1 00:00:29,939 --> 00:00:34,299 I want to speak to you tonight a few minutes on a topic that you've 2 00:00:34,299 --> 00:00:38,259 heard, but unfortunately, a lot of times a preacher don't finish. 3 00:00:38,339 --> 00:00:42,259 In other words, I want to talk about letting go of things. 4 00:00:42,259 --> 00:00:46,939 You know, we let go of things we ought to hold onto, and then we 5 00:00:46,939 --> 00:00:48,659 hold on to things we ought to let go. 6 00:00:49,779 --> 00:00:52,779 And a lot of times preachers preach along these lines and they 7 00:00:52,779 --> 00:00:55,619 say, okay, but they never seem to tell you how to do it. 8 00:00:57,219 --> 00:00:58,339 You don't need to raise your hand. 9 00:00:58,339 --> 00:01:00,859 But how many of you said, I wish I could let go of something 10 00:01:00,859 --> 00:01:04,579 that happened to me, but I don't know how. 11 00:01:04,739 --> 00:01:06,739 I keep telling God I'm going to let go. 12 00:01:07,299 --> 00:01:08,259 Just let it go. 13 00:01:08,979 --> 00:01:10,099 Don't live in the past. 14 00:01:11,379 --> 00:01:16,899 Don't just daily just pick it up again and drag it around in your 15 00:01:16,899 --> 00:01:17,219 life. 16 00:01:18,659 --> 00:01:19,619 Your going forward. 17 00:01:19,779 --> 00:01:23,379 My going forward in our life as Christians has a lot to do with 18 00:01:23,379 --> 00:01:23,939 letting go. 19 00:01:25,339 --> 00:01:28,899 The devil wants us to hold onto things. 20 00:01:28,899 --> 00:01:30,979 He wants us to be slowed down. 21 00:01:30,979 --> 00:01:32,459 He wants us to be shackled. 22 00:01:33,419 --> 00:01:35,659 He doesn't want us to have full liberty. 23 00:01:38,699 --> 00:01:42,059 Someone wrote this poem, as children bring their broken toys 24 00:01:42,939 --> 00:01:45,099 with tears for us to mend. 25 00:01:46,299 --> 00:01:51,429 I brought my broken dreams to God because he was my friend. 26 00:01:52,709 --> 00:01:58,869 But then, instead of leaving him in peace to work alone, I hung 27 00:01:58,869 --> 00:02:03,909 around and helped him with the ways that were my own. 28 00:02:06,149 --> 00:02:08,869 At last I snatched them back and cried. 29 00:02:09,669 --> 00:02:13,349 How can you be so slow, my child? 30 00:02:13,589 --> 00:02:16,319 He said, what could I do? 31 00:02:17,199 --> 00:02:18,639 You never did let go. 32 00:02:21,599 --> 00:02:23,199 Let that sink in for a moment. 33 00:02:24,479 --> 00:02:25,999 Lord, I need you to fix this. 34 00:02:26,959 --> 00:02:30,079 But I want to help you fix it because I want you to fix it the 35 00:02:30,079 --> 00:02:31,279 way I want to be fixed. 36 00:02:33,599 --> 00:02:38,479 I want to still have some control in this thing instead of 37 00:02:38,479 --> 00:02:39,759 saying, here it is, Lord. 38 00:02:40,159 --> 00:02:46,559 You know, so many times I think we come to this old altar and 39 00:02:46,559 --> 00:02:48,799 we say, lord, I'm just going to give it to you. 40 00:02:49,279 --> 00:02:51,599 I'm tired and I can't do it anymore. 41 00:02:52,399 --> 00:02:56,639 We start feeling a little better, say a prayer. 42 00:02:57,279 --> 00:03:00,759 But before we go back to our seat, we pick it back up and put 43 00:03:00,759 --> 00:03:01,679 it in our pocket. 44 00:03:02,319 --> 00:03:03,279 We won't leave it. 45 00:03:04,239 --> 00:03:05,439 We don't want to let go. 46 00:03:06,159 --> 00:03:10,979 First Peter, chapter five, verse seven, says, casting all your 47 00:03:11,059 --> 00:03:15,299 care upon him, for he careth for you. 48 00:03:16,499 --> 00:03:17,219 Casting. 49 00:03:18,739 --> 00:03:27,779 Casting it away upon him, for he careth for you. 50 00:03:30,419 --> 00:03:31,779 You're to do the casting. 51 00:03:31,779 --> 00:03:37,229 He'll do the caring, but you must let it go. 52 00:03:39,069 --> 00:03:40,469 Casting all your care. 53 00:03:40,469 --> 00:03:42,829 It doesn't say some or most. 54 00:03:43,069 --> 00:03:45,269 It says, all your care. 55 00:03:45,269 --> 00:03:46,749 Do you have any cares tonight? 56 00:03:47,229 --> 00:03:48,429 Do you have any burdens? 57 00:03:48,429 --> 00:03:51,269 Do you have any things that you've prayed so many different ways 58 00:03:51,269 --> 00:03:56,989 about, and you feel like you're just in a rut and you want 59 00:03:56,989 --> 00:03:59,789 to cast it to the Lord and let him have it. 60 00:04:01,299 --> 00:04:06,179 But we wake up tomorrow and here we go again, dragging it around 61 00:04:09,139 --> 00:04:11,539 all, not some upon him. 62 00:04:15,379 --> 00:04:22,179 There are some things that I think probably tonight you need to 63 00:04:22,179 --> 00:04:22,659 let go of. 64 00:04:22,659 --> 00:04:24,019 You haven't let go of it yet. 65 00:04:26,669 --> 00:04:29,789 You know, with all the things that's been going on in the church 66 00:04:29,789 --> 00:04:34,829 for the last five months, I still think there are some people 67 00:04:34,909 --> 00:04:37,309 probably here that can't let go. 68 00:04:40,509 --> 00:04:42,029 They just can't let go of it. 69 00:04:42,989 --> 00:04:47,429 They can't accept that God wasn't surprised and God's got a 70 00:04:47,429 --> 00:04:47,709 plan. 71 00:04:47,709 --> 00:04:50,029 We may never know until we get to heaven. 72 00:04:51,559 --> 00:04:52,879 God says, trust me and go. 73 00:04:52,879 --> 00:04:53,479 Yes, sir. 74 00:04:53,639 --> 00:04:55,639 Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus. 75 00:04:57,239 --> 00:05:02,839 But at the same time, I think there's some that just can't let 76 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:03,119 go. 77 00:05:03,119 --> 00:05:04,599 You've been hurt, you can't let go. 78 00:05:04,599 --> 00:05:05,599 People have hurt you. 79 00:05:05,599 --> 00:05:06,319 You can't let go. 80 00:05:06,319 --> 00:05:09,559 People, friends have let you down. 81 00:05:09,719 --> 00:05:10,999 You can't let that go. 82 00:05:11,079 --> 00:05:14,519 It just stays with you no matter how hard you try. 83 00:05:16,119 --> 00:05:20,449 Things, maybe before that, maybe things that happened five or 84 00:05:20,449 --> 00:05:24,649 10 years ago, maybe when you were a kid, maybe something in your 85 00:05:24,649 --> 00:05:24,969 home. 86 00:05:26,889 --> 00:05:27,689 I don't know. 87 00:05:27,849 --> 00:05:32,409 We all have a past, but we all don't get past our past very well, 88 00:05:34,089 --> 00:05:36,529 even though we say, I know you can't change the past. 89 00:05:36,529 --> 00:05:39,449 Yeah, but we still want to hold onto it. 90 00:05:40,649 --> 00:05:44,289 There's a sense, and that's another sermon, but there's a sense 91 00:05:44,289 --> 00:05:48,669 when we look back and see how far God's brought us and how many 92 00:05:48,669 --> 00:05:53,309 prayers he's answered and where we'd be today had he not been 93 00:05:53,309 --> 00:05:54,389 there all that time. 94 00:05:57,429 --> 00:06:00,469 But, oh, what peace we often forfeit. 