1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,120 Sweet Holy Ghost have your way today. 2 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:04,320 Amen. 3 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:07,400 You have your Bibles. 4 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:10,680 You turn it with me to the book of Psalms. 5 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:14,080 Psalm chapter four. 6 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:21,120 The Lord is good. 7 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:23,760 His mercy. 8 00:00:25,080 --> 00:00:25,880 Endures. 9 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:27,920 Forever. 10 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:28,520 The Lord. 11 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:31,840 Richest of his grace. 12 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:34,480 Is available to us. 13 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,560 Thank you for being in his presence this morning. 14 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:45,840 I have a lot to be in prayer about. 15 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:49,360 I hope and trust those of you who have been endeavoring 16 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:53,040 on the fast that you're hanging in there. 17 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:58,040 I will admit to you that six to six has been a little more 18 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:04,360 difficult than I originally thought it was gonna be. 19 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:08,120 Any witnesses in the house? 20 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:13,800 It's not a cardinal sin if you eat a cracker. 21 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:16,400 I have it. 22 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:18,640 But it's not. 23 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:22,440 Just keep doing the sacrifice. 24 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:24,920 You know, we got to next Sunday. 25 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:25,760 So keep it up. 26 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:26,600 How many's give up? 27 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:29,000 I'm just gonna be honest with you, say I done quit. 28 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:32,840 You can start back and give us seven days. 29 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:36,440 Well, it wouldn't be a sacrifice 30 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:38,800 if it didn't hurt a little, would it? 31 00:01:41,960 --> 00:01:44,160 Yeah, I thought I'd be doing a little better than what I am. 32 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:46,280 You say to yourself, I only eat once a day, 33 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:49,040 but then you realize it's all day. 34 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:54,040 So, woo, a little here, a little there, you know what I'm saying? 35 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:59,800 Not just, I don't sit at the table, but once a day, but wow. 36 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:04,040 Been a little more challenging than I thought. 37 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:06,280 So hang in there, keep praying. 38 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:08,360 We'll see what the Lord's gonna do. 39 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:13,360 And Lord, have his way and we'll see his glory transpire 40 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:14,840 in our hearts and lives. 41 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:17,240 Got some things I'd like to see God do 42 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:22,160 by the end of this fast in our time of prayer, amen? 43 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:24,560 Don't forget to add prayer to your day. 44 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,480 And we talked about that continual prayer, 45 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:28,840 getting your mind set on the Lord, 46 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:32,160 getting the word set on your mind, amen? 47 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:34,160 And let's see God do some great things. 48 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:37,280 If you, if this announcement's kindly foreign to you, 49 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:38,400 you don't know what I'm talking about. 50 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:45,400 Well, we began a fast Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the day. 51 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:49,160 No restrictions in the evening. 52 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:51,480 Just get yourself ready for the next day. 53 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:57,440 And we'll just see what the Lord will do for us 54 00:02:57,600 --> 00:02:59,880 and see his glory revealed. 55 00:02:59,880 --> 00:03:08,880 The Psalms, the fourth chapter, verse one. 56 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:12,360 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness. 57 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:16,920 Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress. 58 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:20,920 Have mercy upon me and hear my prayer. 59 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:27,240 O you sons of men, how long will you turn my glory into shame? 60 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:31,920 How long will you love vanity and seek after leasing? 61 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:37,560 But now that the Lord hath set apart him 62 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:40,040 that is godly for himself, 63 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:43,720 the Lord will hear when I call unto him. 64 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:48,720 Stand in awe, sin not, commune with your own heart 65 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:52,840 upon your bed and be still. 66 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:54,600 Then we have that phrase again, 67 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:58,120 Selah, which is a pause, a rest. 68 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:00,280 All for the sacrifices of righteousness 69 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:02,000 and put your trust in the Lord. 70 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:08,360 There be many that say, who will show us any good? 71 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:12,240 Lord, lift up thou the light of thy countenance upon us. 72 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:15,840 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, 73 00:04:16,840 --> 00:04:20,160 more than in the time that their corn and their wheat 74 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:22,040 increased, their wine increased. 75 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:27,040 I will both lay me down in peace and sleep, 76 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:33,160 for thou, Lord, only makest me to dwell in safety. 77 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:37,320 With the help of the Lord for the next little bit, 78 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:40,320 I wanna speak on the thought, the subject. 79 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:43,800 When stress is your press. 80 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:48,960 When stress is your press. 81 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:51,000 Now I'm gonna need the Lord's help 82 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:54,040 and you're probably gonna need his help to endure. 83 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:58,120 So you pray for me and I'll pray for you 84 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:01,040 and when we leave here, we're gonna believe 85 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:02,640 for God's grace and glory. 86 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:03,800 Father, I love you and I thank you 87 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:05,920 for your goodness and your mercy. 88 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,880 I ask God at this very moment, right now, Lord, 89 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:12,240 as we stand in your presence, we have lifted our hearts, 90 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:15,440 we have lifted our hands, we have lifted our voices, 91 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:17,960 we have worshiped you in spirit and in truth, 92 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:21,480 and pure recognition that you alone are worthy. 93 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:25,720 You alone are worthy to receive those praises. 94 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:28,320 You alone are only worthy to receive the fruit 95 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:30,800 of our lips to glorify one. 96 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:32,760 You are that one. 97 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:36,640 So I ask now God for your help, for your grace in this hour, 98 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:39,640 that anointing that makes it easy to preach, 99 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:41,480 that unction that you put in my heart. 100 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:43,840 I pray, Lord, you stir it now. 101 00:05:43,840 --> 00:05:45,880 And Lord, we'll be quick to praise you. 102 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:49,160 So we that have ears to hear will hear 103 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:52,000 what the Spirit is saying to the church. 104 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:54,040 In Christ's name and the church said, 105 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:56,960 ask your neighbor, are you stressed? 106 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:08,000 There are those things in all of our lives that 107 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:12,320 we have no control over. 108 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:14,560 There are things that we have in our lives 109 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:17,800 that we do have control over and refuse to take control. 110 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:26,800 Statistics for 2023 from the Health Foundation, 111 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:32,960 Mental Health Foundation said that in 2023, 112 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:37,960 74% of all Americans suffered from stress 113 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:42,960 that was either overwhelming or debilitating, 74%. 