WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.759 All right, this will be the easiest passage of Scripture for you to find. 00:00:11.679 --> 00:00:12.939 I promise you. 00:00:14.040 --> 00:00:24.600 Genesis chapter 1, verse 1, the first four words. 00:00:25.339 --> 00:00:26.699 What did they say, everyone? 00:00:26.699 --> 00:00:32.339 In the beginning God. 00:00:32.539 --> 00:00:33.700 You all didn't do that well. 00:00:33.840 --> 00:00:34.359 You mean you didn't? 00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:35.439 Come on, let's try it again. 00:00:35.960 --> 00:00:39.320 In the beginning God. 00:00:39.579 --> 00:00:41.280 So you're saying the and I'm saying the. 00:00:41.340 --> 00:00:42.980 What's the difference between the and the? 00:00:43.060 --> 00:00:44.200 There is a difference, though. 00:00:45.100 --> 00:00:47.159 But I just, I'm not an English major. 00:00:47.239 --> 00:00:47.879 I don't remember. 00:00:47.880 --> 00:00:57.020 In the beginning God. 00:00:57.020 --> 00:01:17.260 Those first four words let us know what we really need to know to really understand God's purpose and plan and involvement in the earth. 00:01:17.260 --> 00:01:25.859 It lets us know that we have a heavenly father that takes the initiative. 00:01:26.900 --> 00:01:29.400 That takes the initiative. 00:01:29.780 --> 00:01:31.880 We have a heavenly father that does what? 00:01:32.760 --> 00:01:34.180 Takes the initiative. 00:01:34.180 --> 00:01:37.980 In the beginning God. 00:01:37.980 --> 00:01:43.340 He was, it was God's idea. 00:01:44.439 --> 00:01:47.380 He took the initiative to create the earth. 00:01:47.620 --> 00:01:47.719 It was. 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:52.219 He took the initiative to create mankind. 00:01:52.920 --> 00:01:58.400 He took the initiative to give Adam and Eve a wonderful place to live. 00:01:58.400 --> 00:02:03.680 They didn't, after they came here, they didn't say, now, now where are we going to live? 00:02:03.820 --> 00:02:08.099 They didn't have to say that because God took the initiative. 00:02:08.700 --> 00:02:13.659 He took the initiative to give them food that they could eat. 00:02:14.620 --> 00:02:22.219 And in fact, he took the initiative to make it so the food would replenish itself so that they will always have. 00:02:22.219 --> 00:02:26.920 God takes the initiative. 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:36.640 And I've come to tell you today, in your life, God is taking the initiative. 00:02:37.879 --> 00:02:40.520 God is taking the initiative. 00:02:40.700 --> 00:02:41.480 In your life. 00:02:42.680 --> 00:02:44.420 Have you ever heard of comfort food? 00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:46.439 Heard of comfort food? 00:02:47.219 --> 00:02:49.120 This is a comfort sermon. 00:02:50.460 --> 00:02:56.860 Because you're going to understand that God takes the initiative. 00:02:56.920 --> 00:02:58.300 I'm looking for a clock. 00:02:58.400 --> 00:03:01.879 No, you don't want me to do that. 00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:15.800 First principle is God is taking the initiative in every facet of your life. 00:03:15.800 --> 00:03:23.240 God is taking the initiative in every facet of your life. 00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:25.000 Not just the spiritual stuff. 00:03:26.280 --> 00:03:31.300 But in every facet of your life. 00:03:31.540 --> 00:03:35.840 In fact, God is always ahead of you. 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:40.319 You can't surprise him. 00:03:40.319 --> 00:03:45.259 Because he's always taking the initiative. 00:03:45.259 --> 00:03:55.280 I went to a banquet the other Sunday. 00:03:55.280 --> 00:04:01.719 And at the church I went to, the banquet, I've been there many times. 00:04:01.719 --> 00:04:06.780 And there's been many occasions, funerals, just many, many things. 00:04:07.039 --> 00:04:09.280 Always a lot of preachers that come to these events. 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:11.680 And they've never asked me to have remarks. 00:04:11.960 --> 00:04:13.360 Never asked me to have remarks. 00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:18.960 And so as I was getting out of the car to go into the banquet for the pastor's wife, 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:22.080 Spirit of the Lord said, prepare some remarks. 00:04:22.560 --> 00:04:24.780 And I said, they're not going to ask me to have remarks. 00:04:24.900 --> 00:04:26.080 They've never asked me to have remarks. 00:04:26.180 --> 00:04:27.139 I'm not going to worry about that. 00:04:27.139 --> 00:04:28.879 So I sat down. 00:04:28.959 --> 00:04:29.800 I was eating my meal. 00:04:30.459 --> 00:04:34.319 Spirit of the Lord said, prepare some remarks. 