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[0:00] Good morning, everyone. John had a text me last week and asked if I can, he said he's not sure where we're going to church.

[0:11] I have a family in three different churches around here, so he's like not sure where he's going to church, but if you're coming here to share something. So I told him, well, we were planning on coming, but we might have to change plans.

[0:28] Yeah, anyway, no, it was just a blessing to be here and good to see mountains again. But yeah, so I just figured I'm going to share a little bit about what kind of a little testimony of mine of last summer.

[0:46] And then just kind of lately what I've been kind of thinking about and searching God in as well. So yeah, the first, last, it was probably last spring, last summer even, I was really just searching God and just saying, God, please show me your will.

[1:09] Just, I want your will to be done in my life. Whatever it is, just, I want your will. And it was just, it seemed like it was a couple months that I was just, like I said, I was just on and on asking God's, for God's will to be done and didn't really feel anything.

[1:34] And it kind of seemed like not long after I was just like, well, just kind of laid it down or whatever, I guess.

[1:44] And it just seemed like God showed me, said it's not as important about his will as having the relationship with Christ.

[1:58] And I feel like that was what was lacking in my life was the relationship part. I was wanting to do all the right things. I was wanting to do this, this, and this. But I didn't have that relationship that guided me through what his will was for my life.

[2:16] And so the simple answer to God's will is for everybody to obey his will.

[2:26] But a lot of people that, including myself in that time, was, I want God's will. And then the Bible just kind of stayed away. And where we're going to find God's will for our lives is when we open the scriptures and we read it and we search it.

[2:42] And that's where we're going to find God's will in our life. If we read the Bible with the idea of wanting to actually know God's will and we ask for that, he will reveal his will for our lives through the Bible.

[3:08] And it's all through the Bible in that. The Bible reading that I'm going to be having in that part about the will is John 15, 2-8.

[3:31] 1-8.

[4:01] If anyone who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that, who has done that you will be my disciples.

[4:33] So that was kind of the last summer, kind of what I was going through. Just kind of, like I said, it seemed like I was asking all the right questions and wanting to have God's will done in your life seems like a very noble thing, right?

[4:52] But without that relationship with Christ, how are you going to know God's will for your life? So it starts with the relationship with Christ.

[5:07] So lately, kind of what I've been just thinking about and talking to God about, I guess, is why do we follow Christ?

[5:19] What's the reason? I'll open it up for if somebody has, just what's the reason? Why do you follow Christ? I'm not saying, I mean, there's lots of things that are right.

[5:37] There you go. That's one. Yep, absolutely. Worthy. Amen.

[5:51] Amen. Like I said, there's lots of different things like that. I just wrote down here, is it because we just want to go to heaven or that we don't want to go to hell?

[6:06] Is it because we go to church and that's what the church says we do, so we love Christ? Or because, well, that's the way the parents taught us.

[6:18] Like I said, all things are great like that. I mean, as far as, I mean, I want to go to heaven. I'm very, very thankful that my parents taught me to love Christ.

[6:36] Billy Graham once said, let us always remember that Christ calls men and women not only to trust him as Savior, but also to follow him as Lord. That's, I guess, kind of what I'm going for is, are we following him as Lord?

[6:53] Are we, or are we just saying, yes, thank you for dying on the cross and dying for my sins, but then that's as far as we go. Or are we actually following him as Lord?

[7:04] I have a little mini-me right now. Wherever I go, he wants to go right after me. He says stuff right after I say stuff.

[7:18] Is that how I am to Christ? Am I following him? I want to. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself.

[7:48] Everything else that Jesus, everything else Jesus said and everything else he did flowed from those two ideas. What did those two ideas look like when Jesus put them into practice?

[8:06] His was healing the sick, showing mercy and grace to people who did wrong. And ultimately, like I said, he did die for our sins and that's the only way that we can, that we can be forgiven.

[8:28] But like I said, what I've been lately was, I actually was watching a podcast of Bryce Crawford. He was, him and Kenneth Copeland were having a discussion.

[8:43] And obviously, there's one side that's very prosperity-focused. And anyway, he was just saying where, like, do we follow Jesus because of the good things that we think of?

[9:03] Well, for one, in our Anabaptist circles is the community. The community is a great thing that I think is a blessing in our Anabaptist backgrounds. But is that the only reason that we follow Christ is because of that?

