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Welcome to From the Pulpit.

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Each week we bring you a different message

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from some of history's greatest speakers in the

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Christian faith and powerful sermons from modern preachers

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too.

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This week we have Carter Collin with his

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message A Short Path to the Coming Storm.

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A word that I believe that the Lord

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has given me for this time of fasting

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and prayer that we are entering into as

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a church.

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We're praying for the future of Times Square

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Church.

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We're praying for the testimony of this church.

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We're praying that, as I said earlier last

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week, God told Pastor David Wilkerson when this

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church was founded in 1987 that it was

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founded by God to be a lighthouse in

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the coming storm.

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The storm is here and it is really

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time for us to polish the windows, to

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make sure the light is strong, to check

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every part of this lighthouse.

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That's why the Lord is asking us to

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let him deal with the small issues of

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character.

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Not things that will take us away from

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heaven, but things that will cause our testimony

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to be dull in this generation.

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And he's asking us, all of us, all

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the leadership, everyone.

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And I do believe because this is a

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sovereign moment, there really is no escaping this.

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You're suddenly aware, if you're a sensitive Christian,

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you're suddenly aware of issues in your character

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that you're just so used to being there.

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You've never really seen anything wrong with them,

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other than they're a smudge on the window

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of the lighthouse.

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And the hand of God has come with

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a cloth of cleansing and saying, let me

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just clean that.

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It's not affecting your eternal destiny, but it

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is affecting the testimony of the life of

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God through us.

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And as I said earlier, I've been chasing

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foxes all week, to the point where I

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just, last night, laid down in bed and

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said, Lord, God, catch the foxes for me.

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And he's going to be faithful to do

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that.

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It's just the little things in your character,

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little things that hinder him.

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Today, I want to talk about a sure

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path through the coming storm.

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Matthew chapter 26.

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Now, Father, I thank you, God, for the

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anointing of your Holy Spirit.

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God, I praise you for your presence.

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I thank you, Lord, that you've allowed us

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to be born into this world at this

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time.

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And you brought us here to this house

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for this testimony for this season.

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Help us, God.

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Lord, we acknowledge we need your power, for

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there is no light without your power.

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There's no testimony.

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There's nothing without you, Lord.

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There's just a bunch of noise in a

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building calling itself the church.

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Without you, Lord, we don't really have the

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power we need.

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But we do ask you, Almighty God, to

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shake the place where we are, as you

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did for your early church.

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And come upon us with power.

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Give us boldness to speak your word.

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And through us, stretch out your hand to

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heal this sin-sick generation we live in.

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Let the light of Christ so shine that

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people will see it from miles away.

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And walk towards the light that offers life

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and strength and eternity.

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God, help us now.

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Help me this morning.

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Lord Jesus, help us to reach the full

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potential of what our lives are called to

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be.

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Not what we think they should be, but

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what you've called them to be.

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There's a huge difference.

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I pray, Lord God, for the courage to

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go through every door.

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I ask you for the courage to speak

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every word you put upon our hearts.

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I ask you, Lord, for the ability to

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do everything you call us to do.

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Sing every song you call us to sing,

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no matter where or under what circumstance.

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Jesus, anoint your word.

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If you don't anoint it, it's only just

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an accumulation of more knowledge.

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Even if it's good knowledge, it has no

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power if you don't touch it and make

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it live in our hearts.

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God Almighty, let your word live in our

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hearts.

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Let your kingdom become our most prized possession.

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Let your will be that which we embrace

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more than life.

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Help me, God.

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Help me, Lord Jesus Christ, to fulfill your

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call on my life.

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Help me, God, not to draw back.

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Help me, Lord Jesus Christ.

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I pray in your precious name.

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Amen.

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It's your path through the coming storm.

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Matthew chapter 26, beginning at verse 39.

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And he went, this is Jesus, he went

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a little farther and fell on his face

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and prayed, saying, oh my father, if it

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be possible, let this cup pass from me.

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Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you

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will.

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Then he came to the disciples and found

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them sleeping and said to Peter, what could

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you not watch with me one hour?

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Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.

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The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh

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is weak.

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And again, the second time he went away

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and prayed, saying, oh my father, if this

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cup cannot pass away from me unless I

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drink it, your will be done.

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And he came and found them asleep again,

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for their eyes were heavy.

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So he left them and went away again

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and prayed the third time, saying the same

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words.

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Now the author of the book of Hebrews

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in chapter 4 and verses 15 and 16

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says, we do not have a high priest

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who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but he

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was in all points tempted as we are,

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yet without sin.

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Let us therefore come boldly to the throne

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of grace that we may obtain mercy and

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find grace to help in time of need.

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You know, we can we can grasp sometimes

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this erroneous view that Jesus Christ never struggled

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as we do.

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We forget that he was not only fully

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God, but he was fully man.

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And the fact that he was touched, he's

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touched with our weaknesses, and he's touched with

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them because he also struggled with some of

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these things that we struggle with.

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And so he understands, because he was fully

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man, what you and I fight.

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And that's why the invitation is to come

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boldly to the throne of grace.

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When we pray this week, God says, come

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boldly to the throne of grace.

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I understand your weaknesses.

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I understand your fears.

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I understand your reluctance.

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In Matthew 26 and 39, verse 39, he

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said, not as I will, but as you

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will.

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Now it's an interesting thing.

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Here's the Son of God.

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He knows from birth that the purpose of

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his life is to go to a cross.

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That's never hidden from him.

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He knows that.

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He knows it from his youth.

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And yet when it comes time, when the

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actual moment comes, that the full expression of

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God through his life is about to happen,

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something of his human will starts fighting against

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what he knows.

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He goes into the garden and he says,

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not as I want it to happen, not

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as I will, but as you will, became

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the essence of his prayer.

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And I started thinking about this, and I

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asked God this question.

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I said, what was the will of Christ

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that had to be overcome so that his

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life, through his life, God might introduce to

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us the salvation that God was willing to

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offer humanity?

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But there was something in the heart of

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Jesus that he had to overcome, the human

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side of him, which is common to all

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of us.

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So I simply asked the question, what was

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it?

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And here's what I feel in my heart

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that the Lord has spoken to me.

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Firstly, it was the will to have nothing

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change.

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Jesus had forever enjoyed a pattern of fellowship

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with his Father, the Father whose will would

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cause interruption to that pattern even though it

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was only for a moment.

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You ever had some moments in your life?

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I've had them.

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I said, oh God, I wish that would

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never change.

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You ever had, even just after a Sunday

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service sometime or a Sunday night, you just,

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you just jump it up and down, you're

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so happy, and you just in your heart

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say, oh God, I wish this would never

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change.

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Peter was like that.

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When Jesus appeared with Moses and Elijah on

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the top of the Mount of Transfiguration, he

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wanted to build houses there, basically, dwellings.

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He just never wanted to leave that place.

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He wanted to stay there forever.

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I understand that.

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You understand that.

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We all grasp for a place in life

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that makes us feel happy and fulfilled.

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We search for it.

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We go to school for it.

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We study for it.

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We work for it.

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This kind of elusive place that we're always

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looking for on this earth that is going

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to so satisfy us, that career, that recognition,

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that whatever it is that we're looking for,

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it's going to so satisfy us that we

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will be able to more or less camp

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there and never leave there.

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And our life will be complete, and we'll

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come to church, and we'll sing songs to

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God, and we'll believe Him for our salvation,

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and we'll be just so happy there.

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Listen to the words of Proverbs chapter 8.

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I'm going to read it to you from

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verse 22 to 30, but think about Jesus

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Christ.

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Remember that He is God.

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There's never a time He was without His

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Father.

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There's never a time the fellowship between He

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and His Father and the Holy Spirit was

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broken.

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The Lord possessed me at the beginning of

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His way, before His works of old.

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I have been established from everlasting.

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From the beginning, before there ever was an

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earth, when there were no depths, I was

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brought forth.

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When there were no fountains abounding with water,

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before the mountains were settled, before the hills

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I was brought forth.

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While as yet He had not made the

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earth, or the fields, or the primal dust

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of the world, when He prepared the heavens,

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I was there.

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When He drew a circle on the face

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of the deep, when He established the clouds

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above, when He strengthened the fountains of the

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deep, when He assigned to the sea its

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limits, so that the waters could not transgress

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His command, when He marked out the foundations

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of the earth, then I was beside Him

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as a master craftsman.

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00:10:24,830 --> 00:10:29,970
I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before

276
00:10:29,970 --> 00:10:30,350
Him.

277
00:10:31,410 --> 00:10:33,010
Jesus spoke these very words.

278
00:10:33,090 --> 00:10:35,810
John spoke these very words about Jesus Christ

279
00:10:35,810 --> 00:10:37,750
in the beginning of his gospel, when he

280
00:10:37,750 --> 00:10:40,210
said, in the beginning was the Word, and

281
00:10:40,210 --> 00:10:42,110
the Word was with God, and the Word

282
00:10:42,110 --> 00:10:42,850
was God.

283
00:10:43,170 --> 00:10:45,650
He was in the beginning with God, all

284
00:10:45,650 --> 00:10:48,090
things were made through Him, and without Him

285
00:10:48,090 --> 00:10:50,710
nothing was made that was made.

286
00:10:51,410 --> 00:10:54,030
He had enjoyed this eternal fellowship.

287
00:10:54,450 --> 00:10:55,870
There was no beginning to it, it had

288
00:10:55,870 --> 00:10:56,530
always been.

289
00:10:57,470 --> 00:10:59,470
It was a delightful place, I have no

290
00:10:59,470 --> 00:10:59,770
doubt.

291
00:11:00,510 --> 00:11:01,870
It was a place of communion, it was

292
00:11:01,870 --> 00:11:03,490
a place of intimacy, it was a place

293
00:11:03,490 --> 00:11:06,630
of wonderment, it was a place that brings

294
00:11:06,630 --> 00:11:09,270
satisfaction to the heart, that you and I

295
00:11:09,270 --> 00:11:12,090
can't and won't fully understand until we get

296
00:11:12,090 --> 00:11:13,990
to heaven one day, and we too become

297
00:11:13,990 --> 00:11:15,030
partakers of it.

