1 00:00:30,179 --> 00:00:30,899 Praise the Lord. 2 00:00:39,619 --> 00:00:40,419 Well, good evening. 3 00:00:40,419 --> 00:00:45,859 Open your Bibles, if you would, to Exodus chapter 25. 4 00:00:46,099 --> 00:00:47,619 Exodus, chapter 25. 5 00:00:58,349 --> 00:01:05,709 If two parties want to have a personal meeting, but neither one 6 00:01:06,749 --> 00:01:09,989 wants to travel the distance, one might say, well, can you meet 7 00:01:09,989 --> 00:01:10,669 me halfway? 8 00:01:13,789 --> 00:01:16,829 When someone is attempting to make a purchase from another person 9 00:01:16,829 --> 00:01:21,809 and the price is a little steep, it might actually say, well, 10 00:01:22,049 --> 00:01:24,129 can you meet me part way? 11 00:01:25,249 --> 00:01:26,689 Can you meet me part way? 12 00:01:29,409 --> 00:01:32,489 In either instance, the question that's being asked is this. 13 00:01:32,489 --> 00:01:37,649 Are you willing to compromise so that we can be in agreement so 14 00:01:37,649 --> 00:01:39,009 we can come to an agreeable end? 15 00:01:39,489 --> 00:01:41,249 Wouldn't mind compromising a little bit. 16 00:01:43,409 --> 00:01:47,129 I'm not willing to travel the 50 miles to meet with you, but if 17 00:01:47,129 --> 00:01:51,579 you could meet me halfway or meet me part of the way, that would 18 00:01:51,579 --> 00:01:52,339 be agreeable. 19 00:01:52,819 --> 00:01:56,859 I'm not willing to pay the $50 that it's going to cost, but if you 20 00:01:56,859 --> 00:02:00,179 would meet me part way, that would be awesome. 21 00:02:01,139 --> 00:02:05,859 We make compromises all the time, and many times it's healthy. 22 00:02:07,059 --> 00:02:10,939 Often this is the only way to solve a dispute, or sometimes it's 23 00:02:10,939 --> 00:02:12,979 simply to reach an agreeable conclusion. 24 00:02:13,949 --> 00:02:16,309 But when it comes to the Word of God, can I get an amen? 25 00:02:16,309 --> 00:02:16,989 You know where I'm going. 26 00:02:16,989 --> 00:02:21,949 When it comes to the Word of God, he makes no such compromises. 27 00:02:22,669 --> 00:02:24,389 God makes no compromises. 28 00:02:24,389 --> 00:02:27,949 God doesn't have to make compromises because His Word is perfect. 29 00:02:28,509 --> 00:02:31,069 And if we follow His Word, it's always going to come out to 30 00:02:31,069 --> 00:02:31,949 an agreeable end. 31 00:02:32,429 --> 00:02:33,709 It's always going to create. 32 00:02:33,709 --> 00:02:35,149 It's the best conclusion. 33 00:02:35,709 --> 00:02:37,229 He doesn't have to compromise. 34 00:02:37,229 --> 00:02:40,619 When it comes to the Word of God, there's no compromise. 35 00:02:40,619 --> 00:02:42,859 There's a couple of things he doesn't compromise when it comes 36 00:02:42,859 --> 00:02:43,659 to salvation. 37 00:02:44,299 --> 00:02:47,979 Acts chapter 4, verse 12 says, neither is there salvation in any 38 00:02:47,979 --> 00:02:51,339 other for there's none other name under heaven given among men, 39 00:02:51,339 --> 00:02:52,579 whereby we must be saved. 40 00:02:52,579 --> 00:02:52,939 Right? 41 00:02:54,059 --> 00:02:54,978 John 3:3. 42 00:02:54,978 --> 00:02:58,059 Jesus answered and said unto him, verily, verily, I say unto thee, 43 00:02:58,059 --> 00:03:03,859 except a man be what born again he what he cannot see, the 44 00:03:03,859 --> 00:03:04,779 kingdom of God. 45 00:03:05,239 --> 00:03:09,479 And so God will not compromise His Word when it comes to salvation. 46 00:03:09,479 --> 00:03:12,399 He will not compromise His Word when it comes to matters of 47 00:03:12,399 --> 00:03:13,399 this life either. 48 00:03:13,719 --> 00:03:17,919 He said in second Peter 1:3 according as his divine power hath 49 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:22,599 given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, 50 00:03:22,839 --> 00:03:25,279 through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and 51 00:03:25,279 --> 00:03:25,799 virtue. 52 00:03:26,199 --> 00:03:28,999 Everything that we need for life is found right here. 53 00:03:28,999 --> 00:03:32,719 He doesn't need to compromise it order for us to make it in life. 54 00:03:33,759 --> 00:03:37,599 God places a lot of stock in his word. 55 00:03:38,879 --> 00:03:39,639 Much stock. 56 00:03:39,639 --> 00:03:40,559 It's valuable. 57 00:03:40,639 --> 00:03:42,319 God places stock in his word. 58 00:03:42,319 --> 00:03:42,879 Listen to this. 59 00:03:43,119 --> 00:03:46,039 We're going to get to Exodus here in just a moment. 60 00:03:46,039 --> 00:03:47,599 This is all introduction, but listen to this. 61 00:03:47,599 --> 00:03:48,639 Hebrews chapter six. 62 00:03:48,879 --> 00:03:50,559 Let me just read a couple of verses here. 63 00:03:51,199 --> 00:03:53,119 For when God made promise to Abraham. 64 00:03:53,119 --> 00:03:53,959 This is verse 13. 65 00:03:53,959 --> 00:03:56,919 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by 66 00:03:56,919 --> 00:04:01,639 no greater, he sware by himself, saying, surely, blessing, 67 00:04:01,639 --> 00:04:02,439 I will bless thee. 68 00:04:02,439 --> 00:04:04,479 And multiplying, I will multiply thee. 69 00:04:04,559 --> 00:04:08,239 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 70 00:04:08,559 --> 00:04:11,199 For men verily swear by the greater. 71 00:04:11,279 --> 00:04:14,719 And an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 72 00:04:15,999 --> 00:04:16,959 That settles it. 73 00:04:18,239 --> 00:04:23,119 Wherein God willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs 74 00:04:23,119 --> 00:04:27,159 of promise the immutability of his counsel, he confirmed it by an 75 00:04:27,159 --> 00:04:27,519 oath. 76 00:04:27,589 --> 00:04:31,699 And that by two immutable things in which it was impossible 77 00:04:31,699 --> 00:04:36,299 for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation who have fled 78 00:04:36,299 --> 00:04:38,979 for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us. 79 00:04:38,979 --> 00:04:41,979 Now, I know that's a truckload, and there's a lot of teaching 80 00:04:41,979 --> 00:04:43,978 that goes in before and after that. 81 00:04:44,219 --> 00:04:45,979 Basically, what he's saying is this. 82 00:04:46,459 --> 00:04:53,259 The promises I make, I seal it with two things, my name and my word. 83 00:04:53,799 --> 00:04:56,399 Those are the two immutable things that will never change. 84 00:04:56,399 --> 00:04:59,559 That's why God doesn't need to compromise on His Word. 85 00:05:00,519 --> 00:05:04,159 And so because His Word is golden, there's no reason for him 86 00:05:04,159 --> 00:05:08,519 to compromise on anything that he has spoken in the Word. 87 00:05:09,159 --> 00:05:13,639 And so, with this in mind, in Exodus, chapter 25, I want to read 88 00:05:13,879 --> 00:05:15,559 verses 10 through 22. 89 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:20,919 So God is giving Moses instructions on how to construct 90 00:05:21,079 --> 00:05:26,759 the Ark of the Covenant, the mercy seat, the table of showbread 91 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:27,879 and the lampstand. 92 00:05:28,599 --> 00:05:31,519 But we're only going to look at the ark of the Covenant and the 93 00:05:31,519 --> 00:05:33,879 mercy seat for our purposes. 94 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:36,519 So I want you to really pay close attention. 95 00:05:36,679 --> 00:05:39,079 This is kind of a teaching moment. 96 00:05:39,079 --> 00:05:42,279 But we'll see teaching, preaching, we'll see where it goes. 97 00:05:43,159 --> 00:05:45,799 But we're only going to look at the Ark of the covenant. 98 00:05:46,269 --> 00:05:48,549 So beginning in verse 10, and the mercy seat. 99 00:05:48,549 --> 00:05:49,709 So in verse 10. 100 00:05:50,269 --> 00:05:53,749 So the now, now follow now again, these are those verses you 101 00:05:53,749 --> 00:05:57,509 just want to, you know, you see the skip over, you know, when 102 00:05:57,509 --> 00:06:00,469 you're reading these are those verses you just want to skip over 103 00:06:00,469 --> 00:06:01,629 all the dimensions. 104 00:06:02,909 --> 00:06:05,789 Or if you don't skip over them, you read through them so fast, 105 00:06:05,789 --> 00:06:07,709 when you get to the end, you're like, whew, I'm glad that's 106 00:06:07,709 --> 00:06:10,509 over one of those, right? 107 00:06:10,989 --> 00:06:11,469 And so. 108 00:06:11,469 --> 00:06:13,589 But I want you to pay attention to this, because this is. 109 00:06:13,589 --> 00:06:14,749 This is good stuff. 110 00:06:15,259 --> 00:06:15,659 All right. 111 00:06:16,219 --> 00:06:16,939 Verse 10. 