1 00:00:02,580 --> 00:00:08,840 - What a blessing to be in the house of the Lord 2 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:10,680 this morning, amen. 3 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:12,040 Glad that you're here today. 4 00:00:12,040 --> 00:00:13,160 Yes, and if you're joining here, 5 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:16,520 it's on live stream, thank you for joining us today. 6 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:20,480 As you guys are bringing your offerings, 7 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:22,720 let me give you a few announcements. 8 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:27,720 First of all, as the Christmas season had happened, 9 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:31,200 I know that there's been a few inconsistencies 10 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:32,480 in our communication. 11 00:00:32,480 --> 00:00:35,280 We're shoring that up in terms of our written communication. 12 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:36,920 We're shoring those things up. 13 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:39,360 And so I apologize if you've gotten any miscommunication, 14 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:41,120 but I wanted to make sure everybody understands 15 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:43,320 what's happening over the next few weeks. 16 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:45,440 And so would you put that slide up? 17 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:49,020 First of all, next Sunday, January 5th, 18 00:00:49,020 --> 00:00:51,880 our Sunday school, the 12, is gonna start back 19 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:53,000 in the fellowship hall. 20 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:54,520 Now, let me tell you, you know, 21 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:56,320 the new year brings new beginnings. 22 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:58,520 I wanna encourage you, if you can get up 23 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:01,680 just a little earlier and come at 9 a.m., 24 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:04,260 it's really rich what happens in the 12 25 00:01:04,260 --> 00:01:05,860 in the fellowship hall. 26 00:01:05,860 --> 00:01:07,220 Going through the book of Acts, 27 00:01:07,220 --> 00:01:09,920 several teachers rotating on a schedule, 28 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:11,880 and it's essentially a Bible study, 29 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:13,120 an interactive Bible study. 30 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:15,760 I wanna encourage you, if you have capacity 31 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:18,000 in your schedule, to come and be a part 32 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,800 of the Sunday school at nine o'clock starting next week, 33 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:22,240 and then you can come into this gathering 34 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:25,100 like you normally do here at 1030. 35 00:01:25,100 --> 00:01:27,520 Next week, we will begin a new series, 36 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:29,300 The Greatest Stories Ever Told, 37 00:01:29,300 --> 00:01:32,040 and I am super excited about what the Lord has 38 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:32,880 for us next year. 39 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:34,660 Go on to the next slide. 40 00:01:34,660 --> 00:01:37,400 Following Thursday on January 9th, 41 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:39,560 we will begin our midweek gathering. 42 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:41,480 So here's all of the offerings that we have 43 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:45,900 for everything outside of the main gathering that night. 44 00:01:45,900 --> 00:01:48,000 At five p.m., the cafe will open for dinner. 45 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:50,340 Now, we're gonna post those menus on Facebook 46 00:01:50,340 --> 00:01:51,980 and on the app so that you can know 47 00:01:51,980 --> 00:01:54,140 what is there and available for you. 48 00:01:54,140 --> 00:01:55,640 But if you wanna just come from work, 49 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:57,800 bring your kids and eat and be with us, 50 00:01:57,800 --> 00:01:59,600 that's a great time to fellowship. 51 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:02,940 Six o'clock, junior Bible quiz starts from K through six. 52 00:02:02,940 --> 00:02:05,220 This is open to anybody in elementary school. 53 00:02:05,220 --> 00:02:08,500 It's essentially a program to help kids know the Word of God. 54 00:02:08,500 --> 00:02:11,700 So anybody K through six can come to that. 55 00:02:11,700 --> 00:02:13,600 Teisha Severes in charge of that. 56 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:15,520 Six to seven, preschool is open. 57 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,280 We do have preschool available with Krista Edwards 58 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:21,240 and the team on Thursday nights as well. 59 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:23,960 Six to 730, the middle school youth work 60 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:25,600 will meet with Doug Jones. 61 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:27,760 Six to 730 p.m., the high school youth 62 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:29,060 will meet with Pastor James. 63 00:02:29,060 --> 00:02:31,320 So there's a bit of change in the youth group schedules 64 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:34,340 starting on this coming, on January 9th. 65 00:02:34,340 --> 00:02:37,160 Six to 730 for all youth, okay? 66 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:39,200 And then at 715, the young adults 67 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:42,200 are gonna be meeting weekly from 715 to 830. 68 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:44,620 If you're in the age demographic from 18 to 30, 69 00:02:44,620 --> 00:02:45,560 we invite you to come. 70 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:48,160 Fellas Paul and Kurt Bryson will be leading that. 71 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:50,060 And so he would love to see you. 72 00:02:50,060 --> 00:02:52,440 And then the series that we will be doing in here, 73 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:56,060 Pastor Barbie is doing a 12 week series called What Giants? 74 00:02:56,060 --> 00:02:57,720 And you do not want to miss it. 75 00:02:57,720 --> 00:02:59,840 So if that is something that you can work 76 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:01,920 into your schedule to come on Thursday nights, 77 00:03:01,920 --> 00:03:04,040 six o'clock, you'll want to be here. 78 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:07,600 And then on Sunday, January 12th at 530, 79 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:09,120 you've heard Pastor Justin talk about this, 80 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:10,900 we're gonna have a chili cook-off. 81 00:03:10,900 --> 00:03:13,840 And we want you to enter the cook-off, okay? 82 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:16,880 We wanna have so much chili, we gotta send some home. 83 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:20,660 So register in the app to bring your favorite pot of chili 84 00:03:20,660 --> 00:03:22,120 and be a part of that. 85 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:24,120 And then at 630, this is very important, 86 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:25,520 this is a family gathering. 87 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:27,880 If you say Springhouse is your church, 88 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:30,500 I want you to plan to be here at 630 89 00:03:30,500 --> 00:03:34,080 for our vision casting service that evening. 90 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:36,560 We have some new staff announcements to make, 91 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:37,980 some transitions that are happening 92 00:03:37,980 --> 00:03:39,560 and new ministries that are launching. 93 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:42,640 And I want to make you aware of all of the wonderful things 94 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:44,960 God has in store for 2025. 95 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:48,520 So please come and make that evening a part of your family. 96 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:51,000 We will have kids ministry open that night. 97 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:52,760 So come, they'll eat chili with us, 98 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:54,600 they'll go have fun in the kids' rooms 99 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:56,120 and then we'll have a worship service in here 100 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:57,700 and we'll share with you everything God has. 101 00:03:57,700 --> 00:03:59,080 Does that sound good? 102 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:00,320 All right. 103 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:04,280 We have many great teachers here at Springhouse 104 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:08,060 and Pastor Justin's gonna come out again this week, okay? 105 00:04:08,060 --> 00:04:09,940 But we're gonna give him a break after this week. 106 00:04:09,940 --> 00:04:12,520 Have you guys appreciated Pastor Justin and everything? 107 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:16,820 He's, yeah, it's been fantastic. 108 00:04:16,820 --> 00:04:19,040 This one was actually on the schedule originally 109 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:20,840 so I said you're gonna continue to do this. 110 00:04:20,840 --> 00:04:22,720 So welcome Pastor Justin, come on. 111 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:26,220 (congregation applauding) 112 00:04:26,220 --> 00:04:29,400 Tired, tired. 