WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.260 Welcome to the Willow Ridge Sermons Podcast, where you can listen to audio from our most 00:00:09.260 --> 00:00:13.960 recent sermons and more. Thanks for listening, and be sure to add this show to your library 00:00:13.960 --> 00:00:16.860 if you'd like to automatically receive new episodes each week. 00:00:26.240 --> 00:00:32.440 Good morning. If you have your Bibles, and I hope you do, I want to invite you to join us in Titus 00:00:32.440 --> 00:00:41.200 chapter 3. As many of you know, we had a missions team that I was a part of that traveled to India, 00:00:41.200 --> 00:00:47.900 and we've been serving there for the last 11 days, and it's good to be home. It's good to be home back 00:00:47.900 --> 00:00:54.820 in the U.S. I did not necessarily appreciate that wonderful cloud of yellow that kind of welcomed us 00:00:54.820 --> 00:01:01.320 into Atlanta yesterday. It was funny, over there and all the dust, all the things that can kind of get 00:01:01.320 --> 00:01:06.300 stirred up in India, my sinuses were able to be just fine, good, was able to work through that. 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:12.920 We had a short walk from where we arrived to our parking garage, and by the time I got into the car, 00:01:12.980 --> 00:01:17.640 I was sneezing and coughing and dealing with that. So welcome back to South Carolina, right? When we 00:01:17.640 --> 00:01:22.000 got the pollen that's there. Well, I'm glad that each and every one of you are here with us today. 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:26.000 If you're a first-time guest, I want to echo what Pastor Dave said. Thank you for being here. 00:01:26.260 --> 00:01:30.980 Thank you for worshiping with us. At the end of the service, I will be back here at this table 00:01:30.980 --> 00:01:37.440 to my left. I would love for you to stop by and to visit for just a moment so that I could learn 00:01:37.440 --> 00:01:42.260 your name, and thank you for being here personally. And then if you've got any questions about Willow Ridge 00:01:42.260 --> 00:01:48.780 Church, wonderful opportunity for you to get those answered. So thank you so much for being here. 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:51.980 Before we go into God's Word this morning, let's go to Him in prayer. 00:01:53.220 --> 00:01:57.080 God, I thank you for this wonderful time that we have where we can gather together. God, 00:01:57.080 --> 00:02:02.040 I thank you for our discipleship classes as they started off this morning. Just a wonderful time. Men, 00:02:02.200 --> 00:02:07.320 women, children, youth gathered together in your name, talking about your Word and seeking to grow 00:02:07.320 --> 00:02:13.920 stronger in our faith. God, as we open up your Word and tie this this morning and reflect on the truth 00:02:13.920 --> 00:02:21.000 that you have for us. God, I pray that the truth that you have would penetrate our minds and our hearts 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:25.440 and through the power of your Holy Spirit, Lord, would continue to change us more into who you would 00:02:25.440 --> 00:02:31.920 have us to be as we surrender to you daily, Jesus, Lord and Savior of our life. God, I thank you for 00:02:31.920 --> 00:02:37.160 this past week. I thank you for the stories. I thank you for the team that served with me. God, as we share 00:02:37.160 --> 00:02:43.480 over the next coming days, weeks, and months with those around us, Lord, may we boast in the powerful 00:02:43.480 --> 00:02:48.080 work that you're doing that you allowed us to be a part of. God, we want to thank you for all that 00:02:48.080 --> 00:02:53.300 you are, for all that you're doing in us and amongst us. And it's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. 00:02:54.040 --> 00:02:58.920 Well, if you've never traveled with me to India, I do want to take some time to kind of update a little 00:02:58.920 --> 00:03:03.140 bit about what happened with the trip. And what I want to start off with is kind of what you're looking 00:03:03.140 --> 00:03:07.240 at and facing and dealing with this morning. So one of the things that I've started over the last 00:03:07.240 --> 00:03:12.860 couple trips that we've been on is I set a timer on my phone and run the timer from the time we begin 00:03:12.860 --> 00:03:17.600 to head to the airport to the time that we arrive here at Willow Ridge Church. So just so that you 00:03:17.600 --> 00:03:23.500 know, if I fall asleep during my own message this morning, here's what we're working off of. 00:03:24.460 --> 00:03:32.580 This is travel time. 42 hours, 33 minutes, and 50 seconds. Which is, in fairness, four hours shorter 00:03:32.580 --> 00:03:37.640 than the last trip that we had going there. Yesterday, I tell everybody, if you've never traveled 00:03:37.640 --> 00:03:44.300 from east back to west on multiple time zones, that day becomes the longest day of your life. 00:03:44.560 --> 00:03:52.180 And so Saturday was 39 hours of day is what Saturday turned into us. So it is good. We are 00:03:52.180 --> 00:03:56.500 glad to be here. I'll be honest with you. There's a lot of people on the team that I didn't know that 00:03:56.500 --> 00:04:00.740 I'd see this morning. And it is just evident that God really working in their heart because I see a lot 00:04:00.740 --> 00:04:06.180 of them here and just encouraging me as they're here. Well, here's what we had an opportunity 00:04:06.180 --> 00:04:11.600 to be a part of. As you guys know, if you don't know if you're visiting, we partner with a church 00:04:11.600 --> 00:04:19.900 in India, in Jaipur. Jaipur is the ninth largest city. Population-wise, it's a little less than the 00:04:19.900 --> 00:04:27.360 city of Los Angeles. Ninth largest city in India is Jaipur. And it is in the state of Rajasthan. So we 00:04:27.360 --> 00:04:32.320 partner with the church there. And then from that church, there's a Bible college, there's a Christian 00:04:32.800 --> 00:04:37.180 kindergarten through 12th grade school. There's a girls' home in South India. There's a retirement 00:04:37.180 --> 00:04:43.540 home. There's church planning that's happening all over the country of India. So just a wonderful 00:04:43.540 --> 00:04:48.400 opportunity. And y'all have met, many of you have. Pastor Sam, he's always here with us at least 00:04:48.400 --> 00:04:52.620 once a year. And he comes and he preaches here. And just a wonderful blessing for us to be able to have 00:04:52.620 --> 00:04:58.220 him. And so when we go, we come alongside and try to partner with them to do something maybe that they 00:04:58.220 --> 00:05:04.520 see benefit in doing, but they don't have maybe the time or the energy or the capability of doing 00:05:04.520 --> 00:05:09.400 those things. And so lately, what we've been doing is going there and primarily working at the 00:05:09.400 --> 00:05:13.380 kindergarten through 12th grade school. And so this week, we're able to provide what we're calling 00:05:13.380 --> 00:05:18.980 like a health science camp, which was a wonderful time for the kids. So they do school differently. 00:05:18.980 --> 00:05:24.220 So they just had their final exam. So teachers are grading them so they don't have to be back at 00:05:24.220 --> 00:05:29.240 school. So we were able to come in. And what schools will do during that time is they'll provide camps 00:05:29.240 --> 00:05:34.080 that they charge to be a part of. And so what we were able to do is come in and provide a little 00:05:34.080 --> 00:05:39.280 financial, take away a little bit of a financial burden from parents and be able to provide a free 00:05:39.280 --> 00:05:46.560 camp. And so we had about somewhere between 100 to 150 kids kindergarten through 12th grade show up 00:05:46.560 --> 00:05:51.180 every single day to be a part of this camp. And they're able to walk through and hear for some 00:05:51.180 --> 00:05:56.380 real-life American professionals working in the healthcare fields and to experience some activities 00:05:56.380 --> 00:06:03.040 to help strengthen that. So on Monday, we taught about nutrition. And I'm probably going to get 00:06:03.040 --> 00:06:08.220 these topics wrong of what we did. But we talked about nutrition. We talked about the brain. We 00:06:08.220 --> 00:06:13.060 talked about the heart. We talked about muscles and our skeletal system. And then we would do 00:06:13.060 --> 00:06:19.520 activities with them that would teach them of how to grow and how to strengthen those and how to care 00:06:19.520 --> 00:06:27.120 for those parts of the body. And then we also then every day ended with Dale Collins teaching first aid 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:33.260 training, which was just really neat to kind of hear the stories and also when that's Q&A time. So 00:06:33.260 --> 00:06:37.960 this is twice that we've kind of done a Q&A with medical people. And it just kind of shows like 00:06:37.960 --> 00:06:41.240 different parts of the world, man, we're struggling with different things. And we got it. We understand 00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:45.860 that. But the number one question that comes up in first aid every single time we do this is the 00:06:45.860 --> 00:06:51.440 question of dog bites. Like, what do you do to a dog bite? I don't know about you, but that's not 00:06:51.440 --> 00:06:55.800 necessarily a common thing here. So Dale did some research on that. And what he found out was, 00:06:55.800 --> 00:07:02.200 I think last year, 2.7 million people got bitten by dogs. And then from the 2.7 million people that 00:07:02.200 --> 00:07:07.200 got bitten by dogs, at least 20,000 or the number that he was able to find was 20,000 died from 00:07:07.200 --> 00:07:12.080 rabies. Right? It's a big issue. So he was able to walk through, cover a lot of those things and 00:07:12.080 --> 00:07:16.900 really bless them with what they are able to do. And then while the team was at the school doing that, 00:07:17.320 --> 00:07:22.440 Pastor Sam wanted me to come to the Bible college and teach through a book of the Bible with the 00:07:22.440 --> 00:07:27.040 students. And so I didn't do Genesis, right? Because I only had three days. Not three years. 