WEBVTT 00:00:00.100 --> 00:00:14.540 If you got up one morning and it was 10 degrees outside and your six-year-old came out of his room dressed in shorts and a t-shirt and said, I'm ready to go to school, how would you respond? 00:00:16.179 --> 00:00:25.420 Would you say something like, okay, but next time it's 10 degrees outside, don't wear summer clothes. 00:00:26.420 --> 00:00:28.480 Wear what will make you warm. 00:00:28.480 --> 00:00:30.800 You wouldn't do that, would you? 00:00:32.420 --> 00:00:45.179 You would order that child to go back to their room, take off those summer clothes, put on some warm winter clothes, long pants, sweatshirt, coats, something like that. 00:00:46.240 --> 00:00:53.299 And the reason you do that is because you want to make sure your child is dressed appropriately. 00:00:53.299 --> 00:01:04.799 Well, in Colossians chapter 3, Paul is telling us how to live appropriately as God's children. 00:01:05.399 --> 00:01:10.920 And he actually does it in a way like taking off certain things, putting on certain things. 00:01:10.920 --> 00:01:13.939 Turn with me if you would to Colossians chapter 3. 00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:23.019 And as you're turning, I want to remind you that we've already looked at the kinds of things that we're supposed to put off, take off. 00:01:23.879 --> 00:01:26.320 He even says, put to death. 00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:35.259 Things like sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 00:01:35.979 --> 00:01:43.000 He also said to put off anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouths. 00:01:43.500 --> 00:01:45.019 Do not lie to one another. 00:01:45.019 --> 00:01:48.379 We looked at that for two weeks. 00:01:49.340 --> 00:01:54.060 Last week, we started looking at the kinds of things we're supposed to put on. 00:01:55.060 --> 00:01:58.699 Things that should be in us and come out of us as Christians. 00:01:59.280 --> 00:01:59.979 Look at it. 00:02:01.819 --> 00:02:13.159 Put on then as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 00:02:13.159 --> 00:02:20.000 Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other. 00:02:20.840 --> 00:02:26.879 And above all these, put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 00:02:27.960 --> 00:02:30.719 Before we go any further, I want to reemphasize. 00:02:31.859 --> 00:02:35.379 This is not saying this is how we become a Christian. 00:02:36.840 --> 00:02:40.099 I have tried to stress from the very beginning of this series, 00:02:40.099 --> 00:02:47.240 Paul is not saying that we become a Christian by putting off certain sins 00:02:47.240 --> 00:02:50.719 and putting on certain Christ-like character qualities. 00:02:52.079 --> 00:02:52.879 Excuse me. 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:55.240 Salvation is something we can't earn. 00:02:56.060 --> 00:02:58.859 We don't do anything to get it. 00:03:00.079 --> 00:03:06.159 Salvation is by the grace of God that we receive through faith in Jesus Christ. 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:12.620 Probably the most well-known statement in the New Testament about that is Ephesians chapter 2. 00:03:13.120 --> 00:03:13.780 Look at this. 00:03:15.419 --> 00:03:19.180 For by grace you have been saved through faith. 00:03:19.879 --> 00:03:22.460 And this is not your own doing. 00:03:23.019 --> 00:03:24.620 It is the gift of God. 00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:29.479 Not a result of works so that no one may boast. 00:03:29.479 --> 00:03:37.519 In Colossians chapter 3, Paul is telling us that if we are truly united to Christ by faith, 00:03:38.259 --> 00:03:44.699 if we are one with Him through faith, then we are accepted by God. 00:03:45.519 --> 00:03:50.819 We are God's chosen ones, holy and beloved. 00:03:50.819 --> 00:03:56.379 Now what He's going to, what He's, all the details of chapter 3, 00:03:56.979 --> 00:04:02.900 He's telling us, if this is who we are, we need to live like it. 00:04:03.719 --> 00:04:10.500 As God's people, we are responsible to live like the people that we are. 00:04:11.859 --> 00:04:13.019 United to Christ. 00:04:13.659 --> 00:04:14.959 Filled with His Spirit. 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:17.980 We don't do it by our own willpower. 00:04:19.019 --> 00:04:23.879 As I've said, we do it because the Spirit of Christ lives in us. 00:04:24.579 --> 00:04:30.199 And within us, He gives us the desire to put off sin. 00:04:31.100 --> 00:04:33.879 To develop Christ-like character qualities. 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:37.360 He not only gives us the desire to do that, but He will help us. 00:04:37.420 --> 00:04:43.180 He'll prompt us, encourage us, give us the ability to do these things. 00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:46.599 But we've got to cooperate with Him. 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:52.539 Paul tells us in Colossians 3 how we cooperate with Him. 00:04:52.839 --> 00:04:56.779 We're looking at it in terms of three goals that God has for us. 00:04:56.939 --> 00:04:59.639 Goal number one, be mindful of who you are in Christ. 00:05:00.359 --> 00:05:04.339 Goal number two, don't be who you are apart from Christ. 00:05:05.479 --> 00:05:09.799 And goal number three, we began last week, become more like Christ every day. 00:05:09.799 --> 00:05:13.579 We saw last week why we can do that. 00:05:13.579 --> 00:05:27.959 Understand, this passage of Scripture is saying we can become more like Christ in terms of character development every day. 00:05:28.979 --> 00:05:30.779 Look first, here's why. 00:05:31.319 --> 00:05:33.519 We are God's special people. 00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:36.779 We're God's chosen ones. 00:05:36.899 --> 00:05:38.379 We looked at it in detail last week. 00:05:38.699 --> 00:05:40.360 We're God's holy people. 00:05:40.360 --> 00:05:44.100 We are beloved or dearly loved. 00:05:45.980 --> 00:05:51.020 Now, let's look at how we actually become like Christ. 00:05:51.699 --> 00:05:54.180 We started last week, point number two. 00:05:54.600 --> 00:05:56.319 We can live like God's special people. 00:05:56.780 --> 00:06:00.319 We can live like the special people that we are. 00:06:01.060 --> 00:06:02.340 And love is the key. 00:06:03.220 --> 00:06:04.100 Look at verse 14. 00:06:04.100 --> 00:06:06.660 Let the love of Christ fill you. 00:06:06.660 --> 00:06:14.140 And above all these, put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 00:06:14.680 --> 00:06:17.000 Now, note that little phrase, all these. 00:06:17.500 --> 00:06:22.420 It refers to the list of virtues found in verses 12 through 13. 00:06:22.860 --> 00:06:31.500 Compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, or gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another, forgiving each other. 00:06:31.500 --> 00:06:40.819 Those qualities are bound together like pages in a book on Christian love. 00:06:41.560 --> 00:06:43.899 Each one of those qualities you see listed there. 00:06:44.759 --> 00:06:47.920 That's some aspect of love. 00:06:49.139 --> 00:07:00.540 Now, Paul says something similar to this in 1 Corinthians 13, where we have what we might consider the Bible's definition of love. 00:07:00.540 --> 00:07:02.840 1 Corinthians 13. 00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:05.400 I want you to look at it with me. 00:07:07.460 --> 00:07:14.740 Paul includes most of these qualities we've been looking at by either name or description in these verses. 00:07:15.280 --> 00:07:18.540 Note, love is patient and kind. 00:07:19.700 --> 00:07:21.180 Love does not envy or boast. 00:07:21.939 --> 00:07:23.960 It is not arrogant or rude. 00:07:24.640 --> 00:07:26.920 It does not insist on its own way. 00:07:27.420 --> 00:07:29.540 It is not irritable or resentful. 00:07:29.540 --> 00:07:35.240 It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 00:07:35.819 --> 00:07:41.520 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 00:07:42.620 --> 00:07:45.180 Here's what Paul is trying to tell us in Colossians 3. 00:07:45.180 --> 00:07:58.319 If we are filled with the love of Christ, we will seek to express in all of our relationships these kind of qualities. 00:07:59.100 --> 00:08:04.960 And especially in our relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:08:04.959 --> 00:08:11.479 We looked at one of the ways Christian love is expressed last week, and I just want to call attention to it now. 00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:16.479 Love will motivate us to live in unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:08:16.680 --> 00:08:17.539 Look at verse 11. 00:08:17.540 --> 00:08:27.020 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free, but Christ is all and in all. 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:35.240 The idea is that all Christians are brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:08:35.240 --> 00:08:39.060 We ought to live like it. 00:08:39.860 --> 00:08:41.240 We ought to act like it. 00:08:41.980 --> 00:08:43.440 Even though we're different. 00:08:44.220 --> 00:08:51.220 And I said last week, if you've got more than one sibling or just one, you're all different. 