Mike Novotny - Forgotten Blessings

February 12, 2026 | 27:29

Time of Grace teaches tough topics in an approachable and relatable way, making the Bible clear and understandable for those who need encouragement in their walks of faith and for those who don’t yet know Jesus at all.

#SpiritualGrowth #Blessing #SeekGod #TrustGod #MikeNovotny

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Time Of Grace With Mike Novotny | Mike Novotny - Forgotten Blessings | February 12, 2026

♪ ♪
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>> how blessed
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>> how blessed do you feel right now?
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Do you feel right now? now, sometimes on social media,
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Now, sometimes on social media, people will, you know,
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People will, you know, post a picture
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Post a picture of something great
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Of something great and add a hashtag blessed.
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And add a hashtag blessed. if your life right now
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Or your week that you just
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Or your week that you just had was a twitter post,
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Had was a twitter post, would you slap a hashtag
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Would you slap a hashtag blessed on the end of it?
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Blessed on the end of it? when you're praying to god,
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When you're praying to god, you know, the first thing that
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You know, the first thing that comes out of your mouth is it,
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Comes out of your mouth is it, you know, a request
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You know, a request for something you really want
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For something you really want or you're just so moved
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Or you're just so moved by what he has already given?
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By what he has already given? or, to put it another way,
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Or, to put it another way, if you had to pick
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If you had to pick a number between
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A number between zero and a hundred,
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Zero and a hundred, zero being i'm totally cursed,
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Zero being i'm totally cursed, god's mad and getting
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God's mad and getting back at me,
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Back at me, and a hundred is
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And a hundred is i can't imagine
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I can't imagine being more blessed.
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Being more blessed. what number would you pick?
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What number would you pick? let's actually do that, huh?
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Let's actually do that, huh? do you have a pen in your hand,
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Do you have a pen in your hand, a piece of paper to write on?
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A piece of paper to write on? if you had to pick,
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If you had to pick, be totally understand.
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Be totally understand. this is just for you.
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This is just for you. between zero and a hundred,
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Between zero and a hundred, how blessed do you feel
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How blessed do you feel right now compared
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Right now compared to yesterday or a year ago?
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To yesterday or a year ago? what number would you pick?
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What number would you pick? now, as you think
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Now, as you think about your number,
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About your number, i should maybe define
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I should maybe define what i think a blessing is.
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What i think a blessing is. i was trying to give
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I was trying to give a simple definition.
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A simple definition. if you're taking notes,
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If you're taking notes, write this down.
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Write this down. i think a blessing is just
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I think a blessing is just something good that comes
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Something good that comes from god, right?
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From god, right? something good,
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Something good, something that brings
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Something that brings you happiness,
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You happiness, something you're grateful for.
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Something you're grateful for. but it's not just like you saw
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But it's not just like you saw 20 bucks laying on the ground.
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20 bucks laying on the ground. it's not a coincidence
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It's not a coincidence or an accident.
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Or an accident. if you believe that something
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If you believe that something actually came from a god
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Actually came from a god who knows you and wants
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Who knows you and wants to do something good for you,
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To do something good for you, that's what it means
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That's what it means to be blessed.
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To be blessed. so, back to your number.
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So, back to your number. as you think about you and god,
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As you think about you and god, the good things he's given,
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The good things he's given, maybe the things
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Maybe the things he hasn't yet given,
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He hasn't yet given, i wonder what number you picked?
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I wonder what number you picked? real quick, can i ask?
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Real quick, can i ask? did anyone here pick a number
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Did anyone here pick a number greater than fifty
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Greater than fifty out of a hundred?
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Out of a hundred? yeah.
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Yeah. anyone hit 70?
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Anyone hit 70? you feel that blessed?
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You feel that blessed? few less hands.
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Few less hands. anyone hit 80?
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Anyone hit 80? some hands go down.
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Some hands go down. a lot of people feeling blessed.
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A lot of people feeling blessed. i want to tell you
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I want to tell you my goal today,
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My goal today, by the time i say amen,
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By the time i say amen, it's to take whatever number
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It's to take whatever number you had and to make it bigger.
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You had and to make it bigger. my goal is at least five
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My goal is at least five if not ten points.
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If not ten points. and obviously,
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And obviously, i'm not going to be able
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I'm not going to be able to fix your health.
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To fix your health. we don't have piles of money
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We don't have piles of money sitting in the church lobby
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Sitting in the church lobby to fix your financial situation.
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To fix your financial situation. there's maybe complications
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There's maybe complications in your family,
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In your family, in your body,
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In your body, maybe something in this nation.
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Maybe something in this nation. i don't have a button to change.
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I don't have a button to change. so, what i want to try to do is
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So, what i want to try to do is to shift your mindset
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To shift your mindset and open your eyes
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And open your eyes to some really, really
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To some really, really good things
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Good things that god gives that
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That god gives that we don't often think about.
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We don't often think about. i found out through
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I found out through a quick bible search
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A quick bible search that there are 389 separate
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That there are 389 separate bible passages that use
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Bible passages that use words like blessing,
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Words like blessing, blessed, or bless.
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Blessed, or bless. three hundred and one of them
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Three hundred and one of them are in the old testament.
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Are in the old testament. and if you'd read all 301
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And if you'd read all 301 of those verses
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Of those verses in the old testament,
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In the old testament, you would find out
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You would find out that almost all of them
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That almost all of them are about physical things.
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Are about physical things. all right, it's about food,
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All right, it's about food, it's about health,
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It's about health, it's about wealth,
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It's about wealth, it's about fertility,
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It's about fertility, it's about family.
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It's about family. the old testament wants us
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The old testament wants us to remember it's
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To remember it's not just spiritual
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Not just spiritual and eternal things.
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And eternal things. if god has done anything good
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If god has done anything good for you that you can see,
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For you that you can see, or hear, or taste,
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Or hear, or taste, or touch,
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Or touch, he wants you to count those
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He wants you to count those blessings because he's throwing
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Blessings because he's throwing open the floodgates of heaven
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Open the floodgates of heaven to show his love to you.
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To show his love to you. in fact, the proof is on
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In fact, the proof is on the first page of the bible.
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The first page of the bible. i believe the first example
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I believe the first example of the word bless in
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Of the word bless in all the scriptures is
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From genesis 1:28
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From genesis 1:28 where it says,
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Where it says, "god blessed them,"
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"god blessed them," that's adam and eve,
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That's adam and eve, "and he said,
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"and he said, 'be fruitful and increase
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'be fruitful and increase in number.'"
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So, i think it's
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So, i think it's accurate biblical scholarship
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Accurate biblical scholarship to say the first blessing was?
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To say the first blessing was? making babies.
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Making babies. [laughing]
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[laughing] not to be too pg-13 here,
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Not to be too pg-13 here, but god says if he's given
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But god says if he's given you the gift of intimacy,
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You the gift of intimacy, if intimacy leads to fertility,
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If intimacy leads to fertility, he says it's because
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He says it's because god has blessed you.
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God has blessed you. so, husbands, i'm not
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So, husbands, i'm not telling you what to say
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Telling you what to say or what not to say
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Or what not to say after you kiss
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After you kiss the woman you love,
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The woman you love, but you could wink at her
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But you could wink at her and say, "you're blessed."
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And say, "you're blessed." or that could get really
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Or that could get really awkward and you might not want
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Awkward and you might not want to do that.
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To do that. it might backfire.
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It might backfire. alright, god says when
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Alright, god says when he gives you a child,
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He gives you a child, when he gives you a grandchild,
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When he gives you a grandchild, when he gives you family,
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When he gives you family, when he gives you someone
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When he gives you someone that loves you
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That loves you and you love them back,
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And you love them back, don't miss that gift.
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Don't miss that gift. not everyone in the world
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Not everyone in the world has that.
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Has that. you're blessed.
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You're blessed. or a few pages later,
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Or a few pages later, there's another example.
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The book of genesis
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The book of genesis also tells us,
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Also tells us, "isaac planted crops in that
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"isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped
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Land and the same year reaped a hundredfold," why?
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A hundredfold," why? "because the lord blessed him."
