Shownotes
In this sermon, Marcel Hall kicks off the holiday season series titled 'Thank God For...' by focusing on the transformative power of God's Word in believers' lives. The sermon draws on Psalm 19 to highlight the perfection, trustworthiness, and joy found in God's commandments. Marcel encourages everyone to apply the Word in their daily lives and stresses the necessity of having God's Word as the standard for all aspects of life. The sermon concludes with a call to action to study, reflect on, and pray about the role of God's Word in their lives, followed by a communion prayer.
Transcripts
It's the holiday season.
2
:Are you guys excited about the holidays?
3
:You have a Thanksgiving, we have
Christmas, we have new years time to
4
:eat a lot, perhaps maybe eat too much.
5
:I know that's my sin during this time,
but uh, it's a season of holidays
6
:and particularly Thanksgiving.
7
:It's a season of giving thanks.
8
:So I want us to do this in, in
pairs and in threes and fours.
9
:Answer this question right here.
10
:What are you thankful for?
11
:What are you thankful for?
12
:Just whatever it is.
13
:Go ahead right now.
14
:Share what is something
that you are thankful for.
15
:All right, let's get it.
16
:Let's get a couple people to share.
17
:Let's hear a couple of things here.
18
:What's one thing that
you are thankful for?
19
:Let's go ahead.
20
:Let's have some people share one
thing that you are thankful for.
21
:Okay, you were just talking.
22
:All right, so here we go.
23
:All right, Alan.
24
:Yes.
25
:Okay.
26
:He said he's thankful for the body
of Christ and being in the church and
27
:how he can get help and receive help
during with his struggles and whatnot.
28
:Okay.
29
:Amen.
30
:That's awesome.
31
:All right.
32
:Yes, sir.
33
:Mr.
34
:Artechi.
35
:Okay.
36
:For those who couldn't hear,
Will said he's thankful for his
37
:mother in law, Joyce and Joyce.
38
:If you know, we've been praying for Joyce.
39
:She just had surgery and
look at her in the house.
40
:Come on, representing.
41
:Let's go, Joyce.
42
:Joyce is a lovely woman.
43
:Now, if she can be here after heart
surgery, you better not have an excuse.
44
:Talk about my thumb hurts.
45
:You know what I'm saying?
46
:She's worshiping the Lord.
47
:Amen.
48
:We are thankful for you, Joyce.
49
:All right.
50
:Any others?
51
:Any others?
52
:Something that you're thankful for?
53
:Yes, Jane.
54
:She says she's thankful for her family,
how God is always taking care of us.
55
:Awesome.
56
:Okay.
57
:All right.
58
:We'll go one more.
59
:Uh, Stacy.
60
:I'm thankful that Jessica.
61
:Okay,
62
:awesome.
63
:Stacey shared that her niece, Jessica,
uh, which we're gonna announce she's
64
:getting baptized today after service.
65
:Amen.
66
:Come on.
67
:Amen.
68
:Let me ask you this, these are all things
that we can think of for ourselves.
69
:What are some things that
we all can thank God for?
70
:Okay, so go ahead and
answer this question there.
71
:What are some things that
we all can thank God for?
72
:And if you're online, go ahead and
put in the little chat there, uh,
73
:some things and answer that question.
74
:What are some things
you can be thanked for?
75
:So let's go ahead and give
you about 30 seconds or so.
76
:What are some things that
we all can thank God for?
77
:Alright.
78
:Let's go ahead and, uh, let's get
some, some, some more sharing here.
79
:Alright, right there, my man in the,
uh, is that a Dodgers hat right there?
80
:Okay, yeah, go ahead.
81
:Okay, we're thankful for God's grace.
82
:Yes, that's so true, right?
83
:We all can be thankful for just
the fact that we're living today.
84
:It's a sign of His grace.
85
:Yes, others?
86
:Uh, right here, Dallas.
87
:God's consistency.
88
:Okay, there you go.
89
:How God is consistent in
who He is and what He does.
90
:Okay, awesome, awesome.
91
:Alright, any others?
92
:What are some things we
all can thank God for?
93
:Yes, uh, Daniella.
94
:His protection.
95
:God protects us.
96
:All right.
97
:Yes, Josephine.
98
:His second chances and his promises.
99
:Okay.
100
:All right.
101
:Uh, yes, Mr.
102
:Barber.
103
:This beautiful Southern
California weather, right?
104
:Yes.
105
:We're all so grateful.
106
:It's getting cold in the morning, right?
107
:But then by the afternoon,
it's pretty good there.
108
:Yes, we all can thank God for a
number of different things that
109
:apply to every single one of us.
110
:And so we're actually going to start a
sermon series here for the holiday season,
111
:uh, and it's called this, it's called
thank God for, and we're going to walk
112
:through what we can all thank God for.
