himself

00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:05.039
 and had concern for others

00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:07.759
 while his junk was going on,

00:15:07.959 --> 00:15:09.299
 while he was in the midst

00:15:09.299 --> 00:15:10.219
 of the injustice.

00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:11.879
 Now this ain't the end

00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:12.839
 of Joseph's story.

00:15:12.840 --> 00:15:14.680
 This is just one

00:15:14.680 --> 00:15:16.200
 of those very low times

00:15:16.200 --> 00:15:16.920
 that he faced

00:15:16.920 --> 00:15:17.680
 and thankfully,

00:15:18.139 --> 00:15:18.720
 he acted,

00:15:19.040 --> 00:15:19.740
 he didn't act like

00:15:19.740 --> 00:15:20.600
 it was the end.

00:15:21.420 --> 00:15:22.100
 And I don't know

00:15:22.100 --> 00:15:23.160
 what you're dealing with today

00:15:23.160 --> 00:15:24.019
 but I want you to know

00:15:24.019 --> 00:15:24.600
 you don't need to act

00:15:24.600 --> 00:15:25.280
 like it's the end

00:15:25.280 --> 00:15:26.080
 because it's not.

00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:27.879
 Thankfully,

00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:29.860
 he didn't give up on God

00:15:29.860 --> 00:15:31.860
 for who knows

00:15:31.860 --> 00:15:32.620
 what would have happened

00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:33.720
 with the rest of his story

00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:34.800
 if he would have gave up

00:15:34.800 --> 00:15:35.460
 on God.

00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:38.340
 but God

00:15:38.340 --> 00:15:42.160
 never forgot him.

00:15:43.740 --> 00:15:45.160
 He never left him.

00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:48.060
 He never stopped working in him.

00:15:49.660 --> 00:15:50.620
 And I want to give you

00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:51.580
 three truths about us

00:15:51.580 --> 00:15:52.620
 that regardless

00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:53.639
 of our circumstances

00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:54.800
 or regardless

00:15:54.800 --> 00:15:55.920
 of how deep our pit is

00:15:55.920 --> 00:15:57.639
 or how small our cell is,

00:15:57.680 --> 00:15:58.240
 you need to know.

00:15:58.340 --> 00:15:59.000
 One is God

00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:00.340
 has not forgotten us.

00:16:00.340 --> 00:16:03.600
 He hasn't forgotten me.

00:16:04.800 --> 00:16:06.500
 He hasn't forgotten you.

00:16:06.740 --> 00:16:07.480
 I want to remind you

00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:09.000
 what Matthew chapter 6 says.

00:16:09.800 --> 00:16:10.820
 Jesus said,

00:16:11.060 --> 00:16:12.259
 look at the birds of the air.

00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.160
 They neither sow

00:16:14.160 --> 00:16:14.940
 nor reap

00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:16.240
 nor gather in the barns

00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:17.180
 and yet your heavenly Father

00:16:17.180 --> 00:16:17.820
 feeds them.

00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:20.019
 Are you not much more valuable

00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:20.980
 than they?

00:16:21.800 --> 00:16:23.120
 And which of you

00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:24.280
 by being anxious

00:16:24.280 --> 00:16:26.160
 can add a single hour

00:16:26.160 --> 00:16:28.639
 to his span of life?

00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:30.379
 And why are you anxious

00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:31.279
 about clothing?

00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:32.360
 Consider the lilies

00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:32.840
 of the field

00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:33.539
 how they grow.

00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:34.720
 They neither toil

00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:35.899
 nor spin.

00:16:36.899 --> 00:16:37.659
 Yet I tell you

00:16:37.659 --> 00:16:38.379
 even Solomon

00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:39.319
 in all his glory

00:16:39.319 --> 00:16:40.120
 was not arrayed

00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:40.879
 like one of these.

00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:41.960
 Therefore do not

00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:43.039
 be anxious.

00:16:44.199 --> 00:16:45.199
 Your heavenly Father

00:16:45.199 --> 00:16:46.980
 knows that you need them.

00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:51.240
 I want you to understand

00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:52.399
 that we are the crown

00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:53.419
 of his creation.

00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:55.179
 We are the apple

00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:56.159
 of his eye.

