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<v Speaker 1>Hey, everybody, we are so glad you're here with us today.

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<v Speaker 1>On Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, Rick Warren continues with an

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<v Speaker 1>inspiring news series called what does it Really Mean to

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<v Speaker 1>Follow Jesus Now. In this powerful teaching, Rick dives into

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<v Speaker 1>God's Word to explore how we grow spiritually represent Christ

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<v Speaker 1>in the world and find our place in God's family

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<v Speaker 1>through the church. It's a fresh look at discipleship, purpose

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<v Speaker 1>and the life changing power of spiritual community. And now

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<v Speaker 1>here's part one of a message called we Are Ambassadors.

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<v Speaker 2>This weekend, I want us to look at the word ambassador.

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<v Speaker 2>The Bible says in Second Corinthians five point twenty, we

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<v Speaker 2>are Christ's ambassadors. If you're taking note, circle that word.

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<v Speaker 2>We are Christ's ambassadors. Now, what is an ambassador. Well,

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<v Speaker 2>an ambassador is a representative send out on a mission

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<v Speaker 2>to build relationships. That's usually what an ambassador is, a

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<v Speaker 2>representative send out on a mission in order to build relationships. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>there are political ambassadors, there are economic and business and ambassadors.

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<v Speaker 2>There are cultural ambassadors, there are goodwill ambassadors, and the

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<v Speaker 2>Bible says there are spiritual ambassadors. And we are christ ambassadors.

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<v Speaker 2>If you are a follower of Christ. The Bible says

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<v Speaker 2>you are an ambassador for Him in the world. So

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<v Speaker 2>what I want us to do this week in is

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<v Speaker 2>three things. I want us to look at the role

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<v Speaker 2>of an ambassador. I want us to look at the

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<v Speaker 2>responsibilities of an ambassador. And I want us to look

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<v Speaker 2>at the rewards for being an ambassador Jesus Christ. Let's

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<v Speaker 2>get right into it first. What is my role as

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<v Speaker 2>an ambassador? Well, what it means. Number one, It means

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<v Speaker 2>that if I'm an ambassador, I am a representative of Jesus.

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<v Speaker 2>I am an representative Jesus. I represent Jesus in the world. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>to understand this, you need to understand the difference between

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<v Speaker 2>your career and your calling. You need to know the

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<v Speaker 2>difference between your job and your vocation. You might work

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<v Speaker 2>at Taco Bell, but you're not called to taco bell.

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<v Speaker 2>You might work as an insurance salesman, but you're not

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<v Speaker 2>called to be an insurance salesman. There's a difference between

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<v Speaker 2>your vocation and your job, between your career and your calling. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>the word vocation comes from the Latin word vosay, which

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<v Speaker 2>is the word for voice. We get the word vocal

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<v Speaker 2>from it. Like a vocalist or a vocation. It means

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<v Speaker 2>you're calling. It has to do with your voice. Now.

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<v Speaker 2>I was talking to somebody a while back and I

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<v Speaker 2>said what do you do? It's a person I just met.

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<v Speaker 2>I said what do you do? And they said, well,

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<v Speaker 2>I'm actually an ambassador for Jesus disguised as a businessman.

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<v Speaker 2>I talked to a woman one time. She said, I'm

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<v Speaker 2>an ambassador for Jesus disguised as a professional basketball coach.

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<v Speaker 2>So what's your disguise? You are an ambassador for Jesus.

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<v Speaker 2>If you're a follower of Christ, that's your primary calling.

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<v Speaker 2>You're an ambassador for Jesus. But you may be disguised

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<v Speaker 2>as a mom, as a nurse, as a truck driver,

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<v Speaker 2>as a mechanic, as a realtor, as a salesman, or whatever.

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<v Speaker 2>That's your job, that's your career, but that's not your calling,

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<v Speaker 2>it's not your vocation. The Bible says this on the

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<v Speaker 2>screen tewod Timothy Chapter one. God saved us and called

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<v Speaker 2>us to be his own people, not because of what

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<v Speaker 2>we have done, but because of his own grace and purpose.

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<v Speaker 2>And now notice it says he has called us, He

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<v Speaker 2>has called us what's your calling? This week, I looked

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<v Speaker 2>up the phrase calling and what we're called to do

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<v Speaker 2>in the Bible, and the Bible says this. In Romans

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<v Speaker 2>one seven, and we're called to be His people. John fifteen,

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<v Speaker 2>we're called to be God's friend. First Corinthians one, we're

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<v Speaker 2>called to be holy, and we're called into fellowship. The

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<v Speaker 2>Bible says in Second Corinthians five, we're called to speak

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<v Speaker 2>for Christ. Galatians five were called to serve each other,

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<v Speaker 2>and Colossians three were called to live in peace. Romans eight,

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<v Speaker 2>chapter eight, verse twenty eight says we're called, in verse

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<v Speaker 2>twenty nine, called to become like Jesus for God's purpose.

