The River and the Word — December 27, 2020: full transcript and answers

▶ 0:01 Good morning thank you for joining us here at Mountainside Ministries. We are going to start with the scripture reading for those uh just a reminder during worship we’re going to sing we’re going to lift our hands we’re going to clap we’re going to stand in the presence of the Lord like the Bible says so while you’re at home you can do these things you can lift your hands you can clap you can stand in the congregation of the Lord we’re going to begin with the scripture reading this morning. As the worship team comes up. It says in John 1 chapter 1 in the beginning was the word and the word was. With God and the word was God he was in the beginning all things were made through him and without him nothing was made that was made by the power of God’s word we were created from the dust of the earth God spoke and things were created I heard a funny statement that the big bang theory is right God spoke and bang it happened.

▶ 1:18 Amen. And that’s how powerful God’s word is when he speaks things into being they happen like when he spoke and said Jesus would die from the beginning it was it’s a real thing it’s something that he’s going to do for sure without a shadow of a doubt it goes on to say in verse 14 the word became flesh and that’s Jesus Christ and it dwelt among us emmanuel God with us and we beheld his glory the glory of the only begotten of the father this is really Jesus full of grace and truth amen. The word is God was God is God will always be God the word will never pass away the Bible says it never changes. So join me as we worship and praise Jesus Christ the word of God and let’s exalt him this morning stand with me let’s praise and exalt him this.

▶ 2:31 One with God the Lord most high. Your hidden glory in creation. Now revealed in you are Christ what a beautiful name it is. What a beautiful name it is. The name of Jesus. Christ. What a beautiful name it is. Nothing compared to this. What a beautiful. Name Jesus. You didn’t want heaven without us.

▶ 3:27 So Jesus you brought. Heaven. My sin was great your love was greater. What could. Separate us now what a wonderful name it is what a wonderful name is. The name of Jesus. Christ what a wonderful name it is. Nothing compared to this. What a wonderful name it is the name of Jesus. What a powerful name it is what a powerful name it is the name of Jesus Christ.

▶ 4:54 What a powerful name it is. Nothing can stand against. What a powerful name it is the name of Jesus. What a powerful. Name name of Jesus what a powerful name it is the name of Jesus. Amen his name is Jesus.

▶ 5:47 And in his name we have victory amen thank you. Oh in the name of Jesus in the name of Jesus we have the victory. In the name of Jesus in the name of Jesus demons will. When we call on the name of Jesus tell me who can stand before. In the name of Jesus Jesus we have a victory what’s his name in the name of Jesus in the name of Jesus we have the victory. In the name of Jesus in the name of Jesus demons will have to flee. Oh when we call on the name of Jesus tell me who can stand before us in the name of Jesus.

▶ 6:59 There. Is. Would you be free from your burden of sin there’s power in the blood. Oh. Would you be wider much wider than snow there’s power in the blood. Oh yes there.

▶ 7:56 Is. In the name of Jesus in the name of Jesus we have a victory. In the name of Jesus in the name of Jesus demands we’ll have to please. When we call on the name of Jesus tell me who can stand before in the name of Jesus Jesus we have the victory. In the name of Jesus. Have a victory let’s say that one more time in the name of Jesus Jesus we have the victory.

▶ 8:52 Foreign. You are awesome in this. Place. Who can stand before. In the name of Jesus. Jesus. We have the victory.

▶ 9:47 In the Jesus. Jesus. They have the victory. Hallelujah Jesus. Your name. Is a strong and mighty tower your name. Is a shelter like the other your name. Let the nation sing louder. Cause nobody has the power to save amen but your name. Is.

▶ 11:07 Your name. Jesus in your name we pray. Come and fill our hearts today. Lord give us strength to live for you. And. Glorify your name. Hold your name. Is a strong and mighty tower your name. Is a shelter. Like the nation say you louder.

▶ 11:59 Nothing has the power to say. But your name. You. Inspire. Songs of praise. And. Glorify your name. Your name. Is a strong and mighty tower in your name. Is a shelter like no other your name.