00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:58.539
 We are his very own

00:16:58.539 --> 00:17:00.639
 he sent his only son

00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:01.839
 to die in our place.

00:17:02.439 --> 00:17:04.659
 God loves us dearly.

00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:06.119
 Don't you ever think

00:17:06.119 --> 00:17:07.000
 he forgot you.

00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:10.819
 He never will.

00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:15.460
 God's never left us.

00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:19.519
 He's never left us.

00:17:20.639 --> 00:17:21.740
 Hebrews chapter 10

00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:22.579
 verse 23 says

00:17:22.579 --> 00:17:24.099
 let us hold fast

00:17:24.099 --> 00:17:24.920
 the confession

00:17:24.920 --> 00:17:25.879
 of our hope

00:17:25.879 --> 00:17:26.819
 without wavering

00:17:26.819 --> 00:17:28.579
 for he who promised

00:17:28.579 --> 00:17:29.259
 is faithful.

00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:31.359
 What did he promise?

00:17:31.460 --> 00:17:31.980
 He promised

00:17:31.980 --> 00:17:33.079
 a bunch of stuff.

00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:35.200
 But among them

00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:35.819
 he promised

00:17:35.819 --> 00:17:37.399
 he would never leave us

00:17:37.399 --> 00:17:38.960
 nor forsake us.

00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:40.720
 How it seems

00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:41.359
 so often

00:17:41.359 --> 00:17:42.759
 that he does forget us

00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:44.319
 but he never has

00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:45.839
 and he never will.

00:17:46.259 --> 00:17:46.819
 It's best

00:17:46.819 --> 00:17:48.039
 we stop thinking

00:17:48.039 --> 00:17:49.619
 leaning on our thinking

00:17:49.619 --> 00:17:51.139
 and our feelings

00:17:51.139 --> 00:17:52.379
 and take God

00:17:52.379 --> 00:17:53.279
 at his word.

00:17:53.639 --> 00:17:55.279
 He's not forgotten us

00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:56.859
 and he has not

00:17:56.859 --> 00:17:58.019
 left us.

00:17:58.720 --> 00:17:59.539
 No matter

00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:01.079
 your circumstances

00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:02.099
 today

00:18:02.099 --> 00:18:03.160
 guilty

00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:04.559
 or innocent

00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:05.660
 God

00:18:05.660 --> 00:18:06.899
 has not

00:18:06.899 --> 00:18:07.940
 left you.

00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:11.339
 And third

00:18:11.339 --> 00:18:13.339
 he's not done

00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:13.799
 with us.

00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:16.859
 God's still working.

00:18:19.859 --> 00:18:20.980
 The prophet Isaiah

00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:21.779
 speaks the words

00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:22.680
 of God to us

00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:23.379
 and puts it all

00:18:23.380 --> 00:18:24.100
 in perspective.

00:18:25.300 --> 00:18:26.220
 It says in Isaiah

00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:27.260
 42 verse 2

00:18:27.260 --> 00:18:27.940
 when you pass

00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:28.600
 through the waters

00:18:28.600 --> 00:18:29.860
 God says

00:18:29.860 --> 00:18:30.700
 I'll be with you

00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:32.440
 and through the rivers

00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:33.220
 they shall not

00:18:33.220 --> 00:18:33.920
 overwhelm you.

00:18:34.920 --> 00:18:35.660
 When you walk

00:18:35.660 --> 00:18:36.200
 through fire

00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:36.920
 you shall not

00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:37.560
 be burned

00:18:37.560 --> 00:18:38.400
 and the flame

00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:39.260
 shall not

00:18:39.260 --> 00:18:40.220
 consume you.

00:18:40.860 --> 00:18:41.620
 For I am

00:18:41.620 --> 00:18:41.960
 the Lord

00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:42.620
 your God

00:18:42.620 --> 00:18:43.840
 the Holy One

00:18:43.840 --> 00:18:44.560
 of Israel

00:18:44.560 --> 00:18:45.180
 your Savior

00:18:45.180 --> 00:18:46.720
 because you are

00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:48.380
 precious in my eyes

00:18:48.380 --> 00:18:49.000
 and honored

00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:50.160
 and I love you

00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:51.660
 fear not

00:18:51.660 --> 00:18:52.519
 I am

00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:53.480
 with you.

