WEBVTT

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 It's our first Sunday in 2025, and so we're starting something that we're going to be

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 doing every year, Lord willing, and that is asking the Lord what he has to say about our

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 church for the year.

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 If you look at the book of Revelation, there's seven churches in the beginning of the book

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 of Revelation, and Jesus has thoughts about all those churches.

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 He has a lot of corrections.

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 He has some affirmations to some of those.

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 But what he doesn't, you can't say that he doesn't have thoughts, okay?

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 He has thoughts on all of those churches, and he has thoughts on our church as well.

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 And so what we want to do is seek the Lord and say, Lord, what do you think about our

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 church?

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 What do you have for us in this new year?

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 So that's something we did together, prayed towards this new year, asked the Lord, what

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 are three words that you have for us for this year?

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 And the three words that God gave us are character, family, and order.

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 Character, family, and order, okay?

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 And so I'm going to speak on all three of these.

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 I'm going to start today by speaking on character, okay?

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 We're going to talk today about character.

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 You can turn to 2 Peter chapter 1 if you want to look at the main scripture we're going to

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 come off of.

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 But one thing I wanted to say by way of intro as well is that something I've been thinking

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 about is that a lot of times when people think of church, they think it's very complicated,

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 very difficult.

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 And because so many churches don't grow or because so many churches close their doors,

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 that it must be really difficult to have a healthy church and for having a healthy church

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 grow and thrive.

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 But I think it's really important for us to look at it no different than you would look

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 at anything else that's healthy.

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 If something's healthy, it grows.

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 If something that is alive always needs certain components to stay alive and to be healthy

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 and to continue to grow, and the church is no different from that, okay?

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 The church is no different from that.

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 And most often, we tend to overcomplicate this in our hearts and minds.

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 And so what it does is it breeds unbelief in us when we're trying to be the church and

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 do church together.

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 And we just need to be transformed by the renewing of our mind because when it really comes down

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 to it, church isn't all that complicated on what makes it healthy because Jesus, and it

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 would be one thing if we just didn't know and we had to figure it all out.

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 But if you read the Bible, there are clear communications from the Bible on what it means

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 to be a healthy church.

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 There are clear components and different people, gifts that God has given to the church who

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 are gifted in certain ways to build the church.

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 When apostles are apostling and prophets are prophesying and being prophets and pastors are

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 pastoring and teachers are teaching and evangelists are evangelizing,

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 the church builds itself up and it grows, okay?

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 That's just one aspect of it.

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 That's just one verse.

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 But there's multiple verses like that.

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 There's multiple ways that the Bible says, hey, this is how you should build.

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 There's multiple verses that say this is the way church should function.

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 This is what a healthy church looks like.

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 This is the components necessary.

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 This is God's will.

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 And it's important for us to get faith around the building blocks of God's kingdom in the

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 context of his church.

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 And instead of having our kind of default be, oh yeah, church is really hard to be healthy.

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 Church is really hard to grow in a healthy way.

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 Church is really hard to thrive.

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 Well, is that true?

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 Is it really as hard as we make it out to be?

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 Or is it just that very often we're just missing the components that God so specifically, clearly

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 gave us in his word to build the church his way?

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 Does that make sense?

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 I think it's an important question to ask.

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 And it's something that I think God was stirring in my heart even this morning to ask you.

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 And to ask you, where is your faith when it comes to the church?

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 And is it based on what you have seen?

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 And not to mention that so much of our faith ends up being on what has been called church

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 and how successful or unsuccessful it's been.

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 When most often in our culture, what has been called church is not church in fact.

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 It's not.

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 It's not the way God wanted it to be.

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 It's not the way God prescribed it to be.

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 It's not the way God's laid out in the scriptures for the church to be.

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 And therefore, we should not let those churches in name only that end up being very weak,

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 very feeble, that end up closing their doors, that end up not being thriving, alive churches,

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 determine whether or not we're going to have faith that this church, Christ's church,

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 is going to be in an alive and a thriving church.

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 If you're doing that, I got a word for you this morning.

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 It's a different word from the three words.

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 Stop.

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 Stop doing that.

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 Okay?

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 Don't do that.

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 Don't think that way.

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 Change your mind.

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 Repent.

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 And start thinking in faith according to the word of God, according to the ways of God.

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 All right?

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 So, 2 Peter 1, 3-10.

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 So, character is one of those things that's very important to a healthy church.

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 Character is extremely important to a healthy church.

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 If you don't have character, you might say you.

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 I'm talking about the people of the church because the church is people.

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 Okay?

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 If the people that comprise the church don't have character, it's not going to be healthy.

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 It's not going to thrive.

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 Okay?

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 Let's look at the main text on this.

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 2 Peter 1, starting in verse 3.

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 Okay?

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 His divine power is granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.

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 Through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence,

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 by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises,

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 so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature,

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 having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desires.

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 Okay?

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 Verse 5, He says,

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 For this reason, so all that He just laid out there, now He says,

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 For this reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue.

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 Virtue with knowledge.

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 Knowledge with self-control.

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 Self-control with steadfastness.

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 Steadfastness with godliness.

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 And godliness with brotherly affection.

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 And brotherly affection with love.

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 All character issues.

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 Okay?

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 Verse 8, He says,

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 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing,

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 they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 Whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he's blind,

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 having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

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 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election.

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 For if you practice these qualities, you will never fall.

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 Wow!

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 Right?

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 That just lays it out there.

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 Some really direct, specific things.

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 All right?

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 Some really direct, specific things.

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 First, it starts off by saying these great things we've been given.

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 His divine power has granted us all things that pertain to life and godliness.

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 So, most often people say,

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 Well, I just don't feel like I have everything I need for life and godliness.

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 Well, your feelings betray you.

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 What does the Bible say?

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 Will you submit to your feelings when the Word says something different?

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 What is your standard?

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 Your feelings or the Word?

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 God's Word says that his divine power has given you most things?

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 No.

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 All things that pertain to life and godliness.

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 Well, I'm trying to do my life.

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 I'm trying to be godly.

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 Both things are difficult.

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 Sometimes I don't feel like I have what I need.

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 Well, the Bible says you have all you need for life and godliness.

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 Do you believe that?

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 Right here.

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 And he said that that's through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.

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 He's revealed himself.

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 He's shown himself.

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 Have you seen Jesus?

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 Have you seen the Father, he said?

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 The exact representation of the Father is Jesus.

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 He's God in bodily form so that we could know him and see him and understand what he is like.

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 Okay?

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 Through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

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 and then it says in verse 4,

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 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises,

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 so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature.

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 Wow.

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 Okay.

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 Now he's saying you have everything you need,

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 then I'm going to give you these promises.

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 I got these promises for you.

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 It helps you become partakers of the divine nature,

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 which goes with what Judah was sharing when we took the Lord's table.

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 I can't do it on my own.

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 I need to partake of the divine nature,

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 because my nature is not getting me anywhere.

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 Right?

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 So of course I need to partake of the divine nature,

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 which what does it do?

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 That is what's caused me to escape from the corruption that's in the world because of sinful desire.

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 Now in light of all this,

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 because he says for this very reason,

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 essentially he's saying,

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 now that I've laid that all out,

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 for this very reason,

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 make every effort to supplement your faith.

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 Now this is where a lot of times you have the two ditches in Christianity, right?

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 There's the ditch where it's just like,

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 oh no,

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 the Lord has done everything.

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 I don't need to do anything.

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 I'm not going to get into your workspace religion.

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 You know,

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 it's Christ.

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 It's all Christ.

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 It's Christ,

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 Christ,

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 Christ,

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 Christ.

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 It's Christ church,

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 man.

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 That's what we call it.

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 Right?

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 But he says in light of all this,

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 make every effort.

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 Whoa,

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 whoa,

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 whoa.

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 Effort?

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 Doesn't depend on man's effort,

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 but God's mercy.

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 Don't you know that verse?

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 Yes,

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 but take it into,

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 that's,

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 that's not the only verse in the Bible though.

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 There's a lot of other verses like this one.

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 Okay?

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 So it's both of us.

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 The other ditch is that,

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 oh,

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 it's all on me.

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 I don't need,

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 I just need to do everything.

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 And I'm constantly feeling anxious.

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 And I'm constantly like,

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 I'm not doing enough.

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 And did I do enough?

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 Am I pleasing?

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 And no,

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 it should be somewhere in the middle where you're saying,

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 listen,

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 I can't do anything apart from Christ,

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 but I have to do things because of Christ.

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 Okay?

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 And that's what he's saying.

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 In light of all this stuff,

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 for this very reason,

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 make every effort.

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 So I would assume that

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 probably everyone who professes Christ in this room

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 is making some effort,

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 but is everyone who professes Christ in this room

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 making every effort?

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 It's a good question,

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 right?

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 He didn't say,

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 you know,

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 give a little effort in this.

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 A little spit and polish.

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 Right?

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 He says,

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 no,

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 make every effort.

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 Make every effort.

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 To what?

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 Supplement your faith.

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 Why does he start with faith?

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 Because that's where it all starts.

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 Without faith,

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 it's impossible to please God,

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 Hebrews 11,

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 6 says.

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 Okay?

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 So,

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 grace comes through faith.

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 Faith is where it starts.

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 But he's saying,

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 you've got to make every effort to supplement.

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 You guys know what a supplement is.

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 Many of you take supplements,

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 right?

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 We take supplements.

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 Why?

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 Because we're not getting what we need in our food,

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 so we take a supplement to add to it.

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 Okay?

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 We're adding to our faith and saying,

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 okay,

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 I'm going to supplement it with virtue

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 and knowledge

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 and self-control

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 and steadfastness,

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 godliness,

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 brotherly affection,

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 love,

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 which all these things,

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 in essence,

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 are really saying,

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 character.

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 Character.

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 Make every effort to supplement

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 your faith

00:11:56.299 --> 00:11:58.600
 with the character attributes,

00:11:59.159 --> 00:12:01.559
 with things that are noble things to pursue.

00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:03.259
 And then,

00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:04.179
 he gives this,

00:12:04.319 --> 00:12:04.919
 in verse 8,

00:12:04.919 --> 00:12:06.939
 it's such a great statement.

00:12:07.079 --> 00:12:08.039
 This is what I'm talking about

00:12:08.039 --> 00:12:08.620
 when I'm saying,

00:12:09.259 --> 00:12:09.539
 you know,

00:12:09.620 --> 00:12:11.939
 sometimes we overcomplicate church

00:12:11.939 --> 00:12:13.299
 and our life together

00:12:13.299 --> 00:12:13.879
 because he says,

00:12:13.979 --> 00:12:14.979
 if these qualities are yours

00:12:14.979 --> 00:12:15.799
 and are increasing,

00:12:16.459 --> 00:12:17.899
 they keep you from being ineffective

00:12:17.899 --> 00:12:18.639
 or unfruitful

00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:20.139
 in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:12:21.299 --> 00:12:24.419
 We know of people in churches

00:12:24.419 --> 00:12:26.039
 who are ineffective

00:12:26.039 --> 00:12:27.899
 or unfruitful

00:12:27.899 --> 00:12:28.959
 in their knowledge of Jesus Christ.

00:12:29.299 --> 00:12:30.000
 Some of us are saying,

00:12:30.099 --> 00:12:30.240
 yeah,

00:12:30.279 --> 00:12:31.099
 that's me.

00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:32.899
 Not just that I know someone,

00:12:32.980 --> 00:12:34.320
 that's me a lot of times.

00:12:34.560 --> 00:12:35.620
 I feel ineffective,

00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:37.120
 unfruitful.

00:12:38.360 --> 00:12:39.120
 And you might say,

00:12:39.180 --> 00:12:39.259
 well,

00:12:39.300 --> 00:12:40.200
 what do I do about that?

00:12:41.720 --> 00:12:43.080
 It lays it right out here.

00:12:43.220 --> 00:12:44.300
 If these qualities,

00:12:44.540 --> 00:12:45.440
 these character qualities,

00:12:45.560 --> 00:12:46.220
 are yours

00:12:46.220 --> 00:12:48.740
 and are increasing,

00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:51.379
 they keep you from being ineffective

00:12:51.379 --> 00:12:52.300
 or unfruitful

00:12:52.300 --> 00:12:53.899
 in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:12:54.500 --> 00:12:54.659
 Okay?

00:12:55.040 --> 00:12:55.560
 How do you,

00:12:55.680 --> 00:12:56.480
 how are you kept

00:12:56.480 --> 00:12:57.379
 from being ineffective

00:12:57.379 --> 00:12:58.060
 or unfruitful?

00:12:58.480 --> 00:12:59.139
 Have these things

00:12:59.139 --> 00:12:59.980
 in increasing measure.

00:12:59.980 --> 00:13:01.259
 keep going.

00:13:01.980 --> 00:13:02.659
 Keep going.

00:13:03.039 --> 00:13:04.100
 He endures to the end

00:13:04.100 --> 00:13:04.779
 we'll be saved.

00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:06.399
 Matthew 24, 13, right?

00:13:06.920 --> 00:13:08.019
 You don't just start.

00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:09.600
 It's not just about starting.

00:13:10.180 --> 00:13:11.259
 You got to persevere.

00:13:11.920 --> 00:13:13.340
 You got to keep increasing.

00:13:13.920 --> 00:13:14.899
 You got to keep pursuing.

00:13:15.580 --> 00:13:15.779
 Say,

00:13:15.860 --> 00:13:16.019
 God,

00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:16.879
 I want you more

00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:17.840
 than the things of this world.

00:13:17.960 --> 00:13:18.980
 I don't just start with you

00:13:18.980 --> 00:13:19.539
 and then I just

00:13:19.539 --> 00:13:20.800
 live this selfish,

00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:21.580
 comfortable life

00:13:21.580 --> 00:13:22.940
 and expect that that's Christianity.

00:13:23.139 --> 00:13:23.860
 No, no, no, no, no, no.

00:13:24.580 --> 00:13:25.820
 I possess these qualities

00:13:25.820 --> 00:13:26.840
 in increasing measure.

00:13:27.320 --> 00:13:28.539
 I'm making every effort

00:13:28.539 --> 00:13:29.659
 to supplement my faith

00:13:29.659 --> 00:13:30.319
 with these things.

00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:32.620
 This is a focus of my life.

00:13:33.159 --> 00:13:34.099
 We put a lot of effort

00:13:34.099 --> 00:13:34.919
 into a lot of things

00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:36.179
 but do we put a lot of effort

00:13:36.179 --> 00:13:38.019
 and maybe even go even further

00:13:38.019 --> 00:13:39.240
 to say every effort

00:13:39.240 --> 00:13:40.740
 into supplementing our faith

00:13:40.740 --> 00:13:41.819
 with the character qualities

00:13:41.819 --> 00:13:42.759
 that God wants?