113 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:33,640 So I tried to message Pastor Kevin last week. 114 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:35,320 I said, "Hey, I feel strongly in my spirit 115 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:36,960 that you're supposed to." 116 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:40,080 It's like wrong, it's not how this works. 117 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:41,000 I get to do that with you. 118 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:41,840 You don't get to do that with me. 119 00:04:41,840 --> 00:04:43,200 I was like, "That's not how that works either." 120 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:46,960 So no, I am tired, but you know what? 121 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:49,680 Where I get refreshed at when you pour out? 122 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:51,000 That's the word. 123 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:52,120 As this is where I go. 124 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:54,160 You pour out, well, how do you get it back in? 125 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:56,360 You gotta receive back from the word of God. 126 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:59,840 So Pastor Kevin mentioned all the things 127 00:04:59,840 --> 00:05:00,760 I was gonna mention in this. 128 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:02,400 I do wanna let you know for that chili cook-off, 129 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:03,720 we will have all the croutrement. 130 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:04,860 There will be crackers. 131 00:05:04,860 --> 00:05:06,600 There'll be green olives, not green olives. 132 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:07,880 Somebody like no green olives. 133 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:09,640 Green onions, probably. 134 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,040 Shredded chili, who likes green olives, right? 135 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:13,620 All seven of y'all, right? 136 00:05:13,620 --> 00:05:18,160 There'll be Rolaids, Tums, Pepto Chewables. 137 00:05:19,020 --> 00:05:20,820 Don't worry, I got you covered. 138 00:05:20,820 --> 00:05:22,300 Second thing, this is more importantly, 139 00:05:22,300 --> 00:05:23,440 I want you guys to know, 140 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:25,400 and I want you to hear my heart when I say this, okay? 141 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:26,980 I don't mean this in any disrespectful way. 142 00:05:26,980 --> 00:05:28,620 I appreciate your time. 143 00:05:28,620 --> 00:05:31,240 I don't care anything about that clock. 144 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:32,940 I got something I gotta say today. 145 00:05:32,940 --> 00:05:34,580 And if God moves in your heart, 146 00:05:34,580 --> 00:05:37,160 I will go put on wet clothes and baptize you. 147 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:39,020 We've sent everybody home that wanna go. 148 00:05:39,020 --> 00:05:40,120 I'll put on wet clothes. 149 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:42,300 Johnny G will come up, we'll release the band, 150 00:05:42,300 --> 00:05:43,940 and that water's already warm. 151 00:05:43,940 --> 00:05:46,520 So if today's the day that God moved in your life, 152 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:49,000 I will put them wet clothes back on and baptize you. 153 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:51,280 I have a word that I need to share 154 00:05:51,280 --> 00:05:52,440 with you guys this morning. 155 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:54,300 It's probably one of the most important words 156 00:05:54,300 --> 00:05:56,020 that I'm gonna share with you. 157 00:05:56,020 --> 00:05:57,660 It's an honor to share this word. 158 00:05:57,660 --> 00:06:00,480 And so I understand we have time constraints, 159 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:04,120 but we are not gonna stifle a move of God based on a clock. 160 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:05,880 (congregation applauding) 161 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:07,880 You hear what I'm saying? 162 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:11,280 Five minutes or 10 minutes or two, no, fine. 163 00:06:11,280 --> 00:06:12,640 (laughing) 164 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:13,700 Listen, well, hang on, Pastor. 165 00:06:13,700 --> 00:06:14,880 I don't know about two hours. 166 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:16,640 You're gonna hear the whole month of December. 167 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:18,040 If I couldn't say it in the whole month, 168 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:19,840 then I shouldn't have said it, right? 169 00:06:19,840 --> 00:06:24,320 Each year at Springhouse, we close the year 170 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:27,280 and begin the next with this message. 171 00:06:27,280 --> 00:06:29,580 Read the word and why. 172 00:06:29,580 --> 00:06:33,600 Last year, I was able to bring the same message, 173 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:34,600 and I was joking. 174 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:36,640 I was like, you know, they brought me in 175 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:39,680 and relief pitcher after all of the good pitchers 176 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:42,260 have gone up and like the game's well out of reach. 177 00:06:42,260 --> 00:06:43,840 You know what I'm talking about, like garbage time. 178 00:06:43,840 --> 00:06:45,120 They just throw me out there. 179 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:46,680 This year, I feel like I need somebody 180 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:48,320 to come and relieve me, 181 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:50,220 if you've been with us the last month. 182 00:06:50,220 --> 00:06:54,300 But in reality, I'm honored to bring this 183 00:06:54,300 --> 00:06:58,340 because this is a powerful message. 184 00:06:58,340 --> 00:07:01,360 This is one message that I live by. 185 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:03,680 If you've heard me speak anytime, 186 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:05,960 I wanna share what the word has to say. 187 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:08,600 I can get up here and I can tell you testimonies, 188 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:11,280 and I can tell you stories and make you laugh and cry, 189 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:12,720 but you're gonna forget about that. 190 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:14,660 And if I don't give you anything of substance, 191 00:07:14,660 --> 00:07:15,840 I don't give you God's word, 192 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:17,760 then what have I really given you? 193 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:20,680 You know, you might not remember me in five minutes, 194 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:22,940 five months, or even five years from now, 195 00:07:22,940 --> 00:07:24,480 but God's word is eternal 196 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:26,600 and has power to change your life. 197 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:28,760 And so if I don't, if I just get up here 198 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:30,880 and make you laugh and make you cry 199 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:32,120 and send you out into the world, 200 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:34,020 and I've not equipped you with anything 201 00:07:34,020 --> 00:07:35,760 to fight the fight that you're in, 202 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:37,280 to see the goodness of God 203 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:39,200 played out in your ordinary, everyday life, 204 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:42,920 I have done you a disservice and I have made this about me. 205 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:46,080 So now you may laugh because I'm a good storyteller 206 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:48,200 and I just tell real life stories from my life, 207 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:49,040 and I'm gonna make you cry 208 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:51,040 because you can see the goodness of God 209 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:53,000 played out in real time in front of you. 210 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:54,640 But if I don't give you any substance, 211 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:57,000 I've not done anything for you, okay? 212 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:00,320 So if you're able to stand, would you please stand 213 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:01,360 and we're gonna get right into the word. 214 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:04,160 We're gonna read one passage out of the book of Hebrews. 215 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:07,000 Are we ready? 216 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:08,000 Here we go. 217 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:11,160 For the word of God is living and active, 218 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:14,040 sharper than any two-edged sword, 219 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:17,800 piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, 220 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:19,880 of joints and of marrow, 221 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:23,540 and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 222 00:08:23,540 --> 00:08:27,800 And no creature is hidden from his sight, 223 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:31,760 but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him 224 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:34,080 to whom we must give an account. 225 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:35,600 Father, I thank you for your word. 226 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:38,300 I thank you for the life that it brings. 