WEBVTT 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:05.308 Hey, good morning. 00:00:07.905 --> 00:00:09.121 If you don't know who I am, 00:00:09.121 --> 00:00:10.361 my name is Nick Adams. 00:00:10.361 --> 00:00:13.331 I get to be one of the pastors here. 00:00:14.425 --> 00:00:18.055 I always ask myself right before I walk up here how. 00:00:18.065 --> 00:00:20.169 I don't know how long I'm going to keep saying that, 00:00:20.169 --> 00:00:28.577 but I hadn't had an opportunity to preach in as long as this doc's been 00:00:28.601 --> 00:00:30.873 here because I walked up here and oh, 00:00:30.873 --> 00:00:31.595 different. 00:00:35.455 --> 00:00:39.515 But before I get carried away, 00:00:40.935 --> 00:00:44.895 I want to pray for all of us before we get started. 00:00:44.975 --> 00:00:46.075 So let's pray. 00:00:50.215 --> 00:00:50.875 Dear Lord, 00:00:50.895 --> 00:00:55.359 thank you for this new day. 00:00:55.487 --> 00:00:58.119 Thank you for this time we get to spend together. 00:00:58.119 --> 00:01:00.983 Thank you for the rain showers today, 00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:01.431 dear Lord. 00:01:01.431 --> 00:01:02.421 We need them. 00:01:04.175 --> 00:01:04.751 Dear Lord, 00:01:04.751 --> 00:01:09.671 I just pray that this time we're about to spend together would just honor 00:01:09.703 --> 00:01:10.703 and glorify you. 00:01:10.839 --> 00:01:11.499 Holy Spirit, 00:01:11.527 --> 00:01:16.335 I invite you to come and just fill this place, 00:01:16.375 --> 00:01:17.235 dear Lord, 00:01:17.975 --> 00:01:21.271 and overwhelm us to the point of repenting, 00:01:21.303 --> 00:01:21.839 dear Lord. 00:01:21.839 --> 00:01:22.997 To conviction, 00:01:23.061 --> 00:01:24.853 to change, 00:01:24.909 --> 00:01:25.437 dear Lord. 00:01:25.437 --> 00:01:29.557 To put off our flesh, 00:01:29.621 --> 00:01:30.293 dear Lord, 00:01:30.389 --> 00:01:32.145 and to put on Christ. 00:01:33.485 --> 00:01:38.025 Thank you again just for this time and this opportunity just to 00:01:38.685 --> 00:01:39.981 communicate your word. 00:01:40.013 --> 00:01:40.341 Dear Lord, 00:01:40.341 --> 00:01:45.221 I pray that you just speak through me in a way that people respond to you. 00:01:44.885 --> 00:01:49.835 Take a step of faith and I look forward to what you're going to do. 00:01:50.365 --> 00:01:51.265 Love you. 00:01:51.685 --> 00:01:52.625 Amen. 00:01:55.205 --> 00:01:56.505 I hadn't been, 00:01:56.885 --> 00:01:57.445 like I said, 00:01:57.445 --> 00:01:57.837 I hadn't, 00:01:57.837 --> 00:02:02.581 hadn't preached in a few months and been kind of following along with 00:02:02.613 --> 00:02:05.745 what has been talked about, 00:02:06.565 --> 00:02:08.101 preached on over here. 00:02:08.253 --> 00:02:11.309 Kind of been going through the gathering mission statement, 00:02:11.357 --> 00:02:14.621 right? Or does anybody know it? 00:02:14.693 --> 00:02:15.905 Does anybody know? 00:02:16.475 --> 00:02:17.523 Did you even know? 00:02:17.323 --> 00:02:19.633 We kind of have a mission statement. 00:02:20.195 --> 00:02:22.691 Yeah. So loving God, 00:02:22.803 --> 00:02:23.779 living Jesus, 00:02:23.867 --> 00:02:24.803 walking together. 00:02:24.939 --> 00:02:28.971 So we've been going through the loving God part and so how do you love 00:02:28.971 --> 00:02:29.855 God? Right. 00:02:33.035 --> 00:02:34.563 Bobby preached on Psalms, 00:02:34.619 --> 00:02:37.659 right? And worship what you worship what you put your worth in. 00:02:37.659 --> 00:02:42.135 Right. That's where the word worship comes from. 00:02:42.495 --> 00:02:47.359 So what you value and if it's not God, 00:02:47.407 --> 00:02:49.007 then you're probably going to be let down. 00:02:48.903 --> 00:02:51.343 A lot of times might take longer than others, 00:02:51.343 --> 00:02:57.315 but I found that to be the case over and over again when I didn't put God 00:02:57.695 --> 00:02:58.955 in his place. 00:03:00.735 --> 00:03:04.031 So we talked about loving greatest commandment last week, 00:03:04.063 --> 00:03:04.447 I believe, 00:03:04.447 --> 00:03:06.863 right, love God with all your heart, 00:03:06.919 --> 00:03:07.799 soul and strength. 00:03:07.799 --> 00:03:09.175 And the second is like it, 00:03:09.175 --> 00:03:10.825 love your neighbor as yourself. 00:03:15.105 --> 00:03:18.965 Today we're talking about that second part, 00:03:19.305 --> 00:03:20.445 what is love? 00:03:21.105 --> 00:03:25.441 And I laugh because depending on how old you are, 00:03:25.473 --> 00:03:26.761 I think if somebody asks you, 00:03:26.761 --> 00:03:27.417 what is love, 00:03:27.417 --> 00:03:29.397 what do you think about them? 00:03:32.145 --> 00:03:33.545 And whether you know it or not, 00:03:33.545 --> 00:03:36.515 a lot of times what you think about love, 00:03:37.695 --> 00:03:42.647 it subconsciously is dictated by what the culture has put out to you in 00:03:42.671 --> 00:03:44.143 whatever era you grew up in, 00:03:44.143 --> 00:03:46.915 right? So I grew up in the 90s. 00:03:47.975 --> 00:03:50.927 And so when I think about what is love? 00:03:50.927 --> 00:03:52.359 I think about the song by. 00:03:52.359 --> 00:03:54.075 I think Hadaway's the guy. 00:03:54.375 --> 00:03:55.595 What is love? 00:03:55.895 --> 00:03:59.275 Baby, don't hurt me no more. 00:03:59.695 --> 00:04:00.847 Y'all know that. 00:04:00.991 --> 00:04:03.719 So every Thursday during the summertime, 00:04:03.767 --> 00:04:06.747 I went to daycare called Learning Station. 