WEBVTT 1 00:00:03.080 --> 00:00:08.439 Pastor Rick Warren often says you were made by God and for God, and 2 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:14.679 until you understand that, life will never make sense. Welcome to Pastor Rick's 3 00:00:14.759 --> 00:00:19.280 Daily Hope. Today. In our series called God's Vision for the Rest of 4 00:00:19.320 --> 00:00:24.480 your Life, Rick continues in his effort to help you discover the unique purpose 5 00:00:24.600 --> 00:00:28.960 and vision that the Lord has for your life. Now, before we get 6 00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:33.039 started, we want to let you know that a very generous friend has given 7 00:00:33.079 --> 00:00:38.119 one hundred thousand dollars matching grant to Daily Hope. That means that all this 8 00:00:38.240 --> 00:00:42.600 month, every dollar you give to help Daily Hope share the hope of Jesus 9 00:00:42.640 --> 00:00:47.280 around the world will be matched up to one hundred thousand dollars. You can 10 00:00:47.320 --> 00:00:52.359 find out more by going to Pastorick dot com or by texting the word daily 11 00:00:52.640 --> 00:00:58.119 to eight hundred six hundred five thousand and four. That's Pastorick dot com, 12 00:00:58.240 --> 00:01:03.679 or the word daily to a hundred six hundred five thousand and four. Right 13 00:01:03.719 --> 00:01:08.079 now, here's Pastor Rick Warren with the final part of a message called Embracing 14 00:01:08.120 --> 00:01:12.879 the Vision the purpose driven Life. Now, when you get to heaven, 15 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:17.120 you're gonna love God in heaven, So he wants you to practice now. 16 00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:19.719 You're gonna love other people in heaven, so he wants you to practice now. 17 00:01:21.280 --> 00:01:23.400 You're gonna grow spiritually in heaven, so he wants you to practice now. 18 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:27.439 And you're gonna serve God in heaven, so he wants you to practice 19 00:01:27.480 --> 00:01:32.959 now. Now, some of you have a misunderstanding of what you're gonna do 20 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:36.799 in heaven. You think that when you get to heaven, you're gonna wear 21 00:01:36.840 --> 00:01:44.000 a white robe, sit on a cloud and play a harp. Folks, 22 00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:51.840 that would be hell. I can't think of anything more boring. If that's 23 00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:57.120 heaven, No thanks God. But think about this. Think of all the 24 00:01:57.159 --> 00:01:59.599 thrills, all the fun things you can do on this Earth, and this 25 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:04.599 is an perfect planet and God created this. Think how much fun on all 26 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:07.400 the thrills it's gonna be in heaven. I mean, if look at all 27 00:02:07.439 --> 00:02:12.080 the fun stuff there is to do on Earth and this is imperfect, in 28 00:02:12.120 --> 00:02:15.639 heaven, it's gonna be a blast. I mean. There, you can 29 00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:19.960 do all these bike flips like these you know guys do and never crack up. 30 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:24.199 You can serve the big waves and never wipe out. It's gonna be 31 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:30.000 unbelievably fun. But one of the things you're gonna do in heaven is served 32 00:02:30.360 --> 00:02:35.599 serve God. Now here's the fourth purpose of life. To serve God by 33 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:42.000 serving others. You serve God by serving others. You see, on earth 34 00:02:42.240 --> 00:02:46.080 it's impossible to serve God directly. You can't serve him directly. The only 35 00:02:46.120 --> 00:02:52.560 way you can serve God on earth is by serving other people. So anytime 36 00:02:52.599 --> 00:02:55.280 you help somebody else, God says, it's like you're doing it for me. 37 00:02:57.000 --> 00:03:00.879 You're practicing on earth what you're gonna do in heaven. When you are 38 00:03:01.039 --> 00:03:06.400 unselfish and you stop living this little self centered, clawed of a life and 39 00:03:06.439 --> 00:03:09.000 you start saying, I'm going to help other people with my wife, God 40 00:03:09.080 --> 00:03:14.960 says, now you're getting the point. You're practicing what you're gonna do in 41 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:20.199 eternity. We served God by serving others. We saw a dramatic example of 42 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:24.400 this just this last week with Ashley in Atlanta. Ashley was going through she 43 00:03:24.520 --> 00:03:28.840 was a part of a church that's doing forty days of Purpose and she was 44 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:32.159 going through the Purpose Driven Life book and she went out one morning about one 45 00:03:32.199 --> 00:03:36.520 am in the morning go get some cigarettes. Had no idea that as she 46 00:03:36.599 --> 00:03:40.080 was walking back into her house, Brian was gonna stick up gun