WEBVTT 00:00:00.580 --> 00:00:06.660 Heavenly Father, thank you that we have the privilege to have your word, to have your scripture. 00:00:07.320 --> 00:00:10.339 Father, I ask that you would pour out the Holy Spirit upon us. 00:00:10.740 --> 00:00:14.599 You'd open our hearts and our minds to your attributes, 00:00:15.160 --> 00:00:20.100 to these things that you've revealed to us that describe your character. 00:00:20.559 --> 00:00:26.039 Father, help us to understand them, to wrestle with them, and to accept them as truth. 00:00:26.460 --> 00:00:28.960 And I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:00:28.960 --> 00:00:30.100 Please be seated. 00:00:33.620 --> 00:00:37.600 So we're going through the summer series titled Knowing God. 00:00:37.719 --> 00:00:42.439 And what we're doing is, each week, we're going individually through each attribute of God, 00:00:42.660 --> 00:00:44.980 because each attribute makes up God himself. 00:00:45.700 --> 00:00:49.380 And the thing that you have to know with these attributes is, 00:00:49.700 --> 00:00:53.760 you can't just cherry-pick one, lower the other, and heighten the other one, 00:00:53.799 --> 00:00:56.520 because that would make God not God. 00:00:56.520 --> 00:00:58.260 It would lower his sovereignty. 00:00:58.960 --> 00:01:00.079 His true character. 00:01:00.380 --> 00:01:03.460 We've gone through looking at God is triune. 00:01:04.420 --> 00:01:05.299 God is infinite. 00:01:05.519 --> 00:01:06.280 God is sovereign. 00:01:06.540 --> 00:01:07.819 God is impassable. 00:01:08.019 --> 00:01:12.000 And with these, we've also looked at him being omnipotent and omniscient. 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:16.680 And today, if you haven't noticed with the text that we've just read, 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:18.060 a lot of it has to do with love. 00:01:18.060 --> 00:01:21.820 So today, we're going to be looking at God is love and his attribute of love. 00:01:23.019 --> 00:01:27.460 And I know this is a hard thing to swallow sometimes, God's love. 00:01:27.939 --> 00:01:29.879 We all come from different backgrounds. 00:01:30.540 --> 00:01:34.140 Myself, I come from a background where my father abandoned me. 00:01:34.140 --> 00:01:40.040 So I find it quite hard to grasp how God the father can love me. 00:01:40.200 --> 00:01:43.400 Many of you might have this same feeling, difficulty. 00:01:44.159 --> 00:01:48.840 You also might come from backgrounds of having, being in an abusive relationship, 00:01:49.340 --> 00:01:52.099 where you thought this person was the ultimate, your love, 00:01:52.140 --> 00:01:54.240 and then they started to abuse you and you had to leave it. 00:01:54.920 --> 00:01:58.879 Some of you here could also be like, well, my spouse, the relationship I'm in is perfect. 00:01:59.679 --> 00:02:01.039 I don't need any other love. 00:02:01.879 --> 00:02:03.560 It's like, why do I need God's love? 00:02:03.579 --> 00:02:05.699 If I'm in a perfect relationship, that fulfills me. 00:02:07.239 --> 00:02:13.019 Other people here could also be, could say, well, I don't need this relationship thing, 00:02:13.019 --> 00:02:17.079 this whole aspect of being a loving relationship. 00:02:17.219 --> 00:02:19.120 I'll just have multiple partners and I'll be happy. 00:02:20.219 --> 00:02:23.400 Or we see it in the movies or in the media or in books. 00:02:23.400 --> 00:02:26.099 Everything always talks about love. 00:02:26.680 --> 00:02:29.719 Our whole culture is obsessed with this notion of love. 00:02:30.900 --> 00:02:34.420 But anything on this earth doesn't compare to the love of God. 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:36.200 And I would like to look at this. 00:02:36.300 --> 00:02:40.640 I would like to look at his essence of love and what this means to us. 00:02:41.480 --> 00:02:46.219 So if you could turn with me to 1 John 4, verses 8 to 10. 00:02:46.500 --> 00:02:49.040 This is where we're going to camp out for most of this talk. 00:02:49.039 --> 00:02:54.099 But we'll also mention two other texts as well that also talk about God's love. 00:02:54.759 --> 00:02:59.439 So again, it's 1 John 4, verses 8 to 10. 00:03:00.719 --> 00:03:02.659 And it says in verse 8. 00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:07.019 It would be helpful if I had the right text. 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:08.239 Here we go. 00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:14.219 So anyone who does not love does not know God because God is love. 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:21.939 Now, some of you might be thinking right away that how can, if I don't love, how can I not know God? 00:03:21.980 --> 00:03:25.540 I feel like I do a good job in my relationship loving. 00:03:25.780 --> 00:03:30.360 Or I feel like our culture in a whole does a great job loving people. 00:03:30.800 --> 00:03:34.719 I feel like it's the best it's ever been since the beginning. 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:38.439 And these are legitimate questions to ask. 00:03:38.520 --> 00:03:45.020 But I would like to look at two concepts of love within our culture, which is cultural love and romantic love. 00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:50.300 And cultural love, you see this as you walk down many city center streets. 00:03:50.539 --> 00:03:52.020 You see love is love. 00:03:52.819 --> 00:03:55.560 Or you hear the Beatles song in the back of your head. 00:03:55.639 --> 00:03:57.120 Sometimes you hear it playing in coffee shops. 00:03:57.199 --> 00:03:58.199 All you need is love. 00:03:59.079 --> 00:04:00.319 Or I saw this. 00:04:00.379 --> 00:04:02.680 I live in Perth, and I saw this walking down the street. 00:04:02.680 --> 00:04:05.520 Love, light, and truth are essential. 00:04:06.700 --> 00:04:12.340 You also might think you might have this mindset where, like, I just need to find the one true love, and I'll be truly satisfied. 00:04:13.740 --> 00:04:15.740 You also hear just love one another. 