Having the Attitude of a Servant

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That's code iheard fifty 0:00:54.000 --> 0:00:57.160 When you sign up at unest dot co for fifty 0:00:57.200 --> 0:00:59.880 dollars bonus see terms and conditions at UNS dot c. 0:01:00.840 --> 0:01:03.560 No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 0:01:03.640 --> 0:01:05.720 Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much 0:01:05.720 --> 0:01:08.440 in taxes? Will I be able to retire? What if 0:01:08.440 --> 0:01:11.039 you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 0:01:11.080 --> 0:01:13.520 five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 0:01:13.560 --> 0:01:16.360 today and where your money can work harder? Now you 0:01:16.440 --> 0:01:19.440 can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 0:01:19.480 --> 0:01:24.080 and get your financial wellness score today. That's Facet dot com. 0:01:24.080 --> 0:01:26.040 This add a sponsored by Facet. Facet Wealth in Corporated 0:01:26.120 --> 0:01:27.959 is an sec registered investment advisor. This is not an 0:01:28.000 --> 0:01:29.759 offer to buy your self securities, nor is it investment, 0:01:29.840 --> 0:01:30.760 legal or tax advice. 0:01:31.240 --> 0:01:32.800 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 0:01:33.040 --> 0:01:36.080 Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 0:01:36.080 --> 0:01:36.759 the ministry. 0:01:36.920 --> 0:01:39.240 If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 0:01:39.280 --> 0:01:40.800 blessing and share it with a friend. 0:01:41.120 --> 0:01:43.840 We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 0:01:43.920 --> 0:01:48.040 your life. 0:01:56.080 --> 0:01:59.080 God bless you. It's a joy to come into your homes. 0:01:59.360 --> 0:02:00.160 We love you. 0:02:00.000 --> 0:02:03.320 If you we've come with good news, we believe today 0:02:03.320 --> 0:02:05.600 that you're going to be encouraged and inspired just to 0:02:05.600 --> 0:02:07.760 be all God's created you to be. But thanks for 0:02:07.840 --> 0:02:10.079 tuning in. If you're ever in our area, I hope 0:02:10.120 --> 0:02:11.840 you'll stop by and see us. We'll make you feel 0:02:11.880 --> 0:02:13.960 right at home. But again, it's good to have you today. 0:02:14.280 --> 0:02:15.919 You know. I'd like to start with something funny each 0:02:15.960 --> 0:02:17.520 week and see what you think of this one. A 0:02:17.560 --> 0:02:20.440 small child had a bad cough, so her parents took 0:02:20.440 --> 0:02:23.720 her to the emergency room. A nurse, while examining the 0:02:23.840 --> 0:02:27.080 child's lung with a stethoscope, told the child, I have 0:02:27.120 --> 0:02:27.640 to see if. 0:02:27.560 --> 0:02:28.520 Barney's in there. 0:02:28.919 --> 0:02:31.280 The little girl replied, I have Jesus in my heart, 0:02:31.520 --> 0:02:36.080 but Barney's on my underwear. All right, hold up your bibles. 0:02:36.160 --> 0:02:38.240 Let's say it like we've been it ready. This is 0:02:38.320 --> 0:02:41.440 my Bible. I am what it says I am. I 0:02:41.560 --> 0:02:44.040 have what it says I have. I can do what 0:02:44.120 --> 0:02:47.000 it says I can do. Today, I will retalk the 0:02:47.040 --> 0:02:51.120 word of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, 0:02:51.560 --> 0:02:54.600 my heart is receptive. I will never be the same. 0:02:55.120 --> 0:03:00.880 I am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible in seed 0:03:01.160 --> 0:03:05.440 of the Word of God. I'll never be the same, never, never, never, 0:03:05.960 --> 0:03:06.840 I'll never. 0:03:06.600 --> 0:03:09.880 Be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 0:03:10.919 --> 0:03:13.040 I want to talk to you today about having an 0:03:13.080 --> 0:03:16.240 attitude of a servant and how we should be willing 0:03:16.320 --> 0:03:20.079 to get involved every day. We should look for opportunities 0:03:20.120 --> 0:03:22.680 to do good. We should look for ways that we 0:03:22.680 --> 0:03:26.040 can make a difference. Who can I bless or where 0:03:26.080 --> 0:03:27.640 is there a need that I can meet? 0:03:27.800 --> 0:03:29.360 How can I serve you? Today? 0:03:29.919 --> 0:03:31.800 A lot of times we think I don't want to 0:03:31.840 --> 0:03:35.160 serve anybody. I want somebody to serve me, want somebody 0:03:35.240 --> 0:03:38.160 to meet my needs, somebody to bless me. But really 0:03:38.280 --> 0:03:41.920 that's the wrong attitude. Jesus said, I didn't come to 0:03:42.000 --> 0:03:45.360 be served. I came to serve. And here he was 0:03:45.400 --> 0:03:48.160 the greatest leader of all time, and yet he humbled 0:03:48.240 --> 0:03:52.920 himself as a servant. And serving takes humility, it takes 0:03:53.000 --> 0:03:54.520 laying aside our plans. 0:03:54.600 --> 0:03:57.040 Sometimes we've got to be willing. 0:03:56.760 --> 0:03:59.480 To be inconvenience. It means we've got to be willing 0:03:59.560 --> 0:04:02.720 to go out of our way. Too many people today 0:04:03.080 --> 0:04:06.760 don't want to get involved. Their attitude is, don't bother 0:04:06.840 --> 0:04:08.920 me with your problems. Man, I got enough problems of 0:04:08.960 --> 0:04:11.480 my own. I can't give you a ride in the morning. 0:04:11.560 --> 0:04:14.400 I get up early enough already. No, it's that kind 0:04:14.440 --> 0:04:18.160 of selfish, self centered attitude. That's why so many people. 0:04:17.960 --> 0:04:18.960 Are not happy today. 