113
:And so we're going to be
talking about that today.
114
:And today we're going to be talking
about how we can thank God for his word,
115
:how we can thank God for his written
revelation, what we call the Bible.
116
:Let's go to God in prayer.
117
:Father, thank you so much for your word.
118
:Thank you for the church.
119
:Thank you for your consistency.
120
:Thank you for your grace.
121
:Thank you for your mercy.
122
:Thank you for your promises,
your second chances.
123
:Thank you for your faithfulness.
124
:Thank you for allowing us to be here.
125
:Thank you for the family of believers.
126
:Thank you that we can see Jessica
get baptized here later on today.
127
:Thank you for this chance to
worship you here in Placentia.
128
:God, we thank you so much.
129
:We can spend hours thanking you.
130
:But God, it's because you are good.
131
:And we thank you for being that to us.
132
:I pray right now that you will speak
your word into our hearts so that
133
:we may respond the way we should.
134
:In the name of Jesus, Amen.
135
:All right, we're going to
go over to Psalm chapter 19.
136
:Psalm chapter 19.
137
:It's one of my favorite
passages in the Bible.
138
:We're going to read in
Psalm 19 in verse seven.
139
:Uh, and we're gonna see what's
so special about God's word.
140
:I know many of us, we can, we can
preach a sermon ourselves on how
141
:special and awesome the word of God is.
142
:But we're gonna go ahead and,
and look at this passage.
143
:It's gonna reveal to us why God's word
is so special and why we can be thankful.
144
:And we're going to take it up in verse 7.
145
:The first 6 verses talk about God's
creation and how God's creation,
146
:because of God's creation, because
of the stars and moons and all these
147
:different things, we can praise God.
148
:And it makes this transition to
now talking about how His word
149
:leads to our praise of Him.
150
:In Psalm 19 in verse 7.
151
:Church, are you with me?
152
:It says, The law of the Lord is perfect.
153
:Refreshing the soul.
154
:The statutes of the Lord are
trustworthy, making wise the simple.
155
:The precepts of the Lord are
right, giving joy to the heart.
156
:The commands of the Lord are
radiant, giving light to the eyes.
157
:The fear of the Lord is
pure, enduring forever.
158
:The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
159
:They are more precious than gold.
160
:Than much pure gold.
161
:They're sweeter than honey.
162
:Than honey From the honeycomb
by them, your servant is warned.
163
:In keeping them there is great reward.
164
:We'll stop right there.
165
:David is the writer of this song,
king David, and he writes this and
166
:he's talking about God's word and he
mentions God's word being perfect.
167
:Trustworthy, right, radiant, precious.
168
:It's sweet for the soul.
169
:And David, you can see, has so much
respect and love for God's word.
170
:He's moved, he's stirred
to write these things.
171
:Here's what's incredible.
172
:Actually, me and Karina were talking
about this in the morning here.
173
:Is that King David probably has,
more than likely, really, the
174
:first five, six books of the Bible.
175
:And maybe a couple songs.
176
:So he doesn't have all the John 3 16.
177
:He doesn't have the Romans 8 28.
178
:Oh, God works in the good for all
those who believe he doesn't have.
179
:I know the plans I have for you.
180
:He doesn't have any of these
scriptures that you and I say are
181
:some of our favorite scriptures.
182
:All he has is the first five,
maybe six books in the Bible.
183
:And we know a song from Moses.
184
:And if you've ever read Leviticus
and, and, and Numbers, those
185
:could be some difficult reads.
186
:And what does he say?
187
:After just reading those books of the
Bible, it's perfect, it's word, it's
188
:trustworthy, it's radiant, it's sweet.
189
:Wow.
190
:His view and appreciation of God's word.
191
:And again, it's not all the
scriptures that you and I have.
192
:So we could testify to this,
now having The rest of the
193
:Old and the New Testaments.
194
:And it's interesting, right?
195
:Because David is called man,
a man after God's own hearts.
196
:And you see his what?
197
:His view and appreciation for God's word.
198
:Is there a connection between his heart
for God and his view of God's word?
199
:I think there is.
200
:And that tells me something.
201
:Is that if you and I want to be a
man or woman after God's own heart,
202
:we need to have the right view.
203
:We need to love and appreciate
and consume God's word.
204
:Because that would transform
us into the image of Christ.
205
:Are you with me, brothers and sisters?
206
:But David captures how
powerful the word of God is.
207
:He says it's perfect.
208
:It's radiant.
209
:It's trustworthy.
210
:It's right.
211
:He says, it will refresh the soul.
212
:It will make you wise.
213
:It'll give joy from within.
214
:It will give light to the eyes, and it
will, it will reward you and warn you.
215
:I don't know about you, but I want
all of those things in my life.