[9:17] Or just the blessings that come from Christ? And that's what Bryce Crawford had kind of challenged Kenneth Copeland about was, like, we should serve Christ because of our love for Christ.

[9:36] It shouldn't be because of, well, maybe I'll get some money back over here or whatever the case may be. It should be because of the love. First, like James said, we love him because he loves us.

[9:56] And then, yeah, just like, I guess, the Great Commission is kind of where it kind of leads back to for me is when Jesus came back from the dead, he gave all of his disciples a mission to go make him known and to know him and to make him known.

[10:19] I don't think that was just for the people back then to do that. I think that's for us as well today is to know Christ and to make him known.

[10:31] And so, that's, I guess, that's kind of my prayer for me is and for all of us is to know Christ and to make him known. So, that's all I have.

[10:43] I think Byrne's going to be sharing here. I say good morning and greetings in Jesus' name, the one that has already been lifted up this morning and sung about Hallelujah, what a Savior.

[11:03] I love that song. Hallelujah, what a Savior. He, again, some of the things that Brother John shared. You think about why we serve Christ.

[11:16] Wow. I mean, he has done so much for us. He has loved us, delivered us from our sin. He is worthy. And so, yeah, this morning I want to share a little bit about maybe just some of the things that Jesus really is to me and what he has done for me and why I believe some of the things I believe.

[11:48] You think about Jesus, the one we've been talking about this morning, came to earth. Why? to deliver us for you and I.

[12:00] You think about all the people in this world, seven, eight billion people and have lived previously how many?

[12:11] Billions of people. Yet, he knows you by name. He knows each one of us by name and is interested in us. Humbled himself, became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

[12:30] A couple weeks ago we celebrated resurrection and in fact, I think that's kind of the idea for meeting on a Sunday morning.

[12:42] We're celebrating the resurrection every Sunday morning, the Lord's day, the day the Lord rose from the grave. So, he rose from the dead, spent another 40 days with his disciples and ascended to heaven and is at the right hand of the throne of God interceding, interceding for you and I.

[13:08] Wow! He's got our best interest in mind. Jesus was born as a babe, right?

[13:22] Born as a babe some 2,000 years ago. But how about at creation? Was Jesus present? He was and is and will be.

[13:36] He is eternal. He was there at the beginning of time, in fact, is the creator of time and will return at the end of time. Book of Revelation tells us about a time where there will be no time.

[13:50] Time will be no longer. But until then, until then, we are here. We are called to occupy.

[14:03] Occupy till he comes, Luke 19. and that's in context there where this certain nobleman is going to receive a kingdom and he leaves his servants to occupy and he gives to each a talent or the another gospel would put it this way, to one he gives five, to another he gives two, and another he gives one.

[14:36] What'd they do? Sometimes, you know, we're in this thing called life.

[14:50] We're called to occupy till he come. And life is not just always easy, right? We've all encountered some things that are difficult.

[15:02] and probably would be easy just to ignore some of the things and just hope they go away and actually not make a good sound biblical decision on because we just kind of hope it goes away.

[15:17] Or we make excuses, you know. Well, you know, my family, we're good at making excuses. I mean, this goes back to the garden. The same exact thing that Adam and Eve we're doing.

[15:29] We make excuses, which really is blaming another situation or blaming someone else. Same thing that, I mean, it's a human problem. My family or my church or my job or my whatever circumstance, you know.

[15:48] We like making excuses. I'm human. Someone has said this, though, what excuse-making Christians are really saying is please excuse me from living a responsible biblical life on the basis that my case is different.

[16:11] Excuse me from living a responsible biblical life. So, let's look at these three guys for a bit.

[16:25] One had five talents and upon his return they were called to give a count. And that's coming for each one of us as well.

[16:36] There's going to be a reckoning. There's going to be a call to give a count. And the first two produced their talents plus what they had gained showing faithfulness, stewardship, what God had called them to do.

[16:54] Occupy till I come. The last one, he says, you know, what does he do? He starts making excuses for his unfaithfulness because basically saying please excuse me from living a responsible biblical life, what you have called me to.

[17:15] He makes excuses. Well, I knew that you were a hard man and that you sow where you reap where you didn't sow. And so, I kept it safe.

[17:28] Here it is. What did this nobleman say? Thou wicked and slothful servant. Where's basically what I'm getting out of that this morning is there's either faithfulness or there's excuses.

[17:52] Oftentimes, that's the way it goes. You look around these, even here in the community, right here in Plains, Paradise, wherever your home is, but look on a bigger scale.