in her 47 00:03:40.120 --> 00:03:45.960 back and say open the door. And he took her hostage. He took 48 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:49.159 her inside her house, tied her up, and put her in the bathtub, 49 00:03:49.800 --> 00:03:53.479 and it looked like it was going to be murder number five. But 50 00:03:53.599 --> 00:03:59.400 Ashley had been reading about God's purpose for her life, and she told Brian, 51 00:03:59.439 --> 00:04:03.439 you know you're not an accident and God has a purpose for your life, 52 00:04:04.120 --> 00:04:08.719 and you were made to last forever, and God wants you to practice 53 00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:11.719 on earth what you're going to do forever in eternity. And it started to 54 00:04:11.719 --> 00:04:14.080 sink in. He goes, God has a purpose for me. Yes, 55 00:04:14.120 --> 00:04:17.360 in spite of all the stuff I've done. Yes, there is no pit 56 00:04:17.439 --> 00:04:21.759 too deep that God's love is not deeper. Still, God could reach out 57 00:04:21.759 --> 00:04:26.519 to me. I've already killed some people. Yes, what could my purpose 58 00:04:26.600 --> 00:04:28.680 be? Well, I don't know. But you know what, if you 59 00:04:28.720 --> 00:04:31.399 turn yourself in, you go to prison. You may die for the people 60 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:34.800 you killed. But as long as your heart is beating, God has a 61 00:04:34.800 --> 00:04:39.800 purpose for your life. And it could be in that prison that he wants 62 00:04:39.800 --> 00:04:45.360 you to serve other people. And then Ashley not only told him that, 63 00:04:45.399 --> 00:04:47.439 she said, can I read it to you? And he said sure, 64 00:04:47.480 --> 00:04:50.519 so he untied her, and she went and got her Bible and got a 65 00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:54.720 copy of The Purpose Driven Life, and it just so happened. She was 66 00:04:54.759 --> 00:04:59.759 on day thirty three, which is on how leaders, how real servants act, 67 00:05:00.399 --> 00:05:03.120 and she read about how we are to serve God by serving each other, 68 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:09.079 and she even then practiced it. And she got up and she made 69 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:14.600 this guy breakfast. She served him and it melted his heart, and he 70 00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:19.360 turned around and served her by fixing some curtains for her. And then she 71 00:05:19.519 --> 00:05:25.279 convinced him to turn himself in and to let her go, and the killing 72 00:05:25.319 --> 00:05:29.600 spree was stopped. Now you may think, well, I'm too far beyond 73 00:05:29.639 --> 00:05:32.680 for God. I've done too many things in my life wrong. I've gone 74 00:05:32.680 --> 00:05:36.879 too many years without a relationship with God. It's too late. You are 75 00:05:38.000 --> 00:05:42.920 dead wrong. You're dead wrong. That's why God brought you here today. 76 00:05:43.160 --> 00:05:46.839 He wants you to know Him in a personal way. Now, number five, 77 00:05:47.240 --> 00:05:50.600 we got to move quickly. This is the fifth purpose. God made 78 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:58.160 me for a mission. God made me for a mission. Thank you so 79 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:02.040 much for listening to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. We've got some incredible news to 80 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:08.160 share with you. A very generous friend has given a one hundred thousand dollars 81 00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:13.560 matching grant to this ministry all this month, every dollar you give to help 82 00:06:13.639 --> 00:06:17.600 Daily Hope share the certain Hope of Jesus around the world will be matched up 83 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:24.480 to one hundred thousand dollars, So twenty five dollars becomes fifty dollars, fifty 84 00:06:24.560 --> 00:06:29.759 becomes one hundred and five hundred becomes a thousand. Whatever you give will be 85 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:33.839 doubled by the matching grant up to one hundred thousand dollars, but only till 86 00:06:33.879 --> 00:06:41.079 midnight December thirty first, so please contact us today go to Pastorick dot com 87 00:06:41.199 --> 00:06:46.399 or just call eight hundred six hundred five thousand and four. If you want 88 00:06:46.439 --> 00:06:48.800 to make your time in prayer the best it can be, then you're going 89 00:06:48.839 --> 00:06:53.959 to want to get a copy of the brand new twenty twenty one Daily Hope 90 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:58.560 Prayer Journal. This year's theme, God's Great Adventure for You, will help 91 00:06:58.600 --> 00:07:02.480 you tap into God's power and presents when you learn how to pray with passion 92 00:07:02.720 --> 00:07:09.240 and purpose. Covered in soft vegan leather with full color pages, this prayer 93 00:07:09.319 --> 00:07:14.319 journal has sections to pray for specific people and situations, as well as space 94 00:07:14.399 --> 00:07:19.319 to