1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:11,600 Thank you for listening to this message from Life House Church. 2 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:14,560 Good morning, good morning. 3 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:20,480 Listen, turn to somebody tell them it is good to be at Back to School Blessing Sunday. 4 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:21,480 That's a mouthful. 5 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:23,160 Turn to somebody tell them that right now. 6 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:24,160 See if you can get tongue tied. 7 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:27,720 Tell them welcome to Back to School Blessing Sunday. 8 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:30,840 I saw some of you laughing. 9 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:33,200 You already got all messed up, right? 10 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:36,360 Listen, it is that time of year. 11 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:38,160 Some of you parents are rejoicing, right? 12 00:00:38,160 --> 00:00:39,400 The kids are going back to school. 13 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:41,080 I got a couple of amens back there. 14 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:43,040 I saw some hands go up. 15 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:47,520 It is that time where students return back into the classroom. 16 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:49,280 And it could be you're going to public school. 17 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:50,600 It could be a private school. 18 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:51,600 It could be homeschooling. 19 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:53,120 It could be online schooling. 20 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:56,560 It could be you're getting ready to travel to a campus somewhere. 21 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:59,320 A university of some kind. 22 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:00,320 It's all going to begin. 23 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:04,920 Some of it has begun in some places and some spaces. 24 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:10,640 But we wanted to take this Sunday, we wanted to set it aside to pray over those who are 25 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:16,000 returning to the classroom, those who are returning to campuses, and those who are homeschooling. 26 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:20,080 If you're involved in any way in education, we really want to just take this time and 27 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:21,080 pray over you. 28 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:23,640 And I'm going to do that at the end of the gathering. 29 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:25,320 And it's going to be a time of prayer. 30 00:01:25,320 --> 00:01:27,160 And a couple of things I want to pray. 31 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:29,040 I want to pray for protection. 32 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:31,200 And I want all of us to pray together. 33 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:32,200 This isn't just me. 34 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:33,200 We're going to pray together. 35 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:34,360 We want to pray for God's favor. 36 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:36,840 We want to pray for success. 37 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:38,220 Kids go to school. 38 00:01:38,220 --> 00:01:41,520 Students go to school to be successful in what they're doing. 39 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:45,120 And we want to pray for the students, the teachers, and even if you're support staff 40 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:50,640 in any kind of way, we want you up here this morning so we can pray over you. 41 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:51,640 And I believe this. 42 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:53,600 I believe getting educated is a big deal. 43 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:54,600 Amen? 44 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:55,600 It's important. 45 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:56,600 It really is. 46 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:59,400 And it's important to pray over it because our children are there. 47 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:01,960 We pray because we want God's hand on them. 48 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:06,840 We pray because we want God to move in those that are attending school and those that are 49 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:09,180 educating and whatever endeavors are doing. 50 00:02:09,180 --> 00:02:11,380 And we know this too. 51 00:02:11,380 --> 00:02:14,460 We want to pray over our children because the enemy targets schools. 52 00:02:14,460 --> 00:02:15,880 He targets children. 53 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:17,320 It's just true. 54 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:21,800 I'm not a devil behind every tree kind of guy, but I do know the devil exists. 55 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:22,800 Amen? 56 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:23,920 That's true. 57 00:02:23,920 --> 00:02:27,040 And evil lurks in our country. 58 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:30,280 And unfortunately, it makes its way on the campuses at time. 59 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:32,600 And we want to pray for God's protection. 60 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:38,000 So at the end of this gathering, if you attend school, if you work in school, they're going 61 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:42,000 to bring some of the students that are next door here right up in the uptown room. 62 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:45,360 They're going to bring them back in and we're just going to take time and we're going to 63 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:46,360 pray this morning. 64 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:50,920 But before we get to that, before we get to the prayer, I want to preach a word. 65 00:02:50,920 --> 00:02:52,600 And how many of you got a bracelet this morning? 66 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:53,600 Raise your hand if you got a bracelet. 67 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:56,760 If you didn't raise your hand and I'll sure will get you somewhere. 68 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:57,760 We'll get you that bracelet. 69 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:01,040 And I don't know if you took a look at it, but there's a little saying on there, right? 70 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:04,120 Out of Joshua one nine, be strong and courageous. 71 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:10,600 And I want to take some time and unfold in this scripture in Joshua what God was saying 72 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:15,640 to Joshua and kind of relate it to what's taking place with going back to school. 73 00:03:15,640 --> 00:03:18,080 And I think it's going to apply to everybody. 74 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:19,360 This isn't just for students. 75 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:21,300 This isn't just for teachers. 76 00:03:21,300 --> 00:03:22,800 This isn't just for administration. 77 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:23,960 It's for everyone. 78 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:25,320 The word of God's universal. 79 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:26,320 Amen. 80 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:27,320 It's very buddy. 81 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:32,840 So in this particular verse of scripture, God is having a talk with Joshua, who's going 82 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:35,040 to be the next leader of Israel. 83 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:37,880 And God makes him some promises. 84 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:43,920 And he lets Joshua know that God's favor, his hand is upon him in this discussion. 85 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:45,440 That's really what we want to draw out this morning. 