WEBVTT 00:00:04.320 --> 00:00:04.996 All right, 00:00:05.590 --> 00:00:09.210 well, we continue in the book of Hebrews. 00:00:10.190 --> 00:00:11.606 And interestingly enough, 00:00:11.678 --> 00:00:14.670 this. I'm always surprised, 00:00:14.830 --> 00:00:15.454 I guess, 00:00:15.454 --> 00:00:17.158 and I don't guess I should be anymore, 00:00:17.158 --> 00:00:22.910 that God brings real life examples of what it is I'm supposed to preach 00:00:22.950 --> 00:00:23.910 on on Sundays, 00:00:23.910 --> 00:00:27.586 that things happen during the week that caused me to go, 00:00:27.618 --> 00:00:28.106 oh, wait a minute, 00:00:28.106 --> 00:00:29.586 I'm preaching on that Sunday. 00:00:29.586 --> 00:00:31.630 I should have expected it. 00:00:31.930 --> 00:00:32.920 I should know. 00:00:32.874 --> 00:00:34.642 That's how God works. 00:00:34.826 --> 00:00:38.954 So we're continuing in what many in chapter eleven have referred to as 00:00:38.954 --> 00:00:41.450 the hall of Faith or the hall of fame or the, 00:00:41.450 --> 00:00:41.922 you know, 00:00:41.922 --> 00:00:44.866 I titled today's message the Faithful patriarchs. 00:00:44.898 --> 00:00:46.010 And remember, 00:00:46.050 --> 00:00:49.338 I told you last week that if you really look at that list and go back 00:00:49.338 --> 00:00:51.770 into Genesis and throughout the Old Testament, 00:00:51.810 --> 00:00:55.644 what you'll find is that these guys were not all the cream of the crop. 00:00:55.644 --> 00:00:59.996 Some of them were not very at times, 00:01:00.108 --> 00:01:01.964 reputable. And so, 00:01:02.012 --> 00:01:03.228 as we consider them, 00:01:03.228 --> 00:01:08.132 what we realize is that the most important words in this chapter are the 00:01:08.156 --> 00:01:09.580 two words by faith. 00:01:09.620 --> 00:01:10.804 And I want y'all to know something. 00:01:10.804 --> 00:01:15.560 It's interesting to me that I had a number of people this week actually 00:01:16.580 --> 00:01:21.732 talk to me about this idea of faith and the challenge from last week. 00:01:21.756 --> 00:01:24.932 And the question that I offered you last week is really, 00:01:24.932 --> 00:01:27.000 what does your faith look like? 00:01:27.740 --> 00:01:29.720 What does your faith look like? 00:01:29.980 --> 00:01:32.308 What steps of faith, 00:01:32.484 --> 00:01:35.420 what things in your life are, 00:01:35.500 --> 00:01:39.236 the portrayal of what you believe about God, 00:01:39.308 --> 00:01:41.980 what you believe about what God has said, 00:01:42.100 --> 00:01:44.092 what you believe about the word of God, 00:01:44.092 --> 00:01:46.108 what you believe that God has, 00:01:46.204 --> 00:01:48.184 has put in place for you. 00:01:47.916 --> 00:01:53.060 Because I actually had to turn back to psalm 37 during my just personal 00:01:53.140 --> 00:01:55.452 quiet and reading time this morning. 00:01:55.596 --> 00:01:58.364 And remember these words right here. 00:01:58.452 --> 00:02:00.956 And I know you know them cause we all know them. 00:02:00.956 --> 00:02:04.280 A person's steps are established by the Lord, 00:02:04.580 --> 00:02:07.076 and he takes pleasure in his way. 00:02:07.268 --> 00:02:08.828 This is psalm 37, 00:02:08.884 --> 00:02:09.900 verse 23. 00:02:10.020 --> 00:02:11.060 Though he falls, 00:02:11.100 --> 00:02:15.860 he will not be overwhelmed because the Lord supports him with his hand. 00:02:16.320 --> 00:02:19.416 A person's steps are established by the Lord. 00:02:19.448 --> 00:02:20.840 That's the one where you hear it, 00:02:20.840 --> 00:02:22.464 if you read it in King James, 00:02:22.464 --> 00:02:24.860 like anybody my age did, 00:02:25.720 --> 00:02:28.336 God orders a man's steps, 00:02:28.448 --> 00:02:35.424 right? God is the one who establishes the steps of our path. 00:02:35.472 --> 00:02:41.082 And so what we have to do is we have to pay attention to what God is. 00:02:41.450 --> 00:02:45.650 We have to pay attention to what God directs in our lives. 00:02:45.770 --> 00:02:50.550 And then before we pick up our foot and put it down again, 00:02:51.170 --> 00:02:56.178 we have to have prayed and trusted and known that God is directing our 00:02:56.234 --> 00:02:57.810 steps. Because quite honestly, 00:02:57.890 --> 00:03:02.586 a lot of times we just rush into things and do things and don't commit it 00:03:02.586 --> 00:03:04.578 to prayer and that sort of thing. 00:03:04.578 --> 00:03:07.256 Years ago when I was running marathons, 00:03:07.328 --> 00:03:09.308 and I don't do that anymore, 00:03:09.920 --> 00:03:11.800 somebody was talking to me this week, 00:03:11.800 --> 00:03:12.728 even this week, 00:03:12.728 --> 00:03:14.928 about training for a marathon. 00:03:15.064 --> 00:03:15.656 And I said, 00:03:15.656 --> 00:03:19.464 you know what the problem with a marathon and training for a marathon is? 00:03:19.048 --> 00:03:22.780 It's more mental than it is physical. 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:23.976 I mean, 00:03:23.976 --> 00:03:29.024 if you breathe and if you eat well and if you exercise, 00:03:29.152 --> 00:03:31.140 anybody can do a marathon. 00:03:31.770 --> 00:03:33.530 Now, I've had people over the years go, 00:03:33.530 --> 00:03:34.154 uh, uh, 00:03:34.154 --> 00:03:34.658 uh, uh. 00:03:34.658 --> 00:03:35.648 Yeah, you can. 00:03:36.050 --> 00:03:38.226 Your body can do it. 00:03:38.418 --> 00:03:40.698 You've just got to do the work to get there. 