WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:04.980 Genesis chapter 12, Benjamin Harris was the 23rd president 00:00:04.980 --> 00:00:10.339 from 1889 to 1893. 00:00:11.339 --> 00:00:14.500 He and the first lady were the first couple to live in the 00:00:14.500 --> 00:00:18.000 White House after it had been wired for electricity. 00:00:19.300 --> 00:00:22.699 And President Harrison was a brave man. 00:00:23.179 --> 00:00:27.900 He was a man who was known as ruthless on the battlefield 00:00:27.899 --> 00:00:30.439 and as a brigadier general in the Civil War. 00:00:31.339 --> 00:00:35.479 But he and his wife had a real fear in the White House. 00:00:37.159 --> 00:00:37.979 Light switches. 00:00:39.879 --> 00:00:41.060 It's a new concept. 00:00:41.579 --> 00:00:42.399 They were scared of it. 00:00:43.239 --> 00:00:46.159 It was new and it was novel and it was mysterious and they were 00:00:46.159 --> 00:00:47.399 scared to death of it. 00:00:48.039 --> 00:00:50.399 That if they switched the light on, they may be electrocuted. 00:00:51.579 --> 00:00:57.640 So their answer to the problem was they kept servants handy to 00:00:57.640 --> 00:00:58.899 take care of the light switch. 00:01:00.039 --> 00:01:03.899 And if there were no servants allowed, available at the time 00:01:03.899 --> 00:01:07.019 of bed, they slept with the lights on. 00:01:08.439 --> 00:01:09.680 That's fear, my friend. 00:01:10.620 --> 00:01:14.159 And fear can make you do strange things. 00:01:14.240 --> 00:01:14.939 You know what else can? 00:01:15.219 --> 00:01:15.620 Hunger. 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:18.799 Hunger can make you do strange things. 00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:20.799 People change when they get physically hungry. 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:25.899 I find that out about five minutes to 12 when I look out there at 00:01:25.899 --> 00:01:26.140 y'all. 00:01:30.340 --> 00:01:34.399 But there are many other types of hunger as well than just 00:01:34.399 --> 00:01:35.060 physical. 00:01:37.039 --> 00:01:40.179 Weariness will make you do different kind of things. 00:01:40.180 --> 00:01:46.420 So when you're afraid and when you're hungry and when you're weary, 00:01:47.140 --> 00:01:55.300 if you're not careful, it can cripple your life of faith. 00:01:55.820 --> 00:01:58.540 Because if you get scared enough and you get hungry enough and you get 00:01:58.540 --> 00:02:01.360 tired enough, you'll make spiritual mistakes. 00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:03.380 Abram did. 00:02:03.379 --> 00:02:07.939 And I believe that we ought to learn from his mistakes. 00:02:08.939 --> 00:02:10.519 I believe that's why they're here. 00:02:11.560 --> 00:02:12.379 But brace yourself. 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:17.479 Genesis chapter 12, beginning in verse 10. 00:02:18.919 --> 00:02:22.919 It says, now there was a famine in the land, so Abram went down to 00:02:22.919 --> 00:02:26.099 Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. 00:02:27.099 --> 00:02:32.079 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarah, his wife, I know that 00:02:32.080 --> 00:02:34.680 you're a woman beautiful in appearance, and when the Egyptians see 00:02:34.680 --> 00:02:37.300 you, they will say, this is his wife. 00:02:38.460 --> 00:02:41.100 And then they'll kill me, but they'll let you live. 00:02:42.760 --> 00:02:49.620 Say you are my sister, that it may go well with you, that it may go well 00:02:49.620 --> 00:02:53.480 with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake. 00:02:54.560 --> 00:02:57.880 When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very 00:02:57.880 --> 00:03:01.820 beautiful, and when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to 00:03:01.819 --> 00:03:05.560 Pharaoh, and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house, and for her 00:03:05.560 --> 00:03:07.759 sake, he dealt well with Abram. 00:03:07.780 --> 00:03:12.280 And he had sheep and oxen, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, 00:03:12.419 --> 00:03:13.719 female donkeys, and camels. 00:03:14.859 --> 00:03:21.000 But the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:22.799 Sarah, Abraham's wife. 00:03:22.919 --> 00:03:26.459 So Pharaoh called Abram and said, what is this you've done to me? 00:03:27.400 --> 00:03:29.560 Why didn't you tell me that she was your wife? 00:03:29.560 --> 00:03:31.199 Why did you say she's my sister? 00:03:31.879 --> 00:03:33.900 So that I could take her for my wife. 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:38.300 Now then, here's your wife, take her and go. 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:46.379 And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him away with his 00:03:46.379 --> 00:03:49.439 wife and all that he had. 00:03:51.500 --> 00:03:52.500 What a shame. 00:03:52.500 --> 00:03:55.439 What a shame. 00:03:55.580 --> 00:03:59.879 It's amazing to me that the Bible includes stories like these. 00:04:01.080 --> 00:04:04.699 But that's one of the reasons why I love it so, because God tells the truth. 00:04:05.360 --> 00:04:06.280 I mean, he tells the truth. 00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:12.520 And this giant of faith, Abraham, made mistakes too. 00:04:12.599 --> 00:04:16.240 And some of them were huge, and this is one of them. 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:18.980 Now, I will be honest with you this morning. 00:04:19.480 --> 00:04:23.720 It is much easier to avoid a passage like this than it is preach on it when you 00:04:23.720 --> 00:04:24.780 preach through the life of Abraham. 00:04:25.040 --> 00:04:26.340 And I've done that before. 00:04:26.439 --> 00:04:27.480 I've avoided it before. 00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:29.560 It's not easy to look at. 00:04:29.759 --> 00:04:33.860 But kind of like when you pass a car wreck, let's rubberneck for just a moment. 00:04:34.699 --> 00:04:40.900 Into the life of Abraham and try to learn something. 00:04:40.899 --> 00:04:50.479 Let's look at it, break it down, learn from it, and not make the same kind of foolish mistakes 00:04:50.479 --> 00:04:51.500 in our lives. 00:04:53.099 --> 00:04:54.500 Now, understand the setting. 00:04:54.620 --> 00:04:57.979 Abraham had moved to the Negev. 00:04:58.219 --> 00:04:59.819 The Negev is the desert. 00:05:01.479 --> 00:05:04.179 And that was not where he was used to living. 00:05:05.219 --> 00:05:10.439 He had previously lived in the Fertile Crescent, known for bumper crops, but he no longer lived 00:05:10.439 --> 00:05:11.639 on the bank of the Euphrates. 00:05:12.379 --> 00:05:16.259 Instead, he was in a wasteland, and he needed food. 00:05:16.660 --> 00:05:18.240 And they were in the midst of a famine. 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:23.420 And scripture does not tell us here that he sought the Lord. 00:05:24.279 --> 00:05:28.980 Last week, I preached about all those times when he sought the Lord and built an altar 00:05:28.980 --> 00:05:32.879 to the Lord and left it smoking behind and left that testimony there. 00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:36.480 You don't see any of that at this point in his life. 00:05:36.560 --> 00:05:38.560 It just says he went to Egypt. 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:38.639 Egypt. 00:05:39.360 --> 00:05:41.280 And Egypt was the granary of the world. 