1. TBN
  2. Programs
  3. Living Proof with Beth Moore
  4. Episodes
  5. Beth Moore - Yet For Love's Sake (Part 1)
Living Proof with Beth Moore

Beth Moore - Yet For Love's Sake (Part 1)

December 17, 2024 | S24:E51

Beth Moore - Yet For Love's Sake (Part 1)
Living Proof With Beth Moore is dedicated to encouraging individuals to know and love Jesus Christ through the study of Scripture.
#Faith #TrustGod #WalkwithGod #Love #LoveofGod #Freedom #Religion #Jesus #Christmas #Change #inActive #Praise&Worship #Transformation #LivingProofwithBethMoore #BethMoore #Mandisa #TravisCottrell

Closed captions

Show Timecode
Living Proof with Beth Moore | Beth Moore - Yet For Love's Sake (Part 1) | December 17, 2024
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:01.316
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:02.851 --> 00:00:05.054
  • Merry christmas and happy new year
  • 00:00:05.187 --> 00:00:05.821
  • From living proof ministries.
  • 00:00:06.955 --> 00:00:08.924
  • We thought it fitting to close out the year
  • 00:00:08.924 --> 00:00:11.260
  • With one of our very favorite christmas programs.
  • 00:00:11.260 --> 00:00:13.862
  • In 2017, my good buddy, travis cottrell and i met up
  • 00:00:13.862 --> 00:00:18.133
  • With one of our very favorite people on the planet
  • 00:00:18.133 --> 00:00:20.269
  • To tape a christmas program.
  • 00:00:20.269 --> 00:00:21.970
  • Little did we know that it would be our last.
  • 00:00:21.970 --> 00:00:24.740
  • Our dear friend, mandisa, went home to be
  • 00:00:24.740 --> 00:00:27.009
  • With the lord this year, and we all miss her so much.
  • 00:00:27.009 --> 00:00:30.813
  • We wanted to pull this christmas series
  • 00:00:30.813 --> 00:00:32.815
  • Out of the vault and share it with each of you
  • 00:00:32.815 --> 00:00:35.451
  • To honor the life and legacy of mandisa.
  • 00:00:35.451 --> 00:00:39.054
  • No matter what place you're in this christmas,
  • 00:00:39.054 --> 00:00:42.157
  • Whether it be grief or great celebration,
  • 00:00:42.157 --> 00:00:44.927
  • God sees you and wants to fill you
  • 00:00:44.927 --> 00:00:47.262
  • With his hope and his comfort.
  • 00:00:47.262 --> 00:00:50.265
  • What a joy to spend this season with you.
  • 00:00:52.334 --> 00:00:57.272
  • I'm really, really excited
  • 00:00:57.272 --> 00:00:58.640
  • About what we're studying through this series.
  • 00:00:58.640 --> 00:01:00.843
  • I want you to turn with me to the book of philemon,
  • 00:01:00.843 --> 00:01:05.314
  • The book of philemon.
  • 00:01:05.314 --> 00:01:08.117
  • "paul, a prisoner for christ jesus,
  • 00:01:08.117 --> 00:01:11.086
  • "and timothy our brother,
  • 00:01:11.086 --> 00:01:13.622
  • "to philemon our beloved fellow worker
  • 00:01:13.622 --> 00:01:16.892
  • "and apphia our sister and archippus our fellow soldier,
  • 00:01:16.892 --> 00:01:20.262
  • "and the church in your house:
  • 00:01:20.262 --> 00:01:22.965
  • "grace to you and peace from god our father
  • 00:01:22.965 --> 00:01:25.000
  • "and the lord jesus christ.
  • 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:26.635
  • "i thank my god always when i remember you in my prayers,
  • 00:01:26.635 --> 00:01:29.204
  • "because i hear of your love
  • 00:01:29.204 --> 00:01:31.440
  • "and of the faith that you have toward the lord jesus
  • 00:01:31.440 --> 00:01:33.375
  • "and for all the saints,
  • 00:01:33.375 --> 00:01:35.377
  • "and i pray that the sharing of your faith
  • 00:01:35.377 --> 00:01:38.881
  • "may become effective for the full knowledge
  • 00:01:38.881 --> 00:01:42.251
  • "of every good thing that is in you for the sake of christ.
  • 00:01:42.251 --> 00:01:48.090
  • "for i have derived much joy and comfort from your love,
  • 00:01:48.090 --> 00:01:50.893
  • "my brother, because the hearts of the saints
  • 00:01:50.893 --> 00:01:53.095
  • "have been refreshed through you.
  • 00:01:53.095 --> 00:01:54.930
  • "accordingly, though i am bold enough in christ
  • 00:01:54.930 --> 00:01:58.467
  • "to command you to do what is required,
  • 00:01:58.467 --> 00:02:01.203
  • "yet for love's sake i prefer to appeal to you--
  • 00:02:01.203 --> 00:02:03.272
  • "i, paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for christ jesus--
  • 00:02:03.272 --> 00:02:07.042
  • "i appeal to you for my child, onesimus,
  • 00:02:07.042 --> 00:02:11.246
  • "whose father i became in my imprisonment.
  • 00:02:11.246 --> 00:02:13.682
  • "(formerly he was useless to you,
  • 00:02:13.682 --> 00:02:15.717
  • "but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.)
  • 00:02:15.717 --> 00:02:18.120
  • "i am sending him back to you, sending my very heart.
  • 00:02:18.120 --> 00:02:22.191
  • "i would have been glad to keep him with me,
  • 00:02:22.191 --> 00:02:24.259
  • "in order that he might serve me on your behalf
  • 00:02:24.259 --> 00:02:27.162
  • "during my imprisonment for the gospel,
  • 00:02:27.162 --> 00:02:28.797
  • "but i preferred to do nothing without your consent
  • 00:02:28.797 --> 00:02:31.600
  • "in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion
  • 00:02:31.600 --> 00:02:36.038
  • "but of your own accord.
  • 00:02:36.038 --> 00:02:37.806
  • "for perhaps this is why he was parted from you for a while,
  • 00:02:37.806 --> 00:02:42.544
  • "that you might have him back forever,
  • 00:02:42.544 --> 00:02:44.413
  • "no longer as a slave but more than a slave,
  • 00:02:44.413 --> 00:02:47.616
  • "as a beloved brother-- especially to me,
  • 00:02:47.616 --> 00:02:51.520
  • "but how much more to you,
  • 00:02:51.520 --> 00:02:53.155
  • "both in the flesh and in the lord.
  • 00:02:53.155 --> 00:02:55.157
  • "so if you consider me your partner,
  • 00:02:55.157 --> 00:02:58.327
  • "receive him as you would receive me.
