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00:00
Your Good Man,
Charlie Brown.
00:00
Well, good evening,
everybody say,
00:04
oh, that was terrible.
00:06
Let's try that again.
00:09
Ronnie, Get your
wife in order now.
00:12
Good evening,
everybody. There we go.
00:17
Hey, I like B and down
00:19
on the main floor,
what do you think?
00:21
You could care less, right?
00:25
They did it for me
00:26
because because of my knee.
00:29
Well, we are glad
you're here.
00:31
Want to share just
a few requests.
00:35
September 26th,
that's a Saturday.
00:39
They are having the one
nation prayer March.
00:45
The thing we do
every year in
00:47
Washington case any of
you are interested?
00:51
It is September
26th and noon to
00:54
two PM and up
in Washington,
00:58
not here. On them all.
01:01
Gay that that long
body of water.
01:04
And then you see this
01:05
big to all built anyway,
01:07
that's where you guys
go on. You're not.
01:10
Okay? I'm not either.
01:13
But anyway, if
you're interested,
01:16
we would encourage you.
01:18
Our nation needs
our prayers.
01:23
Our president
needs our prayers.
01:27
Our leaders in Washington,
01:29
NI, our prayers, right?
01:33
And the faithfulness
of God's people.
01:37
We'll make change.
01:39
I believe in the
power prayer.
01:41
You. Yeah, we do.
01:43
We do. So be
praying for that.
01:47
Just a couple
of other folks.
01:52
Carolyn Burnet's
funeral will be in
01:55
the main Worship
Center on Tuesday.
01:58
Visitation from 12 to
02:01
right before two o'clock.
02:03
And then the funeral B
02:05
right after that in the
main Worship Center.
02:09
Pray for Bob and
Brenda bond Hein.
02:13
Barring numerical.
02:16
Brenda's gonna meet
Jesus before you and I.
02:20
But you know what?
She's okay with that.
02:23
And and that's her spirit
02:27
is so beautiful to watch.
02:31
But pray for the family.
02:33
This is troubled
times for them.
02:36
Letting a loved one go.
02:38
Is tough.
02:40
It's easier when you know
02:42
that we'll be together
again one day.
02:45
And so pray for
the bond homonyms.
02:48
Scott Phillips,
Dr. Scott Phillips
02:50
as our speaker tonight.
02:52
A, always enjoy
having him here.
02:55
And so if you
have an offering,
02:59
there is an offering
box in the back,
03:01
and please avail yourself
03:03
of that as you
leave tonight.
03:05
And let's go to the
Lord in prayer.
03:07
As we began.
03:10
Father, we love you.
03:13
Thank you God for watching
over us this week.
03:17
God, thank you
for how you work.
03:20
Lives of men and women.
03:23
Father, thank you
for answered prayer.
03:26
God, we do pray for the
bond Heim family God.
03:30
We pray for the Burnett
03:31
family God that
You would be
03:33
the God of all comfort
in both situations.
03:37
Father, they love you and
03:39
they're okay with
whatever you want.
03:42
So Lord, comfort.
03:44
Give them your strength
and your courage.
03:48
Father, bless our
time tonight.
03:50
Thank you for Dr. Phillips.
03:53
Bless him as he breaks
03:55
forth the bread
of life to us.
03:57
We commit ourselves
to you tonight.
03:59
In jesus name.
04:01
Amen. He hardly even
04:06
uses at K And
let's give him
04:07
a hand for the job.
04:10
Does. Wonderful. All right.
04:12
My friends stay
seated, please.
04:15
As you can see it
04:16
easier being
Wednesday scene
04:17
and I will sing
a solid road.
04:22
Let's sing together,
showering,
04:25
lie, I'm obeys.
04:28
Nothing. Glass. Jesus draws
04:36
sweetest frame on Jesus.
04:43
Christ. Does. Rob geist.
04:47
Law.
04:48
The singing
04:50
sad
04:59
face,
05:01
arrest around
05:07
gives rise
05:15
to Iraq geist things.
05:27
I have a nurse
back there that
05:30
says here's o on it.
05:32
That's the 1110.
There's none taste.
05:39
Watch me. On my way.
05:49
That's nice.
06:17
In Israel, I chose.
06:29
Guys.
06:42
Thank you very much.
06:44
Scott will come.
06:52
You guys are
always so kind.
06:55
Appreciate. It's like
coming back home.
06:59
I do miss the
opportunities to come
07:03
back and to share
God's word with you.
07:07
And so I'm looking
forward to that.
07:09
Rick and I had lunch
07:11
this past week and he says,
07:14
Have you had a
chance to update
07:16
everybody about
your situation?
07:18
And I said, I don't
know, I don't remember
07:20
what I said the last
time I was here.
07:22
You all remember
what I said?
07:23
Okay. Okay. Shame
like Naziism.
07:27
Shame I'm banging
on Chisholm.
07:29
All right. So I will
07:32
fill you in on
where I'm at.
07:35
What I really don't
like being confined
07:38
to a excuse me a second.
07:41
I told them. All right.
07:45
There we go. Now
this feels better.
07:46
Okay. I don't like
being confined
07:49
behind the podium
here, so alright.
07:52
Let me just tell you a
little bit about where
07:55
Cindy and I are at now
07:57
before we get
into the message.
07:59
Ok. As you
probably remember,
08:04
Rick and I were part
of a group a year ago,
08:08
June, where 12 of us
08:12
were not renewed and
08:14
our contracts last
year at Liberty.
08:17
And it was just
very interesting.
08:20
When we went into
08:23
the human resources
office in
08:27
May and we were being
08:28
told at that time
that we were being
08:30
not renew due to
restructuring.
08:34
Who was the term
that we use?
08:35
And again, I understand
how all that works.
08:38
It was just very
08:38
interesting and it just
08:40
kind of give you that.
08:40
We'll go back to
that point to
08:41
bring you up to
where I'm at today.
08:43
It was interesting
that happened in May,
08:45
but back in February,
08:46
I had a if you
ever have a time
08:51
where you actually
feel like God is
08:53
speaking directly to
you about something.
08:55
There was a time in
08:57
February of last year
09:00
that I was really having
one of those days,
09:03
I really didn't
want to go into
09:04
work because they
had changed my Well,
09:07
you know, I'm sure
all of you have
09:08
some of those kind of days.
09:09
But they had changed
my job description
09:12
over the previous
school year.
09:15
And I really didn't
like the new
09:17
responsibilities
I was had been
09:18
given and it was
just a challenge
09:20
for me to to get
I'm a team player,
09:22
I'll do what's asked of me,
09:23
but I just really did not
09:25
enjoy running numbers
and spreadsheets.
09:28
I wanted to work
with my faculty and
09:30
my team that I had
for so long anyway.
09:32
So I had one of
09:33
those days where I just
didn't want to go.
09:34
God, as clear as day
said to me in February.
09:38
He said Scott.
09:40
Your job does not
define who you are.
09:44
And I'm like,
wow, you know,
09:46
intellectually, you know,
09:48
those kinds of things.