00:04:06.811 --> 00:04:09.615 Every Thursday went to Seven Gable Skate Ring. 00:04:09.915 --> 00:04:14.259 So thinking about love and what love is and that, 00:04:14.307 --> 00:04:19.043 you subconsciously kind of get preconditioned to trying to figure out 00:04:19.059 --> 00:04:20.147 what love is. 00:04:20.331 --> 00:04:23.724 So when you're in 4th, 00:04:23.815 --> 00:04:30.307 5th grade and you're at 7 Gable skating rink and that song comes on, 00:04:30.371 --> 00:04:30.651 you know, 00:04:30.651 --> 00:04:33.355 it kind of gets you hyped up and everybody's rolling around. 00:04:33.355 --> 00:04:34.415 And, you know, 00:04:36.065 --> 00:04:38.177 normally right after that song, 00:04:38.361 --> 00:04:40.341 a slow song would come on, 00:04:40.585 --> 00:04:44.921 and so you would look for somebody to hold hands and skate with and 00:04:44.921 --> 00:04:46.209 everybody be rolling around. 00:04:46.209 --> 00:04:49.841 And it made you feel a certain way, 00:04:49.873 --> 00:04:52.321 right? And you started trying. 00:04:52.433 --> 00:04:56.685 I started associating that with love because I heard the song, 00:04:57.265 --> 00:04:59.833 and then now me and this girl are holding hands, 00:04:59.833 --> 00:05:00.385 and it's like, 00:05:00.385 --> 00:05:02.035 this makes me feel good. 00:05:02.345 --> 00:05:04.805 This makes me feel weird, 00:05:06.825 --> 00:05:08.177 but I like it. 00:05:08.361 --> 00:05:09.577 This is love, 00:05:09.761 --> 00:05:16.241 right? Or maybe it's movies or TV shows or music, 00:05:16.313 --> 00:05:17.537 or it's the Bachelor, 00:05:17.537 --> 00:05:21.425 or it's love whether you mean to or not. 00:05:21.505 --> 00:05:23.857 If you're not grounded in the word, 00:05:24.001 --> 00:05:30.339 and if you maybe got the opportunity to have a godly father and him know 00:05:30.387 --> 00:05:36.307 all these things and teach you and coach you through it through your kind 00:05:36.331 --> 00:05:38.659 of adolescent puberty, 00:05:38.747 --> 00:05:39.407 middle school, 00:05:39.451 --> 00:05:40.615 high school years, 00:05:41.395 --> 00:05:42.859 then God bless you, 00:05:42.907 --> 00:05:45.547 and you better go home and thank him. 00:05:45.203 --> 00:05:46.883 Or if they're no longer here, 00:05:46.883 --> 00:05:49.035 you better send a prayer up to them. 00:05:49.035 --> 00:05:52.455 Because I think a lot of people didn't, 00:05:52.755 --> 00:05:54.147 probably didn't get that. 00:05:54.291 --> 00:05:56.195 And so you got whatever the world gave you, 00:05:56.195 --> 00:06:00.845 right? And then it took you a while to figure out that love isn't really 00:06:00.845 --> 00:06:01.505 a feeling, 00:06:01.509 --> 00:06:05.261 because that would be kind of like the flu. 00:06:05.413 --> 00:06:07.421 Like, it comes on you, 00:06:07.533 --> 00:06:09.133 makes you feel a certain way, 00:06:09.133 --> 00:06:10.453 and you got it. 00:06:10.333 --> 00:06:11.365 But then it goes away, 00:06:11.365 --> 00:06:11.885 and you're like, 00:06:11.885 --> 00:06:13.877 well, I don't feel that way anymore, 00:06:13.877 --> 00:06:17.177 so let's throw this one away and get another one. 00:06:17.245 --> 00:06:17.933 Next Thursday, 00:06:17.989 --> 00:06:19.677 you're holding hands with a different girl, 00:06:19.677 --> 00:06:21.385 right? At the skating ring. 00:06:22.295 --> 00:06:23.439 Just an example. 00:06:23.527 --> 00:06:26.715 But in thinking about what love is, 00:06:28.255 --> 00:06:35.435 Romans chapter 13 explains what love is, 00:06:36.575 --> 00:06:37.479 how to do it, 00:06:37.479 --> 00:06:39.129 how not to do it. 00:06:39.855 --> 00:06:42.165 And that's where we're at this morning. 00:06:43.735 --> 00:06:44.927 Romans chapter 13, 00:06:44.991 --> 00:06:46.207 if you got your Bible, 00:06:46.207 --> 00:06:47.857 I'm reading out of ESV, 00:06:50.045 --> 00:06:52.925 if it sounds different than what you're reading. 00:06:53.045 --> 00:06:55.145 But starting in verse eight, 00:06:55.525 --> 00:06:57.745 thinking about what love is, 00:06:59.205 --> 00:07:00.305 it says, 00:07:01.085 --> 00:07:05.745 owe no one anything except to love each other. 00:07:07.805 --> 00:07:10.345 Owe no one anything doesn't mean. 00:07:11.125 --> 00:07:13.853 Isn't necessarily talking about just debt. 00:07:13.989 --> 00:07:18.797 Like I owe somebody a payment every month for this car I drive. 00:07:18.901 --> 00:07:20.821 If you back up to verse seven, 00:07:20.821 --> 00:07:23.665 it kind of explains that statement. 00:07:24.005 --> 00:07:24.781 And it says, 00:07:24.781 --> 00:07:27.421 pay to all what is owed to them. 00:07:27.365 --> 00:07:29.505 Taxes to whom taxes are owed, 00:07:32.005 --> 00:07:33.157 revenue is owed, 00:07:33.221 --> 00:07:34.845 respect to whom respect is owed, 00:07:34.845 --> 00:07:37.785 and honor to whom honor is owed. 00:07:39.335 --> 00:07:42.767 So it's not just talking about taxes, 00:07:42.871 --> 00:07:44.807 it's not just talking about money, 00:07:44.807 --> 00:07:46.455 it's not just talking about debts. 00:07:46.455 --> 00:07:48.475 If you owe honor to somebody, 00:07:48.895 --> 00:07:49.835 pay them. 00:07:50.695 --> 00:07:52.479 If you owe respect to somebody, 00:07:52.479 --> 00:07:53.315 pay them. 00:07:53.895 --> 00:07:55.103 If you owe debt, 00:07:55.103 --> 00:07:55.955 pay them. 00:07:56.495 --> 00:07:58.475 You might owe somebody an apology, 00:07:59.015 --> 00:07:59.955 do it. 00:08:00.815 --> 00:08:02.275 That's what Paul's saying. 00:08:06.165 --> 00:08:07.909 And then it goes on to say, 00:08:07.909 --> 00:08:10.105 except to love each other, 00:08:11.765 --> 00:08:14.453 you can't fully pay love back. 00:08:14.509 --> 00:08:17.585 Why does anybody know? 00:08:19.885 --> 00:08:21.985 So pay off all your debts, 00:08:22.365 --> 00:08:25.225 pay off what you owe to people, 00:08:26.205 --> 00:08:28.077 pay what you owe to God, 00:08:28.077 --> 00:08:31.101 right? But you can't pay love back. 00:08:31.133 --> 00:08:33.113 Why can't you pay love back? 00:08:35.054 --> 00:08:36.246 Because it's not ours, 00:08:36.246 --> 00:08:36.906 is it? 00:08:37.006 --> 00:08:38.394 We didn't create it. 00:08:39.054 --> 00:08:41.034 We're not the source of it. 00:08:41.894 --> 00:08:42.914 God is. 00:08:44.814 --> 00:08:47.784 Owe no one anything except to love each other. 