1 00:00:00,066 --> 00:00:04,566 And. I appreciate you being here this morning. 2 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:08,000 We had a great celebration last week at Easter at Less. 3 00:00:08,566 --> 00:00:11,966 And now we're gathered together back at our own home 4 00:00:12,433 --> 00:00:16,133 to wrap up the last two weeks of the book of Romans. 5 00:00:16,133 --> 00:00:19,133 As we've gone through this study, chapter by chapter. 6 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:23,566 This morning, I'm going to be in chapter 14. 7 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:27,600 And, this is an interesting chapter. 8 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:32,200 This chapter, chapter 14 9 00:00:32,666 --> 00:00:36,766 is going to hit a little differently, for all of us. 10 00:00:37,733 --> 00:00:42,266 And for those who are kind of old school church folk, 11 00:00:43,333 --> 00:00:46,333 it's going to hit a little bit harder. 12 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:49,800 For newer church folk, newer Jesus people. 13 00:00:50,100 --> 00:00:53,600 It'll be like, yeah, yeah, if you church people could get this right, 14 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,600 that'd be great. 15 00:00:56,700 --> 00:00:59,700 So I just think that, you know, it's going to hit a little differently. 16 00:01:00,300 --> 00:01:01,166 And I'm going to have to do 17 00:01:01,166 --> 00:01:05,600 a lot of interpretation and explaining, because in the context 18 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:09,966 when it was written, it made complete sense for us. 19 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:12,733 We have to translate a little bit. 20 00:01:12,733 --> 00:01:15,300 So and I'm going to do that as we go through chapter 14. 21 00:01:16,433 --> 00:01:18,466 And so if you have a Bible, you brought one with you. 22 00:01:18,466 --> 00:01:20,566 I want you to go to chapter 14. 23 00:01:20,566 --> 00:01:24,733 But but I want you to understand chapter 14 is what I call 24 00:01:24,966 --> 00:01:27,966 a study in applied Christianity. 25 00:01:28,933 --> 00:01:31,433 This is a this goes beyond 26 00:01:31,433 --> 00:01:35,900 I believe in Jesus and what he did on the cross for my salvation. 27 00:01:35,933 --> 00:01:41,700 Now this is how now that I believe that this is how I apply it and work it out 28 00:01:41,700 --> 00:01:45,966 and flesh it out in my life in super practical ways. 29 00:01:46,466 --> 00:01:50,800 So chapter 14, to study of what I call applied Christianity. 30 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:53,400 And there's a big idea. 31 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:56,400 The overarching idea for this chapter is this 32 00:01:56,833 --> 00:01:58,533 spiritual maturity 33 00:01:58,533 --> 00:02:02,133 includes private liberty and public restriction. 34 00:02:03,066 --> 00:02:06,000 Now, let me just tell you, as we go through this is going to fill up. 35 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:07,133 I'm going to warn you upfront. 36 00:02:07,133 --> 00:02:09,233 It's going to feel a little two faced. 37 00:02:09,233 --> 00:02:12,233 You're going to feel a little bit like, that doesn't it? 38 00:02:12,266 --> 00:02:12,800 It feels 39 00:02:13,766 --> 00:02:15,233 like you're waffling. 40 00:02:15,233 --> 00:02:16,266 I'm not. 41 00:02:16,266 --> 00:02:18,300 And it's not two face and it's not fake. 42 00:02:18,300 --> 00:02:20,133 It's biblical. 43 00:02:20,133 --> 00:02:24,600 But but we have to understand on the front end that spiritual maturity 44 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:29,000 includes private, liberty free, and Christ. 45 00:02:29,700 --> 00:02:32,366 But public restriction 46 00:02:32,366 --> 00:02:34,833 went around other people. It's not to face. 47 00:02:34,833 --> 00:02:35,400 It's not fake. 48 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:36,600 It's biblical. It's Christlike. 49 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:38,666 It's discipleship. 50 00:02:38,666 --> 00:02:41,666 And so in chapter 14, 51 00:02:41,700 --> 00:02:44,700 let's just read this, verses one and two. 52 00:02:46,733 --> 00:02:47,433 As for the one 53 00:02:47,433 --> 00:02:50,433 who is weak in faith, welcome him, 54 00:02:50,500 --> 00:02:53,500 but not to quarrel over opinions. 55 00:02:54,833 --> 00:02:58,033 One person believes he may eat anything, 56 00:02:58,666 --> 00:03:01,500 while the wheat person 57 00:03:01,500 --> 00:03:03,066 is for some reason a vegetarian. 58 00:03:03,066 --> 00:03:06,066 And it's it's only vegetables. 59 00:03:07,500 --> 00:03:10,700 So this is this is part of the this is part of the translation 60 00:03:10,700 --> 00:03:11,233 that I have to 61 00:03:11,233 --> 00:03:14,233 that I, that I've got to do to so that this makes a little bit more sense. 62 00:03:14,700 --> 00:03:17,700 As for the one who is in this translation, 63 00:03:17,700 --> 00:03:20,700 the English Channel version, it says the one who is weak in faith. 64 00:03:20,966 --> 00:03:24,233 There's a word missing in this translation that should be there, 65 00:03:24,233 --> 00:03:25,766 and it is in some other translations 66 00:03:25,766 --> 00:03:27,400 and just helps us understand a little bit more. 67 00:03:28,566 --> 00:03:29,400 As for the one who 68 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:33,400 is weak in the faith, that word does important 69 00:03:34,500 --> 00:03:38,700 because Paul is a Paul is obviously comparing two groups of people, right? 70 00:03:38,733 --> 00:03:41,733 The what's the first one? The what? 71 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:43,800 The what? 72 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:45,633 The weak. 73 00:03:45,633 --> 00:03:48,900 And he's talking to the strong. 74 00:03:49,166 --> 00:03:50,100 And so he's addressing 75 00:03:50,100 --> 00:03:53,766 those who are strong in the faith, talking about those who are weak in the faith. 76 00:03:54,166 --> 00:03:58,800 The word that's really important because he's not talking about saving faith. 77 00:03:58,933 --> 00:04:01,100 He's not talking about salvation. Faith. 78 00:04:01,100 --> 00:04:04,100 If you believe in Jesus, you're saved. 79 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:07,800 But there's an element to this faith thing. 80 00:04:08,300 --> 00:04:10,200 The faith 81 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:13,200 strong and weak, and what he's talking about 82 00:04:13,500 --> 00:04:18,433 for those who are weak in the faith, the faith he's talking about 83 00:04:18,433 --> 00:04:21,533 is everything he's talked about in Romans up to this point. 84 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:24,933 So like Romans five one, 85 00:04:25,633 --> 00:04:28,500 we are justified by faith. 86 00:04:30,166 --> 00:04:33,066 So so that's. 87 00:04:33,066 --> 00:04:34,966 Romans eight one. 88 00:04:34,966 --> 00:04:38,700 Those who are in Christ, there's no condemnation for those in Christ. 89 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:42,966 And there are some people who are weak in the faith 90 00:04:43,633 --> 00:04:46,633 and are those who are strong in the faith. 91 00:04:48,100 --> 00:04:51,100 And to those who are strong in the faith. 92 00:04:51,766 --> 00:04:54,900 He says about those who are weak in the faith. 93 00:04:55,866 --> 00:04:58,866 Don't quarrel over opinions. 94 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,700 Don't argue about stuff that aren't clear. 95 00:05:01,700 --> 00:05:04,700 Sin issues and salvation issues. 96 00:05:05,366 --> 00:05:07,800 And so 97 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:10,800 these two groups are going to be compared throughout this chapter. 98 00:05:11,933 --> 00:05:14,933 Those who are weak in the faith 99 00:05:15,166 --> 00:05:18,166 have an overly cautious conscience. 100 00:05:18,933 --> 00:05:21,366 There's a lot of rules around their lives. 101 00:05:21,366 --> 00:05:23,266 There's a lot of stipulations. 102 00:05:23,266 --> 00:05:25,566 You don't do this. You don't do this. 103 00:05:25,566 --> 00:05:28,400 You don't do this. Be very careful. 104 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:30,333 Those who are strong in the faith 105 00:05:31,500 --> 00:05:32,400 understand I'm 106 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:35,700 justified by faith because of God's grace, not because of rules. 107 00:05:36,500 --> 00:05:38,533 There's no condemnation. 108 00:05:38,533 --> 00:05:41,400 This gospel of grace is complete freedom. 