WEBVTT 00:00:00.479 --> 00:00:04.959 Matthew chapter 4 and Acts chapter 9. 00:00:08.240 --> 00:00:20.480 In Matthew chapter 4, we read these scriptures probably over and over and over again, but let me bring a thought to you with these scriptures in mind, and let me build upon it just a little bit. 00:00:20.640 --> 00:00:23.199 Give me about 10 minutes to build into this. 00:00:23.839 --> 00:00:29.359 Whether or not if you decide whether it applies to you, give me 10 minutes to build into it and then make a decision. 00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:32.399 Matthew chapter 4 and verse 18, it says this. 00:00:32.640 --> 00:00:36.560 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brethren. 00:00:36.880 --> 00:00:43.600 They were brothers, called Simon, called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishers. 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:48.240 And he said unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 00:00:48.479 --> 00:00:50.479 And verse 20 is an interesting verse. 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:55.520 And they, how, straightway left their nets and followed him. 00:00:55.679 --> 00:00:56.640 You know what tells me? 00:00:56.880 --> 00:01:00.159 When I read that, I think they must have just dropped them and walked away from. 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:01.359 Verse 21. 00:01:01.520 --> 00:01:10.719 And going on from thence he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:12.400 And they, what's the next word? 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:17.519 Immediately left the ship and their father and followed them. 00:01:18.239 --> 00:01:21.840 Brethren, let me make a statement, and I want you to understand this. 00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:30.480 When Peter and Andrew, James and John, decided to follow Jesus, they began a new life. 00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:32.000 It was a new beginning. 00:01:32.239 --> 00:01:33.439 It was something brand new. 00:01:33.599 --> 00:01:38.319 They didn't know what they were going to get themselves into, but it was a new beginning for their life. 00:01:38.480 --> 00:01:41.599 Look if you would at uh if you would at uh Luke chapter 5. 00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:42.719 Luke chapter 5. 00:01:42.799 --> 00:01:45.120 You're holding your place in Acts chapter 9. 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:48.400 In Luke chapter 5, and would you notice this? 00:01:48.640 --> 00:01:51.920 Look at verse 27 of Luke chapter 5. 00:01:52.719 --> 00:01:55.680 And after these things, he he went forth. 00:01:55.920 --> 00:02:04.079 Verse 27 of Luke chapter 5 and saw a publican named Levi sitting at the receipt of what? 00:02:04.480 --> 00:02:05.760 What was his job? 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:07.439 He was a tax collector. 00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:10.240 And he said unto him, follow me. 00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:11.599 Look at verse 28. 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:12.479 It's an amazing verse. 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:13.360 And he did what? 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:14.080 Talk to me. 00:02:14.319 --> 00:02:14.879 He did what? 00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:15.919 Talk to me, everybody. 00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:17.120 Everybody talk to me. 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:17.759 He did what? 00:02:18.479 --> 00:02:25.280 The reason I want you to talk to me that way I know you're with me a little bit, and it's not just a uh a one-way street here because preaching ought to be a two-way street. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:25.680 Amen? 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:29.759 I talk, you listen, you talk, I don't listen. 00:02:29.840 --> 00:02:30.159 All right. 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:31.759 If you would, uh verse 28. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:35.120 And he left all, rose up, and followed him. 00:02:35.199 --> 00:02:41.840 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house, and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with him. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:47.439 Hey, listen, when he left all and decided to leave his situation there, he began a new life. 00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:49.520 It was a new beginning for him. 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:51.280 Look at Acts chapter 9. 00:02:51.520 --> 00:02:52.560 Acts chapter 9. 00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:58.560 Now, you don't necessarily have to leave all to have a new beginning, but sometimes we have to be willing. 00:02:58.639 --> 00:03:00.240 Look at Acts chapter 9. 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:02.080 Acts chapter 9. 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:08.159 And in Acts chapter 9, you know the story, and we won't go through the whole thing, but look at verse 3. 00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:09.280 Verse 3. 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:12.000 This is Saul who's about to become Paul. 00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:16.719 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly there shined right about him a light from heaven. 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:22.000 He fell to the earth and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecuteth thou me? 00:03:22.159 --> 00:03:24.400 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? 00:03:24.639 --> 00:03:27.840 And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. 00:03:27.919 --> 00:03:29.919 It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 00:03:30.240 --> 00:03:35.439 And he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:41.280 And the Lord said to him, Arise and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 00:03:41.439 --> 00:03:45.120 May I tell you that Saul was going to begin a new life. 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:53.840 There was a new beginning happening here in his life, and God had a plan for him, because he goes on down, and God says he was chosen to do a job for him. 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:56.639 And look if you would at verse 19 of Acts chapter 9. 00:03:56.800 --> 00:03:57.680 Verse 19. 00:03:57.919 --> 00:04:00.240 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:04.639 Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 00:04:04.800 --> 00:04:06.240 And he straight away he preached to. 00:04:06.479 --> 00:04:07.039 Talk to me. 00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:08.400 He preached to? 00:04:08.879 --> 00:04:10.639 Hey, this is the one he was persecuting. 