WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.240 I know everyone's not here yet, but again, if we can start as close to on time as possible, 00:00:10.240 --> 00:00:16.980 then we'll be able to get through the material a little bit easier and give you some time 00:00:16.980 --> 00:00:21.339 ! for discussion, which is really what trying to set the table for good discussions. All 00:00:21.339 --> 00:00:27.920 right, let me open us up in prayer and we'll get going. Father, we're so thankful for the 00:00:27.920 --> 00:00:34.880 Word of God. Thank you for how you instruct us through this living testimony, the Word 00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:41.380 of God that was made flesh and dwelt among us and that what we read here is meant to invite 00:00:41.380 --> 00:00:48.120 us to enjoy the same life that you imparted to your disciples and your followers in the 00:00:48.120 --> 00:00:55.120 first century. Lord, you have given us directions on how to live and those directions aren't 00:00:55.119 --> 00:01:02.979 to box us in and to make our life seem unbearable, but those boundaries that you've put in place, 00:01:03.079 --> 00:01:10.179 those standards that we see are meant to be life-giving. They're meant to be empowering 00:01:10.180 --> 00:01:18.240 and to keep us from the danger that we want to walk into day by day. So, Lord, I pray that you'd 00:01:18.240 --> 00:01:25.260 help us as we look into your Word this morning to learn from your truths and to delight in the 00:01:25.260 --> 00:01:32.820 standards that you've set. Help us as we impart this into our own lives. In Jesus' name, amen. 00:01:32.819 --> 00:01:43.839 Amen. Good. Come on in. Come on in. I hope you have all been able to grab one of two versions, 00:01:44.319 --> 00:01:50.599 the one for teens that will always have kind of a yellow banner on it that says, hey, this is the 00:01:50.599 --> 00:01:58.259 teen version, and then the one that doesn't have the banner is the version for everyone else. 00:01:58.260 --> 00:02:06.800 Okay? So, I hope you'll pick that up. If we need extra copies, I have at least one apiece that's here. 00:02:08.319 --> 00:02:13.620 We've been working through Passions of the Heart, and any of you who are kind of reading through 00:02:13.620 --> 00:02:19.240 this book, and anyone reading? Any adults reading through the book? Okay? There's several of you that 00:02:19.240 --> 00:02:23.980 are reading through the book. Today, we're going to be on chapter five, and we're going to be kind of 00:02:23.979 --> 00:02:29.579 taking it chapter by chapter now. Last week, we worked through chapters two to four, and so there 00:02:29.579 --> 00:02:35.419 was a lot of ground to cover, and now we kind of get to take it one chapter at a time, which I think 00:02:35.419 --> 00:02:42.939 would be beneficial to press in and to think more deeply about the subjects. Okay? But as we've been 00:02:42.939 --> 00:02:49.719 talking about passions, of course, the words that maybe come to mind are desires or the things that 00:02:49.719 --> 00:02:56.699 we really want, and so we talk about passions, and we talk about what is it in your heart, in your life 00:02:56.699 --> 00:03:05.240 that is driving you, and our desires always drive us to an action, good action or a bad action. 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:15.079 And so, while even our passions may drive us to things that we know are not right for our lives, 00:03:15.080 --> 00:03:23.500 passions and desires in and of themselves, we said, are neutral. They're neutral in that they're designed 00:03:23.500 --> 00:03:30.700 to help you understand what you value, help you understand what you worship, help you understand 00:03:30.700 --> 00:03:38.680 what's important to you, what matters to you. And the thing we've been seeking to learn is, 00:03:38.680 --> 00:03:46.500 what do we do with our emotions? How do those emotions become godly emotions as they're directing 00:03:46.500 --> 00:03:54.140 us to the Lord himself? And so we find throughout Scripture that apart from God, we're always trying 00:03:54.140 --> 00:04:02.760 to handle and cope with our emotions. We're always trying to deal with them in some respect. 00:04:02.759 --> 00:04:12.019 And unchecked emotions have a way of controlling us, don't they? Unchecked emotions have a way of 00:04:12.019 --> 00:04:23.620 carrying us and ruling us. Bad emotions like anger and depression and fear have a way to paralyze us 00:04:23.620 --> 00:04:29.719 and to keep us from doing what God wants us to do. I love how the Apostle Paul addresses Timothy, 00:04:29.720 --> 00:04:37.960 where he says, Timothy, God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of what? Of power and love. 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:46.680 And a sound mind. You don't have to succumb to these inner desires, these inner emotions. They don't 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:53.040 have to control you. Timothy, learn to give your emotions to God. Learn to trust him when you're 00:04:53.040 --> 00:05:02.000 feeling afraid. Learn that he's dependable and trustworthy. Learn not just to find that you can 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:07.640 trust in God, but he's going to lead you to a healthy kind of life, a life that's full of love 00:05:07.640 --> 00:05:15.759 and sound mind. That's what God wants for us. But even good emotions are strong. And even good 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:22.000 emotions can be controlling. And we saw a couple of weeks ago the example of a very popular, 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:33.079 contemporary song by Teddy Swims that says, I lose control. And that's really us, right? We, 00:05:33.819 --> 00:05:40.560 if we're run by our emotions and our passions, we find we just can't help ourselves. That's so often 00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:49.920 the nature of our condition. And so as we evaluate our emotions, we need to come to a place of realizing 00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:57.800 not only that they can be useful and helpful to steer us to God, but that even our heart is deceptive. 00:05:58.439 --> 00:06:05.660 Like we think we have things in check. We think we're doing okay. We think we finally maybe overcome 00:06:05.660 --> 00:06:12.639 and arrived in some ways, but what we found the testimony through scripture, the heart is deceitful, 00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:20.899 right? The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. Who can know it? Your heart tricks you. My heart 00:06:20.899 --> 00:06:30.019 tricks me. It deceives me to think that I'm doing much better than I am. And so we need to come to 00:06:30.699 --> 00:06:39.300 understand that. And there are two remedies. There's two strategies that we need to put into place. 00:06:39.300 --> 00:06:43.280 One that we looked at a couple weeks ago. One that we looked at last week. And I just want to touch on 00:06:43.280 --> 00:06:49.800 them briefly. That first strategy, that first solution is to take your emotion to God. Take your 00:06:49.800 --> 00:06:57.620 emotion to God by way of repentance. Recognize the significance of that reset that needs to happen 00:06:57.620 --> 00:07:06.580 on a continual basis. Realigning, recalibrating your heart so that it is consistently in tune with God. 00:07:06.579 --> 00:07:14.359 And I love what the hymn writer says. Tune my heart to sing your praise. That needs to happen. There's a 00:07:14.359 --> 00:07:21.139 tuning process. And those of you who are very musical and I am not know the significance. It happens at the 00:07:21.139 --> 00:07:29.079 very beginning of every worship service. You're going to hear our musicians. They're tuning to a standard, but 00:07:29.079 --> 00:07:34.439 they're also tuning to one another. There's a tuning process. And if I didn't get that right, then you have to 00:07:34.439 --> 00:07:38.879 correct me later. But that's what I think happens. There's a tuning process. Something along that lines. 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:47.519 Okay, at least I'm close. You guys got the picture, right? There's a tuning process that must happen as 00:07:47.519 --> 00:07:54.560 we're tuning our lives to God. And, you know, there are times where our passions get the best of us, right? 00:07:54.560 --> 00:08:03.780 And then in that moment, what takes place is now you find yourself and others find you. You're exposed. 