express your gratitude and personal prayer requests to God. Each page is beautifully 95 00:07:19.319 --> 00:07:26.040 designed and filled with inspiring Bible verses, photos, and artwork. The God's 96 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:30.680 Great Adventure for You Prayer Journal is a spiritual growth tool designed to help you 97 00:07:30.839 --> 00:07:35.959 enjoy a vibrant prayer life, connect with God, and establish consistent daily prayer 98 00:07:36.040 --> 00:07:41.079 time. When you give a gift to help daily Hope take the certain Hope 99 00:07:41.079 --> 00:07:45.959 of Jesus to people around the world, we'll send you the all new twenty 100 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:49.920 twenty one Daily Hope Prayer Journal to say thanks. Quantities are limited, so 101 00:07:50.120 --> 00:07:55.720 don't wait. Call eight hundred and six hundred five zero zero four to get 102 00:07:55.759 --> 00:08:00.360 your Prayer Journal and have your gift matched up to one hundred thousand dollars. 103 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:03.639 Or you can visit Pastorick dot com. That's eight hundred and six hundred at 104 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:09.879 five zero zero four or Pastorick dot com. You're listening to Pastor Rick's Daily 105 00:08:09.959 --> 00:08:18.519 Hope once again. Here's Pastor Rick Warren. Jesus said this, in the 106 00:08:18.600 --> 00:08:22.279 same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them 107 00:08:22.600 --> 00:08:26.879 a mission in the world. Should you decide to accept, mister Phelps. 108 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:33.399 God has a unique mission in the world that He has asked for you, 109 00:08:33.559 --> 00:08:37.559 and only you can fulfill it. If you do not choose to fulfill it, 110 00:08:37.639 --> 00:08:41.840 the world gets cheated. And that's what we're going to go into in 111 00:08:41.879 --> 00:08:45.360 the next several weeks. Look at the next verse. Read it with me. 112 00:08:46.320 --> 00:08:50.240 Where there is no vision, the people perish. Now, friends, 113 00:08:50.440 --> 00:08:54.600 this is true in every area of life. When there's no vision in a 114 00:08:54.639 --> 00:09:00.279 business, the business falls apart. When there's no vision in a family, 115 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:03.600 on our marriage, the marriage falls apart. When there's no vision in a 116 00:09:03.679 --> 00:09:09.679 nation, the nation falls apart. When there's no vision in your personal life, 117 00:09:09.559 --> 00:09:16.559 you drift through life. God doesn't want you drifting through life. He 118 00:09:16.600 --> 00:09:20.679 wants you to live a life of purpose and power and significance and meaning, 119 00:09:22.519 --> 00:09:26.000 and he wants you to get on with his plan. But it's we're going 120 00:09:26.039 --> 00:09:30.720 to talk about this the next four weeks. We're going to talk about experiencing 121 00:09:30.759 --> 00:09:35.200 the vision, expecting the vision, enjoying the vision, expanding your vision, 122 00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:39.679 and even energizing your vision. But it starts today. It starts with you 123 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:46.039 embracing God's vision for your life. What does that mean? It says God, 124 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:50.080 You say, God, I've been doing my plan for long enough, 125 00:09:50.120 --> 00:09:54.399 and it hadn't worked out. I've had my plans for my life and it's 126 00:09:54.440 --> 00:09:58.080 caused a lot of stress, a lot of tension, a lot of fatigue. 127 00:09:58.600 --> 00:10:03.840 I've had some heartbreaks, I've had some dead ends. I've had things 128 00:10:03.879 --> 00:10:05.320 not turning out the way I thought they were going to turn out. So 129 00:10:05.399 --> 00:10:09.840 God, I wasn't put on this planet anyway to live my plan. I'm 130 00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:13.600 switching to your plan today. I'm switching to your purposes which you put me 131 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:20.080 on this planet for. So I am embracing your vision for my life. 132 00:10:20.279 --> 00:10:26.360 That's the first step. Notice what the Bible says, those who embrace my 133 00:10:26.519 --> 00:10:31.919 ways are most blessed. Have you done that? Have you said to God, 134 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:35.759 God, I'm going to stop living my way and I'm going to start 135 00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:39.960 living your way for the purposes that you put me on this planet for in 136 00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:46.360 getting me ready for eternity. I am embracing your purposes for my life. 137 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:50.879 They said, why should I do that? I'm living the good life, 138 00:10:50.039 --> 00:10:54.159 And it's true, you are living the good life. I've been in Africa 139 00:10:54.559 --> 00:11:01.919 and Kenya and Uganda and Rwanda, working with orphans orphaned by AIDS and those 140 00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:07.000 