Relationship with God— December 5, 2021: full transcript and answers

▶ 0:03 Good morning and welcome just says in John chapter 4 verse 14 verse 6 Jesus said I am the way I am the truth I am the life this morning let us exercise. Run our race with endurance by worshiping and exalting our creator Jesus Christ our Lord and savior I invite you to stand with me if you’re home you can stand we are going to worship and praise him with all of our heart and might amen join us this morning amen. Jesus is the reason for the season we’re getting close to Christmas time we’re gonna open with go tell it on the mountain what are we telling we’re telling the gospel story Jesus was born of a virgin a baby in Bethlehem has come to be the savior of the world all right well let’s go go tell it on the mountain.

▶ 1:00 Over the hills and everywhere. Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is. Over the hills and everywhere go telling on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born while shepherds kept there watching over silent fox by night behold throughout the heavens they’re shown a holy light. Go go tell it on the mountain. Everywhere.

▶ 1:54 Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born. Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ. The glory of the Lord rises among us let the glory of the Lord rise among us let the praises of our king rise among us lay right.

▶ 2:56 Oh let the glory of the heart rise among us the glory of the Lord rise among us let the praises of our king rise among us let it rise. Let it rise. Let the joy of the king rise among us let the joy of lucky. Rise among us. Rise among us let it rise.

▶ 3:53 Let the songs of the Lord rise among. Of the us. Rise among us let the praises of our king rise among us let it rise. Let it rise. Let the thongs of the Lord love the songs of the Lord rise among us let the songs of our Lord rise among us let the love the keys rise among us let it rise.

▶ 4:47 Let the songs of the Lord let the songs of the Lord rise among us let the songs of the Lord rise among us let the praises of lucky. Rise among us let it rise. Let it. It rise. Let the heavens rejoice let the heavens rejoice let the earth be glad let the earth begin let the people of God see his praise all over the land let’s praise him everyone.

▶ 6:16 Rise up and praise him. All your soul. Let the heavens rejoice let the heavens rejoice let the earth. Let the earth let the people of God sing his praise all over the land. Everyone in the valley. Come and lift your voice. Rise up and praise him.

▶ 7:11 He deserves our love. Rise up and praise him. Let’s worship the holy one with all your heart all your soul all your mind. Let the earth let the people of God sing his praise all over the land. Everyone in the valley. Come and live your voice. All those on the mountain top be glad shout for joy.

▶ 8:04 Rise up and praise him. He deserves our love. Rise up and praise him. Rise up and praise him. Rise. Oh. Be the name of the Lord.

▶ 9:10 Blessed be the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord most high. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Bless it be the name of the Lord. Bless it be the name of the name of the Lord. Let’s feel the name of the Lord. Bless me be the name of the of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord most high. The name of the Lord is.

▶ 10:04 A strong tower. The righteous run into it and they are safe. The name of the Lord is. A strong tower. The righteous run into it and they are safe glory to the name all glory to the name of the Lord. Glory to the name of the Lord. Glory to the name of the Lord most high. Glory to the name of the Lord. Glory to the name of the Lord. Glory to the name of the Lord most high. Oh blessed be the name of the Lord.

▶ 11:00 Blessed be the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Bless it be the name of the Lord. Most high. The name of the Lord is. A strong tower. The righteous run into it and they are staying. The name of the Lord is. A strong tower. The righteous run into it.

▶ 11:54 And they are safe. Oh blessed me the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Oh blessed be the name of the let’s bless Lord bless it be the name of the Lord. Bless it be the name of the Lord.

▶ 13:04 Bless it be the name of the Lord. Lest it be the name of the Lord. Bless it be the name of the Lord. And. He is exalted the king is exalted on high.

▶ 14:13 I will praise him he is. He is the Lord. Forever his truth shall reign. Rejoice in his holy name. He is exalted the king is exalted on. You are exalted your king is exalted on high.

▶ 15:08 I will praise you you are exalted forever exalted and I will. Praise your name. You are the Lord. Forever your truth shall reign. Rejoice in your holy name. You are exalted my key is. You are exalted the king is. My king is.

▶ 16:23 Oh you are exalted my king is. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Jesus. Oh.

▶ 17:41 You. His name is. God with. Us. Revealed in us. His name is. Amen.

▶ 18:47 His name is. With us. Revealed. Your name is. Is.

