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Courage has been described 
throughout the pages of divine 

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inspiration, in both the Old 
Testament, as well as the new 

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here in our text. 
We find that God in the 

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beginning of the chapter is 
telling Joshua that his servant 

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Moses is dead. 
He tells Joshua that as a 

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result, it is, he, that must 
arise and go over this Jordan In

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verse number 2. 
He tells him that thou in all 

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this people under the land, 
which I do give to them, even to

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the children of Israel. 
And you remember that God 

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further tells him that every 
place that the sole of his foot 

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shall tread upon that, he is 
given unto him as he had said 

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unto Moses, and you remember 
that, there was a reason for 

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that. 
The reason that Joshua should 

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have courage or take courage was
Because of the three great 

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assurances that God gave him. 
He said, as I was with Moses, 

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number one, I will be with thee.
He said, secondly, I will not 

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fail thee and thirdly nor will I
forsake thee. 

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And so as a result, God tells 
him to be of good courage. 

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We find also another example, 
when there is a excitation or an

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exhorted time when Joshua did, 
the very same thing with 

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reference to give I think that 
extra tation for courage, we 

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find that Joshua before his 
death called for all Israel. 

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For all the elders, and heads, 
and judges, and officers, and 

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said, I am old and stricken in 
age. 

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And you remember, he tells them 
that they have seen all that the

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Lord hath done unto all these 
nations because of them. 

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In fact, he tells them that the 
Lord your God hath fought for 

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you Joshua. 
Tells them that he has divided 

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unto them by lat these nations 
that remained to be an 

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inheritance for their tribes 
from Jordan, with all the 

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nations that he had cut off, 
even unto the great see 

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Westward, he tells them that the
Lord shall expel them from 

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before them and drive them out 
of their sight and they shall 

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possess their land as the Lord 
God had promised. 

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And then you remember in Joshua 
chapter 3 and verse number 6, 

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where the Bible says be ye 
therefore very courageous to 

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keep and to do all that is 
written in the book of the law 

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of Moses that you turn, not 
aside therefrom to the right 

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hand or to the left. 
You remember in the New 

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Testament, there are many 
examples when man were exhorted 

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to have great. 
Courage, you remember from the 

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words of Jesus, as found in the 
10th chapter of the Book of 

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Matthew, when Jesus was before 
his disciples. 

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Jesus said the things that I 
have told you in darkness, you 

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need to be courageous. 
You need to be bold and you need

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to be not fearful because what I
have told you in darkness, those

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are the things that you are 
going to. 

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Now declare in the light, the 
things that I have said as the 

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new as the King James version, 
says the things that I have said

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in your ear or the things that 
you have been told. 

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By me in private. 
It is those things that you are 

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boldly going to Proclaim from 
the housetops as well. 

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You remember that, the great 
Apostle Paul said to the church 

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at Corinth in 1st Corinthians 
chapter, 16 and verse 13. 

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He said watch ye Stand Fast in 
the faith. 

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Quit you like men and be strong.
It is imperative that you and I 

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that are endeavoring to live the
Christian Life. 

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It is imperative that we We have
courage if we are living our 

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life in such a way that we feel 
as though we don't need courage 

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then it's time to take a 
retrospective view inside our 

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life and take a good glance at 
the things that we do, the 

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things that we stand for the 
things that we proclaim the 

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people, we hang out with the 
things that we say from day to 

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day. 
The hobbies that we Endeavor to 

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participate in. 
We need to look at those things.

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Because a Christian is to be 
different. 

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And if we are going to be 
different in a world that is 

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around us, that is corrupt. 
It must take courage in our life

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to stand for that, which is 
right. 

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I want to notice with the few 
things that is, makes it 

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necessary for you and I to Have 
Courage, number one, when you 

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and I are in the minority, it 
takes great, courage. 

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I realize that the world says 
that their strength in numbers, 

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A, I realized that the majority 
of the people want to follow 

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after the majority because it is
easy to do. 

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So, let me just say this, it is 
not difficult if I am going to 

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live my life and I am going to 
travel along the path of least 

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resistance. 
It takes no courage whatsoever 

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for me to do that. 
When I follow along by way of 

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the majority, it takes no 
courage because I am not set 

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apart. 
I am not different from another.

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So, that's an easy lifestyle. 
That is an easy decision. 

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That indeed is an easy choice in
my life. 

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For the things that I do. 
Let me just say this that there 

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very well. 
May be strengthened numbers with

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reference to worldly and secular
things, but not according to 

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spiritual things, so says the 
word of God, Jesus would 

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declare, and the great Sermon on
the Mount. 

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In the seventh chapter of the 
Book of Matthew, that just Being

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a Christian seeking after Heaven
places Us in the minority. 

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Jesus said in Matthew 7, 
beginning in verse 13, He said 

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entry into the strait gate for 
wide is the gate and Broad is 

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the way that leadeth unto 
destruction and many there, be 

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which go in thereat for Strait 
is the gate and narrow is the 

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way that leadeth unto life. 
And Jesus said, few there, be 

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that find it. 
You know, we need to have 

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courage. 
When we stand in the minority 

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many examples, we sung a song 
just a little bit ago, referring

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to Caleb. 
And you remember that Joshua and

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Caleb in the midst of the other 
spies had to take a stand. 

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Now, they're in the midst of men
that were saying and declaring 

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we have no chance whatsoever. 
There's no way we're going to 

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make it. 
We cannot overcome these people 

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because they are greater, they 
are stronger than we are in. 

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Fact, the report that was 
brought back was there are 

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giants in the land. 
Oh how it must have been for 

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Caleb to be in the minority and 
say such words of great strength

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to have the courage to do. 
So, as the Bible says, but Caleb

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Still the people before Moses 
and said, let us go up at once 

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and possess it for. 
We are well able to overcome You

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know not only is are there many 
other examples in the Bible 

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concerning? 
Those individuals who had to 

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show courage in the minority but
there are also evidences in 

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God's word when God chose the 
minority to fulfill his will and

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fulfill his purpose. 
Perfect example of this a story.

