WEBVTT

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 Welcome to the Willow Ridge Sermons Podcast, where you can listen to audio from our most

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 recent sermons and more.

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 Thanks for listening, and be sure to add this show to your library if you'd like to automatically

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 receive new episodes each week.

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 Good morning, you may be seated.

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 If you have your Bibles, and I hope you do, I want to invite you to join us in Matthew

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 chapter 5, is where we will be here in just a moment.

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 We'll be reading starting in verse 43.

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 If you don't have a copy of a Bible, we do have some free ones that are available.

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 They are back at the Connections desk, and whether you are a first-time guest or a long-time

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 member, if you don't have a copy of God's Word, we want you to have one.

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 And so please stop by there after the service is over with and pick one of those up.

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 They are free.

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 We would love for you to be able to have one of those.

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 Well, I want to state a truth that I believe is difficult for all of us to actually apply

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 in our life.

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 that sometimes doing things that feel unnatural can benefit you greatly.

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 Doing things that seem unnatural can benefit you greatly.

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 I was sitting on my phone, full confession, this week, right?

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 Sitting on my phone, and I'm lost in this motion with looking at some videos.

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 And a video popped up, and it said, are you not a morning person?

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 I need to watch that video.

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 When Aaron and I, when we both wake up in the morning, if you want to know what that looks

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 like, the older we get, I just kind of picture like we kind of resemble getting out of bed

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 kind of looks like zombies, right?

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 Like, the hair's all over the place.

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 We're dragging a leg, you know?

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 And there's just grunts that are happening, right?

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 So I'm not a morning person.

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 It takes me a long time for my brain to get up and get going.

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 It takes me even more time to get where I feel like I'm ready to talk and ready to engage with people.

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 And so I thought, well, this may be beneficial.

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 Aaron's a lot quicker at that.

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 Like, once she gets up and gets going, like, the first sip of coffee hits her mouth,

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 and she's ready to go and tackle the day.

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 And for me, there's a lot more involved in the process to get me going.

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 And so here's what this video said.

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 In order to become a morning person, if you, if the first thing you do,

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 if you will brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand,

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 and I thought, there's no way that's true, but I got some time to kill.

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 So let's see what Google has to say about this.

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 Now, I'm not a dentist, a scientist.

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 I'm none of these things.

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 But through the help of AI and Google, I checked this out,

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 and there seems to be some legitimacy to it.

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 One thing that I read was said that brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand,

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 if you do it first thing in the morning,

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 it will cause your brain to wake up faster,

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 causing you to have more physical energy and mental energy throughout the course of the day.

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 Right?

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 Number two.

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 Oh, there's more.

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 There's four things.

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 Number two.

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 It engages the part of your brain that produces calmness.

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 So throughout the course of the day,

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 you have less stress in your life

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 if you will brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand.

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 Number three.

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 It forces the brain to break automatic routines

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 and therefore will help you in building both memory and focus throughout the course of the day.

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 If all you'll do is do this.

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 I'm right-handed, right?

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 All right.

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 Number four.

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 It engages brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand.

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 It engages the creative part of your brain.

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 And as a result, will spark more creativity in you.

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 The last thing it does.

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 From experience.

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 It will cause you to get a massive amount of toothpaste in your beard.

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 All right?

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 For some of us, that's a problem.

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 For others, not so much.

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 So you're asking me,

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 well, Bo, did you try it?

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 I did.

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 For one day.

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 For one day.

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 And I was like, this just isn't worth it.

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 Right?

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 Like, I can't do this.

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 Right?

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 Like, this is not really what I want to be a part of,

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 what I want to be about.

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 Right?

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 What would have taken a certain amount of time.

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 I don't want to say how long it takes me to brush my teeth

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 because I don't want some of you to judge me.

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 Right?

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 It took longer than that in order to feel like I'd accomplished anything.

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 And even though the course of the day, it didn't.

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 Why in the world am I doing this?

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 Well, Jesus, so far in the Sermon on the Mount,

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 has been laying forth some kingdom characteristics

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 for those who choose to follow him as king.

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 Jesus already said, here's how you follow me.

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 Repent.

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 Repent.

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 Repent.

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 And now within that,

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 and this kingdom culture that he's calling them to,

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 what he's pressing into is that he's commanding them

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 to do things differently than what they've been taught

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 and what may seem natural to them.

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 And I would argue that verses 43 through 48

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 during the time of Christ and during the time of today

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 is probably one of those things

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 in the commands that he's called us to

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 that calls us to go,

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 but I don't know about that.

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 That's more uncomfortable than brushing your teeth

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 with your opposite hand.

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 So let's read verses 43 through 48.

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 You have heard that it was said,

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 you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

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 But I say to you,

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 love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

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 so that you may be sons of your father who is in heaven.

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 For he makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good

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 and send rain on the just and on the unjust.

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 For if you love those who love you,

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 what reward do you have?

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 Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

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 And if you greet only your brothers,

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 what more are you doing than others?

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 Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

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 You, therefore, must be perfect

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 as your heavenly father is perfect.

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 Now this is the last of Jesus' part

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 in the Sermon on the Mount

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 where he is saying,

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 you have heard it was said,

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 but I say to you.

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 And in this moment,

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 I believe that he cuts to the heart of his audience.

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 What Jesus is doing is twofold.

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 Jesus is placing emphasis on the heart of the law

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 of what God has given.

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 But Jesus is also drawing out

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 the improper teaching

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 of those who have incorrectly,

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 oftentimes knowingly,

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 mistaught the law of God.

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 We're back at verses 43 through,

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 about midway through 45.

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 You have heard that it was said,

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 you shall love your neighbor

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 and hate your enemy.

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 But I say to you,

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 love your enemies

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 and pray for those who persecute you

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 so that you may be sons of your father

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 who is in heaven.

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 What Jesus is calling them to,

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 what Jesus is calling us to this morning

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 is a holy,

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 like God is holy,

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 and holy as in a fullness mind shift.

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 Jesus is moving them from,

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 you have heard that it was said,

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 love your neighbor and hate your enemy,

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 but I say to you,

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 love your enemy

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 and pray for those who persecute you.

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 And this is important

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 as we understand

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 what Jesus is stepping into.

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 Jesus is stepping into

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 an oppressed people.

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 And what I mean by oppressed,

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 I mean oppressed.

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 It's not a system of slavery,

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 but it's pretty close.

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 People have been beaten down

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 and taxed and cheated.

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 People have had their,

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 the temples,

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 their places of worship desecrated.

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 People who live in an area

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 where if I go against the government

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 who's at rule,

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 then they will crucify me

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 and leave my body hanging

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 as a reminder of those who are in power.

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 And at the time of Christ,

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 when people hear a Messiah is coming,

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 they're looking for a political Messiah.

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 It's easy to know in their mind

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 who the good guys

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 and who the bad guys are.

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 It's easy to see who's on God's side

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 and who's not on God's side.

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 And so Jesus comes in

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 and I bet in their mind,

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 they're thinking,

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 you shall love your neighbor

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 and hate your enemy.

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 And they're like,

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 oh great,

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 he's going to tell us

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 that our enemy is Rome.

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 And we hate him

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 and we hate him

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 and we hate him.

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 Man,

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 Jesus comes in

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 and before he turns over the table

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 in the temple,

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 man,

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 he flips up the table

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 in their mind.

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 You've heard it said,

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 love your neighbor

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 and hate your enemy.

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 But I tell you,

00:10:32.900 --> 00:10:34.600
 love your enemy

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 and pray for those who persecute you.

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 What Jesus is correcting

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 is an abuse

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 and a misteaching

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 that the scribes

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 and the Pharisees taught

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 of Leviticus 19.

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 We haven't done this

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 for all of these,

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 but I want to share with you

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 what happens

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 when culture and convenience

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 determine the teachings of God

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 versus God determining

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 the teachings of God.

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 The scribes did teach,

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 the Pharisees did teach,

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 love your neighbor

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 and hate your enemy.

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 Jesus is quoting

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 if you had gone to a temple,

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 if you had gone to a place of worship,

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 what you would have heard them teach on

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 as they were teaching

00:11:22.180 --> 00:11:23.200
 out of Leviticus 19.

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 They would have taught,

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 love one another,

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 love your Jewish brethren

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 and hate your enemy.

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 Hate them.

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 Here's Leviticus 19,

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 here's what this is based off of.

00:11:39.060 --> 00:11:42.340
 Leviticus 19, 17 through 18.

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 You shall not hate your brother

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 in your heart,

00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:47.760
 but you shall reason frankly

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 with your neighbor

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 lest you incur sin because of him.

00:11:51.500 --> 00:11:52.960
 You shall not take vengeance

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 or bear a grudge

00:11:54.340 --> 00:11:56.640
 against the sons of your own people,

00:11:56.780 --> 00:11:58.780
 but you shall love your neighbor

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 as yourself.

00:12:00.320 --> 00:12:01.460
 I am the Lord.

00:12:03.720 --> 00:12:05.100
 Now when the scribes and Pharisees

00:12:05.100 --> 00:12:05.660
 taught this,

00:12:06.660 --> 00:12:08.120
 here's what they mistaught.

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 They taught in Leviticus 19,

00:12:11.180 --> 00:12:12.060
 17 through 18,

00:12:12.740 --> 00:12:13.160
 number one,

00:12:13.220 --> 00:12:14.920
 that you define

00:12:14.920 --> 00:12:16.200
 who your neighbor is.

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 Well, who do I love?

00:12:19.020 --> 00:12:19.300
 I don't know.

00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:20.200
 Tell me who you want to love.

00:12:21.160 --> 00:12:22.080
 Then that's who you love.

00:12:23.260 --> 00:12:24.040
 But God never

00:12:24.040 --> 00:12:25.340
 gives limitations

00:12:25.340 --> 00:12:26.080
 to the word neighbor.