00:08:04.699 --> 00:08:12.079 Your sin, the way that you've wandered away from the Lord has been exposed. And now people see it. 00:08:12.120 --> 00:08:20.980 It's public. You've gone public, okay? And there's one of two ways that we can deal with our sin once it 00:08:20.980 --> 00:08:27.259 goes public. We talked about the difference between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow, didn't we? 00:08:28.100 --> 00:08:34.159 Let's just pause for a moment. Help me out here now, okay? This is discussion time. What are some 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:38.800 indicators, some characteristics of worldly sorrow? What does worldly sorrow do? 00:08:41.920 --> 00:08:46.480 I'm sorry I got caught, okay? Good. But what else do we say about worldly sorrow? 00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:59.720 Anyone else? Timothy. Okay, sometimes worldly sorrow drives us to bitterness because you've gotten caught 00:08:59.720 --> 00:09:06.379 and now there's shame, right? There's shame for the consequences that you're experiencing. What else? 00:09:06.519 --> 00:09:15.259 I heard something over here. It's all about me, right? I got caught. I feel ashamed. Now I have to 00:09:15.259 --> 00:09:21.759 to deal with whatever consequences there are and it's very self-serving. Worldly sorrow is self-serving 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:31.139 sorrow. Temporary sorrow. Good. Steve. Okay, it's somebody else's fault, okay? Like if it hadn't been 00:09:31.139 --> 00:09:37.819 for that person, then everything would have been okay, right? And so now you kind of place your blame 00:09:37.819 --> 00:09:43.059 on somebody else. So often that's what happens in worldly sorrow. How does it? Yes, Matt. 00:09:43.059 --> 00:09:57.599 Okay, fantastic. Okay, so even if you feel a measure of guilt, okay? And sometimes when people feel 00:09:57.599 --> 00:10:09.500 guilt, it can lead to this bondage and slavery of self, of staying there, this self-doom as it were. 00:10:09.500 --> 00:10:18.940 And if it doesn't take us to God, then it's worldly in its effects, right? Good. Now let's transition. 00:10:19.139 --> 00:10:22.980 What about godly sorrow? What are some of the differences then with godly sorrow? 00:10:22.980 --> 00:10:28.500 It's kind of all the opposite of what we have said. So what are some of those things? 00:10:31.340 --> 00:10:36.820 Great. It understands who the offense is really against. It's really an offense towards God, right? 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:47.159 And so instead of that sin and getting caught turning me inward, that sin is meant to help 00:10:47.159 --> 00:10:56.439 turn me outward, turn towards God. Now there is a sense in which I come to terms with the gravity of my sin 00:10:56.440 --> 00:11:07.840 and there is being sorry, there is being grieved over sin, but that doesn't end there. 00:11:08.040 --> 00:11:12.420 It takes me to the solution. That solution is with the Lord. What else? 00:11:13.720 --> 00:11:17.420 What else about godly sorrow? How is it different? Heart change. 00:11:17.419 --> 00:11:22.679 That's good. I hate this sin. I don't want this to be true of my life ever again. 00:11:23.399 --> 00:11:28.979 Because not just that I don't ever want to get caught again, but I realize that what this has done 00:11:28.979 --> 00:11:37.099 is brought reproach on the name of God and I don't want to hurt this relationship with God again. 00:11:38.019 --> 00:11:39.219 What else? Anything else? 00:11:39.220 --> 00:11:50.560 Great. Instead of blaming people, it wants to restore those relationships that were broken. 00:11:50.660 --> 00:11:53.500 We'll do whatever it takes to restore those relationships. 00:11:54.000 --> 00:12:01.360 I will accept those consequences. I will do what it takes to restore the relationships that were broken. 00:12:01.639 --> 00:12:04.420 That's the first solution. Repentance. 00:12:04.419 --> 00:12:10.459 Repentance that comes to terms with the difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow. 00:12:11.719 --> 00:12:20.339 The second remedy that we talked about a little last week was understanding the course or the path that sin takes. 00:12:20.779 --> 00:12:28.839 And we looked at James 1, verses 12-15, and we kind of saw the progression, this four-stage progression of sin. 00:12:28.840 --> 00:12:34.139 We saw that, first of all, our desire is stirred. 00:12:34.800 --> 00:12:40.780 We see something like, oh, wow. Well, that's interesting. I kind of like that. 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:47.460 And it doesn't just get stirred, but it tends to want to dwell on that. 00:12:47.560 --> 00:12:52.220 It's not just like a fleeting glance, but it's a turning back. 00:12:52.220 --> 00:13:00.820 Whatever that is, that it's stirred your affection, you want to see more, you want to know more, you want to kind of experience more. 00:13:00.940 --> 00:13:04.080 There's that desire that is stirred. 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:10.160 Then step two is, desire is awakened to the point where you say, you know what? 00:13:10.600 --> 00:13:12.600 I think I would like to have that. 00:13:13.300 --> 00:13:15.899 And in your will, your will decides, you know what? 00:13:15.899 --> 00:13:20.480 I'm going to start making plans now to go after that sin. 00:13:21.659 --> 00:13:26.179 Step three is, your desires grow into sinful acts. 00:13:26.959 --> 00:13:31.740 That now what you have seen and what your will says, you know what? 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:32.699 I want to go after that. 00:13:32.779 --> 00:13:35.459 Now you are actually taking the steps. 00:13:35.579 --> 00:13:36.759 You are going after it. 00:13:36.840 --> 00:13:39.519 You are pursuing that sin, whatever it is. 00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:43.559 And finally, sin takes over and leads to death. 00:13:43.559 --> 00:13:47.939 And this is really the theme that we pick up today. 00:13:48.659 --> 00:13:52.819 We understand that sin starts somewhere. 00:13:54.259 --> 00:13:58.479 And sometimes the sin that starts doesn't seem so bad. 00:13:59.239 --> 00:14:03.519 It's not so bad for me to do this. 00:14:04.159 --> 00:14:06.199 And so we take a step in the direction. 00:14:06.439 --> 00:14:10.819 We begin to move our life in the direction of sin. 00:14:10.820 --> 00:14:15.220 And in our time today, we're going to talk about this as being a gateway. 00:14:15.980 --> 00:14:16.580 This is a gateway. 00:14:17.180 --> 00:14:21.420 This is, you kind of walked through that gateway of temptation. 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:24.580 And now you are taking action to sin. 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:35.960 And whatever stage that that action is taking is beginning to condition your heart to do the same kind of thing the next time. 00:14:35.960 --> 00:14:43.360 You are conditioning yourself to now respond in this way on a repeated basis. 00:14:45.400 --> 00:14:46.620 I wrote a little parable. 00:14:47.060 --> 00:14:47.160 Okay? 00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:50.759 And you have a picture of that parable. 00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:54.960 And I want to try to make this a little bit more visual for you. 00:14:55.580 --> 00:15:00.220 So let me read this parable and you can kind of see how it takes off. 00:15:00.220 --> 00:15:05.779 There once was a traveler who came upon a stone gateway in the middle of a barren plain. 00:15:06.779 --> 00:15:08.120 Vines climbed its pillars. 00:15:08.340 --> 00:15:10.220 Warm light spilled through the opening. 00:15:10.820 --> 00:15:13.899 And carved into the arch were three words. 00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:17.000 Satisfy yourself here. 00:15:18.300 --> 00:15:21.200 He stepped closer and saw what looked like a valley on the other side. 00:15:21.779 --> 00:15:22.800 Green and alive. 00:15:22.920 --> 00:15:24.100 He could hear water running. 00:15:24.700 --> 00:15:25.860 He could smell bread. 00:15:26.660 --> 00:15:28.500 Fruit hung heavy on branches. 00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:30.799 The air itself felt like music. 00:15:31.539 --> 00:15:32.340 He stepped through. 00:15:33.399 --> 00:15:35.320 At first, it was exactly what he hoped. 00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:37.620 The valley stirred the senses. 00:15:37.820 --> 00:15:39.159 Every taste felt bright. 00:15:39.299 --> 00:15:41.200 Every sight felt richer. 00:15:41.580 --> 00:15:42.559 The traveler thought, 00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:46.120 This is everything I could ever need. 00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:49.139 But after a while, something changed. 00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:53.259 What thrilled him yesterday felt ordinary today. 00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:55.279 So he went further in. 00:15:55.799 --> 00:15:57.179 Looking for the next experience. 00:15:57.179 --> 00:15:58.899 Something stronger. 