00:04:16.600 --> 00:04:18.259 You also hear love wins. 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:20.379 Now, what do all these mean? 00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:27.100 Like, what do these, all these slogans that we hear so often, what do they truly mean? 00:04:27.100 --> 00:04:30.020 When you look at a more narrow look. 00:04:31.700 --> 00:04:40.020 You see, if we just look at love is love, we've seen this very, it's been very heightened within this past pandemic that we've just, we're going through. 00:04:40.060 --> 00:04:43.220 We're still going through, but the height of it, when everyone was in lockdown. 00:04:43.420 --> 00:04:44.280 You hear love is love. 00:04:44.620 --> 00:04:45.280 Love your neighbor. 00:04:45.279 --> 00:04:49.859 And you hear the culture over and over again saying this. 00:04:50.439 --> 00:04:52.419 But what exactly is it talking about? 00:04:52.500 --> 00:04:55.319 Because if you look at it, this love is conditioned. 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:57.699 This is a very conditioned love. 00:04:58.859 --> 00:05:08.879 When people say love is love, but then at the same time, they say you have to follow this certain path, this certain, when the culture says, 00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:15.680 you must follow love is love, you must love everyone, but if you don't follow my mindset, you cannot be loving. 00:05:16.180 --> 00:05:18.300 You're instantly marginalized from the culture. 00:05:19.519 --> 00:05:20.759 Why is that? 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:29.300 Why is it that when this culture that we have is so obsessed with saying we must love each other, we must do all this stuff, 00:05:29.420 --> 00:05:34.339 but then at the same time, it will turn its back on you if you do not follow its narrative? 00:05:35.100 --> 00:05:36.079 Why is that? 00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:39.539 So the love of the culture is conditional. 00:05:40.300 --> 00:05:45.599 You have to check certain boxes to be accepted, or you face this new common trend as being canceled. 00:05:45.979 --> 00:05:47.019 You get canceled out. 00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:47.819 You get marginalized. 00:05:48.120 --> 00:05:51.259 You get pushed to the side while they continue their thrust. 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:53.339 And it's all in the name of love. 00:05:54.579 --> 00:05:56.539 It's the dominant force of the culture. 00:05:56.540 --> 00:06:06.800 And you also see this in our Western culture that it deems its interpretation of love as the most, as the best. 00:06:07.700 --> 00:06:11.740 But at the same time, when you look at other cultures, they have different ways of loving their spouses, 00:06:11.960 --> 00:06:15.460 showing love to their children, and all that kind of stuff. 00:06:15.459 --> 00:06:19.379 So why does everyone have all these different notions of love? 00:06:20.680 --> 00:06:25.959 You see, the human form of love is conditioned. 00:06:26.680 --> 00:06:27.799 It wants something. 00:06:28.039 --> 00:06:30.599 In order for it to love, it must possess it. 00:06:31.599 --> 00:06:33.740 It must possess the person. 00:06:33.859 --> 00:06:35.019 It must possess the object. 00:06:36.199 --> 00:06:39.159 It must possess this feeling, the job. 00:06:39.399 --> 00:06:41.699 It must possess the job in order to love it. 00:06:41.740 --> 00:06:43.060 It must possess its identity. 00:06:43.060 --> 00:06:43.259 It must possess it. 00:06:46.300 --> 00:06:50.480 And when you continue looking at the cultural love, you start to see all these cracks, 00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:56.699 all these seams that when you start looking at when people say love is love or all you need is love, 00:06:56.780 --> 00:07:02.019 that you see how it starts to fall apart when you actually look at how it requires you to be a certain way. 00:07:02.639 --> 00:07:04.379 If it doesn't, then it doesn't love you. 00:07:04.500 --> 00:07:05.480 How is that love? 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:08.860 And then if you move into romantic love, 00:07:08.860 --> 00:07:14.120 this is the love that is so heightened, 00:07:14.420 --> 00:07:18.400 it's so put to the pedestal of what everyone deems love is. 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:23.100 And there's three forms of love in this. 00:07:24.540 --> 00:07:26.480 There's having multiple partners. 00:07:27.780 --> 00:07:30.819 There's just being true to yourself. 00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:36.780 You can just be with whoever you want because you feel like this is your form of showing love. 00:07:36.779 --> 00:07:40.679 There's also the dating form of love. 00:07:40.799 --> 00:07:42.500 When you find someone, 00:07:43.059 --> 00:07:44.739 and this person infatuates you. 00:07:45.439 --> 00:07:48.239 Many of you could have been in a dating relationship, 00:07:48.339 --> 00:07:49.679 or you are in a dating relationship, 00:07:49.679 --> 00:07:53.099 and you feel like there's nothing that this person could do wrong. 00:07:53.419 --> 00:07:56.099 You love them so much that they couldn't do anything wrong, 00:07:56.159 --> 00:07:57.639 and you're almost tunnel-visioned, 00:07:57.859 --> 00:08:00.199 and you're willing to sacrifice anything for them 00:08:00.199 --> 00:08:03.159 and do anything you want for them. 00:08:03.819 --> 00:08:05.799 And then there's the marriage love. 00:08:06.800 --> 00:08:09.180 And in marriage, you say these vows. 00:08:09.540 --> 00:08:11.100 You give these vows of love. 00:08:11.180 --> 00:08:11.420 You're saying, 00:08:11.540 --> 00:08:12.240 I will protect, 00:08:12.379 --> 00:08:12.920 I will honor, 00:08:13.020 --> 00:08:14.879 I will cherish you until death do us part. 00:08:16.120 --> 00:08:18.900 See, most of us have experienced this kind of love. 