86 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:47,760 If you'd bow your heads, we want to pray over the word of God. 87 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:49,560 Lord, we thank you for this day. 88 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:51,680 Thank you, Lord, for those who are listening online. 89 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:54,200 Those who are in the house and out of the house this morning. 90 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:58,080 And God, I pray that your hand would be upon your word as it goes forth. 91 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:03,120 God, I pray that it would move upon hearts, lives and Lord speak truth. 92 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:09,640 Lord, that we might walk out, live out in a different way because your word is truth 93 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:11,880 and because it is life and because it is light. 94 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:12,880 We just give you glory. 95 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:15,800 We give you praise in Jesus name and amen. 96 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:16,800 Amen. 97 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:20,280 So Joshua chapter one, verse one. 98 00:04:20,280 --> 00:04:25,480 It says this after the death of Moses, the Lord's servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua, 99 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:28,080 son of none, Moses assistant. 100 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:30,880 And he said, Moses, my servant is dead. 101 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:35,880 Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites across the Jordan 102 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:37,280 River into the land. 103 00:04:37,280 --> 00:04:38,880 I am giving them. 104 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:42,280 I promise you what I promised Moses. 105 00:04:42,280 --> 00:04:46,880 Wherever your foot, wherever you set your foot, you will be on land. 106 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:52,480 I have given you from the Negev wilderness in the south to Lebanon mountains in the north, 107 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:57,480 from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all 108 00:04:57,480 --> 00:04:58,880 the land of the Hittites. 109 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:00,680 God really gives them each direction. 110 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:04,480 He tells them north, west, right north, south, east and west. 111 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:06,680 What directions he's going to give to him. 112 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,880 And no one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. 113 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:12,680 For I will be with you as I was with Moses. 114 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:15,080 I will not fail you or abandon you. 115 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:17,080 Be strong and courageous. 116 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:19,680 Say that be strong and courageous. 117 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:26,680 For you are one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors 118 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:28,080 that I would give them. 119 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:32,280 And it says it again in verse seven, be strong and very courageous. 120 00:05:32,280 --> 00:05:35,680 Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. 121 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:39,480 Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. 122 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:42,080 Then you will be successful in everything you do. 123 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:46,080 Study this book of instruction. 124 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:50,080 Some of your versions will say the law continually, the law of Moses. 125 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:54,080 Meditate on it day and night so you will be able to obey everything written in. 126 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:57,080 Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 127 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:59,080 This is my command. 128 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:01,080 And the third time, be strong and courageous. 129 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:05,080 Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. 130 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:10,080 Three times, say three times, three times in this passage. 131 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:14,080 God tells Joshua be strong and courageous. 132 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:17,080 And even on one of them, he throws in a very, right? 133 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:19,080 He says be very strong and very courageous. 134 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:20,080 Right? 135 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:21,080 Three times. 136 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:28,080 If God's telling you something three times in a row, how many know if your parents repeat something to you three times, they mean it. 137 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:29,080 Right? 138 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:31,080 You know, parents would do that all the time. 139 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:33,080 And we do that sometimes. 140 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:34,080 We want to bring a point across. 141 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:37,080 God's telling Joshua three times a row. 142 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:40,080 And I'm sure Joshua sat up and took notice. 143 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:42,080 Be strong and courageous. 144 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:43,080 Be strong and courageous. 145 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:46,080 You're about to go into a new phase of your life, Joshua. 146 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:48,080 You're about to head into a different season. 147 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:50,080 You're about to go into a new semester. 148 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:52,080 You're about to go into a new school year. 149 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:58,080 You're about to lead a group of people, the Israelites, a nation actually into a new place. 150 00:06:58,080 --> 00:06:59,080 Right? 151 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:02,080 And he told him what that new place was and the borders of that new place. 152 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:04,080 You're going to about you're heading that way. 153 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:10,080 And you need to be strong and courageous where I am sending you, where you're going. 154 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:14,080 Why did I pick this portion of scripture for the back to school blessing Sunday? 155 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:17,080 Because some of you are off into a new place. 156 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:19,080 Some of you are going into a new grade. 157 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:21,080 It's a new season. 158 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:22,080 It's a new chapter. 159 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:23,080 It's a new place. 160 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:28,080 Some of it you're going to be stepping into places you've not been before. 161 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:30,080 You're going to go into something brand new. 162 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:32,080 There's going to be new challenges along the way. 163 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:33,080 All right. 164 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:37,080 You're going to be stepping into things that you've not experienced before. 165 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:40,080 And you could be just like Joshua. 166 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:43,080 Joshua was ready to head into the land of the Hittites. 