WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.520 --> 00:00:05.440 This is Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, the broadcast ministry of 2 00:00:05.559 --> 00:00:10.119 Pastor Rick Warren. Today we continue in the series Essentials 3 00:00:10.160 --> 00:00:14.000 for Living. In these lessons, Pastor Rick shares the power 4 00:00:14.080 --> 00:00:17.239 you need to live on, the principles you need to 5 00:00:17.280 --> 00:00:20.600 live by, and the purpose you need to live for 6 00:00:21.079 --> 00:00:25.559 so that you're truly living and not just existing. First, 7 00:00:25.960 --> 00:00:29.239 we're excited to let you know that very generous friends 8 00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:32.840 of Daily Hope have stepped forward with a special twenty 9 00:00:32.960 --> 00:00:36.759 five thousand dollars matching grant That means any gift you 10 00:00:36.920 --> 00:00:39.960 give to help Daily Hope share God's word with people 11 00:00:40.039 --> 00:00:44.479 everywhere will be doubled. So contact us right away, go 12 00:00:44.520 --> 00:00:48.000 to Pastororrick dot com or text the word Hope to 13 00:00:48.200 --> 00:00:51.960 eight hundred six hundred five thousand and four while you 14 00:00:52.119 --> 00:00:57.200 listen to today's broadcast. Right now, here's Pastor Rick Warren with 15 00:00:57.280 --> 00:01:00.600 the final part of a message called how to Connect 16 00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:02.759 with People Now. 17 00:01:02.759 --> 00:01:05.200 The Bible says the proverbs twenty five five and six. 18 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:11.280 Better is open rebuke than hidden love, and wounds from 19 00:01:11.280 --> 00:01:15.200 a friend can be trusted. In other words, if you 20 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:19.079 really care about the relationship, Sometimes there is only one 21 00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:27.000 alternative confront force the issue, Force the argument. Sometimes that's 22 00:01:27.040 --> 00:01:29.840 the only alternative in a relationship that's going south. You 23 00:01:29.920 --> 00:01:32.599 have to force the issue and you have to confront 24 00:01:32.879 --> 00:01:35.719 in love and be willing to put up with the pain. 25 00:01:36.920 --> 00:01:41.719 So let's get real personal right now. Some of you 26 00:01:41.760 --> 00:01:42.400 are scared to death. 27 00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:47.640 What I'm going to say? Who do you need to 28 00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:48.359 get honest with? 29 00:01:51.120 --> 00:01:55.400 What problem in your relationship are you pretending isn't a problem? 30 00:01:55.840 --> 00:01:57.920 What problem? I don't see any problem. It's sitting there 31 00:01:57.959 --> 00:01:59.359 right in the living room, Ember, I can see it. 32 00:01:59.359 --> 00:02:00.599 But what problem? I don't see it? 33 00:02:01.480 --> 00:02:04.040 And you keep skirting around the issue and not dealing 34 00:02:04.079 --> 00:02:08.080 with it, not confronting it, and just living in pseudo intimacy. 35 00:02:09.560 --> 00:02:12.840 Which of those issues do you need to be candid about? 36 00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:17.360 You See, there's another word for keeping the peace. It's 37 00:02:17.400 --> 00:02:24.879 called codependency. And that is not a good thing, and 38 00:02:24.919 --> 00:02:28.479 that is not what God created you for. Sometimes you 39 00:02:28.560 --> 00:02:33.280 must care enough to confront. Tom's going to talk about 40 00:02:33.319 --> 00:02:33.919 the next one. 41 00:02:35.520 --> 00:02:39.400 There were three pastors that got together and decided to 42 00:02:39.560 --> 00:02:41.879 work on this honesty thing. They sat down in a 43 00:02:41.879 --> 00:02:44.520 small group and said, let's just be honest. Let's just 44 00:02:44.520 --> 00:02:46.639 be honest with each other about what our greatest struggle, 45 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:49.800 our greatest sin is The first guy launched things out, 46 00:02:49.879 --> 00:02:53.000 I honestly said, you know, I struggle with lust. I 47 00:02:53.039 --> 00:02:56.520 always have, and I honestly have had some very very 48 00:02:56.520 --> 00:02:59.639 evil thoughts lately. The next guy said, well, since you 49 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:03.800 were on, I struggle with materialism, and I honestly i'm 50 00:03:03.800 --> 00:03:06.479 in debt up to hear. The third guy looked at 51 00:03:06.520 --> 00:03:10.199 him and said, well, I struggle with gossip, and I 52 00:03:10.199 --> 00:03:17.520 honestly can't wait to get to a telephone if relationships 53 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:20.639 are going to work. Number five, we have to be 54 00:03:20.759 --> 00:03:27.120 confidential with information. Why because Proverbs eleven thirteen reminds us 55 00:03:27.159 --> 00:03:31.360 that a gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man 56 00:03:31.400 --> 00:03:34.439 a trustworthy woman keeps a secret, or either kind of 57 00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:37.840 person who can keep people's confidences so that they can 58 00:03:37.879 --> 00:03:40.680 trust you. We tend to think of gossip as one 59 00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:42.280 of those little sins, you know what I'm talking about, 60 00:03:42.319 --> 00:03:44.719 the misdemeanor sins. They're sort of down here on the list. 61 00:03:45.240 --> 00:03:47.280 But when God talks about gossip, he puts it on 62 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:50.479 the list up with things like sexual immorality and murder. 