1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:26,480 Uh oh 2 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:34,000 We'll sing out, shout the victory! 3 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:40,000 We are the people of every battle 4 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,000 We'll spread the fire 5 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:45,000 Once we're ready 6 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:47,000 May the heart burn 7 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:50,000 Now I'm sure I'll fight 8 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:54,000 When we are in the fight 9 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:59,000 One day everyone will have to leave 10 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,000 And we all will sing 11 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:04,000 Jesus will sing 12 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:06,000 And shout out the victory! 13 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:14,000 The river of the King 14 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:19,000 Loved in majesty 15 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:23,000 And all the earth rejoiced 16 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:27,000 All the earth rejoiced 17 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:32,000 In the heavens himself in light 18 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:38,000 In the darkness drives in light 19 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:42,000 And turn those eyes towards 20 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:46,000 Turn those eyes towards 21 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:52,000 I'll breathe the sour gout 22 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:56,000 Sing with me, I'll breathe 23 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,000 The sour gout 24 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:02,000 You'll almost see me I'll break 25 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:06,000 I'll break 26 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,000 The sour gout 27 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:19,000 In the age to age this town 28 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:25,000 The sun has set in its head 29 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,000 We're turning at the end 30 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:32,000 We're turning at the end 31 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:39,000 So come all that's waiting in the world 32 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:45,000 The Father, Spirit, and Son 33 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:49,000 You'll find that place 34 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:53,000 That you'll never find 35 00:02:53,000 --> 00:03:16,000 You'll find that place 36 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:18,000 Right there! 37 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,000 Right there! 38 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:23,000 Alright, inspirational moment in time 39 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:26,000 This is your opportunity to share how the Lord has been speaking to you this week 40 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:30,000 What you might have read, what you might have seen, what you might have done 41 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,000 You were there and God said, hey pay attention to that 42 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:36,000 There's a little something to notice, a little something to learn 43 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:40,000 What have you got? What have you heard? What have you seen? 44 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:43,000 What the last seven days have been like for you? 45 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:47,000 Yesterday, okay we should go ahead 46 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:50,000 And then, and then, and then, go 47 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:54,000 So, I have seen for myself this week 48 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,000 And I've seen a little bit in others too 49 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:58,000 We can talk about it 50 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:00,000 The power of perseverance 51 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:03,000 And you know what it is that God wants you to do 52 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:05,000 And regardless of what's going on in your life 53 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:08,000 Or what other people are doing or saying 54 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:10,000 Or what other people are doing or saying 55 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:13,000 Or how you feel, you do it anyway 56 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:17,000 I'm struggling with physical pain 57 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:19,000 Emotional pain 58 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:21,000 Also suffering from physical pain 59 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:23,000 Health condition 60 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:26,000 I got some rough news from my doctor 61 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:29,000 A couple weeks ago that I've just kind of been 62 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:31,000 I don't know, not really in denial 63 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:33,000 But I don't have time for that right now 64 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:35,000 It's kind of how I feel about it 65 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:39,000 And try and figure out how to deal with it 66 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:41,000 Try and figure out how to go about it 67 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:43,000 How to push through that 68 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:48,000 And feeling like it's just not something I want to deal with right now 69 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:51,000 What's the one truth? 70 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:53,000 But through all of that 71 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:55,000 I know where God wants me to be 72 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:56,000 I know what I'm supposed to be doing 73 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:57,000 And I do that 74 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:01,000 And I cried in pain all the way here this morning 75 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:03,000 And I got up there and started playing the guitar 76 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:05,000 And all the pain went away 77 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:07,000 And so I'm standing here right now with no pain 78 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:09,000 I've been in pain since I went to bed last night 79 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:12,000 And so when you do what it is that God wants you to do 80 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:15,000 And you lean on Him and you say, God, take this away from me 81 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,000 And you do what you're supposed to do 82 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:18,000 He will be there 83 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:20,000 He will help you and He will pull you through that 84 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:24,000 You just have to show Him that you want to do what you want 85 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,000 Amen. That's a good word. Good word. Here. 86 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:31,000 On Tuesday 87 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:37,000 On Tuesday our school band went to Senior Point 88 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:40,000 And while we were there 89 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,000 Me and my group of friends 90 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:44,000 We were supposed to do a shat run 91 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:46,000 But our shat run left us 92 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:50,000 And we couldn't just find them 93 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:54,000 And I feel like I was keeping me calm 94 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:57,000 Even though it was like a stressful situation 95 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:00,000 Because everybody else was freaking out 96 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:03,000 And we had to keep calm 97 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:08,000 And I was really nervous hoping I'd see that 98 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:11,000 Awesome. It's good to know God has comforted us 99 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:13,000 In this stressful situation 100 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:15,000 So I got to watch the movie 101 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:16,000 If you get a chance to see it 102 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:17,000 I'll give you a little warning about it 103 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:18,000 But I would recommend it 104 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:20,000 It's called Tulsa 105 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:22,000 Anybody ever seen it? 106 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:24,000 Good. Want to watch it? 107 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:26,000 Alright, so I'm not going to ruin the end for you 108 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:28,000 Don't worry about it. No spoiler alert or anything 109 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:31,000 But there is a man in the movie 110 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:33,000 And he tells a story 111 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:35,000 And I think maybe I had heard this story parable 112 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:36,000 If you will 113 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:38,000 Previously but I had forgotten all about it 114 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:39,000 And so as he was telling it 115 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:41,000 I'm thinking like I think I've heard this 116 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:42,000 I think I remember it 117 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,000 But I had forgotten all about it 118 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:47,000 And it's about a man who's out on a sailing vessel 119 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:48,000 And he's in the 120 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,000 Sailing on the ocean 121 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:51,000 Or whatever 122 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:52,000 And a storm comes up 123 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:53,000 And it's pretty bad 124 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:56,000 And the ship begins to get swamped 125 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:57,000 Gaining a lot of water 126 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:58,000 It's still afloat 127 00:06:58,000 --> 00:06:59,000 And he's theoretically safe 128 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:01,000 As long as the ship doesn't sink 129 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:03,000 Or capsize or whatever 130 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:06,000 But it's going to be 131 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:07,000 Pretty close call 132 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,000 Like the ship could sink 133 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:10,000 The ship might not be serviceable 134 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:12,000 And he might not be able to get enough water out 135 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:14,000 To really be able to use it 136 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:16,000 And he's riding out the storm 137 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:17,000 And he's praying 138 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:18,000 And he's praying 139 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:19,000 And then all of a sudden 140 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:21,000 Lightning strikes the ship 141 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:22,000 And when the lightning strikes the ship 142 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:25,000 A good portion of the ship bursts into flames 143 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:28,000 And the ship begins to burn 144 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:30,000 Out of control despite the storms 145 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:32,000 Rain, the counter would see windy 146 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:34,000 Dark clouds, everything counter would see 147 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:36,000 And yet the ship is burning 148 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,000 And they'll do that 149 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:41,000 And so no solution left 150 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:42,000 He goes overboard 151 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:44,000 Grabs a light ring 152 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:46,000 And goes overboard into the water 153 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:49,000 And he watches from a little bit of a distance 154 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,000 As the ship is just engulfed in flames 155 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:53,000 And it's going down 156 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:55,000 It's definitely not salvageable now 157 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:57,000 Everything above the water line will burn 158 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:01,000 And just then 159 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,000 A search light comes shining through the water 160 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:04,000 And he is spotted 161 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,000 And they haul him aboard the ship 162 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:07,000 Well as he's in the water 163 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:09,000 Right before the search light comes 164 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:12,000 He's saying, God, what is going on? 165 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:13,000 I trusted you 166 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:14,000 I trusted you with everything 167 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:15,000 I've been out here 168 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:16,000 I take a certain amount of risk 169 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:17,000 I understand it, but not here 170 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:18,000 And then the storm comes 171 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:19,000 And that's bad enough 172 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:20,000 And I might have survived the storm 173 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,000 But then my boat is being burned out 174 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:25,000 Now I'm stranded in the ocean on a light ring 175 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:28,000 And no one is out here to save me 176 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:29,000 And what is going on? 177 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:31,000 And he's really kind of accusing God 178 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:33,000 And then the search light comes up 179 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:34,000 And he saves me 180 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:35,000 He gets pulled up on board the boat 181 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:38,000 And the captain says to him 182 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:40,000 He says, it's amazing 183 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:41,000 It's an absolute act of God 184 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:44,000 That we were able to find you out here in the ocean 185 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:47,000 He said, did you set your boat on fire? 186 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:49,000 He said, that was the smartest thing you could have done 187 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:51,000 Because there's no way we would have found you out here 188 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:52,000 Lost in the storm, in the dark 189 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,000 If the boat had not been burning 190 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:56,000 But we saw the flames of the boat in the distance 191 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:58,000 And we came and I see the boat is gone now 192 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:00,000 But we came because of the flames 193 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:02,000 And we found you in the water 194 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:08,000 And the man in the movie reminded me of kind of the moral of that story 195 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:09,000 You might find several in there 196 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:10,000 But one of the key was pointing out 197 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:14,000 Sometimes your boat's got to get set on fire 198 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:17,000 In order for you to get saved 199 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:20,000 