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<v Speaker 1>This is Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, the Bible teaching ministry

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<v Speaker 1>of Pastor Rick Warren. Today we continue in a series

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<v Speaker 1>called the Awesome Power of Vision. In these lessons, Pastor

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<v Speaker 1>Rick shows us how to pursue God's amazing vision for

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<v Speaker 1>each of our lives so that we can see our

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<v Speaker 1>future with faith and not fear. But first, do you

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<v Speaker 1>ever feel like you've lost your spark your joy? In

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<v Speaker 1>just a few moments, We're going to tell you about

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<v Speaker 1>an exciting new resource that will deepen your relationship with

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<v Speaker 1>God and restore your joy. You can take a sneak

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<v Speaker 1>peek right now by going to Pastororick dot com while

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<v Speaker 1>you listen, and if you want, you can just text

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<v Speaker 1>the word Daily to eight hundred, six hundred five thousand

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<v Speaker 1>and four to find out more. Right now, here's Pastor

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<v Speaker 1>Rick Warren with the final part of a message called

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<v Speaker 1>My part in fulfilling Christ's Vision.

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<v Speaker 2>Colossians three fourteen says this, most of all, let love

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<v Speaker 2>guide your life, for then the whole church will stay

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<v Speaker 2>together in perfect harmony. What's skeets my rocket science? Let

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<v Speaker 2>love like guide your life. One Peter four to eight

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<v Speaker 2>says this powerful in the message love each other as

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<v Speaker 2>if your life depended on it. Do you do that?

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<v Speaker 2>You do that with other Christians. You love each other's

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<v Speaker 2>if your life depends on it. Love makes up for

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<v Speaker 2>practically anything, you know. I found that to be true

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<v Speaker 2>that Saddle Backed Church. When we had no buildings, we

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<v Speaker 2>had no money, we had no we had no big programs,

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<v Speaker 2>we had no large staff. You know, we had a

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<v Speaker 2>tent on a moonscape and that was about it, And

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<v Speaker 2>yet thousands came. Why because people want to be where

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<v Speaker 2>love is. If you have a church that genuinely loves people,

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<v Speaker 2>genuinely loves each other, you'd have to lock the door

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<v Speaker 2>to keep people out. People don't come because of a

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<v Speaker 2>fancy program or a fancy preaching or fancy this or that.

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<v Speaker 2>They come because their lives are changed by love. Finally,

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<v Speaker 2>let me give you one other principle. Then, I think

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<v Speaker 2>we all need to work on this year because we're

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<v Speaker 2>in an age where there's more division going on in society.

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<v Speaker 2>We just have to insulate ourselves from all of that

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<v Speaker 2>conflict and love each other because if people like what

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<v Speaker 2>they see in us, they'll listen to what we say.

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<v Speaker 2>So let me give you one other principle from God's

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<v Speaker 2>word that you can use to be an agent of unity,

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<v Speaker 2>an agent of reconciliation. Number four Here it is offer

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<v Speaker 2>encouragement instead of criticism. All right, just when you're talking

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<v Speaker 2>to people, offer encouragement instead of criticism. That is so counterculture.

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<v Speaker 2>Our culture doesn't offer encouragement. It offers criticism. That's all

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<v Speaker 2>it offers. People make a living being critics. Nobody makes

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<v Speaker 2>a living being an encourager. Romans fourteen, verses nineteen and

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<v Speaker 2>twenty says this in the message, let's use all our energy. Okay, listen,

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<v Speaker 2>let's use all our energy in getting along with each other.

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<v Speaker 2>You want to direct your energy in the right way.

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<v Speaker 2>Use all our energy and getting along with each other.

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<v Speaker 2>Help each other by using encouraging words. Help each other

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<v Speaker 2>by using encouraging words. Don't drag others down by finding fault. Okay,

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<v Speaker 2>more encouragement, less criticism. Don't drag each other down by

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<v Speaker 2>by just finding fault. Now, I know what you're thinking,

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<v Speaker 2>you say, Rick, I am all for encouragement. But what

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<v Speaker 2>do you do when something is wrong and everybody knows

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<v Speaker 2>it and it's just wrong? Do you ignore it? You

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<v Speaker 2>don't criticize it, You ignore it. The answer is, of

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<v Speaker 2>course not, but listen, And this is the mark of leadership.

