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Rick Warren

Rick Warren - When God Tests You With Success (Part 3)

August 24, 2025 | S25 E34 | 28:30

Rick Warren - When God Tests You With Success (Part 3)
Pastor Rick shares biblical truth and practical tools for living the full life God desires for everyone.
#inActive #Christianity #Testing #Success #Purpose #RelationshipwithGod #WalkwithGod

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Rick Warren | Rick Warren - When God Tests You With Success (Part 3) | August 24, 2025
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Pastor rick warren: human beings are the only animal that god
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  • Created that when you pat them on the back, their head swells.
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  • So, we want to talk about the danger of pride and arrogance
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  • And ego when you're successful because it's easy to forget god.
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  • This is just as much a test as all the tough times you go
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  • Through, and it's one that we often don't understand.
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  • But daniel chapter 4 tells us how king nebuchadnezzar, that
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  • We've been looking at for several weeks now, literally
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  • Lost everything because of his pride, his arrogance, and
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  • His ego.
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  • And so, his life just collapses in a very public and humiliating
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  • Way, and we see it all the time.
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  • In fact, the news love to cover this kind of stuff.
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  • But god has mercy on nebuchadnezzar.
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  • And after this period of humiliation, whether it's two
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  • And a half years or a couple years or seven years, we don't
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  • Know, he restored his mind.
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  • And i want you to see now the steps nebuchadnezzar took back
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  • To sanity.
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  • First, look up to god.
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  • Look up to god.
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  • And the bible says in daniel 4:34, "at this time--after this
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  • Time had passed," you know, when he had lost his mind, "i,
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  • Nebuchadnezzar," he's given the testimony.
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  • This chapter is his testimony.
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  • "i, nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven and my sanity returned."
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  • Literally, it says in the hebrew, "he lifted up his eyes
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  • To heaven."
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  • Do you need to do that today?
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  • The second thing he did is he woke up.
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  • Here's the second step.
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  • Wake up to god's greatness and start worshiping.
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  • Wake up to god's greatness, not your own greatness, but god's
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  • Greatness, and start worshiping him.
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  • Worship just means focus on god.
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  • Verse 34.
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  • Nebuchadnezzar says, "my sanity returned, and i praised and
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  • Worshiped the most high," that's god, "and i honored the one who
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  • Lives forever."
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  • This is the second step to recovery.
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  • "my sanity returned when i started praising and worshiping
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  • And, you know, being grateful for the things god has done in
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  • My life."
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  • Now, i want you to write this down.
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  • I don't know what bad thing you're going through right now,
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  • But i will tell you this, we get better when we replace pride
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  • With praise.
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  • We get better in any area of our lives when we replace pride in
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  • Ourselves with praise to god.
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  • Are they gonna just think, "hey, look how cool we are, i am," or,
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  • "look how cool god is.
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  • He--i would not have any of this if it weren't for god."
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  • You know, about 1000 years before this event, this happened
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  • About 2500 years ago.
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  • 1000 years before this event, moses said the same thing to the
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  • Jews who were coming out of 400 years slavery in egypt.
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  • God had promised for generations, "i'm gonna save
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  • You, and i'm gonna take you out of slavery from egypt, and i'm
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  • Gonna give you a land of your own.
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  • It's called the promised land, and it's a cool place."
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  • And they spent 40 years walking across the desert where god
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  • Tests them many times.
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  • And moses is actually more afraid of the success in the
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  • Promised land than he is of the slavery in egypt.
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  • He's much more worried.
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  • He said, "i'm afraid you guys are gonna stop depending on god
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  • When things are going good, when you're in the gravy years of
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  • Your life."
  • 00:03:53.649 --> 00:03:55.050
  • And so, he says this, he gives this warning before they go into
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  • The promised land.
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  • Deuteronomy 8:2, "remember how god led you through the
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  • Wilderness these past forty years," he's talking to the jews
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  • Who have been enslaved and then freed.
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  • "he humbled you," while you're out there in the wilderness, "by
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  • Letting you go hungry."
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  • You know, sometimes god humbles you by letting you go hungry.
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  • You're hungry for a relationship you don't have.
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  • You're hungry for a need or a job or something that you
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  • Don't have.
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  • And god lets you go hungry in order to humble you.
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  • He said, "he humbled you," and he said, "he tested you with
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  • Hardships many times," we're all familiar with that, "to test
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  • Your character and to see if you will obey
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  • Whatever he commands you to do."
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  • Will you obey god when things aren't going good?
  • 00:04:45.634 --> 00:04:48.136
  • "now," he says, here comes the other test, the test of success,
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  • "now god is bringing you into a good land," this is the promised
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  • Land, "a land with plenty of water," you're gonna have all
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  • You want, "with bountiful crops, with orchards full of fruit,
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  • With abundant copper and iron in the ground," so you can build
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  • Your tools, make your tools, "and you will lack nothing!"