00:04:10.719 --> 00:04:14.960 He began to preach Christ in the synagogues that he is the Son of God. 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:27.600 But all that heard him were amazed and said, Is not this he that destroyed them, which calls on his name in Jerusalem and came thither for that intent, for he might bind, bring them bound in the chief priest. 00:04:27.759 --> 00:04:35.279 But Saul increased the more and more in strength and confound the Jews which dwelt in Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:36.399 Please look up here. 00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:39.680 Every once in a while, brethren, every one of us need a new beginning. 00:04:40.720 --> 00:04:43.600 Every once in a while, every one of us need a new beginning. 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:44.959 Now, you say, now, wait a minute. 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:46.480 Once you're saved, isn't that it? 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:47.920 You've got a new beginning, and that's it? 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:49.759 Hey, that's just a start. 00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:52.079 That's just a start of a new journey. 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:58.480 But here we see a thing where Paul, on the road to Damascus, unexpectedly, there was a new beginning. 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:00.079 And look at Acts chapter 13. 00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:01.680 Acts chapter 13. 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:02.959 And it didn't stop here. 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:05.600 God had much to plan for him, if you would. 00:05:05.839 --> 00:05:07.040 Acts chapter 13. 00:05:07.199 --> 00:05:18.240 And the Bible says that in verse number 2, as they ministered to the Lord, Acts 13, verse 2, as they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me, Barnabas. 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:18.720 And who? 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:19.279 Saul. 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:21.920 For the work whereof I unto, I have what? 00:05:22.079 --> 00:05:23.680 Say, called them. 00:05:23.920 --> 00:05:24.720 I called them. 00:05:24.879 --> 00:05:28.639 And when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:31.600 The idea is God had a plan for their life. 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:36.240 It was a new beginning, but it wasn't going to be, please look up here, a boring life. 00:05:37.040 --> 00:05:39.040 The Christian life is not a boring life. 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:42.399 There's all kinds of things that happen, but it's not boring. 00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:46.160 Elisha was plowing with 12-yoke of oxen one day. 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:50.160 A man named Elijah walks by and throws his garment on him. 00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:50.800 You know what? 00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:52.160 Elisha leaves it. 00:05:52.319 --> 00:05:56.399 Leaves the oxen, goes, takes care of a few things, and plays, look up here. 00:05:56.560 --> 00:05:57.839 He began a new life. 00:05:58.000 --> 00:05:59.439 He began a new beginning. 00:05:59.600 --> 00:06:01.680 It was a new beginning to his life. 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:03.439 Look at Genesis 41. 00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:04.720 Genesis 41. 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:07.040 By the way, the book of Genesis means what? 00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:08.720 Beginning. 00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:10.399 Genesis 41. 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:15.759 Sometimes these new beginnings come upon us, and we really don't have a choice in the matter. 00:06:15.839 --> 00:06:17.600 Let me show you Joseph real quick. 00:06:17.839 --> 00:06:19.279 Genesis 41. 00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:21.279 You say, I don't know if I need a new beginning. 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:23.439 You may not need one today, but by next week you may. 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:23.920 Amen. 00:06:24.560 --> 00:06:26.160 You may be going through one right now. 00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:27.519 You may need one right now. 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:36.000 It just seems to me like sometimes in our Christian life, God says, I want you to begin something that's going to be a little different than you've ever done before. 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:41.920 It's going to be a little bit different circumstances than you ever have before, but I've got a plan for you. 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:43.279 Look at Genesis 41. 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:45.519 Look at verse 14, brethren. 00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:47.839 Joseph is in prison. 00:06:48.079 --> 00:06:52.240 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they they brought him hastily out of the where? 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:53.519 Out of the dungeon. 00:06:53.680 --> 00:06:56.800 And he shaved himself and changed his raiment and came into Pharaoh. 00:06:56.959 --> 00:06:59.120 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I dreamed a dream. 00:06:59.279 --> 00:07:01.040 And there is none that can interpret it. 00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:06.480 And I have heard say of thee that thou canst interpret or understand a dream to interpret it. 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:11.199 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me. 00:07:11.600 --> 00:07:14.720 God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace. 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:17.360 So Pharaoh begins to expound this dream. 00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:21.040 Joseph tells him, through God's help, the interpretation of the dream. 00:07:21.120 --> 00:07:23.199 And look if you would, brethren, at verse 37. 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:27.040 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and the eyes of all his servants. 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:34.079 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such as one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? 00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:40.639 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, For as much as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art. 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:42.160 Verse 40 is a new beginning. 00:07:42.319 --> 00:07:43.199 Mark it down. 