WEBVTT

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 Ephesians chapter 6, if you ain't got anything to say, at least come up with a good title.

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 The daring dedication to defy and deflect demonic darts.

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 That's our responsibility as believers who put our faith in the Lord, and we need to because we're in a war.

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 It's not a war overseas, even though all those wars that you watch on television are influenced by this war.

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 It's not a political war, although we're in the midst of one.

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 And it sure is the evidence of a larger war.

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 The war I speak of is an unseen, invisible war, but more real than what we see.

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 It's a spiritual war that influences and evades all of those wars that you see in life.

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 It's bigger than what we see.

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 And I believe we need to recognize it, and I believe that for what it is,

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 and do what we need to do to stand strong spiritually in the midst of it.

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 The Apostle Paul tells us how to do that, and he explains the spiritual attributes that we're to have,

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 and he describes them as an armor of protection provided for us by God.

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 And the key to that protection is our faith in God.

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 I want you to listen to how he explains it.

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 It's in Ephesians 6, verse 16.

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 It says,

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 Defying, deflecting, even extinguishing the flaming demonic darts that are headed our way

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 is the duty of those who put their faith in Christ,

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 those who've dedicated their life to Christ.

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 It's only by the power of God, it's only by our trust and our dependence upon God that it works.

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 And Paul calls that a shield of faith.

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 Now, the shield that he talks about is not one of those Captain America type shields, okay?

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 There's a word for that in the Greek, but that's not the one he uses.

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 Not Captain America, that's not in the Greek.

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 But the shield type, the small type of shield, no, what he's speaking of here is much larger than that.

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 It's the size of a small door, usually about two and a half feet wide, about four feet long.

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 It's like a riot gear shield, if you will.

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 It's made of wood and iron and often layered with linen and then with leather on top of that.

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 And often dipped in water before battle.

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 And you say, why by water?

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 Because arrows were dipped in tar and set on fire.

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 Why would they do that?

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 Well, if you live in a thatch hut and you go under a fiery attack by the darts of those that are arrows that are being shot,

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 you're in trouble, okay?

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 Your house will burn down.

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 So in the same kind of effect, whatever that fire hit could cause all kinds of problems.

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 And so they often did that.

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 And soldiers relied upon their shields.

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 A historian from early days said that there was a soldier that came in one day after battle with 200 previously fiery darts stuck in his shield.

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 They relied upon them.

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 When pursuing another army in battle, the soldiers would line up and form a wall.

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 They called it a phalanx.

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 And the shields there, they would get together and serve in that capacity.

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 And those shields, not only could they stoop behind them, but if you'll notice, the second and third roads could use them as rooftops to keep from fiery darts coming.

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 The shields were hooked together, kind of like chairs in an auditorium you see sometimes.

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 They could hook them together at times, making for a wall of defense.

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 And that's the kind of protection that the Apostle Paul says that we need against the fiery darts of the evil one.

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 Now when we say fiery darts, what do we mean?

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 Well, I want to spend my time this morning identifying the darts that we are to expect,

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 and then to learn how to defy and deflect them.

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 The evil one loves to shoot his fiery darts.

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 One of them is he loves to shoot the fiery dart of misdirection.

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 Temptation is simply defined as attempts of the evil one to throw us off our path that God has for us.

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 Satan wants to redirect us, and one of the clearest ways that he does that is mentioned in 1 John 2, verse 15 through 17.

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 When John wrote,

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 Do not love the world or the things in the world.

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 If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

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 For that is in the world.

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 For all that is in the world, listen to this,

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 the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life.

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 And it's not from the Father, but it's from the world.

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 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

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 Do you know what will throw us off of God's path for our life?

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 One thing that will throw us off is answering our every yearning.

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 That is what John calls the desires of the flesh.

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 Just because we get a craving for something does not mean we have to answer that craving.

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 God made us with an appetite for food, drink, sensuality,

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 and the devil loves to lead us to make any and all of those things be our focus.

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 We can become driven by our yearnings if we're not careful.

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 They're innate, they're natural, therefore we feel like sometimes they're justified.

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 However, Satan misdirects us, and we'll follow his lead, and it'll make for a mess.

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 You eat too much, not only will it ruin your night, but it'll ruin your health,

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 and it can sabotage your self-esteem as well, quite honestly.

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 It'll bring you down, and Satan likes doing that kind of thing.

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 You drink too much, it'll ruin not only your health, it'll ruin your family.

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 It'll ruin your testimony.

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 I just advise you to stay away from it completely.

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 If you become too sexually driven, it'll destroy us from the inside out, the Apostle Paul said.

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 He said sexual sin is a sin against your own body.

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 I just want you to think about the heyday that Satan's having today in a world that so celebrates sexual deviance.

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 Porn is at an all-time high.

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 Sexual deviance is applauded by society.

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 And all of it comes back to not surrendering to the base desires that the Lord's given us,

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 but Satan loves to throw darts in there and mix up the matter and misdirect us.

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 He loves to throw us off our game.

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 He wants us to answer our every yearning.

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 The second way we get in trouble is getting what we want.

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 I gotta have it.

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 That's the desire of the eyes that he mentions.

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 That deep desire to always want more.

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 We get something new and the luster wears off.

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 We gotta get something else quicker.

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 Now we need something more.

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 We like what we have until we find out somebody else has got something better than us.

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 And now we gotta go get what they've got.

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 God wants us to give him reign over our stuff.

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 And one of the valuable tools of that is when we faithfully tithe to the Lord.

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 Because we remember when we do that, you should anyway, that God owns everything that I have.

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 I'm just to be a steward of that.

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 And he instructs me in how to give back to him.

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 And quite honestly, most of us, when we faithfully tithe to the Lord,

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 we have to say no to some things in order to do that.

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 Tithing helps us prioritize what really matters.

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 But the devil would love for us to overextend.

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 The devil would love for us to be drowning in debt.

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 The devil would love for us to feel incapable of being obedient to God

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 because of things that we've already committed to.

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 That's what the desire of the eyes speaks of.

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 But it also talks about looking better than everybody else.

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 That's what the pride of life talks about.

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 He wants us to think that we're the most important things in life.

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 Period.

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 And if we are a little better than everybody else,

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 then, you know, we can feel hateful towards somebody

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 if they try to succeed and do better than us.

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 It's the pride of life.

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 We just want to be a little bit better than somebody else.

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 And the reality is we make dumb decisions in order for that to happen.