▶ 12:52 Let the nation sing a louder there’s nothing has the power to. Say. Your name. Is a strong and mighty tower your name. Is a shelter. Like. The beginning.

▶ 14:07 Your name. Let the nation sing it louder cause nothing has the power to. Save. Jesus. In your name we pray. Come and fill our hearts today. Lord give us strength to live for you. And. Glorify your name. Let the nation sing louder.

▶ 15:14 Nothing has the power to save. Much. Cause nothing has the power to say. But your name. Cause nothing has the power to. Say. Thank. You. Jesus.

▶ 16:13 There is no other name but the name of Jesus and he is worthy of all our praise that’s why in every nation there are people and every nation there are children too that are worshiping and praising Jesus for his mighty name and his mighty works when Jesus Christ comes into your life there is a light that goes bright and the understanding of who he is floods your soul and you cannot deny his greatness. Worthy. Worthy are you Lord. Worthy to be thanked and praised and worshiped and adored. Worthy. Of worthy to be thanked and praised.

▶ 17:16 To make your glory known. Singing. You’re more than a conqueror. Your Lord of every yes you’re more than a conqueror. Your Lord of every. Yes he is amen. Amen he’s worthy well you could find your seats.

▶ 18:12 Jesus today we come before you and we thank you. What a light has come into the world that any man who would receive you and believe on you could come to that light and be changed forevermore. We thank you for the seed of the word that you planted in our hearts Lord our hearts are like that soil ready to receive and to grow and to flourish and to be a garden of blessing to your name and to the people of the earth we are the light of the world we’re the hope of the nations we’re that word of God that comes down from mount Zion and brings peace joy and liberty to those who will believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and all God’s people said amen amen amen amen.

▶ 19:09 Hallelujah. All right welcome this morning we’re going to get straight into the word of God I have a hand out here up front if somebody could pass that out. That would be great and it’s got little we have pens for you if you’d like uh that way you’ve got something to do. Could you hand me the clicker please when you get a chance thank you very much. This morning we’re going to be talking about the river and the word past few lessons we’ve been talking about the river and this morning we want to learn how it relates to God’s word very simple message this morning things that we’ve heard before but it’s still powerful and necessary to be successful in your Christian life in John 7 chap chapter 7 verse 37 if anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink he who believes in me as the scriptures have said out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.

▶ 20:18 Talking about the river of God living water but this he spoke concerning the spirit. So when he spoke this he’s talking about the spirit that the rivers of water are the spirit whom those believing in him would receive for the Holy Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus was not even yet glorified so he’s talking about the Holy Spirit here coming after Jesus rose from the grave as we know in Acts 2. John 6 chapter 6 verse chapter 6 verse 63 the words that I speak to you are spirit say that they are what spirit the words that I speak are spirit they’re powerful they are the Holy Spirit. It’s all connected and they are life.

▶ 21:11 That word of God the Bible says I liken the word of God to my daily food the word of God is so important to Christians and to your Christian walk it is like food you can’t go without food for too long you start to starve you you’re not able to move. Nothing in life a child growing a plant growing it needs the food and nutrients from the soil child growing they need food from. The store. But there’s there are some of you who do not believe. So we’re going to go to the river as it talks about in Psalms chapter one and how we can be blessed in our life from the river of God that is the word of God. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water he she.

▶ 22:08 Not just men women everyone. Shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season. And I want to be like this man every time I read this scripture I am encouraged and I am stirred to be a man that is planted by the rivers of water planted in the church of God not going to and fro staying committed to God’s house and bringing forth fruit that is the fruit of the spirit love joy peace long suffering goodness faithfulness gentleness kindness all these things in its season very important word we’ve learned about seasons in God David the Bible says he went through wildernesses he was chaste by Saul in his season he was not ready to be yet king but when he became king he is the greatest king in all of the history of the Bible and the history of Israel the greatest king.

▶ 23:18 King David because he waited for the season. He did not go and kill Saul he had opportunities where he cut off his his his garment in the cave if you remember that he also went with abishai down into the camp and he took his uh jug of water and his spear that was next to his head he said look at this I could have killed you tonight but he did not he waited it was not his time. Yet and that’s so important because in your life you’re going to go through seasons you’re going to go through difficulties but the question is are you going to be faithful to God’s word to the truth and follow it and be planted. And the other things that this verse says it’s very powerful. When you look at this scripture it can help glo guide your life.