00:04:35.279 --> 00:04:37.740 I said, I'm arguing with God. 00:04:37.819 --> 00:04:39.159 I said, they're not going to ask me. 00:04:39.219 --> 00:04:40.240 I looked at the program. 00:04:40.519 --> 00:04:42.560 There's no place on there for remarks. 00:04:42.680 --> 00:04:43.560 There's just no place. 00:04:44.939 --> 00:04:51.279 Finally, after I finished my meal, God said to me, what did I tell you to do? 00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:55.639 By the way, you all don't know that my father talks to me like that. 00:04:55.639 --> 00:04:57.560 You think he speaks in these heavenly voices. 00:04:57.959 --> 00:04:59.740 Thou art to do this. 00:04:59.860 --> 00:05:01.039 No, he's a father. 00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:01.620 He just talked. 00:05:01.819 --> 00:05:03.379 He said, what did I tell you to do? 00:05:04.879 --> 00:05:05.979 And so I sat there. 00:05:06.060 --> 00:05:09.099 I said, well, let me prepare some remarks. 00:05:09.099 --> 00:05:14.399 So I prepared about three or four things I could say. 00:05:15.459 --> 00:05:21.159 And so toward the end of the banquet, I said, just before we close out, 00:05:21.160 --> 00:05:26.380 we have some ministers here and we want to have them make remarks. 00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:29.360 Who's the first name they call? 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:32.600 Who's the first name they call? 00:05:33.660 --> 00:05:35.280 Who's the first name they call? 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:36.680 Yes. 00:05:36.680 --> 00:05:42.980 And I had remarks prepared because God does what? 00:05:43.439 --> 00:05:45.540 He takes the initiative. 00:05:45.800 --> 00:05:46.699 Yes, he does. 00:05:47.699 --> 00:05:51.400 He is always ahead of you. 00:05:52.519 --> 00:05:55.180 You can never catch him off guard. 00:05:56.879 --> 00:05:59.620 He always takes the initiative. 00:05:59.620 --> 00:06:10.399 Our friend invited us, invited my family and I to spend a week at his lake house down in Lake Anna, Virginia. 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:11.980 We were there all last week. 00:06:12.060 --> 00:06:14.980 Just a wonderful, wonderful week. 00:06:17.240 --> 00:06:23.579 And as we were, it was 16 of us that went, all the children and the grandchildren. 00:06:23.579 --> 00:06:38.759 And Mabel started preparing for us to go to the lake by filling up our suburban with all of the stuff we were going to need. 00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:40.360 Everything. 00:06:41.159 --> 00:06:49.419 We had to put our luggage in another vehicle because she had filled up the suburban with meat, 00:06:49.420 --> 00:06:54.280 with just food and drinks and just everything. 00:06:54.500 --> 00:06:56.920 Everything imaginable. 00:06:57.400 --> 00:07:04.460 And in fact, she anticipated what some of us would want. 00:07:04.620 --> 00:07:06.600 She knew that I loved chicken salad. 00:07:07.180 --> 00:07:09.040 So she had made some chicken salad. 00:07:10.180 --> 00:07:12.500 She knew that the boys were going to want tacos. 00:07:13.280 --> 00:07:14.600 So she had tacos. 00:07:14.600 --> 00:07:18.700 She knew there was two or three babies be there. 00:07:18.699 --> 00:07:19.860 She had baby wipes. 00:07:20.019 --> 00:07:22.319 She had everything. 00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:23.920 Everything. 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:27.860 And in fact, all during the week, if we needed something, this is what they would say. 00:07:27.959 --> 00:07:29.300 Mimi, do we have any? 00:07:29.579 --> 00:07:31.000 And she said, yeah, yeah, I've got it. 00:07:31.079 --> 00:07:33.180 And she goes, Mimi, do we have any? 00:07:33.259 --> 00:07:33.899 Yeah, do we have any? 00:07:34.379 --> 00:07:38.819 It's because she took the initiative. 00:07:38.819 --> 00:07:46.439 And she didn't wait until we needed it to try to get it. 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:51.959 We didn't catch her off guard because she took the initiative. 00:07:52.399 --> 00:07:55.959 That's the way your heavenly father is. 00:07:55.959 --> 00:08:00.739 He knows the things you need. 00:08:02.060 --> 00:08:08.079 Even before you ask, he knows what you need. 00:08:08.279 --> 00:08:09.379 He's ahead of you. 00:08:09.479 --> 00:08:10.819 Somebody say, he's ahead of me. 00:08:11.659 --> 00:08:12.799 He's ahead of me. 00:08:13.339 --> 00:08:14.879 I can't surprise him. 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:21.779 Nothing you can do can surprise him. 00:08:22.600 --> 00:08:27.339 There's no need that arises that he's not prepared for. 00:08:27.480 --> 00:08:31.019 This is what he said in Philippians 4 and 19. 