227 00:08:38,300 --> 00:08:41,640 God, I ask that your anointing would continue to rest on me, 228 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:43,160 that you would open the hearts of your people 229 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:45,000 to an encounter with you, 230 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:48,520 that the name of Jesus would be glorified and magnified 231 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:49,840 through the message today, 232 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:51,360 and through the power of the Holy Ghost 233 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:52,960 who would change and transform us 234 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:56,280 and create a passionate love for your word. 235 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:58,680 It's in Christ's name I pray, amen and amen. 236 00:08:58,680 --> 00:09:00,580 You guys can be seated. 237 00:09:00,580 --> 00:09:03,740 So like I said, I'm honored to bring this message today 238 00:09:03,740 --> 00:09:08,740 and there's really two things we're gonna talk about, okay? 239 00:09:08,740 --> 00:09:13,660 One, why should I study the word of God? 240 00:09:13,660 --> 00:09:16,000 Why should I study the word? 241 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:20,600 And two, how do I study the word of God? 242 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:25,360 So why should I study and how do I study? 243 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:26,580 Before we get into this, 244 00:09:26,580 --> 00:09:30,000 it's important to note several things. 245 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:31,560 How did we get the Bible? 246 00:09:31,560 --> 00:09:32,400 Who wrote it? 247 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:33,280 Where did it come from? 248 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:34,440 These are all questions you have. 249 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:38,280 I don't care if you're a seasoned saint 250 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:41,640 or if you are new to the faith 251 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:44,380 and you're planning to read the scriptures 252 00:09:44,380 --> 00:09:45,740 along with us this year 253 00:09:45,740 --> 00:09:48,480 as we move into the greatest stories ever told. 254 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:51,360 And usually January is a great time 255 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:53,480 for people to start setting goals 256 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:54,940 and to start getting into things 257 00:09:54,940 --> 00:09:56,720 and creating new habits and disciplines. 258 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:59,320 So this is a perfect time for you to get your mind right 259 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:03,000 and get ready and focused as we move out into this year. 260 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:06,120 The Bible is commonly referred to as the word of God 261 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:07,040 and this is true. 262 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:10,440 However, the word of God predates the Bible, 263 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:12,080 especially in its current form. 264 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:13,460 You understand what I'm saying? 265 00:10:13,460 --> 00:10:18,180 The word of God predates the Bible. 266 00:10:18,180 --> 00:10:19,040 Are you tracking? 267 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:23,020 Okay, I'm talking semantics here and this is important. 268 00:10:23,020 --> 00:10:25,640 John 1, one through three says, 269 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:27,760 "In the beginning was the word 270 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:30,680 "and the word was with God and the word was God. 271 00:10:30,680 --> 00:10:34,220 "He was in the beginning with God. 272 00:10:34,220 --> 00:10:37,600 "All things were made through him 273 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:41,080 "and without him was not anything made that was made." 274 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:43,780 Now, who is this passage talking about? 275 00:10:43,780 --> 00:10:45,960 Who? 276 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:48,280 Jesus, it's not a rhetorical question, okay? 277 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:50,640 So this passage out of John lets us know 278 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:52,840 Jesus Christ is the word of God. 279 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:58,300 Now, this echoes the opening line in Genesis, 280 00:10:58,300 --> 00:11:00,560 "In the beginning, God created." 281 00:11:00,560 --> 00:11:02,360 The word Greek here is logos. 282 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:06,520 It conveys the idea of divine self-expression or speech. 283 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:08,960 The first thing we need to understand about God's word is, 284 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:11,800 God's word is effective. 285 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:15,000 He speaks things into existence. 286 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:18,580 God speaks things into existence. 287 00:11:18,580 --> 00:11:19,740 Genesis 1, three says, 288 00:11:19,740 --> 00:11:23,440 "And God said, 'Let there be light.'" 289 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:25,360 And there was light. 290 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:28,840 He said it and then it happened. 291 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:32,560 Creation responds to the Creator's voice. 292 00:11:32,560 --> 00:11:33,400 Are you hearing me? 293 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:37,400 "He said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." 294 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:40,120 Psalm 33, six, "By the word of the Lord, 295 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:43,220 "the heavens were made and by the breath of his mouth, 296 00:11:43,220 --> 00:11:45,780 "all their hosts." 297 00:11:45,780 --> 00:11:47,040 Have you ever heard Pastor Kevin 298 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:49,280 talk about this star breather God? 299 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:52,320 He, it's one of his favorite phrases and descriptions of God. 300 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:53,580 Have you heard him say that? 301 00:11:53,580 --> 00:11:54,940 This star breathing God. 302 00:11:54,940 --> 00:11:56,320 Where does he get that idea from? 303 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:58,100 He don't just make that up. 304 00:11:58,100 --> 00:12:00,140 This is where he got that from. 305 00:12:00,140 --> 00:12:02,200 "That by the breath of his mouth, 306 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:05,940 "the heavens and their hosts were formed and created." 307 00:12:05,940 --> 00:12:08,700 Psalm 107, 20. 308 00:12:08,700 --> 00:12:11,520 You guys have heard me mention multiple times 309 00:12:11,520 --> 00:12:13,820 the one-year discipleship program 310 00:12:13,820 --> 00:12:15,780 for men with life controlling problems. 311 00:12:15,780 --> 00:12:16,620 You've heard of that, right? 312 00:12:16,620 --> 00:12:21,320 This is my fancy way of saying there's a drug rehab, okay? 313 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:26,220 That I went to in 2011. 314 00:12:26,220 --> 00:12:29,620 And the founding verse for Renewed Life Ministries 315 00:12:29,620 --> 00:12:31,920 is Psalm 107, 20. 316 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:35,500 It says, "He sent out his word and healed them 317 00:12:35,500 --> 00:12:38,620 "and delivered them from their destruction." 318 00:12:38,620 --> 00:12:41,680 And this ministry is founded on this idea 319 00:12:41,680 --> 00:12:45,420 that drugs and alcohol are not really the root problem, 320 00:12:45,420 --> 00:12:48,300 but even when we find out what the root issue is, 321 00:12:48,300 --> 00:12:51,460 God's word is capable of healing you 322 00:12:51,460 --> 00:12:54,860 and delivering you from your destruction. 323 00:12:54,860 --> 00:12:59,860 And so God sent out his word to heal them and deliver them. 324 00:12:59,860 --> 00:13:01,700 Let me tell you guys, whatever you're going through, 325 00:13:01,700 --> 00:13:04,460 God's word is powerful enough to heal you 326 00:13:04,460 --> 00:13:06,700 and deliver you from your destruction. 327 00:13:06,700 --> 00:13:11,840 And then in Isaiah 55, 10 through 11, it says, 328 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:14,260 "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven 329 00:13:14,260 --> 00:13:16,840 "and do not return there, but water the earth, 330 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:19,300 "making it bring forth and sprout, 331 00:13:19,300 --> 00:13:22,120 "giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 332 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:25,560 "so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth. 333 00:13:25,560 --> 00:13:27,560 "It shall not return to me empty, 334 00:13:27,560 --> 00:13:30,660 "but shall accomplish that which I purpose 335 00:13:30,660 --> 00:13:34,900 "and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent." 336 00:13:34,900 --> 00:13:39,900 God's word is effective and he speaks things into existence. 337 00:13:39,900 --> 00:13:44,580 God speaks things into existence. 338 00:13:44,580 --> 00:13:48,460 You know, I love the way this plays out in the scriptures. 339 00:13:48,460 --> 00:13:50,140 When he finds Gideon, 340 00:13:50,140 --> 00:13:55,140 Gideon is hiding in a wine press threshing wheat. 341 00:13:55,140 --> 00:13:57,220 If you don't know what either of those things are, 342 00:13:57,220 --> 00:13:58,100 I'm gonna tell you right now, 343 00:13:58,100 --> 00:14:01,460 you don't thresh wheat in a wine press. 344 00:14:01,460 --> 00:14:04,820 The way this works is they would take and scoop up, 345 00:14:04,820 --> 00:14:07,100 they would scoop up the wheat and the chaff 346 00:14:07,100 --> 00:14:09,420 and they would throw it in the air 347 00:14:09,420 --> 00:14:12,940 and the wind would separate it. 348 00:14:12,940 --> 00:14:14,340 Are you following me? 349 00:14:14,340 --> 00:14:17,500 There was no wind in this wine press. 