WEBVTT 00:00:01.159 --> 00:00:03.759 Does someone need you to believe in them today? 00:00:04.040 --> 00:00:06.719 Is there someone you know that a word from you, 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:09.980 an affirmation, a compliment, it'll change the 00:00:09.980 --> 00:00:12.660 course of their day and maybe the course of their 00:00:12.660 --> 00:00:15.080 life? We're going to learn how to do that today. 00:00:15.179 --> 00:00:19.359 Stay with me. Thanks for listening to this edition 00:00:19.359 --> 00:00:22.620 of Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. We are 00:00:22.620 --> 00:00:25.179 an international teaching and discipleship ministry 00:00:25.179 --> 00:00:28.039 that motivates Christians to live like Christians. 00:00:28.649 --> 00:00:30.089 We're in the middle of our series, Spiritual 00:00:30.089 --> 00:00:33.689 Simplicity, Doing Less, Loving More. And I hope 00:00:33.689 --> 00:00:36.310 you learned a lot so far from Chip's study. And 00:00:36.310 --> 00:00:38.890 to help others learn as you have, take a minute 00:00:38.890 --> 00:00:41.490 after the message and share it. You can do that 00:00:41.490 --> 00:00:43.770 through the Chip Ingram app or wherever you listen 00:00:43.770 --> 00:00:46.390 to podcasts. Thanks for spreading the word about 00:00:46.390 --> 00:00:49.460 how series like this one are impacting you. All 00:00:49.460 --> 00:00:51.659 right, if you're ready, go in your Bible to 1 00:00:51.659 --> 00:00:54.579 Corinthians chapter 13 as we join Chip for the 00:00:54.579 --> 00:00:57.479 remainder of his talk, looking for love in all 00:00:57.479 --> 00:01:03.619 the wrong places. Who in your world, who in your 00:01:03.619 --> 00:01:06.099 world needs you to look them into the eye and 00:01:06.099 --> 00:01:08.260 say, you know, yeah, you blew it, or there is 00:01:08.260 --> 00:01:10.540 a struggle, or this is a pattern in your life, 00:01:10.659 --> 00:01:14.840 but I believe in you. I care about you. I believe 00:01:14.840 --> 00:01:19.609 in you. There's a friend of mine. who's an extraordinarily 00:01:19.609 --> 00:01:23.549 gifted guy. And just kind of, you ever watch 00:01:23.549 --> 00:01:25.530 people kind of get a lot of darts here and darts 00:01:25.530 --> 00:01:27.769 there? And I've seen him recently. He's kind 00:01:27.769 --> 00:01:30.250 of discouraged and was more discouraged. And 00:01:30.250 --> 00:01:32.989 as I was praying one morning, God just prompted 00:01:32.989 --> 00:01:34.950 me, you need to go sit down and talk with this 00:01:34.950 --> 00:01:38.730 guy. And so I did and asked him a few questions. 00:01:38.750 --> 00:01:41.409 And as he began to share, I said, well, time 00:01:41.409 --> 00:01:45.269 out. Do you understand in your field, you're 00:01:45.269 --> 00:01:47.530 probably one of the top three in all of America? 00:01:49.780 --> 00:01:53.799 Okay, maybe top five. I think three, two. Do 00:01:53.799 --> 00:01:55.640 you understand God has used you to do this, this, 00:01:55.780 --> 00:01:58.180 this, this, and this? Yeah. Do you understand 00:01:58.180 --> 00:01:59.620 that these things that are getting you down are 00:01:59.620 --> 00:02:02.560 about this big? You know, you're starting to 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:05.239 believe the criticisms that you're getting. I 00:02:05.239 --> 00:02:06.900 just want to tell you something. I believe in 00:02:06.900 --> 00:02:09.900 you. I'm behind you 100%. And whatever you decide 00:02:09.900 --> 00:02:12.900 to do with your life, I want you to know I'm 00:02:12.900 --> 00:02:15.620 in it with you. And you know what? It wasn't 00:02:15.620 --> 00:02:18.539 a big deal, but I watched his countenance change. 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:20.840 And I watch what happened to him the rest of 00:02:20.840 --> 00:02:26.219 the week. Who in your world needs to hear from 00:02:26.219 --> 00:02:31.800 you? I believe in you. That mistake, that divorce, 00:02:32.020 --> 00:02:36.060 that abortion, that dropping out of school, that 00:02:36.060 --> 00:02:39.979 not making the team, that lie, it doesn't have 00:02:39.979 --> 00:02:44.159 the power to define you. I believe in you. Who 00:02:44.159 --> 00:02:47.599 needs to hear that from you? and maybe change 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:48.759 the course of their life. You know what it's 00:02:48.759 --> 00:02:50.319 called? It's called love. And what we're gonna 00:02:50.319 --> 00:02:52.159 learn is when you do this, see, love never fails. 00:02:52.979 --> 00:02:55.319 Love never fails when you bear with one another 00:02:55.319 --> 00:02:57.879 and cover the sin. Love never fails when you 00:02:57.879 --> 00:03:02.120 believe in people. Third, love hopes all things. 00:03:02.860 --> 00:03:06.009 Word is used 32 times in the New Testament. 18 00:03:06.009 --> 00:03:08.969 times it's translated trust. 10 times it's translated 00:03:08.969 --> 00:03:11.509 hope. A handful of times it's translated hope 00:03:11.509 --> 00:03:15.330 for. It has the idea to wait for and have confidence 00:03:15.330 --> 00:03:18.650 in deliverance. Usually it has the idea of salvation. 