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We all know found in the Book of
Judges. 

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You remember when Gideon was 
about to go into battle with the

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midianites they're worth. 32,000
men that were congregated 

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together for the purpose of 
going into battle. 

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This is what God Said though. 
God said two things and this is 

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my point by the way, not really 
that story. 

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This is my point. 
God said that there were two 

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things that were required that 
he wanted to convey to the 

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people. 
There was a message, he wanted 

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extended and he chose a few men 
in the minority to do this. 

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Number one, he did not want 
these men to go. 

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In the battle and have 32,000 of
them go in there and whip the 

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midianites and then all of a 
sudden think that by their own 

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power, their own might their own
strengths and their own wisdom 

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that they were victorious. 
We know the story Gideon, tells 

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them whoever doesn't want to go,
you don't have to go 22,000, go 

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back now. 
You got 10,000. 

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God said that's still too, many 
gave him. 

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A simple test of water 300 past,
and they were victorious against

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the midianites to prove. 
Move Point number two, that God 

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wanted and that was simply that 
God chose a few men to prove and

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to demonstrate that Israel's God
was stronger than the enemy. 

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It is always been necessary for 
the people of God. 

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As we stand in the minority that
we stand firm and stand with 

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great Courage. 
The Apostle Paul was one who 

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stood alone from time to time 
and courage was Wired of him. 

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But you know of all the pages 
that are found in all the 66 

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books of the Bible as we go back
through Biblical history, as 

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outlined in conveyed in and 
through God's word of all of the

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characters in the Bible that 
were courageous in the minority 

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there is none other that was 
more courageous than Jesus 

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Christ. 
If you think about the things 

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that Jesus did his entire 
existence was in the Minority 

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Jesus was born of a virgin. 
The Bible says that which was 

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conceived in her being Mary was 
of the Holy Ghost. 

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He was in the minority, because 
no one had ever been in that 

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way. 
He came from Heaven, he was all 

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the way back in the very 
beginning as Bob pointed out 

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this morning. 
In Genesis 1 and verse 26, where

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the Bible says, let us make man 
in our image. 

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Oh yes, indeed. 
He'd Jesus stood alone. 

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Jesus was in a class for sake of
a better term all by himself. 

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He came to this lowland of 
sickness sin, and sorrow, and 

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his entire life was in view of 
his death in the minority. 

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He also was one that lived a 
life that was perfect. 

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And without sin in the minority,
he was one that as he neared, 

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those last days, I would imagine
being in the flesh. 

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There was fear that come that 
came upon him in the Garden of 

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Gethsemane, you remember. 
And I like that old song, we 

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used to sing you, remember that 
song when Jesus alone were 

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standing. 
Jesus was all by himself in the 

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minority when he did what he did
for you and I when he went to 

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get cemani and he was praying to
his father, those that were 

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closest to him, could not even 
stay awake. 

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Long enough to sit with him 
through the night. 

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Oh, we know the story. 
We know that Judas forsook him 

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and sold his Lord for thirty 
pieces of silver. 

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We know that Peter for shook 
him, as Jesus said, you will 

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I'll do so, you will forsake me.
You will deny me three times 

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before the cock crows, and that 
happened. 

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But then the Bible says, with 
all the other Apostles that all 

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forsook him and all Flynn again,
he would have to be all alone 

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and then he stands before. 
That ridiculous mock trial, he 

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was scourged and beaten and spit
in his face and the crown of 

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thorns on his head. 
And yet, he opened not his 

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mouth. 
With great courage you ever 

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stopped to consider when Jesus 
was on that cross for six hours 

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as he hung on that cross. 
That just maybe in the flesh 

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that he was that some 
Temptations might have gone 

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through his mind. 
This was a, this was a being 

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that is deity. 
And he was brought down in the 

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flesh, but Jesus knew that he 
could have called down those 

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Legions of angels and put a stop
to the whole matter. 

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But he showed great courage, and
I'm going to tell you why, 

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because the greatest amount of 
Courage, you can convey is when 

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you are courageous through 
obedience, sometimes people say,

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listen, you've got to be strong 
now, that's not strength. 

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You've got to be strong and 
thinking. 

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Number one, you got to think of 
yourself that's not strength. 

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There's more strength in 
obedience. 

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Jesus was obedient to his 
father. 

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He learned obedience by the 
things. 

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That he suffered, he did it all 
alone in the minority and he did

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it for you. 
And me, remember what one man 

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said, one time that courage is 
doing what you are afraid to do.

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There is no such thing as 
courage without fear. 

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There's nothing wrong with fear.
The problem is, oftentimes fear 

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causes us, not to do what we 
know to be, right? 

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And when we are faced with that 
fear, the Bible teaches us that 

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we must have courage and stand 
strong and stand firm and do 

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that, which is right. 
But, you know, secondly, 

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tonight, there's something else 
that we need to notice. 

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I think That another time that 
you and I in our life are going 

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to have to have courage, is when
we are going through severe 

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Temptations. 
I think it's important though 

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that we recognize a couple of 
things about Temptation. 

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First of all did you know that 
Temptation or did you realize 

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temptation is not sin? 
In fact the Bible teaches us 

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that Temptation channeled is a 
trial of our Faith. 

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And when we overcome that trial 
of our faith and we overcome 

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those temptations that are 
before us, it is a good thing 

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for us all the way until we 
stand before the Judgment seat 

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of Christ. 
So the problem is not the 

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Temptation, the sin is in the 
yielding to that. 

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Temptation in James chapter 1 
and verse 12. 

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The Bible said, blessed is the 
man that endureth temptation. 