00:03:40.698 --> 00:03:41.522 But here's the thing. 00:03:41.522 --> 00:03:42.154 I remember in. 00:03:42.154 --> 00:03:45.946 In mile 21 of a 26.2 miles marathon, 00:03:45.978 --> 00:03:46.738 because guess what? 00:03:46.738 --> 00:03:49.026 Marathons are 20.6.2 miles. 00:03:49.218 --> 00:03:50.906 It amazes me how many people go now. 00:03:50.906 --> 00:03:51.802 How long is. 00:03:51.802 --> 00:03:53.710 Yeah, 26.2. 00:03:54.130 --> 00:03:55.226 In my mind, 00:03:55.298 --> 00:03:57.228 I'm thinking the whole time, 00:03:57.394 --> 00:03:58.480 pick your foot up, 00:03:58.480 --> 00:03:59.800 put it back down. 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:01.832 Pick your foot up, 00:04:01.832 --> 00:04:03.216 put it back down. 00:04:03.408 --> 00:04:04.632 Pick your foot up, 00:04:04.632 --> 00:04:05.952 put it back down. 00:04:06.056 --> 00:04:12.072 That's the only thing in miles 21 through 26.2 that kept me going. 00:04:12.256 --> 00:04:14.152 Right? Because the thing is, 00:04:14.176 --> 00:04:15.072 is you step, 00:04:15.072 --> 00:04:15.732 you step, 00:04:15.768 --> 00:04:16.304 you step. 00:04:16.304 --> 00:04:18.688 And if you're going to follow God by faith, 00:04:18.688 --> 00:04:23.100 if you're going to pay attention to what God has established for you, 00:04:23.400 --> 00:04:24.680 then you got to pick your foot up, 00:04:24.680 --> 00:04:26.990 put it back down as God leads. 00:04:26.696 --> 00:04:28.672 And that's what these chapters are all about. 00:04:28.672 --> 00:04:31.312 Because last week we dealt with the Abel, 00:04:31.720 --> 00:04:33.700 and we dealt with the enoch, 00:04:33.760 --> 00:04:35.184 and we touched on Noah, 00:04:35.184 --> 00:04:36.900 and we touched on Abraham. 00:04:37.880 --> 00:04:43.648 And then when we get down to the part about Sarah being not able to have 00:04:43.704 --> 00:04:49.060 children and Abraham as good as one who's dead and having children. 00:04:49.570 --> 00:04:50.906 And then we get to verse 13. 00:04:50.906 --> 00:04:51.394 It says, 00:04:51.394 --> 00:04:53.470 these all died in faith, 00:04:54.730 --> 00:04:57.874 although they had not received the things they were promised. 00:04:57.714 --> 00:04:59.754 But they saw them from a distance, 00:04:59.754 --> 00:05:00.698 greeted them, 00:05:00.794 --> 00:05:04.346 and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the 00:05:04.346 --> 00:05:04.706 earth. Now, 00:05:04.706 --> 00:05:05.354 remember last week, 00:05:05.354 --> 00:05:08.130 what it said about Abraham and his descendants is that they were 00:05:08.130 --> 00:05:09.714 temporary residents, 00:05:09.882 --> 00:05:12.906 aliens, foreigners in the land. 00:05:13.098 --> 00:05:13.946 Now, it's. 00:05:14.058 --> 00:05:14.562 They were, 00:05:14.562 --> 00:05:17.600 they were just temporary residents on the earth. 00:05:18.620 --> 00:05:22.748 Now, those who say such things make it clear that they're seeking a 00:05:22.748 --> 00:05:23.600 homeland. 00:05:24.180 --> 00:05:25.200 Now, if. 00:05:25.740 --> 00:05:27.244 And I'm gonna break this down a little bit. 00:05:27.244 --> 00:05:27.660 As they go, 00:05:27.660 --> 00:05:28.156 if they. 00:05:28.156 --> 00:05:29.724 If in seeking a homeland, 00:05:29.724 --> 00:05:31.588 they were talking about where they came from. 00:05:31.588 --> 00:05:33.820 If they were thinking about where they had come from, 00:05:33.820 --> 00:05:36.164 they would have had an opportunity to go back, 00:05:36.164 --> 00:05:36.960 to return. 00:05:38.260 --> 00:05:40.570 But they now desire a better place, 00:05:40.684 --> 00:05:41.700 a heavenly one. 00:05:41.740 --> 00:05:45.040 Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their goddess, 00:05:45.050 --> 00:05:47.690 for he has prepared a city for them. 00:05:47.704 --> 00:05:51.248 Now remember that the two most important words in verses one through 00:05:51.248 --> 00:05:52.360 twelve are by faith. 00:05:52.360 --> 00:05:53.024 By faith. 00:05:53.112 --> 00:05:53.776 By faith. 00:05:53.848 --> 00:05:54.832 By faith. 00:05:55.016 --> 00:05:55.496 You see, 00:05:55.496 --> 00:05:59.464 the people that we're referencing here in chapter eleven are those who 00:05:59.552 --> 00:06:01.032 walk by faith. 00:06:01.176 --> 00:06:03.000 And we know that without faith, 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:04.440 it's impossible to please God. 00:06:04.440 --> 00:06:06.632 That's what it says with regard to Enoch. 00:06:06.632 --> 00:06:08.088 And so when we look at this thing, 00:06:08.088 --> 00:06:12.116 it's this faith walk that God's looking for in their lives. 00:06:12.228 --> 00:06:15.858 It's this faith walk that God's looking for in our lives. 00:06:15.860 --> 00:06:16.820 And then it says, 00:06:16.820 --> 00:06:17.444 by faith, 00:06:17.444 --> 00:06:19.372 Abraham, when he was tested, 00:06:19.516 --> 00:06:21.076 offered up Isaac, 00:06:21.268 --> 00:06:22.636 he received the promises, 00:06:22.708 --> 00:06:25.492 and yet he was offering his one and only son. 00:06:25.492 --> 00:06:26.564 What were the promises? 00:06:26.564 --> 00:06:27.460 The promises were, 00:06:27.460 --> 00:06:29.260 you're going to have an heir. 00:06:29.260 --> 00:06:30.364 You're going to have a son, 00:06:30.364 --> 00:06:33.476 that through your son you're going to be a nation. 