95 00:06:01,668 --> 00:06:03,589 Oh, what needless pain we bear. 96 00:06:05,509 --> 00:06:06,949 A man was hitchhiking. 97 00:06:07,429 --> 00:06:12,639 He had two suitcases and a huge backpack on his back. 98 00:06:13,679 --> 00:06:16,839 A man with a pickup truck stopped and told him, I don't have 99 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:21,719 room in the cab, but he could ride in the back of the truck. 100 00:06:21,719 --> 00:06:24,479 And the man grinned and thanked him and hopped in. 101 00:06:24,879 --> 00:06:27,719 But when the driver looked in his mirror, the man was standing 102 00:06:27,719 --> 00:06:31,519 up, was holding the suitcases and the backpack still on his back. 103 00:06:31,679 --> 00:06:33,279 While he's riding in a truck. 104 00:06:34,239 --> 00:06:35,759 You say, well, that's ridiculous. 105 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:36,929 Yeah, it is, isn't it? 106 00:06:37,719 --> 00:06:41,879 It's ridiculous to say we're going to turn it over to God, but 107 00:06:41,879 --> 00:06:46,039 then we carry it on and on and on and on. 108 00:06:48,839 --> 00:06:51,559 There's a movie I don't watch a Whole lot of movies. 109 00:06:51,559 --> 00:06:55,079 And I'm careful about who I recommend movies to. 110 00:06:55,079 --> 00:06:58,879 I don't have time most of them, and there's very few fit to 111 00:06:58,879 --> 00:06:59,159 watch. 112 00:07:00,599 --> 00:07:03,479 And we forgot. 113 00:07:03,709 --> 00:07:04,589 I don't know, it's been a while. 114 00:07:04,589 --> 00:07:06,789 We got this thing you could put on your tv. 115 00:07:06,789 --> 00:07:09,949 You've heard of the Guard, and it's supposed to take out bad language. 116 00:07:10,029 --> 00:07:11,509 They've sophisticated that. 117 00:07:11,509 --> 00:07:17,389 Now, of course, it costs, but they can take out situations or things 118 00:07:17,389 --> 00:07:18,189 or things. 119 00:07:18,189 --> 00:07:20,909 That's not proper and good for our kids, by the way, if it's not 120 00:07:20,909 --> 00:07:23,269 good for the kids, probably not good for adults either, most 121 00:07:23,269 --> 00:07:23,869 of the time. 122 00:07:24,589 --> 00:07:25,589 But there is one. 123 00:07:25,589 --> 00:07:28,629 And so don't go home and look this one up necessarily and say, 124 00:07:28,629 --> 00:07:31,499 I can't believe Brother Weatherby recommended to watch that 125 00:07:31,499 --> 00:07:31,939 movie. 126 00:07:33,139 --> 00:07:37,659 Well, I'm not necessarily recommending it, but it's a movie 127 00:07:37,659 --> 00:07:38,419 called the Mission. 128 00:07:38,419 --> 00:07:40,059 Some of you may have heard of it. 129 00:07:40,059 --> 00:07:43,459 It's about a missionary, but it was a Jesuit missionary. 130 00:07:44,019 --> 00:07:48,419 Wasn't a Baptist missionary called the Mission. 131 00:07:50,099 --> 00:07:54,339 It was about a wicked man who was a slave trader, kind of like 132 00:07:54,339 --> 00:07:58,639 the man that wrote Amazing Grace, a wicked man who was a slave 133 00:07:58,639 --> 00:07:59,039 trader. 134 00:07:59,039 --> 00:08:03,359 And he killed actually many in this particular tribe. 135 00:08:04,479 --> 00:08:06,959 And he got saved, supposedly. 136 00:08:08,399 --> 00:08:11,599 And he went back to that same tribe as a missionary. 137 00:08:11,599 --> 00:08:13,519 You've probably heard stories similar to this. 138 00:08:15,279 --> 00:08:19,519 And some other missionaries had just gotten there and told them 139 00:08:20,559 --> 00:08:21,919 of God's forgiveness. 140 00:08:22,439 --> 00:08:24,039 This tribe, they'd already been there. 141 00:08:25,959 --> 00:08:29,159 And a lot of the people in that tribe had become Christians. 142 00:08:30,919 --> 00:08:34,439 And so he got saved, this particular man, and he was going 143 00:08:34,439 --> 00:08:35,959 back to that tribe. 144 00:08:35,959 --> 00:08:38,759 And it was on a high mountain. 145 00:08:38,759 --> 00:08:41,839 He had to climb a cliff almost for hours and hours. 146 00:08:41,839 --> 00:08:43,799 And he was carrying all his belongings. 147 00:08:44,199 --> 00:08:47,439 He had a net, didn't have backpacks in those days. 148 00:08:47,439 --> 00:08:48,359 This was way back. 149 00:08:48,359 --> 00:08:51,559 And he had it all wrapped up in a net and. 150 00:08:52,119 --> 00:08:55,799 And he was climbing up, and then he would pull it up and drag 151 00:08:55,799 --> 00:08:56,599 it to a point. 152 00:08:56,599 --> 00:08:58,839 And then he would go a little bit further and then he'd pull it 153 00:08:58,839 --> 00:08:59,079 up. 154 00:08:59,319 --> 00:09:04,079 And a lot of the movie was taken about watching that man who 155 00:09:04,079 --> 00:09:07,319 had just become a Christian, going back to a tribe of people, 156 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:08,999 many of whom he had killed. 157 00:09:09,879 --> 00:09:12,999 And he was carrying them all, dragging it inch by inch. 158 00:09:14,279 --> 00:09:19,699 And when he got to the top, the whole tribe was standing on the 159 00:09:19,699 --> 00:09:21,379 edge of the cliff watching him. 160 00:09:23,459 --> 00:09:26,739 And one of them pulled out a knife. 161 00:09:29,299 --> 00:09:35,539 And of course, the man assumed that the man of the tribe with the 162 00:09:35,539 --> 00:09:37,379 knife was going to kill him in revenge. 163 00:09:38,259 --> 00:09:44,899 But instead he cut the rope of the burdens and the movie shows those 164 00:09:44,899 --> 00:09:49,869 burdens tumbling down the mountain, rolling and rolling and 165 00:09:49,869 --> 00:09:50,909 rolling and rolling. 