1 00:00:02,089 --> 00:00:07,177 Hey, my name is Justin Kowalski, and I am the associate pastor at our Palm Avenue campus 2 00:00:02,089 --> 00:00:07,177 in Riverside, California. 3 00:00:07,274 --> 00:00:09,210 Thanks so much for listening to Sandals Church. 4 00:00:09,289 --> 00:00:12,189 Our vision is to be real with ourselves, God, and others. 5 00:00:12,259 --> 00:00:13,839 We hope you enjoy this message. 6 00:00:16,370 --> 00:00:16,893 Hey, guys. 7 00:00:16,931 --> 00:00:17,978 Welcome to Sandals Church. 8 00:00:17,993 --> 00:00:19,757 I want to start off with a question. 9 00:00:19,923 --> 00:00:26,934 Whether you're married or single, young or old, have you ever had a crucial conversation 10 00:00:19,923 --> 00:00:26,934 with someone you love? 11 00:00:26,972 --> 00:00:27,829 Raise your hands. 12 00:00:27,980 --> 00:00:29,333 Okay, look around. 13 00:00:29,532 --> 00:00:31,160 A lot of hands up. 14 00:00:31,769 --> 00:00:34,033 And have those conversations ever gone poorly? 15 00:00:34,082 --> 00:00:35,590 Any married men in here? 16 00:00:35,740 --> 00:00:36,439 Yes. 17 00:00:37,850 --> 00:00:39,734 Anybody talked to a police officer last night? 18 00:00:39,771 --> 00:00:41,834 You've been drinking and it went poorly, right? 19 00:00:41,951 --> 00:00:42,969 Shouldn't be doing that. 20 00:00:43,039 --> 00:00:48,859 But we've all had crucial conversations that were super important, but they didn't go the 21 00:00:43,039 --> 00:00:48,859 way we wanted. 22 00:00:49,229 --> 00:00:52,822 And so today's sermon is a crucial conversation. 23 00:00:52,966 --> 00:00:54,317 So I'm going to do my best. 24 00:00:54,404 --> 00:01:02,154 I'm going to do my best to talk with you and to talk to you about something that's so 25 00:00:54,404 --> 00:01:02,154 important, that's essential to our Christian faith. 26 00:01:02,281 --> 00:01:07,266 We're going to pivot a little bit here because we're going to talk about what's happening 27 00:01:02,281 --> 00:01:07,266 in our world. 28 00:01:07,447 --> 00:01:13,581 We're going to talk about the conflict in Israel and the current war that has been 29 00:01:07,447 --> 00:01:13,581 declared on Hamas. 30 00:01:13,725 --> 00:01:20,599 And specifically, what I want to talk to you about today is how to represent Jesus in 31 00:01:13,725 --> 00:01:20,599 times of war. 32 00:01:21,049 --> 00:01:23,894 I've seen so many posts from well. 33 00:01:23,932 --> 00:01:26,597 Meaning Christians, godly people, and they mean. 34 00:01:26,683 --> 00:01:28,902 Well, and I've seen this everywhere. 35 00:01:28,965 --> 00:01:30,486 I stand with Israel. 36 00:01:30,677 --> 00:01:33,450 I want to challenge you today to stand with Jesus. 37 00:01:34,269 --> 00:01:36,006 Now, Jesus loves Israel. 38 00:01:36,117 --> 00:01:37,302 Jesus loves the Jews. 39 00:01:37,365 --> 00:01:39,914 Jesus hates what happened this week. 40 00:01:39,951 --> 00:01:41,281 It was grotesque. 41 00:01:41,365 --> 00:01:45,097 And there's nothing moral about killing children and babies. 42 00:01:45,194 --> 00:01:46,266 It's disgusting. 43 00:01:46,378 --> 00:01:50,042 And anybody who stands with that, they stand with the devil. 44 00:01:50,186 --> 00:01:52,189 But I want you to stand with Jesus. 45 00:01:52,530 --> 00:01:53,822 And so I want you to learn. 46 00:01:53,876 --> 00:01:59,073 When you're talking with your friends, when you're engaging on social media, even as you 47 00:01:53,876 --> 00:01:59,073 sit here in church with maybe. 48 00:01:59,191 --> 00:02:03,709 Somebody who's curious about Jesus, but they're Muslim or they're from the Middle East. 49 00:02:03,790 --> 00:02:11,189 And they have a very different perspective than you do of how this whole conflict rages 50 00:02:03,790 --> 00:02:11,189 and why it rages. 51 00:02:11,610 --> 00:02:13,942 Number one, I want to challenge you. 52 00:02:14,075 --> 00:02:19,461 I want you to recognize that all religions get it wrong, all of them. 53 00:02:19,596 --> 00:02:22,033 You're going to see me on social media this week. 54 00:02:22,171 --> 00:02:26,105 We had a debrief episode that I think is super important for you to listen to. 55 00:02:26,207 --> 00:02:29,018 But you're going to see this quote, and I say this. 56 00:02:29,183 --> 00:02:31,593 If there are things about Christianity that. 57 00:02:31,632 --> 00:02:34,442 Don'T embarrass you, you're probably not a real Christian. 58 00:02:34,586 --> 00:02:37,981 And you just got to know, man, the haters are going to come for me. 59 00:02:38,116 --> 00:02:42,734 But have you never met a Christian that does something or says something or. 60 00:02:42,771 --> 00:02:44,686 Posts something that doesn't embarrass you? 61 00:02:44,707 --> 00:02:45,277 And here's what you say. 62 00:02:45,283 --> 00:02:46,045 Well, they're not a Christian. 63 00:02:46,078 --> 00:02:47,650 Well, you don't get to decide. 64 00:02:48,710 --> 00:02:50,189 You don't get to decide. 65 00:02:50,349 --> 00:02:56,030 When someone says or does something in the name of Christianity, guess what the rest of 66 00:02:50,349 --> 00:02:56,030 the world assumes. 67 00:02:56,189 --> 00:02:58,520 That's what we all think or we all believe. 68 00:02:59,689 --> 00:03:07,560 And there are just some things that are done in the name of Christ that should make you 69 00:02:59,689 --> 00:03:07,560 sad, that should depress you. 70 00:03:08,409 --> 00:03:10,377 And if that's never happened, I want. 71 00:03:10,383 --> 00:03:11,979 To challenge is your faith real? 72 00:03:12,990 --> 00:03:18,139 This is what Jesus said about his own faith in Matthew 20 315. 73 00:03:18,590 --> 00:03:24,478 In Matthew 20 315 what sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law? 74 00:03:24,563 --> 00:03:25,294 What law? 75 00:03:25,412 --> 00:03:26,270 His law. 76 00:03:26,419 --> 00:03:27,198 His law. 77 00:03:27,283 --> 00:03:32,521 He says you hypocrites, for you cross land and sea to make one convert. 78 00:03:32,665 --> 00:03:34,770 And then you turn that person into. 79 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:39,620 Twice the child of hell that you yourselves are. 80 00:03:40,150 --> 00:03:42,819 Can we have some grace for the things I say? 81 00:03:43,349 --> 00:03:48,262 I mean, can you imagine if I just called somebody out and said, not only are you going to 82 00:03:43,349 --> 00:03:48,262 hell, but you're a child of hell. 83 00:03:48,395 --> 00:03:49,189 Woo. 84 00:03:51,449 --> 00:03:53,719 But Jesus wants to be clear. 85 00:03:54,090 --> 00:03:57,189 There were elements within his faith. 86 00:03:57,689 --> 00:04:00,310 And oh, by the way, he was Jewish. 87 00:04:00,650 --> 00:04:01,506 He was Jewish. 88 00:04:01,538 --> 00:04:02,425 I had an old lady tell me. 89 00:04:02,448 --> 00:04:03,366 One time he was a Christian. 90 00:04:03,397 --> 00:04:04,533 I was like he was Jewish. 91 00:04:04,581 --> 00:04:05,701 We're Christians. 92 00:04:05,846 --> 00:04:06,789 We're Christians. 93 00:04:06,870 --> 00:04:08,789 He didn't convert, we convert. 94 00:04:08,949 --> 00:04:10,379 She didn't believe me. 95 00:04:11,569 --> 00:04:16,589 But there were elements in his faith that were like terrorists. 96 00:04:18,449 --> 00:04:25,149 Many people and Christians over the centuries have wrongly assumed that Jews killed Jesus. 97 00:04:25,730 --> 00:04:28,509 The vast majority of Jews love Jesus. 