00:06:33.140 --> 00:06:35.450 But he goes to offer him up. 00:06:37.390 --> 00:06:38.050 It says, 00:06:38.110 --> 00:06:39.166 he received the promises, 00:06:39.166 --> 00:06:41.142 and yet he was offering his one and only son, 00:06:41.142 --> 00:06:42.126 the one to whom, 00:06:42.126 --> 00:06:43.446 it has been said, 00:06:43.446 --> 00:06:46.174 your offspring will be traced through Isaac. 00:06:46.302 --> 00:06:49.582 He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead. 00:06:49.582 --> 00:06:50.998 Therefore, he raised him back, 00:06:50.998 --> 00:06:52.370 figuratively speaking, 00:06:53.070 --> 00:06:53.814 by faith, 00:06:53.862 --> 00:06:56.886 Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 00:06:56.998 --> 00:06:57.558 By faith, 00:06:57.558 --> 00:06:58.654 Jacob, when he was dying, 00:06:58.654 --> 00:07:00.974 blessed each of the sons of Joseph. 00:07:01.022 --> 00:07:02.096 And he worshiped, 00:07:02.198 --> 00:07:03.652 leaning on the top of his staff. 00:07:03.532 --> 00:07:04.132 And by faith, 00:07:04.132 --> 00:07:06.812 Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life, 00:07:06.812 --> 00:07:11.252 mentioned the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning 00:07:11.316 --> 00:07:12.280 his bones. 00:07:12.820 --> 00:07:16.156 Hmm. There's a whole lot in these few verses. 00:07:16.268 --> 00:07:16.876 Pray with me, 00:07:16.876 --> 00:07:18.276 please. God, 00:07:18.308 --> 00:07:21.476 we thank you and we praise you that you have spoken. 00:07:21.140 --> 00:07:21.636 Thank you, 00:07:21.636 --> 00:07:23.560 God, that you planned, 00:07:24.620 --> 00:07:27.450 you ordered our steps this morning, 00:07:27.580 --> 00:07:30.182 God, that we might see this passage, 00:07:30.286 --> 00:07:33.310 that we might consider your words in this passage, 00:07:33.390 --> 00:07:33.806 and God, 00:07:33.806 --> 00:07:38.094 that we might gain some understanding as to how you want us to walk, 00:07:38.094 --> 00:07:39.790 how you want us to talk, 00:07:39.790 --> 00:07:42.790 how our lives are supposed to be ordered, 00:07:42.870 --> 00:07:45.094 that we might live by faith, 00:07:45.142 --> 00:07:47.470 that our faith might be evident. 00:07:47.590 --> 00:07:48.250 And that, 00:07:48.318 --> 00:07:49.878 God, we can trust you. 00:07:49.878 --> 00:07:51.038 We can believe you. 00:07:51.038 --> 00:07:53.018 We can believe what you've said. 00:07:53.520 --> 00:07:54.088 So, God, 00:07:54.088 --> 00:07:56.000 help us to trust your words. 00:07:55.704 --> 00:07:57.684 Help us to trust your word. 00:07:57.840 --> 00:07:58.816 Help us to follow. 00:07:58.816 --> 00:08:00.408 And we pray it in Jesus name. 00:08:00.408 --> 00:08:03.648 Amen. So everybody that he's talking about right here, 00:08:03.664 --> 00:08:05.264 because what we've got now is Abraham, 00:08:05.264 --> 00:08:06.104 Isaac, Jacob, 00:08:06.152 --> 00:08:07.816 Esau, Joseph, 00:08:07.928 --> 00:08:09.296 Joseph's kids, 00:08:09.488 --> 00:08:10.536 the Israelites, 00:08:10.568 --> 00:08:13.592 all of they're all waiting for this promise. 00:08:13.656 --> 00:08:17.400 And this is the point that we made early on in the book of Hebrews, 00:08:17.400 --> 00:08:18.576 because the book of Hebrews is. 00:08:18.576 --> 00:08:20.206 This is this case. 00:08:20.358 --> 00:08:21.886 God's making this case, 00:08:21.958 --> 00:08:26.342 this argument for the priority of Jesus, 00:08:26.406 --> 00:08:29.550 that we're supposed to be paying attention to Jesus. 00:08:29.710 --> 00:08:30.718 You're supposed to be paying, 00:08:30.718 --> 00:08:31.390 I told you, 00:08:31.390 --> 00:08:32.534 weeks. Weeks on end. 00:08:32.398 --> 00:08:33.230 I told you, 00:08:33.230 --> 00:08:35.294 you should consider Jesus in the morning, 00:08:35.294 --> 00:08:36.814 you should consider Jesus at lunch, 00:08:36.814 --> 00:08:38.646 you should consider Jesus in the evening. 00:08:38.646 --> 00:08:40.630 You should consider Jesus all day long, 00:08:40.630 --> 00:08:42.342 with every activity, 00:08:42.446 --> 00:08:43.718 attitude, action, 00:08:43.814 --> 00:08:45.134 choice of your life. 00:08:45.190 --> 00:08:48.120 What is it that Jesus would have us to do? 00:08:48.120 --> 00:08:51.752 Okay? Because the truth is a faith walk, 00:08:51.816 --> 00:08:53.136 a faith step is. 00:08:53.168 --> 00:08:53.560 Is that. 00:08:53.560 --> 00:08:54.136 Guess what? 00:08:54.136 --> 00:08:58.420 My life is dependent on my identity in Jesus Christ. 00:08:59.440 --> 00:09:01.120 So I was thinking about it this week. 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:04.784 I fail so often, 00:09:04.832 --> 00:09:05.500 y'all. 00:09:06.160 --> 00:09:07.936 I fail to trust God, 00:09:08.048 --> 00:09:12.248 man. I go up to South Carolina or over to South Carolina. 00:09:12.304 --> 00:09:13.288 Cause it's about even, 00:09:13.288 --> 00:09:14.864 actually. But I go over to Belton, 00:09:14.864 --> 00:09:15.648 South Carolina, 00:09:15.704 --> 00:09:16.248 every week, 00:09:16.248 --> 00:09:17.864 and I think about things like, 00:09:17.864 --> 00:09:18.728 I need to get this done. 00:09:18.728 --> 00:09:19.664 I need to get this done. 00:09:19.528 --> 00:09:20.872 I need to get this done. 00:09:20.872 --> 00:09:30.048 And all through the I need to get this done stuff I know God's telling 00:09:30.064 --> 00:09:31.384 me, just trust me. 00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:33.540 Trust me. 00:09:33.880 --> 00:09:35.530 I'm going to handle that. 00:09:35.880 --> 00:09:37.530 I've already got that plan. 00:09:37.664 --> 00:09:39.776 I'm already in your tomorrow. 