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:20.680 And at the same time, 00:08:20.740 --> 00:08:21.939 there could be some people here saying, 00:08:22.060 --> 00:08:23.519 well, I've also experienced heartache. 00:08:23.660 --> 00:08:25.439 And many of us have experienced heartache. 00:08:26.420 --> 00:08:26.819 We've also, 00:08:27.139 --> 00:08:28.840 there could be people here watching, 00:08:29.720 --> 00:08:31.019 or sitting in this audience, 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:33.360 that you've also experienced a broken marriage. 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:36.539 How can something that feels so perfect, 00:08:36.740 --> 00:08:38.200 at one moment say, 00:08:38.419 --> 00:08:39.139 this is the ultimate, 00:08:39.379 --> 00:08:41.019 this is the thing I will cherish most, 00:08:41.259 --> 00:08:42.720 and then at the next time, 00:08:43.080 --> 00:08:43.759 fall apart? 00:08:43.759 --> 00:08:48.139 How is that? 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:49.399 Why is that? 00:08:53.659 --> 00:08:55.779 You see, it comes back to the human problem 00:08:55.779 --> 00:08:57.100 of the corrupt heart, 00:08:57.819 --> 00:09:00.139 of it must be satisfied. 00:09:01.080 --> 00:09:02.539 You see, in a dating relationship, 00:09:02.879 --> 00:09:03.259 when you're, 00:09:03.259 --> 00:09:03.960 when you're, 00:09:03.960 --> 00:09:06.879 when you're walking together in a dating relationship, 00:09:06.879 --> 00:09:09.559 if that person stops to satisfy you, 00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:11.600 or stops to give you that feeling 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:12.919 that you have at the beginning, 00:09:13.559 --> 00:09:14.639 it normally ends. 00:09:15.439 --> 00:09:16.799 That's when it becomes hard. 00:09:17.320 --> 00:09:18.460 And that's when a lot of people 00:09:18.460 --> 00:09:20.120 will just lay it to the side, 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:22.539 and say they'll just love again. 00:09:24.120 --> 00:09:25.439 It's the same thing in marriages. 00:09:25.559 --> 00:09:28.439 A lot of marriages have, 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:29.899 once one of the spouses 00:09:29.899 --> 00:09:32.419 stops almost fulfilling the other spouse, 00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:35.080 they start looking to the other way. 00:09:35.080 --> 00:09:36.600 And this is glorified, 00:09:36.879 --> 00:09:38.200 if you watch Netflix, 00:09:38.340 --> 00:09:40.060 you see it in many shows on Netflix, 00:09:40.740 --> 00:09:42.580 that there would be a couple 00:09:42.580 --> 00:09:43.940 walking together, 00:09:44.100 --> 00:09:44.820 enjoying life, 00:09:44.860 --> 00:09:45.379 and then all of a sudden, 00:09:45.480 --> 00:09:46.259 something happens, 00:09:46.800 --> 00:09:48.379 and then one of the spouses 00:09:48.379 --> 00:09:49.740 goes looking for love 00:09:49.740 --> 00:09:50.879 at somewhere else. 00:09:51.860 --> 00:09:53.960 And then it glorifies the affair. 00:09:54.900 --> 00:09:56.000 Why is that? 00:09:56.200 --> 00:09:56.460 Why, 00:09:56.620 --> 00:09:58.180 why does the human, 00:09:59.080 --> 00:10:01.160 why does humanity glorify 00:10:01.160 --> 00:10:02.480 this love, 00:10:02.580 --> 00:10:03.940 but when you look closer at it, 00:10:03.940 --> 00:10:04.640 it's broken? 00:10:05.080 --> 00:10:06.180 The love is broken. 00:10:06.800 --> 00:10:07.740 Why is that? 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:10.040 Again, 00:10:10.100 --> 00:10:10.840 it comes down to, 00:10:10.920 --> 00:10:11.400 it's conditioned. 00:10:11.620 --> 00:10:12.820 It's all conditional love. 00:10:14.300 --> 00:10:15.560 Another good illustration, 00:10:15.980 --> 00:10:17.300 you see this at many weddings, 00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:18.220 is the wedding ring. 00:10:18.840 --> 00:10:19.600 When you get married, 00:10:19.740 --> 00:10:21.379 you give a ring to your partner. 00:10:22.680 --> 00:10:24.020 You could hear officiants 00:10:24.020 --> 00:10:25.379 or ministers say sometimes 00:10:25.379 --> 00:10:26.800 that the ring symbolizes 00:10:26.800 --> 00:10:28.620 the ultimate love, 00:10:28.780 --> 00:10:29.860 because it's a circle. 00:10:29.860 --> 00:10:31.159 It never breaks. 00:10:31.220 --> 00:10:31.879 It's continuous. 00:10:32.899 --> 00:10:34.080 And then you put it on 00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:35.419 your left finger, 00:10:35.700 --> 00:10:36.220 ring finger, 00:10:36.419 --> 00:10:37.000 and apparently, 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:38.180 that's the, 00:10:38.340 --> 00:10:39.500 has a vein that goes 00:10:39.500 --> 00:10:40.320 all the way to your heart. 00:10:41.259 --> 00:10:42.399 You see that a lot 00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:43.240 at weddings. 00:10:43.919 --> 00:10:45.539 And that's a great illustration. 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:47.440 I'm not dissing it or anything. 00:10:47.560 --> 00:10:48.360 It's a great illustration. 00:10:48.899 --> 00:10:50.440 But there's one problem with it 00:10:50.440 --> 00:10:50.759 when you, 00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:52.159 when you look closely at it. 00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:53.399 You see the ring, 00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:55.060 it's made of metal. 00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:56.279 It's made of gold, 00:10:56.659 --> 00:10:57.000 silver. 00:10:57.860 --> 00:10:59.559 It could be silicone nowadays. 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:01.879 That breaks. 00:11:03.580 --> 00:11:04.600 The ring can break. 00:11:04.679 --> 00:11:04.899 It just, 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:05.539 it can break. 00:11:05.639 --> 00:11:06.620 And that's the same thing 00:11:06.620 --> 00:11:07.299 with human love. 00:11:07.379 --> 00:11:08.320 Human love breaks. 00:11:08.980 --> 00:11:10.419 It's not infallible. 