109 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:44,900 Those are those who are confident, living in the freedom of grace 110 00:05:46,466 --> 00:05:46,766 and will. 111 00:05:46,766 --> 00:05:49,766 Paul seen as those who are confident and secure, living 112 00:05:49,766 --> 00:05:52,766 in the freedom that grace brings. 113 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:57,500 Have to be very careful with those who are who, 114 00:05:57,533 --> 00:06:02,100 who live by an overly cautious conscience, with a lot of rules. 115 00:06:03,066 --> 00:06:06,400 Those who are weak in the faith, in our vernacular, we would say, are 116 00:06:06,700 --> 00:06:07,633 we know what these are like. 117 00:06:07,633 --> 00:06:10,500 Like some virtue signalers 118 00:06:10,500 --> 00:06:13,100 right? 119 00:06:13,100 --> 00:06:16,100 And so he says, you got to be very careful now. 120 00:06:16,133 --> 00:06:17,700 He's not talking about sin issues. 121 00:06:17,700 --> 00:06:19,833 He's talking about disputable matters. 122 00:06:19,833 --> 00:06:23,600 He's talking about opinions of what it means to follow. 123 00:06:23,633 --> 00:06:26,300 And so here's the translation. 124 00:06:26,300 --> 00:06:28,566 In verse 21, we understand 125 00:06:28,566 --> 00:06:31,566 he's talking about the meat eaters versus vegetarians. 126 00:06:31,933 --> 00:06:33,833 It has it. 127 00:06:33,833 --> 00:06:36,800 It has to do with religious practice behind them. 128 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:38,300 And so the 129 00:06:38,300 --> 00:06:41,300 context he's writing to Christians in Rome 130 00:06:42,266 --> 00:06:45,333 and in Rome, their religious system had a whole bunch of gods. 131 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:49,033 And it's almost like every god had their own temple, 132 00:06:49,033 --> 00:06:52,033 and they would all practice animal sacrifices. 133 00:06:52,666 --> 00:06:55,433 And when they would practice animal sacrifices, these animals 134 00:06:55,433 --> 00:07:00,166 sacrificed to these pagan gods in these occult, cultish practices, 135 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:04,900 the church, always looking for ways to raise money right, 136 00:07:05,566 --> 00:07:09,266 would take the good cuts of meat after being sacrificed 137 00:07:09,466 --> 00:07:12,633 and sell it at a meat market right next to the church. 138 00:07:13,833 --> 00:07:16,833 And there were a lot of Christians in Rome 139 00:07:17,233 --> 00:07:20,600 who felt as though it is wrong 140 00:07:21,266 --> 00:07:25,300 to give your money to evil enterprises. 141 00:07:25,533 --> 00:07:28,533 Things that are attached to the cult, 142 00:07:29,066 --> 00:07:30,900 and to participate 143 00:07:30,900 --> 00:07:34,200 in meat that have been sacrificed to pagan idols. 144 00:07:34,766 --> 00:07:36,500 You just don't do it. 145 00:07:36,500 --> 00:07:39,300 God's called us to be separate from all that stuff. 146 00:07:39,300 --> 00:07:41,100 So why would you give your money? 147 00:07:41,100 --> 00:07:44,100 Why would you participate by eating what they've set? 148 00:07:44,100 --> 00:07:46,633 Does that make sense? Yeah, like you need to have some. 149 00:07:50,266 --> 00:07:51,866 And some thought it was very, very wrong. 150 00:07:51,866 --> 00:07:53,800 And there were others 151 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:56,800 who were very confident living in the freedom of grace. 152 00:07:57,700 --> 00:08:00,600 This meat has nothing to do with my salvation relationship with Jesus. 153 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:02,533 It's meat, for goodness sake. 154 00:08:02,533 --> 00:08:05,700 It has nothing to do with. 155 00:08:05,700 --> 00:08:08,700 If my love of the Lord 156 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:11,700 and thought nothing wrong with taking advantage 157 00:08:11,700 --> 00:08:14,700 of a great price at the meat market, 158 00:08:15,666 --> 00:08:18,233 I'm going to give me a good prime rib. 159 00:08:18,233 --> 00:08:21,066 I had no problems with it 160 00:08:21,066 --> 00:08:23,566 because it wasn't a salvation issue. 161 00:08:23,566 --> 00:08:26,933 And they understood grace is greater than 162 00:08:28,266 --> 00:08:30,333 that. Who Paul is talking about here. 163 00:08:30,333 --> 00:08:34,233 So in our context, most of us don't have rules around our lives. 164 00:08:34,366 --> 00:08:39,200 Religious rules regarding meat, like we'll eat bacon and ham 165 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:43,666 and all oysters and, you know, lobster and all that, like, but 166 00:08:44,666 --> 00:08:46,366 there are many in our context 167 00:08:46,366 --> 00:08:50,033 who have religious issues with other things that aren't clear. 168 00:08:50,066 --> 00:08:52,433 Sin issues, 169 00:08:52,433 --> 00:08:55,433 for instance, drinking alcohol. 170 00:08:56,533 --> 00:08:59,533 There are some who would say no, 171 00:09:00,033 --> 00:09:02,400 God's called you out of that. 172 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:05,400 You don't participate in that. 173 00:09:05,466 --> 00:09:08,900 Like having a good Cuban cigar. 174 00:09:11,900 --> 00:09:14,233 God's called you out of that. 175 00:09:14,233 --> 00:09:17,233 It's not appropriate for a Christ follower anymore. 176 00:09:17,433 --> 00:09:20,800 Like celebrating Halloween. 177 00:09:23,833 --> 00:09:27,233 Like those people watching the Chosen. 178 00:09:29,666 --> 00:09:32,366 Did you know that some of the executive producers are Mormons 179 00:09:32,366 --> 00:09:35,366 and they give your attention to that right? 180 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:38,800 It's like 181 00:09:38,866 --> 00:09:39,800 homeschooling. 182 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:43,900 As if that is God's approved message method of educating kids. 183 00:09:44,866 --> 00:09:49,533 These are all disputable matters and they're not clear send issues. 184 00:09:49,733 --> 00:09:53,300 What is a clear sin issue regarding alcohol is getting drunk, 185 00:09:54,433 --> 00:09:55,600 not having a drink. 186 00:09:56,566 --> 00:09:59,266 And so what Paul is saying is there are some who are strong 187 00:09:59,266 --> 00:10:03,033 in the faith, who live in the freedom of grace. 188 00:10:03,766 --> 00:10:05,833 There are those who are weak in the faith, 189 00:10:05,833 --> 00:10:08,833 who have a lot of rules around their lives. 190 00:10:09,433 --> 00:10:11,300 Both are okay 191 00:10:11,300 --> 00:10:14,300 because they're not clear sin issues. 192 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:17,833 Here's the danger 193 00:10:17,833 --> 00:10:20,400 in the religious world 194 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:23,600 to make essentials out of non-essentials 195 00:10:24,300 --> 00:10:27,566 and to make non-essential the essentials. 196 00:10:28,833 --> 00:10:31,966 There are things that are essential to the faith 197 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:35,300 one faith, one Lord, one 198 00:10:35,300 --> 00:10:38,300 baptism, one Scripture. 199 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:41,800 But there's more that are not essential. 200 00:10:41,966 --> 00:10:43,900 And Paul's talking about these things that are not 201 00:10:43,900 --> 00:10:46,900 essential. 202 00:10:47,966 --> 00:10:49,866 People of grace 203 00:10:49,866 --> 00:10:52,866 ought not despise the legalists. 204 00:10:53,233 --> 00:10:56,233 Let them have all the rules they want. 205 00:10:56,700 --> 00:10:58,733 But the legalists 206 00:10:58,733 --> 00:11:02,700 ought not judge the freedoms of the grace and joyous. 207 00:11:06,700 --> 00:11:09,700 Everybody understand? 208 00:11:09,933 --> 00:11:12,933 I want you to notice how important this is 209 00:11:13,900 --> 00:11:16,900 in first Timothy four. 210 00:11:18,300 --> 00:11:22,300 But the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last time, 211 00:11:22,333 --> 00:11:26,966 the last days, some in the church will turn away from Christ 212 00:11:27,100 --> 00:11:31,066 and become eager followers of teachers with devil 213 00:11:31,066 --> 00:11:34,066 inspired ideas. 214 00:11:34,866 --> 00:11:37,866 Now, understand what I'm saying. 215 00:11:38,033 --> 00:11:41,033 We all want to turn our attention to the 216 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:43,300 people not in 217 00:11:43,300 --> 00:11:45,333 the politics and the agendas. 218 00:11:45,333 --> 00:11:48,000 What the Bible tells us in the last days, 219 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:50,233 some of these devil inspired is going to be in the church. 