00:03:18.849 --> 00:03:21.250 Deliverance not just from the forgiveness of 00:03:21.250 --> 00:03:23.590 your sin, but deliverance out of this world and 00:03:23.590 --> 00:03:26.930 all of its evil. And our great, great hope is 00:03:26.930 --> 00:03:30.039 heaven. The return of Christ, the anchor of our 00:03:30.039 --> 00:03:33.319 soul. There is coming a day that no matter what's 00:03:33.319 --> 00:03:35.879 happening, how unfair it may be, our ultimate, 00:03:35.960 --> 00:03:38.979 ultimate hope is that we have a savior, the God 00:03:38.979 --> 00:03:41.780 -man Jesus, who died, was raised from the dead, 00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:45.020 and those who trust in him have an eternal hope. 00:03:46.120 --> 00:03:50.159 And practically, it's not hope and hope. When 00:03:50.159 --> 00:03:53.699 people speak kind of in English or, you know, 00:03:53.699 --> 00:03:58.280 in a sort of casual way, they use hope I would 00:03:58.280 --> 00:04:01.180 translate it wishful thinking. It goes something 00:04:01.180 --> 00:04:03.280 like this. So what are you going to do? Meeting 00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:05.300 someone at work. I'm going to Vegas this weekend. 00:04:05.479 --> 00:04:07.259 Really? Yeah. What are you going to do? Get married. 00:04:07.819 --> 00:04:09.500 Really? How long have you known him? Two weeks. 00:04:10.599 --> 00:04:16.180 Hope it works out. Good luck. How'd those last 00:04:16.180 --> 00:04:19.220 two marriages go? Not very good. But I'm hoping 00:04:19.220 --> 00:04:23.100 for the best. Hope, hope, hope, hope. I mean, 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:25.959 it's just hoping and hope. There's no basis. 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:27.600 It's like writing checks without a bank account. 00:04:30.819 --> 00:04:35.540 By contrast, this is confidence. This is absolute 00:04:35.540 --> 00:04:39.019 confidence, not that this person has the power 00:04:39.019 --> 00:04:42.060 to change, not that circumstances are going to 00:04:42.060 --> 00:04:44.850 change and work everything out. This is a hope 00:04:44.850 --> 00:04:47.850 that's rooted in the promises of God, the character 00:04:47.850 --> 00:04:50.350 of God, and the sovereignty of God, that he's 00:04:50.350 --> 00:04:52.990 in absolute control. And even though these are 00:04:52.990 --> 00:04:55.370 situations where someone's been struggling with 00:04:55.370 --> 00:04:57.310 addiction, and you've tried and tried and tried, 00:04:57.490 --> 00:04:59.269 and they've been to a couple of rehabs. Someone 00:04:59.269 --> 00:05:00.629 who's, you know, you've got a kid, they lie, 00:05:00.769 --> 00:05:02.269 they lie, they lie. You've done everything but 00:05:02.269 --> 00:05:04.290 stand on your head. And guess what? They still 00:05:04.290 --> 00:05:07.519 lie. This is a problem in a marriage that you 00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:08.839 can't even get them to go to counseling and you 00:05:08.839 --> 00:05:11.060 hope and hope and hope. And I mean, this is just 00:05:11.060 --> 00:05:13.360 where you got a coworker that, I mean, they just 00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:15.639 make everybody crazy, but they happen to be your 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:22.800 supervisor. And you get to the point where you're 00:05:22.800 --> 00:05:30.319 just out of emotional gas. And you get where... 00:05:31.310 --> 00:05:33.350 That they're going to change, that there's going 00:05:33.350 --> 00:05:36.970 to be some big thing happen. You lose hope in 00:05:36.970 --> 00:05:40.069 their capacity or in your ability to fix the 00:05:40.069 --> 00:05:44.329 situation. This is a hope where you say, you 00:05:44.329 --> 00:05:49.050 know something? I've done all I can do. This 00:05:49.050 --> 00:05:51.870 person, I'm not putting my hope that someday, 00:05:52.129 --> 00:05:54.589 someway, under the right conditions, they're 00:05:54.589 --> 00:05:56.430 going to have this aha moment and everything's 00:05:56.430 --> 00:05:59.800 going to be wonderful. But I refuse to give up 00:05:59.800 --> 00:06:03.420 hope because this is a book where Saul became 00:06:03.420 --> 00:06:07.620 Paul. This is a book where Rahab went from prostitute 00:06:07.620 --> 00:06:12.350 to being in the line of the Messiah. This is 00:06:12.350 --> 00:06:15.529 a book, as long as the resurrection of Christ 00:06:15.529 --> 00:06:20.050 is true, failure is never final. And I'm not 00:06:20.050 --> 00:06:22.170 gonna trust in this person. I'm not gonna trust 00:06:22.170 --> 00:06:24.709 in this program. I'm not gonna trust in my ability, 00:06:24.850 --> 00:06:27.389 but I'm gonna trust that the all -knowing, all 00:06:27.389 --> 00:06:30.029 -powerful, sovereign, loving God cares about 00:06:30.029 --> 00:06:33.949 this person. And I'm gonna trust that he's gonna 00:06:33.949 --> 00:06:38.060 work. had a really, what I thought was a pretty 00:06:38.060 --> 00:06:40.040 good illustration right at this point in my message, 00:06:40.199 --> 00:06:43.279 which I would share right now, but I'm not going 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:46.439 to. Last night we were singing, and as we were 00:06:46.439 --> 00:06:49.259 singing, the third song was The Greatness of 00:06:49.259 --> 00:06:53.560 Our God. And as we were singing that song, it 00:06:53.560 --> 00:06:56.339 was just like God, bang, hit me. And I just remember 00:06:56.339 --> 00:07:01.350 knowing the songwriter of that song. And that 00:07:01.350 --> 00:07:03.629 song now was introduced at Hillsong. There was 00:07:03.629 --> 00:07:06.350 100 ,000 worship leaders from all over the world. 