0:07 I want to start with a set of verses in 1 Corinthians chapter 2. In 1 Corinthians chapter 2, Paul says this, starting from verses 10 all the way to verse 12. 0:21 1 Corinthians 2 10 to 12. In those set of verses, Paul says this, that in verse 11, I'm starting with that, that no man knows and I'm not reading 0:38 the verses in line, but I'm just bringing a few thoughts from those three verses. Paul says there that no man knows the mind of God except the spirit of God. This is in verse 11. And then in verse 10, it says there that 0:56 the spirit of God is the one who searches the deep things of God. And then reveals those things to us. It tells us in verse 13 that it's the spirit that tells us verse 12, sorry, the the things that are freely given to us of God. 1:13 The spirit of God that searches the mind of God and reveals the deep things of God to you and me that we may know the things that are freely given to us of God. In other words, without the working of the Holy Spirit in our own hearts, in 1:28 our own lives, the many things that God has that we might not know. I want to speak on one such thing today. I hope the pursuit of your life as a Christian is to go deeper and deeper into the mind of God and find out those 1:45 things that pleases, those things that please God, and the things that displease him so that we don't do them. The things that please God that we might pursue those things. Clearly all of that is in the man Jesus Christ, who lived that 2:00 perfect life in whom the Father has given each one of us to follow. But, it's the Holy Spirit again, according to the verses I read to you, it goes in deep into the mind of God and shows us how we ought to live, what we ought to do, 2:17 how we ought to carry ourselves in a manner that pleases God. I want to speech speak this morning on one such attribute of that man or woman who pleases God. That pleasing the mind of God ought to be the goal of our lives. And as we look 2:33 to the Lord Jesus Christ, he reveals to us what such a life must be. This morning, I want to talk on that man or woman who gives thanks or praises God in all circumstances. Whether good or bad or appears up or 2:52 down, it doesn't matter. Especially in those times when things look rough or difficult, the praises of God remains on the lips and in the hearts and the heart of this man. I want to speak on that this morning, and I've I've thought through on the the uh the 3:10 path of my own life to search and see, you know, when I come here or when I'm at home, when I raise my hands, when I sing to the Lord and give thanks or praises to him, is it merely because God has done something good for me? He has blessed me 3:25 or everything is quiet and all is good. I have a good job, the children are healthy, all is well. Could that be the source of what seems to be a fervent praise to God, or is it one that comes from a heart that is determined to thank him and 3:41 praise him no matter what my circumstances are? I honestly asked the Lord to show me this because the Bible says that our hearts are deceptive. I may be raising my hands to God and thanking him merely because of what he's 3:56 done for me, which is good. We ought to do that always. But God's eyes pierce through our hearts to see deeper than maybe you and I can see and sees this man, this child of mine is really just praising me today because of such 4:12 and such which I've done for them. I think God desires something more. When I I I'm sure when he looks in our heart, his desire is to see that child of his who praises him regardless of what his or our circumstances are. 4:28 This is what I want to talk on this morning. I Again, I searched I asked the Lord to help me. I don't want to deceive myself to say to think that I'm praising God with all my heart with tears in my eyes, but it's because things are going well 4:42 with me or for me. I want my praises to rise from our heart again that is determined to thank and praise and adore and worship him regardless of what my circumstances are. I want you to do the same for yourself and be honest before the Lord. 4:59 When things are not going so well, how is it with me? Is my praise to the Lord such that it doesn't matter? In a difficult time, I'm praying and asking him for help, but the course of the path of my heart has not shifted at 5:16 all. If things were going great, my honor and my praise of the living God would not would not be different in any way than even when things are not going well. This requires an honest uh desire for the Holy Spirit to search our own 5:32 hearts. It's the spirit that searches the heart of God. It's that same spirit that if we would allow him, searches our own hearts to trail to show us the true condition of our spirit. I asked the Lord honestly, Lord, I'm happy. I'm rejoicing now, but 5:47 I want