63 00:03:50.879 --> 00:03:56.759 Why because it is so destructive to relationships. Gossip can 64 00:03:56.800 --> 00:03:59.840 tear a friendship apart a family, a part of church family. 65 00:04:00.599 --> 00:04:04.400 More churches have been destroyed by gossip than persecution, More 66 00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:07.000 friendships have been destroyed by gossip than any other kind 67 00:04:07.000 --> 00:04:11.520 of disloyalty. It's incredibly destructive to relationships when you trust 68 00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:16.279 someone and then find out you couldn't trust them. What's 69 00:04:16.319 --> 00:04:19.639 so destructive about it? My favorite story about gossip has 70 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:22.199 always been the man who went to the rabbi and 71 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:24.959 confess the sin of gossip and ask him what penance 72 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:27.279 can I do for this sin? And the Rabbi said, 73 00:04:27.319 --> 00:04:29.199 here's what you do. You take this feather pillow and 74 00:04:29.399 --> 00:04:32.480 walk up on this mountain, rip it open, and just 75 00:04:32.600 --> 00:04:36.000 let the feathers fly everywhere. Man did that and came 76 00:04:36.040 --> 00:04:38.360 back and said, is that it? And no, said the Rabbi. 77 00:04:38.439 --> 00:04:40.639 Now I want you to go pick up every feather. 78 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:44.959 That's what gossip does. It just goes everywhere. You don't 79 00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:48.720 know the impact that it's having, but it's tearing relationships apart. 80 00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:51.720 It's tearing you apart in ways that you don't realize. Now, 81 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:54.759 what is gossip? When we talk about what is gossip, 82 00:04:54.839 --> 00:04:57.959 let me give you a definition. Gossip is talking about 83 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:00.879 a situation with somebody it is neither a part of 84 00:05:00.920 --> 00:05:03.399 the solution or a part of the problem, neither one. 85 00:05:03.439 --> 00:05:04.639 If they're not a part of the problem. 86 00:05:04.680 --> 00:05:06.439 If they're not a part of the solution, and you're 87 00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:09.839 talking with them about it, that is gossip. And if 88 00:05:09.879 --> 00:05:12.079 we're honest with ourselves, what we're doing is we're making 89 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:15.600 ourselves feel a little bit more important at somebody else's expense. 90 00:05:15.879 --> 00:05:18.079 We're talking about their hurts and their problems to make 91 00:05:18.160 --> 00:05:20.480 us feel like we're a little bit morally superior to them. 92 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:24.560 That's the danger in the hurt of gossip. Gossip is 93 00:05:24.600 --> 00:05:27.680 such a dangerous thing that the one of the values 94 00:05:27.720 --> 00:05:29.800 that we have in our small groups at Saddleback is 95 00:05:29.800 --> 00:05:31.879 that we keep confidences. 96 00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:33.360 That small group, whether or our recovery group or. 97 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:34.920 Any other kind of group, it's a place where you 98 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:37.279 can come and talk about what you're facing in your life, 99 00:05:37.319 --> 00:05:39.639 and that stays within the group because this is such 100 00:05:40.199 --> 00:05:43.800 an important part of relationships. There's a story in the 101 00:05:43.800 --> 00:05:47.319 Old Testament about a family that struggled with gossip. You 102 00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:49.600 remember Moses from the Old Testament. He had a sister 103 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:52.519 named Miriam who one day got caught up in gossiping 104 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:56.160 about Moses amidst the rest of the people, God called 105 00:05:56.160 --> 00:05:59.199 them in as a family, Moses and Miriam and stood 106 00:05:59.240 --> 00:06:01.199 him in front of him and had a little talk. 107 00:06:01.560 --> 00:06:03.360 And he talked with Miriam and told her what she'd 108 00:06:03.399 --> 00:06:07.519 done wrong, and immediately on the spot, he gave her leprosy. Now, 109 00:06:07.560 --> 00:06:10.079 some of you are thinking that sounds terrible, but I'd 110 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:12.319 like that to happen to the person who gossiped against me. 111 00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:16.040 Not leprosy, but really bad stomach flew something where they 112 00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:17.959 really knew how much this hurt. 113 00:06:18.759 --> 00:06:19.920 You know what God did next? 114 00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:25.680 God invited Moses to pray for Miriam's healing, the one 115 00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:29.279 who gossiped against him. Some of you, you've been deeply 116 00:06:29.319 --> 00:06:32.160 hurt by gossip, things that have been said around the office, 117 00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:34.199 or things that have been said in a breaking of 118 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:37.040 a confidence, even with a Christian friend or in your family. 119 00:06:38.040 --> 00:06:40.680 And what God would say is pray for that person's. 120 00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:42.680 Healing that gossiped against you, so that you can be 121 00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:46.439 released from the hurt that's come into your life. Others 122 00:06:46.439 --> 00:06:49.240 of you, you've been the one gossiping. You've been the 123 00:06:49.240 --> 00:06:52.560 one who has been sharing things about other people. And 124 00:06:52.720 --> 00:06:54.800 this story is in the Old Testament. To remind us 125 00:06:54.959 --> 00:06:58.079 how serious it is and how hurtful it can be 126 00:06:58.279 --> 00:07:00.199 to people. So whatever side of this you are on, 127 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:05.079 the truth is when you keep confidences, it makes relationships 128 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:07.600 much more healthy, enables us to keep connecting to one 129 00:07:07.639 --> 00:07:09.920 another in healthy and genuine ways. 130 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:16.360 Final key to connecting is to be committed. You must 131 00:07:16.399 --> 00:07:20.800 be committed to the relationship because good relationships take time. 132 00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:25.680 They don't happen by accident. They take cultivation, they take work, 133 00:07:25.920 --> 00:07:27.839 and it takes a lot of time to build a 134 00:07:27.879 --> 00:07:33.680 deep connection with somebody, and that requires commitment. I could 135 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:37.800 not count the number of times that either KRII have 136 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:40.040 felt like walking out of our marriage. 137 00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:41.199 Particularly in the early years. 138 00:07:42.120 --> 00:07:45.279 I just couldn't count it, because there were so many 139 00:07:45.319 --> 00:07:48.079 times we just thought this is not worth it. We 140 00:07:48.120 --> 00:07:51.279 are just from such different planets and we're so different 141 00:07:51.480 --> 00:07:55.240 this marriage could never possibly work. And we were both 142 00:07:55.279 --> 00:07:59.560 tempted many many times, but we didn't why because we 143 00:07:59.560 --> 00:08:02.920 had made it commitment. You see, we took a vow 144 00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:06.319 one day and it went like this till death do 145 00:08:06.720 --> 00:08:10.759 us part. And I made that vow, not just a kay. 146 00:08:10.839 --> 00:08:14.439 I made that vow to God. And so we said, 147 00:08:14.480 --> 00:08:15.959 we're going to keep this commitment. 148 00:08:16.040 --> 00:08:17.000 If it kills us. 149 00:08:20.120 --> 00:08:26.680 It nearly did many many times nearly did. And I 150 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:28.800 have to be honest with you, there have been times 151 00:08:28.839 --> 00:08:31.600 in our marriage that the only thing that kept us 152 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:36.360 together was simply that commitment. It wasn't love, it wasn't interest, 153 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:40.200 It was simply a commitment we had made to God. 154 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:44.240 I am so glad that we did not give up. 155 00:08:45.639 --> 00:08:49.919 I am so glad because today my wife is my 156 00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:53.759 best friend. I'd much rather spend time with her than 157 00:08:53.799 --> 00:08:57.440 any of you. 158 00:08:57.559 --> 00:08:57.799 Now. 159 00:08:57.879 --> 00:08:59.679 I can still remember the times that I would have 160 00:08:59.679 --> 00:09:04.879 spent I'm with anybody except her, anybody, but she is 161 00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:09.360 my best friend, and I honestly I