WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.960 And we're glad that you're here, not because we're filling seats, but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:06.100 --> 00:00:10.679 And as we follow Jesus together, we're convinced that there's no one so good. 00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:14.960 They don't need God's grace and no one so bad that they can't have it. 00:00:14.960 --> 00:00:23.699 And so God has something to say to everyone in his word, which is why we come back week after week to open up the Bible and hear what God has to say to us. 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:26.600 We're continuing our series in the book of Proverbs. 00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:29.320 And you'll remember that Proverbs is a book about wisdom. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.039 And wisdom is skill in the art of living. 00:00:33.259 --> 00:00:37.960 Wisdom helps us to navigate the path of life that God's given us. 00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:40.659 And wisdom helps us to stay on the path. 00:00:41.500 --> 00:00:43.880 Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord. 00:00:44.480 --> 00:00:47.200 That's the foundation of wisdom, the place that it starts. 00:00:47.859 --> 00:00:49.100 And wisdom continues. 00:00:49.519 --> 00:00:50.780 It grows with humility. 00:00:51.320 --> 00:00:54.760 Unless we're humble, we can never expect to become wise. 00:00:55.179 --> 00:00:58.140 Because it's only the humble person who knows they have more to learn. 00:00:58.140 --> 00:01:01.439 And it's only by learning more that we become wise. 00:01:02.179 --> 00:01:05.180 We've been looking at a variety of practical topics. 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:09.299 We looked the last couple weeks at the idea of work and our money. 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:13.140 And this week we are turning to our words. 00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:15.540 Now this passage, we're in Proverbs chapter 6. 00:01:16.180 --> 00:01:18.159 We're going to look at verses 12 through 19. 00:01:18.299 --> 00:01:20.500 This passage speaks about a little bit more than words. 00:01:20.500 --> 00:01:23.040 But there's a special focus on words. 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:26.019 And so that's going to be our focus as well. 00:01:26.500 --> 00:01:35.239 And as we do that, then I invite you to turn with me either in your Bible or near the end of your worship guide or in your phone to Proverbs chapter 6. 00:01:36.060 --> 00:01:39.359 And remember as we come to this passage that this is God's word. 00:01:39.900 --> 00:01:45.299 And Proverbs chapter 30, verse 5 tells us that every word of God proves true. 00:01:45.299 --> 00:01:49.299 He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. 00:01:49.879 --> 00:01:53.060 And so that's why we read now, starting at verse 12. 00:01:54.579 --> 00:02:11.599 A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord. 00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:13.239 Verse 15. 00:02:14.180 --> 00:02:16.479 Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly. 00:02:17.299 --> 00:02:20.060 In a moment he will be broken beyond healing. 00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:24.400 There are six things that the Lord hates. 00:02:25.299 --> 00:02:27.419 Seven that are an abomination to him. 00:02:28.340 --> 00:02:34.819 Halty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood. 00:02:34.819 --> 00:02:41.840 A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil. 00:02:42.799 --> 00:02:50.239 A false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. 00:02:51.780 --> 00:02:55.620 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:02:55.620 --> 00:03:02.259 Our Father in heaven, we just thank you again that you speak to us. 00:03:03.240 --> 00:03:05.780 And we ask that you would do that again this morning. 00:03:06.060 --> 00:03:11.719 Just through these words in this chapter of the Bible, you'd remind us that this is your word that brings life. 00:03:12.620 --> 00:03:13.879 And you'd do that for us. 00:03:14.020 --> 00:03:17.000 That you'd use your word to encourage us. 00:03:17.719 --> 00:03:19.400 And you'd use it to challenge us. 00:03:19.400 --> 00:03:24.379 We thank you most of all that you are flesh in your son, Jesus Christ. 00:03:24.500 --> 00:03:26.360 And it's in his name that we pray. 00:03:27.159 --> 00:03:27.460 Amen. 00:03:30.939 --> 00:03:39.360 If you've been in Colorado for any length of time, you know that people in Colorado love their guns. 00:03:40.640 --> 00:03:44.400 Now, whether you like that fact or don't like that fact, not the point. 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:53.879 You know that if you have a weapon, if you're going to use lethal force, there are only a few situations where you're actually allowed to do that. 00:03:54.060 --> 00:03:57.420 And primarily, it's when your life is actually in danger. 00:03:57.560 --> 00:04:00.340 If your life is in danger, then there's self-defense at play. 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:03.480 And there's almost no exceptions to that rule. 00:04:03.819 --> 00:04:08.180 So if your life is not in danger, you use lethal force, you're going to be in danger. 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:12.259 In the state of Colorado, with one exception. 00:04:12.259 --> 00:04:14.419 Do you all know what that exception is? 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:24.819 If you have good reason to suspect someone is committing first-degree arson. 00:04:26.879 --> 00:04:28.480 Now, I'm not encouraging you to do that. 00:04:28.519 --> 00:04:29.480 I'm not a legal expert. 00:04:29.639 --> 00:04:33.439 Okay, don't go and use lethal force against someone who's committing first-degree arson. 00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:35.039 And then come back and talk to me about it. 00:04:35.040 --> 00:04:37.700 But the point is this, right? 00:04:37.780 --> 00:04:44.240 That there are some things that are so destructive that they require that level of force. 00:04:44.340 --> 00:04:51.240 And in most situations, it's only if your life is threatened except when someone is looking to destroy by fire. 00:04:51.280 --> 00:04:53.540 Which raises the question, why? 00:04:53.939 --> 00:04:56.080 Why would that be the exception to the rule? 00:04:56.300 --> 00:04:57.820 Well, there's a lot of different reasons, right? 00:04:57.879 --> 00:05:00.680 One, fire is so incredibly destructive. 00:05:00.680 --> 00:05:06.019 Even if they're not threatening your life right now, it could ultimately end up threatening a life. 00:05:06.780 --> 00:05:09.259 Another reason I would imagine is we're in the state of Colorado. 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:12.240 Wildfires can happen like that, right? 00:05:13.379 --> 00:05:15.960 And so someone's, they're looking to burn something down. 00:05:16.060 --> 00:05:18.319 They could end up destroying not just someone's home. 00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:20.480 They could end up destroying many, many lives. 00:05:20.860 --> 00:05:25.259 And so this is something that's incredibly serious and dangerous. 00:05:25.259 --> 00:05:28.459 And that's why it's the exception to the rule. 00:05:28.620 --> 00:05:33.800 That's why it's the portion of the law that falls outside of the general principle. 00:05:35.180 --> 00:05:41.980 The author of the book of James in the New Testament, in fact, compares our tongues, our words, to fire. 00:05:42.360 --> 00:05:45.920 And that's the kind of situation that we see in this passage. 00:05:46.039 --> 00:05:49.120 We learn in verse 12 that this is something that's about words. 00:05:49.279 --> 00:05:52.579 It's a worthless person who goes around with crooked speech. 00:05:52.579 --> 00:05:55.219 And then in verse 17, we see the same thing. 00:05:55.740 --> 00:05:57.139 It's a lying tongue. 00:05:57.899 --> 00:06:01.639 Now, what makes first-degree arson different from other types of arson, 00:06:01.740 --> 00:06:03.680 that to be first-degree, it has to be intentional. 00:06:04.099 --> 00:06:06.139 You have to want to be burning something down. 00:06:06.219 --> 00:06:08.699 You have to want to destroy someone's property. 00:06:08.779 --> 00:06:13.579 And it's that same intention that we see of this man, this worthless person. 00:06:14.419 --> 00:06:17.219 Verse 14, he's devising evil. 00:06:17.879 --> 00:06:20.439 Okay, this isn't an accident that he's causing trouble. 00:06:20.439 --> 00:06:23.139 He is sowing discord. 00:06:23.300 --> 00:06:26.500 There's a process here, just like you'd sow seeds in the ground. 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:30.519 He's sowing these words, knowing he's going to get the result he wants. 00:06:31.040 --> 00:06:35.279 And then we see in verse 18, there's a plan that's being executed. 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:37.779 He devises wicked plans. 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:44.120 And so as much as he can, in whatever he does, this person stirs up trouble. 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:46.339 It is first-degree destruction. 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:47.579 It's intentional. 00:06:48.220 --> 00:06:50.159 He wants to cause trouble. 00:06:50.160 --> 00:06:51.600 He wants to destroy something. 00:06:52.240 --> 00:06:54.900 And then we find out that it's not just that it's intentional, 00:06:55.220 --> 00:06:58.220 but just like arson, this is destructive. 00:06:58.460 --> 00:06:59.360 It's deceptive. 00:06:59.480 --> 00:07:03.580 Verse 13, he's doing all these strange things with his body language. 