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:49.199 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled. 00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:52.000 Only in thy throne will I be greater than thou. 00:07:52.160 --> 00:07:53.040 It's a new beginning. 00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:57.040 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 00:07:57.199 --> 00:08:09.680 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand and put it upon Joseph's hand, arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain upon about his neck, and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had, and they cried before him, bow the knee. 00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:12.319 And he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:13.360 Please look up here. 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:17.120 It was an unexpected new beginning. 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:19.279 You know what the brethren would have said about Joseph? 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:21.439 Oh no, he's back and he's in jail. 00:08:22.720 --> 00:08:24.240 No, no, you've got to understand, man. 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:26.319 Look what's happened to Joseph in his life. 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:28.000 He's in there, he's been in there a long time. 00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:29.680 He's sold by the Midianites. 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:31.199 He's down there in that prison man. 00:08:31.360 --> 00:08:33.679 And don't we judge people somewhere that time that way? 00:08:33.840 --> 00:08:38.320 I mean, we look at somebody that's going through some things, we say, oh, man, they must be wrong with God. 00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:42.639 Pharaoh was right in the middle, I'm sorry, Joseph was right in the middle of God's will. 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:50.240 And sometimes things go on in our life, and we look at it and we say, how are these things happening? 00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:58.639 Maybe you never do, but why are these things happening? 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:02.879 And it doesn't look like there's a new beginning on the horizon. 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:05.919 It looks like our life is about ready to fall apart. 00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:07.840 You ever been there? 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:11.120 I mean, it looks like new beginnings. 00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:12.960 Man, I'm not worried about new beginnings. 00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:15.120 I'm just trying to survive this life. 00:09:16.399 --> 00:09:17.279 What are you talking about? 00:09:17.440 --> 00:09:18.559 New beginnings. 00:09:19.200 --> 00:09:23.200 Man, I'm looking at this thing and I'm looking in the mirror and saying, oh, just get me through another day. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:25.360 Let me survive another day and what I'm going on. 00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:26.399 You never can tell. 00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:29.120 Joseph might have got up that morning and he was in the prison. 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:33.039 He didn't know he was going to be caught up and be made second in command that day. 00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:34.960 God had a plan. 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:36.639 It was a new beginning. 00:09:36.799 --> 00:09:38.320 And that's the miracles of God. 00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:41.440 When you're a child of God, God's never finished with you. 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:42.960 Never. 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:47.440 We're never going to have an attitude in this church that somebody says, God's done with him. 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:49.679 Or God's done with her. 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:51.840 God's never done with anybody. 00:09:55.519 --> 00:09:57.519 Sometimes we get done with ourselves. 00:09:59.039 --> 00:10:01.120 Sometimes we give up on ourselves. 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:03.679 And God has to convince us not to. 00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:09.919 About two years ago, in October, November, I almost gave up on myself. 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:15.200 I think God took it to me that way for a reason. 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:17.519 He talked about humility. 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:23.440 I mean, when you lose your confidence and you feel like God has withdrawn himself from you and lose your strength. 00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:30.879 It's not so much you want to run, although that comes in mind. 00:10:31.279 --> 00:10:35.600 It's just you can't, you don't feel like you can do what God's called you to do. 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:41.039 It wasn't too long after that, about four months, God gave me a new beginning. 00:10:41.759 --> 00:10:42.559 You say, What do you mean? 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:43.039 Salvation? 00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:43.759 No, I was already saved. 00:10:43.840 --> 00:10:44.879 What do you mean, pastor of a church? 00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:45.919 No, I was already pastoring. 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:47.679 He just gave me a new beginning. 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:50.399 You say, well, create this beginning to something else. 00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:51.759 He gave me a new vision. 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:58.320 He gave me something new as a goal and a plan and a purpose to go for, to shoot for. 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:01.120 And every once in a while, brother, we need that, don't we? 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:06.000 But don't look at somebody like now, even yourself, and say, oh man, it's all falling apart around me. 00:11:06.080 --> 00:11:06.720 Look at this thing. 00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:08.080 God must be done with me. 00:11:08.240 --> 00:11:08.960 May I say this? 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:14.720 You may be going through some humbling times right now, but I don't see in this Bible where God gives up on too many of his own children. 00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:23.519 From the prison to the second command of Pharaoh's house. 