WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.560 --> 00:00:05.599 This is Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, the audio broadcast ministry 2 00:00:05.639 --> 00:00:09.359 of Pastor Rick Warren. Today we continue in a series 3 00:00:09.439 --> 00:00:13.240 called Better Together. In this series, Rick takes us through 4 00:00:13.320 --> 00:00:18.079 First Corinthians chapter thirteen and shows us how to cultivate deep, 5 00:00:18.280 --> 00:00:22.600 meaningful relationships with the people around us. In just a 6 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:25.160 few moments, we're going to tell you how you can 7 00:00:25.199 --> 00:00:28.719 get a copy of Pastor Rick's book called God's Power 8 00:00:28.839 --> 00:00:32.399 to Change Your Life. In it, you'll discover how God 9 00:00:32.479 --> 00:00:35.520 provides the power you need to take you from where 10 00:00:35.560 --> 00:00:38.719 you are to where you want to be. Find out 11 00:00:38.759 --> 00:00:42.280 more by going to Pastorick dot com, or by texting 12 00:00:42.320 --> 00:00:46.399 the word Daily to eight hundred, six hundred five thousand 13 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:50.439 and four while you listen to today's message, that's Pastorick 14 00:00:50.560 --> 00:00:54.520 dot com or the word Daily to eight hundred, six 15 00:00:54.600 --> 00:00:59.039 hundred five thousand and four. Right now, here's Pastor Rick 16 00:00:59.119 --> 00:01:02.280 Warren with the final part of a message called why 17 00:01:02.359 --> 00:01:03.359 we Need each Other. 18 00:01:05.239 --> 00:01:08.519 In a war, everybody has to take time on sentry 19 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:12.079 duty while everybody else is sleeping. Somebody stays awake to 20 00:01:12.120 --> 00:01:15.959 make sure the enemy isn't crashing in now, since nine 21 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:18.159 to eleven, we've all been a whole lot more vigilant 22 00:01:18.599 --> 00:01:21.959 for each other with terrorism and things like that. But 23 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:24.359 did you know that you have an enemy far more 24 00:01:24.799 --> 00:01:29.760 destructive than terrorists. Oh yeah, you have a personal enemy. 25 00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:34.079 And he hates your guts and he wants to defeat you. 26 00:01:34.280 --> 00:01:37.719 His name is Satan, and Satan wants to mess up 27 00:01:37.760 --> 00:01:41.040 your life. Satan wants to bring problems in your life. 28 00:01:41.400 --> 00:01:45.599 Satan wants to ruin your relationships. He wants to hurt 29 00:01:45.640 --> 00:01:47.400 you as bad as he can. Now, why would he 30 00:01:47.480 --> 00:01:50.840 do that? Because he can't hurt God. See Satan, what 31 00:01:50.879 --> 00:01:52.159 he wants to do is he wants to hurt God, 32 00:01:52.200 --> 00:01:54.239 but he can't. When he can't hurt somebody, what do 33 00:01:54.239 --> 00:01:57.519 you do? You go after their children. If you couldn't 34 00:01:57.519 --> 00:01:59.439 get to me, you'd go after my wife or my kids. 35 00:02:00.599 --> 00:02:03.400 Satan can't hurt God, so what does he do? He 36 00:02:03.439 --> 00:02:07.040 tries to hurt God's children and he doesn't care what 37 00:02:07.120 --> 00:02:09.000 it'll take, how badly you get hurt. He wants to 38 00:02:09.039 --> 00:02:11.879 mess you up anyway, And the moment you wake up 39 00:02:11.919 --> 00:02:14.400 in the morning, he's already been plotting how to get 40 00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:17.560 you to waste that day, to blow it with anger 41 00:02:17.719 --> 00:02:21.400 or worry or fear or guilt or shame or depression, 42 00:02:22.360 --> 00:02:25.120 or any other resentment or bitterness. He'll just try to 43 00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:29.439 get you all messed up. I've been reading this nine 44 00:02:29.479 --> 00:02:33.199 to eleven report from the Commissions. Interesting reading, But as 45 00:02:33.240 --> 00:02:37.000 I read it, I thought, what are the parallels here 46 00:02:37.319 --> 00:02:41.639 between our battle, our spiritual battle against Satan. Now listen 47 00:02:41.680 --> 00:02:46.199 to this, Listen to this parallel. We learned about an enemy, 48 00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:53.000 this is what the committee reported, who is sophisticated, patient, disciplined, 49 00:02:53.479 --> 00:02:54.120 and lethal. 