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female announcer: TODAY ON TOUCHING LIVES...
Merritt: WE COME TO GOD 99% OF THE TIME
BECAUSE WE WANT SOMETHING.
AND WE NEVER STOP TO THINK,
"I WONDER IF GOD WANTS ME TO COME TO HIS PRESENCE
"NOT BECAUSE HE WANTS TO DO SOMETHING FOR ME
BUT BECAUSE HE WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING TO ME."
female announcer: WITH HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR LIFE,
THIS IS TOUCHING LIVES WITH JAMES MERRITT.
Merritt: WE'RE CALLING THIS SERIES UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
BECAUSE THAT'S THE KIND OF RELATIONSHIP
THAT GOD WANTS US TO HAVE WITH HIM.
SOMETIMES WE GET THE IDEA THAT GOD SENT HIS SON JESUS CHRIST
JUST TO DIE AND PAY FOR OUR SINS.
THAT'S TRUE.
HE DID SEND JESUS TO DIE AND PAY FOR OUR SINS.
BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE TO IT THAN THAT.
GOD SENT HIS SON TO TEAR DOWN EVERY WALL
AND BRIDGE EVERY GULF AND UNLOCK EVERY DOOR
SO THAT WE COULD GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH HIM.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE CAN AND SHOULD BE CLOSER TO GOD
THAN WE ARE TO ANYONE ELSE.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE REALLY WITH GOD
WHERE YOU OUGHT TO BE, LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION.
IS THERE ANYBODY ON THIS PLANET
YOU'RE CLOSER TO TO GOD THAN GOD RIGHT NOW?
"WELL, YEAH, I'M CLOSER TO MY SPOUSE."
THEN YOU'RE NOT RIGHT WITH GOD.
"YEAH, I'M CLOSER TO MY KIDS."
THEN YOU'RE NOT RIGHT WITH GOD.
"I'M CLOSER TO MY BEST FRIEND."
THEN YOU'RE NOT RIGHT WITH GOD
BECAUSE GOD SENT JESUS FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE
OF HIS BEING THE CLOSEST RELATIONSHIP YOU HAVE.
THAT'S NOT ONLY WHY JESUS CAME.
THAT'S WHY JESUS LEFT,
AND I WANT YOU TO TURN THIS MORNING,
IF YOU'VE BROUGHT A COPY OF GOD'S WORD.
THERE'S A BOOK IN THE BIBLE
RIGHT AFTER A LITTLE BOOK CALLED PHILEMON.
IT'S CALLED THE BOOK OF HEBREWS.
IN THE 4TH CHAPTER OF THE BOOK OF HEBREWS.
THIS AUTHOR WRITES SOMETHING THAT,
HAD YOU BEEN A JEW READING THESE WORDS FOR THE FIRST TIME,
YOU WOULD HAVE LITERALLY GASPED FOR AIR
WHEN YOU READ WHAT HE WROTE.
SO WE'RE GONNA PICK UP HERE IN VERSE 14.
"SINCE THEN, WE HAVE A GREAT HIGH PRIEST--"
TIME OUT.
YOU'RE JEWISH.
YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT MEANS.
HIGH PRIEST, HE WAS THE BIG COG IN THE SYNAGOGUE, RIGHT?
HE WAS THE NUMBER ONE DUDE IN THE SYNAGOGUE.
EVERYBODY, IF YOU WANTED TO GET TO GOD,
YOU HAD TO LET THE HIGH PRIEST DO IT FOR YOU.
YOU COULDN'T GO ON YOUR OWN.
SO NOW THE AUTHOR IS SAYING
WE'VE GOT AN ETERNAL HIGH PRIEST.
HIS NAME IS JESUS,
AND HE'S ALREADY GONE BEFORE US INTO HEAVEN.
NOW VERSE 15.
"LET US THEN WITH CONFIDENCE--"
NOW HERE'S THE TWO BIG WORDS.
"DRAW NEAR TO THE THRONE OF GRACE,
"THAT WE MAY RECEIVE MERCY AND FIND GRACE TO HELP
IN TIME OF NEED."
I REALIZE THAT IF YOU'RE A MATURE BELIEVER
OR IF YOU'VE BEEN A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST FOR A WHILE,
I HAVEN'T TOLD YOU ANYTHING YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW.
YOU KNOW YOU CAN GO TO GOD ANY TIME YOU WANT TO.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, YOU KNOW,
THAT'S ONE OF THE GREAT BENEFITS OF BEING A BELIEVER.
YOU GET TO GO TO GOD ANY TIME THAT YOU WANT TO.
HERE'S THE PROBLEM.
I'M GONNA BE VERY CONSERVATIVE WITH MY ESTIMATE.
99.99368% OF THE TIME,
WE COME INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD
BECAUSE WE WANT SOMETHING.
RIGHT?
JUST BEING HONEST.
WE COME TO GOD 99% OF THE TIME BECAUSE WE WANT SOMETHING.
AND WE NEVER STOP TO THINK,
"I WONDER IF GOD WANTS ME TO COME TO HIS PRESENCE
"NOT BECAUSE HE WANTS TO DO SOMETHING FOR ME
BUT BECAUSE HE WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING TO ME."
NOW LET ME GIVE ILLUSTRATION.
ONE OF THE GREATEST WAYS THAT YOU CAN MANIPULATE PEOPLE
AND PEOPLE KNOW YOU MANIPULATE THEM
IS EVERY TIME YOU CALL THEM IS BECAUSE YOU WANT SOMETHING.