09:49
But I mean, it
really hit me
09:51
that day in a very
practical sense, you know,
09:55
because for men, okay,
09:57
oftentimes our identity is
10:00
wrapped up in our
vocation and what we do.
10:03
Okay. You men can
relate to me.
10:06
Okay. Yeah. When
you ask a woman,
10:08
you know, tell me
about yourself.
10:09
So usually tell
you about Oh,
10:11
she's why she's a mother,
10:13
she's a grandmother, is all
10:15
about relationships
a lot of times.
10:16
But for men, first
10:18
thing out of our
mouths as well,
10:19
I'm a professor at
10:20
Liberty University.
That's kinda thing.
10:23
So are our jobs,
10:25
our vocations a lot of
times are wrapped up
10:27
in our identity rather
10:29
is wrapped up in our
jobs that we do.
10:31
And so I, you know,
10:32
so when God said
that to me, I mean,
10:34
it was it was just
10:36
one of those moments
that I just wow.
10:39
Yeah. So when may
hit and we were
10:41
called in to the human
resources office to be
10:44
told that our
contracts we're not
10:46
going to be renewed
because of restructuring.
10:49
It didn't come
as a shock to
10:51
me because I got
10:53
it's like God, for
months earlier,
10:55
three months earlier, had
10:57
been preparing me for
10:58
just this moment in
10:59
May when I went
11:00
into the human
resources office.
11:02
So I mean, this I say that
11:04
because I want to
brag about God.
11:06
Okay. I want to brag
11:07
about what he has
done and how he
11:08
prepared me for these
and what I want to do
11:10
tonight even as well as
we talk with through,
11:13
by the way, we're
going to beginning to
11:14
Philippians chapter one,
11:15
if you want to turn there.
11:16
But we want to talk
about this because I
11:19
want to brag about how
good God is, okay?
11:22
That even in a afflictions,
11:25
even in the times
11:27
that I experience
last year,
11:29
that God was good.
11:31
Okay. Got it
prepared me for
11:33
that moment in time and it
11:34
didn't come as a shock,
11:36
wasn't devastated by it.
11:37
Okay, even though I ben
liberty and still am,
11:41
I still teach
for them online.
11:43
But at my role as
an online chair
11:45
was no longer there.
11:46
And in fact, I lost
11:48
two thirds of my income
11:49
at that particular time.
11:51
I mean, it's an
allele job but
11:52
didn't financially
11:54
it when it was a it was
11:55
interesting times
to say the least,
11:58
and regards to what was
11:59
going on in our lives.
12:01
And so that was
the big thing.
12:04
So that is,
12:06
so now I want to tell
12:07
you what God's been good.
12:09
My wife and I
she's still here.
12:12
She's still the counselor
12:14
here in the
counseling house.
12:16
So I'm kinda get my
bearings over in
12:17
that direction.
Yes. Thank you.
12:19
Dave.
12:19
Directionally challenged.
12:21
That's over that way.
12:22
Ok. And so she's still
12:25
the counselor here at
12:27
Thomas Road over in
the counseling house
12:29
over there by the
Fairfield Inn.
12:31
And so but now,
12:32
as of May of this year,
12:34
may fors actually was in
12:37
conversations with
a gentleman since
12:39
last fall to get
to this position.
12:42
Covert. Delay the start
12:44
because you most
ministries,
12:46
as we can see here
it at Thomas Road,
12:49
most ministries have
shut down or at
12:51
least minimized a lot
of what they're doing.
12:53
Same thing at the church
where I'm at now.
12:55
But right now I am the
executive pastor at
12:59
Living Word Baptist
Church here in
13:01
town over it and
water lick robe.
13:05
And it's just a
really neat thing
13:07
how god and he,
13:08
and here's the thing that I
13:09
love about what
I'm doing now.
13:11
I've only been there less
13:12
than four months now.
13:13
And what's been
exciting about it
13:17
is that all the things
that I have learned,
13:20
the experiences that I've
13:21
learned the last 25 years.
13:23
Working at Liberty,
being here at
13:25
Thomas Road and and being
13:27
a part of the
various ministries
13:29
that we my wife
and I had been
13:30
part of here has prepared
13:32
me for just the job that
I'm doing right now.
13:36
I oversee all the
finances and the
13:40
Ministries of Living
Word Baptist Church.
13:43
And I've seen linda there.
13:44
She has her grandchildren
at the we have
13:48
the largest
homeschool co-op
13:51
at our church that and
13:52
so her grandchildren are
13:55
part of that
program over there.
13:57
But I love it and I'm
enjoying getting to,
14:00
to know all the
people there.
14:01
Sets we bend there in May.
14:04
We have read it, our
mission statement.
14:08
And because we I'm
14:11
not gonna go into
details about our church
14:13
and the struggles
they had two years
14:15
prior to say there
14:17
was a lot of
struggles going on.
14:18
And so it's been need to be
14:19
part of what we call a
14:21
re-launch of a church
14:23
starting next Sunday,
September 13th.
14:25
We're actually
emphasizing that
14:26
as kind of a relaunch
of our Church,
14:28
we changed our
mission statement
14:30
to reflect that.
14:32
And our new
mission statement
14:33
is that living word
14:34
exists to make
disciples who love God,
14:37
love others, and
serve the world.
14:39
And so that's our new
mission statement.
14:41
Along with that is the idea
14:43
of getting people
connected to life groups.
14:46
And so that's part of
my job is to train
14:49
life group leaders
and organize them.
14:53
And then it's been
a lot of fun.
14:54
I really enjoyed doing
14:57
what I am doing and
God has blessed.
14:58
As some of you have
asked me about,
15:00
the young lady who
we have in our home.
15:04
Charlie, we still have her.
15:07
Keep praying for that
situation because
15:11
with Charlie's mom comes
15:14
great drama and the
drama continues.
15:18
We thought that things
would be finished
15:22
by June of this year
when we went to court.
15:26
But it just for
15:29
some reason it just keeps
15:30
60 days and then
another 60 days.
15:32
And so we're going
back to court
15:34
again in October.
15:35
Actually, we're going
back on her birthday,
15:37
which is not a
good day for her.
15:40
Hopefully, it'll
be a good day
15:41
that hopefully
the judge will
15:42
have a good ruling
on that day.
15:44
But as the time that we go
15:46
back and live had Charlie
for a whole year.
15:48
She's nine years old.
Please pray for her.
15:51
I cannot imagine what
15:54
goes on in the life
of that little
15:56
nine year old
when she does it
15:58
fully know what her
future holds for her.
16:01
Because every time we
have a court case,
16:04
we don't know if we're
going to Keeper we
16:06
don't know if somebody
16:07
else is going to get her.
16:09
And right now it's
16:10
her father passed
away two years ago.
16:13
So now the father's brother
16:16
is in the picture
trying to get custody.
16:19
And so it's just very
interesting situation.
16:22
So we are just pray
that that everything
16:25
works out because all every
16:26
Saturday for sense, we
got involved with it.
