1 00:00:01,630 --> 00:00:04,110 For the past five, six years, we've been 2 00:00:04,110 --> 00:00:06,230 going up every week, once a week, to 3 00:00:06,230 --> 00:00:08,670 what used to be a place called Vision 4 00:00:08,670 --> 00:00:10,250 Quest, and now it's called Joshua House, but 5 00:00:10,250 --> 00:00:11,990 it's a recovery place for people who are 6 00:00:11,990 --> 00:00:16,270 trying to get free from drugs or alcohol 7 00:00:16,270 --> 00:00:18,250 or whatever sin that is in their life. 8 00:00:18,490 --> 00:00:19,970 But it's a Christian-based place. 9 00:00:20,130 --> 00:00:22,970 Before it used to be a First Nations 10 00:00:22,970 --> 00:00:26,550 -run place, but the Lord, He changed that, 11 00:00:26,790 --> 00:00:28,470 and there was an answer to prayer, and 12 00:00:28,470 --> 00:00:30,330 the Lord slowly over time built up a 13 00:00:30,330 --> 00:00:33,510 crew of men, let's say soldiers in the 14 00:00:33,510 --> 00:00:35,770 Lord who've willingly gone out of the way 15 00:00:35,770 --> 00:00:37,650 when the Lord has made them available and 16 00:00:37,650 --> 00:00:40,170 brought it available, that we've gone up and 17 00:00:40,170 --> 00:00:41,610 been able to share our testimony and share 18 00:00:41,610 --> 00:00:42,710 the Word of God with these men and 19 00:00:42,710 --> 00:00:43,190 give them hope. 20 00:00:43,930 --> 00:00:45,770 And the Lord loves these men so much 21 00:00:45,770 --> 00:00:48,550 that He gives them an opportunity to hear 22 00:00:48,550 --> 00:00:48,990 the gospel. 23 00:00:49,750 --> 00:00:52,750 We've watched men who are tormented by demons, 24 00:00:53,190 --> 00:00:55,130 who are tormented by evil spirits, we've watched 25 00:00:55,130 --> 00:00:57,070 them slowly get changed. 26 00:00:57,650 --> 00:01:00,410 I remember David came one time, and he 27 00:01:00,410 --> 00:01:02,030 sits right in the middle of them, and 28 00:01:02,030 --> 00:01:04,489 he loves on them, and I get encouraged 29 00:01:04,489 --> 00:01:06,450 by it because the men receive the love. 30 00:01:07,530 --> 00:01:09,210 I usually get up there, and knowing me, 31 00:01:09,330 --> 00:01:12,030 you guys know me well, I can preach, 32 00:01:12,330 --> 00:01:15,190 but sometimes I lack the love, and I'm 33 00:01:15,190 --> 00:01:17,150 thankful for brothers who the Lord has put 34 00:01:17,150 --> 00:01:19,930 together, that we can go up together, we 35 00:01:19,930 --> 00:01:21,010 can balance each other out. 36 00:01:21,630 --> 00:01:23,170 Some have love, some have the gift of 37 00:01:23,170 --> 00:01:24,410 this, some have the gift of that, but 38 00:01:24,410 --> 00:01:26,070 as a body when we're in cohesion and 39 00:01:26,070 --> 00:01:28,210 we have unity, it becomes a blessing to 40 00:01:28,210 --> 00:01:29,990 these men, and they receive the gospel. 41 00:01:30,630 --> 00:01:32,290 And every time you're there, they're so excited 42 00:01:32,290 --> 00:01:32,870 to see us. 43 00:01:32,910 --> 00:01:34,910 Every week, the moment we get in there, 44 00:01:35,010 --> 00:01:37,690 there literally is a loud cheer, like, yeah, 45 00:01:37,970 --> 00:01:39,070 you guys came, right? 46 00:01:39,070 --> 00:01:40,950 They're so happy that we're there, and they 47 00:01:40,950 --> 00:01:41,630 look forward to it. 48 00:01:41,650 --> 00:01:43,190 They always say, this is the thing that 49 00:01:43,190 --> 00:01:44,850 we look forward to every week. 50 00:01:45,030 --> 00:01:46,590 We can't wait until you get here. 51 00:01:47,430 --> 00:01:50,050 And so it's always a blessing, and I 52 00:01:50,050 --> 00:01:52,510 encourage you guys to make yourself available in 53 00:01:52,510 --> 00:01:54,830 those situations, because the Lord, He's given us 54 00:01:54,830 --> 00:01:56,350 a gift, and we want to make use 55 00:01:56,350 --> 00:01:57,390 of the gift that we have. 56 00:01:57,970 --> 00:01:59,410 Whether it be a word of encouragement for 57 00:01:59,410 --> 00:02:01,730 a sister, whether it be a blessing or 58 00:02:01,730 --> 00:02:04,070 a word of