00:08:47.678 --> 00:08:51.754 For the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 00:08:52.294 --> 00:08:54.994 So in the gathering's kind of mission statement, 00:08:56.374 --> 00:08:58.142 two proclamation, 00:08:58.238 --> 00:09:00.475 two believers in Christ, 00:09:01.695 --> 00:09:02.863 loving God, 00:09:02.999 --> 00:09:04.135 living Jesus. 00:09:04.255 --> 00:09:06.191 And this is the living Jesus part, 00:09:06.191 --> 00:09:07.631 right? Love your neighbor. 00:09:07.703 --> 00:09:09.847 If you love God and love your neighbor, 00:09:09.847 --> 00:09:14.599 you're going to take care of the rest of the rules, 00:09:14.767 --> 00:09:15.455 the laws, 00:09:15.495 --> 00:09:16.367 the regulations, 00:09:16.431 --> 00:09:17.927 the debts, 00:09:18.071 --> 00:09:18.755 right? 00:09:21.615 --> 00:09:22.355 It's. 00:09:24.825 --> 00:09:26.521 There's a verse in the Bible that talks about, 00:09:26.521 --> 00:09:28.501 it's hard to serve two masters. 00:09:30.145 --> 00:09:32.405 So if you're constantly in debt, 00:09:33.865 --> 00:09:34.881 whether it's money, 00:09:34.953 --> 00:09:36.161 whether it's honor, 00:09:36.233 --> 00:09:38.005 respect, apologies, 00:09:38.425 --> 00:09:41.889 if you're constantly owing somebody something, 00:09:41.977 --> 00:09:44.025 it's hard to serve. 00:09:44.105 --> 00:09:45.593 It's harder to serve God, 00:09:45.593 --> 00:09:46.913 is what I find. 00:09:47.065 --> 00:09:48.129 Because you're not free, 00:09:48.129 --> 00:09:50.445 right? It's not paid for. 00:09:51.235 --> 00:10:01.659 And you're having to have these obligations other than for the one who 00:10:01.707 --> 00:10:03.815 loves another has fulfilled the law. 00:10:05.355 --> 00:10:06.395 For the commandments, 00:10:06.475 --> 00:10:07.675 you shall not commit adultery, 00:10:07.675 --> 00:10:08.619 you shall not murder, 00:10:08.619 --> 00:10:09.507 you shall not steal, 00:10:09.507 --> 00:10:10.827 you shall not covet, 00:10:11.875 --> 00:10:14.611 and any other commandment are all summed up in this word, 00:10:14.611 --> 00:10:16.507 you shall love your neighbor as yourself. 00:10:16.507 --> 00:10:18.817 Love does no wrong to a neighbor. 00:10:18.817 --> 00:10:21.525 Therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. 00:10:23.065 --> 00:10:30.025 So he tells you kind of Like Bobby preached the two greatest commandments 00:10:30.105 --> 00:10:31.445 last week in Matthew. 00:10:32.985 --> 00:10:34.729 The reason and it's funny, 00:10:34.777 --> 00:10:37.769 we tried to shorten when we were. 00:10:37.937 --> 00:10:38.937 When the. 00:10:39.121 --> 00:10:39.833 When Kyle, 00:10:39.889 --> 00:10:45.219 Jordan and when Kyle and Jordan and I were kind of going through 00:10:45.347 --> 00:10:49.395 ordination and becoming pastors and going through that whole process. 00:10:49.475 --> 00:10:55.507 And then we started talking about and Bobby sort of started mentoring us 00:10:55.571 --> 00:10:58.135 and we were going through that. 00:11:00.595 --> 00:11:07.891 I think Bobby was explaining this to us and there's a reason why I think 00:11:07.923 --> 00:11:10.115 Kyle shortened it one time to love God, 00:11:10.115 --> 00:11:10.867 live Jesus, 00:11:10.931 --> 00:11:18.377 walk together for a sticker or something to put on a and Bobby corrected 00:11:18.401 --> 00:11:18.881 him, said no, 00:11:18.881 --> 00:11:25.737 it's loving God and living Jesus because when you put ing on it, 00:11:25.841 --> 00:11:27.045 it's active. 00:11:28.265 --> 00:11:29.145 Love does, 00:11:29.225 --> 00:11:30.001 right? It's not. 00:11:30.001 --> 00:11:30.673 Love is. 00:11:30.729 --> 00:11:32.353 Love is not a feeling. 00:11:31.977 --> 00:11:32.873 Love does. 00:11:33.009 --> 00:11:35.365 It requires you to do something. 00:11:37.955 --> 00:11:40.265 So remember that when you see it. 00:11:41.475 --> 00:11:43.455 If you can love your neighbor, 00:11:44.515 --> 00:11:47.485 you don't have to worry about all the rules. 00:11:48.595 --> 00:11:49.611 So what is love? 00:11:49.611 --> 00:11:57.491 So love should be the primary mark of a Christian because we're image 00:11:57.523 --> 00:12:01.395 bearers of God and we reflect him and love is the way we do that. 00:12:01.395 --> 00:12:06.889 So I was listening to another pastor, 00:12:06.977 --> 00:12:08.057 Joby Martin, 00:12:08.161 --> 00:12:12.537 who said he what do people say about Christians? 00:12:12.681 --> 00:12:20.045 If you typed into Google why are Christians so what would come up? 00:12:20.665 --> 00:12:23.885 So I got curious and I did it well, 00:12:24.985 --> 00:12:26.777 why are Christians so hypocritical? 00:12:26.841 --> 00:12:28.605 Why are Christians so mean? 00:12:28.995 --> 00:12:31.175 Why are Christians so close minded? 00:12:31.475 --> 00:12:36.055 Why are Christians so forceful in their beliefs is what came up. 00:12:38.275 --> 00:12:38.963 Well, guess what? 00:12:38.963 --> 00:12:43.775 If you Google why are dogs so guess what comes up? 00:12:44.235 --> 00:12:45.763 Why are dogs so kind? 00:12:45.763 --> 00:12:47.099 Why are dogs so loyal? 00:12:47.099 --> 00:12:48.749 Why are dogs so fun? 00:12:49.555 --> 00:12:58.065 So dogs in our culture have a better respect than Christ followers. 