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 And all of those things are darts of misdirection.

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 But not only that, the devil also shoots fiery darts of misfortune.

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 And what I mean by that is it's not what happens to you.

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 It's what happens to what happens to you.

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 Life is rough.

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 We're born into a fallen world.

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 Our bodies get sick.

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 We have hurts along the way.

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 Life is rough.

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 And then we go on Facebook or Instagram or some other social media

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 and see that life's not rough for anybody else but us.

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 Everything's grand on those social media.

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 I mean, they go to the finest places.

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 They have the finest things, eat the finest meals.

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 They're always smiling, you know.

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 Those family picture days.

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 They're always just wonderful, you know.

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 They never show the fight that they had all the way at the house getting ready

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 about what they were going to wear and whether it was ready or not

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 or all the way out there.

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 Ask the photographer.

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 They'll tell you about how y'all act.

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 I checked it out.

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 But anyway, all that makes us feel worse when we see somebody else so glowing

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 and we realize that everything in life is just not going to glow.

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 Life's bad enough at times.

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 But when the devil gets mixed in there, it really makes things confusing.

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 When somebody gets so down that they don't seem to be able to look up

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 and then they're concerned about maybe they need to take their own life,

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 where in the world does that kind of thought come from?

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 I'll tell you where it comes from.

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 It comes from the evil one.

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 He works in people to do that.

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 He'll tear us down.

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 When somebody faces a health trial or a relationship trial

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 and they walk away from their relationship with God

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 because they feel overwhelmed by their difficulty,

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 why in the world would you walk away from God when you're going through a trial?

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 Why in the world would you do that?

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 Because the devil twists and turns and those things.

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 He loves to isolate.

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 And he'll drive you mad when he can.

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 And why does somebody walk in an establishment and start shooting?

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 Why in the world would somebody do that?

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 I'm telling you, it's a spiritual battle.

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 It's the evil one.

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 And he loves to jump on us in times of misfortune.

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 He loves to jump on us when we're down.

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 He loves to do that.

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 Be aware that when times are tough, the fiery darts are going to come.

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 I mean, they are.

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 He loves to hit on misfortune.

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 Another time he shoots fiery darts is through mistruths.

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 He does it through mistruths.

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 John 8 verse 44 says that Satan is a liar and the father of lies.

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 He'll tell us that we are worth nothing.

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 He'll tell us that nobody really loves us.

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 Listen, I got news for you today.

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 Jesus died for you.

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 And if you were in Christ, don't you dare listen to that liar.

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 You're a king's kid.

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 You are royal.

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 You got royal rich blood rolling in your veins.

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 You're a plutocrat.

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 Don't you dare listen to the deceiver.

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 He'll criticize you.

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 He'll call you a hypocrite.

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 He'll tell you to give up.

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 Don't you do it.

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 You walk with God.

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 You ask for forgiveness of God.

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 And by the power of the blood of the Lamb, walk away from the garbage that Satan throws in front of you.

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 Don't be naive.

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 And don't be slowed by it.

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 Don't you do it.

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 Keep moving forward for the Lord because Satan is a liar.

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 And he'll tell you that no one will know what you do.

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 He'll tell you that it'll be okay.

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 He'll tell you that it won't cost you anything.

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 He'll tell you that you can't change.

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 He'll tell you that it will make you change all of its lies, my friend.

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 He's the father of lies.

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 And it's just darts of mistruth.

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 He also shoots darts of mixed motives.

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 you'll hear whispers

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 not audible louder than that

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 why go all the way with God

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 why go all the way for God

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 why can't you just go halfway

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 you don't have to get so sold out on something

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 why should God prioritize your life

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 do what you need to do

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 do what you want to do

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 you don't have to go to worship

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 you don't have to get fully invested with those people

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 life's busy enough

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 plus there's somebody in that church

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 you probably got a problem with

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 the clothes may not be as new as theirs

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 you don't know where to sit

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 all of that stuff

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 he's just messing with us

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 he's just messing with us

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 he's just trying to confuse us

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 and he'll work us up to make us angry too

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 he'll make you mad at somebody

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 if he can

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 I ask you today

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 is there somebody you need to forgive

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 are you refusing to forgive somebody

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 well I'm going to tell you

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 if you're a child of God

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 and you've got a lack of forgiveness in your heart

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 you've allowed the evil one to influence you in that

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 you bitter towards somebody

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 that's the evil one messing with you

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 it's the devil

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 your lack of forgiveness

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 you're taking the fiery darks

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 your bitter feelings

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 you're taking the fiery darks

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 why

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 does my mind wonder

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 when I pray

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 I think man I need to get up and go take care of that

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 you know I'm praying about this

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 but I can get up and go take care of that

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 why is that

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 because listen

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 the power is in prayer

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 the power is not in what we do

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 the power is in prayer

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 and doing what God tells us

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 Satan don't want you praying

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 and so he'll try his best to mess that up

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 why does your morning get filled up

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 and the word get pinched out

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 I'm telling you it's the evil one

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 why do fun opportunities always come on Sunday

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 you ever wondered about that

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 why does that happen

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 you know

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 pinch us out of church

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 why does that happen

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 I'm going to tell you something

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 everything is not

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 I'm not that guy

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 okay

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 I'm not that guy

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 but I'm just telling you

00:15:07.379 --> 00:15:10.500
 the devil strategizes

00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:11.840
 to keep you

00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:14.519
 out from under the preaching of God's word

00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:16.419
 the worship of the Lord

00:15:16.419 --> 00:15:18.120
 and to be with God's people

00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:19.720
 he wants his best

00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:21.279
 to distract that

00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:24.200
 and he'll throw darts along the way

00:15:24.200 --> 00:15:26.379
 and try his best

00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:28.059
 to make that happen

00:15:28.059 --> 00:15:31.299
 so how do you stand against

00:15:31.299 --> 00:15:33.860
 darts of misdirection

00:15:33.860 --> 00:15:34.639
 misfortune

00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:37.259
 mistruths and mixed motives

00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:40.819
 we do it with the shield of faith

00:15:40.819 --> 00:15:41.879
 we are protected

00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:43.799
 from the fiery darts

00:15:43.799 --> 00:15:45.000
 of the evil one

00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:47.220
 by our trust

00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:48.220
 and our hope

00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:49.200
 in the Lord

00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:50.299
 Hebrews 11 1

00:15:50.299 --> 00:15:52.159
 defines faith for us in scripture

00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:54.200
 says now faith is the assurance