00:12:26.980 --> 00:12:27.540
 Number two,

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 they left off the command

00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:32.580
 to love your neighbor

00:12:32.580 --> 00:12:34.900
 as yourself.

00:12:36.100 --> 00:12:37.040
 They would completely

00:12:37.040 --> 00:12:37.840
 skip over that.

00:12:38.980 --> 00:12:39.460
 Why?

00:12:39.520 --> 00:12:40.680
 Because even within

00:12:40.680 --> 00:12:42.080
 who I choose to love,

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 but I don't have to love you

00:12:43.520 --> 00:12:44.840
 in depth that I want to love,

00:12:45.420 --> 00:12:45.800
 me.

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 And I'm good at loving me

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 some me, right?

00:12:50.840 --> 00:12:51.900
 They left that off.

00:12:53.900 --> 00:12:55.380
 And then they added

00:12:55.380 --> 00:12:58.280
 while you are called

00:12:58.280 --> 00:12:59.840
 to love your neighbor,

00:13:00.780 --> 00:13:01.980
 you hate your enemy.

00:13:02.980 --> 00:13:04.040
 You hate your enemy.

00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:04.960
 Man,

00:13:05.640 --> 00:13:07.420
 isn't that really reflective

00:13:07.420 --> 00:13:09.720
 of our culture today?

00:13:13.500 --> 00:13:15.180
 Who's for me is for me.

00:13:15.280 --> 00:13:17.100
 Who's against me is against me.

00:13:17.100 --> 00:13:19.680
 I'm for me who's for me.

00:13:19.800 --> 00:13:21.680
 And I'm against who's against me.

00:13:23.680 --> 00:13:27.460
 Here's what's ironic about this.

00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:27.960
 Like, well, Beau,

00:13:28.220 --> 00:13:29.840
 it doesn't necessarily say

00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:30.380
 in there,

00:13:31.020 --> 00:13:32.080
 in Leviticus 19,

00:13:32.300 --> 00:13:33.240
 17 through 18,

00:13:33.380 --> 00:13:34.140
 to love your neighbor.

00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:35.560
 Well, jump down with me

00:13:35.560 --> 00:13:36.300
 to verse 33.

00:13:39.860 --> 00:13:41.180
 When a stranger,

00:13:41.660 --> 00:13:42.180
 pause there,

00:13:42.620 --> 00:13:43.740
 stranger's not a friend.

00:13:45.680 --> 00:13:46.740
 Stranger's not a friend.

00:13:48.300 --> 00:13:49.340
 Stranger is an outsider.

00:13:49.500 --> 00:13:50.420
 Stranger is an enemy.

00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:51.820
 Stranger is someone

00:13:51.820 --> 00:13:52.600
 you don't know.

00:13:52.980 --> 00:13:53.460
 Stranger is someone

00:13:53.460 --> 00:13:54.600
 when you're suspicious of.

00:13:55.640 --> 00:13:56.640
 Stranger danger, right?

00:13:56.700 --> 00:13:57.400
 Right in here, right?

00:13:58.100 --> 00:13:58.500
 1933.

00:13:58.660 --> 00:13:59.560
 When a stranger

00:13:59.560 --> 00:14:01.800
 sojourns with you

00:14:01.800 --> 00:14:02.680
 in your land,

00:14:03.380 --> 00:14:03.800
 what does it say?

00:14:03.980 --> 00:14:05.500
 You shall not do him wrong.

00:14:06.940 --> 00:14:08.960
 You shall treat the stranger

00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:10.600
 who sojourns with you

00:14:10.600 --> 00:14:12.920
 as the native among you.

00:14:15.920 --> 00:14:19.180
 And you shall love him.

00:14:19.180 --> 00:14:19.600
 And you shall love him

00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:23.120
 as yourself.

00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:30.140
 For you were strangers

00:14:30.140 --> 00:14:33.420
 in the land of Egypt.

00:14:34.260 --> 00:14:37.540
 I am the Lord your God.

00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:39.500
 So here's what we see.

00:14:41.060 --> 00:14:42.400
 In the manipulation of God's word,

00:14:42.400 --> 00:14:43.600
 in the manipulation of God's word,

00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:46.320
 God never said,

00:14:47.160 --> 00:14:49.740
 love your neighbor,

00:14:50.400 --> 00:14:51.120
 your friend,

00:14:51.520 --> 00:14:52.120
 your brother,

00:14:52.320 --> 00:14:53.120
 and hate your enemy.

00:14:56.040 --> 00:14:57.180
 God says love.

00:14:57.580 --> 00:14:58.380
 You bless.

00:14:58.780 --> 00:15:00.240
 This is who we are.

00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:01.800
 Now this,

00:15:02.560 --> 00:15:03.220
 for you

00:15:03.220 --> 00:15:04.680
 and for me,

00:15:06.160 --> 00:15:06.660
 the people,

00:15:06.920 --> 00:15:07.940
 Jesus' time,

00:15:08.880 --> 00:15:09.540
 would have taken

00:15:09.540 --> 00:15:10.540
 a change

00:15:10.540 --> 00:15:12.140
 of their mind

00:15:12.140 --> 00:15:14.660
 that is reflective

00:15:14.660 --> 00:15:15.920
 of the holiness of God.

00:15:17.300 --> 00:15:18.880
 It comes from,

00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:21.580
 because this is what's best

00:15:21.580 --> 00:15:22.640
 for political reasons.

00:15:23.280 --> 00:15:24.300
 This is what's best

00:15:24.300 --> 00:15:24.900
 for strategy.

00:15:25.040 --> 00:15:25.200
 No.

00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:31.760
 Because I am the Lord your God.

00:15:33.900 --> 00:15:35.040
 What they taught

00:15:35.040 --> 00:15:38.260
 was you define

00:15:38.260 --> 00:15:41.000
 who you love.

00:15:41.760 --> 00:15:42.280
 And folks,

00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:45.260
 that's not what Jesus teaches.

00:15:46.760 --> 00:15:47.800
 It's very interesting.

00:15:47.960 --> 00:15:49.460
 The parable of the Good Samaritan

00:15:49.460 --> 00:15:50.460
 found in Luke chapter 10.

00:15:51.860 --> 00:15:52.340
 Oftentimes,

00:15:52.980 --> 00:15:54.940
 and in repentance with things,

00:15:55.340 --> 00:15:55.740
 you know,

00:15:55.960 --> 00:15:57.700
 you're reading back through,

00:15:57.780 --> 00:15:58.580
 I'm reading back through,

00:15:58.680 --> 00:15:58.820
 and man,

00:15:58.840 --> 00:15:59.180
 I realize,

00:15:59.280 --> 00:15:59.380
 man,

00:15:59.420 --> 00:16:00.120
 sometimes I don't put

00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:00.760
 the right emphasis

00:16:00.760 --> 00:16:01.780
 where it needs to be.

00:16:02.520 --> 00:16:03.260
 And so many times,

00:16:03.300 --> 00:16:04.240
 I know that I've done this,

00:16:04.260 --> 00:16:05.020
 you've probably done this

00:16:05.020 --> 00:16:05.620
 or heard this,

00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:06.000
 right?

00:16:06.020 --> 00:16:07.460
 We look at Luke chapter 10,

00:16:08.160 --> 00:16:09.520
 the parable of the Good Samaritan,

00:16:10.020 --> 00:16:11.720
 and we base all of it

00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:14.000
 off of how to love someone.

00:16:15.520 --> 00:16:16.200
 And can we do that?

00:16:16.300 --> 00:16:16.700
 Absolutely.

00:16:16.900 --> 00:16:16.960
 Like,

00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:18.980
 we can draw beautiful pictures

00:16:18.980 --> 00:16:20.180
 and beautiful pieces

00:16:20.180 --> 00:16:21.300
 of what it means

00:16:21.300 --> 00:16:22.200
 to love someone

00:16:22.200 --> 00:16:23.720
 and what that could look like.

00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:24.300
 But you know,

00:16:24.340 --> 00:16:24.920
 that's not,

00:16:24.980 --> 00:16:25.980
 the point of the parable.

00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:28.700
 That's not the point

00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:29.180
 of the parable.

00:16:30.260 --> 00:16:31.060
 It's a truth

00:16:31.060 --> 00:16:32.260
 we can draw from it,

00:16:32.520 --> 00:16:34.360
 but it's not what Jesus

00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:36.000
 at the heart of the parable

00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:37.140
 is addressing.

00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:38.840
 The purpose of the parable

00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:39.880
 is who is my neighbor?

00:16:41.580 --> 00:16:42.500
 Luke 10, 25,

00:16:42.860 --> 00:16:43.300
 and behold,

00:16:43.300 --> 00:16:45.340
 a lawyer stood up,

00:16:45.340 --> 00:16:46.300
 this is a scribe,

00:16:47.080 --> 00:16:48.420
 stood up to put him

00:16:48.420 --> 00:16:49.000
 to the test,

00:16:49.060 --> 00:16:49.740
 being Jesus,

00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:50.760
 saying,

00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:51.280
 teacher,

00:16:51.420 --> 00:16:52.380
 what shall I do

00:16:52.380 --> 00:16:54.080
 to inherit eternal life?

00:16:54.340 --> 00:16:54.620
 Jesus,

00:16:54.800 --> 00:16:55.520
 tell me what to do,

00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:56.320
 tell me what to do.

00:16:57.240 --> 00:16:58.100
 And he said to him,

00:16:58.140 --> 00:16:58.980
 what is written in the law,

00:16:59.020 --> 00:16:59.800
 how do you read it?