167 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:45,080 They were enemies against Israel. 168 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:49,080 And you might be going into some hostile territory a little bit. 169 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:50,080 Right. 170 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:55,080 You might be heading into a place that maybe isn't maybe people don't believe just like you believe. 171 00:07:55,080 --> 00:08:01,080 And I don't know if you've noticed this or not, but in our public schools and universities, they're not exactly following Jesus. 172 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:02,080 Right. 173 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:04,080 They're not exactly lifting up the name of Christ. 174 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:06,080 They're not exactly. 175 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:10,080 And there's almost a rejection of God in some of those places. 176 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:11,080 Right. 177 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:20,080 And even if you're a private school or you're homeschooling in a Christian setting and the conditions right and it's godly conditions, it's righteous conditions. 178 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:28,080 We have an enemy who has a very different agenda for us then and for our children than God. 179 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:37,080 I've used this verse a hundred times, maybe 200 times since I've been in the ministry and I'll continue to use it because it's so it's Jesus word. 180 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:42,080 And he so adequately describes the agenda of the enemy. 181 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:44,080 He says this in John 10 10. 182 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:47,080 This is a good one to commit to memory or or at least know in your heart. 183 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:48,080 Right. 184 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:52,080 The thief does not come except to steal, kill and to destroy. 185 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:57,080 Jesus said, I've come that you might have life that you might have it abundantly. 186 00:08:57,080 --> 00:09:00,080 The enemy's agenda is to steal, kill and destroy. 187 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:01,080 He targets students. 188 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:02,080 He targets instructors. 189 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:04,080 He targets support staff. 190 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:07,080 He targets God's people in general. 191 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:17,080 Every evil part of the enemy is meant to steal something from you, to take life from you or to destroy something in your life that God has built up. 192 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:19,080 We need reminded of that sometimes. 193 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:23,080 It's my job as a pastor remind you sometimes we just get comfortable. 194 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:24,080 Right. 195 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:25,080 We come to church. 196 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:26,080 We do the same things throughout. 197 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:27,080 We go to work. 198 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:28,080 We go to school. 199 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:31,080 We do all those same things week after week, day after day. 200 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:39,080 But we forget that there's a spiritual war taking place, that there's warfare happening in the heavenlies and that there's an enemy who wants to steal, kill and destroy. 201 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:42,080 And there's a God who wants to give you life and give it to you more abundantly. 202 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:47,080 So going back to school means that you need to be strong and courageous when you're going. 203 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:55,080 You need to step into that setting or you need if you're going to work, if you're going into wherever you wherever you're functioning, you need to be strong and courageous. 204 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:59,080 If you're a homeschooler, you really need to be strong and courageous. 205 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:00,080 God bless you. 206 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:01,080 OK. 207 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:03,080 You're doing the whole deal. 208 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:04,080 You're instructing. 209 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:07,080 It's a huge task to be a homeschooler. 210 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:08,080 Right. 211 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:12,080 If you're a teacher, if you're support staff, you need to be strong and courageous. 212 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:14,080 You don't have just a couple of kids. 213 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:15,080 You have hundreds of students. 214 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:17,080 It's a big deal. 215 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:18,080 All right. 216 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:19,080 You need to listen. 217 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:23,080 If you're a student, you walking into something brand new, new every year. 218 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:25,080 It's brand new for the student. 219 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:27,080 They're going into a different grade. 220 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:29,080 It's a whole different thing for them. 221 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:30,080 They need all kind. 222 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:33,080 There's all kind of reasons they need to be strong and courageous. 223 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:34,080 We need God's favor. 224 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:40,080 We need God's hand and we need God's protection and we need God for success as we go forward. 225 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:44,080 Now, we want to be successful in that walk. 226 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:47,080 We want to be strong and courageous. 227 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:49,080 But how does that happen? 228 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:51,080 How do you you don't just wake up one morning. 229 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:57,080 I don't know if you do this or not, but I didn't just wake up one morning and say, you know, I think today I'm going to be strong and courageous. 230 00:10:57,080 --> 00:10:58,080 Put my hands on my hips. 231 00:10:58,080 --> 00:10:59,080 Look in the mirror. 232 00:10:59,080 --> 00:11:00,080 Right. 233 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:01,080 That's the super pose. 234 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:02,080 Right. 235 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:03,080 You can do this. 236 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:04,080 You whatever it is. 237 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:07,080 We don't we don't just get up one morning and go, I think I'm going to be strong. 238 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:09,080 I think I'm going to be courageous. 239 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:11,080 Anybody do that this morning? 240 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:12,080 One. 241 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:13,080 All right. 242 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:14,080 Awesome. 243 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:15,080 That's great. 244 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:16,080 All right. 245 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:17,080 Get the power pose going. 246 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:20,080 We need to know how how's this happen? 247 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:23,080 You know, Joshua, he probably just didn't wake up and look in the mirror. 