encouragement or exhortation to a 59 00:02:04,070 --> 00:02:06,870 brother, however we can, let us not forsake 60 00:02:06,870 --> 00:02:09,410 the assembling together as the day draws near, 61 00:02:09,870 --> 00:02:12,050 because we need to encourage one another more 62 00:02:12,050 --> 00:02:13,850 and more as the day draws near, lest 63 00:02:13,850 --> 00:02:15,730 we be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin, 64 00:02:16,110 --> 00:02:18,530 lest we become overwhelmed with discouragement and depression, 65 00:02:19,010 --> 00:02:21,310 whether we lose focus on what's important in 66 00:02:21,310 --> 00:02:21,730 our life. 67 00:02:22,130 --> 00:02:23,710 It's good to have fellowship with brothers and 68 00:02:23,710 --> 00:02:26,530 sisters, because it reminds us of what our 69 00:02:26,530 --> 00:02:28,090 focus and our priority should be. 70 00:02:28,190 --> 00:02:29,310 Kara, can you sit down, please? 71 00:02:30,410 --> 00:02:31,630 Kara, can you sit down, please? 72 00:02:32,430 --> 00:02:33,750 Kara, can you go sit down, please? 73 00:02:34,610 --> 00:02:34,970 Thanks. 74 00:02:36,730 --> 00:02:38,930 But it's an encouragement, and that's where we 75 00:02:38,930 --> 00:02:39,650 have to draw from. 76 00:02:39,690 --> 00:02:40,890 We need to draw from the stream of 77 00:02:40,890 --> 00:02:41,170 Jesus. 78 00:02:41,650 --> 00:02:43,610 He is that ever-living well, and he 79 00:02:43,610 --> 00:02:45,190 who believes in Him will not be disappointed. 80 00:02:45,670 --> 00:02:46,970 And it also says, he who believes in 81 00:02:46,970 --> 00:02:48,890 Him out of his innermost being will flow 82 00:02:48,890 --> 00:02:49,810 rivers of living water. 83 00:02:50,230 --> 00:02:52,490 And when we have faith, guys, we're encouraged. 84 00:02:52,590 --> 00:02:53,710 I was encouraged by a song today. 85 00:02:53,870 --> 00:02:55,170 I asked, Tyler, what's a good song? 86 00:02:55,250 --> 00:02:56,390 And he said, faith is the victory. 87 00:02:56,870 --> 00:02:57,310 And you know what? 88 00:02:57,370 --> 00:02:59,550 Faith is the victory that overcomes the world. 89 00:02:59,790 --> 00:03:01,750 Whatever situation you're in, we need to have 90 00:03:01,750 --> 00:03:03,050 faith in Jesus, and we need to put 91 00:03:03,050 --> 00:03:03,630 our hope in Him. 92 00:03:03,990 --> 00:03:04,890 And He will encourage us. 93 00:03:04,930 --> 00:03:05,690 He will lift us up. 94 00:03:06,010 --> 00:03:07,210 He will be a blessing to us. 95 00:03:07,230 --> 00:03:08,530 And He will cause us to have life. 96 00:03:09,010 --> 00:03:10,390 He will reap life in our hearts. 97 00:03:10,590 --> 00:03:11,770 And we will have a bounce in our 98 00:03:11,770 --> 00:03:13,350 step, even though we go about the same, 99 00:03:13,470 --> 00:03:15,930 monotonous task, every single day, day in and 100 00:03:15,930 --> 00:03:16,290 day out. 101 00:03:16,590 --> 00:03:18,230 I want to read in Luke 14 here. 102 00:03:19,090 --> 00:03:19,790 It's something that I'm going to read to 103 00:03:19,790 --> 00:03:19,890 you. 104 00:03:19,890 --> 00:03:21,630 And I'm going to challenge me. 105 00:03:23,670 --> 00:03:25,930 The Lord gives an opportunity, especially even for 106 00:03:25,930 --> 00:03:27,670 these men, even for us here. 107 00:03:28,050 --> 00:03:29,710 We have the same opportunity that they have, 108 00:03:29,770 --> 00:03:31,690 but they get tested just as we get 109 00:03:31,690 --> 00:03:32,050 tested. 110 00:03:32,450 --> 00:03:34,110 Many of them hear the Word of God, 111 00:03:34,410 --> 00:03:35,790 they hear the Word of God. 112 00:03:36,090 --> 00:03:37,330 They start to count the cost. 113 00:03:37,730 --> 00:03:39,290 And then the tests come, because the Lord 114 00:03:39,290 --> 00:03:40,950 allows it, that our faith must be tested. 115 00:03:41,570 --> 00:03:43,410 And if your faith isn't being tested, then 116 00:03:43,410 --> 00:03:44,950 you should ask yourself if you're in the 117 00:03:44,950 --> 00:03:47,370 gospel, if you're not going through a trial 118 00:03:47,370 --> 00:03:48,870 and you're not going through a difficulty, you 119 00:03:48,870 --> 00:03:50,450 need to search your own heart and examine 120 00:03:50,450 --> 00:03:50,970 yourself. 