00:11:10.580 --> 00:11:11.620 It's not perfect 00:11:11.620 --> 00:11:12.899 because it always breaks 00:11:12.899 --> 00:11:14.159 or can break 00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:15.740 or becomes conditional 00:11:15.740 --> 00:11:16.779 or disoriented 00:11:16.779 --> 00:11:18.139 or jaded. 00:11:18.899 --> 00:11:19.419 You see, 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:21.720 when we look at God's love, 00:11:22.220 --> 00:11:22.779 when we look at 00:11:22.779 --> 00:11:24.820 the love of the Father, 00:11:24.820 --> 00:11:26.960 we see that 00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:28.540 when you read about it, 00:11:28.680 --> 00:11:29.600 the love of the Father 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:30.740 has always been 00:11:30.740 --> 00:11:31.620 before creation. 00:11:32.020 --> 00:11:32.820 It has been 00:11:32.820 --> 00:11:33.720 since the beginning 00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:34.400 in the Trinity 00:11:34.400 --> 00:11:35.720 that George talked about 00:11:35.720 --> 00:11:37.460 that the Father loves the Son 00:11:37.460 --> 00:11:38.560 and the Son loves the Father 00:11:38.560 --> 00:11:39.560 and through that 00:11:39.560 --> 00:11:40.840 they both love the Holy Spirit 00:11:40.840 --> 00:11:42.040 and the Holy Spirit loves them 00:11:42.040 --> 00:11:42.740 and it's almost like 00:11:42.740 --> 00:11:43.700 a continuous circle. 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:44.760 But the thing 00:11:44.760 --> 00:11:46.379 that's so drastically different 00:11:46.379 --> 00:11:47.460 about God's love 00:11:47.460 --> 00:11:49.720 is that it's before time. 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:50.940 It wasn't created. 00:11:51.980 --> 00:11:53.180 Human love is created. 00:11:53.179 --> 00:11:55.199 God's love is not. 00:11:56.179 --> 00:11:56.879 It's perfect. 00:11:57.259 --> 00:11:58.239 It's ever being. 00:11:58.599 --> 00:11:59.539 It's always been. 00:11:59.639 --> 00:12:00.419 It always will be. 00:12:00.899 --> 00:12:02.219 It always will be perfect. 00:12:04.139 --> 00:12:04.339 Now, 00:12:04.459 --> 00:12:06.059 there's this common trend 00:12:06.059 --> 00:12:07.759 in some churches 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:08.199 or some, 00:12:08.319 --> 00:12:08.639 you see, 00:12:08.839 --> 00:12:09.699 in the culture 00:12:09.699 --> 00:12:10.500 you hear about too 00:12:10.500 --> 00:12:11.779 that God is almost 00:12:11.779 --> 00:12:13.159 looked at as a grandfather, 00:12:14.099 --> 00:12:15.159 as a happy grandfather 00:12:15.159 --> 00:12:17.339 that would just tell you, 00:12:17.539 --> 00:12:17.659 like, 00:12:17.939 --> 00:12:19.019 just slap you on the hand 00:12:19.019 --> 00:12:20.199 when you do things wrong 00:12:20.199 --> 00:12:21.579 and stuff like that. 00:12:21.580 --> 00:12:23.780 this is a very common belief 00:12:23.780 --> 00:12:24.280 of God 00:12:24.280 --> 00:12:26.840 that he's just a happy grandfather. 00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:27.660 He just shows up 00:12:27.660 --> 00:12:28.379 then he leaves 00:12:28.379 --> 00:12:29.500 at a family thing 00:12:29.500 --> 00:12:30.720 like a grandfather does. 00:12:31.420 --> 00:12:32.620 But that's not the case. 00:12:33.180 --> 00:12:33.300 Now, 00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:34.180 some of you might be asking, 00:12:34.340 --> 00:12:34.420 well, 00:12:34.440 --> 00:12:34.720 Matt, 00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:37.639 you say there's a loving God, 00:12:37.980 --> 00:12:39.440 but what about hell? 00:12:40.560 --> 00:12:41.600 How could God 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:43.440 be so loving 00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:44.780 if there's a thing called hell? 00:12:44.900 --> 00:12:45.980 Why would he create hell? 00:12:45.980 --> 00:12:48.899 And there could be, 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:50.420 there's these misconceptions 00:12:50.420 --> 00:12:52.860 that hell is this place of fire, 00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:53.620 this place of, 00:12:53.700 --> 00:12:54.940 this big lake of fire. 00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:56.300 So when you read about that 00:12:56.300 --> 00:12:56.860 in the Bible, 00:12:57.019 --> 00:12:58.120 when it says lake of fire, 00:12:58.259 --> 00:12:58.560 fire, 00:12:58.840 --> 00:13:01.360 it's not literally talking 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:02.300 about this, 00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:02.560 like, 00:13:03.100 --> 00:13:04.480 burning place 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:05.259 of eternal, 00:13:05.379 --> 00:13:06.120 eternal burning. 00:13:07.460 --> 00:13:08.639 It's symbolism. 00:13:09.220 --> 00:13:10.100 Because it also says 00:13:10.100 --> 00:13:10.560 in the Bible 00:13:10.560 --> 00:13:11.759 that Jesus will return 00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:12.940 in fire and glory. 00:13:12.940 --> 00:13:15.260 God met, 00:13:15.780 --> 00:13:17.900 met Abraham 00:13:17.900 --> 00:13:18.820 in the bush. 00:13:19.780 --> 00:13:20.160 You see, 00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:22.060 all these things 00:13:22.060 --> 00:13:23.240 that say fire, 00:13:23.420 --> 00:13:23.660 it's not, 00:13:23.740 --> 00:13:24.080 doesn't mean, 00:13:24.160 --> 00:13:24.440 it's not, 00:13:24.660 --> 00:13:25.160 it's a, 00:13:25.160 --> 00:13:26.980 it's a metaphor 00:13:26.980 --> 00:13:28.020 for something else. 00:13:28.220 --> 00:13:28.720 And hell, 00:13:29.140 --> 00:13:30.000 what hell is, 00:13:30.060 --> 00:13:31.020 is that God created 00:13:31.020 --> 00:13:31.720 free will 00:13:31.720 --> 00:13:32.820 out of love. 00:13:33.260 --> 00:13:34.520 Because it wouldn't be loving 00:13:34.520 --> 00:13:36.200 if there was no free will. 00:13:36.780 --> 00:13:38.040 We would all just be puppets. 