350 00:14:17,500 --> 00:14:19,700 He's in a wine press. 351 00:14:19,700 --> 00:14:21,500 You're not supposed to do that there. 352 00:14:21,500 --> 00:14:23,060 And when God meets him, he says, 353 00:14:23,060 --> 00:14:25,180 "Gideon, you mighty man of valor." 354 00:14:25,180 --> 00:14:27,340 And the guy is hiding. 355 00:14:27,340 --> 00:14:29,640 Those two don't connect, do they? 356 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:32,340 But God has the ability, right? 357 00:14:32,340 --> 00:14:36,340 To call you what he sees in you. 358 00:14:36,340 --> 00:14:41,340 And he makes in you by his call, what he called you. 359 00:14:41,340 --> 00:14:43,060 Do you follow me? 360 00:14:43,060 --> 00:14:45,740 He said, "You're hiding and you don't feel 361 00:14:45,740 --> 00:14:47,360 "like a mighty man of valor, 362 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:49,500 "but I'm telling you who you are 363 00:14:49,500 --> 00:14:51,540 "and by me telling you who you are, 364 00:14:51,540 --> 00:14:54,740 "you will become the thing I say you are." 365 00:14:54,740 --> 00:14:56,940 Because that's how powerful his word is. 366 00:14:56,940 --> 00:15:01,860 God's word is how he relates to his people. 367 00:15:01,860 --> 00:15:04,580 This is how he relates to his people through the Bible. 368 00:15:04,580 --> 00:15:06,460 "After these things, the word of the Lord 369 00:15:06,460 --> 00:15:07,980 "came to Abram in a vision, 370 00:15:07,980 --> 00:15:10,520 "fear not, Abram, I am your shield. 371 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:13,160 "Your reward shall be very great." 372 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:16,080 This is how God reveals himself to his people. 373 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:19,420 Simply, there is a difference between the Bible 374 00:15:19,420 --> 00:15:21,580 and God's word, but since the Bible 375 00:15:21,580 --> 00:15:22,800 is how we know the difference, 376 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:24,300 that means the Bible is God's word. 377 00:15:24,300 --> 00:15:25,780 Does that make sense? 378 00:15:25,780 --> 00:15:26,940 The word is eternal. 379 00:15:26,940 --> 00:15:29,140 God's word is eternal. 380 00:15:29,140 --> 00:15:32,820 The Bible has a beginning and history point, okay? 381 00:15:32,820 --> 00:15:34,540 So while this is God's word, 382 00:15:34,540 --> 00:15:37,700 God's word predates the scriptures. 383 00:15:37,700 --> 00:15:41,540 God is the source of all information in the Bible. 384 00:15:41,540 --> 00:15:46,540 2 Timothy 2, 3, 16, I don't like this side. 385 00:15:46,540 --> 00:15:47,700 I'm gonna look at this side. 386 00:15:47,700 --> 00:15:48,540 I'm sorry, y'all. 387 00:15:48,540 --> 00:15:51,100 (congregation laughing) 388 00:15:51,100 --> 00:15:53,640 "All scripture is breathed out by God 389 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:56,920 "and profitable for teaching," that's what I'm doing, 390 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:59,740 "for reproof," don't like that, 391 00:15:59,740 --> 00:16:02,600 "for correction," like that even less, 392 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:04,280 "and for training in righteousness," 393 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:06,760 righteousness, this is right living, 394 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:09,520 "that the man or woman of God may be complete, 395 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:10,880 "equipped for every good work." 396 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:12,660 I'm not adding woman there, 397 00:16:12,660 --> 00:16:14,180 saying the word man here means 398 00:16:14,180 --> 00:16:17,660 that the person reading would be affected by it. 399 00:16:18,620 --> 00:16:20,800 "That the person may be complete, 400 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:24,100 "equipped for every good work." 401 00:16:24,100 --> 00:16:28,480 The problem is we don't like the parts in the scripture 402 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:31,180 that do the reproving and the correction. 403 00:16:31,180 --> 00:16:34,660 We don't like those parts, why? 404 00:16:34,660 --> 00:16:37,040 Because I don't like to be corrected. 405 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:40,400 Who likes to be told you're wrong? 406 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:44,080 Any guy that, is anybody married in here? 407 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:47,420 (congregation laughing) 408 00:16:47,420 --> 00:16:51,680 We was riding down the road yesterday, 409 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:53,400 me and my wife trying to figure out the three things 410 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:55,560 that you're not supposed to do with gremlins. 411 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:58,980 (congregation laughing) 412 00:16:58,980 --> 00:17:00,060 And I was like, "Can't get them wet, 413 00:17:00,060 --> 00:17:01,340 "don't feed them after midnight." 414 00:17:01,340 --> 00:17:02,520 And she was like, "And sunlight." 415 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:03,700 I was like, "It's not sunlight." 416 00:17:03,700 --> 00:17:05,340 She was like, "Let me just look this up." 417 00:17:05,340 --> 00:17:08,660 And avoid direct sunlight, I was like, "I was wrong, fine. 418 00:17:08,660 --> 00:17:09,920 "Is that what you wanted?" 419 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:11,220 (congregation laughing) 420 00:17:11,220 --> 00:17:13,100 It's literally happened on the way to watching Moana. 421 00:17:13,100 --> 00:17:14,420 Like, I mean, it's not like, 422 00:17:15,900 --> 00:17:18,020 I didn't like it, I didn't even like being wrong 423 00:17:18,020 --> 00:17:22,820 about what Mogwai, this is a made up story. 424 00:17:22,820 --> 00:17:24,540 Imagine when the word says, 425 00:17:24,540 --> 00:17:27,500 "Hey, the way you're speaking to people is wrong. 426 00:17:27,500 --> 00:17:29,160 "The way you're thinking is wrong. 427 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:31,420 "The way you're acting is wrong. 428 00:17:31,420 --> 00:17:34,020 "These are real life matters." 429 00:17:34,020 --> 00:17:36,540 Like, care about what you can't do with Mogwai? 430 00:17:36,540 --> 00:17:38,700 (congregation laughing) 431 00:17:38,700 --> 00:17:39,960 I broke the little thing on this, 432 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:41,660 that's why I keep pulling on that. 433 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:47,540 The Bible in its current form was written by 35 authors 434 00:17:47,540 --> 00:17:49,720 over a period of 1500 years. 435 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:51,740 Our codex contains 66 books, 436 00:17:51,740 --> 00:17:54,260 39 Old Testament, 27 New Testament. 437 00:17:54,260 --> 00:17:58,160 This contains history, poetry, wisdom writings, 438 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:01,960 prophecy, parables and teachings, love songs, 439 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:06,960 worship directives, laws and sacrifices, beauty, sin, death 440 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:08,600 and eyewitness testimony. 441 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:10,920 And we are a blessed people to have access 442 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:12,760 to the revealed character and will of God 443 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:14,040 in such a complete form. 444 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:17,160 You have no idea how blessed you are 445 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:20,880 to be able to have access to this in its complete form. 446 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:23,920 Now, why should I read and study the word? 447 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:25,800 Why should you read and study the word? 448 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:29,400 Well, the historical and cultural significance of the Bible 449 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:31,040 makes it a worthwhile read. 450 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:32,920 However, that is the least reason 451 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:34,920 you should read and study. 452 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:37,400 There are many reasons, but I just wanna highlight a few. 453 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:42,400 The first is the Bible is how God reveals his character. 454 00:18:42,460 --> 00:18:45,740 This is how God reveals his character. 455 00:18:45,740 --> 00:18:50,420 The Bible was written for us, but not to us. 456 00:18:50,420 --> 00:18:52,080 The Bible was written for you, 457 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:55,040 but it was not written to you, okay? 458 00:18:55,040 --> 00:18:59,160 This scripture here is probably one of the most famous 459 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:01,940 Christian hope verses there is. 460 00:19:01,940 --> 00:19:04,120 How many people have this on a sign 461 00:19:04,120 --> 00:19:06,920 in their house somewhere, right? 462 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:10,120 You go to any Christian bookstore and this is our, 463 00:19:10,120 --> 00:19:12,840 this is where we plant our flag. 464 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:14,180 This is our hope flag. 465 00:19:14,180 --> 00:19:17,400 I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord. 466 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:19,720 Plans for welfare and not for evil 467 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:22,720 to give you a future and a hope. 468 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:24,620 Do you know who this was written to? 469 00:19:24,620 --> 00:19:30,000 Israel, and they were in the midst of Babylonian captivity. 470 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:34,240 These people were in bondage, in slavery. 471 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:38,700 So their circumstances said one thing, 472 00:19:38,700 --> 00:19:40,120 this was their reality. 473 00:19:40,120 --> 00:19:42,760 Our reality is we are in slavery, 474 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:46,360 but the truth was that God had not forgotten about them 475 00:19:46,360 --> 00:19:48,260 and was giving them a promise. 