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When he is tried, he shall 
receive the Crown of Life which 

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the Lord hath promised to them 
that love him. 

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Also, we are told that we may 
have manifold Temptations in our

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life. 
But in doing so, regardless of 

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what is before us, excuse me, is
before us and we must go 

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through. 
We must have courage First, 

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Peter chapter 1 and verse 6. 
The Bible says we're in. 

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You greatly rejoice. 
Though. 

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Now for a season, if need be you
are in heaviness through 

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manifold Temptations. 
And I want you to notice verse 

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number 7, That the trial of your
faith being much, more precious 

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than that of gold that perisheth
though, it be tried with fire 

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might be found unto praise and 
honor and Glory at the appearing

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of Jesus Christ. 
Do these trials of our faith, if

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channeled properly, if we make 
it through them, with courage, 

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in our life, they are good for 
us. 

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But let me just say this, 
though. 

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There's only one way to avoid 
Temptation in our lives. 

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There's only one way to escape 
the Temptations that are before 

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us day by day and the very best 
way to do that is to completely 

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avoid those circumstances. 
That would present those 

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Temptations to us far too many 
times. 

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We want to stay just as close as
we possibly can to the 

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Temptation with Without sinning,
in fact, how many of us I know I

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did when I was a younger person.
How many of us say, I'm a strong

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person. 
I can go a long with those folks

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just because they're Sinners 
doesn't mean I'm going to be, 

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I'm a strong person. 
I am a Christian. 

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Even sell yourself on the fact 
that you're letting your light 

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shine among them. 
No, sir. 

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You are participating in their 
evil Deeds. 

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I'm going to tell you something.
If you're living your life like 

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That you're living your life, 
that close to the line you were 

255
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going to fail. 
Don't take my word for it, 

256
00:17:03,308 --> 00:17:04,599
though. 
Let's look at what the Bible 

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says. 
And notice what these words? 

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Proverbs Chapter 1 beginning in 
verse 10, my son, if Sinners 

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entice thee consent, thou not if
they say come with us let us lay

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wait for blood, let us lurk 
privily for the innocent without

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cause let us swallow. 
Oh them up alive as the grave. 

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And whole as those that go down 
into the pit, we shall find all 

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precious substance. 
We shall fill our houses with 

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spoiled cast in my lot. 
Among Us. 

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Let us all have one purse. 
Notice my son walked not thou in

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the way with them refrained, thy
foot from their path. 

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Another words do not go down the
path of the Wicked in the fourth

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chapter of the Book of Proverbs 
beginning in verse 14, it says 

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there, enter not into the path 
of the wicked and go not into 

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the way of the evil man, notice 
what he says they're avoid it. 

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Pass not by it. 
Turn from it and pass away. 

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You know how you beat the devil,
just like that. 

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You know how you make sure you 
don't give in to those 

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temptations that are before you 
that are your weaknesses. 

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You do that? 
You turn from it, you get away 

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from it, you don't look at it, 
you don't walk in the midst of 

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it, you turn yourself as fast as
you possibly can and you run as 

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fast as you can away from it. 
That is how you endure 

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Temptations in your life. 
Notice that Paul said in first 

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Thessalonians 5 and verse 22, he
said, simply there abstain from 

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all appearance of evil. 
Have you recognized lately that 

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the devil is in constant battle 
with you every day you live for 

283
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your greatest possession. 
You know, the devil wants your 

284
00:19:13,700 --> 00:19:16,400
soul. 
It's going to be awful and 

285
00:19:16,500 --> 00:19:21,400
gehenna, hell for the devil. 
It's prepared for him and his 

286
00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:24,400
angels and that's where the 
devil's go. 

287
00:19:25,700 --> 00:19:29,900
So misery loves company as they 
say, the devil wants to take 

288
00:19:29,900 --> 00:19:32,900
just as many people with him as 
he possibly can. 

289
00:19:32,900 --> 00:19:36,400
Because I'll tell you, there's 
no hope for the devil. 

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00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:41,400
That's where he's going. 
So every day of our life, the 

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00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:45,600
devil is in constant battle with
us for the greatest possession 

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00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:51,000
that we have and ever will have 
in all the days of our life, and

293
00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:57,600
that is for our soul. 
In this battle if we willingly 

294
00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:02,500
approach sin, we tempt and give 
place to the devil. 

295
00:20:03,100 --> 00:20:06,900
If the things that we do and the
pleasures that we desire to have

296
00:20:06,900 --> 00:20:10,600
Bears, a weak point, to the 
devil, we better change those 

297
00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:14,100
things because he will use those
things. 

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00:20:14,300 --> 00:20:18,300
Those devices in order to defeat
us. 

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00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:21,300
But you know, we find that 
there's a ray of Hope and God's 

300
00:20:21,300 --> 00:20:24,200
word concerning this battle that
we have with the Devil. 

301
00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:28,300
The devil can be beat. 
You remember when the devil 

302
00:20:28,300 --> 00:20:31,600
tempted Jesus? 
In Matthew, the 4th chapter, we 

303
00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:35,700
realized the devil was defeated 
that Day by Jesus Christ 

304
00:20:35,708 --> 00:20:38,600
himself. 
And in verse number 11, the 

305
00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:42,700
Bible says that after the devil 
was defeated notice what 

306
00:20:42,700 --> 00:20:46,200
happened? 
He left him and behold Angels 

307
00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:52,000
Came and ministered unto him, 
but in order to defeat him, we 

308
00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:54,400
must do the things that are 
outlined in. 

309
00:20:54,500 --> 00:20:58,400
James 4 and verse 7. 
He ever stopped to really look 

310
00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:01,800
James 4 & 7. 
It seems like it's just too 

311
00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:06,800
simple, but it's very much 
misunderstood today. 