166 00:09:53,469 --> 00:09:54,469 And that man that. 167 00:09:54,469 --> 00:10:01,109 That tribesman that was had gotten saved, had cut the rope, reached 168 00:10:01,109 --> 00:10:02,269 out his hand and pulled him up. 169 00:10:02,269 --> 00:10:08,709 And that man broke out in tears and wrapped his arms around 170 00:10:08,709 --> 00:10:14,279 the feet of that tribesman who had cut the rope and just sobbed 171 00:10:14,279 --> 00:10:15,879 and sobbed like a baby. 172 00:10:25,239 --> 00:10:32,519 The man knew that this tribe of people truly must have been changed, 173 00:10:32,519 --> 00:10:33,079 born again. 174 00:10:33,479 --> 00:10:34,679 Christians, I don't know. 175 00:10:37,399 --> 00:10:42,059 But they knew too, that the tribe knew that that man had been 176 00:10:42,059 --> 00:10:44,219 changed as well. 177 00:10:44,939 --> 00:10:46,739 But I've never gotten over that picture. 178 00:10:46,739 --> 00:10:51,659 And sometimes I'll close my eyes and imagine me carrying some 179 00:10:51,659 --> 00:11:02,939 burdens and God reaching down and cutting them and they begin falling 180 00:11:02,939 --> 00:11:03,259 off. 181 00:11:04,769 --> 00:11:07,969 And I take a deep breath and I go, wow, thank you, Lord. 182 00:11:08,209 --> 00:11:09,489 That burden's gone. 183 00:11:11,009 --> 00:11:12,889 Sometimes I go find another burden. 184 00:11:12,889 --> 00:11:14,849 God says, you're not going to get it, are you? 185 00:11:15,889 --> 00:11:17,329 I'm the burden bearer. 186 00:11:17,489 --> 00:11:19,249 You don't have to bear the burdens. 187 00:11:19,409 --> 00:11:23,249 I will bear your burdens, but I'm not going to fight you for it. 188 00:11:25,569 --> 00:11:31,609 Cast your care upon him, for he careth for you. 189 00:11:34,489 --> 00:11:38,089 Maybe there's some unconfessed sins in your life that you still 190 00:11:38,089 --> 00:11:40,249 can't get over. 191 00:11:40,329 --> 00:11:42,929 Some things that you did that no one knows about. 192 00:11:42,929 --> 00:11:47,369 You're not proud of it and you've asked God to forgive you and 193 00:11:47,369 --> 00:11:50,369 you believe maybe that God has forgiven you, but you can't forgive 194 00:11:50,369 --> 00:11:53,289 yourself and you're afraid other people won't forgive you. 195 00:11:53,289 --> 00:11:54,649 And it's a burden. 196 00:11:54,649 --> 00:11:57,369 It's something you're still dragging around instead of saying, 197 00:11:57,369 --> 00:11:58,049 lord, take it. 198 00:11:58,049 --> 00:11:59,849 I don't want anything to do with it ever again. 199 00:12:01,829 --> 00:12:05,029 The Bible says if we confess our sins, he's faithful and just 200 00:12:06,069 --> 00:12:10,549 to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 201 00:12:11,829 --> 00:12:16,469 The psalmist said, as far as the east is from the west, so far 202 00:12:16,469 --> 00:12:19,669 hath he removed our transgressions from us. 203 00:12:21,349 --> 00:12:25,879 I don't understand the theology of Jeremiah 32, but God 204 00:12:25,879 --> 00:12:29,519 said, I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their 205 00:12:29,519 --> 00:12:30,399 sin no more. 206 00:12:31,919 --> 00:12:33,759 I don't quite grab ahold of that. 207 00:12:33,759 --> 00:12:35,999 Because God is omniscient. 208 00:12:35,999 --> 00:12:36,879 He's all knowing. 209 00:12:37,199 --> 00:12:38,599 How can he forget anything? 210 00:12:38,599 --> 00:12:40,319 Well, I don't know, but I'm glad He does. 211 00:12:42,719 --> 00:12:45,999 He chooses, if he wants to choose, to forgive and forget. 212 00:12:48,079 --> 00:12:49,839 I'm not going to argue with him about it. 213 00:12:52,089 --> 00:12:53,049 But what about you? 214 00:12:54,969 --> 00:12:59,449 Behold, Isaiah said, for peace I had great bitterness, but thou 215 00:12:59,449 --> 00:13:02,969 hast in love to my soul, delivered it from the pit of corruption. 216 00:13:03,289 --> 00:13:06,649 For thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. 217 00:13:08,489 --> 00:13:11,609 Some of you are haunted by the ghost of guilt. 218 00:13:13,049 --> 00:13:14,969 And it's not a small thing for you. 219 00:13:15,849 --> 00:13:18,409 And no one knows about it but you and God probably. 220 00:13:23,609 --> 00:13:25,049 And it's hard for you to let go. 221 00:13:27,849 --> 00:13:32,049 Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth 222 00:13:32,049 --> 00:13:34,729 by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage. 223 00:13:38,409 --> 00:13:40,009 He delighteth in mercy. 224 00:13:43,769 --> 00:13:45,209 That's just who God is. 225 00:13:46,989 --> 00:13:47,549 Mercy. 226 00:13:48,269 --> 00:13:53,069 That's part of his wonderful attributes, characteristics. 227 00:13:54,669 --> 00:13:56,389 He will have compassion upon us. 228 00:13:56,389 --> 00:13:57,789 He will subdue our iniquities. 229 00:13:57,869 --> 00:14:01,549 And thou will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. 230 00:14:03,069 --> 00:14:08,349 But yet sometimes we are tempted, and sometimes we give into 231 00:14:08,349 --> 00:14:13,479 it, to go out in the sea and go fishing for our sins. 232 00:14:15,239 --> 00:14:18,399 I know it sounds silly, but I'll tell you, it's a fact and it's 233 00:14:18,399 --> 00:14:18,759 true. 234 00:14:19,079 --> 00:14:23,199 And there's some sitting right in here in this auditorium that can't 235 00:14:23,199 --> 00:14:24,279 get past your past. 236 00:14:26,039 --> 00:14:29,479 And the devil loves to watch you in misery. 237 00:14:31,319 --> 00:14:37,079 And God weeps and says, oh, what peace you could have, what joy 238 00:14:37,079 --> 00:14:37,719 you could have. 239 00:14:41,589 --> 00:14:46,949 There is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared. 240 00:14:49,189 --> 00:14:52,509 I think I've mentioned, probably since I've been here, a 241 00:14:52,509 --> 00:14:59,109 little bit of some of the things that Lester Orloff used to 242 00:14:59,109 --> 00:14:59,989 sing and preach. 243 00:14:59,989 --> 00:15:03,269 And I know that dates me a little bit. 244 00:15:04,399 --> 00:15:05,839 And I know he wasn't perfect. 