00:09:39.848 --> 00:09:41.758 Bobby, would you just. 00:09:41.944 --> 00:09:43.550 Just hang on. 00:09:44.130 --> 00:09:46.150 Don't get ahead of me. 00:09:46.530 --> 00:09:48.490 Don't run away from me. 00:09:48.610 --> 00:09:52.590 Don't try to work something that I've already got worked out. 00:09:53.010 --> 00:09:55.322 I can tell you a very real example of it, 00:09:55.322 --> 00:09:56.266 and I will in a minute, 00:09:56.266 --> 00:09:57.256 but not now. 00:09:59.130 --> 00:10:00.978 Because what this little text here, 00:10:00.978 --> 00:10:02.346 verses 13 to 22, 00:10:02.378 --> 00:10:05.018 is really talking about is that Abraham, 00:10:05.194 --> 00:10:07.098 Isaac, Jacob, 00:10:07.234 --> 00:10:08.984 Esau, Joseph, 00:10:09.072 --> 00:10:10.860 and all the Israelites, 00:10:11.160 --> 00:10:12.500 none of them, 00:10:14.760 --> 00:10:18.220 none of them received the promise. 00:10:19.480 --> 00:10:22.780 But all of them received the promise. 00:10:23.880 --> 00:10:24.624 You see? 00:10:24.752 --> 00:10:26.632 What's he talking about right there? 00:10:26.632 --> 00:10:27.296 If. Remember, 00:10:27.328 --> 00:10:30.504 I told you once when we were looking back at the whole entrance and 00:10:30.504 --> 00:10:31.664 entrance into the land, 00:10:31.664 --> 00:10:33.472 during the first chapters of Hebrews, 00:10:33.472 --> 00:10:33.944 I said, 00:10:33.944 --> 00:10:35.180 if the land, 00:10:36.180 --> 00:10:37.480 if the nation, 00:10:38.020 --> 00:10:43.520 if the city of Jerusalem were the rest that God had promised, 00:10:44.900 --> 00:10:46.840 then Joshua delivered it. 00:10:47.860 --> 00:10:49.012 But that's not what the. 00:10:49.012 --> 00:10:51.188 That's not the rest God had promised. 00:10:50.876 --> 00:10:52.700 What's the rest that God had promised? 00:10:52.700 --> 00:10:55.484 The rest that God had promised is this heavenly one. 00:10:55.484 --> 00:10:58.132 But they now desire a better place, 00:10:58.196 --> 00:10:59.620 a heavenly one. 00:10:59.780 --> 00:11:03.060 Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their goddess, 00:11:03.060 --> 00:11:06.018 for he has prepared a city for them. 00:11:06.154 --> 00:11:06.946 You see? 00:11:07.098 --> 00:11:08.418 So what are we looking at here? 00:11:08.418 --> 00:11:12.466 We're looking at a faith that goes beyond today. 00:11:12.538 --> 00:11:15.354 Now, it's faith that includes today, 00:11:15.522 --> 00:11:17.722 but it's faith that goes beyond today. 00:11:17.722 --> 00:11:19.082 So I want you to think about something. 00:11:19.082 --> 00:11:21.114 So this is in want of heaven. 00:11:20.970 --> 00:11:21.618 All right. 00:11:21.618 --> 00:11:22.898 These folks are all talking about. 00:11:22.898 --> 00:11:23.138 All right, 00:11:23.138 --> 00:11:24.266 this is what we want. 00:11:24.266 --> 00:11:26.162 We want this relationship with our God, 00:11:26.162 --> 00:11:27.154 our creator. 00:11:27.322 --> 00:11:29.114 This is what we're living for. 00:11:28.978 --> 00:11:30.378 This is what we're striving for. 00:11:30.378 --> 00:11:32.688 And so every day of their lives, 00:11:33.190 --> 00:11:40.014 they have to take steps of obedience that display their faith now, 00:11:40.062 --> 00:11:40.878 not in works. 00:11:40.878 --> 00:11:43.810 It's not like they earned heaven or anything, 00:11:44.230 --> 00:11:45.918 but that in their lives. 00:11:45.974 --> 00:11:49.302 As we read the account of their lives after the fact, 00:11:49.302 --> 00:11:52.290 we know Abraham didn't do everything right, 00:11:53.950 --> 00:11:56.678 Abel. I'm sure Abel didn't do everything right, 00:11:56.734 --> 00:11:57.398 Enoch. 00:11:57.494 --> 00:11:58.644 Yeah. You know, 00:11:58.692 --> 00:12:00.084 nobody's perfect. 00:12:00.252 --> 00:12:02.740 I love asking you guys if you're perfect, 00:12:02.740 --> 00:12:03.468 to raise your hand. 00:12:03.468 --> 00:12:03.956 Go ahead. 00:12:03.956 --> 00:12:04.932 Raise your hand if you're perfect, 00:12:04.932 --> 00:12:05.592 go ahead. 00:12:05.596 --> 00:12:08.012 See, nobody is right. 00:12:08.196 --> 00:12:11.040 And yet is our life. 00:12:11.580 --> 00:12:17.812 Is the portrayal of who we are in trusting God that I trust him? 00:12:17.836 --> 00:12:18.724 Because most people, 00:12:18.724 --> 00:12:22.260 if you ask for some explanation of their faith. 00:12:22.300 --> 00:12:23.950 Tell me about your faith. 00:12:23.940 --> 00:12:27.630 Well, I was baptized when I was eight. 00:12:29.850 --> 00:12:31.270 My answer is always, 00:12:31.850 --> 00:12:35.430 yay, what about today? 00:12:38.250 --> 00:12:40.750 What does your faith look like today? 00:12:41.850 --> 00:12:43.882 And a lot of times I'll ask church people this, 00:12:43.882 --> 00:12:46.522 and y'all know what I mean by that. 00:12:46.690 --> 00:12:47.770 Tell me about your faith. 00:12:47.770 --> 00:12:50.080 Well, I went to church this morning. 00:12:50.560 --> 00:12:51.940 My answer is always, 00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:57.100 yay, that's a good thing. 00:12:57.400 --> 00:12:59.568 Love it that you join in worship, 00:12:59.568 --> 00:13:02.584 that you unite with the body of Christ in worship. 00:13:02.584 --> 00:13:04.300 That's fabulous. 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:06.688 I want y'all to think about something. 00:13:06.688 --> 00:13:07.928 Think of the day, 00:13:07.928 --> 00:13:12.140 a day in your life when you moved your family. 