1 00:00:29,939 --> 00:00:34,259 Boy was sitting on the front porch waiting for his father to come 2 00:00:34,259 --> 00:00:34,579 home. 3 00:00:35,219 --> 00:00:36,259 And he was crying. 4 00:00:36,899 --> 00:00:41,059 I mean, he was crying hard, just sobbing and crying, had his 5 00:00:41,219 --> 00:00:42,419 face in his hands. 6 00:00:42,979 --> 00:00:47,459 And his father drove up and saw his son and walked up to him, 7 00:00:47,459 --> 00:00:48,579 said, son, are you okay? 8 00:00:48,659 --> 00:00:49,859 And he didn't answer. 9 00:00:50,499 --> 00:00:52,179 He said, son, are you okay? 10 00:00:52,579 --> 00:00:54,739 And he just started crying even harder. 11 00:00:55,709 --> 00:00:57,789 And so the father said, son, what's the matter? 12 00:00:57,789 --> 00:00:58,469 What happened? 13 00:00:58,469 --> 00:00:59,149 What's wrong? 14 00:00:59,629 --> 00:01:02,349 And he said, my turtle died. 15 00:01:04,829 --> 00:01:09,509 And his dad said, well, son, those things happen, and I feel sorry 16 00:01:09,509 --> 00:01:11,229 for you, but he's in heaven. 17 00:01:11,869 --> 00:01:15,069 He said, what does God want with a dead turtle? 18 00:01:17,149 --> 00:01:20,629 He said, well, I don't know, son, but it'll be all right. 19 00:01:20,629 --> 00:01:22,029 He said, no, it won't be all right. 20 00:01:22,029 --> 00:01:23,709 And he started crying even more. 21 00:01:24,379 --> 00:01:25,939 And the father had an idea. 22 00:01:25,939 --> 00:01:27,259 He said, I tell you what, son. 23 00:01:27,259 --> 00:01:32,179 His son looked up reluctantly, and he said, you know what we need 24 00:01:32,179 --> 00:01:32,419 to do? 25 00:01:32,419 --> 00:01:33,259 And he said, what? 26 00:01:33,259 --> 00:01:36,619 He said, we need to have a turtle funeral. 27 00:01:37,899 --> 00:01:40,819 And the little boy kind of looked at him kind of strange, and 28 00:01:40,819 --> 00:01:44,499 wiping tears away, he said, yeah, son, that's what we need to 29 00:01:44,499 --> 00:01:44,779 do. 30 00:01:45,179 --> 00:01:46,339 Said, I need you to help me. 31 00:01:46,339 --> 00:01:47,579 We're gonna have a good one. 32 00:01:47,979 --> 00:01:49,339 The little boy said, what do you mean? 33 00:01:49,729 --> 00:01:50,889 He said, well, go upstairs. 34 00:01:50,889 --> 00:01:54,769 I bought your mother a little necklace the other day and she's 35 00:01:54,769 --> 00:01:55,129 wearing it. 36 00:01:55,129 --> 00:01:56,769 And I noticed she left the box out. 37 00:01:56,769 --> 00:01:58,369 Go get that little white box. 38 00:01:58,449 --> 00:01:59,729 Be just the right size. 39 00:02:00,769 --> 00:02:07,129 And he said, I want you to go down side where your bedroom is. 40 00:02:07,129 --> 00:02:13,089 He said, I want you to get some glue and that little bottle 41 00:02:14,209 --> 00:02:18,109 of the sparkly stuff that you sprinkle on it. 42 00:02:18,109 --> 00:02:19,029 What did he call that? 43 00:02:20,069 --> 00:02:22,029 What is it, glitter? 44 00:02:22,029 --> 00:02:23,789 Yeah, says silver glitter. 45 00:02:23,789 --> 00:02:24,789 And bring the glue. 46 00:02:25,189 --> 00:02:26,789 And he said, oh, and another thing. 47 00:02:26,789 --> 00:02:31,189 Your mom has a tissue box that is scented. 48 00:02:32,069 --> 00:02:34,949 Grab a couple of those, they'll smell wonderful. 49 00:02:35,109 --> 00:02:36,309 And the little boy started. 50 00:02:36,709 --> 00:02:42,239 Eyes started getting dried up and he said, okay, yeah, yeah, dad, 51 00:02:42,719 --> 00:02:43,679 let's do that. 52 00:02:44,319 --> 00:02:47,279 And so he ran up as fast as he could and got everything, brought 53 00:02:47,279 --> 00:02:47,999 it all down. 54 00:02:49,039 --> 00:02:52,599 And they put the paper inside there and they put the glue on top 55 00:02:52,599 --> 00:02:54,799 and sprinkled the glitter on there. 56 00:02:55,599 --> 00:03:00,319 And he closed the box and he said, well, wait a minute, before 57 00:03:00,319 --> 00:03:01,279 you close the box. 58 00:03:01,519 --> 00:03:03,199 Said, we need to have a prayer. 59 00:03:03,839 --> 00:03:05,999 And so the father said a little prayer. 60 00:03:07,129 --> 00:03:11,409 And just when he started to put the lid back on, the turtle stuck 61 00:03:11,409 --> 00:03:12,169 his head out. 62 00:03:13,929 --> 00:03:16,689 And the little boy said, kill him, Daddy. 63 00:03:16,689 --> 00:03:17,129 Kill him. 64 00:03:17,129 --> 00:03:17,609 Kill him. 65 00:03:21,209 --> 00:03:22,889 You ever been over encouraged? 66 00:03:23,689 --> 00:03:25,929 Most of us have never known what that's about. 67 00:03:26,329 --> 00:03:31,209 But that daddy really turned that little boy around and he wanted 68 00:03:31,209 --> 00:03:32,049 to kill the turtle. 69 00:03:32,049 --> 00:03:34,379 He didn't want to miss the funeral. 70 00:03:35,019 --> 00:03:38,539 Well, I want you to take your Bible and show you what I why I'm 71 00:03:38,539 --> 00:03:39,979 going to work that into this. 72 00:03:40,219 --> 00:03:42,681 1St Samuel, chapter number 30. 73 00:03:42,837 --> 00:03:46,459 1St Samuel, chapter number thirty. 74 00:03:47,099 --> 00:03:49,019 Begin reading in verse number one. 75 00:03:50,779 --> 00:03:52,459 1St Samuel 30, verse one. 76 00:03:52,459 --> 00:03:58,899 It came to pass when David and his men were come to Ziglag on the 77 00:03:58,899 --> 00:04:05,379 third day that the Amalekites had invaded the south and Ziglag 78 00:04:05,459 --> 00:04:10,739 and smitten Ziklag and burned it with fire and had taken the women 79 00:04:10,899 --> 00:04:13,539 captives that were therein. 80 00:04:14,179 --> 00:04:18,579 They slew not any, either great or small, but carried them 81 00:04:18,739 --> 00:04:21,379 away and went on their way. 82 00:04:22,659 --> 00:04:27,509 So David and his men came to the city and behold, it was burned 83 00:04:27,669 --> 00:04:28,629 with fire. 84 00:04:29,109 --> 00:04:34,149 And their wives and their sons and their daughters were taken captives. 85 00:04:35,189 --> 00:04:38,629 Then David and the people that were with them lifted up their voice 86 00:04:38,629 --> 00:04:43,349 and wept until they had no more power to weep. 87 00:04:44,709 --> 00:04:47,989 And David's two wives were taken captives. 88 00:04:48,309 --> 00:04:55,959 Ahinoam and Jezeruldus and Abigail, the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 89 00:04:57,079 --> 00:05:02,359 And David was greatly distressed for the people spake of 90 00:05:02,359 --> 00:05:06,839 stoning him because the soul of all the people was grieved. 91 00:05:07,479 --> 00:05:12,199 Every man for his sons and for his daughters. 92 00:05:13,399 --> 00:05:15,239 But here's what I want you to see. 93 00:05:15,239 --> 00:05:20,579 David encouraged himself in the Lord, his God. 94 00:05:21,379 --> 00:05:22,339 Now think about that. 95 00:05:22,339 --> 00:05:23,659 He encouraged himself. 96 00:05:23,659 --> 00:05:25,899 There was no one else around to encourage him. 97 00:05:25,899 --> 00:05:28,379 They were getting his own men wanted to stone him. 98 00:05:28,379 --> 00:05:29,299 It was his fault. 