220 00:11:50,233 --> 00:11:52,166 And here's what it looks like. 221 00:11:52,166 --> 00:11:56,233 These teachers will tell lies with straight faces, 222 00:11:56,566 --> 00:12:00,533 and do it so often that their conscience don't even bother them. 223 00:12:02,366 --> 00:12:04,400 They will say it's wrong 224 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:07,400 to be married and wrong to eat meat. 225 00:12:07,566 --> 00:12:12,033 Even though God gave these things to well taught Christians to enjoy 226 00:12:12,033 --> 00:12:14,433 and be thankful for. Here's what he's saying. 227 00:12:14,433 --> 00:12:15,866 He's saying in the last time. 228 00:12:15,866 --> 00:12:19,300 So there's going to be people who teach with straight faces that it's wrong 229 00:12:19,300 --> 00:12:23,066 to enjoy the pleasures that God has given us to enjoy. 230 00:12:24,466 --> 00:12:26,100 When it says wrong to be married. 231 00:12:26,100 --> 00:12:27,733 That's a polite way of saying wrong. 232 00:12:27,733 --> 00:12:30,733 To enjoy the pleasures of marriage 233 00:12:30,866 --> 00:12:32,333 and eating meat is wrong. 234 00:12:32,333 --> 00:12:35,500 To enjoy the delicacies that God has provided people to enjoy. 235 00:12:36,233 --> 00:12:39,600 And he's saying, in the last days people will teach with straight faces. 236 00:12:39,633 --> 00:12:42,900 That is a wrong to enjoy what God has provided. 237 00:12:44,366 --> 00:12:47,133 And Paul saying, listen, there are some people who will live 238 00:12:47,133 --> 00:12:50,266 in the freedoms of grace and enjoy, and there's others who will, 239 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:54,466 out of a way to honor God, will put strict restrictions around their life. 240 00:12:54,466 --> 00:12:57,466 Just just let it be. 241 00:12:57,733 --> 00:12:59,100 Be it. 242 00:12:59,100 --> 00:13:01,800 Each of us will answer to God. 243 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:03,133 You won't answer to me. 244 00:13:03,133 --> 00:13:04,800 I won't answer and we won't answer to each other. 245 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:07,500 We'll answer to God. That's where Paul's coming from. 246 00:13:10,166 --> 00:13:13,133 So let's go on. 247 00:13:13,133 --> 00:13:13,533 Watch this. 248 00:13:13,533 --> 00:13:16,133 Verses three and four. 249 00:13:16,133 --> 00:13:19,466 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains. 250 00:13:19,500 --> 00:13:23,833 And let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats. 251 00:13:23,966 --> 00:13:26,833 For God has what? 252 00:13:26,833 --> 00:13:28,766 What? 253 00:13:28,766 --> 00:13:31,766 God's welcome to both of us. 254 00:13:33,066 --> 00:13:34,200 Who are you 255 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:37,200 to pass judgment on the servant of another? 256 00:13:37,500 --> 00:13:40,866 It is before his own master that he stands or falls. 257 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:43,566 And he will be upheld. 258 00:13:43,566 --> 00:13:46,566 For the Lord is able to make him stand. 259 00:13:48,100 --> 00:13:49,000 But the Bible says 260 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:52,000 God will make his servant stand. 261 00:13:52,533 --> 00:13:56,533 Again, we're not talking about issues that are clear sin issues. 262 00:13:56,966 --> 00:14:01,200 We're talking about issues of conviction, personal issues of conviction 263 00:14:01,266 --> 00:14:03,066 that God says for you. 264 00:14:03,066 --> 00:14:05,100 I want you to abstain for you. 265 00:14:05,100 --> 00:14:07,566 Go ahead and enjoy. We're talking about these disputable matters. 266 00:14:09,066 --> 00:14:11,033 But the point is this. 267 00:14:11,033 --> 00:14:13,300 And this is what we have to understand. 268 00:14:13,300 --> 00:14:15,600 I must not make God's convictions 269 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:18,600 of me to be commandments for you, 270 00:14:18,900 --> 00:14:22,233 and you must not make God's convictions of you 271 00:14:22,266 --> 00:14:25,600 to be commandments for me to understand. 272 00:14:27,666 --> 00:14:29,366 You understand 273 00:14:29,366 --> 00:14:32,366 God may be convicting me of something, 274 00:14:32,766 --> 00:14:35,766 but that doesn't mean it's his commandment for you. 275 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:40,200 God may have convicted you of something, but that doesn't mean 276 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:44,300 it's his commandment for me over these disputable matters. 277 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:48,533 To his own master, I will stand or fall. 278 00:14:48,733 --> 00:14:51,366 You will stand or fall. 279 00:14:51,366 --> 00:14:52,900 You won't stand or fall before me. 280 00:14:52,900 --> 00:14:54,000 I will stand, fall for you. 281 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:57,000 We will stand or fall before God. 282 00:14:57,733 --> 00:14:59,566 And God is able to make me stand. 283 00:14:59,566 --> 00:15:02,700 God is able to make you stand as long as we are abiding. 284 00:15:03,066 --> 00:15:06,066 The leading of the spirit in us. 285 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:09,300 In these beautiful matters and some hope with great liberty, 286 00:15:09,300 --> 00:15:10,700 and some will be with great restriction. 287 00:15:12,733 --> 00:15:15,733 Now watch this. 288 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:17,966 One person esteems 289 00:15:17,966 --> 00:15:21,800 one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. 290 00:15:22,066 --> 00:15:25,400 Each one should be fully convinced in his own 291 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:28,400 mind. 292 00:15:28,966 --> 00:15:31,433 Look at the one who observes the day. 293 00:15:31,433 --> 00:15:33,966 Observes it in honor of the Lord. 294 00:15:33,966 --> 00:15:36,966 The one who eats, eating 295 00:15:37,133 --> 00:15:38,233 honor of the Lord. 296 00:15:38,233 --> 00:15:41,500 Since he give thanks to God, while the other, who abstains, abstains 297 00:15:42,500 --> 00:15:45,500 in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God. 298 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:49,666 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 299 00:15:50,033 --> 00:15:53,033 For if we live, we live to the Lord. 300 00:15:53,100 --> 00:15:55,766 And if we die, we die to the Lord. 301 00:15:55,766 --> 00:15:58,733 So then, whether we live or whether we die, 302 00:15:58,733 --> 00:16:01,733 we are the Lord's. 303 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:04,533 So Paul's dealing 304 00:16:04,533 --> 00:16:07,600 with not only this, these kosher laws 305 00:16:08,700 --> 00:16:10,700 and the freedoms 306 00:16:10,700 --> 00:16:13,700 in his context of this meat, these liberties. 307 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:17,100 He's also dealing with the issue of when you worship 308 00:16:17,100 --> 00:16:20,100 against in that culture, it was really important 309 00:16:20,266 --> 00:16:24,966 the Jewish holidays and celebrations and abiding by them and the day of worship 310 00:16:25,300 --> 00:16:28,866 before the resurrection, the church worshiped on Saturdays 311 00:16:29,233 --> 00:16:33,700 because that was according to the the, the example of God, the Sabbath. 312 00:16:34,233 --> 00:16:35,433 After the resurrection, 313 00:16:35,433 --> 00:16:38,966 the church moved its worship to Sunday in honor of the resurrection. 314 00:16:39,433 --> 00:16:41,800 But there are some who said, no, no, no. 315 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:45,366 Biblically, this is the day you worship, and some of those people 316 00:16:45,366 --> 00:16:48,366 still are around today. 317 00:16:48,533 --> 00:16:51,533 And Paul says, I don't care when you worship God 318 00:16:51,566 --> 00:16:56,300 if you're worshiping as to honor the Lord, how about it? 319 00:16:57,000 --> 00:17:00,933 If you want to say this is the one day for you to honor, great. 320 00:17:01,033 --> 00:17:03,933 But honestly, every day is God's. 321 00:17:03,933 --> 00:17:06,966 So whenever you choose, do it now in America, 322 00:17:07,466 --> 00:17:12,666 we set that aside that day aside for Sunday because it fits culturally. 323 00:17:13,266 --> 00:17:15,066 It fits who we are. 324 00:17:15,066 --> 00:17:18,066 That's why we have corporate church on Sunday, 325 00:17:18,300 --> 00:17:21,333 and we do it as honoring the Lord. 326 00:17:21,866 --> 00:17:22,533 Does it make sense? 327 00:17:26,900 --> 00:17:28,800 You know, this is 328 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:29,066 this. 329 00:17:29,066 --> 00:17:32,066 This even gets to the idea of the Sabbath. 330 00:17:32,266 --> 00:17:36,533 And there are some who say, like, like like the Sabbath. 