98 00:04:28,670 --> 00:04:29,394 You know why? 99 00:04:29,432 --> 00:04:34,420 He fed them, he clothed them, he healed them, he loved them. 100 00:04:34,870 --> 00:04:37,074 He didn't say, hey, come to me in the temple. 101 00:04:37,122 --> 00:04:40,934 He went to them and he ministered to them. 102 00:04:41,052 --> 00:04:42,709 People loved Jesus. 103 00:04:43,209 --> 00:04:44,689 You know who hated Jesus? 104 00:04:44,769 --> 00:04:48,470 The powerful political religious elite. 105 00:04:49,449 --> 00:04:51,153 So what I'm going to say is controversial. 106 00:04:51,201 --> 00:04:52,586 But I want you to wrestle through this. 107 00:04:52,608 --> 00:04:54,394 I want you to think about this. 108 00:04:54,591 --> 00:04:56,937 We're talking a lot about terrorism today. 109 00:04:57,024 --> 00:05:01,819 I want you to know that it was Jewish terrorists that killed Jesus 2000 years ago. 110 00:05:02,589 --> 00:05:04,970 The vast majority of Jews were peaceful. 111 00:05:05,050 --> 00:05:05,865 They loved Jesus. 112 00:05:05,898 --> 00:05:07,194 But that's the thing about terrorism. 113 00:05:07,242 --> 00:05:09,519 It doesn't take many to make damage, does it? 114 00:05:10,529 --> 00:05:14,420 They had to kill Jesus in a kangaroo court in the middle of the night. 115 00:05:14,870 --> 00:05:18,177 Nicodemus said not even the entire sanhedrin is present. 116 00:05:18,343 --> 00:05:20,259 This is not an official case. 117 00:05:21,430 --> 00:05:23,730 So Jewish terrorists killed Jesus. 118 00:05:24,149 --> 00:05:28,149 And for the last 2000 years, Christian terrorists have killed Jews. 119 00:05:28,490 --> 00:05:32,709 It's terrible, it's awful, it's evil. 120 00:05:33,129 --> 00:05:37,990 And last week, Muslim terrorists killed Israelis. 121 00:05:39,870 --> 00:05:45,930 And I want you to think about that because I didn't say Jews for a reason. 122 00:05:46,079 --> 00:05:48,970 Their target was Jews, but they murdered Israelis. 123 00:05:49,949 --> 00:05:53,461 And some of you, you've never been to Israel, you don't know anybody in Israel. 124 00:05:53,526 --> 00:05:57,613 And all you know is what you read on social media or what you've seen someone else say or 125 00:05:53,526 --> 00:05:57,613 share. 126 00:05:57,651 --> 00:05:58,829 I've been there many times. 127 00:05:58,980 --> 00:05:59,946 I love Israel. 128 00:05:59,978 --> 00:06:02,314 I hope that you come with me one day to Israel. 129 00:06:02,442 --> 00:06:03,490 It's a beautiful country. 130 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:05,314 It's full of beautiful people. 131 00:06:05,512 --> 00:06:09,300 Israelis are a majority Jewish people. 132 00:06:09,990 --> 00:06:12,980 But here's the thing that you need to know and you've never been told. 133 00:06:13,829 --> 00:06:17,829 The Jewish people in Israel, 75% of them are not from Europe. 134 00:06:18,889 --> 00:06:20,641 They are from the Middle East. 135 00:06:20,786 --> 00:06:28,694 And in the war in 1948, they lost their homes in Libya, in Iran, in Iraq, in Egypt, in 136 00:06:20,786 --> 00:06:28,694 Syria. 137 00:06:28,822 --> 00:06:30,569 They lost their homes. 138 00:06:31,230 --> 00:06:32,822 They're Middle Easterners. 139 00:06:32,966 --> 00:06:36,089 They're not white colonial Europeans. 140 00:06:36,750 --> 00:06:38,060 They lost everything. 141 00:06:39,149 --> 00:06:40,379 They lost everything. 142 00:06:40,750 --> 00:06:42,250 And they're trying to build a country. 143 00:06:42,319 --> 00:06:45,550 They're trying to find someplace that's safe because Europe wasn't safe. 144 00:06:45,970 --> 00:06:48,910 You want to know why most Jews in Israel aren't white? 145 00:06:48,980 --> 00:06:52,879 Because those ones were murdered by Hitler, 6 million of them. 146 00:06:53,829 --> 00:06:55,889 So many of the Israelis are Jewish. 147 00:06:56,629 --> 00:06:59,970 Many more are Muslim Israelis. 148 00:07:00,310 --> 00:07:04,478 When you come with me, our bus drivers will be Israeli, or they'll be Israeli Muslims. 149 00:07:04,653 --> 00:07:06,670 Some of our friends will be Israeli Muslims. 150 00:07:06,750 --> 00:07:09,041 Some of our guides are Israeli Muslims. 151 00:07:09,185 --> 00:07:11,014 Many people don't realize that. 152 00:07:11,052 --> 00:07:21,850 Some of the people that died in this attack, some of the first police responders that came 153 00:07:11,052 --> 00:07:21,850 to the aid were Muslim Israeli police officers. 154 00:07:23,310 --> 00:07:30,005 And you're never going to hear that many Israelis are Muslims, some are Christian, some 155 00:07:23,310 --> 00:07:30,005 are Druze. 156 00:07:30,038 --> 00:07:30,874 And you're like, what's that? 157 00:07:30,911 --> 00:07:32,810 Well, we have some of those in our church. 158 00:07:33,470 --> 00:07:35,439 Druze people that follow Christ. 159 00:07:36,209 --> 00:07:39,040 And then there's nomadic peoples that you've never heard of. 160 00:07:40,769 --> 00:07:42,480 But that's what Israel is. 161 00:07:42,930 --> 00:07:44,399 Israel's not perfect. 162 00:07:45,089 --> 00:07:46,658 Is your government perfect? 163 00:07:46,824 --> 00:07:51,346 Does your government always do everything that you agree know, I don't know about. 164 00:07:51,367 --> 00:07:52,786 You, but Biden didn't call me this week. 165 00:07:52,807 --> 00:07:57,793 Hey, what do you think about and that's what happens in Israel. 166 00:07:57,841 --> 00:07:58,790 No government is perfect. 167 00:07:58,860 --> 00:08:05,639 And anywhere listen to me, anywhere where you have multiple religions and multiple 168 00:07:58,860 --> 00:08:05,639 ethnicities, you will have multiple problems. 169 00:08:07,850 --> 00:08:09,733 Israel is not a perfect nation. 170 00:08:09,862 --> 00:08:11,370 They make mistakes. 171 00:08:12,029 --> 00:08:14,250 Sometimes they harm Palestinians. 172 00:08:15,149 --> 00:08:17,420 But that's not what the nation is about. 173 00:08:17,870 --> 00:08:19,161 Israel is a beautiful place. 174 00:08:19,216 --> 00:08:21,961 It's the freest state in the Middle East. 175 00:08:22,026 --> 00:08:23,519 And no one is close. 176 00:08:24,050 --> 00:08:27,839 No one is close, and we need to pray for them. 177 00:08:28,850 --> 00:08:31,242 But Jesus criticizes his own religion. 178 00:08:31,305 --> 00:08:35,485 Listen, instead of criticizing Islam, if you're a Christian, why don't you focus on 179 00:08:31,305 --> 00:08:35,485 Christianity? 180 00:08:35,518 --> 00:08:36,145 Because I don't know if you know. 181 00:08:36,168 --> 00:08:37,460 This, we got some problems. 182 00:08:37,909 --> 00:08:40,179 We got some major, major problems. 183 00:08:41,990 --> 00:08:43,553 This is what Jesus says. 184 00:08:43,672 --> 00:08:47,639 Religion looks to the outside, but he cares about what's on the inside. 185 00:08:48,970 --> 00:08:50,514 And this is where people at calvary. 186 00:08:50,562 --> 00:08:52,097 Well, that's why I'm not religious. 187 00:08:52,193 --> 00:08:53,990 Everybody's religious. 188 00:08:54,330 --> 00:08:55,618 Everybody's religious. 189 00:08:55,714 --> 00:08:58,120 If you don't worship God, you just worship you. 190 00:08:58,909 --> 00:09:00,293 Everyone's religious. 191 00:09:00,422 --> 00:09:06,505 And all religious people ignore what's on the inside, what's going on on the inside. 192 00:09:06,687 --> 00:09:07,865 This is what Jesus said. 193 00:09:07,888 --> 00:09:08,854 He said you pharisees. 194 00:09:08,902 --> 00:09:11,350 He's criticizing his own religion. 