00:05:41.459 --> 00:05:46.959 We know more about that from Joseph's life, but it was becoming that way already at this 00:05:46.959 --> 00:05:47.399 time. 00:05:47.540 --> 00:05:56.720 And with rare exception in the Bible, Egypt is a representation of the world. 00:05:57.600 --> 00:06:03.040 And an alliance with Egypt is like aligning with the world. 00:06:03.040 --> 00:06:10.879 It's a sign that Abraham acted on his own if he tied up with Egypt. 00:06:11.379 --> 00:06:17.360 I want you to listen to what Isaiah said about Egypt years later, what he said about it. 00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:23.000 He said, woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots 00:06:23.000 --> 00:06:25.780 because there are many and in horsemen because they're very strong. 00:06:25.779 --> 00:06:29.359 Now, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord. 00:06:30.159 --> 00:06:34.359 Woe to them because if they seek the Lord, they wouldn't go to Egypt. 00:06:35.579 --> 00:06:36.939 And he did. 00:06:37.500 --> 00:06:40.379 He went out of hunger instead of out of faith. 00:06:40.379 --> 00:06:46.459 And when he got there where he should not have been, he acted out of fear. 00:06:48.120 --> 00:06:53.180 Now, his wife was 65 years old and was beautiful at that age. 00:06:53.579 --> 00:06:58.199 So beautiful that he was afraid that the Egyptians would kill him in order to have her. 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:01.540 So he told her to help him stretch the truth. 00:07:03.579 --> 00:07:04.980 Tell him you're my sister. 00:07:04.980 --> 00:07:10.580 Now, just to be clear, that's not an out and out lie. 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:12.740 She was his half sister. 00:07:13.140 --> 00:07:14.600 They had the same father. 00:07:17.819 --> 00:07:19.620 It's a half truth. 00:07:21.379 --> 00:07:22.960 But I want you to understand something. 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:27.160 A half truth is a whole lie. 00:07:29.640 --> 00:07:31.520 And it was a strategic lie. 00:07:31.519 --> 00:07:36.740 Because by being her brother, he was her guardian. 00:07:37.299 --> 00:07:48.279 And the Egyptian custom that he had in mind when he said that was that if someone came into Egyptian land, 00:07:48.699 --> 00:07:51.519 moving as an entourage. 00:07:52.259 --> 00:07:53.060 Now, understand. 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:55.620 Abraham was rich. 00:07:55.620 --> 00:08:00.800 And he came in with quite a crowd. 00:08:02.120 --> 00:08:08.639 Remember that when he set up those altars in the area of the moon god, it said his crowd grew. 00:08:09.899 --> 00:08:19.319 And we believe that that means that he was reaching people to follow the Lord instead of following the moon god. 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:21.259 And they went with him as he traveled. 00:08:21.259 --> 00:08:24.740 And now he's traveling in this large entourage. 00:08:25.019 --> 00:08:30.060 And if you're going to travel in a large group into a foreign country, 00:08:30.480 --> 00:08:34.960 there needs to be an understanding of what you're doing there. 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:38.720 And the way they would do that is they would form a treaty 00:08:38.720 --> 00:08:44.120 to clarify that it was not intended to be an invasion. 00:08:44.120 --> 00:08:51.820 Such a treaty would be sealed, usually with an acceptable daughter or with an acceptable sister 00:08:51.820 --> 00:08:54.840 that would join into Pharaoh's harem. 00:08:56.580 --> 00:09:01.860 And Abraham's thought seemed to be that when he was approached by Pharaoh's people, 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:06.019 he would offer her to go into Pharaoh's house. 00:09:06.259 --> 00:09:10.659 And if he didn't do that, they'd just kill him and his men, 00:09:10.740 --> 00:09:13.600 and they'd take her anyway as a trophy of war. 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:19.279 So he offered her, and Pharaoh chose to make her a wife. 00:09:19.379 --> 00:09:27.480 And if he did that, that he could possibly drag out some negotiations long enough in this treaty 00:09:27.480 --> 00:09:34.360 to get through this famine and to be able to leave and just move on. 00:09:35.879 --> 00:09:37.480 That seems to be the plan. 00:09:38.500 --> 00:09:40.100 And the plan seemed to work. 00:09:40.100 --> 00:09:46.680 She entered Pharaoh's house and into the preparation time of engagement 00:09:46.680 --> 00:09:51.440 that was filled with rituals and beautification techniques. 00:09:51.779 --> 00:09:56.480 And she had to be time-tested in that atmosphere 00:09:56.480 --> 00:10:02.980 to prove that she was not pregnant before she could become a wife to Pharaoh. 00:10:02.980 --> 00:10:07.360 And so there was this betrothal time. 00:10:07.700 --> 00:10:13.759 And meanwhile, Abram was given a wealth of things for payment for her. 00:10:14.980 --> 00:10:17.720 And in the midst of all that, God intervened with plagues. 00:10:19.899 --> 00:10:23.840 During that time, in the Lord's mercy, at least upon Abram, 00:10:24.259 --> 00:10:26.580 the Lord sent plagues upon Pharaoh. 00:10:26.580 --> 00:10:29.460 And when you look at that word there for plagues, 00:10:29.580 --> 00:10:33.960 it literally speaks of diseases and infestations, 00:10:34.300 --> 00:10:37.360 both of which are very unpleasant. 00:10:38.040 --> 00:10:42.480 And it sounded similar, it sounds similar to what happened to Pharaoh 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:45.180 when Moses was there with his people, 00:10:45.259 --> 00:10:46.600 and he wouldn't let the people go worship. 00:10:47.720 --> 00:10:51.020 He immediately knew, Pharaoh knew something was wrong, 00:10:51.220 --> 00:10:52.820 and he knew what it was. 00:10:52.820 --> 00:10:56.260 And so we asked Abram why, 00:10:56.440 --> 00:11:00.100 and then kindly provided out of fear of Abraham's God, 00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:03.520 had him escorted out of the country 00:11:03.520 --> 00:11:06.220 to make sure that he got out safely 00:11:06.220 --> 00:11:08.220 and to make sure that he got out. 00:11:09.660 --> 00:11:10.600 Get out of here. 00:11:15.240 --> 00:11:18.740 I wish that I could be true to Scripture 00:11:18.740 --> 00:11:20.540 and lighten this somewhat, 00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:21.900 but I've got to be honest. 00:11:21.899 --> 00:11:23.220 This is a mess. 00:11:23.939 --> 00:11:24.779 I mean, it's a mess. 00:11:25.500 --> 00:11:29.139 Make no mistake, sin is always a mess. 00:11:29.840 --> 00:11:33.639 And it's always bigger than it appears. 00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:35.519 I mean, it starts out small. 00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:38.000 Sometimes it even seems like a good idea. 00:11:38.519 --> 00:11:40.319 But then it just gets larger, 00:11:40.740 --> 00:11:43.879 and it has a larger impact than you could ever imagine. 00:11:43.879 --> 00:11:46.720 And so this morning, 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:49.939 I want you to notice four truths about his sin 00:11:49.939 --> 00:11:51.919 and about our sin 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:54.460 because there's similarity here. 00:11:55.320 --> 00:11:59.100 I share this because I think that we can learn from him. 00:12:01.399 --> 00:12:02.399 Let me be clear. 