00:15:54.200 --> 00:15:55.159
 of things hoped for

00:15:55.159 --> 00:15:57.939
 the conviction of things not seen

00:15:57.939 --> 00:15:59.639
 simply put

00:15:59.639 --> 00:16:01.439
 faith is believing

00:16:01.439 --> 00:16:03.059
 and then applying

00:16:03.059 --> 00:16:05.439
 what you believe

00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:06.440
 faith is the truth

00:16:06.440 --> 00:16:07.360
 so let me explain it

00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:09.200
 let me tell you what faith is this morning

00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:09.920
 and I'll close

00:16:09.920 --> 00:16:11.780
 faith

00:16:11.780 --> 00:16:13.140
 is trusting

00:16:13.140 --> 00:16:15.480
 in the character of God

00:16:15.480 --> 00:16:19.000
 it's trusting in God's character

00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:20.560
 he knows what he's doing

00:16:20.560 --> 00:16:22.740
 he knows what we're doing

00:16:22.740 --> 00:16:25.100
 he knows why we're doing it

00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:27.060
 and he knows what's best for us

00:16:27.060 --> 00:16:28.900
 God is on it

00:16:28.900 --> 00:16:31.020
 he knows the circumstances

00:16:31.019 --> 00:16:31.919
 and not only that

00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:33.539
 is he's pursuing you

00:16:33.539 --> 00:16:35.679
 when your walk

00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:36.240
 gets strained

00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:36.799
 before the Lord

00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:37.659
 who convicts you

00:16:37.659 --> 00:16:38.319
 it's the Lord

00:16:38.319 --> 00:16:39.579
 that reaches out to you

00:16:39.579 --> 00:16:41.579
 he walks with us

00:16:41.579 --> 00:16:42.600
 he talks with us

00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:43.019
 listen

00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:44.379
 Jesus said he had

00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:45.220
 the hairs

00:16:45.220 --> 00:16:46.799
 on our heads

00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:47.779
 numbered

00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:48.559
 for some of us

00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:49.199
 that ain't as hard

00:16:49.199 --> 00:16:49.899
 as it used to be

00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:51.319
 but either way

00:16:51.319 --> 00:16:51.679
 that

00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:53.419
 what he means by that

00:16:53.419 --> 00:16:54.819
 is he knows

00:16:54.819 --> 00:16:55.799
 what we need

00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:56.799
 he knows

00:16:56.799 --> 00:16:57.939
 when we need it

00:16:57.939 --> 00:16:58.679
 not only that

00:16:58.679 --> 00:16:59.979
 but he loves us

00:16:59.979 --> 00:17:00.839
 so dearly

00:17:00.839 --> 00:17:02.019
 that he came

00:17:02.019 --> 00:17:03.659
 to live for us

00:17:03.659 --> 00:17:05.259
 to die for us

00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:07.000
 to rise again for us

00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:08.220
 to sit at the right hand

00:17:08.220 --> 00:17:08.639
 of the Father

00:17:08.639 --> 00:17:10.059
 and make intercession for us

00:17:10.059 --> 00:17:11.759
 while he's preparing for us

00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:12.919
 an eternal place

00:17:12.919 --> 00:17:14.440
 faith is trusting

00:17:14.440 --> 00:17:16.039
 that all of that is true

00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:18.059
 and that God is

00:17:18.059 --> 00:17:19.159
 who he says he is

00:17:19.159 --> 00:17:20.319
 not only that

00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:21.259
 but he knows all

00:17:21.259 --> 00:17:23.200
 I mean we get caught up

00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:24.579
 in the worries of the day

00:17:24.579 --> 00:17:26.500
 we worry about

00:17:26.500 --> 00:17:27.119
 what's going to happen

00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:27.839
 this afternoon

00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:29.459
 we worried about

00:17:29.459 --> 00:17:30.039
 what's going to happen

00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:30.459
 tomorrow

00:17:30.459 --> 00:17:31.740
 we were worried

00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:32.240
 yesterday

00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:34.419
 and we got through it

00:17:34.419 --> 00:17:35.859
 we made it

00:17:35.859 --> 00:17:38.559
 because we can't see

00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:40.279
 what God sees

00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:41.899
 so we have to trust

00:17:41.899 --> 00:17:43.159
 his sight

00:17:43.159 --> 00:17:43.819
 what in the world

00:17:43.819 --> 00:17:44.740
 are we worried about

00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:47.359
 for our 20th anniversary

00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:47.859
 years ago

00:17:47.859 --> 00:17:48.459
 Dawn and I

00:17:48.459 --> 00:17:49.139
 went to

00:17:49.139 --> 00:17:51.039
 New York City

00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:52.339
 and we went

00:17:52.339 --> 00:17:53.299
 for the Macy's Day

00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:54.059
 Thanksgiving Parade

00:17:54.059 --> 00:17:54.859
 she always wanted to see

00:17:54.859 --> 00:17:56.259
 the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade

00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:57.259
 and so we went to the

00:17:57.259 --> 00:17:58.339
 Macy's Thanksgiving Parade

00:17:58.339 --> 00:17:59.680
 we went to Central Park

00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:01.279
 and saw them blow

00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:03.059
 begin to blow those floats up

00:18:03.059 --> 00:18:04.339
 the night before

00:18:04.339 --> 00:18:06.039
 and to get those ready

00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:07.319
 and then we got on the subway

00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:09.160
 and nearly lost our lives

00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:09.700
 and

00:18:09.700 --> 00:18:12.079
 and then we

00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:13.420
 we walked out of the hotel

00:18:13.420 --> 00:18:14.099
 and went down

00:18:14.099 --> 00:18:15.119
 a few blocks

00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:15.819
 and stood

00:18:15.819 --> 00:18:17.400
 about eight people back

00:18:17.400 --> 00:18:18.960
 in the Macy's Day

00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:19.839
 Thanksgiving Parade

00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:20.940
 boy what a red letter day

00:18:20.940 --> 00:18:21.240
 for me

00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:21.640
 but anyway

00:18:21.640 --> 00:18:22.780
 and so we were

00:18:22.780 --> 00:18:23.720
 we were standing there

00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:24.400
 watching that

00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:24.700
 and

00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:25.940
 and here comes a float

