WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.439 --> 00:00:06.200 Hello, and welcome to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. This is 2 00:00:06.280 --> 00:00:09.279 the Bible teaching ministry of Rick Warren. Hey, we're so 3 00:00:09.400 --> 00:00:13.359 glad you've joined us. Today, we're continuing a powerful series 4 00:00:13.439 --> 00:00:18.359 called Radicalis Developing Spiritual Roots. And in this series, Rick 5 00:00:18.440 --> 00:00:20.640 will show you how to grow deep in your faith, 6 00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:25.039 stay grounded in God's word, and become everything He created 7 00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:27.879 you to be. And now here's part two of a 8 00:00:27.920 --> 00:00:29.920 message called Radical Joy. 9 00:00:30.920 --> 00:00:32.159 What's heaven going to be like. 10 00:00:32.920 --> 00:00:35.880 You're gonna be reunified, reunion with the people you love. 11 00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:37.960 There's going to be rewards in heaven. 12 00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:40.600 There's gonna be rest, and there's gonna be responsibilities that 13 00:00:40.640 --> 00:00:42.679 you love to do. One of my favorite things in 14 00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:45.039 the Bible is that it tells us is that in heaven, 15 00:00:45.240 --> 00:00:48.880 I'm going to get a new body. Now, the truth 16 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:51.759 is the reason you were made, the reason the universe 17 00:00:51.799 --> 00:00:54.679 exists is God wanted a family, and he wanted that 18 00:00:54.679 --> 00:00:56.560 family to not just be with him here on earth, 19 00:00:56.600 --> 00:01:00.600 but to be with him forever, his forever family. The 20 00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:04.719 Bible says in advance, God already knew who would choose 21 00:01:04.760 --> 00:01:07.319 to accept him, and he still chose to make all 22 00:01:07.359 --> 00:01:10.439 of us. He gives us that choice. The Bible says 23 00:01:10.439 --> 00:01:13.120 this in Romans eight twenty nine. For God knew his 24 00:01:13.319 --> 00:01:16.280 people in advance, those who would want to be a 25 00:01:16.280 --> 00:01:18.840 part of his family. It's a choice, and He chose 26 00:01:18.920 --> 00:01:21.640 them then to become like his son, so that his 27 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:25.680 son would be the first born with many brothers and sisters. 28 00:01:25.719 --> 00:01:28.400 God is our father, Jesus is our older brother, and 29 00:01:28.439 --> 00:01:31.239 we are brothers and sisters in the family of God. 30 00:01:32.319 --> 00:01:32.879 No friends. 31 00:01:33.359 --> 00:01:36.599 If we just ended with those two things, and I said, 32 00:01:36.599 --> 00:01:38.120 that's all we're going to talk about this week, let's 33 00:01:38.159 --> 00:01:40.680 go home, and we just ended with that our sins 34 00:01:40.680 --> 00:01:43.560 have been completely forgiven and that we're going to have 35 00:01:43.599 --> 00:01:46.359 a permanent home in heaven, that would be enough to 36 00:01:46.439 --> 00:01:49.920 be joyful the rest of your life. If God never 37 00:01:49.959 --> 00:01:54.239 did another thing for you, you owe him your praise, 38 00:01:54.359 --> 00:01:57.959 you owe him your worship, and you have every reason 39 00:01:58.040 --> 00:02:01.159 for joy because number one, you live on under no condemnation, 40 00:02:01.560 --> 00:02:04.040 and number two, you're going to heaven when you die 41 00:02:04.400 --> 00:02:07.799 if you are in Christ. Now there's a third reason 42 00:02:07.799 --> 00:02:11.159 why we can be joyful in life no matter what happens. One, 43 00:02:11.360 --> 00:02:14.400 all my sins are forgiven, and number two, I'm going 44 00:02:14.439 --> 00:02:17.439 to heaven, and nothing's going to stop that. Number three 45 00:02:17.879 --> 00:02:21.520 if I'm in Christ. Third reason for radical joy, God 46 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:25.840 is working all things for good, all things. 47 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:26.159 For my good. 48 00:02:26.800 --> 00:02:28.680 Now, we talked about this a couple of weeks ago, 49 00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:31.479 and one of the messages where we looked word for 50 00:02:31.560 --> 00:02:34.719 word at Romans eight twenty eight, which is one of 51 00:02:34.719 --> 00:02:37.560 the great promises of the Bible. The Bible tells us 52 00:02:37.560 --> 00:02:41.599 that God doesn't make mistakes. We make mistakes, but God doesn't. 53 00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:43.400 And God says, you know what, I can even fit 54 00:02:43.479 --> 00:02:48.280 my mistakes in your mistakes into my plan. God says, 55 00:02:48.879 --> 00:02:52.080 My purpose for your life is bigger than your problems. 