WEBVTT

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 Many years ago, the noted theologian, Karl Barth, spoke at Harvard Divinity School to a packed lecture hall filled with young theologians.

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 Well, after his lecture, during a Q&A, question and answer time, someone stood and asked this question.

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 Dr. Barth, what is the greatest thought that has ever crossed your mind?

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 The greatest thought that's ever passed through your mind?

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 Well, every student in that hall leaned forward, you know, sort of like when E.F. Hutton speaks, the old commercial.

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 They wanted to hear what Barth would say.

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 They were expecting some kind of deep, complicated statement.

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 Well, Barth paused for a few minutes, thought it over, and then he replied,

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 the deepest truth to ever enter my mind is this.

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 Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.

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 Now, that is even more impressive because Barth was not theologically conservative.

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 He was what was called neo-orthodox, more in the liberal camp.

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 And he was speaking to students at Harvard Divinity School who were liberal as well.

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 It's impressive that anyone would say that.

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 Any theologian of his caliber would say that, but especially coming from his theological bent.

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 Barth's answer was deep, but it was not complicated.

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 Think with me for a minute.

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 The idea that Jesus and God the Father loves us.

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 Isn't that a mystery?

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 Think about yourself.

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 Think about human beings.

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 We are sinners by nature.

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 It just comes naturally, doesn't it?

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 And we are sinners by choice.

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 We choose sometimes to just do what I want to do when we know it's not what God wants us to do.

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 There's a lot of times, let's just be honest, we choose to live life our way instead of God's way.

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 That's one way to describe sin.

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 Well, we don't deserve God's great love as seen in John 3.16.

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 We deserve only God's judgment and punishment for the way that we have disobeyed Him.

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 But I want you to think, God chose.

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 God chose from within Himself, not because of what He saw in us, you or me,

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 but from within Himself, God chose to be gracious, to be merciful.

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 And mercy is giving us what we do not deserve.

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 God chose to be gracious and merciful by sending His Son, Jesus Christ,

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 to die on the cross as our substitute,

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 to pay the penalty for the sins that we are all guilty of.

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 This demonstration of God's love is summarized in one of the Bible's most well-known verses.

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 And if you look at it and think about it, there's a lot of depth there.

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 But it's uncomplicated.

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 Another clear and concise and uncomplicated description of God's love is this.

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 But God chose His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

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 Now that's the real meaning of Christmas.

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 That's really what Christmas is all about.

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 Romans 5.8, John 3.16.

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 Now I know when you think about Christmas,

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 you see the trees decorated and all these things, it's beautiful.

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 I know we have our family traditions, and I have mine, and they're great.

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 We should celebrate them and enjoy them.

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 There are certain things about Christmas that comes to our mind that's just fun.

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 It's just family.

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 Enjoy that.

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 Don't feel guilty.

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 But at the same time, let's understand what Christmas is really all about.

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 It's about God sending His Son into this world to save us.

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 You know, the angel made that clear to Joseph before Jesus was born.

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 Mary told Joseph she was pregnant with the Son of God.

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 An angel had appeared to her and made this known and done this supernatural work within her.

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 And Joseph, yeah, uh-huh.

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 Who would have believed it?

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 Well, God sent another angel to make it known to Joseph that what Mary said is true.

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 Look at this.

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 She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus,

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 for He will save His people from their sins.

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 That's not all you find in Matthew 1 in that section around verse 21.

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 But God made it clear to Joseph, just as He had Mary, that He was doing something unique once and for all,

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 sending His Son into this world to save sinners.

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 Mary believed it and responded in obedience.

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 Joseph believed it and responded in obedience.

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 As soon as Jesus was born, this good news about the birth of the Savior was also proclaimed by an angel,

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 this time to shepherds.

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 Look at this.

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 Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

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 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,

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 who is Christ the Lord.

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 On this first Sunday of December, we're starting our Christmas celebration.

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 As Brian's already shared, we're going to have a real special Christmas celebration next weekend,

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 Saturday at 6.30, Sunday at 8 and 10.30.

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 A great opportunity for you to invite people to hear the real Christmas story,

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 to hear the good news about who Jesus is and why He came into this world.

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 I hope you'll take advantage of that.

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 But as we begin our Christmas celebration,

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 I want us this morning to focus on the love of God.

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 The love of God as seen in sending Jesus into this world to save us.

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 Now, the love of God is sometimes misunderstood,

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 if not in the world in general, often misunderstood, mischaracterized.

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 And so I think for us to get a real picture of what the Bible teaches about what the love of God is,

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 we've got to look at what the love of God is not.

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 So let's do that.

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 What God's love is not.

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 God's love is not the essence of who God is.

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 You know, if you're going to summarize who God is,

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 most people want to say God is love.

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 Well, God is love.

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 The Bible says that word, that phrase very clearly.

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 That's correct.

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 The Bible also says God is holy.

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 The Bible, and it emphasizes emphatically God is holy.

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 The Bible also emphasizes that God is just.

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 God does what is right.

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 It talks about God being sovereign.

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 You cannot really and truly summarize God's character in one phrase.

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 He is holy.

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 He is just.

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 He is righteous.

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 He is love.

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 The Bible makes much of God's love, and rightly so.

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 But the Bible makes much of God's holiness.

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 The Bible even makes much of God's wrath.

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 The point I'm trying to make is we've got to be careful that we do not elevate God's love above all of his other attributes.