[18:10] Look at the state of Montana or the nation or the world. You got eight billion souls. What is the biggest need for your community, the biggest need for your church and the biggest need for your home?

[18:29] Faithful men and women. Faithful men and women that are not about to make excuse, well, my wife, therefore, or well, my husband, therefore, no, we are called to be faithful no matter what.

[18:49] God is looking for faithfulness. We need men and women who are honest with themselves and with God, with a belief system, and you might go, wait a minute, system, a belief system.

[19:11] We need a belief system, but it needs to be right here. We talked about that already this morning. Brother John mentioned it. There is, the word is a belief system in a lot of ways.

[19:27] There's a lot of, A.W. Tozer says it this way, an honest man with an open Bible, a pad and a pencil, is sure to find out what is wrong with him very quickly.

[19:39] If you really are serious, diligently seeking, you're going to find some things that need to be changed, some things that need to be different, some things that need to be cleansed and purified by the work of the Holy Spirit.

[20:00] In John 6, if you want to turn to that, John 6, it in 66, 66 to 69, I'm just blessed with Peter and his boldness and his impulsiveness somewhat.

[20:32] I know he had some things to work through and so on, but I'm just with the way he, when you think about right before that, there was, Jesus was saying some pretty hard things and a lot of his disciples, a lot of his people that were following him on a fairly regular basis left.

[20:55] And Jesus turns to his disciples. Verse 66, from that time, many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, will ye also go away?

[21:09] Will you also make excuse? Will you also not be faithful? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? To whom shall we go?

[21:22] Thou hast the words of eternal life, and we believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Can I say that this morning with Peter?

[21:36] I trust that each one of us can. Hebrews 11 says something along the lines of he that comes to God must believe that he is, starts there, believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

[21:55] A rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Another quote that I thought of, and I love A.W.

[22:06] Tozer's writings, if you haven't noticed before, and some of the quotes he has are just, wow, deep. If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always got.

[22:27] So, think about that a little bit. Are you comfortable with the results that you're getting? I mean, you can apply that to different aspects of life.

[22:39] You can apply that to business. Are you comfortable with the results that you're getting? If you are, keep doing what you've been doing because you're going to get what you've been getting. But if you're not, I mean, that can be as a church.

[22:54] That can be as an individual in your personal life. if you're going to keep doing what you're doing, you're going to keep getting what you're getting. And so, where or what more, what more would we want than the blessing of God upon our life?

[23:18] and what a faith produces, faithfulness, what more would we want? And so, where do we turn?

[23:29] Again, to the word of God. To the word of God. And to how Peter put it, where would we go?

[23:41] Thou hast the words of eternal life. As I, going through the last number of years and wrestling with some things personally and some relationships, and sometimes you literally have to just go to the word and really search and just, God, what do you want?

[24:15] What is in this for me? Teach me. So, I have, and I'll try to hurry through these, I've got ten different things that I believe, and I think most of us could be on board with these.

[24:34] First of all, is I believe that God is ultimately and supremely in control of what happens to me. I believe that God is ultimately and supremely, God is a sovereign God that has my best interest in mind, I am convinced of it, and is in control of what happens to me.

[24:56] And you think of Psalm 139, you think of where the psalmist there goes to, I, no matter where I'm at, you're there.

[25:07] I can make my bed in hell, he says, still you are there. Psalm 147, 5, on that note, I won't turn to all these scriptures because it's going to take me too long.

[25:23] great is our Lord and of great power, his understanding is infinite.

[25:41] We are in this human body, this body is going to go to nothing one day. we are in this human body with finite minds, very limited, but our God is of great power.

[25:59] He sees a much bigger picture about your life and my life than we can even imagine. So, believe that God is ultimately and supremely in control of what happens to you because he is going back a little bit, thinking about just wrestling with some things, I'm just blessed with a lot of these psalms and when I think of Psalm 119, there's 176 verses, I believe.

[26:39] Yeah. Anyway, and you can quit getting lost in, there's a lot of them, somewhat repeat, maybe a lot of things, almost every verse, maybe a handful that don't have something to say either about the precepts or the word or the statutes or the testimonies or something referring to the word of God.

[27:03] But a couple of the scriptures, as you wrestle with things, it really draws you closer to God. And a couple of these verses here in Psalm 119, verse 67, before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now have I kept thy word.

