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Touching Lives with Dr. James Merritt

James Merritt - Bringing the Umbrella

April 13, 2025 | S25:E22

James Merritt - Bringing the Umbrella
Touching Lives is the international broadcast ministry of Dr. James Merritt.
#Faith #WalkwithGod #Prayer #Religion #PromisesofGod #Ministry #WordofGod #inActive #Depression #Disappointed #JamesMerritt

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Touching Lives with Dr. James Merritt | James Merritt - Bringing the Umbrella | April 13, 2025
  • ...
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  • Male announcer: welcome to the international broadcast ministry
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  • Of "touching lives" with dr. james merritt.
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  • Here at "touching lives," our mission is to touch the lives of
  • 00:00:10.726 --> 00:00:11.794
  • The lost and enrich the faith of the found.
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  • And now here is pastor, author, and speaker dr. james merritt.
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  • James merritt: it was the worst drought to this day in
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  • American history.
  • 00:00:31.246 --> 00:00:32.848
  • It took place in texas between 1949 and 1957.
  • 00:00:32.848 --> 00:00:38.620
  • The entire state received 30 to 50% less than the normal amount
  • 00:00:38.620 --> 00:00:43.826
  • Of rain at that time.
  • 00:00:43.826 --> 00:00:46.929
  • Texans experienced the second, third, and eighth driest single
  • 00:00:46.929 --> 00:00:52.668
  • Years ever in the history of that state.
  • 00:00:52.668 --> 00:00:55.104
  • I want you to listen to this.
  • 00:00:55.104 --> 00:00:57.039
  • Because of that drought--when the drought started, texas had
  • 00:00:57.039 --> 00:01:00.809
  • 345,000 farms and ranches.
  • 00:01:00.809 --> 00:01:04.012
  • When the drought ended, they had 247,000.
  • 00:01:04.012 --> 00:01:07.883
  • They lost 100,000 farms and ranches because there was
  • 00:01:07.883 --> 00:01:13.722
  • No rain.
  • 00:01:13.722 --> 00:01:15.524
  • The state's rural population declined for more than a third
  • 00:01:15.524 --> 00:01:18.327
  • Of the state to a quarter.
  • 00:01:18.327 --> 00:01:20.329
  • Now, this is the most mind-boggling thing to me.
  • 00:01:20.329 --> 00:01:23.098
  • By the time that drought ended in 1957, 244 of the 254 counties
  • 00:01:23.098 --> 00:01:30.405
  • In texas were declared federal disaster areas.
  • 00:01:30.405 --> 00:01:33.842
  • In effect, the largest physical state in the contiguous 48
  • 00:01:33.842 --> 00:01:38.981
  • States on this--in our country, the entire state was declared a
  • 00:01:38.981 --> 00:01:44.386
  • Federal disaster area.
  • 00:01:44.386 --> 00:01:47.789
  • So for almost 8 years there was a word that nobody ever used.
  • 00:01:47.789 --> 00:01:54.663
  • For almost 8 years there was a word you never heard, and that
  • 00:01:54.663 --> 00:01:59.902
  • Word was umbrella.
  • 00:01:59.902 --> 00:02:03.639
  • If you owned an umbrella company, you went bankrupt
  • 00:02:03.639 --> 00:02:07.109
  • Because nobody needed an umbrella.
  • 00:02:07.109 --> 00:02:10.445
  • And you know what's amazing?
  • 00:02:10.445 --> 00:02:11.780
  • That's been almost what, 70 years ago?
  • 00:02:11.780 --> 00:02:15.417
  • And yet even to this day with all of our technological
  • 00:02:15.417 --> 00:02:18.554
  • Advancement and all of our increase in knowledge and all of
  • 00:02:18.554 --> 00:02:21.089
  • Our financial resources and education, we still know
  • 00:02:21.089 --> 00:02:23.992
  • Something, whether we want to admit it or not.
  • 00:02:23.992 --> 00:02:26.728
  • When you're in a drought, only god can get you out.
  • 00:02:26.728 --> 00:02:33.735
  • That leads to a story of the greatest drought in the bible.
  • 00:02:30.265 --> 00:02:36.238
  • As a matter of fact, the drought we're going to read about today
  • 00:02:36.238 --> 00:02:40.042
  • And what was experienced then was a big d compared to the
  • 00:02:40.042 --> 00:02:44.846
  • Little d that was in texas.
  • 00:02:44.846 --> 00:02:47.816
  • So i want you to turn to 1 kings chapter 17.
  • 00:02:47.816 --> 00:02:52.487
  • Because even in texas, somewhere--sometime somewhere
  • 00:02:52.487 --> 00:02:57.492
  • Everybody got some rain.
  • 00:02:57.492 --> 00:02:59.328
  • But when you turn to 1 kings--by the way, go to genesis,
  • 00:02:59.328 --> 00:03:01.930
  • Turn right.
  • 00:03:01.930 --> 00:03:03.265
  • Can't miss it.
  • 00:03:03.265 --> 00:03:04.633
  • When you go to 1 kings 17, in samaria--now, think about this.
  • 00:03:04.633 --> 00:03:08.370
  • For 3 1/2 years, 36 months, 1,095 days,
  • 00:03:08.370 --> 00:03:17.312
  • 26,280 hours, not one drop
  • 00:03:17.312 --> 00:03:23.318
  • Of rain, not even one minuscule drop of dew, not one
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  • Cloud in the sky.
  • 00:03:29.391 --> 00:03:30.726
  • Not one.
  • 00:03:30.726 --> 00:03:32.060
  • Think about going 3 1/2 years and not even seeing a cloud in
  • 00:03:32.060 --> 00:03:34.463
  • The sky.
  • 00:03:34.463 --> 00:03:35.831
  • Try to get that in your mind.
  • 00:03:35.831 --> 00:03:37.199
  • Once-flowing rivers turned into dirt mattresses, streams dried
  • 00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:40.936
  • Up, wells ran dry, crops burned to a crystal and then there were
  • 00:03:40.936 --> 00:03:44.006
  • No crops, and everywhere you went there were carcasses of
  • 00:03:44.006 --> 00:03:47.109
  • Dead animals just lying in the desert because they had
  • 00:03:47.109 --> 00:03:52.314
  • No water.
  • 00:03:52.314 --> 00:03:54.516
  • And all the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put
  • 00:03:54.516 --> 00:03:59.521
  • Samaria back together again, and all of this happened because of
  • 00:03:59.521 --> 00:04:05.260
  • A prophecy made by a prophet named elijah and a promise from
  • 00:04:05.260 --> 00:04:09.364
  • The one that turns all the rain off and all the rain on and
  • 00:04:09.364 --> 00:04:12.901
  • That's god 'cause let me remind you of what's going on.