▶ 19:57 God with us. Revealed. Your name is. Be filled with. Let his gods be built. With his praise. As we worship.

▶ 20:52 The Lord in the holy. Of holies. Be filled. With. As we worship. The Lord in the holy. Of holy.

▶ 21:45 Zion. Rejoices. Against. His name. Is. With us. Is.

▶ 23:04 Well. Way. God with us. Revealed in us. Your name is. Is.

▶ 24:05 Thank you. Jesus God we coming for you this morning God we sing your wonderful praise God how wonderful you are Jesus and you’ve come this morning with your presence and your touch Jesus we asked God Lord that we would respond Lord Jesus said when you come we would be like the people in the Bible who responded right to you Jesus Lord they humble themselves before you they worship before you God Lord and you did a mighty work in their lives Jesus we pray that we would have hearts like those people in the Bible God not proud and Jesus not thinking that we’re always right the Lord coming to our mate our master our maker Jesus and surrendering unto you humbling ourselves before you Jesus Lord we ask this in your name God give us a tender heart Jesus.

▶ 25:19 A soft heart. Lord God one willing to humble ourselves before our king our master Jesus Christ we thank you this morning in your precious name everyone said. Amen. You may find your seats this morning again we’d like to welcome you this morning and thank you for joining us it’s good to be in the house of God I don’t know about you but I had a great experience with God this morning just singing right now worshiping him it’s a great thing I hope you guys experienced the presence of God so powerful this morning we’re going to be talking about having a relationship with God. And how to have a successful relationship with God and it’s very important in our day and hour in America 2021. To have a successful relationship with God are you good okay.

▶ 26:21 Your relationship with God will also affect your relationships with your family your children and the people that you know. In Matthew chapter 4 verse 18. Uh we’re going to talk about God’s process. In Matthew chapter 4 verse 18 it says he said to them follow me and I will make you fishers of men and so people we start out uh if you’re not a Christian if you don’t believe in God if you’re an unbeliever you start out like a fish a fish. And you’re in the ocean or in the sea wherever you are you’re like a fish. See that big fish there you know what they do they they put it close to the camera right you know they do that so you don’t really know how big that thing is but it looks big.

▶ 27:24 First Peter 2:9. You are a chosen generation a royal priesthood see once you accept Christ and once you are pulled out of the water out of darkness. You are our chosen generation a royal priesthood a holy nation a special people that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you God called you he drew you out of darkness into his marvelous light there is a difference. Of light in the ocean and light out of the ocean right there’s a big difference. Who once were not a people. But now are the people of God so we’re like a fish. You weren’t we’re not a people I love this scripture so good and so fish they breathe water they have no legs and some of them are in complete darkness.

▶ 28:24 Some of them are really deep down in the water and there is no light and they just have to go based on their senses right fish have a lateral line they got all these things and they can they can feel what’s going on in the water just based on movements. But Jesus Christ God through people and through his word will pull sinners from the depths of the ocean one great example of that is Saul of Tarsus his name used to be Saul of Tarsus right but he became Paul the apostle he says about himself that he was the chief sinner he was the deepest sinner. But he became an apostle one serving God meeting God on the mountain and so that’s what God wants to do so here’s a picture of a angler fish or one of those deep sea fish right they’re really way down there they’re in the midnight zone I mean there is no light no way no how except for a submarine that came and splashed light on everything and all the fish were like what is that.

▶ 29:30 And so that’s what Saul was like he was way down deep to the deepest part and God pulled him out and that just shows you how powerful God is he can shake whoever you are wherever you’re at and he can pull you from the deepest sin the deepest part of the kingdom of darkness I don’t care if you’re a Satan worshiper I don’t care who you are Jesus Christ has the power to transform you to give you a spiritual lungs so that you can breathe the air he can give you spiritual legs so you can walk on land he can give you some new eyes that can see. It’s a powerful thing. Now six days after so and also we have a picture of the mountain here God is calling you up to the mountains so you started way down deep in darkness and now you’re out of darkness you’re on the shoreline but now we’ve got to go somewhere where are we going we’re going to the mountain amen why are we going to the mountain because that is where God is and that’s where he will meet with you he will speak with you and he will transform you even further.

