ANNOUNCER: COMING UP ON
"MARRIAGE TODAY WITH JIMMY & KAREN"...
JIMMY: BUT DID YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ASK GOD TO LEAD YOU
AND GUIDE YOU, HE WILL? WHEN YOU ASK HIM TO SPEAK TO
YOU, HE WILL? AND DID YOU KNOW THAT EVERY
SINGLE THING THAT HE SAYS WILL WORK AND SUCCEED IN YOUR LIFE?
EVERYTHING HE SAYS TO YOU WILL BEAR FRUIT IN YOUR LIFE.
SEE, GOD HAS AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN TOMORROW, HE KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
FOR ETERNITY. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
REASONS THAT JESUS LIVES WITHIN OUR HEART IS THAT HE GUIDES US
AS OUR SHEPHERD, HE GUIDES US IN LIFE.
DID YOU KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF GOD'S VOICE IN YOUR LIFE YOU CAN
MAKE EVERY DECISION RIGHT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?
EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY HAVE MADE SOME BIG MISTAKES EARLIER IN
YOUR LIFE, DEAD WORKS, THINGS THAT YOU DID WITHOUT CONSULTING
GOD. THEY SEEMED RIGHT, THEY FELT RIGHT, BUT THEY WEREN'T
RIGHT, AND THE FRUIT OF THOSE THINGS WAS BAD.
THAT'S THE WAY I WAS BEFORE I CAME TO THE LORD.
BUT DID YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ASK GOD TO LEAD YOU AND GUIDE YOU,
HE WILL? WHEN YOU ASK HIM TO SPEAK TO
YOU, HE WILL? AND DID YOU KNOW THAT EVERY
SINGLE THING THAT HE SAYS WILL WORK AND SUCCEED IN YOUR LIFE?
EVERYTHING HE SAYS TO YOU WILL BEAR FRUIT IN YOUR LIFE.
SEE, GOD HAS AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN TOMORROW, HE KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
FOR ETERNITY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN
ANOTHER PERSON'S HEART, HE KNOWS WHAT'S IN EVERY PERSON'S HEART.
HE KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE ECONOMY. HE--HE KNOWS
EVERYTHING. AND SO WHEN I'M ASKING HIM TO GUIDE ME, HE HAS
THE MASTER PLAN, AND HE KNOWS EVERY MOVE TO MAKE IN MY LIFE.
WHEN I'M GUIDING ME, I'M JUST-- I'M JUST USING EMOTION OR
REASON OR FEAR OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT I WOULD USE TO GUIDE--
TO GUIDE MY LIFE. AND SO, IF JESUS IS TRULY THE
LORD OF MY LIFE, I'M GOING TO STOP AND LISTEN TO HIM BEFORE I
MAKE A DECISION, THEN I'LL MAKE THAT DECISION. SO HEARING GOD
IS PROOF THAT JESUS IS ALIVE, THAT WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP
WITH HIM, AND THAT HE'S LORD OF OUR LIVES. LET ME TALK
ABOUT HOW GOD SPEAKS. SO YOU SAY, WELL, "I WANT TO HAVE,
JIMMY, A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, AND I WANT TO HEAR GOD."
WELL, GOOD. WELL, LET ME--LET ME TELL YOU HOW JESUS SPEAKS,
BECAUSE HE SPEAKS TO US IN DIFFERENT WAYS. THE FIRST WAY
THAT GOD SPEAKS TO US IS THROUGH THE BIBLE, OBVIOUSLY.
IS, EVERY TIME YOU'RE READING THE BIBLE, YOU'RE--YOU'RE
READING THE WORD OF GOD, AND GOD IS SAYING SOMETHING TO YOU ON
SOME LEVEL. NOW, WHEN THE BIBLE USES THE WORD "WORD,"
IN OTHER WORDS, THE WORD OF GOD, THERE ARE TWO WORDS
FOR THE WORD "WORD," AND ONE OF THEM IS "LOGOS,"
THAT MEANS THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD. IT JUST MEANS THE BIBLE.
YOU PICK IT UP AND YOU'RE READING WHAT IS UNIVERSALLY TRUE
FOR EVERY PERSON, OK? THE OTHER WORD IS "RHEMA,"
ROMANS 10:17 SAYS, "FAITH COMES BY HEARING AND HEARING BY THE
WORD OF GOD," THAT WORD THAT IS RHEMA AND IT MEANS THE LIVING
VOICE OF GOD. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS
THAT WE DO IN READING THE BIBLE IS EVERY TIME YOU'RE READING THE
BIBLE, YOU'RE GIVING GOD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU,
AND HE IS. BUT MANY TIMES WHEN YOU READ THE
BIBLE, YOU'LL BE READING ALONG AND A VERSE WILL JUST JUMP OUT
AT YOU, A VERSE WILL JUST KIND OF EXPLODE OFF THE PAGE AND THE
HOLY SPIRIT WILL BEGIN TO SAY SOMETHING POWERFUL IN YOUR LIFE
THROUGH THAT VERSE OR THAT PASSAGE. THAT'S CALLED RHEMA.
THAT'S CALLED THE LIVING VOICE OF GOD.
THE LOGOS IS JUST, I'M READING THE BIBLE, AND THAT'S THE LOGOS.
BUT THE RHEMA IS SOMETHING EXPLODED OFF THE PAGE AND GAVE
ME FAITH. FAITH COMES BY HEARING AND HEARING BY THE RHEMA OF GOD.