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So, isaac goes out to the field,
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So, isaac goes out to the field, there's a whole bunch of grain,
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There's a whole bunch of grain, puts food in his belly,
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Puts food in his belly, allows him to provide
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Allows him to provide for his family.
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For his family. it was his ancient paycheck,
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It was his ancient paycheck, his financial security.
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His financial security. why did that happen?
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Why did that happen? well, the bible's simple answer
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Well, the bible's simple answer is because god blessed him.
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Is because god blessed him. the sunshine was a blessing,
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The sunshine was a blessing, the rain was a blessing,
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The rain was a blessing, the fertileness of the soil
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The fertileness of the soil was a blessing,
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Was a blessing, the crop that came back,
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The crop that came back, the body that could reap
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The body that could reap the harvest.
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The harvest. all of these very, very,
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All of these very, very, physical things were truly
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Physical things were truly wonderful gifts from god.
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Wonderful gifts from god. and so, here's my question
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And so, here's my question to you:
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To you: this classic wisdom that
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This classic wisdom that we've heard so many times,
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We've heard so many times, what would happen to your
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What would happen to your relationship with god if you
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Relationship with god if you would slow down your busy life
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Would slow down your busy life just long enough to count
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Just long enough to count your blessings?
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Your blessings? right?
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Right? if you literally asked
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If you literally asked yourself the question,
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Yourself the question, "what do i have
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"what do i have right now that at least
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Right now that at least a billion humans don't?"
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A billion humans don't?" that will make you feel blessed.
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That will make you feel blessed. now, for example,
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Now, for example, how many of you drove
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How many of you drove a car today to church?
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A car today to church? yeah, lots of you.
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Yeah, lots of you. literally, push the button,
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Literally, push the button, turn on your favorite music.
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Turn on your favorite music. how many of you have a --
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How many of you have a -- one of those cars
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One of those cars that's so fancy
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That's so fancy where you don't even
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Where you don't even have to roll
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Have to roll down the windows?
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Down the windows? [laughing]
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[laughing] and my van is old,
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And my van is old, but i still can just push
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But i still can just push the button like.
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The button like. wow, how many people?
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Wow, how many people? how difficult would it be
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How difficult would it be to get to church,
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To get to church, or to get to work,
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Or to get to work, or get to school
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Or get to school if i didn't have a car
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If i didn't have a car waiting for me
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Waiting for me in the garage?
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In the garage? just -- a billion people,
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Just -- a billion people, at least, huh?
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At least, huh? that don't have that blessing,
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That don't have that blessing, but i do.
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But i do. do you?
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Do you? we're so blessed.
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We're so blessed. now, how many of you had legs
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Now, how many of you had legs that could walk through
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That could walk through the church parking lot
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The church parking lot and find a seat?
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And find a seat? you didn't have to be pushed
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You didn't have to be pushed in by a wheelchair.
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In by a wheelchair. how many people aren't able
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How many people aren't able physically to move like
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Physically to move like they want to,
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They want to, move like they used to?
00:07:04.180 --> 00:07:06.616
Move like they used to? you and i might not be
00:07:06.682 --> 00:07:07.884
You and i might not be mr. or ms. universe,
00:07:07.950 --> 00:07:09.385
Mr. or ms. universe, but if our body still move,
00:07:09.452 --> 00:07:10.920
But if our body still move, that's such a great gift.
00:07:10.987 --> 00:07:12.655
That's such a great gift. if you've felt healthy,
00:07:12.722 --> 00:07:14.924
If you've felt healthy, that's a wonderful gift
00:07:14.991 --> 00:07:15.691
That's a wonderful gift that comes from god.
00:07:15.758 --> 00:07:17.693
That comes from god. that means that you
00:07:17.760 --> 00:07:18.327
That means that you and i are incredibly blessed.
00:07:18.394 --> 00:07:21.964
And i are incredibly blessed. how many of you slept in a bed
00:07:22.031 --> 00:07:23.165
How many of you slept in a bed in your own home last night?
00:07:23.232 --> 00:07:27.370
In your own home last night? yeah, i know a lot of people who
00:07:27.436 --> 00:07:28.971
Yeah, i know a lot of people who struggle with housing stability.
00:07:29.038 --> 00:07:30.339
Struggle with housing stability. if you had a roof over your head
00:07:30.406 --> 00:07:32.441
If you had a roof over your head and four walls around that bed,
00:07:32.508 --> 00:07:34.343
And four walls around that bed, that's -- can you imagine not
00:07:34.410 --> 00:07:36.379
That's -- can you imagine not having that gift?
00:07:36.445 --> 00:07:39.015
Having that gift? how many of you already
00:07:39.081 --> 00:07:39.649
How many of you already had something to eat
00:07:39.715 --> 00:07:40.216
Had something to eat this morning, breakfast?
00:07:40.283 --> 00:07:42.585
This morning, breakfast? yeah, half of you.
00:07:42.652 --> 00:07:43.286
Yeah, half of you. how many of you are already
00:07:43.352 --> 00:07:44.020
How many of you are already thinking about what you're
00:07:44.086 --> 00:07:44.587
Thinking about what you're having for lunch?
00:07:44.654 --> 00:07:46.055
Having for lunch? all of you, yes.
00:07:46.122 --> 00:07:46.589
All of you, yes. [laughing]
00:07:46.656 --> 00:07:47.423
[laughing] that's what you
00:07:47.490 --> 00:07:47.890
That's what you do during sermons?
00:07:47.957 --> 00:07:49.625
Do during sermons? all right.
00:07:49.692 --> 00:07:50.026
All right. [laughing]
00:07:50.092 --> 00:07:50.526
[laughing] that was a test.
00:07:50.593 --> 00:07:51.060
That was a test. [laughing]
00:07:51.127 --> 00:07:52.395
[laughing] yeah, what a gift, right?
00:07:52.461 --> 00:07:53.729
Yeah, what a gift, right? some people can barely afford
00:07:53.796 --> 00:07:54.530
Some people can barely afford to eat.
00:07:54.597 --> 00:07:55.932
To eat. man, we have clean drinking --
00:07:55.998 --> 00:07:57.066
Man, we have clean drinking -- how many of you took a hot
00:07:57.133 --> 00:07:57.934
How many of you took a hot shower this morning?
00:07:58.000 --> 00:07:59.702
Shower this morning? yeah, me too.
00:07:59.769 --> 00:08:00.202
Yeah, me too. how many of you are
00:08:00.269 --> 00:08:00.870
How many of you are sitting next to someone
00:08:00.937 --> 00:08:01.370
Sitting next to someone who didn't shower
00:08:01.437 --> 00:08:01.837
Who didn't shower this morning?
00:08:01.904 --> 00:08:02.572
This morning? [laughter]
00:08:02.638 --> 00:08:03.205
[laughter] that was also a test.
00:08:03.272 --> 00:08:03.806
That was also a test. don't be -- love your neighbor.
00:08:03.873 --> 00:08:06.042
Don't be -- love your neighbor. i think of that sometimes when
00:08:06.108 --> 00:08:07.109
I think of that sometimes when i'm just sitting there in shower
00:08:07.176 --> 00:08:07.910
I'm just sitting there in shower like, "how did i get hot?"
00:08:07.977 --> 00:08:09.512
Like, "how did i get hot?" this feels so relaxing and good.
00:08:09.579 --> 00:08:11.847
This feels so relaxing and good. here's what i did...
00:08:11.914 --> 00:08:14.817
Here's what i did... [laughing]
00:08:14.884 --> 00:08:15.384
[laughing] how many people
00:08:15.451 --> 00:08:15.785
How many people in human history
00:08:15.851 --> 00:08:16.485
In human history would have had their minds
00:08:16.552 --> 00:08:17.553
Would have had their minds blown by that gift?
00:08:17.620 --> 00:08:20.056
Blown by that gift? if we step back and think,
00:08:20.122 --> 00:08:21.324
If we step back and think, it is such a blessing, right?
00:08:21.390 --> 00:08:23.826
It is such a blessing, right? maybe life isn't perfect,
00:08:23.893 --> 00:08:25.328
Maybe life isn't perfect, but god is like
00:08:25.394 --> 00:08:26.362
But god is like stacking up dozens,
00:08:26.429 --> 00:08:27.730
Stacking up dozens, if not hundreds,
00:08:27.797 --> 00:08:28.931
If not hundreds, if not thousands of gifts
00:08:28.998 --> 00:08:30.266
If not thousands of gifts that a billion people
00:08:30.333 --> 00:08:32.368
That a billion people don't have.
