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Fruits of the Spirit - Part 2: Faithfulness · The Bread of Life with JJ

0:23
SPEAKER_01: Welcome everybody.
0:24
SPEAKER_01: Welcome back.
0:26
SPEAKER_01: Hey, we're going to go ahead and do a continuation of what we talked about last week with the fruits of the Spirit.
0:33
SPEAKER_01: Fruits of the Spirit that we talked about last week with gentleness.
0:36
SPEAKER_01: So this week, what we're going to discuss is faithfulness.
0:41
SPEAKER_01: So thank you for those tuning in to this continued segment.
0:47
SPEAKER_01: And again, I appreciate you and what it means to have the bread of life, because the true bread of life is Jesus.
0:54
SPEAKER_01: I'm just someone who partakes and is dishing out morsels to those listening, appetizers, if you will, to those hungry for his word.
1:05
SPEAKER_01: Because he says he is the true bread of life.
1:08
SPEAKER_01: He who comes to him will not hunger, and he who believes in him will never thirst.
1:14
SPEAKER_01: Jesus' words matter, life and death.
1:20
SPEAKER_01: The is the is the bread.
1:23
SPEAKER_01: The bread of life will nourish us, our soul, by the person of Jesus.
1:30
SPEAKER_01: And in this word that he brings to me, through me, be presented to you.
1:35
SPEAKER_01: Go through every one that we talk about, every fruit of the Spirit, and see how it can add more to you and your walk and your journey.
1:43
SPEAKER_01: Before we get started, let's pray.
1:45
SPEAKER_01: Oh Heavenly Father, thank you for those listening.
1:49
SPEAKER_01: Let your words speak through me for those tuning in.
1:55
SPEAKER_01: And let your will be done in their lives.
1:57
SPEAKER_01: Speak to me, Lord, what you have for them.
2:00
SPEAKER_01: So they can grow and be better.
2:02
SPEAKER_01: In Jesus' name.
2:04
SPEAKER_01: Be better for what you called them to be.
2:07
SPEAKER_01: Amen.
2:10
SPEAKER_01: Faithfulness, we're discussing.
2:14
SPEAKER_01: So there's two death there's definit definitely there tons of definitions of what faithfulness is.
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SPEAKER_01: Many.
2:22
SPEAKER_01: We're gonna go biblically, but and also in the Bible it says this human faithfulness refers primarily to persistence in believing and trusting in God.
2:33
SPEAKER_01: Human faithfulness.
2:36
SPEAKER_01: Faithfulness, persistence in believing and trusting.
2:41
SPEAKER_01: Steadfast in affection or allegiance, firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty.
2:52
SPEAKER_01: God's faithfulness means that he can never act against his nature and character.
3:02
SPEAKER_01: When you're tempted to believe he's absent, the Bible tells us that he's near.
3:11
SPEAKER_01: Faithfulness means steadfast loyalty that isn't easily swayed.
3:15
SPEAKER_01: Our faithfulness to God means trusting in him and loving him through all circumstances.
3:20
SPEAKER_01: It means following his commandments even when we'd rather choose a different path.
3:27
SPEAKER_01: The five characteristics of faithfulness, loyalty is a characteristic, trustworthiness, steadfast love, patience, commitment.
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SPEAKER_01: Very important.
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SPEAKER_01: How do we exercise these though?
3:47
SPEAKER_01: How do we exercise this?
3:51
SPEAKER_01: Well, essentially, faithfulness is to God, is loyalty to him, to his teachings, which should shape how we think and act.
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SPEAKER_01: Being faithful even to your job, faithful to your loved ones, your wife, number one, those that are married.
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SPEAKER_01: Do you believe that God is faithful?
4:20
SPEAKER_01: Has that shown things in your life?
4:22
SPEAKER_01: Have you seen clear evidence that God is faithful in your life?
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SPEAKER_01: Can you prove that?
4:29
SPEAKER_01: Even though we don't always see God at work, I know for a fact, though, he's protecting, providing, and guiding.