And so I look at the world 200 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:23,000 And I see a lot of burning going on 201 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:25,000 There's a lot of trouble 202 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:28,000 A lot of people who are just kind of plugging away day after day 203 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:30,000 Facing a lot of real difficulty 204 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:34,000 And feeling alone, feeling stressed, feeling like there is no hope 205 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:36,000 But we know there is hope in Christ 206 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:42,000 And in the movie, the man that if he didn't suddenly accept Jesus or anything 207 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:44,000 But that parable got him thinking 208 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:49,000 That story got him thinking about how his life had been basically a dumpster fire 209 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:52,000 For several years, many years 210 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:54,000 And really wasn't getting any better 211 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:56,000 He was kind of on the verge of suicide and whatever 212 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,000 And that parable got him thinking 213 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:02,000 And I just felt like God was saying to me two things 214 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:06,000 First of all, that we need to remember that sometimes when things are going bad 215 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:09,000 It sure could be a lot worse 216 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:14,000 And God may be protecting you from something that's a lot worse than what you're going through 217 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:18,000 Like when your car breaks down, you could be avoiding head on with a semi 218 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:21,000 Or when you have a physical ailment that stops you 219 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:24,000 Truly stops you from doing something that you wanted to do 220 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:27,000 You could have been hurt worse while you were doing it 221 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:30,000 Or so, I mean, God knows the future, God knows the variables 222 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:32,000 God knows what's going to happen 223 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:36,000 And so sometimes bad things happen to take us to a place where God can do something amazing 224 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:41,000 And then the other thing was concerning the fact that I had forgotten the parable 225 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:43,000 And I thought about how we in our own lives 226 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:46,000 I felt like I was supposed to say to me how we in our own lives, we experienced these things 227 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:48,000 Maybe we could come in here and talk about it like that 228 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:51,000 Getting lost from your chaperone at Cedar Point 229 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:54,000 That's probably not an event you're going to forget anytime soon, right? 230 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:57,000 Because you're searched and you have to figure it out and solve the problem and whatever 231 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:00,000 But someday you probably will 232 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:04,000 And then someday one of your kids might get lost at Cedar Point or whatever 233 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:07,000 Or as a dad you might be able to prepare them for that circumstance 234 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:08,000 Because you hadn't forgotten 235 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:11,000 But if you have forgotten, the amazing thing that God has done 236 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:13,000 The way your story unfolded 237 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:15,000 What you experienced, what you learned 238 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:17,000 What somebody shared in an inspirational moment 239 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:19,000 Then when you go into that situation 240 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:21,000 You might have this feeling like 241 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:22,000 I think I kind of remember this 242 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:26,000 I think I kind of know what's going to happen here 243 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,000 Maybe I even know what I'm supposed to do 244 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:32,000 Because so and so shared from across the room when they were in that circumstance 245 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:35,000 What they did or what God did or so on 246 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:37,000 And maybe when you're faced with pain and persevering 247 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:40,000 You can stand firm and see God take your pain away 248 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:42,000 Even if it's only for a time 249 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:45,000 But when your boat's on fire 250 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:46,000 And you leap into the water and think 251 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:48,000 Okay, there's nothing left for me now 252 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:50,000 I totally wait for you to realize that God is still there 253 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:53,000 And he may be at work and no terrible circumstance 254 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:55,000 Okay, so we're going to pray together at this time 255 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:58,000 And we have just a couple more songs to worship 256 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:00,000 I just have a few more songs 257 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:03,000 I have scheduled my real tape exam for the clinic 258 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:05,000 And I am super nervous and stressed about it 259 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:06,000 And I'm trying not to be 260 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:08,000 Because I know that's only going to make it worse 261 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:10,000 But I just pray to God 262 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:13,000 So both things, both for the test 263 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:16,000 And also that Katelyn will get her mind under control 264 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,000 And submit it to God, right? Amen 265 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:20,000 We have some more questions 266 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:21,000 There you go 267 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:24,000 There's, again, knowing me 268 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:27,000 I found inspiration from music 269 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:30,000 There's a new person that I found 270 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:32,000 It's Brian T. 271 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:36,000 I've never heard him up until like two weeks ago 272 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:38,000 I just heard about him two weeks ago 273 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:41,000 He's a Christian rapper 274 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:47,000 But his is a lot more, I guess, gospel type rap 275 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:48,000 Okay, that's cool 276 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:51,000 And he has a song called Who Told You 277 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:53,000 And I was listening to it 278 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:55,000 I just remembered what it was called 279 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:57,000 Because I couldn't remember what it was called 280 00:12:57,000 --> 00:13:01,000 But I was listening to it at work 281 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:04,000 I think Thursday or Friday 282 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:07,000 And I went to lunch break 283 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:08,000 And I put it on again 284 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:10,000 So I could actually really listen to the song 285 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:14,000 There's a couple of things that really stick out 286 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:17,000 So I'm going to read a little bit of the lyrics 287 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:20,000 It says, Who told you money makes you real? 288 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:23,000 Who told you pistols make you tough? 289 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:26,000 Who said that mercy is for the weak? 290 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:30,000 Who said forgiveness is for chumps? 291 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:33,000 The crowd say, they say 292 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:36,000 A crowd dies a thousand deaths 293 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:38,000 A soldier dies but one 294 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:42,000 And they mourn you 295 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:45,000 Who told you God doesn't exist? 296 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:48,000 Who told you God was just a myth? 297 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:51,000 Who planted seeds of disbelief 298 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:55,000 Inside your mind so you could trip? 299 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:59,000 So this whole song is like that 300 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:02,000 It's those kinds of questions that 301 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:04,000 I feel that we as Christians 302 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:05,000 We ask ourselves that all the time 303 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:06,000 Or at least I do it 304 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:08,000 Because I ask myself that a lot 305 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:11,000 Why wasn't I told this stuff earlier? 306 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:14,000 Why wasn't I shown the right way to live for God 307 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:17,000 When I was a kid instead of in my twenties? 308 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:20,000 And I look back and I think about all the people 309 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:23,000 That I had in my life that would spread those kind of lies 310 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:26,000 That God's not real or God's just a myth 311 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:29,000 And you can't forgive people because that makes you weak 312 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:33,000 And in reality it's completely wrong 313 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:35,000 God wants us to forgive people 314 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:38,000 God wants us to love people 315 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:41,000 And he doesn't want us 316 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:45,000 He doesn't want us to die 317 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:48,000 But if we have to, serving him 318 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:51,000 Then we'll go into heaven and what better honor is that? 319 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:02,000 So if he's asked to pray for Holly 320 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:04,000 We know her not, but Holly's been going through some 321 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:07,000 Significant issues, abdominal issues really with her intestines 322 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:09,000 Please, please be afraid for her 323 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:10,000 She does have a chance 324 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:12,000 What's from the past? 325 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:13,000 Tomorrow? 326 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:15,000 That's tomorrow 327 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:17,000 She has that emirate tomorrow 328 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:18,000 And then spring 329 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:21,000 Last night she prayed to eat something 330 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:23,000 And she started getting like 331 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:25,000 Thinking her stomach upset 332 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:27,000 And she was starting to get like 333 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:30,000 To that low moment when she wasn't praying 334 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:32,000 Why is God doing this to me? 335 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:34,000 And then I was trying to tell her 336 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:36,000 Like God isn't doing this 337 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:39,000 It's just something that's going on 338 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:43,000 And she was feeling like she will 339 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:45,000 Be absurd by not actually got to that 340 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:48,000 And through all the situations that she's been through 341 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:50,000 And that's 342 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,000 Hearing that she's been through a lot 343 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:55,000 And she got to the point 344 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:58,000 She was just like, nervous right now 345 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:00,000 Something like made her breathe 346 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:02,000 Footprints in the sand 347 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:05,000 And I guess it was God 348 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:08,000 And it just felt like God got to the end of it 349 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:11,000 When it said he was hearing her 350 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:13,000 Hearing her through that situation 351 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:16,000 And it just hit her how often we would forget 352 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:18,000 That God's always there 353 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:21,000 And then he would carry us through the difficult moments 354 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:23,000 That we go through 355 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:25,000 I love that she got to go back home 356 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:27,000 And put footprints in the sand for you 357 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:30,000 He doesn't realize until the very end 358 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:32,000 He would say, well why does he do that? 359 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:35,000 And he says, no, there's only one set of footprints 360 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:37,000 It's not your footprint, it's mine 361 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:39,000 He did that very well 362 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:41,000 Great message for being lost from your chaperone 363 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:44,000 Great message for overcoming pain and persevere 364 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:47,000 Great message for when you're thinking about an upcoming death 365 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:48,000 Great message 366 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:50,000 Alright, let's pray together 367 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:53,000 Father God, I do thank you 368 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:56,000 It's true that you sustain us 369 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:58,000 When the boat's on fire 370 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:00,000 And we have a week where we think we will not be safe 371 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:03,000 We know that that week is taking in you 372 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:06,000 And even for a person who does not know you as Lord and Savior 373 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:08,000 You still are orchestrating the arrest of the Lord 374 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:10,000 You still are setting up the parameters 375 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:13,000 You still are governing every outcome 376 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:16,000 And as Paul said in Acts 17 377 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:18,000 That you set all those things up 378 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,000 So that that person might rope around and find you 379 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:22,000 And realize that you were never far away in the first place 380 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:27,000 And the key there is you are never far away in the first