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Embracing Your Mission Part 1

Michael Youssef

February 13, 2021

27:29

Michael Youssef passionately proclaims uncompromising truth from God’s Word. Learn more at LTW.org.

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Embracing Your Mission Part 1

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Dr. Michael Youssef:In the time of war,
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you are either an arrowor a target.
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If you are only passive,if you're only indifferent,
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if you're in a defensive postureonly, you will keep on absorbing
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the enemy's arrows.
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But if you place yourselfand those whom God entrusted you
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to go on the offensive,you will experience
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the unbelievable thrillof victory.
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male announcer: Coming up nexton "Leading the Way."
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male announcer:As the eyes of the world
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focus on the latest floodof calamities,
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the most urgentmay not be the most visible
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to the average person.
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For decades, we have seenan erosion of Christian values,
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but toady we're experiencinga world gone mad.
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Christ followers are beingedged out of cultural
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and political influence.
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Cultural norms are shifting.
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What can we do in a worldhostile to Christianity?
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Dr. Youssef presentsa seven part plan
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providing practical steps
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on how to be a godly influencein our society,
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and how to take a standfor our faith in a culture
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aggressively opposedto the truth of Christ.
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You can read how to bea champion for truth
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and biblical principles.
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When you preorder"Hope for this Present Crisis,"
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you'll also receivea free digital download,
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the "Hope for thisPresent Crisis" action guide.
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Contact us todayto preorder your copy of,
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"Hope for this Present Crisis"for your gift of any amount.
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Visit us at LTW.org.
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Get a copyof this timely book today.
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♪♪♪
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Dr. Youssef: In the yearsbetween 1984 to 86,
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I have struggled in prayer.
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Have you ever struggledin prayer?
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You know what I'm talking about.
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I mean, it was almost like Jacobwrestling with God in prayer.
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And it was at timesvery painful struggle.
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My question of the Lordwas very simple.
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"Do you really want meto birth this church?"
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Which is now we callthe Church of the Apostles.
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I had so much personal doubt,I wasn't really sure
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whether I'm listening to God,am I hearing his voice,
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or am I hearing my own voice?
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Because, make no mistakeabout it,
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we often can hear our own voiceand answer our own prayers.
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I'm aware of that.
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So, that is why the struggle,am I listening to other voices?
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Deep down, I longed to obeythe Lord,
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so the issue was not an issueof obedience,
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it was an issue of discernment,discerning the voice of God.
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I've always believedthat for the transmission
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of the whole truth,whole biblical truth
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to the next generation,certainly at that time,
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at the time of my struggleand even this day,
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for that to happen,there is or has to be
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three legged stools in orderto help in that--
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in that preparationof the next generation
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and that next link of the chain.
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First and foremost is the home,and secondly is the church,
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and then the school,or education in general.
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At least that's what ison my heart at the time.
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In my case, I coulddiscount education,
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I could discount school,I knew that.
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But the home and the church haveto be inexorably linked together
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to work together, in orderto establish and affirm
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and train the next generation,in order for them
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to receive the whole truth.
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But what God did for mein this struggle at that time,
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he used self-interest for mepersonally to get me off
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my blessed assuranceand go ahead
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and do what he's been telling meto do for two years,
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where I struggle in prayer.
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And the way God got me offmy duff
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to do what he wants me to dowhen I was really not sure,
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it was basically a phone callthat I received from a person
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who's now a memberof this church.
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She called me at the churchwe used to attend,
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she was the Sunday schoolsuperintendent.
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So, she called me on the phoneand she said,
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"Yesterday, we had a meeting
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with the newChristian education director."
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He had met withthe Sunday school teachers,
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children's Sunday schoolteachers.
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And he basically said,
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"You guys are giving Jesustoo much airtime.
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We need to havewell-rounded children."
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Listen, I believed back in '86,as I believe exactly right now
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as I'm standingin front of you today,
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that the churchand the home are
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the two of the most importantplaces for the next generation
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not only to learnbut to practice biblical faith.