112 00:06:17,099 --> 00:06:19,739 And they shall make an ark of Shittim wood. 113 00:06:20,059 --> 00:06:23,619 Two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and 114 00:06:23,619 --> 00:06:26,259 a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height 115 00:06:26,259 --> 00:06:26,779 thereof. 116 00:06:27,019 --> 00:06:29,379 I'll read through this kind of quickly because we're actually going 117 00:06:29,379 --> 00:06:31,019 to come back to it and break it down a little bit. 118 00:06:31,259 --> 00:06:34,299 So verse 11 says, and thou shalt overlay it with pure gold within 119 00:06:34,299 --> 00:06:37,819 and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown 120 00:06:37,819 --> 00:06:38,859 of gold round about. 121 00:06:39,259 --> 00:06:42,459 And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the 122 00:06:42,459 --> 00:06:43,499 four corners thereof. 123 00:06:43,499 --> 00:06:46,539 And two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in 124 00:06:46,539 --> 00:06:47,719 the other of it. 125 00:06:47,719 --> 00:06:51,079 And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood and overlay them with 126 00:06:51,079 --> 00:06:51,399 gold. 127 00:06:51,559 --> 00:06:54,319 And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the 128 00:06:54,319 --> 00:06:56,279 ark, that the ark may be borne with them. 129 00:06:56,599 --> 00:06:58,679 The staves shall be in the rings of the ark. 130 00:06:58,679 --> 00:07:00,199 They shall not be taken from it. 131 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:00,999 Now watch this. 132 00:07:00,999 --> 00:07:01,639 Verse 16. 133 00:07:01,799 --> 00:07:05,319 And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give 134 00:07:05,319 --> 00:07:05,719 thee. 135 00:07:05,959 --> 00:07:08,839 And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold. 136 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:11,919 Two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and 137 00:07:11,919 --> 00:07:13,159 a half the breadth thereof. 138 00:07:13,239 --> 00:07:15,959 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work 139 00:07:15,959 --> 00:07:18,439 shalt thou make them in the two ends of the mercy seat. 140 00:07:18,879 --> 00:07:21,599 And make one cherub on the one end and the other cherub on the other 141 00:07:21,599 --> 00:07:21,839 end. 142 00:07:21,839 --> 00:07:24,959 Even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two 143 00:07:24,959 --> 00:07:25,839 ends thereof. 144 00:07:26,079 --> 00:07:29,679 And the cherubim shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering 145 00:07:29,679 --> 00:07:31,199 the mercy seat with their wings. 146 00:07:31,199 --> 00:07:34,199 And their faces shall look one to another toward the mercy seat 147 00:07:34,199 --> 00:07:35,999 shall the faces of the cherubims be. 148 00:07:36,239 --> 00:07:36,919 Now look again. 149 00:07:36,919 --> 00:07:38,319 Verse 21 and 22. 150 00:07:38,479 --> 00:07:41,919 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark. 151 00:07:41,999 --> 00:07:45,839 And in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. 152 00:07:45,839 --> 00:07:46,479 Say that again. 153 00:07:47,489 --> 00:07:49,049 And there will I meet with thee. 154 00:07:49,049 --> 00:07:52,569 And I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between 155 00:07:52,569 --> 00:07:55,809 the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony of 156 00:07:55,809 --> 00:07:58,649 all things which I give thee in commandment unto the children 157 00:07:58,649 --> 00:07:59,409 of Israel. 158 00:08:00,369 --> 00:08:04,369 Now there were three things that eventually made their way into 159 00:08:05,009 --> 00:08:07,329 this box or the ark. 160 00:08:07,329 --> 00:08:08,849 There were three things, Moses. 161 00:08:08,849 --> 00:08:15,359 Rod that budded as well as a pot of manna and the ten commandments 162 00:08:16,159 --> 00:08:18,239 that were written on the tables of stone. 163 00:08:18,639 --> 00:08:22,279 But what I want, I want to focus on the first thing that God 164 00:08:22,279 --> 00:08:25,919 said they were to place inside the ark of the covenant that is his 165 00:08:25,999 --> 00:08:30,719 word, the Testament, the Ten Commandments on the table of stone. 166 00:08:30,719 --> 00:08:34,239 Now again, let's look carefully at verse 16, 21 and 22. 167 00:08:34,239 --> 00:08:35,039 Let's read them again. 168 00:08:35,279 --> 00:08:36,559 Look what he said in verse 16. 169 00:08:36,719 --> 00:08:41,129 Thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give 170 00:08:41,129 --> 00:08:41,569 thee. 171 00:08:41,889 --> 00:08:42,849 Verse 21. 172 00:08:43,089 --> 00:08:48,289 Thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark, and in the ark 173 00:08:48,289 --> 00:08:51,569 thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. 174 00:08:52,129 --> 00:08:55,649 And then he says in verse 22, and there I will meet with thee, 175 00:08:55,649 --> 00:08:59,329 and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between 176 00:08:59,329 --> 00:09:02,489 the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony of 177 00:09:02,489 --> 00:09:06,598 all things which I will give Thee commandment unto the children 178 00:09:06,838 --> 00:09:07,558 of Israel. 179 00:09:07,558 --> 00:09:10,278 I want to talk to you just for a minute on this subject. 180 00:09:10,278 --> 00:09:11,958 Meeting with God. 181 00:09:12,998 --> 00:09:14,278 Meeting with God. 182 00:09:14,758 --> 00:09:20,078 God swore by his name and by his word, because he could swear 183 00:09:20,078 --> 00:09:21,158 by nothing higher. 184 00:09:21,878 --> 00:09:25,718 And brethren, we ought to highly esteem the word of God simply 185 00:09:25,718 --> 00:09:26,998 because he does. 186 00:09:27,958 --> 00:09:32,939 If for no other reason, we ought to give it some value to our 187 00:09:32,939 --> 00:09:36,059 life because God esteems it greatly. 188 00:09:37,659 --> 00:09:39,539 He wanted to give us a visual. 189 00:09:39,539 --> 00:09:41,259 Now, I want you to think about this now. 190 00:09:41,739 --> 00:09:47,259 He wanted to give us a visual of just how precious His Word is. 191 00:09:47,899 --> 00:09:51,699 I mean, brother, listen, you know, when you got a whole lot of 192 00:09:51,699 --> 00:09:54,859 something, you got to sell it cheap to get rid of them. 193 00:09:55,499 --> 00:09:57,459 There's not a whole lot of value placed on it. 194 00:09:57,459 --> 00:10:00,909 When you got a bunch of them, when those things start getting scarce, 195 00:10:00,909 --> 00:10:06,549 when the value rises, how many Bibles do we have in our own homes? 196 00:10:08,149 --> 00:10:10,469 How much importance do we give it? 197 00:10:10,629 --> 00:10:13,189 How much do we esteem the word of God? 198 00:10:13,189 --> 00:10:15,509 And I can promise you, if someone. 199 00:10:17,669 --> 00:10:21,869 If our government was overrun and somebody came into your home 200 00:10:21,869 --> 00:10:26,599 and started taking Bibles out and burning them, I guarantee you 201 00:10:26,599 --> 00:10:29,879 I know I'd be grabbing one of them and hiding it, because this 202 00:10:29,879 --> 00:10:30,399 is dear. 203 00:10:30,399 --> 00:10:33,759 And then how dear would it be if it's the only one you had? 204 00:10:35,199 --> 00:10:40,598 God esteems His Word, and we ought to esteem it just because he 205 00:10:40,598 --> 00:10:40,959 does. 206 00:10:42,159 --> 00:10:46,359 He wanted to give us a visual of just how precious his words are. 207 00:10:46,359 --> 00:10:47,559 And so here's what he did. 208 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:52,139 He had the Children of Israel construction, a precisely measured 209 00:10:52,139 --> 00:10:55,259 box of a particular type of wood. 210 00:10:55,899 --> 00:10:57,499 And then, watch this. 211 00:10:57,499 --> 00:11:01,339 He inlaid it and he overlaid it with pure gold. 212 00:11:01,899 --> 00:11:07,339 He made a box and then he put gold all the way inside and then 213 00:11:07,339 --> 00:11:08,939 gold on the outside of it. 214 00:11:09,499 --> 00:11:14,619 He then ornamented that Box so that it was peculiarly beautiful 215 00:11:15,669 --> 00:11:18,069 and not plain and common. 216 00:11:19,989 --> 00:11:22,469 I almost asked Reed tonight. 