216
:Do you want any of those
things missing in your life?
217
:Of course, we want all of those things
Again, how do we receive those things?
218
:It's by consuming God's eternal word.
219
:But let's break this down
some brothers and sisters.
220
:Are you with me here?
221
:All right, here we go.
222
:Let's get into it.
223
:It says it is perfect.
224
:It needs no additions.
225
:It's perfect.
226
:It has no omissions.
227
:The word of God is perfect.
228
:And what does that perfect word do?
229
:It refreshes the soul
or can be translated.
230
:It revives our souls.
231
:It's so it brings soul.
232
:It brings life to our very being.
233
:Some could call it the true soul food.
234
:Y'all know I love some soul food.
235
:Especially some macaroni cheese as we
talk about the Thanksgiving and Christmas.
236
:You know what I'm saying?
237
:But this is even better than all of that
because it nourishes our very being.
238
:Our soul.
239
:It says that the word of God is what?
240
:It's trustworthy.
241
:You can rely, you can
depend upon God's word.
242
:You can bet your life on God's promises.
243
:You can trust his word.
244
:It says it is wise,
making wise the simple.
245
:You can learn how to handle
life, how to handle situations,
246
:how to handle relationships.
247
:Learn how to be successful
in school, in job, etc.
248
:We can learn these things because
it'll make us be, it'll make
249
:us transition from being simple
and maybe foolish to being wise.
250
:It says it is right.
251
:I mean, it's not wrong.
252
:It's the standard above
all, above opinions, above
253
:feelings, above what's popular.
254
:It says it gives joy to the heart.
255
:It feels good when it comes in and we
have the right response or the right,
256
:right, right, right, right, right.
257
:Receiving of his word, but it
feels good when we actually follow.
258
:You ever do something in the Bible,
you're like, man, that feels good.
259
:It encourages.
260
:The Word of God inspires.
261
:It transforms.
262
:It changes our character, our hearts.
263
:It changes our lives.
264
:And it goes on and it says it is radiance.
265
:It's glorious.
266
:It shines.
267
:It is beautiful.
268
:Kind of like that southern
sunny California weather.
269
:It gives light.
270
:We can now see clearly.
271
:We can see what's true.
272
:We can see what's right.
273
:We can be able to distinguish good from
evil because of what the word God does.
274
:It helps us not to be
in the dark spiritually.
275
:It goes on and it says that the
word is firm or another word
276
:that can be used is sure, meaning
it's steady, it's dependable.
277
:And we all need security in life.
278
:We need something that's
dependable, don't we?
279
:It goes on and it says
that it's righteous.
280
:It's more precious than gold,
sweeter than the honey, honeycomb.
281
:And these were precious
things in ancient times.
282
:And so what is it saying?
283
:It's more valuable than all
the wealth in the world.
284
:The word of God is sweet.
285
:It tastes good when you consume it.
286
:It says sweeter than honey.
287
:Whenever I read that passage,
I think of Winnie the Pooh.
288
:Some of young folks are
like, who's Winnie the Pooh?
289
:Just Google that later.
290
:It's a bear.
291
:He loves honey.
292
:You know, you think Winnie
the Pooh, you think honey.
293
:You know what I'm saying?
294
:And I go, wow, I need to spiritually be
like a Winnie the Pooh with God's word
295
:and just taking that scriptures in.
296
:Scriptures are finger licking
good, you know what I'm saying?
297
:It says and it warns us and it rewards.
298
:It warns us.
299
:There's trouble ahead.
300
:It also said there's
rewards when we follow it.
301
:Again, this is God's word.
302
:This is how powerful God's word is.
303
:This is what God's word does when we
consume it and we apply it to our lives.
304
:Let me ask you this.
305
:Can you relate?
306
:Can you relate to God's word being
or doing these things in your life?
307
:I know many of us, we can testify,
we can relate, we can say, God's
308
:Word has done those things.
309
:It's been that in my life.
310
:I know I can testify to this being true.
311
:The Word of God has
radically changed who I am.
312
:Radically.
313
:I got my Aunt Martha here in the house.
314
:I was, my mom is over there with the kids.
315
:They can testify that Marcel Hall
of today is radically different from
316
:the Marcel Hall from before Christ.
317
:And all of you should
say hallelujah for that.
318
:Cause we might not have had a good
experience, you know what I'm saying.
319
:But I can testify what's
radically changed my worldview.
320
:How I view the world,
it is totally different.
321
:Even with politics coming up.
322
:I mean, my world view
is just different now.
323
:I view things differently.
324
:My character is different.
325
:My work ethic is different.
326
:My morality is different.
327
:My choices, what I deem to be
right and wrong, true and false,
328
:it's all different because God's
word has directed and changed me.
329
:What I view as important
and what's valuable.
