WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.339 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:09.359 Our passion is to experience and express grace. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:10.500 Join us. 00:00:12.460 --> 00:00:17.600 Okay, so part of me is being a musician. 00:00:18.140 --> 00:00:23.500 And so part of me sermonizing is trying to share that at times. 00:00:23.580 --> 00:00:26.000 That's part of the sermon for me. 00:00:26.699 --> 00:00:28.940 I get the privilege of doing the next two weeks. 00:00:28.940 --> 00:00:30.800 We're going to be talking about God and neighbor. 00:00:31.359 --> 00:00:35.020 This morning we'll focus a little bit more on the God and move into the neighbor. 00:00:35.300 --> 00:00:37.200 And the next week focus a little bit more on the neighbor. 00:00:37.400 --> 00:00:39.660 But music is a part of that for me. 00:00:40.760 --> 00:00:43.700 That song I wrote when I was in college. 00:00:44.340 --> 00:00:46.480 And it continues to morph. 00:00:46.600 --> 00:00:47.480 It continues to grow. 00:00:48.340 --> 00:00:50.740 It continues to take on new meaning as I grow older. 00:00:50.960 --> 00:00:55.420 And music is like a gift from God, I do believe. 00:00:55.420 --> 00:01:00.200 If you're a musician, I think you understand he uses it in special ways in your life. 00:01:00.900 --> 00:01:12.640 And it allows an artist to create a space that captures a meaning, captures a moment, captures a purpose. 00:01:12.760 --> 00:01:14.240 That's why you can go back to a song. 00:01:14.320 --> 00:01:16.740 You can listen to it and it just takes you somewhere. 00:01:17.159 --> 00:01:18.000 It could be a good thing. 00:01:18.060 --> 00:01:18.900 It could be a bad thing. 00:01:18.980 --> 00:01:19.879 It could be a special thing. 00:01:19.879 --> 00:01:23.640 And it's also a space then that can be shared with another person. 00:01:24.699 --> 00:01:31.039 And so that particular song helps me focus on true meaning wherever I am when I get lost in my life. 00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:35.579 What I need most in my life is not a successful career. 00:01:36.500 --> 00:01:41.919 It's not a large bank account or the best house, the best job, the best family. 00:01:42.079 --> 00:01:44.799 Fill in the blank, right, with whatever you have in your heart. 00:01:44.799 --> 00:02:01.039 What I need most is the truest source of life beyond me that sustains me, that drives me, that saves me, that propels me to keep going when my life seems lost, when my life is dark. 00:02:01.979 --> 00:02:12.360 So after I graduated from the promised land of Auburn University, God took me back to Birmingham where I lived for six years. 00:02:12.360 --> 00:02:18.020 And during that time I got married to my wife Anna Catherine and then God called us to Washington, D.C. 00:02:18.720 --> 00:02:20.700 where we served for nine years. 00:02:21.720 --> 00:02:32.740 And during that time we had John Paul, we finished seminary, we walked through the death of loved ones, and that same source of love sustained us. 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:36.940 And then God called us from D.C. to serve in Nashville, Tennessee. 00:02:37.760 --> 00:02:40.000 And I shared some of that journey before with you. 00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:45.360 That was a tough one, a hard road, but that same source of love sustained us. 00:02:46.259 --> 00:02:50.340 And then that had a happy ending because it led us to Huntsville, Alabama. 00:02:51.159 --> 00:02:55.979 And Huntsville, Alabama is space town, okay? 00:02:57.240 --> 00:03:02.460 On our way here, I will always remember the first thing that we saw was a rocket. 00:03:02.699 --> 00:03:08.000 Remember the rocket that used to be on 65 and then it became really dangerous so they had to take it down? 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:10.340 I saw that rocket. 00:03:11.259 --> 00:03:18.819 Our first year here we went to an event at Big Spring Park that was put on by NASA and I just thought that was the greatest thing. 00:03:18.939 --> 00:03:19.879 I was like, this is really cool. 00:03:20.699 --> 00:03:25.180 There's t-shirt shops that have the coolest nerdy space things. 00:03:25.180 --> 00:03:29.760 I thought space is everywhere. 00:03:29.960 --> 00:03:31.120 And then Space Camp. 00:03:31.240 --> 00:03:31.900 I mean, I'd heard about it. 00:03:31.900 --> 00:03:33.879 I watched a movie in the 80s called Space Camp. 