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 If we do, we distort the true picture of how God has revealed himself to us in Scripture.

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 You see, I've said this many times.

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 God's not who you think he is.

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 God's not who I think he is.

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 God is who he is, and he has revealed who he is to us in his word and in the clearest picture in his son Jesus.

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 So we've got to be careful that we don't just come up with an attribute of God that we like, like his love,

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 and just sort of blow it up to the point that it overshadows all the other attributes that the Bible equally emphasizes about God.

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 If we distort the picture of God to other people or ourselves,

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 we have created a version of God which is no God at all,

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 which can be an idol,

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 a concept of God that is anything but the one he presents of himself in Scripture.

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 So God's love is important.

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 It is a true characteristic of who God is,

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 just as he is holy.

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 He is just.

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 He is sovereign.

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 He is merciful.

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 God's love is also nothing like the popular concept of love,

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 let's just say, presented in today's media.

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 Today's culture,

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 the idea of love

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 is far from God's love.

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 You know,

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 how is your,

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 your thoughts about love

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 shaped,

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 developed?

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 Aren't they,

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 don't they a lot of it come from,

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 from the media,

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 from movies,

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 TV,

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 from music?

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 Most,

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 you know,

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 if you sort of

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 looked at all the songs that have been written in every,

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 in every,

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 every type of song,

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 every type of music,

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 there are more songs that have been written about love than anything else.

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 Love is most often presented as something romantic

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 or lustful.

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 We're taught to think in terms of falling in love,

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 falling out of love,

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 making love.

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 The popular idea of love today,

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 people just think about,

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 talk about,

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 you see everywhere you turn.

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 That does not resemble God's love,

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 as we're going to look at in a moment.

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 You know,

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 there are some churches,

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 some whole denominations,

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 and preachers in these churches and denominations,

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 that misrepresent God's love,

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 with their feel-good messages,

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 that try to avoid offending anyone,

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 try to avoid making anybody feel guilty about the way that they live.

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 Some preachers do this by,

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 they refuse to teach about God's holiness,

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 or God's wrath.

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 That would be taboo for the feel-good preachers.

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 They never call anyone,

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 based on what the scripture says,

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 they never call anyone to deal with their sin,

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 confess it to God,

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 repent of it.

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 Some even say,

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 they won't mention the word sin.

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 Some,

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 some,

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 never make a demand,

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 based on scripture,

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 to obey God.

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 You know,

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 the Bible,

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 never gives the impression,

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 that God's love,

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 somehow lessens his holiness,

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 and his requirements,

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 that we be holy.

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 You ever thought about that?

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 Peter talks about,

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 in his letter,

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 1 Peter,

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 that God is holy,

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 and because God is holy,

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 we are supposed to be,

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 as Christians,

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 because we love him,

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 because as our father,

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 we want to be like him.

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 It's important for us to understand,

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 what God's love,

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 is not,

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 because it is so misrepresented,

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 in today's culture.

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 But let's look at what God's love is.

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 That's what we need to focus on this morning.

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 God's love can be summed up,

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 as self-giving.

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 God's love is,

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 he gives of himself.

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 We see that in John 3, 16.

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 For God so loved the world,

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 that he gave.

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 Have you ever thought about the fact,

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 that there was nothing,

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 in us,

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 to attract,

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 or prompt,

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 the love of God.

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 We don't think that way,

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 do we?

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 Think about,

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 the people you love.

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 Think about your spouse.

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 When you first got to know that person,

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 there were some things about them,

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 that you noticed,

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 and you liked.

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 You were attracted to.

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 Now,

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 they were not perfect,

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 you saw some flaws,

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 but you,

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 got to know that person,

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 and you took an interest in that person,

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 because there were things about them,

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 that you liked,

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 that you wanted to get to know them better.

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 There were some things about them,

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 to put it in a selfish way,

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 they were worth you investing in.

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 And it wound up,

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 your spouse,

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 you're married to them.

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 There's things like that,

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 about a person,

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 who becomes your friend.

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 There's things in them,

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 that attracts you.

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 Makes you think,

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 they would make a good friend.

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 That's how we think.

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 That's not how God thinks.

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 God loves us,

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 as that scripture from Romans 5,

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 it says,

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 while we were still sinners.

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 While we were rebels.

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 While we didn't care about him.

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 While we were disobeying him.

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 God chose to love us.

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 Paul describes our unlovable position like this.

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 In his letter to the Ephesians,

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 he's writing to a church,

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 he's writing to Christians.

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 And in chapter 2,

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 the first two verses,

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 Paul is describing how we all are,

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 before we become Christians.

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 He says,

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 and you were dead,

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 and the trespasses and sins,

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 in which you once walked,

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 following the course of this world,

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 following the prince of the power of the air,

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 the spirit that is now at work,

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 in the sons of disobedience.

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 Someone described,

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 what Paul is saying there,

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 I don't have a reference to give you,

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 but someone described what Paul is saying like this.

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 We were dead fish,

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 floating downstream,

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 in the polluted waters,

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 of this world's corrupt system.

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 We were nothing more than spiritual corpses,

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 following the devil,

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 and living a lifestyle of disobedience to God.

00:16:52.180 --> 00:16:53.580
 Dead fish,

00:16:53.800 --> 00:16:54.860
 floating downstream.

00:16:54.860 --> 00:16:57.300
 Not a pretty picture,

00:16:57.460 --> 00:16:57.700
 is it?