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<v Speaker 2>Verse Peter two, we're called to suffer for him. In

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<v Speaker 2>First Peter three, we're called to bless those who curse us.

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<v Speaker 2>First Timothy one says we're called to eternal life, and

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<v Speaker 2>second Thessalonians two says we're called to share his glory.

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<v Speaker 2>That's your calling. It's not your career, but it's your calling.

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<v Speaker 2>If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are

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<v Speaker 2>a representative of Jesus Christ. You are an ambassador. You

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<v Speaker 2>have an assignment, and your assignment is to build relationships. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>if you're going to follow Jesus as an ambassador, it's

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<v Speaker 2>going to have to affect the way you live. It's

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<v Speaker 2>going to radically change the way you live. In fact,

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<v Speaker 2>the Bible says this, Philippians one twenty seven, be sure

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<v Speaker 2>that you live in a way that brings honor to

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<v Speaker 2>the good News of Christ. Says, if you're going to

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<v Speaker 2>be ambassador, you're going to be a representative of Jesus.

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<v Speaker 2>You got to live like it. You can't just name

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<v Speaker 2>the name without playing the game. You've got to back

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<v Speaker 2>it up with your life. We need to remember that

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<v Speaker 2>we represent Jesus. Many years ago, when I was a

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<v Speaker 2>high school student, I was selected as one of eight

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<v Speaker 2>students in this state in California to be ambassadors to

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<v Speaker 2>the International Congress on Science and the Environment. And they said,

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<v Speaker 2>it's going to be eight high school students and you're

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<v Speaker 2>going for a week, all expenses paid, We're giving an

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<v Speaker 2>unlimited credit line and no chaperones. What a life. And

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<v Speaker 2>so I'm one of the eight ambassadors from the state

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<v Speaker 2>of California as a high school student to go to

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<v Speaker 2>this Congress. As I'm walking out the door, my dad

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<v Speaker 2>says to me, son. Remember who you represent? Remember who

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<v Speaker 2>you represent. I didn't just represent California. I represented the

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<v Speaker 2>Warren name. And I didn't just represent the Warren name.

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<v Speaker 2>I represented Jesus Christ. I think it's a good phrase

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<v Speaker 2>we need to ask ourselves quite frequently as we get

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<v Speaker 2>up in the morning. When you're going out for the

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<v Speaker 2>day's Remember who you represent when you're out playing a

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<v Speaker 2>pickup game of ball. Remember who you represent when you

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<v Speaker 2>go into a grocery store or a theater, or you're

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<v Speaker 2>in line with traffic. Remember who you represent when you're

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<v Speaker 2>frustrated with a clerk and you want to chew them out.

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<v Speaker 2>Remember who you represent. If you name the name of Christ,

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<v Speaker 2>the Bible says, you are an ambassador of Jesus. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>the Bible says in Ephesians chapter four, this live a

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<v Speaker 2>life worthy of the calling you have received. And I

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<v Speaker 2>have been called to represent Jesus in the world, and

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<v Speaker 2>so have you. This is not just for pastors, it's

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<v Speaker 2>for every believer. Now, Number two, an ambassador not only

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<v Speaker 2>represents someone. Number two, I've been given a mission. That's

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<v Speaker 2>the second thing an ambassador does. You're given a mission.

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<v Speaker 2>Ambassadors are sent on diplomatic missions. In fact, the embassies

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<v Speaker 2>where ambassadors work are called permanent missions. I've been in

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<v Speaker 2>many of them around the world, in many capitals of

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<v Speaker 2>different countries. I've been to the American embassy. And usually

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<v Speaker 2>when we go into a major city, a major like

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<v Speaker 2>a capital, we'll get invited to the embassy just to

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<v Speaker 2>meet with everybody. And they're called the permanent mission, the

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<v Speaker 2>permanent mission to China, the permanent mission to Australia, the

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<v Speaker 2>permanent mission to Israel, the permanent mission, whatever. Because the

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<v Speaker 2>word mission is what an ambassador does. Now, Jesus said

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<v Speaker 2>this in John seventeen. He said, in the same way