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:35.379 Y'all probably don't know about this. 00:03:36.200 --> 00:03:36.879 But it's awesome. 00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:41.360 It's about this little robot that accidentally takes off from Space Camp and goes into orbit with kids. 00:03:41.939 --> 00:03:43.080 That's like a kid's dream. 00:03:43.520 --> 00:03:45.879 And at the end it said, filmed in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:03:45.980 --> 00:03:46.939 I'm like, oh, wow. 00:03:47.620 --> 00:03:48.240 I'm here. 00:03:48.659 --> 00:03:49.600 I'm in Space Town. 00:03:50.379 --> 00:03:52.840 I'm going to space with a little robot. 00:03:53.479 --> 00:03:55.099 But no, like this is a cool town. 00:03:56.060 --> 00:03:57.060 Space is everywhere. 00:03:58.379 --> 00:04:01.539 When I get my haircut, I call her Herica. 00:04:01.939 --> 00:04:02.560 Her name's Erica. 00:04:03.799 --> 00:04:07.919 But Herica likes to talk to me about whether or not the earth is round. 00:04:08.419 --> 00:04:09.019 I'm like, okay. 00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:11.439 Space is everywhere. 00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:16.959 But this morning, I want you to think about just that word a little differently. 00:04:17.100 --> 00:04:17.240 Okay? 00:04:17.300 --> 00:04:17.660 Space. 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:19.620 Just a little differently. 00:04:19.699 --> 00:04:21.180 And I want to start by asking this question. 00:04:22.060 --> 00:04:23.259 Where did it come from? 00:04:24.540 --> 00:04:24.800 Okay? 00:04:25.399 --> 00:04:27.540 Where did space come from? 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:31.300 I believe that God made space. 00:04:31.720 --> 00:04:31.899 Okay? 00:04:31.899 --> 00:04:40.739 If we read in Genesis 1, in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 00:04:41.659 --> 00:04:45.179 In the beginning, God created space. 00:04:46.179 --> 00:04:46.319 Okay? 00:04:48.019 --> 00:04:49.359 Isaiah 40 continues. 00:04:49.539 --> 00:04:56.799 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span? 00:04:58.379 --> 00:04:59.879 Do you know what a span was? 00:04:59.879 --> 00:05:02.219 Span is a measurement. 00:05:02.439 --> 00:05:04.159 It's the distance between here and here. 00:05:06.579 --> 00:05:07.699 So imagine that. 00:05:08.579 --> 00:05:16.439 Imagine just how powerful God must be with that imagery that all of space could be contained in that measurement. 00:05:17.399 --> 00:05:20.300 His immense size, his glory. 00:05:21.100 --> 00:05:22.899 It's far beyond what we can even comprehend. 00:05:24.360 --> 00:05:25.759 God made space. 00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:28.759 It's pretty amazing. 00:05:29.879 --> 00:05:35.980 I mean, we can't even fathom how glorious it is. 00:05:36.719 --> 00:05:40.040 But what did he do with it after he created it? 00:05:40.500 --> 00:05:42.579 What did he do with space after he made it? 00:05:44.040 --> 00:05:45.319 He gave it away. 00:05:47.159 --> 00:05:49.240 He gave it away to his creation. 00:05:49.240 --> 00:05:53.379 He put us on this space called earth. 00:05:53.720 --> 00:05:55.400 He gave away the sun. 00:05:55.500 --> 00:05:56.639 He gave away the moon. 00:05:56.960 --> 00:05:59.160 He gave away the ground under my feet. 00:05:59.240 --> 00:06:01.540 He gave me eyes to see the space. 00:06:01.819 --> 00:06:03.180 To see the sun. 00:06:03.340 --> 00:06:04.160 To see the moon. 00:06:04.259 --> 00:06:05.079 To see the ground. 00:06:05.180 --> 00:06:06.000 To see the plants. 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:06.939 To see the animals. 00:06:08.220 --> 00:06:14.300 And then he gave man and woman space to be a part of the blessedness of the creation. 00:06:14.860 --> 00:06:15.540 His space. 00:06:15.540 --> 00:06:17.800 Eat the fruit, he said. 00:06:18.480 --> 00:06:20.100 He shared that space with them. 00:06:20.360 --> 00:06:22.140 Name the animals, he said. 00:06:22.420 --> 00:06:24.220 He shared that space with them. 00:06:24.860 --> 00:06:26.020 Steward the earth. 00:06:26.340 --> 00:06:28.200 He shared that space with them. 00:06:28.340 --> 00:06:29.980 Walk with me in the garden. 00:06:30.939 --> 00:06:32.320 He shared that space with them. 00:06:32.319 --> 00:06:38.699 So it appears that scripture begins with the blessing of the creation of space. 00:06:39.519 --> 00:06:42.920 And then God gives that space away to us. 00:06:46.399 --> 00:06:48.819 Now think about this for a minute. 