▶ 30:47 Matthew chapter 17 verse 1 after six days Jesus took Peter James and John he led them up on a high mountain by themselves so Jesus took his two disciples and he led them up a mountain. And in Hebrews chapter 12 verse 1 it says let us lay aside every weight the sin which so easily ensnares us let us run with endurance the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith and that scripture is very important you are not going to get up a mountain with a 300 pound pack that is heavier than you are you’re not going to get up a mountain carrying somebody else’s way you’re not going to get up the mountain carrying you know you have to let go of the weight of sin and this example God calling you up higher it explains the process you don’t want to stay in sin and that’s what churches and that’s what people are doing today they are staying in sin they’re staying on the shoreline I love Jesus thank you for bringing me out of the water uh the beach is great I love the beach too but God’s calling you on the mountain.

▶ 32:01 You can’t stay at the shoreline all your life you got to go up to the mountain. And so to do that you have to shed the weight of sin. And let us run with endurance the race that is set before us to run with endurance do you know what it takes to be able to run with endurance you have to exercise. Or you’re never going to be able to run with endurance. Amen marathon runners and these runners and people that do iron mans they have a training program every day I mean you should see the iron man thing what they do it’s like holy cow they’ve changed their life just exercising it’s it’s crazy they’ll go and they’ll swim they’ll do a bike ride every day and they’ll do the run and they do they do all that stuff every day.

▶ 32:54 And I’m not saying go crazy and I’m not saying you need to do that physically I’m talking about your spirit your spiritual man and it’s a daily thing if you want to run with endurance for God if you want to have endurance to make it up the mountain it’s time to exercise. The spiritual things that God has given us he’s given us prayer you’ve got to exercise prayer he’s given us fasting you’ve got to exercise fasting he’s given us worship this morning we had an opportunity to worship did you worship every day you can worship at your house while you’re praying you can worship. You don’t have to wait. You’re not going to be able to run with endurance if you’re just doing it once a week understanding God’s word that. We have to exercise that to understand God’s word you have to have knowledge of God’s word to have knowledge you have to put it in you which is either reading or listening you’ve got if you want understanding you have to put God’s word into your mind so that he can bring it up to you he’s not going to write it all in your brain out of nowhere you have we have the book this is 20 21 there are 5 billion plus copies of the Bible hallelujah.

▶ 34:11 Thank goodness but you’ve got to get it and you’ve got to put it in you and more than that it is all over the internet there is no reason. Anyone in this place or in this city or in this state has any excuse for not reading the Bible. It is available. Amen. And so God is calling us to ascend in Psalms 24:3 who may ascend unto the hill of the Lord who may stand in this holy place he who has clean hands and a pure heart so there’s God is calling you higher. In Exodus chapter 19 verse 20 the Lord came down upon mount Sinai on the top of the mountain and called Moses to the top of the mountain and Moses went up see Moses had come to a place where he had could make it up the mountain and he went up the mountain and he what he met with God on the mountain he was transfigured on the mountain his face began to shine and he received the commandments God’s word he received the pattern for the temp tabernacle all of these things he received he received the law more than just the commandments and so God is wanting to do that with the church today and he’s calling us to go up.

▶ 35:31 Exodus chapter 34 verse 29 when Moses came down the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. So while God was talking with Moses his face was shining Matthew chapter 17 verse 2 he was transfigured before them his face shone like the sun his clothes became as white as the light. He was changed so now these two verses are very similar but they’re at two different times over a thousand years apart. One is Moses. Whose face shone when he was talking to God and another is Jesus Christ in Matthew chapter 17 verse 2 he Jesus when he went up to the mountain he was transfigured he changed his robes became white his face changed his face began to shine like the sun and there was a transformation.

▶ 36:32 And God wants to transform you it says in Daniel chapter 12 verse 3 those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the firmament and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever if you want to become someone who can turn somebody to righteousness. You’ve got to go to the mountain become a star. When you come down from the mountain you’re going to be shining and you’re going to be convincing people to turn to righteousness this is the process.

▶ 37:11 And we need this we need to head for that goal you know if you make it halfway up or three quarters I mean hallelujah just get going make some progress don’t stay where you’re at. Behold Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him so Moses appeared when Jesus’s face shone uh Matthew 17 a bright cloud overshadowed them and suddenly a voice came out of the clouds saying this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased hear him so again we’re reminded that boys the God’s voice came when they were on top of the mountain and we want to hear God’s voice God’s voice will convince God’s voice is such a wonderful tool you know it wasn’t it wasn’t just words that came to me and convinced me to change and become like become a Christian it was God’s voice God’s touch God’s speaking in your mind he confirms his word he comes with his spirit and it’s like wow this is real.

