Strength

July 15, 2021 | 166 | 27:29

Pastor Robert begins the A Way in the Wilderness series with a message about how God can change our wilderness into a garden by giving us strength.

#Strength #Religion #Prophecy #Provision #Garden of Eden #Worship #Work of Your Hands #Heart #Messiah #Jesus #Robert Morris #Isaiah 35:1-2 #Psalm 104:6 #2 Chronicles 26:10

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Pastor Robert Morris Ministries | Strength | July 17, 2021

PASTOR ROBERT MORRIS: Are you hearing me? Okay.
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Prayer is rolling off the burden.
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It's getting on your knees and rolling it off.
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If you go in your prayer closet, and you come out
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and you still have the burden, you didn't pray,
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you just griped.
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♪ ♪
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PASTOR ROBERT: All right, so if you want to turn in your Bibles
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to Isaiah 35, we're gonna be there for four weeks.
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Isaiah 35 is a Messianic chapter.
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You've heard of Messianic verses.
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A Messianic verse is a verse in the Old Testament,
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which Jesus called the Scriptures.
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Every time He referred to the Scriptures,
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He was referring to the Old Testament,
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the Scriptures. The Scriptures, okay.
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So, it's a Scripture that refers to the Messiah.
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That would be a Messianic verse, but there are Messianic chapters
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and Isaiah 35 is one.
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And I was simply reading through it a while back,
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and four things hit me, and Isaiah says it this way -
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this is what will happen when the Messiah comes.
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Now, it's the whole context, it doesn't use those exact words.
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But when the Messiah comes, this is what's going to happen
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to the nation of Israel, and we know
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that we've been grafted in to Israel as believers.
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And as I was reading it I saw four things,
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so I'll go through those four things.
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So, Isaiah 35:1, and the title of the series is,
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“A Way in the Wilderness,” that when the Messiah comes,
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that He's already come, He makes a way in the wilderness.
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So if you're walking through a dry season,
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He's gonna make a way for you, and there are four things
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that He is going to do, four attributes
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that Jesus brings, four blessings that He brings.
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Even though we're still living in a wilderness
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type environment in the world, we don't have to live
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in the wilderness, we can live in a garden.
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If you remember, this whole thing started in a garden.
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Adam and Eve would walk and talk with God
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in the cool of the day in the garden,
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and the very first thing the resurrected Lord did
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was walk and talk with Mary in the garden.
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Did you all hear that?
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That was better than you thought.
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That's the very first thing the resurrected Lord did.
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Isaiah 35:1, this is what's gonna happen
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when the Messiah comes, and the Messiah's come,
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so this has already happened, all right?
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“The wilderness and the wasteland,”
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the wilderness and the wasteland,
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“shall be glad,” that's amazing
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that the land's gonna be glad, “for them.”
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This is referring to the nation of Israel.
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“And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.
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It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice,
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even with joy and singing.”
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Now, let me just explain.
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Because we believe in Yeshua, we've been grafted in
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to the nation of Israel. That's you.
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What was dry, and barren, and a desert,
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and a wasteland, is now blossoming abundantly
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and rejoicing with joy and singing,
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because the Messiah has come.
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That's what that's telling us.
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And then Verse 2 goes on to say, “The glory of Lebanon
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shall be given to it, the excellence
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of Carmel and Sharon.”
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Now, Lebanon is a country now, but it was not a country then,
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so you need to know that.
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There are Bible words that we just kind of read over,
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but Lebanon was a very fruitful place
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in the northern territory of Canaan, the Promised Land.
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And if you've ever been to Israel,
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it is a garden in the middle of a wilderness.
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I mean, it's unbelievably fruitful
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in the middle of a desert. That's what it is.
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And, so let me just show you.
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Lebanon was this fertile region in northern Canaan.
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In other words, God prepared a garden for His people
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in the wilderness. Now, hear me.
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What I'm trying to get you to hear is that we may be living
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in a fallen world, but we're living in a garden
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if we're believers, and it's a beautiful garden.
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But there are ways that we can receive strength
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in this garden, because the Messiah brings strength,
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and I'll show you that in a moment. All right.
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But, anytime you want to know what a word means,
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you can go to the root of the word through the Latin
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and then into the Greek.