WELL, HOW MUCH MORE DO YOU THINK GOD FEELS
WHEN EVERY TIME WE GO INTO HIS PRESENCE,
WE SAY, "LORD, I'M HERE BECAUSE I'VE GOT A PROBLEM
"I NEED YOU TO SOLVE.
"I'VE GOT A NEED THAT I NEED YOU TO MEET.
"I'VE GOT A SITUATION I NEED YOU TO TAKE CARE OF.
THANK YOU, LORD. BYE-BYE."
AND GOD GOES...
"BUT I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU.
I HAVE SOME THINGS I WANTED TO SAY TO YOU."
NOW I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO WHAT I'M ABOUT TO TELL YOU.
GOD WILL SPEAK TO YOU IF YOU'LL TAKE TIME TO LISTEN TO HIM.
AND THERE'S SOME OF YOU RIGHT NOW--
AND YOU WONDER YOURSELF ALL THE TIME--
"I WONDER WHY I DON'T GET ANYTHING
"OUT OF MY TIME WITH GOD.
"I WONDER WHY GOD DOESN'T SPEAK TO ME
"LIKE I HEAR HIM SPEAK TO OTHER PEOPLE.
I WONDER WHY I'M NOT REALLY CONNECTING WITH GOD."
CAN I BE REAL BLUNT AND JUST--
I'M JUST GONNA BE REAL CANDID WITH YOU.
'CAUSE YOU WON'T SHUT UP.
YOU WON'T JUST BE STILL.
LET YOUR HEART BE STILL AND JUST LISTEN TO WHAT GOD HAS TO SAY.
AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU--
I'M GONNA SHOW YOU THIS IN THE BIBLE--
GOD STILL SPEAKS TO THOSE WHO LISTEN.
LISTEN, COMMUNICATION AND CONVERSATION TAKE TIME.
JUST AS A HUSBAND AND WIFE NEED TIME TOGETHER,
AND A FATHER AND A SON NEED TIME TOGETHER,
AND A MOTHER AND A DAUGHTER NEED TIME TOGETHER,
WE NEED TIME TOGETHER ON A DAILY BASIS TO CONNECT WITH GOD,
TO CONNECT WITH OUR FATHER AND COMMUNICATE WITH GOD.
NOW, DIFFERENT PEOPLE CALL THAT DIFFERENT THINGS.
CALL IT A QUIET TIME, CALL IT YOUR DEVOTIONAL LIFE,
CALL IT TIME WITH GOD-- I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU CALL IT.
WE NEED IT, AND GOD WANTS IT.
I WANT TO TELL YOU WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME.
OUTSIDE OF THE MOMENT AS A NINE-YEAR-OLD BOY
THAT I SURRENDERED MY LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST,
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAS IMPACTED MY LIFE MORE,
NOTHING HAS INSPIRED MORE SERMONS,
NOTHING'S ENCOURAGED ME MORE,
NOTHING HAS SHAPED ME MORE,
NOTHING HAS SHARPENED MY SPIRITUAL VISION
AND SPIRITUAL HEARING MORE,
NOTHING HAS GROWN ME MORE,
NOTHING HAS MATURED ME MORE,
NOTHING HAS BROUGHT ME FARTHER
THAN HAVING A REGULAR QUIET TIME WITH GOD.
LET ME TELL YOU WHY THAT'S TRUE.
THIS IS WHAT I WANT YOU TO TAKE OUT THE DOOR THIS MORNING.
YOU READY?
WHEN YOU DRAW NEAR TO GOD,
YOU HEAR FROM GOD.
LET'S SAY THAT OUT LOUD.
WHEN YOU DRAW NEAR TO GOD,
YOU HEAR FROM GOD.
SAY IT AGAIN.
WHEN YOU DRAW NEAR TO GOD,
YOU HEAR FROM GOD.
I PROMISE YOU.
I'M TELLING YOU THE TRUTH.
THIS IS WHAT I'M GOING TO DO TODAY:
THIS IS GONNA BE AS-- YOU WILL NEVER HEAR
A MORE PRACTICAL HOW-TO MESSAGE YOU'RE ABOUT TO HEAR RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF DOCTRINE IN THIS MESSAGE,
NOT A LOT OF THEOLOGY IN THIS MESSAGE.
WHAT I'M GONNA SHARE WITH YOU TODAY IS HOW I DRAW NEAR TO GOD.
BEFORE I DO THIS, LET ME MAKE A COUPLE THINGS VERY PLAIN.
THIS IS NOT THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT.
IT'S NOT THE ONLY RIGHT WAY TO DO IT.
I'M NOT EVEN SAYING IT'S THE BEST WAY TO DO IT.
I'M JUST TELLING YOU IT IS A RIGHT WAY THAT WORKS FOR ME.
BECAUSE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS NOW,
I HAVE CONNECTED AND COMMUNICATED INTIMATELY
AND PERSONALLY WITH GOD.
SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS SHARE WITH YOU
THE FOUR THINGS I'VE DONE
OVER THE LAST PROBABLY 45 YEARS OF MY LIFE.
THE FOUR THINGS THAT I HAVE DONE IN MY LIFE,
AND I'M GONNA MAKE A MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE.
IF YOU WILL FOLLOW THESE FOUR STEPS IN YOUR LIFE EVERY DAY,
I GUARANTEE YOU, YOU WILL HEAR GOD SPEAK TO YOU
LIKE YOU NEVER HEARD GOD SPEAK TO YOU BEFORE.
YOU WILL HAVE GOD GUIDE YOU LIKE GOD HAS NEVER GUIDED YOU BEFORE.
YOU WILL SEE GOD MORE CLEARLY
THAN YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN GOD BEFORE.