00:06:49.939 --> 00:06:53.060 Who was the first evangelist? 00:06:53.060 --> 00:07:05.540 Who was the first one to create a space for God's love to be shared with someone who needed it? 00:07:06.259 --> 00:07:09.340 Someone who was hiding in a place of darkness? 00:07:10.939 --> 00:07:12.500 Who was the first evangelist? 00:07:14.579 --> 00:07:15.079 God. 00:07:17.639 --> 00:07:21.300 How did God as the first evangelist give away that space? 00:07:21.300 --> 00:07:22.300 God. 00:07:22.300 --> 00:07:23.300 How did God as the first evangelist give away that space? 00:07:23.300 --> 00:07:25.040 In Genesis 3.9. 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:27.800 God turned to Adam. 00:07:27.939 --> 00:07:30.420 Who was hiding, afraid, exposed. 00:07:30.780 --> 00:07:32.600 And he asked a very simple question. 00:07:33.480 --> 00:07:34.319 Where are you? 00:07:35.600 --> 00:07:37.960 That's the mother of all questions. 00:07:38.920 --> 00:07:39.900 Where are you? 00:07:42.139 --> 00:07:43.120 Where am I? 00:07:43.620 --> 00:07:44.480 Where are you hiding? 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:48.580 You think that God didn't know where Adam was? 00:07:48.580 --> 00:07:50.699 The one who created that space that we saw? 00:07:51.300 --> 00:07:53.680 You think he didn't know? 00:07:53.939 --> 00:07:54.540 No, he knew. 00:07:55.460 --> 00:07:55.960 He knew. 00:07:57.879 --> 00:08:03.720 But he made space for the creation to interact in that moment. 00:08:05.280 --> 00:08:06.520 God made space. 00:08:07.660 --> 00:08:09.439 And God holds space for us. 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:13.560 God holds space for us. 00:08:13.560 --> 00:08:15.560 God holds space for us. 00:08:15.560 --> 00:08:16.560 God holds space for us. 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:43.539 And in that space, 00:08:43.539 --> 00:08:45.539 God holds space for us. 00:08:45.539 --> 00:08:46.539 God holds space for us. 00:08:46.539 --> 00:08:47.319 God gives us space for us. 00:08:47.319 --> 00:08:47.599 God gives us space for us. 00:08:47.599 --> 00:08:48.039 God gives us space for us. 00:08:48.039 --> 00:08:49.019 God gives us space for us. 00:08:49.019 --> 00:08:52.879 And that space that he holds, we find in Jesus. 00:08:54.819 --> 00:08:56.959 Now, let me tell you about my wife for a second. 00:08:58.139 --> 00:08:58.459 Okay? 00:08:58.460 --> 00:09:05.960 if you came to our house and you opened our drawers, you would notice an organization level 00:09:05.960 --> 00:09:12.860 that exceeds me. She has a gift of clean and organized. It's just if that were a spiritual 00:09:12.860 --> 00:09:20.080 gift, she's got it. But if you opened up my drawer, you might make the mistake of thinking 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:24.759 that I was organized. But I had nothing to do with that organization in that drawer. 00:09:24.759 --> 00:09:33.080 In fact, if you go to my area of the house, like this, and you open that little door, 00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:40.139 you walk in there, it's just music equipment and just junk. But she went in there and she organized 00:09:40.139 --> 00:09:45.379 that too. So now you would make the mistake of thinking I'm just completely organized in all 00:09:45.379 --> 00:09:53.000 that I do. I am not. But I get the gift of that organization in the space that I live in that 00:09:53.000 --> 00:10:01.899 she shares with me. And isn't it cool to think that the one who created space and who's holding 00:10:01.899 --> 00:10:10.399 space in his hands holds and shares his space with us. And he says it's a place of rest, place of rest, 00:10:10.659 --> 00:10:18.059 place of non-anxious presence. Where does that exist today? An unhurried place of peace and rest for 00:10:18.059 --> 00:10:22.639 your souls. Obviously there's an eternal component, but there's also a temporal component 00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:30.059 that we can experience that now in this world that's crazy, busy, and fast. 00:10:31.899 --> 00:10:39.019 And here's what that space looks like. Grace. Grace. It's a word we hear a lot here. 00:10:40.939 --> 00:10:46.039 He somewhere spoke. I love it when they say that, by the way, in the Bible. He somewhere spoken. 00:10:46.039 --> 00:10:50.459 You scripture memorizers can't remember where it is? It's okay. It's in the Bible. They can't either. 