cannot imagine my 162 00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:20.840 life without her. And to be fully understood by somebody 163 00:09:21.480 --> 00:09:25.080 and have them fully accept you, and to have that 164 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:29.279 kind of soul intimacy is such a rare thing in 165 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:35.600 this world, and the satisfaction that comes from it is Honestly, 166 00:09:35.639 --> 00:09:39.399 I can't describe it to you this morning, but I 167 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:44.080 will say this, it is not an accident. We worked 168 00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:47.440 hard for our marriage and we still work at it, 169 00:09:48.039 --> 00:09:52.840 and we have been through that tunnel not once or twice, 170 00:09:52.919 --> 00:09:57.600 hundreds of times where you work out the next issue 171 00:09:57.799 --> 00:10:01.600 in your relationship and the next issue in your relationship, 172 00:10:01.639 --> 00:10:05.120 and the next issue in your relationship, and you keep 173 00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:07.879 at it because you love each other and you love God, 174 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:08.519 and you've. 175 00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:13.840 Made a commitment. And that takes commitment. 176 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:18.720 And if you want to get beyond shallow, superficial relationships, 177 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:22.320 you got to be willing to stick with it. Some 178 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:26.159 of you, your relationship right now, is hanging on by 179 00:10:26.279 --> 00:10:29.559 less than a thread. Some of you are already in 180 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:31.559 the separation stage, physical separation. 181 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:37.480 Do not give up. We have a miracle working God. 182 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:40.639 The same God that raises the dead can raise a 183 00:10:40.679 --> 00:10:43.360 dead relationship if you're willing to be changed. 184 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:47.320 But it takes a commitment. 185 00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:54.279 You're listening to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope Rip will be 186 00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:57.159 back in just a moment with the rest of today's lesson. 187 00:10:57.559 --> 00:11:00.679 You can sign up for Pastor Rick's free email devotional 188 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:04.879 at pastorick dot com. That's pastorick dot com. 189 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:08.840 Do you desire more of God He desires more of you? 190 00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:12.600 Let me ask you this, how's your relationship with God 191 00:11:12.679 --> 00:11:15.919 right now? Maybe you're walking closely with him and do 192 00:11:15.960 --> 00:11:20.480 you feel energized and alive or maybe you feel disconnected, 193 00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:23.960 like you're just going through the motions. Pastor Rick says, 194 00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:27.120 if you want to stay connected and even deepen your 195 00:11:27.159 --> 00:11:31.080 relationship with God, you need to be intentional. That's why 196 00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:35.320 every year Pastor Rick personally goes through a spiritual renewal study, 197 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:38.759 and now he's made that very same study available to you. 198 00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:43.519 It's called Going Deeper with God, a personal renewal retreat. 199 00:11:43.879 --> 00:11:47.679 In this very special resource, Fastor Rick will personally lead 200 00:11:47.720 --> 00:11:51.519 you on a spiritual journey that brings you closer to God. Together, 201 00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:54.559 you'll go through a series of audio lessons and after 202 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:57.679 each session, you'll take a little time to reflect and 203 00:11:57.759 --> 00:12:02.120 complete exercises in the companion world. Through this retreat, you'll 204 00:12:02.159 --> 00:12:05.879 experience a renewal of life within you. God will restore 205 00:12:05.960 --> 00:12:10.919 your joy. As he renews, refreshes, invigorates, and revives your 206 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:14.840 spiritual life, You'll never be the same again. When you 207 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:17.480 give a gift to Daily Hope, you're helping share the 208 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:21.399 hope of Jesus with people everywhere, and right now, your 209 00:12:21.399 --> 00:12:24.320 gift will be doubled by twenty five thousand dollars matching 210 00:12:24.360 --> 00:12:27.879 grant called eight hundred six hundred five zero zero four. 211 00:12:28.279 --> 00:12:31.080 Or you can visit Pastorick dot com and will send 212 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:34.720 you going deeper with God, a personal renewal retreat to 213 00:12:34.840 --> 00:12:38.320 say thanks again. That's eight hundred at six hundred five 214 00:12:38.440 --> 00:12:41.720 zero zero four or pastorick dot com. Be sure to 215 00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:44.039 let us know the call letters of this station when 216 00:12:44.039 --> 00:12:48.320 you give a gift to help meet the matching grant. 