place 381 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:30,000 The outcome of events 382 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:35,000 As we get an MRI to hopefully discover the problem behind 383 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:39,000 An ongoing pain, an ongoing struggle, abdominally 384 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:42,000 Lord, the outcome events as we take a test 385 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,000 That's really going to impact our career going forward 386 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:49,000 Or that's going to give us a certification that allows us to do things that we couldn't otherwise do 387 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:52,000 And that's compounded on a lot of effort 388 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:58,000 We put a lot of effort in and that's going to feel like it was wasted 389 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:02,000 If we don't get the result that we think we were supposed to get 390 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:04,000 And Lord, in those moments 391 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:07,000 Those moments when we're facing those challenges 392 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:12,000 It is great comfort to us to remember that you alone are God 393 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:14,000 You alone know 394 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:17,000 And whatever outcome comes out 395 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:19,000 That is the outcome 396 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:20,000 That is the best one 397 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:23,000 That is the one that you can ultimately work for our good 398 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:26,000 At the same time, Lord, we need the strength 399 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:29,000 We need your presence to control our minds 400 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:31,000 To submit to you 401 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:33,000 Calm our anxiety 402 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,000 And our frustrations 403 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:37,000 And even our nagging doubts or questions 404 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:39,000 That's what RJ was talking about 405 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:42,000 And there might be somebody in this room who has not said, okay 406 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:44,000 I see it 407 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:46,000 I realize that it's real 408 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:48,000 And I'm willing to live it 409 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:51,000 I'm willing to walk with Jesus for the remainder of my days 410 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:53,000 And then when I face those trials 411 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:56,000 Those moments when I'm barely getting by 412 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:58,000 I remember that it's him carrying me 413 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:01,000 Lord, the truth is we cannot carry you 414 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:02,000 We could not carry you 415 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:05,000 We are not able to carry you in our physical strength 416 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:07,000 Or even in our spiritual strength 417 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:09,000 Even if we are an amazing creation 418 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:11,000 Created in your image 419 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:14,000 We are bearing at best a portion of your image 420 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:16,000 Our God 421 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:18,000 We think of like these old places and you go with us 422 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:20,000 And the truth is you go ahead of us 423 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:21,000 You carry us there 424 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:22,000 You see us there 425 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:25,000 You work us through whatever it is that we're experiencing 426 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:28,000 Lord, I thank you for bringing equipment in the sand 427 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:30,000 Of course, it's mine when he was in a dark moment 428 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:32,000 And also that he could share with Holly 429 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:34,000 And that he can encourage his wife 430 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:36,000 Lord, I thank you for blessing Alicia 431 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:38,000 And healing her pain 432 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:42,000 So that she can be doing what it is that you called her to do today 433 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:45,000 Specifically, Lord, it's not been mentioned here for Amalia 434 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:47,000 What's been going on with her ear 435 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:48,000 It's a little better today 436 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:50,000 But that's a crazy positive term 437 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:53,000 Because it's been so bad for the last couple of weeks 438 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:56,000 And she's almost done with this round of antibiotic 439 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:58,000 Where she really just needs a healing 440 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:00,000 And I wish there had been somebody around for me 441 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:02,000 When I did that when I was her age 442 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:04,000 And I had that ear infection that lasted for nine months 443 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:05,000 And somebody would have been praying for my healing 444 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:07,000 And maybe there was and I don't know who they were 445 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:09,000 And I did finally come out of it 446 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:11,000 But Lord, it lasted way too long 447 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:13,000 And I pray that that will not be the case for her 448 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:15,000 That this round of antibiotics 449 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:17,000 These remedies that are being utilized 450 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:18,000 Will be a solution 451 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:19,000 And the same thing for Holly 452 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:21,000 That that test, whether it's that test 453 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:23,000 Or by another means, whatever 454 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:25,000 That a solution will come into play 455 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:27,000 That'll be enacted and it'll be good 456 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:29,000 Just as you've done for others in this room 457 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:31,000 Even recently in the last month or two 458 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:33,000 Lord, as you healed people 459 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,000 As you finally got them the surgery that they're waiting on 460 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:36,000 For a really long time 461 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:38,000 And you brought them to strength 462 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:40,000 And you're empowering us to do what you have us to do 463 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:42,000 Lord, help us move forward 464 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:45,000 Overcoming all the false teachings of the world 465 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:47,000 To stand for you 466 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:49,000 We pray you thank you for your things 467 00:20:49,000 --> 00:21:12,000 Music 468 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:22,000 Jesus, King of my heart Father, my peace and my life 469 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:29,000 Sweet King, the truth of my soul in your word 470 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:50,000 Music 471 00:21:50,000 --> 00:22:09,000 Music 472 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:13,000 These spousal hills 473 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:17,000 Will never arrive 474 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:23,000 The Prince of mighty God 475 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:30,000 They bring me to my peace and grace 476 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:37,000 Amazing love, amazing grace 477 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:47,000 Was on a hill, my Savior on a die 478 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:49,000 A broken heart 479 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:55,000 Music 480 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:57,000 Have you heard before the saying 481 00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:59,000 A rising tide raises all boats? 482 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:01,000 Raise your hand 483 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:03,000 Thirty seconds ago 484 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:05,000 So we've got a few people who have heard it in the past 485 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:11,000 Does anybody know who popularized or kind of first brought the saying to American culture? 486 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:14,000 It's a name you'll recognize 487 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:16,000 No? 488 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:17,000 No? 489 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:19,000 Although he did bring a lot, didn't he? 490 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:21,000 He brought a lot of sayings 491 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:23,000 Yeah, he's your go-to for a cute saying 492 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:26,000 Yeah, he was downright sarcastic 493 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:30,000 In fact, Samuel Clemens made his fortune on being sarcastic 494 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:33,000 But this was John F. Kennedy 495 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:37,000 John F. Kennedy is the one who popularized this saying and brought it to the United States of America 496 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:43,000 And he actually made the saying in regards to economic changes or economic efforts 497 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:47,000 That were taking place in the New England states in the 1950s or so 498 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:52,000 And he said it a number of times and it sort of got common, alright? 499 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:58,000 And so the concept of a rising tide raises all boats is that if you look at the boats in a marina or in a harbor 500 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:01,000 When the tide goes up, all the boats go up, right? 501 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:03,000 Simple concept 502 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:07,000 The idea of it is if a positive change is made, something good is happening 503 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:14,000 That everyone who is in the marina or since it's an economical statement, right? 504 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:17,000 In the economy at that time will be affected 505 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:22,000 So if they invest money in infrastructure and a lot of guys get jobs 506 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:24,000 And those guys are going to go spend that money 507 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:28,000 So now all the restaurants and all the stores and all that, they're going to do better 508 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:31,000 And then they can employ more people, then they're going to make money 509 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:34,000 And then they'll go spend their money and it just kind of cycles 510 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:39,000 So if the government invests money in the economy or if an economic system is designed that benefits the economy 511 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:42,000 Then everybody in the economy will be benefited 512 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:47,000 Now we know that it doesn't transfer necessarily all the way across the United States, right? 513 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:50,000 It has to happen in a more localized environment 514 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:53,000 And he was talking about specifically the New England states 515 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:56,000 Which are those states that kind of run up the point in the northeast of America 516 00:24:56,000 --> 00:25:01,000 And I assume would probably include New York, although it's kind of almost a beast of its own 517 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:07,000 By the time I'm done today, I hope to forever pollute your thoughts 518 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:11,000 So every time you hear this phrase, a rising tide raises all boats 519 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:17,000 You will remember some whatever the Lord gives you, whatever the Lord puts in your heart out of this sermon 520 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:20,000 Whether it's anything I say or not, that is the goal, right? 521 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:30,000 And I submit to you that scripture probably was kind of instrumental in creating this concept 522 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:34,000 And if you think about it in our church, for example, if our church does something well 523 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:37,000 Then everybody in the church is going to be affected by that 524 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:41,000 And the converse would be if our church does something poorly 525 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:43,000 Then everybody in the church is going to be affected by that, right? 526 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:47,000 Because we're all in the same marina, if you will, okay? 527 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:52,000 So grab your Bibles, if you would, or be prepared to kind of meditate on the Word of God 528 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:56,000 As we go to 1 Thessalonians chapter 3, amen 529 00:25:56,000 --> 00:26:01,000 So this is God's Word, and whether or not I get right what I'm about to say, I certainly intend to 530 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:06,000 But whether I do or not, I hope you will get from God's Word whatever He intends for you today 531 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:07,000 That is the plan 532 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:11,000 We're going to begin reading in chapter 3 verse 6, and this is 1 Thessalonians 533 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:16,000 Quick background, this is a letter written by the Apostle Paul 534 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:22,000 Who was formerly the man Saul, who was both blinded and accosted by Jesus on the road to Damascus 535 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:25,000 From that point on, he began to share the Gospel 536 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:28,000 And ultimately became what we call the Apostle to the Gentiles 537 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:35,000 So you can kind of say of Paul that he is the one responsible for the church at large amongst Gentiles 538 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:38,000 Which, in case you hadn't noticed, we are, right? 539 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:44,000 So we can kind of trace our idea, our bringing to Christ, our coming of the church 540 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:46,000 And all that kind of thing back to Paul 541 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:49,000 Paul was writing to the church at Thessalonica 542 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:52,000 And they had been through some tough times 543 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:55,000 But now he has heard that they are staying true 544 00:26:55,000 --> 00:26:57,000 That they are continuing to be what they're supposed to be 545 00:26:57,000 --> 00:27:01,000 And we sort of pick up with that notion then in verse 6 546 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:07,000 He says, but now that Timothy has come to us from you and has brought us good news of your faith and love 547 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:10,000 I want you to remember those two words, faith and love 548 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:17,000 And that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us, just as we also long to see you 549 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:24,000 If you were going to sum up longing to see someone with one word, what word might you use? 550 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:25,000 Say it again 551 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:26,000 Missing someone 552 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:27,000 Yeah, so missing someone 553 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:31,000 And then if you miss them and then somebody calls you on the phone and says, you miss me, right? Yeah, I miss you 554 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:33,000 And they say, well I'm going to come tomorrow 555 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:35,000 And you're thinking they're going to come tomorrow 556 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:37,000 Your missing becomes now? 557 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:38,000 Excitement 558 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:39,000 Excitement? 