[27:23] And then just a couple of verses later, it is good for me that I have been afflicted. Is it? Because that's when we learn, he goes on, that I might learn thy statutes, that I might learn thy statutes.

[27:39] things. And so I think, again, God is in control of everything that happens to me. Am I willing to learn in whatever situation that is?

[27:53] And then the second one is I believe that God has a reason for everything that happens to me. So I believe that God is in control of it, and I believe that he has a reason for everything that happens to me.

[28:04] you look at Romans 8, 28. We all know that verse, right?

[28:16] We can say it by heart. Do we really believe that everything works out for the best? I think it does.

[28:29] Even if we don't reap what we think is the best here in this life, one day the best, better than any best you can imagine.

[28:48] So sometimes you think of, okay, but what is this doing for me? Maybe it's conditioning you. Maybe it's just taking you another step to where you're going to face something else, that.

[29:04] This is helping you get to that. So I believe that God has a reason for everything that happens to me. Number three is I believe that my choice in how I respond respond, I believe to life's disappointments and unfair treatment will determine whether the outcome will be positive.

[29:30] And I'll start over. I believe that my choice in how I respond or react to life's disappointments and unfair treatment will determine whether the outcome will be positive.

[29:40] positive. I'm not going to turn to a scripture but consider Job. Consider Job. Unfair treatment.

[29:54] Life's disappointments. Still the outcome was positive. Why? Because of Job's testimony. Think about what he said. I know that my redeemer liveth.

[30:05] And what are some other things that Job said? He had some pretty profound things that even in the, when his wife told him to just curse God and die.

[30:21] No. Job is an absolute inspiration and the outcome was positive and will be if we respond in the correct way.

[30:35] number four is I believe that only through the power of the Holy Spirit will I experience complete victory in Christian life. In John 16, you don't need to turn to these, it's up to you if you want to follow along on that.

[30:55] John 16 verse 13 and Jesus is telling them, the disciples here, that he needs to go so the comforter can come.

[31:06] So the Holy Spirit can come. And he says, when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth. For he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, and he will show you things to come.

[31:24] And then you turn to 2 Corinthians. 2 Corinthians 3, verses 3 and 5, or 3 to 5.

[31:39] For as much as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God, not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

[31:54] That's you and I. And such trust have we through Christ to Godward, not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God.

[32:08] You can do, as John mentioned, all the right things, dot all your I's, cross all your T's, but unless the Holy Spirit is present, you will never experience complete victory in your Christian life.

[32:21] number five is I believe that there is pride in my life when I do not accept a circumstance or experience that is less than desirable.

[32:38] If you can't accept it and just resist God on this thing, there's pride in your life. I'm convinced and I can definitely say that for myself.

[32:51] Consider Jesus in the garden. Less than desirable, right? He humbled himself. There was no pride.

[33:02] He humbled himself. So again, I believe that there is pride in my life when I do not accept a circumstance! or experience that is less than desirable.

[33:17] I think I might have this one a lot of plays here, but I believe that affluence like when you think of, we live in America. We were in Belize two weeks ago, and you look at the culture there versus here, even right here in Plains, Montana, it's a pretty drastic difference.

[33:35] Affluence, has it been, our friend, has it been good for us? they claim, they claim, statistics, I don't know, where'd they come up with this, that 90 some percent, was it 98%, I forget exactly, 90 some percent of Christians were faithful, were, how would you say, when there was persecution, there was a continued faithfulness, approximately that many percent, fail the test of prosperity and affluence.

[34:15] Ouch. Is this a test? This affluence? Think about it, God is giving it to us, all good gifts come from above. God is giving these gifts to us, if we but steward them correctly.

[34:32] I believe that affluence, in my experience, will cause feelings of self-sufficiency, I can do this thing. And even breed some discontent.

[34:46] With more stuff, why would you be discontent? But that's exactly what happens. Which will need to be crucified, this self-sufficiency, these feelings of self-sufficiency and discontent will need to be crucified in order to have victory in a Christian walk of life.

[35:05] and you look at 1 Timothy 6 there where Paul's talking about, talking to Timothy but to us as well about riches and so on.

[35:16] Anyway, we won't turn to that. Number seven, I believe that every human at some point in his life experiences rejection, unfair treatment, or disappointment. Why should I be above that?

[35:28] every human being will at some point experience unfair treatment, rejection, or disappointment.