217 00:12:51.559 --> 00:12:55.519 Now back to more from God's Word with Pastor Rick Warren. 218 00:12:56.399 --> 00:12:59.519 The Bible says this in Proverbs seventeen seventeen. A friend 219 00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:02.600 loves at all times. Circle that word all that means, 220 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:05.159 even when it's the inconvenient, even when you don't feel 221 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:08.080 like it, even when they don't deserve it, even at 222 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:13.480 personal cost. That's what real friendship is all about. And 223 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:15.600 when you're blowing it and you're making a mistake, friends 224 00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:19.799 are in your corner when you're cornered, and they see 225 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:22.840 you through when everybody else thinks you're through, and they 226 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:26.120 walk in when everybody else walks out, and they are 227 00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:30.080 there with you even when you don't deserve it. And 228 00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:34.840 by the way, genuine friends take sides ifever you get 229 00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:36.440 in an argument with somebody and you've got a friend 230 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:38.639 who goes, well, now I'm going to stay neutral in this. 231 00:13:38.679 --> 00:13:42.519 I'm not going to take sides. They're no friend. Listen, 232 00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:48.679 friends take sides. Friends are in your corner when you're cornered. 233 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:50.360 They don't say, well, I'm just going to stay neutral 234 00:13:50.360 --> 00:13:53.679 in this. That's not much of a friend. The Bible 235 00:13:53.720 --> 00:13:57.000 says in Proverbs eighteen twenty four, a man of many 236 00:13:57.039 --> 00:14:01.360 companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend 237 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:02.759 who sticks closer than a brother. 238 00:14:02.840 --> 00:14:05.039 I was talking about commitment. Now, what does this mean? 239 00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:10.840 A man of many companions may come to ruin. Well, 240 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:14.039 you know what you're Socializing can keep you from having 241 00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:21.519 deep relationships. You can be so busy networking, so busy contacting, 242 00:14:21.960 --> 00:14:28.200 so busy socializing, so busy making acquaintances that you never 243 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:30.480 spend the time and the energy and the effort to 244 00:14:30.519 --> 00:14:36.639 cultivate the deep, satisfying intimacy of a good friend or 245 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:40.240 a good wife or a good husband that comes from 246 00:14:40.360 --> 00:14:41.919 taking the time to do it. 247 00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:44.840 Now, it's not wrong to have a lot. 248 00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:46.960 Of acquaintances, but they can keep you so busy that 249 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:50.679 you don't develop any vital close relationships. Let me say 250 00:14:50.679 --> 00:14:53.399 it like this, you don't need a lot of friends 251 00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:55.279 to make it in this world. You just need a 252 00:14:55.279 --> 00:15:00.240 few good ones. You don't need a whole lot, So 253 00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:07.080 focus on quality, not quantity. You can have lots of 254 00:15:07.080 --> 00:15:09.879 acquaintances that means nothing. Take it from somebody who knows 255 00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:15.919 I know thousands, if not ten thousands of people. One 256 00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:21.960 good friendship is better than ten thousand acquaintances on any day, 257 00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:25.200 any day of the week, because the acquaintances aren't going 258 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:26.919 to be there in the crisis. They're not going to 259 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:29.639 be there when you need them. But the friends will. 260 00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:33.399 And every important close connection begins with a commitment. 