1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000
I don't get no bumper video.

2
00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:09,000
What's my video at?

3
00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:16,000
Amen. I take that.

4
00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:24,000
Children of God, I will read today's text.

5
00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:31,000
It is from Mark chapter 9 verse 23 through 25.

6
00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:35,000
And I won't focus on the context of what's happening,

7
00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:40,000
but I want to focus on the response.

8
00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,000
In Mark chapter 9 verse 23, it begins with,

9
00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:48,000
Jesus said, if you can believe all things are possible to him,

10
00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:50,000
who believes?

11
00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:55,000
Immediately the father of the child cried out in tears,

12
00:00:55,000 --> 00:01:00,000
and he said, Lord, I believe.

13
00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:05,000
Help my unbelief.

14
00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:08,000
When Jesus saw that the people came running together,

15
00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:14,000
the scripture then says that Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit.

16
00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:22,000
Today, my goal through God's grace, through God's strength,

17
00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:30,000
and the Holy Spirit is to help our unbelief through God's Word.

18
00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:37,000
I remember earlier in the book of Mark, Jesus said these five simple words,

19
00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:41,000
and these five simple words were,

20
00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:49,000
don't be afraid, only believe.

21
00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:55,000
Don't be afraid, only believe.

22
00:01:55,000 --> 00:02:00,000
At times, but not always in our walk,

23
00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:06,000
we have this paradoxical sort of aspects going on in our life

24
00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:11,000
that we believe in Jesus Christ, we believe in the cross of Christ,

25
00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:15,000
and we believe in sound doctrine.

26
00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:19,000
However, on the other end of it, though we believe in Christ,

27
00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:27,000
though we believe he is exactly who he says that he is,

28
00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:32,000
we may not believe that none of the practical applications in scripture

29
00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:36,000
would ever work for us.

30
00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:38,000
And that's what a paradox is.

31
00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:45,000
A paradox are kind of two things simultaneously existing

32
00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:51,000
with seemingly contradictory principles.

33
00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:58,000
And so today, I want us all to discuss how is it and how we believe in Christ

34
00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:01,000
and we trust in Christ very strongly,

35
00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:07,000
and how is it that we have very little faith

36
00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:13,000
as far as God's Word being applied in our lives.

37
00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:18,000
If that's the case, for many of you, you may not have this problem,

38
00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:22,000
and praise the Lord if you don't.

39
00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:28,000
But for those that do, I want to be an encouragement today.

40
00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:36,000
Sometimes, whether we know it or not, we interpret God's Word

41
00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:42,000
through our beliefs and our unbeliefs.

42
00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:47,000
Now, you say, what? No, that's not possible.

43
00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:51,000
Give me about 15 minutes.

44
00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:55,000
I got more time than that.

45
00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,000
But thank you.

46
00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:02,000
We interpret scripture through our beliefs and our unbeliefs.

47
00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:08,000
And so at times when we get to certain points of reading the scripture

48
00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:14,000
and we come across some of those difficult passages,

49
00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:20,000
sometimes the first thing that we say is, oh, I can't do that.

50
00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:27,000
Or you know what, maybe other people can accomplish that, but I can't.

51
00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:34,000
But who are we to judge scripture

52
00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:44,000
and then judge scripture within the limitations of our own capabilities?

53
00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,000
Have you ever noticed that when you're reading scripture

54
00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:49,000
and you come across those difficult texts and you say,

55
00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:51,000
oh, man, I can't do that.

56
00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:55,000
Or maybe other people can do that, but I'll never be able to.

57
00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:59,000
Have you ever noticed all of the eyes in that?

58
00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:02,000
I can't do it.

59
00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:08,000
Maybe other people can, but that doesn't apply to me.

60
00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:15,000
Whatever happened to without me, you can do nothing.

61
00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,000
So our faith and our hope, when we are looking at these things,

62
00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:22,000
when we are looking at the text,

63
00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:32,000
we want to have a faith that even Christ would actually marvel at, right?

