WEBVTT

1
00:00:02.439 --> 00:00:05.919
<v Speaker 1>Hello, and thanks for joining us today on Pastor Rick's

2
00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:09.480
<v Speaker 1>Daily Hope. This is the Bible teaching ministry of Rick Warren,

3
00:00:09.720 --> 00:00:12.800
<v Speaker 1>and today we are continuing in a series called the

4
00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:16.519
<v Speaker 1>Miracle of Mercy. Rick will show us how God's mercy

5
00:00:16.519 --> 00:00:20.359
<v Speaker 1>can lift your guilt, heal your wounds, and transform the

6
00:00:20.359 --> 00:00:23.039
<v Speaker 1>way you live. And now let's jump right in with

7
00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:26.199
<v Speaker 1>Rick with part two of a message called being an

8
00:00:26.239 --> 00:00:28.160
<v Speaker 1>Agent of Mercy in the World.

9
00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:34.880
<v Speaker 2>Here's the third principle, choose my words carefully. If you're

10
00:00:34.920 --> 00:00:37.880
<v Speaker 2>going to be an agent of mercy in the world

11
00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:41.840
<v Speaker 2>this week, you're God's secret agent of mercy, and you're

12
00:00:41.840 --> 00:00:44.439
<v Speaker 2>going out and you're showing mercy in the workplace and

13
00:00:44.560 --> 00:00:47.000
<v Speaker 2>in the neighborhood and in the grocery store and at

14
00:00:47.000 --> 00:00:50.359
<v Speaker 2>the post office. You have to choose your words carefully.

15
00:00:50.840 --> 00:00:54.880
<v Speaker 2>Mercy puts a monitor on my mouth. If I'm going

16
00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:56.799
<v Speaker 2>to be an agent of mercy, there are some things

17
00:00:56.920 --> 00:01:00.520
<v Speaker 2>I just can't say. Does that make sense. I can't

18
00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:03.159
<v Speaker 2>be mean to people, I can't be rude to people.

19
00:01:03.880 --> 00:01:08.439
<v Speaker 2>I can't be sarcastic to people, and I can't put

20
00:01:08.480 --> 00:01:13.040
<v Speaker 2>them down. I have to choose my words carefully. Colossians

21
00:01:13.079 --> 00:01:16.719
<v Speaker 2>four to six. When you talk, you should always be

22
00:01:16.840 --> 00:01:19.879
<v Speaker 2>kind and pleasant, so you will be able to answer

23
00:01:19.959 --> 00:01:23.359
<v Speaker 2>everyone in the way you should. Circle the word pleasant

24
00:01:23.400 --> 00:01:30.640
<v Speaker 2>and kind. You are never persuasive when you're abrasive. If

25
00:01:30.680 --> 00:01:33.879
<v Speaker 2>you can't get what you want in a grocery store

26
00:01:34.079 --> 00:01:36.760
<v Speaker 2>or at in a department store, at a restaurant, and

27
00:01:36.799 --> 00:01:39.599
<v Speaker 2>you're being offensive and you're being rude to the clerk

28
00:01:39.760 --> 00:01:43.079
<v Speaker 2>or the waitress, you are never persuasive when you're abrasive,

29
00:01:44.319 --> 00:01:47.640
<v Speaker 2>he says. When you talk, you should always be kind,

30
00:01:47.840 --> 00:01:50.760
<v Speaker 2>always be pleasant, so you'll be able to answer everyone

31
00:01:50.760 --> 00:01:53.040
<v Speaker 2>in the way you should. That's what agents of mercy do.

32
00:01:54.159 --> 00:01:55.439
<v Speaker 2>Let me show you another verse up here on the

33
00:01:55.439 --> 00:01:59.560
<v Speaker 2>screen Ephesians four twenty nine. Do not say harmful things

34
00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:04.120
<v Speaker 2>which tear people down, but say what people need. Words

35
00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:06.680
<v Speaker 2>that will help others become stronger. In other words, words

36
00:02:06.680 --> 00:02:09.240
<v Speaker 2>that build them up, not tear them down. Do your

37
00:02:09.280 --> 00:02:11.680
<v Speaker 2>words tear down people, they build them up, words that

38
00:02:11.719 --> 00:02:15.240
<v Speaker 2>will help others become stronger. Then what you say will

39
00:02:15.240 --> 00:02:18.479
<v Speaker 2>do good to those who listen to you. That's the Bible,

40
00:02:18.840 --> 00:02:22.080
<v Speaker 2>that's God telling you how you are to speak. If

41
00:02:22.120 --> 00:02:25.000
<v Speaker 2>you're an agent of mercy, you do not say harmful things.

42
00:02:25.159 --> 00:02:27.240
<v Speaker 2>But you say what people need words that will help

43
00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:31.840
<v Speaker 2>them become stronger. Okay, Now, how in the world do

44
00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:34.039
<v Speaker 2>I do that? How do I know if I've had

45
00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:36.919
<v Speaker 2>this pattern? Maybe you grew up learning. You're in a family,

46
00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:39.319
<v Speaker 2>it's common to put each other down. How do I

47
00:02:39.400 --> 00:02:44.000
<v Speaker 2>break that habit my life? You ask God for wisdom. Wisdom.