261 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:39.840 So here's my question. Who are you committed to and 262 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:40.519 who knows it? 263 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:45.240 Have you ever gone to any single individual besides your 264 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:47.159 spouse and said, I just want you to know that 265 00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:49.559 I will always be there for you and I mean it. 266 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:53.399 Have you ever said that to anybody? Have you ever 267 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:56.279 established that kind of intentional commitment, say I want to 268 00:15:56.320 --> 00:16:00.840 grow close to you as a friend. Let me say this, 269 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:04.200 particularly to men. Do you have anybody in your life 270 00:16:04.200 --> 00:16:07.639 who holds you accountable? Do you have anybody who has 271 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:09.240 the freedom to be candid with you? 272 00:16:11.559 --> 00:16:12.320 As I said earlier? 273 00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:16.000 If you don't, I feel sorry for you. He said, Well, 274 00:16:16.039 --> 00:16:17.440 I got a lot of friends. Now I'm not talking 275 00:16:17.480 --> 00:16:18.840 about that. Oh I got a lot of Queen, I'm 276 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:22.320 not talking about that. Do you have anybody that you 277 00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:24.480 are committed to them and they are committed to you 278 00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:28.240 and you know that, and they know that I'm not 279 00:16:28.360 --> 00:16:29.480 going to be with you and you're going to be 280 00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:31.799 with them. He said, Rick, I'm sorry, I'm just too busy. 281 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:34.000 I don't have time for that. Then you're too busy. 282 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:39.240 Let me remind you that the ultimate issue in life 283 00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:45.840 is not accomplishment, but relationships. Not accomplishments, but relationships. When 284 00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:47.679 you get to heaven, God is not going to say 285 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:53.440 what did you accomplish and go ooh boy, that's pretty impressive. Whoo, 286 00:16:54.600 --> 00:17:00.440 We've got a special place for you if it's the 287 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:08.640 size of your head. When you get to heaven, god 288 00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:11.279 im gonna say, show me all the things you did 289 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:14.279 in life. God's gonna say, how did you treat other people? 290 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:17.720 Because if I have not love, I am a sounding 291 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:21.599 brass and a tinkling symbol. You may be accomplishing all 292 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:23.400 kinds of things, but if you're stepping on people while 293 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:24.559 you're doing it, it doesn't matter. 294 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:28.000 In fact, it's bad. So here's the bottom line. 295 00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:32.160 You need people in your life who will do these 296 00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:35.160 six things for you. You need people who will be 297 00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:40.000 courageous and considerate and constructive and candid and confidential and committed. 