00:12:59.525 --> 00:13:01.505 Why do you think that is? 00:13:06.125 --> 00:13:09.225 Dogs have a better reputation than Christ followers. 00:13:14.845 --> 00:13:19.733 Maybe I should say dogs have a better reputation than church attenders or 00:13:19.789 --> 00:13:22.697 members. Because if you're following Christ, 00:13:22.761 --> 00:13:23.505 it's active, 00:13:23.545 --> 00:13:26.297 right? It's every day you're chasing after him, 00:13:26.321 --> 00:13:27.305 you're following him. 00:13:27.305 --> 00:13:27.873 And he says, 00:13:27.873 --> 00:13:28.801 if you seek me, 00:13:28.801 --> 00:13:29.689 you will find me. 00:13:29.689 --> 00:13:31.685 Knock and I will answer. 00:13:36.345 --> 00:13:38.655 We should always be marked by love. 00:13:38.777 --> 00:13:40.097 So what is love? 00:13:43.705 --> 00:13:49.867 It's not 7 Gable skating rink it's not what Hadaway says or it's not 00:13:49.931 --> 00:13:51.855 conditional. It's not a feeling. 00:13:56.115 --> 00:13:58.715 A couple things the Bible says about love. 00:13:58.715 --> 00:14:03.667 I think you can only interpret what the Bible says by the Bible because 00:14:03.691 --> 00:14:05.019 it's God's inerrant word. 00:14:05.067 --> 00:14:10.259 And when you try to add stuff to it is where you get led astray or 00:14:10.259 --> 00:14:15.245 confusion. But we know God is the source of love. 00:14:15.285 --> 00:14:16.389 1 John 4, 00:14:16.465 --> 00:14:19.173 10, 11 says in this is love. 00:14:19.269 --> 00:14:20.645 Not that we have loved, 00:14:20.645 --> 00:14:21.625 but God, 00:14:22.965 --> 00:14:27.205 that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 00:14:27.205 --> 00:14:30.505 That's a big word that I don't hear people use. 00:14:30.669 --> 00:14:37.549 Propitiation just means the payment that satisfies Jesus was the payment 00:14:37.597 --> 00:14:39.785 that satisfied our sin. 00:14:41.165 --> 00:14:43.125 Beloved, if God so loved us, 00:14:43.125 --> 00:14:45.435 we also ought to love one another. 00:14:47.045 --> 00:14:53.317 I don't know where you're at in your walk with Christ or in your journey 00:14:53.381 --> 00:14:56.941 of maybe trying to figure out who God is or who God isn't. 00:14:56.685 --> 00:14:59.317 But if you don't know that God loves you, 00:14:59.317 --> 00:15:01.109 then that is where you have to start. 00:15:01.109 --> 00:15:05.605 And once you start figuring out how much God loves you and that he sent 00:15:05.605 --> 00:15:07.315 his only Son to pay, 00:15:07.485 --> 00:15:08.555 you're dead. 00:15:09.775 --> 00:15:10.775 That's unconditional, 00:15:10.815 --> 00:15:11.395 right? 00:15:13.855 --> 00:15:16.165 And once you start to realize that, 00:15:18.255 --> 00:15:20.565 then you respond to it in love. 00:15:21.175 --> 00:15:22.595 I've said it before. 00:15:24.495 --> 00:15:27.103 Once I started to realize how much God loved me, 00:15:27.103 --> 00:15:29.487 I can't help but respond to it. 00:15:29.551 --> 00:15:31.559 You can't help but be overwhelmed, 00:15:31.647 --> 00:15:34.329 overcome by that kind of love. 00:15:34.377 --> 00:15:40.005 Because the world and even people don't love you that way all the time. 00:15:44.505 --> 00:15:46.085 1 John 3:16. 00:15:47.025 --> 00:15:48.265 By this we know love, 00:15:48.265 --> 00:15:49.681 that he laid down his life for us. 00:15:49.681 --> 00:15:53.311 And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 00:16:00.315 --> 00:16:01.935 Pay for your stuff. 00:16:02.475 --> 00:16:04.435 Except love, 00:16:04.515 --> 00:16:05.135 right? 00:16:10.795 --> 00:16:13.765 We can't pay back love because it's not ours. 00:16:16.755 --> 00:16:18.299 And then he gives you the commandments, 00:16:18.299 --> 00:16:20.091 right? Not all of them. 00:16:20.123 --> 00:16:20.891 He gives you the kind of, 00:16:20.891 --> 00:16:22.541 the second half of them. 00:16:22.795 --> 00:16:23.827 You should not steal, 00:16:23.827 --> 00:16:25.177 you should not covet. 00:16:25.371 --> 00:16:27.965 And you should not commit adultery. 00:16:28.005 --> 00:16:29.345 You should not murder. 00:16:30.565 --> 00:16:32.215 And what do we do? 00:16:32.605 --> 00:16:33.301 I ain't killed. 00:16:33.301 --> 00:16:35.181 At least I ain't killed anybody. 00:16:35.181 --> 00:16:35.933 You know, 00:16:36.069 --> 00:16:36.985 pretty good. 00:16:37.525 --> 00:16:39.185 But what did Jesus say? 00:16:43.885 --> 00:16:45.485 If you think about it in your heart, 00:16:45.485 --> 00:16:47.135 then you have committed it. 00:16:50.735 --> 00:16:51.735 You shall not covet. 00:16:51.735 --> 00:16:54.527 You should not want what other people have. 00:16:54.631 --> 00:16:57.075 You should not want other people's stuff. 00:16:59.655 --> 00:17:04.435 You shouldn't want other people's wives or husbands or daughters or sons. 00:17:08.615 --> 00:17:10.343 Those are horizontal commandments. 00:17:10.399 --> 00:17:11.687 Those are to each other, 00:17:11.687 --> 00:17:12.383 right? Well, 00:17:12.399 --> 00:17:14.709 if you don't get the vertical ones, 00:17:14.975 --> 00:17:16.955 have no other gods before me. 00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:19.135 Worship the one true living God. 00:17:19.875 --> 00:17:21.175 Those first four, 00:17:22.515 --> 00:17:26.299 if you haven't aligned yourself with those, 00:17:26.347 --> 00:17:31.815 then it's going to be hard to get the horizontal one. 00:17:42.325 --> 00:17:46.965 And thinking about love and it's not a condition, 00:17:47.085 --> 00:17:48.405 it's not a feeling. 00:17:49.885 --> 00:17:58.029 It is Romans 5:8, 00:17:58.077 --> 00:18:02.821 just a few chapters before God showed his love for us in that while we 00:18:02.821 --> 00:18:04.173 were still sinners, 00:18:04.229 --> 00:18:05.093 Christ died for us. 00:18:05.093 --> 00:18:06.413 And I think everybody, 00:18:06.469 --> 00:18:08.533 you've heard most people in this room, 00:18:08.533 --> 00:18:08.933 I would say, 00:18:08.933 --> 00:18:09.425 have heard. 