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<v Speaker 1>Are Heaven and Hell real places?

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<v Speaker 2>And what are they like? Today?

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<v Speaker 1>On Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, the Bible Teaching Ministry of

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<v Speaker 1>Rick Warren, we continue his series called Eternal Realities, Heaven

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<v Speaker 1>and Hell. In these lessons, Rick shares what the Bible

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<v Speaker 1>says about heaven and Hell and how you can be

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<v Speaker 1>absolutely certain you'll go to heaven. Well, let's jump right

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<v Speaker 1>in with part two of a message called how to

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<v Speaker 1>be certain You're going to Heaven.

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<v Speaker 2>No one will ever love you the way God does. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>this has to become the foundation of your life. You

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<v Speaker 2>want to know why you got so much stress in

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<v Speaker 2>your life and no stability. It's because you've got a

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<v Speaker 2>shaky foundation. Why you have so much stress in your

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<v Speaker 2>life instead of a sense of satisfaction and a sense

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<v Speaker 2>of significance and a sense of success and stability. It's

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<v Speaker 2>because you're building your life on something that can change.

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<v Speaker 2>I hate to tell you this, but everything in life changes. Everything.

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<v Speaker 2>Relationships change, job change, fame change. One minute you're a hero,

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<v Speaker 2>the next minute you're a zero. The way you look changes,

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<v Speaker 2>and not all and everything that changes, not all those

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<v Speaker 2>changes are good. Would you agree with that? Anybody want

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<v Speaker 2>to give a testimony right now. Yeah, yeah, okay, there's

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<v Speaker 2>only one thing in life that won't ever change. You

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<v Speaker 2>know what it is, God's love for you. It's never

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<v Speaker 2>ever going to change. And so if you want stability

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<v Speaker 2>in your life, you build it on the rock foundation

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<v Speaker 2>of God's love for you, so that then you know,

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<v Speaker 2>no matter what happens. I know, God has not stopped

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<v Speaker 2>loving me. He's going to love me no matter what

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<v Speaker 2>happens in my life. And that gives you the stability

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<v Speaker 2>because it is the only thing in life that doesn't change.

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<v Speaker 2>It has to become the cornerstone, the chief foundational corners

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<v Speaker 2>don't of your life. That's what produces a stable, significant,

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<v Speaker 2>satisfying life. Build it on the rock of God's love. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>some of you, maybe things are going a little shaky

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<v Speaker 2>in your life right now. What do you do when

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<v Speaker 2>you're all shook up? I just thought i'd throw that in,

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<v Speaker 2>Thank you very much. What do you do when you're

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<v Speaker 2>all shook up? Well, look at what the Bible says

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<v Speaker 2>to do. It says, here, come to Christ, who is

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<v Speaker 2>the living foundation of rock, the cornerstone on which God

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<v Speaker 2>builds you know. Two thousand and six years ago, on

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<v Speaker 2>the Easter weekend when Jesus Christ died and rose again

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<v Speaker 2>on Easter Sunday. The Romans were so worried that somebody

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<v Speaker 2>might steal the body of Jesus Christ and claim that

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<v Speaker 2>he had resurrected, so they did a series of precautions.

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<v Speaker 2>Because first what they did is they put him in

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<v Speaker 2>this tomb. It was like a cave, and they rolled

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<v Speaker 2>this huge stone in front of it. It took tons

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<v Speaker 2>of men to move in front of it. And then

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<v Speaker 2>they permanently sealed it with the Roman seal so it

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<v Speaker 2>could never be broken. And then they posted guards outside

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<v Speaker 2>of his tomb, the only time in history they posted

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<v Speaker 2>living guards to keep a dead man in the tomb.

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<v Speaker 2>But they did well. As you know the story, Easter

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<v Speaker 2>Sunday morning, the angels show up at the earthquake, Light come,

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<v Speaker 2>Lightning comes down. The guys are fall back in a faint.