▶ 38:16 Makes all the difference and we need to hear his voice. Isaiah chapter 2 verse 2 it shall come to pass in the last days that the mountain of the lord’s house shall work shall be established on the top of the mountains. So it’s not just one person it’s not just a pastor this isn’t just for a pastor it’s not just for some holy man this is for the lord’s house everyone. If you’re in church if you’re going to church if you’re part of the church you are called to the top of the mountain.

▶ 38:58 Now. Getting to the mountain this picture here. Uh it’s a beautiful place is I’ve actually been here and I wanted to share it because it was one of my most memorable hikes up in uh the Yosemite area and there’s a lake there’s a uh there’s a turn off of the Tioga pass before you get to the entrance of Yosemite by Tioga lake there’s Tioga Lake right there and there’s the entrance right there before you get there there’s a turn for Saddlebag lake and when you go up to Saddlebag you can or at the time you could ferry across the lake and uh you can hike up to these mountain peaks if you want or you can go up to some lakes there’s a lake is called canes Conness Lakes.

▶ 39:54 And there’s a beautiful it’s just it’s beautiful I mean it’s not there’s nothing like it those those mountains are just so pretty and uh you just walk and you stand in awe of how beautiful everything is when we were crossing the lake of Saddlebag I saw an eagle flying and went down into the water and caught a fish and you don’t see that around here right you know we don’t have rivers and stuff like that it was so awesome. And uh on our way up to Conness Lakes we we didn’t really have a destination we were just trying to go as far as we could because we had the kids and they’re young and you know Beckham’s like you know a little squirt and he’s just running around. Uh but it was a lot of fun and this stream that was coming down from the the the snow was melting of course and and feeding the lakes and the lakes were feeding the next set of lakes and going down the Saddlebag like I mean that’s how it works right the water just keeps flowing down and on your way up you’re just following this river in the stream it’s just beautiful.

▶ 41:03 And that the river is so important. The river has food river has water it has guidance it gives you guidance if you don’t know where you’re going if you find a river you’re like oh I know this is going to take me somewhere I know this is going to take me to if I need to go down I mean you watch this for survival shows they say if you find a river you’re good. You have water you have something to guide you everything is growing by the river. In John chapter 7 verse 37 Jesus said if anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink he who believes in me as the scripture has said out of his heart will flow rivers of living water so we come to the river we partake of the river and out of us comes a little river that people can partake of and this is important because you want people to be led to the river of God amen it will give them life and so what I’m saying here if God has called you to the mountain he is also giving you a source of guidance.

▶ 42:24 He has given you life he has given you a source of food of life of guidance the river is so important. And it will direct you to the top of the mountain John chapter 14 verse 6 he said to him Jesus said to him I am the way I am the truth and I am the life no one comes to the father except through me and I you just you just read that and you can really see the river in that statement. The river shows you the way the river has food in it the truth of God in it the river has life in it it’s exciting to get in the river it’s fun to get in the river and the river is going to take you to the father the river is so important and we need that because in the process of going to the mountain and exercising you want to experience that river and that life amen.

▶ 43:35 First Corinthians chapter 10 verse 5 they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them and that rock was Jesus Christ. I know here it’s saying that the rock is Jesus but the the water is also coming out of the rock it is Jesus Christ in the wilderness they’ve this rock followed them and provided a river a stream for them to drink from. Now if we want a successful relationship with God we have to follow the river the river is the way the river is the truth it is the life now I’m gonna have some little. Uh things on the screen here here we got a guy right and uh he’s dressed up in a suit he’s looking good and what happens with the guy you know all there’s always a lady right there right.

▶ 44:36 So here comes the lady. Oh and here comes baby number one it’s a girl and here comes a crazy rambunctious little boy look at those curls. So all of a sudden the girl goes crazy. She starts losing her mind right. She’s spinning. And she decides and everybody’s at the river right now the river of life the river of truth the river that is showing them the way and all of a sudden a little girl says no. The daughter throws up in her mind she says forget this river I’m out of here I don’t want to follow the river I want to do what I want to do. Oh there’s a distraction. And the guy decides to leave the river see you later.