00:18:25.940 --> 00:18:26.900
 here comes somebody

00:18:26.900 --> 00:18:28.280
 who's that

00:18:28.280 --> 00:18:29.440
 they're on a show

00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:29.880
 ain't they

00:18:29.880 --> 00:18:30.540
 yeah

00:18:30.540 --> 00:18:31.640
 I know her

00:18:31.640 --> 00:18:33.320
 and then she went by

00:18:33.320 --> 00:18:34.540
 and then he went by

00:18:34.540 --> 00:18:36.300
 yeah I've seen that dude

00:18:36.300 --> 00:18:36.980
 he's a star

00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:37.300
 ain't he

00:18:37.300 --> 00:18:38.100
 yeah he's somebody

00:18:38.100 --> 00:18:39.360
 where's Santa

00:18:39.360 --> 00:18:40.100
 you know

00:18:40.100 --> 00:18:41.980
 and Santa's always in the back

00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:43.200
 and we watched float

00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:44.680
 by float

00:18:44.680 --> 00:18:45.960
 by float

00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:46.640
 and there's a bunch of them

00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:48.420
 that went by

00:18:48.420 --> 00:18:51.960
 but while we were watching that

00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:53.560
 there was a helicopter

00:18:53.560 --> 00:18:54.420
 above us

00:18:54.420 --> 00:18:55.920
 that was watching

00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:57.380
 the whole thing

00:18:57.380 --> 00:18:58.700
 and

00:18:58.700 --> 00:18:59.840
 every other year

00:18:59.840 --> 00:19:00.720
 we'd cut that on

00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:01.720
 on Thanksgiving morning

00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:02.019
 and

00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:02.700
 and

00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:03.680
 and let that

00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:04.660
 let that show

00:19:04.660 --> 00:19:05.080
 and

00:19:05.080 --> 00:19:06.660
 they'd show that view

00:19:06.660 --> 00:19:08.180
 that that helicopter shows

00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:09.340
 and

00:19:09.340 --> 00:19:10.580
 they'll show you

00:19:10.580 --> 00:19:11.519
 the whole path

00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:13.480
 that that parade goes

00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:14.400
 two and a half miles

00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:15.620
 we had walked it

00:19:15.620 --> 00:19:16.460
 the night before

00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:17.800
 to go see the floats

00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:18.419
 and

00:19:18.419 --> 00:19:19.000
 and

00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:20.279
 they'll show you

00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:21.220
 that whole path

00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:21.639
 there

00:19:21.639 --> 00:19:22.899
 and

00:19:22.899 --> 00:19:24.460
 but while we were there

00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:26.119
 we just saw it afloat

00:19:26.119 --> 00:19:27.599
 at a time

00:19:27.599 --> 00:19:30.319
 the reality is

00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:32.220
 we live life

00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:34.440
 afloat at a time

00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:36.779
 a day at a time

00:19:36.779 --> 00:19:39.339
 a year at a time

00:19:39.339 --> 00:19:41.079
 we don't know

00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:42.059
 what's coming next

00:19:42.059 --> 00:19:44.019
 we know there's an end

00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:44.559
 in sight

00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:45.019
 somewhere

00:19:45.019 --> 00:19:45.960
 but we don't know

00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:46.680
 when that is

00:19:46.680 --> 00:19:48.380
 we're just watching it

00:19:48.380 --> 00:19:49.240
 as it goes by

00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:51.060
 but God

00:19:51.060 --> 00:19:52.960
 has a helicopter view

00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:55.620
 God sees the beginning

00:19:55.620 --> 00:19:58.019
 God sees the end

00:19:58.019 --> 00:20:00.279
 he sees everything

00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:01.000
 in

00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:02.039
 between

00:20:02.039 --> 00:20:05.580
 he knows us

00:20:05.580 --> 00:20:07.720
 better than we know

00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:08.519
 ourselves

00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:11.000
 he loves us

00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:12.920
 more than we could ever imagine

00:20:12.920 --> 00:20:14.680
 and he is already

00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:15.220
 in our

00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:16.160
 tomorrow's

00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:18.740
 and he has the reputation

00:20:18.740 --> 00:20:20.779
 to put us

00:20:20.779 --> 00:20:22.160
 at ease

00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:24.920
 faith is trusting

00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:26.560
 in the character

00:20:26.560 --> 00:20:27.960
 of God

00:20:27.960 --> 00:20:29.200
 think about when David

00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:30.279
 walked down in that valley

00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:32.420
 Goliath was representing

00:20:32.420 --> 00:20:33.900
 the Philistines down in that valley

00:20:33.900 --> 00:20:34.320
 and

00:20:34.320 --> 00:20:37.120
 David refused to wear

00:20:37.120 --> 00:20:37.920
 Saul's army

00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:39.680
 scripture says Saul was a head

00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:40.960
 taller than everybody else

00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:42.500
 and I think it means that

00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:43.320
 in a couple of different ways

00:20:43.320 --> 00:20:43.900
 one I believe

00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:45.160
 talks about his physical stature

00:20:45.160 --> 00:20:46.580
 but I also believe

00:20:46.580 --> 00:20:47.940
 man Saul was something else

00:20:47.940 --> 00:20:48.340
 you know

00:20:48.340 --> 00:20:50.880
 and David couldn't wear that armor

00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:51.759
 it was too big for him

00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:53.180
 he didn't want to wear that armor anyway

00:20:53.180 --> 00:20:55.060
 he just went with what God

00:20:55.060 --> 00:20:55.880
 had trained him

00:20:55.880 --> 00:20:56.940
 and trusted him with

00:20:56.940 --> 00:20:59.200
 and that was a slingshot

00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:00.380
 he had prepared him

00:21:00.380 --> 00:21:02.640
 and he put his trust in God

00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:04.140
 and he walked down in that valley

00:21:04.140 --> 00:21:06.299
 and spoke to that giant

00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:08.839
 and it says in 1st Samuel chapter 17

00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:10.019
 verse 45 through 47

00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:11.159
 some of my favorite scripture

00:21:11.159 --> 00:21:13.419
 then David said to the Philistine

00:21:13.419 --> 00:21:14.279
 you come to me

00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:15.319
 today

00:21:15.319 --> 00:21:15.899
 excuse me

00:21:15.899 --> 00:21:16.899
 you come to me

00:21:16.899 --> 00:21:17.500
 with a sword

00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:18.139
 and with a spear

00:21:18.139 --> 00:21:18.980
 and with a javelin

00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:20.079
 but I come to you

00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:21.220
 in the name of the Lord of hosts

