WEBVTT

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 We have been learning to look above the sun for the last several weeks, and we have been digging

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! We have been digging through this series on the book of Ecclesiastes. Listen, before we go any further, I want to introduce, I'm sorry, dismiss the children, kindergarten through second grade.

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 There's a little bit of a ring back here, if you wouldn't mind turning me maybe down just a smidge, at least in these monitors up here.

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 Listen, so kids, kindergarten through second grade, you are dismissed to Children's Church. If you'd like to head to the back, you can do that now.

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 And before we go any further, can we stop and pray for our nation, for the nation of Israel, for the conflict happening in the Middle East, which, of course, our president just announced this weekend.

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 So, if you wouldn't mind going to Lord in prayer, I'm going to lead us in a special prayer. I appreciate Joe Bill Brock, our deacon, leading us in that earlier, and I'd like to dedicate one prayer to that this morning.

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 So, if you wouldn't mind bowing your heads with me at this time.

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 Father in heaven, conflict is a real part of our world. We look forward to the day when all strivings will cease.

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 We look forward to the day when we'll beat our swords and weapons into plowshares.

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 The Prince of Peace will rule.

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 But until that day, we live in a broken world full of conflict.

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 There's a historic conflict which began,

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 we read about it in the old, pages of the Old Testament,

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 between the Muslim people, the Jewish people.

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 We pray for peace to come to that region.

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 We pray for the peace of your people.

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 We pray for safety for those who are fighting on the other side of the world.

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 We pray for those who are making decisions that they would be guided by wisdom from on high.

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 We always pray for a peaceful resolution to conflict.

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 Sometimes history has shown us that war is necessary.

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 But we ask that you would reign over it, and in your timing,

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 you would cause a peaceful resolution to come.

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 We pray for protection for the men and women who are serving in that part of the world.

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 We ask your spirit to build a hedge of protection around them.

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 We ask that we would be faithful to lift them up in prayer,

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 to do whatever we can on the home front,

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 to support and pray for you to rule over that situation.

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 Thank you for the hope we have in you, God,

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 and that no matter what happens,

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 whether things seem under control or out of control,

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 we know that you're always in control.

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 It's in Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 Have you ever carried on a conversation with someone

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 and you felt like they weren't really listening to you?

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 They were just waiting for you to take a breath

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 so they could have their turn to talk?

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 Or have you been the person who was waiting for your turn to talk

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 and not really listening?

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 Look, we probably all find ourselves on both sides of that coin,

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 but the reality is sometimes we're only half listening

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 and we're just waiting to get a word in edgewise.

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 You can always tell when somebody's not really dialed in to what you're saying.

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 They might be nodding along with you.

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 Maybe they're even smiling,

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 but their mind is thinking about what they're going to say next.

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 If we're honest with ourselves,

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 sometimes our prayers look a lot like that.

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 We do far more talking and not nearly enough listening.

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 What would it look like to have a one-sided conversation with God

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 where he's the one doing the talking?

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 Let's think through that as we study in Ecclesiastes chapter 5.

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 So if you would take the Word of God with you,

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 and if you don't have a copy, look on with somebody.

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 Some of the verses we'll have up on the screen,

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 but some of them I'd love for you to grab a copy of the Word of God in front of you

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 or look on with somebody.

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 Or if you want to pull up the Bible app on your device, that's fine too.

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 But we're in Ecclesiastes chapter 5

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 as we're making our way through this fascinating book

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 in our series called Catching Smoke, Living Life Under the Sun.

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 We read a lot of typology in Ecclesiastes as he says,

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 chasing after the wind or trying to catch smoke in your hand,

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 something that just seems like a fool's errand.

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 You're never really going to be able to achieve that.

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 Nobody can catch smoke in your hand.

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 Nobody can catch the wind.

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 So how do we live this life under the sun?

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 Sometimes it feels like that.

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 We're trying to do something that we really can't ever figure out a way to do.

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 So when we're in chapter 5,

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 the teacher, which we've identified as Solomon, the author of this book,

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 says that as we come before God,

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 how we come before Him matters almost just as much as that we come before Him,

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 the manner in which we approach Him.

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 So let's look in verse 1 of Ecclesiastes 5.

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 As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut.

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 Well, that sets a precedent right there.

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 If we could all just do that,

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 would we enter into the presence of God

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 and keep our ears open and our mouth shut?

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 Would we come together?

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 If we keep our ears open and our mouth shut,

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 we'd all be a whole lot better off.

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 That doesn't mean you can't say good morning to somebody.

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 That doesn't mean you can't engage in fellowship or lift up your voice in praise to God.

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 But sometimes we're way too quick to close our ears and open our mouths,

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 and the teacher is teaching us,

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 let's try it a different way.

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 As you come into the house of God,

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 keep your ears open and your mouth shut.

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 Then he goes on to say,

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 it's evil to make mindless offerings to God.

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 What is he saying?

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 It's evil to make mindless offerings to God.

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 That means don't be so quick

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 to offer the sacrifice of praise to God

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 if your heart is not in it.

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 God despises when we praise him from our mouth,

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 from our lips,

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 and not our hearts.

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 It's not praise to him.

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 It's just noise.

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 It would be far better

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 to not sing the songs of praise

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 that the church is lifting up

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 if your heart is not in it.

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 I've talked to Jared about this,

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 and he hasn't done it yet

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 because it's going to weird some people out, okay?

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 But one of these times,

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 we might try a deal where we say,

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 listen, you don't have to stand.

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 Everybody doesn't have to stand and sing.

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 If you'd like to stand, you stand.

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 But if you're not really in the heart space

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 to stand and sing right now,

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 let's all remain seated.

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 And if at some point,

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 the Spirit moves you to stand up

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 and lift your praise from a standing position,

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 that's fine.

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 If you'd like to join in and sing,

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 that's fine.

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 If you'd like to just sit there,

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 and pray,

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 and reorient your heart

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 back to listening to the Holy Spirit,

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 maybe that's a good thing to do in this moment.

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 We might try that one of these times

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 and just see how that goes.

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 I've attended services like that before,

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 and it really moved me

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 because sometimes,

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 when we all just stand

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 and do something together,

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 it's like, man,

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 if your heart's right, great.

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 If it's not, tough luck,

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 because this is what we're all doing right now.

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 And it almost enables this false sacrifice of praise before God.

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 Solomon is teaching us,

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 it's evil to make mindless offerings to God.

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 Just do it just to do it.

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 Just because everybody else is doing it,

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 it feels like you should.

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 That's a mindless offering to God.

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 Then he goes on and says,

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 don't make rash promises,

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 and don't be hasty in bringing matters before God.

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 You sense a theme here?

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 Make rash and hasty promises?

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 Like, God, I swear,

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 if you just do this for me,

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 then I'll do this for you.

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 Now, these things should come from the heart,

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 not bargaining with God

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 or making a desperate, rash, or hasty promise.

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 He says, don't be hasty in bringing matters before God.

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 Be intentional.

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 Pray through it.

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 Get your heart right first,

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 and then pray through it.

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 Settle yourself.

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 Be quiet.

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 Sit before God.

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 He says, be still,

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 and remember and know that I am God.

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 After all, God is in heaven.

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 You are here on earth,

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 so let your words be few.

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 If you read through Solomon's other famous writings

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 in the Old Testament,

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 specifically the Proverbs,

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 how many times does he warn us

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 and give us advice that we should be quiet

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 and let our words be few?

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 But what do we do?

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 We mouth off.

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 We like to talk.

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 We love to get our opinion out there.

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 And now we can get our opinion out there

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 like never before

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 through the miracle of the internet.

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 Everybody can know what we're thinking.

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 Everybody can know what we have to say

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 about a certain thing.

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 I'm not sure the world is better off

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 with all of us having a voice

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 in that way.

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 You don't have to earn it anymore.

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 You don't have to earn the platform.

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 You can just go out there

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 and broadcast it to the world.

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 We don't always do that responsibly.

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 We don't always do that from a place of wisdom.

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 Solomon says,

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 let your words be few.

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 When God gives you something to say,

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 say it.

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 Otherwise, be quiet.

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 We all need to take that advice to heart,

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 especially in 2026.

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 Then verse three,

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 too much activity

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 gives you restless dreams.

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 Too many words

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 make you a fool.

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 So he's using a comparison here,

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 an illustration.

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 You go and you have a,

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 you live a crazy life

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 and you're out there

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 doing all kinds of things.

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 You're that

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 are maybe out of the ordinary.

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 Then your dreams

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 might be a little crazier.

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 You go and eat a bunch of Mexican food

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 at Hefe's the night before.

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 You might have some crazy dreams.

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 I don't know what it is,

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 but sometimes we find ourselves

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 with funny dreams

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 after we've done something

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 along those lines.

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 Then he says,

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 just like that,

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 too many words

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 make you a fool.

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 So he's using an illustration here.

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 When you talk too much,

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 the foolishness that's inside you

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 has a far better chance

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 of coming out.

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 Guess what?

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 We're all a fool.

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 We all have foolishness in us.

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 Not one of us is exempt

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 from foolishness.

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 I know we try to present ourselves

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 that we are wisdom, wisdom, wisdom

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 all the time,

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 but the reality is

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 foolishness is in there.

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 And it's only by God's Holy Spirit

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 that it doesn't come out.

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 So let the Spirit prompt you

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 when to talk,

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 not your flesh.

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 When your flesh does the prompting,

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 foolishness is the result.

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 So Solomon is giving us

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 the same warning

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 in different ways

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 in the first three verses.

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 Then he says,

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 verse 4,

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 when you make a promise to God,

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 don't delay

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 in following through,

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 for God takes no pleasure

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 in fools.

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 When you make a promise to God,

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 this goes back to,

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 don't be hasty

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 in bringing matters before God.

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 Don't make mindless offerings to God.

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 Be very intentional

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 and very sober

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 when you're dealing

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 with Almighty God,

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 the creator of the universe,

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 the creator of you,

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 the king of all kings,

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 the lord of all lords.

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 Respect him

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 in your dealings with him.

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 Now he's family.

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 He is the father.

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 If you're a child of God,

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 you've made him

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 your choice.

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 You've offered yourself

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 as a living sacrifice to God.

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 Then he is your father.

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 But he's your father.

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 And you don't just treat him

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 like somebody else

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 that you would approach casually

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 and not respect

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 the awesome power

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 that God has.

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 So you come to him

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 not with fear

00:13:10.839 --> 00:13:12.439
 of what he might do to you,

00:13:12.919 --> 00:13:14.159
 but out of respect

00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:15.459
 for who he is

00:13:15.459 --> 00:13:17.199
 and what he has done.

00:13:18.139 --> 00:13:18.939
 And then it says

00:13:18.939 --> 00:13:20.639
 when you make a promise to God,

00:13:21.639 --> 00:13:22.799
 follow through with it

00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:24.839
 and don't sit around and wait.

00:13:25.699 --> 00:13:26.359
 You know how many times

00:13:26.359 --> 00:13:27.539
 I've heard people say,

00:13:27.899 --> 00:13:29.179
 I'm going to get saved

00:13:29.179 --> 00:13:29.779
 saved.

00:13:30.959 --> 00:13:32.399
 And if you're not sure

00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:33.139
 about what that

00:13:33.139 --> 00:13:35.199
 church kind of language means,

00:13:35.299 --> 00:13:36.479
 it means placing your faith

00:13:36.479 --> 00:13:36.979
 in Jesus

00:13:36.979 --> 00:13:38.299
 to forgive your sins,

00:13:38.779 --> 00:13:39.759
 make you his child,

00:13:39.859 --> 00:13:40.939
 that he's the only way

00:13:40.939 --> 00:13:42.399
 to be right with God.

00:13:42.459 --> 00:13:43.559
 There's nothing you can do.

00:13:45.079 --> 00:13:46.019
 So we call that

00:13:46.019 --> 00:13:46.739
 getting saved.

00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:47.819
 Saved from the punishment

00:13:47.819 --> 00:13:49.039
 for our sins.