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<v Speaker 2>The stone is broken, the seal is broken. The tomb,

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<v Speaker 2>the stone is rolled back. Now why was that was

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<v Speaker 2>it so Jesus could come out? No, he'd already left.

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<v Speaker 2>The stone was rolled away not so Jesus could come out,

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<v Speaker 2>but so that the skeptics could go in and see

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<v Speaker 2>that he wasn't there. And that stone, the stone of

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<v Speaker 2>the cornerstone of light, is the stone of God's love.

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<v Speaker 2>You build your life on you, You're gonna have stability.

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<v Speaker 2>Here's the first step, Devin, I got to recognize God's love.

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<v Speaker 2>Nobody's ever gonna love me as much as God does.

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<v Speaker 2>Recognize his love. Here's the second step. I've got to

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<v Speaker 2>receive God's gift. That's the second part of the verse.

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<v Speaker 2>God so loved the world. I recognize his love that

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<v Speaker 2>he gave. There's the gift, his only begotten son. Did

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<v Speaker 2>you know God has a gift for you. You know that's

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<v Speaker 2>why we give gifts a Christmas time, because God gave

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<v Speaker 2>the first Christmas gift. He came to earth. If God

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<v Speaker 2>had wanted to communicate to ants, you would have become

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<v Speaker 2>an ant. If he wanted to communicate the cows, you

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<v Speaker 2>would have become a cow. But God wanted to communicate

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<v Speaker 2>the human beings. So he became one of us, and

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<v Speaker 2>he came into this world just like we all do,

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<v Speaker 2>as a baby. Why because he wanted to scare us. No,

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<v Speaker 2>he wanted to save us. Nobody's afraid of a baby,

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<v Speaker 2>And so he comes as a baby just like everybody

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<v Speaker 2>else did. Now, notice God so loved the world that

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<v Speaker 2>he gave his only begotten son. No, it doesn't say

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<v Speaker 2>he sent a good good man. It doesn't say he

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<v Speaker 2>sent an angel, doesn't say he sent a prophet, doesn't

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<v Speaker 2>say he sent a moral leader, an ethical leader. It

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<v Speaker 2>says he sent his son. He cared enough to send

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<v Speaker 2>the very best. God came to earth in human form,

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<v Speaker 2>and his name was Jesus Christ. And that's why all

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<v Speaker 2>of history is to split into AD and BC. Every

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<v Speaker 2>time you write a date, what's the reference point? Jesus Christ?

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<v Speaker 2>Because God came to earth and it split history into

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<v Speaker 2>AD and to BC. Now why did he come to earth? Well,

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<v Speaker 2>look at what the Bible says. Look at this next

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<v Speaker 2>verse Romans. Look of Romans Chapter three. Out of sheer generosity,

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<v Speaker 2>God put us in rights standing with himself, a pure gift.

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<v Speaker 2>In other words, I can't earn this. It's just a gift.

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<v Speaker 2>It's called grace. Did you know what grace is? Grace

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<v Speaker 2>is when God gives you what you need, not what

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<v Speaker 2>you deserve. If we all got what we deserved, none

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<v Speaker 2>of us would be here. I sure wouldn't be here.

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<v Speaker 2>But God doesn't give us what we need. It deserve.

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<v Speaker 2>He gives us what we need, he says, out of

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<v Speaker 2>sheer generosity. God put us in rights standing with himself,

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<v Speaker 2>a pure gift. He got us out of the mess

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<v Speaker 2>we're in and restored us to where He always wanted

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<v Speaker 2>us to be. And he did it by means of

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<v Speaker 2>Jesus Christ. He sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the

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<v Speaker 2>world to clear that world a sin. So why did

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<v Speaker 2>Jesus have to die? Look at the next verse. The

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<v Speaker 2>Bible tells us when we were unable to help ourselves

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<v Speaker 2>at that moment of our need, Christ died for us,

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<v Speaker 2>although we were living against God. Now, let's just go

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<v Speaker 2>back to the basics again. Okay, this is a football.