00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:43.399
 And again,

00:13:43.699 --> 00:13:44.240
 please hear me.

00:13:44.299 --> 00:13:44.799
 I'm not saying

00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:45.699
 you just muster it up,

00:13:45.819 --> 00:13:47.139
 pull yourself up

00:13:47.139 --> 00:13:48.059
 by your own bootstraps

00:13:48.059 --> 00:13:49.500
 and get it together, man.

00:13:51.620 --> 00:13:52.379
 I'm saying

00:13:52.379 --> 00:13:53.299
 you realize

00:13:53.299 --> 00:13:54.319
 you don't have it together.

00:13:54.419 --> 00:13:55.279
 You'll never have it together

00:13:55.279 --> 00:13:55.860
 on your own.

00:13:55.860 --> 00:13:57.379
 You trust

00:13:57.379 --> 00:13:58.820
 with everything within you,

00:13:59.279 --> 00:13:59.919
 God's power

00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:00.700
 working within you.

00:14:00.779 --> 00:14:01.320
 You partake

00:14:01.320 --> 00:14:02.139
 of the divine nature

00:14:02.139 --> 00:14:03.340
 and then you give

00:14:03.340 --> 00:14:04.300
 everything you got

00:14:04.300 --> 00:14:05.340
 towards it

00:14:05.340 --> 00:14:06.560
 in light of it.

00:14:07.220 --> 00:14:07.759
 Right?

00:14:08.139 --> 00:14:09.240
 And you make every effort.

00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:11.399
 This keeps us

00:14:11.399 --> 00:14:12.779
 from being ineffective

00:14:12.779 --> 00:14:13.539
 or unfruitful.

00:14:14.259 --> 00:14:15.120
 Everybody hates

00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:15.840
 when they're ineffective.

00:14:16.300 --> 00:14:16.779
 Everybody hates

00:14:16.779 --> 00:14:17.539
 when they're unfruitful.

00:14:18.019 --> 00:14:19.220
 What are you doing about it?

00:14:20.820 --> 00:14:22.420
 Sometimes we complain about it.

00:14:22.700 --> 00:14:24.000
 Sometimes we whine about it.

00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:25.500
 Sometimes we're bummed about it.

00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:26.200
 Sometimes we're even

00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:27.080
 depressed about it.

00:14:27.539 --> 00:14:28.379
 Sometimes that's all

00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:29.080
 we can think about

00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:29.799
 is how ineffective

00:14:29.799 --> 00:14:30.840
 and unfruitful we are.

00:14:31.100 --> 00:14:31.659
 Or we could do

00:14:31.659 --> 00:14:32.399
 something about it.

00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:34.139
 Bible lays it

00:14:34.139 --> 00:14:35.240
 really straightforward,

00:14:35.399 --> 00:14:35.860
 pretty clear.

00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:36.580
 Right?

00:14:36.700 --> 00:14:37.000
 I mean,

00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:40.100
 am I missing something here?

00:14:40.220 --> 00:14:41.179
 It seems really

00:14:41.179 --> 00:14:42.279
 straightforward right here.

00:14:42.340 --> 00:14:42.539
 Right?

00:14:42.960 --> 00:14:43.279
 It says,

00:14:43.399 --> 00:14:43.519
 if you,

00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:44.240
 if you,

00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:45.740
 these qualities are yours

00:14:45.740 --> 00:14:46.559
 and are increasing,

00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:47.779
 they keep you

00:14:47.779 --> 00:14:48.820
 from being ineffective

00:14:48.820 --> 00:14:49.620
 or unfruitful

00:14:49.620 --> 00:14:50.519
 in the knowledge

00:14:50.519 --> 00:14:51.360
 of our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:14:51.580 --> 00:14:52.379
 I'm looking at that.

00:14:52.460 --> 00:14:52.659
 I'm saying,

00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:53.840
 this is good info.

00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:55.840
 this is important stuff

00:14:55.840 --> 00:14:56.240
 right here.

00:14:56.460 --> 00:14:57.440
 I don't want to be ineffective.

00:14:57.840 --> 00:14:59.160
 I don't want to be unfruitful.

00:15:00.300 --> 00:15:01.600
 And so if you have an area

00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:02.060
 where you are

00:15:02.060 --> 00:15:02.960
 ineffective or unfruitful,

00:15:03.040 --> 00:15:03.780
 ask the question,

00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:04.519
 is it because

00:15:04.519 --> 00:15:05.980
 I've grown complacent?

00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:08.399
 That I've just,

00:15:08.540 --> 00:15:09.600
 I've let

00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:11.100
 a specific area

00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:11.780
 of my life

00:15:11.780 --> 00:15:13.899
 not be increasing

00:15:13.899 --> 00:15:14.860
 in the virtue

00:15:14.860 --> 00:15:15.620
 of

00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:17.040
 Christ,

00:15:17.220 --> 00:15:18.259
 the character of Christ.

00:15:18.259 --> 00:15:19.580
 I'm just

00:15:19.580 --> 00:15:20.759
 going through the motions.

00:15:23.080 --> 00:15:24.500
 And this is the great reminder

00:15:24.500 --> 00:15:25.360
 is verse 9.

00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:26.559
 Forever lacks these qualities

00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:27.480
 is so nearsighted

00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:27.939
 that he's blind.

00:15:28.019 --> 00:15:28.200
 Why?

00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:29.379
 Because he's forgotten

00:15:29.379 --> 00:15:30.139
 that he's been cleansed

00:15:30.139 --> 00:15:30.919
 from his past sins.

00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:32.039
 That's why we take

00:15:32.039 --> 00:15:33.000
 the Lord's table every week.

00:15:33.059 --> 00:15:33.259
 Why?

00:15:33.500 --> 00:15:34.799
 So we don't forget

00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:35.840
 that we've been cleansed

00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:36.919
 from our past sins.

00:15:37.559 --> 00:15:38.419
 Because when you forget

00:15:38.419 --> 00:15:38.960
 that you've been

00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:40.340
 cleansed from your past sins,

00:15:40.419 --> 00:15:41.460
 you're nearsighted and blind.

00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:42.600
 And when you're nearsighted

00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:42.960
 and blind,

00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:43.899
 you stop

00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:45.259
 increasing.

00:15:45.259 --> 00:15:45.819
 increasing.

00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:46.720
 And when you stop

00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:47.120
 increasing,

00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:47.700
 you're ineffective

00:15:47.700 --> 00:15:48.360
 and unfruitful.

00:15:50.179 --> 00:15:51.080
 When you remember

00:15:51.080 --> 00:15:51.840
 who Jesus is

00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:52.500
 and what he's done for you.

00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:53.100
 When you remember

00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:53.620
 the gospel,

00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:55.159
 glad tidings of great joy

00:15:55.159 --> 00:15:55.960
 that we just talked about

00:15:55.960 --> 00:15:56.860
 this Christmas season.

00:15:57.299 --> 00:15:57.840
 You remember

00:15:57.840 --> 00:15:58.939
 the good news

00:15:58.939 --> 00:15:59.620
 of the gospel

00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:00.580
 of Jesus Christ.

00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:02.179
 That there's nothing

00:16:02.179 --> 00:16:02.879
 in you that's good.

00:16:02.980 --> 00:16:03.340
 That everything,

00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:05.379
 that all the things

00:16:05.379 --> 00:16:05.759
 you do

00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:06.840
 are for your own glory

00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:07.939
 and fall short

00:16:07.939 --> 00:16:08.840
 of the glory of God.

00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:09.759
 No matter how much

00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:10.220
 you attempt,

00:16:10.299 --> 00:16:11.159
 you can never be good enough.

00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:11.700
 It's never,

00:16:11.700 --> 00:16:12.039
 ever,

00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:12.360
 ever,

00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:12.720
 ever,

00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:13.059
 ever,

00:16:13.059 --> 00:16:13.399
 ever,

00:16:13.460 --> 00:16:13.720
 ever,

00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:14.659
 ever enough

00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:17.659
 so Jesus came,

00:16:18.019 --> 00:16:18.719
 paid the price,

00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:19.779
 lived the perfect life,

00:16:19.819 --> 00:16:20.959
 was the perfect sacrifice

00:16:20.959 --> 00:16:22.600
 so that in trusting

00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:24.019
 in his atoning sacrifice

00:16:24.019 --> 00:16:24.919
 and his resurrection

00:16:24.919 --> 00:16:25.740
 from the dead,

00:16:26.019 --> 00:16:27.019
 we could be made new

00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:27.740
 and Jesus Christ

00:16:27.740 --> 00:16:28.839
 could live inside of us,

00:16:29.100 --> 00:16:29.959
 live through us,

00:16:29.959 --> 00:16:31.079
 and we could be saved.

00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:32.919
 We could be saved.

00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:34.600
 We could be saved

00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:35.579
 from the penalty of sin.

00:16:35.659 --> 00:16:36.179
 We could be saved

00:16:36.179 --> 00:16:37.120
 from the power of sin

00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:38.019
 and we trust

00:16:38.019 --> 00:16:39.459
 and get excited

00:16:39.459 --> 00:16:40.240
 about being saved

00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:41.139
 from the presence of sin

00:16:41.139 --> 00:16:41.740
 when he returns.

00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:43.980
 We trust these things.

00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:44.800
 Have you forgotten

00:16:44.800 --> 00:16:45.399
 these things?

00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:48.460
 If you're not increasing

00:16:48.460 --> 00:16:49.480
 or you've forgotten

00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:50.139
 the good news

00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:50.659
 of the gospel

00:16:50.659 --> 00:16:51.420
 of Jesus Christ,

00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:52.560
 these things

00:16:52.560 --> 00:16:53.320
 will cause you

00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:54.019
 to become blind,

00:16:54.180 --> 00:16:54.560
 ineffective,

00:16:54.680 --> 00:16:55.340
 and unfruitful

00:16:55.340 --> 00:16:55.940
 in your knowledge

00:16:55.940 --> 00:16:56.779
 of Jesus Christ.

00:16:57.899 --> 00:16:58.700
 Isn't it interesting

00:16:58.700 --> 00:16:59.220
 that it says

00:16:59.220 --> 00:16:59.800
 in the knowledge

00:16:59.800 --> 00:17:00.440
 of Jesus Christ

00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:01.019
 because most people

00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:01.320
 would say,

00:17:01.560 --> 00:17:01.639
 oh,

00:17:01.700 --> 00:17:02.159
 if I have the knowledge

00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:02.700
 of Jesus Christ,

00:17:02.779 --> 00:17:03.120
 I'm good.

00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:03.779
 Uh-uh.

00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:05.680
 Not according

00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:06.220
 to this verse.

00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:08.400
 Do you see how it says

00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:09.059
 this will keep you

00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:09.420
 from being,

00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:10.559
 it doesn't just say

00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:11.400
 they keep you

00:17:11.400 --> 00:17:12.099
 from being ineffective

00:17:12.099 --> 00:17:12.759
 or unfruitful,

00:17:13.019 --> 00:17:13.299
 period.

00:17:14.779 --> 00:17:15.379
 It says they will

00:17:15.379 --> 00:17:16.119
 keep you from being

00:17:16.119 --> 00:17:17.240
 ineffective or unfruitful

00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:18.480
 in the knowledge

00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:19.699
 of the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:17:19.939 --> 00:17:20.639
 Have you thought

00:17:20.639 --> 00:17:21.279
 that you can have

00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:22.599
 knowledge of Jesus Christ,

00:17:22.959 --> 00:17:24.539
 the Lord Jesus Christ,

00:17:24.919 --> 00:17:26.399
 and still be ineffective

00:17:26.399 --> 00:17:27.059
 and unfruitful?

00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:28.899
 Don't just be comfortable

00:17:28.899 --> 00:17:29.399
 because you say,

00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:29.639
 oh,

00:17:29.779 --> 00:17:30.500
 I've known Jesus

00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:31.240
 for a long time.

00:17:31.299 --> 00:17:31.740
 I've been saved

00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:32.579
 since I was a kid.

00:17:32.719 --> 00:17:35.219
 I've been professing

00:17:35.219 --> 00:17:36.339
 Christians for a long time.

00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:38.539
 You can have knowledge

00:17:38.539 --> 00:17:39.319
 of Jesus Christ

00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:40.500
 for a very long time

00:17:40.500 --> 00:17:41.539
 and still be ineffective

00:17:41.539 --> 00:17:42.240
 and unfruitful.

00:17:43.079 --> 00:17:43.679
 That's clearly

00:17:43.679 --> 00:17:44.459
 what it's saying here.

00:17:45.419 --> 00:17:46.559
 But we don't want that.

00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:47.939
 I don't want that.

00:17:48.019 --> 00:17:48.659
 Do you want that?

00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:51.419
 We didn't,

00:17:51.419 --> 00:17:52.839
 we didn't start this church

00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:54.000
 so we could just coast.

00:17:55.019 --> 00:17:55.819
 We wanted to,

00:17:55.919 --> 00:17:56.399
 we didn't want to be

00:17:56.399 --> 00:17:57.419
 ineffective or unfruitful.

00:17:57.459 --> 00:17:58.259
 We want to see fruit.

00:17:58.980 --> 00:17:59.720
 We want to see fruit.

00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:00.319
 Well,

00:18:00.339 --> 00:18:00.839
 then we got to do it

00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:01.319
 God's way.

00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:02.699
 That's why he says,

00:18:02.879 --> 00:18:03.279
 therefore,

00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:04.039
 verse 10,

00:18:04.619 --> 00:18:04.939
 therefore,

00:18:04.940 --> 00:18:06.000
 okay,

00:18:06.100 --> 00:18:07.240
 after laying all this out,

00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:08.640
 he lays out the reasons,

00:18:08.900 --> 00:18:09.900
 says make every effort.

00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:10.460
 These will keep you

00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:11.140
 from being ineffective

00:18:11.140 --> 00:18:11.799
 and unproductive

00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:12.320
 in your knowledge

00:18:12.320 --> 00:18:13.019
 of the Lord Jesus.

00:18:13.600 --> 00:18:14.559
 It makes sure

00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:14.980
 that you're not

00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:16.120
 so nearsighted

00:18:16.120 --> 00:18:16.700
 that you're blind

00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:17.240
 and forgot that you

00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:17.779
 can cleanse from

00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:18.480
 your past sins.

