WEBVTT 00:00:00.300 --> 00:00:04.540 If you have your Bibles this morning, I want you to turn to Amos, Amos chapter 8. 00:00:13.259 --> 00:00:23.960 I'm sharing with you these days a sermon series I call First Things First because straight out the gate I wanted you to know the priorities that I have 00:00:23.960 --> 00:00:31.020 and what really becomes the underpinning of so much of what I do as a pastor and how I preach and how I think 00:00:31.020 --> 00:00:33.560 and to get an understanding of those things. 00:00:35.260 --> 00:00:45.980 One fine summer day in 1606 in a grove of towering sequoias that would one day be in the state of California, 00:00:47.480 --> 00:00:51.380 a tiny seedling poked through the virgin soil. 00:00:51.380 --> 00:00:59.760 A year later as that seedling became a sapling, Jamestown was settled in Virginia. 00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:07.599 A year later after that sapling became a young sequoia, there was a territory named New France. 00:01:08.620 --> 00:01:10.980 That would one day become Canada. 00:01:11.960 --> 00:01:19.240 Three more years after it grew, a group of scholars released an elegant English translation 00:01:19.239 --> 00:01:23.199 so that people could read the Bible in their own language, in their own understanding. 00:01:23.919 --> 00:01:26.060 It was called the King James Version. 00:01:27.859 --> 00:01:32.579 As that tree continued to grow, America became a nation. 00:01:33.699 --> 00:01:35.019 They fought a civil war. 00:01:36.299 --> 00:01:39.719 They waged in two world wars. 00:01:39.719 --> 00:01:48.379 They put men on the moon and they suffered a horrible terrorism attack on 9-11-2001. 00:01:49.180 --> 00:01:53.280 All in that tree's lifetime. 00:01:55.099 --> 00:02:04.219 And then at the age of 400 years old, the tree fell to the earth in a thunderous crash. 00:02:04.219 --> 00:02:11.120 It was the first of Yosemite's magnificent sequoias to fall in years. 00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:16.400 And the Forestry Service immediately began an investigation to find out what caused it. 00:02:16.879 --> 00:02:20.719 What would cause such a majestic tree to fall in such a way as that? 00:02:20.780 --> 00:02:22.919 There were no windstorms that caused it. 00:02:23.500 --> 00:02:26.180 There were no widespread fires that had caused it. 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:28.400 No floods or lightning that had hit it. 00:02:29.099 --> 00:02:32.800 When they looked at the tree, there was no evidence of animal or insect damage. 00:02:32.800 --> 00:02:39.680 Finally, in all their investigation, the forestry experts came to a startling conclusion. 00:02:40.900 --> 00:02:45.219 The cause of the tree's failure was foot traffic. 00:02:47.100 --> 00:02:55.460 People walking around the base of the tree over so many years had damaged the root system. 00:02:55.460 --> 00:02:57.960 So a new policy was formed. 00:02:58.520 --> 00:03:03.860 That some of the oldest, largest, and most historic significant trees would be fenced 00:03:03.860 --> 00:03:09.360 to keep the public from trampling the root systems. 00:03:10.540 --> 00:03:12.480 How significant that is. 00:03:14.140 --> 00:03:20.520 That even the strong and stellar trees that have lived hundreds of years cannot survive when there's no protection. 00:03:20.520 --> 00:03:27.480 When there's not a sacred enclosure around their root systems. 00:03:29.080 --> 00:03:35.879 Let me tell you, friend, what's true for big, beautiful trees is also true for you and me. 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:40.760 The reality is our root systems are delicate. 00:03:41.960 --> 00:03:44.560 We're a lot more fragile than we want to appear. 00:03:44.560 --> 00:03:51.340 And unless we protect and nourish our root systems, we fail. 00:03:51.439 --> 00:03:54.860 Now that collapse sometimes is slowly. 00:03:55.620 --> 00:03:58.460 It's not as obvious as a sequoia falling in the forest. 00:03:59.219 --> 00:04:04.280 It could just be a wandering away slowly at a time. 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:08.460 Or it could be a thunderous crash. 00:04:08.460 --> 00:04:15.560 It could be someone who makes a dumb mistake that forever changes their lives. 00:04:16.780 --> 00:04:20.519 But in reality, it didn't just happen instantaneous. 00:04:21.720 --> 00:04:21.980 No. 00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:27.040 There was damage to the root system. 00:04:28.360 --> 00:04:30.540 Due to the foot traffic of our life. 00:04:31.540 --> 00:04:32.780 We need nourishment. 00:04:33.400 --> 00:04:34.379 We need protection. 00:04:34.379 --> 00:04:38.899 We need our roots at the base of who we are to be fed. 00:04:39.060 --> 00:04:40.680 And that's got to be a priority. 00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:42.899 It cannot be taken lightly. 00:04:43.379 --> 00:04:50.180 Because if we're not careful with the foot traffic that we face in life today, we'll set ourselves up. 00:04:51.360 --> 00:04:53.399 The prophet Amos gave us a warning. 00:04:54.719 --> 00:04:57.159 It was timely for the day in which he spoke it. 00:04:58.240 --> 00:05:00.219 It's timely for the day in which we live. 00:05:00.220 --> 00:05:04.600 Amos chapter 8, verse 11 and 12 simply says this. 00:05:05.400 --> 00:05:07.700 Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord God. 00:05:08.620 --> 00:05:10.580 When I'll send a famine on the land. 00:05:10.660 --> 00:05:12.220 Not a famine of bread. 00:05:13.320 --> 00:05:14.900 Not a thirst for water. 00:05:16.020 --> 00:05:18.460 But of hearing the words of the Lord. 00:05:19.380 --> 00:05:21.280 They shall wander from sea to sea. 00:05:22.140 --> 00:05:23.440 And from north to east. 00:05:23.620 --> 00:05:26.720 They shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord. 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:30.640 But they shall not find it. 00:05:31.880 --> 00:05:35.280 The grace of God is amazing. 