56 00:02:53.240 --> 00:02:56.439 And even when you make dumb decisions, and when other 57 00:02:56.520 --> 00:03:00.039 people make decisions, says, yeah, I can fit that into it. 58 00:03:00.439 --> 00:03:03.960 All for good. What a reason to be joyful. The 59 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:07.039 Bible says this in Romans eight twenty eight. We know 60 00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:11.879 that in all things, that's everything that happens in your life, 61 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:15.240 the good, the bad, the ugly. In all things, God 62 00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:19.759 works for the good. Not all things are good, but 63 00:03:19.800 --> 00:03:24.400 He works for the good of those who love him, 64 00:03:24.439 --> 00:03:28.159 those who've been called according to His purpose. Now, this 65 00:03:28.199 --> 00:03:30.280 is not a promise for everyone. We've talked about this 66 00:03:30.439 --> 00:03:34.039 for all things do not work together for good for everybody. 67 00:03:34.439 --> 00:03:37.680 If I'm living and rebellion against God, if I'm thumbing 68 00:03:37.680 --> 00:03:39.520 my nose to God, if I'm saying I'm going to 69 00:03:39.560 --> 00:03:42.120 be my own God, I reject Jesus Christ. 70 00:03:42.199 --> 00:03:44.159 I reject God's purpose for my life. 71 00:03:44.240 --> 00:03:45.759 I'm going to live my own life the way I 72 00:03:45.759 --> 00:03:47.919 want to. Then all things are working for bad in 73 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:52.639 my life. They're not working for good. God owes you nothing. 74 00:03:54.439 --> 00:03:56.120 But when you come to him and say, God, I 75 00:03:56.199 --> 00:03:59.479 want to live for your purpose. I don't always get 76 00:03:59.479 --> 00:04:01.520 it right, but I want to live for your purpose. 77 00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:04.039 I want to do the right thing, and I want 78 00:04:04.039 --> 00:04:05.759 to follow you, and I want to trust you. God says, 79 00:04:05.800 --> 00:04:07.919 you know what, Then I'm going to take everything in 80 00:04:07.960 --> 00:04:10.840 your life and I'll work it for good. 81 00:04:11.080 --> 00:04:14.479 That is a reason for joy. What does it mean? 82 00:04:14.680 --> 00:04:17.319 It means once I place my life in Christ's hands 83 00:04:17.319 --> 00:04:18.360 and I'm in Christ. 84 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:22.720 In Christ, my life is almost goof proof. 85 00:04:25.720 --> 00:04:27.600 What does that mean that I don't make bad decisions? 86 00:04:27.639 --> 00:04:29.920 Oh yeah, I still make bad decisions that other people 87 00:04:29.920 --> 00:04:30.439 don't make them. 88 00:04:30.439 --> 00:04:31.240 Oh yeah, they do too. 89 00:04:31.319 --> 00:04:33.199 But God says, you know what, I can fit that 90 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:39.480 into the plan. There is no plan b for your life. 91 00:04:40.079 --> 00:04:42.639 God says, I knew before you were born all the 92 00:04:42.680 --> 00:04:43.879 mistakes you were going to make. 93 00:04:44.040 --> 00:04:45.360 I still have it in your plan. 94 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:48.800 Yeah, I'll fit that into this allows me to be 95 00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:50.879 sovereign and allows you to have free choice at the 96 00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:55.480 same time, and I'll use it for good. Now what 97 00:04:55.519 --> 00:04:59.000 does that mean. It means I can relax. I can 98 00:04:59.040 --> 00:05:02.959 stop being angry anxious, which, by the way, anxiety is 99 00:05:03.000 --> 00:05:06.560 a killed joy. It is a thing that kills the joy. 100 00:05:06.680 --> 00:05:08.439 You can't be anxious. Am I making the right decision? 101 00:05:08.439 --> 00:05:10.000 Am I doing the right thing? Have I made the 102 00:05:10.079 --> 00:05:13.319 right decision? Am I gonna You're always fretting about that 103 00:05:14.319 --> 00:05:16.000 there's not going to be any joy in your life. 104 00:05:16.959 --> 00:05:18.519 But if you sit back and go, you know what, 105 00:05:19.160 --> 00:05:20.879 I'm going to do the best I can with what 106 00:05:20.959 --> 00:05:22.160 I have for Jesus today. 