217 00:11:22,469 --> 00:11:24,109 I don't see him over there, but I know he's here. 218 00:11:24,109 --> 00:11:27,469 I almost asked Reed tonight to put up a picture of the Ark of the 219 00:11:27,469 --> 00:11:32,389 Covenant, a one that was full color so that you could see the beauty, 220 00:11:32,949 --> 00:11:37,669 the intricacy that God took the details that God decided to make 221 00:11:38,389 --> 00:11:39,429 this box. 222 00:11:40,309 --> 00:11:45,389 We it's just a box, but it's more than just a box. 223 00:11:46,349 --> 00:11:47,309 I'll show you that. 224 00:11:47,949 --> 00:11:54,029 So he then had them attach rings of gold to each corner and 225 00:11:54,029 --> 00:11:59,388 then construct rods overlaid with gold in order to carry it. 226 00:12:00,669 --> 00:12:05,069 To indicate that what was inside was divinely given by God 227 00:12:05,069 --> 00:12:10,089 himself and was not to be contaminated by man's hands. 228 00:12:11,919 --> 00:12:14,079 God thought a lot of his word. 229 00:12:15,279 --> 00:12:19,839 He made a special box, a beautiful box, gold inside, gold 230 00:12:19,839 --> 00:12:20,239 outside. 231 00:12:20,879 --> 00:12:25,479 And then he put hooks or loops on the ends of it and he ran and 232 00:12:25,479 --> 00:12:26,399 made out of gold. 233 00:12:26,399 --> 00:12:30,319 And then he put a rod through each end staves made pure gold. 234 00:12:30,559 --> 00:12:34,439 So that when they carried that thing around, man's hands wouldn't 235 00:12:34,439 --> 00:12:34,959 touch it. 236 00:12:35,039 --> 00:12:37,599 God didn't want man to contaminate it. 237 00:12:39,469 --> 00:12:42,749 It's not a man made book inside that box. 238 00:12:43,389 --> 00:12:48,269 Inside that box was the book that made man God's word. 239 00:12:48,749 --> 00:12:51,389 The Bible is inspired by God. 240 00:12:51,709 --> 00:12:54,989 How many times have you gone out and you tried to tell people 241 00:12:55,149 --> 00:12:58,149 what's inside the word of God and they say, oh, man wrote that 242 00:12:58,149 --> 00:12:58,389 book. 243 00:12:58,389 --> 00:13:02,629 No, I'm telling you, God may have used man to write it, but these 244 00:13:02,629 --> 00:13:07,159 are the divinely inspired words of Almighty God. 245 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:12,839 This Bible is not only inspired, it is inerrant, it is infallible, 246 00:13:13,159 --> 00:13:17,639 it is irrefutable, it is indestructible, it is irreversible. 247 00:13:17,879 --> 00:13:18,999 The word of God. 248 00:13:19,079 --> 00:13:23,319 God puts a lot of weight, a lot of stock in his word. 249 00:13:23,479 --> 00:13:27,479 And so he made a special box to put it in. 250 00:13:28,519 --> 00:13:32,689 And he said, don't touch it lest you destroy it. 251 00:13:32,929 --> 00:13:33,929 You know, that's exactly. 252 00:13:33,929 --> 00:13:36,129 You know what's going to happen when man gets. 253 00:13:36,129 --> 00:13:37,369 You already know what's happened. 254 00:13:37,369 --> 00:13:38,089 I'm here to tell you. 255 00:13:38,089 --> 00:13:40,209 Listen, if you go ahead and you go out there and get the Bible 256 00:13:40,209 --> 00:13:43,489 of the month, you go out there and get the Bible of the month. 257 00:13:43,729 --> 00:13:44,849 Stick with the old King James. 258 00:13:44,849 --> 00:13:47,809 But if you get the Bible of the month, you're going to see how 259 00:13:47,809 --> 00:13:50,689 man really tears up the things of God. 260 00:13:51,169 --> 00:13:54,849 When man's hands get involved in it, it really messes it up. 261 00:13:55,089 --> 00:13:58,459 Now this isn't a message on the different versions of the Bible, 262 00:13:58,459 --> 00:13:59,339 but I'm here to tell you. 263 00:13:59,339 --> 00:14:00,659 If you take them out and you compare. 264 00:14:00,659 --> 00:14:01,699 Just because it's. 265 00:14:01,939 --> 00:14:03,059 Just because it's. 266 00:14:03,699 --> 00:14:06,579 It says in the margin the oldest and the best manuscript doesn't 267 00:14:06,579 --> 00:14:07,779 mean it's the oldest. 268 00:14:07,939 --> 00:14:10,259 Just because it's the oldest doesn't mean it's always the best. 269 00:14:11,539 --> 00:14:12,059 Amen. 270 00:14:12,059 --> 00:14:12,739 Right there too. 271 00:14:14,179 --> 00:14:18,579 But I want you to notice that God placed His Word inside a special 272 00:14:18,739 --> 00:14:19,139 place. 273 00:14:19,779 --> 00:14:21,539 It was a sanctified place. 274 00:14:21,619 --> 00:14:24,019 It was set apart as holy or sacred. 275 00:14:25,019 --> 00:14:29,699 And he placed it inside a sealed place, a safe place. 276 00:14:29,699 --> 00:14:33,019 Look with me now, you see these verses that we're going to 277 00:14:33,019 --> 00:14:33,379 look at. 278 00:14:33,379 --> 00:14:34,139 We have a tendency. 279 00:14:34,139 --> 00:14:36,779 These are the ones we read and we go, oh, glad that's over. 280 00:14:37,339 --> 00:14:40,659 But look at it with me now that you kind of got the idea of 281 00:14:40,659 --> 00:14:41,859 what's inside and why. 282 00:14:41,859 --> 00:14:45,619 God made this box as intricate and as beautiful as he did, and he 283 00:14:45,619 --> 00:14:46,779 put His Word inside. 284 00:14:46,939 --> 00:14:48,219 And now look at verse 17. 285 00:14:48,939 --> 00:14:53,859 Thou shalt make a mercy seat pure gold, two cubits and a half 286 00:14:53,859 --> 00:14:56,259 shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth 287 00:14:56,259 --> 00:14:56,819 thereof. 288 00:14:56,899 --> 00:15:00,499 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, two angels of 289 00:15:00,499 --> 00:15:01,939 gold, two cherubims. 290 00:15:02,339 --> 00:15:03,699 Not angels, but cherubims. 291 00:15:03,699 --> 00:15:04,339 You know what I'm saying. 292 00:15:04,419 --> 00:15:06,779 Of beaten work shalt thou make them. 293 00:15:06,779 --> 00:15:07,419 What does that mean? 294 00:15:07,419 --> 00:15:12,499 In beaten work, carved out, beautifully, made in the two ends 295 00:15:12,499 --> 00:15:13,419 of the mercy seat. 296 00:15:13,419 --> 00:15:16,499 And make one cherub on the one end and the other cherub on the other 297 00:15:16,499 --> 00:15:16,739 end. 298 00:15:16,739 --> 00:15:19,539 Even of the mercy seat shall you make the cherubims of the two 299 00:15:19,539 --> 00:15:20,339 ends thereof. 300 00:15:20,339 --> 00:15:20,499 And. 301 00:15:20,809 --> 00:15:24,489 And the cherubim shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering 302 00:15:24,489 --> 00:15:26,169 the mercy seat with their wings. 303 00:15:26,169 --> 00:15:29,529 And their faces shall look one to another toward the mercy seat 304 00:15:29,529 --> 00:15:31,609 shall the faces of the cherubims be. 305 00:15:31,609 --> 00:15:32,809 And then verse 21. 306 00:15:32,889 --> 00:15:37,529 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark. 307 00:15:38,409 --> 00:15:39,729 This is the covering. 308 00:15:39,729 --> 00:15:41,609 This is the lid for the box. 309 00:15:42,649 --> 00:15:43,369 Look at the. 310 00:15:43,449 --> 00:15:47,709 Look at the trouble, if you can call it trouble, the detail. 311 00:15:47,949 --> 00:15:53,309 Look at what God did just to seal his book, to put it in a special 312 00:15:53,549 --> 00:15:53,949 place. 313 00:15:55,389 --> 00:15:56,509 Once the box. 314 00:15:56,749 --> 00:16:01,229 The box or the ark was complete, this lid was constructed 315 00:16:01,469 --> 00:16:02,589 to secure it. 316 00:16:03,709 --> 00:16:05,549 Do you understand what we're talking about here? 317 00:16:05,549 --> 00:16:08,069 These aren't just boring details. 318 00:16:08,069 --> 00:16:12,349 They can be if you don't know, if you don't look inside. 319 00:16:12,699 --> 00:16:15,899 What he's telling us is that the Word of God is preserved. 320 00:16:17,019 --> 00:16:18,059 It's preserved. 321 00:16:18,059 --> 00:16:19,379 God sealed his word. 322 00:16:19,379 --> 00:16:23,219 He put it inside of a special box and then he sealed it with the. 323 00:16:23,219 --> 00:16:24,659 With the mercy seat. 324 00:16:24,659 --> 00:16:26,939 It was the lid that went on top of it. 325 00:16:27,179 --> 00:16:30,419 And if you know your Bible, if you read any of that, those who looked 326 00:16:30,419 --> 00:16:32,779 inside of it, hum, chum. 327 00:16:32,779 --> 00:16:34,299 Didn't go good for them, did it? 328 00:16:35,579 --> 00:16:40,139 Psalm 12, 6, 7 says, the words of the Lord are pure words, as silver 329 00:16:40,139 --> 00:16:42,779 tried in a furnace of earth purified seven times. 330 00:16:43,019 --> 00:16:44,449 Thou shalt keep them, O Lord. 331 00:16:44,759 --> 00:16:48,039 Thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever. 332 00:16:48,279 --> 00:16:51,879 While it's secured inside the ark, the cherubim stand sentry over 333 00:16:51,879 --> 00:16:55,239 it with their wings spread over the top, and they keep constant 334 00:16:55,239 --> 00:16:58,439 vigil and they sing, holy, holy, holy. 335 00:16:58,439 --> 00:17:01,239 The Word of God, it's inspired by God. 336 00:17:01,319 --> 00:17:02,999 It is not made by man. 337 00:17:03,399 --> 00:17:04,599 It's what makes man. 338 00:17:04,839 --> 00:17:09,159 And it's not only inspired, it is preserved by God. 339 00:17:09,239 --> 00:17:12,839 We'll have this Bible, we'll have the Word of God till Jesus comes. 