00:21:21.220 --> 00:21:23.139
 the God of the armies of Israel

00:21:23.139 --> 00:21:24.980
 whom you have defiled

00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:25.639
 this day

00:21:25.639 --> 00:21:27.220
 the Lord will deliver you

00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:27.980
 into my hand

00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:29.720
 and I'll strike you down

00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:31.240
 and cut off your head

00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:32.980
 for the battle is the Lord's

00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:34.559
 and he will give you

00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:36.339
 into our hand

00:21:36.339 --> 00:21:38.399
 and that is exactly

00:21:38.399 --> 00:21:39.960
 what happened

00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:41.899
 and that's faith

00:21:41.899 --> 00:21:45.519
 that's the kind of faith

00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:48.480
 that trusts that God

00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:49.159
 will be there

00:21:49.159 --> 00:21:50.919
 you trust the character of God

00:21:50.919 --> 00:21:52.099
 that's the kind of faith

00:21:52.099 --> 00:21:53.159
 that will extinguish

00:21:53.159 --> 00:21:56.559
 the devil's greatest attempts

00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:57.099
 but let me tell you

00:21:57.099 --> 00:21:57.960
 what else faith is

00:21:57.960 --> 00:22:00.879
 faith is also trusting

00:22:00.879 --> 00:22:01.980
 God's promises

00:22:01.980 --> 00:22:04.440
 faith is knowing

00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:05.140
 that God

00:22:05.140 --> 00:22:07.039
 will not let you down

00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:07.839
 numbers 23

00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:09.579
 verse 19 says this

00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:10.900
 God is not man

00:22:10.900 --> 00:22:11.660
 that he should lie

00:22:11.660 --> 00:22:12.400
 nor son of man

00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:13.599
 that he should change his mind

00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:14.620
 has he said

00:22:14.620 --> 00:22:15.720
 and will he not do it

00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:16.819
 or has he spoken

00:22:16.819 --> 00:22:17.779
 and will he not

00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:18.660
 fulfill it

00:22:18.660 --> 00:22:20.960
 what kind of promises

00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:22.620
 does God make

00:22:22.620 --> 00:22:23.640
 that we're talking about

00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:24.500
 well let me remind you

00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:25.140
 of just a couple

00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:27.420
 John 14 verse 18

00:22:27.420 --> 00:22:28.900
 Jesus promises

00:22:28.900 --> 00:22:30.440
 I will not leave you alone

00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:32.120
 I will not leave you comfortless

00:22:32.120 --> 00:22:33.360
 I will not leave you as offerings

00:22:33.360 --> 00:22:36.000
 I will come to you

00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:37.480
 rest in it

00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:40.420
 that when the devil tries to down you

00:22:40.420 --> 00:22:41.960
 when he tries to depress you

00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:43.880
 when he tries to speak bad things about you

00:22:43.880 --> 00:22:46.580
 when he tries to take your hope away

00:22:46.580 --> 00:22:50.279
 you are not as alone as you feel

00:22:50.279 --> 00:22:51.920
 he's there

00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:56.400
 apostle Paul told us in 1 Corinthians 10 verse 13

00:22:56.400 --> 00:23:00.200
 that God would provide a way out

00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:00.940
 when we're tempted

00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:02.880
 that's a promise

00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:04.820
 trust him in that

00:23:04.820 --> 00:23:06.360
 and he'll shield you

00:23:06.360 --> 00:23:07.040
 when you're tempted

00:23:07.040 --> 00:23:08.420
 but you gotta trust him

00:23:08.420 --> 00:23:10.740
 he is present

00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:13.900
 even when you don't feel like he's present

00:23:13.900 --> 00:23:15.019
 because his presence

00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:16.040
 ain't based on your feelings

00:23:16.040 --> 00:23:18.320
 oh that God would open our eyes

00:23:18.320 --> 00:23:19.180
 to see his presence

00:23:19.180 --> 00:23:22.000
 I love the passage about Elisha

00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:23.920
 he was encroached

00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:25.000
 he was being encroached

00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:26.220
 by his enemies

00:23:26.220 --> 00:23:29.100
 and he would not prophesy

00:23:29.100 --> 00:23:30.080
 what they wanted to hear

00:23:30.080 --> 00:23:31.240
 and so they went after him

00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:34.100
 and he said what the Lord told him to say

00:23:34.100 --> 00:23:35.680
 and people usually don't want to hear

00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:36.700
 what the Lord has to say

00:23:36.700 --> 00:23:37.860
 and so they went after him

00:23:37.860 --> 00:23:39.220
 and he was in Dothan

00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:40.480
 not Alabama

00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:41.580
 but he was in Dothan

00:23:41.580 --> 00:23:44.759
 and he was resting in his tent

00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:47.100
 while his assistant

00:23:47.100 --> 00:23:49.120
 stepped out to see

00:23:49.120 --> 00:23:51.759
 where the enemy's gang of men were

00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:54.440
 and he saw them waiting to attack him

00:23:54.440 --> 00:23:57.480
 it seemed as if he had no hope

00:23:57.480 --> 00:24:00.200
 and scripture tells us

00:24:00.200 --> 00:24:01.740
 in 2 Kings chapter 6

00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:02.839
 verse 15

00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:03.240
 it says

00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:05.019
 when the servant of the man of God

00:24:05.019 --> 00:24:05.819
 rose early in the morning

00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:06.240
 and went out

00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:06.640
 and behold

00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:09.019
 an army with horses and chariots

00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:10.539
 was all around the city

00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:13.000
 and the servant said

00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:14.599
 alas my master

00:24:14.599 --> 00:24:16.359
 what shall we do

00:24:16.359 --> 00:24:17.920
 and he said

00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:18.759
 don't be afraid

00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:20.519
 for those who are with us

00:24:20.519 --> 00:24:21.660
 are more than those

00:24:21.660 --> 00:24:22.819
 who are with them

00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:25.660
 and then Elisha prayed

00:24:25.660 --> 00:24:26.259
 and said

00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:27.119
 oh God

00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:27.680
 what a prayer

00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:28.700
 oh Lord

00:24:28.700 --> 00:24:29.039
 please

00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:31.180
 open his eyes

00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:32.599
 that he may

00:24:32.599 --> 00:24:33.440
 see

00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:35.460
 so the Lord

00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:36.299
 opened the eyes

00:24:36.299 --> 00:24:36.940
 of the young man

00:24:36.940 --> 00:24:37.480
 and he saw

00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:37.879
 and behold

00:24:37.879 --> 00:24:38.299
 the mountain

00:24:38.299 --> 00:24:39.220
 was full of horses

00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:40.119
 and chariots of fire