99 00:05:32,579 --> 00:05:37,259 When I pastored in Georgia, we had a lady in our church, elderly 100 00:05:37,259 --> 00:05:38,899 lady named Ann Sims. 101 00:05:38,979 --> 00:05:44,019 She was deaf, but she was a master at reading lips. 102 00:05:44,829 --> 00:05:49,229 And she sat on the first, second row of the church and she 103 00:05:49,229 --> 00:05:49,549 could. 104 00:05:49,789 --> 00:05:52,549 And she would write fast and she knew every word. 105 00:05:52,549 --> 00:05:53,909 She listened to every sermon. 106 00:05:53,909 --> 00:05:58,109 Never heard it with her ear, but she listened and she wrote. 107 00:05:58,109 --> 00:06:02,589 And one day she showed me all this list of sermons of mine that 108 00:06:02,589 --> 00:06:03,789 she had written down. 109 00:06:04,109 --> 00:06:06,989 She became very close friends to Shelly and I. 110 00:06:07,149 --> 00:06:08,909 Her and Shelly spent some time together. 111 00:06:09,549 --> 00:06:10,669 Ann Sims. 112 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:15,999 And she was always writing notes, and they were always positive. 113 00:06:16,079 --> 00:06:17,399 Oh, preacher, I love you. 114 00:06:17,399 --> 00:06:20,239 And that message, that's the best I ever heard in my whole life. 115 00:06:20,239 --> 00:06:22,159 And next Sunday she said the same thing. 116 00:06:23,519 --> 00:06:24,399 And she just. 117 00:06:24,399 --> 00:06:27,439 I mean, she was there for her pastor. 118 00:06:28,079 --> 00:06:29,719 She always encouraged me. 119 00:06:29,719 --> 00:06:32,959 She'd bake pies and cakes and do all that kind of stuff. 120 00:06:33,599 --> 00:06:35,599 She was just an amazing lady. 121 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:41,379 I went down to hold a revival and in Florida and Marianna, Florida, 122 00:06:42,019 --> 00:06:43,379 and had a good revival. 123 00:06:44,179 --> 00:06:52,219 And the first night that I was There somebody came to the door of 124 00:06:52,219 --> 00:06:55,539 the church and told me, you gotta call. 125 00:06:56,419 --> 00:07:00,419 They want you to call back home to this number in Columbus. 126 00:07:00,419 --> 00:07:02,899 So I called sitting in the car. 127 00:07:02,979 --> 00:07:05,139 I went out after church and sat in the car. 128 00:07:06,419 --> 00:07:10,299 And a voice on the other end said, ann Sims was killed today in 129 00:07:10,299 --> 00:07:12,579 a car accident, tragic car accident. 130 00:07:15,059 --> 00:07:19,539 Well, I didn't know this, but the Sunday before that was a Monday 131 00:07:19,539 --> 00:07:20,459 night, I believe it was. 132 00:07:20,459 --> 00:07:25,659 And so the Sunday before, she had stuck a little note like she 133 00:07:25,659 --> 00:07:27,459 normally did, but I didn't pay attention. 134 00:07:27,459 --> 00:07:29,459 She just stuck it in my shirt pocket. 135 00:07:30,259 --> 00:07:33,599 And she said she couldn't speak real well, but said, I'm praying 136 00:07:33,599 --> 00:07:34,119 for you. 137 00:07:35,479 --> 00:07:40,319 And after I got off the phone and started to get a little teary 138 00:07:40,319 --> 00:07:44,439 eyed, she was a great encourager. 139 00:07:46,119 --> 00:07:50,279 And it just said, dear preacher, I still have the card. 140 00:07:51,479 --> 00:07:53,759 She said, I love you and praying for you and hope you have 141 00:07:53,759 --> 00:07:54,279 a good meeting. 142 00:07:54,919 --> 00:07:58,679 And then she signed it first Samuel, chapter 30, verse 6. 143 00:07:59,809 --> 00:08:02,449 And David encouraged himself in the Lord. 144 00:08:03,409 --> 00:08:09,249 She was always my encourager, gone now, gone to heaven years ago. 145 00:08:10,929 --> 00:08:12,289 And I thought my. 146 00:08:13,489 --> 00:08:16,369 She didn't know she was gonna be killed in that car accident. 147 00:08:17,409 --> 00:08:20,209 But she made sure I got that note in my pocket. 148 00:08:21,089 --> 00:08:24,049 And David encouraged himself in the Lord. 149 00:08:25,179 --> 00:08:27,499 If you haven't already experienced that, you will experience 150 00:08:27,579 --> 00:08:31,659 a time when you wish you had somebody to encourage you. 151 00:08:33,659 --> 00:08:36,299 There's no substitute for encouragement. 152 00:08:37,099 --> 00:08:38,299 There's nothing like it. 153 00:08:39,259 --> 00:08:42,859 There's no way that the true power, the true. 154 00:08:42,939 --> 00:08:47,339 No one can measure the power of being encouraged, of being an 155 00:08:47,339 --> 00:08:48,139 encourager. 156 00:08:48,859 --> 00:08:49,859 Now think about it. 157 00:08:49,859 --> 00:08:51,659 These aren't just idle words. 158 00:08:52,299 --> 00:08:57,499 We'll never know till we get to heaven how many people didn't 159 00:08:57,499 --> 00:09:03,139 quit and kept going because somebody said, I love you and I'm 160 00:09:03,139 --> 00:09:07,018 praying for you, and encouraged them. 161 00:09:10,459 --> 00:09:13,419 I wish we could really let that grab ahold of us. 162 00:09:13,739 --> 00:09:17,979 Has anybody ever encouraged you in a very special personal way? 163 00:09:19,919 --> 00:09:22,759 We had a minister at our church in Weatherford called the 164 00:09:22,759 --> 00:09:23,599 Encouragers. 165 00:09:23,599 --> 00:09:25,319 And it was a lot of ladies. 166 00:09:25,319 --> 00:09:26,359 And that's all they did. 167 00:09:26,359 --> 00:09:29,879 Every week they would meet and they would write letters of encouragement 168 00:09:29,879 --> 00:09:30,559 and cards. 169 00:09:30,959 --> 00:09:35,639 They would visit people for no other reason, just wanted to drop 170 00:09:35,639 --> 00:09:36,719 by and encourage you. 171 00:09:37,519 --> 00:09:41,479 And man, that really, really influences our church and still going 172 00:09:41,479 --> 00:09:41,839 today. 173 00:09:42,399 --> 00:09:45,269 People talk about it all the time, what an encouragement. 174 00:09:45,269 --> 00:09:47,789 And they'd send in me those notes all the time. 175 00:09:47,789 --> 00:09:51,669 And it always seemed the exact time when I was a little down and 176 00:09:51,669 --> 00:09:52,669 wondered, what's the use? 177 00:09:54,269 --> 00:09:57,469 And they would send me an encouragement. 178 00:09:58,429 --> 00:10:02,589 There is no doubt whatsoever in my mind that I may not even Be 179 00:10:02,589 --> 00:10:03,389 here tonight. 180 00:10:03,949 --> 00:10:07,229 Were it not for people who encouraged me through the years, 181 00:10:09,959 --> 00:10:17,439 I wonder how many pastors have kept on keeping on because somebody 182 00:10:17,439 --> 00:10:18,279 went out of their way. 183 00:10:18,279 --> 00:10:18,839 And you have. 184 00:10:18,839 --> 00:10:22,519 You always have to go out of your way to encourage somebody. 185 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:28,359 But having said that, there have been some times when there was 186 00:10:28,359 --> 00:10:31,639 no one around to encourage me. 187 00:10:31,959 --> 00:10:33,559 My wife's been there, you've been there. 188 00:10:34,199 --> 00:10:35,639 I know we've all been there. 