00:08:32.435 --> 00:08:33.669
Don't have. and if you slow down
00:08:33.736 --> 00:08:34.270
And if you slow down to count, you'll see.
00:08:34.337 --> 00:08:38.341
To count, you'll see. but wait, there's more.
00:08:38.407 --> 00:08:43.212
But wait, there's more. if you're listening carefully,
00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:44.213
If you're listening carefully, i said that the old testament
00:08:44.280 --> 00:08:45.581
I said that the old testament almost entirely focuses
00:08:45.648 --> 00:08:47.650
Almost entirely focuses on the physical,
00:08:47.717 --> 00:08:50.052
On the physical, but not categorically.
00:08:50.119 --> 00:08:53.589
But not categorically. there's a famous psalm,
00:08:53.656 --> 00:08:54.624
There's a famous psalm, psalm 32,
00:08:54.690 --> 00:08:55.324
Psalm 32, where king david talked
00:08:55.391 --> 00:08:56.092
Where king david talked about the person
00:08:56.158 --> 00:08:56.626
About the person who was blessed,
00:08:56.692 --> 00:08:57.893
Who was blessed, and he started it by saying,
00:08:57.960 --> 00:08:58.995
And he started it by saying, "blessed is the one
00:08:59.061 --> 00:09:00.563
"blessed is the one whose sins are forgiven,
00:09:00.630 --> 00:09:02.965
Whose sins are forgiven, whose sin the lord will
00:09:03.032 --> 00:09:05.434
Whose sin the lord will not count against them."
00:09:05.501 --> 00:09:08.337
Not count against them." david couldn't see, and touch,
00:09:08.404 --> 00:09:09.705
David couldn't see, and touch, and taste such spiritual things,
00:09:09.772 --> 00:09:12.441
And taste such spiritual things, but when he stepped back
00:09:12.508 --> 00:09:13.409
But when he stepped back and thought how good
00:09:13.476 --> 00:09:14.010
And thought how good it was to be forgiven,
00:09:14.076 --> 00:09:16.112
It was to be forgiven, that thought moved
00:09:16.178 --> 00:09:16.679
That thought moved him to praise.
00:09:16.746 --> 00:09:19.148
Him to praise. and that's exactly
00:09:19.215 --> 00:09:19.682
And that's exactly where the new testament
00:09:19.749 --> 00:09:20.449
Where the new testament takes the topic of blessing.
00:09:20.516 --> 00:09:23.853
Takes the topic of blessing. all right, you turn the page
00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:24.620
All right, you turn the page from old testament to new,
00:09:24.687 --> 00:09:25.688
From old testament to new, you get to the birth
00:09:25.755 --> 00:09:26.622
You get to the birth and the life of jesus.
00:09:26.689 --> 00:09:28.224
And the life of jesus. and the new testament almost
00:09:28.290 --> 00:09:29.091
And the new testament almost launches in matthew 5 with
00:09:29.158 --> 00:09:30.526
Launches in matthew 5 with a famous sermon by jesus
00:09:30.593 --> 00:09:32.461
A famous sermon by jesus called the sermon on the mount,
00:09:32.528 --> 00:09:33.562
Called the sermon on the mount, and he talks about
00:09:33.629 --> 00:09:35.097
And he talks about who's really blessed.
00:09:35.164 --> 00:09:35.898
Who's really blessed. it's called the beatitudes
00:09:35.965 --> 00:09:36.932
It's called the beatitudes if you've read it before.
00:09:36.999 --> 00:09:37.867
If you've read it before. and what does he say?
00:09:37.933 --> 00:09:38.534
And what does he say? he doesn't say,
00:09:38.601 --> 00:09:39.001
He doesn't say, "blessed are the healthy,
00:09:39.068 --> 00:09:40.102
"blessed are the healthy, blessed are the wealthy,
00:09:40.169 --> 00:09:41.604
Blessed are the wealthy, blessed are the moms and dads
00:09:41.671 --> 00:09:42.505
Blessed are the moms and dads with the little one
00:09:42.571 --> 00:09:43.272
With the little one in their arms."
00:09:43.339 --> 00:09:43.973
In their arms." no, he says, "blessed
00:09:44.040 --> 00:09:45.241
No, he says, "blessed are the poor in spirit.
00:09:45.307 --> 00:09:47.510
Are the poor in spirit. blessed are those who hunger
00:09:47.576 --> 00:09:48.477
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
00:09:48.544 --> 00:09:50.112
And thirst for righteousness. blessed are those who insult --
00:09:50.179 --> 00:09:51.681
Blessed are those who insult -- are insulted because
00:09:51.747 --> 00:09:52.848
Are insulted because of the name of god."
00:09:52.915 --> 00:09:53.849
Of the name of god." here's why.
00:09:53.916 --> 00:09:55.284
Here's why. because they have god.
00:09:55.351 --> 00:09:58.521
Because they have god. can't see god,
00:09:58.587 --> 00:10:00.356
Can't see god, can't smell god,
00:10:00.423 --> 00:10:02.425
Can't smell god, as a spiritual being,
00:10:02.491 --> 00:10:03.025
As a spiritual being, you can't touch god.
00:10:03.092 --> 00:10:05.695
You can't touch god. but jesus was convinced,
00:10:05.761 --> 00:10:06.929
But jesus was convinced, and the new testament
00:10:06.996 --> 00:10:07.563
And the new testament is convinced that
00:10:07.630 --> 00:10:08.297
Is convinced that if you have god,
00:10:08.364 --> 00:10:09.932
If you have god, if you're a child of god,
00:10:09.999 --> 00:10:11.033
If you're a child of god, if you've been forgiven
00:10:11.100 --> 00:10:12.068
If you've been forgiven and saved by god,
00:10:12.134 --> 00:10:12.935
And saved by god, you actually have something
00:10:13.002 --> 00:10:14.470
You actually have something a billion times better
00:10:14.537 --> 00:10:16.172
A billion times better than the best physical
00:10:16.238 --> 00:10:17.139
Than the best physical gift on earth.
00:10:17.206 --> 00:10:20.476
I love how the apostle paul
00:10:20.576 --> 00:10:21.844
I love how the apostle paul taught this.
00:10:21.911 --> 00:10:22.211
Taught this. in ephesians 1,
00:10:22.278 --> 00:10:23.012
In ephesians 1, he wrote this,
00:10:23.079 --> 00:10:25.114
He wrote this, "praise be to the god
00:10:25.181 --> 00:10:26.716
"praise be to the god and father of our lord
00:10:26.782 --> 00:10:27.349
And father of our lord jesus christ,"
00:10:27.416 --> 00:10:29.652
Jesus christ," why praise him?
00:10:29.719 --> 00:10:31.253
Why praise him? "because he has blessed us
00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:32.354
"because he has blessed us in the heavenly realms
00:10:32.421 --> 00:10:33.723
In the heavenly realms with every spiritual
00:10:33.789 --> 00:10:36.759
With every spiritual blessing in christ."
00:10:36.826 --> 00:10:41.831
Years ago, i had
00:10:41.931 --> 00:10:42.765
Years ago, i had a bible study in my home.
00:10:42.832 --> 00:10:43.632
A bible study in my home. we read the book of ephesians.
00:10:43.699 --> 00:10:45.301
We read the book of ephesians. and one of my very close friend,
00:10:45.367 --> 00:10:46.602
And one of my very close friend, she could not read this verse
00:10:46.669 --> 00:10:49.004
She could not read this verse without eyebrows
00:10:49.071 --> 00:10:49.839
Without eyebrows in her hairline.
00:10:49.905 --> 00:10:51.173
In her hairline. [laughing]
00:10:51.240 --> 00:10:51.741
[laughing] and she would insist
00:10:51.807 --> 00:10:52.908
And she would insist that her pastor
00:10:52.975 --> 00:10:53.876
That her pastor and everyone else in the room
00:10:53.943 --> 00:10:54.744
And everyone else in the room not miss these words,
00:10:54.810 --> 00:10:56.746
Not miss these words, "every spiritual blessing."