64
00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:37,000
And we actually see that with the centurion.

65
00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:40,000
The centurion responded to Christ.

66
00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:43,000
Christ told him, he said, you know what, I will come to your home

67
00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:45,000
and I will heal your servant.

68
00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:50,000
And the centurion's response was this, Lord, I am not worthy

69
00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:57,000
that you should come under my roof, but simply speak the word only

70
00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:02,000
and my servant will be healed for I am a man under authority

71
00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:04,000
having soldiers under me.

72
00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:10,000
And I say to this servant, go and he goes and to another, come.

73
00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:17,000
And he comes toward me and I tell another servant, do this and he does it.

74
00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:22,000
And then scripture says that when he heard the centurion,

75
00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:29,000
that Jesus Christ marveled at the centurion's faith.

76
00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:31,000
He was shocked.

77
00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:37,000
And Christ's response was, assuredly I say to you, I have not found such great faith,

78
00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:43,000
not even in Israel.

79
00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:53,000
What if our faith could be like the centurion that all Christ had to do was just speak?

80
00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:57,000
And then we believe that was it.

81
00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:06,000
What if we had the sort of trust like the centurion

82
00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:12,000
and said after the Holy Spirit speaks it,

83
00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:18,000
I'm just going to take it and run with it forever.

84
00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:25,000
Well, notice the centurion knew that what?

85
00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:31,000
According to Israel's law, my servant is unclean right now, Jesus,

86
00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:34,000
you just can't come into my house.

87
00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:40,000
So he's saying, Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof.

88
00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:46,000
But I know that there's something about you that every time you speak,

89
00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:54,000
every time you do something, something miraculous happens.

90
00:07:54,000 --> 00:08:00,000
Something miraculous happens.

91
00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:08,000
This applies to you today. My first question is, why isn't our faith like that?

92
00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:12,000
And then an even better question.

93
00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:17,000
How do we get faith like that?

94
00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:26,000
This is a faith that can make Jesus Christ himself marvel.

95
00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:29,000
That can make him marvel.

96
00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:33,000
Obviously we understand that without faith it's impossible to please God,

97
00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:39,000
for he who comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

98
00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:43,000
That's Hebrews chapter 11 and 6.

99
00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:54,000
How many of us that when we go to God, that we are going to him as if he is actually God?

100
00:08:54,000 --> 00:09:00,000
Maybe we should not contrary to popular belief, we should not go to God like he's one of our friends.

101
00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:02,000
I don't believe that.

102
00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:06,000
My friends can't get done what I need done sometimes.

103
00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:12,000
My friends cannot do the miraculous.

104
00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:19,000
Some of my friends, maybe one, would even be willing to die for me, maybe.

105
00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:27,000
Even if he was willing to die for me, he's definitely not going to die for the wrongs that I've committed.

106
00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:35,000
So once again, Christ alone is the only one.

107
00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:47,000
So when we go to God, we should go to him with the expectation and the knowing that you are God.

108
00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:50,000
Whatever you say is going to be done.

109
00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:53,000
You spoke this world into existence.

110
00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,000
There was absolutely nothing.

111
00:09:55,000 --> 00:10:01,000
All of the universe was completely and utterly void.

112
00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:06,000
And you did what only God can do and created everything.

113
00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:09,000
That is the God that we are approaching.

114
00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:21,000
The God that we are approaching is the same God that let Israel through the Red Sea.

115
00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:29,000
It is the same God of miracles.

116
00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:38,000
So whatever this God says, we can take it to the bank and cash it.

117
00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:47,000
But let us pay attention to what he said.

118
00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:52,000
If you can believe, all things are possible.

119
00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:56,000
Right?

120
00:10:56,000 --> 00:11:00,000
Well, let's start off with trying to have faith like the Centurion real quick.