00:08:52.680 --> 00:08:56.720 You may not like everything about your brothers and sisters, but you love one another. 00:08:56.720 --> 00:09:03.440 We're in spite of those differences, and that's how we're supposed to be as Christians in relationship with one another. 00:09:04.139 --> 00:09:09.540 But we also looked at very briefly last week that we are members of one race, the human race. 00:09:10.899 --> 00:09:17.940 And so we, as God's people, we must not let differences like we see in that list there, 00:09:18.259 --> 00:09:25.060 differences in race, social classes, or cultures, we can't let that divide us. 00:09:25.059 --> 00:09:28.739 We definitely can't let it divide us in the church. 00:09:30.079 --> 00:09:34.779 But we need to demonstrate how, as being members of the human race, 00:09:35.379 --> 00:09:41.179 we don't let such divisions divide us in our community at large. 00:09:41.939 --> 00:09:45.599 Now, Paul is just getting started in the ways we ought to express love. 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:52.119 So let's move on and see that love will motivate us to be gracious with our brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:09:52.120 --> 00:09:59.120 And these qualities listed in verse 12 are characteristics of graciousness. 00:10:00.259 --> 00:10:00.919 Look at it. 00:10:01.740 --> 00:10:06.179 As we look at each of these gracious expressions of love, keep in mind, 00:10:07.220 --> 00:10:13.639 these are Christ-like character qualities that Paul describes in Galatians 5 as fruit of the Spirit. 00:10:13.639 --> 00:10:18.159 What you see on the screen, what we're going to look at, 00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:28.059 they are Spirit, Holy Spirit-produced qualities that will cause us to desire, 00:10:28.620 --> 00:10:31.799 to desire them, to develop them, 00:10:32.460 --> 00:10:37.419 and then put forth the effort to demonstrate them toward other people, 00:10:38.319 --> 00:10:39.819 especially other Christians. 00:10:39.820 --> 00:10:43.280 And here's what I want us to think about as we go through all this stuff. 00:10:43.340 --> 00:10:45.260 I'm not going to say it over and over again. 00:10:46.600 --> 00:10:48.980 But we're talking about, as Christians, 00:10:49.820 --> 00:10:51.560 with the Spirit of God living within us, 00:10:52.100 --> 00:10:56.160 we can develop these qualities in relationships with people. 00:10:57.760 --> 00:11:00.379 Home and the church 00:11:00.379 --> 00:11:02.980 is the practice field 00:11:02.980 --> 00:11:05.520 where we develop these things. 00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:06.079 Home. 00:11:10.079 --> 00:11:11.759 Those people you live with. 00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:13.779 The church here. 00:11:14.460 --> 00:11:15.279 Church family. 00:11:16.220 --> 00:11:17.100 This is where 00:11:17.100 --> 00:11:19.279 we work on. 00:11:20.100 --> 00:11:22.039 And sometimes through trial and error, 00:11:23.059 --> 00:11:24.199 developing these qualities. 00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:25.620 Let's look at them. 00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:27.779 The first one is compassionate hearts. 00:11:28.379 --> 00:11:30.659 It's often translated heartfelt compassion. 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:32.319 Or maybe even 00:11:32.319 --> 00:11:34.379 tender-hearted mercy. 00:11:34.379 --> 00:11:37.799 It means to feel deeply 00:11:37.799 --> 00:11:39.840 for another person. 00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:40.700 Now, 00:11:41.259 --> 00:11:44.519 we may have a hard time doing that today 00:11:44.519 --> 00:11:45.120 because 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:47.360 everybody's life 00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:48.600 is busy. 00:11:49.340 --> 00:11:50.419 You think about it. 00:11:51.740 --> 00:11:52.860 Many people in this room, 00:11:53.139 --> 00:11:54.480 you've got more on your plate 00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:56.220 than you really want to be there. 00:11:57.179 --> 00:11:59.279 You've got so much you've got to think about, 00:11:59.379 --> 00:12:00.840 so much you've got to do 00:12:00.840 --> 00:12:02.460 on a daily basis. 00:12:02.460 --> 00:12:04.740 And so it could be that 00:12:04.740 --> 00:12:06.740 just the routine of life, 00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:07.780 the busyness of life, 00:12:07.879 --> 00:12:09.320 not anything bad, 00:12:10.100 --> 00:12:12.360 it so consumes you 00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:13.780 that you don't really 00:12:13.780 --> 00:12:16.019 notice 00:12:16.019 --> 00:12:18.680 the people around you. 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:21.680 You don't notice what's going on 00:12:21.680 --> 00:12:22.600 in other people's lives. 00:12:23.720 --> 00:12:24.680 Think about it. 00:12:24.679 --> 00:12:26.399 How closely 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:28.099 do you really pay attention 00:12:28.099 --> 00:12:29.299 to what's going on 00:12:29.299 --> 00:12:31.620 in your fellow Sunday school 00:12:31.620 --> 00:12:33.579 class members' lives? 00:12:35.419 --> 00:12:37.519 How much attention 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:39.059 do you give to them, 00:12:40.059 --> 00:12:40.459 especially 00:12:40.459 --> 00:12:43.099 if there's something going on 00:12:43.099 --> 00:12:43.319 that 00:12:43.319 --> 00:12:44.739 they're down, 00:12:44.859 --> 00:12:45.620 they're discouraged? 00:12:45.620 --> 00:12:49.279 What about the people 00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:50.200 you live with? 00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:53.679 The people under your roof? 00:12:55.679 --> 00:12:57.000 Do you notice 00:12:57.000 --> 00:12:59.799 when something's going on 00:12:59.799 --> 00:13:00.220 in their life? 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:01.220 Do you notice 00:13:01.220 --> 00:13:02.539 when their countenance 00:13:02.539 --> 00:13:03.560 is different? 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:05.960 Do you notice 00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:07.379 when the tone 00:13:07.379 --> 00:13:08.299 of their voice 00:13:08.299 --> 00:13:10.200 is just not 00:13:10.200 --> 00:13:10.620 normal? 00:13:10.620 --> 00:13:11.340 normal? 00:13:13.019 --> 00:13:13.580 Do you notice 00:13:13.580 --> 00:13:13.879 when 00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:16.019 they're not 00:13:16.019 --> 00:13:16.679 acting 00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:19.299 as they typically do? 00:13:19.740 --> 00:13:20.519 Do you notice 00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:21.620 when they're down 00:13:21.620 --> 00:13:22.360 what I'm getting at? 00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:24.679 Your parents, 00:13:26.379 --> 00:13:28.879 your children, 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:31.259 your spouse. 00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:33.240 Do you notice 00:13:33.240 --> 00:13:34.060 when something's 00:13:34.060 --> 00:13:34.799 just not 00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:35.639 quite 00:13:35.639 --> 00:13:36.620 right? 00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:38.340 And then 00:13:38.340 --> 00:13:41.460 do you care 00:13:41.460 --> 00:13:41.960 enough 00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:43.639 about these 00:13:43.639 --> 00:13:44.780 people in your life 00:13:44.780 --> 00:13:46.519 that you really 00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:47.820 do feel 00:13:47.820 --> 00:13:48.759 deeply 00:13:48.759 --> 00:13:50.700 for them 00:13:50.700 --> 00:13:53.340 when you know 00:13:53.340 --> 00:13:53.860 they're hurting? 00:13:55.700 --> 00:13:55.879 Well, 00:13:55.920 --> 00:13:56.800 Christian love 00:13:56.800 --> 00:13:58.320 will compel us. 00:13:58.460 --> 00:13:59.259 Paul is saying 00:13:59.259 --> 00:14:01.480 Christian love 00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:03.519 will compel us 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:04.740 not to overlook 00:14:04.740 --> 00:14:05.780 the people around 00:14:05.780 --> 00:14:06.580 about us 00:14:06.580 --> 00:14:08.480 who are struggling. 00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:11.100 We will be 00:14:11.100 --> 00:14:11.639 compelled 00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:13.860 to demonstrate 00:14:13.860 --> 00:14:15.980 heartfelt 00:14:15.980 --> 00:14:17.720 compassion 00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:19.700 in the words 00:14:19.700 --> 00:14:20.460 that we speak 00:14:20.460 --> 00:14:22.320 and the things 00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:23.259 that we do 00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:24.200 for them. 00:14:25.480 --> 00:14:26.080 It's a part 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:27.379 of being 00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:28.100 gracious, 00:14:28.300 --> 00:14:29.080 showing love, 00:14:29.520 --> 00:14:30.360 compassionate hearts. 