559 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:40,000 Hope 560 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:42,000 Energy surrounding the idea that it's coming, right? 561 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:44,000 Whatever word you want to use for that 562 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:45,000 So they were longing to see them 563 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:49,000 And so now you've got in that two verses you've got three main concepts 564 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:51,000 Faith, hope and longing 565 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:55,000 Or faith, I'm sorry, faith, love and longing or hope, right? 566 00:27:55,000 --> 00:28:01,000 And so Paul realizes that this is a people capable of the three pillars of what it means to be a Christian 567 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:03,000 What it means to be the church 568 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:05,000 And he's frankly excited about that 569 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:06,000 Verse 7 570 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:10,000 For this reason, he says brethren, he calls them brothers in Christ 571 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:12,000 And you could say sisters, but he says brethren 572 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:17,000 In all our distress and affliction, no matter how bad it got 573 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:20,000 We were comforted about you through your faith 574 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:23,000 The fact that we heard that you were staying true to the faith 575 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:26,000 That comforted us with all the things that we were going through 576 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:27,000 Verse 8 577 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:29,000 For now we really live 578 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:33,000 And that word really, if you're reading the New American Standard, is going to be in italics there 579 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:37,000 If you're reading in like the King James Version, it's going to say 580 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:39,000 For now we live 581 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:42,000 Okay, so of course they lived, right? 582 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:43,000 He's writing a letter, he lived 583 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:45,000 So it's not talking about his physical life 584 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:48,000 And he lived spiritually 585 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:50,000 Because he was born again, so he was living in Christ 586 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:55,000 And he lived in the sense that his life was always being put online 587 00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:57,000 Like he could always be killed for his faith 588 00:28:57,000 --> 00:28:58,000 He was always wanting to do that 589 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:00,000 So all of those things are true 590 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:04,000 So I submit to you that he's saying something more and we'll come back to that 591 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:08,000 What is he saying when he says for now we live or now we really live 592 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:11,000 Emphasizing this new living that he's doing 593 00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:14,000 Coming out of the fact that he's hearing something about them, right? 594 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:16,000 Alright, so back to verse 7 595 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:19,000 He said, for this reason brethren, in our distress and affliction 596 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:21,000 We were comforted about you through your faith 597 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:23,000 For now we really live 598 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:26,000 If you stand firm in the Lord 599 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:29,000 So that life of his is tied to their standing firm 600 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:32,000 So also we know it's not about him having or losing salvation 601 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:35,000 Because he's not going to lose his salvation because they don't stand firm, right? 602 00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:37,000 So it's nothing like that, it's something more 603 00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:38,000 Verse 9 604 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:44,000 For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy 605 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:47,000 With which we rejoice before our God on your account 606 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:49,000 That's a confusing sentence 607 00:29:49,000 --> 00:29:53,000 But just understand it's a literal concept to ask a question 608 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:56,000 So it's like you say like 609 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:59,000 If you get a steak and somebody serves you a steak and it's just awesome and you love it 610 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:03,000 And then you say, man, where could I ever get a better steak than this? 611 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:04,000 So that's what he's saying 612 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:09,000 What gratitude or what thanks, how much thanks could we ever give to God 613 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:12,000 For all of this joy which we have gotten 614 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:15,000 With which we rejoice before our God on your account 615 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:19,000 Because we're so excited that we hear these things of you that you are staying in the faith 616 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:20,000 Verse 10 617 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:24,000 As we night and day keep praying most earnestly 618 00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:28,000 That we may see your face and may complete what is lacking in your faith 619 00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:31,000 So that's the finish of the sentence of the question that he was asking 620 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:34,000 So the first part of it was what thanks we might we give 621 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:38,000 And the second part of it he's saying so we're looking forward to coming to see you 622 00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:40,000 And we will actually be together all of us 623 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:42,000 And how exciting that's going to be it's really awesome, right? 624 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:46,000 We've really missed you it's really awesome that we would see you 625 00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:49,000 And maybe could supply something that is lacking in your faith 626 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:51,000 A teaching, a bit of knowledge that you need to know 627 00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:54,000 And I submit to you the bit of knowledge is in the text 628 00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:55,000 We're going to hear it 629 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:56,000 Verse 11 630 00:30:56,000 --> 00:31:02,000 Now may our God and Father himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you 631 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:04,000 So he's praying God bring us there, right? 632 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:10,000 And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another 633 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:13,000 And for all men just as we also do for you 634 00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:18,000 So that he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness 635 00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:22,000 Before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints 636 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:23,000 Again a long sentence 637 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:26,000 Now in the Greek that's only about nine words, okay? 638 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:29,000 But when you stretch it out to make sure you've translated into English 639 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:30,000 It becomes quite a bit more 640 00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:33,000 And it says and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound 641 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:36,000 So in other words he's hoping they'll do better, right? 642 00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:39,000 Now I submit to you he's not just hoping they're going to get a promotion 643 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:40,000 Or a bigger paycheck 644 00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:41,000 That's not what this is about 645 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:43,000 But he's hoping that they will do better 646 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:46,000 And to abound that they will be more, right? 647 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:50,000 In love for one another and for all men just as we also do for you 648 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:54,000 So that he wants them to love each other and to love everyone else 649 00:31:54,000 --> 00:32:00,000 As Paul was saying as Paul and the people were with him loved them 650 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:01,000 Why? 651 00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:05,000 So that he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness 652 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:07,000 So in other words that you'll be right by God 653 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:12,000 To be holy is to be right by God and to be different from the world, right? 654 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:15,000 Holiness is the word of sanctification essentially 655 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:17,000 And you're going to see that word specifically sanctification in a minute 656 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:20,000 But basically saying you'll be different from the way the world is 657 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:22,000 A lot of people say I love you 658 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:24,000 When I was in high school I had several girlfriends 659 00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:27,000 Three within about a four year span 660 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:29,000 And I told every single one of them I love them 661 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:31,000 And as I look back at it I probably did 662 00:32:31,000 --> 00:32:34,000 The best I knew how I wasn't saved at the time, right? 663 00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:37,000 But two of the three of them I told I love you 664 00:32:37,000 --> 00:32:40,000 One of them I told I love you before I met her 665 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:41,000 We talked on the phone for about seven hours 666 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:43,000 I'd never met her before 667 00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:44,000 And you laugh at me go ahead 668 00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:46,000 But how many people fall in love over social media 669 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:48,000 With somebody they don't even know what they look like, right? 670 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:50,000 So it's still happening today 671 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:53,000 And so I was very quick to say that 672 00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:55,000 And I submit to you that now that I've learned what real love is 673 00:32:55,000 --> 00:32:57,000 I'm a little slower 674 00:32:57,000 --> 00:33:00,000 You know I love my family 675 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:02,000 I love brothers and sisters in Christ 676 00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:04,000 I know I am called upon to do that 677 00:33:04,000 --> 00:33:08,000 But to love someone is a significant investment 678 00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:10,000 The truth is if you really love someone 679 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:12,000 You will never be away from them 680 00:33:12,000 --> 00:33:14,000 At least in heart for the rest of your life 681 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:16,000 People fall in love, fall out of love 682 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:18,000 That's a worldly thing 683 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:20,000 That is not a kingdom thing 684 00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:22,000 So God's concept of love is lasting 685 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:24,000 It is eternal, alright? 686 00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:28,000 And so they were, He was asking them to love each other 687 00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:30,000 And the people around them that way 688 00:33:30,000 --> 00:33:32,000 So that they could be found blameless 689 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:35,000 Which is to say if you don't love each other 690 00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:36,000 And the people around you that way 691 00:33:36,000 --> 00:33:40,000 You could be found blamed 692 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:42,000 And that's bad 693 00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:45,000 That's not where you want to be as a believer 694 00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:49,000 Notice that the ultimate judgment will be 695 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:51,000 Before our God and Father 696 00:33:51,000 --> 00:33:54,000 At the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints 697 00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:56,000 Chapter 4 698 00:33:56,000 --> 00:33:58,000 Now be aware that in the original text 699 00:33:58,000 --> 00:34:00,000 There were no chapter divisions 700 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:02,000 Also those cool little titles that exist above 701 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:04,000 In your chapter above sections 702 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:05,000 Those weren't there either, right? 703 00:34:05,000 --> 00:34:07,000 That's there for us to study the Bible 704 00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:08,000 So we can have usage 705 00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:10,000 So when Paul wrote this letter 706 00:34:10,000 --> 00:34:12,000 There was no chapter division 707 00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:13,000 In fact, there was no line 708 00:34:13,000 --> 00:34:14,000 There was no segment 709 00:34:14,000 --> 00:34:18,000 There was no space in between the word saints and finally 710 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:21,000 What comes next is finally, alright? 711 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:23,000 Finally then, brethren 712 00:34:23,000 --> 00:34:26,000 We request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus 713 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:28,000 That as you receive from us instruction 714 00:34:28,000 --> 00:34:31,000 As to how you ought to walk and please God 715 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:33,000 Just as you actually do walk 716 00:34:33,000 --> 00:34:34,000 So basically he's saying 717 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:36,000 You heard from us what you were supposed to do 718 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:40,000 We find out that you are basically doing those things 719 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:45,000 But then he says that you may excel still more, right? 720 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:47,000 So if you're being fairly faithful in God 721 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:50,000 You're doing basically what you know to do 722 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:53,000 By no means is your calling complete, right? 