1 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:10,800 Are you paying attention to the thread? Are you paying 2 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:14,520 attention to the thread? The Lord is doing things if we will pay attention and 3 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:17,680 wake up. And you know, here's the thing, it's not only don't give if you're 4 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:21,200 not supposed to give, or give when you do give, but here's the thing, I 5 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:24,880 love the ability to be able to give and do it not just 6 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:28,720 generously, but cheerfully. I get to do it cheerfully because guess what? 7 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:32,460 It's not coming from me and my provision. It's coming from His provision. 8 00:00:32,460 --> 00:00:36,060 Provision, and I generously get to sow in when He says, "Do this," right? And 9 00:00:36,060 --> 00:00:39,500 so we want to be obedient in that. Guys, are you good this morning? 10 00:00:39,900 --> 00:00:43,180 Is God good in your life this morning? Yeah? Are you glad to be here 11 00:00:43,180 --> 00:00:46,460 today? I'm glad that you're here. If you're joining us on livestream, thanks for being 12 00:00:46,460 --> 00:00:49,860 here, and like Katie said, you can still come on up here. We have a 13 00:00:49,860 --> 00:00:53,700 seat for you. Guys, you're in for a treat this morning. I am so 14 00:00:53,700 --> 00:00:57,540 grateful for the lady who's about to come and present to you. 15 00:00:57,540 --> 00:01:01,060 I know that she has been wrestling with this Word. I know that she's been 16 00:01:01,060 --> 00:01:04,480 soaking in this Word, and I know that the Lord has has something for us. 17 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:08,160 So if we'll prepare our hearts that they'll be pliable and soft for it, welcome 18 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:11,920 my sister from another mister, Vonda Coble. Come on 19 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:15,080 up here. That was great. 20 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:21,400 I love you. Oh well, 21 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:25,480 my stuff is over there and I thought somebody was going to bring it out, 22 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:27,240 so I'm just going to 23 00:01:30,550 --> 00:01:34,030 Do a little dance until that time comes. It's fine. 24 00:01:34,030 --> 00:01:37,750 How's everybody doing today? Good? Doing good? It's Saturday. 25 00:01:38,230 --> 00:01:41,910 The Lord has pushed the rain. You know, I work with somebody who 26 00:01:41,910 --> 00:01:44,870 would just simply say, "It's not gonna rain. It's not gonna rain." Even though the 27 00:01:44,870 --> 00:01:48,110 forecast says it's gonna rain, "It's not gonna rain," and it doesn't rain. It's like, 28 00:01:48,110 --> 00:01:51,910 "Okay. All right, Jesus." Pastor, thank you so 29 00:01:51,910 --> 00:01:55,750 much. See? Where you want it at? Where's the seat? Right here. 30 00:01:55,910 --> 00:01:59,760 This is good. This is good. Is my little clicker here? It's in my 31 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:02,520 pocket. Yes, it is. I thought you might need help. Thank you. 32 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:09,560 Thank you, Pastor Wayne. That was definitely an honor. 33 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:13,400 I met Pastor Wayne in 2002. But anyway, 34 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:17,080 we're gonna go ahead and get started, if that's okay with you guys. 35 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:21,320 Abide when he seems silent. 36 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:25,080 That's what we're gonna talk about this morning. If you would please stand 37 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:28,020 as we read the Word together. 38 00:02:30,180 --> 00:02:32,548 We're gonna read John 15:5-8. 39 00:02:34,500 --> 00:02:37,940 All right, here we go. I am the vine, 40 00:02:38,180 --> 00:02:41,859 you are the branches. If you remain in 41 00:02:41,859 --> 00:02:45,540 me and I in you, you will bear much 42 00:02:45,620 --> 00:02:49,380 fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing. 43 00:02:49,940 --> 00:02:53,750 If you do not remain in me, You are like a 44 00:02:53,750 --> 00:02:56,990 branch that is thrown away and withers. 45 00:02:57,310 --> 00:03:01,070 Such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire, 46 00:03:01,070 --> 00:03:04,910 and burned. If you remain in me and 47 00:03:04,910 --> 00:03:08,590 my words remain in you, ask whatever 48 00:03:08,670 --> 00:03:11,710 you wish, and it will be done for you. 49 00:03:12,350 --> 00:03:16,190 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear 50 00:03:16,350 --> 00:03:20,200 much fruit, showing yourselves "to be my 51 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:23,880 disciples." Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so very much 52 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:27,640 for your Word. Oh, for your Word has 53 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:31,520 power in it. Thank you so much for the Word that 54 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:35,160 was read this morning because there's power because it 55 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:38,680 came from you. God, I ask that you open up our 56 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:41,800 eyes to see what it is that you have for us today. 57 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:45,960 Open up our ears, dear Heavenly Father, so that we might be able 58 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:49,640 to hear what it is that you have to say. And 59 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:53,340 God, soften our our hearts so that we might be able 60 00:03:53,340 --> 00:03:57,060 to surrender and move under your molded hand. 61 00:03:57,540 --> 00:04:01,260 God, whatever is from Vonda Lynette Coble, let it slide 62 00:04:01,260 --> 00:04:04,940 to the side so that your Holy Spirit can be heard 63 00:04:04,940 --> 00:04:08,260 this morning. In Jesus' precious name, 64 00:04:08,580 --> 00:04:12,380 amen. All right, let's have a seat. You guys are 65 00:04:12,380 --> 00:04:16,180 going to have to forgive me, um, as Pastor Kevin said, 66 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:20,640 um, I have been in this word for a while, 67 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:24,480 and it's kind of overwhelming me. So if you would, please 68 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:27,920 forgive me. And then the worship this morning just kind of 69 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:31,920 totally overwhelmed me. So I'm gonna do my best. I 70 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:35,680 got my tissue here in my pocket. So if you'll just ride 71 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:39,160 with me, we'll ride together, okay? So this 72 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:42,512 word that we read this morning from John 15:5-8 73 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:47,600 is really about answered prayers. It's about 74 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:51,200 having our prayers answered. And I think it's interesting 75 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:55,040 because in the Word, in the New Testament, 76 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:58,760 you'll find about 10 places— I found 10, you 77 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:02,400 might find more— that it says, "Ask anything in my name, 78 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:06,360 and I'll give it to you. Ask anything in my name, and 79 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:10,080 I'll give it to you." And so, I thought it was interesting. I tried 80 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:13,600 to actually get away from that section, and the Lord said, "No." 81 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:18,160 That's where I want you to read. So, I said, "Okay, God." So, 82 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:21,240 as I'm reading, I want you to notice a couple things. 