▶ 45:32 And so they leave truth. Scriptures say. Jesus is the same yesterday today and forever he does not change now I’m sure you can find some rivers in this world that change direction and all that but Jesus Christ the river he doesn’t change his direction doesn’t change he is he is providing life his word doesn’t change he doesn’t change. The scriptures say also do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines just because something comes your way doesn’t mean you have to listen to it. So if you want if you value your relationship with God we have to stick with the river.

▶ 46:26 First Corinthians chapter 10 verse 6 we should not lust after evil things as they all so lusted do not become idolaters. Nor commit sexual immorality nor let us tempt Christ nor complain so these all the things that the people the Israelites did that we do today we uh put things before God put things before his house we commit sexual immorality and we think nothing of it that’s not right that is leaving the river of truth. When you want to follow your uh version of truth your whatever they’re calling it today I mean my psychologist and all these people are they just keep talking and it’s like just stop talking you don’t know what you’re talking about. You don’t need to be some great orator some great debater if you stick with the river it’s going to bless your life if you’re just a simple man and you got no debate in you at all if you’re a simple woman and you don’t have much debate in you you don’t have to sit here and get all upset just stick with the river it will bless your life.

▶ 47:47 Psalms 1 verse 2 his delight is in the law of the Lord in his law he meditates day and night he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season whose leaf shall not wither and whatever he does shall prosper see this person that it’s talking about whether you’re a man or whether you’re a woman just because the Bible says his doesn’t mean it’s not a woman women can do this too you can delight in the law of the Lord in God’s word and you can stick with the river of God. Meditate on it day and night well how do you meditate on it you got to know what it says you got to be thinking about it that means you got to read it you got to take time in your schedule to know what it says you shall be like a tree planted by the river’s water you know what that means it means you’re not moving. You are strong on sticking with the river sticking with truth people want to get you off truth they want to say oh no you don’t need to do that.

▶ 48:51 But you say no this is truth I’ve got to follow it. And that’s somebody who knows what the law says knows what God’s word says and it stays by what it says. We need to stop being stubborn for. Wickedness and start getting stubborn for the river Jesus Christ his truth his word. It will bring fruit in your life the fruits of God it will help you not wither and fade it will prosper your life and prosper your relationship with Jesus Christ and that’s what we want remember you got to remember one day everything’s going to be gone everything you work for is going to be gone you can’t take anything with you but you’re going to be glad that you stuck with the river and that your spiritual relationship your Christian walk prospered and moved forward and grew.

▶ 49:54 Because you stayed with the river and followed the river Adam and Eve the story of Adam and Eve you have the tree of life and it’s not right next to the river you have Adam you have Eve and then you got mr Satan snake and he starts talking. Right we know the story and he’s saying hey Eve Eve listen to me you will not surely die for God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be open and you will be like God knowing good and evil. And the woman she saw the tree was good for food she saw it was pleasant to the eyes and the tree was desirable to make one wise she took and she ate and you see that’s the thing. Just because something seems like it’s okay doesn’t mean it is.

▶ 50:50 And I bring up this example because this is such I mean all she did was eat the fruit right. I mean such a small thing in comparison to today’s world. I mean today’s world there’s so much wickedness in sin so much rejection of God’s word but here Adam and Eve just had a choice of whether or not they were going to listen to God’s command and that was not eating of that tree. And it was a simple thing and you would say to yourself just eating something God what I can’t just eat this. And people may try to convince you of oh this is such a small thing come on come on join me leave the river and they’re not going to say that of course. But you have a choice are you just going to go based on what is pleasant to the eyes what is desirable to your emotions and what not or are you going to stick with what God has commanded so she gave it to her husband and her husband ate and oh.

▶ 52:00 Sorry here we go. Eve went along with Satan and Adam went along with Eve the serpent deceived me she said and I ate and Adam said this woman. Who you gave me it’s her fault. No it’s not her fault. We make decisions. So going back to our lady that didn’t leave the river and the boy who’s just having fun at the river he’s like why would we leave the river. The river is great. First Corinthians chapter 7 verse 12 a woman a woman who has a husband who does not believe if he is willing to live with her let him not divorce for how do you know a wife whether you will save your husband or how do you know whether you will save your wife and my point here right now is just because somebody has left truth doesn’t mean you you don’t have to go along with that.

