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- [00:00]
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Hebrews, chapter 12, verses 28 and 29.
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We only got a few more Sundays to read it, y'all. So those of you who just been waiting to really yell it out with everything that's within you, this is your Sunday to do it. Y'all ready? Come on, as one big family. Let's go.
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Do you see what we've got?
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An unshakable kingdom.
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And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship.
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Deeply reverent before God.
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For God is not an indifferent bystander. He is actively cleaning house, torching all.
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That needs to burn.
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And he won't quit until it's all cleansed. God himself. You sound good. Can I be real with y'all? I don't know how I'm gonna top that next year. Like, I already know what the word.
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Is for next year.
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I already know what the scripture is. And I'm still trying to find a.
- [00:55]
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Way to read that scripture the way we did that himself. It's gonna be hard. Y'all pray for your boy. Remain standing. We're gonna go to our text that we'll be teaching from today in the Gospel of Luke. Come on. Luke, chapter one. On December 1st, as we begin this Advent season, the Gospel according to Luke. And I want to look at verses 11 through 20. When you're ready to read it, say, yeah. If you still hear a page turning, that's a good sound. Whoever that is, you super save brought your page Bible to church. Luke, chapter number one. And we'll start at verse number 11. And it declares. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him. That him is Zacharias, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard. And your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. And you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness. And many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great. Here it is in the sight of.
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The Lord that just blessed my soul. Because a lot of people want to be great.
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But you got to ask yourself, do.
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You want to be great, or do you want to be great in the sight of the The Lord? Because sometimes you can be great in the sight of the Lord, but not.
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In the sight of other people. But you got to be comfortable enough to say, in the sight of the Lord. Y'all really gonna make me work today. I can tell. I Can tell.
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It's cool.
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I came prepared for it. He will be great in the sight of the Lord. Uh oh.
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And shall drink neither wine nor strong drink.
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No Hennessy, No Patron, no Crown Royal, no tequila. You laughing? You're telling on yourself.
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He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
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And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
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He will also go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to.
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The children, and though disobedient to the.
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Wisdom of the just, to make ready.
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A people prepared for the Lord.
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Zechariah said to the angel, how shall I know this? He talking to an angel, talking about, how can I be sure he's talking to an angel, talking about, I really need a sign to know this is true. How can I know? For I'm an old man. Here comes the excuses. And my wife is well advanced in years.
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Husband, take note.
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Take note. He said I'm old.
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She ain't old, she's just well advanced.
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You knew better than that. Don't call her old. And the angel answered and said to him, I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.
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But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be.
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Fulfilled in their own time.
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That's good stuff. That's good stuff.
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One more time. It's verse 20 for me. And the angel answered and said to him, I am.
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You know, he had an attitude when.
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He said, I am Gabriel.
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But behold, you'll be muted, not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words. By the way, it's gonna happen, but.
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You ain't gonna say nothing until it comes to pass. In other words, if this. If this angel Gabriel could sing, I.
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Think he would have said my title for the day. He would have said this to Zechariah. Don't believe me, just watch.
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Don't believe me, just watch. Look at your neighbor for the last time and say, oh, neighbor, don't believe me. Just watch.
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Look at the other neighbor you ignored.
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Get right in their face. Say, other neighbor, don't believe me, just watch. You ought to give God some praise like there's some stuff that you gonna see come to pass. Somebody ought to shout like, you know, this year isn't over and God still has some things that he's gonna ful Year. Don't believe me? Just watch.
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Father speak today.
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Amen. You may be seated in the presence of the Lord.
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Don't believe me?
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Just watch.
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Last week, my parents, Robert and Evelyn Medus Sr. Who we affectionately call Pastor Senior and Pastor Honey, celebrated. Watch this. 41 years of marriage.
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I got the mic. I can embarrass y'all. Go stand up. Stand up. 41 a year. Are y'all still together? They sitting separate. No, I'm kidding.
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Like, those are the last 41.
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No, I'm kidding. 41 years. That's four decades plus one. That's a big deal. 41 years since my Nigerian father pulled up in the library on the collegiate.
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Campus of Texas A and M Commerce.
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And saw my mama sitting in his seat in the library, so I'm told. And then he pulled up on her.
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And said, excuse me, are you Nigerian?
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To where she quickly replied and said, no, I'm American. But from that conversation, 41 years of marriage. That's pretty incredible. And because I am their oldest son and I want to continue to be their favorite child, I wanted to bless them for their 41st wedding anniversary. And so I said, hey, I want y'all to go on a trip. I'm gonna cover the trip. You pick the place.
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And they took a little quick trip last week to Hot Springs, Arkansas.