my praise not to change even when bad things or what appears to be bad happens to me. And the Lord in His mercy allows in a a few times a year, different times a year, some things to come. He answers that prayer and let something 6:01 come in my way that is unpleasant, that is discom- uncomfortable. And He says to me, "You asked. I'm answering your question now. You answer your own answer your own heart. Will your praise to me change now because of such and 6:18 such that is happening to you?" My encouragement for you and I, my brothers and sisters, today is that we might settle this matter in our hearts. It doesn't matter what my circumstances are. I want my praise to God through Christ 6:36 to be the same. I say you must be honest and have the Holy Spirit show. And one of the ways He'll show it is to allow uncomfortable, difficult events to happen in your life and losses. If you ask Him, He will. And allow you to answer your own 6:52 question, "Has my the tune of my heart changed because of such and such my circumstances right now?" The man God finds great pleasure in or the woman He finds pleasure in, He knows we might fool ourselves and think we're praising Him, 7:08 but when He search, the one He finds pleasure is the one in is the one in which He can say, "It doesn't matter what happens to this son or daughter of mine. His praise, the tune of His heart, has not changed." I want this to be more so to be so more 7:26 and more for me. My desire, my prayer for you also that we would let the Holy Spirit affirm that for us. No matter what happens to this man or this woman, he is always rejoicing in Christ Jesus. And I said earlier that this life, the 7:44 life that pleases God is embodied in Christ. An example of of this life of praising God no matter what I was thinking the other day, how Jesus continued to praise God. He says after the last supper, a few hours before he went to that cross, it 7:59 says there Matthew 26, that he rose with his disciples and sang a hymn to the Father. How could that be? The most violent event in the history of humanity was about to occur in a few hours to this man, yet Jesus in his heart 8:16 had praise and thanks to the Father. Matthew 26 says, he sang a hymn with his disciple the disciples even as he was proceeding to the cross. How could he do this? He could because he had his heart was sure that the Father has 8:34 my back. He would not leave my soul in hell, he says, and even though I will die on that cross, he's still able to keep me and raise me from the dead. This was the life of Jesus. I like to think on this examples from time to 8:48 time. And then ask myself, how did he do it? I want to find that secret and pursue that myself. How Jesus at all times, what appeared good, what appeared bad, persecutions, a lack thereof, it didn't matter. His praise, his hymn the hymn 9:06 in his heart was steady. I believe if you ask the Holy Spirit for this, he cannot just only show you the secret things, the deep things of God, but also enable us to walk this way. This is what I want to talk on this morning again. 9:21 I want to say also that as Christians, if you're ever going to be a strong believer, you must you will face challenges, difficulties in your walk with the Lord. God allows it. And the goal is that through those challenges you might be strengthened. 9:39 You might be strengthened. I was thinking also of what happened to the Israelites when they came out of of Egypt in Exodus 13. There's a very sad well in a way sad statement there. Exodus 13 and verse 17. It says of God in dealing with the 9:58 Israelites when they came out of Egypt that God Exodus 13 verse 17 that God did not lead them through the land of the Philistines. Why? Even though that was near. The goal was to bring them to the promised land the fastest way and the 10:16 best way I believe to get there was to go through the Philistines. But God did not do that. Why? Because it saw that if I take them through this way they are soon going to backslide and look back and say I want to go back to Egypt because of 10:32 the Philistines the the warriors of the Philistines their enemies were there. But with God on their side they could still have passed through the Philistines and gotten to the promised land safely. But God knew they might back repent and say I want to 10:47 go back to Egypt. And so what did God do? Verse 18 he took them through the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went through out of the land of Egypt. But even through that wilderness what happened? The The end was the same. They 11:01 complained and murmured and said exactly the same thing about wanting to go back to Egypt. What is my point here? If you're a believer who wants a soft cushy easy life uh devoid of any temptations or trials God may allow you to get it. 11:20 But the