00:05:36.880 --> 00:05:41.520 Seldom is it seen any greater than when you look at the compiling of the word of God. 00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:45.160 For God took 400 of his top people. 00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:51.140 Put their raw, unedited stories in a whole library of books. 00:05:51.420 --> 00:05:53.740 Gathered 66 of those books together. 00:05:53.740 --> 00:05:55.439 And put them into one. 00:05:56.139 --> 00:05:58.439 And the Bible tells all of that. 00:05:59.639 --> 00:06:01.400 Why did he do all that? 00:06:01.420 --> 00:06:02.300 He did it for us. 00:06:03.360 --> 00:06:05.780 He did it so that we would have it to look to. 00:06:06.860 --> 00:06:09.319 When speaking of the events of the exodus. 00:06:09.420 --> 00:06:11.439 The apostle Paul said about the word of God. 00:06:11.980 --> 00:06:13.560 In 1 Corinthians 10, verse 11. 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:14.019 He said, 00:06:14.019 --> 00:06:17.759 Now these things are written for our instruction. 00:06:18.699 --> 00:06:22.879 Upon the end of the ages have come. 00:06:23.740 --> 00:06:26.199 The reality is in the word of God. 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:29.620 We have the greatest book of divine wisdom in the entire universe. 00:06:29.620 --> 00:06:34.199 I want you to listen to the psalmist describe the impact of God's word in Psalm 119. 00:06:34.460 --> 00:06:36.639 And by the way, all of Psalm 119. 00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:38.840 All 150 verses. 00:06:39.139 --> 00:06:40.480 Is absolutely wonderful. 00:06:40.840 --> 00:06:42.259 And points to the strength. 00:06:42.660 --> 00:06:47.720 And the foundational structure that the word of God can give to our lives. 00:06:47.720 --> 00:06:50.540 But I want you to listen to what verse 98 and 99 says. 00:06:50.620 --> 00:06:50.780 It says, 00:06:50.880 --> 00:06:54.740 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies. 00:06:55.260 --> 00:06:57.200 For it is ever with me. 00:06:57.900 --> 00:07:00.660 I have more understanding than all my teachers. 00:07:00.740 --> 00:07:03.620 For your testimonies are my meditations. 00:07:03.740 --> 00:07:04.740 So what is wisdom? 00:07:06.620 --> 00:07:08.900 Wisdom is experiential knowledge. 00:07:08.899 --> 00:07:12.459 You can be born smart. 00:07:13.219 --> 00:07:15.620 But that don't mean when you're old you'll be wise. 00:07:16.259 --> 00:07:19.079 You can gather knowledge along the way. 00:07:19.579 --> 00:07:22.879 But if you don't apply that knowledge and live by that knowledge. 00:07:23.659 --> 00:07:25.259 You won't become wise. 00:07:26.359 --> 00:07:30.639 But you can't become wise without going through some stuff. 00:07:31.679 --> 00:07:33.219 Being knowledgeable of it. 00:07:33.859 --> 00:07:34.799 Experiencing it. 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:36.399 And learning from it. 00:07:36.399 --> 00:07:40.459 The greatest way for us to obtain wisdom is to learn. 00:07:41.139 --> 00:07:44.039 Not from making the dumb mistakes ourself. 00:07:44.679 --> 00:07:46.099 That's the hard way. 00:07:46.519 --> 00:07:49.699 That's the old school of hard knocks that a lot of people grow themselves up in. 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:53.000 The best way is to learn from somebody else's dumb examples. 00:07:54.899 --> 00:07:57.199 Why don't we learn from somebody else's mistakes? 00:07:58.139 --> 00:07:59.759 Why don't we see where they messed up? 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:00.879 And learn from that. 00:08:01.000 --> 00:08:03.299 And change the way we live based upon that. 00:08:03.300 --> 00:08:06.600 That's why we have those unedited stories in scripture. 00:08:07.480 --> 00:08:10.420 That's why it tells us the weaknesses of those dear folks. 00:08:10.579 --> 00:08:13.400 So we don't go through the same dilemmas that they do. 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:21.699 I don't believe you can learn what you need to learn in this life alone. 00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:23.160 By yourself. 00:08:23.379 --> 00:08:27.019 And more and more I believe that a famine of the word of God is upon us. 00:08:27.100 --> 00:08:28.240 Now don't misunderstand me. 00:08:28.540 --> 00:08:30.300 There's still a lot of preachers. 00:08:30.300 --> 00:08:32.700 But I want to be clear. 00:08:33.279 --> 00:08:34.879 A lot of them don't preach God's word anymore. 00:08:36.139 --> 00:08:36.299 They don't. 00:08:37.980 --> 00:08:43.820 Feel good ideologies and pretty smiling faces that fill arenas and sell books in the name of Christianity. 00:08:44.620 --> 00:08:45.779 Ain't getting it done. 00:08:46.659 --> 00:08:49.799 Pop psychology has taken the place of biblical preaching. 00:08:50.220 --> 00:08:53.340 Even among some of America's most beloved pastors. 00:08:54.039 --> 00:08:57.120 Motivational monologues have replaced biblical preaching. 00:08:57.120 --> 00:09:04.519 They may lead to emotional stirs instead of heartfelt mind-altering life-changing surrenders. 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:16.399 And even when there is solid biblical preaching, the attention of so many other things of this world has taken too high a priority. 00:09:16.399 --> 00:09:20.779 There was a day when Sunday was set aside for worship. 00:09:21.379 --> 00:09:25.139 Unless there was some type of significant family outing. 00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:30.699 But the reality is now for too many, Sunday is only honored if nothing else is happening. 00:09:30.700 --> 00:09:37.460 If your kids see you doing that, what are they going to do in response to it? 00:09:38.160 --> 00:09:43.600 The reality is when you look at the last four generations, you'll see each generation become weaker than the previous generation. 00:09:44.160 --> 00:09:46.840 In their faithfulness to follow the Lord. 00:09:47.320 --> 00:09:51.060 And as more things happen on Sunday, our greatest priorities are revealed. 