245 00:15:06,079 --> 00:15:09,439 I know he had some problems of his own. 246 00:15:11,679 --> 00:15:13,239 But he would sing. 247 00:15:13,239 --> 00:15:15,439 And he always sang off key a little bit. 248 00:15:16,639 --> 00:15:19,718 But when he sang, I just was enthralled by it. 249 00:15:19,718 --> 00:15:20,239 I just. 250 00:15:20,479 --> 00:15:21,279 I don't know. 251 00:15:23,679 --> 00:15:28,479 But he used to sing a song a lot on his radio program called Whiter 252 00:15:28,479 --> 00:15:29,119 Than Snow. 253 00:15:29,119 --> 00:15:30,319 I think we've sung it here. 254 00:15:32,309 --> 00:15:37,949 Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole I want thee forever 255 00:15:37,949 --> 00:15:42,229 to live in my soul Break down every idol and cast out every foe 256 00:15:43,669 --> 00:15:48,549 now wash me and I will be whiter than snow Whiter than snow 257 00:15:48,549 --> 00:15:55,989 yes, whiter than snow now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow 258 00:15:58,259 --> 00:16:06,579 Someone said guilt is the interest paid on not letting go and 259 00:16:06,579 --> 00:16:07,059 believing. 260 00:16:07,139 --> 00:16:08,339 Not believing God. 261 00:16:11,859 --> 00:16:15,219 But yet the Bible says over and over we're accepted in the beloved. 262 00:16:15,379 --> 00:16:16,859 We have a perfect salvation. 263 00:16:16,859 --> 00:16:19,059 We're not perfect, but we are perfect in Christ. 264 00:16:19,539 --> 00:16:20,619 We have a perfect book. 265 00:16:20,619 --> 00:16:21,859 We have a perfect Savior. 266 00:16:21,859 --> 00:16:23,219 We have a perfect salvation. 267 00:16:24,109 --> 00:16:25,749 And one day I will be perfect. 268 00:16:25,749 --> 00:16:28,909 I shall see him and I shall be like him as he is. 269 00:16:30,749 --> 00:16:33,709 I'm being perfected, but I've got a long ways to go. 270 00:16:37,869 --> 00:16:41,869 But he who knew no sin became sin for us that we might be made 271 00:16:41,869 --> 00:16:44,189 the righteousness of God in him. 272 00:16:46,749 --> 00:16:52,779 Cast your care, cast your sins, cast your guilt upon him, for 273 00:16:52,779 --> 00:16:53,899 he careth for you. 274 00:16:55,819 --> 00:17:03,539 And then, dare I say, probably the big one is to let go of bitterness 275 00:17:03,539 --> 00:17:04,619 and unforgiveness. 276 00:17:10,699 --> 00:17:12,939 You're looking at me just like I thought you would. 277 00:17:15,899 --> 00:17:21,129 Bitterness and unforgiveness. 278 00:17:22,729 --> 00:17:23,449 Is it me? 279 00:17:24,089 --> 00:17:25,049 I forgive everybody. 280 00:17:25,049 --> 00:17:26,649 I don't have any problem with forgiveness. 281 00:17:28,089 --> 00:17:33,609 We get pretty good at acting like that until we see them or until 282 00:17:33,609 --> 00:17:38,169 we hear somebody mention their name and things start coming back 283 00:17:40,649 --> 00:17:41,729 and there's a bitterness. 284 00:17:41,729 --> 00:17:44,489 There's very few things worse than bitterness in this life. 285 00:17:46,129 --> 00:17:49,329 I've seen bitterness destroy preachers, destroy missionaries, 286 00:17:49,329 --> 00:17:52,369 destroy their wives, destroy their children. 287 00:17:53,729 --> 00:17:57,849 Bitterness, the way they were mistreated, and they just can't let 288 00:17:57,849 --> 00:17:58,289 it go. 289 00:17:59,409 --> 00:18:06,809 It's like a cancer in their spirit, slowly eating away of the 290 00:18:06,809 --> 00:18:08,609 joy and peace that they could have. 291 00:18:09,249 --> 00:18:10,369 It's like a poison. 292 00:18:12,589 --> 00:18:18,229 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity, but a wounded 293 00:18:18,229 --> 00:18:19,629 spirit, who can bear. 294 00:18:22,749 --> 00:18:24,749 You know, there's an interesting verse. 295 00:18:26,748 --> 00:18:29,549 I don't know if you noticed this or not, but look at Matthew, 296 00:18:31,629 --> 00:18:35,989 chapter 18, the first of the Gospels. 297 00:18:35,989 --> 00:18:37,549 Matthew, chapter number 18. 298 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:43,359 And look at verse 21, I think, is where it starts. 299 00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:51,999 Then came Peter to him and said, lord, how oft shall my brother 300 00:18:52,159 --> 00:18:53,279 sin against me. 301 00:18:53,279 --> 00:18:57,359 And I forgive him till seven times. 302 00:19:00,799 --> 00:19:04,319 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee until seven times, 303 00:19:05,769 --> 00:19:08,329 but until seventy times seven. 304 00:19:09,529 --> 00:19:10,889 How many times is that? 305 00:19:12,409 --> 00:19:13,369 Four hundred and ninety. 306 00:19:16,569 --> 00:19:19,609 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king 307 00:19:19,609 --> 00:19:22,489 which would take account of his servants. 308 00:19:22,489 --> 00:19:25,529 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him 309 00:19:25,529 --> 00:19:28,569 which owed him 10,000 talents. 310 00:19:30,819 --> 00:19:34,739 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his Lord commanded him to be 311 00:19:34,739 --> 00:19:38,499 sold, and his wife and children and all that he had, and 312 00:19:38,499 --> 00:19:39,699 payment to be made. 313 00:19:41,379 --> 00:19:44,779 The servant therefore fell down and worshiped him and said, 314 00:19:44,779 --> 00:19:47,219 lord, have patience with me. 315 00:19:47,219 --> 00:19:48,659 I will pay thee all. 316 00:19:50,019 --> 00:19:54,219 Then the Lord of that servant was moved with compassion and loosed 317 00:19:54,219 --> 00:19:57,789 him and forgave him the debt. 318 00:19:59,869 --> 00:20:04,909 But the same servant went out and found one of his fellow servants 319 00:20:05,309 --> 00:20:07,309 which owed him a hundred pence. 320 00:20:09,229 --> 00:20:11,229 And he laid hands on him. 321 00:20:11,789 --> 00:20:12,269 Whoa. 322 00:20:13,149 --> 00:20:14,629 And took him by the throat. 323 00:20:14,629 --> 00:20:22,359 That's what it says, saying, pay me that thou owest. 324 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:27,159 This was the same man that was getting ready to be his family lose 325 00:20:27,159 --> 00:20:32,119 everything, that owed far, far more than this little debt. 326 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:35,479 And here was one of his servants that just owed him a few 327 00:20:35,479 --> 00:20:37,159 dollars in comparison. 