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:31.759 He says, 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:41.819 And my God shall supply all of your needs according to his riches in glory. 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:47.620 God is always ahead of you. 00:08:48.100 --> 00:08:49.319 Can I get one witness? 00:08:50.779 --> 00:08:52.080 He's always ahead. 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:59.659 There's some things that are going on in your life and you can't believe what's going on. 00:08:59.740 --> 00:09:01.100 You don't understand it. 00:09:01.100 --> 00:09:03.560 You can't figure out what is going on. 00:09:03.820 --> 00:09:04.820 This is the problem. 00:09:05.220 --> 00:09:10.700 We live life forward, but we understand life backwards. 00:09:11.639 --> 00:09:13.420 I said something worth tweeting there. 00:09:14.180 --> 00:09:19.720 We live life forward, but we understand life backwards. 00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:25.620 When you know that there's some things when you look back and see what happened, 00:09:26.139 --> 00:09:30.399 you say, wow, that was God working that out for me. 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:34.539 And I didn't even realize he was working it out. 00:09:34.819 --> 00:09:35.139 Amen? 00:09:35.919 --> 00:09:37.079 Come on, amen. 00:09:38.319 --> 00:09:44.819 Including blocking some things you really thought you wanted to do. 00:09:44.820 --> 00:09:52.140 There's some things you're convinced you want. 00:09:52.140 --> 00:09:55.300 There's some things you're convinced you want to do. 00:09:55.379 --> 00:09:56.760 You're just sure about it. 00:09:57.040 --> 00:09:58.820 You've figured it out and all of that. 00:09:59.140 --> 00:10:08.860 And all the time, God has his thumb on the door because there's another door you don't even know about that God's planning to open for you. 00:10:08.860 --> 00:10:12.659 Because God is always ahead of you. 00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:14.200 Can I get a witness? 00:10:14.200 --> 00:10:14.720 Amen. 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:27.680 At the lake house there is, when we got there, they left a notebook lying on the kitchen table in full view for everyone to see. 00:10:27.740 --> 00:10:28.240 It was a notebook. 00:10:28.700 --> 00:10:35.480 And in that notebook was written all of the things we needed to know in order to have a wonderful stay. 00:10:35.480 --> 00:10:46.240 And I'll tell you, you know, where everything was, how everything works, down at the dock where the kayaks were and where the on and on and on everything was. 00:10:47.060 --> 00:10:56.680 And the owner of the house took the initiative to write this notebook. 00:10:56.679 --> 00:11:00.759 And in it was everything we needed. 00:11:00.939 --> 00:11:06.000 Now, the things that were in there, instructions that we were giving, he left for us. 00:11:07.079 --> 00:11:11.059 Some of them didn't have any relevance for us. 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:14.620 We really didn't understand why he even put them in there. 00:11:15.679 --> 00:11:17.779 But they were just in there. 00:11:17.779 --> 00:11:35.439 Because in the boat, in the book rather, not only were there things we can do, but there were also some restrictions about some things we shouldn't do. 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:42.180 He said that you can use the kayaks. 00:11:43.300 --> 00:11:45.600 You can use the paddle boats. 00:11:47.800 --> 00:11:50.420 There were other, some rafters that we could use. 00:11:50.960 --> 00:12:01.220 But he said you cannot use the jet skis or the pontoon because you don't have a license, a boat license. 00:12:01.220 --> 00:12:06.700 And because you don't have a boat license, you're restricted from using. 00:12:06.820 --> 00:12:08.120 But there are certain things you can. 00:12:08.620 --> 00:12:12.800 There were some other restrictions that didn't make much sense to us, too. 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:21.139 He said you can use 600 gallons of water every day. 00:12:22.420 --> 00:12:25.800 600 gallons of water every day. 00:12:25.799 --> 00:12:33.419 If you go over that, the septic tank alarm will sound. 00:12:34.719 --> 00:12:41.759 And so, you know, we had no concept about, you know, how much water 600 gallons was, you know. 00:12:42.099 --> 00:12:44.500 You know, it didn't make much difference to us. 00:12:44.699 --> 00:12:47.240 Except there were 16 of us. 00:12:47.859 --> 00:12:48.839 16 of us. 00:12:49.179 --> 00:12:50.219 There were 16 of us. 00:12:50.220 --> 00:12:59.399 And one day, in one day, two of the people decided to do a full load of wash clothes. 