1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,380 Father God, your word is amazing. 2 00:00:06,380 --> 00:00:09,340 Your people are amazing. 3 00:00:09,620 --> 00:00:12,880 We love you and this morning, 4 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:17,420 we just ask you be here in Jesus name, Amen. 5 00:00:17,820 --> 00:00:26,660 Well, what do you think success is? 6 00:00:26,660 --> 00:00:29,840 Worldly success? 7 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:31,820 Oh, there's a measure out there. 8 00:00:31,820 --> 00:00:34,660 There is a measure out there. 9 00:00:34,660 --> 00:00:39,420 Okay. Possessions, position, 10 00:00:39,420 --> 00:00:42,780 power, and pleasure, the four P's. 11 00:00:42,780 --> 00:00:45,980 Possessions, big house, 12 00:00:45,980 --> 00:00:49,820 big bank account, new car. 13 00:00:50,460 --> 00:00:53,420 I'll tell you a teeny little story. 14 00:00:53,420 --> 00:00:55,740 When I was growing up, 15 00:00:55,740 --> 00:00:58,860 my dad was not poor, 16 00:00:58,860 --> 00:01:03,340 but you would never know it by the cars that we drove. 17 00:01:03,620 --> 00:01:05,780 I'm telling you, we had 18 00:01:05,780 --> 00:01:09,340 some really interesting vehicles. 19 00:01:10,940 --> 00:01:13,220 One was a truck. 20 00:01:13,220 --> 00:01:15,340 I don't know what year it was, 21 00:01:15,340 --> 00:01:18,820 but when I was in high school, 22 00:01:18,820 --> 00:01:22,260 it had been born a long time ago. 23 00:01:22,260 --> 00:01:25,540 I had never seen another truck like it. 24 00:01:25,540 --> 00:01:29,820 I've never seen one since. 25 00:01:29,820 --> 00:01:33,220 It was an embarrassment for a teenager 26 00:01:33,220 --> 00:01:36,380 to have to go around in that pickup. 27 00:01:36,380 --> 00:01:39,900 Most of the time, it wouldn't start. 28 00:01:39,900 --> 00:01:43,700 When we parked it, we parked it on a hill so that 29 00:01:43,700 --> 00:01:45,620 you could roll it down the hill and pop the clutch, 30 00:01:45,620 --> 00:01:47,820 so you can get the thing started. 31 00:01:47,820 --> 00:01:49,540 When you got to town, 32 00:01:49,540 --> 00:01:51,300 you left it running when you went into 33 00:01:51,300 --> 00:01:53,080 the grocery store because it probably 34 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:55,340 wouldn't start when you were through. 35 00:01:55,340 --> 00:02:00,020 Definitely not a car to be proud of. 36 00:02:00,020 --> 00:02:05,100 Then he bought a new car. 37 00:02:05,860 --> 00:02:09,500 New to us, not so old, 38 00:02:09,500 --> 00:02:11,660 but it was an Edsel. 39 00:02:11,660 --> 00:02:14,220 Anybody here remember Edsels? 40 00:02:14,220 --> 00:02:16,180 Were they popular? 41 00:02:16,180 --> 00:02:20,020 No, but those things ran forever. 42 00:02:20,020 --> 00:02:24,940 They ran forever and they were an embarrassment. 43 00:02:24,940 --> 00:02:28,660 I hate it when my mom came to pick me up in 44 00:02:28,660 --> 00:02:31,500 either the Edsel or the pickup, 45 00:02:31,500 --> 00:02:35,100 or when I had to drive either one of them. 46 00:02:35,100 --> 00:02:39,820 So possessions, the car that you drive. 47 00:02:39,820 --> 00:02:42,740 I'm really grateful to have a husband who will 48 00:02:42,740 --> 00:02:44,140 at least drive a car that looks like 49 00:02:44,140 --> 00:02:46,580 it belongs to the current century. 50 00:02:47,140 --> 00:02:54,540 So possessions, position. 51 00:02:54,540 --> 00:02:59,180 I am somebody if I'm the CEO, 52 00:02:59,180 --> 00:03:01,700 if I own the business, 53 00:03:01,700 --> 00:03:05,980 if I'm my own boss, I'm somebody. 54 00:03:05,980 --> 00:03:09,940 Power, if I'm in charge, 55 00:03:09,940 --> 00:03:12,180 if I can boss people around. 56 00:03:12,180 --> 00:03:14,740 I can climb the corporate ladder, 57 00:03:14,740 --> 00:03:16,980 I'm on my way up. 58 00:03:16,980 --> 00:03:20,740 Is that how God measures success? 59 00:03:20,740 --> 00:03:27,100 It isn't. True leadership. 60 00:03:27,100 --> 00:03:28,940 This is an aside by the way. 61 00:03:28,940 --> 00:03:32,140 I saw this on the Internet of all places, 62 00:03:32,140 --> 00:03:33,940 and I have glommed onto that, 63 00:03:33,940 --> 00:03:35,220 and I think it's really good. 64 00:03:35,220 --> 00:03:37,780 It says that leadership is not 65 00:03:37,780 --> 00:03:40,740 about being in charge of others. 66 00:03:40,740 --> 00:03:44,780 It's about caring for those in our charge. 67 00:03:44,780 --> 00:03:47,260 I like that. 68 00:03:47,260 --> 00:03:51,700 So power comes with leadership. 69 00:03:51,700 --> 00:03:54,580 What kind of leadership does God value? 70 00:03:54,580 --> 00:03:57,580 When we take care of those in our charge. 71 00:03:57,580 --> 00:04:01,380 So what's God's definition of success? 72 00:04:01,620 --> 00:04:04,460 I don't think it's possessions. 73 00:04:04,460 --> 00:04:06,300 I don't think it's position. 74 00:04:06,300 --> 00:04:07,900 I don't think it's power. 75 00:04:07,900 --> 00:04:09,900 I don't think it's pleasure. 76 00:04:09,900 --> 00:04:13,540 My intuition tells me that he considers me 77 00:04:13,540 --> 00:04:18,260 a success when I live in relationship to him. 78 00:04:19,660 --> 00:04:22,620 Let's look at scripture for a minute. 79 00:04:22,620 --> 00:04:25,660 Adam and Eve had a relationship with God. 80 00:04:25,660 --> 00:04:29,700 They walked with him in the cool of the evening. 