00:15:59.579 --> 00:16:00.019 Sweeter. 00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:00.919 Louder. 00:16:01.939 --> 00:16:02.779 And the valley provided. 00:16:03.539 --> 00:16:05.299 There were stands with delicacies. 00:16:05.459 --> 00:16:07.719 There were rooms with dazzling colors. 00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:11.539 There were cups that promised deeper pleasure. 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:14.899 And every time he took another step inward, 00:16:14.899 --> 00:16:20.659 The valley softly beckoned him for only one more thing in return. 00:16:21.220 --> 00:16:24.139 One more step inside. 00:16:25.399 --> 00:16:27.639 But the further he went, the less satisfied he became. 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:30.579 And the more he consumed, the worse he felt. 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:35.100 The thrill that was once so present now seemed so distant. 00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:36.340 So empty. 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:38.100 So far away. 00:16:38.100 --> 00:16:44.899 He was finally coming to his senses, recognizing the trance-like pull this realm had on his life. 00:16:45.040 --> 00:16:46.440 It was an illusion. 00:16:47.540 --> 00:16:50.100 He turned around, finally resolved to go back. 00:16:50.820 --> 00:16:53.480 But the path behind him didn't look like the path he remembered. 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:59.060 What had once been a simple trail now looked overgrown and treacherous. 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:01.420 Brambles hooked like claws. 00:17:01.820 --> 00:17:04.500 Vines braided into thick ropes across the way. 00:17:04.900 --> 00:17:06.500 Thorns hidden under leaves. 00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:10.259 The air behind him felt colder, darker, heavier. 00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:15.880 While the path behind was not impossible to travel, it was surely painful. 00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:22.780 The road demanded pain and tears and humility, step by step. 00:17:23.800 --> 00:17:26.060 Oddly, the road ahead still looked bright. 00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:28.640 It was still lit, open, wide. 00:17:28.900 --> 00:17:33.060 Not as beautiful as the first rooms of the valley, but it promised something easier. 00:17:33.420 --> 00:17:34.220 Keep on going. 00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:35.220 Don't stop. 00:17:35.520 --> 00:17:37.060 Don't face the thorns. 00:17:38.300 --> 00:17:39.960 There's still something out there for you. 00:17:40.940 --> 00:17:45.260 And standing there caught between a bright road that would only take him deeper, 00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:48.319 in a dark road home that looked like thorns, 00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:52.299 he finally understood what the gateway never told him. 00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:55.819 The entrance seemed free and exciting, 00:17:56.680 --> 00:18:00.119 but the exit would cost him dearly. 00:18:00.859 --> 00:18:06.039 And that's the gateway that all of us are learning about this morning. 00:18:06.819 --> 00:18:08.680 It's exactly how sin works. 00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:09.559 That's the desire. 00:18:09.900 --> 00:18:11.180 The desire that grips. 00:18:11.339 --> 00:18:12.119 It looks enticing. 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:14.059 It looks exciting and thrilling. 00:18:14.059 --> 00:18:15.759 And it moves you in. 00:18:15.940 --> 00:18:21.839 But every step you take will be a step in the direction of the rest of your life. 00:18:22.579 --> 00:18:29.700 And little by little, the heart learns to give way to the subtle demands of wanting more, 00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:31.319 yearning and craving. 00:18:32.339 --> 00:18:34.500 And ultimately leads to bondage. 00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:37.779 We saw that a little last week in Romans chapter 6. 00:18:37.779 --> 00:18:40.839 Bondage that happens because of sin. 00:18:40.920 --> 00:18:42.579 But it's a decision that we can make. 00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:47.879 We can either choose to be slaves and bound to sin, 00:18:47.960 --> 00:18:54.019 or we can choose to be slaves and bound in freedom to righteousness. 00:18:55.359 --> 00:18:57.460 Paul says in Romans 6, 16, he says, 00:18:57.460 --> 00:19:02.299 Do not you know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, 00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:04.960 you are slaves of the one whom you obey, 00:19:05.140 --> 00:19:07.380 either of sin, which leads to death, 00:19:07.460 --> 00:19:10.059 or of obedience, which leads to righteousness. 00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:13.680 But thanks be to God that you, 00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:15.500 who once were slaves to sin, 00:19:15.579 --> 00:19:17.700 have become obedient from the heart 00:19:17.700 --> 00:19:21.279 to the standard of teaching to which you were committed. 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:27.019 You see, to walk in the way of sin is to choose the path of idolatry. 00:19:27.099 --> 00:19:28.619 That's the end of this road. 00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:33.259 The values and the things that you desire 00:19:33.259 --> 00:19:36.000 show where your heart really is in terms of worship. 00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:38.259 What you value, what you worship, 00:19:38.420 --> 00:19:39.899 what matters to you. 00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:41.220 And ultimately, 00:19:41.940 --> 00:19:45.399 it's equated with idolatry in the scripture. 00:19:46.619 --> 00:19:49.339 But everywhere we see idolatry in the New Testament, 00:19:49.339 --> 00:19:51.459 and I just want to touch on this briefly 00:19:51.459 --> 00:19:54.299 by giving you a couple of verses 00:19:54.299 --> 00:19:57.459 that are there in your study guides. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:00.720 Everywhere we see idolatry in the New Testament, 00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:01.899 there are ten of them. 00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:05.439 Ten times idolatry is mentioned in the New Testament 00:20:05.439 --> 00:20:07.579 every single time 00:20:07.579 --> 00:20:12.559 that idolatry is equated with sexual impurity. 00:20:13.619 --> 00:20:17.119 It's equated with impurity. 00:20:17.699 --> 00:20:18.879 Here's a couple of examples. 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:20.000 We're not going to go through them all. 00:20:20.800 --> 00:20:23.000 Ephesians 5, 3 to 5, says this. 00:20:23.660 --> 00:20:27.600 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness 00:20:27.600 --> 00:20:29.680 must not even be named among you 00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:31.540 as is proper among saints. 00:20:32.100 --> 00:20:34.340 Let there be no filthiness or foolish talking 00:20:34.340 --> 00:20:36.500 or crude joking which are out of place, 00:20:36.580 --> 00:20:38.820 but instead let there be thanksgiving. 00:20:40.220 --> 00:20:41.940 For you may be sure of this, 00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:45.740 that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, 00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:46.859 who is covetous, 00:20:46.859 --> 00:20:49.200 that is an idolater, 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:55.240 has no inheritance in the kingdom of God and Christ. 00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:57.120 Colossians 3, 5. 00:20:57.660 --> 00:20:59.200 Put to death what is earthly in you, 00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:01.480 sexual immorality, impurity, passion, 00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:04.380 evil desire, and covetousness, 00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:05.980 which is idolatry. 00:21:05.980 --> 00:21:07.400 On account of these, 00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:08.420 the wrath of God is coming. 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:10.860 And finally, 1 Peter 4, 3. 00:21:11.259 --> 00:21:17.220 For the time that is past suffices 00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:19.880 for doing what the Gentiles want to do, 00:21:20.099 --> 00:21:21.360 living in sensuality, 00:21:21.480 --> 00:21:21.860 passion, 00:21:22.059 --> 00:21:22.539 drunkenness, 00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:23.140 orgies, 00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:23.900 drinking parties, 00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:24.620 and lawlessness, 00:21:25.079 --> 00:21:26.440 or lawless idolatry. 