4:36
SPEAKER_01: God will fulfill the promises he's made to us for his glory and our good.
4:42
SPEAKER_01: God blesses us with the knowledge, wisdom, and resources to do his will.
4:46
SPEAKER_01: The process may take longer than we expect, and it may bring challenges, however, but God's timing is perfect, and the hardships we face build our character and it prepares us for the journeys ahead.
4:57
SPEAKER_01: It's not always easy to believe God's promises from our life, but we must be encouraged and push forward.
5:04
SPEAKER_01: We should think of everything he has done in our lives already.
5:09
SPEAKER_01: Over and over.
5:11
SPEAKER_01: But is it true that God, that if God did it before, will he do it again?
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SPEAKER_01: If he did it before, will he do it again?
5:23
SPEAKER_01: Well, open the word.
5:25
SPEAKER_01: It's the best way to remind yourself if you have a struggle with that.
5:29
SPEAKER_01: And mind you, those that are listening, I'm speaking to myself.
5:33
SPEAKER_01: As I read this, this encourages me.
5:35
SPEAKER_01: As I'm sharing my heart to you, or as I'm reading what the Lord has for me and this bread of life to share, I want you to understand this is speaking to me too.
5:45
SPEAKER_01: So how beautiful the church is, how we can universally come together and edify.
5:50
SPEAKER_01: Because this helps me understand more and more.
5:53
SPEAKER_01: Even though I do know his word and I'm growing to know it more and more each and every day, and being faithful there.
6:00
SPEAKER_01: There's times I'm not faithful.
6:02
SPEAKER_01: There's times I, man, I struggle, like I know better.
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SPEAKER_01: But I chose an easy route.
6:09
SPEAKER_01: And then afterwards I get convicted.
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SPEAKER_01: I'm like, man, I know better.
6:12
SPEAKER_01: And I know the Lord has a blessing for me in each around every corner.
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SPEAKER_01: He knows he wants that for us.
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SPEAKER_01: He's nothing but good.
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SPEAKER_01: We have to remember that.
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SPEAKER_01: Every circumstance, every situation you can think of.
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SPEAKER_01: I touched on gentleness, cool.
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SPEAKER_01: You saw how gentle he is, almost like a lamb, but also the strength of a line.
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SPEAKER_01: Love, though, surrounding me.
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SPEAKER_01: I can never be broken.
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SPEAKER_01: And then when you come to faithfulness, you think about man, all the times I've prayed, all the things that I've hoped for and asked for in life.
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SPEAKER_01: He has been faithful to the end, and he has done it in the time that I couldn't even imagine because he put all the pieces together.
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SPEAKER_01: Sometimes he would do it at once.
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SPEAKER_01: I prayed for something, and all of a sudden, waiting and waiting, things are happening.
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SPEAKER_01: And then all of a sudden, everything that I was thinking about, hoping for, prayed for came just one by one by one, almost like a domino effect.
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SPEAKER_01: It was really awesome to see his work.
7:03
SPEAKER_01: And we have to understand, like, yeah, like, how can I forget that?
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SPEAKER_01: He's God, he's the creator of the universe.
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SPEAKER_01: Like, these things that we are so concerned about are nothing to him.
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SPEAKER_01: You know, our comforts.
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SPEAKER_01: He's faithful even in that.
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SPEAKER_01: But he wants us to do his will.
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SPEAKER_01: So it's not, again, always easy to believe God's promises for our life, but we must be encouraged and pushed forward.
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SPEAKER_01: We should think of everything he has done over and over.
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SPEAKER_01: Open his word.
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SPEAKER_01: Understand what he means.
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SPEAKER_01: Scripture, faithfulness, meditate on, pray over them.
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SPEAKER_01: Whatever season is in your life, you cannot forget that you must stay in the word and not what the world is telling you.
7:49
SPEAKER_01: You must be faithful, steadfast to what he is telling you to do.