00:13:49.239 --> 00:13:49.859
 Saved from

00:13:49.859 --> 00:13:51.719
 a life without God.

00:13:51.879 --> 00:13:53.019
 Saved from all of this

00:13:53.019 --> 00:13:53.859
 apart from God.

00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:55.120
 And now you get to have

00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:56.139
 a relationship with God.

00:13:56.679 --> 00:13:58.259
 So becoming God's child.

00:13:58.259 --> 00:14:00.039
 So if you do this,

00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:01.179
 how many times

00:14:01.179 --> 00:14:02.600
 I've heard somebody say,

00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:03.460
 yeah,

00:14:03.580 --> 00:14:05.019
 I want to be God's child,

00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:05.740
 but I'm not sure

00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:06.500
 about getting baptized.

00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:10.319
 And they'll delay for years.

00:14:10.700 --> 00:14:11.759
 And if that's your story,

00:14:11.860 --> 00:14:13.419
 I'm not shaking a finger at you

00:14:13.419 --> 00:14:14.120
 or judging you

00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:14.700
 or painting you

00:14:14.700 --> 00:14:15.580
 in a negative light.

00:14:15.899 --> 00:14:16.720
 I thank God

00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:17.899
 because I've talked to people

00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:19.439
 who've been years

00:14:19.439 --> 00:14:20.539
 not being baptized.

00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:21.240
 Then they said,

00:14:21.299 --> 00:14:21.700
 you know what?

00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:22.259
 It's time.

00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:22.919
 Enough is enough.

00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:23.980
 I'm going to go get baptized.

00:14:24.179 --> 00:14:24.899
 And I'm thankful

00:14:24.899 --> 00:14:25.720
 for the work God did

00:14:25.720 --> 00:14:26.100
 in your heart

00:14:26.100 --> 00:14:26.620
 to bring you

00:14:26.620 --> 00:14:27.340
 to that place.

00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:29.080
 But if you're holding off,

00:14:30.040 --> 00:14:30.740
 then take that

00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:31.519
 into consideration.

00:14:31.980 --> 00:14:33.120
 Jesus set the example

00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:33.560
 for us

00:14:33.560 --> 00:14:34.320
 and he showed us

00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:35.759
 how important baptism is

00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:36.840
 in the life

00:14:36.840 --> 00:14:37.759
 of a Jesus follower.

00:14:38.420 --> 00:14:38.660
 He says,

00:14:38.779 --> 00:14:39.460
 if you're going to be

00:14:39.460 --> 00:14:40.360
 a follower of Jesus,

00:14:40.540 --> 00:14:41.519
 this is what you do.

00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:43.000
 We see that supported

00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:44.300
 with the Ethiopian eunuch

00:14:44.300 --> 00:14:45.160
 and Philip.

00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:45.940
 There was a man

00:14:45.940 --> 00:14:47.040
 who was steeped

00:14:47.040 --> 00:14:48.120
 in religious knowledge

00:14:48.120 --> 00:14:48.720
 and tradition

00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:50.080
 and he had a high role

00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:50.480
 in that

00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:51.660
 and he knew the scriptures

00:14:51.660 --> 00:14:52.660
 and he comes

00:14:52.660 --> 00:14:53.620
 to the evangelist,

00:14:53.620 --> 00:14:55.399
 Jesus follower Philip

00:14:55.399 --> 00:14:56.100
 and he says,

00:14:56.720 --> 00:14:57.799
 I want to follow Jesus.

00:14:57.980 --> 00:14:58.799
 What should I do?

00:14:58.860 --> 00:14:59.539
 And Philip said,

00:14:59.779 --> 00:15:01.259
 you got to get baptized, man.

00:15:03.340 --> 00:15:04.200
 This shows

00:15:04.200 --> 00:15:05.440
 that you're serious about it.

00:15:05.659 --> 00:15:06.139
 This shows

00:15:06.139 --> 00:15:06.960
 that this is the life

00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:07.500
 you're chosen.

00:15:07.960 --> 00:15:08.919
 You are following

00:15:08.919 --> 00:15:10.139
 the example of Jesus.

00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:11.259
 This is what you do.

00:15:11.480 --> 00:15:12.919
 This is one example

00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:14.320
 of making a promise

00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:14.799
 to God

00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:15.120
 that says,

00:15:15.340 --> 00:15:16.460
 I will follow you

00:15:16.460 --> 00:15:18.360
 but then delaying

00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:20.039
 actually following him.

00:15:20.980 --> 00:15:21.379
 It's not that

00:15:21.379 --> 00:15:22.340
 that's the only way

00:15:22.340 --> 00:15:23.139
 to follow Jesus.

00:15:23.139 --> 00:15:24.419
 There are many ways

00:15:24.419 --> 00:15:25.460
 that you would follow Jesus

00:15:25.460 --> 00:15:26.319
 in your life

00:15:26.319 --> 00:15:27.860
 but that is an important one

00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:29.159
 and that's what Jesus

00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:30.679
 did himself

00:15:30.679 --> 00:15:31.759
 and then said

00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:32.580
 for us to do

00:15:32.580 --> 00:15:33.519
 and it's part

00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:34.120
 of the mission

00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:34.759
 that he gave

00:15:34.759 --> 00:15:36.059
 to his followers

00:15:36.059 --> 00:15:37.100
 is go out,

00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:38.220
 make disciples,

00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:39.460
 baptize them,

00:15:39.819 --> 00:15:40.259
 teach them

00:15:40.259 --> 00:15:41.240
 what I've commanded you.

00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:44.519
 So this is one example

00:15:44.519 --> 00:15:46.860
 of making a promise

00:15:46.860 --> 00:15:47.399
 to God

00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:48.539
 and then delaying

00:15:48.539 --> 00:15:49.740
 in following it through.

00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:51.679
 So if that's you,

00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:52.559
 then don't delay

00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:53.039
 any longer.

00:15:53.139 --> 00:15:56.019
 sit with God,

00:15:56.120 --> 00:15:57.120
 get alone with God

00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:57.500
 and say,

00:15:57.580 --> 00:15:57.860
 God,

00:15:58.100 --> 00:16:00.159
 I've been delaying

00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:00.659
 too long.

00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:02.720
 Give me the courage,

00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:04.600
 give me the grace

00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:07.019
 to follow your example

00:16:07.019 --> 00:16:07.899
 in baptism.

00:16:08.419 --> 00:16:09.340
 That's one way.

00:16:10.139 --> 00:16:11.279
 What are other ways

00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:12.860
 that maybe you've made

00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:13.799
 a promise to God

00:16:13.799 --> 00:16:15.299
 and you've been delaying

00:16:15.299 --> 00:16:16.720
 in following through on it?

00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:20.240
 keep all the promises

00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:20.980
 you make to him.

00:16:21.660 --> 00:16:22.220
 Verse five,

00:16:22.980 --> 00:16:24.300
 it is better to say nothing

00:16:24.300 --> 00:16:26.019
 than to make a promise

00:16:26.019 --> 00:16:27.879
 and then not keep it.

00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:29.360
 Verse six,

00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:30.980
 don't let your mouth

00:16:30.980 --> 00:16:31.860
 make you sin

00:16:31.860 --> 00:16:34.120
 and don't defend yourself

00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:35.680
 by telling the temple messenger

00:16:35.680 --> 00:16:36.779
 that the promise you made

00:16:36.779 --> 00:16:37.480
 was a mistake.

00:16:38.160 --> 00:16:39.340
 Then you go back on it.

00:16:39.340 --> 00:16:39.820
 Well,

00:16:39.980 --> 00:16:41.540
 I wasn't really serious

00:16:41.540 --> 00:16:42.040
 about it.

00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:44.120
 I probably said that

00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:45.100
 before I thought it through.

00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:47.300
 Whatever the promise was,

00:16:47.460 --> 00:16:48.600
 then we start hedging

00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:49.320
 on it a little bit.

00:16:49.560 --> 00:16:50.620
 We start backing up.

00:16:50.660 --> 00:16:51.420
 We start backtracking.

00:16:52.259 --> 00:16:53.379
 I'm not sure I really

00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:54.200
 thought that one through.

00:16:55.080 --> 00:16:55.440
 Meanwhile,

00:16:55.620 --> 00:16:56.220
 God says,

00:16:56.220 --> 00:16:57.060
 oh yes,

00:16:57.100 --> 00:16:57.420
 you did.

00:16:58.139 --> 00:16:59.340
 That was the right promise

00:16:59.340 --> 00:16:59.820
 to make.

00:17:00.040 --> 00:17:01.200
 That was the right decision

00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:02.000
 that you made

00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:03.100
 and now fear

00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:04.000
 is getting in the way.

00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:06.019
 Now uncertainty

00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:06.860
 is getting in the way.

00:17:07.180 --> 00:17:08.660
 Now reliance on yourself

00:17:08.660 --> 00:17:09.759
 and not being sure

00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:10.640
 that yourself

00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:11.519
 can handle it.

00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:11.860
 Remember,

00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:12.839
 forgetting the fact

00:17:12.839 --> 00:17:14.240
 that God is there

00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:15.740
 to give you the strength.

00:17:15.900 --> 00:17:16.420
 God is there

00:17:16.420 --> 00:17:17.819
 to help you see this through

00:17:17.819 --> 00:17:19.279
 and by his power

00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:20.339
 and not yours,

00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:21.759
 this decision

00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:23.059
 will come

00:17:23.059 --> 00:17:24.039
 to fruition.

00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:27.000
 what you promised

00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:28.759
 God can make reality

00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:30.940
 but you can't start backtracking.

00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:33.440
 So this is a powerful lesson

00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:34.980
 that Solomon is teaching us.

00:17:36.059 --> 00:17:36.599
 He says,

00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:38.539
 that would make God

00:17:38.539 --> 00:17:40.000
 backtracking,

00:17:40.659 --> 00:17:42.000
 going back and saying

00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:42.859
 the promise I made

00:17:42.859 --> 00:17:43.420
 was a mistake.

00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:43.720
 He said,

00:17:43.779 --> 00:17:44.960
 that would make God angry

00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:46.759
 and he might wipe out

00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:48.420
 everything you have achieved.

00:17:49.779 --> 00:17:51.220
 There are consequences

00:17:51.220 --> 00:17:53.460
 consequences

00:17:53.460 --> 00:17:54.779
 when we go back

00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:56.019
 on our word

00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:56.779
 with God.

00:17:57.579 --> 00:17:58.339
 Does that mean

00:17:58.339 --> 00:17:59.299
 God expects perfection

00:17:59.299 --> 00:18:00.180
 from us every time?

00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:01.019
 Of course not.

00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:02.600
 He knows we're weak

00:18:02.600 --> 00:18:04.539
 and he shows us grace.

00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:06.180
 And remember,

00:18:06.380 --> 00:18:06.680
 Solomon

00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:08.740
 was living in this time

00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:09.920
 before Jesus came,

00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:12.039
 before he gave his life

00:18:12.039 --> 00:18:12.759
 as the sacrifice

00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:13.559
 for our sins.

00:18:13.799 --> 00:18:15.279
 But there is a lesson here

00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:16.000
 that you and I

00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:17.380
 as the followers of Jesus,

00:18:18.180 --> 00:18:19.360
 and I'm taking most of you

00:18:19.360 --> 00:18:19.920
 at your word

00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:20.700
 that you have chosen

00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:21.920
 to be a follower of Jesus.

00:18:22.380 --> 00:18:23.560
 Some of you may not be

00:18:23.560 --> 00:18:25.200
 in that boat right now

00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:25.800
 and that's okay.

00:18:25.900 --> 00:18:26.779
 We're just glad you're here.

00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:28.180
 We'd love to talk to you

00:18:28.180 --> 00:18:29.000
 about what it means

00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:29.720
 and how to become

00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:30.500
 a follower of Jesus.