340 00:17:12,999 --> 00:17:15,079 And then when we get to heaven, we won't need it because 341 00:17:15,079 --> 00:17:17,899 we'll know even as we are known, and we'll have knowledge and 342 00:17:17,899 --> 00:17:19,859 God will answer all the questions that we have. 343 00:17:20,099 --> 00:17:23,019 I know we like to make fun and we like to say, I got a lot of questions 344 00:17:23,019 --> 00:17:23,459 for Paul. 345 00:17:23,459 --> 00:17:25,019 I got a lot of questions for you. 346 00:17:25,019 --> 00:17:25,379 Know what? 347 00:17:25,699 --> 00:17:27,779 Those questions will be answered as soon as we get there. 348 00:17:28,499 --> 00:17:31,539 God's going, listen, the word of God, it's preserved. 349 00:17:32,499 --> 00:17:33,539 It's inspired. 350 00:17:33,619 --> 00:17:34,659 It's preserved. 351 00:17:35,459 --> 00:17:39,739 Now this is the reason why God will never compromise his Word. 352 00:17:39,739 --> 00:17:40,739 He doesn't have to. 353 00:17:41,059 --> 00:17:42,019 It is perfect. 354 00:17:42,428 --> 00:17:43,868 The word of God is perfect. 355 00:17:44,188 --> 00:17:48,428 You'll never hear him say to any of his creation in regard to 356 00:17:48,428 --> 00:17:48,908 his word. 357 00:17:48,908 --> 00:17:52,588 Well, if you can't agree with all of it, just meet me halfway. 358 00:17:54,188 --> 00:17:56,668 You'll never hear God say that to any of us. 359 00:17:57,388 --> 00:17:59,548 You'll never get that when you pray. 360 00:18:00,268 --> 00:18:03,828 When we pray about something, about something that we know we need 361 00:18:03,828 --> 00:18:06,988 to do or something we need to stop doing, we'll never hear God 362 00:18:06,988 --> 00:18:08,828 say, well, I know that's kind of a tough thing. 363 00:18:08,828 --> 00:18:12,159 And look, if you can't deal with all of it, then just meet me 364 00:18:12,159 --> 00:18:13,519 part way on this. 365 00:18:14,239 --> 00:18:16,319 God doesn't compromise his Word. 366 00:18:16,639 --> 00:18:17,839 He doesn't have to. 367 00:18:19,199 --> 00:18:20,159 Never happened. 368 00:18:20,159 --> 00:18:22,279 In fact, look what God says in verse 21. 369 00:18:22,279 --> 00:18:25,559 He says, Thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark, and 370 00:18:25,559 --> 00:18:28,799 the Ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. 371 00:18:29,039 --> 00:18:35,099 And here's the key, verse 22, and there I will meet with thee, 372 00:18:36,449 --> 00:18:37,649 there I will meet with thee. 373 00:18:37,649 --> 00:18:41,889 And I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between 374 00:18:41,889 --> 00:18:44,809 the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony of 375 00:18:44,809 --> 00:18:48,009 all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children 376 00:18:48,009 --> 00:18:48,449 of God. 377 00:18:48,449 --> 00:18:49,849 Look what he said in verse 22. 378 00:18:49,849 --> 00:18:54,489 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee. 379 00:18:54,489 --> 00:18:55,049 I love this. 380 00:18:55,049 --> 00:19:01,449 God said, where my word is, there will I meet you where my Word 381 00:19:01,449 --> 00:19:02,529 is, there will. 382 00:19:02,529 --> 00:19:04,439 I meet you where my Word is, there will. 383 00:19:04,669 --> 00:19:06,429 That's where I will commune with you. 384 00:19:06,829 --> 00:19:10,429 I will meet you where My Word is, and I will communicate with you. 385 00:19:10,749 --> 00:19:12,909 I will communicate to you truth. 386 00:19:13,629 --> 00:19:14,829 Where my Word is. 387 00:19:15,869 --> 00:19:20,029 If you go to where my word is, I will communicate with you wisdom. 388 00:19:21,469 --> 00:19:26,589 If you go to where my word is, then I will communicate to you instructions 389 00:19:26,989 --> 00:19:27,709 for life. 390 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:32,919 Where my word is, that is where I will meet you. 391 00:19:33,559 --> 00:19:40,199 No shortcuts, no middle ground, no halfway mark. 392 00:19:40,839 --> 00:19:44,519 In the Book of Amos, when God asked the question, can two walk 393 00:19:44,519 --> 00:19:46,919 together except they be agreed? 394 00:19:47,319 --> 00:19:50,519 He wasn't talking about God agreeing with me. 395 00:19:50,919 --> 00:19:53,479 He was talking about me agreeing with God. 396 00:19:55,079 --> 00:19:58,609 God and I can't walk together unless I agree with him. 397 00:19:59,169 --> 00:20:00,769 He doesn't have to agree with me. 398 00:20:01,329 --> 00:20:08,089 My ideas and my definition of things are all messed up, but he's 399 00:20:08,089 --> 00:20:09,809 perfect and His Word is perfect. 400 00:20:09,969 --> 00:20:13,809 And I can't walk with God unless I'm in full agreement with 401 00:20:13,889 --> 00:20:14,289 this. 402 00:20:16,289 --> 00:20:17,969 Oh, I'm not saying men don't try. 403 00:20:18,689 --> 00:20:20,849 I'm not saying from time to time, I don't try. 404 00:20:21,569 --> 00:20:24,649 There are times I look at this book and I go, don't want to read 405 00:20:24,649 --> 00:20:25,889 that verse, let's go to the next one. 406 00:20:26,629 --> 00:20:29,669 And yet I call myself a Christian, I call myself a pastor, 407 00:20:29,669 --> 00:20:32,749 and yet I still try to circumvent his word and walk with 408 00:20:32,749 --> 00:20:32,909 Him. 409 00:20:32,909 --> 00:20:33,989 And it never ends well. 410 00:20:36,869 --> 00:20:40,869 Where My Word is, there will I meet you and commune with you or 411 00:20:40,869 --> 00:20:44,189 communicate to you what you need to communicate to you what you 412 00:20:44,189 --> 00:20:46,829 need to succeed, to communicate with you what you need 413 00:20:46,829 --> 00:20:52,309 to be victorious in this life, to overcome, to find peace in trials, 414 00:20:52,309 --> 00:20:55,899 to find comfort in crisis and to bless you. 415 00:20:56,219 --> 00:20:57,419 We need all of that. 416 00:20:58,139 --> 00:21:00,059 Some of you are going through crisis right now. 417 00:21:00,059 --> 00:21:03,259 This is where you'll find the peace to go through that crisis. 418 00:21:04,139 --> 00:21:05,819 Some of you are going through trials. 419 00:21:05,979 --> 00:21:08,899 This book right here is what's going to give you the calm and the 420 00:21:08,899 --> 00:21:09,339 storm. 421 00:21:09,899 --> 00:21:14,779 This book, when you meet God here, here, that's where you'll find 422 00:21:14,779 --> 00:21:16,139 what you need to get through it. 423 00:21:17,659 --> 00:21:20,989 God said, if you want my blessing, if you want my wisdom and 424 00:21:20,989 --> 00:21:23,589 counsel, then meet me where my Word is. 425 00:21:26,469 --> 00:21:32,669 But as the children of Israel learn, and as many, as many, as many 426 00:21:32,669 --> 00:21:36,629 of us in here have learned, when we choose not to meet God, where 427 00:21:36,629 --> 00:21:39,429 His word is when we try to. 428 00:21:39,429 --> 00:21:42,349 Like I said, when we try to circumvent His Word, or when we try 429 00:21:42,349 --> 00:21:45,909 to live outside the parameters of his word, outside the parameters 430 00:21:45,909 --> 00:21:51,479 of his will, he obligates himself neither to bless us nor protect 431 00:21:51,479 --> 00:21:55,319 us when we choose to ignore this. 432 00:21:55,959 --> 00:21:57,799 Well, preacher, how do you know I'm ignoring it? 433 00:21:57,799 --> 00:21:58,919 Well, have you read it today? 434 00:22:02,759 --> 00:22:03,119 Mmm. 435 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:03,919 I'm going to come down there. 436 00:22:03,919 --> 00:22:04,999 I'm going to amen myself. 437 00:22:04,999 --> 00:22:07,439 Ms. Charlene, I know it's hard. 438 00:22:07,439 --> 00:22:11,959 Look, it's not as hard as last week, but that's the truth we want 439 00:22:11,959 --> 00:22:12,519 to ignore. 440 00:22:12,959 --> 00:22:13,999 I don't ignore His Word. 441 00:22:13,999 --> 00:22:15,519 Okay, what are you memorizing? 442 00:22:15,519 --> 00:22:19,359 What verses are you memorizing today to help you tomorrow? 443 00:22:20,479 --> 00:22:21,999 Are you reading the Word of God? 444 00:22:21,999 --> 00:22:24,559 I tell you, I got so under conviction this last week. 445 00:22:24,559 --> 00:22:27,839 My wife and I were in Michigan at the Bridge to Recovery Conference. 446 00:22:28,559 --> 00:22:32,559 And, you know, I'll tell you what this preacher said, and I'm 447 00:22:32,559 --> 00:22:34,839 going to tell it to you because I don't think he was lying. 