00:09:51.700 --> 00:09:53.020 Our true colors are shown. 00:09:53.600 --> 00:09:55.580 What really matters rises to the top. 00:09:55.580 --> 00:09:56.340 So get this now. 00:09:56.600 --> 00:09:59.759 If there's a shortage of the word of God from the pulpit. 00:10:00.800 --> 00:10:04.520 And a shortage of commitment to any congregation. 00:10:04.660 --> 00:10:06.080 Whether it's preached or not. 00:10:07.540 --> 00:10:09.020 That leads to a famine. 00:10:10.060 --> 00:10:15.280 And it heads toward what could be spiritual genocide if the word of God is not. 00:10:16.259 --> 00:10:18.340 We don't take it in as we need to. 00:10:18.580 --> 00:10:19.620 Or if we're not getting it. 00:10:20.040 --> 00:10:21.460 And so how do we respond to that? 00:10:21.480 --> 00:10:23.160 I believe we respond in three ways. 00:10:23.159 --> 00:10:27.539 One is we make a commitment to the preached word. 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:30.439 No compromise in that. 00:10:31.639 --> 00:10:37.919 Now I realize when I preach what the word of God has to say, it's going to rub up against what a lot of society says. 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:43.120 And believe me, the evil one is fighting hard to change the ideology of society. 00:10:44.339 --> 00:10:50.519 And so don't be surprised if what you hear me say may be contrary to what the news says. 00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:54.559 Are contrary to what the self-help says. 00:10:55.419 --> 00:10:58.419 Are contrary to what the common ideologies are. 00:10:59.539 --> 00:11:04.179 Because the reality is the word of God is true whether people claim it or not. 00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:07.220 I believe you have to have a commitment to the preached word. 00:11:07.340 --> 00:11:09.039 Second thing is you've got to have a commitment to the pew. 00:11:11.579 --> 00:11:13.720 Miss for the extraordinary. 00:11:13.720 --> 00:11:16.500 Please don't miss for the ordinary. 00:11:17.680 --> 00:11:19.800 Because I believe that we all need it. 00:11:20.139 --> 00:11:20.879 We need each other. 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:22.720 We need the word of God. 00:11:22.800 --> 00:11:24.420 We need to come together as God's people. 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:26.560 We need to be faithful in that. 00:11:27.379 --> 00:11:30.080 And then the third part of that is a commitment to personal devotion. 00:11:31.220 --> 00:11:33.660 And that's really what I want to hone in on today. 00:11:34.840 --> 00:11:38.440 From personal habits of studying God's word. 00:11:38.440 --> 00:11:43.500 Wayne Cordero wrote a book several years ago called The Divine Mentor. 00:11:43.880 --> 00:11:47.740 And he called it the need for a self-feeding program. 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:50.560 If you were to come to me and you were to say, 00:11:50.620 --> 00:11:54.660 Pastor, I'm just so weak I can hardly get out of bed. 00:11:54.780 --> 00:11:57.920 And I ask you, have you been able to eat? 00:12:00.160 --> 00:12:03.240 Well, you know, not much. 00:12:03.340 --> 00:12:04.900 Well, have you seen a doctor about that? 00:12:06.020 --> 00:12:08.140 Yeah, but the doctor couldn't find anything wrong. 00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:11.480 Well, are you eating enough? 00:12:11.659 --> 00:12:13.019 Well, I eat. 00:12:13.100 --> 00:12:13.740 I eat every week. 00:12:13.799 --> 00:12:15.199 I eat at 1030 on Sunday. 00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:21.960 You're going to have to eat more than that. 00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:22.559 Okay? 00:12:23.139 --> 00:12:25.980 I mean, you're going to need more than that. 00:12:26.699 --> 00:12:28.519 You're going to have to feed yourself. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:33.100 Listen to what Peter says in 1 Peter 2, verse 2 and 3. 00:12:33.100 --> 00:12:37.980 Like newborn infants long for the pure spiritual meal. 00:12:38.139 --> 00:12:44.399 That by it you may grow into salvation if indeed you've tasted that the Lord is good. 00:12:45.819 --> 00:12:49.199 Listen, if you think the word of God is good secondhand, you ought to try it firsthand. 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:52.540 You ought to spend time with the Lord. 00:12:52.540 --> 00:13:03.560 Not just binge on the word of God on Sunday, but instead develop a plan in your life for a steady daily diet. 00:13:03.559 --> 00:13:07.239 Because the reality is if you're not being fed, it's your fault. 00:13:09.719 --> 00:13:11.059 The word of God is ready. 00:13:11.819 --> 00:13:12.719 It is waiting. 00:13:13.500 --> 00:13:15.339 It has exactly what we need. 00:13:16.139 --> 00:13:18.000 I mean, I want you to think about this for just a moment. 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:24.200 Think about what is before us when we have the word of God. 00:13:24.919 --> 00:13:33.940 For over a period of 1,500 years, God chose 40 different men to write down his divine words in a book. 00:13:34.259 --> 00:13:41.940 Their experience combined with the breath of the Holy Spirit makes for the best mentoring book for your life no matter who you are. 00:13:41.940 --> 00:13:49.460 There is no better businessman or businesswoman than the richest and wisest that have ever lived, Solomon. 00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:57.200 There's no better mentor for a pastor, a shepherd of God's people than Moses. 00:13:58.220 --> 00:14:02.180 There's no better mentor for a professional than Dr. Luke. 00:14:02.860 --> 00:14:07.940 Sir William Ramsey was one of the world's most brilliant intellects. 00:14:07.940 --> 00:14:16.160 He was a historian, noted for his Middle Eastern understanding, and he's from Aberdeen, Scotland, 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:23.480 and he was renowned for his writings on the Middle East, and he studied the book of Acts, and he laughed at it. 00:14:24.600 --> 00:14:33.200 He ridiculed it, and he said that the book of Acts was highly imaginative and a carefully colored account of primitive Christianity, 00:14:33.640 --> 00:14:35.400 not rooted in facts. 