00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:30.780 Number two, 00:14:30.940 --> 00:14:31.420 kindness. 00:14:32.540 --> 00:14:33.240 Jerry Bridges 00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:33.780 doesn't really 00:14:33.780 --> 00:14:34.700 describe it 00:14:34.700 --> 00:14:36.040 or define it. 00:14:36.039 --> 00:14:36.480 He more or less 00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:37.240 describes it. 00:14:37.299 --> 00:14:37.539 I want you 00:14:37.539 --> 00:14:38.120 to look at this. 00:14:38.839 --> 00:14:39.339 Apart from 00:14:39.339 --> 00:14:40.219 God's grace, 00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:41.599 most of us 00:14:41.599 --> 00:14:42.599 naturally tend 00:14:42.599 --> 00:14:43.299 to be concerned 00:14:43.299 --> 00:14:44.259 about ourselves, 00:14:44.719 --> 00:14:45.759 our responsibilities, 00:14:46.299 --> 00:14:47.159 our problems, 00:14:47.299 --> 00:14:48.259 our plans. 00:14:48.679 --> 00:14:49.339 But the person 00:14:49.339 --> 00:14:49.860 who has grown 00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:50.399 in the grace 00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:51.199 of kindness 00:14:51.199 --> 00:14:52.799 has expanded 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:53.679 his thinking 00:14:53.679 --> 00:14:54.759 outside of himself 00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:56.099 and has developed 00:14:56.099 --> 00:14:57.639 a genuine interest 00:14:57.639 --> 00:14:59.000 in the happiness 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:00.839 and well-being 00:15:00.839 --> 00:15:01.719 of those 00:15:01.719 --> 00:15:02.879 around him. 00:15:04.019 --> 00:15:04.419 I want you 00:15:04.419 --> 00:15:05.019 to stop and think. 00:15:05.019 --> 00:15:07.259 Do you have 00:15:07.259 --> 00:15:08.840 a genuine interest 00:15:08.840 --> 00:15:09.919 in the happiness 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:12.039 of the people 00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:12.840 that you share 00:15:12.840 --> 00:15:13.960 life with 00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:14.559 in your home, 00:15:15.559 --> 00:15:16.919 in your Sunday 00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:17.699 school class, 00:15:18.460 --> 00:15:19.679 those that 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:20.840 you are 00:15:20.840 --> 00:15:22.179 close to? 00:15:24.379 --> 00:15:25.299 Lisa told 00:15:25.299 --> 00:15:26.679 me a story 00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:27.779 a while back 00:15:27.779 --> 00:15:29.639 about her 00:15:29.639 --> 00:15:30.939 grandfather. 00:15:30.940 --> 00:15:31.060 brother. 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:33.840 He told 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:34.480 this story 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:34.840 about when 00:15:34.840 --> 00:15:35.220 he was a 00:15:35.220 --> 00:15:35.640 teenager. 00:15:36.760 --> 00:15:37.980 He was a 00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:38.500 teenage boy, 00:15:38.560 --> 00:15:39.140 had a brother 00:15:39.140 --> 00:15:39.700 who was another 00:15:39.700 --> 00:15:40.180 teenager, 00:15:41.180 --> 00:15:42.720 and they 00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:43.680 moved to a 00:15:43.680 --> 00:15:44.240 new house 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:44.840 out in the 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:45.260 country. 00:15:45.260 --> 00:15:47.180 And the house 00:15:47.180 --> 00:15:47.800 that they moved 00:15:47.800 --> 00:15:48.120 into, 00:15:48.260 --> 00:15:48.600 the people who 00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:49.140 moved out, 00:15:49.260 --> 00:15:49.760 they had already 00:15:49.760 --> 00:15:51.160 planted a garden. 00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:52.780 And so when 00:15:52.780 --> 00:15:53.640 Lisa's grandfather 00:15:53.640 --> 00:15:54.340 and his brother 00:15:54.340 --> 00:15:54.900 and family 00:15:54.900 --> 00:15:55.480 moved in, 00:15:55.560 --> 00:15:56.340 they had a garden 00:15:56.340 --> 00:15:57.520 there ready, 00:15:57.860 --> 00:15:58.720 waiting for them. 00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:00.560 Well, one 00:16:00.560 --> 00:16:01.379 morning of the 00:16:01.379 --> 00:16:02.519 first week 00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:03.500 they lived in 00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:04.139 that house, 00:16:05.320 --> 00:16:07.100 they heard a 00:16:07.100 --> 00:16:07.879 knock at the 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:09.379 door very 00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:09.759 early. 00:16:10.680 --> 00:16:11.500 They opened the 00:16:11.500 --> 00:16:11.840 door and it 00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:12.580 was an angry 00:16:12.580 --> 00:16:13.460 neighbor that 00:16:13.460 --> 00:16:14.200 they had never 00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:14.700 met. 00:16:15.700 --> 00:16:16.639 And his first 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:17.680 words to his 00:16:17.680 --> 00:16:18.259 new neighbors 00:16:18.259 --> 00:16:18.639 were, 00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:19.940 do you have 00:16:19.940 --> 00:16:20.879 two cows? 00:16:22.460 --> 00:16:22.840 Well, Ms. 00:16:22.920 --> 00:16:23.480 Murphy said, 00:16:23.580 --> 00:16:24.379 yes, we do. 00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:25.560 Well, he 00:16:25.560 --> 00:16:27.080 angrily informed 00:16:27.080 --> 00:16:27.580 her, 00:16:27.580 --> 00:16:29.580 that her 00:16:29.580 --> 00:16:30.420 cows had gotten 00:16:30.420 --> 00:16:31.100 out during a 00:16:31.100 --> 00:16:31.800 thunderstorm that 00:16:31.800 --> 00:16:33.259 night and had 00:16:33.259 --> 00:16:34.680 trampled down a 00:16:34.680 --> 00:16:35.560 good bit of his 00:16:35.560 --> 00:16:36.000 garden. 00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:38.840 And he, 00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:39.500 before he gave 00:16:39.500 --> 00:16:40.200 her time to say 00:16:40.200 --> 00:16:40.660 a word, 00:16:41.139 --> 00:16:42.000 he told her that 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:42.759 the damages 00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:43.540 would amount 00:16:43.540 --> 00:16:45.180 to $4. 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:47.240 This is a long 00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:47.759 time ago. 00:16:49.320 --> 00:16:49.759 Well, she 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:50.300 apologized, 00:16:50.700 --> 00:16:51.200 didn't say a 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:52.300 word, apologized, 00:16:52.780 --> 00:16:53.440 paid him the 00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:55.379 $4 and sent her 00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:56.580 two teenage boys 00:16:56.580 --> 00:16:57.520 to get the cows 00:16:57.520 --> 00:16:58.240 and repair the 00:16:58.240 --> 00:16:58.639 fence. 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:00.000 And that was 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:00.220 it. 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:02.500 No more words 00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:03.160 from that guy. 00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:04.860 Well, several 00:17:04.860 --> 00:17:05.579 weeks later, 00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:06.700 another storm 00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:07.319 came up at 00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:07.660 night. 00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:09.140 And the next 00:17:09.140 --> 00:17:10.620 morning, the 00:17:10.620 --> 00:17:11.319 Murphys looked 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:11.759 out and there 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:12.680 were two strange 00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:13.720 cows in their 00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:14.160 garden. 00:17:15.700 --> 00:17:15.920 Ms. 00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:16.720 Murphy told the 00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:17.579 boys, put those 00:17:17.579 --> 00:17:18.579 cows up, the 00:17:18.579 --> 00:17:19.140 owner will be 00:17:19.140 --> 00:17:19.840 looking for them, 00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:20.819 probably come by 00:17:20.819 --> 00:17:22.319 here before very 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:22.720 long. 00:17:24.299 --> 00:17:24.900 And sure enough, 00:17:24.940 --> 00:17:25.240 he did. 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:26.500 Later that 00:17:26.500 --> 00:17:27.700 morning, that 00:17:27.700 --> 00:17:28.400 neighbor who 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:29.240 had made her 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:30.819 pay $4 for 00:17:30.819 --> 00:17:31.859 damages to his 00:17:31.859 --> 00:17:33.000 garden came by, 00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:34.880 asking if they 00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:36.180 had seen his 00:17:36.180 --> 00:17:36.819 cows. 