7:55
SPEAKER_01: How he's telling you to operate, how he the terms and conditions of this life, and how one must be can't have one foot in, one foot out.
8:04
SPEAKER_01: I can't, I can't be sitting there one day praising the Lord next day, clubbing, getting drunk, you know, sinful, living sinful lives.
8:14
SPEAKER_01: Like, like look at people looking at me like, are you any different, man?
8:18
SPEAKER_01: Because you, man, you call yourself a Christian?
8:21
SPEAKER_01: No, you can't have that life.
8:23
SPEAKER_01: See, faithfulness is like I have to shut it off.
8:26
SPEAKER_01: I have to be that person saying, Man, didn't you just spend time with God already yesterday?
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SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I did.
8:32
SPEAKER_01: And earlier today, too.
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SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
8:34
SPEAKER_01: Well, then why do you need to spend more time with him, man?
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SPEAKER_01: Won't you just come out and hang out with us?
8:37
SPEAKER_01: No, no.
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SPEAKER_01: I feel more comforted at home with him.
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SPEAKER_01: When I go out, I'll go out when I need to.
8:45
SPEAKER_01: But yeah, I'm good.
8:47
SPEAKER_01: That's how that comes.
8:48
SPEAKER_01: Faithfulness, obedience, right?
8:50
SPEAKER_01: And mind you, I'm still working on that.
8:54
SPEAKER_01: But that is what it takes.
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SPEAKER_01: Faithfulness, obedience, adherence, steadfastness to the requirements and the terms and conditions of this life, this walk, true bread, true life.
9:09
SPEAKER_01: That you will never have to hunger and living water, that I never have to thirst again, that I understand what the trueness of love and freedom is, and what he has designed in this life to live and be.
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SPEAKER_01: Scripture shows me that.
9:25
SPEAKER_01: So let me remind you.
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SPEAKER_01: Hebrews 6.10 says, God is not unjust.
9:29
SPEAKER_01: He will not forget your work and the love you have shown him, as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
9:36
SPEAKER_01: And you're like, How did I do that?
9:38
SPEAKER_01: Well, I don't know.
9:39
SPEAKER_01: Maybe have you ever given to somebody on the streets?
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SPEAKER_01: Someone who is in need.
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SPEAKER_01: Have you visited someone that was in the hospital?
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SPEAKER_01: Wrote a letter to somebody in jail?
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SPEAKER_01: Sent a care package to a soldier or someone overseas?
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SPEAKER_01: Volunteered at your soup kitchen, pass out food.
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SPEAKER_01: The list goes on.
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SPEAKER_01: The list goes on.
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SPEAKER_01: You've helped him by being kind.
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SPEAKER_01: Look how good.
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SPEAKER_01: Just by your heart.
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SPEAKER_01: If you want to, if you're the type of person that likes doing those type of things all the time, and it's like no big deal to you, the Lord knows your heart.
10:17
SPEAKER_01: Imagine that.
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SPEAKER_01: And you're helping him anyways, and you're doing it, how much a blessing you are, and you will become.
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SPEAKER_01: To show his glory.
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SPEAKER_01: It's awesome.
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SPEAKER_01: Numbers 23, 19.
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SPEAKER_01: God is no mere human.
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SPEAKER_01: He doesn't tell lies or change his mind.
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SPEAKER_01: God always keeps his promises.
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SPEAKER_01: No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have to face.
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SPEAKER_01: All you need to remember is that God will never let you down.
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SPEAKER_01: He'll never let you be pushed past your limit.
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SPEAKER_01: He'll always be there to help you come through it.
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SPEAKER_01: But God shows undeserved kindness to everyone.
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SPEAKER_01: That's why he appointed Christ Jesus to choose you to share in his eternal glory.
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SPEAKER_01: You will suffer for a little while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong, and firm.
11:23
SPEAKER_01: Because God is faithful.
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SPEAKER_01: Although we do not always see God at work, we can know for a fact that He is protecting, providing for us, and guiding us.