00:13:39.160 --> 00:13:40.780 It'd be like a parent 00:13:40.780 --> 00:13:42.360 who completely smothers 00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:43.100 their child 00:13:43.100 --> 00:13:44.340 and doesn't allow them 00:13:44.340 --> 00:13:45.159 to make any mistakes 00:13:45.159 --> 00:13:46.060 or anything like that. 00:13:46.340 --> 00:13:47.379 We would all say 00:13:47.379 --> 00:13:48.200 that's unloving. 00:13:49.340 --> 00:13:49.500 See, 00:13:49.539 --> 00:13:50.259 what hell is, 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:51.120 see, 00:13:51.899 --> 00:13:53.159 because God created 00:13:53.159 --> 00:13:53.740 free will, 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:56.460 he allows us 00:13:56.460 --> 00:13:57.139 to have choices, 00:13:57.399 --> 00:13:58.240 to make decisions. 00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:00.779 And because of this, 00:14:01.539 --> 00:14:01.840 when, 00:14:01.940 --> 00:14:04.899 when God puts forward 00:14:04.899 --> 00:14:06.320 the chance of faith, 00:14:06.680 --> 00:14:07.940 to have faith in his son, 00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:10.039 if you turn away from him, 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:11.100 that is your free will, 00:14:11.259 --> 00:14:12.060 that is your own decision, 00:14:12.059 --> 00:14:12.899 that is your own decision 00:14:12.899 --> 00:14:14.079 to be lost in yourself. 00:14:14.779 --> 00:14:15.679 And because of this, 00:14:15.799 --> 00:14:16.759 God allows it. 00:14:17.479 --> 00:14:18.679 So on the day of judgment, 00:14:18.819 --> 00:14:19.759 God will allow 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:20.879 you to continue 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:22.319 in your free will 00:14:22.319 --> 00:14:23.299 of decision 00:14:23.299 --> 00:14:24.219 of being separated 00:14:24.219 --> 00:14:24.899 from God. 00:14:25.359 --> 00:14:26.559 And what hell is, 00:14:26.839 --> 00:14:27.639 hell is you 00:14:27.639 --> 00:14:28.259 continuing 00:14:28.259 --> 00:14:30.179 in your own being, 00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:31.179 doing your own thing, 00:14:31.179 --> 00:14:31.939 but you'll have 00:14:31.939 --> 00:14:32.519 the knowledge 00:14:32.519 --> 00:14:33.539 that you are separated 00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:34.279 from God, 00:14:34.359 --> 00:14:35.119 which will be 00:14:35.119 --> 00:14:36.799 the worst thing 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:37.579 possible. 00:14:38.679 --> 00:14:40.219 But it doesn't end there. 00:14:40.220 --> 00:14:40.920 But you see, 00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:41.860 everyone here, 00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:43.899 we're all corrupt beings. 00:14:44.060 --> 00:14:44.700 We're all corrupt 00:14:44.700 --> 00:14:45.580 because of the fall. 00:14:46.920 --> 00:14:47.800 And if you look at 00:14:47.800 --> 00:14:49.620 in verses 9 and 10 00:14:49.620 --> 00:14:51.120 in 1 John chapter 4, 00:14:51.220 --> 00:14:51.740 it says, 00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:53.360 in this, 00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:54.200 the love of God 00:14:54.200 --> 00:14:55.279 was made manifest 00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:56.080 among us, 00:14:56.740 --> 00:14:57.759 that God sent 00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:58.659 his only son 00:14:58.659 --> 00:14:59.399 into the world 00:14:59.399 --> 00:15:00.080 so that we might 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:01.180 live through him. 00:15:02.180 --> 00:15:03.759 In this is love, 00:15:04.220 --> 00:15:05.220 not that we 00:15:05.220 --> 00:15:06.440 have loved God, 00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:08.519 but that he loved us 00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:10.220 and sent his son 00:15:10.220 --> 00:15:11.539 to be the propitiation 00:15:11.539 --> 00:15:12.720 for our sins. 00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:14.720 See, 00:15:14.779 --> 00:15:16.060 God in his loving kindness 00:15:16.060 --> 00:15:17.139 created the world 00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:18.840 and created humans 00:15:18.840 --> 00:15:19.639 in his image. 00:15:19.639 --> 00:15:21.659 But the human heart 00:15:21.659 --> 00:15:23.059 rebelled against him 00:15:23.059 --> 00:15:23.879 because he created 00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:24.559 free will. 00:15:24.819 --> 00:15:25.539 The human heart 00:15:25.539 --> 00:15:26.179 is corrupt 00:15:26.179 --> 00:15:27.139 and sinned. 00:15:28.059 --> 00:15:29.000 Because of this, 00:15:29.100 --> 00:15:29.759 God's wrath 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:31.120 has to be appeased. 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:32.419 Everyone deserves death 00:15:32.419 --> 00:15:34.519 because sin 00:15:34.519 --> 00:15:35.580 is a separation 00:15:35.580 --> 00:15:36.879 of being with God. 00:15:37.199 --> 00:15:38.319 It's completely different 00:15:38.319 --> 00:15:39.340 from his character, 00:15:39.439 --> 00:15:40.199 which is perfect. 00:15:41.319 --> 00:15:41.559 Now, 00:15:41.580 --> 00:15:42.279 some of you might be saying, 00:15:42.419 --> 00:15:43.240 why am I accountable 00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:43.879 for this? 00:15:44.379 --> 00:15:45.299 Why am I accountable 00:15:45.299 --> 00:15:45.919 for something 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:46.840 I didn't do 00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:47.200 that something 00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:48.220 happened so long ago? 00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:50.340 It's a funny question 00:15:50.340 --> 00:15:51.160 because when we look 00:15:51.160 --> 00:15:51.779 at our culture, 00:15:51.779 --> 00:15:52.820 it does the same thing 00:15:52.820 --> 00:15:53.740 to so many people. 