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<v Speaker 2>You can learn the skill of sharing a rebuke or

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<v Speaker 2>pointing out a problem in a positive way. That's a skill. Okay,

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<v Speaker 2>you can always learn how to share a rebuke or

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<v Speaker 2>point out a negative make a critique, but you say

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<v Speaker 2>it in such a positive way that they're able to

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<v Speaker 2>receive it. See, there's always two ways to say something.

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<v Speaker 2>You can say it the nice way, and you can

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<v Speaker 2>say it the not nice way. You've always got a choice.

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<v Speaker 2>It is possible to speak a difficult truth in a

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<v Speaker 2>positive way. I do it every whey, and I could

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<v Speaker 2>teach you how to do that too. And over the

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<v Speaker 2>past thirty forty years, I've taught a lot of pastors,

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<v Speaker 2>literally hundreds of thousands of them around the world how

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<v Speaker 2>to do it, how to talk about a negative concept

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<v Speaker 2>in a positive way. One of my questions that I

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<v Speaker 2>use in preparing a message, and I teach this in

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<v Speaker 2>the preaching seminar, is what is the most positive way

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<v Speaker 2>to say it? Why? Why would you be interested in

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<v Speaker 2>saying it in a positive way. Well, if you're interested

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<v Speaker 2>in being persuasive, then you're going to need to learn

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<v Speaker 2>that skill. Why, Because the Bible says it. Proverbs sixteen,

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<v Speaker 2>verse twenty one says this, a wise, mature person is

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<v Speaker 2>known for his understanding. The more pleasant his words, the

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<v Speaker 2>more persuasive he is. That's scripture, that's the Bible. The

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<v Speaker 2>more pleasant your words, the more persuasive you'll be. You

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<v Speaker 2>might write this down. I am never persuasive when I'm abrasive.

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<v Speaker 2>All right, I'm never persuasive when I'm abrasive. If I

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<v Speaker 2>say something offensively, it will be received defensively. If I

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<v Speaker 2>wanted to, I could get up here every week and

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<v Speaker 2>put you on the defense in about thirty seconds and

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<v Speaker 2>just tell you all the things you're doing wrong. Yeah,

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<v Speaker 2>you're right, that doesn't change anybody. Telling it like it

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<v Speaker 2>is doesn't change anybody telling it like it could be.

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<v Speaker 2>Does telling it like could be speaking preaching, teaching for faith? Now,

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<v Speaker 2>I'll be honest with you, it's not hard to be

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<v Speaker 2>negative when so much of our culture is negative. I mean, really,

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<v Speaker 2>you're bombarded with a continual diet of criticisms and attacks

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<v Speaker 2>and slanders and militias talk on all the cable news channels.

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<v Speaker 2>We don't have news anymore on cable. We have three

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<v Speaker 2>hours of opinion every night on every channel, just different opinions,

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<v Speaker 2>and they're stereotyping, and that hominin attacks on people every

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<v Speaker 2>single night on TV and every day on talk radio.

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<v Speaker 2>So we live like fish in a culture of seawater.

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<v Speaker 2>We live in a culture of negativity. And it's always

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<v Speaker 2>easier to stand on the sidelines and take shots than

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<v Speaker 2>it is to get involved and make a contribution. But

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<v Speaker 2>God warns us over and over and over not to criticize,

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<v Speaker 2>not to compare, not to judge each other. He says

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<v Speaker 2>that literally one hundred times in scripture. Now you may

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<v Speaker 2>not realize this, but when you criticize another believer who

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<v Speaker 2>is doing something in faith, and you criticize what another

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<v Speaker 2>believer is doing in faith and from a sincere heart

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<v Speaker 2>and conviction, you're actually interfering with God's business. Did you

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<v Speaker 2>know that when you criticize another fellow Christian, a brother

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<v Speaker 2>or sister in Christ who, to the best of their knowledge,

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<v Speaker 2>they're doing what they're doing in faith. Maybe you don't

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<v Speaker 2>like it, maybe you think it's wrong, but they're doing

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<v Speaker 2>it in faith with a clear conscience, and you criticize them,

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<v Speaker 2>you are interfering with God's business. That's Romans fourteen. Romans fourteen,

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<v Speaker 2>verse four says this, what right do you have to

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<v Speaker 2>criticize somebody else's servants? They're not your servant, They're God's servant.

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<v Speaker 2>God says, what right do you have to criticize somebody

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<v Speaker 2>else's servant? Only the Lord can decide if they are

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<v Speaker 2>doing right.