330
:My integrity.
331
:My relationships.
332
:Directed and stirred and
steered by the word of God.
333
:I think of my relationship with my mom.
334
:That's grown and it wasn't a bad
relationship but man because of
335
:God's word it has transformed that.
336
:The word of God helped direct me to
have reconciliation with my father.
337
:The Word of God has transformed
my relationship with my siblings.
338
:And hallelujah, the Word of God
has helped me in my relationship
339
:with my wife and my kids.
340
:If it wasn't for the Word of God, my
life would be a three course mess.
341
:I would have ruined it twice over.
342
:Probably with no chance of redemption.
343
:But the Word of God, Has
given life to my soul.
344
:It's giving light to my eyes.
345
:It has warned me and it has rewarded me.
346
:And I know there's so many of
you that can testify as well.
347
:Am I right?
348
:I know there's so many of you can testify.
349
:That it has revived your
soul, your faith, your hope.
350
:When you were discouraged, or you
were depressed, or you were doubtful.
351
:The Word of God did
something in your life.
352
:So many of you can testify how
you handle situations better
353
:because of the Word of God.
354
:You are gonna go into that situation,
and then the Word of God, and you said,
355
:You know what, I better not go that way.
356
:And you said, Hallelujah,
I follow God's Word.
357
:And you remember, when you used to
handle things differently, when it
358
:was just your opinion, your thoughts,
your feelings, and how things would
359
:radically be different, and probably
destroy certain things in your life.
360
:Many of you can testify you've
seen it to be true of relationships
361
:and human behavior, especially
when you read the Proverbs.
362
:You're like, that is
human life right there.
363
:So much wisdom.
364
:I understand people and I understand
myself even more because of the light
365
:that the Word of God has given me.
366
:You many of you can testify has
helped you to know the truth,
367
:the truth of who you are.
368
:The truth of life.
369
:Again, what's valuable?
370
:What's important?
371
:The truth of what the world feeds
us and be able to distinguish.
372
:That's not right.
373
:That's not right.
374
:That's not true because of God's word.
375
:You've been able to distinguish
that you've been able to testify,
376
:man, this is some good soul food.
377
:You know, God's word's incredible
when we take a step back, right?
378
:We started thinking about what is done and
we start to realize how powerful it is.
379
:And one of the things it
does is it makes you what?
380
:Thankful, thankful that you have that.
381
:Where would your life
be without God's word?
382
:I don't even want to think
of where my life would be.
383
:In fact, I get a glimpse when I
look at my life prior to Christ.
384
:Now I know there's some of us
in here who can't relate to
385
:the things that I've shared.
386
:And the question then is, why is that?
387
:Which leads to, what does that reveal?
388
:If you can't relate to anything that
I'm sharing, what does that mean?
389
:What does that reveal?
390
:I believe it probably means you're not
consuming God's word the way you need to.
391
:You don't have the word of God in
your life the way it should be, so
392
:therefore you're like, I don't really
know what you're talking about.
393
:That seems more like theory
than it does my experience.
394
:But here's the thing, I have some
encouragement for every single one of
395
:us, and direction for every single one
of us, is that here's the key, and here's
396
:what God is calling you and me toward.
397
:And that's not to only be
thankful for His Word, but it's
398
:this, it's to live by His Word.
399
:We are called to live by God's Word.
400
:The Word is to be followed,
not just read and liked.
401
:It's not just something you buy at the
home goods store or whatever and you get
402
:a little plaque and you put that on your
wall and you go, Oh, that's really cute.
403
:I like that.
404
:That's not what the word
of God is supposed to be.
405
:It's not just a cool little quote that
you see on social media and you like
406
:and now you repost or you reshare.
407
:No, the word of God is supposed
to be lived out in our lives.
408
:That's when we start to taste and
experience, wow, this thing is powerful.
409
:Wow, it is good for my life.
410
:I need more of it, and I want to
share more of it with other people.
411
:You know, let's be
reminded of this passage.
412
:Many of us are very
familiar with this passage.
413
:It says, All Scripture is God breathed
and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
414
:correcting, and training in righteousness,
so that the servant of God may be
415
:thoroughly equipped for every good work.
416
:I love the way the NIV, you phrase this.
417
:It says, The Word of God
is to be, it's useful.
418
:And when something's useful, what
are you supposed to do with it?
419
:Supposed to use it, right?
420
:Now I have, uh, uh, uh, a,
um, uh, African, uh, drum,
421
:uh, uh, a djembe at my house.
422
:And, uh, many people have seen
the African drum in our house,
423
:and many people have come over.
424
:And they'll grab the drum, and they'll
start to play, and they'll look at me,
425
:and they'll go, Marcel, do you play?
426
:And I go, no, I don't play.
427
:That's a decoration.