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Little did I know thenthat 35 years later
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the anti-Christian forcesthat were just becoming to get
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into some churches at the time,these anti-Christian forces,
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anti-biblical forces,that now become so blatant,
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so--you would neverhave imagined back then
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they'd be so blatant.
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That they would openlyintimidate and harass
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and, yes, persecuteBible-believing Christian kids.
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So much so that by 2020...
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there are so many Christians whocaved in to that pressure, okay?
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Caved in, and they just said,
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"Well, we've got to gowith the flow."
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Beloved, I believe with allmy heart now is the time.
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This is the hour and this isthe place where we need
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to fight back withevery spiritual power.
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You heard this carefully,please.
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Spiritual power,spiritual weapons to save,
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train, equipthe next generation.
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We do not have an option.
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[congregation applauding]
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I'm not under any illusionthat the forces of evil
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that have been working hard,strategizing hard
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to affect our next generation,systematically,
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they've been at itfor over 70 or 80 years.
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Open your eyes.
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They're not gonna beovercome overnight, I know that.
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I'm not under any illusion,but that's why in this team,
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the team that God blessed uswith in this church,
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we are all hands on deck forthe next ten years to implement,
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obey, fulfill God's visionfor this church.
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Question, why am I so passionateabout this?
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Because, my believing friends,the Scripture tells us
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that our next generation isour greatest asset.
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Our next generation
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is our mostimportant investment.
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Turn with me to Psalm 127,please,
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and keep it openin front of you,
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because that is what I will begoing through.
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Psalm 127.
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In verse 3 of Psalm 127,it says,
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"Children are a heritagefrom the Lord."
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Heritage from whom?
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Not from society,
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not from anybody else,but it is from the Lord.
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And you heard me say this,and I'll keep saying this,
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our children are not ours.
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They are the Lord's children,he entrust them to us.
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He is basically telling usthat the next generation is
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our most treasured possessionsthat God entrusted to us.
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And then he continues,
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"Like arrows in the handsof a warrior
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are children of one's youth."
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Let me explain it at the outset
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that this psalm hasa primary application
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and has a secondary application.
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The primary applicationof the psalm is for the family.
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The secondary application isfor the church.
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And that is why in verse 1is where he starts.
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You see, he starts verse 1,he begins by reminding us of
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the sovereignty of God, the Godwho has given us everything,
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the God has given usour children,
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that God who is giving usthe next generation.
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God is the one who canand must be trusted
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to uphold the next generation.
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But then the psalmist hastenedto tell us our responsibility
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toward the next generation.
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Beloved, the one thing about theWord of God that makes it very,
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very clear, that evenour responsibility cannot,
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cannot, cannot be accomplishedwithout God's power
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and God's strings working in us.
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But beloved, the one thingwe better not do
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is squander his gift,or give that gift to everything
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except the onemost important thing of all,
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and that is for them to knowand love God,
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that is to loveand obey his Word,
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and that is to honorand revere his Word.
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I know and you know there are somany parents who work so hard,
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they work so hard,they work so hard to provide
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for their children,and I thank God for that.
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But they leave outthe most important
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and the most treasuredresponsibility,
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that is the responsibilityof training them
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as warriors for God,
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that is consistentlyreminding them
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of their importancein the kingdom of God.
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That is the continuouslydrilling in their mind
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how mightily they can beused of God.
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And that is to demonstrateto them the greatest success
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in life is to be lightfor Jesus,
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wherever they may be,whatever they may be.
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What breaks my heart is thatthere are churches
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that are constantly planningand strategizing
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on how to entertain kids,
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how to let the kidshave a good time.
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Now listen, I'm notagainst good time, guys.
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Don't--I like a good timeas good as anybody.
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I'm not against a good time.
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Or how to be rounded kidsjust like that pastor said
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back in 1986.
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"You're giving Jesus too muchairtime," he said.
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We need rounded kids,well-rounded kids.
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I remember saying the momentI hung up that phone
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from that call, I said,
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"Not with my kidsyou're going to."
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And we walked outand never looked back.
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My plea for everyone todayis not just for parents
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and grandparents, listen to me.