476 00:19:48,260 --> 00:19:51,840 Do you understand that truth is different from your reality? 477 00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:56,720 Your reality may say one thing about your circumstances, 478 00:19:56,720 --> 00:19:59,840 but the truth says a completely different thing. 479 00:19:59,840 --> 00:20:02,340 And so why do we hold on to this promise? 480 00:20:02,340 --> 00:20:04,840 That this is not, this promise is not for me. 481 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:05,680 Why? 482 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:07,720 Because it reveals God's character. 483 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:11,380 The Bible shows us that this is the type of God we serve 484 00:20:11,380 --> 00:20:14,900 that even though their circumstances were less than ideal, 485 00:20:14,900 --> 00:20:18,460 He gave them a promised future and a hope. 486 00:20:18,460 --> 00:20:20,580 And you can stand on that. 487 00:20:20,580 --> 00:20:22,300 So the reason we claim this promise 488 00:20:22,300 --> 00:20:24,200 is not because this promise is for us, 489 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:27,420 it's because that same God, if He did it for them, 490 00:20:27,420 --> 00:20:28,920 He'll do it for me. 491 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:30,720 If He set that guy free, 492 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:33,000 well, Ross is up there, if he'll save us, 493 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,640 I'm like, shut up, don't tell everybody that, right? 494 00:20:36,980 --> 00:20:39,420 Ross, don't align yourself with this, right? 495 00:20:39,420 --> 00:20:42,000 That's the thing, 496 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:45,840 He understands what this verse is trying to say. 497 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:48,940 If God will do it for them, He'll do it for me. 498 00:20:48,940 --> 00:20:50,960 That's how we can claim this. 499 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:52,820 This promise is not for you, 500 00:20:52,820 --> 00:20:54,840 or it's not to you, but it's for you. 501 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:56,080 Does that make sense? 502 00:20:56,080 --> 00:20:59,920 The lens through which we view the Bible 503 00:20:59,920 --> 00:21:01,660 is based on our understanding of God. 504 00:21:01,660 --> 00:21:03,560 Exodus 34, six through seven, 505 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:06,560 the Lord passed before him and proclaimed the Lord, 506 00:21:06,560 --> 00:21:10,340 the Lord God, a merciful and gracious, 507 00:21:10,340 --> 00:21:14,240 slow to anger and abounding 508 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:16,200 and steadfast love and faithfulness, 509 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:20,360 keeping steadfast love for thousands, 510 00:21:20,360 --> 00:21:23,520 forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, 511 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:26,240 but who will by no means clear the guilty, 512 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:28,800 visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children 513 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:29,800 and the children's children 514 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:31,880 to the third and fourth generation. 515 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:33,780 What He's saying here is, 516 00:21:33,780 --> 00:21:36,740 you can understand who I am when you read 517 00:21:36,740 --> 00:21:38,580 and interact with the scriptures. 518 00:21:38,580 --> 00:21:42,100 There are consequences to our actions. 519 00:21:42,100 --> 00:21:45,940 And have you ever felt like God is just waiting on you 520 00:21:45,940 --> 00:21:48,340 to mess up so He can hammer you? 521 00:21:48,340 --> 00:21:49,300 You ever felt like that? 522 00:21:49,300 --> 00:21:52,600 Like any wrong move, or if I say the wrong thing, 523 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:54,220 the hammer's gonna fall on me, 524 00:21:54,220 --> 00:21:55,940 and this is all gonna fall apart 525 00:21:55,940 --> 00:21:58,480 as if it's being held together by you 526 00:21:58,480 --> 00:21:59,780 and your behavior somehow. 527 00:21:59,780 --> 00:22:02,120 Right, that's a wrong thinking. 528 00:22:02,120 --> 00:22:04,720 The hammer fell on Jesus Christ. 529 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:07,920 And because of that, we can be set free. 530 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:08,780 How do I know? 531 00:22:08,780 --> 00:22:10,880 It's in the words, what the word tells me. 532 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:19,120 God is full of patience, love, kindness, justice, and wisdom. 533 00:22:19,120 --> 00:22:22,500 When you read the scriptures, look for Him first. 534 00:22:22,500 --> 00:22:25,460 Most of us suffer from main character syndrome. 535 00:22:25,460 --> 00:22:29,740 You think you're the main character of the story. 536 00:22:29,740 --> 00:22:31,540 You think every time you open a Bible, 537 00:22:31,540 --> 00:22:35,420 it's about how I'm supposed, what is this about me? 538 00:22:35,420 --> 00:22:37,280 What is this about my life? 539 00:22:37,280 --> 00:22:39,080 What do I need to know? 540 00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:41,620 What if we started looking to see who God is 541 00:22:41,620 --> 00:22:44,640 and God's story, and then He reveals to us 542 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:47,280 how we fit into that and stop making ourselves 543 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:49,440 the center of attention sometimes? 544 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:51,620 The next thing about God's word 545 00:22:51,620 --> 00:22:54,140 is it gives instruction for our daily life. 546 00:22:54,140 --> 00:22:57,360 2 Timothy 3.16, we read that all scripture 547 00:22:57,360 --> 00:22:58,940 is breathed out by God. 548 00:22:58,940 --> 00:23:01,760 It's a Rhema word, it's a living word. 549 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:04,560 And it's profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, 550 00:23:04,560 --> 00:23:07,020 and training in righteousness. 551 00:23:07,020 --> 00:23:09,720 Certain aspects of this daily life 552 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:12,000 are definitely tied to the cultural times 553 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:12,840 it was written in. 554 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:15,040 But there are things that transcend culture. 555 00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:16,620 Are you ready for this? 556 00:23:16,620 --> 00:23:17,940 Be kind. 557 00:23:17,940 --> 00:23:24,700 Do good unto others, love your enemies, 558 00:23:24,700 --> 00:23:27,300 pray for those who despitefully use you. 559 00:23:27,300 --> 00:23:30,320 (man whistles) 560 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:33,140 That's not for Middle Eastern people. 561 00:23:33,140 --> 00:23:36,720 He didn't just tell ancient Near East 562 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:39,600 or Western societies to be kind. 563 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:43,080 So many times we wanna read the word 564 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:45,600 or we wanna ask God, what is your plan for my life? 565 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:47,240 And He's like, how about you just do the things 566 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:49,440 I've told you to do first? 567 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:53,960 How about you be slow to speak and slow to get angry? 568 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:55,660 Let's start there. 569 00:23:55,660 --> 00:23:59,020 Can we start with the basics of my will for your life? 570 00:23:59,020 --> 00:24:01,840 Before we talk about the most detailed and nuanced 571 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:04,120 and if you should move to Montana, 572 00:24:04,120 --> 00:24:06,360 how about stop talking crazy to your neighbor? 573 00:24:06,360 --> 00:24:10,920 I'm just saying like we wanna go with the, 574 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:12,360 God teach me how to write cursive. 575 00:24:12,360 --> 00:24:14,840 He's like, you don't even know your ABCs. 576 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:15,800 You don't even know your ABCs, 577 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:17,320 you asked me to do swirly letters? 578 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:18,560 Absolutely not. 579 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:24,960 Bible, understanding God's word, 580 00:24:24,960 --> 00:24:25,920 why you should read the word. 581 00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:29,140 The third reason is it guards against false teaching. 582 00:24:29,140 --> 00:24:30,340 It guards against false teaching. 583 00:24:30,340 --> 00:24:32,560 2 Timothy 2, 16 through 18 says this, 584 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:35,080 "Avoid a reverent Bible for it will lead people 585 00:24:35,080 --> 00:24:37,260 into more and more ungodliness 586 00:24:37,260 --> 00:24:39,980 and their talk will spread like gangrene. 587 00:24:39,980 --> 00:24:42,240 Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus." 588 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:43,920 He called them out by name. 589 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:46,820 How would you like to be known? 590 00:24:46,820 --> 00:24:49,840 How would you like to be known throughout history 591 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:54,360 for spreading false information about the gospel? 592 00:24:54,360 --> 00:24:56,840 Who have swerved from the truth 593 00:24:56,840 --> 00:24:59,240 saying the resurrection has already happened. 594 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:03,880 False teaching is a disease 595 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:06,840 and if left unchecked, it will spread and corrupt the body. 596 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:09,080 That's what he's saying here. 597 00:25:09,080 --> 00:25:10,700 False teaching is a disease. 