48
00:02:44.039 --> 00:02:47.120
<v Speaker 2>We talked about this a while back. Makes you patient.

49
00:02:47.439 --> 00:02:50.120
<v Speaker 2>The more wise you are, the more patient you'll become.

50
00:02:50.360 --> 00:02:52.759
<v Speaker 2>The more wise you are, the more merciful you'll be.

51
00:02:53.199 --> 00:02:55.639
<v Speaker 2>The more you understand the hurts of other people, the

52
00:02:55.639 --> 00:02:58.479
<v Speaker 2>more you cut them slack, the more gracious and merciful

53
00:02:58.520 --> 00:03:03.719
<v Speaker 2>you are. James three, verse seventeen. The wisdom that comes

54
00:03:03.759 --> 00:03:09.280
<v Speaker 2>from heaven is pure, and it's peace loving. In other words,

55
00:03:09.319 --> 00:03:12.560
<v Speaker 2>if I'm wise, I love peace, not conflict. There are

56
00:03:12.599 --> 00:03:16.800
<v Speaker 2>people on the internet who are not wise. They don't

57
00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:21.919
<v Speaker 2>love peace. They love conflict. They love arguing, they love trolling,

58
00:03:22.599 --> 00:03:26.400
<v Speaker 2>they love getting into a fight. They're not wise, they're unwise.

59
00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:30.120
<v Speaker 2>The wisdom that comes from heaven is peace loving. It's

60
00:03:30.280 --> 00:03:33.560
<v Speaker 2>gentle all at all times. When I'm not gentle, I'm

61
00:03:33.599 --> 00:03:36.759
<v Speaker 2>not being wise, And it's willing to yield to others.

62
00:03:37.039 --> 00:03:41.840
<v Speaker 2>Wisdom is full of mercy. The more your life is

63
00:03:41.879 --> 00:03:44.759
<v Speaker 2>filled with mercy, the wiser you're going to be. And

64
00:03:44.840 --> 00:03:48.039
<v Speaker 2>the wiser you become, the more merciful you're going to

65
00:03:48.080 --> 00:03:51.400
<v Speaker 2>be to people around you, even people who totally disagree

66
00:03:51.400 --> 00:03:54.439
<v Speaker 2>with you, even people who don't like you, even people

67
00:03:54.479 --> 00:03:58.120
<v Speaker 2>who consider themselves to be your enemy, you still show

68
00:03:58.159 --> 00:04:01.240
<v Speaker 2>them mercy because you're wise. Okay, now, let me give

69
00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:04.719
<v Speaker 2>you a fourth principle. Start looking and listening for people's needs.

70
00:04:04.759 --> 00:04:08.719
<v Speaker 2>Don't be offended by people's sins. Choose your words carefully.

71
00:04:08.840 --> 00:04:13.400
<v Speaker 2>And here's the fourth principle of mercy. Value saving people

72
00:04:14.439 --> 00:04:20.160
<v Speaker 2>over keeping rules. In God's books, saving people is a

73
00:04:20.199 --> 00:04:24.959
<v Speaker 2>whole lot more important than keeping rules. Rules are not

74
00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:30.560
<v Speaker 2>nearly as important as relationships. In God's book, rules are

75
00:04:30.600 --> 00:04:34.000
<v Speaker 2>not as important as relationships. You value saving people over

76
00:04:34.120 --> 00:04:37.360
<v Speaker 2>keeping rules. Now, Jesus modeled this over and over and over.

77
00:04:37.399 --> 00:04:40.839
<v Speaker 2>I gave you one example there, Matthew, chapter twelve. It

78
00:04:40.920 --> 00:04:44.319
<v Speaker 2>was against the law, a religious law, for you to

79
00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:47.800
<v Speaker 2>pick grain in a field on the Sabbath and eat it.

80
00:04:47.839 --> 00:04:51.079
<v Speaker 2>That was considered work in the traditions of that day.

81
00:04:51.720 --> 00:04:54.680
<v Speaker 2>And yet jesus disciples were hungry so you'll just get

82
00:04:54.759 --> 00:04:57.399
<v Speaker 2>some get some grain there, eat some of that. And

83
00:04:57.639 --> 00:05:03.240
<v Speaker 2>the religious Pharisees, the the legalists, they were indignant. They go, hey,

84
00:05:03.279 --> 00:05:05.560
<v Speaker 2>why are you guys breaking all this rule? Because they're

85
00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:12.000
<v Speaker 2>just hungry. He cared more about his disciples empty stomachs

86
00:05:12.360 --> 00:05:16.519
<v Speaker 2>than he did care about their traditions. And over and

87
00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:20.519
<v Speaker 2>over agin again, Jesus often broke rules to heal people

88
00:05:21.439 --> 00:05:25.079
<v Speaker 2>because healing people was more important than keeping rules in

89
00:05:25.160 --> 00:05:29.600
<v Speaker 2>God's book, that is, the God of mercy. Here's a

90
00:05:29.600 --> 00:05:33.279
<v Speaker 2>good example, Matthew, chapter twenty three, verse twenty three. Jesus

91
00:05:33.319 --> 00:05:38.560
<v Speaker 2>says this to the legalists, to the judgmental Pharisees, he said,

