1
00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,280
At chapter 29, I think God, God 
really used them at a time in my

2
00:00:03,280 --> 00:00:06,760
life when I really needed it. 
And honestly, it's, it's kind of

3
00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:11,480
what directed me to, to, to 
really surrender my life to the 

4
00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:12,800
Lord. 
I'd already surrendered to do 

5
00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:14,440
what God wanted me to do with my
life. 

6
00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:18,200
But these verses in Jeremiah 
chapter 29, and I'll give you 

7
00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:20,800
just a little bit of context 
into the passage that we're 

8
00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:22,880
going to read this morning. 
And I'm, I'm really just going 

9
00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:26,800
to kind of use this as a jumping
off spot, but Jeremiah chapter 

10
00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:31,240
29, God had told the Israelites 
many times that if they followed

11
00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:33,480
him, he had blessed him. 
If they didn't follow him, then 

12
00:00:33,480 --> 00:00:35,640
all the, the blessings would 
not, not only would the 

13
00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:38,440
blessings go away, but God 
would, God would bring a curse 

14
00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:41,520
upon them. 
And all of the things that that 

15
00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:43,760
should have happened to them 
was, was going to, if they 

16
00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:46,600
didn't follow the Lord. 
And God told them many times, 

17
00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:48,880
hey, you're going to be carried 
away into captivity if you don't

18
00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:51,880
follow me with all your heart. 
If you don't, if you don't seek 

19
00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:53,920
me, you're going to be carried 
away into captivity. 

20
00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:56,040
And I don't know, if they didn't
think that God was serious, why 

21
00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:56,960
would you? 
Why? 

22
00:00:57,320 --> 00:00:59,960
You look back at the Israelites 
and many times you just see the 

23
00:00:59,960 --> 00:01:02,680
way that they lived and and the 
way that they acted and the 

24
00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:04,599
things that they did and the 
things that they said and you 

25
00:01:04,599 --> 00:01:06,040
think, did you? 
Did you have a? 

26
00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:08,720
Brain in your head at all you 
know you can. 

27
00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:11,160
But we have the benefit of 
hindsight, right? 

28
00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:13,480
We can look back and say. 
God told you it was going to. 

29
00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:16,400
Happen and he did it when you 
didn't allow it when you didn't 

30
00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:18,760
allow him to work in your life. 
You know, and how many times we 

31
00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:22,200
do the same thing and I think we
can ask ourselves the same 

32
00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:23,760
question. 
Do we have a brain in our head 

33
00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:26,440
sometimes God says you follow 
me, you live for me, I'll bless 

34
00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:28,240
you. 
You don't follow me, you don't 

35
00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:29,440
live for you. 
You're not going to have the 

36
00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:31,000
blessings of the Lord. 
You're not going to have God's. 

37
00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:33,320
Power. 
And yet many times we still walk

38
00:01:33,320 --> 00:01:36,120
the opposite direction, right? 
But God told them that it was 

39
00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:37,800
going to happen. 
And sure enough, they didn't 

40
00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:39,880
follow God. 
And so Babylon comes in and 

41
00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,640
carries them off into captivity.
And you start reading through 

42
00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:44,800
the passage, and I'm not going 
to do that this morning, but you

43
00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:48,800
get into verse 4567. 
God tells them, hey, you're 

44
00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:50,720
going to be there in Babylon for
70 years. 

45
00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:54,960
You might as well just start 
over, get married, build houses,

46
00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:57,720
have children, plant gardens. 
You're going to be here for 70 

47
00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:00,280
years. 
And I think maybe at that point 

48
00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:02,600
the Israelites started thinking 
God just hates us. 

49
00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:07,280
God just, God just, he's just, 
he's just being a bully because 

50
00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:10,320
he can put his thumb on us and, 
and, and squish us if he wants 

51
00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:11,840
to. 
And so that's what he's doing. 

52
00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:14,760
And God makes it very, very 
plain in this passage that that 

53
00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:17,480
is not why he allowed them to be
carried away into captivity. 

54
00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:21,120
He allowed them to be carried 
away into captivity because he 

55
00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:23,920
had a plan for them. 
And in Jeremiah chapter 29 and 

56
00:02:23,920 --> 00:02:27,440
verse #11 the Bible says this. 
For I know the thoughts that I 

57
00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:31,480
think towards you, say it's the 
Lord thoughts of peace and not 

58
00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,680
of evil, to give you an expected
end. 

59
00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:39,440
Then shall you call upon me, and
you shall go and pray unto me, 

60
00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:43,840
and I will hearken unto you, and
you shall seek me and find me, 

61
00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:47,040
when you shall search for me 
with all your heart. 

62
00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:50,040
Now the message this morning is 
meant to be an encouragement to 

63
00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:52,280
you, and I hope it is. 
I hope that you've been thinking

64
00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:54,000
about some resolutions for the 
New Year. 

65
00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,240
Somebody said New Year's 
resolutions usually go in. 

66
00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:59,320
One year and out the next. 
That's the way it goes for most 

67
00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:00,480
of us. 
Let me bore you with some 

68
00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:05,160
statistics. 41% of people 
usually make resolutions 31 to 

69
00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:07,240
2025. 
Thirty 1% of people said that 

70
00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:09,400
they were making resolutions 
this year. 31. 

71
00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:11,880
That's one out of three people 
that say they're making 

72
00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:15,720
resolutions. 42% absolutely 
never make resolutions. 

73
00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:20,320
But I, I found a list of, of New
Year's resolutions that people 

74
00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:25,440
have here in 2025 for 2026. 
And there's a lot of different 

75
00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:28,040
things on the list I pulled out,
you know, kind of the kind of 

76
00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:29,680
the ones that had more people 
with them. 

77
00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:33,240
Number one, save more money. 26%
said they were going to save 

78
00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:37,320
more money this year Improving 
physical health 22%. 

79
00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:41,280
Exercising more 22%. 
Being happy 22%. 

80
00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:42,880
Eating healthier. 
These are New Year's 

81
00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:46,040
resolutions. 20% said they were 
going to eat healthier this year

82
00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:48,640
17%. 
Said losing weight was their 

83
00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:51,800
resolution. 
Improving mental health 17%. 

84
00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:55,520
Learning something new 15%. 
Reading more 15%. 

85
00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:59,360
Quitting a bad habit, 11%, 
Moving 6%. 

86
00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:02,040
A lot of other things in there 
too that were kind of smaller 

87
00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:03,640
percentages. 
But I thought this was very 

88
00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:06,840
interesting that 79% of people 
who said they were making a 

89
00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:09,120
resolution had something to do 
with their health. 

90
00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:11,440
They were going to, they were 
going to diet, they were going 

91
00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:13,640
to exercise more, they were 
going to do different things. 

92
00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:17,040
But they've broken these things 
down over the years and 

93
00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:21,880
typically they're right about 
the same. 37.8% of people in 

94
00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:27,560
their 20s actually reached their
New Year's goals. 16.3% of 

95
00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:30,440
people over 50 reach theirs. 
I don't know if they just 

96
00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:32,280
realize it's not worth trying 
after you get. 

97
00:04:32,280 --> 00:04:35,200
I don't know what it is but but 
here's where it gets 

98
00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:38,760
interesting. 
People who maintained goals. 

99
00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:42,640
Through their first week, 75% of
people actually kept their goal 

100
00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:47,840
through the 1st week. 
Two weeks was down to 71%. 

101
00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:54,960
One month it was down to 64%. 
Six months, 46% of people still 

102
00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:58,520
typically are keeping up with 
their resolution if they set 

103
00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:00,640
one. 
And of those people who have 

104
00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:05,200
similar goals but don't set 
resolutions, only 4% are 

105
00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:08,760
successful after six months. 
People who say this is what I 

106
00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:11,520
this is, this is a goal for the 
new year, this is what I'm going

107
00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:12,520
to do. 
They write it down. 

108
00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:16,280
They have a list they had, they 
look at it. 46% of those after 

109
00:05:16,280 --> 00:05:17,640
six months are still following 
through. 

110
00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:20,200
With that resolution, the ones 
who say yeah, sure would be nice

111
00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:22,200
to lose weight this year, I 
think I'm going to lose weight 

112
00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:26,800
this year. 4% of them are still 
on go on target to lose weight. 

113
00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:30,280
4% of them are still on target 
to do whatever it happens to be.

114
00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:32,360
But why do people? 
Fail in their resolutions? 

115
00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:36,600
Well, in one study, 35% of the 
participants who failed their 

116
00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,080
New Year's resolution said they 
had unrealistic goals. 

117
00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:42,400
Right. 
I'm going to lose 50 lbs this 

118
00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:44,960
year. 
Probably unrealistic, Maybe not.

119
00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:49,240
But huge goals. 33% of those who
participated said they they, 

120
00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:51,800
they failed. 
That failed because they didn't 

121
00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:56,160
keep track of their progress. 
23% forgot about their 

122
00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:58,120
resolution, that's why they 
failed. 

123
00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:02,360
And about one in 1010% who 
failed said they made too many 

124
00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,560
resolutions. 
People who who explicitly make 

125
00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:08,560
resolutions, though, are 10 
times more likely, according to 

126
00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:11,560
this study, 10 times more likely
to attain their goals than 

127
00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:13,920
people who don't explicitly set 
resolutions. 

128
00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:16,520
I can also. 
Tell you this, people who never 

129
00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:18,160
make resolutions cannot keep 
them. 

130
00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:21,360
I hope you, I hope. 
I hope you've been thinking 

131
00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:23,560
about some things that you can 
do this year to improve. 

132
00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:25,840
Obviously it's important to 
improve physically, right? 

133
00:06:25,840 --> 00:06:28,240
It's good to make resolutions. 
We always need to be trying to 

134
00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:30,720
improve. 
And, and by the way, a body 

135
00:06:30,840 --> 00:06:34,160
bodily exercise profiteth little
the Bible says, right? 

136
00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:37,320
But it still profits at least a 
little bit. 

137
00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,720
It's important that you keep 
your health up, right? 

138
00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:43,880
Think about how many people who,
who could have another 5 or 10 

139
00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:47,000
years of serving the Lord don't 
because they don't take care of 

140
00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:49,840
their body. 
You're the too unhealthy to get 

141
00:06:49,840 --> 00:06:52,280
out there and knock on doors or 
too unhealthy to stand up in 

142
00:06:52,280 --> 00:06:55,720
front of a class and teach, or 
too, you know, too overweight to

143
00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:58,720
do whatever, right? 
It's important that it's not 

144
00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:01,600
everything, right? 
But bodily exercise does profit 

145
00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:03,680
a little. 
It helps, right? 

146
00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:06,840
And if I can get another year or
two or three years out of 

147
00:07:06,840 --> 00:07:08,800
serving the Lord, then I want to
do it. 

148
00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:12,320
And if that means that that I 
bring under my body and I and I 

149
00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:14,680
bring a little discipline to my 
body in order to make that 

150
00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:17,160
happen, then I want to do it. 
I want to be as effective for 

151
00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,440
the Lord as I possibly can be, 
right? 

152
00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:22,440
I'm not trying to be Mr. Mr. 
Olympia or anything like that. 