189 00:10:36,779 --> 00:10:41,299 Sitting alone or lying in bed alone, and you can't think of anybody 190 00:10:41,299 --> 00:10:41,819 to call. 191 00:10:42,379 --> 00:10:45,739 They're busy or they're out of town or your friend or whatever. 192 00:10:45,819 --> 00:10:49,499 And you don't want to call somebody and say, I need you to encourage 193 00:10:49,499 --> 00:10:49,819 me. 194 00:10:50,619 --> 00:10:55,179 It can be painful to not have anyone to encourage you. 195 00:10:56,539 --> 00:10:58,059 It can be agonizing. 196 00:10:59,019 --> 00:11:02,059 But God brought me through and he's brought many, many through through 197 00:11:02,059 --> 00:11:02,539 the years. 198 00:11:03,039 --> 00:11:04,599 He never left me nor forsook me. 199 00:11:04,599 --> 00:11:06,559 But sometimes with God's help. 200 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:10,359 Of course, there has been times when I've had to encourage 201 00:11:10,359 --> 00:11:10,879 myself. 202 00:11:13,359 --> 00:11:21,079 Not very long ago, just like you, the David here, a man after 203 00:11:21,079 --> 00:11:25,039 God's own heart, found himself totally alone. 204 00:11:26,159 --> 00:11:29,449 And it says he encouraged himself. 205 00:11:30,649 --> 00:11:31,729 Now, how do you do that? 206 00:11:31,729 --> 00:11:32,969 Is anybody interested? 207 00:11:32,969 --> 00:11:33,849 How do you do that? 208 00:11:34,409 --> 00:11:37,049 Some of you probably could make some pretty good guesses and 209 00:11:37,049 --> 00:11:39,009 probably come up with some good things that I. 210 00:11:39,009 --> 00:11:41,849 Maybe I even forgot to write down. 211 00:11:43,289 --> 00:11:46,569 But look in verse one again, in chapter 30. 212 00:11:47,529 --> 00:11:48,889 There was an invasion. 213 00:11:50,649 --> 00:11:51,689 They invaded. 214 00:11:51,849 --> 00:11:53,689 The Amalekites had invaded. 215 00:11:54,819 --> 00:11:56,019 You ever been invaded? 216 00:11:57,219 --> 00:12:01,059 Sometimes you get invaded with financial stress. 217 00:12:01,139 --> 00:12:06,219 Sometimes some family problems will just break in and come out of 218 00:12:06,219 --> 00:12:06,819 nowhere. 219 00:12:07,379 --> 00:12:11,299 Sometimes a call from the doctor, health problems. 220 00:12:12,179 --> 00:12:14,899 Sometimes depression can invade you. 221 00:12:16,259 --> 00:12:21,549 Sometimes guilt can invade your life. 222 00:12:22,829 --> 00:12:25,389 Loneliness, loss of a loved one. 223 00:12:26,349 --> 00:12:32,029 I think sometimes God may allow invasions in our life to remind 224 00:12:32,029 --> 00:12:33,709 us of how much we need him. 225 00:12:34,909 --> 00:12:37,349 Because sometimes we get to the place, well, Lord, I'll call 226 00:12:37,349 --> 00:12:40,669 you when I really, really need you. 227 00:12:41,709 --> 00:12:45,719 Well, the fact is, there's not a moment that we don't need God in 228 00:12:45,719 --> 00:12:45,959 him. 229 00:12:45,959 --> 00:12:48,039 We live and move and have our being. 230 00:12:48,999 --> 00:12:50,359 We're in the hand of God. 231 00:12:50,839 --> 00:12:52,199 If we're a child of God. 232 00:12:54,439 --> 00:12:59,119 And it says they captured his family, many of those men's family, 233 00:12:59,119 --> 00:13:01,879 their wives and their sons and their daughters. 234 00:13:01,879 --> 00:13:05,599 And that's another thing that's hard to deal with when your 235 00:13:05,599 --> 00:13:10,679 own loved ones are captured by sin or by the devil or by the world, 236 00:13:11,689 --> 00:13:14,529 and you love them and you pray for them and your heart breaks, but 237 00:13:14,529 --> 00:13:15,449 they're captured. 238 00:13:16,969 --> 00:13:19,929 David was shocked and he broke down at the scene. 239 00:13:20,809 --> 00:13:24,329 The pain of a broken heart filled with fear in Verse four. 240 00:13:25,129 --> 00:13:30,249 No one is exempt from being invaded like that. 241 00:13:31,609 --> 00:13:36,569 And to make it even worse, they blame David for it all. 242 00:13:38,869 --> 00:13:43,989 Grief caused the people to think irrational, but David encouraged 243 00:13:44,069 --> 00:13:46,389 himself in Lord, how did he do that? 244 00:13:46,629 --> 00:13:48,629 Well, I want to give you just a few. 245 00:13:49,429 --> 00:13:51,949 And I don't know if you ever write down anything. 246 00:13:51,949 --> 00:13:56,589 I wouldn't, not because I said it, but I think maybe it would be 247 00:13:56,589 --> 00:13:57,909 something to go to now and then. 248 00:13:57,909 --> 00:13:59,989 Or maybe you could share with someone. 249 00:14:00,149 --> 00:14:02,789 Maybe you would be called on to bring a devotion to someone. 250 00:14:03,619 --> 00:14:05,539 And they're very short and they're very simple. 251 00:14:06,099 --> 00:14:08,339 And some of them we say, oh, yeah, I know that. 252 00:14:08,339 --> 00:14:13,059 But sometimes when we're really discouraged and almost shocked 253 00:14:13,059 --> 00:14:15,619 into despair, I can't believe this happened. 254 00:14:16,739 --> 00:14:23,779 Sometimes we might need to remind ourselves, number one, to 255 00:14:23,779 --> 00:14:29,459 encourage yourself and myself, rehearse God's blessings and faithfulness 256 00:14:30,019 --> 00:14:30,659 in the past. 257 00:14:32,979 --> 00:14:33,939 Remember that song. 258 00:14:34,099 --> 00:14:38,499 My favorite verse song to Amazing Grace is the third verse. 259 00:14:38,499 --> 00:14:45,099 Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come his 260 00:14:45,099 --> 00:14:51,139 grace hath brought me safe thus far and his grace will lead 261 00:14:51,139 --> 00:14:51,699 me home. 262 00:14:52,659 --> 00:14:53,779 The children of Israel. 263 00:14:53,779 --> 00:14:56,939 God did so many amazing things, miraculous things, and they 264 00:14:56,939 --> 00:14:58,419 would forget about it all the time. 265 00:14:58,819 --> 00:15:01,619 They'd forget, say, oh, great, now we don't have any water. 266 00:15:01,619 --> 00:15:03,299 Oh, great, now we don't have any food. 267 00:15:03,699 --> 00:15:05,699 Oh, great, this has happened, that happened. 268 00:15:05,779 --> 00:15:09,619 And God will remind them, hey, I brought you through things before. 269 00:15:11,219 --> 00:15:12,699 But we have a short memory. 270 00:15:12,699 --> 00:15:18,859 Sometimes we remember things we ought to forget and we forget 271 00:15:18,859 --> 00:15:21,059 things we ought to remember. 272 00:15:22,499 --> 00:15:25,059 What have you ever needed that God has not supplied? 273 00:15:26,899 --> 00:15:29,659 You might have to think about it, but it probably wouldn't pop 274 00:15:29,659 --> 00:15:35,379 up very quickly because you look back and you say, my, I remember 275 00:15:35,379 --> 00:15:36,979 when I thought that was the end. 276 00:15:36,979 --> 00:15:37,579 This was it. 277 00:15:37,579 --> 00:15:38,899 We're going down right here. 278 00:15:40,499 --> 00:15:44,619 But God came through another thing. 