81 00:04:29,700 --> 00:04:32,420 Then they sinned and broke 82 00:04:32,420 --> 00:04:35,180 that relationship and hid from God. 83 00:04:35,180 --> 00:04:39,860 But God, and I love that phrase. 84 00:04:39,860 --> 00:04:42,940 It appears over and over again in scripture, 85 00:04:42,940 --> 00:04:45,500 and every time it seems like God is 86 00:04:45,500 --> 00:04:48,820 seeking man when it says, but God. 87 00:04:48,820 --> 00:04:52,860 So here we have Adam and Eve with a broken relationship, 88 00:04:52,860 --> 00:04:56,940 but God, and here in the garden, 89 00:04:56,940 --> 00:05:00,900 God is seeking to restore his relationship with Adam and Eve, 90 00:05:00,900 --> 00:05:03,860 and make provision for their fall. 91 00:05:03,860 --> 00:05:08,060 He gave them a new beginning. 92 00:05:08,060 --> 00:05:11,500 Keep track of that word, new beginning. 93 00:05:11,500 --> 00:05:14,100 If you looked at your bulletin, that's the sermon title, 94 00:05:14,100 --> 00:05:15,980 new beginnings. 95 00:05:15,980 --> 00:05:19,740 Abraham had a relationship with God. 96 00:05:19,740 --> 00:05:23,540 Perfect. No. 97 00:05:23,540 --> 00:05:26,580 But more or less continual. 98 00:05:26,580 --> 00:05:28,980 In Abraham's story, we see God 99 00:05:28,980 --> 00:05:33,180 continually seeking a relationship with Abraham, 100 00:05:33,180 --> 00:05:36,420 making covenants with him, aiding him. 101 00:05:36,420 --> 00:05:39,900 He gave him a new beginning in Ur of the Chaldees. 102 00:05:39,900 --> 00:05:43,180 Told him, yeah, you're going somewhere else. 103 00:05:43,180 --> 00:05:48,100 He gave him a new beginning after the little mistake 104 00:05:48,100 --> 00:05:50,860 with Hagar and Mishmael. 105 00:05:50,860 --> 00:05:52,700 And if you look at his life, 106 00:05:52,700 --> 00:05:56,020 God gave Abraham a new beginning many times. 107 00:05:56,020 --> 00:05:57,340 How about Jacob? 108 00:05:57,340 --> 00:05:59,980 Jacob had a relationship with God 109 00:05:59,980 --> 00:06:03,540 because God was continually seeking him. 110 00:06:03,540 --> 00:06:07,220 He floundered, he cheated, he connived, 111 00:06:07,220 --> 00:06:10,220 and yet God sought him. 112 00:06:10,220 --> 00:06:13,700 He came to him in a vision of a ladder. 113 00:06:13,700 --> 00:06:17,100 He gave him a new beginning at his Uncle Laban's. 114 00:06:17,100 --> 00:06:19,220 He came, he wrestled with him. 115 00:06:19,220 --> 00:06:22,460 God wanted a relationship with him. 116 00:06:22,460 --> 00:06:26,100 He sought this relationship, 117 00:06:26,100 --> 00:06:29,500 and he gave him a new beginning point more than once. 118 00:06:29,500 --> 00:06:31,820 He came to him, he wrestled with him 119 00:06:31,820 --> 00:06:34,980 because God wanted a relationship with him. 120 00:06:34,980 --> 00:06:39,980 I think God considers a success 121 00:06:40,340 --> 00:06:42,140 having a relationship with him. 122 00:06:43,140 --> 00:06:45,420 David, a man after God's own heart, 123 00:06:45,420 --> 00:06:47,300 had a relationship with God, 124 00:06:47,300 --> 00:06:50,220 and yet he faltered and he floundered, 125 00:06:50,220 --> 00:06:52,100 and God gave him a new beginning 126 00:06:53,380 --> 00:06:56,740 because he wanted that relationship with David. 127 00:06:56,740 --> 00:07:01,740 Bottom line, God seeks to be in relationship to us. 128 00:07:05,500 --> 00:07:08,100 He doesn't care what kind of a car I drive. 129 00:07:09,140 --> 00:07:13,060 It doesn't matter whether it belongs to this century or not. 130 00:07:13,060 --> 00:07:16,300 It doesn't matter whether it's a tired old Ford pickup 131 00:07:16,300 --> 00:07:18,060 that who knows when it was born. 132 00:07:18,060 --> 00:07:19,780 It doesn't matter if it was an Edsel, 133 00:07:19,780 --> 00:07:22,620 the most unpopular car of its age. 134 00:07:22,620 --> 00:07:27,620 He doesn't care how much money we have in the bank. 135 00:07:27,620 --> 00:07:31,820 He doesn't care how well our assets are invested. 136 00:07:31,820 --> 00:07:36,420 He doesn't care what kind of worldly power we have 137 00:07:36,420 --> 00:07:37,500 or don't have. 138 00:07:38,340 --> 00:07:43,340 He cares about us, who we are on the inside. 139 00:07:43,740 --> 00:07:46,940 He cares about having a relationship with us. 140 00:07:46,940 --> 00:07:48,340 Sometimes I kind of wonder 141 00:07:48,340 --> 00:07:51,660 if God doesn't get a little frustrated with us. 142 00:07:51,660 --> 00:07:56,460 He wants to give us himself, yet we flounder 143 00:07:56,460 --> 00:07:59,260 in the morass of worldly possession, 144 00:07:59,260 --> 00:08:01,980 power, possessions, and pleasure. 145 00:08:02,900 --> 00:08:05,860 He desires to give us a new beginning 146 00:08:05,860 --> 00:08:08,540 as many times as it takes, 147 00:08:08,540 --> 00:08:12,020 and he doesn't give up on us ever. 148 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:17,980 Now this would be a good time to talk about, 149 00:08:19,140 --> 00:08:21,140 what is it we call it, resolutions? 150 00:08:21,140 --> 00:08:26,140 I mean, New Year's tomorrow night, we start a new year. 151 00:08:26,980 --> 00:08:28,260 I'm not gonna do that, 152 00:08:30,580 --> 00:08:33,100 because there's only one that really matters, 153 00:08:33,100 --> 00:08:35,940 and that's being in relationship with God. 154 00:08:35,940 --> 00:08:40,940 So, we're gonna talk about phases of relationship, okay? 155 00:08:43,020 --> 00:08:46,180 The initial new beginning. 