16:28
Of course, we've been
16:29
involved in Charlie's life
16:30
almost since the
day she was born,
16:32
trying to provide
a safe place
16:33
for her and and
trying to help
16:35
her mom dealing
with some of
16:36
the bad choices that she
16:38
is made through the years.
16:39
And so please pray for
16:42
the mom as she continues
to make bad choices,
16:46
that she will finally
16:48
get some time to
take some people.
16:51
It's not bad enough
yet for her.
16:54
You know, I'm saying
sometimes it has to
16:56
get worse before
it can get better.
16:58
And I hope I
17:00
hope it doesn't get
much worse because I
17:01
understand how
much worse it
17:03
can get for her before she
17:04
realizes that she needs
17:06
to make a change
about things,
17:07
but pray for her and pray
17:09
for Charlie and Cindy.
17:11
Nih. We understand why
17:15
God gives the young
to the young.
17:17
Okay. Any of you,
17:19
any of your grandparents
17:20
out there have had to watch
17:21
your grandchildren and for
17:22
any length of time,
17:23
more than just a weekend
17:24
or maybe like a week
or two or longer.
17:27
Ok. Having a nine-year-old
17:29
in your life
now when you're
17:30
both over 60, hence fun.
17:34
And she is a
challenge at times.
17:37
She is very headstrong
17:39
and poppy and her kind
17:42
of clash every
now and then.
17:43
So because I I have
17:45
a hard time with
strong-willed children,
17:47
but I gotta be
very patient.
17:50
But, you know, let patients
17:51
were tribulation
works patients.
17:53
And so I think that's
why God brought
17:55
Charley into my life
to teach patients.
17:57
Anyway. So what things
are good for us?
18:00
And I am very thrilled
and excited for what
18:03
God is doing in
18:06
our life right now and
18:07
the things he's
teaching us.
18:09
But, you know, here's,
18:11
here's where I want to talk
18:12
about from the book of
18:13
Philippians will be mostly
18:15
in Chapter one tonight.
18:17
And when Rick asked me to
18:19
kind of give an
update about things.
18:22
So I wanted to give
a little update,
18:23
but I also at the
same time want to use
18:25
that as a springboard for
18:28
talking about
afflictions because
18:30
we all have them at
18:31
times in our lives, right?
18:33
Life is never
a smooth ride.
18:36
Okay. And if it is,
18:39
come see me, I'd love
18:41
to talk to you and see you.
18:43
And I have yet to
meet anybody who has
18:45
had a smooth life, okay?
18:48
There's always some
kind of challenges,
18:50
some more than others.
18:52
And it's so as
I think about,
18:57
thought about this idea
of afflictions, Okay?
19:01
Course I thought mostly
19:03
of the book of Philippians.
19:05
If you'll recall,
when we've gone
19:07
through the book
that Paul is
19:09
writing this letter while
19:11
he is under roman guard.
19:14
Okay. As it know
what the outcome of
19:18
his situation will
be. And he is.
19:21
But what I love
about this book is
19:24
that it's so
filled with joy,
19:27
with hope, with peace.
19:30
Even in the midst
of afflictions.
19:33
Paul is able to encourage
19:35
others with
19:37
the joy and the
peace that he has.
19:38
And so I wanted to
19:39
share some of
the trays here.
19:41
Some of these days we
are going to relate to,
19:44
to our story as
well at it because
19:45
I'm one of the things you
19:47
probably have noticed
if you've been around
19:49
long enough here to
hear me speaking,
19:52
I try to be as
real as possible.
19:54
Okay. I don't I don't
try to hold back.
19:57
I will try to be
as real with you
20:00
about what has happened in
20:01
our lives the last
year and a half.
20:03
And relate it to
20:04
the idea of
afflictions here.
20:06
So let's, let's get
into the book here.
20:10
The first, as you can
see on the screen,
20:12
Hey, can you all read
that OK in the back?
20:14
Or doesn't need to
get bigger for you.
20:16
Okay. If it is,
20:17
just let me know and we can
20:18
try to make it bigger.
20:20
The first thing
is God can use
20:23
our afflictions to
further the gospel.
20:26
Let's reach Philippians
chapter one,
20:28
verses 12 through 18.
20:30
But I want you
to know brothers
20:32
that the things
which happened to me
20:33
have actually
turned out for
20:35
the furtherance
of the gospel.
20:37
So that it has
become evident to
20:38
the whole palace
guard and to
20:40
all the rest that might
chains are in Christ.
20:43
And most of the bread and
20:45
the Lord had become
confident by
20:46
my chains are much more
20:48
bold to speak the
word without fear.
20:51
Some indeed preach Christ
20:52
even from envy and strife,
20:54
and Somoza from Goodwill.
20:55
The former preach Christ
20:57
from selfish ambitions,
20:58
not sincerely supposing to
21:00
add affliction
to my change.
21:02
But the latter outta love,
21:04
knowing that I am appointed
21:05
for the defense
of the gospel,
21:06
what them only
that in every way,
21:09
whether in pretense
or in truth,
21:11
Christ is preached
in this I rejoice,
21:14
yes, and will rejoice.
21:16
So my first here,
21:18
excuse me, is that
21:23
God can use our afflictions
21:25
to further the gospel.
21:27
Even while Paul is
under roman guard here,
21:30
his testimony has
continually to shine
21:32
through and people are
21:34
getting say right
where he's at.
21:35
And if you recall,
another incident of
21:38
a situation in the city of
21:40
Philippi happens at
a different time.
21:42
Earlier in the
book of Acts.
21:44
Paul is arrested
and Philip,
21:46
I put in a full IPN jail.
21:48
Okay, what happens?
21:50
The Philippians jailers
sees the testimony of
21:53
Paul and Silas and ends up
21:55
getting saved he and
his whole household.
21:57
And that's where we get
the verse and x 1631,
22:00
Believe on the Lord
has trice endoscopy
22:01
saved and thy house and
22:03
the Philippians jailer
becomes a believer
22:04
because of the testimony
of the apostle Paul,
22:07
even while he was thrown
22:09
in that Philippi in jail.
22:10
And now he's in
a Roman jail
22:12
here in the city of Rome.
22:13
And yet his testimony
is continuing to
22:16
shine forth even
while he's there,
22:19
you'd, while he's
suffering affliction,
22:21
the gospel is still going
22:22
forth and people
are getting, say,
22:25
what are the first
thing somebody said to
22:26
me when they heard that 12
22:29
of us got non
renewed contracts
22:32
last May, said this.
22:34
I don't even
remember who said
22:36
it, but they said this.
22:37
Well, there's 12 people
22:41
who could be used in a
local church setting.
22:44
Okay? So it was
22:45
almost kind of a
prophetic thing.
22:48
Because I'll tell
you right now,
22:50
there's at least five
22:51
of us 12 up to those 12,
22:53
not renewed our working
again at Liberty,
22:56
but the other ten of
us are different.
22:58
But I could tell
you, I can.
23:00
Say, oh, Rick, Of
course, you know,
23:02
he's here at the church,
hospital visitation.
23:05
I met Jackson, pastor
at Living Word.