00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:41.539
 all around

00:24:41.539 --> 00:24:42.579
 Elisha

00:24:42.579 --> 00:24:44.700
 Elisha's army

00:24:44.700 --> 00:24:45.440
 won that battle

00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:45.819
 that day

00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:46.740
 the Lord came through

00:24:46.740 --> 00:24:48.319
 let me tell you something

00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:49.720
 he always will

00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:50.559
 may God

00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:51.500
 open our eyes

00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:52.019
 to see

00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:52.859
 what in the world

00:24:52.859 --> 00:24:53.519
 God's doing

00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:55.599
 Hebrews 11

00:24:55.599 --> 00:24:56.180
 verse 6

00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:56.359
 says

00:24:56.359 --> 00:24:57.039
 without faith

00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:57.839
 it is impossible

00:24:57.839 --> 00:24:58.940
 to please him

00:24:58.940 --> 00:24:59.839
 without faith

00:24:59.839 --> 00:25:00.519
 it's impossible

00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:02.059
 to withstand the devil

00:25:02.059 --> 00:25:02.759
 it is

00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:04.180
 but with faith

00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:04.779
 you are both

00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:06.059
 pleasing the Lord

00:25:06.059 --> 00:25:06.980
 and victorious

00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:07.720
 in Christ

00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:09.500
 but that's not all

00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:10.799
 faith is also

00:25:10.799 --> 00:25:13.319
 trusting God's timing

00:25:13.319 --> 00:25:15.700
 we don't know

00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:16.400
 what tomorrow holds

00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:16.780
 but we know

00:25:16.780 --> 00:25:17.580
 who holds tomorrow

00:25:17.580 --> 00:25:19.080
 he didn't bring us

00:25:19.080 --> 00:25:19.519
 this far

00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:20.380
 to let us fall

00:25:20.380 --> 00:25:22.640
 Jeremiah 29 11

00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:23.080
 says

00:25:23.080 --> 00:25:23.460
 for I know

00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:23.940
 the plans

00:25:23.940 --> 00:25:24.380
 that I have

00:25:24.380 --> 00:25:24.560
 for you

00:25:24.560 --> 00:25:25.380
 declares the Lord

00:25:25.380 --> 00:25:26.980
 plans for welfare

00:25:26.980 --> 00:25:27.860
 and not for evil

00:25:27.860 --> 00:25:28.920
 to give you a hope

00:25:28.920 --> 00:25:29.900
 and a future

00:25:29.900 --> 00:25:31.820
 he don't want you

00:25:31.820 --> 00:25:32.259
 to fail

00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:34.300
 he don't want us

00:25:34.300 --> 00:25:34.600
 to fail

00:25:34.600 --> 00:25:35.120
 he wants us

00:25:35.120 --> 00:25:35.840
 to succeed

00:25:35.840 --> 00:25:37.340
 and so let's

00:25:37.340 --> 00:25:38.259
 put our faith

00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:39.660
 in him

00:25:39.660 --> 00:25:42.160
 that faith

00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:42.680
 that we put

00:25:42.680 --> 00:25:43.120
 in him

00:25:43.120 --> 00:25:44.660
 will shield us

00:25:44.660 --> 00:25:45.680
 from the enemy's

00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:46.220
 attacks

00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:47.980
 I just want you

00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:48.240
 to think

00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:48.759
 for a moment

00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:50.980
 about the role

00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:51.900
 that faith

00:25:51.900 --> 00:25:52.799
 has played

00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:54.620
 in your life

00:25:54.620 --> 00:25:56.880
 if you've ever

00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:57.819
 committed your life

00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:58.559
 to follow Christ

00:25:58.559 --> 00:25:59.120
 never surrender

00:25:59.120 --> 00:25:59.779
 your life to the Lord

00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:00.980
 you came to Christ

00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:02.420
 by faith

00:26:02.420 --> 00:26:04.480
 if you walk

00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:05.240
 with Christ

00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:06.779
 trusting him

00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:07.339
 you walk

00:26:07.339 --> 00:26:07.839
 with Christ

00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:08.500
 by faith

00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:10.400
 you stand

00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:10.900
 with him

00:26:10.900 --> 00:26:12.160
 by faith

00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:13.660
 you stand

00:26:13.660 --> 00:26:14.259
 for him

00:26:14.259 --> 00:26:15.500
 by faith

00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:17.340
 you win

00:26:17.340 --> 00:26:18.200
 in faith

00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:19.720
 listen friend

00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:20.360
 it's not just

00:26:20.360 --> 00:26:20.680
 a hymn

00:26:20.680 --> 00:26:21.259
 it's the truth

00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:22.940
 faith is the victory

00:26:22.940 --> 00:26:24.160
 that overcomes

00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:25.320
 the world

00:26:25.320 --> 00:26:27.580
 and when we

00:26:27.580 --> 00:26:28.279
 like an army

00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:30.660
 take our shield

00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:31.200
 of faith

00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:33.100
 and we hook

00:26:33.100 --> 00:26:33.740
 it to other

00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:34.680
 shields of faith

00:26:34.680 --> 00:26:36.340
 it's a mighty

00:26:36.340 --> 00:26:36.880
 army

00:26:36.880 --> 00:26:38.380
 shielding us

00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:39.600
 from the enemy's

00:26:39.600 --> 00:26:39.840
 fire

00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:40.299
 my friend

00:26:40.299 --> 00:26:42.000
 that's the strength

00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:43.579
 of the church

00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:46.199
 that when we

00:26:46.199 --> 00:26:46.919
 come together

00:26:46.919 --> 00:26:49.240
 for one cause

00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:51.199
 not to just

00:26:51.199 --> 00:26:52.579
 hold our ground

00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:54.279
 that's not what

00:26:54.279 --> 00:26:54.599
 we're supposed

00:26:54.599 --> 00:26:55.139
 to be doing

00:26:55.139 --> 00:26:56.399
 we're supposed

00:26:56.399 --> 00:26:57.559
 to be invading

00:26:57.559 --> 00:26:58.519
 the enemy's

00:26:58.519 --> 00:26:59.240
 territory

00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:01.459
 claiming folks

00:27:01.459 --> 00:27:02.939
 for Christ

00:27:02.940 --> 00:27:05.420
 and when we

00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:05.980
 do that

00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:06.320
 we're going

00:27:06.320 --> 00:27:06.779
 to face

00:27:06.779 --> 00:27:07.799
 fiery darts

00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:09.580
 don't be surprised