00:10:51.620 --> 00:10:55.620 For he has somewhere spoken somewhere in the Bible, but I know what he says. 00:10:57.339 --> 00:11:00.279 And God rested on the seventh day. 00:11:03.719 --> 00:11:07.519 And since therefore it remains for some to enter it, those who formerly receive the good news. 00:11:07.559 --> 00:11:10.099 This is not the right verse. How did that even get in there? 00:11:10.100 --> 00:11:18.960 He somewhere said, let's go to the right verse here. I'm looking for Hebrews 4, 4 through 6. 00:11:19.180 --> 00:11:20.960 There we go. 00:11:23.320 --> 00:11:29.820 No creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him 00:11:29.820 --> 00:11:34.220 to whom we must give account. Since then we have a great high priest 00:11:34.220 --> 00:11:40.980 who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 00:11:41.940 --> 00:11:45.480 For we don't have a high priest who's unable to sympathize with our weaknesses. 00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:50.740 Right? But we have one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 00:11:50.800 --> 00:11:51.860 And here's the space right here. 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:57.399 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace. 00:11:57.399 --> 00:12:03.579 That we might receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 00:12:03.659 --> 00:12:05.079 You see, that's the source. 00:12:05.939 --> 00:12:06.899 That's the source. 00:12:07.019 --> 00:12:13.100 Have you walked into God's non-anxious, restful presence lately? 00:12:14.179 --> 00:12:15.759 Have you experienced it? 00:12:17.899 --> 00:12:22.419 And if God made space and then he shared it with us, 00:12:22.419 --> 00:12:25.919 and it's a space of grace and non-anxious presence and love, 00:12:25.979 --> 00:12:30.779 don't you think maybe he might want us to share space too with others? 00:12:32.899 --> 00:12:36.379 Pastor Derek, what do you mean by sharing space with others? 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:39.959 The nudge. 00:12:42.099 --> 00:12:43.799 You familiar with the nudge? 00:12:43.799 --> 00:12:47.699 I was at Chick-fil-A one day. 00:12:49.979 --> 00:12:55.399 And I had clearly finished my order earlier than the person in the other lane. 00:12:56.379 --> 00:12:58.740 And they said, thank you, you may pull forward. 00:12:59.319 --> 00:13:00.979 I go to pull forward, no. 00:13:02.479 --> 00:13:03.479 He nudged. 00:13:03.959 --> 00:13:05.740 And he stopped right there. 00:13:06.199 --> 00:13:07.899 And he would not let me in. 00:13:08.379 --> 00:13:10.059 And he ordered after I ordered. 00:13:10.059 --> 00:13:14.000 So I sat there with my phone and I held it up and just stared at him. 00:13:14.199 --> 00:13:15.959 And he did this, like this, the whole time. 00:13:16.199 --> 00:13:17.219 And I'm sitting there like that. 00:13:17.239 --> 00:13:20.059 I took a picture and I posted it on social media 00:13:20.059 --> 00:13:22.639 because that's the only way to get anything done today. 00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:25.799 And all my problems went away after I posted it. 00:13:25.939 --> 00:13:26.619 Every one of them. 00:13:27.519 --> 00:13:28.799 But he did the nudge. 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:30.759 Right? 00:13:31.139 --> 00:13:36.039 He took my place first and it was my place. 00:13:36.199 --> 00:13:37.139 I was entitled to that place. 00:13:37.139 --> 00:13:40.039 So think about this though. 00:13:40.059 --> 00:13:45.699 Even though you have these places in your life, right? 00:13:45.739 --> 00:13:47.139 These parking spots, so to speak. 00:13:47.179 --> 00:13:48.539 Because if you hadn't done it at Chick-fil-A, 00:13:48.619 --> 00:13:50.579 you've probably experienced it like the grocery store. 00:13:51.559 --> 00:13:53.979 Perhaps it's someone that you're racing to get a parking spot 00:13:53.979 --> 00:13:55.379 and then you run into them at church. 00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:56.559 That's the worst. 00:13:57.719 --> 00:13:57.939 Right? 00:13:59.779 --> 00:14:02.339 But we've all got these parking spots in our lives 00:14:02.339 --> 00:14:04.619 that we can give up every day, so to speak. 00:14:04.619 --> 00:14:04.979 Right? 00:14:05.099 --> 00:14:07.259 Where we work, where we eat, where we go to school, 00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:10.059 where we vacation, where we rest. 00:14:10.659 --> 00:14:13.559 And when we give them up, we can create space for other people. 