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<v Speaker 2>Let's go through the basics of life this morning. I

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<v Speaker 2>don't want anybody misunderstandings. Basic number one. Nobody's perfect. Everybody

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<v Speaker 2>want to agree with that. I've spoken to hundreds of

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<v Speaker 2>thousands of people all around the world. I've never met

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<v Speaker 2>a single person in my life who claim to be perfect,

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<v Speaker 2>not one. I don't measure up to my own expectations,

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<v Speaker 2>much less God's perfect standard. Neither do you. So we've

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<v Speaker 2>all made mistakes, we've all blown it. We all things have,

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<v Speaker 2>things we regret, we wish we could do over. The

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<v Speaker 2>Bible says it like this, all of sined, We've all

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<v Speaker 2>done it. We've all sinned. Now. God is not just

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<v Speaker 2>a loving god, he's a just God. That means he

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<v Speaker 2>wants to be fair. And when somebody breaks the law,

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<v Speaker 2>there's got to be a penalty for it. Hey, we

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<v Speaker 2>do this in America. You break man's laws, you pay

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<v Speaker 2>man's penalty. You break God's laws, you pay God's penalty.

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<v Speaker 2>You go out here and your speed down the freeway,

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<v Speaker 2>you're gonna get a ticket. You go shoot somebody, You're

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<v Speaker 2>gonna go to jail. When you break God's laws, you

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<v Speaker 2>pay God's penalty. The Bible says all of sin, and

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<v Speaker 2>it says the wages of sin is death. That means

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<v Speaker 2>I deserve to be punished for the things I've done

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<v Speaker 2>wrong in my life. That's the bad news. Here's the

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<v Speaker 2>good news. Everything you've ever done wrong in life, it's

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<v Speaker 2>already been paid for. WHOA, everything you've ever done wrong

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<v Speaker 2>in life has already been paid for. That's what Jesus

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<v Speaker 2>Christ did on the cross. He took my sin and

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<v Speaker 2>your In fact, all the sins you haven't even committed

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<v Speaker 2>yet the things you're gonna do wrong next week, next month,

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<v Speaker 2>next year, stuff you haven't even thought up yet, all

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<v Speaker 2>those creative ways of sinning you don't even know about yet,

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<v Speaker 2>they've already been paid for. That is called the good news.

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<v Speaker 2>That's what the gospel is. It means it's already been

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<v Speaker 2>taken care of, already paid for. On the back of

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<v Speaker 2>your outline is one of the most amazing verses in

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<v Speaker 2>the entire Bible. I call it the Great Exchange verse,

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<v Speaker 2>and it says this God took the sinless Christ. Jesus

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<v Speaker 2>had never sinned, he was perfect, he was God. God

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<v Speaker 2>took the sinless Christ and poured him all our sins,

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<v Speaker 2>all the stuff we've done wrong. Then in exchange, here's

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<v Speaker 2>the Great Exchange. He pours God's goodness into us. What

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<v Speaker 2>a deal. I like this deal? Anybody else like this deal?

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<v Speaker 2>God says, I'm gonna take everything the Rick Warren's done wrong,

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<v Speaker 2>all his meanness, all his rudeness, all his selfishness, all

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<v Speaker 2>the times he's lied, all the other things. I'm gonna

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<v Speaker 2>take everything Rick Warren's done wrong, and I'm gonna put

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<v Speaker 2>that on Jesus Christ. And he's gonna pay the penalty

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<v Speaker 2>so Rick doesn't have to pay for it. And then

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<v Speaker 2>I'm gonna take Jesus' goodness and put it on him

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<v Speaker 2>so he can get into heaven. You see, here's the thing.

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<v Speaker 2>Heaven is a perfect place, and you're not, and neither

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<v Speaker 2>am I. I stopped batting a thousand a long time ago.