328 00:20:39,159 --> 00:20:42,319 And his fellow servant fell down at his feet and besought him, 329 00:20:42,319 --> 00:20:45,479 saying, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 330 00:20:45,719 --> 00:20:53,199 And he would not but went and cast him into prison till he should 331 00:20:53,199 --> 00:20:54,519 pay the debt. 332 00:20:56,919 --> 00:21:00,999 So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very 333 00:21:00,999 --> 00:21:05,879 sorry and came and told unto their Lord all that was done. 334 00:21:08,039 --> 00:21:14,329 Then his Lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, o 335 00:21:14,329 --> 00:21:22,369 thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt because thou desiredst 336 00:21:22,449 --> 00:21:22,849 me. 337 00:21:24,209 --> 00:21:29,249 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, 338 00:21:29,249 --> 00:21:31,569 even as I had pity on thee? 339 00:21:32,769 --> 00:21:34,369 And his Lord was wroth. 340 00:21:35,809 --> 00:21:37,249 Here's what I want you to see. 341 00:21:38,459 --> 00:21:45,339 And delivered him to the tormentors till he would pay all 342 00:21:45,339 --> 00:21:47,019 that was due unto him. 343 00:21:48,699 --> 00:21:51,899 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you. 344 00:21:52,139 --> 00:21:54,378 If ye from your hearts, forgive not everyone. 345 00:21:54,378 --> 00:21:55,379 His brother and sister. 346 00:21:55,379 --> 00:21:55,859 Listen. 347 00:21:55,859 --> 00:21:56,459 Listen. 348 00:21:57,019 --> 00:21:57,819 Tormentors. 349 00:22:00,539 --> 00:22:01,419 Tormentors. 350 00:22:03,259 --> 00:22:05,709 A tormenting Christian. 351 00:22:06,269 --> 00:22:12,229 People who can't let go of being mistreated and heard and lied 352 00:22:12,229 --> 00:22:14,029 to and on and on and on. 353 00:22:16,589 --> 00:22:17,909 You're tormenting yourself. 354 00:22:17,909 --> 00:22:18,749 There's torments. 355 00:22:18,749 --> 00:22:19,709 God made it that way. 356 00:22:19,709 --> 00:22:22,989 If you're saved and have enjoyed the forgiveness of God, and 357 00:22:22,989 --> 00:22:26,029 yet you still will not forgive others, you're going to live a life 358 00:22:26,029 --> 00:22:26,909 of torment. 359 00:22:30,029 --> 00:22:31,869 It's going to be a painful way to live. 360 00:22:33,809 --> 00:22:35,609 Listen, I've been around the block a few times. 361 00:22:35,609 --> 00:22:40,129 I know I've done hundreds of counseling of people. 362 00:22:44,209 --> 00:22:49,009 That are just eating up like cancer with bitterness. 363 00:22:51,649 --> 00:22:52,769 And they won't let it go. 364 00:22:52,769 --> 00:22:53,969 And they're in torment. 365 00:22:54,369 --> 00:22:58,539 It's hard for them to sing the songs like we sang tonight, very 366 00:22:58,539 --> 00:22:59,419 convincingly. 367 00:23:00,779 --> 00:23:01,659 It really is. 368 00:23:01,819 --> 00:23:05,699 It's hard for them to go to prayer meetings and really enjoy 369 00:23:05,699 --> 00:23:10,419 the prayer meeting and the fellowship because they're being 370 00:23:10,419 --> 00:23:13,739 tormented inwardly. 371 00:23:18,859 --> 00:23:21,179 Let me tell you something that you already know, but you need to 372 00:23:21,179 --> 00:23:22,179 hear it over and over again. 373 00:23:22,179 --> 00:23:25,419 Jesus was hurt more than you and I will ever be hurt. 374 00:23:28,019 --> 00:23:35,059 We'll never be as mistreated and unwanted and hated and despised 375 00:23:35,139 --> 00:23:36,099 and rejected. 376 00:23:37,699 --> 00:23:42,259 None of us will ever experience that. 377 00:23:44,099 --> 00:23:53,069 How dare we get upset because of the way we retreated past failures. 378 00:23:54,589 --> 00:24:05,909 You know, when Jesus called Peter to follow him, he said, I want 379 00:24:05,909 --> 00:24:13,549 you to leave your boats and your nets and your father come with 380 00:24:13,549 --> 00:24:13,869 me. 381 00:24:15,149 --> 00:24:15,869 And he did. 382 00:24:17,479 --> 00:24:21,279 But can you imagine how absurd it would have been if you and I would 383 00:24:21,279 --> 00:24:21,879 have been watching? 384 00:24:21,879 --> 00:24:25,079 And here's Jesus walking, and here's some people following me. 385 00:24:25,079 --> 00:24:27,639 Here comes Peter, and he's dragging his nets. 386 00:24:29,079 --> 00:24:30,439 Cause he don't want to let go. 387 00:24:31,719 --> 00:24:33,879 Just in case it doesn't work. 388 00:24:34,439 --> 00:24:35,439 This is my living. 389 00:24:35,439 --> 00:24:37,319 This is my fishing equipment. 390 00:24:39,399 --> 00:24:42,799 Can you imagine how far that would have gone, how far he, how 391 00:24:42,799 --> 00:24:45,599 long it would have lasted if he went dragging his nets through 392 00:24:45,599 --> 00:24:46,119 his life. 393 00:24:52,679 --> 00:24:53,559 Past failures. 394 00:24:54,199 --> 00:25:00,919 The apostle Paul was a Christian killer, a murderer before 395 00:25:00,919 --> 00:25:01,879 he got saved. 396 00:25:05,159 --> 00:25:09,399 King David, a man after God's own heart, the Bible says. 397 00:25:11,079 --> 00:25:19,139 But he had to live with his committing adultery and murder, murdering 398 00:25:19,139 --> 00:25:23,259 the woman's husband and lying and all that. 399 00:25:25,499 --> 00:25:26,579 Did God forgive him? 400 00:25:26,579 --> 00:25:28,019 Oh yeah, God forgive him. 401 00:25:28,019 --> 00:25:29,499 He didn't have to twist his arm. 402 00:25:29,499 --> 00:25:30,459 That's God's nature. 403 00:25:31,099 --> 00:25:32,859 But there is forgiveness with God. 404 00:25:32,859 --> 00:25:37,739 That he might be feared, not that he might be taken for granted. 405 00:25:40,229 --> 00:25:43,429 And David wrote some of the great psalms, Repentance, Psalms 406 00:25:43,429 --> 00:25:45,189 of repentance, Psalm 51. 407 00:25:46,469 --> 00:25:49,269 And you can almost feel the agony in his voice. 408 00:25:54,149 --> 00:25:55,189 But he let go. 409 00:25:57,189 --> 00:26:04,619 If he had not let go of that horrible sin, sins, history would 410 00:26:04,619 --> 00:26:05,219 have been different. 411 00:26:06,739 --> 00:26:08,739 Might have never heard of David after that. 412 00:26:09,619 --> 00:26:10,899 What happened to David? 413 00:26:15,859 --> 00:26:17,539 What about letting go of your will? 414 00:26:18,659 --> 00:26:21,539 Why is there this tug of war with God? 415 00:26:22,579 --> 00:26:25,619 As if we have this feeling, this idea in our mind. 416 00:26:25,619 --> 00:26:29,579 Sometimes we don't mean to, but it's like, well, Lord, I know, 417 00:26:29,579 --> 00:26:30,979 but I don't want to do that. 418 00:26:31,869 --> 00:26:32,989 And so we won't let go. 419 00:26:32,989 --> 00:26:35,869 And we back and forth and back and forth. 