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Touching Lives with James Merritt

James Merritt - Thank You Very Much

December 1, 2024 | S24:E49

James Merritt - Thank You Very Much
Touching Lives is the international broadcast ministry of Dr. James Merritt.
#Faith #Grace #Religion #Culture #Discouragement #Attitude #WordofGod #Thankfulness #inActive #Gratitude #Parents #TouchingLiveswithJamesMerritt #JamesMerritt #Live #1Thessalonians5

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Touching Lives with James Merritt | James Merritt - Thank You Very Much | December 1, 2024
  • ...
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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
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  • The lives of 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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  • ♪♪♪
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  • James merritt: well, i wanna say good morning to those of you who
  • 00:00:27.342 --> 00:00:29.344
  • Are watching online and those who are watching by television.
  • 00:00:29.344 --> 00:00:32.915
  • And this is one of the largest crowds we've had in a long time
  • 00:00:32.915 --> 00:00:36.385
  • And i don't get really jacked up too much.
  • 00:00:36.385 --> 00:00:39.788
  • I was preaching one time at the sbc and we had probably 15,000
  • 00:00:39.788 --> 00:00:44.393
  • People and one of the guys leaned over and said,
  • 00:00:44.393 --> 00:00:46.862
  • "man, this is a great crowd today.
  • 00:00:46.862 --> 00:00:48.530
  • Are you impressed?"
  • 00:00:48.530 --> 00:00:49.865
  • I said, "not really."
  • 00:00:49.865 --> 00:00:51.233
  • He said, "why?"
  • 00:00:51.233 --> 00:00:52.568
  • I said, "well, like winston churchill said,
  • 00:00:52.568 --> 00:00:53.902
  • 'if i was being hung, the crowd would be twice as big.'
  • 00:00:53.902 --> 00:00:55.504
  • So i'm not really all that enthused."
  • 00:00:55.504 --> 00:00:57.406
  • But i wanna thank you for being here today.
  • 00:00:57.406 --> 00:00:59.775
  • It is, as you're going to find out, a super bowl sunday
  • 00:00:59.775 --> 00:01:02.945
  • For church and i've got some exciting things i wanna share.
  • 00:01:02.945 --> 00:01:05.714
  • But let me begin by telling you about a man maybe you've heard
  • 00:01:05.714 --> 00:01:08.383
  • Of, his name was rudyard kipling.
  • 00:01:08.383 --> 00:01:10.552
  • At the turn of the 19th century and early 20th century,
  • 00:01:10.552 --> 00:01:13.822
  • He was at the peak of his career.
  • 00:01:13.822 --> 00:01:15.324
  • He was one of the most widely-read men in the world.
  • 00:01:15.324 --> 00:01:17.860
  • In fact, he won a nobel prize for literature.
  • 00:01:17.860 --> 00:01:20.496
  • His children's series that some of you parents still use called
  • 00:01:20.496 --> 00:01:23.432
  • "the jungle book," his children's series is still
  • 00:01:23.432 --> 00:01:25.834
  • Widely read today and his literary work,
  • 00:01:25.834 --> 00:01:28.303
  • As you can imagine, made him a ton of money.
  • 00:01:28.303 --> 00:01:31.607
  • Well, there was a newspaper reporter that wanted
  • 00:01:31.607 --> 00:01:34.076
  • To interview him and so when he got to his house, he said,
  • 00:01:34.076 --> 00:01:37.846
  • "mr. kipling," he said, "i just read that somebody calculated
  • 00:01:37.846 --> 00:01:41.316
  • That the money you make from your writings amounts to about
  • 00:01:41.316 --> 00:01:44.086
  • A hundred dollars a word."
  • 00:01:44.086 --> 00:01:45.420
  • Now, this was back in the turn of the 19th century,
  • 00:01:45.420 --> 00:01:47.189
  • That was big money.
  • 00:01:47.189 --> 00:01:48.690
  • "every word you write is about a hundred dollars a word."
  • 00:01:48.690 --> 00:01:51.026
  • Well, mr. kipling raised his eyebrows.
  • 00:01:51.026 --> 00:01:52.895
  • He said, "well, really, i wasn't aware of that."
  • 00:01:52.895 --> 00:01:55.797
  • Well, the reporter cynically reached into his pocket,
  • 00:01:55.797 --> 00:01:58.500
  • Pulled out a hundred dollar bill, gave it to kipling,
  • 00:01:58.500 --> 00:02:01.236
  • And said, "okay, mr. kipling, here is a hundred dollar bill.
  • 00:02:01.236 --> 00:02:05.240
  • Give me one of your hundred dollar words."
  • 00:02:05.240 --> 00:02:08.810
  • Kipling looked at him and looked at that hundred dollar bill,
  • 00:02:08.810 --> 00:02:11.280
  • Folded it up, put it in his pocket,
  • 00:02:11.280 --> 00:02:12.748
  • And simply said, "thanks."
  • 00:02:12.748 --> 00:02:16.718
  • Now that word, "thanks," may have been a hundred dollar word
  • 00:02:16.718 --> 00:02:21.990
  • A hundred years ago or two hundred years ago, but i wanna
  • 00:02:21.990 --> 00:02:26.195
  • Tell you today, it would probably be more like a million
  • 00:02:26.195 --> 00:02:28.463
  • Dollar word because, frankly, we're living in a society today
  • 00:02:28.463 --> 00:02:32.067
  • In a culture where it's a word that's too seldom heard,
  • 00:02:32.067 --> 00:02:35.904
  • Too rarely spoken, too often forgotten.
  • 00:02:35.904 --> 00:02:39.474
  • It seems like today, i don't know if you feel this way or
  • 00:02:39.474 --> 00:02:41.743
  • Not, it seems like we swim in an ocean of ingratitude and we walk
  • 00:02:41.743 --> 00:02:47.516
  • In a desert of gratitude.
  • 00:02:47.516 --> 00:02:50.252
  • In fact, let me tell you why i said that.
  • 00:02:50.252 --> 00:02:51.653
  • When i read the following newspaper headline, i could not
  • 00:02:51.653 --> 00:02:55.924
  • Believe my eyes.
  • 00:02:55.924 --> 00:02:57.292
  • This was the newspaper, this was the headline, "rather than being
  • 00:02:57.292 --> 00:03:00.362
  • Grateful for his life, raphael samuel is suing his parents
  • 00:03:00.362 --> 00:03:05.133
  • For bringing him into the world without his consent."
  • 00:03:05.133 --> 00:03:08.136
  • I'm not making this up.