0:04:19.440 --> 0:04:22.320 And if you're only living for yourself and you don't 0:04:22.360 --> 0:04:25.080 have time for others, you're going to live a very 0:04:25.440 --> 0:04:29.760 unfulfilled life. You were not made to be ingrown. You 0:04:29.800 --> 0:04:32.360 were made to be a giver. You were made to 0:04:32.400 --> 0:04:35.840 make a difference in somebody else's life. And really one 0:04:35.880 --> 0:04:38.920 of the main ways we serve God is by serving 0:04:39.000 --> 0:04:42.720 one another. One time, the disciples were arguing about who 0:04:42.800 --> 0:04:45.280 is the greatest, who is the most important, who was 0:04:45.320 --> 0:04:48.640 going to have the top position. Jesus overheard them and 0:04:48.680 --> 0:04:50.839 he said, listen, here's the key. If you want to 0:04:50.839 --> 0:04:53.440 be the greatest, you've got to learn to become the 0:04:53.520 --> 0:04:56.520 servant of all. In other words, you've got to have 0:04:56.560 --> 0:04:58.040 an attitude to help people. 0:04:58.600 --> 0:04:59.880 You've got to take time to. 0:04:59.839 --> 0:05:02.720 Li listen to that friend that's down, You've got to 0:05:02.760 --> 0:05:04.599 go out of your way and get. 0:05:04.440 --> 0:05:06.719 Involved with that coworker that's struggling. 0:05:07.279 --> 0:05:10.240 Everywhere we go, we should be making a difference, even 0:05:10.279 --> 0:05:13.600 if it's just giving a smile, given an encouraging word. 0:05:14.200 --> 0:05:16.520 Somebody's car broke down, you give them twenty bucks to 0:05:16.520 --> 0:05:18.680 help them get on their way. But we need to 0:05:18.760 --> 0:05:22.440 look for opportunities to meet needs around us. And the 0:05:22.480 --> 0:05:26.039 scripture says here in one John three point seventeen, if 0:05:26.080 --> 0:05:30.360 anyone sees his brother in need and yet closes his 0:05:30.480 --> 0:05:33.560 heart of compassion, how can the love of God be 0:05:33.640 --> 0:05:37.080 in him? Notice we all have a heart of compassion. 0:05:37.640 --> 0:05:40.640 But what's interesting is it can either be opened or 0:05:40.680 --> 0:05:43.479 it can be closed. And the sad thing today is 0:05:43.560 --> 0:05:47.440 many people have theirs closed. They're too busy to get involved. 0:05:47.880 --> 0:05:50.640 They don't take time to sew into other people's life. 0:05:51.200 --> 0:05:54.800 They see that friend that's struggling, he's down and discouraged, 0:05:54.880 --> 0:05:56.680 but they think, man, I don't want to go find 0:05:56.720 --> 0:05:58.960 out what's wrong. He may need to borrow some money, 0:05:59.440 --> 0:06:01.080 he may want to and go to dinner after work. 0:06:01.120 --> 0:06:01.960 I don't want to do that. 0:06:02.720 --> 0:06:05.440 What they've really just done is they've closed their heart 0:06:05.440 --> 0:06:08.280 of compassion. And then they wonder why they're not happy, 0:06:08.320 --> 0:06:11.400 why they're not fulfilled, why their problems aren't being solved. 0:06:11.760 --> 0:06:15.120 It's all because they become ingrown and. 0:06:15.120 --> 0:06:18.320 A selfish life is always going to be a miserable life. 0:06:18.800 --> 0:06:21.200 If you have a problem today, one of the best 0:06:21.200 --> 0:06:23.480 things you can do is go out and help solve 0:06:23.520 --> 0:06:27.240 somebody else's problem. If you're lonely, don't sit around feeling 0:06:27.279 --> 0:06:31.040 sorry for yourself. Go out and encourage somebody else that's lonely. 0:06:31.600 --> 0:06:33.039 You've got to get your mind. 0:06:32.880 --> 0:06:36.600 Off of yourself. Sow that seed. Then God can begin 0:06:36.640 --> 0:06:37.680 to change your situation. 0:06:38.240 --> 0:06:41.800 But I'm talking about a lifestyle of giving, a lifestyle 0:06:41.800 --> 0:06:45.200 of serving, being involved with one another. Some of you 0:06:45.279 --> 0:06:48.080 have more time than you do. Extra money will give 0:06:48.120 --> 0:06:51.560 your time. Why don't you mentor a young man, or 0:06:51.560 --> 0:06:55.280 go visit the nursing homes, or how about adopting a widow. 0:06:55.920 --> 0:06:58.839 You can call her during the week, send her notes, 0:06:59.320 --> 0:07:01.040 or go pick her up and bring her to church 0:07:01.120 --> 0:07:04.239 with you, so into her life. You're not just doing 0:07:04.240 --> 0:07:07.839 a good deed, you are serving God by serving one another. 0:07:08.640 --> 0:07:11.880 I remember when Victoria and I first started dating. Victoria 0:07:11.880 --> 0:07:14.320 would go pick up this older lady and bring her 0:07:14.400 --> 0:07:17.239 to church. She'd done this for a long time, they'd 0:07:17.240 --> 0:07:19.600 become good friends. Well, that was just a way that 0:07:19.640 --> 0:07:22.520 she could serve. And there are so many different areas 0:07:22.520 --> 0:07:24.880 we can get involved in. You can serve in our 0:07:24.960 --> 0:07:28.320 children's ministry, teaching our kids, we're always looking for people. 0:07:28.720 --> 0:07:32.080 Or you can go visit the prisoners with our prison outreach. 0:07:32.440 --> 0:07:34.280 We have to go every day, go once a month. 0:07:34.880 --> 0:07:37.800 Or how about coaching your child's little league team, making 0:07:37.840 --> 0:07:38.720 a difference. 0:07:38.360 --> 0:07:39.120 In their lives. 0:07:39.280 --> 0:07:41.360 But when you see a need, learn to meet it. 0:07:42.040 --> 0:07:44.640 Maybe your child has a friend that comes from a 0:07:44.680 --> 0:07:47.440 single parent family and you can see he's having trouble 0:07:47.480 --> 0:07:50.120 hitting the ball, Well take him to the batting cages 0:07:50.200 --> 0:07:52.960 with your son, or stay after practice and pits to 0:07:53.040 --> 0:07:55.360 him for half an hour or so. But what I'm 0:07:55.400 --> 0:07:58.360 saying is you've got to on purpose, get involved. 0:07:58.400 --> 0:08:01.280 Don't wait for somebody to ask you. Be on the offensive. 0:08:01.920 --> 0:08:04.080 We should get up every day and not try to 0:08:04.120 --> 0:08:05.720 figure out how we can get blessed. 0:08:05.880 --> 0:08:08.320 Let's figure out how we can be a blessing. Where 0:08:08.400 --> 0:08:09.840 is a need that I can meet? 0:08:10.360 --> 0:08:13.239 Or how can I make somebody else's life better today? 