  • 00:02:58.327 --> 00:03:00.796
  • "if he's wronged you at all, or owes you anything,
  • 00:03:00.796 --> 00:03:02.798
  • "charge that to my account.
  • 00:03:02.798 --> 00:03:05.234
  • "i, paul, write this with my own hand: i will repay it--
  • 00:03:05.234 --> 00:03:08.804
  • To say nothing of your owing me even your own self."
  • 00:03:08.804 --> 00:03:14.109
  • Slavery is an absolute atrocity.
  • 00:03:14.176 --> 00:03:17.679
  • Not past tense, but present tense,
  • 00:03:17.679 --> 00:03:20.582
  • And the multimillions on the face of this globe.
  • 00:03:20.582 --> 00:03:23.685
  • It is not better.
  • 00:03:23.685 --> 00:03:25.287
  • It has not been curbed.
  • 00:03:25.287 --> 00:03:28.857
  • This world is fraught with it.
  • 00:03:28.857 --> 00:03:31.960
  • I wanna take you back to the time
  • 00:03:31.960 --> 00:03:34.296
  • When this particular letter was written by paul to philemon.
  • 00:03:34.296 --> 00:03:38.767
  • This was at a time when it was very much a fact of life
  • 00:03:38.767 --> 00:03:42.237
  • In their society, they knew no other life,
  • 00:03:42.237 --> 00:03:47.175
  • And what we're going to do
  • 00:03:47.175 --> 00:03:48.577
  • As we look at this 25-verse letter
  • 00:03:48.577 --> 00:03:50.912
  • Is that we're going to revolve
  • 00:03:50.912 --> 00:03:52.481
  • Around these three primary individuals:
  • 00:03:52.481 --> 00:03:54.816
  • Philemon, paul, and onesimus.
  • 00:03:54.816 --> 00:03:59.221
  • And so, here is what i want you to see with me
  • 00:03:59.221 --> 00:04:01.356
  • In our time together.
  • 00:04:01.356 --> 00:04:03.125
  • Picture with me that paul is in between these two.
  • 00:04:03.125 --> 00:04:07.963
  • Here is philemon over here, a wealthy man,
  • 00:04:07.963 --> 00:04:11.533
  • And we'll learn more about him
  • 00:04:11.533 --> 00:04:13.468
  • As we go through the letter together,
  • 00:04:13.468 --> 00:04:15.203
  • And then here we've got onesimus way over here on this side,
  • 00:04:15.203 --> 00:04:19.875
  • And paul is right in the middle of the two men.
  • 00:04:19.875 --> 00:04:24.079
  • I wonder how current it would be to you to say sometimes
  • 00:04:24.079 --> 00:04:30.252
  • The people that we really like or really love
  • 00:04:30.252 --> 00:04:33.588
  • Do not particularly like or love one another.
  • 00:04:33.588 --> 00:04:36.625
  • Can i see a hand from anyone?
  • 00:04:36.625 --> 00:04:39.061
  • Does anybody know what i'm talking about?
  • 00:04:39.061 --> 00:04:41.096
  • When you feel like you're constantly playing referee
  • 00:04:41.096 --> 00:04:44.466
  • Between two people who are about to go to fists with one another,
  • 00:04:44.466 --> 00:04:49.304
  • When you can't really even mention
  • 00:04:49.304 --> 00:04:51.807
  • When you're having coffee with one
  • 00:04:51.807 --> 00:04:53.909
  • That you've just been with the other,
  • 00:04:53.909 --> 00:04:55.477
  • Because you already know the kind of thing
  • 00:04:55.477 --> 00:04:57.045
  • That's gonna bring up all the dynamics.
  • 00:04:57.045 --> 00:04:59.147
  • Are you the person
  • 00:04:59.147 --> 00:05:00.782
  • That really likes a whole lot of different people
  • 00:05:00.782 --> 00:05:02.384
  • But they don't like each other?
  • 00:05:02.384 --> 00:05:04.686
  • Because he's in the middle of a conflict as big as it gets,
  • 00:05:04.686 --> 00:05:10.158
  • As he is between philemon
  • 00:05:10.158 --> 00:05:14.663
  • And onesimus.
  • 00:05:14.663 --> 00:05:18.033
  • I love what one commentator says.
  • 00:05:18.033 --> 00:05:20.435
  • "he was the common friend of the parties at variance."
  • 00:05:20.435 --> 00:05:24.439
  • We have been that--in that situation many, many times.
  • 00:05:24.439 --> 00:05:28.110
  • Let me give you a little bit of background
  • 00:05:28.110 --> 00:05:30.145
  • On how they would have all met one another,
  • 00:05:30.145 --> 00:05:33.448
  • So we would rewind the clock to a time
  • 00:05:33.448 --> 00:05:36.218
  • Probably when paul was serving so long in ephesus.
  • 00:05:36.218 --> 00:05:41.156
  • Philemon would be from colossae.
  • 00:05:41.156 --> 00:05:44.092
  • That is the city
  • 00:05:44.092 --> 00:05:45.961
  • To which the letter of the colossians was written.
  • 00:05:45.961 --> 00:05:49.865
  • So, he's from that city, very, very wealthy man,
  • 00:05:49.865 --> 00:05:53.001
  • And the likelihood is that the way
  • 00:05:53.001 --> 00:05:54.569
  • They got to know one another
  • 00:05:54.569 --> 00:05:56.438
  • Was when he was doing business in ephesus,
  • 00:05:56.438 --> 00:05:58.607
  • When paul was there for about a 3-year period of time,
  • 00:05:58.607 --> 00:06:02.177
  • So he'd have made very deep friendships
  • 00:06:02.177 --> 00:06:04.446
  • In that particular city.
  • 00:06:04.446 --> 00:06:06.248
  • So, in that process of time paul led philemon to faith in christ,
  • 00:06:06.248 --> 00:06:13.622
  • And they became coworkers in the gospel.
  • 00:06:13.688 --> 00:06:16.091
  • He says it from the beginning to philemon,
  • 00:06:16.091 --> 00:06:18.360
  • "our beloved fellow worker," our beloved fellow worker,
  • 00:06:18.360 --> 00:06:22.564
  • So they would have gotten to know each other
  • 00:06:22.564 --> 00:06:24.166
  • Really, really well.
  • 00:06:24.166 --> 00:06:25.700
  • They would have served a lot together.
  • 00:06:25.700 --> 00:06:27.335
  • Then, okay, time goes by, the travels continue,
  • 00:06:27.335 --> 00:06:30.772
  • And then paul gets in a ton of trouble in jerusalem,
  • 00:06:30.772 --> 00:06:34.509
  • And he knows when he goes to jerusalem
  • 00:06:34.509 --> 00:06:36.445
  • He's going to get in that kind of trouble.