00:14:13.559 --> 00:14:16.859 And in that way, we hold space for other people. 00:14:17.979 --> 00:14:18.319 Okay? 00:14:18.959 --> 00:14:21.159 It's a space that's rightfully ours, 00:14:21.479 --> 00:14:24.539 but it's a space that now becomes sacred and set apart 00:14:24.539 --> 00:14:27.399 because we give it away for the sake of someone else. 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:32.419 And maybe in that space is some grace 00:14:32.419 --> 00:14:36.000 that someone else can experience God's love 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:39.539 where they may be hiding, where they may be hurting, 00:14:39.539 --> 00:14:41.980 and when you give it away, something happens. 00:14:42.299 --> 00:14:42.519 Okay? 00:14:43.439 --> 00:14:44.379 Something happens. 00:14:45.799 --> 00:14:47.240 So God made space. 00:14:47.419 --> 00:14:48.379 He shares it with us. 00:14:48.419 --> 00:14:49.819 It's a non-anxious place. 00:14:50.279 --> 00:14:52.639 And God wants us to hold space for each other. 00:14:54.339 --> 00:14:56.679 Now this is the main verse that we'll talk about 00:14:56.679 --> 00:14:57.620 this week and next week. 00:14:57.679 --> 00:14:58.659 It's a very short verse. 00:14:58.839 --> 00:14:59.679 Don't worry. 00:14:59.679 --> 00:15:02.379 And he said to him, 00:15:02.679 --> 00:15:04.699 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart 00:15:04.699 --> 00:15:07.979 and with all your soul and with all your mind. 00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:11.019 This is the great and first commandment. 00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:12.739 And a second is like it. 00:15:13.139 --> 00:15:14.719 You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 00:15:15.439 --> 00:15:18.239 On these two commandments depend all the law 00:15:18.239 --> 00:15:19.859 and the prophets. 00:15:21.459 --> 00:15:26.419 So the greatest commandment from the mouth of Jesus, 00:15:27.500 --> 00:15:28.579 what does he say? 00:15:28.580 --> 00:15:32.440 It begins with the call to make space for God. 00:15:33.580 --> 00:15:35.220 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, 00:15:35.340 --> 00:15:37.259 all your soul, and all your mind. 00:15:37.720 --> 00:15:39.680 And then your neighbor is yourself. 00:15:39.780 --> 00:15:41.280 So these two are extremely related. 00:15:41.700 --> 00:15:42.620 But what does that mean? 00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:43.460 Right? 00:15:43.940 --> 00:15:46.500 How do we love God with all our heart, soul, mind? 00:15:47.420 --> 00:15:50.020 It means that we give ourselves wholly to him. 00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:53.180 It means when we answer that question, 00:15:53.340 --> 00:15:54.140 where are you? 00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:56.660 By saying, right here. 00:15:57.660 --> 00:15:58.379 Right here. 00:15:58.379 --> 00:15:59.559 And you're invited. 00:15:59.720 --> 00:16:00.879 You're invited to come in. 00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:04.039 And here's why it matters. 00:16:04.939 --> 00:16:07.639 Because the greatest commandment reveals the source 00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:11.279 of our ultimate purpose as human beings. 00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:14.439 Holding space for God's love 00:16:14.439 --> 00:16:16.779 and holding space for each other. 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:19.439 Loving the Lord God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. 00:16:19.559 --> 00:16:20.240 Come inside. 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:21.700 I give myself wholly to you. 00:16:22.039 --> 00:16:24.259 And then loving our neighbor as ourself. 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:27.560 Sharing that love and that space with someone else. 00:16:29.940 --> 00:16:33.700 Now on that note, can we just talk about vampires for a second? 00:16:35.580 --> 00:16:39.899 Are you all familiar with what a vampire is? 00:16:39.899 --> 00:16:40.519 Vampire Christians? 00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:42.879 Yeah? 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:45.840 I'm not going to tell you what it is. 00:16:46.299 --> 00:16:49.019 But like, are you familiar with what a vampire Christian is? 00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:51.059 Ever heard of that? 00:16:51.059 --> 00:16:55.679 So, there's a guy named Dallas Willard. 