0:08:13.400 --> 0:08:16.720 Where can I serve? See be on the lookout and 0:08:16.800 --> 0:08:19.920 learn to keep your heart of compassion open. That's what 0:08:19.960 --> 0:08:23.760 real living is all about. And really the closest thing 0:08:23.800 --> 0:08:26.160 to the heart of God is not how much we pray, 0:08:26.680 --> 0:08:28.600 not how many times we come to church and all 0:08:28.640 --> 0:08:31.960 that's great, but the closest thing to God's heart is 0:08:32.000 --> 0:08:36.160 helping hurting people, and all around us, probably every day, 0:08:36.360 --> 0:08:40.400 there's somebody that's been through a disappointment, somebody that's discouraged, 0:08:40.720 --> 0:08:44.480 somebody that's having marital problems, somebody that's struggling with an addiction. 0:08:45.320 --> 0:08:48.280 They need what only you can give. They need your 0:08:48.320 --> 0:08:52.040 healing touch, they need your ears to listen, they need 0:08:52.080 --> 0:08:55.760 your encouraging words. Somebody needs to know that you care. 0:08:56.400 --> 0:08:59.040 And the scripture talks about how in the last days 0:08:59.360 --> 0:09:02.680 the great of the body of people will grow cold, 0:09:03.280 --> 0:09:06.520 and unfortunately that's what seems to be happening today. We're 0:09:06.559 --> 0:09:09.880 all so busy, people are so driven for success. We're 0:09:09.920 --> 0:09:12.959 in such a hurry. We don't want to be inconvenience. 0:09:13.000 --> 0:09:14.560 We don't want to have to go out of our way. 0:09:15.360 --> 0:09:18.520 We have to remember, if we're not serving one another, 0:09:19.000 --> 0:09:21.240 we're really not serving God in the way he wants 0:09:21.320 --> 0:09:24.280 us to. And Jesus said, when you do it to 0:09:24.320 --> 0:09:26.439 the least of one of these, it's just like you're 0:09:26.440 --> 0:09:29.640 doing it under me. You give somebody in need as 0:09:29.640 --> 0:09:31.959 little as a cup of cold water, just like you're 0:09:32.000 --> 0:09:35.480 giving it under God. Take time to care, have the 0:09:35.520 --> 0:09:38.560 heart of a servant and be willing to get involved. 0:09:39.280 --> 0:09:42.040 Most of us know the story of the Good Samaritan. 0:09:42.480 --> 0:09:45.080 This man was out walking down the road, and all 0:09:45.080 --> 0:09:48.120 of a sudden he was attacked and beaten by these robbers, 0:09:48.120 --> 0:09:49.319 and they stole all of. 0:09:49.280 --> 0:09:51.480 His money and just left him there to die. 0:09:51.960 --> 0:09:54.560 Well, in a little while, a priest came walking by, 0:09:55.160 --> 0:09:57.240 and when he saw the men lying there, he just 0:09:57.280 --> 0:09:59.480 moved over to the other side of the road. He 0:09:59.520 --> 0:10:02.080 didn't want to be inconvenienced, he didn't want to get 0:10:02.120 --> 0:10:04.560 his hands dirty. He was too proud, and so he 0:10:04.720 --> 0:10:08.440 just passed on by. And isn't it interesting? The first 0:10:08.559 --> 0:10:11.840 example Jesus used as he told this story was that 0:10:12.120 --> 0:10:15.720 of a religious person that tells me, just because I 0:10:15.800 --> 0:10:17.760 come to church, just because. 0:10:17.440 --> 0:10:19.800 I sing the songs, doesn't mean. 0:10:19.800 --> 0:10:22.760 That's my Christian duty and I'm done for the week. No, 0:10:22.920 --> 0:10:24.720 our real duty starts when. 0:10:24.520 --> 0:10:25.840 We dismiss this service. 0:10:26.240 --> 0:10:30.880 Our real work should begin at the office, at the mall, 0:10:31.640 --> 0:10:35.520 at the ball field, in our everyday lives. Look for 0:10:35.640 --> 0:10:38.720 opportunities that you can make a difference. And when you 0:10:38.800 --> 0:10:42.040 see somebody that's hurting, don't be like this man. Don't 0:10:42.040 --> 0:10:45.280 be quote too religious to get your hands dirty. In 0:10:45.320 --> 0:10:48.040 other words, don't be too proud to help that young 0:10:48.080 --> 0:10:51.959 man just struggling with an addiction. Don't be too judgmental 0:10:52.360 --> 0:10:55.600 to give that young lady that's pregnant and not yet married, 0:10:55.960 --> 0:10:59.880 your time, your attention, your love. In a little while, 0:11:00.040 --> 0:11:03.120 another man came walking by. He was a Levite, but 0:11:03.240 --> 0:11:05.080 he did the same thing. He just scooted it over 0:11:05.280 --> 0:11:06.200 and passed on by. 0:11:06.920 --> 0:11:07.400 I don't know. 0:11:07.440 --> 0:11:09.600 Maybe he was in a hurry, maybe he had an 0:11:09.600 --> 0:11:12.640 important meeting to go to, but he too chose not 0:11:12.720 --> 0:11:15.800 to be involved. But this third man was different. 0:11:15.880 --> 0:11:16.560 I like him. 0:11:16.800 --> 0:11:20.160 He had his heart of compassion open, and the Bible 0:11:20.240 --> 0:11:22.960 says when he saw the men lying there, he went 0:11:23.120 --> 0:11:26.880 to him. Notice he didn't wait for three people to ask. 0:11:27.480 --> 0:11:29.959 He didn't wait till they made an announcement at the office. 0:11:30.160 --> 0:11:32.280 He didn't wait till he read it in the church bulletin. 0:11:32.559 --> 0:11:33.520 He was aggressive. 0:11:33.760 --> 0:11:36.760 He was on the lookout, and he thought, here's a need, 0:11:37.160 --> 0:11:39.760 here's somebody that's hurting. I'm gonna make a difference. I'm 0:11:39.760 --> 0:11:43.280 gonna serve God by serving my brother. And the fact is, 0:11:43.280 --> 0:11:45.960 if you study it, he didn't know the man. He 0:11:46.000 --> 0:11:49.160 didn't come from the same racial background. He didn't come 0:11:49.160 --> 0:11:52.040 from the same social background, but that didn't stop him. 0:11:52.360 --> 0:11:54.280 He thought, this is my brother, and I'm gonna do 0:11:54.320 --> 0:11:58.080 something about it, and we two need to quit qualifying 0:11:58.320 --> 0:12:00.920 what needs we're gonna meet. The need is a need, 0:12:01.000 --> 0:12:05.360 regardless of race, regardless of social background, regardless of if 0:12:05.360 --> 0:12:06.840 the people fit into our little group. 