00:18:09.425 --> 00:18:10.095 Heard the gospel, 00:18:10.095 --> 00:18:11.079 you've heard that message. 00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:16.395 You have acknowledged that you are a sinner in need of saving. 00:18:17.455 --> 00:18:20.567 And you have been justified in Christ, 00:18:20.671 --> 00:18:24.471 right? But in salvation, 00:18:24.543 --> 00:18:28.783 that is just the first part being justified. 00:18:28.839 --> 00:18:32.675 You have been bought and paid for with Christ's blood. 00:18:33.695 --> 00:18:36.181 I don't know many people that. 00:18:36.293 --> 00:18:38.029 Once you explain that to them, 00:18:38.029 --> 00:18:38.893 they can't say, 00:18:38.893 --> 00:18:39.149 you know, 00:18:39.149 --> 00:18:41.459 I'd like to have some of that. 00:18:42.285 --> 00:18:45.625 Once you've realized that you've stole, 00:18:47.405 --> 00:18:48.741 you've murdered, 00:18:48.933 --> 00:18:50.429 you've thought about it, 00:18:50.597 --> 00:18:51.625 you've lied, 00:18:52.045 --> 00:18:54.213 you haven't obeyed your mother and father, 00:18:54.213 --> 00:18:55.797 you go through the list and ask, 00:18:55.797 --> 00:18:57.117 and everybody will raise their hand. 00:18:57.117 --> 00:18:59.757 Yeah, I've thought about that or done that. 00:19:01.055 --> 00:19:03.365 And somebody needs to pay for that. 00:19:04.775 --> 00:19:05.751 In salvation, 00:19:05.823 --> 00:19:07.473 that's just the first part, 00:19:08.495 --> 00:19:09.711 being justified. 00:19:09.863 --> 00:19:10.687 And yes, 00:19:10.831 --> 00:19:11.887 once you are saved, 00:19:11.887 --> 00:19:13.103 yes, you are saved. 00:19:12.887 --> 00:19:13.943 But then there's. 00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:18.795 That is just kind of the diving board into what Christ has to offer. 00:19:21.295 --> 00:19:26.315 Sanctification is what smarter people than me calling. 00:19:27.665 --> 00:19:28.833 You're being sanctified, 00:19:28.889 --> 00:19:30.089 you're being made new. 00:19:30.089 --> 00:19:33.169 Right? You're taking off the old and putting on the new. 00:19:33.169 --> 00:19:35.479 And baptism is a representation of that. 00:19:35.529 --> 00:19:41.401 And it's kind of like God is chiseling away everything that don't look 00:19:41.433 --> 00:19:42.025 like Jesus. 00:19:42.025 --> 00:19:42.929 And that's a process. 00:19:42.929 --> 00:19:44.265 It's a lifelong process. 00:19:44.305 --> 00:19:46.615 And we're in that process of sanctification. 00:19:47.265 --> 00:19:52.369 And if you don't have Christ and you're not living Jesus, 00:19:52.417 --> 00:19:54.771 you're not thinking about those things, 00:19:54.953 --> 00:19:57.923 and you're thinking about the desires of the flesh, 00:19:59.135 --> 00:20:01.555 and you're thinking about what I want, 00:20:04.375 --> 00:20:08.895 you're probably going to not feel saved all the time, 00:20:08.935 --> 00:20:09.675 are you? 00:20:12.375 --> 00:20:17.275 Remember that sanctification is a lifelong process. 00:20:19.175 --> 00:20:21.761 Galatians and thinking about the flesh, 00:20:21.833 --> 00:20:22.565 you know, 00:20:23.345 --> 00:20:25.445 Galatians, if I can find it, 00:20:25.985 --> 00:20:30.925 Chapter five talks about it and it says, 00:20:38.225 --> 00:20:39.161 I'm getting there. 00:20:39.161 --> 00:20:39.925 Hold on. 00:20:42.625 --> 00:20:44.913 I don't use this Bible all the time, 00:20:44.913 --> 00:20:46.697 but I like what the esv, 00:20:46.697 --> 00:20:48.253 the way the ESV worded it. 00:20:48.253 --> 00:20:50.893 I normally read out a new living translation, 00:20:56.605 --> 00:20:57.357 the desire. 00:20:57.421 --> 00:20:59.309 It talks about the desires of the flesh. 00:20:59.309 --> 00:21:01.197 And Paul kind of transitions. 00:21:01.261 --> 00:21:03.973 Once he explains what love is to you, 00:21:04.149 --> 00:21:12.149 he transitions in verse 11. 00:21:12.277 --> 00:21:12.957 And he says, 00:21:12.957 --> 00:21:13.685 besides this, 00:21:13.725 --> 00:21:15.045 you know the time, 00:21:15.365 --> 00:21:19.325 the hour has come for you to wake up from your sleep. 00:21:23.765 --> 00:21:24.757 Besides this, 00:21:24.821 --> 00:21:28.461 besides knowing what love is and what love isn't, 00:21:28.573 --> 00:21:30.517 besides knowing that you should love your neighbor, 00:21:30.517 --> 00:21:33.785 and love does no wrong to a neighbor. 00:21:34.885 --> 00:21:36.535 The time is at hand. 00:21:38.055 --> 00:21:40.871 The hour has come for you to wake up. 00:21:40.871 --> 00:21:44.463 How many of us are thinking about that, 00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:49.795 especially now in the time we're in. 00:21:50.175 --> 00:21:51.183 I don't know about you, 00:21:51.183 --> 00:21:57.555 but it seems pretty easy right now to be able to tell if you're looking 00:21:58.335 --> 00:22:01.305 what the truth is and what the truth isn't. 00:22:01.295 --> 00:22:01.815 And yeah, 00:22:01.815 --> 00:22:09.761 I know it's election season and I know the time we're in. 00:22:09.793 --> 00:22:10.681 I know what week it is, 00:22:10.681 --> 00:22:12.991 and I know what's happening next week. 00:22:15.465 --> 00:22:17.761 And people don't like to talk about it in church, 00:22:17.761 --> 00:22:22.969 but you should vote if you haven't voted. 