121 00:03:51,370 --> 00:03:52,830 But if you are going through these things, 122 00:03:52,890 --> 00:03:54,790 then you know for certain, the Bible says, 123 00:03:54,870 --> 00:03:56,830 consider it joy when your faith is tested. 124 00:03:57,310 --> 00:03:58,830 I think of Sarah and how she had 125 00:03:58,830 --> 00:03:59,690 to follow Abraham. 126 00:04:00,230 --> 00:04:02,230 Abraham said, okay, honey, we have to pack 127 00:04:02,230 --> 00:04:03,690 up everything that we have here and we 128 00:04:03,690 --> 00:04:04,910 need to go to the promised land. 129 00:04:05,370 --> 00:04:06,670 Can you imagine how hard it would have 130 00:04:06,670 --> 00:04:07,590 been for her to do that? 131 00:04:07,950 --> 00:04:09,490 Well, the Lord hasn't shown me that. 132 00:04:10,130 --> 00:04:11,450 Well, I will trust you anyways. 133 00:04:11,530 --> 00:04:13,930 And she followed Abraham and Abraham led her 134 00:04:13,930 --> 00:04:15,490 to a promised land, a land that the 135 00:04:15,490 --> 00:04:17,070 nation of Israel would one day inherit. 136 00:04:17,410 --> 00:04:18,950 But she had to do it by faith. 137 00:04:19,390 --> 00:04:20,910 She had no child at the time. 138 00:04:21,470 --> 00:04:23,050 You know, nowadays when a sister has many 139 00:04:23,050 --> 00:04:24,730 children, they would consider that sister to be 140 00:04:24,730 --> 00:04:25,050 blessed. 141 00:04:25,490 --> 00:04:27,870 But Sarah had no children and she was 142 00:04:27,870 --> 00:04:28,930 the most blessed of all. 143 00:04:29,350 --> 00:04:31,690 Because she submitted to her husband, she followed 144 00:04:31,690 --> 00:04:33,930 him in that situation and the result of 145 00:04:33,930 --> 00:04:36,010 it was that the Lord rewarded her for 146 00:04:36,010 --> 00:04:36,490 her faith. 147 00:04:37,010 --> 00:04:38,390 She said, okay, I will come with you. 148 00:04:38,770 --> 00:04:40,790 And as Abraham went, did Abraham make blunders? 149 00:04:41,110 --> 00:04:41,510 Absolutely. 150 00:04:42,050 --> 00:04:43,630 Abraham went and when he went into the 151 00:04:43,630 --> 00:04:45,510 land of Egypt, he knew that his wife 152 00:04:45,510 --> 00:04:46,030 was beautiful. 153 00:04:46,190 --> 00:04:47,730 He said, this is my sister. 154 00:04:48,670 --> 00:04:50,330 You know, you could be how insulting that 155 00:04:50,330 --> 00:04:51,710 is if your husband says, this is my 156 00:04:51,710 --> 00:04:52,070 sister. 157 00:04:52,190 --> 00:04:52,930 Can you imagine that? 158 00:04:52,990 --> 00:04:54,570 And yet Abraham is the father of faith. 159 00:04:54,870 --> 00:04:56,230 He says, this is my sister. 160 00:04:56,790 --> 00:04:57,370 Can you imagine? 161 00:04:57,730 --> 00:04:58,890 If I was a wife, I would have 162 00:04:58,890 --> 00:05:01,290 been like, Abraham, slap you in the face. 163 00:05:01,350 --> 00:05:02,390 Like, come on, I'm your wife. 164 00:05:02,770 --> 00:05:03,770 No, this is my sister. 165 00:05:03,790 --> 00:05:05,250 And she ends up getting taken into his 166 00:05:05,250 --> 00:05:05,490 harem. 167 00:05:06,310 --> 00:05:08,570 And yet in that situation, she doesn't rebel. 168 00:05:08,710 --> 00:05:10,770 The Lord stands up for Abraham and he 169 00:05:10,770 --> 00:05:11,390 rescues him. 170 00:05:12,130 --> 00:05:13,910 And it's amazing that in that situation, she 171 00:05:13,910 --> 00:05:15,610 could probably have said, Abraham, you have no 172 00:05:15,610 --> 00:05:16,490 idea what you're doing. 173 00:05:16,850 --> 00:05:17,570 You have no idea. 174 00:05:18,070 --> 00:05:20,490 But Abraham humbles himself and he goes back 175 00:05:20,490 --> 00:05:22,090 to where he came from and he builds 176 00:05:22,090 --> 00:05:22,930 an altar to the Lord. 177 00:05:23,170 --> 00:05:24,390 And when he built that altar to the 178 00:05:24,390 --> 00:05:26,110 Lord, he made sacrifices unto the Lord. 179 00:05:26,410 --> 00:05:27,570 And he said, Lord, you are gonna be 180 00:05:27,570 --> 00:05:28,350 first in my life. 181 00:05:28,450 --> 00:05:29,650 No longer am I gonna run to the 182 00:05:29,650 --> 00:05:31,290 world for that provision. 