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That's one way, but another way is you could just look up
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that word everywhere in the Bible,
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and what you'll see is that Lebanon
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represents fertile trees, fertile soil,
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but you're gonna be surprised by this one verse
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about Lebanon, all right?
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Psalm 104:16 says, “The trees of the Lord,”
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of the Lord, “are full of sap, the cedars of Lebanon
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which He planted.”
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In other words, I'm telling you God
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planted the land of Canaan for His people.
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But in the same way, God has planted...
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He's already provided for you a rich and fertile garden
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for you to live in once you become a believer.
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So, that's what Lebanon represents, all right?
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Carmel actually means “garden land.”
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It means plentiful and beautiful cultivated soil.
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That's what the word means.
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All right, but here's a verse.
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2 Chronicles 26:10, “Also he,” and I put in
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parentheses “Josiah,” so you would know that it's Josiah.
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That's who this is talking about.
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“Built towers in the desert,” so in the wasteland.
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“He dug many wells,” so God put water there,
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even in the desert, “for he had much livestock,
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both in the lowlands and in the plains;
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he also had farmers and vinedressers,”
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you've got to have plenty of water for that,
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“in the mountains and in Carmel, for he loved the soil.”
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So again, this is telling us about this wilderness,
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and it's a place where God Himself planted trees
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and made the soil fertile. Are you all following me?
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I know this is some history, but I want you to smile more
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than you're smiling right now, I want you to get --
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because I get excited about this.
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All of this refers to stuff! Then he talks about Sharon.
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Sharon refers to the beauty of the bride of Christ.
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Go to the Song of Solomon. Think about this.
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You've heard this Scripture, Song of Solomon 2:1.
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“I am the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valley.”
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That is the Shulamite woman and she represents the church,
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the Christ -- I mean the bride of Christ.
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And then, here's an other Scripture again
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about that it's a garden, it's a place of fertility.
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Isaiah 65:10, “Sharon shall be a fold of flocks,
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a place for herds to lie down.”
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Do you see what I'm saying?
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So, that's why God uses these words,
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because they mean something, but we come along
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and read them and we don't know what they mean,
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unless you study the Bible.
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So if you ever come across a word that you think,
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I don't know what that means, look it up everywhere else
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in the Bible and you'll find verses like this, all right?
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So, now let me get to strength.
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Verses 3 and 4 of Isaiah 35, “Strengthen the weak hands,”
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I want you to notice “hands,” “make firm the feeble knees.
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Say to those who are fearful-hearted,”
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so you've got hands, knees, and heart, “Be strong, do not fear!
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Behold, your God will come with vengeance,
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with the recompense of God; He will come and save you.”
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Yeshua means “God saves.” Okay?
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So, again this is saying the Messiah will come,
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and He's gonna do this when He comes, but remember,
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He already has come. Does everyone follow me?
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So when He comes, He brings strength.
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Hands could represent what you do,
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knees could represent where you walk,
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and your heart could represent how you think, because,
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“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”
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So, let me say it again.
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He's going to strengthen your hands.
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Would it be okay if God strengthened whatever you do,
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whatever He's called you to do, if He gave you strength?
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Well, I'm telling you it's available.
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If He strengthened where you walk,
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and if He strengthened how you think.
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So, what we're gonna do is we're gonna take hands,
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knees, and heart, and I'm gonna show you extremely,
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extremely practical ways to strengthen your hands,
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your knees, and your heart. All right?
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Are you all as excited as I am about this message?
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You better be.
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You better be excited now, all right? Okay.
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All right, so Isaiah 35:3, “Strengthen the weak hands.”
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Hands refer to worship.
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If you want to strengthen what you do,
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you're going to have to become a worshipper.
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Nehemiah 8:6, “And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God.
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Then all the people answered, 'Amen,'
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while lifting up their hands.
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And they bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord
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with their faces to the ground.”
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Okay, so I'm gonna go real simple here for a moment,
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and we're gonna talk about one element of worship
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that has freaked many people out...
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...lifting hands.
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Has anyone ever gone to a church where you got freaked out?
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Now, you may not be freaked out anymore,
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or you might have been freaked out today.
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That's okay, ‘cause I was freaked out the first time
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I saw it, too. All right?
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The only problem is you don't get freaked out
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when people do it at the football game,
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but we get freaked out when they do it at church.
