WEBVTT

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 How many of you are disappointed that it's cold and raining instead of snow?

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 I am. I think there's more people this year looking for snow, warning snow, than I can remember in a long time.

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 And I'm on that list. I would have liked to see us.

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 And it's not too late. We've got a whole month of February to go.

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 Maybe it will. But I'm glad that it didn't prevent us from being here today.

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 If you think about what brings you joy, like snow, just about everything you think about,

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 you put on a list of what brings me joy.

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 You could also say, that's what makes me happy.

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 It brings happiness to me.

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 Almost everyone thinks of the words joy and happiness as synonyms.

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 Most dictionaries even do that.

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 Most dictionaries define joy along this line, a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.

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 We use that word joy in the English language very similarly, at least, if not identically, to the word happiness.

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 But that is not how Paul used the word in New Testament Greek.

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 The New Testament is written in the Greek language.

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 And while we use that word joy and happiness synonymously,

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 that is not how the word joy is used in the Bible and especially the New Testament.

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 Happiness is an emotional feeling, isn't it?

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 It's a feeling of delight.

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 That depends on what's happening to us and around us.

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 You know, we're happy when everything goes our way.

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 When you walked in this morning, people spoke to you, they smiled.

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 It brings a little bit of joy, a little bit of happiness, doesn't it?

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 When you feel good, you have that sense of joy, that kind of happiness.

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 But we know that every day is not that way.

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 Life is not always happy.

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 It just sort of comes and goes in our life.

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 I say all that to say, that's normal.

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 That's happiness.

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 That's joy as we use it in the English language.

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 Put that on hold now.

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 Christian joy.

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 The word joy that's found in the New Testament,

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 that we're going to be looking at today and throughout the book of Philippians really,

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 it is more of an attitude.

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 It's something more like a character quality than it is an emotion.

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 It's not without emotion, but that's not basically what it is.

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 Joy is similar to the qualities of contentment or peace in your soul.

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 Here's something I did not really bring out much last week,

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 and I want to emphasize it.

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 Christian joy is the inner sense of peace.

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 Of rightness that comes from knowing that I'm right with God.

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 I'm close to Him.

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 Things around about you may not be going well.

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 People may be disappointing you.

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 You may not be in the best of health.

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 But when you have that right relationship with God, you're just close to Him,

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 there's this sense of contentment.

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 There's just peace in your soul.

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 That's Christian joy.

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 It will not be found in any other person.

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 Other people can make you happy.

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 But they can't give you this kind of joy.

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 You're not going to find this in any situation, any circumstance.

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 No matter how well your job goes,

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 this kind of joy is not going to be found there.

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 It's going to be found only in our relationship with the Lord.

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 That's why Paul can write so much about it in the book of Philippians.

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 It appears from reading Paul's letters in the New Testament

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 that the church at Philippi was his favorite church,

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 or at least where he had the fewest problems.

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 And so he talks about joy and rejoicing more in this letter

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 than in any of his other letters.

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 But consider this.

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 Every time Paul dictated this letter,

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 every time he said the word joy or rejoice,

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 he was chained to the Roman soldier,

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 confined to the house he was renting.

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 He was under house arrest.

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 He was awaiting his trial before Caesar,

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 the most powerful man in the world at that time.

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 He didn't know what the outcome would be.

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 He didn't know if he would live or die as a result of that trial.

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 Yet he could talk about how he was rejoicing.

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 He found joy in his relationship with the Lord

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 in the midst of those circumstances.

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 I want you to turn in your Bibles, if you will,

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 to Philippians chapter 1.

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 We're going to begin again in verse 18.

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 And we're going to see how Paul was able to rejoice

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 in spite of his circumstances.

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 Now as we go through what's going to be verses 18 through 26 today and next week,

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 I want us to note three things that should make us,

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 if we're Christians,

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 at least some of the time,

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 have a sense of joy.

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 Now let's be real honest here.

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 There were days that Paul would have been down.

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 He's a human being.

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 He's not a God.

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 He's not the Son of God like Jesus.

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 Paul was a human being just like us.

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 He suffered.

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 He had his bad days.

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 And so there were days that he didn't really feel like rejoicing in the Lord.

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 No doubt, his real focus wasn't on how everything's right with God through faith in Jesus.

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 And you and I don't either.

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 There's some days that the last thing we think about is our relationship with God.

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 Let's just be honest.

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 There's some days that they're just miserable emotionally,

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 spiritually even,

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 or physically with our bodies,

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 or with other people and problems.

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 So when we go through this,

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 three things that should provide every Christian

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 with at least some sense of joy

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 at times in our lives.

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 The way I want to do this,

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 I want us to ask three questions.

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 Number one,

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 do thoughts that God will always take care of you bring you joy?

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 I want you to look at verses 18 through 20,

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 what we looked at last week actually.

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 And I want you to think,

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 do thoughts that God is always going to take care of me no matter what.

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 Does that bring you a sense of joy?

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 Of peace in your soul?

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 Because you're trusting Him.

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 Not that you feel good.

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 Not that you feel close to everybody.

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 But do you get this kind of joy?

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 Inner peace because I know God's going to take care of me.

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 Let's look at this.

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 Verse 18 that I left off the screen.

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 The last part says,

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 Yes, and I will rejoice.

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 For I know that through your prayers

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 and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

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 this will turn out for my deliverance,

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 as it is my eager expectation and hope

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 that I will not at all be ashamed,

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 but that with full courage,

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 now as always,

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 Christ will be honored in my body,

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 whether by life or by death.

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 Paul describes one of the sources of his joy as,

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 look at this,

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 my deliverance in verse 19.

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 We saw last week the word deliverance here

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 is translated more often in the New Testament,

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 salvation.

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 See, Paul is writing in Greek.

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 And the translators use the word deliverance here,

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 but more often than not,

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 they're going to use the word salvation

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 when this word comes up in other places.

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 It's all according to the context.

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 That means Paul may be talking about,

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 may be thinking about as he writes this,

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 his deliverance from prison.

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 He's rejoicing because this will turn out

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 for my deliverance.

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 Or he may be thinking about,

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 this is going to turn out for my deliverance

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 into the presence of the Lord in heaven.

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 He may be thinking about his final,

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 complete salvation

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 when he stands before the Lord,

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 free from sin

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 and the difficulties that we experience in this life.

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 But either way, we don't know.

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 Either way, Paul found joy in knowing

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 that no matter what happens to me,

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 no matter what happens in my life,

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 God is going to take care of me.

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 I'm trusting Him.

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 Now, do you have that kind of joy

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 in your soul?

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 At least some of the time.

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 Well, you will if you have a relationship with God.

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 You will if you have a close relationship with God.

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 If we truly know God

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 as our Heavenly Father I'm talking about,

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 we will have confidence in His ability

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 to take care of us

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 by delivering us through our difficulties

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 or by delivering us from our difficulties

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 by bringing us into His presence in heaven.

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 Now, I know that most of us in this room,

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 we don't think about being delivered into heaven right now.

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 But you know,

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 if you're in prison,

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 chained to a Roman soldier,

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 going to be tried before the emperor,

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 you know I may die.

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 And so,

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 it's a real fact.

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 And so,

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 he finds joy knowing

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 that if that happens,

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 I'll be okay.

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 There may come a time in your life

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 where your health is so bad,

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 the pain is so bad,

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 that you'll be ready to die.

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 You'll pray to die.

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 And in that moment,

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 if it comes for you,

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 wouldn't it be great

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 that you have this sense of peace

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 that when I breathe my last

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 and close my eyes,

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 I'm going to open them again immediately

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 in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ

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 and there will be no more suffering,

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 no more pain.

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 Some of you in this room,

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 like me,

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 you've watched your parents

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 or your grandparents

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 get to that position.

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 And I hope you heard

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 from some of them

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 like I heard from my mother.

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 Never forget the way she said it.

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 She looked at me one day,

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 she'd been in the hospital,

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 didn't want to be in the hospital.

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 I've told you this before.

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 She looked at me one day,

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 she said,

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 I'm an old woman,

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 I've lived my life

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 and I'm ready to die.

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 Don't let no more doctors

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 do anything to me.

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 And we talked a little bit about that.

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 And she said that she did have faith

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 and trust in Jesus

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 that when she did die,

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 she'd be in His presence.

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 And she didn't want to linger on

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 and completely lose her memory

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 and use of her body.

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 And so,

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 while right this minute,

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 I don't know if any of us in here

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 can really identify

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 with the idea

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 of having this sense of peace,

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 that God may bring me

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 into His presence

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 anytime.

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 But in time,

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 we may be in a situation

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 where

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 we need that kind of

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 peace,

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 that kind of joy.