23:09
Don Love is the
youth director
23:12
at Grace Church
here in town.
23:14
Chet wrote it, went back to
23:15
his hometown and Alabama.
23:16
He's now a pastor
down there.
23:18
Are rich brown started
23:20
his own ministry working
23:22
and be an
encouragement to you,
23:23
former youth leaders
and workers.
23:26
Okay. And there's
just a lot.
23:28
So God has used
the dismiss,
23:32
the not renewal
of contracts
23:33
to further the
gospel because now
23:35
there are all working in
23:37
local church settings and a
23:39
Gospel is further
being promoted.
23:41
I love this, this
truth right here.
23:43
And so it's not
that we need to
23:46
sit back and say,
okay, now I can rest.
23:49
No, we want to
continue to be
23:51
used by God and God to have
23:53
his Gospel further
advance the Gospel there.
23:57
And then the second,
23:58
as we go on, see like
I like it works,
24:00
look at there, is
that afflictions
24:02
can be used to
exalt Christ.
24:05
Let's look at
verse 19 to 21.
24:09
For i know this,
24:10
that this will turn out for
24:12
my salvation
through your prayer
24:14
and the supply of the
spirit of Jesus Christ.
24:16
According to my
earnest expectation
24:19
and hope that
24:20
nothing I shall be
24:21
a shame with all
boldness as always.
24:24
So now also Christ
24:26
will be magnified
in my body,
24:28
whether by life
or by death,
24:30
for me to live,
24:32
for to me to live is
24:33
Christ and to die is gain.
24:35
Afflictions can be
used to exalt Christ.
24:39
You see when you have
the proper perspective,
24:42
it produces praise
in your life.
24:44
When you realize
that again,
24:46
my job did not
define who I am.
24:49
Okay, that God
can do that at.
24:53
My job is not who
I worked for.
24:57
Liberty University is
not who I worked for.
24:59
The idea there's my
ultimate individual
25:02
who I work for is God.
25:04
Okay? And when we all had
25:06
that kind of a
perspective than that,
25:08
no matter where you're
at in life, okay?
25:11
God will still use you.
25:13
Okay? Okay. I got this
chapter is closed.
25:16
What do you have
next for me.
25:18
Okay. And right
away, of course,
25:20
we started looking at
various things and
25:22
outside going through
this time and
25:24
just being able
to understand
25:26
that God is going
to get the glory
25:29
for this situation as
25:31
we're going
through all that
25:32
a year ago and trying
to see that work cited.
25:35
Ok. It's not like, oh,
25:36
I gotta got fired.
25:37
No, that's not that's
25:38
not what we mean by this.
25:39
And but we're glad
we're anticipating,
25:41
were excited
because we know
25:43
that when one door closes,
25:45
God is going to
25:46
prepare something
else for us.
25:48
And so we were
just continuing
25:50
to exalt Christ for this.
25:51
And we're anxious to see,
25:54
not the anxious
in the bad sense,
25:55
but we're looking
forward to
25:57
seeing what God was going
to do with us next.
26:00
Okay. And, and
I had no doubt,
26:02
ok. Because this is not
26:04
the first time where
26:06
we had difficult
situations and jobs.
26:08
And we'll talk a little bit
26:09
about this a little bit
26:10
later of our time.
26:12
And Ohio were read,
26:14
literally worked for
the Son of Satan in,
26:17
we'll explain more of
26:18
that in just a second here.
26:19
But literally I think,
26:21
and thought he was the son
26:22
of Satan at the time.
26:23
But knowing that God
26:26
took care of us in
the past, okay?
26:28
And that he was a God who,
26:30
who we can trust
our future to,
26:32
then we would continue
26:34
no matter what happens, ok,
26:36
whether good or bad with
26:38
our situation we
found ourselves in,
26:40
we determine we
are going to still
26:43
exalt Christ because he
26:45
didn't do anything wrong.
26:46
And it wasn't like
he led us down.
26:48
Okay. It's just now
26:50
I I've always seen
this in my life.
26:53
50 years of being
a believer.
26:55
I have marveled
at God's way of
26:58
directing us to where
he wants us to go.
27:01
Okay. So I knew
27:03
this was made it bend
just a little hiccup in
27:05
our situation and kind of
27:07
as causing perhaps
a little bit
27:09
of stress at times,
27:10
especially with
losing two-thirds
27:12
of my income at the time.
27:13
But we're looking forward
27:15
to what God was
going to do,
27:17
and we would keep on
praising him for that.
27:19
And this is what
Paul says basically
27:21
when we read over
27:23
in Second Corinthians
chapter 12,
27:24
He said, Because
Paulus pray that
27:27
God would remove this thorn
27:28
in the flesh that he has.
27:29
And he is praying
over and over again.
27:31
But they, this is
27:33
the words that
Jesus gave to Paul.
27:35
He said, My grace is
sufficient for you,
27:38
for my strength is made
perfect in weakness.
27:41
Therefore, most gladly
will I rather boast in
27:44
my infirmities
that the power
27:46
of Christ may rest upon me.
27:48
Therefore, I take
pleasure in infirmities,
27:51
in reproaches, indies, and
27:52
persecutions in distress
for Christ's sake.
27:55
For when I am weak,
27:56
then I am strong.
27:59
In other words, when
you're suffering
28:01
afflictions is
28:02
a great time to
sit back and say,
28:04
Okay, God, it's all about,
28:07
you know, cuz I don't
have anything left.
28:09
Okay. What do you gotta do?
28:11
You have to show up
28:12
otherwise were
done for and so we
28:15
just keep on praising
him because we know
28:18
that he is a good father.
28:21
Ok. We have had trust in
28:23
His steadfast
love towards us,
28:25
and we can continue to
28:26
praise them, either
good times or bad.
28:28
That's what I love
about the story of Joe.
28:30
Ok, even his wife
is telling him,
28:33
curse God and die.
28:35
But Job says, oh,
28:38
gay, he hasn't
done anything.
28:39
He's not going to
curse God and die.
28:42
Okay? Receive good at
the hand of the Lord,
28:44
who received bad
at the handler.
28:45
But in all these things,
28:46
job did not sin and
he continued to
28:49
praise God and His
protection in his life.
28:52
The third I want to
bring to you this,
28:56
we should live
exemplary lives
28:58
in the face of our
own afflictions.
29:01
You know, when you're going
29:02
through a tough time,
29:04
like a job loss,
29:06
it can be really
easy to get
29:09
discouraged, to
get depressed.
29:12
Okay. And it just
29:15
kinda feel like
giving up perhaps.
29:17
Okay. No. I never
felt like that but,
29:20
but there are in
29:21
talking with people
who have lost out.
29:23
In fact, right now
at our church,
29:24
there's a gentleman who's
29:25
lost his job and it's
29:26
just really hard for
29:28
them that we should live
29:30
exemplary lives in
29:31
the face of our
afflictions.
29:33
Chapter one, verse
27 says this,
29:35
only let your conduct.
29:37
Be worthy of the
gospel of Christ.