00:07:04.400 --> 00:07:07.220 Now, it's not entirely clear what's going on here 00:07:07.220 --> 00:07:11.420 since we've been separated by so many years from the original audience of Proverbs, 00:07:11.500 --> 00:07:14.240 but most likely he's trying to signal here. 00:07:14.320 --> 00:07:16.080 He's doing something that's underhanded. 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:21.039 He's operating in a way that's maybe a back channel. 00:07:23.039 --> 00:07:27.519 And his plan, as we saw before in verse 18, is meant to lead to evil. 00:07:27.639 --> 00:07:30.939 And so this person is using his words to destroy. 00:07:30.939 --> 00:07:37.939 He's using his words in a way, rather than building up the community, he's burning it down. 00:07:39.100 --> 00:07:43.180 Our world has not changed that much since the book of Proverbs. 00:07:43.379 --> 00:07:44.240 We're still humans. 00:07:44.660 --> 00:07:46.480 And so the same things happen today. 00:07:46.579 --> 00:07:47.920 It happens in a variety of ways. 00:07:47.920 --> 00:07:51.360 This could be someone who's just absolutely lying, right? 00:07:51.379 --> 00:07:53.439 They're telling something that's not true. 00:07:54.500 --> 00:07:57.560 It could also be someone who's telling half-truths, right? 00:07:57.600 --> 00:07:59.840 They're telling part of the truth, but not the whole truth. 00:08:00.120 --> 00:08:05.900 And the part of the truth they're telling is just enough to make you believe something that's not true. 00:08:05.960 --> 00:08:08.360 It's meant to lead you along the path. 00:08:08.759 --> 00:08:12.439 It could be someone who's repeating things that are very true, 00:08:13.100 --> 00:08:14.920 and they don't need to be repeated. 00:08:14.920 --> 00:08:17.780 People don't need to know. 00:08:17.920 --> 00:08:21.560 You don't want people knowing about the mistake that you made 10 years ago 00:08:21.560 --> 00:08:23.480 and that you've reconciled with people for, right? 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:27.980 But there's a temptation to keep repeating these mistakes over and over in the community, 00:08:27.980 --> 00:08:32.139 that there's a half-life to someone's failures that they're never able to overcome. 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:35.340 One way this happens in the church, 00:08:35.420 --> 00:08:37.840 there will be people who stir up division, 00:08:38.519 --> 00:08:41.600 claiming to be concerned about the purity of the church. 00:08:41.800 --> 00:08:44.680 They believe something's wrong in terms of a doctrine. 00:08:44.919 --> 00:08:45.839 Or a practice. 00:08:46.079 --> 00:08:47.819 And that's a right thing to be concerned about. 00:08:49.059 --> 00:08:51.599 But they're concerned about the purity of the church 00:08:51.599 --> 00:08:53.979 in a way that destroys the peace of the church. 00:08:54.419 --> 00:08:57.899 Rather than beginning, as Jesus talks about in Matthew 18, 00:08:58.259 --> 00:09:00.559 in small conversations, one-on-one with leaders, 00:09:00.679 --> 00:09:04.120 instead they go around, they have a whisper campaign in the congregation. 00:09:04.120 --> 00:09:06.740 They share their complaints with everyone else. 00:09:06.740 --> 00:09:11.060 They tell the whole congregation, their whole friend group, their whole small group, 00:09:11.139 --> 00:09:13.820 their life group, about the things that are making them upset 00:09:13.820 --> 00:09:15.759 and how they think what's happening is wrong. 00:09:16.700 --> 00:09:20.039 And so while they think that their cause is right and righteous, 00:09:20.700 --> 00:09:22.060 and maybe it is, 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:27.639 they pursue it in a way that this passage tells us is an abomination. 00:09:27.639 --> 00:09:32.779 It's possible to be concerned about the purity of the church, 00:09:32.860 --> 00:09:34.199 but not the peace of the church. 00:09:35.139 --> 00:09:39.299 And in fact, God is passionate about both of those things. 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:42.319 God loves the purity of his church. 00:09:42.539 --> 00:09:43.379 He died for it. 00:09:44.539 --> 00:09:48.000 God also loves the peace of his church. 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:49.000 God loves the peace of the church. 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:52.580 We see people like this also on Facebook. 00:09:53.720 --> 00:09:55.879 Many passive-aggressive posts, right? 00:09:55.940 --> 00:10:00.059 People share their experiences with a friend that they haven't spoken to, 00:10:00.200 --> 00:10:02.360 and they say, oh, this is just anonymous, right? 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:05.820 But they put enough details in there that everyone knows who they're talking about. 00:10:07.779 --> 00:10:10.460 Instead of going and speaking with that person one-on-one, 00:10:11.179 --> 00:10:13.419 they're airing it for the entire internet to see. 00:10:14.519 --> 00:10:17.740 Facebook is filled with people who wink with their eyes, 00:10:18.120 --> 00:10:18.960 signal with their feet, 00:10:19.240 --> 00:10:20.220 and point with their fingers. 00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:24.159 In fact, we could add just social media in general. 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:28.000 This person repeats things in private 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:30.419 that maybe need to remain secret, right? 00:10:30.460 --> 00:10:32.259 They may need to remain between two people. 00:10:32.700 --> 00:10:34.019 You and someone else have a disagreement. 00:10:34.220 --> 00:10:34.779 You reconcile. 00:10:35.100 --> 00:10:35.720 You resolved it. 00:10:36.060 --> 00:10:37.379 It doesn't need to be discussed anymore. 00:10:38.299 --> 00:10:40.419 And yet this divisive person goes around, 00:10:40.500 --> 00:10:41.560 and they share those things. 00:10:42.200 --> 00:10:44.539 Maybe there's things in private that a group knows 00:10:44.539 --> 00:10:46.159 that doesn't need to be shared outside of the group, 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:48.279 and yet this person goes and shares them in public. 00:10:48.379 --> 00:10:51.059 They make sure everyone knows. 00:10:51.899 --> 00:10:53.600 They are family members like this. 00:10:53.740 --> 00:10:56.379 Perhaps you have someone in your family who calls everyone. 00:10:56.919 --> 00:11:00.219 They stay connected because they want to know the news, 00:11:00.219 --> 00:11:02.879 and then they redistribute it to all the other family members. 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:05.259 And there's a special focus, though. 00:11:05.319 --> 00:11:07.039 There's sort of a tabloid news distributor. 00:11:07.500 --> 00:11:09.740 There's a special focus on the negative news, 00:11:09.740 --> 00:11:11.860 and they'll share it with you in a way 00:11:11.860 --> 00:11:13.759 that looks like they're trying to be concerned, 00:11:14.139 --> 00:11:16.519 but really they're making sure that you know 00:11:16.519 --> 00:11:18.539 about all the tension, you know, 00:11:18.560 --> 00:11:20.039 in your brother and sister-in-law's marriage 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:21.000 that you didn't need to know about. 00:11:21.460 --> 00:11:23.279 And they're making sure that you know 00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:26.120 about all the ways that your grandchild is misbehaving. 00:11:26.899 --> 00:11:28.700 This person is the divisive person 00:11:28.700 --> 00:11:30.620 that stirs up division. 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:32.840 Then there's the person who pretends 00:11:32.840 --> 00:11:35.440 to be a trusted confidant, right? 00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:36.379 They come to you. 00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:38.820 They tell you, I'm not gonna share this with anyone, 00:11:39.080 --> 00:11:40.519 but I'm here for you, 00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:42.059 and I wanna make sure you have a place. 00:11:42.860 --> 00:11:44.820 And I, you know, this is just between you and me. 00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:47.200 And the next thing you know, 00:11:47.659 --> 00:11:49.860 that thing that you only shared with that one person, 00:11:50.139 --> 00:11:51.379 everyone's aware of it. 00:11:52.840 --> 00:11:55.419 And if you've lived in this world for any length of time, 00:11:55.820 --> 00:11:58.299 I'm confident this has happened to you at some point, 00:11:58.399 --> 00:12:01.279 perhaps continues to happen to you. 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:03.279 Kids, 00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:06.939 this is what we talk about 00:12:06.939 --> 00:12:10.319 is the difference between telling and tattling. 00:12:11.939 --> 00:12:13.199 If you are telling, 00:12:13.720 --> 00:12:14.319 if you're reporting, 00:12:14.500 --> 00:12:15.559 you're sharing something 00:12:15.559 --> 00:12:17.639 that an adult needs to know. 00:12:17.899 --> 00:12:18.799 It's a problem 00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:21.379 that you can't solve on your own, 00:12:21.439 --> 00:12:23.299 and someone's actually in danger. 00:12:25.360 --> 00:12:26.539 Someone's not in danger, 00:12:27.019 --> 00:12:31.000 and maybe you can resolve the problem on your own. 00:12:31.059 --> 00:12:32.339 These are principles we would go over 00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:33.000 when I was a teacher. 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:34.600 You are not telling, 00:12:35.160 --> 00:12:36.280 you are tattling. 00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:38.800 What's the goal of tattling? 00:12:40.360 --> 00:12:41.940 It's to stir up division. 00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:42.879 One who tattles, 00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:43.740 verse 19, 00:12:44.259 --> 00:12:46.360 sows discord among brothers. 00:12:47.740 --> 00:12:49.560 And that's often the goal of the tattler. 00:12:49.680 --> 00:12:51.160 They wanna get someone else in trouble. 