00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:05.240 I don't think you'll ever be in this situation, okay? 00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:06.960 At least not exactly. 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:14.840 But I will believe you'll be in situations of possible compromise. 00:12:14.840 --> 00:12:22.160 And I believe the lessons that we can learn from him in his compromise 00:12:22.160 --> 00:12:27.660 are lessons that we can apply to our life. 00:12:29.160 --> 00:12:32.780 Sinful compromises that do not have to happen. 00:12:32.779 --> 00:12:36.500 So I want you to know this. 00:12:37.019 --> 00:12:41.620 One is, our sins are never justified. 00:12:42.699 --> 00:12:44.000 They're never justified. 00:12:44.220 --> 00:12:46.199 Now listen, Abram was hungry. 00:12:46.360 --> 00:12:47.179 He was weary. 00:12:48.199 --> 00:12:50.699 And he was trying to lead his own life 00:12:50.699 --> 00:12:52.319 without the counsel of God. 00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:54.839 And he moved into the enemy's territory, 00:12:54.839 --> 00:12:56.240 and it made it worse. 00:12:56.600 --> 00:12:57.699 He was afraid. 00:12:57.899 --> 00:12:58.259 Why? 00:12:58.259 --> 00:13:00.939 Because he was going in the wrong direction. 00:13:02.919 --> 00:13:05.379 Don't be surprised when you're afraid, 00:13:05.559 --> 00:13:08.740 when you walk away from the leadership of the Lord. 00:13:09.340 --> 00:13:12.080 And fear will lead you to really mess up. 00:13:12.139 --> 00:13:12.840 It did for him. 00:13:13.799 --> 00:13:15.480 Egypt, don't misunderstand me, 00:13:15.860 --> 00:13:18.539 was and is a real place. 00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:19.419 But in Scripture, 00:13:19.860 --> 00:13:23.960 it always represents an alliance with the world. 00:13:25.500 --> 00:13:27.299 And times were hard for him. 00:13:28.259 --> 00:13:32.559 But he never needed to go to Egypt. 00:13:32.700 --> 00:13:34.379 It never gets that bad. 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:36.779 Never does. 00:13:38.279 --> 00:13:39.659 It's the wrong place. 00:13:40.600 --> 00:13:42.159 It's the wrong people. 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:46.480 In that culture, in that time, 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:48.840 and if we respond too quickly, 00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:50.319 when the heat is on, 00:13:50.539 --> 00:13:53.000 we will make bad choices. 00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:57.939 Erratic choices often show godless choices. 00:13:58.259 --> 00:14:00.580 They really do. 00:14:02.220 --> 00:14:04.960 You don't hear or read here 00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:06.439 of him building an altar anywhere. 00:14:06.759 --> 00:14:08.179 There's no talk of that right now. 00:14:09.100 --> 00:14:10.319 That talk has stopped. 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:13.240 You don't read of his prayers here. 00:14:14.500 --> 00:14:16.179 There's no talk of that at all. 00:14:16.819 --> 00:14:18.960 What we read of is his strategies 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:20.559 that are made without prayer 00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:23.860 and a desperate run into the enemy's camp 00:14:23.860 --> 00:14:25.279 out of desperation. 00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:27.399 And that's what happens 00:14:27.399 --> 00:14:29.259 when we try to figure it out on our own. 00:14:30.120 --> 00:14:31.519 His sin was not small. 00:14:31.659 --> 00:14:32.959 It might have felt that way to him. 00:14:33.159 --> 00:14:34.799 His sin was not isolated. 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:36.539 It might have felt that way to him. 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:39.179 It affected a lot more than he thought it does. 00:14:39.319 --> 00:14:41.000 And it always does. 00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:43.000 It was not justified, 00:14:43.199 --> 00:14:48.360 although sin often feels and seems justified. 00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:51.200 I mean, it felt justified. 00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:52.720 But the state of our sin 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:56.019 is not determined by how we feel about it. 00:14:57.279 --> 00:14:59.159 Church, you've got to get this 00:14:59.159 --> 00:15:02.379 because America's telling us something different. 00:15:05.320 --> 00:15:07.659 The state of our sin is not determined 00:15:07.659 --> 00:15:09.899 by how we feel about it. 00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:14.560 Our sin is determined by the standards of God. 00:15:14.680 --> 00:15:15.200 Period. 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:15.480 Period. 00:15:17.340 --> 00:15:21.060 And God's standards do not change. 00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:23.340 You can call it old-fashioned. 00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:25.340 You can call it contemporary. 00:15:26.180 --> 00:15:27.700 You can call it postmodern. 00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:29.840 You can call it whatever you want to. 00:15:30.160 --> 00:15:31.640 But it never changes. 00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:34.840 God's standard never change. 00:15:35.820 --> 00:15:37.960 And as the world that we live in, 00:15:38.300 --> 00:15:40.120 as the country that we live in, 00:15:40.440 --> 00:15:42.600 as the state that we live in, 00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:45.120 even as the city that we live in, 00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:49.159 as they ignore God more and more, 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:52.340 His Word may feel out of touch. 00:15:55.300 --> 00:15:56.899 But the state of your sin 00:15:56.899 --> 00:15:58.940 is not determined by how you feel about it. 00:15:59.980 --> 00:16:01.920 It's not determined by that. 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:04.960 It's based on the Word of God. 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:09.139 And sin is never justified. 00:16:09.340 --> 00:16:09.660 Never. 00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:11.560 Even if it feels right. 00:16:12.040 --> 00:16:13.940 Even if nobody's going to know. 00:16:14.600 --> 00:16:16.519 Even if you feel under pressure. 00:16:17.540 --> 00:16:19.879 All of those things are a ploy of the devil. 00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:21.500 Every last one of them. 00:16:21.680 --> 00:16:22.500 That's how he works. 00:16:22.560 --> 00:16:23.280 It's what he does. 00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:26.600 And we cannot fall for that. 00:16:26.740 --> 00:16:28.420 Sin is never justified. 00:16:28.920 --> 00:16:29.620 Second thing is this. 00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:31.800 Our sins lead to more sins. 00:16:31.799 --> 00:16:33.919 I mean, it will. 00:16:34.059 --> 00:16:35.139 Abraham sinned 00:16:35.139 --> 00:16:37.500 when he was without prayer 00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:38.839 and set out on his own. 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:42.199 He sinned when he moved into a wicked land. 00:16:42.539 --> 00:16:44.500 He sinned when he lied to protect himself. 