50 00:02:55.240 --> 00:02:56.680 That's exactly what the devil is. 51 00:02:57.879 --> 00:03:01.280 The enemy rallies broad support by reject seeing political grievance, 52 00:03:01.639 --> 00:03:05.199 but its hostility toward us and our values is limitless, 53 00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:11.719 and Satan's hatred of view is limitless. Its purpose is 54 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:15.520 to rid the world of religious pluralism. It makes no 55 00:03:15.639 --> 00:03:19.879 distinction between military and civilian targets. Collateral damage is not 56 00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:25.639 in its lexicon. Satan doesn't care who gets hurt. He 57 00:03:25.719 --> 00:03:29.080 just wants to hurt. It says, we learned that we 58 00:03:29.120 --> 00:03:32.879 did not understand how grave this threat could be, and 59 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:36.719 so we did not adjust our plans and practices to deter. 60 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:39.560 Or defeat it. Well, if that hadn't describe. 61 00:03:39.159 --> 00:03:43.280 Most Christians, we don't realize the war we're in, and 62 00:03:43.400 --> 00:03:46.199 so we don't make any plans to handle temptation. 63 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:48.479 It says. 64 00:03:48.879 --> 00:03:52.680 Now, the test before us now is to sustain the 65 00:03:52.879 --> 00:03:54.039 unity of purpose. 66 00:03:54.159 --> 00:03:56.159 I could have written this stuff, Okay. 67 00:03:56.560 --> 00:03:59.159 The test before us is to sustain the unity of 68 00:03:59.199 --> 00:04:04.719 purpose and meet the challenges now confronting us. We need 69 00:04:04.759 --> 00:04:09.000 to design a balanced strategy for the long haul to 70 00:04:09.080 --> 00:04:13.439 attack terrorists while at the same time protecting ourselves against 71 00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:14.319 future attack. 72 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:16.680 Any about that. 73 00:04:16.759 --> 00:04:19.319 We not only have to protect ourselves, we have to 74 00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:23.160 go after them. And that's what it says in the Bible. 75 00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:25.319 The gates of Hell will not prevail against us. Gates 76 00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:27.319 are defensive, he says, you're going after the devil, not 77 00:04:27.399 --> 00:04:29.399 vice versa. 78 00:04:29.920 --> 00:04:30.959 Now, let me tell you something. 79 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:34.360 So when Satan attacks you, he doesn't come in a 80 00:04:34.360 --> 00:04:38.519 little red costume with pointy things and a pitchfork and say, boot, 81 00:04:40.600 --> 00:04:44.480 how does Satan mess up your life through habits? You 82 00:04:44.519 --> 00:04:48.199 can't break the hurts that you won't let go of, 83 00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:51.879 and you hold on to resentment through hang ups, You 84 00:04:51.959 --> 00:04:56.319 can't change in your life, through problems, through circumstances, through. 85 00:04:56.120 --> 00:04:58.480 Relationships that break your heart and hurt you. 86 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:04.720 And he uses He always works around through others, and 87 00:05:04.879 --> 00:05:08.240 most of the Christians are defeated. They live in defeat. 88 00:05:08.439 --> 00:05:12.439 Why because we try to fight him on our own, 89 00:05:14.920 --> 00:05:18.360 And that's stupid. You're never gonna win against the devil 90 00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:21.879 on your own. You need other people who will watch 91 00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:24.120 out for you and help you. Look at this next verse, 92 00:05:25.079 --> 00:05:30.160 please ask he's four twelve. A person standing alone can 93 00:05:30.199 --> 00:05:32.959 be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back to 94 00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:35.560 back and conquer, and three or even better for a 95 00:05:35.560 --> 00:05:38.600 triple branded cort is not easily broken. That's a small group, 96 00:05:39.240 --> 00:05:41.279 he says. You know, you watch out for each other. 97 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:46.040 Last year, about this time, I walked across a maximum 98 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:52.319 security prison yard in northern California. Two thousand inmates in 99 00:05:52.439 --> 00:05:55.920 that field and in that yard, and I walked across 100 00:05:55.959 --> 00:05:59.879 it with no guard protecting me, no gun, no weapon, 101 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:03.120 no body armor, but just myself. And I'm walking across 102 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:06.600 and I was not afraid. Why Because I had a 103 00:06:06.600 --> 00:06:10.399 group of other inmates, about thirty of them who were Christians, 104 00:06:10.439 --> 00:06:12.720 in front of me, behind me, and on either side 105 00:06:12.759 --> 00:06:17.199 of me, And if anybody wanted to get at me, 106 00:06:17.240 --> 00:06:18.680 they were gonna have to get through these guys who 107 00:06:18.759 --> 00:06:19.519 have these tattoos. 