00:10:56.812 --> 00:11:03.219
"every spiritual blessing." if you're a christian,
00:11:03.285 --> 00:11:04.086
If you're a christian, do you have every
00:11:04.153 --> 00:11:04.653
Do you have every physical blessing?
00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:06.522
Physical blessing? no.
00:11:06.589 --> 00:11:07.289
No. do you have every
00:11:07.356 --> 00:11:07.790
Do you have every financial blessing?
00:11:07.857 --> 00:11:09.158
Financial blessing? no.
00:11:09.225 --> 00:11:09.925
No. do you have every
00:11:09.992 --> 00:11:10.526
Do you have every relational blessing?
00:11:10.593 --> 00:11:11.894
Relational blessing? no.
00:11:11.961 --> 00:11:12.261
No. every family blessing?
00:11:12.328 --> 00:11:13.028
Every family blessing? no.
00:11:13.095 --> 00:11:13.429
No. every friendship blessing?
00:11:13.496 --> 00:11:14.330
Every friendship blessing? no.
00:11:14.396 --> 00:11:15.631
No. but if you are a christian,
00:11:15.698 --> 00:11:16.699
But if you are a christian, do you have every
00:11:16.766 --> 00:11:17.333
Do you have every spiritual blessing?
00:11:17.399 --> 00:11:18.934
Spiritual blessing? paul's answer is, yes you do.
00:11:19.001 --> 00:11:22.905
Paul's answer is, yes you do. oh, you want to be
00:11:22.972 --> 00:11:23.506
Oh, you want to be connected to god?
00:11:23.572 --> 00:11:25.441
Connected to god? done in jesus.
00:11:25.508 --> 00:11:26.442
Done in jesus. you want to be forgiven
00:11:26.509 --> 00:11:27.209
You want to be forgiven for your sins?
00:11:27.276 --> 00:11:28.110
For your sins? done in jesus.
00:11:28.177 --> 00:11:28.611
Done in jesus. you want to be forgiven
00:11:28.677 --> 00:11:29.211
You want to be forgiven for all the sins?
00:11:29.278 --> 00:11:30.346
For all the sins? done in jesus.
00:11:30.412 --> 00:11:31.080
Done in jesus. you want to be forgiven
00:11:31.147 --> 00:11:31.680
You want to be forgiven for that sin?
00:11:31.747 --> 00:11:33.582
For that sin? it's done in jesus.
00:11:33.649 --> 00:11:34.550
It's done in jesus. do you want to be chosen
00:11:34.617 --> 00:11:35.284
Do you want to be chosen by someone?
00:11:35.351 --> 00:11:36.418
By someone? yeah, yours through jesus.
00:11:36.485 --> 00:11:38.154
Yeah, yours through jesus. you want to be loved by someone,
00:11:38.220 --> 00:11:39.255
You want to be loved by someone, known by someone,
00:11:39.321 --> 00:11:40.156
Known by someone, cared for by someone?
00:11:40.222 --> 00:11:41.290
Cared for by someone? all yours in jesus.
00:11:41.357 --> 00:11:42.792
All yours in jesus. do you want to be sanctified,
00:11:42.858 --> 00:11:43.826
Do you want to be sanctified, perfect, holy, pure, blessed
00:11:43.893 --> 00:11:46.162
Perfect, holy, pure, blessed in the sight of god?
00:11:46.228 --> 00:11:46.962
In the sight of god? yours, yours, yours, yours,
00:11:47.029 --> 00:11:48.464
Yours, yours, yours, yours, yours, through the name
00:11:48.531 --> 00:11:49.532
Yours, through the name of jesus.
00:11:49.598 --> 00:11:50.099
Of jesus. pick -- the best
00:11:50.166 --> 00:11:51.700
Pick -- the best blessings you could have:
00:11:51.767 --> 00:11:52.568
Blessings you could have: to be redeemed, saved,
00:11:52.635 --> 00:11:54.403
To be redeemed, saved, bound for heaven,
00:11:54.470 --> 00:11:55.771
Bound for heaven, known by god,
00:11:55.838 --> 00:11:57.039
Known by god, every prayer heard,
00:11:57.106 --> 00:11:58.107
Every prayer heard, all of it.
00:11:58.174 --> 00:11:59.108
All of it. paul says,
00:11:59.175 --> 00:11:59.608
Paul says, "every spiritual blessing
00:11:59.675 --> 00:12:00.743
"every spiritual blessing is yours in christ."
00:12:00.810 --> 00:12:03.979
Is yours in christ." so, the bible's convinced.
00:12:04.046 --> 00:12:04.647
So, the bible's convinced. you could be sitting
00:12:04.713 --> 00:12:05.147
You could be sitting in a jail cell right now,
00:12:05.214 --> 00:12:06.515
In a jail cell right now, your body could be breaking
00:12:06.582 --> 00:12:07.883
Your body could be breaking down in a nursing home,
00:12:07.950 --> 00:12:08.984
Down in a nursing home, you could be looking today
00:12:09.051 --> 00:12:10.352
You could be looking today for a place to stay,
00:12:10.419 --> 00:12:11.720
For a place to stay, you could be off
00:12:11.787 --> 00:12:12.288
You could be off to divorce court,
00:12:12.354 --> 00:12:13.355
To divorce court, filing bankruptcy,
00:12:13.422 --> 00:12:14.256
Filing bankruptcy, struggling with fertility,
00:12:14.323 --> 00:12:15.724
Struggling with fertility, but if you have jesus,
00:12:15.791 --> 00:12:17.293
But if you have jesus, every -- you cannot
00:12:17.359 --> 00:12:18.794
Every -- you cannot pick a small number.
00:12:18.861 --> 00:12:21.230
Pick a small number. how could you?
00:12:21.297 --> 00:12:23.933
How could you? life is short and everything
00:12:23.999 --> 00:12:25.534
Life is short and everything that matters is guaranteed
00:12:25.601 --> 00:12:27.670
That matters is guaranteed to be yours through the life,
00:12:27.736 --> 00:12:28.904
To be yours through the life, death, and resurrection
00:12:28.971 --> 00:12:29.805
Death, and resurrection of jesus christ.
00:12:29.872 --> 00:12:33.242
And so, mash the bible's
00:12:33.342 --> 00:12:34.710
Blessings altogether.
00:12:34.777 --> 00:12:35.945
In 389 times the bible says,
00:12:36.011 --> 00:12:38.080
"don't miss it.
00:12:38.147 --> 00:12:39.849
Please don't miss it.
00:12:39.915 --> 00:12:40.449
All the physical things
00:12:40.516 --> 00:12:41.517
You already have,
00:12:41.584 --> 00:12:43.052
All the spiritual things
00:12:43.118 --> 00:12:44.119
That are yours through jesus."
00:12:44.186 --> 00:12:47.089
And throughout the books
00:12:47.189 --> 00:12:48.057
And throughout the books of exodus, and leviticus,
00:12:48.123 --> 00:12:50.059
Of exodus, and leviticus, and the book of numbers,
00:12:50.125 --> 00:12:50.759
And the book of numbers, god is kind of instructing
00:12:50.826 --> 00:12:51.861
God is kind of instructing how church should work
00:12:51.927 --> 00:12:53.462
How church should work way back in the day.
00:12:53.529 --> 00:12:55.664
Way back in the day. and it's there that we find
00:12:55.731 --> 00:12:56.565
And it's there that we find this blessing that for
00:12:56.632 --> 00:12:58.400
This blessing that for the past almost 4,000 years,
00:12:58.467 --> 00:13:01.470
The past almost 4,000 years, people across the planet
00:13:01.537 --> 00:13:03.172
People across the planet in different languages
00:13:03.239 --> 00:13:04.006
In different languages and cultures have been hearing.
00:13:04.073 --> 00:13:06.742
Here are the famous words,
00:13:06.842 --> 00:13:09.812
Here are the famous words, numbers 6, starting with verse
00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:11.313
Numbers 6, starting with verse 22 says, "the lord said to
00:13:11.380 --> 00:13:14.884
22 says, "the lord said to moses, 'tell aaron and his sons,
00:13:14.950 --> 00:13:17.620
Moses, 'tell aaron and his sons, 'this is how you are to
00:13:17.686 --> 00:13:18.454
'this is how you are to bless the israelites.