  • 00:03:08.136 --> 00:03:11.206
  • Here's what the newspaper said, "a 27 year old man from mumbai,
  • 00:03:11.206 --> 00:03:15.544
  • India, claims his parents were selfish and, quote,
  • 00:03:15.544 --> 00:03:20.315
  • 'had me for their joy and pleasure.'
  • 00:03:20.315 --> 00:03:22.184
  • Unquote.
  • 00:03:22.184 --> 00:03:23.518
  • He went on to say, quote, 'i want everyone in india
  • 00:03:23.518 --> 00:03:26.021
  • And the world to realize one thing: that they are all born
  • 00:03:26.021 --> 00:03:29.725
  • Without their consent.
  • 00:03:29.725 --> 00:03:31.426
  • I want them to understand that they do not owe
  • 00:03:31.426 --> 00:03:33.695
  • Their parents anything.'
  • 00:03:33.695 --> 00:03:35.664
  • He then said this, 'if we're born without our consent,
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  • We ought to be maintained for our entire life,
  • 00:03:39.768 --> 00:03:42.638
  • We should be paid for the rest of our lives
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  • By our parents to live.'"
  • 00:03:45.507 --> 00:03:47.542
  • If i'd met his dad, i'd have made sure every gun in my house
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  • Was locked up.
  • 00:03:53.982 --> 00:03:56.051
  • By the way, i don't think it's gonna get very far.
  • 00:03:56.051 --> 00:03:58.587
  • I think his chances in court are pretty slim because both
  • 00:03:58.587 --> 00:04:01.923
  • Of his parents were attorneys.
  • 00:04:01.923 --> 00:04:03.258
  • Okay, it's kind of a justice thing.
  • 00:04:03.258 --> 00:04:05.394
  • Well, if you're new to our church, we're in a series
  • 00:04:05.394 --> 00:04:08.163
  • That we're calling "no hard feelings."
  • 00:04:08.163 --> 00:04:10.232
  • What we're doing is, we're looking at various emotions that
  • 00:04:10.232 --> 00:04:12.801
  • We all carry and that we all experience, and look, i'm gonna
  • 00:04:12.801 --> 00:04:15.637
  • Tell you something that's true about every one of us,
  • 00:04:15.637 --> 00:04:17.039
  • Including me.
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  • There's very few things in your life more important
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  • Than your feelings.
  • 00:04:21.343 --> 00:04:22.911
  • I mean, how many times have you said to somebody,
  • 00:04:22.911 --> 00:04:25.314
  • "this is how i feel.
  • 00:04:25.314 --> 00:04:27.316
  • You don't respect my feelings."
  • 00:04:27.316 --> 00:04:30.185
  • Feelings are very important.
  • 00:04:30.185 --> 00:04:32.421
  • How many times do we not do what we think we ought to do,
  • 00:04:32.421 --> 00:04:39.161
  • But instead we do what we feel like we ought to do?
  • 00:04:39.161 --> 00:04:42.631
  • How many times have you gotten in trouble because you did what
  • 00:04:42.631 --> 00:04:45.434
  • You felt like you ought to do?
  • 00:04:45.434 --> 00:04:48.270
  • And see, feelings are important because feelings determine
  • 00:04:48.270 --> 00:04:51.173
  • Our attitude and our attitude determines our altitude.
  • 00:04:51.173 --> 00:04:56.144
  • Now, although you cannot necessarily choose how you feel,
  • 00:04:56.144 --> 00:05:01.083
  • You can choose your attitude.
  • 00:05:01.083 --> 00:05:03.485
  • And one of the greatest antidotes to negative feelings
  • 00:05:03.485 --> 00:05:06.154
  • And negative emotions is what i call the attitude of gratitude.
  • 00:05:06.154 --> 00:05:11.660
  • I want to talk about it today and let me tell you what
  • 00:05:11.660 --> 00:05:14.229
  • A big deal it is to god that you're thankful.
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  • This is how important it is to god.
  • 00:05:16.098 --> 00:05:18.900
  • Being thankful is so important to the god that created you,
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  • It is a command.
  • 00:05:23.705 --> 00:05:26.108
  • He doesn't say, "we ought to be thankful."
  • 00:05:26.108 --> 00:05:27.909
  • He doesn't ask us to be thankful, he doesn't request us
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  • To be thankful, he doesn't suggest that we're thankful.
  • 00:05:30.312 --> 00:05:33.081
  • It's actually a command.
  • 00:05:33.081 --> 00:05:34.416
  • He says, "i want you, i command you, to be thankful."
  • 00:05:34.416 --> 00:05:38.687
  • There was a man in the new testament by the name of paul.
  • 00:05:38.687 --> 00:05:41.723
  • Went through a tremendous amount of suffering and heartache
  • 00:05:41.723 --> 00:05:44.459
  • And he would, listen, he went through the kind of things that
  • 00:05:44.459 --> 00:05:46.561
  • Would cause the average person to be bitter, to be ungrateful,
  • 00:05:46.561 --> 00:05:52.534
  • To be less than thankful.
  • 00:05:52.534 --> 00:05:54.636
  • As a matter of fact, he went through some things that,
  • 00:05:54.636 --> 00:05:57.506
  • For some of us, we would be mad at god and shaking our fist.
  • 00:05:57.506 --> 00:06:01.510
  • And yet, listen to these words he wrote in a book called
  • 00:06:01.510 --> 00:06:04.980
  • 1 thessalonians.
  • 00:06:04.980 --> 00:06:06.515
  • If you wanna turn to it, it's in the new testament, it's about
  • 00:06:06.515 --> 00:06:08.884
  • Five or six, seven, eight books back from the end of the bible.
  • 00:06:08.884 --> 00:06:11.186
  • Go to 1 thessalonians chapter 5, this is what paul wrote:
  • 00:06:11.186 --> 00:06:15.190
  • "give thanks," by the way, that's in the imperative mood
  • 00:06:15.190 --> 00:06:17.893
  • Of the greek language, "give thanks in all circumstances."
  • 00:06:17.893 --> 00:06:21.930
  • Why? why should i do that?
  • 00:06:21.930 --> 00:06:24.199
  • "for this is god's will for you in christ jesus."
  • 00:06:24.266 --> 00:06:29.538
  • Now, i know i'm speaking to some people right now in this room
  • 00:06:29.538 --> 00:06:32.307
  • Watching on television, watching online, you don't feel
  • 00:06:32.307 --> 00:06:35.877
  • Very thankful.
  • 00:06:35.877 --> 00:06:37.245
  • As a matter of fact, you may even resent what i've already
  • 00:06:37.245 --> 00:06:38.914
  • Said because you're sitting there thinking, "buddy, if you
  • 00:06:38.914 --> 00:06:41.416
  • Knew what i was going through, you wouldn't tell me that.