00:07:27.840 --> 00:07:35.720 So we did Titus. And I taught on Titus for three days. I taught for three hours, 9.30 to 12.30. 00:07:36.520 --> 00:07:43.880 Just me. Right? But that's a lot. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. We won't be three hours a day. But three 00:07:43.880 --> 00:07:50.120 hours, chapter a day, working through with 24 Bible college students. Wonderful, wonderful opportunity 00:07:50.120 --> 00:07:55.180 to teach and to engage with them and to be able to pour into them and allow them to ask questions, 00:07:55.560 --> 00:08:00.560 which just humbled me as they would come in and just talk about different battles and different 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:07.820 things that they were facing. But we did get to open up on the last day. And I was like, 00:08:07.880 --> 00:08:15.820 any just questions not Titus related that you want to know? And they were really timid with that. 00:08:16.980 --> 00:08:22.640 And then one of the girls in the front row, her name is Mary. And Mary kind of like, she's real 00:08:22.640 --> 00:08:31.720 shy. She raises her hand. And she says, is it okay to listen to worldly music? And I'm like, 00:08:32.580 --> 00:08:40.400 oh, I don't know if they're ready for this answer, right? And I was like, well, sure. Kind of. 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:47.940 Who are you listening to? And so we took the full circle that ended with Eminem. And 00:08:47.940 --> 00:08:55.760 it was funny talking with Sam afterwards. He was laughing. He was like, he said, you know, 00:08:55.980 --> 00:08:59.500 when they start dealing with these, they're more listening to the beat than they are the lyrics 00:08:59.500 --> 00:09:02.780 because they don't understand the lyrics because we're having to work with the translator. So, 00:09:03.080 --> 00:09:07.440 but it was funny with different things. I think they thought the old man in the room wouldn't know who 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:10.460 some of these artists were. And I'll be honest with you. I didn't know who a lot of them were, 00:09:10.560 --> 00:09:15.600 but I knew who enough of them were. So we did that. And then every evening, there was just an 00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:22.140 opportunity for us to go and do some ministry as well. Monday night, Jennifer Babb and Joanne C. 00:09:22.460 --> 00:09:27.880 went over and ministered to the ladies of three different churches and did a women's ministry event 00:09:27.880 --> 00:09:33.640 for them. And Jennifer was able to speak and teach from God's word. And Joanne was able to sing and do 00:09:33.640 --> 00:09:38.180 some things there. And so that was wonderful. And then on Tuesday night, we had a gathering of 00:09:38.180 --> 00:09:46.440 multiple people in the Bible college for a concert and had some of ours. Wyatt Coulter sang and Joanne 00:09:46.440 --> 00:09:51.280 sang some more and just different ones and just a beautiful, wonderful time of gathering together. 00:09:51.420 --> 00:09:55.740 And then on Wednesday, we gathered together back with them that evening again for their small group 00:09:55.740 --> 00:09:59.880 leaders. Their small group leaders come together once a month for some encouragement and those things. 00:09:59.880 --> 00:10:05.600 And so Kevin Adams was able to speak to a testimony through small groups. So was Brent Hawkins. 00:10:06.060 --> 00:10:10.840 And then Josh Nix got up and did a wonderful theology on the importance of discipleship and the model 00:10:10.840 --> 00:10:16.060 of what that looks like. And so just a wonderful, wonderful night of doing all that. And so I kind 00:10:16.060 --> 00:10:21.140 of tell you a lot of, there's so much more that we were able to do. But I just wanted to kind of give 00:10:21.140 --> 00:10:27.020 you guys a snapshot of what this looks like. Because number one, it's important that we know 00:10:27.020 --> 00:10:33.080 that God is using churches that think missionally minded to impact the kingdom for the gospel in 00:10:33.080 --> 00:10:37.900 areas that we can never possibly imagine. If you had told me 10 years ago that I would be standing 00:10:37.900 --> 00:10:43.260 here today, just finished my sixth trip to India, I would tell you you were absolutely crazy. But what 00:10:43.260 --> 00:10:47.940 God continues to do, and then as God continues not to just mobilize pastors, but church people. And so I 00:10:47.940 --> 00:10:52.260 want to thank you for embracing the call that this is what we do, that this is who we are, that we are 00:10:52.260 --> 00:10:56.860 called to fulfill the great commission. That when Jesus says into the ends of the earth, that is not 00:10:56.860 --> 00:11:00.460 a suggestion, that's a command. And that's what we're going to be about. We're going to be about 00:11:00.460 --> 00:11:04.440 carrying the gospel to your neighbor and to your neighbor that we've never met. And that's the 00:11:04.440 --> 00:11:09.060 whole point of what we're to be. And that's the whole point of what we're to do. And that not only 00:11:09.060 --> 00:11:12.960 were we able to go and do this in India, but even this Wednesday, we got a team going to Salt Lake 00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:18.340 City. Like no greater need of the missionaries than there, where there are less than 2% of the 00:11:18.340 --> 00:11:23.660 population in Salt Lake City right now is professing evangelical believers of Jesus Christ. And so we 00:11:23.660 --> 00:11:28.660 need to continue to saturate not just the Indias, but the USAs and the cities and all that are around 00:11:28.660 --> 00:11:32.820 for the gospel. And so I want to thank you for being a church that gets that. And I want to thank you 00:11:32.820 --> 00:11:37.100 for a church that goes and that is committed and that's committed to praying, but also a church that's 00:11:37.100 --> 00:11:42.720 committed financially to doing that. These trips, they're not cheap. And no one who goes on a 00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:46.600 mission trip with Willow Ridge Church pays the full amount. We just don't do that because we've got 00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:52.360 brothers and sisters in Christ who give sacrificially and who give faithfully. And so I want to thank 00:11:52.360 --> 00:11:57.100 you for doing that and for being a part of that and mobilizing. And so when you hear the stories and 00:11:57.100 --> 00:12:02.480 you see the pictures and all of those things, man, God, you might not have been on this trip, but you 00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:08.140 were with us and you were praying for us and you had contributed for us and you were using your gifts 00:12:08.140 --> 00:12:12.540 and talents back here so that we could go to do all of the things and to see that come 00:12:12.540 --> 00:12:18.120 out through so many of our different people just humbled me and blew me away as a pastor. 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:21.960 But I do, over the course of my message this morning, and I know you're like, man, this is a long 00:12:21.960 --> 00:12:27.580 introduction. This is going to be a short message, I promise. I'm going on minimal sleep, so we're going 00:12:27.580 --> 00:12:31.540 to do a short message. But I do want to introduce you to a couple of people throughout the message 00:12:31.540 --> 00:12:38.000 for you. Again, I think it's so important that our mind be set on some of these individuals. And so 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:42.820 if we could go ahead and pull up that first picture, I want to show you this. 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:53.060 Look at that fella. Right? So I wasn't able to go to the school every day, but I was able to go to 00:12:53.060 --> 00:13:01.420 the school Thursday and Friday. And so I go and I don't know if I see a guy wearing blue jeans and a 00:13:01.420 --> 00:13:10.400 sport coat, I think he knows how to dress. And so I walk up to him and I looked at him and I said, 00:13:10.680 --> 00:13:17.320 you're looking good. And he looks at me, and I'm going to try to say it like in the way he said it, 00:13:17.680 --> 00:13:25.560 with his very soft voice. He says, this is my blazer, sir. And I said, yeah, it is. And I don't know if 00:13:25.560 --> 00:13:33.240 you can tell, but he's like a step above, because he's got a pocket square, right? And there's a chain 00:13:33.240 --> 00:13:43.080 that runs from that pocket square back to his blazer. And so he had that. And his name is Anand 00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:48.800 Saini. And so the next day I come back and let's look at the next picture. 00:13:52.880 --> 00:13:58.840 And that's his brother. His brother's two years older than him. And he's like, well, I'm going to wear 00:13:58.840 --> 00:14:08.640 my blazer too. And so he wore it. And I was like, man, these are the best dressed kids in India. 