121
00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:07,000
If that's what Christ said, how many of you believe that all things are possible with God?

122
00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:15,000
Not just some things, but all things are possible with God.

123
00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:19,000
Nice. A lot of you raised your hand.

124
00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:28,000
Well, let's look at the Scripture in that same context.

125
00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:31,000
Remember in Matthew chapter 9 verse 26.

126
00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:37,000
Now Christ was talking in regards of salvation, but still notice his words.

127
00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:40,000
The disciples asked Jesus, who can be saved?

128
00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:42,000
Jesus Christ's words were exactly this.

129
00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:55,000
With men it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

130
00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:58,000
All things are possible.

131
00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:01,000
Now watch this in 2 Peter.

132
00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:06,000
This text says that God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness.

133
00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:11,000
Not only is it possible for man to be saved,

134
00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:22,000
but it's also possible for man to live out the saving gospel as Christ and the apostles laid out for us.

135
00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:29,000
So that means when we see difficult commandments that Jesus Christ has commanded of us,

136
00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:34,000
when we see difficult commandments that the apostles are asking of us,

137
00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:41,000
our response should not be, I can't do that.

138
00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:49,000
Or maybe somebody else can do that, but that just doesn't apply to me.

139
00:12:49,000 --> 00:13:04,000
Maybe our response should be a biblical response that with God all things are possible to him that believes.

140
00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:08,000
Let's take it a bit further.

141
00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:15,000
Once again, have you ever paid attention to what the blessed apostles said?

142
00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:21,000
And we quote this scripture a lot. It is a very famous scripture.

143
00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:33,000
Until hard times hit when the apostle Paul said that I can do all things through Christ that gives me strength.

144
00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:37,000
Are you catching on to the all, right?

145
00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:44,000
Not some things, not just a couple of things.

146
00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:55,000
Not just the things that fit my gifts, but all things.

147
00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:58,000
All things.

148
00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:05,000
So when we start to look at the words of Jesus Christ and the apostles,

149
00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:14,000
my humble suggestion for all of us is that when we start reading the text,

150
00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:19,000
that if we come across something difficult, we start to say things like,

151
00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:25,000
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

152
00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:32,000
That we start to say things that with God all things are possible.

153
00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:40,000
That we remember the words of Christ when he says fear not only believe.

154
00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:53,000
How many of us in this room today that because of fear, it has hampered our spiritual growth?

155
00:14:53,000 --> 00:15:00,000
How many of us today that when we have tried to be more like Christ out of fear,

156
00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:10,000
because we said, you know what, if I actually give my mind and my heart and my soul to God,

157
00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:13,000
what if I fall?

158
00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:24,000
What if I fail in the process of sincerely and utterly trying to be like Jesus?

159
00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:29,000
What are other people going to think of me?

160
00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:35,000
My parents or friends going to think of me when I those who I've been trying to witness the gospel to,

161
00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:43,000
and now they see me fall.

162
00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:51,000
Children of God, who cares if you fall, if you are pursuing Christ?

163
00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:53,000
You get back up.

164
00:15:53,000 --> 00:16:00,000
You dust yourself off and you keep on fighting.

165
00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:04,000
That is what being diligent is.

166
00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:08,000
That is what persevering is.

167
00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:14,000
Diligence and perseverance are not easy things.

168
00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:21,000
But my question for you is, why do we care about other people's opinion of us?

169
00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:30,000
When we are trying to live for the Most High God?

170
00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:37,000
Why do we care what mother-in-law think, what father-in-law think, what friends think, what bosses think,

171
00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:53,000
what coworkers think, what the world thinks, what culture thinks, when God alone should be our audience?

172
00:16:53,000 --> 00:17:04,000
But we allow what other people think of us to hinder us.

173
00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:09,000
People will say, well, you are not actually trying to be like Christ, are you?

174
00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:12,000
Well, you know that is impossible.

175
00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:16,000
Is it really?