00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:28.759 And what's also interesting 00:21:28.759 --> 00:21:30.440 as you walk through this list, 00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:32.400 and it's almost common in every other verse, 00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:35.500 is that when idolatry is mentioned, 00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:38.680 not only is it connected to impurity, 00:21:39.580 --> 00:21:42.539 but it's often connected to covetousness, 00:21:43.100 --> 00:21:43.960 to greed. 00:21:44.920 --> 00:21:47.240 And we're going to look at a little bit more 00:21:47.240 --> 00:21:49.120 these gateway sins. 00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:53.440 What are the sins that entice you initially, 00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:57.680 that lead you to some of these ultimate sins, 00:21:57.799 --> 00:22:01.720 these sins that become absolute bondage for us, 00:22:02.620 --> 00:22:05.740 and how is it that we can be alert 00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:09.039 to materialism, 00:22:10.600 --> 00:22:11.400 consumerism, 00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:14.600 the desire for more, 00:22:14.779 --> 00:22:16.680 the lack of dissatisfaction. 00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:17.519 And by the way, 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:18.600 we're all there. 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:21.420 We're all dissatisfied in some way 00:22:21.420 --> 00:22:24.360 with something that we don't have, 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:25.160 or that we have, 00:22:25.220 --> 00:22:26.440 but it's not good enough. 00:22:26.580 --> 00:22:28.580 It's not as good as so-and-so's thing. 00:22:28.860 --> 00:22:31.500 And these are the gateway sins 00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:33.360 that entice our heart 00:22:33.360 --> 00:22:36.560 and fuel greater dissatisfaction 00:22:36.560 --> 00:22:37.440 in a want for more. 00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:39.240 And so it's easier then for us 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:40.560 to then fall, 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:42.759 or run after maybe, 00:22:42.900 --> 00:22:43.500 is a better way, 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:45.779 run after impurity. 00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:50.399 How do we check our hearts? 00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:52.279 So, 00:22:52.700 --> 00:22:55.899 the end of all this 00:22:55.899 --> 00:22:58.680 is found in Ephesians 4, 17-19. 00:22:58.819 --> 00:22:59.440 It says this, 00:23:00.099 --> 00:23:01.039 Now this I say, 00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:02.139 and testify in the Lord, 00:23:02.700 --> 00:23:04.420 that you must no longer walk 00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:05.579 as the Gentiles do 00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:07.980 in the futility of their minds. 00:23:08.539 --> 00:23:10.279 They are darkened in their understanding, 00:23:10.899 --> 00:23:12.240 alienated from the life of God 00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:13.879 because of the ignorance that is in them 00:23:13.880 --> 00:23:15.760 due to the hardness of their hearts. 00:23:16.060 --> 00:23:17.200 They have become callous 00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:19.600 and have given themselves up to sensuality, 00:23:20.040 --> 00:23:21.560 greedy to practice 00:23:21.560 --> 00:23:23.400 every kind of impurity. 00:23:24.820 --> 00:23:25.120 Okay. 00:23:25.760 --> 00:23:27.580 I want to just pause there for a moment. 00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:31.640 What are the adjectives 00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:33.340 that are used to describe 00:23:33.340 --> 00:23:35.720 a heart that is totally given over? 00:23:36.540 --> 00:23:37.180 What do you see here? 00:23:37.780 --> 00:23:39.560 Ephesians 4, 17-19. 00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:41.740 How does Paul describe that heart? 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:44.420 What words does he use? 00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:45.759 Callous. 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:46.019 Okay. 00:23:46.599 --> 00:23:47.799 And what is, 00:23:48.099 --> 00:23:49.500 when you think about being callous, 00:23:49.579 --> 00:23:50.140 what do you think about? 00:23:52.859 --> 00:23:54.200 You think about hard work 00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:56.039 that puts calluses on your hands 00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:57.720 so that you can do more hard work, right? 00:23:58.079 --> 00:24:01.500 But along with having calloused hands, 00:24:02.079 --> 00:24:04.279 to put it on a calloused heart, 00:24:04.400 --> 00:24:07.480 it means that you are training yourself 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:08.740 to not feel anymore. 00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:10.599 That, 00:24:11.339 --> 00:24:12.299 those feelings 00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:14.420 of conviction, 00:24:15.160 --> 00:24:15.960 those feelings 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:17.079 of sensitivity, 00:24:17.740 --> 00:24:18.779 of shame, 00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:20.259 now aren't 00:24:20.259 --> 00:24:22.380 feeling that way anymore. 00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:24.960 We've trained ourself 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:25.559 to be callous. 00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:26.839 We've trained ourself 00:24:26.839 --> 00:24:28.279 to not feel. 00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:29.720 We've allowed 00:24:29.720 --> 00:24:31.160 the rhythm of that 00:24:31.160 --> 00:24:33.000 to land on us 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:33.579 enough 00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:34.819 that now 00:24:34.819 --> 00:24:35.579 we're not feeling 00:24:35.579 --> 00:24:36.940 the impact of it anymore. 00:24:36.940 --> 00:24:37.980 Or as much 00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:38.920 as we once did. 00:24:39.100 --> 00:24:39.320 Good. 00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:40.640 What other adjectives 00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:41.080 does he use? 00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:44.799 Ignorance. 00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:45.420 Okay. 00:24:46.120 --> 00:24:47.519 And when we think about ignorance, 00:24:47.620 --> 00:24:48.100 what do you think about? 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:51.259 Being oblivious. 00:24:51.360 --> 00:24:51.799 That's great. 00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:52.299 Great, 00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:53.559 great definition. 00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:55.039 Being oblivious. 00:24:55.120 --> 00:24:56.620 Just being out of tune. 00:24:57.059 --> 00:24:57.460 They're just 00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:58.940 not thinking anymore. 00:24:59.640 --> 00:25:01.400 They're so blinded by it. 00:25:01.400 --> 00:25:03.000 And it's created 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:03.800 this hardness, 00:25:04.620 --> 00:25:05.960 this darkening, 00:25:06.800 --> 00:25:08.420 this alienation 00:25:08.420 --> 00:25:09.200 from God 00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:11.100 that's happening 00:25:11.100 --> 00:25:11.820 in their life. 00:25:12.460 --> 00:25:13.140 And notice, 00:25:13.860 --> 00:25:15.019 they want more. 00:25:15.740 --> 00:25:16.500 They're greedy 00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:18.540 to practice it again. 00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:20.880 Over and over 00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:21.640 and it leads 00:25:21.640 --> 00:25:22.480 to impurity 00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:23.380 of life. 00:25:24.780 --> 00:25:25.420 So we need 00:25:25.420 --> 00:25:26.120 to understand 00:25:26.120 --> 00:25:27.240 and recognize 00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:28.460 that sin 00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:29.540 follows this road. 00:25:29.539 --> 00:25:31.579 sin follows this road. 00:25:32.779 --> 00:25:34.159 No one wakes up 00:25:34.159 --> 00:25:35.740 out of the blue 00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:36.259 one day 00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:37.279 and I think 00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:37.920 particularly about 00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:38.740 Philip Yancey. 