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:47.539 He sinned when he put his wife in harm's way. 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:49.439 Sin always leads to more sin. 00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:51.419 It's kind of like running downhill. 00:16:52.579 --> 00:16:53.899 It's hard to stop. 00:16:54.679 --> 00:16:55.679 When you get old enough, 00:16:55.719 --> 00:16:56.740 it's kind of like running, period. 00:16:57.079 --> 00:16:57.339 You know? 00:16:57.879 --> 00:16:58.740 I mean, it's hard to stop. 00:16:58.819 --> 00:17:00.639 My head's as fast as it ever was. 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:01.840 My legs can't keep up more. 00:17:02.460 --> 00:17:03.019 It's amazing. 00:17:04.420 --> 00:17:07.319 However, the sooner you do stop, 00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:09.879 the better off you are. 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:14.480 And those that you take with you, 00:17:15.740 --> 00:17:16.700 they'll be better off too. 00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:23.599 If you know there's sin in your life today 00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:26.939 and you sense that, 00:17:28.179 --> 00:17:30.279 turn from it. 00:17:32.219 --> 00:17:33.679 It's not going to get easier. 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:36.679 It's not going to get simpler. 00:17:38.679 --> 00:17:40.039 It's going to lead to more sin. 00:17:41.919 --> 00:17:43.159 And so turn from it. 00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:45.980 Third thing is this. 00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:51.000 Our sin always hurts those closest to us. 00:17:53.200 --> 00:17:53.759 Always. 00:17:57.700 --> 00:17:58.180 Men, 00:17:58.380 --> 00:18:00.740 I hope you understand 00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:02.579 what's wrong with this picture. 00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:05.880 Because I promise you, 00:18:06.220 --> 00:18:07.920 the ladies understand what's wrong with this picture. 00:18:08.140 --> 00:18:08.380 Okay? 00:18:08.380 --> 00:18:11.260 And I would advise you 00:18:11.260 --> 00:18:12.800 at the lunch table 00:18:12.800 --> 00:18:14.120 not to say, 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:17.140 I don't see what Abram did wrong. 00:18:17.960 --> 00:18:18.160 Okay? 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:19.620 I'm just telling you, 00:18:19.660 --> 00:18:20.520 I wouldn't advise that. 00:18:20.580 --> 00:18:20.800 Okay? 00:18:25.660 --> 00:18:26.520 If you do, 00:18:26.600 --> 00:18:27.820 and y'all come see me next week, 00:18:27.840 --> 00:18:28.560 I'm taking her side. 00:18:28.600 --> 00:18:29.160 I'm just telling you. 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:29.380 Okay? 00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:30.120 So, 00:18:30.320 --> 00:18:30.580 just, 00:18:31.980 --> 00:18:33.400 although he understands, 00:18:33.700 --> 00:18:34.660 understood the customs 00:18:34.660 --> 00:18:35.500 and probably thought 00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:36.280 that he had a way out 00:18:36.280 --> 00:18:37.040 without being harmed, 00:18:37.860 --> 00:18:40.180 this problem got a lot bigger 00:18:40.180 --> 00:18:41.880 because Pharaoh got involved. 00:18:42.040 --> 00:18:43.000 He was hoping it would stop 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:44.060 before Pharaoh got involved, 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:45.420 but Pharaoh got involved. 00:18:45.600 --> 00:18:46.520 And it, 00:18:46.520 --> 00:18:48.780 it was not Abram 00:18:48.780 --> 00:18:49.980 that was at risk. 00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:54.140 Actually, 00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:56.840 Abram was living the high life. 00:18:58.260 --> 00:18:58.440 I mean, 00:18:58.460 --> 00:18:59.100 he was given, 00:18:59.380 --> 00:19:00.180 more than he needed. 00:19:00.520 --> 00:19:01.680 He was already a rich man. 00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:03.540 He left Egypt richer. 00:19:04.020 --> 00:19:04.560 He did. 00:19:05.280 --> 00:19:05.820 He was, 00:19:06.100 --> 00:19:06.900 he was, 00:19:07.040 --> 00:19:08.940 he was living a high life. 00:19:10.060 --> 00:19:11.540 He was treated just fine by Pharaoh. 00:19:11.700 --> 00:19:11.980 It was, 00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:12.840 it was Sarah 00:19:12.840 --> 00:19:13.820 who was with strangers. 00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:14.360 She, 00:19:14.460 --> 00:19:15.120 she was the one 00:19:15.120 --> 00:19:15.660 that was living 00:19:15.660 --> 00:19:17.340 in unfamiliar customs. 00:19:17.340 --> 00:19:18.240 She was the one 00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:18.860 that was uncertain 00:19:18.860 --> 00:19:19.960 about what was to come. 00:19:20.280 --> 00:19:20.900 And thank God, 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:21.640 God intervened. 00:19:21.860 --> 00:19:22.840 He saved her life. 00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:23.900 He saved his life 00:19:23.900 --> 00:19:25.820 and got them out of there. 00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:27.480 But at what expense 00:19:27.480 --> 00:19:28.180 did it take 00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:29.320 to get out of there? 00:19:29.380 --> 00:19:32.480 I'm telling you, 00:19:32.540 --> 00:19:34.200 I bet that was a rough ride home. 00:19:34.380 --> 00:19:35.060 Don't you think? 00:19:35.520 --> 00:19:35.960 I mean, 00:19:36.220 --> 00:19:37.100 come on. 00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:39.340 A painful one. 00:19:42.080 --> 00:19:44.080 And it always will be 00:19:44.080 --> 00:19:47.340 because your sin 00:19:47.340 --> 00:19:48.020 always hurts 00:19:48.020 --> 00:19:49.280 those closest to you. 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:51.020 Let me be clear. 00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:52.720 even if they don't know 00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:53.279 about it. 00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:56.559 It always hurts 00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:57.480 those closest to you. 00:19:58.980 --> 00:19:59.859 It didn't stop 00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:00.500 with her though. 00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:03.379 Not only was she 00:20:03.379 --> 00:20:04.400 affected by this, 00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:06.099 but Lot was affected 00:20:06.099 --> 00:20:06.779 by this. 00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:10.579 Lot lived 00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:11.859 off the benefits 00:20:11.859 --> 00:20:14.059 that came to Abram. 00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:18.259 Lot got a taste 00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:20.740 of the luxurious 00:20:20.740 --> 00:20:23.059 pagan world. 00:20:24.059 --> 00:20:25.200 And we'll get there. 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:30.440 We'll study together 00:20:30.440 --> 00:20:31.299 that when Lot 00:20:31.299 --> 00:20:32.319 would be faced 00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:33.980 with his own life decisions 00:20:33.980 --> 00:20:34.500 later, 00:20:34.879 --> 00:20:35.639 he would make 00:20:35.639 --> 00:20:36.659 the wrong choice. 