WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.520 --> 00:00:05.679 This is Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, the audio broadcast ministry 2 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:09.119 of Pastor Rick Warren. Well, today we continue in our 3 00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:13.400 series called fifty Days of Faith. In these lessons, Rick 4 00:00:13.480 --> 00:00:16.719 looks into God's word to discover the true meaning of 5 00:00:16.800 --> 00:00:21.600 faith and explore ways we can strengthen it. But first, today, 6 00:00:21.839 --> 00:00:25.280 when you join our partner and Hope family by signing 7 00:00:25.399 --> 00:00:28.800 up for automated monthly giving, we'll send you a special 8 00:00:28.879 --> 00:00:32.399 welcome gift as our way of saying thanks. To find 9 00:00:32.439 --> 00:00:35.799 out more, go to Pastorick dot com while you listen 10 00:00:35.880 --> 00:00:39.960 to today's message, or simply text the word hope to 11 00:00:40.159 --> 00:00:44.079 eight hundred, six hundred five thousand and four. That's the 12 00:00:44.119 --> 00:00:48.439 word hope to eight hundred six hundred five thousand and four. 13 00:00:49.079 --> 00:00:52.719 Right now, here's Pastor Rick Warren with the final part 14 00:00:52.759 --> 00:00:56.039 of a message called following God's Directions. 15 00:00:57.079 --> 00:00:59.759 God cares about details. 16 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:01.719 Have you ever looked at nature? 17 00:01:02.280 --> 00:01:04.319 You pick up a little flower and look at the 18 00:01:04.439 --> 00:01:10.799 intricacies inside that flower. God cares about details. The Bible 19 00:01:10.840 --> 00:01:15.120 says every hair on your head is numbered by God. 20 00:01:16.040 --> 00:01:20.359 God cares about details. Now, because God is a God 21 00:01:20.359 --> 00:01:24.920 of detail, he is infinitely interested in every detail of 22 00:01:24.959 --> 00:01:29.120 your life, and he is infinitely interested that when you 23 00:01:29.159 --> 00:01:32.120 obey him, you don't just obey him, but why you 24 00:01:32.239 --> 00:01:36.239 obey him, and how you obey him? Are you doing 25 00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:38.120 it in the right way and for the right reason. 26 00:01:39.560 --> 00:01:41.280 Let me give you an example. Now I'm not saying 27 00:01:41.280 --> 00:01:44.120 this is true, but let's just imagine. My wife Kay 28 00:01:44.359 --> 00:01:49.120 says Rick, I want you to move Joshua's double bed 29 00:01:49.159 --> 00:01:52.959 from upstairs downstairs in our house, but wait until Matthew 30 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:56.159 comes home from school so he can help you to 31 00:01:56.239 --> 00:01:59.879 get it down the stairs. And I think, you know, 32 00:02:00.200 --> 00:02:02.200 I can do this on my own. I you know, 33 00:02:02.359 --> 00:02:05.920 I'm bacho and I don't want to wait. And so 34 00:02:06.079 --> 00:02:10.120 I get the beds, you know, the box springs, and 35 00:02:10.159 --> 00:02:14.800 the mattress and this huge you know frame and everything, 36 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:18.280 and I start scooting it down the stairs by myself. 37 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:21.400 But because I can't get it all away by myself, 38 00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:26.439 I start scratching the wall and knocking paint chips off 39 00:02:26.960 --> 00:02:31.400 and putting things in the plaster and knocking off all 40 00:02:31.520 --> 00:02:36.080 kinds of you know, uh, pictures on the wall. And 41 00:02:36.199 --> 00:02:38.599 I get it to the bottom of the stairs. 42 00:02:38.719 --> 00:02:39.919 And she's upset. 43 00:02:42.479 --> 00:02:50.960 Now I'm not saying this is a true story, but 44 00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:57.159 in this hypothetical situation, I said, well, you know what's 45 00:02:57.360 --> 00:02:59.599 you know what's what's the big deal? I did what 46 00:02:59.639 --> 00:03:03.280 you add asked me to do. I got it downstairs 47 00:03:04.360 --> 00:03:07.960 and she said yes, but you didn't do it the 48 00:03:08.080 --> 00:03:14.479 way I asked. Now, let me tell you what love is. 49 00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:22.479 Love is when you say, I'll do it the way 50 00:03:22.680 --> 00:03:25.039 you want it done. 51 00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:25.840 That's love. 52 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:29.439 I will do it the way you want it done 53 00:03:29.759 --> 00:03:32.039 because I love you. And let me tell you what 54 00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:35.039 faith is. Faith is I'll do it the way you 55 00:03:35.159 --> 00:03:38.199 want it done because I trust that you know the 56 00:03:38.199 --> 00:03:42.759 best way to do it. When you love God, and 57 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:45.159 when you trust God, you say, God, I'll not only 58 00:03:45.199 --> 00:03:47.840 obey you, I'll obey you the way you want me 59 00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:50.240 to do it. When you want me to do it 60 00:03:50.639 --> 00:03:52.240 for the right reason you want me to do it. 61 00:03:52.280 --> 00:03:55.159 I will do it your way because I love you 62 00:03:56.000 --> 00:04:01.120 and I trust you. Faith is trusting God in the 63 00:04:01.159 --> 00:04:03.639 details of life. Look at this next verse Proverbs three 64 00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:07.159 to five. Trust God from the bottom of your heart. 