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SPEAKER_01: I believe that.
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SPEAKER_01: Know therefore that the Lord your God is God.
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SPEAKER_01: He is a faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
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SPEAKER_01: Now may the Lord God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back to the dead of our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, equip you.
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SPEAKER_01: Let him equip you with everything good for doing his will.
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SPEAKER_01: And may he work in us what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever.
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SPEAKER_01: Man, there's like a comfort in that of his word and faithfulness and how he shared that through all generations, how he shows.
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SPEAKER_01: But people are like, well, I don't see those things now.
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SPEAKER_01: Well, he's there working, whether you see it or not.
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SPEAKER_01: He's working.
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SPEAKER_01: He's working in the midst of things to bring out his good.
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SPEAKER_01: And even though you see evil that's happening, whatever the devil intended for evil, God intends for good.
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SPEAKER_01: There's a law that the Lord will not cross because he is holy and perfect.
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SPEAKER_01: They have hurt others in the name of God and in religion.
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SPEAKER_01: They have sipped the devil's cup, and they literally are getting drunk on it.
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SPEAKER_01: And they will have to answer to those they led astray.
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SPEAKER_01: The Bible tells me that clearly, Jesus said this.
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SPEAKER_01: For you to cause them to go another way, for you to injure and hurt them.
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SPEAKER_01: It's better for you to kill yourself.
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SPEAKER_01: That's what Jesus just said in the Bible.
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SPEAKER_01: Don't mess around with his little ones, and people are doing that.
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SPEAKER_01: But he is faithful.
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SPEAKER_01: See, he will not go past his law.
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SPEAKER_01: He knows what he must do, but he's also using and choosing to partake with us to fulfill his law, to overcome the darkness in this world, whatever it throws at you.
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SPEAKER_01: It has no power.
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SPEAKER_01: Only what you allow it.
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SPEAKER_01: For no weapons formed against us shall prosper.
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SPEAKER_01: The word says that's truth.
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SPEAKER_01: Those that are in darkness don't want anyone to know truth, because truth is freedom.
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SPEAKER_01: Truth is Jesus.
15:00
SPEAKER_01: He took the keys from hell and life and earth.
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SPEAKER_01: He took it all.
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SPEAKER_01: He has them all life and death.
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SPEAKER_01: He doesn't mess around.
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SPEAKER_01: Yeah, Jesus is power.
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SPEAKER_01: He's God in the flesh.
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SPEAKER_01: Serve him.
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SPEAKER_01: Strip away all the stuff that is unfaithful and put on a cloak of faithfulness.
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SPEAKER_01: See yourself wrapping yourself in a robe of linen, beautiful white, pure faithfulness, and steady, steadfast gentleness and righteousness that you're pursuing in this life, even when you want to lash out a different way.
15:37
SPEAKER_01: Let God's vengeance show, because it will.
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SPEAKER_01: There's always a time for everything.
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SPEAKER_01: I'm not saying not to always keep your guard down and get mopped up.
15:45
SPEAKER_01: I'm not saying that.
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SPEAKER_01: What I am saying is your response, let it be the way that God called you to be.
15:54
SPEAKER_01: I know we all talk about struggles.
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SPEAKER_01: Got it.
16:00
SPEAKER_01: Let us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
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SPEAKER_01: Hebrews 12, 1.
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SPEAKER_01: Right.
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SPEAKER_01: Isn't that amazing?
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SPEAKER_01: The writer of Hebrew paints a vivid picture of the Christian life as a race.
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SPEAKER_01: Notice the careful distinction made here.
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SPEAKER_01: There is sin that entangles, and then there is simply everything that hinders.
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SPEAKER_01: There are two separate categories requiring our attention.
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SPEAKER_01: A runner preparing for competition doesn't just avoid carrying harmful objects, they strip away anything unnecessary.
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SPEAKER_01: A winner coat isn't sinful, but try running a marathon in one.