331 00:17:36,533 --> 00:17:39,100 You don't you don't do anything 332 00:17:39,100 --> 00:17:42,100 you like, put on Netflix and take a nap like you don't, do. 333 00:17:42,333 --> 00:17:43,800 You? Just. 334 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:46,800 And and we forget 335 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:50,066 that unless it's done to honor the Lord, it's wrong. 336 00:17:50,966 --> 00:17:53,966 Even if it is obeying the law. 337 00:17:55,033 --> 00:17:56,900 And we forget that Jesus 338 00:17:56,900 --> 00:17:59,900 said the Sabbath wasn't 339 00:17:59,933 --> 00:18:02,400 man wasn't made to keep the Sabbath. 340 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:06,866 The Sabbath was given to man as a gift to recalibrate. 341 00:18:07,733 --> 00:18:10,600 And so I still serve the kingdom on the Sabbath. 342 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:13,533 I'm still industrious for the kingdom on the Sabbath. 343 00:18:13,533 --> 00:18:16,433 I still serve people on the Sabbath, 344 00:18:16,433 --> 00:18:19,366 but I don't work for my future on my Sabbath. 345 00:18:19,366 --> 00:18:20,033 Does it make sense? 346 00:18:22,166 --> 00:18:25,166 And I do that to honor the Lord. 347 00:18:28,500 --> 00:18:29,133 This. 348 00:18:29,133 --> 00:18:32,133 I like how the Living Bible translates this. 349 00:18:33,066 --> 00:18:34,500 The Living Bible says like this. 350 00:18:34,500 --> 00:18:36,900 Some think that Christians 351 00:18:36,900 --> 00:18:40,300 should observe the Jewish holidays as special days to worship God, 352 00:18:40,466 --> 00:18:44,133 but others say it's wrong and foolish to go 353 00:18:44,133 --> 00:18:47,400 through all that trouble for every day like belongs to God. 354 00:18:47,900 --> 00:18:53,366 On the questions of this kind, everyone wants to say, must decipher himself. 355 00:18:54,333 --> 00:18:58,966 If you have special days for worshiping the Lord, you're trying to honor him. 356 00:18:59,266 --> 00:19:01,466 You're doing a good thing. 357 00:19:01,466 --> 00:19:03,400 So is the person who eats meat 358 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:06,333 that has been offered to idols. 359 00:19:06,333 --> 00:19:08,533 He's thankful to the Lord for it. 360 00:19:08,533 --> 00:19:10,333 He's doing right. 361 00:19:10,333 --> 00:19:12,700 And the person who won't touch such meat. 362 00:19:12,700 --> 00:19:16,800 He too is anxious to please the Lord and is thankful 363 00:19:17,633 --> 00:19:20,000 we are not our own bosses to live or 364 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:23,000 die, as we ourselves might choose. 365 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:27,166 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life, 366 00:19:27,166 --> 00:19:30,633 so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. 367 00:19:31,433 --> 00:19:35,266 You then why do you judge your brother or sister, 368 00:19:36,500 --> 00:19:39,466 or why do you treat them with contempt? 369 00:19:39,466 --> 00:19:42,466 For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. 370 00:19:43,633 --> 00:19:46,333 It is written as surely as I live, says the Lord. 371 00:19:46,333 --> 00:19:48,600 Every knee will bow before me. 372 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:50,833 Every tongue will acknowledge God. 373 00:19:50,833 --> 00:19:53,800 So then each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. 374 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:56,800 Here's what he's saying. 375 00:19:57,066 --> 00:19:59,700 He's saying this whole idea, 376 00:19:59,700 --> 00:20:03,066 whatever we do is to be done in honor of God, 377 00:20:04,433 --> 00:20:06,233 not in pushing my liberty 378 00:20:06,233 --> 00:20:10,366 on someone who has experience it, and not in restricting myself. 379 00:20:10,366 --> 00:20:13,366 Because I think out of my restriction, it makes me more religious 380 00:20:13,366 --> 00:20:16,366 and righteous. 381 00:20:17,533 --> 00:20:18,800 When Paul talks about 382 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:21,800 everyone of God will make us stand. 383 00:20:22,300 --> 00:20:25,500 Everyone of us will then stand before the judgment seat. 384 00:20:26,433 --> 00:20:27,700 I want to understand what that is. 385 00:20:28,966 --> 00:20:29,500 When Paul 386 00:20:29,500 --> 00:20:32,500 talks about the judgment seat in Romans 14, 387 00:20:32,633 --> 00:20:36,533 he's not talking about the judgment of God over salvation. 388 00:20:37,533 --> 00:20:40,533 He's talking about a different judgment seat. 389 00:20:40,733 --> 00:20:43,733 Did you know there's just a couple of different judgments? 390 00:20:45,100 --> 00:20:46,666 What he's talking about here 391 00:20:46,666 --> 00:20:51,100 is the judgment seat of Christ, and it's called the Bema Seat. 392 00:20:51,100 --> 00:20:53,166 Everybody say bema. 393 00:20:53,166 --> 00:20:57,300 That's the Greek word that's used for the judgment seat is the Bema Seat. 394 00:20:57,900 --> 00:21:00,400 Here's why this is important. 395 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:04,433 The Bema Seat here in other places is different 396 00:21:04,533 --> 00:21:07,533 from the great White Throne of Judgment 397 00:21:08,233 --> 00:21:10,533 in Revelation 20 398 00:21:10,533 --> 00:21:13,866 that deals with sin, salvation, and damnation. 399 00:21:14,500 --> 00:21:18,166 That's not what Paul's time is not saying that we will all stand before that seat. 400 00:21:18,833 --> 00:21:21,833 He's saying every Christian will stand before the Bema Seat. 401 00:21:21,966 --> 00:21:23,233 Here's why that's important. 402 00:21:23,233 --> 00:21:25,366 Because the beam is seat. 403 00:21:25,366 --> 00:21:28,366 This is different from the seat of judgment. 404 00:21:29,133 --> 00:21:31,400 This Bema seat 405 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:34,700 is the seat of reward judgment, not salvation. 406 00:21:34,700 --> 00:21:36,000 Judgment. 407 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:40,066 So everybody who has a relationship with the father through the son 408 00:21:40,733 --> 00:21:43,800 will stand before the reward judgment seat. 409 00:21:44,366 --> 00:21:46,200 That's called the Bema Seat in Scripture. 410 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:48,200 Let me show you where it comes up in other places 411 00:21:49,533 --> 00:21:51,666 at the Bema Seat. 412 00:21:51,666 --> 00:21:53,800 We're not judged for salvation. 413 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:56,633 We're rewarded for sacrifice. 414 00:21:56,633 --> 00:21:59,200 This is really important for us to understand. 415 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:01,033 Amen. 416 00:22:01,033 --> 00:22:03,966 Second Corinthians 510 417 00:22:03,966 --> 00:22:07,233 for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. 418 00:22:07,266 --> 00:22:10,500 That's the BMC, the same one that Paul uses in Romans 14. 419 00:22:11,366 --> 00:22:14,366 We will all him for the judgment seat of Christ, the Bema Seat, 420 00:22:16,166 --> 00:22:19,900 so that each 1st May receive what is due 421 00:22:19,900 --> 00:22:23,333 for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 422 00:22:24,366 --> 00:22:27,366 This is a different judgment than salvation, because salvation 423 00:22:28,533 --> 00:22:33,300 is not dependent upon what we do, but on what Jesus has done. 424 00:22:34,100 --> 00:22:38,800 Rewards are based on what we've done. 425 00:22:40,766 --> 00:22:41,800 Do you understand? 426 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:44,800 And there are real rewards in heaven 427 00:22:45,066 --> 00:22:48,066 on a real new earth. 428 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:50,300 And those rewards are not salvation. 429 00:22:52,733 --> 00:22:53,366 That's faith. 430 00:22:53,366 --> 00:22:58,300 By God's grace, but the rewards that we will be given 431 00:22:59,100 --> 00:23:02,100 will be based on throughout all eternity 432 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:05,200 on what we've done on earth. 433 00:23:07,533 --> 00:23:10,000 You need to understand this. 434 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:11,433 This is what Paul saying. 435 00:23:11,433 --> 00:23:14,533 Each one of us will stand before the beam and see the Christ 436 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:17,900 and receive 437 00:23:17,900 --> 00:23:22,200 from him the rewards for what we've done. 438 00:23:23,566 --> 00:23:26,566 Again, not salvation, but rewards. 439 00:23:28,566 --> 00:23:30,000 Jesus told a parable in Luke 440 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:33,100 19 that the servants of a master. 441 00:23:33,333 --> 00:23:36,166 When the master went away, the servants were expected 442 00:23:36,166 --> 00:23:40,733 to be industrious and serve the interests of the master. 