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They took a trip to Hot Springs in the house. And I told them, I said, y'all go relax, enjoy. It's on me. I said, have fun, but don't have too much fun. I said, don't have too much fun. Cause I'm crazy. Cause I am not trying to have another sibling.
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Amen.
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To which my mom started to laugh. She said, boy, you crazy. I said, no, I'm for real. I need y'all to help watch my kids. I'm not trying to watch y'all kids. Don't have too much fun. Then she really laughed. She said, boy, yeah, right. And my mom's yeah, right, let me know that although she is a woman of God, woman of faith, a woman of prayer, she is not familiar with Luke, chapter one, verse number 37, which declares that there is nothing impossible for God. She lets me know that she's really not familiar with the beginning of Luke, chapter one, where Dr. Luke, who is going to great detail to give us an account.
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Watch this.
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Of the birth and the life and.
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The death of Jesus Christ himself.
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And yet Dr. Luke feels like it's.
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Necessary to begin his detailed account. Not so much telling you about the birth, the miraculous birth, or rather the Impregnation of a virgin named Mary.
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Dr. Luke says, no, I want to.
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Start talking about the miraculous conception of a senior citizen by the name of Elizabeth.
- [08:41]
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Dr. Luke, who is giving a great, detailed and accurate account, says, I want to back up a little bit. And although we gonna to the birth of Jesus, I first want you to know about the birth of John, because before there was Jesus, there was the birth of John. Luke wants you to know that before Gabriel ever made a cameo appearance and appeared to Mary, he first appeared to an old man named Zacharias in the temple. Luke says, first things first, I'm going to get to Jesus, but let's first.
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Deal with the birth of.
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Of John. I think that's imperative to note because some of you might not even be familiar with the story of Zachariah and Elizabeth. And the reason you're not familiar with it is because nobody really talks about Zachariah and Elizabeth. Mary and Joseph get all the shine.
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That's all we ever talk about is Mary and Joseph.
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We are obsessed with that scene right there. I did my due diligence while I was working on this message. I called Hobby Lobby and I tried to see, do y'all have a Zachariah, Elizabeth, and Baby John the Baptist nativity scene? They don't have one. They only have one nativity scene. And y'all, we are obsessed with that scene. And that scene is necessary. We should look at that scene. But how many of you know, you don't know the power of a scene unless you understand the full story. See, it is the power of the full story that gives you context to understand the power of the scene. And I'm afraid every holiday season, we're so focused on just the scene, the nativity scene, that we never do what Dr. Luke does and go back to see what is the story that is connected to the scene. You got to look at more than just the scene. Can I take my time today? Can you imagine? Can you imagine just, just, just play with me today? Can you imagine somebody saying, oh, I.
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Love Titanic, like, that's my movie. You're like, really? Yes, my favorite. It's just.
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It's just a great love story.
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And you're like, you think so? They're like, yes.
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And you ask them, like, have you seen the whole movie? They're like, no. Every Christmas, I just watch one scene, and that's the scene where Jack and Rose on the edge of the boat with their arms. That's why I love it. It's a great love story. I just watch that Scene. Every single Christmas, you will look at them and say, hey, you might want to watch the whole movie so you can get context of what really happened. I'm afraid we do. Every single Christmas, we just look at the scene and we don't ever look back to see what is the story that's connected to the scene, because it's the story that gives its scene power. You got to look at the whole story. You got to know that God did not just show up in Bethlehem, but if you read your Bible, he was showing up way before Bethlehem. He was making appearances, showing his power. That's why you got to read even those boring genealogies where it's baby daddy after baby daddy after baby daddy after baby daddy. Because God is showing you that I had a plan the entire time Grace is in those genealogies and God is showing you I had a plan to make my way into the Earth. Matter of fact, he had a plan all the way in the Garden of Eden when he looks at Eve and says, I know you're sad right now because you think the Devil got you, but guess what? Your seed is gonna crush the serpent's head. Oh, I want a praise break right here. Because God doesn't even play checkers. He plays chess because he did not respond to Adam and Eve's fall by sending his son how many know he already knew before the foundation of the Earth, before they ever made the mistake that he was going to send his one and only son to be slain. That means before the enemy had a scheme, God had a plan and already knew what he was doing. I want to praise God because nothing surprises him when the enemy thinks he's attacking my life. God says, I already factored in her mistakes. I already factored in when he would mess up and my Grace is going to show up and you'll still see, Devil, that I had a plan the entire time. I feel like preaching. Y'all recording this? I'm gonna watch it later. You don't know the power of the scene unless you know the whole story. That's why people got you jacked up. Because some people in your life are still stuck on a scene that they saw, and you need to tell them you're stuck on that scene. But God is writing a story in my life, and he's not done with me yet. You stuck on the scene. You need to know the full story. So Dr. Luke. Dr. Luke says, I want to make.