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  • Your bank account will be big enough.
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  • You're not worried about paying your bills anymore.
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  • So, he says, "when you're full and you're satisfied and you're
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  • Prospering praise the lord,
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  • Praise the lord with gratitude
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  • For all he has given you!"
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  • The attitude of gratitude is the first line of defense against
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  • Falling into ego and arrogance.
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  • The more grateful you are, the more humble you will be.
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  • The more prideful you are, the less grateful you are.
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  • So he says, "praise god," and remember, you got two choices
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  • When things are going good and you're like, "praise god," or be
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  • Proud of myself.
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  • He says, "when you're full and satisfied, be grateful to god."
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  • "but," he says, "be careful," this is a warning, danger will
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  • Robinson, warning, "that you do not forget the lord and that you
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  • Continue always to obey every command of god!"
  • 00:06:06.047 --> 00:06:08.850
  • It's so easy to forget god when things are going good.
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  • "otherwise when you have built your fine houses and your gold
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  • And silver have multiplied," in other words, you got money in
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  • The bank, your stock portfolio is doing good, "your heart will
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  • Become proud," here's praise and pride contrasted, "and you will
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  • Forget that it was god who saved
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  • And delivered you out of your slavery
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  • And gave all this to you!"
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  • Have you forgotten that?
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  • "and when you become successful, do not think, 'i did this all by
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  • My own strength and i became rich by my own power,'" you
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  • Know, "look how cool i am.
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  • I'm entrepreneur of the year."
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  • "instead remember that it is god, your lord, who gives you
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  • The ability and strength to produce wealth!"
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  • Those guys, those of you who are entrepreneurs, you need to write
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  • That verse down and put it in your car and on your desk and in
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  • Your mirror that it is god who gives you the ability and
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  • Strength to produce wealth.
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  • That is a gift from god.
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  • That is a gift from god and you need to thank him for it.
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  • He says, "i warn you: if you ever forget god and you begin
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  • Turning things into idols that you worship," i turned my car
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  • Into an idol and i worship it, i turned my boat into--
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  • I turned my career--i turned things that we've created into
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  • Idols instead of worshiping the creator of everything.
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  • He says, "i warn you: if you ever forget god and begin
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  • Turning things into idols that you worship, god will destroy it
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  • All and your nation, just as he has destroyed other nations
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  • Before you who forgot god."
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  • I don't know another verse on the bible that is needed by
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  • America than that verse right now.
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  • Our nation has forgotten god.
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  • Let's just remember, this nation was founded by believers,
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  • Christians who came to america, they were called pilgrims, to
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  • Start a new country, a new land where they could worship
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  • God freely.
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  • They came for religious reasons.
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  • They were called pilgrims.
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  • They're the pilgrim fathers of this church.
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  • And for 300 years, the bible was taught in every single classroom
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  • In america for 300 years.
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  • It's only been taken out of schools about the past 75 years.
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  • And we've forgotten god.
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  • And i shudder to think what could happen to our nation, to
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  • Our country.
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  • What is he saying here?
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  • Success is dangerous.
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  • He's saying, "be careful.
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  • There is a danger when you experience the blessing of god."
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  • You see, let me just put this in perspective for you.
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  • Your greatest test in life, not maybe when you lose your job,
  • 00:09:03.491 --> 00:09:07.529
  • But when you get a new job.
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  • And all of a sudden you're so involved in it, you forget god
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  • And church and worship and service and ministry, and all
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  • These other things.
  • 00:09:17.272 --> 00:09:19.107
  • Your greatest spiritual test in life may not be when you go into
  • 00:09:19.107 --> 00:09:22.544
  • Debt, but when you get a raise and you go out and you buy some
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  • Stuff to keep you from thinking about god because you're so
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  • Busy, you know, out.
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  • You say, "look, we're--this weekend we're not going to
  • 00:09:32.754 --> 00:09:34.122
  • Church, we're gonna do recreation.
  • 00:09:34.122 --> 00:09:35.457
  • We're gonna wreck creation at the lake, at the beach, at
  • 00:09:35.457 --> 00:09:40.528
  • The river.
  • 00:09:40.528 --> 00:09:41.863
  • We're gonna go wreck creation."
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  • And so, you get a raise.
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  • Let me just tell you, here's what you do.
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  • When god blesses your life, you welcome it.
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  • Thank you god for this blessing.
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  • You celebrate god's blessing in your life.
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  • You celebrate the successes, but then you get on your knees and
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  • You're humble yourself and say, "god, i realized i wouldn't have
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  • Any of this if it weren't for you.
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  • I could have been born in sudan, or biafra, pakistan, myanmar.
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  • I could be a homeless kid on the streets somewhere.
  • 00:10:13.428 --> 00:10:16.498
  • I didn't choose when and where i was born, i didn't choose my
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  • Natural giftedness, i didn't choose my talents, i didn't
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  • Choose the freedoms that i have to excel.