  • 00:04:12.901 --> 00:04:15.203
  • Three and a half years earlier, elijah walked into the palace,
  • 00:04:15.203 --> 00:04:18.674
  • Looked king ahab straight in the eye, and here's what he said.
  • 00:04:18.674 --> 00:04:21.877
  • "now elijah the tishbite, from tishbe in gilead, said to ahab,
  • 00:04:21.877 --> 00:04:25.614
  • 'as the lord, the god of israel, lives, whom i serve, there will
  • 00:04:25.614 --> 00:04:28.617
  • Be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at
  • 00:04:28.617 --> 00:04:32.287
  • My word.'"
  • 00:04:32.287 --> 00:04:34.089
  • Now, keep in mind two things that are going on.
  • 00:04:34.089 --> 00:04:36.825
  • First of all, it was god that caused the problem; and number
  • 00:04:36.825 --> 00:04:40.162
  • Two, he made elijah a part of the problem.
  • 00:04:40.162 --> 00:04:43.098
  • Now we come to the part of the story where god's going to solve
  • 00:04:43.098 --> 00:04:45.634
  • The problem and he makes elijah the part of the solution, but
  • 00:04:45.634 --> 00:04:50.105
  • What i want you to see is the way that god uses elijah to
  • 00:04:50.105 --> 00:04:53.842
  • Solve the problem is the way god wants to use us to solve all of
  • 00:04:53.842 --> 00:04:57.379
  • Our problems.
  • 00:04:57.379 --> 00:04:58.714
  • Everybody walked in here today with a problem, at least one.
  • 00:04:58.714 --> 00:05:02.384
  • I don't know how the storm affected you, but i had all my
  • 00:05:02.384 --> 00:05:05.387
  • Family over last night to watch the game, and we were
  • 00:05:05.387 --> 00:05:08.990
  • Fixing--you know, cooked out and we're having fun.
  • 00:05:08.990 --> 00:05:10.726
  • We were in the kitchen.
  • 00:05:10.726 --> 00:05:12.060
  • All of a sudden they said, "pop, look."
  • 00:05:12.060 --> 00:05:13.595
  • I got this big bubble on my wall.
  • 00:05:13.595 --> 00:05:16.431
  • I got a water problem.
  • 00:05:16.431 --> 00:05:17.799
  • I got a guy coming this afternoon to look at it.
  • 00:05:17.799 --> 00:05:20.202
  • I've got a bubble problem in my wall, and we've all
  • 00:05:20.202 --> 00:05:23.572
  • Got problems.
  • 00:05:23.572 --> 00:05:24.940
  • Now, you may say, "man, that's nothing.
  • 00:05:24.940 --> 00:05:26.274
  • I got a bigger problem than--" i get it.
  • 00:05:26.274 --> 00:05:27.642
  • We all have got problems.
  • 00:05:27.642 --> 00:05:28.977
  • Maybe you walked in here this morning discouraged,
  • 00:05:28.977 --> 00:05:32.247
  • Disappointed, depressed.
  • 00:05:32.247 --> 00:05:34.783
  • By the way, so did i, so maybe you walked in here this morning
  • 00:05:34.783 --> 00:05:38.253
  • Like that and you say, "man, you're talking to me."
  • 00:05:38.253 --> 00:05:40.756
  • Well, let me tell you something.
  • 00:05:40.756 --> 00:05:42.157
  • The way that god used elijah to solve his problem is the same
  • 00:05:42.157 --> 00:05:47.095
  • Thing that god wants to use us to solve our problems, and it's
  • 00:05:47.095 --> 00:05:50.465
  • Found in one word, and that one word is prayer.
  • 00:05:50.465 --> 00:05:54.970
  • Now, we're studying--if you're a guest of ours today we're in the
  • 00:05:54.970 --> 00:05:57.139
  • Life of elijah, one of the most famous prophets in the old
  • 00:05:57.139 --> 00:05:59.408
  • Testament, and we're calling this series "the god life."
  • 00:05:59.408 --> 00:06:02.411
  • And if you've missed the series, let me just tell you that i've
  • 00:06:02.411 --> 00:06:04.813
  • Been saying god did not put us here to live the good life.
  • 00:06:04.813 --> 00:06:08.717
  • God put us here to live the god life.
  • 00:06:08.717 --> 00:06:11.953
  • And we're here to live the god life, and the god life is a
  • 00:06:11.953 --> 00:06:15.924
  • Pure life and the god life is a powerful life, but the god life
  • 00:06:15.924 --> 00:06:19.227
  • Is also a prayerful life.
  • 00:06:19.227 --> 00:06:21.630
  • And as you're going to see right now, one of the reasons why i
  • 00:06:21.630 --> 00:06:24.099
  • Even know there was a man named elijah this prophet, the reason
  • 00:06:24.099 --> 00:06:27.936
  • We're even talking about this guy right now who, by the way,
  • 00:06:27.936 --> 00:06:31.173
  • Was a nobody from nowhere; the real reason why we know who this
  • 00:06:31.173 --> 00:06:35.310
  • Guy was, he was a powerful prayer.
  • 00:06:35.310 --> 00:06:40.282
  • He knew how to pray.
  • 00:06:40.282 --> 00:06:43.118
  • So i want you to remember the book of james, i've been telling
  • 00:06:43.118 --> 00:06:45.187
  • You this, he tells us elijah was a man just like us, and you need
  • 00:06:45.187 --> 00:06:48.557
  • To keep this in mind.
  • 00:06:48.557 --> 00:06:49.891
  • Elijah was not superman.
  • 00:06:49.891 --> 00:06:52.494
  • He didn't come out of a phone booth.
  • 00:06:52.494 --> 00:06:54.996
  • He didn't wear a costume with a red cape.
  • 00:06:54.996 --> 00:06:56.865
  • He could not leap tall buildings on a simple--single bound.
  • 00:06:56.865 --> 00:06:59.835
  • He was a man just like us.
  • 00:06:59.835 --> 00:07:02.771
  • You got problems?
  • 00:07:02.771 --> 00:07:04.105
  • He had problems.
  • 00:07:04.105 --> 00:07:06.541
  • You got passions?
  • 00:07:06.541 --> 00:07:07.876
  • He's got passions.
  • 00:07:07.876 --> 00:07:09.811
  • But just like us--just like him, we could be just like elijah in
  • 00:07:09.811 --> 00:07:15.183
  • Our prayers.
  • 00:07:15.183 --> 00:07:17.552
  • Elijah lived a powerful life.
  • 00:07:17.552 --> 00:07:20.589
  • God wants you to live a powerful life.
  • 00:07:20.589 --> 00:07:23.625
  • What you're going to learn today is this.
  • 00:07:23.625 --> 00:07:25.327
  • You're going to learn that the secret to a powerful life is a
  • 00:07:25.327 --> 00:07:29.431
  • Prayerful life.
  • 00:07:29.431 --> 00:07:30.765
  • That's the secret.