00:18:30.980 --> 00:18:31.880
 So you come talk to me

00:18:31.880 --> 00:18:32.560
 after the service,

00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:33.580
 grab Jared,

00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:34.900
 grab any of our deacons,

00:18:35.120 --> 00:18:36.100
 just about anybody here

00:18:36.100 --> 00:18:36.360
 and say,

00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:37.580
 I would love to become

00:18:37.580 --> 00:18:38.420
 a follower of Jesus

00:18:38.420 --> 00:18:39.400
 and we'll get you

00:18:39.400 --> 00:18:40.080
 on the right path.

00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:41.240
 We'll take you to the scriptures

00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:42.440
 and show you how to do that.

00:18:42.860 --> 00:18:44.800
 But as the followers of Jesus,

00:18:45.340 --> 00:18:46.620
 this is a powerful lesson

00:18:46.620 --> 00:18:47.400
 that we need to learn.

00:18:47.400 --> 00:18:48.900
 We need to take our promises

00:18:48.900 --> 00:18:49.880
 to God seriously.

00:18:50.120 --> 00:18:51.360
 We need to take the decisions

00:18:51.360 --> 00:18:53.019
 we make before God seriously.

00:18:53.600 --> 00:18:54.940
 Don't rush into them.

00:18:55.400 --> 00:18:56.160
 Don't be hasty.

00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:56.560
 Say, man,

00:18:56.600 --> 00:18:57.600
 I'm in financial trouble

00:18:57.600 --> 00:18:58.700
 so I need God

00:18:58.700 --> 00:19:00.080
 to pour out the windows of,

00:19:00.280 --> 00:19:00.500
 you know,

00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:01.200
 the blessings

00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:02.240
 from the windows of heaven

00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:03.800
 and enrich my life

00:19:03.800 --> 00:19:05.120
 because I'm hurting right now.

00:19:05.460 --> 00:19:06.000
 So God,

00:19:06.080 --> 00:19:06.940
 whatever you want from me,

00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:07.640
 I'll do it, okay?

00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:09.540
 Just hook me up

00:19:09.540 --> 00:19:10.200
 with $100,000.

00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:11.300
 We'll be okay.

00:19:13.280 --> 00:19:14.500
 Now that is a hasty,

00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:16.480
 irresponsible promise

00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:18.079
 to make before God.

00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:20.160
 It would be far better

00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:21.960
 to not make that kind of promise

00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:22.660
 and just say,

00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:23.059
 God,

00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:25.539
 my heart is open to you.

00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:27.279
 You know the needs that I have.

00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:29.440
 You know the situation I'm in

00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:30.400
 that humanly speaking

00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:31.120
 looks difficult

00:19:31.120 --> 00:19:32.720
 or maybe even impossible.

00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:33.700
 God,

00:19:33.819 --> 00:19:34.700
 please work

00:19:34.700 --> 00:19:36.500
 and show me

00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:37.259
 what I need to do.

00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:41.640
 This is what decisions

00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:42.460
 or promises

00:19:42.460 --> 00:19:43.259
 from the heart

00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:44.299
 looks like.

00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:45.180
 So there's a couple

00:19:45.180 --> 00:19:45.819
 of truths here

00:19:45.819 --> 00:19:46.559
 I want to share with you.

00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:47.119
 First off,

00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:48.759
 God is not impressed

00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:50.160
 by performance,

00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:51.420
 but he is honored

00:19:51.420 --> 00:19:52.940
 by our listening.

00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:54.940
 So taking our cue

00:19:54.940 --> 00:19:55.599
 from what Solomon

00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:56.299
 is teaching us

00:19:56.299 --> 00:19:57.379
 in these first seven verses,

00:19:59.879 --> 00:20:01.579
 God is not impressed

00:20:01.579 --> 00:20:02.220
 by performance,

00:20:02.359 --> 00:20:03.160
 but he is honored

00:20:03.160 --> 00:20:05.059
 by our listening.

00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:06.140
 So listen.

00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:08.440
 So listen.

00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:10.839
 Listen to God.

00:20:12.339 --> 00:20:13.480
 Listen to God's voice.

00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:16.119
 God's voice can come to us

00:20:16.119 --> 00:20:17.619
 in surprising ways sometimes.

00:20:18.740 --> 00:20:20.000
 Most often it comes

00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:21.099
 from the Holy Spirit of God.

00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:22.460
 It comes from Scripture,

00:20:23.079 --> 00:20:24.819
 from this book right here.

00:20:25.619 --> 00:20:26.680
 We live in an age

00:20:26.680 --> 00:20:27.559
 where we can carry this book

00:20:27.559 --> 00:20:28.420
 around with us everywhere.

00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:30.920
 If you've got this phone with you,

00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:33.759
 then you can have the Bible

00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:34.900
 with you everywhere you go.

00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:36.980
 But I encourage you

00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:37.840
 to have one of these two.

00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:39.259
 It's important.

00:20:39.600 --> 00:20:40.300
 I like this one

00:20:40.300 --> 00:20:41.680
 because it's got wide margins

00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:43.240
 and you can write in it.

00:20:45.180 --> 00:20:47.620
 But whatever works for you,

00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:49.780
 get God's word

00:20:49.780 --> 00:20:50.680
 and get in it.

00:20:50.860 --> 00:20:52.380
 And then let the Holy Spirit

00:20:52.380 --> 00:20:54.140
 enlighten you

00:20:54.140 --> 00:20:55.280
 to what you're reading.

00:20:55.860 --> 00:20:57.000
 It's called illumination,

00:20:57.460 --> 00:20:58.340
 shining a light

00:20:58.340 --> 00:20:59.460
 on what you're reading.

00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:00.040
 Because anybody

00:21:00.040 --> 00:21:01.340
 can pick up this book

00:21:01.339 --> 00:21:02.619
 and they can come up

00:21:02.619 --> 00:21:03.720
 with all the wrong ideas

00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:04.439
 about what it's saying.

00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:06.500
 And a lot of people do that.

00:21:07.339 --> 00:21:09.099
 That's why you'll go on YouTube.

00:21:10.619 --> 00:21:11.659
 Little rabbit trail here.

00:21:12.419 --> 00:21:13.799
 If you get your theology

00:21:13.799 --> 00:21:14.679
 from YouTube,

00:21:15.679 --> 00:21:17.319
 it's a very dangerous place

00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:17.819
 to get it.

00:21:18.919 --> 00:21:20.819
 Not everyone who's on YouTube

00:21:20.819 --> 00:21:21.919
 is doing it wrong,

00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:23.720
 but a whole lot of them are.

00:21:25.379 --> 00:21:27.039
 So get your theology

00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:28.079
 first and foremost

00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:29.419
 from the Holy Spirit of God,

00:21:29.420 --> 00:21:30.779
 but then secondly,

00:21:31.060 --> 00:21:33.240
 from the tried and true doctrine

00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:34.460
 that's been passed down

00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:35.759
 from faith to faith,

00:21:35.840 --> 00:21:37.200
 from generation to generation,

00:21:37.960 --> 00:21:40.360
 from true Jesus followers

00:21:40.360 --> 00:21:42.900
 whose fruit backs up

00:21:42.900 --> 00:21:44.200
 what they're saying.

00:21:45.560 --> 00:21:46.519
 I don't care.

00:21:46.800 --> 00:21:47.460
 Talk is cheap.

00:21:47.620 --> 00:21:48.680
 Hey, verse 7.

00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:49.680
 Look with me.

00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:51.039
 Ecclesiastes 5, 7.

00:21:51.420 --> 00:21:52.580
 Talk is cheap

00:21:52.580 --> 00:21:54.300
 like daydreams

00:21:54.300 --> 00:21:55.720
 and other useless activities

00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:57.140
 like scrolling YouTube

00:21:57.140 --> 00:21:58.420
 to figure out what you believe.

00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:01.440
 Fear God instead.

00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:03.980
 Solomon was before his time, man.

00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:06.000
 No, I think human nature

00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:07.200
 just hasn't changed that much.

00:22:08.300 --> 00:22:09.519
 If they didn't have YouTube,

00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:10.720
 then they had something else.

00:22:12.600 --> 00:22:13.620
 Talk is cheap,

00:22:14.060 --> 00:22:15.220
 but I want to see

00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:16.100
 what kind of fruit

00:22:16.100 --> 00:22:17.880
 your life bears out

00:22:17.880 --> 00:22:19.140
 with all the talk that you do.

00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:20.660
 Some of these people

00:22:20.660 --> 00:22:21.460
 that will get on there

00:22:21.460 --> 00:22:23.060
 and come up with these wild ideas

00:22:23.060 --> 00:22:24.560
 that are so different

00:22:24.560 --> 00:22:25.880
 than anything you've heard before

00:22:25.880 --> 00:22:27.180
 about God or anything else,

00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:28.779
 oftentimes,

00:22:29.320 --> 00:22:29.740
 usually,

00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:31.680
 the fruit of their life

00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:32.660
 does not back up

00:22:32.660 --> 00:22:33.440
 what they're saying.

00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.400
 Say,

00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:37.920
 that's interesting

00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:38.980
 what you're talking about.

00:22:39.620 --> 00:22:40.779
 All the conspiracy theories

00:22:40.779 --> 00:22:41.340
 or, you know,

00:22:41.420 --> 00:22:41.680
 whatever,

00:22:42.019 --> 00:22:42.920
 new illumination,

00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:43.580
 new truth.

00:22:45.580 --> 00:22:46.220
 Say, you know,

00:22:46.340 --> 00:22:47.660
 I'm not really going to give you

00:22:47.660 --> 00:22:48.440
 the time of day

00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:50.160
 because I don't see

00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:51.140
 the fruit of the Holy Spirit

00:22:51.140 --> 00:22:51.759
 in your life.

00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:54.160
 That's often

00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:55.259
 the first litmus test

00:22:55.259 --> 00:22:55.839
 that we can put

00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:56.559
 against things

00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:57.599
 that we see online.

00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:00.900
 Far often,

00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:02.700
 instead of talking so much,

00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:04.119
 we need to stop

00:23:04.119 --> 00:23:04.720
 and listen

00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:05.759
 to what God

00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:07.140
 might be teaching us.

00:23:09.819 --> 00:23:10.259
 So,

00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:11.799
 content creators

00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:13.680
 or whatever other kind

00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.379
 of performers

00:23:14.379 --> 00:23:15.519
 are out there,

00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:20.200
 I want to see

00:23:20.200 --> 00:23:21.039
 how much you're listening

00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:21.519
 to God

00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:23.039
 and what He's doing

00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:23.980
 through you that way,

00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:26.279
 not by what you perform.

00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:28.399
 But let's bring it home

00:23:28.399 --> 00:23:29.299
 to Henrietta

00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:30.480
 and First Baptist Church.

00:23:32.899 --> 00:23:34.299
 God is not impressed

00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:35.779
 by how many weeks

00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:36.399
 in a row

00:23:36.399 --> 00:23:37.420
 you've been sitting

00:23:37.420 --> 00:23:38.099
 in the pew

00:23:38.099 --> 00:23:38.740
 on Sunday.

00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:40.240
 I am.

00:23:40.920 --> 00:23:42.059
 I think it's great

00:23:42.059 --> 00:23:42.659
 when you're here.

00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:45.079
 I hate it

00:23:45.079 --> 00:23:45.740
 when you're not,

00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:47.059
 even though sometimes,

00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:47.899
 you know,

00:23:47.940 --> 00:23:48.980
 I get four Sundays a year.

00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:49.920
 I've never taken

00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:51.100
 all four Sundays a year

00:23:51.100 --> 00:23:51.720
 that I'm not here.

00:23:51.800 --> 00:23:54.000
 But we all have times

00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:54.840
 when we're out of town

00:23:54.840 --> 00:23:55.500
 or we're sick

00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:56.400
 or something like that.

00:23:58.160 --> 00:23:59.259
 Somebody got baptized

00:23:59.259 --> 00:24:00.400
 in another church recently

00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:01.180
 and some of our people

00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:01.620
 were up there.

00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:02.240
 I think that was

00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:03.039
 really, really cool.

00:24:03.840 --> 00:24:04.700
 So, I understand

00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:05.700
 why you can't be here

00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:06.200
 sometimes.

00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:08.519
 But it impresses me

00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:09.120
 when you're here.