00:15:53.860 --> 00:15:55.019 It holds everyone accountable. 00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:56.480 It demands 00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:57.720 atonement. 00:15:57.820 --> 00:15:58.920 It demands a sacrifice. 00:15:59.779 --> 00:16:01.300 But it never provides 00:16:01.300 --> 00:16:01.879 a way out. 00:16:02.139 --> 00:16:03.460 It never gives forgiveness. 00:16:04.660 --> 00:16:05.220 But God, 00:16:05.580 --> 00:16:06.399 God's justice 00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:07.259 is perfect. 00:16:08.560 --> 00:16:09.759 God's love is perfect 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:10.560 and he provided 00:16:10.560 --> 00:16:11.160 a way out. 00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:12.160 If you look again 00:16:12.160 --> 00:16:12.759 at verse 10, 00:16:12.820 --> 00:16:13.200 it says, 00:16:14.139 --> 00:16:15.560 in this is love, 00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:17.779 not that we loved God, 00:16:18.379 --> 00:16:19.579 but that he loved us 00:16:19.579 --> 00:16:20.419 and sent his son 00:16:20.419 --> 00:16:21.579 to be the propitiation 00:16:21.579 --> 00:16:22.779 for our sins. 00:16:23.619 --> 00:16:25.159 Propitiation means sacrifice, 00:16:25.959 --> 00:16:27.639 stood in our place. 00:16:29.419 --> 00:16:29.619 See, 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:31.079 God sent his son 00:16:31.079 --> 00:16:32.379 into the world. 00:16:33.819 --> 00:16:34.500 Jesus Christ 00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:35.619 lived a perfect life. 00:16:35.619 --> 00:16:37.000 He went to the cross 00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:37.699 willingly, 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:38.339 lovingly, 00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:39.219 obeying the Father. 00:16:40.139 --> 00:16:41.199 And he died 00:16:41.199 --> 00:16:42.439 a death for us. 00:16:42.440 --> 00:16:47.020 The Father, 00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:48.060 full of righteous, 00:16:48.280 --> 00:16:48.920 the Father, 00:16:49.040 --> 00:16:50.080 full of righteous wrath 00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:50.960 against us, 00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:52.060 nevertheless, 00:16:52.400 --> 00:16:53.400 loved us so much 00:16:53.400 --> 00:16:54.460 that he sent his son. 00:16:55.160 --> 00:16:55.840 The son, 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:56.520 out of love, 00:16:56.640 --> 00:16:57.420 obeys the Father 00:16:57.420 --> 00:16:58.840 and goes to the cross. 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:00.220 And the son, 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:01.380 out of love for us, 00:17:01.780 --> 00:17:03.500 stands in our place 00:17:03.500 --> 00:17:04.840 and takes the death 00:17:04.840 --> 00:17:05.539 we deserved 00:17:05.539 --> 00:17:06.640 and redeems us. 00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:08.120 That is the beautiful thing 00:17:08.120 --> 00:17:09.000 of God's love. 00:17:10.100 --> 00:17:12.220 That the human race 00:17:12.220 --> 00:17:13.860 was so long gone 00:17:13.860 --> 00:17:14.680 from God 00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:16.440 that there's no hope 00:17:16.440 --> 00:17:16.839 for them. 00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:18.240 God provides a way out. 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:19.259 He sends his son 00:17:19.259 --> 00:17:20.039 for us 00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:21.079 because he loves us, 00:17:21.120 --> 00:17:22.000 because God is love 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:23.259 and his perfect being, 00:17:24.360 --> 00:17:25.740 Jesus Christ comes. 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:28.519 Now, 00:17:28.579 --> 00:17:29.319 if this is true, 00:17:29.980 --> 00:17:31.220 and if you want to see 00:17:31.220 --> 00:17:32.039 God's wrath, 00:17:32.339 --> 00:17:33.200 look at the cross. 00:17:33.660 --> 00:17:34.579 If you want to see 00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:35.380 the love of God, 00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:36.420 look to the cross. 00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:37.779 Both these things 00:17:37.779 --> 00:17:39.559 are intertwined. 00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:40.779 You can't separate them. 00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:41.420 They're together. 00:17:41.420 --> 00:17:44.060 And in closing, 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:45.880 if this is true, 00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:47.460 what must we do? 00:17:48.360 --> 00:17:48.740 You see, 00:17:49.259 --> 00:17:50.660 John's gospel, 00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:51.960 he says it best. 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:52.660 He puts it best 00:17:52.660 --> 00:17:53.620 in chapter 3, 00:17:54.019 --> 00:17:54.800 verse 16. 00:17:55.180 --> 00:17:55.640 He says, 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:57.420 For God so loved the world 00:17:57.420 --> 00:17:59.460 that he gave his only son 00:17:59.460 --> 00:18:01.440 that whoever believes in him 00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:02.620 should not perish 00:18:02.620 --> 00:18:03.860 but have eternal life. 00:18:06.800 --> 00:18:07.360 Friends, 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:08.400 if you're watching here, 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:09.660 if you're here present 00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:10.700 or if you're watching online 00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:12.940 and you do not know Jesus, 00:18:13.120 --> 00:18:14.140 now is the time 00:18:14.140 --> 00:18:15.360 to put your faith 00:18:15.360 --> 00:18:16.259 and trust in him 