298
00:11:16,150 --> 00:11:18,030
But even as a man on this earth,

299
00:11:18,490 --> 00:11:20,630
Luke says in his gospel chapter 6 verse

300
00:11:20,630 --> 00:11:22,850
12, it came to pass in those days,

301
00:11:22,950 --> 00:11:25,010
and you'll see this frequently in the life

302
00:11:25,010 --> 00:11:26,830
of Jesus, that he went out into the

303
00:11:26,830 --> 00:11:29,670
mountain to pray, and he continued all night

304
00:11:29,670 --> 00:11:32,170
in prayer to God.

305
00:11:33,130 --> 00:11:38,510
The fellowship he'd always enjoyed, the wondrousness of

306
00:11:38,510 --> 00:11:40,550
what that must mean to be one and

307
00:11:40,550 --> 00:11:42,150
completely in union with God.

308
00:11:44,050 --> 00:11:46,650
In our humanity we want nothing to change.

309
00:11:47,650 --> 00:11:49,410
You and I want to find a place

310
00:11:49,410 --> 00:11:51,010
where we feel the most secure, and we

311
00:11:51,010 --> 00:11:52,310
want to feel happy, and we want to

312
00:11:52,310 --> 00:11:52,890
stay there.

313
00:11:54,690 --> 00:11:56,150
I often feel that way.

314
00:11:57,250 --> 00:11:58,850
I feel that way every time my wife

315
00:11:58,850 --> 00:12:00,610
comes home from the school.

316
00:12:01,210 --> 00:12:03,670
I say, God, I don't want her to

317
00:12:03,670 --> 00:12:04,170
go again.

318
00:12:05,250 --> 00:12:06,350
I have to fight that.

319
00:12:07,450 --> 00:12:08,990
It's within my power to tell her to

320
00:12:08,990 --> 00:12:09,870
stay home, and she would.

321
00:12:11,990 --> 00:12:13,930
But the God, the call of God involves

322
00:12:13,930 --> 00:12:14,450
change.

323
00:12:15,590 --> 00:12:17,110
The call of God leads on a journey

324
00:12:17,110 --> 00:12:20,610
into the unknown, and often into the uncomfortable.

325
00:12:22,410 --> 00:12:24,570
Many claim to love God, but will not

326
00:12:24,570 --> 00:12:25,290
take this journey.

327
00:12:27,730 --> 00:12:30,110
Paul said of a certain man in 2nd

328
00:12:30,110 --> 00:12:32,190
Timothy chapter 4 verse 10, he said, Demas

329
00:12:32,190 --> 00:12:35,190
has forsaken me, having loved this present world.

330
00:12:35,270 --> 00:12:37,490
In other words, this man called Demas found

331
00:12:37,490 --> 00:12:39,830
a place, and he was just simply unwilling

332
00:12:39,830 --> 00:12:40,550
to let it go.

333
00:12:41,350 --> 00:12:42,990
No matter where the plan of God was

334
00:12:42,990 --> 00:12:44,450
leading him, or the call of God was

335
00:12:44,450 --> 00:12:48,170
taking him, he just had a comfortable place,

336
00:12:48,690 --> 00:12:51,670
and he fought that battle that everyone fights.

337
00:12:51,870 --> 00:12:53,450
Why can't I have both?

338
00:12:54,790 --> 00:12:56,950
Why can't I have this comfortable place, and

339
00:12:56,950 --> 00:12:59,390
a relationship with God at the same time?

340
00:12:59,790 --> 00:13:03,150
In measure, I suppose, Jesus was praying that.

341
00:13:03,370 --> 00:13:06,190
Father, why does it have to be this

342
00:13:06,190 --> 00:13:06,390
way?

343
00:13:06,510 --> 00:13:09,870
Why does what the call that you placed

344
00:13:09,870 --> 00:13:12,290
on my life have to involve this separation

345
00:13:12,290 --> 00:13:15,450
from you, even though it's only for a

346
00:13:15,450 --> 00:13:16,470
moment in time?

347
00:13:19,190 --> 00:13:20,630
Why does this have to be?

348
00:13:21,630 --> 00:13:23,510
Can't there be some other way this can

349
00:13:23,510 --> 00:13:23,890
be done?

350
00:13:24,050 --> 00:13:26,550
And that's a legitimate cry in your heart

351
00:13:26,550 --> 00:13:27,050
and in mine.

352
00:13:27,130 --> 00:13:28,870
God, is there not some other way this

353
00:13:28,870 --> 00:13:29,350
can be done?

354
00:13:29,410 --> 00:13:31,650
Does it have to be this lonely?

355
00:13:31,750 --> 00:13:32,990
Does it have to be this painful?

356
00:13:36,330 --> 00:13:39,290
The second thing that I'm convinced that Jesus

357
00:13:39,290 --> 00:13:41,230
had to fight was the will to live

358
00:13:41,230 --> 00:13:42,450
and preserve oneself.

359
00:13:42,950 --> 00:13:48,970
It's the strongest inner planting of the DNA

360
00:13:48,970 --> 00:13:51,750
of God in your life and in mine,

361
00:13:51,850 --> 00:13:53,430
is the will to survive, the will to

362
00:13:53,430 --> 00:13:55,850
live, the will to be preserved.

363
00:13:56,470 --> 00:13:59,690
It's John chapter 12 verse 27.

364
00:13:59,930 --> 00:14:01,210
I found this so interesting.

365
00:14:01,650 --> 00:14:03,910
Jesus is teaching his disciples, and he's getting

366
00:14:03,910 --> 00:14:06,550
close to the point where the cross is

367
00:14:06,550 --> 00:14:07,950
going to come, and he says these words,

368
00:14:08,090 --> 00:14:10,490
now my soul is troubled, and what shall

369
00:14:10,490 --> 00:14:10,990
I say?

370
00:14:11,530 --> 00:14:14,470
Father, save me from this hour, but for

371
00:14:14,470 --> 00:14:16,550
this purpose I came to this hour.

372
00:14:16,670 --> 00:14:18,350
So he knows this thing.

373
00:14:18,530 --> 00:14:19,430
He knows the scripture.

374
00:14:20,250 --> 00:14:21,830
He knows this is the purpose for his

375
00:14:21,830 --> 00:14:22,030
life.

376
00:14:22,510 --> 00:14:24,650
And he says, in a sense, in teaching

377
00:14:24,650 --> 00:14:27,310
the people around him, what do you expect?

378
00:14:27,350 --> 00:14:28,290
What am I supposed to say?

379
00:14:28,370 --> 00:14:29,850
Father, save me from this hour.

380
00:14:29,970 --> 00:14:31,550
But what did he say when he went

381
00:14:31,550 --> 00:14:32,150
to Gethsemane?

382
00:14:32,270 --> 00:14:34,030
He said, Father, save me from this hour.

383
00:14:35,490 --> 00:14:37,990
He was in all points tempted like we

384
00:14:37,990 --> 00:14:38,270
are.

385
00:14:38,990 --> 00:14:40,310
He was tested like we are.

386
00:14:42,010 --> 00:14:45,490
The knowledge of what to do often finds

387
00:14:45,490 --> 00:14:47,950
the will to live to be its fiercest

388
00:14:47,950 --> 00:14:48,330
enemy.

389
00:14:49,070 --> 00:14:51,330
I know the Bible says, if any man

390
00:14:51,330 --> 00:14:53,670
will be my disciple, let him deny himself

391
00:14:53,670 --> 00:14:55,470
and take up his cross and follow me.

392
00:14:55,550 --> 00:14:56,550
I know that.

393
00:14:57,230 --> 00:14:58,390
I preach that.

394
00:14:58,970 --> 00:15:01,810
But there are times in my life when

395
00:15:01,810 --> 00:15:03,670
God tells me, take up the cross and

396
00:15:03,670 --> 00:15:04,230
follow me.

397
00:15:04,750 --> 00:15:06,650
And I find myself, even though I know

398
00:15:06,650 --> 00:15:08,370
the truth, I find myself saying, is there

399
00:15:08,370 --> 00:15:09,630
any other way this could happen?

400
00:15:11,330 --> 00:15:12,350
And you do too.

401
00:15:12,550 --> 00:15:14,230
You pray the same way that I do.

402
00:15:14,570 --> 00:15:16,290
Or you put your fingers in yours like

403
00:15:16,290 --> 00:15:17,250
they do in the schoolyard.

404
00:15:17,330 --> 00:15:18,730
You go la la la la while you

405
00:15:18,730 --> 00:15:18,970
pray.

406
00:15:19,610 --> 00:15:20,990
I don't want to hear this.

407
00:15:21,790 --> 00:15:22,730
I don't want to hear this.

408
00:15:22,810 --> 00:15:24,570
I have a plan, you know, Lord, and

409
00:15:24,570 --> 00:15:26,290
I'm asking you to help me to fulfill

410
00:15:26,290 --> 00:15:28,290
this plan that I have for my life.

411
00:15:28,770 --> 00:15:31,650
And this will to live, this will for

412
00:15:31,650 --> 00:15:35,670
self-preservation can be our fiercest enemy.

413
00:15:36,190 --> 00:15:40,490
The disciples were all, they all knew.

414
00:15:40,610 --> 00:15:41,950
He made it clear he's going to the

415
00:15:41,950 --> 00:15:42,270
cross.

416
00:15:42,370 --> 00:15:44,050
He made it clear he's going to be

417
00:15:44,050 --> 00:15:44,490
rejected.

418
00:15:44,630 --> 00:15:46,390
He made it clear that on the third

419
00:15:46,390 --> 00:15:48,250
day he's going to be raised from the

420
00:15:48,250 --> 00:15:48,410
dead.

421
00:15:48,430 --> 00:15:49,330
He didn't hide anything.