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SPEAKER_01: Similarly, many legitimate activities, relationships, or commitments in our lives aren't inherently wrong, yet they can accumulate until we find ourselves spiritually winded, wondering why our faith feels sluggish.
16:59
SPEAKER_01: Hmm.
17:02
SPEAKER_01: Think about that in scripture.
17:07
SPEAKER_01: Ask yourself these things.
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SPEAKER_01: If those things are happening in your life and you're discerning this, ask yourself, do these activities draw me and my faithfulness closer to God, or does it create distance?
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SPEAKER_01: Does it energize my faith or drain my spiritual vitality?
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SPEAKER_01: Am I holding this with an open hand, or has it gripped me?
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SPEAKER_01: Think about those things.
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SPEAKER_01: Because that's when you wonder, you're like, well, you say God is faithful, God is gentle, all these things.
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SPEAKER_01: Well, I've been praying.
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SPEAKER_01: Where's the faithfulness in this?
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SPEAKER_01: Well, ask those questions or answer those questions that I just spoke and said.
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SPEAKER_01: Things that may be creating distance with you in the Lord.
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SPEAKER_01: What are you doing?
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SPEAKER_01: What's energizing your taking your spiritual vitality?
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SPEAKER_01: Are you controlling things?
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SPEAKER_01: Are you holding things so tightly that you can't let go?
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SPEAKER_01: And that's almost like you're God, it seems.
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SPEAKER_01: And those type of things, you know, faithfulness must be to him.
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SPEAKER_01: He requires that.
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SPEAKER_01: Can't be just one foot in, one foot out.
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SPEAKER_01: And then you like people talk about, well, man, I'm kind of discouraged, man.
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SPEAKER_01: I'm discouraged about it.
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SPEAKER_01: You know, I can pray all day.
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SPEAKER_01: You say the Lord is faithful.
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SPEAKER_01: Well, I want to let you know, those listening, there is a danger in discouragement.
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SPEAKER_01: But there's an answer.
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SPEAKER_01: God's strength, you definitely can overcome it.
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SPEAKER_01: One of the most dangerous feelings is discouragement when it takes hold.
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SPEAKER_01: It can affect every area of our life.
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SPEAKER_01: Understanding how discouragement shows up can help us recognize and address it.
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SPEAKER_01: A divided mind is often the first sign.
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SPEAKER_01: The underlying distraction clouds every decision and thought.
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SPEAKER_01: No matter what you're doing, it feels as if the shadow has settled over your entire perspective, making it hard to think clearly or find joy in anything.
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SPEAKER_01: And here it comes.
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SPEAKER_01: The blame game.
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SPEAKER_01: That's another response, which I've done before, right?
19:15
SPEAKER_01: Ownership is very important.
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SPEAKER_01: So when we're hurting, it's naturally to want something to hold or someone to hold responsible.
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SPEAKER_01: Maybe God for allowing painful circumstances or others for the way they've treated us.
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SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
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SPEAKER_01: The shifting blame doesn't bring the healing rafter.
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SPEAKER_01: In fact, it often keeps us stuck in the very pain we're trying to escape.
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SPEAKER_01: Unresolved anger can always signal discouragement.
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SPEAKER_01: When bitterness takes root and anger festers, it can deepen into something more serious.
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SPEAKER_01: That's why I said that spirit is so deadly.
19:56
SPEAKER_01: At times we all feel discouraged.
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SPEAKER_01: The question isn't whether that will happen, but how we will respond.
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SPEAKER_01: Ask God to search your heart for any trace of discouragement and to replace it with his strength and peace.
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SPEAKER_01: He will be faithful to provide them.
20:17
SPEAKER_01: He will be faithful.
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SPEAKER_01: The Lord says that.
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SPEAKER_01: Surely I will help you.
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SPEAKER_01: Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
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SPEAKER_01: And James 1, it says count it all joy.
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SPEAKER_01: My brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance, and let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
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SPEAKER_01: Lacking nothing.
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SPEAKER_01: That's very important to God.