▶ 24:12 Psalms one verse one I want to be that tree planted by the rivers of water this scripture is very important to me whatever his leaf shall not wither I want to have life in me I don’t want to just be the image of a tree that has no life that is dead I was at my dad’s house recently and there was a rose bush there and you could tell that one of the branches was completely dead and I touched it with my foot and it just fell right off because it’s dead it has no life and we don’t want to be like that we don’t want to just be an image or attach we want to have it in us the real thing whatever he does shall prosper my goodness I want to prosper I mean that’s a good thing and not just money wise but also spiritually. You want to prosper in love you want to prosper in peace you want it to progress where you have peace in your life not just talking about peace not just talking about love but having it possessing it these are this is important.

▶ 25:15 And this scripture is so powerful in conveying that. So how do we be blessed Psalms 1 verse 1 says walk not in the counsel of the ungodly. Stand not in the path of sinners stand that word there is also remain or endure we don’t sit and stand with the path of this in the path of the sinners we don’t stand with sinners we stand with Jesus we remain with Jesus we don’t stick around and hang around with the sinners sit not in the seat of the scornful sit the word also there is dwell dwell you know you’re sitting down you’re in their house you’re doing what they do you’re talking the way they talk in the seat of the scornful scornful person is someone who is divisive derision also this word also means interpreter.

▶ 26:15 Scornful. Someone who interprets God’s word the way they want to interpret it they want to twist God’s word and they want to confuse you don’t let that happen. This is why it is important for you to have the word of God in you when somebody tries to twist it you know they’re twisting it because there’s four other confirmations of that scripture. And if somebody tries to twist this you can’t twist that because there’s four other confirmations over here right we know this and that’s why God’s word is powerful and important. It will change your life. Delight in the law of the Lord delight the word is is it is your good pleasure. Your good pleasure the the word of God is your good pleasure it is my good pleasure uh young people today millennials uh whatever generation you are in right now they’re talking about you got to follow your passion or I want to do my passion I want to work in my passion this word delight is also passion.

▶ 27:28 You know people are in slave labor camps over in china people are in in africa or horrible poverty or or just trying to scrape by. But they can have passion. In God’s word when they receive that word if you ever read the book the heavenly man when that china man he received the word the Bible somehow it came to him it was his passion it became life to him it changed his life and God was with him the passion you can have passion and delight good pleasure and God’s word the truth. We’re looking for all this passion we’re looking for all this the other word for delight is purpose there’s a book written called purpose-driven life you can have a purpose.

▶ 28:24 In God’s word in the law of the Lord. Make it your purpose meditates day and night meditates also is utter speak it’s in your mind you’re also speaking it sometimes when something comes out uh with brooklyn I’m with the kids and you know I hear something and say hey I just the Bible doesn’t say that. Right brooke. It’s on your lips it’s in your mind you’re thinking about it how would I behave in this way according to God’s word and you’re not you’re going to fail sometimes because you’re not always thinking about it but me you know that’s what it’s saying we want to do better we want to rise higher amen planted by the rivers of water planted in the house of the Lord of course Psalms 92 verse 7 a house I’m sorry those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of their God this is a very important scripture.

▶ 29:24 It is confirmed in other scriptures here in Psalms again is confirmed also Jesus he made it his his custom it was his custom it was his ordinary thing to be found in the house of God on the Sabbath. All right. So we’re going to get into some examples this morning of those who followed the council who did these things right now we’re going to look at Josiah his Josiah’s father ammon did evil in the sight of the Lord Josiah’s grandfather manasseh as soon as you hear the word name and ask you’re like oh I know that guy’s bad he was a bad guy he did great evil in the sight of the Lord he built altars to baal made his son pass through the fire if you don’t know what that means he sacrificed his son he burned his own son to the God molech.

