WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.500 We have Brother Ricard come and share with us from God's Word here this morning. 00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:08.160 Brother, why don't you come on and share what God has laid upon your heart for us here today. 00:00:08.419 --> 00:00:13.980 You know, they say that the reward for not killing your kids is grandkids, amen? 00:00:14.400 --> 00:00:19.600 And so we have stepped into that, and so we're very thankful for that. 00:00:20.039 --> 00:00:25.240 But I want to thank Plains Baptist Church, and Friday night was just wonderful. 00:00:25.239 --> 00:00:32.659 And we just had a great time, and the decorations and all the hands that went into it with the food, the preparation. 00:00:33.379 --> 00:00:41.539 And, of course, the teenagers did a superb job and praying for them as they go to camp and just see God work. 00:00:41.619 --> 00:00:45.399 I had the privilege of assisting with approving missionaries. 00:00:45.399 --> 00:00:58.060 And I would say probably 90% of those who were approved to be missionaries, they were either saved or called to preach at youth camp. 00:00:59.200 --> 00:01:02.439 And so it's just an amazing thing to see God working in that way. 00:01:02.619 --> 00:01:04.459 And so thank you for the missions house. 00:01:04.620 --> 00:01:07.420 I mean, wow, we had so many. 00:01:08.200 --> 00:01:10.140 I was able to hide from my wife. 00:01:10.319 --> 00:01:11.460 You know, it was great. 00:01:11.459 --> 00:01:14.619 And, you know, she was able to hide from me too. 00:01:14.819 --> 00:01:16.839 And so, but what a great place. 00:01:16.979 --> 00:01:18.639 You guys, you nailed it. 00:01:18.759 --> 00:01:20.319 You thought about everything. 00:01:20.780 --> 00:01:21.659 Great job. 00:01:21.759 --> 00:01:25.799 And then Pastor and April, you guys are a blessing. 00:01:26.139 --> 00:01:26.739 I appreciate it. 00:01:26.739 --> 00:01:30.299 I know she's taking care of the kiddos, and thank you so much. 00:01:30.579 --> 00:01:34.759 And the great fellowship, getting to know each other a little bit more. 00:01:35.079 --> 00:01:37.439 And I enjoyed playing the game last night. 00:01:37.759 --> 00:01:38.579 It was a good time. 00:01:38.659 --> 00:01:40.019 And, by the way, the guys won. 00:01:40.019 --> 00:01:41.679 I just wanted to put that out there. 00:01:42.379 --> 00:01:44.519 And so there will be a rematch. 00:01:45.060 --> 00:01:45.599 Okay, yeah. 00:01:46.379 --> 00:01:50.879 And so, but church, man, be thankful for your pastor and your pastor's wife. 00:01:51.159 --> 00:01:52.640 And they're such a blessing. 00:01:53.000 --> 00:02:00.019 And it's just great to know to see their faithfulness and just continuance in the work of the Lord. 00:02:00.519 --> 00:02:01.920 And let them know you thank them. 00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:05.939 Or let them know you're thankful for them consistently and constantly. 00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:06.280 Amen. 00:02:06.280 --> 00:02:06.359 Amen. 00:02:06.879 --> 00:02:10.319 And so, but we're so thankful to be here. 00:02:10.680 --> 00:02:13.080 And thank you, Pastor, for this opportunity to preach. 00:02:13.500 --> 00:02:16.520 And I want to draw your attention to the book of Joshua. 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:21.240 I almost said the Gospel of Joshua, which Joshua does mean Jesus. 00:02:21.240 --> 00:02:24.060 So it wouldn't be a bad thing to say. 00:02:24.060 --> 00:02:26.659 But Joshua chapter 14, if you would. 00:02:27.920 --> 00:02:35.460 And our country, and I'm thankful for the country that we live in and the freedoms that we have. 00:02:36.320 --> 00:02:43.780 But our country has had so many great, great leaders, great generals. 00:02:43.780 --> 00:02:46.060 And one of them is MacArthur. 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:56.379 And General Douglas MacArthur, he used these words in his address to Congress in April 19, 1951, 00:02:56.379 --> 00:03:00.300 when he came to the end of his remarkable military career. 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:01.659 He said this, 00:03:01.659 --> 00:03:19.719 It was my constant effort to preserve them and to end this savage conflict honorably 00:03:19.719 --> 00:03:24.219 and with the least loss of time and the minimal sacrifice of life. 00:03:24.219 --> 00:03:29.319 Its growing bloodshed has caused me the deepest anguish and anxiety. 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:34.879 Those gallant men will remain often in my thoughts and in my prayers always. 00:03:35.879 --> 00:03:39.800 I am closing my 52 years of military service. 00:03:39.800 --> 00:03:42.840 When I joined the army, even before the turn of the century, 00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:47.340 it was the fulfillment of all my boyish dreams and hopes. 00:03:47.340 --> 00:03:55.560 The world had turned over many times since I took the oath on the plane at West Point. 00:03:56.420 --> 00:03:59.460 And the hopes and dreams have long since vanished. 00:03:59.800 --> 00:04:05.120 But I still remember the refrain of one of the most popular barrack ballads of that day, 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:09.659 which proclaimed most proudly that old soldiers never die. 00:04:10.180 --> 00:04:11.099 They just fade away. 00:04:11.099 --> 00:04:17.319 And like the old soldier of that ballot, I now close my military career and just fade away. 00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:24.500 An old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty. 00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:28.899 And this morning, we're going to look at another old soldier, if you will. 00:04:29.420 --> 00:04:34.540 You're probably from, if you know the Old Testament, you looked at 14 and you said, 00:04:34.600 --> 00:04:35.480 Ah, Mr. Caleb. 00:04:35.480 --> 00:04:37.900 And he was an old soldier. 00:04:38.040 --> 00:04:44.259 In fact, he's not able, he's not about to fade away though, even though he is 85 years old. 00:04:45.520 --> 00:04:47.040 He still wants to conquer. 00:04:47.180 --> 00:04:51.720 He still has a desire to conquer, to assume, to seize. 00:04:51.960 --> 00:04:55.100 What God told him was rightfully his. 00:04:55.420 --> 00:04:58.160 And in all actuality, he was not ready to fade away. 00:04:58.240 --> 00:04:59.700 He was not ready to go off the scene. 00:04:59.780 --> 00:05:00.819 He was just beginning. 00:05:00.819 --> 00:05:06.060 And there are two essentials that we're going to see or qualities that we're going to see, 00:05:06.399 --> 00:05:09.759 essential qualities that we're going to see that existed in Caleb's life 00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:16.540 that must exist in our lives if we want to receive what God has promised. 00:05:16.680 --> 00:05:18.240 Now, let me just say this up front. 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:20.219 The title of my message is, I want that mountain. 00:05:21.039 --> 00:05:24.000 Some of you are familiar with that song, I want that mountain, right? 00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:30.079 And let me just kind of set this up or say this before I go any further. 00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:33.620 This is not a name it or claim it by any means, okay? 00:05:34.479 --> 00:05:43.620 But we see that God promised Caleb something, and Caleb expected God to keep his promise. 00:05:44.479 --> 00:05:46.639 Do you all expect God to keep his promise? 00:05:47.219 --> 00:05:48.240 Yeah, absolutely. 00:05:49.099 --> 00:05:54.459 And so we're going to see that he has an initiative and his willingness to pay the price. 00:05:54.560 --> 00:05:56.419 Those are the two qualities that we're going to look at. 00:05:56.420 --> 00:06:00.620 In old church, the more we allow God to develop these qualities in our life, 00:06:00.759 --> 00:06:06.160 the more we will position ourselves for God to use us in great and mighty ways. 00:06:07.020 --> 00:06:13.400 So Joshua chapter number 14, let's jump down in verse number 6. 00:06:13.520 --> 00:06:14.120 Let's start there. 00:06:14.120 --> 00:06:18.199 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal, 00:06:18.639 --> 00:06:23.160 and Caleb the son of Japhon, the king of the night, said unto him, 00:06:23.319 --> 00:06:28.360 Thou knowest the things that the Lord said unto the man of God, Moses, 00:06:28.780 --> 00:06:33.759 unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh Barnea. 00:06:33.879 --> 00:06:39.759 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, 00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:43.360 and I brought him word again as it was in my heart. 00:06:43.579 --> 00:06:49.759 Nevertheless, my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt, 00:06:50.060 --> 00:06:53.120 but I wholly followed my Lord. 00:06:53.639 --> 00:06:56.860 You see, first of all, we're going to look at Caleb took the initiative. 00:06:57.099 --> 00:06:59.480 How did he receive what God promised him? 00:06:59.800 --> 00:07:01.300 He took the initiative. 00:07:01.639 --> 00:07:04.839 He's ultimately going to say in verse number 12, let's just jump down there, 00:07:04.839 --> 00:07:09.359 where it says, and now therefore give me this mountain. 00:07:10.579 --> 00:07:14.979 He didn't sit around waiting and hoping Joshua would take notice. 00:07:15.379 --> 00:07:17.620 He took initiative, didn't he? 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:19.459 He said, give me this mountain. 