00:13:13.800 --> 00:13:14.328 I say, 00:13:14.328 --> 00:13:14.688 all right, 00:13:14.688 --> 00:13:16.364 so somebody. 00:13:16.512 --> 00:13:17.716 Somebody just this morning said, 00:13:17.716 --> 00:13:20.026 yeah, we just moved here to topsail. 00:13:20.380 --> 00:13:21.640 Cool. Yay. 00:13:22.580 --> 00:13:24.890 Yay. Is a good answer for me. 00:13:26.420 --> 00:13:28.196 And I spell it y a y, 00:13:28.196 --> 00:13:29.436 not y e a h. 00:13:29.436 --> 00:13:30.476 Just so you know. 00:13:30.476 --> 00:13:31.708 Cause y e a h is. 00:13:31.708 --> 00:13:33.200 Yeah, not ye. 00:13:34.780 --> 00:13:36.444 Think about the day you moved your family. 00:13:36.276 --> 00:13:37.926 Did you pray about it? 00:13:39.060 --> 00:13:40.220 Was it a situation? 00:13:40.220 --> 00:13:40.620 You said, 00:13:40.620 --> 00:13:42.600 God, where do you want us? 00:13:44.510 --> 00:13:48.238 See, I tell you about the story about a lady that was a member here, 00:13:48.238 --> 00:13:49.318 and they were very active, 00:13:49.318 --> 00:13:50.158 and he was a deacon, 00:13:50.158 --> 00:13:51.238 her husband was a deacon. 00:13:51.238 --> 00:13:52.598 And she came up here and she says, 00:13:52.598 --> 00:13:54.622 bobby, I've got this job opportunity. 00:13:54.766 --> 00:13:56.390 Would you pray that I get this job? 00:13:56.390 --> 00:13:56.830 And I went, 00:13:56.830 --> 00:13:59.686 no. And she went, 00:13:59.718 --> 00:14:00.530 why not? 00:14:00.910 --> 00:14:01.334 I went, 00:14:01.334 --> 00:14:03.510 because here's what I will pray. 00:14:03.670 --> 00:14:07.198 I will pray that God puts you in the job where he wants you for his 00:14:07.198 --> 00:14:08.290 kingdom's sake. 00:14:09.460 --> 00:14:13.140 Right? Because we need to be where God wants us to be, 00:14:13.140 --> 00:14:16.120 not where we want to be all the time. 00:14:17.620 --> 00:14:20.804 We need to be in the place that serves God, 00:14:20.804 --> 00:14:22.292 that serves God's kingdom, 00:14:22.396 --> 00:14:23.764 that accomplishes kingdom, 00:14:23.812 --> 00:14:24.644 works, kingdom, 00:14:24.692 --> 00:14:28.572 purpose, that furthers and advances the gospel, 00:14:28.716 --> 00:14:29.988 that lets people know, 00:14:29.988 --> 00:14:32.508 lets people see in our lives a dependence, 00:14:32.508 --> 00:14:32.940 a trust, 00:14:32.940 --> 00:14:34.028 a faith in God. 00:14:34.028 --> 00:14:36.640 If somebody writes your story one day, 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:41.080 right, let's say somebody writes a summary of your story, 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:43.592 just like the writer of Hebrews is writing up there. 00:14:43.592 --> 00:14:45.056 We can't study Hebrews. 00:14:45.088 --> 00:14:47.160 Chapter eleven in three weeks time, 00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:49.392 y'all. There's too much here. 00:14:49.496 --> 00:14:50.400 As a matter of fact, 00:14:50.400 --> 00:14:54.120 I'll go ahead and tell y'all after we finish romans in mid 2026, 00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:57.040 I'm gonna go back and do all of Hebrews eleven. 00:14:57.040 --> 00:14:57.600 I've already. 00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:58.920 It's already planned out. 00:14:58.752 --> 00:15:00.664 I'm sitting here praying and working on it this week. 00:15:00.664 --> 00:15:01.200 I'm like, 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:02.168 I need to preach that, 00:15:02.168 --> 00:15:04.148 like, four weeks in a row. 00:15:05.110 --> 00:15:07.606 I need to study that four weeks in a row, 00:15:07.606 --> 00:15:10.090 y'all, for my own sake. 00:15:11.110 --> 00:15:13.750 See, the day that you moved your family, 00:15:13.806 --> 00:15:15.854 was it God's direction, 00:15:16.022 --> 00:15:17.014 or do we. 00:15:17.062 --> 00:15:19.006 And I think this is sort of. 00:15:18.734 --> 00:15:21.070 There's a skeptical, 00:15:21.150 --> 00:15:23.926 almost cynical way that we pray sometimes and say, 00:15:23.926 --> 00:15:25.326 God, if this is not your will, 00:15:25.326 --> 00:15:26.290 stop me. 00:15:29.520 --> 00:15:30.120 I'm like, 00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:33.760 whoa, why don't we step out in faith and say, 00:15:33.800 --> 00:15:37.140 God, where can I serve you best? 00:15:37.680 --> 00:15:45.620 How. How can I fulfill my identity in Christ for you, 00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:48.790 God? Is this where you want me? 00:15:49.280 --> 00:15:52.910 Is this who you want me to be hanging out with? 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:54.440 I tell folks in this gathering, 00:15:54.440 --> 00:15:55.016 people say to me, 00:15:55.016 --> 00:15:55.472 say, well, 00:15:55.472 --> 00:15:56.220 you know, 00:15:56.900 --> 00:15:57.316 I go, 00:15:57.316 --> 00:16:00.580 look, you gotta be in worship where God wants you to worship. 00:16:00.580 --> 00:16:02.300 You're not gonna find fulfillment. 00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:03.092 You're not gonna grow. 00:16:03.092 --> 00:16:03.636 People say to me, 00:16:03.636 --> 00:16:04.132 say, yeah, 00:16:04.132 --> 00:16:06.244 we decided to come over here and worship with y'all. 00:16:06.244 --> 00:16:08.660 Cause we just hadn't been growing lately. 