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:37.799 He said that 00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:38.299 the wind had 00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:38.819 knocked down a 00:17:38.819 --> 00:17:39.400 tree and the 00:17:39.400 --> 00:17:40.559 tree had knocked 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:41.079 a hole in the 00:17:41.079 --> 00:17:41.740 fence and they 00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:43.259 had gotten out. 00:17:44.859 --> 00:17:45.120 Well, Ms. 00:17:45.180 --> 00:17:46.140 Murphy told him, 00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:47.579 yes, your cows 00:17:47.579 --> 00:17:48.160 have been here, 00:17:48.259 --> 00:17:48.799 been in our 00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:49.240 garden. 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:51.099 And we put them 00:17:51.099 --> 00:17:51.740 in the barn, 00:17:52.140 --> 00:17:53.480 waiting for 00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:54.220 somebody to come 00:17:54.220 --> 00:17:55.079 and get them. 00:17:56.640 --> 00:17:57.039 Well, you know 00:17:57.039 --> 00:17:57.519 how the man 00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:57.860 felt. 00:17:59.299 --> 00:18:00.240 He asked her, 00:18:01.120 --> 00:18:02.039 what did he 00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:02.819 owe her for 00:18:02.819 --> 00:18:03.400 the damages? 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:05.740 Now, Lisa's 00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:06.779 grandfather said 00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:07.880 that when he 00:18:07.880 --> 00:18:08.680 and his brother 00:18:08.680 --> 00:18:09.600 heard this, 00:18:10.100 --> 00:18:10.700 they couldn't 00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:12.059 wait for their 00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:13.720 mother to save 00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:14.620 $4 and get 00:18:14.620 --> 00:18:15.339 their money back. 00:18:16.059 --> 00:18:17.480 But that's not 00:18:17.480 --> 00:18:19.299 what she said. 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:20.880 She told that 00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:21.559 man, you don't 00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.720 owe us anything. 00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:25.100 Things like that 00:18:25.100 --> 00:18:25.980 happened. 00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:27.640 And then she 00:18:27.640 --> 00:18:28.620 told her boys, 00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:30.759 help this man 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:31.500 get his cows 00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:32.519 back home and 00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:33.819 stay and help 00:18:33.819 --> 00:18:34.940 him repair 00:18:34.940 --> 00:18:36.180 his fence. 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:38.480 Well, those 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:39.259 boys were, 00:18:39.400 --> 00:18:40.100 they were just 00:18:40.100 --> 00:18:42.720 mad at what 00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:43.160 their mother 00:18:43.160 --> 00:18:43.740 had done. 00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:45.640 But the 00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:46.140 neighbor, 00:18:47.019 --> 00:18:47.539 her grandfather 00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:48.460 said, as a 00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:48.960 teenage boy, 00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:49.500 he noticed. 00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:50.339 He was 00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:51.420 obviously 00:18:51.420 --> 00:18:53.000 humbled 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:54.500 by her 00:18:54.500 --> 00:18:55.099 kindness. 00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:56.819 And that 00:18:56.819 --> 00:18:57.839 very night, 00:18:58.480 --> 00:18:59.059 there came a 00:18:59.059 --> 00:18:59.579 knock at the 00:18:59.579 --> 00:18:59.859 door. 00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:01.000 That neighbor 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:01.680 brought them 00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:02.839 what he said 00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:03.380 was the biggest 00:19:03.380 --> 00:19:04.220 apple pie he 00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:04.980 had ever seen. 00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:06.259 And from that 00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:07.880 day, he said 00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:08.319 they were not 00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:09.000 only good 00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:09.720 neighbors, but 00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:10.599 they were also 00:19:10.599 --> 00:19:12.079 good friends. 00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:13.720 He said 00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:14.539 until they 00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:15.559 moved, that 00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:16.359 man could not 00:19:16.359 --> 00:19:17.180 do enough to 00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:18.060 help them 00:19:18.060 --> 00:19:19.900 around their 00:19:19.900 --> 00:19:20.220 farm. 00:19:21.420 --> 00:19:21.900 I tell that 00:19:21.900 --> 00:19:23.580 story, that is 00:19:23.580 --> 00:19:24.019 one of the best 00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:24.539 stories I've ever 00:19:24.539 --> 00:19:25.440 heard to illustrate 00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:26.820 what kindness 00:19:26.820 --> 00:19:27.820 can do. 00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:29.060 The power, 00:19:29.860 --> 00:19:30.660 the power 00:19:30.660 --> 00:19:33.060 of treating 00:19:33.060 --> 00:19:34.519 someone kindly. 00:19:34.860 --> 00:19:35.660 Not like they 00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:36.060 have treated 00:19:36.060 --> 00:19:37.660 you, but in 00:19:37.660 --> 00:19:39.440 spite of how 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:40.279 they've treated 00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:40.680 you. 00:19:42.100 --> 00:19:42.460 Let's look at 00:19:42.460 --> 00:19:42.860 the next one. 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:44.080 Humility refers 00:19:44.080 --> 00:19:44.880 to an absence 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:45.980 of arrogance and 00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:46.779 self-promotion. 00:19:47.180 --> 00:19:47.920 It was not 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:48.480 considered a 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:49.060 virtue in the 00:19:49.060 --> 00:19:49.700 ancient world. 00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:50.220 It's not 00:19:50.220 --> 00:19:51.080 considered a 00:19:51.080 --> 00:19:51.640 virtue by many 00:19:51.640 --> 00:19:52.140 people today 00:19:52.140 --> 00:19:52.720 either, is it? 00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:54.180 But Christianity 00:19:54.180 --> 00:19:55.240 changed that. 00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:56.660 And the way 00:19:56.660 --> 00:19:57.220 Christianity 00:19:57.220 --> 00:19:58.019 changed that 00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:58.720 for Christians, 00:19:58.860 --> 00:20:00.500 that is, it 00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:01.100 was a quality 00:20:01.100 --> 00:20:01.539 that Jesus 00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:04.440 demonstrated when 00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:05.000 he left the 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:05.620 glory of heaven. 00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:06.279 Jesus has 00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:07.279 always existed 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:07.940 as the Son 00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:10.340 of God, always 00:20:10.340 --> 00:20:10.940 in heaven with 00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:11.820 the Father, the 00:20:11.820 --> 00:20:13.019 Spirit, the 00:20:13.019 --> 00:20:13.460 Trinity. 00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:15.200 But Jesus 00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:17.140 left the 00:20:17.140 --> 00:20:17.720 glory of 00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:18.160 heaven to 00:20:18.160 --> 00:20:18.519 come into 00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:19.080 this world 00:20:19.080 --> 00:20:20.000 as a man 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:22.200 to die for 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:22.819 our sins on 00:20:22.819 --> 00:20:23.279 the cross. 