153
00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:24,680
I'm not trying to have huge 
muscles or any of that kind of 

154
00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:26,720
stuff. 
But I do want to be fit enough 

155
00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:29,520
that I can serve the Lord and do
everything that he wants me to 

156
00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:32,320
accomplish, right? 
I don't, I don't know if I want 

157
00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:35,720
to live to 100, right? 
But but if the Lord lets me live

158
00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:38,080
to 100, I don't want to be a 
basket case for the last 10 

159
00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:40,560
years of it sitting in a nursing
home in a wheelchair somewhere, 

160
00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:42,560
right? 
I want to, I want to be like Mr.

161
00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:45,160
Forbes at 95 years old. 
I want to still be involved in 

162
00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:48,640
everything, right? 
And hey, that's, that's, that's 

163
00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:50,960
what making those resolutions. 
Will help you with. 

164
00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:53,280
Right, I'm not saying that 
there's nothing to it, but you 

165
00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:55,880
should be consistently looking 
back and looking for ways to 

166
00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:57,720
make the future better than the 
past. 

167
00:07:58,080 --> 00:07:59,960
And I'm not into mythology at 
all, but. 

168
00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:04,640
I read that the month of January
is actually named after one of 

169
00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:08,400
the Roman gods named Janus. 
Janus. 

170
00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:09,680
That's where the month of 
January. 

171
00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:11,920
That's why it's at the beginning
of the year, because supposedly 

172
00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:14,600
this God has a has two faces, 
one that's facing. 

173
00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:16,720
Forward and one that's facing 
backwards. 

174
00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:19,400
I think it's a pretty 
interesting that that they use 

175
00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:22,120
Janus to be the one that named 
January at the beginning of the 

176
00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:23,840
year. 
Look forward, but look back at 

177
00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:25,280
the same time. 
What did I do wrong? 

178
00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:26,920
What did I do right? 
What can I improve on? 

179
00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:28,840
What can I keep doing better 
right? 

180
00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:32,000
It's and so all of those things 
are things that help us while 

181
00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:34,480
we're anticipating the new year,
anticipating the future. 

182
00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:37,039
And so let's talk about what 
lies ahead of us this morning. 

183
00:08:37,039 --> 00:08:39,360
I want to, I just want to share 
with you a few thoughts on this 

184
00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:42,559
idea looking at the new year, 
looking at the new year. 

185
00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:44,720
And I'm not trying to convince 
you to make New Year's 

186
00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:46,200
resolutions. 
That's not the point of the 

187
00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:50,720
message, but I do think that if 
if we if we focus on doing a 

188
00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:54,200
couple things well for the Lord,
then we can accomplish a lot of 

189
00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:56,400
things for him this year. 
And that's the purpose, that's 

190
00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:58,160
the goal. 
That's the point of the message 

191
00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:00,080
this morning. 
Let's pray and ask the Lord's 

192
00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:02,680
help, and then we'll look at a 
few of these things from his 

193
00:09:02,680 --> 00:09:04,440
word this morning. 
Father, again, we thank you so 

194
00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:06,760
much for your goodness to us. 
Thank you for the opportunity 

195
00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:09,000
that we have to be here on this 
last Sunday of the year. 

196
00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:11,680
God, may you help us as we're 
looking forward to this new year

197
00:09:11,680 --> 00:09:14,560
to accomplish. 
Great things for you, not 

198
00:09:14,560 --> 00:09:17,000
because we're setting out to do 
great things, but because we're 

199
00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:19,240
trying to accomplish everything 
that you have for us. 

200
00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:22,880
God, may you, may you help us to
set goals in doing things for 

201
00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:25,400
you, living for you in a way 
that's pleasing to you. 

202
00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:27,560
And may this message help us 
this morning to do that. 

203
00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:30,120
May you speak to our hearts. 
We ask for your power. 

204
00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:32,160
We ask for your presence in the 
service this morning. 

205
00:09:32,680 --> 00:09:35,040
And again, we thank you for all 
you do for us in Jesus name, 

206
00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:38,040
Amen. 
First thing I want you to think 

207
00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:40,960
about is this number one, look 
back and thank God. 

208
00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:44,080
Look back and thank God. 
Turn over to Colossians chapter 

209
00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:46,000
3. 
I think one of the things that 

210
00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:50,120
most of us are the most guilty 
of is not thanking God. 

211
00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:53,280
And I think if you if you 
actually stop and think about 

212
00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:55,640
how often you thank him. 
You know, think about how. 

213
00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:58,240
Often we beg God for things and 
then when He answers that 

214
00:09:58,240 --> 00:09:59,720
prayer, we barely give him 
thanks. 

215
00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:02,760
Think about how many times 
maybe, maybe there's a certain 

216
00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:05,360
thing that you've been asking 
God for, for a long time, 

217
00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:07,840
something that some answered, a 
prayer that you want to see. 

218
00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:09,800
And God finally answers that 
prayer. 

219
00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:13,000
You prayed for it 1000 times and
you barely said thank you. 

220
00:10:13,680 --> 00:10:17,240
Oh, we, we read the story in the
Bible of the, the 10 lepers and 

221
00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:20,200
only one of them came back. 
And every time we tell that 

222
00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:22,960
story or every time we read that
story, we think, how can all 

223
00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:25,880
nine of those just walk away and
not come back and say thank you?

224
00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:30,440
But we do the same thing. 
God, please give us a good day, 

225
00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:32,280
protect us, help us keep us 
safe. 

226
00:10:32,680 --> 00:10:35,360
And He does that, and we just 
ask Him for it again the next 

227
00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:36,520
day. 
We don't say anything about it 

228
00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:38,240
to him. 
We don't thank Him for the 

229
00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:39,720
blessings. 
We don't thank Him for all the 

230
00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:40,960
good things that He's done for 
us. 

231
00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:43,720
We just expect that God's going 
to do it because I asked Him to 

232
00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:46,920
do it right. 
But if we would thank God as 

233
00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:49,560
much or more than we ask God for
things, we would be very 

234
00:10:49,560 --> 00:10:51,720
thankful people and we'd be very
different people. 

235
00:10:52,560 --> 00:10:54,800
Perhaps God would give us so 
many more answers to prayer if 

236
00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:56,640
we took the time to thank Him as
much. 

237
00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:59,280
As we had begged Him for the 
answers in the 1st place, First 

238
00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:03,080
Chronicles chapter 23 and verse 
#30 says and to stand every 

239
00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:07,240
morning to thank and praise the 
Lord and likewise at even. 

240
00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:10,320
Could you imagine if that was a 
habit that we did this year if 

241
00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:12,120
we set that as a New Year's 
resolution? 

242
00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:14,000
I'm going to thank God in the 
morning and I'm going to thank 

243
00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:17,080
God in the evening. 
I'm going to be thankful this 

244
00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:17,760
year. 
I'm going to. 

245
00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:21,040
I'm going to make it a point to 
thank God for what He's done for

246
00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:23,120
me. 
Colossians chapter 3 and verse 

247
00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:25,200
15. 
You're there and let the peace 

248
00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:28,400
of God rule in your hearts to 
the which also ye are called in 

249
00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:32,880
one body and be ye thankful. 
It's pretty sad that God has to 

250
00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:35,920
command us to be thankful. 
That should just be something 

251
00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:38,640
that flows out of a heart of 
gratitude because of everything.

252
00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:41,880
That he's done for us and yet he
has to say, hey, be thankful. 

253
00:11:42,680 --> 00:11:45,320
All these things that I've given
you, be thankful for those 

254
00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:47,720
things. 
That's sad that God has to 

255
00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:50,680
command us to do those things. 
First Thessalonians 5 verse 18 

256
00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:53,360
in everything, give thanks for 
this is the will of God in 

257
00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:56,200
Christ Jesus concerning you. 
I'm trying to figure out what 

258
00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,520
God wants me to do with my life.
Well, I'll tell you one thing. 

259
00:11:58,680 --> 00:12:00,280
His will is for you to be 
thankful. 

260
00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:03,000
Maybe set that as a New Year's 
resolution this year. 

261
00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:05,360
The New Year's a great time for 
reflection. 

262
00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:07,960
But perhaps you made some 
mistakes or perhaps you you 

263
00:12:07,960 --> 00:12:10,120
didn't fulfill your resolutions 
from last year. 

264
00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:12,000
Maybe it's a a rough year 
physically. 

265
00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:16,040
There's no reason to not thank 
God you're still alive. 

266
00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:19,800
If you're saved, you're still on
your way to heaven. 

267
00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:24,080
His grace is still shows itself 
in my life. 

268
00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:28,200
His grace is still sufficient, 
His mercy still extends to me. 

269
00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:31,600
His love is still evident. 
Well, I still even if it was a. 

270
00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:33,400
Rough year. 
I have a lot of things to be 

271
00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:36,440
thankful for. 
Look at how God worked in our 

272
00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:37,960
church. 
Look at how God worked in your 

273
00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:39,880
family. 
Look at how God provided for 

274
00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:42,320
you. 
Thank God for what He did allow 

275
00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:44,880
you to accomplish. 
Thank God for getting you 

276
00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:46,880
through another year. 
Thank God for all of His 

277
00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:49,160
blessings. 
Thank God for who He is. 

278
00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:52,960
There is always something to be 
thankful for in every situation.

279
00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:57,040
It was a story that was written 
about a man who found a barn 

280
00:12:57,040 --> 00:13:00,800
where Satan kept all of the 
seeds that he's sown that he 

281
00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:04,240
sows in the human heart. 
And he found the seeds of 

282
00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:07,080
discouragement were more 
numerous than any of the other 

283
00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:08,880
seeds that were in that entire 
barn. 

284
00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:12,000
And as he was in there looking 
through those different bags, 

285
00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:15,920
Satan walked in. 
And and so he asked Satan a 

286
00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:18,480
question. 
And Satan reluctantly answered 

287
00:13:18,680 --> 00:13:24,960
the question, But he asked him, 
is there a one place that he 

288
00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:29,960
could never get seeds to thrive?
Satan kind of hung his head a 

289
00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:31,400
little bit. 
He said, yeah, I have to admit 

290
00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:34,080
there is one place that is very 
hard to get these seeds to 

291
00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:35,520
thrive. 
And he said it's in the heart. 

292
00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:39,000
Of a very grateful person. 
Obviously that's just a made-up 

293
00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:41,000
story, but that's exactly what 
we find in the Bible. 

294
00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:43,080
When you are thankful, it's hard
to get discouraged. 

295
00:13:43,680 --> 00:13:45,240
When you're thankful, it's hard 
to get down. 

296
00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:48,640
When you're thankful, it's hard 
to, to get to, to, to, to, to 

297
00:13:48,680 --> 00:13:51,280
find yourself in depression, 
right? 

298
00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:54,360
When you're thankful because God
has done so much for us. 

299
00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:57,280
We have so much that we can look
back and thank God for about the

300
00:13:57,280 --> 00:13:59,200
past year. 
Perhaps we need to be a little 

301
00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:02,480
bit more thankful this year, but
I also want you to see this 

302
00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:03,720
number. 
Two, and if you'll turn over to 

303
00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:06,840
Philippians Chapter 3, we'll 
talk about look forward and 

304
00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:10,120
trust God. 
Look back and thank Him, but 

305
00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:13,360
look forward and trust Him. 
Maybe you did have a rough year.

306
00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:16,840
Maybe everything didn't go 
according to the way you thought

307
00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:20,880
it was going to go. 
We do well to take the advice of

308
00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:24,600
the Apostle Paul in Philippians 
chapter 3 and verse #13 

309
00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:28,960
Brethren, I count not myself to 
have apprehended but this one 

310
00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:31,560
thing I do, forgetting those 
things which are behind, and 

311
00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:36,600
reaching forth unto those things
which are before I press toward 

312
00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:40,720
the mark for the prize of the 
high calling of God in Christ 

313
00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:42,560
Jesus. 
Had a wrestling coach. 