00:24:09.259 --> 00:24:09.700
 That's great.

00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:10.259
 I love it.

00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:13.379
 You know why that is?

00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:14.720
 Because man looks

00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:15.980
 on the outward appearance

00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:17.319
 but God looks

00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:18.000
 on the what?

00:24:19.119 --> 00:24:20.059
 Yeah, y'all know.

00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:22.379
 God looks on the heart.

00:24:22.859 --> 00:24:24.140
 So, he's honored

00:24:24.140 --> 00:24:25.960
 when we listen to him

00:24:25.960 --> 00:24:27.000
 from our hearts

00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:28.160
 far more

00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:29.460
 than when we perform

00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:30.299
 for him.

00:24:31.339 --> 00:24:32.339
 So, you might have been

00:24:32.339 --> 00:24:33.400
 teaching your Sunday school

00:24:33.400 --> 00:24:34.579
 class for a long time

00:24:34.579 --> 00:24:36.039
 and I'm so thankful

00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:36.720
 you're doing that.

00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:38.359
 And there's a lot of kids

00:24:38.359 --> 00:24:38.839
 who are thankful

00:24:38.839 --> 00:24:39.420
 you're doing that

00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:40.480
 and parents probably

00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:41.420
 who are even more thankful

00:24:41.420 --> 00:24:42.420
 that you're doing that.

00:24:42.840 --> 00:24:43.940
 But far more

00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:44.860
 than your performance

00:24:44.860 --> 00:24:47.200
 for God,

00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:48.700
 he's impressed

00:24:48.700 --> 00:24:49.360
 by how much

00:24:49.360 --> 00:24:50.580
 you're listening to him

00:24:50.580 --> 00:24:52.039
 as you prepare

00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:53.140
 to teach that class.

00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:54.880
 As you prepare

00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:56.080
 to handle those children.

00:24:58.140 --> 00:24:58.860
 Same thing

00:24:58.860 --> 00:24:59.700
 in the school teachers.

00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:01.360
 Same thing

00:25:01.360 --> 00:25:02.220
 with our administration.

00:25:03.140 --> 00:25:03.640
 Same thing

00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:04.060
 with you

00:25:04.060 --> 00:25:04.800
 and your workplace.

00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:06.900
 God's not so impressed

00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:08.400
 with how you perform

00:25:08.400 --> 00:25:10.540
 as to the heart

00:25:10.540 --> 00:25:12.060
 motivations behind it.

00:25:12.420 --> 00:25:13.480
 The heart motivations

00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:14.660
 only change

00:25:14.660 --> 00:25:15.340
 by listening

00:25:15.340 --> 00:25:16.300
 to the Holy Spirit

00:25:16.300 --> 00:25:16.780
 of God.

00:25:17.420 --> 00:25:18.280
 You and I

00:25:18.280 --> 00:25:19.360
 are not wired

00:25:19.360 --> 00:25:21.500
 to do things

00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:22.019
 for God

00:25:22.019 --> 00:25:22.759
 from the heart.

00:25:23.380 --> 00:25:24.340
 We're wired

00:25:24.340 --> 00:25:25.100
 to perform.

00:25:25.820 --> 00:25:26.580
 So, we have to let

00:25:26.580 --> 00:25:27.360
 the Holy Spirit

00:25:27.360 --> 00:25:28.800
 change our wiring.

00:25:29.540 --> 00:25:30.840
 Change our internal

00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:34.720
 whatever you call it.

00:25:35.819 --> 00:25:36.919
 Dits and dashes

00:25:36.919 --> 00:25:38.599
 and zeros

00:25:38.599 --> 00:25:39.199
 and numbers.

00:25:39.659 --> 00:25:40.039
 DNA.

00:25:40.399 --> 00:25:40.879
 There you go.

00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:42.519
 That was a terrible

00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:43.559
 explanation of DNA.

00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:46.220
 We got there eventually.

00:25:46.879 --> 00:25:47.639
 God literally

00:25:47.639 --> 00:25:48.559
 has to change

00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:49.319
 our DNA.

00:25:49.579 --> 00:25:50.240
 You know what it's called?

00:25:50.279 --> 00:25:51.259
 It's called regeneration.

00:25:52.579 --> 00:25:54.119
 He changes the way

00:25:54.119 --> 00:25:55.819
 we're made up.

00:25:56.919 --> 00:25:57.339
 Say,

00:25:57.439 --> 00:25:57.919
 well, that's just

00:25:57.919 --> 00:25:58.619
 who I am.

00:25:58.720 --> 00:25:59.720
 God made me this way.

00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:01.620
 God wants to make you new.

00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:04.160
 God wants to remake you.

00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:07.740
 We have to listen

00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:08.500
 to His Holy Spirit.

00:26:09.620 --> 00:26:10.720
 Listening is better

00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.559
 than offering

00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:13.059
 the sacrifice of fools.

00:26:13.360 --> 00:26:14.000
 The teacher's not

00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:14.700
 anti-worship.

00:26:15.120 --> 00:26:15.860
 He's not even

00:26:15.860 --> 00:26:16.860
 anti-performance

00:26:16.860 --> 00:26:18.079
 if the performance

00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:18.759
 comes

00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:20.059
 from a place

00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:20.660
 of the heart.

00:26:21.360 --> 00:26:22.259
 I saw teenagers

00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:22.779
 up here

00:26:22.779 --> 00:26:24.180
 practicing this morning

00:26:24.180 --> 00:26:25.000
 and then they got up here

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:25.360
 and sang.

00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:25.980
 They performed

00:26:25.980 --> 00:26:26.579
 and they performed

00:26:26.579 --> 00:26:27.140
 beautifully.

00:26:27.140 --> 00:26:29.200
 And I know

00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:30.100
 that many of them

00:26:30.100 --> 00:26:31.300
 and I hope all of them

00:26:31.300 --> 00:26:32.200
 were singing

00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:33.500
 from their heart.

00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:36.040
 I've seen Jessica

00:26:36.040 --> 00:26:36.580
 in the way she

00:26:36.580 --> 00:26:37.340
 pours herself

00:26:37.340 --> 00:26:38.060
 into these

00:26:38.060 --> 00:26:39.040
 performances.

00:26:39.340 --> 00:26:40.340
 I know she's doing it

00:26:40.340 --> 00:26:40.820
 from the heart

00:26:40.820 --> 00:26:41.300
 because otherwise

00:26:41.300 --> 00:26:41.840
 she would have quit

00:26:41.840 --> 00:26:42.540
 a long time ago.

00:26:44.280 --> 00:26:45.500
 And I'm so grateful

00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:47.020
 when our hearts

00:26:47.020 --> 00:26:48.840
 then produce

00:26:48.840 --> 00:26:49.480
 a performance

00:26:49.480 --> 00:26:50.540
 on God's behalf.

00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:51.700
 When you go out

00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:52.200
 and perform

00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:52.759
 a good work

00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:53.460
 for someone,

00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:55.019
 let it come

00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:56.120
 from a time

00:26:56.120 --> 00:26:56.799
 of listening

00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:57.440
 to God

00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:58.220
 and His Spirit.

00:26:58.980 --> 00:26:59.940
 Not from this

00:26:59.940 --> 00:27:00.980
 need to perform

00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:02.120
 or need to impress

00:27:02.120 --> 00:27:03.620
 or need to scratch

00:27:03.620 --> 00:27:04.100
 your itch

00:27:04.100 --> 00:27:04.720
 or make you feel

00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:05.700
 better about yourself.

00:27:06.840 --> 00:27:07.880
 The motivation

00:27:07.880 --> 00:27:08.600
 from the heart

00:27:08.600 --> 00:27:09.740
 is the key.

00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:10.920
 Habakkuk.

00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:12.759
 We don't go to Habakkuk

00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:13.660
 very often, do we?

00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:14.980
 Well, here's one.

00:27:15.100 --> 00:27:15.960
 The Lord is in His

00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:16.640
 holy temple.

00:27:17.120 --> 00:27:18.200
 Let all the earth

00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:18.920
 be,

00:27:19.079 --> 00:27:19.620
 what's that?

00:27:20.519 --> 00:27:21.039
 Silent

00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:22.180
 before Him.

00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:23.660
 This is a consistent

00:27:23.660 --> 00:27:24.940
 theme throughout Scripture.

00:27:25.380 --> 00:27:26.500
 Let's be silent

00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:27.460
 before God.

00:27:27.799 --> 00:27:28.680
 Let's let Him

00:27:28.680 --> 00:27:29.820
 speak to us

00:27:29.820 --> 00:27:31.220
 before we hurry up

00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:31.820
 and get busy

00:27:31.820 --> 00:27:32.600
 and get loud

00:27:32.600 --> 00:27:34.120
 before Him.

00:27:34.940 --> 00:27:35.680
 Then in Isaiah

00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:36.420
 chapter 30,

00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:37.640
 that's supposed

00:27:37.640 --> 00:27:38.279
 to say 30,

00:27:38.360 --> 00:27:38.820
 not 3.

00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:40.039
 In quietness

00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:40.759
 and confidence

00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:43.140
 is your strength.

00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:44.940
 In quietness

00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:46.340
 and confidence

00:27:46.340 --> 00:27:48.539
 is your strength.

00:27:49.820 --> 00:27:51.500
 Not in loudness,

00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:52.640
 confidence

00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:52.640


00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:53.279
 in who?

00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:55.720
 One person

00:27:55.720 --> 00:27:56.160
 said God.

00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:56.660
 Confidence

00:27:56.660 --> 00:27:57.019
 in who,

00:27:57.119 --> 00:27:57.359
 church?

00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:58.380
 God.

00:27:58.539 --> 00:27:58.900
 Confidence

00:27:58.900 --> 00:27:59.319
 in God,

00:27:59.400 --> 00:28:00.059
 not yourself.

00:28:00.779 --> 00:28:01.359
 Paul understood

00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:01.839
 this.

00:28:02.259 --> 00:28:02.480
 He said,

00:28:02.559 --> 00:28:02.880
 I don't have

00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:03.380
 any confidence

00:28:03.380 --> 00:28:04.559
 in my own flesh.

00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:06.160
 I could,

00:28:06.619 --> 00:28:07.099
 and he even

00:28:07.099 --> 00:28:07.660
 made the point,

00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:08.400
 if anybody

00:28:08.400 --> 00:28:08.799
 could have

00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:09.180
 confidence

00:28:09.180 --> 00:28:09.920
 in themselves

00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:10.440
 and what they

00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:10.960
 could achieve

00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:11.599
 on their own,

00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:12.799
 it would be me.

00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:13.680
 Trust me.

00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:14.599
 It's not,

00:28:14.779 --> 00:28:15.359
 Paul was teaching

00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:15.599
 us,

00:28:15.640 --> 00:28:15.940
 he said,

00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:17.480
 it's not that

00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:18.359
 I couldn't achieve

00:28:18.359 --> 00:28:19.339
 anything on my own.

00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:20.139
 He said,

00:28:20.199 --> 00:28:21.220
 don't get this idea

00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:22.199
 that I chose ministry

00:28:22.199 --> 00:28:22.720
 because I wasn't

00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:23.579
 good at anything else.

00:28:24.339 --> 00:28:24.519
 He said,

00:28:24.539 --> 00:28:25.480
 that's not what it was.

00:28:25.859 --> 00:28:27.139
 I chose to follow Jesus

00:28:27.139 --> 00:28:28.000
 and give my life

00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:28.539
 to him

00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:29.959
 because God

00:28:29.959 --> 00:28:31.019
 changed me,

00:28:31.579 --> 00:28:32.439
 not because it was

00:28:32.439 --> 00:28:33.279
 my best option

00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:33.720
 in life

00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:34.279
 as a career.

00:28:35.879 --> 00:28:36.299
 He said,

00:28:36.359 --> 00:28:37.720
 I have the ability

00:28:37.720 --> 00:28:38.319
 to be confident

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:38.939
 in myself,

00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:39.939
 but I've learned

00:28:39.939 --> 00:28:41.659
 that that's not

00:28:41.659 --> 00:28:42.119
 going to get me

00:28:42.119 --> 00:28:42.480
 anywhere.