00:25:39.079 --> 00:25:39.480 Those of you 00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:40.019 who are familiar, 00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:41.180 anyone, 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:41.960 everyone know 00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:43.680 who Philip Yancey is? 00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:44.079 Okay. 00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:45.220 Philip Yancey, 00:25:45.339 --> 00:25:46.779 he's a prominent 00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:47.480 Christian 00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:49.200 author. 00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:49.879 He's written 00:25:49.879 --> 00:25:51.079 I don't even know 00:25:51.079 --> 00:25:51.859 how many books. 00:25:52.119 --> 00:25:53.159 He is kind of 00:25:53.159 --> 00:25:54.019 one of the, 00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:55.139 at the forefront 00:25:55.139 --> 00:25:56.839 of our attention 00:25:56.839 --> 00:25:57.859 and somebody who 00:25:57.859 --> 00:25:58.959 has at least 00:25:58.959 --> 00:25:59.819 thought 00:25:59.819 --> 00:26:01.039 very deeply 00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:01.740 about the things 00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:02.099 of the Lord. 00:26:02.719 --> 00:26:02.979 Well, 00:26:03.079 --> 00:26:04.019 just last week 00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:05.619 Philip Yancey 00:26:05.619 --> 00:26:06.740 had to admit 00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:07.399 that he's been 00:26:07.399 --> 00:26:08.819 in an eight year 00:26:08.819 --> 00:26:10.619 long relationship 00:26:10.619 --> 00:26:11.240 with somebody 00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:11.879 not his wife. 00:26:12.839 --> 00:26:12.959 Okay. 00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.299 Philip Yancey 00:26:15.299 --> 00:26:16.279 didn't wake up 00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:16.819 one day 00:26:16.819 --> 00:26:17.219 and said, 00:26:17.299 --> 00:26:17.479 you know, 00:26:17.619 --> 00:26:18.259 I think I'm going 00:26:18.259 --> 00:26:19.079 to ruin my marriage 00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:19.359 today. 00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:22.199 He didn't wake 00:26:22.199 --> 00:26:22.740 up one day 00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:22.979 and say, 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:23.359 you know what, 00:26:23.659 --> 00:26:24.819 I have a good idea. 00:26:24.979 --> 00:26:25.419 I think I'm going 00:26:25.419 --> 00:26:26.279 to destroy 00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:27.660 my credibility. 00:26:29.319 --> 00:26:30.899 I know 00:26:30.899 --> 00:26:31.440 it would be 00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:32.160 really good. 00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:32.859 I'm going 00:26:32.859 --> 00:26:33.819 to obliterate 00:26:33.819 --> 00:26:34.660 my integrity, 00:26:35.160 --> 00:26:36.859 my reputation. 00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:37.440 I'm going 00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:38.700 to absolutely 00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:40.000 disqualify myself 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:40.440 from ministry. 00:26:40.539 --> 00:26:41.059 I think that 00:26:41.059 --> 00:26:41.700 would be a great 00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:42.079 idea. 00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:43.660 He did not 00:26:43.660 --> 00:26:44.740 wake up one day 00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:45.500 and say that. 00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:47.240 It was this 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:47.879 slow, 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:49.299 gradual 00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:50.980 chain 00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:52.039 of walking, 00:26:52.599 --> 00:26:53.579 years of 00:26:53.579 --> 00:26:54.539 cultivating, 00:26:54.980 --> 00:26:55.759 months of 00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:56.759 excusing, 00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:58.420 small private 00:26:58.420 --> 00:26:59.379 compromises, 00:26:59.819 --> 00:27:00.619 moments of 00:27:00.619 --> 00:27:01.379 saying yes 00:27:01.379 --> 00:27:02.019 to sin 00:27:02.019 --> 00:27:03.500 so that 00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:04.920 once what's 00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:05.359 shocked 00:27:05.359 --> 00:27:06.660 is now 00:27:06.660 --> 00:27:07.559 feels normal. 00:27:08.900 --> 00:27:09.779 That's the gateway 00:27:09.779 --> 00:27:10.599 we're talking about. 00:27:11.879 --> 00:27:13.379 And we're going 00:27:13.379 --> 00:27:13.819 to just spend 00:27:13.819 --> 00:27:14.799 a few moments 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:15.779 introducing 00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:16.559 some of those 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:17.420 gateway sins. 00:27:18.059 --> 00:27:18.480 What are some 00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:19.700 of those things, 00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:20.619 those sins 00:27:20.619 --> 00:27:21.420 we kind of give 00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:22.140 a pass to? 00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:23.220 What are those 00:27:23.220 --> 00:27:23.779 things that 00:27:23.779 --> 00:27:24.920 that we kind 00:27:24.920 --> 00:27:25.119 of say, 00:27:25.180 --> 00:27:25.319 you know, 00:27:25.379 --> 00:27:25.799 this isn't 00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:26.460 so bad. 00:27:26.579 --> 00:27:27.039 We know 00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:27.700 it's wrong, 00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:28.160 but it's not 00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:28.779 as bad 00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:29.599 as such 00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:30.119 and such. 00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:31.700 And that's 00:27:31.700 --> 00:27:31.980 what I want 00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:33.000 to kind 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:33.480 of address 00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:34.180 a little bit 00:27:34.180 --> 00:27:35.359 in the next 00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:35.960 few moments. 00:27:36.660 --> 00:27:37.339 These gateway 00:27:37.339 --> 00:27:38.460 sins of 00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:39.000 anger 00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:40.839 and self-pity 00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:42.920 and discontentment 00:27:42.920 --> 00:27:43.460 and fear. 00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:46.039 And before I 00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:46.740 introduce them 00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:47.440 from the 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:47.740 scripture, 00:27:47.899 --> 00:27:49.480 I have a little 00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:50.319 inventory there. 00:27:50.379 --> 00:27:50.720 I want to give you 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:51.240 just a few 00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:52.079 minutes to 00:27:52.079 --> 00:27:52.839 think about 00:27:52.839 --> 00:27:54.940 these gateway 00:27:54.940 --> 00:27:55.860 sins and 00:27:55.860 --> 00:27:56.579 just kind of 00:27:56.579 --> 00:27:57.240 evaluate your 00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:57.620 own life. 00:27:57.720 --> 00:27:58.240 Where are you 00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:58.819 in relationship 00:27:58.819 --> 00:27:59.860 to this? 