00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:00.620
 And he answered,

00:17:00.660 --> 00:17:01.860
 you shall love the Lord your God

00:17:01.860 --> 00:17:02.820
 with all your heart,

00:17:02.900 --> 00:17:03.700
 with all your soul,

00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:05.120
 with all your strength,

00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:06.080
 with all your mind,

00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:07.060
 and your neighbor

00:17:07.060 --> 00:17:08.540
 as yourself.

00:17:10.040 --> 00:17:11.360
 And he said to him,

00:17:11.460 --> 00:17:12.280
 Jesus says to him,

00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:13.560
 you have answered correctly,

00:17:13.640 --> 00:17:14.540
 go and do this,

00:17:14.800 --> 00:17:15.980
 and you will live.

00:17:16.740 --> 00:17:17.660
 But he,

00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:20.220
 desiring to justify himself,

00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:21.380
 said to Jesus,

00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:22.660
 and who is my neighbor?

00:17:24.600 --> 00:17:24.960
 Who?

00:17:26.080 --> 00:17:27.320
 And then Jesus taught.

00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:30.080
 Jesus taught.

00:17:31.800 --> 00:17:34.500
 Defining who is your neighbor.

00:17:34.800 --> 00:17:35.020
 Folks,

00:17:35.280 --> 00:17:36.020
 who is your neighbor?

00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:36.620
 Yep.

00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:40.420
 Did you encounter them?

00:17:40.820 --> 00:17:41.100
 Yep.

00:17:41.260 --> 00:17:42.380
 Did you not encounter them?

00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:42.860
 Yep.

00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:43.840
 Do you know them?

00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:44.400
 Yep.

00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:45.840
 Do you not know them?

00:17:46.120 --> 00:17:46.340
 Yep.

00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:47.260
 Do you love them?

00:17:47.460 --> 00:17:47.660
 Yep.

00:17:47.800 --> 00:17:48.880
 Do you not love them?

00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:49.180
 Yep.

00:17:49.280 --> 00:17:49.940
 They're your neighbor.

00:17:52.100 --> 00:17:53.000
 They're your neighbor.

00:17:54.700 --> 00:17:56.320
 They thought that you would define

00:17:56.320 --> 00:17:58.080
 the standard to which you love.

00:17:59.540 --> 00:18:02.080
 Don't love as you desire,

00:18:02.740 --> 00:18:03.800
 as you love yourself.

00:18:04.820 --> 00:18:06.680
 Love is what you seem fit.

00:18:07.420 --> 00:18:08.560
 You are the judge.

00:18:08.660 --> 00:18:09.460
 You are the jury.

00:18:09.580 --> 00:18:10.340
 You decide.

00:18:11.500 --> 00:18:12.340
 Jesus says, no, God,

00:18:12.940 --> 00:18:13.680
 God teaches.

00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:15.680
 That you love

00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:17.720
 sacrificially

00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:20.480
 out of a response

00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:22.680
 to how you've loved.

00:18:24.040 --> 00:18:24.820
 And they taught

00:18:24.820 --> 00:18:26.860
 that for people

00:18:26.860 --> 00:18:27.960
 who want to live their lives

00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:28.740
 and honor God,

00:18:30.020 --> 00:18:31.020
 that hate

00:18:31.020 --> 00:18:33.100
 was acceptable.

00:18:34.100 --> 00:18:35.080
 It was norm.

00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:36.220
 It was expected.

00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:38.980
 And Jesus says,

00:18:40.040 --> 00:18:41.100
 but not for kingdom people.

00:18:42.260 --> 00:18:43.380
 Not for kingdom people.

00:18:44.380 --> 00:18:45.960
 Jesus says, you don't hate.

00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:48.040
 Jesus says,

00:18:48.840 --> 00:18:49.640
 you love

00:18:49.640 --> 00:18:51.760
 your enemies

00:18:51.760 --> 00:18:54.340
 and you pray

00:18:54.340 --> 00:18:56.360
 for those

00:18:56.360 --> 00:18:58.500
 who persecute you.

00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:06.220
 the passing down

00:19:06.220 --> 00:19:07.080
 of culture

00:19:07.080 --> 00:19:09.580
 rings true

00:19:09.580 --> 00:19:11.360
 in first century

00:19:11.360 --> 00:19:11.980
 Jerusalem

00:19:11.980 --> 00:19:14.300
 as it does today.

00:19:15.860 --> 00:19:16.780
 I love

00:19:16.780 --> 00:19:17.980
 who I want to love

00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:19.420
 based off of

00:19:19.420 --> 00:19:20.400
 what I determine

00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:21.180
 they should

00:19:21.180 --> 00:19:22.620
 or should not get.

00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:24.640
 And hate

00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:27.100
 is a natural response

00:19:27.100 --> 00:19:29.140
 because of what

00:19:29.140 --> 00:19:29.840
 they've done to me.

00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:33.320
 Jesus has already spoken

00:19:33.320 --> 00:19:35.360
 that blessing

00:19:35.360 --> 00:19:36.700
 of persecution

00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:37.500
 and the Beatitudes.

00:19:38.100 --> 00:19:38.880
 Matthew 5.10

00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:39.620
 Blessed are those

00:19:39.620 --> 00:19:40.740
 who are persecuted

00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.980
 for righteousness' sake.

00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:43.440
 For theirs is the kingdom

00:19:43.440 --> 00:19:43.960
 of heaven.

00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:45.060
 Blessed are you

00:19:45.060 --> 00:19:46.340
 when others revile you

00:19:46.340 --> 00:19:47.460
 and persecute you

00:19:47.460 --> 00:19:48.500
 and utter all kinds

00:19:48.500 --> 00:19:49.580
 of evil against you

00:19:49.580 --> 00:19:50.560
 falsely on my account.

00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:52.080
 Rejoice and be glad

00:19:52.080 --> 00:19:52.940
 for your reward

00:19:52.940 --> 00:19:53.900
 is great in heaven

00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:55.520
 for so they persecuted

00:19:55.520 --> 00:19:56.280
 the prophets

00:19:56.280 --> 00:19:57.420
 who were before you.

00:19:57.720 --> 00:19:58.400
 And now,

00:19:59.080 --> 00:20:00.180
 now Jesus

00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:01.880
 ratcheted it up again

00:20:01.880 --> 00:20:06.520
 that as blessed people

00:20:06.520 --> 00:20:08.820
 who are enduring

00:20:08.820 --> 00:20:10.380
 the difficulty

00:20:10.380 --> 00:20:11.440
 of the world

00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:14.180
 that our response

00:20:14.180 --> 00:20:15.500
 as he just shared

00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:17.720
 is not an eye

00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:18.960
 for an eye

00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:20.000
 or a tooth

00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:21.240
 for a tooth.

00:20:21.700 --> 00:20:22.900
 It's not just

00:20:22.900 --> 00:20:23.980
 give them your shirt

00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:25.400
 it's give them your cloak.

00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:29.400
 Jesus says

00:20:29.400 --> 00:20:33.560
 love your enemy

00:20:33.560 --> 00:20:36.640
 and pray

00:20:36.640 --> 00:20:38.840
 earnestly

00:20:38.840 --> 00:20:40.740
 for those

00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:42.780
 who persecute you.

00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:45.560
 Why in the world

00:20:45.560 --> 00:20:47.420
 would he do that?

00:20:49.320 --> 00:20:50.200
 Why in the world?

00:20:50.340 --> 00:20:50.740
 Jesus

00:20:50.740 --> 00:20:55.320
 this doesn't even seem

00:20:55.320 --> 00:20:56.020
 to make sense

00:20:56.020 --> 00:21:01.420
 they're not doing

00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:03.680
 what you're asking

00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:04.100
 me to do

00:21:04.100 --> 00:21:04.640
 in return.

00:21:06.680 --> 00:21:08.160
 Why should I

00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:11.100
 reward their hate

00:21:11.100 --> 00:21:12.900
 with my love?

00:21:17.260 --> 00:21:18.260
 Verse 45

00:21:18.260 --> 00:21:21.120
 so that you may be

00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:21.720
 sons

00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:23.260
 of your father

00:21:23.260 --> 00:21:24.660
 who is in heaven.

00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:25.860
 Now,

00:21:26.660 --> 00:21:27.740
 what is Jesus saying?

00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:29.460
 Does Jesus mean

00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:30.300
 that if I do this

00:21:30.300 --> 00:21:30.800
 then certain

00:21:30.800 --> 00:21:32.000
 if I do certain things

00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:32.560
 then I will earn

00:21:32.560 --> 00:21:33.240
 my salvation?

00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:34.780
 That's not at all.

00:21:35.780 --> 00:21:36.700
 Is Jesus saying

00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:37.000
 that

00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:38.120
 I

00:21:38.120 --> 00:21:38.720
 in and of

00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:39.220
 myself

00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:39.920
 can obtain

00:21:39.920 --> 00:21:40.500
 a level

00:21:40.500 --> 00:21:41.160
 of personal

00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:41.840
 righteousness

00:21:41.840 --> 00:21:42.860
 that makes

00:21:42.860 --> 00:21:43.680
 salvation

00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:44.340
 obtainable

00:21:44.340 --> 00:21:44.900
 by works?

00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:45.140
 No,

00:21:45.300 --> 00:21:45.800
 not at all.

00:21:46.020 --> 00:21:46.800
 Here's what

00:21:46.800 --> 00:21:47.600
 he has said.

00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:48.300
 Here's what

00:21:48.300 --> 00:21:49.000
 he will continue

00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:49.560
 to say

00:21:49.560 --> 00:21:50.080
 is that

00:21:50.080 --> 00:21:50.620
 salvation

00:21:50.620 --> 00:21:51.280
 is possible

00:21:51.280 --> 00:21:51.880
 by faith

00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:52.400
 and repentance.

00:21:52.760 --> 00:21:53.240
 That's it.