83 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:25,320 The word "if." The word "if." So, let me 84 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:29,240 do a little background information, and that is, I'm gonna pull 85 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:32,880 this up a little closer. So, forgive me, 'cause I'm not as strong 86 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:33,640 as I look. 87 00:05:36,840 --> 00:05:40,680 But I am a schoolteacher, pretty much, is what I've been 88 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:44,320 for 18 years. I taught in the classroom. So, you're gonna 89 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,780 see a lot of things. I dumb things down. 90 00:05:48,340 --> 00:05:51,300 You could say that, but I also try to make it as simple as possible, 91 00:05:51,380 --> 00:05:55,060 because an educator, we have a difficult task, and 92 00:05:55,060 --> 00:05:57,780 that is to teach something, and 93 00:05:58,580 --> 00:06:02,420 people learn so many different ways. So you have to teach something, and then 94 00:06:02,420 --> 00:06:06,140 you have to assess to see if what was learned was learned. And then if 95 00:06:06,140 --> 00:06:09,740 you realize it wasn't learned, then you have to go back and reteach, or you 96 00:06:09,740 --> 00:06:13,580 have to enhance. So I'm a teacher at heart. So everything that 97 00:06:13,580 --> 00:06:17,420 I do is kind of simple as much as possible for 98 00:06:17,420 --> 00:06:20,560 my level. Level anyway, because I'm trying to teach. 99 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:24,800 So if you look at the passage there, it has a word that keeps 100 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,840 popping out, and that's the word "if." If. 101 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:32,160 If. And "if" is a conjunction. Okay? 102 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:36,040 So a conjunction is a joining word. So that simply 103 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:39,720 means stuff has got to connect. Okay? So I 104 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:42,560 looked up the word "if," and it says, "If." 105 00:06:43,930 --> 00:06:47,690 Yeah. Oh, I'm sorry. I went to— I went— yeah, 106 00:06:47,690 --> 00:06:51,370 there it is. I'm so sorry. It's two things here. Forgive me. If. 107 00:06:52,010 --> 00:06:55,050 And it is a conjunction. In the event that. 108 00:06:55,210 --> 00:06:58,970 Allowing that. On the assumption that. On 109 00:06:58,970 --> 00:07:02,250 the condition that. Right? 110 00:07:02,650 --> 00:07:06,330 So, we have if. If you remain in me. If you 111 00:07:06,330 --> 00:07:10,050 do not remain in me. If you remain in me. So, we've 112 00:07:10,050 --> 00:07:13,690 got all of these conjunctions here, okay? And so, the 113 00:07:13,690 --> 00:07:16,630 next thing is, if you remain "Remain in me, Jesus, 114 00:07:17,430 --> 00:07:21,270 and my words remain in 115 00:07:21,270 --> 00:07:24,910 you." So, we have something here where there's a 116 00:07:24,910 --> 00:07:28,710 little connection that has to happen. So, my next question 117 00:07:28,710 --> 00:07:32,150 is, "What is remain?" Remain 118 00:07:32,630 --> 00:07:36,310 is exactly what it is. It's a verb. It's something we must do. And it 119 00:07:36,310 --> 00:07:40,070 says, "To stay in the same place or with 120 00:07:40,070 --> 00:07:43,350 the same person or group." So, 121 00:07:44,550 --> 00:07:48,310 "If, if you remain in me and my words 122 00:07:48,310 --> 00:07:51,990 remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will 123 00:07:51,990 --> 00:07:54,790 be done for you." So then the question is, 124 00:07:55,510 --> 00:07:57,830 does God speak to us? 125 00:07:59,270 --> 00:08:02,230 Does God speak to us? Well, for 126 00:08:03,430 --> 00:08:07,190 us, and I say us as believers, it's very 127 00:08:07,190 --> 00:08:10,870 simple. The answer is in the Word. It's right 128 00:08:10,870 --> 00:08:14,710 there. What I love about the 129 00:08:14,710 --> 00:08:18,390 Lord is that any question that you 130 00:08:18,390 --> 00:08:21,950 actually have, there's an answer to it. There truly is. 131 00:08:22,270 --> 00:08:25,910 And for believers, for us, we can find it in the Word. So 132 00:08:25,910 --> 00:08:28,550 I'm going to read to you. I'm gonna be doing a lot of reading, if 133 00:08:28,550 --> 00:08:32,268 that's okay with you. I'm gonna read from Genesis 3:1-6. 134 00:08:33,550 --> 00:08:37,110 So if you have your Bibles, you can turn there too. Genesis 135 00:08:37,110 --> 00:08:40,340 3:1-6. 6. 136 00:08:45,620 --> 00:08:49,220 Actually, it's not Genesis 3. I'm so sorry, that's another spot. 137 00:08:49,220 --> 00:08:52,740 I need you to go to Genesis 1. That's it. Let me go back a 138 00:08:52,740 --> 00:08:56,500 little further. Genesis 1, and we're gonna read 26 through 139 00:08:56,740 --> 00:09:00,180 29. There we are. There we are. 140 00:09:00,980 --> 00:09:04,500 It says, then God said, does 141 00:09:04,930 --> 00:09:08,770 any "Or let us—" Push pause. So, sorry. 142 00:09:08,770 --> 00:09:11,490 Let me rewind a little bit. I'm reading from the Amplified, 143 00:09:12,370 --> 00:09:16,170 so it's going to be a little different, okay? So, please forgive 144 00:09:16,170 --> 00:09:18,050 me. It's gonna be a little different. Unpause. 145 00:09:19,730 --> 00:09:23,370 1:26, "Then God said, 'Let us,'" Father, 146 00:09:23,370 --> 00:09:27,010 Son, Holy Spirit, "'make man in our own image, according 147 00:09:27,090 --> 00:09:30,890 to our likeness.'" Not physical, but a spiritual 148 00:09:30,890 --> 00:09:34,550 personality and moral likeness. And let them 149 00:09:35,110 --> 00:09:38,150 have complete authority over the fish 150 00:09:38,710 --> 00:09:42,390 of the sea, the birds of the air, the 151 00:09:42,390 --> 00:09:45,910 cattle, and over the entire earth, and 152 00:09:45,910 --> 00:09:49,510 over everything that creeps and crawls on 153 00:09:49,510 --> 00:09:53,270 the earth. So God created man in his own 154 00:09:53,270 --> 00:09:56,950 image. In the image and likeness of God he 155 00:09:56,950 --> 00:10:00,380 created him, male and female. He 156 00:10:00,380 --> 00:10:03,500 created them. And God blessed them, 157 00:10:03,820 --> 00:10:07,220 granting them certain authority, and said to them, "Be 158 00:10:07,220 --> 00:10:10,380 fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, 159 00:10:11,340 --> 00:10:14,780 and subjugate it, putting it under your 160 00:10:14,860 --> 00:10:18,460 power. And rule over," dominate, "the 161 00:10:18,460 --> 00:10:22,060 fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every 162 00:10:22,060 --> 00:10:25,780 living thing that moves upon the earth." And 163 00:10:25,780 --> 00:10:29,580 I looked up the word that I kind of messed up, and that's subject— 164 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:33,560 subjugate, and it means to control, to be under. 