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:22.239 It's kind of like John Knox is known for the prayer, 00:07:22.359 --> 00:07:23.879 give me Scotland or I what? 00:07:24.519 --> 00:07:25.239 Or I die. 00:07:26.699 --> 00:07:29.259 Knox's prayer was not an arrogant demand, 00:07:29.259 --> 00:07:35.839 but the passionate plea of a man willing to die for the sake of the pure preaching of the gospel 00:07:35.839 --> 00:07:37.879 and to his countrymen. 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:40.259 Caleb was not going to sit around anymore. 00:07:40.399 --> 00:07:43.319 He had done that far too long. 00:07:43.740 --> 00:07:45.039 He said, now it's time. 00:07:45.699 --> 00:07:49.099 But as we look at his initiative, the initiative that he took, 00:07:49.519 --> 00:07:51.779 what was it that developed that? 00:07:52.599 --> 00:07:56.099 Okay, go have initiative, kind of like what I talked about Friday night. 00:07:56.219 --> 00:07:57.719 Hey, be bold, but how do we do that? 00:07:57.720 --> 00:08:01.640 And this is what developed his initiative. 00:08:02.340 --> 00:08:06.760 First of all, first and foremost, it was based upon the word of God. 00:08:07.620 --> 00:08:09.120 We see in verse number 6, he says, 00:08:09.480 --> 00:08:12.420 The children of Judah came unto Joshua and Gilgal, 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:14.520 and Caleb the son of Japhon, the king of the night, 00:08:14.820 --> 00:08:19.520 said unto him, Thou knowest the thing the Lord, help me, said. 00:08:20.420 --> 00:08:24.060 You see, everything that we're going to see in the life of Caleb 00:08:24.060 --> 00:08:29.819 and his I want that mountain request was based upon the word of God. 00:08:29.860 --> 00:08:34.720 It wasn't a flash of emotion, nor was it something that he developed in his own mind 00:08:34.720 --> 00:08:35.799 or maybe read in a book. 00:08:36.100 --> 00:08:38.860 This vision was born through the word of God. 00:08:39.059 --> 00:08:41.360 And we understand Romans 10, verse 17. 00:08:41.580 --> 00:08:44.419 Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by what? 00:08:44.840 --> 00:08:45.840 The word of God. 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:51.860 Whatever initiative we take, it ought to be based upon the word of God. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:58.560 When we think about it, every initiative ought to come back to what does God's word say? 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:00.899 What does he want me to do? 00:09:01.080 --> 00:09:02.120 And I'm going to tell you this. 00:09:02.379 --> 00:09:03.460 It's very simple. 00:09:03.820 --> 00:09:06.180 If you remember, Paul said to the Corinthian church, 00:09:06.340 --> 00:09:13.300 Man, I fear lest Satan beguile you from the simplicity that is in Christ. 00:09:13.299 --> 00:09:15.099 You know, Christianity is very simple. 00:09:16.299 --> 00:09:17.319 It really is. 00:09:18.419 --> 00:09:21.620 You know, there's really only two topics a preacher could preach on every Sunday. 00:09:22.159 --> 00:09:22.500 Sorry. 00:09:23.219 --> 00:09:24.719 It's either salvation or sanctification. 00:09:25.819 --> 00:09:26.479 That's it. 00:09:27.240 --> 00:09:29.639 And what's the simplicity that is in Christ for us? 00:09:29.679 --> 00:09:30.599 Here's what God tells us. 00:09:30.899 --> 00:09:33.500 When the world, disciple them, establish churches. 00:09:34.539 --> 00:09:35.659 That's simple, isn't it? 00:09:36.079 --> 00:09:36.979 It's hard to do. 00:09:37.399 --> 00:09:41.299 And praise God for what you guys did in sending out a couple to start a church. 00:09:41.299 --> 00:09:46.459 But listen, what we have to remember, we have to remember that the church of God, 00:09:46.579 --> 00:09:51.579 establishing the church, establishing churches, is God's plan A. 00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:54.620 It's not a, well, we'll see. 00:09:54.679 --> 00:09:56.179 No, that's God's plan A. 00:09:56.679 --> 00:09:57.859 There's no plan B. 00:09:58.939 --> 00:10:00.139 There's no plan B. 00:10:00.620 --> 00:10:04.159 And here's the warning, because a lot of times we want to take Scripture, 00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:08.259 boy, we can make things sound, hmm, boy, we could twist it, can't we? 00:10:08.339 --> 00:10:12.079 Make it do and say what we want it to do, right? 00:10:12.779 --> 00:10:14.360 2 Peter warns us, and he says, 00:10:14.860 --> 00:10:18.860 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, 00:10:18.919 --> 00:10:22.259 in which are some things hard to be understood. 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:24.600 I'm glad Peter had a hard time understanding the Bible. 00:10:25.719 --> 00:10:26.980 It gives me comfort, amen? 00:10:26.980 --> 00:10:35.300 He says, which they that are unlearned and unstable, they rest, they twist, 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:37.259 as they do the other Scripture. 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:39.820 And so, boy, I'll tell you what, you can take any Scripture, 00:10:39.940 --> 00:10:44.019 make it sound good, to our own initiative, can't we? 00:10:44.519 --> 00:10:46.879 But we've got to come back to the pure Word of God. 00:10:46.980 --> 00:10:50.480 My purpose for being in Warrensburg wasn't based upon, 00:10:50.600 --> 00:10:53.159 well, I want to be 1,300 miles away from my family. 00:10:53.159 --> 00:10:56.819 In fact, I can remember being in Bible college 00:10:56.819 --> 00:10:59.759 and looking at all the churches in Missouri, 00:10:59.879 --> 00:11:01.199 I'm going, who wants to go there? 00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:03.159 Right? 00:11:03.919 --> 00:11:05.699 Here I am, right? 00:11:06.360 --> 00:11:08.759 You know, my wife said, honey, I'll follow you anywhere, 00:11:08.980 --> 00:11:11.539 just make sure it's by a beach, or the ocean, rather. 00:11:12.019 --> 00:11:15.179 And she went, nothing in Missouri, okay? 00:11:15.459 --> 00:11:17.240 We've got a lot of lakes, but that doesn't work. 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:19.860 So we go by a lake, and we play ocean sounds, okay? 00:11:19.860 --> 00:11:24.320 And, but I can tell you right now, in the book of Isaiah, 00:11:24.460 --> 00:11:28.279 there's a verse that God gave us to say, 00:11:28.379 --> 00:11:29.120 you need to be here. 00:11:30.080 --> 00:11:31.180 This is very clear. 00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:35.080 After time of fasting and praying about coming to Warrensburg, 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:38.259 and it's got to be based on the Word. 00:11:38.360 --> 00:11:40.279 But also, we see something here, 00:11:40.700 --> 00:11:42.860 there ought to be his initiative included, 00:11:43.580 --> 00:11:45.659 a desire for communion with God. 00:11:45.659 --> 00:11:50.480 Because understand, ultimately, he's going to get Hebron. 00:11:52.319 --> 00:11:55.579 He was one of the spies that Moses had sent. 00:11:55.819 --> 00:12:02.419 Remember, 12 went down, 10 were, 2 were, sorry, 00:12:02.959 --> 00:12:05.319 sorry, I said I gave you that earlier. 00:12:06.319 --> 00:12:07.579 10 were bad, 2 were good. 00:12:08.439 --> 00:12:10.500 And he said, I have Hebron in store for you. 00:12:10.500 --> 00:12:11.339 You know what Hebron means? 00:12:11.439 --> 00:12:12.600 Hebron means communion. 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:15.220 Hebron means fellowship. 00:12:16.019 --> 00:12:18.480 And this is what Caleb desired more than anything, 00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:20.100 and we ought to desire more, 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:22.139 and we ought to desire the same more than anything, 00:12:22.299 --> 00:12:23.939 fellowship and communion with God. 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:25.899 He, the Bible says in Philippians, 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:27.100 that I may know Him. 00:12:28.139 --> 00:12:29.439 That I may know Him, 00:12:29.480 --> 00:12:30.879 and the power of His resurrection, 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:32.199 the fellowship of His sufferings, 00:12:32.439 --> 00:12:34.620 being made more conformable unto His death. 00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:35.539 You see, understand, 00:12:35.699 --> 00:12:39.879 it's not about us getting more stuff from God. 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:43.879 It's about us getting God more of Him. 00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:44.240 Right? 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:48.139 You see, what's interesting, 00:12:48.419 --> 00:12:50.679 if you were to take the New Testament, 00:12:50.860 --> 00:12:52.100 Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:54.840 if you were to take it and divide it into three sections, 00:12:55.059 --> 00:12:58.740 when it comes to relationships regarding the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:12:58.820 --> 00:13:00.220 you could do it in these three ways. 00:13:00.220 --> 00:13:02.660 One, He had a relationship with His Father. 00:13:03.460 --> 00:13:05.940 The second relationship He had with the disciples, 00:13:06.220 --> 00:13:08.920 and the third relationship He had with the lost world. 00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:13.220 But understand, the first and primary relationship that He had was with His Father. 00:13:13.220 --> 00:13:18.860 And everything, all His ministry was an outflow of that relationship with His Dad. 00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:24.340 And I wonder sometimes why I don't have the heart for the lost, 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:27.320 or the heart to see people disciple like I should, 00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:32.200 is because that's when my communion with God is not as strong as it should be. 00:13:32.259 --> 00:13:33.379 Are you following me, church? 