00:16:56.759 --> 00:16:58.239 And he writes a lot of books. 00:16:59.479 --> 00:17:01.539 And here's what he says about vampire Christians. 00:17:01.679 --> 00:17:03.379 Vampire Christians say to Jesus, 00:17:04.379 --> 00:17:05.940 I'd like a little of your blood, please. 00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:09.359 But I don't care to be your student or have your character. 00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:12.119 Thank you for saving me. 00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:16.019 But now, won't you just excuse me while I get on with my life? 00:17:16.919 --> 00:17:18.119 And I'll see you in heaven. 00:17:19.959 --> 00:17:23.039 Do you think that's what Jesus meant by love the Lord your God 00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:24.319 with all your heart, soul, and mind? 00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:27.559 But what did he mean? 00:17:29.079 --> 00:17:33.559 He meant inviting the Spirit of God into your darkness of your heart. 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:38.039 He meant asking the Lord to reorganize your life. 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:41.019 Perhaps so you could be with Jesus more. 00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:43.559 So you can become like Jesus. 00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:46.480 And maybe even do some of those things that he says 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:48.019 that we should do if we're his disciples. 00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:51.519 Okay, and here's the thing. 00:17:51.619 --> 00:17:53.480 It's the work of the Holy Spirit. 00:17:54.019 --> 00:17:55.359 God does all the work. 00:17:55.660 --> 00:17:56.980 You know what is sanctification. 00:17:57.160 --> 00:17:57.920 What is sanctification? 00:17:58.660 --> 00:18:00.619 It's the work of God's free grace. 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:05.180 Where we're renewed in the whole man after the image of God. 00:18:05.559 --> 00:18:08.119 And are enabled more and more to die to sin 00:18:08.119 --> 00:18:09.660 and live to righteousness. 00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:11.000 It's the work of the Spirit. 00:18:11.140 --> 00:18:11.980 Lord, come in here. 00:18:12.120 --> 00:18:12.700 Search me. 00:18:13.120 --> 00:18:14.060 Make me like you. 00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:15.540 I want to become like you. 00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:17.080 I want to do the things that you did. 00:18:17.160 --> 00:18:19.300 I want to treat people the way that you treat them. 00:18:19.640 --> 00:18:21.820 But it's his love flowing through you. 00:18:21.819 --> 00:18:28.460 But we live in a world where there are a lot of vampires. 00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:29.799 Vampire Christians. 00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:31.879 So you've got to think about that. 00:18:31.880 --> 00:18:37.760 But Jesus said, blood, Lord God, with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. 00:18:38.260 --> 00:18:40.620 And your neighbor as yourself. 00:18:41.180 --> 00:18:43.680 So I was eating at Taco Mama one day. 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:50.140 And a woman came up to me and she said, hey, Derek. 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:51.799 Not sorry. 00:18:51.900 --> 00:18:52.560 She didn't say, hey, Derek. 00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:53.600 She said, hey, what's your name? 00:18:54.360 --> 00:18:55.320 I said, Derek. 00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:58.600 And she said, well, what's your last name? 00:18:59.220 --> 00:19:00.120 I said, Harris. 00:19:01.140 --> 00:19:07.500 She goes, well, you probably noticed me sitting back there just kind of staring. 00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:09.000 And I go, no. 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:13.220 And she said, I thought you were my brother. 00:19:14.420 --> 00:19:15.240 I go, really? 00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:17.039 She's like, yes. 00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:20.900 I was like, well, maybe he's down here. 00:19:20.920 --> 00:19:21.539 He didn't tell me. 00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:22.279 He's a policeman. 