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SPEAKER_01: You see, remember I was saying before, the Lord does not care so much about your comforts as he does your character.
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SPEAKER_01: He does not want you to lack.
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SPEAKER_01: So then you wonder, oh, what we know or what goes on in our suffering?
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SPEAKER_01: Like, why?
21:26
SPEAKER_01: And what do we know about it?
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SPEAKER_01: What do we know in these times?
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SPEAKER_01: Like, how do we understand the Lord's faithfulness to not be discouraged, to understand he's gentle, but yet we're going through suffering in the process of what we've been praying for.
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SPEAKER_01: I don't understand how that works.
21:41
SPEAKER_01: Why?
21:42
SPEAKER_01: Scripture anchors us in truth when everything else feels uncertain.
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SPEAKER_01: This is faith.
21:47
SPEAKER_01: You have to understand.
21:49
SPEAKER_01: The Lord reveals some things in us and leaves others shrouded in mystery.
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SPEAKER_01: Because again, his thinking is not our thinking, his ways are not our ways.
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SPEAKER_01: So we may know or may not know why specific disasters occur, but there are biblical truths that assure us that the Lord can be trusted even in times of great suffering.
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SPEAKER_01: Because scripture, we can be certain that God is sovereign.
22:15
SPEAKER_01: Nothing in heaven or on earth is outside his awareness and ultimate authority.
22:19
SPEAKER_01: You know what it seems like it.
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SPEAKER_01: Even when we don't understand his ways, we can trust his character.
22:25
SPEAKER_01: You can really see his character.
22:27
SPEAKER_01: Listen, people, when you look at the earthquakes and you look at all the natural disasters or things, there is a controller that controls those things.
22:35
SPEAKER_01: Don't care what you think man does, whatever you want to look at it, it's irrelevant.
22:40
SPEAKER_01: There is a controller.
22:42
SPEAKER_01: And you know what?
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SPEAKER_01: If he was really that upset and was a bad God and not a good God, everybody'd be destroyed right now.
22:50
SPEAKER_01: Earthquake magnitude would be a 14.0.
22:53
SPEAKER_01: The volcano blows, man, double their size and portion, triple.
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SPEAKER_01: Like it it everything would be full of destruction.
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SPEAKER_01: Lay waste, everyone.
23:05
SPEAKER_01: He is a good God.
23:07
SPEAKER_01: He seeks to find those to like to draw back to him as he draws to them.
23:13
SPEAKER_01: He wants those to do his will.
23:15
SPEAKER_01: He wants to love and be there with you faithfully, as you should be faithfully to him.
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SPEAKER_01: And meaning by that, faithfully, check us out when we say that Christ is going to come back for his bride.
23:25
SPEAKER_01: This is what reminds me of.
23:26
SPEAKER_01: The faithfulness is this.
23:29
SPEAKER_01: Imagine you or those who are married, showing up to the doorstep of the chapel where you're getting married, your beautiful bride that you've been waiting for.
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SPEAKER_01: You open the door.
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SPEAKER_01: The door's open.
23:43
SPEAKER_01: You dress to a tee, ready for your Galilean marriage.
23:50
SPEAKER_01: I'll explain that.
23:53
SPEAKER_01: When you open the door, lo and behold, you see your beautiful bride making out with a stranger.
24:03
SPEAKER_01: And in her hand, a bottle of Jack Daniel.
24:07
SPEAKER_01: Fift.
24:08
SPEAKER_01: Drunk.
24:10
SPEAKER_01: And then when she sees you, she's like, Oh, honey, you're here.
24:13
SPEAKER_00: Okay, everything's good.
24:14
SPEAKER_00: Oh, stop.
24:15
SPEAKER_00: Nope.
24:15
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
24:16
SPEAKER_00: I'm ready.
24:16
SPEAKER_00: I'm ready to get married.
24:19
SPEAKER_01: Are you gonna be faithful?
24:22
SPEAKER_01: Like, like you're faithful, you're showing up, like, hey, I'm I'm good.