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 and we can

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 if we have a right

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 relationship

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 with the Lord.

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 Now,

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 if you don't have a clue

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 what I'm talking about,

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 you think to yourself,

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 I hear the words

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 but I'll understand it,

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 I've never experienced it.

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 I've never sensed

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 this sense of

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 peace and rightness,

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 this kind of joy

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 in a relationship with God.

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 That means

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 in all probability

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 that you're not a Christian.

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 You may have professed faith,

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 you may have been baptized,

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 but if you don't have

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 this sense of

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 rightness with God,

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 never experienced it at all,

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 it's just a foreign concept to you,

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 you can't be right with God.

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 You can't have a relationship

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 with Him rather.

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 And if that bothers you,

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 you don't want it to be that way.

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 Admit to God

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 that you don't know Him.

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 Turn from your sin.

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 Put your trust in Jesus

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 as your Savior and Lord.

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 calling Him to save you now.

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 And when you do that,

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 one of the first things

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 you ought to experience

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 is a sense of peace

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 with God

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 through faith in Jesus.

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 And also,

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 then start experiencing

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 the peace of God.

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 This is the first step

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 toward experiencing

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 real Christian joy.

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 Now,

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 if you do know

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 what I'm talking about,

00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:21.259
 but

00:14:21.259 --> 00:14:22.900
 it's not been

00:14:22.900 --> 00:14:23.740
 your experience

00:14:23.740 --> 00:14:24.640
 very much

00:14:24.640 --> 00:14:25.300
 lately,

00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:28.259
 you know what I'm talking about.

00:14:28.300 --> 00:14:28.860
 You have to have

00:14:28.860 --> 00:14:29.420
 this sense of

00:14:29.420 --> 00:14:30.580
 just closeness,

00:14:30.800 --> 00:14:31.940
 rightness with God

00:14:31.940 --> 00:14:32.980
 that no matter what else,

00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:35.000
 no matter who else

00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:35.280
 was

00:14:35.280 --> 00:14:36.759
 not happy with me,

00:14:38.060 --> 00:14:39.080
 I really had this

00:14:39.080 --> 00:14:40.840
 joy in my soul,

00:14:41.180 --> 00:14:42.000
 peace in my heart,

00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:43.759
 but it's not there now.

00:14:45.539 --> 00:14:46.720
 Could it be that

00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:48.460
 you've drifted away

00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:48.899
 from the Lord?

00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:49.980
 Maybe you never

00:14:49.980 --> 00:14:50.639
 thought about it,

00:14:50.679 --> 00:14:51.200
 you didn't just

00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:52.639
 openly rebel,

00:14:53.679 --> 00:14:54.740
 but you just got busy.

00:14:54.940 --> 00:14:55.159
 You know,

00:14:55.340 --> 00:14:56.159
 life is such

00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:57.519
 we can just get busy.

00:14:57.740 --> 00:14:58.480
 There's so much

00:14:58.480 --> 00:14:59.899
 in most people's lives,

00:14:59.960 --> 00:15:00.600
 there's so much

00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:01.360
 going on

00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:03.159
 to take our attention,

00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:04.840
 take our time,

00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:07.500
 that we can just

00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:08.399
 do a lot of

00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:09.379
 good things

00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:10.060
 with people

00:15:10.060 --> 00:15:10.620
 that we are

00:15:10.620 --> 00:15:11.560
 responsible for

00:15:11.560 --> 00:15:13.620
 and drift away

00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:14.080
 from a close

00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:14.899
 relationship with the Lord

00:15:14.899 --> 00:15:16.040
 because we don't

00:15:16.040 --> 00:15:17.820
 continue it.

00:15:18.820 --> 00:15:19.280
 It could be

00:15:19.280 --> 00:15:19.660
 that you just

00:15:19.660 --> 00:15:20.560
 rebelled against God.

00:15:21.620 --> 00:15:22.139
 It could be

00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:22.680
 that you know

00:15:22.680 --> 00:15:23.180
 right now

00:15:23.180 --> 00:15:24.120
 you're not

00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:24.960
 where you used to be,

00:15:25.040 --> 00:15:25.540
 you don't experience

00:15:25.540 --> 00:15:26.440
 this kind of joy anymore

00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:27.000
 and you know

00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:27.800
 exactly why.

00:15:29.100 --> 00:15:29.280
 Well,

00:15:29.320 --> 00:15:30.060
 I want you to understand

00:15:30.060 --> 00:15:31.759
 the only way

00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:33.360
 you're going to

00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:34.259
 rekindle

00:15:34.259 --> 00:15:35.179
 that kind of

00:15:35.179 --> 00:15:36.139
 joy and peace

00:15:36.139 --> 00:15:38.240
 is to come back

00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:38.679
 to Him

00:15:38.679 --> 00:15:40.980
 on His terms.

00:15:42.059 --> 00:15:43.000
 That may mean

00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:43.899
 you need to confess

00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:44.740
 sin

00:15:44.740 --> 00:15:46.919
 and seek

00:15:46.919 --> 00:15:47.980
 God's forgiveness

00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:49.100
 because

00:15:49.100 --> 00:15:50.399
 you've rebelled

00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:50.919
 against Him.

00:15:51.960 --> 00:15:52.840
 It may be

00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:53.399
 that you just need

00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:54.139
 to sort of wake up

00:15:54.139 --> 00:15:54.460
 and realize

00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:54.840
 I've got to

00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:55.500
 rearrange some

00:15:55.500 --> 00:15:56.659
 priorities in my life.

00:15:57.799 --> 00:15:58.620
 I've got to start

00:15:58.620 --> 00:15:59.559
 spending some time

00:15:59.559 --> 00:16:00.279
 with God

00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:01.840
 to develop,

00:16:02.019 --> 00:16:02.480
 to cultivate

00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:03.139
 my relationship

00:16:03.139 --> 00:16:03.519
 with Him.

00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:04.519
 in His Word

00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:05.100
 and in prayer.

00:16:06.319 --> 00:16:07.039
 So you may need

00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:07.799
 to make some changes

00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:08.360
 in your life

00:16:08.360 --> 00:16:09.220
 that way.

00:16:11.079 --> 00:16:11.740
 It may be

00:16:11.740 --> 00:16:12.299
 that right now

00:16:12.299 --> 00:16:12.699
 this morning

00:16:12.699 --> 00:16:13.960
 the reason you're here

00:16:13.960 --> 00:16:15.500
 is to be encouraged

00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:17.079
 as a Christian

00:16:17.079 --> 00:16:19.059
 to renew

00:16:19.059 --> 00:16:20.039
 your commitment

00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:22.819
 to the Lord Jesus Christ

00:16:22.819 --> 00:16:24.559
 as the real

00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:26.319
 Lord of your life.

00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:26.440
 joy.

00:16:27.640 --> 00:16:28.379
 And if we will

00:16:28.379 --> 00:16:29.000
 live that way

00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:29.680
 joy will be

00:16:29.680 --> 00:16:30.940
 a byproduct

00:16:30.940 --> 00:16:32.680
 of having

00:16:32.680 --> 00:16:33.460
 a close relationship

00:16:33.460 --> 00:16:33.879
 with Him.

00:16:34.640 --> 00:16:35.140
 You know Paul

00:16:35.140 --> 00:16:36.200
 also rejoiced

00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:37.520
 over the way

00:16:37.520 --> 00:16:38.120
 that God

00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:39.060
 worked to take

00:16:39.060 --> 00:16:39.660
 care of him.

00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:40.379
 Last week

00:16:40.379 --> 00:16:40.760
 we looked at

00:16:40.760 --> 00:16:41.379
 two ways

00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:41.760
 that God

00:16:41.760 --> 00:16:42.460
 works in our lives

00:16:42.460 --> 00:16:43.800
 to take care of us.

00:16:43.900 --> 00:16:45.260
 I want to expand

00:16:45.260 --> 00:16:47.020
 on what we looked

00:16:47.020 --> 00:16:48.040
 at last week.

00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:49.320
 I was trying

00:16:49.320 --> 00:16:49.720
 to cover

00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:51.540
 more last week

00:16:51.539 --> 00:16:53.620
 and just

00:16:53.620 --> 00:16:54.480
 there's some things

00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:55.519
 I want us to look at

00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:56.199
 that's important

00:16:56.199 --> 00:16:56.799
 that we didn't look

00:16:56.799 --> 00:16:57.279
 at last week.

00:16:57.339 --> 00:16:57.620
 So here

00:16:57.620 --> 00:16:58.439
 let's look at it again.

00:16:58.959 --> 00:16:59.419
 God works

00:16:59.419 --> 00:17:00.419
 through people's prayers.

00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:02.500
 God works

00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:03.099
 in our lives

00:17:03.099 --> 00:17:04.099
 through other people's prayers.