00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:10.060 Whose fault is that? 00:16:11.340 --> 00:16:12.212 Yeah, see, 00:16:12.316 --> 00:16:13.476 I can be rough on you, 00:16:13.476 --> 00:16:14.320 I promise. 00:16:15.420 --> 00:16:17.484 See, the point is to ask yourself, 00:16:17.484 --> 00:16:21.950 where is it that God wants you not just for worship on Sunday morning, 00:16:21.950 --> 00:16:23.370 but in your home, 00:16:23.670 --> 00:16:24.878 in your job, 00:16:25.014 --> 00:16:27.046 in your relationships? 00:16:27.158 --> 00:16:29.494 What is it that gives God honor and glory? 00:16:29.494 --> 00:16:32.846 What is it that lets the world know that, 00:16:32.878 --> 00:16:33.518 guess what? 00:16:33.310 --> 00:16:34.810 I belong to Jesus, 00:16:36.390 --> 00:16:41.290 and I'm letting him order my steps. 00:16:42.190 --> 00:16:44.774 How will it be written in your life? 00:16:44.774 --> 00:16:46.754 The day you moved your family, 00:16:46.830 --> 00:16:49.804 right? The day you decided, 00:16:49.852 --> 00:16:50.988 well, we're going to move over here. 00:16:50.988 --> 00:16:51.648 Well, why? 00:16:51.452 --> 00:16:53.060 Well, got a new job. 00:16:53.060 --> 00:16:53.748 All right, 00:16:53.844 --> 00:16:55.164 how'd that come about? 00:16:55.300 --> 00:16:56.228 You see, 00:16:56.404 --> 00:17:00.760 because inevitably it might not be you writing it, 00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:03.600 but chances are your descendants, 00:17:04.500 --> 00:17:10.640 right, will give the story the account of their lives. 00:17:12.380 --> 00:17:13.068 And they'll say, 00:17:13.068 --> 00:17:14.280 well, guess what? 00:17:15.219 --> 00:17:21.771 Mom and daddy thought that this job was the end all and be all for our 00:17:21.795 --> 00:17:22.125 family. 00:17:22.211 --> 00:17:27.079 But might be the case that it wrecked our family. 00:17:30.619 --> 00:17:33.459 We decided that we needed to live here. 00:17:33.539 --> 00:17:37.323 Because, you know, 00:17:37.411 --> 00:17:41.515 all the reasons when our reasons in Christ should be, 00:17:41.547 --> 00:17:42.147 guess what? 00:17:42.147 --> 00:17:48.068 We found a place that God wanted us to be for his kingdom's sake. 00:17:48.204 --> 00:17:49.420 Did it make us wealthy? 00:17:49.420 --> 00:17:50.000 No. 00:17:51.300 --> 00:17:52.396 Was it paradise? 00:17:52.468 --> 00:17:59.520 No. But God used us in that place for the kingdom. 00:18:00.060 --> 00:18:01.652 See? I mean, 00:18:01.676 --> 00:18:03.108 Abraham was obedient, 00:18:03.284 --> 00:18:04.000 right? 00:18:04.340 --> 00:18:05.500 He got up one morning, 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:07.916 if you go back there and read in chapter twelve, 00:18:07.916 --> 00:18:08.748 God told him, 00:18:08.748 --> 00:18:08.996 you know, 00:18:08.996 --> 00:18:09.236 he said, 00:18:09.236 --> 00:18:09.852 oh, look, 00:18:09.852 --> 00:18:10.340 get up. 00:18:10.340 --> 00:18:11.332 Leave your family. 00:18:11.516 --> 00:18:12.404 Go to a place. 00:18:12.404 --> 00:18:13.156 I will show you. 00:18:13.156 --> 00:18:15.140 Do you know right there in the beginning of chapter twelve, 00:18:15.140 --> 00:18:16.324 he doesn't tell Abraham, 00:18:16.324 --> 00:18:17.676 I'm going to give you that land. 00:18:17.508 --> 00:18:17.836 He said, 00:18:17.836 --> 00:18:19.420 just go to the land. 00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:21.920 When Abraham finally gets to the place, 00:18:22.380 --> 00:18:26.400 right, it's Shechem and Mamre and on down into the Negev. 00:18:27.020 --> 00:18:27.980 God finally says, 00:18:27.980 --> 00:18:28.620 look east, 00:18:28.620 --> 00:18:29.212 west, north, 00:18:29.212 --> 00:18:31.522 south, I'm giving it all to you. 00:18:31.820 --> 00:18:32.628 But right now, 00:18:32.628 --> 00:18:33.436 you got to go to Egypt, 00:18:33.436 --> 00:18:36.620 because you're going to starve to death if you don't, 00:18:36.620 --> 00:18:39.460 right? Did he give it to Abraham? 00:18:39.540 --> 00:18:49.200 No. It was 400 years after slavery that they received the land. 00:18:51.020 --> 00:18:54.520 Why? Because Abraham was obedient in the step. 00:18:55.620 --> 00:18:56.520 Okay? 00:18:56.820 --> 00:18:58.470 One step at a time. 00:18:58.660 --> 00:19:00.310 One day at a time, 00:19:00.580 --> 00:19:04.120 right? God wants us to follow him in the moments. 00:19:06.290 --> 00:19:10.550 What the morning looked like when you made the decision to move, 00:19:11.810 --> 00:19:12.986 maybe you didn't move that day, 00:19:12.986 --> 00:19:13.698 but one morning, 00:19:13.698 --> 00:19:15.210 you got up and go, 00:19:15.210 --> 00:19:18.802 I'm going to use surf city and topsail island as an example, 00:19:18.802 --> 00:19:19.578 because guess what? 00:19:19.578 --> 00:19:20.834 We know where we live. 00:19:20.834 --> 00:19:21.938 And, you know, 00:19:21.954 --> 00:19:23.266 I wake up on mornings when it's, 00:19:23.266 --> 00:19:24.706 like, 73 degrees, 00:19:24.858 --> 00:19:25.848 and I go, 00:19:25.898 --> 00:19:28.208 whoo. This is why we live here, 00:19:28.450 --> 00:19:30.020 right? I mean, 00:19:30.060 --> 00:19:31.960 beautiful, right? 00:19:32.860 --> 00:19:35.500 What moves us to a place like this? 00:19:36.260 --> 00:19:36.748 You know, 00:19:36.748 --> 00:19:38.068 I jokingly tell folks, 00:19:38.068 --> 00:19:38.316 I mean, 00:19:38.316 --> 00:19:39.836 I moved here from the mountains. 00:19:39.836 --> 00:19:42.146 I lived for five years in Brevard. 