422
00:15:49,770 --> 00:15:51,510
He said it all to them.

423
00:15:51,770 --> 00:15:54,390
And then in bravado, they all said, we

424
00:15:54,390 --> 00:15:55,790
will fight with you.

425
00:15:55,890 --> 00:15:57,310
We will go all the way with you.

426
00:15:58,530 --> 00:16:00,530
And all they were able to do is

427
00:16:00,530 --> 00:16:03,750
cut off one ear and then run.

428
00:16:05,250 --> 00:16:07,450
That's what the human spirit will do.

429
00:16:07,510 --> 00:16:09,650
We'll come to church and we'll take out

430
00:16:09,650 --> 00:16:11,850
our sword of the spirit and we'll cut

431
00:16:11,850 --> 00:16:13,670
off an ear somewhere and then we'll flee.

432
00:16:14,690 --> 00:16:15,750
And that's exactly what they did.

433
00:16:15,810 --> 00:16:18,930
Matthew 26, 56 says that all the disciples

434
00:16:18,930 --> 00:16:22,070
forsook him and fled because that that inner

435
00:16:22,070 --> 00:16:25,410
will to live and preserve ourselves is is

436
00:16:25,410 --> 00:16:28,850
arguably one of the strongest inner desires that

437
00:16:28,850 --> 00:16:30,770
those of us who follow Christ will have

438
00:16:30,770 --> 00:16:31,310
to overcome.

439
00:16:32,030 --> 00:16:35,250
It's the fuel source of fear, that will

440
00:16:35,250 --> 00:16:36,850
to live.

441
00:16:37,550 --> 00:16:40,490
It causes us just as Peter did at

442
00:16:40,490 --> 00:16:40,870
the fire.

443
00:16:40,970 --> 00:16:43,290
Remember, Jesus is now taken into the place

444
00:16:43,290 --> 00:16:45,770
where his his trial is about to begin,

445
00:16:46,410 --> 00:16:48,710
where he's being examined, where he's been arrested,

446
00:16:48,890 --> 00:16:50,470
where he seemingly is captivated.

447
00:16:50,690 --> 00:16:53,990
And Peter still follows him, but he is

448
00:16:53,990 --> 00:16:56,170
in the outer court as it is, warming

449
00:16:56,170 --> 00:16:57,230
himself by a fire.

450
00:16:57,950 --> 00:17:01,030
And it causes us to associate with Jesus,

451
00:17:01,210 --> 00:17:03,609
but only from a self-preserving distance.

452
00:17:04,730 --> 00:17:07,690
And when they asked him, do you know

453
00:17:07,690 --> 00:17:08,670
this man, Jesus?

454
00:17:08,990 --> 00:17:09,990
Peter says, no.

455
00:17:10,550 --> 00:17:12,690
And he's actually telling in measure the truth.

456
00:17:12,770 --> 00:17:14,550
In measure, he's actually speaking the truth.

457
00:17:14,849 --> 00:17:16,990
He says, I know a Jesus that heals.

458
00:17:17,109 --> 00:17:18,750
I know a Jesus that prospers.

459
00:17:19,050 --> 00:17:21,089
I know a Jesus that blesses.

460
00:17:21,190 --> 00:17:22,950
I know a Jesus that does miracles.

461
00:17:23,369 --> 00:17:25,710
I know a Jesus that caused my heart

462
00:17:25,710 --> 00:17:30,390
to burn with passion for his kingdom coming

463
00:17:30,390 --> 00:17:30,970
to the earth.

464
00:17:31,050 --> 00:17:34,290
I know this Jesus, but the Jesus that's

465
00:17:34,290 --> 00:17:37,710
been captivated and being despised and is on

466
00:17:37,710 --> 00:17:40,170
the road to suffering, I really don't know

467
00:17:40,170 --> 00:17:40,810
that Jesus.

468
00:17:41,710 --> 00:17:42,990
He was actually telling the truth.

469
00:17:43,130 --> 00:17:45,710
And there's many people today who worship him

470
00:17:45,710 --> 00:17:49,070
and they come to conferences.

471
00:17:49,930 --> 00:17:52,010
They want to warm themselves by the fire

472
00:17:52,010 --> 00:17:54,090
of God as it is, but they don't

473
00:17:54,090 --> 00:17:56,710
want to go any closer to him than

474
00:17:56,710 --> 00:17:58,190
a self-preserving distance.

475
00:17:59,030 --> 00:18:00,190
I don't want to suffer.

476
00:18:00,910 --> 00:18:02,610
I don't want to even think about what

477
00:18:02,610 --> 00:18:03,690
you might have for my life.

478
00:18:03,950 --> 00:18:04,970
I want you as healer.

479
00:18:05,090 --> 00:18:06,170
I want you as provider.

480
00:18:06,330 --> 00:18:07,550
I want you as husband.

481
00:18:07,630 --> 00:18:08,610
I want you as father.

482
00:18:08,830 --> 00:18:11,830
I want you as deliverer, but I don't

483
00:18:11,830 --> 00:18:14,070
want you as the one who calls me

484
00:18:14,070 --> 00:18:18,170
to follow you into suffering or rejection in

485
00:18:18,170 --> 00:18:18,950
a dark time.

486
00:18:19,430 --> 00:18:21,310
We're living in a dark time, my brother,

487
00:18:21,410 --> 00:18:21,770
my sister.

488
00:18:21,870 --> 00:18:24,090
We're living at a time in this society

489
00:18:24,090 --> 00:18:26,270
when Christ is being rejected again.

490
00:18:26,790 --> 00:18:28,350
And those who follow him, it's not going

491
00:18:28,350 --> 00:18:30,130
to be a popular time to follow him.

492
00:18:30,390 --> 00:18:32,290
I believe we'll have a season of awakening.

493
00:18:32,510 --> 00:18:34,370
I believe we'll have a moment where many

494
00:18:34,370 --> 00:18:36,130
are going to consider their eternity.

495
00:18:37,310 --> 00:18:39,870
But the testimony of the word of God

496
00:18:39,870 --> 00:18:41,930
tells us that there's a day coming that

497
00:18:41,930 --> 00:18:44,650
the whole world is going to turn in

498
00:18:44,650 --> 00:18:48,050
an unimaginable lawless rebellion against the ways of

499
00:18:48,050 --> 00:18:48,370
God.

500
00:18:48,950 --> 00:18:50,670
And it will not be popular to be

501
00:18:50,670 --> 00:18:52,450
a follower of Christ.

502
00:18:53,490 --> 00:18:57,290
The only way through these things is by

503
00:18:57,290 --> 00:18:58,230
the power of God.

504
00:18:59,750 --> 00:19:02,970
And part of our strength rests in a

505
00:19:02,970 --> 00:19:06,450
God-given embracing of the real, true, and

506
00:19:06,450 --> 00:19:07,930
lasting purpose of our lives.

507
00:19:08,590 --> 00:19:10,650
It's coming to that point of saying, God,

508
00:19:10,890 --> 00:19:13,410
what do you want my life to be?

509
00:19:14,050 --> 00:19:16,850
Not what I think it should be, not

510
00:19:16,850 --> 00:19:19,930
me trying to cram my agenda into your

511
00:19:19,930 --> 00:19:21,590
kingdom and asking you to bless it, but

512
00:19:21,590 --> 00:19:23,850
what do you want my life to be?

513
00:19:24,230 --> 00:19:27,930
That's a fearful prayer to pray, because you

514
00:19:27,930 --> 00:19:29,690
and I don't know where that's going to

515
00:19:29,690 --> 00:19:30,190
lead us.

516
00:19:31,390 --> 00:19:33,270
But I tell you what the source of

517
00:19:33,270 --> 00:19:34,150
your strength will be.

518
00:19:34,450 --> 00:19:37,810
Hebrews chapter 12 verse 2 says, who for

519
00:19:37,810 --> 00:19:39,930
the joy that was set before him endured

520
00:19:39,930 --> 00:19:40,530
the cross.

521
00:19:40,830 --> 00:19:43,550
It was the joy of you and me

522
00:19:43,550 --> 00:19:47,310
finding salvation through him that sent him to

523
00:19:47,310 --> 00:19:47,770
a cross.

524
00:19:48,190 --> 00:19:52,170
If we are living for ourselves, we're not

525
00:19:52,170 --> 00:19:53,270
going to get through this.

526
00:19:53,330 --> 00:19:55,250
But if we are living for others, if

527
00:19:55,250 --> 00:19:57,270
we are willing to live, that men and

528
00:19:57,270 --> 00:19:59,630
women may come to that saving knowledge of

529
00:19:59,630 --> 00:20:00,370
Jesus Christ.

530
00:20:00,970 --> 00:20:02,970
If we are willing to be poured out

531
00:20:02,970 --> 00:20:05,670
that others may drink, if we are willing

532
00:20:05,670 --> 00:20:08,250
to be broken that others may be made

533
00:20:08,250 --> 00:20:10,770
whole, if we're willing even to lose our

534
00:20:10,770 --> 00:20:12,810
freedom that others may gain theirs.

535
00:20:13,750 --> 00:20:16,090
Then there's a joy, there's a strength that

536
00:20:16,090 --> 00:20:17,370
comes only from God.

537
00:20:18,090 --> 00:20:20,550
Paul said in Philippians chapter 4 verse 1,

538
00:20:20,730 --> 00:20:23,610
therefore my beloved, my longed for brethren, my

539
00:20:23,610 --> 00:20:25,370
joy and my crown.

540
00:20:26,190 --> 00:20:28,750
That's what gave this man such incredible strength.

541
00:20:29,090 --> 00:20:31,430
It wasn't about him, it wasn't about preserving

542
00:20:31,430 --> 00:20:33,310
himself, it wasn't about his own agenda.

543
00:20:33,570 --> 00:20:34,910
When he came to Christ he let all

544
00:20:34,910 --> 00:20:35,410
that go.

545
00:20:36,110 --> 00:20:37,450
He let it go by the power of

546
00:20:37,450 --> 00:20:37,710
God.