65 00:04:07.479 --> 00:04:10.919 Don't try to figure out everything on your own. One 66 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:12.599 day there was a man who was ill. His name 67 00:04:12.680 --> 00:04:14.599 was Naming, and he had leprosy. And he came to 68 00:04:14.639 --> 00:04:17.360 Elijah and He said, I'm a very famous man, but 69 00:04:17.399 --> 00:04:18.160 I've got leprosy. 70 00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:19.639 What do I do? And Elijah said, 'h to you? 71 00:04:19.639 --> 00:04:19.720 What? 72 00:04:19.879 --> 00:04:22.439 Just to show your faith, God. 73 00:04:22.279 --> 00:04:23.839 Wants you to go down to the Jordan River and 74 00:04:23.959 --> 00:04:25.959 dunk yourself under it seven times. 75 00:04:26.879 --> 00:04:28.319 And he goes, you gotta be kidding. He said no. 76 00:04:28.920 --> 00:04:31.600 He says, well, it's humiliating. He said, yeah, it's humbling 77 00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:33.639 yourself for God. He goes, there are a lot better rivers, 78 00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:34.800 Jordan rivers, a muddy river. 79 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:36.480 Just do it. 80 00:04:37.480 --> 00:04:42.839 So he goes down and he starts dunking himself one, two, three, four, five, six. 81 00:04:43.040 --> 00:04:46.360 He's still got leprosy. He had to do it completely. 82 00:04:46.439 --> 00:04:49.279 And on the seventh time he comes up and he 83 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:52.600 was cured of his leprosy. Special power in the water, 84 00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:56.800 absolutely not. It was because he was obedient to God. 85 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:02.720 He had faith and he obeyed God completely. You know 86 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:05.199 what Jesus says. He says, if you trust me in 87 00:05:05.240 --> 00:05:08.759 the details of life, if you are faithful in the 88 00:05:08.839 --> 00:05:13.079 little things, it means you trust me and I will 89 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:17.360 reward you with bigger things in heaven. If you're faithful 90 00:05:17.399 --> 00:05:19.279 little thinks, you will be faithful and much and you 91 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:23.240 will have greater responsibility, greater reward and greater joy in 92 00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:29.439 heaven incomplete obedience. Partial obedience is not only disobedience, it's 93 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:31.879 the lack of trust. This week, I got this letter 94 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:36.199 through an email. In nineteen ninety, I opened up a 95 00:05:36.279 --> 00:05:39.600 video store as a side business. I decided to carry 96 00:05:39.639 --> 00:05:42.480 adult videos since they make up thirty percent of all 97 00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:46.399 video rentals revenues. But a couple of years ago I 98 00:05:46.439 --> 00:05:49.720 began attending saddleback and one day I told my wife, 99 00:05:49.959 --> 00:05:52.000 how can I ask God to help our store when 100 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:54.240 I don't do what he wants? I got to get 101 00:05:54.279 --> 00:05:57.399 rid of those adult videos. My business partner cent Are 102 00:05:57.439 --> 00:06:00.600 you crazy? We depend on that income. But I knew 103 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:03.120 we couldn't expect God's blessing unless I obeyed him, and 104 00:06:03.160 --> 00:06:06.920 so we got rid of him all of them. The 105 00:06:06.959 --> 00:06:10.800 first weekend without the adult video, something strange happened. I 106 00:06:10.920 --> 00:06:15.079 was flooded with new customers, and I didn't know why. 107 00:06:15.879 --> 00:06:19.199 Then everybody told me that you, pastor Rick had told 108 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:20.879 everyone to come in and rent a video just to 109 00:06:20.920 --> 00:06:29.839 support our decision. Boy did they come. I had to 110 00:06:29.879 --> 00:06:33.439 call all our employees in just to handle the crowds. 111 00:06:35.079 --> 00:06:37.279 I eventually closed that store, but I've never forgotten that 112 00:06:37.360 --> 00:06:39.639 lesson about obeying God even when it doesn't make sense. 113 00:06:40.360 --> 00:06:43.279 My life changed, and I committed to doing whatever God wants. 114 00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:46.120 I was baptized and became a member, and so did 115 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:49.439 my partner. After we closed that store, I still had 116 00:06:49.480 --> 00:06:51.639 my job in the trash business, which I'd been in 117 00:06:51.680 --> 00:06:56.079 for eighteen years, but our company was bought out and 118 00:06:56.120 --> 00:06:56.920 I was fired. 119 00:06:58.000 --> 00:06:59.120 That was devastating. 120 00:07:00.279 --> 00:07:03.800 An attorney gave me plenty of legal reasons to sue, 121 00:07:03.879 --> 00:07:06.000 but again I knew that I had to obey God 122 00:07:06.040 --> 00:07:10.279 and not seek revenge. It was another test. It was 123 00:07:10.319 --> 00:07:13.319 also a witness to those who saw how I responded. 