312
00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:11,000
Let me break it down for you. 
There's a promise in James 4 and

313
00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:14,000
7 that the devil will leave us 
alone. 

314
00:21:14,300 --> 00:21:18,400
But that promise like other 
promises that God gives us is 

315
00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:23,900
conditioned upon two conditions.
There are two things that must 

316
00:21:23,900 --> 00:21:27,000
happen. 
Even before the devil will leave

317
00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:32,200
us alone and notice those two 
things are what you and I have 

318
00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:34,500
to do. 
In other words, if we look at 

319
00:21:34,500 --> 00:21:37,500
that verse of scripture, and we 
noticed the conditions that are 

320
00:21:37,500 --> 00:21:40,500
described there. 
Then we know beyond a shadow of 

321
00:21:40,500 --> 00:21:46,000
a doubt that if we do not do 
those two conditions And the 

322
00:21:46,008 --> 00:21:49,000
promise that the Bible tells us 
about the devil leaving us 

323
00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:50,500
alone. 
Will never happen. 

324
00:21:51,300 --> 00:21:56,800
Here's the piers, the conditions
James 4:7 says submit yourself 

325
00:21:57,100 --> 00:22:01,000
therefore unto God. 
That is first. 

326
00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:06,400
How many people those say? 
Well, I know I'm struggling in 

327
00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:10,100
this or that or the other thing.
I know, I'm having problems with

328
00:22:10,100 --> 00:22:15,100
Temptations and sinful things. 
The Bible said that, if I submit

329
00:22:15,100 --> 00:22:18,100
myself to God, the devil is 
going to flee. 

330
00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:21,100
I come down. 
And I worship with my brethren. 

331
00:22:21,500 --> 00:22:25,800
I come down and do that. 
That's not enough. 

332
00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:32,200
Submit yourself. 
Therefore unto God means that 

333
00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:36,400
you will seek after Heavenly 
things that you will set your 

334
00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:40,100
minds and your affections on 
things above and not on things 

335
00:22:40,100 --> 00:22:46,000
on the earth if God is truly 
number one in our lives, every 

336
00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:49,600
single thing that we do, every 
decision that we make will be 

337
00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:54,200
different than if we are driven 
by the things in the pleasures 

338
00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:57,400
of the world. 
So there's a very generic and 

339
00:22:57,400 --> 00:23:01,900
general statement in submitting 
to God, but if I will do that, 

340
00:23:01,900 --> 00:23:04,700
then I will do that with all of 
my fiber. 

341
00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:08,900
I will be as the Apostle Paul 
said, in Romans 12, I will be 

342
00:23:08,900 --> 00:23:12,200
transformed. 
Everything will be different in 

343
00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:14,600
my life. 
That's number one. 

344
00:23:15,100 --> 00:23:18,400
Once you get that one out of the
way, the next one is very, very 

345
00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:21,300
easy. 
Resist the devil. 

346
00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:29,400
That's it. but if you try to 
resist the devil, But you 

347
00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:32,000
haven't submitted yourself 
therefore unto God with every 

348
00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:36,500
fiber of your being. 
The promise is not for you, that

349
00:23:36,500 --> 00:23:40,200
the devil will leave you alone. 
If on the other hand, you're 

350
00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:42,100
trying to submit yourselves 
therefore to God. 

351
00:23:42,100 --> 00:23:45,500
But you won't resist the devil 
and the promise is not for you 

352
00:23:45,500 --> 00:23:47,900
either. 
The devil can be defeated. 

353
00:23:47,900 --> 00:23:53,300
Absolutely, we have blessings in
that, but we must do those two 

354
00:23:53,300 --> 00:23:57,400
things. 
We must never also give place to

355
00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:59,700
the devil. 
Hear the words of the great 

356
00:23:59,700 --> 00:24:02,100
Apostle. 
Paul in Ephesians chapter 4 and 

357
00:24:02,100 --> 00:24:09,400
verses 26 and 27, he said be ye 
angry and sin, not Not let not 

358
00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:14,500
the sun, go down upon your 
wrath, neither give place to the

359
00:24:14,500 --> 00:24:18,700
devil notice, how did how 
dangerous it is for the sun to 

360
00:24:18,700 --> 00:24:23,700
go down upon your Wrath. 
Do you know that Jesus was 

361
00:24:23,700 --> 00:24:26,300
angry? 
Jesus was angry. 

362
00:24:26,300 --> 00:24:29,200
That's a human emotion. 
And there's no sin in that 

363
00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:33,000
because if there was, then Paul 
would not have made a 

364
00:24:33,008 --> 00:24:37,800
distinction. 
He said, be angry and sin not 

365
00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:42,500
but notice what happens notice 
when you give place to the devil

366
00:24:42,700 --> 00:24:46,700
understanding in this battle, we
have that's waged between us and

367
00:24:46,700 --> 00:24:49,500
the devil for our soul. 
We don't want him to have a 

368
00:24:49,500 --> 00:24:53,300
stronghold or a leg up, or we 
don't want to give Place to the 

369
00:24:53,300 --> 00:24:57,500
devil. 
So in understanding that What 

370
00:24:57,500 --> 00:25:01,000
happens when you Harbor malice 
in your heart? 

371
00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:07,000
And you let the sun go down upon
your Wrath. 

372
00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:10,200
I'm going to tell you something 
the longer, you're angry and 

373
00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:13,900
your heart. 
The more inclined, it is for you

374
00:25:13,900 --> 00:25:18,300
to send. 
And that's why Paul said, get 

375
00:25:18,300 --> 00:25:21,600
rid of it. 
That's why Paul said, you know, 

376
00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:25,800
man thinks they're so wise, wise
man takes care of his 

377
00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:28,000
differences before he lies down 
to sleep. 