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:37.220 They would be 00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:38.220 prayerless choices. 00:20:38.659 --> 00:20:39.419 They would be made 00:20:39.419 --> 00:20:40.559 by his eyes. 00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:42.379 And they would be made 00:20:42.379 --> 00:20:43.339 because a seed 00:20:43.339 --> 00:20:43.980 was planted 00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:45.559 in him in Egypt, 00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:47.079 the enemy's territory. 00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:48.539 And the fruit 00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:49.359 would be bore 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:50.579 in Sodom 00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:52.139 and Gomorrah. 00:20:56.460 --> 00:20:57.480 And it did not 00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:58.240 have to be. 00:21:00.619 --> 00:21:01.099 Honestly, 00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:02.659 if you go back 00:21:02.659 --> 00:21:03.319 and look at the first 00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:04.220 part of Genesis 12, 00:21:05.399 --> 00:21:06.099 he shouldn't even 00:21:06.099 --> 00:21:07.200 brought Lot with him. 00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:08.639 He wasn't even 00:21:08.639 --> 00:21:09.379 supposed to be there. 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:11.619 And he sure 00:21:11.619 --> 00:21:12.000 shouldn't have 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:12.899 taken him to Egypt 00:21:12.899 --> 00:21:14.460 where he got 00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:15.460 a taste of it. 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:17.440 Our sin 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:18.500 always hurts 00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:19.980 those closest to us. 00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:22.099 Fourth thing is this. 00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:24.240 Our sin 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:26.179 always hurts 00:21:26.179 --> 00:21:26.980 our testimony. 00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:29.319 It always hurts 00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:29.819 our testimony. 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:33.299 Think about this 00:21:33.299 --> 00:21:33.819 for just a moment. 00:21:35.079 --> 00:21:36.379 Who called 00:21:36.379 --> 00:21:37.339 Abram out 00:21:37.339 --> 00:21:38.339 on his sin? 00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:41.980 Pharaoh. 00:21:45.399 --> 00:21:46.480 A lost 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:48.399 pagan 00:21:48.399 --> 00:21:50.240 leader 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:52.099 called him out 00:21:52.099 --> 00:21:52.619 on his sin. 00:21:54.159 --> 00:21:55.019 Remember what God 00:21:55.019 --> 00:21:55.639 said to Abram 00:21:55.639 --> 00:21:56.220 in his calling? 00:21:57.459 --> 00:21:58.139 He said, 00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:59.059 I'll bless you 00:21:59.059 --> 00:21:59.980 and I'll make 00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:01.159 you a blessing. 00:22:02.439 --> 00:22:03.480 That's not a blessing. 00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:07.500 God was to use 00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:08.220 Abram to build 00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:08.980 a great nation. 00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:10.319 There's no way 00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:10.940 you can build 00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:11.599 a great nation 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:12.120 set apart 00:22:12.120 --> 00:22:12.720 from the Lord. 00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:13.839 What kind of 00:22:13.839 --> 00:22:15.120 witness is this 00:22:15.120 --> 00:22:16.059 to the world? 00:22:17.860 --> 00:22:18.640 And we need 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:19.240 to think about 00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:19.779 our witness 00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:21.480 when we get 00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:22.099 around our lost 00:22:22.099 --> 00:22:22.559 friends. 00:22:24.940 --> 00:22:25.799 We need to think 00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:26.420 about our witness 00:22:26.420 --> 00:22:26.880 when we get 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:27.620 around weak 00:22:27.620 --> 00:22:28.339 Christians. 00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:31.919 We need 00:22:31.919 --> 00:22:32.240 to think 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:32.639 about our 00:22:32.639 --> 00:22:32.899 witness 00:22:32.899 --> 00:22:33.399 when we get 00:22:33.399 --> 00:22:34.299 around opportunities 00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:34.959 to really 00:22:34.959 --> 00:22:35.679 make a difference 00:22:35.679 --> 00:22:36.259 in people's 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:36.519 life, 00:22:36.819 --> 00:22:37.220 but instead 00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:38.099 we blow it 00:22:38.099 --> 00:22:38.659 because we 00:22:38.659 --> 00:22:39.179 don't live 00:22:39.179 --> 00:22:39.899 by God's 00:22:39.899 --> 00:22:40.579 standard. 00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:42.519 If you look 00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:43.019 like the rest 00:22:43.019 --> 00:22:43.359 of the world, 00:22:43.439 --> 00:22:43.859 you'll waste 00:22:43.859 --> 00:22:44.399 more time 00:22:44.399 --> 00:22:45.159 doing nothing 00:22:45.159 --> 00:22:45.899 for the Lord 00:22:45.899 --> 00:22:46.980 and defaming 00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:47.839 the name 00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:48.720 and the work 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:49.559 and the character 00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:50.319 of the Lord 00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:51.179 in the eyes 00:22:51.179 --> 00:22:51.639 of those 00:22:51.639 --> 00:22:52.379 that so 00:22:52.379 --> 00:22:53.259 desperately 00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:54.939 need God. 00:22:55.419 --> 00:22:56.019 That's exactly 00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:56.619 what will happen. 00:22:57.159 --> 00:22:57.599 Our sin 00:22:57.599 --> 00:22:58.500 always hurts 00:22:58.500 --> 00:22:59.119 our testimony 00:22:59.119 --> 00:23:00.740 and when we 00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:01.219 mess up, 00:23:01.299 --> 00:23:01.859 it's bad 00:23:01.859 --> 00:23:02.419 and we can't 00:23:02.419 --> 00:23:03.019 gloss over 00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:03.459 that. 00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:06.459 Man, 00:23:06.500 --> 00:23:06.980 I thank God 00:23:06.980 --> 00:23:07.240 this ain't 00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:07.500 the end 00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:08.079 of the story. 