00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:01.180
 But that did not stop God,

00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:03.320
 from choosing,

00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:07.819
 of his own volition,

00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:10.019
 to love us.

00:17:10.539 --> 00:17:11.720
 As Paul goes on to describe,

00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:12.660
 in verses 4 and 5,

00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:13.339
 of that same chapter,

00:17:13.420 --> 00:17:13.860
 look at this.

00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:14.740
 But God,

00:17:14.860 --> 00:17:15.960
 being rich in mercy,

00:17:16.380 --> 00:17:17.759
 because of the great love,

00:17:17.860 --> 00:17:19.220
 with which he loved us,

00:17:19.700 --> 00:17:20.860
 even when we were dead in our trespasses,

00:17:21.980 --> 00:17:23.319
 made us alive,

00:17:23.420 --> 00:17:24.299
 together with Christ,

00:17:24.299 --> 00:17:25.779
 by grace,

00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:27.339
 you have been saved.

00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:29.059
 Now,

00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:31.180
 God's love,

00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:34.299
 cannot really and truly be understood,

00:17:35.159 --> 00:17:38.680
 apart from this dark background,

00:17:39.819 --> 00:17:40.899
 of our sinfulness.

00:17:41.579 --> 00:17:42.419
 Keep that in mind.

00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:45.299
 Everybody in your world,

00:17:45.899 --> 00:17:46.799
 that you love,

00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:49.859
 there's something admirable about them.

00:17:50.899 --> 00:17:52.579
 Something drew you,

00:17:52.579 --> 00:17:53.740
 within them.

00:17:54.299 --> 00:17:57.059
 There was nothing in us,

00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:59.339
 that drew God to us.

00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:01.359
 He just chose,

00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:03.119
 to be merciful,

00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:04.960
 to be gracious,

00:18:05.700 --> 00:18:06.940
 and show us his love.

00:18:07.940 --> 00:18:08.359
 That's not,

00:18:08.519 --> 00:18:09.339
 that's not the only way,

00:18:09.399 --> 00:18:10.319
 we need to think of God's love.

00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:11.980
 There are many,

00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:13.639
 positive qualities,

00:18:13.639 --> 00:18:14.460
 to it.

00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:15.500
 Look at this.

00:18:15.899 --> 00:18:16.819
 God's love,

00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:19.319
 is an initiating love.

00:18:19.319 --> 00:18:21.460
 In 1 John,

00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:22.919
 we read this.

00:18:23.439 --> 00:18:24.220
 We love,

00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:26.019
 because he first,

00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:27.839
 loved us.

00:18:29.139 --> 00:18:30.119
 We're talking about,

00:18:30.379 --> 00:18:31.759
 this is what I just have been talking about.

00:18:31.819 --> 00:18:32.099
 God,

00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:33.220
 of his own volition,

00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:34.819
 chose to love us.

00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:37.759
 He didn't reach out to us,

00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:39.759
 after we first,

00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:41.980
 reached out to him.

00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:44.680
 How did you reach out,

00:18:44.759 --> 00:18:45.779
 to your first boyfriend,

00:18:45.779 --> 00:18:46.319
 or girlfriend?

00:18:48.140 --> 00:18:49.019
 Think back,

00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:50.400
 for most of us in this room,

00:18:50.660 --> 00:18:51.660
 to elementary school.

00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:53.960
 Maybe middle school.

00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:57.400
 Did you just go up to her,

00:18:57.740 --> 00:18:58.360
 or him,

00:18:59.220 --> 00:19:00.400
 and tell them that you liked them?

00:19:01.400 --> 00:19:02.660
 Would you go out with me,

00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:05.220
 however you would have said it?

00:19:06.140 --> 00:19:07.259
 Most likely,

00:19:07.420 --> 00:19:08.559
 in elementary school,

00:19:09.100 --> 00:19:09.779
 middle school,

00:19:10.579 --> 00:19:13.140
 you didn't make your move,

00:19:13.819 --> 00:19:15.319
 until you found out,

00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:16.500
 from somebody else,

00:19:17.299 --> 00:19:18.319
 how they felt about you.

00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:21.100
 Maybe you asked,

00:19:21.100 --> 00:19:22.960
 one of her friends,

00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:25.860
 what does she think about me?

00:19:26.900 --> 00:19:27.920
 Or maybe you sent,

00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:29.140
 one of your friends,

00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:29.980
 to find out,

00:19:30.360 --> 00:19:32.120
 what does he think about me?

00:19:33.180 --> 00:19:34.259
 You think he's interested.

00:19:35.180 --> 00:19:36.980
 You think she would go out with me.

00:19:38.380 --> 00:19:39.579
 That's sort of the way we work,

00:19:39.600 --> 00:19:39.960
 isn't it?

00:19:41.140 --> 00:19:42.140
 We're afraid,

00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:43.279
 we're reluctant,

00:19:44.220 --> 00:19:45.680
 to initiate,

00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:47.460
 something.

00:19:48.420 --> 00:19:49.480
 Well, God doesn't work that way.

00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:52.079
 God doesn't wait.

00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:52.179
 But,

00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:55.220
 he chooses,

00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:57.399
 to love us,

00:19:58.199 --> 00:19:59.859
 to draw us to himself,

00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:02.919
 to have a relationship with us.

00:20:03.319 --> 00:20:04.059
 God's love is,

00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:05.659
 he initiates it.

00:20:06.460 --> 00:20:07.639
 It's an initiating love.