AND YOU'LL BE CLOSER TO GOD THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN BEFORE.
FOUR THINGS. YOU CAN WRITE THESE DOWN.
NUMBER ONE'S REAL SIMPLE.
HERE WE GO. READY?
NUMBER ONE: YOU'VE GOT TO RESERVE A TIME AND A PLACE.
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO CONNECT WITH SOMEONE
AND COMMUNICATE WITH SOMEONE, YOU KNOW THIS.
ENVIRONMENT'S A KEY.
AND ENVIRONMENT IS AFFECTED BY TWO THINGS:
TIME AND PLACE.
GOOD ILLUSTRATION.
I WANT TO TAKE TERESA OUT FOR A ROMANTIC MEAL.
I MEAN, I WANT TO WOO HER AND COURT HER AND DATE HER,
AND I WANT TO SHOW HER JUST ONE MORE TIME,
"I DON'T LOVE ANYBODY LIKE I LOVE YOU.
"YOU'RE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN IN THE WORLD.
NOBODY MEANS MORE TO ME THAN YOU DO."
NOW WHAT DO I DO?
QUIET RESTAURANT.
TAKE HER IN THE EVENING.
CANDLES.
LINEN TABLECLOTHS.
SOFT MUSIC. LOW LIGHTS.
WHY?
'CAUSE I UNDERSTAND TIME AND PLACE ARE IMPORTANT.
IF YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING YOU'VE GOT TO SAY TO SOMEONE
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT--IF YOU'VE GOT A DEEP CONVERSATION
YOU'VE GOT TO ENTER INTO,
YOU ALWAYS WANT TO GO TO A PLACE WHERE YOU TALK,
A PLACE OF PEACE AND A PLACE OF QUIET.
WHEN I PROPOSED TO TERESA--
YOU KNOW WHERE I PROPOSED TO HER?
IN CHURCH.
WE WENT TO THE CHURCH DURING A DAY OF THE WEEK,
WENT INTO THE WORSHIP CENTER,
I GOT DOWN ON MY KNEES IN FRONT OF THE PLATFORM OF THE CHURCH,
AND I PROPOSED TO HER.
IT'S A SACRED PLACE, IT'S A QUIET PLACE,
IT'S A PLACE THAT WE WILL NEVER, EVER, FORGET.
JESUS UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS QUIET TIME,
OF HAVING A TIME AND A PLACE.
LET ME JUST QUOTE TWO VERSES OF SCRIPTURE.
MARK 1:35.
LUKE 5:16.
JESUS--EVEN JESUS--SAID,
"I'VE GOT A CERTAIN TIME,
"AND I'VE GOT A CERTAIN PLACES THAT I RESERVE
WHERE I GET ALONE AND GET AWAY WITH GOD."
NOW TIME IS IMPORTANT.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO DRAW NEAR TO GOD SO YOU CAN HEAR FROM GOD,
YOU'VE GOT TO SCHEDULE TIME TO LISTEN.
SO, AGAIN, YOU TALK ABOUT PRACTICAL,
I'M REALLY GETTING DOWN TO WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD.
IF YOU WANT TO GET CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH GOD,
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.
YOU LITERALLY HAVE TO SCHEDULE IT LIKE AN APPOINTMENT.
LITERALLY.
I'M NOT MAKING THIS UP.
YOU HAVE GOT TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH GOD.
LET ME TELL YOU WHY.
IF YOU WALK OUT OF HERE TODAY,
AND YOU DON'T SCHEDULE A TIME WITH GOD ON A DAILY BASIS,
HERE'S WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
IF YOU DON'T SCHEDULE TIME WITH GOD,
YOU WON'T MAKE TIME FOR GOD.
I'M JUST TELLING YOU.
HERE, I'LL PROVE IT TO YOU.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU SAID THIS TO SOMEBODY:
"HEY, MAN, WE NEED TO GET TOGETHER."
AND THREE MONTHS LATER,
"HEY, MAN, WE NEED TO GET TOGETHER."
OR HOW ABOUT THIS:
"HEY, WE NEED TO DO LUNCH.
WE NEED TO DO LUNCH."
AND TWO MONTHS LATER,
"WE NEED TO DO LUNCH."
OR, YOU KNOW WHAT, MAN?
"YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO GO PLAY GOLF."
YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE NEED TO GO PLAY GOLF.
AND THEN THREE MONTHS LATER,
"WE NEED TO GO PLAY GOLF."
I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE SITTING OUT THERE,
AND YOU'RE GOING, "YOU KNOW, I'VE SAID THAT TO YOU, PASTOR,
"ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS.
"WE NEED TO GO PLAY GOLF.
YOU HAVEN'T RESPONDED."
GET THE MESSAGE.
I DON'T WANT TO PLAY GOLF WITH YOU, OKAY?
NOW HERE'S THE POINT. JUST JOKING.
JUST JOKING.
BUT YOU KNOW WHY WE HADN'T PLAYED GOLF?
DO YOU KNOW WHY WE HADN'T HAD LUNCH?
DO YOU KNOW WHY WE NEVER GOT TOGETHER?
SOMEBODY TELL ME.
YOU DIDN'T SCHEDULE IT.
SO YOU DON'T SCHEDULE IT, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
AND SO LET ME TELL YOU,
THE EASIEST THING TO GET SQUEEZED
OUT OF YOUR DAILY SCHEDULE IS YOUR TIME WITH GOD.
SO I'M GONNA KIND OF REALLY STEP OUT ON A LIMB NOW.
I'M GONNA MAKE A VERY STRONG SUGGESTION.