00:20:23.880 --> 00:20:25.019 Paul explains 00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:25.900 it, describes 00:20:25.900 --> 00:20:27.299 Jesus doing 00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:28.180 this like this. 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.120 He says that 00:20:29.120 --> 00:20:29.860 Jesus emptied 00:20:29.860 --> 00:20:30.860 himself by 00:20:30.860 --> 00:20:31.340 taking the 00:20:31.340 --> 00:20:31.840 form of a 00:20:31.840 --> 00:20:32.720 servant and 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:33.019 that he 00:20:33.019 --> 00:20:33.920 humbled himself 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:34.500 by becoming 00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.319 obedient to 00:20:35.319 --> 00:20:35.900 the point of 00:20:35.900 --> 00:20:37.000 death, even 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:38.039 death on a 00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:38.380 cross. 00:20:38.740 --> 00:20:39.240 Now that's 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:39.860 humility. 00:20:39.859 --> 00:20:39.939 humility. 00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:42.159 This kind of 00:20:42.159 --> 00:20:42.859 character quality 00:20:42.859 --> 00:20:44.559 will lead us to 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:45.939 humble ourselves 00:20:45.939 --> 00:20:47.359 in order to 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:48.299 serve the people 00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:49.019 in our lives 00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:49.719 that we see 00:20:49.719 --> 00:20:50.639 have a need 00:20:50.639 --> 00:20:52.319 and we know 00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:53.119 we can meet 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:53.799 that need. 00:20:54.599 --> 00:20:55.099 This kind of 00:20:55.099 --> 00:20:56.099 humility goes 00:20:56.099 --> 00:20:56.539 with these other 00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:56.959 things. 00:20:58.299 --> 00:20:59.039 We have 00:20:59.039 --> 00:20:59.719 compassion. 00:21:01.059 --> 00:21:01.740 There's kindness 00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:02.659 within us. 00:21:03.479 --> 00:21:04.079 There's something 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:04.639 within us. 00:21:04.719 --> 00:21:05.179 It's the Spirit 00:21:05.179 --> 00:21:06.139 of God working 00:21:06.139 --> 00:21:07.479 that causes us 00:21:07.479 --> 00:21:08.059 to humble 00:21:08.059 --> 00:21:10.299 ourselves, to 00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:10.839 put somebody 00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:13.039 else first for 00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:14.779 their benefit, to 00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:15.960 meet their need. 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:17.480 The fourth one 00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:17.859 is the word 00:21:17.859 --> 00:21:18.500 meekness. 00:21:18.659 --> 00:21:19.399 It's more often 00:21:19.399 --> 00:21:19.879 than not 00:21:19.879 --> 00:21:21.679 translated gentleness. 00:21:22.679 --> 00:21:23.379 Probably the 00:21:23.379 --> 00:21:24.659 most undesired 00:21:24.659 --> 00:21:26.679 quality that we 00:21:26.679 --> 00:21:27.519 could think of, 00:21:27.700 --> 00:21:28.220 the idea of 00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:29.299 being meek. 00:21:29.919 --> 00:21:30.659 Because the 00:21:30.659 --> 00:21:31.139 idea of being 00:21:31.139 --> 00:21:31.899 meek sounds 00:21:31.899 --> 00:21:33.099 weak, doesn't 00:21:33.099 --> 00:21:33.259 it? 00:21:34.139 --> 00:21:34.659 But in the 00:21:34.659 --> 00:21:35.139 Bible it's 00:21:35.139 --> 00:21:35.740 really talking 00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:36.839 about strength 00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:38.059 that is under 00:21:38.059 --> 00:21:38.619 control. 00:21:39.240 --> 00:21:39.779 In Paul's 00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:40.379 day this word 00:21:40.379 --> 00:21:40.919 was used to 00:21:40.919 --> 00:21:41.959 describe animals 00:21:41.959 --> 00:21:42.539 that had been 00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:44.099 tamed such as 00:21:44.099 --> 00:21:45.639 a horse that 00:21:45.639 --> 00:21:46.019 could be 00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:47.299 controlled and 00:21:47.299 --> 00:21:48.179 guided by the 00:21:48.179 --> 00:21:49.459 reins in a 00:21:49.459 --> 00:21:51.059 man's hand and 00:21:51.059 --> 00:21:51.379 on the other 00:21:51.379 --> 00:21:51.740 end of the 00:21:51.740 --> 00:21:52.279 rein it was in 00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:53.819 the horse's bit 00:21:53.819 --> 00:21:54.579 in his mouth. 00:21:55.939 --> 00:21:56.379 I want you to 00:21:56.379 --> 00:21:57.039 think about how 00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:57.980 the driver of 00:21:57.980 --> 00:21:59.740 the Budweiser 00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:01.720 wagon controls 00:22:01.720 --> 00:22:03.199 those powerful 00:22:03.199 --> 00:22:04.500 Clydesdale 00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:07.319 horses with 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:08.279 the reins there 00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:09.160 in his hands. 00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:12.859 Those are 00:22:12.859 --> 00:22:13.119 some of the 00:22:13.119 --> 00:22:13.720 most powerful 00:22:13.720 --> 00:22:14.700 horses you'll 00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:15.240 ever see. 00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:17.339 They could run 00:22:17.339 --> 00:22:17.960 away with that 00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:18.660 wagon if they 00:22:18.660 --> 00:22:19.200 wanted to. 00:22:20.420 --> 00:22:20.900 But those 00:22:20.900 --> 00:22:21.759 Clydesdales, 00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:24.640 their strength 00:22:24.640 --> 00:22:25.619 is under 00:22:25.619 --> 00:22:26.480 control. 00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:28.559 And they 00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:29.579 allow themselves 00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:30.059 to go this 00:22:30.059 --> 00:22:30.500 way or that 00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:30.920 way according 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:31.480 to which way 00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:33.119 the reins pull 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:33.479 them. 00:22:35.899 --> 00:22:36.959 In Numbers 00:22:36.959 --> 00:22:38.179 chapter 12, 00:22:38.919 --> 00:22:39.339 one of the 00:22:39.339 --> 00:22:40.079 best examples 00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:40.639 you'll find in 00:22:40.639 --> 00:22:41.659 the Bible of 00:22:41.659 --> 00:22:42.259 somebody who 00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:42.819 was called 00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:44.039 meek but was 00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:45.419 far from weak 00:22:45.419 --> 00:22:46.779 is Moses. 00:22:47.399 --> 00:22:47.899 In Numbers 00:22:47.899 --> 00:22:49.000 12 and verse 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:50.539 3, he's 00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:51.299 actually described 00:22:51.299 --> 00:22:52.159 as the meekest 00:22:52.159 --> 00:22:53.339 man on earth. 00:22:54.259 --> 00:22:54.779 But a lot of 00:22:54.779 --> 00:22:55.399 you know from 00:22:55.399 --> 00:22:56.459 Bible stories 00:22:56.459 --> 00:22:57.000 growing up, 00:22:57.199 --> 00:22:57.479 some of you 00:22:57.479 --> 00:22:57.839 know from 00:22:57.839 --> 00:22:58.299 reading the 00:22:58.299 --> 00:22:58.959 Bible, some 00:22:58.959 --> 00:22:59.459 of you know 00:22:59.459 --> 00:23:00.379 from the movie 00:23:00.380 --> 00:23:00.820 the Ten 00:23:00.820 --> 00:23:01.600 Commandments 00:23:01.600 --> 00:23:04.060 that Moses 00:23:04.060 --> 00:23:05.460 was one of 00:23:05.460 --> 00:23:05.800 the most 00:23:05.800 --> 00:23:07.700 powerful leaders 00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:09.540 in the Bible. 00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:11.820 He made 00:23:11.820 --> 00:23:13.340 hard decisions. 00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:15.460 He was tough 00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:16.560 as nails on 00:23:16.560 --> 00:23:17.480 people when 00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:18.160 necessary. 00:23:19.160 --> 00:23:19.420 There were 00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:20.080 times that he 00:23:20.080 --> 00:23:20.860 demonstrated 00:23:20.860 --> 00:23:22.580 righteous anger. 