00:13:33.379 --> 00:13:37.200 So we have to have that communion with God. 00:13:37.659 --> 00:13:41.399 Never minimize time spent alone with God. 00:13:42.500 --> 00:13:43.860 Never minimize that. 00:13:44.580 --> 00:13:48.179 You know how it is, how it works with a relationship with your husband and wife. 00:13:48.299 --> 00:13:49.700 You need that quiet time. 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:54.039 Another thing we see about His initiative, 00:13:54.200 --> 00:13:55.580 another aspect of His initiative, 00:13:56.019 --> 00:13:58.759 is it requires consecration. 00:13:59.139 --> 00:14:01.320 Notice what it says, if you look in verse number 8. 00:14:01.320 --> 00:14:05.440 He says, nevertheless, my brethren, when they went up with me, 00:14:06.260 --> 00:14:07.879 they made the heart of the people melt. 00:14:08.200 --> 00:14:09.100 But this is what He says, 00:14:09.180 --> 00:14:12.840 but I wholly followed the Lord my God. 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:13.860 Look at verse number 9. 00:14:14.140 --> 00:14:15.760 The latter part, the last part of that verse. 00:14:16.100 --> 00:14:19.120 Because thou hast wholly followed the Lord. 00:14:19.160 --> 00:14:20.879 You see the same phrase used again. 00:14:21.180 --> 00:14:22.879 Wholly followed the Lord. 00:14:23.300 --> 00:14:26.940 There was, listen, required consecration. 00:14:26.940 --> 00:14:31.600 God doesn't want a part offering. 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:34.100 He wants a whole offering, doesn't He? 00:14:34.560 --> 00:14:35.940 He doesn't want part of our life. 00:14:36.020 --> 00:14:38.780 It's not like, well, you know, Jesus is kind of like a fifth wheel. 00:14:38.840 --> 00:14:41.560 I just kind of hook Him up when I need Him, and we drive around. 00:14:42.440 --> 00:14:44.240 No, He wants, He's not a fifth wheel. 00:14:44.340 --> 00:14:44.500 Amen? 00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:48.500 The Bible says that in Colossians chapter 3, verse, I believe it's 4 or 5, 00:14:48.760 --> 00:14:50.460 it says He is our life. 00:14:51.400 --> 00:14:53.580 It's not that He's part of our life, but He is our life. 00:14:53.580 --> 00:14:57.920 And when we realize that consecration, the benefit of it, 00:14:58.220 --> 00:15:00.840 listen, it's going to produce so much, 00:15:01.060 --> 00:15:04.639 and God's going to work through us in a credible and mighty way. 00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:08.060 That word holy, it carries the idea to fill, 00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:11.100 like filling a sail with air. 00:15:12.560 --> 00:15:15.520 It is the picture of sails filled to capacity 00:15:15.520 --> 00:15:17.340 with all the available air 00:15:17.340 --> 00:15:21.920 so that that ship can move across the waters with maximum speed. 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:27.479 to follow the Lord, to close the gap. 00:15:27.939 --> 00:15:30.979 And I think we have a lot of gaps in our lives, don't we? 00:15:31.479 --> 00:15:33.139 Where Satan could come in, 00:15:33.299 --> 00:15:38.679 or other desires could come in, 00:15:38.939 --> 00:15:41.240 and boy, we could just be separate from God. 00:15:42.099 --> 00:15:43.979 Listen, every inch, every ounce, every fiber, 00:15:43.979 --> 00:15:47.419 every of our being ought to belong to the Lord. 00:15:47.419 --> 00:15:50.500 Look at 1 Corinthians, if you will, chapter number 6. 00:15:50.919 --> 00:15:52.519 1 Corinthians chapter 6. 00:15:53.299 --> 00:15:55.379 The Apostle Paul was addressing a people 00:15:55.379 --> 00:15:58.439 who were caught up in their own ideas, 00:15:59.299 --> 00:16:03.439 and he reminds them of something very, very important. 00:16:04.019 --> 00:16:06.360 Because if you look back at verse number 18, 00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:07.979 he talks about sexual sin, 00:16:07.979 --> 00:16:11.819 and boy, that's a gap that could really cause 00:16:11.819 --> 00:16:13.899 so much devastation in our life. 00:16:13.899 --> 00:16:16.279 But he says, I want you to understand something. 00:16:16.379 --> 00:16:18.199 1 Corinthians chapter 6, verse 19. 00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:22.240 What know ye not that your body is not, will be, 00:16:22.340 --> 00:16:24.299 it is the temple of the Holy Spirit. 00:16:25.079 --> 00:16:26.559 It's a temple of the Holy Ghost, 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:28.539 which is in you, which ye have of God, 00:16:28.620 --> 00:16:29.419 and ye are what? 00:16:30.299 --> 00:16:31.220 We're not our own. 00:16:31.379 --> 00:16:33.059 In other words, we don't get to decide. 00:16:34.179 --> 00:16:35.399 God gets to decide. 00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:35.899 That's that consecration. 00:16:36.659 --> 00:16:40.240 Okay, God, is this what you want me to do? 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:43.519 Is this where you want me to go? 00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:46.060 He gets to make the decisions. 00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:49.820 Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price. 00:16:49.940 --> 00:16:52.159 Therefore glorify God in your body and your spirit, 00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:52.840 which are what? 00:16:53.220 --> 00:16:54.340 Which are God's. 00:16:55.299 --> 00:16:56.700 Caleb was consecrated. 00:16:56.820 --> 00:16:58.820 There is a difference between, listen, 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:03.299 simply involvement and consecration. 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:05.259 I mean, you see that from, 00:17:05.740 --> 00:17:08.920 as you look at a plate of ham and eggs. 00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:11.279 The chicken was definitely involved. 00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:14.300 But the pig was committed, wasn't he? 00:17:15.779 --> 00:17:16.259 Amen? 00:17:16.580 --> 00:17:18.840 You see, there are a lot of testimonies in the Bible. 00:17:19.860 --> 00:17:20.820 A ton of them. 00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:23.300 But Caleb is one of the few 00:17:23.300 --> 00:17:26.000 where God gives the testimony. 00:17:27.300 --> 00:17:29.460 He says this in Numbers 14, verse 24. 00:17:29.620 --> 00:17:29.740 He says, 00:17:29.820 --> 00:17:30.880 But my servant Caleb, 00:17:31.220 --> 00:17:33.400 because he had another spirit with him, 00:17:33.820 --> 00:17:36.100 hath followed me fully. 00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:37.980 I don't know about you, 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:40.539 but man, I wouldn't mind having God give me a testimony. 00:17:41.179 --> 00:17:43.199 Let me give you a testimony about Rich. 00:17:43.579 --> 00:17:44.719 Would he say that about me? 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:46.399 Would he say that about us? 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:48.519 See, Caleb was consecrated. 00:17:49.099 --> 00:17:50.359 God has so much for us. 00:17:50.379 --> 00:17:51.559 He's not done with us. 00:17:52.219 --> 00:17:53.819 There's more for us to conquer. 00:17:53.959 --> 00:17:55.899 There's more for us to accomplish. 00:17:56.379 --> 00:18:00.099 But also something that involved his initiative was, 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:01.980 he was confident in God. 00:18:02.680 --> 00:18:03.860 We see in verse number 10, 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:05.319 notice what it says back in our text, 00:18:05.420 --> 00:18:07.059 in Joshua chapter number 14, 00:18:07.180 --> 00:18:07.380 it says, 00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:08.319 And now behold the Lord, 00:18:09.140 --> 00:18:10.220 He hath kept me alive. 00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:12.339 Listen, all of us are breathing this morning. 00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:13.299 At least I think so. 00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:14.299 Okay? 00:18:14.460 --> 00:18:15.259 If not, shake them. 00:18:15.380 --> 00:18:15.960 Just make sure. 00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:18.180 But if you're breathing this morning 00:18:18.180 --> 00:18:19.160 and you're alive, 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:21.720 God's got a plan for you. 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:23.059 Isn't that great? 00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:25.039 But you don't understand. 00:18:25.579 --> 00:18:26.140 You're right, 00:18:26.140 --> 00:18:27.440 I don't understand the trial 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:28.960 and the difficulty and the struggle. 00:18:29.339 --> 00:18:31.640 But God has a plan even within that. 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:33.400 How? 00:18:33.660 --> 00:18:34.079 When? 00:18:34.180 --> 00:18:34.519 Where? 00:18:34.660 --> 00:18:34.980 Why? 00:18:35.180 --> 00:18:35.420 You know, 00:18:36.099 --> 00:18:37.240 just trust Him. 00:18:39.579 --> 00:18:39.819 You see, 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:40.079 He says, 00:18:40.120 --> 00:18:41.640 You kept me alive for a purpose. 00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:41.900 He said, 00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:43.059 Forty and five years, 00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:45.779 even since the Lord spake His word unto moments 00:18:45.779 --> 00:18:47.900 while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness. 00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:48.920 And now, 00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:49.180 lo, 00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:51.920 I am this day fourscore and five years. 