248 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:25,080 So I'm going to be strong and courageous now. 249 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:34,080 One of the ways that we become strong, crazy is one of the things that we can learn out of this portion of scripture is that we should know God's promises. 250 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:44,080 God spoke to Joshua and he began to remind Joshua, hey, the promises I made to your predecessor, the promises that I made to Moses. 251 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:45,080 Guess what? 252 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:47,080 They're your promises. 253 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:48,080 I'm giving them to you. 254 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:50,080 Moses is God. 255 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:51,080 He's dead. 256 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:52,080 He's not leading anymore. 257 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:53,080 He's now with me. 258 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:56,080 And I want you to know that these promises are yours. 259 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:57,080 He says this in verse three. 260 00:11:57,080 --> 00:12:00,080 He says, I promise you what I promised Moses. 261 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:05,080 Wherever you set your foot, you will be you will be on land. 262 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:07,080 I have given you. 263 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:11,080 And then he lays out where that land is and where that land isn't. 264 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:13,080 The Lord spells it out to Joshua. 265 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:17,080 The promises of God in great detail. 266 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:19,080 This is where it's going to end in the north. 267 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:23,080 This is where it's going to end in the east and in the west and in the south. 268 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:34,080 And I think that as Joshua heard the word of God and as he thought about walking into the Hittite territory and into the enemy, I think in his mind, he was thinking, you know what? 269 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:37,080 I got the promise of God in my life. 270 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:40,080 God promised me that this was going to take place. 271 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:41,080 You walk in. 272 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:44,080 I think all of a sudden, Joshua's faith began to arise. 273 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:47,080 All of a sudden began to say, you know what? 274 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:49,080 This isn't me just stirring something up inside of me, right? 275 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:52,080 Beating myself in the chest, getting the power pose, right? 276 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:55,080 Hitting myself in the head, yelling out a few things to get me motivated. 277 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:57,080 That's not what this was. 278 00:12:57,080 --> 00:12:59,080 He says, I got promises to stand on. 279 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:02,080 I got a God who is mighty and cannot, right? 280 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:03,080 Cannot fail. 281 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:04,080 I know. 282 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:05,080 I know what God can do. 283 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:06,080 He knew the promise. 284 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:09,080 It is important to understand the promises of God. 285 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:15,080 It's important to know what God tells us in our faith and in the word of God. 286 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:18,080 He promises some things to those who follow him. 287 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:23,080 He promises some things to those who call him by Lord and by name. 288 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:29,080 But if you don't know the promises of God, you're going to think this is all on me, right? 289 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:31,080 I got to deal with this all by myself. 290 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,080 And you can do how many do a big gulp right now. 291 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:35,080 Right. 292 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:38,080 You got to go, you know, like, oh, your heart's sinking. 293 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:39,080 Your heart sinks. 294 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:41,080 You get a little nervous. 295 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:42,080 Right. 296 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:44,080 You start to think about all the things that could happen. 297 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:45,080 It might happen. 298 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:46,080 I mean, we do that. 299 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:47,080 Right. 300 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:53,080 We go through all the scenarios in our minds and we begin and and instead of leaning on 301 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:58,080 God's promises, we're figuring out how we can work it all out. 302 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:00,080 We need to know his promises. 303 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:03,080 We didn't know that he keeps his promises. 304 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:05,080 God's a promise keeper. 305 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:07,080 He's not like us. 306 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:09,080 Sometimes we keep promises. 307 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:11,080 Sometimes we don't. 308 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:13,080 I've used this before. 309 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:14,080 Well, let me ask you this. 310 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:17,080 Anybody ever keep 100 percent of your promises you've made? 311 00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:18,080 Anybody do that? 312 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:19,080 Nobody. 313 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:20,080 Right. 314 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:21,080 Nobody's done that. 315 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:23,080 We're some timers when it comes to promises. 316 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:24,080 Sometimes we keep our promises. 317 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:26,080 Sometimes we don't. 318 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:29,080 I told Dixie we got married after one year. 319 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:31,080 I was going to take her on a cruise. 320 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:32,080 I was delusional. 321 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:33,080 OK. 322 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:36,080 I know I was thinking big. 323 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:37,080 I was thinking all those things. 324 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:42,080 We didn't have enough money to cruise across the Susquehanna, let alone cruise across an 325 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:43,080 ocean somewhere. 326 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:44,080 We really did it. 327 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:45,080 Right. 328 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:46,080 I had good intentions. 329 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:48,080 I had grand illusions going on. 330 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:49,080 Right. 331 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:51,080 But I but it didn't happen. 332 00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:54,080 It didn't happen for a long, long time. 333 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:56,080 People break promises all the time. 334 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:59,080 And it could be grand illusions that you break promises. 