00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:05.180
 Look at it again

00:17:05.180 --> 00:17:05.960
 verse 19

00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:07.139
 last part

00:17:07.139 --> 00:17:07.599
 of verse 18

00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:08.899
 Yes and I will rejoice

00:17:08.899 --> 00:17:09.779
 for I know

00:17:09.779 --> 00:17:11.059
 that through your prayers

00:17:11.059 --> 00:17:12.740
 this will turn out

00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:14.119
 for my deliverance.

00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:16.799
 Paul rejoiced

00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:18.779
 over the fact

00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:20.019
 that people

00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:20.960
 loved him enough

00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:22.660
 to pray for him.

00:17:23.700 --> 00:17:24.160
 He just

00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:25.340
 brought peace

00:17:25.340 --> 00:17:26.200
 to his soul

00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:27.700
 joy to his heart

00:17:27.700 --> 00:17:28.860
 to know that

00:17:28.860 --> 00:17:29.680
 other people

00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:31.519
 were praying for him

00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:32.259
 and that God

00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:33.480
 was working in his life

00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:34.340
 in response

00:17:34.340 --> 00:17:35.420
 to their prayers.

00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:38.180
 We saw last week

00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:39.360
 that it is vitally important

00:17:39.360 --> 00:17:40.480
 that we pray for

00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:42.740
 our Christian family members

00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:45.000
 Christian friends

00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:46.440
 people in this church

00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:47.480
 or church family members

00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:49.500
 in more ways

00:17:49.500 --> 00:17:50.240
 than just

00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:51.500
 their physical health

00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:52.299
 and well-being.

00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:54.500
 But that doesn't mean

00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:55.980
 we don't pray

00:17:55.980 --> 00:17:56.620
 for people's

00:17:56.620 --> 00:17:57.980
 health

00:17:57.980 --> 00:17:59.440
 or job

00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:00.079
 or school

00:18:00.079 --> 00:18:02.200
 or other situations

00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:02.720
 that they're

00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:04.079
 concerned about.

00:18:05.980 --> 00:18:07.220
 Over the years

00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:09.039
 my children

00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:09.859
 and grandchildren

00:18:09.859 --> 00:18:11.000
 have played

00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:12.740
 countless ball games.

00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:15.420
 I have

00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:16.240
 and will continue

00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:17.519
 as long as I'm alive

00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.339
 and have a mind

00:18:18.339 --> 00:18:20.319
 prayed for their safety.

00:18:21.420 --> 00:18:22.640
 God keep them safe.

00:18:23.660 --> 00:18:24.120
 Lord

00:18:24.120 --> 00:18:24.859
 don't let them

00:18:24.859 --> 00:18:25.420
 get hurt.

00:18:27.160 --> 00:18:28.079
 That's just something

00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:28.559
 that I

00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:29.620
 want to do.

00:18:30.620 --> 00:18:31.460
 That's nothing to do

00:18:31.460 --> 00:18:32.240
 with being Christians

00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:32.880
 or anything like that.

00:18:32.920 --> 00:18:33.759
 I just pray for their

00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:34.900
 physical

00:18:34.900 --> 00:18:35.799
 safety.

00:18:36.599 --> 00:18:37.099
 I'm going to say

00:18:37.099 --> 00:18:37.839
 something else

00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:39.339
 because

00:18:39.339 --> 00:18:40.500
 this service

00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:40.980
 is not being

00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:41.839
 recorded today.

00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:43.000
 We're not live

00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:43.399
 streaming.

00:18:43.619 --> 00:18:44.179
 We can't do that

00:18:44.179 --> 00:18:44.779
 in this room.

00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:45.799
 And so

00:18:45.799 --> 00:18:47.599
 this is the end of it.

00:18:47.639 --> 00:18:48.639
 It won't be on tape

00:18:48.639 --> 00:18:49.019
 anywhere.

00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:52.579
 I have prayed

00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:53.740
 for my children's

00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:54.139
 cat

00:18:54.139 --> 00:18:56.659
 to come home.

00:18:57.699 --> 00:18:58.199
 Now you know

00:18:58.199 --> 00:18:58.939
 that's a big step

00:18:58.939 --> 00:18:59.319
 for me.

00:18:59.859 --> 00:19:00.639
 I wouldn't admit

00:19:00.639 --> 00:19:01.279
 it on tape.

00:19:04.139 --> 00:19:04.839
 Let me tell you

00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:05.220
 this though.

00:19:05.220 --> 00:19:06.900
 my grandchildren

00:19:06.900 --> 00:19:08.960
 have two cats

00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:10.579
 and I like

00:19:10.579 --> 00:19:11.299
 those two cats.

00:19:11.360 --> 00:19:11.819
 You know why?

00:19:12.360 --> 00:19:13.519
 They are just like

00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:14.220
 dogs.

00:19:15.579 --> 00:19:17.259
 You call them

00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:18.059
 and they come.

00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:20.339
 They'll sit there

00:19:20.339 --> 00:19:21.240
 and let you pet them.

00:19:22.180 --> 00:19:23.319
 The best cat

00:19:23.319 --> 00:19:23.779
 is the one

00:19:23.779 --> 00:19:24.600
 that acts like a dog.

00:19:24.779 --> 00:19:24.960
 You know?

00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:28.059
 Well one of those cats

00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:29.920
 is named Bruno.

00:19:30.539 --> 00:19:31.400
 Bruno's a hunter.

00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:33.640
 Bruno stays

00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:34.759
 out in the edge

00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:35.299
 of the woods

00:19:35.299 --> 00:19:35.619
 and the edge

00:19:35.619 --> 00:19:36.140
 of the yard

00:19:36.140 --> 00:19:36.900
 in the woods.

00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:37.900
 He hunts.

00:19:38.140 --> 00:19:39.240
 He kills moles.

00:19:40.119 --> 00:19:41.900
 Bruno is a great cat.

00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:43.779
 Well one day

00:19:43.779 --> 00:19:45.859
 he didn't come home.

00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:49.019
 He disappeared.

00:19:50.859 --> 00:19:51.980
 And they told me

00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:55.299
 as sincerely

00:19:55.299 --> 00:19:56.379
 as I've ever prayed

00:19:56.379 --> 00:19:57.039
 for anything

00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:57.680
 I said

00:19:57.680 --> 00:19:58.779
 Lord please

00:19:58.779 --> 00:20:01.039
 bring Bruno home

00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:01.900
 safely

00:20:01.900 --> 00:20:04.040
 to those kids.

00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:06.500
 I prayed

00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:08.080
 I got out

00:20:08.080 --> 00:20:09.000
 and rode around

00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:10.120
 looking for the cat

00:20:10.120 --> 00:20:14.259
 and God

00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:15.060
 answered

00:20:15.060 --> 00:20:17.759
 a lot of people's

00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:18.100
 prayers.

00:20:19.060 --> 00:20:19.340
 Bruno

00:20:19.340 --> 00:20:19.900
 just

00:20:19.900 --> 00:20:20.860
 walked

00:20:20.860 --> 00:20:21.720
 home.

00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:25.060
 I don't care

00:20:25.060 --> 00:20:25.620
 truly

00:20:25.620 --> 00:20:27.120
 about cats

00:20:27.120 --> 00:20:27.820
 very much

00:20:27.819 --> 00:20:29.559
 but I care

00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:30.000
 about my

00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:30.599
 grandchildren

00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:32.099
 and I care

00:20:32.099 --> 00:20:32.519
 about what

00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:33.039
 they care

00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:33.339
 about.

00:20:34.379 --> 00:20:35.240
 And I think

00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:35.759
 it was very

00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:36.200
 important

00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:37.819
 to pray that

00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:38.319
 Bruno come

00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:39.019
 home that day.

00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:41.079
 And so I want you

00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:41.399
 to hear me

00:20:41.399 --> 00:20:41.819
 clearly.

00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:43.980
 Pray about

00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:44.419
 everything.

00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:46.279
 Pray for people's

00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:46.980
 physical

00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:48.179
 well-being.

00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:49.299
 Their job

00:20:49.299 --> 00:20:49.879
 situation.

00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:50.480
 Their school.

00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:53.480
 but

00:20:53.480 --> 00:20:55.200
 your family

00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:56.460
 your friends

00:20:56.460 --> 00:20:58.980
 me.

00:21:00.059 --> 00:21:01.039
 We all

00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:01.700
 need

00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:03.339
 the prayers

00:21:03.339 --> 00:21:04.319
 for our

00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:05.299
 spiritual

00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:06.240
 well-being

00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:07.400
 more.