00:13:18.520 --> 00:13:20.656
Bless the israelites. say to them:
00:13:20.723 --> 00:13:22.825
Say to them: 'the lord bless you
00:13:22.892 --> 00:13:23.959
'the lord bless you and keep you.
00:13:24.026 --> 00:13:25.728
And keep you. the lord make his face
00:13:25.794 --> 00:13:26.395
The lord make his face shine on you
00:13:26.462 --> 00:13:26.862
Shine on you and be gracious to you.
00:13:26.929 --> 00:13:27.663
And be gracious to you. the lord turn his face
00:13:27.730 --> 00:13:28.797
The lord turn his face towards you and give you peace.
00:13:28.864 --> 00:13:32.768
Towards you and give you peace. so they will put my name
00:13:32.835 --> 00:13:34.770
So they will put my name on the israelites,
00:13:34.837 --> 00:13:35.771
On the israelites, and i will bless them.'"
00:13:35.838 --> 00:13:40.676
Here's what i learned.
00:13:40.776 --> 00:13:42.044
Here's what i learned. there's three lines
00:13:42.111 --> 00:13:42.544
There's three lines to this blessing:
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To this blessing: "the lord bless you
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"the lord bless you and keep you,"
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And keep you," "the lord make his face shine
00:13:44.313 --> 00:13:44.980
"the lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you,"
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On you and be gracious to you," "the lord turn his
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"the lord turn his face towards you
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Face towards you and give you peace."
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And give you peace." in the original hebrew language,
00:13:48.183 --> 00:13:49.385
In the original hebrew language, the first line has three words,
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The first line has three words, the second line has five words,
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The second line has five words, and the last line
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And the last line has seven words.
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Has seven words. it's almost like god
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It's almost like god wanted his people to say,
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Wanted his people to say, "wow, i'm blessed.
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"wow, i'm blessed. wow, i'm really blessed.
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Wow, i'm really blessed. woo, i'm crazy blessed."
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Woo, i'm crazy blessed." he wanted to increase
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He wanted to increase their number, right?
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Their number, right? expand their blessing.
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Expand their blessing. and built into the middle
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And built into the middle of the blessing,
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Of the blessing, you probably caught it,
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You probably caught it, was the name of the
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Was the name of the lord spoken three times:
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Lord spoken three times: "the lord bless you
00:14:13.742 --> 00:14:14.443
"the lord bless you and keep you,"
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And keep you," "the lord make his
00:14:15.110 --> 00:14:15.844
"the lord make his face shine on you
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Face shine on you and be gracious to you,"
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And be gracious to you," "the lord turn his face towards
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"the lord turn his face towards you and give you peace."
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You and give you peace." the lord, the lord, the lord,
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The lord, the lord, the lord, three times in one blessing,
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Three times in one blessing, which makes some christians
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Which makes some christians think about the trinity.
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Think about the trinity. maybe a little hint that there's
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Maybe a little hint that there's three persons in one god.
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Three persons in one god. god, the father is the one
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God, the father is the one who blesses us.
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Who blesses us. god the son,
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God the son, jesus christ is the one
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Jesus christ is the one who is gracious to us.
00:14:36.198 --> 00:14:36.966
Who is gracious to us. god, the holy spirit
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God, the holy spirit is the lord who produces
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Is the lord who produces the fruit of peace within us.
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The fruit of peace within us. and if all that
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And if all that weren't interesting enough,
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Weren't interesting enough, then there's my favorite part,
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Then there's my favorite part, the shift from the plural
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The shift from the plural to the singular.
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To the singular. if this blessing was meant
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If this blessing was meant to be spoken to a whole
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To be spoken to a whole bunch of people, it says,
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Bunch of people, it says, "you are to bless
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"you are to bless the israelites," plural,
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The israelites," plural, "and say to them," plural.
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"and say to them," plural. but then when you get
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But then when you get to the actual blessing,
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To the actual blessing, "the lord bless you, keep you,
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"the lord bless you, keep you, make his face shine on you,
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Make his face shine on you, be gracious to you,
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Be gracious to you, turn towards you,
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Turn towards you, and give you peace,"
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And give you peace," six times in hebrew,
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Six times in hebrew, it's the singular form.
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It's the singular form. if you've ever learned
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If you've ever learned spanish before,
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Spanish before, you might know there's
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You might know there's a difference between
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A difference between "you" singular
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"you" singular and "you" plural.
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And "you" plural. here where i live,
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Here where i live, we don't talk about
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We don't talk about that much in english.
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That much in english. but if you go down to texas,
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But if you go down to texas, you'll note that in english
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You'll note that in english to "you, y'all, all y'all."
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To "you, y'all, all y'all." it's the same in hebrew.
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It's the same in hebrew. there's a distinctive word
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There's a distinctive word for "you all" and just "you."
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For "you all" and just "you." and here's what happens
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And here's what happens in this blessing, god says,
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In this blessing, god says, "aaron, i want you to speak
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"aaron, i want you to speak to all these people,
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To all these people, thousands, and thousands
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Thousands, and thousands of israelites that i love.
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Of israelites that i love. but when you speak the blessing,
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But when you speak the blessing, make it personal."
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Make it personal." it's like god speaking
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It's like god speaking through the one
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Through the one who's given the blessing
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Who's given the blessing wants to look like right at you,
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Wants to look like right at you, like it's just you and god.
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Like it's just you and god. it's not some generic,
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It's not some generic, "yeah, god do good things
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"yeah, god do good things for people."
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For people." it's like, "no, god
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It's like, "no, god wants to bless you,
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Wants to bless you, and he wants to keep you."
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And he wants to keep you." and he's not just happy
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And he's not just happy with his people in general,
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With his people in general, through jesus
00:16:14.696 --> 00:16:15.164
Through jesus he's gracious to you.
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He's gracious to you. if our church services
00:16:21.136 --> 00:16:22.104
If our church services weren't already so long,
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Weren't already so long, i would just love to look each
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I would just love to look each of you in the eye and speak
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Of you in the eye and speak the whole thing -- next.
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The whole thing -- next. so you know what this blessing
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So you know what this blessing was originally intended to do.
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Was originally intended to do. not just end the church service,
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Not just end the church service, not to be the time when
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Not to be the time when we grab our jackets
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We grab our jackets and pack up our things.
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And pack up our things. like, god who loves the whole
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Like, god who loves the whole world wants to speak
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World wants to speak specially to each
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Specially to each one of his children.
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One of his children. he's like a good mom
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He's like a good mom tucking her kids in at night,
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Tucking her kids in at night, looking them in the eye,
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Looking them in the eye, expressing love,
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Expressing love, making them feel safe.
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Making them feel safe. that's what this blessing is.
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That's what this blessing is. say to them, all of them,
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Say to them, all of them, that god wants to bless you.
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That god wants to bless you. i mean, come on,
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I mean, come on, how good is hebrew grammar?
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How good is hebrew grammar? you didn't know that before,
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You didn't know that before, did you?
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Did you? i want to think about that
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I want to think about that every time i hear the blessing,
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Every time i hear the blessing, every time i speak it.
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Every time i speak it. god so loved the world,
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God so loved the world, the whole world that
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The whole world that he gave his only son,
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He gave his only son, that whoever individually
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That whoever individually believes in him would
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Believes in him would have that blessing.
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Have that blessing. in full disclosure,
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In full disclosure, i've always gravitated
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I've always gravitated to the part of the blessing
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To the part of the blessing where i think about god's
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Where i think about god's face shining on me.
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Face shining on me. like, he's not disappointed,
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Like, he's not disappointed, he's not mad despite my sin,
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He's not mad despite my sin, he's forgiven me.
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He's forgiven me. i never really thought much
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I never really thought much about this part of verse 24,
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About this part of verse 24, "the lord keep me."
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"the lord keep me." what does that mean?
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What does that mean? a little preschooler was
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A little preschooler was coloring in church and he asked
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Coloring in church and he asked in that really loud preschool
00:17:42.284 --> 00:17:43.185
In that really loud preschool voice, his mom or his dad,
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Voice, his mom or his dad, "what does that mean?"