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So, I came up with four excuses that I've heard of why people
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don't lift their hands in church
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and I'm gonna answer each of them with a Scripture,
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‘cause His opinion matters more than your opinion.
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Excuse number one, I'll lift my hands
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when I get to heaven. I've heard that.
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That's just not my personality.
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Again, I'd like to see you in a football game, sir.
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I'll lift my hands when I get to heaven.
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Psalms 63:4, “Thus I will bless You while I live.
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I will lift up my hands in Your name.”
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So, don't wait till you get to heaven.
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That's the Bible. All right?
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Here's excuse number two I've heard -
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Pastor, I lift my heart up.
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[Laughter]
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Lamentations 3:41, “Let us lift our hearts
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and hands to God in heaven.” [Laughter and applause]
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I'm the last person you want to play Bible trivia with.
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[Laughter]
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Excuse number three, the Bible doesn't specifically
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tell us to lift our hands in church.
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Psalm 134:2, “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary
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and bless the Lord.”
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[Applause]
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Let's just do it! Just lift them!
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That's what the Bible said!
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Excuse number four -
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well, those are Old Testament Scriptures.
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[Laughter]
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1 Timothy 2:8, “I desire therefore
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that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands.”
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It's in the Bible. So, but, I understand.
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I was an evangelist when I was young.
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I was a Baptist evangelist, and I don't mean that wrong.
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I have nothing negative to say about the Baptists, all right?
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But, we didn't lift hands in church,
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except when we were voting people out.
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[Laughter] That's the only reason we...
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When we were voting a pastor out.
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I'm in favor of that, you know, so.
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All right, but I remember I was going to a Baptist church.
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It was a Baptist church, but we were having revival,
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and you've got to watch out
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when you're having a revival, you know?
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And we had this worship pastor, and a few people in the choir
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would lift their hands, and a few people in church,
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but we figured they were visitors, but it was okay.
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But I was sitting, like right down here on the second row,
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and no one was on the front row.
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I don't know if it was reserved or what,
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but I was right there, you know?
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And I was staff evangelist, so I went out
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and did revivals and crusades, so everybody knew who I was.
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And the worship pastor said...
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Of course, I don't know if he was called worship pastor,
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he might have been called music leader, you know.
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I don't know. But he said, “You know what?
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On this last chorus, let's just all lift our hands
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as we sing this.”
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And I remember thinking, let's not all lift our hands
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while we sing this.
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But everybody did, and so this is what I did.
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[Laughter]
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I remember that, but I also remember
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the first time I thought, you know,
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I got saved in a motel room and I don't care
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what anybody thinks.
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I'm gonna stand like this in church.
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[Applause]
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And I am going to give Him the praise He deserves from me,
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no matter what anybody thinks.
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So, if you want to strengthen your walk
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with God, learn to worship.
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Learn to express your worship to God.
00:14:36.824 --> 00:14:37.892
Here's number two, knees.
00:14:37.892 --> 00:14:40.395
Isaiah 35 said, “Make firm the feeble knees.”
00:14:40.395 --> 00:14:43.398
Knees refer to prayer.
00:14:43.398 --> 00:14:45.500
If you're not physically able to kneel,
00:14:45.500 --> 00:14:47.335
that doesn't mean you can't pray,
00:14:47.335 --> 00:14:48.870
so please don't --
00:14:48.870 --> 00:14:50.538
I'm just saying in the Bible it refers to prayer, okay?
00:14:50.538 --> 00:14:53.007
1 Kings 8:54, “And so it was,
00:14:53.007 --> 00:14:56.711
when Solomon had finished praying
00:14:56.711 --> 00:14:59.447
all this prayer and supplication to the Lord,”
00:14:59.447 --> 00:15:02.383
watch, “that he arose from before the altar of the Lord,
00:15:02.383 --> 00:15:06.454
from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.”
00:15:06.454 --> 00:15:14.162
1 Thessalonians 5:17, I'm gonna skip down a little bit.
00:15:14.162 --> 00:15:18.466
1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Never stop praying.”
00:15:18.466 --> 00:15:24.172
Never stop praying.
00:15:24.172 --> 00:15:25.239
Philippians 4:6, “Be anxious for nothing.”