448 00:22:34,839 --> 00:22:37,199 I really think what he said was absolutely true. 449 00:22:37,599 --> 00:22:41,039 And particularly the spirit of the man was just amazing. 450 00:22:42,239 --> 00:22:43,199 Just a man of God. 451 00:22:44,159 --> 00:22:45,519 He's just a man of God. 452 00:22:46,079 --> 00:22:49,559 And he didn't say it to try to shame anybody or to put himself on 453 00:22:49,559 --> 00:22:50,039 a pedestal. 454 00:22:50,039 --> 00:22:51,359 It was really in passing. 455 00:22:52,399 --> 00:22:54,399 And he said it, and I was like, whoa. 456 00:22:54,959 --> 00:22:57,439 He said he reads his Bible through every 90 days. 457 00:22:58,879 --> 00:22:59,759 Every 90 days. 458 00:22:59,759 --> 00:23:02,319 Now you say, well, what can you get reading it that fast? 459 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:04,599 If you were standing where I. 460 00:23:04,599 --> 00:23:06,759 If you were sitting where I was sitting and listening to the 461 00:23:06,759 --> 00:23:10,839 word of God that he was quoting, you would know that. 462 00:23:12,839 --> 00:23:14,599 Well, I'll tell you, he got more than I got. 463 00:23:16,279 --> 00:23:17,319 And now I'm not saying. 464 00:23:17,479 --> 00:23:18,999 I said, can I do that? 465 00:23:18,999 --> 00:23:20,359 I don't know if I can do that. 466 00:23:20,999 --> 00:23:22,519 I'm going to try timed myself. 467 00:23:22,519 --> 00:23:24,478 The other day, I said, well, okay. 468 00:23:24,478 --> 00:23:25,879 Well, I'm going to read for 30 minutes. 469 00:23:26,039 --> 00:23:26,959 Just 30 minutes. 470 00:23:26,959 --> 00:23:27,999 And I read pretty fast. 471 00:23:27,999 --> 00:23:28,559 You heard that? 472 00:23:28,559 --> 00:23:29,159 I can read. 473 00:23:29,799 --> 00:23:34,119 And so I read for 30 minutes straight, put myself on a timer, 474 00:23:34,559 --> 00:23:35,439 and I read. 475 00:23:35,599 --> 00:23:36,559 Let's see, where was I? 476 00:23:36,559 --> 00:23:37,199 First Samuel. 477 00:23:37,199 --> 00:23:41,119 And I read seven chapters of First Samuel in 30 minutes. 478 00:23:41,439 --> 00:23:43,279 First Samuel is some pretty long chapters. 479 00:23:43,679 --> 00:23:46,399 So if you do that in the New Testament, just set yourself a time 480 00:23:46,399 --> 00:23:48,559 limit, 20, 30 minutes, man. 481 00:23:48,559 --> 00:23:51,439 I believe you could probably read if you set yourself a time limit. 482 00:23:51,439 --> 00:23:52,239 20, 30 minutes. 483 00:23:52,239 --> 00:23:53,759 Reading every single day like that. 484 00:23:53,759 --> 00:23:55,519 I bet you could read through the New Testament. 485 00:23:55,519 --> 00:23:56,159 I say, I bet. 486 00:23:56,159 --> 00:23:56,839 I really don't know. 487 00:23:56,839 --> 00:24:00,399 I hadn't really figured it out yet by how many pages you have in 488 00:24:00,399 --> 00:24:00,879 your Bible. 489 00:24:00,879 --> 00:24:06,109 But I bet you read through the New Testament probably in less than 490 00:24:06,109 --> 00:24:07,749 a month, probably in a week or two. 491 00:24:08,389 --> 00:24:12,749 I would think you'd have to look at your time yourself and then 492 00:24:12,749 --> 00:24:14,029 see how many pages are in your Bible. 493 00:24:14,029 --> 00:24:15,429 I bet you could do it really fast. 494 00:24:17,589 --> 00:24:24,309 But do we meet God where his word is? 495 00:24:26,069 --> 00:24:28,749 We try to go through the day without meeting with God, and we 496 00:24:28,749 --> 00:24:30,549 wonder why in the world this thing isn't working. 497 00:24:33,609 --> 00:24:38,449 You know, many a saved person left the good counsel of God's word 498 00:24:38,449 --> 00:24:41,609 only to find destruction and misery in this life. 499 00:24:42,569 --> 00:24:43,849 Many a good Christian. 500 00:24:46,409 --> 00:24:50,849 It's an unfortunate thing that I can think of, not only just Christians, 501 00:24:50,849 --> 00:24:52,969 but preachers, preacher friends. 502 00:24:53,929 --> 00:24:57,939 Preacher friends I went to school with who made havoc of their 503 00:24:57,939 --> 00:25:01,299 life because they got a word, they got away from this. 504 00:25:04,099 --> 00:25:05,539 I'll tell you a quick story. 505 00:25:07,139 --> 00:25:09,699 There was a preacher friend of mine, a guy I went to school with, 506 00:25:11,059 --> 00:25:17,219 Bible college, and I'm telling you, a very aspiring evangelist, 507 00:25:17,699 --> 00:25:20,019 a really good preacher. 508 00:25:21,299 --> 00:25:22,619 Some of y' all may know. 509 00:25:22,619 --> 00:25:25,659 I won't say the name, but just by telling the story, some of you 510 00:25:25,659 --> 00:25:27,059 may know what I'm saying. 511 00:25:29,089 --> 00:25:32,529 So one of his desires and dream in life was to sit and stand 512 00:25:33,009 --> 00:25:35,969 and preach on the same platform as Dr. Jack Hiles. 513 00:25:37,249 --> 00:25:39,849 Now, whatever you say about Jack Hiles, I want to tell you straight 514 00:25:39,849 --> 00:25:41,169 up, he was one of my heroes. 515 00:25:41,169 --> 00:25:43,368 So if you have something bad to say about it, don't say it to 516 00:25:43,368 --> 00:25:46,969 me, because there's people that love him and there's people 517 00:25:46,969 --> 00:25:47,649 that hate him. 518 00:25:48,769 --> 00:25:53,249 I loved him, and God used him tremendously in my life. 519 00:25:54,039 --> 00:25:56,439 And I would go a long way to hear him preach. 520 00:25:56,999 --> 00:26:00,239 And every time he preached, God used the sermons to speak to 521 00:26:00,239 --> 00:26:00,599 my heart. 522 00:26:00,599 --> 00:26:03,999 And I always found myself at the altar and always found myself 523 00:26:03,999 --> 00:26:07,959 making solid, good, godly decisions based on his preaching. 524 00:26:08,359 --> 00:26:09,519 And if many of you know. 525 00:26:09,519 --> 00:26:11,199 How many of you know of Dr. Jack Hiles? 526 00:26:11,199 --> 00:26:11,959 How many of you know him? 527 00:26:12,279 --> 00:26:14,759 Okay, there's more in here that don't than do. 528 00:26:16,519 --> 00:26:19,319 Well, in my estimation, he was a tremendous man of God, and God 529 00:26:19,319 --> 00:26:20,359 used him greatly. 530 00:26:22,039 --> 00:26:26,999 And my brother really wanted to preach on the same platform. 531 00:26:27,559 --> 00:26:30,919 Now, he preached at this church many times, this brother's 532 00:26:30,919 --> 00:26:31,719 home church. 533 00:26:32,999 --> 00:26:37,039 And so he asked his pastor, he said, can I schedule a meeting with 534 00:26:37,039 --> 00:26:40,919 Dr. Jack Hiles and can I preach on the same platform as him? 535 00:26:41,159 --> 00:26:44,639 He had just graduated from Bible College, and his pastor said, 536 00:26:44,639 --> 00:26:45,639 yes, you can do that. 537 00:26:45,639 --> 00:26:47,999 You schedule it, you set it up, you. 538 00:26:48,239 --> 00:26:49,519 You market it. 539 00:26:49,519 --> 00:26:49,799 Market. 540 00:26:49,799 --> 00:26:50,439 That's not the Good. 541 00:26:50,439 --> 00:26:53,639 Advertise you let people know he's coming and the place will fill 542 00:26:53,639 --> 00:26:53,919 up. 543 00:26:54,319 --> 00:26:55,439 And it always did. 544 00:26:55,999 --> 00:26:57,919 You had to come early if you wanted to get a seat. 545 00:26:58,799 --> 00:27:03,319 And so the day came, and, boy, that brother, he got up here and 546 00:27:03,319 --> 00:27:04,239 he made the statement. 547 00:27:04,239 --> 00:27:11,839 He said, it's been the joy of my life to speak on the same platform 548 00:27:11,919 --> 00:27:13,239 with Dr. Jack Hiles. 549 00:27:13,239 --> 00:27:14,559 And he preached a great message. 550 00:27:15,659 --> 00:27:19,219 And then when he was finished, song or two, and then Dr. Hiles got 551 00:27:19,219 --> 00:27:23,219 up and he said, I want you to know that it's been the joy of my 552 00:27:23,219 --> 00:27:26,339 life to preach on the same platform with this brother right 553 00:27:26,339 --> 00:27:26,499 here. 554 00:27:26,499 --> 00:27:28,859 And of course, it was a great laugh. 555 00:27:28,859 --> 00:27:31,178 Everybody enjoyed it and got a great kick out of it. 556 00:27:31,259 --> 00:27:33,859 And Dr. Hiles got up and preached like he always did with 557 00:27:33,859 --> 00:27:35,179 the anointing of God on him. 558 00:27:35,499 --> 00:27:37,659 And what a tremendous service it was. 559 00:27:40,709 --> 00:27:44,789 The next day, the next day that was actually on a Sunday. 560 00:27:46,309 --> 00:27:54,509 The next day that brother ended up in jail because he tried 561 00:27:54,509 --> 00:27:55,909 to solicit a prostitute. 562 00:28:01,429 --> 00:28:04,309 And I asked him, I said, what in the world? 