00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:19.880
 He goes through all that

00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:20.320
 and then he says,

00:18:20.420 --> 00:18:20.779
 therefore,

00:18:22.220 --> 00:18:24.680
 so because all that's there,

00:18:26.420 --> 00:18:29.180
 now be all the more

00:18:29.180 --> 00:18:30.100
 diligent

00:18:30.100 --> 00:18:32.480
 to confirm your calling

00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:33.019
 and election.

00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:34.140
 For if you practice

00:18:34.140 --> 00:18:34.820
 these qualities,

00:18:34.819 --> 00:18:35.939
 you will never fall.

00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:36.939
 Whoa!

00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:39.019
 Another great promise.

00:18:39.639 --> 00:18:40.779
 You'll never fall.

00:18:42.879 --> 00:18:43.740
 How often do we

00:18:43.740 --> 00:18:44.720
 confess falling

00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:45.639
 or we're afraid

00:18:45.639 --> 00:18:46.220
 of falling

00:18:46.220 --> 00:18:47.619
 or we think,

00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:47.899
 oh,

00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:48.960
 I'm just afraid

00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:49.460
 I'm going to fall

00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:49.919
 into sin.

00:18:50.919 --> 00:18:51.819
 Here's the way.

00:18:53.659 --> 00:18:54.419
 Be all the more diligent

00:18:54.419 --> 00:18:55.419
 to confirm your calling

00:18:55.419 --> 00:18:55.799
 and election.

00:18:55.960 --> 00:18:56.619
 If you practice

00:18:56.619 --> 00:18:57.319
 these qualities,

00:18:57.419 --> 00:18:58.200
 you will never fail.

00:18:58.599 --> 00:18:59.240
 You never fall.

00:19:00.099 --> 00:19:00.220
 Okay?

00:19:01.099 --> 00:19:02.519
 Continuing to increase.

00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:04.139
 Trusting God

00:19:04.140 --> 00:19:04.660
 to do it.

00:19:05.220 --> 00:19:05.880
 Pressing in.

00:19:06.140 --> 00:19:06.800
 Being diligent.

00:19:07.120 --> 00:19:07.980
 Making every effort.

00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:09.140
 This is the language

00:19:09.140 --> 00:19:10.000
 that Peter uses.

00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:11.860
 That's great stuff.

00:19:12.420 --> 00:19:12.600
 Okay?

00:19:13.660 --> 00:19:14.520
 So where are you at

00:19:14.520 --> 00:19:14.920
 with that?

00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:16.020
 Where are you at

00:19:16.020 --> 00:19:16.960
 with your relationship

00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:19.880
 to this concept

00:19:19.880 --> 00:19:20.420
 of character?

00:19:22.020 --> 00:19:22.460
 Character.

00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:23.980
 What is your attitude

00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:24.900
 towards the development

00:19:24.900 --> 00:19:25.600
 of character

00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:28.139
 not in your friend,

00:19:28.259 --> 00:19:29.299
 not in your spouse,

00:19:29.579 --> 00:19:30.519
 not in your kids,

00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:31.019
 although that's

00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:31.539
 all important?

00:19:33.179 --> 00:19:33.619
 Me.

00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:34.899
 Where am I at

00:19:34.899 --> 00:19:36.639
 with pursuing character

00:19:36.639 --> 00:19:37.359
 in me?

00:19:38.599 --> 00:19:39.639
 Not just being consumed

00:19:39.639 --> 00:19:40.379
 with everybody else

00:19:40.379 --> 00:19:41.259
 and all their problems.

00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:42.419
 My problems.

00:19:47.059 --> 00:19:48.399
 Galatians 2.14

00:19:48.399 --> 00:19:48.859
 says,

00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:50.240
 when I,

00:19:50.379 --> 00:19:51.179
 this is

00:19:51.180 --> 00:19:53.039
 Paul talking

00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:53.640
 about Peter,

00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:53.980
 he said,

00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:54.460
 when I saw

00:19:54.460 --> 00:19:55.160
 that their conduct

00:19:55.160 --> 00:19:55.980
 was not in step

00:19:55.980 --> 00:19:56.480
 with the truth

00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:57.120
 of the gospel,

00:19:57.360 --> 00:19:58.420
 I said to Cephas,

00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:58.940
 he saw

00:19:58.940 --> 00:20:00.240
 that their conduct

00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:00.860
 wasn't in step

00:20:00.860 --> 00:20:01.320
 with the gospel.

00:20:01.400 --> 00:20:01.960
 This is just like

00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:02.580
 what Peter's saying.

00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:02.920
 He said,

00:20:03.320 --> 00:20:04.000
 you've forgotten

00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:04.660
 that you've been

00:20:04.660 --> 00:20:05.560
 cleansed from your past sin.

00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:07.460
 Paul saw that Peter

00:20:07.460 --> 00:20:08.140
 was living that way

00:20:08.140 --> 00:20:08.980
 and he confronted him.

00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:09.400
 He said,

00:20:09.480 --> 00:20:10.360
 I saw that your conduct

00:20:10.360 --> 00:20:11.000
 wasn't in step

00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:11.600
 with the gospel.

00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:14.560
 James 3.13

00:20:14.560 --> 00:20:16.100
 asks the question,

00:20:16.200 --> 00:20:16.799
 who is wise

00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:17.500
 and understanding

00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:18.080
 among you?

00:20:18.600 --> 00:20:19.100
 Then he says,

00:20:19.099 --> 00:20:20.500
 by his good conduct

00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:21.959
 let him show his works

00:20:21.959 --> 00:20:23.079
 in the meekness of wisdom.

00:20:23.919 --> 00:20:24.179
 And they say,

00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:24.399
 well,

00:20:24.959 --> 00:20:26.279
 are you wise?

00:20:26.959 --> 00:20:27.859
 Do you have understanding?

00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:28.980
 Prove it.

00:20:29.819 --> 00:20:30.319
 By what?

00:20:30.419 --> 00:20:30.939
 Your character.

00:20:31.379 --> 00:20:32.019
 Your good conduct.

00:20:32.419 --> 00:20:33.419
 It always shows.

00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:34.659
 It always shows.

00:20:35.859 --> 00:20:37.859
 1 Thessalonians 2.9-12

00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:39.439
 For you remember,

00:20:39.919 --> 00:20:40.240
 brothers,

00:20:40.379 --> 00:20:41.579
 our labor and toil.

00:20:42.299 --> 00:20:43.359
 We work night and day

00:20:43.359 --> 00:20:44.139
 that we might not be

00:20:44.139 --> 00:20:45.219
 a burden to any of you.

00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:46.419
 While we proclaim to you

00:20:46.419 --> 00:20:47.399
 the gospel of God,

00:20:47.779 --> 00:20:48.399
 you are witnesses

00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:49.259
 and God also,

00:20:49.360 --> 00:20:50.940
 how holy and righteous

00:20:50.940 --> 00:20:52.380
 and blameless was

00:20:52.380 --> 00:20:54.440
 our conduct towards you believers.

00:20:55.320 --> 00:20:55.900
 For you know how

00:20:55.900 --> 00:20:57.040
 like a father with his children

00:20:57.040 --> 00:20:58.340
 we exhorted each one of you

00:20:58.340 --> 00:20:59.380
 and encouraged you

00:20:59.380 --> 00:20:59.860
 and charged you

00:20:59.860 --> 00:21:00.700
 to walk in a manner

00:21:00.700 --> 00:21:01.940
 worthy of God

00:21:01.940 --> 00:21:03.220
 who calls you

00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:04.240
 into his own kingdom

00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:04.800
 and glory.

00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:05.640
 Okay?

00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:07.140
 You are witnesses

00:21:07.140 --> 00:21:08.280
 how holy and righteous

00:21:08.280 --> 00:21:08.880
 and blameless

00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:09.580
 was our conduct.

00:21:09.840 --> 00:21:10.640
 How is your conduct?

00:21:10.840 --> 00:21:11.560
 How is your character?

00:21:12.700 --> 00:21:13.980
 How is it when people

00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:14.340
 are looking?

00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:15.100
 How is it when people

00:21:15.100 --> 00:21:15.780
 are not looking?

00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:17.960
 Someone once said

00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:18.940
 your character is who you are

00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:19.700
 when nobody is looking.

00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:22.879
 We love doing things

00:21:22.879 --> 00:21:23.960
 to be praised by people,

00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:25.079
 to be thought well of by people.

00:21:25.139 --> 00:21:25.920
 Everybody wants to be

00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:26.960
 thought well of by people.

00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:29.099
 But what's most important,

00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:30.559
 what will be most motivating

00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:31.460
 is when you want to be

00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:33.180
 thought well of by God,

00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:34.339
 when you want to please Him.

00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:35.980
 God, I want my behavior,

00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:36.819
 my character,

00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:38.500
 my conduct to please You.

00:21:38.519 --> 00:21:39.180
 I want to live in a manner

00:21:39.180 --> 00:21:41.019
 worthy of the gospel,

00:21:41.139 --> 00:21:41.680
 the good news,

00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:43.039
 the free gift of eternal life

00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:43.720
 that You gave me.

00:21:43.720 --> 00:21:44.860
 I want to live in a manner

00:21:44.860 --> 00:21:45.559
 worthy of that.

00:21:46.940 --> 00:21:47.720
 And Paul's saying,

00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:48.480
 you're our witnesses

00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:49.180
 and God also,

00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:50.079
 how holy and righteous

00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:51.339
 and blameless was our conduct.

00:21:52.100 --> 00:21:52.940
 How holy and righteous

00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:54.120
 and blameless is your conduct?

00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:55.900
 How holy and righteous

00:21:55.900 --> 00:21:57.539
 is it not just on a Sunday morning

00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:58.759
 or some gathering

00:21:58.759 --> 00:21:59.620
 during the night of the week?

00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:00.700
 How holy and righteous

00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:01.339
 is your conduct

00:22:01.339 --> 00:22:02.079
 when nobody's looking?

00:22:04.120 --> 00:22:06.039
 1 Peter 1, 15-16.

00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:08.140
 He says,

00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:09.180
 But as He who called you

00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:09.720
 is holy,

00:22:10.120 --> 00:22:11.319
 you also be holy

00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:12.259
 in all your conduct,

00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:13.099
 since it is written,

00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:14.240
 You shall be holy,

00:22:14.359 --> 00:22:14.920
 for I am holy.

00:22:16.879 --> 00:22:18.480
 1 Peter 2, 12 says,

00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:19.359
 Keep your conduct

00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:21.259
 among the Gentiles honorable,

00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:22.559
 so that when they speak

00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:23.779
 against you as evildoers,

00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:25.539
 they may see your good deeds

00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:26.640
 and glorify God

00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:28.720
 on the day of visitation.

00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:31.759
 And 1 Peter 3, 1-2 says,

00:22:31.859 --> 00:22:32.859
 Wives, be subject

00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:33.700
 to your own husbands,

00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:35.180
 so that even if some

00:22:35.180 --> 00:22:36.140
 do not obey the word,

00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:36.879
 they may be won

00:22:36.879 --> 00:22:38.059
 without a word by what?

00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:40.099
 The conduct of their wives.

00:22:40.099 --> 00:22:41.819
 When they see your respectful

00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:42.740
 and pure conduct.

00:22:43.539 --> 00:22:43.699
 Okay?

00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:44.799
 Again, same principle.

00:22:45.139 --> 00:22:46.480
 Conduct, character

00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:48.079
 is very powerful.

00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:49.959
 Very powerful.

00:22:54.039 --> 00:22:55.359
 So if we think of conduct

00:22:55.359 --> 00:22:56.599
 for us as a church,

00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:59.919
 I want to look at 14 specifics

00:22:59.919 --> 00:23:01.359
 for us as a church.

00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:03.179
 These are 14 things,

00:23:03.299 --> 00:23:03.759
 I think,

00:23:04.359 --> 00:23:06.439
 knowing the different people

00:23:06.439 --> 00:23:06.939
 in the church,

00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:08.240
 these are 14 things,

00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:10.079
 I think we should be asking the Lord,

00:23:10.160 --> 00:23:10.779
 are these things,

00:23:11.099 --> 00:23:11.920
 character issues,

00:23:12.299 --> 00:23:14.799
 that we could increase in,

00:23:15.339 --> 00:23:16.460
 be diligent in.

00:23:17.140 --> 00:23:17.359
 Okay?

00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:18.680
 Don't worry,

00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:19.240
 I'm not going to spend

00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:20.160
 a ton of time on each,

00:23:20.259 --> 00:23:21.960
 but first one.

00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:22.859
 Number one,

00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:24.420
 being self-controlled.

00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:26.039
 Being self-controlled.

00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:27.680
 There's so many verses

00:23:27.680 --> 00:23:28.680
 on self-control.

00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:30.980
 Proverbs 25, 28 says,

00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:32.220
 A man without self-control

00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:33.859
 is like a city broken into

00:23:33.859 --> 00:23:34.900
 and left without walls.

00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:37.160
 If you plant a church

00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:38.060
 or you have a church

00:23:38.060 --> 00:23:39.340
 and the people in that church

00:23:39.340 --> 00:23:40.540
 are not self-controlled,

00:23:40.880 --> 00:23:41.340
 it's not going to be

00:23:41.340 --> 00:23:41.980
 a healthy church.

00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:43.860
 Okay?

00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:45.259
 It's like a city broken into

00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:46.060
 without walls.

00:23:46.620 --> 00:23:47.620
 It's not going to stand.

00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:48.279
 It's going to fall.

00:23:48.800 --> 00:23:49.620
 It's going to fall.

00:23:50.840 --> 00:23:51.660
 Again, it goes back

00:23:51.660 --> 00:23:52.120
 to what I was saying

00:23:52.120 --> 00:23:52.440
 in the beginning.

00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:52.680
 It's like,

00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:53.019
 how do you have

00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:53.680
 a healthy church?

00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:55.580
 It's not rocket science.

00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:57.100
 It's not super complicated.

00:23:57.620 --> 00:23:58.680
 You build his way,

00:23:58.759 --> 00:23:59.600
 he'll grow it his way.

00:23:59.660 --> 00:24:00.360
 You build his way,

00:24:00.420 --> 00:24:01.140
 he'll breathe life

00:24:01.140 --> 00:24:01.880
 into it his way.

00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:03.320
 That's what he does.

00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:05.340
 He loves to do that.

00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:06.460
 He's not apprehensive

00:24:06.460 --> 00:24:07.120
 about that.

00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:09.360
 But we got to get down

00:24:09.360 --> 00:24:09.980
 to the nitty gritty

00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:10.400
 and say,

00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:11.579
 are we self-controlled?