195 00:09:11,429 --> 00:09:14,761 You pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup. 196 00:09:14,826 --> 00:09:21,120 You know, if Jesus were speaking to you today, you know, you'd say, why do you pay so much 197 00:09:14,826 --> 00:09:21,120 attention to your social media? 198 00:09:21,970 --> 00:09:27,042 And your platform the way you present on the outside, but ignore what's really happening 199 00:09:21,970 --> 00:09:27,042 on the inside. 200 00:09:27,176 --> 00:09:28,546 When's the last time you made a. 201 00:09:28,567 --> 00:09:31,730 Post so happy and you were miserable? 202 00:09:32,870 --> 00:09:35,298 You see, hypocrisy has always been the same. 203 00:09:35,384 --> 00:09:37,186 Just 2000 years ago it was a cup. 204 00:09:37,217 --> 00:09:38,360 Today it's your phone. 205 00:09:40,169 --> 00:09:44,005 He said, Why do you clean the outside of the cup and dish but you inside. 206 00:09:44,107 --> 00:09:48,389 You are filthy, full of greed and wickedness. 207 00:09:50,409 --> 00:09:51,960 You see, we got to understand. 208 00:09:52,889 --> 00:09:54,053 All religions get it wrong. 209 00:09:54,091 --> 00:09:57,289 Can I tell you when America has been at war in the past, I've gotten it wrong. 210 00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:59,259 I don't always have the inside information. 211 00:10:01,009 --> 00:10:05,309 It's really, really hard as a citizen to know what's really happening. 212 00:10:05,460 --> 00:10:10,125 Every government on earth engages in fake social media posts and fake news. 213 00:10:10,227 --> 00:10:11,600 They all do it. 214 00:10:12,450 --> 00:10:21,105 And many of the real articles that you're reading could be some dude named Smirnoff in a 215 00:10:12,450 --> 00:10:21,105 basement in Know. 216 00:10:21,128 --> 00:10:22,846 He's not even in the Middle East. 217 00:10:22,957 --> 00:10:24,066 You don't know. 218 00:10:24,248 --> 00:10:25,717 Some of you guys are dating a. 219 00:10:25,724 --> 00:10:28,913 Super smoking hot Vietnamese gal but she's. 220 00:10:28,961 --> 00:10:30,549 Smearing off from Russia. 221 00:10:32,169 --> 00:10:33,399 You don't know. 222 00:10:34,090 --> 00:10:36,005 Listen, we live in a world where. 223 00:10:36,028 --> 00:10:43,322 We take a bath every day in propaganda and fake stuff and it's so hard to know what's 224 00:10:36,028 --> 00:10:43,322 going on. 225 00:10:43,375 --> 00:10:46,710 I've been texting this week with my friends who are on the ground in Israel. 226 00:10:46,789 --> 00:10:47,594 What's happening? 227 00:10:47,711 --> 00:10:48,793 What do you see? 228 00:10:48,912 --> 00:10:49,894 What are you hearing? 229 00:10:49,942 --> 00:10:50,682 And here's the thing. 230 00:10:50,735 --> 00:10:52,409 Even they're confused. 231 00:10:53,009 --> 00:10:58,186 They're confused because fake news spreads like wildfire. 232 00:10:58,217 --> 00:11:00,494 And it's not just fake news on the left or fake news on the right. 233 00:11:00,532 --> 00:11:03,039 It's fake news in every direction there is. 234 00:11:04,370 --> 00:11:04,734 Next. 235 00:11:04,772 --> 00:11:05,865 Let me challenge you. 236 00:11:05,988 --> 00:11:08,179 Remember that people are watching you. 237 00:11:09,350 --> 00:11:12,322 Now, you guys, you don't think people are watching you, but they're watching. 238 00:11:12,375 --> 00:11:14,066 Everywhere I go, people are watching me. 239 00:11:14,087 --> 00:11:16,019 I see you watching me when I walk by. 240 00:11:19,509 --> 00:11:22,562 Just a couple of weeks ago, I was late for an appointment. 241 00:11:22,706 --> 00:11:24,049 I was late for an appointment. 242 00:11:24,129 --> 00:11:25,333 I was supposed to get my hair cut. 243 00:11:25,371 --> 00:11:28,625 I was 15 minutes late and I was running up to get my haircut. 244 00:11:28,658 --> 00:11:33,850 And as I ran up, I saw this guy drop a sink and it shattered. 245 00:11:34,909 --> 00:11:37,577 And I jumped over the sink and said, so sorry, man. 246 00:11:37,663 --> 00:11:38,714 Sorry that happened. 247 00:11:38,831 --> 00:11:43,710 And he went Pastor Matt for two weeks. 248 00:11:43,860 --> 00:11:45,562 There's some dude in Riverside. 249 00:11:45,625 --> 00:11:48,480 That's like when I needed my pastor the most. 250 00:11:49,970 --> 00:11:53,519 He jumped over my mess and went off on his merry way. 251 00:11:54,610 --> 00:11:56,125 People are watching us. 252 00:11:56,307 --> 00:11:57,166 People are watching us. 253 00:11:57,187 --> 00:11:58,765 The whole time I was getting the haircut, you know what I was thinking? 254 00:11:58,788 --> 00:11:59,933 I got to get out there and help that guy. 255 00:11:59,971 --> 00:12:01,101 I got to get out there and help that guy. 256 00:12:01,155 --> 00:12:02,413 He's going to hate sandals, hate me. 257 00:12:02,451 --> 00:12:04,639 Make a pose, start a blog, you know? 258 00:12:08,330 --> 00:12:10,385 But do you know why people hate Christians? 259 00:12:10,418 --> 00:12:14,440 Because they met one, they had a bad experience with one. 260 00:12:14,809 --> 00:12:16,038 And I'm not saying you have to. 261 00:12:16,043 --> 00:12:16,806 Be perfect all the time. 262 00:12:16,827 --> 00:12:19,210 But when you mess up, could you be the first to apologize? 263 00:12:20,029 --> 00:12:21,498 Listen to what Peter says. 264 00:12:21,583 --> 00:12:23,193 He says, Dear friends, I warn you. 265 00:12:23,231 --> 00:12:27,433 As temporary residents and foreigners to keep. 266 00:12:27,471 --> 00:12:29,514 Away from worldly desires that do what? 267 00:12:29,552 --> 00:12:32,022 That wage war against your very soul. 268 00:12:32,086 --> 00:12:32,761 Listen to me. 269 00:12:32,816 --> 00:12:37,279 If you're a Christian, there's part of you that loves Jesus and there's part of you that 270 00:12:32,816 --> 00:12:37,279 loves the world. 271 00:12:38,769 --> 00:12:41,274 And every single day, you got to decide who wins. 272 00:12:41,402 --> 00:12:42,254 Listen to what he says. 273 00:12:42,292 --> 00:12:46,889 Be careful to live properly amongst unbelieving neighbors. 274 00:12:46,970 --> 00:12:48,994 So if you're watching online, I don't know where you live. 275 00:12:49,032 --> 00:12:50,433 I don't know if your neighbors are Christians or not. 276 00:12:50,471 --> 00:12:55,669 But if you live in California, most of all your neighbors and coworkers are not Christian. 277 00:12:56,009 --> 00:12:57,480 And they're watching you. 278 00:12:58,490 --> 00:13:00,039 And they're watching you. 279 00:13:01,769 --> 00:13:03,942 Listen to what the Apostle Paul says. 280 00:13:04,076 --> 00:13:08,220 Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ. 281 00:13:09,789 --> 00:13:14,570 People are not listening to your argument nearly as much as they are watching your 282 00:13:09,789 --> 00:13:14,570 behavior. 283 00:13:17,149 --> 00:13:18,234 So just think about this. 284 00:13:18,272 --> 00:13:19,385 When you're at the coffee pot and. 285 00:13:19,408 --> 00:13:21,114 Everybody'S pontificating, well, you know what? 286 00:13:21,152 --> 00:13:21,833 I think? 287 00:13:21,951 --> 00:13:22,854 You know what, Fred? 288 00:13:22,902 --> 00:13:25,759 Show up on time, and then I'll care about what you think. 289 00:13:26,129 --> 00:13:26,734 Right? 290 00:13:26,851 --> 00:13:28,426 Isn't it amazing how we're all expert. 291 00:13:28,457 --> 00:13:29,870 At solving the world's problems? 292 00:13:29,940 --> 00:13:34,019 But people at work can't even do the job they get paid to do, right? 