00:22:23.017 --> 00:22:24.667 I encourage you to vote. 00:22:28.145 --> 00:22:34.435 If you don't know that there's good and evil out there and that it's very 00:22:34.475 --> 00:22:38.099 apparent and you're not sure who to vote for, 00:22:38.147 --> 00:22:38.579 come ask me, 00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:40.755 I'll be more than happy to tell you. 00:22:40.755 --> 00:22:42.895 It's not hard to see. 00:22:45.595 --> 00:22:49.203 I'm not here to talk about people or the political candidates, 00:22:49.203 --> 00:22:58.267 but it is pretty plain to see who's trying to stand up for the truth and 00:22:58.291 --> 00:23:04.215 who's trying to evoke your emotions or feelings or lies. 00:23:11.035 --> 00:23:13.015 I'll find it in a minute. 00:23:17.195 --> 00:23:18.775 The hour has come. 00:23:20.635 --> 00:23:22.945 We're closer now than we've ever been. 00:23:24.325 --> 00:23:25.837 We're a day closer today, 00:23:25.837 --> 00:23:28.045 we're a week closer than last week, 00:23:28.045 --> 00:23:29.238 and we're 2,000, 00:23:29.336 --> 00:23:33.985 almost 2,000 years closer than when this letter was written. 00:23:36.245 --> 00:23:39.215 And in that same what are we closer to? 00:23:39.565 --> 00:23:41.013 I talked about salvation, 00:23:41.149 --> 00:23:43.765 part of that salvation process, 00:23:43.845 --> 00:23:45.789 justification, sanctification, 00:23:45.877 --> 00:23:48.581 sanctified, meaning you're just being made more like Christ. 00:23:48.581 --> 00:23:52.455 That kind of chiseling away of everything that is not Christ. 00:23:52.915 --> 00:23:53.947 It takes time, 00:23:54.011 --> 00:23:55.699 right? How do you get to know somebody? 00:23:55.547 --> 00:23:56.091 It takes time. 00:23:56.091 --> 00:23:57.691 You got to spend time with them. 00:23:57.691 --> 00:23:59.331 If you're not spending time with Jesus, 00:23:59.331 --> 00:24:01.195 if you're not spending time in the Word, 00:24:01.195 --> 00:24:08.587 you're probably going to let the culture tell you what love is, 00:24:08.731 --> 00:24:10.711 whether you mean to or not. 00:24:12.595 --> 00:24:14.403 We're closer than we ever been. 00:24:14.403 --> 00:24:15.563 What are we closer to? 00:24:15.563 --> 00:24:18.095 We're closer to finally being glorified. 00:24:18.665 --> 00:24:22.325 Glorification is kind of the end of that salvation process. 00:24:22.825 --> 00:24:27.177 When Jesus comes back and finally judges, 00:24:27.361 --> 00:24:28.649 finally makes right, 00:24:28.737 --> 00:24:33.993 wrong, finally makes this world as he intended it to be. 00:24:34.129 --> 00:24:35.329 And not only that, 00:24:35.329 --> 00:24:38.881 but if you're storing up those treasures in heaven and the things that 00:24:38.881 --> 00:24:42.511 the world can't take away and not things of this world, 00:24:43.265 --> 00:24:46.017 all those things will be revealed to you and you'll get a crown and 00:24:46.017 --> 00:24:49.647 you'll cast it at his feet and you will worship him, 00:24:50.035 --> 00:24:55.355 and it's going to be so glorious that they're going to use gold as 00:24:55.395 --> 00:24:56.295 asphalt. 00:24:59.835 --> 00:25:01.815 That's what I'm looking Forward to. 00:25:03.155 --> 00:25:04.475 That's the hope I have. 00:25:04.475 --> 00:25:05.523 That's what I'm reminded of. 00:25:05.523 --> 00:25:09.335 That's what motivates me to keep on keeping on. 00:25:10.515 --> 00:25:11.979 It's hard to deny yourself, 00:25:11.979 --> 00:25:12.575 right? 00:25:13.475 --> 00:25:15.661 And Jesus gave us that example. 00:25:15.803 --> 00:25:20.817 And if you're not around people that know those things and can remind you 00:25:20.841 --> 00:25:21.465 of those things, 00:25:21.465 --> 00:25:24.505 then you're probably going to get deceived, 00:25:24.585 --> 00:25:31.245 right? You're probably going to give into the desires of the flesh. 00:25:32.385 --> 00:25:35.545 You're probably going to have a hard time understanding what living Jesus 00:25:35.545 --> 00:25:40.873 means. All it means is it's just our way of saying, 00:25:40.929 --> 00:25:41.919 love your neighbor. 00:25:44.005 --> 00:25:45.265 Who's your neighbor, 00:25:47.045 --> 00:25:49.355 could be the person sitting beside you, 00:25:50.125 --> 00:25:51.413 who's your closest neighbor. 00:25:51.413 --> 00:25:53.813 I think Bobby said something about it last week. 00:25:53.813 --> 00:25:54.941 Somebody made a joke, 00:25:54.941 --> 00:25:55.665 you know, 00:25:56.525 --> 00:25:57.869 yeah, it might be your wife. 00:25:57.869 --> 00:25:59.519 Your wife's your closest neighbor, 00:25:59.533 --> 00:26:00.945 might be your kids. 00:26:01.685 --> 00:26:03.005 But how do you. 00:26:03.245 --> 00:26:05.225 Jesus even says love your enemies. 00:26:05.301 --> 00:26:09.631 How do you love somebody that's not worth loving to you? 00:26:09.703 --> 00:26:17.079 Right? That word love in this context is agape, 00:26:17.167 --> 00:26:21.315 right? We've been talking about in youth the past couple weeks. 00:26:22.655 --> 00:26:25.815 That kind of love means to will yourself, 00:26:25.895 --> 00:26:27.675 to. To choose to. 00:26:28.775 --> 00:26:30.127 It's not reactionary. 00:26:30.191 --> 00:26:33.967 It's not how you make me feel or what you do for me. 00:26:33.967 --> 00:26:36.027 You're not waiting for something to happen. 00:26:35.707 --> 00:26:36.443 You're doing it. 00:26:36.443 --> 00:26:38.931 You're choosing to love someone. 00:26:39.043 --> 00:26:40.179 You're choosing. 00:26:40.307 --> 00:26:42.287 You're willing yourself to do it. 00:26:42.323 --> 00:26:43.099 Because why? 00:26:43.187 --> 00:26:46.491 Because that is what represents Christ and that is what shows people 00:26:46.491 --> 00:26:48.895 Christ. And if we did that more, 00:26:50.875 --> 00:26:56.435 we wouldn't have to work so hard at trying to convince people to come to 00:26:56.475 --> 00:27:01.345 church or to be a Christian or to what people think about Christians. 