428
:They're like, Oh, you don't play?
429
:No, I don't play.
430
:And in fact, in my heart, can
you please stop playing that?
431
:You know what?
432
:I'm just playing.
433
:Cause some of y'all are
like, Man, that was me.
434
:I'm just playing with you, okay?
435
:But they're over here playing and
they're like, Man, you don't use this?
436
:I'm like, Nah, man, it's decoration.
437
:Man, look at the rest of the place.
438
:This is a decoration.
439
:And here's the thing.
440
:Spiritually, some of us,
that's what the Word of God is.
441
:It's a decoration in our faith.
442
:We're not using it.
443
:It's there, it's there, it's around,
it's present, but it's not being
444
:used the way it's supposed to.
445
:And so it's a decoration.
446
:So therefore we're not
experiencing its blessings.
447
:We're not testifying to its power
and its goodness because we're
448
:not putting it into practice.
449
:You see, when we apply God's
word, here's what's really cool.
450
:Then we see Psalm 19 become true.
451
:We can testify.
452
:And then what happens is we're
grateful for God's mercy.
453
:We're grateful for God's word.
454
:And then we start to see that
we need more of it so that we
455
:consume more of God's word.
456
:And this cool cycle takes place.
457
:Do you guys get what I'm saying?
458
:Because I'm excited.
459
:I'm grateful.
460
:I'm like, man, I need to apply this.
461
:And as I apply it, I go,
wow, this is really good.
462
:Hallelujah for it.
463
:I need more of it.
464
:And the cool cycle takes place.
465
:But you know, it also takes
place is when we don't have
466
:the word of God in our lives.
467
:Another bad cycle takes place.
468
:We think, Oh, it doesn't help me.
469
:It's not true.
470
:God's promises aren't reliable.
471
:So maybe he's not reliable.
472
:So therefore, let me take a
step back from this faith thing.
473
:Let me take a step back from
the brothers and sisters thing.
474
:In my life, let me take a step
back from trying to follow Jesus.
475
:And we keep going and next thing
we know, we are distant from God.
476
:And so when somebody gets up there
and says the word of God's powerful,
477
:we're so far over here, we're
like, I don't think that's true.
478
:'cause I haven't seen it in my life.
479
:But we didn't realize it was all the
steps prior that led us to that point.
480
:And I believe that Psalm 19, the opposite
is just as true as the affirmative.
481
:What I mean is this, is that if it gives
light to our eyes, when we don't have the
482
:word of God in our lives, what happens?
483
:We're blind, spiritually, we don't have
the joy in our soul, but now we maybe have
484
:anger and sadness that can't be quenched.
485
:And instead of it making us
wise, it makes us foolish.
486
:Because we have removed God's word in
our lives, and now we're making poor
487
:choices leading to the destruction.
488
:Maybe not initially, but as the
years go by, to our very souls.
489
:And so this is why.
490
:We need to make sure that we
just don't like it, but that we
491
:apply God's word to our lives.
492
:Brothers and sisters,
are you with me here?
493
:We need to apply God's word and
once we do, it will be incredible.
494
:Uh, many of you know I went on the Price
is Right, well some of you know, I went on
495
:the Price is Right when I was in college.
496
:And, uh, I showed the, uh,
the clip, I think my first
497
:sermon, uh, that I was here.
498
:Uh, I showed the, uh, the clip of, uh,
uh, me being on the Price is Right.
499
:And one of the things that I won
is I won an electric fireplace.
500
:And, uh, so I won this electric
fireplace and I'm in college.
501
:And so what am I going to do with an
electric fireplace in my dorm room?
502
:So I didn't do anything with it.
503
:So I, I, I had, I kept
it at my mom's place.
504
:And so it was, it was in boxes.
505
:There's three big boxes.
506
:And it was in these three big boxes.
507
:And so whenever my mom moved,
those three boxes went with her.
508
:And when I moved, those three
boxes stayed with my mom.
509
:And so then I went and I get married.
510
:I still don't have, I still
have never opened this thing.
511
:And about ten years go by.
512
:I tried to sell this
thing a couple of times.
513
:Never saw it.
514
:And then we're in this home, and
we're in this home, and we don't have
515
:central heating or central air, and
there's this breeze that's coming in,
516
:right, in our place, and it's freezing.
517
:And we're like, man, we gotta
do something, man, like,
518
:I'm getting cold at night.
519
:And so then I go, you know what,
man, I got that electric fireplace.
520
:I said, man, I need to open that thing.
521
:It's been 10 years, it finally was
with me, and my wife said, boy,
522
:you better get that fireplace.
523
:So I finally take it, and I take
it out the box, there's three
524
:big boxes, and I go, wow, this is
actually really easy to assemble.
525
:I don't have to do anything.