00:23:24.620 --> 00:23:25.620 Moses described 00:23:25.620 --> 00:23:26.820 the most meek 00:23:26.820 --> 00:23:27.760 or the most 00:23:27.760 --> 00:23:29.800 humble man in 00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:31.339 the Bible but 00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:32.019 he was a man 00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:33.079 who was powerful. 00:23:33.819 --> 00:23:34.359 He was a true 00:23:34.359 --> 00:23:34.899 leader. 00:23:35.339 --> 00:23:36.180 He got things 00:23:36.180 --> 00:23:38.259 done but his 00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:40.519 strength most 00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:42.000 of the time was 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:42.740 under control. 00:23:43.819 --> 00:23:44.339 That's what God 00:23:44.339 --> 00:23:45.339 calls us to do. 00:23:45.879 --> 00:23:46.259 Look at one 00:23:46.259 --> 00:23:47.099 more, patience. 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:48.639 Sometimes translated 00:23:48.639 --> 00:23:50.019 long suffering. 00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:51.180 This word means 00:23:51.180 --> 00:23:52.000 more than just 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:54.000 staying calm or 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:55.000 not losing control 00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:55.720 under stress 00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:56.799 although it 00:23:56.799 --> 00:23:57.659 applies that way 00:23:57.659 --> 00:23:59.099 but refers to a 00:23:59.099 --> 00:23:59.879 willingness to put 00:23:59.879 --> 00:24:00.500 up with difficult 00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:01.379 people or 00:24:01.379 --> 00:24:02.419 situations for a 00:24:02.419 --> 00:24:03.179 long period of 00:24:03.179 --> 00:24:04.859 time without 00:24:04.859 --> 00:24:07.259 retaliation or 00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:07.659 bitterness. 00:24:08.659 --> 00:24:09.500 This is a 00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.339 spirit given 00:24:10.339 --> 00:24:14.859 ability to not 00:24:14.859 --> 00:24:16.240 let other people 00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:17.319 or situations 00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:19.899 dictate our 00:24:19.899 --> 00:24:21.959 actions or our 00:24:21.959 --> 00:24:22.679 response. 00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:24.199 Here's what I'm 00:24:24.199 --> 00:24:24.699 talking about. 00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:26.740 things happen 00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:28.259 sometimes in your 00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:28.680 life. 00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:30.200 Somebody does 00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:31.539 something, you 00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:32.620 get angry and 00:24:32.620 --> 00:24:33.840 you say, he 00:24:33.840 --> 00:24:35.180 made me mad. 00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:37.840 Some situation 00:24:37.840 --> 00:24:39.920 happens that just 00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:41.640 ticked me off. 00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:43.340 No. 00:24:44.380 --> 00:24:45.480 People may do 00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:46.240 something that 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.880 sets the stage or 00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:48.759 tempts you to get 00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:49.080 angry. 00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:50.620 Some situations 00:24:50.620 --> 00:24:52.319 happen and the 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:53.679 temptation arises for 00:24:53.679 --> 00:24:54.339 you to lose 00:24:54.339 --> 00:24:55.639 control, respond 00:24:55.639 --> 00:24:56.559 inappropriately. 00:24:57.439 --> 00:24:58.460 But we need to 00:24:58.460 --> 00:24:59.679 just admit, accept 00:24:59.679 --> 00:25:01.679 when we lose 00:25:01.679 --> 00:25:02.599 control, we say 00:25:02.599 --> 00:25:03.240 what we shouldn't 00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:04.299 do, do what we 00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:04.899 shouldn't do. 00:25:05.919 --> 00:25:07.639 That's our choice 00:25:07.639 --> 00:25:08.859 as Christians. 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:10.220 The spirit of God 00:25:10.220 --> 00:25:10.819 lives within us. 00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:12.159 We can resist any 00:25:12.159 --> 00:25:12.720 temptation. 00:25:15.059 --> 00:25:16.299 You control how 00:25:16.299 --> 00:25:17.379 you respond to 00:25:17.379 --> 00:25:17.980 everybody in your 00:25:17.980 --> 00:25:18.500 life and every 00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:19.240 situation in your 00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:19.539 life. 00:25:19.539 --> 00:25:20.839 Some are more 00:25:20.839 --> 00:25:21.519 difficult. 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:23.960 Some are just 00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:24.659 more emotionally 00:25:24.659 --> 00:25:25.740 charged, but you 00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:28.259 control how you 00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:28.759 respond. 00:25:30.099 --> 00:25:31.519 And what the 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:32.099 spirit of God will 00:25:32.099 --> 00:25:32.819 help us do in this 00:25:32.819 --> 00:25:34.819 kind of thing is, he 00:25:34.819 --> 00:25:35.419 will help us to 00:25:35.419 --> 00:25:39.679 learn to act rather 00:25:39.679 --> 00:25:42.759 than react to the 00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:43.759 people in situations 00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:47.000 that sort of get us 00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:47.919 emotionally charged 00:25:47.919 --> 00:25:48.200 up. 00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:50.099 You know, trusting 00:25:50.099 --> 00:25:51.240 that God's in control 00:25:51.240 --> 00:25:51.839 will help us be more 00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:53.699 patient with people 00:25:53.699 --> 00:25:54.859 and with situations. 00:25:55.619 --> 00:25:56.480 Trusting that God 00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:57.259 really is sovereign, 00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:57.980 he's in control. 00:25:58.299 --> 00:25:59.220 This morning I was 00:25:59.220 --> 00:26:00.119 almost late to the 00:26:00.119 --> 00:26:01.000 first service because 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:02.519 my truck wouldn't 00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:02.839 crank. 00:26:03.559 --> 00:26:04.659 Battery was dead. 00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:08.019 And believe it or 00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:10.099 not, I didn't just 00:26:10.099 --> 00:26:12.639 say ugly words, throw 00:26:12.639 --> 00:26:13.519 something around or do 00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:14.259 something like that. 00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:16.220 Because Lisa was 00:26:16.220 --> 00:26:17.039 there and I was just 00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:17.939 going, I just rode with 00:26:17.939 --> 00:26:18.139 her. 00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:20.600 That helped me out in 00:26:20.600 --> 00:26:21.180 that situation. 00:26:22.380 --> 00:26:23.180 But I want you to 00:26:23.180 --> 00:26:26.420 think, there's a 00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:27.220 reason why that 00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:28.300 battery didn't start. 00:26:29.880 --> 00:26:31.120 It may be that I 00:26:31.120 --> 00:26:32.200 cleaned it yesterday and 00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:32.900 I didn't tighten it 00:26:32.900 --> 00:26:33.259 back. 00:26:35.360 --> 00:26:36.800 But it may be that if 00:26:36.800 --> 00:26:37.420 I had gotten that 00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:38.200 truck this morning and 00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:38.840 needed a crank and I 00:26:38.840 --> 00:26:39.460 had come down here, I 00:26:39.460 --> 00:26:40.080 would have been killed. 00:26:41.660 --> 00:26:42.780 I don't know and I 00:26:42.780 --> 00:26:43.520 don't have, I don't 00:26:43.520 --> 00:26:44.580 worry, I don't spend 00:26:44.580 --> 00:26:45.540 any time wondering 00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:46.680 about what ifs because 00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:47.700 we don't know what 00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:48.399 these what ifs are. 00:26:49.139 --> 00:26:50.099 But God is sovereign. 00:26:51.659 --> 00:26:52.639 He's in control. 