00:27:09.580 --> 00:27:10.180
 when life

00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:10.779
 throws some

00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:11.539
 stuff at you

00:27:11.539 --> 00:27:12.779
 and properly

00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.860
 identify what

00:27:13.860 --> 00:27:14.480
 it is

00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:15.519
 listen

00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:16.480
 when temptations

00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:16.960
 burn

00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:17.920
 you need to

00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:18.640
 be accountable

00:27:18.640 --> 00:27:19.259
 to a prayer

00:27:19.259 --> 00:27:20.320
 partner in church

00:27:20.320 --> 00:27:21.900
 when circumstances

00:27:21.900 --> 00:27:23.620
 are adverse

00:27:23.620 --> 00:27:24.799
 you need to

00:27:24.799 --> 00:27:25.299
 share it with

00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:26.000
 your life goof

00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:26.820
 and have a concert

00:27:26.820 --> 00:27:27.600
 prayer over that

00:27:27.600 --> 00:27:27.960
 matter

00:27:27.960 --> 00:27:29.480
 when doubts

00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:30.080
 assail

00:27:30.080 --> 00:27:30.960
 lift up your

00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:31.420
 voice

00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:32.420
 with God's

00:27:32.420 --> 00:27:32.759
 people

00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:34.160
 sing God's

00:27:34.160 --> 00:27:34.799
 praises in the

00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:35.259
 midst of your

00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:35.640
 storm

00:27:35.640 --> 00:27:36.559
 when the storms

00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:37.039
 are threatening

00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:38.119
 dock yourself

00:27:38.119 --> 00:27:38.660
 in the house

00:27:38.660 --> 00:27:39.220
 of God

00:27:39.220 --> 00:27:40.379
 because listen

00:27:40.379 --> 00:27:41.559
 the fiery darts

00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:42.160
 of the evil

00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:42.960
 one are either

00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:43.480
 going to burn

00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:44.099
 you up

00:27:44.099 --> 00:27:45.500
 they're going

00:27:45.500 --> 00:27:46.019
 to burn you

00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:46.519
 out

00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:47.279
 or they're going

00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:48.240
 to fire you

00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:48.740
 up

00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.879
 and we are

00:27:49.879 --> 00:27:50.839
 in this

00:27:50.839 --> 00:27:51.859
 together

00:27:51.859 --> 00:27:52.940
 don't go out

00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:53.539
 there alone

00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:54.279
 and get burned

00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:54.599
 up

00:27:54.599 --> 00:27:55.839
 don't listen

00:27:55.839 --> 00:27:56.440
 to the evil

00:27:56.440 --> 00:27:56.920
 one and get

00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:57.519
 burned out

00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:59.160
 go before the

00:27:59.160 --> 00:27:59.819
 throne of God

00:27:59.819 --> 00:28:01.019
 with the people

00:28:01.019 --> 00:28:01.460
 of God

00:28:01.460 --> 00:28:02.480
 get fired up

00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:02.960
 for the Lord

00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:03.759
 this is a battle

00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:04.779
 that we can

00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:05.900
 win but we

00:28:05.900 --> 00:28:06.980
 will only win

00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:07.480
 it in the

00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:08.579
 strength of the

00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:09.440
 Lord and our

00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:10.900
 faith in him

00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:12.779
 is our shield

00:28:12.779 --> 00:28:15.299
 we have to

00:28:15.299 --> 00:28:15.880
 trust him

00:28:15.880 --> 00:28:18.360
 we have to

00:28:18.360 --> 00:28:19.259
 trust him

00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:22.120
 so what is it

00:28:22.120 --> 00:28:22.759
 in your life

00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:25.059
 that you need

00:28:25.059 --> 00:28:25.559
 to trust the

00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:26.079
 Lord about

00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:28.799
 maybe you've

00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:29.500
 never trusted

00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:29.900
 to the Lord

00:28:29.900 --> 00:28:31.859
 you're here

00:28:31.859 --> 00:28:32.279
 this morning

00:28:32.279 --> 00:28:32.539
 and there's

00:28:32.539 --> 00:28:33.059
 never been a

00:28:33.059 --> 00:28:33.440
 time in your

00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:33.859
 life when

00:28:33.859 --> 00:28:34.299
 you've surrendered

00:28:34.299 --> 00:28:34.700
 your life

00:28:34.700 --> 00:28:35.079
 to the Lord

00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:35.400
 Jesus

00:28:35.400 --> 00:28:36.339
 ask him to

00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:36.740
 forgive you

00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:37.059
 and to come

00:28:37.059 --> 00:28:37.319
 into your

00:28:37.319 --> 00:28:37.759
 life and

00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:38.720
 surrender your

00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:39.099
 life to

00:28:39.099 --> 00:28:39.599
 follow him

00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:40.019
 if you've

00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:40.740
 never done

00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:41.259
 that I got

00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:42.019
 news for you

00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:42.460
 you are

00:28:42.460 --> 00:28:43.359
 exposed

00:28:43.359 --> 00:28:45.359
 you have no

00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:46.059
 armor in the

00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:46.480
 midst of this

00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:46.799
 battle

00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:48.460
 you're exposed

00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:49.299
 to all the

00:28:49.299 --> 00:28:50.099
 enemy's weapons

00:28:50.099 --> 00:28:51.839
 all his

00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:52.339
 warfare