00:18:55.080 --> 00:18:56.080
 You may tell me

00:18:56.080 --> 00:18:56.279
 today

00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:56.720
 oh pastor

00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:57.680
 you don't

00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:58.040
 understand

00:18:58.040 --> 00:18:58.440
 what I've

00:18:58.440 --> 00:18:58.980
 been through.

00:19:00.420 --> 00:19:01.060
 You don't

00:19:01.060 --> 00:19:01.320
 understand

00:19:01.320 --> 00:19:01.620
 what I'm

00:19:01.620 --> 00:19:02.360
 going through.

00:19:03.360 --> 00:19:04.160
 You're right.

00:19:05.940 --> 00:19:07.140
 That is correct.

00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:09.440
 But it's not

00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:09.900
 really about

00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:10.600
 my thoughts

00:19:10.600 --> 00:19:12.540
 and it's not

00:19:12.540 --> 00:19:12.960
 really about

00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:13.580
 my ways.

00:19:15.620 --> 00:19:16.060
 And with all

00:19:16.060 --> 00:19:16.660
 due respect

00:19:16.660 --> 00:19:17.420
 it's not about

00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:18.259
 your thoughts

00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:19.820
 and it's not

00:19:19.820 --> 00:19:20.720
 about your ways.

00:19:22.840 --> 00:19:23.660
 It's about

00:19:23.660 --> 00:19:24.940
 me and you

00:19:24.940 --> 00:19:25.920
 placing our

00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:26.580
 thoughts

00:19:26.580 --> 00:19:27.500
 and trust

00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:28.640
 in the thoughts

00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:29.480
 and ways

00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:30.220
 of God

00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:30.960
 and placing

00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:32.000
 our hands

00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:32.940
 in the nail

00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:33.860
 scarred hand

00:19:33.860 --> 00:19:34.680
 of Christ

00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:35.600
 and leaning

00:19:35.600 --> 00:19:36.279
 on him

00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:37.620
 to guide us

00:19:37.620 --> 00:19:38.200
 through the

00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:38.700
 valleys

00:19:38.700 --> 00:19:40.120
 that we face.

00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:42.200
 That is

00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:43.000
 where it's

00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:43.460
 at.

00:19:43.460 --> 00:19:48.240
 John was

00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:48.860
 exiled

00:19:48.860 --> 00:19:51.039
 on the

00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:51.460
 island of

00:19:51.460 --> 00:19:51.960
 Patmos

00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:53.380
 by the

00:19:53.380 --> 00:19:54.160
 Roman Empire

00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:56.000
 because he

00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:56.519
 would not

00:19:56.519 --> 00:19:57.180
 stop preaching

00:19:57.180 --> 00:19:57.759
 the gospel.

00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:00.120
 Patmos

00:20:00.120 --> 00:20:00.980
 is an

00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:01.420
 island of

00:20:01.420 --> 00:20:02.000
 rock

00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:02.799
 and

00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:05.579
 not very

00:20:05.579 --> 00:20:06.140
 inhabitable

00:20:06.140 --> 00:20:06.539
 but they

00:20:06.539 --> 00:20:06.860
 put him

00:20:06.860 --> 00:20:07.160
 there

00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:08.700
 because he

00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:08.880
 wouldn't

00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:09.200
 hush.

00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:12.019
 And while

00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:12.440
 he was

00:20:12.440 --> 00:20:12.980
 there he

00:20:12.980 --> 00:20:13.680
 was taken

00:20:13.680 --> 00:20:14.400
 up in a

00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:14.779
 visionary

00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:16.759
 sense and

00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:17.319
 was able

00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:18.140
 to see

00:20:18.140 --> 00:20:20.299
 from God's

00:20:20.299 --> 00:20:20.860
 view what

00:20:20.860 --> 00:20:21.579
 was happening

00:20:21.579 --> 00:20:22.200
 on the

00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:23.039
 earth as

00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:23.480
 well as

00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:23.860
 what was

00:20:23.860 --> 00:20:24.240
 happening

00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:25.019
 in heaven

00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:26.420
 simultaneously.