00:21:54.220 --> 00:21:54.800
 But what

00:21:54.800 --> 00:21:55.660
 Jesus is getting

00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:56.360
 to in the

00:21:56.360 --> 00:21:57.100
 calling of

00:21:57.100 --> 00:21:57.600
 the people

00:21:57.600 --> 00:21:58.680
 of the kingdom

00:21:58.680 --> 00:21:59.460
 is that

00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:00.260
 when we are

00:22:00.260 --> 00:22:00.700
 saved

00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:01.600
 God produces

00:22:01.600 --> 00:22:02.740
 fruit in us.

00:22:03.060 --> 00:22:03.760
 God transforms

00:22:03.760 --> 00:22:04.400
 us.

00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:05.460
 God sanctifies

00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:06.440
 us so that

00:22:06.440 --> 00:22:07.240
 we become

00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:08.100
 more like him

00:22:08.100 --> 00:22:08.680
 and less like

00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:09.040
 us.

00:22:13.100 --> 00:22:13.880
 So what

00:22:13.880 --> 00:22:14.360
 do we need

00:22:14.360 --> 00:22:14.940
 to know

00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:16.760
 about the

00:22:16.760 --> 00:22:17.140
 love of

00:22:17.140 --> 00:22:17.560
 God

00:22:17.560 --> 00:22:18.840
 so that

00:22:18.840 --> 00:22:19.220
 we can

00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:19.960
 love in

00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:20.480
 the manner

00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:20.900
 and the

00:22:20.900 --> 00:22:21.360
 fashion

00:22:21.360 --> 00:22:22.060
 that he

00:22:22.060 --> 00:22:22.420
 does?

00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:25.760
 Let's

00:22:25.760 --> 00:22:26.240
 understand

00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:26.620
 that in

00:22:26.620 --> 00:22:27.020
 this

00:22:27.020 --> 00:22:28.160
 God

00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:28.880
 extends

00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:29.440
 love

00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:29.960
 to all.

00:22:30.840 --> 00:22:31.240
 God

00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:31.620
 extends

00:22:31.620 --> 00:22:32.020
 love to

00:22:32.020 --> 00:22:32.200
 all.

00:22:32.280 --> 00:22:32.360
 Look at

00:22:32.360 --> 00:22:32.680
 the second

00:22:32.680 --> 00:22:33.080
 half of

00:22:33.080 --> 00:22:33.300
 verse

00:22:33.300 --> 00:22:34.220
 45.

00:22:35.800 --> 00:22:35.900
 For

00:22:35.900 --> 00:22:36.400
 he makes

00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:37.020
 the sun

00:22:37.020 --> 00:22:37.820
 rise on

00:22:37.820 --> 00:22:38.320
 the evil

00:22:38.320 --> 00:22:39.740
 and on

00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:40.160
 the good

00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:41.760
 and sends

00:22:41.760 --> 00:22:42.580
 rain on

00:22:42.580 --> 00:22:43.300
 the just

00:22:43.300 --> 00:22:44.260
 and on

00:22:44.260 --> 00:22:45.140
 the unjust.

00:22:45.740 --> 00:22:46.280
 John Calvin

00:22:46.280 --> 00:22:46.780
 referred to

00:22:46.780 --> 00:22:47.260
 this as the

00:22:47.260 --> 00:22:47.840
 common grace

00:22:47.840 --> 00:22:48.320
 of God.

00:22:49.160 --> 00:22:49.500
 Right?

00:22:49.560 --> 00:22:50.060
 The sun

00:22:50.060 --> 00:22:50.580
 didn't just

00:22:50.580 --> 00:22:51.060
 come up for

00:22:51.060 --> 00:22:51.500
 you and me

00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:52.020
 this morning.

00:22:52.300 --> 00:22:52.560
 Right?

00:22:52.600 --> 00:22:52.960
 The sun

00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:53.460
 came up for

00:22:53.460 --> 00:22:53.780
 good and

00:22:53.780 --> 00:22:54.060
 bad.

00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:55.640
 Hopefully

00:22:55.640 --> 00:22:56.140
 that the

00:22:56.140 --> 00:22:56.580
 rain will

00:22:56.580 --> 00:22:57.400
 fall in the

00:22:57.400 --> 00:22:57.980
 next 60

00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.340
 to 90

00:22:58.340 --> 00:22:58.700
 days.

00:22:58.700 --> 00:22:59.240
 And when

00:22:59.240 --> 00:22:59.900
 that happens,

00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:00.140
 right?

00:23:00.560 --> 00:23:01.500
 It'll fall

00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:02.220
 for the good

00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:03.200
 and the bad.

00:23:03.280 --> 00:23:04.160
 That the sun

00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:05.560
 rises regardless

00:23:05.560 --> 00:23:06.100
 if you love

00:23:06.100 --> 00:23:06.560
 God or not.

00:23:06.680 --> 00:23:07.320
 That the rain

00:23:07.320 --> 00:23:08.760
 falls regardless

00:23:08.760 --> 00:23:09.900
 if you love

00:23:09.900 --> 00:23:11.420
 God or not.

00:23:11.700 --> 00:23:12.420
 But God

00:23:12.420 --> 00:23:13.100
 in doing

00:23:13.100 --> 00:23:14.240
 this extends

00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:15.080
 his love

00:23:15.080 --> 00:23:15.540
 to all

00:23:15.540 --> 00:23:16.160
 by the sun

00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:16.720
 and the rain.

00:23:17.160 --> 00:23:17.720
 God

00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:18.720
 loves

00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:19.600
 his enemies.

00:23:21.080 --> 00:23:21.280
 You're like,

00:23:21.340 --> 00:23:21.440
 okay,

00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:21.820
 well good.

00:23:22.620 --> 00:23:23.340
 Then I'm not

00:23:23.340 --> 00:23:23.960
 going to limit

00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:24.580
 the sunshine

00:23:24.580 --> 00:23:25.540
 for my enemies

00:23:25.540 --> 00:23:27.340
 and I'm not

00:23:27.340 --> 00:23:27.760
 going to limit

00:23:27.760 --> 00:23:28.300
 the rain

00:23:28.300 --> 00:23:29.100
 for my enemies.

00:23:30.140 --> 00:23:31.000
 Jesus is

00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:31.760
 teaching a

00:23:31.760 --> 00:23:32.520
 principle here.

00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:33.420
 The principle

00:23:33.420 --> 00:23:34.220
 is that

00:23:34.220 --> 00:23:34.760
 God

00:23:34.760 --> 00:23:35.520
 loves

00:23:35.520 --> 00:23:36.240
 his enemies.

00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:37.700
 And if

00:23:37.700 --> 00:23:38.340
 you are here

00:23:38.340 --> 00:23:38.840
 today

00:23:38.840 --> 00:23:39.940
 in the

00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:41.300
 saving grace

00:23:41.300 --> 00:23:41.980
 and work

00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:42.520
 of Jesus

00:23:42.520 --> 00:23:43.140
 Christ,

00:23:43.460 --> 00:23:43.940
 can I tell

00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:44.560
 you what

00:23:44.560 --> 00:23:45.340
 you and I

00:23:45.340 --> 00:23:45.980
 should sing

00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:47.100
 praises about

00:23:47.100 --> 00:23:47.580
 and what

00:23:47.580 --> 00:23:48.080
 you and I

00:23:48.080 --> 00:23:48.520
 should jump

00:23:48.520 --> 00:23:49.240
 around about

00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:49.680
 and what

00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:50.120
 you and I

00:23:50.120 --> 00:23:50.560
 should clap

00:23:50.560 --> 00:23:51.140
 our hands

00:23:51.140 --> 00:23:51.460
 about

00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:52.100
 and what

00:23:52.100 --> 00:23:53.100
 builds joy

00:23:53.100 --> 00:23:53.680
 in our

00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:54.120
 hearts

00:23:54.120 --> 00:23:54.660
 is we

00:23:54.660 --> 00:23:55.280
 should love

00:23:55.280 --> 00:23:55.860
 the fact

00:23:55.860 --> 00:23:56.740
 that God

00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:57.160
 loves

00:23:57.160 --> 00:23:57.660
 enemies.

00:24:00.260 --> 00:24:00.820
 Because

00:24:00.820 --> 00:24:01.280
 God,

00:24:01.380 --> 00:24:01.580
 when he

00:24:01.580 --> 00:24:02.560
 saved you

00:24:02.560 --> 00:24:04.200
 and when

00:24:04.200 --> 00:24:04.720
 he saved

00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:05.200
 me,

00:24:05.520 --> 00:24:06.380
 didn't

00:24:06.380 --> 00:24:06.880
 save his

00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:07.400
 friends,

00:24:08.620 --> 00:24:11.940
 he saved

00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:12.380
 his enemies.

00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:16.040
 Romans 5.8,

00:24:17.540 --> 00:24:18.000
 God

00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:18.660
 shows his

00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:19.280
 love for

00:24:19.280 --> 00:24:20.480
 us in

00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:20.980
 that while

00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:21.400
 we were

00:24:21.400 --> 00:24:22.360
 still sinners,

00:24:22.820 --> 00:24:23.420
 Christ died

00:24:23.420 --> 00:24:23.920
 for us.

00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:25.220
 Romans 5.10,

00:24:25.900 --> 00:24:26.200
 for if

00:24:26.200 --> 00:24:26.680
 while we

00:24:26.680 --> 00:24:27.620
 were enemies,

00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:29.160
 we were

00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:30.180
 reconciled to

00:24:30.180 --> 00:24:30.980
 God by the

00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:31.400
 death of

00:24:31.400 --> 00:24:31.980
 his son,

00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:33.360
 much more

00:24:33.360 --> 00:24:33.900
 now that we

00:24:33.900 --> 00:24:35.320
 are reconciled

00:24:35.320 --> 00:24:35.860
 shall we

00:24:35.860 --> 00:24:36.960
 be saved

00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:38.020
 by his

00:24:38.020 --> 00:24:38.560
 life.