547
00:20:38,050 --> 00:20:39,550
It was about you, it was about me,

548
00:20:39,590 --> 00:20:40,430
it was about others.

549
00:20:41,790 --> 00:20:43,750
Paul had a vision of the divine purpose

550
00:20:43,750 --> 00:20:46,810
of his life and it centered around the

551
00:20:46,810 --> 00:20:48,950
work of God and bringing home the lost.

552
00:20:49,210 --> 00:20:51,290
That is the work of God, bringing home

553
00:20:51,290 --> 00:20:51,910
the lost.

554
00:20:52,890 --> 00:20:55,430
Everything else is going to perish folks, everything

555
00:20:55,430 --> 00:20:56,870
else is going to be gone.

556
00:20:57,210 --> 00:20:59,150
There will be no Wall Street soon, there

557
00:20:59,150 --> 00:21:01,430
there will be no towers in New York

558
00:21:01,430 --> 00:21:01,690
City.

559
00:21:02,810 --> 00:21:04,590
Everything, even the heavens are going to be

560
00:21:04,590 --> 00:21:06,790
folded together one day as a scroll and

561
00:21:06,790 --> 00:21:08,350
all is going to be remade by the

562
00:21:08,350 --> 00:21:08,950
hand of God.

563
00:21:09,510 --> 00:21:10,950
All of this is going to be gone,

564
00:21:11,050 --> 00:21:13,510
all our sandcastles are going to wash into

565
00:21:13,510 --> 00:21:14,510
the oceans of time.

566
00:21:15,650 --> 00:21:16,970
They're all going to be gone.

567
00:21:18,550 --> 00:21:21,430
It comes down to the point of saying

568
00:21:21,430 --> 00:21:23,430
in my heart, why do I want to

569
00:21:23,430 --> 00:21:23,750
live?

570
00:21:25,030 --> 00:21:26,450
What do I want my life to be?

571
00:21:26,490 --> 00:21:27,810
How do I want my life to finish?

572
00:21:27,930 --> 00:21:29,230
How do I want it to play out?

573
00:21:29,590 --> 00:21:30,990
Do I want to warm myself with the

574
00:21:30,990 --> 00:21:33,430
fire and say no, I'm not familiar with

575
00:21:33,430 --> 00:21:33,910
that Jesus.

576
00:21:34,030 --> 00:21:35,070
But let me tell you about the Jesus

577
00:21:35,070 --> 00:21:35,730
I do know.

578
00:21:36,870 --> 00:21:38,570
But I'm not familiar with that Jesus.

579
00:21:39,210 --> 00:21:41,970
I'm not familiar with the Jesus that a

580
00:21:41,970 --> 00:21:44,170
society, it was a darkened moment in history

581
00:21:44,170 --> 00:21:45,950
when society was not in the mood for

582
00:21:45,950 --> 00:21:46,550
him any longer.

583
00:21:46,830 --> 00:21:50,670
They wanted him out of their culture.

584
00:21:50,870 --> 00:21:53,510
We're living in a very real and similar

585
00:21:53,510 --> 00:21:56,550
moment in this nation when there's a strong

586
00:21:56,550 --> 00:21:59,530
push to eradicate the name of Jesus from

587
00:21:59,530 --> 00:22:01,750
everything in this culture.

588
00:22:02,590 --> 00:22:04,190
They're not in the mood for him and

589
00:22:04,190 --> 00:22:05,570
they're not in the mood for his followers.

590
00:22:06,310 --> 00:22:07,290
And so we have a choice.

591
00:22:07,410 --> 00:22:09,150
Do we do we live in the past?

592
00:22:09,630 --> 00:22:11,350
Do we do we hold to the Jesus

593
00:22:11,350 --> 00:22:13,830
that perhaps we knew in our infancy in

594
00:22:13,830 --> 00:22:15,450
those first years of walking with him?

595
00:22:15,490 --> 00:22:17,710
Or do we embrace the Jesus that this

596
00:22:17,710 --> 00:22:20,670
culture is rejecting and walk with him outside

597
00:22:20,670 --> 00:22:23,250
of the city being willing to bear his

598
00:22:23,250 --> 00:22:25,470
shame and to suffer his rejection?

599
00:22:27,550 --> 00:22:29,450
We won't be able to do it if

600
00:22:29,450 --> 00:22:31,170
our focus is not on people.

601
00:22:32,330 --> 00:22:34,030
It's about fighting for the lost.

602
00:22:34,170 --> 00:22:35,870
It's about fighting for people who fight against

603
00:22:35,870 --> 00:22:36,730
their own salvation.

604
00:22:37,570 --> 00:22:40,010
It's about standing as lights in the dark

605
00:22:40,010 --> 00:22:42,110
in time for the sake of even people

606
00:22:42,110 --> 00:22:43,850
who hate us that one day will be

607
00:22:43,850 --> 00:22:45,710
drowning and looking for a safe harbor.

608
00:22:46,550 --> 00:22:47,710
That's what it's all about.

609
00:22:47,810 --> 00:22:49,730
If it's about me, I'm gonna run.

610
00:22:50,350 --> 00:22:51,730
I'm not going into the garden.

611
00:22:51,910 --> 00:22:53,570
I'm gonna I'm gonna pray that prayer.

612
00:22:54,050 --> 00:22:56,550
Not my, not thy will Lord, but mine.

613
00:22:56,650 --> 00:22:57,450
That will be my prayer.

614
00:22:58,250 --> 00:22:59,070
That will be mine.

615
00:22:59,130 --> 00:22:59,590
I'll run.

616
00:22:59,690 --> 00:23:00,430
I will flee.

617
00:23:00,750 --> 00:23:02,950
But if it's about other people, God will

618
00:23:02,950 --> 00:23:04,230
give me the courage that I need.

619
00:23:04,310 --> 00:23:07,010
God himself, I can come to that throne

620
00:23:07,010 --> 00:23:08,490
boldly the scripture says.

621
00:23:08,810 --> 00:23:11,150
I can come there because I have a

622
00:23:11,150 --> 00:23:13,110
Savior who understands my struggle.

623
00:23:13,230 --> 00:23:15,330
Because he went into a garden and he

624
00:23:15,330 --> 00:23:17,670
himself, though knowing the purpose of his life,

625
00:23:17,770 --> 00:23:20,230
said, Father, if it be possible, take this

626
00:23:20,230 --> 00:23:20,710
from me.

627
00:23:21,310 --> 00:23:23,330
He not only went in once, he went

628
00:23:23,330 --> 00:23:25,830
in three times and prayed the same prayer.

629
00:23:26,170 --> 00:23:28,250
And that's in measure, in great measure, why

630
00:23:28,250 --> 00:23:30,230
I believe that he's touched with the feelings

631
00:23:30,230 --> 00:23:30,990
of our weaknesses.

632
00:23:31,170 --> 00:23:33,770
He understands why we struggle and how we

633
00:23:33,770 --> 00:23:34,130
struggle.

634
00:23:34,470 --> 00:23:37,190
But by the power of God's Holy Spirit

635
00:23:37,190 --> 00:23:39,070
and by his willingness to do the will

636
00:23:39,070 --> 00:23:42,130
of his Father, he walked through that valley

637
00:23:42,130 --> 00:23:43,010
of the shadow of death.

638
00:23:43,090 --> 00:23:46,110
He did it victoriously for the joy that

639
00:23:46,110 --> 00:23:47,210
was set before him.

640
00:23:48,430 --> 00:23:50,830
The Apostle Paul became a partaker of this

641
00:23:50,830 --> 00:23:52,750
joy in yielding his life for the sake

642
00:23:52,750 --> 00:23:53,290
of others.

643
00:23:54,030 --> 00:23:55,770
God gave him joy in the storm.

644
00:23:57,070 --> 00:23:59,130
In Acts chapter 27, as the ship is

645
00:23:59,130 --> 00:24:01,530
going down, Paul standing on the deck of

646
00:24:01,530 --> 00:24:02,850
that ship with a loaf of bread in

647
00:24:02,850 --> 00:24:05,050
his hand giving thanks to God for the

648
00:24:05,050 --> 00:24:07,530
privilege of his life being poured out as

649
00:24:07,530 --> 00:24:09,370
a testimony of the reality of who God

650
00:24:09,370 --> 00:24:12,470
is and the wonderfulness of God giving him

651
00:24:12,470 --> 00:24:16,130
the 276 people that sailed with him on

652
00:24:16,130 --> 00:24:17,810
that ship that they might have an opportunity

653
00:24:17,810 --> 00:24:19,170
to receive Christ as Savior.

654
00:24:20,130 --> 00:24:23,350
Paul had vision in darkness even though his

655
00:24:23,350 --> 00:24:26,930
freedom was taken away momentarily and eventually at

656
00:24:26,930 --> 00:24:27,950
the end of his life he ended up

657
00:24:27,950 --> 00:24:28,430
in prison.

658
00:24:29,530 --> 00:24:31,730
But he and Silas at the midnight hour

659
00:24:31,730 --> 00:24:33,010
were able to sing.

660
00:24:33,950 --> 00:24:35,890
They had vision in the darkness and you

661
00:24:35,890 --> 00:24:37,070
and I are going to need vision in

662
00:24:37,070 --> 00:24:38,030
the darkness my friend.

663
00:24:38,890 --> 00:24:40,590
It's a dark hour we're living in and

664
00:24:40,590 --> 00:24:42,490
everything can change in a moment of time

665
00:24:42,490 --> 00:24:42,730
now.

666
00:24:43,850 --> 00:24:46,190
God gave Paul clarity in confusion.

667
00:24:46,690 --> 00:24:49,050
That's why he could say I'm convinced all

668
00:24:49,050 --> 00:24:51,550
things work together for good to those who

669
00:24:51,550 --> 00:24:54,610
love God and are the called according to

670
00:24:54,610 --> 00:24:55,250
his purpose.