00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:10.500
 So I want

00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:10.900
 to encourage

00:21:10.900 --> 00:21:11.120
 you

00:21:11.120 --> 00:21:13.640
 people you

00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:14.120
 pray for

00:21:14.120 --> 00:21:15.720
 pray that

00:21:15.720 --> 00:21:16.180
 God will

00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:16.559
 work in

00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:17.120
 their life

00:21:17.120 --> 00:21:17.860
 if they're

00:21:17.860 --> 00:21:18.259
 Christians

00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:18.539
 to help

00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:18.860
 them to

00:21:18.860 --> 00:21:19.160
 grow

00:21:19.160 --> 00:21:19.660
 mature

00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:20.100
 to become

00:21:20.100 --> 00:21:20.540
 more like

00:21:20.540 --> 00:21:20.860
 Jesus.

00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:21.560
 Pray for

00:21:21.560 --> 00:21:22.240
 their spiritual

00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:22.920
 protection.

00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:23.460
 They'll be

00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:23.700
 able to

00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:24.000
 resist

00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:24.580
 temptation

00:21:24.580 --> 00:21:25.080
 things like

00:21:25.080 --> 00:21:25.380
 that.

00:21:26.100 --> 00:21:26.700
 As you

00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:27.400
 pray about

00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:28.259
 other

00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:29.259
 things

00:21:29.259 --> 00:21:31.160
 if there's

00:21:31.160 --> 00:21:31.500
 people in

00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:31.920
 your life

00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:32.160
 that you

00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:32.680
 know you

00:21:32.680 --> 00:21:33.259
 really care

00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:33.660
 about they're

00:21:33.660 --> 00:21:34.140
 not Christians

00:21:34.140 --> 00:21:34.519
 pray for

00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:35.259
 their salvation.

00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:38.019
 I want

00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:38.360
 to encourage

00:21:38.360 --> 00:21:38.759
 you do

00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:39.460
 that yourself

00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:41.940
 and encourage

00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:42.380
 other people

00:21:42.380 --> 00:21:42.880
 to pray for

00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:43.840
 you that

00:21:43.840 --> 00:21:44.300
 way as

00:21:44.300 --> 00:21:44.540
 well.

00:21:45.340 --> 00:21:45.540
 You know

00:21:45.540 --> 00:21:48.200
 I'd like

00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:48.500
 for you to

00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:48.880
 pray for

00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:49.259
 me

00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:50.759
 Monday

00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:51.000
 through

00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:51.559
 Saturday

00:21:51.559 --> 00:21:52.559
 that I'll

00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:52.879
 be able

00:21:52.879 --> 00:21:53.559
 to study

00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:54.079
 and

00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:55.539
 know

00:21:55.539 --> 00:21:56.240
 and develop

00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:56.960
 the message

00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:57.559
 that our

00:21:57.559 --> 00:21:58.019
 church family

00:21:58.019 --> 00:21:58.379
 needs to

00:21:58.379 --> 00:21:59.059
 hear and

00:21:59.059 --> 00:21:59.259
 when you

00:21:59.259 --> 00:21:59.599
 wake up

00:21:59.599 --> 00:21:59.879
 on Sunday

00:21:59.879 --> 00:22:00.420
 morning pray

00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:00.740
 that I'll

00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:01.059
 be able

00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:01.799
 to

00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:03.140
 communicate

00:22:03.140 --> 00:22:03.779
 it in a

00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:04.259
 way that's

00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:05.019
 understandable

00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:06.220
 and that people

00:22:06.220 --> 00:22:06.740
 can actually

00:22:06.740 --> 00:22:07.839
 apply to

00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:08.400
 their lives.

00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:08.859
 Pray for

00:22:08.859 --> 00:22:09.240
 me that

00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:09.539
 way.

00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:11.220
 Ask people

00:22:11.220 --> 00:22:11.619
 to pray for

00:22:11.619 --> 00:22:12.160
 you in ways

00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:12.460
 that you

00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:13.279
 have needs

00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:13.879
 to be

00:22:13.879 --> 00:22:14.420
 prayed for.

00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:15.539
 No second

00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:15.940
 way God

00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:16.240
 works in

00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:16.559
 our lives

00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:17.240
 God works

00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:17.599
 through his

00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:18.059
 indwelling

00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:18.679
 Holy Spirit.

00:22:19.339 --> 00:22:19.639
 He says

00:22:19.639 --> 00:22:20.159
 yes and I

00:22:20.159 --> 00:22:20.759
 will rejoice

00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:21.299
 for I know

00:22:21.299 --> 00:22:21.799
 that through

00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:22.200
 the help

00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:22.799
 of the Spirit

00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:23.399
 of Jesus

00:22:23.399 --> 00:22:24.440
 Christ this

00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:24.700
 will turn

00:22:24.700 --> 00:22:25.079
 out for my

00:22:25.079 --> 00:22:25.599
 deliverance.

00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:27.960
 Paul rejoiced

00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:29.720
 over how God

00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:31.599
 worked his

00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:32.759
 power, God's

00:22:32.759 --> 00:22:34.359
 power in

00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:35.139
 him and

00:22:35.139 --> 00:22:35.639
 through him.

00:22:36.980 --> 00:22:37.559
 The Holy Spirit

00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:38.240
 is really and

00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:38.639
 truly the

00:22:38.639 --> 00:22:39.740
 spiritual power

00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:41.059
 source for

00:22:41.059 --> 00:22:41.659
 every Christian

00:22:41.659 --> 00:22:42.379
 for you and

00:22:42.379 --> 00:22:42.639
 me.

00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:44.079
 I want us to

00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:44.519
 think about how

00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:44.980
 the Holy Spirit

00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:45.500
 works in our

00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:45.859
 lives.

00:22:45.940 --> 00:22:46.160
 This is

00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:48.460
 something totally

00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:49.259
 new from what

00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:49.599
 we looked at

00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:50.079
 last week.

00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:50.519
 Something that

00:22:50.519 --> 00:22:50.859
 I think is

00:22:50.859 --> 00:22:51.599
 very important

00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:53.619
 that we need

00:22:53.619 --> 00:22:54.180
 to be praying

00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:54.839
 about for

00:22:54.839 --> 00:22:55.440
 ourselves and

00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:55.759
 for other

00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:56.079
 people.

00:22:57.140 --> 00:22:58.619
 First, the Holy

00:22:58.619 --> 00:22:59.299
 Spirit indwells

00:22:59.299 --> 00:22:59.839
 every Christian.

00:23:00.059 --> 00:23:00.859
 You know that.

00:23:01.619 --> 00:23:01.940
 If you've been

00:23:01.940 --> 00:23:02.359
 coming to this

00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:02.779
 church for any

00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:03.200
 length of time

00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:03.740
 you know that I

00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:04.519
 mention that a

00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:06.039
 lot because the

00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:06.539
 only way we can

00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:07.019
 live faithful

00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:07.720
 Christian lives is

00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:08.259
 in the power of

00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:08.619
 the Holy Spirit.

00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:09.279
 We can't do it

00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:09.819
 on our own.

00:23:10.180 --> 00:23:10.660
 Christian life

00:23:10.660 --> 00:23:11.279
 cannot be lived

00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:12.000
 by just doing

00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:12.799
 your best,

00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:13.839
 trying harder.

00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:15.039
 That's not

00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:16.959
 Christian growth.

00:23:17.699 --> 00:23:18.299
 Christian growth

00:23:18.299 --> 00:23:18.939
 is when God

00:23:18.939 --> 00:23:19.839
 works in us

00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:20.559
 and through us

00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:21.759
 through His

00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:22.359
 Holy Spirit.

00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:23.519
 Helping us to

00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:23.819
 think.

00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:24.740
 Helping us to

00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:25.679
 know what to

00:23:25.679 --> 00:23:26.419
 do, how to

00:23:26.419 --> 00:23:27.240
 do, that kind

00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:27.559
 of thing.

00:23:28.399 --> 00:23:29.099
 Well Paul says

00:23:29.099 --> 00:23:30.019
 it is impossible

00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:31.279
 to be a

00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:32.539
 Christian and

00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:34.359
 not be indwelled

00:23:34.359 --> 00:23:34.919
 by the Spirit.

00:23:35.319 --> 00:23:35.819
 Look at this

00:23:35.819 --> 00:23:36.599
 from Romans 8.

00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:37.639
 Anyone who does

00:23:37.639 --> 00:23:38.319
 not have the

00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:39.359
 Spirit of Christ

00:23:39.359 --> 00:23:41.779
 does not belong

00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:42.220
 to Him.

00:23:42.519 --> 00:23:43.099
 It can't be any

00:23:43.099 --> 00:23:43.599
 plainer than

00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:43.859
 that.