  • 00:07:30.765 --> 00:07:32.133
  • Powerful life is a prayerful life.
  • 00:07:32.133 --> 00:07:34.202
  • Now, let me just be very honest with you.
  • 00:07:34.202 --> 00:07:35.804
  • I don't know if you'll like me or not.
  • 00:07:35.804 --> 00:07:37.172
  • I'm going to be very honest.
  • 00:07:37.172 --> 00:07:38.507
  • Prayer is hard work to me.
  • 00:07:38.507 --> 00:07:40.275
  • It's just hard.
  • 00:07:40.275 --> 00:07:41.610
  • There's not a harder part of my life than praying.
  • 00:07:41.610 --> 00:07:45.013
  • Working on a sermon, i worked all day friday almost from
  • 00:07:45.013 --> 00:07:47.782
  • Sundown to sunup.
  • 00:07:47.782 --> 00:07:49.117
  • Love it.
  • 00:07:49.117 --> 00:07:50.485
  • Could work on sermons all day long.
  • 00:07:50.485 --> 00:07:51.820
  • Love to share my faith.
  • 00:07:51.820 --> 00:07:53.188
  • I'm always trying to tell people--i got to share the
  • 00:07:53.188 --> 00:07:54.656
  • Gospel just a while ago with a man's not a believer right out
  • 00:07:54.656 --> 00:07:56.858
  • There in the lobby.
  • 00:07:56.858 --> 00:07:58.193
  • Love to do that.
  • 00:07:58.193 --> 00:07:59.561
  • Could do it all day long.
  • 00:07:59.561 --> 00:08:00.896
  • Prayer is hard work.
  • 00:08:00.896 --> 00:08:02.430
  • So we need to learn, i need to learn how to pray powerfully in
  • 00:08:02.430 --> 00:08:05.901
  • Such a way that we can see god work before our very eyes.
  • 00:08:05.901 --> 00:08:09.604
  • So if you're one of those people that would say today, "pastor, i
  • 00:08:09.604 --> 00:08:12.340
  • Want to live a powerful life," if you're one of those people
  • 00:08:12.340 --> 00:08:14.943
  • That understand today you got problems you can't solve and you
  • 00:08:14.943 --> 00:08:17.546
  • Need god to solve it, you're in a situation you can't handle and
  • 00:08:17.546 --> 00:08:21.249
  • You need god to answer it, god says, "okay, you got one tool in
  • 00:08:21.249 --> 00:08:25.220
  • Your toolbox.
  • 00:08:25.220 --> 00:08:26.555
  • If you don't use it, it was--not going to work."
  • 00:08:26.555 --> 00:08:28.023
  • And that tool is prayer.
  • 00:08:28.023 --> 00:08:30.892
  • So how do you pray in such a way that you know god hears and
  • 00:08:30.892 --> 00:08:35.263
  • God answers?
  • 00:08:35.263 --> 00:08:36.631
  • I'm going to tell you five things, but they're super quick.
  • 00:08:36.631 --> 00:08:38.266
  • You ready?
  • 00:08:38.266 --> 00:08:39.634
  • First of all, pray privately.
  • 00:08:39.634 --> 00:08:42.304
  • Key number one, pray privately.
  • 00:08:42.304 --> 00:08:45.674
  • Now, i want you to keep in mind 450 prophets, they've just been
  • 00:08:45.674 --> 00:08:48.276
  • Slaughtered, just been buried.
  • 00:08:48.276 --> 00:08:49.611
  • If you were here last week, they had this big, you know, contest
  • 00:08:49.611 --> 00:08:51.713
  • On mount carmel.
  • 00:08:51.713 --> 00:08:53.048
  • All these prophets slaughtered and buried.
  • 00:08:53.048 --> 00:08:54.616
  • The smoke from the fire that god had sent to consume that
  • 00:08:54.616 --> 00:08:57.752
  • Sacrifice still smoldering, but now for the first time, maybe
  • 00:08:57.752 --> 00:09:01.656
  • For the first time in a long time, the king's been reminded
  • 00:09:01.656 --> 00:09:03.858
  • Of something.
  • 00:09:03.858 --> 00:09:05.293
  • "king ahab, you're not in charge.
  • 00:09:05.293 --> 00:09:08.897
  • God's in charge, and god has put his prophet in charge."
  • 00:09:08.897 --> 00:09:14.135
  • So now the king's about to have something happen he's never had
  • 00:09:14.135 --> 00:09:16.771
  • Happen in his life.
  • 00:09:16.771 --> 00:09:18.139
  • He's always used to giving orders.
  • 00:09:18.139 --> 00:09:19.975
  • Now he's going to get orders.
  • 00:09:19.975 --> 00:09:21.343
  • Here's what we read.
  • 00:09:21.343 --> 00:09:22.744
  • "and elijah said to ahab, 'go, eat and drink, for there is the
  • 00:09:22.744 --> 00:09:26.481
  • Sound of heavy rain.'"
  • 00:09:26.481 --> 00:09:29.684
  • Now, what's going on?
  • 00:09:29.684 --> 00:09:31.052
  • Well, why does he say, elijah, go get--go, eat and drink?
  • 00:09:31.052 --> 00:09:33.054
  • I'll tell you why.
  • 00:09:33.054 --> 00:09:34.422
  • He's had about all of ahab he wants.
  • 00:09:34.422 --> 00:09:36.358
  • He's sick of ahab.
  • 00:09:36.358 --> 00:09:37.926
  • He wants ahab to leave.
  • 00:09:37.926 --> 00:09:39.260
  • He wants to get rid of ahab.
  • 00:09:39.260 --> 00:09:40.629
  • So he's saying, "ahab, i want you to go eat.
  • 00:09:40.629 --> 00:09:41.963
  • I want you to go get something to drink."
  • 00:09:41.963 --> 00:09:43.431
  • It's been a long day.
  • 00:09:43.431 --> 00:09:45.000
  • He's fought these 450 prophets.
  • 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:46.801
  • He's had this great contest.
  • 00:09:46.801 --> 00:09:48.136
  • He's kind of tired.
  • 00:09:48.136 --> 00:09:49.504
  • He's worn out.
  • 00:09:49.504 --> 00:09:50.839
  • He says, "look, go get something to eat because for the first
  • 00:09:50.839 --> 00:09:52.941
  • Time in 3 1/2 years i've heard something you've not heard.
  • 00:09:52.941 --> 00:09:56.645
  • Nobody else has heard in 3 1/2 years.
  • 00:09:56.645 --> 00:09:58.613
  • I hear the sound of a heavy rain."
  • 00:09:58.613 --> 00:10:03.652
  • Now, in the original hebrew language, here's what it
  • 00:10:03.652 --> 00:10:05.553
  • Literally says.