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:53.460 They wanna stir things up 00:12:53.460 --> 00:12:53.899 because something, 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:55.139 it's boring right now, right? 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:57.220 The one who tells 00:12:57.220 --> 00:12:58.700 is looking to maintain peace, 00:12:58.759 --> 00:12:59.720 to preserve peace. 00:12:59.720 --> 00:13:01.360 The one who tattles 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:03.720 is looking to destroy peace, 00:13:03.860 --> 00:13:05.259 to break it down. 00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:07.540 And so no matter what our age 00:13:07.540 --> 00:13:08.660 or our stage, 00:13:09.340 --> 00:13:10.120 we need to be careful 00:13:10.120 --> 00:13:12.139 with our words. 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:12.940 Now I'll mention, 00:13:13.620 --> 00:13:15.440 sometimes rules like these 00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:16.480 that I've outlined for you 00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:17.399 are abused 00:13:17.399 --> 00:13:19.259 to protect people in power. 00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:21.399 Someone powerful 00:13:21.399 --> 00:13:22.660 will do something wrong 00:13:22.660 --> 00:13:23.180 or abusive, 00:13:23.320 --> 00:13:24.899 they'll use their power differential 00:13:24.899 --> 00:13:25.660 to get advantages 00:13:25.660 --> 00:13:26.320 they shouldn't, 00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:27.900 and it's covered up 00:13:27.900 --> 00:13:29.060 under the guise 00:13:29.060 --> 00:13:30.160 of maintaining peace. 00:13:31.060 --> 00:13:32.040 That is also 00:13:32.040 --> 00:13:32.980 an abomination. 00:13:33.660 --> 00:13:34.140 There are, 00:13:34.220 --> 00:13:35.020 as always in Proverbs, 00:13:35.140 --> 00:13:36.200 there are exceptions to things, 00:13:36.300 --> 00:13:36.960 but even then, 00:13:37.320 --> 00:13:38.379 there's a right way 00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:39.220 to go about 00:13:39.220 --> 00:13:40.600 confronting abusive power. 00:13:41.379 --> 00:13:42.000 So if someone 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:43.160 is using these verses 00:13:43.160 --> 00:13:44.540 to cover up 00:13:44.540 --> 00:13:45.640 abuse, 00:13:45.760 --> 00:13:47.240 especially a heinous form 00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:47.960 of abuse, 00:13:48.060 --> 00:13:48.920 a high-handed form 00:13:48.920 --> 00:13:49.480 of abuse, 00:13:49.900 --> 00:13:51.020 that itself 00:13:51.020 --> 00:13:52.300 is an abuse 00:13:52.300 --> 00:13:53.860 of these verses. 00:13:53.860 --> 00:13:56.060 But in general, 00:13:56.180 --> 00:13:57.220 those are the exceptions, 00:13:57.440 --> 00:13:57.879 not the rule. 00:13:57.980 --> 00:13:58.279 In general, 00:13:58.379 --> 00:13:59.700 we're looking with our words 00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:01.200 to preserve the community 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:03.000 rather than to tear it down. 00:14:03.100 --> 00:14:03.940 And as we've seen 00:14:03.940 --> 00:14:05.759 with the last couple passages 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:06.659 in Proverbs 6, 00:14:06.840 --> 00:14:08.100 there's an underlying principle. 00:14:08.560 --> 00:14:09.019 There's something 00:14:09.019 --> 00:14:10.300 underneath all of this 00:14:10.300 --> 00:14:11.200 that helps us understand 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:12.139 why it matters. 00:14:12.800 --> 00:14:13.399 And the principle 00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:14.379 is this, 00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:15.759 divisiveness is a very 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:16.680 serious sin. 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:18.000 We're told it's 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:18.840 an abomination, 00:14:19.740 --> 00:14:20.500 verse 16, 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:21.779 and it's a very 00:14:21.779 --> 00:14:22.680 serious sin 00:14:22.679 --> 00:14:23.879 because God 00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:25.979 loves the community. 00:14:28.079 --> 00:14:29.519 It's a serious sin 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:30.419 because God 00:14:30.419 --> 00:14:32.079 loves the community. 00:14:32.359 --> 00:14:33.059 We live 00:14:33.059 --> 00:14:34.620 in an individualistic 00:14:34.620 --> 00:14:35.159 culture 00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:36.279 and age 00:14:36.279 --> 00:14:38.539 where the rights 00:14:38.539 --> 00:14:39.219 of the individual, 00:14:39.359 --> 00:14:39.939 the privileges 00:14:39.939 --> 00:14:40.699 of the individual 00:14:40.699 --> 00:14:41.299 are put 00:14:41.299 --> 00:14:42.899 above everything else. 00:14:43.219 --> 00:14:44.199 It is hard 00:14:44.199 --> 00:14:44.819 for us, 00:14:45.199 --> 00:14:46.139 even as Christians, 00:14:46.139 --> 00:14:47.019 to wrap 00:14:47.019 --> 00:14:48.279 our minds around 00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:49.939 how much 00:14:49.939 --> 00:14:51.139 God cares 00:14:51.139 --> 00:14:52.199 about the good 00:14:52.199 --> 00:14:52.819 and the unity 00:14:52.819 --> 00:14:53.500 of the community. 00:14:55.139 --> 00:14:56.319 It is hard 00:14:56.319 --> 00:14:56.740 for us 00:14:56.740 --> 00:14:57.439 to wrap 00:14:57.439 --> 00:14:58.240 our minds 00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:59.679 as Western Americans 00:14:59.679 --> 00:15:01.419 around how 00:15:01.419 --> 00:15:02.059 much 00:15:02.059 --> 00:15:03.460 God cares 00:15:03.460 --> 00:15:04.519 about the unity 00:15:04.519 --> 00:15:05.139 of the church. 00:15:05.460 --> 00:15:06.519 There are not 00:15:06.519 --> 00:15:07.379 many things 00:15:07.379 --> 00:15:07.899 in the Bible 00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:08.539 that are referred 00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:09.539 to as an abomination. 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:12.879 This is one of them. 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:16.120 God takes 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:17.659 very seriously 00:15:17.659 --> 00:15:18.779 the unity 00:15:18.779 --> 00:15:19.539 of the church. 00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:20.220 God takes 00:15:20.220 --> 00:15:20.679 groups 00:15:20.679 --> 00:15:21.840 and communities 00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:23.019 more seriously 00:15:23.019 --> 00:15:24.320 than we do. 00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:25.000 God 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:26.759 is not 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:28.120 as individualistic 00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:29.059 as we are. 00:15:31.559 --> 00:15:32.480 And just 00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:33.340 like someone 00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:34.899 committing 00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:35.600 first degree 00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:36.039 arson, 00:15:36.220 --> 00:15:37.120 it does not 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:37.980 take a lot 00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:39.000 to burn 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:39.519 a community 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:39.940 down. 00:15:42.620 --> 00:15:43.440 Just like 00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:43.940 someone 00:15:43.940 --> 00:15:46.019 committing 00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:46.820 first degree 00:15:46.820 --> 00:15:47.259 arson, 00:15:47.420 --> 00:15:48.279 it does not 00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:49.139 take much 00:15:49.139 --> 00:15:49.840 to burn 00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:51.100 the community 00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:52.080 down. 00:15:54.039 --> 00:15:54.420 And so 00:15:54.420 --> 00:15:55.420 we see here 00:15:55.420 --> 00:15:56.220 that judgment 00:15:56.220 --> 00:15:57.200 is very 00:15:57.200 --> 00:15:57.820 serious. 00:15:58.100 --> 00:15:58.440 God 00:15:58.440 --> 00:15:59.220 is not 00:15:59.220 --> 00:15:59.779 afraid 00:15:59.779 --> 00:16:01.800 to use 00:16:01.800 --> 00:16:02.820 lethal force 00:16:02.820 --> 00:16:04.200 for those 00:16:04.200 --> 00:16:04.879 who destroy 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:05.519 the community 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:06.659 with their 00:16:06.659 --> 00:16:07.080 words. 00:16:07.159 --> 00:16:07.420 That's what 00:16:07.419 --> 00:16:07.919 we see in 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:08.679 verse 15. 00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:09.439 Calamity 00:16:09.439 --> 00:16:09.860 will come 00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:10.319 upon him 00:16:10.319 --> 00:16:10.799 suddenly. 00:16:11.659 --> 00:16:12.019 In a 00:16:12.019 --> 00:16:12.500 moment, 00:16:13.019 --> 00:16:13.259 he will 00:16:13.259 --> 00:16:13.939 be broken 00:16:13.939 --> 00:16:14.500 beyond 00:16:14.500 --> 00:16:14.939 healing. 