▶ 30:22 Pass through the fire practice witchcraft consulted spiritists and mediums uh what does the Bible say is like witchcraft today idolatry is a sin as witchcraft uh Christians young people we can make people idols okay it’s just like witchcraft. Okay this isn’t you know witchcraft is something that they did long ago no today we do these things. Past his son pastor of the fire today we abort kids we just kill them we say that they’re nothing and that’s how manasseh treated his son and treated him as nothing. Consulted spiritists and mediums shed much innocent blood. These things are going on today not just then but this was going on. Josiah’s father his grandfather were evil men but in second Kings 22 verse 2 he did what was right in the sight of the Lord and walked in all the ways of his father David he.

▶ 31:30 Rejected. He rejected his father he rejected his grandfather’s behavior. He rejected his father’s behavior. And he chose to follow his father David who was a better example. And that fulfills the first part of Psalms where it says walk not in the council of ungodly God is asking us this morning whose example are you following. Are you walking after us evil person’s example. And how do you tell if somebody’s evil you can tell by the way the way they speak in the what they do. Forget about a man put set your sights to walk after the example of Jesus Christ. And these men in the Bible that chose what was right if you want to be blessed in your life this is the first step walk not in the council of the ungodly.

▶ 32:32 He turned aside to the right hand neither to the right hand or the left after 18 years. A book of the law was found. And given to Josiah the king so all this time he was he became king at eight years old after 18 years he was 26 years old when he this book was found and they started to read this book in his presence in his hearing. And when the king heard the words of the book of the law he tore his clothes and God is asking you this morning God is asking you where you’re at when you hear God’s word does it. Convict you does it tear at your heart does it cut Bible says in that when Stephen stood before the sand heater and he began to preach to them he began to preach a message to them and after a while it says they were cut to the heart they were pricked in their heart they were convicted in their heart.

▶ 33:42 And of course they attacked him and stoned him which was the wrong response but God is asking you today when you hear God’s word are you pricked and convicted in your heart if you’re not. Then you need to ask God when you read that scripture when you read those scriptures and he is trying to deal with something in your life ask him to convict you ask the spirit to come. Josiah. He didn’t need a miracle. He didn’t need fire raining down from heaven Josiah didn’t need a tornado or some kind of storm he didn’t need a sign Josiah just heard the book of the law and it changed him it came and it permeated his spirit it came inside of him and it cut him to the heart.

▶ 34:36 It’s powerful because we we depend on so many other things or look to so many things when the book of the law the word of God will do a great and powerful work. As we know the Bible says the word of God is living in power powerful sharper than any two-edged sword Josiah when he heard the word he changed his direction he changed his commands to the people everything changed so after this he commanded go inquire of the Lord for me for the people and for all Judah concerning the words of this book that he has been found you see. When the word affects you. You will go out and you’ll change things. Around you your children should be affected by you hearing God’s word it should affect your children it should affect your family it should affect things.

▶ 35:37 And see here Josiah is doing it he’s inquiring of the Lord not just for himself but for the all of Judah. In amos chapter 8 it says behold the days are coming I will send famine on the land not famine of bread or thirst for water but of hearing the words of the Lord. And today in America in 2020. We have God’s word everywhere. God’s word in in America today we are living in the greatest technological age in the history of mankind the Bible is accessible to everyone in the united states it’s at a store you can buy it online you can get it in two days. Or you can get it right away at a store. Yet.

▶ 36:31 Are we hearing. God’s word. The Bible God’s word is easily accessible but people it is hard to find someone who is hearing and listening and willing to take time to stop and listen to God’s word. God is asking us today will you hear the word of the Lord second Kings 22 verse 14. They were Josiah sent them sent them to a choir of the Lord they went to a prophetess. If you know what a prophet test is it is a woman prophet can you believe that. I saw this and I said whoa. And this is not a me too moment.

▶ 37:26 This is just a recognition that God can use the donkey he can use the woman he can use a man it doesn’t matter if you’re that you’re a man doesn’t matter that you’re a woman doesn’t matter that you’re some great donkey it God can use anyone who is willing to speak the word of God the truth. And of course this woman’s word was bad news. Behold I will bring calamity on this place and its inhabitants so the he inquired of the Lord and the word was not a good word he’s going to bring calamity but she said I God has seen that your heart was tender you humbled yourself are we humbling ourselves is our heart tender to God’s word very simple question God is asking us you tore your clothes.