  • 00:10:05.553 --> 00:10:06.921
  • "i hear the feet of rain approaching."
  • 00:10:06.921 --> 00:10:10.892
  • Now, i'll be honest.
  • 00:10:10.892 --> 00:10:12.260
  • I don't know if elijah physically heard that with the
  • 00:10:12.260 --> 00:10:13.995
  • Ears of his flesh or he spiritually heard it with the
  • 00:10:13.995 --> 00:10:16.765
  • Ears of faith.
  • 00:10:16.765 --> 00:10:18.133
  • Either way, he knows something.
  • 00:10:18.133 --> 00:10:20.035
  • God is about to keep his promise.
  • 00:10:20.035 --> 00:10:21.870
  • Because remember when elijah says this to the king, there's
  • 00:10:21.870 --> 00:10:26.174
  • Not a cloud in the sky, there's no sound of thunder, there's no
  • 00:10:26.174 --> 00:10:30.979
  • Flash of lightning.
  • 00:10:30.979 --> 00:10:32.480
  • If a weatherman had been standing next to elijah, he
  • 00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:34.716
  • Would have said, "elijah, you have lost your mind.
  • 00:10:34.716 --> 00:10:37.419
  • What do you mean you hear the sound of rain?"
  • 00:10:37.419 --> 00:10:40.388
  • Well, what does elijah do next?
  • 00:10:40.388 --> 00:10:43.058
  • "so ahab went off to eat and drink, but elijah climbed to the
  • 00:10:43.058 --> 00:10:47.862
  • Top of carmel, bent down to the ground, and he put his face
  • 00:10:47.862 --> 00:10:51.232
  • Between his knees."
  • 00:10:51.232 --> 00:10:52.634
  • What does he do?
  • 00:10:52.634 --> 00:10:54.102
  • He goes off by himself, he gets into a private place, and he
  • 00:10:54.102 --> 00:10:58.073
  • Begins to pray.
  • 00:10:58.073 --> 00:10:59.441
  • Doesn't see a cloud in the sky, doesn't see a drop of rain, but
  • 00:10:59.441 --> 00:11:03.011
  • He hears the rain coming.
  • 00:11:03.011 --> 00:11:04.879
  • Now, why does the bible say this?
  • 00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:07.182
  • Doesn't see it, but he hears it.
  • 00:11:07.182 --> 00:11:10.318
  • Why does the bible tell us there was sound before there
  • 00:11:10.318 --> 00:11:15.623
  • Was sight?
  • 00:11:15.623 --> 00:11:17.692
  • Because elijah didn't do what most of us do 'cause here's what
  • 00:11:17.692 --> 00:11:21.529
  • Most of us do.
  • 00:11:21.529 --> 00:11:23.898
  • Most of us would have waited and said, "i tell you what.
  • 00:11:23.898 --> 00:11:27.068
  • I'll pray when i see the cloud.
  • 00:11:27.068 --> 00:11:29.871
  • I'll pray when the first drop falls."
  • 00:11:29.871 --> 00:11:31.840
  • I want to tell you something.
  • 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:33.174
  • That's not the way god operates.
  • 00:11:33.174 --> 00:11:34.542
  • When you hear god's word, you do what you know god wants you to
  • 00:11:34.542 --> 00:11:37.078
  • Do before you ever see god ask.
  • 00:11:37.078 --> 00:11:39.214
  • That's what the bible calls we walking by--we're walking
  • 00:11:39.214 --> 00:11:41.750
  • By faith.
  • 00:11:41.750 --> 00:11:43.084
  • We're not walking by sight.
  • 00:11:43.084 --> 00:11:44.452
  • Because remember what god had said to elijah at the beginning
  • 00:11:44.452 --> 00:11:46.755
  • Of chapter 18.
  • 00:11:46.755 --> 00:11:48.123
  • If you don't, let me remind you.
  • 00:11:48.123 --> 00:11:49.958
  • "after a long time, in the third year, the word of the lord came
  • 00:11:49.958 --> 00:11:52.127
  • To elijah: 'go and present yourself to ahab, and i will
  • 00:11:52.127 --> 00:11:55.196
  • Send rain on the land.'"
  • 00:11:55.196 --> 00:11:58.333
  • So i'm learning something about elijah and about the god life.
  • 00:11:58.333 --> 00:12:01.169
  • When god commands you to do something, you just do it.
  • 00:12:01.169 --> 00:12:07.041
  • Now, i know you know what i'm about to say is true.
  • 00:12:07.041 --> 00:12:08.977
  • Prayer demands faith.
  • 00:12:08.977 --> 00:12:11.279
  • You want god to do something, you got to believe god will act.
  • 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:14.816
  • But the reason why god doesn't act, because we forget the
  • 00:12:14.816 --> 00:12:17.118
  • Second half of that coin.
  • 00:12:17.118 --> 00:12:18.820
  • The first half says prayer demands faith, but the second
  • 00:12:18.820 --> 00:12:23.458
  • Half of that coin says faith demands obedience.
  • 00:12:23.458 --> 00:12:27.829
  • See, elijah knew the most powerful way to win the day is
  • 00:12:27.829 --> 00:12:30.098
  • To pray.
  • 00:12:30.098 --> 00:12:31.432
  • So what does he do?
  • 00:12:31.432 --> 00:12:32.801
  • He gets off, and he gets alone with god.
  • 00:12:32.801 --> 00:12:34.469
  • Now, you may be saying, "pastor, why are you so big on
  • 00:12:34.469 --> 00:12:38.072
  • Praying privately?
  • 00:12:38.072 --> 00:12:39.440
  • What's the big deal?
  • 00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:40.775
  • Why do you say i need to get alone just me and god and
  • 00:12:40.775 --> 00:12:43.011
  • Nobody else?"
  • 00:12:43.011 --> 00:12:44.379
  • Because when you get alone privately, when you get by
  • 00:12:44.379 --> 00:12:47.816
  • Yourself, nobody's around and you're praying to god just you
  • 00:12:47.816 --> 00:12:50.585
  • And him, you know two things are true.
  • 00:12:50.585 --> 00:12:53.655
  • Number one, you're not trying to impress anybody except god; and
  • 00:12:53.655 --> 00:12:57.892
  • Number two, you're letting god know that you believe he answers
  • 00:12:57.892 --> 00:13:01.529
  • Prayer, and that you mean business.
  • 00:13:01.529 --> 00:13:04.599
  • Because here's what's true about me, here's what's true about
  • 00:13:04.599 --> 00:13:07.502
  • You, here's what's true about every one of us right now:
  • 00:13:07.502 --> 00:13:10.705
  • You really are what you really are when you're alone with god.
  • 00:13:10.705 --> 00:13:14.175
  • That's what you are.