107 00:05:22.519 --> 00:05:24.399 But even if I. 108 00:05:24.040 --> 00:05:26.040 If I don't get it all right, God says, I'm 109 00:05:26.040 --> 00:05:27.439 going to still work it for good. 110 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:31.199 How cool is that? How cool? I mean? That is 111 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:32.639 a reason for joy. 112 00:05:33.600 --> 00:05:36.120 It is a reason for joy that no matter how 113 00:05:36.199 --> 00:05:38.920 bad things are in my life, I can know God 114 00:05:39.079 --> 00:05:43.800 is even using it for good. So how do I 115 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:48.360 be joyful even in tough times? Like this last year. Well, 116 00:05:48.360 --> 00:05:51.639 there are two things you do. First, you look past 117 00:05:51.959 --> 00:05:56.639 the problem. You look past the pain, and you look 118 00:05:56.920 --> 00:06:00.560 toward God and his solution. This, by the way, is 119 00:06:00.600 --> 00:06:04.120 how Jesus was able to endure the cross. How did 120 00:06:04.199 --> 00:06:07.600 Jesus put up with the pain, the agony, the suffering, 121 00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:09.959 and the cruel death of the cross. 122 00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:11.759 He looked beyond it. 123 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:15.279 The Bible says it like this in Hebrews chapter twelve, 124 00:06:16.240 --> 00:06:20.360 verse two. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus. That 125 00:06:20.439 --> 00:06:24.120 means focus focus on God, not your problem. Fix our 126 00:06:24.120 --> 00:06:27.480 eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. 127 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:29.959 He's using everything in your life to perfect your faith. 128 00:06:30.360 --> 00:06:33.600 Who for the joy set? There's that word, the joy 129 00:06:34.199 --> 00:06:39.399 set before him endured the cross? How did he endure 130 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:41.480 the cross? Because he looked past it to see the 131 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:43.399 joy of all the people who are going to be 132 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:47.560 saved through it. He looked past the pain and saw 133 00:06:47.720 --> 00:06:51.480 the purpose. He looked past the pain and saw God's plan. 134 00:06:51.800 --> 00:06:57.040 He looked past the pain and saw the reward. That's 135 00:06:57.079 --> 00:06:59.279 how you do it. When you're going through tough time, 136 00:06:59.319 --> 00:07:01.000 you go, yeah, you know, I don't like what's going 137 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:06.000 on right now. It doesn't it's terrible, But I know 138 00:07:06.120 --> 00:07:09.160 that God is working all things for good in my life, 139 00:07:09.720 --> 00:07:12.279 and that's the reason for joy. The second thing you 140 00:07:12.360 --> 00:07:15.879 do to experience joy no matter what happens, is that 141 00:07:15.920 --> 00:07:18.639 you keep on doing the right thing, even when you 142 00:07:18.680 --> 00:07:21.800 don't feel like doing it. When you do the right thing, 143 00:07:21.879 --> 00:07:25.480 it brings joy in your life. The Bible says this 144 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:27.000 in PSI one nineteen, Verse one, p. 145 00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:28.160 Forty three. 146 00:07:28.920 --> 00:07:33.120 As pressure and stress bear down on me, let me 147 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:37.519 stop right there. Does anybody identify with this verse? As 148 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:44.600 pressure and stress bear down on me? I find joy 149 00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:49.279 in watching television. Now, that's not what it says. 150 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:53.560 I find joy in going shopping. I find no. 151 00:07:53.639 --> 00:07:57.680 It says I find joy in your commands. Joy comes 152 00:07:57.680 --> 00:08:00.360 from doing the right thing at the right place time. 153 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:05.000 Years ago, Ricky wrote the song Heal and Grace, which 154 00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:08.800 says there's a line that says, and I can see 155 00:08:08.839 --> 00:08:13.639 that there are good things only suffering can bring. There's 156 00:08:13.639 --> 00:08:14.920 got to be a story behind that. 157 00:08:16.279 --> 00:08:16.560 Yeah. 158 00:08:16.959 --> 00:08:19.120 Years ago, I used to go and I still do this. 159 00:08:19.160 --> 00:08:22.079 I sneak into Pastor's library and I read through some 160 00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:24.639 of his great books that he's got there, and there 161 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:28.120 was a line from aw Towzer that said that very thing. 162 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:30.279 I can see that there are good things only suffering 163 00:08:31.079 --> 00:08:31.519 can bring. 