24:26
SPEAKER_01: But are you gonna want to be with that type of behavior?
24:29
SPEAKER_01: That's not faithful.
24:30
SPEAKER_01: Just you're faithful to the end because I just showed up.
24:32
SPEAKER_01: But where were you when I wasn't looking?
24:36
SPEAKER_01: Where was your obedience and faithfulness there?
24:38
SPEAKER_01: And then your true love for me.
24:42
SPEAKER_01: That is how Christ is with his church and his people.
24:47
SPEAKER_01: That's how God is with his creation and his laws and what he's established.
24:54
SPEAKER_01: It is important for us to emulate that with his strength only.
25:01
SPEAKER_01: Can't do it any other way.
25:05
SPEAKER_01: The Lord loves people and desires their salvation.
25:08
SPEAKER_01: Giving his son for the salvation of the world proves beyond a doubt that he loves each person.
25:14
SPEAKER_01: His love remains constant even when we can't feel it or struggle to accept it.
25:19
SPEAKER_01: God can bring redemption from tragedy.
25:22
SPEAKER_01: Though we can't fully comprehend what he's doing in each situation, he promises to work all things, even disasters, for the good of those who love him.
25:30
SPEAKER_01: Romans 8.28.
25:33
SPEAKER_01: Suffering often awakens people to their need for God and stirs believers to deeper faith and compassion.
25:40
SPEAKER_01: The one who loves us perfectly is present with us, faithfully, working according to his purpose.
25:50
SPEAKER_01: Whether circumstances are dark or bright, knowing this should fill us with hope.
25:55
SPEAKER_01: Even in the midst of crisis, he is faithful, and his promises are true.
26:07
SPEAKER_01: We must believe that.
26:11
SPEAKER_01: How do we understand that?
26:14
SPEAKER_01: Lastly, understanding God's promises every trial carries that potential for the Lord to teach us something new.
26:24
SPEAKER_01: Believers must consider the whole counsel of God.
26:27
SPEAKER_01: For example, the Lord's commitment to supply our needs connects to other parts of Scripture that show how we cooperate with his provision.
26:36
SPEAKER_01: James 1, 6 through 7.
26:37
SPEAKER_01: So we trust God to provide.
26:40
SPEAKER_01: God's trustworthiness is clear throughout Scripture and in believers' lives.
26:48
SPEAKER_01: When we trust him confidently instead of doubting, we're better able to recognize and receive what he wants to give.
26:57
SPEAKER_01: We wait upon his timing.
27:00
SPEAKER_01: 1 Samuel 13, 8 through 14.
27:03
SPEAKER_01: Rather than wait for Samuel to arrive, King Saul took matters into his own hands by making a pre-battle sacrifice.
27:12
SPEAKER_01: Through his army, he won the battle, but Saul's impatient cost in God's favor and eventually the throne.
27:20
SPEAKER_01: When we manipulate circumstances or rush ahead of God's timing, we often miss his best.
27:27
SPEAKER_01: We accept responsibility.
27:29
SPEAKER_01: Proverbs 19, 15.
27:33
SPEAKER_01: We should be alert and ready to participate in our Father's plan.
27:38
SPEAKER_01: If we want to discern his direction, we must seek him through prayer and study of his word.
27:46
SPEAKER_01: God knows our needs and has committed himself to meeting them faithfully.
27:51
SPEAKER_01: Our responsibility is to trust him and be patient.
27:54
SPEAKER_01: Then we can rest knowing he will provide in his way and his time.
28:03
SPEAKER_01: Steps.
28:04
SPEAKER_01: One, we trust God to provide.
28:06
SPEAKER_01: Step two, we wait upon his timing.
28:08
SPEAKER_01: Step three, we accept responsibility.
28:13
SPEAKER_01: We accept responsibility.
28:15
SPEAKER_01: What do you mean we accept responsibility?
28:16
SPEAKER_01: We should alert and be ready to participate in our Father's plan.