293 00:13:36,389 --> 00:13:50,870 So the next time that's happening, I want you to know that people are watching you because 294 00:13:36,389 --> 00:13:50,870 they know you go to sandals and they're wondering, I wonder if you're any different or if 295 00:13:36,389 --> 00:13:50,870 you're just like every other religion. 296 00:13:51,769 --> 00:13:53,110 Every other religion. 297 00:13:54,169 --> 00:13:55,474 Romans 1217. 298 00:13:55,522 --> 00:13:59,179 Listeners, do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. 299 00:14:00,269 --> 00:14:02,460 Anybody ever met someone that irritates you? 300 00:14:03,070 --> 00:14:03,817 Yeah. 301 00:14:03,984 --> 00:14:04,985 No, it's just me. 302 00:14:05,008 --> 00:14:05,514 It's just me. 303 00:14:05,552 --> 00:14:07,669 I'm the only one in this church. 304 00:14:07,750 --> 00:14:10,620 Who'S met someone who irritates me. 305 00:14:11,389 --> 00:14:15,326 You got to do all that you can to live at peace with everyone. 306 00:14:15,427 --> 00:14:16,922 And do you know why that's a command? 307 00:14:16,985 --> 00:14:18,240 Because it's not easy. 308 00:14:19,090 --> 00:14:21,710 There's no command in the Bible to eat ice cream. 309 00:14:23,110 --> 00:14:25,809 There's no command to enjoy candy. 310 00:14:26,629 --> 00:14:29,822 There's no command to take luxurious vacations. 311 00:14:29,966 --> 00:14:31,922 Those are things you want to do. 312 00:14:32,056 --> 00:14:37,830 The commands are for the things you don't want to do, as far as it depends upon you. 313 00:14:37,899 --> 00:14:38,933 Be at peace with all people. 314 00:14:38,971 --> 00:14:39,525 And why is that? 315 00:14:39,548 --> 00:14:40,950 Because people aren't peaceful. 316 00:14:41,850 --> 00:14:43,269 People aren't peaceful. 317 00:14:44,009 --> 00:14:46,470 Jerusalem is the city of peace. 318 00:14:47,690 --> 00:14:51,186 My friend bought this cross. 319 00:14:51,217 --> 00:14:52,166 This is Jerusalem cross. 320 00:14:52,197 --> 00:14:52,645 He's in heaven. 321 00:14:52,677 --> 00:14:53,990 He's not with us anymore. 322 00:14:54,149 --> 00:14:58,234 And when we were in Israel together, there was only one of these left. 323 00:14:58,272 --> 00:15:05,309 And so I said jokingly, when you die, you got to leave this to me as a part of your 324 00:14:58,272 --> 00:15:05,309 inheritance. 325 00:15:06,289 --> 00:15:07,433 And he's with the Lord. 326 00:15:07,481 --> 00:15:10,320 And so his wife gave this to me. 327 00:15:11,490 --> 00:15:14,605 Let me tell you something about the city of peace, Jerusalem. 328 00:15:14,798 --> 00:15:17,539 It's one of the most unpeaceful places I've ever been. 329 00:15:22,470 --> 00:15:26,846 It's a difficult place because even in the city of peace. 330 00:15:26,878 --> 00:15:28,450 It's hard to make peace. 331 00:15:29,610 --> 00:15:33,669 And I'm not just talking about Muslims and Jews. 332 00:15:34,169 --> 00:15:38,546 There's some Christians there where I'm like, I don't think you love Jesus. 333 00:15:38,577 --> 00:15:40,279 They're like, yes, I do. 334 00:15:40,970 --> 00:15:48,139 I go tell your face because your face says you ate a lemon, like, every day of your life. 335 00:15:49,870 --> 00:15:51,100 And it's difficult. 336 00:15:51,710 --> 00:15:52,779 It's difficult. 337 00:15:53,649 --> 00:15:56,201 One time our church was in Bethlehem, the Church of the Nativity. 338 00:15:56,265 --> 00:15:59,149 We got thrown out of the church by a priest. 339 00:16:00,450 --> 00:16:05,279 Yeah, he wasn't very Jesus like. 340 00:16:06,289 --> 00:16:07,279 It happens. 341 00:16:08,289 --> 00:16:11,220 This next point is probably going to be the hardest thing that I say today. 342 00:16:12,389 --> 00:16:15,714 If you want to represent Jesus during times of war, here's the thing. 343 00:16:15,751 --> 00:16:18,820 You got to let Jesus challenge your level of love. 344 00:16:21,269 --> 00:16:22,022 Isn't it amazing? 345 00:16:22,076 --> 00:16:23,509 Everybody thinks they're so loving. 346 00:16:24,009 --> 00:16:25,573 I just love people. 347 00:16:25,772 --> 00:16:27,573 You ever seen a march in the name of love? 348 00:16:27,611 --> 00:16:30,437 And they're the most unloving hateful people you've ever seen. 349 00:16:30,604 --> 00:16:31,922 Hey, Lafaya. 350 00:16:32,066 --> 00:16:34,409 He's like, whoa, whoa. 351 00:16:35,230 --> 00:16:36,313 Listen to what Jesus says. 352 00:16:36,351 --> 00:16:37,418 And this is so important. 353 00:16:37,504 --> 00:16:38,809 Luke 627. 354 00:16:38,879 --> 00:16:40,937 Jesus said, this is so key. 355 00:16:41,024 --> 00:16:48,320 But to you who are willing to listen, I wonder if today you're willing to listen. 356 00:16:50,289 --> 00:16:52,542 Do you know why some of you are so messed up? 357 00:16:52,676 --> 00:16:55,759 Because of what you've chosen to listen to. 358 00:16:56,710 --> 00:16:59,265 Jesus says, I wonder if you're willing to listen. 359 00:16:59,447 --> 00:17:06,259 He said, I say love your enemies and do good to those who hate you. 360 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:16,900 Christianity is not a better religion than Judaism or Islam, but we have a better teacher. 361 00:17:19,319 --> 00:17:20,819 We have a better teacher. 362 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:27,299 Do you realize how odd that is for someone to say, love your enemy? 363 00:17:28,759 --> 00:17:36,349 Man, I don't know where you are in your Christian faith, but no matter where you are, at 364 00:17:28,759 --> 00:17:36,349 some point in time when you have an enemy, you're going to struggle with this. 365 00:17:36,799 --> 00:17:38,748 You're going to struggle with this. 366 00:17:38,913 --> 00:17:40,829 Some of you can't even love your own kids. 367 00:17:41,759 --> 00:17:43,900 You're like, well, they're my enemy. 368 00:17:47,380 --> 00:17:49,250 Some of you can't love your ex. 369 00:17:51,779 --> 00:17:53,890 Some of you can't love your small group. 370 00:17:56,180 --> 00:17:57,104 Some of you. 371 00:17:57,221 --> 00:18:00,869 And I know this is crazy struggle loving me. 372 00:18:04,279 --> 00:18:15,559 I know for those of you who are willing to listen, wow, I say love your enemy. 373 00:18:19,730 --> 00:18:26,933 Look, there's good and evil in this world, but we don't make evil better by repaying evil 374 00:18:19,730 --> 00:18:26,933 with evil. 375 00:18:27,001 --> 00:18:29,329 We make the world worse. 376 00:18:31,109 --> 00:18:32,450 We make it worse. 377 00:18:34,069 --> 00:18:36,577 Now, I'm not saying Israel doesn't have a right to defend themselves. 378 00:18:36,663 --> 00:18:37,442 Of course they do. 379 00:18:37,496 --> 00:18:38,740 Of course they do. 380 00:18:39,609 --> 00:18:44,481 And you're not following Jesus by allowing innocent people to be slaughtered and die. 381 00:18:44,546 --> 00:18:46,950 That's not loving your enemy. 382 00:18:49,130 --> 00:18:51,240 You know what loving your enemy is? 383 00:18:51,849 --> 00:18:58,329 I actually watched a video of a police officer who was in a one on one situation with a 384 00:18:51,849 --> 00:18:58,329 man wielding a knife. 385 00:18:59,549 --> 00:19:04,569 And the police officer begged him, please put down your knife. 386 00:19:04,990 --> 00:19:08,240 The police officer said, I don't want to shoot you. 387 00:19:08,690 --> 00:19:10,720 I don't want to harm you. 388 00:19:11,650 --> 00:19:17,119 The police officer said with tears in his eyes, please don't make me do this. 389 00:19:19,730 --> 00:19:23,329 It's the best picture I've seen in our culture of loving your enemy. 