165 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:37,720 Okay. So interesting enough, right there we 166 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:41,000 see God is already speaking. How many times did we hear, 167 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:45,040 "And God said..." Talk to me, people. How 168 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:48,800 many times did we hear it? A lot. I know at 169 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:52,640 least 2. Okay. Also, just in case, you know, I also expect you to talk 170 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:55,760 to me like if we were in a classroom. And when you see me do 171 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:59,320 this, that means talk to me. Okay. So just so you know. So this is 172 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:03,060 what I want to know. What is God's image? What is God the 173 00:11:03,060 --> 00:11:06,900 Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit? What's the image? 174 00:11:06,980 --> 00:11:10,580 What is that image? Talk to me. Love. 175 00:11:12,020 --> 00:11:14,820 Holiness. Pure. 176 00:11:16,099 --> 00:11:18,740 Righteousness. Kindness. 177 00:11:20,100 --> 00:11:22,260 Who? Peace. 178 00:11:24,500 --> 00:11:28,190 Sovereign. Nice. Sacrifice, 179 00:11:28,270 --> 00:11:32,030 relationship. Okay. All right. If I had to, if 180 00:11:32,030 --> 00:11:35,790 I had to, if I had to take all of those things you all 181 00:11:35,790 --> 00:11:39,070 just said, would the word good work? 182 00:11:40,430 --> 00:11:44,030 Okay. So we were created in the likeness 183 00:11:44,110 --> 00:11:47,790 of good, right? Purity, 184 00:11:48,190 --> 00:11:51,950 righteousness, holiness, peacefulness, pure 185 00:11:52,030 --> 00:11:55,410 love, right? That was the image. It was not this. This 186 00:11:55,410 --> 00:11:59,170 wonderful thing that's going to dirt. It's not 187 00:11:59,170 --> 00:12:02,930 this. It was the image, right? The likeness of 188 00:12:02,930 --> 00:12:06,570 what we were created in, right? So when 189 00:12:06,570 --> 00:12:10,370 he created us, he created 190 00:12:10,450 --> 00:12:13,170 us to hear 191 00:12:14,130 --> 00:12:16,450 him. Would you agree? 192 00:12:17,970 --> 00:12:21,410 So let's look at— because he's the one who created us, 193 00:12:21,570 --> 00:12:24,210 let's look at Genesis 194 00:12:24,210 --> 00:12:27,490 2:8-9, for just a second. 195 00:12:29,250 --> 00:12:32,890 Genesis 2:8-9, "And the Lord God 196 00:12:32,890 --> 00:12:36,610 planted a garden, an oasis in the east, in Eden, 197 00:12:36,770 --> 00:12:40,530 delight, land of happiness. And he put the man 198 00:12:40,530 --> 00:12:44,370 whom he had formed, created, there. And in the garden, 199 00:12:44,370 --> 00:12:47,970 the Lord God caused to grow from the ground every tree 200 00:12:48,130 --> 00:12:51,670 that is desirable and pleasing to the sight and good for food." and 201 00:12:51,670 --> 00:12:55,310 good, suitable, pleasant for food. The tree of life 202 00:12:55,310 --> 00:12:58,910 was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of 203 00:12:59,310 --> 00:13:02,670 knowledge, recognition of the difference between 204 00:13:02,830 --> 00:13:06,630 good and evil. Then I want us 205 00:13:06,630 --> 00:13:10,110 to go to 2:16, 2:16 and 17, 206 00:13:10,910 --> 00:13:14,750 okay? And the Lord commanded— there he is speaking again— 207 00:13:15,390 --> 00:13:18,780 the man, saying, 'You may freely, 208 00:13:18,780 --> 00:13:22,380 unconditionally eat the fruit from every tree of the garden, 209 00:13:22,380 --> 00:13:26,220 but only from the tree of knowledge, recognition of 210 00:13:26,220 --> 00:13:29,980 good and evil, you shall not eat. Otherwise, on 211 00:13:29,980 --> 00:13:33,739 that day you eat from it, you shall 212 00:13:33,740 --> 00:13:36,860 most certainly die because 213 00:13:38,140 --> 00:13:41,340 of your disobedience,' is what the Amplified says. Interesting. 214 00:13:42,940 --> 00:13:45,610 So, Does God speak? 215 00:13:46,650 --> 00:13:50,410 Yes! If we don't do anything 216 00:13:50,570 --> 00:13:54,170 else this morning, can we please clarify 217 00:13:54,730 --> 00:13:58,170 that? Does God speak? 218 00:14:01,290 --> 00:14:03,050 I'd love to say all the time. 219 00:14:04,970 --> 00:14:08,770 He definitely speaks. So, I'm gonna do a little 220 00:14:08,770 --> 00:14:12,580 bit of history, if that's okay with you. From Genesis to 221 00:14:12,580 --> 00:14:16,340 Malachi, there are 20— 39 books in the Old Testament, 222 00:14:16,340 --> 00:14:20,100 right? And I have another Bible 223 00:14:20,180 --> 00:14:23,780 that was my very, very first study Bible that I got years ago, 224 00:14:24,180 --> 00:14:27,460 and it's falling apart, and so I'm a little embarrassed, 225 00:14:27,940 --> 00:14:31,700 so I don't bring it in public. So I got this new Bible, 226 00:14:32,100 --> 00:14:35,780 this Amplified Bible, so you all see that. But my first 227 00:14:35,780 --> 00:14:39,060 study Bible, I I read, because 228 00:14:39,780 --> 00:14:43,540 from Malachi to Matthew, it gives a little bit 229 00:14:43,540 --> 00:14:47,260 of the history of just life in general, what 230 00:14:47,260 --> 00:14:50,940 was happening with the Israelites. And I read something that I wanna 231 00:14:51,060 --> 00:14:54,180 share with you that I thought was so interesting. It said this: 232 00:14:54,740 --> 00:14:58,260 For more than 400 years, the heavens 233 00:14:58,660 --> 00:15:02,460 seemed to close to the nation of Israel. They 234 00:15:02,460 --> 00:15:05,630 heard nothing from God. 235 00:15:07,150 --> 00:15:10,870 Now we know, we started from the beginning, we know that God speaks. We 236 00:15:10,870 --> 00:15:14,550 know that. We've already clarified that. He speaks. So 237 00:15:14,550 --> 00:15:17,870 the question is, what's happening? 238 00:15:18,670 --> 00:15:21,950 Is it the speaking, or is it maybe 239 00:15:22,670 --> 00:15:26,350 something else, right? Seems. The 240 00:15:26,350 --> 00:15:30,160 word seems. That it means— it's 241 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:33,640 a verb— the impression of being. 242 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:37,320 Can we agree that that simply means it's not 243 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:41,000 necessarily true? There's an impression 244 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:44,280 of it, right? So it's not necessarily true. 245 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:48,280 Why does God seem silent? 246 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:53,360 Well, we already clarified 247 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:56,390 that he speaks. Yes, do we agree? He speaks. 248 00:15:57,110 --> 00:16:00,910 So why does he seem silent? Well, 249 00:16:00,910 --> 00:16:04,510 we also recognize with the word "seem" that is 250 00:16:04,510 --> 00:16:06,870 not necessarily true. 251 00:16:08,390 --> 00:16:12,190 So, I believe the Holy Spirit has helped me with 3 things, 252 00:16:12,190 --> 00:16:15,910 3 points of why does God seem 253 00:16:16,070 --> 00:16:19,910 silent, because it's not him. Who is it, 254 00:16:19,910 --> 00:16:20,190 y'all? 255 00:16:24,060 --> 00:16:27,180 As they used to say in the good old days, "Womp, there it is." 256 00:16:30,540 --> 00:16:34,060 The problem is us. And so, I 257 00:16:34,860 --> 00:16:38,460 titled this "Spiritual Static." 258 00:16:40,300 --> 00:16:42,940 Spiritual static. We have 259 00:16:43,500 --> 00:16:45,580 spiritual static in our life. 260 00:16:47,350 --> 00:16:50,990 And with this spiritual static, I've broke it down, like I said, into 261 00:16:50,990 --> 00:16:54,390 3 places that I believe that we struggle with. 262 00:16:55,030 --> 00:16:58,550 And the first is we are deceived. 