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<v Speaker 2>that you Father gave me a mission in the world,

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<v Speaker 2>I give them a mission in the world. Did you

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<v Speaker 2>know that you have a mission that the moment you

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<v Speaker 2>step across the line spiritually and you become a follower

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<v Speaker 2>of Jesus, God has a mission for your life, and

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<v Speaker 2>that is to be his ambassador. Now, when you're on

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<v Speaker 2>a mission, friends, that's all it matters. You're not there

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<v Speaker 2>to see the scenery, you're not there to take pictures,

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<v Speaker 2>you're not there to try the local As an ambassador,

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<v Speaker 2>you're there on a mission. Now, of all of the

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<v Speaker 2>missions in the world. The most important mission of all

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<v Speaker 2>is helping people get to know God and settle their

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<v Speaker 2>eternal destiny, because they're only going to be on earth

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<v Speaker 2>for sixty eighty years, but they're going to be an

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<v Speaker 2>eternity for trillions of years. And so our mission, the

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<v Speaker 2>mission of ambassadors of Christ, is more important than any

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<v Speaker 2>other mission, than a mission to the moon or a

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<v Speaker 2>mission to some other country. The Bible says this. Paul says,

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<v Speaker 2>I don't care about my own life. The most important

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<v Speaker 2>thing is that I complete my mission, the work that

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<v Speaker 2>the Lord Jesus gave me to tell other people the

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<v Speaker 2>good news about God's grace. He says, my job is

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<v Speaker 2>to complete my mission. At the end of his life,

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<v Speaker 2>Paul said, I finished the race. He completed his mission.

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<v Speaker 2>He said, I did what God told me to do.

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<v Speaker 2>Are you going to be able to do that? One

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<v Speaker 2>day when you stand before God, He's going to say,

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<v Speaker 2>did you complete the mission I gave you? Oh? Oh,

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<v Speaker 2>I didn't even know I had one? Well, yeah, you

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<v Speaker 2>did you think I put you on earth just to

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<v Speaker 2>live for yourself. No, I put you on earth for

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<v Speaker 2>a mission. Now, the Bible says, not only am I

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<v Speaker 2>given the responsibility of representing Jesus. And not only do

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<v Speaker 2>I have a mission number three, this is really important.

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<v Speaker 2>I have been given authority to speak. I've been given

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<v Speaker 2>authority to speak. Now, sometimes, you know, we don't feel

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<v Speaker 2>very confident in talking about God to other people, and

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<v Speaker 2>maybe we feel a little insecure or a little unsure,

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<v Speaker 2>a little timid, little hesitant. We go, who am I

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<v Speaker 2>to talk to anybody about Jesus? And I don't know

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<v Speaker 2>what to say. I don't know how to say it.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm not a professional witnesser or whatever. I don't know

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<v Speaker 2>what to do. But God says, nope, you're authorized. And

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<v Speaker 2>he says, whenever I ask you to do something and

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<v Speaker 2>I ask you to represent me, and I ask you

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<v Speaker 2>to have a mission, and I ask you to speak

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<v Speaker 2>for me, he said, I'm going to empower you to

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<v Speaker 2>do it. And in Matthew twenty eight, Jesus said this,

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<v Speaker 2>I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.

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<v Speaker 2>Circle the phrase all authority. I've been given all authority

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<v Speaker 2>in heaven. Obviously, God has all the authority in the universe,

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<v Speaker 2>and he says He's given it to his son Jesus Christ.

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<v Speaker 2>And he says, therefore, because I've been given all authority.

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<v Speaker 2>He says, I'm going to authorize you. Therefore, go to

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<v Speaker 2>all people everywhere and make them my disciples, baptize them

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<v Speaker 2>in the name of the Father and the Son and

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<v Speaker 2>the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I've

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<v Speaker 2>commanded you. And he goes, you can count on this.

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<v Speaker 2>I will be with you always. Now that verse is

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<v Speaker 2>called the Great Commission. It is our comission. It is

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<v Speaker 2>our mission in life. And the Great Commission was not

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<v Speaker 2>given to pastors, not given to missionaries. It was not

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<v Speaker 2>given to priests or elders or professional evangelists. The Great

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<v Speaker 2>commission Jesus gave to every one of his followers. It's

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<v Speaker 2>your commission. And one day God's going to say, did

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<v Speaker 2>you do the commission I gave you? Did you do

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<v Speaker 2>the mission? Somebody gave you the good news because they

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<v Speaker 2>represented me to you. Did you pass it on? Did

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<v Speaker 2>you share it with anybody else? And he said, I

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<v Speaker 2>have all the authority, and I'm authorizing you to speak.