truth is you'll never be a strong a mature or growing believer. It is through these trials that God strengthens you and me. He allows it. He allows temptations. Uh the devil will fire temptations in our hearts. Persecutions and differences with 11:37 others. And the goal is that he might strengthen you. It's Paul who said in Acts 14 that it's through much uh persecution that we inherit the kingdom of God. The life of Jesus was not an easy one. And I'm not just talking about the 11:53 physical challenges he faced at the end. Speaking of the the temptations, the intense temptation and difficulties he went through. Why did the Father allow this to be so even for his son? That through this challenges, Hebrews I 12:08 think in chapter 2 says that through his suffering he was perfected and became the the captain of our salvation. It was through this challenges that Jesus became what he did, what he was, and was ready to become that perfect 12:22 sacrifice, the one the Father could use for our own sins. What am I saying here, brothers and sisters? It is through challenges. If you want an easy life, God might let you get it. He loves you, but he'll still he'll prod 12:38 you in, but if you keep resisting and complaining all the time, okay, go through the wilderness as opposed through the that as opposed to going through the land of the Philistines through which you come into that promised land. And in coming there 12:53 you will be strengthened to live and walk the way of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. I'm telling you, brothers and sisters, not to murmur or complain even when times are hard. Rather, rejoice because it is through this 13:09 this uh this opposing events that God strengthens us. He wants to see while you're facing all those things, very importantly, are you rejoicing? Are you praising me? Are you giving thanks to me no matter what comes your way? I tell you 13:25 honestly, I found that this delights his heart. And a a believer who complains and murmurs, okay, you're God's child, he loves you and all, but how what a difference it would be that God can say down from heaven, look what this man or this woman is going 13:39 through, and yet his heart rejoices in me. I've sought this and I want this honestly. It doesn't matter. Up or down, at ease or difficulty, that the praises of my heart to the Lord, to the Father through Christ, should not change in any way. 13:59 The Holy Spirit is able able to help us in this manner. I want to turn to a verse in Hebrews 13 as I proceed here. Hebrews 13 and verse 15. It says there, Hebrews 13 verse 15. If you will, put this in your mind, 14:16 this verse here. It says, let uh by him, that is by Jesus Christ, through Jesus Christ, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually. That is the fruit of our lips, giving 14:33 thanks to his name. The word continually is part of what I've been saying earlier, always, regardless of your circumstances, of what things are happening in your life. But very importantly, it says it's through Jesus Christ. 14:52 That is the key phrase for me in that verse. By him. It's by Jesus Christ. And you know, one thing I found also as I've looked uh at that uh the command to give thanks at different parts of scripture, it always say that it's through Christ. 15:10 Colossians 3 says it's do all things in the name of the uh through the name in the name of the Lord, and by Jesus Christ it says there, Colossians 3 verse 17. Do all things, whatever what whatever you do in word or deed, Colossians 3:17, 15:29 do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by him. The same thing in Ephesians 5:20. It's by Let's look at that also. And what I'm trying to point out before I move further, lest we jump ahead us of ourselves is 15:47 that even in giving thanks in everything, Ephesians 5:20, it says there that we give thanks always and for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 16:05 Thessalonians 5:18 uh into 19, give thanks always. This is the will of God through Jesus Christ concerning you. I want to say that all that God will accept from any man, everything including giving thanks and praise, must proceed from the life of Jesus in 16:25 you and me. Outside of that, it may appear good, it may appear well, but outside of a life hidden in Jesus Christ, it's ultimately not acceptable to God. And I I was thinking also, you know, God is good. He is very kind 16:40 to everyone. In fact, in in Luke Luke chapter 6, it says he does good things, is kind even to those who don't give thanks. He causes the sun to rise and and uh to rise and fall to rise and set on the good and evil. Rain falls on the just 16:57 and the unjust. God is good. And I was thinking how he does all these wonderful things to people in the world, and many people giving thanks, people who have