263 00:16:58,790 --> 00:17:02,630 Can you say deceived? Deceived is to 264 00:17:02,630 --> 00:17:06,230 cause to accept as true or valid 265 00:17:06,390 --> 00:17:09,910 what is false or invalid. 266 00:17:10,950 --> 00:17:14,034 So In Genesis 3:1-6, 267 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:18,320 here we go. Now, here's Genesis 3:1-6. I knew I had it. 268 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:22,360 Here it is. Genesis 3:1-6. I'm gonna read 269 00:17:22,360 --> 00:17:24,960 this. Now, the serpent was more crafty, 270 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:29,200 skilled in deceit, than any 271 00:17:29,360 --> 00:17:33,080 living creature of the field which the Lord God 272 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:36,880 had made. And the serpent, Satan, said to the woman, 273 00:17:37,120 --> 00:17:40,840 can it really be that God 'God has said you 274 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:44,560 shall not eat from any tree of the garden.' And the 275 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:48,160 woman said to the serpent, 'We may eat 276 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:51,760 fruit from the trees of the garden, except the fruit from the tree which 277 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:54,880 is in the middle of the garden. God said 278 00:17:55,279 --> 00:17:59,120 you shall not eat from it nor touch it, otherwise 279 00:17:59,120 --> 00:18:02,480 you will die.' But the serpent said to the woman, 280 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:06,370 'You certainly will not die.' Now, 281 00:18:06,450 --> 00:18:10,210 in my book, there's an exclamation mark. So I'mma do that 282 00:18:10,210 --> 00:18:13,810 again. "But the serpent said to the woman, 'You certainly 283 00:18:13,810 --> 00:18:17,530 will not die! For God knows that on 284 00:18:17,530 --> 00:18:21,170 that day you—' or, 'On the day you eat from it, 285 00:18:21,170 --> 00:18:24,770 your eyes will be opened.'" That is, you will 286 00:18:24,770 --> 00:18:28,530 have greater awareness. Hmm. "And you will 287 00:18:28,530 --> 00:18:32,210 be like God, knowing the difference between good 288 00:18:32,210 --> 00:18:36,060 and evil." And when the woman saw that the 289 00:18:36,060 --> 00:18:39,820 tree was good for food, and it was 290 00:18:39,900 --> 00:18:43,220 delightful to look at, and the tree to be 291 00:18:43,220 --> 00:18:47,020 desired in order to make one wise and 292 00:18:47,100 --> 00:18:50,300 insightful, she took some of its fruit 293 00:18:50,780 --> 00:18:54,300 and ate it. And she also gave some to her 294 00:18:54,300 --> 00:18:58,060 husband with her, and he ate it. Now, 295 00:18:58,060 --> 00:19:01,910 y'all, That was a lot. That was a lot 296 00:19:01,910 --> 00:19:05,550 right there. And so I'm not even gonna try to unpack it all, okay? But 297 00:19:05,550 --> 00:19:09,390 I'm gonna tell you a couple of things. When I was reading 298 00:19:09,390 --> 00:19:11,670 this, the Lord reminded me 299 00:19:13,670 --> 00:19:17,310 at the beginning, what was the first thing that God said after he 300 00:19:17,310 --> 00:19:20,550 made them in the image? Does anybody remember what he said? 301 00:19:23,030 --> 00:19:26,470 Say it again. Well, he did say that. He said that a little later. It 302 00:19:26,470 --> 00:19:30,090 was something that I was reading, actually, this morning. He said, "To be 303 00:19:30,090 --> 00:19:33,770 fruitful and multiply." He actually said that second. Good job. You're with 304 00:19:33,770 --> 00:19:37,610 me. He said he 305 00:19:37,610 --> 00:19:40,930 was going to give them authority over 306 00:19:41,890 --> 00:19:45,410 what? All the things. 307 00:19:45,970 --> 00:19:49,570 Even the things that were crawling, that were creepy, right? 308 00:19:49,730 --> 00:19:53,170 The fish. You all, Eve had 309 00:19:53,410 --> 00:19:56,150 authority over 310 00:19:56,950 --> 00:20:00,230 the serpent. Things that make you go, "Hmm." 311 00:20:02,470 --> 00:20:06,150 Now, listen, I'm a teacher. I totally understand authority. 312 00:20:06,310 --> 00:20:09,830 I teach people this high. I teach people this high. 313 00:20:09,910 --> 00:20:13,230 Now, when I teach people this high, I don't have a problem with saying, "Sit 314 00:20:13,230 --> 00:20:15,750 down." Just like that. 315 00:20:18,070 --> 00:20:21,660 Now, when I teach people this high, I don't say it like that. I 316 00:20:21,660 --> 00:20:25,260 say, "You know what? I think it would be wise for you, at this 317 00:20:25,260 --> 00:20:28,100 moment, to have a seat." There's a difference. 318 00:20:28,820 --> 00:20:31,780 Okay? Now, both ways I told them what to do. 319 00:20:32,580 --> 00:20:36,420 But there's a difference. This serpent comes, all she had to say was, 320 00:20:37,770 --> 00:20:40,580 "Pfft. Nope. Sit down. 321 00:20:42,100 --> 00:20:45,940 Uh-uh." So, I said, "Lord, well—" That was the 322 00:20:45,940 --> 00:20:48,880 first time I actually paid attention to that. She had 323 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:52,080 authority over. 324 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:57,760 So Satan tempted her 325 00:20:58,480 --> 00:21:01,960 by getting her to doubt goodness. Now, looky 326 00:21:02,120 --> 00:21:05,920 here. Now, let's go back. Let's go back. What are all the things that God 327 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:09,560 said could happen? You got authority. All of this stuff, you got authority over. 328 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:13,280 See that stuff up there? Authority. Stuff right there? Authority. Then 329 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:16,920 he said, be fruitful. Now, all the youth are gone, so I think I'm 330 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:20,360 good. Okay, we all know what be fruitful means. 331 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:25,080 Okay, that was fun. Not only are you 332 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:28,680 authority, authority, authority, go have some fun. He 333 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:32,360 blessed them. The Word says he blessed them. He gave 334 00:21:32,360 --> 00:21:35,640 them everything. All of this is yours, right there, 335 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:39,280 yours, right there, that's yours, right in the back, yep, 336 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:42,880 yours. But listen, this thing right 337 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:46,450 here This— do not eat from 338 00:21:46,450 --> 00:21:50,250 this, because on this day you will know something that 339 00:21:50,250 --> 00:21:52,050 you haven't known. Now here's the key. 340 00:21:53,810 --> 00:21:57,650 Evil— because remember we said the image was good. Evil was 341 00:21:57,650 --> 00:22:01,210 already creeping around. Evil was 342 00:22:01,210 --> 00:22:05,010 already there. The problem was they had never been 343 00:22:05,090 --> 00:22:08,890 disobedient. We heard about 344 00:22:08,890 --> 00:22:12,630 disobedience this morning already. The evil was 345 00:22:12,630 --> 00:22:16,470 there, right? But they were all good, and they had 346 00:22:16,470 --> 00:22:20,230 authority, and they had everything. Don't be 347 00:22:20,230 --> 00:22:23,310 disobedient. But the enemy was able 348 00:22:23,790 --> 00:22:26,750 to deceive. One of our 349 00:22:27,790 --> 00:22:30,750 spiritual statics is we get 350 00:22:30,830 --> 00:22:34,670 deceived. Okay, there was a time 351 00:22:34,670 --> 00:22:36,990 in my life— I'm gonna tell you the last time I did a cartwheel. The 352 00:22:36,990 --> 00:22:40,680 last time I did a cartwheel. I was at a party, okay? I was at 353 00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:44,520 a kid party. I was dressed up as Barbie and feeling good, okay? It 354 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:47,040 was a costume party, and I was like, "Yeah, I'm doing this." And they were 355 00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:50,640 like, "Do a cartwheel." "Sure!" Did a cartwheel. And then I— "Sure!" 356 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:54,400 Did a cartwheel. And my girlfriend— thank you, 357 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:58,240 Jesus— she said, "Vonda, do you think you're doing a cartwheel?" I 358 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:01,880 said, "Girl, yeah, I'm doing a cartwheel." And let me tell you why I thought 359 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:04,650 I was doing a cartwheel. I stood. 