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  • It all comes from you, god."
  • 00:10:24.139 --> 00:10:27.575
  • And you humble yourselves.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: if you want to live a life full of purpose and
  • 00:10:41.222 --> 00:10:43.958
  • Joy, then you need to transform the way you think.
  • 00:10:43.958 --> 00:10:47.662
  • And to help you do this, pastor rick created a brand new set of
  • 00:10:47.662 --> 00:10:51.433
  • Scripture cards with 52 hand selected verses from his series
  • 00:10:51.433 --> 00:10:56.438
  • "rethinking your life."
  • 00:10:56.438 --> 00:10:58.673
  • These verses will guide you into
  • 00:10:58.673 --> 00:11:00.508
  • A deeper understanding of your
  • 00:11:00.508 --> 00:11:02.377
  • Purpose and faith, and you'll
  • 00:11:02.377 --> 00:11:04.045
  • Find yourself gaining the strength
  • 00:11:04.045 --> 00:11:06.181
  • To overcome temptation
  • 00:11:06.181 --> 00:11:08.116
  • And conquer discouragement
  • 00:11:08.116 --> 00:11:09.784
  • When you allow god's word to transform your mind.
  • 00:11:09.784 --> 00:11:13.288
  • You'll see your life through his eyes, apply his wisdom, and step
  • 00:11:13.288 --> 00:11:17.659
  • Into a life of purpose and joy.
  • 00:11:17.659 --> 00:11:20.361
  • This set of beautifully designed cards will help you memorize
  • 00:11:20.361 --> 00:11:23.898
  • Scripture so you can recall god's word when you need it
  • 00:11:23.898 --> 00:11:27.368
  • The most.
  • 00:11:27.368 --> 00:11:28.703
  • And today, when you give a gift to help
  • 00:11:28.703 --> 00:11:30.939
  • "daily hope" take the hope of jesus
  • 00:11:30.939 --> 00:11:33.475
  • To a world in need, we'll send you
  • 00:11:33.475 --> 00:11:35.977
  • The "rethinking your life"
  • 00:11:35.977 --> 00:11:37.412
  • Scripture card set to say thanks.
  • 00:11:37.412 --> 00:11:40.148
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:11:40.515 --> 00:11:47.222
  • Pastor rick: now, while nebuchadnezzar is going through
  • 00:11:49.357 --> 00:11:52.727
  • This recovery, he learns four things about god.
  • 00:11:52.727 --> 00:11:55.396
  • He wants to tell the whole world about it.
  • 00:11:55.396 --> 00:11:57.298
  • And the next four statements i want you to write down because
  • 00:11:57.298 --> 00:12:00.235
  • These are statements that will stabilize your life whether
  • 00:12:00.235 --> 00:12:03.805
  • You're going through success or suffering, doesn't matter.
  • 00:12:03.805 --> 00:12:06.508
  • Good times or bad times, you need to always remember these
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  • Four things that god is in control.
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  • Write these down.
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  • Four things nebuchadnezzar says about god that he learned in
  • 00:12:12.647 --> 00:12:16.584
  • His fall.
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  • Number one, god's kingdom will outlast everything i do.
  • 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:22.624
  • God's kingdom will outlast everything i do.
  • 00:12:22.624 --> 00:12:27.695
  • So, if you want to make a lasting impact with your life,
  • 00:12:27.695 --> 00:12:32.634
  • Bet on the kingdom of god.
  • 00:12:32.634 --> 00:12:34.736
  • Your career is not going to last, but the kingdom of god is
  • 00:12:34.736 --> 00:12:39.874
  • Gonna last forever.
  • 00:12:39.874 --> 00:12:41.376
  • Verse 34, "god's rule is everlasting, and his kingdom
  • 00:12:41.376 --> 00:12:45.380
  • Is eternal!"
  • 00:12:45.380 --> 00:12:46.748
  • That's why jesus said, "seek first," make your number one
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  • Priority, "the kingdom of god, and all this other stuff that
  • 00:12:49.450 --> 00:12:52.887
  • You need," the passion, the pleasure, the position, "and all
  • 00:12:52.887 --> 00:12:56.491
  • The stuff you need, it'll be taken care of."
  • 00:12:56.491 --> 00:12:58.660
  • "seek first the kingdom of god and all these things will be
  • 00:12:58.660 --> 00:13:00.695
  • Added unto you."
  • 00:13:00.695 --> 00:13:02.063
  • So, make your number one priority something that's
  • 00:13:02.063 --> 00:13:04.265
  • Gonna last.
  • 00:13:04.265 --> 00:13:05.600
  • Not my career, not my reputation, but god's kingdom.
  • 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:08.369
  • Build your life on god's kingdom.
  • 00:13:08.369 --> 00:13:10.171
  • It's far more important than your career.
  • 00:13:10.171 --> 00:13:12.740
  • God didn't put you here just for your career.