BEFORE I MAKE IT, I CAN'T BACK IT UP IN THE BIBLE.
I CAN'T SAY IT'S A COMMAND FROM GOD.
I'M NOT TELLING YOU, IF YOU DON'T DO IT THIS WAY,
YOU'RE WRONG.
I AM GOING TO, HOWEVER, ENCOURAGE YOU
TO TRY SOMETHING FOR 30 DAYS. 30 DAYS.
IF IT DOESN'T WORK AFTER 30 DAYS, FORGET IT.
I'M GONNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO HAVE YOUR QUIET TIME
FIRST THING EVERY DAY.
NOW I WANT TO SHOW YOU HOW WELL I PREPARED THIS SERMON.
I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING RIGHT NOW.
TRUST ME. I KNOW IT.
EVEN THOUGH JESUS, THAT'S WHAT HE DID.
HE GOT UP EARLY.
HE HAD HIS QUIET TIME.
HE DID IT VERY EARLY.
ON MY TO-DO LIST--
I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO DO SOMETHING I DON'T DO.
ON MY TO-DO LIST EVERY DAY-- IT'S REPEATABLE.
IN MY IPAD, I'VE GOT A TO-DO LIST I DO EVERY DAY.
A1--I CAN SHOW IT TO YOU RIGHT NOW.
A1, QUIET TIME.
WHEN I GET UP EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE.
I DON'T CARE WHERE I'M AT.
IF I DON'T DO ANYTHING ELSE...
IF I DON'T WORK OUT, IF I DON'T PLAY GOLF,
IF I DON'T PREPARE A SERMON, IF I DON'T RETURN A PHONE CALL,
I DON'T ANSWER AN EMAIL,
I AM GOING TO HAVE MY QUIET TIME WITH GOD.
THAT'S WHAT I DO.
NOW I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SITTING RIGHT THERE SAYING.
"BUT I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON."
WELL, LET ME LET YOU IN ON A DIRTY LITTLE SECRET.
EVERYBODY DOES SOMETHING FIRST IN THE MORNING.
YOU MAKE COFFEE.
YOU TURN ON THE TV.
YOU GET ON YOUR COMPUTER.
YOU CHECK YOUR CELL PHONE.
ALL I'M SAYING IS,
WHY DON'T YOU TRY SPENDING TIME WITH GOD FIRST IN THE MORNING?
MATTHEW 6:33 SAYS:
I MEAN, SINCE YOU'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING FIRST IN THE MORNING,
WHY NOT SEEK GOD FIRST, ALL RIGHT?
I KNOW, I KNOW.
I GOT OBJECTION NUMBER TWO.
"BUT I'M NOT AT MY BEST IN THE MORNING."
IT'S OKAY.
GOD'S ALWAYS AT HIS BEST.
YOU'LL NEVER GOT TO GOD, AND GOD GO,
"WHOO.
"CAN YOU COME BACK ANOTHER TIME?
I HAD A LATE NIGHT LAST NIGHT."
GOD'S ALWAYS AT HIS BEST.
NOW, I KNOW, OBJECTION NUMBER THREE.
I'VE HEARD 'EM ALL; TRUST ME.
I GOT A FILE FULL OF 'EM.
"I CAN'T GET MY EYES OPEN IN THE MORNING."
WELL, GUESS WHAT?
THE PSALMIST HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.
DID YOU KNOW THAT?
I BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
LISTEN TO PSALM 119:18:
HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.
HE WENT TO GOD AND SAID, "GOD, I CAN'T OPEN MY EYES.
WOULD YOU DO IT FOR ME?"
SO I'M ASKING YOU.
30 DAYS. JUST 30 DAYS.
SAY, "LORD, IF I DON'T DO ANYTHING ELSE TODAY,
I'M GONNA HAVE MY QUIET TIME WITH YOU, ALL RIGHT?"
SECOND STEP.
SAY, "OKAY, I'MA RESERVE A TIME AND A PLACE."
SECOND STEP.
READ YOUR BIBLE.
REAL SIMPLE. READ YOUR BIBLE.
PRIMARY WAY THAT GOD SPEAKS TODAY IS THE BIBLE.
NOW, I DON'T PUT GOD IN THE BOX.
I DON'T SEE YOU SITTIN' OUT THERE, AND YOU SAY,
"WELL, I'LL TELL YOU, GOD SPOKE TO ME OUT LOUD."
I'M NOT GONNA SAY HE DID OR HE DIDN'T.
GOD'S NEVER SPOKEN TO ME OUT LOUD.
I THOUGHT HE DID ONE TIME.
IT WAS BAD MEXICAN.
GOD'S NEVER SPOKEN TO ME OUT LOUD.
I AM TELLING YOU THIS.
I AM TELLING YOU THIS.
THE PRIMARY WAY GOD HAS SPOKEN FOR 2,000 YEARS IS HIS WORD.
THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE WAY.
I'M NOT GONNA PUT GOD IN BOX,
BUT THAT IS THE PRIMARY WAY.
IF YOU'RE GONNA DRAW NEAR TO GOD,
YOU'VE GOT TO READ YOUR BIBLE.
THERE IS NO OTHER WAY.
YOU CAN PRAY ALL YOU WANT TO PRAY.
YOU CAN TALK TO GOD TILL YOU'RE BLUE IN THE FACE,
BUT HE WILL NOT SPEAK TO YOU AND YOU WILL NOT HEAR FROM HIM
UNTIL YOU READ HIS WORD.
NOW, IF YOU SAY, "WELL, PASTOR,
"I'M JUST NOT MUCH OF A BIBLE-READER.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE TO START?"