00:23:10.439 --> 00:23:11.179 But sin 00:23:11.179 --> 00:23:11.859 is never 00:23:11.859 --> 00:23:12.539 justified. 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:13.959 Sin always 00:23:13.959 --> 00:23:14.839 leads to more 00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:15.139 sin. 00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:16.119 Sin hurts 00:23:16.119 --> 00:23:16.619 those that 00:23:16.619 --> 00:23:17.039 are closest 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:17.579 to you 00:23:17.579 --> 00:23:18.379 and sin 00:23:18.379 --> 00:23:19.119 kills 00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:20.319 our testimony. 00:23:21.899 --> 00:23:22.619 But I want 00:23:22.619 --> 00:23:23.119 to share you 00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:23.939 one more truth 00:23:23.939 --> 00:23:24.459 and it's not 00:23:24.459 --> 00:23:26.459 about Abram 00:23:26.459 --> 00:23:27.059 and it's not 00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:27.960 about us, 00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:28.579 it's about 00:23:28.579 --> 00:23:29.099 God. 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:30.480 One truth 00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:32.500 and that is 00:23:32.500 --> 00:23:33.839 God is 00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:35.179 always more 00:23:35.179 --> 00:23:36.379 faithful to us 00:23:36.379 --> 00:23:37.720 than we are 00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:38.079 to him. 00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:40.059 Can I get 00:23:40.059 --> 00:23:40.359 an amen? 00:23:41.159 --> 00:23:42.000 That's the place 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:42.759 to put it folks. 00:23:43.859 --> 00:23:44.960 He's always 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:47.200 better to us 00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:49.240 than we are 00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:49.839 to him. 00:23:50.119 --> 00:23:51.099 Genesis 13 00:23:51.099 --> 00:23:52.220 verse 1 00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:52.599 through 4. 00:23:52.679 --> 00:23:53.099 Let me read this. 00:23:53.099 --> 00:23:53.980 So Abram 00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:54.379 went up 00:23:54.379 --> 00:23:55.019 from Egypt 00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:55.659 he and his 00:23:55.659 --> 00:23:56.039 wife 00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:56.679 and all 00:23:56.679 --> 00:23:56.959 that he 00:23:56.959 --> 00:23:57.339 had 00:23:57.339 --> 00:23:57.859 and lot 00:23:57.859 --> 00:23:58.339 with him 00:23:58.339 --> 00:23:59.179 into the 00:23:59.179 --> 00:23:59.639 Negev. 00:24:00.419 --> 00:24:01.419 Now Abram 00:24:01.419 --> 00:24:02.459 was very rich. 00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:04.779 Do you get 00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:05.500 the irony there? 00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:07.419 Very rich 00:24:07.419 --> 00:24:08.079 in livestock 00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:09.199 in silver 00:24:09.199 --> 00:24:10.579 and in gold. 00:24:11.679 --> 00:24:12.339 And as he 00:24:12.339 --> 00:24:13.039 journeyed on 00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:13.399 from the 00:24:13.399 --> 00:24:13.799 Negev 00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:14.599 as far as 00:24:14.599 --> 00:24:14.959 Bethel 00:24:14.959 --> 00:24:15.500 to the place 00:24:15.500 --> 00:24:15.819 where his 00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:16.419 tent had been 00:24:16.419 --> 00:24:17.219 at the beginning 00:24:17.219 --> 00:24:19.319 between Bethel 00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:19.779 and Ai 00:24:19.779 --> 00:24:21.139 to the place 00:24:21.139 --> 00:24:21.619 where he had 00:24:21.619 --> 00:24:22.319 made an altar 00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:23.019 at the first 00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:23.639 and there 00:24:23.639 --> 00:24:24.220 Abram 00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:25.519 thank God 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.879 there Abram 00:24:26.879 --> 00:24:28.200 called upon 00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:29.139 the name 00:24:29.139 --> 00:24:30.299 of the Lord. 00:24:30.399 --> 00:24:30.799 He went 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:31.299 back 00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:32.480 to Bethel. 00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:34.319 He got 00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:34.779 his heart 00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:35.160 right 00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:36.779 at the altar 00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:37.480 that he had 00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:37.920 built 00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:39.319 earlier 00:24:39.319 --> 00:24:41.099 and he called 00:24:41.099 --> 00:24:41.680 upon the name 00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:42.139 of the Lord. 00:24:43.700 --> 00:24:44.660 I told you 00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:45.220 last week 00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:45.579 you need to 00:24:45.579 --> 00:24:46.160 leave reminders 00:24:46.160 --> 00:24:46.879 in your life 00:24:46.880 --> 00:24:48.400 of how God 00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:48.980 used you 00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:49.720 and worked 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:50.080 in you 00:24:50.080 --> 00:24:51.020 in the past. 00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:52.660 What he's 00:24:52.660 --> 00:24:53.140 done in your 00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:53.900 life so that 00:24:53.900 --> 00:24:54.360 you can go 00:24:54.360 --> 00:24:54.920 back there 00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:55.740 and find 00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:56.300 strength. 00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:57.560 And when Abram 00:24:57.560 --> 00:24:57.980 was going 00:24:57.980 --> 00:24:58.540 back and 00:24:58.540 --> 00:24:59.360 retracing those 00:24:59.360 --> 00:25:00.340 steps and he 00:25:00.340 --> 00:25:01.120 saw that altar 00:25:01.120 --> 00:25:02.160 don't you know 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:02.940 it was convicting 00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:03.620 to his heart. 00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:07.300 God blessed 00:25:07.300 --> 00:25:08.100 him by providing 00:25:08.100 --> 00:25:08.660 more than he 00:25:08.660 --> 00:25:08.920 needed. 