00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:23.920 I thought sometimes maybe he comes down here. 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:26.380 You just look so much like my brother. 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:28.519 She just kept staring. 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:37.140 And for whatever reason, God put it on my heart to stop and say, let me. 00:19:37.140 --> 00:19:39.300 I take it you haven't seen your brother in a while. 00:19:40.300 --> 00:19:40.660 No. 00:19:41.380 --> 00:19:41.960 I said, come here. 00:19:42.540 --> 00:19:44.980 Just walked over to her, put my arm around her. 00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:50.100 I said, on behalf of your brother, I love you. 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:51.860 God bless you. 00:19:54.060 --> 00:19:56.900 You have no idea how much I needed to hear that. 00:19:57.960 --> 00:19:58.860 No idea. 00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:00.880 And I said, yes, I do. 00:20:01.740 --> 00:20:02.400 Yes, I do. 00:20:03.320 --> 00:20:06.280 See, God sent somebody into my space that day. 00:20:07.140 --> 00:20:10.600 But he ended up showing me his love through that process. 00:20:11.280 --> 00:20:14.840 And his love was the source of even noticing that person. 00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:15.580 It was a gift. 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:17.040 The whole moment was a gift. 00:20:17.820 --> 00:20:25.259 And his love was the only reason I was even able to stop thinking of me and my agenda and what I was doing in that moment to just say, hey, this is the moment. 00:20:25.259 --> 00:20:30.039 And he used me in that moment. 00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:34.500 He shared his spirit of love through me. 00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:40.799 And it allowed me to be a vessel of encouragement to somebody else. 00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:41.940 But he did all the work. 00:20:41.940 --> 00:20:45.559 And in that moment, I know life was impacted. 00:20:48.120 --> 00:20:49.559 And he'll do that with you. 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:55.140 God made space and he holds space for us and he wants us to hold space for each other. 00:20:55.220 --> 00:20:57.120 Wants us to give it up. 00:20:57.559 --> 00:20:59.820 Think about this to end here. 00:20:59.819 --> 00:21:05.839 What space does God share with us besides earth? 00:21:07.899 --> 00:21:09.039 Redemptive space. 00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:10.539 Right? 00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:11.460 How? 00:21:11.779 --> 00:21:13.939 How does he share redemptive space? 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:16.599 By sharing something that's rightfully his. 00:21:17.859 --> 00:21:19.159 The life of his son, Jesus. 00:21:20.179 --> 00:21:21.399 He didn't have to. 00:21:22.159 --> 00:21:22.779 But he did. 00:21:24.059 --> 00:21:25.519 Imagine how much that hurt. 00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:30.779 Imagine seeing his son on the cross and turning his head. 00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:35.539 Because it's what had to happen for him to share his love with us. 00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:37.519 While he died on that cross. 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:40.539 But something powerful happened when he shared that, right? 00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:42.160 Life. 00:21:43.139 --> 00:21:44.139 Resurrection life. 00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:49.279 Forgiveness of sins for those who come to him and ask for that light of love. 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:50.400 Invited into their hearts. 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:53.379 Cover my sins of darkness. 00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:55.420 Clothe me where I'm hiding. 00:21:56.519 --> 00:21:57.400 Be my life. 00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:58.960 Be my source of salvation. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:02.779 And if Christ is your source of salvation today, 00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:08.559 then you now are God's vessels of encouragement. 