29:39
So that whether I come and
29:41
see you or am
apps that I'm,
29:42
I hear of your affairs.
29:44
That you stand fast
and one spirit
29:46
with one mind striving
29:48
together for the
faith of the gospel.
29:50
He says, let your conduct
29:52
be worthy of the
gospel of Christ.
29:55
Okay? I know some who
29:58
when negative situation
happens to them,
30:01
that they can get
a real attitude.
30:04
Mirrors need
people like that,
30:06
get a real attitude.
30:07
Okay. And just
had this bidder
30:10
kinda spirit display
about things.
30:13
I I have a couple
of friends.
30:15
I'm still friends with
them on Facebook.
30:17
And things that bad
30:19
saying negative things
have happened to them.
30:21
And I've watched them
especially their
30:23
post that they put on
there and just the,
30:25
the bitterness that
can that's comes
30:27
through the post that
they put on Facebook.
30:30
As shows me that
they are still
30:33
struggling with
30:34
the negative things that
30:35
have happened to them.
30:36
And so therefore, there is,
30:38
it's difficult for them to
30:39
move past that and to
30:40
see what God can
30:42
do in that kind
of situation.
30:43
Where, you know,
when I think
30:45
about this and
I get reminded
30:47
of Paul as he's
making this journey.
30:51
Okay? In fact, that
this journey word that
30:53
brings him into Rome most
30:55
likely Acts chapter
26 as he's standing
30:58
before Agrippa
and he's there,
31:03
and he's giving
his defense and
31:05
he's giving his
testimony before them.
31:08
And at the end of
the testimony,
31:10
when they all had heard
what was going on and
31:13
Paul's testimony and just
31:14
the way he delivered that,
31:15
he said they said
this and when that
31:17
God aside all the people
31:19
that we're
listening to him to
31:20
make a decision about him.
31:22
When they've got
aside, they talk
31:23
among themselves, say,
31:25
This man has done nothing
31:27
worthy of death or change.
31:30
A grip, a sadness
testis, this man,
31:33
mine had been set free if
31:34
he had not appeal
to Caesar.
31:36
So EVA Well, Paul as being
31:38
arrested here
and he's being
31:40
questioned by
the King Agrippa
31:44
and Festus and asked to,
31:47
to explain himself
and to defend himself
31:49
about why he's being
brought before them.
31:51
His testimony
shines through as
31:54
somebody who is
pure of heart,
31:56
who, somebody who he
shouldn't be here.
31:59
He's not worthy of
being and change.
32:01
He's not worthy of
having to have to,
32:03
if he hadn't
appeal to Caesar.
32:05
We could've just
already let him go.
32:07
And so Paul was living
32:09
an exemplary conduct
life before them.
32:13
He wasn't, hadn't
some kinda
32:16
bitterness or this anger
32:17
that permeated
ham and say why,
32:19
why, why, and all that.
32:20
He still maintain
a strong testimony
32:23
even in the midst of
32:25
the afflictions
that he was facing.
32:27
And I encourage you
when you go through
32:29
some tough times
in your life.
32:32
Hey God to God.
32:34
Okay, hang on to that.
32:35
Hope. That's why I love.
32:36
I encouraged and ask
John even to, to,
32:39
to saying my
hope is built on
32:41
nothing less MK is because
32:43
that's what we
need to hold on to
32:45
in the midst of our
afflictions okay.
32:48
As still maintain
our testimony.
32:50
Then the fourth I want
to see from this,
32:54
afflictions can be used
32:57
to encourage others. Okay.
33:00
Let's look at chapter
one, verse 30,
33:03
having the same conflict
what you saw in B
33:06
and now here to be in you,
33:08
not here is in me.
33:10
In other words, if
you were to read
33:11
27 through 30,
33:12
Paul as showing them
33:14
that his testimony
and and he's
33:16
encouraging them to that
33:18
when they're going
through tough times.
33:20
And I get to the
other side of that,
33:23
but they can be used
33:24
as an encouragement
to others.
33:25
Chapter four, verse
nine says this.
33:27
The things which
you learned and
33:29
received and heard
and saw in me,
33:31
these do the God of
peace will be with you.
33:35
He's using his life and
33:37
his testimony while he's
33:39
in raw under roman guard.
33:41
Okay. He's using that
33:43
as saying, hey, watch me.
33:45
And what he also
says in Corinthians,
33:47
he says follow me
as I follow Christ.
33:49
Paul is continuing to
33:50
say that the other people,
33:51
even while he's going
33:52
through his afflictions,
33:54
he is try to say OK,
33:56
follow me, do
what I'm doing.
33:58
Ok. He's trying
to set itself up
34:00
to be an example and have
34:01
been encouragement
to others.
34:03
You know, one of the
things that I've
34:04
always enjoyed since they
34:07
started up here
at Thomas room
34:09
is the my road testimonies
34:11
that you enjoy those.
34:12
I love listening
to them because
34:15
what happens when you watch
34:16
those MY road testimonies,
34:18
you hear the stories of
34:19
people who have gone
through struggles or,
34:21
or health situations
or this, or that.
34:24
And they come
out of the other
34:25
side of it praising
34:26
God and talking about how
34:27
God has done this
and they're lie.
34:29
And I'm praising
him for this.
34:31
And as a result of that,
we are encouraged.
34:34
And we say to ourselves,
34:35
If guy can do that for you,
34:37
he could certainly
do that for me.
34:38
And that's the whole
idea about sharing
34:40
our stories about this
as, because as we,
34:43
as God gets us through to
34:44
the other side and
works on Earth and we
34:47
finally see is planted
34:48
our lives and
what he's done
34:49
for us and what
he's doing in
34:51
our lives and we share
that with others.
34:52
It's an encouragement.
Hey, if
34:54
he could do that for Scott,
34:55
he can do that for
me. And I love that.
34:58
And so are our
35:00
when we get through
the other side,
35:02
okay, then we can
35:03
be an encouragement
to others.
35:05
And that's why I love also
35:06
being apart of
35:07
the freedom
industries here at,
35:08
at Thomas wrote My
wife and I still she's
35:11
the director of freedom
histories and I
35:12
still help her out on
Monday nights here,
35:14
even though technically
we are elsewhere,
35:16
but as she we
35:18
still love do it
freedom industries,
35:19
because what happens
is those of us,
35:22
you are facilitators who
35:24
are already kind of
on the other side of
35:26
that heard habit or hang-up
35:28
and I've gotten a
good handle on that,
35:31
are able to work
with others who are
35:33
going through
similar hurts,
35:35
habits and hang-ups.
35:36
And then when
we see that in
35:37
their life and
we begin to see
35:38
them
35:38
implementing the things
that we're teaching,
35:41
the principles that
we're talking about.
35:42
And they get on
the other side
35:44
and they get the
victory over there.
35:45
Her tab dang it, man,
35:47
it's a time of
rejoicing with
35:48
that because we
had been able
35:50
to use our testimony
of how God
35:51
has used us in that to
35:53
be able to
encourage others on
35:55
their road to recovery
and to freedom.