  • 00:13:14.175 --> 00:13:16.211
  • Now, you can come into this house and you can raise your
  • 00:13:16.211 --> 00:13:18.179
  • Hand when we're praising the lord and take out a bible when
  • 00:13:18.179 --> 00:13:21.049
  • I'm preaching and maybe you can write down notes, and that's all
  • 00:13:21.049 --> 00:13:23.551
  • Well, and that's all good.
  • 00:13:23.551 --> 00:13:25.253
  • God never says, "i might.
  • 00:13:25.253 --> 00:13:29.023
  • I may.
  • 00:13:29.023 --> 00:13:31.092
  • I can.
  • 00:13:31.092 --> 00:13:33.661
  • I should.
  • 00:13:33.661 --> 00:13:35.864
  • I could."
  • 00:13:35.864 --> 00:13:37.966
  • When god makes a promise, he always uses only two words:
  • 00:13:37.966 --> 00:13:41.636
  • "i will."
  • 00:13:41.636 --> 00:13:43.371
  • Because when you think about it, the only reason we know that
  • 00:13:43.371 --> 00:13:45.139
  • Elijah is in the bible, the only reason we know about this man is
  • 00:13:45.139 --> 00:13:48.243
  • Because of two things.
  • 00:13:48.243 --> 00:13:49.577
  • God made a promise and elijah believed that god would keep
  • 00:13:49.577 --> 00:13:52.513
  • That promise.
  • 00:13:52.513 --> 00:13:53.882
  • You know, we have a saying.
  • 00:13:53.882 --> 00:13:55.783
  • Our saying is seeing is believing.
  • 00:13:55.783 --> 00:13:59.754
  • You know, people from missouri--it's called the show
  • 00:13:59.754 --> 00:14:01.656
  • Me state.
  • 00:14:01.656 --> 00:14:03.024
  • You know, they have to go, "you show me, then i'll believe."
  • 00:14:03.024 --> 00:14:04.626
  • Seeing is believing.
  • 00:14:04.626 --> 00:14:05.960
  • Can i be honest?
  • 00:14:05.960 --> 00:14:07.295
  • The bible does not teach seeing is believing, the bible teaches
  • 00:14:07.295 --> 00:14:09.764
  • Believing is seeing.
  • 00:14:09.764 --> 00:14:11.699
  • Believing is seeing, that's what the bible teaches.
  • 00:14:11.699 --> 00:14:14.736
  • I mean, even when there was not a drop of cloud--not a cloud in
  • 00:14:14.736 --> 00:14:17.705
  • The sky, not a drop of rain, did you what--did you hear what
  • 00:14:17.705 --> 00:14:21.409
  • Elijah just said to ahab?
  • 00:14:21.409 --> 00:14:23.444
  • No cloud in the sky, no drop of rain, but he said four words to
  • 00:14:23.444 --> 00:14:27.482
  • Him: "get out the umbrella."
  • 00:14:27.482 --> 00:14:29.784
  • "what?"
  • 00:14:29.784 --> 00:14:31.119
  • "get out the umbrella."
  • 00:14:31.119 --> 00:14:32.453
  • "but there--" "doesn't matter.
  • 00:14:32.453 --> 00:14:33.821
  • Get out the umbrella."
  • 00:14:33.821 --> 00:14:35.156
  • Listen, one of the marks of a mature faith is when you realize
  • 00:14:35.156 --> 00:14:37.825
  • You will not believe it just when you see it, you'll see it
  • 00:14:37.825 --> 00:14:40.461
  • When you truly believe it because when you first--when you
  • 00:14:40.461 --> 00:14:43.598
  • Pray god expe--when you pray, god expects you to
  • 00:14:43.598 --> 00:14:46.367
  • Pray expectantly.
  • 00:14:46.367 --> 00:14:48.369
  • God wants you to live as if the answer is already here.
  • 00:14:48.369 --> 00:14:50.872
  • Now listen, let me ask--don't misunderstand me.
  • 00:14:50.872 --> 00:14:52.573
  • I'm going to say it again.
  • 00:14:52.573 --> 00:14:53.908
  • You don't have the right to assume that god will always give
  • 00:14:53.908 --> 00:14:57.312
  • You what you want when you want it.
  • 00:14:57.312 --> 00:14:59.013
  • It doesn't work that way, but i'll tell you what you can be
  • 00:14:59.013 --> 00:15:03.117
  • Guaranteed of.
  • 00:15:03.117 --> 00:15:06.454
  • God will always give you what you want.
  • 00:15:06.454 --> 00:15:09.958
  • Let me back up.
  • 00:15:09.958 --> 00:15:12.026
  • God will always give you what he wants when he wants to, and god
  • 00:15:12.026 --> 00:15:16.898
  • Will always give you what you need when you need it, but he
  • 00:15:16.898 --> 00:15:20.568
  • Expects you to pray expectantly.
  • 00:15:20.568 --> 00:15:22.804
  • He expects you to pray positively.
  • 00:15:22.804 --> 00:15:25.440
  • He expects you to hear the sound and then whether you got the
  • 00:15:25.440 --> 00:15:28.443
  • Sight or not, you go on the sound.
  • 00:15:28.443 --> 00:15:30.345
  • If you hear the sound of rain, you know god promised it's going
  • 00:15:30.345 --> 00:15:32.613
  • To rain, then you're going to live as if the rain is
  • 00:15:32.613 --> 00:15:35.316
  • Already there.
  • 00:15:35.316 --> 00:15:36.651
  • You're going to be telling everybody you know, "hey, get
  • 00:15:36.651 --> 00:15:37.986
  • Out the umbrella."
  • 00:15:37.986 --> 00:15:39.487
  • We ought to be like the old lady i read about, that she had a
  • 00:15:39.487 --> 00:15:42.657
  • Great attitude.
  • 00:15:42.657 --> 00:15:44.025
  • She moved into the senior adult assisted living home, and the
  • 00:15:44.025 --> 00:15:47.495
  • First day were there--that she was there, she saw this man.
  • 00:15:47.495 --> 00:15:51.199
  • Very attractive man to her.
  • 00:15:51.199 --> 00:15:53.601
  • So beginning that very first day, every time breakfast,
  • 00:15:53.601 --> 00:15:57.705
  • Lunch, and dinner she would go to the same table he was sitting
  • 00:15:57.705 --> 00:16:01.275
  • At, and she'd sit right across from him, would never say
  • 00:16:01.275 --> 00:16:03.878
  • A word.
  • 00:16:03.878 --> 00:16:05.246
  • She'd just smile and fold her arms and stare at him.
  • 00:16:05.246 --> 00:16:08.816
  • She did that the first day three meals, second day three meals,
  • 00:16:08.816 --> 00:16:12.253
  • Third day--well, finally dinner time on the third day this guy
  • 00:16:12.253 --> 00:16:16.224
  • Just--is just--he just--he's got to find out what's going on, and
  • 00:16:16.224 --> 00:16:20.495
  • He just said, "ma'am, why do you keep staring at me?"