ABSOLUTELY.
I'LL GIVE YOU TWO BOOKS TO START WITH.
EITHER START WITH THE GOSPEL OF JOHN--
THAT'S A GREAT BOOK TO START WITH.
REAL SIMPLE GOSPEL.
OR START WITH THE BOOK OF JAMES.
THAT'S A VERY PRACTICAL BOOK.
READ MY LIPS.
DON'T START WITH LEVITICUS.
[laughter]
OTHER THAN THAT, YOU'RE GOOD TO GO, ALL RIGHT?
BUT THEY'RE EASY BOOKS.
NOW, AGAIN, I'VE DONE MY HOMEWORK.
I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SITTING OUT THERE SAYING.
YOU'RE SAYING THIS RIGHT NOW.
"WELL, I READ IT, BUT I DON'T GET ANYTHING OUT OF IT."
I WANT TO HELP YOU.
YOU MAYBE WANT TO DO THIS IN THE FRONT OF YOUR BIBLE
OR ON YOUR ORDER OF WORSHIP OR SOMEWHERE,
I WANT YOU TO WRITE DOWN THREE QUESTIONS,
AND I'M GONNA MAKE A GUARANTEE.
IF EVERY TIME YOU PICK UP A PASSAGE OF THE BIBLE,
IF YOU'LL ASK THESE THREE QUESTIONS,
YOU WILL ALMOST NEVER FAIL TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF IT,
AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY,
GET OUT OF IT WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO GET OUT OF IT.
THIS IS WHAT I DO.
I DO THE VERY SAME.
THIS IS HOW I GET MY SERMONS.
I GO TO THE BIBLE, I'M ASKING QUESTIONS.
LET ME TELL YOU THREE SIMPLE QUESTIONS TO ASK
WHEN YOU GO TO A PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE.
NUMBER ONE--REAL SIMPLE.
WHAT DOES THIS PASSAGE SAY?
VERY SIMPLE QUESTION.
WHAT YOU'RE ASKING YOURSELF IN ESSENCE IS,
"ALL RIGHT, NOW WHAT'S THE MESSAGE HERE?
"WHY IS THIS EVEN IN THE BIBLE?
WHAT IS THE AUTHOR SAYING?"
HERE'S A GOOD WAY OF DOING IT.
IF I WERE PUTTING THIS IN MY OWN WORDS,
HOW WOULD I SAY IT?
THAT'S ALL YOU'RE DOING.
OKAY, WHAT'S THE MESSAGE?
FOR EXAMPLE, THE PASSAGE WE JUST READ,
WHAT'S THE MESSAGE?
I CAN GO TO GOD ANY TIME I WANT TO.
IF I DRAW NEAR TO GOD, I'LL HEAR FROM GOD.
THAT'S THE MESSAGE. OKAY, I GET THAT.
QUESTION NUMBER TWO:
SO WHAT CAN I TAKE FROM IT?
ALL RIGHT, IS THERE A LESSON TO LEARN HERE?
IS THERE A PRINCIPLE TO REMEMBER?
IS THERE A WARNING A NEED TO UNDERSTAND?
SO WHEN I READ THIS PASSAGE IN HEBREWS,
I'M GOING, "OKAY, WHAT CAN I TAKE?
"I KNOW WHAT I CAN TAKE FROM HERE.
"GOD WANTS TO DRAW NEAR TO ME,
AND I CAN DRAW NEAR TO HIM ANY TIME I WANT TO."
HIS DOOR'S ALWAYS OPEN, AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
I REALLY NEED TO DO THAT WITH QUESTION NUMBER THREE.
HOW DO I APPLY THIS TRUTH TO MY LIFE?
SO I'M READING THIS PASSAGE IN HEBREWS,
AND I'M GOING, "WOW, THIS AUTHOR JUST TOLD ME
I CAN DRAW NEAR TO GOD ANY TIME I WANT TO,"
AND THE LESSON I'M LEARNING RIGHT NOW IS,
IF I DRAW NEAR TO GOD, I WILL HEAR FROM GOD,
SO WHAT DO I DO?
GOD, I'M HERE.
I'M QUIET.
I'M DRAWN NEAR.
I'M GONNA READ YOUR WORD.
I WANT YOU TO SPEAK TO ME.
I'M GONNA APPLY THIS TO MY LIFE.
FOR EXAMPLE,
WHY DO YOU THINK ALL THE STORIES THAT ARE IN THE BIBLE
ARE IN THE BIBLE?
EVERY TIME YOU READ A STORY IN THE BIBLE,
YOU WATCH THIS.
ALMOST WITHOUT FAIL.
JUST LIKE THE CHARACTER IN THE BIBLE,
THERE'S EITHER SOMETHING YOU OUGHT TO DO
JUST THE WAY THEY DID IT,
OR THERE'S SOMETHING YOU SHOULDN'T DO
EVEN THOUGH THEY DID DO IT.
LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
TAKE DANIEL.
WELL, WHAT DOES DANIEL TEACH ME ABOUT MY LIFE?
DANIEL SAYS, "JAMES, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID
OF FIERY FURNACES OR LION'S DENS.
GOD'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU.
EVEN IF YOU DON'T MAKE IT, GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.
WHAT DO YOU LEARN FROM SAMSON?
NEVER MARRY A MEAN WOMAN.
[laughter]
THAT'S A GREAT LESSON.
AND IF YOU DO, NEVER LET HER CUT YOUR HAIR, RIGHT?
DAUGHTER-IN-LAW CAN CUT YOUR HAIR.