THIS RHEMA WORD THAT COMES INTO MY HEART, THIS RHEMA WORD THAT
JUMPS OFF THE PAGES OF THE BIBLE, AND GOD USES THAT TO
DIRECT ME IN MY LIFE. THE SECOND WAY THAT GOD SPEAKS
TO US IS HIS STILL, SMALL VOICE INSIDE OF OUR HEARTS.
THIS IS FIRST KINGS 19, THIS IS SPEAKING ABOUT ELIJAH AND HIS
ENCOUNTER WITH GOD. "THEN HE SAID GO OUT AND STAND
ON THE MOUNTAIN BEFORE THE LORD. AND BEHOLD, THE LORD PASSED BY,
AND A GREAT AND STRONG WIND TORE INTO THE MOUNTAINS
AND BROKE THE ROCKS IN PIECES BEFORE THE LORD, BUT
THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE WIND. AND AFTER THE WIND, AN
EARTHQUAKE, BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE EARTHQUAKE, AND AFTER THE
EARTHQUAKE, A FIRE, BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE FIRE, AND
AFTER THE FIRE, A STILL, SMALL VOICE." AND THAT'S HOW GOD SPOKE
TO ELIJAH. A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, WELL, YOU
KNOW, HOW DOES GOD SPEAK? HE SPEAKS IN A STILL, SMALL VOICE
INSIDE OF OUR HEART. WHEN GOD IS SPEAKING TO YOU,
IT'S NOT HERE NOW, IT'S--HE'S IN HERE. AND YOU HAVE SPIRITUAL
EARS. WHEN YOU'RE BORN AGAIN, YOU HAVE SPIRITUAL EYES AND YOU
HAVE SPIRITUAL EARS, AND HE'S LIVING INSIDE THERE. AND YOU
SAY, WELL, WHY DOESN'T HE SPEAK LOUDER THAN HE SPEAKS? WELL, FOR
SEVERAL REASONS, ONE IS BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO INTIMIDATE
US. GOD DOESN'T BARK. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU NEED
TO KNOW ABOUT THE VOICE OF GOD IS IT'S THE MOST LOVING VOICE
YOU'LL EVER--YOU'LL EVER HEAR. GOD'S VOICE IS ALWAYS LOVING.
EVEN WHEN GOD IS WARNING US, HIS IS THE SWEETEST, MOST
TENDER VOICE YOU'LL EVER HEAR IN YOUR LIFE, AND THAT'S HOW YOU
KNOW YOU'RE HEARING FROM GOD. IF YOU'RE HEARING FROM THE
DEVIL, HE'LL BRING FEAR AND CONDEMNATION AND ALL OF THOSE
KINDS OF THINGS, BUT GOD DOESN'T USE FEAR, GOD DOESN'T USE
CONDEMNATION. BECAUSE WE'RE FORGIVEN AND WE'RE
FRIENDS WITH GOD BECAUSE OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS.
BUT THE OTHER REASON THAT GOD DOESN'T TALK LOUDLY IS BECAUSE
HE'S INSIDE OF OUR VOICE. WHEN YOU'RE CLOSE TO SOMEONE,
VOLUME IS A LIABILITY. MY LITTLE GRANDDAUGHTER KATE
CRAWLED UP ON MY LAP ONE DAY AND SHE SAID, "PAPPY, I WANT
TO--I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING TO YOU AND I WANT TO
TELL YOU A SECRET," AND I SAID "OK," AND SO SHE GOT UP RIGHT
IN MY EAR. SHE PUT HER LIPS LIKE RIGHT ON MY EAR AND SHE STARTED
TALKING. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WAS LAUGHING BECAUSE IT WAS
TICKLING MY EAR. I DIDN'T HEAR A WORD SHE SAID BECAUSE SHE WAS
RIGHT THERE TALKING, AND WHEN YOU'RE RIGHT THERE, YOU HAVE TO
BE SO QUIET IN WHAT YOU SAY FOR A PERSON TO BE ABLE TO HEAR YOU.
WELL, JESUS ISN'T RIGHT HERE, HE'S IN HERE.
HE SPEAKS YOUR LANGUAGE. WHEN YOU'RE QUIET AND YOU'RE ASKING
GOD TO SPEAK TO YOU, HE'LL SPEAK YOUR LANGUAGE.
IN AN UNMISTAKABLE WAY YOU'LL HEAR INSIDE OF YOUR HEART WHEN
YOU LISTEN THIS VOICE SPEAKING TO YOU. AND YOU WOULD SAY,
"WELL, JIMMY, HOW DO I KNOW IT'S NOT THE DEVIL?
HOW DO I KNOW IT'S NOT ME JUST TELLING ME WHAT I WANT TO
HEAR." WELL, LET ME TELL YOU HOW YOU KNOW. EVERYTHING THAT GOD
SAYS ALWAYS AGREES WITH SCRIPTURE. IT ALWAYS DOES.
GOD WILL NEVER TELL YOU TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS SINFUL.
SO ALWAYS WHEN YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE HEARING SOMETHING FROM
GOD, ALWAYS MEASURE IT AGAINST SCRIPTURE. IT'S ALWAYS
CONSISTENT WITH THE CHARACTER OF GOD. GOD IS A LOVING,
GENEROUS, GOOD GOD. GOD IS NOT GOING TO TELL YOU TO
BE IMMORAL, GOD IS NOT GOING TO TELL YOU TO HATE SOMEBODY
OR HURT SOMEBODY. GOD IS NOT GOING TO TELL YOU TO
ROB A BANK AND DO THINGS LIKE THAT. HE'S NOT GOING TO TELL YOU
THOSE THINGS. SO, GOD'S VOICE IS ALWAYS CONSISTENT, AND IT'S
CONSISTENT WITH HIS CHARACTER, BUT ALSO IT WORKS.