00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:10.260 God blessed 00:25:10.260 --> 00:25:10.880 him by leading 00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:11.260 him out of 00:25:11.260 --> 00:25:11.740 harm's way. 00:25:11.880 --> 00:25:12.480 God blessed 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:13.320 him by receiving 00:25:13.320 --> 00:25:14.280 him back when 00:25:14.280 --> 00:25:15.060 he called upon 00:25:15.060 --> 00:25:15.360 him. 00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:16.820 None of 00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:19.200 us have 00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:19.960 always been 00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:20.700 faithful to 00:25:20.700 --> 00:25:21.119 God. 00:25:23.059 --> 00:25:23.960 But God 00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:24.819 has always 00:25:24.819 --> 00:25:25.679 been faithful 00:25:25.679 --> 00:25:26.899 to us. 00:25:28.700 --> 00:25:29.220 I will tell 00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:29.619 you something 00:25:29.619 --> 00:25:30.299 today friend 00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:32.099 and in his 00:25:32.099 --> 00:25:33.639 grace he'll 00:25:33.639 --> 00:25:34.359 receive you 00:25:34.359 --> 00:25:36.639 back if 00:25:36.639 --> 00:25:37.039 you'll come 00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:37.359 back. 00:25:40.359 --> 00:25:41.480 When wrong 00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:44.679 motives lead 00:25:44.679 --> 00:25:45.159 to wrong 00:25:45.159 --> 00:25:45.759 moves, 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:48.200 wrong moves 00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:48.779 are made, 00:25:49.819 --> 00:25:50.420 it's time to 00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:50.960 come back to 00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:51.259 God. 00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:53.799 By the way, 00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:54.339 I want to 00:25:54.339 --> 00:25:54.940 remind you that 00:25:54.940 --> 00:25:56.859 Bethel is the 00:25:56.859 --> 00:25:57.559 Hebrew word for 00:25:57.559 --> 00:25:58.980 the house of 00:25:58.980 --> 00:25:59.359 God. 00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:01.940 It's time to 00:26:01.940 --> 00:26:03.559 come back to 00:26:03.559 --> 00:26:04.099 the house of 00:26:04.099 --> 00:26:04.359 God. 00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:06.579 It's time to 00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:07.079 get it right. 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:09.960 So what is it? 00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:13.039 what is it in 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:15.200 your life that 00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:16.200 you're harboring, 00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:19.860 maybe enjoying a 00:26:19.860 --> 00:26:20.319 little bit too 00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:20.720 much? 00:26:24.460 --> 00:26:25.360 Or maybe not 00:26:25.360 --> 00:26:26.240 enjoying at all. 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:29.240 You just feel like 00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:29.980 you're in a pit and 00:26:29.980 --> 00:26:30.460 don't know how to 00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:30.880 get out. 00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:33.640 Well, I'll tell you 00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:34.160 how to get out. 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:37.000 Stop doing what 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:38.360 you're doing and 00:26:38.359 --> 00:26:38.819 get out. 00:26:40.679 --> 00:26:41.599 Stop doing what 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:41.979 you're doing. 00:26:43.419 --> 00:26:44.179 Because it's not 00:26:44.179 --> 00:26:44.759 justified. 00:26:45.719 --> 00:26:46.419 It's bigger than 00:26:46.419 --> 00:26:47.179 you think it is. 00:26:48.059 --> 00:26:48.839 It's going to hurt 00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:49.719 those closest to 00:26:49.719 --> 00:26:50.000 you. 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:52.219 And thank God, 00:26:52.979 --> 00:26:53.719 he loves us 00:26:53.719 --> 00:26:55.359 enough to be 00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:56.079 more faithful to 00:26:56.079 --> 00:26:56.799 us than we'll 00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:57.559 ever be to him. 00:26:57.559 --> 00:27:00.899 I don't know 00:27:00.899 --> 00:27:01.500 what's going on 00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:02.019 in your life 00:27:02.019 --> 00:27:02.399 today. 00:27:03.879 --> 00:27:04.579 I don't know 00:27:04.579 --> 00:27:04.960 what you're 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:05.720 struggling with. 00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:07.659 But I promise 00:27:07.659 --> 00:27:09.019 you, if you 00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:09.700 bring it to the 00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:10.159 Lord, he'll 00:27:10.159 --> 00:27:10.839 receive you where 00:27:10.839 --> 00:27:11.299 you are. 00:27:12.419 --> 00:27:13.319 You turn from 00:27:13.319 --> 00:27:14.000 that sin and 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:14.759 confess that to 00:27:14.759 --> 00:27:15.039 God. 00:27:15.859 --> 00:27:16.700 He'll make you 00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:16.960 new. 00:27:17.700 --> 00:27:18.559 And he'll help 00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:19.379 you build back 00:27:19.379 --> 00:27:21.200 what you need to 00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:22.960 build back in 00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:23.539 your life. 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:24.819 He's always more 00:27:24.819 --> 00:27:25.659 faithful to us 00:27:25.659 --> 00:27:27.179 than we are to 00:27:27.180 --> 00:27:27.440 him. 00:27:28.580 --> 00:27:29.299 With every head 00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:29.860 bowed and every 00:27:29.860 --> 00:27:30.580 eye closed, if 00:27:30.580 --> 00:27:31.240 you've never come 00:27:31.240 --> 00:27:31.799 to know the Lord 00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:32.460 Jesus as your 00:27:32.460 --> 00:27:33.140 personal Lord and 00:27:33.140 --> 00:27:33.820 Savior, I want you 00:27:33.820 --> 00:27:34.620 to know the 00:27:34.620 --> 00:27:35.640 invitation is open 00:27:35.640 --> 00:27:36.940 to you to come 00:27:36.940 --> 00:27:37.340 to him. 00:27:37.580 --> 00:27:38.100 It's not my 00:27:38.100 --> 00:27:38.759 invitation, it's 00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.519 his invitation. 00:27:45.259 --> 00:27:46.259 That everyone who 00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:47.000 calls upon the 00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:47.519 name of the Lord 00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:49.500 shall be saved. 