526
:I thought I had to have, you know,
hammers and screwdrivers, nothing.
527
:All I had to do was put the
three things on and it was good.
528
:So when I was humbled by that, and
I put it on and I go, wow, this
529
:actually looks a whole lot nicer
than what I remember the picture was.
530
:Because The Price is Right
sent me a nicer version.
531
:They said, hey, the version
you saw, that's actually not
532
:the one you're going to get.
533
:We're going to give you a nicer one.
534
:It was like 2, 000 more, you
know, I was like, Whoa, and I'm
535
:looking like, wow, this is nice.
536
:And I said, Karina, let's
try to put this in our room.
537
:We put it in, hallelujah.
538
:We were heated up and we kept that thing.
539
:And guess what?
540
:I have kept that thing to this day.
541
:It's nice.
542
:We, we love it.
543
:It heats us up.
544
:I'm like, what was I thinking?
545
:I had this treasure for 10
years and I didn't even use it
546
:spiritually.
547
:It's what we do with
the word of God though.
548
:This treasure.
549
:This source of heat, this source of
refreshment, this changing of our lives.
550
:It's there, but it's in a box.
551
:It's on the side.
552
:You know, old school, we used
to just put it on the table
553
:or put it in the bookshelf.
554
:Now it's just an app that's not used.
555
:And in fact, maybe it's closed.
556
:And it's not being used and we're like
forfeiting all the treasures and the
557
:blessings because we're not using it.
558
:What would things be like if
we actually used this powerful
559
:Word of God in our lives?
560
:It would radically, continually change
us more into the image of Christ.
561
:And so this means that the Word
of God must be our standard.
562
:And I have this little table up here,
and I want to Want to get my bag Dallas.
563
:I'm literally in my bag.
564
:You know what I'm saying?
565
:There you go.
566
:There you go.
567
:I got this, uh, this scale here.
568
:All right, there you go.
569
:Brother bought this.
570
:I'm trying to, you know, lose
a couple of pounds there.
571
:All right.
572
:Help a brother out there.
573
:And, uh, I have, uh, I have this
little Pyrex here and, uh, and
574
:a little measuring tape here.
575
:Now, what are all these things for?
576
:To measure, right?
577
:We use all these things to measure.
578
:And here's the thing.
579
:It's important that we actually
have something that's a
580
:standard for us to measure by.
581
:In fact, Eric, Eric, can you come on up?
582
:Let's, let's get both Erics.
583
:Let's get both Erics.
584
:Can you, both Erics, can you come
up on stage here real quickly here?
585
:Come up on stage here
real quickly, alright?
586
:We're gonna do something here, alright?
587
:Alright, there you go.
588
:Okay, you gonna transfer?
589
:I was actually talking about Erica,
uh, uh, uh, Ennis there, but, you know,
590
:if you wanna, both of y'all come up,
both of y'all come up, here we go.
591
:We got all nations in here.
592
:Alright, there you go.
593
:Here we go, here we go, here we go.
594
:Come on over, come on over.
595
:Here we go, here we go.
596
:This is Eric Azarte.
597
:Can you say hello to Eric there?
598
:There you go.
599
:Wow, they're all Erics.
600
:There you go.
601
:Come on, here we go.
602
:This is really cool.
603
:This wasn't planned.
604
:This is the Holy Spirit.
605
:Wow.
606
:Here we go.
607
:Alright.
608
:We have Eric Hughes and then we
have Eric Ennis here, right here.
609
:Alright.
610
:Now, here's what they used
to do back in the day.
611
:I don't know if you knew this.
612
:But back in the day, and this is
how we get the terms here, uh,
613
:back in the day, the way they
would measure is really a foot.
614
:They would literally go by your foot.
615
:And so somebody would go,
okay, well, it's four feet.
616
:And then by hand, that's how
they would measure, uh, by the
617
:hand there for, for horses.
618
:And a cubit was from your nose
all the way to your fingertips.
619
:Let's do that real quickly.
620
:Okay.
621
:All right.
622
:So let's go ahead.
623
:Can you put your hand out here?
624
:Okay.
625
:All right.
626
:There you go.
627
:We're going to go ahead and
measure here for a quick second.
628
:Uh, how long that is
from your nose, brother?
629
:I'm not gonna try.
630
:There you go.
631
:All right.
632
:Thank you so much.
633
:Hold that tight there, brother.
634
:Okay, here we go.
635
:All right.
636
:We got about a, let's just give
you, let's say 30 inches here.
637
:Okay.
638
:There you go.
639
:All right.
640
:Eric, can you go ahead here?
641
:All right.
642
:Look straight there.
643
:Okay.
644
:We got you at about 30,
35 inches right there.
645
:Okay.
646
:There you go.
647
:Alright, we got tall Eric in this here.