124 00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:16.360 A few months later, a relative suggested that I start 125 00:07:16.360 --> 00:07:18.920 my own trash business and he'd invest in it. So 126 00:07:18.959 --> 00:07:23.040 I did, and it began growing like wildfire. Then one 127 00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:27.120 day he suddenly needed his money back, so he sold 128 00:07:27.160 --> 00:07:33.519 the company without my knowledge, to my old employer, the 129 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:34.759 one who had fired me. 130 00:07:35.959 --> 00:07:36.959 I couldn't believe it. 131 00:07:37.560 --> 00:07:42.720 My business was gone, and adding insult to injury, sold. 132 00:07:42.439 --> 00:07:44.399 To the very people who had cheated me. 133 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:49.319 Once again, I had to step back and think about 134 00:07:49.360 --> 00:07:52.759 why had God allowed this and how he would want 135 00:07:52.759 --> 00:07:53.480 me to respond? 136 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:58.199 Made no sense. At the moment, But God had a plan. 137 00:07:59.199 --> 00:08:02.879 It ended up with the company who refused to pay 138 00:08:02.920 --> 00:08:06.480 me severance having to pay me way more when they 139 00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:09.560 bought my business. When you do the right thing and 140 00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:15.000 trust God, he takes care of you. Obey God immediately 141 00:08:15.560 --> 00:08:19.079 and completely. Number three, you want the blessing of God 142 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:26.120 in your life, you must obey God joyfully, joyfully. Psalm 143 00:08:26.120 --> 00:08:31.279 one hundred, verse two says obey him gladly Palone, nineteen sixteen. 144 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:36.200 I enjoy obeying your commands Someone nineteen forty seven. I 145 00:08:36.360 --> 00:08:40.519 find pleasure in obeying your commands. Why how is it 146 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:43.639 enjoyable to do what God tells you to do, to 147 00:08:43.720 --> 00:08:45.399 follow the instructions, to obey his command? 148 00:08:45.399 --> 00:08:47.159 How is that enjoyable? Three reasons. 149 00:08:48.039 --> 00:08:53.600 Number One, because I'll have fewer problems if I follow 150 00:08:53.639 --> 00:08:56.879 the instruction manual for life that God the Creator laid out. 151 00:08:56.960 --> 00:08:58.799 It's going to have a whole lot more benefit and 152 00:08:58.840 --> 00:08:59.960 fewer problems in my life. 153 00:09:00.120 --> 00:09:01.000 When you're putting. 154 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:03.159 Together bicycle, does it help the follow the instructions? 155 00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:12.320 Yeah, you're listening to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. Rick will 156 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:14.399 be back in just a moment with the rest of 157 00:09:14.440 --> 00:09:17.919 today's lesson. If you've missed any part of today's teaching, 158 00:09:18.200 --> 00:09:22.480 you can listen online anytime at pastor Rick dot com. 159 00:09:22.559 --> 00:09:24.600 That's pastorick dot com. 160 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:27.519 The Bible says children are a gift from the Lord. 161 00:09:27.960 --> 00:09:31.679 Do you have kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, or kids in 162 00:09:31.720 --> 00:09:34.600 your neighborhood that need to know God loves them and 163 00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:37.200 has a good plan for their lives. You can help 164 00:09:37.240 --> 00:09:40.080 them get closer to God by encouraging them to read 165 00:09:40.200 --> 00:09:43.000 God's Word. That's why we're so excited to tell you 166 00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:47.000 about a very special resource just for kids called God's 167 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:50.200 Big Plans for Me. It's a storybook Bible by Pastor 168 00:09:50.279 --> 00:09:53.600 Rick Warren. This two hundred and twenty three page hardcover 169 00:09:53.720 --> 00:09:57.240 children's book includes forty well loved Bible stories to help 170 00:09:57.360 --> 00:10:00.759 kids engage with God's word. Each Byble story has an 171 00:10:00.759 --> 00:10:04.360 introduction from pasta wreck that helps young readers understand the 172 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:07.120 Word of God, and a closing thought with a practical 173 00:10:07.159 --> 00:10:10.320 step boys and girls can take to discover God's Big 174 00:10:10.360 --> 00:10:12.840 Plans for them. Their eyes will light up as they 175 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:16.759 turn the beautifully illustrated pages and really start to get 176 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:19.720 what God wants to say to their young hearts and minds. 177 00:10:20.039 --> 00:10:22.639 God's Big Plans for Me is so much more than 178 00:10:22.840 --> 00:10:25.720 just a book filled with cute pictures of Bible characters. 