00:14:35.399 --> 00:14:46.019 And it was upon that that he went to the Middle East to prove his theory that the book of Acts was fanciful. 00:14:47.220 --> 00:14:53.819 And after carefully investigating the accounts and the events in the book of Acts, 00:14:54.439 --> 00:15:01.159 in that pursuit of the accounts of God's word, not only was he convinced it was true, but he was transformed by it. 00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:06.779 He followed that research up with a book called Luke the Physician. 00:15:07.419 --> 00:15:08.919 And in that, he says this, 00:15:09.419 --> 00:15:14.779 I now take that Luke's history is unsurpassed in regard to its truthworthiness. 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:19.899 You may press the words of Luke in a degree beyond any other historian, 00:15:20.219 --> 00:15:23.620 and they stand the keenest scrutiny and the hardest treatment. 00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:24.539 End of quote. 00:15:24.539 --> 00:15:32.839 No more accurate account, and no better mentor for a professional than Dr. Luke, a physician by trade. 00:15:33.459 --> 00:15:37.079 No better mentor for an educator than the Apostle Paul. 00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:44.240 We get our understanding of theology from him sharing with us what it is that Christ was actually saying to us. 00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:47.339 No better mentor for a mother than Mary. 00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:49.660 I mean, do you begin to get what I'm talking about? 00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:53.379 Now, when you add to that Isaiah, who spoke to a nation in crisis, 00:15:53.820 --> 00:15:57.320 when you add to that Daniel, who stood when many others would not stand, 00:15:57.399 --> 00:15:59.759 or Esther, who followed God's timing, 00:15:59.940 --> 00:16:02.759 or Ruth, a lady of uncompromising commitment, 00:16:02.920 --> 00:16:07.680 I could go on and on, but I'm telling you, we need the word of God daily. 00:16:08.580 --> 00:16:10.019 So I want to challenge you today. 00:16:10.019 --> 00:16:14.939 I want to challenge you today to a spiritual self-feeding plan, 00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:17.399 a devotional Bible plan. 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:22.379 If you'll give God up to a half an hour a day, 00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:25.059 he'll change your life. 00:16:25.939 --> 00:16:27.639 Now, I'm going to be honest with you. 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:31.639 I thought about that very statement many times this week, 00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:35.860 and I thought I'm going to lose some of them when I say that, 00:16:36.179 --> 00:16:38.139 because you just said a half an hour. 00:16:38.699 --> 00:16:39.699 A half an hour. 00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:43.439 Preacher, do you know what all I've got to do? 00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:47.659 Well, let me ask you this. 00:16:48.539 --> 00:16:50.360 Do you ever watch a half hour of the news? 00:16:51.939 --> 00:16:52.819 It's useless. 00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:56.860 There's no need to do it. 00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:00.539 What else do you do for a half hour? 00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:02.759 Do you exercise your body for a half hour? 00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:04.180 It's important. 00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:06.079 You need to do it. 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:09.000 But is it more important than nurturing your soul? 00:17:10.019 --> 00:17:12.180 What about eating Cheetos on the couch? 00:17:12.639 --> 00:17:17.139 You ever do that for 30 minutes or binge on Netflix for 30 minutes at a time? 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:18.879 That's hours at a time for many. 00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:20.220 Let's be honest. 00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:23.740 We always make time for what's important to us. 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:26.160 We always make time for that. 00:17:26.900 --> 00:17:29.980 And if you don't have an half hour, you don't have to give a half hour. 00:17:29.980 --> 00:17:33.559 But I promise you if you do, it'll change your life. 00:17:33.559 --> 00:17:39.279 I promise that based on the authority and the power and the spirit-filled word of God. 00:17:40.099 --> 00:17:41.119 It'll change your life. 00:17:41.619 --> 00:17:43.819 So I want you to wash with the waters of the word of God. 00:17:44.440 --> 00:17:47.460 And I want you to feed your soul and your conscience daily. 00:17:47.579 --> 00:17:48.539 And how do you do that? 00:17:48.539 --> 00:17:50.659 First, you use soap. 00:17:51.099 --> 00:17:51.980 That's an acrostic. 00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:53.460 It's been used around here before. 00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:58.359 I've seen it on papers in youth buildings and those type things. 00:17:58.460 --> 00:18:00.079 So I know it's been used. 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:01.740 You may be familiar with it. 00:18:01.799 --> 00:18:02.420 I'm not sure. 00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:05.139 But the first S stands for Scripture. 00:18:05.140 --> 00:18:11.140 The Bible reading plan I'm talking about, if you'll read two chapters of the Old Testament, 00:18:11.320 --> 00:18:14.500 one chapter of the New Testament, and maybe a psalm a day, 00:18:15.080 --> 00:18:18.520 you'll read through the entire Old Testament in about 10 months. 