420 00:26:37,709 --> 00:26:38,669 A tug of war. 421 00:26:43,229 --> 00:26:47,348 Because we think God's got some God, some killjoy that wants 422 00:26:47,348 --> 00:26:49,629 us to give us something to do to make us miserable. 423 00:26:52,909 --> 00:26:55,389 No, that's not the God of the Bible. 424 00:26:56,349 --> 00:26:58,589 A lot of people don't know the God of the Bible because they don't 425 00:26:58,589 --> 00:27:00,509 know the Bible that God wrote. 426 00:27:04,079 --> 00:27:05,999 They figure God acts like people. 427 00:27:07,519 --> 00:27:09,999 Whoo, thank God for that. 428 00:27:11,919 --> 00:27:12,959 Worries and fears. 429 00:27:12,959 --> 00:27:17,158 I won't spend a lot of time on that, but probably should because 430 00:27:17,158 --> 00:27:21,359 so many times we worry. 431 00:27:21,359 --> 00:27:25,799 We don't like any preacher getting up saying that's a sin, but 432 00:27:25,799 --> 00:27:26,239 it is. 433 00:27:27,779 --> 00:27:28,899 It's a sin to worry. 434 00:27:30,499 --> 00:27:35,459 I have to confess it quite often, just to be honest with you. 435 00:27:36,419 --> 00:27:37,939 I say, lord, you can take care of it. 436 00:27:37,939 --> 00:27:39,059 I'm not going to worry about it. 437 00:27:39,779 --> 00:27:43,219 And I go to bed and toss and turn and toss and turn worrying about 438 00:27:43,219 --> 00:27:43,539 it. 439 00:27:46,419 --> 00:27:48,939 I'm probably the only one here that's that way. 440 00:27:48,939 --> 00:27:52,419 But worries and fears are hard to let them go. 441 00:27:52,659 --> 00:27:56,459 The Bible says be careful for nothing, but in everything, by prayer 442 00:27:56,459 --> 00:27:59,919 and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be 443 00:27:59,919 --> 00:28:01,199 made known unto God. 444 00:28:01,439 --> 00:28:06,319 And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep 445 00:28:06,319 --> 00:28:08,159 your hearts and minds. 446 00:28:08,639 --> 00:28:16,159 Through Christ Jesus, will we ever be able to live a worry free 447 00:28:16,239 --> 00:28:16,639 life? 448 00:28:19,759 --> 00:28:24,239 Well, I don't want to be oversimplifying about it. 449 00:28:24,239 --> 00:28:26,549 But if we can ever let go. 450 00:28:28,069 --> 00:28:31,349 Yes, but if we can't let go. 451 00:28:34,069 --> 00:28:38,389 I know, I know. 452 00:28:39,029 --> 00:28:42,589 I'm preaching from experience and I'm preaching from the word of 453 00:28:42,589 --> 00:28:45,669 God that says, casting all your care upon him for he careth 454 00:28:45,669 --> 00:28:46,149 for you. 455 00:28:48,549 --> 00:28:50,349 Worry is like rustic. 456 00:28:53,139 --> 00:28:55,899 Something gets rusty and you let it go and you let it go and you 457 00:28:55,899 --> 00:28:56,219 let it go. 458 00:28:56,219 --> 00:28:59,819 And pretty soon it begins to eat through the metal, and pretty 459 00:28:59,819 --> 00:29:01,699 soon you can't buff it out anymore. 460 00:29:01,699 --> 00:29:04,179 You can't sand it out and repaint it. 461 00:29:04,179 --> 00:29:06,179 It's destroyed. 462 00:29:12,099 --> 00:29:15,419 Years ago, it was a very pretty common thing. 463 00:29:15,419 --> 00:29:15,939 Preachers. 464 00:29:15,939 --> 00:29:17,949 And a lot of preachers would preach on it. 465 00:29:18,909 --> 00:29:21,269 And I understood then, I understand what they were talking 466 00:29:21,269 --> 00:29:21,509 about. 467 00:29:21,509 --> 00:29:23,949 But you might remember they were talking about burnout. 468 00:29:25,469 --> 00:29:26,109 Burnout. 469 00:29:26,109 --> 00:29:27,309 People were burning out. 470 00:29:28,909 --> 00:29:31,669 They've just gone as far as they can go, and they're just done. 471 00:29:31,669 --> 00:29:32,748 They're just burnt out. 472 00:29:33,389 --> 00:29:34,309 Try to help people. 473 00:29:34,309 --> 00:29:37,309 They don't appreciate it and they try to forgive people and they 474 00:29:37,309 --> 00:29:38,629 still want to get even. 475 00:29:38,629 --> 00:29:42,189 And it goes on and on, and they just keep more and more thrown 476 00:29:42,189 --> 00:29:44,149 on them to do because nobody else would do it. 477 00:29:44,149 --> 00:29:45,869 And they just on and on and on. 478 00:29:48,299 --> 00:29:50,499 That's why I told you this morning, there is something more 479 00:29:50,499 --> 00:29:53,979 important than working for God, and that's worshiping God. 480 00:29:54,859 --> 00:29:58,419 Because you're never going to rust out and blow out and fall to 481 00:29:58,419 --> 00:30:00,299 pieces because you worship too much. 482 00:30:01,979 --> 00:30:02,619 But you will. 483 00:30:02,619 --> 00:30:06,219 If you work without worship, you will. 484 00:30:08,299 --> 00:30:09,659 Why have people turned back? 485 00:30:09,659 --> 00:30:12,219 Why did so many people fall by the wayside? 486 00:30:14,499 --> 00:30:15,219 They burn out. 487 00:30:19,059 --> 00:30:20,499 But I haven't heard that in a while. 488 00:30:23,619 --> 00:30:26,419 But I've also heard people, a lot of people are rusting out. 489 00:30:27,859 --> 00:30:28,979 But you know something? 490 00:30:31,299 --> 00:30:32,419 We can reach out. 491 00:30:34,179 --> 00:30:34,819 Amen. 492 00:30:36,339 --> 00:30:37,299 Just reach out. 493 00:30:39,469 --> 00:30:40,229 Don't burn out. 494 00:30:40,229 --> 00:30:41,309 Don't have a blowout. 495 00:30:41,629 --> 00:30:42,669 Don't rust out. 496 00:30:45,309 --> 00:30:45,949 Reach out. 497 00:30:49,149 --> 00:30:50,389 Reach out for Jesus. 498 00:30:50,389 --> 00:30:52,349 He's reaching out for you. 499 00:30:53,629 --> 00:30:58,429 Doubts will rob you of untold blessings. 500 00:30:59,949 --> 00:31:02,909 Somehow, somewhere, sometime, the sooner the better. 501 00:31:04,759 --> 00:31:06,999 We've got to just believe God. 502 00:31:08,519 --> 00:31:12,439 Mm, boy, it's so easy to preach. 503 00:31:13,319 --> 00:31:13,999 Good night, y'. 504 00:31:13,999 --> 00:31:14,119 All. 505 00:31:14,119 --> 00:31:15,559 Just go home and believe God. 506 00:31:20,839 --> 00:31:25,719 Israel saw so many things, victories and miracles of God that 507 00:31:25,959 --> 00:31:27,519 we couldn't even comprehend. 