  • 00:13:12.740 --> 00:13:15.610
  • So, he says, "i learned god's kingdom is gonna outlast
  • 00:13:15.610 --> 00:13:18.246
  • Everything i do."
  • 00:13:18.246 --> 00:13:19.581
  • Second thing he learned was this, god's approval matters
  • 00:13:19.581 --> 00:13:21.416
  • More than all the others.
  • 00:13:21.416 --> 00:13:23.852
  • Everybody else may disapprove of me, but if god approves of me,
  • 00:13:23.852 --> 00:13:26.721
  • It doesn't really matter.
  • 00:13:26.721 --> 00:13:28.056
  • You only need one person's approval, god's.
  • 00:13:28.056 --> 00:13:30.992
  • If god likes you and you like you, it doesn't matter what
  • 00:13:30.992 --> 00:13:33.161
  • Anybody else thinks.
  • 00:13:33.161 --> 00:13:34.629
  • You don't need other people's approval to be happy, you just
  • 00:13:34.629 --> 00:13:37.332
  • Need god's approval.
  • 00:13:37.332 --> 00:13:39.367
  • In verse 35 it says, "all the people on the earth are nothing
  • 00:13:39.367 --> 00:13:42.670
  • Compared to him."
  • 00:13:42.670 --> 00:13:44.038
  • Who do you want--when you die, who do you want saying,
  • 00:13:44.038 --> 00:13:47.775
  • "good job"?
  • 00:13:47.775 --> 00:13:49.143
  • The people around you or god?
  • 00:13:49.143 --> 00:13:51.379
  • "you made your life count."
  • 00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:52.714
  • Who do you want to say that?
  • 00:13:52.714 --> 00:13:54.082
  • God or just a bunch of people?
  • 00:13:54.082 --> 00:13:56.150
  • Third thing he learned, god's power is absolute.
  • 00:13:56.150 --> 00:14:00.989
  • Which means he's big enough for any problem you're going to face
  • 00:14:05.226 --> 00:14:09.030
  • In your success.
  • 00:14:09.030 --> 00:14:10.398
  • Verse 35 and 37.
  • 00:14:10.398 --> 00:14:12.967
  • Nebuchadnezzar says this, "he," god, "has the power to do
  • 00:14:12.967 --> 00:14:16.437
  • Whatever he pleases.
  • 00:14:16.437 --> 00:14:18.339
  • He can do it among the angels of heaven, and he can do it with
  • 00:14:18.339 --> 00:14:21.175
  • Those who live on earth," okay?
  • 00:14:21.175 --> 00:14:22.644
  • His power is absolute.
  • 00:14:22.644 --> 00:14:24.112
  • "no one can stop him or challenge him, or even question
  • 00:14:24.112 --> 00:14:28.316
  • What he does.
  • 00:14:28.316 --> 00:14:30.351
  • And those who walk in pride he is able to humble."
  • 00:14:30.351 --> 00:14:35.990
  • And nebuchadnezzar would have said, "and i'm exhibit a, okay?
  • 00:14:35.990 --> 00:14:41.696
  • I was the most prideful man on the planet, and god humbled me."
  • 00:14:41.696 --> 00:14:46.634
  • Now look at verse--the next verse, verse 36.
  • 00:14:46.634 --> 00:14:50.038
  • Yeah, 36.
  • 00:14:50.038 --> 00:14:51.372
  • "so when god restored my sanity, he also gave me back my honor
  • 00:14:51.372 --> 00:14:56.511
  • And kingdom."
  • 00:14:56.511 --> 00:14:57.845
  • This is true, this is what happened.
  • 00:14:57.845 --> 00:14:59.981
  • "and all my leaders returned to me, and my kingdom became
  • 00:14:59.981 --> 00:15:04.986
  • Greater than ever!"
  • 00:15:04.986 --> 00:15:07.255
  • He said, "all my leaders returned to me, and my kingdom
  • 00:15:07.255 --> 00:15:10.091
  • Became greater than ever!
  • 00:15:10.091 --> 00:15:11.426
  • So now i praise and i exalt and i glorify," that's called
  • 00:15:11.426 --> 00:15:15.563
  • Worship, "the king of heaven," that's god.
  • 00:15:15.563 --> 00:15:19.233
  • He said, "i'm a king, but he's the king of heaven because
  • 00:15:19.233 --> 00:15:22.070
  • Everything he does," god does, "is always right, it's always
  • 00:15:22.070 --> 00:15:26.541
  • True, and it's always fair."
  • 00:15:26.541 --> 00:15:28.576
  • Now that means, here's the fourth thing he learned, write
  • 00:15:28.576 --> 00:15:30.278
  • It down, god never makes any mistakes.
  • 00:15:30.278 --> 00:15:33.748
  • We do, but he doesn't.
  • 00:15:33.748 --> 00:15:36.451
  • We don't understand why everything's happening, but we
  • 00:15:36.451 --> 00:15:39.721
  • Do--he does, and we don't have to understand.