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Sure that you don't only know this.
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Power couple named Mary and Joseph. You got to know the Power couple, Zachariah and Elizabeth.
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Oh, I love them.
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AARP card, senior citizens.
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But the Bible says they were faithful. They were blameless. That'll make you shout. That makes me shout because I love faithful people. Zechariah and Elizabeth were faithful. They served. Zechariah was a priest, as a matter of fact, his wife Elizabeth, she was of the priestly lineage. And they served in the temple and they served the house of God. And they were consistent and faithful. We don't celebrate consistency in our culture today. We celebrate intensity.
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We celebrate tiktoks. Anybody can be dope for five seconds. I want to see somebody that's been faithful for years.
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People that just keep showing up, that are just faithful.
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You see why faithfulness gets that little golf clap? Because the reward of faithfulness is actually.
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To be taken for granted.
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You know you've been faithful when people just expect you to show up because that's what you do. You ain't faithful. When people are like, you actually came, you mean you showed up. You ain't reached faithfulness yet. But when you are faithful, people will actually take you for granted because they know you're always there. They know you always gonna set up the chair. They know you always gonna be there. Faithfulness is hard to find. Oh, it's the consistency for me. I love faith. When I go out, I'm not impressed with no couple that you all over each other and they're like, that don't impress me.
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I love to see an old couple.
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Walk in a restaurant, take 30 minutes.
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Just to get to their seat, sit down and won't say nothing. The whole dinner they done said everything. And then they can look at each other, know when it's time to go.
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Oh, I love it. I love when I go to the gym. I'm not impressed with you, player. If you, ah, bench pressing 350, making all kinds of noise so somebody can see you, I'm not impressed with you, dog. I'm impressed with the dude that's like 80 something in the gym walk in. I mean, short still here, crumbled up Adidas side walk up in there, don't got much weight, just got a little five pound, but just still killing it. Faithfulness to keep showing up. And some of you will never understand the reward of faithfulness because you're so quick to leave, so quick to quit when you get offended. That's why we end every service, say.
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If you keep showing up.
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I'm trying to help some of y'all get into the blessing that comes from being faithful. Zechariah and Elizabeth were faithful.
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The Bible says they walked blameless before the Lord. Doesn't mean they were perfect. It just means they had long obedience in the same direction. Faithful showing up. Ooh, Zechariah. His name means God remembers Elizabeth's name. Watch this.
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Means his oath.
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Zechariah means God remembers Elizabeth means his oath. Put it together. God remembers his oath.
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Every time they walked into a room.
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God remembers his oath.
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Every time they posted a picture, God remembers his promise. Every time they showed up somewhere, they.
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Were declaring that God remembers his oath, but they were unable to have a child. Isn't that interesting? It says their names literally mean God remembers his promise, and yet they're unable to hold a promise of their own. Their name translates to mean God remembers he'll never forget his promise to you, and yet they've never been able to experience the joy of having their own child. There's some people in this room today that know what that pain is like. And I don't want to minimize that pain. But can I dare say that in the biblical context, the pain was more because there was such a shame attached to it in biblical days. So much so that people would quietly conclude that the reason you weren't able to produce a child is because there was some hidden sin in your life, that there was something that you did. So imagine the pain of being faithful, of being blameless, but still having to deal with the whispers of other people saying, I wonder what Zach did because they can't have a kid. Wonder what secret stuff Elizabeth has going on since they're unable to produce a child. And it's one thing if this happened in your 20s, there's another thing if it happened in your 30s. But when you start getting up in your 60s, how many know you probably put that promise from God on the shelf. And they say, I believed God at one point in my life, but now I can because I'm old, and here I am walking around with the name that is contradictory to my circumstance. Have you ever been there where you were walking around with a name that God called you, but it felt contradictory to what you're going through? So God says, I'm free and free indeed, but yet I can't stop looking at pornography? God says I'm free. I'm free indeed, and yet I'm addicted to alcohol? What do you do when your name is contradictory to your circumstance and nothing you're going through matches up with what you say God has called you and you've been dealing with it for a Long time. It's interesting. The Bible says that they're old. Old. Any old people in here. If you're old, make some noise. If you're young, make some noise.