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:53.740 And then He says in verse number 12, 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:54.480 He says, 00:18:54.700 --> 00:18:55.960 Now therefore give me this mountain 00:18:55.960 --> 00:18:57.680 wherefore the Lord spake in that day, 00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:59.880 for thou heardest in that day 00:18:59.880 --> 00:19:02.380 how the Anakims were there 00:19:02.380 --> 00:19:04.380 and that the cities were great and fenced. 00:19:04.860 --> 00:19:05.380 If so be, 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:06.580 the Lord will be with me. 00:19:06.660 --> 00:19:07.380 Here's His confidence. 00:19:07.620 --> 00:19:09.820 Then I shall be able to drive them out 00:19:09.820 --> 00:19:11.259 as the Lord, 00:19:11.320 --> 00:19:11.580 what? 00:19:12.080 --> 00:19:14.360 He kept going back to what God's word said. 00:19:15.080 --> 00:19:16.940 He kept going back to the confidence 00:19:16.940 --> 00:19:17.860 in God's word 00:19:17.860 --> 00:19:18.700 and what He said. 00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:19.519 And man, 00:19:19.600 --> 00:19:20.840 we have to drill down. 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:23.259 We need to be anchored in God. 00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:26.319 That's why Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 2, 00:19:26.420 --> 00:19:26.539 2, 00:19:26.619 --> 00:19:26.799 what? 00:19:27.180 --> 00:19:28.420 Be bold where? 00:19:28.900 --> 00:19:29.680 In God. 00:19:30.059 --> 00:19:31.839 We have to be anchored in Him. 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:33.359 Several years ago, 00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:35.319 I had the privilege to travel 00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:36.539 with one of our missionaries 00:19:36.539 --> 00:19:40.259 and they were doing some work in, 00:19:40.339 --> 00:19:41.460 they were in Ethiopia 00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:42.559 and they were doing work 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:46.960 with the newer people in South Sudan. 00:19:47.879 --> 00:19:48.759 And where they were working 00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:50.779 was right along the border of east, 00:19:50.879 --> 00:19:51.799 of the east coast, 00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:52.259 or the, 00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:52.779 I guess, 00:19:52.879 --> 00:19:53.220 let's see, 00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:55.460 be the west of Ethiopia, 00:19:56.259 --> 00:19:56.819 I think it is. 00:19:57.379 --> 00:19:57.619 And, 00:19:57.700 --> 00:19:59.559 but they were based out of Addis, 00:19:59.619 --> 00:20:00.440 which is the capital. 00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:02.000 And I had gone to Ethiopia 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:03.640 a couple times prior to that. 00:20:03.819 --> 00:20:05.339 And so we went in 00:20:05.339 --> 00:20:07.299 and we're going to do some training 00:20:07.299 --> 00:20:09.500 with some of the pastors there 00:20:09.500 --> 00:20:10.319 in South Sudan. 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:11.420 We're going to go to Mywut, 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:12.640 South Sudan, 00:20:12.819 --> 00:20:13.900 and live in tents 00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:15.079 for about four or five days 00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:15.920 or whatever it was. 00:20:16.359 --> 00:20:17.680 And I think it was five days, 00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:18.279 maybe six. 00:20:18.339 --> 00:20:19.140 I can't remember now. 00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:21.079 And so anyhow, 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:22.519 we flew into Addis, 00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:23.920 kind of caught our breath 00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:24.559 from flying, 00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:26.220 flew into Gambela. 00:20:26.859 --> 00:20:27.259 And, 00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:27.980 of course, 00:20:28.059 --> 00:20:29.759 the elevation is totally different 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:30.759 in Addis. 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:31.700 It's a lot cooler. 00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:33.059 It does get hot there in the summer, 00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:34.160 but not like it did 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:35.740 or does in Gambela 00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:37.059 in that Mywut area 00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:38.119 of South Sudan. 00:20:38.119 --> 00:20:40.219 And we get off the plane. 00:20:40.299 --> 00:20:41.559 When they opened the door 00:20:41.559 --> 00:20:42.199 of the plane, 00:20:42.339 --> 00:20:42.659 you ever, 00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:45.719 it felt like when you opened the oven 00:20:45.719 --> 00:20:47.739 and it hits you. 00:20:48.419 --> 00:20:49.439 And I said, 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:50.279 hmm, 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:53.159 I didn't read this in the brochure. 00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:57.439 Some of you have been in those regions 00:20:57.439 --> 00:20:58.319 where it's hot. 00:20:58.719 --> 00:20:59.339 Like, well, 00:20:59.539 --> 00:21:00.399 it's a dry heat. 00:21:00.639 --> 00:21:00.879 Buddy, 00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:02.699 you still sweat, man. 00:21:02.919 --> 00:21:03.239 All right? 00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:05.220 So we get off 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:06.019 and we go. 00:21:06.140 --> 00:21:07.740 We stay in a hotel one night. 00:21:08.120 --> 00:21:08.440 And, 00:21:08.579 --> 00:21:08.740 of course, 00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:10.420 the electricity is not really good. 00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:11.460 So our air conditioner, 00:21:12.599 --> 00:21:14.160 it didn't have enough electricity 00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:16.559 to cause the, 00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:17.779 what's the thing, 00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:20.519 whatever that pushes out 00:21:20.519 --> 00:21:21.160 the air conditioner. 00:21:21.579 --> 00:21:22.620 It would kick on 00:21:22.620 --> 00:21:23.519 every once in a while, 00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:24.120 the compressor. 00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:25.720 We'd get this little spurt 00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:26.299 of cold air 00:21:26.299 --> 00:21:26.680 and we were like, 00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:27.180 I mean, 00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:28.400 we were just sweating all night. 00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:28.680 Anyhow, 00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:29.240 we get up, 00:21:29.299 --> 00:21:29.960 we go over there. 00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:32.039 And they wouldn't let us 00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:32.779 into South Sudan 00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:36.400 because of a border issue 00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:37.000 and so forth. 00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:37.460 And by the way, 00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:38.759 the border was just a rope 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:40.319 across the road. 00:21:40.700 --> 00:21:41.420 That's all it was. 00:21:42.420 --> 00:21:43.200 And so we're standing 00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:44.319 and they're negotiating, 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:45.319 trying to get us in there. 00:21:45.380 --> 00:21:46.299 We got this truck 00:21:46.299 --> 00:21:47.799 filled of ministry supplies 00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:49.200 and all these things 00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:50.380 and all these pastors 00:21:50.380 --> 00:21:51.600 were going to be waiting for us. 00:21:52.039 --> 00:21:53.720 And we never made it across. 00:21:53.819 --> 00:21:55.140 And one of the pastors comes up. 00:21:55.340 --> 00:21:56.360 We're sitting in the truck 00:21:56.360 --> 00:21:57.340 and he comes up, 00:21:57.400 --> 00:21:57.559 he goes, 00:21:57.600 --> 00:21:57.720 you know, 00:21:57.779 --> 00:21:58.059 this is, 00:21:58.279 --> 00:21:59.940 we're experiencing a blessing. 00:22:00.059 --> 00:22:00.720 I'm on a blessing. 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:01.600 He goes, 00:22:01.620 --> 00:22:02.380 you see that cloud? 00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:03.980 He goes, 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:05.460 we usually don't get clouds like this. 00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:08.039 And it brought the temperature down. 