00:24:39.120 --> 00:24:41.280
 Colossians 1.21-22,

00:24:41.700 --> 00:24:42.500
 and you

00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:43.120
 who were

00:24:43.120 --> 00:24:44.500
 once alienated

00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:45.740
 and hostile

00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:46.460
 in mind

00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:47.460
 doing evil

00:24:47.460 --> 00:24:47.760
 deeds,

00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:48.280
 like let's

00:24:48.280 --> 00:24:48.740
 pause it

00:24:48.740 --> 00:24:49.280
 just for a

00:24:49.280 --> 00:24:49.480
 second,

00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:50.100
 like when

00:24:50.100 --> 00:24:50.940
 God saved

00:24:50.940 --> 00:24:51.140
 you,

00:24:51.260 --> 00:24:51.480
 I don't

00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:51.660
 care if

00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:52.000
 he saved

00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:52.260
 you at

00:24:52.260 --> 00:24:52.720
 five or

00:24:52.720 --> 00:24:53.300
 at 95.

00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:55.800
 I don't

00:24:55.800 --> 00:24:56.060
 care if

00:24:56.060 --> 00:24:56.400
 he saved

00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:56.840
 you in a

00:24:56.840 --> 00:24:57.440
 bar or in

00:24:57.440 --> 00:24:57.800
 a Sunday

00:24:57.800 --> 00:24:58.520
 school class.

00:24:59.800 --> 00:25:00.400
 I don't

00:25:00.400 --> 00:25:00.720
 care if

00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:01.120
 he saved

00:25:01.120 --> 00:25:01.620
 you in

00:25:01.620 --> 00:25:02.220
 a prison

00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:02.960
 cell or

00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:03.380
 at youth

00:25:03.380 --> 00:25:03.800
 camp.

00:25:05.020 --> 00:25:05.940
 When God

00:25:05.940 --> 00:25:07.100
 saved you,

00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:08.060
 what you

00:25:08.060 --> 00:25:08.460
 and I

00:25:08.460 --> 00:25:08.820
 in the

00:25:08.820 --> 00:25:09.260
 heart of

00:25:09.260 --> 00:25:10.000
 the depravity

00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:10.240
 of who

00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:10.540
 we are,

00:25:10.540 --> 00:25:11.780
 we exuded

00:25:11.780 --> 00:25:12.240
 this,

00:25:12.520 --> 00:25:12.840
 we were

00:25:12.840 --> 00:25:13.880
 alienated,

00:25:14.220 --> 00:25:14.760
 hostile,

00:25:15.120 --> 00:25:15.780
 doing evil

00:25:15.780 --> 00:25:16.340
 deeds.

00:25:17.060 --> 00:25:17.580
 He has

00:25:17.580 --> 00:25:18.760
 now reconciled

00:25:18.760 --> 00:25:19.340
 in his body

00:25:19.340 --> 00:25:19.760
 of flesh

00:25:19.760 --> 00:25:20.240
 by death

00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:20.700
 in order

00:25:20.700 --> 00:25:21.460
 to present

00:25:21.460 --> 00:25:22.440
 you and

00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:23.240
 me as

00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:24.520
 holy and

00:25:24.520 --> 00:25:25.380
 blameless

00:25:25.380 --> 00:25:26.180
 and above

00:25:26.180 --> 00:25:26.840
 reproach

00:25:26.840 --> 00:25:27.780
 before him.

00:25:28.280 --> 00:25:28.940
 This is

00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:29.600
 how God

00:25:29.600 --> 00:25:30.060
 loves

00:25:30.060 --> 00:25:30.520
 enemies.

00:25:33.280 --> 00:25:34.040
 Next week

00:25:34.040 --> 00:25:34.280
 we're going

00:25:34.280 --> 00:25:34.680
 to gather

00:25:34.680 --> 00:25:35.320
 for Easter

00:25:35.320 --> 00:25:37.060
 and we're

00:25:37.060 --> 00:25:37.260
 going to

00:25:37.260 --> 00:25:38.100
 praise and

00:25:38.100 --> 00:25:38.600
 celebrate

00:25:38.600 --> 00:25:39.640
 that the

00:25:39.640 --> 00:25:39.980
 tomb

00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:41.100
 is empty.

00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:42.920
 But folks,

00:25:43.800 --> 00:25:44.540
 in order

00:25:44.540 --> 00:25:44.980
 for the

00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:45.540
 tomb to

00:25:45.540 --> 00:25:46.100
 be empty,

00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:46.980
 at one

00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:47.360
 point in

00:25:47.360 --> 00:25:47.740
 time the

00:25:47.740 --> 00:25:48.120
 tomb had

00:25:48.120 --> 00:25:48.380
 to be

00:25:48.380 --> 00:25:48.620
 full.

00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:52.580
 And

00:25:52.580 --> 00:25:53.040
 Jesus

00:25:53.040 --> 00:25:54.520
 did not

00:25:54.520 --> 00:25:55.420
 just die

00:25:55.420 --> 00:25:56.540
 for the

00:25:56.540 --> 00:25:57.000
 sins of

00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:57.300
 those

00:25:57.300 --> 00:25:57.620
 people.

00:26:00.600 --> 00:26:01.200
 Jesus

00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:01.780
 died for

00:26:01.780 --> 00:26:02.500
 your sins

00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:04.340
 and my

00:26:04.340 --> 00:26:04.740
 sins

00:26:04.740 --> 00:26:06.220
 because we

00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:06.860
 were enemies

00:26:06.860 --> 00:26:07.460
 of God

00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:09.860
 and God

00:26:09.860 --> 00:26:11.360
 loved

00:26:11.360 --> 00:26:12.600
 us.

00:26:14.200 --> 00:26:14.580
 You see,

00:26:14.840 --> 00:26:15.520
 the world

00:26:15.520 --> 00:26:17.300
 says you

00:26:17.300 --> 00:26:18.720
 love your

00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:19.820
 neighbor and

00:26:19.820 --> 00:26:20.440
 you hate

00:26:20.440 --> 00:26:21.600
 your enemy

00:26:21.600 --> 00:26:22.980
 but the

00:26:22.980 --> 00:26:23.420
 king

00:26:23.420 --> 00:26:24.860
 says we

00:26:24.860 --> 00:26:25.360
 love

00:26:25.360 --> 00:26:27.400
 because we

00:26:27.400 --> 00:26:29.080
 have been

00:26:29.080 --> 00:26:29.480
 loved.

00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:32.060
 So let's

00:26:32.060 --> 00:26:32.640
 talk about

00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:34.260
 reflecting the

00:26:34.260 --> 00:26:34.540
 king.

00:26:35.820 --> 00:26:36.460
 Reflecting

00:26:36.460 --> 00:26:36.840
 the king.

00:26:38.360 --> 00:26:39.480
 Verse 46

00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:40.060
 through 48.

00:26:41.740 --> 00:26:42.220
 For if you

00:26:42.220 --> 00:26:42.920
 love those

00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:43.420
 who love

00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:43.640
 you,

00:26:44.160 --> 00:26:45.600
 what reward

00:26:45.600 --> 00:26:45.940
 do you

00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:46.360
 have?

00:26:48.280 --> 00:26:48.780
 Do not

00:26:48.780 --> 00:26:49.180
 even the

00:26:49.180 --> 00:26:50.020
 tax collectors

00:26:50.020 --> 00:26:50.440
 do the

00:26:50.440 --> 00:26:50.700
 same?

00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:52.260
 and if

00:26:52.260 --> 00:26:52.800
 you greet

00:26:52.800 --> 00:26:53.460
 only your

00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:53.880
 brothers,

00:26:54.660 --> 00:26:56.100
 what more

00:26:56.100 --> 00:26:56.580
 are you

00:26:56.580 --> 00:26:57.020
 doing

00:26:57.020 --> 00:26:57.920
 than

00:26:57.920 --> 00:26:58.380
 others?

00:26:59.380 --> 00:26:59.980
 Do not

00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:00.440
 even the

00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:00.980
 Gentiles

00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:01.360
 do the

00:27:01.360 --> 00:27:01.680
 same?

00:27:03.040 --> 00:27:03.520
 You

00:27:03.520 --> 00:27:03.920
 therefore

00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:04.560
 must be

00:27:04.560 --> 00:27:05.240
 perfect

00:27:05.240 --> 00:27:06.800
 as your

00:27:06.800 --> 00:27:07.280
 heavenly

00:27:07.280 --> 00:27:08.540
 father

00:27:08.540 --> 00:27:09.440
 is

00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:10.060
 perfect.

00:27:11.660 --> 00:27:12.320
 Reflecting

00:27:12.320 --> 00:27:12.800
 the king.

00:27:14.200 --> 00:27:14.560
 Jesus

00:27:14.560 --> 00:27:15.080
 gives two

00:27:15.080 --> 00:27:15.640
 illustrations

00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:16.820
 here.

00:27:17.700 --> 00:27:18.140
 and in

00:27:18.140 --> 00:27:18.700
 the mind

00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:19.020
 of the

00:27:19.020 --> 00:27:19.520
 audience

00:27:19.520 --> 00:27:19.700
 who

00:27:19.700 --> 00:27:19.840
 would

00:27:19.840 --> 00:27:20.240
 hear,

00:27:21.180 --> 00:27:21.460
 Jesus

00:27:21.460 --> 00:27:22.040
 chooses

00:27:22.040 --> 00:27:22.420
 two

00:27:22.420 --> 00:27:22.820
 types

00:27:22.820 --> 00:27:22.980
 of

00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:23.260
 people,

00:27:24.580 --> 00:27:25.500
 who they

00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:26.260
 are in

00:27:26.260 --> 00:27:26.860
 their day

00:27:26.860 --> 00:27:27.200
 to day

00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:27.680
 life.