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:15.900 And here's why I showed these two boys to you. Because they are one of the only handful of families 00:14:15.900 --> 00:14:25.920 at this school who are believers. And so every single day, these boys show up to a school to live 00:14:25.920 --> 00:14:37.520 life on mission amongst Hindus who will not befriend them and not engage with them and not be invited to 00:14:37.520 --> 00:14:45.880 parties, but they'll live their life passionately for Jesus on mission right where they are. 00:14:45.900 --> 00:14:55.560 And so part of the reason why we go is to share. But part of the reason why we go 00:14:55.560 --> 00:15:04.020 is to encourage other believers like this. Because we get to come back and we get to gather with so 00:15:04.020 --> 00:15:10.560 many people who have heard and who know Jesus Christ. But every day they wake up amongst the 00:15:10.560 --> 00:15:18.580 darkness, right? To live life on purpose for the mission that God has for them. So thank you for 00:15:18.580 --> 00:15:23.600 allowing us to go. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this. And there's one more person that 00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:28.320 I'm going to introduce you to, but that's going to happen here in a little bit in our message. 00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:31.620 So I want to start off, let's read Titus 3 verses 1 through 2. 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:44.040 Paul, right in Titus, says this, remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, 00:15:44.780 --> 00:15:55.440 to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, 00:15:55.440 --> 00:16:03.360 to be gentle, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:13.480 Here's what we see is happening here. Paul is pressing into Titus to press into his congregation 00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:19.340 to make sure that not only are they living for the boldness of Christ in and amongst themselves, 00:16:19.460 --> 00:16:24.740 right? False teachers have invaded. Elders need to be appointed. Defending the sound doctrine 00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:29.820 needs to be a priority of who they are. But as they gather, there's always going to be a scatter. 00:16:31.060 --> 00:16:36.400 Within the application of God's Word, what He's called the church to be is that we are called to 00:16:36.400 --> 00:16:42.360 gather together, but we are called to scatter. That we are men and women who are called, who are saved, 00:16:42.580 --> 00:16:48.540 who are chosen by God, not just to become spiritually fat and obese in our spiritual walk, 00:16:48.540 --> 00:16:54.200 but to come and to be fed amongst the people of God, to be encouraged amongst the people of God, 00:16:54.320 --> 00:17:00.000 but then we're called to scatter to share the name of God. And what happens within there is oftentimes 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:06.280 Christians, by our reputation, through our negative perception of what people have for us, 00:17:06.420 --> 00:17:10.420 not because we're standing for the boldness of Christ, but because we're standing for the pride 00:17:10.420 --> 00:17:15.320 and the sin of ourselves, we lessen the name of Christ instead of glorifying the name of Christ. 00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:21.940 So Paul's addressing Titus for this group of pictures to say, you know what, make sure, like how you live 00:17:21.940 --> 00:17:31.560 in culture for the name of the Lord matters. And so he says this, he says, remind them, remind them. 00:17:31.820 --> 00:17:37.380 Here's the, this word means this, keep on reminding them. I don't know about you, but, but, but I know 00:17:37.380 --> 00:17:42.600 what I need continually in the goodness and the graces of God, what he does is says over and over and 00:17:42.600 --> 00:17:46.000 over to me, but I'm going to tell you this, but I'm going to tell you this, but I'm going to tell you 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:50.780 this, right? Like, like growing up, like, you know, that scary phrase that your mom used or your dad 00:17:50.780 --> 00:17:55.700 used. I'm only going to tell you this one more time and then I'm done. 00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:08.180 That's not God. God ain't done. God says, remind them, remind them, remind them, remind them, 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:14.980 remind them continually over and over and over again. Remind them of the gospel, remind them of 00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:20.180 the expectation, remind them of who they're to be. And then we as a church, what we have to do within 00:18:20.180 --> 00:18:24.340 this is don't sit there and listen to the reminders and our own spiritual arrogance thinking, do I need 00:18:24.340 --> 00:18:28.320 to hear this again? Because the answer is if you or I ever think, do I need to hear this again? Guess 00:18:28.320 --> 00:18:33.900 what? The answer is yes. Yes, we need to hear it again. We need to hear it again and we need to hear 00:18:33.900 --> 00:18:42.000 it again. And then he uses two of the hardest words in his reminder of what they're to be. He says, 00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:52.340 be submissive. Remind them to be submissive to the rulers and authorities and in that to be 00:18:52.340 --> 00:18:59.740 obedient to them. Now it's not just that Titus is reminded to instruct that, but God's word 00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:05.060 beautifully reminds us to do this. I want to give you some, some passage of, of, of scripture that 00:19:05.060 --> 00:19:15.240 reinforce this. Romans 13, one, let every person be subject to the governing authorities for there's 00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:20.980 no authority except from God and those that exist have been instituted by God. 00:19:22.340 --> 00:19:32.400 1 Peter 2, 13-17. Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the 00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:38.740 emperor as supreme or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who 00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:44.360 do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of 00:19:44.360 --> 00:19:49.740 foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as 00:19:49.740 --> 00:19:57.020 servants of God, honor everyone, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the emperor. Here's what's remarkable 00:19:57.020 --> 00:20:07.660 about this. Every single one of these instances, every single one, as Paul writes in Romans, as Peter 00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:15.160 writes in 1 Peter, as Paul writes in Titus, he's writing to people who are severely persecuted for their faith in 00:20:15.160 --> 00:20:41.220 Jesus Christ. And here's what he says. Submit. Submit. Submit. Submit. And I know what's coming to your head 00:20:41.220 --> 00:20:50.700 because it's what comes to my head. Well, Bo, what about the exception? What about the exception? 00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:59.280 What about the 1% of the time that it's not my sinfulness that doesn't want to submit, 00:21:00.280 --> 00:21:06.220 but what about in the small minority of time that it is that they're trying to make me move 00:21:06.220 --> 00:21:12.940 from my walk with the Lord in order to submit to them? Okay, well, the Bible covers that. 00:21:14.140 --> 00:21:18.100 Do what the law of the land requires without becoming disobedient to the Lord. Acts 5 29. 00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:24.340 But Peter and the apostles answered, we must obey God rather than men. So the question is, 00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:33.940 obey man or obey God? Always obey God. Always obey God. But within our citizenship here on this earth, 00:21:33.940 --> 00:21:39.700 that there are governing authorities who are over us, who are ordained by God to be over us, whether we 00:21:39.700 --> 00:21:47.700 agree with them or not. And our positioning is to submit to them, whether you like it or not. 00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:53.460 It doesn't mean that we don't fight for justice, that we don't stand for what's right, that we don't seek 00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:59.820 to love and honor God within doing that. And we can talk about the exceptions, but I want to appeal to you 00:21:59.820 --> 00:22:04.240 this morning of a picture of an exception. Can we show the next one? 00:22:09.580 --> 00:22:11.340 This is Tung Tsang Chin. 00:22:14.460 --> 00:22:18.200 You're thinking his name. Does it sound like he's from India? He's not. 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:21.600 He's a student at the Bible college. 00:22:23.400 --> 00:22:24.340 He's a tiny fellow. 00:22:25.780 --> 00:22:26.760 He's a worship leader. 00:22:28.520 --> 00:22:30.860 He props up. He doesn't like using a strap. 00:22:31.340 --> 00:22:36.100 So he props up his guitar and holds his foot off the ground the entire time that he leads worship. 00:22:37.780 --> 00:22:41.900 And he plays that guitar as hard as he can. I don't know how he doesn't tear through the strings. 00:22:43.560 --> 00:22:46.520 And he sings with passion. 00:22:48.860 --> 00:22:52.140 And I asked Jacob, Jacob's the president of the Bible college. 00:22:53.180 --> 00:22:54.340 I said, tell him about that guy leading. 00:22:55.760 --> 00:22:57.900 And I was like, man, he's got some lungs on him. 00:22:58.800 --> 00:22:59.660 He can sing. 00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:02.100 He says, remarkable. 00:23:02.360 --> 00:23:09.360 He said, um, he said about four years ago, he developed a condition in his throat. 00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:12.380 And he went to the doctors. 00:23:13.540 --> 00:23:16.540 And the doctors told him he had this condition that was going on. 00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:23.540 And that within the next two to three months, he'd completely lose the ability to speak. 