176
00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:24,000
I guess those are the scriptures that we went over to apply, that I really can't do all things through Christ who will give me strength.

177
00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:34,000
I guess Jesus was just having a bad moment of being God and man when he said that all things are possible to him that believes.

178
00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:44,000
I guess his entire humanity just took over him briefly, which is a heresy, by the way.

179
00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:48,000
So whose report are we going to believe?

180
00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:52,000
Are we going to believe our feelings in our own mind?

181
00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:55,000
Are we going to believe culture?

182
00:17:55,000 --> 00:18:02,000
Or are we truly like the Centurion?

183
00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:09,000
Going to do our best to make Jesus Christ marvel at our faith.

184
00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:17,000
That God from here on out, I know I was in the place of saying, Lord, I believe, but please help my unbelief,

185
00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:24,000
God, I want to be in the place now that all I have to do is just hear you speak,

186
00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:32,000
and I'm going to get it done because I am not doing it by myself.

187
00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:37,000
I'm doing it through Christ that gives me the strength.

188
00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:41,000
I am not inventing these things by myself,

189
00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:50,000
but these things are possible because of my belief and trust in you.

190
00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:57,000
So children of God, check this out, because we have a test at the end of the sermon,

191
00:18:57,000 --> 00:19:01,000
and it's coming up in about two minutes.

192
00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:07,000
According to God, now, keep in mind, this is God's opinion, right?

193
00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:15,000
So your opinion don't matter. No disrespect. I know why I'm at.

194
00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:18,000
My opinion and your opinion don't matter, though.

195
00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:27,000
So God's opinion, according to God, watch this.

196
00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:30,000
With Him, all things are possible.

197
00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:34,000
That's God's opinion. Whether you believe it today or not,

198
00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:40,000
God's opinion is this, that with Him, all things are possible,

199
00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:45,000
and then God's other opinion, God is so radical,

200
00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:52,000
that we can do all things through Christ that strengthens us, right?

201
00:19:52,000 --> 00:20:00,000
And then thirdly, all things are possible to Him that believe.

202
00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:06,000
So once again, God's opinion, not yours, because your opinion don't matter.

203
00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:08,000
My opinion does not matter.

204
00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:11,000
According to God, with Him, all things are possible.

205
00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:16,000
According to God, we can do all things through Christ that strengthens us,

206
00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:22,000
and then once again, all things are possible to Him that believes.

207
00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:30,000
Now, we trust in the Lord with all our heart, and we do not lean to our own understanding,

208
00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:32,000
according to the book of Proverbs.

209
00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:35,000
So I'm going to say this one more time.

210
00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:38,000
With God, all things are possible.

211
00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:42,000
All things are possible to Him that believes,

212
00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:48,000
and we can do all things through Christ that gives us the strength.

213
00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:53,000
And so, let's have faith like the Centurion real quick,

214
00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:55,000
and let's not have faith like the other guy that says,

215
00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:58,000
Lord, I believe would help my unbelief.

216
00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:09,000
God is about to help our unbelief right now with us trusting in what He says concerning our belief, faith, and strength.

217
00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:14,000
So let's apply that with God, all things are possible,

218
00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:18,000
and we can do all things through Christ that strengthens us,

219
00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:22,000
and that all things are possible to Him who believes.

220
00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:29,000
Let's apply that to these scriptures real quick.

221
00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:33,000
And don't, none of you lie on the test, all right?

222
00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:40,000
Not saying you would, but I know if you were like me in grammar school,

223
00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:47,000
you would ask a question, I didn't even hear the question, but the majority of the people raised their hands, so I did too.

224
00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:52,000
We won't do that today, all right?

225
00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:58,000
So with that context, we can do all things through Christ that strengthens us,

226
00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:05,000
that all things are possible to Him that believes, and all things are possible with God.

227
00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:14,000
The first point, we do not have to have a laxed spiritual walk.