00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:13.360
 Are we steady?

00:24:13.620 --> 00:24:14.420
 Are we erratic

00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:16.019
 and prone to extremes?

00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:18.160
 Up and down constantly?

00:24:18.920 --> 00:24:19.400
 Are we saying,

00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:20.380
 no, I'm self-controlled.

00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:21.740
 My emotions are controlled.

00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:23.440
 My self is controlled.

00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:25.100
 I'm controlled.

00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:25.500
 I'm not,

00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:26.860
 I'm like a person,

00:24:27.420 --> 00:24:29.400
 like a city broken into

00:24:29.400 --> 00:24:30.420
 and left without walls.

00:24:30.600 --> 00:24:31.700
 I have self-control.

00:24:31.700 --> 00:24:32.960
 It's a fruit of the spirit.

00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:36.120
 So as I deny myself

00:24:36.120 --> 00:24:37.120
 and live towards the spirit,

00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:37.940
 the self-control

00:24:37.940 --> 00:24:38.920
 will become more and more

00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:39.860
 evident in my life.

00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:42.640
 But is there specific areas

00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:44.079
 where you're not self-controlled in

00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:45.900
 that you're just kind of

00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:46.319
 letting go

00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:46.900
 and just become

00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:47.779
 something you've been

00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:48.360
 comfortable with?

00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:49.319
 Sometimes what happens

00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:50.840
 is we become comfortable

00:24:50.840 --> 00:24:53.220
 with character,

00:24:53.620 --> 00:24:56.480
 with bad character.

00:24:57.180 --> 00:24:58.079
 Like little things.

00:24:58.120 --> 00:24:58.960
 We just become comfortable

00:24:58.960 --> 00:24:59.240
 with them.

00:24:59.299 --> 00:24:59.559
 We just say,

00:24:59.559 --> 00:24:59.759
 well,

00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:01.200
 this is just my thing.

00:25:02.599 --> 00:25:03.299
 We've to God

00:25:03.299 --> 00:25:03.720
 that he would,

00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:05.019
 that he would make us holy

00:25:05.019 --> 00:25:05.980
 and he would set us apart

00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:07.079
 and he would put his finger

00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:07.779
 on those things

00:25:07.779 --> 00:25:09.919
 that all of us,

00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:10.980
 every single one of us,

00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:12.720
 that he would put his finger

00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:13.079
 on those things

00:25:13.079 --> 00:25:13.379
 and say,

00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:15.099
 I want to purify my church.

00:25:15.539 --> 00:25:16.799
 I want my church to be holy.

00:25:16.919 --> 00:25:17.759
 I don't want them to

00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:19.359
 have any area

00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:20.419
 where they're not self-controlled.

00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:21.679
 I want them to be self-controlled.

00:25:23.919 --> 00:25:24.659
 Number two,

00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:26.139
 commitment

00:25:26.139 --> 00:25:27.019
 or being committed,

00:25:27.639 --> 00:25:27.859
 right?

00:25:28.139 --> 00:25:28.980
 Not flaky.

00:25:29.559 --> 00:25:30.339
 Psalm 15,

00:25:30.419 --> 00:25:30.980
 verse 4

00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:32.700
 in the CSB says,

00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:34.179
 who may ascend

00:25:34.179 --> 00:25:34.859
 the hill of the Lord?

00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:37.299
 He who keeps his word

00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:38.359
 whatever the cost.

00:25:39.259 --> 00:25:40.259
 He who keeps his word

00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:41.240
 whatever the cost.

00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:42.539
 Are you someone,

00:25:43.399 --> 00:25:44.039
 character-wise,

00:25:44.099 --> 00:25:44.919
 who can be counted on?

00:25:45.399 --> 00:25:46.039
 Are you someone

00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:47.440
 who keeps his word

00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:48.779
 no matter what the cost?

00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:50.000
 Okay?

00:25:50.159 --> 00:25:50.839
 This means

00:25:50.839 --> 00:25:52.379
 you don't keep your word

00:25:52.379 --> 00:25:53.659
 unless something else

00:25:53.659 --> 00:25:55.220
 becomes more enjoyable,

00:25:56.099 --> 00:25:57.059
 including sleep,

00:25:57.059 --> 00:26:00.679
 including other relationships,

00:26:01.679 --> 00:26:03.399
 including other things

00:26:03.399 --> 00:26:04.259
 you'd rather do.

00:26:04.919 --> 00:26:05.099
 Okay?

00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:06.079
 Let's be honest.

00:26:06.399 --> 00:26:07.220
 That's the stuff

00:26:07.220 --> 00:26:07.779
 that keeps us

00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:08.639
 from keeping our word.

00:26:08.859 --> 00:26:09.799
 Something we'd like

00:26:09.799 --> 00:26:10.379
 to do better.

00:26:11.419 --> 00:26:11.859
 Right?

00:26:11.859 --> 00:26:13.439
 It's typically

00:26:13.439 --> 00:26:14.679
 not some horrible thing.

00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:15.379
 It's just something

00:26:15.379 --> 00:26:16.659
 that we would rather do.

00:26:17.319 --> 00:26:17.699
 And so,

00:26:17.859 --> 00:26:18.539
 we flake out.

00:26:18.919 --> 00:26:20.059
 We don't keep our commitment.

00:26:20.219 --> 00:26:21.199
 We can't be counted on.

00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:22.839
 We can't truly be a partner

00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:23.839
 who can be counted on

00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:25.339
 because the commitment

00:26:25.339 --> 00:26:25.819
 we weighed,

00:26:26.119 --> 00:26:26.299
 well,

00:26:26.399 --> 00:26:27.079
 there's something else

00:26:27.079 --> 00:26:27.719
 more important to me.

00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:28.099
 And sometimes,

00:26:28.199 --> 00:26:29.159
 it's just as simple

00:26:29.159 --> 00:26:29.639
 as sleep.

00:26:30.679 --> 00:26:31.000
 Sometimes,

00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:31.879
 it's just as simple

00:26:31.879 --> 00:26:34.240
 as my own laziness.

00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:35.919
 Just say,

00:26:35.959 --> 00:26:36.079
 no,

00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:37.379
 I want

00:26:37.379 --> 00:26:39.179
 to be counted on.

00:26:39.659 --> 00:26:40.119
 I want to be

00:26:40.119 --> 00:26:41.000
 a committed person.

00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:41.899
 I want to have that

00:26:41.899 --> 00:26:42.819
 as a character attribute.

00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:43.359
 I want to be

00:26:43.359 --> 00:26:44.240
 the kind of guy

00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:45.619
 who truly can ascend

00:26:45.619 --> 00:26:46.339
 the hill of the Lord

00:26:46.339 --> 00:26:47.339
 because I keep my word

00:26:47.339 --> 00:26:48.199
 even when it hurts.

00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:49.179
 Okay?

00:26:49.399 --> 00:26:50.480
 I keep my word

00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.980
 whatever the cost.

00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:53.220
 Right?

00:26:53.339 --> 00:26:53.759
 Are you someone

00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.819
 who keeps his word that way?

00:26:55.579 --> 00:26:55.939
 Are you someone

00:26:55.939 --> 00:26:56.939
 who can be counted on?

00:26:57.939 --> 00:26:58.299
 Sometimes,

00:26:58.519 --> 00:26:59.299
 we end up developing

00:26:59.299 --> 00:27:00.039
 a reputation

00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:01.059
 for being counted on

00:27:01.059 --> 00:27:01.699
 to be flaky.

00:27:01.939 --> 00:27:02.740
 That's not the kind

00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:03.240
 of counted on

00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:03.740
 you want to be.

00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:04.859
 All right?

00:27:05.399 --> 00:27:06.319
 Don't be counted on

00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:06.959
 to be flaky.

00:27:07.219 --> 00:27:08.119
 Don't be counted on

00:27:08.119 --> 00:27:08.599
 to be late.

00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:09.419
 Don't be counted on

00:27:09.419 --> 00:27:10.359
 to not be counted on.

00:27:10.679 --> 00:27:11.599
 Don't be counted on

00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:12.319
 to be a person

00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:13.639
 who doesn't keep their word.

00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:14.379
 Don't be counted on

00:27:14.379 --> 00:27:14.979
 to be a person

00:27:14.979 --> 00:27:15.799
 who doesn't do

00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:16.199
 what they say

00:27:16.199 --> 00:27:16.799
 they're going to do.

00:27:17.259 --> 00:27:17.740
 Be counted,

00:27:17.899 --> 00:27:18.399
 be a person

00:27:18.399 --> 00:27:19.279
 who can be counted on

00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:20.019
 to do what you said

00:27:20.019 --> 00:27:20.599
 you were going to do.

00:27:20.699 --> 00:27:21.459
 You can be counted on

00:27:21.459 --> 00:27:22.119
 to do what God

00:27:22.119 --> 00:27:22.919
 wants them to do.

00:27:23.240 --> 00:27:24.159
 Be a committed person.

00:27:24.879 --> 00:27:25.079
 Okay?

00:27:25.319 --> 00:27:26.240
 That's a character

00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:27.939
 attribute that,

00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:29.240
 again,

00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:30.599
 if you have a church

00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:32.459
 that isn't committed,

00:27:32.599 --> 00:27:33.559
 that can't be counted on,

00:27:33.719 --> 00:27:34.379
 this is why

00:27:34.380 --> 00:27:39.100
 we call our membership partnership. This is why we even have that as a part of our church. Why?

00:27:39.400 --> 00:27:44.380
 Because how in the world? I mean, I've had people over the years, they've criticized the concept of

00:27:44.380 --> 00:27:49.220
 membership or partnership. And I'm always like, hey, I'm all ears. I would love to hear how you

00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:55.820
 would attempt to do church without the basis of people who are committed. Tell me. I'd love to

00:27:55.820 --> 00:28:01.960
 hear. I've yet to hear a good answer to that question. And I've yet to be in one quote-unquote

00:28:01.960 --> 00:28:07.500
 healthy church that has ever been filled with a group of people who are not committed. It can't

00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:13.920
 be counted on. I don't know that one exists. I don't know how it could. There's a reason God

00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:20.680
 calls us to keep our word, even when it hurts, even when it costs. Number three, good stewardship.

00:28:21.420 --> 00:28:27.000
 Good stewardship. 1 Corinthians 4 verse 2 says, it is required of stewards that they be found

00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:35.240
 faithful. That they be found faithful. All of us have been given gifts, stuff, things,

00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:39.920
 things, and all these things. Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of the heavenly

00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:46.640
 lights, James 1 17. Okay. 1 Peter says, each person should use whatever gift they've received

00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:53.019
 to serve the Lord. Okay. Stewardship. What are you doing with the gift you've been given? Are you using

00:28:53.019 --> 00:28:58.079
 it? Do you know that you have gifts, but you just know that it would be a lot of work to use your

00:28:58.079 --> 00:29:06.160
 gifts so you don't use them? What about the way you steward your finances? What about the way you

00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:12.119
 steward your time? What are the way you steward just the talents that God's given you? Some of you

00:29:12.119 --> 00:29:16.579
 are very talented in specific areas. Are you being a steward? Are you being faithful to the Lord?

00:29:17.619 --> 00:29:21.539
 Again, imagine, I mean, just looking around this room, there's not a lot of people in this room.

00:29:21.539 --> 00:29:26.240
 It's a very small group of people. A lot of very gifted people. A lot of very talented people.

00:29:26.839 --> 00:29:33.319
 A lot of resources here. A lot of awesome things in this one room. Again, it doesn't matter if you

00:29:33.319 --> 00:29:39.680
 have a room full of talent and giftings if there's not stewardship. You don't get a healthy church by

00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:43.279
 just getting a bunch of talented, gifted people because what you build with your gift, you'll

00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:48.039
 destroy with your character. You don't build with giftings. You build with character. You build with

00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:54.859
 character. Okay? And character stewards giftings. But don't be impressed with giftings.

00:29:55.659 --> 00:29:59.720
 We could go down a whole list of people who seemed very impressive with their giftings,

00:29:59.720 --> 00:30:04.899
 even in recent celebrity Christianity. Okay?

00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:11.039
 It looked like, wow, that person's really gifted. How impressive is their gift?

00:30:12.039 --> 00:30:14.019
 Not very impressive when they don't have character.

00:30:14.019 --> 00:30:19.980
 When you have Bible teachers who are known for their Bible teaching and speak all over the country

00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:22.900
 because of their Bible teaching, you find out they had a secret life of adultery.

00:30:23.700 --> 00:30:28.639
 You think, isn't their gift impressive? No, I'm not impressed.

00:30:30.119 --> 00:30:35.019
 You think their family's impressed that dad's sleeping with somebody else and found a younger,

00:30:35.200 --> 00:30:36.980
 better model because mom was older?

00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:40.700
 I mean, that's the kind of stuff that happens. This is why character matters.

00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:45.960
 You don't build church on gifting. God gives tons of gifting. Okay?

00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:51.839
 Where's the character? Where's the character that can carry gifting?

00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:56.759
 When you combine those two together with stewardship, it's an amazingly powerful thing.

00:30:56.759 --> 00:31:02.720
 When you have gifts combined with character, stewarding the gifts that you've been given

00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:08.099
 by having character, undergirding them, foundationally established below them,

00:31:08.299 --> 00:31:11.180
 now you have a healthy church. You have a healthy church.

00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:17.160
 Number four, being unafraid or not being anxious.

00:31:18.140 --> 00:31:23.460
 Okay? Philippians 4 verse 6 says, don't be anxious about anything.

00:31:23.460 --> 00:31:28.799
 Don't be anxious about anything. Well, come on. Surely I could be anxious about some things.

00:31:28.940 --> 00:31:30.559
 No, don't be anxious about anything.

00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:33.460
 But in everything, by prayer and petition, offer your request to God.

00:31:34.700 --> 00:31:34.900
 Okay?

00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:41.460
 Anxiety is so rampant and so accepted and so medicated nowadays,

00:31:41.460 --> 00:31:45.600
 it's become totally acceptable behavior that even in the church people think nothing of it.

00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:52.519
 And we've turned what the Bible calls a sin into just an acceptable form of our everyday life.

00:31:53.460 --> 00:31:59.519
 When the opposite of anxiety is trusting in God.

00:32:00.200 --> 00:32:00.640
 Right?

00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:05.220
 And so when we have an anxious culture, people are anxious about all kinds of things,

00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:07.480
 there's no health to that church.

00:32:08.539 --> 00:32:14.779
 When we lack the character of trusting in our God and are filled with anxiety,

00:32:15.299 --> 00:32:16.360
 don't be anxious about anything.