00:28:43.419 --> 00:28:43.819
 Meaningful.

00:28:43.819 --> 00:28:46.339
 So I've learned

00:28:46.339 --> 00:28:48.359
 that when I'm weak,

00:28:48.939 --> 00:28:50.240
 then God

00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:51.039
 is strong in me,

00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:52.319
 through me.

00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:53.399
 So,

00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:55.259
 in quietness

00:28:55.259 --> 00:28:56.439
 and confidence

00:28:56.439 --> 00:28:57.220
 in the Lord,

00:28:57.799 --> 00:28:58.399
 that's where you

00:28:58.399 --> 00:28:59.099
 find your strength.

00:29:00.379 --> 00:29:01.119
 So if you're not

00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:02.399
 always feeling strong,

00:29:03.339 --> 00:29:06.139
 if you're not always

00:29:06.139 --> 00:29:07.419
 on top of your game,

00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:08.879
 by the way,

00:29:08.939 --> 00:29:09.319
 when you are

00:29:09.319 --> 00:29:10.079
 feeling strong,

00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:11.700
 often that's an illusion.

00:29:11.700 --> 00:29:13.240
 When you do think

00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:13.779
 you're on top

00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:14.299
 of your game,

00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:14.759
 just wait

00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:15.279
 until you turn

00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:15.680
 the corner

00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:17.740
 and life hits you again.

00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:21.720
 So regardless

00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:22.920
 of whether you're up

00:29:22.920 --> 00:29:23.779
 or whether you're down,

00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:25.680
 in quietness

00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:27.120
 and confidence

00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:27.759
 in Christ,

00:29:28.259 --> 00:29:28.960
 that's where

00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:29.580
 your strength

00:29:29.580 --> 00:29:30.340
 is found.

00:29:31.100 --> 00:29:32.039
 So here's our takeaway.

00:29:32.640 --> 00:29:33.080
 Attention

00:29:33.080 --> 00:29:34.279
 honors God

00:29:34.279 --> 00:29:35.880
 more than activity.

00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:37.200
 Attention

00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:38.220
 to God

00:29:38.220 --> 00:29:39.380
 honors God

00:29:39.380 --> 00:29:40.140
 more than activity.

00:29:40.759 --> 00:29:41.380
 How many of you

00:29:41.380 --> 00:29:41.800
 your kids

00:29:41.800 --> 00:29:42.620
 like your attention?

00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:43.840
 Anybody?

00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:44.980
 Slip your hand up

00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:45.640
 if your kids

00:29:45.640 --> 00:29:46.420
 like your attention.

00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:48.480
 I'm noticing

00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:49.280
 a theme.

00:29:49.600 --> 00:29:50.840
 It's the younger kids.

00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:53.000
 Once they hit

00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:53.640
 teenage years,

00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:54.060
 they don't want

00:29:54.060 --> 00:29:54.840
 your attention anymore,

00:29:54.920 --> 00:29:55.140
 right?

00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:56.600
 That's how it is.

00:29:57.340 --> 00:29:58.480
 So think of us

00:29:58.480 --> 00:29:59.420
 as little kids.

00:29:59.540 --> 00:30:00.560
 We want God's attention,

00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:00.860
 right?

00:30:00.920 --> 00:30:01.240
 You know what

00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:02.140
 the crazy thing is?

00:30:02.180 --> 00:30:02.480
 You know what

00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:03.500
 God wants from us?

00:30:03.780 --> 00:30:04.420
 Our attention.

00:30:05.560 --> 00:30:06.420
 How many of you

00:30:06.420 --> 00:30:07.340
 parents want

00:30:07.340 --> 00:30:08.460
 your kids' attention?

00:30:08.780 --> 00:30:09.020
 Anybody?

00:30:09.560 --> 00:30:10.080
 How many of you

00:30:10.080 --> 00:30:10.360
 would love

00:30:10.359 --> 00:30:10.959
 for your teenagers

00:30:10.959 --> 00:30:11.399
 to give you

00:30:11.399 --> 00:30:11.899
 attention again?

00:30:11.979 --> 00:30:12.079
 Yeah.

00:30:14.779 --> 00:30:16.119
 God craves

00:30:16.119 --> 00:30:16.879
 our attention

00:30:16.879 --> 00:30:17.959
 more than anything

00:30:17.959 --> 00:30:19.859
 because if our minds

00:30:19.859 --> 00:30:21.159
 are fixed on him,

00:30:21.459 --> 00:30:22.719
 he can teach us.

00:30:22.879 --> 00:30:24.079
 He can help us.

00:30:24.319 --> 00:30:26.240
 He can guide us.

00:30:26.699 --> 00:30:28.279
 He can change us.

00:30:28.839 --> 00:30:29.659
 We've got to give him

00:30:29.659 --> 00:30:30.279
 our attention

00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:31.439
 far more

00:30:31.439 --> 00:30:32.359
 than our activity.

00:30:32.519 --> 00:30:33.419
 Sometimes we're so busy

00:30:33.419 --> 00:30:34.159
 working for God,

00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:36.039
 we forget to actually

00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:36.599
 talk to him.

00:30:36.779 --> 00:30:37.539
 We forget to actually

00:30:37.539 --> 00:30:38.159
 listen to him.

00:30:39.440 --> 00:30:40.059
 Number two,

00:30:40.399 --> 00:30:41.299
 peace comes.

00:30:41.879 --> 00:30:42.759
 This thing's bouncing

00:30:42.759 --> 00:30:43.299
 all over the place.

00:30:43.339 --> 00:30:43.700
 Here we go.

00:30:44.099 --> 00:30:44.879
 Peace comes from

00:30:44.879 --> 00:30:45.819
 trusting God,

00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:47.940
 not managing him.

00:30:48.920 --> 00:30:49.460
 How many of you

00:30:49.460 --> 00:30:49.720
 are guilty?

00:30:49.720 --> 00:30:50.460
 Don't raise your hand

00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:50.779
 right now.

00:30:50.859 --> 00:30:51.259
 How many of you

00:30:51.259 --> 00:30:51.639
 are guilty

00:30:51.639 --> 00:30:52.920
 of managing God?

00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:54.619
 I'll raise mine

00:30:54.619 --> 00:30:56.240
 because I have done that.

00:30:56.879 --> 00:30:57.799
 I have tried

00:30:57.799 --> 00:30:58.899
 to manage God.

00:30:58.900 --> 00:31:02.240
 as long as I do

00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:02.860
 this and this

00:31:02.860 --> 00:31:03.480
 and this,

00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:05.660
 God will be satisfied

00:31:05.660 --> 00:31:07.460
 and I can go

00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:08.240
 about my life.

00:31:10.519 --> 00:31:12.140
 We're managing him

00:31:12.140 --> 00:31:14.400
 like he's a difficult

00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:15.060
 parent

00:31:15.060 --> 00:31:16.940
 or a difficult client.

00:31:17.880 --> 00:31:19.360
 We're managing him.

00:31:20.259 --> 00:31:21.780
 Got to keep God satisfied.

00:31:21.980 --> 00:31:22.900
 Got to keep God okay

00:31:22.900 --> 00:31:23.680
 so he doesn't

00:31:23.680 --> 00:31:25.320
 complicate my life.

00:31:26.120 --> 00:31:26.759
 Peace comes

00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:28.519
 from trusting God.

00:31:28.900 --> 00:31:30.080
 Not managing him.

00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:31.480
 Turning over the keys.

00:31:32.800 --> 00:31:34.200
 This is a theme

00:31:34.200 --> 00:31:34.980
 that Solomon

00:31:34.980 --> 00:31:35.900
 is teaching us

00:31:35.900 --> 00:31:37.440
 in Ecclesiastes 5.

00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:39.300
 It moves from

00:31:39.300 --> 00:31:40.120
 our words

00:31:40.120 --> 00:31:41.259
 to our posture.

00:31:41.820 --> 00:31:42.800
 Our heart posture.

00:31:43.400 --> 00:31:43.560
 It says,

00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:44.540
 when you make a promise

00:31:44.540 --> 00:31:45.019
 to God,

00:31:45.180 --> 00:31:46.000
 don't delay.

00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:47.620
 You fear God.

00:31:47.780 --> 00:31:48.220
 The issue

00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:49.180
 is not commitment

00:31:49.180 --> 00:31:50.320
 on our part.

00:31:50.780 --> 00:31:52.380
 It's giving up control.

00:31:53.060 --> 00:31:53.900
 We don't make vows

00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:55.080
 to God

00:31:55.080 --> 00:31:55.700
 because God

00:31:55.700 --> 00:31:56.700
 needs reassurance.

00:31:57.700 --> 00:31:58.300
 He doesn't need

00:31:58.299 --> 00:31:59.019
 to be managed

00:31:59.019 --> 00:32:00.079
 by us.

00:32:00.519 --> 00:32:01.559
 That's not the purpose

00:32:01.559 --> 00:32:03.039
 behind making promises

00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:03.480
 to God

00:32:03.480 --> 00:32:04.079
 or decisions

00:32:04.079 --> 00:32:04.980
 before God.

00:32:05.299 --> 00:32:06.220
 It's not that God

00:32:06.220 --> 00:32:07.259
 needs to be reassured

00:32:07.259 --> 00:32:07.960
 that we love him

00:32:07.960 --> 00:32:08.460
 and it's all going

00:32:08.460 --> 00:32:09.039
 to be okay.

00:32:09.899 --> 00:32:10.899
 It's the opposite.

00:32:11.319 --> 00:32:12.359
 We need to be reminded

00:32:12.359 --> 00:32:13.659
 that he loves us

00:32:13.659 --> 00:32:14.859
 and he's going to

00:32:14.859 --> 00:32:16.039
 help it be okay

00:32:16.039 --> 00:32:17.839
 if we stay in tune

00:32:17.839 --> 00:32:18.279
 with him.

00:32:18.460 --> 00:32:19.919
 We make these vows

00:32:19.919 --> 00:32:20.559
 and promises

00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:21.119
 often,

00:32:21.319 --> 00:32:21.700
 unfortunately,

00:32:21.700 --> 00:32:22.919
 because we want leverage.

00:32:22.920 --> 00:32:25.400
 we bargain,

00:32:25.860 --> 00:32:26.519
 we negotiate,

00:32:27.300 --> 00:32:28.300
 we promise

00:32:28.300 --> 00:32:29.759
 future obedience

00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:30.700
 in exchange

00:32:30.700 --> 00:32:32.300
 for present blessings

00:32:32.300 --> 00:32:32.900
 or relief.

00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:35.039
 How silly is that?

00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:36.560
 How pointless is that?

00:32:37.700 --> 00:32:38.740
 So Ecclesiastes,

00:32:39.220 --> 00:32:39.600
 Solomon,

00:32:39.700 --> 00:32:40.080
 the teacher,

00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:40.680
 invites us

00:32:40.680 --> 00:32:41.700
 into something better,

00:32:42.019 --> 00:32:42.779
 a faith

00:32:42.779 --> 00:32:44.340
 that rests

00:32:44.340 --> 00:32:45.900
 instead of manages.

00:32:47.140 --> 00:32:48.039
 A reverence

00:32:48.039 --> 00:32:48.660
 before God

00:32:48.660 --> 00:32:49.220
 that releases

00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:49.840
 the illusion

00:32:49.840 --> 00:32:50.279
 of needing

00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:51.359
 to be in control

00:32:51.359 --> 00:32:54.779
 and a humility

00:32:54.779 --> 00:32:56.039
 that lets God

00:32:56.039 --> 00:32:57.180
 be God.

00:32:59.559 --> 00:33:00.099
 Jesus

00:33:00.099 --> 00:33:00.980
 tells a story

00:33:00.980 --> 00:33:01.519
 about this.

00:33:07.319 --> 00:33:08.180
 Would you turn

00:33:08.180 --> 00:33:09.259
 to Luke chapter 18?