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:25.279 That's a good hair day. 00:11:25.519 --> 00:11:26.159 Amen? 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:29.679 We could talk about more. 00:11:29.840 --> 00:11:32.879 Moses was just on the backside there in Mount Horeb. 00:11:33.200 --> 00:11:35.279 He looked over and there's a bush burning. 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:38.559 And you know, he'd probably seen some bushes burn before, but please look up here. 00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:40.559 This one wasn't being consumed. 00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:42.720 That catch your attention, amen. 00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:44.159 It was a new beginning. 00:11:44.320 --> 00:11:48.399 God had a new plan for him, and God chose him to lead the children of Israel out. 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:50.320 Sometimes you have to wait a long time. 00:11:50.559 --> 00:11:53.919 I think of uh Joshua and Caleb. 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:56.559 Somebody says, Well, I want that new beginning right now, man. 00:11:56.639 --> 00:11:57.759 Why does that God give it to me? 00:11:57.919 --> 00:11:58.879 God give it to this person. 00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:00.799 And God, sometimes you have to wait a while. 00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:08.960 Joshua had to wait a long time and go through some changes and go through some experience, and Caleb had to wait over 40 years for his mountain. 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:14.000 Look if you would at 2 Kings chapter 4, please. 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:15.679 2 Kings chapter 4. 00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:24.559 I'm just speculating in here that there's some people that God's got some plans for, and it revolves around the fact that God's got a new beginning for you coming up in your life. 00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:32.480 It may not look for look at it, look, it may not look like it right now, but hang on and watch God roll up his sleeves and do his work. 00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:34.799 2 Kings chapter 4. 00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:40.000 Second Kings 4, you know the story, but I just want to show you something. 00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:46.480 Sometimes these new beginnings come unexpectedly, just on the road of doing what we normally do, serving God. 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:48.320 2 Kings chapter 4. 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:49.360 Look at verse 8. 00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:54.879 And it fell on, verse 8, and it fell on a day that Elisha passed on Shunam, that there was a great woman. 00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:56.799 She constrained him to eat bread. 00:12:56.960 --> 00:13:00.799 And so it was that as often he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:01.360 You know what? 00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:06.080 That's just something normal, natural, taking care of this prophet's needs. 00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:11.440 And she said to her husband, Behold, now I perceive that this is a holy man of God, which passes by us continually. 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:14.320 Let's let's let's make a little chamber, I pray the on the wall. 00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:19.120 Let us set for them there a bed and a table and a stool and a candlestick. 00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:19.840 You know what? 00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:23.919 They were going out of their way a little bit, but it wasn't like they were sacrificing everything. 00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:29.840 They were Jewish, Jewish doing something that was kind and considerate, on the road to serving God. 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:31.200 Huh. 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:33.120 Look what happens in verse 12. 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:38.080 This prophet here, uh Elisha, says to his servant Gehazi, call the Shunammite. 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:44.720 And when he had called her, he stood before him and he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this. 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:45.120 What? 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:46.080 Say it, care. 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:48.480 What is to be done for thee? 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:53.519 Wouldest thou be spoken for to the king or to the captain of the host? 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:56.159 And she answered, I dwell among mine own people. 00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:57.360 She said, I don't want any of that. 00:13:57.519 --> 00:13:59.759 And he said, What then is to be done for her? 00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:00.879 Look what his servant says. 00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:04.720 And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child. 00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:07.440 And her husband is old. 00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:09.600 And he said, Call her. 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:11.919 And when he had called her, he stood in the door. 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:15.440 You know, God always knows what the secret desires of our hearts are. 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:22.480 And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. 00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:24.399 Mark it down, it's a new beginning. 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:29.279 And she said, Nay, my Lord, thou thou thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. 00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:30.720 You say, Well, wait a minute. 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:33.679 I thought you had to have faith for things to happen. 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:36.159 Doesn't sound like she had a whole lot of faith. 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:37.600 Amen? 00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:40.799 And I understand this thing, but don't get caught up in this thing. 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:43.120 Well, if you don't have enough faith, it's not going to happen. 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:45.919 Sometimes when we don't even have any faith, it happens. 