378
00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:32,700
Sometimes people talk about the 
Golden Rule, do unto others as 

379
00:25:32,700 --> 00:25:34,700
you would have them. 
Do unto you and our schools, 

380
00:25:34,700 --> 00:25:35,800
teach that. 
And by the way, those are 

381
00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:40,000
wonderful things. 
Jesus said that Matthew 7 and 12

382
00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:42,900
therefore all things whatsoever 
you meant would that men should 

383
00:25:42,900 --> 00:25:45,600
do to you do. 
Ye even so to them for this is 

384
00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:50,800
the law and the prophets. 
And Paul said, let not the sun 

385
00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:53,700
go down upon your wrath, neither
give place to the devil. 

386
00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:56,200
That's really the point isn't 
it? 

387
00:25:57,200 --> 00:26:00,400
It's dangerous when we Harbor 
those thoughts in our angry 

388
00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:04,900
Hearts because we're giving 
place to the devil that we are 

389
00:26:04,900 --> 00:26:09,100
trying to defeat to beat the 
devil, we must put on the whole 

390
00:26:09,100 --> 00:26:12,500
armor of God and be courageous 
and Ephesians 6. 

391
00:26:12,500 --> 00:26:16,400
And verse 11, the Apostle Paul 
said, put on the whole armor of 

392
00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:20,300
God that ye may be able to stand
against The Wiles. 

393
00:26:21,100 --> 00:26:24,400
Of the devil. 
But remember that the devil does

394
00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:28,400
not always make a frontal attack
if the devil did and you're 

395
00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:31,300
thinking about some monster 
that's going to jump before you 

396
00:26:31,900 --> 00:26:35,100
and scare you out of your wits. 
That's not what's going to 

397
00:26:35,100 --> 00:26:37,300
happen. 
The devil sneaks in and knows 

398
00:26:37,300 --> 00:26:43,800
devices he knows weaknesses, he 
knows he knows how we are, he 

399
00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:47,200
knows what'll get us and that's 
what he uses. 

400
00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:50,800
But, you know, regardless of 
what our weaknesses are and we 

401
00:26:50,800 --> 00:26:54,300
all have different ones. 
I know that we have the same 

402
00:26:54,300 --> 00:26:58,800
weapon that Jesus had, and that 
was when the devil was 

403
00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:04,200
confronting Jesus, Jesus Beat 
the Devil with the thus it is 

404
00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:06,400
written. 
You know, we can do the very 

405
00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:09,600
same thing. 
That's submitting, our self. 

406
00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:11,300
Therefore going to God, 
resisting the devil. 

407
00:27:11,300 --> 00:27:14,000
You know, how we do it? 
We tell that Old Devil. 

408
00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:18,600
No, no, that's not going to 
happen here when we are tempted 

409
00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:21,500
to revenge, and we know that 
that's a Temptation from the 

410
00:27:21,500 --> 00:27:24,500
devil. 
We defeat him with it is written

411
00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:28,600
when we are tempted to steal 
tempted to be prideful in our 

412
00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:32,300
heart tempted to hate our 
brother tempted to go down, the 

413
00:27:32,300 --> 00:27:36,600
path of worldliness, tempted to 
gossip about one another tempted

414
00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:40,400
to blaspheme or Tempted to stay 
home and forsake the assembling 

415
00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:44,700
of ourselves together. 
As the manner of some is we can 

416
00:27:44,700 --> 00:27:49,400
defeat that Temptation and 
defeat that Devil with us. 

417
00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:56,100
It is real for we are not 
ignorant of his devices. 

418
00:27:56,600 --> 00:27:59,500
I realize it takes great courage
to win the battle over 

419
00:27:59,500 --> 00:28:03,000
Temptation in our life. 
But if we are ever going to 

420
00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:05,000
defeat the Devil and win, the 
wage. 

421
00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:10,300
That is that is before us of our
soul, we must have great 

422
00:28:10,300 --> 00:28:13,200
courage. 
One man said this one time, he 

423
00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:17,500
said, you know, a hero is no 
braver than an ordinary man, 

424
00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:26,000
he's just Brave a little longer.
Hold on, you can make this, you 

425
00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:28,400
can make it in your life. 
You can live the Christian Life 

426
00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:32,900
and make Heaven, you can defeat 
the devil on Return by using 

427
00:28:32,900 --> 00:28:36,400
God's word, submitting yourself,
therefore unto him and 

428
00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:39,900
resisting. 
That devil, let's be brave. 

429
00:28:39,900 --> 00:28:43,900
A little longer, let's fight the
devil on our terms for we are 

430
00:28:43,900 --> 00:28:48,900
not ignorant of his devices. 
Thirdly tonight, though there's 

431
00:28:48,900 --> 00:28:51,800
something else that causes us to
have courage in our life. 

432
00:28:52,300 --> 00:28:55,200
We might think, at first glance,
this is an easy one, but really 

433
00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:58,700
it is not. 
I realize that it takes a lot of

434
00:28:58,700 --> 00:29:04,400
courage to reprove those. 
Who sent, you know, I'll tell 

435
00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:06,700
you something. 
It is easy for me to go to Bob 

436
00:29:06,800 --> 00:29:10,100
to say, Bob, did you hear what? 
Terry did man? 

437
00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:15,800
Harry's doing this that and the 
other I'll go to Brent's, a, did

438
00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:19,800
you hear about Ryan? 
That's easy to do, you know 

439
00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:25,800
what's harder to lovingly? 
Go to the brother that aired and

440
00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:31,700
lovingly rebuked him. 
That is much more difficult and 

441
00:29:31,700 --> 00:29:36,600
that takes great, courage, and 
Luke chapter, 17, and verse 3. 