390 00:19:23,910 --> 00:19:25,233 Because you know who an enemy is? 391 00:19:25,271 --> 00:19:27,009 Someone that's coming at you with a knife. 392 00:19:27,430 --> 00:19:28,769 That's an enemy. 393 00:19:30,630 --> 00:19:32,561 What we need to do is pray for our enemies. 394 00:19:32,625 --> 00:19:34,481 Beg them, please put down the knife. 395 00:19:34,625 --> 00:19:35,319 Please. 396 00:19:35,769 --> 00:19:44,842 There are times and situations when, unfortunately, you will commit more evil if you allow 397 00:19:35,769 --> 00:19:44,842 this person to do what they intend to do. 398 00:19:44,976 --> 00:19:46,460 And so you must act. 399 00:19:49,450 --> 00:19:51,349 But we need to love our enemies. 400 00:19:52,250 --> 00:19:54,150 We need to pray for our enemies. 401 00:19:55,289 --> 00:20:00,009 Next, I want to challenge you to weep with Jesus for the dead and wounded. 402 00:20:02,460 --> 00:20:04,355 How many of you would say you struggle? 403 00:20:04,387 --> 00:20:05,864 Memorizing scripture, raise your hand. 404 00:20:05,902 --> 00:20:06,296 Anybody? 405 00:20:06,397 --> 00:20:08,115 Okay, I'm going to give you a cheap verse. 406 00:20:08,147 --> 00:20:08,567 You ready? 407 00:20:08,653 --> 00:20:09,869 It's two words. 408 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:11,869 John 1135. 409 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:14,619 Jesus wept. 410 00:20:16,799 --> 00:20:18,299 You just learned a verse. 411 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:20,460 Jesus wept. 412 00:20:21,859 --> 00:20:30,289 If Jesus cried because one Jew died, I think you can weep because a thousand did. 413 00:20:33,289 --> 00:20:36,546 I think one of the most moving times for me this week was when the US. 414 00:20:36,587 --> 00:20:42,779 Ambassador was doing a press conference, standing next to a general, and she couldn't get 415 00:20:36,587 --> 00:20:42,779 through it. 416 00:20:44,029 --> 00:20:46,460 She said, I've never seen anything like this. 417 00:20:48,829 --> 00:20:58,635 She walked through the area where they found the toddlers who were missing their heads, 418 00:20:48,829 --> 00:20:58,635 and she apologized for crying. 419 00:20:58,667 --> 00:21:02,799 I was actually proud of her because there are some things that should make us cry. 420 00:21:04,099 --> 00:21:09,092 Many of you joined me on Instagram Live on Saturday night last week for a prayer time. 421 00:21:09,145 --> 00:21:14,180 Thank you for everybody who was a part of that, and if you missed out on that or didn't 422 00:21:09,145 --> 00:21:14,180 hear about that, I apologize. 423 00:21:14,839 --> 00:21:22,548 But I think oftentimes what we do in situations like this is we become political rather 424 00:21:14,839 --> 00:21:22,548 than remain spiritual. 425 00:21:22,644 --> 00:21:24,932 And so what I just wanted to do was just pray. 426 00:21:25,076 --> 00:21:31,672 And for those of you who prayed with me, you know, I had a hard time getting through some 427 00:21:25,076 --> 00:21:31,672 of those prayers because I was so emotional. 428 00:21:31,816 --> 00:21:36,509 As I'm texting with my friends, hey, Mark, are you okay? 429 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:41,119 He says, we are, but our neighbors were all killed. 430 00:21:41,940 --> 00:21:44,720 Our next door neighbors, the whole family was killed. 431 00:21:46,900 --> 00:21:48,769 And he's trying to process that. 432 00:21:51,700 --> 00:21:53,970 He's trying to figure that out. 433 00:21:55,400 --> 00:22:00,644 I texted with my security know, I travel with security when I'm there. 434 00:22:00,842 --> 00:22:02,500 And his name is Moshe. 435 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:07,589 Wonderful man, loving man, kind man. 436 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:11,476 Got trapped in an elevator one time with Moshe. 437 00:22:11,587 --> 00:22:12,884 He said, no time to panic. 438 00:22:12,932 --> 00:22:15,480 No need to panic, because I was panicking. 439 00:22:17,099 --> 00:22:19,612 But I text him, and he always minimizes everything. 440 00:22:19,665 --> 00:22:20,584 He's always confident. 441 00:22:20,632 --> 00:22:21,900 And I said, Are you okay? 442 00:22:21,970 --> 00:22:23,019 And you know what he said? 443 00:22:23,089 --> 00:22:23,950 We're not. 444 00:22:25,119 --> 00:22:27,309 He said, Would you please pray for us? 445 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:29,339 He's not Christian. 446 00:22:31,700 --> 00:22:37,410 He's asking a Christian man in a Christian church to pray for him. 447 00:22:38,740 --> 00:22:43,279 Romans 1215 says this, weep with those who weep. 448 00:22:44,519 --> 00:22:45,269 Man. 449 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:59,690 If Jesus cried over someone he knew he was going to raise from the dead, what do we do for 450 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:59,690 families that won't get that blessing, what do we do? 451 00:23:01,660 --> 00:23:03,210 We cry with them. 452 00:23:03,660 --> 00:23:05,210 We cry for them. 453 00:23:06,700 --> 00:23:17,470 It's okay as Christians to weep for the dead and the wounded, because many of these 454 00:23:06,700 --> 00:23:17,470 people, they will survive, but their lives will never be the same. 455 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:25,759 And they will live in pain for the rest of their life because bones have been broken, 456 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:25,759 tendons have been separated, limbs have been lost. 457 00:23:28,339 --> 00:23:30,049 And we need to think about that. 458 00:23:31,539 --> 00:23:33,089 We need to weep for that. 459 00:23:33,619 --> 00:23:34,367 Next. 460 00:23:34,534 --> 00:23:34,827 Here's. 461 00:23:34,844 --> 00:23:40,900 My biggest challenge for us as a church is for us to stay spiritually united as a church. 462 00:23:42,279 --> 00:23:46,500 I wonder how many disagreements you and I would have if we just talk politics. 463 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:51,748 I'm guessing many of you would find another church. 464 00:23:51,844 --> 00:23:54,170 The Lord would lead you somewhere else. 465 00:23:54,700 --> 00:23:55,864 But let me just say this. 466 00:23:55,902 --> 00:23:57,683 How many of you disagree about politics. 467 00:23:57,731 --> 00:23:58,809 In your own family? 468 00:23:59,819 --> 00:24:00,135 Right? 469 00:24:00,157 --> 00:24:00,748 Your own family? 470 00:24:00,834 --> 00:24:02,109 Your best friend? 471 00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:07,564 Most Christians today, or at least many Christians today, choose their church not because. 472 00:24:07,602 --> 00:24:10,779 Of its theology or mission, but because of its politics. 473 00:24:12,420 --> 00:24:13,890 And that's wrong. 474 00:24:14,579 --> 00:24:15,839 That's gross. 475 00:24:19,519 --> 00:24:25,147 And I just want to challenge you to remember what the Apostle Paul said in Galatians 326. 476 00:24:25,233 --> 00:24:34,523 He said, and all of you have been united with Christ in a baptism, and you have put on 477 00:24:25,233 --> 00:24:34,523 Christ, like putting on new clothes. 478 00:24:34,571 --> 00:24:35,152 Listen to this. 479 00:24:35,205 --> 00:24:46,175 There is no longer Jew nor Gentile, slave or free, male or female, for you are all one in 480 00:24:35,205 --> 00:24:46,175 Christ Jesus at Sandals Church. 