00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:17.840 because God 00:18:17.840 --> 00:18:18.560 is the ultimate 00:18:18.560 --> 00:18:19.740 essence of love. 00:18:19.820 --> 00:18:20.660 He is love 00:18:20.660 --> 00:18:22.259 and it's been made manifest 00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:23.360 through Jesus Christ 00:18:23.360 --> 00:18:24.600 on the cross for us. 00:18:26.100 --> 00:18:26.860 There could be also 00:18:26.860 --> 00:18:27.680 some of you here 00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:28.940 who believe in Jesus 00:18:28.940 --> 00:18:29.779 but you feel like 00:18:29.779 --> 00:18:30.920 you fail constantly, 00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:31.759 constantly, 00:18:31.860 --> 00:18:32.960 over and over again 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:34.279 and you think to yourself, 00:18:34.380 --> 00:18:34.440 like, 00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:35.660 how could God love me? 00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:37.779 How could God love 00:18:37.779 --> 00:18:39.200 such a sinner as myself? 00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:41.140 Well, you see, 00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:43.080 the Bible is full 00:18:43.080 --> 00:18:43.820 of instances 00:18:43.820 --> 00:18:45.860 where we see 00:18:45.860 --> 00:18:46.640 people struggle. 00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:48.559 These people of great faith 00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:49.840 are struggling constantly 00:18:49.840 --> 00:18:51.400 and you see it 00:18:51.400 --> 00:18:52.259 in Romans 7. 00:18:52.440 --> 00:18:53.400 Paul is writing 00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:55.039 to the church in Rome 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:56.000 and he's talking 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:56.940 about his struggle, 00:18:57.140 --> 00:18:58.380 his indwelling sin 00:18:58.380 --> 00:18:59.440 where he can't, 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:01.539 he can't stop sinning. 00:19:01.660 --> 00:19:02.779 It drives him mad. 00:19:02.900 --> 00:19:04.039 He calls himself a wretch. 00:19:04.039 --> 00:19:05.000 He is wretched. 00:19:05.319 --> 00:19:06.019 But you see, 00:19:06.099 --> 00:19:07.039 when you've put your faith 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:08.039 and trust in Jesus 00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:10.539 and God's love, 00:19:11.420 --> 00:19:13.980 you can shout for joy 00:19:13.980 --> 00:19:15.940 as Paul does in Romans, 00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:17.039 in Romans 8, 00:19:17.139 --> 00:19:19.460 verses 38 and 39 00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:20.319 when he says, 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:21.839 For I am sure 00:19:21.839 --> 00:19:23.659 that neither death 00:19:23.659 --> 00:19:24.359 nor life, 00:19:24.839 --> 00:19:25.619 nor angels, 00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:26.299 nor rulers, 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:27.819 nor things present, 00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:29.779 nor things to come, 00:19:30.119 --> 00:19:31.119 nor powers, 00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:32.099 nor height, 00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:32.980 nor depth, 00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:34.339 nor anything else 00:19:34.339 --> 00:19:35.299 in all creation, 00:19:35.700 --> 00:19:37.059 will be able to separate us 00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:38.120 from the love of God 00:19:38.120 --> 00:19:39.720 in Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:42.839 See, God has revealed 00:19:42.839 --> 00:19:44.440 his love through Jesus Christ 00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:46.200 to save us 00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:47.079 out of his love. 00:19:48.900 --> 00:19:49.980 Another example 00:19:49.980 --> 00:19:51.500 I could give is, 00:19:52.019 --> 00:19:52.640 picture this, 00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:53.779 picture four friends 00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:54.640 on a canoe trip 00:19:54.640 --> 00:19:56.299 and they've been going, 00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:57.620 say they're in a Galquin Park, 00:19:57.619 --> 00:19:58.779 and they come up 00:19:58.779 --> 00:19:59.759 to a portage 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:02.839 and they bring stuff over 00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:04.659 and normally at a portage 00:20:04.659 --> 00:20:06.019 one person will stay behind 00:20:06.019 --> 00:20:07.139 at the next lake 00:20:07.139 --> 00:20:08.519 and start filling the canoes 00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:09.139 to be efficient 00:20:09.139 --> 00:20:10.500 and while the other people 00:20:10.500 --> 00:20:11.639 go back and get all the rest 00:20:11.639 --> 00:20:12.019 of the stuff, 00:20:12.099 --> 00:20:13.099 the paddles and the bags 00:20:13.099 --> 00:20:13.599 and all that. 00:20:14.939 --> 00:20:15.679 But let's say 00:20:15.679 --> 00:20:16.459 one of the friends 00:20:16.459 --> 00:20:17.179 couldn't swim 00:20:17.179 --> 00:20:17.979 and he's the one 00:20:17.979 --> 00:20:19.059 who's loading the canoes 00:20:19.059 --> 00:20:20.039 and it's deep there 00:20:20.039 --> 00:20:22.459 and he falls in by accident 00:20:22.459 --> 00:20:23.359 and he can't swim 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:25.000 and he begins to drown. 