598 00:25:10,700 --> 00:25:13,160 You should read the word so that you can know it. 599 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:14,560 It'll guard you against it. 600 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:19,600 And it increases wisdom and discernment. 601 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:21,820 Psalm 119, 11 says, 602 00:25:21,820 --> 00:25:26,820 "I have stored up your word in my heart." 603 00:25:26,820 --> 00:25:28,560 Maybe. 604 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:30,380 "I have stored up your word in my heart 605 00:25:30,380 --> 00:25:31,740 that I might not sin against you." 606 00:25:31,740 --> 00:25:33,660 Stored up your word in my heart. 607 00:25:33,660 --> 00:25:36,380 He says, "I have taken your word 608 00:25:36,380 --> 00:25:39,060 and I have hidden it inside of me 609 00:25:39,060 --> 00:25:42,940 so that no matter where I go, your word is with me." 610 00:25:42,940 --> 00:25:45,540 I don't always have access to the Bible, 611 00:25:45,540 --> 00:25:48,260 but I always have access to the word. 612 00:25:48,260 --> 00:25:51,540 That's why scripture memorization is so important. 613 00:25:51,540 --> 00:25:54,180 Scripture is that you read it, write it and speak it. 614 00:25:54,180 --> 00:25:55,020 Why? 615 00:25:55,020 --> 00:25:57,060 You use different parts of your brain. 616 00:25:57,060 --> 00:25:59,800 When you say something, you use one part of your brain. 617 00:25:59,800 --> 00:26:01,700 When you read something, you use a different part. 618 00:26:01,700 --> 00:26:03,940 And when you write something, you use a different part. 619 00:26:03,940 --> 00:26:06,900 And you're more likely to retain the information 620 00:26:06,900 --> 00:26:08,760 if you read it, write it and say it. 621 00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:12,020 Put some water in the bucket 622 00:26:12,020 --> 00:26:13,900 so that you'll have water when you need it. 623 00:26:13,900 --> 00:26:15,660 And I don't care if you say, 624 00:26:15,660 --> 00:26:18,600 "Well, you don't understand, I've got a bad memory. 625 00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:19,700 I can't memorize stuff." 626 00:26:19,700 --> 00:26:22,220 I say, "Well, some of you guys got a bad golf swing 627 00:26:22,220 --> 00:26:24,340 and that don't stop you from playing golf, does it?" 628 00:26:24,340 --> 00:26:26,380 (congregation laughing) 629 00:26:26,380 --> 00:26:27,220 Does it? 630 00:26:27,220 --> 00:26:29,640 Does it? 631 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:30,480 No. 632 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:33,420 There's a quote by Charles Spurgeon 633 00:26:33,420 --> 00:26:34,820 when it comes to discernment. 634 00:26:34,820 --> 00:26:38,300 Discernment is not just knowing the difference 635 00:26:38,300 --> 00:26:39,560 between right and wrong. 636 00:26:39,560 --> 00:26:42,940 It's knowing the difference between right and almost right. 637 00:26:42,940 --> 00:26:49,020 I didn't share this in the first gathering, 638 00:26:49,020 --> 00:26:51,780 but I feel like it's appropriate now, I wanted to share it. 639 00:26:51,780 --> 00:26:55,060 Discernment is knowing the difference 640 00:26:55,060 --> 00:26:58,060 between what's right and what's almost right. 641 00:26:58,060 --> 00:27:00,680 To be almost saved is to be totally lost. 642 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:04,660 To be almost saved is to be totally lost. 643 00:27:04,660 --> 00:27:08,660 This is a poem by Ezekiel Azzanwoo called "Almost." 644 00:27:08,660 --> 00:27:13,460 One of the most dangerous words in English diction. 645 00:27:13,460 --> 00:27:17,140 If it can be translated into audio, it would sound like, 646 00:27:17,140 --> 00:27:19,900 (imitates drum roll) 647 00:27:19,900 --> 00:27:22,820 from the saxophone of Lisa Simpson. 648 00:27:22,820 --> 00:27:25,860 Two words combined and strategically designed 649 00:27:25,860 --> 00:27:28,100 to create one of the biggest oxymorons 650 00:27:28,100 --> 00:27:32,240 in the history of mankind, almost. 651 00:27:32,240 --> 00:27:33,960 'Cause see, as far as the world's concerned, 652 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:35,140 you can live your life foul 653 00:27:35,140 --> 00:27:36,980 and you could almost get away with murder 654 00:27:36,980 --> 00:27:38,420 if you have a nice smile. 655 00:27:38,420 --> 00:27:43,300 You could almost meet somebody just to almost sleep around. 656 00:27:43,300 --> 00:27:45,420 Then you can almost go to your local clinic 657 00:27:45,420 --> 00:27:47,820 where you almost had a child. 658 00:27:47,820 --> 00:27:51,220 See, almost is no stranger to Satan and here's proof. 659 00:27:51,220 --> 00:27:54,220 He only tells lies when it's almost the truth 660 00:27:54,220 --> 00:27:55,980 and it's amazing. 661 00:27:55,980 --> 00:27:59,180 In our incompleteness, we find complacency. 662 00:27:59,180 --> 00:28:01,800 So if almost is one of Lucifer's many traits, 663 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:04,820 we're mighty good at Satan impersonations. 664 00:28:04,820 --> 00:28:07,900 But on the contrary, Christ did his job fully 665 00:28:07,900 --> 00:28:10,220 when he died on the cross like it was his duty 666 00:28:10,220 --> 00:28:12,980 and pardoned my iniquity, which I committed rudely 667 00:28:12,980 --> 00:28:17,060 and resurrected from the grave just to tell death to excuse me 668 00:28:17,060 --> 00:28:19,200 but excuse me, this is your life 669 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:21,340 and that's something that I cannot impose on 670 00:28:21,340 --> 00:28:22,960 but your body is God's home, 671 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:24,620 which is alone to get foreclosed on. 672 00:28:24,620 --> 00:28:28,640 See, an almost Christian looks right but lives wrong. 673 00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:31,180 We can't stand the conviction in Romans 674 00:28:31,180 --> 00:28:33,800 so we sit down to be comforted in Psalms. 675 00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:38,620 Never understood worship but we love to sing songs like 676 00:28:38,620 --> 00:28:43,620 ♪ I surrender almost ♪ 677 00:28:43,620 --> 00:28:46,900 'Cause it's far too expensive for you to spend your life 678 00:28:46,900 --> 00:28:50,180 on something that doesn't appeal to your five senses. 679 00:28:50,180 --> 00:28:53,600 See, nowadays Christianity is like a Louis rag. 680 00:28:53,600 --> 00:28:57,580 No functional use but we'll rock it 'cause it's stylish. 681 00:28:57,580 --> 00:29:01,900 Not righteous but right-ish. 682 00:29:01,900 --> 00:29:05,620 So now all God sees is a pile of ish males 683 00:29:05,620 --> 00:29:07,640 when he intended for Isaac's. 684 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:10,040 We're moved by how we feel 685 00:29:10,040 --> 00:29:11,740 so we're saved when we feel like it. 686 00:29:11,740 --> 00:29:14,660 So technically we never been saved, we merely tried it 687 00:29:14,660 --> 00:29:16,200 and no wonder we're never sold out 688 00:29:16,200 --> 00:29:18,240 'cause we return it after we buy it. 689 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:22,000 Let me break it down 'cause you need to be aware 690 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:24,360 that your life could lack the very standards 691 00:29:24,360 --> 00:29:25,520 that need to be there 692 00:29:25,520 --> 00:29:27,300 'cause on that final day of judgment 693 00:29:27,300 --> 00:29:28,620 when God's receiving his air, 694 00:29:28,620 --> 00:29:33,620 when he say, "Son, well done," or medium rare. 695 00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:38,880 'Cause even by worldly standards, 696 00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:43,040 it would be highly insane for you to spend all of your money 697 00:29:43,040 --> 00:29:45,800 days before you almost get paid. 698 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:47,840 And parents, would you really send your kids 699 00:29:47,840 --> 00:29:50,320 to a school that's almost safe? 700 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:52,000 Ladies, would you really date a man 701 00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:54,000 that claims he's almost straight? 702 00:29:54,000 --> 00:29:58,920 But this is the very thing about God 703 00:29:58,920 --> 00:30:00,440 that we all try to get around. 704 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:05,240 Standards are between two mountains, no middle ground. 705 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:07,600 So a halfway life is unprofitable to you 706 00:30:07,600 --> 00:30:09,600 'cause after all of these Sunday services, 707 00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:11,880 Bible studies, alter prayer meetings 708 00:30:11,880 --> 00:30:13,240 and everything that comes in between, 709 00:30:13,240 --> 00:30:15,520 God would say, "I never knew you." 710 00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:18,100 But that's not even the worst part 711 00:30:18,100 --> 00:30:20,880 about living your life as neutral. 712 00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:23,200 It's that you was once Arctic 713 00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:27,080 but it's your warmness that's causing him to spew you. 714 00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:30,400 And this is the very thing that had me bound and held down 715 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:33,360 by the unforgiving gravity of my spiritual reality. 716 00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:37,620 See, I was a Christian or at least I portrayed the fantasy 717 00:30:37,620 --> 00:30:39,800 with a filthy personal life. 718 00:30:39,800 --> 00:30:40,760 God bless you, brother. 719 00:30:40,760 --> 00:30:41,840 How you doing, sister? 720 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:42,880 Personality. 721 00:30:42,880 --> 00:30:47,440 I was a male enveloped by sin 'cause I was stamped a sinner. 722 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:48,940 My message couldn't be received 723 00:30:48,940 --> 00:30:50,520 'cause I didn't represent the sinner 724 00:30:50,520 --> 00:30:53,040 yet I was almost delivered. 725 00:30:53,040 --> 00:30:55,880 Until that one day when I absolutely, 726 00:30:55,880 --> 00:30:58,200 totally, completely surrendered, 727 00:30:58,200 --> 00:31:00,000 I took heed to a modern prophet 728 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:02,740 that proclaimed it was time for change. 