▶ 53:06 You’re not responsible to go along with every stupid decision people make you can stick with truth and you can stick with the river of God you don’t have to leave Jesus you don’t have to leave his word you don’t have to leave the river of life. And this scripture is saying you do not know whether you will save your husband because you have stuck with truth. Amen. So baby girl comes back she realized. That what she did was wrong she realized that what leaving the river of truth was not a good idea she saw her mom and she’s like you know what I want to be like my mom and my mom is sticking with the river of truth and you see this is how you have a powerful successful relationship with Jesus Christ you stick with the truth and even though it may take time you can influence you don’t know if it’s going to happen but you have the opportunity to influence someone to come back to follow God’s truth.

▶ 54:23 Even that dope that left right. Maybe it wasn’t sexual immorality maybe you know maybe it’s something that he needs to fix and he’s going to change because he sees that you’re following Christ and he wants what you have or if you are a man and you decide to accept Christ and change you can influence your wife to accept Christ and that happens all the time you’ll hear these stories and these uh testimonies that you know the man was living in sin he was drinking he was angry he was fighting and all of a sudden Jesus came to this man and the woman’s like. What you’re different. You’re changed and she wants what he has. And so he influences her to to accept Christ too and see this is this is the key sticking with the river of God.

▶ 55:27 First Peter chapter 3. You may be won by the conduct of your wives or the conduct of your husband when they observe your pure conduct accompanied by fear respect respecting one another you can influence the people around you to come back to truth. In the Bible we have some bad examples. Uh Josiah’s father and Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord Josiah’s grandfather Manasseh did great evil in the sight of the Lord they built altars to other gods to Baal they made their children pass through the fire which is basically killing their children they practiced witchcraft they consulted spiritists and mediums and they shed much innocent blood this is just a picture of a man uh that was you know his daughter this is a baby girl was crying so much that he just beat her to get her to stop crying that’s that’s the doctor there I’m saying.

▶ 56:33 Just because we have bad examples doesn’t mean we go along with it and Josiah is a great example here. Josiah’s family. All around him they were doing their own thing they were not in truth at all. And he had a choice what was he going to do in second Kings 22 verse 2 he did what was right he followed the what he followed the river in the sight of the Lord and walked in the ways of his father David he followed Jesus Christ the river he did not turn aside to the right or to the left. He stayed with truth he stayed with what was right. When the book of the law or the scriptures at that time they didn’t have the New Testament they didn’t have certain books they only had the book of of the law to that time Genesis Exodus numbers Deuteronomy.

▶ 57:37 When it was found and given to Josiah. And he heard the words of the book of the law he tore his clothes when he heard the word. When. He heard God’s word. He tore his clothes and he said go inquire for me for the people. About this book that has been found. And a prophetess named Huldah in second Kings 22 verse 14 and I want to bring this up because people are saying that women can’t speak in the church they can’t preach and here in ii kings a king Josiah.

▶ 58:30 Inquired from a prophetess named Huldah a woman and they listened to this woman. Why because she spoke the truth she spoke what God said I don’t care if you’re a male or female if you’re speaking the truth you’re speaking the truth. If you have God’s word you have God’s word. Thus says the Lord behold I will bring calamity on this place trouble on its inhabitants. But because your heart was tender like we were talking about earlier do you have a soft do you have a tender heart toward God in his word you humbled yourself well are you willing to humble yourself. You tore your clothes and wept before me are you willing to come and bow before God and weep and ask him to change to draw you out to transform you.

▶ 59:28 I have heard you says the Lord do you want God to hear you. If you want him to hear you you’ve got to humble yourself. You must have a tender heart toward what he has to say your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place so because Josiah. He. Turned things around. Because he made new commandments in his land and said you can’t be serving idols anymore you can’t be doing witchcraft you can’t be passing your kids to the that’s wrong that’s evil we’re going to serve the Lord most high. They were saved from the calamity that was coming and you see God is going to judge the world one day and he is going to preserve his people and God is asking you today are you going to be my people are you going to be part of the people of God so in closing I’m going to ask the worship team to come.

▶ 1:00:34 And Isaiah chapter 53 verse 7. It says that he was oppressed. And he was afflicted yet he opened not his mouth he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before his shearers is done so he opened not his mouth now I want to remind you this is Isaiah this was spoken hundreds of years before Jesus came and it is talking about Jesus. It’s talking about when he stood before his accusers. He was oppressed he was afflicted. They beat him they put a crown of thorns on his head they beat him with a rod they whipped him with the cat 9 tails yet he opened not his mouth. And this is so important like I was saying earlier you don’t need to argue all this stuff about following the truth you don’t need to apologize for following God’s truth you don’t need to sit there and have great debates.