156 00:08:46,180 --> 00:08:50,880 Begin at the very beginning, a very good place to start. 157 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:53,500 Anybody recognize where that quote comes from? 158 00:08:53,500 --> 00:08:57,180 Ah, see, Sound of Music, that's right. 159 00:08:57,180 --> 00:09:00,220 Old Booby was once new. 160 00:09:00,220 --> 00:09:01,780 Begin at the very beginning, 161 00:09:01,780 --> 00:09:04,520 it's a very good place to start. 162 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:07,460 Julie Anders in the Sound of Music. 163 00:09:09,100 --> 00:09:12,800 Because we are born into a fallen world, 164 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:16,300 we're born fallen, sinful beings, 165 00:09:16,300 --> 00:09:21,300 and yet, God seeks to give us a new beginning. 166 00:09:22,700 --> 00:09:27,700 And so, I'm gonna do some scripture with you this morning. 167 00:09:29,340 --> 00:09:33,780 And this one here, and I'm amazed at how well 168 00:09:33,780 --> 00:09:38,100 last week's sermon and my thoughts from a month ago 169 00:09:38,100 --> 00:09:40,780 when they asked me if I would do this today, 170 00:09:40,780 --> 00:09:42,540 kind of fit together. 171 00:09:42,540 --> 00:09:47,540 The Sabbath School lesson even kind of tied into it. 172 00:09:48,780 --> 00:09:52,380 And our bulletin insert. 173 00:09:52,380 --> 00:09:56,060 I highly recommend you read this, okay? 174 00:09:56,060 --> 00:09:59,740 This came from our pastor, and it says, 175 00:09:59,740 --> 00:10:02,700 it even has compiled by Pastor Greg Hudson. 176 00:10:02,700 --> 00:10:07,220 Oh, I went, yeah, okay, good, this fits in really well. 177 00:10:07,220 --> 00:10:09,860 So, recommended reading, all right? 178 00:10:09,860 --> 00:10:12,780 Begin at the very beginning, 179 00:10:12,780 --> 00:10:15,780 because that's a very good place to start. 180 00:10:15,780 --> 00:10:20,460 God said, in the beginning was the Word. 181 00:10:21,580 --> 00:10:25,860 The Word was with God, the Word was God. 182 00:10:25,860 --> 00:10:29,060 He was in the beginning with God. 183 00:10:29,060 --> 00:10:30,860 All things were made by Him, 184 00:10:30,860 --> 00:10:35,340 and without Him was not anything made that was made. 185 00:10:35,340 --> 00:10:39,460 In Him was life, and life was the light of men. 186 00:10:39,460 --> 00:10:42,140 And the light shines in the darkness, 187 00:10:42,140 --> 00:10:45,860 the darkness comprehended it not. 188 00:10:47,580 --> 00:10:49,540 John one, one through five. 189 00:10:52,020 --> 00:10:55,580 In the beginning, the new beginning, 190 00:10:55,580 --> 00:10:58,640 and then if you go down to verse 14, it says, 191 00:10:59,620 --> 00:11:03,940 the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, 192 00:11:03,940 --> 00:11:07,340 and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten 193 00:11:07,340 --> 00:11:09,940 of the Father, full of grace and truth. 194 00:11:10,900 --> 00:11:13,580 God said, in the beginning, 195 00:11:13,580 --> 00:11:16,620 He sought a relationship with us. 196 00:11:16,620 --> 00:11:19,180 He became one of us. 197 00:11:20,660 --> 00:11:23,660 Then Jesus said, famous verse, 198 00:11:26,900 --> 00:11:29,580 you guys can quote it with me if you want to, 199 00:11:29,580 --> 00:11:31,980 John three, 16 and 17, 200 00:11:31,980 --> 00:11:34,820 for God so loved the world 201 00:11:34,820 --> 00:11:37,940 that He gave His only begotten Son, 202 00:11:37,940 --> 00:11:42,420 that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, 203 00:11:42,420 --> 00:11:45,140 but have everlasting life. 204 00:11:45,140 --> 00:11:48,060 For God sent not His Son into the world 205 00:11:48,060 --> 00:11:49,620 to condemn the world, 206 00:11:49,620 --> 00:11:54,060 but that the world through Him might be saved. 207 00:11:54,060 --> 00:11:56,460 Jesus said that. 208 00:11:56,460 --> 00:12:05,460 Here we see God and Jesus seeking us. 209 00:12:06,460 --> 00:12:11,180 The first thing He said is believe, okay? 210 00:12:11,180 --> 00:12:13,380 There's some steps in this. 211 00:12:13,380 --> 00:12:15,900 So the first thing is believe. 212 00:12:15,900 --> 00:12:18,700 In Acts we read, and they said, 213 00:12:18,700 --> 00:12:20,580 believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, 214 00:12:20,580 --> 00:12:23,340 and thou shalt be saved in thy household. 215 00:12:23,340 --> 00:12:26,460 Step number one is believe. 216 00:12:27,780 --> 00:12:32,780 Step number two, both John the Baptist and Jesus said this, 217 00:12:33,340 --> 00:12:36,020 repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 218 00:12:37,580 --> 00:12:42,580 So believe, what's step number two? 219 00:12:42,740 --> 00:12:43,780 Repent. 220 00:12:45,380 --> 00:12:48,180 John said, if we confess our sins, 221 00:12:48,180 --> 00:12:50,620 He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins 222 00:12:50,620 --> 00:12:53,580 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 223 00:12:53,580 --> 00:12:55,820 Repentance and confession. 