  • 00:15:39.721 --> 00:15:43.257
  • I'm sure the people in babylon said, "wait a minute, we got a
  • 00:15:43.257 --> 00:15:45.560
  • Leader who went insane for seven years.
  • 00:15:45.560 --> 00:15:50.131
  • Well, god's still in control."
  • 00:15:50.131 --> 00:15:51.933
  • All these things are saying god is in control.
  • 00:15:51.933 --> 00:15:56.204
  • So, what does he do?
  • 00:15:56.204 --> 00:15:57.638
  • He looks up to god and then he wakes up to his greatness and
  • 00:15:57.638 --> 00:16:03.311
  • His--he's in control and he worships god.
  • 00:16:03.311 --> 00:16:05.980
  • And then the third thing that the king did, you need to do
  • 00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:08.616
  • This when you're going through a failure, he looked up, he woke
  • 00:16:08.616 --> 00:16:11.986
  • Up, and then he spoke up about his recovery.
  • 00:16:11.986 --> 00:16:14.922
  • Tell others how god has saved and changed me.
  • 00:16:14.922 --> 00:16:19.360
  • Tell others how god has saved and changed me.
  • 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:25.733
  • Now, i love the fact that this is a pretty humiliating
  • 00:16:25.733 --> 00:16:28.870
  • Experience to be the most important man in the planet--on
  • 00:16:28.870 --> 00:16:32.006
  • The planet, and now you're, as i said, out there drooling in the
  • 00:16:32.006 --> 00:16:35.410
  • Desert, and you can't even put sentences together.
  • 00:16:35.410 --> 00:16:39.013
  • He's not shy, he's not embarrassed about his fall.
  • 00:16:39.013 --> 00:16:42.183
  • He's not embarrassed about how god restored him.
  • 00:16:42.183 --> 00:16:44.852
  • In fact, he tells the entire world.
  • 00:16:44.852 --> 00:16:47.055
  • He'll tell anybody who listens.
  • 00:16:47.055 --> 00:16:49.090
  • And the bible says this, "king nebuchadnezzar sent a letter to
  • 00:16:49.090 --> 00:16:53.828
  • The people of every race and nation and language throughout
  • 00:16:53.828 --> 00:16:58.599
  • The world," by the way, that letter, it's this chapter.
  • 00:16:58.599 --> 00:17:02.370
  • It's--this is his story, this is his story.
  • 00:17:02.370 --> 00:17:06.641
  • This, by the way, is nebuchadnezzar's celebrate
  • 00:17:06.641 --> 00:17:09.844
  • Recovery story.
  • 00:17:09.844 --> 00:17:11.946
  • It's his testimony.
  • 00:17:11.946 --> 00:17:13.514
  • If nebuchadnezzar were here today, he'd stand up and he'd
  • 00:17:13.514 --> 00:17:16.317
  • Say, "hi, my name is nebuchadnezzar.
  • 00:17:16.317 --> 00:17:18.619
  • I'm a believer who struggles with pride."
  • 00:17:18.619 --> 00:17:22.990
  • You realize nebuchadnezzar is gonna be in heaven.
  • 00:17:22.990 --> 00:17:27.462
  • You're gonna meet him there.
  • 00:17:27.462 --> 00:17:28.996
  • This babylonian king is gonna be there because he became a
  • 00:17:28.996 --> 00:17:32.700
  • Believer and a worshiper of the one true god.
  • 00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:34.902
  • He's gonna be there in heaven.
  • 00:17:34.902 --> 00:17:36.637
  • You can meet him.
  • 00:17:36.637 --> 00:17:38.406
  • And he says, "i wrote this letter to the leaders of all the
  • 00:17:38.406 --> 00:17:41.809
  • World throughout the--every nation."
  • 00:17:41.809 --> 00:17:43.478
  • He said this, "may you prosper!"
  • 00:17:43.478 --> 00:17:45.113
  • That's how he starts his letter.
  • 00:17:45.113 --> 00:17:46.848
  • "i want to tell you about the wonderful miracles that god has
  • 00:17:46.848 --> 00:17:50.685
  • Done for me!"
  • 00:17:50.685 --> 00:17:52.019
  • And then he tells his story to all the leaders of the world
  • 00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:54.689
  • Through a letter.
  • 00:17:54.689 --> 00:17:56.023
  • Imagine like getting a letter from the king of the greatest
  • 00:17:56.023 --> 00:17:57.892
  • Empire telling you his testimony.
  • 00:17:57.892 --> 00:18:00.361
  • He told other people.
  • 00:18:03.898 --> 00:18:05.233
  • He woke up, he looked up, he spoke up and he looked up, and
  • 00:18:05.233 --> 00:18:08.503
  • He woke up, and he spoke up.
  • 00:18:08.503 --> 00:18:11.472
  • Now, let me ask you a question, has god done anything for you?
  • 00:18:11.472 --> 00:18:18.179
  • Has god saved you from anything?