443 00:23:41,466 --> 00:23:45,333 And the master returned and demanded an accounting of what they've done. 444 00:23:46,233 --> 00:23:49,233 He said, such is the kingdom of God. 445 00:23:51,300 --> 00:23:54,300 How you and I invest 446 00:23:55,100 --> 00:23:59,533 and increase what's been given us to further 447 00:23:59,533 --> 00:24:03,333 the kingdom of God in this world, and to serve the kingdom 448 00:24:03,333 --> 00:24:07,566 interests in this world has profound impact 449 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:11,800 on our experience and rewards throughout eternity. 450 00:24:12,533 --> 00:24:13,800 You have to understand this. 451 00:24:15,566 --> 00:24:15,900 We are 452 00:24:15,900 --> 00:24:19,133 saved because of God's grace through faith. 453 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:21,266 Done. 454 00:24:21,266 --> 00:24:24,000 But we are rewarded 455 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:28,700 and how we invest and propel the Kingdom of God and the interest of the kingdom 456 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:32,800 on this earth in real time, with our time, our talents, 457 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:35,800 and our treasures. 458 00:24:36,633 --> 00:24:37,733 The neglect 459 00:24:37,733 --> 00:24:41,800 of investing our time, our talent and our treasure on earth 460 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:46,000 and the Kingdom of God has profound detriment 461 00:24:46,233 --> 00:24:49,000 on your eternity, 462 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:51,233 not your salvation, 463 00:24:51,233 --> 00:24:54,233 but your rewards in eternity. 464 00:24:54,300 --> 00:24:56,800 And every one of Christ's people will stand before him 465 00:24:56,800 --> 00:24:59,800 at the Bema Seat. 466 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:03,033 And face the ledger. 467 00:25:03,033 --> 00:25:04,100 Do you understand? 468 00:25:04,100 --> 00:25:07,100 Understand? 469 00:25:12,900 --> 00:25:13,766 So towards that end, 470 00:25:13,766 --> 00:25:16,766 I have these serve brochures 471 00:25:16,966 --> 00:25:19,966 that. 472 00:25:24,366 --> 00:25:26,966 Time, talent and treasure. 473 00:25:26,966 --> 00:25:30,900 For some, it's going to require a profound 474 00:25:31,233 --> 00:25:34,700 reorganizing and reprioritizing of your time, 475 00:25:35,966 --> 00:25:37,866 of your schedules, 476 00:25:37,866 --> 00:25:40,700 of your priorities and your finances. 477 00:25:44,900 --> 00:25:45,666 If you're not 478 00:25:45,666 --> 00:25:48,666 involved in the work of the Kingdom 479 00:25:48,900 --> 00:25:51,900 and the advancement of the kingdom and the kingdom's interests 480 00:25:52,300 --> 00:25:55,066 through your local church, 481 00:25:55,066 --> 00:25:58,066 this will help you find out where. 482 00:25:58,333 --> 00:26:00,300 Now, I don't have a brochure about your finances. 483 00:26:00,300 --> 00:26:03,300 Just start giving. 484 00:26:08,700 --> 00:26:11,700 We all I you 485 00:26:12,033 --> 00:26:15,600 need to invest, actively invest your time, 486 00:26:15,666 --> 00:26:18,666 your talent and your treasure. Now 487 00:26:19,433 --> 00:26:21,733 your eternal rewards are based on that, 488 00:26:21,733 --> 00:26:24,733 not your salvation. 489 00:26:25,666 --> 00:26:28,500 Here's here's I want you understand this. 490 00:26:28,500 --> 00:26:30,500 Grace saves you. 491 00:26:30,500 --> 00:26:33,500 Faithfulness rewards you. 492 00:26:34,933 --> 00:26:36,333 And what you and I do 493 00:26:36,333 --> 00:26:39,333 today will echo in eternity. 494 00:26:40,466 --> 00:26:41,433 And we will stand before 495 00:26:41,433 --> 00:26:44,433 the Bema Seat of Christ. 496 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:45,966 Be clear. Clearer. 497 00:26:45,966 --> 00:26:48,966 Not clear. For. 498 00:26:50,933 --> 00:26:52,900 Romans 14 hits, doesn't it? 499 00:26:52,900 --> 00:26:55,900 Yeah. Yeah. 500 00:26:56,100 --> 00:26:57,000 Like some of you're thinking. 501 00:26:57,000 --> 00:27:00,233 Okay, I didn't like Easter was fun. 502 00:27:00,266 --> 00:27:01,966 This is an Easter. 503 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:06,200 You know, I. 504 00:27:06,866 --> 00:27:07,300 Do realize that 505 00:27:07,300 --> 00:27:10,300 this is what Easter leads to. 506 00:27:11,166 --> 00:27:14,166 This is applied Christianity. 507 00:27:14,333 --> 00:27:16,666 This is Christianity 101. 508 00:27:16,666 --> 00:27:18,900 All right. 509 00:27:18,900 --> 00:27:20,200 You want to be apprentice of Jesus? 510 00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:23,200 This is what we're talking about. 511 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:26,633 Look at verses 13 through 16. 512 00:27:26,633 --> 00:27:29,700 Therefore, anytime you find the word therefore, you have to ask, what's it? 513 00:27:30,600 --> 00:27:33,366 Therefore. Sorry. 514 00:27:33,366 --> 00:27:35,866 In light of everything Paul said. 515 00:27:35,866 --> 00:27:38,100 Let us not pass judgment on one 516 00:27:38,100 --> 00:27:41,100 another any longer, assuming that we have, 517 00:27:42,366 --> 00:27:45,433 but rather decide never to put a stumbling block 518 00:27:45,433 --> 00:27:48,433 or hindrance in the way of a brother or sister. 519 00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:53,900 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, 520 00:27:54,066 --> 00:27:57,466 but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it to be unclean. 521 00:27:57,766 --> 00:28:03,166 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. 522 00:28:03,233 --> 00:28:05,966 But what you eat do by what you eat. 523 00:28:05,966 --> 00:28:08,966 Do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 524 00:28:10,300 --> 00:28:12,800 So do not let what you regard 525 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:15,800 as good be spoke of as evil. 526 00:28:17,133 --> 00:28:19,000 So like this. 527 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:22,000 You got complete freedom in grace. 528 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:24,133 You got complete liberty and grace. 529 00:28:24,133 --> 00:28:26,433 But here's what he's saying. 530 00:28:26,433 --> 00:28:29,133 This is the best way I can say it. 531 00:28:29,133 --> 00:28:32,133 Freedom isn't to be flaunted. 532 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:33,900 My freedom 533 00:28:33,900 --> 00:28:37,000 and grace is not to be flaunted in front of other people 534 00:28:37,300 --> 00:28:40,300 who haven't understood that, or who don't live in it yet. 535 00:28:40,733 --> 00:28:44,466 My freedom is to be yielded in consideration of others. 536 00:28:44,533 --> 00:28:47,700 And let me just tell you this I got this wrong for a long time. 537 00:28:49,166 --> 00:28:52,166 I've been on both sides of this equation. 538 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:54,500 I grew up in a church that was really religious 539 00:28:54,500 --> 00:28:57,500 and really strict, and everybody knew 540 00:28:58,500 --> 00:29:01,500 you don't smoke, you don't chew, you don't go with girls that do like their. 541 00:29:01,500 --> 00:29:05,433 You just are you just there's a lot of rules around life 542 00:29:05,433 --> 00:29:06,433 and what it means to be a Christian. 543 00:29:07,466 --> 00:29:10,266 Now, I grew up in that culture, 544 00:29:10,266 --> 00:29:13,266 and when I had this, like, I kind of refer to as, 545 00:29:13,666 --> 00:29:16,666 almost like a, conversion of grace. 546 00:29:17,066 --> 00:29:20,066 And I finally understood the freedom I have in Christ. 547 00:29:20,866 --> 00:29:24,133 Like, I'm completely free from all those stupid rules 548 00:29:24,933 --> 00:29:29,600 that, like, I just explode, like, yes, I love this. 549 00:29:29,633 --> 00:29:31,533 It's so liberating. 550 00:29:31,533 --> 00:29:34,166 And here's why I was at fault. 551 00:29:34,166 --> 00:29:37,166 I flaunted that freedom 552 00:29:38,333 --> 00:29:41,333 in front of other people that weren't there yet. 553 00:29:41,933 --> 00:29:44,566 And I was like, well, you know, too bad for you. 554 00:29:44,566 --> 00:29:47,766 Like, this is Grace and you better love it because it's awesome. 555 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:53,600 And I allowed what was good 556 00:29:54,133 --> 00:29:55,833 and the grace of God to be spoken. 557 00:29:55,833 --> 00:29:58,833 Evil of. 558 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:01,200 Because of my immaturity. 559 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:02,700 Yeah. 560 00:30:02,700 --> 00:30:05,633 My ignorance and arrogance. 