0:12:07.920 --> 0:12:09.600 You notice he went to him. 0:12:10.080 --> 0:12:12.400 He bandaged him up and put him on his animal, 0:12:12.840 --> 0:12:15.360 took him up to the local inn, and he stayed 0:12:15.360 --> 0:12:17.840 with him till he got better. And when he did 0:12:17.880 --> 0:12:21.280 have to leave, he paid the innkeeper extra money to 0:12:21.400 --> 0:12:23.600 keep him until he got well. And he said, by 0:12:23.640 --> 0:12:25.560 the way, if you've got to keep him longer, go 0:12:25.600 --> 0:12:27.000 ahead and do it, and just put it on my 0:12:27.120 --> 0:12:29.280 tab and I'll make sure I pay you the next 0:12:29.280 --> 0:12:32.520 time I come through. That's somebody that has their heart 0:12:32.600 --> 0:12:36.880 of compassion open. That's somebody that's serving God by serving 0:12:36.920 --> 0:12:39.920 one another. You notice he was willing to get his 0:12:39.960 --> 0:12:43.760 hands dirty. He was willing to be inconvenienced. I'm sure 0:12:43.800 --> 0:12:45.280 he had to adjust his plans. 0:12:45.760 --> 0:12:46.240 I don't know. 0:12:46.280 --> 0:12:48.800 Maybe he lost some money, maybe he missed out on 0:12:48.840 --> 0:12:51.600 a big seal, but it didn't matter to this man. 0:12:51.760 --> 0:12:55.280 He was more interested in helping hurting people than he 0:12:55.440 --> 0:12:58.280 was and keeping his plans. I believe what God is 0:12:58.360 --> 0:13:01.040 saying to us through this story is when you see 0:13:01.040 --> 0:13:05.720 somebody that's down, somebody that's hurting, somebody that's lonely, like 0:13:05.800 --> 0:13:08.840 this man, go to him. Let's not be like the 0:13:08.880 --> 0:13:11.160 first man, too proud, too religious. 0:13:11.200 --> 0:13:12.240 Well, I'm not gonna help you. 0:13:12.240 --> 0:13:14.880 You don't come from my same group, you don't live 0:13:14.920 --> 0:13:17.959 in my neighborhood, you don't believe what I believe. You're 0:13:18.000 --> 0:13:20.160 not of my same faith. Man, I'm not going there. 0:13:21.000 --> 0:13:24.400 That kind of selfish, arrogant attitude is going to keep 0:13:24.480 --> 0:13:27.400 us from God's best. Keep your heart of compassion open, 0:13:27.679 --> 0:13:30.079 and when you see a need, don't wait, go to it. 0:13:30.840 --> 0:13:33.040 That's what I love about the people of Lakewood. You 0:13:33.120 --> 0:13:36.160 guys are such great givers. We get letters all the 0:13:36.280 --> 0:13:39.839 time from people telling us how much you've helped them, 0:13:39.880 --> 0:13:42.480 just bragging on all that you've done. And just the 0:13:42.520 --> 0:13:45.880 other day I got a report from a single parent mom. 0:13:46.360 --> 0:13:48.720 She said, Joel, one of your members out of the 0:13:48.760 --> 0:13:51.400 Clear Blue just bought me a whole new set of 0:13:51.440 --> 0:13:54.400 living room furniture. And she just wrote back to say 0:13:54.480 --> 0:13:57.160 thank you. We never asked those people to do it. 0:13:57.679 --> 0:14:00.440 We didn't put it in the bulletin. They just did it. 0:14:00.559 --> 0:14:03.200 Unto God, they just did it because they saw a 0:14:03.280 --> 0:14:04.360 need and they went to it. 0:14:04.520 --> 0:14:06.199 They were willing to be involved. 0:14:07.679 --> 0:14:10.160 And if you hear about some kids that aren't sleeping 0:14:10.200 --> 0:14:13.000 on good beds, or somebody that doesn't have air conditioning 0:14:13.040 --> 0:14:15.640 in this heat, and you have the means to meet 0:14:15.679 --> 0:14:18.000 that need, God's bless you with that money, then you've 0:14:18.000 --> 0:14:20.360 got to step up to the plate. The Bible tells 0:14:20.440 --> 0:14:22.880 us to stir ourselves up under good works. 0:14:23.080 --> 0:14:23.840 And if we don't hear. 0:14:23.720 --> 0:14:25.960 A message like this on a regular basis, it is 0:14:26.000 --> 0:14:28.640 so easy to get self centered. Me and my four 0:14:28.680 --> 0:14:30.920 and no more. But no, let me ask you today, 0:14:31.120 --> 0:14:33.720 what are you doing for somebody else where? Are you 0:14:33.840 --> 0:14:34.720 making a difference? 0:14:35.320 --> 0:14:35.400 Now? 0:14:35.440 --> 0:14:37.960 I realize as you give to the ministry here in 0:14:38.000 --> 0:14:41.080 affects you are because we touch people. But really, I'm 0:14:41.080 --> 0:14:45.000 talking more specifically today about you personally. Who are you serving? 0:14:45.040 --> 0:14:47.600 Who are you impacting? Do you have your heart of 0:14:47.640 --> 0:14:50.960 compassion open? I had this other man tell me he 0:14:51.000 --> 0:14:53.160 was an older gentleman, how he was up at the 0:14:53.200 --> 0:14:56.640 pharmacy one night wanting to pick up his prescription, but 0:14:56.720 --> 0:14:59.400 he thought the insurance would cover more of the cost 0:14:59.560 --> 0:15:01.720 and he didn't have enough money. Well, there was this 0:15:01.840 --> 0:15:04.440 young man in line behind him that had just been 0:15:04.480 --> 0:15:07.680 out exercising in his tennis shoes and running clothes, and 0:15:07.720 --> 0:15:09.960 he just come in there to get something to drink. 