335 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:02,080 It could be that you come in with good intentions, but bad planning. 336 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:03,080 Right. 337 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:04,080 They break promises. 338 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:07,080 Sometimes they just lie to make themselves look good. 339 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:08,080 Right. 340 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:09,080 They'll make a promise. 341 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:11,080 They get distracted all the time. 342 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:13,080 Promises go unfulfilled. 343 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:15,080 But that is not God. 344 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:17,080 God doesn't run like that. 345 00:15:17,080 --> 00:15:20,080 If God promises it to you, you can take it to the bank. 346 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:21,080 You can believe in it. 347 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:23,080 You can stand on it. 348 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:24,080 You can move ahead with it. 349 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:29,080 You can walk in courageous with it because what God promises, he will do. 350 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:31,080 Now, you can't make up God's promises for him. 351 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:33,080 I know people that do that. 352 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:34,080 Right. 353 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:36,080 Well, like God promised me and I'm like, they said they tell me what it is. 354 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:38,080 I'm like, I never seen that scripture anywhere. 355 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:41,080 You know, there's like, oh, yeah, well, God promised me. 356 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:44,080 And if God says it in his word, he'll do it. 357 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:50,080 If what he if what you've got in your heart mind lines up with scripture, he'll do it. 358 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:52,080 But make sure it lines up. 359 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:56,080 God knew Joshua needed to hear the promises. 360 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:58,080 He knew he was coming into a new season. 361 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:00,080 He knew he was going into a new place. 362 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:04,080 He was stepping in and he needed to know he needed to know. 363 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:10,080 And if you want to if you want to walk into the future and knowing that you can succeed, if you want to go forward, 364 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:13,080 then you need to know what God has promised you. 365 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:18,080 Can I give you just one of the promises that God gave Joshua that actually applies to you? 366 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:20,080 You got to you got to weigh that out in scripture. 367 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:24,080 Sometimes God's talking to an individual in scripture and it may or may not apply to you. 368 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:28,080 But there's if you can find it in other places in scripture, then it applies to you. 369 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:31,080 And you got to look where that's at. 370 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:33,080 Joshua 1 5 says this. 371 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:38,080 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live, for I will be with you. 372 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:42,080 Say that I will be with you as I was with Moses. 373 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:45,080 You can stand on that promise. 374 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:47,080 I want you to focus on that. 375 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:48,080 I will be with you part. 376 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:49,080 Right. 377 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:51,080 Let me read Matthew 28 18. 378 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:52,080 This is the Great Commission. 379 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:56,080 And Jesus came, spoke to them, saying, all authority has been given to me in heaven and earth. 380 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:59,080 Go therefore, make disciples of all nations, baptizing him in the name of the Father and 381 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:01,080 of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 382 00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:06,080 He still is what we need to go do, teaching them to observe all things that I have command 383 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:07,080 you. 384 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:12,080 And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. 385 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:14,080 That's all of us. 386 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:19,080 If you're following Christ and if you don't like that one, go to Hebrews 13 5. 387 00:17:19,080 --> 00:17:21,080 Let your conduct be without covetedness. 388 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:23,080 Be content with such things as you have. 389 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:25,080 Dixie preaches this one to me once in a while. 390 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:26,080 Right. 391 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:27,080 I want to get something new. 392 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:29,080 Be content with such things as you have. 393 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:30,080 All right. 394 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:35,080 For he himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. 395 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:38,080 So we may boldly say the Lord is my helper. 396 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:40,080 I will not fear. 397 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:42,080 What can man do to me? 398 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:51,080 That's the word of God says Psalms 145 13 says the Lord is trustworthy in all his promises 399 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:55,080 and faithful in all he does. 400 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:56,580 He said, I'll never leave you. 401 00:17:56,580 --> 00:17:57,960 I'll never forsake you. 402 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:00,200 I am with you wherever you go. 403 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:04,000 You can't run away from if you're following Jesus, you can't get away from it. 404 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:06,400 He's going to follow you wherever you go. 405 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:09,360 Whatever new season you're stepping in, whatever new chapter you're going. 406 00:18:09,360 --> 00:18:11,920 This is just one, just one promise. 407 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:17,280 Do you know that there are seven thousand plus promises of God in his word? 408 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:20,160 That's one one. 409 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:24,080 Ten thousand plus promises in his word. 410 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:28,600 We need to know if we're going to step through, if we're going to be strong and courageous, 411 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:33,520 if we're going to walk into a new season, confident and I call it God for that. 412 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:34,520 Right. 413 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:35,520 You got confidence in God. 414 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:38,640 If you're going to step into that new season and you're going to walk through, you got 415 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:39,900 to know his promises. 416 00:18:39,900 --> 00:18:41,680 You got to stand on his promises. 417 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:45,400 When it gets tough and the enemy is walking up to you and you're getting ready to get 418 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:47,640 in a fight because that's how it works. 