00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:28.700 There's no treatment. 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:32.620 There's nothing possible that could cure this. 00:23:35.780 --> 00:23:37.160 And so Tung began to pray. 00:23:40.100 --> 00:23:45.620 And five years later, he not only leads God's people in worship, 00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:49.500 but he preaches and proclaims the truth of God's word. 00:23:51.880 --> 00:24:00.480 So how does a guy with a name like Tung San Chin end up in Jaipur at a Bible college? 00:24:02.560 --> 00:24:03.660 Because he's from Burma. 00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:09.080 And I don't know if you're aware with what's going on in Burma. 00:24:10.100 --> 00:24:16.120 But as much as persecution takes place in India, 00:24:17.120 --> 00:24:23.900 the Christian church from Burma is fleeing Burma to come to India 00:24:23.900 --> 00:24:27.380 because of the persecution that they face. 00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:33.480 The goal in Burma is genocide for Christians. 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:39.900 And their number one strategy is the burning of the churches. 00:24:46.820 --> 00:24:48.240 on our last day, 00:24:48.800 --> 00:24:52.360 I'm teaching through Titus. 00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:57.140 Read through. 00:24:58.800 --> 00:25:00.960 Remind them to be submissive 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:03.780 to rulers and authorities. 00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:10.380 And he raises his hand. 00:25:13.880 --> 00:25:14.520 And he said, 00:25:14.580 --> 00:25:15.820 how does that apply to me? 00:25:18.340 --> 00:25:18.860 You see, 00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:19.500 because he's not, 00:25:20.520 --> 00:25:22.060 he hasn't come to India 00:25:22.060 --> 00:25:25.220 so that he can get an education 00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:29.000 and minister to the Burmese church in India. 00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:32.840 He's there so that he can get an education 00:25:32.840 --> 00:25:34.020 so that he can go back. 00:25:39.840 --> 00:25:40.700 And he said, 00:25:41.380 --> 00:25:45.540 I don't know how I do that. 00:25:48.260 --> 00:25:50.160 How do I do that? 00:25:57.160 --> 00:25:58.100 And he's crying. 00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.660 And in that moment, 00:26:04.440 --> 00:26:07.640 I knew every theological answer 00:26:07.640 --> 00:26:11.220 and it just honestly didn't seem to matter. 00:26:14.520 --> 00:26:16.800 Every strategy that popped up in my head 00:26:16.800 --> 00:26:23.140 because I cannot begin to fathom 00:26:23.140 --> 00:26:26.220 that his goal 00:26:26.220 --> 00:26:29.540 is to go back to a country 00:26:29.540 --> 00:26:32.700 and share the gospel 00:26:32.700 --> 00:26:36.340 with people who have killed those that he loves. 00:26:41.780 --> 00:26:42.620 Here's the point. 00:26:46.800 --> 00:26:48.600 When you and I 00:26:48.600 --> 00:26:50.700 begin to think of the reasons 00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:52.080 why we should not submit, 00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:55.900 I pray that we would run it 00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:57.380 through the same filter that Tong did. 00:26:59.480 --> 00:27:00.700 Because I asked him, 00:27:02.320 --> 00:27:03.000 brother, 00:27:03.380 --> 00:27:05.680 I'm having a hard time 00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:07.140 answering that question for you. 00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:09.620 What do you think? 00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:14.640 And he began to lay out 00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:17.860 how the church there 00:27:17.860 --> 00:27:20.640 loves those who oppress them. 00:27:21.860 --> 00:27:23.640 He began to lay out 00:27:23.640 --> 00:27:25.300 this unconditional love 00:27:25.300 --> 00:27:26.480 and mission to God 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:30.440 that at 22 years old 00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:31.740 that he gets 00:27:31.740 --> 00:27:35.000 that I have a hard time 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:36.620 implementing in my own life as well. 00:27:39.640 --> 00:27:40.160 So, 00:27:40.660 --> 00:27:42.860 when you begin to think, 00:27:43.560 --> 00:27:45.240 should I pray for that leader? 00:27:46.800 --> 00:27:48.320 Should I stop speaking evil 00:27:48.320 --> 00:27:48.920 of that leader? 00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:51.300 Should I love those 00:27:51.300 --> 00:27:52.280 who are different from me? 00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:55.100 Should I lay aside my rights 00:27:55.100 --> 00:27:56.880 for the rights of others? 00:27:58.020 --> 00:27:58.860 Should I surrender? 00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:01.060 And we begin to think 00:28:01.060 --> 00:28:02.380 of all the 1% reasons 00:28:02.380 --> 00:28:03.140 why we shouldn't. 00:28:06.300 --> 00:28:08.120 I just want this young man's face 00:28:08.120 --> 00:28:11.220 to resonate in your heart. 00:28:12.820 --> 00:28:13.780 Because the Apostle Paul 00:28:13.780 --> 00:28:14.940 writes to the church at Ephesus 00:28:14.940 --> 00:28:17.140 and he says, 00:28:17.300 --> 00:28:18.200 this is the positioning 00:28:18.200 --> 00:28:18.880 of the church. 00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:21.180 Ephesians 5, 21, 00:28:21.820 --> 00:28:22.860 submitting to one another 00:28:22.860 --> 00:28:24.120 out of the reverence for Christ. 00:28:24.700 --> 00:28:26.600 This is who we are to be. 00:28:27.060 --> 00:28:27.520 Number two. 00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:29.260 Number two. 00:28:30.100 --> 00:28:31.320 Ready for every good work. 00:28:32.040 --> 00:28:34.740 Ready for every good work. 00:28:35.520 --> 00:28:36.880 This ready 00:28:36.880 --> 00:28:38.560 doesn't just mean 00:28:38.560 --> 00:28:39.540 are you capable. 00:28:40.600 --> 00:28:41.740 When he says it's the church 00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:42.660 who were to be out 00:28:42.660 --> 00:28:43.240 in the community, 00:28:43.360 --> 00:28:44.020 who were to be out 00:28:44.020 --> 00:28:44.520 in the world, 00:28:44.700 --> 00:28:45.820 this isn't just a church 00:28:45.820 --> 00:28:46.960 that is ready and capable. 00:28:47.280 --> 00:28:47.980 This is a church 00:28:47.980 --> 00:28:48.580 that's ready 00:28:48.580 --> 00:28:49.300 and our readiness 00:28:49.300 --> 00:28:50.960 is marked with eagerness. 00:28:51.580 --> 00:28:52.600 Are you ready? 00:28:52.940 --> 00:28:53.980 Are you capable 00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:54.880 to go out 00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:55.780 and to be the hands 00:28:55.780 --> 00:28:56.140 and feet 00:28:56.140 --> 00:28:56.980 and voice of Jesus 00:28:56.980 --> 00:28:58.220 that he's called you to be? 00:28:58.480 --> 00:28:59.480 Yes, you are ready. 00:28:59.880 --> 00:29:00.980 Our educational, 00:29:01.280 --> 00:29:02.600 Christian educational training 00:29:02.600 --> 00:29:03.560 that you and I 00:29:03.560 --> 00:29:04.120 have received 00:29:04.120 --> 00:29:04.900 in discipleship 00:29:04.900 --> 00:29:05.520 and the power 00:29:05.520 --> 00:29:06.220 of the Holy Spirit 00:29:06.220 --> 00:29:07.180 that we have within us 00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:08.220 has made us ready. 00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:09.180 The question is not 00:29:09.180 --> 00:29:10.300 just simply are you ready 00:29:10.300 --> 00:29:11.580 but it's are you eager 00:29:11.580 --> 00:29:12.520 when we look out 00:29:12.520 --> 00:29:13.040 in this world 00:29:13.040 --> 00:29:14.200 and we see those around us 00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:15.200 where God has placed us. 00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:16.120 Do we view them 00:29:16.120 --> 00:29:17.180 as an inconvenience 00:29:17.180 --> 00:29:18.180 or would we view them 00:29:18.180 --> 00:29:18.740 as the point, 00:29:18.840 --> 00:29:19.320 as the purpose, 00:29:19.400 --> 00:29:19.940 as the goal 00:29:19.940 --> 00:29:21.620 of why God has us 00:29:21.620 --> 00:29:23.700 where he has us? 00:29:23.940 --> 00:29:25.180 Are you eager 00:29:25.180 --> 00:29:26.320 for the sharing 00:29:26.320 --> 00:29:27.080 of the gospel? 00:29:27.420 --> 00:29:28.140 Are you eager 00:29:28.140 --> 00:29:29.480 for every good work 00:29:29.480 --> 00:29:30.400 that God has told you 00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:31.820 that before he saved you, 00:29:31.880 --> 00:29:33.400 Ephesians 2.10 tells us 00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:34.320 that God had chosen 00:29:34.320 --> 00:29:34.880 the works 00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:36.060 for where he would position 00:29:36.060 --> 00:29:37.400 and where he would place you. 00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:39.520 So before you even knew you, 00:29:39.640 --> 00:29:40.920 before you even knew Jesus, 00:29:41.100 --> 00:29:41.960 what God has 00:29:41.960 --> 00:29:43.080 is right where you are 00:29:43.080 --> 00:29:44.020 to be the light, 00:29:44.120 --> 00:29:44.780 to be the mission, 00:29:44.860 --> 00:29:46.220 to live right where you are 00:29:46.220 --> 00:29:46.700 for his name 00:29:46.700 --> 00:29:47.260 and for his good 00:29:47.260 --> 00:29:48.760 and he set the good works 00:29:48.760 --> 00:29:49.360 before you. 00:29:51.340 --> 00:29:52.160 Oftentimes we think 00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:52.920 I need to be capable. 