00:20:07.919 --> 00:20:09.039
 God's love is eternal.

00:20:10.299 --> 00:20:11.359
 It never ends.

00:20:11.899 --> 00:20:12.859
 God said to the prophet,

00:20:13.419 --> 00:20:15.819
 I have loved you with an everlasting love.

00:20:15.819 --> 00:20:17.639
 In Psalm 136,

00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:19.139
 there are 26 verses,

00:20:19.439 --> 00:20:20.839
 that repeat this phrase,

00:20:21.379 --> 00:20:24.159
 his love endures forever.

00:20:25.639 --> 00:20:26.919
 It's hard to imagine,

00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:27.399
 isn't it?

00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:31.079
 We don't count on,

00:20:31.919 --> 00:20:33.439
 human love lasting forever.

00:20:34.439 --> 00:20:36.099
 In the best situations,

00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:37.759
 death,

00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:37.839
 death,

00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:39.279
 separates us.

00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:43.339
 That special,

00:20:43.859 --> 00:20:44.319
 close,

00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:45.119
 fellowship,

00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:45.819
 love,

00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:47.099
 does not last.

00:20:47.619 --> 00:20:48.619
 In the best situations,

00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:49.399
 because death,

00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:50.440
 will separate you.

00:20:53.079 --> 00:20:54.940
 But there are people in this room right now,

00:20:56.119 --> 00:20:58.200
 you know what it's like,

00:20:58.259 --> 00:20:59.779
 to be hurt by a friend,

00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:01.460
 or a spouse,

00:21:01.460 --> 00:21:05.120
 who just walked out of your life.

00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:10.400
 You had a loving relationship.

00:21:12.579 --> 00:21:13.620
 But all of a sudden,

00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:14.480
 one day,

00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:17.519
 they chose to end it.

00:21:18.620 --> 00:21:19.680
 And they left.

00:21:21.140 --> 00:21:22.200
 Before they left,

00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:24.840
 they may have looked you in the eye and said,

00:21:25.620 --> 00:21:26.660
 I don't love you anymore.

00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:29.559
 Or I don't want to have anything to do with you anymore.

00:21:29.559 --> 00:21:32.460
 You're not my friend.

00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:35.980
 God will never do that.

00:21:37.899 --> 00:21:41.419
 God will never walk away from you,

00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:42.539
 if you're his.

00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:46.399
 God will never get fed up with you.

00:21:47.679 --> 00:21:49.519
 He will discipline you at times,

00:21:49.899 --> 00:21:51.460
 if you're his child,

00:21:51.639 --> 00:21:52.579
 because he loves you.

00:21:53.500 --> 00:21:55.700
 But God will never walk out of your life,

00:21:55.940 --> 00:21:57.240
 he'll never look at you,

00:21:57.240 --> 00:21:59.700
 you'll never have this

00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:02.920
 with God,

00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:05.059
 I don't love you anymore.

00:22:07.339 --> 00:22:09.019
 We have God's promise

00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:11.720
 that nothing can ever separate us

00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:12.720
 from his love.

00:22:12.819 --> 00:22:14.259
 Look at this from the end of Romans.

00:22:15.579 --> 00:22:16.079
 Paul writes,

00:22:16.200 --> 00:22:17.140
 for I am sure

00:22:17.140 --> 00:22:19.480
 that neither death nor life,

00:22:19.819 --> 00:22:21.160
 nor angels nor rulers,

00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:22.579
 nor things present,

00:22:22.660 --> 00:22:23.480
 nor things to come,

00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:24.440
 nor powers,

00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:25.160
 nor height,

00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:25.799
 nor depth,

00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:27.779
 nor anything else in all creation,

00:22:28.159 --> 00:22:29.919
 will be able to separate us

00:22:29.919 --> 00:22:31.700
 from the love of God

00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:33.460
 in Christ Jesus,

00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:34.659
 our Lord.

00:22:35.619 --> 00:22:36.559
 God's gonna love us

00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:37.359
 through thick and thin.

00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:39.619
 God's gonna love us

00:22:39.619 --> 00:22:40.680
 on our deathbed.

00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:43.460
 And God's gonna love us

00:22:43.460 --> 00:22:45.180
 in his presence in heaven

00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:46.079
 forever.

00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:49.639
 If you can't believe that,

00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:51.139
 don't believe anything about him.

00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:52.960
 That's his word.

00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:55.360
 That's guaranteed.

00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:57.500
 Trust God.

00:22:58.519 --> 00:23:00.680
 He will never stop loving you.

00:23:01.340 --> 00:23:02.620
 God's love is unchanging.

00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:04.920
 God's love is unchanging

00:23:04.920 --> 00:23:06.039
 because God's unchanging.

00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:08.240
 Malachi says it real simple.

00:23:08.539 --> 00:23:10.079
 I, the Lord, do not change.

00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:13.680
 Have you ever thought of this?

00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:16.440
 There's absolutely nothing

00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:18.420
 that will cause God

00:23:18.420 --> 00:23:19.500
 to love you more,

00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:23.319
 nor to love you less.

00:23:25.460 --> 00:23:26.339
 Think about it.

00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:30.240
 There's nothing you can do

00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:30.839
 that cause God

00:23:30.839 --> 00:23:31.619
 to love you less.

00:23:34.900 --> 00:23:36.019
 There's things you can do

00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:37.559
 to me that I will love you less.