00:19:42.260 --> 00:19:44.036 And brevard's a beautiful place. 00:19:44.148 --> 00:19:45.028 Mountains everywhere. 00:19:45.084 --> 00:19:46.844 Majestic, all that sort of thing. 00:19:46.844 --> 00:19:52.360 And I tell folks I moved from Brevard to Surf city in 2009. 00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:55.548 I moved from the mountains to the beach because everything in between was 00:19:55.548 --> 00:19:59.588 boring. People from Charlotte find offense in that. 00:19:59.644 --> 00:20:00.964 I don't know why. 00:20:00.948 --> 00:20:03.316 Right? Why do we move? 00:20:03.428 --> 00:20:05.884 Why do we do the things we do? 00:20:05.884 --> 00:20:10.000 What will be said about the decision we make that day? 00:20:10.860 --> 00:20:13.830 What did the morning look like of the move? 00:20:13.924 --> 00:20:14.964 We loaded the van, 00:20:14.964 --> 00:20:15.548 we got up, 00:20:15.548 --> 00:20:16.320 we drove. 00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:22.960 Where? What in that will communicate to generations your faith. 00:20:23.900 --> 00:20:24.840 You see, 00:20:27.140 --> 00:20:28.884 how about each step of your family? 00:20:28.884 --> 00:20:30.534 What about that first child? 00:20:30.780 --> 00:20:32.760 Those of you who are parents, 00:20:35.180 --> 00:20:37.212 when people talk about your lineage, 00:20:37.316 --> 00:20:38.520 your descendants, 00:20:39.020 --> 00:20:41.000 well, they go back and say, 00:20:42.540 --> 00:20:49.150 well, it all started when mom and daddy meth in Bible study. 00:20:51.850 --> 00:20:54.470 See everything, 00:20:55.450 --> 00:20:56.762 every step, 00:20:56.906 --> 00:20:57.978 every choice. 00:20:58.074 --> 00:20:59.474 Does it honor God? 00:20:59.602 --> 00:21:04.550 Does it proclaim what God has said about who we are? 00:21:05.410 --> 00:21:06.310 All right, 00:21:06.890 --> 00:21:07.538 this week, 00:21:07.538 --> 00:21:09.810 there was a number of things I needed to get accomplished. 00:21:09.810 --> 00:21:11.418 Mom and dad may be watching right now, 00:21:11.418 --> 00:21:12.408 and that's cool. 00:21:12.330 --> 00:21:13.466 My sister's listening, 00:21:13.498 --> 00:21:14.270 I'm sure. 00:21:15.990 --> 00:21:17.942 This week I had a number of things get done. 00:21:17.942 --> 00:21:19.210 Lawn mower's broke. 00:21:19.710 --> 00:21:23.390 Daddy's little scooter car that he rides around the yard like a four 00:21:23.390 --> 00:21:24.730 wheeler, which it's not. 00:21:27.310 --> 00:21:28.974 The batteries going weak on it. 00:21:28.974 --> 00:21:29.526 And I was thinking, 00:21:29.526 --> 00:21:29.766 you know, 00:21:29.766 --> 00:21:34.590 daddy really could use a golf cart right around the yard instead of that 00:21:34.630 --> 00:21:36.590 little handicapped little car, 00:21:36.710 --> 00:21:37.190 you know? 00:21:37.190 --> 00:21:38.126 You know what I'm talking about? 00:21:38.126 --> 00:21:38.950 Wheels are about that. 00:21:38.950 --> 00:21:39.966 Big Daddy's using it, 00:21:39.966 --> 00:21:42.196 going down hills in his yard and stuff. 00:21:41.950 --> 00:21:42.420 I'm like, 00:21:42.420 --> 00:21:43.320 oh, man. 00:21:43.820 --> 00:21:44.204 I said, 00:21:44.204 --> 00:21:45.628 daddy could really use a golf cart. 00:21:45.628 --> 00:21:47.012 So I've been looking on. 00:21:47.012 --> 00:21:47.980 Where have I been looking? 00:21:47.980 --> 00:21:48.640 Y'all ready? 00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:50.320 Facebook, marketplace. 00:21:50.660 --> 00:21:54.148 Man, I'm looking all over the place for a golf cart that we can afford, 00:21:54.148 --> 00:21:55.828 right? And I can't find one. 00:21:55.828 --> 00:21:57.788 So the man up the street works on golf carts. 00:21:57.788 --> 00:21:59.468 I'm gonna go ahead and tell y'all this story. 00:21:59.204 --> 00:22:01.020 Cause it really is a big deal. 00:22:01.020 --> 00:22:02.670 He's got a pink one, 00:22:02.836 --> 00:22:06.300 y'all. If it had a decal on it that said Barbie, 00:22:06.300 --> 00:22:07.950 it would have been perfect. 00:22:09.950 --> 00:22:11.542 So I'm over here talking to. 00:22:11.542 --> 00:22:12.790 And this guy's name's Bobby, 00:22:12.790 --> 00:22:15.918 also. So I'm talking to Bobby about this Barbie cart. 00:22:15.918 --> 00:22:16.326 He says, 00:22:16.326 --> 00:22:21.646 well, buddy of mine just stopped by and said he's getting rid of his golf 00:22:21.678 --> 00:22:23.690 cart because he's gotten another one. 00:22:23.990 --> 00:22:24.542 I said, 00:22:24.542 --> 00:22:25.158 just. 00:22:25.334 --> 00:22:25.798 He said, 00:22:25.798 --> 00:22:26.214 yeah. I said, 00:22:26.214 --> 00:22:26.894 what's he want for it? 00:22:26.894 --> 00:22:29.370 Well, it's less than the Barbie cart. 00:22:29.710 --> 00:22:30.478 And I was like, 00:22:30.478 --> 00:22:32.254 well, if I give you the money to get it, 00:22:32.254 --> 00:22:32.774 will you get it? 00:22:32.774 --> 00:22:33.006 He said, 00:22:33.006 --> 00:22:35.316 we go look at it right now. 00:22:35.490 --> 00:22:35.978 I said, 00:22:35.978 --> 00:22:36.298 all right. 00:22:36.298 --> 00:22:37.948 I went to the bank. 00:22:38.330 --> 00:22:40.146 We went and looked at the cart. 00:22:40.146 --> 00:22:41.450 We loaded up the trailer. 00:22:41.450 --> 00:22:42.818 We put the cart on the trail. 00:22:42.602 --> 00:22:44.042 Guess what Bobby was doing? 00:22:44.042 --> 00:22:46.322 Bobby had already taken the Monday evening. 