419 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:51,400 You know, when you step into something new, you're ready to get into battle. 420 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:54,560 Maybe it's just a battle in your own head and in your own mind. 421 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:57,360 You got to stand on his promises. 422 00:18:57,360 --> 00:18:59,720 You got to speak his promises. 423 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:01,200 Don't speak what you're speaking to yourself. 424 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:03,440 I'm going to let you up sometimes. 425 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:04,440 Right. 426 00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:06,040 You're saying the wrong thing to yourself. 427 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:07,920 It'll mess you up. 428 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:09,760 Speak his promises. 429 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:14,400 Something else that I caught in this as you go into a new season in Jesus, as you go into 430 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:16,880 school, strong and courageous. 431 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:18,280 I know this. 432 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:23,880 I know that if I'm walking in God's favor, I will be strong and courageous. 433 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:30,840 If I know that I have God's favor on my life, I will be strong and courageous going into 434 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:32,280 the next season of life. 435 00:19:32,280 --> 00:19:36,920 I'll be strong and courageous going into the next semester, the next battle, the next hill 436 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:42,240 that I've got to climb, the next challenge that's before me, the next maybe even enemy 437 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:43,480 that I have to face. 438 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:49,080 I will be strong, courageous if I know God's favor is upon me. 439 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:52,980 New territory always say always. 440 00:19:52,980 --> 00:19:57,040 New territory always comes with challenges. 441 00:19:57,040 --> 00:20:00,480 There are always battles attached to something new. 442 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:04,600 When you're walking into something new, now you can just park in comfortable, right? 443 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:07,240 You can just stay where you're at and it's probably going to be comfy. 444 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:08,240 It's going to be nice. 445 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:12,760 But you're actually listen, if you park, you're actually kind of going reverse somewhat. 446 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:14,360 You're just going to be stagnant. 447 00:20:14,360 --> 00:20:17,280 You're just going to...how many of anything stagnant stinks, right? 448 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:22,400 If you're going to move forward and you're going to go ahead in something, new territory 449 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:29,060 always comes with challenges and we want God's favor in the new territory. 450 00:20:29,060 --> 00:20:31,320 I want his favor on me in the battle. 451 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:35,880 I want to know that his favor is going to rest and his grace is going to rest on me 452 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:39,080 so that I can walk in and succeed at something. 453 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:43,760 And God tells Joshua exactly what he needs to get God's favor and success. 454 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:45,600 And this is interesting to look at. 455 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:49,280 We're going to do a little Old Testament, New Testament comparison in this. 456 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:55,440 But in Old Testament, which is what this is, in the Old Covenant, God speaks to Joshua 457 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:57,800 when he says, study this book of instruction. 458 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:01,640 He says this in verse eight, which is the book of the law, which is the law of God that 459 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:03,720 was given to Moses continually. 460 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:07,600 Meditate on it day and night so that you will be sure to obey everything written in it. 461 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:12,320 Only then will you only then say only that come on only then will you prosper and succeed 462 00:21:12,320 --> 00:21:13,480 in all you do. 463 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:14,560 God's speaking to Joshua. 464 00:21:14,560 --> 00:21:18,960 He tells him, study the book of the law, meditate on it day and night, only do what's in the 465 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:19,960 law. 466 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:23,720 Make sure you walk in that and you'll prosper and succeed. 467 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:26,920 And I'm reading this and I'm thinking, to be honest, I kind of like the whole God promises 468 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:27,920 part. 469 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:29,600 I don't like the list of rules part so much. 470 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:30,600 Right. 471 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:31,600 We all love the promises. 472 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:33,600 We're like, well, I got to do the list of rules. 473 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:34,600 Right. 474 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:40,040 And we're looking at this, but Joshua tells God tells Joshua, follow the rules, follow 475 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:42,240 what I gave to Moses. 476 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:48,040 And you say, well, why did God say that, you know, to gain his favor, to be successful? 477 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:49,400 Because that's what God said. 478 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:50,400 Right. 479 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:55,540 Is our success dependent upon, you know, was Joshua's success dependent upon his obedience 480 00:21:55,540 --> 00:21:56,540 to the rules? 481 00:21:56,540 --> 00:21:57,540 And he answers that. 482 00:21:57,540 --> 00:22:00,540 Yeah, it's true. 483 00:22:00,540 --> 00:22:05,720 So I had to think like, OK, as I look at this, does God have some kind of rule counter up 484 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:06,720 there? 485 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:07,720 Right. 486 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:09,720 Is there like some kind of Brownie points system? 487 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:11,760 If you get enough of the rules, right. 488 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:17,120 If I'm following enough of God's rules and I get just enough of them, is there some kind 489 00:22:17,120 --> 00:22:18,120 of line? 490 00:22:18,120 --> 00:22:19,120 Right. 491 00:22:19,120 --> 00:22:22,040 And when I hit that line, you know, I get above that line, I got just enough of the 492 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:23,040 rules, right. 493 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:26,080 All of a sudden, I hit the favor line. 494 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:28,340 I hear I hit the success button. 495 00:22:28,340 --> 00:22:31,400 You know, if I get just enough of them, because that's kind of what it sounds like. 496 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:32,400 Right. 497 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:34,000 It sounds like if I get just enough of these right. 498 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:35,520 Well, then I'm going to have success. 499 00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:39,240 If I follow God's law just enough, I'll be successful. 500 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:42,360 But if I don't make it to that line, what happens then? 501 00:22:42,360 --> 00:22:43,360 Right. 