00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:19.759
 But offer your request to God. Why? Because God can be trusted.

00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:24.700
 Because God can be trusted. Do you know that? Do you believe that?

00:32:26.420 --> 00:32:29.680
 Which brings me to the fifth one. Be trusting and not controlling.

00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:36.079
 Psalm 37 verse 5 says, commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him, and He will act.

00:32:36.420 --> 00:32:40.379
 See, what happens is if we become anxious and we're not trusting in the Lord,

00:32:40.440 --> 00:32:42.500
 we end up thinking that it's on us.

00:32:42.500 --> 00:32:46.539
 And we have to control our circumstances. We have to control our situations.

00:32:47.500 --> 00:32:54.980
 If I see, oh, that, if I start to worry about my finances, then I gotta control.

00:32:55.779 --> 00:32:59.119
 If I start to worry about my spouse and how they're acting, I gotta control.

00:32:59.660 --> 00:33:04.039
 If I start to worry about my kids and what's gonna happen to them, I have to control.

00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:06.700
 If I start worrying about my church, then I have to control.

00:33:06.700 --> 00:33:13.360
 No, no. If you know that God's in control, that He is kind and good and sovereign and loving and faithful,

00:33:14.440 --> 00:33:16.259
 and we could go on with a million other things He is,

00:33:16.840 --> 00:33:18.740
 if you know that, then you trust.

00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:22.000
 But you trust to the degree, a friend of Manning once said,

00:33:22.059 --> 00:33:23.980
 you trust to the degree that you know that you're loved.

00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:28.779
 When you have the character of trusting in God,

00:33:29.600 --> 00:33:32.000
 you're unshakable, you're unmovable.

00:33:32.539 --> 00:33:34.960
 You're only as strong as what you put your hope and your trust in.

00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:37.980
 If you put your trust in something that can be taken away from you,

00:33:38.279 --> 00:33:41.559
 if you put your trust in something that can be shaken, then you will be shaken.

00:33:42.019 --> 00:33:44.240
 If you put your trust in the one who is unshakable,

00:33:44.640 --> 00:33:47.420
 the unshakable King who gives us an unshakable kingdom,

00:33:47.840 --> 00:33:49.440
 and you build your house on the rock,

00:33:50.579 --> 00:33:53.360
 then when storms rage and the wind blows,

00:33:53.700 --> 00:33:56.559
 your house and this house, this church, will stand.

00:33:57.860 --> 00:33:59.340
 What is this church built on?

00:33:59.339 --> 00:34:05.259
 Is it built on anxiety, control, fear?

00:34:05.779 --> 00:34:08.659
 Or is it built on trust in God,

00:34:08.940 --> 00:34:11.039
 who makes all things grow for His glory?

00:34:12.980 --> 00:34:14.159
 Number six.

00:34:15.960 --> 00:34:19.039
 This is a different one, but I think it's an important one.

00:34:19.400 --> 00:34:19.960
 Holistic.

00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:21.199
 Okay?

00:34:21.519 --> 00:34:22.759
 What do I mean by this?

00:34:23.640 --> 00:34:25.200
 Well, Matthew 7, 18 says,

00:34:25.280 --> 00:34:27.080
 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit,

00:34:27.520 --> 00:34:29.680
 nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.

00:34:30.320 --> 00:34:30.740
 Okay?

00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:32.280
 So what I mean by this is,

00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:35.840
 you ever see a person where it seems like they have a,

00:34:36.160 --> 00:34:39.320
 you look at their life and you say,

00:34:39.420 --> 00:34:41.600
 wow, tons of fruit in this area,

00:34:41.760 --> 00:34:43.720
 and a bunch of bad fruit in this area?

00:34:44.320 --> 00:34:46.000
 I always ask the question,

00:34:46.500 --> 00:34:49.200
 is the good fruit as good as it seems to be?

00:34:49.199 --> 00:34:52.099
 Because the Bible says,

00:34:52.779 --> 00:34:55.379
 a healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit,

00:34:55.579 --> 00:34:57.960
 nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.

00:34:59.019 --> 00:35:01.619
 And we've almost kind of normalized

00:35:01.619 --> 00:35:05.960
 this unholistic, uneven behavior

00:35:05.960 --> 00:35:08.019
 and think, oh, this is a good thing.

00:35:08.099 --> 00:35:08.259
 No.

00:35:08.699 --> 00:35:10.599
 When you see that, that's a sign.

00:35:10.739 --> 00:35:13.099
 That's a sign for you to say, be concerned.

00:35:13.099 --> 00:35:18.539
 The fact that there is so much lack of consistency

00:35:18.539 --> 00:35:21.659
 in their life is telling you that maybe the good

00:35:21.659 --> 00:35:23.259
 isn't as good as it seems to be.

00:35:25.059 --> 00:35:27.599
 Because wisdom is always proved true by her actions.

00:35:28.860 --> 00:35:29.079
 Right?

00:35:29.460 --> 00:35:31.500
 We just read that before about how,

00:35:32.019 --> 00:35:33.539
 who is wise and understanding among you?

00:35:33.599 --> 00:35:35.119
 By his good conduct, let him show.

00:35:35.599 --> 00:35:36.199
 And so it seems like,

00:35:36.259 --> 00:35:37.319
 wow, this person has a lot of wisdom,

00:35:37.420 --> 00:35:38.839
 but man, they have a lot of bad conduct.

00:35:39.279 --> 00:35:39.779
 You might say,

00:35:39.900 --> 00:35:41.000
 maybe they don't have a lot of wisdom.

00:35:41.000 --> 00:35:45.099
 And I've seen over and over again,

00:35:45.219 --> 00:35:48.219
 this scriptural truth proved true multiple times,

00:35:48.219 --> 00:35:49.559
 where it seems like, wow,

00:35:49.619 --> 00:35:52.400
 there's over the top development in this particular area,

00:35:52.420 --> 00:35:54.860
 but severe underdevelopment in the other area.

00:35:55.039 --> 00:35:57.099
 It makes you wonder how overdeveloped

00:35:57.099 --> 00:35:58.199
 they actually are in that area.

00:35:58.780 --> 00:36:00.179
 Oftentimes you'll see this with someone

00:36:00.179 --> 00:36:02.199
 who knows the Bible extremely well.

00:36:02.420 --> 00:36:03.739
 It seems like they can teach

00:36:03.739 --> 00:36:05.039
 and know everything about the Bible,

00:36:05.400 --> 00:36:07.119
 and yet they have no self-control in their life.

00:36:07.900 --> 00:36:08.280
 And they'd say,

00:36:08.380 --> 00:36:10.260
 how in the world can they know the Bible so well

00:36:10.260 --> 00:36:11.400
 and have no self-control in their life?

00:36:11.760 --> 00:36:12.240
 I would say,

00:36:12.320 --> 00:36:13.320
 well, maybe they know the Bible,

00:36:13.440 --> 00:36:14.700
 but they probably don't know God.

00:36:16.940 --> 00:36:18.920
 They know the words of God,

00:36:18.920 --> 00:36:20.260
 but they don't know God himself.

00:36:21.220 --> 00:36:23.160
 They search the scriptures looking to find life,

00:36:23.240 --> 00:36:24.660
 but they don't come to Jesus to have life,

00:36:24.800 --> 00:36:26.680
 just like the Pharisees and Sadducees.

00:36:27.640 --> 00:36:27.800
 Okay?

00:36:28.400 --> 00:36:29.700
 So we need to have,

00:36:30.040 --> 00:36:32.940
 when there is a holistic approach to character,

00:36:32.940 --> 00:36:35.500
 because basically what it is,

00:36:35.500 --> 00:36:37.659
 is what essentially happens

00:36:37.659 --> 00:36:38.619
 and what it usually is

00:36:38.619 --> 00:36:39.400
 when you see this,

00:36:39.920 --> 00:36:40.920
 a bunch of good fruit

00:36:40.920 --> 00:36:42.380
 and a bunch of really bad fruit

00:36:42.380 --> 00:36:43.300
 in the same person,

00:36:43.440 --> 00:36:45.720
 that means what you're seeing is,

00:36:45.720 --> 00:36:49.280
 is ornaments on a dead tree.

00:36:49.700 --> 00:36:51.400
 It's like a Christmas tree, right?

00:36:51.619 --> 00:36:52.179
 It's like,

00:36:52.220 --> 00:36:53.820
 it's dressed up by the person.

00:36:53.980 --> 00:36:56.079
 It's not the natural fruit of the tree.

00:36:56.799 --> 00:36:56.980
 Okay?

00:36:59.539 --> 00:37:01.299
 It'd be like you have a dead tree

00:37:01.299 --> 00:37:03.599
 out in your yard,

00:37:03.819 --> 00:37:04.779
 a dead apple tree,

00:37:05.179 --> 00:37:09.079
 and you start hanging alive apples on your tree.

00:37:10.079 --> 00:37:10.639
 You know, it's like,

00:37:10.679 --> 00:37:12.079
 wow, it looks like a really good apple tree.

00:37:12.279 --> 00:37:13.219
 It doesn't have leaves,

00:37:13.259 --> 00:37:14.840
 but it has a lot of apples on it.

00:37:15.099 --> 00:37:15.940
 It's really weird.

00:37:16.579 --> 00:37:17.940
 A lot of apples,

00:37:18.059 --> 00:37:18.960
 but no leaves.

00:37:19.920 --> 00:37:20.920
 Surely it's good, right?

00:37:20.960 --> 00:37:22.159
 It's got a lot of apples on there.

00:37:22.219 --> 00:37:23.159
 No, there's no leaves.

00:37:23.940 --> 00:37:25.380
 That's probably because somebody

00:37:25.380 --> 00:37:26.680
 attached to those apples.

00:37:27.700 --> 00:37:28.360
 In the same way,

00:37:28.400 --> 00:37:30.599
 when you see a life that's not holistic,

00:37:30.740 --> 00:37:31.660
 that's not consistent,

00:37:32.160 --> 00:37:33.000
 typically what that is,

00:37:33.019 --> 00:37:36.099
 is evidence of self-made religion.

00:37:36.640 --> 00:37:38.240
 It's propping yourself up.

00:37:38.240 --> 00:37:39.400
 It's building yourself up

00:37:39.400 --> 00:37:42.340
 and presenting your own kind of

00:37:42.340 --> 00:37:44.160
 good or religious version of yourself

00:37:44.160 --> 00:37:46.559
 rather than yielding to the power of the Spirit

00:37:46.559 --> 00:37:49.920
 to birth and transform you

00:37:49.920 --> 00:37:53.240
 into the character and nature of Christ.

00:37:53.239 --> 00:37:55.459
 Okay?

00:37:56.039 --> 00:37:57.599
 Number seven, being teachable.

00:37:59.419 --> 00:38:01.399
 One of my favorite direct verses,

00:38:01.539 --> 00:38:02.459
 I love direct verses,

00:38:03.099 --> 00:38:04.359
 is Proverbs 12, verse one.

00:38:04.699 --> 00:38:05.939
 He who hates reproof is stupid.

00:38:06.719 --> 00:38:07.159
 Right?

00:38:07.259 --> 00:38:08.779
 You don't get any more direct than that, right?

00:38:09.259 --> 00:38:11.299
 He who hates reproof or hates correction

00:38:11.299 --> 00:38:12.299
 is stupid.

00:38:12.819 --> 00:38:13.659
 Don't be stupid.

00:38:14.619 --> 00:38:14.879
 You know?

00:38:15.279 --> 00:38:15.679
 You might say,

00:38:15.759 --> 00:38:17.000
 man, I don't know how you have

00:38:17.000 --> 00:38:18.219
 a good, healthy church.

00:38:18.639 --> 00:38:19.679
 Well, you hate reproof,

00:38:20.099 --> 00:38:21.859
 you'll have a pretty stupid church, right?

00:38:21.860 --> 00:38:23.760
 People who are corrected

00:38:23.760 --> 00:38:24.740
 but just don't listen.

00:38:24.940 --> 00:38:26.500
 People who have heard the truth

00:38:26.500 --> 00:38:27.579
 and just don't obey it.

00:38:27.660 --> 00:38:28.620
 People who hear the Word

00:38:28.620 --> 00:38:29.519
 and forget,

00:38:30.320 --> 00:38:30.559
 you know,

00:38:30.599 --> 00:38:31.400
 it's like looking in a mirror

00:38:31.400 --> 00:38:32.660
 and forgetting what you look like.

00:38:33.039 --> 00:38:34.800
 James 1, 22 says,

00:38:35.300 --> 00:38:35.519
 you know,

00:38:35.620 --> 00:38:37.480
 don't be hearers of the Word only,

00:38:37.579 --> 00:38:38.400
 but be doers.

00:38:39.440 --> 00:38:39.660
 Okay?

00:38:42.220 --> 00:38:43.120
 Be teachable.

00:38:43.620 --> 00:38:44.720
 Someone brings something to you

00:38:44.720 --> 00:38:45.800
 and there's multiple people saying,

00:38:45.880 --> 00:38:46.599
 hey, I think this is something

00:38:46.599 --> 00:38:47.240
 you need to work on.

00:38:47.480 --> 00:38:48.880
 We need to work on those things.

00:38:49.880 --> 00:38:50.840
 We need to work on those things.

00:38:50.920 --> 00:38:52.700
 We need to supplement our faith

00:38:52.700 --> 00:38:53.940
 with whatever character attribute

00:38:53.940 --> 00:38:55.059
 they're saying I need to work on.

00:38:55.119 --> 00:38:55.740
 We need to be teachable.

00:38:56.960 --> 00:38:57.420
 Number eight,

00:38:57.680 --> 00:38:58.240
 selfless.

00:38:59.360 --> 00:39:00.519
 Luke 9, 23 says,

00:39:00.599 --> 00:39:01.180
 he said to all,

00:39:01.260 --> 00:39:02.420
 if anyone would come after me,

00:39:02.700 --> 00:39:03.640
 let him deny himself

00:39:03.640 --> 00:39:04.980
 and take up his cross daily

00:39:04.980 --> 00:39:05.680
 and follow me.

00:39:08.720 --> 00:39:10.840
 Like, how do I have a healthy church?

00:39:11.420 --> 00:39:12.760
 Well, let's flip it around.

00:39:12.880 --> 00:39:14.400
 How do you have a really unhealthy church?

00:39:14.740 --> 00:39:15.900
 Have a bunch of selfish people.

00:39:16.599 --> 00:39:17.420
 Have a bunch of people

00:39:17.420 --> 00:39:18.400
 not denying themselves.