671
00:24:57,090 --> 00:24:58,630
Yielding to the will of God took Jesus

672
00:24:58,630 --> 00:25:00,450
to a cross, took Paul to a prison,

673
00:25:01,170 --> 00:25:03,450
yet both of them finished their journey in

674
00:25:03,450 --> 00:25:03,770
victory.

675
00:25:05,050 --> 00:25:07,750
Both of them found a sure path through

676
00:25:07,750 --> 00:25:08,250
the storm.

677
00:25:12,170 --> 00:25:14,730
Father be possible let this cup pass from

678
00:25:14,730 --> 00:25:17,850
me nevertheless not as I will but as

679
00:25:17,850 --> 00:25:18,230
you will.

680
00:25:21,870 --> 00:25:23,550
We do not have a high priest who

681
00:25:23,550 --> 00:25:25,830
cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but was in

682
00:25:25,830 --> 00:25:29,190
all points tempted as we are yet without

683
00:25:29,190 --> 00:25:29,610
sin.

684
00:25:30,750 --> 00:25:32,930
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne

685
00:25:32,930 --> 00:25:35,790
of grace that we may obtain mercy and

686
00:25:35,790 --> 00:25:37,450
find grace to help in time of need.

687
00:25:38,030 --> 00:25:39,610
You see we don't have to play games.

688
00:25:40,630 --> 00:25:44,050
We can come boldly and say God I

689
00:25:44,050 --> 00:25:46,350
I don't have it in me to do

690
00:25:46,350 --> 00:25:46,670
this.

691
00:25:48,370 --> 00:25:49,290
I'm a coward.

692
00:25:51,630 --> 00:25:53,690
I can't even handle it if I'm snickered

693
00:25:53,690 --> 00:25:54,330
at at work.

694
00:25:56,690 --> 00:25:58,670
I know what the truth is.

695
00:25:58,730 --> 00:26:00,010
I know what the scripture says but I

696
00:26:00,010 --> 00:26:00,890
can't do it.

697
00:26:02,890 --> 00:26:05,350
But the writer of Hebrews says come boldly

698
00:26:05,350 --> 00:26:06,310
to the throne of grace.

699
00:26:07,010 --> 00:26:12,190
Come walking into that throne and openly openly

700
00:26:12,190 --> 00:26:17,230
tell him the struggles in your heart and

701
00:26:17,230 --> 00:26:18,590
that's what we're going to be doing this

702
00:26:18,590 --> 00:26:18,870
week.

703
00:26:20,030 --> 00:26:21,650
God I want to be a witness at

704
00:26:21,650 --> 00:26:24,090
work but I can't.

705
00:26:24,390 --> 00:26:25,230
I'm afraid.

706
00:26:26,370 --> 00:26:27,950
I'm trying to preserve myself.

707
00:26:28,070 --> 00:26:30,690
I'm scared that people are going to reject

708
00:26:30,690 --> 00:26:30,950
me.

709
00:26:32,450 --> 00:26:34,930
I want oh God to do your will

710
00:26:34,930 --> 00:26:39,110
but deep inside I found a comfortable place

711
00:26:39,110 --> 00:26:40,730
and I don't want anything to change.

712
00:26:41,650 --> 00:26:43,090
I live my life to get out of

713
00:26:43,090 --> 00:26:45,850
hardship and now I've found this comfortable place

714
00:26:45,850 --> 00:26:47,190
and I don't want to leave there and

715
00:26:47,190 --> 00:26:49,070
I have a deep inner sense that if

716
00:26:49,070 --> 00:26:53,630
I if I pray that prayer if I

717
00:26:53,630 --> 00:26:55,830
ask you what you would have me to

718
00:26:55,830 --> 00:26:57,210
do you're going to take me to a

719
00:26:57,210 --> 00:26:58,970
place that I really don't want to go.

720
00:27:00,150 --> 00:27:01,550
And so it's safer for me just not

721
00:27:01,550 --> 00:27:02,270
to pray it.

722
00:27:03,250 --> 00:27:05,150
Safer for me just to come to church.

723
00:27:05,390 --> 00:27:07,610
It's safer for me to warm myself by

724
00:27:07,610 --> 00:27:09,970
the fire but I just so I can

725
00:27:09,970 --> 00:27:12,250
keep you within visual distance but I really

726
00:27:12,250 --> 00:27:14,730
don't have to stand beside you and I

727
00:27:14,730 --> 00:27:16,650
really don't have to suffer the rejection that

728
00:27:16,650 --> 00:27:21,430
you're suffering and endure the societal beating that's

729
00:27:21,430 --> 00:27:22,710
about to come upon you.

730
00:27:23,030 --> 00:27:24,910
No I can I can just stay at

731
00:27:24,910 --> 00:27:27,530
a distance and warm myself every Sunday morning

732
00:27:27,530 --> 00:27:29,070
and I can even come Tuesday night and

733
00:27:29,070 --> 00:27:31,150
warm myself by the fire but I don't

734
00:27:31,150 --> 00:27:32,490
have to go where you are.

735
00:27:36,430 --> 00:27:38,830
Oh the it's the strength of the human

736
00:27:38,830 --> 00:27:42,510
will and I do thank God that the

737
00:27:42,510 --> 00:27:45,690
scripture reveals to us the human side of

738
00:27:45,690 --> 00:27:48,970
Jesus that he struggled as well.

739
00:27:50,450 --> 00:27:53,870
I always find it so humorous that his

740
00:27:53,870 --> 00:27:57,510
first public miracle he was pushed he was

741
00:27:57,510 --> 00:27:59,010
a son of God and he was pushed

742
00:27:59,010 --> 00:28:00,850
into doing his first public miracle by his

743
00:28:00,850 --> 00:28:01,110
mother.

744
00:28:03,450 --> 00:28:05,030
Don't you love that about him?

745
00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:12,780
There's a humanness there.

746
00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:16,020
We always want and we always want to

747
00:28:16,020 --> 00:28:17,960
see Jesus as if he walked through with

748
00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:19,980
some kind of a an aura around him

749
00:28:19,980 --> 00:28:21,020
where he never struggled.

750
00:28:21,860 --> 00:28:24,260
No he was fully human keep that in

751
00:28:24,260 --> 00:28:28,560
mind as well so he experienced our struggles

752
00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:32,740
but it was the power of God that

753
00:28:32,740 --> 00:28:35,780
of course he was that gave him the

754
00:28:35,780 --> 00:28:40,100
ability to overcome this frailty of humanity but

755
00:28:40,100 --> 00:28:43,640
he understands your struggle he understands my struggling

756
00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:46,980
he knows why we're afraid to pray that

757
00:28:46,980 --> 00:28:49,120
prayer he knows why that we're going into

758
00:28:49,120 --> 00:28:50,760
a time of prayer and fasting this is

759
00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:53,460
a dark hour the society is rejecting Christ

760
00:28:53,460 --> 00:28:56,620
evils becoming good goods becoming evil it seems

761
00:28:56,620 --> 00:28:58,920
like society is being turned upside down well

762
00:28:58,920 --> 00:29:00,460
that's what it must have seemed like for

763
00:29:00,460 --> 00:29:01,560
the people of that time.

764
00:29:02,860 --> 00:29:05,500
I mean such an incredulous thing to have

765
00:29:05,500 --> 00:29:08,660
had these miracles for this long happening in

766
00:29:08,660 --> 00:29:10,720
their society and then suddenly there's this turning

767
00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:13,360
and suddenly people are yelling crucify him crucify

768
00:29:13,360 --> 00:29:16,460
him I can see how those that loved

769
00:29:16,460 --> 00:29:18,420
him would have been so perplexed by this

770
00:29:18,420 --> 00:29:21,660
saying are you insane this is everything we've

771
00:29:21,660 --> 00:29:23,520
ever prayed for this is all we've ever

772
00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:26,260
longed for this is our promise of provision

773
00:29:26,260 --> 00:29:28,320
and strength and hope for the future and

774
00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:38,120
you're calling calling for his crucifixion let us

775
00:29:38,120 --> 00:29:43,880
come boldly and what are the things that

776
00:29:43,880 --> 00:29:48,940
cross the strength of our own will number

777
00:29:48,940 --> 00:29:50,400
one is just to be willing to say

778
00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:52,440
what would you have me to do that's

779
00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:55,620
a fearful prayer if you really don't want

780
00:29:55,620 --> 00:29:59,060
the answer what would you have because most

781
00:29:59,060 --> 00:30:01,980
everybody here you you have a plan most

782
00:30:01,980 --> 00:30:04,000
everybody has a plan and the plans always

783
00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:11,820
centered around self-preservation and now you remember

784
00:30:11,820 --> 00:30:13,880
when Paul had his moment of meeting God

785
00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:16,240
face-to-face the first thing he said

786
00:30:17,420 --> 00:30:20,400
after that divine moment is what would you

787
00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:23,700
have me to do what do you want

788
00:30:23,700 --> 00:30:26,120
me to do I prayed that prayer when

789
00:30:26,120 --> 00:30:28,360
I was a young Christian God what do

790
00:30:28,360 --> 00:30:31,700
you want my to be you know I'm

791
00:30:31,700 --> 00:30:33,560
so thankful he didn't show me the whole

792
00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:35,760
thing I wouldn't be able to handle it

793
00:30:35,760 --> 00:30:39,240
you know there's been mountaintops but there's been

794
00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:42,100
deep valleys there's been lovely fellowship and deep

795
00:30:42,100 --> 00:30:44,980
betrayal there's been good times there's been hard

796
00:30:44,980 --> 00:30:47,180
times there's been times when I felt like

797
00:30:47,180 --> 00:30:48,560
I'm breathing in the breath of God and

798
00:30:48,560 --> 00:30:50,020
there's other times where I felt like I

799
00:30:50,020 --> 00:30:54,020
couldn't breathe anymore it's not always been easy

800
00:30:54,020 --> 00:30:57,100
but it was a prayer that I prayed

801
00:30:57,100 --> 00:30:58,440
Lord what would you have me to do

802
00:30:58,440 --> 00:30:59,640
what do you want my life to be

803
00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:01,260
where do you want to take me what