MEAN WOMEN CAN'T DO THAT, OKAY?
DAVID, WHAT DOES DAVID TEACH YOU?
YOU CAN'T COVER UP SIN FROM GOD.
NO NEED TO TRY.
BETTER OFF NOT SINNING TO BEGIN WITH
'CAUSE IT'S GONNA CATCH UP WITH YOU SOONER OR LATER.
SO YOU GO TO THE BIBLE, AND YOU SAY,
"OKAY, MAN, I'VE GOT IT NOW.
I'M ASKING THESE QUESTIONS, AND GOD IS BEGINNING TO SPEAK.
OKAY, NOW HERE'S THE NEXT THING.
SO HOW DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT GOD SAYS TO YOU?
AND THIS LEADS TO THE THIRD STEP.
AND I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND TELL YOU,
I DON'T MEAN TO BE NEGATIVE.
I'M JUST BEING REALISTIC.
MOST OF YOU ARE GONNA BLOW ME OFF ON THIS.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA DO THIS,
AND I'M JUST GONNA TELL YOU RIGHT NOW,
YOU'RE GONNA REGRET IT 20 YEARS FROM NOW.
I PROMISE YOU.
'CAUSE I'M GONNA TELL YOU THE NEXT THING I DO,
I HAVE BEEN DOING NOW FOR 27 YEARS.
I WISH I'D BEEN DOING IT FOR 45 YEARS.
AND THE NEXT THING I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO DO
IS RECORD YOUR THOUGHTS.
NOW, WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS REAL SIMPLE.
KEEP A SPIRITUAL DIARY OR A SPIRITUAL JOURNAL.
NOW, BEFORE YOU SAY, "THAT'S A DUMB IDEA.
I MEAN, I DON'T EVEN LIKE TO WRITE."
I MEAN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO--
I'M DOING IT THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY.
I DO IT ON PAPER.
YOU CAN KEEP A JOURNAL ON AN IPAD OR, YOU KNOW, IPHONE,
OR, YOU KNOW, IMAC OR WHATEVER.
YOU KNOW, I-THIS OR I-THAT.
YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU WHERE I GOT THIS IDEA.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT IS?
THAT'S GOD'S SPIRITUAL JOURNAL.
THAT'S ALL THAT IS.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT GOD THINKS,
THERE IT IS.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT GOD SAYS,
THERE IT IS.
BECAUSE YOU THINK ABOUT THIS.
IT'S GOD'S JOURNAL THAT RECORDS TWO THINGS.
IT RECORDS WHAT GOD HAS SAID AND WHAT GOD HAS DONE.
BECAUSE WHY DOES IT DO THAT?
BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT WE'RE ALL KNOWN BY
AND WE'RE ALL JUDGED BY.
WHAT ARE THEY?
OUR WORDS AND OUR DEEDS.
OUR WORDS AND OUR ACTIONS.
I MEAN, WE SAY IT ALL THE TIME.
YOU REMEMBER THIS?
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.
WHY?
ACTIONS ARE WHAT YOU DO.
WORDS ARE WHAT YOU SAY.
HERE'S ANOTHER ONE.
PUT UP OR SHUT UP.
"PUT UP" IS YOUR ACTIONS.
"SHUT UP" IS YOUR WORDS.
THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS.
AND IN A JOURNAL, ALL YOU DO-- YOU SAY,
"WHAT DO YOU WRITE DOWN IN A JOURNAL?"
HERE'S WHAT YOU WRITE DOWN.
YOU WRITE DOWN BASICALLY TWO THINGS.
WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO ME?
AND WHAT IS GOD DOING IN ME?
I MEAN, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW VALUABLE THESE RECORDS ARE.
IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER THOUGHT
ABOUT IF YOUR HOUSE WERE TO BURN DOWN, WHAT'S THE ONE THING--
IF YOU COULD ONLY CARRY OUT ONE THING,
WHAT WOULD YOU CARRY OUT?
WE'VE ALL GOT SOME VERY VALUABLE HEIRLOOMS.
IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO MY HOME,
I'VE GOT A PICTURE OF ME SHAKING HANDS WITH GEORGE BUSH
IN THE OVAL OFFICE THE WEEK AFTER 9/11,
AND HE SIGNED IT TO ME PERSONALLY.
THAT WILL BE A VERY VALUABLE HEIRLOOM
THAT WILL BE IN MY FAMILY-- I HOPE, IF JESUS TARRIES--
GENERATION AFTER--
I MEAN, CAN YOU IMAGINE IF YOU HAD A PICTURE
OF YOUR GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GRANDFATHER
SHAKING HANDS WITH ABRAHAM LINCOLN?
I MEAN, HOW VALUABLE THAT MIGHT BE?
YOU'RE JUST LIKE, "MAN," BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT'S NOT WHAT I'D TAKE OUT OF MY HOUSE.
IF I COULD ONLY TAKE ONE THING OUT OF MY HOUSE,
I'D TAKE THIS.
AND I'D GET EVERYONE I COULD,
'CAUSE I'VE GOT THESE IN BINDERS
GOING ALL THE WAY BACK FOR 27 YEARS.
THIS IS MY SPIRITUAL JOURNAL.
NOW LET ME JUST GO AHEAD
AND KIND OF GIVE YOU A LITTLE WARNING ABOUT SOMETHING.
BE VERY CAREFUL HOW YOU TREAT ME.
YOU COULD WIND UP IN THAT BOOK.
[laughter]
OH, YEAH, THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THAT BOOK.
THERE ARE THE JUDAS ISCARIOTS.