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<v Speaker 2>No sin can get in heaven. If God let him

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<v Speaker 2>perfect people into heaven, he wouldn't be perfect anymore. So

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<v Speaker 2>somebody's got to take the penalty for it so I

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<v Speaker 2>can get in. On Plan B. God came up with

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<v Speaker 2>a Plan B. He said, I'll come to Earth and

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<v Speaker 2>I'll pay the penalty. That way, it's fair and it's just,

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<v Speaker 2>but it also shows my love. At the same time,

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<v Speaker 2>let me tell you, if there were any other way

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<v Speaker 2>for you to get into heaven besides Jesus Christ coming

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<v Speaker 2>and dieing for you, believe me, God wouldn't have wasted

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<v Speaker 2>the effort. He wouldn't have gone through all the effort

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<v Speaker 2>if there was any other way. This is the only

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<v Speaker 2>way you're gonna make it. You can't earn it because

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<v Speaker 2>you can't be good enough. You're not perfect. Yeah, you're

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<v Speaker 2>better in other people, you're probably better than me. I

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<v Speaker 2>have no doubt about that. God doesn't great on a curve. No,

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<v Speaker 2>it's perfection, and none of us measure up. So this

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<v Speaker 2>means that you can't earn your way to heaven. You

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<v Speaker 2>can't work your way to heaven, you can't buy your

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<v Speaker 2>way into heaven. It's just a gift. It's a free gift.

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<v Speaker 2>God so loved the world that he gave his only

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<v Speaker 2>begotten son, He gave the gift to die for us

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<v Speaker 2>so that I can go to heaven. That's pretty good news.

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<v Speaker 2>And that's called grace. I just received the gift of

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<v Speaker 2>God's grace. It's just free. I don't deserve it, never will.

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<v Speaker 2>Now look at this next verse. Since salvation is by grace,

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<v Speaker 2>in other words, you don't earn it, then it is

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<v Speaker 2>no longer by works. If it were by works, grace

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<v Speaker 2>would no longer be grace. Do you know the difference

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<v Speaker 2>between religion and salvation. I'm not talking about religion this morning.

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<v Speaker 2>I don't care what religion you are. Religion is man's

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<v Speaker 2>attempt to get to God. We're talking about salvation God,

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<v Speaker 2>what God did for man. You may be I don't

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<v Speaker 2>care what your background is. You may be Catholic. You

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<v Speaker 2>may be Protestant, you may be Jewish, you may be

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<v Speaker 2>a Muslim background. You may be Hindu or Buddhist or

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<v Speaker 2>Baptist or Mormon or method. This doesn't really matter to

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<v Speaker 2>me what religion you are, because it's not how you

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<v Speaker 2>get to Heaven. See, you can summarize all religions in

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<v Speaker 2>one word. It's the word do to Everybody has their

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<v Speaker 2>own different to do list. And one religion say you

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<v Speaker 2>do these five things, and another one says, no, you

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<v Speaker 2>do these ten things. Another one says no, you do

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<v Speaker 2>these fifteen things, and another one says no, you do

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<v Speaker 2>these twenty things. It's all about do do these things,

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<v Speaker 2>and then maybe God will like you. But the difference

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<v Speaker 2>between religion and salvation. Salvation is all based on the

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<v Speaker 2>word done. It's already done for you. It is a gift.

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<v Speaker 2>It's done for you. When Jesus Christ died on the cross,

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<v Speaker 2>he stretched out his hands and one of the last

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<v Speaker 2>things he said was it is finished. Now. I didn't

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<v Speaker 2>say I'm finished, because he wasn't. He was still alive.

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<v Speaker 2>He had a lot more to do. He's still alive.

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<v Speaker 2>I just talked to him a few minutes ago. He

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<v Speaker 2>said it is finished. What does that mean. It means

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<v Speaker 2>I've paid for all the bad things you've ever done.

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<v Speaker 2>I paid for all of the evil in the world.