00:07:06.410 --> 00:07:08.970 And it's coming out on four or five major albums 00:07:08.970 --> 00:07:10.649 with major worship leaders. I mean, it's just 00:07:10.649 --> 00:07:13.189 sweeping the globe. And as I was sitting there 00:07:13.189 --> 00:07:15.209 last night and singing the song and hearing just 00:07:15.209 --> 00:07:19.389 people embrace the greatness of our God, I just 00:07:19.389 --> 00:07:23.029 thought, you really are great. Because see, when 00:07:23.029 --> 00:07:27.779 that songwriter was 16, I lost all hope. that 00:07:27.779 --> 00:07:30.620 any of my parenting in any way could ever make 00:07:30.620 --> 00:07:33.240 any difference. When that songwriter was 17, 00:07:33.560 --> 00:07:36.699 we were so butting of heads and he was rebellious 00:07:36.699 --> 00:07:40.240 and he had a dad that was young and afraid and 00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:44.600 was too hard on him at the wrong times. And we 00:07:44.600 --> 00:07:47.160 just had a horrendous situation in our house. 00:07:48.579 --> 00:07:51.439 And I got to where, I mean, he told me, he said, 00:07:51.459 --> 00:07:53.560 dad, I got to tell you, I kind of like you as 00:07:53.560 --> 00:07:56.660 a person. I just don't believe in any of the 00:07:56.660 --> 00:07:59.220 Christianity. That's where you're going. I'm 00:07:59.220 --> 00:08:02.000 not buying it. I'm just rebelling. And I mean, 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:07.759 it broke my heart. And Teresa and I would sit 00:08:07.759 --> 00:08:13.860 up in bed and pray and talk and cry. And he had 00:08:13.860 --> 00:08:16.759 no desire. I came to where, you know what? I 00:08:16.759 --> 00:08:21.120 have lost all hope that he will change. And I 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:24.259 have lost all hope that I have any. parenting 00:08:24.259 --> 00:08:29.779 technique that will bring about change. And I 00:08:29.779 --> 00:08:35.259 had just absolute hope that the God who changed 00:08:35.259 --> 00:08:38.440 Saul from Paul, the person that you think it's 00:08:38.440 --> 00:08:41.779 impossible for God to reach or change. The issue 00:08:41.779 --> 00:08:43.779 in your marriage that you think is stuck forever 00:08:43.779 --> 00:08:45.899 or something with one of your parents or one 00:08:45.899 --> 00:08:48.299 of your kids or a close friend. And I just came 00:08:48.299 --> 00:08:51.200 to, you know what? As long as Jesus rose from 00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:53.700 the dead, God still does the impossible. And 00:08:53.700 --> 00:08:56.740 God, I'm asking you for your glory and for your 00:08:56.740 --> 00:08:58.960 name that you do something special in that boy's 00:08:58.960 --> 00:09:05.360 life. And about late 17, it's a long story, he 00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:09.620 did. By 18, he was leading worship. By 19, he 00:09:09.620 --> 00:09:12.379 had a band. By 20 -something, he was going around 00:09:12.379 --> 00:09:15.159 the country. And then pretty soon, he just started 00:09:15.159 --> 00:09:21.440 writing music. And to think that someone I had 00:09:21.440 --> 00:09:25.139 no hope could change, and I saw my failure in 00:09:25.139 --> 00:09:28.179 my parenting to think that God would have him 00:09:28.179 --> 00:09:31.059 write a song, that millions of people would talk 00:09:31.059 --> 00:09:35.519 about how great God is. That, my friend, is biblical 00:09:35.519 --> 00:09:42.039 hope. See, that's what Jesus did for Peter. I 00:09:42.039 --> 00:09:44.000 mean, I don't know. There's lots of sins, and 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:46.080 I think sometimes we categorize them probably 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:48.259 a little differently than God does. I think with 00:09:48.259 --> 00:09:50.659 God, betrayal is like way up there on the top 00:09:50.659 --> 00:09:53.080 of the list. You know, people that love you, 00:09:53.080 --> 00:09:55.419 give their life, they care, and you turn your 00:09:55.419 --> 00:09:57.480 back on them, and you just totally diss them. 00:09:57.559 --> 00:10:00.100 That's what Peter did. Under pressure, I don't 00:10:00.100 --> 00:10:02.740 know him. In fact, it was blankety, blank, blank. 00:10:02.799 --> 00:10:05.360 I've never seen the guy. And the blankety blanks 00:10:05.360 --> 00:10:06.639 are cuss words for those of you who wonder what 00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:10.610 that means. And he turned away completely. And 00:10:10.610 --> 00:10:12.450 Jesus had such confidence. You know, one, he 00:10:12.450 --> 00:10:15.049 told Peter, you know, you're going to blow it. 00:10:15.529 --> 00:10:18.470 My trust isn't in your bravado. My trust isn't 00:10:18.470 --> 00:10:20.470 everyone else will let you down. I'll never let 00:10:20.470 --> 00:10:23.889 you down. My trust is not in the Peter of your 00:10:23.889 --> 00:10:27.990 willpower and what you think you can do. My trust 00:10:27.990 --> 00:10:31.850 is in what God can do, the acts to Peter. And 00:10:31.850 --> 00:10:34.870 then after Peter, you repent, go back and strengthen 00:10:34.870 --> 00:10:38.429 your brothers. I believe in the Peter, the statement 00:10:38.429 --> 00:10:41.090 that upon this rock I'm going to build my church, 00:10:41.149 --> 00:10:43.070 and the rock isn't your personality, your ability. 