279 00:15:44,619 --> 00:15:45,299 Number two. 280 00:15:45,459 --> 00:15:49,859 To encourage yourself in the Lord is to renew to yourself the 281 00:15:49,859 --> 00:15:51,789 need for God. 282 00:15:52,589 --> 00:15:56,189 You know, I can't understand all the theological depths of this, 283 00:15:56,829 --> 00:15:59,629 and I don't really want to get in a debate with anybody. 284 00:16:00,109 --> 00:16:01,149 But you know something? 285 00:16:01,149 --> 00:16:03,069 God has emotions. 286 00:16:04,509 --> 00:16:11,189 And God, sometimes his heart could be grieved because God wants 287 00:16:11,189 --> 00:16:12,109 to be needed. 288 00:16:12,829 --> 00:16:14,269 Now, I know that's a little strange. 289 00:16:14,269 --> 00:16:17,839 God, who holds everything, created everything, can do anything 290 00:16:17,839 --> 00:16:22,399 but fail that God wants to be needed. 291 00:16:24,639 --> 00:16:28,879 He made us in his image and we call him a father, our Heavenly Father. 292 00:16:30,479 --> 00:16:35,279 And there's not a Father here tonight that doesn't enjoy. 293 00:16:36,239 --> 00:16:38,079 Especially when them children are young. 294 00:16:38,559 --> 00:16:40,399 They say, dad, can you help me? 295 00:16:40,799 --> 00:16:41,999 Mom, can you help me? 296 00:16:41,999 --> 00:16:42,639 I need you. 297 00:16:43,459 --> 00:16:45,299 Can you please Help me, I need something. 298 00:16:48,339 --> 00:16:51,579 I really think any man, if he's honest, would say, yeah, that 299 00:16:51,579 --> 00:16:52,579 did feel pretty good. 300 00:16:54,019 --> 00:16:57,939 And don't you find that as they grow up, even though they still 301 00:16:57,939 --> 00:17:01,699 need you and you still try to be there, but you miss sometimes 302 00:17:02,739 --> 00:17:03,619 being needed? 303 00:17:06,019 --> 00:17:07,619 That's another sermon, by the way. 304 00:17:07,619 --> 00:17:13,309 But a lot of elderly people might have lived longer had they 305 00:17:13,309 --> 00:17:15,149 felt like they weren't needed anymore. 306 00:17:16,429 --> 00:17:19,789 And sometimes we forget that it's not easy. 307 00:17:20,989 --> 00:17:25,709 We all want to be needed and we need to remind and we need to 308 00:17:25,709 --> 00:17:28,429 renew that God wants to be needed. 309 00:17:28,429 --> 00:17:31,869 Lord, I need thee every hour, the songwriter sang. 310 00:17:32,989 --> 00:17:37,529 And then thirdly, these all begin with the letter R. The third 311 00:17:37,529 --> 00:17:43,369 one is to rely upon the Holy Spirit, who, not for coincidence, 312 00:17:43,449 --> 00:17:46,969 but Jesus said he would call him a comforter. 313 00:17:47,609 --> 00:17:52,089 I'm going to send you a comforter, you say, well, I need 314 00:17:52,089 --> 00:17:52,809 a lot of comfort. 315 00:17:52,809 --> 00:17:53,689 Well, so do I. 316 00:17:54,009 --> 00:17:56,249 But let me tell you something, a little secret. 317 00:17:57,769 --> 00:18:03,149 The Holy Spirit can't comfort you unless you let him control you. 318 00:18:05,389 --> 00:18:07,629 It's called yielding to the Holy Spirit. 319 00:18:08,109 --> 00:18:10,509 It's called being filled with the Holy Spirit. 320 00:18:10,989 --> 00:18:12,469 Everybody wants God's comfort. 321 00:18:12,469 --> 00:18:15,549 Everybody wants the spirit of God to soothe and comfort. 322 00:18:16,189 --> 00:18:19,749 But a lot of people don't want the Holy Spirit dominating their 323 00:18:19,749 --> 00:18:20,029 life. 324 00:18:21,309 --> 00:18:23,229 They don't want them tell them how to live. 325 00:18:24,189 --> 00:18:26,429 They don't like that feeling of conviction. 326 00:18:26,429 --> 00:18:27,929 They want to feel comfortable. 327 00:18:30,559 --> 00:18:34,159 We need to learn to rely on the Holy Spirit and say, lord, I 328 00:18:34,159 --> 00:18:35,039 don't know what to do. 329 00:18:35,439 --> 00:18:36,559 I need encouragement. 330 00:18:36,559 --> 00:18:37,839 There's nobody I don't have. 331 00:18:37,919 --> 00:18:39,279 I can't call anybody. 332 00:18:39,679 --> 00:18:41,199 I can't get to anybody. 333 00:18:41,759 --> 00:18:44,799 I'm trying to not quit and stay the course. 334 00:18:46,639 --> 00:18:49,759 Holy Spirit, please comfort me. 335 00:18:51,919 --> 00:18:56,089 The third thing, if you want to try to encourage yourself, and 336 00:18:56,089 --> 00:19:01,689 if it hasn't come, it will remind yourself of God's promises. 337 00:19:04,249 --> 00:19:06,329 How many are there promises in the Bible? 338 00:19:06,329 --> 00:19:08,129 I really tell you the truth. 339 00:19:08,129 --> 00:19:11,129 I've read preachers and heard them quote exactly the number. 340 00:19:11,209 --> 00:19:12,649 I've never counted them all. 341 00:19:13,689 --> 00:19:17,449 I probably should, but I've never counted how many hundreds or 342 00:19:17,449 --> 00:19:18,489 thousands of promises. 343 00:19:19,539 --> 00:19:20,019 The Bible. 344 00:19:20,739 --> 00:19:22,579 But I love that song, don't you? 345 00:19:23,299 --> 00:19:28,499 Standing on the promises, I cannot fail. 346 00:19:31,219 --> 00:19:31,859 Amen. 347 00:19:32,179 --> 00:19:35,539 Standing on the promises, I cannot fall. 348 00:19:36,979 --> 00:19:42,019 Because what God promises, God performs. 349 00:19:43,939 --> 00:19:48,659 Abraham, the Bible says, stagger not at the promises of God. 350 00:19:49,139 --> 00:19:51,219 He relied on the promises of God. 351 00:19:53,459 --> 00:19:55,899 Isn't that really what keeps you going as well? 352 00:19:55,899 --> 00:19:58,499 I don't know how or when, but God promised. 353 00:19:59,139 --> 00:20:02,019 And sometimes our faith may run a little thin. 354 00:20:02,979 --> 00:20:04,739 But what keeps us going is God. 355 00:20:04,739 --> 00:20:08,179 You promised and I'm gonna live on that promise. 356 00:20:09,139 --> 00:20:10,739 God likes that, by the way. 357 00:20:11,539 --> 00:20:15,959 He didn't just make promises for us to read, he made promises 358 00:20:15,959 --> 00:20:18,239 for us to live by and to live on. 359 00:20:19,999 --> 00:20:21,919 Remind yourself of God's promises. 360 00:20:22,959 --> 00:20:27,079 And then number five, and this one may sound a little strange, but 361 00:20:27,079 --> 00:20:31,119 it'll help you to encourage yourself, reach out to other people. 362 00:20:32,239 --> 00:20:33,359 That's a little hard. 363 00:20:34,399 --> 00:20:41,209 My pastor, who's 87 years old, lives in Florida, just had a birthday 364 00:20:42,329 --> 00:20:46,569 and he preached so many sermons that changed my life. 365 00:20:47,529 --> 00:20:50,369 And some of them you may not think were very deep, but they just 366 00:20:50,369 --> 00:20:50,729 stuck. 367 00:20:50,729 --> 00:20:53,209 One of them was staying the boat and there were several others. 368 00:20:54,249 --> 00:20:57,969 But I remember distinctly one Sunday when I was there as a teenager 369 00:20:57,969 --> 00:21:04,409 and he preached five wizard words of all sermons to remember. 370 00:21:04,729 --> 00:21:09,669 And he said, get your mind off yourself. 