114 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:52,560 Stress has a lot of effect on our bodies. 115 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:55,360 Stress has a lot of effect on our mind. 116 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:58,600 It has a lot of effect on our daily functioning, 117 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:02,320 how stress comes into our life. 118 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:05,760 There are many different types of stress, 119 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:08,640 just a few to name a few. 120 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:10,160 There's acute stress. 121 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:13,960 That's what some people identify as stress. 122 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:18,080 It makes itself felt through tension, headaches, 123 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:22,640 emotional upset, gastrointestinal disturbances, 124 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,160 feelings of agitation, pressure. 125 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:31,640 There's episodic acute stress, which is more serious. 126 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:35,080 It can lead to migraines, hypertension, stroke, 127 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:39,280 heart attack, anxiety, make its way toward depression, 128 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:44,400 tear up the digestive system in a great degree. 129 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:49,120 There's chronic stress, which is the most serious of all. 130 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:51,920 It's the stress that never ends. 131 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:55,520 It's the grind and it grinds us down. 132 00:07:55,520 --> 00:08:00,000 It comes on you until your resistance is gone. 133 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:05,000 Serious symptomatic illnesses such as diabetes 134 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:08,960 and other factors come on our body 135 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:11,120 because of this type of stress. 136 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:15,400 There's traumatic stress, the result of a massive 137 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:18,920 acute stress, the effects of which can last 138 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:21,320 for years on our life. 139 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:24,520 You know it more commonly as PTSD. 140 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:26,960 The types of stresses that you experience 141 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:28,880 will differ from time to time 142 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:30,960 and differ from person to person. 143 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:37,040 But we all experience some kind of stress in our life. 144 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:41,480 Experts have come up with a number of suggestions 145 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:43,040 for dealing with stress. 146 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:45,680 One, identify your triggers and try to avoid them. 147 00:08:48,680 --> 00:08:50,280 For some of you, I mean, 148 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:55,280 you identified your stressors and you try to avoid them. 149 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:58,280 I mean, that person you're sitting next to maybe, 150 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:00,680 maybe a week or two before you talk to them. 151 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:06,480 I know I cause a lot of stress around me. 152 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:12,240 It's kind of hard to avoid me. 153 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:16,840 Especially when I know if you're stressed out 154 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:20,480 I'm gonna show up just to trigger you. 155 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:27,360 They suggest a massage. 156 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:29,080 Well, one thing I'm not gonna bear down 157 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:31,080 and let somebody else rub on my body. 158 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:34,440 You talking about 159 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:37,840 stress. 160 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:42,800 That's just gonna add to my level. 161 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:44,440 It's not gonna relieve anything. 162 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:47,360 Not gonna help me at all. 163 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:49,480 And for those of you that feel comfortable enough 164 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:51,400 to go do that, God bless you. 165 00:09:55,680 --> 00:09:57,160 I figure I'm a pretty strong person, 166 00:09:57,160 --> 00:09:58,600 but I am not that strong. 167 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:05,320 Practice breathing exercises. 168 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:08,880 Inhale and exhale. 169 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:10,360 Inhale and exhale. 170 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:12,200 Inhale and exhale. 171 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:13,240 Inhale and exhale. 172 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:16,120 That reminds me too much of three encounters 173 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:21,240 at the baby ward. 174 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:25,800 Breathe in, breathe out. 175 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:28,440 And that works for about five minutes 176 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:30,960 till the pain is so immense. 177 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:33,760 You no longer coach, it's get over out of the way. 178 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:37,560 So your stress relief and exercises, 179 00:10:37,560 --> 00:10:40,080 that's the way it works with life sometimes as well. 180 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:41,760 You can inhale and exhale all you want 181 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:43,120 and it still don't go away. 182 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:46,400 I understand their suggestions. 183 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:50,120 Aerobic exercising. 184 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:53,200 That's not gonna help me. 185 00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:00,400 Some of the situations they would require my body 186 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:03,080 to get in, they won't get there anymore. 187 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:05,160 That's not gonna relieve my stress. 188 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:09,880 For those of you can still bend limberly, 189 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:12,520 God bless you as you do that before you go get somebody 190 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:13,920 rub the knots out your back. 191 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:16,640 It's not gonna help me. 192 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:21,960 Develop a support network through friends, 193 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:23,040 family and coworkers. 194 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:24,640 If you knew some of my friends, 195 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:27,160 that's not a de-stressor for me either. 196 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:30,400 That's an increase. 197 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:32,320 Matter of fact, those are my triggers. 198 00:11:35,680 --> 00:11:39,000 Some people I surround myself with 199 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:41,840 infuriate me about as much as they cause me joy. 200 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:46,720 So what are you saying pastor? 201 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:47,920 I live in stress. 202 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:49,560 Stress is just another day. 203 00:11:50,680 --> 00:11:51,960 Just like many of you. 204 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:55,920 You think going to work would help relieve stress 205 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:58,160 until you get there and then your trigger shows up. 206 00:11:58,160 --> 00:11:59,400 They're not out that day. 207 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:04,760 We think other things that are to bring pleasure in life 208 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:07,520 many times cause more stress 209 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:08,360 than you think. 210 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:10,720 Whenever you get ready to be de-stressed, 211 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:14,520 it tears up, breaks down, falls apart. 212 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:18,200 And your stress trying to get your de-stressor repaired 213 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:20,160 so that you can take a little break. 214 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:24,120 The world offers us a lot of different things 215 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:27,040 and sometimes it does help. 216 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:28,840 Sometimes some of these things will relieve 217 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:31,400 some of the tension that we're going through 218 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:32,920 and having to deal with. 219 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:37,360 While all of those may be useful suggestions 220 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:39,880 for a believer, for a child of God, 221 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:44,080 for a blood-born again, Jesus follower, 222 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:49,400 I think we have more to be offered to us 223 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:52,640 than just simply methods of coping with stress. 224 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:54,920 I think there's some things that can deliver us 225 00:12:54,920 --> 00:12:56,640 from our stress. 