00:18:19.300 --> 00:18:22.140 You'll read through the New Testament in a year twice. 00:18:23.300 --> 00:18:24.940 However, I want you to understand something. 00:18:25.640 --> 00:18:28.900 The point is not to read the Bible through. 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:33.480 You can go home and read the whole book of Genesis this afternoon. 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:36.900 And you still may not be able to tell me any of the events that were in it 00:18:36.900 --> 00:18:37.980 because you read it so fast. 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:40.599 The point is not to read through. 00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:42.759 You can read it every month if you want to, 00:18:42.839 --> 00:18:43.740 but it's still not applied. 00:18:43.860 --> 00:18:44.620 It'll make a difference. 00:18:44.940 --> 00:18:51.240 But what I'm asking you is before you ever begin to read, pause. 00:18:58.200 --> 00:18:59.319 Are you uncomfortable yet? 00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:03.460 Just pause. 00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:12.720 Let all the things that are circulating in your mind settle for just a moment. 00:19:15.140 --> 00:19:16.339 And then ask God, 00:19:16.900 --> 00:19:22.259 God, will you show me what you'd have for me today? 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:29.240 God, will you give me one verse today that I can hang my hat on? 00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:33.019 One verse that I can live by. 00:19:33.019 --> 00:19:39.259 One verse that speaks to me where I am today. 00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:42.720 Before you ever open up the Word of God. 00:19:44.059 --> 00:19:46.079 Before you ever know where you're going to read. 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:48.920 God, what it is. 00:19:49.140 --> 00:19:51.519 What is it that you want to show me? 00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:56.079 And then as God gives you that verse, and he will. 00:19:57.619 --> 00:19:58.400 Write it down. 00:19:59.160 --> 00:20:00.940 I just lost you again, didn't I? 00:20:01.379 --> 00:20:04.139 Because the men are looking at me saying, I ain't writing nothing down, Bridger. 00:20:04.539 --> 00:20:05.460 I'm not doing it. 00:20:05.460 --> 00:20:10.059 Well, I'm telling you, if she goes, tells you to go to the grocery store, you better write it down. 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:13.220 Because if you don't, you won't come home with the right stuff. 00:20:13.819 --> 00:20:15.140 You write down what's important. 00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:16.660 You write down what you want to remember. 00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:19.000 You write down what makes a difference. 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:22.420 And if you'll write that down, so you'll remember it. 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:24.579 You just have to remember it for the day. 00:20:25.900 --> 00:20:28.480 You just have to apply it to your life for the day. 00:20:28.619 --> 00:20:33.700 And when the hectic pace of the day begins to hit you and begins to overwhelm you, 00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:37.819 when the foot traffic begins to beat on you, 00:20:38.819 --> 00:20:41.059 you'll need that verse. 00:20:41.059 --> 00:20:45.319 The journaling sometimes throws people off. 00:20:46.179 --> 00:20:48.579 But if you'll do it, you'll not only remember what God said, 00:20:48.639 --> 00:20:53.919 you'll have a legacy for you to look back on and see how God moved in you. 00:20:54.700 --> 00:21:00.940 As I packed my study in banana boxes for the move here, 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:06.819 I found an old spiral notebook from my college days. 00:21:06.819 --> 00:21:14.679 I did a summer youth ministry position in somewhere between Salisbury, 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:20.099 Kannapolis, and Concord, North Carolina, out in the middle of nowhere. 00:21:21.679 --> 00:21:26.220 And in that time, I took out a little spiral notebook 00:21:26.220 --> 00:21:28.899 and began to write out my prayers. 00:21:30.019 --> 00:21:33.659 I am dangerous because I am unmedicated ADD. 00:21:33.660 --> 00:21:39.259 And so I will lose my train of thought. 00:21:40.200 --> 00:21:43.400 And when I pray about a matter of how to deal with it, 00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:45.600 when God shows me, I'll get up and go deal with it 00:21:45.600 --> 00:21:46.840 instead of finishing my prayer. 00:21:47.040 --> 00:21:48.100 It's the way I am. 00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:52.460 So it helps me instead to not put feet on it yet. 00:21:52.640 --> 00:21:54.759 Let's wait until we finish our prayer. 00:21:54.920 --> 00:22:00.400 And so I begin early in life to journals, sporadically throughout life. 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:03.480 But I'm telling you, when I look back at that journal, 00:22:03.580 --> 00:22:05.780 when I opened those pages and read some of those prayers, 00:22:05.860 --> 00:22:06.820 I laughed at myself. 00:22:07.780 --> 00:22:08.460 How trivial. 00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:11.920 The little things that I was concerned about. 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:15.700 And then I begin to realize, look how God has brought me through that. 00:22:18.300 --> 00:22:22.960 Look how God not only provided when I was 21 years old, 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:26.660 but how I've watched him provide for me. 00:22:28.579 --> 00:22:31.620 I'm telling you, I need that right now. 00:22:33.319 --> 00:22:37.160 I need to know that the same God that called me 00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:41.220 and the same God that led me is the same God that's got it figured out 00:22:41.220 --> 00:22:45.299 where I'm going to unpack my stuff and live. 00:22:45.340 --> 00:22:46.340 I trust him in that. 00:22:47.340 --> 00:22:51.019 And he reminds me daily that he's got it. 00:22:51.019 --> 00:22:52.839 So first you write down the scripture. 