00:29:53.280 --> 00:29:53.620 No, no, no. 00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:54.500 We are capable 00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:55.100 because we have 00:29:55.100 --> 00:29:56.280 the Holy Spirit in us. 00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:57.200 Are we eager 00:29:57.200 --> 00:29:57.980 to do the work 00:29:57.980 --> 00:29:58.980 that God has for us? 00:30:00.060 --> 00:30:00.980 Paul says to Timothy, 00:30:01.580 --> 00:30:02.640 I'm sorry, to Titus, 00:30:03.020 --> 00:30:04.380 make sure you're ready. 00:30:05.040 --> 00:30:06.220 Make sure you're eager. 00:30:08.360 --> 00:30:09.440 And if you're not, 00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:11.860 if you're not, 00:30:12.920 --> 00:30:14.040 maybe not question 00:30:14.040 --> 00:30:14.920 your capability, 00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:17.540 but maybe ask God 00:30:17.540 --> 00:30:18.420 to search your heart. 00:30:19.340 --> 00:30:20.300 And why aren't you? 00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:22.760 Why aren't you and I 00:30:22.760 --> 00:30:24.200 eager to be 00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:25.960 who God's called us to be 00:30:25.960 --> 00:30:27.380 and do what God 00:30:27.380 --> 00:30:28.420 has called us to do 00:30:28.420 --> 00:30:30.060 right where we live, 00:30:30.500 --> 00:30:31.380 work, and play? 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:33.260 To live on the mission 00:30:33.260 --> 00:30:33.780 for God. 00:30:34.700 --> 00:30:35.380 The third thing 00:30:35.380 --> 00:30:36.680 that Paul then says 00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:37.300 to Titus 00:30:37.300 --> 00:30:41.480 is to speak evil 00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:43.480 of no one. 00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:45.880 Speak evil 00:30:45.880 --> 00:30:47.080 of no one. 00:30:48.660 --> 00:30:48.860 You know, 00:30:48.900 --> 00:30:49.880 I like how God's word 00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:51.200 functions in absolutes 00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:53.440 because this really 00:30:53.440 --> 00:30:54.020 doesn't give us 00:30:54.020 --> 00:30:54.720 the, well, what about? 00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:57.860 Speak evil 00:30:57.860 --> 00:30:58.560 of no one. 00:30:58.840 --> 00:30:59.560 Well, what if they 00:30:59.560 --> 00:31:00.920 no one? 00:31:01.180 --> 00:31:01.660 But come on, 00:31:01.680 --> 00:31:02.280 what about this? 00:31:02.380 --> 00:31:03.220 Of no one. 00:31:05.840 --> 00:31:06.320 Have you ever thought 00:31:06.320 --> 00:31:06.920 about the power 00:31:06.920 --> 00:31:07.760 your speech has? 00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:09.940 You see, 00:31:10.020 --> 00:31:10.560 the truth of what 00:31:10.560 --> 00:31:11.820 God's word teaches us 00:31:11.820 --> 00:31:12.700 is that our words 00:31:12.700 --> 00:31:13.340 are not neutral. 00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:15.720 That we have the capability 00:31:15.720 --> 00:31:16.320 and the power 00:31:16.320 --> 00:31:17.280 through our words 00:31:17.280 --> 00:31:18.160 to either build up 00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:18.780 or tear down. 00:31:19.880 --> 00:31:20.540 That the words 00:31:20.540 --> 00:31:21.560 of God has given us 00:31:21.560 --> 00:31:23.180 are powerful words 00:31:23.180 --> 00:31:24.380 and he says this. 00:31:24.580 --> 00:31:24.880 He says, 00:31:25.360 --> 00:31:26.060 speak evil 00:31:26.060 --> 00:31:27.240 of no one. 00:31:27.760 --> 00:31:29.040 Don't speak slanderous. 00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:30.060 Don't speak evil. 00:31:30.340 --> 00:31:31.300 No malicious talk. 00:31:31.420 --> 00:31:32.180 That's not who we're 00:31:32.180 --> 00:31:32.480 to be. 00:31:32.660 --> 00:31:33.540 As people of God, 00:31:33.620 --> 00:31:34.440 that is not what God 00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:35.500 has put in our mouth. 00:31:35.700 --> 00:31:36.560 That's not why God 00:31:36.560 --> 00:31:38.360 has put in our hearts 00:31:38.360 --> 00:31:39.660 because people, 00:31:39.860 --> 00:31:40.480 the people we are 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:41.120 speaking to, 00:31:41.340 --> 00:31:41.800 the people we're 00:31:41.800 --> 00:31:42.440 speaking about 00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:43.600 are made in the image 00:31:43.600 --> 00:31:43.980 of God. 00:31:44.280 --> 00:31:45.520 James 3, 5-9 00:31:45.520 --> 00:31:46.060 says this, 00:31:46.060 --> 00:31:47.540 so also the tongue 00:31:47.540 --> 00:31:48.740 is a small member 00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.980 but yet it boasts 00:31:49.980 --> 00:31:50.960 of great things. 00:31:51.260 --> 00:31:52.300 How great a forest 00:31:52.300 --> 00:31:53.180 is set ablaze 00:31:53.180 --> 00:31:54.580 by such a small fire 00:31:54.580 --> 00:31:55.420 and the tongue 00:31:55.420 --> 00:31:56.100 is a fire, 00:31:56.340 --> 00:31:57.800 a world of unrighteousness. 00:31:58.020 --> 00:31:58.780 The tongue is set 00:31:58.780 --> 00:31:59.640 among our members 00:31:59.640 --> 00:32:00.920 staying the whole body 00:32:00.920 --> 00:32:01.720 setting on fire 00:32:01.720 --> 00:32:03.580 the entire course of life 00:32:03.580 --> 00:32:04.740 and set on fire 00:32:04.740 --> 00:32:05.200 by hell 00:32:05.200 --> 00:32:06.200 for every kind 00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:06.740 of beast 00:32:06.740 --> 00:32:07.520 and bird 00:32:07.520 --> 00:32:08.280 of reptile 00:32:08.280 --> 00:32:08.900 and sea creatures 00:32:08.900 --> 00:32:09.980 can be tamed 00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:11.180 and has been tamed 00:32:11.180 --> 00:32:11.980 by mankind 00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:13.800 but no human being 00:32:13.800 --> 00:32:15.060 can tame the tongue. 00:32:15.060 --> 00:32:16.640 It is a restless evil 00:32:16.640 --> 00:32:18.420 full of deadly poison. 00:32:18.700 --> 00:32:19.940 Look at this contradiction. 00:32:20.420 --> 00:32:21.760 With it we bless 00:32:21.760 --> 00:32:23.060 our Lord and Father 00:32:23.060 --> 00:32:24.800 and with it we curse 00:32:24.800 --> 00:32:25.900 people who are made 00:32:25.900 --> 00:32:26.400 in the image 00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:27.260 and likeness of God. 00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:29.520 And I'm not pointing 00:32:29.520 --> 00:32:30.480 fingers at you 00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:31.280 and I don't have 00:32:31.280 --> 00:32:31.860 a bunch of them 00:32:31.860 --> 00:32:32.700 coming back at me. 00:32:34.220 --> 00:32:35.680 We gather in these places 00:32:35.680 --> 00:32:36.420 and we talk about 00:32:36.420 --> 00:32:37.540 how good and how great 00:32:37.540 --> 00:32:38.980 and how wonderful God is 00:32:38.980 --> 00:32:40.300 and then we walk out 00:32:40.300 --> 00:32:41.140 into this world 00:32:41.140 --> 00:32:41.960 and abuse, 00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:42.700 tear down, 00:32:42.820 --> 00:32:43.580 and attack people 00:32:43.580 --> 00:32:44.140 with the words 00:32:44.140 --> 00:32:46.200 the same mouth 00:32:46.200 --> 00:32:47.580 that we just used. 00:32:51.400 --> 00:32:52.380 You heard the phrase, 00:32:53.440 --> 00:32:53.760 you know, 00:32:55.760 --> 00:32:57.160 you kiss your mother 00:32:57.160 --> 00:32:57.740 with that mouth? 00:33:01.320 --> 00:33:02.220 You praise God 00:33:02.220 --> 00:33:02.760 with that mouth? 00:33:06.680 --> 00:33:07.420 People that are made 00:33:07.420 --> 00:33:07.860 in the image 00:33:07.860 --> 00:33:08.720 and likeness of God. 00:33:09.920 --> 00:33:10.420 People who are 00:33:10.420 --> 00:33:11.060 different than us, 00:33:11.120 --> 00:33:11.380 people who have 00:33:11.380 --> 00:33:12.320 a different belief than us, 00:33:12.400 --> 00:33:12.640 people who have 00:33:12.640 --> 00:33:13.360 a different understanding 00:33:13.360 --> 00:33:13.740 than us, 00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:14.240 people who have 00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:14.980 a different morality 00:33:14.980 --> 00:33:16.340 than us, 00:33:17.340 --> 00:33:18.400 but still made 00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:18.800 in the image 00:33:18.800 --> 00:33:19.660 and likeness of God. 00:33:21.620 --> 00:33:22.000 You see, 00:33:22.080 --> 00:33:22.540 because we can 00:33:22.540 --> 00:33:24.280 play up all of our actions, 00:33:24.400 --> 00:33:25.000 we can play up 00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:25.560 all of our things, 00:33:25.620 --> 00:33:26.540 we can try to clean up, 00:33:26.600 --> 00:33:27.340 we can try to pretty up, 00:33:27.380 --> 00:33:27.840 we can try to do 00:33:27.840 --> 00:33:28.320 all the things, 00:33:28.560 --> 00:33:29.180 but what the Bible 00:33:29.180 --> 00:33:30.000 teaches us is that 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:31.200 our mouth tells us 00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:31.800 who we really are. 00:33:32.360 --> 00:33:34.500 Matthew 15, 00:33:34.720 --> 00:33:35.840 17 through 19, 00:33:36.660 --> 00:33:37.880 do you not see 00:33:37.880 --> 00:33:38.260 that whatever 00:33:38.260 --> 00:33:39.260 goes into the mouth 00:33:39.260 --> 00:33:40.380 passes into the stomach 00:33:40.380 --> 00:33:41.040 and is expelled? 