  • 00:06:36.445 --> 00:06:38.480
  • The holy spirit has already told him,
  • 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:40.115
  • Already warned him in advance.
  • 00:06:40.115 --> 00:06:42.083
  • He does get arrested.
  • 00:06:42.083 --> 00:06:43.718
  • He has a plot for his-- to--for his assassination.
  • 00:06:43.718 --> 00:06:48.056
  • He appeals to caesar because he's got one thing on his mind,
  • 00:06:48.056 --> 00:06:51.226
  • And this has to impress us all about the apostle paul because,
  • 00:06:51.226 --> 00:06:54.896
  • Listen, he doesn't care what it's gonna take.
  • 00:06:54.896 --> 00:06:57.699
  • "i mean, go ahead and arrest me
  • 00:06:57.699 --> 00:06:59.334
  • "'cause i have one thing on my mind.
  • 00:06:59.334 --> 00:07:00.902
  • "i need to get to rome,
  • 00:07:00.902 --> 00:07:02.604
  • "because that's where i wanna take the gospel.
  • 00:07:02.604 --> 00:07:04.473
  • "all roads lead to rome, and so that's where i wanna get,
  • 00:07:04.473 --> 00:07:08.143
  • So by all means take me."
  • 00:07:08.143 --> 00:07:09.878
  • And so, what would have happened here
  • 00:07:09.878 --> 00:07:12.581
  • Is that at some point in his first imprisonment
  • 00:07:12.581 --> 00:07:17.052
  • He meets this young man by the name of onesimus.
  • 00:07:17.052 --> 00:07:20.255
  • Now, how?
  • 00:07:20.255 --> 00:07:21.990
  • Well, let's put some pieces together that we do know.
  • 00:07:21.990 --> 00:07:24.993
  • He's a runaway slave, without a doubt,
  • 00:07:24.993 --> 00:07:28.296
  • And there is some thought-- a number of theologians think,
  • 00:07:28.296 --> 00:07:30.899
  • Well, he probably stole some money,
  • 00:07:30.899 --> 00:07:33.134
  • There probably is another complexity to it
  • 00:07:33.134 --> 00:07:37.105
  • That is not obvious to us here,
  • 00:07:37.105 --> 00:07:39.541
  • But one thing we know for sure he has landed in prison.
  • 00:07:39.541 --> 00:07:43.211
  • Now, one little thing that might put it together for us
  • 00:07:43.211 --> 00:07:46.781
  • Is that do you see in verse 23--
  • 00:07:46.781 --> 00:07:48.750
  • Look in philemon and look at verse 23,
  • 00:07:48.750 --> 00:07:50.852
  • "epaphras, my fellow prisoner in christ jesus,
  • 00:07:50.852 --> 00:07:53.588
  • Sends his greetings to you."
  • 00:07:53.588 --> 00:07:55.457
  • Epaphras was from colossae, and so there is some thought
  • 00:07:55.457 --> 00:08:00.495
  • That since epaphras would have known all the believers there,
  • 00:08:00.495 --> 00:08:03.298
  • He would have known philemon and he would have known who--
  • 00:08:03.298 --> 00:08:06.501
  • Since there was a house church in philemon's home.
  • 00:08:06.501 --> 00:08:10.305
  • They met in homes and as large homes as possible
  • 00:08:10.305 --> 00:08:14.009
  • In those days in the early new testament church.
  • 00:08:14.009 --> 00:08:16.411
  • That he would have known who his servants were,
  • 00:08:16.411 --> 00:08:19.147
  • And he would have recognized him,
  • 00:08:19.147 --> 00:08:21.416
  • And so this was either onesimus' worst luck ever
  • 00:08:21.416 --> 00:08:26.054
  • Or somehow providential in the work that god was doing.
  • 00:08:26.054 --> 00:08:30.825
  • I wanna give you a couple of points to take down,
  • 00:08:30.825 --> 00:08:33.028
  • And it starts right here.
  • 00:08:33.028 --> 00:08:34.796
  • We'll have four of 'em, but i wanted to start right here.
  • 00:08:34.796 --> 00:08:36.698
  • Jot this down if you're a note taker and like this kinda thing.
  • 00:08:36.698 --> 00:08:39.167
  • Number one is this,
  • 00:08:39.167 --> 00:08:40.735
  • And i want somebody to celebrate it this christmas:
  • 00:08:40.735 --> 00:08:42.771
  • When jesus catches us, it's to set us free.
  • 00:08:42.771 --> 00:08:46.741
  • There might be a whole lot of people that can catch you
  • 00:08:46.741 --> 00:08:49.444
  • And catch me at various things, but when jesus catches us,
  • 00:08:49.444 --> 00:08:54.282
  • It's always for one purpose, and that is to set us free.
  • 00:08:54.282 --> 00:08:58.486
  • And i don't know what kinda good news that is to you,
  • 00:08:58.486 --> 00:09:01.156
  • But you may feel like that
  • 00:09:01.156 --> 00:09:03.091
  • Somehow you are extremely unloved by god
  • 00:09:03.091 --> 00:09:06.962
  • Because you have been caught in a particular situation
  • 00:09:06.962 --> 00:09:09.998
  • And now you're in a mess.
  • 00:09:09.998 --> 00:09:11.566
  • I wanna tell you something.
  • 00:09:11.566 --> 00:09:13.034
  • If you will meet christ jesus-- you can count on this.
  • 00:09:13.034 --> 00:09:16.705
  • I say this to you from the authority of the word of god.
  • 00:09:16.705 --> 00:09:20.308
  • No matter what got you into trouble,
  • 00:09:20.308 --> 00:09:22.344
  • No matter what has got you backed into the corner,
  • 00:09:22.344 --> 00:09:24.679
  • No matter what has you caught, i'm gonna tell you something.
  • 00:09:24.679 --> 00:09:27.949
  • If you will cling to the lord jesus with all of your heart,
  • 00:09:27.949 --> 00:09:31.052
  • With everything you have got,
  • 00:09:31.052 --> 00:09:33.688
  • I mean survive on him in everything,
  • 00:09:33.688 --> 00:09:36.491
  • You consider that every single moment
  • 00:09:36.491 --> 00:09:38.760
  • Of the rest of your life is dependent on that one savior,
  • 00:09:38.760 --> 00:09:43.198
  • I'm gonna tell you something.
  • 00:09:43.198 --> 00:09:44.599
  • He will have caught you to set you free.
  • 00:09:44.599 --> 00:09:47.235
  • ♪ so take some time and start today ♪
  • 00:09:47.302 --> 00:09:50.438
  • ♪ to give some joy and hope away ♪
  • 00:09:50.438 --> 00:09:53.642
  • ♪ 'cause you might be ♪
  • 00:09:53.642 --> 00:09:55.877
  • ♪ you might be somebody's angel ♪♪
  • 00:09:55.877 --> 00:10:00.582
  • Hi, i'm beth moore, bible teacher, author,
  • 00:10:02.651 --> 00:10:05.186
  • And founder of living proof ministries.