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<v Speaker 1>You're listening to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. Rick will be

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<v Speaker 1>back in just a moment with the rest of today's lesson.

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<v Speaker 1>If you've missed any part of today's teaching, you can

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<v Speaker 1>listen online anytime at past tim That's pastorick dot com.

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<v Speaker 3>How do you feel spiritually right now? Maybe you feel

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<v Speaker 3>spiritually dry, like you're in a desert, or like you're

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<v Speaker 3>just going through the motions. Maybe you've lost your spark,

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<v Speaker 3>your joy. God knows how you feel right now. You

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<v Speaker 3>are not alone. He knows even David and the Bible

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<v Speaker 3>felt like that and Jeremiah twenty nine thirteen. God says,

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<v Speaker 3>you will seek Me and find Me when you seek

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<v Speaker 3>Me with all your heart. When you seek God intentionally,

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<v Speaker 3>it leads to a renewal of your relationship with him.

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<v Speaker 3>That's why Pastor Rick created a very special, brand new

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<v Speaker 3>resource called Going Deeper with God a personal Renewal Retreat,

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<v Speaker 3>and it he'll personally leave you on a spiritual journey

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<v Speaker 3>to help you seek God. Together, you and Pastor Rick

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<v Speaker 3>will go through a series of audio lessons and after

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<v Speaker 3>each session you'll take a little time and to complete

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<v Speaker 3>exercises in the Companion workbook. You can do this at

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<v Speaker 3>home in short sessions, or you can get away for

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<v Speaker 3>a day and do it in one sitting. Through this retreat,

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<v Speaker 3>you'll experience a renewal of life within you. God will

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<v Speaker 3>restore your joy. As he renews, refreshes, invigorates, and revives

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<v Speaker 3>your spiritual life, You'll never be the same again. Will

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<v Speaker 3>send you Going Deeper with God a Personal Renewal Retreat

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<v Speaker 3>as our way of saying thanks when you give a

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<v Speaker 3>gift today to help daily hope, share the hope of

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<v Speaker 3>Jesus with a hurting world. Just call eight hundred and

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<v Speaker 3>six hundred at five zero zero four or go to

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<v Speaker 3>Pastorick dot com to get your copy of this great resource.

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<v Speaker 3>That's eight hundred at six hundred, five zero zero four

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<v Speaker 3>or Pastorick dot com.

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<v Speaker 2>Once again, here's Rick Romans fourteen, verse ten. Here's what

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<v Speaker 2>it says Phillip's translation, Why do you criticize your brother's actions?

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<v Speaker 2>Why do you try to make him look small? We'll

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<v Speaker 2>all be judged one day, not by each other's standards,

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<v Speaker 2>or even by our own, but by the judgment of God.

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<v Speaker 2>Do you know that when I judge you, if you're

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<v Speaker 2>a believer, or when I judge any other believer, four

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<v Speaker 2>things instantly happen. The Bible says this. Number one, I

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<v Speaker 2>lose fellowship with God. Number two, I expose my own

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<v Speaker 2>pride and insecurity. Number three, I set myself up to

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<v Speaker 2>be judged by God. And number four I harm the

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<v Speaker 2>fellowship of the church. All of those are in the

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<v Speaker 2>Book of Romans. A critical spirit is a costly advice.

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<v Speaker 2>You advice you can't you can't afford it. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>the Bible calls Satan the accuser of the brethren, the

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<v Speaker 2>accuser of our brothers and sisters, and that's in Revelation twelve,

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<v Speaker 2>verse ten. But in that it's the devil's job to blame,

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<v Speaker 2>to complain, it's the devil's job to criticize members of

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<v Speaker 2>God's own family, which means when I do that or

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<v Speaker 2>when you do that, we're being duped into doing Satan's

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<v Speaker 2>work for him because he's the accuser of Christians. And

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<v Speaker 2>when I accuse other Christians, when I criticize and I

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<v Speaker 2>judge other Christians, when you do that, you're basically Satan

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<v Speaker 2>takes a holiday. Well, I don't need to do that.