  • 00:06:41.416 --> 00:06:43.885
  • If you knew what i've been through, what i think i'm about
  • 00:06:43.885 --> 00:06:46.555
  • To go through, i don't think you really want to go there."
  • 00:06:46.555 --> 00:06:51.259
  • I just want to give you one piece of advice, even though
  • 00:06:51.259 --> 00:06:55.163
  • You may not feel thankful, you can be thankful.
  • 00:06:55.163 --> 00:07:01.803
  • I'm gonna prove that to you.
  • 00:07:01.803 --> 00:07:03.171
  • Even though you may not feel thankful, you can be thankful.
  • 00:07:03.171 --> 00:07:05.674
  • And paul, this great man of god who, by the way, wound up
  • 00:07:05.674 --> 00:07:09.511
  • In prison and wound up beheaded for his faith.
  • 00:07:09.511 --> 00:07:12.814
  • This great man of god tells us why we ought to be thankful
  • 00:07:12.814 --> 00:07:16.585
  • And how we ought to be thankful.
  • 00:07:16.585 --> 00:07:18.553
  • By the way, parents, this would be a great lesson to teach
  • 00:07:18.553 --> 00:07:21.256
  • Your kids.
  • 00:07:21.256 --> 00:07:22.591
  • This would be a great lesson, grandparents, to teach
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  • Your grandchildren.
  • 00:07:24.426 --> 00:07:26.194
  • He says three things.
  • 00:07:26.194 --> 00:07:27.729
  • He says, number one: "we should be habitually thankful."
  • 00:07:27.729 --> 00:07:32.934
  • We ought to be habitually thankful.
  • 00:07:32.934 --> 00:07:35.937
  • Now, we all know that we ought to be thankful at least for
  • 00:07:35.937 --> 00:07:39.040
  • Certain things at certain times, right?
  • 00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:41.109
  • So today's valentine's day and, by the way, my dear
  • 00:07:41.109 --> 00:07:44.079
  • Wife's watching.
  • 00:07:44.079 --> 00:07:45.413
  • Been my valentine for 45 years.
  • 00:07:45.413 --> 00:07:47.382
  • I love you more than i've ever loved you in my life.
  • 00:07:47.382 --> 00:07:49.584
  • Just kind of a word for you, okay?
  • 00:07:49.584 --> 00:07:51.353
  • So we ought to be thankful at certain times
  • 00:07:51.353 --> 00:07:55.323
  • For certain things.
  • 00:07:55.323 --> 00:07:56.658
  • But what paul says may shock your system because,
  • 00:07:56.658 --> 00:07:59.327
  • Listen to what he says.
  • 00:07:59.327 --> 00:08:00.929
  • He says, "give thanks," now that's okay, we can live
  • 00:08:00.929 --> 00:08:03.665
  • With that, but then he says this, "in all circumstances."
  • 00:08:03.665 --> 00:08:07.035
  • Excuse me.
  • 00:08:07.035 --> 00:08:08.436
  • Yep, that's what he said.
  • 00:08:08.436 --> 00:08:09.804
  • "give thanks in all circumstances."
  • 00:08:09.804 --> 00:08:12.707
  • Literally, in the greek language, it says,
  • 00:08:12.707 --> 00:08:14.943
  • "in all things."
  • 00:08:14.943 --> 00:08:16.344
  • Now, i'm gonna be honest and if you're feeling this way,
  • 00:08:16.344 --> 00:08:18.179
  • I'm with you.
  • 00:08:18.179 --> 00:08:19.714
  • Those last three words make that kind of hard to swallow.
  • 00:08:19.714 --> 00:08:23.818
  • It makes it kind of difficult.
  • 00:08:23.818 --> 00:08:26.087
  • I can tell you as a pastor, and any pastor can tell you this
  • 00:08:26.087 --> 00:08:29.324
  • That's worth his salt, there have been times in my life it
  • 00:08:29.324 --> 00:08:32.260
  • Was a battle to be thankful.
  • 00:08:32.260 --> 00:08:34.796
  • There have been circumstances in my life the last thing i wanted
  • 00:08:34.796 --> 00:08:37.566
  • To do was to be thankful.
  • 00:08:37.566 --> 00:08:40.101
  • You know, if paul had said, "give thanks in most
  • 00:08:40.101 --> 00:08:42.504
  • Circumstances," we would've said, "okay, i can live
  • 00:08:42.504 --> 00:08:44.339
  • With that."
  • 00:08:44.339 --> 00:08:45.674
  • Or if paul had said, "give thanks in
  • 00:08:45.674 --> 00:08:47.042
  • The good circumstances."
  • 00:08:47.042 --> 00:08:48.376
  • Okay, i can live with that.
  • 00:08:48.376 --> 00:08:49.744
  • Or, "give thanks most of the time."
  • 00:08:49.744 --> 00:08:51.079
  • We could live with that because most people, obviously, we don't
  • 00:08:51.079 --> 00:08:53.815
  • Have any problem thanking god when things are good and things
  • 00:08:53.815 --> 00:08:57.218
  • Are going and things are flowing and everything's
  • 00:08:57.218 --> 00:08:59.888
  • Coming up roses.
  • 00:08:59.888 --> 00:09:01.256
  • But paul says, "no, we're to give thanks in all things
  • 00:09:01.256 --> 00:09:07.929
  • At all times."
  • 00:09:07.929 --> 00:09:09.531
  • So since we're talking about feelings, let me just stop
  • 00:09:09.531 --> 00:09:12.133
  • And give you a word of caution, okay?
  • 00:09:12.133 --> 00:09:13.602
  • Let me help you on something.
  • 00:09:13.602 --> 00:09:15.804
  • Nowhere in the word of god will you ever find where god
  • 00:09:15.804 --> 00:09:19.007
  • Commands us to feel thankful, okay?
  • 00:09:19.007 --> 00:09:23.378
  • So i want you to understand i'm not commanding you to feel
  • 00:09:23.378 --> 00:09:25.580
  • Thankful, i can't command you to feel anything.
  • 00:09:25.580 --> 00:09:28.483
  • I can't even command some of you to stay awake in my preaching.
  • 00:09:28.483 --> 00:09:31.953
  • So i am not gonna command you to feel thankful, right?
  • 00:09:31.953 --> 00:09:34.089
  • I mean, so he's not saying-- there's nowhere where the bible
  • 00:09:34.089 --> 00:09:36.224
  • Says, "feel thankful," because we know this.