00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:54.900 The second, the O, is the observation. 00:22:55.639 --> 00:22:57.119 What's happening in that passage? 00:22:57.220 --> 00:22:58.859 Just take a moment to read the scripture now. 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:01.200 Sometimes you have to read the paragraph before. 00:23:01.700 --> 00:23:03.500 Sometimes you have to read the paragraph that it's with. 00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:06.579 Get the context and write down what's happening. 00:23:06.680 --> 00:23:08.619 And then how does that apply to you? 00:23:10.639 --> 00:23:11.879 What does that mean for today? 00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:14.940 What difference does this verse make for today? 00:23:16.460 --> 00:23:17.740 And then pray about it. 00:23:18.420 --> 00:23:19.900 And write out that prayer. 00:23:21.019 --> 00:23:24.579 Can you imagine the fun that you'd have to see how God speaks 00:23:24.579 --> 00:23:27.920 out of that same passage year after year? 00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:33.420 It's a revolutionary idea that'll change your life. 00:23:33.799 --> 00:23:37.059 It'll change this church. 00:23:38.579 --> 00:23:42.799 Now, you may say, preacher, I don't really need to do that. 00:23:43.339 --> 00:23:44.819 I read the word of God daily. 00:23:44.819 --> 00:23:46.200 I've got it figured out. 00:23:48.359 --> 00:23:50.039 Well, if you've got a plan, that's great. 00:23:50.579 --> 00:23:51.119 That's wonderful. 00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:52.879 Let me tell you what's cool about this. 00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:58.619 One of the greatest blessings about this plan is that everyone is reading the same passage 00:23:58.619 --> 00:23:59.339 every day. 00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:03.500 Those passages will be provided on bookmarks. 00:24:03.639 --> 00:24:05.599 They're on both sides of the stage. 00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:07.399 They're in the foyer. 00:24:07.400 --> 00:24:12.180 They're on the newsletter beginning next week. 00:24:12.300 --> 00:24:13.920 They're on the website as well. 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:16.340 Journals are made available. 00:24:17.560 --> 00:24:21.840 There are journals that you can have for the cost of the church paid for it if you can afford it. 00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:23.580 And if you can't, take one anyway. 00:24:24.400 --> 00:24:25.340 And I'll cover it. 00:24:26.180 --> 00:24:27.900 Journals that you can give to your children. 00:24:29.100 --> 00:24:29.720 Listen to this. 00:24:29.720 --> 00:24:35.980 Those journals on the front row down here help a child learn how to dig through Scripture daily. 00:24:36.140 --> 00:24:42.120 Not by reading two chapters of Old Testament and one chapter of the New Testament and maybe a psalm. 00:24:42.920 --> 00:24:49.500 But instead just by reading a couple of verses out of the same thing that mom and dad's reading. 00:24:50.860 --> 00:24:53.940 You want to know how to do a quick family altar on the way to school? 00:24:53.940 --> 00:25:00.440 Just look at what passage your kid read that day and talk about it with them. 00:25:01.580 --> 00:25:03.740 Share God's Word with them while you go. 00:25:04.980 --> 00:25:10.299 I often, as I take Millie to school, will tell her what God showed me for the day. 00:25:10.360 --> 00:25:12.140 She'll roll her eyes at me and ignore me. 00:25:12.360 --> 00:25:13.019 Of course she will. 00:25:13.299 --> 00:25:14.559 But she hears it daily. 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:20.340 What God showed me and how that applies to her and how I've prayed for her 00:25:20.339 --> 00:25:26.059 and how I hope she has a blessed day and then I always follow it with nothing stupid. 00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:30.879 If you've got a teenager, you know what I mean. 00:25:33.500 --> 00:25:37.119 I read the Word daily and I'm thankful for what He shows me. 00:25:39.699 --> 00:25:43.519 Last week when we were dedicating children, I read Deuteronomy chapter 6. 00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:52.639 Deuteronomy chapter 6 talks about the need to talk about what God is doing in your life when you wake up. 00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:58.819 When you sit at the house and when you walk or drive along the way. 00:25:58.960 --> 00:26:01.359 That's my new version of it. 00:26:01.639 --> 00:26:04.019 Drive along the way or when you lie down. 00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:06.259 In other words, throughout the day. 00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:09.480 This rolls right into that. 00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:12.160 Just talk about what God showed you. 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:18.880 What a blessing it is as well to share that passage on that day with others. 00:26:19.580 --> 00:26:24.060 I get texts that people share with me what their passage was for the day. 00:26:24.120 --> 00:26:24.680 I get emails. 00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:31.080 I've seen Sunday school classes that scrapped the curriculum and instead went home and read God's Word. 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:34.580 And went around the class and said, what did God show you on Tuesday? 