[35:40] I could turn to Romans 8 again on that, but going on to number 8, I believe that if self is my focus, if I am number one to myself, that either physical or spiritual suicide will occur.

[36:01] Physical suicide? If you're selfish? Yeah. In fact, almost all suicides can be traced back to a very selfish lifestyle.

[36:19] But, physical or spiritual, if self is my focus, then either physical or spiritual suicide will occur.

[36:37] I appreciated your testimony this morning, Tony. That song is, you think about where self, I mean, self is such a, how did Paul put it, that struggle within?

[36:51] That, that I wouldn't, I do, and that which I would, I don't do. That struggle is real. But, praise God that we have men that are willing to take a hold of the word of God, the Holy Spirit, and bring self into subjection.

[37:10] And realize that self is a problem. Self is a problem. Going on to number nine, I believe that to truly experience fulfillment in following God's will, I need to be persuaded that God's word has the answer.

[37:32] I believe that to truly experience fulfillment, we all want fulfilling lives, right? To truly experience fulfillment in following God's will, I need to be persuaded that God's word has the answer.

[37:45] You think of all the promises. Do we believe all these promises? I will never leave thee nor forsake thee, even when I am in the depths of despair.

[38:01] God won't leave you. You think about, you know, God's not, God's not interested in the amount of times we fall.

[38:16] Really. No, he doesn't like seeing it, but God is way more interested in the amount of times we get back up. Get back up. His word, when you really think about all his promises, do we actually believe him?

[38:39] No. Because I think in that is true fulfillment in believing God's promises and following his call.

[38:53] I mean, what he has, he has so much direction in life as well, in the word as well for us, for our lives, and it's for our good. Sometimes we kind of resist some of these things, but it's for our best interest.

[39:10] And the last one, I believe that as I allow God to help me respond properly to life's difficulties, sufferings, disappointments, whatever you want to call them, I will be able to bless and encourage others in the struggles that they are facing.

[39:26] Let's turn to 2 Corinthians 1. 2 Corinthians 1, verses 3 to 7.

[39:43] He says, Blessed be the God, blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforted us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble.

[39:58] Let me start over in verse 4. Who comforted us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in trouble. By the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God, for as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abound with by Christ.

[40:15] And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

[40:27] And our hope of you is steadfast, knowing that ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. So sometimes when you think about what you're facing, think of it this way.

[40:43] Maybe I can learn something to bless someone else in the same situation down the road. So again, I think we all have a belief system.

[40:59] We all do. We all have a belief system. Any belief system, if it really is a belief, is acted upon.

[41:11] That is why I believe there's so many people that don't want to believe in God because then they know it makes them accountable. Now I have to do something about it.

[41:25] So, if you don't, if you're not sure what your belief system is, get into the word. Get a belief system. Write it down. It's actually good for you to write down what I believe and what it does for me.

[41:42] And then you're able to also articulate properly to the next generation. You think about, I was blessed this morning when I think of a church and how a church should function, sitting back there, the two brothers right in front of me there, one of them gets up and he goes to the back and gets a cup of water and brings it back and gives it to the next.

[42:07] That is a picture of a church in my opinion. When we as whoever you are, look around and look at the needs around you and take care of the little ones, the new ones in the faith, the weak ones, whoever they be.

[42:25] Am I that guy? This prayer of St.

[42:38] Francis, Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith.

[42:49] Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy. Is that my prayer? That's my prayer for you this morning.

[43:00] That we and you all as a church can be that instrument. Where there is hatred, show love. I have no idea.

[43:12] I, all I know, and I have full confidence that there is peace in the brotherhood. I'm not. But if there is anything, if there is a relationship that needs mending, don't, don't show hatred for hatred.

[43:27] Don't give more darkness where darkness is. What would, what would Jesus say? Because Jesus actually spoke to the church, churches.

[43:40] If you look at John's letters in Revelation, I know my time is up. when you look at John's letters in Revelation to the churches, he was specifically addressing some issues and he would commend them on some things.

[43:54] What would Jesus commend Crossbridge for? And what would he recommend or maybe more than recommend?

[44:05] If, if this doesn't change, I'm removing your name from the book of life. it's that serious. What would Jesus' words be to the church right here?

[44:18] Let's pray. Our Father in Heaven, we thank you for your word. We thank you that you're interested in each life here this morning. Thank you that you just have set up men and women for your purpose in various places throughout the world.