00:12:59.500 --> 00:13:00.019 Wash clothes. 00:13:00.580 --> 00:13:02.740 I wonder why they bring dirty clothes on vacation. 00:13:03.180 --> 00:13:05.100 They decided to wash clothes. 00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:05.820 Two of them. 00:13:05.980 --> 00:13:06.379 Full load. 00:13:06.540 --> 00:13:11.360 And it was the same day I decided to take a leisurely shower. 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:18.279 I mean, I showered and washed my hair and worked on my feet with my puma stone. 00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:19.620 I was just enjoying. 00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:25.500 And all of a sudden, we heard beep, beep, beep, beep, beep. 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:27.399 And we heard it. 00:13:27.519 --> 00:13:29.800 We said, is that the septic tank alarm? 00:13:30.060 --> 00:13:31.659 And we all ran. 00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:32.779 Where's that book? 00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:34.720 Where's that book? 00:13:34.779 --> 00:13:35.340 Where's that book? 00:13:35.500 --> 00:13:35.940 Where's the book? 00:13:35.940 --> 00:13:36.880 And we got the book out. 00:13:37.020 --> 00:13:38.060 And we began to read. 00:13:38.060 --> 00:13:55.220 And because he had anticipated and taken the initiative about what to do in case we didn't do what we were supposed to do, 00:13:55.520 --> 00:13:57.320 it was in the book. 00:13:58.020 --> 00:13:59.720 And we were able to read it. 00:13:59.720 --> 00:14:10.759 This is God's notebook for God's lake house called Mother Earth. 00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:12.680 This is the book. 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:14.120 This is the Bible. 00:14:14.259 --> 00:14:14.660 The Bible. 00:14:14.779 --> 00:14:20.540 The Bible is his notebook that he decided, 00:14:20.539 --> 00:14:29.500 I'm going to write and leave them instructions how to have a wonderful time, 00:14:30.019 --> 00:14:32.019 just absolutely wonderful time, 00:14:32.579 --> 00:14:35.039 at my lake house. 00:14:35.719 --> 00:14:36.639 At my lake house. 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:41.259 He wrote down instructions, but he also wrote some restrictions. 00:14:42.439 --> 00:14:46.759 He said, there's certain things you shouldn't do. 00:14:46.759 --> 00:14:52.399 There's certain things that you should not eat. 00:14:52.559 --> 00:14:55.539 There's certain things that I'm restricting. 00:14:55.980 --> 00:14:58.860 You can eat all of, you can eat all those treats, all those treats, 00:14:58.939 --> 00:15:00.419 except that one, that one right over there. 00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:01.139 Don't bother with that one. 00:15:01.259 --> 00:15:02.740 But you can eat all the rest of them. 00:15:02.840 --> 00:15:04.879 You can eat all, but that one right there, that one right there. 00:15:05.019 --> 00:15:06.759 Don't eat, don't eat off of that one. 00:15:09.100 --> 00:15:13.879 And God still has left his book around for us. 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:24.279 Do you have in your possession, on a regular basis, God's notebook? 00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:27.899 Maybe you have, isn't it wonderful? 00:15:28.139 --> 00:15:29.600 You can have it on your phone. 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:31.939 You can have it on your iPad. 00:15:32.899 --> 00:15:36.340 But don't leave home without it. 00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:39.700 Because this is the book. 00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:42.000 I know you read a lot of books. 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:43.460 I know you read a lot. 00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:44.940 I love Malcolm Gladwell. 00:15:45.100 --> 00:15:46.980 Yeah, I love Mark Batterson. 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:49.159 There are a lot of great, I know you're reading books. 00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:52.480 I know you're, but let me let you know, this is the book. 00:15:53.980 --> 00:15:59.080 Somebody, somebody suggested that, that there's some books that shed light on this book. 00:15:59.179 --> 00:16:03.259 No, I'll let you know that this book sheds light on your book. 00:16:04.460 --> 00:16:07.679 This is the book. 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:09.039 Somebody say, this is the book. 00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:13.500 You need to read this book every day. 00:16:13.860 --> 00:16:22.659 There are some things when you read it, it's not going to make sense until you finally have a panic attack. 