314
00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:46,320
We grew up wrestling and one of 
our coaches in particular would 

315
00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:48,080
always get on us about keeping 
our heads up. 

316
00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:49,560
While we were wrestling, he 
said. 

317
00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:51,680
The second you put your head 
down, that's where you're going.

318
00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:54,200
You put your head down, you're 
going to end up on the mat. 

319
00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:55,760
And he and he was right. 
It's it's true. 

320
00:14:55,760 --> 00:14:57,960
You keep your head up. 
You can see everything coming at

321
00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:00,160
you if you keep your head up. 
You can, you can stay on the 

322
00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:02,400
offensive. 
And I think that translates very

323
00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:04,560
well into life as well. 
If you put your head down, you 

324
00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:07,720
mope about all the things that 
that that that are that you were

325
00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:10,280
defeated through this past 
defeat, saying you're never 

326
00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:12,680
going to be able to move on to 
have those future victories. 

327
00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:15,200
Keep your head up. 
Stop moping around about how 

328
00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:17,760
difficult life is. 
Everybody goes for difficult 

329
00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:20,400
things in life. 
What are the people who are 

330
00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:22,760
walking around with a smile on 
their face or not walking around

331
00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:25,000
with a smile on their face 
because everything in their life

332
00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:28,840
is just absolutely wonderful? 
The people who have a a great 

333
00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:31,400
personality and that you love to
be around because they're always

334
00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:33,240
upbeat. 
It's not that nothing ever 

335
00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:35,200
happens in their life and that's
why they're that way. 

336
00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:38,440
They've just chosen to not focus
on the things that they that 

337
00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:39,240
defeated. 
Them. 

338
00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:42,160
They've just chosen to not focus
on the things that get them 

339
00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:43,680
down. 
They focus on the things that 

340
00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:46,720
that lift them up and that lifts
you up when you're around them 

341
00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:48,600
and you want to be around that 
type of person. 

342
00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:52,240
This is not the year to cower 
behind past failures or past 

343
00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:54,360
accomplishments. 
Turn over to Proverbs chapter 3 

344
00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:57,320
so you don't don't look at your 
past and think that God can't 

345
00:15:57,320 --> 00:15:59,680
use you. 
There's so many stories in the 

346
00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:01,480
Bible of men and women who 
failed. 

347
00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:05,200
We looked at four of them last 
week. 4 ladies in the Bible who 

348
00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:10,200
who failed by all accounts. 
And God still used them because 

349
00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:11,440
they didn't dwell on those 
failures. 

350
00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:14,160
But there's many, many people in
the Bible, you look at David, 

351
00:16:14,840 --> 00:16:20,680
boy, if anybody failed in a in a
royal way, it was David and he. 

352
00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:23,600
He he committed adultery, the 
worst of the worst. 

353
00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:26,080
He he had somebody murdered the 
worst of the worst. 

354
00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:31,520
And yet God still was able to 
use David, Rahab, Moses, Joshua 

355
00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:35,320
at AI. 
Oh what a failure. 36 Israelites

356
00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:38,080
died when none of them should 
have died because Joshua failed 

357
00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:40,200
to seek the Lord. 
But he didn't dwell on that past

358
00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:42,560
failure. 
He looked to the Lord and he got

359
00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:44,320
it right and he went forward for
God. 

360
00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:47,480
Paul, Peter, the list could go 
on. 

361
00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:51,120
The Bible says this in Proverbs 
chapter 3 and verse #5 Trust in 

362
00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:54,280
the Lord with all thine heart 
and lean not into thine own 

363
00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:57,480
understanding. 
In all thy ways acknowledge him 

364
00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:02,040
and he shall direct thy paths. 
It's not about you, it's about 

365
00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:04,240
him. 
It's about looking to him. 

366
00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:06,359
Don't look at your past 
accomplishments and think that 

367
00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:08,680
you've accomplished all that 
you're going to accomplish for 

368
00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:10,720
God. 
I think that's what happens in 

369
00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:14,839
in older in older Christians 
lives in in a lot of ways. 

370
00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:21,560
Well, I used to and back back in
the 70s, I did back in the 80s, 

371
00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:25,440
back in the 90s, back when I was
really doing and you start 

372
00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:28,079
talking about all the things 
that you used to do for the Lord

373
00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:32,240
and you're still alive, you're 
still upright, you're still 

374
00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:33,680
walking. 
If you can come to church, then 

375
00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:36,880
you can do things for the Lord. 
And we've got a lot of things 

376
00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:38,920
that you can do in this church 
that don't involve a ton of 

377
00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:42,080
physical exercise. 
You can still accomplish a lot 

378
00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:44,080
for God. 
You still have time left to do 

379
00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:46,840
something for him. 
Don't just say, oh, look at 

380
00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:49,040
everything I've accomplished. 
Hey, it's just as bad as 

381
00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:51,360
somebody who's saying, oh, life 
has been so hard. 

382
00:17:51,360 --> 00:17:54,000
I just can't go forward for God,
right? 

383
00:17:54,360 --> 00:17:56,800
It's, it's, it's no different 
than somebody who's saying, life

384
00:17:56,800 --> 00:17:59,160
has been so good. 
I can't go forward for God, 

385
00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:00,760
right? 
What's the difference? 

386
00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:04,880
We shouldn't focus on those past
defeats because there's still 

387
00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:07,680
more to accomplish for the Lord.
But we shouldn't focus on those 

388
00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:10,880
past successes because there's 
still more to accomplish for the

389
00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:13,240
Lord. 
Rest when you get to heaven, 

390
00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:15,720
right? 
You'll rest when you're dead. 

391
00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:19,240
Do something for the Lord now. 
You still have time and you 

392
00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:21,720
still have an opportunity. 
Don't let your guard down. 

393
00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:24,240
Don't stop driving forward. 
Don't stop trusting. 

394
00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:26,680
God, the same way you said you 
did back then. 

395
00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:31,400
Philippians 413 I press toward 
the mark for the prize of the 

396
00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:33,520
high calling of God in Christ 
Jesus. 

397
00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:36,720
You think about somebody who 
makes it 3/4 of a way through a 

398
00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:42,000
marathon and they get to that 
2122 mile mark and they say wow.

399
00:18:42,320 --> 00:18:44,160
Look at how many miles I've 
already run. 

400
00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:47,280
I think that's pretty good. 
You know what? 

401
00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:49,960
I'm going to stop. 
There, that's a, that's a that's

402
00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:50,920
a great. 
Accomplishment. 

403
00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:52,360
You know what? 
I ran 22. 

404
00:18:52,360 --> 00:18:56,400
Miles and there's still 4.2 
miles left for you to get to the

405
00:18:56,400 --> 00:18:59,160
finish line. 
And it may may be the hardest 

406
00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:01,560
part of the. 
Race because you have the least 

407
00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:06,520
energy, you have the least 
amount left in the tank, but you

408
00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:08,160
still have to go forward for the
Lord. 

409
00:19:08,360 --> 00:19:10,920
There's still a prize to reach. 
There's still something that 

410
00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:13,440
you're trying to gain. 
I press toward the mark for the 

411
00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:16,320
prize of the high calling of God
in Christ Jesus. 

412
00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:18,640
That's what Paul said. 
I think that's that's a a great 

413
00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:21,360
mindset that all of us should 
take into this new year. 

414
00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:24,480
So certainly we should look back
and thank God, but we must look 

415
00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:27,040
forward and trust God. 
And I want you to see this. 

416
00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:29,360
Turn over to Revelation chapter 
3. 

417
00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:35,320
Look within and find God. 
Now don't take this the wrong 

418
00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:36,600
way. 
I'm not saying that all of us 

419
00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:39,040
have a little bit of God in US. 
I'm not going new age on you. 

420
00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:43,160
But what I am saying is this. 
If you have not accepted Jesus 

421
00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:46,720
Christ as your Savior, He's 
standing at your heart's door 

422
00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:49,720
waiting for you to let Him in. 
Revelation chapter 3 and verse 

423
00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:53,240
20 says, Behold, I stand at the 
door and knock. 

424
00:19:54,120 --> 00:19:57,280
If any man hear my voice and 
open the door, I will come in to

425
00:19:57,280 --> 00:19:59,320
him, and we'll Sup with him and 
he with me. 

426
00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:03,080
If you've not accepted Christ as
your Savior, what are you 

427
00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:04,000
waiting? 
For. 

428
00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:06,040
You don't even have to wait for 
the. 

429
00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:08,600
New year to get. 
Here do it as the old years 

430
00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:10,560
going out, except Christ as your
Savior. 

431
00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:13,400
We, we put so much emphasis on 
making sure that we do it the 

432
00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:16,240
right way, that there's 
repentance and there's faith and

433
00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:19,160
all of those things coming 
together that help help us to 

434
00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:21,760
understand that we're sinners 
and that we need a Savior. 

435
00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:25,080
And maybe you've been sitting 
here for a lot of years and 

436
00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:28,000
sitting in another church for a 
lot of years and, and growing up

437
00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:30,960
in a church for a lot of years 
and you've been just relying on 

438
00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:32,840
some past experience and you 
don't know. 

439
00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:34,920
For sure, if you're safe, get it
settled. 

440
00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:38,520
Get it settled, Find God this 
year. 

441
00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:41,920
But I'll say this, turn over to 
Ezekiel chapter 36. 

442
00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:44,680
If you already have Jesus Christ
in your heart, if you already 

443
00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:47,720
know Jesus Christ as your 
Savior, then this is the year. 

444
00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:53,240
To let him work in your life. 
America desperately needs to see

445
00:20:53,360 --> 00:20:56,080
a revival. 
Let it begin in you. 

446
00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:01,480
The great revivals that we see 
throughout history in America, 

447
00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:03,960
but in England and in other 
places that they didn't happen 

448
00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:07,480
because thousands of people got 
on fire for God. 

449
00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:13,680
Usually it was one or two or 
three people who just had a such

450
00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:18,720
a great desire to see God do 
something in their lives, but 

451
00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:21,360
they saw a revival and that 
spread to other people and God 

452
00:21:21,360 --> 00:21:24,280
used it. 
Ezekiel chapter 36 and verse #25

453
00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:27,440
The Bible says, Then will I 
sprinkle clean water upon you? 

454
00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:32,080
And ye shall be clean from all 
your filthiness and from all 

455
00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:35,640
your idols. 
Will I cleanse you a new heart? 

456
00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:38,880
Also will I give you, and a new 
spirit will I put within you, 

457
00:21:39,080 --> 00:21:42,480
and I will take away the Stony 
heart out of your flesh, and I 

458
00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:45,920
will give you an heart of flesh,
and I will put my spirit within 

459
00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:48,720
you and cause you to walk in my 
statutes. 

460
00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:51,600
And you shall keep my judgments 
and do them. 

461
00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:55,480
I wrote this as a devotional few
weeks ago. 

462
00:21:55,480 --> 00:21:58,440
And maybe maybe those who get 
the devotionals, you see this 

463
00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:00,720
but. 
I used the illustration when I 

464
00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:04,560
was in Nepal with Brother Cloud 
and and we didn't have vehicles 

465
00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:05,800
that we got. 
Everybody gets around on a 

466
00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:08,040
scooter and so I just rode 
around in the back of the 

467
00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:09,640
scooter with him everywhere we 
went. 