563 00:28:04,309 --> 00:28:05,109 What happened? 564 00:28:05,999 --> 00:28:06,879 And this is what he said. 565 00:28:06,879 --> 00:28:07,679 Although I don't think. 566 00:28:07,679 --> 00:28:08,999 I think there was definitely more to it. 567 00:28:08,999 --> 00:28:09,959 But this is what he said. 568 00:28:09,959 --> 00:28:11,359 He said, you know what, Brother James? 569 00:28:11,999 --> 00:28:15,759 He said, I got up that day after a great mountaintop experience, 570 00:28:16,799 --> 00:28:18,399 and I didn't read my Bible. 571 00:28:19,839 --> 00:28:20,879 That was his words. 572 00:28:21,758 --> 00:28:24,559 I didn't read my Bible. 573 00:28:26,399 --> 00:28:29,519 And if something like that can happen to a preacher, a man of God, 574 00:28:30,719 --> 00:28:32,799 how much more can it happen to any of us? 575 00:28:35,029 --> 00:28:38,869 All of us are 24 hours away from being extremely and totally, 576 00:28:39,269 --> 00:28:40,869 completely backslidden. 577 00:28:42,229 --> 00:28:43,829 We need the word of God. 578 00:28:44,629 --> 00:28:45,909 We need the word of God. 579 00:28:46,229 --> 00:28:50,229 Many a good person left the counsel of God's will only to find 580 00:28:50,229 --> 00:28:51,429 destruction and misery. 581 00:28:51,589 --> 00:28:54,429 God said, if you want my blessing and wisdom and counsel, 582 00:28:54,429 --> 00:28:56,469 then meet me where my word is. 583 00:28:56,629 --> 00:29:00,559 Now, obviously, we don't have a tabernacle or a temple to go to 584 00:29:00,559 --> 00:29:01,199 anymore. 585 00:29:01,439 --> 00:29:03,279 There's no more Ark of the Covenant. 586 00:29:03,279 --> 00:29:05,479 So where we can go to meet? 587 00:29:05,479 --> 00:29:06,479 So what are we to do? 588 00:29:06,479 --> 00:29:08,319 Where are we to find those blessings? 589 00:29:08,319 --> 00:29:10,959 Where are we to find that instruction or that wisdom or that 590 00:29:10,959 --> 00:29:11,359 counsel? 591 00:29:12,159 --> 00:29:13,559 Well, God hasn't changed. 592 00:29:13,559 --> 00:29:14,079 Amen. 593 00:29:14,159 --> 00:29:17,119 He said, where my word is there, will I meet you? 594 00:29:17,599 --> 00:29:20,559 Where my word is there, will I meet you and commune with you? 595 00:29:20,559 --> 00:29:23,679 So if God hasn't changed and will meet and commune with us where 596 00:29:23,679 --> 00:29:27,429 his uncompromising word is, then we need to make sure that we 597 00:29:27,429 --> 00:29:30,229 include His Word in every area of our life. 598 00:29:31,429 --> 00:29:33,429 Every area of our life. 599 00:29:33,909 --> 00:29:35,509 Here's four areas real quick. 600 00:29:35,509 --> 00:29:39,469 Where we need to make sure that we keep God's word so that we 601 00:29:39,469 --> 00:29:43,429 can commune with him every day, throughout the day for the rest 602 00:29:43,429 --> 00:29:44,149 of our lives. 603 00:29:45,269 --> 00:29:47,269 Number one, our head. 604 00:29:48,069 --> 00:29:48,789 Our head. 605 00:29:49,189 --> 00:29:50,389 You want to meet with God? 606 00:29:50,389 --> 00:29:52,949 God said, I'll meet you where my word is. 607 00:29:53,189 --> 00:29:56,829 Joshua 1:8 says, this book of the law shall not depart out of thy 608 00:29:56,829 --> 00:30:01,329 mouth, but thou shalt meditate there in day and night. 609 00:30:02,209 --> 00:30:06,009 If we want God to meet with us and to commune with us, then put 610 00:30:06,009 --> 00:30:07,409 his word in our head. 611 00:30:07,969 --> 00:30:10,529 We need to think on it and meditate on it. 612 00:30:10,529 --> 00:30:13,089 And that's different than just memorizing. 613 00:30:13,569 --> 00:30:14,289 That's different. 614 00:30:14,609 --> 00:30:17,369 Just meditate upon the word, think on it. 615 00:30:17,369 --> 00:30:20,369 I mean, look, I'll tell you what I like to do, and I'm not saying 616 00:30:20,369 --> 00:30:23,089 this makes me super spiritual, and I'm not saying it's what you 617 00:30:23,089 --> 00:30:26,549 ought to do, but what I like to do that really helps me is to. 618 00:30:26,549 --> 00:30:29,349 When I read the Word of God, I keep a journal next to me. 619 00:30:29,349 --> 00:30:33,229 And as I'm reading it, as God speaks to my heart, I write down. 620 00:30:33,789 --> 00:30:38,029 I told somebody the other day I was writing and I was reading about. 621 00:30:39,309 --> 00:30:40,669 I can't even remember now. 622 00:30:41,149 --> 00:30:44,349 Anyway, I was reading something and it spoke to my heart 623 00:30:44,349 --> 00:30:49,229 in such a profound way that I grabbed my pen and I wrote down, 624 00:30:50,099 --> 00:30:51,219 I am such a wretch. 625 00:30:52,019 --> 00:30:53,539 I am so unthankful. 626 00:30:53,699 --> 00:30:55,299 I am so ungrateful. 627 00:30:55,859 --> 00:30:58,979 And, brother, we need God to tell us that sometimes. 628 00:30:59,539 --> 00:31:02,379 Because there are times I go through the day without saying thank 629 00:31:02,379 --> 00:31:06,219 you to God, when in truth, I really ought to get up every single 630 00:31:06,219 --> 00:31:08,379 morning and say, thank you, Lord, for the strength to get out 631 00:31:08,379 --> 00:31:09,059 of this bed. 632 00:31:09,299 --> 00:31:11,859 Thank you, Lord, for the strength that I have to work a job. 633 00:31:11,859 --> 00:31:14,019 Thank you for the mind that you've given me. 634 00:31:14,659 --> 00:31:15,419 Thank you, Lord. 635 00:31:15,419 --> 00:31:17,969 God will meet us where his word is. 636 00:31:18,289 --> 00:31:21,609 Psalm 1, verse 1 and 2 says, Blessed is the man that walketh not 637 00:31:21,609 --> 00:31:24,889 in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, 638 00:31:24,889 --> 00:31:26,529 nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 639 00:31:27,169 --> 00:31:29,169 But his delight is in the law of the Lord. 640 00:31:29,169 --> 00:31:29,969 What does it say? 641 00:31:29,969 --> 00:31:31,729 And in his law doth he what? 642 00:31:32,529 --> 00:31:33,249 Meditate? 643 00:31:33,649 --> 00:31:40,209 Meditate day and night our heads. 644 00:31:40,609 --> 00:31:44,469 If we want God to meet us where his word is and to bring us 645 00:31:44,469 --> 00:31:47,949 blessings and instruction and wisdom and counsel, then let's get 646 00:31:47,949 --> 00:31:48,829 it in our heads. 647 00:31:49,069 --> 00:31:49,869 Let's get in there. 648 00:31:49,869 --> 00:31:51,149 Let's meditate on his word. 649 00:31:51,149 --> 00:31:52,909 And then secondly, our hearts. 650 00:31:53,469 --> 00:31:54,269 Our hearts. 651 00:31:54,349 --> 00:31:56,109 Psalm 119, verse 10, 11. 652 00:31:56,189 --> 00:31:59,828 With my whole heart, the psalmist said, with My whole heart 653 00:31:59,828 --> 00:32:03,869 have I sought Thee oh, let me not wander from Thy commandments 654 00:32:04,109 --> 00:32:07,829 Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against 655 00:32:07,829 --> 00:32:12,439 Thee I'll probably butcher this, but let me try this. 656 00:32:12,439 --> 00:32:21,839 O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be Let thy 657 00:32:21,839 --> 00:32:30,839 goodness like a fetter Bind my wandering heart to Thee Prone to 658 00:32:30,839 --> 00:32:39,269 wonder Lord, I feel it Prone to leave the God I love here's my 659 00:32:39,269 --> 00:32:47,509 heart O take and seal it Seal it for thy courts above the writer 660 00:32:47,509 --> 00:32:49,269 of that song was thinking of me. 661 00:32:49,989 --> 00:32:55,949 Prone to wonder Prone to wonder here's my heart, Lord don't 662 00:32:55,949 --> 00:32:57,989 you wish that you could just do that every day? 663 00:32:58,389 --> 00:33:00,869 Don't you wish you could just take your heart and give it to God 664 00:33:00,869 --> 00:33:05,759 every day and allow him to seal it so it won't wonder? 665 00:33:07,199 --> 00:33:08,639 Boy, I wish I could do that. 666 00:33:11,199 --> 00:33:12,799 And in reality, I can. 667 00:33:14,319 --> 00:33:20,239 Now, we're not, you know, we can read this for an hour every morning 668 00:33:20,799 --> 00:33:23,759 and then be in the car and two minutes later, it's gone, right? 669 00:33:24,479 --> 00:33:27,519 So we do have to ask God to fill us with his spirit on a regular 670 00:33:27,519 --> 00:33:27,999 basis. 671 00:33:28,399 --> 00:33:29,999 I die daily, Paul said. 672 00:33:29,999 --> 00:33:31,039 I die hourly. 