224 00:12:58,140 --> 00:13:01,900 To confess means to say the same thing, 225 00:13:01,900 --> 00:13:05,700 to agree with God, I blew it, okay? 226 00:13:08,100 --> 00:13:10,340 I can admit I blew it, 227 00:13:11,700 --> 00:13:15,380 but the second half of that is repentance. 228 00:13:15,380 --> 00:13:20,380 And repentance is to determine, to turn from it. 229 00:13:21,780 --> 00:13:24,580 So step number one, believe. 230 00:13:24,580 --> 00:13:29,420 Step number two, confess and, 231 00:13:29,420 --> 00:13:30,780 what's the other part of that? 232 00:13:30,780 --> 00:13:32,580 Repent, right? 233 00:13:32,580 --> 00:13:37,580 So believe, confess, repent. 234 00:13:40,860 --> 00:13:42,780 There's another one that goes along. 235 00:13:42,780 --> 00:13:45,860 There's four of these guys, okay? 236 00:13:45,860 --> 00:13:49,340 As many as received Him, to them He gave power 237 00:13:49,340 --> 00:13:50,820 to become the sons of God, 238 00:13:50,820 --> 00:13:53,580 even to them that believe on His name. 239 00:13:53,580 --> 00:13:54,820 To as many as what? 240 00:13:55,980 --> 00:13:57,020 Received Him. 241 00:14:00,100 --> 00:14:01,500 What does receive mean? 242 00:14:04,500 --> 00:14:06,180 To take, right? 243 00:14:06,180 --> 00:14:11,180 If I believe and if I confess and if I repent, 244 00:14:14,180 --> 00:14:18,180 does it do me any good if I don't receive Jesus? 245 00:14:19,300 --> 00:14:21,780 You gotta have it, okay? 246 00:14:21,780 --> 00:14:26,780 To as many as received Him, to as many as took Him, 247 00:14:26,780 --> 00:14:30,140 to them He gave power to become the sons of God, 248 00:14:30,140 --> 00:14:32,300 even to those that believe on His name. 249 00:14:32,300 --> 00:14:35,100 Jesus said a couple other times, He said, 250 00:14:36,980 --> 00:14:38,420 receive the Holy Spirit. 251 00:14:40,380 --> 00:14:41,980 In another place it says, 252 00:14:41,980 --> 00:14:44,380 He breathed on them the Holy Spirit. 253 00:14:47,140 --> 00:14:52,140 The blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, 254 00:14:52,140 --> 00:14:55,340 that's you and me by the way, through Jesus Christ, 255 00:14:55,340 --> 00:15:00,340 that we might receive the promise of the Holy Spirit. 256 00:15:00,340 --> 00:15:05,340 We might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 257 00:15:05,580 --> 00:15:08,820 So we need to receive as well. 258 00:15:08,820 --> 00:15:13,820 You can't quit at, believe, confess, repent. 259 00:15:14,980 --> 00:15:19,180 You need to receive Jesus as part into your life. 260 00:15:19,180 --> 00:15:22,820 Receive the Holy Spirit, it's a gift He freely offers. 261 00:15:26,260 --> 00:15:29,460 And He tells us He stands at the door and knocks. 262 00:15:29,460 --> 00:15:32,380 If any man hears His voice and opens the door, 263 00:15:32,380 --> 00:15:34,900 He will come in and He'll eat with us. 264 00:15:37,740 --> 00:15:42,740 There's God again seeking to give us that new beginning. 265 00:15:46,940 --> 00:15:51,460 This first part, the repenting, the believing, 266 00:15:51,460 --> 00:15:54,780 the receiving, it's relatively easy, 267 00:15:55,700 --> 00:15:58,140 even though most of the world refuses to do it. 268 00:15:58,140 --> 00:16:02,540 But for those who are Christians, this is the easy part. 269 00:16:05,140 --> 00:16:06,980 Okay, that's the easy part. 270 00:16:09,740 --> 00:16:12,780 The next part is where the rug comes 271 00:16:12,780 --> 00:16:15,700 and the rubber meets the road. 272 00:16:15,700 --> 00:16:20,700 Remember, Jesus defines success as living in relationship 273 00:16:21,500 --> 00:16:26,500 to Him or walking with Him or abiding in Him. 274 00:16:26,500 --> 00:16:29,140 Why is it so hard? 275 00:16:34,260 --> 00:16:38,100 Any Christian here wanna admit that at times it's not hard? 276 00:16:38,100 --> 00:16:42,020 You say, oh, life is easy, it's always fine. 277 00:16:42,020 --> 00:16:44,020 Anybody willing to admit that? 278 00:16:44,020 --> 00:16:45,940 No, I don't. 279 00:16:45,940 --> 00:16:48,500 It can be tough sometimes. 280 00:16:48,500 --> 00:16:52,500 This walking with Jesus, this abiding with Him, how come? 281 00:16:53,420 --> 00:16:55,020 Well, now there's a war going on 282 00:16:55,020 --> 00:16:56,580 between the old and the new nature 283 00:16:56,580 --> 00:16:58,180 and there didn't used to be one. 284 00:16:59,180 --> 00:17:01,020 There's a war going on. 285 00:17:01,020 --> 00:17:05,100 We need to feed the new nature, this walking with Jesus. 286 00:17:06,180 --> 00:17:09,500 Abiding in Him requires time 287 00:17:09,500 --> 00:17:11,900 and that's where the rubber meets the road. 288 00:17:13,340 --> 00:17:18,140 One thing we modern people are short on is time. 289 00:17:20,300 --> 00:17:23,620 Okay, those of you that are still working, 290 00:17:23,620 --> 00:17:24,940 how's your time doing? 291 00:17:26,500 --> 00:17:27,820 How much do you have? 292 00:17:31,140 --> 00:17:33,060 Do you have any margin in your life? 293 00:17:35,580 --> 00:17:37,700 Oh, the same as everybody else, yeah. 294 00:17:39,900 --> 00:17:42,060 Those of you that work and have children, 295 00:17:43,300 --> 00:17:44,980 how are the margins in your life? 296 00:17:44,980 --> 00:17:46,500 How's your time? 297 00:17:46,500 --> 00:17:48,460 How's your available time? 298 00:17:48,460 --> 00:17:51,220 Not much there, okay? 299 00:17:51,220 --> 00:17:56,220 And yet this walking with Jesus requires time. 300 00:17:59,620 --> 00:18:01,620 It requires time. 301 00:18:01,620 --> 00:18:04,260 He wants a relationship with us. 302 00:18:05,540 --> 00:18:07,980 What's a relationship anyway? 