164 00:08:31.560 --> 00:08:34.000 Now, let me ask you a question specifically about this. 165 00:08:34.759 --> 00:08:37.440 Most of us in the church family know that one 166 00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:41.039 of your boys was born with a congenital heart defect. 167 00:08:41.600 --> 00:08:43.080 He's had six. 168 00:08:44.440 --> 00:08:46.840 This August tenth was his sixth open. 169 00:08:46.759 --> 00:08:49.399 Sixth open heart surgery, every one of them life or death. 170 00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:52.440 I can see that they are good things only suffering 171 00:08:52.519 --> 00:08:55.919 can bring. What did you learn out of that? 172 00:08:57.440 --> 00:09:00.720 Well, first of all, I really appreciate all the prayers 173 00:09:00.759 --> 00:09:04.200 and the support from our church family. So you learn 174 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:10.159 that there's people that really believe and they support others 175 00:09:10.200 --> 00:09:18.440 and giving people. I learned that having God's presence in 176 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:22.799 my life is the most important thing that could ever have. 177 00:09:23.399 --> 00:09:26.240 That it does create a sense of joy and even 178 00:09:26.279 --> 00:09:31.320 in the midst of really difficult And that's all relative, 179 00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:33.320 isn't it, because we all go through different things. But 180 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:36.559 for me and this last one, we were there for 181 00:09:36.600 --> 00:09:40.080 twenty four days and he had a stroke and all 182 00:09:40.159 --> 00:09:43.919 kinds of complications, and the stress all around with the 183 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:47.559 different parents and many of them who lost their children. 184 00:09:49.759 --> 00:09:52.759 Having God's presence, just knowing that God was with me 185 00:09:52.960 --> 00:09:55.840 helped me to walk through this time. And I do 186 00:09:55.919 --> 00:09:58.039 want to say this that a lot of people they 187 00:09:58.039 --> 00:10:00.720 think God is a genie that you rub the lamp 188 00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:05.039 and you get what you want. More important than that, 189 00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:07.399 he gives you his presence. 190 00:10:07.440 --> 00:10:07.919 That's great. 191 00:10:08.440 --> 00:10:11.080 There's a fourth reason why we can always be joyful 192 00:10:11.120 --> 00:10:13.159 no matter what happens in our lives. 193 00:10:13.720 --> 00:10:14.879 And this is a big one. 194 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:20.559 The Bible says, if I'm in Christ, God is for me. 195 00:10:21.879 --> 00:10:26.000 God is for me. He's not just with me, He's 196 00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:29.279 for me. He's on my side. 197 00:10:29.799 --> 00:10:33.480 And the Bible says this in Romans eight, verse thirty one. 198 00:10:33.639 --> 00:10:37.440 What can we say about such wonderful things as these? 199 00:10:38.279 --> 00:10:42.879 If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 200 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:44.879 I mean, like, you got God on your side, what 201 00:10:44.919 --> 00:10:49.120 more do you need? One plus God equals a majority. 202 00:10:50.440 --> 00:10:52.799 If God likes you, and you like you. If others 203 00:10:52.840 --> 00:10:57.240 being don't like you, that's their problem. One plus God 204 00:10:57.279 --> 00:11:00.360 equals a majority. God says, if God is forced, who 205 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:07.240 can be against us? Psychologists have discovered that there are 206 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:11.519 six hundred and forty five different known fears that people 207 00:11:11.559 --> 00:11:11.960 can have. 208 00:11:12.679 --> 00:11:13.720 That's a lot of fears. 209 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:19.120 Fear is a universal problem, and fear like guilt, like shame, 210 00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:24.080 like anxiety is a killed joy. You cannot be afraid 211 00:11:24.840 --> 00:11:27.919 and full of joy at the same time. And yet 212 00:11:27.960 --> 00:11:30.919 God says, look, I'm on your side, I'm for you, 213 00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:33.320 I'm going to protect you. What are you worried about? 