00:10:43.210 --> 00:10:47.409 It is my word and my promises through you. And 00:10:47.409 --> 00:10:50.389 so in John 21, we have this amazing picture of 00:10:50.389 --> 00:10:52.769 this betrayer, and he feels like he's ashamed, 00:10:52.990 --> 00:10:55.370 and he's blown it, and he's betrayed the Lord, 00:10:55.490 --> 00:10:57.490 and he's heard about the resurrection, and he 00:10:57.490 --> 00:11:00.110 feels like a heel, and my life's over, and I'm 00:11:00.110 --> 00:11:02.549 not going to be any good, and I've blown it. 00:11:02.610 --> 00:11:09.360 It's too much. It's too long. Peter, have some 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:13.360 fish. Thanks, Lord. Peter, a question. Do you 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:19.720 love me? Yeah. Peter, do you love me? Yeah. Peter, 00:11:19.799 --> 00:11:23.600 do you love me? Betrayal, betrayal, betrayal. 00:11:24.100 --> 00:11:29.539 Question, question, question. Lord, you know 00:11:29.539 --> 00:11:33.360 all things. You know where Peter got? My hope 00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:37.509 is not in my ability to obey. But you know my 00:11:37.509 --> 00:11:41.750 heart, I've blown it. Peter, feed my sheep, feed 00:11:41.750 --> 00:11:46.070 my lambs, feed my sheep. God reinstated, God 00:11:46.070 --> 00:11:50.049 restored. Someone you know needs to know that 00:11:50.049 --> 00:11:53.350 your hope in God, not their ability to change, 00:11:53.350 --> 00:11:56.750 can bring about change. Who's that person? And 00:11:56.750 --> 00:11:58.769 what will it look like this week for you to love 00:11:58.769 --> 00:12:04.149 them? The final way we learn is we endure. We 00:12:04.149 --> 00:12:07.460 endure all things. To endure means to actively 00:12:07.460 --> 00:12:10.500 remain, to persevere under misfortune and trial. 00:12:10.700 --> 00:12:13.299 I love this. The meaning of the word is to bear 00:12:13.299 --> 00:12:16.840 bravely and calmly ill treatment. It means to 00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:19.720 remain. You might just jot in your note, love 00:12:19.720 --> 00:12:25.820 stays. It's not staying out of an inability to 00:12:25.820 --> 00:12:29.409 leave. or inability to set boundaries, or inability 00:12:29.409 --> 00:12:32.750 to deliver consequences. It's not an enmeshed 00:12:32.750 --> 00:12:35.929 codependency love that says, I have to stay because 00:12:35.929 --> 00:12:38.269 I'm an incomplete person, and so I will live 00:12:38.269 --> 00:12:40.289 in this dysfunctional situation and continue 00:12:40.289 --> 00:12:42.210 in this abuse or continue in this dysfunction. 00:12:42.529 --> 00:12:49.730 No, no, no, no, no. Truth and grace. Truth, here's 00:12:49.730 --> 00:12:52.730 the boundaries, and that kind of behavior, that 00:12:52.730 --> 00:12:55.429 kind of addiction, those kind of things, will 00:12:55.429 --> 00:12:58.590 not be tolerated. And here's consistent consequences 00:12:58.590 --> 00:13:03.169 and the help from others to maintain those. Grace. 00:13:04.350 --> 00:13:08.110 But I'm not giving up on you. See, the opposite 00:13:08.110 --> 00:13:11.690 of love is not hate. When there's hate, there's 00:13:11.690 --> 00:13:16.190 passion left. The opposite of love is indifference. 00:13:17.929 --> 00:13:22.129 You just don't care. Just what the heck. And 00:13:22.129 --> 00:13:25.779 often you say that more strongly. Just forget 00:13:25.779 --> 00:13:31.179 it. This endurance, hupo meno, hupo to be under 00:13:31.179 --> 00:13:35.240 meno, distress, misfortune, pain, difficulty, 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:38.019 and it's an active word. It's not passively I'm 00:13:38.019 --> 00:13:39.879 going to endure what's happening around me. It's 00:13:39.879 --> 00:13:43.620 an active engagement of remaining healthy and 00:13:43.620 --> 00:13:46.480 understanding this is the truth that must be 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:50.779 obeyed. But despite these devastating failures, 00:13:51.019 --> 00:13:54.759 and I might have every reason and right, to leave, 00:13:54.820 --> 00:13:58.419 I'm going to stay. And I'm not going to stay 00:13:58.419 --> 00:14:00.360 because of you. I'm going to stay because what 00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:03.179 God has done in me and the strength and grace 00:14:03.179 --> 00:14:05.840 he gives me to demonstrate the love of Christ 00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:08.480 to you. That's what Jesus did on the cross. He 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:12.539 endured. It wasn't nails that held him up there. 00:14:12.679 --> 00:14:15.200 It wasn't the Romans that put him up there. And 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:17.940 it wasn't the Jews that got him there. What held 00:14:17.940 --> 00:14:21.779 him on the cross was he endured, love stays. 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:26.100 And he remained because he knew you would fail 00:14:26.100 --> 00:14:31.240 badly. And I would fail badly. You're listening 00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:33.700 to Living on the Edge. We'll get you back to 00:14:33.700 --> 00:14:36.240 today's program in just a second. But first, 00:14:36.279 --> 00:14:38.639 did you know that other believers are paramount 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:41.360 to your faith journey? Keep listening after this 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:43.980 message as Chip explains why and highlights some 00:14:43.980 --> 00:14:46.600 resources we have to get you into authentic community 00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:50.019 today. Stick around to learn more. But for now, 00:14:50.039 --> 00:14:52.840 here again is Chip. And you may think you've 00:14:52.840 --> 00:14:56.039 messed up a little. When the standard is absolute, 00:14:56.340 --> 00:14:58.960 unapproachable light, complete perfection, 24 00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:02.480 -7, 365, as long as you live, you fail badly. 