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:09.480 Praise God. 00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:10.259 So anyhow, 00:22:10.340 --> 00:22:11.480 we get to the place 00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:12.200 we're going to stay 00:22:12.200 --> 00:22:12.840 and unfortunately, 00:22:12.940 --> 00:22:13.779 we had to relocate 00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:15.779 and they're setting up the tents. 00:22:15.860 --> 00:22:15.920 Now, 00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:17.400 we got Coleman tents from America. 00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:19.319 I'm not a promoter of them. 00:22:19.400 --> 00:22:20.039 I don't get paid 00:22:20.039 --> 00:22:20.900 for this advertisement. 00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:22.960 But we get in there, 00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:23.779 we set up the tents 00:22:23.779 --> 00:22:24.319 and they had, 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:25.120 instead of just those 00:22:25.120 --> 00:22:26.319 little thin tent stakes, 00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:27.620 they had rebar 00:22:27.620 --> 00:22:29.079 that was bent a certain way 00:22:29.079 --> 00:22:30.319 and they were driving 00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:32.000 in the rebar into the ground 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:33.319 because it was so dry, 00:22:33.639 --> 00:22:35.619 you couldn't put a regular tent stake in there. 00:22:35.839 --> 00:22:37.539 They were driving it in with sledgehammers 00:22:37.539 --> 00:22:40.439 and to anchor the tent to the ground. 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:41.119 Well, 00:22:41.179 --> 00:22:42.199 thank God they did that. 00:22:42.679 --> 00:22:43.839 It was our fourth night. 00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:45.480 We saw a storm off in the distance 00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:45.980 and I'm like, 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:47.779 it's not coming our way. 00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:48.399 Well, 00:22:48.419 --> 00:22:48.919 let me tell you, 00:22:48.939 --> 00:22:49.679 it came our way. 00:22:50.139 --> 00:22:51.000 It rushed in. 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:52.339 I don't mind being in a thunderstorm 00:22:52.339 --> 00:22:53.599 or anything like that, 00:22:53.639 --> 00:22:54.659 but when you're in a tent 00:22:54.659 --> 00:22:56.439 in the middle of nowhere, 00:22:57.079 --> 00:22:57.720 by the way, 00:22:57.899 --> 00:22:58.779 underneath a tree, 00:23:01.179 --> 00:23:01.439 okay, 00:23:01.619 --> 00:23:03.339 young people don't try this at home. 00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:04.359 We're trained professionals, 00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:04.659 right? 00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:06.399 That storm came through 00:23:06.399 --> 00:23:06.980 and man, 00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:08.500 the tent was going 00:23:08.500 --> 00:23:09.899 like this 00:23:09.900 --> 00:23:12.660 and it was horrible. 00:23:12.860 --> 00:23:13.700 I was just sitting there going 00:23:13.700 --> 00:23:14.900 and so me and the guy, 00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:16.180 one of the guys from our church 00:23:16.180 --> 00:23:16.680 came with me. 00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:17.600 We're in the tent going, 00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:20.640 till the storm passes over, 00:23:21.040 --> 00:23:23.259 till the thunder sounds, 00:23:23.340 --> 00:23:23.500 right? 00:23:23.740 --> 00:23:25.140 We're seeing this tent 00:23:25.140 --> 00:23:26.180 just go like this 00:23:26.180 --> 00:23:26.980 and man, 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:29.220 it just wiped everything out around us, 00:23:29.320 --> 00:23:30.360 our outside tents 00:23:30.360 --> 00:23:31.519 and so forth, 00:23:31.580 --> 00:23:33.280 but our tent stood fast. 00:23:34.220 --> 00:23:34.720 Guess what? 00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:35.800 The next night, 00:23:36.060 --> 00:23:36.820 same bat time, 00:23:36.940 --> 00:23:37.740 same bat channel, 00:23:38.660 --> 00:23:39.780 another storm came. 00:23:40.740 --> 00:23:41.480 Take two, 00:23:41.900 --> 00:23:43.200 till the storm passes. 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:43.740 I mean, 00:23:43.780 --> 00:23:44.759 it just kept coming 00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:45.940 and you know what? 00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:47.980 We were anchored. 00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:50.680 So if you're going to go to 00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:52.500 Ethiopia and live in the bush, 00:23:52.600 --> 00:23:53.200 buy a Coleman tent, 00:23:53.300 --> 00:23:53.420 okay, 00:23:53.460 --> 00:23:54.100 that's all I'm saying. 00:23:54.340 --> 00:23:55.240 Make sure you're anchored. 00:23:56.019 --> 00:23:57.560 But we better make sure 00:23:57.560 --> 00:23:58.180 we're anchored. 00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:58.900 We better make sure 00:23:58.900 --> 00:23:59.840 we're anchored in the Lord. 00:23:59.900 --> 00:24:00.400 The Bible says, 00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:01.700 which hope we have, 00:24:01.860 --> 00:24:04.280 an anchor to the soul. 00:24:05.420 --> 00:24:05.640 Boy, 00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:06.180 I tell you what, 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:07.259 did it take away the storm 00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:08.280 that we were anchored right? 00:24:08.380 --> 00:24:08.660 No. 00:24:08.660 --> 00:24:10.900 Did the tent keep folding in 00:24:10.900 --> 00:24:11.480 in the center? 00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:12.900 Yes. 00:24:13.120 --> 00:24:14.340 The storm was still there, 00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:15.740 but we were anchored. 00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:17.920 And tell you what, 00:24:18.080 --> 00:24:19.640 Caleb faced a lot of trials 00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:20.140 along the way. 00:24:20.200 --> 00:24:20.519 Remember, 00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:21.759 40 years, 00:24:22.320 --> 00:24:23.400 he heard people whining. 00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:25.560 40 years. 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:27.200 I'm sure he was at a point 00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:27.540 where he was like, 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:29.340 would you guys just stop? 00:24:30.840 --> 00:24:32.320 For 40 years, 00:24:32.620 --> 00:24:33.680 he put up with that. 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:35.320 But where was his confidence? 00:24:35.319 --> 00:24:36.480 It wasn't in them. 00:24:37.379 --> 00:24:38.480 It was in God. 00:24:39.659 --> 00:24:40.099 I'll tell you, 00:24:40.139 --> 00:24:41.319 sometimes it seems like, 00:24:41.439 --> 00:24:41.599 man, 00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:41.980 okay, 00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:42.240 God, 00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:43.119 I know you've given me 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:44.480 some promises in your word. 00:24:45.399 --> 00:24:45.700 But Lord, 00:24:45.859 --> 00:24:48.119 it's hard to have confidence 00:24:48.119 --> 00:24:48.740 right now. 00:24:49.179 --> 00:24:50.700 But I know I'm anchored to you. 00:24:51.319 --> 00:24:52.659 And I just need to trust you. 00:24:53.179 --> 00:24:53.960 It's kind of like 00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:55.159 when the nobleman's son, 00:24:55.439 --> 00:24:56.740 I think it was the nobleman's son, 00:24:56.839 --> 00:24:57.539 said to the Lord, 00:24:57.799 --> 00:24:57.980 Lord, 00:24:58.059 --> 00:24:58.439 I believe, 00:24:58.559 --> 00:24:59.839 but help thou my what? 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:01.019 My unbelief. 00:25:01.139 --> 00:25:02.899 I need to stay anchored. 00:25:02.900 --> 00:25:04.880 I need to stay anchored. 00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:07.300 The Bible says that, 00:25:07.600 --> 00:25:07.620 nay, 00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:08.440 in all things, 00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:10.080 we are more than conquerors. 00:25:11.720 --> 00:25:14.180 We are more than conquerors. 00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:16.259 So not are we just conquerors, 00:25:16.320 --> 00:25:17.180 but we're more 00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:19.240 through him that loved us. 00:25:19.540 --> 00:25:20.640 2 Corinthians tells us, 00:25:20.780 --> 00:25:21.900 now thanks be unto God, 00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:23.420 which always causes us 00:25:23.420 --> 00:25:25.620 to triumph in Christ, 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:27.519 and maketh manifest 00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:29.860 the Savior of his knowledge 00:25:29.859 --> 00:25:31.379 encouraged by us 00:25:31.379 --> 00:25:33.799 in every place. 00:25:35.099 --> 00:25:35.559 You know, 00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:36.219 my wife and I, 00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:38.299 in 29 years of 00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:40.779 being husband and wife, 00:25:40.859 --> 00:25:40.939 well, 00:25:40.979 --> 00:25:41.619 we face some, 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:44.079 we face some difficult times. 