561 00:30:05,633 --> 00:30:07,133 So I've been on both sides of this. 562 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:12,866 I'm still learning. 563 00:30:12,866 --> 00:30:15,000 I'm still learning what it means to be an apprentice of Jesus. 564 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:17,733 And I got. So I got some. I got some ways to go yet, but. 565 00:30:17,733 --> 00:30:21,400 But what Paul is saying is, look, these are not sin issues. 566 00:30:22,500 --> 00:30:25,500 So if you enjoy this grace, enjoy it, but don't flaunt it. 567 00:30:26,033 --> 00:30:29,033 You might have to sacrifice it 568 00:30:29,266 --> 00:30:32,266 for the sake of some other people that Jesus died for. 569 00:30:32,633 --> 00:30:35,233 Verses 70, 17 or 19 570 00:30:35,233 --> 00:30:37,866 for the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating 571 00:30:37,866 --> 00:30:41,900 and drinking, but of righteousness and peace and joy. 572 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:44,166 And the Holy Spirit, 573 00:30:44,166 --> 00:30:46,800 whoever that serves Christ, is acceptable 574 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:49,800 to God and approved by man. 575 00:30:50,033 --> 00:30:52,400 So then let us pursue 576 00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:55,900 what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. 577 00:30:55,900 --> 00:30:57,366 Here's what he's saying. 578 00:30:57,366 --> 00:31:02,300 When we get this and start living this way that I enjoy the freedoms God has given, 579 00:31:02,300 --> 00:31:04,033 I enjoy grace, 580 00:31:04,033 --> 00:31:07,066 and I let people who live with a lot of church and stuff with restriction. 581 00:31:07,300 --> 00:31:09,466 If that's where God's let them, God's let them. They're. 582 00:31:11,066 --> 00:31:11,500 But I'm going to 583 00:31:11,500 --> 00:31:14,500 sacrifice my freedom for the sake of someone else's 584 00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:16,966 faith. 585 00:31:16,966 --> 00:31:21,933 And when I do that, God approves of that life. 586 00:31:21,933 --> 00:31:24,300 Living, 587 00:31:24,300 --> 00:31:25,733 and it makes other people think, 588 00:31:25,733 --> 00:31:28,800 well of God and his people. 589 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:34,700 And I'm to live in this way, because this helps keep the peace 590 00:31:35,333 --> 00:31:38,400 amongst God's people and builds them up. 591 00:31:41,700 --> 00:31:43,100 See what he's talking about? 592 00:31:43,100 --> 00:31:47,466 Here is the overarching rule, and here's what it is. 593 00:31:47,700 --> 00:31:50,933 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. 594 00:31:51,666 --> 00:31:55,433 Everything is indeed clean, absolutely complete liberty. 595 00:31:55,900 --> 00:32:00,100 But it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble 596 00:32:00,866 --> 00:32:03,866 by the expression of their liberty. 597 00:32:05,333 --> 00:32:07,000 It's good not to eat me. 598 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:11,033 It's good not to exercise your liberty in public or drink 599 00:32:11,800 --> 00:32:14,400 or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 600 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:16,866 Here's the overarching rule that Paul's talking about. 601 00:32:16,866 --> 00:32:18,300 It's the law of love. 602 00:32:19,833 --> 00:32:21,966 It's the law of love. 603 00:32:21,966 --> 00:32:24,966 And this is this is my concern for me. 604 00:32:25,100 --> 00:32:28,100 And this is my concern for American Christians, 605 00:32:28,433 --> 00:32:32,200 because some are more American than they are Christlike, 606 00:32:33,333 --> 00:32:36,333 because I'm out to protect my freedoms at all costs. 607 00:32:37,500 --> 00:32:39,366 And if God hasn't said, I can't do this, 608 00:32:39,366 --> 00:32:42,366 I'm going to do it regardless. 609 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:44,766 Because I am free. 610 00:32:44,766 --> 00:32:47,766 Free indeed. 611 00:32:47,800 --> 00:32:49,833 And we teeter on being more American 612 00:32:49,833 --> 00:32:52,833 than we are Christlike. 613 00:32:55,866 --> 00:33:00,966 So the idea is this that we live like this. 614 00:33:01,366 --> 00:33:04,033 You belong to him rather than like 615 00:33:04,033 --> 00:33:07,033 freedom belongs to you. 616 00:33:07,566 --> 00:33:09,400 Amen. 617 00:33:09,400 --> 00:33:12,300 I must learn to live like I belong to Jesus. 618 00:33:12,300 --> 00:33:15,300 Not like freedom belongs to me. 619 00:33:18,300 --> 00:33:21,300 He says don't put a stumbling block. 620 00:33:23,333 --> 00:33:26,233 I need to be a stepping stone. 621 00:33:26,233 --> 00:33:28,933 And if laying down my freedom, that's good. 622 00:33:28,933 --> 00:33:29,433 Freedom. 623 00:33:30,633 --> 00:33:33,633 So that someone else can take a step forward. 624 00:33:33,700 --> 00:33:35,500 That's living by the law of love. 625 00:33:35,500 --> 00:33:38,533 And how much more attractive would I and the church be 626 00:33:38,533 --> 00:33:41,533 if that's how we lift up? 627 00:33:45,233 --> 00:33:46,500 All of this 628 00:33:46,500 --> 00:33:50,000 reminds me of one of the affirmations of the Reformation. 629 00:33:51,033 --> 00:33:52,866 The Reformation was this. 630 00:33:52,866 --> 00:33:58,233 In the essentials for salvation, we show unity and the non-essentials. 631 00:33:58,233 --> 00:34:00,900 We show liberty in all things. 632 00:34:00,900 --> 00:34:03,066 We show charity or love. 633 00:34:03,066 --> 00:34:06,066 So in the essentials, there are essentials to the faith. 634 00:34:06,266 --> 00:34:11,266 There's one faith, one Lord, one Christ, one cross, one baptism, one Scripture. 635 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:15,000 We are unified in that, but in all the other stuff 636 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:18,000 we have great liberty. 637 00:34:18,133 --> 00:34:21,133 We let people stand or fall before God, 638 00:34:21,400 --> 00:34:24,400 but in all things we show love. 639 00:34:27,800 --> 00:34:30,500 This is back to where we started verses 22. 640 00:34:30,500 --> 00:34:33,266 The faith that you have keep between yourself and God. 641 00:34:33,266 --> 00:34:35,300 I'm going to talk about that because it doesn't mean what you think 642 00:34:35,300 --> 00:34:36,000 in first reading 643 00:34:37,166 --> 00:34:37,900 between you and God. 644 00:34:37,900 --> 00:34:41,800 Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what 645 00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:43,400 he approves. 646 00:34:43,400 --> 00:34:46,500 But whoever has doubts is condemned 647 00:34:46,500 --> 00:34:49,900 if he eats because the eating is not from faith. 648 00:34:50,233 --> 00:34:53,266 For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. 649 00:34:53,500 --> 00:34:54,833 What he's saying is just listen. 650 00:34:54,833 --> 00:34:58,333 If you have doubts about the liberties that are yours in Christ 651 00:34:58,533 --> 00:35:02,133 and you transgress those doubts, 652 00:35:02,833 --> 00:35:06,666 it's sin for you because you're not doing it to honor God. 653 00:35:06,666 --> 00:35:11,133 You're doing it in opposition to your own conscience. 654 00:35:11,133 --> 00:35:13,500 That the way God is leading you internally. 655 00:35:13,500 --> 00:35:16,766 So don't violate what the spirit is telling you. 656 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:19,800 If the Spirit's telling you, I need to avoid these things 657 00:35:20,133 --> 00:35:22,500 for my own conscience on my own, then avoid them. 658 00:35:25,400 --> 00:35:28,066 But if the Holy Spirit's telling you like this are these are negotiable. 659 00:35:28,066 --> 00:35:31,066 These are nonessential things, and you want to enjoy it, 660 00:35:31,366 --> 00:35:34,700 but just do it with the overarching law of love, 661 00:35:35,633 --> 00:35:38,633 and don't use it as a stumbling block for somebody. 662 00:35:42,300 --> 00:35:45,300 What he's saying here is, is. 663 00:35:49,866 --> 00:35:52,000 Spiritual maturity. 664 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:52,500 Do you understand? 665 00:35:52,500 --> 00:35:55,666 This now involves private liberty 666 00:35:56,366 --> 00:35:58,866 and public restriction. 667 00:35:58,866 --> 00:36:01,766 And so if I am one who loves and enjoys 668 00:36:01,766 --> 00:36:06,500 the freedoms of grace, then I have every right under God 669 00:36:06,500 --> 00:36:10,600 because he has made me stand to enjoy all those freedoms 670 00:36:11,733 --> 00:36:13,466 in private. 671 00:36:13,466 --> 00:36:15,300 I don't mean like, 672 00:36:15,300 --> 00:36:18,200 you know, I I'm day drinking in the closet. 673 00:36:18,200 --> 00:36:19,300 That's not what I'm talking about. 