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I believe with all my heartthis vision is for everyone.
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Whether you're marriedor single,
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whether you have childrenor you don't,
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everyone must put their shoulderto the plow and become involved
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in passing the whole biblicaltruth to the next generation.
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If you're an older man,you need to pour yourself
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into a younger man.
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If you're an older woman,you need to pour yourself
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into some younger women.
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If you're a college students,you can get involved
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with elementary school studentsor high school students.
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The chain is endless.
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Most often, the need isfor someone just to listen
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and may give some wise advice.
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Other times, a morebiblical instruction is needed.
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In any case and in all cases,every one of us,
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every one of us,no one is exempted,
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can do something.
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Let's look back againat verse 1, Psalm 127.
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"Unless the Lordbuilds the house."
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Why do we build houses?
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For the family, right?
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"Unless the Lord guardsthe city."
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Why do we have cities?
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So the familiescan live in them.
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"Unless the Lord buildsthe house.
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Unless the Lord guardsthe city."
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It's all begin with focuson the Lord.
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Otherwise, we will feelso overwhelmed,
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like a mom that I talkedto not long ago,
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so overwhelmed they say,"I want to give up."
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Please don't give up,please don't give up.
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We're here to stand with you.
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The Lord gave usa precious gift,
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an invaluable giftof the next generation.
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What do you do with a gift?
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You lock it up in a safe?
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You put it on the tablefor display?
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No, you use the gift,you train the gift,
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you deploy the gift,you exercise the gift.
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And the first thing you dowith a precious gift is
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to recognize its immense value.
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It's to feel a senseof responsibility
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toward the giver of the gift.
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It's to do anything possibleto honor the giver of the gift.
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It's to invest everything,deploy, to deploy that gift.
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I cannot tell you withoutreliance on the giver of gifts
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to build the next generation,
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to encouragethe next generation,
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to instill a senseof responsibility
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for the future generation,to constantly remind
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the next generationthat they are a gift from God,
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that they are a vital linkin the chain,
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that they are the oneswho will be responsible
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for the future generation.
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And that there are to bean arrow.
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Verse 4 literally means,
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"As an arrow in the handof a mighty warrior."
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See, in the ancient world,an arrow is
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the most lethal weapon usedin warfare.
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And that is why the Bibledescribes Satan's attack on us
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as an--with arrows,he calls it fiery darts.
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You know, in Ephesians,it talks about the armor of God,
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and they said the shield.
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Basically what the shield,
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when you putthe shield of faith,
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it makes arrows fizzle out.
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Those fiery darts,they fizzle out,
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they get neutralizedbefore they impact you.
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Please don't misswhat I'm going to tell you.
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In the time of war,
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you are eitheran arrow or a target.
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If you are only passive,if you're only indifferent,
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if you're only in a defensiveposture only all the time,
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you will keep on absorbingthe enemy's arrows.
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But that's not what weor those who are entrusted to us
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supposed to be.
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We are to go on the offensive.
00:17:47.482 --> 00:17:50.651
We are to learnhow to aim our arrows.
00:17:50.651 --> 00:17:55.656
We are to learn how to invadethe enemy's territories.
00:17:55.656 --> 00:17:59.160
I am not minimizingthat defensive posture,
00:17:59.160 --> 00:18:03.564
it is important.
00:18:03.564 --> 00:18:05.566
But if you place yourself andthose whom God entrusted you
00:18:05.566 --> 00:18:11.439
to go on the offensive,you will experience
00:18:11.439 --> 00:18:14.075
the unbelievablethrill of victory.
00:18:14.075 --> 00:18:18.813
And the psalmist does not saythe next generations
00:18:18.813 --> 00:18:21.782
need to learnto be a nice dartboard.
00:18:21.782 --> 00:18:26.454
No, look at it with me, arrows.
00:18:26.454 --> 00:18:33.127
And arrows require a whole lotof different thinking,
00:18:33.127 --> 00:18:36.898
a whole different strategy,a whole different mindset,
00:18:36.898 --> 00:18:40.134
a whole different posture.