92
00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:44.199
<v Speaker 2>you know, you Pharisees, you're careful to tithe ten percent

93
00:05:44.360 --> 00:05:47.639
<v Speaker 2>of every part of your income. But he said, then

94
00:05:48.120 --> 00:05:53.800
<v Speaker 2>you ignore the other important matters of God's law justice,

95
00:05:53.839 --> 00:05:57.079
<v Speaker 2>you know, being fair to people, showing mercy, treating people

96
00:05:57.079 --> 00:06:01.879
<v Speaker 2>of mercy, and faith, having faith. Yes, you should tithe,

97
00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:07.399
<v Speaker 2>but he says you should you also shouldn't neglect the

98
00:06:07.480 --> 00:06:11.839
<v Speaker 2>more important things. I think this actually versus kind of

99
00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:16.319
<v Speaker 2>funny to me. Because Jesus did not get along with

100
00:06:16.360 --> 00:06:18.319
<v Speaker 2>the Pharisees. They did not like him, He was full

101
00:06:18.360 --> 00:06:20.439
<v Speaker 2>of grace and mercy, and they were full of legalism

102
00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:25.800
<v Speaker 2>and judgmentalism. The only thing that Jesus ever complemented in

103
00:06:25.839 --> 00:06:31.399
<v Speaker 2>the Pharisees was this. He said, you guys, tithe. He goes, you.

104
00:06:31.319 --> 00:06:31.959
<v Speaker 1>Got that right.

105
00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:35.920
<v Speaker 2>Okay, okay, you got that one right. You tithe ten

106
00:06:35.959 --> 00:06:38.199
<v Speaker 2>percent of everything you make goes back to the Lord

107
00:06:38.839 --> 00:06:40.839
<v Speaker 2>to say it really all belongs to you, and this

108
00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:42.560
<v Speaker 2>is to prove it. I'm just honoring you with the

109
00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:44.680
<v Speaker 2>first ten percent. He said, that's a good thing. You

110
00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:47.240
<v Speaker 2>got that one right. But he says you can't use

111
00:06:47.279 --> 00:06:49.959
<v Speaker 2>as an excuse to not do the other stuff, like

112
00:06:50.079 --> 00:06:55.199
<v Speaker 2>treating people fairly, showing mercy, and having faith. By the way,

113
00:06:55.279 --> 00:06:57.759
<v Speaker 2>sometimes you'll hear people say Jesus never spoke about tithing.

114
00:06:57.879 --> 00:07:02.079
<v Speaker 2>Of course he did. There's one example. He says, you

115
00:07:02.120 --> 00:07:07.600
<v Speaker 2>should die, But he says that's minor comparison to treating

116
00:07:07.639 --> 00:07:10.959
<v Speaker 2>people with mercy and being fair and just with people

117
00:07:11.040 --> 00:07:14.600
<v Speaker 2>and not ripping them off, because that's the more important stuff. Yeah,

118
00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:18.680
<v Speaker 2>keep tything, you need to do that, but this does

119
00:07:18.680 --> 00:07:22.439
<v Speaker 2>not give you an excuse to overlook the other important stuff.

120
00:07:23.560 --> 00:07:27.360
<v Speaker 2>So you need to value saving people overkeeping rules. So

121
00:07:27.399 --> 00:07:29.800
<v Speaker 2>those are four principles of mercy. Now, what I want

122
00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:31.959
<v Speaker 2>to do is talk for just a couple of minutes

123
00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:35.480
<v Speaker 2>on six places to be an agent of mercy. I

124
00:07:35.480 --> 00:07:37.279
<v Speaker 2>could give you a bunch of them, but I just

125
00:07:37.279 --> 00:07:40.319
<v Speaker 2>want to give you six examples. And rather than having

126
00:07:40.360 --> 00:07:42.639
<v Speaker 2>me teach on it, you're going to hear a very

127
00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:48.639
<v Speaker 2>short little story from normal people who actually modeled this point.

128
00:07:48.759 --> 00:07:50.879
<v Speaker 2>So let me give you six ways that you can

129
00:07:50.920 --> 00:07:53.959
<v Speaker 2>be a secret agent, not even secret, just an agent

130
00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:58.000
<v Speaker 2>of God's mercy. This next week you might write these down.

131
00:07:58.120 --> 00:07:59.839
<v Speaker 2>Number one, here's the first way to be an agent

132
00:07:59.879 --> 00:08:04.240
<v Speaker 2>of mercy this week. Look for people in a crisis

133
00:08:05.199 --> 00:08:09.480
<v Speaker 2>and listen to them. They need to be listened to.

134
00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:12.199
<v Speaker 2>When people are in a crisis. Your ear is a

135
00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:16.279
<v Speaker 2>healing tool. You can heal people just by listening to them.

136
00:08:16.279 --> 00:08:19.279
<v Speaker 2>That's why people pay big money to have counselors listen

137
00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:22.399
<v Speaker 2>to them. There's healing and listening. Look for people in

138
00:08:22.439 --> 00:08:25.920
<v Speaker 2>a crisis and listen to them. Galatians six to two

139
00:08:25.959 --> 00:08:31.439
<v Speaker 2>says this carry each other's burdens, and in this way

140
00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:35.159
<v Speaker 2>you will fulfill the law of Christ. Okay, first, what's

141
00:08:35.159 --> 00:08:38.320
<v Speaker 2>a burden, Well, a burden could be a lot of things.