  • 00:18:18.179 --> 00:18:22.216
  • Has he shown his grace to you in any way?
  • 00:18:22.216 --> 00:18:25.887
  • Have you been changed by god in any way?
  • 00:18:25.887 --> 00:18:30.958
  • Then who are you telling?
  • 00:18:30.958 --> 00:18:35.897
  • Are you telling anybody how good god has been to you?
  • 00:18:35.897 --> 00:18:43.671
  • "well, no."
  • 00:18:39.233 --> 00:18:45.006
  • Why not?
  • 00:18:45.006 --> 00:18:46.340
  • Why have you not told your story to anybody else?
  • 00:18:46.340 --> 00:18:49.944
  • Well, you know, be kind of embarrassing to do that.
  • 00:18:49.944 --> 00:18:53.414
  • That's called pride.
  • 00:18:53.414 --> 00:18:57.051
  • That's your problem.
  • 00:18:57.051 --> 00:18:58.419
  • That's the very problem this--that got this guy
  • 00:18:58.419 --> 00:19:00.054
  • In trouble.
  • 00:19:00.054 --> 00:19:01.389
  • When you are saying, "well, i don't wanna talk about god with
  • 00:19:01.389 --> 00:19:03.691
  • My friends or the people i work with," that's called pride.
  • 00:19:03.691 --> 00:19:07.929
  • It's saying, "i'm embarrassed to say god has been good to me.
  • 00:19:07.929 --> 00:19:11.933
  • I'm embarrassed to talk about how he's changed my life."
  • 00:19:11.933 --> 00:19:14.802
  • That's pride.
  • 00:19:14.802 --> 00:19:16.771
  • You need to think about that one.
  • 00:19:20.541 --> 00:19:24.579
  • We need to tell the whole world, if god has helped you, one of
  • 00:19:24.579 --> 00:19:27.448
  • The ways you show your humility is by telling us.
  • 00:19:27.448 --> 00:19:30.051
  • Who have you invited to church recently?
  • 00:19:30.051 --> 00:19:31.953
  • Who have you ever brought to church?
  • 00:19:31.953 --> 00:19:33.588
  • Who have you ever said, "hey, look, god did something for me,
  • 00:19:33.588 --> 00:19:35.756
  • I need to tell you about it."
  • 00:19:35.756 --> 00:19:37.425
  • That's an act of gratitude.
  • 00:19:37.425 --> 00:19:40.761
  • You know, the whole story that we've just looked at today boils
  • 00:19:40.761 --> 00:19:44.498
  • Down to god is god and you're not.
  • 00:19:44.498 --> 00:19:46.701
  • He's in control.
  • 00:19:46.701 --> 00:19:48.035
  • And when you remember that, whether you're in success or
  • 00:19:48.035 --> 00:19:50.304
  • You're in suffering, it's gonna keep you stable and keep you
  • 00:19:50.304 --> 00:19:53.741
  • Humble and keep you from falling.
  • 00:19:53.741 --> 00:19:55.409
  • You won't forget god.
  • 00:19:55.409 --> 00:19:57.144
  • Let's bow our heads for prayer.
  • 00:19:57.144 --> 00:20:00.214
  • So, god, i don't want to get complacent and comfortable in
  • 00:20:00.214 --> 00:20:03.451
  • My life.
  • 00:20:03.451 --> 00:20:06.120
  • I want to pay attention to the warning signs.
  • 00:20:06.120 --> 00:20:11.225
  • And i wanna stop putting off what i know to do is right.
  • 00:20:11.225 --> 00:20:14.595
  • I don't wanna procrastinate anymore.
  • 00:20:14.595 --> 00:20:18.966
  • I want to humble myself before you.
  • 00:20:18.966 --> 00:20:22.470
  • I first take this step.
  • 00:20:22.470 --> 00:20:24.038
  • I look up to god.
  • 00:20:24.038 --> 00:20:27.275
  • Some of you, this is the first time you've ever done this.
  • 00:20:27.275 --> 00:20:29.777
  • Say, "god, for the first time i'm looking up to you.
  • 00:20:29.777 --> 00:20:32.480
  • I've looked to myself and everybody else for the solution,
  • 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:36.450
  • But i'm saying today, you are god and i'm not.
  • 00:20:36.450 --> 00:20:41.789
  • And i'm sorry for the times i've acted like it.
  • 00:20:41.789 --> 00:20:44.959
  • You know what's best and i don't."
  • 00:20:44.959 --> 00:20:48.596
  • Say, "god, i wanna wake up to your greatness and i want to
  • 00:20:48.596 --> 00:20:53.267
  • Start worshiping you.
  • 00:20:53.267 --> 00:20:54.635
  • I wanna focus on you, not my problems, not my pain, and not
  • 00:20:54.635 --> 00:21:01.142
  • Even my successes.
  • 00:21:01.142 --> 00:21:05.279
  • I wanna replace pride in my life with praise.