00:18:40.134 --> 00:18:43.471
Above all, learn to placeyourself in the hand
00:18:43.471 --> 00:18:46.741
of the greatest bow holderin the universe.
00:18:46.741 --> 00:18:51.379
I'm talking aboutthe Holy Spirit.
00:18:51.379 --> 00:18:53.781
Let me give you some training,some help regarding arrows,
00:18:53.781 --> 00:18:56.918
okay?
00:18:56.918 --> 00:18:58.719
First of all, the arrow isvery quick, it really is fast.
00:18:58.719 --> 00:19:04.859
You put the arrow in the bowand you're--
00:19:04.859 --> 00:19:07.128
and it can go a long distance.
00:19:07.128 --> 00:19:10.464
It moves likewith lightning speed.
00:19:10.464 --> 00:19:14.368
An arrow is not often seen.
00:19:14.368 --> 00:19:18.940
Listen to me,some of your greatest impact,
00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:23.644
please listen,some of your greatest impact,
00:19:23.644 --> 00:19:26.547
and we might not be able to seethis until you get to heaven,
00:19:26.547 --> 00:19:30.218
your greatest impact iswhat you have done
00:19:30.218 --> 00:19:34.188
or will dowithout a lot of fanfare.
00:19:34.188 --> 00:19:38.192
Your greatest ministryin pouring in the lives
00:19:38.192 --> 00:19:41.395
of the next generationmay not be visible.
00:19:41.395 --> 00:19:44.932
But remember this,in ancient times,
00:19:44.932 --> 00:19:48.102
an arrow hada long range capability.
00:19:48.102 --> 00:19:53.174
Isaiah 49:2 tells usbasically the same thing.
00:19:53.174 --> 00:19:57.712
See, throughout the Scripture,it's the same concept.
00:19:57.712 --> 00:20:00.715
It speaks about the powerof the Word,
00:20:00.715 --> 00:20:03.851
the power of the Word of lifeto the next generation.
00:20:03.851 --> 00:20:09.523
He said the Word will belike arrow because
00:20:09.523 --> 00:20:12.994
of the Holy Spirit's powerin it.
00:20:12.994 --> 00:20:15.429
Listen to whatthe Word of God said,
00:20:15.496 --> 00:20:18.266
"He made my mouthlike a sharpened sword;
00:20:18.266 --> 00:20:22.503
in the shadow of his handhe hides me.
00:20:22.503 --> 00:20:25.840
He made me into a polished arrowand concealed me in his quiver."
00:20:25.840 --> 00:20:33.714
In Jeremiah 51:11,same thing,
00:20:35.516 --> 00:20:38.686
said very somethingvery similar.
00:20:38.686 --> 00:20:40.554
He said, "Sharpen the arrows."
00:20:40.554 --> 00:20:43.357
Beloved, this is the time,sharpen the arrows,
00:20:43.357 --> 00:20:47.962
take up the shieldsfor defensive purposes.
00:20:48.029 --> 00:20:53.668
Why do you sharpen the arrow?
00:20:53.668 --> 00:20:55.703
For God's gloryand for our blessing.
00:20:55.703 --> 00:21:00.107
There's something else I needto tell you about arrows
00:21:00.107 --> 00:21:03.010
before I finish.
00:21:03.010 --> 00:21:05.179
Arrows used to carry messages.
00:21:05.179 --> 00:21:07.581
Sometimes, you put a message init and with the sharpness of it,
00:21:07.581 --> 00:21:11.552
and send it to the enemy,and the enemy would read it.
00:21:11.552 --> 00:21:13.688
But also other times,an arrow used as a sign,
00:21:13.688 --> 00:21:18.326
as a sign.
00:21:18.326 --> 00:21:20.695
If you rememberin 1 Samuel 20:21,
00:21:20.695 --> 00:21:25.199
you know, David and Jonathanwere dear friends,
00:21:25.199 --> 00:21:27.568
were close friends.
00:21:27.568 --> 00:21:29.570
And David is on the run fromthis demon possessed King Saul.