  • 00:10:05.186 --> 00:10:07.455
  • Our passion is to see women come to know and love jesus christ
  • 00:10:07.455 --> 00:10:11.593
  • Through the study of scripture.
  • 00:10:11.593 --> 00:10:13.228
  • There's truly no greater joy.
  • 00:10:13.228 --> 00:10:15.764
  • Living proof ministries is a non-profit ministry,
  • 00:10:15.764 --> 00:10:18.433
  • And that means we rely on the help god brings us
  • 00:10:18.433 --> 00:10:20.969
  • Through donors like you.
  • 00:10:20.969 --> 00:10:23.505
  • Your gift will be used to fund our local houston area
  • 00:10:23.505 --> 00:10:26.408
  • Bible study, weekly teaching on our digital platforms
  • 00:10:26.408 --> 00:10:29.744
  • And app, new discipleship resources
  • 00:10:29.744 --> 00:10:32.981
  • And scholarships for women to attend
  • 00:10:32.981 --> 00:10:34.749
  • Our living proof live nationwide events.
  • 00:10:34.749 --> 00:10:38.319
  • We also have a few new projects in the works that we're
  • 00:10:38.319 --> 00:10:41.456
  • Preparing for you.
  • 00:10:41.456 --> 00:10:42.957
  • By god's grace, women's lives are being changed
  • 00:10:42.957 --> 00:10:45.827
  • And his kingdom is advancing, and we would love for you
  • 00:10:45.827 --> 00:10:49.130
  • To be part of it.
  • 00:10:49.130 --> 00:10:50.465
  • If you've never given to our ministry before,
  • 00:10:50.465 --> 00:10:52.834
  • Would you pray about partnering with us
  • 00:10:52.834 --> 00:10:55.470
  • To further the gospel?
  • 00:10:55.470 --> 00:10:56.971
  • We'd be so grateful.
  • 00:10:56.971 --> 00:10:58.807
  • If you'd like to donate before the end of the year,
  • 00:10:58.807 --> 00:11:01.376
  • Head to our link or open our app
  • 00:11:01.376 --> 00:11:04.746
  • And head to the give section.
  • 00:11:04.746 --> 00:11:06.948
  • Thank you so much for supporting living proof ministries.
  • 00:11:06.948 --> 00:11:10.552
  • I'm gonna tell you this from a standpoint
  • 00:11:10.618 --> 00:11:12.487
  • Of having done this for 25 years.
  • 00:11:12.487 --> 00:11:14.689
  • I am more afraid of missing what god has for this group
  • 00:11:14.689 --> 00:11:19.661
  • Than i am of going out there to serve them.
  • 00:11:19.661 --> 00:11:22.464
  • One of my favorite things to hear from people
  • 00:11:22.464 --> 00:11:24.566
  • That have attended is, "he spoke straight into what i needed."
  • 00:11:24.566 --> 00:11:31.072
  • And i believe he can do that.
  • 00:11:31.072 --> 00:11:32.674
  • I think that if there are 800 people there or there were
  • 00:11:32.674 --> 00:11:36.211
  • 2,000 people there, he can do that with each one.
  • 00:11:36.211 --> 00:11:39.547
  • I love occasionally during our time of worship
  • 00:11:39.547 --> 00:11:42.183
  • To just glance around the room and i wonder to myself,
  • 00:11:42.183 --> 00:11:45.687
  • What's going on in that heart?
  • 00:11:45.687 --> 00:11:48.289
  • When we get away from our usual course of life
  • 00:11:48.289 --> 00:11:53.027
  • And we set ourselves to really listen and pay attention,
  • 00:11:53.027 --> 00:11:57.732
  • There is just no limit to what he would do.
  • 00:11:57.732 --> 00:12:00.535
  • And i believe god is so good that
  • 00:12:00.535 --> 00:12:03.571
  • If we will come attentively,
  • 00:12:03.571 --> 00:12:06.508
  • He will not pass us by.
  • 00:12:06.508 --> 00:12:09.577
  • Have you ever known anybody
  • 00:12:12.113 --> 00:12:13.448
  • That could stir up a mess and then just takes off?
  • 00:12:13.448 --> 00:12:16.651
  • You haven't seen them in years.
  • 00:12:16.651 --> 00:12:18.219
  • They turned your entire house upside down,
  • 00:12:18.219 --> 00:12:20.622
  • And you have not laid eyes on them since that time.
  • 00:12:20.622 --> 00:12:23.658
  • You know those kind? well, we can do the same thing.
  • 00:12:23.658 --> 00:12:26.127
  • We are like--get in a whole lot of trouble,
  • 00:12:26.127 --> 00:12:28.129
  • Cause a whole lot of trouble, and then we're just, like, gone.
  • 00:12:28.129 --> 00:12:30.165
  • We're just, like, gone, only in christ he's going,
  • 00:12:30.165 --> 00:12:34.435
  • "i think we're gonna have to deal."
  • 00:12:34.435 --> 00:12:38.072
  • Because sometimes what we wanna say is this.
  • 00:12:38.072 --> 00:12:40.742
  • Sometimes we wanna say, "well, you know what?
  • 00:12:40.742 --> 00:12:42.343
  • "all that was before i was really in christ,
  • 00:12:42.343 --> 00:12:44.879
  • "whether it's to say that i was saved
  • 00:12:44.879 --> 00:12:47.582
  • "or--you know what?
  • 00:12:47.582 --> 00:12:49.284
  • That was before i was really serious about jesus."
  • 00:12:49.284 --> 00:12:51.986
  • All that now is water under the bridge.
  • 00:12:51.986 --> 00:12:56.057
  • We don't need to go back and do any kind of amends
  • 00:12:56.057 --> 00:12:58.893
  • For that because it's--that was a whole different life.
  • 00:12:58.893 --> 00:13:02.964
  • There have been so many twists and turns to, "i'm a new person.
  • 00:13:02.964 --> 00:13:06.701
  • "in other words, i don't have to take responsibility
  • 00:13:06.701 --> 00:13:08.403
  • "for anything i did before, and i'm a new person this week.
  • 00:13:08.403 --> 00:13:11.773
  • I'm a new person every day."
  • 00:13:11.773 --> 00:13:13.842
  • Anybody live with somebody like that?
  • 00:13:13.842 --> 00:13:15.410
  • 'cause that's a really pleasant person to have to deal with
  • 00:13:15.410 --> 00:13:18.079
  • In your home day after day,
  • 00:13:18.079 --> 00:13:19.480
  • That "listen, i'm not responsible for anything i did.
  • 00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:21.449
  • Today is a new day."