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:00.360 By the way, 00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:01.019 this is not to 00:28:01.019 --> 00:28:01.519 make you feel 00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:02.220 bad, but it's 00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:03.059 just, again, 00:28:03.140 --> 00:28:03.559 it's just kind of 00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:04.339 the dashboard 00:28:04.339 --> 00:28:05.299 lights to help 00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:06.559 you see for 00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:06.980 yourself. 00:28:07.079 --> 00:28:07.860 This is private. 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:08.960 This is for you. 00:28:09.339 --> 00:28:09.980 This is not meant 00:28:09.980 --> 00:28:10.839 for you to share 00:28:10.839 --> 00:28:11.700 necessarily unless 00:28:11.700 --> 00:28:12.940 you want to, 00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:13.799 but just to check 00:28:13.799 --> 00:28:15.559 yourself and 00:28:15.559 --> 00:28:16.259 where you stand 00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:18.140 with these sins. 00:28:18.539 --> 00:28:18.660 Okay? 00:28:18.660 --> 00:28:20.000 I'll give you a 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:20.340 couple minutes 00:28:20.340 --> 00:28:20.940 to go through 00:28:20.940 --> 00:28:21.140 that. 00:28:21.140 --> 00:28:21.340 Okay. 00:28:48.660 --> 00:29:18.640 Thank you. 00:29:18.660 --> 00:29:48.640 Thank you. 00:29:48.660 --> 00:30:18.640 Thank you. 00:30:18.660 --> 00:30:20.660 Thank you. 00:30:48.660 --> 00:30:50.660 Thank you. 00:31:18.660 --> 00:31:36.680 How's it going? 00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:38.180 Almost there? 00:31:38.180 --> 00:31:39.180 Okay. 00:31:54.860 --> 00:31:55.380 Okay. 00:31:55.440 --> 00:31:55.920 What'd you find? 00:31:57.340 --> 00:31:58.019 What were some of 00:31:58.019 --> 00:31:58.860 those, any of those 00:31:58.860 --> 00:32:00.140 that stood out and 00:32:00.140 --> 00:32:00.900 said, uh-huh, 00:32:01.380 --> 00:32:03.120 yeah, that's me. 00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:05.420 Anything like that? 00:32:05.420 --> 00:32:07.120 You'd be willing to 00:32:07.120 --> 00:32:07.360 share? 00:32:10.800 --> 00:32:12.480 How about this one? 00:32:14.420 --> 00:32:15.500 I replay what 00:32:15.500 --> 00:32:16.560 someone did to me 00:32:16.560 --> 00:32:18.000 and build my case 00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:18.920 in my head. 00:32:19.580 --> 00:32:20.360 Anyone do that one? 00:32:21.360 --> 00:32:22.560 I can totally 00:32:22.560 --> 00:32:23.200 resonate with that 00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:23.360 one. 00:32:24.039 --> 00:32:24.480 That's me. 00:32:25.340 --> 00:32:26.000 Oh, Lord, please 00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:26.480 forgive me. 00:32:27.600 --> 00:32:28.380 How about this one? 00:32:28.380 --> 00:32:30.700 When I'm mad, I say 00:32:30.700 --> 00:32:31.560 things I wouldn't say 00:32:31.560 --> 00:32:32.180 if Jesus were 00:32:32.180 --> 00:32:33.060 standing next to me. 00:32:33.059 --> 00:32:35.000 Oh, boy. 00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:35.019 Oh, boy. 00:32:36.220 --> 00:32:37.759 I feel out of control 00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:38.519 when I'm angry. 00:32:39.359 --> 00:32:40.359 Spike, slam, 00:32:40.639 --> 00:32:41.700 explode, rant, 00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:43.179 text, yell. 00:32:46.139 --> 00:32:46.940 Wow. 00:32:47.419 --> 00:32:48.240 That was just the 00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:48.879 first category. 00:32:48.880 --> 00:32:55.920 How about, I 00:32:55.920 --> 00:32:56.840 constantly compare 00:32:56.840 --> 00:32:58.360 my looks, my 00:32:58.360 --> 00:32:59.780 popularity, or 00:32:59.780 --> 00:33:00.820 stuff to others. 00:33:02.940 --> 00:33:03.680 Here we can kind 00:33:03.680 --> 00:33:06.020 of see how, how 00:33:06.020 --> 00:33:08.740 much we permit 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:10.080 sin in our life, 00:33:10.140 --> 00:33:10.460 don't we? 00:33:11.520 --> 00:33:12.580 We give it a pass. 00:33:12.700 --> 00:33:13.660 It's, it's, it's 00:33:13.660 --> 00:33:14.220 kind of like, like 00:33:14.220 --> 00:33:15.020 those, it's those 00:33:15.020 --> 00:33:16.320 permissible sins in 00:33:16.320 --> 00:33:17.880 that they're things 00:33:17.880 --> 00:33:18.300 that everyone 00:33:18.300 --> 00:33:19.120 struggle with, so 00:33:19.120 --> 00:33:20.860 obviously, it's okay. 00:33:20.980 --> 00:33:21.700 I know it's not 00:33:21.700 --> 00:33:22.220 okay. 00:33:22.540 --> 00:33:23.560 I need to know, I 00:33:23.560 --> 00:33:24.980 know I need to do 00:33:24.980 --> 00:33:27.040 better, but, you 00:33:27.040 --> 00:33:28.920 know, everyone else 00:33:28.920 --> 00:33:30.020 struggles with this, 00:33:30.680 --> 00:33:32.280 so, you know, if I 00:33:32.280 --> 00:33:33.160 put this off till 00:33:33.160 --> 00:33:35.000 tomorrow or next 00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:36.180 week, it's okay. 00:33:36.600 --> 00:33:37.880 God will forgive me. 00:33:38.880 --> 00:33:39.880 But if I do this, 00:33:41.140 --> 00:33:43.140 then, yeah, that 00:33:43.140 --> 00:33:44.480 person is a 00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:44.980 scoundrel. 00:33:44.980 --> 00:33:46.740 The problem is 00:33:46.740 --> 00:33:48.319 that these are the 00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:50.200 kinds of sins that 00:33:50.200 --> 00:33:50.900 move us in that 00:33:50.900 --> 00:33:52.140 direction, they sweep 00:33:52.140 --> 00:33:53.759 us up, and then you 00:33:53.759 --> 00:33:54.720 have the Philippians 00:33:54.720 --> 00:33:56.099 that all of a sudden 00:33:56.099 --> 00:33:58.259 they turn around, and 00:33:58.259 --> 00:34:00.839 they just can't even 00:34:00.839 --> 00:34:02.640 describe how they 00:34:02.640 --> 00:34:03.900 ever got to the place 00:34:03.900 --> 00:34:04.319 where they are. 00:34:05.740 --> 00:34:07.599 How did I get here? 00:34:08.760 --> 00:34:10.780 How did I allow my 00:34:10.780 --> 00:34:12.320 life to walk that 00:34:12.320 --> 00:34:13.380 road for so long? 00:34:13.380 --> 00:34:16.019 And so we do 00:34:16.019 --> 00:34:17.260 ourselves a service by 00:34:17.260 --> 00:34:18.300 recognizing these 00:34:18.300 --> 00:34:20.579 gateway sins at the 00:34:20.579 --> 00:34:21.559 beginning, and we 00:34:21.559 --> 00:34:23.920 cut them off so that 00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:24.960 we can continue this 00:34:24.960 --> 00:34:26.059 road to repentance, 00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:27.680 and starting over, 00:34:28.039 --> 00:34:29.300 and recalibrating our 00:34:29.300 --> 00:34:30.800 heart so that we are 00:34:30.800 --> 00:34:32.240 in tune with the 00:34:32.240 --> 00:34:33.420 Lord and enjoy the 00:34:33.420 --> 00:34:35.300 benefits of slavery 00:34:35.300 --> 00:34:36.980 to Christ and to 00:34:36.980 --> 00:34:37.860 righteousness and the 00:34:37.860 --> 00:34:38.840 freedom that comes. 00:34:39.039 --> 00:34:39.700 There is freedom. 00:34:39.699 --> 00:34:40.819 We talk about, it 00:34:40.819 --> 00:34:41.899 talks about slavery, but 00:34:41.899 --> 00:34:44.480 to be bound to Christ 00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:45.719 as master is actually 00:34:45.719 --> 00:34:46.719 freedom, right? 00:34:47.659 --> 00:34:49.079 It's freedom in so many 00:34:49.079 --> 00:34:49.439 ways. 00:34:50.399 --> 00:34:51.419 So let's talk about, 00:34:51.519 --> 00:34:53.000 just briefly, just a 00:34:53.000 --> 00:34:53.599 couple minutes here. 00:34:54.039 --> 00:34:54.839 I want to touch on 00:34:54.839 --> 00:34:56.460 these, kind of lay them 00:34:56.460 --> 00:34:58.379 out briefly so you can 00:34:58.379 --> 00:34:59.779 see them, and then I'll 00:34:59.779 --> 00:35:01.039 let you discuss them in 00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:01.799 your groups. 00:35:02.500 --> 00:35:03.759 The first is anger. 00:35:04.359 --> 00:35:05.699 In James chapter 4, 00:35:05.779 --> 00:35:07.379 verses 1 and 2, it says 00:35:07.380 --> 00:35:09.099 this, what causes 00:35:09.099 --> 00:35:10.740 quarrels and what 00:35:10.740 --> 00:35:12.000 causes fights among 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:12.300 you? 00:35:12.940 --> 00:35:14.280 Is it not this, your 00:35:14.280 --> 00:35:16.240 passions are at war 00:35:16.240 --> 00:35:16.900 within you? 00:35:17.920 --> 00:35:21.180 You desire and do not 00:35:21.180 --> 00:35:22.280 have, so you murder. 00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:23.579 You covet and cannot 00:35:23.579 --> 00:35:24.920 obtain, so you fight 00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:25.519 and quarrel. 