179 00:10:26.039 --> 00:10:29.000 It's a fun and effective way to introduce children to 180 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:33.120 God's everlasting truth. This book makes a great gift. You'll 181 00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:35.600 want to get a copy for every child in your life. 182 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:37.919 And today, when you give a gift to help Pastor 183 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:41.360 Rick's Daily Hope take the certain Hope of Jesus Christ 184 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:44.399 around the world, we'll send you a copy of God's 185 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:47.919 Big Plans for Me Storybook Bible to say thanks. Just 186 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:50.960 call eight hundred and six hundred five zero zero four 187 00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:53.639 or go to Pastorick dot com to get your very 188 00:10:53.639 --> 00:10:57.000 own copy of God's Big Plans for Me Storybook Bible. 189 00:10:57.279 --> 00:10:59.320 And if you choose to become a Partner in Hope 190 00:10:59.320 --> 00:11:02.200 with the automated monthly giving, we'll also send you a 191 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:06.120 very special welcome gift to show our appreciation. That's Pastorick 192 00:11:06.200 --> 00:11:08.720 dot com or you can call eight hundred at six 193 00:11:08.840 --> 00:11:11.840 hundred at five zero zero four thank you so much 194 00:11:11.879 --> 00:11:14.519 for your support. There are only three days left to 195 00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:17.919 become a Partner and Hope and receive your special welcome gift, 196 00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:20.759 so don't wait, and don't forget to let us know 197 00:11:20.840 --> 00:11:22.600 which radio station you heard us on. 198 00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:26.240 Hi, it's Pastor Rick with some big news. My daily 199 00:11:26.360 --> 00:11:28.720 devotional is now available in French. 200 00:11:29.159 --> 00:11:30.200 If you know somebody who. 201 00:11:30.120 --> 00:11:33.159 Would enjoy reading the devotionals in French, would you please. 202 00:11:32.919 --> 00:11:36.159 Email me and I'll send you a link to sign up. 203 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:40.039 My email is Rick at pastorick dot com. That's Rick 204 00:11:40.159 --> 00:11:47.000 at pastorick dot com. 205 00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:51.080 Now back to more from God's Word with Pastor Rick Warren. 206 00:11:51.799 --> 00:11:54.840 If I follow the instruction manual for life that God 207 00:11:54.919 --> 00:11:56.879 the Creator laid out, it's going to have a whole 208 00:11:56.919 --> 00:11:58.840 lot more benefit and fewer problems. 209 00:11:58.559 --> 00:11:59.120 In my life. 210 00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:01.159 When you're putting together or bicycle, does it help to 211 00:12:01.159 --> 00:12:06.120 follow the instructions. Yeah, so you'll have fewer problems in life. 212 00:12:06.200 --> 00:12:09.159 So that makes it enjoyable. Number two, I know I'm 213 00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:10.919 going to be rewarded in heaven and I can see 214 00:12:10.919 --> 00:12:12.480 all those promises that God has made. 215 00:12:13.159 --> 00:12:14.159 And number three, it's. 216 00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:18.279 Enjoyable because I love God. I know what He's done 217 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:20.200 for me, so I love him and I want to 218 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:20.639 obey him. 219 00:12:20.679 --> 00:12:21.519 Look at the next verse. 220 00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:27.519 Loving God means doing what he tells us to do. 221 00:12:27.559 --> 00:12:31.600 You know, in marriage, the longer you live together. The 222 00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:36.519 more you know what offends and grieves your your partner, 223 00:12:36.519 --> 00:12:38.440 your husband or your wife. And you don't know that 224 00:12:38.440 --> 00:12:42.000 when you first get married. But the longer you're married, 225 00:12:42.039 --> 00:12:44.559 the more you figure out what will offend that person, 226 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:50.039 like blowing your nose at the dinner table or leaving 227 00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:57.000 the set up. You know, you learn what offends your partner. Oh, 228 00:12:57.120 --> 00:13:04.879 come on, but if you love that person. The longer 229 00:13:04.919 --> 00:13:08.399 you're married, the less you do those things because you 230 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:09.320 don't want to offend them. 231 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:12.120 You love them. You don't want to grieve them. You 232 00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:15.279 love them. When you walk with the Lord. 233 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:18.720 Through many years, the more you realize what God has 234 00:13:18.759 --> 00:13:20.600 done for you, how good He's been to you, the 235 00:13:20.679 --> 00:13:22.000 less you want to offend God. 236 00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:24.399 You enjoy doing the right thing. 