303 00:18:09,220 --> 00:18:11,060 Hi, bye. 304 00:18:12,900 --> 00:18:14,540 Is that a relationship? 305 00:18:14,540 --> 00:18:16,580 No, it's not. 306 00:18:16,580 --> 00:18:19,500 No, it's not. 307 00:18:23,100 --> 00:18:26,220 No, hello, how are you? 308 00:18:26,220 --> 00:18:27,980 Oh, I'm fine, goodbye. 309 00:18:29,420 --> 00:18:31,260 Is that a relationship? 310 00:18:31,260 --> 00:18:33,100 No, it's not. 311 00:18:34,940 --> 00:18:37,980 Jesus wants a relationship with us. 312 00:18:37,980 --> 00:18:40,380 It requires time. 313 00:18:40,380 --> 00:18:45,380 And a relationship, any relationship is composed 314 00:18:48,100 --> 00:18:53,100 of basically two things, talking and listening. 315 00:18:54,580 --> 00:18:58,660 There's an emotional part of it too, okay? 316 00:18:58,660 --> 00:19:02,700 There's an emotional component to a relationship 317 00:19:02,700 --> 00:19:04,580 and there should be one with Jesus, 318 00:19:04,580 --> 00:19:10,580 but it requires time, time to talk, time to listen. 319 00:19:11,900 --> 00:19:15,500 I'm retired, but I can tell you, 320 00:19:15,500 --> 00:19:17,820 I can find a lot of ways to occupy my time. 321 00:19:19,660 --> 00:19:22,780 I can find a ton of ways to occupy my time. 322 00:19:29,020 --> 00:19:31,020 There's too many things I like to do. 323 00:19:31,020 --> 00:19:35,900 You know, come by my house and look at my craft room 324 00:19:35,900 --> 00:19:36,740 sometime. 325 00:19:38,380 --> 00:19:42,020 I like to do all kinds of things. 326 00:19:42,020 --> 00:19:45,220 I like to sew, I like to spin, I like to knit, 327 00:19:45,220 --> 00:19:47,460 I like to draw, I like to paint. 328 00:19:49,220 --> 00:19:54,220 I like to do lots of stuff and it all takes time. 329 00:19:54,220 --> 00:19:59,220 But Jesus wants a relationship with us 330 00:20:02,220 --> 00:20:05,740 and a relationship requires time. 331 00:20:07,820 --> 00:20:11,780 So, every day is a new beginning. 332 00:20:14,660 --> 00:20:17,220 When and how it begins is up to us. 333 00:20:18,700 --> 00:20:20,580 Our new nature wants to sleep in 334 00:20:20,580 --> 00:20:23,100 till the last possible moment. 335 00:20:23,100 --> 00:20:25,100 Our old nature, sorry, wants to sleep in 336 00:20:25,100 --> 00:20:27,260 till the last possible moment. 337 00:20:29,100 --> 00:20:33,300 Or wants to check your email when you wake up. 338 00:20:34,660 --> 00:20:35,500 Anybody do that? 339 00:20:36,660 --> 00:20:38,100 I can be guilty of that. 340 00:20:42,460 --> 00:20:45,740 If you're a teenager or approaching teenagehood, 341 00:20:45,740 --> 00:20:50,740 video games eat up a lot of time. 342 00:20:53,780 --> 00:20:54,940 And I can be guilty of that. 343 00:20:54,940 --> 00:20:56,580 I have a couple I like to play. 344 00:20:57,500 --> 00:21:02,140 But if we're going to live with Jesus as a familiar friend, 345 00:21:03,020 --> 00:21:06,020 we're gonna have to carve out some time to spend with him. 346 00:21:06,020 --> 00:21:07,940 It's gonna cost something. 347 00:21:11,340 --> 00:21:13,260 It's gonna cost me something. 348 00:21:13,260 --> 00:21:16,940 I have to carve out time for him. 349 00:21:18,980 --> 00:21:21,020 I do it best if I have a plan 350 00:21:23,060 --> 00:21:24,820 rather than random reading, 351 00:21:24,820 --> 00:21:26,780 which by the way is really easy to skip. 352 00:21:26,780 --> 00:21:28,300 I don't know what your experience is, 353 00:21:28,300 --> 00:21:29,500 but if I don't have a plan, 354 00:21:29,500 --> 00:21:32,580 the random reading can just kinda go by the way. 355 00:21:32,580 --> 00:21:36,220 And there's nothing wrong with random reading by the way 356 00:21:36,220 --> 00:21:37,660 if you stick to it. 357 00:21:39,020 --> 00:21:41,620 If random reading works for you, 358 00:21:41,620 --> 00:21:45,540 Jesus isn't opposed to that as long as you engage with him. 359 00:21:47,380 --> 00:21:49,020 As long as you're engaged. 360 00:21:49,900 --> 00:21:51,940 If you're reading randomly, 361 00:21:51,940 --> 00:21:56,180 all he wants is to know you and to spend time with you. 362 00:21:58,940 --> 00:22:03,460 I'm gonna give you some examples of planned time 363 00:22:03,460 --> 00:22:06,180 simply because that's what works for me. 364 00:22:06,180 --> 00:22:08,060 If random reading works for you, 365 00:22:09,180 --> 00:22:11,260 blessings on you. 366 00:22:11,260 --> 00:22:12,860 It doesn't work for me. 367 00:22:12,860 --> 00:22:14,900 So I'm gonna give you some examples. 368 00:22:16,740 --> 00:22:18,100 Read the Bible through. 369 00:22:18,100 --> 00:22:21,820 There are a lot of Bible reading plans out there. 370 00:22:21,820 --> 00:22:25,300 You can just print one off and just follow it. 371 00:22:25,300 --> 00:22:27,780 And I've done that and it's a blessing. 372 00:22:29,500 --> 00:22:33,300 You can choose to study a book of the Bible in depth. 373 00:22:35,140 --> 00:22:38,620 There's lots of printed plans for doing that as well, 374 00:22:38,620 --> 00:22:41,460 or you can do it yourself. 375 00:22:41,460 --> 00:22:43,220 That's my preferred way to do it. 376 00:22:45,020 --> 00:22:46,980 Just to dig in and just do it. 377 00:22:48,860 --> 00:22:50,180 Study a topic. 