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<v Speaker 2>Now there's a word most of you have probably never

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<v Speaker 2>heard of. It's the word plenty potentiary. Plenty potentiary is

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<v Speaker 2>a diplomatic term. Some of you don't know that I'm

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<v Speaker 2>a member of the Council of Foreign Affairs. And there's

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<v Speaker 2>a term that's often used in foreign affairs called plenty potentiary.

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<v Speaker 2>It's a Latin phrase that literally means full power. And

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<v Speaker 2>what a plenty centiary is is it's somebody who is

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<v Speaker 2>authorized to represent a government with offers without having to

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<v Speaker 2>check back with anybody else. A plenty potentiary is someone

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<v Speaker 2>who can negotiate on the behalf of a country without

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<v Speaker 2>having to say I'll get back to you. During the

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<v Speaker 2>Revolutionary War, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin where both plenty

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<v Speaker 2>potentiaries to both France and to England, which means they

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<v Speaker 2>were authorized by our young government to sign treaties will

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<v Speaker 2>that haven't even be approved by Congress. That's how much

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<v Speaker 2>power they were given. And they were saying, we give

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<v Speaker 2>you the authorization to make the offer in our behalf

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<v Speaker 2>without having to check back with us. Now, historically, the

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<v Speaker 2>people who have this ability, there's a word for them.

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<v Speaker 2>They're called ministers. Now when we think of minister today

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<v Speaker 2>here in America, we think of pastors and we think

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<v Speaker 2>of people in churches. But around the world, minister is

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<v Speaker 2>often a potentiary. For instance, we talk about a minister

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<v Speaker 2>of State, or a minister of Commerce, or a minister

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<v Speaker 2>of foreign affairs or a prime minister. We don't use

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<v Speaker 2>these terms in America. We use the term president. We

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<v Speaker 2>use a secretary of State, secretary of commerce, secretary of

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<v Speaker 2>foreign affairs, things like that. But most of the world

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<v Speaker 2>uses the word minister. And a minister is somebody who

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<v Speaker 2>has been authorized to act on behalf of somebody else. Well,

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<v Speaker 2>that's really a cool thing because the Bible says that

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<v Speaker 2>you you are authorized as a minister of Jesus Christ.

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<v Speaker 2>Every Christian is an authorized minister of Jesus Christ. You're

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<v Speaker 2>not a pastor, you're not a priest, you're not a

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<v Speaker 2>full time Christian worker, but every believer is a minister.

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<v Speaker 2>The Bible teaches this over and over, and he says,

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<v Speaker 2>you are authorized to speak on my behalf. You don't

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<v Speaker 2>have to go check with anybody else. You can talk

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<v Speaker 2>in the name of Christ to other people. And he says,

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<v Speaker 2>you represent me. I've given you a mission, and I'm

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<v Speaker 2>giving you the authority to speak. Now, there's one other

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<v Speaker 2>thing you need to remember as an ambassador at number four,

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<v Speaker 2>and it's this, I serve in a foreign culture. You've

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<v Speaker 2>probably never thought about this, but if you are a believer,

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<v Speaker 2>a follower of Jesus Christ, your home is not on earth.

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<v Speaker 2>Your home is in heaven. Your homeland is in heaven,

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<v Speaker 2>and your identity is in eternity. Because you're only going

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<v Speaker 2>to spend a few years here on earth. You're going

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<v Speaker 2>to spend a few decades, five or six, maybe seven

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<v Speaker 2>or eight day decades here on earth, but you're going

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<v Speaker 2>to spend trillions of years in eternity. And God did

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<v Speaker 2>not make you to spend eternity on earth. God created

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<v Speaker 2>you to be a part of his family, and that

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<v Speaker 2>film he's going to be on trillions of years in eternity.

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<v Speaker 2>So he's saying, this isn't my home. And as an ambassador,

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<v Speaker 2>I'm simply on a short term assignment. Now, where does

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<v Speaker 2>an ambassador live in their home country or in a

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<v Speaker 2>foreign country? They live in a foreign country. So, for instance,

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<v Speaker 2>America's ambassador to China lives in China, and America's ambassador

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<v Speaker 2>to Japan lives in Japan. They don't get to live

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<v Speaker 2>in their home country. Ambassadors don't live in their home country.