not turned their hearts to his son, even give thanks. They say, "God has blessed 17:12 me with a new child. God has given me a new job." And all of that. It's okay. it's good. But I've concluded in my heart that outside of the Lord Jesus Christ, even that thing thing the things that appear to rise up to God is still 17:28 insufficient. All that God the Father will accept from any man must proceed out of a life hidden in Christ Jesus. Very important to see that. Or else we might be deceived to think, "Okay, they're all Everyone is giving thanks." Thanks 17:44 Thanks to whom first of all? And even if it is to God, if you have not turned that life over to God through Christ Jesus, I'm absolutely sure that it's a a sacrifice that God will still reject at last. Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 says 18:02 "Flesh and blood will never cannot inherit the kingdom of God." Nothing of the natural man will God accept, no matter how good, how great that appears. It begins with a life hidden in Christ Jesus. By him 18:20 let us offer the sacrifices of praise to God, giving thanks to him always. I want you to remember that. It's a life hidden in Christ that God delights in first of all. A man or woman who's walking in his son. And from that life our praise emerges. 18:40 If you're not walking faithfully in Jesus Christ, it doesn't matter what sacrifice, money, thanks, praises, whatever, when it's all said and done, God rejects it. It must proceed through Christ Jesus. I wanted to start by saying that. 18:56 Jesus, as we sang earlier, must be all in all. Walking with him, living in him. And from him proceeds every sacrifice, every thanksgiving. Everything I do must proceed from a life hidden in Jesus Christ, actively walking 19:15 in him. He is the way. He's the truth. He's the very life. But the Father I mean this is a simple thing but I believe it's profound. Because I've seen, you know, in a place where I grew up where there's a ton of religions and a lot of a bunch of 19:29 everyone is seeking God in their own way. In fact, I've heard more than one Christian tell me, "Olu, you say Jesus is the only way, you're right. The only way for you." I've heard a Christian more than one Christian say 19:40 that to me. "For you and me it's right. Jesus is the only way for but what that other man there who's worshipping God in his own way is still right. It's God has made it so for him." And so he would say that I've heard it 19:53 more than once say, "Yeah, I'm not arguing with you. Jesus is the only way for you and for me." That breaks my heart when I've heard that. This person whom I thought was sincere and devoted still is cloudy on this fact that Jesus 20:06 alone is the way. The only way God accepts. You'd be surprised if you ask that question with some believers that yeah, it's for us it is but Jesus alone. He is alone. He alone is our message. So I wanted to start with that. Make 20:24 sure you're hidden in him. Colossians 3 Paul says that our life is hid with Christ in God. What a profound thing. In Christ Jesus, he alone. I can't say that enough but make sure you're walking walking day by day with him and then 20:42 from him will proceed a sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise which God will accept. I wanted to look at a story in scripture on how first of all, why why why it is possible to give thanks to God always. I'm going to look at a story in the life 21:01 of this man Jesus also. Why it is possible that we can give thanks always how to do it, and how not to do it. It's a story that I'm sure you all know very well. In Mark chapter 6, when Jesus uh walked on the water. I've looked at that that event very 21:21 carefully myself, and the Lord has impressed a few things on my heart, which I want to share with you this morning. Why it is that we can give thanks to God all the time, how we should do it, and how not to do it. In Mark chapter 6, 21:39 starting from verse 45, why we're able to give thanks to God regardless of all our what our circumstances are like, what appears to be good or what appears to be bad. Why we can, by the power of the spirit of Christ, give thanks and praise no 21:58 matter what. And that uh the key to that secret I found, according to the story here that I'm going to read to you us, is that first verse, Mark 6:45. It says this is after Jesus had fed the 5,000, he went up to pray, they wanted 22:16 to make him king, he ran off to the mountains to pray. But in verse 45 before he did that, Mark 6:45, it says there, Jesus tells his disciples to get into the ship and go to the other side onto Bethsaida, while he sent the people away. 22:35 It's just a simple statement, but I found power in that over the years. Jesus tells us, you know what happened in this story, there was a storm and all of that. So, we know what