468
00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:13,240
And he would drop me off at the 
hotel to clean up a little bit 

469
00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:15,840
and an hour or two later and he 
would come back and pick me up 

470
00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:18,280
for the for the service. 
I preached the a bunch of the 

471
00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:21,760
evening services and, and I, I 
got back from riding on. 

472
00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:23,320
We went to a couple different 
places. 

473
00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:25,480
We went and and visited a couple
different people and did a 

474
00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:27,880
couple of different things and 
he dropped me back off at the 

475
00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:29,760
hotel and I just, you know, I 
didn't. 

476
00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:30,880
I didn't. 
I didn't. 

477
00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:32,560
Feel dirty. 
It wasn't like I needed to go 

478
00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:35,520
get a shower, but I had some 
little little white face wipes 

479
00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:38,320
that I carry with me everywhere.
So I just, I just decided, you 

480
00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:40,080
know what, I'm just going to 
wipe the sweat off my face a 

481
00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:41,520
little bit. 
I started wiping that thing off 

482
00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:44,640
and when I pulled it away my 
whole rag was black. 

483
00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:48,360
And I thought. 
How in the world? 

484
00:22:48,360 --> 00:22:51,040
But what I realized was that I 
look in the mirror and I can't 

485
00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:54,840
really see much of it, right? 
But all of that dust and all of 

486
00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:57,800
that grime and all of the, the 
filth from that city was just 

487
00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:01,280
collecting all over me. 
I I couldn't see it because I 

488
00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:03,120
wasn't looking at it under a 
microscope. 

489
00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:05,400
Right. 
But when I take something white 

490
00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:08,920
and I use it and I'll wipe my 
face with it, it becomes very 

491
00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:11,640
obvious that there was a lot of 
grime and dust and dirt on my 

492
00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:14,320
face. 
And that's exactly what happens 

493
00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:16,880
when we get into the Word of 
God, when we have a desire for 

494
00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:19,480
revival and we let the Word of 
God get into us. 

495
00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:23,480
What you see is I'm a whole lot 
filthier than I think that I am.

496
00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:27,480
Oh, I can look in the mirror of 
of everybody else and compare 

497
00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:30,000
myself to everybody else. 
And I may not look that dirty. 

498
00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:33,000
I may not look that bad. 
But when I compare myself to the

499
00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:36,720
whiteness of God's Word and the 
whiteness of His Holiness and 

500
00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:40,320
His purity, boy, I see that I 
really am a dirty person before 

501
00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:42,320
God. 
And that's what he says. 

502
00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:45,160
Then I'll sprinkle clean water 
upon you, and you shall be clean

503
00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:47,640
from all your filthiness and 
from all your idols. 

504
00:23:47,640 --> 00:23:50,240
I will cleanse you. 
That's what we need. 

505
00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:53,640
First Peter chapter 1 and verse 
#3 Blessed be the God and Father

506
00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:56,800
of our Lord Jesus Christ, which,
according to His abundant mercy,

507
00:23:56,800 --> 00:23:59,760
hath begotten us again unto a 
lively hope. 

508
00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:03,080
By the resurrection of Jesus 
Christ from the dead. 

509
00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:07,440
We're so we're so used to 
swaying with the latest trend in

510
00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:10,720
in culture in our lives and in 
our churches that we don't even 

511
00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:12,480
know how to get a hold of God 
anymore. 

512
00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:16,120
If somebody came to you and said
I really. 

513
00:24:16,120 --> 00:24:17,960
Need to get you. 
I need you to get a hold of God 

514
00:24:17,960 --> 00:24:19,720
on this matter. 
Could you do it? 

515
00:24:21,120 --> 00:24:23,480
Do you know how? 
Where would you start? 

516
00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:26,960
Or would it just be God? 
I'm back. 

517
00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:29,120
I met you this morning, but I'm.
I'm here again. 

518
00:24:29,120 --> 00:24:30,640
I need to bring this matter 
before you. 

519
00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:34,560
The truth is, most Christians 
have no idea how to get a hold 

520
00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:36,680
of God. 
Because we're not worried about 

521
00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:39,840
making sure that we're clean 
before him or make we, we just 

522
00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:42,120
try to make sure that we're 
clean before everybody else. 

523
00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:46,120
As long as I look OK to the rest
of the people, then I'm good. 

524
00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:50,160
I want to be clean before God. 
I want to be able to get a hold 

525
00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:51,840
of God. 
I want to be able to have power 

526
00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:55,520
with him when the difficult 
times come. 

527
00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:58,520
And they, they surely will in 
this new year. 

528
00:24:58,520 --> 00:25:00,520
I need to be on on praying 
ground. 

529
00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:03,680
I need to, I need to know how to
get in touch with God. 

530
00:25:05,560 --> 00:25:07,920
In fact, most of the things that
we endure, we are doing because 

531
00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:10,400
God's trying. 
To make us stronger so we can be

532
00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:13,800
more like Him. 
And we don't see it that way 

533
00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:16,800
many times, but but we go 
through difficulties. 

534
00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:19,880
And why does God allow trials to
happen in our lives? 

535
00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:21,720
Because He's trying to make our 
life hard. 

536
00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:23,960
No, I know the thoughts that I 
think towards you. 

537
00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:27,600
Say it the Lord, thoughts of 
peace and not of evil, to give 

538
00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:30,880
you an expected end. 
Then shall you go and pray unto 

539
00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:34,760
me, and I will hearken unto you,
and you shall seek me, and find 

540
00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:38,360
me, when you shall search for me
with all your heart. 

541
00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:40,120
That's where He's trying to get 
us. 

542
00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:43,040
He's trying to get us to the 
point where we come to the end 

543
00:25:43,040 --> 00:25:47,440
of ourselves. 
I'm not relying on me anymore. 

544
00:25:48,080 --> 00:25:52,080
I'm not relying on my, my 
talents and my abilities and my,

545
00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:55,760
my, my anything. 
I'm relying on him to use. 

546
00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:59,000
Me. 
He's trying to get our attention

547
00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:01,680
to show us where we are wrong 
and where we can do better. 

548
00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:04,960
Set your affection on things 
above, not on things on the 

549
00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:07,160
earth, he says in Colossians 
chapter 3 and verse two. 

550
00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:10,680
Problem with a lot of people is 
that their affections are set on

551
00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:12,640
things on the earth instead of 
on things of God. 

552
00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:17,280
One pastor said it this way. 
I should set my affection just 

553
00:26:17,280 --> 00:26:20,880
like you set a thermostat. 
I make a decision about where it

554
00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:22,480
should be and then I keep it set
there. 

555
00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:26,000
Most people are a lot more like 
a thermometer than a thermostat.

556
00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:29,560
While the thermostat controls 
the atmosphere, a thermometer 

557
00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:31,960
just goes up or down according 
to the temperature around it. 

558
00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:36,840
He said we need to set our 
affection both in our marriage 

559
00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:39,320
and in our walk with God and 
make sure we keep bringing it 

560
00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:41,840
back to the right place whenever
it begins to drift. 

561
00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:47,440
Boy with a great analogy, most 
Christians, most Christians are 

562
00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:48,880
not thermostats. 
Most Christians are 

563
00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:51,640
thermometers. 
What's the what's the what's 

564
00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:53,880
popular right now? 
OK, let me do this. 

565
00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:57,000
What's not popular? 
Oh, OK, let me stop doing that. 

566
00:26:57,800 --> 00:26:59,720
They just, they just respond to 
culture. 

567
00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:02,240
They just respond to what 
everything, what everybody else 

568
00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:04,720
is doing. 
And I want to be a thermostat. 

569
00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:05,480
I'm going. 
To set my. 

570
00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:07,680
Affection on things above and 
I'm going to stay there. 

571
00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:10,080
That's what that's what we're 
talking about. 

572
00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:12,360
Did you notice that there was 
one thing that was that was 

573
00:27:12,360 --> 00:27:16,040
curiously missing from the list 
of all the resolutions, The top,

574
00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:19,280
I think, I think, I think they 
gave probably the top 20 

575
00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:23,880
resolutions and, and none of 
them, nowhere on the list did it

576
00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:27,880
say I want to get closer to God.
Nowhere on that list did it say 

577
00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:30,120
I want to see a revival in my 
own life. 

578
00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:32,960
Nowhere on that list did it say 
I want to pray more for others 

579
00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:35,640
or I want to pray, pray more for
my own spiritual life. 

580
00:27:35,640 --> 00:27:38,800
Nowhere on that list. 
And isn't that so indicative of 

581
00:27:38,800 --> 00:27:41,000
our age? 
But the sad thing is, it's so 

582
00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:44,640
indicative of Christianity, too.
I wonder how many of those 

583
00:27:44,640 --> 00:27:46,760
people that were polled would 
claim to be a Christian. 

584
00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:48,920
Probably a lot of them. 
Enough that they could actually 

585
00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:51,880
at least register on the list of
percentages of people who want 

586
00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:56,320
to be right with God. 
But what about your resolutions?

587
00:27:56,520 --> 00:28:00,280
Is it all about health? 
Is it all about improving 

588
00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:01,960
physically? 
Is it all about improving? 

589
00:28:02,640 --> 00:28:04,880
Your your state in life. 
I want to make more money this 

590
00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:06,240
year. 
I want to save money this year. 

591
00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:07,920
I want to I want to try to do 
this. 

592
00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:09,200
I want to try to accomplish 
that. 

593
00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:11,280
I want to try to go here. 
I want to try to do this and 

594
00:28:11,280 --> 00:28:13,880
that. 
What is your list of resolutions

595
00:28:13,880 --> 00:28:17,240
look like? 
Hey, somebody who's serious. 

596
00:28:18,120 --> 00:28:19,560
You. 
You've got to be very specific 

597
00:28:19,560 --> 00:28:21,280
about it. 
Not I want to pray more. 

598
00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:24,920
That's, that's not, you're not 
going to do it, but I'm going to

599
00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:28,080
pray 30 minutes a day. 
Or every day at this time, I'm 

600
00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:31,440
going to wake up and read my 
Bible or I'm going to accomplish

601
00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:34,520
this this year for the Lord. 
You've got to be specific about 

602
00:28:34,520 --> 00:28:37,040
it and then make yourself a 
checklist. 

603
00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:39,920
So you're checking it off every 
single day, right? 

604
00:28:39,920 --> 00:28:42,480
So it's why when you, when you 
go to put your shoes on and you 

605
00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:44,680
go to, you don't think about how
you're tying your shoes because 

606
00:28:44,680 --> 00:28:46,480
you've done it so many times. 
You just tie it and you keep 

607
00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:48,160
going. 
A lot of times you look down and

608
00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:49,280
you're like, when did I tie 
those? 

609
00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:51,120
I don't even remember tying it, 
right? 

610
00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:53,880
You don't think about how you 
brush your teeth because you've 

611
00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:55,000
brushed your teeth so many 
times. 

612
00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:56,960
You're probably doing other 
stuff while you're brushing your

613
00:28:56,960 --> 00:28:58,320
teeth because you've done it so 
much. 

614
00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:01,400
It's easy. 
It's a habit, right? 

615
00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:03,800
And not that reading your Bible 
should become just something 

616
00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:06,640
that you do to do, but it 
shouldn't even be a question. 