WHEN YOU'RE CULTIVATING A LISTENING EAR TO THE LORD AND
YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD IS SPEAKING TO YOU, AGAIN, ALWAYS
SCRIPTURAL, ALWAYS LOVING, NEVER CONDEMNING, NEVER USES FEAR OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT THE MOST WONDERFUL THING ABOUT IT IS
IT WORKS. AND YOU BELIEVE THE LORD IS
TELLING YOU TO DO THIS, OR GO HERE, OR TAKE THIS JOB OR, YOU
KNOW, WHATEVER IT IS THAT HE IS SAYING TO YOU,
AS YOU STEP OUT AND DO THAT THING, YOU'LL SEE THAT IT
WORKS. NOW, IF IT DIDN'T WORK, YOU HAVE TO GO BACK
AND QUESTION, DID I NOT HEAR GOD? YOU KNOW,
WAS--WAS THERE SOME FLAW IN THE PROCESS OF ME HEARING GOD?
BUT MORE TIMES THAN NOT, WHEN YOU'RE HEARING THAT VOICE AND
YOU STEP OUT, YOU'LL FIND OUT IT WAS GOD AND IT WILL WORK
IN YOUR LIFE. ANOTHER WAY THAT GOD SPEAKS TO
US IS PEACE. NOW, BY THE WAY, IN HEARING GOD, GOD CAN ALSO USE
DREAMS AND VISIONS. ACTS CHAPTER 2 SAYS, "WHEN THE
HOLY SPIRIT COMES, YOUNG MEN WILL SEE VISIONS AND OLD MEN
WILL DREAM DREAMS." EVEN UPON MY MAIDSERVANTS, GOD
SAYS HE WILL DO THIS. AND A VISION IS JUST, I'M
SEEING SOMETHING IN MY HEART. GOD IS GIVING ME THE ABILITY IN
MY HEART TO SEE SOMETHING BEYOND THE NATURAL REALM.
WELL, GOD USES THOSE THINGS IN OUR LIVES, AND WE NEED TO--
WE NEED TO ASK GOD TO USE THOSE THINGS, HOWEVER
HE WANTS TO COMMUNICATE, THAT HE DOES--LET ME TELL YOU WHY GOD
USES DREAMS. BECAUSE GOD CAN BYPASS YOUR CONSCIOUS MIND.
SOMETIMES YOUR CONSCIOUS MIND WILL KEEP YOU FROM HEARING
SOMETHING FROM GOD. I FIND OUT THAT SOMETIMES WHEN
I'M JUST ON THE VERGE OF WAKING UP THAT GOD WILL SPEAK SOMETHING
TO ME BECAUSE HE CAN BYPASS MY NATURAL MIND, BECAUSE MY NATURAL
MIND SOMETIMES BLOCKS WHAT GOD IS TRYING TO SAY.
NUMBER 3 WAY THAT GOD SPEAKS TO US IS PEACE.
COLOSSIANS 3:15 SAYS, "LET THE PEACE OF GOD RULE IN YOUR HEARTS
TO WHICH YOU ARE CALLED IN ONE BODY AND BE THANKFUL."
LET THE PEACE OF GOD RULE YOUR HEART.
THAT WORD RULE IS THE WORD BRABEULO, AND IT MEANS TO
UMPIRE. THE PEACE OF GOD, LIKE BALLS AND STRIKES OR SAFE OR
OUT, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT-- THE PEACE OF GOD UMPIRING THE
DECISION OF OUR LIVES. REMEMBER WHEN JESUS SAW HIS DISCIPLES
AFTER HE WAS RESURRECTED, THE FIRST THING HE SAID WAS
"PEACE TO YOU." JOHN 14, JESUS SAID, "THE HELPER, THE
HOLY SPIRIT, WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, HE WILL
TEACH YOU ALL THINGS AND BRING TO YOUR REMEMBRANCE ALL
THAT I SAID TO YOU. PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU.
MY PEACE I GIVE TO YOU, NOT AS THE WORLD GIVES DO I
GIVE TO YOU. LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED,
NEITHER LET IT BE AFRAID." THIS IS A PROFOUND THING. PEACE IS A
PROFOUND THING. AND YOU CAN FEEL IT.
THE PEACE OF GOD IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S INTANGIBLE OR
JUST SUPERNATURAL AND SPIRITUAL, IT IS A TANGIBLE THING THAT YOU
CAN FEEL GOD'S PEACE. AND THE BIBLE SAYS, "LET THE PEACE OF
GOD RULE IN YOUR LIVES." AND JESUS SAID, "I'M GOING TO
SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT TO TEACH YOU EVERYTHING." PEACE, HE'S
GOING TO BRING WITH HIM WHEN HE COMES. AND MANY TIMES WHEN
YOU'RE MAKING A DECISION AND YOU'RE ASKING THE LORD TO GUIDE
YOU--SEE, IF THE BIBLE SAYS DON'T DO SOMETHING, DON'T DO IT.
IF THE BIBLE SAYS DO SOMETHING, DO IT. I MEAN, IT'S VERY CLEAR.
BUT THERE ARE MANY THINGS THE BIBLE JUST DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING
ABOUT. THE BIBLE DOESN'T TELL US WHICH
CAR TO BUY. THE BIBLE DOESN'T TELL US WHICH HOUSE TO BUY.