237 00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:29.320 You enjoy keeping his commands, and you do it because 238 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:33.240 you love God. Do you know how God measures your love? 239 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:36.919 Not by what you say, Oh, I love you, I 240 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:43.360 praise you. God measures your love by your obedience, by 241 00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:47.240 how well you follow directions. Jesus said, if you love me, 242 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:53.600 keep my commandments. That's how we prove our love. Now, 243 00:13:53.639 --> 00:13:56.600 I said earlier, it's better to obey God, even with 244 00:13:56.679 --> 00:14:02.120 the wrong motivation and disobey. But if you do that, 245 00:14:02.360 --> 00:14:06.759 you'll start letting the love develop in your life. If 246 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:08.960 you want the blessings of God in your life, you 247 00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:13.679 obey him immediately, completely, joyfully. 248 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:14.559 And continually. 249 00:14:14.840 --> 00:14:19.080 That's the fourth continually because life is not a fifty 250 00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:23.320 yard dash, it's a marathon. And you obey God, not sporadically. 251 00:14:23.720 --> 00:14:26.519 Now this year, not next year, yes, next year, no, 252 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:29.320 the next year after that, it's all your life. 253 00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:30.919 Look at these verses. 254 00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:35.240 So I'm one, nineteen one twelve, I am determined to 255 00:14:35.399 --> 00:14:38.039 obey you until I die. 256 00:14:38.200 --> 00:14:41.559 Have you made that choice? I have. 257 00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:45.840 I have made the choice that I am determined to 258 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:49.840 obey God until I die. And the blessings in my 259 00:14:49.960 --> 00:14:55.320 life have been beyond my wildest dream because I am 260 00:14:55.399 --> 00:14:58.720 determined to obey God for the rest. 261 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:00.159 Of my life. 262 00:15:00.679 --> 00:15:02.960 Look at the next verse. This would be a good 263 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:05.360 verse for you to put on your refrigerator door. Just 264 00:15:05.480 --> 00:15:07.399 tell me what to do, and I'll do it. Lord, 265 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:12.480 as long as I live, I'll wholeheartedly obey. Just tell 266 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:14.279 me what to do, and I'll do it. Make that 267 00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:17.879 your prayer and somebody saying, Rick, why doesn't God tell 268 00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:19.720 me what to do? I've been prayers saying what should 269 00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:21.559 I do in this situation? And I'll tell you why 270 00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:26.039 he hadn't told you, because you're not already doing what 271 00:15:26.200 --> 00:15:30.159 he's already told you to do. God does not play 272 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:33.799 games where you say, God, tell me what to do 273 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:36.240 and then I will decide whether to do it or not. 274 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:38.120 He's not gonna tell you that way. 275 00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:41.879 No, you say, God in advance, I'm telling you I'm 276 00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:43.399 going to do whatever you tell me to do. 277 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:46.879 That's faith. And then he'll tell you. Why should God 278 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:47.559 tell you what. 279 00:15:47.559 --> 00:15:50.360 To do in this circumstance that you're worried about when 280 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:53.399 you're not already doing the things you already know to 281 00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:55.240 be the will of God and you ought to have 282 00:15:55.320 --> 00:15:59.639 done and haven't. Why haven't you already done? Why is 283 00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:02.000 He going to to give you further revelation when you 284 00:16:02.039 --> 00:16:04.919 haven't acted on the truth he's already told you. 285 00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:10.080 Look at the next verse. We must be sure to 286 00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:12.799 obey the truth we have learned. 287 00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:17.200 Already already now the last six weeks, in this fifty 288 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:19.320 Days of Faith, I've been giving you a lot of 289 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:20.799 truth about faith. 