723 00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:57,000 We are required to reach new heights in Jesus 724 00:34:57,000 --> 00:34:59,000 In this verse 725 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:01,000 So there is growth 726 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:03,000 There is an excellence yet coming 727 00:35:03,000 --> 00:35:04,000 Even though someone might say 728 00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:06,000 Hey, that person is amazing 729 00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:07,000 They're doing great, whatever 730 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:10,000 It would be completely reasonable of someone in the Lord 731 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:11,000 To expect you to excel 732 00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:13,000 To do a little more, still more 733 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:16,000 And that was Paul's desire for the church there 734 00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:18,000 That they might excel still more 735 00:35:18,000 --> 00:35:19,000 Verse 2 736 00:35:19,000 --> 00:35:21,000 For, that's a because 737 00:35:21,000 --> 00:35:24,000 For you know what commandments we gave you 738 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:26,000 By the authority of the Lord Jesus 739 00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:28,000 So he's saying you already kind of know 740 00:35:28,000 --> 00:35:30,000 The teachings that we gave you 741 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:32,000 You have access to the word of God 742 00:35:32,000 --> 00:35:35,000 And so for you to kind of blow that off 743 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:37,000 And not do what God told you to do 744 00:35:37,000 --> 00:35:39,000 That's not really reasonable 745 00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:41,000 And for you, if you're doing it pretty well 746 00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:46,000 Then you know you can still always do better 747 00:35:46,000 --> 00:35:47,000 Verse 3 748 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:49,000 For this is the will of God 749 00:35:49,000 --> 00:35:50,000 So this is the desire 750 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:52,000 Now I want you to see that in this for 751 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:54,000 This because this is the will of God 752 00:35:54,000 --> 00:35:56,000 He is saying that just doing the things 753 00:35:56,000 --> 00:35:59,000 That God has told you to do 754 00:35:59,000 --> 00:36:02,000 Is not the will of God 755 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:03,000 That's not enough 756 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:05,000 That's not the sum total of the will of God 757 00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:07,000 There is something more 758 00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:09,000 And that's why he's saying to excel 759 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:12,000 Because he's saying for this is the will of God 760 00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:13,000 Your sanctification 761 00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:16,000 Now again, sanctification is that process 762 00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:18,000 By which you become holy 763 00:36:18,000 --> 00:36:19,000 Different from the world 764 00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:21,000 And truthfully different from anybody else 765 00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:22,000 Different from your parents 766 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:23,000 Different from your friends 767 00:36:23,000 --> 00:36:25,000 Different from your loves 768 00:36:25,000 --> 00:36:26,000 Whatever, different 769 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:28,000 So different the way God is different 770 00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:30,000 Yes, but different from the world 771 00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:32,000 So he is saying that the real goal of God 772 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:34,000 In all of this is your holiness 773 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:35,000 That you're becoming holy 774 00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:36,000 You're being like him 775 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:37,000 Not holier than thou 776 00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:39,000 Not preachy 777 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:41,000 Not stand up as an example 778 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:42,000 Put yourself on a pedestal 779 00:36:42,000 --> 00:36:43,000 And everybody else has got to be like me 780 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:44,000 But rather different 781 00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:46,000 The way that God truly desired for you 782 00:36:46,000 --> 00:36:48,000 To be different in the faith 783 00:36:48,000 --> 00:36:50,000 So that is the goal of God 784 00:36:50,000 --> 00:36:51,000 Your sanctification 785 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:54,000 That is that you abstain from sexual morality 786 00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:58,000 So included in everyone's sanctification 787 00:36:58,000 --> 00:37:00,000 Is abstention from sexual immorality 788 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:03,000 Sexual morality can look like a lot of different things 789 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:06,000 It is the use of sex in any way that God does not authorize 790 00:37:06,000 --> 00:37:09,000 So it could be as simple as you use sex 791 00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:11,000 To tease someone 792 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:12,000 Never actually get around to it 793 00:37:12,000 --> 00:37:13,000 But that's how you get your promotion 794 00:37:13,000 --> 00:37:15,000 Or that's how you get them to do what you want 795 00:37:15,000 --> 00:37:17,000 There's no actual sex involved 796 00:37:17,000 --> 00:37:19,000 It could be you watch or see things 797 00:37:19,000 --> 00:37:20,000 That you should not watch 798 00:37:20,000 --> 00:37:22,000 That's all sexual morality, right? 799 00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:23,000 So he's saying abstain from that 800 00:37:23,000 --> 00:37:25,000 It means go without that 801 00:37:25,000 --> 00:37:26,000 He says in verse 4 802 00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:30,000 That each of you know how to possess his own vessel 803 00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:31,000 In sanctification and honor 804 00:37:31,000 --> 00:37:33,000 So here's the problem with sexual morality 805 00:37:33,000 --> 00:37:34,000 That is just laid out for us 806 00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:38,000 When we participate in sexual immorality of any kind 807 00:37:38,000 --> 00:37:44,000 We lose sight of the image that God has of our physical being 808 00:37:44,000 --> 00:37:48,000 It's very easy, for example, to look at too many pretty girls 809 00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:49,000 And start thinking 810 00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:51,000 You'll start thinking negatively of yourself 811 00:37:51,000 --> 00:37:54,000 And you can be a man or a woman and do that 812 00:37:54,000 --> 00:37:59,000 Or to talk about sex with lewd comments or coarse joking 813 00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:01,000 Like jokes about naked women 814 00:38:01,000 --> 00:38:03,000 Or jokes about sexual acts or whatever 815 00:38:03,000 --> 00:38:09,000 And you are essentially despising the image of the vessel that God has given you 816 00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:11,000 And it becomes bad 817 00:38:11,000 --> 00:38:16,000 And then for women or for men, for example, who actually do become active sexually 818 00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:17,000 Then when they get with their spouse 819 00:38:17,000 --> 00:38:20,000 They've screwed up the relationship before it ever begins 820 00:38:20,000 --> 00:38:23,000 And it takes a miracle and healing from God 821 00:38:23,000 --> 00:38:28,000 And so it's not even about being sexually active or not being sexually active 822 00:38:28,000 --> 00:38:32,000 It's about the fact that whenever a person is involved in sexual morality at any level 823 00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:39,000 They lose that ability to possess their own vessel in sanctification and honor 824 00:38:39,000 --> 00:38:42,000 To recognize that this thing that God gave me has a purpose 825 00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:47,000 And that purpose is a purpose that will fuel my whole life, right? 826 00:38:47,000 --> 00:38:50,000 And then that's the part about the honor 827 00:38:50,000 --> 00:38:52,000 And then also the part about the sanctification 828 00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:55,000 This thing that God gave me is supposed to be different 829 00:38:55,000 --> 00:38:57,000 Everybody wants to be unique and different 830 00:38:57,000 --> 00:38:58,000 And the truth is you are 831 00:38:58,000 --> 00:39:02,000 But the problem is you've been programmed to be like somebody else, right? 832 00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:04,000 Your parents taught you to be like somebody else 833 00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:07,000 Society, TV, social media, etc. etc. 834 00:39:07,000 --> 00:39:09,000 You're always getting programmed to be like somebody else 835 00:39:09,000 --> 00:39:14,000 So you're more of a conglomerate of so many various people than uniquely yourself 836 00:39:14,000 --> 00:39:16,000 When you become uniquely yourself in Christ 837 00:39:16,000 --> 00:39:18,000 And that's what that sanctification is all about 838 00:39:18,000 --> 00:39:20,000 When you become uniquely yourself in Christ 839 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:21,000 You become one 840 00:39:21,000 --> 00:39:23,000 And when you are one and uniquely one 841 00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:26,000 You are then equal to everyone else who is one 842 00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:28,000 This is why in Christ and the Kingdom of God 843 00:39:28,000 --> 00:39:29,000 It does not matter your culture background 844 00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:31,000 It does not matter your skin color 845 00:39:31,000 --> 00:39:32,000 It does not matter your experience 846 00:39:32,000 --> 00:39:35,000 It doesn't matter if you were in prison or not in prison 847 00:39:35,000 --> 00:39:37,000 It doesn't matter if you were caught for tax evasion 848 00:39:37,000 --> 00:39:40,000 It doesn't matter if you molested a child 10 years ago 849 00:39:40,000 --> 00:39:42,000 That's all bad stuff 850 00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:43,000 Everybody's got their bad stuff 851 00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:47,000 But what matters is if you're walking in Christ and allowing him to move you 852 00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:50,000 From that messed up individual that you were 853 00:39:50,000 --> 00:39:53,000 To the one whole being that he's trying to make you into 854 00:39:53,000 --> 00:39:56,000 And because we're all in that process 855 00:39:56,000 --> 00:39:59,000 We're all unique and also equal 856 00:39:59,000 --> 00:40:01,000 Which is why we can say now 857 00:40:01,000 --> 00:40:04,000 There is now therefore no more Jew nor Gentile 858 00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:05,000 And so on 859 00:40:05,000 --> 00:40:07,000 Male nor female and so on 860 00:40:07,000 --> 00:40:09,000 Because this is the goal of God 861 00:40:09,000 --> 00:40:11,000 Let's go back and read it from there 862 00:40:11,000 --> 00:40:15,000 For you know the commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ 863 00:40:15,000 --> 00:40:19,000 For this is the will of God your sanctification 864 00:40:19,000 --> 00:40:21,000 Your wholeness and holiness in God 865 00:40:21,000 --> 00:40:23,000 That is that you abstain from sexual morality 866 00:40:23,000 --> 00:40:28,000 That each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor 867 00:40:28,000 --> 00:40:33,000 Not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God 868 00:40:33,000 --> 00:40:35,000 And that no man transgress 869 00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:38,000 That means you don't cross the line 870 00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:41,000 And defraud his brother in the matter 871 00:40:41,000 --> 00:40:44,000 Because the Lord is the avenger in all these things 872 00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:48,000 So there should be justice and peace amongst us as Christians 873 00:40:48,000 --> 00:40:51,000 Because when you defraud your brother or sister in Christ 874 00:40:51,000 --> 00:40:53,000 When you misuse them in any way 875 00:40:53,000 --> 00:40:55,000 You understand God is the avenger 876 00:40:55,000 --> 00:40:58,000 God is the one who will bring the hammer down 877 00:40:58,000 --> 00:41:00,000 And we know that and because we know that 878 00:41:00,000 --> 00:41:03,000 We should be not willing to hurt others 879 00:41:03,000 --> 00:41:06,000 Certainly not in the body of Christ and truthfully at all 880 00:41:06,000 --> 00:41:08,000 The Lord is the avenger in all these things 881 00:41:08,000 --> 00:41:12,000 Just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you 882 00:41:12,000 --> 00:41:15,000 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity 883 00:41:15,000 --> 00:41:17,000 But in sanctification 884 00:41:17,000 --> 00:41:20,000 It's a great illustration of this in the fish 885 00:41:20,000 --> 00:41:22,000 Fish swim in water 886 00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:24,000 But do they get waterlogged? 887 00:41:24,000 --> 00:41:25,000 They spend their whole life in water 888 00:41:25,000 --> 00:41:27,000 But do they get waterlogged? 889 00:41:27,000 --> 00:41:29,000 No, they are in the water 890 00:41:29,000 --> 00:41:30,000 But they are not of the water 891 00:41:30,000 --> 00:41:32,000 And that's exactly what we're called to be 892 00:41:32,000 --> 00:41:35,000 We live in this world and we're going to be beset all the time 893 00:41:35,000 --> 00:41:38,000 By things that will try to make us impure 894 00:41:38,000 --> 00:41:42,000 And God's goal for us is purity rather than impurity 895 00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:43,000 Sanctification 896 00:41:43,000 --> 00:41:45,000 Be holy yourself in Christ 897 00:41:45,000 --> 00:41:47,000 We're almost done 898 00:41:47,000 --> 00:41:50,000 Consequently, he who rejects this 899 00:41:50,000 --> 00:41:52,000 In other words, if you reject those things that he was just explaining 900 00:41:52,000 --> 00:41:55,000 That true desire of God to make you sanctified 901 00:41:55,000 --> 00:41:58,000 Is not rejecting man 902 00:41:58,000 --> 00:42:03,000 But the God who gives his Holy Spirit to you 903 00:42:03,000 --> 00:42:05,000 There it is 904 00:42:05,000 --> 00:42:08,000 So 905 00:42:08,000 --> 00:42:10,000 This is the point, if you will 906 00:42:10,000 --> 00:42:12,000 This is what he's trying to say 907 00:42:12,000 --> 00:42:16,000 That there is a method of God at work 908 00:42:16,000 --> 00:42:19,000 And we have a response to that method, whatever it is 909 00:42:19,000 --> 00:42:21,000 And there's just a couple things 910 00:42:21,000 --> 00:42:23,000 So today, instead of three points and a conclusion 911 00:42:23,000 --> 00:42:25,000 We're going to have three points total 912 00:42:25,000 --> 00:42:27,000 So it's two points and one for a conclusion 913 00:42:27,000 --> 00:42:28,000 The first one I want you to see 914 00:42:28,000 --> 00:42:29,000 And I think it's pretty obvious 915 00:42:29,000 --> 00:42:31,000 And we're kind of working backwards through the text 916 00:42:31,000 --> 00:42:32,000 Is this 917 00:42:32,000 --> 00:42:34,000 When the tide rises 918 00:42:34,000 --> 00:42:37,000 You can fight the tide 919 00:42:37,000 --> 00:42:39,000 This verse, these end verses 920 00:42:39,000 --> 00:42:42,000 Are about rejecting God after the fact 921 00:42:42,000 --> 00:42:45,000 You could be in this room and say, I believe in God 922 00:42:45,000 --> 00:42:48,000 You could say, I believe in Jesus 923 00:42:48,000 --> 00:42:50,000 But after believing in God and Jesus 924 00:42:50,000 --> 00:42:53,000 It would still be possible for you to reject him 925 00:42:53,000 --> 00:42:54,000 Now you know 926 00:42:54,000 --> 00:42:58,000 I'm not talking about apostasy or losing your salvation 927 00:42:58,000 --> 00:43:00,000 I'm not talking about you said, Paul wasn't 928 00:43:00,000 --> 00:43:03,000 He was praising the church at Thessalonica 929 00:43:03,000 --> 00:43:05,000 We're not talking about people walking with the Lord 930 00:43:05,000 --> 00:43:07,000 It does happen that people will say, I'm a follower of the Lord 931 00:43:07,000 --> 00:43:11,000 And then later come out and say, I really don't believe all that I said I believed 932 00:43:11,000 --> 00:43:13,000 Now I'm walking my own way 933 00:43:13,000 --> 00:43:16,000 Or I found Islam or I found some other thing 934 00:43:16,000 --> 00:43:18,000 So it does happen to people 935 00:43:18,000 --> 00:43:19,000 But I'm not talking about that 936 00:43:19,000 --> 00:43:23,000 I'm talking about a believer who genuinely believes in God 937 00:43:23,000 --> 00:43:26,000 Genuinely believes in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior 938 00:43:26,000 --> 00:43:29,000 And then as this text says, rejects him 939 00:43:29,000 --> 00:43:31,000 But what does the word reject mean? 940 00:43:31,000 --> 00:43:34,000 The King James here translates this despise of him 941 00:43:34,000 --> 00:43:36,000 So what does that mean? 942 00:43:36,000 --> 00:43:37,000 That's kind of a weird word we don't even use 943 00:43:37,000 --> 00:43:39,000 To despise something, we kind of know what it means 944 00:43:39,000 --> 00:43:40,000 Like to look down on it or whatever 945 00:43:40,000 --> 00:43:42,000 We sort of use it in common language 946 00:43:42,000 --> 00:43:46,000 What it really means is to take a thing 947 00:43:46,000 --> 00:43:49,000 And make it impossible for that thing 948 00:43:49,000 --> 00:43:52,000 To do the thing that the thing was made to do 949 00:43:52,000 --> 00:43:54,000 Is that confusing? I don't think so 950 00:43:54,000 --> 00:43:58,000 If you take this chair and you hit it about five or ten times with a sledge hammer 951 00:43:58,000 --> 00:44:01,000 From that point on, it will no longer be useful as a chair 952 00:44:01,000 --> 00:44:03,000 Someone might be able to reparate it 953 00:44:03,000 --> 00:44:05,000 Make it back into the basic shape of a chair 954 00:44:05,000 --> 00:44:06,000 Add some more legs to it 955 00:44:06,000 --> 00:44:08,000 Something like that might be able to get there 956 00:44:08,000 --> 00:44:12,000 We're talking about taking a thing that has a purpose 957 00:44:12,000 --> 00:44:14,000 And making it not useful for that purpose 958 00:44:14,000 --> 00:44:18,000 If you go take all four of your tires off your car 959 00:44:18,000 --> 00:44:19,000 And wheel them into the garage 960 00:44:19,000 --> 00:44:21,000 And leave your car sitting on blocks 961 00:44:21,000 --> 00:44:23,000 Your car, which is designed to take you from place to place 962 00:44:23,000 --> 00:44:25,000 