142
00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:41.159
<v Speaker 2>Could be a physical burden, could be a financial burden,

143
00:08:41.480 --> 00:08:44.279
<v Speaker 2>It could be a relational burden. But most of the

144
00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:49.200
<v Speaker 2>time burdens are emotional stress. And when people are under

145
00:08:49.320 --> 00:08:53.399
<v Speaker 2>emotional stress, they're burdened down. They're going through a crisis,

146
00:08:53.440 --> 00:08:56.919
<v Speaker 2>and it dampens their emotion. He says, you know, carry

147
00:08:56.960 --> 00:08:59.559
<v Speaker 2>each other's burdens. How do you do that? By listening?

148
00:09:00.240 --> 00:09:02.759
<v Speaker 2>When you listen to somebody who's going through a crisis,

149
00:09:03.320 --> 00:09:05.840
<v Speaker 2>you're carrying their burden. And he says, in this way

150
00:09:05.919 --> 00:09:08.519
<v Speaker 2>you fulfill the law of Christ. What is the law

151
00:09:08.519 --> 00:09:11.279
<v Speaker 2>of Christ? The great commandment? Love God with all your heart,

152
00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:14.919
<v Speaker 2>Love your neighbor as yourself. Anytime you listen to somebody

153
00:09:14.919 --> 00:09:18.360
<v Speaker 2>in a crisis, you were loving your neighbor as yourself.

154
00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:23.919
<v Speaker 2>Anytime you listen to somebody and they unload their burden emotional, physical,

155
00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:27.720
<v Speaker 2>or whatever on you, you're sharing it. You are showing

156
00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:30.200
<v Speaker 2>love for God and love for each other. I want

157
00:09:30.200 --> 00:09:32.120
<v Speaker 2>you to hear Rob's story. Would you give him a

158
00:09:32.120 --> 00:09:32.679
<v Speaker 2>warm welcome?

159
00:09:41.639 --> 00:09:44.759
<v Speaker 3>Good to see you saddleback. When I was a twenty

160
00:09:44.840 --> 00:09:47.720
<v Speaker 3>one year old working for a major construction and land

161
00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:50.559
<v Speaker 3>development company, I was a part of a three man

162
00:09:50.639 --> 00:09:54.399
<v Speaker 3>crew that did all the excavating work necessary for the

163
00:09:54.440 --> 00:09:57.279
<v Speaker 3>new subdivisions. I was a brand new Christian and I

164
00:09:57.279 --> 00:10:00.679
<v Speaker 3>wanted to share my faith in Jesus with others. My boss,

165
00:10:00.840 --> 00:10:03.679
<v Speaker 3>his name was Mitch. He called me a lot of names,

166
00:10:03.720 --> 00:10:07.840
<v Speaker 3>most of which I can't mention here today. Because I

167
00:10:07.879 --> 00:10:10.679
<v Speaker 3>carried a Bible on the dashboard of my truck, I

168
00:10:10.720 --> 00:10:13.440
<v Speaker 3>spent my lunches reading it and I would pray before

169
00:10:13.480 --> 00:10:16.600
<v Speaker 3>I ate, and invited my boss many many times the

170
00:10:16.679 --> 00:10:19.080
<v Speaker 3>church and I tried to witness to him about how

171
00:10:19.200 --> 00:10:22.120
<v Speaker 3>Jesus had saved me from both my addictions and even

172
00:10:22.120 --> 00:10:24.919
<v Speaker 3>from ending my own life. But my boss showed no

173
00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:28.799
<v Speaker 3>interest whatsoever. I just couldn't get through to him. I'll

174
00:10:28.840 --> 00:10:31.039
<v Speaker 3>never forget today that my boss came to work and

175
00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:34.080
<v Speaker 3>he was obviously distraught. It was clear that he was

176
00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:36.639
<v Speaker 3>in a crisis. I asked him what was the matter,

177
00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:38.720
<v Speaker 3>and he said that his wife had abandoned him and

178
00:10:38.759 --> 00:10:43.600
<v Speaker 3>their small son over the weekend. He was devastated. Wanting

179
00:10:43.639 --> 00:10:46.360
<v Speaker 3>to show mercy, I just listened to him. Then I

180
00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:48.039
<v Speaker 3>asked him if I could pray for him, and to

181
00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:51.960
<v Speaker 3>my surprise, he said yes. God was using this crisis

182
00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:55.240
<v Speaker 3>to get Mitch's attention, and over the next couple months

183
00:10:55.279 --> 00:10:58.120
<v Speaker 3>our relationship changed completely. And as I listened to him

184
00:10:58.440 --> 00:11:01.519
<v Speaker 3>poured out his pain, He'd begin to ask me questions

185
00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:03.840
<v Speaker 3>and I would listen and he would listen to me.