00:33:41.720 --> 00:33:42.560 But whatever comes 00:33:42.560 --> 00:33:43.420 out of the mouth 00:33:43.420 --> 00:33:44.540 proceeds from the heart 00:33:44.540 --> 00:33:47.320 and this defiles a person. 00:33:48.460 --> 00:33:49.500 For out of the heart 00:33:49.500 --> 00:33:51.200 comes evil thoughts, 00:33:51.700 --> 00:33:52.000 murder, 00:33:52.520 --> 00:33:53.100 adultery, 00:33:53.600 --> 00:33:54.320 sexual morality, 00:33:55.040 --> 00:33:55.380 theft, 00:33:55.940 --> 00:33:56.620 false witness, 00:33:57.160 --> 00:33:57.500 slander. 00:34:01.100 --> 00:34:02.300 Does the testimony 00:34:02.300 --> 00:34:05.440 and the mouth 00:34:05.440 --> 00:34:07.200 match? 00:34:08.900 --> 00:34:09.960 Does it match? 00:34:11.740 --> 00:34:12.180 Again, 00:34:12.500 --> 00:34:13.580 what about, 00:34:13.640 --> 00:34:13.940 what about, 00:34:14.020 --> 00:34:14.320 what about, 00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:14.640 what about, 00:34:14.660 --> 00:34:15.080 what about? 00:34:15.660 --> 00:34:16.300 No one. 00:34:17.460 --> 00:34:18.060 No one. 00:34:19.400 --> 00:34:19.880 Paul writes 00:34:19.880 --> 00:34:20.760 in Ephesians 4, 00:34:20.800 --> 00:34:21.220 29, 00:34:21.360 --> 00:34:21.920 talks about the goal 00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:22.360 of our mouth. 00:34:23.200 --> 00:34:24.420 Let no corrupting talk 00:34:24.420 --> 00:34:25.660 come out of your mouths. 00:34:26.980 --> 00:34:27.520 Let no, 00:34:28.720 --> 00:34:29.940 but only such 00:34:29.940 --> 00:34:31.640 as is good 00:34:31.640 --> 00:34:32.740 for building up 00:34:32.740 --> 00:34:34.440 as fits 00:34:34.440 --> 00:34:35.340 the occasion 00:34:35.340 --> 00:34:37.240 that it may 00:34:37.240 --> 00:34:38.220 give grace 00:34:38.220 --> 00:34:39.980 to those 00:34:39.980 --> 00:34:41.080 who hear. 00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:43.220 Now, 00:34:43.260 --> 00:34:43.560 does that mean 00:34:43.560 --> 00:34:44.060 when we don't 00:34:44.060 --> 00:34:46.380 have conflict? 00:34:47.420 --> 00:34:48.540 We don't address? 00:34:49.960 --> 00:34:50.140 No, 00:34:50.160 --> 00:34:50.220 no, 00:34:50.220 --> 00:34:50.300 no, 00:34:50.300 --> 00:34:50.680 we see Jesus 00:34:50.680 --> 00:34:51.200 all the time. 00:34:52.280 --> 00:34:53.180 Jesus speaks truth. 00:34:53.300 --> 00:34:54.380 Jesus speaks hard truth. 00:34:54.680 --> 00:34:55.200 Jesus deals 00:34:55.200 --> 00:34:55.660 with what people 00:34:55.660 --> 00:34:56.160 need to hear. 00:34:56.160 --> 00:34:57.300 Jesus speaks hard truth 00:34:57.300 --> 00:34:57.620 to the people 00:34:57.620 --> 00:34:58.220 sometimes that they're 00:34:58.220 --> 00:34:58.680 most vulnerable 00:34:58.680 --> 00:34:59.100 because that's 00:34:59.100 --> 00:34:59.300 when they're 00:34:59.300 --> 00:34:59.640 going to listen 00:34:59.640 --> 00:34:59.980 to it. 00:35:01.080 --> 00:35:01.780 He forgives 00:35:01.780 --> 00:35:02.220 and then says 00:35:02.220 --> 00:35:02.700 and go and sin 00:35:02.700 --> 00:35:03.080 no more. 00:35:04.760 --> 00:35:05.640 He gives grace 00:35:05.640 --> 00:35:06.220 and speaks truth 00:35:06.220 --> 00:35:06.840 all in one. 00:35:07.120 --> 00:35:07.560 Grace and truth 00:35:07.560 --> 00:35:08.020 are never, 00:35:08.060 --> 00:35:08.980 ever intended 00:35:08.980 --> 00:35:09.600 to be separated 00:35:09.600 --> 00:35:10.360 because then grace 00:35:10.360 --> 00:35:11.340 ceases to be grace 00:35:11.340 --> 00:35:11.780 and truth 00:35:11.780 --> 00:35:12.840 ceases to be truth 00:35:12.840 --> 00:35:14.560 when we remove them 00:35:14.560 --> 00:35:15.060 from one another. 00:35:15.560 --> 00:35:16.520 But the goal 00:35:16.520 --> 00:35:17.520 of the mouth 00:35:17.520 --> 00:35:18.040 is this, 00:35:18.140 --> 00:35:19.140 for building up, 00:35:20.260 --> 00:35:21.260 for covering 00:35:21.260 --> 00:35:21.680 in grace, 00:35:21.760 --> 00:35:22.480 for speaking the truth 00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:23.360 of who God is 00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:24.060 and what God 00:35:24.060 --> 00:35:24.460 has done. 00:35:27.280 --> 00:35:27.980 Remind them. 00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:29.660 Remind them. 00:35:30.460 --> 00:35:31.040 Remind them. 00:35:32.260 --> 00:35:33.320 He then says this. 00:35:34.300 --> 00:35:34.660 He says, 00:35:34.660 --> 00:35:36.320 avoid quarreling. 00:35:38.880 --> 00:35:40.080 Avoid quarreling. 00:35:41.040 --> 00:35:41.320 He says, 00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:42.800 and here's how you do this 00:35:42.800 --> 00:35:43.700 is how this sentence 00:35:43.700 --> 00:35:44.240 is structured. 00:35:45.760 --> 00:35:46.240 He says, 00:35:46.380 --> 00:35:47.340 it's to be gentle 00:35:47.340 --> 00:35:50.280 and it's to show 00:35:50.280 --> 00:35:52.480 perfect courtesy 00:35:52.480 --> 00:35:53.520 to all. 00:35:54.820 --> 00:35:55.960 Be gentle 00:35:55.960 --> 00:35:58.160 and show perfect 00:35:58.160 --> 00:35:59.040 courtesy 00:35:59.040 --> 00:36:00.200 to all. 00:36:01.400 --> 00:36:02.720 I read a commentator 00:36:02.720 --> 00:36:03.220 this week 00:36:03.220 --> 00:36:04.100 that described 00:36:04.100 --> 00:36:05.340 this sentence structure 00:36:05.340 --> 00:36:06.440 that Paul uses 00:36:06.440 --> 00:36:07.400 to Titus 00:36:07.400 --> 00:36:09.660 as 00:36:09.660 --> 00:36:11.720 sacrificial 00:36:11.720 --> 00:36:12.580 kindness. 00:36:13.820 --> 00:36:14.540 I love that. 00:36:14.700 --> 00:36:15.440 Sacrificial 00:36:15.440 --> 00:36:16.480 kindness. 00:36:17.340 --> 00:36:18.760 That you and I 00:36:18.760 --> 00:36:19.520 under the gospel 00:36:19.520 --> 00:36:20.180 are called 00:36:20.180 --> 00:36:21.400 to set aside 00:36:21.400 --> 00:36:22.680 our personal rights 00:36:22.680 --> 00:36:23.800 and privileges 00:36:23.800 --> 00:36:24.840 for others 00:36:24.840 --> 00:36:26.080 both in the church 00:36:26.080 --> 00:36:27.080 and out of the church. 00:36:27.240 --> 00:36:28.560 Those who will persecute us 00:36:28.560 --> 00:36:29.760 and those who will praise us. 00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:31.740 That's who we're called to be 00:36:31.740 --> 00:36:32.460 to show 00:36:32.460 --> 00:36:33.720 sacrificial 00:36:33.720 --> 00:36:34.780 kindness 00:36:34.780 --> 00:36:36.840 to even those 00:36:36.840 --> 00:36:39.080 that want to attack us. 00:36:41.820 --> 00:36:42.920 We're to live 00:36:42.920 --> 00:36:44.080 our life 00:36:44.080 --> 00:36:46.760 for the desire 00:36:46.760 --> 00:36:47.660 of the righteousness 00:36:47.660 --> 00:36:48.500 of God 00:36:48.500 --> 00:36:50.160 and not 00:36:50.160 --> 00:36:51.520 out of our own 00:36:51.520 --> 00:36:52.260 selfishness 00:36:52.260 --> 00:36:53.060 to make ourselves 00:36:53.060 --> 00:36:53.900 right before man. 00:36:58.900 --> 00:36:59.420 Sacrificial 00:36:59.420 --> 00:37:01.760 kindness. 00:37:04.680 --> 00:37:05.800 I'll close with this. 00:37:08.100 --> 00:37:08.620 Do you remember 00:37:08.620 --> 00:37:09.200 the story 00:37:09.200 --> 00:37:11.280 in scripture 00:37:11.280 --> 00:37:11.760 of Jesus 00:37:11.760 --> 00:37:12.980 washing the disciples' feet? 00:37:15.020 --> 00:37:15.580 It's found 00:37:15.580 --> 00:37:16.360 found in John 13. 00:37:18.040 --> 00:37:19.040 It's one of my favorite 00:37:19.040 --> 00:37:19.700 pictures 00:37:19.700 --> 00:37:21.200 and images 00:37:21.200 --> 00:37:23.200 of Jesus' 00:37:23.440 --> 00:37:23.860 ministry. 00:37:26.320 --> 00:37:27.300 He's gathered 00:37:27.300 --> 00:37:28.160 in this room 00:37:28.160 --> 00:37:30.720 with this group 00:37:30.720 --> 00:37:31.420 of followers, 00:37:31.660 --> 00:37:31.960 the group 00:37:31.960 --> 00:37:32.580 of disciples. 00:37:34.580 --> 00:37:35.220 And what 00:37:35.220 --> 00:37:37.300 almost immediately 00:37:37.300 --> 00:37:38.260 awaits him 00:37:38.260 --> 00:37:41.260 is his betrayal, 00:37:41.960 --> 00:37:43.940 his arrest, 00:37:44.760 --> 00:37:46.680 his beating, 00:37:48.400 --> 00:37:49.560 his crucifixion, 00:37:50.560 --> 00:37:52.500 and his death. 00:37:54.720 --> 00:37:56.000 I can't imagine 00:37:56.000 --> 00:37:57.980 the weight 00:37:57.980 --> 00:38:00.740 that in his humanity 00:38:00.740 --> 00:38:03.260 that he was dealing with. 00:38:06.120 --> 00:38:06.920 And so the Bible 00:38:06.920 --> 00:38:07.620 tells us 00:38:07.620 --> 00:38:09.740 in his story 00:38:09.740 --> 00:38:11.020 that there was 00:38:11.020 --> 00:38:12.200 five acts 00:38:12.200 --> 00:38:14.420 that Jesus did 00:38:14.420 --> 00:38:14.980 in the washing 00:38:14.980 --> 00:38:15.900 of the disciples' feet 00:38:15.900 --> 00:38:16.620 in John 13 00:38:16.620 --> 00:38:18.840 that I think 00:38:18.840 --> 00:38:19.440 are significant 00:38:19.440 --> 00:38:20.680 for you and I 00:38:20.680 --> 00:38:21.620 to understand 00:38:21.620 --> 00:38:23.980 what sacrificial 00:38:23.980 --> 00:38:24.520 kindness 00:38:24.520 --> 00:38:25.220 looks like. 00:38:27.520 --> 00:38:28.000 Jesus, 00:38:28.160 --> 00:38:28.460 the King 00:38:28.460 --> 00:38:28.920 of kings 00:38:28.920 --> 00:38:29.380 and the Lord 00:38:29.380 --> 00:38:29.880 of lords 00:38:29.880 --> 00:38:31.820 stepped out 00:38:31.820 --> 00:38:32.220 of heaven 00:38:32.220 --> 00:38:32.680 and took 00:38:32.680 --> 00:38:33.300 on flesh. 