00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:27.900
 He was

00:20:27.900 --> 00:20:28.500
 given this

00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:29.059
 revelation

00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:32.000
 to provide

00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:32.759
 for seven

00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:34.140
 regional churches

00:20:34.140 --> 00:20:34.880
 in Asia

00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:35.380
 Minor

00:20:35.380 --> 00:20:36.980
 that were

00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:37.680
 on a postal

00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:38.160
 route

00:20:38.160 --> 00:20:41.480
 so that

00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:41.800
 he could

00:20:41.800 --> 00:20:42.220
 give a

00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:42.580
 coded

00:20:42.580 --> 00:20:43.060
 letter

00:20:43.060 --> 00:20:44.880
 to a

00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:45.140
 Roman

00:20:45.140 --> 00:20:45.759
 courier

00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:47.540
 who wouldn't

00:20:47.540 --> 00:20:48.240
 understand the

00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:49.019
 contents of

00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:49.580
 that letter

00:20:49.580 --> 00:20:51.720
 and circulate

00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:52.340
 that letter

00:20:52.340 --> 00:20:53.440
 among seven

00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:54.140
 regional

00:20:54.140 --> 00:20:55.120
 bodies

00:20:55.120 --> 00:20:56.420
 of believers

00:20:56.420 --> 00:20:58.000
 in Asia

00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:58.420
 Minor

00:20:58.420 --> 00:21:00.080
 under the

00:21:00.080 --> 00:21:00.700
 persecution

00:21:00.700 --> 00:21:02.220
 of the

00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:02.920
 Roman Empire

00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:05.140
 who would

00:21:05.140 --> 00:21:05.640
 be very

00:21:05.640 --> 00:21:06.120
 susceptible

00:21:06.120 --> 00:21:06.480
 to

00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:07.300
 discouragement

00:21:07.300 --> 00:21:09.000
 and to

00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:09.600
 wander away

00:21:09.600 --> 00:21:10.000
 from their

00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:10.500
 faith

00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:13.960
 because in

00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:14.500
 some cases

00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:14.860
 they were

00:21:14.860 --> 00:21:15.279
 not even

00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:15.700
 legally

00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:16.120
 meeting

00:21:16.120 --> 00:21:16.640
 together.

00:21:20.060 --> 00:21:20.800
 It is

00:21:20.800 --> 00:21:21.279
 called an

00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:21.720
 apocalypse,

00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:24.500
 an

00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:25.340
 uncovering.

00:21:27.120 --> 00:21:27.660
 Apocalypse

00:21:27.660 --> 00:21:28.220
 is a Greek

00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:28.600
 word that

00:21:28.600 --> 00:21:29.420
 means unveiling,

00:21:29.420 --> 00:21:30.980
 a revealing

00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:33.100
 of what is

00:21:33.100 --> 00:21:33.700
 really going

00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:34.180
 on.

00:21:35.539 --> 00:21:36.340
 And it is

00:21:36.340 --> 00:21:36.800
 a letter

00:21:36.800 --> 00:21:37.259
 that has

00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:38.200
 been abused

00:21:38.200 --> 00:21:38.920
 and misunderstood

00:21:38.920 --> 00:21:39.920
 since it was

00:21:39.920 --> 00:21:40.360
 written,

00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:42.560
 never more

00:21:42.560 --> 00:21:42.940
 than in the

00:21:42.940 --> 00:21:43.500
 last hundred

00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:44.039
 years.

00:21:46.140 --> 00:21:46.880
 But it is

00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:47.380
 a book that

00:21:47.380 --> 00:21:48.100
 I absolutely

00:21:48.100 --> 00:21:48.539
 love.

00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:52.080
 It's a

00:21:52.080 --> 00:21:52.700
 code that

00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:52.980
 you can

00:21:52.980 --> 00:21:53.680
 break and

00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:53.940
 you can

00:21:53.940 --> 00:21:55.019
 understand and

00:21:55.019 --> 00:21:55.680
 it is not as

00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:56.279
 hard as people

00:21:56.279 --> 00:21:56.940
 make it out to

00:21:56.940 --> 00:21:57.180
 be.