00:33:10.019 --> 00:33:10.940
 Luke chapter 18.

00:33:16.480 --> 00:33:17.279
 We'll be done

00:33:17.279 --> 00:33:17.799
 in just a moment

00:33:17.799 --> 00:33:18.779
 but before we're done

00:33:18.779 --> 00:33:19.200
 I want to share

00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:19.740
 this with you.

00:33:20.279 --> 00:33:22.660
 Now keep a finger

00:33:22.660 --> 00:33:23.740
 in Luke 18

00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:24.599
 because we're

00:33:24.599 --> 00:33:25.119
 going to go there

00:33:25.119 --> 00:33:26.740
 and then go back

00:33:26.740 --> 00:33:27.299
 to Micah

00:33:27.299 --> 00:33:28.839
 chapter 6.

00:33:30.399 --> 00:33:30.980
 Go back

00:33:30.980 --> 00:33:31.579
 a few pages,

00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:32.759
 Mark,

00:33:33.099 --> 00:33:33.500
 Matthew

00:33:33.500 --> 00:33:35.180
 and then keep

00:33:35.180 --> 00:33:35.740
 going back.

00:33:35.819 --> 00:33:36.420
 You see Malachi,

00:33:36.700 --> 00:33:37.059
 you see some

00:33:37.059 --> 00:33:38.480
 of these minor prophets,

00:33:38.700 --> 00:33:39.160
 Zechariah,

00:33:39.240 --> 00:33:39.519
 Haggai,

00:33:39.660 --> 00:33:40.099
 then go back

00:33:40.099 --> 00:33:40.619
 to Micah.

00:33:41.119 --> 00:33:42.359
 Micah chapter 6

00:33:42.359 --> 00:33:44.940
 verse 6.

00:33:45.180 --> 00:33:45.759
 Keep a finger

00:33:45.759 --> 00:33:46.339
 in Luke 18,

00:33:46.420 --> 00:33:46.680
 we're going to be

00:33:46.680 --> 00:33:47.279
 there in just a second.

00:33:48.079 --> 00:33:48.740
 Micah 6

00:33:48.740 --> 00:33:50.059
 verse 6.

00:33:50.279 --> 00:33:51.740
 What can we bring

00:33:51.740 --> 00:33:52.220
 to the Lord?

00:33:52.559 --> 00:33:53.119
 Should we bring

00:33:53.119 --> 00:33:53.859
 him burnt offerings?

00:33:54.460 --> 00:33:55.099
 Should we bow

00:33:55.099 --> 00:33:55.740
 before God

00:33:55.740 --> 00:33:56.440
 the Most High

00:33:56.440 --> 00:33:57.359
 with offerings

00:33:57.359 --> 00:33:58.399
 of yearling calves?

00:33:58.639 --> 00:33:59.339
 Should we offer

00:33:59.339 --> 00:34:00.119
 him thousands

00:34:00.119 --> 00:34:00.799
 of rams

00:34:00.799 --> 00:34:01.279
 and tens

00:34:01.279 --> 00:34:01.799
 of thousands

00:34:01.799 --> 00:34:02.259
 of rivers

00:34:02.259 --> 00:34:03.180
 of olive oil?

00:34:03.839 --> 00:34:04.680
 Should we sacrifice

00:34:04.680 --> 00:34:05.700
 our firstborn children

00:34:05.700 --> 00:34:06.740
 to pay for our sins?

00:34:07.240 --> 00:34:08.039
 What does he want?

00:34:08.179 --> 00:34:08.800
 What does he want

00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:09.219
 from us?

00:34:09.679 --> 00:34:10.000
 Does he want

00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:10.460
 all our money?

00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:10.779
 Does he want

00:34:10.779 --> 00:34:11.440
 our bank accounts?

00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:11.719
 Does he want

00:34:11.719 --> 00:34:12.199
 our times?

00:34:12.300 --> 00:34:12.539
 Does he want

00:34:12.539 --> 00:34:13.659
 our volunteering

00:34:13.659 --> 00:34:14.300
 in the church?

00:34:14.300 --> 00:34:14.860
 Does he want

00:34:14.860 --> 00:34:16.519
 us to sit up

00:34:16.519 --> 00:34:17.119
 there on the deck

00:34:17.119 --> 00:34:18.199
 and struggle

00:34:18.199 --> 00:34:18.900
 with that system

00:34:18.900 --> 00:34:19.239
 up there

00:34:19.239 --> 00:34:19.719
 trying to make

00:34:19.719 --> 00:34:20.319
 everything sound

00:34:20.319 --> 00:34:21.079
 good and the slides

00:34:21.079 --> 00:34:21.779
 and all that stuff?

00:34:22.359 --> 00:34:22.900
 Does he want

00:34:22.900 --> 00:34:23.380
 us to get up

00:34:23.380 --> 00:34:23.859
 and sing in front

00:34:23.859 --> 00:34:24.339
 of the choir

00:34:24.339 --> 00:34:24.859
 even though we

00:34:24.859 --> 00:34:25.279
 don't like being

00:34:25.279 --> 00:34:25.920
 in front of people?

00:34:26.179 --> 00:34:27.339
 What does he want

00:34:27.339 --> 00:34:27.859
 from us?

00:34:28.339 --> 00:34:29.259
 It's kind of the point.

00:34:29.380 --> 00:34:30.019
 Ooh, I like it.

00:34:30.199 --> 00:34:30.659
 Good job, Bo.

00:34:31.859 --> 00:34:32.639
 Bo jumped in there

00:34:32.639 --> 00:34:33.219
 and said our heart.

00:34:33.420 --> 00:34:33.799
 That's good.

00:34:34.799 --> 00:34:35.400
 Okay, let's see

00:34:35.400 --> 00:34:35.880
 what he says.

00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:36.400
 Verse 8.

00:34:36.400 --> 00:34:44.660
 To do what is right,

00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:46.240
 to love mercy,

00:34:46.960 --> 00:34:48.160
 to walk humbly

00:34:48.160 --> 00:34:49.220
 with your God.

00:34:50.300 --> 00:34:51.260
 Fear the Lord

00:34:51.260 --> 00:34:52.340
 if you are wise.

00:34:54.980 --> 00:34:56.139
 To do what is right,

00:34:56.360 --> 00:34:57.360
 to walk humbly,

00:34:57.599 --> 00:34:59.200
 to love mercy,

00:34:59.460 --> 00:35:00.099
 to walk humbly

00:35:00.099 --> 00:35:00.639
 with your God.

00:35:01.380 --> 00:35:02.639
 That is a heart posture.

00:35:04.119 --> 00:35:05.200
 You cannot accomplish

00:35:05.200 --> 00:35:05.880
 those things.

00:35:06.400 --> 00:35:07.160
 Without giving him

00:35:07.160 --> 00:35:07.480
 your heart.

00:35:09.820 --> 00:35:10.820
 So what he wants

00:35:10.820 --> 00:35:11.320
 from you

00:35:11.320 --> 00:35:13.300
 is your heart.

00:35:13.760 --> 00:35:14.760
 It's your desires.

00:35:15.180 --> 00:35:16.000
 It's your motivations.

00:35:16.599 --> 00:35:17.519
 It's the why.

00:35:18.160 --> 00:35:19.400
 He wants the why.

00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:20.280
 Now go to Luke 18.

00:35:20.820 --> 00:35:21.480
 Hopefully you've

00:35:21.480 --> 00:35:22.139
 got a finger there.

00:35:22.619 --> 00:35:23.139
 If not,

00:35:23.440 --> 00:35:23.960
 you've got to hurry

00:35:23.960 --> 00:35:24.420
 and turn there

00:35:24.420 --> 00:35:25.180
 because we're already there.

00:35:25.539 --> 00:35:26.539
 Luke 18, verse 9.

00:35:26.579 --> 00:35:26.980
 Here we go.

00:35:27.760 --> 00:35:28.579
 Then Jesus told

00:35:28.579 --> 00:35:29.340
 this story to some

00:35:29.340 --> 00:35:30.220
 who had great confidence

00:35:30.220 --> 00:35:31.780
 in their own righteousness.

00:35:33.180 --> 00:35:33.920
 There's nobody

00:35:33.920 --> 00:35:34.539
 in this room

00:35:34.539 --> 00:35:35.480
 that has great confidence

00:35:35.480 --> 00:35:36.380
 in your own righteousness.

00:35:36.380 --> 00:35:36.820
 Right?

00:35:37.380 --> 00:35:37.700
 Again,

00:35:37.780 --> 00:35:38.619
 don't raise your hand.

00:35:39.320 --> 00:35:40.400
 Just look in your own heart.

00:35:41.400 --> 00:35:42.619
 These were the Pharisees.

00:35:42.720 --> 00:35:43.980
 They scorned everyone else.

00:35:44.039 --> 00:35:45.240
 So he teaches them

00:35:45.240 --> 00:35:46.460
 something through this story.

00:35:46.519 --> 00:35:46.960
 He says,

00:35:47.619 --> 00:35:48.420
 two men went into

00:35:48.420 --> 00:35:49.280
 the temple to pray.

00:35:49.480 --> 00:35:50.340
 One was a Pharisee.

00:35:50.420 --> 00:35:51.099
 The other was

00:35:51.099 --> 00:35:52.800
 a despised tax collector.

00:35:53.340 --> 00:35:53.579
 Boy,

00:35:53.640 --> 00:35:54.280
 you couldn't get

00:35:54.280 --> 00:35:55.300
 more despised

00:35:55.300 --> 00:35:55.940
 or lower

00:35:55.940 --> 00:35:57.400
 in that society

00:35:57.400 --> 00:35:58.380
 than tax collector.

00:35:58.780 --> 00:36:00.000
 Everybody hated that guy.

00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:02.780
 He was working on behalf

00:36:02.780 --> 00:36:03.280
 of the Romans.

00:36:04.159 --> 00:36:05.400
 He was the scourge

00:36:05.400 --> 00:36:06.099
 of their existence.

00:36:06.860 --> 00:36:07.480
 He was the one

00:36:07.480 --> 00:36:08.920
 who was the physical

00:36:08.920 --> 00:36:09.760
 manifestation

00:36:09.760 --> 00:36:10.260
 of everything

00:36:10.260 --> 00:36:11.480
 they hated about Rome,

00:36:12.139 --> 00:36:13.000
 collecting taxes

00:36:13.000 --> 00:36:13.579
 that they thought

00:36:13.579 --> 00:36:14.099
 were unfair

00:36:14.099 --> 00:36:14.820
 and shouldn't have

00:36:14.820 --> 00:36:15.360
 to be paid.

00:36:16.059 --> 00:36:16.960
 So this guy

00:36:16.960 --> 00:36:17.840
 is the despised

00:36:17.840 --> 00:36:18.519
 tax collector.

00:36:18.639 --> 00:36:19.400
 The other is at the

00:36:19.400 --> 00:36:20.000
 opposite end

00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:21.119
 of the social spectrum.

00:36:21.559 --> 00:36:22.139
 You couldn't get

00:36:22.139 --> 00:36:22.840
 more respected

00:36:22.840 --> 00:36:24.019
 and revered

00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:25.000
 than a Pharisee.

00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:26.619
 She got two guys

00:36:26.619 --> 00:36:27.300
 going into the temple

00:36:27.300 --> 00:36:27.639
 to pray.

00:36:28.739 --> 00:36:29.780
 The Pharisee stood

00:36:29.780 --> 00:36:30.239
 by himself

00:36:30.239 --> 00:36:31.079
 and prayed this prayer.

00:36:31.739 --> 00:36:32.840
 I thank you, God.

00:36:33.679 --> 00:36:34.980
 That's my fancy voice.

00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:37.019
 That I am not

00:36:37.019 --> 00:36:38.119
 like these other people.

00:36:40.059 --> 00:36:41.000
 And I imagine

00:36:41.000 --> 00:36:42.000
 he's kind of

00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:42.760
 cocking his head

00:36:42.760 --> 00:36:43.340
 over that way

00:36:43.340 --> 00:36:45.400
 like this tax collector

00:36:45.400 --> 00:36:46.000
 guy over here.