442
00:29:36,600 --> 00:29:40,200
Jesus said, take heed unto 
yourselves, If thy brother 

443
00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:44,700
trespass, against thee, rebuke 
him, if he repents, Repent, 

444
00:29:44,900 --> 00:29:48,400
forgive him, you know, there are
examples throughout all the 

445
00:29:48,400 --> 00:29:51,300
Bible about this. 
I'll notice a couple of new 

446
00:29:51,300 --> 00:29:54,400
testament examples with you. 
You remember when Philip was 

447
00:29:54,400 --> 00:29:57,900
preaching to those that Samaria?
It was a man named Simon there. 

448
00:29:57,900 --> 00:30:01,500
This was a sinful man but Simon 
obeys the gospel. 

449
00:30:01,500 --> 00:30:04,700
He hears the words of neglect, 
the Glad words of the kingdom 

450
00:30:05,300 --> 00:30:08,600
and he obeys the gospel, he's 
baptized for the remission of 

451
00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:11,300
his sins. 
Philip, the Evangelist now is 

452
00:30:11,300 --> 00:30:13,800
done, so they sent for Peter and
John to come. 

453
00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:18,500
Back to impart spiritual gifts 
on those and leave those there 

454
00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:22,800
to confirm God's word after the 
Evangelist left. 

455
00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:27,500
All of a sudden, the devil knew 
in his devices. 

456
00:30:27,500 --> 00:30:31,900
How to get on Simon. 
All he knew he was fighting to 

457
00:30:31,900 --> 00:30:34,800
get him back from the moment. 
He was baptized. 

458
00:30:35,700 --> 00:30:38,200
And he saw that through the 
laying on of the Apostles hands.

459
00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:41,500
Those that Samaria received a 
spiritual gift and he says this.

460
00:30:41,900 --> 00:30:44,800
How much do you want for it? 
He offers them money. 

461
00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:50,500
Peter rebuked that brother. 
And I'm glad that he did because

462
00:30:50,500 --> 00:30:53,900
the Bible says that this brother
made it, right? 

463
00:30:54,600 --> 00:30:58,100
Notice he rebuked this brother 
by saying, repent of this thy 

464
00:30:58,100 --> 00:31:01,800
wickedness that the thought of 
buying heart may be forgiven 

465
00:31:02,100 --> 00:31:04,500
thee. 
He in essence, says, shame on. 

466
00:31:04,500 --> 00:31:08,200
You Simon shame on you because 
you thought that you can buy the

467
00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:12,100
gift of God with money. 
He said, thy money perish has 

468
00:31:12,300 --> 00:31:15,500
with you. 
You know what Simon said? 

469
00:31:15,500 --> 00:31:18,900
We know the story Simon says, no
pray for me. 

470
00:31:19,700 --> 00:31:22,200
Pray for me, that all of those 
things that you're just now. 

471
00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:27,100
Talking about will not come to 
me, and he repented, because of 

472
00:31:27,100 --> 00:31:31,100
that rebuke, you know, of all 
the people in, in the Bible of 

473
00:31:31,100 --> 00:31:34,400
Bible History of the early 
Church of all the people that 

474
00:31:34,400 --> 00:31:38,600
should have had the proper 
concept or proper objective, and

475
00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:41,700
the proper heart and attitude 
about the Gentiles. 

476
00:31:42,300 --> 00:31:45,800
I know that the Bible says Says 
that Paul was a chosen vessel of

477
00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:48,100
the Lord to Bear's name to the 
Gentiles. 

478
00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:50,400
But I'm going to tell you 
something, the one, the 

479
00:31:50,400 --> 00:31:54,000
individual, the one apostle that
should have known better was 

480
00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:57,500
Peter. 
Peter got the vision and acts in

481
00:31:57,500 --> 00:32:02,200
Acts 10 and Peter was involved 
when the Holy Spirit came to the

482
00:32:02,200 --> 00:32:05,900
household of Cornelius. 
And even the words of Peter 

483
00:32:05,900 --> 00:32:10,300
himself when he said, how can we
forbid water, would they receive

484
00:32:10,300 --> 00:32:13,500
the Holy Spirit the same as we 
Jews? 

485
00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:18,200
Jews did too. 
All he should have known better 

486
00:32:18,900 --> 00:32:23,600
but Galatians 2 11 through 13, 
you know what happened for fear 

487
00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:26,900
of the Jews Peter wouldn't eat 
with those Gentiles. 

488
00:32:27,700 --> 00:32:30,500
Paul rebuked him. 
A brother. 

489
00:32:30,800 --> 00:32:35,800
Rebuking another brother Peter, 
again, rebuking ananias and 

490
00:32:35,800 --> 00:32:39,300
Sapphira his wife, when they 
sold the possession and kept 

491
00:32:39,300 --> 00:32:43,900
back, part of the price and Acts
chapter 5 and verse 3, Peter 

492
00:32:43,900 --> 00:32:48,600
says, why has Satan filled thine
heart to lie to the Holy Ghost 

493
00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:52,800
and keep back part of the land? 
You see, all of these examples 

494
00:32:52,800 --> 00:32:56,600
are examples of individuals, who
were members of the body of 

495
00:32:56,600 --> 00:33:01,200
Christ and who stumbled and were
in need of a rebuke. 

496
00:33:02,200 --> 00:33:04,800
And very fortunate. 
There was always someone there 

497
00:33:04,800 --> 00:33:08,000
among God's people to do that 
very thing. 

498
00:33:09,300 --> 00:33:13,800
Finally tonight, though. 
It takes great courage, when you

499
00:33:13,808 --> 00:33:17,900
preach the truth. 
Under persecution. 

500
00:33:20,100 --> 00:33:23,900
You know, when I say this, I'm 
not making this exclusive to a 

501
00:33:23,900 --> 00:33:26,500
preacher. 
And I'm not making this 

502
00:33:26,500 --> 00:33:30,800
exclusive to just one who 
teaches publicly. 

503
00:33:31,800 --> 00:33:37,500
I'm talking about it takes great
courage to teach the truth in 

504
00:33:37,500 --> 00:33:40,800
the face of opposition and 
persecution. 