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<v Speaker 2>This is what Jesus was agonizing over before he went

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<v Speaker 2>to the cross. If you saw the movie The Passion,

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<v Speaker 2>at the very start, Jesus is in this gold He's

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<v Speaker 2>praying the night before he goes to be crucified, and

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<v Speaker 2>he's just in agony. Why not because of all of

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<v Speaker 2>the physical torture he was going to go through, Although

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<v Speaker 2>that was great, It's because he's going to take all

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<v Speaker 2>of the guilt of the world on himself. Now I

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<v Speaker 2>feel bad enough just when I'm carrying my own guilt

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<v Speaker 2>much less yours and Jesus that I'm going to take

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<v Speaker 2>the guilt for the whole world. Every rape ever committed,

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<v Speaker 2>I'm going to take the guilt for it, every murder,

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<v Speaker 2>every committed, I'm going to take the guilt for it,

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<v Speaker 2>every molestation, every wife abuse, every evil thought, every evil action,

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<v Speaker 2>every betrayal, every adultery, every lie, every theft. I'm going

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<v Speaker 2>to take the guilt of the killing fields, and the

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<v Speaker 2>guilt of the Holocaust, and the guilt of the genocide.

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<v Speaker 2>And I'm going to take the entire guilt of the

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<v Speaker 2>world on me. That's pretty amazing. And this is the

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<v Speaker 2>way he says. It's just a gift. It is finished.

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<v Speaker 2>You can't add anything to it. It's only by grace.

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<v Speaker 2>The third step to knowing for sure you're going to

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<v Speaker 2>heaven is to respond to God's offer. Respond to God's offer. First,

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<v Speaker 2>you recognize God's love. God so loved the world. Then

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<v Speaker 2>you receive God's gift that he gave his only begotten son,

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<v Speaker 2>that's Jesus. Then you respond to God's offer to know

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<v Speaker 2>that God's made an offer to you. It's an incredible proposal.

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<v Speaker 2>He says this that whosoever believes in him should not perish.

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<v Speaker 2>That's a pretty incredible offer. Now, did you know that

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<v Speaker 2>there are over seven thousand promises in the Bible from

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<v Speaker 2>God to you. They're like blank checks waiting for you

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<v Speaker 2>to cash and over and over in scripture, God says,

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<v Speaker 2>if you'll do this, I'll do this. With every promise,

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<v Speaker 2>there's a premise, and God says there promises about your finances.

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<v Speaker 2>God says, I'll bless your finances if you'll do this,

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<v Speaker 2>I'll do this. There are promises about your relationships, you're

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<v Speaker 2>marriage your kids. God says, if you do this, I'll

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<v Speaker 2>do this. There are promises about your God says, if

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<v Speaker 2>you'll do this, I'll do this. And with every promise,

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<v Speaker 2>there's a premise. Now, the promise of heaven is whosoever

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<v Speaker 2>believes on him should not perish. Now, I want you

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<v Speaker 2>to notice who this offer is to. There on your outline,

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<v Speaker 2>the Bible says, the free gift of eternal salvation is

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<v Speaker 2>offered to who everyone. Everyone. That means you and me

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<v Speaker 2>and everybody. Look at the next verse. One's nationality or race,

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<v Speaker 2>or education or social position is unimportant. Such things mean nothing.

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<v Speaker 2>Whether a person has Christ is what matters. And he

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<v Speaker 2>is equally available to all. Jesus Christ is an equal

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<v Speaker 2>opportunity savior. It's amazing grace for every race. And God says,

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<v Speaker 2>I don't really care what your ethnic background is. Doesn't

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<v Speaker 2>really matter what your economic background is. Shoot, it doesn't

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<v Speaker 2>even matter what your religious background is. I say that

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<v Speaker 2>you could be Muslim or Mormon, or Jewish or Buddhist

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<v Speaker 2>or Baptist or doesn't really matter. Jesus Christ still died

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<v Speaker 2>for you. Let me give you a real important pointer

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<v Speaker 2>about life. In life. It doesn't matter so much what