360 00:23:05,850 --> 00:23:09,370 I went, both of my hands touched the ground. My 361 00:23:09,370 --> 00:23:12,170 head felt that I was upside down. 362 00:23:13,050 --> 00:23:16,730 And I landed. Isn't that a cartwheel? Well, 363 00:23:16,730 --> 00:23:18,490 what she did was she videoed me. 364 00:23:20,410 --> 00:23:24,210 I was very appreciative to the video. I saw the video, and 365 00:23:24,210 --> 00:23:25,930 I saw that I was deceived. 366 00:23:30,080 --> 00:23:33,880 That was not a cartwheel. That was the last time I did 367 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:37,560 a cartwheel. But it 368 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:41,240 felt like it was a cartwheel. It felt like it to 369 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:45,080 my body, my physical flesh. It felt like it to my 370 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:48,240 brain. I was upside down. 371 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:52,640 And my feet were off the ground. 372 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:55,600 But I was deceived. 373 00:23:58,630 --> 00:24:01,030 We are deceived often. 374 00:24:03,510 --> 00:24:06,830 And we do not even recognize that we're 375 00:24:06,830 --> 00:24:10,310 deceived because the enemy has a way 376 00:24:10,550 --> 00:24:14,150 to present it. You all, we are human beings. 377 00:24:14,550 --> 00:24:17,910 The enemy deceived one-third of 378 00:24:17,990 --> 00:24:21,750 angels. Angelic! I still— it still 379 00:24:21,750 --> 00:24:24,830 blows my mind. What did he say to them? 380 00:24:25,470 --> 00:24:28,830 Because it's not like he was trying to give them any power, because he was 381 00:24:28,830 --> 00:24:32,510 trying to take it all for himself. He deceived them. 382 00:24:32,590 --> 00:24:36,110 Who am I, a human being without 383 00:24:36,190 --> 00:24:37,710 the Holy Spirit? 384 00:24:39,630 --> 00:24:42,590 He's already told us I can do nothing without him. 385 00:24:47,790 --> 00:24:50,800 We are also in places 386 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:55,280 of lack of surrenderance due to our desire 387 00:24:56,160 --> 00:24:57,600 to be independent. 388 00:24:59,920 --> 00:25:03,120 Eve was deceived because she had a 389 00:25:03,120 --> 00:25:06,720 desire, because the enemy said, 390 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:11,600 "You'll be like God." Here's the thing, we 391 00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:15,440 are created in his image, so we all want 392 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:19,110 to be 'Like the image, but we 393 00:25:19,350 --> 00:25:22,670 are not God.' But he 394 00:25:22,670 --> 00:25:25,830 deceived her, and she thought, 395 00:25:26,950 --> 00:25:30,710 'I—' You know what? 'Yes, I 396 00:25:30,790 --> 00:25:34,630 can be like God.' And 397 00:25:34,630 --> 00:25:38,150 that is because the exact same thing 398 00:25:38,630 --> 00:25:42,310 that was in the enemy, he deceives us 399 00:25:42,310 --> 00:25:45,680 with, and that's called Independent, 400 00:25:45,840 --> 00:25:49,600 every woman. You know, sorry, sorry, that's a song. I just 401 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:53,360 thought about it, you know. Independency. There was a 402 00:25:53,360 --> 00:25:56,560 song that Whitney, and I am a Whitney fan, I will tell you. 403 00:25:57,200 --> 00:26:00,960 Sad story, but beautiful voice. That whole song, 404 00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:04,560 I'm every woman, it's 405 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:08,280 all in me. Lies! It 406 00:26:08,280 --> 00:26:11,960 is not! I wasn't created to be 407 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:15,720 all in me. I know that is not 408 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:19,720 true. And so many times we take small little 409 00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:23,160 things, we take them for truth, and then we start walking in them. 410 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:26,520 No, I was created 411 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:29,240 to be dependent. 412 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:34,800 Created to be dependent. I'm not 413 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:38,510 independent. In Matthew 16:24, I'm gonna read 414 00:26:38,510 --> 00:26:42,230 this for you. It says, then Jesus said to 415 00:26:42,230 --> 00:26:45,910 his disciples, if anyone wishes to follow me as 416 00:26:45,990 --> 00:26:49,830 my disciples, he must deny himself, 417 00:26:49,910 --> 00:26:53,590 set aside selfish interests, and take up 418 00:26:53,590 --> 00:26:56,950 his cross, experiencing the willingness 419 00:26:57,110 --> 00:27:00,790 to endure whatever may come and 420 00:27:00,790 --> 00:27:03,830 follow me, believing in me, 421 00:27:03,910 --> 00:27:07,390 conforming to my— conforming, excuse me, to my 422 00:27:07,390 --> 00:27:10,850 example and living and if need be, 423 00:27:11,330 --> 00:27:14,850 suffering or perhaps dying because 424 00:27:15,090 --> 00:27:18,770 of faith in 425 00:27:19,490 --> 00:27:22,970 me. The reason why 426 00:27:22,970 --> 00:27:26,610 Jesus said this to the disciples is because the cross 427 00:27:26,690 --> 00:27:30,530 actually meant something in the Roman time. 428 00:27:31,810 --> 00:27:35,570 What the cross actually meant in Roman time was 429 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:39,600 Death. When you saw someone 430 00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:43,120 carrying their cross, they were going 431 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:47,280 to die. Period. 432 00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:50,320 It was a commitment. 433 00:27:52,960 --> 00:27:56,360 We think carrying our cross is, "I got to carry the 434 00:27:56,360 --> 00:28:00,080 burden." Now, that 435 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:03,890 can't be true because in a different place, It actually says 436 00:28:04,610 --> 00:28:08,290 I'm not supposed to carry the burden. He actually says he'll carry the 437 00:28:08,290 --> 00:28:11,930 burden. So there's confusion. That's why it's very 438 00:28:11,930 --> 00:28:15,210 important to find out and read, my brothers and 439 00:28:15,210 --> 00:28:18,769 sisters, because this is a 440 00:28:18,770 --> 00:28:21,250 committed death. 441 00:28:23,090 --> 00:28:26,450 If you're gonna follow Jesus, you are 442 00:28:26,450 --> 00:28:30,210 committed to dying. What, 443 00:28:30,210 --> 00:28:31,770 Vonda? What are we gonna die to? 444 00:28:34,010 --> 00:28:37,690 Don't get me started. I gotta die to 445 00:28:37,690 --> 00:28:40,650 my feelings. I gotta die to my flesh. 