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Some of y'all don't know which category you in. Which is cool. Cause I am convinced that there's a difference between chronological age and psychological age. I know some young people who are old. Oh, and I mean old. They just stuck in their ways. I mean young, but still old. Act like they seen everything, ain't even got a passport, but not impressed with anything. I have met some young people who act. I've met some old people. Oh, don't get it twisted. They act young. They have a vibrancy of spirit. I am convinced there's a difference between your chronological age and your actual mental, psychological age. It's interesting because the Bible says they're old. And I think this is important to talk about because in biblical days and even today, have you noticed there's often division between age? Age is a place of division. It shouldn't be. But sometimes age is a place of division even more than gender and race. It is amazing to me to see the distance that we'll create between each other because of age. Even in this church. Even in this church, I have heard older people say, well, I can't go to social. That's the young people church. I'm like, are you kidding me? If there was ever a generation that needed your wisdom, if there was ever a generation that needed spiritual mothers and spiritual fathers, hello, it's this generation right here. Can I just tell you the church that I see? I see a church where every generation is able to come in together and lift up holy hands and give God praise. Social Dallas will be a church where baby boomers and Gen Xers and millennials and Gen Alpha and Gen Z can all come together and give God praise. Some of us might do it from our seat, some of us might turn up at the front, but we all giving God praise. That's the power of what the church supposed to be. Generations coming together. This is why this building is so critical. Do you realize we're about to have a pillar in the city of Dallas? And we can declare that from birth to senior citizen age or until you die, here is a church right here in Dallas that you can come in and you can be formed spiritually and have purpose. I'm telling you, it is critical. Watch this. That generations collaborate and come together. Well, can you prove it in the text? Absolutely. Why in the world would God so set it up that a young Mary who got a pregnancy she wasn't asking for and an old Elizabeth who got a pregnancy she was asking for. Two different generations had to connect with each other. Why would God so set up the Christmas story that an old Elizabeth had to connect with a young Mary? Because something powerful happens whenever generations come together. This is why every Paul needs a Timothy. This is why every Moses needs a Joshua. This is why every Peter needed a John. And in the first miracle of the New Testament, it was Peter that ran up and said, silver and gold I do not have. But what we do have, we give you older generation, you need the younger generation. Younger generation, you need the older generation. Cuz miracles happen when we come together. Preach, Robert. Don't let the enemy talk you out of community. Cause you're saying I'm to this, I'm to that.
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Cause here they were old. Matter of fact, I don't think you.
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Know what old is.
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Can I ask you, how old are you? Yeah, how old are you? Can I ask you.
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I don't want to ask you your actual age because you need to understand.
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In the kingdom of God, age has nothing to do with how wrinkled your skin is, whether everything upstairs has moved downstairs and refuses to go back upstairs.
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Age has nothing to do. Some of y'all get that tomorrow.
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Age has nothing to do with how many teeth you have in your mouth in the kingdom of God. Watch this. Your age has everything to do with the faith that you have to believe God for the impossible. You know you're getting old when you stop believing God to do the impossible. You know you're getting old when you have been dealing with a situation for so long that you have now concluded God can't do anything with this. It is what it is. That is when you are old. Age in the kingdom of God has everything to do with your ability to believe God to do the impossible. So I want to ask you again, how old are you? When was the last time that you believed God could do anything? When was the last time that you believed that God could actually answer your prayer? Or have you become Zacharias who was so old? Yes, he was going through the motions of prayer, but he didn't believe that God would actually do it.
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Can you prove it in the text?
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Cause an angel showed up and said.
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Your prayers have been answered. And he's like, how can I know? That's how you know you really owe. Because you pray for something and then when God actually doesn't, you reject what you pray for. That's when you Know. You gotta know. That's why people say, I want revival. Do you. I want God to bring in the loss. Do you really, though? Because if he brought in the lost, that might mess up your cute church Sunday service. Lost people smell like lost people. Lost people dress like lost people. Be careful if you're really praying for a harvest, because if God answers it, you might go, I don't know if I want this.
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How old are you? Because your ability to answer that question rests on your ability to believe God for the impossible. Ooh, we're in the Christmas season. Have you lost your awe? Like, have you lost your wonder to believe? Have you lost the ability to go, wow? When was the last time you said wow? Are you so cynical that you don't even believe God can do the impossible? When was the last time you said, wow? When was the last time you said it backwards? This is why I love the Christmas season, because the Christmas season returns us to this childlike belief that God can do anything.
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No wonder God had to come as.
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A baby, because a baby makes you go, wow.
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You cannot hold a baby and not.
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Change your face or your voice.
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It's impossible. If you hold a baby and you.
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Say, what's up, baby?
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You are an axe murderer. Baby people make a thug go, hey.
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Because there's something about wonder.
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There's something about awe. That's why I love this season we had with our three little humans.