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<v Speaker 2>They live in somebody else's country. In fact, they often

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<v Speaker 2>live in enemy territory. During the Cold War, American ambassadors

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<v Speaker 2>lived in all the communist nations even though they were

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<v Speaker 2>our enemies, and we're actually trying to bring us down.

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<v Speaker 2>An ambassador will often live not just in a foreign

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<v Speaker 2>country or culture, but in an alien or enemy culture.

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<v Speaker 2>And he says, that's what you are as an ambassador

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<v Speaker 2>of Jesus Christ. This world is not your home. You're

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<v Speaker 2>just a passing through. He said, you were made for eternity,

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<v Speaker 2>you were made for heaven. If you want to go

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<v Speaker 2>out and read on this. In the first seven chapters

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<v Speaker 2>A Purpose Driven Life, I talk about this in detail,

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<v Speaker 2>and the Bible says this in one Peter chapter one,

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<v Speaker 2>here on the screen. If you call God your father,

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<v Speaker 2>he says, live your time as temporary residence on earth,

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<v Speaker 2>an ambassador. And I've met a lot of ambassadors around

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<v Speaker 2>the world. They don't buy a permanent home, whether they

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<v Speaker 2>live in Paris or in you know, Rio Dejaneiro or

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<v Speaker 2>anywhere else. They rent what because they know I'm just

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<v Speaker 2>an ambassador. And when the next administration comes in there

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<v Speaker 2>they're going to point a new ambassador. So they say,

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<v Speaker 2>we're not going to stay here for the rest of

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<v Speaker 2>our life. Nobody moves to a country and then lives

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<v Speaker 2>there their entire lives. If they're an ambassador, you're there

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<v Speaker 2>on short term assignment, and you're in a foreign culture,

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<v Speaker 2>and you're not really in your home homeland. What Jesus

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<v Speaker 2>is saying here is, don't get too comfortable living in

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<v Speaker 2>this world. You're just an ambassador. You're just an ambassador.

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<v Speaker 2>Don't get too comfortable. Don't think that this life is

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<v Speaker 2>all there is here on earth. Don't get sucked into

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<v Speaker 2>the myth that you know. All there is is the

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<v Speaker 2>hearing now, And don't forget your role. Your role is

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<v Speaker 2>not to create a little cushy pad and make your

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<v Speaker 2>life as comfortable as possible. That's not your role. Your

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<v Speaker 2>role is an ambassador. Your role is to represent me,

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<v Speaker 2>to fulfill your mission, and to speak in My name

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<v Speaker 2>with authority, and you're doing it in foreign territory.

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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. We are so glad

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<v Speaker 1>that you've been with us today, and I hope that

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

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<v Speaker 1>have you ever wished that you could hear from God?

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, really hear his voice when you're facing a

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<v Speaker 1>big decision, struggling with pain, or just feeling lost. Well,

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<v Speaker 1>here's the amazing truth. The creator of the universe wants

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<v Speaker 1>to be your friend. And that's not just in theory,

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<v Speaker 1>but in a real daily relationship. And how does that

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<v Speaker 1>friendship grow through conversation. The good news is God is

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<v Speaker 1>already speaking. The question is are you tuned in? In

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<v Speaker 1>this powerful new Bible study from Pastor Rix Hearing the

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<v Speaker 1>Voice of God's series, you'll discover how to recognize when

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<v Speaker 1>God speaking, how to hear him with greater clarity, and

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<v Speaker 1>how to turn your prayers from a monologue into a

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<v Speaker 1>life changing dialogue. This four week study is full of

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<v Speaker 1>practical teaching, guided prayers, thought provoking questions, and simple tools

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<v Speaker 1>to help you connect with God in a deeper, more

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<v Speaker 1>personal way. Plus it's perfect for individual or small group study,

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<v Speaker 1>so don't miss out on what God wants to say

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<v Speaker 1>to you. Request your copy of Hearing the Voice of

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<v Speaker 1>God Today. It's our gift to you when you support

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<v Speaker 1>daily hope and help share the Gospel with people all

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<v Speaker 1>around the world. Just go to Pastorick dot com to

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<v Speaker 1>get your copy of this great resource. That's Pastorick dot com.

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<v Speaker 1>Or you can just text the word hope to seven

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<v Speaker 1>oh three to ZHO nine and again that's the word

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<v Speaker 1>hope to seven oh three to Oho nine. Please join

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<v Speaker 1>us next time as we look into God's Word for

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<v Speaker 1>our daily hope. This program is sponsored by Pastor Rick's

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<v Speaker 1>Daily Hope and your generous financial support.