  • 00:13:21.449 --> 00:13:23.718
  • The word of god would say you're absolutely right,
  • 00:13:23.718 --> 00:13:27.355
  • You are a new creature, it is a new day,
  • 00:13:27.355 --> 00:13:29.624
  • And that is why in christ
  • 00:13:29.624 --> 00:13:32.193
  • You are called to go back
  • 00:13:32.193 --> 00:13:34.996
  • And own up, own up.
  • 00:13:34.996 --> 00:13:40.134
  • Number two, sometimes going forward takes going back.
  • 00:13:40.201 --> 00:13:43.771
  • Say, for instance--
  • 00:13:43.771 --> 00:13:45.607
  • We can see it so blatantly in onesimus
  • 00:13:45.607 --> 00:13:50.678
  • Because he is a runaway slave, he's been in prison,
  • 00:13:50.678 --> 00:13:55.016
  • He has been caught,
  • 00:13:55.016 --> 00:13:57.652
  • And now he is gonna have to go back and face his master
  • 00:13:57.652 --> 00:14:02.891
  • That he very likely and at least stole from.
  • 00:14:02.891 --> 00:14:08.363
  • We'll get a little further into what he was like
  • 00:14:08.363 --> 00:14:10.698
  • In just a moment, but that's enough for us to know,
  • 00:14:10.698 --> 00:14:13.401
  • But for us some of those kinds of circumstances
  • 00:14:13.401 --> 00:14:18.473
  • Are not our everyday things.
  • 00:14:18.473 --> 00:14:21.776
  • For us it may be a demotion at work, it may be a layoff,
  • 00:14:21.776 --> 00:14:26.047
  • And we end up going back to a position like--
  • 00:14:26.047 --> 00:14:29.450
  • I mean, it was a lateral position
  • 00:14:29.450 --> 00:14:31.786
  • To something we had 15 years ago.
  • 00:14:31.786 --> 00:14:33.955
  • Some of you feel like, "you know, wait,
  • 00:14:33.955 --> 00:14:35.523
  • "i'm starting all over in this field.
  • 00:14:35.523 --> 00:14:38.626
  • I had gotten further than this."
  • 00:14:38.626 --> 00:14:40.595
  • You feel like you're going all the way back.
  • 00:14:40.595 --> 00:14:42.297
  • You'd really made gains in a relationship,
  • 00:14:42.297 --> 00:14:44.866
  • Something has happened, and now you feel like,
  • 00:14:44.866 --> 00:14:48.136
  • "are you kidding me? we are back there?"
  • 00:14:48.136 --> 00:14:50.638
  • Anybody just here recently?
  • 00:14:50.638 --> 00:14:52.440
  • I thought in a situation here recently,
  • 00:14:52.440 --> 00:14:55.076
  • In a relationship of my own, "are you kidding me?
  • 00:14:55.076 --> 00:14:57.745
  • We're here again?"
  • 00:14:57.745 --> 00:14:59.981
  • I need to see if i've got any company in the room.
  • 00:14:59.981 --> 00:15:02.550
  • There's just nothing like that feeling of, "oh, oh, not here.
  • 00:15:02.550 --> 00:15:07.255
  • I thought we had moved really, really far past this,"
  • 00:15:07.255 --> 00:15:13.027
  • And yet it's the most beautiful thing
  • 00:15:13.027 --> 00:15:16.064
  • That sometimes in christ going forward takes going back.
  • 00:15:16.064 --> 00:15:23.137
  • But if it takes going back,
  • 00:15:23.204 --> 00:15:25.473
  • You got to know you are always moving forward.
  • 00:15:25.473 --> 00:15:28.676
  • I wanna make sure you hear that,
  • 00:15:28.676 --> 00:15:30.244
  • And i wanna make sure you hear that
  • 00:15:30.244 --> 00:15:31.813
  • All the way to your bones,
  • 00:15:31.813 --> 00:15:33.681
  • Because what's happening here
  • 00:15:33.681 --> 00:15:35.917
  • Is that when you trust christ and you follow him,
  • 00:15:35.917 --> 00:15:38.753
  • Even if it means what you feel like is moving backwards
  • 00:15:38.753 --> 00:15:43.257
  • Instead of forwards,
  • 00:15:43.257 --> 00:15:44.792
  • No matter what direction you're going,
  • 00:15:44.792 --> 00:15:46.861
  • If you are in christ, you are moving ahead.
  • 00:15:46.861 --> 00:15:50.565
  • I need to say that again.
  • 00:15:50.565 --> 00:15:52.133
  • It doesn't matter
  • 00:15:52.133 --> 00:15:53.601
  • What kind of demotion you feel like you've gotten.
  • 00:15:53.601 --> 00:15:55.370
  • It doesn't matter how far you feel like you've now moved back.
  • 00:15:55.370 --> 00:15:58.272
  • It doesn't matter how you feel like you lost that position,
  • 00:15:58.272 --> 00:16:01.609
  • You lost that ground.
  • 00:16:01.609 --> 00:16:03.077
  • We see it as a loss of ground.
  • 00:16:03.077 --> 00:16:04.512
  • I don't care how much it looks like where you've once been,
  • 00:16:04.512 --> 00:16:07.548
  • If you walk with jesus, you're going forward.
  • 00:16:07.548 --> 00:16:11.886
  • You're going forward.
  • 00:16:11.886 --> 00:16:13.287
  • Look at somebody and say, "you're going forward."
  • 00:16:13.287 --> 00:16:15.323
  • Listen, if you're with christ, that's all it takes,
  • 00:16:15.323 --> 00:16:17.392
  • But listen, you-- okay, you know what?
  • 00:16:17.392 --> 00:16:19.394
  • This isn't in my notes, but i need to say this to somebody.
  • 00:16:19.394 --> 00:16:21.562
  • If you're not walking with christ,
  • 00:16:21.562 --> 00:16:22.897
  • You can be going forward and you're going back.
  • 00:16:22.897 --> 00:16:25.633
  • It's jesus that keeps us walking with our faces straight ahead.
  • 00:16:25.633 --> 00:16:28.970
  • It's jesus that no matter,
  • 00:16:28.970 --> 00:16:31.539
  • No matter what we feel like is a demotion to us,
  • 00:16:31.539 --> 00:16:34.442
  • We're still moving forward, we're still walking forward,
  • 00:16:34.442 --> 00:16:36.944
  • We're still facing forward,
  • 00:16:36.944 --> 00:16:38.946
  • We're still gaining ground and not losing ground.
  • 00:16:38.946 --> 00:16:43.885
  • Listen, in christ's economy, if he ever sends you back,
  • 00:16:43.885 --> 00:16:49.490
  • It is to send you forward.