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It's funny.
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Oh, it made me cry. Crowd this week because, oh, I gotta be careful. Because two of the three of our.
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Children are still in awe that the elf is moving. One has lost the wonder. And it broke my heart because I realized she doesn't have the wow anymore. And I was like, you ought to get your wow back. I miss you going, did it move again like the other two? But fast forward to that same child who, when we walked the look theater for the first time and we were putting in offers, and we first came in at 12.8 and they finally accepted at 15.5, and I was telling her it was 15.5 million, and she was.
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Like, oh, Daddy, that's not a lot. I was like, well.
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That'S just to get it. It amazed me because she has no context for what big is. She has no context for what a lot is. She believes God can do anything. Do you believe he can do the impossible? Having a childlike faith is so critical that when Jesus was talking to his disciples one day, who tried to shoo away the social kids, they're gone. Somewhere. He says, hold on, Bring them up to the front. Bring them up to the front. He says, you can't even enter or understand my kingdom unless you become like this child. Which messed me up because I read.
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The whole Bible and I'm confused because.
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The Apostle Paul says that when I was a child, I thought like a child, I spoke like a child, I acted like a child.
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But when I became a man, I.
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Put away childish things.
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But then Jesus says, you can't even.
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Understand or enter the kingdom of God unless you become like a child.
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And I said, hold up.
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Is this contradictory?
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God said, no, there's a difference. There's a difference between being childlike and childish. Childish is immaturity. Childish is when you come to church and everything has to be about you, and if it doesn't meet your needs, you out. Have you noticed children don't make contributions. They just make complaints about what they need. But as you get older, you realize, I gotta do something and make a conscience. Childish is immaturity. Childlike is when you say God can do exceedingly, abundantly, above all I could ask, think or imagine. Childlike faith says anything can happen.
- [29:32]
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I love what G.K. chesterton, the great philosopher, said. He said, fairy tales do not tell children dragons exist. Children already know the dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed. He's speaking to the reality that we are wired with this wonder that anything could happen. And I am pleading with you to not become a Zacharias who watch this, walks into the temple one day to perform his priestly duty of putting the incense on the altar. He didn't even realize. Just the fact that he is doing this is a miracle.
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Understand? In that time period, there are some scholars say 20,000 priests at the time, 20,000 priests. And they would only pick one priest twice a year to perform a priestly duty. So the way they would do it was Vegas style. Lots. So for you to even get picked was like you winning the lottery. He didn't even realize. Just the fact that you have been picked to do this is a miracle. Because God always sets you up before the miracle happens. Have you ever noticed just the fact.
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That out of the 20,000 priests, Zechariah, they've called your name?
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Do you know how many years he would have gone and they would have.
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Never called his name?
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He was young, me, old, Lots. No, okay, never mind. Every year, me. No, until he's old. Zechariah, it's you. Huh? They picked you. Ha. It's your turn.
- [31:17]
B
And he goes in. And here he is lighting the Incense. As the people waited outside, because the incense was a picture of the prayers of the saints. And the people would wait outside, and they would watch as the incense would go up. And it would remind them that there is a God that hears their prayers. And it would ascend to the sky. And put yourself in Zachariah's shoes. Nobody else is supposed to be in there. And here you are, your priestly duty, and you do it, and you turn around, and an angel with his chest.
- [31:56]
A
Out is standing right there. Gabriel is standing right there, y'all.
- [32:01]
B
You know, he probably had a heart attack.
- [32:03]
A
Come on, we. We got to change our imagery of these angels. You know, they show these little angels.
- [32:07]
B
Look at these little pale Gerber babies.
- [32:10]
A
Angels could not have looked like that. They had to look like Shaq or the rock. Because every time they showed up, they said, don't be afraid. Calm down. Don't pass out. Can you imagine? I know, for real. Can you imagine being in that room and book Just a angel is there, y'all. I get scared in the middle of the night when my kids just walk in and stand in the room, and I just see that silhouette. You know how the kids do? They just stand there. And you're like, what are you doing? All of a sudden, he sees Gabriel.
- [32:40]
B
And he says, guess what? Your prayer, not prayers. Prayer has been heard. The thing you've been believing for. God heard it. It's about to come to pass. And his response is, how can I be sure? How can I know if Zechariah can be looking at an angel, doubting the promise of God? I know you who ain't ever seen no angel wrestle with the tension of going, God, I know you said it would come to pass, but it's been so long, so how can I still believe? So he doubts the angel. And Gabriel goes, all right, don't believe me. Just watch. Shuts his mouth. And social famous. The fact that the angel did that makes me mad because I kept reading Luke, and I think this is some gender discrimination. Read it when you get to the crib. But Gabriel, which, by the way, he only makes two cameo appearances in the New Testament to Zechariah and to Mary.