371 00:21:11,349 --> 00:21:13,549 And I mean, I can hear him right now and see him. 372 00:21:13,549 --> 00:21:16,349 And he'd come down from the pulpit and he'd look at people and 373 00:21:16,349 --> 00:21:18,029 put his finger almost right in their face. 374 00:21:18,029 --> 00:21:19,669 Get your mind off yourself. 375 00:21:21,589 --> 00:21:24,949 It'll change you, it'll change the perspective. 376 00:21:26,389 --> 00:21:30,189 One of the hardest things we have to do is to quit thinking about 377 00:21:30,189 --> 00:21:30,789 ourselves. 378 00:21:33,119 --> 00:21:33,999 Woe is me. 379 00:21:34,399 --> 00:21:36,359 Why did God happen this to me? 380 00:21:36,359 --> 00:21:39,679 By the way, have you ever think, you say, well, I just, I've 381 00:21:39,679 --> 00:21:42,879 just had a bad week or a bad month or a bad year and I just can't 382 00:21:42,879 --> 00:21:44,799 think of a lot of things to thank God for. 383 00:21:45,039 --> 00:21:48,159 Have you ever thanked God for things that hasn't happened to you? 384 00:21:51,999 --> 00:21:55,839 I'm not minimizing your pain or your burden or your trials. 385 00:21:57,129 --> 00:21:58,009 We don't need that. 386 00:21:58,249 --> 00:21:58,889 We know. 387 00:22:00,169 --> 00:22:05,049 But it's amazing when we start giving to others and calling others 388 00:22:05,689 --> 00:22:09,769 and encouraging others, how it will affect you. 389 00:22:10,969 --> 00:22:12,249 It's a law in the Bible. 390 00:22:12,249 --> 00:22:13,529 You know what that law is called? 391 00:22:13,529 --> 00:22:15,209 The law of sowing and reaping. 392 00:22:16,489 --> 00:22:18,169 It's a fail proof law. 393 00:22:18,889 --> 00:22:20,249 You reap what you sow. 394 00:22:22,089 --> 00:22:25,619 I've been, I talked to people for years that are suffering from 395 00:22:25,619 --> 00:22:26,179 loneliness. 396 00:22:26,179 --> 00:22:30,179 And that's a very difficult thing to deal with when you feel 397 00:22:30,179 --> 00:22:31,539 like you don't have anybody. 398 00:22:32,659 --> 00:22:35,579 But I often would remind them that scripture, he that would have 399 00:22:35,579 --> 00:22:38,739 friends must show himself friendly. 400 00:22:39,859 --> 00:22:43,419 Instead of waiting on somebody to come and shake your hand or someone 401 00:22:43,419 --> 00:22:51,549 to call you and make you feel better, for you to reach out to others 402 00:22:52,829 --> 00:23:01,469 and sow a seed of kindness or of encouragement or be a blessing. 403 00:23:02,109 --> 00:23:07,309 And according to the word of God, it'll come back to you. 404 00:23:08,589 --> 00:23:12,789 It doesn't say it'll happen in 10 seconds, may not happen in a minute 405 00:23:12,789 --> 00:23:14,669 or an Hour, maybe not even a day. 406 00:23:15,909 --> 00:23:21,269 But God promises, whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 407 00:23:21,669 --> 00:23:25,269 We often think of that in a more negative thing about sin and 408 00:23:25,269 --> 00:23:25,949 worldliness. 409 00:23:25,949 --> 00:23:30,109 And when we sow discord and all that, and we're gonna get that 410 00:23:30,109 --> 00:23:32,629 back, it works both ways. 411 00:23:32,629 --> 00:23:34,909 But it's not just to be in a negative sense. 412 00:23:34,909 --> 00:23:36,229 It can be very positive. 413 00:23:37,429 --> 00:23:40,389 I used to challenge people, hey, just find out what is your greatest 414 00:23:40,389 --> 00:23:45,939 need and go out and sow seeds of that need. 415 00:23:46,499 --> 00:23:50,579 Sow what you want, sow what you need, sow it to someone else 416 00:23:50,819 --> 00:23:57,939 and see if it'll come back to you, how to encourage yourself. 417 00:23:58,659 --> 00:24:02,339 And then number six, resist the devil. 418 00:24:02,419 --> 00:24:05,859 You say, oh, sure, yeah. 419 00:24:06,749 --> 00:24:10,109 A lot of people forget that just before that Bible says, resist 420 00:24:10,109 --> 00:24:11,789 the devil and he will flee from you. 421 00:24:12,029 --> 00:24:18,109 The verse right up above that said, submit yourselves one to another, 422 00:24:18,909 --> 00:24:23,149 then resist the devil and he will flee from you. 423 00:24:23,789 --> 00:24:24,429 Submission. 424 00:24:24,669 --> 00:24:26,189 Yeah, yeah. 425 00:24:26,189 --> 00:24:26,749 Submission. 426 00:24:27,149 --> 00:24:28,589 It's not all about me. 427 00:24:29,069 --> 00:24:30,429 It's not all about you. 428 00:24:31,389 --> 00:24:32,709 My way or the highway. 429 00:24:32,709 --> 00:24:35,129 No, no. 430 00:24:35,609 --> 00:24:40,609 As Christians, we resist the devil. 431 00:24:40,609 --> 00:24:45,249 Doesn't know what to do when we have a submissive spirit. 432 00:24:45,249 --> 00:24:47,929 Say, whatever you think's best. 433 00:24:48,489 --> 00:24:50,369 I'm for it if it's right. 434 00:24:50,369 --> 00:24:52,729 If it's biblical, let's do it. 435 00:24:54,569 --> 00:24:56,969 That takes some faith sometimes to do that. 436 00:24:58,009 --> 00:25:01,999 But the devil gets a little fidgety when we do that because we. 437 00:25:02,319 --> 00:25:03,759 We're all made of the same stuff. 438 00:25:03,759 --> 00:25:05,119 We all have a sin nature. 439 00:25:05,439 --> 00:25:09,799 And the nature says, wait a minute, what about this? 440 00:25:09,799 --> 00:25:11,439 And how's that going to affect me? 441 00:25:12,319 --> 00:25:14,599 And how's that going to affect my family? 442 00:25:14,599 --> 00:25:15,359 And how's it. 443 00:25:15,359 --> 00:25:17,199 Yeah, we ought to consider those things. 444 00:25:17,199 --> 00:25:21,439 But we don't make our decisions based on whether I like 445 00:25:21,439 --> 00:25:21,999 it or not. 446 00:25:24,239 --> 00:25:24,959 You're welcome. 447 00:25:24,959 --> 00:25:28,319 I'm just telling you, that's what the Bible teaches. 448 00:25:29,379 --> 00:25:29,939 Submission. 449 00:25:29,939 --> 00:25:35,459 And every fiber in our bodies says, me first. 450 00:25:37,539 --> 00:25:42,579 And that's really the sin of all men, is selfishness. 451 00:25:42,579 --> 00:25:43,339 That's really what it is. 452 00:25:43,339 --> 00:25:44,899 That's why Adam and Eve sinned. 453 00:25:45,539 --> 00:25:46,059 Selfish. 454 00:25:46,059 --> 00:25:49,059 They were thinking about, I want to find out what it's like. 455 00:25:49,059 --> 00:25:50,499 I want to eat of that fruit. 456 00:25:52,579 --> 00:25:53,619 They were selfish. 457 00:25:54,189 --> 00:25:55,629 That's the root of all sin. 458 00:25:57,149 --> 00:26:01,149 And when you get saved, all of a sudden, now somebody else moves 459 00:26:01,149 --> 00:26:04,429 into your life, the Holy Spirit, and you get a new nature, 460 00:26:04,429 --> 00:26:05,789 which is the nature of Christ. 461 00:26:05,789 --> 00:26:08,429 You still have the old nature that says, me first. 462 00:26:09,229 --> 00:26:10,749 And now you got a new nature. 463 00:26:12,189 --> 00:26:15,149 Others first, and they fight all the time. 464 00:26:16,749 --> 00:26:21,519 But as you grow in your walk with God and fill your mind and heart, 465 00:26:21,519 --> 00:26:25,879 and life with the word of God, yield to the spirit of God. 466 00:26:26,679 --> 00:26:31,239 You'll find out quickly that if you have a submissive spirit. 