446 00:28:41,290 --> 00:28:44,610 I gotta die to my opinion, even in 447 00:28:44,610 --> 00:28:48,370 America. I gotta die to my pride. I gotta 448 00:28:48,370 --> 00:28:51,450 die to my fear. I gotta die to my unforgiveness. 449 00:28:52,010 --> 00:28:55,210 I gotta die to my— I gotta die to my 450 00:28:56,070 --> 00:28:59,830 I got that to my— I got that to my— right, dot, dot, 451 00:28:59,830 --> 00:29:01,830 dot. That means there's more to follow. 452 00:29:03,430 --> 00:29:06,710 Me, it's a committed death, 453 00:29:09,270 --> 00:29:13,070 but we have static because we don't 454 00:29:13,070 --> 00:29:15,750 surrender, because we want to be 455 00:29:16,310 --> 00:29:19,750 dependent. Now listen, I'm very big on— 456 00:29:20,310 --> 00:29:23,300 I am a very black and white person. The Lord helps me with the gray. 457 00:29:23,690 --> 00:29:27,530 I'm very black and white. And so to me, if I don't know how something 458 00:29:27,530 --> 00:29:30,330 works, I need to go to its original purpose. 459 00:29:31,610 --> 00:29:35,370 Because if you do not know the original purpose of something, you will 460 00:29:35,370 --> 00:29:37,930 abuse it or it will abuse you inevitably. 461 00:29:40,330 --> 00:29:43,770 So I was originally created 462 00:29:43,850 --> 00:29:47,370 to be dependent. So every 463 00:29:47,450 --> 00:29:51,210 time I try to be independent, I 464 00:29:51,210 --> 00:29:54,970 will either abuse myself or someone else. 465 00:29:58,330 --> 00:30:01,690 We already clarified that God 466 00:30:02,010 --> 00:30:05,290 speaks. Yes? Yes. Let's 467 00:30:05,290 --> 00:30:08,330 clarify. Let's today— let's today 468 00:30:08,970 --> 00:30:12,170 let it be known and hold on to it. 469 00:30:12,570 --> 00:30:16,170 God, help us. Help us today to 470 00:30:16,170 --> 00:30:19,980 start with the reality The truth that we 471 00:30:19,980 --> 00:30:23,500 were created to depend on you. 472 00:30:24,380 --> 00:30:28,140 Help us, God, to get that settled in our spirit, 473 00:30:28,620 --> 00:30:32,060 settled in our mind, settled on our 474 00:30:32,380 --> 00:30:36,060 lips. In Jesus' name, amen. 475 00:30:36,860 --> 00:30:40,460 We were created to depend 476 00:30:41,420 --> 00:30:43,260 on God. 477 00:30:48,710 --> 00:30:51,910 We have static because of 478 00:30:52,470 --> 00:30:55,510 a lack of maturity in and with faith. 479 00:30:56,390 --> 00:31:00,070 Now I gotta go here. We don't always like to go here, but I'm 480 00:31:00,070 --> 00:31:02,070 going. James 1. 481 00:31:05,750 --> 00:31:07,830 Oh, it's like I can't get away from it. 482 00:31:10,550 --> 00:31:11,566 James 1:2-8. 483 00:31:14,230 --> 00:31:17,950 Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you 484 00:31:17,950 --> 00:31:21,790 fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of 485 00:31:21,790 --> 00:31:25,350 your faith through experience produces endurance, 486 00:31:25,430 --> 00:31:28,950 leading to spiritual maturity and inner peace. 487 00:31:29,430 --> 00:31:33,070 And let endurance have its perfect result and 488 00:31:33,070 --> 00:31:36,830 do a thorough work so that you may be 489 00:31:36,830 --> 00:31:40,470 perfect and completely developed in your faith, 490 00:31:40,470 --> 00:31:44,130 lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom 491 00:31:44,450 --> 00:31:47,570 to guide him through a decision or 492 00:31:47,570 --> 00:31:50,930 circumstance, he or she is to ask 493 00:31:51,250 --> 00:31:55,050 of the beloved God, who gives to 494 00:31:55,050 --> 00:31:58,850 everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and 495 00:31:58,850 --> 00:32:02,610 it will be given to you. But he must ask 496 00:32:02,690 --> 00:32:05,650 for wisdom in faith without doubting. 497 00:32:06,290 --> 00:32:09,900 Huh. Or the one who doubts 498 00:32:09,900 --> 00:32:13,420 is like a sea that is blown 499 00:32:13,500 --> 00:32:16,860 about and tossed by the wind. For such a person 500 00:32:17,020 --> 00:32:20,660 ought not think or expect that he will receive 501 00:32:20,660 --> 00:32:23,820 anything from the Lord, being a double-minded 502 00:32:24,420 --> 00:32:27,900 man, unstable and restless in all 503 00:32:27,980 --> 00:32:31,380 his ways. Everything he thinks, feels, and 504 00:32:31,380 --> 00:32:35,110 decides Let's break 505 00:32:35,110 --> 00:32:37,030 that down. Consider. 506 00:32:38,630 --> 00:32:41,590 Consider does not mean it has to be. It means think. 507 00:32:42,390 --> 00:32:46,150 Think about it as pure 508 00:32:46,150 --> 00:32:49,510 joy. When you are faced with many trials, 509 00:32:49,750 --> 00:32:51,430 with various trials— 510 00:32:53,510 --> 00:32:56,190 thank you, Lord, you didn't tell us to do it. You told us to think 511 00:32:56,190 --> 00:32:59,830 about it. Just think of it as joy. Why, you ask? 512 00:33:00,300 --> 00:33:03,980 Because there's a process that's happening. And the process 513 00:33:04,140 --> 00:33:07,740 is that you are being tested. Your 514 00:33:07,900 --> 00:33:11,660 faith is being tested. Push pause. I just wanna 515 00:33:11,740 --> 00:33:15,540 fix something really quickly. The world has been saying that God 516 00:33:15,540 --> 00:33:18,940 is like a teacher when he gives you a test, and he's silent. 517 00:33:19,180 --> 00:33:23,020 That's not true. I've 518 00:33:23,020 --> 00:33:26,750 heard pastors say that, and I'm a teacher. Now, Some 519 00:33:26,750 --> 00:33:30,070 teachers do that. Some teachers are very quiet during a test. 520 00:33:30,390 --> 00:33:34,150 But in my opinion, which I can give an opinion because I've been in education 521 00:33:34,390 --> 00:33:37,950 for about over 2 decades, the best 522 00:33:37,950 --> 00:33:41,110 teacher is the one that when a child has a question, 523 00:33:41,590 --> 00:33:45,430 she asks or he asks another question to cause them to think. 524 00:33:46,550 --> 00:33:48,710 See, I'm not trying to give the kid the answer, 525 00:33:50,390 --> 00:33:53,960 but I want them to think. So for me to just 526 00:33:53,960 --> 00:33:56,560 say, don't ask me nothing, be quiet, we're taking a test, 527 00:33:59,760 --> 00:34:03,600 versus I can't give you an answer, baby doll, but I can tell 528 00:34:03,600 --> 00:34:07,360 you this, or I can ask you this. Because sometimes the Lord will 529 00:34:07,360 --> 00:34:09,600 ask you questions for you to think. 530 00:34:11,040 --> 00:34:14,720 If you look in the New Testament, you will 531 00:34:14,720 --> 00:34:17,360 see all kinds of question marks in red. 532 00:34:19,049 --> 00:34:21,849 Jesus is wanting us to think. Think. 533 00:34:22,569 --> 00:34:26,169 Unpause. So, 534 00:34:28,409 --> 00:34:32,249 the testing of your faith happens for you to produce 535 00:34:32,329 --> 00:34:36,049 endurance, patience. And then 536 00:34:36,049 --> 00:34:39,449 endurance must finish its complete work 537 00:34:40,569 --> 00:34:43,849 so that you can be mature. 538 00:34:47,050 --> 00:34:49,450 Because it messes up our hearing. 539 00:34:50,730 --> 00:34:52,890 So we know, does God speak? 540 00:34:54,490 --> 00:34:58,170 Who has the problem? Okay, and 541 00:34:58,170 --> 00:35:01,850 we have 3 that are just standing out here. We are deceived, 542 00:35:03,610 --> 00:35:07,130 we won't surrender, and we're not 543 00:35:07,130 --> 00:35:10,970 mature. Now I told you a while ago I'm a first grade 544 00:35:10,970 --> 00:35:14,061 teacher, so I've got I got something to share. 545 00:35:15,100 --> 00:35:18,300 And that is— oh, thank you, Lord— his Word. 546 00:35:19,500 --> 00:35:23,220 It says, "I am the vine. You are the branches. If you 547 00:35:23,220 --> 00:35:26,820 remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. 