00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:44.979 I won't go through, 00:25:45.099 --> 00:25:45.240 I mean, 00:25:45.259 --> 00:25:46.119 we could sit here 00:25:46.119 --> 00:25:46.899 and talk about them, 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:48.199 but I'll tell you what, 00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:49.740 it's interesting how 00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:50.799 in every place 00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:51.759 we had opportunity 00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:54.259 to show that we were anchored, 00:25:54.839 --> 00:25:56.579 to show that we were confident 00:25:56.579 --> 00:25:58.039 in our God. 00:25:58.039 --> 00:26:00.279 we didn't always get it right. 00:26:01.159 --> 00:26:01.799 There was times 00:26:01.799 --> 00:26:02.879 we had to go before the Lord 00:26:02.879 --> 00:26:04.599 and ask for forgiveness 00:26:04.599 --> 00:26:06.379 with him 00:26:06.379 --> 00:26:07.440 and also with each other. 00:26:08.159 --> 00:26:08.980 But you know what? 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:09.940 God got us through. 00:26:10.899 --> 00:26:12.299 We got some scars, 00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:14.759 but you know what scars do? 00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:15.759 They tell a story 00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:18.279 of the one who got us through. 00:26:20.339 --> 00:26:22.480 Keep your confidence in him. 00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:25.220 So Caleb took the initiative, 00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:26.740 but also Caleb was willing 00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:27.659 to pay the price. 00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:30.359 We see that he's going to fight 00:26:30.359 --> 00:26:31.779 a battle on three fronts. 00:26:33.139 --> 00:26:34.659 We see the battle 00:26:34.659 --> 00:26:36.200 of standing alone. 00:26:36.379 --> 00:26:37.839 This is something that he did 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:38.819 early on, 00:26:38.879 --> 00:26:39.599 if you remember. 00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:40.420 Now, of course, 00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:42.839 Caleb or Joshua was with him, 00:26:43.019 --> 00:26:43.599 but you remember 00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:44.259 when they went into 00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:45.159 the promised land, 00:26:45.659 --> 00:26:46.579 they came back 00:26:46.579 --> 00:26:49.379 and ten spies said, 00:26:49.480 --> 00:26:49.680 no! 00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:51.420 Two said, yes! 00:26:52.099 --> 00:26:52.940 But there was Caleb. 00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:54.519 He was willing to stand. 00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:56.480 And sometimes, church, 00:26:57.819 --> 00:26:59.000 well, we just got to be willing 00:26:59.000 --> 00:26:59.759 to stand alone. 00:27:00.700 --> 00:27:01.879 We got to be willing to say, 00:27:01.940 --> 00:27:02.299 you know what? 00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:04.099 My confidence is going to be in God. 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:05.539 I'm willing to pay that. 00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:05.960 And by the way, 00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:06.779 that's a price 00:27:06.779 --> 00:27:08.400 that we must pay. 00:27:08.900 --> 00:27:10.259 Look at 2 Timothy, 00:27:10.379 --> 00:27:10.819 if you will, 00:27:10.879 --> 00:27:11.960 in chapter number four. 00:27:12.579 --> 00:27:13.259 2 Timothy, 00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:14.259 chapter number four 00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:15.220 in verse number 16, 00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:15.920 because ultimately, 00:27:16.139 --> 00:27:17.799 all of this is going to bring 00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:19.299 Caleb to the point 00:27:19.299 --> 00:27:20.960 where he could boldly say, 00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:22.659 I want that mountain. 00:27:23.319 --> 00:27:25.000 I want to see God's word 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:27.919 lived out in my life. 00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:29.079 I just don't want to talk about it. 00:27:29.099 --> 00:27:29.839 I just don't want to read it. 00:27:29.879 --> 00:27:30.859 I just don't want to preach it. 00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:32.839 I want to see it lived out. 00:27:33.659 --> 00:27:34.299 In 2 Timothy, 00:27:34.419 --> 00:27:35.159 chapter number four, 00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:36.119 verse number 16, 00:27:37.619 --> 00:27:38.039 he says, 00:27:38.379 --> 00:27:39.740 at my first answer, 00:27:39.899 --> 00:27:41.879 no man stood with me. 00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:43.799 Now, this is the apostle Paul. 00:27:45.099 --> 00:27:45.940 He, understand, 00:27:46.279 --> 00:27:47.519 in his life, 00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:49.099 he, in his ministry, 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:51.019 he would not be the first one 00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:52.759 that the church growth gurus 00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:53.579 would run after, 00:27:53.740 --> 00:27:54.660 brother Ray. 00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:56.500 You mean you were all alone? 00:27:56.579 --> 00:27:57.559 Yeah, I was all alone. 00:27:58.920 --> 00:27:59.279 He says, 00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:00.119 I stood, 00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:00.559 he said, 00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:01.200 no man, 00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:03.779 but all men forsook me. 00:28:04.099 --> 00:28:05.400 I pray, God, 00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:07.599 that it may not be held 00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:08.059 to their, 00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:08.339 now, 00:28:08.420 --> 00:28:09.160 he didn't get upset. 00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:11.500 He didn't get bitter. 00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:13.379 He didn't start griping 00:28:13.379 --> 00:28:14.339 and criticizing. 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:15.039 He said, 00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:16.099 I pray that it won't be held 00:28:16.099 --> 00:28:16.859 against their charge. 00:28:16.859 --> 00:28:17.699 And Paul moved on, 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:18.399 but notice what it says. 00:28:18.779 --> 00:28:20.559 Not withstanding the Lord, 00:28:20.719 --> 00:28:21.059 what? 00:28:21.699 --> 00:28:23.199 The Lord stood with me. 00:28:23.259 --> 00:28:23.839 Now, understand, 00:28:23.979 --> 00:28:25.259 I talk about being willing 00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:25.819 to be alone, 00:28:25.899 --> 00:28:26.359 but ultimately, 00:28:26.539 --> 00:28:27.519 we are never alone. 00:28:28.639 --> 00:28:29.359 We are never, 00:28:29.419 --> 00:28:30.500 my God said, 00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:32.099 I will never leave thee, 00:28:32.419 --> 00:28:33.139 nor what? 00:28:33.639 --> 00:28:35.299 I am the same yesterday, 00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:35.839 today, 00:28:35.899 --> 00:28:36.219 and forever. 00:28:36.359 --> 00:28:36.479 So, 00:28:36.599 --> 00:28:38.199 if he didn't leave you yesterday, 00:28:38.359 --> 00:28:39.599 he's not going to leave you today. 00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:42.099 He's consistent. 00:28:42.979 --> 00:28:43.839 He's always there, 00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:44.480 and sometimes, 00:28:45.079 --> 00:28:45.819 can you just, 00:28:46.159 --> 00:28:47.579 give me a witness 00:28:47.579 --> 00:28:48.799 that sometimes it's hard 00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:49.459 to see him. 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.599 Sometimes it's hard 00:28:51.599 --> 00:28:52.639 to understand him, 00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:53.299 but he, 00:28:53.720 --> 00:28:55.019 it doesn't mean he's not with you. 00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:57.179 God is always working, 00:28:57.819 --> 00:28:59.059 even when we can't see him. 00:28:59.679 --> 00:29:00.759 The other front, 00:29:00.839 --> 00:29:02.279 he fought the battle 00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:05.519 to fight the fiercest foes. 00:29:05.879 --> 00:29:06.199 Look at, 00:29:06.399 --> 00:29:07.220 back in Joshua, 00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:09.339 chapter number 14, 00:29:09.339 --> 00:29:12.039 in verse number 15. 00:29:15.899 --> 00:29:17.319 Joshua chapter number 14, 00:29:17.399 --> 00:29:17.980 verse 15. 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:20.039 And the name of Hebron 00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:22.240 before was Kerjathbarah, 00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:25.359 or Kerjatharbarah, 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.099 which, 00:29:27.379 --> 00:29:27.740 Arba, 00:29:28.099 --> 00:29:29.359 was a great man 00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:30.500 among the who? 00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:33.299 Giants, man. 00:29:34.919 --> 00:29:35.399 Giants. 