183 00:05:31,550 --> 00:05:32,990 I'm gonna trust you in the place that 184 00:05:32,990 --> 00:05:33,490 you have me. 185 00:05:33,830 --> 00:05:35,090 And the Lord was with him at that 186 00:05:35,090 --> 00:05:35,350 time. 187 00:05:35,950 --> 00:05:37,530 And that was what faith is. 188 00:05:37,710 --> 00:05:38,670 That's what encouraged him. 189 00:05:38,890 --> 00:05:40,970 And that's what the Lord rewarded Sarah with. 190 00:05:41,130 --> 00:05:42,690 Said, okay, now I'm gonna give you a 191 00:05:42,690 --> 00:05:42,950 son. 192 00:05:42,950 --> 00:05:44,630 And she ended up having a son and 193 00:05:44,630 --> 00:05:45,290 his name was Isaac. 194 00:05:45,550 --> 00:05:47,010 And it was all based on a promise. 195 00:05:47,390 --> 00:05:48,990 And this is where our faith gets tested. 196 00:05:49,110 --> 00:05:50,610 Are you gonna rely upon the things that 197 00:05:50,610 --> 00:05:51,030 you see? 198 00:05:51,270 --> 00:05:52,930 Or are you gonna go by the direction 199 00:05:52,930 --> 00:05:53,710 and the word of God? 200 00:05:54,030 --> 00:05:55,310 Are you gonna trust the Lord and say, 201 00:05:55,430 --> 00:05:57,270 Lord, I'm trusting you that you're leading me 202 00:05:57,270 --> 00:05:57,810 and guiding me. 203 00:05:58,030 --> 00:05:59,370 I'm gonna believe in you and I'm not 204 00:05:59,370 --> 00:06:00,330 gonna go by what I see. 205 00:06:00,490 --> 00:06:01,730 I like what Randy shares sometimes. 206 00:06:02,190 --> 00:06:04,230 Faith does not come by seeing, my friends. 207 00:06:04,670 --> 00:06:06,410 If you're looking at something and you're looking 208 00:06:06,410 --> 00:06:08,630 at your circumstances and you're wondering, well, should 209 00:06:08,630 --> 00:06:09,870 I do this? 210 00:06:10,050 --> 00:06:11,610 Should I, I'm looking at what I should 211 00:06:11,610 --> 00:06:11,730 do. 212 00:06:11,730 --> 00:06:14,370 Should I make this decision at this time? 213 00:06:14,750 --> 00:06:17,650 Then you make the decision sometimes out of 214 00:06:17,650 --> 00:06:18,610 fear and not out of faith. 215 00:06:18,730 --> 00:06:20,910 But faith comes by hearing, hearing the word 216 00:06:20,910 --> 00:06:21,410 of God. 217 00:06:21,630 --> 00:06:23,210 And that comes from listening to a preacher. 218 00:06:23,550 --> 00:06:25,430 It comes from gathering together one brother in 219 00:06:25,430 --> 00:06:27,270 another and it builds your faith. 220 00:06:27,730 --> 00:06:29,910 And one man's faith is built up by 221 00:06:29,910 --> 00:06:30,950 another person's faith. 222 00:06:31,030 --> 00:06:32,390 And this is how we get encouraged in 223 00:06:32,390 --> 00:06:32,750 the Lord. 224 00:06:33,450 --> 00:06:34,430 We don't want to have that. 225 00:06:34,530 --> 00:06:36,090 Many times I've listened to preaching and it's 226 00:06:36,090 --> 00:06:37,770 just the same thing over and over again. 227 00:06:38,330 --> 00:06:39,270 I don't want that. 228 00:06:39,710 --> 00:06:41,270 I want my faith to be built up. 229 00:06:41,270 --> 00:06:42,750 I want your faith to be built up. 230 00:06:43,110 --> 00:06:44,510 And I want us to continue to grow 231 00:06:44,510 --> 00:06:45,770 and move forward in the Lord. 232 00:06:46,430 --> 00:06:48,070 As Sarah went with Abraham, it says that 233 00:06:48,070 --> 00:06:49,690 the two angels, one day Abraham was sitting 234 00:06:49,690 --> 00:06:50,510 outside of his tent. 235 00:06:51,050 --> 00:06:52,310 You know, I was at East Indian Wedding. 