648
:Okay.
649
:Oh, okay brother.
650
:All right.
651
:Yeah.
652
:Eric feeling good about himself,
you know what I'm saying?
653
:Alright.
654
:Let's say that's about 40 inches.
655
:They're right there.
656
:40 inches.
657
:Wow.
658
:That's incredible.
659
:Right?
660
:Now, just imagine we told them to go ahead
and, uh, let's all build the same thing.
661
:Let's all build these chairs, or
let's build tables and you're gonna
662
:use it by your qubit measurements.
663
:How's that going to work out?
664
:Because his was what, 30, 33
was it, 30, 35 was it, and 40,
665
:how's that going to work out?
666
:It's not going to work out is it, why?
667
:Because they're not using the same
standard measurements are they?
668
:And so here's the thing, we might do
that with a chair, I wouldn't care.
669
:I'm hopeful that they didn't
do that with these chairs.
670
:But would you want to do that
with your plane, your vehicle,
671
:or bridge, or your house?
672
:Let's just guess.
673
:Here's what I think.
674
:Or if you're cooking, right?
675
:If you're cooking.
676
:You know, my kids like to cook
there, you know what I'm saying?
677
:Well, uh, in my opinion,
here's how many milliliters.
678
:In your opinion, here's how many.
679
:Let's just use our hands.
680
:How's that gonna work out?
681
:Tell me how that cake is gonna taste.
682
:Hallelujah, Chick fil A doesn't do that.
683
:They got a standard.
684
:Each Chick fil A you go to, boy,
you taste that same goodness, right?
685
:Here's the thing here.
686
:If we go ahead and use ourselves as
the standard, we're gonna be a mess.
687
:And we're gonna go off of him, but
then off of, it's gonna be a mess.
688
:Because here's the thing, hallelujah,
these are great men, but they
689
:don't know what they're doing.
690
:Because only the Supreme Ruler, God
Most High, knows what he's doing.
691
:He's established the earth.
692
:He's established the laws of life.
693
:He knows what he's doing.
694
:So what does that mean for you and me?
695
:It means that we need to make
sure that the Word must be
696
:our standard for our lives.
697
:We need to measure
everything by God's Word.
698
:We need to make sure, hey, how does this
work when it comes to my relationship?
699
:What does God's Word say?
700
:When it comes to my dating, my romantic
interest, what does God's Word say?
701
:When I parent my kids, let me measure it.
702
:Let me use God's word to guide me
the way I treat my parents, the
703
:way I treat my kids, the way I
share my faith, the way I live.
704
:It has to be based on what God's
word, if it's based on anything else,
705
:brothers and sisters, we're a mess and
we're in trouble, but wait, we can,
706
:we know that because all we have to
do is think back either to our lives.
707
:Before or our lives when we're not
doing well spiritually, or we just look
708
:at society today and we can see what
it's like when we use anything else
709
:than the measurement of God's word.
710
:Let's go ahead and thank
you these brothers.
711
:Thank you so much.
712
:Appreciate you being on here.
713
:Here's the thing, brothers, sisters,
whether it's big decisions or small
714
:decisions, they need to be based
on the word of God or world views.
715
:Need to be based on the
principles laid out in God's Word.
716
:What I watch on TV.
717
:What I wear.
718
:How I speak.
719
:What jokes I share and laugh at.
720
:What I spend my time doing.
721
:Does this align with the
truth revealed in God's Word?
722
:What are the principles in God's word that
direct our views, decisions, and actions?
723
:Because we can say, well, that's
not clearly in the Bible, but
724
:there's biblical principles.
725
:And when we don't know or we don't
understand, guess what we do?
726
:We utilize the church to help us
to see and discern and decipher and
727
:distinguish what are godly decisions.
728
:And that's called seeking godly advice.
729
:And so our dedication to the
word must be our hallmark.
730
:I remember a time in our church,
real quickly, I remember a time
731
:in our church when it was clear
the word of God was our standard.
732
:I mean, it was clear.
733
:I remember being so inspired when I
came out to church in Washington, D.
734
:C., our church in Washington, D.
735
:C.
736
:And I saw every, just what I remember, I'm
sure it wasn't 100%, but every member I
737
:saw had, and this is old school days, they
had their physical Bible and they had a
738
:pen and paper and they were taking notes.
739
:Because they wanted to know and
they wanted to take the word back
740
:home to their life and study it
out so that they can apply it.
741
:And we would talk to each
other, what are you learning
742
:in your Bible study right now?
743
:Now, and when we would counsel and
encourage and sometimes even challenge
744
:one another, we opened up the word of
God and we let that be the standard,
745
:not our feelings and not our opinions.
746
:And I remember that day and
I remember that and I was so
747
:inspired by that and even recently
I've been, I've been convicted.