  • 00:16:49.490 --> 00:16:52.226
  • Someone has gotta say this to somebody,
  • 00:16:52.226 --> 00:16:53.928
  • "you gotta deal, lucille." somebody?
  • 00:16:53.928 --> 00:16:56.564
  • Say it to somebody, "you gotta deal, lucille,"
  • 00:16:56.564 --> 00:17:00.168
  • Because-- i didn't hear anybody say it.
  • 00:17:00.168 --> 00:17:04.272
  • I need somebody to say, "you gotta deal, lucille."
  • 00:17:04.272 --> 00:17:08.176
  • We gotta deal, because if we don't deal,
  • 00:17:08.176 --> 00:17:11.679
  • Then that same stuff is gonna come out in us
  • 00:17:11.679 --> 00:17:14.649
  • That we've just been stuffing down all that time.
  • 00:17:14.649 --> 00:17:16.984
  • God wants to bring us healing.
  • 00:17:16.984 --> 00:17:19.320
  • He's after transformation.
  • 00:17:19.320 --> 00:17:22.156
  • See, our advancement will always be in transformation,
  • 00:17:22.156 --> 00:17:26.661
  • Not in position.
  • 00:17:26.661 --> 00:17:29.330
  • We advance when we're being transformed
  • 00:17:29.330 --> 00:17:33.835
  • In one reflection of glory after another.
  • 00:17:33.835 --> 00:17:38.339
  • That's where-- if we're not changing,
  • 00:17:38.339 --> 00:17:40.675
  • I don't care how big we're growing in our business,
  • 00:17:40.675 --> 00:17:44.745
  • In our work, in our family, in esteem,
  • 00:17:44.745 --> 00:17:48.116
  • In public platforms, in government.
  • 00:17:48.116 --> 00:17:52.487
  • I don't care,
  • 00:17:52.487 --> 00:17:55.022
  • Because if we're not moving forward in transformation,
  • 00:17:55.022 --> 00:17:59.393
  • We're not moving forward.
  • 00:17:59.393 --> 00:18:01.762
  • This is what he's after:
  • 00:18:01.762 --> 00:18:04.999
  • The christ manifestation
  • 00:18:04.999 --> 00:18:09.904
  • Of total transformation.
  • 00:18:09.904 --> 00:18:13.074
  • Merry, merry christmas. this is so fun.
  • 00:18:15.343 --> 00:18:18.146
  • Merry christmas.
  • 00:18:18.146 --> 00:18:19.480
  • Okay, i gotta tell you guys something.
  • 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:21.349
  • It's about time i got to do this,
  • 00:18:21.349 --> 00:18:24.819
  • Because on our "living proof" live tv program,
  • 00:18:24.819 --> 00:18:28.422
  • The only thing you get--
  • 00:18:28.422 --> 00:18:30.424
  • You really are getting the bad end of the deal
  • 00:18:30.424 --> 00:18:32.393
  • Because you only get me.
  • 00:18:32.393 --> 00:18:34.562
  • And before that, we've had like 30, 35 minutes
  • 00:18:34.562 --> 00:18:38.966
  • In several different segments
  • 00:18:38.966 --> 00:18:41.169
  • Of the most fabulous praise and worship than you can imagine,
  • 00:18:41.169 --> 00:18:45.072
  • And that is led by my worship leader
  • 00:18:45.072 --> 00:18:47.375
  • And my dear son in the faith, travis cottrell.
  • 00:18:47.375 --> 00:18:50.011
  • Would you please welcome him?
  • 00:18:50.011 --> 00:18:52.079
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:55.917
  • And i have the strangest feeling
  • 00:18:55.917 --> 00:18:57.952
  • I'm not gonna have to introduce you to mandisa.
  • 00:18:57.952 --> 00:19:00.821
  • Would you please welcome her?
  • 00:19:00.821 --> 00:19:02.390
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:19:02.390 --> 00:19:06.394
  • Our lives truly got braided together,
  • 00:19:06.394 --> 00:19:09.664
  • And god really did weave us all in an odd way together,
  • 00:19:09.664 --> 00:19:15.570
  • And we became very, very close friends.
  • 00:19:15.570 --> 00:19:18.172
  • These two mean so much to me.
  • 00:19:18.172 --> 00:19:19.774
  • So, you get to hear me all the time, i wanna pitch it to y'all,
  • 00:19:19.774 --> 00:19:22.977
  • Because, trav, i think you're who it needs to begin with,
  • 00:19:22.977 --> 00:19:26.981
  • Because you are how mandisa came into my life,
  • 00:19:26.981 --> 00:19:31.852
  • And so i want to hear a little bit.
  • 00:19:31.852 --> 00:19:33.454
  • Okay, well, we had been at it for i guess 3 or 4 years.
  • 00:19:33.454 --> 00:19:39.327
  • It was in--we started in 1998.
  • 00:19:39.327 --> 00:19:41.796
  • It was in 2001, right, and i had a dear singer.
  • 00:19:41.796 --> 00:19:47.435
  • We were headed to a big event in charlotte,
  • 00:19:47.435 --> 00:19:49.870
  • Our biggest one to date,
  • 00:19:49.870 --> 00:19:51.939
  • And a few days later--a few days before i had a singer
  • 00:19:51.939 --> 00:19:56.444
  • That had to back out for an amazing opportunity,
  • 00:19:56.444 --> 00:19:59.380
  • Which is a whole other story in and of itself.
  • 00:19:59.380 --> 00:20:02.316
  • But she had to back out, and i had met mandisa.
  • 00:20:02.316 --> 00:20:06.020
  • She was working customer service at lifeway,
  • 00:20:06.020 --> 00:20:09.123
  • In the basement of lifeway, right,
  • 00:20:09.123 --> 00:20:10.591
  • Answering phones, this sweet face.
  • 00:20:10.591 --> 00:20:13.427
  • Are y'all with us on this story?
  • 00:20:13.427 --> 00:20:14.895
  • Yes, answering phones.
  • 00:20:14.895 --> 00:20:16.697
  • I have to interject stuff, buddy.
  • 00:20:16.697 --> 00:20:18.499
  • Well, i know you do. that's fine.
  • 00:20:18.499 --> 00:20:20.668
  • And so, three days before the event i call mandisa and say,
  • 00:20:20.668 --> 00:20:24.372
  • "this is travis cottrell.
  • 00:20:24.372 --> 00:20:25.706
  • "would you come to charlotte with us
  • 00:20:25.706 --> 00:20:27.208
  • And can you learn 40 songs in three days?"
  • 00:20:27.208 --> 00:20:29.310
  • And sign language.
  • 00:20:29.310 --> 00:20:30.711
  • And sign language to a song,
  • 00:20:30.711 --> 00:20:32.280
  • Because i just don't stick to the page.