00:38:35.960 --> 00:38:36.840 Became humble 00:38:36.840 --> 00:38:37.260 in the form 00:38:37.260 --> 00:38:37.740 of a man 00:38:37.740 --> 00:38:40.260 and led 00:38:40.260 --> 00:38:42.060 in a lot 00:38:42.060 --> 00:38:42.680 of ways 00:38:42.680 --> 00:38:43.680 this earthly 00:38:43.680 --> 00:38:45.320 ragtag 00:38:45.320 --> 00:38:47.720 dysfunctional 00:38:47.720 --> 00:38:48.700 group of guys 00:38:48.700 --> 00:38:52.260 to pour 00:38:52.260 --> 00:38:52.980 into them 00:38:52.980 --> 00:38:53.300 when they 00:38:53.300 --> 00:38:53.980 didn't get it 00:38:53.980 --> 00:38:54.300 and they 00:38:54.300 --> 00:38:55.020 didn't get it 00:38:55.020 --> 00:38:55.340 and they 00:38:55.340 --> 00:38:56.060 didn't get it 00:38:56.060 --> 00:38:57.120 over and over 00:38:57.120 --> 00:38:58.040 and over again 00:38:58.040 --> 00:39:00.160 because he knew 00:39:00.160 --> 00:39:01.200 that he would ascend 00:39:01.200 --> 00:39:04.320 and they would be 00:39:04.320 --> 00:39:04.680 the leaders 00:39:04.680 --> 00:39:05.240 of the church. 00:39:07.240 --> 00:39:08.460 And they failed 00:39:08.460 --> 00:39:10.000 time 00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:11.360 and time 00:39:11.360 --> 00:39:12.240 again. 00:39:14.400 --> 00:39:15.360 So Jesus 00:39:15.360 --> 00:39:17.820 gathers 00:39:17.820 --> 00:39:18.400 with them 00:39:18.400 --> 00:39:21.620 and here's 00:39:21.620 --> 00:39:21.920 the first 00:39:21.920 --> 00:39:22.520 thing he does. 00:39:24.200 --> 00:39:25.120 He took 00:39:25.120 --> 00:39:25.920 off his clothes 00:39:25.920 --> 00:39:26.240 the Bible 00:39:26.240 --> 00:39:27.120 tells us. 00:39:28.720 --> 00:39:29.320 Becoming 00:39:29.320 --> 00:39:30.160 completely 00:39:30.160 --> 00:39:32.040 physically 00:39:32.040 --> 00:39:34.000 vulnerable 00:39:34.000 --> 00:39:34.680 before them 00:39:34.680 --> 00:39:36.840 and he 00:39:36.840 --> 00:39:37.200 picked up 00:39:37.200 --> 00:39:37.700 a towel 00:39:37.700 --> 00:39:39.760 and he 00:39:39.760 --> 00:39:40.080 wrapped 00:39:40.080 --> 00:39:40.700 the towel 00:39:40.700 --> 00:39:42.100 around his 00:39:42.100 --> 00:39:42.460 waist. 00:39:44.400 --> 00:39:46.620 Literally 00:39:46.620 --> 00:39:48.420 what he 00:39:48.420 --> 00:39:48.960 is doing 00:39:48.960 --> 00:39:50.940 is Jesus 00:39:50.940 --> 00:39:51.680 is identifying 00:39:51.680 --> 00:39:52.280 as a servant. 00:39:53.240 --> 00:39:53.820 If you 00:39:53.820 --> 00:39:54.200 walked into 00:39:54.200 --> 00:39:54.860 someone's house 00:39:54.860 --> 00:39:55.140 and you 00:39:55.140 --> 00:39:55.640 saw a man 00:39:55.640 --> 00:39:56.240 standing there 00:39:56.240 --> 00:39:56.980 with simply 00:39:56.980 --> 00:39:57.400 a towel 00:39:57.400 --> 00:39:57.980 wrapped around 00:39:57.980 --> 00:39:58.480 his waist 00:39:58.480 --> 00:39:59.100 he was the 00:39:59.100 --> 00:39:59.740 lowest of 00:39:59.740 --> 00:40:00.240 the lowest 00:40:00.240 --> 00:40:00.840 servants 00:40:00.840 --> 00:40:01.120 in the 00:40:01.120 --> 00:40:01.420 house. 00:40:05.240 --> 00:40:05.820 And that's 00:40:05.820 --> 00:40:06.200 what Jesus 00:40:06.200 --> 00:40:06.620 does. 00:40:08.660 --> 00:40:09.260 Taking on 00:40:09.260 --> 00:40:09.640 the form 00:40:09.640 --> 00:40:10.140 of a servant. 00:40:14.400 --> 00:40:14.980 He then 00:40:14.980 --> 00:40:15.440 would begin 00:40:15.440 --> 00:40:15.740 to get 00:40:15.740 --> 00:40:16.140 down 00:40:16.140 --> 00:40:18.980 and serve 00:40:18.980 --> 00:40:19.800 them 00:40:19.800 --> 00:40:20.800 in the 00:40:20.800 --> 00:40:21.460 lowest form 00:40:21.460 --> 00:40:23.620 with the 00:40:23.620 --> 00:40:24.060 filth 00:40:24.060 --> 00:40:25.640 of washing 00:40:25.640 --> 00:40:26.080 their feet. 00:40:28.120 --> 00:40:28.380 You see 00:40:28.380 --> 00:40:29.260 they lived 00:40:29.260 --> 00:40:29.920 and walked 00:40:29.920 --> 00:40:31.420 in cities 00:40:31.420 --> 00:40:32.160 and streets 00:40:32.160 --> 00:40:34.140 that were 00:40:34.140 --> 00:40:34.380 not 00:40:34.380 --> 00:40:35.360 paved 00:40:35.360 --> 00:40:37.760 that were 00:40:37.760 --> 00:40:38.140 covered 00:40:38.140 --> 00:40:38.580 with 00:40:38.580 --> 00:40:40.540 the manure 00:40:40.540 --> 00:40:41.380 of animals 00:40:41.380 --> 00:40:43.740 the filth 00:40:43.740 --> 00:40:44.040 of the 00:40:44.040 --> 00:40:44.440 cities. 00:40:46.740 --> 00:40:48.260 The dust 00:40:48.260 --> 00:40:48.680 and the 00:40:48.680 --> 00:40:49.020 dirt 00:40:49.020 --> 00:40:50.420 that would 00:40:50.420 --> 00:40:50.940 stick to 00:40:50.940 --> 00:40:51.520 the moisture 00:40:51.520 --> 00:40:52.080 of their 00:40:52.080 --> 00:40:53.400 sweat on 00:40:53.400 --> 00:40:53.920 their feet. 00:40:56.120 --> 00:40:56.800 Filled 00:40:56.800 --> 00:40:57.100 and 00:40:57.100 --> 00:40:58.360 covered 00:40:58.360 --> 00:40:58.760 and 00:40:58.760 --> 00:41:00.020 bacteria. 00:41:04.020 --> 00:41:04.920 And Jesus 00:41:04.920 --> 00:41:05.800 would take 00:41:05.800 --> 00:41:08.280 what he 00:41:08.280 --> 00:41:09.100 was wearing 00:41:09.100 --> 00:41:11.780 and wipe 00:41:11.780 --> 00:41:12.560 their feet 00:41:12.560 --> 00:41:14.420 and make 00:41:14.420 --> 00:41:14.980 it completely 00:41:14.980 --> 00:41:15.400 clean. 00:41:16.160 --> 00:41:16.800 Literally 00:41:16.800 --> 00:41:18.640 washing 00:41:18.640 --> 00:41:20.880 the filth 00:41:20.880 --> 00:41:21.860 and feces 00:41:21.860 --> 00:41:23.280 off of 00:41:23.280 --> 00:41:23.640 them 00:41:23.640 --> 00:41:25.820 by putting 00:41:25.820 --> 00:41:26.080 it on 00:41:26.080 --> 00:41:26.540 himself. 00:41:30.380 --> 00:41:30.960 And Peter 00:41:30.960 --> 00:41:34.000 said, 00:41:34.020 --> 00:41:34.400 that Jesus 00:41:34.400 --> 00:41:35.280 isn't right. 00:41:36.540 --> 00:41:36.980 You 00:41:36.980 --> 00:41:37.400 shouldn't do 00:41:37.400 --> 00:41:37.780 this to 00:41:37.780 --> 00:41:38.120 me. 00:41:39.500 --> 00:41:40.100 I should 00:41:40.100 --> 00:41:40.420 do this 00:41:40.420 --> 00:41:40.900 to you. 00:41:42.680 --> 00:41:43.160 She said, 00:41:43.200 --> 00:41:43.400 you don't 00:41:43.400 --> 00:41:43.800 get it. 00:41:45.480 --> 00:41:46.080 You don't 00:41:46.080 --> 00:41:46.400 get it. 00:41:46.500 --> 00:41:46.960 It is 00:41:46.960 --> 00:41:47.600 exactly 00:41:47.600 --> 00:41:48.020 I 00:41:48.020 --> 00:41:49.740 who need 00:41:49.740 --> 00:41:50.020 to do 00:41:50.020 --> 00:41:50.380 this 00:41:50.380 --> 00:41:51.340 to you. 00:41:52.580 --> 00:41:53.160 And I 00:41:53.160 --> 00:41:53.840 must do 00:41:53.840 --> 00:41:54.360 this for 00:41:54.360 --> 00:41:54.580 you, 00:41:54.660 --> 00:41:54.860 Peter. 00:41:57.480 --> 00:41:57.920 Rejecting 00:41:57.920 --> 00:41:58.620 the 00:41:58.620 --> 00:41:59.360 opportunity 00:41:59.360 --> 00:42:00.800 for it 00:42:00.800 --> 00:42:01.060 to be 00:42:01.060 --> 00:42:01.260 done 00:42:01.260 --> 00:42:01.680 to them. 00:42:04.020 --> 00:42:04.580 The 00:42:04.580 --> 00:42:04.780 fourth 00:42:04.780 --> 00:42:05.100 thing 00:42:05.100 --> 00:42:06.620 that 00:42:06.620 --> 00:42:06.900 Jesus 00:42:06.900 --> 00:42:07.480 does 00:42:07.480 --> 00:42:11.300 is he 00:42:11.300 --> 00:42:11.420 says, 00:42:11.520 --> 00:42:11.600 I'm 00:42:11.600 --> 00:42:11.800 doing 00:42:11.800 --> 00:42:12.020 this 00:42:12.020 --> 00:42:12.360 as an 00:42:12.360 --> 00:42:12.840 example 00:42:12.840 --> 00:42:13.460 for you. 00:42:16.600 --> 00:42:17.320 As an 00:42:17.320 --> 00:42:17.740 example 00:42:17.740 --> 00:42:18.240 for you. 00:42:20.060 --> 00:42:20.640 I'm 00:42:20.640 --> 00:42:21.100 doing this 00:42:21.100 --> 00:42:21.840 to you, 00:42:22.560 --> 00:42:24.020 but I'm 00:42:24.020 --> 00:42:24.420 doing this 00:42:24.420 --> 00:42:24.780 as an 00:42:24.780 --> 00:42:25.180 example 00:42:25.180 --> 00:42:26.040 for you. 00:42:28.320 --> 00:42:28.640 And to 00:42:28.640 --> 00:42:29.060 be 00:42:29.060 --> 00:42:30.720 the man 00:42:30.720 --> 00:42:31.340 of God 00:42:31.340 --> 00:42:33.140 that he's 00:42:33.140 --> 00:42:33.520 called you 00:42:33.520 --> 00:42:33.960 to be, 00:42:35.340 --> 00:42:36.120 this is 00:42:36.120 --> 00:42:36.520 what you 00:42:36.520 --> 00:42:36.920 must be 00:42:36.920 --> 00:42:37.280 about. 00:42:38.740 --> 00:42:39.400 To be 00:42:39.400 --> 00:42:39.900 vulnerable, 00:42:41.120 --> 00:42:41.760 to be 00:42:41.760 --> 00:42:42.240 willing, 00:42:44.780 --> 00:42:45.460 sacrificial 00:42:45.460 --> 00:42:46.020 kindness. 00:42:50.180 --> 00:42:50.860 All of 00:42:50.860 --> 00:42:51.200 that is 00:42:51.200 --> 00:42:51.540 more than 00:42:51.540 --> 00:42:52.020 my earthly 00:42:52.020 --> 00:42:53.400 mind can 00:42:53.400 --> 00:42:53.800 comprehend. 00:42:57.180 --> 00:42:57.840 But then 00:42:57.840 --> 00:42:58.400 Jesus does 00:42:58.400 --> 00:42:58.860 one more 00:42:58.860 --> 00:42:59.140 thing. 00:43:01.340 --> 00:43:06.060 hey 00:43:06.060 --> 00:43:06.460 Judas, 00:43:06.980 --> 00:43:08.100 come here. 00:43:14.820 --> 00:43:15.440 And the 00:43:15.440 --> 00:43:16.060 man who 00:43:16.060 --> 00:43:16.240 had 00:43:16.240 --> 00:43:17.100 betrayed 00:43:17.100 --> 00:43:20.580 for a few 00:43:20.580 --> 00:43:21.100 pieces of 00:43:21.100 --> 00:43:21.400 silver, 00:43:24.060 --> 00:43:24.400 Jesus 00:43:24.400 --> 00:43:25.100 holds 00:43:25.100 --> 00:43:25.840 his feet, 00:43:27.840 --> 00:43:28.600 pours the 00:43:28.600 --> 00:43:29.180 water over 00:43:29.180 --> 00:43:29.380 him, 00:43:30.680 --> 00:43:31.040 takes 00:43:31.040 --> 00:43:31.260 his 00:43:31.260 --> 00:43:31.620 garment, 00:43:32.980 --> 00:43:33.180 and he 00:43:33.180 --> 00:43:33.400 wipes 00:43:33.400 --> 00:43:33.560 them 00:43:33.560 --> 00:43:33.860 clean. 00:43:40.860 --> 00:43:41.380 Sacrificial 00:43:41.380 --> 00:43:41.840 kindness. 00:43:44.100 --> 00:43:44.240 Well, 00:43:44.280 --> 00:43:44.460 Bo, 00:43:45.460 --> 00:43:48.140 what about 00:43:48.140 --> 00:43:48.840 this person 00:43:48.840 --> 00:43:49.220 in my 00:43:49.220 --> 00:43:49.660 life? 00:43:51.120 --> 00:43:51.860 They don't 00:43:51.860 --> 00:43:52.480 deserve my 00:43:52.480 --> 00:43:52.820 kindness. 