35:58
And so it's just
a lot to do that.
36:00
And so, and again, who
36:02
would ever thought that
36:03
a young lady who becomes
36:06
a paraplegic would ever
36:07
be used by God to
encourage others,
36:09
but Does it know
36:10
the name Johnny
Erickson Tata.
36:12
I mean, what an
encouragement.
36:14
She is in the midst of
36:16
her lifelong affliction
36:18
that she's going through.
36:19
What I'd encourage Missy is
36:21
not just to us
who could walk,
36:22
but even to other pair
per liters because
36:24
he has a ministry
directly to them.
36:26
I mean what and
asked to whole idea.
36:28
Okay. That's why
we need to stay
36:30
faithful to God even
36:31
in the midst of
our afflictions.
36:33
Because what's not
36:34
only is this affliction for
36:35
our benefit and
helping to mature
36:37
Ross who draws
closer to God.
36:38
Okay, and I know
sometimes we pray aghast
36:40
God to heal lesson.
36:43
But I think also,
36:44
not always should
we pray for
36:46
God to heal us or to help
36:47
us in this situation
that we're facing.
36:52
Precisely there.
36:54
But I will I think
there's also
36:56
will need to be
praying and asking,
36:58
what can you teach me
37:00
as I go through
this deflection?
37:02
What are you
trying to teach
37:04
me so that I can
become more like you.
37:07
Okay? Because God
37:08
doesn't bring
afflictions and
37:09
their ally for
just no reason.
37:11
There is a reason.
37:12
There's always a
plan and purpose.
37:13
God doesn't do
anything by mistake.
37:16
Okay, so when we're
going through a flexion,
37:18
this gives us
the opportunity
37:20
to be able to say, Okay,
37:21
God, what is it
37:22
that you're trying
to teach me?
37:23
How is this going to
37:25
help me to draw
closer to you,
37:27
okay, what are you
going to do in my
37:28
life because of this?
37:30
And I'll tell you
what, what so
37:31
would it got
teachers do that?
37:33
And you get to the
other side of that.
37:35
What a powerful testimony
37:37
you could be to others and
37:39
an encouragement
you can be to
37:40
them that if God
did that for you,
37:42
he can do that for
somebody else as well.
37:44
And that's why
that's the that's
37:46
the power of a personal
testimony, okay.
37:50
And don't keep
it to yourself
37:52
if God does
something for you,
37:53
and he's brought US through
37:55
certain afflictions in
37:56
case certain things in
37:57
your life that
you go through,
37:58
Hey, don't keep it
to yourself, okay?
38:01
Share with others so
38:03
that you can be an
encouragement to them.
38:04
And I think that's
the beauty of
38:07
being involved
in a body, okay?
38:10
That we have the same
care for one another.
38:11
We, we say things
38:13
to be an encouragement
because we can
38:14
share from life experiences
38:16
or things that God has
38:17
taught us to be able to
38:19
be an encouragement
to other people.
38:20
I do find it very
interesting that Paul,
38:26
this book where course
38:29
Paul's writing it
under roman guard.
38:32
This book, prime more than
38:34
any other book in
the New Testament,
38:37
talks about joy more
38:39
than anybody else, more
than any other book.
38:41
I found very interesting
38:43
in this kind of
a situation.
38:46
Just disc that joy of Paul
38:48
just times through
chapter four,
38:50
verse four, rejoice in
the Lord all-knowing.
38:52
And again, I say rejoice,
38:53
but not only joy,
listen what he
38:54
says in chapter
four, verses 67.
38:57
Be anxious for nothing
but in everything by
38:59
prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving,
39:02
let your requests
be made known to
39:03
God and the peace of God,
39:06
which surpasses
all understanding,
39:08
will guard your hearts and
39:09
minds through
Christ, Jesus.
39:10
You see, I love the
fact that even in
39:13
Paul's affliction does he's
39:15
under roman guard here.
39:17
Peace and joy are
constantly on his mind.
39:21
Okay. He's not under
a lot of stress.
39:24
He's not worried about
a lot of things.
39:25
He is confident it
39:28
being in the
hands of Jesus,
39:29
in the hands of God,
that God's got this.
39:32
Okay? Whatever
happens to him,
39:34
God is in control,
39:36
and so therefore
he can have joy.
39:39
You can have the
peace of God
39:41
despite what's going
on in his life,
39:43
because he knows who
is heavenly father IS.
39:46
Okay. And you know
who your God is.
39:50
You know what he's
done for you,
39:51
you know what he's done
39:53
for others through
this book.
39:54
Okay, you know,
a's data for
39:56
others through
this congregation,
39:57
even this group
of people here.
39:59
And how he's transformed
40:00
people's lives and
made a difference.
40:02
And they're like, OK,
40:04
we as believers, should be
40:07
the most joyful
people in the world.
40:10
Doesn't mean
we're all, whoa,
40:11
Getty all happy
kind of thing.
40:12
But that joy is most
40:15
evident when we go
through afflictions.
40:18
Okay? Because when
you're going through
40:20
afflictions and you can
40:21
have that joy in your life.
40:23
People look at you
kinda weird, really.
40:25
You should be depressed,
40:27
you should be upset,
40:29
whatever, ALL
over all kinds
40:31
of other negative emotions.
40:32
And instead, you have
40:33
this settled joy
in your life
40:36
because you know
who you trust.
40:39
Your hope is in the Lord.
40:41
He is going to,
just like with
40:42
Daniel in the lion's den.
40:45
Okay, God was with him,
40:46
just like we're
going to hear
40:48
a song and a
little bit later
40:49
on with Shad wrecked me
shack and a Bendigo.
40:51
Ok. God is there
40:53
with you in your
afflictions.
40:55
He's not going anywhere.
40:57
He's still right there
40:58
beside you, walk
in with you.
41:01
When we left our
Church in Kansas City,
41:06
and we left behind a
great couple of who.
41:09
The moment we
join the church,
41:11
they came and they
came up front
41:13
and asked us that they can
41:14
help in the youth
department with us.
41:16
And they were with
us the entire
41:17
5.5 years that
we were there.
41:19
Great couple of
great friends.
41:21
Well, before we
less Kansas City,
41:23
Tim was on his motorcycle
41:27
as something must hit it.
41:28
According to the people
who observed that,
41:30
something must the
hit him in the face.
41:33
That something
like this and
41:35
westward over the other
lane and was kill.
41:37
And he was left behind with
41:40
his wife with one child
41:42
and she's pregnant
with the other one.
41:44
And, and so at his funeral,
41:47
she asked me to
read the poem,
41:50
footprints in the sand.
41:52
How might you
remember that?
41:53
That is the basic gist
41:55
of it was that all
through his life he has,
41:57
he's just dream and he
sees these two sets of
41:58
footprints walk at
him and the Lord.
42:00
But then during the
times where he's
42:02
struggling only sees
one set of footprints.
42:05
And he said, God,
42:07
why might the
toughest time did you
42:09
leave me a sick child?
42:11
I didn't leave you.
I was carrying you.