00:23:40.819 --> 00:23:42.119
 And if you say otherwise,

00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:42.819
 you're lying.

00:23:44.819 --> 00:23:45.660
 There are things

00:23:45.660 --> 00:23:46.960
 that people can,

00:23:47.099 --> 00:23:48.759
 maybe have done to us,

00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:51.900
 and we do love them less.

00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:53.460
 There are things

00:23:53.460 --> 00:23:55.839
 that people do for us.

00:23:58.579 --> 00:23:59.779
 And we love them more.

00:24:02.660 --> 00:24:03.579
 If you want me

00:24:03.579 --> 00:24:04.420
 to love you more,

00:24:04.680 --> 00:24:06.420
 I can give you some things

00:24:06.420 --> 00:24:07.519
 that you could do for me.

00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:09.940
 And I'll love you more.

00:24:11.119 --> 00:24:12.299
 God doesn't work that way.

00:24:15.299 --> 00:24:15.660
 God,

00:24:16.940 --> 00:24:17.920
 certainly think about this.

00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:19.519
 We can certainly

00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:21.380
 please God

00:24:21.380 --> 00:24:24.440
 and disappoint God

00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:26.340
 by the things we do

00:24:26.340 --> 00:24:27.480
 or fail to do.

00:24:29.420 --> 00:24:31.840
 God does reward

00:24:31.840 --> 00:24:33.560
 faithfulness.

00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:34.820
 The Bible talks about that

00:24:34.820 --> 00:24:36.300
 in a lot of different ways

00:24:36.300 --> 00:24:37.740
 about God's rewards.

00:24:38.900 --> 00:24:39.960
 And God does

00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:41.980
 discipline His children.

00:24:41.980 --> 00:24:47.759
 God does not love us

00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:49.160
 more when we please Him,

00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:51.799
 nor does He love us less

00:24:51.799 --> 00:24:53.259
 when we displease Him

00:24:53.259 --> 00:24:56.140
 because God's love

00:24:56.140 --> 00:24:57.519
 is unchanging.

00:24:59.279 --> 00:24:59.460
 You know,

00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:02.660
 God's love is so unlike ours,

00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:04.200
 it's just hard to imagine.

00:25:04.200 --> 00:25:06.580
 But here's a story

00:25:06.580 --> 00:25:08.720
 that may help us

00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:10.940
 grasp the magnitude

00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:13.220
 of God's love.

00:25:13.380 --> 00:25:13.960
 It's too long

00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:14.819
 to put on the screen.

00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:16.059
 I'm going to read

00:25:16.059 --> 00:25:17.000
 most of it to you.

00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:19.360
 During the Revolutionary War,

00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:19.940
 there was a man

00:25:19.940 --> 00:25:21.480
 named Peter Miller.

00:25:22.220 --> 00:25:23.940
 He was a committed Christian.

00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:26.039
 He had a neighbor

00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:29.539
 who hated him intensely.

00:25:29.539 --> 00:25:32.139
 And one of the reasons was

00:25:32.139 --> 00:25:35.659
 because Miller was a Christian.

00:25:36.940 --> 00:25:38.519
 And he was an unbeliever.

00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:42.139
 His hatred was such

00:25:42.139 --> 00:25:42.859
 for Peter Miller

00:25:42.859 --> 00:25:46.259
 that he sought to do

00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:47.720
 whatever he could

00:25:47.720 --> 00:25:49.839
 to aggravate him,

00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:51.539
 to hurt him,

00:25:52.379 --> 00:25:55.099
 to harm his things.

00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:58.460
 Well, this unbelieving neighbor,

00:25:58.460 --> 00:26:00.500
 he had a lot of issues.

00:26:01.700 --> 00:26:03.000
 He was a traitor.

00:26:04.840 --> 00:26:05.880
 And one day,

00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:08.819
 he was put on trial.

00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:11.200
 And he was found guilty

00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:12.340
 of treason.

00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:14.380
 And he was sentenced to death.

00:26:15.860 --> 00:26:17.440
 Now, when Peter Miller

00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:18.579
 heard about it,

00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:21.120
 it bothered him

00:26:21.120 --> 00:26:24.340
 that his neighbor,

00:26:25.140 --> 00:26:26.539
 mean as a snake to him,

00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:28.500
 an enemy to him.

00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:30.799
 But it bothered him

00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:31.700
 to think he is going

00:26:31.700 --> 00:26:32.460
 to be executed

00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:33.779
 as an unbeliever.

00:26:34.899 --> 00:26:35.619
 And so he heard

00:26:35.619 --> 00:26:37.159
 that General George Washington

00:26:37.159 --> 00:26:39.220
 was about 60 miles away.

00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:40.420
 And so he decided

00:26:40.420 --> 00:26:41.960
 to go and see Washington

00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:43.940
 and ask him

00:26:43.940 --> 00:26:46.579
 to pardon

00:26:46.579 --> 00:26:48.220
 his neighbor.

00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:50.539
 He went and Washington

00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:52.879
 heard his plea.

00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:56.440
 Miller gave a good defense.

00:26:57.340 --> 00:26:58.260
 But Washington said,

00:26:58.380 --> 00:26:58.600
 no,

00:26:59.760 --> 00:27:01.700
 I will not pardon

00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:03.240
 your friend.

00:27:04.700 --> 00:27:05.620
 Miller responded,

00:27:06.020 --> 00:27:07.340
 he's not my friend,

00:27:07.540 --> 00:27:07.820
 General.