505
00:33:41,500 --> 00:33:44,200
Now, I will say this, we don't 
know what it's like to be truly 

506
00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:46,900
persecuted. 
Like those of old, we don't know

507
00:33:46,900 --> 00:33:50,400
what that's like at all, but 
there is certain persecution. 

508
00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:52,900
I would imagine. 
I know this there may not be 

509
00:33:52,900 --> 00:33:54,900
persecution, but there's 
opposition. 

510
00:33:55,100 --> 00:33:57,700
There's opposition all around 
us. 

511
00:33:57,900 --> 00:34:03,000
It takes courage to rise up and 
speak the truth. in times like 

512
00:34:03,300 --> 00:34:08,199
those, but that's when it takes 
courage for the Christian You 

513
00:34:08,199 --> 00:34:10,500
know, our feet are, the only 
feet that's going to take the 

514
00:34:10,500 --> 00:34:14,300
gospel to the world. 
Our mouth is the only mouth 

515
00:34:14,300 --> 00:34:15,699
that's going to preach a 
proclaim. 

516
00:34:15,699 --> 00:34:17,500
The truths that are found in 
God's word. 

517
00:34:17,500 --> 00:34:20,100
Jesus is counting on us to do 
that. 

518
00:34:21,400 --> 00:34:27,000
And we must do that even when it
is not good for us, you know, 

519
00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:29,600
it's easy to preach when there's
no danger, it's easy for me to 

520
00:34:29,600 --> 00:34:32,500
stand before you right now, and 
I could preach this as boldly as

521
00:34:32,500 --> 00:34:36,699
I wanted to and just as strong 
as I wanted to still have loving

522
00:34:36,699 --> 00:34:42,900
kind faces and expressions. 
What if though, what if we were 

523
00:34:42,900 --> 00:34:48,900
faced with tremendous opposition
that even met our very lives 

524
00:34:49,699 --> 00:34:51,500
would be? 
We be so bold. 

525
00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:53,900
Would I be so bold? 
What? 

526
00:34:53,900 --> 00:34:55,600
I preach? 
The same. 

527
00:34:56,500 --> 00:35:01,100
If I was in the midst of great 
opposition, the Apostle Paul 

528
00:35:01,100 --> 00:35:05,100
told a young evangelist Timothy,
that there's going to be times 

529
00:35:05,100 --> 00:35:07,900
in his life when it will not be 
convenient. 

530
00:35:07,900 --> 00:35:11,100
That's what he meant when he 
said preach the word, In season 

531
00:35:11,200 --> 00:35:15,900
and out of season. 
He also said this reprove rebuke

532
00:35:15,900 --> 00:35:19,400
and exhort with all 
long-suffering and Doctrine and 

533
00:35:19,400 --> 00:35:25,100
do that when it's convenient. 
And when it's not, but even if 

534
00:35:25,100 --> 00:35:29,400
dangers are present, it should 
not stop us from preaching, the 

535
00:35:29,400 --> 00:35:34,200
truth and therefore that takes 
great courage. 

536
00:35:34,800 --> 00:35:36,700
I'll just leave you with one 
more example. 

537
00:35:37,400 --> 00:35:40,800
And I use this example because 
this was a man that Did this 

538
00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:44,400
very thing? 
And I use him as the example, in

539
00:35:44,400 --> 00:35:49,100
Acts the 7th chapter because he 
was the first one that would die

540
00:35:49,700 --> 00:35:53,900
for what he believed. 
You remember, when Steven was 

541
00:35:53,900 --> 00:35:57,800
giving his defense, you know, if
you think about in your mind's 

542
00:35:57,800 --> 00:36:01,600
eye, the setting, when you think
about all the faces that were 

543
00:36:01,600 --> 00:36:06,500
standing there facing toward, 
Stephen of how he must have felt

544
00:36:06,500 --> 00:36:09,700
inside how afraid he might have 
been. 

545
00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:13,600
We don't know. 
All we know is as a human being 

546
00:36:13,600 --> 00:36:15,700
with human emotions. 
We would look to that. 

547
00:36:15,700 --> 00:36:19,100
And think, man, I'd be just as 
scared as can be even though I 

548
00:36:19,100 --> 00:36:22,300
stood for the truth. 
We can assume he had some 

549
00:36:22,300 --> 00:36:23,900
feelings like that. 
Surely. 

550
00:36:24,500 --> 00:36:26,800
Because he knew what was about 
to happen. 

551
00:36:28,200 --> 00:36:30,800
But he stood in their very 
presence and didn't back off. 

552
00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:36,000
One bit he boldly preached to 
them with all the fervor and all

553
00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:38,400
the strength and all the 
conviction, he could possibly 

554
00:36:38,400 --> 00:36:44,200
muster up, he preached the truth
in the midst of opposition he 

555
00:36:44,200 --> 00:36:48,500
did so with great wisdom as he 
went back in time to prove and 

556
00:36:48,508 --> 00:36:51,200
to demonstrate that, the God 
that he served as a Christian 

557
00:36:51,200 --> 00:36:54,400
was the same God that the 
children of Israel should have 

558
00:36:54,400 --> 00:37:00,200
served but disobeying He talked 
of how God had sent a deliverer 

559
00:37:00,400 --> 00:37:04,400
named Moses and led the children
of Israel out of Egyptian 

560
00:37:04,400 --> 00:37:07,400
bondage. 
He reminded them to of how their

561
00:37:07,400 --> 00:37:11,300
fathers would not obey and how 
they turn to Aaron and said make

562
00:37:11,300 --> 00:37:15,000
us Gods before us, because we 
don't know what's happened to 

563
00:37:15,000 --> 00:37:17,600
Moses. 
We don't even know where he is. 