00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:26.980 There's, until you finally do something you had no business doing. 00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:30.199 And you're in a mess and you're going to run to the book. 00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:34.360 My suggestion is, keep the book close to you. 00:16:35.240 --> 00:16:36.800 Keep the book close to you. 00:16:36.860 --> 00:16:40.220 So first of all, oh, oh, okay. 00:16:41.100 --> 00:16:42.140 All right, that's all right. 00:16:42.259 --> 00:16:43.420 Don't leave, don't leave. 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:44.200 You're good. 00:16:44.660 --> 00:16:45.220 You're good. 00:16:45.520 --> 00:16:48.440 All right, so, he's always ahead of you. 00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:52.740 Second principle, second principle, you ready for this? 00:16:53.280 --> 00:16:56.040 Third principle, first principle, he's always ahead of you. 00:16:56.980 --> 00:17:00.160 Second principle, he's always ahead of your mistakes. 00:17:02.140 --> 00:17:03.840 He's always ahead of your mistakes. 00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:05.320 What is he always ahead of what? 00:17:06.320 --> 00:17:07.279 Your mistakes. 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:13.440 He's always ahead of your mistakes. 00:17:13.639 --> 00:17:17.259 When I'm on Waze and I'm driving, anybody like Waze beside me? 00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:19.099 You know, you have Waze? 00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:20.319 You don't have Waze? 00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:23.180 How do you get anywhere without Waze? 00:17:23.879 --> 00:17:27.259 It's the navigation app on your phone, Waze. 00:17:27.660 --> 00:17:30.899 The motto is we outsmart traffic together. 00:17:31.079 --> 00:17:32.019 Waze is wonderful. 00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:38.539 And so whenever I'm on Waze and I put directions in and I want to go somewhere, 00:17:39.619 --> 00:17:44.079 and like where I was going down to the lake house, I was talking. 00:17:44.940 --> 00:17:48.859 My nephew's grandson was in the back, and he said something to me, 00:17:49.099 --> 00:17:55.180 and I wasn't paying attention, and I went by where I was supposed to turn left. 00:17:55.319 --> 00:17:57.099 And when I did that, I heard, did it? 00:17:58.139 --> 00:18:00.900 And I knew, I said, uh-oh, I missed my turn. 00:18:00.900 --> 00:18:02.320 I missed my turn. 00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:09.840 And when I missed my turn, Waze is able to catch my mistake. 00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:14.600 And Waze told me, in a thousand feet, turn left. 00:18:17.140 --> 00:18:21.820 Because Waze was able to catch my mistake. 00:18:24.600 --> 00:18:25.840 God is able. 00:18:26.280 --> 00:18:26.800 Hallelujah. 00:18:27.220 --> 00:18:27.560 Hallelujah. 00:18:28.180 --> 00:18:29.519 This is comfort for you. 00:18:30.900 --> 00:18:36.180 When you make a mistake, God is ahead of your mistake. 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:44.840 Your mistake, glory, hallelujah, did not catch God by surprise. 00:18:45.400 --> 00:18:46.759 Somebody say hallelujah. 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:47.519 Hallelujah. 00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:53.019 I would love to ask anybody here to make a mistake this week, just in case you did. 00:18:53.019 --> 00:18:56.519 It may have surprised your friends. 00:18:56.519 --> 00:19:00.019 It may have surprised your spouse. 00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:04.779 Whoever it surprised, it did not surprise God. 00:19:06.220 --> 00:19:10.980 Because he's ahead of your mistakes. 00:19:10.980 --> 00:19:40.960 But the next verse says, 00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:43.559 As an advocate with a father. 00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:46.380 Jesus Christ, the righteous. 00:19:47.059 --> 00:19:49.559 And he is the lawyer for you. 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:57.960 And he stands in and argues the case before God for you. 00:19:57.960 --> 00:20:04.980 It's interesting that 1 John 2 and 1 comes after 1 John 1 and 9. 00:20:05.779 --> 00:20:07.000 Wouldn't that be interesting? 00:20:07.079 --> 00:20:07.700 Isn't that interesting? 00:20:08.120 --> 00:20:09.200 It actually comes after. 