IT TELLS US PRINCIPLES OF HOW TO HANDLE OUR FINANCES.
THE BIBLE DOESN'T TELL US-- IT DOESN'T TELL US WHICH MAJOR
TO TAKE IN SCHOOL, OR WHICH JOB TO TAKE, OR WHO TO MARRY. IT
TELLS US TO MARRY A CHRISTIAN, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY MARRY BOB OR
MARRY TERESA, YOU KNOW, IT JUST GIVES YOU PRINCIPLES. BUT WHO DO
YOU MARRY? WHAT JOB DO YOU TAKE? WHAT--WHAT MAJOR DO YOU
CHOOSE? AND I'M SAYING AS YOU'RE--AS YOU'RE CONSULTING
GOD, AS YOU'RE ASKING GOD TO GUIDE YOU IN LIFE, HIS PEACE IS
PROFOUND. HUNDREDS OF TIMES AS KAREN AND I HAVE MADE DECISIONS,
SOMETIMES EVERYTHING LOOKS RIGHT BUT YOU JUST DON'T HAVE PEACE
ABOUT IT. IN THE NATURAL, YOU'RE LOOKING
AT IT, EVERYTHING LOOKS RIGHT, BUT SOMETHING INSIDE OF YOU
IS TELLING YOU, "DON'T DO IT." AND YOU HEAR SOMEONE SAY "I JUST
DIDN'T HAVE PEACE ABOUT IT," THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT
STATEMENT. BECAUSE GOD'S TELLING--THE LACK
OF PEACE IS GOD SPEAKING TO YOU. BUT SOMETIMES THINGS CANNOT LOOK
SO RIGHT. SOMETIMES THINGS CAN KIND OF
LOOK--ON THE OUTSIDE, THEY'RE JUST, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE BLURRY
AND YOU DON'T SEE THINGS CLEARLY, BUT YOU HAVE A PROFOUND
SENSE OF PEACE. I'VE MADE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS AND
HUNDREDS OF DECISIONS IN MY LIFE BASED ON PEACE, AND I'VE NEVER
MADE A WRONG DECISION BASED ON PEACE. THE ONLY TIMES THAT I
HAVE MADE WRONG DECISIONS IS WHEN I DID SOMETHING AND I
IGNORED THE LACK OF PEACE THAT I HAD. KAREN IS REALLY GOOD AT
THIS. AND WE WERE MAKING A DECISION LAST YEAR, AND IT WAS
SOMETHING THAT MADE SENSE TO ME, AND I SAID TO KAREN, I'M GOOD
WITH THAT. YOU KNOW, WE WERE DOING THIS AND THIS, AND KAREN
SAID, "I DON'T FEEL PEACE ABOUT THAT, JIMMY. I JUST DON'T FEEL
PEACE," AND I SAID, "WELL..." BECAUSE WE DON'T BULLY EACH
OTHER, WE ALWAYS MAKE ALL OF OUR DECISIONS TOGETHER, AND,
UH, KAREN JUST SAID, "I JUST DON'T FEEL PEACE ABOUT IT."
AND I SAID "OK," SO WE DIDN'T MAKE THAT DECISION. THANK GOD,
BECAUSE IT WAS A WRONG DECISION. AND SO LISTEN TO THE PEACE LEVEL
IN YOUR LIFE, BECAUSE THAT'S GOD SPEAKING TO YOU. ANOTHER WAY
THAT GOD SPEAKS--I'LL HURRY UP HERE--IS CIRCUMSTANCES, OPEN AND
CLOSED DOORS. THIS IS REVELATION 3. "TO THE ANGEL OF
THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA WRITE THESE THINGS SAYS HE WHO IS
HOLY, HE WHO IS TRUE, HE HAS THE KEY OF DAVID,
HE WHO OPENS AND NO ONE SHUTS AND SHUTS AND NO ONE OPENS."
AND HERE'S MY PRAYER THAT I PRAY ON A REGULAR BASIS, "GOD, CLOSE
DOORS FOR ME THAT NO MAN CAN OPEN, AND OPEN DOORS FOR ME
THAT NO MAN CAN CLOSE UNTIL I'M STANDING IN YOUR PERFECT WILL."
AND HE'LL ANSWER THAT PRAYER. [APPLAUSE]
BE SENSITIVE TO CIRCUMSTANCES, BE SENSITIVE TO OPEN AND CLOSED
DOORS, AND WHEN A DOOR OPENS TO YOU, ASK GOD, "DO YOU WANT
ME TO GO THROUGH THAT DOOR?" AND AGAIN, HE WILL GIVE YOU
PEACE ABOUT IT AND HE'LL GUIDE YOU. BUT SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW,
WHEN GOD CLOSES A DOOR IN OUR LIVES AND WE GET
FRUSTRATED BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY OR WE
DIDN'T GET TO DO THIS AND THAT, SOMETIMES IT'S THE BEST--IT'S
GOD LOVING US NOT ALLOWING US TO DO SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
NUMBER--THE FINAL WAY, AND THIS IS--THIS IS PROBABLY NOT
EXHAUSTIVE--BUT ANOTHER WAY THAT GOD SPEAKS TO US IS PEOPLE.
MANY TIMES GOD WON'T SAY ANYTHING SPECIFICALLY TO ME. HE
WOULD SAY IT MAYBE THROUGH KAREN OR MAYBE A FRIEND. UH, PROVERBS
SAYS, "WHERE THERE IS NO COUNSEL, THE PEOPLE FALL,
BUT IN THE MULTITUDE OF COUNSELORS THERE IS SAFETY."