226 00:12:56,640 --> 00:13:00,640 I think the word of God has a prescription for us 227 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:03,400 that will enable us to do more than just cope. 228 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:07,040 I think that the word of God is able to acquire 229 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:09,920 in our life through faith, belief, and practice 230 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:12,600 that you can actually be relieved of your stress. 231 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:17,240 When we think about how it is, 232 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:21,840 I look at this Psalm of David here, this fourth chapter, 233 00:13:23,560 --> 00:13:28,560 and David offers us a response for stress. 234 00:13:28,560 --> 00:13:30,560 Many scholars believe that David wrote Psalm four 235 00:13:30,560 --> 00:13:33,560 as he was about to retire for the evening. 236 00:13:33,560 --> 00:13:37,000 He couldn't do much about the war around him, 237 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:40,360 but he could do something about the war within him. 238 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:41,520 Now come on now. 239 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:44,240 This ain't gonna be our normal shouty deal. 240 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:46,360 This is gonna get right down to where we're living 241 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:47,200 this morning. 242 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:51,480 It's not so much about doing something about the war 243 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:53,880 that is around you because as I stated, 244 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:57,640 there's so many things that we cannot do anything about. 245 00:13:57,640 --> 00:13:59,840 But there's something you can do about the war 246 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:02,000 that's going on inside of you. 247 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:06,560 There's some measures that we can take to cause peace 248 00:14:06,560 --> 00:14:09,560 to be inside of us, in our mind, over our heart, 249 00:14:09,560 --> 00:14:13,280 and over our lives, and so that we are not tormented 250 00:14:13,280 --> 00:14:18,280 by the effects of life and the issues of life. 251 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:21,320 Instead of lying down in bed fretting and stooping 252 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:25,440 and worrying, David is showing us that he committed himself 253 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:27,880 and his situation to the Lord. 254 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,440 Can I tell you if you do that before you lay down, 255 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:33,080 honestly, there is a sleep and a rest 256 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:34,800 that will come upon you. 257 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:38,920 But you know, counting sheep isn't very beneficial 258 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:40,560 as it used to be, seems like. 259 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:42,360 I saw a little meme the other day, 260 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:44,360 a little cartoon, a boy laying in a bed 261 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:46,400 counting a sheep and they're jumping over the fence 262 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:48,200 and a little sister comes in the room and said, 263 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:50,480 mama says it's better instead of counting the sheep, 264 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:51,760 just talk to the shepherd. 265 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:52,600 Amen. 266 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:57,600 We spent our wheels counting the sheep 267 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:00,600 when the whole time we should be talking to the shepherd. 268 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:02,400 Because when you talk to the shepherd, 269 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:05,400 he can offer some peace for you, amen. 270 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:08,120 Matter of fact, you are one of the sheep in the fold, 271 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:09,880 I hope and believe this morning 272 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:11,680 that his sheep know his voice. 273 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:15,200 And I hear him when he calls, I hear him when he speaks, 274 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:18,800 and David, who is a shepherd, understands that. 275 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:22,760 I hear him when he speaks and David, who is a shepherd, 276 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:26,440 understands where he should go with his stressors. 277 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:34,880 And it's through this Psalm, I think we can glean some insight 278 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:37,520 as to how that we can be about and have peace of mind 279 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:39,800 during stressful moments, 280 00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:42,040 how we can not only just cope with our stress, 281 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:43,880 but we can find a peace for it. 282 00:15:44,860 --> 00:15:47,200 The first thing that David begins to do 283 00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:49,600 is offer up a supplication. 284 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:50,440 What's that, pastor? 285 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:51,520 He starts to pray. 286 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:56,080 You look in verse one, he says, hear me when I call. 287 00:15:57,320 --> 00:16:02,000 It's like you talk to your children sometimes 288 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:05,740 or when they have to say mama about 18 times 289 00:16:05,740 --> 00:16:07,680 before you get a response, hello. 290 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:13,280 Before you respond to them, you heard the other 17, right? 291 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:16,600 And this is what the psalmist has said, 292 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:17,720 he's looking up to heaven and said, 293 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:20,400 okay, Lord, I want you to hear me the first time. 294 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:21,840 Hear me when I call. 295 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:23,800 I'm coming to you in my dilemma, 296 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:26,120 I'm coming to you in my distress. 297 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:29,040 And then he goes further, oh God of my righteousness, 298 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:30,920 thou hast enlarged. 299 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:33,320 In other words, when the press was on, 300 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:35,120 he opened up the doorway. 301 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:38,280 When the claustrophobia seemed to set in, 302 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:40,800 he said, you enlarge the place around me. 303 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:42,760 When I felt like I was surrounded, 304 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:45,080 you gave me a little space to breathe. 305 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:47,880 Can I tell you, isn't that the way stress does sometimes? 306 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:51,320 It gets on you so heavy, you can't even breathe. 307 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:54,400 You don't feel like you can take the next breath with ease 308 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:56,720 and you have to labor just to get a breath 309 00:16:56,720 --> 00:16:58,480 because stress is sitting on you. 310 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:00,160 That's what the psalmist is saying. 311 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:04,520 Lord, God of my righteousness, hear me when I cry. 312 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:06,520 And then he begins to remind him of something 313 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:10,800 that he had done, you have in the past, come on somebody. 314 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:13,480 You have enlarged my place. 315 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:17,040 You give me some relief at one time 316 00:17:17,040 --> 00:17:19,400 and I want you to hear me as I call. 317 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:22,440 And he goes further, when I was in distress, 318 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:26,760 have mercy upon me and hear my prayer. 319 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:29,080 I know we talked about prayer last week. 320 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:31,760 I know it was a very sobering moment 321 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:33,800 as the spirit of the Lord was in here with us 322 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:37,000 and we're reminding ourselves to persevere through prayer, 323 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:39,680 to keep pushing on and keep going on. 324 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:42,400 And I know that the stress has mounted even more 325 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:44,280 from last week because the last thing 326 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:47,160 the enemy wants you to know is that there is relief 327 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:48,480 for your dilemma. 328 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:50,960 But I'm here to proclaim to you again this morning 329 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:54,200 when press is your stress and stress is your press, 330 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:55,840 there is a place you can go. 331 00:17:55,840 --> 00:17:57,760 There's a resource for your life. 332 00:17:57,760 --> 00:18:00,640 And the resource for your life is the psalmist instructs, 333 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:03,120 hear me, oh God, when I call. 334 00:18:03,120 --> 00:18:05,680 You are the God of my righteousness 335 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:08,000 and you have heard me in my distress. 336 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:10,880 You enlarge the place where I have been 337 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:13,360 and you have shown me mercy. 