378 00:22:51,300 --> 00:22:55,500 Or you know, you usually don't wanna study a topic 379 00:22:55,500 --> 00:22:59,540 for a whole year, but choose a topic and study a topic. 380 00:23:00,380 --> 00:23:03,260 I spent a year studying God's names 381 00:23:03,260 --> 00:23:06,700 with the intent to see what I could learn about him 382 00:23:06,700 --> 00:23:09,100 and how I could increase my relationship with him 383 00:23:09,100 --> 00:23:10,660 by studying his names. 384 00:23:11,780 --> 00:23:15,700 That was a huge, huge blessing to me. 385 00:23:15,700 --> 00:23:18,180 And you guys that are regular members here 386 00:23:18,180 --> 00:23:20,380 probably remember when I did that, 387 00:23:20,380 --> 00:23:21,620 it was a couple years ago, 388 00:23:21,620 --> 00:23:24,180 because you kept hearing about it. 389 00:23:24,180 --> 00:23:26,540 Say, oh, you know what I discovered this week? 390 00:23:27,940 --> 00:23:29,780 That was really good. 391 00:23:29,780 --> 00:23:31,340 I really enjoyed that one. 392 00:23:32,300 --> 00:23:35,180 You can study the life of Jesus through the gospels 393 00:23:35,180 --> 00:23:38,780 and the corresponding part of Desire of Ages. 394 00:23:38,780 --> 00:23:41,860 I spent many years reading through Desire of Ages 395 00:23:42,860 --> 00:23:45,140 year after year after year. 396 00:23:45,140 --> 00:23:47,100 It was really, really rewarding. 397 00:23:47,100 --> 00:23:49,900 I probably did it seven or eight years. 398 00:23:49,900 --> 00:23:52,900 I'd started the beginning and read it all the way through. 399 00:23:52,900 --> 00:23:54,180 I go back at the beginning 400 00:23:54,180 --> 00:23:55,900 and I read it all the way through. 401 00:23:56,780 --> 00:24:00,540 The other day I read the first chapter again. 402 00:24:02,820 --> 00:24:04,220 God with us. 403 00:24:04,220 --> 00:24:06,460 If you haven't read that chapter in a while, 404 00:24:07,660 --> 00:24:10,060 it's one of those wow chapters. 405 00:24:10,060 --> 00:24:10,980 Read it. 406 00:24:10,980 --> 00:24:12,220 That's amazing. 407 00:24:14,300 --> 00:24:19,300 Gave me a greater appreciation for who God is 408 00:24:21,940 --> 00:24:25,420 and how much he wants to be with us. 409 00:24:28,180 --> 00:24:29,260 Keep a journal. 410 00:24:30,420 --> 00:24:32,460 Oh, yes, Cindy, sure. 411 00:24:32,460 --> 00:24:34,220 Go ahead, keep a journal. 412 00:24:37,620 --> 00:24:39,100 You don't have to do this. 413 00:24:40,300 --> 00:24:42,780 It doesn't have to be part of your time 414 00:24:42,780 --> 00:24:44,620 that you spend with God. 415 00:24:44,620 --> 00:24:49,380 I like it because it gives me a record of where I've been. 416 00:24:51,820 --> 00:24:54,660 When my girls get stuck with going through all my junk 417 00:24:56,780 --> 00:24:59,780 and I freely admit I've got a lot of it, okay, 418 00:24:59,780 --> 00:25:01,660 they are going to find a journal here 419 00:25:01,660 --> 00:25:04,340 and a journal there and a journal somewhere else 420 00:25:04,340 --> 00:25:07,020 with bits and pieces of my life in it. 421 00:25:08,340 --> 00:25:09,940 I hope it's a blessing to them too. 422 00:25:14,180 --> 00:25:18,020 I also do journaling because I'm a visual 423 00:25:18,020 --> 00:25:20,140 and a kinesthetic learner. 424 00:25:20,140 --> 00:25:23,700 And for those of you who are guests today, I'm a teacher. 425 00:25:23,700 --> 00:25:27,260 So of course, learning styles are important to me, okay? 426 00:25:27,260 --> 00:25:29,220 And you may not know what they are. 427 00:25:29,220 --> 00:25:31,700 Some people are auditory. 428 00:25:31,700 --> 00:25:34,300 They hear it, they've got it. 429 00:25:35,500 --> 00:25:36,860 I really envy them. 430 00:25:38,700 --> 00:25:40,820 Some people are visual learners. 431 00:25:40,820 --> 00:25:42,740 They see it, they've got it. 432 00:25:45,620 --> 00:25:47,900 Some people have to talk to get it. 433 00:25:47,900 --> 00:25:49,460 I have a friend like that. 434 00:25:50,340 --> 00:25:54,660 She has to talk it through or she doesn't get it, okay? 435 00:25:54,660 --> 00:25:57,860 Me, I have two. 436 00:25:57,860 --> 00:26:00,300 I have to see it and I have to do it. 437 00:26:02,300 --> 00:26:07,300 If I don't do those two things, it's gone. 438 00:26:07,540 --> 00:26:09,860 So if you see me taking notes in church, 439 00:26:09,860 --> 00:26:11,940 it's not because I'm somebody special. 440 00:26:11,940 --> 00:26:13,820 It's because the only way I can remember it 441 00:26:13,820 --> 00:26:16,500 is to do something and I have to see it. 442 00:26:16,500 --> 00:26:18,740 So I take notes, okay? 443 00:26:18,740 --> 00:26:22,060 So keeping a journal is a really good idea. 444 00:26:22,060 --> 00:26:26,140 It doesn't have to, and this kind of a journal 445 00:26:26,140 --> 00:26:28,700 is not the kind of a journal where, 446 00:26:28,700 --> 00:26:32,340 well, I went to the market today and oh, so-and-so came. 447 00:26:32,340 --> 00:26:34,380 No, this kind of a journal is, 448 00:26:34,380 --> 00:26:36,020 where have I been with God today? 449 00:26:37,020 --> 00:26:39,460 Okay, what did I read? 450 00:26:39,460 --> 00:26:41,180 What did I learn? 