00:17:44.253 --> 00:17:46.522
"what does that mean?" what would you say to him?
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What would you say to him? "the lord keep you,"
00:17:48.357 --> 00:17:49.591
"the lord keep you," what's the blessing in that?
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What's the blessing in that? well, here's the best way that
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Well, here's the best way that i could teach it to you.
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I could teach it to you. imagine there's a big door
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Imagine there's a big door here, can you see it?
00:17:57.599 --> 00:17:59.401
Here, can you see it? door handle, and you're
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Door handle, and you're all nice and safe and warm
00:18:02.371 --> 00:18:03.205
All nice and safe and warm and cozy inside the house,
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And cozy inside the house, and i'm standing outside
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And i'm standing outside of it on the other side
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Of it on the other side of the door.
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Of the door. why do we have doors?
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Why do we have doors? why don't just live in
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Why don't just live in an apartment or a duplex
00:18:14.149 --> 00:18:16.685
An apartment or a duplex or a house with just
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Or a house with just walls and a roof?
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Walls and a roof? i think the simple answer is
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I think the simple answer is because doors keep us.
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Because doors keep us. doors keep the dangerous
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Doors keep the dangerous things that are out here:
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Things that are out here: the animals, the strangers,
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The animals, the strangers, the wind, the rain, the snow.
00:18:35.437 --> 00:18:37.539
The wind, the rain, the snow. it keeps that stuff out here,
00:18:37.606 --> 00:18:40.976
It keeps that stuff out here, and if you've ever raised
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And if you've ever raised a little kid, it keeps
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A little kid, it keeps the ones you love in here.
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The ones you love in here. when the blessing says
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When the blessing says that god keeps you,
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That god keeps you, i think what it's saying
00:18:51.887 --> 00:18:52.554
I think what it's saying is god is like the door
00:18:52.621 --> 00:18:55.490
Is god is like the door who keeps the people he loves
00:18:55.557 --> 00:18:57.125
Who keeps the people he loves safe here in his house
00:18:57.192 --> 00:18:58.560
Safe here in his house and his presence,
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And his presence, and he keeps all the dangerous
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And he keeps all the dangerous threats to our soul out there.
00:19:02.097 --> 00:19:04.299
Threats to our soul out there. he doesn't let them in.
00:19:04.366 --> 00:19:07.102
He doesn't let them in. to keep you means that
00:19:07.169 --> 00:19:08.003
To keep you means that you still have faith,
00:19:08.070 --> 00:19:09.671
You still have faith, you're still a child of god,
00:19:09.738 --> 00:19:11.707
You're still a child of god, you haven't given up
00:19:11.773 --> 00:19:12.841
You haven't given up your soul to sin.
00:19:12.908 --> 00:19:14.176
Your soul to sin. he's not just saved you,
00:19:14.243 --> 00:19:15.811
He's not just saved you, he's kept you saved
00:19:15.877 --> 00:19:18.413
He's kept you saved by keeping those dangers
00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:19.514
By keeping those dangers out there and by keeping
00:19:19.581 --> 00:19:20.649
Out there and by keeping you safe in here.
00:19:20.716 --> 00:19:25.187
You safe in here. write this down,
00:19:25.254 --> 00:19:25.854
Write this down, then i'll try to
00:19:25.921 --> 00:19:26.421
Then i'll try to explain what i mean.
00:19:26.488 --> 00:19:27.256
Explain what i mean. i think at the start
00:19:27.322 --> 00:19:28.690
I think at the start of this famous blessing,
00:19:28.757 --> 00:19:30.058
Of this famous blessing, we're learning that
00:19:30.125 --> 00:19:30.692
We're learning that one of god's best blessings
00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:34.463
One of god's best blessings is your keeping.
00:19:34.529 --> 00:19:39.468
Is your keeping. like the thing that god
00:19:39.534 --> 00:19:40.068
Like the thing that god wants you to think about
00:19:40.135 --> 00:19:41.803
Wants you to think about from the very start is
00:19:41.870 --> 00:19:43.071
From the very start is the fact that despite
00:19:43.138 --> 00:19:44.006
The fact that despite all the danger out there
00:19:44.072 --> 00:19:45.641
All the danger out there to your soul,
00:19:45.707 --> 00:19:47.442
To your soul, it hasn't gotten to you.
00:19:47.509 --> 00:19:49.811
It hasn't gotten to you. you're still a part
00:19:49.878 --> 00:19:50.646
You're still a part of god's family.
00:19:50.712 --> 00:19:51.413
Of god's family. you're still someone
00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:52.914
You're still someone who trusts in his son, jesus.
00:19:52.981 --> 00:19:56.418
Who trusts in his son, jesus. and think about that.
00:19:56.485 --> 00:19:57.486
And think about that. if -- the bible says,
00:19:57.552 --> 00:19:59.488
If -- the bible says, "the devil is like
00:19:59.554 --> 00:20:00.489
"the devil is like a roaring lion looking
00:20:00.555 --> 00:20:01.990
A roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
00:20:02.057 --> 00:20:04.993
For someone to devour." if there was no door
00:20:05.060 --> 00:20:06.028
If there was no door to your spiritual life
00:20:06.094 --> 00:20:07.996
To your spiritual life and he just came roaring in,
00:20:08.063 --> 00:20:12.134
And he just came roaring in, the world with literally
00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:14.836
The world with literally billions of people who don't
00:20:14.903 --> 00:20:16.305
Billions of people who don't believe that jesus is worth it,
00:20:16.371 --> 00:20:19.541
Believe that jesus is worth it, who are living lives of
00:20:19.608 --> 00:20:20.442
Who are living lives of disobedience to god
00:20:20.509 --> 00:20:21.476
Disobedience to god because at the end of the day,
00:20:21.543 --> 00:20:22.511
Because at the end of the day, they just don't think jesus is
00:20:22.577 --> 00:20:23.512
They just don't think jesus is good enough to sacrifice for.
00:20:23.578 --> 00:20:25.681
Good enough to sacrifice for. if that whole world came
00:20:25.747 --> 00:20:26.915
If that whole world came flooding in and surrounded
00:20:26.982 --> 00:20:28.183
Flooding in and surrounded you with its message,
00:20:28.250 --> 00:20:29.017
You with its message, what would happen
00:20:29.084 --> 00:20:30.552
What would happen to your faith?
00:20:30.619 --> 00:20:32.220
To your faith? and so, the fact that
00:20:32.287 --> 00:20:33.455
And so, the fact that if you're a christian,
00:20:33.522 --> 00:20:34.323
If you're a christian, a follower of jesus,
00:20:34.389 --> 00:20:35.424
A follower of jesus, and despite the devil,
00:20:35.490 --> 00:20:36.758
And despite the devil, and despite the demons,
00:20:36.825 --> 00:20:37.993
And despite the demons, and despite the deception,
00:20:38.060 --> 00:20:39.261
And despite the deception, despite the world,
00:20:39.328 --> 00:20:41.029
Despite the world, you're still a person
00:20:41.096 --> 00:20:41.530
You're still a person who loves the bible,
00:20:41.596 --> 00:20:43.231
Who loves the bible, believes in the goodness of god,
00:20:43.298 --> 00:20:45.267
Believes in the goodness of god, and is willing to follow jesus
00:20:45.334 --> 00:20:46.735
And is willing to follow jesus no matter what it costs you,
00:20:46.802 --> 00:20:48.837
No matter what it costs you, how did that happen?
00:20:48.904 --> 00:20:52.808
How did that happen? and the answer is
00:20:52.874 --> 00:20:55.010
And the answer is because god kept you.
00:20:55.077 --> 00:20:58.647
Because god kept you. when you woke up this morning,
00:20:58.714 --> 00:20:59.581
When you woke up this morning, you could have said,
00:20:59.648 --> 00:21:00.982
You could have said, "ah, my back."
00:21:01.049 --> 00:21:02.718
"ah, my back." or, "ah, what's
00:21:02.784 --> 00:21:03.885
Or, "ah, what's the weather today?"