00:29:35.859 --> 00:29:36.339 Giants. 00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:38.399 There are still remnants of giants. 00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:39.920 And here's Caleb, 00:29:40.080 --> 00:29:41.200 85 years old, 00:29:41.259 --> 00:29:41.460 saying, 00:29:41.560 --> 00:29:41.920 come on, 00:29:41.960 --> 00:29:42.300 bring it. 00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:44.320 I'm ready. 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.540 What is this? 00:29:46.580 --> 00:29:47.259 A testimony 00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:49.080 of the grace of God 00:29:49.080 --> 00:29:50.759 that was in his life 00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:53.700 to have that confidence 00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:54.680 in his God 00:29:54.680 --> 00:29:56.580 because he saw God 00:29:56.580 --> 00:29:57.660 for 40 years 00:29:57.660 --> 00:29:59.800 take care of a whiny people. 00:30:00.560 --> 00:30:01.500 The Bible says that 00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:03.040 their shoes never ran out 00:30:03.040 --> 00:30:04.400 or wore out. 00:30:04.519 --> 00:30:05.180 Isn't that great? 00:30:05.180 --> 00:30:07.620 And understand, 00:30:07.820 --> 00:30:08.700 we've got to be willing 00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:09.660 to stand alone 00:30:09.660 --> 00:30:11.980 and fight the fiercest foe 00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:13.940 even when it seems like, 00:30:14.320 --> 00:30:15.060 man, I'm done. 00:30:16.279 --> 00:30:17.160 I'm done. 00:30:17.340 --> 00:30:18.380 It doesn't matter our age. 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:19.920 God still wants to work 00:30:19.920 --> 00:30:21.820 in and through our lives. 00:30:22.680 --> 00:30:23.279 Christianity, 00:30:24.140 --> 00:30:25.759 and the history of Christianity 00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:27.580 is filled of testimonies 00:30:27.580 --> 00:30:28.960 of men and women of God 00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:30.160 who were willing 00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:32.500 to face the fiercest foes. 00:30:32.500 --> 00:30:33.980 But also, 00:30:34.099 --> 00:30:34.680 there was the battle 00:30:34.680 --> 00:30:35.519 of being patient. 00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:37.380 Now, I know you all 00:30:37.380 --> 00:30:38.660 don't struggle with patience 00:30:38.660 --> 00:30:39.519 here in this town. 00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:40.960 You know? 00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:42.680 And, you know, 00:30:42.700 --> 00:30:43.259 when I pull up 00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:44.359 to a fast food joint, 00:30:45.380 --> 00:30:46.859 if it's McDonald's, 00:30:47.119 --> 00:30:48.400 and people are waiting there 00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:49.720 looking at the menu, 00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:50.259 I'm like, 00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:51.539 it hasn't changed. 00:30:51.819 --> 00:30:52.920 You go to Chick-fil-A, 00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:53.900 what do they have? 00:30:54.460 --> 00:30:54.859 Chicken. 00:30:54.859 --> 00:30:55.019 Chicken. 00:30:56.200 --> 00:30:57.700 Stop looking for a hamburger. 00:30:59.119 --> 00:31:00.099 And my wife's like, 00:31:00.140 --> 00:31:00.940 well, I just want to... 00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:02.580 I'm like... 00:31:02.580 --> 00:31:06.460 Are you following me? 00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:06.640 Amen? 00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:09.940 But we all love to wait, 00:31:10.059 --> 00:31:10.559 don't we? 00:31:11.640 --> 00:31:12.559 Ah, no. 00:31:13.860 --> 00:31:15.420 But understand that 00:31:15.420 --> 00:31:17.559 he had to wait 45 years. 00:31:17.860 --> 00:31:19.380 Who could do that? 00:31:20.320 --> 00:31:21.460 We struggle with that, 00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:21.840 don't we? 00:31:22.059 --> 00:31:23.400 But he had a promise from God. 00:31:24.200 --> 00:31:24.720 They said, 00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:25.660 I'm going to trust God. 00:31:26.660 --> 00:31:26.799 You know, 00:31:26.840 --> 00:31:27.940 it's interesting that after, 00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:29.200 I think it was D.L. Moody, 00:31:29.200 --> 00:31:30.819 or no, 00:31:31.039 --> 00:31:32.819 George Mueller, 00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:34.600 he was praying for 00:31:34.600 --> 00:31:36.120 people to get saved. 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:38.120 And it wasn't 00:31:38.120 --> 00:31:39.080 those folks 00:31:39.080 --> 00:31:39.960 who didn't come to Christ 00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:41.920 until his funeral, 00:31:42.299 --> 00:31:43.200 and then many years 00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:43.980 after his funeral. 00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:45.840 Sometimes we never see it. 00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:47.240 But we just got to trust 00:31:47.240 --> 00:31:48.860 that God is going 00:31:48.860 --> 00:31:49.720 to perform his word. 00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:50.120 You know, 00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:51.259 I think about our... 00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:51.960 We have, 00:31:52.160 --> 00:31:52.720 just like you, 00:31:53.519 --> 00:31:55.380 our university's not as big, 00:31:55.440 --> 00:31:55.740 of course, 00:31:55.799 --> 00:31:56.160 as yours, 00:31:56.160 --> 00:31:58.200 but we have a university 00:31:58.200 --> 00:31:59.279 in our town 00:31:59.279 --> 00:32:01.800 and we have kids 00:32:01.800 --> 00:32:03.460 coming from all over the world 00:32:03.460 --> 00:32:05.019 for years. 00:32:05.140 --> 00:32:06.040 It was on our Wednesday night 00:32:06.040 --> 00:32:07.220 prayer list. 00:32:07.940 --> 00:32:09.380 Pray to impact 00:32:09.380 --> 00:32:10.540 the international students. 00:32:10.720 --> 00:32:11.420 Pray to impact 00:32:11.420 --> 00:32:12.140 the campus, 00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:13.080 the international students, 00:32:13.160 --> 00:32:13.420 whatever. 00:32:14.560 --> 00:32:16.019 And for years. 00:32:16.880 --> 00:32:17.640 And I was working on 00:32:17.640 --> 00:32:19.660 my grad work 00:32:19.660 --> 00:32:22.120 and I took evangelism 00:32:22.120 --> 00:32:22.620 and I'm like, 00:32:22.680 --> 00:32:24.500 why do I have to take evangelism? 00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:24.819 Oh man, 00:32:24.920 --> 00:32:26.160 I've been evangelizing 00:32:26.160 --> 00:32:27.039 and... 00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:29.740 So anyhow, 00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:30.279 I took it 00:32:30.279 --> 00:32:31.200 because it was required. 00:32:32.220 --> 00:32:33.740 And I got right with God. 00:32:33.799 --> 00:32:34.440 I was kind of like 00:32:34.440 --> 00:32:35.039 the children of the... 00:32:35.039 --> 00:32:35.660 I know none of you 00:32:35.660 --> 00:32:36.259 ever complained, 00:32:36.359 --> 00:32:36.859 but I did. 00:32:37.960 --> 00:32:39.680 And so they said, 00:32:39.720 --> 00:32:40.220 you got to go do 00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:41.039 a service project. 00:32:41.220 --> 00:32:42.380 So I went to a local church 00:32:42.380 --> 00:32:42.940 in the area 00:32:42.940 --> 00:32:44.640 where they serve the homeless. 00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:45.859 They serve them food 00:32:45.859 --> 00:32:46.740 and so forth, 00:32:46.819 --> 00:32:47.099 meals. 00:32:47.619 --> 00:32:48.559 So I went there 00:32:48.559 --> 00:32:49.900 and I saw 00:32:49.900 --> 00:32:51.319 these international students 00:32:51.319 --> 00:32:53.359 and part of their... 00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:55.099 part of their fulfillments 00:32:55.099 --> 00:32:56.000 that they have to do 00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:57.059 is they have to serve 00:32:57.059 --> 00:32:59.000 some kind of service project 00:32:59.000 --> 00:32:59.599 in the area. 00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:02.000 And so no... 00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:03.500 hardly anybody showed up 00:33:03.500 --> 00:33:05.179 to be served food 00:33:05.179 --> 00:33:05.779 that night. 00:33:06.039 --> 00:33:06.599 And I went, 00:33:07.039 --> 00:33:08.599 I know why I'm here. 00:33:09.179 --> 00:33:10.259 So I started to 00:33:10.259 --> 00:33:13.119 intentionally interact 00:33:13.119 --> 00:33:13.960 with these students 00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:14.700 and so forth. 00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:16.619 And then the worker 00:33:16.619 --> 00:33:17.919 that was getting them 00:33:17.919 --> 00:33:19.119 to and fro the campus, 00:33:19.539 --> 00:33:20.079 she said, 00:33:20.079 --> 00:33:20.619 hey Rich, 00:33:20.679 --> 00:33:21.259 can you take 00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:22.659 two of these students home? 00:33:22.799 --> 00:33:23.279 I said, 00:33:23.699 --> 00:33:24.319 absolutely. 