▶ 38:22 You wept before me there was some response some humbling. Some. Change. I have heard you my goodness isn’t that a wonderful thing God responds and says I have heard you don’t you want God to hear you. We’ve got to do some operations. Have a tender heart have a humble humbling ourselves we’ve been there’s got to be a response from us. Your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place so God was going to hold this correction withhold it in the time of Josiah but he was dead set on judging Judah because they had sin and manasseh had a great sin in the land the people were sinning to so judgment was coming.

▶ 39:19 But God was going to. Stay his hand. Second kings chapter 22 16 he made a covenant to follow the Lord we have songs that say oh where are your promises God your promises for me and your promise you have this promise and God does have promises thank God and he kept his promises thank God but here we have a man who is saying I make a promise to you God I make a covenant with you Lord to follow you God and keep your word oh man what a Revelation. That we should actually have a commitment that we should make a promise to our God. He he made a commitment to keep his commandments testimonies and statutes with all his heart his soul doesn’t that sound like loving God with all your heart soul mind and understanding to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book see the word of God changed him.

▶ 40:31 Does the word of God change us the word of God can change you if you let it all the people took a stand for the covenant. See this change in him was infectious it it affected the people around him he called people together he gathered the the country together he gathered the whole city together of Jerusalem and he started to speak the book of the law he started to preach the word and he was you get over here city. You know we got to have that kind of attitude. Like Josiah. Whether people respond or don’t respond that’s not our job. Removed idolatrous priests he burned the idols destroyed high places removed the horses that were dedicated the sun you see he had horses in his army but he removed them.

▶ 41:29 It also says that he burned this the chariots that were dedicated to other gods you see it cost him something. It cost him things possessions that he had. And there is a cost but it is well worth the cost to serve God with all your heart. Than to go along with sin that you have in your life and though it may have cost him some. Chariots and horses which were expensive back then. It was well worth it. Second kings chapter 23. Verse 21 in the 18th year he restored the Passover to the Lord as had never been since held in the days of the judges.

▶ 42:28 He put away those who consulted mediums and spiritists and household gods all the abominations so to see this word of God again the book of the law. Changed who he was changed his behavior he said this stuff has got to go and he was a man of action and he removed it in your life there’s some things that you have to remove. You can’t just sit there and keep taking in all of the sinful junk. You have to stop and say I got to put this away. I got to put that away it’s not right. I’ve got to remove that from my house. Get rid of the abominations. If you’re someone living in sin sexual sin. Intoxication sin at some point God is going to say this needs to be removed the Bible says that he is the light of the world when the light of the world comes in your house he’s going to expose things that need to be removed.

▶ 43:34 And you have a choice are you going to love the light or are you going to love darkness the Bible says they love darkness more than light don’t be like that God’s light his word is much more fulfilling and greater and we’ve got to follow that. Second Corinthians chapter 5 verse 10 we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ I’m bringing this up because the prophetess. Had a word that there would judgment was coming and there was nothing you could do about it. You couldn’t reverse this. And you see that’s the way that’s what is happening at the end of time or when you die you’re gonna stand before the judgment seat of Christ no matter what.

▶ 44:31 And you’ve got to be ready that each one may receive the things done in the body according to what he has done whether good or bad. Recognize in this example that it you can’t it says more than faith at the top you can’t just have a belief in God say the sinner’s prayer and stay there there must be growth in your life. Where you come to a place where you are deciding to do good and get rid of the bad remove the wrong in your life. Knowing therefore the terrible Lord we persuade men Josiah was persuaded by the word of God and he persuaded those in Judah at that time to change he persuaded people and even though the Babylonian army came and took them into captivity God told him if you go along with the captivity you’ll be okay.