508 00:31:27,519 --> 00:31:32,169 An ocean pulling apart. 509 00:31:32,169 --> 00:31:35,969 They all walked in a rock with water pouring out of it in the middle 510 00:31:35,969 --> 00:31:36,609 of a desert. 511 00:31:38,289 --> 00:31:40,489 Food coming, floating down from heaven. 512 00:31:40,489 --> 00:31:41,089 Manna. 513 00:31:42,929 --> 00:31:44,449 So many things God did. 514 00:31:45,889 --> 00:31:48,769 And yet they turn the corner and say, well, we're in trouble now. 515 00:31:48,769 --> 00:31:50,289 I doubt this is going to work out. 516 00:31:51,729 --> 00:31:58,109 And there were so many times when God said, oh, my God, how long 517 00:31:59,149 --> 00:32:02,749 Are you going to provoke me to wrath? 518 00:32:09,149 --> 00:32:10,189 I guess probably. 519 00:32:11,389 --> 00:32:13,789 Pride is one of the hardest of all to let go. 520 00:32:13,789 --> 00:32:16,989 Because we don't think we are proud. 521 00:32:17,469 --> 00:32:19,149 We're proud that we're not proud. 522 00:32:21,629 --> 00:32:24,509 But the Bible says, only by pride cometh contention. 523 00:32:24,509 --> 00:32:30,569 And the only thing I can think of, really, if you go back far enough 524 00:32:30,569 --> 00:32:34,009 that holds back revival in churches, is pride. 525 00:32:36,889 --> 00:32:38,169 We're not willing to bow. 526 00:32:38,169 --> 00:32:40,249 We're not willing to give up. 527 00:32:40,249 --> 00:32:44,009 We're not willing to take the blame. 528 00:32:47,209 --> 00:32:50,089 And the Bible says pride goeth before what? 529 00:32:51,139 --> 00:32:56,019 Destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. 530 00:32:58,019 --> 00:33:01,219 A man's pride shall bring him low. 531 00:33:04,179 --> 00:33:05,459 How low you want to go. 532 00:33:08,019 --> 00:33:10,819 We're never more like the devil than when we're full of pride. 533 00:33:10,819 --> 00:33:14,899 And we're never more like Jesus than we humble ourselves. 534 00:33:20,669 --> 00:33:23,429 You say, well, you're about through and you haven't told us how 535 00:33:23,429 --> 00:33:24,069 to do it yet. 536 00:33:24,069 --> 00:33:24,509 Preach. 537 00:33:28,349 --> 00:33:33,069 Let me tell you quickly how, number one, realize that God is grieved 538 00:33:34,269 --> 00:33:35,629 when we won't let go. 539 00:33:36,589 --> 00:33:40,909 I heard a story one time of a father and was watching his son trying 540 00:33:40,909 --> 00:33:41,949 to move a rock. 541 00:33:41,949 --> 00:33:42,989 It was a big rock. 542 00:33:43,969 --> 00:33:47,329 And the little boy, bless his heart, he was sweating and grunting 543 00:33:47,329 --> 00:33:48,849 and trying so hard. 544 00:33:50,289 --> 00:33:52,969 And his father would just stand right there beside him, watching 545 00:33:52,969 --> 00:33:56,849 him and said, son, you got to use all your strength. 546 00:33:57,409 --> 00:33:58,929 He said, I am, dad. 547 00:34:00,209 --> 00:34:01,009 No, you're not. 548 00:34:01,009 --> 00:34:02,289 You got to use all your strength. 549 00:34:02,289 --> 00:34:05,169 And boy, he pushes harder, as hard, as hard as he can. 550 00:34:08,939 --> 00:34:12,299 Finally said, son, you haven't asked me to help. 551 00:34:14,139 --> 00:34:15,819 My strength is your strength. 552 00:34:16,299 --> 00:34:17,419 You're my son. 553 00:34:17,899 --> 00:34:18,299 Together. 554 00:34:18,299 --> 00:34:22,979 And they said, oh, and him and the boy just moved that rock and 555 00:34:22,979 --> 00:34:24,059 rolled it out of the way. 556 00:34:27,339 --> 00:34:37,349 God is grieved when we walked, realize that when we don't let go, 557 00:34:38,389 --> 00:34:39,589 God can't do anything. 558 00:34:42,389 --> 00:34:48,509 We need to realize that you're hurting yourself when you don't let 559 00:34:48,509 --> 00:34:48,869 go. 560 00:34:49,349 --> 00:34:51,429 I'm talking about realize, not recognize. 561 00:34:51,429 --> 00:34:52,389 We all recognize. 562 00:34:52,389 --> 00:34:55,429 But realize means you finally get a hold of it and gets a hold 563 00:34:55,429 --> 00:34:56,869 of you and you get real about it. 564 00:34:58,629 --> 00:35:01,429 If I don't let go, I'm going to hurt myself and I'm going to hurt 565 00:35:01,429 --> 00:35:01,869 my family. 566 00:35:01,869 --> 00:35:05,158 And I'm going to waste some of the best years of my life. 567 00:35:07,958 --> 00:35:10,358 And you need to realize, let me tell you how to let go. 568 00:35:10,518 --> 00:35:14,678 Realize that the devil wants you to hang on and never let go. 569 00:35:19,638 --> 00:35:25,798 The Bible says that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, 570 00:35:25,798 --> 00:35:26,478 but mighty. 571 00:35:26,478 --> 00:35:30,358 Through God to the pulling down of strongholds. 572 00:35:31,889 --> 00:35:32,849 Strongholds. 573 00:35:33,649 --> 00:35:41,009 The devil has specializes in strongholds in our life Things that 574 00:35:41,009 --> 00:35:43,889 we can't let go of that become strongholds. 575 00:35:47,089 --> 00:35:56,449 Realize the past is past, you only have today, and the future is 576 00:35:56,449 --> 00:35:56,849 bright. 577 00:35:59,359 --> 00:36:06,559 Consciously and deliberately, consciously and deliberately lay 578 00:36:06,559 --> 00:36:07,999 them down at his feet. 579 00:36:11,279 --> 00:36:17,479 When a mountain of sorrow leaves a river of heartache in a 580 00:36:17,479 --> 00:36:22,959 valley of darkness that you don't understand, take the high road 581 00:36:25,299 --> 00:36:35,539 to heaven at the crossroad of Calvary to the refuge of Jesus and 582 00:36:35,539 --> 00:36:40,339 lay it all at his feet and let it go. 583 00:36:45,459 --> 00:36:52,909 PS One thing that will help you to let go of some of the burdens 584 00:36:52,909 --> 00:36:56,829 you're carrying unnecessarily is to try to start lifting somebody 585 00:36:56,829 --> 00:36:57,829 else's burdens. 586 00:37:02,389 --> 00:37:04,069 It's kind of neat the way that works. 587 00:37:04,069 --> 00:37:09,949 Sometimes stop and go out of your way and take that time to make 588 00:37:09,949 --> 00:37:11,669 that call or say that prayer. 589 00:37:12,229 --> 00:37:19,529 Encourage that person that's sitting over to the side alone and 590 00:37:19,609 --> 00:37:22,009 you've heard and you know that they're going through a hard time 591 00:37:22,009 --> 00:37:25,569 and you just give them a hug and you tell them, I love you and 592 00:37:25,569 --> 00:37:26,569 I'm praying for you. 593 00:37:30,249 --> 00:37:33,369 All of a sudden your burdens begin to feel a little lighter. 