467 00:26:32,199 --> 00:26:37,799 Can you picture Jesus rebelling because he didn't get his 468 00:26:37,799 --> 00:26:38,119 way? 469 00:26:40,919 --> 00:26:43,319 He was meek, not weak, but he was meek. 470 00:26:43,879 --> 00:26:45,879 He had strength, but it was under control. 471 00:26:48,359 --> 00:26:50,199 And he put others before himself. 472 00:26:52,279 --> 00:26:53,759 And then rejoice in the Lord. 473 00:26:53,759 --> 00:26:55,439 That's a good way to encourage yourself. 474 00:26:55,439 --> 00:26:59,119 And that everything I'm telling you tonight is a matter of 475 00:26:59,119 --> 00:26:59,559 faith. 476 00:27:00,279 --> 00:27:03,159 It's saying, okay, God, you said, rejoice in everything. 477 00:27:03,319 --> 00:27:06,759 No, he didn't say be thankful for everything. 478 00:27:06,759 --> 00:27:09,079 He said, in everything. 479 00:27:09,639 --> 00:27:13,159 Give thanks that you only can do that by faith. 480 00:27:14,179 --> 00:27:15,299 Lord, I don't like it. 481 00:27:16,179 --> 00:27:16,979 It's hurting. 482 00:27:17,619 --> 00:27:18,979 I don't understand it. 483 00:27:18,979 --> 00:27:20,499 I'm torn up inside. 484 00:27:21,139 --> 00:27:22,499 I'm so disappointed. 485 00:27:23,219 --> 00:27:27,699 But Lord, I've been taught and I've read it myself in the Bible. 486 00:27:29,298 --> 00:27:38,059 All things work together to them that love God and to them who 487 00:27:38,059 --> 00:27:39,619 are the called according to his purpose. 488 00:27:39,779 --> 00:27:42,099 I wish I could stand here tonight and say, that's what I always 489 00:27:42,099 --> 00:27:42,499 do. 490 00:27:43,479 --> 00:27:44,559 No, I don't always do it. 491 00:27:44,559 --> 00:27:45,639 But there are some times. 492 00:27:46,759 --> 00:27:53,319 There are some times that I say, lord, I don't have any idea 493 00:27:54,439 --> 00:27:58,599 how you're going to bring a triumph out of tragedy. 494 00:28:00,279 --> 00:28:04,199 How are you going to bring praise out of pain? 495 00:28:05,319 --> 00:28:09,239 But Lord, give me the grace and we'll just wait and say, I'm 496 00:28:09,239 --> 00:28:12,249 going to trust you, just going to trust you. 497 00:28:14,249 --> 00:28:22,449 My flesh says, throw a fit, but the Holy Spirit says, I'll take 498 00:28:22,449 --> 00:28:23,049 care of it. 499 00:28:24,729 --> 00:28:29,689 When you need to encourage yourself, read the Scriptures. 500 00:28:30,169 --> 00:28:34,009 Have you ever been discouraged by reading the Bible? 501 00:28:36,979 --> 00:28:39,779 You know, a lot of people try to read the Bible and they say, I 502 00:28:39,779 --> 00:28:41,059 don't get anything out of it. 503 00:28:41,219 --> 00:28:42,139 And they read it. 504 00:28:42,139 --> 00:28:43,619 But listen, let me tell you something. 505 00:28:43,939 --> 00:28:47,459 And I think I've said this from this pulpit before, but this 506 00:28:47,459 --> 00:28:50,139 is really, really worth writing down. 507 00:28:50,139 --> 00:28:50,739 It's not. 508 00:28:50,899 --> 00:28:56,259 In fact, Powell Johnson, you remember him, he's in heaven now. 509 00:28:57,139 --> 00:28:59,139 But I credit him with that saying. 510 00:28:59,139 --> 00:29:00,739 I never asked him, where did you get that? 511 00:29:00,739 --> 00:29:03,059 But I have quoted it hundreds of times. 512 00:29:04,099 --> 00:29:09,219 He said this, don't read the Bible to please God. 513 00:29:10,579 --> 00:29:13,059 Read the Bible to know God. 514 00:29:15,539 --> 00:29:16,819 I've never forgotten it. 515 00:29:18,499 --> 00:29:20,699 We feel guilty if we don't read the Bible. 516 00:29:20,699 --> 00:29:22,659 So we grab a verse or grab the book. 517 00:29:23,939 --> 00:29:25,779 And that's better than nothing, I guess. 518 00:29:25,859 --> 00:29:28,419 I'm sure the word of God will not return void. 519 00:29:30,419 --> 00:29:34,259 But God says, I want you to read it so you can understand why 520 00:29:34,259 --> 00:29:38,899 I do what I do and to learn to trust me. 521 00:29:40,339 --> 00:29:46,379 Open that Bible and say, God, I want to know you better so that 522 00:29:46,379 --> 00:29:47,539 I can trust you better. 523 00:29:48,499 --> 00:29:50,339 It's hard to trust somebody you don't know. 524 00:29:51,539 --> 00:29:56,509 And nobody can really know God until they get saved. 525 00:29:57,469 --> 00:29:58,509 Let me show you a verse. 526 00:29:58,509 --> 00:29:59,349 I'm almost through. 527 00:29:59,349 --> 00:30:01,029 But hold your finger there. 528 00:30:01,029 --> 00:30:02,349 But look at Jeremiah. 529 00:30:02,509 --> 00:30:03,869 Can you find that pretty quick? 530 00:30:04,749 --> 00:30:12,109 Jeremiah, chapter number nine, verse number 24. 531 00:30:12,109 --> 00:30:16,349 I've had it underlined in almost every Bible I've got. 532 00:30:17,869 --> 00:30:21,639 But in Jeremiah, chapter 9, verse 24. 533 00:30:23,079 --> 00:30:24,439 Well, look at verse 23. 534 00:30:24,999 --> 00:30:26,239 Thus saith the Lord. 535 00:30:26,239 --> 00:30:28,599 Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom. 536 00:30:28,599 --> 00:30:30,759 Neither let the mighty man glory in his might. 537 00:30:30,999 --> 00:30:34,319 Let not the rich man glory in his riches, but let him that glorieth 538 00:30:34,319 --> 00:30:35,079 glory in this. 539 00:30:35,798 --> 00:30:36,519 Watch this. 540 00:30:37,079 --> 00:30:43,799 That he understandeth and knoweth me that I am the Lord which 541 00:30:43,799 --> 00:30:49,019 exercise loving kindness, judgment and righteousness in the 542 00:30:49,019 --> 00:30:49,419 earth. 543 00:30:49,899 --> 00:30:53,979 For in these things I delight, saith the Lord. 544 00:30:54,859 --> 00:30:58,459 When we say, God, I want to know you, God doesn't say, well, 545 00:30:58,539 --> 00:30:59,099 you can. 546 00:30:59,099 --> 00:31:00,059 It's none of your business. 547 00:31:00,219 --> 00:31:01,979 No, God wants you to know him. 548 00:31:02,379 --> 00:31:03,819 He wants to reveal himself. 549 00:31:03,979 --> 00:31:08,859 But God doesn't speak in verbal words. 550 00:31:09,499 --> 00:31:10,939 He speaks through the Bible. 551 00:31:13,189 --> 00:31:16,349 And so the devil says, the first thing top of my list is to 552 00:31:16,349 --> 00:31:20,309 keep Christians out of the Bible because they'll get to know 553 00:31:20,309 --> 00:31:20,869 God better. 554 00:31:20,869 --> 00:31:23,429 And the better they know God, the more they'll trust God. 555 00:31:25,749 --> 00:31:29,029 The Bible, read the Scriptures. 556 00:31:31,029 --> 00:31:34,869 And then number nine, release your will. 557 00:31:37,679 --> 00:31:40,479 You know, we get discouraged because our will wasn't done. 558 00:31:41,119 --> 00:31:45,039 That's usually what discourages Lord, I'm upset. 559 00:31:45,999 --> 00:31:46,639 I prayed. 560 00:31:46,639 --> 00:31:48,559 You told me to pray, and it's not working. 561 00:31:51,599 --> 00:31:58,239 Instead of saying, lord, not my will, but thy will, I'm gonna 562 00:31:58,239 --> 00:31:58,959 keep telling you this. 563 00:31:58,959 --> 00:32:00,719 I've already said it a dozen times. 