00:23:44.379 --> 00:23:45.339
 Every Christian,

00:23:46.339 --> 00:23:48.839
 God regenerates

00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:49.759
 us, brings about

00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:50.240
 a new birth by

00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:50.659
 the power of

00:23:50.659 --> 00:23:51.159
 the Holy Spirit

00:23:51.159 --> 00:23:53.379
 and the Holy

00:23:53.379 --> 00:23:54.519
 Spirit indwells

00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:55.039
 us from that

00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:55.779
 point on.

00:23:57.339 --> 00:23:59.459
 Now, the Holy

00:23:59.459 --> 00:24:00.659
 Spirit indwells

00:24:00.659 --> 00:24:01.139
 every Christian

00:24:01.139 --> 00:24:02.000
 at all times,

00:24:02.459 --> 00:24:03.119
 but there are

00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:06.019
 times when a

00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:06.899
 Christian experiences

00:24:06.899 --> 00:24:08.399
 the Spirit's

00:24:08.399 --> 00:24:09.399
 presence in

00:24:09.399 --> 00:24:11.139
 greater power

00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:13.120
 power as Luke

00:24:13.120 --> 00:24:14.320
 tells us in

00:24:14.320 --> 00:24:14.720
 the book of

00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:14.940
 Acts.

00:24:15.040 --> 00:24:15.560
 Luke is the

00:24:15.560 --> 00:24:15.980
 author of

00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:16.259
 Acts.

00:24:16.520 --> 00:24:16.820
 I want you to

00:24:16.820 --> 00:24:17.160
 look at some

00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:17.680
 examples.

00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:20.320
 Peter, he

00:24:20.320 --> 00:24:20.880
 experienced

00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:21.980
 greater power

00:24:21.980 --> 00:24:22.900
 when he

00:24:22.900 --> 00:24:23.759
 testified before

00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:24.720
 the hostile

00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:26.120
 Jewish council.

00:24:26.580 --> 00:24:26.860
 They were

00:24:26.860 --> 00:24:27.240
 telling him,

00:24:27.380 --> 00:24:27.620
 you don't

00:24:27.620 --> 00:24:28.380
 preach anymore.

00:24:29.040 --> 00:24:29.700
 Threatening his

00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:30.280
 life and the

00:24:30.280 --> 00:24:30.820
 other apostles.

00:24:31.380 --> 00:24:31.740
 Look at what

00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:32.580
 Scripture says.

00:24:33.100 --> 00:24:33.860
 Then Peter,

00:24:34.620 --> 00:24:35.200
 filled with the

00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:35.780
 Holy Spirit,

00:24:36.259 --> 00:24:37.100
 said to them,

00:24:37.099 --> 00:24:39.559
 the Holy

00:24:39.559 --> 00:24:42.319
 Spirit indwelled

00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:43.699
 Peter already.

00:24:44.639 --> 00:24:45.219
 But at that

00:24:45.219 --> 00:24:47.039
 moment, it was

00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:47.599
 sort of like a

00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:48.659
 new, fresh

00:24:48.659 --> 00:24:51.059
 filling, empowerment

00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:53.079
 of the Spirit to

00:24:53.079 --> 00:24:54.419
 say what needed

00:24:54.419 --> 00:24:56.659
 to be said to

00:24:56.659 --> 00:24:58.159
 those enemies of

00:24:58.159 --> 00:24:58.619
 the gospel.

00:24:59.980 --> 00:25:01.119
 Later on in that

00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:02.059
 same chapter 4 of

00:25:02.059 --> 00:25:02.980
 Acts, a large

00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:03.779
 group of Christians,

00:25:04.919 --> 00:25:06.119
 not just the

00:25:06.119 --> 00:25:07.019
 apostles or leaders,

00:25:07.379 --> 00:25:08.039
 a large group of

00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:09.339
 Christians, received

00:25:09.339 --> 00:25:11.879
 power after a

00:25:11.879 --> 00:25:12.399
 prayer meeting.

00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:13.039
 Look at this.

00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:14.240
 And when they

00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:15.500
 had prayed, the

00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:16.039
 place in which

00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:16.879
 they were gathered

00:25:16.879 --> 00:25:17.919
 together was shaken

00:25:17.919 --> 00:25:18.919
 and they were all

00:25:18.919 --> 00:25:19.740
 filled with the

00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:20.759
 Holy Spirit and

00:25:20.759 --> 00:25:21.659
 continued to speak

00:25:21.659 --> 00:25:22.339
 the Word of God

00:25:22.339 --> 00:25:23.079
 with boldness.

00:25:23.579 --> 00:25:24.079
 See, this was a

00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:24.959
 crisis time in the

00:25:24.959 --> 00:25:25.740
 life of the church.

00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:27.319
 The leaders were

00:25:27.319 --> 00:25:28.819
 being arrested, put

00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:29.519
 into prison.

00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:30.799
 A little bit

00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:31.759
 later on, killed.

00:25:33.379 --> 00:25:33.939
 And in that

00:25:33.939 --> 00:25:35.099
 prayer meeting that

00:25:35.099 --> 00:25:35.740
 you can read about

00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:36.939
 earlier in chapter

00:25:36.940 --> 00:25:38.600
 4, they were

00:25:38.600 --> 00:25:39.400
 really serious

00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:40.640
 asking God to

00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:41.160
 work in their

00:25:41.160 --> 00:25:41.700
 midst to help

00:25:41.700 --> 00:25:43.059
 them and God

00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:44.580
 answered their

00:25:44.580 --> 00:25:45.700
 prayer by filling

00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:46.900
 those church

00:25:46.900 --> 00:25:50.220
 members in a

00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:51.019
 new and fresh

00:25:51.019 --> 00:25:51.759
 way with the

00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:52.840
 Holy Spirit to

00:25:52.840 --> 00:25:53.580
 enable them to

00:25:53.580 --> 00:25:54.820
 actually share the

00:25:54.820 --> 00:25:55.820
 gospel themselves.

00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:56.019
 God's promise.

00:25:57.579 --> 00:25:58.720
 Not be afraid.

00:25:59.379 --> 00:26:00.139
 Not hold back.

00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:01.319
 But to share the

00:26:01.319 --> 00:26:03.899
 gospel or to speak

00:26:03.899 --> 00:26:04.500
 the Word of God

00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:05.399
 with boldness.

00:26:05.919 --> 00:26:06.879
 Next one, Stephen.

00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:08.779
 Stephen received the

00:26:08.779 --> 00:26:10.439
 power to die a

00:26:10.439 --> 00:26:12.480
 martyr's death for

00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:13.119
 his testimony from

00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:13.399
 Jesus.

00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:13.980
 Look at this.

00:26:13.980 --> 00:26:14.659
 Testimony about

00:26:14.659 --> 00:26:14.899
 Jesus.

00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:15.399
 Look at this.

00:26:15.819 --> 00:26:16.779
 Acts chapter 7.

00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:18.139
 But he, Stephen,

00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.099
 full of the Holy

00:26:19.099 --> 00:26:20.740
 Spirit, gazed into

00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:22.439
 heaven and saw the

00:26:22.439 --> 00:26:24.200
 glory of God and

00:26:24.200 --> 00:26:25.720
 Jesus standing at

00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.740
 the right hand of

00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:27.019
 God.

00:26:27.799 --> 00:26:29.180
 See, Stephen was in

00:26:29.180 --> 00:26:30.180
 a very hostile

00:26:30.180 --> 00:26:30.779
 environment.

00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:34.340
 And he preached the

00:26:34.340 --> 00:26:35.660
 true Word of God

00:26:35.660 --> 00:26:37.140
 and they didn't like

00:26:37.140 --> 00:26:37.319
 it.

00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:38.700
 And they picked up

00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:40.140
 stones to stone him,

00:26:40.660 --> 00:26:41.400
 to kill him, to

00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:42.039
 execute him.

00:26:43.660 --> 00:26:44.860
 And God filled him

00:26:44.860 --> 00:26:45.600
 afresh with his

00:26:45.600 --> 00:26:48.200
 spirit to enable

00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:49.500
 him to stand there

00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:50.360
 and look him in the

00:26:50.359 --> 00:26:56.000
 eye and die as a

00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:56.939
 faithful Christian

00:26:56.939 --> 00:26:57.500
 witness.

00:26:59.059 --> 00:26:59.579
 Paul.

00:27:00.339 --> 00:27:01.659
 He was empowered to

00:27:01.659 --> 00:27:02.659
 confront an enemy of

00:27:02.659 --> 00:27:04.099
 the gospel, Elimus,

00:27:04.379 --> 00:27:04.979
 the magician.