108 00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:21.600 That said Mom and Jesus, you know. 109 00:06:23.480 --> 00:06:27.319 And there's no way I felt worried because these guys 110 00:06:27.480 --> 00:06:28.920 were there to protect me. 111 00:06:30.680 --> 00:06:31.519 Now here's my question. 112 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:38.120 Is there anybody watching your backside, anybody who's watching out 113 00:06:38.279 --> 00:06:39.920 for your spiritual welfare? 114 00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:42.279 Do you have anybody close like that? 115 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:45.360 Are you in a small group where that group of 116 00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:47.959 guys if you're a guy or women, if you're a woman, 117 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:50.600 who are saying, you know what, we're there when you're 118 00:06:50.600 --> 00:06:52.319 going through the tough time. We're not going to let 119 00:06:52.360 --> 00:06:54.399 you discourage. We're not going to let you get depressed. 120 00:06:54.519 --> 00:06:56.560 We're not going to let you get worried because we're 121 00:06:56.600 --> 00:06:59.480 going to be here with you. If you don't have 122 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:02.480 anybody that I pity you, you've got a big bullseye 123 00:07:02.519 --> 00:07:07.360 on your back for Satan. Say here's a loaner. They're 124 00:07:07.399 --> 00:07:09.000 not connected, they're not in a group. 125 00:07:11.480 --> 00:07:12.920 You know. I know this is hard to believe, but 126 00:07:12.959 --> 00:07:13.519 when I was a. 127 00:07:13.480 --> 00:07:18.759 Young, young I was a lifeguard for three summers. Actually 128 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:20.600 they fired me because every time I see a hannicle, 129 00:07:20.680 --> 00:07:21.720 yes I see that hand, God. 130 00:07:21.560 --> 00:07:24.040 Bless you, Yes, God bless you. Is there another Oh? 131 00:07:24.120 --> 00:07:26.519 Yes, many are raising their hands God bless you. Yeah, 132 00:07:26.519 --> 00:07:30.319 thank you I made that part up, but it was 133 00:07:30.360 --> 00:07:30.879 a lifeguard. 134 00:07:30.959 --> 00:07:32.519 And everybody knows. You never go. 135 00:07:32.519 --> 00:07:35.879 Swimming by yourself in the ocean. You might catch your ripties. 136 00:07:36.120 --> 00:07:38.519 You never go by yourself. Did you read about this kid? 137 00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:42.040 He is an experienced climber. He's climbing a mountain, slipped 138 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:45.079 and fell, fell into a ravine and got his arm caught, 139 00:07:45.279 --> 00:07:47.199 and he couldn't get out, and he would have died 140 00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:49.839 there because he was by himself. He thought he knew 141 00:07:49.920 --> 00:07:53.439 enough to go it on his own. And the only 142 00:07:53.480 --> 00:07:55.639 way he broke free was he had to cut his 143 00:07:55.680 --> 00:07:56.600 own arm off. 144 00:07:58.360 --> 00:07:59.000 Or die. 145 00:08:00.360 --> 00:08:03.079 Even the pros need a buddy. 146 00:08:05.720 --> 00:08:08.879 You're listening to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope Rip will be 147 00:08:08.920 --> 00:08:11.759 back in just a moment with the rest of today's lesson. 148 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:14.959 If you've missed any part of today's teaching, you can 149 00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:21.079 listen online anytime at pastorick dot com. That's pastorick dot com. 150 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:25.399 What does it take to become more loving, live more peacefully, 151 00:08:25.959 --> 00:08:30.920 develop patience, have self control? Pastor Rick says. Throughout all 152 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:33.840 the years he's been a pastor, the number one question 153 00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:37.919 he's been asked is why can't I change? People want 154 00:08:37.960 --> 00:08:41.639 to change, but they're stuck. Maybe you feel that way too. 155 00:08:42.360 --> 00:08:45.600 In his book God's Power to Change Your Life, Rick 156 00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:50.600 lays the groundwork for personal transformation, then offers biblical insights 157 00:08:50.679 --> 00:08:53.879 and simple steps for ten areas of growth that can 158 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:56.799 take you from where you are to where you want 159 00:08:56.840 --> 00:08:59.679 to be. This book connects you with the power to 160 00:08:59.679 --> 00:09:02.799 add actually make the changes you long to make. And 161 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:05.759 