- [34:07]
A
Shows up to Zechariah, hey, God heard your prayer. You gonna have a son. He's gonna be great. You don't get to name him. His name is John. How can this be? What, don't believe me? Just watch. Booyah, cow. You can't talk. He leaves Judea and then goes to Nazareth, shows up to Mary, same speech, read it. When you get to the crib, Mary, you're highly favored.
- [34:33]
B
Guess what?
- [34:34]
A
You're gonna have a child, gonna be great. You don't get to name him. Name is Jesus. And she goes, how's this gonna happen?
- [34:42]
B
And he goes, well, baby girl, the.
- [34:46]
A
Holy Spirit's gonna overshadow you. That ain't fair. How come Mary doesn't get silenced and Zechariah does?
- [34:58]
B
Had to go back to the text and realize they said different things. Zechariah wanted proof that it was going to come to pass. Zechariah said, I'll believe it when I see it. Mary did not need proof that it was going to come to pass. Mary received the word from the angel. She even said, let it be to me, according to your word.
- [35:28]
A
She already knew it was going to come to pass. She just asked the question, how are.
- [35:32]
B
You going to do it?
- [35:33]
A
But the fact that God was going to do it, she was already settled on that. And there's a difference between going, God, how you going to make a way? And saying, God, I need you to prove to me that you going to make a way. Oh, there's a difference between speaking out of doubt and speaking out of faith and confidence. And Mary, this teenage girl had more faith than somebody that had been in the church a whole lot long time saying, I don't know if, whether how you're gonna do it. I just know that you are gonna do it. And I came to tell somebody, you need to be a Mary. Whenever God gives you a word, say, God, I already know you're gonna do it. I just want to know how you're gonna do it. And that ought to make you shout, that ought to make you praise. Can I contextualize it? I know God's gonna make a way for us to get this building. I don't know how we gonna get the millions. I just know he gonna do it. So I'm gonna start praising him now before I ever step into it. I don't need him to prove it to me. He's already given me a word and I wish I had somebody in here that would give God some praise in advance. Cuz you already know he's going to do it. You just don't know how he's going to do it. I know he's going to give me the job. I just don't know how he going to give me the job. I know he's going to heal my body. I just don't know how he's going to do it. Mary. Mary was settled that God could do it.
- [37:00]
B
Zachariah needed some proof, so the angel, somebody come play so I can land a plane. Oh, you already there, Barry.
- [37:12]
A
How angelic of you. Zechariah said, prove it.
- [37:19]
B
Angel said, all right. You want me to prove it when you're already standing here in my presence? You will say nothing until the miracle comes to pass. Mary, she believed it when he said it. She just said, how? Said the Holy Spirit's going to overshadow you. She said, okay, let it be to me according to your word. That's a good declaration for you to say, Lord, let it be to me. Not according to my word. Not according to my wish list. Let it be to me according to your word. I wish I had time. It's interesting how God displayed the miracles between these two women. Mary wasn't asking for this miracle. She wasn't praying for God to wreck her wedding plans. God just did it. The Holy Spirit just overshadowed her. And here's what Mary had to do. Hear me. She had to endure the ridicule of birthing the purpose of God, just like some of you.
- [38:44]
A
You're like God. Use me.
- [38:46]
B
Are you ready?
- [38:46]
A
Though.
- [38:50]
B
She had to endure the whispers walking into the marketplace. It's that crazy girl talking about God got her pregnant. She had to deal with her husband. Thank God she chose the right one. Who? She had problems going, how do I explain this to him? But look at how God took care of it. Because an angel visited Joseph, she picked the right one.
- [39:19]
A
In that culture, Joseph had every right to disown her.
- [39:25]
B
And even by Levitical law, perhaps stone her. Look what Joseph does, ladies. Pick the right one. He says, I'm just going to divorce her quietly until an angel speaks to him in a dream and says, this is from the Lord. Because when you trust God and you endure the ridicule, he will take care of it. His reputation is on the line. He will make sure that he speaks to the right people. You don't have to fight your battles. So marriages have to had to endure the ridicule.
- [40:03]
A
But did you notice? Zechariah's miracle was different. With Zechariah, God just opened up Elizabeth's womb. That means Zechariah had to leave the temple that day and go do his part. Do I need to explain it? God said, I've opened up her womb. Nobody else could do that. But ain't gonna be no Holy Spirit overshadowing Elizabeth. Zechariah, you gonna have to go home and do your part. And look at how God set it up. He can't talk. So, you know, he walked home, and Elizabeth's like, finally, you listened to me. I just feel a connection with you now. Cause you're actually listening. He had to do his part.