186
00:11:04.519 --> 00:11:07.000
<v Speaker 3>Sharing his pain with me made it easier for him

187
00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:09.720
<v Speaker 3>to handle. As I said, I was a brand new Christian,

188
00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:13.360
<v Speaker 3>so I listened a lot. Thanksgiving Day that year was

189
00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:16.799
<v Speaker 3>Min Dana's first Thanksgiving as a married couple. We knew

190
00:11:16.840 --> 00:11:18.559
<v Speaker 3>it would be a tough day for Mitch, so we

191
00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:21.080
<v Speaker 3>invited him and his son to our studio apartment for

192
00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:25.320
<v Speaker 3>Thanksgiving dinner. It was an act of mercy, and I

193
00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:27.879
<v Speaker 3>was surprised that Mitch accepted and showed up with his

194
00:11:27.960 --> 00:11:31.639
<v Speaker 3>young son. Spending that day together made a huge impact

195
00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:34.120
<v Speaker 3>on him, and just a few weeks later, in my

196
00:11:34.200 --> 00:11:38.120
<v Speaker 3>work truck with my Bible on the dashboard, Mitch prayed

197
00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:41.200
<v Speaker 3>with me and he opened his life to Christ. The

198
00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:44.720
<v Speaker 3>mercy of God has broken through this guy's defense, and

199
00:11:44.759 --> 00:11:50.960
<v Speaker 3>we've remained friends and brothers in Christ. God bless great

200
00:11:51.320 --> 00:11:51.919
<v Speaker 3>thanks Robing.

201
00:11:56.360 --> 00:12:00.799
<v Speaker 2>Okay, So there's a good example of looking for people

202
00:12:00.799 --> 00:12:02.799
<v Speaker 2>in a crisis and listening to them. That's what Rob

203
00:12:02.840 --> 00:12:05.279
<v Speaker 2>did okay, here's the second way to be an Asian

204
00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:10.000
<v Speaker 2>of mercy. Look for people with unmet needs and help them.

205
00:12:10.440 --> 00:12:13.679
<v Speaker 2>Practical needs. You know, you need a car, You need

206
00:12:13.720 --> 00:12:15.840
<v Speaker 2>me to drive you somewhere. You need somebody to do

207
00:12:15.879 --> 00:12:18.799
<v Speaker 2>an erran for you. Can I help you paint your house? Whatever?

208
00:12:19.080 --> 00:12:22.399
<v Speaker 2>Look for people with unmet needs and help them. That

209
00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:25.639
<v Speaker 2>is being an agent of mercy. The Bible says this

210
00:12:25.720 --> 00:12:30.679
<v Speaker 2>in Romans fifteen two and three. Each of us needs

211
00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:33.240
<v Speaker 2>to look after the good of the people around us.

212
00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:35.720
<v Speaker 2>There's that word look. You gotta see it. Look for

213
00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:40.080
<v Speaker 2>the good, after the good of people around us, asking ourselves,

214
00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:45.000
<v Speaker 2>how can I help? That's exactly what Jesus did. He

215
00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:48.919
<v Speaker 2>didn't make it easy for himself by avoiding people's troubles,

216
00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:52.960
<v Speaker 2>but he waited right in and he helped out. This

217
00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:55.919
<v Speaker 2>is what mercy does. We look for people downe met

218
00:12:55.960 --> 00:12:57.879
<v Speaker 2>needs and help them. I want you to hear an

219
00:12:57.919 --> 00:13:00.159
<v Speaker 2>example from Ashley give her one while.

220
00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:11.240
<v Speaker 4>Pastorik asked me to share an example of someone who

221
00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:13.600
<v Speaker 4>came to know Christ through the acts of mercy of

222
00:13:13.639 --> 00:13:16.679
<v Speaker 4>our HIV and AIDS ministry team. So I'd like to

223
00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:20.039
<v Speaker 4>share the story of Jacob while participating in an AIDS

224
00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:22.919
<v Speaker 4>walk at Irvine Park, Jacob saw Sadovac's HIV and AIDS

225
00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:26.159
<v Speaker 4>Ministry booth. At first, he was angry because he thought

226
00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:29.440
<v Speaker 4>we were there to protest those living with HIV, but

227
00:13:29.559 --> 00:13:32.399
<v Speaker 4>soon he realized we were there to support, love and

228
00:13:32.480 --> 00:13:35.720
<v Speaker 4>care for those living with HIV and AIDS. Jacob said

229
00:13:35.720 --> 00:13:38.080
<v Speaker 4>he'd never imagined that any church would do that, and

230
00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:41.320
<v Speaker 4>he wondered if stadle Bach Church would help him. Jacob

231
00:13:41.399 --> 00:13:44.320
<v Speaker 4>quickly learned that the answer was yes. Our HIV AIDS

232
00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:47.200
<v Speaker 4>Ministry began to show Jacob mercy in many many ways.

233
00:13:47.559 --> 00:13:49.720
<v Speaker 4>Sat a Back members brought him several weeks worth of

234
00:13:49.720 --> 00:13:52.080
<v Speaker 4>meals and he was too sick to shop. And what

235
00:13:52.360 --> 00:13:54.080
<v Speaker 4>meant even more to him was that people didn't just

236
00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:56.519
<v Speaker 4>drop off the meals, they stayed and ate with him

237
00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:59.279
<v Speaker 4>like a friend. A stato Back small group came over

238
00:13:59.320 --> 00:14:02.600
<v Speaker 4>and cleaned his apart, his garage and even his refrigerator.