804
00:31:01,260 --> 00:31:03,180
how do you want to glorify your name

805
00:31:03,180 --> 00:31:07,540
through my life and now after this long

806
00:31:07,540 --> 00:31:09,600
long journey all these years have been 37

807
00:31:09,600 --> 00:31:14,120
years or so now maybe longer and I've

808
00:31:14,120 --> 00:31:15,920
come to this point now in life and

809
00:31:15,920 --> 00:31:17,920
I find myself praying that same prayer again

810
00:31:17,920 --> 00:31:21,960
what would you have me to do it's

811
00:31:21,960 --> 00:31:24,300
so easy to settle in when you you

812
00:31:24,300 --> 00:31:26,680
get to the pinnacle of ministry as it

813
00:31:26,680 --> 00:31:29,860
is you get a public profile you you

814
00:31:29,860 --> 00:31:31,680
arrive at a place that everybody looks and

815
00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:34,600
says wow success success but success is not

816
00:31:34,600 --> 00:31:37,720
in the things that we do success is

817
00:31:37,720 --> 00:31:39,500
in the fact that we keep following him

818
00:31:39,500 --> 00:31:42,160
right to the end what would you have

819
00:31:42,160 --> 00:31:47,780
me to do I mean when you think

820
00:31:47,780 --> 00:31:49,300
of it in the natural Paul has a

821
00:31:49,300 --> 00:31:53,040
ministry people are being healed by handkerchiefs he's

822
00:31:53,040 --> 00:31:55,960
working his tent making craftsmanship and he's sending

823
00:31:55,960 --> 00:31:58,220
pieces of cloth that are left over and

824
00:31:58,220 --> 00:31:59,860
people are touching them and getting healed he's

825
00:31:59,860 --> 00:32:02,980
got a phenomenal ministry going but God calls

826
00:32:02,980 --> 00:32:06,560
him to testify before Caesar an insane ruler

827
00:32:06,560 --> 00:32:09,160
who thinks he's God and Paul sends him

828
00:32:09,160 --> 00:32:11,720
there to testify that's the call in his

829
00:32:11,720 --> 00:32:14,080
life what if he didn't have the courage

830
00:32:14,080 --> 00:32:15,660
to pray it he wouldn't have undertaken the

831
00:32:15,660 --> 00:32:17,920
journey he wouldn't have had the joy on

832
00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:19,480
a sinking ship he wouldn't have been able

833
00:32:19,480 --> 00:32:21,780
to endure the beatings and the rejection if

834
00:32:21,780 --> 00:32:24,180
he had not prayed Lord what would you

835
00:32:24,180 --> 00:32:26,220
have me to do what do you want

836
00:32:26,220 --> 00:32:29,340
my life to be not my will but

837
00:32:29,340 --> 00:32:31,580
thine not my plan but yours not my

838
00:32:31,580 --> 00:32:33,440
future but the one you have outlined for

839
00:32:33,440 --> 00:32:37,600
me you'd be amazed at what could happen

840
00:32:37,600 --> 00:32:40,800
in this very sanctuary if if even 50

841
00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:44,200
people prayed that person's surely the missionaries that

842
00:32:44,200 --> 00:32:46,640
would be born the preachers that would rise

843
00:32:46,640 --> 00:32:49,480
up the voices that would go into government

844
00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:51,740
yeah I'm not kidding you God would take

845
00:32:51,740 --> 00:32:53,540
you and take you on a journey that

846
00:32:53,540 --> 00:32:55,580
you have no idea where it would lead

847
00:32:55,580 --> 00:32:58,380
to but it starts with the prayer what

848
00:32:58,380 --> 00:33:02,540
would you have me to do or just

849
00:33:02,540 --> 00:33:04,360
to let go we need the strength to

850
00:33:04,360 --> 00:33:06,360
let go of our own vision of happiness

851
00:33:06,360 --> 00:33:08,520
and embrace the will of God for our

852
00:33:08,520 --> 00:33:14,820
lives I had a vision of happiness I

853
00:33:14,820 --> 00:33:18,660
was going to reach my late 50s I

854
00:33:18,660 --> 00:33:20,580
get invitations all over the world to preach

855
00:33:20,580 --> 00:33:26,040
in conferences I was going to spend more

856
00:33:26,040 --> 00:33:27,360
time with my family I was going to

857
00:33:27,360 --> 00:33:29,180
be there for my grandkids at all their

858
00:33:29,180 --> 00:33:31,600
high school and grade school recitals and their

859
00:33:31,600 --> 00:33:34,960
sports games and do some of the things

860
00:33:34,960 --> 00:33:36,320
that I neglected to do when I was

861
00:33:36,320 --> 00:33:41,260
young because I was too driven and then

862
00:33:41,260 --> 00:33:44,040
suddenly I had it all planned had it

863
00:33:44,040 --> 00:33:47,720
all mapped out I even I the longer

864
00:33:47,720 --> 00:33:49,140
you think about it the more that you

865
00:33:49,140 --> 00:33:52,960
paint this picture it's amazing how idyllic and

866
00:33:52,960 --> 00:33:54,320
wonderful your life is going to be and

867
00:33:54,320 --> 00:33:57,500
of course I'm still serving God until this

868
00:33:57,500 --> 00:33:59,480
hand came out of the clouds one day

869
00:33:59,480 --> 00:34:03,520
and said give me the final tithe of

870
00:34:03,520 --> 00:34:11,120
your life give me your plan give me

871
00:34:11,120 --> 00:34:13,699
your future give me what you think your

872
00:34:13,699 --> 00:34:15,540
life should be we all get to the

873
00:34:15,540 --> 00:34:16,900
point in life where we think hey I've

874
00:34:16,900 --> 00:34:19,239
worked hard all my life I've personally have

875
00:34:19,239 --> 00:34:21,400
worked since I'm 13 years old I've worked

876
00:34:21,400 --> 00:34:23,620
hard for many many years and you get

877
00:34:23,620 --> 00:34:24,840
to the point of thinking don't I get

878
00:34:24,840 --> 00:34:27,520
to smell the roses for a little while

879
00:34:27,520 --> 00:34:29,320
and God says eventually I would not hear

880
00:34:29,320 --> 00:34:39,300
give me your future I didn't know it

881
00:34:39,300 --> 00:34:41,780
would involve being separated from my wife as

882
00:34:41,780 --> 00:34:45,300
she leads Summit International School of Ministry and

883
00:34:45,300 --> 00:34:47,080
we're not separated we're just apart from each

884
00:34:47,080 --> 00:34:49,139
other quite a bit almost 50% of

885
00:34:49,139 --> 00:34:50,699
the time I didn't know that that wasn't

886
00:34:50,699 --> 00:34:53,040
my plan for the future that wasn't how

887
00:34:53,040 --> 00:34:56,100
I saw my life panning out and now

888
00:34:56,100 --> 00:34:57,760
I feel that hand coming down deeper and

889
00:34:57,760 --> 00:35:02,200
saying I want all of it I want

890
00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:05,080
your brush and I want your canvas I

891
00:35:05,080 --> 00:35:08,100
want all of it let go of your

892
00:35:08,100 --> 00:35:10,860
own vision of happiness and what you think

893
00:35:10,860 --> 00:35:13,360
your life should be and let me guide

894
00:35:13,360 --> 00:35:18,600
you now or maybe we need to come

895
00:35:18,600 --> 00:35:22,320
boldly to the throne of grace to ask

896
00:35:22,320 --> 00:35:24,560
for the strength to do what we already

897
00:35:24,560 --> 00:35:29,840
know he has told us it's that thought

898
00:35:29,840 --> 00:35:33,800
that won't go away when you pray it

899
00:35:33,800 --> 00:35:38,460
keeps coming back it may start with just

900
00:35:38,460 --> 00:35:41,060
forgiving somebody may start with just a first

901
00:35:41,060 --> 00:35:46,080
step into the unknown but you already know

902
00:35:46,080 --> 00:35:47,880
because I don't know the plan for your

903
00:35:47,880 --> 00:35:49,960
life and no one can tell you because

904
00:35:49,960 --> 00:35:52,820
nobody but God and you know what that

905
00:35:52,820 --> 00:35:55,800
plan is don't be running to some meeting

906
00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:57,260
looking for some prophet to tell you because

907
00:35:57,260 --> 00:36:04,190
they don't know you know and God knows

908
00:36:04,190 --> 00:36:06,930
and sometimes it can be so preposterous it

909
00:36:06,930 --> 00:36:09,110
doesn't it's just so out of the realm

910
00:36:09,110 --> 00:36:11,650
of what you think your life should be

911
00:36:11,650 --> 00:36:14,350
that it's it borders on ridiculous of God's

912
00:36:14,350 --> 00:36:18,090
not in it remember one time I was

913
00:36:18,090 --> 00:36:19,970
out for dinner with my wife in Canada

914
00:36:19,970 --> 00:36:22,630
and I was still a police officer and

915
00:36:22,630 --> 00:36:28,230
I was just delivered from fear and she

916
00:36:28,230 --> 00:36:30,330
was off somewhere and I was standing in

917
00:36:30,330 --> 00:36:31,470
the lobby and I was just looking out

918
00:36:31,470 --> 00:36:34,710
the window and a plane went overhead and

919
00:36:34,710 --> 00:36:36,210
the Lord spoke to my heart said much

920
00:36:36,210 --> 00:36:37,350
of your life is going to be traveling

921
00:36:37,350 --> 00:36:40,850
on airplanes telling people what I've done for

922
00:36:40,850 --> 00:36:44,150
you I remember saying well if that's going

923
00:36:44,150 --> 00:36:45,350
to happen it's sure going to be you

924
00:36:45,350 --> 00:36:46,590
it's not going to be me I'd never

925
00:36:46,590 --> 00:36:50,030
preached a sermon my whole life no ability

926
00:36:50,030 --> 00:36:53,310
to stand before people no ability to testify

927
00:36:53,310 --> 00:36:57,650
but the key is the key is there

928
00:36:57,650 --> 00:37:00,170
was a willingness in my heart to say

929
00:37:00,170 --> 00:37:01,890
if that's you God I'll go if it

930
00:37:01,890 --> 00:37:03,530
is you I'll go and if it's not

931
00:37:03,530 --> 00:37:04,430
I'm not going to try to make it

932
00:37:04,430 --> 00:37:07,310
happen it's pointless I can't do this but

933
00:37:07,310 --> 00:37:09,890
if it is you I'll go and I

934
00:37:09,890 --> 00:37:12,710
would venture guess that everybody here there's you've