481 00:24:46,208 --> 00:24:46,596 Listen to me. 482 00:24:46,617 --> 00:24:52,276 We're not black, we're not white, we're not gay, we're not straight. 483 00:24:52,468 --> 00:24:55,240 We're not Democrats or Republicans. 484 00:24:55,660 --> 00:24:57,849 We are followers of Christ. 485 00:24:58,700 --> 00:25:04,970 And if we focus on anything else, satan will divide us and destroy us. 486 00:25:06,220 --> 00:25:09,644 How many guys have wondered, you know, Israel has the best technology in the world. 487 00:25:09,682 --> 00:25:10,875 They have the best defenses in the world. 488 00:25:10,897 --> 00:25:13,355 They have the best spy information in the world. 489 00:25:13,377 --> 00:25:15,069 Anybody wonder how this happened? 490 00:25:17,220 --> 00:25:34,019 I don't know how it happened, but I'm guessing that the divisions, the political divisions 491 00:25:17,220 --> 00:25:34,019 in Israel are so great because there are extremely liberal Jewish Israelis and there are 492 00:25:17,220 --> 00:25:34,019 extremely right wing conservative Israelis. 493 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:38,819 And oftentimes they think each other are the enemy. 494 00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:46,089 And they're so focused on each other, I'm guessing that maybe they forgot who their real 495 00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:46,089 enemy was. 496 00:25:47,099 --> 00:25:51,529 And that's what we're doing in America, the left versus the right. 497 00:25:53,180 --> 00:26:00,750 And if we're not careful, we may not have a country to argue about anymore, because our 498 00:25:53,180 --> 00:26:00,750 real enemies will come for us and destroy us. 499 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:11,759 The same thing can happen in the church when we make politics the central issue, what 500 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:11,759 we've made is Jesus is no longer the center of our church. 501 00:26:12,500 --> 00:26:13,536 And let me just say this. 502 00:26:13,557 --> 00:26:16,049 If we don't have Jesus, what do we have? 503 00:26:16,980 --> 00:26:18,130 What do we have? 504 00:26:21,609 --> 00:26:23,493 And let me just challenge so many of you. 505 00:26:23,531 --> 00:26:27,960 There are so many people in our church this last three years. 506 00:26:29,289 --> 00:26:30,213 Jesus, come soon. 507 00:26:30,251 --> 00:26:30,546 Amen. 508 00:26:30,577 --> 00:26:31,445 Just come. 509 00:26:31,627 --> 00:26:32,761 I know you're not ready. 510 00:26:32,816 --> 00:26:33,609 I'm ready. 511 00:26:33,759 --> 00:26:34,700 I'm ready. 512 00:26:36,109 --> 00:26:38,730 One of the things I want him to save me from is Christians. 513 00:26:41,470 --> 00:26:50,029 But there are so many of you that you wish I was more political, but there are just as 514 00:26:41,470 --> 00:26:50,029 many of you that think I'm too political. 515 00:26:51,329 --> 00:26:52,541 And let me just say this. 516 00:26:52,596 --> 00:26:56,761 As long as I lead this church, I will be centered on Jesus. 517 00:26:56,826 --> 00:27:02,099 And what that means is I will be too left for some of you and too right for others. 518 00:27:02,869 --> 00:27:04,705 And that's where I feel called. 519 00:27:04,807 --> 00:27:09,960 I cannot do anything that I don't feel called and convicted to do. 520 00:27:10,970 --> 00:27:28,730 I'm trying to remain centered on Christ, and I hear the amens, and I appreciate them, but 521 00:27:10,970 --> 00:27:28,730 I encourage you to share that with your small group members when they're so upset at what 522 00:27:10,970 --> 00:27:28,730 I didn't say or did say or what they thought I meant. 523 00:27:29,069 --> 00:27:44,079 I'm trying to be as transparent and real as I can, but there will be people who take 524 00:27:29,069 --> 00:27:44,079 things out of context, who will manipulate my words, who will frame them and post them to 525 00:27:29,069 --> 00:27:44,079 say something they want me to say, but it's not what I said. 526 00:27:46,210 --> 00:27:46,730 Next. 527 00:27:46,819 --> 00:27:49,506 If you want to represent Jesus in time of war, I want to challenge you. 528 00:27:49,528 --> 00:27:50,769 Get control of your anger. 529 00:27:54,150 --> 00:27:56,690 It's not my job to babysit your temper. 530 00:28:00,490 --> 00:28:01,640 It's just not. 531 00:28:02,170 --> 00:28:08,279 Ephesians 426 says this, and don't sin by letting anger here's the key control you. 532 00:28:08,809 --> 00:28:10,481 Is it okay to be angry? 533 00:28:10,625 --> 00:28:11,713 Yes, I'm angry. 534 00:28:11,761 --> 00:28:15,382 When you kill kids, you rape women, you attack civilians. 535 00:28:15,445 --> 00:28:16,854 It's okay to be angry. 536 00:28:16,981 --> 00:28:24,990 Just don't let the sun go down while you're still angry, because anger gives a foothold to 537 00:28:16,981 --> 00:28:24,990 the devil. 538 00:28:28,130 --> 00:28:29,519 I want to ask a question. 539 00:28:29,970 --> 00:28:36,160 How do you go from a religious Muslim to a murderer of children? 540 00:28:37,329 --> 00:28:38,720 How does that happen? 541 00:28:40,130 --> 00:28:43,645 You think these Muslim men that did these atrocities when they were a toddler. 542 00:28:43,678 --> 00:28:44,766 They'Re like, I want to be a terrorist. 543 00:28:44,798 --> 00:28:46,259 You think that's what they were saying? 544 00:28:47,269 --> 00:28:48,498 What changed them? 545 00:28:48,584 --> 00:28:52,625 What was the avenue that took them from a human being to an animal? 546 00:28:52,657 --> 00:28:53,253 It's one word. 547 00:28:53,291 --> 00:28:54,230 It's anger. 548 00:28:54,650 --> 00:28:55,829 It's anger. 549 00:28:56,890 --> 00:29:01,799 Either you are in control of your anger, or your anger is in control of you. 550 00:29:02,809 --> 00:29:04,650 And you've got to decide. 551 00:29:05,150 --> 00:29:06,619 You've got to choose. 552 00:29:07,789 --> 00:29:09,450 It's okay to be angry. 553 00:29:09,950 --> 00:29:11,877 I tell people all the time, anger is like milk. 554 00:29:11,894 --> 00:29:14,869 You leave it out too long, what happens goes rotten. 555 00:29:15,029 --> 00:29:17,885 This week, the Lord was like, you need a little more illustration for that. 556 00:29:17,907 --> 00:29:22,509 I was throwing back some vitamins, and I didn't check the expiration date of the milk. 557 00:29:23,650 --> 00:29:26,854 Yeah, just think cottage cheese. 558 00:29:26,922 --> 00:29:30,099 But Stinky threw it straight back. 559 00:29:32,789 --> 00:29:37,009 Look at how grossed out you all are at my suffering. 560 00:29:38,309 --> 00:29:40,781 My wife said, it's not my fault I don't drink milk. 561 00:29:40,846 --> 00:29:42,039 It's what she said. 562 00:29:44,009 --> 00:29:45,990 I'm like it's not helping. 563 00:29:48,089 --> 00:29:49,990 But that's what happens to your anger. 564 00:29:52,190 --> 00:29:56,059 Your anger leads to bitterness, and bitterness never makes you better. 565 00:29:57,630 --> 00:29:59,180 It never makes you better. 566 00:30:00,829 --> 00:30:06,000 Anger destroys any Christian who lets it rot inside. 567 00:30:07,569 --> 00:30:09,258 It's okay to be angry. 568 00:30:09,433 --> 00:30:10,942 So what do you do with it? 569 00:30:11,076 --> 00:30:12,400 You give it to God. 570 00:30:14,130 --> 00:30:15,549 Read Luke 19. 