00:15:25.239 --> 00:15:28.977
How could you be anxious for nothing?
00:15:28.977 --> 00:15:31.612
The very next part tells you,
00:15:31.612 --> 00:15:33.648
“In everything by prayer and supplication,
00:15:33.648 --> 00:15:36.384
with thanksgiving, let your requests
00:15:36.384 --> 00:15:37.986
be made known to God.”
00:15:37.986 --> 00:15:40.154
That's the only way you're ever going to learn
00:15:40.154 --> 00:15:41.522
to get over anxiety.
00:15:41.522 --> 00:15:43.458
You know, the problem is that we think about things,
00:15:43.458 --> 00:15:46.627
and we think about things, and we think about them,
00:15:46.627 --> 00:15:49.030
and the more we think about them, the more anxious
00:15:49.030 --> 00:15:51.766
and the more worried we get.
00:15:51.766 --> 00:15:54.535
But if we'd pray about it...
00:15:54.535 --> 00:15:56.804
Okay, so let me explain something to you
00:15:56.804 --> 00:15:57.939
about prayer, okay?
00:15:57.939 --> 00:15:59.574
I'm going to read you a Scripture that you've heard,
00:15:59.574 --> 00:16:03.478
that again, when you go to the root of a word,
00:16:03.478 --> 00:16:07.215
it's wonderful once you find out what it means.
00:16:07.215 --> 00:16:09.984
Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit,” I want you to notice
00:16:09.984 --> 00:16:13.921
this word, “commit,” “your works to the Lord
00:16:13.921 --> 00:16:16.657
and your thoughts will be established.”
00:16:16.657 --> 00:16:19.560
The word “commit,” it's a Hebrew word, it's “galal.”
00:16:19.560 --> 00:16:25.800
It's in the... it's obviously Old Testament
00:16:25.800 --> 00:16:27.035
because it's Hebrew, 18 times.
00:16:27.035 --> 00:16:31.105
11 of those times it is not translated “commit,”
00:16:31.105 --> 00:16:35.943
it is translated “roll away.”
00:16:35.943 --> 00:16:39.947
Prayer is rolling off the burden.
00:16:39.947 --> 00:16:44.252
It's getting on your knees and rolling it off.
00:16:44.252 --> 00:16:47.522
If you go into your prayer closet...
00:16:47.522 --> 00:16:49.357
I heard Pastor Jimmy Evans say this,
00:16:49.357 --> 00:16:51.192
so I want to take credit for it, but I can't.
00:16:51.192 --> 00:16:53.361
Pastor Jimmy said it this way.
00:16:53.361 --> 00:16:55.229
He said, “If you go in your prayer closet,
00:16:55.229 --> 00:16:57.632
and you come out and you still have the burden,
00:16:57.632 --> 00:16:59.967
you didn't pray, you just griped.”
00:16:59.967 --> 00:17:02.670
[Laughter]
00:17:02.670 --> 00:17:05.106
‘Cause prayer is rolling off the burden,
00:17:06.074 --> 00:17:08.776
but here's what we do, and I've shared this before,
00:17:08.776 --> 00:17:11.813
but it bears sharing it again.
00:17:11.813 --> 00:17:13.281
We say, “Lord, I can't carry this anymore,
00:17:13.281 --> 00:17:16.084
it's too heavy for me.
00:17:16.084 --> 00:17:17.251
I'm just gonna lay it at Your feet, Lord.
00:17:17.251 --> 00:17:19.921
I'm just gonna lay it at Your feet.
00:17:19.921 --> 00:17:21.556
I'm gonna leave it at Your feet, Lord.
00:17:21.556 --> 00:17:22.957
I'm just gonna lay it at Your feet.”
00:17:22.957 --> 00:17:30.631
“Well, if You're just gonna sit there.”
00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:33.534
[Laughter]
00:17:33.534 --> 00:17:38.339
Sheep were never designed to carry burdens.
00:17:39.273 --> 00:17:45.746
You have never heard anyone say I'm going on a safari
00:17:45.746 --> 00:17:50.485
and I need to rent some pack sheep.
00:17:50.485 --> 00:17:53.621
[Laughter]
00:17:53.621 --> 00:17:56.224
You are designed to carry burdens
00:17:56.958 --> 00:17:59.827
only to the feet of Jesus,
00:17:59.827 --> 00:18:02.130
and you're not even designed to walk with them.