00:27:08.900 --> 00:27:09.280
 In fact,

00:27:09.420 --> 00:27:12.120
 he is my worst enemy.

00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:14.200
 And Washington

00:27:14.200 --> 00:27:15.500
 was sort of taken aback.

00:27:16.340 --> 00:27:16.700
 He said,

00:27:16.760 --> 00:27:18.600
 you have walked 60 miles

00:27:18.600 --> 00:27:19.940
 to meet with me

00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:21.720
 and plead for the life

00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:22.660
 of your enemy.

00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:25.220
 That changes

00:27:25.220 --> 00:27:26.580
 the whole picture.

00:27:27.580 --> 00:27:28.759
 And Washington

00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.500
 decided

00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:31.320
 to pardon

00:27:31.320 --> 00:27:33.400
 Miller's

00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:34.160
 neighbor.

00:27:35.279 --> 00:27:36.720
 He wrote it out,

00:27:37.580 --> 00:27:38.539
 gave it to Miller

00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:39.460
 to go

00:27:39.460 --> 00:27:41.360
 where his neighbor

00:27:41.360 --> 00:27:42.400
 was being held

00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:43.460
 before he was executed.

00:27:44.380 --> 00:27:45.120
 Miller went.

00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:46.580
 He got there

00:27:46.580 --> 00:27:47.360
 just in time.

00:27:47.359 --> 00:27:48.799
 His neighbor

00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:50.519
 was being walked out

00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:52.199
 to be hung.

00:27:54.179 --> 00:27:55.479
 When the neighbor

00:27:55.479 --> 00:27:56.359
 saw Miller

00:27:56.899 --> 00:27:58.500
 there in the crowd,

00:27:59.240 --> 00:28:00.519
 that neighbor

00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:01.679
 just shouted out

00:28:01.679 --> 00:28:02.879
 with bitter anger,

00:28:03.139 --> 00:28:04.240
 old Peter Miller

00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:05.659
 has come to seek

00:28:05.659 --> 00:28:06.619
 his revenge

00:28:06.619 --> 00:28:08.039
 by watching me

00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:08.799
 hang.

00:28:10.939 --> 00:28:12.219
 But that man

00:28:12.219 --> 00:28:13.719
 was amazed

00:28:13.719 --> 00:28:15.519
 as Peter Miller

00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:16.659
 stepped out

00:28:16.660 --> 00:28:17.320
 of the crowd,

00:28:18.140 --> 00:28:18.920
 approached

00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:20.019
 the guard,

00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:22.120
 pardoned in hand.

00:28:23.680 --> 00:28:25.100
 He was set free.

00:28:26.900 --> 00:28:27.860
 Peter Miller

00:28:27.860 --> 00:28:29.680
 demonstrated

00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:31.200
 the uncommon,

00:28:32.080 --> 00:28:32.900
 undeserved

00:28:32.900 --> 00:28:34.060
 love of God

00:28:34.060 --> 00:28:35.700
 for sinners

00:28:35.700 --> 00:28:37.240
 like us.

00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:39.279
 And that's really

00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:39.779
 the message

00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:40.300
 of Christmas.

00:28:41.980 --> 00:28:42.620
 God sent

00:28:42.620 --> 00:28:43.540
 his only son

00:28:43.540 --> 00:28:44.320
 into this world

00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:46.139
 to die

00:28:46.139 --> 00:28:48.119
 for us.

00:28:49.879 --> 00:28:50.480
 Sinners,

00:28:51.500 --> 00:28:52.179
 rebels,

00:28:54.179 --> 00:28:56.460
 oh,

00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:57.639
 disobedient people.

00:28:59.299 --> 00:28:59.779
 God sent

00:28:59.779 --> 00:29:00.460
 his only son

00:29:00.460 --> 00:29:01.000
 to suffer

00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:02.839
 his wrath

00:29:02.839 --> 00:29:05.480
 that we deserve

00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:06.599
 because of our sin.

00:29:07.879 --> 00:29:08.519
 God sent

00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:08.939
 his son

00:29:08.939 --> 00:29:09.480
 to suffer that

00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:10.079
 so that we

00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:11.159
 would not have to.

00:29:11.160 --> 00:29:13.420
 God sent

00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:14.120
 Jesus to this

00:29:14.120 --> 00:29:14.620
 world to die

00:29:14.620 --> 00:29:14.920
 for us

00:29:14.920 --> 00:29:15.300
 so that we

00:29:15.300 --> 00:29:15.680
 could be

00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:16.220
 forgiven,

00:29:17.400 --> 00:29:18.060
 so that we

00:29:18.060 --> 00:29:18.600
 could be made

00:29:18.600 --> 00:29:19.460
 right with God,

00:29:19.600 --> 00:29:20.380
 become children

00:29:20.380 --> 00:29:21.100
 of God,

00:29:23.100 --> 00:29:24.560
 live eternally

00:29:24.560 --> 00:29:25.460
 with him

00:29:25.460 --> 00:29:28.279
 and enjoy

00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:29.340
 his love.

00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:32.100
 That

00:29:32.100 --> 00:29:33.100
 is God's

00:29:33.100 --> 00:29:33.820
 love in action.

00:29:34.860 --> 00:29:35.580
 Jesus coming

00:29:35.580 --> 00:29:36.420
 into this world,

00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:37.600
 dying on the cross.