▶ 45:29 But if you fight me if you fight this judgment. You’re going to end. So if God’s doing something you got to understand his season David like in the wilderness he had to go through his season if he would have forced it bad things would have happened to David. If he would have come and tried to attack Saul and and all that but he waited he waited you’ve got to follow God’s timing his season. Got to listen to what he’s saying so back to Psalms chapter 1 verse 1 do not walk in the counsel of the God counsel the ungodly Josiah he rejected the bad the ungodly counsel example that his fathers and his forefathers had set he decided to follow.

▶ 46:23 His his father David his David was like 10 generations or more before Josiah. He’s like way far off. So it’s not like he was right there considering his no he had to think way back and in America today we might have to think some way back that’s why you always go to the book God’s word it is the standard and some people say oh that Old Testament is not for today or the New Testament was written two thousand years doesn’t matter. The word of Jesus never changes his word never changes the truth never changes and the truth will always set us free it’s still doing it today. Doesn’t matter if it’s two thousand years old doesn’t matter if it’s six thousand four thousand years old from the Old Testament doesn’t matter it’s still powerful.

▶ 47:22 Just as it was back then. He purposed he delighted in the law of the Lord see we’ve got to exercise that in our life purpose. Delight in the law of the Lord like Josiah now going to Hezekiah switching gears second Kings chapter 18 verse 4 the king of Assyria came with a great army against Jerusalem to king Hezekiah. And it goes on to say. That the king of Assyria the the guy coming the bad guy he says don’t let Hezekiah deceive you he shall not be able to deliver you from his hand nor let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord the Lord shall saying the Lord shall surely deliver us the city shall not be given to the king of Assyria.

▶ 48:14 And as uh the king Sennacherib is saying don’t listen to Hezekiah. Have any of the gods of the nations delivered its land from the hand of the king of Assyria so he’s talking very boastfully he’s talking very mock he’s mocking. And then the king of Assyria says. That the Lord has sent me sirach Sennacherib the Lord has said to me go up against the land and destroy it go up against Judah and destroy it so he’s trying to say that he was sent by God so here we have this scorner he is interpreting. And he’s trying to say I have a word from God for you Judah the bad guy is trying to act like he has been sent by God.

▶ 49:14 And see that happens in the church world bad people will come in and they’ll twist the scriptures or they’ll try to say the spirit told me that you shall be whatever. I haven’t heard it go on a lot but you know I’ve been here let’s not get into that. But this scorner. Is here. And he is scorning. Judah trying to give him a interpretation trying to suck them in to do what he wants them to do. And when you consider Psalms 1 do not sit in the seat of the scornful you don’t dwell with that you don’t you’ve got to remove yourself from that conversation. And you got to get back to what the word of God what does it.

▶ 50:10 Say. Second kings chapter 19 verse 1 he tore his clothes covered himself with a sackcloth went to the house of the Lord see these responses are so important how are you responding. When these things come to you are you convicted in your heart are you humbling yourself. What are you doing do you go to the house of the Lord. Lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left are we lifting up our prayer our praise unto Jesus Christ. See God is looking for a response he’s not just looking for you to sit there I came to church I had my coffee I said hello to my friends what did they say in the word I don’t know see ya.

▶ 51:04 No that’s not what God is looking for he’s looking for a response a right response. He sent Eliakim him to Isaiah the prophet you ever heard of Isaiah yes we’ve heard of Isaiah the prophet. Now here he is he’s looking for inquiring of the Lord what do I do in this situation. And you see we read the Bible sometimes and in the Bible it’s like you know it was written a long time ago and sometimes it doesn’t tell you what to do in your situation. Sometimes it’s not clear. Completely so sometimes you got to get on your knees you got to inquire Lord what do I do what do I do God. And of course in times where God’s spoken to me he’ll remind me of a scripture that is very important.

▶ 52:02 And timely for the time I am in and he’ll bring up the word of God. And it’s powerful for me at that time and it can be powerful for you. Second kings chapter 19. You see today we may not have prophets ready to go here and there but we have God’s word and you see he’ll bring up the prophet from God’s word in your life today and it’s just as powerful just as good as having some living prophet speaking to you the word of the Lord. So Isaiah’s response was you’ll hear a rumor. King Sennacherib will hear a rumor and return to his land and that will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.