214 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:37.399 What are you afraid of? If God is forced, who 215 00:11:37.399 --> 00:11:42.159 can be against us? I wonder what your greatest fear is. 216 00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:43.360 Is it? I don't know. 217 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:51.799 The fear of embarrassment, the fear of death, the fear 218 00:11:51.840 --> 00:11:58.720 of losing your mind, maybe the fear of failure. Studies 219 00:11:58.720 --> 00:12:01.759 have shown that one of the most common universal fears 220 00:12:01.879 --> 00:12:05.679 is the fear of rejection. Now comes out in a 221 00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:08.240 lot of different ways. The fear of not being loved, 222 00:12:08.840 --> 00:12:12.799 the fear of disapproval, the fear of disappointing people, the 223 00:12:12.840 --> 00:12:16.360 fear of embarrassing yourself, the fear of not fitting in, 224 00:12:16.759 --> 00:12:18.879 the fear of not being a part of the crowd, 225 00:12:19.159 --> 00:12:21.200 the fear of not being like, the fear of not 226 00:12:21.320 --> 00:12:26.600 being popular. It is the fear of rejection, and Satan 227 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:31.799 uses this fear to rob you of your joy. Satan 228 00:12:31.879 --> 00:12:35.759 knows all the things that will make you joyful, so 229 00:12:35.799 --> 00:12:39.639 he tries to create a fear that opposes it. For instance, 230 00:12:39.879 --> 00:12:43.559 Satan knows that doing the right thing will always bring 231 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:46.600 you joy in your life. So he makes you afraid 232 00:12:46.840 --> 00:12:49.399 if I do the right thing, other people will think 233 00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:52.639 I'm weird. If I do the right thing, I won't 234 00:12:52.679 --> 00:12:55.200 be popular. If I do the right thing, people will 235 00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:57.919 think I'm a religious fanatic. If I do the right thing, 236 00:12:57.960 --> 00:12:59.200 people will think I'm nuts. 237 00:12:59.240 --> 00:13:01.200 I do this. 238 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:04.799 He's trying to get you afraid so you won't do it. 239 00:13:05.799 --> 00:13:08.600 Satan knows that one of the greatest sources of joy 240 00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:11.879 in life is when you share Jesus Christ and the 241 00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:15.440 love of Christ with an unbeliever. It creates enormous joy. 242 00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:19.919 So it's your also your greatest fear. You're afraid to 243 00:13:19.960 --> 00:13:23.440 talk to anybody about Jesus. Why because Satan put that 244 00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:27.120 fear there to keep you from the greatest joy. And 245 00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:30.200 you'll think, well, man, people think I'm nuts. And he 246 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:33.240 creates a fear to keep you away from the very 247 00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:35.480 things that bring you the most joy. It's why you're 248 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:39.759 so afraid to share Jesus with others, the fear of rejection. 249 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:45.679 Satan knows that speaking the truth in love brings joy, 250 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:48.080 and so he's going to make you afraid to speak 251 00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:52.200 the truth. And he'll say well, how can you tell 252 00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:55.759 anybody else that truth? Look at your life, You're not perfect, 253 00:13:56.200 --> 00:14:00.399 and he'll start accusing you. And if he'll say, you know, 254 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:02.840 if you talk to other people about doing the right 255 00:14:02.840 --> 00:14:04.559 thing and say well, who are you, and they'll start 256 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:06.840 accusing you all the things that are bad in your life. 257 00:14:07.960 --> 00:14:10.720 Here's what the Bible says about that Romans eight thirty three. 258 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:16.039 Who can accuse the people of God? The people God 259 00:14:16.080 --> 00:14:20.720 has chosen? No one, because God is the one who 260 00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:24.440 makes them right. Now, doesn't it say you're perfect? Doesn't 261 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:26.840 mean you don't sin. When he says, who can accuse you? 262 00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:29.039 No one? Because God makes them right? What you do 263 00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:29.919 is somebody says. 264 00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:31.879 But you can't talk about that you did this, this 265 00:14:31.919 --> 00:14:33.399 and this, and you say, yep. 266 00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:34.720 I'm a trophy of grace. 