[44:36] And right here this morning, I thank you for this group of people. Bless this brotherhood. Lord, help them to continue to be a light whether they meet here or in the new building, wherever they're at, Lord.

[44:49] We know that your church is not the building but is made up of people that are willing to follow you. And so, Lord, we just commit them to your care and ask for your blessing upon them.

[45:00] In Jesus' name, amen. Lord bless you. Greetings in the name of Jesus this morning. It has been very good to be here.

[45:10] Appreciate what the brethren have shared. And there's been a lot of emphasis on the word of God and hearing the word, reading the word, accepting the word.

[45:31] You know, our lives depend on our response to the word of God. Our life is directed by that.

[45:47] It is the course of our life will follow the response that we have to the word of God. So, this morning, turn to Proverbs chapter 4.

[46:12] You know, we we've heard our brother quoted that verse out of Hebrews. And you know, faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.

[46:35] Without faith it is impossible to please him. For he that cometh to God must believe that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

[46:49] You know, how do we build our faith? What is he talking about in faith? I believe how does a life of faith look?

[47:04] I believe what we're looking for is a heart that will read the word of God and receive it, believe it, live by it, act upon it.

[47:20] you know, our whole life depends upon our response to the word of God.

[47:32] Now in Proverbs chapter 4 we have some, I believe, very timely admonition here. Starting in verse 20, verse 20 to 23, my son, attend to my words, incline thine ear unto my sayings.

[47:57] Let them not depart from thine eyes, keep them in the midst of thine heart, for they are life unto those that find them and health to all their flesh.

[48:11] Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. And probably verse 23 has a bearing on the rest of those verses.

[48:29] how diligent that you are in keeping your heart will determine our response, our attention to the word, and yielding to the word that we read and hear.

[48:49] What's he talking about to keep our heart? He says, keep your heart with all diligence. you know, and way back when this was written, was it completely different scenario that we have today.

[49:09] So what does it take for you today to keep your heart clear? To keep your heart sanctified and meet for the master's use?

[49:22] To keep your heart open to the word of God. To keep your heart in such a condition that it hears the word of God.

[49:33] You know, I know what it is to take this book, this Bible, and read it, and after a chapter or two not even know what I read.

[49:47] That's so easy to do in our day and age, to have our mind on other things, to have our mind on the cares of this life, to be wrapped up with our responsibilities and the things we need to do, or maybe the pleasures that we're after, or maybe the videos that we were watching, and all of those things that steal away.

[50:13] But he admonishes us to be diligent about keeping our heart right with God, keeping our heart in a place, that we can hear the word of God and we will yield to it and be obedient to it.

[50:33] Verse 20, my son, he's talking to, he's not talking to unbelievers, he's talking to us. He says, attend to my words, attend to my words, you know, it's not just, you know, so, yeah, I heard what you say, but I forget.

[50:59] That is so often what happens. Attend to my words, you know, sometimes when we need, when we are attending to the word of God, when we are giving attention to the word of God, what do we need to do?

[51:26] We need to block out the other things. We need to block out what people are saying sometimes. We need to block out the things, you know, the thoughts that come that are not in line with the word of God.

[51:52] Attend to my word, give attention, be careful to hear what God is saying. Incline thine ear unto my sayings.

[52:05] Jesus, you know, if we will hear the word of God, if we will receive this word, whether it's the word that we're hearing this morning, or it's when you read the Bible this coming week, it will only take root in your heart if you determine that you will pay attention to what is being said.

[52:40] It will only bring fruit as you receive it and allow it as you yield to it. so he admonishes us to give attention and to incline, that's, how would you say, to hear on purpose, to purposely listen to what God is saying.

[53:11] I believe we've heard much this morning. God was speaking through our brothers have we heard, or will we just leave here and forget?

[53:26] It says, let them not depart from thine eyes, keep them in the midst of thine heart. You know, this word must ever be before us in our eyes, but the psalmist says, thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.

[53:48] the word of God, it needs to be in our heart. And if it's in our heart, it will be there.

[54:00] In that time of need, it will be there to be an answer, to be an answer to the pressures of life, to be an answer to the situations of life.

[54:17] But as we receive the word, as we live by the word, I believe faith will grow in our hearts to walk with God and to believe him and to trust him, to trust our God in every situation of life.

[54:47] We must give undivided attention to the word of God. I believe that's what I've been saying. It's so easy.

[55:00] It's so easy to allow distractions, to, you know, something comes and it distracts us and it takes away from what God is speaking.