00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:53.940
 give your

00:28:53.940 --> 00:28:54.259
 heart and

00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:54.640
 life to

00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:55.420
 Christ today

00:28:55.420 --> 00:28:56.299
 maybe you've

00:28:56.299 --> 00:28:56.819
 done that but

00:28:56.819 --> 00:28:57.299
 you've never

00:28:57.299 --> 00:28:58.099
 been obedient to

00:28:58.099 --> 00:28:58.719
 follow that in

00:28:58.719 --> 00:29:00.279
 baptism you've

00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:00.959
 never asked the

00:29:00.959 --> 00:29:01.819
 Lord Jesus to

00:29:01.819 --> 00:29:03.179
 I mean you've

00:29:03.179 --> 00:29:03.599
 asked the Lord

00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:04.179
 Jesus to forgive

00:29:04.179 --> 00:29:04.679
 you but you've

00:29:04.679 --> 00:29:05.459
 never you've

00:29:05.459 --> 00:29:06.179
 never publicly

00:29:06.179 --> 00:29:07.039
 pronounced that

00:29:07.039 --> 00:29:08.159
 through baptism

00:29:08.159 --> 00:29:08.959
 Jesus did that

00:29:08.959 --> 00:29:09.980
 by example as

00:29:09.980 --> 00:29:10.480
 well as by

00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:11.159
 commission he

00:29:11.159 --> 00:29:12.419
 told us to

00:29:12.419 --> 00:29:13.139
 do that and

00:29:13.139 --> 00:29:13.579
 it'll be a

00:29:13.579 --> 00:29:14.059
 hindrance in

00:29:14.059 --> 00:29:14.699
 your walk if

00:29:14.699 --> 00:29:15.759
 you don't follow

00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:17.839
 that maybe God's

00:29:17.839 --> 00:29:18.699
 drawing you to

00:29:18.699 --> 00:29:19.240
 First Baptist

00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:20.839
 Church God's

00:29:20.839 --> 00:29:21.459
 doing a wonderful

00:29:21.459 --> 00:29:22.059
 work in our

00:29:22.059 --> 00:29:22.579
 midst and I'm

00:29:22.579 --> 00:29:23.399
 thankful for that

00:29:23.399 --> 00:29:25.119
 maybe God's

00:29:25.119 --> 00:29:25.779
 drawing you here

00:29:25.779 --> 00:29:26.359
 we'd love to

00:29:26.359 --> 00:29:27.319
 guide you in

00:29:27.319 --> 00:29:28.079
 that process

00:29:28.079 --> 00:29:30.399
 process or

00:29:30.399 --> 00:29:32.819
 maybe I

00:29:32.819 --> 00:29:33.339
 speak to the

00:29:33.339 --> 00:29:33.939
 majority of

00:29:33.939 --> 00:29:36.480
 us you just

00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:36.819
 got some

00:29:36.819 --> 00:29:40.259
 battles battles

00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:40.899
 there's fiery

00:29:40.899 --> 00:29:42.039
 darts being shot

00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:42.960
 at you and I

00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:43.419
 didn't have to

00:29:43.419 --> 00:29:44.279
 identify them this

00:29:44.279 --> 00:29:44.879
 morning some of

00:29:44.879 --> 00:29:45.220
 them you knew

00:29:45.220 --> 00:29:45.879
 exactly what they

00:29:45.879 --> 00:29:49.119
 were shield of

00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:49.720
 faith ain't quite

00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:51.679
 wet enough it

00:29:51.679 --> 00:29:52.299
 don't feel quite

00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:54.099
 big enough we

00:29:54.099 --> 00:29:54.819
 don't hide behind

00:29:54.819 --> 00:29:55.599
 it long enough

00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:59.939
 today maybe we

00:29:59.939 --> 00:30:00.480
 just need to

00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:01.199
 recommit our

00:30:01.199 --> 00:30:01.819
 lives and say

00:30:01.819 --> 00:30:04.559
 dear Lord I

00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:05.139
 want to trust

00:30:05.139 --> 00:30:08.139
 you I want to

00:30:08.139 --> 00:30:08.519
 trust your

00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:11.019
 judgment I want

00:30:11.019 --> 00:30:11.539
 to trust your

00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:14.159
 word I want to

00:30:14.159 --> 00:30:14.539
 trust your

00:30:14.539 --> 00:30:17.759
 presence I want to

00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:18.439
 live my life

00:30:18.439 --> 00:30:20.079
 relying upon you

00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:22.279
 I want to join up

00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:23.059
 with others around

00:30:23.059 --> 00:30:26.359
 me and I want to

00:30:26.359 --> 00:30:27.139
 do what only we

00:30:27.139 --> 00:30:28.960
 can do by the

00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:29.599
 power of our

00:30:29.599 --> 00:30:31.179
 belief in the

00:30:31.179 --> 00:30:33.019
 Lord Jesus being

00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:33.659
 who he says he

00:30:33.659 --> 00:30:35.639
 is doing what he'll

00:30:35.639 --> 00:30:37.539
 say he'll do being

00:30:37.539 --> 00:30:38.339
 where he needs to be

00:30:38.339 --> 00:30:38.939
 when he needs to be

00:30:38.939 --> 00:30:42.059
 there we got to

00:30:42.059 --> 00:30:45.559
 trust the Lord we

00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:46.500
 live in a fiery

00:30:46.500 --> 00:30:49.019
 dark world it'll hit

00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:49.819
 you might even

00:30:49.819 --> 00:30:50.759
 before you get out

00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:51.220
 of this building

00:30:51.220 --> 00:30:53.859
 we got to be

00:30:53.859 --> 00:30:56.859
 ready trusting in

00:30:56.859 --> 00:30:58.559
 God all the way

00:30:58.559 --> 00:31:00.220
 Lord Jesus I love

00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:00.859
 you and I thank

00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:03.319
 you for your word

00:31:03.319 --> 00:31:04.839
 thank you for our

00:31:04.839 --> 00:31:05.619
 time together this

00:31:05.619 --> 00:31:06.359
 morning God I

00:31:06.359 --> 00:31:07.960
 pray that you'll

00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:08.559
 work and you'll

00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:10.240
 move right now in

00:31:10.240 --> 00:31:10.759
 the hearts and

00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.619
 lives of every one

00:31:11.619 --> 00:31:13.279
 of us to just be

00:31:13.279 --> 00:31:14.119
 obedient to follow

00:31:14.119 --> 00:31:15.579
 as you lead in

00:31:15.579 --> 00:31:16.799
 Jesus precious name

00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:17.359
 amen

00:31:17.359 --> 00:31:19.919
 and Lord and

00:31:19.919 --> 00:31:20.119
 God you.

00:31:20.119 --> 00:31:20.979
 Thank you for the

00:31:20.979 --> 00:31:22.500
 numbers and

00:31:22.500 --> 00:31:23.019
 the hearts and

00:31:23.019 --> 00:31:23.359
 hearts.

00:31:23.799 --> 00:31:24.659
 Thank you for the

00:31:24.659 --> 00:31:25.240
 complaints.

00:31:25.240 --> 00:31:25.719
 Thank you for the

00:31:25.719 --> 00:31:25.759
 give us about the

00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:26.899
 help of and

00:31:26.899 --> 00:31:28.059
 ourselves.

00:31:28.399 --> 00:31:29.740
 Thank you.

00:31:29.740 --> 00:31:30.379
 Thank you for the