SOMETIMES, WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT DECISION TO MAKE,
OR MAYBE YOU THINK YOU KNOW, BUT YOU NEED CONFIRMATION,
ONE OF THE BEST THINGS YOU CAN DO IS FIND A BELIEVER WHO IS
SUCCESSFUL. NEEDS TO BE A BELIEVER AND THEY
NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE AREA THAT YOU'RE NEEDING HELP.
AND YOU GO TO THEM AND YOU ASK THEM TO CONSULT WITH YOU, AND
AGAIN IT HAS TO BE BIBLICAL WHATEVER THEY SAY.
BUT SOMETIMES GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH OTHER PEOPLE, BUT THAT'S
GENERALLY HOW GOD SPEAKS TO US, BUT GOD SPEAKS.
AND THERE'S AN INTERACTIVE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH
GOD, WITH HIM GUIDING US AS OUR SHEPHERD. AND LET ME CLOSE BY
SAYING HERE'S WHAT HINDERS GOD FROM SPEAKING TO US.
NUMBER ONE IS UNBELIEF. IF YOU DON'T HAVE--IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE
THAT GOD SPEAKS, YOU'RE RIGHT, HE DOESN'T. HE DOESN'T SPEAK TO
PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE HE DOESN'T SPEAK. AND HEBREWS 11:6,
"WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM, FOR HE WHO COMES
TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS AND THAT HE IS A REWARDER OF
THOSE WHO SEEK HIM." HE IS, GOD IS IN MY LIFE. YOU KNOW, LET ME
TELL YOU THE FAITH THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE TO HEAR GOD.
NOW, I WANT YOU TO LISTEN WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY NOW BECAUSE
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. YOU NEED TO HAVE FAITH THAT HE
LOVES YOU. SEE, SOMETIMES, THE DEVIL COMES
TO US EVEN AS I'M SPEAKING IN THIS MESSAGE AND THE DEVIL WILL
SAY, "YEAH, GOD SPEAKS, BUT HE'S NOT GOING TO SPEAK TO YOU
BECAUSE YOU'RE A LOUSE." WELL, THAT'S THE WAY THE DEVIL SPEAKS,
DEMEANING, CONDEMNING, YOU KNOW, GOD DOESN'T LOVE YOU
ENOUGH, THINGS LIKE THAT. LET ME JUST TELL YOU SOMETHING.
I HAVE FAITH THAT THE BLOOD OF JESUS PAID FOR MY SINS, AND I
HAVE FAITH THAT THE ANGER OF GOD WAS TAKEN AWAY ON GOOD FRIDAY
AND NOW GOD IS MY DADDY, AND HE'S MY FRIEND. I HAVE FAITH.
BUT I'VE HEARD THAT CONDEMNING VOICE IN MY LIFE FROM THE DEVIL
THAT TRIED TO COME AND SHOOT-- SEE, THE DEVIL'S WORST
NIGHTMARE IS YOU BEING FRIENDS WITH GOD.
BECAUSE EVERY--EVERYTHING HE HAS DESIGNED FOR YOUR LIFE CAN'T
HAPPEN IF YOU'RE WALKING WITH THE LORD.
SO AS YOU BEGIN TO COMMUNE WITH THE LORD, YOU NEED TO HAVE FAITH
THAT GOD IS LIVING IN YOUR LIFE AND IN YOUR HEART AND THAT HE
LOVES YOU. THE SECOND THING THAT HINDERS HEARING GOD
IS DISOBEDIENCE. GOD ALWAYS LOVES US. HE--
WE DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO HEAR GOD. THIS ISN'T A POINT
SYSTEM. BUT WHEN THE LORD SPEAKS, IF YOU DON'T OBEY IT,
HE'LL STOP SPEAKING--UNTIL YOU MAKE IT RIGHT. I WAS TALKING
TO A MAN OUT HERE IN THE FOYER ONE DAY AFTER CHURCH,
AND I HAD BEEN SPEAKING ON HEARING GOD AND HE SAID, "PASTOR
JIMMY, I HAVEN'T HEARD GOD IN TWO YEARS." AND I SAID, "YOU
HEARD HIM TWO YEARS AGO?" AND HE SAID "YEAH." I SAID, "WELL,
WHAT DID HE SAY?" HE TOLD ME WHAT I SAID. IT WAS VERY
SPECIFIC, I SAID "WELL, DID YOU DO IT?" HE SAID, "NO." AND I
SAID, "WELL, YOU NEED TO MAKE THAT RIGHT WITH THE LORD AND
HE'LL KEEP SPEAKING TO YOU." BUT--BUT WHEN THE LORD--WHAT--
WHAT THE LORD SAID TO THAT MAN WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR HIM
TO HAVE OBEYED. IT WAS GOD. I MEAN, WHEN HE TOLD ME, IT WAS
OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING GOD WANTED HIM TO DO. WELL, IF THE LORD
SPEAKS TO US AND WE JUST KIND OF THROW IT OVER OUR SHOULDER AND
WE SAY, "I DON'T LIKE THAT WORD, COULD YOU GIVE ME ANOTHER WORD?"