42:14
Okay. You see God goes with
42:17
us through our
afflictions and he
42:18
gives us His joy.
42:21
Jesus talks about that in
42:23
the world you shall
have tribulation,
42:26
but be of good cheer, I've
42:27
overcome the world.
42:28
My peace I give you, okay?
42:31
And he gives us His peace,
42:32
he gives us His joy.
42:34
And so that, again,
42:36
where that comes out most
42:37
evidently in how
we can shine
42:39
that testimony to
others is when we
42:40
go through afflictions and
42:42
that joy and that peace of
42:44
God begins to shine
through our lives.
42:46
And people's notice
42:47
something different
about us.
42:49
Okay? They see win.
42:54
Like when my mom pad
that's the closest
42:56
one who's ever been to but
42:57
my mom passed away.
42:59
There was not sure.
43:00
There was somewhat there's
some sorrow there,
43:03
obviously because
my mom passed away.
43:05
But for the most part,
43:06
there was joy because
my mom was suffering
43:09
from Alzheimer's
43:10
the last several
years of your life,
43:11
if you know people
43:12
who've suffered
from Alzheimer's,
43:14
that's not that's not
43:15
the same person
that you knew
43:17
three or four years
ago when they
43:18
finally get to that stage.
43:21
And so for us, death
43:23
was something that
we look forward to
43:25
for my mom because it
43:27
met now all that
it'll be behind her.
43:30
She would have had
to go with you
43:32
body is you'd be in
43:33
the presence of our
Heavenly Father.
43:35
It was so lesson to saying,
43:37
sure there was some sorrow
43:38
that will miss her.
43:39
But she was a lot of joy.
43:41
That's what Paul says
in status than 10ms.
43:44
We sorrow not as others
who have no hope.
43:47
Okay? And so even in death,
43:50
and we're going
through that death
43:52
of a loved one or apparent,
43:53
that there still can be
43:54
that sense of joy
in that piece,
43:56
especially if we know
43:57
that there are believers.
43:58
You know, I got online.
44:01
How many of you ever seen
44:03
a stress detector chart?
44:05
I'm talking about
where it lists like
44:08
the top 35-40 things that
44:11
and I do at a scale of
one to a 100 based,
44:14
like for instance,
the death of espouses
44:16
a 100 points and
44:18
other things like
that in your life.
44:20
And if you get past
a 150 to 300 range,
44:23
you have a 50%
chance of having
44:25
a major health problems.
That's over 300.
44:27
You have an 80% chance of
44:30
having some major health
problems depending
44:32
on how much stress
and based on
44:34
these different
factors that
44:35
they gone through.
44:36
What I went through
did that at this time,
44:39
it just was experiencing
a year ago.
44:42
Let me just tell you this.
44:43
Stress indicate I
looked at the chart.
44:46
The loss of job
was 7047 points.
44:49
Financial change,
intelligent, lost tooth,
44:51
birth income, 38 points.
44:54
A change in the number and
44:55
type of arguments
with spouse
44:57
because she didn't
think I was
45:00
going out and working
45:01
hard enough to
find another job.
45:03
I was a complete course
45:06
or than I usually just I'm
45:09
just being real with
you kinda thing.
45:11
So there's just some
kind of and again,
45:13
I am saying that
despite that comes
45:17
under the live like I
45:18
still had that
previous Inc.
45:19
And of course he had to.
45:20
Oh, you can't do that.
45:21
You're going to watch
it. We spent a lot
45:23
of differences of opinion
when female, okay.
45:28
And so there's just
some challenges
45:30
there and reward because
45:31
the situation that we're
45:32
going through and then
45:34
the change in recreation
45:36
not work either any longer.
45:37
I know, you know, if you
know me long enough,
45:39
you know, I love
playing basketball.
45:41
And so the times that I
was no longer playing
45:43
the same amount of
basketball because I was
45:45
before either or anything.
45:47
So you add up all
those numbers
45:49
together and it came
up to like a 104.
45:51
That's just those things,
45:53
let alone any of
the others things
45:55
that were going
on in my life.
45:57
So I was pretty
close to having
46:00
some high-stress last
summer and my life.
46:02
Okay. But even in
that time like that,
46:06
God's joy, God's
peace never left me.
46:10
And that's what caught as
46:12
able to help me
to get through.
46:15
That's part of
my life there,
46:17
and I will be forever
grateful for that.
46:19
And so let's not focus.
46:24
Ok. And again, I know
when their stress or
46:26
certain things we can
do to help relieve
46:28
that stress is very
important to do
46:29
that because it
could lead to
46:30
high blood pressure
and other things.
46:32
Negative health situation.
46:34
But when we understand
46:36
Scripture like Isaiah 263,
46:39
they'll keep him
in perfect peace.
46:41
Whose mind is state on
46:42
the because he
trusted name.
46:44
Okay. There are lots of
46:46
versus when you're going
46:48
through that
kinda situation,
46:50
make it becomes
very real to you.
46:54
What do you really
understand?
46:55
God's joy, God's peace for
46:58
you during those
difficult times
47:00
that you go through.
47:01
I don't wish that
pod anybody I don't
47:04
wish the fact of
47:06
somebody losing
their job on
47:07
anybody going through that.
47:08
Okay. But for me,
47:10
it was a time to really
to draw close to
47:13
Jesus. It really was.
47:17
Because when you
come to the end or
47:20
something and when you
the things that you,
47:23
whether knowingly
or unknowingly who
47:25
had placed her
confidence and trust in,
47:27
get knocked out
from under you.
47:30
Jesus is still
there and Jesus
47:33
will still be
the one you can
47:34
trusting, have
competence him.
47:35
And so never
forget that God,
47:39
Jesus gives us His joy and
47:41
gives us His peace.
And I love that.
47:43
The last point that I
47:45
want to share
with you is this.
47:46
Allow others to minister
47:48
to you and your
afflictions.
47:50
Ok. Chapter four, verse
ten and verse 14.
47:55
But I rejoiced in the
Lord greatly that now
47:58
at last her care for me
has flourished again,
48:01
though, surely did care,
48:03
but you lack
opportunity. Verse 14.
48:05
Nevertheless, you
have done Wow,
48:08
that you shared
in my distress.
48:11
And I think sometimes when
48:13
we go through afflictions,
48:16
we for some reason Watts,
48:19
you get this church
face us that, oh,
48:23
everything's okay
when somebody asks
48:25
us how we're doing,
48:27
you know, oh yeah,
I'm doing fine.
48:29
Or go to the other extreme,
48:31
you know, to people who,
48:32
every time you
say them, they're
48:34
talking about some kind
48:35
of issue they're
going through.
48:36
But here's the thing.
48:40
Does't. One of the
important things
48:42
when you're going
through a tough time,
48:44
going through
some afflictions,
48:45
don't isolate yourself.
48:48
We are part of the body of
48:50
Christ and when one
member suffers,
48:53
we all, at
48:55
least that's the
way it ought to be.
48:56
What Scripture
says it should be.
48:59
And that's why
I love the fact
49:00
that we we'd have
49:01
time and our services
49:02
where we share
prayer requests.