[55:18] We must hear with both ears open. You know, how often have you heard the remark that, you know, it goes in one ear and out the other.

[55:32] We must hear with both ears open and receive the word and allow it to take root in the heart. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

[55:48] If we will have faith to live by, it will come because we have been eating this word. We've been partaking of this word and we've been allowing it to come into our heart and to build faith in the almighty God, the God that authored this word.

[56:16] Incline thine ear, humble yourself, lay aside your preconceived ideas, the things that, you know, how many times do we find ourselves that when you really believe this word, it's a little different than what we thought.

[56:42] You know, we have these ideas and things that we've heard, but they don't quite line up with the word of God.

[56:54] Which way do we believe? we must, it must be settled in our heart. It must be like our brother said, that belief system that's in your heart, it needs to be that this word is true and it will stand forever.

[57:12] And I must live by this word. We can take this word and we can accept it and we can order our life by it and it will stand the test of time and eternity.

[57:29] James says, receive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save your souls. Yes, receive with meekness.

[57:45] You know, I've seen people take the word of God in pride and then they want to go out and they want to share it in pride to lift up themselves.

[58:00] That doesn't work. That doesn't bring fruit. Not at all. Are we, do we live by this word?

[58:14] Do we accept it? Do we accept this word as the final authority in our lives? Verse 22, for they are life unto those that find them and health to all their flesh.

[58:39] The word of God, the precepts of God, this word of God, it is, life. It is eternal life.

[58:52] If we will find it, if we will accept it and live by it, it is life to those that find it and it is health to all their flesh.

[59:07] You know, it's not just a spiritual thing, but it's also a physical thing. yes, it is health to all our flesh.

[59:19] I believe God has made provisions for the healing of our bodies. Yes. So let us not let these things depart from us.

[59:35] Let's not let them slip away. faith in our God.

[59:49] How, how will I say, how do we live that life of faith? Is it not as we stand upon this word?

[60:02] The promises of God are sure. They will never let us down. But are we believing these promises?

[60:14] Are we yielded? You know, last Sunday we ended with a surrendered life.

[60:24] And as we live that surrendered life, then we can trust God for all of life.

[60:35] if we give it to him, we can trust him with it. Is that our life? Is that our life? The word of the Lord is life unto those that find it.

[60:51] It is health to all our flesh. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that God has given the Lord and his word are our life and our health.

[61:09] Guard your heart. Keep it pure. Keep it full of God's word. You know, the enemy has since the beginning of time tried to bring doubt to get mankind to question the word of God.

[61:34] I mean, that's how he did it in the Garden of Eden and he's still doing it that way today. That's one of his great tactics is to bring doubt in the heart of the believer.

[61:46] Just to whisper that doubt into your ear. Truth is under assault. But we can stand on that truth.

[61:59] We must guard our heart against the devices of the enemy, against the lies of the devil, against the thoughts of the carnal mind that allows those doubts to come.

[62:19] We must guard against human reasoning. I believe that's part of guarding our heart is guarding against human reasoning.

[62:30] It steals faith. It hardens the heart. You know, know, let's go to see, not sure which one it was.

[62:52] I'm just trying to pick out a few of these in Mark, Mark chapter six.

[63:03] here we have the disciples. And, you know, Jesus had fed the 5,000 and then he sent the people away and what a miracle.

[63:23] Five loaves and two fishes. The disciples took that and distributed it to the people and then they gathered up 12 baskets of leftovers.

[63:38] And God and Jesus then sent away the people and then, I think I have the wrong, it's not quite what I wanted.

[63:51] Let me find it here. Okay. It is in Mark.

[64:06] Mark chapter 6, verse 52. So here, you know, after Jesus had sent the multitudes away, he told his disciples to get into a ship and to go to the other side.

[64:23] And then the wind came, and the wind was contrary unto them. But then what happened? About the fourth watch of the night, verse 48, Jesus cometh unto them walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

[64:47] But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out. For they all saw him and were troubled.

[64:58] And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer. It is I. Be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship, and the wind ceased, and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

[65:20] For they considered not the miracle of the loaves, for their heart was hardened. And, you know, as you read through these accounts, and the things that, you know, the miracles Jesus was doing, and how people responded.

[65:41] But here we have the disciples, the very ones that had passed out the bread and the fish. And they had seen that miracle with their own eyes.