  • 00:09:36.224 --> 00:09:38.927
  • Feelings are affected by a lot of things, they're affected by
  • 00:09:38.927 --> 00:09:41.196
  • The weather, by the temperature, by the function of your liver,
  • 00:09:41.196 --> 00:09:44.399
  • By how much rest you got the night before, how the stock
  • 00:09:44.399 --> 00:09:47.235
  • Market is doing.
  • 00:09:47.235 --> 00:09:48.570
  • I mean, a lot of things affect our feelings.
  • 00:09:48.570 --> 00:09:50.071
  • Here's the good news for us.
  • 00:09:50.071 --> 00:09:51.840
  • Giving thanks has nothing to do with feelings.
  • 00:09:51.840 --> 00:09:56.678
  • Did you hear-- everybody hear what i said?
  • 00:09:56.678 --> 00:09:58.913
  • Giving thanks has nothing to do with feelings.
  • 00:09:58.913 --> 00:10:02.484
  • Here's the dirty little secret.
  • 00:10:02.484 --> 00:10:05.854
  • You can be thankful even if you don't feel thankful.
  • 00:10:05.854 --> 00:10:10.925
  • So--and i don't mean to sound ugly when i say it, you say,
  • 00:10:10.925 --> 00:10:13.361
  • "i want to tell you something.
  • 00:10:13.361 --> 00:10:14.729
  • I just don't feel thankful."
  • 00:10:14.729 --> 00:10:16.064
  • Read my lips.
  • 00:10:16.064 --> 00:10:17.432
  • I don't care.
  • 00:10:17.432 --> 00:10:18.900
  • Neither does god.
  • 00:10:18.900 --> 00:10:20.769
  • You can be thankful without feeling thankful.
  • 00:10:20.769 --> 00:10:24.839
  • So if paul says it doesn't matter whether things are good
  • 00:10:24.839 --> 00:10:28.376
  • Or whether things are bad, we are to give thanks.
  • 00:10:28.376 --> 00:10:31.446
  • And then again, giving thanks is a big deal to god.
  • 00:10:31.446 --> 00:10:34.916
  • You know how i know that?
  • 00:10:34.916 --> 00:10:36.251
  • When you go back to the old testament, i bet you--
  • 00:10:36.251 --> 00:10:38.053
  • Some of you wouldn't never heard this before.
  • 00:10:38.053 --> 00:10:39.788
  • When you go back to the old testament, there were a lot
  • 00:10:39.788 --> 00:10:42.557
  • Of sacrifices that the--and offerings that the nation
  • 00:10:42.557 --> 00:10:45.226
  • Of israel had to give.
  • 00:10:45.226 --> 00:10:46.561
  • God laid them all out and they were to be done on
  • 00:10:46.561 --> 00:10:48.663
  • A regular basis.
  • 00:10:48.663 --> 00:10:50.031
  • I bet some of you don't know this.
  • 00:10:50.031 --> 00:10:51.366
  • Did you know that one of the offerings that they were to give
  • 00:10:51.366 --> 00:10:53.168
  • Was called a thank offering?
  • 00:10:53.168 --> 00:10:56.337
  • On a regular basis, the nation of israel was reminded,
  • 00:10:56.337 --> 00:10:59.307
  • "you've got to give a thank offering."
  • 00:10:59.307 --> 00:11:02.043
  • It was designed to remind god's people of their need
  • 00:11:02.043 --> 00:11:04.713
  • To be thankful.
  • 00:11:04.713 --> 00:11:06.047
  • So here's what they were to do.
  • 00:11:06.047 --> 00:11:07.415
  • They were to bring a sheaf of grain or some oil and wine
  • 00:11:07.415 --> 00:11:11.019
  • As an offering of thanksgiving to remind them of how god had
  • 00:11:11.019 --> 00:11:14.489
  • Always provided for their needs and how they were to always be
  • 00:11:14.489 --> 00:11:18.093
  • Grateful for what god had done for them.
  • 00:11:18.093 --> 00:11:21.396
  • So paul says, and he's very careful in how he says it,
  • 00:11:21.396 --> 00:11:25.400
  • He says, "give thanks," and there's a big word
  • 00:11:25.400 --> 00:11:27.068
  • I don't want you to miss.
  • 00:11:27.068 --> 00:11:28.737
  • He said, "give thanks in all circumstances."
  • 00:11:28.737 --> 00:11:33.374
  • He didn't say, "give thanks for all circumstances."
  • 00:11:33.374 --> 00:11:37.212
  • He said, "give thanks in all circumstances."
  • 00:11:37.212 --> 00:11:41.516
  • In other words, we may not be thankful for trouble
  • 00:11:41.516 --> 00:11:46.020
  • But we ought to be thankful in the midst of trouble.
  • 00:11:46.020 --> 00:11:48.623
  • Now, that raises a question that i wanna answer for you today.
  • 00:11:48.623 --> 00:11:52.160
  • One of the big questions i get asked so much and i preach
  • 00:11:52.160 --> 00:11:54.729
  • Messages on it, "why do bad things happen to good people?"
  • 00:11:54.729 --> 00:11:57.665
  • Let's make it more specific.
  • 00:11:57.665 --> 00:11:59.167
  • Why do bad things happen to godly people?
  • 00:11:59.167 --> 00:12:01.636
  • They go to church, they pay their tithe, they read
  • 00:12:01.636 --> 00:12:03.438
  • Their bible, they pray, they tell people about jesus,
  • 00:12:03.438 --> 00:12:05.807
  • They go on mission trips, they give money to charity,
  • 00:12:05.807 --> 00:12:08.109
  • And yet they wind up with shorter than a stick.
  • 00:12:08.109 --> 00:12:10.411
  • Why does god let that happen?
  • 00:12:10.411 --> 00:12:11.880
  • Why does god allow bad things to happen to godly people?
  • 00:12:11.880 --> 00:12:14.649
  • Can i tell you one reason why?
  • 00:12:14.649 --> 00:12:17.018
  • Because god wants to move you to thanksgiving.
  • 00:12:17.018 --> 00:12:19.988
  • God wants you to understand just how powerful thanksgiving is.
  • 00:12:19.988 --> 00:12:23.158
  • As a matter of fact, in another book that paul wrote to another
  • 00:12:23.158 --> 00:12:26.427
  • Church, paul was writing about all the difficult things
  • 00:12:26.427 --> 00:12:30.031
  • That christians experience, from oppression to persecution
  • 00:12:30.031 --> 00:12:33.168
  • To death.
  • 00:12:33.168 --> 00:12:34.502
  • And he's writing to this church and i mean, they're in
  • 00:12:34.502 --> 00:12:35.970
  • The middle of it, they're in the thick of it, they're in a forest
  • 00:12:35.970 --> 00:12:38.006
  • Fire, and listen to what paul wrote, listen to what he said.