674 00:36:19,300 --> 00:36:21,433 Like, 675 00:36:21,433 --> 00:36:23,733 well, what I'm talking about is like, 676 00:36:23,733 --> 00:36:27,266 I can enjoy those amongst other people who also enjoy the freedoms, 677 00:36:28,800 --> 00:36:31,800 but in public, where people might struggle with that, 678 00:36:32,166 --> 00:36:35,166 then I have to practice public restriction. 679 00:36:35,766 --> 00:36:37,066 This makes sense. 680 00:36:37,066 --> 00:36:40,066 You follow. 681 00:36:40,133 --> 00:36:43,133 Guys, this is applied Christianity 101, 682 00:36:43,900 --> 00:36:46,133 and I do it 683 00:36:46,133 --> 00:36:48,800 because I'm so desperately 684 00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:51,800 desiring to honor my Lord 685 00:36:52,400 --> 00:36:55,400 and show love to other people. 686 00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:02,266 The Living Bible translation 687 00:37:02,266 --> 00:37:06,766 of this is, as you may know, that there's nothing wrong with what you do, 688 00:37:07,100 --> 00:37:10,100 even from God's point of view, but 689 00:37:10,133 --> 00:37:12,466 keep it to yourself. 690 00:37:12,466 --> 00:37:15,433 Don't put your faith in front of others 691 00:37:15,433 --> 00:37:18,433 who might be hurt by it. 692 00:37:19,633 --> 00:37:22,333 That's a good word 693 00:37:22,333 --> 00:37:24,566 when it says, keep your faith between you and 694 00:37:24,566 --> 00:37:27,566 God is not talking about your witness. 695 00:37:27,600 --> 00:37:29,866 It's not talking about first Peter 315. 696 00:37:29,866 --> 00:37:32,866 Always be ready to give a reason for the hope that you have. 697 00:37:32,900 --> 00:37:35,466 Like you're still vocal with your witness. 698 00:37:35,466 --> 00:37:38,433 You don't keep your faith private. 699 00:37:38,433 --> 00:37:41,366 You keep your liberties between you and God. 700 00:37:41,366 --> 00:37:44,233 Does that make sense? Not your witness and testimony. 701 00:37:44,233 --> 00:37:46,700 You understand the difference between stand up and be clear about that. 702 00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:50,133 So I can't go through chapter 14 703 00:37:50,133 --> 00:37:53,400 without diving into the first part of 15, because this all ties right in. 704 00:37:53,400 --> 00:37:55,966 So just bear with me. Let me get through. 705 00:37:55,966 --> 00:38:00,166 Let me get through the first part of chapter 15, because at the end of the day, 706 00:38:00,900 --> 00:38:04,200 if I love my brother, I will limit my public liberty, 707 00:38:05,533 --> 00:38:07,933 because love for you is greater than liberty for myself. 708 00:38:07,933 --> 00:38:10,933 That's what Paul saying. 709 00:38:11,733 --> 00:38:12,733 I mean, it's exactly what Jesus did 710 00:38:12,733 --> 00:38:15,733 on the cross. 711 00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:19,000 He laid down his liberty. 712 00:38:20,000 --> 00:38:23,000 Because of our failings and weaknesses. 713 00:38:26,100 --> 00:38:29,100 Verses one, two and three of of chapter 15. 714 00:38:29,633 --> 00:38:30,700 We who are strong. 715 00:38:30,700 --> 00:38:32,966 You understand what he's talking about on the right. 716 00:38:32,966 --> 00:38:36,033 When you are strong, have an obligation 717 00:38:36,200 --> 00:38:40,100 to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 718 00:38:40,366 --> 00:38:44,933 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good to build him up. 719 00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:49,100 A law of love for Christ did not please himself, just like we said. 720 00:38:49,233 --> 00:38:53,733 But as it was written, the reproaches of those who reproached you for fall on me. 721 00:38:53,900 --> 00:38:54,900 Spoken love of Christ. 722 00:38:57,900 --> 00:39:00,900 And so he says, listen. 723 00:39:02,500 --> 00:39:03,766 Jesus laid down 724 00:39:03,766 --> 00:39:06,766 all of his rights and liberties. 725 00:39:07,500 --> 00:39:10,433 For you and me. 726 00:39:10,433 --> 00:39:12,366 And to live according to the law of love means 727 00:39:12,366 --> 00:39:16,166 we do the same with our liberties for the sake of others. 728 00:39:17,500 --> 00:39:19,966 Now watch this verse for 729 00:39:19,966 --> 00:39:22,966 for whatever was written in former days. 730 00:39:23,633 --> 00:39:26,633 Well, what's the former days? 731 00:39:28,733 --> 00:39:30,800 Was the former days 732 00:39:30,800 --> 00:39:32,566 for you? 733 00:39:32,566 --> 00:39:36,466 You seem unsure for what was in the former days was written for our instruction 734 00:39:37,133 --> 00:39:38,300 that through endurance 735 00:39:38,300 --> 00:39:41,333 and through the encouragement of the scriptures, we might have hope. 736 00:39:41,433 --> 00:39:43,800 What's the former days and what's the scriptures? 737 00:39:43,800 --> 00:39:46,033 Paul's talking about 738 00:39:46,033 --> 00:39:49,466 the old times, everything before Matthew, he's saying, listen 739 00:39:50,800 --> 00:39:53,500 for whatever. 740 00:39:53,500 --> 00:39:56,133 Whatever was written in the former days was written for our instruction, 741 00:39:56,133 --> 00:39:57,433 that through endurance 742 00:39:57,433 --> 00:40:00,466 and through the encouragement of those scriptures, we might have hope. 743 00:40:00,466 --> 00:40:03,466 Listen, ask yourselves this question. 744 00:40:03,666 --> 00:40:05,100 Ask yourself, are you tired? 745 00:40:06,633 --> 00:40:09,100 Are you discouraged? 746 00:40:09,100 --> 00:40:11,400 Are you losing hope? 747 00:40:11,400 --> 00:40:12,633 Some of you are like, oh, I'm not losing. I'm. 748 00:40:12,633 --> 00:40:14,900 I lost it already. It's gone. 749 00:40:14,900 --> 00:40:17,900 See, it's through the scriptures, 750 00:40:18,033 --> 00:40:22,266 the Old Testament and the New Testament that you get those back. 751 00:40:23,066 --> 00:40:25,800 Alright. Are you tired? 752 00:40:25,800 --> 00:40:28,500 The Old Testament, New Testament work together. 753 00:40:28,500 --> 00:40:30,766 Are you discouraged? The Old Testament doesn't work together. 754 00:40:30,766 --> 00:40:31,600 Are you losing hope? 755 00:40:31,600 --> 00:40:34,566 The Old Testament, New Testament work together. Here's what we need. 756 00:40:34,566 --> 00:40:36,333 We need both. 757 00:40:36,333 --> 00:40:40,933 It's important for both the Old Testament and to gain hope, 758 00:40:41,066 --> 00:40:44,966 because we get the beauty and the truth in the New Testament, and we get the death 759 00:40:44,966 --> 00:40:47,966 and the foundation. The old. 760 00:40:48,000 --> 00:40:51,900 And he's saying what we need is both the depth 761 00:40:51,900 --> 00:40:56,700 and the foundation of the Old Testament and the beauty and the truth of the new. 762 00:40:58,333 --> 00:41:00,500 All my friends, 763 00:41:00,500 --> 00:41:03,033 we get a lot of good New Testament beauty and truth. 764 00:41:03,033 --> 00:41:06,466 On Sunday morning, and we've dive. 765 00:41:06,733 --> 00:41:10,533 We've, we've we dive into the Old Testament once in a while, too. 766 00:41:10,533 --> 00:41:11,566 But here's what I want you to know. 767 00:41:11,566 --> 00:41:16,800 This that currently we are drinking deep from the Old Testament. 768 00:41:16,800 --> 00:41:20,500 Well, on Wednesday nights, you people who come, you know, 769 00:41:21,833 --> 00:41:24,833 we're diving deep in the Old Testament 770 00:41:25,033 --> 00:41:28,200 for the depth and the foundation of our faith. 771 00:41:30,366 --> 00:41:31,300 And we get the beauty 772 00:41:31,300 --> 00:41:34,300 of the New Testament on Sunday morning. 773 00:41:34,966 --> 00:41:36,900 But if you and I neglect 774 00:41:36,900 --> 00:41:39,900 the study of both, we do so to our own detriment. 775 00:41:41,300 --> 00:41:44,300 I want to understand that. 776 00:41:44,666 --> 00:41:47,000 There's a truth in second Timothy 316 777 00:41:47,000 --> 00:41:50,800 that says all Scripture, new and old, is profitable 778 00:41:51,400 --> 00:41:55,700 for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, 779 00:41:55,700 --> 00:41:59,766 that the person of God may be approved and equipped for everything. 780 00:42:02,533 --> 00:42:05,533 And he both. 781 00:42:05,933 --> 00:42:08,633 But watch this 782 00:42:08,633 --> 00:42:09,000 again. 783 00:42:09,000 --> 00:42:12,533 Second Timothy, for the time will come in the end times, 784 00:42:12,533 --> 00:42:15,533 when people will not put up a sound doctrine. 785 00:42:18,100 --> 00:42:21,100 Sunday is good, 786 00:42:21,533 --> 00:42:22,233 I'm telling you. 787 00:42:22,233 --> 00:42:24,300 Wednesday is deep. 788 00:42:24,300 --> 00:42:29,333 Sound profound Old Testament doctrine 789 00:42:30,233 --> 00:42:33,366 that feeds the beauty and the truth of the New Testament. 790 00:42:34,400 --> 00:42:37,133 I love my wins in that group. 