00:21:03.952 --> 00:21:05.187
The weather today?" or, "did you see this news?"
00:21:05.253 --> 00:21:08.557
Or, "did you see this news?" or you could have woken up
00:21:08.623 --> 00:21:09.291
Or you could have woken up and said, "still a christian.
00:21:09.358 --> 00:21:13.161
And said, "still a christian. [laughing]
00:21:13.228 --> 00:21:14.396
[laughing] yes.
00:21:14.463 --> 00:21:15.697
Yes. i still believe there is a god.
00:21:15.764 --> 00:21:17.766
I still believe there is a god. i still believe that
00:21:17.833 --> 00:21:18.333
I still believe that he's my father.
00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:19.501
He's my father. i still believe that
00:21:19.568 --> 00:21:20.035
I still believe that he knows me.
00:21:20.102 --> 00:21:20.902
He knows me. i still believe.
00:21:20.969 --> 00:21:22.804
I still believe. how good is he
00:21:22.871 --> 00:21:23.372
How good is he if he never gave me
00:21:23.438 --> 00:21:24.706
If he never gave me another dollar or another cent,
00:21:24.773 --> 00:21:26.241
Another dollar or another cent, if he never did another
00:21:26.308 --> 00:21:27.476
If he never did another good thing for me?
00:21:27.542 --> 00:21:28.410
Good thing for me? he is here.
00:21:28.477 --> 00:21:29.711
He is here. i'm still a christian.
00:21:29.778 --> 00:21:31.613
I'm still a christian. i live in a broken world.
00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.681
I live in a broken world. the devil is alive
00:21:32.748 --> 00:21:34.049
The devil is alive and he is very well,
00:21:34.116 --> 00:21:35.016
And he is very well, and yet god in
00:21:35.083 --> 00:21:36.051
And yet god in his insane mercy,
00:21:36.118 --> 00:21:37.919
His insane mercy, he didn't just
00:21:37.986 --> 00:21:38.320
He didn't just bless me, he kept me.
00:21:38.387 --> 00:21:40.756
Bless me, he kept me. or maybe i should say this,
00:21:40.822 --> 00:21:41.790
Or maybe i should say this, he blessed me by keeping me.
00:21:41.857 --> 00:21:47.529
He blessed me by keeping me. and when i think about that,
00:21:47.596 --> 00:21:49.631
And when i think about that, i could have walked away.
00:21:49.698 --> 00:21:50.465
I could have walked away. i probably should
00:21:50.532 --> 00:21:51.333
I probably should have walked away.
00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:52.267
Have walked away. my heart would have gotten
00:21:52.334 --> 00:21:53.368
My heart would have gotten the last word, i might have.
00:21:53.435 --> 00:21:54.503
The last word, i might have. but god made the handle spin,
00:21:54.569 --> 00:21:57.539
But god made the handle spin, and he kept me safe in his house
00:21:57.606 --> 00:21:59.174
And he kept me safe in his house close to his heart."
00:21:59.241 --> 00:22:03.178
Close to his heart." so, i'll give you one last try.
00:22:03.245 --> 00:22:05.814
So, i'll give you one last try. what's your number?
00:22:05.881 --> 00:22:09.651
What's your number? did you think about
00:22:09.718 --> 00:22:10.152
Did you think about everything the bible
00:22:10.218 --> 00:22:10.786
Everything the bible has to say about blessings?
00:22:10.852 --> 00:22:14.022
Has to say about blessings? all the physical things
00:22:14.089 --> 00:22:15.590
All the physical things you have, the spiritual gifts
00:22:15.657 --> 00:22:16.925
You have, the spiritual gifts that are yours in christ,
00:22:16.992 --> 00:22:18.093
That are yours in christ, the god who speaks
00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:19.327
The god who speaks specifically to you,
00:22:19.394 --> 00:22:20.429
Specifically to you, and especially he speaks to you
00:22:20.495 --> 00:22:22.030
And especially he speaks to you this blessing, i've kept you,
00:22:22.097 --> 00:22:24.032
This blessing, i've kept you, kept you close to jesus.
00:22:24.099 --> 00:22:27.135
Kept you close to jesus. man, i don't know about you,
00:22:27.202 --> 00:22:29.104
Man, i don't know about you, makes me love him
00:22:29.171 --> 00:22:29.604
Makes me love him even more than i used to.
00:22:29.671 --> 00:22:35.911
Even more than i used to. you know, back in the late
00:22:35.977 --> 00:22:36.745
You know, back in the late 1970s, in a valley just
00:22:36.812 --> 00:22:40.048
1970s, in a valley just southwest of jerusalem,
00:22:40.115 --> 00:22:41.149
Southwest of jerusalem, archaeologists discovered
00:22:41.216 --> 00:22:42.584
Archaeologists discovered what some people believe is
00:22:42.651 --> 00:22:44.119
What some people believe is the most important discovery
00:22:44.186 --> 00:22:46.788
The most important discovery in all of biblical studies.
00:22:46.855 --> 00:22:50.592
In all of biblical studies. they found this old burial cave,
00:22:50.659 --> 00:22:52.794
They found this old burial cave, and inside were a bunch
00:22:52.861 --> 00:22:53.962
And inside were a bunch of ancient pottery,
00:22:54.029 --> 00:22:55.464
Of ancient pottery, a bunch of human bones,
00:22:55.530 --> 00:22:56.832
A bunch of human bones, and i'll show you a picture.
00:22:56.898 --> 00:23:00.602
They found two of these.
00:23:00.702 --> 00:23:03.972
They found two of these. a tiny, tiny, silver scroll.
00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:06.842
A tiny, tiny, silver scroll. i've seen this with
00:23:06.908 --> 00:23:07.342
I've seen this with my own eyes in jerusalem.
00:23:07.409 --> 00:23:08.443
My own eyes in jerusalem. only about an inch wide.
00:23:08.510 --> 00:23:10.345
Only about an inch wide. one of them was an inch tall,
00:23:10.412 --> 00:23:11.680
One of them was an inch tall, the other one about
00:23:11.746 --> 00:23:12.214
The other one about four inches tall.
00:23:12.280 --> 00:23:12.914
Four inches tall. they think that this little
00:23:12.981 --> 00:23:13.949
They think that this little scroll was worn as a necklace
00:23:14.015 --> 00:23:15.951
Scroll was worn as a necklace and hung over someone's heart.
00:23:16.017 --> 00:23:19.087
And hung over someone's heart. and engraved on it
00:23:19.154 --> 00:23:19.855
In ancient text
00:23:19.955 --> 00:23:22.858
In ancient text is the oldest surviving
00:23:22.924 --> 00:23:24.259
Is the oldest surviving bible passage currently
00:23:24.326 --> 00:23:25.861
Bible passage currently in existence.
00:23:25.927 --> 00:23:29.030
In existence. i tracked the oldest copies
00:23:29.097 --> 00:23:30.398
I tracked the oldest copies of the bible written on
00:23:30.465 --> 00:23:31.433
Of the bible written on a pot or on parchment.
00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:33.802
A pot or on parchment. this is it, dates
00:23:33.869 --> 00:23:34.903
This is it, dates back to 600 b.c.
00:23:34.970 --> 00:23:36.371
Back to 600 b.c. and does anyone want
00:23:36.438 --> 00:23:37.339
And does anyone want to guess what it says?
00:23:37.405 --> 00:23:42.410
To guess what it says? "the lord bless you
00:23:42.477 --> 00:23:44.679
"the lord bless you and keep you.
00:23:44.746 --> 00:23:46.948
And keep you. the lord make his face
00:23:47.015 --> 00:23:47.816
The lord make his face shine upon you
00:23:47.883 --> 00:23:48.283
Shine upon you and be gracious to you.
00:23:48.350 --> 00:23:49.417
And be gracious to you. the lord look on you with favor,
00:23:49.484 --> 00:23:50.819
The lord look on you with favor, and may that give you
00:23:50.886 --> 00:23:53.989
And may that give you and you and you peace."
00:23:54.055 --> 00:24:01.429
And you and you peace." let's pray.
00:24:01.496 --> 00:24:03.465
Let's pray. god, that does give us peace.