236 00:06:52,390 --> 00:06:53,930 They were all sitting outside the tent. 237 00:06:54,050 --> 00:06:55,450 And he said, come eat with me. 238 00:06:55,930 --> 00:06:57,630 Abraham was sitting outside of his tent and 239 00:06:57,630 --> 00:06:59,050 the three men walked up and he said, 240 00:06:59,090 --> 00:06:59,930 let's make them a meal. 241 00:07:00,370 --> 00:07:01,930 And the angel said, where is Sarah, your 242 00:07:01,930 --> 00:07:02,230 wife? 243 00:07:02,710 --> 00:07:04,250 They said, well, she's making a meal. 244 00:07:04,350 --> 00:07:05,770 It says that this time next year, Sarah 245 00:07:05,770 --> 00:07:06,390 will have a son. 246 00:07:06,450 --> 00:07:07,630 And it says, Sarah laughed. 247 00:07:08,330 --> 00:07:09,430 She broke down and laughed. 248 00:07:10,250 --> 00:07:12,650 And then, you know, she came out and 249 00:07:12,650 --> 00:07:14,450 the Lord said to her, why did you 250 00:07:14,450 --> 00:07:14,850 laugh? 251 00:07:15,070 --> 00:07:16,190 Can you imagine what a question? 252 00:07:16,690 --> 00:07:17,610 Why did you laugh? 253 00:07:18,230 --> 00:07:19,550 Oh, I didn't laugh. 254 00:07:20,130 --> 00:07:21,230 But yes, you did. 255 00:07:21,430 --> 00:07:22,330 He told them that. 256 00:07:23,090 --> 00:07:24,770 Because of that, that boy's name was Isaac. 257 00:07:25,170 --> 00:07:26,890 He named him after, but it's amazing that 258 00:07:26,890 --> 00:07:29,150 this woman in Hebrews 11 verse six, it 259 00:07:29,150 --> 00:07:30,670 says that that woman, not in 11 verse 260 00:07:30,670 --> 00:07:32,470 six, but in chapter 11, it says that 261 00:07:32,470 --> 00:07:35,750 this woman became, by her faith, she had 262 00:07:35,750 --> 00:07:36,090 a son. 263 00:07:36,590 --> 00:07:38,530 I was thinking, wow, that doesn't really exemplify 264 00:07:38,530 --> 00:07:40,250 great faith when you laugh at the promise 265 00:07:40,250 --> 00:07:41,410 that the Lord speaks to you. 266 00:07:41,610 --> 00:07:42,830 But it wasn't based on that. 267 00:07:43,150 --> 00:07:44,530 The Lord's word was his word. 268 00:07:44,910 --> 00:07:46,050 His word was his word. 269 00:07:46,550 --> 00:07:47,830 And he said, at this time next year, 270 00:07:47,850 --> 00:07:48,830 you're going to have a son. 271 00:07:49,230 --> 00:07:50,910 And because of his word, his word came 272 00:07:50,910 --> 00:07:51,370 to pass. 273 00:07:51,730 --> 00:07:53,710 I think of Mary in the same situation. 274 00:07:54,470 --> 00:07:55,590 Mary was given an opportunity. 275 00:07:55,730 --> 00:07:57,090 The angel appeared to her and said, you 276 00:07:57,090 --> 00:07:57,910 are gonna have a child. 277 00:07:57,990 --> 00:07:59,510 And she said, let it be as you 278 00:07:59,510 --> 00:07:59,770 say. 279 00:08:00,370 --> 00:08:01,330 And she had faith. 280 00:08:01,410 --> 00:08:03,030 She had a better response than Sarah, but 281 00:08:03,030 --> 00:08:04,230 Sarah was the one who had the great 282 00:08:04,230 --> 00:08:05,550 faith in Hebrews 11. 283 00:08:05,550 --> 00:08:07,670 She was the one who was enabled to 284 00:08:07,670 --> 00:08:10,530 have a child even after the time where 285 00:08:10,530 --> 00:08:11,790 you can no longer have a child. 286 00:08:12,130 --> 00:08:13,630 And it was because of her faith in 287 00:08:13,630 --> 00:08:15,510 the Lord who was able to call those 288 00:08:15,510 --> 00:08:18,030 things which are not as something that exists. 289 00:08:18,330 --> 00:08:20,130 He is able to do everything he can, 290 00:08:20,410 --> 00:08:22,070 or sorry, he's able to make the impossible 291 00:08:22,070 --> 00:08:22,610 possible. 292 00:08:23,350 --> 00:08:24,910 There is nothing impossible with the Lord. 293 00:08:24,970 --> 00:08:26,390 And that's exactly what he said to Mary. 294 00:08:26,530 --> 00:08:28,810 He said, Mary, there is nothing impossible with 295 00:08:28,810 --> 00:08:31,169 God, nothing impossible with him. 296 00:08:31,570 --> 00:08:32,770 And so some of you would say, wow, 297 00:08:32,830 --> 00:08:35,169 this situation that I'm in is bleak. 298 00:08:35,169 --> 00:08:36,590 I need to make a decision right away. 299 00:08:36,830 --> 00:08:38,350 You don't need to make a decision right 300 00:08:38,350 --> 00:08:38,610 away. 301 00:08:39,030 --> 00:08:40,409 I remember my journey in the Lord from 302 00:08:40,409 --> 00:08:41,270 the beginning to the end. 303 00:08:41,309 --> 00:08:43,030 And I remember for many years, I wanted 304 00:08:43,030 --> 00:08:44,350 everything to happen right away. 305 00:08:44,650 --> 00:08:46,250 I wanted things to change overnight. 