Will no longer be able to do that 963 00:44:25,000 --> 00:44:27,000 You'll still be able to listen to the stereo 964 00:44:27,000 --> 00:44:29,000 You can slam the doors when you're angry 965 00:44:29,000 --> 00:44:31,000 You can store stuff in the trunk 966 00:44:31,000 --> 00:44:34,000 But the car is not going to be able to take you from place to place 967 00:44:34,000 --> 00:44:39,000 So we're talking about removing the efficacy 968 00:44:39,000 --> 00:44:42,000 Taking the effectiveness out of a thing 969 00:44:42,000 --> 00:44:47,000 Except the thing that we're talking about taking the effectiveness out of is God 970 00:44:47,000 --> 00:44:52,000 Ouch! We are rejecting God in that way 971 00:44:52,000 --> 00:44:54,000 As I was thinking about this 972 00:44:54,000 --> 00:44:58,000 I was thinking of a man who had a big home, a mansion that was left to him 973 00:44:58,000 --> 00:44:59,000 We'd call it a mansion 974 00:44:59,000 --> 00:45:01,000 5,000, 6,000 square feet, whatever 975 00:45:01,000 --> 00:45:02,000 Really big house 976 00:45:02,000 --> 00:45:03,000 Very nicely laid out 977 00:45:03,000 --> 00:45:04,000 Multiple bedrooms 978 00:45:04,000 --> 00:45:05,000 10, 12 bedrooms 979 00:45:05,000 --> 00:45:06,000 5 bathrooms, whatever 980 00:45:06,000 --> 00:45:08,000 And he was living in it alone 981 00:45:08,000 --> 00:45:10,000 He had never found a significant other 982 00:45:10,000 --> 00:45:11,000 And he was reaching middle age 983 00:45:11,000 --> 00:45:14,000 And whatever, he was working for a man at an engineering firm 984 00:45:14,000 --> 00:45:17,000 And the man's daughter was also working there 985 00:45:17,000 --> 00:45:19,000 And she was a polite young lady 986 00:45:19,000 --> 00:45:21,000 And way too young for him 987 00:45:21,000 --> 00:45:24,000 25 years apart in age 988 00:45:24,000 --> 00:45:26,000 Wasn't anything romantic going to go on or anything like that 989 00:45:26,000 --> 00:45:29,000 And the man's boss asked him and said 990 00:45:29,000 --> 00:45:30,000 You know, you got that big house 991 00:45:30,000 --> 00:45:32,000 And my daughter is looking to live near you 992 00:45:32,000 --> 00:45:34,000 Because she wants to go to college 993 00:45:34,000 --> 00:45:38,000 Any possibility that you could let her use that part of the house that you're not using 994 00:45:38,000 --> 00:45:40,000 You hardly ever have to see her 995 00:45:40,000 --> 00:45:42,000 And the man's like, yeah, we can do that 996 00:45:42,000 --> 00:45:43,000 Move her on in, go ahead 997 00:45:43,000 --> 00:45:45,000 And he locked out a couple of bedrooms 998 00:45:45,000 --> 00:45:46,000 One for her and one for her closet 999 00:45:46,000 --> 00:45:50,000 And then the kitchen was accessible 1000 00:45:50,000 --> 00:45:52,000 She had her own bathroom and stuff 1001 00:45:52,000 --> 00:45:53,000 Moved her into the house 1002 00:45:53,000 --> 00:45:55,000 Now they didn't see each other all the way 1003 00:45:55,000 --> 00:45:56,000 They were living in the same house 1004 00:45:56,000 --> 00:45:57,000 They didn't see each other all that much 1005 00:45:57,000 --> 00:45:59,000 But when they did, over a period of time 1006 00:45:59,000 --> 00:46:01,000 It started to happen that the man would 1007 00:46:01,000 --> 00:46:04,000 This older man was doing things that was annoying her 1008 00:46:04,000 --> 00:46:06,000 Walking around in his underwear 1009 00:46:06,000 --> 00:46:08,000 Making his coffee in the morning 1010 00:46:08,000 --> 00:46:10,000 Kind of not dressed appropriate 1011 00:46:10,000 --> 00:46:12,000 Watching stuff on the TV that wasn't good 1012 00:46:12,000 --> 00:46:14,000 And she'd wander in the room 1013 00:46:14,000 --> 00:46:17,000 And there's something going on in the TV that would kind of bother her mind 1014 00:46:17,000 --> 00:46:18,000 Things like that 1015 00:46:18,000 --> 00:46:22,000 And so he was letting her stay in the house 1016 00:46:22,000 --> 00:46:24,000 But he was offending her 1017 00:46:24,000 --> 00:46:26,000 Now she was staying there so that she could go to college 1018 00:46:26,000 --> 00:46:28,000 So she started avoiding him 1019 00:46:28,000 --> 00:46:31,000 She said, I'm just not going to go in the kitchen in the morning 1020 00:46:31,000 --> 00:46:33,000 That solves that problem, right? 1021 00:46:33,000 --> 00:46:36,000 I'm just not going to go in the living room when he's in there watching the big screen TV 1022 00:46:36,000 --> 00:46:38,000 That solves that problem, right? 1023 00:46:38,000 --> 00:46:40,000 But still, occasionally they were living in the same house 1024 00:46:40,000 --> 00:46:41,000 They would bump into each other 1025 00:46:41,000 --> 00:46:43,000 He would park her car in 1026 00:46:43,000 --> 00:46:45,000 Things like that 1027 00:46:45,000 --> 00:46:47,000 Ultimately she thought, man 1028 00:46:47,000 --> 00:46:49,000 Even though this place is free and it's a beautiful house 1029 00:46:49,000 --> 00:46:51,000 And I've got all this room 1030 00:46:51,000 --> 00:46:52,000 And everything is taken care of 1031 00:46:52,000 --> 00:46:55,000 And it's right near college where I've got to live somewhere else 1032 00:46:55,000 --> 00:46:56,000 She called her dad up 1033 00:46:56,000 --> 00:46:57,000 And she said, I'm really having trouble living there 1034 00:46:57,000 --> 00:46:58,000 I think I'm just going to live somewhere else 1035 00:46:58,000 --> 00:47:01,000 And his dad's like, I'm not paying for it 1036 00:47:01,000 --> 00:47:02,000 That's where you're living 1037 00:47:02,000 --> 00:47:04,000 Just work it out 1038 00:47:04,000 --> 00:47:06,000 So she's stuck living there with this guy 1039 00:47:06,000 --> 00:47:11,000 Who is seemingly doing intentional things to annoy her 1040 00:47:11,000 --> 00:47:14,000 It becomes an untenable situation 1041 00:47:14,000 --> 00:47:15,000 It sucks 1042 00:47:15,000 --> 00:47:17,000 She's in a horrible spot 1043 00:47:17,000 --> 00:47:21,000 Well, this is the very thing that Christians sometimes do to the Holy Spirit 1044 00:47:21,000 --> 00:47:23,000 Yeah, you can come and live in me 1045 00:47:23,000 --> 00:47:24,000 Yeah, you have a purpose 1046 00:47:24,000 --> 00:47:27,000 You have a thing that you like to see happen, whatever 1047 00:47:27,000 --> 00:47:28,000 As long as you stay out of my way 1048 00:47:28,000 --> 00:47:29,000 You can do whatever you want 1049 00:47:29,000 --> 00:47:31,000 But it's for me and my body 1050 00:47:31,000 --> 00:47:32,000 It's for me and my hands 1051 00:47:32,000 --> 00:47:34,000 For me and my thought processes 1052 00:47:34,000 --> 00:47:36,000 I've got some habits I'm going to keep 1053 00:47:36,000 --> 00:47:38,000 And the Holy Spirit is like, this is really obnoxious 1054 00:47:38,000 --> 00:47:41,000 I have to be here while you watch this stuff you shouldn't watch 1055 00:47:41,000 --> 00:47:44,000 While you see and do these things you shouldn't see and do 1056 00:47:44,000 --> 00:47:46,000 While you participate in activities 1057 00:47:46,000 --> 00:47:50,000 While my heart yearns to heal you 1058 00:47:50,000 --> 00:47:51,000 To free you 1059 00:47:51,000 --> 00:47:54,000 To make you able to do all the things that God wants you to do 1060 00:47:54,000 --> 00:47:57,000 To make you whole and a whole person in the Kingdom of God 1061 00:47:57,000 --> 00:48:00,000 Advancing forward new heights in Jesus every day 1062 00:48:00,000 --> 00:48:02,000 While my heart yearns to do that 1063 00:48:02,000 --> 00:48:05,000 You just keep saying, you're going to do the things that offend me 1064 00:48:05,000 --> 00:48:08,000 And the Holy Spirit's like, well, I'll just stay back 1065 00:48:08,000 --> 00:48:09,000 I'll just stay out of the way 1066 00:48:09,000 --> 00:48:11,000 I'll just be quiet in the corner 1067 00:48:11,000 --> 00:48:15,000 Except, He's the Holy Spirit of God 1068 00:48:15,000 --> 00:48:17,000 He's not one to stay quiet 1069 00:48:17,000 --> 00:48:21,000 He's really being chastised daily and offended daily 1070 00:48:21,000 --> 00:48:25,000 By Christians who are going on to do what they want to do 1071 00:48:25,000 --> 00:48:26,000 Or what their flesh wants to do 1072 00:48:26,000 --> 00:48:28,000 Or misusing the resources of God 1073 00:48:28,000 --> 00:48:31,000 While God is there offering them all this power and authority 1074 00:48:31,000 --> 00:48:35,000 To transform them into something that will truly honor God 1075 00:48:35,000 --> 00:48:38,000 If you say, I'm going to do what I want to do 1076 00:48:38,000 --> 00:48:42,000 Regardless of your discomfort or your opinion 1077 00:48:42,000 --> 00:48:44,000 That's no welcoming to the Holy Spirit 1078 00:48:44,000 --> 00:48:46,000 Rather, that's rejecting Him 1079 00:48:46,000 --> 00:48:48,000 Making Him out to be useless 1080 00:48:48,000 --> 00:48:51,000 If you think of the Holy Spirit as obligatory 1081 00:48:51,000 --> 00:48:54,000 I have to do these things because the Holy Spirit is with me 1082 00:48:54,000 --> 00:48:55,000 I have to talk like this 1083 00:48:55,000 --> 00:48:56,000 I have to act like this 1084 00:48:56,000 --> 00:48:58,000 I've got to follow the rules 1085 00:48:58,000 --> 00:49:00,000 That is not welcoming 1086 00:49:00,000 --> 00:49:04,000 If you only wear all of your clothes when you have friends over 1087 00:49:04,000 --> 00:49:05,000 That's all fine 1088 00:49:05,000 --> 00:49:10,000 But there are probably other habits that you have that you're going to offend 1089 00:49:10,000 --> 00:49:14,000 And if you do not show respect and act welcoming and hospitable to them 1090 00:49:14,000 --> 00:49:15,000 They're going to figure it out 1091 00:49:15,000 --> 00:49:19,000 If you leave your underwear laying on the middle of the living room floor for example 1092 00:49:19,000 --> 00:49:22,000 Even though you're fully dressed, they're going to go, oh, that's there 1093 00:49:22,000 --> 00:49:24,000 I have a problem with that being there 1094 00:49:24,000 --> 00:49:25,000 That's offending me 1095 00:49:25,000 --> 00:49:26,000 Am I supposed to be? 1096 00:49:26,000 --> 00:49:27,000 If your house is a mess 1097 00:49:27,000 --> 00:49:29,000 You say, oh, you're welcome, you're welcome 1098 00:49:29,000 --> 00:49:30,000 But your house is always a mess 1099 00:49:30,000 --> 00:49:33,000 When they come over, it's an issue 1100 00:49:33,000 --> 00:49:36,000 It's not welcoming and hospitable 1101 00:49:36,000 --> 00:49:40,000 So if you think of the Holy Spirit as obligatory 1102 00:49:40,000 --> 00:49:41,000 You're missing out 1103 00:49:41,000 --> 00:49:43,000 You're basically making him out to be useless 1104 00:49:43,000 --> 00:49:45,000 He is so much more than that 1105 00:49:45,000 --> 00:49:48,000 If you think of him as controlling or demanding or needy 1106 00:49:48,000 --> 00:49:51,000 You're missing out 1107 00:49:51,000 --> 00:49:54,000 You're not realizing that he is God-given 1108 00:49:54,000 --> 00:49:57,000 And he is God himself 1109 00:49:57,000 --> 00:50:00,000 He absolutely has a right to run the show 1110 00:50:00,000 --> 00:50:02,000 And frankly, he's used to doing so 1111 00:50:02,000 --> 00:50:07,000 He's not used to people saying no to him 1112 00:50:07,000 --> 00:50:10,000 When he's trying to do what's good for them 1113 00:50:10,000 --> 00:50:11,000 It's as if you're dangling over a cliff 1114 00:50:11,000 --> 00:50:14,000 And he's trying to take your hand or wrap a rope around you to pull you up 1115 00:50:14,000 --> 00:50:17,000 And you're like, no, no, no, I'd just rather dangle here, possibly fall 1116 00:50:17,000 --> 00:50:20,000 He's absolutely going nuts to try to be your friend 1117 00:50:20,000 --> 00:50:22,000 Absolutely going nuts to try to help you 1118 00:50:22,000 --> 00:50:26,000 To exhibit your spiritual gifts and to act through the spiritual disciplines 1119 00:50:26,000 --> 00:50:30,000 He himself feels rejected 1120 00:50:30,000 --> 00:50:35,000 And there is nothing to being changed by the Holy Spirit 1121 00:50:35,000 --> 00:50:37,000 He does all the work 1122 00:50:37,000 --> 00:50:44,000 And yet, there is nothing to be changed about the Holy Spirit 1123 00:50:44,000 --> 00:50:45,000 He is who he is 1124 00:50:45,000 --> 00:50:47,000 And so if you're sitting here today and you're not a Christian 1125 00:50:47,000 --> 00:50:48,000 And you're thinking about being a Christian 1126 00:50:48,000 --> 00:50:52,000 Just realize that when he comes in, he's God 1127 00:50:52,000 --> 00:50:54,000 He's not a demon that you can chase out later 1128 00:50:54,000 --> 00:50:56,000 And then he'll come back and things will get worse 1129 00:50:56,000 --> 00:50:59,000 He's not a teaching of the world that you cannot think about for a while 1130 00:50:59,000 --> 00:51:01,000 And then come back around to it if things go well 1131 00:51:01,000 --> 00:51:03,000 No, he's God 1132 00:51:03,000 --> 00:51:06,000 And you're literally talking about being inhabited by God 1133 00:51:06,000 --> 00:51:08,000 Consider it holiness 1134 00:51:08,000 --> 00:51:09,000 That is God's goal for you 1135 00:51:09,000 --> 00:51:10,000 Rather than safety netting 1136 00:51:10,000 --> 00:51:12,000 I went to the circus when I was a child 1137 00:51:12,000 --> 00:51:14,000 It was really impressive 1138 00:51:14,000 --> 00:51:16,000 In fact, I've been there probably eight or ten times total 1139 00:51:16,000 --> 00:51:19,000 And they had these guys, a swing on, they call it the trapeze 1140 00:51:19,000 --> 00:51:21,000 And they throw themselves 1141 00:51:21,000 --> 00:51:24,000 They had this girl, kind of like a one-piece bikini thing 1142 00:51:24,000 --> 00:51:26,000 And she would dangle from this man's hands 1143 00:51:26,000 --> 00:51:28,000 And then he would whip her in the air 1144 00:51:28,000 --> 00:51:30,000 And they would just go whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh 1145 00:51:30,000 --> 00:51:31,000 Like five loops 1146 00:51:31,000 --> 00:51:32,000 And come to the other side 1147 00:51:32,000 --> 00:51:33,000 And he'd grab her ankles 1148 00:51:33,000 --> 00:51:34,000 And then they'd swing away 1149 00:51:34,000 --> 00:51:36,000 And then come back and whoosh, whoosh, whoosh 1150 00:51:36,000 --> 00:51:37,000 To the other side 1151 00:51:37,000 --> 00:51:38,000 And he'd grab her hands 1152 00:51:38,000 --> 00:51:39,000 And I'm like, that's incredible 1153 00:51:39,000 --> 00:51:40,000 That's amazing 1154 00:51:40,000 --> 00:51:42,000 I can't believe that they can do that 1155 00:51:42,000 --> 00:51:44,000 And then the announcer came over to the PA 1156 00:51:44,000 --> 00:51:46,000 And he said, and now 1157 00:51:46,000 --> 00:51:48,000 We'll drop the net 1158 00:51:48,000 --> 00:51:50,000 And they'll do all of this with no net 1159 00:51:50,000 --> 00:51:53,000 And the crowd went, no 1160 00:51:53,000 --> 00:51:55,000 They're too amazing 1161 00:51:55,000 --> 00:51:57,000 We don't want to see them splat on the pavement below 1162 00:51:57,000 --> 00:51:58,000 And they dropped the net 1163 00:51:58,000 --> 00:52:00,000 And they did all the actions 1164 00:52:00,000 --> 00:52:01,000 And it was all good 1165 00:52:01,000 --> 00:52:02,000 And nobody fell 1166 00:52:02,000 --> 00:52:04,000 And nobody got hurt 1167 00:52:04,000 --> 00:52:06,000 The holiness of God 1168 00:52:06,000 --> 00:52:08,000 Is the Holy Spirit in you at work 1169 00:52:08,000 --> 00:52:09,000 Transforming 1170 00:52:09,000 --> 00:52:10,000 Yes, it seems crazy 1171 00:52:10,000 --> 00:52:11,000 Yes, it seems outside the box 1172 00:52:11,000 --> 00:52:12,000 Yes, it seems risky 1173 00:52:12,000 --> 00:52:14,000 For you to go and tell somebody about Jesus 1174 00:52:14,000 --> 00:52:16,000 Or for you to exhibit your Holy Spirit 1175 00:52:16,000 --> 00:52:17,000 Whatever that might be 1176 00:52:17,000 --> 00:52:19,000 Or for you to spend time praying 1177 00:52:19,000 --> 00:52:20,000 Before you go do something 1178 00:52:20,000 --> 00:52:21,000 You're like, I've got an hour and 15 minutes 1179 00:52:21,000 --> 00:52:22,000 To do three hours of homework 1180 00:52:22,000 --> 00:52:26,000 But I'm going to take seven seconds to pray first 1181 00:52:26,000 --> 00:52:28,000 And that seems nuts 1182 00:52:28,000 --> 00:52:30,000 Because that seven seconds added to that hour and 15 minutes 1183 00:52:30,000 --> 00:52:32,000 Gives you an hour and 15 minutes and seven seconds 1184 00:52:32,000 --> 00:52:34,000 That you can do three hours of your homework 1185 00:52:34,000 --> 00:52:36,000 You don't have enough time to do all the things in this life 1186 00:52:36,000 --> 00:52:37,000 That you want to do anyway 1187 00:52:37,000 --> 00:52:38,000 You don't have enough strength 1188 00:52:38,000 --> 00:52:39,000 You don't have enough capabilities 1189 00:52:39,000 --> 00:52:41,000 You may as well put God first 1190 00:52:41,000 --> 00:52:42,000 The God who can multiply it all 1191 00:52:42,000 --> 00:52:43,000 Magnify it all 1192 00:52:43,000 --> 00:52:44,000 Make it all possible 1193 00:52:44,000 --> 00:52:45,000 He may just increase you 1194 00:52:45,000 --> 00:52:48,000 And cause you to abound 1195 00:52:48,000 --> 00:52:50,000 His desire for you is holiness 1196 00:52:50,000 --> 00:52:52,000 Not a safety net that will take care of you 1197 00:52:52,000 --> 00:52:53,000 Like, oh, when I screw up 1198 00:52:53,000 --> 00:52:54,000 I'm still going to heaven 1199 00:52:54,000 --> 00:52:56,000 Yay for you 1200 00:52:56,000 --> 00:52:57,000 If that's how you think of the Holy Spirit 1201 00:52:57,000 --> 00:52:59,000 As a safety net 1202 00:52:59,000 --> 00:53:02,000 If every time you make a decision 1203 00:53:02,000 --> 00:53:03,000 You're just kind of hoping 1204 00:53:03,000 --> 00:53:05,000 He'll take care of it when it gets screwed up 1205 00:53:05,000 --> 00:53:06,000 If that's your goal 1206 00:53:06,000 --> 00:53:09,000 That is not the Holy Spirit of God 1207 00:53:09,000 --> 00:53:12,000 Not the picture that God has anyway 1208 00:53:12,000 --> 00:53:16,000 A rising tide raises all boats 1209 00:53:16,000 --> 00:53:19,000 In a particular harbor 1210 00:53:19,000 --> 00:53:20,000 And if you're in the harbor 1211 00:53:20,000 --> 00:53:21,000 And the tide goes up 1212 00:53:21,000 --> 00:53:22,000 You will be raised 1213 00:53:22,000 --> 00:53:25,000 But if you're in another harbor 1214 00:53:25,000 --> 00:53:28,000 Or if you're creeping up on land 1215 00:53:28,000 --> 00:53:29,000 Where you don't belong 1216 00:53:29,000 --> 00:53:31,000 Boats don't belong on land 1217 00:53:31,000 --> 00:53:33,000 Then when the tide rises 1218 00:53:33,000 --> 00:53:35,000 You may not rise 1219 00:53:35,000 --> 00:53:42,000 But it is God's goal to raise us to holiness 1220 00:53:42,000 --> 00:53:44,000 The second point then is this 1221 00:53:44,000 --> 00:53:46,000 In these verses it was very clear 1222 00:53:46,000 --> 00:53:47,000 It was where he said 1223 00:53:47,000 --> 00:53:49,000 Even though we see you are doing those things 1224 00:53:49,000 --> 00:53:51,000 We call upon you to excel 1225 00:53:51,000 --> 00:53:54,000 Progress is called for 1226 00:53:54,000 --> 00:53:57,000 He's saying let it rise 1227 00:53:57,000 --> 00:53:59,000 Prepare to ride the tide 1228 00:53:59,000 --> 00:54:02,000 Participate in each other's rising 1229 00:54:02,000 --> 00:54:03,000 Right? 