00:20:09.500 --> 00:20:17.799 Because 1 John 1 and 9, it takes the initiative for what might happen in 1 John 2 and 2. 00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:19.680 1 John 1 and 9 says, 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:23.960 If we confess our sins, 00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:29.940 He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins 00:20:29.940 --> 00:20:33.539 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 00:20:33.539 --> 00:20:34.940 So the second principle is, 00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:38.779 God is always ahead of our mistakes. 00:20:39.579 --> 00:20:41.319 Third principle, and I'll be through. 00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:48.240 Like any good parent, 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:50.399 the third principle is, 00:20:51.099 --> 00:20:56.079 your heavenly father takes the initiative 00:20:56.079 --> 00:21:00.539 in maintaining the relationship. 00:21:01.839 --> 00:21:02.879 Hallelujah. 00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:05.860 Like any good parent, 00:21:06.860 --> 00:21:07.920 your heavenly father 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:10.760 takes the initiative 00:21:10.760 --> 00:21:15.500 in correcting a relationship 00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:17.660 that's been messed up. 00:21:18.520 --> 00:21:20.820 He takes the initiative. 00:21:21.820 --> 00:21:23.900 I really preached the whole sermon 00:21:23.900 --> 00:21:25.960 for this point. 00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:27.980 How many fathers do I have in here? 00:21:29.140 --> 00:21:29.780 How many fathers? 00:21:29.880 --> 00:21:30.860 Fathers, raise your hand. 00:21:30.859 --> 00:21:32.740 Any wannabe fathers? 00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:40.500 Kennedy, who's sitting down here, 00:21:40.859 --> 00:21:41.719 a month ago, 00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:45.319 I was taking her out in Maryland. 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:47.419 She lives in Tacoma Park, 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:50.779 and she has something done to her hair 00:21:50.779 --> 00:21:52.619 that white folks won't understand. 00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:55.199 It's called, 00:21:55.399 --> 00:21:57.119 She Locks Her Hair. 00:21:57.740 --> 00:22:00.799 And that's literally when they braid her hair. 00:22:00.859 --> 00:22:02.959 And make it into little pieces. 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:03.879 It's called locking. 00:22:04.899 --> 00:22:05.419 And so, 00:22:05.859 --> 00:22:07.759 I was taking her out there, 00:22:07.979 --> 00:22:10.199 which has become my lot to do 00:22:10.199 --> 00:22:11.419 about every six weeks. 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:12.799 And so, 00:22:12.879 --> 00:22:13.759 as we were driving, 00:22:13.879 --> 00:22:16.159 and it's 22 miles from her house 00:22:16.159 --> 00:22:17.559 to the locktician. 00:22:17.699 --> 00:22:17.879 So, 00:22:17.959 --> 00:22:18.740 as we were driving, 00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:21.919 she was on her phone, 00:22:22.179 --> 00:22:23.379 and she had earphones in, 00:22:23.380 --> 00:22:25.520 and she was listening to her music. 00:22:25.520 --> 00:22:26.700 And I looked over 00:22:26.700 --> 00:22:28.580 and started to say something, 00:22:28.680 --> 00:22:29.760 and I saw she was on her phone. 00:22:30.520 --> 00:22:32.440 And the third time, 00:22:32.520 --> 00:22:32.800 I said, 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:33.180 Kennedy? 00:22:35.980 --> 00:22:36.660 No answer. 00:22:36.760 --> 00:22:36.920 I said, 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:37.340 Kennedy. 00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:38.760 And she took her earphone 00:22:38.760 --> 00:22:39.040 and said, 00:22:39.160 --> 00:22:39.400 yes, 00:22:39.460 --> 00:22:39.720 yes, 00:22:39.800 --> 00:22:40.080 poppy, 00:22:40.140 --> 00:22:40.360 yes, 00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:40.760 poppy. 00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:42.960 she was preparing to go 00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:44.539 on a mission trip to Haiti 00:22:44.539 --> 00:22:45.359 the next Sunday. 00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:45.879 So, 00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:46.160 I asked, 00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:46.440 I said, 00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:46.759 Kennedy, 00:22:46.859 --> 00:22:48.079 what do you plan to do? 00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:50.099 How do you plan to minister 00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:54.119 on the Haiti mission trip? 