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:07.659 And so he endured. And as he endured, the scripture 00:15:07.659 --> 00:15:11.419 says, that he became sin or a sin offering on 00:15:11.419 --> 00:15:14.500 our behalf. And so your sin, my sin, the sin 00:15:14.500 --> 00:15:17.200 of all people for all time, as he hung upon that 00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:20.259 cross as an offering, God took all that sin and 00:15:20.259 --> 00:15:22.399 he placed it on Christ and then he turned away 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:24.840 because he couldn't tolerate sin. And the wrath 00:15:24.840 --> 00:15:27.659 of God for your sin and my sin and all people's 00:15:27.659 --> 00:15:29.919 sins. And that's why Jesus cried, my God, my 00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:32.419 God, why have you forsaken me? Because there 00:15:32.419 --> 00:15:34.299 was a division in the Godhead for the first time 00:15:34.299 --> 00:15:38.370 in all eternity. And when he died, he paid or 00:15:38.370 --> 00:15:42.309 covered or atoned for your sin and my sin once 00:15:42.309 --> 00:15:45.870 and for all. And the gospel is not get religious, 00:15:45.909 --> 00:15:47.830 become a Christian and try hard to be moral. 00:15:47.970 --> 00:15:52.090 The gospel is you have already been forgiven. 00:15:52.490 --> 00:15:55.830 The wonderful happy news is of a God of love 00:15:55.830 --> 00:15:59.370 and kindness. And you can receive it by faith. 00:15:59.470 --> 00:16:01.529 You don't have to receive it. You can tell God, 00:16:01.549 --> 00:16:03.750 forget you. I don't want your free gift, but 00:16:03.750 --> 00:16:07.629 you can never earn it. And so those that would 00:16:07.629 --> 00:16:09.570 understand the good news of the gospel, that 00:16:09.570 --> 00:16:12.950 you have been forgiven and the offer is by faith, 00:16:13.009 --> 00:16:15.389 will you receive it? And those who receive it 00:16:15.389 --> 00:16:17.669 by faith, by turning from their sin and believing 00:16:17.669 --> 00:16:19.889 and trusting on what Christ done, the spirit 00:16:19.889 --> 00:16:23.110 of God enters their life. They're born from above 00:16:23.110 --> 00:16:27.110 or literally born again. And the spirit is sealed 00:16:27.110 --> 00:16:30.009 in their physical body and the life of Christ. 00:16:30.570 --> 00:16:32.549 By the power of the Holy Spirit takes up residence 00:16:32.549 --> 00:16:35.590 in you and you have been removed from the kingdom 00:16:35.590 --> 00:16:37.669 of darkness, placed in the kingdom of light. 00:16:37.809 --> 00:16:40.269 Spiritual gifts have been deposited. You're connected 00:16:40.269 --> 00:16:42.309 to the supernatural community called the church. 00:16:42.570 --> 00:16:45.950 And then God wants through his spirit in relationship 00:16:45.950 --> 00:16:50.330 for you to begin to walk by faith and live and 00:16:50.330 --> 00:16:52.669 enjoy him. So the Christian life is not how long 00:16:52.669 --> 00:16:55.009 you read the Bible, not how much you pray, not 00:16:55.009 --> 00:16:57.330 how much money you give, not how many good works. 00:16:57.669 --> 00:17:00.879 It's all about. abiding in a relationship with 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:02.759 the Father through the Son and the power of the 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:06.359 Holy Spirit. And then what you find is you love 00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:09.019 to be around people that you love. And you begin 00:17:09.019 --> 00:17:11.759 to read this because God speaks to you and your 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:14.420 relationship deepens. And then you start talking 00:17:14.420 --> 00:17:16.140 to him. And it's not just a little five minutes 00:17:16.140 --> 00:17:18.279 or 10 minutes in the morning or at night, but 00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:20.819 it's all through the day. And then pretty soon, 00:17:20.859 --> 00:17:23.880 the love of God compels you because of what he's 00:17:23.880 --> 00:17:25.819 done in you to share that with other people. 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:28.000 And you find yourself taking money out of your 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:30.640 pocket to other people who need it more. And 00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:32.539 you don't get little brownie points for it. You 00:17:32.539 --> 00:17:36.720 are just following Christ. Why? Because love 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:42.200 never fails. Love never fails. Literally, the 00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:45.269 word is translated over 70 times, falls. or to 00:17:45.269 --> 00:17:48.269 fall down. It means love never falls down. Love 00:17:48.269 --> 00:17:50.529 never gets corrupted. Love never gets ruined. 