  • 00:20:32.280 --> 00:20:35.483
  • So, we don't sing 40 songs in one weekend.
  • 00:20:35.483 --> 00:20:38.819
  • We just have to be ready for 40 or 50 or whatever
  • 00:20:38.819 --> 00:20:41.222
  • 'cause they never know what i'm gonna call.
  • 00:20:41.222 --> 00:20:42.990
  • And she said, "sure."
  • 00:20:42.990 --> 00:20:45.359
  • Okay, but now i have to interject,
  • 00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:47.194
  • Because i don't know if you all know the backstory for this,
  • 00:20:47.194 --> 00:20:49.897
  • But i went to fisk university.
  • 00:20:49.897 --> 00:20:51.999
  • I graduated in 2000 with a degree in music and was jobless.
  • 00:20:51.999 --> 00:20:55.803
  • There's not a lot of job opportunities
  • 00:20:55.803 --> 00:20:57.505
  • When you have a degree in music and vocal performance.
  • 00:20:57.505 --> 00:21:00.007
  • And so, i was doing a bible study called "experiencing god,"
  • 00:21:00.007 --> 00:21:03.711
  • And i remember when i finished that bible study
  • 00:21:03.711 --> 00:21:05.846
  • One day i flipped over to the back of the book,
  • 00:21:05.846 --> 00:21:08.249
  • And there it said "lifeway."
  • 00:21:08.249 --> 00:21:10.251
  • I had no idea what lifeway was, but i felt in my spirit,
  • 00:21:10.251 --> 00:21:13.554
  • "i need to go and look up what lifeway is."
  • 00:21:13.554 --> 00:21:15.690
  • That's when i discovered
  • 00:21:15.690 --> 00:21:17.091
  • That the corporate offices of lifeway were in nashville,
  • 00:21:17.091 --> 00:21:19.393
  • So i applied for a job,
  • 00:21:19.393 --> 00:21:21.262
  • Honestly thinking i was gonna get a job
  • 00:21:21.262 --> 00:21:22.663
  • In the music department 'cause i had a degree in music.
  • 00:21:22.663 --> 00:21:24.999
  • Did i mention that?
  • 00:21:24.999 --> 00:21:27.101
  • And they offered me a job in customer service,
  • 00:21:27.101 --> 00:21:28.803
  • Doing data entry, and i sat there day after day
  • 00:21:28.803 --> 00:21:31.605
  • Typing in sunday school orders with my music phones on,
  • 00:21:31.605 --> 00:21:34.809
  • And i would sing out loud,
  • 00:21:34.809 --> 00:21:36.310
  • And then people asked me to be a part of this worship team
  • 00:21:36.310 --> 00:21:38.713
  • That they were putting together for travis cottrell.
  • 00:21:38.713 --> 00:21:40.915
  • I had no idea who travis cottrell was,
  • 00:21:40.915 --> 00:21:43.284
  • But when i met him
  • 00:21:43.284 --> 00:21:45.086
  • It was like meeting my brother for the first time.
  • 00:21:45.086 --> 00:21:47.988
  • And i remember getting a phone call several days after that
  • 00:21:47.988 --> 00:21:52.593
  • At lifeway, while i'm in customer service,
  • 00:21:52.593 --> 00:21:54.795
  • Asking if i would come learn 40 songs for a beth moore event.
  • 00:21:54.795 --> 00:21:57.798
  • And so, i just wanted to let y'all know
  • 00:21:57.798 --> 00:21:59.433
  • A little bit about the drama.
  • 00:21:59.433 --> 00:22:02.703
  • Mandisa, i don't know.
  • 00:22:02.703 --> 00:22:04.038
  • I thought maybe there might be something you would just speak
  • 00:22:04.038 --> 00:22:06.407
  • Over our group, and you just take it.
  • 00:22:06.407 --> 00:22:08.342
  • You just take that microphone for a minute or two.
  • 00:22:08.342 --> 00:22:10.644
  • I feel like because of the season that i'm coming out of,
  • 00:22:10.644 --> 00:22:14.115
  • That dark season,
  • 00:22:14.115 --> 00:22:15.649
  • I just feel like there is somebody who is watching,
  • 00:22:15.649 --> 00:22:17.852
  • Who you know what it is
  • 00:22:17.852 --> 00:22:19.253
  • To be in the valley of the shadow of death.
  • 00:22:19.253 --> 00:22:20.988
  • And you're looking around,
  • 00:22:20.988 --> 00:22:22.456
  • And you're seeing everybody celebrating christmas
  • 00:22:22.456 --> 00:22:23.991
  • And having so much joy,
  • 00:22:23.991 --> 00:22:25.760
  • And i just want to remind you
  • 00:22:25.760 --> 00:22:27.561
  • That if there's anything we can learn from our savior,
  • 00:22:27.561 --> 00:22:30.364
  • It's that he's well acquainted with pain,
  • 00:22:30.364 --> 00:22:32.600
  • He's well acquainted with sorrow.
  • 00:22:32.600 --> 00:22:34.502
  • And yeah, i said it before,
  • 00:22:34.502 --> 00:22:36.437
  • But the scripture that keeps coming to mind,
  • 00:22:36.437 --> 00:22:38.406
  • Psalm 34:18, "god is close to the brokenhearted
  • 00:22:38.406 --> 00:22:42.843
  • And he saves those who are crushed in spirit."
  • 00:22:42.843 --> 00:22:45.312
  • And if you're feeling alone-- and can i say that sometimes
  • 00:22:45.312 --> 00:22:47.715
  • You're not always alone when you feel alone.
  • 00:22:47.715 --> 00:22:50.151
  • If you're around a lot of people
  • 00:22:50.151 --> 00:22:51.519
  • But you still feel like you are by yourself,
  • 00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:53.554
  • I want you to know that you are not by yourself.
  • 00:22:53.554 --> 00:22:55.689
  • And even if you are crying yourself to sleep
  • 00:22:55.689 --> 00:22:58.492
  • In the middle of the night,
  • 00:22:58.492 --> 00:22:59.960
  • Even if this holiday season is difficult for you,
  • 00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:02.663
  • I want you to know
  • 00:23:02.663 --> 00:23:03.998
  • That you are not walking through that by yourself.
  • 00:23:03.998 --> 00:23:05.566
  • And that even if you don't feel it,
  • 00:23:05.566 --> 00:23:07.101
  • That some things are true
  • 00:23:07.101 --> 00:23:08.436
  • Whether you feel it or not, amen?
  • 00:23:08.436 --> 00:23:09.837
  • And god is there.
  • 00:23:09.837 --> 00:23:11.172
  • He's literally wiping away every tear from your eye,
  • 00:23:11.172 --> 00:23:13.707
  • He's literally wrapping you in his strong arms,
  • 00:23:13.707 --> 00:23:16.210
  • And sometimes it's really just an act of faith
  • 00:23:16.210 --> 00:23:18.646
  • To say, "god, i trust you, and i believe you."