00:27:28.540 --> 00:27:28.840
 Jesus'

00:27:29.120 --> 00:27:29.620
 Jewish

00:27:29.620 --> 00:27:30.380
 audience

00:27:30.380 --> 00:27:31.480
 would have

00:27:31.480 --> 00:27:32.200
 seen them

00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:33.340
 as their

00:27:33.340 --> 00:27:33.620
 mortal

00:27:33.620 --> 00:27:34.060
 enemies.

00:27:34.800 --> 00:27:35.820
 The tax

00:27:35.820 --> 00:27:36.320
 collector,

00:27:37.320 --> 00:27:38.500
 the traitor,

00:27:39.340 --> 00:27:40.100
 the betrayer

00:27:40.100 --> 00:27:40.720
 of faith,

00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:42.060
 the one who

00:27:42.060 --> 00:27:42.920
 robs and

00:27:42.920 --> 00:27:44.040
 steals and

00:27:44.040 --> 00:27:44.400
 exudes

00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:45.260
 greed in his

00:27:45.260 --> 00:27:45.660
 life.

00:27:46.360 --> 00:27:47.380
 the Gentile,

00:27:47.540 --> 00:27:48.560
 the pagan

00:27:48.560 --> 00:27:49.160
 who has

00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:49.920
 come over

00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:50.600
 and conquered

00:27:50.600 --> 00:27:51.200
 and taken

00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:51.560
 over.

00:27:53.060 --> 00:27:54.100
 Jesus says

00:27:54.100 --> 00:27:55.480
 the world,

00:27:55.600 --> 00:27:56.100
 the tax

00:27:56.100 --> 00:27:56.880
 collector and

00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:57.540
 the pagan,

00:27:58.060 --> 00:27:58.920
 they even

00:27:58.920 --> 00:27:59.700
 love people.

00:28:00.520 --> 00:28:01.180
 They do.

00:28:02.300 --> 00:28:03.160
 They love

00:28:03.160 --> 00:28:03.960
 those who

00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:05.160
 love them,

00:28:05.420 --> 00:28:05.900
 who they

00:28:05.900 --> 00:28:06.520
 determine

00:28:06.520 --> 00:28:07.360
 deserves their

00:28:07.360 --> 00:28:07.700
 love,

00:28:07.900 --> 00:28:08.900
 but Jesus

00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:10.220
 loves all.

00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:12.080
 So is

00:28:12.080 --> 00:28:12.660
 your love

00:28:12.660 --> 00:28:13.020
 going to be

00:28:13.020 --> 00:28:14.560
 reflective of

00:28:14.560 --> 00:28:15.080
 the tax

00:28:15.080 --> 00:28:15.560
 collector,

00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:16.720
 the pagan,

00:28:17.100 --> 00:28:17.860
 the Gentile,

00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:18.500
 the world?

00:28:20.120 --> 00:28:20.680
 Or is

00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:21.120
 your love

00:28:21.120 --> 00:28:21.340
 going to

00:28:21.340 --> 00:28:21.640
 reflect

00:28:21.640 --> 00:28:22.120
 Christ?

00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:24.360
 Danny

00:28:24.360 --> 00:28:24.940
 Akin said

00:28:24.940 --> 00:28:25.260
 this in

00:28:25.260 --> 00:28:25.600
 his book,

00:28:25.700 --> 00:28:26.260
 Christ-centered

00:28:26.260 --> 00:28:27.700
 exposition

00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:28.780
 on the

00:28:28.780 --> 00:28:29.040
 Sermon

00:28:29.040 --> 00:28:29.240
 of the

00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:29.460
 Mount.

00:28:30.600 --> 00:28:30.960
 He said

00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:31.400
 returning

00:28:31.400 --> 00:28:32.940
 evil for

00:28:32.940 --> 00:28:33.480
 good is

00:28:33.480 --> 00:28:34.120
 satanic.

00:28:35.360 --> 00:28:35.860
 Returning

00:28:35.860 --> 00:28:36.580
 good for

00:28:36.580 --> 00:28:37.160
 good is

00:28:37.160 --> 00:28:37.880
 simply human.

00:28:38.840 --> 00:28:39.280
 Returning

00:28:39.280 --> 00:28:40.040
 good for

00:28:40.040 --> 00:28:40.420
 evil,

00:28:40.760 --> 00:28:41.120
 now that

00:28:41.120 --> 00:28:41.600
 is divine.

00:28:44.100 --> 00:28:44.720
 That is

00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:45.020
 divine.

00:28:46.760 --> 00:28:47.220
 That's

00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:47.520
 what Jesus

00:28:47.520 --> 00:28:47.840
 did for

00:28:47.840 --> 00:28:47.980
 us,

00:28:48.020 --> 00:28:48.160
 right?

00:28:51.200 --> 00:28:51.840
 We did

00:28:51.840 --> 00:28:52.200
 him evil.

00:28:53.880 --> 00:28:54.580
 He gave

00:28:54.580 --> 00:28:54.960
 us good.

00:28:56.300 --> 00:28:56.960
 He gave

00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:57.340
 us good.

00:28:58.440 --> 00:28:59.120
 He gave

00:28:59.120 --> 00:28:59.480
 us good.

00:29:00.540 --> 00:29:01.300
 The call

00:29:01.300 --> 00:29:01.740
 for our

00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:03.880
 life is

00:29:03.880 --> 00:29:04.460
 not to

00:29:04.460 --> 00:29:06.060
 live as

00:29:06.060 --> 00:29:06.860
 a reflection

00:29:06.860 --> 00:29:07.600
 of our

00:29:07.600 --> 00:29:08.440
 deprived

00:29:08.440 --> 00:29:09.200
 nature that

00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:09.520
 we've been

00:29:09.520 --> 00:29:10.040
 saved from.

00:29:11.040 --> 00:29:11.980
 the call

00:29:11.980 --> 00:29:12.400
 of our

00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:13.920
 life is

00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:14.380
 of the

00:29:14.380 --> 00:29:14.800
 divine,

00:29:15.540 --> 00:29:16.220
 of the

00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:16.600
 holy,

00:29:17.100 --> 00:29:17.940
 of God.

00:29:19.700 --> 00:29:20.420
 It's

00:29:20.420 --> 00:29:21.020
 human to

00:29:21.020 --> 00:29:21.600
 love those

00:29:21.600 --> 00:29:21.960
 who love

00:29:21.960 --> 00:29:22.320
 us.

00:29:22.820 --> 00:29:23.420
 It's

00:29:23.420 --> 00:29:24.140
 holy to

00:29:24.140 --> 00:29:24.640
 love those

00:29:24.640 --> 00:29:25.020
 who don't

00:29:25.020 --> 00:29:25.640
 love us.

00:29:27.100 --> 00:29:28.240
 The call

00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:29.860
 to perfection

00:29:29.860 --> 00:29:32.040
 is not

00:29:32.040 --> 00:29:32.980
 an obtainable

00:29:32.980 --> 00:29:34.660
 call this

00:29:34.660 --> 00:29:35.140
 side of

00:29:35.140 --> 00:29:35.680
 eternity,

00:29:36.280 --> 00:29:37.940
 but it's

00:29:37.940 --> 00:29:38.520
 a call

00:29:38.520 --> 00:29:39.960
 to set

00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:40.600
 our hearts

00:29:40.600 --> 00:29:41.920
 and minds

00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:42.180
 to,

00:29:43.080 --> 00:29:44.460
 to be

00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:45.980
 like

00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:47.320
 Christ.

00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:51.440
 folks,

00:29:51.860 --> 00:29:53.840
 there are

00:29:53.840 --> 00:29:54.300
 people in

00:29:54.300 --> 00:29:54.860
 your life

00:29:54.860 --> 00:29:56.200
 that are

00:29:56.200 --> 00:29:56.660
 easy to

00:29:56.660 --> 00:29:56.940
 love,

00:29:57.800 --> 00:29:58.380
 and my

00:29:58.380 --> 00:29:59.000
 guess is

00:29:59.000 --> 00:29:59.660
 you,

00:29:59.820 --> 00:30:00.160
 just like

00:30:00.160 --> 00:30:00.500
 me,

00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:01.140
 you're

00:30:01.140 --> 00:30:01.360
 loving

00:30:01.360 --> 00:30:01.560
 them

00:30:01.560 --> 00:30:01.840
 well.

00:30:03.560 --> 00:30:03.920
 But then

00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:04.140
 there are

00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:05.520
 those who

00:30:05.520 --> 00:30:05.960
 are hard,

00:30:06.820 --> 00:30:07.380
 who are

00:30:07.380 --> 00:30:07.800
 difficult,

00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:09.960
 and Jesus

00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:10.640
 this morning

00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:12.240
 is calling

00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:13.520
 you to

00:30:13.520 --> 00:30:13.940
 love them.

00:30:15.780 --> 00:30:16.520
 So how

00:30:16.520 --> 00:30:16.880
 do I love

00:30:16.880 --> 00:30:17.420
 my enemies?

00:30:18.780 --> 00:30:19.160
 Four

00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:19.580
 practical

00:30:19.580 --> 00:30:20.060
 ways.