orphaned by the genocide in Rwanda. And believe me, you're living the good 141 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:11.639 life. They weren't. Those kids would love to have your problems. They'd 142 00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:15.559 love it. And because you live in southern California, you are living the 143 00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:18.720 good life. There's only one problem with the good life. It isn't good 144 00:11:18.840 --> 00:11:26.519 enough. It isn't good enough. It's a shallow, superficial life. The 145 00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:31.600 good life is all about looking good, feeling good, and having the goods, 146 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:35.200 and that is a shallow, superficial life. It has nothing to do 147 00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:39.000 with doing good or being good. And you were made for more. Now, 148 00:11:39.039 --> 00:11:43.559 if there was a life that was better than the good life, would 149 00:11:43.559 --> 00:11:46.159 you be interested in it? I would think you would if there was a 150 00:11:46.279 --> 00:11:50.559 step up, that there was more than just a good life. But that's 151 00:11:50.559 --> 00:11:54.600 not the ultimate in life. The ultimate is the better life. Wouldn't you 152 00:11:54.679 --> 00:11:58.840 want to know about it? Well, of course you would. The Bible 153 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:05.039 says Jesus included everyone in his death so everyone could be included in his life, 154 00:12:05.080 --> 00:12:11.320 a far better life, not just a good life, a better life 155 00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:16.759 than people could ever live on their own. That's the life that God offers 156 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:20.000 you today, not the good life, the better life. How do you 157 00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:24.080 get started? Run? This better life, a life of purpose and peace 158 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:28.559 and power. You open your eyes. The next verse says this, open 159 00:12:28.600 --> 00:12:35.080 your eyes and see how good God is. Blessed are you who run to 160 00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:39.600 him. I want you to pray a little prayer, say God, I'm 161 00:12:39.679 --> 00:12:45.639 running to you. I'm opening my eyes. I'm now switching from my plan 162 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:50.080 for my life to your purposes for my life. I hope I now you've 163 00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:56.559 realized you're not here by accident. This morning, a thousand years before you 164 00:12:56.600 --> 00:13:01.559 were born, God planned for you to be at Saddleback Church so we could 165 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:05.240 get you to slow down long enough that he could just get your attention and 166 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:11.159 say to you, you matter to me. You're not an accident. I 167 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:16.559 planned you before, I planned the foundation of the world. I made you 168 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:20.399 to last forever. I want you to live with me forever. I want 169 00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:24.360 you and my family. I know everything about you and still love you, 170 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:28.840 and I want you to know and love me back. And I want you 171 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:33.720 to grow up spiritually, and I want you to learn to be unselfish and 172 00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:37.960 serve others. And I have a mission for your life. But you got 173 00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:41.799 to step across the line and say, Okay, God, I'm embracing your 174 00:13:41.879 --> 00:13:46.000 vision. For my life. I'm not going with my plan anymore. I'm 175 00:13:46.039 --> 00:13:52.480 going with your purposes. And that's why you're here today. This last week, 176 00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:54.720 when I got backed from Africa, a lot had been going on in 177 00:13:54.759 --> 00:14:03.320 America, and I did twelve national network TV interviews this last week, and 178 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:05.440 they all wanted to know the same thing. They said, Rick, is 179 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:13.799 there a common denominator spiritually between the killings in Minnesota, the hostage taking in 180 00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:18.799 Atlanta, and the Terry Shivo case in Florida, And of course I said 181 00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:26.600 there is. Everybody needs a reason for hope, the fundamental emotional need of 182 00:14:26.600 --> 00:14:30.759 everybody is a legitimate reason for hope, not a phony, false reason, 183 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:35.159 but a real reason for hope. And when people feel hopeless, they act 184 00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:43.559 in hopeless ways. They become advocates of death. As in all three cases. 