00:35:25.740 --> 00:35:26.800 You do not have 00:35:26.800 --> 00:35:27.840 because you do not 00:35:27.840 --> 00:35:28.240 ask. 00:35:29.240 --> 00:35:30.300 And you ask and do 00:35:30.300 --> 00:35:31.579 not receive because you 00:35:31.579 --> 00:35:33.500 ask wrongly to spend 00:35:33.500 --> 00:35:34.400 it on your passions. 00:35:35.579 --> 00:35:36.980 You adulterous people, 00:35:36.980 --> 00:35:37.900 do you not know that 00:35:37.900 --> 00:35:39.280 friendship with the 00:35:39.280 --> 00:35:40.719 world is enmity with 00:35:40.719 --> 00:35:41.019 God? 00:35:41.860 --> 00:35:42.900 Therefore, whoever 00:35:42.900 --> 00:35:44.579 desires or whoever 00:35:44.579 --> 00:35:46.420 wishes to be a friend 00:35:46.420 --> 00:35:47.780 of the world makes 00:35:47.780 --> 00:35:49.420 himself an enemy of 00:35:49.420 --> 00:35:49.679 God. 00:35:50.860 --> 00:35:51.800 And do you see kind of 00:35:51.800 --> 00:35:55.320 how James interplays a 00:35:55.320 --> 00:35:56.300 lot of these things that 00:35:56.300 --> 00:35:57.079 we would say, well, 00:35:57.139 --> 00:35:57.920 this one's not so bad, 00:35:57.980 --> 00:35:58.780 but that one, oh, 00:35:58.840 --> 00:36:00.679 yeah, that's a big 00:36:00.679 --> 00:36:00.920 deal. 00:36:01.559 --> 00:36:02.639 And we talk about, he 00:36:02.639 --> 00:36:03.699 uses fighting and 00:36:03.699 --> 00:36:05.139 quarreling in the same 00:36:05.139 --> 00:36:06.219 sentence where he uses 00:36:06.219 --> 00:36:08.739 murder and coveting. 00:36:10.859 --> 00:36:13.639 And in his mind, they 00:36:13.639 --> 00:36:15.039 are synonymous because 00:36:15.039 --> 00:36:16.239 one just leads to the 00:36:16.239 --> 00:36:16.359 other. 00:36:16.599 --> 00:36:18.519 One is the entryway. 00:36:18.959 --> 00:36:20.219 It's the beginning of 00:36:20.959 --> 00:36:21.819 the road that will 00:36:21.819 --> 00:36:22.879 eventually lead to the 00:36:22.879 --> 00:36:23.500 end of the road. 00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:25.259 If it's not cut off, 00:36:25.299 --> 00:36:26.719 it's not stopped because 00:36:26.719 --> 00:36:27.399 it's coming from the 00:36:27.399 --> 00:36:28.000 same heart. 00:36:29.699 --> 00:36:31.199 I may have mentioned 00:36:31.199 --> 00:36:33.619 this already at some 00:36:33.619 --> 00:36:34.439 point, so if I have, 00:36:34.440 --> 00:36:36.539 just forgive me, but I 00:36:36.539 --> 00:36:38.420 can't, I just can't 00:36:38.420 --> 00:36:40.639 forget about an 00:36:40.639 --> 00:36:41.260 interview that was 00:36:41.260 --> 00:36:42.159 happening between two 00:36:42.159 --> 00:36:43.300 pastors at a conference. 00:36:44.179 --> 00:36:45.780 And one pastor asked the 00:36:45.780 --> 00:36:46.480 other one, he says, 00:36:46.800 --> 00:36:48.579 now, pastor, you have 00:36:48.579 --> 00:36:50.800 said that you honestly 00:36:50.800 --> 00:36:51.559 believe that you're the 00:36:51.559 --> 00:36:52.860 worst sinner in the room. 00:36:53.720 --> 00:36:54.480 Yep, that's what I 00:36:54.480 --> 00:36:54.760 believe. 00:36:55.539 --> 00:36:57.280 And this pastor said, 00:36:57.320 --> 00:36:58.940 I can understand that 00:36:58.940 --> 00:37:01.840 theologically, but I know 00:37:01.840 --> 00:37:02.500 your church. 00:37:02.500 --> 00:37:03.920 You've got a big church 00:37:03.920 --> 00:37:05.820 and you've got a lot of 00:37:05.820 --> 00:37:07.739 really rotten people in 00:37:07.739 --> 00:37:08.579 your church, people who 00:37:08.579 --> 00:37:10.179 have done pretty 00:37:10.179 --> 00:37:11.840 despicable things, things 00:37:11.840 --> 00:37:13.139 that we can't even 00:37:13.139 --> 00:37:13.519 mention. 00:37:14.880 --> 00:37:17.059 How is it that you might 00:37:17.059 --> 00:37:20.300 say honestly that you 00:37:20.300 --> 00:37:21.099 believe you're the worst 00:37:21.099 --> 00:37:22.460 sinner when there's a 00:37:22.460 --> 00:37:23.820 room full of those 00:37:23.820 --> 00:37:24.159 people? 00:37:25.420 --> 00:37:26.739 And his response was, 00:37:26.980 --> 00:37:28.480 because I know my heart. 00:37:28.480 --> 00:37:31.219 And that's true. 00:37:31.980 --> 00:37:34.440 You see, the problem is, 00:37:35.280 --> 00:37:36.260 the things that lead me 00:37:36.260 --> 00:37:38.519 to lying, lead me to 00:37:38.519 --> 00:37:41.500 covering up, lead me to 00:37:41.500 --> 00:37:45.340 even discouragement, or 00:37:45.340 --> 00:37:47.500 to lead me to certain 00:37:47.500 --> 00:37:50.119 forms of leisure, and 00:37:50.119 --> 00:37:51.539 those kinds of things, 00:37:51.820 --> 00:37:54.900 those same attitudes lead 00:37:54.900 --> 00:37:56.699 other people to sexual 00:37:56.699 --> 00:37:59.759 sins, and to greediness. 00:38:00.399 --> 00:38:01.960 And it comes from the 00:38:01.960 --> 00:38:02.399 same heart. 00:38:02.980 --> 00:38:03.719 It comes from the same 00:38:03.719 --> 00:38:04.179 place. 00:38:04.879 --> 00:38:06.839 It looks different, but 00:38:06.839 --> 00:38:09.019 it's coming, it's the 00:38:09.019 --> 00:38:10.419 wellspring of the same 00:38:10.419 --> 00:38:11.119 desire. 00:38:11.319 --> 00:38:13.239 I want something that I 00:38:13.239 --> 00:38:13.899 don't have. 00:38:14.039 --> 00:38:15.019 Now, it's taken some 00:38:15.019 --> 00:38:15.919 people a little further 00:38:15.919 --> 00:38:17.000 down that road, but 00:38:17.000 --> 00:38:18.819 inevitably, we're all on 00:38:18.819 --> 00:38:20.519 that path the moment we 00:38:20.519 --> 00:38:21.779 choose to have our own 00:38:21.779 --> 00:38:23.339 way instead of God's way. 00:38:23.340 --> 00:38:23.340 00:38:24.340 --> 00:38:25.920 And anger is probably 00:38:25.920 --> 00:38:28.180 something that many of 00:38:28.180 --> 00:38:29.760 us, we look in the 00:38:29.760 --> 00:38:30.760 mirror, and we know we 00:38:30.760 --> 00:38:32.360 struggle with this at 00:38:32.360 --> 00:38:33.920 times, either privately 00:38:33.920 --> 00:38:34.680 or publicly. 00:38:36.420 --> 00:38:38.980 And we need to recognize 00:38:38.980 --> 00:38:41.960 that the end of this 00:38:41.960 --> 00:38:44.360 unchecked anger leads not 00:38:44.360 --> 00:38:47.059 just to murder, but it 00:38:47.059 --> 00:38:48.660 leads to being cut off 00:38:48.660 --> 00:38:49.940 from the Lord. 00:38:49.940 --> 00:38:52.679 That's what he says 00:38:52.679 --> 00:38:53.760 here in verse 4. 00:38:54.300 --> 00:38:55.099 Do you not know that 00:38:55.099 --> 00:38:55.920 friendship with the 00:38:55.920 --> 00:38:58.619 world is enmity or 00:38:58.619 --> 00:39:00.320 hostility against God? 00:39:00.960 --> 00:39:02.840 You have become an enemy 00:39:02.840 --> 00:39:03.900 with God. 00:39:04.900 --> 00:39:06.480 And as Ephesians 4 has 00:39:06.480 --> 00:39:07.760 said, you have been 00:39:07.760 --> 00:39:09.039 alienated from him. 00:39:09.420 --> 00:39:10.679 You've been cut off from 00:39:10.679 --> 00:39:10.880 him. 00:39:12.880 --> 00:39:14.760 Oh, may God help us to 00:39:14.760 --> 00:39:16.500 check our anger. 00:39:17.579 --> 00:39:18.079 Self-pity. 00:39:18.079 --> 00:39:19.860 Self-pity. 00:39:19.920 --> 00:39:20.559 And you all know the 00:39:20.559 --> 00:39:21.980 story of Jonah, right? 00:39:22.719 --> 00:39:24.259 And it begins very early 00:39:24.259 --> 00:39:27.259 in chapter 4, where 00:39:27.259 --> 00:39:29.199 Jonah finally gets to 00:39:29.199 --> 00:39:29.799 the right place. 00:39:29.880 --> 00:39:30.819 He finally preaches 00:39:30.819 --> 00:39:32.239 this, I think it's a 00:39:32.239 --> 00:39:33.860 five-year word sermon 00:39:33.860 --> 00:39:34.739 in Hebrew. 00:39:35.480 --> 00:39:38.019 In 40 days, you'll be 00:39:38.019 --> 00:39:38.500 destroyed. 00:39:38.679 --> 00:39:39.559 That's kind of five 00:39:39.559 --> 00:39:40.299 Hebrew words. 00:39:40.440 --> 00:39:42.579 There's no offer of 00:39:42.579 --> 00:39:42.960 repentance. 00:39:43.179 --> 00:39:44.360 There's no even 00:39:44.360 --> 00:39:45.219 indication that things 00:39:45.219 --> 00:39:45.860 could be different. 00:39:45.860 --> 00:39:48.360 And God shows up and 00:39:48.360 --> 00:39:49.700 rescues the whole city. 00:39:49.840 --> 00:39:50.519 It's incredible. 00:39:50.720 --> 00:39:53.260 This massive revival that 00:39:53.260 --> 00:39:55.900 takes place on five 00:39:55.900 --> 00:39:56.360 words. 00:39:57.380 --> 00:39:58.420 But how does Jonah 00:39:58.420 --> 00:39:58.980 respond? 00:40:00.059 --> 00:40:01.900 Well, Jonah 4.1 opens 00:40:01.900 --> 00:40:02.340 this way. 00:40:02.900 --> 00:40:04.300 It displeased Jonah. 00:40:05.579 --> 00:40:06.140 What? 00:40:06.880 --> 00:40:08.539 It displeased Jonah? 00:40:08.599 --> 00:40:09.660 Are you kidding me? 00:40:09.659 --> 00:40:10.859 How does the... 00:40:10.859 --> 00:40:12.000 By the way, this is 00:40:12.000 --> 00:40:14.759 probably the greatest 00:40:14.759 --> 00:40:16.519 revival ever captured 00:40:16.519 --> 00:40:17.519 in the Bible. 