happened, but before the storm came, God's word, the words of Christ, had 22:49 come forth. Get into the boat, you're going to go to the other side. Just go to the other side. That's all Jesus tells them. It says the same, you know the story when he was in the boat for uh sleep also, Mark the two chapters behind us. 23:03 The same thing he tells them, "Get in Let us get in the boat and let us go to the other side." What am I saying here? What God has said concerning me will surely come to be. All he told them was get in the boat, go to the other 23:18 side. He didn't tell them how, he didn't tell them what it would be like. All that had occurred there was that the word of God had come forth. "Go to the other side." What do you think? You ponder that statement. Can Jesus' words fall to the ground 23:35 without without being fulfilled? You know the answer to that question. Absolutely not. What has God said in scripture concerning me, His child, will it not come to be again if I'm hidden in the Lord Jesus Christ? 23:54 You've got to really consciously think I think on these things, not just read it and Jesus said such and such or the Bible says such and such. The Bible says such and such concerning me, will that thing fail to happen if I am walking in Christ Jesus? 24:10 The answer to that clearly is no. It will surely be. You must have faith for that. Get in the boat and go to the other side. If the disciples had remembered, the storms are brewing, the winds are blowing, but Jesus said to 24:24 us, "We're going to go to the other side." I think that would have brought tremendous rest to them. Such that the circumstances would not have shifted the state of their heart. What am I saying to you, brothers and sisters? 24:39 What God has said, if you are in Christ Jesus living in Him, it will come to be. You know, I've you know, many of us a lot of times we're impatient. I want this, I want that, I'm a I'm afraid about this. If God has said it will be for you, 24:58 it will come to pass. You don't worry about what the future holds or what's going to happen. What you must focus on is first trusting in God's word and making sure you're living in Christ Jesus, faithful in Christ Jesus. 25:12 Get into the boat, we're going to go to the other side. I've thought of that verse and when I start to get the temptation to be afraid comes, what God has said, I may not even know. I will I may not know how things will 25:25 be, but what the scripture has said concerning me in Christ Jesus will surely come to be. That is faith, brothers and sisters. And if you don't begin with that confidence in God's word, I guarantee it's a matter of time before 25:41 the waves start to rock you to and fro. It ought not to be. Get into the boat and let us go to the other side. I want to give you a verse, put it in a in your mind and memorize it if you can, but at least never forget this. In Isaiah 46:10, 26:00 it's a beautiful verse. Um I remember it a lot when things start to look shaky and I don't um things a few things appear uncertain. Isaiah 46:10, the God we serve, our Father, is the one who declares the end of a thing before the beginning, even before 26:20 before a thing happens, God already knows. He said such and such. Even before Adam and Eve sinned, the world was created. The Father already knew, had declared, this is what would happen. Isaiah 46:10, God is the one who declares the end from the 26:35 beginning, from ancient times the things that have not yet happened. And very importantly, the last part of that verse says, "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." I love that a lot when I think of it. 26:49 My counsel, what I have said, will stand. I think of that concerning me. There's another verse in Proverbs uh 19, I think verse 21 that says, "Many are the devices of a man's heart. Many are the plans that people have." 27:04 In that same verse it says, "My counsel, but the counsel of the Lord, that will stand." What a comfort that brought me. I heard that verse first from uh from Tozer one time. I was listening to his message and I've never forgotten it years ago. 27:18 "Many are the devices of a man's heart, but the counsel of the Lord, that will stand." And I've held on to that over the years. What God has said of me concerning uh said of me in Christ Jesus, will come to be. M- no matter what the plans of people or 27:37 the devil or schemes or forget all that. "My counsel shall stand. Get in the boat, you're going to go to the other side." That's all Jesus needed to say, and that's all we need to hear. What Jesus has said will surely come to 27:53 be. If that is a faith that you have, your thanksgiving, your praise, no matter what begins to happen in terms of the waves and the and the and the and the wind blowing in your life and all that, remember that the counsel of