290 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:24.679 Have you acted on it? Have you done anything about it? 291 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:27.120 You see, we kid ourselves thinking if I'm hearing about 292 00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:29.960 faith and just learning and taking notes, then I'm growing. No, 293 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:34.399 the Bible says, faith without actions is dead. You have 294 00:16:34.440 --> 00:16:36.879 to act on it. It's acting on faith that makes 295 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:39.759 you grow, not just listening and taking notes. It's doing 296 00:16:39.799 --> 00:16:43.480 something about it. So inside your program, I want you 297 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:47.440 to pull out this action sheet, the fifty Days of Faith, 298 00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:51.799 putting my faith into action. It is amazing that you 299 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:55.240 could sit through an entire message on obedience, walk out 300 00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:59.360 and do nothing about it. And yet the Bible says, 301 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:01.720 notice the verse, so to the top of that page. 302 00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:06.000 Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by actions, 303 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:10.680 is dead. Now these statements here are what we've talked 304 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:12.599 about for the last seven weeks. The first week we 305 00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:16.759 talked about faith is expecting the best even when things 306 00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:20.119 don't look good. And then the second week in this series, 307 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:23.960 we talked about faith is stretching my imagination even when I'm. 308 00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:25.480 Full of doubt. Maybe you need to think bigger. 309 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:28.279 The third week we talked about faith is taking the 310 00:17:28.359 --> 00:17:33.880 initiative even when I feel like procrastinating. Week five we 311 00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:37.319 talked about faith is persisting even when I feel like 312 00:17:37.400 --> 00:17:40.839 giving up. Last week we talked about faith is giving 313 00:17:40.839 --> 00:17:42.759 my tithe back to God even when I think I 314 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:45.799 can't afford it. And this week we've talked about faith 315 00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:48.839 is doing whatever God tells me, even when it doesn't 316 00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:53.000 make sense. Now I want you to put it into action. 317 00:17:53.240 --> 00:17:55.119 So I want you to pick one of these things 318 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:58.480 right now, or maybe two, and write down an action step. 319 00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:00.680 What am I going to do right now? 320 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:02.480 Ready? 321 00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:09.200 Go write down one action step? Because faith without action 322 00:18:09.640 --> 00:18:12.359 is dead. And while you're writing that down, Pastor Tom 323 00:18:12.440 --> 00:18:14.480 is going to come up and sing a rendition of feelings, 324 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:21.720 just seeing if you're listening. Okay, go ahead, write down 325 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:24.200 an action step. I don't care which of these you choose. 326 00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:26.319 Just pick one that God has spoken to you on 327 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:28.839 that you know He's told you to do something here? 328 00:18:29.160 --> 00:18:31.640 Are you going to do it? Or are you going 329 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:33.799 to delay? 330 00:18:34.599 --> 00:18:34.799 Now? 331 00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:37.880 Folks, what we're talking about this morning is the most 332 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:43.039 basic fundamental thing of Christianity. Not everybody who claims to 333 00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:48.039 be a Christian is one. Not everybody who claims to 334 00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:50.920 know Jesus Christ is going to heaven. Look at the 335 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:56.920 last verse on your outline. It's an issue of obedience. 336 00:18:58.079 --> 00:19:02.839 Matthew seven twenty one. Not all people who sound religious 337 00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:06.759 are really godly. They may refer to me as Lord, 338 00:19:06.839 --> 00:19:08.160 but they still won't enter heaven. 339 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:09.240 This is Jesus talking. 340 00:19:10.119 --> 00:19:14.319 The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father. 341 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:24.799 It's all in obedience. Let's bow our heads as we close. 342 00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:26.640 Let me ask you a couple of questions. 343 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:30.920 What does your obedience to God reveal about your faith 344 00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:35.839 and love? Is your obedience to God immediate or delayed? 345 00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:40.400 Is it complete or is it partial? Well, God won't 346 00:19:40.440 --> 00:19:42.640 care about this one little area. I'm sure it's. 347 00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:43.440 Okay for me to do this. 348 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:47.960 Is it joyful or is it reluctant? Is it continual 349 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:53.039 or is it spasmodic? What do you know is the 350 00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:55.920 right thing to do, but you've been putting it off? 351 00:19:58.039 --> 00:19:59.680 Where has your obedience been. 352 00:19:59.559 --> 00:20:03.799 Incomplet when you know it and you haven't done it. 353 00:20:05.880 --> 00:20:07.559 Why don't you pray this prayer in your heart? 