185 00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:48.360 You see, you can go about forty days without food, and you 186 00:14:48.440 --> 00:14:52.759 can go about eight or ten days without water, You can go maybe a 187 00:14:52.799 --> 00:15:01.519 minute or two without air, but you cannot exist without hope. So let 188 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:09.600 me ask you a very personal question on what are you basing your hope on? 189 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:16.679 What are you basing your hope? Everybody is betting their lives on something, 190 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:20.840 and I have no doubt in a crowd this size. Some of you 191 00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:26.639 came in here today feeling hopeless about some area of your life. I'm never 192 00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:31.559 gonna get out of debt. You're hopeless about your finances. I'm never gonna 193 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:35.799 get married, We're never gonna have a baby. I'm never gonna reach my 194 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:43.120 dream. I'm never gonna see this problem resolve. I'm never gonna feel any 195 00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:46.879 better. And you feel hopeless about some area. In fact, there's some 196 00:15:46.919 --> 00:15:50.000 of you, I'm sure who are even feeling like throwing in the towel in 197 00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:58.519 your own life. Don't do it. God's purpose for your life is greater 198 00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:03.720 than the problem you are. Faith right now, and Jesus Christ offers you 199 00:16:03.159 --> 00:16:10.720 the invitation of a lifetime. Listen to this. Jesus says, are you 200 00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:18.759 tired, worn out, burned out on religion? Come to me for real 201 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:22.720 rest, and you'll recover your life, and you'll learn to live freely and 202 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:27.360 lightly. Look at the next verse. It makes no difference who you are 203 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:32.519 or where you're from. If you want God and you're ready to do as 204 00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:37.360 he says, the door is open now. I love this because he says, 205 00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:41.279 I'm not offering you religion religion is not the answer, folks. Jesus 206 00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:45.440 didn't come to give your religion. He said, I came to give you 207 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:49.960 life, not rules, religion, restrictions, rituals, but to give you 208 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:56.159 a relationship. You were made for a relationship with God. And I don't 209 00:16:56.200 --> 00:17:00.399 care what your religious background is. You may be Catholic, you may be 210 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:06.680 Protestant, you may be Jewish or Muslim, or Mormon, or Buddhist or 211 00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:11.640 Baptist, or no religion at all. That it really doesn't matter. What 212 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:17.680 matters is do you have a relationship with God, who loves you and sent 213 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:22.680 his son to die for you on the cross. And it doesn't matter what 214 00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:25.839 your background is, And it doesn't matter what you've done. What matters is 215 00:17:25.880 --> 00:17:29.680 the direction of your feet and what they're headed. Now, it doesn't even 216 00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:33.359 matter if you have doubts. I wish somebody had told me a long time 217 00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:37.920 ago that I could become a believer in Jesus and still have doubts. I 218 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:40.759 would have done it a whole lot sooner. I used to think I had 219 00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:45.160 to figure out everything in the Bible before I could become a follower of Christ. 220 00:17:45.079 --> 00:17:51.079 Well that's ridiculous. I mean, I don't understand the chemistry of digestion. 