the God, 28:09 that will stand. That is enough reason for us to give thanks. So, back to that Mark 6, let us get in the boat. You get in the boat and go to the other side while Jesus goes up to pray. I want to point another thing that I see 28:23 from this story here. In verse uh verse 47 onwards, it says when they got in that boat uh in the middle of the sea and Jesus alone was on the land. Verse 48 says, And by the way, this was early. They'd been toiling all night and it was quite 28:41 early the dawn was already starting to emerge. So, they've been toiling all through that night trying to steer the boat in the right path. Verse 48 says, Jesus saw them toiling and rowing away, for the wind was very strong against 28:56 them. And about the fourth watch of the night, very early, dawn was coming up, he came to them walking on the sea. And this is what touched me. It says there that he would have passed them. How can that be? Jesus sees his disciples toiling away. 29:15 He walks on water, and the Bible says he would have passed by them, except that they cried to him. And when I read that, it reminded me of that story in Luke 24, those disciples on Emmaus. And Jesus was going to would have walked away from them after talking 29:31 to them, except they they pressed him to stay with them. Here again, in spite of the challenges his disciples were facing, the Bible says Jesus would have just walked by them and proceeded, but they cried to him. That's what I want to 29:44 point out there. They cried to him, and then he stops. And Peter, so the same story in Matthew chapter 14, is where it says Peter says to him to him, "Lord, if it is you, let me come." And Jesus says, "Come." So, what am I pointing out in this 30:01 little verse 48, the end of verse 48 there? That God wants us to cry to him when these challenges or these difficulties have come our way. Cry to God. Psalm 50:15 says, "You will call to me in the day of trouble, and I will answer you, and you will give 30:18 me praise." God delights in that also. It's a sign of our our weakness, our helplessness. God, help me. When you're feeling tempted to be discouraged or be afraid of what tomorrow holds, I feel that almost every day, but I turn to him. Help me. 30:37 And my testimony is that God does. He answers that cry if it is made in faith. Jesus would have in spite of the challenges they were facing, he would have walked by them. But God wanted to see, will they cry or continue to toil 30:52 in their own strength? They called to him and he stopped to help them. It is so for you and me also. It doesn't matter the challenge you you're going through, the difficulty you're going through, it doesn't matter. It's a simple prayer, Jesus help me. 31:09 Help me. And don't do like Peter who says, if it is you, you see that in Matthew 14, no, don't say that. Don't say because Peter cried that, no. It is you Jesus and you will help me. Some things I see I don't care if Peter 31:23 said it or no, I wouldn't say that way. Jesus, I believe it is you and you can help me. Matthew 14, you see that. You can help me, Father, through this challenge. I believe you will do that. And Jesus in Matthew 14 says to Peter, 31:39 in fact, let's go there real quickly. Matthew 14. Uh Matthew 14 in verse 27. Why you shouldn't say if it is you is because his word had already gone forth in in verse 27. He had already told them, "Be of good cheer and do not be afraid." 31:58 God's word has gone out again. Don't be afraid. Be of good cheer. And then Peter in verse 28 says, "I've heard all that God Jesus, but still if it is you bid me to come." You see unbelief there. I don't like that at all. I I let's not 32:14 do it that way. God's word it is I who keeps you, who preserves you. I'm the one who sustains you. And we were singing a song earlier about the wings one of the wings of God and my son was asking me, "Does God have wings?" I tried to explain, "No, God 32:29 doesn't have wings. What it's saying is protection. My protection over you. It's there. He who dwells in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow under the almighty. His wings will protect us. It is I. 32:46 Don't go to him and say, "Lord, can you will you if it is you?" No, unbelief. Peter's unbelief started right there. "If it is you, let me come." And Jesus says to him, "Come." I want you to see one more thing from this story. Here's a very interesting 33:04 story for me. When Jesus tells Peter to come, the waves were still were still blow moving left and right. The wind was blowing very strongly still. But Jesus walked on top of that water even though the winds were bellowing and 33:20 all that. And he asked Peter to come even when the troubles were still around. The lesson I get from that is my peace should not be again dependent on how calm things are. God calls us to