564 00:32:01,439 --> 00:32:03,999 This is easy to preach, it's not easy to practice. 565 00:32:05,059 --> 00:32:11,059 It takes faith in the help and the grace of God to say, okay, Lord, 566 00:32:11,939 --> 00:32:13,539 I'm gonna let go of my will. 567 00:32:14,979 --> 00:32:16,099 Your will be done. 568 00:32:17,779 --> 00:32:22,179 Didn't Jesus pray that prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane? 569 00:32:22,739 --> 00:32:24,419 It's not an easy prayer to pray. 570 00:32:25,219 --> 00:32:26,419 We all have a will. 571 00:32:27,459 --> 00:32:30,019 We all have some special things that we want. 572 00:32:30,359 --> 00:32:31,879 And they may not be bad things. 573 00:32:32,679 --> 00:32:36,439 It may not be something God is against. 574 00:32:37,079 --> 00:32:38,279 It may not be that at all. 575 00:32:38,279 --> 00:32:39,319 It could be a good thing. 576 00:32:39,319 --> 00:32:40,839 But God's got a better thing. 577 00:32:42,519 --> 00:32:46,039 No good thing will he withhold from him that walketh uprightly? 578 00:32:46,519 --> 00:32:49,559 God takes pleasure in the prosperity of his servants. 579 00:32:50,839 --> 00:32:52,679 You're gonna have to encourage yourself. 580 00:32:52,679 --> 00:32:54,759 You need to release your will. 581 00:32:54,759 --> 00:32:56,999 And then number 10, retreat in prayer. 582 00:32:58,399 --> 00:32:59,439 Get Alone with God. 583 00:32:59,759 --> 00:33:02,719 And it's getting hard to find time to do that these days. 584 00:33:03,599 --> 00:33:09,439 I mean, you gotta get up early to find peace and quiet and uninterruption 585 00:33:10,319 --> 00:33:11,759 and get alone with God. 586 00:33:12,559 --> 00:33:16,239 If you have a place that you can go during the day or the evening, 587 00:33:17,279 --> 00:33:18,319 that's a good thing. 588 00:33:19,199 --> 00:33:21,199 Cause this world is awful noisy. 589 00:33:22,479 --> 00:33:26,239 A lot of shouting and a lot of voices screaming at us all the time. 590 00:33:27,509 --> 00:33:31,069 But you want to be encouraged when no one is around to encourage 591 00:33:31,069 --> 00:33:31,349 you. 592 00:33:33,109 --> 00:33:35,589 Retreat and get alone with God. 593 00:33:37,029 --> 00:33:39,669 And then number nine. 594 00:33:40,949 --> 00:33:47,509 Remember not who you are, but remember whose you are. 595 00:33:49,589 --> 00:33:51,909 You belong to the Lord. 596 00:33:53,329 --> 00:33:55,649 Bought and paid for. 597 00:33:59,249 --> 00:34:00,449 That makes you pretty important. 598 00:34:00,849 --> 00:34:03,249 I heard a little saying the other day. 599 00:34:05,249 --> 00:34:09,889 Somebody said, well, you may not think much of me, but God says 600 00:34:09,889 --> 00:34:11,089 I'm worth dying for. 601 00:34:14,849 --> 00:34:16,089 God died for you. 602 00:34:16,089 --> 00:34:17,089 He gave his son. 603 00:34:17,169 --> 00:34:18,609 Christ died for you. 604 00:34:20,559 --> 00:34:21,599 You belong to him. 605 00:34:23,919 --> 00:34:24,239 You. 606 00:34:24,239 --> 00:34:25,999 Are you God. 607 00:34:26,479 --> 00:34:30,479 Listen, God takes pleasure in his people. 608 00:34:30,559 --> 00:34:31,919 That's why he created you. 609 00:34:32,879 --> 00:34:34,959 Book of Revelation, chapter four. 610 00:34:35,839 --> 00:34:36,799 We were created. 611 00:34:36,799 --> 00:34:38,399 It says for his pleasure. 612 00:34:40,719 --> 00:34:42,399 Does God take pleasure in you? 613 00:34:43,919 --> 00:34:45,479 Does he love to hear you pray? 614 00:34:45,479 --> 00:34:49,009 Does he like watching you when you get alone and open your Bible? 615 00:34:49,969 --> 00:34:53,009 Does God take pleasure in watching you tell other people about 616 00:34:53,009 --> 00:34:53,969 how great he is? 617 00:34:55,169 --> 00:34:57,729 Oh, that's what God created us for. 618 00:34:59,329 --> 00:34:59,969 Amen. 619 00:35:01,809 --> 00:35:03,968 God created us for his pleasure. 620 00:35:09,729 --> 00:35:10,929 Remember whose you are. 621 00:35:10,929 --> 00:35:12,209 I'm a child of the king. 622 00:35:12,289 --> 00:35:18,029 The song says, if all God needed was servants, don't you think 623 00:35:18,029 --> 00:35:20,229 he'd have come up with better servants than we are? 624 00:35:21,669 --> 00:35:22,469 Oh, yeah. 625 00:35:22,629 --> 00:35:23,949 He wants us to serve him. 626 00:35:23,949 --> 00:35:25,269 But that wasn't the main reason. 627 00:35:25,269 --> 00:35:29,149 He needed a bunch of slaves to go around the world and work for 628 00:35:29,149 --> 00:35:29,509 him. 629 00:35:30,789 --> 00:35:32,869 No, I want to enjoy you. 630 00:35:33,589 --> 00:35:37,749 Before Adam and Eve sinned, God would walk with Adam in the garden. 631 00:35:38,389 --> 00:35:40,719 That's a hard one to figure out. 632 00:35:40,959 --> 00:35:43,999 What would that be like, to walk with Jesus in a garden? 633 00:35:45,039 --> 00:35:46,639 That was Jesus in the garden. 634 00:35:46,879 --> 00:35:47,999 God's a spirit. 635 00:35:47,999 --> 00:35:49,119 He don't have legs. 636 00:35:49,999 --> 00:35:55,279 Jesus, who was equal to God the Father took upon himself a human 637 00:35:55,439 --> 00:35:59,039 form many times in the scriptures before he was ever born 638 00:35:59,039 --> 00:35:59,839 in Bethlehem. 639 00:36:01,119 --> 00:36:02,399 He walked with Adam. 640 00:36:03,599 --> 00:36:05,119 And God wants to walk with you. 641 00:36:06,039 --> 00:36:08,919 The only problem is, how can two walk together, except they agree 642 00:36:11,479 --> 00:36:13,639 you and God have to be on the same page. 643 00:36:16,199 --> 00:36:17,759 But God says, I want to walk with you. 644 00:36:17,759 --> 00:36:18,759 That's why I made you. 645 00:36:20,599 --> 00:36:21,799 That's why I made you. 646 00:36:23,959 --> 00:36:27,559 And then resume. 647 00:36:28,839 --> 00:36:30,359 What do I mean by resume? 648 00:36:30,439 --> 00:36:32,469 Continue what you're doing. 649 00:36:32,469 --> 00:36:35,989 When you're discouraged, just encourage yourself the best you can 650 00:36:36,069 --> 00:36:37,109 and press on. 651 00:36:39,109 --> 00:36:39,989 Don't quit. 652 00:36:43,829 --> 00:36:44,629 Don't quit. 653 00:36:46,149 --> 00:36:51,389 Rest in the love of God, that his love is unlimited and it's undeserved 654 00:36:51,389 --> 00:36:53,109 and it's unmatched and it's unending. 655 00:36:53,429 --> 00:36:55,349 God will never stop loving you. 656 00:36:55,749 --> 00:36:56,869 I'm persuaded. 657 00:36:56,869 --> 00:37:00,069 Paul said that neither life nor death, nor angels, nor principalities, 658 00:37:00,069 --> 00:37:01,049 nor powers nor. 659 00:37:01,119 --> 00:37:04,359 Nor things present, nor things to come, nor any other creature shall 660 00:37:04,359 --> 00:37:07,839 be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ 661 00:37:07,839 --> 00:37:09,039 Jesus our Lord. 662 00:37:09,839 --> 00:37:12,639 You can't do anything to make God stop loving you. 663 00:37:12,639 --> 00:37:13,919 You can break his heart. 664 00:37:14,799 --> 00:37:16,319 You can grieve his heart. 