571 00:30:16,869 --> 00:30:22,980 Jesus says when he returns, he will deal with the people who wounded people in his name. 572 00:30:23,990 --> 00:30:24,786 Read it. 573 00:30:24,887 --> 00:30:27,730 It says he will rip them into pieces. 574 00:30:29,109 --> 00:30:34,380 This is what it says next. 575 00:30:34,750 --> 00:30:37,579 Pray for the leaders in Israel and the world. 576 00:30:39,390 --> 00:30:41,894 And I got a lot of negative feedback. 577 00:30:41,942 --> 00:30:42,773 What about Palestine? 578 00:30:42,821 --> 00:30:44,450 You can see it all on my feed. 579 00:30:44,470 --> 00:30:45,546 What about Palestine? 580 00:30:45,738 --> 00:30:46,798 Here's the issue. 581 00:30:46,963 --> 00:30:49,599 Palestine has no control over what happens next. 582 00:30:50,769 --> 00:30:52,509 Israel is the stronger country. 583 00:30:52,660 --> 00:30:54,413 Israel's the more capable country. 584 00:30:54,531 --> 00:30:57,077 Israel has a real military that can do real damage. 585 00:30:57,114 --> 00:30:58,445 And that's what we need to pray for Israel. 586 00:30:58,478 --> 00:31:01,410 Because what they need right now is restraint. 587 00:31:02,950 --> 00:31:05,329 How many of you are good at restraint when you're mad? 588 00:31:09,519 --> 00:31:15,387 I mean, as Christians, we need to learn the lessons of James and John, the sons of 589 00:31:09,519 --> 00:31:15,387 thunder. 590 00:31:15,564 --> 00:31:17,296 You know what they tell Jesus to do? 591 00:31:17,397 --> 00:31:20,044 Lord, do you want us to bring down fire from heaven? 592 00:31:20,092 --> 00:31:21,650 Destroy these people? 593 00:31:22,180 --> 00:31:25,029 Jesus is just like, Why did I pick you two? 594 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:31,509 But some of you are just like them. 595 00:31:33,240 --> 00:31:34,470 Just like them. 596 00:31:36,220 --> 00:31:37,635 So we got to pray for Israel. 597 00:31:37,667 --> 00:31:40,680 There's going to take an incredible amount of restraint. 598 00:31:42,619 --> 00:31:44,711 Israel's never been more unified as a country. 599 00:31:44,766 --> 00:31:46,490 But there's danger in that. 600 00:31:48,700 --> 00:31:52,509 Because when everybody thinks the same way, you do really stupid things. 601 00:31:55,519 --> 00:31:57,895 And to my Jewish friends, there's going to be a window. 602 00:31:57,928 --> 00:31:59,291 This is just the way the world works. 603 00:31:59,346 --> 00:32:04,930 There's going to be a window where people give you a pass for whatever you do, and then 604 00:31:59,346 --> 00:32:04,930 that window will close and they'll judge you. 605 00:32:05,700 --> 00:32:06,690 It happens. 606 00:32:07,220 --> 00:32:08,256 It happens. 607 00:32:08,438 --> 00:32:11,039 You cannot count on the faithfulness of the world. 608 00:32:11,109 --> 00:32:13,089 I don't care what world leaders say. 609 00:32:13,400 --> 00:32:15,044 One Timothy two, one through four. 610 00:32:15,082 --> 00:32:17,829 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. 611 00:32:19,319 --> 00:32:20,644 Ask God to help them. 612 00:32:20,682 --> 00:32:21,172 Listen this. 613 00:32:21,226 --> 00:32:23,140 Intercede on their behalf. 614 00:32:24,200 --> 00:32:24,991 Listen this. 615 00:32:25,066 --> 00:32:28,759 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority. 616 00:32:29,660 --> 00:32:30,410 Why? 617 00:32:30,779 --> 00:32:37,000 So that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by Godliness and dignity. 618 00:32:37,839 --> 00:32:39,468 This is good. 619 00:32:39,634 --> 00:32:48,940 And pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 620 00:32:50,640 --> 00:32:52,332 Why should you pray for Israel? 621 00:32:52,395 --> 00:32:54,107 Why should you pray for our leaders? 622 00:32:54,203 --> 00:32:59,250 Because we want to live quiet and peaceful lives, and they can screw up our lives. 623 00:33:00,420 --> 00:33:04,259 They can make our lives miserable and terrible. 624 00:33:05,400 --> 00:33:12,579 And I've even heard some of politicians on our side that I like, that I admire, say stupid 625 00:33:05,400 --> 00:33:12,579 things into a microphone. 626 00:33:12,920 --> 00:33:17,289 And I'm like, this is not the way we need to go. 627 00:33:18,380 --> 00:33:20,359 We must practice restraint. 628 00:33:21,099 --> 00:33:25,289 You must never forfeit the moral high ground, ever. 629 00:33:27,599 --> 00:33:29,339 You got to be so careful. 630 00:33:29,839 --> 00:33:31,500 So pray for Israel. 631 00:33:32,559 --> 00:33:34,539 Pray for Benjamin Netanyahu. 632 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:40,029 He has nutty people in Israel that want him to do crazy things. 633 00:33:41,279 --> 00:33:43,144 Anybody have a crazy, nutty relative? 634 00:33:43,192 --> 00:33:43,367 Raise. 635 00:33:43,384 --> 00:33:44,096 Your hands. 636 00:33:44,278 --> 00:33:46,609 If you don't, it's you. 637 00:33:49,380 --> 00:33:57,269 So there are people in his own party that are going to push him to make decisions that 638 00:33:49,380 --> 00:33:57,269 could ultimately lead us to World War Three. 639 00:33:59,319 --> 00:34:01,990 And they don't think right because they're not right. 640 00:34:04,119 --> 00:34:08,612 We have a president who's not too old. 641 00:34:08,666 --> 00:34:09,396 Listen to me. 642 00:34:09,498 --> 00:34:13,175 And whether you like him or not, or you voted for him or not, would you please pray for 643 00:34:09,498 --> 00:34:13,175 him? 644 00:34:13,197 --> 00:34:15,400 Because we need Him to make a good decision. 645 00:34:16,699 --> 00:34:18,619 We need him to make a good decision. 646 00:34:21,280 --> 00:34:23,230 Our future listen to me. 647 00:34:23,679 --> 00:34:26,190 Is in Joe Biden's hands. 648 00:34:26,960 --> 00:34:28,443 That scares me. 649 00:34:28,641 --> 00:34:29,972 So let's pray. 650 00:34:30,135 --> 00:34:31,409 Let's pray for him. 651 00:34:33,380 --> 00:34:33,695 It. 652 00:34:33,717 --> 00:34:34,431 Pleases, God. 653 00:34:34,485 --> 00:34:34,976 Listen to me. 654 00:34:34,998 --> 00:34:36,543 And it benefits you. 655 00:34:36,742 --> 00:34:38,210 It benefits you. 656 00:34:39,860 --> 00:34:40,929 Last point. 657 00:34:41,860 --> 00:34:43,699 Prepare for the return of Jesus. 658 00:34:46,360 --> 00:34:47,510 Are you ready? 659 00:34:48,599 --> 00:34:49,670 Are you ready? 660 00:34:50,679 --> 00:34:54,063 I know many of you are upset, concerned, worried. 661 00:34:54,192 --> 00:34:56,824 The Bible said, man, this all would take place right there. 662 00:34:56,942 --> 00:34:57,780 Isn't it funny? 663 00:34:57,860 --> 00:35:06,489 Israel is the most irrelevant, small, tiny country on Earth, and yet the entire world 664 00:34:57,860 --> 00:35:06,489 hinges on what happens there. 665 00:35:09,110 --> 00:35:10,541 Do you know why that is? 666 00:35:10,695 --> 00:35:12,599 Because God said it would be that way. 667 00:35:13,610 --> 00:35:15,320 God said it would be that way. 668 00:35:16,489 --> 00:35:17,697 Some of you are anxious. 669 00:35:17,793 --> 00:35:18,869 You're upset. 670 00:35:19,210 --> 00:35:21,041 Listen to what Jesus said in John 14. 671 00:35:21,106 --> 00:35:22,070 One, two, three. 672 00:35:22,219 --> 00:35:24,329 He says, don't let your hearts be troubled. 673 00:35:24,750 --> 00:35:26,873 Anybody had troubled hearts this week? 674 00:35:27,072 --> 00:35:27,690 I did. 675 00:35:27,760 --> 00:35:29,179 I've not slept well. 676 00:35:29,869 --> 00:35:35,360 If you're not sleeping well, if you're worried, if you've not been in God's word, but 677 00:35:29,869 --> 00:35:35,360 you've been on Fox News. 678 00:35:36,210 --> 00:35:37,710 Oh, that's comforting. 