0:15:10.360 --> 0:15:13.840 But when he heard this older man's dilemma, he said, you 0:15:13.880 --> 0:15:16.360 stay right there, I'll be right back. That young man 0:15:16.480 --> 0:15:19.200 ran out, went down to his house. God his billfold, 0:15:19.240 --> 0:15:20.360 came all the way back. 0:15:20.200 --> 0:15:21.720 And bought his prescription for him. 0:15:22.080 --> 0:15:26.320 And you're talking about making an impression on this man. Now, 0:15:26.440 --> 0:15:29.360 this older gentleman was here at Lakewood in the front lobby, 0:15:29.720 --> 0:15:32.360 never been here before, but he came all the way 0:15:32.360 --> 0:15:34.920 back just to tell that man thank you. I said, well, 0:15:34.960 --> 0:15:37.359 what was his name? He said his name was John. 0:15:37.560 --> 0:15:39.600 I said, well, we probably have a few hundred Johns 0:15:39.600 --> 0:15:42.600 in our church, but I promised him I would tell John. 0:15:42.640 --> 0:15:43.000 Thank you. 0:15:43.080 --> 0:15:45.520 So, whoever you are, thank you for keeping your heart 0:15:45.520 --> 0:15:49.080 a compassion open. Thank you for serving God by serving 0:15:49.120 --> 0:15:55.000 one another. Thank you for making a difference. Really, there's 0:15:55.040 --> 0:15:58.120 nothing like the joy in giving. There's nothing like the 0:15:58.200 --> 0:16:02.600 satisfaction you feel for me. Somebody else's needs. Remember one 0:16:02.600 --> 0:16:04.760 time I went to India with my father and it 0:16:04.880 --> 0:16:08.280 was myself and Victoria and several of our family members. 0:16:08.600 --> 0:16:11.440 There was this good Christian leader that we'd supported for 0:16:11.520 --> 0:16:14.520 many many years. We'd become good friends with he and 0:16:14.560 --> 0:16:17.760 his family. We really love and respect him. But he 0:16:17.880 --> 0:16:20.560 was so devoted to his ministry and so devoted to 0:16:20.600 --> 0:16:23.640 his work. He had never taken the time nor the 0:16:23.680 --> 0:16:26.920 money to get his own family a decent place to live. 0:16:27.400 --> 0:16:29.880 They had always lived in this old, run down, beat 0:16:29.960 --> 0:16:32.359 up place that they had rented, and this really. 0:16:32.080 --> 0:16:32.960 Bothered my father. 0:16:33.440 --> 0:16:35.520 He loved this young man like a son, and he 0:16:35.600 --> 0:16:38.360 always wanted him to have something better. And so on 0:16:38.400 --> 0:16:42.760 this particular trip, my father brought the money personally to 0:16:42.800 --> 0:16:45.520 buy him a new home. And of course in India 0:16:45.600 --> 0:16:47.360 it's not like it is here, but it was still 0:16:47.400 --> 0:16:49.640 a whole lot of money. Now, I'll never forget how 0:16:49.720 --> 0:16:52.000 Daddy did it. Instead of just having one check to 0:16:52.040 --> 0:16:54.680 give him, he divided it up so that each of 0:16:54.760 --> 0:16:56.200 us kids that were there. 0:16:56.280 --> 0:16:57.920 Could give the man a check as well. 0:16:58.400 --> 0:17:02.040 Daddy wanted us personally to experience the joy in giving, 0:17:02.320 --> 0:17:04.240 and so one night after dinner, we went back to 0:17:04.280 --> 0:17:06.600 their little place, and Daddy began to tell them how 0:17:06.680 --> 0:17:08.800 much we loved them and what we wanted to do 0:17:08.840 --> 0:17:11.800 for their family, and he explained how this money was 0:17:11.840 --> 0:17:14.679 for them personally, to buy them a new house. And 0:17:14.720 --> 0:17:17.160 his wife and his kids were there, and Daddy handed 0:17:17.160 --> 0:17:19.520 them the check, and men, they couldn't believe it. They 0:17:19.600 --> 0:17:21.920 just wept and wept. They'd never seen money like that, 0:17:22.080 --> 0:17:24.480 not for their own use. And then each of us kids, 0:17:24.480 --> 0:17:26.440 one by one we went up and gave the men 0:17:26.560 --> 0:17:29.400 our check. And I'll never forget the impression that made 0:17:29.400 --> 0:17:32.320 on me, seeing the tears in his eyes, seeing his 0:17:32.520 --> 0:17:38.920 children weeping with joy, weeping with gratitude. All I could 0:17:38.920 --> 0:17:41.200 think about was the scripture that says it is more 0:17:41.240 --> 0:17:44.280 blessed to give than it is to receive, And that 0:17:44.480 --> 0:17:48.040 night I felt just an overwhelming sense of joy on 0:17:48.080 --> 0:17:50.680 the inside. And listen, I had bought a sports car 0:17:50.720 --> 0:17:53.000 a couple months earlier, and I was happy about that, 0:17:53.320 --> 0:17:56.080 but there was no comparison in the joy that I 0:17:56.080 --> 0:17:59.679 felt that day. You are never more like God than 0:17:59.680 --> 0:18:02.680 when you give, when you're meeting a need, when you're 0:18:02.680 --> 0:18:06.240 helping the hurting, when you're ministering to the lonely there's 0:18:06.280 --> 0:18:09.639 a joy and a satisfaction like nothing else can bring. 0:18:10.000 --> 0:18:11.720 And some of you today, no doubt you kind of 0:18:11.760 --> 0:18:14.159 like my parents. God's blessed you. You've got more than 0:18:14.200 --> 0:18:17.560 you could probably ever spend. Why don't you start investing 0:18:17.600 --> 0:18:20.560 it in others? Why don't you step out and do 0:18:20.640 --> 0:18:23.240 something out of the ordinary and maybe buy that single 0:18:23.280 --> 0:18:26.119 mom a new car. Why don't you pay the rent 0:18:26.160 --> 0:18:29.120 for that friend that's really hit some tough times. If 0:18:29.160 --> 0:18:32.000 you have the means to meet a need and you 0:18:32.160 --> 0:18:34.320 just close your heart of compassion and you kind of 0:18:34.320 --> 0:18:37.000 ignore it, Really, what you're doing is like those first 0:18:37.080 --> 0:18:39.399 two men. You're just passing by on the other side 0:18:39.400 --> 0:18:42.359 of the street. Now do what you can. And I 0:18:42.400 --> 0:18:44.520 realize there's a balance. I'm not telling you to give 0:18:44.640 --> 0:18:45.399 everything away. 0:18:45.720 --> 0:18:46.800 That's not wisdom. 0:18:47.080 --> 0:18:49.679 But if I have five coats and I see my 0:18:49.760 --> 0:18:52.439 friend out here that's cold. It's not right for me 0:18:52.480 --> 0:18:54.760 to hold on to everything that I have. And it's 0:18:54.760 --> 0:18:56.520 not right for me to say, well, brother, i'll pray 0:18:56.560 --> 0:18:58.840 for you, we'll believe you'll get one by next week. 0:18:58.880 --> 0:19:02.520 Man, I'm standing in faith. That's the biggest cop out 0:19:02.560 --> 0:19:03.400 we could ever use. 0:19:03.800 --> 0:19:07.159 The Bible says faith without actions. 