267 00:14:37.159 --> 00:14:39.759 When somebody starts to accuse you of all the things 268 00:14:39.799 --> 00:14:41.919 you've done wrong, and you're right, say yep, I'm a 269 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:47.360 trophy of grace. Okay, I'm not perfect, but God is 270 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:51.480 I'm under no condemnation because I deserve it. 271 00:14:51.559 --> 00:14:54.080 No, because I'm a trophy of grace. 272 00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:58.600 You know, God says, I want you to get over 273 00:14:58.679 --> 00:15:02.759 this fear of reject the Bible says in the world, 274 00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:06.320 you will have persecution. He said, count on it. The 275 00:15:06.360 --> 00:15:09.879 Bible says, beware when all men speak. 276 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:10.039 Well of you. 277 00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:13.840 In other words, if people are always nobody ever says 278 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:16.360 anything against you, it means runs things that you're not 279 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:21.080 standing for anything. Beware when all men speak well of you. 280 00:15:21.159 --> 00:15:24.159 The Bible says, all who live godly in Christ Jesus 281 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:28.720 will experience persecution. Why because there are some people in 282 00:15:28.759 --> 00:15:31.360 the world who are one hundred percent opposed to what 283 00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:32.320 you believe. 284 00:15:34.039 --> 00:15:36.519 They are. I don't know if you'd noticed this or not. 285 00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:37.799 I get criticized a lot. 286 00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:44.200 Have you noticed this TV, radio, newspaper? 287 00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:47.679 Well? Why is that? Well? 288 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:52.759 One reason is I deserve some of it. Nobody's perfect, 289 00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:55.600 so there's something to criticize about everybody. 290 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:57.120 So some of the stuff I deserve. 291 00:15:58.080 --> 00:16:02.039 But also I am a face that represents what some 292 00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:06.600 people are adamantly opposed to, and so they're going to criticize. 293 00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:11.720 Now let's take the last one. God works everything for good. 294 00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:15.840 How does God work everything for good when you're being criticized. 295 00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:17.559 Oh, there's lots of ways. 296 00:16:18.440 --> 00:16:22.519 For one thing, it's an opportunity for me and for 297 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:27.000 you to grow to be more like Christ. You see, 298 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:31.639 you are most like Christ when you were silent in 299 00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:37.799 the face of false criticism. You're most like Christ when 300 00:16:37.799 --> 00:16:41.360 you are silent and you refuse to retaliate in the 301 00:16:41.399 --> 00:16:45.200 face of criticism. Jesus was a perfect person. None of 302 00:16:45.320 --> 00:16:49.080 us are. And yet he was constantly criticized, constantly misunderstood, 303 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:54.679 constantly lied about. Constantly they condemned him, and at the crucifixion, 304 00:16:55.039 --> 00:16:59.919 before that, at the arrest, they were accusing of all 305 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:03.559 all these things that he had never done. And it says, 306 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:09.920 and Jesus spake not a word unto them. He remains silent. 307 00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:12.720 Why if God is for us, who can be against us? 308 00:17:12.839 --> 00:17:15.920 He really doesn't matter what other people think. What matters 309 00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:18.440 is what God says about you. And that's what's going 310 00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:21.400 to last in the long run. In fact, the Bible 311 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:24.359 says this on the screen Matthew twenty seven fourteen. 