00:21:58.660 --> 00:21:59.140
 However,

00:21:59.140 --> 00:21:59.759
 my favorite

00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:02.320
 part is

00:22:02.320 --> 00:22:03.080
 chapter one

00:22:03.080 --> 00:22:06.759
 because chapter

00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:07.800
 one paints

00:22:07.800 --> 00:22:08.860
 the picture of

00:22:08.860 --> 00:22:10.060
 Christ walking

00:22:10.060 --> 00:22:10.860
 through the

00:22:10.860 --> 00:22:11.960
 candlesticks

00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:14.940
 which he tells

00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:15.600
 us in chapter

00:22:15.600 --> 00:22:16.420
 one are the

00:22:16.420 --> 00:22:16.940
 churches.

00:22:19.140 --> 00:22:20.000
 And they're

00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:20.920
 called candlesticks

00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:21.759
 because churches

00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:22.800
 are to give off

00:22:22.800 --> 00:22:24.100
 the light of the

00:22:24.100 --> 00:22:25.380
 gospel in the

00:22:25.380 --> 00:22:26.100
 midst of the

00:22:26.100 --> 00:22:26.480
 darkness.

00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:26.660
 darkness.

00:22:28.660 --> 00:22:29.860
 It shows that

00:22:29.860 --> 00:22:32.099
 he had their

00:22:32.099 --> 00:22:32.960
 messengers.

00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:35.019
 The word in

00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:35.720
 the Greek is

00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:37.140
 angelios which

00:22:37.140 --> 00:22:37.620
 we would

00:22:37.620 --> 00:22:39.180
 transliterate as

00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:40.180
 angels but

00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:40.980
 really in reality

00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:41.400
 it means

00:22:41.400 --> 00:22:42.400
 messengers.

00:22:43.019 --> 00:22:43.360
 And so the

00:22:43.360 --> 00:22:44.059
 thought is the

00:22:44.059 --> 00:22:44.900
 messengers to

00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:45.620
 the church was

00:22:45.620 --> 00:22:46.960
 the pastors.

00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:49.059
 And it says

00:22:49.059 --> 00:22:50.000
 that he's holding

00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:50.940
 those stars,

00:22:51.099 --> 00:22:51.640
 they call them,

00:22:51.640 --> 00:22:53.900
 in his hand.

00:22:55.580 --> 00:22:56.400
 They're under

00:22:56.400 --> 00:22:56.980
 persecution.

00:22:58.580 --> 00:22:59.560
 They're seeing

00:22:59.560 --> 00:23:00.440
 people die for

00:23:00.440 --> 00:23:01.020
 their faith.

00:23:01.220 --> 00:23:02.720
 They're threatened

00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:03.300
 if they meet

00:23:03.300 --> 00:23:04.600
 together like much

00:23:04.600 --> 00:23:05.300
 of the world is

00:23:05.300 --> 00:23:05.780
 today.

00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:09.480
 But even in

00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:10.200
 the midst of

00:23:10.200 --> 00:23:13.119
 that he walks

00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:13.660
 with them.

00:23:16.819 --> 00:23:17.619
 And this is

00:23:17.619 --> 00:23:18.220
 what it says.

00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:20.700
 It says then I

00:23:20.700 --> 00:23:22.240
 turned to see

00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:24.299
 the voice that

00:23:24.299 --> 00:23:25.099
 was speaking to

00:23:25.099 --> 00:23:25.399
 me.

00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:28.000
 And on

00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:29.200
 turning I saw

00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:30.799
 seven golden

00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:31.779
 lampstands.

00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:33.740
 That's the

00:23:33.740 --> 00:23:34.019
 churches.

00:23:34.019 --> 00:23:36.480
 And in the

00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:37.079
 midst of the

00:23:37.079 --> 00:23:39.099
 lampstands was

00:23:39.099 --> 00:23:40.799
 one like a

00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:41.599
 son of man

00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:44.160
 clothed with a

00:23:44.160 --> 00:23:45.779
 long robe and

00:23:45.779 --> 00:23:47.079
 a golden sash

00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:47.879
 around his

00:23:47.879 --> 00:23:48.139
 chest.

00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:48.680
 That sash

00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:49.079
 would normally

00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:49.660
 be around his

00:23:49.660 --> 00:23:49.879
 waist.

00:23:50.339 --> 00:23:50.599
 But it's

00:23:50.599 --> 00:23:51.359
 placed across

00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:52.279
 his chest

00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:53.839
 because it

00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:54.579
 symbolizes

00:23:54.579 --> 00:23:56.779
 royalty and

00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:57.279
 victory.