239
00:14:03.320 --> 00:14:05.519
<v Speaker 4>Other Saddleback members walked his dog when he had a

240
00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:08.360
<v Speaker 4>foot surgery. In one small group, hearing that he couldn't

241
00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:11.440
<v Speaker 4>afford a medical scooter to keep his leg elevated, went

242
00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:13.159
<v Speaker 4>out and found one so that he could get around

243
00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:16.759
<v Speaker 4>more comfortably. Another small group took Jacob to the movies

244
00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:20.120
<v Speaker 4>because he hated going to the movies alone. Most recently,

245
00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:22.559
<v Speaker 4>when Jacob was hospitalized, it was not his close friends

246
00:14:22.679 --> 00:14:25.399
<v Speaker 4>or family that came to visit him. Instead, it was

247
00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:28.720
<v Speaker 4>people from Saddleback's HIV support group, and even members he

248
00:14:28.759 --> 00:14:32.840
<v Speaker 4>didn't know who stopped buying encouraged him because his critical

249
00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:36.519
<v Speaker 4>condition required extra projection from germs. Jacob's hospital stay was

250
00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:40.039
<v Speaker 4>in a room surrounded by glass. Jacob explained, but when

251
00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:43.360
<v Speaker 4>I awoke after surgery, people from Saddleback's HIV AIDS group

252
00:14:43.399 --> 00:14:45.840
<v Speaker 4>were there to support me. They hung out, they prayed

253
00:14:45.879 --> 00:14:48.639
<v Speaker 4>for me, and I no longer felt alone. It meant

254
00:14:48.679 --> 00:14:51.120
<v Speaker 4>so much to me, especially when others seemed scared of me.

255
00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:54.480
<v Speaker 4>As a result of all these agents of mercy, Jacob

256
00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:58.080
<v Speaker 4>eventually opened his life to Jesus. He said, I accepted

257
00:14:58.159 --> 00:15:00.720
<v Speaker 4>Christ and got baptized a Saddleback because their kindness and

258
00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:04.000
<v Speaker 4>extreme helpfulness. The fact that my HIV status is not

259
00:15:04.039 --> 00:15:06.720
<v Speaker 4>considered a hindrance for me becoming a Christian and being

260
00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:09.320
<v Speaker 4>a part of this church, well, I just don't have

261
00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:11.919
<v Speaker 4>the words for that kind of love. There's no stigma

262
00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:15.600
<v Speaker 4>or judgment. Here, no one questions me. Instead, I found

263
00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:19.559
<v Speaker 4>open arms embracing me and big hugs from everyone. God

264
00:15:19.559 --> 00:15:22.320
<v Speaker 4>continues to show mercy and kindness through satur Back members,

265
00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:25.360
<v Speaker 4>and it is transforming one life after another through our

266
00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:29.000
<v Speaker 4>ace ministry. I invite you to join us. A's changed

267
00:15:29.480 --> 00:15:33.279
<v Speaker 4>Jacob's life, but God's love through merciful Christians changed it

268
00:15:33.320 --> 00:15:33.799
<v Speaker 4>even more.

269
00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:45.279
<v Speaker 2>A third way, God wants you to be an Asian

270
00:15:45.320 --> 00:15:48.879
<v Speaker 2>of mercy this week, look for people who are grieving

271
00:15:49.799 --> 00:15:53.279
<v Speaker 2>and comfort them. Look for people who are grieving and

272
00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:57.399
<v Speaker 2>comfort them. Every day of your life, somebody around you

273
00:15:57.519 --> 00:16:00.840
<v Speaker 2>has a loss. They lose a job, they lose a

274
00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:06.039
<v Speaker 2>loved one, they lose finances, they lose their dream. Loss

275
00:16:06.200 --> 00:16:08.919
<v Speaker 2>is the universal problem in life. You're going to have

276
00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:11.919
<v Speaker 2>many losses in your life, and everybody around you is

277
00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:14.559
<v Speaker 2>going to have many losses in there. There is no

278
00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:18.320
<v Speaker 2>loss without grief and pain, and when that happens, God

279
00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:21.679
<v Speaker 2>wants you to be an Asian University. Are you too

280
00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:24.960
<v Speaker 2>busy to notice the people who are grieving where you work?

281
00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:28.639
<v Speaker 2>Do you even know those who are grieving? Do you

282
00:16:28.679 --> 00:16:31.159
<v Speaker 2>even know enough about them on what's happening in the

283
00:16:31.200 --> 00:16:35.080
<v Speaker 2>losses in their life? The Bible says in Two Corinthians,

284
00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:39.039
<v Speaker 2>Chapter one, verse three and four. God comforts us in

285
00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:43.360
<v Speaker 2>our troubles, so that we can comfort others who are

286
00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:47.879
<v Speaker 2>in trouble with the same comfort that we ourselves received

287
00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:51.240
<v Speaker 2>from God. I want you to hear an example from Vicky.

288
00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:59.320
<v Speaker 2>Give her a warm welcome right now.