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<v Speaker 2>They're doing it for me. You're being the accuser. Remember,

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<v Speaker 2>other Christians, no matter how much you disagree with them,

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<v Speaker 2>are not the real enemy. Anytime we spend comparing or

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<v Speaker 2>criticizing our fellow believers is time that should have been

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<v Speaker 2>spent building up the unity of our fellowship. Now, I've

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<v Speaker 2>got a lot more I can say about this, but

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<v Speaker 2>our time's up. There at least a dozen more principles

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<v Speaker 2>I could teach you about being an asient of unity,

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<v Speaker 2>but times up. So let me sum it up with

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<v Speaker 2>just two more verses. And in many ways, these two

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<v Speaker 2>verses represent the two different choices that you have today

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<v Speaker 2>and that you have every day, every single day of

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<v Speaker 2>your life. You choose which of these verses you're going

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<v Speaker 2>to do now. The first choice is to live a

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<v Speaker 2>self centered life, not worry about those who we heard,

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<v Speaker 2>and walk around being critical and judgmental of other people,

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<v Speaker 2>even other Christians. The second choice is to live a

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<v Speaker 2>Christ centered life instead of a self centered life that

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<v Speaker 2>cares about what He cares about. Most that we learn

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<v Speaker 2>how to really love. Let me show you the two verses.

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<v Speaker 2>First one is Galatians Chapter five. Galatians five, verses thirteen

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<v Speaker 2>to fifteen says this, you have been called to live

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<v Speaker 2>in freedom. You've been called to live in freedom. Not

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<v Speaker 2>freedom to indulge your selfish nature, though, but freedom to serve.

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<v Speaker 2>Freedom to serve each other in love. God's entire law

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<v Speaker 2>is summed up in this phrase. Love your neighbor as yourself.

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<v Speaker 2>But if you keep biting, this is scripture I'm reading.

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<v Speaker 2>If you keep biting and devouring each other and tearing

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<v Speaker 2>each other apart, I call them cannibal Christians, you will

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<v Speaker 2>be destroyed by each other. You know what's sad is

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<v Speaker 2>that verse describes a lot of Christians in culture today.

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<v Speaker 2>A lot of Christians are as mean and demeaning and vitriolic.

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<v Speaker 2>And what they put in the comment sections of social media,

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<v Speaker 2>you'd expect it from non believers. But what's happened is

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<v Speaker 2>the Gospel is not penetrated to character. But there is

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<v Speaker 2>an alternative, and it's this next verse. First Peter three

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<v Speaker 2>eight First Peter three eight NIV says this, let me

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<v Speaker 2>sum it up. For all of you live in harmony

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<v Speaker 2>with each other. And then he says, how we live

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<v Speaker 2>in harmony. Be sympathetic, love each other as family, have compassion,

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<v Speaker 2>and be humble. Okay, he says, the way you live

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<v Speaker 2>in harmony with each other is these four things. You

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<v Speaker 2>be sympathetic, you love each other's family, you have compassion,

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<v Speaker 2>and you be humble. Peter gives us four essential qualities

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<v Speaker 2>that we all need to work on this year in

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<v Speaker 2>this culture. He says, they're the keys to living in

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<v Speaker 2>harmony with Christians that you disagree with. They're the keys

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<v Speaker 2>to maintaining unity in the church that God expects us

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<v Speaker 2>to protect. Peter tells us that we will get to enjoy. Listen,

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<v Speaker 2>we get to enjoy all the benefits of a united church,

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<v Speaker 2>a unified church if we do four things. And by

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<v Speaker 2>the way, when the church is as unified as the

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<v Speaker 2>Book of Acts, then you have the power and the

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<v Speaker 2>miracles of Acts. But he says, it takes four things

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<v Speaker 2>to enjoy the benefits that God wants to give us

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<v Speaker 2>and give our church. Number one, if we sympathize with

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<v Speaker 2>each other, set of criticize or antagonize or polarize over

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<v Speaker 2>our differences. If we value the most, the thing we

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<v Speaker 2>value the most is our relationship to each other in

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<v Speaker 2>God's eternal family, instead of any other identity, which isn't

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<v Speaker 2>going to last. All those others are temporary. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>I said this to somebody the other day. I am

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<v Speaker 2>a six foot to white male American overweight, but I

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<v Speaker 2>have more in common with a five foot Asian woman

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<v Speaker 2>who's a Christian than I do with a six foot

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<v Speaker 2>two and a half white guy who's an American. Why

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<v Speaker 2>because he's not going to heaven. He's not my brother.

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<v Speaker 2>She is my sister for eternity. I'm already a family

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<v Speaker 2>member with her. So it has nothing to do with

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<v Speaker 2>the externals. It has everything to do with the heart.