228
00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:21,000
We can rid ourselves of spiritual distractions.

229
00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:27,000
Some of you, you may feel you know what, I'm so busy, I can't have a deeper walk with Christ.

230
00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:33,000
I'm so busy, I can't do this, or I'm so confused, I can't overcome this.

231
00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:36,000
All things are possible to them that believe.

232
00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:42,000
I can do all things through Christ, we can do all things through Christ that strengthens us.

233
00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:49,000
So if that's you, I want to encourage and exhort you today that you can overcome it,

234
00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:57,000
not because you choose to in and of yourself, but because all things are possible with God.

235
00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:00,000
That's why you can make it.

236
00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:07,000
That's why your perseverance and your diligence will bear fruit,

237
00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:13,000
because all things are possible with God.

238
00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:21,000
Point two, maybe this is some of you,

239
00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:31,000
that when I'm tempted, I don't believe that God will not allow me to be tempted beyond my strength.

240
00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:35,000
Maybe you believe that you are always tempted beyond your strength,

241
00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:42,000
and maybe you believe that God does not provide a way of escape.

242
00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:50,000
Ah, but once again, I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me,

243
00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:53,000
but with God, all things are possible.

244
00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:59,000
And then once again, all things are possible to him that believes.

245
00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:04,000
If you are suffering with temptation today,

246
00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:09,000
I want to encourage you.

247
00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:13,000
You can overcome it,

248
00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:22,000
because you can do all things through Christ who is willing to strengthen you.

249
00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:29,000
Maybe you believe that you can't conquer it, and you are right, you can't conquer it,

250
00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:36,000
but with God, all things are possible.

251
00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:41,000
Lust does not have a chance with God.

252
00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:46,000
Greed does not have a chance with God.

253
00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:50,000
Gluttony and whatever other sin you can think of,

254
00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:56,000
when the child of God trusts in his God,

255
00:24:56,000 --> 00:25:01,000
and starts to say, I can conquer this because I am not alone,

256
00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:08,000
but because Christ is present, those sins will dissipate.

257
00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:13,000
Not because of your willpower, not because of your strength,

258
00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:18,000
but because you are united to God through Christ Jesus,

259
00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:28,000
and every grace, and every spiritual strength, and every virtue you have access to now.

260
00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:34,000
Will you believe that?

261
00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:42,000
Let's continue.

262
00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:47,000
I don't have to return evil for evil.

263
00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:51,000
I don't have to get revenge.

264
00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:54,000
I don't have to say mean things to people,

265
00:25:54,000 --> 00:26:00,000
even if they are in a different political affiliation.

266
00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:04,000
Some of us getting revenge is hard, right?

267
00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:09,000
Well, not getting revenge is very difficult.

268
00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:13,000
Sometimes we feel like the person deserves our anger.

269
00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:20,000
Sometimes we feel like the person deserves our passive aggressiveness.

270
00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:24,000
Sometimes we feel that you know what, this is just how I am.

271
00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:29,000
God knows my heart.

272
00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:32,000
God knows your heart.

273
00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:38,000
That's why he transforms it.

274
00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:41,000
That's exactly why he transforms it.

275
00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:44,000
So instead of saying, you know what, this is just me,

276
00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:49,000
I just snap out on people, I'm just naturally passive aggressive.

277
00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:56,000
Instead, I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.

278
00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:59,000
It's possible for me not to be this way,

279
00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:07,000
because with God, all things are possible.

280
00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:14,000
And if we believe that, we may be able to even obey the commandment

281
00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:20,000
of loving our enemies and doing good to those that do us wrong.

282
00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:24,000
Giving food to our enemy if they're hungry.

283
00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:30,000
And drink to our enemy if they're thirsty.

284
00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:35,000
Believing and trusting in what God says

285
00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:42,000
is the exact thing what gives us grace to keep those difficult commandments.

286
00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:49,000
Now class, we're going to have to rush through the latter part of this test, okay?