walk rise above the 33:36 storms. Not by ourselves, but with him. I'm trying to show a few things here that if you think on them every day, the mind and life of Christ, your Thanksgiving will not cease. Because the winds might be blowing uh those the waves blowing left and 33:55 right, but Jesus is with me. How could he have walked on that water? Uh I mean, I'm not talking physically here. Why was he able to do without him being troubled and afraid that he might drown and all that? The message there is 34:09 that he did it and he calls us also in the storms of life, we can walk with him. It is I. Do not be afraid. If you've learned the secret, your praise and Thanksgiving to God will not cease. And what happened to Peter? He did it 34:26 for a while and quickly begins to look at the storms. You see what happened what the problem was there. He took his eyes off the Lord Jesus. How many times do we do this also? And our troubles with considering the circumstances, what will I do if I lost 34:46 my job or my child gets sick? I mean, those thoughts come to our minds all the time, but we must check it and say, "No." That what the enemy is trying to do is to get your eyes off Jesus himself and onto the circumstances. 35:01 Please resolve in your heart today, no more. I'm going to look to Jesus. I'm going to look to him who keeps me, who sustains me. It doesn't matter what the challenges are. I'm telling you the truth here. God can sustain you. 35:16 But you must look to him. You must keep your eyes on the Lord Jesus day and night. Always. There's a wonderful verse I learned on our on Wednesday in our Wednesday Bible study this week. I'm not going to forget this verse. It's in 35:31 Isaiah 45. One of the brothers shared this with us. Isaiah 45 verse 22. It says there, Isaiah 45:22, "Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth." I've never heard that verse before. I may have heard it, but I've never read 35:47 it. "Look to me." That's the key. "Look to me. Look onto Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith." He can sustain you. Psalm 34 says they look to God. Right? And they were not shipped, their heart were lightened, and they they were 36:03 not made ashamed, their faces were not ashamed. It's by looking to God always that we can ride through this through the storms. And thoughts and showing that our thanksgiving to him shall never cease. This thing is possible. Jesus did it. He calls us also 36:20 to walk walk above above the storms. Not by yourself, not considering what the storms and the waves are, but with me, it is I. Another word, it is I. Your redeemer, your savior, who keeps you. Do not be afraid. 36:40 What am I saying, brothers and sisters? Think on these things. The God who we serve is almighty. Why do we limit what God can do? It doesn't matter. You know, when we say all things work together for the good of those who love 36:56 God and and are walking according to his purposes. You know, I think many of us believe that verse, Romans 8:28. But one thing I found also is that we define what good is. I think that's where the problem lies. I've defined for myself what that good 37:13 should be. Such and such stage in my life, I should have been married and I should have children and job a good job and we've defined that good. And if God does not work within the confines of our definition, trouble comes and still we'll quote that 37:28 verse, all things must work together, but the problem is you define what that good should be. Jesus said to that rich young man, Mark Mark 10, God is good. Why not just replace Think not replace, think of that good as God 37:42 himself. If you begin to think like that, you'll find that you're not be disturbed. The good is not the circumstances, the pleasurable circumstances of life that you should be prosperous on the earth. God may do that, but just define 38:00 that good for yourself as Jesus himself. That I may walk with him. I might be with him. Let's not box God in. That is the problem. This is what I should be. At this stage of my life, God is so good, I should be this, I should be that. He should 38:16 provide that for me. My children should be healthy and this and that. And we've defined that as good. No, Christians do this. I've done it many times, but I don't care what I don't want to define Jesus himself as the good. God himself 38:30 should be that good. And so, if you have that mindset, it doesn't matter. I have God. I have Jesus. He's enough. He's enough for me. I want to encourage you, brothers and sisters. Let us walk this way. The Holy Spirit must do a deep work in 38:48 our heart as it searches the mind of God. Have him come in also. Where have I lived with my own definitions? Where have I uh put God in a box? Help me. Help me. That is a trouble we have. We may believe and say we believe