00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:39.960 That will open up a conversation and a discussion along the way. 00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:43.880 You say, preacher, 30 minutes. 00:26:44.560 --> 00:26:48.640 That's because they're basing it off about 20 minutes of the average person reading. 00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:51.279 For most folks, it won't take you 20 minutes. 00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:52.060 I can tell you that. 00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:53.460 Don't take me 20 minutes to read that. 00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:55.540 But maybe that's too much. 00:26:56.060 --> 00:26:58.880 This black journal down here on the front row has an express plan. 00:26:58.880 --> 00:27:02.320 You don't have to read through it all. 00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:07.520 You get short one day, just read the New Testament passage. 00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:10.140 Don't miss out on what God's got in the old. 00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:13.420 But if you get short, just read the New Testament passage. 00:27:14.140 --> 00:27:15.680 And listen, this is the cool thing. 00:27:16.120 --> 00:27:21.600 If you miss a day, you don't have to go back. 00:27:21.599 --> 00:27:24.399 Just keep rolling. 00:27:25.679 --> 00:27:28.399 God, what would you have for me today? 00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:30.740 I missed it yesterday. 00:27:32.419 --> 00:27:33.740 But I want it today. 00:27:34.980 --> 00:27:38.319 God, would you tell me what you'd have for me today? 00:27:38.419 --> 00:27:40.019 I'm telling you, couples will get closer. 00:27:40.919 --> 00:27:43.259 Families will have an easy way of doing a family devotion. 00:27:43.659 --> 00:27:47.319 And if you mess up, you just strive on. 00:27:47.319 --> 00:27:50.700 You get short on time, just read part of it. 00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:51.559 Just steady on. 00:27:53.019 --> 00:27:54.700 And I want you to imagine for just a moment, 00:27:55.319 --> 00:28:00.639 if many in this congregation all deal with the same passage every day, 00:28:01.639 --> 00:28:05.159 that we've all read the same stuff every day, 00:28:05.879 --> 00:28:08.759 and God begins to interact in our lives, 00:28:09.379 --> 00:28:12.099 and God begins to move in us, 00:28:13.099 --> 00:28:17.039 he will when we give him that opportunity. 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:20.879 This morning, as I was reading, 00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:24.779 I read this, and it spoke to my heart, 00:28:24.919 --> 00:28:27.779 and I asked God to use me today for this very purpose. 00:28:28.679 --> 00:28:30.480 It's in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. 00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:35.679 I read Chronicles about a lot of people who had different jobs. 00:28:36.259 --> 00:28:36.500 Okay? 00:28:36.839 --> 00:28:37.599 Easy reading. 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:38.559 Quick reading. 00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:41.339 And I got to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, 00:28:41.960 --> 00:28:42.919 and it said this, 00:28:42.920 --> 00:28:43.800 Finally then, brothers, 00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:45.660 we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, 00:28:46.120 --> 00:28:49.220 that as you receive from us how you ought to walk and to please God, 00:28:49.300 --> 00:28:50.220 just as you are doing, 00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:54.519 that you do so more and more. 00:28:54.660 --> 00:28:56.240 And I asked the Lord Jesus this morning, 00:28:56.300 --> 00:28:56.539 I said, 00:28:56.580 --> 00:29:00.779 Oh God, help me to help them do it more and more for you. 00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:04.019 He will give, 00:29:04.440 --> 00:29:07.340 he will touch your heart if you will give him the opportunity. 00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:08.860 He will guide your life. 00:29:08.859 --> 00:29:11.279 He will make your path straight, 00:29:11.379 --> 00:29:12.740 not just for graduates, 00:29:12.939 --> 00:29:13.919 for all of us, 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:15.419 if we'll listen to him, 00:29:15.719 --> 00:29:18.579 and if we'll interact with the Holy Spirit daily in his word. 00:29:20.579 --> 00:29:21.619 Now you may say, 00:29:21.740 --> 00:29:22.179 Listen, preacher, 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:23.759 I don't understand all that stuff. 00:29:24.139 --> 00:29:24.299 You know? 00:29:24.879 --> 00:29:25.539 I mean, I read, 00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:26.359 and I don't understand it. 00:29:26.399 --> 00:29:27.079 Well, look, look. 00:29:27.319 --> 00:29:30.059 Focus on the 90% that you do understand, 00:29:30.439 --> 00:29:32.959 and don't worry about the 10% you don't understand. 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:36.779 Because when we're faithful with what we know, 00:29:37.579 --> 00:29:39.840 he'll reveal to us what we don't. 00:29:40.700 --> 00:29:43.700 We just got to trust the Lord in what he shows us. 00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:46.259 And so I asked you today, 00:29:47.240 --> 00:29:51.600 would you commit to give him time and place every day 00:29:51.600 --> 00:29:54.160 to pray, 00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:57.120 to pause, 00:29:57.119 --> 00:30:02.759 and ask God to show you 00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:05.579 what he'd have for you in his word. 00:30:06.839 --> 00:30:08.859 Ask him how that applies to your life, 00:30:08.899 --> 00:30:10.299 and then apply it to your life. 00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:12.519 Wash up with the word. 00:30:13.619 --> 00:30:15.299 Get busy spiritually feeding yourself. 