  • 00:12:38.006 --> 00:12:42.043
  • He said, "all of this is for your benefit,"
  • 00:12:42.043 --> 00:12:44.245
  • And they're going, "what?"
  • 00:12:44.245 --> 00:12:46.514
  • Stay with me, "all of this is for your benefit, so that
  • 00:12:46.514 --> 00:12:50.585
  • The grace that is reaching more and more people may cause
  • 00:12:50.585 --> 00:12:53.955
  • Thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of god."
  • 00:12:53.955 --> 00:12:59.594
  • Now i wanna tell you two true stories.
  • 00:12:59.594 --> 00:13:01.696
  • This is--i'm not making these up.
  • 00:13:01.696 --> 00:13:03.398
  • Illustrate what i'm talking about: california, there was
  • 00:13:03.398 --> 00:13:07.569
  • A sharp-looking businessman and he was at a luncheon and he was
  • 00:13:07.569 --> 00:13:11.072
  • There to give his testimony and this was his testimony.
  • 00:13:11.072 --> 00:13:13.408
  • Listen to what he said.
  • 00:13:13.408 --> 00:13:15.076
  • He said, "before i knew christ, i had nothing.
  • 00:13:15.076 --> 00:13:19.047
  • My business was in bankruptcy, my health was ruined, i lost
  • 00:13:19.047 --> 00:13:23.151
  • The respect of the community, and i almost lost my family.
  • 00:13:23.151 --> 00:13:27.522
  • Then i accepted christ as my savior and lord.
  • 00:13:27.522 --> 00:13:31.392
  • Here's what jesus did for me.
  • 00:13:31.392 --> 00:13:33.595
  • He took me out of bankruptcy.
  • 00:13:33.595 --> 00:13:35.096
  • Now my business has tripled its profits in the last three years.
  • 00:13:35.096 --> 00:13:38.700
  • My blood pressure dropped to normal.
  • 00:13:38.700 --> 00:13:41.102
  • I feel better than i have felt in years and, best of all, my
  • 00:13:41.102 --> 00:13:45.073
  • Wife and children have come back to me and we are a family again.
  • 00:13:45.073 --> 00:13:50.612
  • God is so good and i am so thankful."
  • 00:13:50.612 --> 00:13:57.018
  • What a testimony.
  • 00:13:57.018 --> 00:14:00.221
  • Almost on the same day, in china, an old, beaten-down,
  • 00:14:00.221 --> 00:14:05.927
  • Former university professor gave his testimony.
  • 00:14:05.927 --> 00:14:10.164
  • This was his: "before i met christ, i had everything.
  • 00:14:10.164 --> 00:14:16.070
  • I made a large salary, i lived in a nice house, i enjoyed good
  • 00:14:16.070 --> 00:14:20.775
  • Health, i was highly respected for my credentials
  • 00:14:20.775 --> 00:14:23.778
  • And profession, i had a good marriage and beautiful children.
  • 00:14:23.778 --> 00:14:27.815
  • Then i accepted christ as my lord and my savior.
  • 00:14:27.815 --> 00:14:33.221
  • As a result, i lost my post at the university, i lost
  • 00:14:33.221 --> 00:14:40.128
  • My beautiful house and car, i spent five years in prison.
  • 00:14:40.128 --> 00:14:45.767
  • Now i work for minimum wage at a factory and i live in pain
  • 00:14:45.767 --> 00:14:49.170
  • From my neck that was broken in prison.
  • 00:14:49.170 --> 00:14:51.706
  • My unbelieving wife rejected me because of my conversion.
  • 00:14:51.706 --> 00:14:55.343
  • She took my children away and i haven't seen her or them
  • 00:14:55.343 --> 00:14:59.580
  • For ten years.
  • 00:14:59.580 --> 00:15:03.117
  • But god is so good.
  • 00:15:03.117 --> 00:15:05.954
  • He loves me.
  • 00:15:05.954 --> 00:15:07.322
  • He has a plan for my life.
  • 00:15:07.322 --> 00:15:09.557
  • He is always faithful.
  • 00:15:09.557 --> 00:15:11.392
  • He has never left my side and i am so thankful."
  • 00:15:11.392 --> 00:15:18.633
  • One man--two men were thankful, one man gave thanks because
  • 00:15:18.633 --> 00:15:25.540
  • Of what he had gained.
  • 00:15:25.540 --> 00:15:27.775
  • The other man gave thanks in spite of what he had lost.
  • 00:15:27.775 --> 00:15:32.580
  • Now, listen to me carefully, listen to this next statement.
  • 00:15:32.580 --> 00:15:36.918
  • If god is sovereign and god is in control of everything and if
  • 00:15:36.918 --> 00:15:41.522
  • God is good all the time, this is what i'm about to tell you,
  • 00:15:41.522 --> 00:15:45.226
  • Don't miss this now, that means that everything that happens
  • 00:15:45.226 --> 00:15:50.832
  • To you, everything that happens to you also happens for you.
  • 00:15:50.832 --> 00:15:58.439
  • I don't get an amen to that, but it's worth one.
  • 00:15:58.506 --> 00:16:00.975
  • Everything that happens to you also happens for you and
  • 00:16:00.975 --> 00:16:07.281
  • God's gonna work it out for his glory and you're good.
  • 00:16:07.281 --> 00:16:10.485
  • And that's why paul can say you ought to give thanks in every
  • 00:16:10.485 --> 00:16:14.122
  • Situation, because regardless of how bad it may seem to you,
  • 00:16:14.122 --> 00:16:19.093
  • God says, "let me tell you what i'm doing.
  • 00:16:19.093 --> 00:16:21.195
  • I'm using this to manifest my presence.
  • 00:16:21.195 --> 00:16:24.465
  • I'm using this to show you that you need to depend on me.
  • 00:16:24.465 --> 00:16:27.802
  • I'm using this to show you that i will not fail you
  • 00:16:27.802 --> 00:16:30.138
  • And i'm always faithful.
  • 00:16:30.138 --> 00:16:31.806
  • I'm using this to grow you and i wanna move you to thanksgiving."
  • 00:16:31.806 --> 00:16:36.144
  • So how should we be thankful?
  • 00:16:36.144 --> 00:16:38.279
  • When should we be thankful?
  • 00:16:38.279 --> 00:16:39.647
  • We should be habitually thankful.
  • 00:16:39.647 --> 00:16:44.318
  • Now, if that didn't kind of rub you raw a little bit,
  • 00:16:44.318 --> 00:16:49.724
  • Let's take another shot.