935
00:37:12,710 --> 00:37:14,310
had a whisper of God into your heart

936
00:37:14,310 --> 00:37:16,490
he's already spoken to you it's not a

937
00:37:16,490 --> 00:37:20,490
secret to you you already know and in

938
00:37:20,490 --> 00:37:22,490
this time of prayer and fasting for this

939
00:37:22,490 --> 00:37:26,090
next three days let's go boldly that's the

940
00:37:26,090 --> 00:37:27,470
cry of my heart let's go boldly to

941
00:37:27,470 --> 00:37:30,150
the throne of grace let's walk into the

942
00:37:30,150 --> 00:37:32,730
throne of grace let's go there let's just

943
00:37:32,730 --> 00:37:35,710
speak honestly to God let's just let's just

944
00:37:35,710 --> 00:37:38,490
ask him what would you have me to

945
00:37:38,490 --> 00:37:40,310
do or if we know say God I

946
00:37:40,310 --> 00:37:44,230
know but I'm so full of fear I'm

947
00:37:44,230 --> 00:37:47,250
so reluctant to let go of what I

948
00:37:47,250 --> 00:37:50,410
think my life should be my image my

949
00:37:50,410 --> 00:37:52,390
canvas I've painted of my life I'm so

950
00:37:52,390 --> 00:37:54,870
reluctant to let it go I've found a

951
00:37:54,870 --> 00:37:57,450
comfortable place and I don't want to I

952
00:37:57,450 --> 00:37:59,450
don't want to let it go and others

953
00:37:59,450 --> 00:38:01,230
are gonna sound I live my life to

954
00:38:01,230 --> 00:38:03,570
feel accepted and you're asking me to walk

955
00:38:03,570 --> 00:38:07,290
into willful rejection you're asking me to be

956
00:38:07,290 --> 00:38:09,990
a one who partakes of your sufferings and

957
00:38:09,990 --> 00:38:12,670
and suffers the rejection of a society turning

958
00:38:12,670 --> 00:38:14,290
away from you I don't know if I

959
00:38:14,290 --> 00:38:15,910
want to do that and you can be

960
00:38:15,910 --> 00:38:18,930
honest with God he himself was honest with

961
00:38:18,930 --> 00:38:21,570
his father that's my point this morning he

962
00:38:21,570 --> 00:38:23,930
went in three times it's not like he

963
00:38:23,930 --> 00:38:25,390
didn't have the answer the first time or

964
00:38:25,390 --> 00:38:28,070
the second time but he understands our struggles

965
00:38:28,070 --> 00:38:29,970
he went in three times and said if

966
00:38:29,970 --> 00:38:34,110
it's possible take this from me if it

967
00:38:34,110 --> 00:38:36,450
can be done another way Oh God do

968
00:38:36,450 --> 00:38:39,770
it another way but nevertheless not my will

969
00:38:39,770 --> 00:38:42,610
but thine be done that was the key

970
00:38:42,610 --> 00:38:45,510
that resolve in the heart that says I

971
00:38:45,510 --> 00:38:47,350
want my life to play out a certain

972
00:38:47,350 --> 00:38:49,970
way and I feel there must be a

973
00:38:49,970 --> 00:38:51,430
way it can play out but if it

974
00:38:51,430 --> 00:38:53,910
can't let me not be driven by my

975
00:38:53,910 --> 00:38:56,530
own will let it be your well that

976
00:38:56,530 --> 00:38:59,250
guides me Oh God help me in this

977
00:38:59,250 --> 00:39:02,570
we're being called of the Lord to come

978
00:39:02,570 --> 00:39:05,710
boldly there's never going to be an awakening

979
00:39:05,710 --> 00:39:09,010
in this country if somebody doesn't come boldly

980
00:39:09,010 --> 00:39:13,270
to the throne of grace religion as we

981
00:39:13,270 --> 00:39:15,170
have known it is not going to do

982
00:39:15,170 --> 00:39:18,890
it religion as it has been in America

983
00:39:18,890 --> 00:39:21,350
over the last 30 years as leading this

984
00:39:21,350 --> 00:39:24,010
country into the spiritual and moral poverty it's

985
00:39:24,010 --> 00:39:26,390
in now there has to be an awakening

986
00:39:26,390 --> 00:39:28,330
in the house of God it must start

987
00:39:28,330 --> 00:39:31,050
with the people of God and I don't

988
00:39:31,050 --> 00:39:33,370
know how many churches God is speaking to

989
00:39:33,370 --> 00:39:36,050
but I know he's speaking to this one

990
00:39:36,050 --> 00:39:42,330
I know he's calling us into something he's

991
00:39:42,330 --> 00:39:47,250
speaking to my heart first and I wish

992
00:39:47,250 --> 00:39:48,790
I could say it's easy I wish I

993
00:39:48,790 --> 00:39:50,890
could say I just hop skip and jump

994
00:39:50,890 --> 00:39:52,570
to do the will of God it's never

995
00:39:52,570 --> 00:39:56,270
been easy for me it's always been a

996
00:39:56,270 --> 00:39:58,530
fight I fought against God for six months

997
00:39:58,530 --> 00:40:00,150
to even come into the ministry in the

998
00:40:00,150 --> 00:40:02,970
first place even when I knew what he

999
00:40:02,970 --> 00:40:06,110
was speaking I would say no I'm not

1000
00:40:06,110 --> 00:40:14,250
doing that but eventually he's merciful he's kind

1001
00:40:14,250 --> 00:40:19,670
the call of God doesn't go away the

1002
00:40:19,670 --> 00:40:21,630
gifts and callings are without repentance he doesn't

1003
00:40:21,630 --> 00:40:25,110
go away doesn't forget he says okay talk

1004
00:40:25,110 --> 00:40:26,350
to you again in six months see how

1005
00:40:26,350 --> 00:40:38,750
you feel then here's my

1006
00:40:38,750 --> 00:40:43,390
altar call what would you have me to

1007
00:40:43,390 --> 00:40:49,350
do and and folks he doesn't show us

1008
00:40:49,350 --> 00:40:52,230
the end we wouldn't be able to handle

1009
00:40:52,230 --> 00:40:55,710
it it starts with just the first step

1010
00:40:55,710 --> 00:40:58,210
what would you have me to do he'll

1011
00:40:58,210 --> 00:41:00,350
whisper something do this and you just walk

1012
00:41:00,350 --> 00:41:02,690
in obedience and then another door opens then

1013
00:41:02,690 --> 00:41:04,530
another one then another one and you don't

1014
00:41:04,530 --> 00:41:05,830
have to push them you don't have to

1015
00:41:05,830 --> 00:41:06,850
search for them you don't have to kick

1016
00:41:06,850 --> 00:41:09,390
them open you they open and suddenly they're

1017
00:41:09,390 --> 00:41:12,270
right before you and you just walk through

1018
00:41:12,270 --> 00:41:13,690
and you just keep walking through and you

1019
00:41:13,690 --> 00:41:17,950
just keep walking through what would you have

1020
00:41:17,950 --> 00:41:19,390
me to do it's not going to be

1021
00:41:19,390 --> 00:41:23,010
you're you're sitting at your office you're sitting

1022
00:41:23,010 --> 00:41:24,390
at a desk and he's not going to

1023
00:41:24,390 --> 00:41:25,410
say I want you to go to Africa

1024
00:41:25,410 --> 00:41:27,490
and preach to 500,000 people it's not

1025
00:41:27,490 --> 00:41:29,550
going to happen that way it doesn't go

1026
00:41:29,550 --> 00:41:32,010
from zero to a hundred it goes from

1027
00:41:32,010 --> 00:41:35,450
zero to one first step what would you

1028
00:41:35,450 --> 00:41:37,290
have me to do and you just start

1029
00:41:37,290 --> 00:41:40,050
obeying that then pray it again the next

1030
00:41:40,050 --> 00:41:41,190
day what would you have me to do

1031
00:41:41,190 --> 00:41:43,470
what would you have me to do not

1032
00:41:43,470 --> 00:41:45,990
my will but thine not me trying to

1033
00:41:45,990 --> 00:41:49,270
cram you into my program but you guiding

1034
00:41:49,270 --> 00:41:51,890
my steps all the rest of my life

1035
00:41:51,890 --> 00:41:55,210
if that's the cry of your heart today

1036
00:41:55,210 --> 00:41:58,270
to be willing to say what would you

1037
00:41:58,270 --> 00:42:02,010
have me to do give me the grace

1038
00:42:02,010 --> 00:42:04,350
to not be afraid of what that will

1039
00:42:04,350 --> 00:42:08,070
might mean you won't fail me you won't

1040
00:42:08,070 --> 00:42:11,550
forsake me God give me the strength to

1041
00:42:11,550 --> 00:42:14,610
do what I know you've already spoken because

1042
00:42:14,610 --> 00:42:18,410
it's against my will but nevertheless not my

1043
00:42:18,410 --> 00:42:21,250
will but yours be done now father I

1044
00:42:21,250 --> 00:42:24,590
thank you Lord for this moment in this

1045
00:42:24,590 --> 00:42:27,690
church I thank you for these men and

1046
00:42:27,690 --> 00:42:29,590
women that you've gathered the young people you've