791 00:42:37,133 --> 00:42:38,800 You guys are in it. 792 00:42:38,800 --> 00:42:41,400 It's good stuff. 793 00:42:41,400 --> 00:42:43,600 And you're all invited, 794 00:42:43,600 --> 00:42:46,600 but at some point you need both. 795 00:42:46,800 --> 00:42:49,800 Let me wrap up with this. 796 00:42:50,200 --> 00:42:52,566 May the God of endurance. 797 00:42:52,566 --> 00:42:57,233 May the God of encouragement grant you to live in such harmony 798 00:42:57,233 --> 00:43:00,366 with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus. 799 00:43:01,200 --> 00:43:04,833 May the God of encouragement and the God of endurance, 800 00:43:05,533 --> 00:43:07,700 because you're in the word, you're living by the law of love. 801 00:43:07,700 --> 00:43:10,200 Grant you to live in harmony with one another. 802 00:43:11,666 --> 00:43:14,400 The old story goes like this. 803 00:43:14,400 --> 00:43:17,133 Charles Spurgeon and Dwight Moody, great preachers, 804 00:43:17,133 --> 00:43:20,400 great theologians, contemporaries. 805 00:43:21,466 --> 00:43:23,066 The story goes like this. 806 00:43:23,066 --> 00:43:25,833 One of them loved a good cigar 807 00:43:25,833 --> 00:43:28,833 and the other love the good food. 808 00:43:29,566 --> 00:43:32,433 And Charles Spurgeon 809 00:43:32,433 --> 00:43:33,700 met D.L. 810 00:43:33,700 --> 00:43:37,166 Moody for a meeting, and Charles Spurgeon was smoking a cigar. 811 00:43:38,600 --> 00:43:39,200 And D.L. 812 00:43:39,200 --> 00:43:42,866 Moody said, how can you, man of God, 813 00:43:43,700 --> 00:43:46,700 smoke that cigar? 814 00:43:49,800 --> 00:43:51,600 And so Spurgeon 815 00:43:51,600 --> 00:43:54,866 patted Moody on his big belly and said, 816 00:43:54,866 --> 00:43:57,866 the same way that you men of God can be so fat. 817 00:44:03,433 --> 00:44:06,433 Here's the point. 818 00:44:07,533 --> 00:44:10,300 I have to be mindful 819 00:44:10,300 --> 00:44:12,500 of chastising sin and another 820 00:44:12,500 --> 00:44:15,500 while cherishing it in myself. 821 00:44:17,366 --> 00:44:19,933 You have to be mindful 822 00:44:19,933 --> 00:44:24,600 of chastising your sin and someone else for cherishing it 823 00:44:25,633 --> 00:44:28,500 in yourself. 824 00:44:28,500 --> 00:44:31,500 Do you understand? 825 00:44:36,033 --> 00:44:37,200 This is a law of grace. 826 00:44:39,100 --> 00:44:40,933 This is the freedom that we have in Christ, 827 00:44:40,933 --> 00:44:43,933 and freedom to lay our freedoms down for the sake of someone else. 828 00:44:45,733 --> 00:44:48,733 Because we remember 829 00:44:49,266 --> 00:44:52,266 that grace is greater than. 830 00:44:57,766 --> 00:44:58,433 The experience 831 00:44:58,433 --> 00:45:01,433 of grace begins with repentance. 832 00:45:02,266 --> 00:45:05,266 And with repentance comes freedom. 833 00:45:08,500 --> 00:45:11,500 That's the invitation. 834 00:45:12,700 --> 00:45:15,666 To live freely in Christ 835 00:45:15,666 --> 00:45:19,300 and to abide by the promptings of the Holy Spirit in you. 836 00:45:20,166 --> 00:45:23,133 To restrict what he encourages you to restrict, 837 00:45:23,133 --> 00:45:26,100 to enjoy what he gives you, to enjoy. 838 00:45:26,100 --> 00:45:29,100 To answer to God for those things because we're not sin issues, 839 00:45:29,700 --> 00:45:32,100 and to let other people live in that same 840 00:45:32,100 --> 00:45:35,100 freedom. 841 00:45:36,300 --> 00:45:39,300 Chastising the sin in ourselves 842 00:45:40,133 --> 00:45:43,133 rather than what we see in others. 843 00:45:44,033 --> 00:45:46,233 Follow 844 00:45:46,233 --> 00:45:48,466 applied Christianity. 845 00:45:48,466 --> 00:45:51,300 This is how we live. It. 846 00:45:51,300 --> 00:45:54,300 Why don't you pray with me? 847 00:45:54,633 --> 00:45:54,966 Father. 848 00:45:54,966 --> 00:45:56,266 Thank you. Thank 849 00:45:57,866 --> 00:46:00,866 thank you for the opportunity that you've given us 850 00:46:01,133 --> 00:46:04,133 to interact with you through your word. 851 00:46:04,433 --> 00:46:07,266 Thank you that it is so, 852 00:46:07,266 --> 00:46:10,266 so plain and so relevant, 853 00:46:11,400 --> 00:46:14,533 that it's so transformed, that it's alive and active, 854 00:46:15,466 --> 00:46:17,866 and that we to interact with this life 855 00:46:17,866 --> 00:46:20,866 being called your word. 856 00:46:21,533 --> 00:46:24,533 Thank you that through it we find encouragement and endurance, 857 00:46:25,500 --> 00:46:27,600 freedom 858 00:46:27,600 --> 00:46:30,300 and restriction. 859 00:46:30,300 --> 00:46:32,233 I pray, father, that you allow us 860 00:46:32,233 --> 00:46:35,900 who are yours, to live simply to honor 861 00:46:35,900 --> 00:46:40,666 you both in our restrictions and in the enjoyment of freedom. 862 00:46:41,400 --> 00:46:44,400 But to do so under the auspices of 863 00:46:44,666 --> 00:46:48,233 not just honoring you, but loving those around us. 864 00:46:51,600 --> 00:46:53,133 Holy spirit, 865 00:46:53,133 --> 00:46:56,033 I ask that in this moment 866 00:46:56,033 --> 00:46:59,033 that for those issues in me, 867 00:46:59,700 --> 00:47:03,500 that for those issues in us that are sin issues, 868 00:47:04,800 --> 00:47:07,800 that we repent. 869 00:47:07,900 --> 00:47:09,466 And that in repentance 870 00:47:09,466 --> 00:47:12,466 you allow us the experience of your grace. 871 00:47:13,166 --> 00:47:16,166 And in that grace we find freedom. 872 00:47:17,133 --> 00:47:20,133 Friends, I'm gonna invite you in this moment. 873 00:47:20,700 --> 00:47:23,700 Like at. 874 00:47:24,466 --> 00:47:27,466 Would you just ask if you so dare 875 00:47:28,833 --> 00:47:31,200 say God, 876 00:47:31,200 --> 00:47:34,200 what's my sin stuff? 877 00:47:38,000 --> 00:47:41,000 Where have I cherished sin in me? 878 00:47:43,033 --> 00:47:45,466 And maybe where have I chastised 879 00:47:45,466 --> 00:47:48,466 sin and others? 880 00:47:49,866 --> 00:47:52,433 And then seek his forgiveness. 881 00:47:52,433 --> 00:47:53,900 Repent of it. 882 00:47:53,900 --> 00:47:56,066 God. I'm sorry. 883 00:47:56,066 --> 00:47:57,500 I've winked at sin in me. 884 00:47:57,500 --> 00:48:00,500 I've cherished it. 885 00:48:00,633 --> 00:48:01,866 Maybe it's God. I'm sorry. 886 00:48:01,866 --> 00:48:05,733 I flaunted my grace and my freedom in front of other people, and it spits. 887 00:48:06,600 --> 00:48:07,800 It's caused some to stumble. 888 00:48:07,800 --> 00:48:10,800 And I repent of that. 889 00:48:12,300 --> 00:48:13,966 And father, as your people repent, 890 00:48:13,966 --> 00:48:16,966 as they as we. 891 00:48:18,000 --> 00:48:19,266 Come before you in repentance 892 00:48:19,266 --> 00:48:22,500 and thanking you for the forgiveness that you've offered through your son. 893 00:48:24,133 --> 00:48:24,800 I ask in the 894 00:48:24,800 --> 00:48:27,833 name of your son that you give us all, 895 00:48:27,833 --> 00:48:30,833 that your grace will allow you. 896 00:48:32,766 --> 00:48:34,500 We love you. 897 00:48:34,500 --> 00:48:37,266 Thank you that you loved us first. 898 00:48:37,266 --> 00:48:38,933 In your name I pray. Amen. 899 00:48:38,933 --> 00:48:41,666 Alright. 900 00:48:41,666 --> 00:48:44,666 Romans had been a good study, hadn't it? 901 00:48:45,200 --> 00:48:47,366 It hits 902 00:48:47,366 --> 00:48:48,000 if you're listening. 903 00:48:48,000 --> 00:48:50,633 It hits. 904 00:48:50,633 --> 00:48:52,566 We're going to wrap it up next week. 905 00:48:52,566 --> 00:48:55,833 Last part of 15 or 16 and it gets real personal. 906 00:48:57,600 --> 00:49:00,466 And so my my, my, my ask of you this week 907 00:49:00,466 --> 00:49:04,200 read chapter 14 and 15, read it with some new eyes. 908 00:49:05,000 --> 00:49:08,066 And as you read it, just say, God, would you speak to me through your word? 909 00:49:08,700 --> 00:49:10,333 What do you want to tell me through your word? 910 00:49:10,333 --> 00:49:12,000 What's your word? Saying? 911 00:49:12,000 --> 00:49:13,133 And the read verse. 912 00:49:13,133 --> 00:49:15,233 Chapters 14 and 15. 913 00:49:15,233 --> 00:49:17,400 Okay. And then get into 16 a little bit. 914 00:49:17,400 --> 00:49:18,400 We'll talk about it next week. 915 00:49:19,866 --> 00:49:21,566 Listen, I love you. 916 00:49:21,566 --> 00:49:22,933 It's been good for us to go through. 917 00:49:22,933 --> 00:49:23,900 You okay? 918 00:49:23,900 --> 00:49:26,900 Yeah. Yeah, yeah. 919 00:49:27,000 --> 00:49:29,666 All right. Hey, 920 00:49:29,666 --> 00:49:31,466 either go from this place and live 921 00:49:31,466 --> 00:49:34,466 in all the restrictions that God's put on you 922 00:49:35,133 --> 00:49:38,100 or go from this place 923 00:49:38,100 --> 00:49:41,400 and live and enjoying the freedoms God's placed on you. 924 00:49:41,933 --> 00:49:43,900 Either way, 925 00:49:43,900 --> 00:49:46,300 do it to honor him. Yeah. Let's sing.