00:27:07.925 --> 00:27:10.235 Paul is urging you to wake up, 00:27:11.845 --> 00:27:15.585 to not be spiritually lethargic, 00:27:17.005 --> 00:27:22.373 to not be lulled to sleep by the desires of your flesh and the deceiving 00:27:22.469 --> 00:27:24.925 of this world and the lies. 00:27:25.005 --> 00:27:30.335 And like I said earlier, 00:27:30.715 --> 00:27:38.819 it's hard to serve two masters if you're constantly in debt financially. 00:27:38.907 --> 00:27:41.895 If you're constantly in debt to people, 00:27:42.675 --> 00:27:44.455 constantly owe them things, 00:27:47.875 --> 00:27:50.211 then you're going to probably be more deceived, 00:27:50.211 --> 00:27:50.815 right? 00:27:54.045 --> 00:27:57.261 Salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 00:27:57.261 --> 00:27:59.965 The night is far gone and the day is at hand. 00:27:59.965 --> 00:28:01.285 The time is now. 00:28:06.485 --> 00:28:10.709 So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of 00:28:10.709 --> 00:28:17.349 light. So Paul kind of transitions after he explains what love is, 00:28:17.437 --> 00:28:18.427 what love isn't. 00:28:18.485 --> 00:28:19.539 Love your neighbor. 00:28:19.677 --> 00:28:25.915 Two greatest commands besides setting this aside. 00:28:26.575 --> 00:28:27.995 Adding to this, 00:28:29.575 --> 00:28:31.075 the time is now. 00:28:34.015 --> 00:28:35.665 How do we do that? 00:28:36.615 --> 00:28:38.265 You got to deny yourself. 00:28:38.975 --> 00:28:40.295 You got to surrender, 00:28:40.399 --> 00:28:42.709 give up the desires of the flesh, 00:28:43.855 --> 00:28:45.915 put on the armor of light. 00:28:47.155 --> 00:28:48.335 If you notice, 00:28:48.835 --> 00:28:50.495 flesh, darkness, 00:28:51.035 --> 00:28:56.455 night, are most of the time associated with death. 00:28:58.355 --> 00:29:02.895 I think about Lazarus, 00:29:03.995 --> 00:29:10.603 he died in the tomb and everybody's mourning and sad and Jesus kind of 00:29:10.619 --> 00:29:13.605 isn't and confused about that. 00:29:15.145 --> 00:29:19.435 When he tells Lazarus to get up and come out of the grave, 00:29:19.465 --> 00:29:19.985 he says, 00:29:19.985 --> 00:29:21.635 take your grave clothes off. 00:29:25.265 --> 00:29:28.145 Some of us when Paul says, 00:29:28.185 --> 00:29:28.553 wake up. 00:29:28.553 --> 00:29:29.305 That's what I think about. 00:29:29.305 --> 00:29:31.945 You're walking around with dead man's clothes on. 00:29:32.025 --> 00:29:33.329 You've not been made, 00:29:33.329 --> 00:29:35.885 you've been made alive in Christ. 00:29:36.995 --> 00:29:39.965 And a lot of times that's easy to feel. 00:29:39.811 --> 00:29:43.987 When you do something like get baptized because of what it represents and 00:29:43.987 --> 00:29:45.307 people celebrating it. 00:29:45.411 --> 00:29:46.171 And then what happens? 00:29:46.171 --> 00:29:49.003 You get back out there in the world and you put those grave clothes back 00:29:49.003 --> 00:29:56.083 on and you do everything like everybody else does and you are spiritually 00:29:56.139 --> 00:29:57.215 killing yourself. 00:30:00.915 --> 00:30:03.885 But when you put on the armor of light, 00:30:04.405 --> 00:30:05.725 what are you doing? 00:30:06.205 --> 00:30:07.855 Talks about it in Ephesians, 00:30:07.965 --> 00:30:09.389 putting on the armor of God. 00:30:09.389 --> 00:30:11.145 Because we know, 00:30:12.765 --> 00:30:14.005 like First Peter says, 00:30:14.005 --> 00:30:16.317 the devil is a roaring lion seeking to kill, 00:30:16.317 --> 00:30:17.665 steal and destroy. 00:30:18.205 --> 00:30:20.865 And if you're not putting on those things, 00:30:23.365 --> 00:30:25.345 you're going to be in trouble. 00:30:26.405 --> 00:30:28.859 And we're getting closer every day, 00:30:28.957 --> 00:30:29.639 every week. 00:30:29.767 --> 00:30:32.077 I don't know when God's coming back. 00:30:32.095 --> 00:30:33.415 That's not the point. 00:30:34.655 --> 00:30:38.115 The point is you could be living in freedom. 00:30:39.495 --> 00:30:40.167 By what? 00:30:40.231 --> 00:30:42.315 By owing no one anything? 00:30:43.615 --> 00:30:45.175 By putting on the armor of light. 00:30:45.175 --> 00:30:46.875 By getting out of darkness. 00:30:48.575 --> 00:30:50.315 By loving your neighbor. 00:30:52.655 --> 00:30:54.315 He goes on to say, 00:30:56.945 --> 00:31:00.085 let us walk properly as in the daytime. 00:31:04.425 --> 00:31:08.369 Not in orgies and drunkenness and sexual immorality and sensuality. 00:31:08.417 --> 00:31:10.565 Not in quarreling and jealousy. 00:31:12.785 --> 00:31:17.193 Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to 00:31:17.193 --> 00:31:18.765 gratify its desires. 00:31:26.745 --> 00:31:29.765 So how can we love others as Jesus does? 00:31:32.745 --> 00:31:41.525 Last thing on to by helping people when it's not convenient. 00:31:44.185 --> 00:31:46.405 By giving even when it hurts. 00:31:48.685 --> 00:31:53.265 By devoting the energy to others welfare rather than your own. 00:31:54.525 --> 00:31:58.105 By absorbing hurts from others without complaining or fighting back. 00:31:58.765 --> 00:32:00.805 Turn and give them the other cheek. 00:32:00.805 --> 00:32:02.345 Matthew 5:38. 00:32:03.645 --> 00:32:05.205 This kind of love is hard to do, 00:32:05.205 --> 00:32:05.785 right? 00:32:07.805 --> 00:32:10.445 That's why people notice when you do it. 00:32:13.255 --> 00:32:13.855 Like I said, 00:32:13.855 --> 00:32:14.759 love goes first. 00:32:14.759 --> 00:32:16.355 It isn't reactionary. 00:32:19.495 --> 00:32:20.639 The greatest commandment. 00:32:20.687 --> 00:32:21.655 Love God, 00:32:21.815 --> 00:32:22.995 love people. 