  • 00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:09.483
  • I want to stop focusing on me and focus on you.
  • 00:21:09.483 --> 00:21:14.722
  • I want to recommit myself to being at worship.
  • 00:21:14.722 --> 00:21:18.326
  • Nothing's more important than me getting to know you because god,
  • 00:21:18.326 --> 00:21:22.530
  • Your kingdom's gonna outlast everything i do.
  • 00:21:22.530 --> 00:21:26.701
  • I want my impact to last.
  • 00:21:26.701 --> 00:21:30.204
  • And what you're doing is far more lasting than my own career
  • 00:21:30.204 --> 00:21:33.841
  • Or anything else.
  • 00:21:33.841 --> 00:21:35.176
  • And god, forgive me for worrying about the approval of
  • 00:21:35.176 --> 00:21:38.913
  • Other people.
  • 00:21:38.913 --> 00:21:40.981
  • Help me to remember, i don't need their approval to be happy.
  • 00:21:40.981 --> 00:21:44.885
  • That your approval is all that really matters.
  • 00:21:44.885 --> 00:21:49.657
  • Help me to remember that your power is the absolute, that you
  • 00:21:49.657 --> 00:21:52.693
  • Are in control, that history is your story, and you're bigger
  • 00:21:52.693 --> 00:21:59.133
  • Than any problem i'm gonna face.
  • 00:21:59.133 --> 00:22:03.371
  • And i'm gonna trust you.
  • 00:22:03.371 --> 00:22:04.939
  • I'm gonna trust you because god, i believe you never make
  • 00:22:04.939 --> 00:22:07.575
  • Any mistakes.
  • 00:22:07.575 --> 00:22:09.176
  • You're always true, just, loving, and right.
  • 00:22:09.176 --> 00:22:16.350
  • And then lord, help me to tell other people, forgive me for my
  • 00:22:16.350 --> 00:22:20.588
  • Shyness, my cowardice, my embarrassment.
  • 00:22:20.588 --> 00:22:25.926
  • Lord, if i'm truly humble, i'm gonna tell other people all the
  • 00:22:25.926 --> 00:22:29.029
  • Good you've done for me.
  • 00:22:29.029 --> 00:22:31.932
  • Help me to tell others how you've saved me and you've
  • 00:22:31.932 --> 00:22:34.468
  • Changed me."
  • 00:22:34.468 --> 00:22:37.772
  • If you've never invited jesus christ to be the lord, the
  • 00:22:37.772 --> 00:22:40.875
  • Manager, the ceo of your life, say, "god, i open my life to
  • 00:22:40.875 --> 00:22:44.011
  • You today.
  • 00:22:44.011 --> 00:22:45.346
  • Jesus christ, you become the manager of my life.
  • 00:22:45.346 --> 00:22:48.949
  • And i want your plan and purpose for me, not the one that i've
  • 00:22:48.949 --> 00:22:52.486
  • Been trying to go on.
  • 00:22:52.486 --> 00:22:56.424
  • And i humbly ask you to help me to live with an attitude of
  • 00:22:56.424 --> 00:23:00.127
  • Gratitude, realizing that everything comes from you.
  • 00:23:00.127 --> 00:23:05.666
  • And i pray this in your name, amen."
  • 00:23:05.666 --> 00:23:09.270
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:23:09.336 --> 00:23:17.845
  • Pastor rick: one of the greatest joys of my day is reading
  • 00:23:17.845 --> 00:23:20.281
  • Letters from our listeners.
  • 00:23:20.281 --> 00:23:21.882
  • It truly is inspiring to see how god is working in your lives,
  • 00:23:21.882 --> 00:23:26.387
  • And it encourages me just as much as i hope to encourage you.
  • 00:23:26.387 --> 00:23:31.659
  • So today, i want to share a note from heather who has been
  • 00:23:31.659 --> 00:23:35.429
  • Discovering the incredible benefits of studying god's word
  • 00:23:35.429 --> 00:23:38.632
  • Every day.
  • 00:23:38.632 --> 00:23:40.000
  • Heather wrote to me.
  • 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:41.335
  • She said, "hi, pastor rick.
  • 00:23:41.335 --> 00:23:42.670
  • A friend of mine recently sent me your podcast, and i've been
  • 00:23:42.670 --> 00:23:46.073
  • Feeling lost and helpless, and i didn't--i wasn't sure what to
  • 00:23:46.073 --> 00:23:49.076
  • Pray or how to pray or when to pray, and it's like i hit a wall
  • 00:23:49.076 --> 00:23:52.513
  • And i haven't been sure how to get back on track.
  • 00:23:52.513 --> 00:23:55.349
  • Well, your message really spoke truth to me and it made me
  • 00:23:55.349 --> 00:24:00.421
  • Realize the missing pieces i had in my life because i was not in
  • 00:24:00.421 --> 00:24:05.559
  • God's word daily.