306 00:08:46,550 --> 00:08:48,830 I wanted that great spiritual experience, but you 307 00:08:48,830 --> 00:08:49,090 know what? 308 00:08:49,110 --> 00:08:50,570 The Lord was totally opposite of that. 309 00:08:50,990 --> 00:08:52,410 One day we got invited to a Romanian 310 00:08:52,410 --> 00:08:53,130 church in Portland. 311 00:08:53,790 --> 00:08:55,130 So we went down to this Romanian church 312 00:08:55,130 --> 00:08:55,510 in Portland. 313 00:08:55,530 --> 00:08:56,790 And one day they wanted us to go 314 00:08:56,790 --> 00:08:57,330 see somebody. 315 00:08:57,790 --> 00:08:59,010 Perhaps they would have a word from the 316 00:08:59,010 --> 00:08:59,130 Lord. 317 00:08:59,150 --> 00:09:01,430 And I'm not into prophecies like that. 318 00:09:01,470 --> 00:09:03,810 I'm not into those things because many times 319 00:09:03,810 --> 00:09:05,170 they can direct people as to who you're 320 00:09:05,170 --> 00:09:06,350 gonna marry and this and that. 321 00:09:06,590 --> 00:09:08,710 I don't think that that's a good thing. 322 00:09:08,770 --> 00:09:10,250 And the Bible, it never talks about that 323 00:09:10,830 --> 00:09:12,710 in the new covenant, it never says those 324 00:09:12,710 --> 00:09:12,990 things. 325 00:09:13,330 --> 00:09:14,370 And so you need to be careful about 326 00:09:14,370 --> 00:09:15,970 those types of prophecies because they can lead 327 00:09:15,970 --> 00:09:17,670 you astray and cause you to put your 328 00:09:17,670 --> 00:09:19,850 hope in things that aren't from God. 329 00:09:20,410 --> 00:09:21,830 You need to be led by the spirit 330 00:09:21,830 --> 00:09:23,290 of God and the Lord needs to command 331 00:09:23,290 --> 00:09:23,670 it to you. 332 00:09:23,730 --> 00:09:24,790 He needs to speak it to you. 333 00:09:24,830 --> 00:09:25,870 So you have to be careful of these 334 00:09:25,870 --> 00:09:26,130 things. 335 00:09:26,370 --> 00:09:27,470 And it says you're supposed to test all 336 00:09:27,470 --> 00:09:28,990 the prophecies to see if they're from God. 337 00:09:29,550 --> 00:09:30,750 But there was one thing that that person 338 00:09:30,750 --> 00:09:32,350 said that actually did stand out to me. 339 00:09:32,350 --> 00:09:34,510 And it says, you can't always be in 340 00:09:34,510 --> 00:09:34,850 a hurry. 341 00:09:36,130 --> 00:09:37,490 Not everything comes at once. 342 00:09:37,570 --> 00:09:38,690 And that one thing stuck with me. 343 00:09:38,730 --> 00:09:39,850 I was like, I am always in a 344 00:09:39,850 --> 00:09:40,030 hurry. 345 00:09:40,410 --> 00:09:42,450 I cannot sit still and I'm always thinking 346 00:09:42,450 --> 00:09:44,090 about the next thing that's gonna happen to 347 00:09:44,090 --> 00:09:44,270 me. 348 00:09:44,870 --> 00:09:45,770 What's it gonna happen? 349 00:09:46,330 --> 00:09:47,510 And the person said, you need to be 350 00:09:47,510 --> 00:09:47,890 patient. 351 00:09:48,610 --> 00:09:50,270 Did you know that love is patient, but 352 00:09:50,270 --> 00:09:51,450 faith is also patient. 353 00:09:52,210 --> 00:09:53,930 Faith and patience go hand in hand and 354 00:09:53,930 --> 00:09:55,650 you need to be patient to wait on 355 00:09:55,650 --> 00:09:57,630 the Lord, to wait on the Lord for 356 00:09:57,630 --> 00:09:59,010 him to finish the work that he started. 357 00:09:59,370 --> 00:10:00,810 For seven and eight years, I was at 358 00:10:00,810 --> 00:10:02,450 a job where I made very little money, 359 00:10:03,030 --> 00:10:04,210 a very, very little money. 360 00:10:04,310 --> 00:10:05,290 And it was very hard for me. 361 00:10:05,710 --> 00:10:07,390 I owed $30,000 and I had to 362 00:10:07,390 --> 00:10:08,990 learn to be faithful with the little money 363 00:10:08,990 --> 00:10:09,570 that I had. 364 00:10:09,970 --> 00:10:11,630 I remember I lived on my sister's couch. 