00:40:18.000 --> 00:40:19.399 It's happening here. 00:40:20.500 --> 00:40:21.679 Literally hundreds of 00:40:21.679 --> 00:40:22.519 thousands of people. 00:40:22.619 --> 00:40:25.079 Not just 2,000 on the 00:40:25.079 --> 00:40:25.759 day of Pentecost. 00:40:25.859 --> 00:40:27.119 And then 5,000 a little 00:40:27.119 --> 00:40:27.359 later. 00:40:27.420 --> 00:40:27.960 We're talking about 00:40:27.960 --> 00:40:29.399 hundreds of thousands 00:40:29.399 --> 00:40:31.659 of people are committing 00:40:32.480 --> 00:40:33.399 themselves to God. 00:40:33.699 --> 00:40:35.639 And Jonah is displeased. 00:40:36.279 --> 00:40:37.679 The greatest revivalist 00:40:37.679 --> 00:40:39.599 in human history 00:40:39.599 --> 00:40:40.919 is angry. 00:40:42.319 --> 00:40:43.119 Well, he's angry 00:40:43.119 --> 00:40:45.059 and God begins to 00:40:45.059 --> 00:40:46.239 reveal where it's 00:40:46.239 --> 00:40:46.799 coming from. 00:40:48.119 --> 00:40:49.759 And God creates this 00:40:49.759 --> 00:40:50.500 object lesson. 00:40:50.639 --> 00:40:52.139 He gives him a little 00:40:52.139 --> 00:40:53.699 plant that grows in 00:40:53.699 --> 00:40:57.339 this very hot, arid 00:40:57.339 --> 00:40:57.619 weather. 00:40:58.500 --> 00:40:59.599 And so the Lord says 00:40:59.599 --> 00:41:00.179 in verse 4, 00:41:00.419 --> 00:41:01.639 Do you do well to be 00:41:01.639 --> 00:41:01.919 angry? 00:41:02.519 --> 00:41:03.359 And Jonah went out of 00:41:03.359 --> 00:41:04.419 the city, sat to the 00:41:04.419 --> 00:41:04.759 east. 00:41:04.760 --> 00:41:06.600 And of the city, he 00:41:06.600 --> 00:41:07.340 made a booth for 00:41:07.340 --> 00:41:08.080 himself there. 00:41:08.500 --> 00:41:10.620 He sat under it in the 00:41:10.620 --> 00:41:12.140 shade till he should 00:41:12.140 --> 00:41:13.280 see what would become 00:41:13.280 --> 00:41:13.740 the city. 00:41:14.760 --> 00:41:15.580 Now the Lord God had 00:41:15.580 --> 00:41:16.540 appointed a plant and 00:41:16.540 --> 00:41:17.280 made it to come over 00:41:17.280 --> 00:41:18.680 Jonah so that it might 00:41:18.680 --> 00:41:19.720 be a shade over his 00:41:19.720 --> 00:41:21.140 head to save him from 00:41:21.140 --> 00:41:21.820 his discomfort. 00:41:22.100 --> 00:41:23.360 So Jonah was 00:41:23.360 --> 00:41:24.720 exceedingly glad. 00:41:25.140 --> 00:41:25.380 Okay? 00:41:25.940 --> 00:41:26.880 He was really happy 00:41:26.880 --> 00:41:27.940 about the plant and 00:41:27.940 --> 00:41:29.340 very displeased about 00:41:29.340 --> 00:41:32.000 the saving work of God. 00:41:32.060 --> 00:41:32.820 And you know the story. 00:41:32.820 --> 00:41:34.480 It's identified his 00:41:34.480 --> 00:41:34.740 heart. 00:41:34.960 --> 00:41:36.420 This self-serving, 00:41:36.740 --> 00:41:37.900 self-pitying heart. 00:41:39.120 --> 00:41:40.620 He didn't really want 00:41:40.620 --> 00:41:41.360 what God wanted. 00:41:42.240 --> 00:41:43.000 He wanted what he 00:41:43.000 --> 00:41:43.320 wanted. 00:41:44.080 --> 00:41:45.519 It was just indicated 00:41:45.519 --> 00:41:48.760 by this response to 00:41:48.760 --> 00:41:49.900 the city and this 00:41:49.900 --> 00:41:51.180 work, this mighty work 00:41:51.180 --> 00:41:53.000 of God among the 00:41:53.000 --> 00:41:53.440 Ninevites. 00:41:54.460 --> 00:41:56.080 Third is discontentment. 00:41:57.059 --> 00:41:57.760 Discontentment says 00:41:57.760 --> 00:41:58.920 I'm not satisfied with 00:41:58.920 --> 00:41:59.760 what God has given me. 00:42:00.100 --> 00:42:00.900 And a lot of these 00:42:00.900 --> 00:42:02.660 kind of come out of 00:42:02.660 --> 00:42:04.760 the same seeds or 00:42:04.760 --> 00:42:06.920 kind of bearing fruit 00:42:06.920 --> 00:42:07.720 just in different 00:42:07.720 --> 00:42:08.220 ways. 00:42:09.160 --> 00:42:09.900 And Paul addresses 00:42:09.900 --> 00:42:10.860 discontentment in 00:42:10.860 --> 00:42:11.740 Philippians chapter 4 00:42:11.740 --> 00:42:12.280 when he says, 00:42:12.960 --> 00:42:13.780 Not that I'm speaking 00:42:13.780 --> 00:42:15.240 of being in need, 00:42:15.300 --> 00:42:16.119 for I have learned 00:42:16.119 --> 00:42:17.320 in whatever situation 00:42:17.320 --> 00:42:18.639 I am to be content. 00:42:19.700 --> 00:42:20.740 I know how to be 00:42:20.740 --> 00:42:21.500 brought low. 00:42:22.039 --> 00:42:22.720 I know how to 00:42:22.720 --> 00:42:23.220 abound. 00:42:24.000 --> 00:42:25.160 In any and every 00:42:25.160 --> 00:42:26.500 circumstance, I have 00:42:26.500 --> 00:42:27.579 learned the secret of 00:42:27.579 --> 00:42:29.019 facing plenty and 00:42:29.019 --> 00:42:30.880 hunger, abundance and 00:42:30.880 --> 00:42:31.200 need. 00:42:31.740 --> 00:42:33.019 I can do all things 00:42:33.019 --> 00:42:34.440 through him who 00:42:34.440 --> 00:42:35.079 strengthens me. 00:42:36.720 --> 00:42:37.480 That's what we all 00:42:37.480 --> 00:42:37.700 need. 00:42:38.599 --> 00:42:39.640 We all need the help 00:42:39.640 --> 00:42:41.420 of God to learn to 00:42:41.420 --> 00:42:42.480 be content. 00:42:45.559 --> 00:42:46.440 That's a hard one. 00:42:49.519 --> 00:42:50.559 And it happens in a 00:42:50.559 --> 00:42:51.180 lot of different ways, 00:42:51.260 --> 00:42:51.640 doesn't it? 00:42:55.119 --> 00:42:56.059 Learning to be content. 00:42:56.720 --> 00:42:58.099 The secret of joy and 00:42:58.099 --> 00:42:58.579 thanksgiving. 00:42:58.579 --> 00:43:00.139 finally, fear. 00:43:01.739 --> 00:43:03.079 Fear is I might lose 00:43:03.079 --> 00:43:04.900 what I want, so I have 00:43:04.900 --> 00:43:06.179 to protect myself 00:43:06.179 --> 00:43:08.519 against these things. 00:43:10.400 --> 00:43:11.739 And Jesus addresses 00:43:11.739 --> 00:43:14.079 this in Matthew chapter 00:43:14.079 --> 00:43:15.739 6, verses 24 to 26. 00:43:15.860 --> 00:43:16.239 He says, 00:43:17.340 --> 00:43:18.360 No one can serve two 00:43:18.360 --> 00:43:18.679 masters. 00:43:18.739 --> 00:43:20.380 Actually, backing up, 00:43:21.199 --> 00:43:22.679 he begins this whole 00:43:22.679 --> 00:43:23.400 dialogue with, 00:43:23.880 --> 00:43:25.420 Don't be anxious about 00:43:25.420 --> 00:43:25.860 your life. 00:43:25.860 --> 00:43:26.440 And I'm sorry I didn't 00:43:26.440 --> 00:43:27.300 include that part. 00:43:27.920 --> 00:43:28.820 Don't be fearful. 00:43:29.140 --> 00:43:30.039 Don't be anxious. 00:43:30.280 --> 00:43:32.059 Don't allow this grip 00:43:32.059 --> 00:43:34.180 of fear to control you. 00:43:34.300 --> 00:43:35.380 Instead, do this. 00:43:37.140 --> 00:43:38.039 Realize that no one can 00:43:38.039 --> 00:43:38.900 serve two masters. 00:43:39.019 --> 00:43:39.800 He will either hate the 00:43:39.800 --> 00:43:40.599 one and love the other, 00:43:41.160 --> 00:43:42.420 or will be devoted to 00:43:42.420 --> 00:43:43.579 one and despise the 00:43:43.579 --> 00:43:43.740 other. 00:43:43.860 --> 00:43:44.880 You can't serve God in 00:43:44.880 --> 00:43:45.120 money. 00:43:45.559 --> 00:43:46.579 So I tell you, don't be 00:43:46.579 --> 00:43:47.620 anxious about your life. 00:43:48.280 --> 00:43:49.400 What you will eat or what 00:43:49.400 --> 00:43:50.400 you will drink or about 00:43:50.400 --> 00:43:51.300 your body, what you put 00:43:51.300 --> 00:43:51.580 on. 00:43:52.160 --> 00:43:53.640 Is not life more than 00:43:53.640 --> 00:43:55.260 food and the body more 00:43:55.260 --> 00:43:55.800 than clothing? 00:43:56.760 --> 00:43:57.720 Look at the birds of the 00:43:57.720 --> 00:43:57.900 air. 00:43:57.980 --> 00:43:59.519 They neither sow or reap 00:43:59.519 --> 00:44:00.560 or gather into barns, 00:44:00.560 --> 00:44:01.680 and yet your heavenly 00:44:01.680 --> 00:44:02.539 Father feeds them. 00:44:02.640 --> 00:44:04.500 Are you not of more 00:44:04.500 --> 00:44:05.980 value than they? 00:44:07.000 --> 00:44:08.080 And that's where we 00:44:08.080 --> 00:44:09.600 have to come back to, 00:44:10.280 --> 00:44:11.400 is recognizing that 00:44:11.400 --> 00:44:13.200 whatever fears we feel, 00:44:13.760 --> 00:44:15.140 whatever insecurities 00:44:15.140 --> 00:44:16.160 we have, whatever 00:44:16.160 --> 00:44:17.900 anxieties are coming to 00:44:17.900 --> 00:44:19.840 the table, that God is 00:44:19.840 --> 00:44:21.260 bigger than those 00:44:21.260 --> 00:44:21.680 things. 00:44:22.200 --> 00:44:23.720 He can provide, he can 00:44:23.720 --> 00:44:26.760 help, and even if bad 00:44:26.760 --> 00:44:29.460 things happen, no one 00:44:29.460 --> 00:44:30.820 can separate us from his 00:44:30.820 --> 00:44:31.800 love, right? 00:44:32.160 --> 00:44:33.440 And we might be severed 00:44:33.440 --> 00:44:35.019 from this life, but we're 00:44:35.019 --> 00:44:35.740 not going to ever be 00:44:35.740 --> 00:44:36.640 severed from his love. 00:44:37.420 --> 00:44:38.600 And we have to hang on 00:44:38.600 --> 00:44:38.920 to that. 00:44:39.019 --> 00:44:39.640 We have to remember 00:44:39.640 --> 00:44:40.539 that, okay?