00:39:19.440 --> 00:39:21.559
 Like, we could do a little experiment

00:39:21.559 --> 00:39:22.320
 and figure out

00:39:22.320 --> 00:39:23.860
 what would Christ's church look like

00:39:23.860 --> 00:39:24.840
 after the end of this year

00:39:24.840 --> 00:39:26.380
 if we all just gave in to ourself.

00:39:27.119 --> 00:39:29.019
 Would anybody want to be a part of this church?

00:39:29.240 --> 00:39:29.840
 Any of us.

00:39:30.579 --> 00:39:31.780
 Do you have to think about that

00:39:31.780 --> 00:39:32.300
 for a long time

00:39:32.300 --> 00:39:33.039
 to answer that question?

00:39:33.880 --> 00:39:34.240
 Why?

00:39:34.659 --> 00:39:36.480
 Because it's essential to be selfless.

00:39:37.720 --> 00:39:38.619
 Do you see what I'm saying?

00:39:38.720 --> 00:39:40.079
 I'm saying that so often

00:39:40.079 --> 00:39:41.680
 we complicate things

00:39:41.680 --> 00:39:42.579
 that are so simple

00:39:42.579 --> 00:39:44.680
 and what is really just missing

00:39:44.680 --> 00:39:46.139
 from a healthy church's character.

00:39:46.139 --> 00:39:47.839
 is character.

00:39:48.460 --> 00:39:49.719
 It's us making every effort

00:39:49.719 --> 00:39:50.339
 to just say

00:39:50.339 --> 00:39:52.900
 things like selflessness.

00:39:53.500 --> 00:39:54.059
 It's like what

00:39:54.059 --> 00:39:55.420
 Seth was just talking about

00:39:55.420 --> 00:39:56.039
 with the kids.

00:39:56.799 --> 00:39:58.639
 Like, imagine how transformed

00:39:58.639 --> 00:39:59.779
 all of our kids would be

00:39:59.779 --> 00:40:01.500
 if they just had this one attribute

00:40:01.500 --> 00:40:03.539
 that they were really making effort in.

00:40:03.739 --> 00:40:04.539
 Being selfless.

00:40:05.359 --> 00:40:06.619
 Like, Seth was saying,

00:40:06.879 --> 00:40:07.920
 how many times

00:40:07.920 --> 00:40:09.239
 is there strife and fights

00:40:09.239 --> 00:40:10.139
 and crying and whining

00:40:10.139 --> 00:40:10.619
 and all this

00:40:10.619 --> 00:40:11.539
 because of one thing?

00:40:11.539 --> 00:40:13.460
 I want what I want now

00:40:13.460 --> 00:40:14.039
 and I don't care

00:40:14.039 --> 00:40:14.800
 what anybody else wants.

00:40:14.860 --> 00:40:15.340
 I'm not going to look

00:40:15.340 --> 00:40:16.460
 to other people's needs first.

00:40:16.559 --> 00:40:17.500
 I'm looking to me,

00:40:17.579 --> 00:40:18.400
 old me, number one.

00:40:19.519 --> 00:40:19.679
 Right?

00:40:20.380 --> 00:40:21.320
 It's the same in the church

00:40:21.320 --> 00:40:22.179
 with adults, right?

00:40:23.639 --> 00:40:24.840
 Number nine, gentle.

00:40:25.699 --> 00:40:26.739
 Philippians 4 verse 5

00:40:26.739 --> 00:40:27.480
 in the NIV says,

00:40:27.619 --> 00:40:28.300
 let your gentleness

00:40:28.300 --> 00:40:29.500
 be evident to all.

00:40:30.559 --> 00:40:31.320
 Let your gentleness

00:40:31.320 --> 00:40:32.340
 be evident to all.

00:40:33.279 --> 00:40:33.480
 Okay?

00:40:33.820 --> 00:40:35.460
 I have offended,

00:40:36.039 --> 00:40:36.380
 hurt,

00:40:36.579 --> 00:40:37.880
 and sinned against people

00:40:37.880 --> 00:40:39.000
 multiple times in my life

00:40:39.000 --> 00:40:40.059
 because I wasn't gentle.

00:40:40.860 --> 00:40:41.159
 All right?

00:40:41.719 --> 00:40:42.800
 That's a bad character

00:40:42.800 --> 00:40:44.059
 attribute of myself.

00:40:44.300 --> 00:40:44.760
 That's an area

00:40:44.760 --> 00:40:45.579
 where I have to make

00:40:45.579 --> 00:40:46.519
 a stronger effort

00:40:46.519 --> 00:40:47.199
 to be gentle.

00:40:48.059 --> 00:40:48.460
 Okay?

00:40:49.039 --> 00:40:49.699
 That doesn't mean

00:40:49.699 --> 00:40:50.639
 I can't be strong.

00:40:50.820 --> 00:40:51.219
 It doesn't mean

00:40:51.219 --> 00:40:52.139
 I can't be forceful

00:40:52.139 --> 00:40:52.679
 and convicted.

00:40:53.360 --> 00:40:54.940
 But like someone once said,

00:40:54.980 --> 00:40:55.380
 it's like being

00:40:55.380 --> 00:40:56.179
 a velvet brick.

00:40:56.960 --> 00:40:57.179
 Okay?

00:40:58.119 --> 00:40:58.840
 There should be

00:40:58.840 --> 00:40:59.800
 gentleness with it.

00:40:59.940 --> 00:41:00.460
 And you should let

00:41:00.460 --> 00:41:00.960
 your gentleness

00:41:00.960 --> 00:41:01.900
 be evident to all.

00:41:02.739 --> 00:41:03.599
 If your gentleness

00:41:03.599 --> 00:41:04.940
 is only evident to you,

00:41:05.340 --> 00:41:07.780
 it might be a problem there.

00:41:08.039 --> 00:41:08.219
 Okay?

00:41:09.000 --> 00:41:09.980
 But again,

00:41:10.980 --> 00:41:11.739
 if you have a church

00:41:11.739 --> 00:41:12.559
 that's not gentle,

00:41:13.039 --> 00:41:14.019
 you think a lot of new people

00:41:14.019 --> 00:41:14.519
 are going to be like,

00:41:14.599 --> 00:41:15.480
 I really like this church.

00:41:15.800 --> 00:41:16.639
 They're really harsh.

00:41:20.119 --> 00:41:20.599
 No.

00:41:21.139 --> 00:41:22.159
 They're very gentle.

00:41:22.300 --> 00:41:23.780
 They spoke hard truths

00:41:23.780 --> 00:41:24.639
 in a gentle way.

00:41:27.840 --> 00:41:28.719
 Number 10,

00:41:28.820 --> 00:41:29.239
 mature.

00:41:29.780 --> 00:41:30.739
 Hebrews 6.1 says,

00:41:30.860 --> 00:41:31.340
 let us leave

00:41:31.340 --> 00:41:32.480
 the elementary doctrine

00:41:32.480 --> 00:41:33.079
 of Christ

00:41:33.079 --> 00:41:34.400
 and go on to

00:41:34.400 --> 00:41:35.440
 maturities.

00:41:36.519 --> 00:41:36.679
 Okay?

00:41:36.679 --> 00:41:38.079
 Immaturity

00:41:38.079 --> 00:41:39.339
 is

00:41:39.339 --> 00:41:40.839
 a lacking

00:41:40.839 --> 00:41:41.519
 in character

00:41:41.519 --> 00:41:44.019
 that causes

00:41:44.019 --> 00:41:44.919
 all sorts of problems

00:41:44.919 --> 00:41:45.619
 and the root

00:41:45.619 --> 00:41:46.119
 of all kinds

00:41:46.119 --> 00:41:46.619
 of problems.

00:41:47.299 --> 00:41:47.659
 Maturity

00:41:47.659 --> 00:41:48.579
 is knowing when.

00:41:49.119 --> 00:41:49.440
 Maturity

00:41:49.440 --> 00:41:50.419
 is having

00:41:50.419 --> 00:41:51.139
 the wherewithal

00:41:51.139 --> 00:41:51.639
 to know

00:41:51.639 --> 00:41:52.799
 what is appropriate

00:41:52.799 --> 00:41:53.639
 for that particular

00:41:53.639 --> 00:41:54.500
 time and place.

00:41:54.879 --> 00:41:54.980
 Right?

00:41:55.480 --> 00:41:56.059
 It usually comes

00:41:56.059 --> 00:41:56.659
 through experience.

00:41:56.779 --> 00:41:57.299
 It usually comes

00:41:57.299 --> 00:41:57.779
 through knowledge

00:41:57.779 --> 00:41:59.079
 of what God wants

00:41:59.079 --> 00:41:59.679
 and the truth.

00:42:00.899 --> 00:42:01.679
 But maturity

00:42:01.679 --> 00:42:02.359
 is huge.

00:42:03.059 --> 00:42:03.559
 And again,

00:42:03.559 --> 00:42:04.880
 you might look

00:42:04.880 --> 00:42:05.960
 at different churches

00:42:05.960 --> 00:42:06.500
 and you might say,

00:42:06.559 --> 00:42:06.639
 wow,

00:42:06.679 --> 00:42:06.980
 that church

00:42:06.980 --> 00:42:07.639
 is really unhealthy.

00:42:08.059 --> 00:42:08.619
 How many churches

00:42:08.619 --> 00:42:08.960
 do you say

00:42:08.960 --> 00:42:09.340
 that church

00:42:09.340 --> 00:42:09.920
 is really unhealthy

00:42:09.920 --> 00:42:10.639
 because they lack

00:42:10.639 --> 00:42:11.099
 maturity?

00:42:12.019 --> 00:42:12.719
 Probably a lot.

00:42:13.480 --> 00:42:14.460
 If we're mature

00:42:14.460 --> 00:42:15.739
 and the way we,

00:42:15.860 --> 00:42:16.139
 if we,

00:42:16.219 --> 00:42:16.920
 if we make

00:42:16.920 --> 00:42:17.679
 every effort

00:42:17.679 --> 00:42:18.799
 to add to

00:42:18.799 --> 00:42:19.480
 our faith

00:42:19.480 --> 00:42:20.059
 maturity,

00:42:20.059 --> 00:42:22.420
 that's going to

00:42:22.420 --> 00:42:23.239
 make a big difference.

00:42:24.539 --> 00:42:25.059
 Number 11,

00:42:25.219 --> 00:42:26.000
 sexual purity.

00:42:27.099 --> 00:42:28.119
 Ephesians 5.3

00:42:28.119 --> 00:42:28.559
 in the NIV

00:42:28.559 --> 00:42:28.920
 says,

00:42:29.019 --> 00:42:29.340
 among you,

00:42:29.400 --> 00:42:29.840
 there must not

00:42:29.840 --> 00:42:30.679
 even be a hint

00:42:30.679 --> 00:42:32.139
 of sexual morality

00:42:32.139 --> 00:42:33.399
 or of any kind

00:42:33.399 --> 00:42:33.839
 of impurity

00:42:33.839 --> 00:42:34.639
 or of greed

00:42:34.639 --> 00:42:35.199
 because these

00:42:35.199 --> 00:42:35.859
 are improper

00:42:35.859 --> 00:42:37.059
 for God's

00:42:37.059 --> 00:42:37.679
 holy people.

00:42:38.519 --> 00:42:38.960
 Again,

00:42:39.819 --> 00:42:40.539
 you're thinking

00:42:40.539 --> 00:42:41.139
 about a church,

00:42:41.219 --> 00:42:41.480
 you're thinking

00:42:41.480 --> 00:42:42.319
 about how do we

00:42:42.319 --> 00:42:42.960
 build a healthy

00:42:42.960 --> 00:42:43.759
 church together?

00:42:44.519 --> 00:42:45.319
 If I'm going

00:42:45.319 --> 00:42:46.159
 to build a healthy

00:42:46.159 --> 00:42:46.759
 church together,

00:42:46.759 --> 00:42:48.000
 I can't give myself

00:42:48.000 --> 00:42:48.659
 to that which is

00:42:48.659 --> 00:42:49.719
 improper for God's

00:42:49.719 --> 00:42:50.319
 holy people

00:42:50.319 --> 00:42:51.399
 because the church

00:42:51.399 --> 00:42:52.019
 is made up

00:42:52.019 --> 00:42:53.219
 of God's holy people.

00:42:53.779 --> 00:42:54.419
 And if it's made up

00:42:54.419 --> 00:42:55.319
 of God's holy people,

00:42:55.419 --> 00:42:56.619
 then a healthy church

00:42:56.619 --> 00:42:57.539
 would not be made up

00:42:57.539 --> 00:42:58.899
 of people who are

00:42:58.899 --> 00:42:59.559
 doing that which is

00:42:59.559 --> 00:43:00.519
 improper for God's

00:43:00.519 --> 00:43:01.059
 holy people.

00:43:01.480 --> 00:43:02.059
 And God says

00:43:02.059 --> 00:43:02.840
 that what is improper

00:43:02.840 --> 00:43:03.820
 for God's holy people

00:43:03.820 --> 00:43:05.559
 is to even have a hint.

00:43:06.679 --> 00:43:08.019
 It's to even have a hint.

00:43:08.519 --> 00:43:09.099
 Have you ever had

00:43:09.099 --> 00:43:10.519
 the beverage

00:43:10.519 --> 00:43:11.559
 that's called hint

00:43:11.559 --> 00:43:12.800
 where it just has

00:43:12.800 --> 00:43:13.679
 a hint of a,

00:43:13.920 --> 00:43:14.800
 it tastes like water.

00:43:14.980 --> 00:43:15.719
 You barely have

00:43:15.719 --> 00:43:16.320
 anything in it.

00:43:16.400 --> 00:43:16.519
 It's like,

00:43:16.579 --> 00:43:16.679
 well,

00:43:16.699 --> 00:43:17.280
 this is raspberry.

00:43:17.559 --> 00:43:18.139
 Is it though?

00:43:18.380 --> 00:43:18.739
 I mean,

00:43:18.780 --> 00:43:20.039
 it's basically water.

00:43:20.900 --> 00:43:21.079
 Okay?

00:43:21.400 --> 00:43:22.280
 That's the whole point.

00:43:22.360 --> 00:43:22.860
 It's a hint.

00:43:22.980 --> 00:43:24.059
 It's just a little hint.

00:43:25.000 --> 00:43:26.199
 A hint is not much.

00:43:26.380 --> 00:43:26.960
 He's saying,

00:43:27.360 --> 00:43:27.780
 among you,

00:43:27.780 --> 00:43:28.940
 there must not be

00:43:28.940 --> 00:43:30.620
 even a hint

00:43:30.620 --> 00:43:31.640
 of sexual immorality.