YOU KNOW. THE LORD'S RESPONSE TO THAT IS,
"I'M NOT YOUR FRIEND JOE." YOU KNOW, "I'M NOT JUST ANOTHER
PERSON TALKING TO YOU, I'M GOD. AND IF YOU VALUE MY VOICE,
I'LL KEEP SPEAKING. BUT IF I SAY THINGS TO YOU AND
YOU JUST KIND OF THROW THEM OVER YOUR SHOULDER, IT'S NOT GOING TO
WORK OUT." SO AGAIN, HE ALWAYS LOVES US AND HE'S EASY TO GET
ALONG WITH, AND IF WE'VE DONE SOMETHING WRONG, ALL WE HAVE TO
DO IS TALK TO HIM ABOUT IT AND HE'LL--HE'LL FORGIVE US.
BUT YOU CAN'T JUST THROW GOD'S WORD OVER YOUR SHOULDER AND
EXPECT HIM TO KEEP SPEAKING TO YOU. NUMBER 3--
AND THIS IS--THIS IS THE END. BUSYNESS AND DISTRACTION. IS--
IT'S THE OLD SAYING, "IF THE DEVIL CAN'T GET IN FRONT OF
YOU AND STOP YOU, HE'LL GET BEHIND YOU AND PUSH YOU TOO
FAST. AND JUST NOT EVER SLOWING DOWN--GOD ISN'T OBLIGATED TO
CHASE US DOWN AND TALK TO US, WE'RE OBLIGATED TO SLOW DOWN AND
LISTEN TO HIM. AND THIS IS WHAT WE CALL A QUIET TIME. WHEN I
TALK ABOUT YOUR PRAYER TIME EVERY DAY, I CALL IT A QUIET
TIME BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO GET A QUIET TIME EVERY DAY
ALONE WITH GOD. YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE JUST--5 MINUTES, 10
MINUTES IS SO IMPORTANT. HOPEFULLY IT COULD BE LONGER
THAN THAT. AND YOU SAY, "WELL, JIMMY, MY HOUSE, YOU CAN'T
IMAGINE ALL THE ACTIVITY AROUND MY HOUSE." GET IN YOUR CAR
BEFORE WORK AND SHOW UP TO WORK EARLY, AND JUST SIT OUT IN THE
PARKING LOT BY YOURSELF FOR 5 OR 10 MINUTES. OR SCHOOL.
OR--OR WHEREVER YOU CAN GO-- AT THE PARK--JUST TO GET TIME
ALONE WITH GOD. AND IN THAT ALONE TIME WHEN
YOU'RE QUIET, TURN THE RADIO OFF, TURN THE TV OFF, GET QUIET.
AND ASK GOD QUESTIONS. YOU KNOW, READ--READ YOUR BIBLE,
READ A PROVERB, READ A PSALM EVERY DAY, IT'S SO
ENCOURAGING. YOU KNOW, READ--READ THE WORD, AND
TELL--TELL GOD WHAT YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT. TELL GOD WHAT
YOU'RE NEEDING. HE'S YOUR DADDY. HE LOVES BEING YOUR DADDY. AND
THEN SAY, "LORD, I NEED YOU TO SPEAK TO ME ABOUT THIS."
AND THEN JUST GET QUIET. YOU'LL BE--LET ME TELL YOU,
MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE LORD, HE'S A TALKER.
HE'S A TALKER. HE TALKS A LOT.
AND WHEN THE LORD TALKS, IT'S SO COMFORTING.
IT'S JUST...THROUGH MANY YEARS OF HEARING GOD, HE IS THE MOST
GRACIOUS, WONDERFUL, SWEET, CONSISTENT...
PERSON I'VE EVER KNOWN. AND HE LIVES INSIDE OF HERE.
HE DOESN'T COME AND GO. HE'S HERE TO STAY.
AND WE ALWAYS HAVE GOD TO DIRECT US IN OUR LIVES.
IT'S--IT'S--IT'S MORE THAN IMPORTANT. IT'S JUST--IT'S
FANTASTIC. YOU CAN MAKE EVERY DECISION RIGHT. YOU CAN KNOW
THAT GOD IS LEADING YOU IN LIFE. AND EVERYTHING YOU CAN DO
CAN SUCCEED. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS
MESSAGE TODAY. YOU KNOW, JESUS-- JESUS CAME TO SET US FREE, TO
GIVE US ETERNAL LIFE, BUT TO TEACH US HOW TO LIVE.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH ON "THE
GOOD LIFE" IS--IS TALKING ABOUT THE BASICS OF THE CHRISTIAN
LIFE, JUST THE BASICS OF, YOU KNOW, HOW TO LIVE IN VICTORY.
AND, YOU KNOW, 40 YEARS AGO WHEN I RECEIVED CHRIST, I DIDN'T KNOW
ANYTHING, AND IT WAS DIFFICULT, AND I STRUGGLED.
BUT AS SOON AS I BEGAN TO LEARN THESE PRINCIPLES THAT I'M
TEACHING RIGHT NOW, IT REVOLUTIONIZED MY LIFE AND STILL
DOES TO THIS DAY. SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE SO EXCITED
TO GET THIS INFORMATION INTO YOUR HANDS. RIGHT NOW,
FOR YOUR GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT HERE AT "MARRIAGE TODAY,"
TO SUPPORT US IN THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, THE MISSION
OF MARRIAGE AND HOPE AROUND THE WORLD, WE WANT TO SEND YOU
THE CD CALLED "A DAILY DYNAMIC PRAYER LIFE," HOW TO UNDERSTAND
PRAYER, SO THAT IT'S NOT A DRUDGERY, IT'S NOT BORING,
IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO DO, BUT IT'S EXCITING
AND POWERFUL AND LIFE-CHANGING, AND IT BUILDS AN INTIMACY
WITH GOD THAT WE'RE ALL LOOKING FOR. WE WANT TO SEND THAT TO YOU
FOR YOUR GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT, AND I PROMISE IT WILL ENCOURAGE
YOU IN YOUR WALK WITH THE LORD. FOR YOUR GIFT OF $50 OR MORE,
WE WANT TO SEND YOU THE ENTIRE 4-PART CD SERIES CALLED
"THE GOOD LIFE," PLUS MY BOOK "TEN STEPS TOWARD CHRIST."