298 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:42.680 But the only way you're gonna get these kind of 299 00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:44.799 people in your life is you have to be that 300 00:17:44.920 --> 00:17:49.079 kind of person. You can't expect other people to treat 301 00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:52.720 you this way if you don't treat them that way. 302 00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:57.880 You need people in your life who do these six things? Question, 303 00:17:58.799 --> 00:18:01.559 where are you gonna get them? 304 00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:09.400 Pa? The Bowling Alley nearest bar. 305 00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:15.519 You know, the more I understand human behavior, and the 306 00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:18.839 older I get, and the more I understand the deepest 307 00:18:18.839 --> 00:18:21.279 needs of human being, the more I am impressed with 308 00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:27.240 the brilliant concept that God created called the church. And 309 00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:30.440 I am more convinced than ever before that God made 310 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:33.680 the Church to meet your deepest needs that cannot be 311 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:37.480 met anywhere else. There is no other place that can 312 00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:41.920 meet the needs that the Church can meet in your life. 313 00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:45.359 Now Here at Saddleback, we have a safe place where 314 00:18:45.400 --> 00:18:48.039 you can develop these kind of relationships. 315 00:18:48.119 --> 00:18:50.279 It's called small groups. 316 00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:53.680 So he said, Rick, when are you gonna stop talking 317 00:18:53.680 --> 00:19:01.240 about small groups when you start going to one? Okay, 318 00:19:01.400 --> 00:19:04.240 the moment you get attached. I'm not saying this to 319 00:19:04.359 --> 00:19:06.440 convince you because I need you to go. 320 00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:08.480 I don't need you to go. You need to go. 321 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:10.279 And as your. 322 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:13.759 Pastor, I care about your emotional, spiritual, and physical wellbeing, 323 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:16.480 and I happen to know that the only way certain 324 00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:18.200 needs in your life are going to be met is 325 00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:21.319 if you get into close connected community with a few 326 00:19:21.400 --> 00:19:26.240 people who are candid and confidential and committed and consider 327 00:19:26.279 --> 00:19:30.799 it and courageous and constructive. 328 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:33.759 In your life. And that's called a small group. 329 00:19:35.079 --> 00:19:37.319 You know that if you attach two horses together, they 330 00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:40.240 can pull about nine thousand pounds of weight, But if 331 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:43.319 you attach four horses together, they can pull not twice 332 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:46.680 the amount eighteen thousand, they can pull about thirty thousand pounds 333 00:19:46.680 --> 00:19:50.960 of weight. That's called the power of synergy, where that 334 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:54.279 the whole is greater than the parts. There are some 335 00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:57.279 problems in your life that you are never ever going 336 00:19:57.359 --> 00:20:00.200 to solve on your own. But when you get in 337 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:02.960 a close relationship with a few other people who can 338 00:20:03.079 --> 00:20:05.880 help you, pray for you, encourage you, the power of 339 00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:08.880 synergy creates. And there are problems that have never been 340 00:20:08.920 --> 00:20:12.480 solved that will be solved simply by getting in relationships. 341 00:20:13.359 --> 00:20:17.480 Probably the best known psychologist in America Christian psychologist Larry Krabb. 342 00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:20.359 He wrote in this book Connecting, which I highly recommend. 343 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:25.200 He says, when two people really connect, something is poured 344 00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:27.519 out of one and into the other that has the 345 00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:32.599 power to heal the soul of its deepest wounds and 346 00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:36.519 restores it to health. The one who receives experiences the 347 00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:40.119 joy of being healed, and the one who gives knows 348 00:20:40.119 --> 00:20:44.240 the even greater joy of being used to heal. Something 349 00:20:44.359 --> 00:20:47.160 good is in the heart of each of God's children 350 00:20:48.119 --> 00:20:51.880 that is far more powerful than everything bad in the world. 351 00:20:52.839 --> 00:20:56.359 It's there waiting to be released and works its magic. 