1230 00:54:03,000 --> 00:54:05,000 And celebrate the rise when it happens 1231 00:54:05,000 --> 00:54:08,000 Let's figure out what it is that we can do for God 1232 00:54:08,000 --> 00:54:09,000 What it is that God desires of us 1233 00:54:09,000 --> 00:54:11,000 What it is that we're capable of 1234 00:54:11,000 --> 00:54:12,000 And let's go and do that 1235 00:54:12,000 --> 00:54:16,000 But do it better than we ever thought we could 1236 00:54:16,000 --> 00:54:18,000 And it might be that you know something 1237 00:54:18,000 --> 00:54:22,000 There's a commercial that's playing on streaming like on Roku right now 1238 00:54:22,000 --> 00:54:25,000 And it says there 1239 00:54:25,000 --> 00:54:28,000 It's talking about the days of your life 1240 00:54:28,000 --> 00:54:34,000 And how incredible it is the day you discover what you were made for 1241 00:54:34,000 --> 00:54:36,000 The day you got saved 1242 00:54:36,000 --> 00:54:39,000 You said okay God show me what I'm made for 1243 00:54:39,000 --> 00:54:40,000 Show me what I can do 1244 00:54:40,000 --> 00:54:43,000 How can I glorify you and honor you and make something of myself 1245 00:54:43,000 --> 00:54:46,000 That nobody else could do it exactly like I do it 1246 00:54:46,000 --> 00:54:49,000 Not that I'm going to go be a Christian 1247 00:54:49,000 --> 00:54:54,000 Part of some movement that there are 12 million other people doing the exact same things that I'm doing 1248 00:54:54,000 --> 00:54:57,000 No I want to be me serving you 1249 00:54:57,000 --> 00:55:00,000 With you in me serving me serving you 1250 00:55:00,000 --> 00:55:04,000 I want to start this cycle in a way that it never stops 1251 00:55:04,000 --> 00:55:06,000 Progress is called for 1252 00:55:06,000 --> 00:55:07,000 Let it rise 1253 00:55:07,000 --> 00:55:10,000 Prepare to ride the tide 1254 00:55:10,000 --> 00:55:14,000 Participate in each other's lives so that everybody has the same opportunity 1255 00:55:14,000 --> 00:55:19,000 And then celebrate the rise 1256 00:55:19,000 --> 00:55:28,000 1 Peter was a disciple of Jesus and a really close friend of Jesus 1257 00:55:28,000 --> 00:55:30,000 And became a leader in the early church 1258 00:55:30,000 --> 00:55:32,000 And in the book of 1 Peter in chapter 1 1259 00:55:32,000 --> 00:55:37,000 He gives us a word picture of exactly what we're talking about when we talk about rising 1260 00:55:37,000 --> 00:55:38,000 Beginning to rise 1261 00:55:38,000 --> 00:55:40,000 Celebrating each other's rise 1262 00:55:40,000 --> 00:55:43,000 And I'm going to read it I'm not going to break it down as we go through it for the interest of time 1263 00:55:43,000 --> 00:55:47,000 I encourage you to study it some more later if that's something you feel the Lord leading you to do 1264 00:55:47,000 --> 00:55:51,000 It's 1 Peter chapter 1 beginning in verse 12 and it says as follows 1265 00:55:51,000 --> 00:55:52,000 It was revealed to them 1266 00:55:52,000 --> 00:55:56,000 This is the people who came before Jesus was living 1267 00:55:56,000 --> 00:55:58,000 Died buried rose again 1268 00:55:58,000 --> 00:56:00,000 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves 1269 00:56:00,000 --> 00:56:06,000 But you and these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you 1270 00:56:06,000 --> 00:56:09,000 By the Holy Spirit sent from heaven 1271 00:56:09,000 --> 00:56:12,000 Things into which angels long to look 1272 00:56:12,000 --> 00:56:18,000 So people before realized they were living for what God was going to do that he hadn't done yet 1273 00:56:18,000 --> 00:56:24,000 And even angels wanted to know the part that they knew part that they figured out 1274 00:56:24,000 --> 00:56:26,000 Verse 13 therefore 1275 00:56:26,000 --> 00:56:28,000 Gird your minds for action 1276 00:56:28,000 --> 00:56:29,000 Let's get ready 1277 00:56:29,000 --> 00:56:30,000 Let's go 1278 00:56:30,000 --> 00:56:32,000 Keep sober in spirit 1279 00:56:32,000 --> 00:56:36,000 In other words let's not drift off into all these excesses that the world proposes are good for us 1280 00:56:36,000 --> 00:56:39,000 Let's be focused on doing what it is that God would have us to do 1281 00:56:39,000 --> 00:56:45,000 Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ 1282 00:56:45,000 --> 00:56:48,000 In other words live your life for the free gift of grace that God has given you 1283 00:56:48,000 --> 00:56:51,000 And how you will be declared innocent when that time comes 1284 00:56:51,000 --> 00:56:57,000 As obedient children do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance 1285 00:56:57,000 --> 00:56:59,000 But like the Holy One who called you 1286 00:56:59,000 --> 00:57:04,000 Be holy yourselves also in all your behavior 1287 00:57:04,000 --> 00:57:05,000 Because it is written 1288 00:57:05,000 --> 00:57:08,000 You shall be holy for I am holy 1289 00:57:08,000 --> 00:57:13,000 And if you address as father the one who impartially judges according to each man's work 1290 00:57:13,000 --> 00:57:18,000 Conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay upon earth 1291 00:57:18,000 --> 00:57:24,000 Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life 1292 00:57:24,000 --> 00:57:26,000 Inherited from your forefathers 1293 00:57:26,000 --> 00:57:30,000 But with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless 1294 00:57:30,000 --> 00:57:32,000 The blood of Christ 1295 00:57:32,000 --> 00:57:37,000 For he was foreknown before the foundation of the world 1296 00:57:37,000 --> 00:57:44,000 But has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God 1297 00:57:44,000 --> 00:57:49,000 Who raised him from the dead and gave him glory so that your faith and hope are in God 1298 00:57:49,000 --> 00:57:52,000 Notice that there is a participation that is called for 1299 00:57:52,000 --> 00:57:54,000 There is an action 1300 00:57:54,000 --> 00:57:56,000 A set of choices 1301 00:57:56,000 --> 00:57:58,000 A requirement and a restriction 1302 00:57:58,000 --> 00:58:00,000 Who's supposed to put that into place? 1303 00:58:00,000 --> 00:58:04,000 Who is the one who's supposed to say you can't watch pornography? 1304 00:58:04,000 --> 00:58:08,000 Who is the one who's supposed to say you can't stab your friends or family members in the back? 1305 00:58:08,000 --> 00:58:11,000 Who is the one who's supposed to say you can't go around lying? 1306 00:58:11,000 --> 00:58:12,000 Is it God? 1307 00:58:12,000 --> 00:58:14,000 No! 1308 00:58:14,000 --> 00:58:15,000 It's you! 1309 00:58:15,000 --> 00:58:17,000 You're the one! 1310 00:58:17,000 --> 00:58:20,000 Filled with the Holy Spirit of God, empowered to know right from wrong 1311 00:58:20,000 --> 00:58:25,000 Desiring, realizing you will one day receive true grace if you're a Christian 1312 00:58:25,000 --> 00:58:29,000 At the coming of Christ again you'll receive true grace at every mistake you've ever made forgiven 1313 00:58:29,000 --> 00:58:31,000 And in eternity in heaven with God 1314 00:58:31,000 --> 00:58:34,000 Realizing that you live for what that's going to be like then 1315 00:58:34,000 --> 00:58:36,000 And you set standards for yourself 1316 00:58:36,000 --> 00:58:40,000 Now the problem is the world will also set standards for yourself 1317 00:58:40,000 --> 00:58:43,000 But their boats are in another marina 1318 00:58:43,000 --> 00:58:47,000 The standards that they set fluctuate from time to time and so on 1319 00:58:47,000 --> 00:58:53,000 Peter was saying, focus! 1320 00:58:53,000 --> 00:58:55,000 Let it rise! 1321 00:58:55,000 --> 00:58:56,000 Let the tide rise! 1322 00:58:56,000 --> 00:58:58,000 Let us prepare to ride the tide! 1323 00:58:58,000 --> 00:59:04,000 Participate in others rise and celebrate the rise as it happens 1324 00:59:04,000 --> 00:59:09,000 We have a job to do, sober minded, we have a job to do 1325 00:59:09,000 --> 00:59:14,000 Let God's Holy Spirit reign in you and make those choices 1326 00:59:14,000 --> 00:59:18,000 That brings us to our conclusion and also our third point 1327 00:59:18,000 --> 00:59:24,000 And it was in those verses where it said either living or really living 1328 00:59:24,000 --> 00:59:28,000 It doesn't translate super well into the English and that's why it's like that 1329 00:59:28,000 --> 00:59:31,000 But clearly it wasn't talking about being alive like taking breaths and so on 1330 00:59:31,000 --> 00:59:33,000 I talked about that before 1331 00:59:33,000 --> 00:59:40,000 Let me tell you now what God has revealed to me about what really living is 1332 00:59:40,000 --> 00:59:43,000 According to Paul it's just one thing 1333 00:59:43,000 --> 00:59:45,000 Just one thing made it 1334 00:59:45,000 --> 00:59:46,000 Now he was living in Christ 1335 00:59:46,000 --> 00:59:48,000 He had Holy Spirit gifts 1336 00:59:48,000 --> 00:59:52,000 He had miraculously healed people by praying and laying on hands 1337 00:59:52,000 --> 00:59:55,000 He had preached the gospel in a dozen nations 1338 00:59:55,000 --> 00:59:59,000 And started churches all over the Gentile world 1339 00:59:59,000 --> 01:00:03,000 Including in Thessalonica which he's now celebrating there continuing 1340 01:00:03,000 --> 01:00:11,000 He'd done all that and on top of that he says here is what really living is 1341 01:00:11,000 --> 01:00:14,000 As soon as I tell you what it is some of you are going to go, I felt that 1342 01:00:14,000 --> 01:00:17,000 I kind of know that, I know what that's like 1343 01:00:17,000 --> 01:00:24,000 Really living is loving someone enough to want what's best for them 1344 01:00:24,000 --> 01:00:28,000 And then seeing them do well 1345 01:00:28,000 --> 01:00:29,000 That's what he said 1346 01:00:29,000 --> 01:00:31,000 That's what really living is 1347 01:00:31,000 --> 01:00:36,000 Go back and look at 1 Thessalonians chapter 3 verse 8 1348 01:00:36,000 --> 01:00:38,000 I got to go back there now 1349 01:00:38,000 --> 01:00:44,000 We read it together 1350 01:00:44,000 --> 01:00:48,000 He says and I'll go back to the top of 6 1351 01:00:48,000 --> 01:00:52,000 But now that Timothy has come to us from you and has brought us good news 1352 01:00:52,000 --> 01:00:55,000 Of your faith and love and that you always think kindly of us 1353 01:00:55,000 --> 01:00:58,000 Longing to see us just as we also long to see you 1354 01:00:58,000 --> 01:01:00,000 They had faith, hope, love 1355 01:01:00,000 --> 01:01:02,000 For this reason brethren in all our distresses and afflictions 1356 01:01:02,000 --> 01:01:05,000 We were comforted about you through the faith 1357 01:01:05,000 --> 01:01:10,000 For now we really live if you stand firm in the Lord 1358 01:01:10,000 --> 01:01:14,000 He desired for the church at Thessalonica that they would discover 1359 01:01:14,000 --> 01:01:16,000 This very same thing that we're talking about 1360 01:01:16,000 --> 01:01:20,000 That God is in the business of rising the tide 1361 01:01:20,000 --> 01:01:22,000 He's in the business of bringing people to holiness 1362 01:01:22,000 --> 01:01:25,000 He's in the business of bringing people to a relationship with him 1363 01:01:25,000 --> 01:01:27,000 That goes on for an eternity 1364 01:01:27,000 --> 01:01:30,000 And you become the kind of person that God crafted you to be 1365 01:01:30,000 --> 01:01:33,000 That you never were because you had sinned, your parents had sinned 1366 01:01:33,000 --> 01:01:36,000 Things were done, things happened, memories plugged in your brain 1367 01:01:36,000 --> 01:01:37,000 That you can never quite get rid of 1368 01:01:37,000 --> 01:01:40,000 All kinds of programming, etc. 1369 01:01:40,000 --> 01:01:42,000 And to be born again, to become a Christian 1370 01:01:42,000 --> 01:01:45,000 Is to enter into the marina where God raises the tide 1371 01:01:45,000 --> 01:01:47,000 And all boats rise 1372 01:01:47,000 --> 01:01:49,000 Unless of course you reject him 1373 01:01:49,000 --> 01:01:52,000 Unless of course you refuse to progress 1374 01:01:52,000 --> 01:01:55,000 But we're called not to 1375 01:01:55,000 --> 01:01:58,000 And when we do not, we find others 1376 01:01:58,000 --> 01:02:01,000 And I submit to you that there are other people in this room that you care about 1377 01:02:01,000 --> 01:02:02,000 You brought them here 1378 01:02:02,000 --> 01:02:06,000 You came here because there are other people here that you love 1379 01:02:06,000 --> 01:02:08,000 You came here because there are other people that you want to see do well 1380 01:02:08,000 --> 01:02:10,000 Maybe it's me, maybe you're hoping for me 1381 01:02:10,000 --> 01:02:14,000 That I'll figure something out today, that I'll do better, whatever 1382 01:02:14,000 --> 01:02:17,000 The best thing you could possibly do is love someone 1383 01:02:17,000 --> 01:02:19,000 And see them doing well 1384 01:02:19,000 --> 01:02:23,000 And you go, whoa, wait a minute, it's not kingdom well 1385 01:02:23,000 --> 01:02:25,000 I mean it's not world well, it is kingdom well 1386 01:02:25,000 --> 01:02:28,000 It's not world well because people get promotions 1387 01:02:28,000 --> 01:02:30,000 And then get fired later from the same job 1388 01:02:30,000 --> 01:02:32,000 And by the way, when you get promoted a couple times 1389 01:02:32,000 --> 01:02:34,000 You start thinking, oh this is awesome, I'm really loving my job 1390 01:02:34,000 --> 01:02:37,000 And then you suddenly get fired, it feels like death 1391 01:02:37,000 --> 01:02:41,000 It feels way worse than if you'd have never got promoted in the first place 1392 01:02:41,000 --> 01:02:44,000 And so the bottom line is this, it's not world well 1393 01:02:44,000 --> 01:02:47,000 Even though we like to see our kids, people go to graduation ceremonies 1394 01:02:47,000 --> 01:02:50,000 Isn't it awesome to see kids walk at graduation? 1395 01:02:50,000 --> 01:02:53,000 Or college students walk at graduation, that's great 1396 01:02:53,000 --> 01:02:55,000 And we're super excited for them 1397 01:02:55,000 --> 01:02:58,000 But that is a facsimile 1398 01:02:58,000 --> 01:03:00,000 It's a shell 1399 01:03:00,000 --> 01:03:03,000 It's there to teach you that what you really can live through 1400 01:03:03,000 --> 01:03:06,000 What you really can experience, what's really good for you 1401 01:03:06,000 --> 01:03:08,000 What you really feel alive in 1402 01:03:08,000 --> 01:03:11,000 Is when you find someone else and you love them enough 1403 01:03:11,000 --> 01:03:13,000 That you would actually die for them 1404 01:03:13,000 --> 01:03:15,000 And that does exist by the way 1405 01:03:15,000 --> 01:03:18,000 In fact, if it's not like that, it's debatably real love 1406 01:03:18,000 --> 01:03:20,000 But you love them enough that you would sacrifice for them 1407 01:03:20,000 --> 01:03:27,000 And then you see them doing well, kingdom well 1408 01:03:27,000 --> 01:03:32,000 Worldly well is a hollow substitute 1409 01:03:32,000 --> 01:03:35,000 But if you can do well, even under tribulation 1410 01:03:35,000 --> 01:03:38,000 The Thessalonians were under tribulation 1411 01:03:38,000 --> 01:03:41,000 Paul was under tribulation, they desired him to do well 1412 01:03:41,000 --> 01:03:43,000 He desired that they would do well 1413 01:03:43,000 --> 01:03:45,000 And both did well 1414 01:03:45,000 --> 01:03:47,000 Yes, he got whipped within an inch of his life 1415 01:03:47,000 --> 01:03:49,000 Yes, he was stoned and left for dead 1416 01:03:49,000 --> 01:03:52,000 Yes, he had to be lowered in a basket through the wall so that soldiers wouldn't kill him 1417 01:03:52,000 --> 01:03:54,000 Yes, he was persecuted 1418 01:03:54,000 --> 01:03:55,000 Yes, he had tribulations 1419 01:03:55,000 --> 01:03:59,000 Yes, things did not go for him in the world system the way he might have desired 1420 01:03:59,000 --> 01:04:01,000 But in the kingdom, he did well 1421 01:04:01,000 --> 01:04:04,000 And they were longing to see him and longing to know that he was doing well 1422 01:04:04,000 --> 01:04:06,000 And he saw that they did well 1423 01:04:06,000 --> 01:04:08,000 That they loved one another and so on 1424 01:04:08,000 --> 01:04:11,000 And he was encouraging them to excel and do better 1425 01:04:11,000 --> 01:04:14,000 Because that's what's required of us as we move towards sanctification 1426 01:04:14,000 --> 01:04:17,000 To put away sexual morality, to put away betrayal 1427 01:04:17,000 --> 01:04:19,000 To put those things away and truly live for the Lord 1428 01:04:19,000 --> 01:04:21,000 He desired for them to excel and do better 1429 01:04:21,000 --> 01:04:27,000 And he said what he was hearing of them made him alive 1430 01:04:27,000 --> 01:04:30,000 Now if you're a mother or a father in the room 1431 01:04:30,000 --> 01:04:34,000 And you have seen your child do well, exhibit godly behavior 1432 01:04:34,000 --> 01:04:37,000 Show patience toward another child 1433 01:04:37,000 --> 01:04:40,000 Apologize without being told they had to 1434 01:04:40,000 --> 01:04:45,000 Work, pick up, clean, volunteer without being told they had to 1435 01:04:45,000 --> 01:04:47,000 Then you have that inkling 1436 01:04:47,000 --> 01:04:50,000 You have that beginning of that feeling, you know what he's talking about 1437 01:04:50,000 --> 01:04:55,000 I have children who have grown up and are serving the Lord in our church 1438 01:04:55,000 --> 01:04:57,000 And when I see them do well 1439 01:04:57,000 --> 01:05:00,000 And I realize that they are doing that because they are serving God 1440 01:05:00,000 --> 01:05:02,000 Not because I am imploring them to 1441 01:05:02,000 --> 01:05:04,000 Not because I desire them to, well that's definitely true, right? 