00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:21.740
 that I

00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:22.280
 believe that

00:30:22.280 --> 00:30:22.580
 you and

00:30:22.580 --> 00:30:23.880
 I can

00:30:23.880 --> 00:30:24.660
 reflect the

00:30:24.660 --> 00:30:25.080
 work of

00:30:25.080 --> 00:30:26.500
 Christ in

00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:26.860
 the heart

00:30:26.860 --> 00:30:27.320
 of God

00:30:27.320 --> 00:30:28.300
 as he

00:30:28.300 --> 00:30:28.920
 calls us

00:30:28.920 --> 00:30:29.580
 to love

00:30:29.580 --> 00:30:31.680
 those that

00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:31.980
 we're

00:30:31.980 --> 00:30:32.580
 struggling,

00:30:33.280 --> 00:30:34.040
 that we've

00:30:34.040 --> 00:30:34.640
 determined

00:30:34.640 --> 00:30:35.980
 are our

00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:36.400
 enemies.

00:30:37.260 --> 00:30:37.780
 Number one,

00:30:37.860 --> 00:30:38.160
 seek to

00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:38.420
 serve.

00:30:39.820 --> 00:30:40.320
 Number one,

00:30:40.380 --> 00:30:40.660
 seek to

00:30:40.660 --> 00:30:40.920
 serve.

00:30:42.940 --> 00:30:43.580
 As

00:30:43.580 --> 00:30:44.140
 Jesus

00:30:44.140 --> 00:30:45.540
 washed

00:30:45.540 --> 00:30:46.280
 the feet

00:30:46.280 --> 00:30:47.860
 of the

00:30:47.860 --> 00:30:48.300
 dirty

00:30:48.300 --> 00:30:48.840
 disciples,

00:30:49.960 --> 00:30:50.660
 we should

00:30:50.660 --> 00:30:51.500
 seek to

00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:51.960
 serve

00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:52.540
 those

00:30:52.540 --> 00:30:53.920
 even

00:30:53.920 --> 00:30:54.280
 though

00:30:54.280 --> 00:30:55.280
 they

00:30:55.280 --> 00:30:55.440
 don't

00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:55.740
 deserve

00:30:55.740 --> 00:30:56.040
 it.

00:30:57.320 --> 00:30:57.780
 Number two,

00:30:59.020 --> 00:30:59.660
 number two,

00:31:00.780 --> 00:31:01.380
 speak in

00:31:01.380 --> 00:31:01.960
 kindness,

00:31:03.200 --> 00:31:03.700
 speak in

00:31:03.700 --> 00:31:04.120
 kindness.

00:31:06.020 --> 00:31:06.240
 Well,

00:31:06.300 --> 00:31:06.520
 fine,

00:31:06.580 --> 00:31:06.980
 but I'll be

00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:07.340
 kind to

00:31:07.340 --> 00:31:07.920
 their face

00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:09.580
 and nasty

00:31:09.580 --> 00:31:10.100
 behind their

00:31:10.100 --> 00:31:10.380
 back.

00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:12.780
 May we be

00:31:12.780 --> 00:31:13.220
 people of

00:31:13.220 --> 00:31:13.660
 kindness

00:31:13.660 --> 00:31:15.620
 and compassion

00:31:15.620 --> 00:31:17.180
 and empathy.

00:31:18.300 --> 00:31:18.620
 May we

00:31:18.620 --> 00:31:19.060
 be people

00:31:19.060 --> 00:31:19.380
 that what

00:31:19.380 --> 00:31:19.600
 is in

00:31:19.600 --> 00:31:19.740
 our

00:31:19.740 --> 00:31:20.060
 heart

00:31:20.060 --> 00:31:20.900
 is

00:31:20.900 --> 00:31:21.340
 reflective

00:31:21.340 --> 00:31:21.720
 on what

00:31:21.720 --> 00:31:21.840
 we

00:31:21.840 --> 00:31:22.080
 say.

00:31:23.480 --> 00:31:23.640
 Number

00:31:23.640 --> 00:31:24.340
 three,

00:31:24.500 --> 00:31:24.900
 straight from

00:31:24.900 --> 00:31:25.180
 Jesus'

00:31:25.380 --> 00:31:25.920
 own words,

00:31:26.780 --> 00:31:27.100
 pray for

00:31:27.100 --> 00:31:27.320
 them.

00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:28.500
 Pray for

00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:28.740
 them.

00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:30.040
 Okay,

00:31:30.080 --> 00:31:30.360
 that's,

00:31:31.060 --> 00:31:31.300
 Lord,

00:31:31.420 --> 00:31:31.760
 we just

00:31:31.760 --> 00:31:33.520
 need a

00:31:33.520 --> 00:31:34.180
 little dosage

00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:34.480
 of your

00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:35.640
 wrath to

00:31:35.640 --> 00:31:36.120
 kind of fall

00:31:36.120 --> 00:31:36.580
 here today,

00:31:36.660 --> 00:31:36.900
 right?

00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:37.260
 Like,

00:31:37.620 --> 00:31:38.240
 some misery,

00:31:38.360 --> 00:31:38.920
 some punishment,

00:31:39.120 --> 00:31:39.640
 some sickness,

00:31:39.840 --> 00:31:41.220
 like one of the

00:31:41.220 --> 00:31:41.660
 plagues,

00:31:41.820 --> 00:31:42.420
 like if that

00:31:42.420 --> 00:31:42.840
 could happen,

00:31:42.900 --> 00:31:43.100
 right?

00:31:44.100 --> 00:31:44.580
 Pray for

00:31:44.580 --> 00:31:44.900
 blessing.

00:31:45.620 --> 00:31:46.420
 Pray for

00:31:46.420 --> 00:31:46.760
 blessing.

00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:48.560
 Pray that

00:31:48.560 --> 00:31:50.120
 they would

00:31:50.120 --> 00:31:50.660
 be blessed

00:31:50.660 --> 00:31:52.020
 in their

00:31:52.020 --> 00:31:52.380
 family,

00:31:52.540 --> 00:31:52.740
 in their

00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:53.160
 life,

00:31:53.840 --> 00:31:54.300
 in their

00:31:54.300 --> 00:31:54.760
 career,

00:31:55.560 --> 00:31:55.940
 in their

00:31:55.940 --> 00:31:56.480
 pursuits.

00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:57.940
 They would

00:31:57.940 --> 00:31:59.120
 live in and

00:31:59.120 --> 00:32:00.020
 experience the

00:32:00.020 --> 00:32:01.200
 spiritual blessings

00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:01.740
 of the Lord.

00:32:02.360 --> 00:32:02.840
 Oh boy,

00:32:02.940 --> 00:32:03.620
 but maybe even

00:32:03.620 --> 00:32:04.640
 some of the

00:32:04.640 --> 00:32:05.380
 tangible blessings

00:32:05.380 --> 00:32:05.840
 as well.

00:32:08.100 --> 00:32:08.280
 Number

00:32:08.280 --> 00:32:08.560
 four,

00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:10.260
 number four,

00:32:10.320 --> 00:32:10.580
 share the

00:32:10.580 --> 00:32:10.840
 gospel.

00:32:12.420 --> 00:32:12.780
 Share the

00:32:12.780 --> 00:32:13.080
 gospel.

00:32:14.300 --> 00:32:14.660
 Share the

00:32:14.660 --> 00:32:14.940
 gospel.

00:32:15.620 --> 00:32:16.620
 Maybe,

00:32:16.920 --> 00:32:17.480
 theologically

00:32:17.480 --> 00:32:18.200
 speaking,

00:32:19.340 --> 00:32:19.840
 they are

00:32:19.840 --> 00:32:20.380
 enemies of

00:32:20.380 --> 00:32:20.740
 Christ.

00:32:21.980 --> 00:32:22.740
 And maybe

00:32:22.740 --> 00:32:24.060
 what God

00:32:24.060 --> 00:32:25.000
 has for you

00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:25.640
 to do

00:32:25.640 --> 00:32:27.180
 is to share

00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:27.860
 the gospel

00:32:27.860 --> 00:32:28.600
 with them

00:32:28.600 --> 00:32:30.340
 so that

00:32:30.340 --> 00:32:31.300
 they might

00:32:31.300 --> 00:32:31.900
 become

00:32:31.900 --> 00:32:33.240
 a brother

00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:34.820
 and sister

00:32:34.820 --> 00:32:36.440
 in Christ.

00:32:37.920 --> 00:32:38.220
 I'm going to ask

00:32:38.220 --> 00:32:38.920
 the praise team

00:32:38.920 --> 00:32:40.600
 and the prayer

00:32:40.600 --> 00:32:41.360
 encouragers to

00:32:41.360 --> 00:32:42.080
 make their way

00:32:42.080 --> 00:32:43.460
 on the stage,

00:32:43.540 --> 00:32:44.060
 prayer encouragers

00:32:44.060 --> 00:32:44.440
 on the side

00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:44.800
 of the room.

00:32:46.200 --> 00:32:46.720
 In closing,

00:32:46.860 --> 00:32:47.280
 I want to ask

00:32:47.280 --> 00:32:47.600
 you four

00:32:47.600 --> 00:32:48.240
 questions to

00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:48.600
 consider.

00:32:49.400 --> 00:32:50.200
 Four questions

00:32:50.200 --> 00:32:50.780
 as we take

00:32:50.780 --> 00:32:51.220
 and we look

00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:52.320
 at verses

00:32:52.320 --> 00:32:52.980
 43 through

00:32:52.980 --> 00:32:53.440
 48.

00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:55.240
 Number one,

00:32:57.420 --> 00:32:57.960
 who is the

00:32:57.960 --> 00:32:59.560
 enemy that

00:32:59.560 --> 00:33:00.000
 needs to be

00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:00.340
 your neighbor?

00:33:01.800 --> 00:33:02.560
 Who is the

00:33:02.560 --> 00:33:03.960
 enemy that

00:33:03.960 --> 00:33:04.860
 needs to be

00:33:04.860 --> 00:33:06.060
 a neighbor?