00:30:15.339 --> 00:30:16.319 Because I'm telling you, 00:30:16.699 --> 00:30:19.239 there's no limit to what God can do through a people 00:30:19.239 --> 00:30:21.819 with one heart toward God, 00:30:22.399 --> 00:30:24.219 focused in on what he has for them 00:30:24.219 --> 00:30:25.779 each and every day. 00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:28.980 If you would, bow your heads. 00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:31.539 Close your eyes for just a moment. 00:30:33.420 --> 00:30:36.339 I want to ask you to just answer 00:30:36.339 --> 00:30:38.859 just to the Lord. 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:42.539 How am I doing with this today? 00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:47.240 How much time do I give the Lord each day? 00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:50.200 Do I give him place? 00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:53.940 Do I trust him with my life? 00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:57.819 Do I ask him to guide me? 00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:00.920 Or when I panic, 00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:02.160 do I crack open a book 00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:04.279 and stick my finger on a verse 00:31:04.279 --> 00:31:05.660 and hope that's the one for the day? 00:31:08.720 --> 00:31:10.019 If you'll commit today, 00:31:10.899 --> 00:31:14.119 he'll ease your inconsistencies. 00:31:16.339 --> 00:31:18.359 He'll smooth over your roughness, 00:31:18.359 --> 00:31:20.559 and he'll bless your life. 00:31:21.480 --> 00:31:22.160 He will. 00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:24.580 You'll be stronger because of it. 00:31:25.779 --> 00:31:27.040 You may be here this morning, 00:31:27.080 --> 00:31:27.480 and you say, 00:31:27.540 --> 00:31:27.740 preacher, 00:31:27.840 --> 00:31:29.860 not only do I not read God's word, 00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:30.400 the reality is, 00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:31.519 I don't have a relationship with the Lord. 00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:34.040 There's never been a time in my life 00:31:34.040 --> 00:31:35.080 when I've asked the Lord Jesus 00:31:35.080 --> 00:31:35.820 to forgive me 00:31:35.820 --> 00:31:36.460 and to cleanse me 00:31:36.460 --> 00:31:37.360 and to come into my life 00:31:37.360 --> 00:31:38.140 and to change me, 00:31:38.180 --> 00:31:38.940 and I'm telling you, 00:31:39.320 --> 00:31:40.820 if you've never surrendered your life 00:31:40.820 --> 00:31:41.940 to the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:31:42.080 --> 00:31:42.680 thank God, 00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:44.120 today's the day of salvation. 00:31:45.040 --> 00:31:46.320 We serve the same God, 00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:47.800 and he's the same yesterday, 00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:48.160 today, 00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:48.600 and forever, 00:31:48.600 --> 00:31:51.279 and he will change your life today. 00:31:51.279 --> 00:31:52.519 And in just a moment, 00:31:52.639 --> 00:31:53.660 we'll stand and sing, 00:31:53.819 --> 00:31:55.500 and it's that opportunity 00:31:55.500 --> 00:31:56.639 that you have to come down 00:31:56.639 --> 00:31:57.119 and tell me, 00:31:57.200 --> 00:31:57.420 preacher, 00:31:57.599 --> 00:31:59.859 I'd like to know the Lord Jesus personally. 00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:02.460 I'd love to have you guided through that 00:32:02.460 --> 00:32:03.519 and what that means. 00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:06.139 Maybe you're here this morning, 00:32:06.180 --> 00:32:07.460 and you have done that, 00:32:07.879 --> 00:32:10.339 but it's not reflecting in your life. 00:32:11.019 --> 00:32:13.339 It's not reflecting in your daily practice. 00:32:14.740 --> 00:32:17.359 It's not reflecting in how you act on the weekend. 00:32:17.359 --> 00:32:20.679 It's not reflecting in how you think 00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:23.299 and what you ingest into your mind. 00:32:24.679 --> 00:32:26.339 Maybe today is the day of repentance. 00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:27.099 It's the day of saying, 00:32:27.199 --> 00:32:29.299 Lord, I'm sorry for who I've been, 00:32:29.819 --> 00:32:31.500 and I want to make things right again. 00:32:32.399 --> 00:32:34.659 I'll be happy to help you with that in that process, 00:32:34.699 --> 00:32:35.699 or you can do it where you are, 00:32:35.879 --> 00:32:37.059 or you can do it at this altar. 00:32:38.819 --> 00:32:41.559 I just know that unless you do what God tells you to do 00:32:41.559 --> 00:32:42.159 and obey him, 00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:43.460 you'll never be satisfied 00:32:43.460 --> 00:32:47.940 because he's made you for himself. 00:32:49.779 --> 00:32:50.300 And so church, 00:32:50.400 --> 00:32:51.820 why don't we just commit today 00:32:51.820 --> 00:32:53.860 to give God place 00:32:53.860 --> 00:32:56.840 and to live our lives to please him? 00:32:57.800 --> 00:32:59.600 I promise you he'll honor that. 00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:01.500 He'll bless that. 00:33:02.140 --> 00:33:03.460 Lord Jesus, I love you, 00:33:03.500 --> 00:33:04.340 and I thank you 00:33:04.340 --> 00:33:07.060 for the time that we've had together today, 00:33:07.340 --> 00:33:08.460 but oh God, 00:33:08.540 --> 00:33:09.240 I ask right now 00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:12.120 that your Holy Spirit will move and work in our midst 00:33:12.120 --> 00:33:14.099 and help us simply to be obedient 00:33:14.099 --> 00:33:15.559 as you lead us. 00:33:16.059 --> 00:33:17.819 In Jesus' precious name, amen. 00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:18.319 Stand together.