  • 00:16:49.724 --> 00:16:51.793
  • Paul says, "not only should we be habitually thankful,"
  • 00:16:51.793 --> 00:16:56.164
  • Paul says, "we should be happily thankful."
  • 00:16:56.164 --> 00:16:59.934
  • Happily thankful.
  • 00:16:59.934 --> 00:17:01.369
  • See, paul says, now watch, he says, "in all things,
  • 00:17:01.369 --> 00:17:06.040
  • Give thanks."
  • 00:17:06.040 --> 00:17:07.842
  • In all things, give thanks.
  • 00:17:07.842 --> 00:17:10.411
  • Now let me tell you why this is such a cool thing paul says.
  • 00:17:10.411 --> 00:17:12.914
  • Here's what i've learned.
  • 00:17:12.914 --> 00:17:16.751
  • I'm having to really deal with some issues right now with some
  • 00:17:16.751 --> 00:17:19.654
  • Couples that want to get married, and frankly, they're
  • 00:17:19.654 --> 00:17:23.424
  • Not living in the will of god right now and i've kind of made
  • 00:17:23.424 --> 00:17:25.760
  • It plain to them, "if you want me to marry you, you've gotta
  • 00:17:25.760 --> 00:17:28.262
  • Get some things straight before we do this and i can't marry you
  • 00:17:28.262 --> 00:17:30.431
  • If you're not gonna let god put yourself in a position
  • 00:17:30.431 --> 00:17:32.300
  • Where god can bless you."
  • 00:17:32.300 --> 00:17:35.069
  • And i spent over an hour this last week, week before last,
  • 00:17:35.069 --> 00:17:38.773
  • I spent over an hour with this couple and i was trying to get
  • 00:17:38.773 --> 00:17:41.175
  • Them to hear me say one thing, listen to me.
  • 00:17:41.175 --> 00:17:44.445
  • I've learned that anything that god commands me to do is always
  • 00:17:44.445 --> 00:17:48.616
  • For my best and anything that god commands me not to do
  • 00:17:48.616 --> 00:17:52.653
  • Is always for my best and it's always for my benefit.
  • 00:17:52.653 --> 00:17:55.823
  • And here's what i've seen in my life, a grateful person will be
  • 00:17:55.823 --> 00:17:59.393
  • A happier person, a grateful person will be a holier person,
  • 00:17:59.393 --> 00:18:04.031
  • A grateful person will be a healthier person.
  • 00:18:04.031 --> 00:18:07.535
  • Listen to this, there are many well-substantiated medical
  • 00:18:07.535 --> 00:18:10.338
  • Studies that have found that, if you're grateful, if you'll be
  • 00:18:10.338 --> 00:18:13.107
  • In an attitude of gratitude, continuously, gratitude
  • 00:18:13.107 --> 00:18:16.310
  • Increases patience, it decreases depression, it replenishes
  • 00:18:16.310 --> 00:18:21.315
  • Willpower, it reduces stress.
  • 00:18:21.315 --> 00:18:24.051
  • In other words, being a thankful person won't just help you live
  • 00:18:24.051 --> 00:18:27.922
  • Longer, it will help you live better.
  • 00:18:27.922 --> 00:18:32.593
  • I read this the other day, somebody said, "if you want a
  • 00:18:32.593 --> 00:18:34.996
  • Good night's sleep, don't count sheep, count your blessings."
  • 00:18:34.996 --> 00:18:38.366
  • Pretty good.
  • 00:18:38.366 --> 00:18:39.734
  • Count your blessings.
  • 00:18:39.734 --> 00:18:41.068
  • Medical researchers have now discovered that gratitude is the
  • 00:18:41.068 --> 00:18:44.205
  • One emotional trait that is most likely to benefit not just your
  • 00:18:44.205 --> 00:18:48.009
  • Physical health, it has been proven to overcome things
  • 00:18:48.009 --> 00:18:51.212
  • Like stress, high blood pressure, and anxiety.
  • 00:18:51.212 --> 00:18:56.551
  • That's why i love what one preacher said.
  • 00:18:56.551 --> 00:18:58.186
  • He said, "you know, a grateful heart will lead
  • 00:18:58.186 --> 00:19:00.888
  • To a healthy heart."
  • 00:19:00.888 --> 00:19:02.223
  • That's why when the bible says give thanks, it's not just good
  • 00:19:02.223 --> 00:19:05.159
  • Advice, it's a divine command.
  • 00:19:05.159 --> 00:19:06.827
  • It's not an option, it's an obligation.
  • 00:19:06.827 --> 00:19:09.797
  • So in other words, let me make this as strong as i can.
  • 00:19:09.797 --> 00:19:12.967
  • You are just as obligated to give god your thanks as you are
  • 00:19:12.967 --> 00:19:16.337
  • To give god your tithe.
  • 00:19:16.337 --> 00:19:18.472
  • You're just as obligated to give god your thanks as you are
  • 00:19:18.472 --> 00:19:20.942
  • To give god your time.
  • 00:19:20.942 --> 00:19:23.144
  • In other words, to flip it, it's a sin to be ungrateful.
  • 00:19:23.144 --> 00:19:29.183
  • It's not a weakness to be ungrateful, it's a wickedness
  • 00:19:29.183 --> 00:19:33.321
  • To be ungrateful.
  • 00:19:33.321 --> 00:19:34.689
  • It's not a flaw to be ungrateful, it's a failure
  • 00:19:34.689 --> 00:19:36.490
  • To be ungrateful.
  • 00:19:36.490 --> 00:19:37.858
  • It is a fist in the face of god not to be grateful.
  • 00:19:37.858 --> 00:19:41.095
  • You think about this, when you give something to someone,
  • 00:19:41.095 --> 00:19:44.131
  • When you give a gift to someone, there's usually one of three
  • 00:19:44.131 --> 00:19:45.900
  • Reasons why you give something to somebody; either because
  • 00:19:45.900 --> 00:19:48.836
  • They need it, they deserve it, or they want it.
  • 00:19:48.836 --> 00:19:53.841
  • That's the three reasons you give a gift; either, okay,
  • 00:19:53.841 --> 00:19:55.710
  • You need it, you deserve it, or you want it.
  • 00:19:55.710 --> 00:19:58.179
  • Now, therefore, here's what that means.
  • 00:19:58.179 --> 00:20:00.781
  • When you don't give something to someone that they do need
  • 00:20:00.781 --> 00:20:04.285
  • Or they do deserve or that they do want, you just rob them
  • 00:20:04.285 --> 00:20:07.521
  • Of the blessing.