287
00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:53,000
In the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 13,

288
00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:59,000
have you ever read the famous chapter 13, which is about love and charity, right?

289
00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:04,000
And when you have heard those things in this text,

290
00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:08,000
have you ever said, nope, my love, never is going to be like that?

291
00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:12,000
But watch this, let's read it real quick.

292
00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:18,000
1 Corinthians chapter 13, verse 4, and I'm going to go through it quick.

293
00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:22,000
Love suffers long and is kind.

294
00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:24,000
Love does not envy.

295
00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:27,000
Love does not vaunt itself up.

296
00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:29,000
Love is not puffed up.

297
00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:34,000
Love does not behave itself unseemingly.

298
00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:37,000
Love does not seek its own.

299
00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:41,000
Love is not easily provoked.

300
00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:46,000
Love thinks no evil.

301
00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:50,000
Love does not rejoice in inequity,

302
00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:54,000
but charity rejoices in truth.

303
00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:56,000
Now you may hear that and you may say,

304
00:28:56,000 --> 00:29:00,000
my love is so far away from some of those things.

305
00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:02,000
Why? Because love thinks no evil.

306
00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:04,000
It's not easily provoked.

307
00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:06,000
Love suffers long. It's kind.

308
00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:08,000
It does not parade itself.

309
00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:09,000
Love is not envious.

310
00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:11,000
You may see some of those things.

311
00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:12,000
You may hear some of those things.

312
00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:14,000
And you may say, you know what?

313
00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:20,000
My love will never be like that.

314
00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:25,000
But you know what 1 Corinthians chapter 13 says?

315
00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:29,000
It says exactly what we've been talking about.

316
00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:35,000
The apostle then says, love bears all things,

317
00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:45,000
and then it says, it believes all things.

318
00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:50,000
Have we secretly just been talking about love this whole time?

319
00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:54,000
That the reason I'm asking you to have faith in God

320
00:29:54,000 --> 00:29:59,000
and to believe all things is because it reveals

321
00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:08,000
the nature of love in us.

322
00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:11,000
Love bears all things,

323
00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:16,000
and love believes all things.

324
00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:26,000
Now if you believe today that your love can't be like this,

325
00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:30,000
you're wrong.

326
00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:33,000
Will it take time? Absolutely.

327
00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:40,000
Will we have to root some things out? Absolutely.

328
00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:48,000
Will we adapt to certain things quicker than others? Absolutely.

329
00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:53,000
Is it impossible for us to do this? Absolutely not.

330
00:30:53,000 --> 00:31:00,000
Why? Because with God, all things are possible, church.

331
00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:12,000
And because we can do all things through Christ that strengthens us.

332
00:31:12,000 --> 00:31:21,000
We no longer have to be in the place of, God, I believe, help my unbelief.

333
00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:29,000
We can be in the place. We can grow to a place that says,

334
00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:37,000
God's word says it, I believe it, that settles it,

335
00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:42,000
and I'm going to figure out how to do it.

336
00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:49,000
God said it, I believe it, that settles it.

337
00:31:49,000 --> 00:31:54,000
I'm going to figure out how to do it.

338
00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:58,000
Children of God, as I close and I'm done, I'm at the 31 mark,

339
00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:05,000
and I'm being careful.

340
00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:08,000
We can believe in God.

341
00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:10,000
We can trust in God,

342
00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:16,000
and we can do everything that God has asked of us,

343
00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:19,000
not from our own strength,

344
00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:25,000
but because with God, all things are what?

345
00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:30,000
And we can do all things through who?

346
00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:35,000
That does what strengthens us.

347
00:32:35,000 --> 00:32:42,000
You see, this faith is not based on our capability.

348
00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:46,000
It is based upon our trust, our longing,

349
00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:51,000
our perseverance and diligence in God himself.

350
00:32:51,000 --> 00:33:13,000
Amen.