00:21:29.570 --> 00:21:36.977
And Jonathan said to him,he said if the arrow goes
00:21:36.977 --> 00:21:39.613
to this side, it means that,and if it goes to this side,
00:21:39.613 --> 00:21:42.550
it means the other thing.
00:21:42.550 --> 00:21:44.318
It's a sign.
00:21:44.318 --> 00:21:47.488
His arrow served as a message.
00:21:47.488 --> 00:21:51.025
To be sure, an arrow can beused for good
00:21:51.025 --> 00:21:55.363
or can be used for evil.
00:21:55.363 --> 00:21:56.764
Satan uses arrows as well,as I already showed you.
00:21:56.764 --> 00:22:00.034
But when we bathe our trainingof the next generation
00:22:00.034 --> 00:22:07.007
in prayer, the next generationwill become arrows
00:22:07.007 --> 00:22:12.146
in the greatest hand of all.
00:22:12.146 --> 00:22:16.384
The anti-God forces,the anti-biblical forces,
00:22:16.384 --> 00:22:20.488
the anti-family forces,they are organizing,
00:22:20.488 --> 00:22:25.226
they are scheming,they are planning their arrows
00:22:25.226 --> 00:22:29.697
to be used for evilagainst the next generation.
00:22:29.697 --> 00:22:34.068
And that is why you and I haveno option but to train
00:22:34.068 --> 00:22:39.774
the next generation.
00:22:39.774 --> 00:22:42.877
We need to train them not justto wear the shield of faith
00:22:42.877 --> 00:22:47.882
in order to neutralizethe fiery darts of Satan's,
00:22:47.882 --> 00:22:51.852
but we need to train themto be arrows themselves.
00:22:51.852 --> 00:22:56.891
Train them to be alert,not to be deceived.
00:22:56.891 --> 00:23:02.196
My goodness, the deceptionthat we're seeing
00:23:02.196 --> 00:23:05.266
in our culture today,the smooth talking,
00:23:05.266 --> 00:23:08.302
the double talk,the deceitful slogans
00:23:08.302 --> 00:23:12.506
that they sounds so good,but they have poison in them.
00:23:12.506 --> 00:23:17.978
We need to equip them to besharp arrows in the hand
00:23:17.978 --> 00:23:22.516
of the holy, mighty God.
00:23:22.516 --> 00:23:25.586
We need to train themnot to fear intimidation,
00:23:25.586 --> 00:23:30.157
manipulations, and wantingto be accepted at any cost.
00:23:30.157 --> 00:23:34.895
Above all, we need to train themhow to pray, and live,
00:23:34.895 --> 00:23:40.034
and walk with the Lord.
00:23:40.034 --> 00:23:44.238
But listen, this cannot be donejust by speaking, by words,
00:23:44.238 --> 00:23:53.180
it has to be modeled.
00:23:53.180 --> 00:23:55.483
Most often, it is more caughtthan taught.
00:23:55.483 --> 00:24:01.655
Teaching is important.
00:24:01.655 --> 00:24:03.891
It cannot say,"Look, do what I say,
00:24:03.891 --> 00:24:05.693
don't do what I do."
00:24:05.693 --> 00:24:07.228
They're watching what we do.
00:24:07.228 --> 00:24:10.598
And that iswhy the psalmist said,
00:24:10.598 --> 00:24:12.967
"Unless, unless,"say it with me.
00:24:12.967 --> 00:24:16.637
Say it again.
00:24:16.637 --> 00:24:19.139
Unless God's Word isat the center of life,
00:24:19.139 --> 00:24:23.344
God's Word is at the centerof the family,
00:24:23.344 --> 00:24:26.013
God's Word at the centerof the church,
00:24:26.013 --> 00:24:28.182
God's Word at the centerof community,
00:24:28.182 --> 00:24:32.019
we can spend trillionsof dollars in education,
00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:36.657
but we will end upwith a collapsed society.
00:24:36.657 --> 00:24:40.261
I think it wasAlbert Schweitzer,
00:24:40.261 --> 00:24:41.629
I'm not sure, but I thinkit was him who said,
00:24:41.629 --> 00:24:43.831
"Example is not the main thingin influence.