502 00:22:43,360 --> 00:22:44,920 I get buzzed. 503 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:46,140 Right. 504 00:22:46,140 --> 00:22:47,140 Success denied. 505 00:22:47,140 --> 00:22:48,640 All right. 506 00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:49,880 Favor denied. 507 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:50,880 You're out. 508 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:51,960 Sorry about your luck. 509 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:52,960 It's a bummer. 510 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:53,960 Right. 511 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:56,600 I started asking, do you ever ask questions? 512 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:57,600 I ask questions sometimes. 513 00:22:57,600 --> 00:22:58,600 All right. 514 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:03,280 Does God award success if there's enough obedience on our part? 515 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:07,520 And it sounds like it when you just read this verse and you just look at what spoke to Joshua 516 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:08,520 alone. 517 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:11,320 But let me change your perspective just a little bit. 518 00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:15,680 Maybe I can give you a little bit of a shift so you can see what's clear here in scripture 519 00:23:15,680 --> 00:23:17,920 as you look at the whole council of God. 520 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:23,280 There is guaranteed success with God if we keep ourselves from the things that separate 521 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:24,640 us from God. 522 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:25,640 OK. 523 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:30,840 Different I'm saying some of the same things, but there's a perspective shift. 524 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:35,240 There's a guaranteed success with God if we keep ourselves from things that separate us 525 00:23:35,240 --> 00:23:36,240 from God. 526 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:38,480 Now, let me explain that a little bit. 527 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:43,440 The book of the law that was given to Moses was instruction given to them so that they 528 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:45,160 would stay away from sin. 529 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:48,120 God said these are things that cause sin in your life. 530 00:23:48,120 --> 00:23:50,640 And sin always separates us from God. 531 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:53,880 We remove ourselves from God when we participate in sin. 532 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:58,440 And the more we get engrossed in sin, the more we move ourselves away from God. 533 00:23:58,440 --> 00:23:59,440 We step away. 534 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:00,440 God doesn't go anywhere. 535 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:01,440 We move. 536 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:02,620 We start stepping away from God. 537 00:24:02,620 --> 00:24:05,360 So God told Israel over and over again, you need to follow the book of law. 538 00:24:05,360 --> 00:24:08,480 You need to listen to what I'm saying in the law. 539 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:09,480 Right. 540 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:14,480 But one of God's attributes and to understand as fully as you come into the New Testament, 541 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:17,120 one of God's attributes is that he cannot fail. 542 00:24:17,120 --> 00:24:18,120 All right. 543 00:24:18,120 --> 00:24:19,160 He does not fail. 544 00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:20,160 He can't. 545 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:21,160 How many know that's true? 546 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:23,080 That'll help me if I know if you agree with me. 547 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:24,080 I can't fail. 548 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:25,320 He really can't. 549 00:24:25,320 --> 00:24:26,320 It's my attribute. 550 00:24:26,320 --> 00:24:27,760 I fail sometimes. 551 00:24:27,760 --> 00:24:28,760 Right. 552 00:24:28,760 --> 00:24:33,780 The failure thing sometimes is a is a problem for me, but it's not for God. 553 00:24:33,780 --> 00:24:38,680 So if we want to stay in a place of success, we want to stay near God. 554 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:40,200 You can never run from God's love. 555 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:42,240 You can never get away from God's love. 556 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:45,160 But we step away sometimes from his presence. 557 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:52,000 Sometimes we step away out of his presence and we remove ourselves from a God who cannot 558 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:53,520 fail. 559 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:57,360 The word of God says this in Matthew 24, 35, heaven and earth will pass away. 560 00:24:57,360 --> 00:25:00,000 But he said my words will by no means pass away. 561 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:03,300 What God says, he says it's established forever. 562 00:25:03,300 --> 00:25:07,760 So if I want Godly success, notice now I didn't say the world success. 563 00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:09,320 That's two very different things. 564 00:25:09,320 --> 00:25:11,120 I don't got time to on for that. 565 00:25:11,120 --> 00:25:14,360 I must stay clear and close to Holy God. 566 00:25:14,360 --> 00:25:16,920 God wants us to stay close to him. 567 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:22,480 It was told in the Old Testament to stay close to the law, study the law, because that was 568 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:23,760 how you had access. 569 00:25:23,760 --> 00:25:26,320 But we have access to the father. 570 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:30,440 We have access to God through Jesus Christ, who never leaves us, never forsakes us. 571 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:34,720 When we say we're going to follow Jesus, he puts the Holy Spirit in our lives and he's 572 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:36,040 active in our lives. 573 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:40,320 And I want to stay as close to God as I can so I can be as successful as I can. 574 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:44,620 Because when I start walking away from God, when I get in or when I start messing around 575 00:25:44,620 --> 00:25:48,080 and sin and I start doing the things that God says don't get participate in. 576 00:25:48,080 --> 00:25:50,280 Do you know what happens to my hearing? 577 00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:52,400 It gets really bad. 578 00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:53,640 It's the strangest thing. 579 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:58,240 When you get caught up in sin, the more you get caught up in sin, do you hear God? 580 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:00,080 You listen into everything else. 581 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:01,080 You're caught away. 582 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:02,080 It's everything else. 583 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:04,560 And I begin to remove myself because I can't hear God the same. 584 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:07,000 I can't walk the same in him. 585 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:08,240 And it's not a God. 586 00:26:08,240 --> 00:26:10,840 It's not a Brony point thing with God. 587 00:26:10,840 --> 00:26:13,440 It's a relationship thing with God. 588 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:15,440 It has nothing to do with hitting the mark. 589 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:16,440 How good is good enough? 590 00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:17,440 I don't know. 591 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:20,960 It doesn't even tell us that in God's word because it doesn't matter. 592 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:23,360 It's about getting in relationship with God. 593 00:26:23,360 --> 00:26:24,920 It's not a Brony point thing. 