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:16.860 In other 00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:17.199 words, 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:17.919 your words 00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:18.500 ultimately 00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:19.059 will catch 00:16:19.059 --> 00:16:19.399 up with 00:16:19.399 --> 00:16:19.539 you. 00:16:19.639 --> 00:16:20.019 They will 00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:20.879 probably 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:22.199 catch up 00:16:22.199 --> 00:16:22.599 with you 00:16:22.599 --> 00:16:23.079 in this 00:16:23.079 --> 00:16:23.479 life, 00:16:24.019 --> 00:16:24.979 and they 00:16:24.979 --> 00:16:25.240 will 00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:25.939 ultimately 00:16:25.939 --> 00:16:26.979 catch up 00:16:26.979 --> 00:16:27.279 with you 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:27.579 at the 00:16:27.579 --> 00:16:28.019 end of 00:16:28.019 --> 00:16:28.139 your 00:16:28.139 --> 00:16:28.500 life. 00:16:29.079 --> 00:16:29.279 Of course, 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:29.759 we know 00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:30.759 this more 00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:31.059 and more 00:16:31.059 --> 00:16:31.419 as people 00:16:31.419 --> 00:16:31.939 living in 00:16:31.939 --> 00:16:32.259 an age 00:16:32.259 --> 00:16:32.980 of technology. 00:16:33.240 --> 00:16:33.379 You'll 00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:34.000 hear more 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:34.500 frequently 00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:35.279 news articles 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:35.899 about court 00:16:35.899 --> 00:16:37.000 cases where 00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:37.740 the private 00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:38.860 text messages 00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:39.799 became public, 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:40.200 right? 00:16:40.820 --> 00:16:41.200 Where the 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:42.179 private emails 00:16:42.179 --> 00:16:43.399 became public. 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:43.779 I shared 00:16:43.779 --> 00:16:44.139 with one 00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:44.659 new member's 00:16:44.659 --> 00:16:45.039 class. 00:16:45.259 --> 00:16:45.759 I grew up 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:46.600 in a church 00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:47.019 right outside 00:16:47.019 --> 00:16:47.440 Washington, 00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:47.879 D.C., 00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:48.159 and there 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:48.580 were folks 00:16:48.580 --> 00:16:49.059 there who 00:16:49.059 --> 00:16:49.620 worked on 00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:50.159 Capitol Hill, 00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:50.580 and one of 00:16:50.580 --> 00:16:51.539 them told us 00:16:51.539 --> 00:16:52.159 that the rule 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:52.759 was that you 00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:53.600 would never 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:54.340 type something 00:16:54.340 --> 00:16:54.980 in an email 00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:55.840 that you 00:16:55.840 --> 00:16:56.240 would be 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:57.159 unwilling to 00:16:57.159 --> 00:16:57.840 see on the 00:16:57.840 --> 00:16:58.399 front page 00:16:58.399 --> 00:16:58.620 of the 00:16:58.620 --> 00:16:59.299 Washington Post 00:16:59.299 --> 00:16:59.679 the next 00:16:59.679 --> 00:16:59.980 day. 00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:02.039 That was the 00:17:02.039 --> 00:17:02.580 rule you were 00:17:02.580 --> 00:17:03.100 meant to follow, 00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:03.500 because it was 00:17:03.500 --> 00:17:04.039 very likely, 00:17:04.140 --> 00:17:04.319 right, 00:17:04.359 --> 00:17:05.039 that what is 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:05.779 private is going 00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:06.259 to be made 00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:06.559 public? 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:07.339 Well, 00:17:07.399 --> 00:17:07.879 the Bible 00:17:07.879 --> 00:17:08.559 tells us 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:09.740 something even 00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:10.460 more frightening. 00:17:12.019 --> 00:17:12.539 Jesus, 00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:13.099 our great 00:17:13.099 --> 00:17:13.920 wisdom teacher, 00:17:14.039 --> 00:17:14.920 remember Matthew 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:15.660 chapter 12, 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:16.480 he's an even 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:17.980 greater teacher 00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:18.619 than Solomon. 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:19.500 He's our great 00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:20.220 and greater 00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:21.000 wisdom teacher, 00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:22.440 tells us that 00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:23.359 every word 00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:24.440 is going to be 00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:24.940 made public 00:17:24.940 --> 00:17:25.480 one day. 00:17:25.879 --> 00:17:27.119 Every text message 00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:27.759 is going to be 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:28.240 made public 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:28.740 one day. 00:17:28.940 --> 00:17:29.920 Every email 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:31.379 is going to be 00:17:31.379 --> 00:17:31.899 on the front 00:17:31.899 --> 00:17:32.779 page of the 00:17:32.779 --> 00:17:33.539 Washington Post. 00:17:34.660 --> 00:17:35.039 In Luke 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:35.859 chapter 8, 00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:36.599 Jesus says 00:17:36.599 --> 00:17:36.859 this, 00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:37.359 for nothing 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:38.039 is hidden 00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:38.859 that will 00:17:38.859 --> 00:17:39.180 not be 00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:40.059 made manifest, 00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:40.680 nor is 00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:41.119 anything 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:42.220 secret that 00:17:42.220 --> 00:17:42.639 will not 00:17:42.639 --> 00:17:43.079 be made 00:17:43.079 --> 00:17:44.259 known and 00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:44.720 come to 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:45.039 light. 00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:46.420 And then 00:17:46.420 --> 00:17:46.700 Jesus, 00:17:46.859 --> 00:17:47.259 talking to 00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:47.980 the Pharisees 00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:48.379 in Matthew 00:17:48.379 --> 00:17:49.119 chapter 12, 00:17:49.220 --> 00:17:49.579 tells them 00:17:49.579 --> 00:17:49.879 this, 00:17:50.420 --> 00:17:50.899 you brood 00:17:50.899 --> 00:17:51.539 of vipers, 00:17:51.819 --> 00:17:52.240 how can 00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:52.660 you speak 00:17:52.660 --> 00:17:53.519 good when 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:53.779 you are 00:17:53.779 --> 00:17:54.099 evil? 00:17:54.619 --> 00:17:54.960 For out 00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:55.180 of the 00:17:55.180 --> 00:17:55.539 abundance 00:17:55.539 --> 00:17:55.920 of the 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:56.180 heart, 00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:56.599 the mouth 00:17:56.599 --> 00:17:57.039 speaks. 00:17:57.660 --> 00:17:58.099 The good 00:17:58.099 --> 00:17:58.660 person out 00:17:58.660 --> 00:17:58.920 of his 00:17:58.920 --> 00:17:59.740 good treasure 00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:00.399 brings forth 00:18:00.399 --> 00:18:00.740 good, 00:18:01.339 --> 00:18:01.899 and the evil 00:18:01.900 --> 00:18:02.519 person out 00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:02.780 of his 00:18:02.780 --> 00:18:03.540 evil treasure 00:18:03.540 --> 00:18:04.280 brings forth 00:18:04.280 --> 00:18:04.640 evil. 00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:05.860 I tell 00:18:05.860 --> 00:18:06.100 you, 00:18:06.180 --> 00:18:06.480 on the 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:06.980 day of 00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:07.540 judgment, 00:18:08.500 --> 00:18:09.640 people will 00:18:09.640 --> 00:18:10.400 give account 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:11.380 for every 00:18:11.380 --> 00:18:12.200 careless word 00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:12.840 they speak. 00:18:13.400 --> 00:18:13.880 For by 00:18:13.880 --> 00:18:14.780 your words 00:18:14.780 --> 00:18:15.320 you will 00:18:15.320 --> 00:18:15.960 be justified, 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:17.180 and by 00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:18.040 your words 00:18:18.040 --> 00:18:18.840 you will 00:18:18.840 --> 00:18:19.580 be condemned. 