▶ 52:55 And that’s what has ha what happened Sennacherib had left because he heard a king of ethiopia came up against him and he left but the great army was still there in Judah. Hezekiah was still concerned. And here Hezekiah has to wait what is going to happen. And you see that’s that’s where we come into problems the waiting we don’t like to wait. I mean the first thing that love is love is what patient ah. Waiting. Waiting is horrible especially in America I mean we’re used to I get this stuff you know all these products so you got you go to the store get that and then wow let’s go let’s go let’s go we got a plan. You know kids come home come home they come over and dad we got a dad dad why I want to do that dad dad.

▶ 53:56 I gotta teach him patience I’m working on it sorry. But in your life waiting patience being patient. It’s agonizing. It’s hard. And here here is Hezekiah there’s an army knocking at the front door. And he’s you’re. Somewhere you’ve got to get the peace of God so that you’re able to wait and be patient. And see that’s where the fruits of the spirit come in all this is meant to bring out the fruit of the spirit in you and we always we fail sometimes right we’re not Jesus walking on water oh man you should have seen in that situation I was so patient I waited forever no.

▶ 54:51 But you know what. Thank God we can respond right to God. Get on our knees lift up our prayers. Get forgiveness get up again and try again amen be patient again love again. Never turn from that process it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the Lord went out a certain night what night a year from now night when is it going to happen God’s not giving out information. God’s not telling you oh well this is going to happen oh it’s going to happen tomorrow God he’s not giving out details. See Isaiah gave him a word. The Hezekiah has got to okay he’s got to wait now.

▶ 55:45 And sometimes that’s how it is. But God listening to God listening to his word is worth the wait amen and he killed in the camp of the assyrians 185 000 troops soldiers just like that the army was gone. Hezekiah woke up one morning they’re all dead. And what a load that is. Lifted. And that pays off you see he didn’t go out and attack them he didn’t go out with us he had to follow what God said to do Hezekiah could have tried to take his army out there and said by the word of the Lord I’m going to be like king David and we’ve even though we’ve got only ten thousand we’re going to win that’s not what God said to do.

▶ 56:39 That’s not what God said to do sometimes we want to force God’s hand but we’ve got to listen. To what God is saying to do. So back to Psalms chapter 1. Walk not on the council of the ungodly Josiah and Hezekiah did not walk in the council of their ungodly father said Hezekiah had ungodly parents too he chose to reject that. In America today therapists. Psychiatrists. They’ll sit there and let you blame my past and this and that and your behavior never gets addressed God wants to address your behavior. He doesn’t care about your past. Hezekiah didn’t worry about his past Josiah didn’t worry about his past they just said what is the word of God today that I can follow it listen to it respond to it.

▶ 57:38 And it’s the same thing for us today. Though America and the world has really rejected God’s word. They really have. If you try to say anything about God’s word in a meeting with the therapist or something oh they’ll call you dogmatic they’ll call you all you’re following the dogmas of of of of religion. And they make you sound like an idiot. Because they’re in charge. That doesn’t matter. In china the heavenly man brother yoon even though the communist party was in charge God came to him and used him even though he was in prison God came to him used him and he listened to God’s word responded to God’s word God used him powerfully and mighty and they were able to bring 52 million people into their congregation.

▶ 58:44 I’m talking about you know they counted their group. And they counted 52 million chinese people there God can come he’s above. The people that think they’re in charge. The psychiatrists the judges that are making bad judgments they think they’re in charge. Government they think they’re in charge and that we should be bowing and listening they’re not in charge. God is in charge his word is in charge. Stand in the path of sinners sit in the seat of the scornful. Hezekiah would not. Sit there with rav shaka I can’t no I don’t know his name but the guy who was scoring the guy the king of Assyria he didn’t sit there and dwell with it he just said okay get me out of here take me to Isaiah the prophet I got to talk to him I need to know what the word of the Lord is and that was the right choice.