  • 00:20:07.521 --> 00:20:09.023
  • I wanna tell all of you today, there is no greater way you can
  • 00:20:09.023 --> 00:20:12.026
  • Bless anybody--you really wanna be a blessing?
  • 00:20:12.026 --> 00:20:14.595
  • Whether it be god or human beings, there is no other way
  • 00:20:14.595 --> 00:20:17.164
  • You can bless them, no greater way than to just thank them.
  • 00:20:17.164 --> 00:20:21.969
  • Just show your gratitude.
  • 00:20:21.969 --> 00:20:24.905
  • Let me give you some examples.
  • 00:20:24.905 --> 00:20:27.174
  • Let's go back to that guy in india.
  • 00:20:27.174 --> 00:20:32.013
  • Have you ever just thanked your mother and your dad just
  • 00:20:32.013 --> 00:20:34.715
  • For bringing you into the world?
  • 00:20:34.715 --> 00:20:40.521
  • Have you ever thanked that person that cared enough
  • 00:20:40.521 --> 00:20:43.991
  • About you to share the gospel and lead you to jesus?
  • 00:20:43.991 --> 00:20:48.062
  • Have you ever thanked that coach or that teacher that helped you
  • 00:20:48.062 --> 00:20:52.133
  • Turn from the wrong path to the right path?
  • 00:20:52.133 --> 00:20:56.337
  • Okay, here's one.
  • 00:20:56.337 --> 00:20:59.240
  • When was the last time you thanked a police officer
  • 00:20:59.240 --> 00:21:03.778
  • Or a firefighter or a first responder for the service
  • 00:21:03.778 --> 00:21:09.383
  • That they give to the public?
  • 00:21:09.383 --> 00:21:12.920
  • I don't say this to brag, but i was driving into my neighborhood
  • 00:21:12.920 --> 00:21:15.990
  • One day, this has been about three weeks ago, and god is so
  • 00:21:15.990 --> 00:21:19.427
  • Good because, thank god, i was going the same way as the police
  • 00:21:19.427 --> 00:21:22.196
  • Officer that was parked on the side because i was speeding.
  • 00:21:22.196 --> 00:21:26.334
  • And so i--he's just right before i was turning to my--to
  • 00:21:26.334 --> 00:21:28.502
  • Where we live in our subdivision and i went past him and, boy,
  • 00:21:28.502 --> 00:21:31.639
  • The lord just spoke to my heart and i backed my car up and
  • 00:21:31.639 --> 00:21:34.975
  • I rolled the window down.
  • 00:21:34.975 --> 00:21:36.344
  • Well, you know, it's not easy to do that these days.
  • 00:21:36.344 --> 00:21:38.179
  • And so, this officer kind of rolled the window down and--
  • 00:21:38.179 --> 00:21:42.116
  • It was a lady, also.
  • 00:21:42.116 --> 00:21:43.484
  • I said, ma'am, i said, "i just want to thank you
  • 00:21:43.484 --> 00:21:46.187
  • For what you do every day.
  • 00:21:46.187 --> 00:21:48.089
  • You're underpaid, you're overworked, you guys, most of
  • 00:21:48.089 --> 00:21:51.459
  • You," i said, "you know, most of you really do, many of you, just
  • 00:21:51.459 --> 00:21:54.628
  • Almost all of you, not all, but you do a great job, and i just
  • 00:21:54.628 --> 00:21:58.966
  • Wanna thank you for the service that you give to the community."
  • 00:21:58.966 --> 00:22:02.603
  • You know what the response was?
  • 00:22:02.603 --> 00:22:05.406
  • "are you kidding me?"
  • 00:22:05.406 --> 00:22:06.907
  • I said, "no, ma'am.
  • 00:22:06.907 --> 00:22:08.275
  • I'm serious."
  • 00:22:08.275 --> 00:22:09.610
  • She said, "you just don't know how much we need to hear that."
  • 00:22:09.610 --> 00:22:14.315
  • How about all the things in life--listen, how about all
  • 00:22:14.315 --> 00:22:17.151
  • The things in life that you experience and enjoy every day
  • 00:22:17.151 --> 00:22:20.654
  • And you don't even give them a second thought?
  • 00:22:20.654 --> 00:22:22.089
  • You don't even thank god for any of it.
  • 00:22:22.089 --> 00:22:24.525
  • So maybe some of these things will help push your thanksgiving
  • 00:22:24.525 --> 00:22:27.528
  • Button, okay?
  • 00:22:27.528 --> 00:22:28.863
  • Maybe this will help.
  • 00:22:28.863 --> 00:22:30.231
  • If you woke up this morning with more health than illness,
  • 00:22:30.231 --> 00:22:33.834
  • You are more blessed than one million people who will not
  • 00:22:33.834 --> 00:22:36.337
  • Survive this week.
  • 00:22:36.337 --> 00:22:39.273
  • If you've never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness
  • 00:22:39.273 --> 00:22:42.743
  • Of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pains
  • 00:22:42.743 --> 00:22:45.279
  • Of starvation, you are ahead of more than 500 million people
  • 00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:49.116
  • Around the world.
  • 00:22:49.116 --> 00:22:50.484
  • Say thanks.
  • 00:22:50.484 --> 00:22:53.287
  • We should be happily thankful.
  • 00:22:53.287 --> 00:22:56.857
  • We ought to be habitually thankful.
  • 00:22:56.857 --> 00:23:00.194
  • But then paul said, "we should be humbly thankful."
  • 00:23:00.194 --> 00:23:05.032
  • Now, listen to what he says, the greatest reason why we ought
  • 00:23:05.032 --> 00:23:09.804
  • To be giving thanks, the greatest reason why we ought
  • 00:23:09.804 --> 00:23:11.705
  • To be grateful all the time in all things is this:
  • 00:23:11.705 --> 00:23:15.976
  • "for this is god's will for you in christ jesus."
  • 00:23:15.976 --> 00:23:23.184
  • We ought to be thankful, but can i just be honest with you
  • 00:23:23.184 --> 00:23:26.720
  • If you're listening to me?
  • 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:28.055
  • If jesus christ is not your lord, if you've never trusted
  • 00:23:28.055 --> 00:23:31.592
  • Jesus who died on the cross and came back from the grave so that
  • 00:23:31.592 --> 00:23:35.329
  • He could come into your heart, he could give you spiritual
  • 00:23:35.329 --> 00:23:38.199
  • Immunity, he could forgive you of all of your sins, if you've
  • 00:23:38.199 --> 00:23:41.168
  • Never trusted in him--god doesn't wanna hear anything--
  • 00:23:41.168 --> 00:23:45.072
  • God doesn't wanna hear your "thank you" until you give him
  • 00:23:45.072 --> 00:23:48.075
  • The one "thank you" he wants to hear and that is, "lord jesus,
  • 00:23:48.075 --> 00:23:51.045
  • Thank you for dying for me.