00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:54.599 Even about whether a 00:26:54.599 --> 00:26:55.940 battery starts or not. 00:26:57.339 --> 00:26:58.339 And what we need to do, 00:26:58.379 --> 00:26:59.359 what will help us, what 00:26:59.359 --> 00:27:00.700 helps me, and I don't 00:27:00.700 --> 00:27:02.059 always do this by any 00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:03.019 means, but what helps me 00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:04.859 when I do is to realize 00:27:04.859 --> 00:27:06.319 God is in control. 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:07.899 There's a reason for 00:27:07.899 --> 00:27:08.240 this. 00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:12.159 I need to just act the 00:27:12.159 --> 00:27:13.500 way I should and not 00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:15.279 react, get all torn up 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:16.619 out of shape because 00:27:16.619 --> 00:27:18.119 there's a purpose for 00:27:18.119 --> 00:27:18.319 it. 00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:19.680 I want you to look at 00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:20.960 what Paul tells us. 00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:22.000 We've looked at both of 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:23.559 these verses many times 00:27:23.559 --> 00:27:24.259 over the years. 00:27:24.639 --> 00:27:25.519 We've looked at one of 00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:26.460 them every week in this 00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:26.940 series. 00:27:27.299 --> 00:27:27.720 We're going to look at 00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:28.359 them two verses 00:27:28.359 --> 00:27:29.079 together now. 00:27:29.259 --> 00:27:29.759 Look at this. 00:27:30.899 --> 00:27:31.799 And we know that in all 00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:33.359 things God works for the 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:34.480 good of those who love 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:35.579 Him, who have been 00:27:35.579 --> 00:27:36.539 called according to His 00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:38.480 purpose, and for those 00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:39.740 God foreknew He also 00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:41.240 predestined to be 00:27:41.240 --> 00:27:42.899 conformed to the image 00:27:42.899 --> 00:27:43.700 of His Son. 00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:45.500 God works in 00:27:45.500 --> 00:27:48.160 everything, people, 00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:49.819 situations, batteries, 00:27:49.960 --> 00:27:50.559 not starting. 00:27:51.080 --> 00:27:52.100 God works in every 00:27:52.100 --> 00:27:54.299 situation to shape and 00:27:54.299 --> 00:27:55.319 mold us to the person 00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:57.720 He wants us to be, which 00:27:57.720 --> 00:28:00.019 is ultimately like Jesus. 00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:02.059 If the love of Christ 00:28:02.059 --> 00:28:04.120 fills us, we will be 00:28:04.120 --> 00:28:05.440 motivated to be gracious 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:07.640 by showing compassion, 00:28:08.299 --> 00:28:09.819 kindness, humility, 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:12.120 gentleness, and patience 00:28:12.119 --> 00:28:13.459 toward the people in our 00:28:13.459 --> 00:28:15.739 lives, and especially 00:28:15.739 --> 00:28:16.339 other Christians. 00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:18.179 Look at one more thing 00:28:18.179 --> 00:28:18.579 real quick. 00:28:18.879 --> 00:28:19.919 Such graciousness will 00:28:19.919 --> 00:28:21.459 also lead us to bear 00:28:21.459 --> 00:28:22.159 with others. 00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:22.719 Look at this. 00:28:23.079 --> 00:28:24.219 Love will motivate us to 00:28:24.219 --> 00:28:25.159 bear with our brothers 00:28:25.159 --> 00:28:26.239 and sisters in Christ. 00:28:27.019 --> 00:28:27.779 Verse 13. 00:28:28.419 --> 00:28:29.500 Bearing with one another 00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:30.819 means to put up with 00:28:30.819 --> 00:28:32.139 somebody in a positive 00:28:32.139 --> 00:28:32.459 way. 00:28:32.459 --> 00:28:34.479 Have you ever thought 00:28:34.479 --> 00:28:35.299 about how much God 00:28:35.299 --> 00:28:36.359 puts up with you? 00:28:39.479 --> 00:28:40.259 I mean, if you have a 00:28:40.259 --> 00:28:41.299 realistic understanding of 00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:44.059 yourself, if you know who 00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:45.299 God is and His holiness, 00:28:45.819 --> 00:28:47.299 you know who you are as 00:28:47.299 --> 00:28:48.680 the sinner you are, you 00:28:48.680 --> 00:28:52.259 know God puts up with 00:28:52.259 --> 00:28:53.000 you. 00:28:53.919 --> 00:28:54.779 I'm thankful. 00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:58.480 I'm thankful that He does, 00:28:59.159 --> 00:29:01.899 that He's patient in spite 00:29:01.899 --> 00:29:03.480 of my disobedience, 00:29:04.019 --> 00:29:05.139 hard-heartedness, 00:29:05.619 --> 00:29:07.559 selfishness, and those kind 00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:08.079 of things. 00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:10.339 We need to learn to bear 00:29:10.339 --> 00:29:11.919 with each other just as 00:29:11.919 --> 00:29:14.539 God bears with us. 00:29:15.879 --> 00:29:17.220 When my boys were little, 00:29:18.839 --> 00:29:20.039 there were times I used to 00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:21.179 get mad, I used to get 00:29:21.179 --> 00:29:23.259 frustrated at them doing 00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:25.399 just foolish things, old 00:29:25.399 --> 00:29:26.359 enough to know better, 00:29:27.319 --> 00:29:29.079 trying my patience. 00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:31.399 I used to get so frustrated 00:29:31.399 --> 00:29:32.500 and do the same thing over 00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:33.039 and over again. 00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:35.319 But there were times 00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:36.940 when it was, 00:29:37.399 --> 00:29:38.139 I didn't hear it, 00:29:38.159 --> 00:29:38.899 I never heard any kind 00:29:38.899 --> 00:29:39.659 of voice, but there were 00:29:39.659 --> 00:29:41.440 times it just occurred to 00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:42.359 me, I think God put it in 00:29:42.359 --> 00:29:42.779 my mind, 00:29:43.859 --> 00:29:45.720 that's how I put up with 00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:45.960 you. 00:29:48.059 --> 00:29:49.839 That's how you are 00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:51.119 to me. 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:53.039 Stupid things, 00:29:53.859 --> 00:29:55.680 things you know not to do 00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:57.039 repeatedly. 00:29:58.039 --> 00:30:01.960 It always made me stop and 00:30:01.960 --> 00:30:04.120 think how grateful I am 00:30:04.120 --> 00:30:05.340 for God's grace 00:30:05.340 --> 00:30:08.059 and how I need to turn 00:30:08.059 --> 00:30:08.960 that grace 00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:10.720 toward them. 00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:13.620 That's what we need to do. 00:30:14.620 --> 00:30:15.860 No one in this church, 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:17.180 your house, 00:30:17.380 --> 00:30:18.700 or anywhere you go 00:30:18.700 --> 00:30:19.600 is perfect. 00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:21.299 Even the most faithful 00:30:21.299 --> 00:30:22.779 Christian that you know 00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:25.240 is still a working process. 00:30:25.240 --> 00:30:27.960 Everyone in your life 00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:29.160 needs for you 00:30:29.160 --> 00:30:31.559 to bear with them. 00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:33.500 Pray for them. 00:30:34.420 --> 00:30:36.120 And help them by showing 00:30:36.120 --> 00:30:37.220 compassion, 00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:37.740 kindness, 00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:38.400 humility, 00:30:38.700 --> 00:30:39.079 gentleness, 00:30:39.819 --> 00:30:40.220 patience. 00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:42.160 That's love. 00:30:43.420 --> 00:30:44.360 Now, let's wind it up. 00:30:44.779 --> 00:30:45.680 Remember what I pointed out 00:30:45.680 --> 00:30:46.319 at the very beginning. 00:30:47.100 --> 00:30:48.539 Everything in this passage 00:30:48.539 --> 00:30:49.240 is talking about 00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:50.180 what a Christian 00:30:50.180 --> 00:30:51.120 is 00:30:51.120 --> 00:30:52.840 by virtue 00:30:52.840 --> 00:30:54.380 of being united 00:30:54.380 --> 00:30:55.039 to Christ 00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:56.420 and filled 00:30:56.420 --> 00:30:57.180 with His Spirit. 