0:19:06.680 --> 0:19:08.840 Backing it up is useless. 0:19:09.119 --> 0:19:11.480 If you want your faith to really work, do something 0:19:11.520 --> 0:19:14.760 good for somebody else, meet and need make a difference. 0:19:15.840 --> 0:19:18.120 This is something that Victoria and I try to do 0:19:18.240 --> 0:19:21.159 as often as we can. And really, when you do 0:19:21.240 --> 0:19:23.720 something good, you shouldn't tell people about it. Keep quiet 0:19:23.760 --> 0:19:26.000 so you'll get your reward. But I'm gonna share this 0:19:26.080 --> 0:19:27.920 example with you just to make a point. 0:19:27.960 --> 0:19:30.680 I believe God knows my heart. But the other day I. 0:19:30.600 --> 0:19:33.080 Was praying for this family down front. They just lost 0:19:33.080 --> 0:19:35.800 their mother. It was a very sad situation. All these 0:19:35.840 --> 0:19:38.280 young kids just weeping and weeping, and I could tell 0:19:38.320 --> 0:19:40.679 they didn't have too much financially. And so when they 0:19:40.680 --> 0:19:43.600 went back to their seats, I asked Michelle, my assistant, 0:19:43.840 --> 0:19:46.280 if she would ask them about the funeral. She came 0:19:46.320 --> 0:19:48.040 back and said, sure enough, Joel, they don't have any money. 0:19:48.040 --> 0:19:50.000 They don't know what they're going to do. I said, Michelle, 0:19:50.040 --> 0:19:52.000 don't make a big deal about it, but tell them 0:19:52.000 --> 0:19:54.520 that it's taken care of. That's something I thought that 0:19:54.640 --> 0:19:57.320 Victorian I can do. And sure, we have a big church, 0:19:57.480 --> 0:19:59.520 and the easy thing is to say, well, let's just let. 0:19:59.359 --> 0:20:01.359 The church do it. But no, I don't want to 0:20:01.359 --> 0:20:03.280 miss out on the joy in giving. 0:20:03.520 --> 0:20:05.920 I don't want to be another minister that passes by 0:20:06.160 --> 0:20:07.399 down the side of the street. 0:20:08.160 --> 0:20:10.439 I want to keep my heart of compassion open. 0:20:11.840 --> 0:20:14.639 I want to be on the lookout for opportunities to 0:20:14.680 --> 0:20:17.040 do good for people. As I said, you may not 0:20:17.119 --> 0:20:19.000 have a lot of extra money, but you can give 0:20:19.040 --> 0:20:21.960 your time. You can give somebody a ride, you can 0:20:21.960 --> 0:20:25.119 babysit someone's children. You got to find a need and 0:20:25.200 --> 0:20:27.919 meet it, serve God by serving one another. 0:20:28.480 --> 0:20:30.800 Too many people don't want to get involved. 0:20:31.160 --> 0:20:34.240 You may have remembered the story several years ago that 0:20:34.320 --> 0:20:36.960 happened in one of the major cities here in America. 0:20:37.440 --> 0:20:40.120 This man was going home to his apartment late at night, 0:20:40.480 --> 0:20:44.159 and he was attacked and robbed by this game. And 0:20:44.200 --> 0:20:46.439 while it was happening, he was screaming out to the 0:20:46.440 --> 0:20:49.240 top of his lungs, help me, help me. And all 0:20:49.280 --> 0:20:52.399 these people in the high rise buildings around him, they 0:20:52.440 --> 0:20:54.440 begin to open up their windows and come out on 0:20:54.480 --> 0:20:56.959 the balcony to watch what was going on. I mean, 0:20:57.000 --> 0:20:59.080 it created a big stir, and it lasted like five 0:20:59.200 --> 0:21:01.720 or ten minutes. But do you know, not one of 0:21:01.760 --> 0:21:04.960 those people did anything about it. Not one person came 0:21:05.000 --> 0:21:08.440 downstairs to help him. No one even bothered to call 0:21:08.520 --> 0:21:11.280 the police. They no doubt thought, man, we don't want 0:21:11.280 --> 0:21:14.439 to get involved. We've got enough problems. We may have 0:21:14.520 --> 0:21:16.560 to go give a police report, we may have to 0:21:16.560 --> 0:21:17.760 go to court and testify. 0:21:18.000 --> 0:21:19.679 We don't want to be inconvenienced. 0:21:20.200 --> 0:21:23.320 The amazing thing to me is nobody even bothered to 0:21:23.320 --> 0:21:25.679 pick up the phone and call an ambulance while the 0:21:25.680 --> 0:21:27.879 guy was lying down there, and he laid on the 0:21:27.880 --> 0:21:30.800 street for over one hour and ended up bleeding to death. 0:21:31.520 --> 0:21:33.960 They did an autopsy later, and the report said they 0:21:34.000 --> 0:21:36.280 could have easily spared his life if somebody would have 0:21:36.320 --> 0:21:38.359 just brought him to the hospital so they could have 0:21:38.600 --> 0:21:42.600 stopped the bleeding. Several months later this report came out. 0:21:42.840 --> 0:21:46.080 It was in the paper and thirty eight people admitted 0:21:46.119 --> 0:21:49.600 to having watched it take place, but unfortunately they just 0:21:49.680 --> 0:21:50.840 chose to pass by the. 0:21:50.800 --> 0:21:51.760 Other side of the street. 0:21:52.160 --> 0:21:54.320 Friends, Let's don't let that be you and I. I 0:21:54.400 --> 0:21:56.919 pray every day God help me to not be so 0:21:57.080 --> 0:22:01.000 focused on myself, so focused on my needs that I 0:22:01.040 --> 0:22:03.720 don't see the needs of those around me. God helped 0:22:03.720 --> 0:22:06.399 me to stay sensitive, help me to keep my heart 0:22:06.600 --> 0:22:09.720 of compassion open. And thank God, not everybody's like that. 0:22:09.760 --> 0:22:12.200 There's a lot of great people. I heard another story 0:22:12.400 --> 0:22:16.240 about this older African American woman. She was stranded beside 0:22:16.240 --> 0:22:18.639 the side of a road in the middle of a 0:22:18.720 --> 0:22:22.120 driving rainstorm. She had run over something and blown out 0:22:22.160 --> 0:22:24.240 one of her tires. This was way back in the 0:22:24.280 --> 0:22:27.680 early nineteen sixties, and it was around eleven thirty at night. 