289
00:17:01.159 --> 00:17:06.160
<v Speaker 5>HI, look for people who are grieving and comfort them well.

290
00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:09.319
<v Speaker 5>When I was teaching aerobics, I had an elderly couple

291
00:17:09.880 --> 00:17:13.279
<v Speaker 5>in my low impact class. They were there every Wednesday

292
00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:17.079
<v Speaker 5>morning in the front row, smiling through the entire class.

293
00:17:17.880 --> 00:17:20.440
<v Speaker 5>Suddenly they were not there for a few weeks, and

294
00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:23.880
<v Speaker 5>I was concerned that they may have fallen ill. So

295
00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:26.960
<v Speaker 5>I tried to find out their condition, but I couldn't

296
00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:30.240
<v Speaker 5>find any information on them. When they returned, I could

297
00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:33.680
<v Speaker 5>see that something was heavy on their hearts. They were there,

298
00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:37.319
<v Speaker 5>but their smiles were missing. So I talked to them

299
00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:40.880
<v Speaker 5>after class, and they had told me that their adopted daughter,

300
00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:44.519
<v Speaker 5>an only child, had been killed in an automobile accident.

301
00:17:45.640 --> 00:17:48.880
<v Speaker 5>They were devastated and they were in deep grief, and

302
00:17:48.920 --> 00:17:53.240
<v Speaker 5>they were worried because they were the only relatives left

303
00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:58.240
<v Speaker 5>to raise their young granddaughter. This elderly couple asked me

304
00:17:58.359 --> 00:18:01.000
<v Speaker 5>how I got through the loss of my dad, and

305
00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:04.079
<v Speaker 5>I told them about my faith in Jesus and the

306
00:18:04.119 --> 00:18:07.480
<v Speaker 5>comfort he gives us and our grief. Of course, I

307
00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:10.400
<v Speaker 5>invited them to saddle Back Church and they loved it.

308
00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:15.960
<v Speaker 5>They loved it, they started to serve. It was wonderful,

309
00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:20.079
<v Speaker 5>surrounded by all the love and mercy we all feel here.

310
00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:24.559
<v Speaker 5>They both accepted the Lord very soon after. Over the years,

311
00:18:25.160 --> 00:18:29.359
<v Speaker 5>they were constantly thanking me for showing them mercy and

312
00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:34.279
<v Speaker 5>telling them about Jesus. A few years later, their granddaughter's

313
00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:39.559
<v Speaker 5>long lost father suddenly showed up to take their granddaughter

314
00:18:39.640 --> 00:18:43.720
<v Speaker 5>from them. This was another huge loss that they would

315
00:18:43.799 --> 00:18:47.039
<v Speaker 5>have to grieve, but this time they were grateful that

316
00:18:47.160 --> 00:18:51.000
<v Speaker 5>they had Jesus and our church family to comfort them

317
00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:56.160
<v Speaker 5>through that loss. So years later, the elderly wife grew

318
00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:58.559
<v Speaker 5>quite ill and she asked me to come to her

319
00:18:58.599 --> 00:19:02.680
<v Speaker 5>hospital room to talk to her visiting granddaughter about the Lord.

320
00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:07.920
<v Speaker 5>I felt totally unequipped for such a big responsibility, and

321
00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:12.119
<v Speaker 5>I went anyway, asking God to show me mercy. As

322
00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:14.559
<v Speaker 5>I walked through the hospital parking lot, my mind was

323
00:19:14.599 --> 00:19:18.160
<v Speaker 5>just scrambling with what I would say. For some reason,

324
00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:20.519
<v Speaker 5>I looked down at the ground and on the wet

325
00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:22.960
<v Speaker 5>parking lot was a familiar piece of paper that I'd

326
00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:26.160
<v Speaker 5>see hundreds hundreds of times. It was one of Pastor

327
00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:31.240
<v Speaker 5>Rick's sermon outlines that someone had evidently dropped and from

328
00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:34.960
<v Speaker 5>a saddleback message that was just that weekend. So I

329
00:19:35.079 --> 00:19:38.960
<v Speaker 5>picked it up and guess what I found? Just the

330
00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:42.240
<v Speaker 5>words that the Lord had for me. It included the

331
00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:46.680
<v Speaker 5>same verse, the same verse that is on our message

332
00:19:46.680 --> 00:19:51.960
<v Speaker 5>notes today. Second Corinthians one three through four says God

333
00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:54.839
<v Speaker 5>comforts us in our troubles so that we can comfort

334
00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:58.240
<v Speaker 5>others who are in trouble with the same comfort that

335
00:19:58.279 --> 00:20:02.279
<v Speaker 5>we ourselves received from God God. When I read that verse,

336
00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:06.680
<v Speaker 5>I started crying. It was God reminding me that when

337
00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:11.119
<v Speaker 5>we feel unworthy or unequipped to show mercy to others,

338
00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:15.839
<v Speaker 5>we're just not alone. God is with us, and he

339
00:20:15.880 --> 00:20:19.279
<v Speaker 5>will help us as we show that mercy. I now

340
00:20:19.319 --> 00:20:22.799
<v Speaker 5>walked into the hospital room with his words, not mine.