617
00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:09,600
I wake up, I read my Bible, I 
have my prayer time. 

618
00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:12,360
I do this, I do that. 
Whatever it happens to be that 

619
00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:14,920
you want to accomplish for the 
Lord, right? 

620
00:29:15,920 --> 00:29:18,680
Set a goal and accomplish it for
the Lord. 

621
00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:22,160
Most Christians are going to fit
into the category of trying to 

622
00:29:22,160 --> 00:29:25,200
improve their physical life or 
their appearance or whatever 

623
00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:27,360
without a care in the world of 
what their heart looks like 

624
00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:30,760
before God. 
Turn over to Hosea chapter 10. 

625
00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:35,960
What a great year to truly find 
God. 

626
00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:38,520
And that's what I say. 
Look inside and find God. 

627
00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:40,920
I'm not saying that oh, we've 
all got a little God in US. 

628
00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:44,960
I'm saying what a great year to 
truly seek the Lord and find 

629
00:29:44,960 --> 00:29:46,440
Him. 
That's exactly what the text is 

630
00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:50,760
saying in Jeremiah 29. 
And you shall seek me and find 

631
00:29:50,760 --> 00:29:53,960
me when you shall search for me 
with all your heart. 

632
00:29:54,400 --> 00:29:57,960
That requires looking inside to 
see what's there, requires being

633
00:29:57,960 --> 00:30:01,440
totally honest with yourself. 
That's the problem with most of 

634
00:30:01,440 --> 00:30:02,400
us. 
We're not honest. 

635
00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:07,600
We we lied to ourselves and say,
well, I'm better than I really 

636
00:30:07,600 --> 00:30:10,400
AM. 
But The thing is, you know the 

637
00:30:10,400 --> 00:30:12,560
truth. 
You know who you are. 

638
00:30:13,080 --> 00:30:14,560
You know how you are. 
Why? 

639
00:30:14,560 --> 00:30:16,960
Why lie to yourself? 
What advantage do you have of 

640
00:30:16,960 --> 00:30:19,680
lying to yourself? 
Be honest with yourself. 

641
00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:22,080
Be honest with God. 
Most of the things that you do 

642
00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:24,400
that are not right, you know 
they're not right, and you 

643
00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:27,800
choose to do them anyway. 
Most of the things that you 

644
00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:31,840
don't do, that you know you 
should be doing, you choose to 

645
00:30:31,840 --> 00:30:36,680
ignore, against the prodding of 
the Holy Spirit, God's telling. 

646
00:30:36,680 --> 00:30:39,720
You you need to do this, You 
need to start doing this. 

647
00:30:39,720 --> 00:30:42,480
You need to stop doing that. 
Whatever it happens to be, we 

648
00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:46,160
know what they are, and the Holy
Spirit is prodding us to do 

649
00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:48,960
those things, or the Holy Spirit
is prodding us not to do those 

650
00:30:48,960 --> 00:30:50,760
things, and we ignore that 
prodding. 

651
00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:55,200
The saddest thing is when God 
gets to the point where He stops

652
00:30:55,200 --> 00:30:59,560
doing. 
That Could you imagine what life

653
00:30:59,560 --> 00:31:02,360
would be like if you had no 
prodding of the Holy Spirit 

654
00:31:03,240 --> 00:31:07,040
because He gave up on you? 
Turn you over to your flesh, 

655
00:31:07,040 --> 00:31:08,480
because you just. 
You, you, you. 

656
00:31:08,480 --> 00:31:12,640
Seared your conscience. 
And the Holy Spirit has grieved 

657
00:31:12,640 --> 00:31:15,760
so much that he just says, fine,
go live your life the way that 

658
00:31:15,760 --> 00:31:17,200
you want to live your life. 
Could you imagine? 

659
00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:20,240
If God just decided to stop 
using you. 

660
00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:25,520
But there's a lot of Christians 
that are in that category 

661
00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:28,400
already. 
Because your life is so dirty 

662
00:31:28,400 --> 00:31:31,400
and you don't even recognize it,
right? 

663
00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:34,960
The same way that I've used this
illustration many times. 

664
00:31:35,760 --> 00:31:38,600
You go, you don't go pull a 
dirty cup out of the sink and 

665
00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:40,360
look at it and say, oh, wonder 
what was in there. 

666
00:31:40,360 --> 00:31:41,720
Let me fill it up with water and
drink it. 

667
00:31:42,720 --> 00:31:43,720
Right. 
You don't do that. 

668
00:31:45,240 --> 00:31:48,840
You want a clean vessel. 
You're going to get a clean cup 

669
00:31:48,840 --> 00:31:50,880
out of this, out of the cabinet 
and you're going to use that 

670
00:31:50,880 --> 00:31:54,840
because that's what I want to 
use and and the God is the same 

671
00:31:54,840 --> 00:31:56,160
way. 
And yet we think. 

672
00:31:56,160 --> 00:31:58,480
What's wrong with this? 
It's just a little bit of dirt. 

673
00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:01,960
Why can't you use this? 
It's it's not that dirty. 

674
00:32:01,960 --> 00:32:04,520
Look at everybody else. 
Look how dirty that cup is. 

675
00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:06,280
Of course you would never use 
that one. 

676
00:32:06,280 --> 00:32:08,520
But I don't have that much dirt 
in me. 

677
00:32:09,200 --> 00:32:13,080
Surely you can use me, but you 
wouldn't do that. 

678
00:32:13,080 --> 00:32:14,600
Why do you expect God to do 
that? 

679
00:32:15,480 --> 00:32:18,840
And he's very plain. 
He says that he's looking for 

680
00:32:18,840 --> 00:32:22,120
vessels unto honor, but there 
are also some vessels under 

681
00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:25,040
dishonor. 
It's still a vessel, but it's 

682
00:32:25,040 --> 00:32:28,000
not a vessel that he's going to 
use because it's dirty. 

683
00:32:30,240 --> 00:32:32,240
When I say we need to look 
inside and find God, He's 

684
00:32:32,240 --> 00:32:33,840
already there. 
Most of the time He's just 

685
00:32:33,840 --> 00:32:37,680
buried under so much trash that 
we've just kept throwing into 

686
00:32:37,680 --> 00:32:39,880
our lives and never went in and 
cleaned out. 

687
00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:41,880
That's what He's waiting for us 
to do. 

688
00:32:42,560 --> 00:32:46,200
Hosea chapter 10 and verse #12 
The Bible says so to yourselves 

689
00:32:46,200 --> 00:32:49,160
and righteousness, reap in 
mercy. 

690
00:32:49,920 --> 00:32:55,520
Break up your fallow ground, for
it is time to seek the Lord till

691
00:32:55,520 --> 00:32:57,200
He come and reign righteousness 
upon you. 

692
00:32:58,200 --> 00:33:00,640
We need to get the sin out. 
We need to. 

693
00:33:00,640 --> 00:33:03,200
Get the weeds out. 
We need to get the, we need the 

694
00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:06,560
oil, the hinges on the door of 
our hearts and let God back in 

695
00:33:06,560 --> 00:33:08,440
there and let him come in and 
clean house. 

696
00:33:09,120 --> 00:33:12,480
And instead of having certain 
rooms that we've blocked off, we

697
00:33:12,480 --> 00:33:15,840
need to let him in. 
Let him go into those secret 

698
00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:18,960
places that you have that nobody
else knows about God. 

699
00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:22,480
Already knows about him anyway. 
This is the whole, the whole top

700
00:33:22,480 --> 00:33:24,480
is cut off of your house and 
he's already looking at it from 

701
00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:26,480
the top. 
He sees all of the junk in the 

702
00:33:26,480 --> 00:33:29,240
garbage that's in there anyway. 
And here we are looking like 

703
00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:30,400
this. 
All the doors locked. 

704
00:33:30,400 --> 00:33:32,840
Nobody can get inside. 
I'm hiding this. 

705
00:33:32,840 --> 00:33:34,560
This is just me. 
I'm the only one that knows 

706
00:33:34,560 --> 00:33:36,840
about this. 
It's naked and opened unto the 

707
00:33:36,840 --> 00:33:38,760
eyes of Him with whom we have to
do. 

708
00:33:39,440 --> 00:33:42,080
That's what the Bible says. 
He sees it all anyway. 

709
00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:45,040
Why don't you just let him get 
in there and clean it out? 

710
00:33:46,840 --> 00:33:50,520
Ask him to honestly show you. 
What things you should get rid 

711
00:33:50,520 --> 00:33:51,760
of. 
And I promise you that he'll do 

712
00:33:51,760 --> 00:33:54,840
it. 
The problem is, most people 

713
00:33:54,840 --> 00:33:57,960
don't want God shining a light 
in those dark corners. 

714
00:33:59,320 --> 00:34:02,800
You already know what it is. 
You just don't want him to bring

715
00:34:02,800 --> 00:34:05,480
it to light. 
You just don't want him to put a

716
00:34:05,480 --> 00:34:08,120
finger on it. 
You know what David could say? 

717
00:34:08,120 --> 00:34:11,440
Search me, O God, and know my 
heart. 

718
00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:13,639
Try me. 
And see if there. 

719
00:34:13,639 --> 00:34:15,800
Be any wicked way in me. 
You know why David could say 

720
00:34:15,800 --> 00:34:17,440
that? 
Because he had gotten out 

721
00:34:17,440 --> 00:34:19,080
everything that he knew was in 
there. 

722
00:34:19,719 --> 00:34:22,719
You're not going to pray that 
prayer if you know exactly what 

723
00:34:22,719 --> 00:34:26,400
God's going to put his finger on
as soon as you ask him, right? 

724
00:34:26,760 --> 00:34:28,560
You're going to go clean it up 
first and then you're going to 

725
00:34:28,560 --> 00:34:32,120
say, God, as far as I know, 
everything is out, everything is

726
00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:33,280
clean. 
And I feel like I'm in a 

727
00:34:33,280 --> 00:34:37,920
position where you can use me, 
but God search me, try me, know 

728
00:34:37,920 --> 00:34:40,239
my heart. 
See if there's anything in there

729
00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:42,040
if there is. 
I'll get it out. 

730
00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:42,719
I'll. 
Clean it. 

731
00:34:43,719 --> 00:34:47,199
That's the intention of that. 
That's the intention of David's 

732
00:34:47,199 --> 00:34:48,320
question. 
Search me. 

733
00:34:48,320 --> 00:34:51,880
Oh God. 
Can you say that this morning? 

734
00:34:53,880 --> 00:34:56,679
Can you honestly ask God? 
Come in and search my heart. 

735
00:34:57,720 --> 00:35:00,400
I want you to find everything 
because I've already gotten. 

736
00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:03,040
Out everything that I know. 
That's there, but you come in 

737
00:35:03,040 --> 00:35:06,480
and search me, take a flashlight
and shine it into every dark 

738
00:35:06,480 --> 00:35:10,160
corner I. 
Bet you wouldn't want somebody 

739
00:35:10,160 --> 00:35:11,520
to come and do that in your 
house, would you? 

740
00:35:12,680 --> 00:35:16,280
There's cobwebs in those corners
and some of those places, right?

741
00:35:16,920 --> 00:35:19,160
I'm glad that corner's dark 
because you can't really see 

742
00:35:19,160 --> 00:35:23,600
over there, right? 
But when you shine a light, oh, 

743
00:35:23,720 --> 00:35:26,040
wow, I didn't, I didn't see that
before. 