00:43:32.019 --> 00:43:33.000
 So he's not saying,

00:43:33.220 --> 00:43:34.040
 you know,

00:43:34.780 --> 00:43:37.100
 well,

00:43:37.120 --> 00:43:38.019
 you can have a little bit.

00:43:38.320 --> 00:43:38.840
 He's saying,

00:43:38.940 --> 00:43:39.820
 not even a hint.

00:43:40.240 --> 00:43:41.300
 Not even a little bit.

00:43:41.460 --> 00:43:42.360
 It's not an option.

00:43:42.360 --> 00:43:45.320
 Christians in a church

00:43:45.320 --> 00:43:46.880
 who say sexual immorality

00:43:46.880 --> 00:43:47.760
 is not an option.

00:43:48.280 --> 00:43:48.920
 It's not an option.

00:43:49.440 --> 00:43:50.280
 The problem is,

00:43:50.320 --> 00:43:50.760
 a lot of times,

00:43:50.800 --> 00:43:52.059
 Christians actually believe

00:43:52.059 --> 00:43:52.700
 it's an option.

00:43:53.519 --> 00:43:54.160
 You might say,

00:43:55.220 --> 00:43:55.360
 well,

00:43:55.460 --> 00:43:55.700
 yeah,

00:43:55.760 --> 00:43:56.360
 but that's just the way

00:43:56.360 --> 00:43:56.720
 people are.

00:43:56.760 --> 00:43:56.980
 It's like,

00:43:57.039 --> 00:43:57.180
 well,

00:43:57.300 --> 00:43:57.840
 no,

00:43:58.099 --> 00:43:59.260
 because there's certain things

00:43:59.260 --> 00:44:00.440
 that every single person

00:44:00.440 --> 00:44:01.620
 thinks are not an option.

00:44:02.019 --> 00:44:02.940
 I would assume most of you

00:44:02.940 --> 00:44:04.099
 think murder is not an option,

00:44:04.360 --> 00:44:04.599
 right?

00:44:04.740 --> 00:44:05.059
 Like,

00:44:05.059 --> 00:44:05.660
 it's not something

00:44:05.660 --> 00:44:06.420
 you're entertaining

00:44:06.420 --> 00:44:07.240
 about committing.

00:44:07.740 --> 00:44:08.680
 You're probably not plotting

00:44:08.680 --> 00:44:09.920
 to kill anybody right now.

00:44:10.380 --> 00:44:11.620
 And if you ever even thought

00:44:11.619 --> 00:44:12.639
 about it at one point in time,

00:44:12.739 --> 00:44:13.659
 you quickly just said,

00:44:13.779 --> 00:44:14.039
 no,

00:44:14.380 --> 00:44:15.599
 that's not an option,

00:44:16.699 --> 00:44:17.000
 right?

00:44:18.019 --> 00:44:18.299
 Okay?

00:44:18.819 --> 00:44:19.779
 It's not an option.

00:44:20.819 --> 00:44:22.219
 We have things like that.

00:44:22.380 --> 00:44:23.599
 Rape is typically something

00:44:23.599 --> 00:44:24.019
 you think,

00:44:24.099 --> 00:44:24.299
 no,

00:44:24.420 --> 00:44:25.239
 not an option,

00:44:26.039 --> 00:44:26.619
 right?

00:44:27.739 --> 00:44:29.400
 There's all kinds of sins

00:44:29.400 --> 00:44:29.900
 like that.

00:44:30.359 --> 00:44:30.599
 Well,

00:44:30.920 --> 00:44:31.679
 what if we said

00:44:31.679 --> 00:44:33.159
 all kinds of sexual immorality

00:44:33.159 --> 00:44:33.920
 are not an option?

00:44:34.299 --> 00:44:35.219
 Looking at pornography,

00:44:35.400 --> 00:44:36.000
 not an option.

00:44:36.880 --> 00:44:37.319
 It's just not,

00:44:37.339 --> 00:44:37.839
 it's not,

00:44:37.940 --> 00:44:38.839
 I can't do it.

00:44:40.500 --> 00:44:40.940
 Now,

00:44:41.059 --> 00:44:41.519
 you can't,

00:44:41.519 --> 00:44:41.759
 like,

00:44:41.860 --> 00:44:43.300
 avoid seeing images

00:44:43.300 --> 00:44:44.500
 in this world

00:44:44.500 --> 00:44:45.519
 because they're everywhere.

00:44:47.460 --> 00:44:47.860
 But,

00:44:48.000 --> 00:44:49.079
 you can have the character

00:44:49.079 --> 00:44:49.759
 that says,

00:44:50.500 --> 00:44:50.960
 no,

00:44:51.219 --> 00:44:52.480
 no,

00:44:53.360 --> 00:44:53.880
 not an option.

00:44:53.940 --> 00:44:54.679
 I'm not going there.

00:44:55.340 --> 00:44:55.719
 Yes,

00:44:56.259 --> 00:44:57.440
 very attractive person,

00:44:58.019 --> 00:44:58.679
 moving on.

00:45:00.739 --> 00:45:01.780
 And it's important to know

00:45:01.780 --> 00:45:02.559
 that being attracted

00:45:02.559 --> 00:45:03.340
 is not a sin,

00:45:03.679 --> 00:45:03.840
 okay?

00:45:04.139 --> 00:45:05.340
 Finding a woman attractive,

00:45:05.480 --> 00:45:06.340
 finding a man attractive,

00:45:06.539 --> 00:45:07.320
 that's not sin.

00:45:07.400 --> 00:45:08.199
 That was actually a gift

00:45:08.199 --> 00:45:09.780
 given by God to you,

00:45:10.219 --> 00:45:10.440
 okay?

00:45:11.000 --> 00:45:11.659
 Some people

00:45:11.659 --> 00:45:12.760
 are so defeated

00:45:12.760 --> 00:45:13.720
 by their attraction

00:45:13.720 --> 00:45:16.360
 that they give in to sin

00:45:16.360 --> 00:45:17.500
 because the devil

00:45:17.500 --> 00:45:18.240
 has defeated them

00:45:18.240 --> 00:45:19.099
 by lying to them

00:45:19.099 --> 00:45:20.139
 about attraction,

00:45:20.420 --> 00:45:21.420
 being attracted to

00:45:21.420 --> 00:45:22.320
 an attractive person

00:45:22.320 --> 00:45:22.900
 being sinned.

00:45:23.099 --> 00:45:23.280
 No,

00:45:23.320 --> 00:45:23.920
 you can notice

00:45:23.920 --> 00:45:24.760
 that someone's attraction,

00:45:25.059 --> 00:45:26.280
 don't lust over the person.

00:45:26.740 --> 00:45:26.880
 Oh,

00:45:26.900 --> 00:45:27.900
 that person's really attractive.

00:45:28.260 --> 00:45:28.940
 That person has a really

00:45:28.940 --> 00:45:29.619
 attractive body.

00:45:30.019 --> 00:45:30.820
 Not going to lust.

00:45:31.420 --> 00:45:32.019
 Moving on.

00:45:32.019 --> 00:45:33.739
 Not even a hint.

00:45:34.340 --> 00:45:35.039
 Not even a hint.

00:45:35.579 --> 00:45:36.639
 That's the kind of character.

00:45:36.800 --> 00:45:37.460
 Sexual morality

00:45:37.460 --> 00:45:39.039
 is one of the number one things

00:45:39.039 --> 00:45:40.619
 in the Old Testament,

00:45:41.500 --> 00:45:42.800
 spoken of in the New Testament,

00:45:42.800 --> 00:45:44.759
 and in our modern day culture.

00:45:44.920 --> 00:45:46.139
 How many leaders,

00:45:46.400 --> 00:45:47.860
 how many prominent people

00:45:47.860 --> 00:45:48.440
 in the church,

00:45:48.500 --> 00:45:49.219
 outside of the church,

00:45:49.280 --> 00:45:49.739
 in business,

00:45:49.840 --> 00:45:50.400
 in politics,

00:45:50.579 --> 00:45:51.559
 how many people

00:45:51.559 --> 00:45:52.659
 have been taken up

00:45:52.659 --> 00:45:53.420
 by this one sin

00:45:53.420 --> 00:45:54.199
 of sexual morality?

00:45:56.199 --> 00:45:57.079
 Character matters.

00:45:57.679 --> 00:45:58.579
 Character matters.

00:45:58.579 --> 00:46:00.380
 Three more.

00:46:01.099 --> 00:46:01.920
 Number 12.

00:46:03.340 --> 00:46:03.920
 Kind of four,

00:46:04.019 --> 00:46:04.819
 because this is like a double.

00:46:05.559 --> 00:46:06.420
 Marriage and parenting.

00:46:06.799 --> 00:46:06.960
 Okay?

00:46:07.480 --> 00:46:08.299
 Marriage and parenting.

00:46:09.179 --> 00:46:10.440
 1 Timothy 3, 4-5,

00:46:10.519 --> 00:46:10.920
 I'm talking about

00:46:10.920 --> 00:46:11.539
 the qualifications

00:46:11.539 --> 00:46:12.059
 of an elder,

00:46:12.199 --> 00:46:12.440
 says,

00:46:12.840 --> 00:46:13.420
 he must manage

00:46:13.420 --> 00:46:14.480
 his own household well,

00:46:14.900 --> 00:46:15.559
 with all dignity,

00:46:15.739 --> 00:46:17.199
 keeping his children submissive.

00:46:17.519 --> 00:46:18.480
 For if someone does not know

00:46:18.480 --> 00:46:19.000
 how to manage

00:46:19.000 --> 00:46:19.880
 his own household,

00:46:20.139 --> 00:46:20.960
 how will he care

00:46:20.960 --> 00:46:21.920
 for God's church?

00:46:22.840 --> 00:46:23.059
 Okay?

00:46:23.500 --> 00:46:24.380
 I really could have just said

00:46:24.380 --> 00:46:25.579
 this is household management,

00:46:25.679 --> 00:46:26.219
 would have been maybe

00:46:26.219 --> 00:46:27.139
 a better way to word it.

00:46:27.139 --> 00:46:28.639
 That includes

00:46:28.639 --> 00:46:29.159
 if you're single,

00:46:29.259 --> 00:46:30.339
 just managing your household well.

00:46:30.579 --> 00:46:31.279
 If you're married,

00:46:31.420 --> 00:46:32.920
 managing your marriage well.

00:46:34.039 --> 00:46:35.059
 And if you have children,

00:46:35.199 --> 00:46:36.079
 managing your kids well.

00:46:36.099 --> 00:46:36.339
 And you say,

00:46:36.379 --> 00:46:36.460
 well,

00:46:36.480 --> 00:46:37.219
 that's the qualifications

00:46:37.219 --> 00:46:37.739
 of an elder.

00:46:38.079 --> 00:46:38.259
 Well,

00:46:38.299 --> 00:46:38.719
 first of all,

00:46:38.759 --> 00:46:39.379
 we should all

00:46:39.379 --> 00:46:41.319
 ascribe to the nobility

00:46:41.319 --> 00:46:42.519
 of the character qualities

00:46:42.519 --> 00:46:43.199
 of an elder.

00:46:43.960 --> 00:46:44.719
 D.A. Carson says

00:46:44.719 --> 00:46:45.900
 one of the most remarkable things

00:46:45.900 --> 00:46:46.699
 about the qualifications

00:46:46.699 --> 00:46:47.219
 of an elder

00:46:47.219 --> 00:46:48.639
 is how unremarkable they are.

00:46:50.379 --> 00:46:50.859
 You know,

00:46:50.920 --> 00:46:51.859
 is it really that remarkable

00:46:51.859 --> 00:46:52.619
 to say that we should

00:46:52.619 --> 00:46:53.460
 have healthy families?

00:46:54.139 --> 00:46:54.639
 Not really.

00:46:55.319 --> 00:46:55.500
 Well,

00:46:55.500 --> 00:46:56.400
 that's just for elders.

00:46:56.400 --> 00:46:57.119
 Everybody else

00:46:57.119 --> 00:46:58.180
 can have a bad family.

00:46:59.000 --> 00:46:59.440
 No.

00:47:00.440 --> 00:47:00.880
 Right?

00:47:01.559 --> 00:47:02.380
 Because he says

00:47:02.380 --> 00:47:03.460
 that he puts a principle

00:47:03.460 --> 00:47:05.099
 in here that supersedes

00:47:05.099 --> 00:47:05.900
 just eldership.

00:47:06.099 --> 00:47:06.619
 He says,

00:47:06.940 --> 00:47:08.700
 he asks a rhetorical question.

00:47:08.800 --> 00:47:08.940
 He says,

00:47:08.980 --> 00:47:09.639
 if someone does not know

00:47:09.639 --> 00:47:10.000
 how to manage

00:47:10.000 --> 00:47:10.780
 his own household,

00:47:10.980 --> 00:47:11.800
 how will he care

00:47:11.800 --> 00:47:12.599
 for God's church?

00:47:13.920 --> 00:47:14.180
 Okay?

00:47:14.559 --> 00:47:15.079
 And again,

00:47:15.400 --> 00:47:16.500
 if you have a church

00:47:16.500 --> 00:47:17.579
 where people don't have

00:47:17.579 --> 00:47:18.160
 good marriages

00:47:18.160 --> 00:47:19.360
 and they don't have

00:47:19.360 --> 00:47:20.019
 good parenting

00:47:20.019 --> 00:47:21.720
 and they don't manage

00:47:21.720 --> 00:47:23.260
 their single life well,

00:47:23.260 --> 00:47:24.260
 they don't manage

00:47:24.260 --> 00:47:25.260
 their households well,

00:47:26.120 --> 00:47:26.500
 are you going to have

00:47:26.500 --> 00:47:26.940
 a healthy church

00:47:26.940 --> 00:47:27.580
 in that context?

00:47:27.680 --> 00:47:27.940
 No.

00:47:28.880 --> 00:47:29.720
 How could you possibly?

00:47:29.820 --> 00:47:30.620
 If you can't even take care

00:47:30.620 --> 00:47:31.280
 of your own household,

00:47:31.600 --> 00:47:32.300
 how will you take care

00:47:32.300 --> 00:47:33.080
 of God's household?

00:47:33.760 --> 00:47:34.220
 We've got to start

00:47:34.220 --> 00:47:34.780
 with our household.

00:47:34.900 --> 00:47:35.340
 How's it going

00:47:35.340 --> 00:47:35.980
 in your household?

00:47:36.820 --> 00:47:37.940
 Is there a character there?