548 00:35:26,820 --> 00:35:30,580 Apart from me you can do—" Say it, people. "Nothing." Say it 549 00:35:30,580 --> 00:35:34,180 again. "Nothing." "If you do not remain in me, you 550 00:35:34,180 --> 00:35:37,580 are like a branch that is blown away and withered. 551 00:35:37,740 --> 00:35:41,450 Such branches are picked up thrown into the fire and burned. 552 00:35:41,450 --> 00:35:44,970 In other words, they're not about nothing. If you 553 00:35:44,970 --> 00:35:48,410 remain in me and my words remain in you, 554 00:35:48,570 --> 00:35:52,010 ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. 555 00:35:52,410 --> 00:35:55,850 This is to my Father's glory, that 556 00:35:55,930 --> 00:35:59,730 you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be 557 00:35:59,730 --> 00:36:00,330 disciples. 558 00:36:03,050 --> 00:36:06,780 Active listening. When I was in first grade, I 559 00:36:06,780 --> 00:36:10,020 taught this every year. Active listening. What does it mean 560 00:36:10,420 --> 00:36:14,140 to active listening? Because remember, it's not that the Lord 561 00:36:14,140 --> 00:36:17,580 doesn't speak. It's us. It's because we are not 562 00:36:17,580 --> 00:36:21,420 listening. So what is active listening? What does active listening look like, sound 563 00:36:21,420 --> 00:36:24,900 like, and feel like? I'm an educator, so I try to break everything down. 564 00:36:25,300 --> 00:36:29,020 So here are a couple of things that I'd like to share with you. Active 565 00:36:29,020 --> 00:36:31,730 listening looks like So 566 00:36:32,770 --> 00:36:35,730 take all hearing out. What does it look 567 00:36:36,530 --> 00:36:39,890 like? Reading the Holy Bible. 568 00:36:40,290 --> 00:36:43,810 It's what it looks like. A person reading 569 00:36:44,210 --> 00:36:48,050 if they want to. Active listening. Fellowship with 570 00:36:48,050 --> 00:36:51,730 other Christ followers. It's what it looks like. 571 00:36:51,890 --> 00:36:54,930 It looks like what's happening right now, us getting together. 572 00:36:55,490 --> 00:36:59,130 It looks like avoiding places that do not honor the 573 00:36:59,130 --> 00:37:02,120 Holy Spirit. I was talking to somebody. And 574 00:37:03,240 --> 00:37:06,600 I was talking— we were talking about a show, and they said, "I can watch 575 00:37:06,600 --> 00:37:08,520 that show. I didn't let the Holy Spirit see that." 576 00:37:11,720 --> 00:37:15,440 I was like, "Okay, come on." There are places that you don't need to take 577 00:37:15,440 --> 00:37:18,600 the Holy Spirit. Okay, I'm just saying. 578 00:37:19,800 --> 00:37:23,520 I'm just saying. Can you go? Yes. My brother this morning 579 00:37:23,520 --> 00:37:25,640 said, "There's a lot that I can do, but should I?" 580 00:37:27,490 --> 00:37:30,210 There are places that you should not take the Holy Spirit. 581 00:37:31,490 --> 00:37:35,010 Being silent, being still, thinking. 582 00:37:36,770 --> 00:37:40,410 That's what it looks like. It looks like when 583 00:37:40,410 --> 00:37:44,210 we're actively listening to God, that we're really slowing down in 584 00:37:44,210 --> 00:37:47,410 life and we're taking time to listen. 585 00:37:48,770 --> 00:37:52,370 It looks like tears, frustration, 586 00:37:52,530 --> 00:37:55,630 joy. Praise, expression. 587 00:37:58,190 --> 00:38:01,590 When you're listening to God, I just want you to know you're not gonna hear 588 00:38:01,590 --> 00:38:02,590 everything you want to hear. 589 00:38:06,510 --> 00:38:10,270 So it may look like, oh, oh God, 590 00:38:12,350 --> 00:38:14,830 did you not hear what he said to me? 591 00:38:16,670 --> 00:38:20,060 Did you not hear? And so my face is distraught, 592 00:38:21,020 --> 00:38:24,580 because that's what it looks like sometimes when you're listening to the 593 00:38:24,580 --> 00:38:27,260 Lord. Sometimes it looks like this 594 00:38:33,900 --> 00:38:37,340 because you're overwhelmed. That's what it looks like 595 00:38:37,580 --> 00:38:40,540 when you're listening to the Lord. It looks 596 00:38:40,540 --> 00:38:43,980 expressive. It 597 00:38:43,980 --> 00:38:47,460 looks like Fruit of the 598 00:38:47,460 --> 00:38:51,260 Spirit. You can see kindness. You 599 00:38:51,260 --> 00:38:54,500 can see patience. You can see 600 00:38:54,580 --> 00:38:58,300 goodness. That's what it looks like. Active listening, what does it 601 00:38:58,300 --> 00:39:02,140 sound like? So this is, you don't see anything. What do 602 00:39:02,140 --> 00:39:05,980 you hear? What does active listening sound like when 603 00:39:05,980 --> 00:39:09,220 you're listening to the Lord? Speaking God's word, 604 00:39:09,620 --> 00:39:13,170 quoting his word out loud. I told 605 00:39:13,170 --> 00:39:16,650 Jonathan this morning, "Jonathan, I enjoyed 606 00:39:16,650 --> 00:39:20,370 reading all that last night." He said, "Yeah, I thought there would be a 607 00:39:20,370 --> 00:39:24,090 couple." I said, "Do you know why?" Sorry, this is where I get 608 00:39:24,090 --> 00:39:26,930 emotional. There is power, 609 00:39:30,610 --> 00:39:34,450 real power in the 610 00:39:34,450 --> 00:39:37,970 Word. Every time you 611 00:39:38,210 --> 00:39:42,000 speak speak it, power comes into 612 00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:45,760 the atmosphere. And so this is why people like 613 00:39:45,760 --> 00:39:49,360 us, we need to stay away from sayings, you know, 614 00:39:49,360 --> 00:39:53,200 "It's all good." No, it's not all good. But all things 615 00:39:53,200 --> 00:39:55,680 do work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called 616 00:39:55,680 --> 00:39:59,520 according to his purpose. Called according to his purpose, Vonda, check. Love the 617 00:39:59,520 --> 00:40:03,240 Lord, check. It will work out for my good, but this whole "it's all 618 00:40:03,240 --> 00:40:06,300 good," no, it ain't. Have y'all not seen the world? 619 00:40:06,860 --> 00:40:08,060 It's not all good. 620 00:40:10,460 --> 00:40:14,060 But there is power when I say, "All things 621 00:40:14,220 --> 00:40:18,020 work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to 622 00:40:18,020 --> 00:40:20,940 his purpose." There is power in here. 623 00:40:22,700 --> 00:40:26,540 So, when things happen in your life, speak the 624 00:40:26,540 --> 00:40:30,140 Word. If you haven't memorized it, get it and 625 00:40:30,300 --> 00:40:33,850 say it out loud. Watch the atmosphere that you're 626 00:40:33,850 --> 00:40:36,970 in change because there's power. 627 00:40:37,530 --> 00:40:41,250 It should sound like you're speaking it. I'm sorry, 628 00:40:41,250 --> 00:40:44,930 I told you I'm already overwhelmed for the things that the Lord 629 00:40:44,930 --> 00:40:48,490 is saying to me, but there is power and I 630 00:40:48,490 --> 00:40:52,170 have authority. I have power because 631 00:40:52,170 --> 00:40:55,970 of who lives in me, so I can say greater is 632 00:40:55,970 --> 00:40:59,620 he that lives in me than he that is of the world, 633 00:40:59,780 --> 00:41:03,500 because there is power in 634 00:41:03,500 --> 00:41:05,380 this, and I got it. 635 00:41:09,460 --> 00:41:11,700 It sounds like discussing words 636 00:41:13,060 --> 00:41:16,580 for a better understanding. 