00:30:57.180 --> 00:31:00.120 We can't make ourselves 00:31:00.120 --> 00:31:00.759 more loving 00:31:00.759 --> 00:31:01.980 just by trying harder. 00:31:01.980 --> 00:31:04.539 But we can become 00:31:04.539 --> 00:31:05.220 more loving 00:31:05.220 --> 00:31:06.279 like we're seeing 00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:07.019 in this passage 00:31:07.019 --> 00:31:08.940 by being more sensitive 00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:10.039 to the presence 00:31:10.039 --> 00:31:10.740 of the Holy Spirit 00:31:10.740 --> 00:31:11.539 within us 00:31:11.539 --> 00:31:13.600 and then obedient 00:31:13.600 --> 00:31:14.320 to His leadership. 00:31:15.080 --> 00:31:16.039 It's the Spirit 00:31:16.039 --> 00:31:16.660 who gives us 00:31:16.660 --> 00:31:17.320 the desire 00:31:17.320 --> 00:31:18.039 and the ability 00:31:18.039 --> 00:31:20.140 to love like this. 00:31:20.860 --> 00:31:21.920 But we're responsible 00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:22.920 to follow through 00:31:22.920 --> 00:31:23.860 on these desires. 00:31:23.859 --> 00:31:26.359 We're responsible 00:31:26.359 --> 00:31:27.319 to use the power 00:31:27.319 --> 00:31:28.359 He gives us 00:31:28.359 --> 00:31:31.039 to deny ourselves 00:31:31.039 --> 00:31:32.279 to show this kind 00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:32.859 of love. 00:31:34.079 --> 00:31:34.719 An old farmer 00:31:34.719 --> 00:31:35.439 once said, 00:31:35.959 --> 00:31:36.679 what comes up 00:31:36.679 --> 00:31:37.279 in the bucket 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:38.059 is usually 00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:38.879 what's down 00:31:38.879 --> 00:31:39.719 in the well. 00:31:40.759 --> 00:31:42.000 What comes up 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:43.039 in our attitudes, 00:31:43.459 --> 00:31:43.799 words, 00:31:43.899 --> 00:31:44.500 and actions 00:31:44.500 --> 00:31:45.959 is usually 00:31:45.959 --> 00:31:46.679 what's down 00:31:46.679 --> 00:31:47.500 in the well 00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:48.799 of our heart. 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:51.539 What does that say 00:31:51.539 --> 00:31:52.000 about what's 00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:52.720 in your heart 00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:53.379 right now? 00:31:54.279 --> 00:31:55.839 Are you a true Christian 00:31:55.839 --> 00:31:56.480 who is indwelled 00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:57.539 by the Spirit of God 00:31:57.539 --> 00:31:58.799 and while none 00:31:58.799 --> 00:31:59.700 of these qualities 00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:00.839 are fully developed, 00:32:02.139 --> 00:32:03.919 there is such love 00:32:03.919 --> 00:32:05.000 within you 00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:05.779 to some degree? 00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:07.500 Or, 00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:09.839 are you just someone 00:32:09.839 --> 00:32:10.500 with a heart 00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:11.299 that is filled 00:32:11.299 --> 00:32:13.599 mostly with sinful desires, 00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:15.899 selfishness, 00:32:16.899 --> 00:32:18.599 and love for yourself, 00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:20.899 more than others? 00:32:21.819 --> 00:32:22.559 Let's pray. 00:32:23.339 --> 00:32:24.000 Dear God, 00:32:25.119 --> 00:32:27.440 I pray that you'll 00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:28.259 help each one of us 00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:28.960 to see 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:30.779 the content 00:32:30.779 --> 00:32:31.720 of our hearts 00:32:31.720 --> 00:32:32.319 right now. 00:32:34.319 --> 00:32:34.680 And Father, 00:32:34.759 --> 00:32:35.220 if there's people 00:32:35.220 --> 00:32:35.799 in this room 00:32:35.799 --> 00:32:36.059 who, 00:32:36.879 --> 00:32:37.899 they have to be honest, 00:32:38.839 --> 00:32:39.339 there's really 00:32:39.339 --> 00:32:40.579 no signs 00:32:40.579 --> 00:32:42.039 of the kind of love 00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:43.019 we've been looking at 00:32:43.019 --> 00:32:43.899 within them. 00:32:46.039 --> 00:32:47.000 But what is 00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:47.659 within them 00:32:47.660 --> 00:32:49.759 is just selfishness, 00:32:51.480 --> 00:32:52.800 sinful desires, 00:32:54.720 --> 00:32:56.420 little to no concern, 00:32:56.800 --> 00:32:57.860 real concern 00:32:57.860 --> 00:32:59.460 for other people. 00:33:00.800 --> 00:33:01.160 Father, 00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:02.160 if that's the content 00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:03.120 of someone's heart, 00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:03.779 help them to know 00:33:03.779 --> 00:33:04.420 they cannot 00:33:04.420 --> 00:33:05.680 be a Christian 00:33:05.680 --> 00:33:08.180 because that shows 00:33:08.180 --> 00:33:09.060 that the Spirit of God 00:33:09.060 --> 00:33:10.000 is not within them. 00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:10.080 Father, 00:33:11.080 --> 00:33:13.660 I pray that you would 00:33:13.660 --> 00:33:15.300 disturb them over that, 00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:16.960 humble them, 00:33:17.660 --> 00:33:19.220 cause them to admit 00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:20.040 the truth, 00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:21.160 to repent, 00:33:21.380 --> 00:33:21.920 turn from, 00:33:22.060 --> 00:33:23.000 change their minds 00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:25.000 about such a life. 00:33:27.300 --> 00:33:27.740 And dear God, 00:33:27.820 --> 00:33:28.900 so work to enable them 00:33:28.900 --> 00:33:30.460 to call upon Jesus 00:33:30.460 --> 00:33:31.900 to save them now. 00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:34.960 Father, 00:33:35.060 --> 00:33:35.759 for all of us 00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:36.300 who are Christians 00:33:36.300 --> 00:33:36.860 in this room, 00:33:36.940 --> 00:33:37.800 help us to see 00:33:37.799 --> 00:33:42.399 just how strong 00:33:42.399 --> 00:33:44.180 these qualities 00:33:44.180 --> 00:33:46.000 are right now 00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:48.139 within us. 00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:51.599 Father, 00:33:51.740 --> 00:33:52.500 show us 00:33:52.500 --> 00:33:54.200 where we need 00:33:54.200 --> 00:33:54.859 to confess 00:33:54.859 --> 00:33:57.579 our selfishness, 00:33:58.579 --> 00:34:00.319 where we fail 00:34:00.319 --> 00:34:02.200 to look at 00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:02.859 and take an interest 00:34:02.859 --> 00:34:03.379 in people. 00:34:03.380 --> 00:34:06.220 help us, 00:34:06.540 --> 00:34:06.560 Father, 00:34:06.560 --> 00:34:07.160 to see where 00:34:07.160 --> 00:34:09.099 we just refuse 00:34:09.099 --> 00:34:09.880 to be sensitive 00:34:09.880 --> 00:34:10.660 to the Spirit's 00:34:10.660 --> 00:34:11.220 presence 00:34:11.220 --> 00:34:13.220 and act on 00:34:13.220 --> 00:34:14.000 His leading. 00:34:15.940 --> 00:34:16.559 Help us 00:34:16.559 --> 00:34:16.940 to confess 00:34:16.940 --> 00:34:17.880 our sins, 00:34:19.019 --> 00:34:19.340 to seek 00:34:19.340 --> 00:34:20.039 Your forgiveness. 00:34:21.720 --> 00:34:22.099 Help us, 00:34:22.200 --> 00:34:22.380 Father, 00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:23.380 to make the commitment 00:34:23.380 --> 00:34:24.280 and start spending 00:34:24.280 --> 00:34:25.340 more time with You 00:34:25.340 --> 00:34:25.960 to develop 00:34:25.960 --> 00:34:27.160 a greater sensitivity 00:34:27.160 --> 00:34:28.519 to Your Spirit 00:34:28.519 --> 00:34:31.699 and demonstrate 00:34:31.699 --> 00:34:34.239 true obedience 00:34:34.239 --> 00:34:36.460 that results 00:34:36.460 --> 00:34:36.900 in us 00:34:36.900 --> 00:34:38.460 loving people 00:34:38.460 --> 00:34:38.900 around us 00:34:38.900 --> 00:34:39.280 the way we've 00:34:39.280 --> 00:34:39.940 seen this morning. 00:34:41.320 --> 00:34:41.759 Let's just 00:34:41.759 --> 00:34:42.119 in an attitude 00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:42.539 of prayer 00:34:42.539 --> 00:34:43.320 respond to the Lord 00:34:43.320 --> 00:34:44.019 as He speaks. 00:34:45.139 --> 00:34:45.820 I'd be happy 00:34:45.820 --> 00:34:46.420 to pray with you 00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:47.119 during this time. 00:34:47.619 --> 00:34:47.900 I'll be here 00:34:47.900 --> 00:34:48.420 at the front. 00:34:49.559 --> 00:34:50.300 But what is 00:34:50.300 --> 00:34:53.239 the main thing 00:34:53.239 --> 00:34:54.199 is to hear God 00:34:54.199 --> 00:34:55.780 and just obey Him. 00:34:56.599 --> 00:34:57.219 Let's just pray 00:34:57.219 --> 00:34:57.820 and respond. 00:34:58.519 --> 00:34:59.519 Amen.