00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:14.119 And when you live that out, something powerful happens. 00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:16.799 You experience God. 00:22:17.559 --> 00:22:18.980 And you see him at work. 00:22:19.400 --> 00:22:23.400 And you see him change the humanity that he has come here to save. 00:22:23.400 --> 00:22:27.019 And he does it by his spirit working through you. 00:22:27.460 --> 00:22:29.320 I don't know of any greater thing. 00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:33.960 But it starts by loving the Lord God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. 00:22:34.040 --> 00:22:41.320 Is there any greater resource that we are given and shared with that's freely ours than that? 00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:42.659 I know of not one. 00:22:42.659 --> 00:22:46.339 But I want to encourage you there this week. 00:22:47.299 --> 00:22:52.919 Because the greatest commandment reveals the source of our ultimate purpose. 00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:54.759 Your ultimate purpose. 00:22:54.879 --> 00:22:55.740 My ultimate purpose. 00:22:55.879 --> 00:22:57.960 To love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. 00:22:58.000 --> 00:22:58.960 And our neighbor as ourself. 00:22:59.039 --> 00:22:59.779 That is life. 00:22:59.939 --> 00:23:00.319 That's it. 00:23:00.379 --> 00:23:01.319 That's what you're looking for. 00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:01.879 That's it. 00:23:01.880 --> 00:23:03.080 Jesus said it. 00:23:04.660 --> 00:23:05.920 Hold space for God. 00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:08.580 And then hold space for each other. 00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:10.840 Is God the source of your life and purpose? 00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:17.280 And how might he be calling you this week to be a vessel of encouragement to somebody else? 00:23:18.300 --> 00:23:19.500 Now come back next week. 00:23:19.540 --> 00:23:21.920 I'm going to talk more about the neighbor piece. 00:23:22.020 --> 00:23:26.100 In fact, Debbie just probably should do all the talking. 00:23:26.260 --> 00:23:27.660 Because that was incredible what you said. 00:23:27.660 --> 00:23:31.440 So it would be great to go here today and learn from her. 00:23:32.140 --> 00:23:34.460 And then we will continue this discussion next week. 00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:36.960 About loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. 00:23:37.120 --> 00:23:38.600 And then neighbor as ourselves. 00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:40.040 So I love you. 00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:40.940 Start there. 00:23:41.420 --> 00:23:41.759 Where can you? 00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:48.960 Father, thank you for sharing your space with us that we don't deserve. 00:23:49.100 --> 00:23:53.519 Thank you, Jesus, for willingly come here to die for us. 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:55.920 Father God, thank you for sending him. 00:23:55.920 --> 00:24:01.240 Holy Spirit, thank you for filling us, renewing us, and giving us new life. 00:24:02.300 --> 00:24:06.140 Great God, would you use us as your vessels of encouragement and mercy. 00:24:06.320 --> 00:24:08.560 That we may lead others to the throne of grace. 00:24:09.640 --> 00:24:11.900 That we too may define success. 00:24:12.560 --> 00:24:15.779 Not in numbers and money and jobs. 00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:20.300 But Lord, by being with people when they're hurting. 00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:24.799 Because you're with us in our heart. 00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:26.259 Thank you. 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:27.539 Thank you, Holy Spirit. 00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:28.980 Give this time to you. 00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:29.819 Transform us. 00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:30.440 Renew us. 00:24:31.099 --> 00:24:32.440 Thank you in Christ's holy name. 00:24:33.159 --> 00:24:33.359 Amen. 00:24:34.639 --> 00:24:38.200 For more information, visit us online at southwood.org. 00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:43.880 We'll see you in the next one. 00:24:56.819 --> 00:24:57.420 Thank you. 00:24:57.880 --> 00:24:59.580 Henry's연.