451 00:26:42,980 --> 00:26:47,100 What was important to me? 452 00:26:47,100 --> 00:26:48,980 What did God want me to know? 453 00:26:50,620 --> 00:26:53,300 Okay, next year, here's my plan. 454 00:26:53,300 --> 00:26:56,220 I'm one of those kind of people. 455 00:26:56,220 --> 00:26:58,380 If I don't have a plan, I plan to fail. 456 00:26:59,300 --> 00:27:01,060 That's just the bottom line. 457 00:27:01,060 --> 00:27:02,900 So here's next year's plan. 458 00:27:04,100 --> 00:27:08,300 I am going to plan to do a topic a month 459 00:27:08,300 --> 00:27:10,500 and I have a plan for the whole year. 460 00:27:11,460 --> 00:27:15,980 Yes, it's planned and yes, the topics are printed out. 461 00:27:15,980 --> 00:27:17,580 Have I studied them yet? 462 00:27:17,580 --> 00:27:18,580 No. 463 00:27:18,580 --> 00:27:23,580 But because I have a plan, I can stick to it. 464 00:27:28,580 --> 00:27:30,100 I don't wanna get behind. 465 00:27:31,700 --> 00:27:33,020 It begins on Monday. 466 00:27:34,060 --> 00:27:37,620 So every day, I am going to write out, 467 00:27:39,140 --> 00:27:42,380 as I begin, I'm going to start every day, 468 00:27:42,380 --> 00:27:46,900 I'll write one key verse about the topic. 469 00:27:46,900 --> 00:27:51,900 I'll explore the verse, make notes on what it is I learned 470 00:27:53,140 --> 00:27:54,940 and what I learned about God 471 00:27:56,020 --> 00:27:58,380 and I will pray that verse through. 472 00:28:00,940 --> 00:28:03,780 Is that a foreign idea to most of you, 473 00:28:03,780 --> 00:28:05,900 praying through the verse? 474 00:28:07,660 --> 00:28:09,020 Take the verse. 475 00:28:10,060 --> 00:28:12,700 One verse is better than three chapters, by the way. 476 00:28:12,700 --> 00:28:15,900 Take the verse. 477 00:28:17,660 --> 00:28:21,820 And talk to God about what you learned in that verse. 478 00:28:21,820 --> 00:28:24,300 Thank Him for the insights, 479 00:28:24,300 --> 00:28:27,460 asking for help in the areas that you need. 480 00:28:28,500 --> 00:28:33,420 Whatever you do, don't just read and call it good. 481 00:28:35,460 --> 00:28:38,180 Those are these short little devotional things. 482 00:28:38,180 --> 00:28:40,500 Good morning, good morning, Lord. 483 00:28:40,500 --> 00:28:42,740 Da da da da da da da da. 484 00:28:42,740 --> 00:28:44,460 That was nice. 485 00:28:44,460 --> 00:28:45,460 Enough of the day. 486 00:28:47,180 --> 00:28:48,460 That doesn't work for me. 487 00:28:48,460 --> 00:28:50,540 I don't think it works for anybody else either. 488 00:28:50,540 --> 00:28:53,060 Not that those devotionals aren't good. 489 00:28:53,060 --> 00:28:55,460 They are, but that's not enough. 490 00:28:56,980 --> 00:28:59,140 Ask yourself some questions. 491 00:29:00,500 --> 00:29:02,260 With your verse, with your reading, 492 00:29:02,260 --> 00:29:04,580 with your topic, with your chapter, 493 00:29:04,580 --> 00:29:09,580 what does this tell me about the Father, 494 00:29:09,580 --> 00:29:11,620 the Son, the Holy Spirit? 495 00:29:13,060 --> 00:29:14,700 How does this apply to me? 496 00:29:15,940 --> 00:29:18,260 Is there a sin in there I need to address? 497 00:29:18,260 --> 00:29:19,940 Oh no, that's not popular. 498 00:29:19,940 --> 00:29:21,540 I don't wanna think about that. 499 00:29:22,780 --> 00:29:27,180 Is there something in here that needs to happen, 500 00:29:27,180 --> 00:29:28,660 that I need to repent of? 501 00:29:29,580 --> 00:29:34,420 Is there an area of my life that I need to submit to 502 00:29:34,420 --> 00:29:35,780 in obedience? 503 00:29:36,660 --> 00:29:39,140 This is where the rubber meets the road. 504 00:29:40,380 --> 00:29:42,540 Is how does this apply to me? 505 00:29:42,540 --> 00:29:47,300 God, what is it you want me to know? 506 00:29:47,300 --> 00:29:49,620 What is it you want me to do? 507 00:29:49,620 --> 00:29:52,980 Have a conversation with Jesus about what you read. 508 00:29:52,980 --> 00:29:56,140 That's part of praying scripture through, by the way. 509 00:29:56,140 --> 00:29:58,420 Take a little time to listen to Jesus too. 510 00:29:59,300 --> 00:30:00,540 He'll put thoughts in your head 511 00:30:00,540 --> 00:30:02,780 if you can shut up long enough. 512 00:30:02,780 --> 00:30:04,020 Oops. 513 00:30:04,020 --> 00:30:05,300 Not supposed to say that. 514 00:30:07,820 --> 00:30:09,220 I think we quiet and listen. 515 00:30:09,220 --> 00:30:11,220 Sometimes amazing things happen. 516 00:30:12,460 --> 00:30:15,580 Jesus gave us the keys to his kingdom. 517 00:30:17,380 --> 00:30:19,940 In Matthew, he told Peter, 518 00:30:19,940 --> 00:30:24,940 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of God. 519 00:30:26,860 --> 00:30:27,860 Wow. 520 00:30:27,860 --> 00:30:32,860 The keys of the kingdom of God are the words of Christ. 521 00:30:37,620 --> 00:30:42,620 All the words of scripture are his and are here included. 522 00:30:42,660 --> 00:30:44,460 That comes from desire of ages. 523 00:30:44,460 --> 00:30:46,660 I've given you the keys of the kingdom. 524 00:30:48,860 --> 00:30:51,100 If you gave you the keys of the kingdom, 525 00:30:51,100 --> 00:30:52,820 would you want them? 526 00:30:52,820 --> 00:30:53,660 Yeah. 527 00:30:55,540 --> 00:30:57,020 I'd want them. 528 00:30:57,020 --> 00:30:57,860 Okay. 529 00:30:58,740 --> 00:31:03,460 Here's another really important, equally important key. 530 00:31:04,420 --> 00:31:08,940 Prayer is the key in the hand of faith 531 00:31:09,820 --> 00:31:14,220 to unlock heaven's storehouse. 