673 00:33:31,509 --> 00:33:33,909 James said this. 674 00:33:33,909 --> 00:33:39,229 James, our hearts, if we want God to meet with us and commune with 675 00:33:39,229 --> 00:33:40,149 us, that's what he said. 676 00:33:40,309 --> 00:33:44,549 Where my word is, there will I meet with you and commune with you. 677 00:33:44,869 --> 00:33:50,909 Where his word is, there's no temple to go to, no tabernacle, no 678 00:33:50,909 --> 00:33:54,869 ark of the covenant, but we can put it in our heart, we can put 679 00:33:54,869 --> 00:33:55,669 it in our head. 680 00:33:55,829 --> 00:33:58,699 And he'll meet with us, commune with us. 681 00:33:58,699 --> 00:34:00,899 And then third, our hands. 682 00:34:01,139 --> 00:34:02,059 Our hands again. 683 00:34:02,059 --> 00:34:05,499 Joshua 1:8, the book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, 684 00:34:05,499 --> 00:34:07,539 but thou shalt meditate therein day and night. 685 00:34:07,939 --> 00:34:15,259 That thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written 686 00:34:15,259 --> 00:34:15,739 therein. 687 00:34:15,739 --> 00:34:16,099 Do. 688 00:34:17,059 --> 00:34:18,979 Do the work of God. 689 00:34:19,459 --> 00:34:20,739 What we find here. 690 00:34:20,819 --> 00:34:22,259 Love people, do it. 691 00:34:22,579 --> 00:34:23,379 Act on it. 692 00:34:24,389 --> 00:34:24,949 Help people. 693 00:34:24,949 --> 00:34:25,709 Act on it. 694 00:34:25,709 --> 00:34:26,229 Do it. 695 00:34:26,629 --> 00:34:27,469 Love the brethren. 696 00:34:27,469 --> 00:34:28,109 Go to church. 697 00:34:28,109 --> 00:34:29,349 I'm preaching to the choir tonight. 698 00:34:29,349 --> 00:34:30,389 I know, but you know what? 699 00:34:30,549 --> 00:34:31,429 Stay in church. 700 00:34:31,429 --> 00:34:32,069 Amen. 701 00:34:33,029 --> 00:34:34,749 I've got a brother that I love dearly. 702 00:34:34,749 --> 00:34:37,669 And right now he's, you know, he's just struggling. 703 00:34:38,229 --> 00:34:42,389 And I said, just do, you know, if you just do. 704 00:34:42,389 --> 00:34:42,989 And I understand. 705 00:34:42,989 --> 00:34:44,549 There's more to this thing than doing. 706 00:34:44,549 --> 00:34:47,989 In fact, I even told him, I said, going to church without having 707 00:34:47,989 --> 00:34:51,349 a personal walk with Jesus Christ is like filling a bucket with 708 00:34:51,349 --> 00:34:51,669 water. 709 00:34:51,909 --> 00:34:55,789 Like filling a bucket, putting water in a bucket that's full of 710 00:34:55,789 --> 00:34:56,189 holes. 711 00:34:57,389 --> 00:34:59,869 So there's a whole lot more to it than just coming to church. 712 00:34:59,869 --> 00:35:01,949 You have to have that walk with Jesus Christ. 713 00:35:02,109 --> 00:35:05,149 But just, you know, there's the whole. 714 00:35:05,149 --> 00:35:06,269 You gotta be balanced. 715 00:35:06,269 --> 00:35:06,629 Amen. 716 00:35:06,629 --> 00:35:09,149 You gotta not only believe and have it in your heart, but have it 717 00:35:09,149 --> 00:35:09,948 in your hands. 718 00:35:10,669 --> 00:35:12,829 And if you have it in your heart and in your head, you want 719 00:35:12,829 --> 00:35:13,269 to do it. 720 00:35:13,269 --> 00:35:15,029 You want to be able to have it in your hands. 721 00:35:15,029 --> 00:35:15,949 You just want to. 722 00:35:18,349 --> 00:35:20,509 I love the word of God and I love being a Christian. 723 00:35:21,409 --> 00:35:23,489 And sometimes I'm so selfish. 724 00:35:23,489 --> 00:35:24,769 I don't want to give to others. 725 00:35:25,329 --> 00:35:26,489 I don't want to give of myself. 726 00:35:26,489 --> 00:35:28,689 I don't want to give of my time, my talents, my treasures. 727 00:35:29,009 --> 00:35:29,969 I'm selfish. 728 00:35:31,329 --> 00:35:36,289 And then when I do, oh, my goodness, it's amazing because God 729 00:35:36,289 --> 00:35:38,689 said, where my word is, there will I meet you? 730 00:35:38,689 --> 00:35:43,809 And all of a sudden I'm as happy as Jesus said I would be because 731 00:35:43,969 --> 00:35:46,169 I did what he said in his word. 732 00:35:46,169 --> 00:35:48,049 Give unto others, and it shall be given unto you. 733 00:35:48,049 --> 00:35:50,609 Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over 734 00:35:51,459 --> 00:35:53,219 shall men give into your bosom. 735 00:35:53,779 --> 00:35:56,339 It's more blessed to give than it is to receive. 736 00:35:57,139 --> 00:35:58,499 Sometimes I don't believe that. 737 00:35:59,299 --> 00:36:01,179 Or I believe it, I say I believe it. 738 00:36:01,179 --> 00:36:02,579 But sometimes I don't want to do it. 739 00:36:03,219 --> 00:36:07,859 I don't want to give, but when I do, I find out that God is true. 740 00:36:07,939 --> 00:36:08,659 He's right. 741 00:36:09,139 --> 00:36:10,299 It's more blessed to give. 742 00:36:10,299 --> 00:36:11,699 And then let me give you a final thought. 743 00:36:12,899 --> 00:36:16,019 Not only our head and our heart and our hands, but our homes. 744 00:36:16,339 --> 00:36:16,599 Our. 745 00:36:16,749 --> 00:36:17,349 Our homes. 746 00:36:17,349 --> 00:36:19,709 Make sure his word is in our homes. 747 00:36:19,709 --> 00:36:22,909 What does Psalm 127:1 say, except the Lord build the house. 748 00:36:23,869 --> 00:36:25,149 They labor in vain. 749 00:36:25,549 --> 00:36:26,109 They build. 750 00:36:26,109 --> 00:36:32,949 It doesn't mean you're never going to have any troubles in your 751 00:36:32,949 --> 00:36:33,229 home. 752 00:36:33,949 --> 00:36:37,389 Doesn't mean your spouse and you won't have it out every now and 753 00:36:37,389 --> 00:36:37,589 then. 754 00:36:37,589 --> 00:36:40,589 Doesn't mean your kids are going to just fall at your feet and 755 00:36:40,589 --> 00:36:43,069 say, oh, yes, Father, what should you have me to do today? 756 00:36:44,569 --> 00:36:45,689 Doesn't work like that. 757 00:36:46,329 --> 00:36:47,129 Wish it did. 758 00:36:50,969 --> 00:36:55,929 But what it does mean is that you'll have a more harmonious relationship 759 00:36:55,929 --> 00:36:59,369 with everybody in your home if you'll do what the word of God says. 760 00:36:59,769 --> 00:37:03,689 And I'm telling you, even when it comes to discipline, the way God 761 00:37:03,689 --> 00:37:04,649 says to discipline. 762 00:37:06,249 --> 00:37:08,689 You know, it's an amazing thing when I discipline my little 763 00:37:08,689 --> 00:37:11,539 girls, and I hated to do it. 764 00:37:12,019 --> 00:37:13,539 And it is true, isn't it? 765 00:37:13,539 --> 00:37:15,379 It hurts me more than it hurts you. 766 00:37:16,019 --> 00:37:16,899 It really is. 767 00:37:17,459 --> 00:37:18,419 It's really true. 768 00:37:19,859 --> 00:37:22,259 I would have never guessed that by my dad doing it. 769 00:37:22,739 --> 00:37:25,819 But when I became a dad and had to discipline my kiddos. 770 00:37:25,819 --> 00:37:26,979 Oh man, it hurt. 771 00:37:27,939 --> 00:37:29,579 And you know what the amazing thing was? 772 00:37:29,579 --> 00:37:30,659 We did it in love. 773 00:37:31,459 --> 00:37:32,819 I didn't do it in anger. 774 00:37:34,499 --> 00:37:37,299 And we usually had a set of rules on the refrigerator. 775 00:37:38,419 --> 00:37:42,659 The consequences that went with breaking the rules lie. 776 00:37:44,259 --> 00:37:45,379 Five pops. 777 00:37:47,219 --> 00:37:50,419 Now, I wrote that because my wife started at 10. 778 00:37:51,379 --> 00:37:52,979 She was the mean one. 779 00:37:54,259 --> 00:37:57,219 You asked if you were to ask my kids, who did you want to spank 780 00:37:57,219 --> 00:37:57,979 you, mom or dad? 781 00:37:57,979 --> 00:37:58,819 And they would say this. 782 00:37:58,899 --> 00:38:02,179 Well, I would want mom to spank us, but I'd want dad to give 783 00:38:02,179 --> 00:38:05,669 the number how many pops. 784 00:38:05,669 --> 00:38:07,149 I was gracious in that area. 785 00:38:07,949 --> 00:38:08,829 But here's the thing. 786 00:38:08,829 --> 00:38:11,469 And you guys, some of you know this is absolutely true. 787 00:38:11,469 --> 00:38:15,709 When you do it in love, you say, okay, babe, baby, you lied to 788 00:38:15,709 --> 00:38:16,109 mama. 789 00:38:16,429 --> 00:38:17,149 Let's go look. 790 00:38:17,149 --> 00:38:18,349 What does that say right there? 791 00:38:19,469 --> 00:38:20,349 What does that say? 792 00:38:20,509 --> 00:38:21,469 Do not lie. 793 00:38:22,829 --> 00:38:24,029 And what does it say on there? 794 00:38:24,029 --> 00:38:25,069 Five pops. 795 00:38:26,829 --> 00:38:28,989 I always gave them an opportunity to ask for mercy. 796 00:38:30,959 --> 00:38:32,199 Daddy, will you forgive me? 797 00:38:32,199 --> 00:38:34,919 It depended on their heart and depending on how many times they 798 00:38:34,919 --> 00:38:35,599 broke that law. 799 00:38:37,439 --> 00:38:39,719 But sometimes I give them mercy and sometimes I wouldn't. 800 00:38:39,719 --> 00:38:43,359 And the days that I didn't, I went ahead and meted out the punishment 801 00:38:44,958 --> 00:38:47,039 and I used a paddle and it hurt. 802 00:38:47,359 --> 00:38:51,319 And they cried and I said, alright, you sit here and just cry. 803 00:38:51,319 --> 00:38:52,239 Just cry it out. 804 00:38:53,039 --> 00:38:55,419 And then it was an amazing thing that happened. 