00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:39.219
 what I want

00:29:39.219 --> 00:29:39.619
 to ask you

00:29:39.619 --> 00:29:39.899
 now,

00:29:41.059 --> 00:29:41.559
 how have you

00:29:41.559 --> 00:29:42.159
 responded to

00:29:42.159 --> 00:29:42.899
 God's love?

00:29:45.339 --> 00:29:45.939
 Have you

00:29:45.939 --> 00:29:46.459
 given up

00:29:46.459 --> 00:29:46.879
 your

00:29:46.879 --> 00:29:48.480
 rebellion

00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:49.039
 or just

00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:50.039
 your indifference?

00:29:51.399 --> 00:29:51.759
 Have you

00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:52.579
 truly turned

00:29:52.579 --> 00:29:53.119
 from your sin,

00:29:53.259 --> 00:29:53.799
 changed your

00:29:53.799 --> 00:29:54.039
 mind,

00:29:54.179 --> 00:29:54.539
 repented?

00:29:56.659 --> 00:29:57.240
 Have you

00:29:57.240 --> 00:29:57.839
 truly put your

00:29:57.839 --> 00:29:58.559
 trust in Jesus?

00:29:58.719 --> 00:29:58.919
 Are you

00:29:58.919 --> 00:29:59.659
 continuing to

00:29:59.659 --> 00:30:00.359
 trust him

00:30:00.359 --> 00:30:01.139
 and follow

00:30:01.139 --> 00:30:01.500
 him,

00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:02.299
 obey him

00:30:02.299 --> 00:30:02.539
 as the

00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:02.799
 Lord of

00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:03.339
 your life?

00:30:04.419 --> 00:30:04.980
 If you

00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:05.299
 have it,

00:30:05.359 --> 00:30:05.980
 I encourage

00:30:05.980 --> 00:30:06.459
 you to do

00:30:06.459 --> 00:30:07.259
 so right

00:30:07.259 --> 00:30:07.559
 now.

00:30:08.879 --> 00:30:09.420
 I know

00:30:09.420 --> 00:30:10.000
 the majority

00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:10.460
 of people,

00:30:10.579 --> 00:30:11.019
 overwhelming

00:30:11.019 --> 00:30:11.539
 majority of

00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:11.799
 people in

00:30:11.799 --> 00:30:12.059
 this room,

00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:13.079
 you are

00:30:13.079 --> 00:30:13.579
 a professing

00:30:13.579 --> 00:30:13.940
 Christian.

00:30:15.059 --> 00:30:15.400
 Let me

00:30:15.400 --> 00:30:15.900
 ask you,

00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:17.740
 are you

00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:18.940
 on a

00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:19.579
 regular

00:30:19.579 --> 00:30:20.000
 daily

00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:20.579
 basis

00:30:20.579 --> 00:30:22.599
 living in

00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:22.960
 close

00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:23.440
 fellowship

00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:24.140
 with God?

00:30:25.519 --> 00:30:26.420
 Are you

00:30:26.420 --> 00:30:27.099
 enjoying

00:30:27.099 --> 00:30:28.920
 his love?

00:30:30.539 --> 00:30:30.980
 He's your

00:30:30.980 --> 00:30:31.359
 heavenly

00:30:31.359 --> 00:30:31.799
 father.

00:30:32.599 --> 00:30:33.000
 Are you

00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:33.619
 enjoying

00:30:33.619 --> 00:30:34.759
 a loving

00:30:34.759 --> 00:30:35.299
 relationship

00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:35.920
 with him?

00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:38.779
 are you

00:30:38.779 --> 00:30:39.240
 loving

00:30:39.240 --> 00:30:39.900
 him

00:30:39.900 --> 00:30:41.420
 in

00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:41.920
 return?

00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:44.079
 Let's

00:30:44.079 --> 00:30:44.579
 pray together.

00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:45.980
 Father,

00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:49.160
 show us

00:30:49.160 --> 00:30:51.559
 how you

00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:52.000
 see us

00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:52.500
 this morning.

00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:56.160
 Make it

00:30:56.160 --> 00:30:56.740
 clear how

00:30:56.740 --> 00:30:57.099
 we need

00:30:57.099 --> 00:30:57.819
 to respond

00:30:57.819 --> 00:30:59.279
 to you

00:30:59.279 --> 00:31:01.879
 and your

00:31:01.879 --> 00:31:02.819
 love

00:31:02.819 --> 00:31:04.299
 as seen

00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:04.859
 in sending

00:31:04.859 --> 00:31:06.219
 Jesus to

00:31:06.219 --> 00:31:07.039
 save us.

00:31:08.599 --> 00:31:09.259
 Lord, if

00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:09.419
 there are

00:31:09.419 --> 00:31:09.719
 people in

00:31:09.719 --> 00:31:09.979
 this room

00:31:09.979 --> 00:31:10.259
 who are

00:31:10.259 --> 00:31:10.879
 not truly

00:31:10.879 --> 00:31:11.179
 your

00:31:11.179 --> 00:31:11.639
 children,

00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:12.099
 make it

00:31:12.099 --> 00:31:12.639
 clear to

00:31:12.639 --> 00:31:14.139
 them and

00:31:14.139 --> 00:31:14.659
 call them

00:31:14.659 --> 00:31:15.119
 to faith

00:31:15.119 --> 00:31:15.559
 in Jesus

00:31:15.559 --> 00:31:16.359
 right now.