00:18:02.130 --> 00:18:03.498
You're designed, that when it puts on you,
00:18:03.498 --> 00:18:05.099
you just turn around and lay it at His feet.
00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:06.934
That's as far as you can carry a burden right there.
00:18:06.934 --> 00:18:09.737
That's what prayer does.
00:18:09.737 --> 00:18:11.105
That's how your knees are strengthened.
00:18:11.105 --> 00:18:13.674
And here's number three, hearts.
00:18:13.674 --> 00:18:16.711
Isaiah 35:4, “Say to those who are fearful-hearted,”
00:18:16.711 --> 00:18:22.450
notice what the heart does when it's not given over to God.
00:18:22.450 --> 00:18:26.554
Fear comes in and takes over.
00:18:26.554 --> 00:18:28.356
But it says, “Say to those, “Be strong, do not fear!”
00:18:28.356 --> 00:18:31.826
Okay, this term, “Be strong,”
00:18:31.826 --> 00:18:33.361
is in the Bible more than you think,
00:18:33.361 --> 00:18:35.029
and it's spiritual fathers to spiritual sons.
00:18:35.029 --> 00:18:38.232
Joshua - you've heard, “Be strong and of good courage,”
00:18:38.232 --> 00:18:42.703
or “Be strong and very courageous.”
00:18:42.703 --> 00:18:44.372
What you may not know is Joshua heard it seven times,
00:18:44.372 --> 00:18:48.376
so I'm gonna do it quickly for you.
00:18:48.376 --> 00:18:49.644
Three times Moses said it, three times God said it,
00:18:49.644 --> 00:18:53.247
and then one time the children of Israel said it to him.
00:18:53.247 --> 00:18:55.750
So, Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and of good courage.”
00:18:55.750 --> 00:18:58.920
This is Moses, talking to Joshua.
00:18:58.920 --> 00:19:01.222
31:7, “Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight
00:19:01.222 --> 00:19:04.225
of all Israel, 'Be strong and of good courage.'”
00:19:04.225 --> 00:19:07.828
Deuteronomy 31:23, “Then He inaugurated,”
00:19:07.828 --> 00:19:10.932
or laid His hands on, “Joshua the son of Nun, and said,
00:19:10.932 --> 00:19:13.434
'Be strong and of good courage.'"
00:19:13.434 --> 00:19:15.136
In Joshua 1, God shows up and says Moses is dead.
00:19:15.136 --> 00:19:19.340
Moses is dead, you're the leader now.
00:19:19.340 --> 00:19:21.008
Verse 6, He says, “But be strong and of good courage.”
00:19:21.008 --> 00:19:24.178
Verse 7, “Be strong and very courageous.”
00:19:24.178 --> 00:19:26.681
Verse 9, “Have I not commanded you,
00:19:26.681 --> 00:19:29.250
be strong and of good courage?”
00:19:29.250 --> 00:19:31.052
Then Joshua shares with all of Israel
00:19:31.052 --> 00:19:33.287
what the Lord said to him, and they answered him, Verse 17.
00:19:33.287 --> 00:19:36.691
“Just as we heeded Moses in all things,
00:19:36.691 --> 00:19:38.693
so we will heed you.
00:19:38.693 --> 00:19:40.261
Only be strong and of good courage.”
00:19:40.261 --> 00:19:43.531
Personally, if I was Joshua, by now I'd have thought,
00:19:43.531 --> 00:19:46.601
I wonder what's up ahead of me.
00:19:46.601 --> 00:19:48.336
[Laughter]
00:19:48.336 --> 00:19:50.171
But here's what God was doing, and here's what they were doing,
00:19:50.171 --> 00:19:53.407
and this is how you be strong.
00:19:53.407 --> 00:19:55.309
Moses was putting a word in his heart.
00:19:55.309 --> 00:20:00.514
What he was saying was you're going to win,
00:20:00.514 --> 00:20:03.784
you just have to be strong, and you have to be courageous.
00:20:03.784 --> 00:20:06.921
Don't fear. You're going to win.
00:20:06.921 --> 00:20:09.857
God is going to give you this Promised Land.
00:20:09.857 --> 00:20:11.892
He was putting the word of God in his heart.