  • 00:16:20.495 --> 00:16:25.433
  • She said, "well, you look just like my fourth husband."
  • 00:16:25.433 --> 00:16:30.538
  • He said, "how many have you had?"
  • 00:16:30.538 --> 00:16:32.707
  • She said, "three."
  • 00:16:32.707 --> 00:16:39.380
  • We ought to pray positively.
  • 00:16:39.380 --> 00:16:43.084
  • We ought to pray expectantly.
  • 00:16:43.084 --> 00:16:44.485
  • Elijah did.
  • 00:16:44.485 --> 00:16:45.820
  • Listen to what we read.
  • 00:16:45.820 --> 00:16:47.188
  • "meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a
  • 00:16:47.188 --> 00:16:50.358
  • Heavy rain started falling.
  • 00:16:50.358 --> 00:16:51.759
  • Ahab rode off to jezreel.
  • 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:53.361
  • The power of the lord came on elijah and, tucking his cloak
  • 00:16:53.361 --> 00:16:55.730
  • Into his belt, he ran ahead all the way to jezreel."
  • 00:16:55.730 --> 00:17:00.535
  • Now, here's how elijah's prayer was answered.
  • 00:17:00.535 --> 00:17:02.437
  • It went from--watch this.
  • 00:17:02.437 --> 00:17:04.372
  • There's nothing there.
  • 00:17:04.372 --> 00:17:05.706
  • Six times there's nothing there, then it was a cloud as small as
  • 00:17:05.706 --> 00:17:09.944
  • A man's hand, and then all of a sudden, boom, the sky grew black
  • 00:17:09.944 --> 00:17:15.249
  • And heavy rain started falling.
  • 00:17:15.249 --> 00:17:18.619
  • Elijah just kept praying.
  • 00:17:18.619 --> 00:17:20.188
  • He just kept praying positively, expectantly; believing that god
  • 00:17:20.188 --> 00:17:24.258
  • Would answer his prayer, that god would keep his promise; and
  • 00:17:24.258 --> 00:17:27.261
  • God did both.
  • 00:17:27.261 --> 00:17:28.830
  • Now, let me just stop and ask the question of the day.
  • 00:17:28.830 --> 00:17:34.902
  • Do you really believe god answers prayer?
  • 00:17:34.902 --> 00:17:43.478
  • Talk's cheap.
  • 00:17:43.478 --> 00:17:46.581
  • Show me your prayer life.
  • 00:17:46.581 --> 00:17:49.951
  • I'm going to ask it again.
  • 00:17:49.951 --> 00:17:52.253
  • Do you really believe that god answers prayer?
  • 00:17:52.253 --> 00:17:57.024
  • Do you believe that god keeps his promise?
  • 00:17:57.024 --> 00:17:58.726
  • See, sometimes--can i be honest?
  • 00:17:58.726 --> 00:18:01.195
  • We're shocked sometimes when god answers our prayer.
  • 00:18:01.195 --> 00:18:03.531
  • I mean, really.
  • 00:18:03.531 --> 00:18:04.866
  • Sometimes we go, "god, i just can't believe it."
  • 00:18:04.866 --> 00:18:06.501
  • But elijah would have been shocked if god hadn't answered
  • 00:18:06.501 --> 00:18:08.603
  • His prayer.
  • 00:18:08.603 --> 00:18:09.971
  • That's why almost 3,000 years later we're still reading about,
  • 00:18:09.971 --> 00:18:13.174
  • We're still talking about elijah because he's the only man in the
  • 00:18:13.174 --> 00:18:17.011
  • Bible when nobody else in the whole country believed it
  • 00:18:17.011 --> 00:18:20.481
  • Was--it would rain, he's the only guy that had the guts to
  • 00:18:20.481 --> 00:18:23.751
  • Say four words: "bring--" three words: "bring the umbrella.
  • 00:18:23.751 --> 00:18:30.024
  • Bring the umbrella."
  • 00:18:30.024 --> 00:18:32.226
  • So here's my question, and i didn't like asking it myself.
  • 00:18:32.226 --> 00:18:35.563
  • You're not going to like me asking of you.
  • 00:18:35.563 --> 00:18:39.066
  • I'm asking a question today.
  • 00:18:39.066 --> 00:18:40.401
  • I want you to take it seriously.
  • 00:18:40.401 --> 00:18:43.771
  • You got your problems.
  • 00:18:43.771 --> 00:18:45.106
  • You got this situation.
  • 00:18:45.106 --> 00:18:46.474
  • You got this thing you can't fix.
  • 00:18:46.474 --> 00:18:47.808
  • You're at the end of your rope.
  • 00:18:47.808 --> 00:18:49.143
  • You don't know what you do.
  • 00:18:49.143 --> 00:18:50.511
  • You don't know where to turn.
  • 00:18:50.511 --> 00:18:51.846
  • You don't know what to say.
  • 00:18:51.846 --> 00:18:53.214
  • You don't know how it's all going to work out.
  • 00:18:53.214 --> 00:18:54.549
  • I just got one question:
  • 00:18:54.549 --> 00:18:58.986
  • Are you carrying an umbrella?
  • 00:18:58.986 --> 00:19:02.323
  • "but, pastor, i don't hear any rain coming."
  • 00:19:02.323 --> 00:19:04.225
  • Are you carrying an umbrella?
  • 00:19:04.225 --> 00:19:06.494
  • "but, pastor, i don't even see a cloud in the sky."
  • 00:19:06.494 --> 00:19:08.796
  • Are you carrying an umbrella?
  • 00:19:08.796 --> 00:19:11.432
  • Do you carry an umbrella even when you don't see the cloud,
  • 00:19:11.432 --> 00:19:13.634
  • You don't feel the drop of rain?
  • 00:19:13.634 --> 00:19:15.102
  • Let me tell you something.
  • 00:19:15.102 --> 00:19:16.470
  • You better because there is a god in heaven who hears
  • 00:19:16.470 --> 00:19:19.340
  • Your prayers.
  • 00:19:19.340 --> 00:19:20.708
  • There's a god in heaven who will answer your prayers if you will
  • 00:19:20.708 --> 00:19:23.477
  • Pray privately and passionately and pointedly and persistently
  • 00:19:23.477 --> 00:19:27.648
  • And positively.
  • 00:19:27.648 --> 00:19:29.784
  • So i'll close with this last story,
  • 00:19:29.784 --> 00:19:31.252
  • And it really convicts me.
  • 00:19:31.252 --> 00:19:35.022
  • And it probably will convict you.
  • 00:19:35.022 --> 00:19:39.026
  • There was a downtown church right in the middle of downtown,
  • 00:19:39.026 --> 00:19:43.598
  • But somebody bought the property next to them, and they were
  • 00:19:43.598 --> 00:19:46.467
  • Going to build a bar right next to them, a bar.