00:31:19.479 --> 00:31:20.079
 Father, if

00:31:20.079 --> 00:31:20.319
 there are

00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:20.839
 Christians in

00:31:20.839 --> 00:31:21.339
 this world

00:31:21.339 --> 00:31:22.699
 that, in

00:31:22.699 --> 00:31:23.259
 this room,

00:31:23.459 --> 00:31:23.639
 that are

00:31:23.639 --> 00:31:27.139
 not enjoying

00:31:27.140 --> 00:31:29.080
 the closeness

00:31:29.080 --> 00:31:30.820
 of fellowship

00:31:30.820 --> 00:31:31.480
 with you,

00:31:32.800 --> 00:31:34.240
 they're not

00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:34.740
 enjoying

00:31:34.740 --> 00:31:36.320
 your love,

00:31:36.920 --> 00:31:37.420
 show them

00:31:37.420 --> 00:31:37.840
 why.

00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:40.740
 If there's

00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:41.200
 sin in their

00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:41.600
 life, dear

00:31:41.600 --> 00:31:43.140
 God, make

00:31:43.140 --> 00:31:43.620
 it clear and

00:31:43.620 --> 00:31:43.980
 help them to

00:31:43.980 --> 00:31:44.780
 confess it now

00:31:44.780 --> 00:31:45.420
 and draw close

00:31:45.420 --> 00:31:45.800
 to you.

00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:48.740
 Lord, if

00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.160
 they are

00:31:49.160 --> 00:31:50.160
 putting everyone

00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:50.700
 and everything

00:31:50.700 --> 00:31:51.420
 in their life

00:31:51.420 --> 00:31:52.240
 ahead of you,

00:31:52.920 --> 00:31:53.540
 there's just

00:31:53.540 --> 00:31:54.240
 no time

00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:54.759
 for you.

00:31:56.859 --> 00:31:57.480
 There's no

00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:58.000
 time to be

00:31:58.000 --> 00:31:58.819
 still and

00:31:58.819 --> 00:32:01.279
 know that

00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:01.859
 you are God

00:32:01.859 --> 00:32:02.579
 and experience

00:32:02.579 --> 00:32:03.460
 your love.

00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:05.440
 Help them,

00:32:05.539 --> 00:32:05.980
 dear God,

00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:07.140
 to rearrange

00:32:07.140 --> 00:32:08.059
 priorities,

00:32:09.059 --> 00:32:10.740
 to do

00:32:10.740 --> 00:32:11.319
 whatever it

00:32:11.319 --> 00:32:11.839
 takes,

00:32:12.839 --> 00:32:14.319
 to spend

00:32:14.319 --> 00:32:14.859
 that time

00:32:14.859 --> 00:32:15.359
 with you,

00:32:16.839 --> 00:32:17.400
 to truly

00:32:17.400 --> 00:32:18.539
 make Jesus

00:32:18.539 --> 00:32:19.039
 the most

00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:19.700
 important person

00:32:19.700 --> 00:32:19.960
 in their

00:32:19.960 --> 00:32:20.380
 life.

00:32:23.140 --> 00:32:24.000
 Lord, help

00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:24.539
 all of us

00:32:24.539 --> 00:32:24.859
 in this

00:32:24.859 --> 00:32:25.180
 room

00:32:25.180 --> 00:32:28.299
 respond to

00:32:28.299 --> 00:32:28.680
 you in a

00:32:28.680 --> 00:32:29.279
 way that

00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:31.039
 Christmas

00:32:31.039 --> 00:32:32.859
 really will

00:32:32.859 --> 00:32:34.599
 be a

00:32:34.599 --> 00:32:35.319
 time of

00:32:35.319 --> 00:32:35.980
 celebrating

00:32:35.980 --> 00:32:38.700
 our Savior

00:32:38.700 --> 00:32:39.180
 and Lord

00:32:39.180 --> 00:32:40.119
 Jesus Christ.

00:32:40.940 --> 00:32:41.740
 Not just

00:32:41.740 --> 00:32:42.420
 his birth,

00:32:43.619 --> 00:32:43.980
 but his

00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:44.619
 presence in

00:32:44.619 --> 00:32:45.019
 our life

00:32:45.019 --> 00:32:45.579
 every day.

00:32:47.259 --> 00:32:47.700
 Let's just

00:32:47.700 --> 00:32:47.880
 in an

00:32:47.880 --> 00:32:48.279
 attitude of

00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:48.920
 prayer listen

00:32:48.920 --> 00:32:49.200
 to the

00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:50.720
 Lord and

00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:51.420
 respond to

00:32:51.420 --> 00:32:52.099
 him as he

00:32:52.099 --> 00:32:52.640
 speaks to

00:32:52.640 --> 00:32:52.940
 you.

00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:54.559
 Let's do

00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:54.880
 that in

00:32:54.880 --> 00:32:55.160
 the next

00:32:55.160 --> 00:32:55.339
 few

00:32:55.339 --> 00:32:55.700
 minutes.

00:32:55.700 --> 00:32:56.579
 Let's do

00:32:56.579 --> 00:32:57.039
 that in

00:32:57.039 --> 00:32:58.079
 the next

00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:58.619
 few minutes.

00:32:58.619 --> 00:32:59.539
 Let's do

00:32:59.539 --> 00:33:00.539
 that in the

00:33:00.539 --> 00:33:01.480
 next few

00:33:01.480 --> 00:33:02.440
 minutes.