00:18:20.860 --> 00:18:21.360 So Jesus 00:18:21.360 --> 00:18:22.019 is reminding 00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:22.440 them there 00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:22.700 of the 00:18:22.700 --> 00:18:23.460 reality of 00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:23.759 judgment, 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:24.380 that he 00:18:24.380 --> 00:18:25.259 is going 00:18:25.259 --> 00:18:25.920 to come 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:26.800 back to 00:18:26.800 --> 00:18:27.500 this world 00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:28.259 to return 00:18:28.259 --> 00:18:28.740 for his 00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:29.420 people and 00:18:29.420 --> 00:18:29.940 his church. 00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:31.880 And at 00:18:31.880 --> 00:18:32.559 that time, 00:18:32.620 --> 00:18:32.980 no matter 00:18:32.980 --> 00:18:33.620 what has 00:18:33.620 --> 00:18:34.360 been secret, 00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.539 all things 00:18:35.539 --> 00:18:35.900 will be 00:18:35.900 --> 00:18:36.299 revealed, 00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:38.360 and everyone 00:18:38.360 --> 00:18:39.140 will answer 00:18:39.140 --> 00:18:39.740 for their 00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:40.180 speech. 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:41.620 And so it 00:18:41.620 --> 00:18:42.620 underscores for 00:18:42.620 --> 00:18:43.299 us here the 00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:44.080 importance, 00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:45.519 the urgency 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:47.000 of faith 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:47.680 in Jesus 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:48.140 Christ, 00:18:48.220 --> 00:18:48.400 right? 00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:49.059 Because that 00:18:49.059 --> 00:18:49.900 is our one 00:18:49.900 --> 00:18:51.000 and only hope. 00:18:51.100 --> 00:18:51.700 All of us, 00:18:51.740 --> 00:18:52.400 if we examine 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:53.100 our words, 00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:53.960 would have 00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:54.559 words that we 00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:55.000 don't want 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:55.400 repeated. 00:18:55.539 --> 00:18:55.799 We might 00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:56.299 have text 00:18:56.299 --> 00:18:56.860 messages we 00:18:56.860 --> 00:18:57.160 don't want 00:18:57.160 --> 00:18:57.580 published, 00:18:57.779 --> 00:18:58.380 emails we 00:18:58.380 --> 00:18:58.759 don't want 00:18:58.759 --> 00:18:59.240 distributed. 00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:00.759 And yet, 00:19:00.840 --> 00:19:01.160 those are 00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:01.600 the things 00:19:01.600 --> 00:19:02.059 that if 00:19:02.059 --> 00:19:02.400 we are 00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:03.140 apart from 00:19:03.140 --> 00:19:03.799 Jesus Christ, 00:19:03.880 --> 00:19:04.200 we will 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:05.080 stand before 00:19:05.080 --> 00:19:05.920 God one 00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:06.940 day and 00:19:06.940 --> 00:19:07.600 face his 00:19:07.600 --> 00:19:07.980 judgment. 00:19:08.940 --> 00:19:09.559 That day 00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:09.960 could be 00:19:09.960 --> 00:19:10.600 many days 00:19:10.600 --> 00:19:10.799 in the 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:11.120 future. 00:19:11.620 --> 00:19:12.000 That day 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:12.320 could be 00:19:12.320 --> 00:19:12.680 today. 00:19:13.840 --> 00:19:14.080 And so 00:19:14.080 --> 00:19:14.380 there's a 00:19:14.380 --> 00:19:14.840 tremendous 00:19:14.840 --> 00:19:15.940 urgency for 00:19:15.940 --> 00:19:16.279 us to 00:19:16.279 --> 00:19:17.559 embrace the 00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:18.059 offer of 00:19:18.059 --> 00:19:18.720 forgiveness that 00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:19.519 God offers 00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:20.340 to us through 00:19:20.340 --> 00:19:21.460 Jesus Christ. 00:19:21.620 --> 00:19:21.940 This should 00:19:21.940 --> 00:19:22.740 cause us 00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:23.500 tremendous 00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:24.120 fear. 00:19:26.900 --> 00:19:27.980 And yet, 00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:29.099 we also 00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:29.620 learn from 00:19:29.620 --> 00:19:30.200 these passages 00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:30.819 we need 00:19:30.819 --> 00:19:31.819 much more 00:19:31.819 --> 00:19:32.980 than just 00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:33.440 fear, 00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:33.759 right? 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:34.039 You'll 00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:34.799 remember from 00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:35.200 Proverbs 00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:36.000 chapter 2 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:36.839 that we 00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:37.519 can only 00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:38.579 be protected 00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:39.420 by wisdom 00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:40.559 if we 00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:41.440 love wisdom. 00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.519 We can 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:44.000 only be 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:44.920 protected by 00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:45.519 wisdom if 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:46.099 we love 00:19:46.099 --> 00:19:46.460 wisdom. 00:19:46.860 --> 00:19:47.299 In other 00:19:47.299 --> 00:19:47.579 words, 00:19:47.779 --> 00:19:49.240 fear is 00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:50.099 not enough. 00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:50.620 It's not 00:19:50.620 --> 00:19:50.980 that we 00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:51.740 need more 00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:52.259 fear, 00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:54.420 but that fear 00:19:54.420 --> 00:19:55.039 is driving 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:55.559 us to what 00:19:55.559 --> 00:19:56.259 we actually 00:19:56.259 --> 00:19:56.700 need. 00:19:56.700 --> 00:19:57.380 We need 00:19:57.380 --> 00:19:58.460 a greater 00:19:58.460 --> 00:19:59.019 love. 00:19:59.120 --> 00:19:59.420 And that's 00:19:59.420 --> 00:19:59.840 what Jesus 00:19:59.840 --> 00:20:00.640 and the 00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:01.100 Proverbs, 00:20:01.340 --> 00:20:02.059 as wisdom 00:20:02.059 --> 00:20:02.440 teachers, 00:20:02.620 --> 00:20:03.600 both tell 00:20:03.600 --> 00:20:03.880 us. 00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:04.600 Here in 00:20:04.600 --> 00:20:05.180 this passage, 00:20:05.340 --> 00:20:05.920 we see 00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:06.680 that it's 00:20:06.680 --> 00:20:07.319 the heart 00:20:07.319 --> 00:20:08.460 that matters. 00:20:09.120 --> 00:20:09.759 Verse 14, 00:20:09.880 --> 00:20:10.200 it's a 00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:10.700 perverted 00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:11.860 heart that 00:20:11.860 --> 00:20:12.319 devises 00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:12.720 evil. 00:20:15.180 --> 00:20:15.559 And so 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:16.460 it's verse 00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:17.380 18 as well. 00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:17.779 It's a 00:20:17.779 --> 00:20:18.759 heart that 00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:19.559 devises wicked 00:20:19.559 --> 00:20:20.039 plans. 00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:20.740 And so 00:20:20.740 --> 00:20:21.660 fear ultimately 00:20:21.660 --> 00:20:22.519 isn't going to 00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:23.039 help us or 00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:23.559 save us. 00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:24.440 It's the 00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:25.120 heart that's 00:20:25.120 --> 00:20:25.580 the problem 00:20:25.579 --> 00:20:26.039 for this 00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:26.720 worthless man. 00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:27.199 And Jesus 00:20:27.199 --> 00:20:27.859 tells us 00:20:27.859 --> 00:20:28.879 the same 00:20:28.879 --> 00:20:29.199 thing in 00:20:29.199 --> 00:20:29.419 Matthew 00:20:29.419 --> 00:20:30.119 chapter 12, 00:20:30.179 --> 00:20:30.379 what I 00:20:30.379 --> 00:20:30.980 just read. 00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:31.839 Out of the 00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:32.460 abundance of 00:20:32.460 --> 00:20:32.819 the what? 00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:34.519 The heart, 00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:35.379 the mouth 00:20:35.379 --> 00:20:35.859 speaks. 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:36.759 So it's out 00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:36.960 of the 00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:37.460 goodness of 00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:37.839 the heart 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:38.139 that the 00:20:38.139 --> 00:20:38.539 good man 00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:39.139 brings out 00:20:39.139 --> 00:20:40.659 good treasure. 