as you apply the truth of God's word by the 162 00:09:05.799 --> 00:09:10.039 power of His Spirit, your life will change. You'll move 163 00:09:10.159 --> 00:09:12.759 out of your rid and get on track with God's 164 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:16.480 wonderful purposes for your life. And today, when you give 165 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:19.120 a gift to Daily Hope to help take the hope 166 00:09:19.159 --> 00:09:22.799 of Jesus to people everywhere, we'll send you a copy 167 00:09:22.919 --> 00:09:25.720 of God's Power to Change Your Life. Just go to 168 00:09:25.799 --> 00:09:29.080 Pastorrick dot com right now to get your copy, or 169 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:32.000 you can call eight hundred at six hundred five zero 170 00:09:32.120 --> 00:09:36.039 zero four. That's Pastorick dot com. Or call eight hundred 171 00:09:36.039 --> 00:09:39.519 at six hundred five zero zero four and be sure 172 00:09:39.559 --> 00:09:41.639 to let us know which station you heard us on. 173 00:09:42.200 --> 00:09:46.240 Thank you so much for your support. 174 00:09:49.480 --> 00:09:52.960 Now let's get back to today's lesson. Here on Pastor 175 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:54.840 Rick's Daily Hope, did you. 176 00:09:54.799 --> 00:09:58.279 Read about this kid is an experienced climber. He's climbing 177 00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:01.000 a mountain, slipped and fell, fell lean der ravine and 178 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:03.600 got his arm caught, and he couldn't get out, and 179 00:10:03.639 --> 00:10:05.919 he would have died there because he was by himself. 180 00:10:06.159 --> 00:10:08.399 He thought he knew enough to go it on his own, 181 00:10:10.080 --> 00:10:12.279 and the only way he broke free was he had 182 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:16.840 to cut his own arm off or die. 183 00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:19.240 Even the pros need a buddy. 184 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:24.879 Would you write this down? Community is God's answer to defeat. 185 00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:33.159 Community is God's answer to defeat. The Bible says Ecclesiastes 186 00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:35.840 four to ten. If one person falls, another can reach 187 00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:38.440 out and help. But people who are alone when they 188 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:42.080 fall are in real trouble. I need people to walk 189 00:10:42.120 --> 00:10:43.919 with me and work with me and watch out for me. 190 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:47.919 Number four, I need others to wait with me and 191 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:51.879 to weep with me, to wait and weep. I'm talking 192 00:10:51.879 --> 00:10:54.279 about they wait while I'm waiting for the bad news, 193 00:10:55.159 --> 00:10:57.840 and they weep when I get the bad news. I 194 00:10:57.879 --> 00:11:01.039 need people in me with the inevitable christ life. The 195 00:11:01.200 --> 00:11:04.600 tragedies hit, I don't want to face that alone now, 196 00:11:04.600 --> 00:11:07.679 as you're pastor, I especially feel this one because I 197 00:11:07.720 --> 00:11:10.919 see it on a daily basis. There are situations that 198 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:16.799 nobody should ever have to go through alone. Nobody should 199 00:11:16.840 --> 00:11:19.480 ever have to wait in the hospital while a loved 200 00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:23.480 one is in a life or death surgery nobody. No 201 00:11:23.639 --> 00:11:27.879 woman should ever have to wait alone waiting for the 202 00:11:27.960 --> 00:11:33.360 lab report back on a problem pregnancy nobody. Nobody should 203 00:11:33.440 --> 00:11:37.559 have to wait for news from a battlefield alone. Nobody 204 00:11:37.559 --> 00:11:40.200 should have to stand at the edge of an open 205 00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:44.679 grave alone. Nobody should have to wait at home alone 206 00:11:44.919 --> 00:11:48.320 for the coroner to come and publicly identify the body 207 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:49.759 of a loved one who just died. 208 00:11:50.840 --> 00:11:53.759 Nobody, nobody should. 