[65:55] They were a part of it. But somehow their hearts were hardened. It says here, They considered not the miracle of the loaves.

[66:11] How many times when we get into a hard situation, we get into the midst of some storm, and the devil tries to frighten us.

[66:32] He tries to bring a fear. And we need to make that choice. Will we stand in faith, or will we give in to fear?

[66:45] How many times do we find ourselves like the disciples that day, that night? They were afraid.

[66:57] They didn't, you know, they didn't know what to do. Jesus had said, Go to the other side. That was the word that Jesus had given them.

[67:12] Yes, there was a storm. But the word of God will be fulfilled. Don't mind the storm.

[67:24] Jesus will get you through. Remember what Jesus did in your life, saving you from a lost world, and bringing you into the kingdom of God, was a miracle in itself.

[67:39] And think of all the miracles he's done in your life, and the miracles he's done in other people's lives, and things that we have seen. Let's not faint when the going gets tough.

[67:51] Let's not faint in the midst of the storm. Unbelief hardens the heart. Somehow the disciples' hearts were hardened.

[68:06] And they, you know, they came to the point that they just expected Jesus to feed the people, or to do this, and to heal people, and to do that, and whatever, to meet their needs.

[68:22] But somehow, when they themselves were in the midst of the storm, they couldn't believe. They were sore amazed.

[68:39] You know, Jesus came to them, and he said, Be of good cheer. It is I. Be not afraid. And he went up into the ship, and the wind ceased, and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wandered.

[68:56] Yes. Our Lord. He is the master. He is the master of every circumstance. And if we belong to him, we can rest in him.

[69:12] We can rest in him. I believe that true faith in our Lord Jesus will bring a rest into our heart.

[69:24] A peace. A peace that passes all understanding. A peace that only God can give in the midst of the storms of life.

[69:37] in chapter 8 here in Mark.

[69:57] Again, we have Jesus feeding a crowd of 4,000 people or more. And afterward, he entered into a ship with his disciples.

[70:11] In verse 10, and the Pharisees came and began to ask, to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven tempting him.

[70:22] And he sighed deeply in his spirit and saith, why doeth this generation seek after a sign? Verily I say unto you, there shall no sign be given unto this generation.

[70:37] You know, Jesus, when they came and they asked for a sign, I mean, they had just seen the miracle. They had just seen the miracle.

[70:49] But yet they could not believe. And they asked for a sign. Jesus responds. He just sighed deeply in his spirit.

[71:00] I believe Jesus was grieved. He was grieved at the unbelief of the Pharisees. He was grieved at the unbelief of the people.

[71:12] He was grieved at the unbelief of his very disciples. And I believe that Jesus is grieved when we allow unbelief in our heart.

[71:28] And we make a wrong decision. We do not follow him in faith. You know, in Luke chapter 18, after this parable of the unjust judge, Jesus said, in verse 18, read verse 6 through 8.

[72:02] And the Lord said, hear what the unjust judge saith. Shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

[72:15] I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth.

[72:25] When he comes, will he find faith? You know, he asks that question. Faith, a persistent faith.

[72:37] Will he find, will he find us faithful? Will he find us faithful? will he find us with our talents buried and trying to preserve them until he returns?

[72:50] Will he find us faithful in the tasks of life? Will he find us faithful in believing his word and in walking in faith every day?

[73:04] Will he find you faithful? Will he find you faithful? Or will he find us with a hardened heart like the disciples?

[73:21] Like the people of, you know, those people, we're people just like they were. But hopefully, we have the Spirit of God within us and he will strengthen us.

[73:37] He will lead us. He will give us strength. But, but, we will need to make the right decisions and to give ourselves wholly to him and he will come and be strong in our behalf.

[73:58] Yes, I believe he will meet our every need. He will, he will be all sufficient as we believe in him and as we walk with him.

[74:14] Can you trust him? Can we trust him in the storms of life? Can we trust him in the difficult situations?

[74:24] You're so easy when everything's going well, right? But what about when things go wrong? What about when we're challenged?

[74:36] When there's challenging situations, can we still trust him? Or do we yield to unbelief?

[74:48]  May the Lord give us strength to be among those that continue on in faith until he comes. My god, who seems so that the people who have who who have who who have who who have who who have who who have who who have who who have who who have who who have who who have who who have who who have who who have who who have who who have who who have who who have who who have who who have who who have who who have who who have who who have who who have who who have who who have who