729 00:31:02,740 --> 00:31:07,740 Now I'm no longer bound to sin, point blank, off the chain. 730 00:31:07,740 --> 00:31:10,720 You can ask Umar Abdul Mutallab 731 00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:12,820 and he would tell you the same. 732 00:31:12,820 --> 00:31:16,460 You don't almost go to jail if you almost blow up a plane, 733 00:31:16,460 --> 00:31:18,060 just like you don't almost go to hell 734 00:31:18,060 --> 00:31:19,400 if you almost get saved. 735 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:23,220 Despise the cross on which he was slain? 736 00:31:23,220 --> 00:31:25,040 That's the cause for which he came. 737 00:31:25,040 --> 00:31:26,540 Don't worry, I'm almost done. 738 00:31:26,540 --> 00:31:29,940 But before I leave this stage, 739 00:31:29,940 --> 00:31:33,660 we've all worked in sin and death was minimum wage. 740 00:31:33,660 --> 00:31:37,580 I said we've all worked in sin and death was minimum wage, 741 00:31:37,580 --> 00:31:41,820 but if it wasn't for Christ, we would almost got paid. 742 00:31:41,820 --> 00:31:50,320 Discernment is not knowing the difference 743 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:52,640 between right and wrong. 744 00:31:52,640 --> 00:31:57,040 It is knowing the difference between right and almost right. 745 00:31:57,960 --> 00:32:01,220 And you will not get that anywhere in the world. 746 00:32:01,220 --> 00:32:03,860 You will only get that in the Word. 747 00:32:03,860 --> 00:32:06,680 You will only get it in the Word. 748 00:32:06,680 --> 00:32:11,240 So now we know why we should read the Word. 749 00:32:11,240 --> 00:32:12,740 I'm just gonna spend a few minutes closing 750 00:32:12,740 --> 00:32:14,540 of how we study the Word. 751 00:32:14,540 --> 00:32:18,360 There's a difference between reading and studying. 752 00:32:18,360 --> 00:32:20,460 Reading is the act of understanding written words 753 00:32:20,460 --> 00:32:23,920 while studying is a process of learning about subject. 754 00:32:23,920 --> 00:32:25,740 Many Bible study books out there, 755 00:32:25,740 --> 00:32:30,000 we got Christian bookstores you can go to and get lost in 756 00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:31,440 and you don't know where to go, 757 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:33,200 but I made it simple for you, okay? 758 00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:37,180 The first thing you need to do is make and follow, 759 00:32:37,180 --> 00:32:40,500 oh, she put it up there, make and follow a plan. 760 00:32:40,500 --> 00:32:41,380 Guess what? 761 00:32:41,380 --> 00:32:42,840 I made you a plan. 762 00:32:42,840 --> 00:32:47,320 A goal without a plan is just a wish. 763 00:32:47,320 --> 00:32:50,200 A goal without a plan is just a wish. 764 00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:53,000 If you was like, hey, is my goal to lose 10 pounds in 2025? 765 00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:54,220 Well, how you gonna get there? 766 00:32:54,220 --> 00:32:56,080 I don't know, I'm just gonna lose it. 767 00:32:56,080 --> 00:32:57,340 You ain't losing nothing. 768 00:32:57,340 --> 00:33:00,920 You ain't got no plan, you don't have no way to track it. 769 00:33:00,920 --> 00:33:03,140 You don't have any metrics, you don't have anything, 770 00:33:03,140 --> 00:33:05,740 you've not practiced the art of showing up. 771 00:33:05,740 --> 00:33:08,260 This allows you the ability to show up. 772 00:33:08,260 --> 00:33:10,420 I've took all the hard part out of you. 773 00:33:10,420 --> 00:33:12,520 You can go back there and you can grab one on your way out 774 00:33:12,520 --> 00:33:14,360 and if those are gone, I'll give you mine. 775 00:33:14,360 --> 00:33:16,380 I'll put it up on the website every month. 776 00:33:16,380 --> 00:33:18,060 I'll put it on the app so you can download 777 00:33:18,060 --> 00:33:21,260 so you ain't got no excuse, but you have to have a plan. 778 00:33:21,260 --> 00:33:22,700 You have to have a plan. 779 00:33:22,700 --> 00:33:24,320 Long-term, short-term. 780 00:33:24,320 --> 00:33:27,660 This will help you build momentum in the plan. 781 00:33:27,660 --> 00:33:30,100 Look at here, it's already laid out for you. 782 00:33:30,100 --> 00:33:31,340 You can't see that. 783 00:33:31,340 --> 00:33:34,880 You have to trust. 784 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:39,460 Is this real? 785 00:33:39,460 --> 00:33:40,300 No, I ain't see that. 786 00:33:40,300 --> 00:33:42,260 I don't even know why I was like putting my picture up there 787 00:33:42,260 --> 00:33:43,940 and they're like, okay. 788 00:33:43,940 --> 00:33:47,580 This is a reading guide. 789 00:33:47,580 --> 00:33:52,100 And what you can't see is that's week one, day one. 790 00:33:52,100 --> 00:33:53,420 There's a date by it. 791 00:33:53,420 --> 00:33:56,620 There's a chapter that you read, okay? 792 00:33:56,620 --> 00:33:58,140 And it's all right there. 793 00:33:58,140 --> 00:33:59,660 You can mark it off. 794 00:33:59,660 --> 00:34:01,980 I've created this. 795 00:34:01,980 --> 00:34:05,020 A one year, if you're gonna do this and say, 796 00:34:05,020 --> 00:34:07,140 my goal is to read it for the next year 797 00:34:07,140 --> 00:34:09,660 to follow along with the greatest stories ever told. 798 00:34:09,660 --> 00:34:11,980 Well, a year is a big bite. 799 00:34:11,980 --> 00:34:12,900 That's a big chunk. 800 00:34:12,900 --> 00:34:14,520 So you gotta break that down and say, 801 00:34:14,520 --> 00:34:16,540 I'm gonna have the best day tomorrow. 802 00:34:16,540 --> 00:34:20,220 And then that turns into seven days and that creates a week. 803 00:34:20,220 --> 00:34:22,380 And then that week creates another week 804 00:34:22,380 --> 00:34:24,500 and you build momentum and a day is a week 805 00:34:24,500 --> 00:34:27,220 and a week is a month and months turn to months. 806 00:34:27,220 --> 00:34:31,140 And then before you know it, you follow this plan, okay? 807 00:34:31,140 --> 00:34:35,820 The next thing, study with others, okay? 808 00:34:35,820 --> 00:34:38,560 Theology is best worked out in community. 809 00:34:38,560 --> 00:34:41,500 If you go on the mountain top by yourself 810 00:34:41,500 --> 00:34:43,780 and you feel like God has taught you everything 811 00:34:43,780 --> 00:34:45,420 you need to know about patience 812 00:34:45,420 --> 00:34:48,940 and you never come off the mountain down into the valley 813 00:34:48,940 --> 00:34:53,080 where there are other people and potentially children 814 00:34:53,080 --> 00:34:57,020 to practice that patience, you didn't learn anything. 815 00:34:57,020 --> 00:34:58,080 What did you learn? 816 00:34:58,080 --> 00:35:00,260 Right? 817 00:35:00,260 --> 00:35:02,060 You learned about being patient. 818 00:35:02,060 --> 00:35:04,360 You didn't learn how to be patient. 819 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:06,140 That's the whole thing about the word. 820 00:35:06,140 --> 00:35:08,940 We can get in here and we can read all these things 821 00:35:08,940 --> 00:35:12,340 about God, but I don't want to know God. 822 00:35:12,340 --> 00:35:14,880 I don't wanna just know about God. 823 00:35:16,760 --> 00:35:19,340 Connecting with others creates accountability 824 00:35:19,340 --> 00:35:21,180 and connection. 825 00:35:21,180 --> 00:35:25,120 The next thing you have to create godly habits, okay? 826 00:35:25,120 --> 00:35:26,440 Create godly habits. 827 00:35:26,440 --> 00:35:31,440 Carve out a time for you to spend time with God in His word. 828 00:35:31,440 --> 00:35:37,140 I don't care what time it is as long as it's the same time. 829 00:35:37,140 --> 00:35:39,820 Are you hearing me? 830 00:35:39,820 --> 00:35:42,620 And for those of you to say, I don't have time to do this, 831 00:35:42,620 --> 00:35:44,380 you make time for what's important. 832 00:35:45,960 --> 00:35:48,060 That's the lamest excuse. 833 00:35:48,060 --> 00:35:49,500 I don't have time. 834 00:35:49,500 --> 00:35:52,340 I wish I had time to keep going. 835 00:35:52,340 --> 00:35:54,260 I literally don't have time. 836 00:35:54,260 --> 00:36:00,400 But you've got time in the day to carve out space 837 00:36:00,400 --> 00:36:03,920 to spend time with God in His word, okay? 838 00:36:03,920 --> 00:36:06,160 You can do as much or as little as you want. 839 00:36:06,160 --> 00:36:09,860 This is also included in the online study I put together. 840 00:36:09,860 --> 00:36:11,540 This is a monthly tracker. 841 00:36:11,540 --> 00:36:12,700 And you can write down little things 842 00:36:12,700 --> 00:36:14,180 and you see those little fill in bubbles 843 00:36:14,180 --> 00:36:16,660 like the old school tests we used to have to take 844 00:36:16,660 --> 00:36:18,160 to stress you out 'cause you didn't know 845 00:36:18,160 --> 00:36:20,060 if there was actually a number one pencil 846 00:36:20,060 --> 00:36:21,260 and it had to be a number two pencil. 847 00:36:21,260 --> 00:36:22,740 You know what I'm talking about? 848 00:36:22,740 --> 00:36:27,300 Those are habit trackers so that you can track new habits 849 00:36:27,300 --> 00:36:29,120 and you can do it with other people. 850 00:36:29,120 --> 00:36:32,000 I've included prayer journals in there 851 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:35,100 so you can spend time writing down the things 852 00:36:35,100 --> 00:36:36,140 that are in your heart, 853 00:36:36,140 --> 00:36:38,960 the things that you're hoping God to move on. 854 00:36:38,960 --> 00:36:40,860 This is called a SOAP Bible study. 855 00:36:40,860 --> 00:36:42,120 SOAP is an acronym. 856 00:36:42,120 --> 00:36:46,140 Acronym stands for scriptures, observation, 857 00:36:46,140 --> 00:36:47,980 application and prayer. 858 00:36:47,980 --> 00:36:53,560 Get a little book like this, a little field notes book 859 00:36:53,560 --> 00:36:56,800 or this is a pad from Nashville plywood 860 00:36:56,800 --> 00:36:58,080 with face frame measurements. 861 00:36:58,080 --> 00:37:00,340 I don't care what it is. 862 00:37:00,340 --> 00:37:03,040 Get something that you can write these things down. 863 00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:05,100 What are we doing with our life? 864 00:37:05,100 --> 00:37:08,960 I spend way too much time arguing about college football 865 00:37:08,960 --> 00:37:11,640 and about stupid stuff that don't even matter 866 00:37:11,640 --> 00:37:13,400 and God of the universe has said, 867 00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:15,320 "I have revealed myself to you. 868 00:37:15,320 --> 00:37:18,200 "Will you spend time knowing me?" 869 00:37:18,200 --> 00:37:20,460 He could have gone in any number of ways. 870 00:37:20,460 --> 00:37:21,740 He came in the flesh. 