532 00:31:14,220 --> 00:31:16,260 Where are the treasures, 533 00:31:16,260 --> 00:31:19,860 boundless resources of omnipotence? 534 00:31:20,820 --> 00:31:21,660 Two keys. 535 00:31:21,660 --> 00:31:26,660 Most of you probably memorized that last one. 536 00:31:28,020 --> 00:31:30,540 Prayer is the key in the hand of faith 537 00:31:30,540 --> 00:31:32,540 to unlock heaven's storehouses. 538 00:31:32,540 --> 00:31:36,140 Where are treasured boundless resources of omnipotence? 539 00:31:37,500 --> 00:31:38,740 Do you guys want that key? 540 00:31:39,660 --> 00:31:41,980 I want that key. 541 00:31:41,980 --> 00:31:45,020 I want that key. 542 00:31:45,020 --> 00:31:46,660 He's promised 543 00:31:46,660 --> 00:31:51,660 boundless resources of omnipotence. 544 00:31:54,020 --> 00:31:55,300 Do you even know what that looks like? 545 00:31:55,300 --> 00:31:58,740 I don't, but I want it. 546 00:31:58,740 --> 00:32:00,780 And he's given me the key. 547 00:32:01,660 --> 00:32:06,660 So we have scripture, we have prayer, two keys. 548 00:32:10,180 --> 00:32:11,860 How many of you have more than the keys than that 549 00:32:11,860 --> 00:32:12,780 on your key ring? 550 00:32:12,780 --> 00:32:13,620 Yeah. 551 00:32:17,060 --> 00:32:18,860 Yeah, two keys. 552 00:32:21,340 --> 00:32:24,220 One of the most meaningful things Jesus said 553 00:32:24,220 --> 00:32:28,140 about the kingdom is found in Luke 20, 21 and 22. 554 00:32:29,260 --> 00:32:32,540 The kingdom of God does not come with observation, 555 00:32:34,060 --> 00:32:37,980 nor will they say, see here or see there, 556 00:32:37,980 --> 00:32:41,340 for indeed the kingdom of God is 557 00:32:41,340 --> 00:32:42,180 within you. 558 00:32:49,860 --> 00:32:50,980 A new beginning. 559 00:32:52,180 --> 00:32:54,940 Every day you have two keys. 560 00:32:56,300 --> 00:32:58,620 You have scripture, you have prayer. 561 00:33:00,540 --> 00:33:01,860 It'll change your life. 562 00:33:04,980 --> 00:33:07,980 It will unlock the kingdom of heaven 563 00:33:07,980 --> 00:33:11,660 and it unlocks a meaningful relationship with Jesus. 564 00:33:12,660 --> 00:33:15,340 He gives us his spirit to dwell within us, 565 00:33:15,340 --> 00:33:18,380 to assist us along the journey 566 00:33:18,380 --> 00:33:21,100 as we walk with Jesus and abide in him. 567 00:33:23,100 --> 00:33:26,660 A new beginning every day is available. 568 00:33:28,260 --> 00:33:32,500 But we have to take time. 569 00:33:32,500 --> 00:33:35,140 You gotta carve it out somewhere. 570 00:33:35,140 --> 00:33:38,340 Give up that video game, guys. 571 00:33:40,460 --> 00:33:43,460 Oh, I know, I'm stepping on toes, okay? 572 00:33:46,340 --> 00:33:47,180 Me too. 573 00:33:48,820 --> 00:33:50,940 Oh, YouTube, oh my. 574 00:33:51,780 --> 00:33:53,820 Oh, yeah. 575 00:33:55,780 --> 00:33:58,020 Facebook, okay. 576 00:33:58,020 --> 00:34:00,380 Is there anything wrong with those things? 577 00:34:00,380 --> 00:34:05,380 No. It's addicting. 578 00:34:07,780 --> 00:34:12,780 Okay, scrolling, watching, I get it. 579 00:34:12,860 --> 00:34:14,340 I'm right there with you. 580 00:34:16,380 --> 00:34:18,420 Books can be addicting too. 581 00:34:18,420 --> 00:34:20,180 I like to read. 582 00:34:20,180 --> 00:34:22,140 They can be addicting. 583 00:34:22,140 --> 00:34:25,700 This relationship business requires time. 584 00:34:25,700 --> 00:34:29,700 But God is willing to give each of us a new beginning. 585 00:34:30,780 --> 00:34:34,980 And then there's the last new beginning. 586 00:34:34,980 --> 00:34:36,940 Remember I said it had phases? 587 00:34:36,940 --> 00:34:39,540 The first one was the initial beginning, 588 00:34:39,540 --> 00:34:44,540 which was believe, confess, repent, right? 589 00:34:48,660 --> 00:34:50,380 Receive. 590 00:34:50,380 --> 00:34:54,540 The middle phase is this walking, 591 00:34:54,540 --> 00:34:58,100 abiding relationship. 592 00:34:59,220 --> 00:35:01,900 The last new beginning, number three. 593 00:35:03,180 --> 00:35:07,580 Jesus said, and if I go and prepare a place for you, 594 00:35:07,580 --> 00:35:10,060 I will come again and receive you unto myself 595 00:35:10,060 --> 00:35:13,460 that where I am, there ye may be also. 596 00:35:13,460 --> 00:35:15,820 The best promise there is, I think. 597 00:35:15,820 --> 00:35:23,820 And then he said, behold, I make all things new. 598 00:35:25,180 --> 00:35:27,500 And he said to me, right, 599 00:35:27,500 --> 00:35:31,740 for these words are faithful and true. 600 00:35:32,780 --> 00:35:34,820 Behold, I make what? 601 00:35:34,820 --> 00:35:39,500 All things new, a new beginning. 602 00:35:39,500 --> 00:35:42,740 When Jesus comes, we will have another new beginning, 603 00:35:42,740 --> 00:35:46,780 the beginning of eternity where our relationship with him 604 00:35:46,780 --> 00:35:50,380 will continue forever. 605 00:35:53,860 --> 00:35:55,420 Okay, tomorrow? 606 00:35:56,620 --> 00:35:59,740 That's the 30th, you have a new beginning. 607 00:35:59,740 --> 00:36:01,820 You can end the old year, 608 00:36:02,900 --> 00:36:07,900 determined to take the time it takes to have a relationship. 609 00:36:07,900 --> 00:36:12,340 And then we have a whole brand new year. 610 00:36:12,340 --> 00:36:39,340 Make every day a new beginning.