665 00:37:17,279 --> 00:37:18,719 He can be disappointed. 666 00:37:20,399 --> 00:37:21,839 He can't stop loving you. 667 00:37:22,479 --> 00:37:26,579 He loved you even before you were born. 668 00:37:26,729 --> 00:37:30,969 He knew what kind of life we would have, and yet he died. 669 00:37:33,369 --> 00:37:35,129 We can do all things through Christ. 670 00:37:38,329 --> 00:37:38,969 Amen. 671 00:37:40,329 --> 00:37:42,329 Encouraging yourself in the Lord I have. 672 00:37:42,409 --> 00:37:45,689 This is an old poem, and I don't read a lot of poems. 673 00:37:46,489 --> 00:37:50,649 But I have this one hanging on my wall in my office at home. 674 00:37:52,259 --> 00:37:53,859 And I used to have it in my office at the church. 675 00:37:53,859 --> 00:37:57,779 And when I'd go out right by the light switch, I'd see this little 676 00:37:57,779 --> 00:37:58,179 poem. 677 00:38:00,019 --> 00:38:01,819 You will know it when I start reading to you. 678 00:38:01,819 --> 00:38:02,659 It's not very long. 679 00:38:03,619 --> 00:38:04,819 It's called Don't Quit. 680 00:38:06,899 --> 00:38:12,899 When things go wrong, as they sometimes will when the road you're 681 00:38:12,899 --> 00:38:19,669 trudging seems all uphill when the funds are low and the debts are 682 00:38:19,669 --> 00:38:26,789 high and you want to smile but you have to sigh when care is pressing 683 00:38:26,789 --> 00:38:28,149 you down a bit. 684 00:38:29,029 --> 00:38:31,829 Rest if you must, but don't quit. 685 00:38:34,149 --> 00:38:39,229 Life is strange with its twists and turns as every one of 686 00:38:39,229 --> 00:38:45,229 us sometimes learns and many a fellow turns about when he might 687 00:38:45,229 --> 00:38:46,709 have won had he stuck it out. 688 00:38:48,429 --> 00:38:49,149 Don't give up. 689 00:38:49,709 --> 00:38:55,549 Though the pace seem slow, you may succeed with another blow. 690 00:38:56,829 --> 00:39:02,109 Often the goal is nearer than it seems to a faint and faltering 691 00:39:02,589 --> 00:39:02,989 man. 692 00:39:04,109 --> 00:39:07,829 Often the struggler has given up when he might have captured the 693 00:39:07,829 --> 00:39:12,509 victor's cup and he learned too late when the night came down 694 00:39:13,059 --> 00:39:16,499 how close he was to the golden crown. 695 00:39:17,699 --> 00:39:22,779 Success is failure turned inside out the silver tint of the 696 00:39:22,779 --> 00:39:28,339 clouds of doubt and when you never can tell how close you are 697 00:39:29,379 --> 00:39:35,779 it may be near when it seems so far so stick to the fight when 698 00:39:35,779 --> 00:39:42,429 you're hardest hit and it's when things seem worse that you must 699 00:39:42,429 --> 00:39:43,469 not quit. 700 00:39:45,389 --> 00:39:48,189 Would you stand with your heads bowed and eyes closed for just 701 00:39:48,189 --> 00:39:48,749 a moment? 702 00:39:49,389 --> 00:39:51,549 David encouraged himself in the Lord. 703 00:39:52,829 --> 00:39:55,229 It takes faith to do that, and God will help you. 704 00:39:55,229 --> 00:39:56,589 He wants to help you do that. 705 00:39:57,629 --> 00:39:58,909 God doesn't want you to quit. 706 00:39:58,909 --> 00:39:59,869 That's not his will. 707 00:40:01,629 --> 00:40:03,069 The devil wants you to quit. 708 00:40:05,239 --> 00:40:07,879 But God may have spoken to your heart tonight, and you may be 709 00:40:07,879 --> 00:40:11,759 dealing with some things you have not even told your wife or your 710 00:40:11,759 --> 00:40:16,279 husband or your parents or your children or your friends. 711 00:40:16,919 --> 00:40:18,519 Nobody knows but you and God. 712 00:40:19,479 --> 00:40:23,439 And you may be at that place where you're just almost at the stage 713 00:40:23,439 --> 00:40:25,239 of saying, I can't go on. 714 00:40:26,679 --> 00:40:27,319 I'm done. 715 00:40:27,399 --> 00:40:28,199 I'm through. 716 00:40:28,919 --> 00:40:30,559 I'm just gonna coast into heaven. 717 00:40:30,559 --> 00:40:32,599 I know I'm saved, but I can't go any further. 718 00:40:33,699 --> 00:40:37,699 Maybe you're there and the Holy Spirit is saying, hold it right 719 00:40:37,699 --> 00:40:37,979 there. 720 00:40:37,979 --> 00:40:38,299 Stop. 721 00:40:38,299 --> 00:40:39,459 Don't go another step. 722 00:40:40,739 --> 00:40:41,699 Let me help you. 723 00:40:42,979 --> 00:40:44,179 Will you be helped? 724 00:40:45,459 --> 00:40:46,979 God says, let me touch you. 725 00:40:47,139 --> 00:40:48,179 Are you touchable? 726 00:40:49,539 --> 00:40:50,579 Are you teachable? 727 00:40:52,659 --> 00:40:54,699 We're gonna sing a verse or hear a verse. 728 00:40:54,699 --> 00:40:56,419 Maybe sing a little of invitation. 729 00:40:57,619 --> 00:40:58,559 Sweet hour of prayer. 730 00:40:59,829 --> 00:41:03,349 Aren't you glad that God doesn't measure our prayers by minutes 731 00:41:03,349 --> 00:41:03,909 or hours? 732 00:41:05,349 --> 00:41:08,269 If you could pray an hour, that doesn't mean your prayer is 733 00:41:08,269 --> 00:41:12,469 more important and better than somebody else who only prays 10 seconds. 734 00:41:14,149 --> 00:41:17,189 But I think most of us would agree that we don't spend enough 735 00:41:17,189 --> 00:41:18,149 time in prayer. 736 00:41:19,669 --> 00:41:25,119 And it's not easy to do but talking to God. 737 00:41:25,439 --> 00:41:28,519 If you'd like to come tonight, pray a few minutes, go back to your 738 00:41:28,519 --> 00:41:28,799 seat. 739 00:41:28,799 --> 00:41:31,439 If not, we won't sing a lot of verses. 740 00:41:33,039 --> 00:41:37,199 And I don't know why God laid this message on my heart tonight. 741 00:41:37,599 --> 00:41:38,879 It's really simple. 742 00:41:38,879 --> 00:41:39,759 Not very long. 743 00:41:41,119 --> 00:41:44,079 I had some other planned sermon I've been working on. 744 00:41:47,199 --> 00:41:49,359 David encouraged himself in the Lord. 745 00:41:51,939 --> 00:41:54,259 I'll pray, we'll sing. 746 00:41:54,259 --> 00:41:56,259 And when we begin to sing, you come. 747 00:41:56,259 --> 00:42:00,619 Heavenly Father, thank you for understanding because no one understands 748 00:42:00,619 --> 00:42:01,379 like Jesus. 749 00:42:02,019 --> 00:42:06,819 And thank you, Father, for this opportunity to look up and to 750 00:42:06,819 --> 00:42:11,219 listen and to know that you will never leave us or forsake us. 751 00:42:12,179 --> 00:42:15,299 Lord, there's people here that are in the thick of battle. 752 00:42:16,389 --> 00:42:17,829 The burdens are so heavy. 753 00:42:20,149 --> 00:42:26,629 They cry at night in their pillow and they feel like they're 754 00:42:26,629 --> 00:42:27,669 kind of lonely. 755 00:42:27,749 --> 00:42:30,229 There's no one to encourage them. 756 00:42:31,429 --> 00:42:33,589 So, Lord, I pray you would help us tonight. 757 00:42:34,709 --> 00:42:37,589 Because when we're weak, we're strong. 758 00:42:39,909 --> 00:42:40,709 Touch every heart. 759 00:42:40,709 --> 00:42:42,229 I pray in Jesus name. 760 00:42:43,589 --> 00:42:44,069 Amen. 761 00:42:44,069 --> 00:42:44,339 Heads.