IT GOES THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT ISSUES
OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE AND HOW TO UNDERSTAND THE--THE DAILY
DISCIPLINES AND JUST THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN
FAITH. FOR YOUR GIFT OF $90 OR MORE, WE WANT TO SEND YOU
THE DVD SERIES CALLED "THE GOOD LIFE," AND THE
"TEN STEPS TOWARD CHRIST" BOOK. THESE ARE IMPORTANT RESOURCES
THAT WILL REALLY HELP YOU AND ENCOURAGE YOU. HERE'S HOW
YOU CAN GET THEM. ANNOUNCER: UNDERSTAND HOW TO
HAVE A REAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, AND THE
THE FOUNDATIONS OF KNOWING HIM WITH JIMMY'S NEW SERIES "THE
GOOD LIFE." THIS PRACTICAL SERIES WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO
EXPERIENCE GOD THROUGH PRAYER, THE KEY TO HEARING GOD'S VOICE,
AND HOW TO CONQUER YOUR THOUGHT LIFE.
FOR YOUR GIFT OF $50 OR MORE, WE'LL SEND YOU
"THE GOOD LIFE" SERIES ON CD PLUS JIMMY'S NEW BOOK "TEN STEPS
TOWARD CHRIST." FOR YOUR GIFT OF $90 OR MORE, WE'LL SEND YOU
THE DVD SERIES AND BOOK. JIMMY: AND HERE'S MY PRAYER THAT
I PRAY ON A REGULAR BASIS. "GOD, CLOSE DOORS FOR ME THAT NO MAN
CAN OPEN AND OPEN DOORS FOR ME THAT NO MAN CAN CLOSE UNTIL I'M
STANDING IN YOUR PERFECT WILL." ANNOUNCER: FOR YOUR GIFT
OF ANY AMOUNT, WE'LL SEND YOU THE CD SINGLE
MESSAGE "A DAILY DYNAMIC PRAYER LIFE."
Jimmy: AND WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING, YOU SAY,
"I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO PRAY ABOUT." WHAT ARE YOU WORRIED
ABOUT, RIGHT? YOUR PRAYER LIST IS YOUR WORRY LIST.
ANNOUNCER: GOD HAS A FULFILLING PLAN FOR YOU. EXPERIENCE
"THE GOOD LIFE" TODAY. WHEN YOU'RE IN A RELATIONSHIP
WITH SOMEONE, YOU TALK, AND IT'S NOT A MONOLOGUE, IT'S A
DIALOGUE. YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST SO
UNFORTUNATE IN MY HEART AND MIND THAT SO MANY PEOPLE, EVEN
CHRISTIAN PEOPLE, EVEN LEADERS AND SOMETIMES EVEN PASTORS TEACH
THAT YOU CAN'T HEAR GOD. WELL, I GOT SAVED 40 YEARS
AGO, AND IN THE MORNING I GOT SAVED I DIDN'T KNOW
ANY THEOLOGY. I--I HAD NO IDEA, YOU KNOW,
WHERE THE BOOK OF GENESIS WAS. BUT I REMEMBER WHEN I GOT SAVED,
WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF RECEIVING CHRIST AS LORD OF
MY LIFE, THE LORD SPOKE TO MY HEART AND SAID, "DON'T SEE YOUR
FRIENDS AGAIN." I HAD A LOT OF UNGODLY FRIENDS. I WOULD HAVE
NEVER BEEN ABLE TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IF I WOULD'VE
KEPT THOSE FRIENDS. THEY WOULD'VE DRUG ME BACK INTO
THE OLD LIFESTYLE THAT I WAS IN. BUT I REMEMBER--I DIDN'T HEAR IT
WITH THIS EAR, I HEARD IT IN MY HEART AND I KNEW IMMEDIATELY
THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO GIVE UP THOSE FRIENDS, AND I DID.
TWO WEEKS LATER, I WAS--KAREN AND I--I GOT SAVED THE WEEK
BEFORE WE GOT MARRIED, SO THIS WAS A WEEK AFTER WE
GOT MARRIED. I WAS IN THE BACKYARD OF OUR HOME AND WE HAD
A LITTLE BITTY APARTMENT, AND I WAS IN THE BACKYARD AND, YOU
KNOW, I WAS A NEW CHRISTIAN, AND I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
ANYTHING, AND I HAD NEVER THOUGHT OF MYSELF AS A PREACHER
BEFORE. BUT AT 19 YEARS OLD I WAS SITTING IN THE BACKYARD OF
MY HOUSE AND I SAW--I JUST SAW LIKE A SHEET DROP DOWN IN
FRONT OF MY EYES. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT. BUT I SAW
MYSELF PREACHING TO A MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE AND GOD CALLED ME THEN
INTO THE MINISTRY AND BEGAN TO SPEAK TO ME ABOUT MY FUTURE, AND
THE LORD TOLD ME HOW I WOULD GO INTO THE MINISTRY.
I MEAN, AGAIN HE JUST SPOKE TO MY HEART.