00:24:03.532 --> 00:24:06.768
God, that does give us peace. to think that you're god
00:24:06.835 --> 00:24:08.403
To think that you're god and you're not just a busy,
00:24:08.470 --> 00:24:11.139
And you're not just a busy, overwhelmed dad running
00:24:11.206 --> 00:24:13.241
Overwhelmed dad running the universe.
00:24:13.308 --> 00:24:14.376
The universe. you are a father in heaven
00:24:14.442 --> 00:24:15.777
You are a father in heaven who speaks individually
00:24:15.844 --> 00:24:16.912
Who speaks individually to each of our hearts.
00:24:16.978 --> 00:24:20.315
To each of our hearts. god, it's hard to be ungrateful
00:24:20.382 --> 00:24:21.816
God, it's hard to be ungrateful when we really think.
00:24:21.883 --> 00:24:24.452
When we really think. and if it was just
00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:25.120
And if it was just the physical things,
00:24:25.186 --> 00:24:25.887
The physical things, there's plenty to
00:24:25.954 --> 00:24:26.755
There's plenty to keep us grateful,
00:24:26.821 --> 00:24:27.622
Keep us grateful, even non-believers know that.
00:24:27.689 --> 00:24:30.225
Even non-believers know that. but for those of us
00:24:30.292 --> 00:24:30.892
But for those of us who know your son,
00:24:30.959 --> 00:24:32.394
Who know your son, who have been saved
00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:33.161
Who have been saved and then blessed by being
00:24:33.228 --> 00:24:34.429
And then blessed by being kept, oh man, how can we
00:24:34.496 --> 00:24:36.431
Kept, oh man, how can we complain, god?
00:24:36.498 --> 00:24:37.098
Complain, god? you have been so good to us.
00:24:37.165 --> 00:24:40.402
You have been so good to us. we're so grateful that
00:24:40.468 --> 00:24:41.102
We're so grateful that because of jesus,
00:24:41.169 --> 00:24:41.836
Because of jesus, your face is shining upon us.
00:24:41.903 --> 00:24:43.271
Your face is shining upon us. that that hasn't changed.
00:24:43.338 --> 00:24:45.840
That that hasn't changed. it's really what gives us
00:24:45.907 --> 00:24:46.641
It's really what gives us peace at the end of the day.
00:24:46.708 --> 00:24:47.709
Peace at the end of the day. and so, god, open our eyes
00:24:47.776 --> 00:24:49.544
And so, god, open our eyes to see the height and the width
00:24:49.611 --> 00:24:51.279
To see the height and the width and the depth of your love
00:24:51.346 --> 00:24:53.648
And the depth of your love that our number would increase
00:24:53.715 --> 00:24:54.549
That our number would increase in leaps and bounds
00:24:54.616 --> 00:24:55.383
In leaps and bounds and we would say out
00:24:55.450 --> 00:24:56.618
And we would say out of all the people on earth,
00:24:56.685 --> 00:24:57.619
Of all the people on earth, we who follow jesus
00:24:57.686 --> 00:24:59.187
We who follow jesus are so, so, blessed.
00:24:59.254 --> 00:25:02.324
Are so, so, blessed. father, for anyone here
00:25:02.390 --> 00:25:03.024
Today who doesn't,
00:25:03.124 --> 00:25:04.659
Help them to know that
00:25:04.726 --> 00:25:05.694
This blessing is for them too.
00:25:05.760 --> 00:25:08.196
That by coming to jesus,
00:25:08.263 --> 00:25:09.164
Repenting of their sins,
00:25:09.230 --> 00:25:10.265
And believing in his name,
00:25:10.332 --> 00:25:11.266
Everything i just said
00:25:11.333 --> 00:25:12.167
Can be theirs this very
00:25:12.233 --> 00:25:13.335
Moment because your blessings
00:25:13.401 --> 00:25:15.604
Come not by our good works,
00:25:15.670 --> 00:25:16.671
But by the good work
00:25:16.738 --> 00:25:17.839
Of our savior jesus christ.
00:25:17.906 --> 00:25:21.276
We live in a complicated
00:25:21.343 --> 00:25:22.777
World, lord.
00:25:22.844 --> 00:25:24.512
There's many people,
00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:25.146
Even within the church
00:25:25.213 --> 00:25:25.780
Who have lost their peace,
00:25:25.847 --> 00:25:27.015
And we want to turn
00:25:27.082 --> 00:25:27.616
Our attention to this blessing
00:25:27.682 --> 00:25:28.683
That reminds us that
00:25:28.750 --> 00:25:29.951
We don't have to lose it.
00:25:30.018 --> 00:25:31.820
There's so many good things
00:25:31.886 --> 00:25:32.454
Right now that are ours
00:25:32.520 --> 00:25:33.822
Because you are a god
00:25:33.888 --> 00:25:34.489
Who's put your name upon us,
00:25:34.556 --> 00:25:36.324
Who goes before us,
00:25:36.391 --> 00:25:37.292
And beside us, and behind us.
00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:38.727
Your spirit is within us.
00:25:38.793 --> 00:25:40.595
Father, this is what
00:25:40.662 --> 00:25:41.563
Gives us peace.
00:25:41.630 --> 00:25:42.931
So, we will not ask you
00:25:42.998 --> 00:25:44.599
Just to bless us today
00:25:44.666 --> 00:25:45.433
Because we already are.
00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:47.135
Instead, open our eyes
00:25:47.202 --> 00:25:47.802
To the blessings
00:25:47.869 --> 00:25:48.436
We already have.
00:25:48.503 --> 00:25:50.205
We pray this all,
00:25:50.271 --> 00:25:50.705
In the mighty name of jesus,
00:25:50.772 --> 00:25:52.707
And all of god's people
00:25:52.774 --> 00:25:53.508
Said, "amen."
00:25:53.575 --> 00:25:55.477
>> violence, betrayal,
00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:59.280
Deception, exploitation.
00:25:59.381 --> 00:26:02.484
The same darkness that fills
00:26:02.584 --> 00:26:03.985
Today's headlines first appeared
00:26:04.085 --> 00:26:06.121
At the pages of scripture.
00:26:06.221 --> 00:26:07.622
But unlike the world's
00:26:07.722 --> 00:26:08.623
True crime stories,
00:26:08.723 --> 00:26:10.191
These aren't tales of despair.
00:26:10.291 --> 00:26:12.694
True crimes of the bible,
00:26:12.794 --> 00:26:13.928
Too, takes you inside some
00:26:14.029 --> 00:26:15.296
Of the most shocking accounts
00:26:15.397 --> 00:26:16.598
In scripture.
00:26:16.698 --> 00:26:17.766
Yet even in
00:26:17.866 --> 00:26:18.733
The worst moments of sin,
00:26:18.833 --> 00:26:19.868
You'll see a god who never
00:26:19.968 --> 00:26:21.269
Walks away.
00:26:21.369 --> 00:26:22.370
Because the most shocking truth
00:26:22.470 --> 00:26:24.239
Is what god's grace can do
00:26:24.339 --> 00:26:26.441
In the aftermath.
00:26:26.541 --> 00:26:28.143
True crimes of the bible 2
00:26:28.243 --> 00:26:29.177
Is our way of thanking you for
00:26:29.277 --> 00:26:30.378
Your financial support.
00:26:30.478 --> 00:26:32.113
Request yours today
00:26:32.213 --> 00:26:33.381
By calling 800-661-3311,
00:26:33.481 --> 00:26:36.851
Visiting timeofgrace.org,
00:26:36.951 --> 00:26:38.620
Or writing us at p.o. box 301,
00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:41.389
Milwaukee, wi 53201.
00:26:41.489 --> 00:26:44.125
♪ ♪
00:26:44.426 --> 00:26:52.600
>> time of grace
00:26:53.768 --> 00:26:54.602
Doesn't end here.
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Visit timeofgrace.org
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And explore
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00:27:15.824 --> 00:27:16.591
Thank you so much
00:27:16.691 --> 00:27:17.525
For your support.
00:27:17.625 --> 00:27:18.059
>> see you next week
00:27:19.127 --> 00:27:19.661
On time of grace.
00:27:19.728 --> 00:27:20.662

Mike Novotny - Forgotten Blessings

February 12, 2026 | 27:29

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