564
00:37:18,300 --> 00:37:21,000
Make us Gods before us that we 
might worship. 

565
00:37:21,000 --> 00:37:24,200
And we know the story of the 
golden calf. 

566
00:37:24,200 --> 00:37:25,700
You know what Stephen said about
that? 

567
00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:30,300
And when they made the calf, 
they marveled at their 

568
00:37:30,300 --> 00:37:36,100
workmanship that they made by 
their own hands, they miss the 

569
00:37:36,100 --> 00:37:43,100
whole point, they rejected the 
entire Point verse 51 of X7 

570
00:37:43,100 --> 00:37:45,600
under great opposition. 
This is what Stephen said. 

571
00:37:46,200 --> 00:37:49,500
He said you stiff-necked and 
uncircumcised in heart and ears.

572
00:37:49,500 --> 00:37:53,600
You do always resist the Holy 
Ghost as your father's did. 

573
00:37:53,600 --> 00:37:58,100
So do ye he asks them, he says, 
which of the prophets have not 

574
00:37:58,100 --> 00:38:02,500
your father's persecuted. 
He tells them you are now the 

575
00:38:02,500 --> 00:38:07,100
betrayers and the murderers for 
you have received the law of 

576
00:38:07,100 --> 00:38:12,800
this disposition of angels and 
you have not kept Will you know 

577
00:38:12,800 --> 00:38:14,800
about that time? 
That was about all they could 

578
00:38:14,800 --> 00:38:18,900
stand. 
The Bible says that they ran 

579
00:38:18,900 --> 00:38:23,000
onto him and they gnashed on him
with their teeth. 

580
00:38:24,300 --> 00:38:28,100
But then that narrative tells us
that Stephen being full of the 

581
00:38:28,100 --> 00:38:32,600
Holy Ghost. 
He looks up to heaven. 

582
00:38:33,300 --> 00:38:37,300
And then he says this. 
He says, for I have seen, and I 

583
00:38:37,300 --> 00:38:40,800
have saw up into heaven. 
I have seen Heaven opened, and I

584
00:38:40,800 --> 00:38:45,400
have seen Jesus, he calls him, 
the son of man, standing on the 

585
00:38:45,400 --> 00:38:48,900
right hand of God. 
Well, I'll tell you if there was

586
00:38:48,900 --> 00:38:52,000
any ounce left of restraint, it 
was gone now. 

587
00:38:53,000 --> 00:38:55,600
They rushed on him and they 
pulled him outside the city and 

588
00:38:55,600 --> 00:38:59,600
they stoned him to death. 
You know how I know that what he

589
00:38:59,600 --> 00:39:02,300
was doing with the right heart 
the right motive, the right 

590
00:39:02,300 --> 00:39:06,200
attitude and all of that is in 
all the things that he preached 

591
00:39:06,200 --> 00:39:11,500
so sternly and so strictly and 
Stouffer and so firmly I know 

592
00:39:11,500 --> 00:39:14,400
his heart was right because at 
the very end right? 

593
00:39:14,400 --> 00:39:19,800
Before he died, he prays to God 
and he says, lay not this sin to

594
00:39:19,800 --> 00:39:24,900
their charge and with those 
words he gave up the ghost. 

595
00:39:25,900 --> 00:39:30,100
And he died. 
In conclusion, let me say this. 

596
00:39:32,100 --> 00:39:34,900
We live the Christian Life from 
day to day and we will make 

597
00:39:34,900 --> 00:39:37,700
decisions our lives are full of 
decisions. 

598
00:39:37,700 --> 00:39:42,700
They really are It's hard. 
Sometimes to make the proper 

599
00:39:42,800 --> 00:39:47,000
choices and sometimes the reason
they're hard is because we're 

600
00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:49,800
afraid, there's nothing wrong 
with fear. 

601
00:39:50,500 --> 00:39:54,200
The only thing that's wrong with
it, is when we yield to it, we 

602
00:39:54,200 --> 00:39:56,800
give into it and we don't do 
that, which is right. 

603
00:39:57,300 --> 00:40:00,400
So being afraid is okay. 
But let's be like those that we 

604
00:40:00,400 --> 00:40:04,100
talked about tonight and 
demonstrate how we are going to 

605
00:40:04,100 --> 00:40:08,000
have courage in our life and do 
that, which is right. 

606
00:40:08,900 --> 00:40:11,800
As I close, I leave you with the
words of a man wrote one time 

607
00:40:11,800 --> 00:40:15,800
about this very thing. 
He said whatever you do. 

608
00:40:16,200 --> 00:40:20,900
You need courage, whatever. 
Course you decide upon, there's 

609
00:40:20,900 --> 00:40:23,700
always someone to tell you that 
you're wrong. 

610
00:40:24,700 --> 00:40:28,000
There are always difficulties 
arising that tempt you to 

611
00:40:28,000 --> 00:40:32,700
believe that your critics are 
right to map out a course of 

612
00:40:32,700 --> 00:40:36,100
action that follows to the very 
end requires. 

613
00:40:36,100 --> 00:40:40,900
Some of the courage that a 
soldier needs you see piece has 

614
00:40:40,900 --> 00:40:45,800
its victories but it takes brave
men and women to win them. 

615
00:40:47,800 --> 00:40:50,500
We thank you for listening to 
our podcast, put on by the 

616
00:40:50,500 --> 00:40:56,200
Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.
Road in Bakersfield, if you 

617
00:40:56,200 --> 00:40:59,300
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618
00:40:59,300 --> 00:41:02,500
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619
00:41:03,100 --> 00:41:07,000
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620
00:41:07,000 --> 00:41:10,900
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Our service times are on Sundays

621
00:41:10,900 --> 00:41:16,000
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Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. 

622
00:41:16,100 --> 00:41:18,800
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623
00:41:19,400 --> 00:41:21,600
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