00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:26.219 He begins to struggle 00:20:26.219 --> 00:20:26.939 to stay above 00:20:26.939 --> 00:20:28.299 and the three other friends 00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:28.879 come back. 00:20:29.939 --> 00:20:32.039 Now, what if one of the friends 00:20:32.039 --> 00:20:32.519 says, 00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:34.500 well, that's just his fate in life. 00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:36.939 That's just how it's always been. 00:20:37.019 --> 00:20:37.599 That's just how 00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:39.299 survival of the fittest, 00:20:39.399 --> 00:20:40.759 he's clearly not fit enough 00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:41.500 to survive. 00:20:42.059 --> 00:20:42.959 The other friend 00:20:42.959 --> 00:20:44.439 gives examples 00:20:44.439 --> 00:20:45.259 and instructions 00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:47.059 on how to save himself, 00:20:47.379 --> 00:20:48.319 how to get out 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:49.359 of the water, 00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:50.279 how to grab the canoe 00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:51.459 or how to pull himself to shore, 00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:52.539 but he can't do it. 00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:54.119 And then the fourth friend 00:20:54.119 --> 00:20:55.200 jumps into the water 00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:57.159 and grabs him 00:20:57.159 --> 00:20:58.220 and pulls him to shore 00:20:58.220 --> 00:20:59.019 and saves him. 00:21:00.339 --> 00:21:02.180 Now, why do I give this example 00:21:02.180 --> 00:21:03.819 if I'm talking about God's love? 00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:05.200 You see, 00:21:06.159 --> 00:21:07.720 they use this example, 00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:08.740 the first friend 00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:10.259 who gives the example of, 00:21:10.659 --> 00:21:12.460 oh, well, it's just his point in life 00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:13.399 to die right now. 00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:15.359 That is the atheistic worldview 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:18.920 that it's just survival of the fittest, 00:21:20.299 --> 00:21:21.720 dog-eat-dog world. 00:21:22.539 --> 00:21:24.920 The third friend 00:21:24.920 --> 00:21:26.740 who provides the instructions, 00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:29.299 that's all other religions. 00:21:30.159 --> 00:21:31.299 They give you instructions. 00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:32.180 The secular mindset 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:33.839 gives you instructions 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:35.259 on how to attain enlightenment 00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:37.079 or how to reach a God 00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:40.259 that's just far separated. 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:43.099 But then there's the fourth friend. 00:21:44.099 --> 00:21:45.359 And that's the fourth friend 00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:46.139 who jumped in. 00:21:46.399 --> 00:21:46.700 You see, 00:21:46.819 --> 00:21:47.920 the Christian God, 00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:49.619 Jesus Christ, 00:21:49.619 --> 00:21:51.479 he came into the world 00:21:51.479 --> 00:21:53.299 to pull us out from ourselves, 00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:55.119 to pull us out from the sin 00:21:55.119 --> 00:21:56.819 that we are so entangled with 00:21:56.819 --> 00:21:58.159 that we can't save ourself. 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:01.779 As I read in John's epistle 00:22:01.779 --> 00:22:02.500 where it says, 00:22:03.399 --> 00:22:05.439 God's love is manifested. 00:22:06.199 --> 00:22:07.919 Not that we loved God, 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:09.239 but that he loved us. 00:22:10.219 --> 00:22:10.419 You see, 00:22:10.479 --> 00:22:11.379 out of God's love, 00:22:11.459 --> 00:22:12.699 he sent his son for us. 00:22:12.700 --> 00:22:14.640 He pulls us out of our mess 00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:16.380 and provides us 00:22:16.380 --> 00:22:17.819 free, 00:22:17.920 --> 00:22:19.100 he provides us salvation. 00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:20.700 Now is the time 00:22:20.700 --> 00:22:21.779 to put your faith in Jesus. 00:22:23.100 --> 00:22:24.019 Let us pray. 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:27.080 Heavenly Father, 00:22:27.080 --> 00:22:29.080 thank you 00:22:29.079 --> 00:22:29.699 thank you 00:22:29.699 --> 00:22:31.779 that you are the perfect, 00:22:32.199 --> 00:22:33.319 you are perfect love, 00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:35.519 that your being is love, 00:22:35.980 --> 00:22:38.220 that your love is manifested 00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:40.480 through Jesus Christ on the cross, 00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:41.619 the saving work. 00:22:42.879 --> 00:22:43.319 Father, 00:22:43.399 --> 00:22:44.919 I just pray for all of us here 00:22:44.919 --> 00:22:47.579 that we would begin to understand 00:22:47.579 --> 00:22:51.500 how great that is, 00:22:51.679 --> 00:22:52.960 how great your love is. 00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:53.859 Help us, 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:54.059 Lord, 00:22:54.119 --> 00:22:55.019 to also understand 00:22:55.019 --> 00:22:56.039 that how each thing 00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:56.839 is intertwined 00:22:56.839 --> 00:22:58.220 to show your perfect character. 00:22:59.079 --> 00:23:00.720 that you are the God of love, 00:23:00.879 --> 00:23:02.659 the only true form of love 00:23:02.659 --> 00:23:04.119 that never breaks. 00:23:05.059 --> 00:23:06.439 And I pray this in Jesus' name. 00:23:06.899 --> 00:23:07.259 Amen.