00:47:38.320 --> 00:47:39.000
 Good management,

00:47:39.360 --> 00:47:40.000
 good stewardship,

00:47:40.480 --> 00:47:41.380
 good faithfulness,

00:47:41.780 --> 00:47:42.540
 doing the work.

00:47:45.540 --> 00:47:46.320
 Doing the work

00:47:46.320 --> 00:47:47.100
 in your marriage,

00:47:47.180 --> 00:47:47.660
 doing the work

00:47:47.660 --> 00:47:48.360
 with your kids,

00:47:49.320 --> 00:47:49.780
 doing the work

00:47:49.780 --> 00:47:50.620
 as a single person

00:47:50.620 --> 00:47:51.240
 to be godly

00:47:51.239 --> 00:47:51.759
 and for the glory

00:47:51.759 --> 00:47:52.279
 of Christ.

00:47:52.939 --> 00:47:53.099
 Okay?

00:47:55.259 --> 00:47:56.199
 Number 13.

00:47:58.319 --> 00:47:58.679
 Diligent,

00:47:59.059 --> 00:48:00.619
 hardworking,

00:48:00.699 --> 00:48:01.219
 not lazy.

00:48:01.359 --> 00:48:02.299
 James 4, 17

00:48:02.299 --> 00:48:03.079
 in the NIV says,

00:48:03.179 --> 00:48:03.839
 if anyone then

00:48:03.839 --> 00:48:04.919
 knows the good

00:48:04.919 --> 00:48:05.359
 he ought to do

00:48:05.359 --> 00:48:06.099
 and doesn't do it,

00:48:06.699 --> 00:48:06.939
 sins.

00:48:07.899 --> 00:48:08.579
 If you know the good

00:48:08.579 --> 00:48:08.979
 you ought to do

00:48:08.979 --> 00:48:09.619
 and don't do it,

00:48:09.759 --> 00:48:09.979
 sin.

00:48:10.479 --> 00:48:11.319
 You sin, right?

00:48:11.799 --> 00:48:12.879
 This is like the ultimate

00:48:12.879 --> 00:48:14.779
 verse on laziness

00:48:14.779 --> 00:48:15.739
 in my opinion, right?

00:48:16.059 --> 00:48:16.719
 Because isn't that

00:48:16.719 --> 00:48:17.679
 not what laziness is?

00:48:17.819 --> 00:48:18.759
 I know the good

00:48:18.759 --> 00:48:19.859
 I ought to do.

00:48:19.860 --> 00:48:21.840
 But I'm not

00:48:21.840 --> 00:48:22.920
 going to do it, right?

00:48:23.200 --> 00:48:23.900
 I know the good

00:48:23.900 --> 00:48:24.880
 I ought to do,

00:48:25.300 --> 00:48:26.140
 but I think there's

00:48:26.140 --> 00:48:27.079
 something I'd rather do.

00:48:27.920 --> 00:48:29.200
 But I know the good

00:48:29.200 --> 00:48:30.019
 I ought to do,

00:48:30.519 --> 00:48:31.440
 but I'm not going to do it.

00:48:31.460 --> 00:48:31.840
 Well, the Bible

00:48:31.840 --> 00:48:32.840
 just says real straight,

00:48:34.220 --> 00:48:35.079
 you know,

00:48:35.180 --> 00:48:36.180
 people get so hung up

00:48:36.180 --> 00:48:36.820
 on all the things

00:48:36.820 --> 00:48:37.140
 in the Bible

00:48:37.140 --> 00:48:38.019
 that seem cryptic

00:48:38.019 --> 00:48:38.820
 and hard to understand.

00:48:39.099 --> 00:48:40.000
 There's a lot in here

00:48:40.000 --> 00:48:40.519
 that's not.

00:48:41.800 --> 00:48:42.480
 That's just a

00:48:42.480 --> 00:48:43.420
 little disclaimer

00:48:43.420 --> 00:48:44.180
 I wanted to make there.

00:48:44.660 --> 00:48:45.720
 Like a verse like this.

00:48:46.140 --> 00:48:46.780
 If you know the good

00:48:46.780 --> 00:48:47.220
 you ought to do,

00:48:47.260 --> 00:48:47.900
 but you don't do it,

00:48:48.180 --> 00:48:49.640
 that person sins.

00:48:50.219 --> 00:48:50.759
 Well, that's pretty

00:48:50.759 --> 00:48:51.699
 straight talk right there.

00:48:52.219 --> 00:48:52.940
 And what sin is it?

00:48:52.960 --> 00:48:53.920
 It's the sin of laziness.

00:48:54.739 --> 00:48:55.539
 Laziness sees what

00:48:55.539 --> 00:48:56.139
 needs to be done,

00:48:56.239 --> 00:48:57.259
 knows what needs to be done,

00:48:57.500 --> 00:48:58.119
 and says I'm not

00:48:58.119 --> 00:48:58.599
 going to do it.

00:48:59.059 --> 00:48:59.940
 And that kind of

00:48:59.940 --> 00:49:00.759
 lack of character

00:49:00.759 --> 00:49:01.279
 in a church

00:49:01.279 --> 00:49:03.920
 is a big deal.

00:49:05.159 --> 00:49:05.739
 Because there's a lot

00:49:05.739 --> 00:49:06.139
 of things that need

00:49:06.139 --> 00:49:06.480
 to be done.

00:49:07.940 --> 00:49:08.460
 A lot of things

00:49:08.460 --> 00:49:08.839
 that need to be done

00:49:08.839 --> 00:49:09.599
 in our own households,

00:49:09.759 --> 00:49:10.119
 a lot of things

00:49:10.119 --> 00:49:10.460
 that need to be done

00:49:10.460 --> 00:49:10.879
 in the church,

00:49:10.980 --> 00:49:11.299
 a lot of things

00:49:11.299 --> 00:49:11.759
 that need to be done

00:49:11.759 --> 00:49:12.159
 in the world,

00:49:12.739 --> 00:49:13.079
 a lot of things

00:49:13.079 --> 00:49:13.519
 that need to be done

00:49:13.519 --> 00:49:14.579
 just for practical things

00:49:14.579 --> 00:49:15.219
 like making money

00:49:15.219 --> 00:49:16.579
 and taking care of

00:49:16.579 --> 00:49:17.539
 putting food on the table.

00:49:17.539 --> 00:49:18.980
 There's a lot of things

00:49:18.980 --> 00:49:19.659
 that need to be done.

00:49:19.739 --> 00:49:20.159
 And when you know

00:49:20.159 --> 00:49:21.019
 the good you ought to do

00:49:21.019 --> 00:49:21.880
 and you just don't want

00:49:21.880 --> 00:49:22.400
 to do it because

00:49:22.400 --> 00:49:23.579
 that would cost you more,

00:49:24.279 --> 00:49:25.360
 that's called sin.

00:49:25.880 --> 00:49:27.059
 And if any of you

00:49:27.059 --> 00:49:27.500
 in this room

00:49:27.500 --> 00:49:28.559
 have one of those things

00:49:28.559 --> 00:49:29.599
 or a couple of those things,

00:49:29.940 --> 00:49:30.519
 things you know

00:49:30.519 --> 00:49:31.199
 you should do,

00:49:31.539 --> 00:49:33.019
 things that God's

00:49:33.019 --> 00:49:33.719
 been telling you to do,

00:49:33.840 --> 00:49:34.519
 things that the Word's

00:49:34.519 --> 00:49:35.039
 telling you to do,

00:49:35.139 --> 00:49:35.800
 things your spouse

00:49:35.800 --> 00:49:36.559
 has been telling you to do,

00:49:36.619 --> 00:49:37.199
 things your friends

00:49:37.199 --> 00:49:38.059
 have been telling you to do,

00:49:38.119 --> 00:49:39.500
 and you just won't do it,

00:49:39.900 --> 00:49:40.440
 you're in sin

00:49:40.440 --> 00:49:41.119
 and you need to repent.

00:49:41.920 --> 00:49:42.900
 Repent of your laziness.

00:49:43.840 --> 00:49:44.800
 Last one, 14.

00:49:45.559 --> 00:49:46.559
 Faith, not unbelief.

00:49:46.680 --> 00:49:47.800
 Hebrews 3 verse 12 says,

00:49:47.920 --> 00:49:48.880
 Take care, brothers,

00:49:49.380 --> 00:49:50.400
 lest there be in any of you

00:49:50.400 --> 00:49:51.760
 an evil, unbelieving heart

00:49:51.760 --> 00:49:53.119
 leading you to fall away

00:49:53.119 --> 00:49:53.940
 from the living God.

00:49:55.079 --> 00:49:56.960
 It's so easy to get an unbelief.

00:49:57.059 --> 00:49:58.880
 It's so easy to have more faith

00:49:58.880 --> 00:50:00.559
 in things not happening

00:50:00.559 --> 00:50:01.720
 than things happening.

00:50:01.720 --> 00:50:03.720
 It's so easy to have...

00:50:03.720 --> 00:50:06.740
 Most unbelief really isn't

00:50:06.740 --> 00:50:07.599
 a lack of faith.

00:50:07.700 --> 00:50:08.139
 It's just faith

00:50:08.139 --> 00:50:09.000
 in the wrong direction.

00:50:09.139 --> 00:50:10.000
 Have you ever thought about that?

00:50:11.440 --> 00:50:11.840
 Right?

00:50:12.720 --> 00:50:14.280
 If you have unbelief,

00:50:14.340 --> 00:50:15.200
 you typically really have

00:50:15.200 --> 00:50:16.000
 a strong faith

00:50:16.000 --> 00:50:17.180
 that something's going to go bad.

00:50:18.000 --> 00:50:19.500
 I have a strong belief

00:50:19.500 --> 00:50:20.940
 that something's not going to work out.

00:50:21.620 --> 00:50:22.700
 It's not that you lack faith.

00:50:22.740 --> 00:50:23.539
 It's just you're placing

00:50:23.539 --> 00:50:24.260
 in the wrong thing.

00:50:24.460 --> 00:50:25.380
 You actually think

00:50:25.380 --> 00:50:28.100
 there's more sense

00:50:28.100 --> 00:50:29.220
 in putting your faith

00:50:29.220 --> 00:50:30.880
 in something going poorly

00:50:30.880 --> 00:50:32.240
 based on what you've seen

00:50:32.240 --> 00:50:33.700
 rather than something going

00:50:33.700 --> 00:50:34.960
 the way God says it's going to

00:50:34.960 --> 00:50:36.100
 because of God's power

00:50:36.100 --> 00:50:37.079
 and promise.

00:50:38.200 --> 00:50:39.000
 Where does your faith lie?

00:50:39.079 --> 00:50:39.860
 Be careful that you don't have

00:50:39.860 --> 00:50:40.820
 a sinful, unbelieving heart.

00:50:40.820 --> 00:50:42.120
 When it comes to the church,

00:50:42.380 --> 00:50:43.059
 we need faith.

00:50:44.160 --> 00:50:44.960
 Faith is the substance

00:50:44.960 --> 00:50:45.840
 of things hoped for.

00:50:45.940 --> 00:50:46.380
 It's the substance

00:50:46.380 --> 00:50:47.360
 of things not seen.

00:50:48.200 --> 00:50:49.340
 Faith is looking into

00:50:49.340 --> 00:50:50.200
 what you don't see

00:50:50.200 --> 00:50:52.840
 and trusting that it's real.

00:50:52.980 --> 00:50:53.519
 It's more real

00:50:53.519 --> 00:50:54.360
 than what you don't see.

00:50:54.880 --> 00:50:55.539
 Can we have faith

00:50:55.539 --> 00:50:56.440
 for this coming year?

00:50:56.940 --> 00:50:57.440
 Can we have faith

00:50:57.440 --> 00:50:58.340
 for our own character

00:50:58.340 --> 00:50:59.680
 and make every effort

00:50:59.680 --> 00:51:01.039
 to have these qualities

00:51:01.039 --> 00:51:02.039
 in increasing measure

00:51:02.039 --> 00:51:03.380
 so that we're not ineffective

00:51:03.380 --> 00:51:04.100
 and unproductive

00:51:04.100 --> 00:51:04.600
 in our knowledge

00:51:04.600 --> 00:51:05.539
 of the Lord Jesus Christ?

00:51:05.760 --> 00:51:06.860
 Not forgetting that we've been

00:51:06.860 --> 00:51:08.039
 cleansed from our past sins.

00:51:08.039 --> 00:51:09.179
 being diligent

00:51:09.179 --> 00:51:10.659
 to make our calling

00:51:10.659 --> 00:51:11.500
 and election sure.

00:51:13.000 --> 00:51:13.639
 If we practice

00:51:13.639 --> 00:51:14.320
 these qualities,

00:51:14.460 --> 00:51:15.179
 we will never fall.

00:51:15.759 --> 00:51:16.440
 That's a great way

00:51:16.440 --> 00:51:17.500
 to look at this next year.

00:51:18.039 --> 00:51:18.440
 And again,

00:51:18.840 --> 00:51:19.579
 one last time

00:51:19.579 --> 00:51:20.320
 just to be clear.

00:51:21.380 --> 00:51:22.440
 Please don't do this

00:51:22.440 --> 00:51:23.179
 in your own strength.

00:51:23.679 --> 00:51:24.420
 This isn't some

00:51:24.420 --> 00:51:25.320
 you-ra-ra,

00:51:25.460 --> 00:51:26.420
 be a better person

00:51:26.420 --> 00:51:27.579
 for the new year.

00:51:28.179 --> 00:51:29.360
 This is you-ra-ra,

00:51:29.679 --> 00:51:30.900
 you're a really bad person

00:51:30.900 --> 00:51:32.139
 and you can't be a good person

00:51:32.139 --> 00:51:32.779
 for the new year.

00:51:32.780 --> 00:51:33.700
 But Jesus,

00:51:33.880 --> 00:51:34.480
 by His strength,

00:51:34.540 --> 00:51:34.960
 His power,

00:51:35.000 --> 00:51:35.820
 and His Spirit,

00:51:36.540 --> 00:51:37.920
 is giving you

00:51:37.920 --> 00:51:38.600
 everything you need

00:51:38.600 --> 00:51:39.420
 for life and godliness.

00:51:39.840 --> 00:51:40.840
 And if you believe that,

00:51:40.900 --> 00:51:41.720
 then you make every effort

00:51:41.720 --> 00:51:42.220
 to supplement.

00:51:42.660 --> 00:51:42.860
 Amen?

00:51:43.660 --> 00:51:44.060
 Amen.

00:51:44.180 --> 00:51:44.660
 Let's stand.

00:51:44.660 --> 00:51:44.720
 Amen.