00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:41.059 In other 00:20:41.059 --> 00:20:41.240 words, 00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:41.899 the mouth 00:20:41.899 --> 00:20:43.720 is not 00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:44.419 the cause. 00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:45.839 The mouth 00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:46.179 is the 00:20:46.179 --> 00:20:46.519 symptom. 00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:48.439 It's not 00:20:48.439 --> 00:20:48.759 that we 00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:49.199 need new 00:20:49.199 --> 00:20:49.659 mouths. 00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:51.059 It's that 00:20:51.059 --> 00:20:51.439 we need 00:20:51.439 --> 00:20:52.079 new hearts. 00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:54.399 it's not 00:20:54.399 --> 00:20:54.720 that we 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:55.439 need new 00:20:55.439 --> 00:20:55.980 mouths, 00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:57.159 but that we 00:20:57.159 --> 00:20:58.240 need new 00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:58.740 hearts. 00:20:58.899 --> 00:20:59.119 And of 00:20:59.119 --> 00:20:59.279 course, 00:20:59.319 --> 00:20:59.539 when we 00:20:59.539 --> 00:20:59.919 come up 00:20:59.919 --> 00:21:00.399 against that, 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:01.339 we realize 00:21:01.339 --> 00:21:01.899 our 00:21:01.899 --> 00:21:02.659 powerlessness, 00:21:02.939 --> 00:21:03.099 right? 00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:04.599 Jesus is 00:21:04.599 --> 00:21:05.199 the only 00:21:05.199 --> 00:21:05.960 way to 00:21:05.960 --> 00:21:06.619 change 00:21:06.619 --> 00:21:07.199 hearts. 00:21:08.139 --> 00:21:08.699 Jesus is 00:21:08.699 --> 00:21:09.259 the only 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:09.919 one who 00:21:09.919 --> 00:21:11.000 can transform 00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:13.639 evil treasure 00:21:13.639 --> 00:21:14.720 to good 00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:15.099 treasure. 00:21:15.859 --> 00:21:16.819 We have 00:21:16.819 --> 00:21:17.460 to obey, 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:17.740 right? 00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:18.059 There's a 00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:18.579 call to 00:21:18.579 --> 00:21:19.220 obedience here 00:21:19.220 --> 00:21:19.700 in Proverbs. 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:20.940 We cannot 00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:22.500 obey unless 00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:22.740 we're 00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:23.299 transformed. 00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:25.259 We have 00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:25.940 to obey. 00:21:26.860 --> 00:21:27.200 There's a 00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:27.579 call to 00:21:27.579 --> 00:21:27.980 obedience 00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:28.400 here. 00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:30.200 We cannot 00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:31.000 obey unless 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:31.220 we're 00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:31.660 transformed. 00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:32.860 The basic 00:21:32.860 --> 00:21:33.559 logic of 00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:33.960 the gospel 00:21:33.960 --> 00:21:34.460 is this. 00:21:34.579 --> 00:21:35.220 I know 00:21:35.220 --> 00:21:36.220 that I 00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:36.539 must 00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:37.039 change. 00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:39.120 I know 00:21:39.120 --> 00:21:39.460 that my 00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:40.039 words must 00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:40.539 be different. 00:21:41.860 --> 00:21:42.940 And I 00:21:42.940 --> 00:21:43.299 cannot 00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:43.660 change 00:21:43.660 --> 00:21:44.120 myself. 00:21:45.740 --> 00:21:46.500 Logic of 00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:46.880 the gospel 00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:47.279 is this. 00:21:47.380 --> 00:21:47.940 I know 00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:48.299 that I 00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:48.579 must 00:21:48.579 --> 00:21:49.140 change. 00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:50.539 I cannot 00:21:50.539 --> 00:21:51.319 change 00:21:51.319 --> 00:21:52.160 myself. 00:21:52.380 --> 00:21:52.600 And so 00:21:52.600 --> 00:21:52.940 it's a 00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:53.319 greater 00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:53.920 power that 00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:54.259 has to 00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:54.700 change our 00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:54.920 hearts. 00:21:54.980 --> 00:21:55.160 It has 00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:55.319 to be 00:21:55.319 --> 00:21:55.480 the 00:21:55.480 --> 00:21:56.460 power that 00:21:56.460 --> 00:21:57.120 comes through 00:21:57.120 --> 00:21:57.960 Jesus Christ 00:21:57.960 --> 00:21:58.579 as he 00:21:58.579 --> 00:21:59.360 offers us 00:21:59.360 --> 00:22:00.460 peace and 00:22:00.460 --> 00:22:01.039 reconciliation 00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:02.019 with him. 00:22:02.180 --> 00:22:02.660 We are 00:22:02.660 --> 00:22:03.200 able to 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:03.779 live at 00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:04.759 peace with 00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.039 others. 00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:05.460 As he 00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:06.360 changes our 00:22:06.360 --> 00:22:07.480 hearts by 00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:08.000 his Holy 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:08.420 Spirit, 00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:09.220 we are 00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:09.839 able to 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:10.319 then bring 00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:11.079 forth good 00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:11.579 treasure. 00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:13.740 It's that 00:22:13.740 --> 00:22:14.759 that transforms 00:22:14.759 --> 00:22:15.980 us and 00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:16.819 motivates us. 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:17.220 Remember, 00:22:17.380 --> 00:22:17.819 it's not 00:22:17.819 --> 00:22:18.720 just that we 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:19.079 want to 00:22:19.079 --> 00:22:19.740 avoid the 00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:20.140 floor of 00:22:20.140 --> 00:22:20.380 the law. 00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:20.720 It's not 00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:21.059 just that 00:22:21.059 --> 00:22:21.440 we're not 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:21.819 lying. 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:22.019 We're 00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:22.539 looking to 00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:23.000 head for 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:23.539 the ceiling, 00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:24.019 to head for 00:22:24.019 --> 00:22:24.500 the stars. 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:25.059 We're 00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:25.559 promoting 00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:26.819 goodness and 00:22:26.819 --> 00:22:27.120 truth. 00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:27.680 And so to 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:28.120 do that, 00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:28.920 we have to 00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:29.319 look to 00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:30.299 Jesus who 00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:31.200 transforms and 00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:31.759 changes our 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:32.019 hearts. 00:22:32.100 --> 00:22:32.579 We look to 00:22:32.579 --> 00:22:33.180 Jesus and we 00:22:33.180 --> 00:22:34.299 realize he 00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:35.079 doesn't repeat 00:22:35.079 --> 00:22:35.660 our sins, 00:22:35.740 --> 00:22:35.960 right? 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:37.860 He removes 00:22:37.860 --> 00:22:38.539 them as far as 00:22:38.539 --> 00:22:39.079 the east is 00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:39.720 from the west. 00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:40.720 love. 00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:42.400 And so we 00:22:42.400 --> 00:22:43.100 don't have to 00:22:43.100 --> 00:22:44.100 repeat other 00:22:44.100 --> 00:22:44.880 people's sins. 00:22:46.839 --> 00:22:48.299 Love covers 00:22:48.299 --> 00:22:49.380 over a multitude 00:22:49.380 --> 00:22:50.140 of sins. 00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:52.000 Jesus' love has 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:53.000 covered over our 00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:53.559 sins. 00:22:54.620 --> 00:22:55.720 We're able to 00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:56.500 cover over other 00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:57.240 people's sins. 00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:01.120 Our acceptance 00:23:01.120 --> 00:23:03.420 is not based on 00:23:03.420 --> 00:23:04.039 our performance. 