00:27:06.279 --> 00:27:07.719
 It says, but Saul,

00:27:07.819 --> 00:27:08.899
 who was also called

00:27:08.899 --> 00:27:10.599
 Paul, filled with the

00:27:10.599 --> 00:27:12.299
 Holy Spirit, looked

00:27:12.299 --> 00:27:14.019
 intently at him, that

00:27:14.019 --> 00:27:16.479
 magician, and said,

00:27:17.059 --> 00:27:18.779
 you son of the devil,

00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:20.639
 and other choice

00:27:20.639 --> 00:27:23.399
 words to that enemy

00:27:23.399 --> 00:27:24.799
 of the gospel.

00:27:26.399 --> 00:27:27.740
 I'm pointing out all

00:27:27.740 --> 00:27:29.079
 these examples to say,

00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:31.200
 all these people,

00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:34.779
 these were Christians

00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:37.240
 in whom the Holy Spirit

00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:38.259
 dwelled before these

00:27:38.259 --> 00:27:38.839
 situations.

00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:42.259
 But the Spirit of God

00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:44.700
 gave them greater power,

00:27:44.700 --> 00:27:47.519
 greater courage,

00:27:48.299 --> 00:27:49.340
 greater insight,

00:27:50.680 --> 00:27:51.799
 just that when they

00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:54.000
 needed it, to face

00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:55.400
 their special trials.

00:27:57.100 --> 00:27:58.640
 We need, all of us

00:27:58.640 --> 00:28:00.160
 in this room, we need

00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:02.180
 to develop the habit of

00:28:02.180 --> 00:28:03.920
 asking God to fill us

00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:06.200
 afresh with his spirit

00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:09.700
 and empower us, equip us

00:28:10.340 --> 00:28:12.799
 during our times of need.

00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:14.819
 We all need that kind

00:28:14.819 --> 00:28:15.680
 of help at various times,

00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:16.700
 don't we, to resist

00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:17.819
 certain temptations.

00:28:18.399 --> 00:28:19.299
 Every one of us in

00:28:19.299 --> 00:28:20.759
 this room, if we're

00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:22.720
 Christians, we have

00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:23.839
 certain temptations

00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:24.940
 that are stronger,

00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:28.119
 more powerful over us.

00:28:29.700 --> 00:28:30.659
 You may think to

00:28:30.659 --> 00:28:32.379
 yourself, I fail more

00:28:32.379 --> 00:28:33.700
 than I want anybody

00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:35.879
 to know in this way.

00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:38.299
 The next time you're

00:28:38.299 --> 00:28:39.980
 tempted that way, I

00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:40.639
 want to encourage you,

00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:41.700
 ask God, Lord, fill me

00:28:41.700 --> 00:28:42.600
 afresh with your spirit.

00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:43.920
 Give me the ability

00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:45.380
 to keep my mouth closed.

00:28:45.779 --> 00:28:46.779
 Give me the ability

00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:47.860
 to walk away.

00:28:48.380 --> 00:28:49.480
 Give me the ability

00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:50.519
 to not continue

00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:51.440
 thinking this way.

00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:52.580
 Give me the ability,

00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:54.900
 your God, to not sin

00:28:54.900 --> 00:28:56.319
 against you in this way.

00:28:58.299 --> 00:28:59.580
 Ask God to do that.

00:29:00.340 --> 00:29:01.340
 Sometimes you have a

00:29:01.340 --> 00:29:02.160
 difficult decision you

00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:02.519
 need to make.

00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:04.180
 Ask God, Lord, fill me

00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:04.980
 afresh with your spirit

00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:06.120
 and give me the wisdom

00:29:06.120 --> 00:29:07.620
 to understand what's

00:29:07.620 --> 00:29:08.759
 going on, to see the

00:29:08.759 --> 00:29:10.080
 facts, to know the best

00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:12.019
 way to make the right

00:29:12.019 --> 00:29:12.339
 decision.

00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:13.339
 Don't pray for a

00:29:13.339 --> 00:29:13.740
 feeling.

00:29:15.740 --> 00:29:16.500
 Some people think

00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:17.220
 about praying for

00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:18.460
 guidance and you go

00:29:18.460 --> 00:29:19.259
 about how you feel.

00:29:19.980 --> 00:29:20.899
 That's not right.

00:29:20.939 --> 00:29:21.559
 That's not good.

00:29:22.139 --> 00:29:22.899
 Ask the Holy Spirit

00:29:22.899 --> 00:29:24.139
 to give you wisdom,

00:29:24.799 --> 00:29:26.099
 to understand better,

00:29:26.179 --> 00:29:27.259
 to have better insight,

00:29:28.299 --> 00:29:28.879
 to find better

00:29:28.879 --> 00:29:30.099
 counselors, whatever,

00:29:30.659 --> 00:29:32.480
 to make the wise

00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:35.220
 choice, not the

00:29:35.220 --> 00:29:37.299
 feeling choice.

00:29:37.299 --> 00:29:39.259
 sometimes you're going

00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:40.240
 to need, like them,

00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:40.980
 you need courage to

00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:41.779
 face opposition.

00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:44.000
 Sometimes there's

00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:44.899
 people, maybe people

00:29:44.899 --> 00:29:45.740
 in your life at work,

00:29:45.799 --> 00:29:48.759
 at school, they resent

00:29:48.759 --> 00:29:49.639
 you being a Christian.

00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:50.359
 They don't like you

00:29:50.359 --> 00:29:50.919
 because you're a

00:29:50.919 --> 00:29:51.200
 Christian.

00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:52.839
 You're sort of tempted

00:29:52.839 --> 00:29:54.899
 to sort of shy away,

00:29:55.019 --> 00:29:56.339
 avoid them, compromise,

00:29:56.759 --> 00:29:58.359
 not really take a stand.

00:29:58.879 --> 00:29:59.859
 Ask God, Lord, help me

00:29:59.859 --> 00:30:01.419
 to give me the power

00:30:01.419 --> 00:30:02.799
 that I need to stand

00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:05.419
 firm, to not back down,

00:30:05.420 --> 00:30:07.060
 not be intimidated.

00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:09.019
 Maybe you need special

00:30:09.019 --> 00:30:09.740
 powers and times to

00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:10.580
 share the gospel with

00:30:10.580 --> 00:30:11.560
 a certain person.

00:30:12.100 --> 00:30:13.360
 You want to, you've

00:30:13.360 --> 00:30:14.100
 been thinking about it,

00:30:14.140 --> 00:30:14.560
 maybe you've been

00:30:14.560 --> 00:30:15.380
 praying about it.

00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:17.360
 Say, Lord, help me.

00:30:17.880 --> 00:30:18.640
 Give me what I need

00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:19.700
 right now to share the

00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:20.460
 gospel with this person.

00:30:21.140 --> 00:30:22.220
 We all need to pray

00:30:22.220 --> 00:30:23.259
 for ourselves this way.

00:30:23.560 --> 00:30:24.100
 We need to pray for

00:30:24.100 --> 00:30:24.779
 our Christian family

00:30:24.779 --> 00:30:25.680
 members and friends.

00:30:27.100 --> 00:30:28.140
 They would experience

00:30:28.140 --> 00:30:30.200
 the Spirit's special

00:30:30.200 --> 00:30:32.220
 power during their

00:30:32.220 --> 00:30:33.860
 times of need.

00:30:34.380 --> 00:30:34.820
 Let's look at one

00:30:34.820 --> 00:30:34.980
 more.

00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:36.160
 Paul rejoiced over

00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:37.299
 the way God enables

00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:38.420
 us to stay faithful.

00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:38.880
 Look at this.

00:30:39.160 --> 00:30:39.799
 God works through

00:30:39.799 --> 00:30:41.299
 our faithful efforts.

00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:41.960
 Verse 20,

00:30:42.660 --> 00:30:44.519
 As it is my eager

00:30:44.519 --> 00:30:45.599
 expectation and hope

00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:47.259
 that I will not be

00:30:47.259 --> 00:30:48.700
 at all ashamed,

00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:50.460
 but that with full

00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:51.980
 courage, now as

00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:54.220
 always, Christ will be

00:30:54.220 --> 00:30:55.640
 honored in my body,

00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:58.380
 whether by life or

00:30:58.380 --> 00:30:58.920
 by death.

00:31:00.059 --> 00:31:01.579
 Paul rejoiced over

00:31:01.579 --> 00:31:02.240
 the thought,

00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:04.420
 God is going to

00:31:04.420 --> 00:31:05.019
 enable me to

00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:06.620
 remain strong,

00:31:06.620 --> 00:31:10.079
 to stand firm.

00:31:10.180 --> 00:31:10.960
 He uses that word

00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:11.620
 in his letters

00:31:11.620 --> 00:31:13.180
 quite a number of

00:31:13.180 --> 00:31:13.599
 times.