▶ 1:01:51 If people want to crucify you that’s their problem. Don’t apologize for following Jesus Christ stay with the river that is Jesus Christ. God is calling us to the mountain. As we spoke about earlier will you lie aside the weight of sin and start exercising your spirit. The spiritual things prayer fasting worshiping God like I said earlier we had an opportunity to worship God are you exercising your opportunity you do not need to wait for Sunday to come around or Friday night to come around you can worship God at your house you can exercise these things daily you don’t need to come to church and exercise them only here once a week you can put God’s word into you.

▶ 1:02:47 Understanding God’s word exercising the spiritual part of getting God’s word into you you can do that every day. And if you want to become a Christian who has endurance. To be able to make it up the mountain just like runners they exercise every day if you will exercise these things prayer fasting worship. Understanding God’s word putting it into you you will become a Christian who can endure a Christian who can run their race with endurance but will you do that. Will you commit yourself today Jesus Christ he is the river he said I am the way I will guide you I am the truth I will feed you I am the life just like the water gives us life.

▶ 1:03:43 Will you come to the river that is Jesus Christ will you follow the river. And will. You find life in the river. If you re if you veer off the river’s path. Like Israel did. Manasseh and Amon they all left God they left truth they left God’s word the book of the law they put it and they buried it they wanted to get rid of it. But see Josiah he brought it back why because he had a tender heart. About what Jesus what God said so if you veer off the river’s path will you return like they did to the river I submit to you today. We can lay aside the weight of sin we can start exercising our spirit.

▶ 1:04:41 We can come to the river that is Jesus Christ to find direction. To find life to find truth and I encourage you today we need to stay with the river so in closing I’d like to invite you to sing this song to the river I am going. And as we sing it this morning let it be your commitment. That going forward you’re going to exercise your spiritual things going forward you’re going to lay aside the weight of sin. You’re going to start exercising the spiritual things prayer fasting worship reading his word putting it into you understanding it. This morning I’d like to invite you to stand join with me as we sing this unto. Him to the river.

▶ 1:05:39 I am gone. I cannot bear. Lord I need to meet you there. In these waters. Healing mercies. Those with freedom. From despair. I am going. To that river. Lord I need to meet you there.

▶ 1:06:34 Precious Jesus. I am ready. To. Surrender every care. Take my hand now. Leave me closer. Lord I need to meet you there. As we sing this again unto him again let it be your prayer close your eyes let this be unto him you’re dedicating yourself you’re saying I’m going to the river I’m going to stick with the river I’m going to follow the river I’m going to find life in the river that is Jesus Christ. This morning as we sing this again let it be your prayer let it be your commitment.

▶ 1:07:28 To following him sticking with him. To the river. I am going. To sins I cannot. Bear. Come and cleanse me. Come forgive me. I need. To meet you there. Precious Jesus. I am ready. To surrender. Every care. Take my hand now.

▶ 1:08:22 Leave me closer. Lord I need. To meet you there. Other heads bowed eyes closed. I’d like to invite you during this time don’t let don’t be afraid to let God use you to pray share what God has put on your heart and right now let’s start praying for one another turn to your neighbor just reach out to your hand next to the person next to you and ask that God would come with his river come with his spirit that he would transform us like they were transformed on the mountain.

▶ 1:09:08 That we would surrender to him so let’s pray for one another right now and just take some time inviting Jesus to do that work let’s reach out our hands to one another let’s pray right now Lord God we pray for our neighbor Jesus God Lord I pray for uh the young people this morning Jesus God I asked Lord that you would touch them God make yourself real to them Jesus God Lord we need we need you God we need the river of life Jesus God we don’t want to touch Lord nothing we don’t want to just hear words God we want to experience the real king of kings the real Lord of lords God the living God Jesus Jesus whose word is sharper than any two-edged sword Jesus God I ask that you come to us young people come to these teenagers God come to these children come to these people God Lord Jesus speak in their minds speak in their hearts Lord show them how powerful and real you are Jesus Jesus not just for show the Lord that they would be changed from the inside out God Lord come with your spirit come with your power Jesus Jesus we need you this morning God we look to you this morning God Lord Jesus we call on our king glory we call on you this morning to this your river your truth your touch God that makes a difference Jesus

▶ 1:10:40 Lord we want to follow you live for you surrender to you Jesus. Precious Jesus. I am ready. To. Surrender every care. Take my hand now. Lead me closer. Lord I need. To meet you there. Come and join us. In the river. Come find life. He is calling.