221 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:56.640 That doesn't stop me from eating a steak. I don't understand how internal 222 00:17:56.720 --> 00:18:02.000 combustion works. That doesn't stop me from having a car. There are a 223 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:04.759 lot of things in life that I benefit from without knowing how they work, 224 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:10.680 like a cell phone and the Internet, and a lot of stuff that I 225 00:18:10.920 --> 00:18:15.279 enjoyed that I don't have to know exactly how it all works. Now, 226 00:18:15.319 --> 00:18:18.519 I've been a follower of Jesus Christ for over forty years, and there's still 227 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:22.359 things in this book I don't understand and go, WHOA, Why did God 228 00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:26.319 say that? That doesn't make sense? And I don't know why. But 229 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:29.880 I know God is God and I'm not. And if I could figure it 230 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:34.319 out, i'd be God. But it hasn't stopped me from having a forty 231 00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:41.000 year relationship and friendship with God and living a life of meaning and purpose and 232 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:47.200 significance. And all I know is that when I said I'm giving up my 233 00:18:47.319 --> 00:18:55.000 plan for your purposes, my life got better dramatically. And that's your invitation 234 00:18:55.119 --> 00:19:00.960 to let's bow our heads and as we close, I want to pray for 235 00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:07.440 you, and I want to lead you in a prayer. Father. I 236 00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:11.519 know that there's some here who've been living the good life, not realizing that 237 00:19:11.559 --> 00:19:17.720 there's a far better life, a life of purpose. Forgive us all for 238 00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:22.599 shallow living, thinking that the only thing is life is only about collecting possessions 239 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:30.000 or having pleasure, achieving popularity. I pray that today many will step across 240 00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:34.839 the line to the better life, a life of purpose and power and peace. 241 00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:41.200 Now you pray, doesn't matter the words you say. Just say it 242 00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:44.799 in your mind. Just say yes to God. But if you don't know 243 00:19:44.839 --> 00:19:47.400 what to pray, you can say these words. Just follow me in your 244 00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:52.880 mind. Say Dear God, just say it in your mind. Dear God. 245 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:56.920 I don't know if I've ever said this, but thank you. Thank 246 00:19:56.960 --> 00:20:03.200 you for creating me and loving me. I want to fulfill the purposes that 247 00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:08.079 you made me for, so starting today, I want to get to know 248 00:20:08.200 --> 00:20:15.359 you and love you and trust you. And I want my life to bring 249 00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:22.119 you pleasure. And I want to become a part of your family. Help 250 00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:27.319 me to grow up spiritually like your son, Jesus. I want to use 251 00:20:27.400 --> 00:20:34.759 the life you've given me to serve you by serving others. Thank you for 252 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:41.720 sending Jesus to die for me in the weeks ahead. Help me to understand 253 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:55.279 your vision and mission for the rest of my life. Amen. Hi, 254 00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:59.359 everybody, this is Rick and I hope you enjoyed today's broadcast. You know, 255 00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:03.160 if you just I prayed that prayer for the very first time, or 256 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:07.480 you just recommitted your life to Jesus again today, would you let me know 257 00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:11.279 about it. There's something real about sharing your commitment. So write me Rick 258 00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:15.839 at pastor Rick dot com and say, Rick, I prayed that prayer of 259 00:21:15.880 --> 00:21:18.839 commitment, I gave my life to Christ. And I'll send you some material 260 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:22.920 that will help you on your journey with Jesus. And I'll also pray for 261 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:30.480 you. God bless you. Thank you so much for listening to Pastor Rick's 262 00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:33.799 Daily Hope. We've got some incredible news to share with you. A very 263 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:40.480 generous friend has given a one hundred thousand dollars matching grant to this ministry. 