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:51.539 So I encourage 00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:52.700 you, if you've 00:27:52.700 --> 00:27:53.320 never given your 00:27:53.320 --> 00:27:53.940 heart and life to 00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:54.480 the Lord Jesus 00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:55.240 Christ, that's the 00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:56.880 first step, is to 00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:57.560 acknowledge the 00:27:57.560 --> 00:27:58.180 wrong that you've 00:27:58.180 --> 00:27:58.860 done in your life 00:27:58.860 --> 00:27:59.460 and ask him to 00:27:59.460 --> 00:28:00.060 forgive you and to 00:28:00.060 --> 00:28:00.580 cleanse you and to 00:28:00.580 --> 00:28:01.060 come into your 00:28:01.060 --> 00:28:01.400 life. 00:28:01.860 --> 00:28:02.780 And he'll do just 00:28:02.780 --> 00:28:02.960 that. 00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:03.660 We'd love to guide 00:28:03.660 --> 00:28:04.060 you in that 00:28:04.060 --> 00:28:04.440 process. 00:28:06.540 --> 00:28:07.260 Maybe you're here 00:28:07.260 --> 00:28:08.000 and you have done 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:10.920 that, but there's a 00:28:10.920 --> 00:28:11.560 hindrance in your 00:28:11.560 --> 00:28:12.020 life. 00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:13.400 You've not been 00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:14.400 obedient to him. 00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:17.600 You need to get 00:28:17.600 --> 00:28:18.420 some things right. 00:28:18.540 --> 00:28:19.060 Quit worrying about 00:28:19.060 --> 00:28:19.840 everybody else. 00:28:20.820 --> 00:28:21.860 Just get your heart 00:28:21.860 --> 00:28:23.840 and mind on God and 00:28:23.840 --> 00:28:24.600 do exactly what he 00:28:24.600 --> 00:28:25.200 tells you to do. 00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:26.000 You can do that 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:26.539 where you are. 00:28:26.620 --> 00:28:27.039 You can do it at 00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:27.440 this altar. 00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:27.960 You can do it with 00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:28.860 a pastor praying for 00:28:28.860 --> 00:28:29.039 you. 00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:30.960 It don't make any 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:31.880 difference to me. 00:28:33.400 --> 00:28:34.440 The main thing is 00:28:34.440 --> 00:28:35.440 what God's doing in 00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:36.440 your life and what he 00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:37.460 tells you to do that 00:28:37.460 --> 00:28:38.039 you're obedient. 00:28:39.880 --> 00:28:41.019 Don't stumble again 00:28:41.019 --> 00:28:41.940 because you fail to be 00:28:41.940 --> 00:28:42.799 obedient when God 00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:43.740 shows you exactly what 00:28:43.740 --> 00:28:44.240 you're to do. 00:28:45.819 --> 00:28:46.519 And maybe you're here 00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:47.319 and God's drawing you 00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:47.960 to be a part of this 00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:48.240 church. 00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:51.000 You know that you 00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:51.680 want to be a part of 00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:52.460 this and you feel like 00:28:52.460 --> 00:28:53.640 God's leading you to be 00:28:53.640 --> 00:28:54.039 a part of that. 00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:55.000 We'd love to guide you 00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:55.839 in that process. 00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:57.180 Now's the time. 00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:57.899 I encourage you to 00:28:57.899 --> 00:28:58.200 come. 00:28:58.700 --> 00:28:59.379 We'd love to help you 00:28:59.379 --> 00:28:59.759 with that. 00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:02.159 Maybe you're here and 00:29:02.159 --> 00:29:03.420 you know the Lord 00:29:03.420 --> 00:29:04.720 Jesus but you've never 00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:05.680 acknowledged him 00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:06.359 publicly through 00:29:06.359 --> 00:29:06.899 baptism. 00:29:07.899 --> 00:29:08.720 And I'm going to tell 00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:09.399 you that will be a 00:29:09.399 --> 00:29:10.399 major hindrance in your 00:29:10.399 --> 00:29:12.180 life for everyone to 00:29:12.180 --> 00:29:12.879 grow and like you need 00:29:12.879 --> 00:29:13.259 to grow. 00:29:14.119 --> 00:29:15.180 I encourage you to 00:29:15.180 --> 00:29:16.099 humble yourself before 00:29:16.099 --> 00:29:18.420 God and proudly 00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:20.180 proclaim him through 00:29:20.180 --> 00:29:21.019 that act of worship. 00:29:21.019 --> 00:29:23.799 Lord Jesus whatever it 00:29:23.799 --> 00:29:24.839 is upon our heart and 00:29:24.839 --> 00:29:25.779 life today let us not 00:29:25.779 --> 00:29:26.900 be satisfied until we're 00:29:26.900 --> 00:29:28.279 obediently following you. 00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:30.980 Lead us right now to 00:29:30.980 --> 00:29:34.139 simply obey in Jesus 00:29:34.139 --> 00:29:34.639 name. 00:29:34.940 --> 00:29:35.240 Amen. 00:29:35.240 --> 00:29:36.759 nombre unto you. 00:29:37.120 --> 00:29:37.240 E가지고. 00:29:37.240 --> 00:29:37.480 Amen. 00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:37.680 Amen. 00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:37.740 Amen. 00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:40.599 Amen. 00:29:40.599 --> 00:29:41.160 Amen. 00:29:41.160 --> 00:29:41.859 Amen. 00:29:41.859 --> 00:29:42.579 Amen. 00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:43.319 Amen. 00:29:43.359 --> 00:29:43.920 Amen. 00:29:44.019 --> 00:29:44.279 Amen. 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:45.140 Thank you. 00:29:45.140 --> 00:29:45.279 Amen. 00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:45.519 Amen. 00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:45.880 Amen. 00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:46.160 Amen. 00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:46.380 Amen. 00:29:46.380 --> 00:29:46.519 Amen. 00:29:46.519 --> 00:29:46.839 Amen. 00:29:46.839 --> 00:29:47.380 Amen. 00:29:47.380 --> 00:29:47.740 Amen. 00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:47.920 Amen. 00:29:50.059 --> 00:29:50.599 Amen. 00:29:50.599 --> 00:29:52.220 Amen. 00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:52.519 Amen. 00:29:52.539 --> 00:29:52.720 Amen. 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:52.940 Amen. 00:29:52.940 --> 00:29:54.359 Amen. 00:29:54.359 --> 00:29:54.400 Amen. 00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:54.859 Amen. 00:29:54.859 --> 00:29:56.559 Okay. 00:29:56.559 --> 00:29:56.720 Amen. 00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:56.920 Amen. 00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:57.180 Amen. 00:29:57.259 --> 00:29:57.279 Amen. 00:29:57.279 --> 00:29:57.660 Amen. 00:29:57.660 --> 00:29:58.380 Amen. 00:29:58.380 --> 00:29:58.559 Amen. 00:29:58.559 --> 00:29:58.839 Amen. 00:29:58.839 --> 00:29:59.500 Amen. 00:29:59.500 --> 00:30:00.720 Amen. 00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:00.839 Amen. 00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:01.359 Amen. 00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:01.420 Amen. 00:30:01.420 --> 00:30:02.380 Amen.