49:04
Ok. I think you
should also have
49:07
a smaller group
of people in
49:10
which to share those
prayer requests with,
49:12
Okay.
49:12
So that they can,
49:14
you can be open and be
49:15
honest with them about
49:16
what's going on
in your life.
49:18
Because it's those
kinds of relationships.
49:22
Okay. I'll be forever
49:24
grateful for that man
49:25
standing right back there.
49:26
Okay. Rick raspberry
is a great friend.
49:29
I've known him for what,
49:31
2526 years now,
49:33
ever since we started
work in there.
49:35
Just a super friend.
49:37
We continue to have
lunch together.
49:38
Just a real source
of encouragement.
49:41
Especially last year we
49:42
met regularly for lunch,
49:44
going through all
that and just
49:45
and sometimes we
brought Martijn
49:47
and talked with him and we
49:48
had good conversations
together.
49:50
Be it an encouragement
to each other.
49:51
You need people in
49:53
your life who can speak
encouragement to you,
49:57
especially when
and, and develop
49:59
those before
you get through
50:01
afflictions, Okay?
50:03
So that you have
50:04
the confidence that
when you share
50:06
with them that they're
50:07
not going to reject you,
50:08
they're not
going to abandon
50:10
EEO about things.
50:11
We need people
in our lives,
50:13
who we can just share
our hearts with.
50:15
Okay? Don't, don't
isolate yourself.
50:19
The worst thing you can do,
50:21
OK. You know,
50:23
when you talk about
isolating ourselves,
50:26
especially during a
flexion, that's easy to,
50:28
to do that we can we can
50:30
continue to go over
and to depression and,
50:32
and just go
spiraling downward.
50:35
And things. I
challenge you stay.
50:39
This is what I say
is that I love
50:40
about the church.
50:42
Ok? I personally,
50:43
I don't know how
others do it.
50:45
Who are not connected
to a body of believers.
50:48
Okay? Who do you go
50:49
to when you
having struggles?
50:51
How do you go to in their
50:52
afflictions arise in July?
50:54
Who? I go to my close
friends at church.
50:57
Okay. At two I
go to and talk
51:00
to you about my life
grip on Sunday morning,
51:02
our freedom
facilitators that
51:03
are good friends with Rick.
51:04
There are people in my life
51:06
I know I can go to and talk
51:08
to when there's
things going
51:10
on in my life and
you need that.
51:12
And so build those
relationships in your life
51:16
because you're going
to need them when you
51:18
do go through afflictions,
you really well.
51:21
And I love that
51:22
about the body of
Christ because
51:23
here's a thing.
I don't know.
51:27
What people do that are not
51:29
part of a church
and you know,
51:31
maybe there's that
are connected
51:32
to some other kind
of group, perhaps.
51:34
But those who are not
51:35
connected to any
kind of group,
51:37
animals feel sorry for
51:40
them that there's nothing.
51:41
But at the same time we,
51:43
as the body, need to reach
51:44
out to people, Okay?
51:46
We need to connect with
51:48
others as well
so that we could
51:51
perhaps be that person
51:53
that somebody turns to
51:54
in their time
of affliction.
51:56
Okay. Maybe they need us,
51:58
maybe we needed to share
52:00
word of encouragement
to them.
52:03
Whether it's a verse
or whether what's
52:04
something that God's
doing in your life,
52:06
that you could be an
encouragement to them.
52:09
We need each other.
52:10
Okay, let's not do
this life alone,
52:13
especially the
Christian life.
52:14
It's not meant to
be done alone.
52:16
It's not, it's meant to
be data's part body.
52:20
Okay. I want to close.
52:22
I love this particular
sorry, gentlemen.
52:26
Can you put that
back there?
52:28
It's saga about
her Mercy Me.
52:32
How many of you
know the song,
52:33
even if from Mercy Me,
52:35
great, Saad, I want you to
52:37
listen to the words
52:38
and then we're
going to wrap up.
52:50
They say sometimes
you win, so.
53:01
Run, lose.
53:08
Stood on this day,
53:10
night after night,
remind and broke.
53:15
B R I ran ran
53:21
screen saying there's
nothing in the brain.
53:35
Saying, I'm fair
to the same guy.
54:03
They say. It takes
54:15
a little
54:16
FE exam.
54:30
Give me the string
to be able to see
54:45
what you're
55:03
saying.
55:16
You are the Gs,
55:23
As you may know,
55:32
y3,
55:50
you know.
56:35
When
56:37
stone MA,
56:47
So for me,
56:56
the affliction is passed.
57:00
But for others,
57:02
you going through
reflections,
57:03
it last a lot longer
and maybe a lifetime.
57:07
And that song is so true.
57:11
It's taken from the book of
57:13
Daniel shared
record me Shaq
57:15
as a get ready,
get thrown in.
57:17
And they said, we're
not going to bow.
57:22
Our God is able to
deliver us from the fire.
57:27
But even if he does it,
57:29
we're still not
going about,
57:30
oh, God can deliver
57:33
us from our afflictions
and often does.
57:36
But there are
times where he
57:38
does that he chooses
not to do so.
57:40
The key, anytime we go
through afflictions,
57:44
never give hope,
give up hope on God.
57:48
God is faithful.
57:50
Who will not add.
I love that.
57:54
I have a believer since
I was 12 years old,
57:58
so almost 49 years.
58:00
And, and I know
from not only
58:03
reading this book and
how God is faithful,
58:05
but I've experienced
that personally,
58:07
time and time again in
58:09
my life where God
has been faithful.
58:12
Don't give up.
Okay? He gives us
58:17
keys and help along the way
58:20
to help us to manage
58:21
and to get through
afflictions.
58:22
But ultimately, it's
our hope in him.
58:27
And I want to
challenge you.
58:29
Never give up hope.
58:31
And don't, don't
blame God, okay.
58:36
Stay hopeful. God has
a plan and a purpose.
58:41
We, some of us may know
more ahead of time.
58:44
Some of us may not
know until we get to
58:46
heaven what that plan
that purpose was.
58:49
But God doesn't
make mistakes,
58:53
and he is faithful.
58:55
God, stay hopeful
in him as father.
59:00
Thank you that you are
God who was fateful.
59:04
We are your children.
59:07
You love us. He'll
never leave us.
59:10
You have saved
us for eternity.
59:13
I praise you for that.
59:14
But you didn't just save us
59:16
to give us a
home in heaven.
59:17
You saved us to make
59:18
a difference in our life.
59:19
Now. God, we need you
now more than ever,
59:23
every day and especially
59:24
during those times
when there are
59:26
afflictions and
our lives help
59:28
us to hang on to
59:30
the hope that
we have and you
59:32
help us to remember
these truths
59:34
for the book of
Philippians,
59:35
that'll be an
encouragement to us as
59:38
we go through those
afflictions in our lives.
59:40
And may we always keep
59:42
our eyes focused on you?
59:43
I pray in Christ's name.
59:45
Amen. You all have
a marvelous DAY.
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