00:24:43.831 --> 00:24:48.102
It's the only thing."
00:24:48.102 --> 00:24:51.972
Now, my beloved,my beloved friends,
00:24:51.972 --> 00:24:55.209
if we are to pray and guideand train the next generation,
00:24:55.209 --> 00:25:03.117
we will be doinggreat exploits for God.
00:25:03.117 --> 00:25:06.320
And if we're going to do greatexploits for God in the lives
00:25:06.320 --> 00:25:10.357
of the next generation,we better learn
00:25:10.357 --> 00:25:14.795
how to model Christto the next generation.
00:25:14.795 --> 00:25:19.199
We better set our lives as rolemodels so that they can see,
00:25:19.199 --> 00:25:27.575
not just hear, how to dogreat things for God.
00:25:27.575 --> 00:25:32.479
♪♪♪
00:25:32.479 --> 00:25:39.753
announcer: As the eyesof the world focus
00:25:39.820 --> 00:25:41.388
on the latest floodof calamities,
00:25:41.388 --> 00:25:43.591
the most urgent may not bethe most visible
00:25:43.591 --> 00:25:45.759
to the average person,
00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:47.328
For decades, we have seenan erosion of Christian values,
00:25:47.328 --> 00:25:50.731
but today we're experiencinga world gone mad.
00:25:50.731 --> 00:25:54.568
Christ followers are being edgedout of cultural
00:25:54.568 --> 00:25:56.670
and political influence.
00:25:56.670 --> 00:25:58.005
Cultural norms are shifting.
00:25:58.005 --> 00:26:00.507
What can we do in a worldhostile to Christianity?
00:26:00.507 --> 00:26:03.043
Dr. Youssef presentsa seven-part plan
00:26:04.778 --> 00:26:07.381
providing practical stepson how to be a godly influence
00:26:07.381 --> 00:26:09.950
in our society, and how to takea stand for our faith
00:26:09.950 --> 00:26:13.387
in a culture aggressivelyopposed to the truth of Christ.
00:26:13.387 --> 00:26:16.156
You can readhow to be a champion for truth
00:26:16.156 --> 00:26:18.258
and biblical principles.
00:26:18.258 --> 00:26:19.893
When you preorder,"Hope for This Present Crisis,"
00:26:19.893 --> 00:26:21.695
you'll also receivea free digital download,
00:26:21.695 --> 00:26:24.465
the "Hope for ThisPresent Crisis" action guide.
00:26:24.465 --> 00:26:27.001
Contact us todayto preorder your copy
00:26:28.302 --> 00:26:30.237
of "Hope for ThisPresent Crisis"
00:26:30.237 --> 00:26:32.306
for your gift of any amount.
00:26:32.306 --> 00:26:33.907
Visit us at LTW.org.
00:26:33.907 --> 00:26:36.076
Get a copyof this timely book today.
00:26:36.076 --> 00:26:38.479
♪♪♪
00:26:38.479 --> 00:26:40.814
announcer: Dr. Michael Youssefinvites you to join him
00:26:40.814 --> 00:26:42.783
every Sunday morning
00:26:42.783 --> 00:26:44.184
on "Leading the WayLive at Apostles,"
00:26:44.184 --> 00:26:45.719
a live video streamfrom the church
00:26:45.719 --> 00:26:47.621
he founded and pastors.
00:26:47.621 --> 00:26:49.323
Raise your voice with thousandsof others from around the world,
00:26:49.323 --> 00:26:52.593
led by musical artistMac Powell.
00:26:52.593 --> 00:26:55.295
"Leading the WayLive at Apostles"
00:26:55.295 --> 00:26:57.064
is available at LTW.org,Twitter, Facebook,
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YouTube, and Instagram,making it easy
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to share and invite your friendson Sunday mornings.
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Mark iton your calendar now,
00:27:05.205 --> 00:27:06.840
"Leading the WayLive at Apostles,"
00:27:06.840 --> 00:27:08.742
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00:27:08.742 --> 00:27:10.444
♪♪♪
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