00:36:46.079 --> 00:36:46.460
 Cheaters,

00:36:47.219 --> 00:36:47.599
 sinners,

00:36:48.239 --> 00:36:48.860
 adulterers.

00:36:49.360 --> 00:36:50.260
 I'm certainly

00:36:50.260 --> 00:36:51.059
 not like that

00:36:51.059 --> 00:36:51.800
 tax collector.

00:36:52.539 --> 00:36:53.159
 He literally

00:36:53.159 --> 00:36:54.360
 calls the guy out

00:36:54.360 --> 00:36:55.340
 during his prayer.

00:36:56.599 --> 00:36:57.280
 He thought

00:36:57.280 --> 00:36:57.720
 that one

00:36:57.720 --> 00:36:58.300
 was getting

00:36:58.300 --> 00:36:58.960
 through to God.

00:36:59.019 --> 00:36:59.460
 I think that was

00:36:59.460 --> 00:37:00.320
 bouncing on the roof.

00:37:00.420 --> 00:37:00.980
 It wasn't going

00:37:00.980 --> 00:37:01.480
 up to heaven.

00:37:02.360 --> 00:37:04.140
 I fast twice a week.

00:37:05.760 --> 00:37:07.019
 I give you,

00:37:07.280 --> 00:37:07.700
 oh God,

00:37:07.820 --> 00:37:09.039
 a tenth of my income.

00:37:10.760 --> 00:37:11.620
 And I imagine

00:37:11.620 --> 00:37:12.460
 he went on and on

00:37:12.460 --> 00:37:14.019
 and Jesus had the mercy

00:37:14.019 --> 00:37:14.920
 to not give us

00:37:14.920 --> 00:37:15.640
 the whole prayer here.

00:37:16.539 --> 00:37:17.559
 But the tax collector

00:37:17.559 --> 00:37:18.900
 stood at a distance.

00:37:19.640 --> 00:37:21.340
 He dared not even

00:37:21.340 --> 00:37:22.400
 lift his eyes

00:37:22.400 --> 00:37:22.860
 to heaven.

00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:23.920
 He didn't feel worthy.

00:37:24.360 --> 00:37:25.260
 To lift his eyes

00:37:25.260 --> 00:37:25.780
 up to heaven

00:37:25.780 --> 00:37:27.640
 as he prayed.

00:37:28.039 --> 00:37:28.440
 Instead,

00:37:29.220 --> 00:37:30.820
 he beat his chest

00:37:30.820 --> 00:37:31.440
 in sorrow.

00:37:32.300 --> 00:37:32.500
 Now,

00:37:32.539 --> 00:37:32.940
 I don't think

00:37:32.940 --> 00:37:33.360
 he's doing

00:37:33.360 --> 00:37:34.380
 like gorilla style.

00:37:34.640 --> 00:37:34.720
 Okay?

00:37:38.059 --> 00:37:38.820
 Back then,

00:37:38.900 --> 00:37:39.579
 different culture,

00:37:39.680 --> 00:37:39.900
 right?

00:37:40.079 --> 00:37:40.760
 But what we can

00:37:40.760 --> 00:37:41.640
 take away from this

00:37:41.640 --> 00:37:42.800
 is he was sorrowful.

00:37:43.360 --> 00:37:44.740
 He felt terrible.

00:37:45.260 --> 00:37:46.360
 He felt unworthy.

00:37:47.260 --> 00:37:49.000
 Felt like he was wrong

00:37:49.000 --> 00:37:50.099
 and he was a sinner.

00:37:50.099 --> 00:37:51.119
 And he says,

00:37:52.500 --> 00:37:53.099
 oh God,

00:37:53.259 --> 00:37:55.659
 be merciful to me,

00:37:56.679 --> 00:37:57.179
 a sinner.

00:38:00.179 --> 00:38:01.039
 That was it.

00:38:01.480 --> 00:38:02.000
 It's the extent

00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:02.400
 of his prayer.

00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:04.480
 God,

00:38:04.940 --> 00:38:06.619
 please just show me mercy.

00:38:07.559 --> 00:38:08.400
 I'm a sinner.

00:38:09.559 --> 00:38:10.960
 I've done terrible things.

00:38:11.559 --> 00:38:12.599
 Please show me mercy.

00:38:12.599 --> 00:38:14.539
 Jesus says,

00:38:15.119 --> 00:38:16.219
 I tell you,

00:38:16.559 --> 00:38:17.199
 this sinner,

00:38:17.920 --> 00:38:18.940
 not the Pharisee,

00:38:19.579 --> 00:38:20.380
 returned home

00:38:20.380 --> 00:38:22.480
 justified before God.

00:38:22.559 --> 00:38:23.119
 What does he mean

00:38:23.119 --> 00:38:23.799
 by justified?

00:38:24.199 --> 00:38:25.299
 Made right.

00:38:25.300 --> 00:38:28.960
 He was made right

00:38:28.960 --> 00:38:29.680
 before God.

00:38:30.580 --> 00:38:31.680
 The guy who was

00:38:31.680 --> 00:38:32.200
 the sinner,

00:38:33.160 --> 00:38:35.080
 not the quote,

00:38:35.160 --> 00:38:35.360
 quote,

00:38:35.400 --> 00:38:36.100
 righteous man.

00:38:38.220 --> 00:38:39.280
 For those who

00:38:39.280 --> 00:38:40.220
 exalt themselves

00:38:40.220 --> 00:38:41.880
 will be humbled.

00:38:42.720 --> 00:38:43.660
 And those who

00:38:43.660 --> 00:38:44.480
 humble themselves

00:38:44.480 --> 00:38:45.800
 will be exalted.

00:38:45.920 --> 00:38:46.580
 Can I repeat that

00:38:46.580 --> 00:38:47.260
 to you, church?

00:38:47.440 --> 00:38:49.100
 If you exalt yourself,

00:38:49.440 --> 00:38:50.860
 God will humble you.

00:38:51.820 --> 00:38:53.519
 If you humble yourself,

00:38:53.519 --> 00:38:55.639
 then God can exalt you.

00:38:57.079 --> 00:38:58.840
 If I exalt myself,

00:38:59.079 --> 00:39:01.199
 God has humbled me.

00:39:02.880 --> 00:39:04.400
 When I've humbled myself,

00:39:05.340 --> 00:39:06.559
 God's often chosen

00:39:06.559 --> 00:39:07.840
 to exalt me.

00:39:08.960 --> 00:39:10.460
 He does that for all of us.

00:39:11.099 --> 00:39:12.259
 I know that's the testimony

00:39:12.259 --> 00:39:14.900
 that many of you share.

00:39:16.099 --> 00:39:17.059
 You know the greatest example

00:39:17.059 --> 00:39:17.519
 of this?

00:39:18.539 --> 00:39:21.559
 Jesus humbled himself.

00:39:23.519 --> 00:39:24.380
 Took on the form

00:39:24.380 --> 00:39:25.119
 of a servant.

00:39:25.880 --> 00:39:27.000
 Was made in the likeness

00:39:27.000 --> 00:39:27.659
 of men.

00:39:28.679 --> 00:39:29.119
 Common,

00:39:29.739 --> 00:39:30.159
 lowly,

00:39:30.360 --> 00:39:31.159
 sinful men.

00:39:33.380 --> 00:39:34.619
 And at the right time,

00:39:35.659 --> 00:39:36.099
 God

00:39:36.099 --> 00:39:37.820
 lifted him up

00:39:37.820 --> 00:39:38.900
 and set him

00:39:38.900 --> 00:39:39.559
 on the right hand

00:39:39.559 --> 00:39:40.380
 of the throne of God.

00:39:40.739 --> 00:39:41.400
 And he says,

00:39:41.500 --> 00:39:41.739
 someday,

00:39:41.960 --> 00:39:42.679
 every knee

00:39:42.679 --> 00:39:44.739
 of all those sinful men

00:39:44.739 --> 00:39:45.579
 and women,

00:39:46.019 --> 00:39:46.860
 every knee will bow

00:39:46.860 --> 00:39:47.880
 and every tongue

00:39:47.880 --> 00:39:48.559
 will confess

00:39:48.559 --> 00:39:49.460
 that Jesus,

00:39:49.739 --> 00:39:50.920
 the one who humbled himself,

00:39:50.920 --> 00:39:53.519
 he is Lord over all.

00:39:53.519 --> 00:39:54.820
 He set the example

00:39:54.820 --> 00:39:55.500
 and he says,

00:39:55.860 --> 00:39:56.840
 this is the rule

00:39:56.840 --> 00:39:57.559
 in my kingdom.

00:39:57.780 --> 00:39:59.039
 You humble yourself

00:39:59.039 --> 00:40:01.220
 and then I can exalt you.

00:40:01.860 --> 00:40:02.059
 So,

00:40:02.780 --> 00:40:04.220
 this is where we're finishing.

00:40:04.840 --> 00:40:05.579
 Peace begins

00:40:05.579 --> 00:40:07.740
 where self-importance ends.

00:40:08.619 --> 00:40:09.519
 Peace begins

00:40:09.519 --> 00:40:11.619
 where self-importance ends.

00:40:12.019 --> 00:40:13.360
 You can't keep up

00:40:13.360 --> 00:40:14.639
 appearances enough.

00:40:15.159 --> 00:40:16.599
 You're not good enough

00:40:16.599 --> 00:40:18.340
 to be flawless.

00:40:18.340 --> 00:40:20.220
 And if you want people

00:40:20.220 --> 00:40:21.440
 to be drawn to you

00:40:21.440 --> 00:40:23.160
 because of how important you are

00:40:23.160 --> 00:40:24.700
 or how righteous you are

00:40:24.700 --> 00:40:25.960
 or how good you are,

00:40:26.220 --> 00:40:27.420
 you're not good enough.

00:40:28.760 --> 00:40:29.900
 You are flawed.

00:40:30.300 --> 00:40:31.340
 You'll never keep up

00:40:31.340 --> 00:40:32.340
 the illusion long enough.

00:40:32.440 --> 00:40:32.980
 You can't.

00:40:34.640 --> 00:40:35.660
 God says,

00:40:36.000 --> 00:40:36.800
 I can make you

00:40:36.800 --> 00:40:37.700
 truly righteous.

00:40:38.180 --> 00:40:38.940
 I can make it

00:40:38.940 --> 00:40:39.660
 not an illusion.

00:40:39.960 --> 00:40:41.160
 I can make it real.

00:40:41.480 --> 00:40:42.700
 But you gotta humble yourself.

00:40:43.019 --> 00:40:43.940
 You gotta turn to me

00:40:43.940 --> 00:40:44.559
 from your heart.

00:40:44.840 --> 00:40:45.500
 You gotta listen

00:40:45.500 --> 00:40:46.220
 to my voice

00:40:46.220 --> 00:40:46.820
 and my spirit

00:40:46.820 --> 00:40:48.120
 and let me change you

00:40:48.120 --> 00:40:49.519
 from the inside.

00:40:50.380 --> 00:40:51.100
 I wanna share a quote

00:40:51.100 --> 00:40:51.519
 with you

00:40:51.519 --> 00:40:52.960
 by Blaise Pascal.

00:40:53.960 --> 00:40:54.320
 He said,

00:40:54.539 --> 00:40:55.600
 all of humanity's problems,

00:40:55.700 --> 00:40:56.160
 this was back

00:40:56.160 --> 00:40:57.160
 in the 1600s,

00:40:57.180 --> 00:40:57.580
 by the way.

00:40:57.960 --> 00:40:58.680
 There was another guy

00:40:58.680 --> 00:40:59.600
 who was before his time.

00:40:59.860 --> 00:41:00.140
 He said,

00:41:00.240 --> 00:41:01.559
 all of humanity's problems

00:41:01.559 --> 00:41:02.960
 stem from man's inability

00:41:02.960 --> 00:41:04.260
 to sit quietly

00:41:04.260 --> 00:41:05.840
 in a room alone.