00:17:50.849 --> 00:17:55.490 When you love, situations and circumstances may 00:17:55.490 --> 00:17:57.569 not come out the way you want them all the time, 00:17:57.690 --> 00:18:02.829 but you will never lose. Why? Because you are 00:18:02.829 --> 00:18:07.029 governed by an all -wise, all -powerful, sovereign 00:18:07.029 --> 00:18:12.410 God. That's why Joseph, who was betrayed, who 00:18:12.410 --> 00:18:15.519 was lied about in terms of the rape, who was 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:18.599 forgotten in prison. At the end of his life, 00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:21.599 the difficulty, the pain, he understood, I don't 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:24.539 get it, but I'm not, I'm gonna stay in God's 00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:26.720 program. He's in control. And he would say at 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:28.400 the end of his life, after he's made the second 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:31.140 most powerful person and saved the entire nation 00:18:31.140 --> 00:18:33.599 of Israel, he would say to his brothers who feared 00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:36.279 for their life after their father died, thinking 00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:39.059 now Joseph will take revenge. And he says to 00:18:39.059 --> 00:18:42.819 them, guys, you still don't get it, do you? You 00:18:42.819 --> 00:18:45.640 meant it for evil. but God meant it for good 00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:48.220 to bring about this present result to preserve 00:18:48.220 --> 00:18:52.099 many people alive. When you love, you can never 00:18:52.099 --> 00:18:55.319 fail. Outcomes may not be the way you want them, 00:18:55.400 --> 00:18:59.099 but you can never fail. It never fails. Listen 00:18:59.099 --> 00:19:02.259 carefully. Nothing will enter your life that 00:19:02.259 --> 00:19:05.460 God does not either decree or allow, and nothing 00:19:05.460 --> 00:19:07.680 will ever enter your life that if you're willing 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:11.339 to trust him, he cannot work out for your good. 00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:16.809 That's what it means when we say God is sovereign. 00:19:18.009 --> 00:19:21.789 And his sovereignty and rule in your life begins 00:19:21.789 --> 00:19:26.089 when you can just do what we said at the very 00:19:26.089 --> 00:19:30.430 beginning, admit, I failed. All the energy of 00:19:30.430 --> 00:19:33.769 blaming other people, blaming your past, blaming 00:19:33.769 --> 00:19:36.990 your parents, blaming someone else, blaming Hollywood, 00:19:37.250 --> 00:19:39.809 blaming, you know, your family of origin. When 00:19:39.809 --> 00:19:44.519 you can just face Love requires truth and grace. 00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:47.759 And just own up and say, I'm not the dad I'm 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:50.059 supposed to be. I'm not the Christ follower I'm 00:19:50.059 --> 00:19:52.099 supposed to be. What's coming out of my mouth 00:19:52.099 --> 00:19:54.519 is a failure. How I'm spending my money is a 00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:57.180 failure. And this addiction I have, I'm failing. 00:19:57.400 --> 00:20:04.640 God, I admit it. I can't do this. Will you forgive 00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:08.900 me? His answer will be, I already have. And he 00:20:08.900 --> 00:20:13.319 will ask, will you receive it? And your answer 00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:18.339 needs to be unreservedly. Scripture says if we 00:20:18.339 --> 00:20:20.500 confess, it just means to agree with God. If 00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:22.640 we confess our sin, missing the mark, failure, 00:20:22.920 --> 00:20:28.059 he's faithful and he's fair to not only forgive 00:20:28.059 --> 00:20:31.059 you of your sin, but to cleanse you from all 00:20:31.059 --> 00:20:33.750 unrighteousness. For many, that happens at a 00:20:33.750 --> 00:20:36.690 very first time, and we call it trusting Christ, 00:20:36.690 --> 00:20:39.250 becoming a Christian. For many, many people that 00:20:39.250 --> 00:20:41.470 are Christians, you've trusted Christ. The fact 00:20:41.470 --> 00:20:43.430 of the matter is, you're just negotiating all 00:20:43.430 --> 00:20:46.509 your failures. You're just blaming here and shucking 00:20:46.509 --> 00:20:50.670 and jiving here, and you gotta come clean and 00:20:50.670 --> 00:20:54.950 be honest and get real and receive His forgiveness 00:20:54.950 --> 00:20:59.390 and then follow with His power and His grace. 00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:04.279 The truth of the matter is, Christians and non 00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:07.460 -Christians alike have one country song in common. 00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:11.079 A lot of us are looking for love in all the wrong 00:21:11.079 --> 00:21:14.720 places. And when we do, we hurt ourselves, we 00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:18.559 hurt other people, and we miss God's best. If 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:21.240 you're going to find love in the right places, 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:24.160 I'm going to tell you where it's at. The intimacy, 00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:27.559 the security, the significance, the purpose, 00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:31.180 the impact. It happens in the family of God. 00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:34.400 It's when his word takes root in your life and 00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:37.160 you have