744
00:35:26,040 --> 00:35:28,280
But now it's really obvious, you
know, let me get the let me get 

745
00:35:28,280 --> 00:35:30,920
the broom and clean that. 
Out a little bit right, That's 

746
00:35:30,920 --> 00:35:35,000
what search me oh God is about. 
Hey shine it on even the small 

747
00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:37,720
cobwebs that that that even I 
can't really see. 

748
00:35:39,040 --> 00:35:42,720
I don't want him to be there. 
If there's a cobweb, even if 

749
00:35:42,720 --> 00:35:45,280
it's not really visible, it's 
still not clean. 

750
00:35:45,520 --> 00:35:47,800
I want it to be as clean as it 
can possibly be. 

751
00:35:48,480 --> 00:35:52,040
God, please search my heart, try
me, know my thoughts. 

752
00:35:52,040 --> 00:35:54,960
And see if there's any wicked 
way in me, and lead me in the 

753
00:35:55,240 --> 00:36:00,200
way everlasting. 
Romans chapter 13 The Bible says

754
00:36:00,200 --> 00:36:03,880
in that knowing the time that 
now it is high time to awake out

755
00:36:03,880 --> 00:36:07,080
of sleep. 
For now is our salvation nearer 

756
00:36:07,080 --> 00:36:10,000
than when we believe. 
See, the church is a sleeping 

757
00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:12,400
giant, and the devil's fine with
that. 

758
00:36:13,960 --> 00:36:15,720
A giant that's asleep is not 
dangerous. 

759
00:36:17,920 --> 00:36:21,000
He could be the meanest, 
baddest, biggest giant out there

760
00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:22,320
with the. 
Best armor and the. 

761
00:36:22,320 --> 00:36:24,920
Best weapons? 
If he's asleep, he's not doing 

762
00:36:24,920 --> 00:36:27,000
anything. 
He's got potential. 

763
00:36:28,320 --> 00:36:29,840
Wake him up and see what 
happens. 

764
00:36:31,640 --> 00:36:33,480
The devil's fine with a sleeping
church. 

765
00:36:33,920 --> 00:36:36,080
Devil's fine with a sleeping 
Christian. 

766
00:36:36,240 --> 00:36:40,720
You're not a threat to him when 
you're asleep, but the Bible 

767
00:36:40,720 --> 00:36:43,400
says now is high time to awake 
out of sleep. 

768
00:36:44,520 --> 00:36:47,480
We need men and women who awake 
to righteousness and say this is

769
00:36:47,480 --> 00:36:49,360
the year that I'm really going 
to get right with God. 

770
00:36:50,120 --> 00:36:51,960
We need young men and young 
ladies. 

771
00:36:51,960 --> 00:36:54,400
We need boys and girls who say 
I'm just, I'm just determined 

772
00:36:54,400 --> 00:36:55,760
that I'm going to do what's 
right. 

773
00:36:56,160 --> 00:36:58,960
When God points something out in
my life, I'm going to fix it. 

774
00:36:59,960 --> 00:37:01,160
I'm not going to fight against 
it. 

775
00:37:01,840 --> 00:37:03,800
I'm not going to, I'm not going 
to argue with him. 

776
00:37:05,200 --> 00:37:06,200
I'm just going to fix it. 
I'm just. 

777
00:37:06,200 --> 00:37:07,520
Going to do what God wants me to
do. 

778
00:37:09,360 --> 00:37:11,520
If the church ever awakens from 
her slumber, she's going to be a

779
00:37:11,520 --> 00:37:14,640
force to be reckoned with. 
But until then, the devil is 

780
00:37:14,640 --> 00:37:16,720
perfectly content to let the 
Christians sleep, because when 

781
00:37:16,720 --> 00:37:18,760
they're asleep, they're not 
effective in God's service. 

782
00:37:20,240 --> 00:37:23,520
And the devil's hope is that the
church will stay asleep until 

783
00:37:23,520 --> 00:37:27,400
Christ comes back. 
Time for the church to wake up. 

784
00:37:28,320 --> 00:37:32,080
Time for Christians to wake up. 
It's high time. 

785
00:37:32,320 --> 00:37:38,080
It's high time. 
To awake out of sleep, turn over

786
00:37:38,080 --> 00:37:40,360
to John chapter #4 and we'll be 
finished. 

787
00:37:41,680 --> 00:37:47,000
John chapter #4 The last thing I
want you to see is this. 

788
00:37:48,480 --> 00:37:51,040
Not only should we look back and
thank God, we must look forward 

789
00:37:51,040 --> 00:37:52,800
and trust God. 
We must look within and find 

790
00:37:52,800 --> 00:37:55,800
God. 
But lastly, look around and 

791
00:37:55,800 --> 00:37:59,800
serve God. 
John chapter 4 and verse #35 The

792
00:37:59,800 --> 00:38:02,720
Bible says, Say not ye, there 
are yet four months, and then 

793
00:38:02,720 --> 00:38:06,480
cometh the harvest. 
Behold, I say unto you, lift up 

794
00:38:06,480 --> 00:38:10,440
your eyes and look on the 
fields, for they are white, all 

795
00:38:10,440 --> 00:38:16,080
ready to harvest. 
If we could see the world as 

796
00:38:16,080 --> 00:38:21,840
being filled with people who are
so deceived, so lost on their 

797
00:38:21,840 --> 00:38:24,440
way to hell, it would change the
way we work for God. 

798
00:38:24,760 --> 00:38:27,640
We have so much to accomplish 
for God and so little time to 

799
00:38:27,640 --> 00:38:31,080
accomplish it. 
You think about just just our 

800
00:38:31,080 --> 00:38:33,960
little area. 
I mean, that's not, there's 8 

801
00:38:34,080 --> 00:38:37,320
billion people, over 8 billion 
people in the world. 

802
00:38:38,360 --> 00:38:41,120
That's a lot of people. 
If you actually started 

803
00:38:41,120 --> 00:38:42,840
counting, I mean, I don't know 
how long it would take you to 

804
00:38:42,840 --> 00:38:46,440
count to 8 billion, but that's a
huge, huge number. 

805
00:38:47,240 --> 00:38:53,040
And just in this area we have 
400,000 people, 350,000. 

806
00:38:53,040 --> 00:38:57,160
People in Henrico County, many 
of them that don't know Christ 

807
00:38:57,160 --> 00:39:00,480
as their savior. 
I don't believe in Calvinism. 

808
00:39:00,480 --> 00:39:03,600
God did not predestined some for
heaven and some for hell. 

809
00:39:04,120 --> 00:39:06,520
Maybe you never thought about 
that idea before, but most of us

810
00:39:06,520 --> 00:39:08,720
would agree that according to 
the Bible, God gives every man a

811
00:39:08,720 --> 00:39:10,840
free will. 
There's a choice to decide if 

812
00:39:10,840 --> 00:39:12,880
you're going to accept him or if
you're going to reject. 

813
00:39:12,880 --> 00:39:14,760
Him. 
But most people are not 

814
00:39:14,760 --> 00:39:16,680
interested in going on and 
knocking on doors. 

815
00:39:19,480 --> 00:39:21,000
Well, if they're going to get 
saved, they're going to get 

816
00:39:21,000 --> 00:39:22,520
saved anyway. 
Not. 

817
00:39:22,520 --> 00:39:25,760
Not if you don't tell them. 
Not if you don't tell them they 

818
00:39:25,760 --> 00:39:28,920
have a free will. 
They're not destined predestined

819
00:39:28,920 --> 00:39:32,040
to be saved or not saved. 
See, and that's, that's what 

820
00:39:32,040 --> 00:39:34,120
that's one of the things that 
Calvinism does for soul winning.

821
00:39:34,120 --> 00:39:35,360
Well, why do I need to go soul 
winning? 

822
00:39:35,360 --> 00:39:38,240
They're going to get saved or 
they're not God's not going to 

823
00:39:38,240 --> 00:39:40,200
come back until the last one 
that he's predestined to be 

824
00:39:40,200 --> 00:39:43,800
saved is going to be saved. 
No, they have a choice. 

825
00:39:44,680 --> 00:39:47,200
And if somebody doesn't tell 
them they're going to die in 

826
00:39:47,200 --> 00:39:50,640
their sins and they're going to 
spend an eternity in hell. 

827
00:39:51,800 --> 00:39:54,200
Oh, even the people in in Africa
who have never heard. 

828
00:39:54,320 --> 00:39:56,640
Yes, even the people in Africa 
who have never heard. 

829
00:39:57,440 --> 00:40:01,400
Because somebody. 
God designed to tell that didn't

830
00:40:01,600 --> 00:40:05,320
answer that call and they didn't
leave the person who was going 

831
00:40:05,320 --> 00:40:07,720
to go to that little tribe and 
tell them and they didn't leave 

832
00:40:07,720 --> 00:40:09,640
the person who's going to go to 
that little tribe and tell them 

833
00:40:09,640 --> 00:40:13,040
because they they're going to 
get saved. 

834
00:40:13,040 --> 00:40:15,120
Or they're not. 
No, we have the we have the 

835
00:40:15,120 --> 00:40:19,120
responsibility to tell them. 
Most people are not interested 

836
00:40:19,120 --> 00:40:22,160
in handing out gospel tracts to 
the gas station clerk or the 

837
00:40:22,160 --> 00:40:24,280
worker at at the drive through 
window. 

838
00:40:24,480 --> 00:40:27,040
Most people are not going to 
take time out of their schedule 

839
00:40:27,040 --> 00:40:29,720
to talk to their Co worker or 
talk to their neighbors about 

840
00:40:29,720 --> 00:40:31,200
Christ. 
Do you know who your neighbor 

841
00:40:31,200 --> 00:40:36,200
is? 
If you do, then go invite him to

842
00:40:36,200 --> 00:40:39,360
church. 
If you don't, go get to know 

843
00:40:39,360 --> 00:40:40,880
them so you can invite him to 
church. 

844
00:40:41,800 --> 00:40:43,720
But it's not about it just 
inviting them to church. 

845
00:40:43,720 --> 00:40:45,480
It's about inviting them to 
Christ. 

846
00:40:46,680 --> 00:40:49,080
All responsibility is to give 
them the gospel. 

847
00:40:49,080 --> 00:40:52,600
Our responsibility is to see 
them come to know Jesus Christ 

848
00:40:52,600 --> 00:40:54,960
as their Savior. 
Don't pretend to love sinners 

849
00:40:54,960 --> 00:40:57,520
the way that Jesus Christ loves 
sinners if you don't even know 

850
00:40:57,520 --> 00:41:00,720
who your neighbor is and you've 
never tried to give them the 

851
00:41:00,720 --> 00:41:04,680
gospel. 
We have such a tremendous 

852
00:41:04,680 --> 00:41:07,080
responsibility laid on our 
shoulders as Christians. 

853
00:41:07,240 --> 00:41:10,360
We have the answers to the 
questions of life, and Jesus 

854
00:41:10,360 --> 00:41:13,640
Christ is that answer. 
And you'll sit there on the 

855
00:41:13,640 --> 00:41:16,960
fence and talk all day long 
about cryptocurrency and about 

856
00:41:17,320 --> 00:41:19,880
AI and about all these other 
different things that are, that 

857
00:41:19,880 --> 00:41:22,040
are big issues in the world 
right now. 

858
00:41:22,480 --> 00:41:25,360
And you'll be very opinionated 
about those things and you'll 

859
00:41:25,360 --> 00:41:27,720
disagree with them and you'll 
argue with them and you'll have 

860
00:41:27,960 --> 00:41:29,840
a conversations with your 
coworkers. 