637 00:41:18,020 --> 00:41:21,380 And I said discussing for a better understanding because 638 00:41:21,940 --> 00:41:25,540 I'm not gonna argue about what God said. 639 00:41:26,040 --> 00:41:29,720 I ain't got to argue with nobody about what the Lord said. I ain't got 640 00:41:29,720 --> 00:41:33,520 time for that. I think it's interesting how people think you got time. Listen, I'm 641 00:41:33,680 --> 00:41:37,160 a principal at a school, and I have to talk about people's dress 642 00:41:37,160 --> 00:41:40,560 attire, right? And they'll say, "Well, Miss Copeland, she always gets on me." And I 643 00:41:40,560 --> 00:41:43,920 think to myself, do you really think I get up in the morning and say, 644 00:41:43,920 --> 00:41:47,320 "Ooh, I'm going to work today, and I'mma find 3 people out of dress 645 00:41:47,320 --> 00:41:51,000 code"? Is that really what you think I 646 00:41:51,000 --> 00:41:54,650 do? I want you to logically think of 647 00:41:54,650 --> 00:41:58,170 that. I ain't got time for that. I got a lot of stuff I have 648 00:41:58,170 --> 00:42:01,410 to do. I don't have time to explain and 649 00:42:01,490 --> 00:42:04,210 argue what somebody else said. 650 00:42:05,890 --> 00:42:09,690 But we can discuss it and unpack it. That's what we're doing right 651 00:42:09,690 --> 00:42:13,490 now, y'all. That's all we're doing. That's what it should sound 652 00:42:13,490 --> 00:42:16,690 like. Got time to be arguing with somebody about the Bible. 653 00:42:17,800 --> 00:42:19,240 It sounds like silence. 654 00:42:30,360 --> 00:42:32,440 People get very uncomfortable with silence, 655 00:42:33,960 --> 00:42:36,840 but if you plan on listening to the Lord, you better shut your mouth. 656 00:42:40,840 --> 00:42:44,630 Period. It sounds 657 00:42:44,630 --> 00:42:48,270 like the fruit of the Spirit. We have 658 00:42:49,070 --> 00:42:52,910 an interesting saying: "Is my name 659 00:42:53,550 --> 00:42:55,550 safe in your mouth?" 660 00:42:58,590 --> 00:43:01,870 It sounds like 661 00:43:02,670 --> 00:43:06,270 the fruit of the Spirit. Not just what we see, but 662 00:43:06,270 --> 00:43:09,980 now I should hear someone say, Oh, well, 663 00:43:09,980 --> 00:43:13,780 that doesn't sound like Pastor Barbie to me. I've never known her to 664 00:43:13,780 --> 00:43:16,940 slap somebody in the face. But that's what you say happened? Oh, 665 00:43:17,260 --> 00:43:19,500 well, I've never known her to slap anybody. 666 00:43:22,300 --> 00:43:25,820 Not— I'm sorry, what? She slapped who? Girl! 667 00:43:35,750 --> 00:43:36,150 Sorry. 668 00:43:39,510 --> 00:43:42,910 Sorry, I apologize. It 669 00:43:42,910 --> 00:43:46,230 sounds like the fruit of the Spirit. Active 670 00:43:46,230 --> 00:43:49,430 listening feels like— now before I show you any of these, 671 00:43:50,229 --> 00:43:53,510 I'm using the word feel. I want you to pay attention 672 00:43:54,390 --> 00:43:57,590 to what active listening feels like. 673 00:43:59,510 --> 00:44:01,270 It feels purposeful. 674 00:44:05,150 --> 00:44:08,510 It feels like I was created to 675 00:44:08,510 --> 00:44:11,310 depend on this God-breathing 676 00:44:13,150 --> 00:44:15,150 stars being, 677 00:44:16,910 --> 00:44:19,150 and I'm not here for nothing, 678 00:44:20,590 --> 00:44:22,750 that I'm on earth with a purpose, 679 00:44:24,190 --> 00:44:26,350 and I don't have to do it by myself. 680 00:44:28,200 --> 00:44:31,000 Because I wasn't created to do it by myself, 681 00:44:32,760 --> 00:44:36,400 but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens 682 00:44:36,400 --> 00:44:39,240 me. It feels 683 00:44:40,600 --> 00:44:44,440 purposeful. It 684 00:44:44,520 --> 00:44:45,960 feels important 685 00:44:48,600 --> 00:44:49,960 that it's not about me. 686 00:44:52,850 --> 00:44:56,330 But it's about Him and the glory that He 687 00:44:56,330 --> 00:44:59,370 gets. And He gave me an 688 00:44:59,370 --> 00:45:02,890 opportunity to say 689 00:45:02,890 --> 00:45:05,330 yes and to be used 690 00:45:07,250 --> 00:45:10,970 in any way He chooses, because 691 00:45:10,970 --> 00:45:14,130 He created me. I didn't create 692 00:45:14,290 --> 00:45:17,730 Wanda. He did. 693 00:45:20,540 --> 00:45:21,580 So it feels important. 694 00:45:24,460 --> 00:45:27,580 It feels like I'm heard. 695 00:45:28,620 --> 00:45:31,100 My brother said on his way home, 696 00:45:32,540 --> 00:45:36,140 he said, I want you to get him a suit because 697 00:45:36,140 --> 00:45:38,620 they need to know that I hear them. 698 00:45:42,060 --> 00:45:43,500 God hears you. 699 00:45:46,170 --> 00:45:50,010 He created you. He 700 00:45:50,010 --> 00:45:50,970 hears you. 701 00:45:59,210 --> 00:46:02,770 But what a glorious feeling to know that 702 00:46:02,770 --> 00:46:05,050 God heard my cry, 703 00:46:07,050 --> 00:46:10,660 that he hears me when I Call him, 704 00:46:15,140 --> 00:46:16,580 that he sees me. 705 00:46:19,060 --> 00:46:22,740 And even though I say, Lord, that hurt, that hurt, 706 00:46:23,540 --> 00:46:25,700 he said that and that hurt. 707 00:46:27,220 --> 00:46:30,180 And if I'm listening, I can hear him say, 708 00:46:31,220 --> 00:46:34,660 Wanda, give me your heart, for I'm the 709 00:46:34,660 --> 00:46:38,330 healer of the brokenhearted. Heart. For 710 00:46:38,330 --> 00:46:42,090 I'm close to you, Wanda, because I'm close 711 00:46:42,250 --> 00:46:45,890 to the brokenhearted. So 712 00:46:45,890 --> 00:46:47,210 it feels like 713 00:46:49,290 --> 00:46:50,650 I'm seen. 714 00:46:53,610 --> 00:46:55,850 It feels like I'm loved. 715 00:46:58,410 --> 00:47:01,470 It feels like I'm loved. 716 00:47:02,180 --> 00:47:03,460 That I'm cared for. 717 00:47:08,340 --> 00:47:11,140 Guys, God speaks all the time. 718 00:47:16,980 --> 00:47:19,140 Where is our hearing? 719 00:47:24,340 --> 00:47:27,380 Please understand, I'm not saying 720 00:47:28,220 --> 00:47:31,980 that life is the way I think it should be, and that's probably part 721 00:47:31,980 --> 00:47:32,620 of the problem. 722 00:47:36,220 --> 00:47:37,660 Because he has a purpose. 723 00:47:40,060 --> 00:47:41,820 I get to choose to be obedient, 724 00:47:43,740 --> 00:47:47,180 and there is satisfaction and pleasure 725 00:47:48,060 --> 00:47:51,860 in obedience. Stand to 726 00:47:51,860 --> 00:47:52,380 your feet. 727 00:47:59,450 --> 00:48:02,730 When we abide in him, when we remain in him, 728 00:48:04,970 --> 00:48:06,650 we can ask anything 729 00:48:09,289 --> 00:48:10,970 that aligns with his will, 730 00:48:14,090 --> 00:48:17,770 and he'll give it. He's not quiet. 731 00:48:19,620 --> 00:48:22,580 Open up our ears, Lord. I know we're about to have worship 732 00:48:23,860 --> 00:48:26,740 and we're gonna close in prayer, but I personally 733 00:48:28,420 --> 00:48:32,060 repeat the prayer from the beginning. Open up our 734 00:48:32,060 --> 00:48:35,780 eyes to see you. Open up our 735 00:48:35,780 --> 00:48:39,620 ears to hear you. And 736 00:48:39,620 --> 00:48:42,900 God, soften this desired 737 00:48:43,220 --> 00:48:46,550 heart to be independent to be dependent, to settle 738 00:48:48,390 --> 00:48:52,030 with the fact that you created us to be dependent upon 739 00:48:52,030 --> 00:48:54,390 you. In Jesus' name. 740 00:49:04,150 --> 00:49:07,790 So in response to that word, if you will just gather together 741 00:49:07,790 --> 00:49:11,540 with 2 or 3 around you, uh, right now, go and find 2 or 742 00:49:11,540 --> 00:49:14,420 3 around you. Move. That's a moving word. 743 00:49:16,020 --> 00:49:19,780 2 or 3 around you and lock hands with them. And 744 00:49:20,500 --> 00:49:23,180 this is what we're going to do. We're just going to take a few moments 745 00:49:23,180 --> 00:49:26,260 here with the Holy Spirit, 746 00:49:27,860 --> 00:49:31,220 and we're just going to ask the Lord to help us to surrender 747 00:49:31,380 --> 00:49:34,820 our will to his and that he would give us 748 00:49:34,820 --> 00:49:38,490 ears to hear when he is speaking to 749 00:49:38,490 --> 00:49:41,570 us, that our voice would become quiet and his would become 750 00:49:42,290 --> 00:49:45,810 much louder. So let's just take a few moments and pray. 751 00:49:45,810 --> 00:49:48,370 Lord, we surrender our will to you. 752 00:49:49,410 --> 00:49:53,050 Our voice, we surrender it. We silence ourselves and we ask, 753 00:49:53,050 --> 00:49:56,890 Lord, that your voice would be louder than 754 00:49:56,890 --> 00:49:59,890 all other voices and we would listen.