352 00:20:57.960 --> 00:21:02.240 But you have to be connected now. 353 00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:04.319 At every stage in your life, you're going to need 354 00:21:04.359 --> 00:21:06.680 these kind of relationships. You're going to need a group 355 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:09.680 of people for different reasons in different ways. 356 00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:12.720 You need to get connected. 357 00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:16.960 Let's bow our heads, Father, thank you that we don't 358 00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:20.839 have to go through life all alone. Thank you for 359 00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:24.559 the thousands of people who've made life affirming connections through 360 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:28.160 the small groups that saddleback. For those who think they're 361 00:21:28.200 --> 00:21:32.359 too busy, Lord help them to wise up. And thank 362 00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:35.200 you most of all for the connections that we have 363 00:21:35.319 --> 00:21:38.160 through you, Jesus Christ. In your name, we pray. 364 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:39.119 Amen. 365 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:45.960 This is Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. We're so happy you've 366 00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:49.079 chosen to study along with us today. Rick will be 367 00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:52.480 back to close out our time today, but first we 368 00:21:52.640 --> 00:21:57.160 have some really exciting news. Generous friends of Daily Hope 369 00:21:57.279 --> 00:22:00.839 have offered a twenty five thousand dollars men matching grant. 370 00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:03.880 That means whatever amount you give to help share the 371 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:08.160 hope of Jesus worldwide will be matched up to twenty 372 00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:13.200 five thousand dollars, So twenty five becomes fifty, one hundred 373 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:17.960 becomes two hundred, and five hundred becomes a thousand. Whatever 374 00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:21.400 amount you give will be doubled by the grant. But 375 00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:24.279 don't wait, because we only have a few days to 376 00:22:24.359 --> 00:22:27.960 meet this match. Any amount not met will be lost, 377 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:32.480 so please act quickly. Call eight hundred six hundred five 378 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:36.960 thousand four, or you can visit Pastorick dot com and 379 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:41.119 we'll send you going Deeper with God a personal renewal 380 00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:45.599 retreat to say thanks again. That's eight hundred six hundred 381 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:50.160 five thousand four or Pastorick dot com. Be sure to 382 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:52.839 let us know the call letters of this station when 383 00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:55.720 you give a gift to help meet the matching grant. 384 00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:59.440 Here's Pastor Rick with a letter from one of our listeners. 385 00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:03.359 Today, I want to share a letter from a new listener, Sherman, 386 00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:06.559 who's in Tennessee, and he writes that he and his 387 00:23:06.599 --> 00:23:10.799 wife used Daily Hope to study God's Word together. Here's 388 00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:14.079 what he wrote. Just recently, a friend of mine turned 389 00:23:14.119 --> 00:23:16.960 me on to your Daily Hope devotional and also gave 390 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:20.799 me your CD series on the Lord's Prayer and Wow Together. 391 00:23:21.119 --> 00:23:23.720 My wife and I now listen to Daily Hope podcast. 392 00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:27.680 We take notes, we pray, we have great conversations about 393 00:23:27.680 --> 00:23:29.720 all the biblical teachings that we get from you, and 394 00:23:30.079 --> 00:23:32.880 we both look forward to that time of being encouraged 395 00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:36.960 and challenged and instructed. Now I know, Pastor Rick, that 396 00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:39.640 it was through the giving of other people that made 397 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:42.359 it possible for me to hear the Daily Hope teaching, 398 00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:46.599 and so now I want to make an eternal investment 399 00:23:46.680 --> 00:23:50.559 myself by giving to this ministry so that others may 400 00:23:50.599 --> 00:23:53.720 be blessed and impacted in the same way that my 401 00:23:53.880 --> 00:23:58.960