▶ 1:11:34 He is waiting. Jesus longs to meet you there. Precious Jesus. I am ready. To surrender. Every care. Take my hand now. Leave me closer. Lord I need. To. I’m gonna ask for somebody to lift up your voice and just I’m sure that someone in here is committing to Jesus Christ committing to stay with the river would you just lift up your voice and pray.

▶ 1:12:38 That prayer this morning that you want to commit to him that from your heart just lift up your voice where you’re at. Lord Jesus we thank you this morning. God Lord in this place God Lord that you are real God you are true Jesus. God you come you’re faithful to your word Jesus. God when we call on you you answer. And this morning God we especially ask. Lord we need that transformation. Jesus we need your help making it up that mountain God. God and you have provided a way through your river Jesus God and we pray this morning that we would not forsake the river God people are leaving you all over the country all over the world they leave the river.

▶ 1:13:44 And God they look to you and they point the finger and they say God it’s your fault no it’s not your fault we left you. We left the river the river hasn’t changed. It’s still flowing from the same place it still flows down and people will leave it. Come back to the river return back to the river Jesus Christ who’s the same yesterday today and forever. Come find life beyond compare. He is me. He is waiting. Jesus longs to meet you there.

▶ 1:14:39 Precious Jesus. I am ready. To surrender. Every care. Take my hand now. Lead me closer. Lord I need to meet you there. I asked. For someone to lift up your voice and close in prayer this morning.

▶ 1:15:34 That God would do what he said he would do in his word as you know we know he will. Just lift up your voice and pray. Whether it’s five words or a 500 go ahead. Jesus thank you for the river of life. Lord that is pulsing through our nation Jesus because of your faithfulness. Lord in my heart just goes out to the students for life and those who have been taking a stand and that river Lord is cleansing our nation Lord God what started as a trickle Lord has become a mighty river because you do have people Lord young people like Josiah. Lord there’s many of them in our nation today that are following the river and we’re starting to see it Lord we’re starting to see the weariness that they endured the race they endured Lord and we’re seeing a river of cleansing in our nation and we give you the honor and the glory for it in Jesus name r amen.

▶ 1:16:57 There is a river. Stream shall make glad the city. Of our God. It’s in the holy place. The city of our God it’s in the holy place of the tabernacle of the most high God there is a river. Whose stream shall make land the sea of our God it’s in the holy place of the tabernacle of the most high God.

▶ 1:17:57 We’d like to thank you for joining us this morning keep singing go ahead we want to thank you again for joining us online we trust that you have heard it many times to follow the river stick with the river and you can do that by exercising the spiritual things rita don’t go yet don’t can’t close it yet. I have some announcements that I want to share with those are on facebook. Pull that up you may you may find your seats this morning. Just so those that are watching online can know what’s going on we have some folks that are out of the state some are out of the country and we just want to share make sure that they’re connected with what’s happening.

▶ 1:18:51 Friday this Friday coming up December 10th we’re going to be having our gingerbread house contest even for teenagers and kids. Following weekend following Friday we’re going to be seeing the lights on December 9th December 17th we’re going to be taking the young people and the kids to see the Christmas lights in our community here. Friday December 24th there will be no service as it is Christmas Eve and Sunday December 26th there will be no service new year’s Eve Friday night will be no service and Sunday. The new year January 2nd will be having a sharing surface and donna will be organizing that donna is that we’re still good there okay so she’ll be either reaching out to you or you can go to her and get on the list to share something and if you don’t want to be on the list you got to get on the list.

▶ 1:19:54 And you know what I may even say hey those that are. In other states we could do a zoom meeting even and have you guys if you want to share and we can include you guys so huh amen all right and the annual business meeting for 2022 is half is coming up we’re going to be having on February 6 2022 that is Sunday. Uh the board member candidates for 2022 are Rita Thompson Stephanie Silla Tony Barnes Michael Silla Paul Gomez and Blake Fambrough if you guys have any problems with these people let us know. We’ve hired uh I’m just kidding I’m joking and yes but those are the board member candidates. And. That’s what’s happening for the rest of this month and we’ll be coming up with more announcements of what’s happening in January and February and all that so God bless you thank you for joining us online.