209 00:11:53.480 --> 00:11:57.360 Have to spend the first night alone after their husband 210 00:11:57.600 --> 00:12:02.559 has died or wife has done And nobody should ever 211 00:12:02.600 --> 00:12:06.480 have to spend the first night alone when their wife 212 00:12:06.600 --> 00:12:11.879 is just walked out or the husband's walked out. Now, 213 00:12:11.919 --> 00:12:15.320 the fact is, some of these things are going to 214 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:19.120 happen to you. They're inevitable. You're going to have loved 215 00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:22.519 ones die, you're gonna go through tragedy, you're gonna get 216 00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:26.000 bad health news, you're gonna find out one day that 217 00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:30.600 you were dying, and you need other people in your life. Now, 218 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:33.720 only a fool would go all the way through life 219 00:12:34.039 --> 00:12:37.200 totally unprepared for something you know is inevitably going to happen. 220 00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:41.600 The time is now to build the safety net, the 221 00:12:41.639 --> 00:12:44.679 network of supportive friends. Get it in place now, because 222 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:46.440 at some point the tragedy is going to happen. 223 00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:49.919 You don't know when. The time to prepare is now. Now. 224 00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:52.240 What is God's safety net? It is a group of 225 00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:55.720 other believers. You don't need one hundred, you only need 226 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:58.960 five or six. But as a group of other believers 227 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:04.639 who are committed, committed to you. The Bible says this 228 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:08.120 in one Peter three eight. You should be like one 229 00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:13.840 big family, full of sympathy toward each other. Now, when 230 00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:15.200 you get in the hospital, you don't want the whole 231 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:16.600 church to visit you. In fact, it be kind of 232 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:19.240 bad if all of us came, But it would be 233 00:13:19.320 --> 00:13:21.159 nice to have four or five come see you and 234 00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:24.399 say we're praying for you. I'll never forget there was 235 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:26.080 a guy who came to this church for seven years. 236 00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:28.320 You sit up in the bleachers, and he came for 237 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:31.399 seven years, never got involved in anything, never joined a 238 00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:34.440 small group, just came to worship and left, never. 239 00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:35.720 Even met anybody in the church. 240 00:13:35.799 --> 00:13:38.519 I'm the only person he ever knew, never made any friends, 241 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:41.840 in the family. One day he had a heart attack 242 00:13:41.879 --> 00:13:43.360 and he got in the hospital, and then he got 243 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:46.519 an infection, and he was in for two weeks, and 244 00:13:46.600 --> 00:13:48.879 I was out traveling around speaking somewhere. I didn't even 245 00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:52.279 hear about it till I got back. And when he 246 00:13:52.279 --> 00:13:53.879 got out of the hospital, he came to the church 247 00:13:53.879 --> 00:13:58.240 and he said, I'm leaving the church. I said why. 248 00:13:58.360 --> 00:14:01.919 He said, because it's unfriendly. Nobody visited me in the hospital. 249 00:14:03.639 --> 00:14:07.720 I said, I'm sorry, and he left, and as he left, 250 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:12.440 I thought, it's your fault. He never visited anybody in 251 00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:17.360 the hospital. He never cared about anybody but himself. He 252 00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:21.360 never got cared enough to even meet anybody. He never cared, 253 00:14:21.399 --> 00:14:24.559 never got in a group, never gave, never shared, And 254 00:14:24.679 --> 00:14:28.200 it was his fault when the crisis came that nobody 255 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:31.639 was there for him. I've told you many times that 256 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:34.000 I could not make it in life without my small 257 00:14:34.039 --> 00:14:37.080 group eight other people plus my wife and I. 258 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:37.960 In our small group. 