0:22:28.119 --> 0:22:31.000 She was in a rural section of Alabama. All she 0:22:31.000 --> 0:22:32.600 could do is just go out and try to flag 0:22:32.640 --> 0:22:35.960 somebody over. And about that time, this young white man 0:22:36.080 --> 0:22:39.480 came driving by. He saw the lady out there, soaking wet, 0:22:39.640 --> 0:22:42.840 so distraught, so upset. He decided to pull over and 0:22:42.880 --> 0:22:45.639 to help. And this was almost unheard of, you know, 0:22:45.680 --> 0:22:48.480 in the conflict ridden sixties. But this young man was 0:22:48.520 --> 0:22:51.399 so nice and kind and caring. He put the older 0:22:51.400 --> 0:22:53.480 woman in his own car, and in the midst of 0:22:53.480 --> 0:22:55.480 that driving rain, he got out and took her old 0:22:55.520 --> 0:22:57.920 tire off. They put it in the trunk and had 0:22:57.960 --> 0:23:00.000 to go into town. Took like three or four hours 0:23:00.200 --> 0:23:02.520 to get it fixed. In the middle of the night. They 0:23:02.520 --> 0:23:04.760 brought it back to her car, still driving rain. 0:23:04.840 --> 0:23:06.760 Didn't matter. He got out and put her new tyre on. 0:23:07.200 --> 0:23:08.080 She was ready to go. 0:23:08.520 --> 0:23:11.040 She tried and tried to pay him many many times, 0:23:11.040 --> 0:23:13.960 but he wouldn't take anything, And finally, just as he 0:23:14.040 --> 0:23:16.679 was about to leave, she said, at least let me 0:23:16.720 --> 0:23:18.640 get an address so I can send you a thank 0:23:18.680 --> 0:23:21.879 you note, and he kind of reluctantly agreed. Well, several 0:23:21.960 --> 0:23:24.600 days later, there was a knock on this young man's door, 0:23:24.960 --> 0:23:27.960 and much to his surprise, they were delivering a large 0:23:28.040 --> 0:23:31.000 color TV set. Had a note on it and said, 0:23:31.000 --> 0:23:33.920 thank you so much for your kindness the other night. 0:23:34.359 --> 0:23:37.280 Because of you, I was able to make it to 0:23:37.359 --> 0:23:41.520 my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. She 0:23:41.640 --> 0:23:44.960 went on to say thank you for so generously serving others, 0:23:45.240 --> 0:23:49.679 and it was signed missus Nat King Cole. See, you 0:23:49.760 --> 0:23:53.160 never really know who you're helping. You never know what 0:23:53.240 --> 0:23:56.440 kind of impact you're going to have. And think about, 0:23:56.480 --> 0:23:59.000 had that young man not taken the time to care, 0:24:00.160 --> 0:24:02.480 she wouldn't have been able to spend the final moments 0:24:02.800 --> 0:24:05.560 with her husband. But if we can just remember, when 0:24:05.600 --> 0:24:08.919 I serve you, I'm serving God. When I give you 0:24:08.960 --> 0:24:11.360 a ride, It's just like I'm giving God a ride 0:24:11.560 --> 0:24:13.880 when I come mow your lawn because you're not feeling well, 0:24:14.080 --> 0:24:16.520 just like I'm mowing God's law. When I give you 0:24:16.560 --> 0:24:19.119 a gift certificate to buy some new clothes, just like 0:24:19.160 --> 0:24:21.720 I'm buying God some new clothes. Well, Joe, I don't 0:24:21.760 --> 0:24:24.560 know if I believe that. No, Jesus said, when I 0:24:24.640 --> 0:24:27.520 was hungry, you fed me. When I was thirsty, you 0:24:27.560 --> 0:24:29.840 gave me something to drink. When I was in prison, 0:24:30.000 --> 0:24:32.880 you visited me. They said, Jesus, what are you talking about. 0:24:32.920 --> 0:24:35.240 We never did that. He said, sure you did, when 0:24:35.280 --> 0:24:37.080 you did it to the least of one of these, 0:24:37.520 --> 0:24:39.919 just like you're doing it under me. And the Bible 0:24:39.960 --> 0:24:44.600 talks about specific groups of people that we need to 0:24:44.640 --> 0:24:47.600 make sure that we watch after, make sure we take 0:24:47.680 --> 0:24:51.719 care of. Those groups are the widows, the orphans, and 0:24:51.760 --> 0:24:55.840 the fatherless. There's so many children today growing up in 0:24:55.880 --> 0:24:59.399 a single parent home. I read where never before in 0:24:59.440 --> 0:25:02.679 our history have there been so many fatherless children. In 0:25:02.720 --> 0:25:05.760 other words, more children are being raised without a father 0:25:05.840 --> 0:25:09.560 figure than any other time. And we men who are healthy, 0:25:10.080 --> 0:25:14.000 we men who are good fathers. We have a responsibility 0:25:14.040 --> 0:25:17.320 to God to impart into these young people, to mentor 0:25:17.400 --> 0:25:19.520 a young man, to mentor a young woman. 0:25:19.920 --> 0:25:22.320 As I said earlier, look around at the. 0:25:22.320 --> 0:25:25.640 Church, at the school, at the ball field. Maybe your 0:25:25.760 --> 0:25:28.800 child has a friend that comes from a fatherless family, 0:25:29.119 --> 0:25:31.600 or why don't you take him under your wing, take 0:25:31.680 --> 0:25:33.560 him to do things that only fathers do. 0:25:34.040 --> 0:25:35.840 I know this family in our church. 0:25:35.720 --> 0:25:38.399 The other day they were taking these two single parent 0:25:38.520 --> 0:25:42.399 sons on a camping trip with their children. These boys 0:25:42.400 --> 0:25:45.440 were so excited. They had never done anything like that before. 