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<v Speaker 2>you've been. What you've been does not matter as much

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<v Speaker 2>as what you're becoming. That's what matters in life, not

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<v Speaker 2>what you've been, but what you're becoming. I've been a

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<v Speaker 2>lot of things in life, some things I'm proud of,

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<v Speaker 2>some things I'm not proud of at all. Doesn't matter

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<v Speaker 2>what I've been. My past is past. What matters is

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<v Speaker 2>what I'm becoming right now. Now, Notice, how do I

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<v Speaker 2>accept God's offer of eternal life in heaven. Well, look

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<v Speaker 2>what it says next verse. God says he will accept

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<v Speaker 2>us and acquit us, in other words, declare us not guilty,

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<v Speaker 2>in other words, for all the things I've done wrong.

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<v Speaker 2>If here's the key, we trust Jesus Christ. You might

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<v Speaker 2>circle that if we trust Jesus Christ to take away

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<v Speaker 2>our sins, and we can all be saved in this

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<v Speaker 2>same way. I love this part, by coming to Christ,

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<v Speaker 2>no matter who we are or what we've been like.

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<v Speaker 2>Aren't you glad for that last part? In other words,

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<v Speaker 2>no matter who we are or what we've been like

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<v Speaker 2>for insan, there's only one way you're going to get

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<v Speaker 2>into heaven, it says right there, by trusting Jesus Christ. Trusting. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>what does it mean to trust Jesus Christ, Well, it

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<v Speaker 2>means more, and just know about it. It means to

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<v Speaker 2>trust him. The word there in Greek, the Bible is

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<v Speaker 2>written in Greek, is the word pistevo. It means to

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<v Speaker 2>trust in, to cling to, to rely on, to adhere to.

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<v Speaker 2>It means to commit yourself to. And I begin to

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<v Speaker 2>trust God in every area of in my life, begin

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<v Speaker 2>to trust him with my finances, and I begin to

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<v Speaker 2>trust Him with my relationships. And I begin to trust

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<v Speaker 2>God with my future and my dreams and my ambitions.

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<v Speaker 2>And I trust God with my talent, and begin to

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<v Speaker 2>trust God with my problems. And I learned to trust

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<v Speaker 2>Him in every area. That's what it means to really believe,

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<v Speaker 2>not just a head knowledge. The Bible says whosoever believes

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<v Speaker 2>in Him shall not perish. A lot of people know

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<v Speaker 2>about God, they just don't know God in others. I

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<v Speaker 2>believe in Hitler, I believe he existed, but I'm not

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<v Speaker 2>a Nazi. I believe in Stalin and Kruse eevan Marx,

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<v Speaker 2>but I'm not a Communist. I believe in beIN Lauden,

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<v Speaker 2>but I'm not a member of Al Qaeda. But I

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<v Speaker 2>believe in Jesus. And that's different because I trust him.

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<v Speaker 2>Why because I know him. You don't trust somebody you

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<v Speaker 2>don't know, So you got to get to know him,

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<v Speaker 2>you know. It's the difference between your head and your heart.

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<v Speaker 2>You know. I know a lot of people. I know

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<v Speaker 2>a lot of famous people. For instance, I know Bill Gates. Okay,

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<v Speaker 2>the World's wealth this man. I know Bill Gates. We've

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<v Speaker 2>spoken on the same program together. I've sat on a

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<v Speaker 2>couch and explained the peace plan to him. I know

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<v Speaker 2>Bill Gates, but I don't really know him. It's not

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<v Speaker 2>like he's a close personal friend where you know, I

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<v Speaker 2>know what makes him tick. I'm not on his inner circle.

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<v Speaker 2>I don't know him enough to trust him. That's why

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<v Speaker 2>I have an apple. Just kidding, just actually I'm a

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<v Speaker 2>PC guy. But you know, you don't trust somebody you

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<v Speaker 2>don't know, if you know what I'm talking about. It's

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<v Speaker 2>not like, not like the way I know my wife

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<v Speaker 2>now there, I know that woman. I know her inside

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<v Speaker 2>and out. I've been married to her for thirty years.