338 00:18:13,360 --> 00:18:16,840 Is there anybody in here encountered the mercy of God? 339 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:19,440 Did he ever show up when you felt like 340 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:21,040 you were in the vice of life? 341 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:23,520 And he opened up and enlarged when the walls 342 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:26,200 are coming in on you and you cried out, 343 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:28,160 it wasn't David's first rodeo. 344 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:30,960 This is his not first time calling out to God. 345 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:34,280 He's called out to him before and he's reminding himself 346 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:37,400 as much as he's reminding God that I know 347 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:39,760 that you answered me when I called 348 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:44,360 and I expect nothing less than you to answer me again. 349 00:18:44,360 --> 00:18:47,920 When I go to him in prayer, I expect nothing less 350 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:50,280 than him to hear me and to answer 351 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:53,920 and his will be fulfilled in my life. 352 00:18:59,040 --> 00:18:59,880 Hear me. 353 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:04,600 Paul would tell the church at Philippi, 354 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:08,400 be careful for nothing, but in everything. 355 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:09,240 Right? 356 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:12,040 In everything, you go through prayer, 357 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:15,080 you offer up supplication and you be thankful 358 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:16,480 while you're doing it. 359 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:19,360 Prayer is still the best place to start 360 00:19:19,360 --> 00:19:22,320 in response to any problem in our lives 361 00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:24,520 that we may face. 362 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:29,520 Prayer is still the best place to go to find a remedy. 363 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:33,160 I'm telling you prayer is more than just talking to God, 364 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:36,160 it's revealing to God our heart, amen, 365 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:38,560 and we pray until we touch heaven 366 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:40,520 and we pray till heaven touches us 367 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:43,200 and we keep on praying till we can touch someone else 368 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:46,360 because heaven has inspired our everyday living. 369 00:19:46,360 --> 00:19:51,200 Prayer, it's not just something that we end up at, 370 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:53,280 it should be something that we begin at 371 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:55,800 because when we learn through life 372 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:57,920 that there are things we cannot control 373 00:19:57,920 --> 00:20:00,800 and the more you realize you can't control them, 374 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:02,960 the sooner you take your hands off of them 375 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:04,800 and when issues arise, you say, 376 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:08,520 I'm not missing with that, oh God, hear me when I pray, 377 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:11,280 hear me God, you are the God of my righteousness, 378 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:14,280 I know my position, there would be nothing of me 379 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:17,040 any good without you and I realize that 380 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:20,280 and that's why I'm coming because in the past 381 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:23,600 you have helped me when I prayed. 382 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:25,760 My Lord, has he helped anybody before? 383 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:28,040 Has he helped you in the past in your prayer? 384 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:31,640 Well, you can trust him to help you one more time. 385 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:32,880 One more time. 386 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:36,600 It's the best place to start. 387 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:41,120 Jesus said in Matthew 7, seven, 388 00:20:41,120 --> 00:20:43,080 asking it shall be given to you, seeking it, 389 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:47,200 you shall find knocking it shall be opened unto you. 390 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:49,840 You can't expect to receive it if you're not seeking it. 391 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:55,360 You can't expect to have it if you're not asking for it. 392 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:59,840 You can't expect to walk in it unless you're pursuing it. 393 00:20:59,840 --> 00:21:01,920 If you're not knocking, if you're not asking, 394 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:04,320 if you're not seeking, then don't blame God 395 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:06,160 for you not having it. 396 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:09,360 He wants to see the desire of his children. 397 00:21:09,360 --> 00:21:11,600 You know David was the apple of his eye, 398 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:15,360 come on somebody, David was the man after God's own heart 399 00:21:15,360 --> 00:21:18,880 and he still required David to seek him, 400 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:21,560 to ask him and to pursue him. 401 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:24,440 Can I tell you, we're nobody special today, 402 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:28,160 I'm nowhere near a thread on the robe of King David 403 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:31,080 and I still have to put myself in the same position 404 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:32,520 that he put himself in. 405 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:35,480 I still have to seek, I still have to ask 406 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:36,720 and I still have to knock. 407 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:38,680 If I'm not seeking, asking or knocking, 408 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:41,400 then why can I complain about not receiving? 409 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:44,160 Because it is those who hunger and thirst 410 00:21:44,160 --> 00:21:46,920 after righteousness that they shall be filled. 411 00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:49,240 You can't blame God for not answering a prayer 412 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:51,760 if you're not praying a prayer. 413 00:21:53,560 --> 00:21:55,680 We can't blame God for not showing up 414 00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:58,080 and the Holy Ghost not moving in our services 415 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:00,920 because we're doing what it is required of us 416 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:02,560 to receive of him. 417 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:06,240 He dwells within the praises of his people. 418 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:08,720 My God, if we want more of him, 419 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:11,040 then we need to praise him a little louder. 420 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:12,720 Jesus declared it of himself, 421 00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:17,720 if I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me. 422 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:22,000 If we want more of him, we must lift him up 423 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:24,400 and exalt him in greater levels. 424 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:26,040 We have to learn to praise him. 425 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:28,880 David is praising God. 426 00:22:30,120 --> 00:22:33,360 Know this in our heavenly father's desire 427 00:22:33,360 --> 00:22:36,440 is to provide for us the relief 428 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:38,760 that we so desperately need. 429 00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:45,720 Matter of fact, he desires for you and I to be at peace 430 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:48,680 probably more than we seek him for. 431 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:51,520 But he awaits us. 432 00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:55,280 He awaits us to seek him out. 433 00:22:55,280 --> 00:22:58,280 He awaits upon us to ask him. 434 00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:00,880 He awaits on us to knock. 435 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:03,280 I want it. 436 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:06,280 The woman with the unjust judge last week 437 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:10,280 showing up every day, every day, every day 438 00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:13,920 and that evil judge, that human being 439 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:18,920 the fallacy of who he was come to the realization 440 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:21,280 if I don't grant her her request, 441 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:22,920 she's gonna wear me out. 442 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:26,320 Well, our heavenly father, the righteous judge in heaven, 443 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:28,440 don't worry about wearing him out. 444 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:29,960 You can't wear him out. 445 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:31,360 You can't go to him enough. 446 00:23:31,360 --> 00:23:32,920 You can't ask him too much. 447 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:35,960 You can't seek him too dearly and too desperately. 448 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:39,440 You can't overwhelm him with your desires. 449 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:40,920 You can't ask him too much. 450 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:42,320 You can't ask him too much. 451 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:44,840 You can't overwhelm him with your desire. 