- [41:02]
B
See, a lot of people want God to do the miracle, but we don't want to do our part. God will do a miracle, but you gotta do your part.
- [41:11]
A
You gotta apply for the job. You gotta. You single. He'll do your part. He ain't gonna do your part. You. You gotta get the rollers out of your hair and get an environment with some eligible dudes. Hello. You just can't be in the house unless you just want a doordash, dude. How is God gonna do it if you don't do your part? Come on. We in miracle season. God has opened up an opportunity for us to get a building. But you gotta do your part. Oh, somebody else gonna give. Somebody else gonna get a blessing too. You gotta do your part.
- [41:47]
B
So he opened up her womb. Zachariah had to do his part. And here he is. Watch this. Thank God that Mary and Elizabeth had each other, because who else could relate to what they were going through? If you are a Mary, you gotta fight to find you and Elizabeth. I need somebody that when I am believing God for the supernatural, I don't need you opening up your mouth, casting doubt.
- [42:20]
A
I need somebody that will encourage my faith. Oh, you know what happened when they got together? As soon as Mary went to go see Elizabeth, you know what happened? John the Baptist on the inside side of Elizabeth leaped in her womb as soon as they met, as if the babies knew, we gonna have this happen again. Right now, we're in the water in our mama's bellies. But there's gonna come a time where we're gonna be in the Jordan river, in the water, and I'm gonna point and say, behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. It was a divine connection. I don't know who I'm preaching to, but God says he's about to reveal the Elizabeth that you can connect with. That'll say halle. And you say, luya. That'll say, praise up. And they'll say the Lord. That'll say, I'm believing for you. I'm believing for you, too. Make sure you got the right connection. Everybody stand.
- [43:15]
B
I got hurt.
- [43:17]
A
Watch this. Oh, it's so much. Watch this. Mary goes and visits Elizabeth. Elizabeth is already six months pregnant. Mary stays with Elizabeth for three months, just chilling in the house, having a connection. Can you see him having tea?
- [43:43]
B
Ain't God crazy?
- [43:46]
A
Yeah, girl, I wasn't even waiting, looking for a baby. She's like, girl, I thought I was too old.
- [43:50]
B
Girl, I thought I was too virgin. Look at how much.
- [43:59]
A
Look at how much God cares about the atmosphere. Because guess who else is in the house? Zachariah.
- [44:07]
B
And he can't say nothing.
- [44:10]
A
If this fool didn't believe an angel when he saw, do you know what he would have said if he would have been in the house and able to talk? And Mary said, yeah, God did this, he would have been saying all kinds of stuff. Girl, what is wrong with you? But thanks be unto God that he shut his mouth and say, you gonna watch this miracle come to pass? God, would you shut the mouths of the doubters, shut the mouths of the naysayers, shut the mouths of the people.
- [44:40]
B
Around us who want to quench our faith? And if they don't believe it, let them watch. Let them watch. Finally, after the boy has been born.
- [44:54]
A
Let's read it.
- [44:57]
B
Luke, chapter one. I think it's like, around verse 50 something. Yeah. No. Yeah. 59. John is born miraculously. So it was on the eighth day that they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. His mother answered and said, no, I.
- [45:24]
A
Know you want to go. By tradition, God is doing something new.
- [45:28]
B
He shall be called John.
- [45:31]
A
But they said to her, well, nobody in your family is called that. Nobody in your family's ever been to college. Nobody in your family's ever had a business. Nobody in your family's ever had a great marriage. Nobody in your family has ever been set free. God wants to do something different in my life. I know it runs in my family, but it stops with me because I'm about to step into something new. Because God can do the impossible. So they made signs. Zach, what would he have called him? And he asked for an iPad, writing tablet.
- [46:09]
B
And he wrote, saying, his name is John. So they all marveled and watched this. Immediately his mouth was open, his tongue loose, and he spoke. Watch this. Praising God.
- [46:26]
A
He did what he should have done nine months earlier. Because when God gives you a promise, don't doubt you ought to shout and start giving him praise. That's what Mary did. She started praising God as soon as she got the promise. That's why her mouth didn't get closed. But after nine months of just watching, he said, God, I'm ready now. I got a praise in my spirit. Now, I believe that you can.