00:32:23.335 --> 00:32:24.755 Living Jesus. 00:32:26.735 --> 00:32:30.151 And the only reason we can do that is because he first loved us first. 00:32:30.151 --> 00:32:31.031 John 4:19. 00:32:31.103 --> 00:32:32.975 We love because he first loved us. 00:32:32.975 --> 00:32:34.775 And if you don't know that, 00:32:34.775 --> 00:32:37.085 I'd love to tell you about it. 00:32:38.825 --> 00:32:40.475 If you do know that, 00:32:40.505 --> 00:32:43.805 stop walking around like a dead person and wake up. 00:32:45.345 --> 00:32:46.737 Take Your grave clothes off. 00:32:46.737 --> 00:32:47.217 And remember, 00:32:47.217 --> 00:32:49.485 you've been made alive in Christ. 00:32:52.465 --> 00:32:53.481 So the point of, 00:32:53.481 --> 00:32:56.961 the point I'm trying to make the point of all this is the title of the 00:32:56.961 --> 00:32:58.645 message. Didn't even say it. 00:32:59.305 --> 00:33:00.817 Love rules. 00:33:01.001 --> 00:33:02.325 All of the rules. 00:33:04.715 --> 00:33:07.025 If you can do those two things, 00:33:07.995 --> 00:33:09.975 it takes care of everything else. 00:33:15.195 --> 00:33:20.055 Last question I ask is in that last verse in 14. 00:33:20.755 --> 00:33:25.045 Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh. 00:33:27.115 --> 00:33:29.067 What are you making provisions for? 00:33:29.067 --> 00:33:31.047 You know what a provision is? 00:33:34.005 --> 00:33:35.573 It's kind of like saying, 00:33:35.573 --> 00:33:39.077 God, I can get along with all those things. 00:33:39.141 --> 00:33:40.189 I want all those things. 00:33:40.189 --> 00:33:41.413 I want what you have for me. 00:33:41.413 --> 00:33:42.661 I want the blessings. 00:33:42.661 --> 00:33:45.301 I want to be bought and paid for. 00:33:46.205 --> 00:33:48.333 But let me just set this aside, 00:33:48.333 --> 00:33:52.293 Let me just put this over here and have it for later. 00:33:52.965 --> 00:33:55.275 What are those things in your life? 00:33:55.955 --> 00:34:00.975 And if you'll cast off those things and put on Christ, 00:34:03.715 --> 00:34:06.547 you don't have to work so hard at being a Christian. 00:34:06.547 --> 00:34:13.091 You don't have to work so hard at checking the box of making yourself 00:34:13.163 --> 00:34:18.415 look like something people won't have such a hard time seeing. 00:34:19.755 --> 00:34:21.431 Day light, 00:34:21.623 --> 00:34:22.355 love. 00:34:24.095 --> 00:34:27.065 I don't know what those things are for you, 00:34:27.895 --> 00:34:28.995 but you do. 00:34:29.975 --> 00:34:30.719 And like I say, 00:34:30.719 --> 00:34:31.255 a lot of times, 00:34:31.255 --> 00:34:32.575 I just encourage you. 00:34:32.615 --> 00:34:33.351 I'm asking you, 00:34:33.351 --> 00:34:35.331 I'm begging you to wake up. 00:34:35.655 --> 00:34:36.911 Confess those things. 00:34:36.983 --> 00:34:37.755 Repent. 00:34:38.175 --> 00:34:39.295 Give them to God. 00:34:39.295 --> 00:34:40.351 Cast them to them. 00:34:40.351 --> 00:34:43.651 Cast all your cares on him who cares for you. 00:34:44.775 --> 00:34:46.423 And not like a fishing rod, 00:34:46.423 --> 00:34:48.073 not like a cast net, 00:34:48.455 --> 00:34:52.687 not I'm going to throw it out there and if it don't look like I want it 00:34:52.687 --> 00:34:54.667 to, I'll reel it back in. 00:34:54.895 --> 00:34:56.235 Let go of them. 00:34:56.895 --> 00:34:57.795 Surrender. 00:35:00.895 --> 00:35:04.583 This is what living Jesus means, 00:35:04.679 --> 00:35:12.315 is where are you making provisions for the flesh? 00:35:16.745 --> 00:35:21.485 Bands will come up here and sing one more song as they normally do. 00:35:23.625 --> 00:35:25.185 And while you're worshiping, 00:35:25.305 --> 00:35:33.297 I encourage you to be bold enough to ask that question and to respond 00:35:33.361 --> 00:35:35.341 however God asks you to respond. 00:35:36.225 --> 00:35:39.289 I want to pray for you one more time and we're going to sing. 00:35:39.289 --> 00:35:43.249 And I just encourage you to respond however God asks you to. 00:35:44.265 --> 00:35:45.205 Let's pray. 00:35:51.065 --> 00:36:00.481 God, I just thank you for having the grace and mercy to remind me of 00:36:00.513 --> 00:36:01.145 these things, 00:36:01.145 --> 00:36:05.365 to remind me where I make provisions in my own life, 00:36:05.865 --> 00:36:13.609 to show me where I need to put off the desires of my own flesh to stop 00:36:13.657 --> 00:36:14.593 making provisions. 00:36:14.649 --> 00:36:15.665 Stop making excuses, 00:36:15.705 --> 00:36:16.113 dear Lord, 00:36:16.113 --> 00:36:17.165 and wake up. 00:36:18.425 --> 00:36:25.289 God, help us remember that you have things for us that outlast this 00:36:25.337 --> 00:36:28.409 world, that are true treasures, 00:36:28.457 --> 00:36:28.841 dear Lord. 00:36:28.841 --> 00:36:34.245 They're not just trinkets or toys or stuff that goes away. 00:36:35.455 --> 00:36:38.087 They're true and right and holy and, 00:36:38.271 --> 00:36:38.895 dear Lord, 00:36:38.895 --> 00:36:43.155 help us to honor and glorify you by doing those things. 00:36:44.175 --> 00:36:48.431 Help us to remember that you first loved us. 00:36:48.583 --> 00:36:51.951 And that's the only way we can try to love others. 00:36:51.951 --> 00:36:52.703 So help us, 00:36:52.703 --> 00:36:53.143 dear Lord, 00:36:53.143 --> 00:36:54.159 in these next few moments, 00:36:54.159 --> 00:36:59.487 to just give those things over to you and know that you'll meet us right 00:36:59.511 --> 00:37:00.075 there. 00:37:02.105 --> 00:37:04.705 I look forward to what you're going to do right here. 00:37:04.705 --> 00:37:07.385 Now. Help us just to be present with you. 00:37:07.385 --> 00:37:08.285 Love you. 00:37:09.665 --> 00:37:10.105 Amen.