00:43:56.760 --> 00:43:57.280 Lord, 00:43:57.720 --> 00:43:58.920 what about 00:43:58.920 --> 00:43:59.300 the people 00:43:59.300 --> 00:43:59.660 that have 00:43:59.660 --> 00:44:00.140 hurt me? 00:44:01.440 --> 00:44:02.060 Why should 00:44:02.060 --> 00:44:02.360 I do 00:44:02.360 --> 00:44:02.760 this for 00:44:02.760 --> 00:44:03.060 them? 00:44:07.060 --> 00:44:07.460 Because 00:44:07.460 --> 00:44:07.980 Jesus 00:44:07.980 --> 00:44:09.780 did it 00:44:09.780 --> 00:44:09.900 for 00:44:09.900 --> 00:44:10.360 Judas, 00:44:11.500 --> 00:44:12.840 and Jesus 00:44:12.840 --> 00:44:13.180 did it 00:44:13.180 --> 00:44:13.580 for you, 00:44:15.180 --> 00:44:16.160 and Jesus 00:44:16.160 --> 00:44:16.460 did it 00:44:16.460 --> 00:44:16.780 for me. 00:44:25.720 --> 00:44:26.180 remind 00:44:26.180 --> 00:44:26.220 remind 00:44:26.220 --> 00:44:26.540 them, 00:44:27.540 --> 00:44:28.240 remind 00:44:28.240 --> 00:44:28.580 them, 00:44:29.580 --> 00:44:29.900 remind 00:44:29.900 --> 00:44:30.280 them. 00:44:32.760 --> 00:44:33.360 Be 00:44:33.360 --> 00:44:35.260 who God's 00:44:35.260 --> 00:44:35.920 called you 00:44:35.920 --> 00:44:37.300 and created 00:44:37.300 --> 00:44:37.940 you to be 00:44:37.940 --> 00:44:39.460 for his 00:44:39.460 --> 00:44:40.780 name and 00:44:40.780 --> 00:44:41.140 for his 00:44:41.140 --> 00:44:41.580 glory, 00:44:42.240 --> 00:44:44.600 no matter 00:44:44.600 --> 00:44:45.980 the cost. 00:44:46.900 --> 00:44:47.300 Would you 00:44:47.300 --> 00:44:47.560 pray with 00:44:47.560 --> 00:44:47.700 me? 00:44:47.700 --> 00:44:57.360 God, 00:44:57.440 --> 00:44:57.720 I thank you 00:44:57.720 --> 00:44:58.020 for this 00:44:58.020 --> 00:44:58.580 opportunity 00:44:58.580 --> 00:44:58.980 where we 00:44:58.980 --> 00:44:59.440 could gather 00:44:59.440 --> 00:45:00.080 here together 00:45:00.080 --> 00:45:02.820 to study 00:45:02.820 --> 00:45:03.280 the truth 00:45:03.280 --> 00:45:03.540 of your 00:45:03.540 --> 00:45:03.840 word. 00:45:07.560 --> 00:45:07.900 God, 00:45:07.960 --> 00:45:08.320 I thank you 00:45:08.320 --> 00:45:09.500 that you 00:45:09.500 --> 00:45:09.940 gave me the 00:45:09.940 --> 00:45:10.700 opportunity to 00:45:10.700 --> 00:45:12.660 travel 8,000 00:45:12.660 --> 00:45:13.400 miles to the 00:45:13.400 --> 00:45:14.020 other side of 00:45:14.020 --> 00:45:14.500 the world 00:45:14.500 --> 00:45:16.940 where I 00:45:16.940 --> 00:45:17.300 thought, 00:45:17.620 --> 00:45:17.780 Lord, 00:45:17.880 --> 00:45:18.300 what I was 00:45:18.300 --> 00:45:18.740 going to 00:45:18.740 --> 00:45:21.160 do was 00:45:21.160 --> 00:45:21.540 going to 00:45:21.540 --> 00:45:23.820 teach a 00:45:23.820 --> 00:45:24.060 bunch of 00:45:24.060 --> 00:45:24.580 18 to 00:45:24.580 --> 00:45:25.620 24-year-olds 00:45:25.620 --> 00:45:27.220 about the 00:45:27.220 --> 00:45:27.620 truth of 00:45:27.620 --> 00:45:28.080 your word 00:45:28.080 --> 00:45:28.480 found in 00:45:28.480 --> 00:45:28.900 Titus, 00:45:29.020 --> 00:45:29.320 and Lord, 00:45:29.380 --> 00:45:29.740 I thank you 00:45:29.740 --> 00:45:29.940 for the 00:45:29.940 --> 00:45:30.400 opportunity 00:45:30.400 --> 00:45:30.860 for doing 00:45:30.860 --> 00:45:31.160 that. 00:45:32.760 --> 00:45:33.300 But God, 00:45:33.340 --> 00:45:33.660 I thank 00:45:33.660 --> 00:45:33.820 you. 00:45:36.520 --> 00:45:37.200 I thank 00:45:37.200 --> 00:45:37.480 you for 00:45:37.480 --> 00:45:38.080 tongue-signed 00:45:38.080 --> 00:45:38.340 chin. 00:45:40.740 --> 00:45:41.140 God, 00:45:41.200 --> 00:45:41.460 I pray 00:45:41.460 --> 00:45:41.720 that I 00:45:41.720 --> 00:45:42.040 will never 00:45:42.040 --> 00:45:42.680 forget his 00:45:42.680 --> 00:45:43.120 face. 00:45:44.020 --> 00:45:45.780 that God, 00:45:45.840 --> 00:45:46.540 his name 00:45:46.540 --> 00:45:48.060 will be 00:45:48.060 --> 00:45:48.660 burned into 00:45:48.660 --> 00:45:49.220 my memory 00:45:49.220 --> 00:45:50.620 and will 00:45:50.620 --> 00:45:51.080 be lifted 00:45:51.080 --> 00:45:51.780 up often 00:45:51.780 --> 00:45:52.060 in my 00:45:52.060 --> 00:45:52.440 prayers. 00:45:54.540 --> 00:45:55.160 I thank 00:45:55.160 --> 00:45:55.300 you, 00:45:55.420 --> 00:45:55.520 Lord, 00:45:55.560 --> 00:45:55.780 that what 00:45:55.780 --> 00:45:56.260 he taught 00:45:56.260 --> 00:45:57.820 me there 00:45:57.820 --> 00:45:58.260 was much 00:45:58.260 --> 00:45:59.560 greater than 00:45:59.560 --> 00:46:00.000 what I could 00:46:00.000 --> 00:46:00.440 ever teach 00:46:00.440 --> 00:46:00.740 him. 00:46:02.460 --> 00:46:03.120 That God, 00:46:03.220 --> 00:46:03.540 to be 00:46:03.540 --> 00:46:04.460 obedient to 00:46:04.460 --> 00:46:06.200 you for 00:46:06.200 --> 00:46:08.400 him meant 00:46:08.400 --> 00:46:08.680 that he 00:46:08.680 --> 00:46:09.140 didn't just 00:46:09.140 --> 00:46:09.560 have to give 00:46:09.560 --> 00:46:09.860 up his 00:46:09.860 --> 00:46:10.460 pride, 00:46:11.300 --> 00:46:12.700 his goals, 00:46:13.500 --> 00:46:15.580 it wasn't 00:46:15.580 --> 00:46:16.160 just about 00:46:16.160 --> 00:46:17.520 an inconvenience 00:46:17.520 --> 00:46:19.580 in a 00:46:19.580 --> 00:46:19.960 moment, 00:46:20.960 --> 00:46:21.920 but Lord, 00:46:21.980 --> 00:46:22.220 it was 00:46:22.220 --> 00:46:23.200 literally 00:46:23.200 --> 00:46:23.940 willing to 00:46:23.940 --> 00:46:24.540 give up 00:46:24.540 --> 00:46:25.360 his life 00:46:25.360 --> 00:46:26.220 for the 00:46:26.220 --> 00:46:26.560 work of 00:46:26.560 --> 00:46:27.000 the gospel. 00:46:29.880 --> 00:46:30.440 So God, 00:46:30.500 --> 00:46:30.880 I pray, 00:46:31.880 --> 00:46:32.820 I pray 00:46:32.820 --> 00:46:35.140 that we 00:46:35.140 --> 00:46:35.740 would echo 00:46:35.740 --> 00:46:37.800 the teaching 00:46:37.800 --> 00:46:38.440 of Paul, 00:46:39.240 --> 00:46:39.580 the teaching 00:46:39.580 --> 00:46:40.120 of Peter, 00:46:40.640 --> 00:46:41.280 the teaching 00:46:41.280 --> 00:46:41.860 of Jesus, 00:46:43.260 --> 00:46:43.860 the teaching 00:46:43.860 --> 00:46:44.360 of tongue 00:46:44.360 --> 00:46:46.280 in our 00:46:46.280 --> 00:46:46.640 lives, 00:46:47.600 --> 00:46:50.860 to surrender 00:46:50.860 --> 00:46:51.660 our rights 00:46:51.660 --> 00:46:53.520 for the 00:46:53.520 --> 00:46:53.880 work of 00:46:53.880 --> 00:46:54.380 the gospel, 00:46:55.380 --> 00:46:56.620 to embody 00:46:56.620 --> 00:46:57.260 and embrace 00:46:57.260 --> 00:46:58.060 the sacrificial 00:46:58.060 --> 00:46:58.820 kindness. 00:47:00.780 --> 00:47:01.040 Jesus, 00:47:01.200 --> 00:47:01.720 not just 00:47:01.720 --> 00:47:02.240 that we've 00:47:02.240 --> 00:47:02.800 seen from 00:47:02.800 --> 00:47:03.060 you, 00:47:04.060 --> 00:47:05.120 but God, 00:47:05.180 --> 00:47:05.460 that we 00:47:05.460 --> 00:47:06.320 live in, 00:47:07.720 --> 00:47:08.340 because God, 00:47:08.400 --> 00:47:08.900 it's not just 00:47:08.900 --> 00:47:09.560 Judas that 00:47:09.560 --> 00:47:09.900 doesn't 00:47:09.900 --> 00:47:10.320 deserve, 00:47:10.980 --> 00:47:11.420 but it's 00:47:11.420 --> 00:47:11.740 me, 00:47:12.340 --> 00:47:12.660 what I 00:47:12.660 --> 00:47:12.820 don't 00:47:12.820 --> 00:47:13.360 deserve, 00:47:13.940 --> 00:47:14.520 but day 00:47:14.520 --> 00:47:15.400 after day 00:47:15.400 --> 00:47:16.120 after day, 00:47:16.220 --> 00:47:16.460 Lord, 00:47:16.620 --> 00:47:17.480 you've made 00:47:17.480 --> 00:47:18.120 me clean. 00:47:20.120 --> 00:47:20.680 When I want 00:47:20.680 --> 00:47:21.000 to roll 00:47:21.000 --> 00:47:21.500 back in the 00:47:21.500 --> 00:47:21.800 mud, 00:47:22.940 --> 00:47:23.460 when I want 00:47:23.460 --> 00:47:23.800 to dive 00:47:23.800 --> 00:47:24.220 back into 00:47:24.220 --> 00:47:24.700 the sin, 00:47:25.880 --> 00:47:26.380 when I want 00:47:26.380 --> 00:47:26.760 to cover 00:47:26.760 --> 00:47:27.560 myself with 00:47:27.560 --> 00:47:28.180 the waste 00:47:28.180 --> 00:47:28.960 and refuse 00:47:28.960 --> 00:47:29.400 of this 00:47:29.400 --> 00:47:29.860 world, 00:47:30.640 --> 00:47:30.880 God, 00:47:30.940 --> 00:47:31.780 you continually 00:47:31.780 --> 00:47:32.540 make me 00:47:32.540 --> 00:47:33.580 clean time 00:47:33.580 --> 00:47:33.980 and time 00:47:33.980 --> 00:47:34.340 again. 00:47:36.680 --> 00:47:37.140 And God, 00:47:37.200 --> 00:47:37.540 as I've 00:47:37.540 --> 00:47:38.220 experienced 00:47:38.220 --> 00:47:39.120 your sacrificial 00:47:39.120 --> 00:47:39.740 kindness, 00:47:41.660 --> 00:47:42.480 may that 00:47:42.480 --> 00:47:43.220 be who I 00:47:43.220 --> 00:47:45.220 am as a 00:47:45.220 --> 00:47:45.660 child of 00:47:45.660 --> 00:47:45.960 God. 00:47:47.560 --> 00:47:48.060 And what a 00:47:48.060 --> 00:47:49.180 privilege and 00:47:49.180 --> 00:47:50.520 honor it is 00:47:50.520 --> 00:47:51.560 to have 00:47:51.560 --> 00:47:51.980 that. 00:47:54.240 --> 00:47:55.000 May we 00:47:55.000 --> 00:47:56.580 live in the 00:47:56.580 --> 00:47:57.240 authority of 00:47:57.240 --> 00:47:57.520 that. 00:47:58.560 --> 00:47:59.160 For your 00:47:59.160 --> 00:48:00.380 name and 00:48:00.380 --> 00:48:00.920 your renown. 00:48:01.780 --> 00:48:02.280 It's in Jesus 00:48:02.280 --> 00:48:02.780 name we pray. 00:48:03.340 --> 00:48:03.620 Amen. 00:48:07.040 --> 00:48:07.780 That's it for 00:48:07.780 --> 00:48:08.340 this week's 00:48:08.340 --> 00:48:08.740 message. 00:48:09.200 --> 00:48:09.700 Be sure to 00:48:09.700 --> 00:48:10.100 check back 00:48:10.100 --> 00:48:10.880 next week for 00:48:10.880 --> 00:48:11.540 a new episode. 00:48:12.140 --> 00:48:12.440 And in the 00:48:12.440 --> 00:48:13.240 meantime, you 00:48:13.240 --> 00:48:13.820 can visit us 00:48:13.820 --> 00:48:14.680 online at 00:48:14.680 --> 00:48:16.320 willowridgechurch.org 00:48:16.320 --> 00:48:17.360 or by searching 00:48:17.360 --> 00:48:18.040 for Willow Ridge 00:48:18.040 --> 00:48:18.720 Church on 00:48:18.720 --> 00:48:19.180 Facebook, 00:48:19.520 --> 00:48:19.960 Instagram, 00:48:20.280 --> 00:48:20.740 and YouTube. 00:48:21.180 --> 00:48:21.700 Thanks again 00:48:21.700 --> 00:48:22.140 for listening. 00:48:31.780 --> 00:48:32.780 Thank you.