I WAS JUST LEARNING EVERYTHING ABOUT GOD, BUT YOU KNOW
WHEN I LOOK BACK--THOSE THINGS WERE GOD. I MEAN, I HEARD
GOD. GOD TOLD ME NOT TO SEE MY FRIENDS AGAIN, AND NOW 40 YEARS
LATER, I SAY THANK GOD HE TOLD ME THAT.
GOD CALLED ME INTO THE MINISTRY AND NOW I SIT HERE ALL THESE
YEARS LATER SAYING, "THANK GOD I'M DOING WHAT GOD WANTS ME TO
DO WITH MY LIFE." BUT YOU KNOW SOMETHING--WHAT IF
YOU NEVER HEARD GOD? HOW WOULD YOU KNOW THOSE THINGS?
NOW, THE BIBLE HAS A LOT TO SAY, OBVIOUSLY, AND EVERYTHING IN THE
BIBLE IS GOD'S VOICE TO US. I AGREE WITH THAT COMPLETELY.
BUT SITUATIONALLY, THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT JUST AREN'T IN
THE BIBLE THAT GOD WANTS TO SPEAK TO US. FIRST OF ALL, JUST
LOVE. YOU KNOW, WHEN I HEAR GOD EVERY DAY, MANY TIMES WHEN I'M
HEARING GOD HE'S JUST TELLING ME HOW MUCH HE LOVES ME, OR HE'S
GIVING ME SOME SPECIFIC GUIDANCE. YOU KNOW, THE BIBLE
HAS A LOT TO SAY, BUT WHICH HOUSE DO YOU BUY?
WHICH CAR DO YOU BUY? YOU KNOW, WHERE DO YOU PUT
YOUR KIDS IN SCHOOL? YOU KNOW, WHO DO YOU MARRY?
ALL THOSE THINGS LIKE THAT, THEY'RE SITUATIONAL.
THERE ARE BASICS IN THE BIBLE THAT ARE ALWAYS TRUE.
BUT GOD IS A GOD WHO WALKS WITH US RELATIONALLY, SPECIFICALLY,
FOR YOU. GOD HAS SOMETHING TO SAY TO YOU
HE'S NOT SAYING TO ANYBODY ELSE. AND LET ME SAY SOMETHING ELSE.
IF YOU'RE BORN AGAIN, YOU HAVE SPIRITUAL EARS, YOU HAVE
SPIRITUAL EYES, YOU HAVE-- YOU HAVE A SPIRIT PERSON ON THE
INSIDE OF YOU THAT IS CAPABLE OF HEARING FROM GOD. AND MY
CHALLENGE TO YOU IS THIS. GET ALONE, TALK TO GOD, ASK GOD
SPECIFICALLY SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED IN YOUR LIFE AND JUST WAIT.
AND LISTEN, LISTEN TO HIM IN YOUR HEART. AND WHEN HE SPEAKS,
IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE BIBLE WHEN
HE SPEAKS TO YOU. DO IT, FOLLOW IT, PUT FAITH.
FAITH COMES BY HEARING AND HEARING THE WORD OF JESUS.
LISTEN TO GOD. IT WILL TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE.
I HOPE THAT THIS HAS BEEN HELPFUL TO YOU, AND LET ME JUST
SAY THAT EVERY TIME WE COME TO YOU HERE AT "MARRIAGE TODAY," WE
ARE ABLE TO COME TO YOU BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF OUR
PARTNERS, A PRECIOUS GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO STAND WITH US EVERY
MONTH FINANCIALLY. AND FOR THAT--WE CALL THEM OUR
ROCK SOLID PARTNERS--FOR THAT, THEY GET A RESOURCE THAT NOBODY
ELSE GETS. WOULD YOU PLEASE BECOME A ROCK
SOLID PARTNER? KAREN AND I ARE ASKING YOU TO
STAND WITH US TO HELP US COME BACK TO YOU, BUT ALSO TO SEND US
AROUND THE WORLD TO PEOPLE IN NEED THAT DESPERATELY NEED
THIS IMPORTANT MESSAGE. BECOME A PARTNER. HERE'S HOW YOU
CAN DO IT. ANNOUNCER: GOING THROUGH DIVORCE
IS A LOT TO ASK OF CHILDREN AND OFTEN RESULTS IN YEARS OF
EMOTIONAL PAIN. IT'S A VIOLENT RIPPING APART OF THEIR PARENTS
AND A SENSE OF ABANDONMENT. WHAT SOMETIMES WE SEE AS A QUICK WAY
OUT CAN MEAN COMPLETE LOSS FOR A CHILD.
JIMMY: YOU HAVE A 100% CHANCE OF SUCCESS IN MARRIAGE. YOU WERE
MADE FOR MARRIAGE. ANNOUNCER: "MARRIAGE TODAY"
EXISTS TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM THE PAIN OF DIVORCE AND TO STEER
COUPLES AWAY FROM MARITAL FAILURE BY TELLING THEM THE
TRUTH. WHEN YOU STAND WITH "MARRIAGE TODAY," YOUR
INDIVIDUAL EFFORT MULTIPLIES WITH OTHER LIKE-MINDED PARTNERS
AND TOGETHER, WE CAN REBUILD A LEGACY OF STRONG FAMILIES AROUND
THE WORLD. CHOOSE YOUR LEVEL OF PARTNERSHIP TODAY AND RECEIVE
IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO THE VIDEO STREAMING LIBRARY. BECOME A ROCK
SOLID PARTNER TODAY. Thank you for watching MarriageToday. Subscribe to MarriageToday's
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and updates.