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<v Speaker 2>And that's the next one. He says, if we show compassion,

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<v Speaker 2>if we show compassion instead of derision, if we show

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<v Speaker 2>compassion instead of condescension, if we show compassion instead of division,

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<v Speaker 2>then we'll have the benefits of unity. And then he says,

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<v Speaker 2>if we act with humility, we act with humility instead

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<v Speaker 2>of with inflexibility, instead of with irritability, instead of with animosity,

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<v Speaker 2>I ended the message last week the first half of

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<v Speaker 2>this message on unity with a question and I and

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<v Speaker 2>a point that you probably haven't thought about, and I

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<v Speaker 2>want to say it again. Jesus is still waiting for

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<v Speaker 2>us to be the answer to his prayer. The last

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<v Speaker 2>thing Jesus said before he went to the cross is, Father,

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<v Speaker 2>may they be one? Where anything but that the church

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<v Speaker 2>is not one. It's divided. It's divided by politics, it's

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<v Speaker 2>divided by racism, it's divided by all kinds of different stuff.

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<v Speaker 2>Jesus is still waiting for his prayer to be answered.

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<v Speaker 2>Will we be that generation that answers the prayer, the

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<v Speaker 2>prayer that they may be one as we are one? Father?

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<v Speaker 2>Will we be that? I'm in? I'm in. I hope

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<v Speaker 2>you are too. Let's bow our heads. Father, We've looked

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<v Speaker 2>at a lot of scriptures today. We want your church

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<v Speaker 2>to not be a thermometer that just looks like the

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<v Speaker 2>same thing in culture and just registers what everybody else

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<v Speaker 2>is doing around us. We want to be a thermostat.

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<v Speaker 2>We want to set the culture. We want to change

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<v Speaker 2>the culture. We want to be able to turn in

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<v Speaker 2>the temperature up or down. We don't want to be thermometers.

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<v Speaker 2>We want to be thermostats, and the only way we're

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<v Speaker 2>going to do that is if we do it together.

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<v Speaker 2>So I pray that we would have a new commitment

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<v Speaker 2>to love each other, regardless of our background, of our race,

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<v Speaker 2>of our politics, of our economic status, of our gender,

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<v Speaker 2>of all the different things that on the surface divide us.

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<v Speaker 2>Help us to realize that the only thing that's going

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<v Speaker 2>to last in the entire universe is your church. Your

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<v Speaker 2>family is the reason you created the universe, and we

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<v Speaker 2>are part of that. Thank you for that privilege. Help

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<v Speaker 2>us to love the real Church, not the ideal church.

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<v Speaker 2>Now you pray in your heart. If there's something you say, Lord,

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<v Speaker 2>I want to be more loving, say that to him.

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<v Speaker 2>I want to be more loving. I want to be

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<v Speaker 2>an agent of unity. I don't want to be a divider.

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<v Speaker 2>I want to be a unifier. If you've never invited

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<v Speaker 2>Christ into your life, He's the one who starts making

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<v Speaker 2>peace with you, and then you can make peace with others.

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<v Speaker 2>Just say, Jesus Christ, come into my life. I want

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<v Speaker 2>to get to know you and learn to trust you.

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<v Speaker 2>I want to follow you as best I know how.

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<v Speaker 2>Forgive me for all stuff I've done wrong, and I

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<v Speaker 2>ask you to humbly accept me into your family. I

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<v Speaker 2>pray this in your name.

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<v Speaker 3>Amen.

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<v Speaker 2>Hi everybody, this is Rick and I hope you enjoyed

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<v Speaker 2>today's broadcast. You know, if you just prayed that prayer

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<v Speaker 2>for the very first time, or you just recommitted your

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<v Speaker 2>life to Jesus again today, would you let me know

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<v Speaker 2>about it. There's something real about sharing your commitment. So

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<v Speaker 2>write me Rick at pastor Rick dot com and say, Rick,

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<v Speaker 2>I prayed that prayer of commitment, I gave my life

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<v Speaker 2>to Christ. And I'll send you some material that will

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<v Speaker 2>help you on your journey with Jesus. And I'll also

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<v Speaker 2>pray for you. God bless you.