  • 00:23:18.646 --> 00:23:21.649
  • Even if you don't see it and even if you don't feel it,
  • 00:23:21.649 --> 00:23:24.051
  • Sometimes just the act of obedience,
  • 00:23:24.051 --> 00:23:26.086
  • Speaking it out of your mouth.
  • 00:23:26.086 --> 00:23:27.688
  • Speak scripture, pray scripture,
  • 00:23:27.688 --> 00:23:29.356
  • And i really believe that your behavior will catch up
  • 00:23:29.356 --> 00:23:32.693
  • To what you are proclaiming out of your mouth,
  • 00:23:32.693 --> 00:23:34.895
  • And i believe that god wants you to know
  • 00:23:34.895 --> 00:23:36.464
  • That you're not alone this christmas season.
  • 00:23:36.464 --> 00:23:38.399
  • So good. that's so good. that's so good.
  • 00:23:38.399 --> 00:23:41.836
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:23:42.403 --> 00:23:44.872
  • ♪ they say this is the best time of the year ♪
  • 00:23:44.872 --> 00:23:50.578
  • ♪ and for most of us that's probably how it feels ♪
  • 00:23:52.213 --> 00:23:57.718
  • ♪ but what about the ones left alone ♪
  • 00:23:59.687 --> 00:24:06.193
  • ♪ and all the people hurting ♪
  • 00:24:06.193 --> 00:24:09.497
  • ♪ looking for a glimpse of hope ♪
  • 00:24:09.497 --> 00:24:13.601
  • ♪ we could be that shining light ♪
  • 00:24:13.667 --> 00:24:17.404
  • ♪ to show the heart of christmas time ♪
  • 00:24:17.404 --> 00:24:20.474
  • ♪ people need love and we all are able ♪
  • 00:24:20.474 --> 00:24:27.181
  • ♪ so take some time and start today ♪
  • 00:24:27.248 --> 00:24:30.851
  • ♪ to give some joy and hope away ♪
  • 00:24:30.851 --> 00:24:34.021
  • ♪ 'cause you might be ♪
  • 00:24:34.021 --> 00:24:35.723
  • ♪ you might be somebody's angel ♪
  • 00:24:35.723 --> 00:24:41.595
  • ♪ we run and run, we fill our schedules up ♪
  • 00:24:44.765 --> 00:24:51.472
  • ♪ the gifts, the rush, consume us, oh, so much ♪
  • 00:24:51.472 --> 00:24:58.412
  • ♪ salvation army, santa's ringing his bell ♪
  • 00:24:58.479 --> 00:25:05.419
  • ♪ giving us a little reminder ♪
  • 00:25:05.419 --> 00:25:08.622
  • ♪ there is a world that needs our help ♪
  • 00:25:08.622 --> 00:25:13.460
  • ♪ we could be that shining light ♪
  • 00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:16.196
  • ♪ to show the heart of christmas time ♪
  • 00:25:16.196 --> 00:25:19.633
  • ♪ people need love and we all are able ♪
  • 00:25:19.633 --> 00:25:26.340
  • ♪ so take some time and start today ♪
  • 00:25:26.407 --> 00:25:29.944
  • ♪ to give some joy and hope away ♪
  • 00:25:29.944 --> 00:25:33.213
  • ♪ 'cause you might be ♪
  • 00:25:33.213 --> 00:25:35.249
  • ♪ you might be somebody's angel ♪
  • 00:25:35.249 --> 00:25:42.289
  • ♪ oooo ♪♪
  • 00:25:42.856 --> 00:25:45.426
  • When the new testament church was born, it turned
  • 00:25:46.760 --> 00:25:50.831
  • The social order completely upside down.
  • 00:25:50.831 --> 00:25:54.501
  • And it bears such importance for us to hear today.
  • 00:25:54.501 --> 00:25:58.138
  • And it bears such importance for us to hear particularly
  • 00:25:58.138 --> 00:26:02.142
  • At this time of year.
  • 00:26:02.142 --> 00:26:04.044
  • That in christ, it's family.
  • 00:26:04.044 --> 00:26:08.849
  • It's family.
  • 00:26:08.849 --> 00:26:10.351
  • There is no more caste system.
  • 00:26:10.351 --> 00:26:13.187
  • There is no one, no matter how much money and how little,
  • 00:26:13.187 --> 00:26:17.625
  • That is ever better than another,
  • 00:26:17.625 --> 00:26:19.493
  • We are family.
  • 00:26:19.493 --> 00:26:21.528
  • Psalm 126:1 says, "the lord has done great things for us
  • 00:26:21.595 --> 00:26:26.333
  • And we are filled with joy."
  • 00:26:26.333 --> 00:26:28.502
  • This is the verse that came to mind as i prepared to share
  • 00:26:28.502 --> 00:26:31.372
  • An end of the year update with you.
  • 00:26:31.372 --> 00:26:34.008
  • It has been a tremendous privilege to serve you
  • 00:26:34.008 --> 00:26:36.910
  • Through this television program for the past 9 years.
  • 00:26:36.910 --> 00:26:40.981
  • There's truly no greater joy than to open god's word
  • 00:26:40.981 --> 00:26:43.550
  • With you each week
  • 00:26:43.550 --> 00:26:44.885
  • And delight in the lord together.
  • 00:26:44.885 --> 00:26:47.454
  • At the end of 2024, we will be signing off of tbn.
  • 00:26:47.454 --> 00:26:52.426
  • I never in my wildest dreams thought god would open this door
  • 00:26:52.426 --> 00:26:55.629
  • To have a television program.
  • 00:26:55.629 --> 00:26:57.498
  • It has been such a blast and such a grace gift.
  • 00:26:57.498 --> 00:27:01.969
  • In seeking the lord for the future
  • 00:27:01.969 --> 00:27:03.470
  • Of living proof ministries,
  • 00:27:03.470 --> 00:27:04.838
  • We have felt our time here was complete.
  • 00:27:04.838 --> 00:27:08.175
  • We plan to continue uploading new teaching content
  • 00:27:08.175 --> 00:27:11.011
  • To our youtube channel and living proof app.
  • 00:27:11.011 --> 00:27:13.614
  • We hope so much you'll join us there.
  • 00:27:13.614 --> 00:27:15.883
  • Thank you for the privilege to serve you.
  • 00:27:15.883 --> 00:27:18.986
  • I do not take this opportunity lightly.
  • 00:27:18.986 --> 00:27:21.522
  • On behalf of our entire team at living proof ministries,
  • 00:27:21.522 --> 00:27:25.359
  • We pray god's richest blessings over you.
  • 00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:30.990