452 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:48,840 My God, we can't overwhelm him with our need. 453 00:23:50,360 --> 00:23:54,000 74% of Americans in this past year 454 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:57,280 experienced overwhelming levels of stress 455 00:23:57,280 --> 00:24:00,960 or debilitating stress causing them to be unable 456 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:02,600 to perform their daily tasks. 457 00:24:02,600 --> 00:24:05,240 74%! 458 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:09,600 It affected their daily motivation. 459 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:12,600 But you can't not go to God enough. 460 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:16,200 You just keep on going 461 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:19,000 because we're not dealing with an unjust judge. 462 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:22,200 You're serving a righteous and holy and pure God 463 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:23,960 who is full of love for you 464 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:26,000 and has nothing but good for you, 465 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:30,000 who realizes the world and the condition that we are in. 466 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:32,040 Don't ever stop and not think 467 00:24:32,040 --> 00:24:34,720 that God doesn't realize the course of life 468 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:37,360 and the way that sin has taken humanity. 469 00:24:37,360 --> 00:24:40,000 He knows it all too well. 470 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:43,400 For he sent his son that we might be relieved 471 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:45,400 from the burden of that sin. 472 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:47,520 And then by virtue of being delivered 473 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:49,000 from that burden of sin, 474 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:52,200 we still deal with the effects of it in this world. 475 00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:57,200 But thank God he is able to enlarge our tents 476 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:01,000 and move us out and bring relief. 477 00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:02,800 Hallelujah. 478 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:06,360 Don't ever stop and think that God doesn't care. 479 00:25:06,360 --> 00:25:08,680 Don't ever think that God doesn't care. 480 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:11,680 I know David felt like that from time to time in his walk. 481 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:16,520 Oh my soul, why are thou cast down? 482 00:25:17,560 --> 00:25:20,440 Don't you think the enemy sat on his shoulder too? 483 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:23,080 Don't you think King David was stressed? 484 00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:26,800 They think possibly that this encounter, 485 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:30,800 this nightly reflection, this nightly prayer 486 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:33,680 came at the time of Absalom's uprising. 487 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:36,680 If not Absalom, one of the others. 488 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:40,680 One of the many uprisings that he had in his life. 489 00:25:40,680 --> 00:25:43,000 Can I tell you, you're gonna have many uprisings 490 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:45,200 of the enemy in your life. 491 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:46,040 What are you saying? 492 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:48,640 Stressors are gonna make their way to you 493 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:50,200 on a regular basis. 494 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:53,360 But for you and I, we join with Isaiah, 495 00:25:53,360 --> 00:25:54,760 the old eagle-eyed prophet. 496 00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:57,440 And we let the rope down on the bucket into the well, 497 00:25:57,440 --> 00:26:00,080 which is the joy of our salvation. 498 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:03,040 And we let it be brought up full of his children. 499 00:26:03,040 --> 00:26:04,240 Full of his joy. 500 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:06,800 Because we know in whom we believe. 501 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:08,640 Just like David declared, 502 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:12,200 you are the God of my righteousness. 503 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:14,320 And when you make that declaration to him, 504 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:16,880 he understands your plea. 505 00:26:16,880 --> 00:26:20,400 And he knows it's you know in whom you are approaching. 506 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:24,320 So many people approach God so flippantly, 507 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:26,560 I think he waits for respect. 508 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:29,560 It's just like entering into church sometimes. 509 00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:33,000 The sanctuary has lost its air of holiness. 510 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:35,600 Ah ha ha ha. 511 00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:36,440 Hey, hey. 512 00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:42,200 And so we just come our own casual selves right on in. 513 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:45,080 We plop down like we're at McDonald's. 514 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:48,480 My God, I'm trying not to go here, but here we go. 515 00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:57,480 I need to remind some of you in here, this is a holy area. 516 00:26:57,480 --> 00:27:03,480 This is a holy consecrated space that is designated 517 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:07,480 to the glory and the service of God Almighty. 518 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:09,880 So please help your pastor. 519 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:13,880 Because I get stressed when I see you just come in so casual. 520 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:15,880 Look like we're going to the church. 521 00:27:15,880 --> 00:27:19,880 You come in so casual, look like we're going to the ball game. 522 00:27:19,880 --> 00:27:22,880 Ah Lord, I just about said it. 523 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:29,880 Oh Jesus. 524 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:34,880 This is the holy place. 525 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:39,880 This is the sanctuary where we come to meet God. 526 00:27:39,880 --> 00:27:41,880 It's not the movie theater. 527 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:43,880 It's not the movie theater. 528 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:48,880 We don't, oh my God, don't bring your big gulp in and sit down 529 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:51,880 and think you're just going to sup your way through this sermon. 530 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:54,880 No, honey, no. 531 00:27:54,880 --> 00:27:56,880 No, no, no, no, no, no. 532 00:27:56,880 --> 00:27:59,880 I'm trying to be as nice as I can and not hurt feelings 533 00:27:59,880 --> 00:28:01,880 and offend folks and run you off. 534 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:04,880 So I'm not going to do that, but I am going to help you make your way 535 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:07,880 into the church next time and come into the sanctuary. 536 00:28:07,880 --> 00:28:09,880 I'm your pastor, so here it comes. 537 00:28:09,880 --> 00:28:14,880 I'm trying to grease the skid so it don't just drag off the hide. 538 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:18,880 Leave your coffee cups and your big subs outside please 539 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:21,880 because we're coming into the sanctuary of the Lord. 540 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:24,880 Young men, you come into this house of the sanctuary of the Lord, 541 00:28:24,880 --> 00:28:27,880 take off your ball cap and please be seated. 542 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:29,880 My God, don't think it's disrespectful. 543 00:28:29,880 --> 00:28:31,880 Don't say, well, who do you think you are? 544 00:28:31,880 --> 00:28:33,880 Well, I'm going to tell you who I am. 545 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:36,880 I am the shepherd of your soul and I am the man of God Almighty 546 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:38,880 and we are here to worship him. 547 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:43,880 And if he recognizes that we come in and acknowledge that he is 548 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:47,880 the God of our righteousness and this is the place where we come 549 00:28:47,880 --> 00:28:51,880 to meet a holy God. 550 00:28:51,880 --> 00:29:04,880 That's kind of how I relieve a little of my stress. 551 00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:08,880 I just, there was just a come off of me because I've been worried 552 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:12,880 about how I'm going to ask you and not offend you. 553 00:29:12,880 --> 00:29:18,880 I don't know that I've accomplished that, but that's not my intent. 554 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:21,880 It's not my intent. 555 00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:25,880 Here at the heart of you pastor this morning, we add stressors into 556 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:32,880 our own lives and we can't add the stress of flippantly, 557 00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:39,880 nonchalantly coming into the presence of a holy God. 558 00:29:39,880 --> 00:29:44,880 And this is the sanctuary of the Lord and I try to guard it as 559 00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:47,880 though it is that holy sacred place. 560 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:50,880 I feel that's my priestly duty, if you will. 561 00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:54,880 That's the charge that he's given over the household. 562 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:57,880 Amen that we guard the sanctuary. 563 00:29:57,880 --> 00:30:00,880 Know this much, when the high priest that one time a year who 564 00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:03,880 would go into the holy place, they couldn't put a rope on his 565 00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:06,880 ankle in case there was something wrong when he went 566 00:30:06,880 --> 00:30:07,880 into the presence of God. 567 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:12,880 Can I remind you, it's the same holy God in whose presence we 568 00:30:12,880 --> 00:30:15,880 are endeavoring to enter into. 569 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:19,880 So I think if we muster a little more revere, then a little more 570 00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:23,880 of his glory and a little more of his presence may encounter in 571 00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:25,880 his sanctuary. 