00:41:06.200 --> 00:41:06.380
 Now,

00:41:06.400 --> 00:41:06.780
 I don't know about

00:41:06.780 --> 00:41:08.100
 all of humanity's problems,

00:41:08.300 --> 00:41:09.300
 but I think he understood

00:41:09.300 --> 00:41:10.580
 that this was a problem

00:41:10.580 --> 00:41:11.820
 even back then.

00:41:11.820 --> 00:41:15.100
 We have a hard time

00:41:15.100 --> 00:41:16.059
 sitting quietly

00:41:16.059 --> 00:41:17.440
 in a room alone.

00:41:17.800 --> 00:41:18.320
 And I think

00:41:18.320 --> 00:41:19.440
 our modern day adaptation

00:41:19.440 --> 00:41:20.039
 of that

00:41:20.039 --> 00:41:20.740
 is alone

00:41:20.740 --> 00:41:22.320
 without the outside world

00:41:22.320 --> 00:41:23.080
 available

00:41:23.080 --> 00:41:23.940
 at our fingertips.

00:41:24.860 --> 00:41:26.240
 Alone without this.

00:41:27.820 --> 00:41:28.680
 How many times

00:41:28.680 --> 00:41:29.680
 do I find myself

00:41:29.680 --> 00:41:30.880
 with a moment's

00:41:30.880 --> 00:41:32.019
 peace and quiet

00:41:32.019 --> 00:41:32.740
 and what do I do?

00:41:32.780 --> 00:41:33.840
 I pull this out immediately.

00:41:36.420 --> 00:41:38.019
 Gotta check what's going on.

00:41:38.160 --> 00:41:39.000
 Gotta check my emails.

00:41:39.220 --> 00:41:40.300
 Check the social medias.

00:41:40.700 --> 00:41:41.780
 Check whatever's going on.

00:41:41.820 --> 00:41:42.900
 Gotta be informed.

00:41:43.019 --> 00:41:44.019
 Gotta stay up on everything.

00:41:45.460 --> 00:41:46.420
 And this can be a blessing.

00:41:46.740 --> 00:41:47.340
 It can be a blessing

00:41:47.340 --> 00:41:48.059
 to be informed,

00:41:48.200 --> 00:41:49.559
 to know what's going on.

00:41:50.500 --> 00:41:52.039
 But we've lost the ability

00:41:52.039 --> 00:41:53.880
 to sit quietly alone.

00:41:54.720 --> 00:41:55.640
 You know what happens

00:41:55.640 --> 00:41:57.700
 to the follower of Christ

00:41:57.700 --> 00:42:00.080
 when you sit quietly alone?

00:42:01.960 --> 00:42:03.100
 God has space

00:42:03.100 --> 00:42:03.860
 to speak to you.

00:42:04.760 --> 00:42:06.880
 He's got your attention now.

00:42:08.100 --> 00:42:09.420
 He can cut through

00:42:09.420 --> 00:42:12.079
 because there's nothing else

00:42:12.079 --> 00:42:13.579
 competing for his voice.

00:42:15.200 --> 00:42:16.320
 So how do we become

00:42:16.320 --> 00:42:17.539
 a listening church?

00:42:18.639 --> 00:42:20.000
 First, we gotta slow down.

00:42:21.840 --> 00:42:23.200
 Then we gotta quiet down.

00:42:24.500 --> 00:42:25.760
 Then we've gotta open up.

00:42:26.500 --> 00:42:27.680
 What do we mean by this?

00:42:28.680 --> 00:42:30.260
 We gotta slow our bodies.

00:42:30.659 --> 00:42:31.039
 Physically,

00:42:31.380 --> 00:42:32.700
 you might need to slow down.

00:42:32.940 --> 00:42:34.099
 You might be doing too much.

00:42:34.099 --> 00:42:35.940
 Your schedule might be too full.

00:42:36.719 --> 00:42:38.319
 If you never have any time

00:42:38.319 --> 00:42:39.480
 to sit quietly,

00:42:39.719 --> 00:42:40.759
 you're too busy.

00:42:41.539 --> 00:42:42.539
 So you may need

00:42:42.539 --> 00:42:44.099
 to physically slow down.

00:42:44.779 --> 00:42:45.219
 Two,

00:42:45.380 --> 00:42:46.500
 you need to quiet your mind.

00:42:49.019 --> 00:42:49.940
 That's a discipline.

00:42:50.099 --> 00:42:51.179
 It takes practice.

00:42:51.380 --> 00:42:52.199
 It takes years.

00:42:52.519 --> 00:42:52.779
 Truly,

00:42:52.980 --> 00:42:53.779
 I'm in the middle

00:42:53.779 --> 00:42:55.059
 of practicing that.

00:42:55.759 --> 00:42:56.599
 I'll let you know

00:42:56.599 --> 00:42:57.779
 when I've finally gotten there.

00:42:58.240 --> 00:42:59.280
 But I'm working on it

00:42:59.280 --> 00:43:00.600
 and you need to work on it with me.

00:43:00.860 --> 00:43:02.000
 We all need to work

00:43:02.000 --> 00:43:03.880
 on quieting our minds.

00:43:04.440 --> 00:43:05.140
 And then thirdly,

00:43:05.160 --> 00:43:06.600
 we need to open our hearts.

00:43:08.560 --> 00:43:09.560
 Open our hearts.

00:43:09.780 --> 00:43:10.519
 Open our minds.

00:43:10.680 --> 00:43:11.680
 God might be ready

00:43:11.680 --> 00:43:12.780
 to change our mind

00:43:12.780 --> 00:43:13.400
 on something.

00:43:13.800 --> 00:43:14.400
 Romans 12,

00:43:14.500 --> 00:43:15.940
 we say it like every other Sunday.

00:43:16.500 --> 00:43:18.100
 God is changing

00:43:18.100 --> 00:43:19.820
 the way we think.

00:43:21.040 --> 00:43:22.140
 So slow the body.

00:43:22.460 --> 00:43:23.200
 Quiet the mind.

00:43:23.680 --> 00:43:24.840
 Open the heart.

00:43:24.840 --> 00:43:28.579
 Peace begins

00:43:28.579 --> 00:43:30.680
 where self-importance ends.

00:43:32.500 --> 00:43:33.500
 That progression

00:43:33.500 --> 00:43:34.880
 is exactly right.

00:43:35.460 --> 00:43:36.220
 It's got to start

00:43:36.220 --> 00:43:36.760
 with our body.

00:43:37.660 --> 00:43:39.100
 Then it goes to our mind.

00:43:40.100 --> 00:43:41.160
 And then our hearts

00:43:41.160 --> 00:43:41.780
 become open.

00:43:42.220 --> 00:43:43.360
 And the Holy Spirit

00:43:43.360 --> 00:43:44.400
 can speak to us.

00:43:45.120 --> 00:43:46.700
 This is how we live

00:43:46.700 --> 00:43:47.920
 under the sun.

00:43:48.300 --> 00:43:49.720
 What makes us different

00:43:49.720 --> 00:43:50.579
 from anybody else?

00:43:50.660 --> 00:43:52.340
 The same sun shines down

00:43:52.340 --> 00:43:53.160
 on all of us.

00:43:53.420 --> 00:43:54.820
 So how can our lives

00:43:54.820 --> 00:43:55.340
 be different?

00:43:55.900 --> 00:43:56.580
 How can they be

00:43:56.580 --> 00:43:57.200
 more peaceful?

00:43:57.820 --> 00:43:58.820
 More full of joy?

00:43:59.320 --> 00:44:00.320
 More full of hope?

00:44:01.400 --> 00:44:03.100
 More able to bless others?

00:44:03.260 --> 00:44:04.340
 How can we

00:44:04.340 --> 00:44:05.360
 as the people of God

00:44:05.360 --> 00:44:06.059
 be any different?

00:44:06.720 --> 00:44:07.780
 It's by slowing the body,

00:44:08.059 --> 00:44:08.800
 quieting the mind,

00:44:08.960 --> 00:44:09.539
 open the heart.

00:44:10.080 --> 00:44:11.180
 Lift our eyes

00:44:11.180 --> 00:44:11.980
 toward heaven

00:44:11.980 --> 00:44:13.120
 above the sun.

00:44:13.519 --> 00:44:14.660
 And that's how we do it.

00:44:14.820 --> 00:44:15.260
 That's what we've been

00:44:15.260 --> 00:44:15.880
 saying every week.

00:44:15.960 --> 00:44:16.760
 Let's say it again, church.

00:44:16.840 --> 00:44:16.980
 Ready?

00:44:17.360 --> 00:44:18.019
 How do we live

00:44:18.019 --> 00:44:18.640
 under the sun?

00:44:18.900 --> 00:44:20.900
 We look above the sun.

00:44:20.980 --> 00:44:21.360
 Let's pray.

00:44:21.720 --> 00:44:22.640
 God, that's what we want

00:44:22.640 --> 00:44:23.420
 you to do right now

00:44:23.420 --> 00:44:24.360
 as we lift our eyes

00:44:24.360 --> 00:44:24.760
 to you.

00:44:25.800 --> 00:44:27.079
 We can't be distracted

00:44:27.079 --> 00:44:28.039
 by anything else

00:44:28.039 --> 00:44:28.700
 under this sun

00:44:28.700 --> 00:44:29.920
 and everything is competing

00:44:29.920 --> 00:44:31.460
 to distract us.

00:44:31.980 --> 00:44:33.180
 So I pray that we would

00:44:33.180 --> 00:44:34.760
 quiet our minds,

00:44:34.880 --> 00:44:36.139
 that we would slow down,

00:44:37.139 --> 00:44:38.700
 that we would sit still,

00:44:39.260 --> 00:44:40.019
 that we would learn

00:44:40.019 --> 00:44:40.980
 how to sit quietly

00:44:40.980 --> 00:44:42.159
 and listen to you

00:44:42.159 --> 00:44:42.980
 instead of just

00:44:42.980 --> 00:44:45.260
 constantly running

00:44:45.260 --> 00:44:46.519
 or constantly doing

00:44:46.519 --> 00:44:47.840
 or constantly performing

00:44:47.840 --> 00:44:49.099
 or constantly talking,

00:44:50.099 --> 00:44:50.840
 that we would learn

00:44:50.840 --> 00:44:51.680
 to sit quietly

00:44:51.680 --> 00:44:52.300
 and listen.

00:44:54.079 --> 00:44:55.880
 Make us a listening church,

00:44:56.840 --> 00:44:57.920
 listening families.

00:44:59.220 --> 00:45:00.960
 Relationships are saved

00:45:00.960 --> 00:45:01.620
 or restored

00:45:01.620 --> 00:45:03.559
 because often

00:45:03.559 --> 00:45:05.900
 listening comes back.

00:45:07.559 --> 00:45:08.860
 Communications is important,

00:45:09.260 --> 00:45:10.440
 but listening is even

00:45:10.440 --> 00:45:11.079
 more important.

00:45:11.740 --> 00:45:13.079
 As the music begins to play,

00:45:14.340 --> 00:45:16.100
 would you listen right now?

00:45:17.900 --> 00:45:19.400
 God, we open our hearts to you.

00:45:19.400 --> 00:45:20.760
 We open our ears to you.

00:45:24.039 --> 00:45:25.660
 You speak to us right now, Lord.

00:45:35.619 --> 00:45:36.539
 In our words,

00:45:36.619 --> 00:45:37.160
 in our worship,

00:45:37.280 --> 00:45:38.079
 we want to honor you.

00:45:38.079 --> 00:45:40.619
 In our hearts,

00:45:40.619 --> 00:45:46.460
 we turn to you.

00:45:49.659 --> 00:45:51.380
 We lift our eyes above the sun

00:45:51.380 --> 00:45:56.199
 to the sun of God.

00:45:56.199 --> 00:45:56.259
 Amen.

00:45:56.259 --> 00:45:56.259


00:45:56.259 --> 00:45:56.259


00:45:56.259 --> 00:45:56.259


00:45:56.259 --> 00:45:56.259


00:45:56.259 --> 00:45:56.259


00:45:56.259 --> 00:45:56.259