259 00:14:38.679 --> 00:14:41.080 This last year, we've gone through practically every kind of 260 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:44.679 family or personal crisis you could imagine, and we've been 261 00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:47.840 there to wait for each other, and to wait with 262 00:14:47.960 --> 00:14:51.200 each other, and to weep with each other when we 263 00:14:51.320 --> 00:14:56.720 needed support. See Here's God's plan one Corinthians twelve. If 264 00:14:56.799 --> 00:15:01.039 one member suffers, all suffer together. You know, I read 265 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:04.360 recently about a guy who died at home in his bed, 266 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:05.759 and nobody. 267 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:07.519 Discovered it for two years. 268 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:14.759 I thought, how tragic that a guy was not even 269 00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:20.320 missed for two years. Can you imagine the despair in 270 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:24.440 that man's heart as he was dying in bed. Nobody 271 00:15:24.440 --> 00:15:28.200 should ever die alone. Nobody should ever have to go 272 00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:31.159 through that kind of despair. Would you write this down? 273 00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:38.120 Community is God's answer to despair. Community is God's answer 274 00:15:38.679 --> 00:15:43.639 to despair. Romans twelve fifteen says be happy with those 275 00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:46.120 who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 276 00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:47.080 We do that in the group. 277 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:50.720 Somebody has a good thing, a promotion or celebration, a graduate, 278 00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:53.480 we party, We have a good time, we have fun. 279 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:56.919 Somebody has a tough time, we weep with them. By 280 00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:58.440 the way, you know, a lot of times in groups, 281 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:01.600 small groups, people don't know what how to deal with tears. 282 00:16:02.440 --> 00:16:04.960 You'll be in a small group together and someone starts crying. 283 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:07.240 A little tear comes down the cheek. Let me give 284 00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:10.639 you a little tip. A tear is always a sign 285 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:13.720 it's time to stop and pray. 286 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:14.600 That's what you do. 287 00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:19.840 Whenever there is a tear, it's time to stop and pray. 288 00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:22.159 And so he said, well, let's just stop right now. 289 00:16:22.279 --> 00:16:24.320 Let's pray for Mary. She just got this news from 290 00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:26.840 her sister. So let's stop and pray for right now. 291 00:16:27.399 --> 00:16:30.080 Let's stop and pray for Bob right now. He has 292 00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:32.440 given twenty two years of his life to this corporation 293 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:35.440 and they just laid him off with one week's notice, 294 00:16:36.039 --> 00:16:37.399 and he's pretty devastated. 295 00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:40.720 Let's let's pray for tom right now. 296 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:43.559 That is the sign to do now. You don't have 297 00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:46.440 to fix anybody's problem. In a small group. They don't 298 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:49.320 want you to fix it. They just want you to sympathize. 299 00:16:49.799 --> 00:16:51.799 When you're going through a crisis. You don't want advice. 300 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:54.679 You just want somebody to be there. You just sit 301 00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:58.399 there with him, silent, hold her hand, put arm around 302 00:16:58.440 --> 00:17:03.399 the shoulder, cry with them, be there with them. In fact, 303 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:05.359 usually it's when we start talking we get in trouble, 304 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:07.720 we get the stupid advice and stuff like that. No, 305 00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:11.680 just be there, just be there, sit there with him, 306 00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:15.599 and sometimes you sit in silence. Fifth reason I need 307 00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:16.680 other people in my life. 308 00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:20.839 Is I need them. I need others to witness with me. 309 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:23.039 And what I mean by that you have a life 310 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:25.880 message that God wants you to share with the world. 