572 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:36,880 My Lord, I'll let you read these notes, that's not in it. 573 00:30:36,880 --> 00:30:39,880 So take it from the Lord this morning. 574 00:30:39,880 --> 00:30:44,880 He hears us asking, he hears us seeking, he hears us knocking. 575 00:30:44,880 --> 00:30:48,880 He knows very well even more in detail the stress of your lives, 576 00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:50,880 the stressors that are coming against you. 577 00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:53,880 He knows the depth of the stress and the depression that the 578 00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:55,880 enemy is trying to put upon you. 579 00:30:55,880 --> 00:30:59,880 And I think he's trying to position us so that we can come 580 00:30:59,880 --> 00:31:02,880 into the God of righteousness and know that the God of 581 00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:06,880 righteousness is still able and will apply his anointing and his 582 00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:13,880 power to our life. 583 00:31:13,880 --> 00:31:18,880 David begins with praise. 584 00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:21,880 Oh God of my righteousness. 585 00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:26,880 Praise him God for who he is. 586 00:31:26,880 --> 00:31:33,880 It's very vital for us and to us to take our eyes off of 587 00:31:33,880 --> 00:31:38,880 ourselves and realize the goodness and the greatness of 588 00:31:38,880 --> 00:31:41,880 our God. 589 00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:45,880 And I know, I almost want to say it's not our fault, but it is 590 00:31:45,880 --> 00:31:48,880 because we're supposed to know better. 591 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:55,880 I know it's the plight of humanity right now, this me ideology. 592 00:31:55,880 --> 00:31:59,880 Regardless of any others, it's me. 593 00:31:59,880 --> 00:32:01,880 Well, that's not God's idea. 594 00:32:01,880 --> 00:32:04,880 It's him. 595 00:32:04,880 --> 00:32:05,880 It's him. 596 00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:08,880 He's a very jealous God. 597 00:32:08,880 --> 00:32:10,880 Well, I just don't know if I can love a God like that. 598 00:32:10,880 --> 00:32:12,880 Well, don't and then end up in hell. 599 00:32:12,880 --> 00:32:14,880 That's your choice. 600 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:17,880 But he is a very jealous God. 601 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:20,880 Let's stop and take note of what God has done for us. 602 00:32:20,880 --> 00:32:22,880 Number one, you're here. 603 00:32:22,880 --> 00:32:24,880 Do I need to go down a list? 604 00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:28,880 I think that one should substantiate all others. 605 00:32:28,880 --> 00:32:29,880 Amen. 606 00:32:29,880 --> 00:32:31,880 If you didn't fast this morning, you went through McDonald's or 607 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:34,880 Harleys, you got your biscuit or whatever, God gave you grace 608 00:32:34,880 --> 00:32:36,880 to do so. 609 00:32:36,880 --> 00:32:39,880 He blessed you somehow with finances enough to get through 610 00:32:39,880 --> 00:32:40,880 there and get it. 611 00:32:40,880 --> 00:32:42,880 Even though a bacon, egg and cheese is rolling around about 612 00:32:42,880 --> 00:32:48,880 six bucks. 613 00:32:48,880 --> 00:32:52,880 But our desire is greater than ourselves. 614 00:32:52,880 --> 00:32:55,880 I truly believe God is trying to do something wonderful in our 615 00:32:55,880 --> 00:32:56,880 midst. 616 00:32:56,880 --> 00:32:59,880 And I truly believe that God wants us to get over the stress 617 00:32:59,880 --> 00:33:02,880 and those things that are pressing our life. 618 00:33:02,880 --> 00:33:06,880 But I think he wants us to align to his righteousness even more, 619 00:33:06,880 --> 00:33:08,880 even more, even more. 620 00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:09,880 Come on. 621 00:33:09,880 --> 00:33:12,880 He's wanting us to align ourselves with him, with our 622 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:16,880 asking, with our seeking and with our desires so that he may 623 00:33:16,880 --> 00:33:24,880 prove himself mighty. 624 00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:25,880 Bless the Lord, oh, my soul. 625 00:33:25,880 --> 00:33:30,880 The psalm said in 103, the psalm of David. 626 00:33:30,880 --> 00:33:32,880 Bless his holy name. 627 00:33:32,880 --> 00:33:35,880 Bless the Lord, oh, my soul and forget not all his benefits. 628 00:33:35,880 --> 00:33:37,880 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities and heals all your 629 00:33:37,880 --> 00:33:39,880 diseases. 630 00:33:39,880 --> 00:33:42,880 Who redeems your life from destruction. 631 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:45,880 Who crowns thee with loving kindness and tender mercies. 632 00:33:45,880 --> 00:33:50,880 Who satisfies your mouth with good things so that thy youth is 633 00:33:50,880 --> 00:33:54,880 renewed like the eagles. 634 00:33:54,880 --> 00:33:56,880 105, oh, give thanks unto the Lord. 635 00:33:56,880 --> 00:33:58,880 Call upon his name. 636 00:33:58,880 --> 00:34:01,880 Make known his deeds among the people. 637 00:34:01,880 --> 00:34:03,880 106, praise you, the Lord. 638 00:34:03,880 --> 00:34:06,880 Verse one, oh, give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his 639 00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:08,880 mercy and dureth forever. 640 00:34:08,880 --> 00:34:11,880 Psalm 107, oh, give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his 641 00:34:11,880 --> 00:34:13,880 mercy and dureth forever. 642 00:34:13,880 --> 00:34:18,880 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so whom he hath redeemed from 643 00:34:18,880 --> 00:34:23,880 the hand of the enemy. 644 00:34:23,880 --> 00:34:28,880 Psalm 113, praise you, the Lord. 645 00:34:28,880 --> 00:34:30,880 Praise, oh, you servants of the Lord. 646 00:34:30,880 --> 00:34:32,880 Praise the name of the Lord. 647 00:34:32,880 --> 00:34:36,880 Bless the name of the Lord from this time forth and forever 648 00:34:36,880 --> 00:34:37,880 more. 649 00:34:37,880 --> 00:34:40,880 From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, the 650 00:34:40,880 --> 00:34:42,880 Lord's name is to be praised. 651 00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:45,880 The Lord is high above all nations, his glory above the 652 00:34:45,880 --> 00:34:46,880 heavens. 653 00:34:46,880 --> 00:34:49,880 Who is likened to the Lord our God? 654 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:50,880 Who dwelleth on high? 655 00:34:50,880 --> 00:34:54,880 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven 656 00:34:54,880 --> 00:34:55,880 and in the earth? 657 00:34:55,880 --> 00:34:59,880 He raises up the poor out of the dust and he lifts the needy out 658 00:34:59,880 --> 00:35:03,880 of the dung hill that he may set him with princes. 659 00:35:03,880 --> 00:35:07,880 Oh, even with the princes of his people, he maketh the barren 660 00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:11,880 woman to keep house and to be a joyful mother of children. 661 00:35:11,880 --> 00:35:15,880 Praise ye the Lord. 662 00:35:15,880 --> 00:35:17,880 117, oh, praise you, the Lord. 663 00:35:17,880 --> 00:35:21,880 All you nations, praise him, all you people, for his merciful 664 00:35:21,880 --> 00:35:23,880 kindness is great toward us. 665 00:35:23,880 --> 00:35:27,880 118 begins with, oh, give thanks to the Lord for he is good 666 00:35:27,880 --> 00:35:31,880 because his mercy endures forever. 667 00:35:31,880 --> 00:35:36,880 David began by acknowledging he is who he is because of the 668 00:35:36,880 --> 00:35:39,880 greatness of the God in whom he serves. 669 00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:43,880 The next time the walls are coming in and folding in on you 670 00:35:43,880 --> 00:35:48,880 and your stress is overwhelming, just stop and remind yourself of 671 00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:51,880 how great God is. 672 00:35:51,880 --> 00:35:55,880 Can I tell you, the times that I have done that, no matter how 673 00:35:55,880 --> 00:36:00,880 tired I was feeling or how much pressure I felt coming on in my 674 00:36:00,880 --> 00:36:03,880 life, if I could just make my way to this first step for a 675 00:36:03,880 --> 00:36:06,880 stress relief, it's better than breathing. 676 00:36:06,880 --> 00:36:08,880 I know it's got to be better than aerobics. 677 00:36:08,880 --> 00:36:10,880 Hello? 678 00:36:10,880 --> 00:36:14,880 And somebody else rubbing on my back other than Sister Kathy, 679 00:36:14,880 --> 00:36:16,880 it's just beyond my mind. 680 00:36:16,880 --> 00:36:20,880 So I do know this, that if I can just get in and get my mind 681 00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:24,880 fixated on the goodness and the greatness and the holiness and 682 00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:28,880 the mightiness of God, then all of a sudden when I begin to 683 00:36:28,880 --> 00:36:32,880 praise him for what he has done for the last time he got me out 684 00:36:32,880 --> 00:36:35,880 of a bind because of his goodness, I begin to bless the 685 00:36:35,880 --> 00:36:36,880 Lord. 686 00:36:36,880 --> 00:36:38,880 He's forgiven me of all my iniquities. 687 00:36:38,880 --> 00:36:40,880 He's washed my sins away. 688 00:36:40,880 --> 00:36:44,880 And can I tell you, let life bring what it brings because I'm 689 00:36:44,880 --> 00:36:48,880 more afraid and more fearful of the one who can destroy my soul 690 00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:50,880 and yet also my body. 691 00:36:50,880 --> 00:36:54,880 But I am so grateful that he isn't trying to destroy me, but 692 00:36:54,880 --> 00:36:56,880 he's trying to restore me. 693 00:36:56,880 --> 00:36:58,880 He's trying to restore you. 694 00:36:58,880 --> 00:37:02,880 And when you fixate your mind on praising him for who he is, you 695 00:37:02,880 --> 00:37:11,880 will realize stress begins to fade. 696 00:37:11,880 --> 00:37:16,880 I don't know if we got time for the other two. 697 00:37:16,880 --> 00:37:21,880 I got time if you got time. 698 00:37:21,880 --> 00:37:22,880 What else we got to do? 699 00:37:22,880 --> 00:37:23,880 It's Sunday. 700 00:37:23,880 --> 00:37:28,880 We can't go to eat lunch. 701 00:37:28,880 --> 00:37:32,880 Some of you probably can't. 702 00:37:32,880 --> 00:37:36,880 And that's all right, too. 703 00:37:36,880 --> 00:37:43,880 Second thing, David expresses his appreciation to God, saying, 704 00:37:43,880 --> 00:37:48,880 sir, God has saved me and saved me, and he's saved me in my 705 00:37:48,880 --> 00:37:49,880 distress. 