594 00:37:34,329 --> 00:37:37,169 But I'm not talking tonight about making your burdens lighter. 595 00:37:37,169 --> 00:37:38,649 I'm talking about getting rid of them. 596 00:37:39,609 --> 00:37:41,369 Cast your care upon him. 597 00:37:42,179 --> 00:37:48,659 Set your affection on things above and not on things of the earth. 598 00:37:55,939 --> 00:37:56,659 Don't quit. 599 00:37:59,059 --> 00:38:02,859 Every time I read or think about Zacchaeus in the Bible, I always 600 00:38:02,859 --> 00:38:03,379 smile. 601 00:38:03,619 --> 00:38:07,299 It's so funny to me to see this little guy, I don't know how 602 00:38:07,299 --> 00:38:11,889 old he was, sitting up in a tree because he couldn't see over 603 00:38:11,889 --> 00:38:12,529 the crowd. 604 00:38:12,849 --> 00:38:13,809 He was too short. 605 00:38:14,369 --> 00:38:17,569 You sang the song when you were a kid, right? 606 00:38:20,049 --> 00:38:22,769 I wonder sometimes if Zacchaeus might have been the first 607 00:38:22,769 --> 00:38:30,169 tree hugger, Holding on so he could see him when the Lord stopped 608 00:38:30,169 --> 00:38:33,329 and said, zacchaeus, come down. 609 00:38:35,979 --> 00:38:37,659 I'm going to your house for supper. 610 00:38:40,059 --> 00:38:42,819 What if Zacchaeus would say, well, I'd sure like that. 611 00:38:42,819 --> 00:38:44,619 But I can't let go. 612 00:38:46,379 --> 00:38:47,579 I got to hang on here. 613 00:38:47,659 --> 00:38:50,779 I don't know how I got this high, but it's going to take me a 614 00:38:50,779 --> 00:38:51,579 while to get down. 615 00:38:53,019 --> 00:38:55,699 He could have missed everything had he kept hugging that 616 00:38:55,699 --> 00:38:56,059 tree. 617 00:38:57,979 --> 00:39:02,649 But he let go and he climbed down and his life was never the same. 618 00:39:06,649 --> 00:39:10,089 He had to let go in order to follow Christ to his house. 619 00:39:11,129 --> 00:39:14,009 You want Christ to visit your house more, your home. 620 00:39:14,249 --> 00:39:15,609 You want him to warm your heart. 621 00:39:15,609 --> 00:39:18,569 You want him to talk to you more personally, just you and him. 622 00:39:19,609 --> 00:39:21,129 And then you're going to have to let go. 623 00:39:24,409 --> 00:39:29,569 I've dreamed many dreams that never Came true I've seen them vanish 624 00:39:29,569 --> 00:39:34,609 at dawn But I've realized enough of my dreams thank God to 625 00:39:34,609 --> 00:39:41,049 make me keep dreaming on I prayed many prayers when no answers 626 00:39:41,049 --> 00:39:46,489 came Though I waited patient and long but answers have come to 627 00:39:46,489 --> 00:39:54,419 enough of my prayers to make me keep praying on I've trusted many 628 00:39:54,419 --> 00:39:56,379 friends that have proven untrue. 629 00:40:00,459 --> 00:40:07,219 And left me to weep alone But I've held enough golden sheaves in 630 00:40:07,219 --> 00:40:17,219 my hand Enough of my friends have proven true blue to make me 631 00:40:17,219 --> 00:40:23,479 keep trusting on I've drained the cup of disappointment and pain 632 00:40:23,479 --> 00:40:28,639 I've gone many days without a song But I've sipped enough nectar 633 00:40:28,639 --> 00:40:37,719 from the roses of life to make me want to live on well, if you're 634 00:40:37,719 --> 00:40:40,639 going to go on and I know you want to, if you want to go forward 635 00:40:40,639 --> 00:40:44,879 and I know you want to, you want your best years to be ahead. 636 00:40:46,409 --> 00:40:48,569 You say years, I'd settle for months. 637 00:40:49,689 --> 00:40:50,409 A few weeks. 638 00:40:51,129 --> 00:40:52,089 Need some relief? 639 00:40:54,169 --> 00:40:55,049 Then let go. 640 00:40:56,809 --> 00:41:00,649 Let go of those things that's eating you up. 641 00:41:03,449 --> 00:41:04,089 Amen. 642 00:41:06,729 --> 00:41:09,729 Let's stand together with our heads bowed and eyes closed for just 643 00:41:09,729 --> 00:41:10,329 a moment. 644 00:41:10,809 --> 00:41:12,569 I don't know if I helped you at all But. 645 00:41:17,509 --> 00:41:19,229 God knows and God understands. 646 00:41:19,229 --> 00:41:21,269 No one understands like Jesus. 647 00:41:21,269 --> 00:41:23,269 He's a friend beyond compare. 648 00:41:24,069 --> 00:41:25,829 Meet him at the throne of Mercy. 649 00:41:25,829 --> 00:41:27,509 He is waiting for you there. 650 00:41:31,429 --> 00:41:34,949 Maybe you would just like to say Lord one more time to just come 651 00:41:34,949 --> 00:41:36,949 and kneel for a few minutes. 652 00:41:36,949 --> 00:41:39,599 Say Lord, the preacher helped a little, maybe. 653 00:41:39,599 --> 00:41:42,839 But I really want to let go and I need you to help me know how 654 00:41:42,839 --> 00:41:43,439 to do that. 655 00:41:44,559 --> 00:41:45,759 I want to have liberty. 656 00:41:45,759 --> 00:41:46,959 I want to have freedom. 657 00:41:47,999 --> 00:41:52,879 Lord, I know you said in this world we're going to have some tribulation 658 00:41:52,959 --> 00:41:56,399 and some trials and some pains and we got heaven to look forward 659 00:41:56,399 --> 00:41:56,639 to. 660 00:41:56,639 --> 00:42:06,729 But Lord, I pray that we might realize that a lot of our problems 661 00:42:06,729 --> 00:42:08,929 we bring on ourselves because we won't let go. 662 00:42:11,889 --> 00:42:16,129 And so Lord I pray youy'd touch hearts tonight and maybe some 663 00:42:16,129 --> 00:42:17,409 would come, maybe not. 664 00:42:19,969 --> 00:42:26,049 Besides, because someone may not come doesn't mean that they don't 665 00:42:26,049 --> 00:42:26,769 want to let go. 666 00:42:29,419 --> 00:42:33,659 That Lord, we need you every hour and we need help Lord, this 667 00:42:33,659 --> 00:42:37,899 church's future and our future individually as people and families. 668 00:42:38,779 --> 00:42:44,099 A lot of us going to depend on letting go and looking up and looking 669 00:42:44,099 --> 00:42:48,859 ahead and counting our blessings and leaving everything 670 00:42:48,859 --> 00:42:50,139 else in your hands. 671 00:42:52,139 --> 00:42:53,019 Help us tonight. 672 00:42:53,019 --> 00:42:55,739 I pray in Jesus name Heads are bowed.