0:25:45.880 --> 0:25:48.920 We have to pay special attention to these groups. And 0:25:48.960 --> 0:25:51.639 I'm sure all of you know a single parent mom. 0:25:52.080 --> 0:25:54.000 We have plenty of them here at the church. We 0:25:54.119 --> 0:25:57.040 got to make sure we encourage them. Most of them, 0:25:57.080 --> 0:25:59.960 they're working night and day. They come home and cook 0:26:00.119 --> 0:26:01.760 and clean. They're struggling to make it. 0:26:01.800 --> 0:26:02.680 They're half worn out. 0:26:03.280 --> 0:26:05.120 Why don't you take the time to take them out 0:26:05.119 --> 0:26:07.639 to dinner every once in a while. Why don't you 0:26:07.680 --> 0:26:10.240 babysit her children to give her a break. If you 0:26:10.280 --> 0:26:11.760 have the money, why don't you pay a rent for 0:26:11.800 --> 0:26:15.280 a few months, do something to lighten the load. When 0:26:15.320 --> 0:26:17.280 you do it for her, it's just like you're doing 0:26:17.280 --> 0:26:20.560 it unto God. The scripture says in James one twenty 0:26:20.600 --> 0:26:24.840 seven True Worship that is pure and unblemished in the 0:26:24.920 --> 0:26:28.359 sight of God. Is to take care of the fatherless, 0:26:28.680 --> 0:26:30.600 the orphans, and the widows. 0:26:31.240 --> 0:26:31.639 I don't know. 0:26:31.720 --> 0:26:34.040 Maybe you know a widow. There's somebody you can take 0:26:34.080 --> 0:26:36.679 care of. You can help mow her law, keep her 0:26:36.760 --> 0:26:39.840 house up, run some errands for her. Do you know 0:26:39.880 --> 0:26:43.040 how many people today are lonely? Nobody comes by to 0:26:43.119 --> 0:26:46.240 check on, nobody comes by to visit. Had this lady 0:26:46.440 --> 0:26:48.280 tell me the other day, she was older, and she said, 0:26:48.320 --> 0:26:51.280 I have no relatives alive, no aunts and uncles, no 0:26:51.520 --> 0:26:54.760 sons or daughters. We've got to do our part. I 0:26:54.800 --> 0:26:57.359 was thinking about when William went to be with the Lord. 0:26:57.640 --> 0:26:59.400 He used to be the head of our prayer partners, 0:26:59.600 --> 0:27:00.760 good n a good friend. 0:27:00.760 --> 0:27:02.080 He did so much for this church. 0:27:02.119 --> 0:27:04.520 And I told Victoria, we're going to take care of 0:27:04.560 --> 0:27:08.000 his wife, Barbara. We have a responsibility. We're not going 0:27:08.080 --> 0:27:10.600 to pass by the other side of the street. And 0:27:10.720 --> 0:27:13.040 every one of you has people in your own life, 0:27:13.600 --> 0:27:16.719 a single parent mom, a single parent child, a widow, 0:27:17.040 --> 0:27:19.320 maybe in the neighborhood, may be at work. Well, what 0:27:19.359 --> 0:27:23.200 are you doing to make a difference. True worship, true religion, 0:27:23.280 --> 0:27:25.439 God says, is not just to come to church and 0:27:25.480 --> 0:27:27.800 sing and shout and have a good time, And I'm 0:27:27.840 --> 0:27:30.440 all for that. But true worship is taking care of 0:27:30.520 --> 0:27:34.200 the lonely, helping the hurting, seeing the need, and meeting 0:27:34.200 --> 0:27:39.000 that many. And I wonder what our society would be 0:27:39.119 --> 0:27:42.800 like today if every person took time to care, if 0:27:42.840 --> 0:27:45.679 each one of us would be more concerned about serving 0:27:45.760 --> 0:27:48.760 others than just wanting to be served. Why don't you 0:27:48.800 --> 0:27:50.920 make a decision with me today that you're going to 0:27:50.960 --> 0:27:53.920 be a giver and not a taker in life. After all, 0:27:53.960 --> 0:27:56.120 when you meet other people's needs, God. 0:27:55.920 --> 0:27:57.439 Will always meet your own needs. 0:27:57.960 --> 0:28:00.360 And if you're not happy today, there's a very good 0:28:00.440 --> 0:28:03.800 chance you've gotten so focused on your problems. You're so 0:28:03.960 --> 0:28:07.600 caught up in yourself that you become ingrown and that 0:28:07.720 --> 0:28:10.480 is a sure formula for misery. You have to get 0:28:10.480 --> 0:28:13.280 your mind off yourself when you get up in the morning, 0:28:13.840 --> 0:28:15.720 look for opportunities to be a blessing. 0:28:16.080 --> 0:28:18.080 When you see a need, don't wait, go to it. 0:28:18.600 --> 0:28:21.399 Get involved with your time, your energy, and your effort. 0:28:21.760 --> 0:28:23.280 If you have to your money. 0:28:23.760 --> 0:28:27.160 Remember, when you serve others, you are serving God. If 0:28:27.200 --> 0:28:29.600 you'll be sensitive to the needs around you and keep 0:28:29.600 --> 0:28:31.080 your heart of compassion open. 0:28:31.520 --> 0:28:33.399 There's no limit to what God will do in your 0:28:33.440 --> 0:28:34.000 own life. 0:28:34.320 --> 0:28:37.240 He'll pour out his blessings and favor and you'll experience 0:28:37.240 --> 0:28:38.720 the victories that He has in store. 0:28:38.760 --> 0:28:40.800 Amen, how many of you receive it today? 0:28:41.760 --> 0:28:44.600 We never like to close our broadcast without giving you 0:28:44.640 --> 0:28:47.480 an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 0:28:47.760 --> 0:28:52.040 Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I 0:28:52.200 --> 0:28:55.560 repent of my sins. Come into my heart. 0:28:56.720 --> 0:28:57.520 I make you my. 0:28:57.560 --> 0:29:01.720 Lord and savior. If you've prayed that simple prayer, we 0:29:01.800 --> 0:29:04.360 believe you got born again. Get in a good Bible 0:29:04.360 --> 0:29:07.360 based church. Keep God first place. He's going to take 0:29:07.400 --> 0:29:09.120 your places that you've never dreamed of. 0:29:09.920 --> 0:29:13.320 Thank you for listening to the Jolo's Dean podcast. Help 0:29:13.440 --> 0:29:16.160 us continue to share the message of hope with those 0:29:16.240 --> 0:29:20.160 all over the world. Visit jolostein dot com slash give 0:29:20.240 --> 0:29:21.920 Hope to give a gift today. 0:29:23.200 --> 0:29:25.640 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 0:29:25.760 --> 0:29:28.520 I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 0:29:28.560 --> 0:29:31.600 podcast to keep you inspired all through the week. 0:29:31.840 --> 0:29:34.680 We're praying for you. I know God's best is still ahead. 0:29:34.920 --> 0:29:35.960 We'll see you next time. 0:29:43.040 --> 0:29:45.040 Summer is here. And our sleep is just as important 0:29:45.080 --> 0:29:47.200 as our weekend plans. 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