00:20:11.892 --> 00:20:14.128
All right, David told Solomon, on his death bed,
00:20:14.128 --> 00:20:19.567
“I go the way of all the earth.” This is 1 Kings 2:2.
00:20:19.567 --> 00:20:23.271
“Be strong therefore, and prove yourself a man.”
00:20:23.271 --> 00:20:26.807
Paul told Timothy, in 2 Timothy 2:1,
00:20:26.807 --> 00:20:29.944
and 2 Timothy is the last book he wrote.
00:20:29.944 --> 00:20:32.947
He's gonna be dead in less than two years.
00:20:32.947 --> 00:20:36.284
“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace
00:20:36.284 --> 00:20:40.021
that is in Christ Jesus.” So, how do you be strong?
00:20:40.021 --> 00:20:43.157
Well, look at that verse one more time.
00:20:43.157 --> 00:20:45.259
“Be strong in the grace that's in Christ Jesus.”
00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:49.630
So, it's not your own strength.
00:20:49.630 --> 00:20:51.499
It's not by might, it's not by power,
00:20:51.499 --> 00:20:54.502
it's by the Spirit of the Lord. Right?
00:20:54.502 --> 00:20:57.672
So, how do you become strong?
00:20:57.672 --> 00:21:00.608
Listen to me carefully.
00:21:00.608 --> 00:21:02.109
You get the word in your heart.
00:21:02.109 --> 00:21:04.945
You get the word in your heart,
00:21:04.945 --> 00:21:06.881
because when you have a word from God,
00:21:06.881 --> 00:21:09.183
it doesn't matter what comes against you.
00:21:09.183 --> 00:21:10.885
You think, God already told me this.
00:21:10.885 --> 00:21:13.020
God told me that this was going to happen.
00:21:13.020 --> 00:21:15.556
But if you don't have a word, then you get fearful,
00:21:15.556 --> 00:21:18.859
and then all of these thoughts go through your mind.
00:21:18.859 --> 00:21:20.961
So, get the Word in your heart.
00:21:20.961 --> 00:21:22.330
Deuteronomy 6:6, “And these words which I command you today
00:21:22.330 --> 00:21:25.066
shall be in your heart.”
00:21:25.066 --> 00:21:26.600
Deuteronomy 11:18, “Therefore you shall lay up
00:21:26.600 --> 00:21:28.936
these words of Mine in your heart.”
00:21:28.936 --> 00:21:31.038
Psalm 119:11, very famous, “Your word I've hidden in my heart.”
00:21:31.038 --> 00:21:35.276
It goes on to say, “that I might not sin against You.”
00:21:35.276 --> 00:21:37.411
Now, let me show you.
00:21:37.411 --> 00:21:38.979
There are a lot of verses in the New Testament
00:21:38.979 --> 00:21:41.515
that are also in the Old Testament.
00:21:41.515 --> 00:21:43.250
So, let me show you one.
00:21:43.250 --> 00:21:44.685
Ephesians 4:26, have you ever heard this Scripture?
00:21:44.685 --> 00:21:47.555
“Be angry and do not sin.”
00:21:47.555 --> 00:21:50.358
Have you ever heard that Scripture?
00:21:50.358 --> 00:21:51.459
“Be angry and do not sin.”
00:21:51.459 --> 00:21:53.627
Okay, and then it says, “Don't let the sun
00:21:53.627 --> 00:21:55.396
go down on your wrath.”
00:21:55.396 --> 00:21:56.464
Okay, watch this, Old Testament, Psalm 4:4.
00:21:56.464 --> 00:22:00.601
“Be angry and do not sin.” How do you do that, though?
00:22:00.601 --> 00:22:05.973
“Meditate within your heart on your bed and be still.”
00:22:05.973 --> 00:22:10.711
I didn't have time to go all through
00:22:10.711 --> 00:22:12.713
all of the Scriptures, but, “The man who meditates
00:22:12.713 --> 00:22:15.449
on the word of God day and night,
00:22:15.449 --> 00:22:17.051
everything he does will prosper.”
00:22:17.051 --> 00:22:19.186
“A man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly,
00:22:19.186 --> 00:22:21.522
but he walks uprightly, he meditates on the word of God,
00:22:21.522 --> 00:22:25.059
and he will have good success.”