  • 00:19:46.467 --> 00:19:50.538
  • And they did everything they could to fight that bar from
  • 00:19:50.538 --> 00:19:52.873
  • Being built there, but they couldn't do it.
  • 00:19:52.873 --> 00:19:55.977
  • They--the people knew that liquor makes a lot of money,
  • 00:19:55.977 --> 00:19:58.346
  • Beer makes a lot of money, people spend a lot of money.
  • 00:19:58.346 --> 00:20:01.115
  • Means a lot more taxes, so nobody was listening.
  • 00:20:01.115 --> 00:20:04.885
  • So at the end of the rope, they just decided they'd do what
  • 00:20:04.885 --> 00:20:07.488
  • Elijah did.
  • 00:20:07.488 --> 00:20:08.856
  • They said, "why don't we just pray?"
  • 00:20:08.856 --> 00:20:10.424
  • So they called all their church together one night and they had
  • 00:20:10.424 --> 00:20:13.494
  • An all-night prayer meeting that god would somehow stop that bar
  • 00:20:13.494 --> 00:20:17.798
  • From being built.
  • 00:20:17.798 --> 00:20:19.166
  • The bar was almost two-thirds completed.
  • 00:20:19.166 --> 00:20:21.535
  • Well, believe it or not, later that evening lightning struck
  • 00:20:21.535 --> 00:20:25.740
  • That bar and burned it to the ground.
  • 00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:30.177
  • Here's what happened.
  • 00:20:30.177 --> 00:20:31.812
  • The owner brought a lawsuit against the church, claiming the
  • 00:20:31.812 --> 00:20:36.150
  • Church was liable for the bar's destruction.
  • 00:20:36.150 --> 00:20:39.453
  • What did the church do?
  • 00:20:39.453 --> 00:20:41.155
  • They hired an attorney saying, "we had nothing to do with it."
  • 00:20:41.155 --> 00:20:45.259
  • So when the case came before the judge, here's what the judge
  • 00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:48.162
  • Said at the beginning of the case.
  • 00:20:48.162 --> 00:20:50.631
  • He said, "no matter how this case comes out, one thing
  • 00:20:50.631 --> 00:20:53.567
  • Is clear.
  • 00:20:53.567 --> 00:20:55.670
  • The bar owner believes in the power of prayer but the
  • 00:20:55.670 --> 00:20:58.439
  • Church doesn't."
  • 00:20:58.439 --> 00:21:05.746
  • Most of your neighbors don't believe in the power of prayer.
  • 00:21:05.746 --> 00:21:12.353
  • Most of the people that you work with don't believe in the power
  • 00:21:12.353 --> 00:21:15.256
  • Of prayer.
  • 00:21:15.256 --> 00:21:19.393
  • Most of the people you go to school with don't believe in the
  • 00:21:19.393 --> 00:21:21.862
  • Power of prayer.
  • 00:21:21.862 --> 00:21:27.201
  • Most of the politicians we'll vote in or vote out don't
  • 00:21:27.201 --> 00:21:30.204
  • Believe in the power of prayer.
  • 00:21:30.204 --> 00:21:35.109
  • But if there's anybody that ought to believe in the power of
  • 00:21:35.109 --> 00:21:37.611
  • Prayer, it ought to be the church of the living god.
  • 00:21:37.611 --> 00:21:41.549
  • We ought to believe.
  • 00:21:41.549 --> 00:21:43.784
  • That if nobody else carries an umbrella, we're going to carry
  • 00:21:43.784 --> 00:21:45.920
  • An umbrella.
  • 00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:47.555
  • If nobody else sees the cloud, nobody else hears the rain, it
  • 00:21:47.555 --> 00:21:50.324
  • Doesn't matter.
  • 00:21:50.324 --> 00:21:51.692
  • We believe that god answers prayer.
  • 00:21:51.692 --> 00:21:53.694
  • Because if you believe in god, you must believe in the power of
  • 00:21:53.694 --> 00:21:56.497
  • Prayer because we always pray to the one who never fails to keep
  • 00:21:56.497 --> 00:22:00.000
  • His promise, which, by the way, is guaranteed by his son who
  • 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:03.738
  • Died on a cross and came back from the grave so that we might
  • 00:22:03.738 --> 00:22:07.007
  • Have the promise of eternal life.
  • 00:22:07.007 --> 00:22:12.947
  • So when you walk out that door today and you get in your car to
  • 00:22:12.947 --> 00:22:16.283
  • Go home and all the burdens that are on your shoulders and all
  • 00:22:16.283 --> 00:22:20.187
  • The problems that are on your back and all the dead-end alleys
  • 00:22:20.187 --> 00:22:23.858
  • You think you're in the middle of; if the god that you serve
  • 00:22:23.858 --> 00:22:28.262
  • And the god that you know and the god that you worship is the
  • 00:22:28.262 --> 00:22:30.598
  • God of elijah, and you want to live the god life, then don't
  • 00:22:30.598 --> 00:22:38.005
  • You ever leave home without that umbrella.
  • 00:22:38.005 --> 00:22:42.777
  • Would you pray with me?
  • 00:22:42.777 --> 00:22:46.480
  • If you're watching right now online or by television or
  • 00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:49.884
  • You're in this room, and you've never asked christ to come into
  • 00:22:49.884 --> 00:22:53.788
  • Your heart, you've never trusted jesus, let me tell
  • 00:22:53.788 --> 00:22:57.425
  • You something.
  • 00:22:57.425 --> 00:22:58.926
  • You don't even have an umbrella because the umbrella that i'm
  • 00:22:58.926 --> 00:23:02.096
  • Talking about is the one that god gives you.
  • 00:23:02.096 --> 00:23:04.665
  • If god doesn't give it to you, you don't have one.
  • 00:23:04.665 --> 00:23:07.835
  • If you walked into this room today and you've never accepted
  • 00:23:07.835 --> 00:23:11.005
  • The god who makes it stop and makes it start, the rain, the
  • 00:23:11.005 --> 00:23:15.409
  • God that makes the fire fall, the god who sent his son jesus
  • 00:23:15.409 --> 00:23:19.780
  • To die for your sins; if you've never given your heart to that
  • 00:23:19.780 --> 00:23:24.084
  • God, why don't you do that today?
  • 00:23:24.084 --> 00:23:26.754
  • You know one of the reasons why you got that problem you
  • 00:23:26.754 --> 00:23:28.556
  • Can't solve?
  • 00:23:28.556 --> 00:23:29.924
  • God's trying to get your attention to let you know you
  • 00:23:29.924 --> 00:23:31.392
  • Don't need to solve the problem 'cause you can't.
  • 00:23:31.392 --> 00:23:33.227
  • "you need me to solve your problem.
  • 00:23:33.227 --> 00:23:34.795
  • I can."