1442 01:05:04,000 --> 01:05:06,000 But because they want to serve God 1443 01:05:06,000 --> 01:05:09,000 And I see that there is nothing like it 1444 01:05:09,000 --> 01:05:12,000 I have never watched a TV show that fulfills like that 1445 01:05:12,000 --> 01:05:14,000 I have never eaten a meal that tastes like that 1446 01:05:14,000 --> 01:05:18,000 I have never received a word of encouragement unto me that feels like that 1447 01:05:18,000 --> 01:05:23,000 There is nothing in life like loving someone and wanting them to do well 1448 01:05:23,000 --> 01:05:25,000 And seeing them do well 1449 01:05:25,000 --> 01:05:27,000 And in the kingdom it's like that 1450 01:05:27,000 --> 01:05:29,000 If you've got a child, if you've got a friend, if there is somebody in this church 1451 01:05:29,000 --> 01:05:31,000 You're like, I hope they do well 1452 01:05:31,000 --> 01:05:34,000 And you desire good for them even if you are willing to sacrifice yourself 1453 01:05:34,000 --> 01:05:36,000 And then to see them do well, Paul tells us 1454 01:05:36,000 --> 01:05:38,000 That is living 1455 01:05:38,000 --> 01:05:40,000 That is feeling and living life 1456 01:05:40,000 --> 01:05:44,000 And I submit to you Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly 1457 01:05:44,000 --> 01:05:48,000 And you cannot have abundant life unless you can care about somebody else 1458 01:05:48,000 --> 01:05:50,000 Enough that you would sacrifice for them 1459 01:05:50,000 --> 01:05:53,000 And then see them do well 1460 01:05:53,000 --> 01:05:55,000 That is abundant life 1461 01:05:55,000 --> 01:06:00,000 Why? Why is it like that? Because frankly, talk is cheap 1462 01:06:00,000 --> 01:06:02,000 You could talk about Jesus 1463 01:06:02,000 --> 01:06:03,000 You could talk about God 1464 01:06:03,000 --> 01:06:07,000 But living for God, sacrificing for God, serving for God, giving for God 1465 01:06:07,000 --> 01:06:10,000 Putting yourself out there without anybody asking you to 1466 01:06:10,000 --> 01:06:11,000 Without anybody forcing you to 1467 01:06:11,000 --> 01:06:13,000 Your parents not holding your hand, nobody kicking you in the butt 1468 01:06:13,000 --> 01:06:15,000 You're just doing it because it's the right thing to do 1469 01:06:15,000 --> 01:06:18,000 That's not just talk 1470 01:06:18,000 --> 01:06:20,000 That's action 1471 01:06:20,000 --> 01:06:22,000 That's embracing the rising tide 1472 01:06:22,000 --> 01:06:24,000 I'm going up because God says go up 1473 01:06:24,000 --> 01:06:26,000 If God says go down, I'm going down 1474 01:06:26,000 --> 01:06:28,000 If God says go out, I'm going out 1475 01:06:28,000 --> 01:06:29,000 I am faithful to the Lord 1476 01:06:29,000 --> 01:06:30,000 Talk is cheap 1477 01:06:30,000 --> 01:06:31,000 Say it, go ahead 1478 01:06:31,000 --> 01:06:33,000 I love Jesus 1479 01:06:33,000 --> 01:06:35,000 You could be here today and be a Christian 1480 01:06:35,000 --> 01:06:38,000 And by the way, if you can't say I love Jesus, you're probably not a Christian 1481 01:06:38,000 --> 01:06:42,000 Right? If you can't say Jesus is Lord, you are surely not a Christian 1482 01:06:42,000 --> 01:06:45,000 But you could be here today and say I love Jesus and Jesus is my Lord 1483 01:06:45,000 --> 01:06:47,000 And you could actually be saved 1484 01:06:47,000 --> 01:06:51,000 But you will never experience the life that God has for you 1485 01:06:51,000 --> 01:06:54,000 Until you embrace the rising tide of the Holy Spirit 1486 01:06:54,000 --> 01:06:58,000 That's intention is to make you holy and different 1487 01:06:58,000 --> 01:07:00,000 You, complete, uniquely you 1488 01:07:00,000 --> 01:07:02,000 God wrote on your DNA 1489 01:07:02,000 --> 01:07:04,000 Like they can identify you down 1490 01:07:04,000 --> 01:07:07,000 You might be pretty close to your brother, familial match or whatever 1491 01:07:07,000 --> 01:07:09,000 But nobody's got your DNA 1492 01:07:09,000 --> 01:07:13,000 And an identical twin has identical DNA 1493 01:07:13,000 --> 01:07:15,000 But then out of that DNA, so much happens 1494 01:07:15,000 --> 01:07:17,000 They're still not identical 1495 01:07:17,000 --> 01:07:18,000 They can look exactly alike 1496 01:07:18,000 --> 01:07:20,000 And you've ever hung around identical twins for a minute? 1497 01:07:20,000 --> 01:07:22,000 They may have a lot of habits that are the same 1498 01:07:22,000 --> 01:07:24,000 A lot of things, but after you get to know them, you realize 1499 01:07:24,000 --> 01:07:27,000 They are two uniquely different people 1500 01:07:27,000 --> 01:07:28,000 And that's it 1501 01:07:28,000 --> 01:07:30,000 Talk is cheap 1502 01:07:30,000 --> 01:07:32,000 I'm a man of God 1503 01:07:32,000 --> 01:07:33,000 I'll be there to help 1504 01:07:33,000 --> 01:07:35,000 I'll give 1505 01:07:35,000 --> 01:07:36,000 See how good I'm doing? 1506 01:07:36,000 --> 01:07:37,000 It's all cheap 1507 01:07:37,000 --> 01:07:39,000 It means squat 1508 01:07:39,000 --> 01:07:42,000 But when people actually show up and do what they're supposed to do 1509 01:07:42,000 --> 01:07:44,000 And you love that person, you care about this person 1510 01:07:44,000 --> 01:07:46,000 Then you see them do what they're doing 1511 01:07:46,000 --> 01:07:49,000 And man, that's powerful 1512 01:07:49,000 --> 01:07:52,000 Why? 1513 01:07:52,000 --> 01:07:54,000 Because track record 1514 01:07:54,000 --> 01:07:56,000 This speaks of future likelihood 1515 01:07:56,000 --> 01:07:59,000 I would like to say that the people that I'm looking at 1516 01:07:59,000 --> 01:08:01,000 That we're going to stand there one day in front of Jesus 1517 01:08:01,000 --> 01:08:04,000 And every single one of us is going to get that welcome 1518 01:08:04,000 --> 01:08:06,000 Well done good and faithful servant 1519 01:08:06,000 --> 01:08:07,000 I'd like to say that 1520 01:08:07,000 --> 01:08:08,000 I'd like to know that 1521 01:08:08,000 --> 01:08:10,000 Because I only see people in this room that I love 1522 01:08:10,000 --> 01:08:12,000 Literally some of you, I know very well 1523 01:08:12,000 --> 01:08:14,000 And I still have a feeling of love towards you 1524 01:08:14,000 --> 01:08:15,000 And I only see people I love 1525 01:08:15,000 --> 01:08:17,000 I want to be there with Jesus 1526 01:08:17,000 --> 01:08:19,000 I want Jesus to put his arms around each one of us individually 1527 01:08:19,000 --> 01:08:20,000 Or all of us at the same time 1528 01:08:20,000 --> 01:08:21,000 I don't care because he's big 1529 01:08:21,000 --> 01:08:22,000 He can do whatever he wants 1530 01:08:22,000 --> 01:08:24,000 He can multiply himself a million times 1531 01:08:24,000 --> 01:08:25,000 And hug us all at once 1532 01:08:25,000 --> 01:08:26,000 It'll be awesome 1533 01:08:26,000 --> 01:08:27,000 And he said, well done good 1534 01:08:27,000 --> 01:08:29,000 I want that to be true for us 1535 01:08:29,000 --> 01:08:30,000 And when I see track record 1536 01:08:30,000 --> 01:08:32,000 When I see people repeatedly doing 1537 01:08:32,000 --> 01:08:33,000 Faithfully showing up 1538 01:08:33,000 --> 01:08:35,000 Serving, giving, going out of their way 1539 01:08:35,000 --> 01:08:37,000 They push past barriers 1540 01:08:37,000 --> 01:08:38,000 They overcome tribulations 1541 01:08:38,000 --> 01:08:40,000 And do what it is that God would have them do 1542 01:08:40,000 --> 01:08:42,000 I think, maybe 1543 01:08:42,000 --> 01:08:43,000 It looks like 1544 01:08:43,000 --> 01:08:44,000 It's established 1545 01:08:44,000 --> 01:08:45,000 And then once they've done that 1546 01:08:45,000 --> 01:08:47,000 Ten times, twenty times, a hundred times 1547 01:08:47,000 --> 01:08:49,000 You have every reason to believe 1548 01:08:49,000 --> 01:08:51,000 That that person's going to get that well done 1549 01:08:51,000 --> 01:08:52,000 Good and faithful servant 1550 01:08:52,000 --> 01:08:53,000 Track record 1551 01:08:53,000 --> 01:08:54,000 Testifies 1552 01:08:54,000 --> 01:08:57,000 Bespeaks of a future likelihood of a rival 1553 01:08:57,000 --> 01:08:59,000 And we're all going to spend eternity together 1554 01:08:59,000 --> 01:09:01,000 Or are we? 1555 01:09:01,000 --> 01:09:04,000 Because somebody's going to be fighting the tide 1556 01:09:04,000 --> 01:09:05,000 And I can't do anything about that 1557 01:09:05,000 --> 01:09:07,000 And it's just as heartbreaking to watch somebody fight the tide 1558 01:09:07,000 --> 01:09:09,000 As it is to see them establish a track record 1559 01:09:09,000 --> 01:09:10,000 That makes me think 1560 01:09:10,000 --> 01:09:12,000 Oh, we're going to make it 1561 01:09:12,000 --> 01:09:16,000 Multiplying glory to God feels good 1562 01:09:16,000 --> 01:09:17,000 That's why I love to see it 1563 01:09:17,000 --> 01:09:18,000 And we all love 1564 01:09:18,000 --> 01:09:20,000 And we can live big, if you will 1565 01:09:20,000 --> 01:09:21,000 When someone is seen doing the things 1566 01:09:21,000 --> 01:09:23,000 They're supposed to do in the Lord 1567 01:09:23,000 --> 01:09:25,000 Because when God gets the glory 1568 01:09:25,000 --> 01:09:27,000 And you love God 1569 01:09:27,000 --> 01:09:29,000 You're happy 1570 01:09:29,000 --> 01:09:31,000 That's great 1571 01:09:31,000 --> 01:09:32,000 You go to somebody's birthday party 1572 01:09:32,000 --> 01:09:33,000 They're your best friend 1573 01:09:33,000 --> 01:09:34,000 You go there, right? 1574 01:09:34,000 --> 01:09:36,000 And everybody ignores the birthday boy 1575 01:09:36,000 --> 01:09:37,000 Nobody sings happy birthday 1576 01:09:37,000 --> 01:09:40,000 There's no cake, no candles, and no presents 1577 01:09:40,000 --> 01:09:43,000 I'm going to say something about that 1578 01:09:43,000 --> 01:09:44,000 That's a problem 1579 01:09:44,000 --> 01:09:45,000 It's his birthday party 1580 01:09:45,000 --> 01:09:46,000 Why are we not celebrating his birthday? 1581 01:09:46,000 --> 01:09:47,000 Well, because before you got here 1582 01:09:47,000 --> 01:09:48,000 He said something nasty 1583 01:09:48,000 --> 01:09:49,000 So we just put it all away 1584 01:09:49,000 --> 01:09:51,000 Now we're not having a birthday party for him 1585 01:09:51,000 --> 01:09:55,000 No, that's not happening 1586 01:09:55,000 --> 01:09:57,000 But when you glorify God 1587 01:09:57,000 --> 01:09:58,000 Because you love God 1588 01:09:58,000 --> 01:10:00,000 And then when you see God being glorified 1589 01:10:00,000 --> 01:10:02,000 It feels fulfilling 1590 01:10:02,000 --> 01:10:05,000 You recognize, okay, this is what we're supposed to be doing 1591 01:10:05,000 --> 01:10:07,000 And because God is pleased 1592 01:10:07,000 --> 01:10:09,000 And pleasing God is our desire 1593 01:10:09,000 --> 01:10:12,000 So when Brother Chris does something that God would love him to do 1594 01:10:12,000 --> 01:10:14,000 And Brother Tommy does something God would love him to do 1595 01:10:14,000 --> 01:10:17,000 God is pleased with that 1596 01:10:17,000 --> 01:10:18,000 And we want to please him 1597 01:10:18,000 --> 01:10:20,000 And so I see God being pleased 1598 01:10:20,000 --> 01:10:22,000 I can't see the look on God's face 1599 01:10:22,000 --> 01:10:27,000 But I see God being pleased 1600 01:10:27,000 --> 01:10:31,000 Overcoming temptation 1601 01:10:31,000 --> 01:10:34,000 In the case of the Thessalonica and in the case of Paul 1602 01:10:34,000 --> 01:10:37,000 Both of them had been through the wringer 1603 01:10:37,000 --> 01:10:41,000 They have literally been tempted by every possible avenue 1604 01:10:41,000 --> 01:10:43,000 And if you can overcome temptation to walk away from the Lord 1605 01:10:43,000 --> 01:10:45,000 Temptation to not believe 1606 01:10:45,000 --> 01:10:46,000 Temptation to do what you want 1607 01:10:46,000 --> 01:10:48,000 Instead of what God is teaching you to do 1608 01:10:48,000 --> 01:10:49,000 Temptation to be unholy with the world 1609 01:10:49,000 --> 01:10:51,000 Rather than holy with God 1610 01:10:51,000 --> 01:10:54,000 If you can overcome that temptation 1611 01:10:54,000 --> 01:10:56,000 Oh boy 1612 01:10:56,000 --> 01:10:58,000 You're going to be somebody 1613 01:10:58,000 --> 01:11:00,000 You're going to be somebody in the Kingdom of God 1614 01:11:00,000 --> 01:11:03,000 Realize that the greatest in the Kingdom of God 1615 01:11:03,000 --> 01:11:05,000 Should be your servant 1616 01:11:05,000 --> 01:11:06,000 And you may propel people 1617 01:11:06,000 --> 01:11:07,000 You may fall in love 1618 01:11:07,000 --> 01:11:09,000 Not worldly 1619 01:11:09,000 --> 01:11:10,000 Real 1620 01:11:10,000 --> 01:11:11,000 Fall in love with some other people 1621 01:11:11,000 --> 01:11:14,000 Your church, your family members, your friends 1622 01:11:14,000 --> 01:11:15,000 You may love them 1623 01:11:15,000 --> 01:11:16,000 And you may be able to say 1624 01:11:16,000 --> 01:11:18,000 I'm going to spend myself 1625 01:11:18,000 --> 01:11:20,000 Lifting that person up 1626 01:11:20,000 --> 01:11:22,000 Lifting those people up 1627 01:11:22,000 --> 01:11:25,000 And they'll be able to do more 1628 01:11:25,000 --> 01:11:27,000 Than you ever could do by yourself 1629 01:11:27,000 --> 01:11:29,000 And you can lift three 1630 01:11:29,000 --> 01:11:31,000 Or five 1631 01:11:31,000 --> 01:11:32,000 Or even a hundred 1632 01:11:32,000 --> 01:11:34,000 Because you don't have to be there with them every moment of every day 1633 01:11:34,000 --> 01:11:36,000 Just every time you see them 1634 01:11:36,000 --> 01:11:37,000 You're lifting them, propelling them 1635 01:11:37,000 --> 01:11:39,000 Teaching them about the rising tide 1636 01:11:39,000 --> 01:11:40,000 Teaching them about what God wants to do 1637 01:11:40,000 --> 01:11:42,000 Teaching them about what they can be 1638 01:11:42,000 --> 01:11:44,000 Say things like 1639 01:11:44,000 --> 01:11:45,000 You're amazing 1640 01:11:45,000 --> 01:11:47,000 Everybody makes mistakes 1641 01:11:47,000 --> 01:11:48,000 Don't own it 1642 01:11:48,000 --> 01:11:49,000 Be amazing 1643 01:11:49,000 --> 01:11:51,000 Let's be amazing together 1644 01:11:51,000 --> 01:11:52,000 I will be amazing with you 1645 01:11:52,000 --> 01:11:54,000 It'll be awesome 1646 01:11:54,000 --> 01:11:56,000 Encourage and build people up 1647 01:11:56,000 --> 01:11:57,000 And as you do so 1648 01:11:57,000 --> 01:11:58,000 And they are lifted 1649 01:11:58,000 --> 01:12:03,000 Then allow yourself to receive that great investment of God 1650 01:12:03,000 --> 01:12:05,000 That real life that God intends 1651 01:12:05,000 --> 01:12:07,000 As you celebrate and rejoice 1652 01:12:07,000 --> 01:12:13,000 That they did what they've done 1653 01:12:13,000 --> 01:12:17,000 Paul could see in them what I call the collector's set 1654 01:12:17,000 --> 01:12:19,000 And you need it 1655 01:12:19,000 --> 01:12:22,000 You've got to buy every single one 1656 01:12:22,000 --> 01:12:25,000 Faith 1657 01:12:25,000 --> 01:12:27,000 Hope 1658 01:12:27,000 --> 01:12:28,000 Joy 1659 01:12:28,000 --> 01:12:30,000 You need them all 1660 01:12:30,000 --> 01:12:37,000 The blessing is Jesus already paid for a full set for you on the cross 1661 01:12:37,000 --> 01:12:39,000 You can have your very own set 1662 01:12:39,000 --> 01:12:41,000 Just believe 1663 01:12:41,000 --> 01:12:43,000 Accept the free gift of salvation through Jesus 1664 01:12:43,000 --> 01:12:45,000 You open the channel when you believe 1665 01:12:45,000 --> 01:12:46,000 You say, okay God, I believe 1666 01:12:46,000 --> 01:12:49,000 Come on, do what you do 1667 01:12:49,000 --> 01:12:50,000 Then walk in faith and say 1668 01:12:50,000 --> 01:12:52,000 God, just keep doing what you do 1669 01:12:52,000 --> 01:12:53,000 Trust in you 1670 01:12:53,000 --> 01:12:55,000 Show me the way 1671 01:12:55,000 --> 01:12:56,000 Lift me up 1672 01:12:56,000 --> 01:12:58,000 Carry me when I can't walk myself 1673 01:12:58,000 --> 01:13:00,000 Propel me forward 1674 01:13:00,000 --> 01:13:03,000 When all I want to do is crawl on a sleeping bag and hide 1675 01:13:03,000 --> 01:13:05,000 Make me to be 1676 01:13:05,000 --> 01:13:07,000 What only I can be 1677 01:13:07,000 --> 01:13:10,000 Holy in the Lord 1678 01:13:10,000 --> 01:13:12,000 And then hope for it 1679 01:13:12,000 --> 01:13:13,000 Look for it 1680 01:13:13,000 --> 01:13:14,000 He promises he'll do it 1681 01:13:14,000 --> 01:13:16,000 And God doesn't break his promises 1682 01:13:16,000 --> 01:13:18,000 But there is one possibility to be considered 1683 01:13:18,000 --> 01:13:22,000 Remember, as we close out 1684 01:13:22,000 --> 01:13:25,000 The saying 1685 01:13:25,000 --> 01:13:27,000 A rising tide raises all boats 1686 01:13:27,000 --> 01:13:31,000 Is talking about in a certain marina 1687 01:13:31,000 --> 01:13:33,000 Or in a certain harbor 1688 01:13:33,000 --> 01:13:37,000 The rising tide on the ocean doesn't raise any boats anymore 1689 01:13:37,000 --> 01:13:40,000 Than any other 1690 01:13:40,000 --> 01:13:41,000 Right? 1691 01:13:41,000 --> 01:13:44,000 You're out in the middle of the ocean and the tide rises in the marina 1692 01:13:44,000 --> 01:13:46,000 What effect does that have on your ship? 1693 01:13:46,000 --> 01:13:48,000 Nothing 1694 01:13:48,000 --> 01:13:50,000 The waves go up and the waves go down 1695 01:13:50,000 --> 01:13:52,000 Your ship goes up and the ship goes down 1696 01:13:52,000 --> 01:13:53,000 That's the way it is in the world 1697 01:13:53,000 --> 01:13:55,000 So if you're outside the marina 1698 01:13:55,000 --> 01:13:58,000 Or you're in some other marina and God raises the tide 1699 01:13:58,000 --> 01:14:00,000 Your ship will not go up 1700 01:14:00,000 --> 01:14:04,000 Your boat will not go up 1701 01:14:04,000 --> 01:14:07,000 You must be born again, Jesus said 1702 01:14:07,000 --> 01:14:10,000 You must have a moment in time in which you say, I'm starting fresh 1703 01:14:10,000 --> 01:14:13,000 I'm trusting Jesus 1704 01:14:13,000 --> 01:14:15,000 And I'm living for him from now on 1705 01:14:15,000 --> 01:14:18,000 We live for the one who died for us 1706 01:14:18,000 --> 01:14:21,000 You must be adopted into his family 1707 01:14:21,000 --> 01:14:25,000 How could God, who loves you 1708 01:14:25,000 --> 01:14:28,000 And wants what's best for you 1709 01:14:28,000 --> 01:14:32,000 Not die for you? 1710 01:14:32,000 --> 01:14:35,000 And think of the standard that he set for us 1711 01:14:35,000 --> 01:14:38,000 That we would be willing to sacrifice for others 1712 01:14:38,000 --> 01:14:42,000 But at the same time, think of God's great joy 1713 01:14:42,000 --> 01:14:44,000 When he, having died for you 1714 01:14:44,000 --> 01:14:48,000 Sees you walking forward in Christ 1715 01:14:48,000 --> 01:14:51,000 This is the marina in question 1716 01:14:51,000 --> 01:14:55,000 And the tide does not fail to rise 1717 01:14:55,000 --> 01:14:58,000 And those who know to whom they belong 1718 01:14:58,000 --> 01:15:01,000 Rise with it 1719 01:15:01,000 --> 01:15:06,000 Choose Christ as he has chosen you 1720 01:15:06,000 --> 01:15:09,000 Follow him day in and day out 1721 01:15:09,000 --> 01:15:12,000 Allow his Holy Spirit to convict you 1722 01:15:12,000 --> 01:15:16,000 And make those rules, those commands, those decisions 1723 01:15:16,000 --> 01:15:19,000 That you have to make, you make them yourself 1724 01:15:19,000 --> 01:15:24,000 The Bible gives you some really good models 1725 01:15:24,000 --> 01:15:27,000 But you ought to want to do what God wants you to do 1726 01:15:27,000 --> 01:15:29,000 Because you know it's what's best for you 1727 01:15:29,000 --> 01:15:31,000 Because it takes you where you want to go 1728 01:15:31,000 --> 01:15:34,000 And turns you into who you want to be 1729 01:15:34,000 --> 01:15:36,000 And then find some people to love 1730 01:15:36,000 --> 01:15:39,000 And want what's best for them 1731 01:15:39,000 --> 01:15:42,000 You'll be alive in Christ the moment you accept Jesus 1732 01:15:42,000 --> 01:15:45,000 But if you really want to be alive 1733 01:15:45,000 --> 01:15:48,000 Find some people you love and want what's best for them 1734 01:15:48,000 --> 01:15:51,000 Sacrifice yourself as necessary so they can do well 1735 01:15:51,000 --> 01:15:54,000 And then watch what happens inside you 1736 01:15:54,000 --> 01:15:56,000 When they do well 1737 01:15:56,000 --> 01:16:19,000 Amen