00:33:06.860 --> 00:33:07.620
 Who does

00:33:07.620 --> 00:33:08.660
 God need to

00:33:08.660 --> 00:33:09.600
 have in your

00:33:09.600 --> 00:33:11.060
 life so that

00:33:11.060 --> 00:33:11.540
 you see

00:33:11.540 --> 00:33:13.000
 them the

00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:13.760
 way that

00:33:13.760 --> 00:33:14.360
 God has

00:33:14.360 --> 00:33:14.780
 called you

00:33:14.780 --> 00:33:15.060
 to see

00:33:15.060 --> 00:33:15.260
 them?

00:33:15.400 --> 00:33:15.740
 Number two,

00:33:16.700 --> 00:33:17.180
 number two,

00:33:18.140 --> 00:33:18.640
 how can

00:33:18.640 --> 00:33:19.180
 you pray

00:33:19.180 --> 00:33:21.060
 that God

00:33:21.060 --> 00:33:21.660
 will do

00:33:21.660 --> 00:33:22.540
 a work

00:33:22.540 --> 00:33:23.400
 in your

00:33:23.400 --> 00:33:23.760
 heart

00:33:23.760 --> 00:33:24.280
 concerning

00:33:24.280 --> 00:33:24.600
 them?

00:33:25.600 --> 00:33:26.380
 What does

00:33:26.380 --> 00:33:27.860
 God need

00:33:27.860 --> 00:33:28.760
 to change

00:33:28.760 --> 00:33:29.740
 in you?

00:33:31.180 --> 00:33:31.440
 Bo,

00:33:31.500 --> 00:33:32.020
 they're difficult,

00:33:32.140 --> 00:33:32.600
 they're hard,

00:33:32.720 --> 00:33:32.840
 they're,

00:33:32.980 --> 00:33:33.520
 I know,

00:33:33.620 --> 00:33:33.900
 I know,

00:33:33.980 --> 00:33:34.360
 I know.

00:33:35.300 --> 00:33:36.000
 What does

00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:36.520
 God need

00:33:36.520 --> 00:33:37.040
 to change

00:33:37.040 --> 00:33:37.440
 in you?

00:33:38.440 --> 00:33:39.040
 Number three,

00:33:40.220 --> 00:33:40.920
 what act

00:33:40.920 --> 00:33:41.560
 of love

00:33:41.560 --> 00:33:43.200
 is God

00:33:43.200 --> 00:33:44.040
 calling you

00:33:44.040 --> 00:33:45.060
 to today?

00:33:46.420 --> 00:33:47.240
 What act

00:33:47.240 --> 00:33:47.620
 of love

00:33:47.620 --> 00:33:48.080
 is God

00:33:48.080 --> 00:33:48.660
 calling you?

00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:49.140
 How is

00:33:49.140 --> 00:33:50.340
 God calling

00:33:50.340 --> 00:33:51.420
 you to

00:33:51.420 --> 00:33:52.260
 serve them

00:33:52.260 --> 00:33:54.660
 right now?

00:33:56.220 --> 00:33:57.240
 And lastly,

00:33:57.880 --> 00:33:59.260
 how can

00:33:59.260 --> 00:33:59.960
 loving them

00:33:59.960 --> 00:34:02.640
 display God's

00:34:02.640 --> 00:34:03.220
 love for you

00:34:03.220 --> 00:34:05.220
 and your

00:34:05.220 --> 00:34:05.800
 love for God?

00:34:07.120 --> 00:34:07.680
 Would you pray

00:34:07.680 --> 00:34:08.000
 with me?

00:34:09.800 --> 00:34:10.200
 God,

00:34:10.240 --> 00:34:10.680
 we thank you

00:34:10.680 --> 00:34:11.400
 for the truth

00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:12.020
 and the power

00:34:12.020 --> 00:34:12.600
 of your word.

00:34:14.200 --> 00:34:14.640
 God,

00:34:14.680 --> 00:34:15.200
 the challenge

00:34:15.200 --> 00:34:15.580
 you lay

00:34:15.580 --> 00:34:16.440
 before us

00:34:16.440 --> 00:34:18.080
 is not

00:34:18.080 --> 00:34:18.580
 simple,

00:34:18.740 --> 00:34:19.180
 it is not

00:34:19.180 --> 00:34:19.740
 easy,

00:34:20.440 --> 00:34:20.980
 and Lord,

00:34:21.040 --> 00:34:21.640
 it is only

00:34:21.640 --> 00:34:22.380
 possible through

00:34:22.380 --> 00:34:22.740
 the work

00:34:22.740 --> 00:34:23.020
 of your

00:34:23.020 --> 00:34:23.380
 spirit.

00:34:24.900 --> 00:34:25.160
 Lord,

00:34:25.180 --> 00:34:25.660
 I pray

00:34:25.660 --> 00:34:26.240
 as we

00:34:26.240 --> 00:34:27.840
 wrestle with

00:34:27.840 --> 00:34:28.200
 the truth

00:34:28.200 --> 00:34:28.480
 of your

00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:28.820
 word,

00:34:30.420 --> 00:34:30.940
 Lord,

00:34:31.020 --> 00:34:31.200
 that we

00:34:31.200 --> 00:34:31.540
 would be

00:34:31.540 --> 00:34:32.120
 faithful

00:34:32.120 --> 00:34:33.680
 to seek

00:34:33.680 --> 00:34:34.060
 you,

00:34:34.800 --> 00:34:35.380
 to seek

00:34:35.380 --> 00:34:36.020
 your will,

00:34:36.540 --> 00:34:37.160
 to seek

00:34:37.160 --> 00:34:37.580
 your way.

00:34:38.680 --> 00:34:39.160
 God,

00:34:39.240 --> 00:34:39.880
 forgive me

00:34:39.880 --> 00:34:41.260
 where I

00:34:41.260 --> 00:34:41.800
 have failed

00:34:41.800 --> 00:34:42.420
 to love.

00:34:43.640 --> 00:34:44.080
 God,

00:34:44.160 --> 00:34:44.840
 forgive me

00:34:44.840 --> 00:34:45.960
 where I

00:34:45.960 --> 00:34:46.720
 have embraced

00:34:46.720 --> 00:34:47.520
 hate.

00:34:48.640 --> 00:34:49.040
 God,

00:34:49.140 --> 00:34:49.740
 forgive me

00:34:49.740 --> 00:34:50.120
 where I

00:34:50.120 --> 00:34:50.500
 have been

00:34:50.500 --> 00:34:51.260
 unkind.

00:34:52.420 --> 00:34:52.620
 God,

00:34:52.700 --> 00:34:53.420
 forgive me

00:34:53.420 --> 00:34:54.180
 where I

00:34:54.180 --> 00:34:54.520
 have been

00:34:54.520 --> 00:34:55.200
 selfish

00:34:55.200 --> 00:34:56.480
 and self-seeking

00:34:56.480 --> 00:34:57.180
 in my

00:34:57.180 --> 00:34:57.600
 serving.

00:34:58.760 --> 00:34:58.940
 God,

00:34:59.060 --> 00:34:59.860
 forgive me

00:34:59.860 --> 00:35:00.640
 when I

00:35:00.640 --> 00:35:01.260
 would rather

00:35:01.260 --> 00:35:02.560
 someone experience

00:35:02.560 --> 00:35:03.180
 the wrath

00:35:03.180 --> 00:35:03.920
 of God

00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:04.760
 than the joy

00:35:04.760 --> 00:35:05.400
 of salvation.

00:35:06.680 --> 00:35:06.940
 God,

00:35:07.000 --> 00:35:07.400
 thank you

00:35:07.400 --> 00:35:08.660
 that you

00:35:08.660 --> 00:35:08.980
 don't give

00:35:08.980 --> 00:35:09.560
 up on us,

00:35:09.960 --> 00:35:10.760
 that you're

00:35:10.760 --> 00:35:11.320
 working on

00:35:11.320 --> 00:35:11.660
 us,

00:35:12.300 --> 00:35:12.700
 or may we

00:35:12.700 --> 00:35:13.340
 respond to

00:35:13.340 --> 00:35:14.640
 you as

00:35:14.640 --> 00:35:14.940
 you lead

00:35:14.940 --> 00:35:15.300
 us.

00:35:16.020 --> 00:35:16.240
 It's in

00:35:16.240 --> 00:35:16.620
 Jesus' name

00:35:16.620 --> 00:35:16.980
 we pray.

00:35:17.500 --> 00:35:17.740
 Amen.

00:35:19.920 --> 00:35:20.480
 That's it

00:35:20.480 --> 00:35:20.860
 for this

00:35:20.860 --> 00:35:21.200
 week's

00:35:21.200 --> 00:35:21.600
 message.

00:35:22.120 --> 00:35:22.400
 Be sure

00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:22.720
 to check

00:35:22.720 --> 00:35:23.320
 back next

00:35:23.320 --> 00:35:23.720
 week for

00:35:23.720 --> 00:35:23.980
 a new

00:35:23.980 --> 00:35:24.400
 episode.

00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:25.180
 And in

00:35:25.180 --> 00:35:25.740
 the meantime,

00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:26.240
 you can

00:35:26.240 --> 00:35:26.680
 visit us

00:35:26.680 --> 00:35:27.540
 online at

00:35:27.540 --> 00:35:29.180
 willowridgechurch.org

00:35:29.180 --> 00:35:29.960
 or by

00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:30.460
 searching for

00:35:30.460 --> 00:35:30.900
 Willow Ridge

00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:31.580
 Church on

00:35:31.580 --> 00:35:32.040
 Facebook,

00:35:32.380 --> 00:35:32.820
 Instagram,

00:35:33.200 --> 00:35:33.620
 and YouTube.

00:35:34.060 --> 00:35:34.560
 Thanks again

00:35:34.560 --> 00:35:35.000
 for listening.