  • 00:23:34.795 --> 00:23:37.031
  • So why don't you right now if you've never done this just say,
  • 00:23:37.031 --> 00:23:39.133
  • "lord jesus, i'm a sinner.
  • 00:23:39.133 --> 00:23:42.536
  • I need to be saved, but i can't save myself.
  • 00:23:42.536 --> 00:23:48.809
  • But i believe you did for me what i couldn't do for myself.
  • 00:23:48.809 --> 00:23:53.280
  • I owed a debt called sin that i could not pay.
  • 00:23:53.280 --> 00:23:57.418
  • You paid the debt called sin i--that you didn't owe.
  • 00:23:57.418 --> 00:24:02.623
  • And i believe not only that you died for me, i believe that god
  • 00:24:02.623 --> 00:24:05.359
  • Raised you from the dead.
  • 00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:08.128
  • So today i confess you as my lord.
  • 00:24:08.128 --> 00:24:10.531
  • I trust you as my savior.
  • 00:24:10.531 --> 00:24:13.634
  • I ask you to come into my heart today.
  • 00:24:13.634 --> 00:24:18.806
  • I repent of my sins, and i receive you into my life."
  • 00:24:18.806 --> 00:24:22.576
  • Announcer: to watch an extended version of today's message from
  • 00:24:23.911 --> 00:24:26.280
  • Dr. james merritt, go to touchinglives.org.
  • 00:24:26.280 --> 00:24:30.951
  • James: hello.
  • 00:24:34.355 --> 00:24:35.689
  • I'm dr. james merritt, and i'm truly grateful that you're here
  • 00:24:35.689 --> 00:24:37.157
  • With me today.
  • 00:24:37.157 --> 00:24:38.592
  • I want to share an incredible opportunity, one that not only
  • 00:24:38.592 --> 00:24:41.228
  • Equips you to share the gospel--the life-changing gospel
  • 00:24:41.228 --> 00:24:44.632
  • Of jesus christ with others but also deepens your own faith.
  • 00:24:44.632 --> 00:24:49.036
  • In our modern world it can feel tough, hard, difficult to step
  • 00:24:49.036 --> 00:24:52.840
  • Forward and share your faith, but as believers it's essential
  • 00:24:52.840 --> 00:24:55.676
  • We take that step.
  • 00:24:55.676 --> 00:24:57.044
  • Now, i hear this all the time.
  • 00:24:57.044 --> 00:24:58.379
  • "pastor, i want to share the gospel, but i'm just not sure
  • 00:24:58.379 --> 00:25:01.715
  • How to do it and where to start."
  • 00:25:01.715 --> 00:25:03.617
  • That's exactly why i have created this beautiful
  • 00:25:03.617 --> 00:25:06.921
  • Little tract.
  • 00:25:06.921 --> 00:25:08.289
  • It says the best news.
  • 00:25:08.289 --> 00:25:10.457
  • These cards, these tracks clearly outline the message of
  • 00:25:10.457 --> 00:25:13.861
  • God's love and salvation.
  • 00:25:13.861 --> 00:25:15.563
  • They are perfect to hand out to anyone you would like to talk to
  • 00:25:15.563 --> 00:25:18.799
  • About jesus.
  • 00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:20.134
  • You can carry them in your pocket, your wallet, your purse,
  • 00:25:20.134 --> 00:25:23.637
  • Your car.
  • 00:25:23.637 --> 00:25:24.972
  • I carry them with me everywhere i go, ensuring you're always
  • 00:25:24.972 --> 00:25:28.108
  • Ready to share the best news wherever you go.
  • 00:25:28.108 --> 00:25:31.612
  • As a heartfelt thank for supporting this ministry, you'll
  • 00:25:31.612 --> 00:25:35.115
  • Receive a package of these "best news" cards with any gift of any
  • 00:25:35.115 --> 00:25:38.953
  • Size you make in april.
  • 00:25:38.953 --> 00:25:41.322
  • But there's more.
  • 00:25:41.322 --> 00:25:42.957
  • For a gift of $75 or more, you will also receive a copy of the
  • 00:25:42.957 --> 00:25:47.494
  • Niv study bible.
  • 00:25:47.494 --> 00:25:49.330
  • Let me tell you why this bible is so special.
  • 00:25:49.330 --> 00:25:51.899
  • When you open up this book, you'll discover over 21,000
  • 00:25:51.899 --> 00:25:55.836
  • Study notes, more than 125 topical articles, and 16 pages
  • 00:25:55.836 --> 00:26:01.308
  • Of full color maps that vividly bring the bible stories to life.
  • 00:26:01.308 --> 00:26:05.846
  • With 66 detailed book introductions and outlines along
  • 00:26:05.846 --> 00:26:09.817
  • With hundreds of charts, diagrams, and illustrations,
  • 00:26:09.817 --> 00:26:13.120
  • This bible offers you the opportunity to dive deep into
  • 00:26:13.120 --> 00:26:16.090
  • Scripture and is designed with clarity in mind.
  • 00:26:16.090 --> 00:26:19.326
  • So even with all of this additional information, finding
  • 00:26:19.326 --> 00:26:22.029
  • Your favorite passages is easy.
  • 00:26:22.029 --> 00:26:24.932
  • By making your gift today, whether any amount or $75 or
  • 00:26:24.932 --> 00:26:29.336
  • More, you're not only equipping yourself with these
  • 00:26:29.336 --> 00:26:31.905
  • Invaluable tools.
  • 00:26:31.905 --> 00:26:33.540
  • You're joining us in our mission to spread the hope and truth of
  • 00:26:33.540 --> 00:26:36.877
  • Jesus christ to every corner of our world.
  • 00:26:36.877 --> 00:26:40.481
  • So i want to thank you for your continued support and for
  • 00:26:40.481 --> 00:26:43.083
  • Joining me in transforming lives with the light of god's word.
  • 00:26:43.083 --> 00:26:46.754
  • So remember with your gift of any amount you'll receive a
  • 00:26:46.754 --> 00:26:51.258
  • Packet of these absolute life-changing gospel tracts
  • 00:26:51.258 --> 00:26:54.995
  • Called "the best news," but with your gift of $75 or more you'll
  • 00:26:54.995 --> 00:26:58.999
  • Receive not only these wonderful tools for sharing the gospel but
  • 00:26:58.999 --> 00:27:02.269
  • This beautiful study bible.
  • 00:27:02.269 --> 00:27:04.638
  • May god richly bless you as you share his love with everyone
  • 00:27:04.638 --> 00:27:09.643
  • You meet.
  • 00:27:09.643 --> 00:27:11.178
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:17.151
  • Announcer: touching the lives of the lost and enriching the faith
  • 00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:22.289
  • Of the found, this is "touching lives" with dr. james merritt.
  • 00:27:22.289 --> 00:27:22.289