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<v Speaker 2>I know what she's thinking before she thinks it. In fact,

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<v Speaker 2>I put words in her mouth she didn't like it,

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<v Speaker 2>but I you know, I put it in her round.

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<v Speaker 2>And so because I love my wife and I really

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<v Speaker 2>do know her, not just know about her. I know

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<v Speaker 2>what makes her tick. In fact, I know what makes

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<v Speaker 2>her ticked. And that's you know, I really know her.

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<v Speaker 2>That's what it means to know God. I know God

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<v Speaker 2>just like I'm talking to you. I talk to Him

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<v Speaker 2>all the time, just like this, and you can't too.

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<v Speaker 2>It's not just for pastors. Anybody can talk to God

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<v Speaker 2>that way, knowing him personally, having a relationship. That's what

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<v Speaker 2>it means to trust God. See, a lot of people

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<v Speaker 2>are going to miss heaven by eighteen inches. They got

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<v Speaker 2>it here in their head, but not here in their heart.

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<v Speaker 2>You can go to church your entire life and still

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<v Speaker 2>miss heaven because you know about God. You may have

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<v Speaker 2>a religion, but you don't have a relationship. God says, no,

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<v Speaker 2>I want you to learn to trust me.

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<v Speaker 1>Hey, thanks so much for being with us today and

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<v Speaker 1>listening to Pastor Rick's daily Hope. I hope that you

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<v Speaker 1>were just as blessed as I was from today's broadcast.

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<v Speaker 1>Right now, here's Pastor Rick with a special message.

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<v Speaker 3>You know, when I started Saddleback Church over forty years ago,

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<v Speaker 3>just a handful of people in our living room, I

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<v Speaker 3>also began writing a simple devotional just for the people

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<v Speaker 3>in our church to help them start each day with

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<v Speaker 3>hope and with truth and with peace that comes from

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<v Speaker 3>Jesus Christ. Well, you know, that little devotional grip and

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<v Speaker 3>grew and grew, and today Daily Hope is one of

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<v Speaker 3>the largest email devotions in the whole world. And each

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<v Speaker 3>day people all around the globe are reconnecting with God's

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<v Speaker 3>promises and finding fresh strength in his word to face

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<v Speaker 3>whatever comes their way. Now here's the best part. It's

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<v Speaker 3>absolutely free. Okay, we don't have any charge for this.

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<v Speaker 3>Every day you'll get a quick devotional read and a

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<v Speaker 3>podcast that you can listen to on the go. Now,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, in a world that's more distracted and uncertain

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<v Speaker 3>than ever, I want to help you start your day

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<v Speaker 3>centered on what never changes, and what never changes is

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<v Speaker 3>a God's love, his unconditional love for you, and his

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<v Speaker 3>promises to you. You know, if you'll just spend just

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<v Speaker 3>a few minutes a day in the morning with the Lord,

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<v Speaker 3>it can bring so much more clarity, more purpose, more

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<v Speaker 3>peace to everything that happens in your day, particularly a

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<v Speaker 3>psychologists has said that what you do with the first

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<v Speaker 3>five minutes of your day pretty much sets the tone. So, friend,

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<v Speaker 3>you were never meant to go through life alone. I

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<v Speaker 3>want to personally invite you to just sign up for

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<v Speaker 3>the Daily Hope devotional.

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<v Speaker 2>Do it today.

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<v Speaker 3>I think it's going to bring fresh encouragement to your

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<v Speaker 3>walk in God.

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<v Speaker 1>If you'd like to sign up for the daily devotional,

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<v Speaker 1>it's easy. Just go to pastorick dot com. That's pastorrek

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

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

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<v Speaker 1>program is sponsored by Pastor Rick's Daily Hope and your

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<v Speaker 1>generous financial support.