THEY'RE IN MY BOOK.
THE SANBALLATS AND THE TOBIAHS, THEY'RE IN THERE.
THAT'S WHY I'VE SAID TO MY FAMILY,
"DO NOT OPEN THIS UNTIL AFTER I'M GONE.
"AFTER I'M GONE, GIVE IT TO THE NEW YORK TIMES.
DON'T OPEN IT TILL AFTER I'M GONE."
NOW, IN ALL SERIOUSNESS,
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT'S IN MY SPIRITUAL JOURNAL.
YOU KNOW WHAT'S IN THAT JOURNAL FOR 27 YEARS?
I WOULD NOT LITERALLY TAKE
$50 MILLION FOR MY SPIRITUAL JOURNALS.
IT'S ALL THE THINGS THAT GOD SAID TO ME
AND ALL THE THINGS THAT GOD DID IN ME
AND ALL THE THINGS GOD'S DONE THROUGH ME
ALL THROUGH THE YEARS.
I ENCOURAGE YOU: GET OUT OF HERE TODAY.
DO IT ON YOUR IPAD, DO IT ON YOUR IMAC,
GO BUY A NOTEBOOK AND WALMART.
I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO.
BUT BEGINNING TODAY,
WHEN GOD SAYS SOMETHING TO YOU OUT OF HIS WORD,
WRITE IT DOWN.
WHEN GOD COMES THROUGH FOR YOU IN A GREAT WAY,
WRITE IT DOWN.
WHEN GOD ANSWERS A PRAYER IN YOUR LIFE,
WRITE IT DOWN.
YOU LEAD SOMEBODY TO FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST,
WRITE IT DOWN.
AND YOU WON'T BELIEVE AS YOU GO BACK THROUGH THE YEARS
HOW THAT WILL STRENGTHEN YOU AND ENCOURAGE YOU.
SO HERE'S THE LAST THING, AND I'LL MAKE THIS SUPER BRIEF.
HERE'S THE LAST THING.
REACH OUT IN PRAYER.
I KNOW YOU KNOW THIS,
BUT REACH OUT IN PRAYER.
I'LL JUST KIND OF SUMMARIZE,
AND I'LL BE DONE.
PRAYER'S HARD WORK.
IN FACT, LET ME JUST TELL YOU THIS.
IF YOU'RE SETTING OUT THERE AND YOU SAID,
"I DON'T KNOW, MAN, PRAYER'S EASY."
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO PRAY.
PRAYER'S NOT EASY.
IT'S HARD--HARDEST THING I DO IS THE CHRISTIAN'S PRAY.
IT'S HARD.
IT'S HARD FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.
NUMBER ONE, THE DEVIL DOESN'T WANT YOU TO DO IT.
I MEAN, WHY DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU GO TO PRAY--
WHY IS IT WHEN YOU GO TO PRAY,
YOUR MIND STARTS WANDERING AFTER, LIKE--
YOU'LL GO, "DEAR LORD," AND THEN THE NEXT THOUGHT IS,
"MAN, I NEED TO ANSWER THAT EMAIL."
"PRECIOUS FATHER-- BOY, I'M HUNGRY."
"OH, GOD-- DID THE YANKEES WIN LAST NIGHT?"
WHY IS THAT?
'CAUSE PRAYER'S HARD WORK,
AND IT CAN GET MONOTONOUS,
AND IT CAN GET BORING,
SO HERE'S WHAT I DO--
AND I'VE LEARNED A LITTLE SECRET.
I HAVE DIVIDED UP MY JOURNAL INTO DIFFERENT DAYS OF THE WEEK.
SOME OF YOUR NAMES ARE IN HERE, AND I MEAN THIS IN A GOOD WAY.
SEE, ON MONDAY,
THERE'S SOME OF YOU THAT I PRAY FOR EVERY MONDAY.
GOD'S LAID IT ON MY HEART.
SOME OF YOU KNOW WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT
'CAUSE I TEXT YOU OCCASIONALLY,
LET YOU KNOW I'M PRAYING FOR YOU.
PRAY EVERY MONDAY.
GOOD EXAMPLE:
YOU COULD CALL MARK RICHT UP TODAY,
COACH OF UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA.
YOU COULD ASK COACH RICHT THIS QUESTION.
"HEY, COACH,
TELL ME ONE THING YOU KNOW ABOUT JAMES MERRITT."
YOU KNOW WHAT HE'LL TELL YOU?
"HE PRAYS FOR ME EVERY MONDAY."
CERTAIN PEOPLE I PRAY FOR.
MONDAYS, I PRAY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING WITH CANCER,
PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK,
PEOPLE HAVE ILLNESSES AND DEBILITATING DISEASES.
SOME OF YOU I PRAY FOR EVERY MONDAY.
TUESDAY, I PRAY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE FAR FROM GOD.
MY WIFE AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE THURSDAY NIGHT--
YOU MAYBE KNOW THIS, BUT MAY NOT KNOW THIS,
BUT I LED MY NEIGHBOR TO CHRIST.
I THINK I MAY HAVE TOLD YOU THE STORY.
HE DIED OF ESOPHAGEAL CANCER.
I LED HIM TO THE LORD LAST YEAR.
DID HIS FUNERAL IN FEBRUARY.
HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET UP WITH HIS WIDOW.
HER NAME'S JACKIE.
SHE WOULDN'T MIND ME TELLING YOU A STORY.
WE TOOK HER OUT TO A MEXICAN RESTAURANT THURSDAY NIGHT.
SHARED THE GOSPEL WITH HER.
SHE PRAYED TO RECEIVE CHRIST.