871 00:37:21,740 --> 00:37:25,460 He created a universe that displays his splendor and glory. 872 00:37:25,460 --> 00:37:27,440 Everywhere you look, you see God's goodness 873 00:37:27,440 --> 00:37:29,360 and he says, "I want to show you who I am. 874 00:37:29,360 --> 00:37:30,520 "I want to tell you a story 875 00:37:30,520 --> 00:37:32,460 "about the redemption of mankind. 876 00:37:32,460 --> 00:37:34,120 "I want to show you how I took a people 877 00:37:34,120 --> 00:37:36,800 "that was not even a people and I became their God 878 00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:38,940 "and I brought them through tremendous trials 879 00:37:38,940 --> 00:37:41,980 "and adversities and I gave them promises 880 00:37:41,980 --> 00:37:43,220 "and there was ups and downs. 881 00:37:43,220 --> 00:37:44,060 "They fell away. 882 00:37:44,060 --> 00:37:44,980 "They worshiped idols. 883 00:37:44,980 --> 00:37:46,520 "I had to go get them back. 884 00:37:46,520 --> 00:37:48,780 "They kept going back, selling themselves 885 00:37:48,780 --> 00:37:50,140 "and I went and got them back 886 00:37:50,140 --> 00:37:52,660 "and eventually I went and got them for good. 887 00:37:52,660 --> 00:37:54,180 "And then I brought you into it 888 00:37:54,180 --> 00:37:55,740 "'cause you weren't in it. 889 00:37:55,740 --> 00:37:57,700 "So I brought everybody and grafted them in." 890 00:37:57,700 --> 00:37:59,460 And if God, the God of the universe said, 891 00:37:59,460 --> 00:38:00,600 "I'm going to write a story 892 00:38:00,600 --> 00:38:03,460 "and I want to include you, will you read it?" 893 00:38:03,460 --> 00:38:06,300 I'll put it on the nightstand and open it when I need it. 894 00:38:07,820 --> 00:38:08,660 Yes. 895 00:38:08,660 --> 00:38:15,220 We got to limit the excuses and the procrastination. 896 00:38:15,220 --> 00:38:17,380 The God of the universe wants to connect with us 897 00:38:17,380 --> 00:38:21,300 and one of the ways he's chosen to do that is with his word. 898 00:38:21,300 --> 00:38:23,420 If this thing was an ancient scroll 899 00:38:23,420 --> 00:38:24,860 and you had to drive two hours 900 00:38:24,860 --> 00:38:26,840 to hear somebody read it every week, 901 00:38:26,840 --> 00:38:28,360 would you still show up? 902 00:38:28,360 --> 00:38:33,620 If they could come and haul you away, 903 00:38:33,620 --> 00:38:37,700 if they found pages of it in your possession, 904 00:38:37,700 --> 00:38:39,740 would it have more prominence and importance? 905 00:38:39,740 --> 00:38:41,840 I'm not trying to shame any of us. 906 00:38:41,840 --> 00:38:47,100 The Holy Spirit has a way of convicting you of that. 907 00:38:47,100 --> 00:38:48,880 My job is not up here to say, 908 00:38:48,880 --> 00:38:52,460 "You're not doing this, you should be doing this." 909 00:38:52,460 --> 00:38:54,700 What my responsibility is to say, 910 00:38:54,700 --> 00:38:56,900 God has revealed himself to us 911 00:38:56,900 --> 00:39:00,180 and I would like to invite you to read it with me. 912 00:39:00,180 --> 00:39:01,500 I'm inviting you. 913 00:39:01,500 --> 00:39:03,820 I spent time, look, this ain't got nothing to do. 914 00:39:03,820 --> 00:39:05,820 I spent time just making you a plan 915 00:39:05,820 --> 00:39:08,340 that way you don't have to do a lot of leg work 916 00:39:08,340 --> 00:39:10,660 and get frustrated that you can't find the right thing 917 00:39:10,660 --> 00:39:13,500 and I also made it to where we can all do it together 918 00:39:13,500 --> 00:39:15,660 and we can talk about it and the women's ministry 919 00:39:15,660 --> 00:39:17,840 and the worship team and the men's and the kids' man, 920 00:39:17,840 --> 00:39:19,740 the JDQ he was talking about, 921 00:39:19,740 --> 00:39:21,460 their memory verses are in here. 922 00:39:21,460 --> 00:39:22,300 Why? 923 00:39:22,300 --> 00:39:24,960 'Cause as a family, we want to go together. 924 00:39:24,960 --> 00:39:26,180 So when I run into Marcus, he'd be like, 925 00:39:26,180 --> 00:39:28,900 "Man, did you read Joshua 9 this week? 926 00:39:28,900 --> 00:39:31,220 "Wow, that messed me up." 927 00:39:31,220 --> 00:39:32,060 You know what? 928 00:39:32,060 --> 00:39:33,440 I didn't, I need to go back and read it. 929 00:39:33,440 --> 00:39:36,160 Thank you for holding me on that and doing it together 930 00:39:36,160 --> 00:39:37,000 with me. 931 00:39:37,000 --> 00:39:40,640 Is anything I'm saying makes sense? 932 00:39:40,640 --> 00:39:44,600 Like, he gave it to us, man. 933 00:39:44,600 --> 00:39:47,320 We could have been born in any time in history 934 00:39:47,320 --> 00:39:50,160 where we didn't have it and yet here we are now 935 00:39:50,160 --> 00:39:53,360 on the edge of 2025, 936 00:39:53,360 --> 00:39:57,440 literally watching the whole back half of the Bible 937 00:39:57,440 --> 00:39:58,280 come alive. 938 00:39:58,280 --> 00:40:00,440 Like, I feel like at any time, 939 00:40:00,440 --> 00:40:02,280 I feel like I literally got a good shot 940 00:40:02,280 --> 00:40:03,840 of seeing Jesus come back. 941 00:40:03,840 --> 00:40:07,800 Like, I'm checking stuff up on my pants, I don't know. 942 00:40:07,800 --> 00:40:10,080 How would you know? 943 00:40:10,080 --> 00:40:12,080 How would you know if you're just depending on me 944 00:40:12,080 --> 00:40:13,880 to get up here and tell you? 945 00:40:13,880 --> 00:40:14,800 How would you know? 946 00:40:14,800 --> 00:40:15,640 How would you know? 947 00:40:15,640 --> 00:40:16,640 I'm not crazy. 948 00:40:16,640 --> 00:40:19,960 Well, that's a bad question. 949 00:40:19,960 --> 00:40:22,960 (audience laughing) 950 00:40:22,960 --> 00:40:30,160 We're gonna move into a, 951 00:40:30,160 --> 00:40:34,440 we're gonna move into our altar call section, 952 00:40:34,440 --> 00:40:36,400 and I would like to call the elders now. 953 00:40:36,400 --> 00:40:40,520 If you're an elder or if you are a pastor, 954 00:40:40,520 --> 00:40:45,440 if you have been anointed and appointed to pray for others, 955 00:40:45,440 --> 00:40:47,340 I would like to ask you to come down. 956 00:40:47,340 --> 00:40:50,560 Why do we do this? 957 00:40:50,560 --> 00:40:51,380 Where do we get this? 958 00:40:51,380 --> 00:40:52,400 Where do we get any of this from? 959 00:40:52,400 --> 00:40:54,000 Where do we get these ideas from? 960 00:40:54,000 --> 00:40:56,200 It's from the Word. 961 00:40:56,200 --> 00:40:59,540 James chapter five, I wanna read this to you. 962 00:41:00,540 --> 00:41:02,460 This is what it says in James five, it says, 963 00:41:02,460 --> 00:41:04,400 "Is anyone among you suffering?" 964 00:41:04,400 --> 00:41:06,880 Let him pray. 965 00:41:06,880 --> 00:41:09,780 Is anyone cheerful? 966 00:41:09,780 --> 00:41:11,900 Let him sing praise. 967 00:41:11,900 --> 00:41:13,260 Is anyone among you sick? 968 00:41:13,260 --> 00:41:16,100 Let him call for the elders of the church 969 00:41:16,100 --> 00:41:17,820 and let them pray over him, 970 00:41:17,820 --> 00:41:20,580 anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 971 00:41:20,580 --> 00:41:23,780 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, 972 00:41:23,780 --> 00:41:25,340 and the Lord will raise him up. 973 00:41:25,340 --> 00:41:28,580 And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 974 00:41:28,580 --> 00:41:30,820 He didn't even say come to get your sins forgiven. 975 00:41:30,820 --> 00:41:33,260 He said, "Come and believe that I can heal you 976 00:41:33,260 --> 00:41:34,900 "and ask the elders to annoy you with oil, 977 00:41:34,900 --> 00:41:37,540 "and oh, by the way, I'll forgive you sins too." 978 00:41:37,540 --> 00:41:38,860 Heck of a bonus. 979 00:41:38,860 --> 00:41:43,420 Therefore, confess your sins to one another. 980 00:41:43,420 --> 00:41:45,860 Pray for one another that you may be healed. 981 00:41:45,860 --> 00:41:48,220 The prayer of a righteous person 982 00:41:48,220 --> 00:41:50,740 has great power as it's working. 983 00:41:50,740 --> 00:41:53,060 Why do we take communion every week? 984 00:41:53,060 --> 00:41:54,480 Because the scriptures tell us, 985 00:41:54,480 --> 00:41:58,180 as often as you do this, do this in remembrance of me. 986 00:41:58,180 --> 00:42:00,740 And by God, if we're gonna remember the Christ, 987 00:42:00,740 --> 00:42:02,220 we're gonna remember him every week. 988 00:42:02,220 --> 00:42:03,660 So every week you come in here, 989 00:42:03,660 --> 00:42:06,060 we're gonna do it in remembrance of him. 990 00:42:06,060 --> 00:42:07,780 And we're gonna gather down front 991 00:42:07,780 --> 00:42:10,680 and we're gonna invite those that are sick or hurting 992 00:42:10,680 --> 00:42:14,140 or need something broken off of them to come, 993 00:42:14,140 --> 00:42:17,600 and the elders will anoint you with oil and pray over you, 994 00:42:17,600 --> 00:42:20,420 and the prayer of faith will heal you. 995 00:42:20,420 --> 00:42:24,860 And then what does he say? 996 00:42:24,860 --> 00:42:26,140 I've invited you guys. 997 00:42:26,140 --> 00:42:29,060 I said, "If you ain't got no problems in your life, 998 00:42:29,060 --> 00:42:30,700 then praise God right now." 999 00:42:30,700 --> 00:42:32,020 Have I not said that? 1000 00:42:32,020 --> 00:42:33,580 Where do you think I got that from? 1001 00:42:33,580 --> 00:42:34,700 From James. 1002 00:42:34,700 --> 00:42:37,180 If you're sick and you need God to move, come down here. 1003 00:42:37,180 --> 00:42:39,380 And if you're healthy and you wanna see God move, 1004 00:42:39,380 --> 00:42:41,060 then you praise him on that side. 1005 00:42:41,060 --> 00:42:43,340 None of us are exempt, 1006 00:42:43,340 --> 00:42:45,900 but we don't know that if we don't spend time 1007 00:42:45,900 --> 00:42:47,940 knowing God and his word. 1008 00:42:47,940 --> 00:42:50,640 So as I'm inviting you personally 1009 00:42:50,640 --> 00:42:52,700 to go on this journey with me this year, 1010 00:42:54,420 --> 00:42:57,780 to spend time, to carve out time, 1011 00:42:57,780 --> 00:43:00,420 reading the word, studying God's word, 1012 00:43:00,420 --> 00:43:04,420 connecting with his people, connecting with him, 1013 00:43:04,420 --> 00:43:11,140 let's close out this year by either praying or praising 1014 00:43:11,140 --> 00:43:14,140 and committing to journey together. 1015 00:43:14,140 --> 00:43:15,180 Amen. 1016 00:43:15,180 --> 00:43:16,940 Let's worship and pray. 1017 00:43:16,940 --> 00:43:19,520 (gentle music) 1018 00:43:19,520 --> 00:43:21,520 [music fades out]