00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:04.220 acceptance. 00:23:06.200 --> 00:23:07.119 And so we 00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:07.879 don't have to 00:23:07.879 --> 00:23:08.500 tear other 00:23:08.500 --> 00:23:09.180 people down. 00:23:09.559 --> 00:23:10.000 We don't have to 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:10.599 destroy the 00:23:10.599 --> 00:23:11.720 community in 00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:12.159 order to be 00:23:12.159 --> 00:23:12.579 accepted. 00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:14.700 We don't have to 00:23:14.700 --> 00:23:15.579 convince other 00:23:15.579 --> 00:23:16.159 people that 00:23:16.159 --> 00:23:16.799 there's someone 00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:17.539 who performs 00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:18.220 worse than 00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:19.980 us in order 00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:20.740 to belong. 00:23:22.539 --> 00:23:23.559 God, in 00:23:23.559 --> 00:23:24.279 Jesus Christ, 00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:25.079 promises to 00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:25.920 never leave 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:27.579 us or forsake 00:23:27.579 --> 00:23:27.940 us. 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:31.000 And because of 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:31.579 that, we can 00:23:31.579 --> 00:23:32.480 trust him 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:33.980 rather than 00:23:33.980 --> 00:23:34.920 destroying other 00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:35.579 people in order 00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:36.180 to get ahead. 00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:39.099 Jesus is the 00:23:39.099 --> 00:23:40.099 one who gives 00:23:40.099 --> 00:23:40.799 us greater 00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:41.779 promises and 00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:42.720 greater provision. 00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:43.680 He is the 00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:44.420 one who actually 00:23:44.420 --> 00:23:45.120 gives us the 00:23:45.120 --> 00:23:45.980 power and the 00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:47.400 ability to 00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:48.480 have not evil 00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:49.200 words but good 00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:49.460 words. 00:23:49.620 --> 00:23:50.400 He's the one who 00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:51.200 transforms our 00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:52.279 heart from 00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:53.279 hearts of stone 00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:54.160 to hearts of 00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:54.559 flesh. 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.559 God has 00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.700 restored his 00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:58.599 relationship with 00:23:58.599 --> 00:23:58.960 us. 00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:01.680 And so we're 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:02.680 able to risk 00:24:02.680 --> 00:24:03.960 hard conversations 00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:04.740 with other 00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.460 people knowing 00:24:05.460 --> 00:24:05.840 that if we 00:24:05.840 --> 00:24:06.440 lose our 00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:07.319 relationships with 00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:08.240 them, we 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:09.019 still have our 00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:09.740 relationship with 00:24:09.740 --> 00:24:10.000 God. 00:24:12.059 --> 00:24:13.240 We don't have 00:24:13.240 --> 00:24:14.640 to fear the 00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:16.180 nakedness that 00:24:16.180 --> 00:24:17.259 will come from 00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:18.019 having every 00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:19.160 word exposed 00:24:19.160 --> 00:24:22.059 because Jesus 00:24:22.059 --> 00:24:22.940 has already been 00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:24.319 exposed for us. 00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:27.339 and so we 00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:27.700 don't have to 00:24:27.700 --> 00:24:28.839 live in fear or 00:24:28.839 --> 00:24:29.899 be motivated by 00:24:29.899 --> 00:24:30.319 fear. 00:24:31.240 --> 00:24:32.359 Instead, we are 00:24:32.359 --> 00:24:33.559 motivated and 00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:35.000 transformed and 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:36.179 propelled by 00:24:36.179 --> 00:24:37.779 Jesus and his 00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:38.980 work on our 00:24:38.980 --> 00:24:39.299 behalf. 00:24:39.579 --> 00:24:40.299 He is the one 00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:41.799 who empowers us 00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:42.939 and enables us 00:24:42.939 --> 00:24:44.399 to do what the 00:24:44.399 --> 00:24:45.099 ninth commandment 00:24:45.099 --> 00:24:45.839 points us to, 00:24:45.919 --> 00:24:46.639 to speak words 00:24:46.639 --> 00:24:47.859 that are good and 00:24:47.859 --> 00:24:49.379 loving rather than 00:24:49.379 --> 00:24:50.220 words that are bad 00:24:50.220 --> 00:24:51.119 and tear down. 00:24:51.119 --> 00:24:53.099 That is the 00:24:53.099 --> 00:24:54.679 power that God 00:24:54.679 --> 00:24:55.079 gives us. 00:24:55.159 --> 00:24:56.159 He empowers us to 00:24:56.159 --> 00:24:57.519 speak good and 00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.459 uplifting words. 00:25:00.179 --> 00:25:01.319 Proverbs chapter 15 00:25:01.319 --> 00:25:02.619 says this, to make 00:25:02.619 --> 00:25:04.259 an apt answer is a 00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:06.039 joy to a man and a 00:25:06.039 --> 00:25:07.599 word in season how 00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:08.919 good it is. 00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:10.599 Of course, we want 00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:11.279 to be those kinds 00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:11.939 of people, right? 00:25:12.179 --> 00:25:13.619 Word in season kind 00:25:13.619 --> 00:25:14.059 of people. 00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:15.379 People whose words 00:25:15.379 --> 00:25:16.559 lift other people up 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:17.559 and build them up, 00:25:18.239 --> 00:25:19.079 who encourage them 00:25:19.079 --> 00:25:20.000 and sustain them. 00:25:24.299 --> 00:25:26.779 In her book, 00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:29.379 Pride and Prejudice, 00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:32.460 we are told about 00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:32.879 two different 00:25:32.879 --> 00:25:34.460 characters who have 00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:35.359 different relationships 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:36.240 with their words. 00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:39.480 We have Wickham, 00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:39.939 right? 00:25:41.399 --> 00:25:42.500 Wickham's a man who 00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:43.799 appears to be very 00:25:43.799 --> 00:25:44.819 gracious in his words. 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:46.359 He wins people over 00:25:46.359 --> 00:25:47.519 very quickly. 00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:49.480 He tells them what 00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:50.079 they want to hear. 00:25:50.139 --> 00:25:51.539 His manners are 00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:52.039 wonderful. 00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:54.200 And yet it actually 00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:56.500 turns out that he is 00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:57.559 someone who winks 00:25:57.559 --> 00:25:58.240 with his eyes, 00:25:58.740 --> 00:25:59.559 signals with his feet, 00:25:59.639 --> 00:26:00.379 and points with his 00:26:00.379 --> 00:26:00.900 finger, right? 00:26:02.220 --> 00:26:03.980 He openly slanders 00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:05.279 Mr. Darcy. 00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:07.299 He's not just saying 00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:07.759 things that are 00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:08.299 partially true. 00:26:08.359 --> 00:26:08.920 He's saying things 00:26:08.920 --> 00:26:09.639 that aren't true. 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:10.500 He's twisting the 00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:10.740 truth. 