312 00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:29.279 Jesus made no reply even to a. 313 00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:32.279 Single charge, all the trumped up charges and all the 314 00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:35.759 things against him, to the great amazement of the governor. 315 00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:36.240 Who is pilot. 316 00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:44.319 When you respond to accusations with love and kindness and 317 00:17:44.359 --> 00:17:47.640 refuse to retaliate, it makes you more like Jesus. 318 00:17:48.359 --> 00:17:51.440 That's a good thing. God brings good in that. You know. 319 00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:53.519 I was about a year ago praying about this, and 320 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:56.359 I said, Lord, I understand the good. That doesn't mean 321 00:17:56.359 --> 00:17:58.680 does it help anybody else? And God says, if you 322 00:17:58.799 --> 00:18:03.039 can be a model of how criticism cannot rob you 323 00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:05.200 of your joy, that's a good thing. 324 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:09.599 Nobody can rob me of my joy. 325 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:13.960 It doesn't matter what other people say, doesn't matter what 326 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:16.960 other people think, doesn't matter whether they're right, they're wrong, 327 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:21.000 they're ridiculous, or whatever. Nobody can rob me of my joy. 328 00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:23.160 Let me give you a little advice, as your pastor 329 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:27.119 who loves you, You'll never be able to please everybody. 330 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:30.000 Just about the time you get crowd a, please, crowd 331 00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:33.559 B gets ticked off, and about the time you get proud, 332 00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:36.359 crowd B please, crowda gets ticked off. One minute you're 333 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:39.880 the hero, the next minute you're the zero. But here's 334 00:18:39.880 --> 00:18:43.680 the good news. You don't need other people's approval to 335 00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:48.240 be happy. If you've been spending your life still trying 336 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:51.519 to earn the approval of your dad or your mom, 337 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:54.759 or your friends, or your peers or some teacher in 338 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:58.640 the past and prove them wrong, that's stupid. If you 339 00:18:58.759 --> 00:19:01.440 haven't gotten their approval. If I now, you're not gonna 340 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:05.000 get it. And it's not your fault, it's their fault. 341 00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:09.519 But here's the good news. You don't need it. You 342 00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:13.599 don't need the approval of anybody to be joyful. You 343 00:19:13.640 --> 00:19:16.359 don't need the approval of anybody to be happy. All 344 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:17.519 you need to do is live. 345 00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:19.720 For an audience of one for God. 346 00:19:20.839 --> 00:19:22.839 And if God likes you and you're doing, and He 347 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:25.400 likes what you're doing, then it's always the right thing 348 00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:30.240 to do, not only that you're gonna be rewarded in eternity. 349 00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:33.880 Do you remember the last beatitude we covered when we 350 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:39.359 went through life's healing choices. It goes like this, Blessed 351 00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:42.920 are you. That means happy, Happy are you? When men 352 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:47.559 shall revile you, That means put you down and persecute you, 353 00:19:48.359 --> 00:19:53.039 and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my. 354 00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:59.079 Sake, rejoice. There's the word rejoice, Joy, Rejoice. 