00:33:25.519 --> 00:33:27.500 One was from Tunisia, 00:33:27.659 --> 00:33:28.359 which is by the way 00:33:28.359 --> 00:33:29.259 a closed country 00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:30.419 to missionaries 00:33:30.419 --> 00:33:31.679 and also Afghanistan. 00:33:32.599 --> 00:33:33.919 So we began to talk 00:33:33.919 --> 00:33:34.779 and I said, 00:33:34.839 --> 00:33:35.419 what did you guys, 00:33:35.500 --> 00:33:36.460 have you guys eaten anything 00:33:36.460 --> 00:33:37.359 from America? 00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:38.079 What did you like? 00:33:38.439 --> 00:33:39.240 One of the goals 00:33:39.240 --> 00:33:40.439 for an international student, 00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:41.019 watch this, 00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:43.659 is to have a meal 00:33:43.659 --> 00:33:44.419 in a home 00:33:44.419 --> 00:33:45.240 of an American. 00:33:47.299 --> 00:33:48.059 So I said, 00:33:48.220 --> 00:33:49.159 I said, 00:33:49.199 --> 00:33:49.299 hey, 00:33:49.299 --> 00:33:50.339 my wife's a good cook. 00:33:50.680 --> 00:33:50.899 I said, 00:33:50.940 --> 00:33:52.099 did you ever have apple pie? 00:33:52.180 --> 00:33:52.339 No, 00:33:52.379 --> 00:33:53.440 we've never had apple pie. 00:33:55.119 --> 00:33:55.680 So I said, 00:33:55.740 --> 00:33:56.259 come on over. 00:33:56.319 --> 00:33:57.039 They came over. 00:33:58.059 --> 00:33:58.919 We had dinner 00:33:58.919 --> 00:33:59.819 and then probably 00:33:59.819 --> 00:34:01.259 for at least 45 minutes 00:34:01.259 --> 00:34:02.059 to an hour, 00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:03.779 we had a discussion 00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:05.980 about Islam 00:34:05.980 --> 00:34:07.139 and Christianity. 00:34:09.940 --> 00:34:11.380 That thing just kind of 00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:13.239 morphed into more things. 00:34:13.239 --> 00:34:15.599 we began to start 00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:16.919 participating in what they have, 00:34:16.959 --> 00:34:17.259 what's called 00:34:17.259 --> 00:34:18.059 Friendship Family 00:34:18.059 --> 00:34:19.719 where we adopt 00:34:19.719 --> 00:34:21.000 at least two students 00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:21.879 every semester 00:34:21.879 --> 00:34:22.599 and they're coming 00:34:22.599 --> 00:34:23.279 from Tunisia, 00:34:23.419 --> 00:34:23.759 Pakistan, 00:34:23.959 --> 00:34:24.379 Afghanistan, 00:34:24.679 --> 00:34:24.959 Jordan, 00:34:25.439 --> 00:34:25.759 Syria, 00:34:26.079 --> 00:34:27.879 many in those 1040 windows, 00:34:28.719 --> 00:34:29.719 that 1040 window. 00:34:30.359 --> 00:34:32.079 And we're sharing the gospel. 00:34:32.239 --> 00:34:33.119 They're coming to church 00:34:33.119 --> 00:34:33.959 because they just want to 00:34:33.959 --> 00:34:35.899 see what a church looks like. 00:34:36.719 --> 00:34:37.819 They're coming to our 00:34:37.819 --> 00:34:39.679 activities at church, 00:34:39.679 --> 00:34:42.019 bonfires and so forth 00:34:42.019 --> 00:34:42.480 and so on 00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:43.019 and there's always 00:34:43.019 --> 00:34:43.839 some kind of gospel 00:34:43.839 --> 00:34:45.000 presentation made 00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:46.739 and we're impacting. 00:34:46.879 --> 00:34:48.679 The world is coming to us 00:34:48.679 --> 00:34:51.139 and we prayed for years. 00:34:51.719 --> 00:34:52.399 Now we're hosting 00:34:52.399 --> 00:34:53.299 just this semester 00:34:53.299 --> 00:34:54.179 where we started 00:34:54.179 --> 00:34:55.599 a Bible study on campus 00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:56.379 and praise God, 00:34:56.799 --> 00:34:57.899 we have 10 in attendance 00:34:57.899 --> 00:34:59.519 and we had one of our young, 00:34:59.659 --> 00:35:01.079 one of the international students 00:35:01.079 --> 00:35:01.940 come to Christ, 00:35:02.059 --> 00:35:02.259 amen. 00:35:02.679 --> 00:35:04.079 My wife will be discipling 00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:05.179 someone from Tanzania 00:35:05.179 --> 00:35:06.539 and I will be discipling 00:35:06.539 --> 00:35:07.399 someone from the Congo. 00:35:07.619 --> 00:35:08.859 How does that work out? 00:35:09.199 --> 00:35:09.460 Pray. 00:35:09.679 --> 00:35:10.440 Pray or patience. 00:35:11.019 --> 00:35:11.159 You know, 00:35:11.199 --> 00:35:12.039 when we're ready to just 00:35:12.039 --> 00:35:12.719 stop praying, 00:35:12.819 --> 00:35:13.319 keep praying. 00:35:14.460 --> 00:35:15.440 Keep praying. 00:35:15.919 --> 00:35:16.799 Don't give up. 00:35:17.419 --> 00:35:19.159 45 years. 00:35:19.399 --> 00:35:20.019 Here's the thing. 00:35:20.599 --> 00:35:21.719 Will you take the initiative 00:35:21.719 --> 00:35:22.500 to move forward? 00:35:23.059 --> 00:35:24.699 To obey and seize 00:35:24.699 --> 00:35:25.839 the promise of God. 00:35:26.460 --> 00:35:27.559 How do I do that? 00:35:28.460 --> 00:35:29.279 Well, get with God. 00:35:30.139 --> 00:35:30.960 Spend time with Him 00:35:30.960 --> 00:35:31.980 and discover what God 00:35:31.980 --> 00:35:32.659 has for you. 00:35:33.639 --> 00:35:34.719 If today you're here, 00:35:34.940 --> 00:35:35.679 take the initiative. 00:35:36.059 --> 00:35:37.059 Listen, today if you're here 00:35:37.059 --> 00:35:39.179 and you're not saved, 00:35:39.179 --> 00:35:40.539 it's time for you 00:35:40.539 --> 00:35:41.559 to take the step 00:35:41.559 --> 00:35:43.339 to become a Christian. 00:35:43.839 --> 00:35:45.579 To call upon Jesus. 00:35:45.839 --> 00:35:46.739 Take, the Bible says, 00:35:46.819 --> 00:35:48.379 behold, now is the accepted time. 00:35:48.619 --> 00:35:50.099 Behold, now is the day of salvation. 00:35:50.419 --> 00:35:51.699 It's time, right now. 00:35:51.799 --> 00:35:52.659 Take that step. 00:35:53.139 --> 00:35:54.219 You won't regret it. 00:35:54.559 --> 00:35:55.739 Jesus died for you. 00:35:55.960 --> 00:35:56.960 He paid the price 00:35:56.960 --> 00:35:57.619 for your sins, 00:35:57.679 --> 00:35:59.079 but He didn't stay dead. 00:35:59.139 --> 00:36:00.379 He rose on the third day. 00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:01.339 We'll be celebrating 00:36:01.339 --> 00:36:02.379 that April 20th. 00:36:02.379 --> 00:36:02.579 Amen? 00:36:02.579 --> 00:36:02.779 Amen. 00:36:04.059 --> 00:36:04.739 Turn to Him 00:36:04.739 --> 00:36:05.519 and be saved. 00:36:05.639 --> 00:36:06.879 Man, if you're not a member 00:36:06.879 --> 00:36:07.379 of the church, 00:36:07.500 --> 00:36:08.299 join the church. 00:36:08.399 --> 00:36:08.939 If you're a member, 00:36:09.079 --> 00:36:09.959 get involved. 00:36:10.319 --> 00:36:10.979 Man, get serious 00:36:10.979 --> 00:36:12.339 about your walk with Jesus. 00:36:13.339 --> 00:36:14.279 Spend time with Him. 00:36:14.739 --> 00:36:15.839 Develop that discipline 00:36:15.839 --> 00:36:17.199 of spending time 00:36:17.199 --> 00:36:18.759 and meridating in His Word. 00:36:18.899 --> 00:36:20.159 Meditating on His Word. 00:36:20.759 --> 00:36:22.119 Discovering who He is 00:36:22.119 --> 00:36:24.159 and what He wants you to do. 00:36:25.559 --> 00:36:26.639 It's for everybody. 00:36:28.199 --> 00:36:29.659 May God give us 00:36:29.659 --> 00:36:30.519 the character 00:36:30.519 --> 00:36:32.599 to last a lifetime. 00:36:33.980 --> 00:36:35.460 He will if we will 00:36:35.460 --> 00:36:36.440 take the initiative 00:36:36.440 --> 00:36:38.000 and He will 00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:38.880 if we are willing 00:36:38.880 --> 00:36:40.519 to pay the price. 00:36:41.179 --> 00:36:42.039 Father in Heaven, 00:36:42.780 --> 00:36:43.860 God, thank You so much 00:36:43.860 --> 00:36:44.519 for Your goodness 00:36:44.519 --> 00:36:45.420 and Your grace. 00:36:46.320 --> 00:36:47.139 And Lord, we ask 00:36:47.139 --> 00:36:48.159 that You would have Your way 00:36:48.159 --> 00:36:48.920 during this time 00:36:48.920 --> 00:36:49.579 of invitation 00:36:49.579 --> 00:36:51.480 and that, God, 00:36:51.519 --> 00:36:52.039 You would do 00:36:52.039 --> 00:36:53.099 what only You can do. 00:36:53.940 --> 00:36:54.400 And Lord, 00:36:54.480 --> 00:36:55.559 if there be someone here 00:36:55.559 --> 00:36:56.579 that does not know Jesus 00:36:56.579 --> 00:36:57.440 as their Savior, 00:36:58.259 --> 00:36:59.880 as they start singing, 00:36:59.880 --> 00:37:00.780 God, may they just 00:37:00.780 --> 00:37:01.579 step forward 00:37:01.579 --> 00:37:03.140 and we could show them 00:37:03.140 --> 00:37:03.760 from the Word of God 00:37:03.760 --> 00:37:04.980 how they could be saved. 00:37:05.599 --> 00:37:06.680 Maybe there's some here 00:37:06.680 --> 00:37:07.440 that have just been, 00:37:08.059 --> 00:37:08.400 you know, 00:37:08.480 --> 00:37:09.740 not taking that step 00:37:09.740 --> 00:37:10.680 that they need to take 00:37:10.680 --> 00:37:11.240 because, God, 00:37:11.280 --> 00:37:11.860 You've called them 00:37:11.860 --> 00:37:12.619 to do something. 00:37:13.740 --> 00:37:14.740 It doesn't necessarily 00:37:14.740 --> 00:37:16.099 mean to be a missionary. 00:37:16.360 --> 00:37:16.940 It may be, 00:37:17.860 --> 00:37:20.059 but it may just mean 00:37:20.059 --> 00:37:21.240 just trusting You enough 00:37:21.240 --> 00:37:23.300 to get busy here 00:37:23.300 --> 00:37:24.240 in the local church 00:37:24.240 --> 00:37:25.300 and reaching people 00:37:25.300 --> 00:37:26.200 here in this area. 00:37:27.260 --> 00:37:28.140 However, God, 00:37:28.240 --> 00:37:29.480 You worked on the hearts 00:37:29.480 --> 00:37:30.260 of Your children. 00:37:31.719 --> 00:37:33.199 May they take 00:37:33.199 --> 00:37:33.840 the step 00:37:33.840 --> 00:37:35.280 in Jesus' name. 00:37:35.800 --> 00:37:36.039 Amen. 00:37:36.559 --> 00:37:36.840 Pastor.