264 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:45.160 That means that all this month, every dollar you give to help Daily Hope 265 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:49.079 share the certain Hope of Jesus around the world will be matched up to one 266 00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:55.240 hundred thousand dollars. Here's Pastor Rick to tell you more. Jesus told his 267 00:21:55.279 --> 00:22:00.319 disciples that they should live their lives according to five specific purposes. He said, 268 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:03.720 you've got to love God with all your heart. That's worship. And 269 00:22:03.839 --> 00:22:07.519 love your neighbors yourself. That's ministry. That's called the Great Commandment. And 270 00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:11.559 then Jesus said, go make disciples. That's evangelism. Baptize them into the 271 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:15.880 Family of God. That's fellowship, a sign of fellowship. And then he 272 00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:19.519 said, teach them obey everything I've taught you. That's discipleship. And we 273 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:26.119 call that the Great Commission. We believe it daily hope that a great commitment 274 00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:30.720 to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission will produce a great Christian, a 275 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:36.279 great church, a great company, a great community. You know, I 276 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:40.119 started Daily Hope so I could spread the good news about Jesus, not just 277 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:45.400 across America, but all around the world. And we want people to know 278 00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:49.200 that God's word is filled with hope and truth, and the power that we 279 00:22:49.319 --> 00:22:52.880 need to follow him every day is available to every single one. You know 280 00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:56.200 as well as I do, that the Word of God changes lives. It's 281 00:22:56.240 --> 00:23:00.119 alive, it's active, and it breathes new life and new love into all 282 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:04.240 of our lives. So wherever you listen to this, whether you listen on 283 00:23:04.279 --> 00:23:07.799 the website, whether you listen on a radio station or whether you listen to 284 00:23:07.880 --> 00:23:12.319 a podcast, You're a part of the Daily Hope family, and I need 285 00:23:12.359 --> 00:23:15.720 your help. We could not do this without your support. Now, you 286 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:19.440 know, I don't take any funds from this broadcast. We don't have any 287 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:25.000 giant, million dollar donor who's giving big gifts to this. It comes from 288 00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:30.640 daily donations from listeners like you. We're one hundred percent listener funded. Would 289 00:23:30.680 --> 00:23:36.160 you continue to pray for this broadcast and would you continue to support us? 290 00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:38.799 And let write to me, let me hear from you. I absolutely love 291 00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:44.400 reading the stories that are sent to me. So write me, pray for 292 00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:48.920 me, and support this ministry, and God will bless it, and God 293 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:51.759 will bless you, and we'll get to heaven, and we'll thank God for 294 00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:55.559 all the people going to be in heaven because you cared all this month. 295 00:23:55.759 --> 00:24:00.559 Every dollar you give to help Daily Hope share the certain Hope of Jesus around 296 00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:04.839 the world will be matched up to one hundred thousand dollars. So twenty five 297 00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:11.000 dollars becomes fifty dollars, fifty becomes one hundred and five hundred becomes a thousand 298 00:24:11.319 --> 00:24:17.200 Whatever you give will be doubled by the matching grant up to one hundred thousand 299 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:22.640 dollars, but only till midnight, December thirty first. Anything not matched will 300 00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:26.960 be lost, so please contact us today. You can give right now by 301 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:33.119 going to pastorig dot com or by calling eight hundred six hundred five thousand four. 302 00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:38.119 We'll say thanks by sending you the brand new Daily Hope Prayer Journal that's 303 00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:45.440 Pastorrick dot com or call eight hundred six hundred five thousand four. Be sure 304 00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:49.359 to join us again next time as we look into God's word for our daily 305 00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:56.160 hope. This program is sponsored by Pastor Rick's Daily Hope and your generous financial support.