00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:26.460
It's over, and over, and over in the Bible.
00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:29.430
You meditate on the word of God.
00:22:29.430 --> 00:22:31.332
So, meditate means to think on, all right?
00:22:31.332 --> 00:22:34.635
So, let me just say this.
00:22:34.635 --> 00:22:36.737
Have you ever awakened in the middle of the night
00:22:36.737 --> 00:22:39.740
and started thinking about something
00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:42.243
and couldn't go back to sleep?
00:22:42.243 --> 00:22:44.378
Am I the only one that's ever happened to?
00:22:44.378 --> 00:22:46.781
And has that happened to anybody else?
00:22:46.781 --> 00:22:48.282
Has that happened to you? Okay.
00:22:48.282 --> 00:22:51.085
Let me tell you what you do when that happens.
00:22:51.085 --> 00:22:53.654
You meditate on the word of God.
00:22:53.654 --> 00:22:56.857
So, I woke up one night, could not go back to sleep.
00:22:56.857 --> 00:23:00.060
Thinking, thinking, thinking about a problem I had,
00:23:00.060 --> 00:23:03.531
trying to figure it out, and the Lord said to me,
00:23:03.531 --> 00:23:06.834
“Stop it,” just like that. “Stop it.”
00:23:06.834 --> 00:23:11.672
And He said, “Start speaking the word.”
00:23:11.672 --> 00:23:14.942
So, now I didn't do it out loud, because Debbie
00:23:14.942 --> 00:23:17.511
was still sleeping wonderfully,
00:23:17.511 --> 00:23:19.013
so I didn't want to bother her, but I just started
00:23:19.013 --> 00:23:22.183
quoting a Scripture that I've memorized over the years.
00:23:22.183 --> 00:23:24.718
So, I started quoting Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd.”
00:23:24.718 --> 00:23:31.292
And I remember stopping, thinking,
00:23:31.292 --> 00:23:34.261
the Lord is my Shepherd.
00:23:34.261 --> 00:23:37.631
What in the world am I worried about?
00:23:37.631 --> 00:23:40.134
I shall not want for anything.
00:23:40.134 --> 00:23:42.169
The Lord is my Shepherd.
00:23:42.169 --> 00:23:43.771
And I started going through, and before I could get
00:23:43.771 --> 00:23:47.041
through the Psalm, I went back to sleep.
00:23:47.041 --> 00:23:50.744
And, I had a dream, and when I woke up,
00:23:50.744 --> 00:23:56.584
I had the solution to the problem.
00:23:56.584 --> 00:23:58.819
[Applause]
00:23:58.819 --> 00:24:00.788
God spoke to me, just like that.
00:24:00.788 --> 00:24:05.192
I'm telling you, I know these sound simple.
00:24:05.192 --> 00:24:08.996
I know they sound simple.
00:24:08.996 --> 00:24:12.299
Worship, pray, and read the word,
00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:17.905
and the Messiah will strengthen you.
00:24:17.905 --> 00:24:21.175
That's where strength comes from.
00:24:21.175 --> 00:24:22.943
PASTOR ROBERT: Isn't it amazing that no matter how long
00:24:23.043 --> 00:24:25.379
we've known the Lord, we still go through
00:24:25.379 --> 00:24:28.048
wilderness seasons?
00:24:28.048 --> 00:24:29.483
And yet, in the wilderness God provides strength,
00:24:29.483 --> 00:24:35.289
and I've given you three simple ways to strengthen yourself.
00:24:35.289 --> 00:24:40.461
That's with your hands, your knees, and your heart.
00:24:40.461 --> 00:24:44.231
In other words, lifting your hands in worship,
00:24:44.231 --> 00:24:46.700
but not just your hands, obviously -
00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:48.836
entering into His presence.
00:24:48.836 --> 00:24:50.938
That is bowing before Him, kneeling before Him in prayer,
00:24:50.938 --> 00:24:54.875
and that is meditating in your heart on the word of God -
00:24:54.875 --> 00:24:59.313
worship, prayer, and the word.
00:24:59.313 --> 00:25:02.216
I want to encourage you, whatever wilderness
00:25:02.216 --> 00:25:04.184
you're going through right now, spend time worshipping God,
00:25:04.184 --> 00:25:07.955
spend time in prayer, and spend time in His word,
00:25:07.955 --> 00:25:11.692
and watch God provide strength in the middle of the wilderness.