00:31:14.420 --> 00:31:16.799
 As he stood before

00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:19.799
 Caesar at his trial,

00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:23.000
 he was just confident.

00:31:24.259 --> 00:31:25.599
 I'll be able to stand

00:31:25.599 --> 00:31:26.720
 strong because God's

00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:27.819
 going to enable me to

00:31:27.819 --> 00:31:28.160
 do that.

00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:29.620
 The charges against

00:31:29.620 --> 00:31:32.720
 Paul, the charges

00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:33.040
 are going to be

00:31:33.040 --> 00:31:33.560
 brought before that

00:31:33.560 --> 00:31:34.000
 emperor.

00:31:34.800 --> 00:31:36.240
 We're all related to

00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:37.660
 the Jewish opposition

00:31:37.660 --> 00:31:38.600
 back in Jerusalem.

00:31:38.720 --> 00:31:39.320
 You can read about that

00:31:39.320 --> 00:31:40.660
 in Acts chapter 21

00:31:40.660 --> 00:31:42.200
 through the end of Acts.

00:31:42.259 --> 00:31:43.160
 Acts 21 through 28.

00:31:44.100 --> 00:31:44.860
 But the Jewish

00:31:44.860 --> 00:31:47.519
 leaders oppose Paul

00:31:47.519 --> 00:31:48.220
 in his preaching the

00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:49.420
 gospel to the Gentiles.

00:31:50.420 --> 00:31:52.180
 And so, that's going

00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:53.000
 to be brought up

00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:54.279
 before Caesar as Paul

00:31:54.279 --> 00:31:54.960
 stands there.

00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:56.299
 And a part of his

00:31:56.299 --> 00:31:57.120
 defense is going to

00:31:57.120 --> 00:31:58.059
 be, he's going to

00:31:58.059 --> 00:31:59.059
 explain the gospel.

00:31:59.240 --> 00:32:00.019
 He's going to explain

00:32:00.019 --> 00:32:00.840
 what he was preaching.

00:32:01.120 --> 00:32:02.079
 He's going to explain

00:32:02.079 --> 00:32:03.640
 the resurrection of

00:32:03.640 --> 00:32:03.960
 Jesus.

00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:05.279
 And the emperor

00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:06.640
 couldn't care less.

00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:09.100
 So he needed

00:32:09.100 --> 00:32:13.140
 God's enablement

00:32:13.140 --> 00:32:14.920
 to do that

00:32:14.920 --> 00:32:16.920
 in what's going to

00:32:16.920 --> 00:32:17.680
 be before the most

00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:18.480
 powerful man in the

00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:20.400
 world who will

00:32:20.400 --> 00:32:21.600
 probably be angered

00:32:21.600 --> 00:32:22.720
 that such a religious

00:32:22.720 --> 00:32:23.940
 matter was brought

00:32:23.940 --> 00:32:25.480
 before him and took

00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:26.740
 his time.

00:32:28.180 --> 00:32:29.140
 Look at verse 20.

00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:32.019
 Paul is confident

00:32:32.019 --> 00:32:32.360
 that God is going

00:32:32.360 --> 00:32:32.860
 to provide what he

00:32:32.860 --> 00:32:34.080
 needs to honor the

00:32:34.080 --> 00:32:34.720
 Lord no matter what

00:32:34.720 --> 00:32:35.100
 happens.

00:32:35.500 --> 00:32:36.180
 He describes himself

00:32:36.180 --> 00:32:37.059
 as having eager

00:32:37.059 --> 00:32:38.940
 expectation and hope.

00:32:39.100 --> 00:32:39.820
 Eager expectation

00:32:39.820 --> 00:32:42.080
 means intense

00:32:42.080 --> 00:32:43.440
 expectation that

00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:45.140
 something is going

00:32:45.140 --> 00:32:45.660
 to happen.

00:32:46.080 --> 00:32:46.840
 The word hope in

00:32:46.840 --> 00:32:47.519
 the New Testament

00:32:47.519 --> 00:32:49.100
 always means

00:32:49.100 --> 00:32:51.019
 confident expectation

00:32:51.019 --> 00:32:53.940
 not wishful thinking.

00:32:55.079 --> 00:32:55.740
 You know, a lot of

00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:57.720
 us hoped it would

00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:58.519
 snow this weekend.

00:32:59.059 --> 00:32:59.879
 Cold temperatures,

00:33:00.660 --> 00:33:01.960
 moisture, but it

00:33:01.960 --> 00:33:02.200
 didn't.

00:33:02.539 --> 00:33:03.639
 That's not biblical

00:33:03.639 --> 00:33:04.500
 hope.

00:33:05.799 --> 00:33:07.259
 Paul fully expects

00:33:07.259 --> 00:33:10.019
 that he will not be

00:33:10.019 --> 00:33:12.839
 ashamed, but will have

00:33:12.839 --> 00:33:14.779
 full courage to explain

00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:15.940
 the gospel of Jesus

00:33:15.940 --> 00:33:17.619
 Christ when he

00:33:17.619 --> 00:33:18.519
 defends himself for

00:33:18.519 --> 00:33:19.519
 that emperor.

00:33:21.660 --> 00:33:22.319
 Here's what the

00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:22.759
 important thing we

00:33:22.759 --> 00:33:23.160
 need to understand

00:33:23.160 --> 00:33:23.379
 is.

00:33:24.059 --> 00:33:25.500
 Paul's real goal

00:33:25.500 --> 00:33:27.539
 is that he

00:33:27.539 --> 00:33:28.299
 honored the Lord.

00:33:28.599 --> 00:33:29.579
 Whether he lives or

00:33:29.579 --> 00:33:30.900
 dies, that's not the

00:33:30.900 --> 00:33:31.480
 number one goal.

00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:32.480
 Certainly he doesn't

00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:33.259
 want to be executed.

00:33:34.539 --> 00:33:35.599
 But he is most

00:33:35.599 --> 00:33:36.440
 concerned that no

00:33:36.440 --> 00:33:37.559
 matter what, when I

00:33:37.559 --> 00:33:38.519
 go before that emperor,

00:33:39.019 --> 00:33:39.960
 I want to honor the

00:33:39.960 --> 00:33:41.359
 Lord whether I live

00:33:41.359 --> 00:33:42.819
 or whether I die.

00:33:43.119 --> 00:33:44.579
 That needs to be our

00:33:44.579 --> 00:33:46.400
 goal as well.

00:33:46.400 --> 00:33:49.300
 Now thankfully, none

00:33:49.300 --> 00:33:50.259
 of us are concerned

00:33:50.259 --> 00:33:52.580
 about the possibility

00:33:52.580 --> 00:33:54.900
 of facing death over

00:33:54.900 --> 00:33:55.780
 our Christian faith.

00:33:56.580 --> 00:33:57.519
 There are Christians

00:33:57.519 --> 00:33:58.220
 throughout the world

00:33:58.220 --> 00:33:59.300
 who are right now.

00:34:00.060 --> 00:34:00.720
 You've probably read

00:34:00.720 --> 00:34:01.860
 about Christians being

00:34:01.860 --> 00:34:03.820
 killed in Nigeria and

00:34:03.820 --> 00:34:04.720
 other places in Africa,

00:34:04.820 --> 00:34:05.700
 in China, other

00:34:05.700 --> 00:34:06.460
 places because of their

00:34:06.460 --> 00:34:06.680
 faith.

00:34:07.720 --> 00:34:08.559
 Be thankful we don't

00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:09.420
 have that kind of fear.

00:34:10.519 --> 00:34:13.660
 But are there some

00:34:13.659 --> 00:34:16.879
 things, some situations

00:34:16.879 --> 00:34:19.119
 when you are tempted

00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:21.659
 to sort of back away,

00:34:23.159 --> 00:34:26.500
 not take a stand as a

00:34:26.500 --> 00:34:30.199
 Christian out of being

00:34:30.199 --> 00:34:31.859
 ashamed to be associated

00:34:31.859 --> 00:34:33.779
 with Jesus or being

00:34:33.779 --> 00:34:34.699
 afraid of what might

00:34:34.699 --> 00:34:35.839
 happen because you are?

00:34:35.839 --> 00:34:38.759
 Do you ever fear being

00:34:38.759 --> 00:34:39.779
 made fun of?

00:34:39.780 --> 00:34:43.140
 being left out?

00:34:44.740 --> 00:34:48.040
 And so you sort of

00:34:48.040 --> 00:34:48.720
 back away.

00:34:50.040 --> 00:34:51.120
 Are you ever ashamed to

00:34:51.120 --> 00:34:53.240
 be too closely identified

00:34:53.240 --> 00:34:54.280
 with Jesus?