365 00:10:12,330 --> 00:10:14,410 And one week I had $20 for food 366 00:10:14,410 --> 00:10:16,830 for that week, $20 for food. 367 00:10:17,510 --> 00:10:20,270 And I said, Lord, why aren't you giving 368 00:10:20,270 --> 00:10:20,990 me more food? 369 00:10:21,250 --> 00:10:22,570 Why aren't you giving me more food? 370 00:10:22,630 --> 00:10:23,970 And the Lord said, you have to learn 371 00:10:23,970 --> 00:10:26,010 to have little because you spent your money 372 00:10:26,010 --> 00:10:27,410 foolishly in times past. 373 00:10:27,790 --> 00:10:29,210 You spent your money foolishly. 374 00:10:29,650 --> 00:10:30,910 My sister was away that week. 375 00:10:30,910 --> 00:10:32,210 So I went to the super store and 376 00:10:32,210 --> 00:10:33,470 we lived about five minutes away. 377 00:10:33,950 --> 00:10:35,230 And I said, okay, Lord, what can I 378 00:10:35,230 --> 00:10:36,970 get with this $20 that's gonna last me 379 00:10:36,970 --> 00:10:37,310 the week? 380 00:10:37,710 --> 00:10:38,790 I bought one loaf of bread. 381 00:10:39,330 --> 00:10:41,510 I bought about 10 slices of little ham, 382 00:10:41,670 --> 00:10:43,410 thinly sliced, because that was one piece of 383 00:10:43,410 --> 00:10:44,750 meat in my sandwich. 384 00:10:45,090 --> 00:10:47,130 I bought a tiny couple pieces of fruit. 385 00:10:47,190 --> 00:10:48,670 I only bought five pieces of fruit, one 386 00:10:48,670 --> 00:10:49,250 for each day. 387 00:10:49,830 --> 00:10:51,510 I didn't buy soy sauce, even though I 388 00:10:51,510 --> 00:10:52,250 love soy sauce. 389 00:10:52,330 --> 00:10:53,430 I had to put that on the altar 390 00:10:53,430 --> 00:10:54,770 and say, Lord, I'm gonna not buy it 391 00:10:54,770 --> 00:10:55,570 because I don't have enough. 392 00:10:55,830 --> 00:10:57,210 And I bought a tiny bit of broccoli. 393 00:10:57,310 --> 00:10:58,330 And that's all I had for the week 394 00:10:58,330 --> 00:11:00,270 was rice, broccoli, a piece of bread and 395 00:11:00,270 --> 00:11:01,990 some sandwich meat every single day for my 396 00:11:01,990 --> 00:11:02,190 lunch. 397 00:11:02,270 --> 00:11:02,910 That's all I had. 398 00:11:03,610 --> 00:11:04,550 And you know what, when I got home 399 00:11:04,550 --> 00:11:05,930 that night, I opened the fridge, there wasn't 400 00:11:05,930 --> 00:11:07,290 usually much in there, but there was a 401 00:11:07,290 --> 00:11:08,110 bottle of soy sauce. 402 00:11:08,350 --> 00:11:09,870 And I said, thank you, Lord, you provided 403 00:11:09,870 --> 00:11:10,270 for me. 404 00:11:10,430 --> 00:11:11,910 And the Lord taught me in that time 405 00:11:11,910 --> 00:11:13,910 to leave it in his hands. 406 00:11:14,130 --> 00:11:15,710 Two times that week, the Lord had brothers 407 00:11:15,710 --> 00:11:17,810 and sisters invite me over for supper. 408 00:11:18,290 --> 00:11:19,530 And the Lord met my need. 409 00:11:19,950 --> 00:11:21,610 He met my need because I trusted him. 410 00:11:21,950 --> 00:11:23,570 And I said, okay, Lord, but over time, 411 00:11:23,910 --> 00:11:25,770 throughout those seven to eight years, I worked 412 00:11:25,770 --> 00:11:27,470 and I worked and I made very little 413 00:11:27,470 --> 00:11:28,890 money, but the Lord was teaching me to 414 00:11:28,890 --> 00:11:30,830 be faithful with it, teaching me to be 415 00:11:30,830 --> 00:11:32,530 generous, to share with those who are in 416 00:11:32,530 --> 00:11:34,510 need, to be responsible with it. 417 00:11:34,670 --> 00:11:36,290 And I said, Lord, why doesn't my situation 418 00:11:36,290 --> 00:11:36,890 change? 