00:25:11.692 --> 00:25:18.098
Hey, I love you so much.
00:25:18.098 --> 00:25:19.733
I'm gonna continue this series next time.
00:25:19.733 --> 00:25:22.002
See you then.
00:25:22.002 --> 00:25:23.671
ANNOUNCER: We're so glad you joined us for today's program
00:25:24.972 --> 00:25:27.575
as Pastor Robert shares a message from his series,
00:25:27.575 --> 00:25:30.411
“A Way in the Wilderness.”
00:25:30.411 --> 00:25:32.146
Taken from the book of Isaiah, Pastor Robert explains
00:25:32.146 --> 00:25:35.115
how God's people forfeited His protection and blessings
00:25:35.115 --> 00:25:38.786
when they forgot about Him and went their own way.
00:25:38.786 --> 00:25:41.221
Isaiah prophesied the arrival of a Messiah
00:25:41.221 --> 00:25:44.291
who would make a way in the wilderness,
00:25:44.291 --> 00:25:46.360
and bring a dry, barren, and desolate land
00:25:46.360 --> 00:25:48.996
back to life again.
00:25:48.996 --> 00:25:50.598
Pastor Robert shows us how Jesus is the fulfillment
00:25:50.598 --> 00:25:53.434
of Isaiah's prophecies about the coming Messiah;
00:25:53.434 --> 00:25:56.170
and because we have placed our hope and trust in Jesus,
00:25:56.170 --> 00:25:58.939
He transforms our wilderness into a lush garden
00:25:58.939 --> 00:26:01.809
overflowing with abundance.
00:26:01.809 --> 00:26:03.877
We want you to have a copy of this life changing series
00:26:03.877 --> 00:26:06.647
to watch again or to share with friends.
00:26:06.647 --> 00:26:09.283
We'll send it you on CD or as digital download
00:26:09.283 --> 00:26:12.553
for your gift of any amount today.
00:26:12.553 --> 00:26:14.588
Additionally, for your gift of $55 or more,
00:26:14.588 --> 00:26:17.558
we'll send you "A Way in the Wilderness" on both CD and DVD.
00:26:17.558 --> 00:26:21.829
You can also order "A Way in the Wilderness"
00:26:21.829 --> 00:26:24.031
as either an audio or video digital download
00:26:24.031 --> 00:26:26.700
at PastorRobert.com.
00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:28.802
Be sure to call or visit us online today
00:26:28.802 --> 00:26:31.038
to order these resources.
00:26:31.038 --> 00:26:33.140
We'd also love to hear about what God is doing in your life
00:26:33.140 --> 00:26:35.843
as a result of applying these truths from His word.
00:26:35.843 --> 00:26:38.779
Be sure to visit us online at PastorRobert.com
00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:41.782
to share your stories with us and to let us know
00:26:41.782 --> 00:26:43.884
about any prayer needs you may have.
00:26:43.884 --> 00:26:45.753
We look forward to hearing from you, and as always,
00:26:45.753 --> 00:26:48.489
thank you for your generous support
00:26:48.489 --> 00:26:49.690
of Pastor Robert Morris Ministries.
00:26:49.690 --> 00:26:53.627
♪ ♪
00:26:53.894 --> 00:27:01.035
ANNOUNCER: You feel it.
00:27:01.635 --> 00:27:03.003
Inside you beats a heart for ministry.
00:27:03.003 --> 00:27:05.806
A sense that you're called to serve God in a greater way.
00:27:05.806 --> 00:27:10.044
But perhaps, you feel stuck, not knowing how to get
00:27:10.044 --> 00:27:12.780
from where you are to that envisioned place.
00:27:12.780 --> 00:27:16.116
Let The King's University Online be the bridge to your calling.
00:27:16.116 --> 00:27:19.720
Under the stewardship of Gateway Church,
00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:22.189
TKU is equipping Christ-like servant leaders
00:27:22.189 --> 00:27:24.858
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
00:27:24.858 --> 00:27:27.061
Imagine what could happen if you took the first step.
00:27:27.061 --> 00:27:27.061

Strength

July 15, 2021 | 166 | 27:29

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