706 00:37:49,880 --> 00:37:53,880 David used that past tense you have. 707 00:37:53,880 --> 00:37:56,880 It's been done. 708 00:37:56,880 --> 00:37:59,880 So many times when we're stressed out over something, we 709 00:37:59,880 --> 00:38:03,880 have a hard time remembering all the good that God's done. 710 00:38:03,880 --> 00:38:04,880 Don't we? 711 00:38:04,880 --> 00:38:06,880 I mean, it seems like we just focus on the thing that's right 712 00:38:06,880 --> 00:38:07,880 there. 713 00:38:07,880 --> 00:38:10,880 You've heard the old saying it's a screeching wheel that gets the 714 00:38:10,880 --> 00:38:11,880 grease. 715 00:38:12,840 --> 00:38:16,300 But that ain't the one that we're worried about right it's the one that squeaking 716 00:38:17,760 --> 00:38:23,680 When we stop think about how good God is and the blessings that God desires to bring into our life 717 00:38:24,240 --> 00:38:26,600 It would pay us well to remember 718 00:38:27,360 --> 00:38:33,120 To take our eyes off ourselves and realize the goodness and the true greatness of God 719 00:38:35,200 --> 00:38:37,200 David is showing that appreciation 720 00:38:37,680 --> 00:38:39,280 David is thankful 721 00:38:39,280 --> 00:38:46,300 Many times when we're stressed over something we have that hard time recalling all that God has done, but he has done wonderful things 722 00:38:47,080 --> 00:38:50,120 But if we can bring ourselves to the appreciation of those 723 00:38:50,620 --> 00:38:55,880 It will make what we're facing seem smaller than it is being presented by the enemy 724 00:38:58,440 --> 00:39:02,220 Too many times we diminish our own selves in the sight of God 725 00:39:03,560 --> 00:39:07,240 I'm not saying humbling ourselves. We are to humble ourselves. I 726 00:39:07,240 --> 00:39:14,000 Said diminishing who we are before the God of heaven who knows who you are 727 00:39:16,680 --> 00:39:23,320 We pull off the testimony of those ten unfaithful spies we're like grasshoppers 728 00:39:25,160 --> 00:39:32,440 Because they had failed to align what was presenting them with the greatness of the God who sent them 729 00:39:32,440 --> 00:39:35,960 The one who just parted the Red Sea 730 00:39:37,160 --> 00:39:43,880 The one who just destroyed the mightiest military force of that current hour 731 00:39:44,680 --> 00:39:50,920 Pharaoh and his 600 chariots and all the footmen that followed them God 732 00:39:52,000 --> 00:39:53,000 Hello 733 00:39:53,000 --> 00:39:55,000 God 734 00:39:55,000 --> 00:39:59,640 Caused the Red Sea to stand that attention and salute his greatness 735 00:39:59,640 --> 00:40:05,960 So that it would be the delivering agency to his people and they marched over on dry land 736 00:40:06,680 --> 00:40:08,200 Hallelujah 737 00:40:08,200 --> 00:40:10,520 I said they marched over on dry land 738 00:40:10,840 --> 00:40:15,880 The word doesn't say they trudged through the mud and the mire of the Red Sea bottom 739 00:40:16,200 --> 00:40:18,840 It said they marched over on dry land 740 00:40:19,480 --> 00:40:23,320 Amen, and it's the same walls that were standing at attention 741 00:40:23,320 --> 00:40:29,480 Who let their salute down when the people of God walked over and they let their salute down and destroyed 742 00:40:30,040 --> 00:40:32,040 that army of Pharaoh 743 00:40:33,480 --> 00:40:36,440 You've heard the skeptics i've mentioned it to you before 744 00:40:36,920 --> 00:40:42,600 Oh, there's no great miracle at the Red Sea. The water was only so deep there where they crossed 745 00:40:43,320 --> 00:40:45,480 Take your pick of your miracle 746 00:40:47,480 --> 00:40:49,480 You just choose which one 747 00:40:49,480 --> 00:40:51,480 You just choose which one 748 00:40:53,460 --> 00:40:57,240 Chariots horses and an army drowns in ankle-deep water 749 00:40:59,240 --> 00:41:05,480 Okay, i'll buy that one doesn't matter to me which one you want god is still god 750 00:41:06,200 --> 00:41:09,160 And god still did what god needed to do 751 00:41:09,720 --> 00:41:12,520 But that's not what the word says the bible says 752 00:41:13,160 --> 00:41:15,160 That the walls stood up 753 00:41:15,160 --> 00:41:19,960 That the water stood at attention that the sea parted over 754 00:41:20,680 --> 00:41:22,680 And they walked through 755 00:41:23,240 --> 00:41:25,240 So i'm going to choose that one 756 00:41:26,920 --> 00:41:29,640 But i'll take that other you just got to stand by it 757 00:41:31,720 --> 00:41:36,040 Prove to me then how they couldn't survive in ankle-deep water 758 00:41:37,880 --> 00:41:40,440 How'd god do it then show me the mystery 759 00:41:40,440 --> 00:41:42,440 I'm going to show you the mystery 760 00:41:44,840 --> 00:41:46,840 Trust in him 761 00:41:48,040 --> 00:41:52,360 Appreciate all that he's doing thirdly in just this verse one 762 00:41:53,960 --> 00:41:55,960 The petitions finally come out 763 00:41:57,320 --> 00:41:59,320 Be gracious to me and hear my prayer 764 00:42:01,720 --> 00:42:03,720 Never approach god like he owes you something 765 00:42:03,720 --> 00:42:06,200 Never approach god like he owes you something 766 00:42:07,640 --> 00:42:10,300 But approach him with gratitude and appreciation 767 00:42:11,080 --> 00:42:15,960 When when we are offered that invitation to therefore come boldly into the throne of god 768 00:42:16,840 --> 00:42:18,840 That you might find help 769 00:42:19,000 --> 00:42:23,800 And grace at the hour in which you need it. It doesn't mean just come in there shouting orders 770 00:42:26,840 --> 00:42:30,440 What it means is you don't just have to get on your belly and crawl in his presence 771 00:42:30,440 --> 00:42:33,240 He's allowing us to come into his presence 772 00:42:34,520 --> 00:42:36,520 But when we get in there 773 00:42:37,080 --> 00:42:39,080 It always seems to help me 774 00:42:39,560 --> 00:42:42,360 When I get in his presence the faster I can get on my belly 775 00:42:43,160 --> 00:42:44,600 Hello 776 00:42:44,600 --> 00:42:49,240 The faster I can prostrate before him it lets the gratitude of my heart 777 00:42:49,800 --> 00:42:52,920 Because that could have been out of this world many times before now 778 00:42:53,560 --> 00:42:57,880 But because of his grace, hallelujah because he's got the grace of god 779 00:42:57,880 --> 00:43:03,880 But because of his grace, hallelujah because of his because some of you are sitting in here are testimonies of his grace 780 00:43:04,120 --> 00:43:11,400 In goodness, whether it be a car wreck a cancer a heart attack a stroke or many other things that you have been avoided 781 00:43:11,400 --> 00:43:17,160 Of because of his good grace only heaven has it recorded and we ought to come in with great 782 00:43:18,180 --> 00:43:20,180 appreciation 783 00:43:21,240 --> 00:43:23,240 Be gracious to me and hear my prayer 784 00:43:23,240 --> 00:43:25,240 Sometimes 785 00:43:27,080 --> 00:43:33,960 Deliverance from our distress is as simple as saying god if i've brought this trouble on myself i'm asking you to forgive me 786 00:43:35,480 --> 00:43:37,800 Of course self is always the last place we end up 787 00:43:39,480 --> 00:43:41,480 But I encourage you to let self go first 788 00:43:42,840 --> 00:43:46,200 If self's going to be first in any line, let it be in the line of repentance 789 00:43:47,160 --> 00:43:49,160 amen 790 00:43:49,160 --> 00:43:54,120 Let it be the line of saying god I recognize what I am and what you've saved me from 791 00:43:55,320 --> 00:44:01,720 And if part of my stress and distress i'm going through is because of something I have done forgive me and help me get out 792 00:44:02,120 --> 00:44:04,120 of this mess 793 00:44:04,120 --> 00:44:06,840 Help me get this stress. I'm trying to hurry 794 00:44:07,480 --> 00:44:09,480 off my life truly god 795 00:44:10,040 --> 00:44:12,040 He has in store for us great gifts 796 00:44:12,840 --> 00:44:14,840 If we're willing to ask and to seek him for him 797 00:44:15,880 --> 00:44:17,880 And as we follow david's example 798 00:44:17,880 --> 00:44:21,720 When we're coping with the stress of life supplication is our first response 799 00:44:22,600 --> 00:44:24,600 Second is learning to be still 800 00:44:26,600 --> 00:44:28,600 Verse four stand in awe tremble 801 00:44:29,560 --> 00:44:36,040 Shake before him send not commune or to meditate with your heart with your own heart upon your bed 802 00:44:36,520 --> 00:44:38,520 Be still be silent 803 00:44:38,920 --> 00:44:40,920 Tarry and wait for god 804 00:44:44,120 --> 00:44:46,920 It's probably the simplest command that we have 805 00:44:46,920 --> 00:44:49,080 Command that god has ever given us yet 806 00:44:49,800 --> 00:44:51,800 Probably the most difficult for us to keep 807 00:44:52,600 --> 00:44:55,160 Is to be still and to know that he is god 808 00:44:58,360 --> 00:45:00,360 Some of you couldn't be still 809 00:45:01,080 --> 00:45:03,080 And it's just not your nature, right? 810 00:45:04,360 --> 00:45:08,680 You at home, you can't even sit down you pace in the floor. Just just not your nature got to find something to do 811 00:45:09,720 --> 00:45:13,160 Be about be about be about something got to be occupied, right? 812 00:45:13,160 --> 00:45:17,320 And when god says be still that wears us out 813 00:45:19,640 --> 00:45:24,760 Be still how many times you told your children growing up I said stand still 814 00:45:28,120 --> 00:45:33,240 This morning, yep, is that you in it give me that amen, baby 815 00:45:35,320 --> 00:45:37,320 Yep, he's heard it 816 00:45:37,320 --> 00:45:41,560 I'm probably about a dozen times this morning 817 00:45:44,440 --> 00:45:46,440 But it's the hardest one 818 00:45:47,240 --> 00:45:50,840 For us to apply to our life. I know it is for me 819 00:45:52,120 --> 00:45:57,960 I know it is for me to stand still. Can you imagine the stress of the moment standing at that red sea? 820 00:45:59,240 --> 00:46:01,240 An army coming 821 00:46:01,640 --> 00:46:03,640 Nowhere to go 822 00:46:03,880 --> 00:46:05,880 No escape 823 00:46:05,880 --> 00:46:09,720 Visible and then god says stand still 824 00:46:10,920 --> 00:46:12,920 And see my salvation 825 00:46:13,000 --> 00:46:18,120 Oh lord, because if you're gonna stand still the next command is stand still and hush your mouth 826 00:46:19,640 --> 00:46:22,040 Those two followed in sequence with my mother 827 00:46:24,920 --> 00:46:29,480 Stand still and don't open your mouth again. It's what I'd get 828 00:46:31,720 --> 00:46:34,520 Because it was constantly open I have that problem 829 00:46:34,520 --> 00:46:36,520 I've confessed that 830 00:46:37,560 --> 00:46:39,560 Don't 831 00:46:39,880 --> 00:46:41,880 Say another word 832 00:46:43,880 --> 00:46:50,680 Stand still to see the salvation of the lord. That's hard for you and I but if you want your stressor gone learn to be still 833 00:46:51,640 --> 00:46:55,000 Psalm 27 14 you stand with me and I'll run through these other two pages 834 00:46:56,280 --> 00:46:58,280 I'm telling you we just got the introduction 835 00:46:59,320 --> 00:47:02,440 Wait on the lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart 836 00:47:02,440 --> 00:47:04,440 Wait, I say on him 837 00:47:04,760 --> 00:47:07,800 37 to 7 of psalmist has rested the lord and wait patiently for him 838 00:47:08,280 --> 00:47:11,000 Fret hear this somebody needs to hear this this morning 839 00:47:11,400 --> 00:47:18,200 Fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass 840 00:47:18,440 --> 00:47:25,000 For evil doers shall be cut off. But those that wait upon the lord they shall inherit the earth 841 00:47:25,000 --> 00:47:29,640 I'm telling somebody this morning. Don't respond to them 842 00:47:29,640 --> 00:47:32,680 Hold your peace. I know it's difficult 843 00:47:34,200 --> 00:47:36,200 Don't respond 844 00:47:37,960 --> 00:47:39,960 Watch god. I heard that one too 845 00:47:41,240 --> 00:47:43,240 Watch god 846 00:47:43,560 --> 00:47:46,040 Don't fret yourself over evil doers 847 00:47:47,560 --> 00:47:50,600 Vengeance is mine sayeth the lord 848 00:47:53,320 --> 00:47:55,320 And you are his 849 00:47:55,320 --> 00:48:02,360 And you are his he's not gonna let the devil just treat you like a welcome mat 850 00:48:03,400 --> 00:48:05,400 Well, I sure feel like it well 851 00:48:07,720 --> 00:48:09,720 He's got you 852 00:48:10,520 --> 00:48:14,600 If he's saying stand still he's about to take care of it 853 00:48:17,320 --> 00:48:19,320 When stress is your press 854 00:48:19,320 --> 00:48:28,520 When stress is your press the olive press is a odd looking machine big stone 855 00:48:29,320 --> 00:48:31,320 wheel and a mushroom looking stone and 856 00:48:32,280 --> 00:48:34,520 With a hole inside of it and roll that 857 00:48:35,720 --> 00:48:38,040 big millstone around and around and it 858 00:48:39,560 --> 00:48:41,560 Crushes that olive 859 00:48:41,560 --> 00:48:47,800 Until it squeezes the pulp and the oil from the husk 860 00:48:52,440 --> 00:48:54,440 You may be on the press 861 00:48:58,920 --> 00:49:05,000 You may feel like an olive you know, the harvesting process is not even comfortable for an olive 862 00:49:05,000 --> 00:49:10,040 You know, they knock them out of the trees with long sticks 863 00:49:11,720 --> 00:49:15,240 Just beat the daylights out of the limbs. I'm thinking aren't you afraid you want to 864 00:49:15,880 --> 00:49:18,360 Knock some of your limbs out. No, they're wailing on them 865 00:49:19,480 --> 00:49:21,480 tarps under the bottom 866 00:49:22,120 --> 00:49:27,640 Sounds like rain falling with four or five guys just beating the daylights out of an olive tree. Come on 867 00:49:27,640 --> 00:49:31,400 And then get knocked down just to get ran over 868 00:49:33,480 --> 00:49:38,600 Feels that way sometimes in life doesn't it but i'm telling you what comes out 869 00:49:42,360 --> 00:49:47,880 Go to store and you see a lot of times we back in the day when I was growing up. We didn't have this smelly 870 00:49:48,680 --> 00:49:50,440 oil 871 00:49:50,440 --> 00:49:52,920 We had extra virgin olive oil 872 00:49:52,920 --> 00:49:59,320 And I thought well, what's the difference? I think now it just means it got ran over a few more times 873 00:50:04,840 --> 00:50:06,840 Few extra laps 874 00:50:06,840 --> 00:50:08,840 Not enough that you've 875 00:50:08,840 --> 00:50:12,280 Got every ounce out of it. You got to make sure you got the ounce that's out of the ounce 876 00:50:13,320 --> 00:50:16,520 That's the way it feels like we are with the enemy with stress 877 00:50:16,520 --> 00:50:19,800 You feel like you're that extra virgin olive oil 878 00:50:20,600 --> 00:50:22,600 It's just and you ain't out yet 879 00:50:24,200 --> 00:50:26,200 And it's just still running you over 880 00:50:27,640 --> 00:50:30,760 Over and over and over. Well, hold on child of god 881 00:50:32,200 --> 00:50:34,200 Because god's hearing your prayer 882 00:50:35,960 --> 00:50:39,400 He's hearing it because see then you become the sacrifice 883 00:50:40,840 --> 00:50:42,840 You become the sacrifice 884 00:50:42,840 --> 00:50:45,480 I got to get here. I can't leave us without this a little 885 00:50:45,480 --> 00:50:50,360 Praise stillness sacrifice 886 00:50:56,760 --> 00:51:03,480 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and put your trust in the lord david said 887 00:51:05,800 --> 00:51:09,080 I'm here to remind you this morning. You can trust the lord with your trust 888 00:51:09,080 --> 00:51:13,560 I'm here to remind you this morning. You can trust the lord with your situation 889 00:51:15,080 --> 00:51:17,960 I know what the enemy's saying. I know how he jumps on our shoulder 890 00:51:18,200 --> 00:51:21,640 I know what he whispers in our ear that god doesn't care first of all 891 00:51:22,520 --> 00:51:25,800 Second, he says well if god did care you wouldn't be in this mess anyway 892 00:51:27,640 --> 00:51:30,200 Well god does care and he told me i'd be in that mess 893 00:51:31,880 --> 00:51:35,080 Told me life is going to be hard told me it's going to be difficult 894 00:51:35,080 --> 00:51:38,600 Told me I would have tribulations 895 00:51:40,440 --> 00:51:43,160 In this world jesus said you shall 896 00:51:44,520 --> 00:51:50,380 Have tribulation, but he didn't leave me stuck in the idea of tribulation 897 00:51:53,480 --> 00:51:55,480 He says you'll come out of the press 898 00:51:57,880 --> 00:51:59,880 Be of good cheer 899 00:51:59,880 --> 00:52:07,080 How are you supposed to be happy about stress? How are you supposed to be happy about tribulation? 900 00:52:07,480 --> 00:52:10,280 I'll tell you how be of good cheer because I 901 00:52:11,080 --> 00:52:13,080 Have overcome the world 902 00:52:13,960 --> 00:52:20,840 And he didn't just leave us with that peace give eye to you not as the world gives peace but my peace 903 00:52:20,840 --> 00:52:28,140 I give to you this little illustration 904 00:52:29,800 --> 00:52:37,320 The pilot was having difficulty landing his small engine airplane because of fog the fog had hidden the runway 905 00:52:38,680 --> 00:52:43,240 So air traffic control decided to bring the plane in by radar 906 00:52:43,960 --> 00:52:48,280 Unless you've been trained my understanding unless you've been trained to fly by radar 907 00:52:48,280 --> 00:52:50,280 That's an unnervy thing 908 00:52:51,240 --> 00:52:56,600 I don't know but I I think I could operate better if I could see the ground hello 909 00:52:58,280 --> 00:53:01,960 And not just watch this little thing on the screen 910 00:53:04,440 --> 00:53:08,680 As the pilot received instruction he suddenly recalled a tall pole 911 00:53:09,880 --> 00:53:13,160 In his flight path he knew where he's going. He just couldn't see it 912 00:53:13,160 --> 00:53:16,600 He was just a little bit scared. He was just a little bit scared 913 00:53:18,200 --> 00:53:23,320 Stricken with panic and fear he furiously appealed to the control tower 914 00:53:24,840 --> 00:53:29,000 Hold on now you'll have to remember this in your stenographers not here 915 00:53:30,920 --> 00:53:34,200 A blunt reply came back from the control tower 916 00:53:36,120 --> 00:53:38,120 You obey instructions 917 00:53:39,320 --> 00:53:41,320 Will take care 918 00:53:41,320 --> 00:53:44,680 Yeah, can't you just hear god this morning I can hear him 919 00:53:46,200 --> 00:53:51,960 I I can hear that going out all over this congregation this morning because like I say we've all got stress 920 00:53:52,920 --> 00:53:55,160 It's just a matter of what it's doing to you right now 921 00:53:56,520 --> 00:54:01,020 Well hear hear the instructions let him worry about the obstructions 922 00:54:03,160 --> 00:54:08,680 I'm sure that's not what that pilot wanted to hear and i'm sure it's probably not what we want to hear this morning 923 00:54:08,680 --> 00:54:13,800 Because who can't help with the obstruction we'd like to what we 924 00:54:17,560 --> 00:54:19,560 Obey the instructions 925 00:54:20,840 --> 00:54:23,160 Let him take care of the obstructions 926 00:54:25,160 --> 00:54:29,320 Meditate honing in your bed when you lay down 927 00:54:30,600 --> 00:54:32,120 That last verse 928 00:54:32,120 --> 00:54:37,240 I tell you what I want us all to do. I want us all that can make your way to this altar. We're going to close out with people 929 00:54:37,240 --> 00:54:39,240 We're going to close out with prayer 930 00:54:39,960 --> 00:54:41,960 As I read this last verse 931 00:54:45,880 --> 00:54:48,120 Psalm 7 verse 7 you put gladness in my heart 932 00:54:50,040 --> 00:54:52,040 More than in the time 933 00:54:52,520 --> 00:54:55,560 Of harvest when the grains coming in and the wine presses are full 934 00:54:55,880 --> 00:55:00,200 That's when they're happy. They know they're going to live another year because they got food the harvest was good 935 00:55:00,760 --> 00:55:03,080 He said i'm happier than harvest time 936 00:55:03,080 --> 00:55:08,520 I will both lay me down. I've been thinking about this verse this morning last night this morning 937 00:55:10,040 --> 00:55:15,320 I tried to research it and couldn't really find anything, but I kind of thought I wonder if this isn't 938 00:55:16,600 --> 00:55:19,320 The verse that's kindly coupled and tied to our little 939 00:55:20,200 --> 00:55:22,200 nursery rhyme bedtime prayer 940 00:55:23,160 --> 00:55:25,160 Now I lay me down to sleep 941 00:55:26,120 --> 00:55:28,120 I pray the lord my soul to keep 942 00:55:29,480 --> 00:55:31,480 If I lay me down 943 00:55:31,480 --> 00:55:33,720 If I die before I wake, you know what? 944 00:55:34,680 --> 00:55:36,680 I wonder if this is the verse 945 00:55:37,000 --> 00:55:40,280 I will both lay me down in peace and sleep 946 00:55:41,880 --> 00:55:43,880 For thou lord 947 00:55:44,600 --> 00:55:46,600 Only maketh me to dwell 948 00:55:47,080 --> 00:55:49,080 in safety 949 00:55:50,120 --> 00:55:53,880 Now I lay me down psalm said I poured my heart out 950 00:55:55,960 --> 00:55:57,960 I've told you my problem 951 00:55:57,960 --> 00:56:02,120 Problem. I've let you know i'm grateful for what you have done 952 00:56:03,400 --> 00:56:05,400 And i'm going to present myself 953 00:56:06,280 --> 00:56:08,680 As holy as I can in your holy presence 954 00:56:10,200 --> 00:56:12,200 And you're going to vindicate me 955 00:56:13,160 --> 00:56:18,440 You're going to take care of me god's going to take care of you people he's got you 956 00:56:20,200 --> 00:56:21,880 Your stress 957 00:56:21,880 --> 00:56:24,360 Even though it's pressing down on you 958 00:56:24,360 --> 00:56:28,520 At whatever level of those that we mentioned that's only just a few 959 00:56:29,240 --> 00:56:31,720 Of the different stressors of life just a few of them 960 00:56:32,680 --> 00:56:35,960 No matter the magnitude or the level or how heavy it feels on you 961 00:56:36,840 --> 00:56:38,840 God's got you 962 00:56:39,960 --> 00:56:41,960 He's got you 963 00:56:42,760 --> 00:56:45,480 So that you can say i'm happier in harvest time 964 00:56:46,280 --> 00:56:48,280 That don't mean a whole lot to us 965 00:56:48,600 --> 00:56:50,600 But it did to them 966 00:56:50,680 --> 00:56:53,000 I'm happier than corn picking day 967 00:56:53,000 --> 00:56:58,200 Maybe that's why some say that was the day we picked corn. I'm happier than 968 00:57:00,760 --> 00:57:08,120 I'm happier than the days that we've had a wonderful great harvest and the wine presses are overflowing. I'm happier than that 969 00:57:09,080 --> 00:57:11,080 Because I can lay down 970 00:57:12,280 --> 00:57:14,280 Close my eyes 971 00:57:15,000 --> 00:57:17,000 And sleep 972 00:57:18,920 --> 00:57:21,160 He had no control over the war around him 973 00:57:21,160 --> 00:57:27,340 But I think we've just gotten a little instruction on how to deal with the war inside us