relationships that are rich and deep 00:21:37.160 --> 00:21:39.980 and you feel connected and there's genuine intimacy 00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:43.259 and that aligns your sexual expressions in a 00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:45.299 way that are God -honoring and fruitful. That 00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:47.380 aligns the spending of your money and your priorities 00:21:47.380 --> 00:21:49.579 that are God -honoring and fruitful. That gets 00:21:49.579 --> 00:21:51.880 your time redirected in ways that are God -honoring 00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:54.559 and fruitful. And we call it becoming a Romans 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:57.400 12 Christian. And in verses 9 through 11, it 00:21:57.400 --> 00:21:59.579 says, let love be sincere. Literally, it means 00:21:59.579 --> 00:22:01.740 take off your mask. Let love be without hypocrisy. 00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:04.420 Notice, abhor what is evil, cling to what is 00:22:04.420 --> 00:22:08.339 good. Here's the love. Be devoted to one another 00:22:08.339 --> 00:22:10.420 in brotherly love, giving preference to one another 00:22:10.420 --> 00:22:13.519 in honor, not lagging behind in diligence, fervent 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:17.380 in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope. 00:22:17.899 --> 00:22:19.579 persevering in tribulation, contributing the 00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:21.680 needs of, it's just talking about doing life 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:23.839 in community with a band of brothers and sisters 00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:26.380 where the real you shows up and meets real needs 00:22:26.380 --> 00:22:30.200 for the right reason in the right way. And my 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:32.839 passion, and if I'm getting a little excited, 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:35.000 I'd say forgive me, but I don't want forgiven. 00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:38.839 The great majority of Christians in America and 00:22:38.839 --> 00:22:40.480 around the world think church is an event that 00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:44.640 you come to once a week. It's a community that 00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:47.900 you join, that you do life with. And where God 00:22:47.900 --> 00:22:51.220 changes you from the inside out. What would happen 00:22:51.220 --> 00:22:54.019 if you got connected with a group of people and 00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:56.859 you got really loved that changed the entire 00:22:56.859 --> 00:23:01.240 trajectory of your family? I long for you to 00:23:01.240 --> 00:23:05.940 maximize love. Minimize the trivial demands of 00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:12.920 life. So you simplify. So you become who God 00:23:12.920 --> 00:23:18.720 made you to be. You're listening to Living on 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:21.299 the Edge with Chip Ingram. And the message you 00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:23.660 just heard, looking for love in all the wrong 00:23:23.660 --> 00:23:26.819 places, is from our series, Spiritual Simplicity. 00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:29.640 Chip will join us in studio to share some insights 00:23:29.640 --> 00:23:33.039 from today's talk in just a minute. Most of us 00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:36.259 live very hectic lives, moving too fast, demanding 00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:39.549 too much, and delivering too little. If you're 00:23:39.549 --> 00:23:42.130 desperate for an alternative that actually works, 00:23:42.269 --> 00:23:45.029 then this study is for you. Chip's teaching will 00:23:45.029 --> 00:23:47.549 help you escape this destructive pattern and 00:23:47.549 --> 00:23:49.829 reveal how to better prioritize what matters 00:23:49.829 --> 00:23:52.509 most and love others in a fresh, revolutionary 00:23:52.509 --> 00:23:55.529 way. If you've missed any part of this series, 00:23:55.650 --> 00:23:57.849 catch up anytime through the Chip Ingram app. 00:23:58.089 --> 00:24:00.589 Well, Chip's joined me in studio now with a quick 00:24:00.589 --> 00:24:03.690 word for all of you. Thanks, Dave. As summer 00:24:03.690 --> 00:24:06.559 draws to close and vacations wrap up, You're 00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:08.900 likely getting ready to jump back into your fall 00:24:08.900 --> 00:24:11.180 routine. Whether you're starting a new school 00:24:11.180 --> 00:24:13.680 year or a small group starting back up a church, 00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:16.660 we want to put resources in your hand that will 00:24:16.660 --> 00:24:19.579 help grow your faith. We have a growing catalog 00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:22.819 of studies and curriculum on topics like how 00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:25.519 to understand who God is, how to grow your faith. 