  • 00:23:51.045 --> 00:23:52.613
  • Thank you for coming back.
  • 00:23:52.613 --> 00:23:54.114
  • And, lord, today, because you're offering eternal life, i'm going
  • 00:23:54.114 --> 00:23:56.817
  • To accept it and thank you for giving me the chance."
  • 00:23:56.817 --> 00:24:00.254
  • So i'm asking those of you in this room and those of you
  • 00:24:00.321 --> 00:24:02.790
  • Watching about it right now, if you have never trusted in
  • 00:24:02.790 --> 00:24:06.494
  • Jesus christ as your lord and as your savior, there's nothing
  • 00:24:06.494 --> 00:24:10.164
  • That makes our church more thankful than to know that
  • 00:24:10.164 --> 00:24:12.366
  • People are coming to christ, which they do every week.
  • 00:24:12.366 --> 00:24:14.635
  • I'm gonna ask you right now, if you would like to receive
  • 00:24:14.635 --> 00:24:17.238
  • The greatest gift you'll ever receive and be thankful for it
  • 00:24:17.238 --> 00:24:20.541
  • The rest of your life, just pray with me right now, just say,
  • 00:24:20.541 --> 00:24:22.843
  • "lord jesus, i'm a sinner.
  • 00:24:22.843 --> 00:24:25.513
  • I need a savior.
  • 00:24:25.513 --> 00:24:27.414
  • I can't save myself, but i accept by faith that you died on
  • 00:24:27.414 --> 00:24:32.853
  • The cross for my sins and i believe in my heart that god
  • 00:24:32.853 --> 00:24:36.490
  • Raised him from the dead.
  • 00:24:36.490 --> 00:24:38.692
  • Thank you, lord jesus, for dying for me.
  • 00:24:38.692 --> 00:24:42.129
  • Thank you, lord jesus, right now for speaking to me.
  • 00:24:42.129 --> 00:24:46.166
  • Thank you, lord jesus, right now for saving me.
  • 00:24:46.166 --> 00:24:49.837
  • Thank you, lord jesus, for forgiving me.
  • 00:24:49.837 --> 00:24:54.475
  • And now that you've come into my life, help me every day to
  • 00:24:54.475 --> 00:24:58.913
  • Show you how thankful i am by living always for you."
  • 00:24:58.913 --> 00:25:05.219
  • Male announcer: to watch an extended version of today's
  • 00:25:05.286 --> 00:25:07.388
  • Message from dr. james merritt, go to touchinglives.org.
  • 00:25:07.388 --> 00:25:11.458
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:25:11.458 --> 00:25:15.796
  • James: if you've been paying attention to the news this year,
  • 00:25:15.796 --> 00:25:17.965
  • You know that preaching the word of god and proclaiming
  • 00:25:17.965 --> 00:25:21.135
  • The gospel of god has never been more urgent.
  • 00:25:21.135 --> 00:25:24.204
  • Everywhere you look there are natural disasters, economic
  • 00:25:24.204 --> 00:25:27.875
  • Uncertainty, political turmoil, wars, rumors of wars.
  • 00:25:27.875 --> 00:25:32.446
  • Bible-believing christians like us know that god has a message
  • 00:25:32.446 --> 00:25:36.216
  • For us in dark times like these, but broadcasting this message to
  • 00:25:36.216 --> 00:25:40.387
  • The ends of the earth requires the generous support of people
  • 00:25:40.387 --> 00:25:43.891
  • Like you.
  • 00:25:43.891 --> 00:25:45.225
  • For decades, i have been honored to teach god's word and proclaim
  • 00:25:45.225 --> 00:25:49.229
  • The gospel through "touching lives," but our work
  • 00:25:49.229 --> 00:25:52.199
  • Has just started.
  • 00:25:52.199 --> 00:25:53.534
  • God has given me a bold vision for expanding our reach
  • 00:25:53.534 --> 00:25:56.604
  • Dramatically over the next ten years and i need you to realize
  • 00:25:56.604 --> 00:26:01.241
  • This vision.
  • 00:26:01.241 --> 00:26:02.610
  • If you're thinking about giving a tax deductible gift to
  • 00:26:02.610 --> 00:26:05.412
  • "touching lives" before the end of the year, we would be
  • 00:26:05.412 --> 00:26:08.449
  • So grateful and we'll use your donation to help in spreading
  • 00:26:08.449 --> 00:26:11.385
  • The message of the gospel across the globe.
  • 00:26:11.385 --> 00:26:14.455
  • And as a sign of our gratitude, we're giving a free copy
  • 00:26:14.455 --> 00:26:17.858
  • Of our new "through the bible in a year" journal to anyone
  • 00:26:17.858 --> 00:26:21.495
  • Who gives a gift of any size this month.
  • 00:26:21.495 --> 00:26:24.765
  • As my wife teresa and i prepare for the christmas season,
  • 00:26:24.765 --> 00:26:28.202
  • My heart is drawn to the impact of a little baby born in a quiet
  • 00:26:28.202 --> 00:26:32.940
  • Tucked-away place, jesus.
  • 00:26:32.940 --> 00:26:35.909
  • His story reminds us of god's ultimate love for us and how,
  • 00:26:35.909 --> 00:26:39.113
  • Even in the most unpredictable times, he is our guide
  • 00:26:39.113 --> 00:26:43.984
  • And our protector.
  • 00:26:43.984 --> 00:26:45.386
  • I invite you to prayerfully consider making your best gift
  • 00:26:45.452 --> 00:26:48.856
  • This christmas season to help us achieve our bold vision
  • 00:26:48.856 --> 00:26:52.359
  • Of taking the gospel of jesus to the ends of the earth.
  • 00:26:52.359 --> 00:26:55.696
  • Thank you for partnering with us in this ministry,
  • 00:26:55.696 --> 00:26:59.099
  • Which is more important than ever before.
  • 00:26:59.099 --> 00:27:01.735
  • Teresa and i love you and we're praying favor
  • 00:27:01.735 --> 00:27:04.204
  • On your life in the coming year.
  • 00:27:04.204 --> 00:27:06.573
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:07.007 --> 00:27:14.848
  • Male announcer: touching the lives of the lost
  • 00:27:14.848 --> 00:27:16.750
  • And enriching the faith of the found.
  • 00:27:16.750 --> 00:27:19.219
  • This is "touching lives" with dr. james merritt.
  • 00:27:19.219 --> 00:27:28.228