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:48.159 Talk to Lazarus, amen. 00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:49.519 His name, my Lord. 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:52.559 Thou man of God. 00:14:53.039 --> 00:14:55.120 Do not lie unto thine handmaid. 00:14:55.360 --> 00:14:56.159 Verse 17. 00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:57.279 And the woman what? 00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:59.279 Conceived and bare a son. 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:01.440 Mark it down, it's a new beginning. 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:05.919 And that that season Elijah had said to her according to the time of her life. 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:07.600 Hannah had a new beginning. 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:08.799 His name was what? 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:10.080 Samuel. 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:12.720 Mary had a new beginning. 00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:16.399 I'd say that's a pretty new beginning, amen. 00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:18.399 What was his name? 00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:19.200 Jesus. 00:15:19.360 --> 00:15:20.960 That's a pretty good beginning. 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:24.399 My point is sometimes it comes about Sarah. 00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:26.960 Oh, you're gonna have a child, Sarah. 00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:34.480 Yeah, you're gonna have a child, Sarah. 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:42.879 How can a woman my age have a child? 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:45.200 Well, I tell you what. 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:48.159 God called her out later and said, I saw you laugh. 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:49.440 She said, I didn't laugh. 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:52.879 I didn't laugh. 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:55.600 Don't tell me she had all kinds of faith. 00:15:57.519 --> 00:15:58.159 Amen? 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:05.120 Sometimes God builds our faith by giving us a new beginning, and we say, Man, I can't believe he's done that. 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:07.759 I think I better believe in him more. 00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:12.240 Look, if you would at 2 Samuel 7, please. 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:14.240 2 Samuel 7. 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:19.600 And also, would you pick up Proverbs chapter 29? 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:25.200 2 Samuel 7 and Proverbs chapter 29. 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:29.519 God knows when we need a new beginning. 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:32.399 God knows when we need a new vision. 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:35.279 God knows when we need some new goals. 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:44.159 God knows when he needs to step in and intervene, sometimes according to what we've asked, and sometimes far beyond what we ever thought about asking. 00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:46.399 I think about Gideon. 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:49.440 Gideon was threshing wheat. 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:55.440 He said he was of a poor family, and the Amenites were oppressing him, and things weren't looking that good. 00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:56.720 It was kind of bleak. 00:16:57.039 --> 00:17:01.120 And God shows up to Gideon one day in the book of Judges, and you know the story. 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:05.519 And God says, You're going to be a leader, thou mighty man of valor. 00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:06.240 You know what? 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:08.960 Gideon didn't look at himself as a mighty man of valor. 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:18.240 Next thing you know, he's preparing him a little a little sacrifice there, and God reaches down and sacrifices that thing, and then God puts Gideon through a little test. 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:24.640 And please, sometimes God puts us through a little test before he gives us these new beginnings. 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:26.880 And he said, Gideon, here's what I want you to do. 00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:32.480 I want you to, your father over there, he's worshiping Baal, and he's got this, he's got this altar. 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:35.920 I want you to go, first of all, I want you to go tear his altar down. 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:39.039 And by the way, he wasn't the only one in the city worshiping. 00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:41.359 All the men of the city worshiped Baal. 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:47.039 And then I want you to go into his got this grove set up next to this altar of trees that are part of the idol worship. 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:48.960 I want you to cut down his grove. 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:54.880 Then I want you to go get his bull, his young bull, one of his prized bull, a cow, if you would. 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:58.319 And I want you to come and I want you to take that bull and I want you to hack it up. 00:17:58.559 --> 00:18:04.000 I want you to take that wood out of the grove, and I want you to lay it on that broken down altar, and I want you to sacrifice his bull. 00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:05.039 Got it? 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:08.960 What was that all about? 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:10.079 It was a test. 00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:13.279 Just trying him a little bit. 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:20.720 And so uh Gideon looks at the whole thing and he does it at night. 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:23.440 But he does it. 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:31.519 And they wake up the next day, and I mean the groves cut down, the altar's broken down, the bulls laying there smoldering. 00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:35.039 Burnt roast, amen. 00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:39.920 And I mean the men of the city come and say, who did this thing? 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:43.119 And they say it's Gideon, and they go to Gideon's dad. 