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<v Speaker 1>This is Pastor Rick's daily Hope. We're so thankful that

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<v Speaker 1>you've chosen to spend some time with us. If you've

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<v Speaker 1>missed any part of this broadcast, just go to Pastorick

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<v Speaker 1>dot com and listen online. Anytime. Rick will be back

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<v Speaker 1>to close out our time today. But first, how do

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<v Speaker 1>you feel spiritually right now? Maybe you feel spiritually dry,

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<v Speaker 1>like you're in a desert, or like you're just going

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<v Speaker 1>through the motions. Maybe you've lost your spark, your joy.

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<v Speaker 1>God knows how you feel. Right now, and you're not alone.

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<v Speaker 1>He knows even David and the Bible felt like that.

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<v Speaker 1>And Jeremiah twenty nine thirteen, God says, you will seek

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<v Speaker 1>me and find me when you seek Me with all

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<v Speaker 1>your heart. When you seek God intentionally, it leads to

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<v Speaker 1>a renewal of your relationship with him. And that's why

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<v Speaker 1>Pastor Rick created a very special, brand new resource called

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<v Speaker 1>Going Deeper with God, a personal renewal retreat. Right now,

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<v Speaker 1>here's Pastor Rick to tell you more.

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<v Speaker 2>Let me ask you a very personal and serious question.

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<v Speaker 2>Would you truly like to have a deeper relationship with God?

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<v Speaker 2>Not a superficial one, a deep one. Jeremiah twenty nine thirteen.

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<v Speaker 2>God says this, you will seek me and find me

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<v Speaker 2>when you seek for Me with all your heart. When

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<v Speaker 2>you seek God intentionally, it leads to a renewal of

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<v Speaker 2>your relationship with him. You're as close to God as

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<v Speaker 2>you want to be, and if you want to be closer,

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<v Speaker 2>it's up to you. That's why I created a Going

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<v Speaker 2>Deeper with God personal Renewal Retreat. Yeah, going Deeper with

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<v Speaker 2>God personal renewal Retreat. It's retreat just meant for you

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<v Speaker 2>where you can get alone with God and you can

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<v Speaker 2>connect with Him in an intimate way that's going to

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<v Speaker 2>refresh and renew and revitalize your relationship with God. It's

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<v Speaker 2>going to give you a deeper understanding of His love,

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<v Speaker 2>and it will also prepare you to be used by

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<v Speaker 2>God in the days ahead. Now, as I lead you

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<v Speaker 2>through this Going Deeper with God Retreat, my hope is

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<v Speaker 2>that God will use it to completely revitalize and re

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<v Speaker 2>energize your spiritual life. Together, we'll go through a series

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<v Speaker 2>of audio lessons and after each session, you'll just take

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<v Speaker 2>a little bit of time to complete the exercises in

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<v Speaker 2>the Companion workbook that I've prepared for you. And you

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<v Speaker 2>can do this. You can do it at home, you

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<v Speaker 2>can do it at school. You can do it in

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<v Speaker 2>short sessions, or you can get away for a whole

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<v Speaker 2>day and do it all in one setting. My goal

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<v Speaker 2>is to strengthen your relationship with God, deepen your commitment

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<v Speaker 2>and surrendered Him in affirm your commitment to live for

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<v Speaker 2>His glory. You know, maybe you've never thought about this,

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<v Speaker 2>but God, you're ready to go deeper with you. He's

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<v Speaker 2>just waiting on you. Now. I want to help you

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<v Speaker 2>get started by sending you a copy of Going Deeper

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<v Speaker 2>with God today and when you partner with Daily Hope

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<v Speaker 2>Hope to take the word of God these positive messages

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<v Speaker 2>to people all around the world. My team is going

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<v Speaker 2>to send you this very special spiritual growth tool just

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<v Speaker 2>to say thanks. I hope you'll take advantage of this Today.

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<v Speaker 1>We'll send you Going Deeper with God, a personal renewal

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<v Speaker 1>retreat as our way of saying thanks. When you give

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<v Speaker 1>a gift today to help Daily Hope share the hope

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<v Speaker 1>of Jesus with a hurting world. Just call eight hundred

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<v Speaker 1>six hundred five thousand and four or go to Pastororrick

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<v Speaker 1>dot com to get your copy of this great resource.

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<v Speaker 1>That's eight hundred six hundred five thousand and four or

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<v Speaker 1>Pastorick dot com. Be sure to join us next time

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<v Speaker 1>as we look into God's word for our daily hope.

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<v Speaker 1>This program is sponsored by Pastor Ricks Daily Hope and

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<v Speaker 1>your generous financial support.