311 00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:29.119 It's part of your mission. The Bible says, God puts 312 00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:31.640 you on earth to do a mission, and there is 313 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:34.400 great power in group witness. God never meant for you 314 00:17:34.440 --> 00:17:37.039 to do your mission alone. God would never send a 315 00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:40.480 soldier out by himself. No, he says, we go out together, 316 00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:43.440 and it's very impressive. Now, what is the way you 317 00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:46.359 witness best to people who don't know the love of God? 318 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:49.079 How do you witness best to them? I'll surprise you, 319 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:53.079 God says. It's by loving others in the family of God. 320 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:59.559 Look at what Jesus said John thirteen. Your love for 321 00:17:59.640 --> 00:18:02.160 one not for me, he says, not for God, not 322 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:06.400 for Jesus. Your love for one another will prove to 323 00:18:06.440 --> 00:18:09.759 the world that you are My disciples. What impresses the 324 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:14.599 community the most when Christians believers love each other. You see, 325 00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:16.519 the one thing that proves to the world that you're 326 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:18.920 in the family of God, that you've stepped across the line, 327 00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:21.799 that you're headed for Heaven, is that you love other 328 00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:24.160 people in the Family of God. And if you do 329 00:18:24.200 --> 00:18:26.000 not love other people in the family of God, you 330 00:18:26.119 --> 00:18:29.680 got every reason to doubt am I in it, because 331 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:32.799 that's one of the things. When you're truly in God's family, 332 00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:39.319 you start loving others in God's family. And that's what 333 00:18:39.400 --> 00:18:42.960 impresses the community. See how they love. Two Timothy one, p. 334 00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:46.519 Seven says this. The Holy Spirit doesn't want you to 335 00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:49.759 be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong 336 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:53.680 and to love them and to enjoy being with them. 337 00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:56.759 I'm going to add and invite them into your home. 338 00:18:58.559 --> 00:18:59.440 That's a bow our heads. 339 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:01.279 Father. 340 00:19:01.319 --> 00:19:02.960 It is time for the church to be the church, 341 00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:07.200 and it's time for a revolution of love and fellowship 342 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:07.880 and community. 343 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:10.119 Please begin it in our hearts. 344 00:19:10.839 --> 00:19:14.400 With all my heart, Lord, I know that our churches 345 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:18.640 will start fulfilling God's purposes together. And when that happens, 346 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:21.240 we'll see a new reformation in the church and a 347 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:23.119 new spiritual awakening in our country. 