00:22:46.322 --> 00:22:49.292 Bobby had already taken the starter off the lawnmower. 00:22:49.330 --> 00:22:51.658 The starter came in on Wednesday afternoon. 00:22:51.714 --> 00:22:54.024 Bobby put the starter on the lawnmower. 00:22:53.770 --> 00:22:55.674 We loaded up the lawnmower. 00:22:55.802 --> 00:22:58.690 I drove the new golf cart home. 00:22:58.810 --> 00:23:00.130 Bobby brought the golf car, 00:23:00.130 --> 00:23:01.750 the lawnmower home. 00:23:02.520 --> 00:23:05.400 Everything that I was struggling, 00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:06.776 and I'll confess it. 00:23:06.776 --> 00:23:07.368 Here you go. 00:23:07.136 --> 00:23:08.288 Here's my confession. 00:23:08.424 --> 00:23:13.584 Everything that I was worried about on Monday morning was handled by 530 00:23:13.632 --> 00:23:14.980 on Wednesday afternoon. 00:23:16.360 --> 00:23:19.180 Done. I was like, 00:23:19.600 --> 00:23:20.280 thank you, 00:23:20.320 --> 00:23:24.464 God. I am afraid if anybody was watching my mind Monday morning, 00:23:24.512 --> 00:23:26.162 they wouldn't have seen faith. 00:23:29.090 --> 00:23:35.338 See, by faith, 00:23:35.394 --> 00:23:36.794 Abraham, when he was tested, 00:23:36.794 --> 00:23:37.858 offered up Isaac. 00:23:37.954 --> 00:23:39.274 You know the story. 00:23:39.306 --> 00:23:39.994 Go read it. 00:23:39.994 --> 00:23:40.990 In Genesis, 00:23:41.730 --> 00:23:46.146 he took two servants and his son and all the things for a sacrifice, 00:23:46.146 --> 00:23:47.590 except the sacrifice. 00:23:48.530 --> 00:23:49.458 And he said, 00:23:49.458 --> 00:23:51.274 me and my son are going up the mountain. 00:23:51.130 --> 00:23:51.666 The boys. 00:23:51.666 --> 00:23:52.706 The servants said, 00:23:52.738 --> 00:23:55.048 well, I told him to wait here. 00:23:55.068 --> 00:23:55.612 He said, 00:23:55.612 --> 00:23:57.880 we'll be back. 00:23:58.460 --> 00:23:59.780 Go look at it. 00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:02.240 Abraham told his servants, 00:24:03.180 --> 00:24:04.600 we'll be back. 00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:08.644 Because he believed that even God. 00:24:08.692 --> 00:24:12.400 That God could even raise someone from the dead. 00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:14.720 See that? 00:24:17.580 --> 00:24:18.240 By faith, 00:24:18.260 --> 00:24:23.360 Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:25.484 Isaac really liked Esau. 00:24:25.532 --> 00:24:26.180 Y'all know that, 00:24:26.180 --> 00:24:30.560 right? Because he made good beef stew or some kind of stew. 00:24:31.820 --> 00:24:32.480 By faith, 00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:33.716 Jacob, when he was dying, 00:24:33.716 --> 00:24:37.120 blessed each of the sons of Joseph, 00:24:37.780 --> 00:24:38.796 not his sons. 00:24:38.828 --> 00:24:45.440 He blessed Ephraim and Manasseh as parts of the nation. 00:24:47.110 --> 00:24:47.718 By faith, 00:24:47.718 --> 00:24:48.926 Joseph. Now this is the one. 00:24:48.926 --> 00:24:50.750 And this is where I want to finish because we got a wrap. 00:24:50.750 --> 00:24:51.570 You ready? 00:24:52.110 --> 00:24:52.790 By faith, 00:24:52.830 --> 00:24:55.838 Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life, 00:24:55.838 --> 00:24:57.890 mentioned the exodus of the. 00:24:58.270 --> 00:25:02.046 How many hundreds of years before the exodus? 00:25:02.118 --> 00:25:03.450 Did Joseph say, 00:25:03.830 --> 00:25:05.290 when you go back, 00:25:05.750 --> 00:25:08.210 take my bones with you, 00:25:09.190 --> 00:25:12.616 Mandev. By faith, 00:25:12.648 --> 00:25:16.180 y'all, are we walking by faith. 00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:19.872 If you don't know Jesus, 00:25:19.872 --> 00:25:21.496 you need to know Jesus. 00:25:21.496 --> 00:25:25.648 If you're not trusting what God has said about who you are in Christ, 00:25:25.648 --> 00:25:28.480 then you need to get in the word and figure it out. 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:30.976 Because in about 15 minutes, 00:25:31.008 --> 00:25:33.318 you're going to walk out of here. 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:36.960 Will your steps be steps? 00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:37.940 By faith? 00:25:39.110 --> 00:25:39.798 Let's pray. 00:25:39.854 --> 00:25:41.504 God, thank you for today. 00:25:41.990 --> 00:25:43.742 And I thank you for your word. 00:25:43.742 --> 00:25:47.358 Pray God that you would guard our hearts and guide our steps. 00:25:47.358 --> 00:25:49.008 God, you have ordered them. 00:25:48.782 --> 00:25:51.446 God, help us like Abraham, 00:25:51.558 --> 00:25:52.890 to be obedient. 00:25:53.750 --> 00:25:57.710 Help us to walk it out the way you set for us. 00:25:58.230 --> 00:26:01.734 God, I thank you and praise you right here in front of this whole 00:26:01.734 --> 00:26:05.050 gathering. Thank you for ordering my weekend. 00:26:05.580 --> 00:26:09.870 Thank you for doing things that I was struggling with and worried about. 00:26:09.828 --> 00:26:13.400 And you already knew what your provision was. 00:26:14.260 --> 00:26:19.440 God, I thank you for new friends who helped accomplish your purpose. 00:26:20.380 --> 00:26:23.120 God, help me to walk by faith today, 00:26:23.780 --> 00:26:26.452 one step at a time toward you. 00:26:26.596 --> 00:26:28.412 I pray it in Jesus name. 00:26:28.412 --> 00:26:28.700 Amen.