679 00:35:38,929 --> 00:35:43,360 Listen what he says, trust in God and trust also in me. 680 00:35:44,530 --> 00:35:47,860 He says there's more than enough room in my Father's home. 681 00:35:48,389 --> 00:35:50,980 You know, Israel's problem is there's not enough room. 682 00:35:51,429 --> 00:35:55,619 There's too many people and they're neighbors that don't like each other. 683 00:35:56,309 --> 00:35:58,980 It is a tiny, tiny country. 684 00:36:00,230 --> 00:36:02,130 You know what Jesus says about heaven? 685 00:36:02,630 --> 00:36:05,559 It's a big, big house with lots and lots of room. 686 00:36:06,329 --> 00:36:07,077 Listen this. 687 00:36:07,164 --> 00:36:09,960 He says, if it were not so, I would have told you. 688 00:36:10,730 --> 00:36:12,650 I'm going to prepare a place. 689 00:36:12,719 --> 00:36:13,673 For who? 690 00:36:13,871 --> 00:36:14,860 For you. 691 00:36:15,230 --> 00:36:16,380 I love this. 692 00:36:16,909 --> 00:36:18,699 When everything is ready. 693 00:36:19,789 --> 00:36:21,260 When will Christ return? 694 00:36:21,949 --> 00:36:24,059 When everything is ready. 695 00:36:24,769 --> 00:36:26,681 And I know you're on TikTok. 696 00:36:26,826 --> 00:36:31,630 You're listening to some dude in his basement in North Dakota who's got a chart and 697 00:36:26,826 --> 00:36:31,630 prophecies. 698 00:36:35,170 --> 00:36:36,650 Can I just tell you something? 699 00:36:36,820 --> 00:36:45,940 Every single pastor, preacher, scholar, person on earth who's predicted the end, in all of 700 00:36:36,820 --> 00:36:45,940 human history, 100% of them have been wrong. 701 00:36:47,190 --> 00:36:53,880 So what are the chances your guy in a basement with hot sauce on his chest has figured it 702 00:36:47,190 --> 00:36:53,880 out? 703 00:37:00,969 --> 00:37:07,099 When everything is what ready, I will come to get you. 704 00:37:08,190 --> 00:37:09,561 I'm worried about a lot of things. 705 00:37:09,615 --> 00:37:11,340 Judgment Day is not one of them. 706 00:37:13,309 --> 00:37:16,800 He says, so that you will always be with me, where I am. 707 00:37:19,090 --> 00:37:22,766 Listen to me, some of you who are not Christians, jesus didn't come in the world to judge 708 00:37:19,090 --> 00:37:22,766 you. 709 00:37:22,788 --> 00:37:23,434 You're already judged. 710 00:37:23,481 --> 00:37:24,480 Look at our world. 711 00:37:25,329 --> 00:37:26,041 It's broken. 712 00:37:26,106 --> 00:37:27,246 It's heinous it's evil. 713 00:37:27,277 --> 00:37:28,289 It's gross. 714 00:37:29,909 --> 00:37:32,161 Religion does not put evil in the hearts of men. 715 00:37:32,215 --> 00:37:34,260 Evil was already there. 716 00:37:35,429 --> 00:37:37,233 Jesus came to save us from this. 717 00:37:37,271 --> 00:37:47,989 And the only thing that will bring peace to Jerusalem is when the King of peace returns, 718 00:37:37,271 --> 00:37:47,989 and his name is Jesus. 719 00:37:48,969 --> 00:37:50,597 And that's what we need to pray for. 720 00:37:50,684 --> 00:37:52,565 That's what we need to ready ourselves for. 721 00:37:52,668 --> 00:37:54,780 That's what we need to share with people. 722 00:37:55,389 --> 00:37:56,681 Why aren't we freaked out? 723 00:37:56,735 --> 00:37:57,670 Why aren't we worried? 724 00:37:57,750 --> 00:37:59,114 Why don't we worry about the end? 725 00:37:59,152 --> 00:38:00,619 Because it's all in his hands. 726 00:38:00,989 --> 00:38:04,699 And if you're in his hands, you're going to be okay. 727 00:38:05,389 --> 00:38:06,619 You're going to be okay. 728 00:38:07,070 --> 00:38:08,480 And we're going to be okay. 729 00:38:10,610 --> 00:38:12,813 And I just want to close by praying for you. 730 00:38:12,851 --> 00:38:13,438 Two things. 731 00:38:13,523 --> 00:38:18,222 If you're not right with God today, man, you need to be. 732 00:38:18,356 --> 00:38:20,753 And there's only one way to be right with God. 733 00:38:20,791 --> 00:38:23,389 It doesn't matter if you're Muslim, Buddhist, atheist, or Christian. 734 00:38:23,469 --> 00:38:28,210 The only way the Bible says that you can be right with God is through Jesus. 735 00:38:29,909 --> 00:38:31,442 He said, I'm the truth. 736 00:38:31,505 --> 00:38:33,094 I'm the way and the life. 737 00:38:33,211 --> 00:38:35,382 No one goes to God but by Him. 738 00:38:35,516 --> 00:38:36,679 Those are his words. 739 00:38:38,010 --> 00:38:44,300 You need to confess your sin and invite Jesus to become the King of your life today. 740 00:38:45,070 --> 00:38:49,019 And then if you're a Christian, would you invite the King to challenge you? 741 00:38:50,429 --> 00:38:53,610 Would you stand with Him and become a person of peace? 742 00:38:53,949 --> 00:38:58,494 And I understand things are confusing, things are hard to understand. 743 00:38:58,612 --> 00:39:02,190 Things are complex and things are scary. 744 00:39:02,849 --> 00:39:19,121 But what we need to be for our family, friends, and neighbors is a person of peace that 745 00:39:02,849 --> 00:39:19,121 reminds them this whole thing ends when he's ready for us, and he's going to come back for 746 00:39:02,849 --> 00:39:19,121 all those who are his. 747 00:39:19,255 --> 00:39:20,402 And that's the beauty of it. 748 00:39:20,456 --> 00:39:22,342 I can't control the Middle East, man. 749 00:39:22,396 --> 00:39:24,514 I can't control what's happening in America. 750 00:39:24,561 --> 00:39:26,545 I can't control gas prices. 751 00:39:26,577 --> 00:39:27,621 But you know what I can control? 752 00:39:27,675 --> 00:39:34,121 Where I spend eternity, because Jesus put that control in my hands, and it's in your 753 00:39:27,675 --> 00:39:34,121 hands. 754 00:39:34,255 --> 00:39:35,557 So let's pray together, church. 755 00:39:35,574 --> 00:39:45,474 And let's pray that this message and somehow helps and encourages people who are confused 756 00:39:35,574 --> 00:39:45,474 and scared and need peace. 757 00:39:45,541 --> 00:39:46,313 Let's pray. 758 00:39:46,442 --> 00:39:48,829 Heavenly Father, we pray in the name of Jesus. 759 00:39:49,489 --> 00:39:50,378 Lord. 760 00:39:50,554 --> 00:39:51,914 We agree with Scripture. 761 00:39:51,961 --> 00:39:58,019 The last sentence in the Bible, both the Church and the Spirit say, come, Lord Jesus, come 762 00:39:51,961 --> 00:39:58,019 return. 763 00:39:58,789 --> 00:40:07,570 Fix this earth, restore it to what it was, a beautiful creation where we live in harmony 764 00:39:58,789 --> 00:40:07,570 and in peace under Your rule and Your reign. 765 00:40:07,989 --> 00:40:13,489 God, let us be ambassadors for you, peacemakers for you. 766 00:40:13,639 --> 00:40:25,146 Let us comfort our neighbor and our family and our friends, not with scary prophecies, but 767 00:40:13,639 --> 00:40:25,146 with words of peace, with words of hope, and with words of love. 768 00:40:25,327 --> 00:40:27,706 We pray this in Jesus name. 769 00:40:27,887 --> 00:40:28,889 Amen. 770 00:40:30,110 --> 00:40:33,733 Thank you so much for joining us for our very last weekend in the Essential series. 771 00:40:33,782 --> 00:40:39,077 I want to take a quick second and invite you to give to the work that God is doing in and 772 00:40:33,782 --> 00:40:39,077 through Sandals Church. 773 00:40:39,173 --> 00:40:41,559 You can do so by going to donate SC.