1047
00:42:29,590 --> 00:42:34,270
gathered here in New York City at this

1048
00:42:34,270 --> 00:42:41,270
time I know in my heart we would

1049
00:42:41,270 --> 00:42:43,390
love an awakening in our generation but there

1050
00:42:43,390 --> 00:42:46,750
never can be one without the cooperation of

1051
00:42:46,750 --> 00:42:49,950
your people it must begin in the house

1052
00:42:49,950 --> 00:42:55,090
of God give us the grace give us

1053
00:42:55,090 --> 00:42:59,130
the strength Peter found it the rest of

1054
00:42:59,130 --> 00:43:02,130
the disciples found it help us to find

1055
00:43:02,130 --> 00:43:05,310
it give us the joy of living for

1056
00:43:05,310 --> 00:43:09,650
others help us to put away all the

1057
00:43:09,650 --> 00:43:12,450
things that hinder us and to be able

1058
00:43:12,450 --> 00:43:13,950
to say not my will but thine be

1059
00:43:13,950 --> 00:43:19,250
done in Jesus name we're going to stand

1060
00:43:19,250 --> 00:43:20,910
in just a moment and here in the

1061
00:43:20,910 --> 00:43:25,090
main sanctuary the annex at North Jersey and

1062
00:43:25,090 --> 00:43:26,610
those that are with us at from home

1063
00:43:26,610 --> 00:43:29,710
this morning the Lord put on your heart

1064
00:43:29,710 --> 00:43:31,650
just to pray that prayer with us with

1065
00:43:31,650 --> 00:43:34,690
me without not my will but thine be

1066
00:43:34,690 --> 00:43:36,990
done God show me what to do show

1067
00:43:36,990 --> 00:43:38,510
me the pathway of my life if that's

1068
00:43:38,510 --> 00:43:39,710
the cry of your heart as we stand

1069
00:43:39,710 --> 00:43:42,190
just come please join me at the front

1070
00:43:42,190 --> 00:43:44,510
of this auditorium and we'll pray together and

1071
00:43:44,510 --> 00:43:45,470
we're going to believe God we're going to

1072
00:43:45,470 --> 00:43:47,750
worship for a few moments then we'll pray

1073
00:43:47,750 --> 00:43:49,670
together let's all stand balcony go to either

1074
00:43:49,670 --> 00:43:52,310
exit in the main sanctuary to slip out

1075
00:43:52,310 --> 00:43:53,690
of where you are just come please just

1076
00:43:53,690 --> 00:43:56,970
come just come come with your struggles come

1077
00:43:56,970 --> 00:43:58,490
with your trials come with your fear come

1078
00:43:58,490 --> 00:44:02,870
with your questions just but just come and

1079
00:44:02,870 --> 00:44:10,810
let's honestly stand before God today Father we

1080
00:44:10,810 --> 00:44:14,270
know that it's only by your presence that

1081
00:44:14,270 --> 00:44:15,970
we can do the things that you've called

1082
00:44:15,970 --> 00:44:17,510
us to do it's only by your power

1083
00:44:17,510 --> 00:44:21,090
it's only by your life being lived within

1084
00:44:21,090 --> 00:44:24,910
us and so knowing that we're already covered

1085
00:44:24,910 --> 00:44:27,550
of our sin we simply come to you

1086
00:44:27,550 --> 00:44:30,270
Lord and say we are selfish we're so

1087
00:44:30,270 --> 00:44:34,910
focused we're fearful we don't know how in

1088
00:44:34,910 --> 00:44:37,790
ourselves to do these things Lord we live

1089
00:44:37,790 --> 00:44:39,790
in a society that just simply lives for

1090
00:44:39,790 --> 00:44:42,890
itself it's in the air around us we

1091
00:44:42,890 --> 00:44:44,810
need your power to break free of it

1092
00:44:44,810 --> 00:44:47,610
we need your power to be able to

1093
00:44:47,610 --> 00:44:50,190
be given for the purpose of your work

1094
00:44:50,190 --> 00:44:51,790
on the earth Lord we need your power

1095
00:44:51,790 --> 00:44:54,250
we can't do it it's it's hopeless no

1096
00:44:54,250 --> 00:44:56,790
amount of study can do this it doesn't

1097
00:44:56,790 --> 00:44:58,730
matter how many diplomas we have we can't

1098
00:44:58,730 --> 00:45:01,590
do this it has to be you it

1099
00:45:01,590 --> 00:45:05,410
has to be your power Jesus you understand

1100
00:45:05,410 --> 00:45:08,310
this and you told us to come boldly

1101
00:45:08,310 --> 00:45:10,790
so I come boldly I'm not ashamed I

1102
00:45:10,790 --> 00:45:14,010
can't do this without your power I'll never

1103
00:45:14,010 --> 00:45:15,610
make it to the end of what you

1104
00:45:15,610 --> 00:45:18,170
want for my life without you doing it

1105
00:45:18,170 --> 00:45:20,630
through me and so Lord we come in

1106
00:45:20,630 --> 00:45:22,350
our emptiness we come to your throne in

1107
00:45:22,350 --> 00:45:24,910
our bankruptcy we come Lord in our nothingness

1108
00:45:24,910 --> 00:45:26,470
and we ask you to be everything to

1109
00:45:26,470 --> 00:45:28,010
us we ask you to be our life

1110
00:45:28,010 --> 00:45:29,910
in our breath we ask you for the

1111
00:45:29,910 --> 00:45:32,870
authority God that you will plant within us

1112
00:45:32,870 --> 00:45:34,810
to make a difference in our generation we

1113
00:45:34,810 --> 00:45:36,950
ask you for the heart to care we

1114
00:45:36,950 --> 00:45:39,290
ask you God for the words to speak

1115
00:45:39,290 --> 00:45:41,050
we ask you for the hands that to

1116
00:45:41,050 --> 00:45:43,230
touch we ask you Lord God for the

1117
00:45:43,230 --> 00:45:45,250
feet that will bring your gospel to those

1118
00:45:45,250 --> 00:45:48,010
who need it the most we ask you

1119
00:45:48,010 --> 00:45:50,150
for the absence of fear that will be

1120
00:45:50,150 --> 00:45:51,850
cast away from us by the presence of

1121
00:45:51,850 --> 00:45:55,210
your love for fallen people God we ask

1122
00:45:55,210 --> 00:45:57,590
you for all of these things Lord and

1123
00:45:57,590 --> 00:46:01,350
we know you won't turn us aside you

1124
00:46:01,350 --> 00:46:04,790
won't say no to us and so we're

1125
00:46:04,790 --> 00:46:06,550
not afraid to come to you honestly we're

1126
00:46:06,550 --> 00:46:08,690
not afraid to come to you and just

1127
00:46:08,690 --> 00:46:10,930
tell you the way it is because you

1128
00:46:10,930 --> 00:46:14,310
already know anyway father we thank you Lord

1129
00:46:14,310 --> 00:46:16,910
and you'll give us the courage to say

1130
00:46:16,910 --> 00:46:21,410
what would you have me to do you

1131
00:46:21,410 --> 00:46:23,650
give us the courage to find your your

1132
00:46:23,650 --> 00:46:27,830
plan for each of our lives and you

1133
00:46:27,830 --> 00:46:30,590
give us the power that the glory could

1134
00:46:30,590 --> 00:46:32,810
be of you and not of man for

1135
00:46:32,810 --> 00:46:34,450
we will all know that only God could

1136
00:46:34,450 --> 00:46:37,890
have done this I ask you father to

1137
00:46:37,890 --> 00:46:41,370
have mercy on this city have mercy Lord

1138
00:46:41,370 --> 00:46:45,510
raise your people up God give us a

1139
00:46:45,510 --> 00:46:48,550
testimony that can't be denied with a hundred

1140
00:46:48,550 --> 00:46:51,370
and twenty people on day one of the

1141
00:46:51,370 --> 00:46:54,370
Spirit-filled church you turn three thousand people

1142
00:46:54,370 --> 00:46:59,290
to you day one how much more Lord

1143
00:46:59,290 --> 00:47:01,490
should that not be happening in our generation

1144
00:47:01,490 --> 00:47:04,130
with all our knowledge and all our study

1145
00:47:04,130 --> 00:47:07,630
and all the history we know but they

1146
00:47:07,630 --> 00:47:10,410
went to you in an upper room and

1147
00:47:10,410 --> 00:47:11,930
they went honestly and they went in as

1148
00:47:11,930 --> 00:47:14,330
failures and they came out with the power

1149
00:47:14,330 --> 00:47:17,410
of God and so Lord we ask you

1150
00:47:17,410 --> 00:47:19,530
for nothing less than the mightiest baptism of

1151
00:47:19,530 --> 00:47:23,530
the Holy Spirit we've ever known not for

1152
00:47:23,530 --> 00:47:28,210
our sakes but for their sakes for the

1153
00:47:28,210 --> 00:47:30,070
sake of the people outside the doors of

1154
00:47:30,070 --> 00:47:32,190
this church and in our communities our neighborhoods

1155
00:47:32,190 --> 00:47:34,790
for the sake of those that sit across

1156
00:47:34,790 --> 00:47:37,470
the table in our homes we ask for

1157
00:47:37,470 --> 00:47:41,270
the mightiest baptism we've ever known lead us

1158
00:47:41,270 --> 00:47:43,070
to your throne as we pray this week

1159
00:47:43,070 --> 00:47:46,270
Oh God lead us there and give us

1160
00:47:46,270 --> 00:47:48,910
the grace give us the strength to say

1161
00:47:48,910 --> 00:47:52,930
yes we thank you for it in Jesus

1162
00:47:52,930 --> 00:47:55,590
name you've been listening to from the pulpit

1163
00:47:55,590 --> 00:47:57,710
this week you heard Carter Colin with his

1164
00:47:57,710 --> 00:47:59,910
message a sure path to the coming storm

1165
00:47:59,910 --> 00:48:01,970
tune in next week for another powerful message

1166
00:48:01,970 --> 00:48:04,070
from God's Word on from the pulpit