00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:00.460
 The hairs of

00:24:00.460 --> 00:24:02.720
 his head were

00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:03.680
 white like

00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:04.580
 white wool

00:24:04.580 --> 00:24:05.640
 like snow.

00:24:07.640 --> 00:24:08.759
 That speaks

00:24:08.759 --> 00:24:09.500
 of wisdom.

00:24:11.160 --> 00:24:11.840
 It speaks

00:24:11.840 --> 00:24:12.580
 of purity.

00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:15.220
 His feet

00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:15.799
 were like

00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:16.680
 burnished

00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:18.400
 bronze refined

00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:19.320
 in a furnace.

00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:22.200
 It does not

00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:22.680
 say his

00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:23.259
 sandals.

00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:24.019
 It does not

00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:24.460
 say his

00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:24.980
 boots.

00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:26.560
 It says his

00:24:26.560 --> 00:24:27.060
 feet.

00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:27.159
 feet.

00:24:27.159 --> 00:24:28.019
 He could

00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:28.659
 walk through

00:24:28.659 --> 00:24:28.059
 anything.

00:24:28.059 --> 00:24:29.059
 He could

00:24:29.059 --> 00:24:28.659
 walk through

00:24:28.659 --> 00:24:29.059
 anything.

00:24:29.059 --> 00:24:30.119
 He could

00:24:30.119 --> 00:24:31.599
 walk through

00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:32.059
 anything.

00:24:32.059 --> 00:24:33.899
 He could

00:24:33.899 --> 00:24:34.220
 walk through

00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:36.159
 anything.

00:24:36.159 --> 00:24:36.159


00:24:36.159 --> 00:24:38.159
 through anything.

00:24:38.159 --> 00:24:41.419
 His voice was like

00:24:41.419 --> 00:24:42.619
 the roar of many

00:24:42.619 --> 00:24:43.220
 waters.

00:24:43.220 --> 00:24:46.159
 Mightier than Niagara

00:24:46.159 --> 00:24:46.159


00:24:46.159 --> 00:24:48.759
 Falls was the

00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:49.460
 voice of God.

00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:51.759
 in his right hand

00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:52.480
 that's the hand of

00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:52.920
 authority.

00:24:53.860 --> 00:24:55.120
 In his right hand

00:24:55.120 --> 00:24:56.779
 he held seven

00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:57.500
 stars.

00:24:58.420 --> 00:24:59.579
 Later he tells us

00:24:59.579 --> 00:25:00.740
 those are the

00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:01.720
 angelios, the

00:25:01.720 --> 00:25:02.299
 messengers.

00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:04.980
 From his mouth

00:25:04.980 --> 00:25:06.240
 come a sharp

00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:07.880
 two-edged sword.

00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:08.880
 Hebrews tells us

00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:09.600
 what that is.

00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:10.980
 It's the word of

00:25:10.980 --> 00:25:11.299
 God.

00:25:13.299 --> 00:25:14.579
 And his face

00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:15.519
 was like the

00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:17.200
 sun shining

00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:18.779
 in full

00:25:18.779 --> 00:25:19.980
 strength.

00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:24.940
 The message

00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:25.720
 is this.

00:25:27.340 --> 00:25:28.240
 In the

00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:28.840
 midst of

00:25:28.840 --> 00:25:29.460
 whatever

00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:30.039
 persecution

00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:30.799
 you're going

00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:31.200
 through,

00:25:32.120 --> 00:25:32.720
 in the

00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:33.120
 midst of

00:25:33.120 --> 00:25:34.059
 whatever valley

00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:34.960
 you have,

00:25:35.880 --> 00:25:36.700
 in the

00:25:36.700 --> 00:25:37.100
 midst of

00:25:37.100 --> 00:25:37.700
 your pit,

00:25:39.059 --> 00:25:40.319
 Jesus

00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:42.340
 is walking

00:25:42.340 --> 00:25:44.100
 right in

00:25:44.100 --> 00:25:44.680
 the midst

00:25:44.680 --> 00:25:46.420
 of your

00:25:46.420 --> 00:25:47.100
 circumstances.