00:34:56.060 --> 00:34:57.080
 Because you don't want

00:34:57.080 --> 00:34:57.519
 people to think you're

00:34:57.519 --> 00:34:58.280
 some kind of religious

00:34:58.280 --> 00:34:58.920
 nut?

00:35:01.180 --> 00:35:03.220
 Or because you don't

00:35:03.220 --> 00:35:04.300
 want to stand out too

00:35:04.300 --> 00:35:06.700
 much from the regular

00:35:06.700 --> 00:35:08.280
 people of this world

00:35:08.280 --> 00:35:10.140
 who are not Christians.

00:35:12.040 --> 00:35:15.180
 See, you know what

00:35:15.180 --> 00:35:18.300
 scenarios sometimes

00:35:18.300 --> 00:35:20.180
 come up where you

00:35:20.180 --> 00:35:21.780
 have a temptation to

00:35:21.780 --> 00:35:25.980
 be ashamed, back away,

00:35:26.780 --> 00:35:27.820
 or you're just afraid.

00:35:30.960 --> 00:35:32.480
 God will supply us with

00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:33.380
 the power to stay

00:35:33.380 --> 00:35:35.940
 faithful and to truly

00:35:35.940 --> 00:35:38.519
 honor Him if we will

00:35:38.519 --> 00:35:40.800
 ask Him and then if

00:35:40.800 --> 00:35:41.920
 we will use the

00:35:41.920 --> 00:35:43.039
 ability that He gives

00:35:43.039 --> 00:35:44.059
 us, the resources that

00:35:44.059 --> 00:35:45.300
 He gives us to do it.

00:35:46.700 --> 00:35:47.559
 Even though we have

00:35:47.559 --> 00:35:48.760
 these temptations, we

00:35:48.760 --> 00:35:50.200
 can be confident

00:35:50.200 --> 00:35:51.559
 witnesses of the Lord

00:35:51.559 --> 00:35:52.679
 Jesus Christ, you and

00:35:52.679 --> 00:35:53.039
 me.

00:35:54.039 --> 00:35:55.260
 You can do it in your

00:35:55.260 --> 00:35:58.119
 circle of friends, of

00:35:58.119 --> 00:35:58.780
 acquaintances.

00:35:58.780 --> 00:36:00.760
 Jesus Christ, you can

00:36:00.760 --> 00:36:01.860
 do this and not be

00:36:01.860 --> 00:36:05.380
 ashamed or afraid to

00:36:05.380 --> 00:36:06.240
 be identified with

00:36:06.240 --> 00:36:06.720
 Jesus.

00:36:08.200 --> 00:36:09.600
 But that will only

00:36:09.600 --> 00:36:12.420
 happen when you make

00:36:12.420 --> 00:36:16.780
 honoring the Lord, not

00:36:16.780 --> 00:36:20.780
 disgracing His name, the

00:36:20.780 --> 00:36:22.300
 number one priority of

00:36:22.300 --> 00:36:22.780
 your life.

00:36:23.940 --> 00:36:24.880
 Think about it.

00:36:24.880 --> 00:36:27.700
 in that work situation,

00:36:28.260 --> 00:36:29.140
 among those certain

00:36:29.140 --> 00:36:32.900
 friends at school, are

00:36:32.900 --> 00:36:35.440
 you more concerned that

00:36:35.440 --> 00:36:37.220
 you honor Jesus Christ,

00:36:38.180 --> 00:36:40.360
 that you don't disgrace

00:36:40.360 --> 00:36:44.579
 Him, or that you don't

00:36:44.579 --> 00:36:45.720
 get laughed at or left

00:36:45.720 --> 00:36:49.360
 out, or call some kind

00:36:49.360 --> 00:36:50.200
 of religious nut.

00:36:50.199 --> 00:36:54.019
 God will supply us with

00:36:54.019 --> 00:36:55.279
 the power that we need

00:36:55.279 --> 00:36:58.719
 to stay faithful and

00:36:58.719 --> 00:37:01.379
 honor Him if we'll ask

00:37:01.379 --> 00:37:03.699
 and if we'll use it with

00:37:03.699 --> 00:37:05.460
 the understanding that my

00:37:05.460 --> 00:37:06.480
 goal is to honor the

00:37:06.480 --> 00:37:06.779
 Lord.

00:37:08.460 --> 00:37:09.460
 Do you want to experience

00:37:09.460 --> 00:37:12.379
 heartfelt joy, such

00:37:12.379 --> 00:37:14.980
 heartfelt joy, that

00:37:14.980 --> 00:37:16.359
 unhappy circumstances

00:37:16.359 --> 00:37:19.879
 won't touch it, won't

00:37:19.880 --> 00:37:20.460
 destroy it?

00:37:21.579 --> 00:37:22.740
 If you do, then draw

00:37:22.740 --> 00:37:23.599
 close to God.

00:37:24.820 --> 00:37:25.940
 Stay close to Him.

00:37:26.960 --> 00:37:28.000
 Spend time with Him

00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:29.200
 every day in His Word.

00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:31.000
 Talk to Him in prayer.

00:37:31.900 --> 00:37:33.160
 Talk to Him throughout

00:37:33.160 --> 00:37:34.599
 the day in prayer.

00:37:36.180 --> 00:37:37.300
 Christian joy can only

00:37:37.300 --> 00:37:39.400
 be experienced by living

00:37:39.400 --> 00:37:41.079
 in close fellowship with

00:37:41.079 --> 00:37:43.200
 our Heavenly Father and

00:37:43.200 --> 00:37:44.280
 with our Lord Jesus

00:37:44.280 --> 00:37:44.800
 Christ.

00:37:45.800 --> 00:37:46.720
 That's true.

00:37:47.539 --> 00:37:48.380
 That's a fact.

00:37:48.380 --> 00:37:48.519
 God.

00:37:49.240 --> 00:37:51.400
 So you decide.

00:37:52.660 --> 00:37:54.720
 Am I going to be a

00:37:54.720 --> 00:37:57.119
 Christian who truly

00:37:57.119 --> 00:38:01.599
 rejoices no matter what

00:38:01.599 --> 00:38:03.000
 my circumstances are?

00:38:03.700 --> 00:38:04.579
 Let's pray together.

00:38:05.240 --> 00:38:11.340
 Father, show us now how

00:38:11.340 --> 00:38:12.420
 You want us to respond to

00:38:12.420 --> 00:38:13.099
 this message.

00:38:13.099 --> 00:38:17.360
 Create within us, we

00:38:17.360 --> 00:38:18.039
 don't already have it

00:38:18.039 --> 00:38:20.139
 here, God, a strong

00:38:20.139 --> 00:38:22.679
 desire to experience

00:38:22.679 --> 00:38:24.519
 Christian joy.

00:38:26.099 --> 00:38:28.299
 True peace within our

00:38:28.299 --> 00:38:29.079
 souls.

00:38:32.500 --> 00:38:33.779
 Because we're right with

00:38:33.779 --> 00:38:33.940
 You.

00:38:34.039 --> 00:38:35.039
 We're close to You.

00:38:35.279 --> 00:38:36.299
 We're serving You.

00:38:36.799 --> 00:38:37.940
 We're loving You.

00:38:37.940 --> 00:38:39.440
 We're honoring You.

00:38:39.440 --> 00:38:46.720
 Father, so move, work in

00:38:46.720 --> 00:38:50.539
 us to make it clear how

00:38:50.539 --> 00:38:53.820
 that will occur in every

00:38:53.820 --> 00:38:54.179
 life.

00:38:56.380 --> 00:38:57.760
 Show us what sins to

00:38:57.760 --> 00:39:00.559
 confess, what priorities

00:39:00.559 --> 00:39:01.519
 to change.

00:39:01.519 --> 00:39:07.340
 Show us how we need to

00:39:07.340 --> 00:39:07.619
 pray.

00:39:10.679 --> 00:39:11.699
 Show us how we need to

00:39:11.699 --> 00:39:12.300
 obey You.

00:39:15.340 --> 00:39:16.380
 Show us, dear God.

00:39:18.759 --> 00:39:19.659
 Help us to make the

00:39:19.659 --> 00:39:23.380
 commitments to live in

00:39:23.380 --> 00:39:24.420
 close fellowship with You.

00:39:25.360 --> 00:39:26.360
 Now let's just all continue

00:39:26.360 --> 00:39:27.500
 to pray, listen to the

00:39:27.500 --> 00:39:28.639
 Lord and respond to Him in

00:39:28.639 --> 00:39:29.460
 the next few minutes.

00:39:29.460 --> 00:39:33.440
 And leave here ready,

00:39:34.139 --> 00:39:35.940
 able to experience

00:39:35.940 --> 00:39:36.840
 Christian joy in your

00:39:36.840 --> 00:39:37.039
 life.