341
00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:26.720
<v Speaker 5>I still have the inkstate and outline as a reminder

342
00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:31.000
<v Speaker 5>to me. About a month later, Anne passed away and

343
00:20:31.079 --> 00:20:33.880
<v Speaker 5>went to heaven, and I had the privilege of helping

344
00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:37.599
<v Speaker 5>Pastor Glenn with her memorial service. I thank God for

345
00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:41.480
<v Speaker 5>the privilege of showing mercy to that elderly couple, knowing

346
00:20:42.599 --> 00:20:45.920
<v Speaker 5>that we will now be friends forever in heaven. And

347
00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:49.279
<v Speaker 5>I encourage you to show mercy to people that you can.

348
00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:54.400
<v Speaker 5>And by the way, here are my notes.

349
00:20:56.400 --> 00:21:05.440
<v Speaker 4>Thank you.

350
00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:08.799
<v Speaker 2>You know those sermon outlines are instructible. Make them. We

351
00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:11.920
<v Speaker 2>make them out of titanium, and only kryptonite can actually

352
00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:15.960
<v Speaker 2>cause them to do okay. Number four fourth way God

353
00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:18.400
<v Speaker 2>wants you to be an agent of mercy this week.

354
00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:24.319
<v Speaker 2>Look for people needing friends and show hospitality. Look for

355
00:21:24.400 --> 00:21:30.119
<v Speaker 2>people needing friends and show them hospitality. Now I'm talking

356
00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:33.279
<v Speaker 2>about people who are shy, people who are reticent, people

357
00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:36.240
<v Speaker 2>who are retiring, people who aren't the life of the party.

358
00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:40.000
<v Speaker 2>They might be socially awkward, they might feel uncomfortable in

359
00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:46.039
<v Speaker 2>social sittings, they settings, they might be unpopular. Everybody needs

360
00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:50.240
<v Speaker 2>friends in their life. God hates loneliness, and one of

361
00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:52.759
<v Speaker 2>the ways you can be an agent of mercy is

362
00:21:52.839 --> 00:21:56.279
<v Speaker 2>look for people who are lonely and love them and

363
00:21:56.400 --> 00:22:00.279
<v Speaker 2>just show them hospitality. Romans twelve, verse thirteen says this

364
00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:04.480
<v Speaker 2>look for opportunities to be hospitable.

365
00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:13.680
<v Speaker 1>Wow, what a great message from Rick today. You know

366
00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:15.759
<v Speaker 1>a lot of you already know that one of our

367
00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:18.920
<v Speaker 1>deepest needs is to feel peace in a world that

368
00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:24.279
<v Speaker 1>rarely slows down. But true, lasting, unshakable peace isn't found

369
00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:28.599
<v Speaker 1>in circumstances. It's found in Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

370
00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:33.039
<v Speaker 1>The Bible says his piece exceeds anything we can understand,

371
00:22:33.319 --> 00:22:35.720
<v Speaker 1>and one of the surest ways to draw close to

372
00:22:35.880 --> 00:22:39.599
<v Speaker 1>Jesus is by spending time in God's word. And that's

373
00:22:39.640 --> 00:22:43.359
<v Speaker 1>why Pastor Rick created a fifty two card scripture collection

374
00:22:43.640 --> 00:22:48.279
<v Speaker 1>called Experiencing God's Peace. You know as you read these verses,

375
00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:51.920
<v Speaker 1>you'll steady your heart on God's truth, let his peace

376
00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:55.599
<v Speaker 1>wash over you, and begin memorizing scriptures so that you

377
00:22:55.640 --> 00:22:58.240
<v Speaker 1>can recall it right when you need it most. And

378
00:22:58.319 --> 00:23:01.119
<v Speaker 1>these cards aren't just for you. You can use them

379
00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:04.160
<v Speaker 1>to encourage others. Give one to a friend and write

380
00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:07.079
<v Speaker 1>a personal note on the back. If a scripture speaks

381
00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:09.799
<v Speaker 1>to you, frame it. Place these cards where you can

382
00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:13.000
<v Speaker 1>see them throughout the day and be reminded that God

383
00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:17.279
<v Speaker 1>is with you. Request your set of Experiencing God's Scripture

384
00:23:17.319 --> 00:23:20.200
<v Speaker 1>cards when you give a gift to support daily hope

385
00:23:20.359 --> 00:23:23.319
<v Speaker 1>and help share the hope of Jesus with a world

386
00:23:23.359 --> 00:23:26.799
<v Speaker 1>in need. It's our way of saying thanks. Just go

387
00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:29.599
<v Speaker 1>to pastorick dot com to get your copy of this

388
00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:33.640
<v Speaker 1>great resource. That's pastorick dot com. Or you can just

389
00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:37.079
<v Speaker 1>text the word hope to seven oh three oh nine. Again,

390
00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:40.119
<v Speaker 1>that's the word hope to seven oh three oh nine.

391
00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:42.720
<v Speaker 1>Be sure to join us next time as we look

392
00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:46.240
<v Speaker 1>into God's word for our daily hope. This program is

393
00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:50.359
<v Speaker 1>sponsored by Pastor Rick's Daily Hope and your generous financial

394
00:23:50.440 --> 00:23:53.079
<v Speaker 1>support