God's 39:07 word, but what are you believing? Are you believing exactly what God says of himself, or you are trusting in some some event or some circumstance? Let it not be so. And how should we not give thanks to God? Look back at that Matthew 14 for 39:24 with me. Uh seeing that story, so Jesus calms the storm. First of all, Peter begins to sink, and he asked Jesus to save him. Matthew 14 in verse uh 30. That's good. If you're sinking, ask him to help you, but I believe even better still, 39:44 ask him to strengthen me such that I don't have to be sinking always. I can look to him, and I can rise above. That's another little thing there. Uh not just save me, that's good, but how much more, Jesus, sustain me. Right? And save me, sustain me that I 39:59 can walk with you through this. There's some things that God delights in. Saving you is good. He's happy to do that. How much better that this man has trusted me to sustain him through this challenge. I think that delights God's heart 40:13 tremendously. But we'll see again in at the end of the story Jesus catches Peter and gets into the ship and then the wind verse 32 says uh when they were all in the ship the wind stopped. The waves became calm. 40:31 And verse 33 says what? Matthew 14:33 And when they were all in the ship they worshipped him. And said of a truth you are the son of God. Is that a good thing to say of God of Jesus? Absolutely. But see the condition there. 40:48 They were able to declare that when things were were calm and steady. And that is not the sort of praise that we should pursue. God is still God regardless of what we're going through. When I read that I thought, "Okay, it's 41:05 good but Lord help me that my praise and my thanks, my acknowledgement of who you are is not dependent on what my circumstances are." I'm telling you God looks down with each of our hearts in this room and he knows this man is is is restful because 41:23 all is well. It's okay. But I'm telling you that God wants us to go a step beyond that that by his the power of his spirit he can look back and see this man no matter what. You know there's some Christians, I mean I've seen it 41:39 personally with some of the brothers I've worked with and and observed that the scale the scale challenges or not even chaos but difficulties in their lives but you would never know it. What they're going through. You see them 41:52 at church or wherever praising and living but I know that such and such person is is going through a hard time. But how is it that nobody knows? It's exactly what I'm telling they found that little secret. It doesn't matter. 42:07 It doesn't matter what my circumstances are in this person's life. I learned that even just from observing some brothers I know, that God is God. God is on the throne, and he keeps me. That pleases the mind of the Father. 42:23 I want to encourage you, brothers and sisters, pursue this. Pursue this. Let not your life be such that is dependent on on what is going on in the world, what you have, or what you don't have. Let it be dependent on God's word. 42:37 He has said of me that all things must work together for my good. And that good, first of all, is he himself. Is he himself, that I have Jesus as my foundation. He's able to keep me. Let this not be a mental thing, or something. Have the Holy Spirit confirm 42:55 this in your heart. And if you pray that sincerely, he'll he'll bring events in your life to test. Not that God doesn't know, he knows all things. It's for you to know and affirm for your to see for your own self, how is it how is my 43:10 walk. David prayed once, "Search me and see. See, test my thoughts, test my test my mind, test my and see, test my heart and see if there's any wicked way in me, Lord, show it to me now. And then lead me in the way everlasting." 43:28 I want us to do this, brothers and sisters, in our as the week and the weeks and days go by, days and weeks go by. God, search. I want to be a Christian that is trusting in you no matter what. My praises don't matter, don't depend. 43:42 My thanksgiving is not going to shift because a bad thing has happened to me. You can do that. It's by Jesus Christ, walking in him, living in him. This is the life that brings pleasure. We're all saved, praise God. But I believe God finds pleasure. He 44:00 loves us, fine, good, true. But I believe he has finds more pleasure in some than others. I believe that. I really do. And be such the kind that God can look down and see he's trusting me. He's given thanks to me always. It doesn't matter what the 44:19 devil throws at him, what his boss or whoever throws at him, his eyes are set on me. These things are possible. The Holy Spirit can bring them to pass for you and me. Our God is good. God is very good. He cares for us and can help us to walk 44:37 this way. Amen.