  • 00:24:05.559 --> 00:24:07.761
  • I was basically living my life without god, and i was trying to
  • 00:24:07.761 --> 00:24:10.664
  • Do everything on my own.
  • 00:24:10.664 --> 00:24:12.733
  • Well, pastor rick, it goes without saying that doing life
  • 00:24:12.733 --> 00:24:15.269
  • Without god has been miserable failure.
  • 00:24:15.269 --> 00:24:18.239
  • So, thank you for stirring the holy spirit in my heart with the
  • 00:24:18.239 --> 00:24:22.309
  • Words that i needed to hear.
  • 00:24:22.309 --> 00:24:25.045
  • I have now made the commitment to read god's word every day and
  • 00:24:25.045 --> 00:24:28.449
  • To pray daily, and i even started praying in the car as i
  • 00:24:28.449 --> 00:24:32.019
  • Go about my day just like you.
  • 00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:33.787
  • It's hard for me to close my eyes and not fall asleep."
  • 00:24:33.787 --> 00:24:37.458
  • You were listening, but please keep doing what you're doing and
  • 00:24:37.458 --> 00:24:40.628
  • Reaching people who really need to hear about jesus and
  • 00:24:40.628 --> 00:24:43.030
  • God's love.
  • 00:24:43.030 --> 00:24:44.832
  • Well, heather, i am so glad to hear that you're back in god's
  • 00:24:44.832 --> 00:24:48.869
  • Word and that you're making it a part of your daily life.
  • 00:24:48.869 --> 00:24:52.206
  • There really isn't anything more important than deepening your
  • 00:24:52.206 --> 00:24:54.542
  • Relationship with him, and i love the fact that you are
  • 00:24:54.542 --> 00:24:57.778
  • Praying every day, especially while keeping your eyes open
  • 00:24:57.778 --> 00:25:01.315
  • While you're driving.
  • 00:25:01.315 --> 00:25:03.717
  • Do you or somebody know or even feel lost yourself like heather
  • 00:25:03.717 --> 00:25:10.491
  • Once did?
  • 00:25:10.491 --> 00:25:12.126
  • Well, the best way to find hope and strength is by staying
  • 00:25:12.126 --> 00:25:14.295
  • Connected to god every day.
  • 00:25:14.295 --> 00:25:15.696
  • That's the purpose of "daily hope" and that's why i started
  • 00:25:15.696 --> 00:25:18.766
  • It to help people like heather dive into god's word and
  • 00:25:18.766 --> 00:25:22.536
  • Experience his encouragement on a daily basis.
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  • Now our "daily hope" devotionals and our podcasts are completely
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  • Free and they're delivered straight to your inbox
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  • Every morning.
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  • So, if you're not getting these, sign up today and start each day
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  • With biblical wisdom and encouragement from god's word.
  • 00:25:41.288 --> 00:25:45.526
  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: if you want to live a life full of purpose and
  • 00:25:52.666 --> 00:25:55.402
  • Joy, then you need to transform the way you think.
  • 00:25:55.402 --> 00:25:59.106
  • And to help you do this, pastor rick created a brand new set of
  • 00:25:59.106 --> 00:26:02.876
  • Scripture cards with 52 hand selected verses from his series
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  • "rethinking your life."
  • 00:26:07.881 --> 00:26:10.117
  • These verses will guide you into
  • 00:26:10.117 --> 00:26:11.952
  • A deeper understanding of your
  • 00:26:11.952 --> 00:26:13.821
  • Purpose and faith, and you'll
  • 00:26:13.821 --> 00:26:15.489
  • Find yourself gaining the strength
  • 00:26:15.489 --> 00:26:17.625
  • To overcome temptation
  • 00:26:17.625 --> 00:26:19.560
  • And conquer discouragement
  • 00:26:19.560 --> 00:26:21.228
  • When you allow god's word to transform your mind.
  • 00:26:21.228 --> 00:26:24.732
  • You'll see your life through his eyes, apply his wisdom, and step
  • 00:26:24.732 --> 00:26:29.103
  • Into a life of purpose and joy.
  • 00:26:29.103 --> 00:26:31.805
  • This set of beautifully designed cards will help you memorize
  • 00:26:31.805 --> 00:26:35.342
  • Scripture so you can recall god's word when you need it
  • 00:26:35.342 --> 00:26:38.812
  • The most.
  • 00:26:38.812 --> 00:26:40.147
  • And today, when you give a gift to help
  • 00:26:40.147 --> 00:26:42.383
  • "daily hope" take the hope of jesus
  • 00:26:42.383 --> 00:26:44.918
  • To a world in need, we'll send you
  • 00:26:44.918 --> 00:26:47.421
  • The "rethinking your life"
  • 00:26:47.421 --> 00:26:48.856
  • Scripture card set to say thanks.
  • 00:26:48.856 --> 00:26:51.592
  • ♪♪♪
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  • ♪♪♪
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