WROTE THAT IN MY JOURNAL.
GOT IT DOWN.
BUT I'VE BEEN PRAYING FOR JACKIE FOR ALMOST 14 MONTHS
TO COME TO CHRIST.
WEDNESDAY, I PRAY FOR PASTORS AND PREACHERS AND EVANGELISTS
AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE MINISTRY.
THURSDAY, I PRAY FOR POLITICIANS.
I PRAY FOR THE PRESIDENT, I PRAY FOR OUR SENATORS, CONGRESSMEN,
SO I PRAY FOR THEM.
FRIDAY, I PRAY FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS
AND MISSIONARIES ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
PEOPLE THAT I KNOW THAT ARE OUT THERE ON THE MISSION FIELD.
SOME I COULD EVEN TELL YOU ABOUT.
AND THEN EVERY DAY,
I'VE GOT KIND OF MY PERSONAL LITTLE DAILY PRAYER LIST
I ALWAYS PRAY ABOUT.
PRAY FOR MY WIFE, MY KIDS, MY GRANDKIDS.
PRAYER FOR MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, PRAY FOR MY PARENTS, MY IN-LAWS.
AND SO CERTAIN PEOPLE THAT I PRAY FOR.
AND IT'S JUST THE WAY I CONNECT WITH GOD,
SO THAT'S JUST KIND THE WAY I DO IT.
NOW LET ME JUST KIND OF WRAP THIS UP,
AND WE'RE GONNA BE DONE.
IF YOU DRAW NEAR TO GOD,
YOU WILL HEAR FROM GOD.
SAY THAT WITH ME.
IF YOU'LL DRAW NEAR TO GOD,
YOU'LL HEAR FROM GOD.
THE CLOSER YOU GET TO JESUS,
THE MORE YOU'LL BE LIKE JESUS.
AND THE MORE YOU BECOME LIKE JESUS,
THE MORE PEOPLE WANT TO GET CLOSE TO YOU.
IF YOU'RE HERE TODAY,
AND YOU'VE NEVER TRUSTED JESUS CHRIST
AS YOUR LORD AND AS YOUR SAVIOR,
MAYBE YOU'RE LIKE THAT LADY THAT CAME UP TO ME AT 9:30.
SHE WAS THE FIRST ONE IN LINE.
SHE DIDN'T SAY A WORD.
SHE JUST HANDED ME HER CARD.
DIDN'T SAY A THING.
I LOOKED AT HER CARD, READ HER NAME,
CHECKED OFF THAT BOX.
"I PRAYED TODAY TO RECEIVE CHRIST AS MY LORD AND SAVIOR."
SHE WAS SO EXCITED.
SHE SAID, "NOW I GET TO DRAW CLOSE AND PERSONAL
WITH GOD, DON'T I?"
I SAID, "YES, MA'AM, YOU DO."
IF YOU'RE HERE TODAY,
AND YOU DO NOT HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
WITH GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST,
THAT'S WHY JESUS CAME.
THAT'S WHY JESUS DIED.
SO YOU CAN HAVE THAT ETERNAL, INTIMATE,
UP-CLOSE-AND-PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
announcer: IS IT HARD FOR YOU TO BELIEVE
THAT THE SAME GOD WHO CREATED THE UNIVERSE
DEEPLY DESIRES TO SPEND TIME WITH YOU?
IT'S TRUE.
HE LONGS FOR YOU TO DRAW NEAR TO HIM,
TO REVEAL HIMSELF TO YOU AS YOU'VE NEVER SEEN HIM.
IF YOU ARE NOT SURE HOW TO APPROACH SPENDING TIME WITH GOD,
CALL TOUCHING LIVES TODAY AT:
NOTHING TAKES THE PLACE OF ACTUALLY SPENDING QUALITY TIME
WITH SOMEONE THAT YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT.
YOU CAN DAYDREAM ABOUT SPENDING TIME TOGETHER,
PLAN CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE,
OR EVEN TALK TO OTHERS ABOUT IT,
BUT IF YOU NEVER ACTUALLY SPEND TIME WITH THAT PERSON,
YOU CAN BECOME DISTANT AND DISCONNECTED.
THE SAME IS TRUE WITH YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
LEARN HOW TO DRAW NEAR TO HIM IN THE SERIES
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.
ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY AT TOUCHINGLIVES.ORG.
OR CALL:
CDs $25, DVDs $45.
NOW A LOOK AT THE NEXT TOUCHING LIVES.
Merritt: WHEN YOU START THINKING ABOUT A GOD WHO LOVES YOU
EVEN THOUGH YOU DIDN'T DESERVE IT,
WHEN YOU START THINKING ABOUT A GOD WHO SENT HIS SON
FOR YOU TO DIE FOR SOMETHING YOU DID,
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A GOD THAT'S EVEN GONE
TO THE LENGTHS TO CREATE AN ETERNAL HOME
WHERE YOU CAN SPEND ETERNITY WITH HIM,
HOW CAN YOU NOT BE FILLED WITH GRATITUDE?
announcer: AT TOUCHING LIVES,
IT'S OUR PASSION TO SHARE THE HOPE OF CHRIST
WITH THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET EXPERIENCED THE LOVE
THAT CAN ONLY BE FOUND IN HIM.
IT'S WITH THE FAITH-FILLED PRAYERS
AND GENEROUS FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF OUR DONORS
THAT WE JOURNEY TOGETHER,
SHARING THE GOOD NEWS THROUGH EVERY AVAILABLE MEDIA OUTLET.
WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
- ♪ TOUCHING LIVES ♪