348 00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:26.200 And God, we need it now. 349 00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:29.759 You pray, say, Dear God, forgive me for the times 350 00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:32.640 I felt like I didn't need other people in my life. 351 00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:34.319 I want to be a part of what You're doing 352 00:19:34.359 --> 00:19:38.400 on earth through your family the church, and I want 353 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:43.920 to experience real community I'm tired of superficial relationships. I 354 00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:46.680 want to learn to really love and be loved in 355 00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:47.400 a deeper way. 356 00:19:49.079 --> 00:19:50.319 I open up my life to you. 357 00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:53.839 Jesus, Christ, come into my life, accept me into your 358 00:19:53.880 --> 00:19:56.240 family in your name. 359 00:19:57.079 --> 00:19:57.480 Amen. 360 00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:08.440 Hi everybody, this is Rick and I hope you enjoyed 361 00:20:08.440 --> 00:20:11.799 today's broadcast. You know, if you just prayed that prayer 362 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:15.799 for the very first time, or you just recommitted your 363 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:18.400 life to Jesus again today, would you let me know 364 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:22.160 about it. There's something real about sharing your commitment. So 365 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:25.319 write me Rick at pastor Rick dot com and say, Rick, 366 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:28.640 I prayed that prayer of commitment, I gave my life 367 00:20:28.680 --> 00:20:31.440 to Christ. And I'll send you some material that will 368 00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:34.400 help you on your journey with Jesus. And I'll also 369 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:36.160 pray for you. God bless you. 370 00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:47.440 This is Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. If you've missed any 371 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:49.960 part of this message, or if you'd like to find 372 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:53.680 out more about Pastor Rick Warren and this ministry, just 373 00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:58.359 visit Pastorrick dot com where you can listen online anytime. 374 00:20:58.599 --> 00:21:01.640 That's Pastor Rick with two Hours in the Middle dot 375 00:21:01.640 --> 00:21:04.160 com and be sure to sign up for Rick's free 376 00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:07.599 daily email devotional while you're there, Rick will be back 377 00:21:07.640 --> 00:21:11.119 to close out our time today. But first, what does 378 00:21:11.160 --> 00:21:15.920 it take to become more loving, live more peacefully, develop 379 00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:20.599 patients have self control? Pastor Rick says, throughout all the 380 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:24.200 years he's been a pastor, the number one question he's 381 00:21:24.200 --> 00:21:28.759 been asked is why can't I change? People want to change, 382 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:31.880 but there's stock and maybe you feel that way too. 383 00:21:32.359 --> 00:21:35.480 In his book God's Power to Change Your Life, Rick 384 00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:40.680 lays the groundwork for personal transformation, then offers biblical insights 385 00:21:40.839 --> 00:21:44.160 and simple steps for ten areas of growth that you 386 00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:47.240 can take from where you are to where you want 387 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:50.519 to be. This book connects you with the power to 388 00:21:50.680 --> 00:21:54.240 actually make the changes you long to make. And as 389 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:57.039 you apply the truth of God's word by the power 390 00:21:57.039 --> 00:22:00.759 of His Spirit, your life will change. You'll move out 391 00:22:00.759 --> 00:22:04.119 of your run and get on track with God's wonderful 392 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:07.680 purposes for your life. And today, when you give a 393 00:22:07.720 --> 00:22:10.240 gift to daily Hope to help take the hope of 394 00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:14.599 Jesus to people everywhere, We'll send you Pastor Rick's book 395 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:18.839 called God's Power to Change Your Life to say thanks. 396 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:22.480 Just go to Pastorick dot com right now to get 397 00:22:22.519 --> 00:22:26.279 your copy, or you can call eight hundred, six hundred 398 00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:30.880 five thousand and four. That's Pastorick dot com or eight 399 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:34.559 hundred six hundred five thousand and four, and be sure 400 00:22:34.599 --> 00:22:36.960 to let us know which station you hurt us on. 401 00:22:37.359 --> 00:22:41.000