▶ 59:51 Get rich turn away from that scornful. Division rejection of God’s word and turn to the word of God delight in the law of the Lord and this is the key right here what is your purpose in life God’s word is your purpose in life. Do you love God with all your heart soul mind understanding do you love your neighbor as yourself. Your spouse. Your children. Delight is it your good pleasure. To follow God’s word when you hear God’s word does it make you mad or is it your good pleasure to respond to that. Word. Josiah was his good pleasure he wanted when he heard that word he wanted to respond he wanted to change things as a worship team comes meditates day and night see when Josiah heard that book from the law he was stirred in himself.

▶ 1:01:01 There was no Passover going on but in the same year that he heard this book of the law he made a Passover happen that was better than any Passover. Since the day of the judges better than king David’s Passover better than better. And it’s just to show you that it was on his mind he he wanted to please God. And are we planted in the house of the Lord with our heads bowed this morning our eyes closed God is asking us how will we respond to the word of God. Will we be like these men. Who forsake the counsel of the ungodly who will not dwell and sit in the seat of the scornful.

▶ 1:01:54 Will our delight our good pleasure our passion our purpose be in the word of God. God is asking you that this morning how will we respond will we. Make God’s word number one in our life. If you’d like to respond this morning let’s stand we’re going to sing this simple song unto. God it up. Come and quench. This. Thirsting of my soul.

▶ 1:02:52 Bread of heaven. Fill me till I. Want. More. Fill my cup I lift it up and make me whole. So as we sing this again let’s lift up our hands let’s sing it unto him with all of our heart let us consider Josiah and Hezekiah how they responded. When they heard the word of the Lord they wept they bowed they worshiped they prayed they praised they responded this they responded in their life and God is looking for that from us will our heart be tender to God so let’s sing this together unto him let’s asking him to fill up our cup with the word of God the river of God in us fill our cup.

▶ 1:03:56 Lord. Come and quench. This thirsting of my soul. Bread of heaven. Fill me till I. Fill my cup I lift it up and make. Me. I lift it up.

▶ 1:04:52 Lord. And quench. This. Thirsting of my soul. Bread of I lift it up and make me hold. It’s right where you’re at. Just reach your hand over your neighbor and we’re going to pray for one another this morning. Like it says in the New Testament. And laying on of hands to impart.

▶ 1:05:47 That gift the thing that we need. We’re going to pray for one another and just just stretch your hand out to your neighbor and pray and ask God that they would be like this tree planted by the rivers of water God I pray for my neighbor God I pray from this. Word. Is. Jesus in this story Josiah also he made a covenant.

▶ 1:07:04 He made a promise to God saying God I’m going to follow you I’m going to follow your word I’m going to follow your truth and this morning let’s take time right now to just pray and make our commitment to God saying God I commit. To following your word your book above my own above people’s words right where you’re at let’s just pray and bow our heads and commit unto him. Lord. Commit Lord God to following your covenant to your following your truth Jesus not my own truth not my own desires God not somebody else’s not a famous person God but Lord your word God I commit to following your word Jesus I promise Jesus I make a covenant with you Jesus God I want to serve you all of my days Jesus I thank you Lord God thank you Jesus for your words.

▶ 1:08:22 In. The courts of our God. Flourish like a palm tree. They shall fall on. a cedar in Lebanon. One more time those that be.

▶ 1:09:18 Planted. In the house of the our Lord. The righteous shall. Flourish like upon. They shall grow like. A cedar in lebanon. They shall grow like. Thank you Lord Jesus God you’re wonderful let’s praise him this morning let’s lift up his name glory we praise you God.

▶ 1:10:18 We exalt you exalt you Lord. Jesus Jesus God you are lore glorious God. We honor you we commit to you Lord. Jesus. Jesus. Lord we praise you. You’re my brother you’re my sister so take me by the hand. Together we will work till he. Comes. Oh that can defeat us when you’re walking side by side. As long as there is love we will stand.

▶ 1:11:15 Like one of you to pray and ask God to fulfill this in our lives Paul, would you please pray and close the service this. Morning. Amen. Hallelujah. Yeah this kid got a clap come on back I’m getting my drumbeat there you go.

▶ 1:12:17 I’m going to consider that our offering prayer. So thank you if you need if you’d like to give offering you give that go to mountainside.com. Top right it says give or you can go over there to the envelopes fill out an envelope with cash check whatever.