00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:50.640
 He knows

00:25:50.640 --> 00:25:51.059
 what they

00:25:51.059 --> 00:25:51.420
 are.

00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:53.840
 He's on

00:25:53.840 --> 00:25:54.360
 top of

00:25:54.360 --> 00:25:54.480
 them.

00:25:56.360 --> 00:25:57.259
 He has

00:25:57.259 --> 00:25:58.100
 not forgotten

00:25:58.100 --> 00:25:58.539
 you.

00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:01.759
 He has

00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:02.600
 not left

00:26:02.600 --> 00:26:03.039
 you

00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:04.319
 alone.

00:26:07.640 --> 00:26:08.460
 He's not

00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:08.960
 done with

00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:09.279
 you.

00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:16.279
 He's not

00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:16.599
 looking

00:26:16.599 --> 00:26:16.599


00:26:16.599 --> 00:26:17.240
 from

00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:17.460
 on

00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:17.879
 high

00:26:17.879 --> 00:26:19.220
 checking

00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:19.460
 you

00:26:19.460 --> 00:26:19.819
 out.

00:26:22.339 --> 00:26:22.980
 He's

00:26:22.980 --> 00:26:23.259
 in the

00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:23.500
 midst

00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:23.700
 of

00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:23.920
 it

00:26:23.920 --> 00:26:25.819
 with

00:26:25.819 --> 00:26:26.160
 you.

00:26:28.839 --> 00:26:29.460
 Maybe

00:26:29.460 --> 00:26:29.839
 nobody

00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:30.220
 else

00:26:30.220 --> 00:26:30.680
 knows.

00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:33.599
 God's

00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:33.980
 not left

00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:34.139
 you

00:26:34.139 --> 00:26:34.480
 alone.

00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:37.139
 God's

00:26:37.139 --> 00:26:37.339
 not

00:26:37.339 --> 00:26:37.759
 forgotten

00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:38.079
 you.

00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:40.680
 God's

00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:41.019
 not done

00:26:41.019 --> 00:26:41.420
 with you.

00:26:41.420 --> 00:26:45.000
 God's

00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.000


00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.000


00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.000


00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.519
 the

00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:45.740
 Lord

00:26:45.740 --> 00:26:47.700
 more than

00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:47.860
 your

00:26:47.860 --> 00:26:48.360
 feelings

00:26:48.360 --> 00:26:50.960
 more than

00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:51.160
 your

00:26:51.160 --> 00:26:51.920
 circumstances

00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:54.660
 more than

00:26:54.660 --> 00:26:55.000
 what you

00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:55.580
 can see.

00:26:56.940 --> 00:26:57.420
 You

00:26:57.420 --> 00:26:57.820
 can trust

00:26:57.820 --> 00:26:57.960
 the

00:26:57.960 --> 00:26:58.200
 Lord.

00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:01.340
 He'll be

00:27:01.340 --> 00:27:01.700
 with you

00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:01.940
 in a

00:27:01.940 --> 00:27:02.180
 pit.

00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:04.660
 He's

00:27:04.660 --> 00:27:04.980
 doing a

00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:05.420
 work in

00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:05.720
 you.

00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:08.680
 With

00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:08.880
 every

00:27:08.880 --> 00:27:09.060
 head

00:27:09.060 --> 00:27:09.360
 bowed

00:27:09.360 --> 00:27:09.580
 and every

00:27:09.580 --> 00:27:09.700
 eye

00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:10.160
 closed,

00:27:10.160 --> 00:27:13.140
 I ask you this morning

00:27:13.140 --> 00:27:15.220
 have you ever given your heart and life

00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:17.440
 to the Lord Jesus Christ

00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:21.519
 has there ever been a time

00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:23.620
 when you said Lord I know I've done wrong

00:27:23.620 --> 00:27:28.380
 I know I need help

00:27:28.380 --> 00:27:31.440
 and the only one that can help me

00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:33.340
 is the one that knows me better than I know myself

00:27:33.340 --> 00:27:35.440
 and so because Christ went to the cross

00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:38.500
 I know that if I confess I'm a sinner

00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:39.720
 you'll forgive me for my sins

00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:41.779
 and come into my life and change my life