419 00:11:37,330 --> 00:11:37,810 And you know what? 420 00:11:38,210 --> 00:11:39,510 It was during that time that I would 421 00:11:39,510 --> 00:11:41,330 say I walked closest with the Lord when 422 00:11:41,330 --> 00:11:42,330 I was in great need. 423 00:11:42,990 --> 00:11:44,370 Now, as I'm older and I have my 424 00:11:44,370 --> 00:11:46,510 own business, I have a little bit more 425 00:11:46,510 --> 00:11:47,150 than what I have. 426 00:11:47,950 --> 00:11:48,570 But you know what? 427 00:11:48,590 --> 00:11:49,610 As I find that you have a little 428 00:11:49,610 --> 00:11:51,070 bit more and you get ahead in life, 429 00:11:51,170 --> 00:11:53,130 sometimes you tend to forget about the Lord. 430 00:11:53,750 --> 00:11:55,610 You tend to forget about that dependency on 431 00:11:55,610 --> 00:11:55,790 him. 432 00:11:56,250 --> 00:11:58,110 And you rely more on the resources that 433 00:11:58,110 --> 00:11:59,370 you have rather than on Jesus. 434 00:12:00,190 --> 00:12:02,030 So let's not forget those hard times and 435 00:12:02,030 --> 00:12:03,350 let's not ask the Lord to change our 436 00:12:03,350 --> 00:12:04,170 situation right away. 437 00:12:04,270 --> 00:12:06,230 Sometimes the situation you're in is perfect for 438 00:12:06,230 --> 00:12:06,470 you. 439 00:12:06,830 --> 00:12:08,770 It's perfect for you because he's trying to 440 00:12:08,770 --> 00:12:10,090 teach you to depend on him at all 441 00:12:10,090 --> 00:12:12,490 times, to rely on him and say, Lord, 442 00:12:12,530 --> 00:12:13,350 why is my situation? 443 00:12:13,510 --> 00:12:14,450 Why do I have to go in this 444 00:12:14,450 --> 00:12:14,770 direction? 445 00:12:14,830 --> 00:12:15,530 I don't want to. 446 00:12:15,850 --> 00:12:16,850 It's a test of faith. 447 00:12:17,070 --> 00:12:18,350 And you need to trust the Lord and 448 00:12:18,350 --> 00:12:19,810 say, Lord, I know you have me right 449 00:12:19,810 --> 00:12:21,770 where I'm at for a reason because you're 450 00:12:21,770 --> 00:12:23,470 trying to teach me something about Christ. 451 00:12:23,990 --> 00:12:25,870 The Bible says whom I labor with you 452 00:12:25,870 --> 00:12:27,550 until Christ is formed in you. 453 00:12:27,650 --> 00:12:29,550 My friends, do you have Christ being formed 454 00:12:29,550 --> 00:12:30,070 in your life? 455 00:12:30,590 --> 00:12:32,250 I want Christ to be formed in me. 456 00:12:32,430 --> 00:12:34,250 But you know what happens is the Lord 457 00:12:34,250 --> 00:12:35,550 has to go to war with Dan. 458 00:12:36,210 --> 00:12:37,650 The Lord has to go to war with 459 00:12:37,650 --> 00:12:39,870 Dan until I surrender my will and I 460 00:12:39,870 --> 00:12:41,450 say, Lord, not my will, your be done. 461 00:12:42,010 --> 00:12:43,570 And that is when I see Christ being 462 00:12:43,570 --> 00:12:44,350 formed in my life. 463 00:12:44,670 --> 00:12:45,430 I see changes. 464 00:12:45,650 --> 00:12:48,110 In those times that I was there, the 465 00:12:48,110 --> 00:12:50,030 Lord formed a great character in my life. 466 00:12:50,230 --> 00:12:52,190 In those first eight years of working, making 467 00:12:52,190 --> 00:12:55,110 very little, trusting him to be responsible and 468 00:12:55,110 --> 00:12:56,690 relying upon him in those situations. 469 00:12:57,450 --> 00:12:58,670 And one day the Lord moved me out 470 00:12:58,670 --> 00:13:00,670 from that season, but he didn't release me 471 00:13:00,670 --> 00:13:02,330 until the time was right. 472 00:13:02,610 --> 00:13:03,810 And many of us are trying to get 473 00:13:03,810 --> 00:13:06,410 out of the situation we're in too soon. 474 00:13:06,830 --> 00:13:08,410 And we haven't learned to be patient. 475 00:13:08,990 --> 00:13:10,390 We must learn to be patient. 476 00:13:10,570 --> 00:13:12,250 We must learn to trust the direction that 477 00:13:12,250 --> 00:13:13,130 the Lord is leading us. 478 00:13:13,490 --> 00:13:14,890 We must learn to depend on him at 479 00:13:14,890 --> 00:13:16,550 all times and hold fast to the head. 480 00:13:17,810 --> 00:13:19,370 May the Lord bless you, may encourage you. 481 00:13:19,370 --> 00:13:25,940 And may we remember to trust him and 482 00:13:25,940 --> 00:13:27,880 have faith in him and he will reward 483 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:29,080 that faith when we're patient. 484 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:30,040 Let's be patient. 485 00:13:30,180 --> 00:13:30,280 Amen.