594 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:30,400 So as I walk with God and I remove as much sin as I can out of my life, I hear God, I 595 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:31,840 get in his presence. 596 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:34,400 I start to hear what he's saying. 597 00:26:34,400 --> 00:26:36,700 You're tracking with what I'm saying. 598 00:26:36,700 --> 00:26:38,300 It's a perspective thing. 599 00:26:38,300 --> 00:26:39,880 It's a relationship thing. 600 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:46,200 I want to stay in close proximity because relationships always have conditions. 601 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:47,640 They really do. 602 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:48,640 Right. 603 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:51,120 My Dixie and I, my wife loves me. 604 00:26:51,120 --> 00:26:52,120 She really does. 605 00:26:52,120 --> 00:26:55,680 Even when I even when I'm just having a lousy day and I'm not so very lovable, she loves 606 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:56,680 me. 607 00:26:56,680 --> 00:26:57,680 Right. 608 00:26:57,680 --> 00:26:58,680 She does. 609 00:26:58,680 --> 00:26:59,680 It's a yeah. 610 00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:00,680 Man. 611 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:01,680 She was waiting for the amen. 612 00:27:01,680 --> 00:27:02,680 All right. 613 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:05,040 But there's conditions in this in this relationship. 614 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:06,660 That's why you go and make wedding vows. 615 00:27:06,660 --> 00:27:11,200 That's why I stand before him and we make wedding vows when I do officiate a wedding. 616 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:12,200 Right. 617 00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:13,680 There's conditions in the relationship. 618 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:14,980 They keep us. 619 00:27:14,980 --> 00:27:18,400 They keep me in close proximity with Dixie and good. 620 00:27:18,400 --> 00:27:20,580 Her good graces and in her good favor. 621 00:27:20,580 --> 00:27:24,640 But if I go date another woman, how many know I'm going to be out of favor in a real hurry? 622 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:25,640 Yeah. 623 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:26,640 Right. 624 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:28,040 I start ogling over other women. 625 00:27:28,040 --> 00:27:29,840 How many know I'm going to be out of favor? 626 00:27:29,840 --> 00:27:30,840 Amen. 627 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:31,840 That's right. 628 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:32,840 All right. 629 00:27:32,840 --> 00:27:33,840 Right. 630 00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:36,820 I'm talking about my wife and how I talk to her, how I act towards her. 631 00:27:36,820 --> 00:27:39,800 You know, she's not OK if I call her names every day. 632 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:40,800 We get up and I just call. 633 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:41,800 Right. 634 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:44,840 I call her names or I constantly behave in a rude manner. 635 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:46,400 It doesn't mean I don't mess up. 636 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:48,380 Sometimes it may maybe be rude or something. 637 00:27:48,380 --> 00:27:51,560 But I'm talking if I consistently live that way, how many know that begins to pull the 638 00:27:51,560 --> 00:27:53,500 relationship apart? 639 00:27:53,500 --> 00:27:55,660 How many know the favor begins to wane? 640 00:27:55,660 --> 00:28:01,320 How many know that I begin to walk out of her good graces because of what I'm doing? 641 00:28:01,320 --> 00:28:02,320 Come on. 642 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:03,320 You hear me? 643 00:28:03,320 --> 00:28:04,320 It happens in friendships. 644 00:28:04,320 --> 00:28:07,680 You got a friend who betrays your trust. 645 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:09,300 Right. 646 00:28:09,300 --> 00:28:12,520 God's love is completely unconditional. 647 00:28:12,520 --> 00:28:15,340 You cannot get away from God's love. 648 00:28:15,340 --> 00:28:16,340 Can't do it. 649 00:28:16,340 --> 00:28:17,340 I don't care where you go. 650 00:28:17,340 --> 00:28:18,480 You can go to the depths of hell. 651 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:21,720 You cannot get away from God's unconditional love. 652 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:26,360 But his favor and his blessing is completely conditional. 653 00:28:26,360 --> 00:28:27,900 And I can prove it to you. 654 00:28:27,900 --> 00:28:30,600 It's as easy as salvation. 655 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:34,080 God's love, he loves every person with unconditional love. 656 00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:36,920 But do you know that salvation is a conditional thing? 657 00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:37,920 Right. 658 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:39,560 Because in salvation, the condition is this. 659 00:28:39,560 --> 00:28:43,260 That first of all, I have to acknowledge that Jesus is actually Lord and Savior. 660 00:28:43,260 --> 00:28:44,320 That's what the word of God says. 661 00:28:44,320 --> 00:28:46,600 I have to believe that in my heart. 662 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:48,920 And that's the condition of salvation. 663 00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:49,920 God loves me. 664 00:28:49,920 --> 00:28:51,180 He wants me to come in faith. 665 00:28:51,180 --> 00:28:53,480 He wants me to come to a place of salvation. 666 00:28:53,480 --> 00:28:55,280 But there's a there's a condition in this. 667 00:28:55,280 --> 00:28:56,280 Right. 668 00:28:56,280 --> 00:28:58,520 I got to recognize where my stand in this relationship. 669 00:28:58,520 --> 00:29:03,760 That my sin has caused separation from God and that Jesus was the only one who paid the 670 00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:04,760 price for that. 671 00:29:04,760 --> 00:29:05,760 Right. 672 00:29:05,760 --> 00:29:06,940 For that condition to be remedied. 673 00:29:06,940 --> 00:29:10,280 So then I come to Christ and I said, Lord, forgive me of my sin. 674 00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:12,440 I want to come into relationship with you. 675 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:13,720 That's condition number two. 676 00:29:13,720 --> 00:29:14,720 Right. 677 00:29:14,720 --> 00:29:16,080 That's the condition of the relationship. 678 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:18,760 Then I confess that he is Lord and I repent. 679 00:29:18,760 --> 00:29:21,960 I turn from the sin and I turn towards God. 680 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:24,040 There's conditions. 681 00:29:24,040 --> 00:29:26,080 That's salvation conditions. 682 00:29:26,080 --> 00:29:27,120 It's what I believe. 683 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:29,500 It's what I do. 684 00:29:29,500 --> 00:29:36,360 If you want to be strong and courageous, you you need to know God's promises and you keep 685 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:40,800 moving yourself in a position of yourself where you can hear God. 686 00:29:40,800 --> 00:29:43,200 You want to get close in his presence. 687 00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:45,840 Avoid sin because it'll pull you away. 688 00:29:45,840 --> 00:29:47,800 It'll dull your hearing. 689 00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:50,620 It'll dull your senses to God. 690 00:29:50,620 --> 00:29:53,000 You can't get away from his love. 691 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:55,980 You can't get away from who he is. 692 00:29:55,980 --> 00:29:58,720 He wants to give you success in favor. 693 00:29:58,720 --> 00:30:00,520 It's all through his word. 694 00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:03,060 It's all through his word. 695 00:30:03,060 --> 00:30:10,060 I'm going to ask you to stay. 696 00:30:10,060 --> 00:30:15,000 Thank you for tuning in to this message from Life House Church. 697 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:18,660 We pray that you were impacted powerfully by this message. 698 00:30:18,660 --> 00:30:22,800 If you have been personally affected by our ministry and you would like to partner with 699 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:31,560 us as we love God, love people every day, visit our website at www.lifehousecog.com.