28:20
SPEAKER_01: If we want to discern his direction, we must seek him.
28:24
SPEAKER_01: We accept responsibility.
28:25
SPEAKER_01: Yes, seek him through prayer and study his word.
28:29
SPEAKER_01: Be intimate.
28:31
SPEAKER_01: You want to grow closer to him, or you just want things.
28:35
SPEAKER_01: That's how I have to come to a grip too in my life.
28:37
SPEAKER_01: I have to think about that.
28:38
SPEAKER_01: Come to reality.
28:38
SPEAKER_01: Hey, um, you're just are you just praying for things?
28:41
SPEAKER_01: Or are are you really like, do you want to know the Lord?
28:44
SPEAKER_01: And do you really want to know his will and do his will?
28:46
SPEAKER_01: Even though it doesn't seem all glamorous, like, but you know, are you gonna show up?
28:51
SPEAKER_01: Are you gonna be faithful?
28:53
SPEAKER_01: That's important.
28:53
SPEAKER_01: You can be faithful at work, show up if you really don't want to.
28:57
SPEAKER_01: Because certain days, man, I'm telling you, yeah, I don't want to be there.
29:01
SPEAKER_01: But are you gonna be faithful?
29:03
SPEAKER_01: Are you gonna be faithful to those walking by you and say, hey man, I need, I need a word of encouragement, I need a prayer, whatever that may be.
29:12
SPEAKER_01: Do that.
29:13
SPEAKER_01: There are reasons why we are here on this earth, there are reasons why we do the things that we're called to do here.
29:19
SPEAKER_01: And selfishness is not one of them, but faithfulness is.
29:25
SPEAKER_01: So if you want to draw close to the Lord, stay in his word.
29:32
SPEAKER_01: Pray.
29:34
SPEAKER_01: Do the things that require someone to spend time with.
29:36
SPEAKER_01: Because I know in relationships we spend time with each other, right?
29:40
SPEAKER_01: We go out of our way to have the other person know who we are or want to spend time with them, call them, share things with them, take them out, um, look at them, talk with them, speak whatever that may be.
29:54
SPEAKER_01: You're just like, oh, I just can't wait to get to know you.
29:56
SPEAKER_01: I love this relationship.
29:57
SPEAKER_01: That's how we need to be with the Lord.
30:01
SPEAKER_01: That's how we need to be with the Lord, and I pray that.
30:05
SPEAKER_01: I pray right now in the name of Jesus, Heavenly Father, those listening, and even myself, that we are faithful to you, because you are faithful to us.
30:14
SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
30:16
SPEAKER_01: Thank you for these things.
30:17
SPEAKER_01: I pray, Lord, that we just do your will, that we know what that is.
30:21
SPEAKER_01: If there's some things in us that we need to get rid of that are causing hindrances in our lives, that are causing us to be busy and not enough time to spend with you instead, and distractions left and right, Lord.
30:36
SPEAKER_01: Remove those things from us.
30:39
SPEAKER_01: Wake us up earlier if we need to.
30:41
SPEAKER_01: Whatever that looks like, so we can spend time with you.
30:44
SPEAKER_01: Show us a word that you want us to read and stay on to speak over our lives and to remember those things and the faithfulness and love that you have for us.
30:54
SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
30:55
SPEAKER_01: We pray that.
30:56
SPEAKER_01: I ask that in your son's precious name, which is Jesus Yeshua.
31:00
SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
31:02
SPEAKER_01: For those listening again, if you feel down and out, hit me up, email.
31:08
SPEAKER_01: Be glad to hear from you.
31:10
SPEAKER_01: Bread of life with JJ at gmail.com.
31:13
SPEAKER_01: The bread of life with JJ at gmail.com.
31:17
SPEAKER_01: Until next time, may the Lord keep you and bless you.
31:22
SPEAKER_01: May his light shine upon you and give you peace, for he loves you.
31:27
SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
31:28
SPEAKER_01: God bless you.