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:55.299 How do you plan to minister? 00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:56.740 And she said, 00:22:56.819 --> 00:22:57.019 you know, 00:22:57.279 --> 00:22:57.619 poppy, 00:22:57.700 --> 00:22:57.960 you know, 00:22:58.240 --> 00:23:00.839 I'm planning to be with the children. 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:02.160 I'm planning on playing with the children. 00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:03.200 I'm planning on doing it. 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:03.640 She said, 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:04.080 in fact, 00:23:04.600 --> 00:23:05.960 the other Sunday, 00:23:06.140 --> 00:23:07.620 we went to a commissioning service, 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:08.700 and while they, 00:23:09.059 --> 00:23:10.700 the person that was praying for me, 00:23:10.860 --> 00:23:12.120 while they were praying for me, 00:23:12.700 --> 00:23:16.120 I saw the eyes of a lion 00:23:16.120 --> 00:23:20.240 while they were praying for me. 00:23:20.620 --> 00:23:20.980 I said, 00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:22.279 you saw the eyes of a lion? 00:23:22.539 --> 00:23:23.200 She said, 00:23:23.259 --> 00:23:23.519 poppy, 00:23:23.559 --> 00:23:25.860 I saw the eyes of a lion. 00:23:26.299 --> 00:23:27.019 She said, 00:23:27.160 --> 00:23:29.200 what would that mean? 00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:30.720 I said, 00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:32.640 I really don't know what that means. 00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:33.000 I said, 00:23:33.080 --> 00:23:34.420 why don't we Google that 00:23:34.420 --> 00:23:37.680 and see what it means? 00:23:38.320 --> 00:23:39.800 And so she Googled 00:23:39.800 --> 00:23:41.560 the eyes of a lion, 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:42.540 and she read, 00:23:42.600 --> 00:23:42.900 she said, 00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:43.340 oh, 00:23:43.640 --> 00:23:45.060 this means this and this and this. 00:23:45.660 --> 00:23:46.060 Oh, 00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:46.580 wow. 00:23:46.780 --> 00:23:47.660 And then she said, 00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:49.380 it took her to something else, 00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:50.080 and she, 00:23:50.140 --> 00:23:50.759 and she looked, 00:23:51.060 --> 00:23:51.320 oh, 00:23:51.380 --> 00:23:51.820 my gracious, 00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:52.220 poppy, 00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:53.300 listen to what it's saying. 00:23:53.600 --> 00:23:53.900 And then, 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:54.560 and then she said, 00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:55.800 and it just went on 00:23:55.800 --> 00:23:56.980 for the next 30 minutes. 00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:57.660 The things, 00:23:57.800 --> 00:23:58.460 she said, 00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:59.560 I need to save this. 00:23:59.560 --> 00:24:00.700 I need to keep this. 00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:02.200 And when I dropped her off, 00:24:02.200 --> 00:24:02.920 she texted me. 00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:03.319 She said, 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:03.819 poppy, 00:24:03.860 --> 00:24:04.860 I found something else. 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:05.860 And when I picked her up, 00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:07.059 she was still talking. 00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:09.240 We were having this wonderful conversation 00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:10.720 about what was going on, 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:15.059 all because I took the initiative 00:24:15.059 --> 00:24:18.740 to start the conversation. 00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:22.620 Did you get that? 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:25.039 Fathers, 00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:25.539 fathers, 00:24:25.539 --> 00:24:27.799 fathers, 00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:27.819 fathers, 00:24:28.220 --> 00:24:31.799 you have to take the initiative 00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:36.159 to have conversations with your children. 