861
00:41:29,840 --> 00:41:31,760
You don't have any problem 
telling them they're wrong about

862
00:41:31,760 --> 00:41:34,960
those things. 
But then it comes to Christ and.

863
00:41:35,040 --> 00:41:38,400
Well, what are they going to 
think if I tell them that you 

864
00:41:38,400 --> 00:41:41,160
don't care about anything else? 
Why does it? 

865
00:41:41,160 --> 00:41:43,440
Why is all of a sudden you're 
afraid to share the message of 

866
00:41:43,440 --> 00:41:45,280
the gospel? 
That's what they need more than 

867
00:41:45,280 --> 00:41:49,640
anything. 
They need Christ. 

868
00:41:50,200 --> 00:41:52,200
Are you willing to share Christ 
with them? 

869
00:41:53,800 --> 00:41:56,520
This year might very well be the
last year you have an 

870
00:41:56,520 --> 00:41:58,600
opportunity to look around and 
serve Jesus Christ. 

871
00:41:59,880 --> 00:42:01,240
He might take you home this 
year. 

872
00:42:02,440 --> 00:42:06,720
He might come back this year. 
This may be the last opportunity

873
00:42:06,720 --> 00:42:11,080
that you have that that coworker
that you have that that that 

874
00:42:11,080 --> 00:42:14,120
that family member that you have
that is not saved. 

875
00:42:14,400 --> 00:42:17,800
This might be the last year you 
have an opportunity to lead him 

876
00:42:17,800 --> 00:42:20,200
to Christ. 
Are you going to do it? 

877
00:42:20,200 --> 00:42:22,400
Are you? 
Going to be faithful to at least

878
00:42:22,400 --> 00:42:24,800
share the gospel with them. 
You can't make him get saved, 

879
00:42:24,800 --> 00:42:27,760
but you sure can't tell them. 
You can plead with them. 

880
00:42:28,360 --> 00:42:31,960
You can beg them the same way 
that if somebody was drowning 

881
00:42:31,960 --> 00:42:35,240
and you said, hey, let me throw 
you this life preserver, let me 

882
00:42:35,240 --> 00:42:38,120
pull you up, I'm good right now.
I'm fine. 

883
00:42:38,840 --> 00:42:42,440
My head's still above water. 
All right, Well, whatever. 

884
00:42:42,440 --> 00:42:45,120
They had the chance to let them 
drown, all right? 

885
00:42:45,120 --> 00:42:46,760
You're not going to do that. 
You're going to keep your head 

886
00:42:46,760 --> 00:42:48,560
over the rail and you're going 
to say you're going to drown 

887
00:42:48,560 --> 00:42:51,320
though. 
Let me just, I have the life 

888
00:42:51,320 --> 00:42:52,880
preserver. 
Let me throw it to you. 

889
00:42:53,640 --> 00:42:57,800
Let me pick you up. 
Stop trying to stop trying to 

890
00:42:57,800 --> 00:43:01,160
tell me what I have to do. 
Stop trying to stop trying to 

891
00:43:01,160 --> 00:43:04,080
fix me. 
But you're drowning. 

892
00:43:04,880 --> 00:43:07,600
Don't you realize you're going 
to die if you don't let me give 

893
00:43:07,600 --> 00:43:10,560
this to you? 
You would plead with somebody 

894
00:43:10,560 --> 00:43:15,520
who was drowning, and yet this 
is far more serious. 

895
00:43:15,640 --> 00:43:18,240
They are drowning in their sins,
and not only they're just going 

896
00:43:18,240 --> 00:43:20,760
to die from this life 
physically, they will die for 

897
00:43:20,760 --> 00:43:23,760
eternity. 
Do you care? 

898
00:43:25,000 --> 00:43:28,560
Do you care enough to look 
around and serve God by sharing 

899
00:43:28,560 --> 00:43:31,840
the message of the gospel, by 
doing everything we can with the

900
00:43:31,840 --> 00:43:33,720
outreach opportunities that we 
have? 

901
00:43:33,920 --> 00:43:36,120
And I'm excited about some of 
the new opportunities that we're

902
00:43:36,120 --> 00:43:38,480
going to have. 
I'll talk to you about some more

903
00:43:38,480 --> 00:43:41,440
of that next week. 
But what an opportunity we we 

904
00:43:41,440 --> 00:43:43,600
have to serve God. 
I don't think there's ever been 

905
00:43:43,600 --> 00:43:49,440
a time in history when we have 
more tools right now to serve 

906
00:43:49,440 --> 00:43:54,480
God with than there ever has 
been, and more opportunities 

907
00:43:54,480 --> 00:43:57,440
because there are more people 
unsaved now in this world than 

908
00:43:57,440 --> 00:43:58,640
there ever has. 
Been. 

909
00:44:01,080 --> 00:44:04,040
We have more people to share it 
with and more ways to share it 

910
00:44:04,040 --> 00:44:05,920
with them, and yet we're sharing
it less. 

911
00:44:07,160 --> 00:44:11,760
What sense does that make? 
Look around and serve. 

912
00:44:11,760 --> 00:44:16,400
God, famous Bible commentator 
Matthew Henry wrote this. 

913
00:44:17,080 --> 00:44:18,560
There's a resolution in his 
journal. 

914
00:44:18,560 --> 00:44:21,680
He wrote this on January 1st, 17
O five. 

915
00:44:22,760 --> 00:44:27,800
He said this, not renouncing, 
but repeating and ratifying all 

916
00:44:27,800 --> 00:44:31,640
my former covenants with God, 
and lamenting it, that I have 

917
00:44:31,640 --> 00:44:33,240
not lived up more closely to 
them. 

918
00:44:34,040 --> 00:44:37,080
I do in the beginning of this 
new Year, solemnly make a fresh 

919
00:44:37,480 --> 00:44:42,400
surrender of myself, my whole 
self, body, soul and spirit to 

920
00:44:42,400 --> 00:44:47,280
God the Father, Son and Holy 
Ghost, my Creator, Redeemer and 

921
00:44:47,280 --> 00:44:50,760
Sanctifier covenanting. 
And promising, not in any 

922
00:44:50,760 --> 00:44:54,120
strength of my own, for I am 
very weak, but in the strength 

923
00:44:54,120 --> 00:44:57,360
of the grace of Jesus Christ, 
that I will endeavor this year 

924
00:44:57,840 --> 00:45:00,920
to stand complete in all the 
will of God. 

925
00:45:02,040 --> 00:45:04,640
I know this is the will of God, 
even my sanctification. 

926
00:45:04,640 --> 00:45:08,880
Lord grant that this year I may 
be more holy, and walk more 

927
00:45:08,880 --> 00:45:11,560
closely than ever in all holy 
conversation. 

928
00:45:11,880 --> 00:45:16,000
I earnestly desire to be filled 
with Thy holy thoughts, to be 

929
00:45:16,000 --> 00:45:20,000
carried out in holy affections, 
determined by holy aims and 

930
00:45:20,000 --> 00:45:23,080
intentions, and governed in all 
my words and actions. 

931
00:45:23,320 --> 00:45:27,440
By holy principles, Oh that a 
golden thread of holiness may 

932
00:45:27,440 --> 00:45:30,760
run through the whole web of 
this year. 

933
00:45:33,120 --> 00:45:37,720
Don't fall into the trap of just
making resolutions that satisfy 

934
00:45:37,760 --> 00:45:40,440
your flesh. 
Anything wrong with I want to 

935
00:45:40,440 --> 00:45:42,400
lose weight this year? 
No, go lose your weight. 

936
00:45:43,080 --> 00:45:45,040
Anything wrong with I want to 
get back in shape? 

937
00:45:45,040 --> 00:45:46,840
No, go get back in shape. 
Go do it. 

938
00:45:47,360 --> 00:45:50,360
It's healthy for you, it's good 
for you, but don't fall into the

939
00:45:50,360 --> 00:45:55,680
trap of making that all. 
Your resolutions are about don't

940
00:45:55,680 --> 00:45:57,520
get me wrong, there's not. 
There's nothing wrong with 

941
00:45:57,520 --> 00:46:01,320
making those. 
But as Christians, those should 

942
00:46:01,320 --> 00:46:04,520
not be our priorities. 
How about? 

943
00:46:05,120 --> 00:46:08,160
That I may know him. 
How about? 

944
00:46:08,480 --> 00:46:10,480
That I may be. 
Conformed to the image of his 

945
00:46:10,480 --> 00:46:13,200
son. 
How about that, I that I'll 

946
00:46:13,200 --> 00:46:15,880
share the gospel with at least 
one person a week? 

947
00:46:18,800 --> 00:46:20,200
How about that? 
I'm going to, I'm going to spend

948
00:46:20,200 --> 00:46:21,880
at least 30 minutes a day in 
prayer. 

949
00:46:23,400 --> 00:46:25,280
How about I'm going to, I'm 
going to get a Bible reading 

950
00:46:25,280 --> 00:46:26,600
schedule. 
I'm going to read the Bible 

951
00:46:26,600 --> 00:46:30,800
through this year. 
How about that for a resolution?

952
00:46:32,000 --> 00:46:34,440
Nothing wrong with making 
physical resolutions, but how 

953
00:46:34,440 --> 00:46:36,680
about let's focus on the 
spiritual things, the things 

954
00:46:36,680 --> 00:46:39,200
that really matter, the things 
that are going to account for 

955
00:46:39,200 --> 00:46:42,720
eternity Because this may be the
last year you. 

956
00:46:42,720 --> 00:46:45,960
Have an opportunity to do it one
of these days. 

957
00:46:45,960 --> 00:46:51,640
We're going to stand before God.
Could you imagine standing 

958
00:46:51,640 --> 00:46:58,400
before him and saying, I did 
everything I could for you with 

959
00:46:58,400 --> 00:46:59,840
your help? 
I tried my best. 

960
00:47:00,840 --> 00:47:04,280
I tried to accomplish everything
that you had laid out for me to.

961
00:47:04,280 --> 00:47:08,040
Accomplish. 
Or could you imagine standing 

962
00:47:08,040 --> 00:47:11,240
before him and saying I could 
have done a whole lot more? 

963
00:47:12,280 --> 00:47:15,320
I wish, I wish I had done so 
much more. 

964
00:47:16,680 --> 00:47:17,960
How do you want to stand before 
Him? 

965
00:47:19,440 --> 00:47:20,800
May not be this year, but it 
might. 

966
00:47:24,640 --> 00:47:28,480
It might. 
I don't know if there's a place 

967
00:47:28,480 --> 00:47:32,720
in heaven, but I imagine that 
that there's a room that God 

968
00:47:32,720 --> 00:47:34,320
will take every single one of us
into. 

969
00:47:37,720 --> 00:47:40,960
And all the way around that 
room, there's going to be 

970
00:47:40,960 --> 00:47:47,080
blessings that we never got 
because we weren't right with 

971
00:47:47,080 --> 00:47:48,320
Him and He couldn't give it to 
us. 