00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:27.859 Maybe you want to strengthen your marriage or 00:24:27.859 --> 00:24:30.819 become more intentional as a parent. I'm confident 00:24:30.819 --> 00:24:33.180 that our small group materials will help you 00:24:33.180 --> 00:24:36.299 and your community learn, share, and support 00:24:36.299 --> 00:24:39.039 each other. It's about doing life together and 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:40.880 living with purpose, and we want to help you. 00:24:41.019 --> 00:24:43.519 Thanks, Chip. Well, we have a growing library 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:46.579 of small group resources on a wide range of topics, 00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:49.819 and they're so easy to use. Chip provides the 00:24:49.819 --> 00:24:52.140 teaching. Then you'll have time to discuss what 00:24:52.140 --> 00:24:54.480 you've heard alongside our helpful study guides. 00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:57.660 We also offer some insights for leaders to effectively 00:24:57.660 --> 00:25:00.700 lead their groups. If you're not in a small group 00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:03.240 yet or looking for your next topic to study, 00:25:03.339 --> 00:25:06.269 check out our resources. And as Chip said, for 00:25:06.269 --> 00:25:08.910 a limited time, we've discounted all of our small 00:25:08.910 --> 00:25:11.529 group resources so you can get into community 00:25:11.529 --> 00:25:15.269 today. To learn more, go to livingontheedge .org 00:25:15.269 --> 00:25:21.470 or call us at 888 -333 -6003. That's 888 -333 00:25:21.470 --> 00:25:26.970 -6003 or livingontheedge .org. App listeners, 00:25:27.130 --> 00:25:29.809 tap special offers. Well, with that, here again 00:25:29.809 --> 00:25:31.990 is Chip to wrap up our time together with some 00:25:31.990 --> 00:25:35.420 final application. As we close today's program, 00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:38.940 I just want to ask you two very important questions. 00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:42.900 Question number one, is there someone that God 00:25:42.900 --> 00:25:45.640 wants you to help overcome the mistakes of their 00:25:45.640 --> 00:25:48.480 past? You know, it's one thing to know intellectually 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:51.559 God loves us, He forgives us, it's been paid 00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:54.440 for by the cross, Christ has been risen from 00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:57.859 the dead, and He offers us free, unconditional 00:25:57.859 --> 00:26:01.099 love and forgiveness. But we all need someone 00:26:01.099 --> 00:26:03.799 to put a hand on our shoulder, to look deep into 00:26:03.799 --> 00:26:07.160 our eyes and say, I forgive you. I love you. 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:10.019 I believe in you. That mistake is behind you. 00:26:10.119 --> 00:26:12.720 And God has a future for you. And I want to walk 00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:15.579 with you in that. Is there someone you know today 00:26:15.579 --> 00:26:19.000 that a phone call, a text, an email, a lunch, 00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:22.000 a breakfast, that God is prompting you right 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:25.619 now? Imagine thousands of people making one singular 00:26:25.619 --> 00:26:28.380 step to affirm someone who's made a mistake, 00:26:28.579 --> 00:26:31.079 the difference that it could make today. And 00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:32.599 secondly, there's some of you that you realize 00:26:32.599 --> 00:26:34.740 this message isn't for someone else. You've made 00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:37.500 a big mistake. and you feel overwhelmed and bad 00:26:37.500 --> 00:26:40.559 and guilty, would you right now bow your head, 00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:44.339 shut your eyes, and just ask God to help you 00:26:44.339 --> 00:26:48.019 receive? His love and forgiveness. You don't 00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:50.099 have to earn it. You can't get it back. You can't 00:26:50.099 --> 00:26:52.519 work yourself back into some standing. He loves 00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:55.759 you. Would you just say, Lord, I believe and 00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:58.960 trust as I confess right now. You love and forgive 00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:02.059 me. And then today, share where you've been with 00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:04.920 one trusted friend so that a brother or sister 00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:07.660 in Christ can help you seal the deal that you 00:27:07.660 --> 00:27:10.750 indeed are forgiven. Thanks, Chip. And as we 00:27:10.750 --> 00:27:13.150 close, I want you to know that as a staff, we 00:27:13.150 --> 00:27:15.450 ask the Lord to help you take whatever your next 00:27:15.450 --> 00:27:18.130 faith step is. If there's a way we can help, 00:27:18.210 --> 00:27:22.069 we'd love to do that. Give us a call at 888 -333 00:27:22.069 --> 00:27:27.390 -6003 or connect with us at livingontheedge .org. 00:27:27.650 --> 00:27:29.609 And while you're there, take a moment and look 00:27:29.609 --> 00:27:31.970 through our resources on various topics, many 00:27:31.970 --> 00:27:34.759 of them absolutely free. Well, until next time, 00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:36.819 this is Dave Drewy saying thanks for listening 00:27:36.819 --> 00:27:39.079 to this edition of Living on the Edge.