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:50.079 Man, Gideon could have been in a lot of trouble. 00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:56.960 And his dad says something like, Well, go talk to him. 00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:58.880 God be in it. 00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:00.799 So be. 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:04.000 Well, Gideon's not totally convinced yet. 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:10.240 He's still got to go through some fleeces and everything, and he's still got to go down and see the and hear the words of the sword of the Lord in Gideon. 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:15.519 But my point is, God tested him and tried him before he gave him a new beginning. 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:18.720 I can't understand why I'm going through what I'm going through. 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:24.720 Maybe God's trying you and testing you a little bit, and he's got a new beginning just around the horizon. 00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:28.960 You say, I like what I'm doing right now. 00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:29.920 I don't want a new beginning. 00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:32.480 Oh, but you don't know what he has planned for you. 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:34.720 And nor do I. 00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:39.680 Just about the time we get comfortable, sometimes God says, I see you down there. 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:41.759 You like that, what I got you doing right now. 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:42.720 But you know what? 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:47.279 I got more for you to do, and I want to shake it up a little bit and give you a new beginning. 00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:51.119 Look at if you would 2 Samuel 7. 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:55.200 You've been you may have been on this Christian trail for a while. 00:19:55.680 --> 00:20:02.720 David here, man, I tell you what, David, when we come to 2 Samuel 7, he's already done so much in his life for the Lord. 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:14.480 He's already uh obviously conquered Goliath, he's he's done so many things along the way, he's conquered cities, the the perizzites, the Hivites, the Amalekites, I mean just the Philistines. 00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:16.319 And here he is, look at verse 1. 00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:24.640 And it came to pass when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his what? 00:20:24.799 --> 00:20:25.920 Say it, enemies. 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:30.720 David was a man of war, and all he's known all his life, please look up here, is fighting. 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:34.160 He fought Goliath and he fought battles after battles. 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:37.200 He had to fight Saul a couple of times in restraining. 00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:39.759 He didn't battle him, but he strained restrained himself. 00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:42.240 He he fought the Philistines and on and on it goes. 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:45.920 And now finally, he's got rest around about his enemies. 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:47.519 Verse 2, look at it. 00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:54.160 That the king said unto Nathan, the prophet, see now, I dwell in a house of cedar. 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:58.799 But the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. 00:20:59.119 --> 00:21:05.440 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart, for the Lord is with thee. 00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:07.839 You know what David got a vision for? 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:09.759 I'm gonna build God a house. 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:14.400 Yeah, I don't have to fight these enemies anymore. 00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:16.160 I'm gonna build God a house. 00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:22.480 Now I know later on shows David show Nathan shows up and said, No, it's not for thee to build a house, but please look up here. 00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:34.480 David got a new vision here and to begin to prepare for this thing, even knowing he wasn't going to build it, knowing later on that his son was gonna build it, but he spent the rest of his life getting ready, and it was a new beginning. 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:40.400 Sometimes, even after you've been on a trail a long time serving God. 00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:47.279 And get a little, well, you know, I'm going through it, I'm doing it, and I want to do it. 00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:50.079 Oh, I tell you what, I just I don't know. 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:53.119 I need some freshness of this thing or something. 00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:59.440 Look at Proverbs 29, correlating with 2 Samuel Proverbs 29. 00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:02.400 I need something. 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:03.200 I don't know what it is. 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:04.079 I don't know what it is. 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:05.200 Here's what we need. 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:07.839 You know it, but look at verse 18. 00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:15.920 And let's read the first part of this verse together, Proverbs 29, 18, because we all need it sometime. 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:20.079 Proverbs 29, verse 18, the first part up to the colon mark. 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:20.480 Ready? 00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:21.519 Begin. 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:25.279 Where there is no vision, the people perish. 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:26.319 Say it again now. 00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:29.599 Where there is no vision, the people perish. 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:31.200 Somebody says, I don't know, what are you talking about? 00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:31.599 A vision. 00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:32.559