972
00:47:49,360 --> 00:47:52,160
There's going to be people that 
he had for us to lead to Christ 

973
00:47:52,680 --> 00:47:54,880
that would be fruit that would 
be added to our account that's 

974
00:47:54,880 --> 00:47:59,840
still sitting on the shelf 
unused because I just didn't 

975
00:47:59,840 --> 00:48:03,960
have the desire. 
There's going to be things all 

976
00:48:03,960 --> 00:48:08,280
the way around that room that 
God wanted to do with us that 

977
00:48:08,280 --> 00:48:16,560
are just sitting on the shelf 
because I didn't care enough to 

978
00:48:16,560 --> 00:48:20,960
be used by God. 
Francis Haverigail. 

979
00:48:22,040 --> 00:48:24,760
She wrote this poem to her 
friends in a card that she sent 

980
00:48:24,760 --> 00:48:29,720
out in 1874. 
Another year is dawning, dear 

981
00:48:29,720 --> 00:48:33,360
Father, Let it be in working or 
in waiting. 

982
00:48:33,920 --> 00:48:39,080
Another year with thee, another 
year of progress, another year 

983
00:48:39,080 --> 00:48:43,000
of praise, another year of 
proving thy presence all the 

984
00:48:43,000 --> 00:48:46,400
days. 
Let's get busy loving Him. 

985
00:48:47,280 --> 00:48:49,720
Let's get busy in our 
relationship with him. 

986
00:48:49,720 --> 00:48:52,360
Let's get busy thanking him. 
Let's get busy trusting him. 

987
00:48:52,560 --> 00:48:56,560
Let's get busy serving him. 
Boy, we got a we got a fresh 

988
00:48:56,560 --> 00:48:59,120
start. 
Whatever happened last year is 

989
00:48:59,120 --> 00:49:03,000
done 2025. 
I think 2025 was a good year. 

990
00:49:05,480 --> 00:49:08,080
But whether it was good, whether
it was bad, whatever it is, put 

991
00:49:08,080 --> 00:49:10,040
all those things behind. 
This is a fresh start. 

992
00:49:10,040 --> 00:49:12,400
This is a new opportunity that 
we have in front of us. 

993
00:49:13,280 --> 00:49:17,280
What resolutions are you going 
to make to help you live for the

994
00:49:17,280 --> 00:49:20,200
Lord this year? 
Still got a few days? 

995
00:49:21,720 --> 00:49:23,360
January 1st is not till 
Thursday. 

996
00:49:24,480 --> 00:49:26,520
Got a few days? 
Think about it. 

997
00:49:27,040 --> 00:49:29,360
Pray about it. 
What are you going? 

998
00:49:29,360 --> 00:49:31,680
To try to accomplish for the 
Lord with His help this year, 

999
00:49:32,760 --> 00:49:34,600
because there's still a lot left
to do. 

1000
00:49:35,360 --> 00:49:36,960
There's a lot left to 
accomplish. 

1001
00:49:37,840 --> 00:49:40,600
There's so much more that He 
wants to do with us and through 

1002
00:49:40,600 --> 00:49:46,640
us, but only if you're willing. 
Only if you're willing. 

1003
00:49:49,080 --> 00:49:50,600
Let's pray. 
Father, again, we thank you so 

1004
00:49:50,600 --> 00:49:52,680
much for your goodness. 
Thank you so much for the fact 

1005
00:49:52,680 --> 00:49:54,320
that we do have a new year in 
front of us. 

1006
00:49:54,560 --> 00:49:56,640
Thank you for what you did in 
2025. 

1007
00:49:57,480 --> 00:49:58,720
Thank you for the ways that you 
work. 

1008
00:49:58,720 --> 00:50:00,800
Thank you for the people that 
got saved and baptized. 

1009
00:50:00,800 --> 00:50:03,360
Thank you for those who have, 
who have taken steps forward in 

1010
00:50:03,360 --> 00:50:05,120
their relationship with you this
year. 

1011
00:50:05,680 --> 00:50:07,720
That's what it's all about, is 
going forward for the cause of 

1012
00:50:07,720 --> 00:50:09,360
Christ. 
But God, there's still so much 

1013
00:50:09,360 --> 00:50:12,560
left that needs to be done. 
Still so much left that we can 

1014
00:50:12,560 --> 00:50:16,160
accomplish for you. 
May you help us this year to 

1015
00:50:16,160 --> 00:50:21,840
resolve that we'll just live 
holy lives that will be godly, 

1016
00:50:22,320 --> 00:50:26,040
that we will be people of 
prayer, that we will be students

1017
00:50:26,040 --> 00:50:29,200
of the Scripture, that we will 
be soul winners for the sake of 

1018
00:50:29,200 --> 00:50:32,000
Christ. 
God, may you help us. 

1019
00:50:32,400 --> 00:50:35,680
May you help us to not be lazy, 
that you help us to not be 

1020
00:50:36,840 --> 00:50:39,400
nonchalant about our Christian 
lives. 

1021
00:50:40,080 --> 00:50:43,000
And may you help us to 
accomplish even greater things 

1022
00:50:43,000 --> 00:50:47,640
for you this year. 
Please speak to our hearts. 

1023
00:50:48,120 --> 00:50:51,360
Help us, help us to have a 
desire to live for you. 

1024
00:50:52,360 --> 00:50:55,520
Thank you again for all that you
do for us in Jesus name, Amen. 

1025
00:50:55,520 --> 00:50:57,600
If you would please stand at 
your seats with your heads bowed

1026
00:50:57,600 --> 00:51:00,480
and your eyes closed. 
I want to give you an 

1027
00:51:00,480 --> 00:51:02,600
opportunity to respond to the 
message this morning. 

1028
00:51:02,600 --> 00:51:05,600
If God spoke to your heart, the 
piano's going to play you. 

1029
00:51:05,600 --> 00:51:38,200
Come talk to the Lord. 
The. 

1030
00:52:10,920 --> 00:52:40,720
The. 
The. 

1031
00:53:07,440 --> 00:53:34,080
The. 
And I hope it's a help to you. 

1032
00:53:34,080 --> 00:53:37,120
I hope you'll take it home and 
think about it, pray about it, 

1033
00:53:37,880 --> 00:53:39,080
call the Lord to use it in your 
heart. 

1034
00:53:39,360 --> 00:53:43,280
We have our, our new devotional 
books for this month, for the 

1035
00:53:43,280 --> 00:53:45,800
next couple months. 
So if men, all the men and boys,

1036
00:53:45,800 --> 00:53:48,960
everybody come forward and we'll
pass those out. 

1037
00:53:48,960 --> 00:53:51,440
But then we'll, we have some for
the ladies and the girls as 

1038
00:53:51,440 --> 00:53:54,120
well. 
But men lead the homes and these

1039
00:53:54,120 --> 00:53:56,440
young men are future leaders of 
homes. 

1040
00:53:57,120 --> 00:54:04,080
And it's important that we keep 
them in prayer, lift them up in 

1041
00:54:04,080 --> 00:54:07,720
prayer while everybody's coming.
I just mentioned a couple 

1042
00:54:07,720 --> 00:54:09,280
things. 
Number one, we have the quick 

1043
00:54:09,280 --> 00:54:11,560
bookstore meeting for all those 
who are working in the bookstore

1044
00:54:11,600 --> 00:54:13,160
with brother Greg, right as soon
as we finish. 

1045
00:54:13,160 --> 00:54:15,240
And then obviously we got the 
poinsettias down here too. 

1046
00:54:15,240 --> 00:54:18,840
So if you if you want one of 
those and feel feel free to come

1047
00:54:18,840 --> 00:54:21,120
grab one as well. 
I'm going to get brother Brian 

1048
00:54:21,120 --> 00:54:23,040
to listen prayer. 
And then we're going to close 

1049
00:54:23,040 --> 00:54:25,800
with a different song this 
morning than what we normally do

1050
00:54:25,800 --> 00:54:28,240
on Sunday mornings. 
We're going to close with Press 

1051
00:54:28,240 --> 00:54:31,920
on, Heaven's not So far away. 
All right, Brian, listen, 

1052
00:54:32,000 --> 00:54:34,880
prayer. 
Let's pray Father, I thank you 

1053
00:54:34,880 --> 00:54:37,440
for this day you've given us 
thank you for the the challenge 

1054
00:54:37,440 --> 00:54:40,000
we heard this morning. 
God, I pray that you'd help each

1055
00:54:40,000 --> 00:54:43,840
one of us to take time here at 
the end of the year and just 

1056
00:54:43,840 --> 00:54:46,720
take time to think. 
I wonder this year, have I done 

1057
00:54:46,720 --> 00:54:49,520
my best for Jesus and where we 
haven't got I pray that we would

1058
00:54:49,520 --> 00:54:52,600
make changes that we need to. 
And God, I do pray that you'd 

1059
00:54:52,600 --> 00:54:56,760
give us goals that are from you 
to help us in this new year. 

1060
00:54:56,760 --> 00:55:00,840
And I pray that you'd give us 
the fortitude to make good on 

1061
00:55:00,840 --> 00:55:04,120
those goals and, and be able to 
accomplish this year what you 

1062
00:55:04,120 --> 00:55:07,160
want us to accomplish. 
And I got it as a church and as 

1063
00:55:07,160 --> 00:55:10,360
families and as individuals. 
And I got, I just pray that 

1064
00:55:10,360 --> 00:55:14,160
you'd be with every one of us 
men as we lead our homes and 

1065
00:55:14,160 --> 00:55:16,200
that you'd give us wisdom, give 
us strength. 

1066
00:55:16,760 --> 00:55:20,080
And that I pray that you just 
help us as we lead spiritually, 

1067
00:55:20,080 --> 00:55:23,320
that we would do our best for 
you in that area. 

1068
00:55:23,600 --> 00:55:26,840
Pray that you help us, our 
children, that you'd help them 

1069
00:55:26,840 --> 00:55:28,320
to surrender their hearts to 
you. 

1070
00:55:28,320 --> 00:55:31,560
And God, I just thank you for 
the church that you've put us 

1071
00:55:31,560 --> 00:55:33,680
in. 
Thank you for the way you're 

1072
00:55:33,680 --> 00:55:36,000
leading it. 
And God, I just pray that you'd 

1073
00:55:36,200 --> 00:55:38,560
help us to accomplish so much 
for you this year. 

1074
00:55:38,920 --> 00:55:42,520
And God, I pray that we would 
start off right away in the 

1075
00:55:42,520 --> 00:55:44,880
beginning of the year in an 
effort to do that. 

1076
00:55:45,400 --> 00:55:47,080
Pray that you bring us back here
safely tonight. 

1077
00:55:47,080 --> 00:55:48,840
In Jesus name, I pray, Amen. 
Let's. 

1078
00:55:50,040 --> 00:55:51,240
Close with our song. 
Press on. 

1079
00:55:56,200 --> 00:56:03,920
Press on, heaven's not so far 
away, Press on to the 

1080
00:56:04,320 --> 00:56:10,640
everlasting end of endless day. 
Press on through the power of 

1081
00:56:10,640 --> 00:56:18,320
God's Amazing Grace, the time 
destroying life to build this 

1082
00:56:18,360 --> 00:56:19,840
world. 
Good night. 

1083
00:56:20,200 --> 00:56:24,440
Very soon we'll see our Savior 
face to. 

1084
00:56:27,040 --> 00:56:28,120
Face Amen. 
We're dismissed. 

1085
00:56:28,400 --> 00:56:30,640
Don't forget about the 
poinsettias if you're interested

1086
00:56:30,640 --> 00:56:33,560
in taking one, and also the 
bookstore meeting in the 

1087
00:56:33,560 --> 00:56:35,240
bookstore here in just a couple 
minutes.