805 00:38:57,249 --> 00:38:58,009 They on their own. 806 00:38:58,009 --> 00:39:00,089 I never had to say, now you come and give Daddy a hug. 807 00:39:00,089 --> 00:39:00,609 You know what? 808 00:39:00,609 --> 00:39:03,489 After they cried it out, they would come up to me and for some 809 00:39:03,489 --> 00:39:05,249 reason they wanted to just hang out with me. 810 00:39:06,049 --> 00:39:07,009 They loved me. 811 00:39:07,489 --> 00:39:09,089 It's amazing what God did. 812 00:39:10,129 --> 00:39:11,089 He put our. 813 00:39:12,689 --> 00:39:14,849 He bonded us through that. 814 00:39:15,249 --> 00:39:20,769 Who would have ever thought that right when you do it, right 815 00:39:22,019 --> 00:39:24,699 when you do it according to the word of God, when the word of 816 00:39:24,699 --> 00:39:28,579 God is in your home and when you, when you and your spouse agree 817 00:39:29,539 --> 00:39:34,339 on the biblical way to run a home, it's amazing what God will 818 00:39:34,339 --> 00:39:35,499 do in that home. 819 00:39:35,499 --> 00:39:36,299 You know what he'll do? 820 00:39:36,299 --> 00:39:41,339 He'll meet with you and he'll commune with you and he'll bless 821 00:39:41,339 --> 00:39:41,699 you. 822 00:39:45,459 --> 00:39:48,739 We do not expect God to compromise his word. 823 00:39:49,659 --> 00:39:50,619 Nobody in here does. 824 00:39:51,339 --> 00:39:54,219 We know that he will not compromise his word. 825 00:39:56,059 --> 00:40:03,259 So that means that we know that if we are willing to live outside 826 00:40:03,339 --> 00:40:07,659 his will, then we have to be willing to accept the consequences. 827 00:40:13,899 --> 00:40:16,819 And if we do live outside his will, it's going to be without the 828 00:40:16,819 --> 00:40:17,889 benefit of his blessing. 829 00:40:22,039 --> 00:40:26,719 Now, I know that you here tonight, you desire God's best for 830 00:40:26,719 --> 00:40:27,159 your life. 831 00:40:28,919 --> 00:40:31,159 It Means that you desire to be in God's will. 832 00:40:31,159 --> 00:40:35,599 I believe that nobody woke up this morning and said, I think I'm 833 00:40:35,599 --> 00:40:37,719 just going to step right outside God's will. 834 00:40:38,519 --> 00:40:39,559 I don't think so. 835 00:40:40,839 --> 00:40:43,399 I believe that all of us desire to be in the Lord's will. 836 00:40:44,539 --> 00:40:45,379 So let us do something. 837 00:40:45,379 --> 00:40:48,699 Let us meditate upon the word of God. 838 00:40:49,499 --> 00:40:53,499 Memorize it, get it into our head, get it into our heart. 839 00:40:53,579 --> 00:40:55,859 Meditate upon it prayerfully, get it into our heart. 840 00:40:55,859 --> 00:40:58,939 Let it create convictions within us. 841 00:41:00,779 --> 00:41:04,779 Act upon the Word and the will of God as you understand it. 842 00:41:06,299 --> 00:41:11,489 Get it into your home and allow it to govern every area your 843 00:41:11,489 --> 00:41:11,809 life. 844 00:41:12,689 --> 00:41:17,409 If you want to meet God, you have to go to where His Word is. 845 00:41:17,409 --> 00:41:20,889 And if you want God to meet you, he'll come to where his word 846 00:41:20,889 --> 00:41:21,169 is. 847 00:41:21,889 --> 00:41:26,169 I want God's will and his blessings and his counsel and his 848 00:41:26,169 --> 00:41:28,289 instruction and his wisdom. 849 00:41:28,289 --> 00:41:29,169 I want it all. 850 00:41:29,809 --> 00:41:31,329 So I'm going to stick to the old book. 851 00:41:32,209 --> 00:41:36,849 I wonder if you'd be willing tonight to look inside your own heart 852 00:41:36,849 --> 00:41:40,119 or maybe to open it up and let God look into it and be honest. 853 00:41:40,759 --> 00:41:43,519 Just be introspect, Lord. 854 00:41:43,519 --> 00:41:44,519 Do an inventory. 855 00:41:47,639 --> 00:41:49,399 Am I reading your Word like I should? 856 00:41:50,919 --> 00:41:52,519 Do I read your Word every day? 857 00:41:53,159 --> 00:41:53,919 Is it a part? 858 00:41:53,919 --> 00:41:54,959 Remember what Job said? 859 00:41:54,959 --> 00:41:58,119 I esteem it more than my necessary food. 860 00:42:00,999 --> 00:42:01,479 Wow. 861 00:42:02,599 --> 00:42:04,519 Are you reading the Word of God every day? 862 00:42:05,169 --> 00:42:06,929 Is God meeting with you every day? 863 00:42:06,929 --> 00:42:11,329 Because it's in your head, it's in your heart, it's in your 864 00:42:11,649 --> 00:42:12,849 hands, and it's in your home. 865 00:42:12,849 --> 00:42:14,209 Is he meeting with you every day? 866 00:42:14,289 --> 00:42:17,129 If not, maybe tonight, we ought to just say, you know what? 867 00:42:17,129 --> 00:42:21,209 I may not be able to read it in 90 days, but I can read a little 868 00:42:21,209 --> 00:42:21,609 bit here. 869 00:42:21,609 --> 00:42:22,129 You know what? 870 00:42:22,129 --> 00:42:22,929 Here's something else to do. 871 00:42:22,929 --> 00:42:23,569 And I gotta quit. 872 00:42:23,569 --> 00:42:24,009 7:50. 873 00:42:24,009 --> 00:42:24,849 I have to quit. 874 00:42:25,329 --> 00:42:26,729 I learned a long time ago. 875 00:42:26,729 --> 00:42:28,049 I'm not gonna promise God. 876 00:42:28,049 --> 00:42:29,049 I'm not gonna make a vows. 877 00:42:29,049 --> 00:42:31,249 I'm gonna read your word the rest of my life, every day for the 878 00:42:31,249 --> 00:42:31,889 rest of my life. 879 00:42:31,889 --> 00:42:32,829 I did that once before. 880 00:42:33,699 --> 00:42:34,259 It didn't work. 881 00:42:35,139 --> 00:42:36,579 But I'll tell you what I have done. 882 00:42:36,819 --> 00:42:39,379 I've said, God, I'm going to read your word every day this week. 883 00:42:40,259 --> 00:42:41,699 I can keep that promise. 884 00:42:43,059 --> 00:42:44,579 I wonder if you'd be willing to do that. 885 00:42:44,579 --> 00:42:45,379 Today is Wednesday. 886 00:42:45,459 --> 00:42:49,379 I wonder if you'd be willing this evening to say, God, I promise 887 00:42:49,379 --> 00:42:51,659 you I'm going to read your word every day for the rest of this 888 00:42:51,659 --> 00:42:52,019 week. 889 00:42:52,819 --> 00:42:53,819 Just a couple days. 890 00:42:53,819 --> 00:42:54,659 Can you do that? 891 00:42:55,299 --> 00:42:58,539 I'm going to read your word every day for the rest of your week. 892 00:42:58,539 --> 00:42:59,539 See, here's what I know. 893 00:42:59,539 --> 00:43:02,499 I. I know that in this room tonight that's going to be a struggle 894 00:43:02,499 --> 00:43:03,779 and a challenge for some. 895 00:43:04,499 --> 00:43:06,499 But why don't you promise God you're going to do it? 896 00:43:06,659 --> 00:43:07,699 See what the Lord does. 897 00:43:08,179 --> 00:43:09,699 I promise you he'll meet with you. 898 00:43:09,939 --> 00:43:12,899 Let's stand together and we'll have a verse of invitation. 899 00:43:17,139 --> 00:43:24,859 Meeting God our Father tonight. 900 00:43:24,859 --> 00:43:27,739 I just pray that you would help us to apply these simple truths 901 00:43:27,739 --> 00:43:28,179 to our. 902 00:43:28,989 --> 00:43:29,629 To our heart. 903 00:43:30,349 --> 00:43:35,069 I know that as we read some of these passages in Exodus and Numbers, 904 00:43:35,069 --> 00:43:39,309 Deuteronomy, they get very tedious, but there's a reason they're 905 00:43:39,309 --> 00:43:39,709 in there. 906 00:43:40,429 --> 00:43:43,309 And I pray that you'd help us to see how precious your word is 907 00:43:43,309 --> 00:43:43,789 to you. 908 00:43:44,669 --> 00:43:48,669 And I pray that you would help us to transfer the value that you 909 00:43:48,669 --> 00:43:52,109 have to our own heart to our own mind. 910 00:43:52,109 --> 00:43:54,669 Help us to value and to esteem your word highly. 911 00:43:55,899 --> 00:44:00,619 And Lord, help us to apply it and implement it into our lives each 912 00:44:00,939 --> 00:44:02,139 and every day. 913 00:44:03,099 --> 00:44:04,539 For our good and for your glory. 914 00:44:04,539 --> 00:44:07,339 I pray in Jesus name just for a few moments. 915 00:44:07,659 --> 00:44:10,299 As the instruments play, Brother Caleb's going to sing through 916 00:44:10,299 --> 00:44:11,339 a verse of invitation. 917 00:44:11,579 --> 00:44:14,059 If the Holy Spirit of God spoke to your heart, you come tonight. 918 00:44:14,379 --> 00:44:16,739 Maybe you just want to come and come to this altar and say, lord, 919 00:44:16,739 --> 00:44:17,379 I want to do that. 920 00:44:17,379 --> 00:44:19,739 I promise you I'm going to read my Bible the rest of this week. 921 00:44:20,299 --> 00:44:20,969 You can do that.