748
:I think it was like Wednesday or Thursday,
the Holy Spirit, I felt just convicted
749
:me cause I, I, it hit me as I was praying
and I was thinking, you know what, wow,
750
:I don't I'm not using the word of God
in my interactions the way I used to.
751
:There used to be a lot more in
my text messages and my talk.
752
:In fact, uh, part of me, I realized, felt
a little insecure sharing the word of God
753
:because I thought, oh, people, they're
gonna, they're gonna be offended by this.
754
:Oh, what in the world?
755
:That's, that's an indictment on me.
756
:That I'm, I'm having this view.
757
:And I'm realizing, wow, you know what?
758
:I'm not sharing.
759
:I'm referencing scriptures as opposed
to just looking at the scriptures.
760
:Hey, bro, you know, it says
here as opposed to let's
761
:just open up the scriptures.
762
:Let's open up the app on our phone.
763
:Let's look at it so that the word
of God may minister to you and
764
:not Marcel Hall minister to you.
765
:And so I made a decision.
766
:I'm repenting of it.
767
:And I want to call the whole church back
to where we are a people of the word.
768
:Where it's our hallmark.
769
:It's our standard.
770
:It's who we are.
771
:Anybody would have walked in those doors.
772
:They say, you know what?
773
:I don't know a lot about those
people, but there's a couple things.
774
:I know they love and they love God's Word.
775
:They treated me with love
and they obey God's Word.
776
:If anybody's gonna say anything
negative, man, they're fanatics.
777
:They're crazy.
778
:Hallelujah.
779
:But you know what?
780
:They love and they love God's Word.
781
:That should be us.
782
:Why?
783
:Because we are God's people, and as God's
people, we should be people of God's Word.
784
:It is and must remain always
to the day Jesus returns.
785
:It's the standard for our lives.
786
:Again, we will see the fruit of it.
787
:But it's our beloved Lord's Word.
788
:Church, are you still with me here?
789
:And may we see the blessings.
790
:And the rewards from living by his word.
791
:Let's close it out here.
792
:I want to give some action
steps here, alright?
793
:Some action steps here this week.
794
:Go ahead.
795
:Now if you're visiting here with us,
whether you're online or you're in
796
:person, uh, thank you for coming.
797
:I want to encourage you this.
798
:This applies to you.
799
:To go ahead and study God's word.
800
:And what I mean by this is to
set up a time to, uh, uh, get
801
:together and study the Bible.
802
:Every single one of us, we need help
to understand how we apply God's word.
803
:So I want to encourage you to
apply God's Word by studying
804
:God's Word with someone this week.
805
:Next up, uh, to reflect.
806
:To reflect on your current view and
your current obedience to God's Word.
807
:Just get a time to reflect.
808
:Maybe this afternoon, it'd
be great tomorrow morning to
809
:start the week off reflecting.
810
:What's my view of God's Word?
811
:What's my current obedience like to God?
812
:And the Spirit will minister to you
and give you direction and insights.
813
:And then lastly, to pray.
814
:And first off, to pray
thanking God for His Word.
815
:Thank you so much for all that it is
and all that you do through your Word.
816
:And then also pray that we as a
church, that we may live by God's Word.
817
:We don't talk about God's Word.
818
:We don't just preach God's Word.
819
:But we live by God's Word.
820
:Right now we're going to take communion.
821
:Amen.
822
:The, uh, the emblems, the juice and
the crackers representing Jesus's body
823
:that was broken and his blood that
was shed for our salvation and we're
824
:reminded that Jesus is the embodiment
and fulfillment of the Word of God.
825
:In John chapter 1 and verse 14,
it says, speaking about Jesus,
826
:it says, the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us.
827
:We have seen his glory, the
glory of the one and only son.
828
:Who came from the father
full of grace and truth.
829
:Again, Jesus is the fulfillment
and the embodiment of God's word.
830
:He shows us how to live, what it
looks like to apply it, and so as
831
:we thank God for his word, we're
thanking God for his son Jesus.
832
:Let's go to God in prayer.
833
:Father, thank you so much for your word.
834
:Thank you so much.
835
:Thank you for his, uh,
spoken word that is recorded.
836
:Thank you so much that he
reveals your truth to us.
837
:Thank you so much for the
scriptures testifying and
838
:prophesying about his coming, his
resurrection, and his sacrifice.
839
:Lord, we thank you for fulfilling that.
840
:Thank you so much for, uh, uh, uh,
uh, fulfilling every part of the
841
:old covenant and issuing the new
covenant through your sacrifice.
842
:Lord, we pray that we can
respond with faithfulness.
843
:We can respond with love.
844
:We can respond with gratitude for
your son, for your word, and for
845
:this grace that you have given us.
846
:We pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.