00:24:38.220 --> 00:24:40.039 You have to take the initiative 00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:44.639 when it's a little tight around the house 00:24:44.639 --> 00:24:49.059 to have a conversation with your child. 00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:50.059 fathers, 00:24:50.059 --> 00:24:51.059 fathers, 00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:51.859 it's important 00:24:51.859 --> 00:24:57.079 that you take the initiative. 00:24:57.919 --> 00:24:58.240 Fathers, 00:24:58.339 --> 00:24:59.139 are you hearing me? 00:24:59.859 --> 00:25:08.179 Because that's what your heavenly father did and does. 00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:16.679 We had messed up real bad in the Old Testament times. 00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:18.019 We had messed up real, 00:25:18.340 --> 00:25:18.880 real bad. 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:20.440 We messed up so bad 00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:23.120 until for 400 years, 00:25:23.840 --> 00:25:25.660 God stopped talking to us. 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:28.840 For 400 years, 00:25:29.400 --> 00:25:31.000 he stopped speaking to us 00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:32.279 because we had messed up 00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:34.720 so bad. 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:39.160 But then finally, 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:40.660 John 3, 00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:41.880 16 says, 00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:46.600 For God so loved the world 00:25:46.600 --> 00:25:50.059 that he gave his only begotten son 00:25:50.059 --> 00:25:51.559 that whosoever believes in him 00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:53.100 should not perish 00:25:53.100 --> 00:25:55.299 but have everlasting life. 00:25:55.420 --> 00:25:57.319 This is the way I want to say that verse. 00:25:57.720 --> 00:25:59.579 For God so loved the world 00:25:59.579 --> 00:26:01.860 until he took the initiative 00:26:01.859 --> 00:26:05.079 for us to get back 00:26:05.079 --> 00:26:06.199 to him. 00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:06.919 In fact, 00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:08.959 2 Corinthians 5 00:26:08.959 --> 00:26:10.219 and around verse 19 00:26:10.219 --> 00:26:10.740 says 00:26:10.740 --> 00:26:12.659 that God 00:26:12.659 --> 00:26:15.159 was in Christ 00:26:15.159 --> 00:26:18.579 reconciling the world 00:26:18.579 --> 00:26:20.579 to himself. 00:26:21.579 --> 00:26:22.379 Wow. 00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:24.859 We're the ones that have messed up 00:26:24.859 --> 00:26:27.219 but God was in Christ 00:26:27.219 --> 00:26:29.699 reconciling the world 00:26:29.699 --> 00:26:32.119 to himself 00:26:32.119 --> 00:26:34.000 and has given us 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:35.500 the ministry 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:37.839 of reconciliation. 00:26:38.439 --> 00:26:39.439 So first of all, 00:26:39.939 --> 00:26:43.659 God is always ahead of you. 00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:46.279 You can't catch him by surprise. 00:26:46.919 --> 00:26:47.359 Secondly, 00:26:47.939 --> 00:26:49.359 he's ahead of your mistakes. 00:26:49.959 --> 00:26:50.500 And third, 00:26:51.139 --> 00:26:52.279 he's working on 00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:53.759 that relationship. 00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.839 and I'm so glad 00:26:54.839 --> 00:26:58.900 that God 00:26:58.900 --> 00:27:01.200 sent his son 00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:04.579 when I had messed up. 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:07.920 When none of the prophets 00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:09.379 could fix the situation. 00:27:10.460 --> 00:27:12.379 When none of the apostles 00:27:12.379 --> 00:27:13.940 could fix the situation. 00:27:15.420 --> 00:27:16.039 God 00:27:16.039 --> 00:27:17.799 said to Jesus, 00:27:17.960 --> 00:27:19.160 you got to go down there. 00:27:20.119 --> 00:27:21.119 And I'm so glad 00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:21.559 Jesus 00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:23.400 came to earth. 00:27:23.400 --> 00:27:24.740 Anybody beside me 00:27:24.740 --> 00:27:26.160 is glad 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:26.840 that Jesus 00:27:26.840 --> 00:27:28.540 came to earth. 00:27:28.540 --> 00:27:29.640 God bless you.