- [46:52]
B
And I believe that there's Somebody in here today was facing an impossible situation. And you've gotten old. You've gotten old not in age, but in your faith to believe. God wants you to come as a child again to believe that anything is possible. I'm going to ask every Head be bowed, eyes be closed. How old are you? How old are you? Not your age, your faith to believe. If God could open up the womb of a senior citizen who had been living for the promise for years, you don't think he can heal your marriage? You don't think he can set you free? Our God is willing and he is able. But you need faith to believe. I don't want to be a Zacharias that has to have my mouth shut and watch the miracle come to pass. I want to be a Mary that even when God declares something that seems so impossible, my response is, let it be to me according to your word and let my mouth begin to sing the praises of a God who is able. God, thank you that you are more than able. Answer. Bowels are closed today, but if you're in here and you'd be so honest to say, hey, Pri, I've gotten old. I'm more like Zacharias than I am Mary. And I feel you. It's been a long time and the disappointment has made you believe that it's too late. And God just sent me to remind you that nothing is impossible for those who believe. So with heads bowed and eyes closed, if you're here today and you say, I know this is for me, I need that childlike faith to believe again. I believe God wants to infuse you with that childlike faith in spite of the disappointment. If that's you, would you just lift up your hand high enough and long enough to where I can see it? Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, God. God, I thank you that you know every situation. God, you know every dream that has been deferred. God, you know the circumstances the same contradictory to what we're being called. But you are still a God that remembers your oath. You remember your promise. So, Father, let it be to us according to your word. Thank you, Jesus. Can we sing that you are more than able. I just feel like some of you need to worship in the midst of the impossible situation. Come on, can you declare it?
- [50:26]
C
You are able.
- [50:31]
B
Come on, sing it from your spirit. Today God's given you childlike faith again to believe. If you need to get out of your seat and come find a place here at this altar to worship. I believe God wants to let you know he still does the impossible.
- [50:48]
A
If there's an impossible situation, God is willing and able. If you need to get out of.
- [50:53]
B
Your seat and come here to the.
- [50:54]
A
Front God we believe God we trust you. There is nothing too hard for our God we put our hope in you we put our trust in you Father.
- [51:36]
C
To deny what the Lord can do and can you imagine with all of the faith in the room what the Lord.
- [51:50]
A
Come on declare it today.
- [52:02]
C
When you what the Lord can do what the Lord can do and he's going to just like the way maker do what the Lord can do what the Lord can do Anything is possible Anything is possible Anything is possible who am I to deny what the Lord who am I who am I to get out what the Lord to deny what the Lord can do.
- [53:38]
B
Thank you Jesus.
- [53:49]
C
Thank you Jesus. You are more than.
- [54:14]
A
What the Lord.
- [54:15]
C
Can do in my what the Lord can do.
- [54:24]
B
Thank you Father. Lord, increase our faith to believe that anything is possible that nothing is too hard for you. Or at the Texas Trust Theater deepen our trust. We may not know how, but we believe you are able. And Lord, we'll do our part whatever it takes. Whatever it takes. If it's apologizing, if it's repenting, if it's getting in community and having real accountability, God, we will do our part trusting that you're a God who is more than able and you will do yours in Jesus name. Heads still bowed, eyes still close. Just one more thing. I want to give somebody an opportunity to respond by putting our faith in Jesus. We say this all the time at social. You can always come home. If you're here today and you've not experienced the greatest miracle. Watch this. Which is not a house, it's not a car, it's not a job. It's the free gift of salvation. This is why our Savior came. There's a reason why this is the highest season for depression, highest season for alcohol and drug abuse is because some people are sick songs and singing things that they haven't experienced. But can I tell you, there is hope. And hope has a name. And his name is Jesus. And you can actually experience it. He didn't just come as a baby. He lived a sinless life. Paid the price on a cross so that you could be forgiven. You don't have to earn it. You don't have to have a perfect record. You have to put your faith in the one whose record was perfect. So with heads bowed and eyes closed, even if it's just one person in this room or watching on Panda or watching online. If you say, hey, pr, I need to put my faith in Jesus. I need to give him my life. That's you. Would you just lift up your hand high enough and long enough to where I can see it? Yeah. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, God. Thank you, God. Yeah. Thank you, Lord. Anybody else? Thank you, Jesus. Come on, let's pray this prayer as one big family with those who responded. Can we say this as one big family? Would you say this from your heart? Say, jesus, I need you. Thank you so much for loving me enough to live the life that I was supposed to live. To die the death that I was supposed to. To die. You took my place. So, Jesus, my response is to give you everything. Forgive me of my sin. Make me brand new from this moment forward. I'm walking with you, Lord. Let it be to me according to your word. In Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
- [57:50]
A
Come on.
- [57:51]
B
If you meant what you prayed, can.
- [57:52]
A
You give God praise?