355 00:19:58.759 --> 00:20:02.799 And be exceeding overflowing joy, For great as your reward 356 00:20:03.079 --> 00:20:08.279 in heaven. That's a good thing. This is what Jesus 357 00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:11.000 told us. He said, in the world, you'll have tribulation. 358 00:20:12.359 --> 00:20:14.200 They said, you don't have to worry about it because 359 00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:17.039 I love you. In fact, Romans eight thirty seven says this, 360 00:20:17.640 --> 00:20:22.839 none of this phases us, because Jesus loves us. Don't 361 00:20:22.920 --> 00:20:27.799 ever let anybody rob your joy. Don't ever let anybody 362 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:28.640 take it away from you. 363 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.680 They don't have a right to. 364 00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:34.200 Now. Jesus also said this on the screen. I say 365 00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:37.440 these things while I'm still in the world, so that 366 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:40.319 they That means all of us, the followers, may have 367 00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:45.799 the full measure of my joy within them. Did you 368 00:20:45.880 --> 00:20:48.960 know that Jesus prayed that you would have the full 369 00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:54.200 measure of the joy he had inside you. That's extravagant joy, 370 00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:58.480 that's irrational joy, that's exuberant joy. 371 00:20:58.640 --> 00:21:00.960 That's on speakable joy. 372 00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:10.640 What a special message from Pastor Rick. And now let's 373 00:21:10.680 --> 00:21:14.319 hear how lives are changing through Daily Hope. Here's Rick 374 00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:16.920 with a letter from one of our listeners today. 375 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:19.400 I've got a quick note from a listener in Minneapolis. 376 00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:21.759 His name is Bill, and Bill wrote to me, Rick, 377 00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:24.160 I want to let you know that I prayed with 378 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:26.880 you this morning, accepting God into my life. 379 00:21:27.559 --> 00:21:28.680 Wow. That's great. 380 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:31.279 Daily Hope has become the way that I start each 381 00:21:31.400 --> 00:21:35.480 day listening to your podcast so much has changed in 382 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:38.400 my life over the past year. I had a job loss, 383 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:41.039 I had a transition, I had a divorce, my dad 384 00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:46.279 passed away, cancer, and my faith all in the same year. 385 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:49.079 I'm so thankful for all that you do well. 386 00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:51.559 Bill, I want to tell you, I know you've been 387 00:21:51.559 --> 00:21:54.279 going through some really tough times this past year, but 388 00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:57.519 there's no greater news than hearing that you've accepted Jesus 389 00:21:57.559 --> 00:21:59.519 into your life. And the fact that God used a 390 00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:03.079 Daily Hope podcast to lead you to Him is such 391 00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:05.759 a blessing. And I want you to know that as 392 00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:09.240 you continue to study God's word every day, you're going 393 00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:12.000 to find that your faith is growing and you'll see 394 00:22:12.039 --> 00:22:15.279 God actively working in your life. And I really am 395 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:18.240 as excited to think about what the next year is 396 00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:20.759 going to bring. Year two in your life will be 397 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:24.240 very different than the last year. And to the rest 398 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:27.200 of you, all of our Daily Hope listeners, I just 399 00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:29.519 want to thank you because we're able to provide the 400 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:33.799 Daily Hope podcast to people like Bill because of your 401 00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:36.519