354 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:12.920 Father? There are many areas in my life where I 355 00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:15.319 know what you want me to do. I just haven't 356 00:20:15.319 --> 00:20:18.880 done it, and I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. 357 00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:26.559 Please forgive me for my disobedience. I now realize today 358 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:30.359 that it was a lack of faith. I wasn't trusting 359 00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:35.279 that you knew best. I ask you Jesus Christ, to 360 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:41.279 give me the strength to follow your directions immediately, completely, joyfully, 361 00:20:42.119 --> 00:20:46.200 and continually for the rest of my life from this 362 00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:51.240 day forward. And I am going to trust you to 363 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:55.160 fulfill all these promises in my life. 364 00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:57.880 In your name, I pray. Amen. 365 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:20.599 Hi everybody, this is Rick and I hope you enjoyed 366 00:21:20.599 --> 00:21:23.960 today's broadcast. You know, if you just prayed that prayer 367 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:27.960 for the very first time, or you just recommitted your 368 00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:30.599 life to Jesus again today, would you let me know 369 00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:34.319 about it. There's something real about sharing your commitment. So 370 00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:37.480 write me Rick at pastor Rick dot com and say, Rick, 371 00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:40.839 I prayed that prayer of commitment, I gave my life 372 00:21:40.839 --> 00:21:43.680 to Christ. And I'll send you some material that will 373 00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:46.519 help you on your journey with Jesus. And I'll also 374 00:21:46.680 --> 00:21:48.319 pray for you. God bless you. 375 00:21:53.880 --> 00:21:57.200 This is Pastor Rick's daily hope. Rick will be right 376 00:21:57.279 --> 00:22:00.839 back to close out our time today. But first, over 377 00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:05.000 the last couple of years, we've all experienced worldwide changes 378 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:09.319 and events that have impacted us in profound and sometimes 379 00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:14.279 unimaginable ways. For many of us, those changes will impact 380 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:17.839 our lives for years to come. Pastor Rick believes that 381 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:21.119 now more than ever, people need God's word and the 382 00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:24.319 hope that it brings. That's why he'd like to invite 383 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:28.039 you to become a partner in Hope. Here's rick to 384 00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:28.799 tell you more. 385 00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:32.119 No matter where you're listening to this program right now 386 00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:34.400 around the world, I want to thank you for your 387 00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:38.440 support of Daily Hope. Your prayers and your financial contributions 388 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:41.960 are literally helping people all over the world learn about 389 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:44.359 the hope that we have in Jesus. Did you know 390 00:22:44.440 --> 00:22:46.440 that in just a short time, people from over two 391 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:50.680 hundred countries have visited the Daily Hope website and we 392 00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:56.599 have listeners all throughout the United States, India, Africa, South America, Australia, Korea, 393 00:22:56.680 --> 00:23:00.279 Hong Kong, Europe, all over the Middle East. In fact, 394 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:02.960 right now, someone's listening to this broadcast and getting to 395 00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:06.640 know Jesus because of your prayer and because of your 396 00:23:06.680 --> 00:23:11.200 financial support. So I just wanted to say thank you. 397 00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:13.759 Your support means so much to me personally, and I 398 00:23:13.799 --> 00:23:16.160 want you to know that I take your trust very seriously. 399 00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:20.559 Every single dollar you donate to Daily Hope goes right 400 00:23:20.599 --> 00:23:23.599 back into the ministry. You know that I don't take 401 00:23:23.640 --> 00:23:25.920