00:27:41.779 --> 00:27:44.259
 you'll empower me by the spirit of God

00:27:44.259 --> 00:27:46.319
 you'll change me from this day forward

00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:49.100
 so today I surrender my life to you

00:27:49.100 --> 00:27:51.819
 if you've never done that

00:27:51.819 --> 00:27:53.140
 I encourage you today

00:27:53.140 --> 00:27:55.100
 to do just that

00:27:55.100 --> 00:27:56.880
 I'd love to guide you in that process

00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:58.200
 and we're going to stand in a moment

00:27:58.200 --> 00:28:00.160
 we're going to sing but more important than the song

00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:02.279
 is that you obey God

00:28:02.279 --> 00:28:04.559
 and if you come down and tell me we need to talk about this

00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:05.880
 we'll make time to do that

00:28:05.880 --> 00:28:10.800
 maybe you're here and you have done that

00:28:10.800 --> 00:28:11.840
 and you've done that privately

00:28:11.840 --> 00:28:13.080
 but you've never done it publicly

00:28:13.080 --> 00:28:14.240
 you've never acknowledged it

00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:16.480
 and by Jesus by his commission and by his example

00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:17.760
 tell us to follow that

00:28:17.760 --> 00:28:20.440
 with a public confession of our faith

00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:21.220
 through baptism

00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:24.040
 and if you've never been baptized as a believer

00:28:24.040 --> 00:28:25.140
 but you know you're a believer

00:28:25.140 --> 00:28:26.720
 it'll be a hindrance to your life

00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:28.940
 to not follow him in obedience

00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:31.500
 so I encourage you to be obedient with that

00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:34.660
 God's burdened you with that

00:28:34.660 --> 00:28:35.140
 you come

00:28:35.140 --> 00:28:36.039
 let's talk about that

00:28:36.039 --> 00:28:37.140
 we're not doing it this morning

00:28:37.140 --> 00:28:38.200
 we'll line up a time

00:28:38.200 --> 00:28:42.539
 maybe God's leading you to

00:28:42.539 --> 00:28:44.460
 Pickens First Baptist Church

00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:47.140
 God's doing a wonderful work here

00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:48.640
 and I'm thankful for it

00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:51.200
 God's drawing you

00:28:51.200 --> 00:28:52.740
 you didn't come up with that on your own

00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:53.700
 he's leading you

00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:55.000
 I just encourage you to be obedient

00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:55.720
 to follow him

00:28:55.720 --> 00:29:00.079
 and for the rest of us

00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:04.680
 will you just take time to say

00:29:04.680 --> 00:29:06.299
 Lord thank you that I'm not alone

00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:10.059
 thank you that you hadn't forgotten me

00:29:10.059 --> 00:29:14.579
 thank you that you're at work in me right now

00:29:14.579 --> 00:29:19.319
 and help me God

00:29:19.319 --> 00:29:23.400
 to not trust my feelings

00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:26.600
 to not trust my circumstances

00:29:26.600 --> 00:29:30.700
 to not watch the walls crawl in on me

00:29:30.700 --> 00:29:32.259
 but instead to trust

00:29:32.259 --> 00:29:34.460
 you Lord

00:29:34.460 --> 00:29:37.860
 for you are at work

00:29:37.860 --> 00:29:41.580
 you can do that where you'll stand

00:29:41.580 --> 00:29:44.000
 you can do that at this altar

00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:47.140
 you can do it with a pastor praying for you

00:29:47.140 --> 00:29:50.860
 Lord Jesus thank you

00:29:50.860 --> 00:29:53.140
 that you don't leave us alone

00:29:53.140 --> 00:29:56.180
 thank you that you hadn't forgot us

00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:58.020
 thank you Lord

00:29:58.020 --> 00:29:59.340
 that you walk with us

00:29:59.340 --> 00:30:01.720
 help us oh God

00:30:01.720 --> 00:30:04.380
 to stay in

00:30:04.380 --> 00:30:06.759
 a faithful fight

00:30:06.759 --> 00:30:09.640
 to walk with you dear God

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 to be right with you oh God

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 knowing that you are still at work

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 in us today

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 we love you Lord Jesus

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 and thank you for the opportunity

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 help us to simply be obedient this morning

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 to follow you

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 in Jesus name

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 amen

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 for this morning

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