00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:12.579 He's destroying him 00:26:12.579 --> 00:26:13.339 as part of the 00:26:13.339 --> 00:26:13.720 community. 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:15.460 And he stabs him 00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:15.879 in the back. 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.740 Why is he doing 00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:17.019 that? 00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:18.799 Well, he's devouring 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:19.339 people, right? 00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:20.220 He's looking to gain 00:26:20.220 --> 00:26:20.940 something, to earn 00:26:20.940 --> 00:26:21.299 something. 00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:22.720 He's taking advantage 00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:24.180 of young women who 00:26:24.180 --> 00:26:25.359 are too naive to 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:26.259 stay far away from 00:26:26.259 --> 00:26:26.440 him. 00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:27.819 He's looking to get 00:26:27.819 --> 00:26:28.819 the money that he 00:26:28.819 --> 00:26:29.680 needs to pay off 00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:30.140 his debts. 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:31.480 He is stirring up, 00:26:32.700 --> 00:26:33.640 he's creating 00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:34.900 discord, enmity 00:26:34.900 --> 00:26:36.200 between brothers. 00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:38.420 Mr. Darcy, on the 00:26:38.420 --> 00:26:39.299 other hand, now he 00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:40.640 gets some flack, 00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:41.380 right, for his words 00:26:41.380 --> 00:26:41.920 at the beginning. 00:26:42.420 --> 00:26:43.220 He says some things 00:26:43.220 --> 00:26:44.019 about Elizabeth that 00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:44.620 are unflattering. 00:26:44.619 --> 00:26:47.059 And yet, ultimately, 00:26:47.219 --> 00:26:47.839 he's someone who 00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:48.879 uses his words to 00:26:48.879 --> 00:26:49.679 build up the 00:26:49.679 --> 00:26:50.739 community rather 00:26:50.739 --> 00:26:51.479 than tear it down. 00:26:51.579 --> 00:26:52.739 He does not go 00:26:52.739 --> 00:26:53.799 around sharing the 00:26:53.799 --> 00:26:55.099 truth about 00:26:55.099 --> 00:26:55.439 Wickham. 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:56.879 He does in a 00:26:56.879 --> 00:26:57.379 letter, right, 00:26:57.459 --> 00:26:58.539 ultimately to defend 00:26:58.539 --> 00:27:00.039 himself against the 00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:00.339 slander. 00:27:00.399 --> 00:27:01.259 But he's not going 00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:02.179 around trying to 00:27:02.179 --> 00:27:02.519 destroy. 00:27:02.619 --> 00:27:02.899 Instead, he's 00:27:02.899 --> 00:27:03.339 protecting. 00:27:03.739 --> 00:27:04.679 There's many things 00:27:04.679 --> 00:27:06.739 he could share that 00:27:06.739 --> 00:27:08.059 are 100% true that 00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:08.559 he doesn't. 00:27:08.559 --> 00:27:11.539 And it continues to 00:27:11.539 --> 00:27:12.000 the end. 00:27:12.099 --> 00:27:13.159 We learn, of course, 00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:13.919 that he ends up 00:27:13.919 --> 00:27:14.799 coming out and 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:16.139 protecting the 00:27:16.139 --> 00:27:17.099 community, not just 00:27:17.099 --> 00:27:17.879 in his words, but 00:27:17.879 --> 00:27:18.720 in his actions. 00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:21.279 He saves the day 00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:23.200 out of his love for 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:23.879 the community, and 00:27:23.879 --> 00:27:25.000 he pays off Wickham's 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:26.460 debts so that Wickham 00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:27.440 will marry Lydia 00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:29.960 because he's willing 00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:31.079 to sacrifice, he's 00:27:31.079 --> 00:27:31.940 willing to lose, 00:27:32.059 --> 00:27:33.440 right, to love this 00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:34.500 community and protect 00:27:34.500 --> 00:27:35.480 the honor of this 00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:35.819 family. 00:27:36.099 --> 00:27:37.720 He covers up, he 00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:38.860 lets love cover a 00:27:38.860 --> 00:27:39.860 multitude of sins 00:27:39.860 --> 00:27:41.200 rather than going 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:42.279 out and revealing it 00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:43.279 and disgracing people. 00:27:43.400 --> 00:27:44.059 He does not 00:27:44.059 --> 00:27:45.160 advertise that he's 00:27:45.160 --> 00:27:46.480 done this, and he 00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:47.600 doesn't do it out of 00:27:47.600 --> 00:27:50.360 fear, right, but out 00:27:50.360 --> 00:27:51.039 of love. 00:27:52.100 --> 00:27:53.500 He does it because he 00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:54.779 loves the community, 00:27:55.460 --> 00:27:56.819 and most importantly, 00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:58.700 he loves Elizabeth. 00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:02.220 Wickham, on the other 00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:03.839 hand, escapes for a 00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:04.319 time. 00:28:05.460 --> 00:28:06.920 He does not escape 00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:07.600 forever. 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:10.539 He faces the 00:28:10.539 --> 00:28:11.680 consequences of his 00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:11.980 words. 00:28:12.140 --> 00:28:13.360 Ultimately, everything 00:28:13.360 --> 00:28:15.420 that is secret is 00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:16.140 made public. 00:28:19.339 --> 00:28:20.860 And so, brothers and 00:28:20.860 --> 00:28:22.839 sisters, God warns us 00:28:22.839 --> 00:28:24.319 of the danger of our 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:24.740 words. 00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:27.579 We can burn down our 00:28:27.579 --> 00:28:28.019 communities. 00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:32.380 God also points us to 00:28:32.380 --> 00:28:33.160 something better. 00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:34.740 He points us to words 00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:35.819 of love. 00:28:35.819 --> 00:28:37.799 words of love that come 00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:39.579 to us and through us 00:28:39.579 --> 00:28:41.619 because of Jesus' love 00:28:41.619 --> 00:28:42.980 for us first. 00:28:43.099 --> 00:28:44.559 And so, he points us to 00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:45.799 our need for a new 00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:47.899 heart, and he provides 00:28:47.899 --> 00:28:49.079 that new heart through 00:28:49.079 --> 00:28:50.439 Jesus so we can express 00:28:50.439 --> 00:28:52.480 our love for others and 00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:54.460 the community in the way 00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:55.599 that Jesus has given it 00:28:55.599 --> 00:28:56.079 to us. 00:28:57.079 --> 00:28:58.579 And so, that is our hope 00:28:58.579 --> 00:29:00.359 and our confidence. 00:29:00.359 --> 00:29:01.639 And we can say, the good 00:29:01.639 --> 00:29:03.119 person out of good 00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:04.939 treasure brings forth 00:29:04.939 --> 00:29:06.579 good, but the evil 00:29:06.579 --> 00:29:07.699 person out of his evil 00:29:07.699 --> 00:29:09.299 treasure brings forth 00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:09.599 evil. 00:29:10.939 --> 00:29:12.079 I invite you to pray with 00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:12.279 me. 00:29:15.959 --> 00:29:18.259 Our Father in heaven, we 00:29:18.259 --> 00:29:21.419 thank you that you don't 00:29:21.419 --> 00:29:23.179 just warn us of judgment, 00:29:23.179 --> 00:29:24.599 you don't just present us 00:29:24.599 --> 00:29:27.039 with the fear that we need, 00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:29.399 but you also give us the 00:29:29.399 --> 00:29:30.519 escape and the provision 00:29:30.519 --> 00:29:31.759 that we need in Jesus 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:32.200 Christ. 00:29:32.299 --> 00:29:33.819 You transform our hearts, 00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:35.799 you give us new hearts, 00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:38.299 you cover over our sins 00:29:38.299 --> 00:29:40.579 and forgive them, and you 00:29:40.579 --> 00:29:42.700 build up and give us a 00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:43.920 community to be a part of. 00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:46.119 We thank you that we don't 00:29:46.119 --> 00:29:47.079 have to earn these things 00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:48.079 or deserve them, but that 00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:49.460 you give them to us through 00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:51.220 Jesus Christ, and so we ask 00:29:51.220 --> 00:29:52.440 all of them in his name. 00:29:53.079 --> 00:29:53.339 Amen.