WEBVTT

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 I want to turn to John 15.

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 John 15.

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 Last week we began our journey to the empty tomb

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 by being encouraged to pray about inviting others to come and see

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 because Christ has a lot to offer.

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 And if you have Christ in your life,

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 you lose nothing by sharing him with others.

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 Actually, it is our gain to do that

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 because we're blessed by it.

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 We become stronger in our faith by it.

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 And so we ought to be busy about it.

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 All of the gospels build up to the last week of Christ.

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 And that week starts with a triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

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 Jesus rides in on a donkey.

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 The reason he does that is to fulfill prophecy.

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 Zechariah 9 verse 9 says,

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 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion.

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 Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem.

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 Behold, your king is coming to you.

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 Righteous and having salvation is he,

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 humble and mounted on donkey.

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 On a colt, the fall of a donkey.

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 His way was paved by laying down garments.

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 That speaks of royalty.

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 That's what you did for kings.

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 It was also marked by people laying down palm branches,

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 which speak of peace.

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 What it paints the picture of is a humble king coming in peace

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 and claiming his place.

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 As he came, they cried out, Hosanna, which means save us,

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 which is the proclamation of the Messiah.

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 They said, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

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 That was originally spoken about those who were approaching the temple for worship.

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 Here it is to announce the Christ as Messiah,

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 the one that actually fulfills everything that the temple amounted to.

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 Shortly after he entered,

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 he makes his way to the upper room

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 to share a last supper with the disciples

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 before he would go to the garden and be arrested.

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 He washed their feet there.

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 Peter was in the room.

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 Peter didn't feel comfortable with him washing his feet.

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 He knew that was the lowest of the servants to do that.

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 He didn't feel comfortable with that.

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 And so Peter,

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 he's that dude that always thinks and says it,

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 you know,

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 or says it before he thinks it

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 or something like that, you know.

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 If you've got a big mouth,

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 you sympathize with Peter, okay?

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 And so he says,

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 Look, you're not lowering yourself to wash my feet.

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 I'd never let you do that.

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 Jesus responds and says,

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 If I don't wash you,

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 you have nothing to do with me.

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 And Peter says,

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 Well, then wash all of me, you know.

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 I mean, he really didn't get it.

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 He really didn't.

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 And Jesus said,

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 I've washed your feet.

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 Now wash others.

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 In other words,

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 what he was telling us is,

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 I've served you at the lowest level.

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 Because the foot washer

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 was the lowest servant in the house

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 washing the dirt and the grime

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 off of the feet

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 as a greeting to folks.

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 Almost like taking your coat.

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 Instead, they'd wash your feet.

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 And it's Christ's way of saying,

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 Do whatever you need to do

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 to serve other people.

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 He begins the meal like that.

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 During the meal,

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 he confronts Judas,

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 the traitor in the bunch.

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 And Judas goes on to make a decision

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 that will ruin him quickly.

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 Peter speaks up again and says,

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 I'll never deny you.

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 And Jesus says,

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 Sit down.

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 You'll deny me three times

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 before the sun comes up, basically.

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 That's when the rooster crows, by the way.

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 He continues to speak to the disciples

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 in the longest teaching and training time

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 that we have anywhere in Scripture of Jesus.

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 There are 156 verses of his teaching

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 dedicated to the upper room.

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 And everything that he said

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 and everything that he prayed,

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 the Sermon on the Mount

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 is only 110 verses.

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 That's significant.

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 The timing of the event is significant.

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 It's the last thing he says to them

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 before he goes to the garden to be arrested.

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 The teaching that he gives them

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 is primarily for them

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 after he would no longer be physically present with them.

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 We are a people that live today

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 in Christ

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 when he's not physically present with us.

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 So it's a word for us.

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 And then the training that he gives them is amazing.

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 He begins by talking about

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 how he is the way, the truth, and the life.

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 And he gives us an assurance

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 for salvation in the here and the now.

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 And he gives us assurances

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 that he'll always be there for us.

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 That there's more to eternal life

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 in Christ

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 than what this world has to offer.

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 This ain't all there is, folks.

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 And he's very clear about that

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 in the upper room.

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 And when he has died and been buried

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 and rose again and ascended,

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 he assures us that we will not be left alone.

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 We will not be comfortless.

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 The Holy Spirit will come.

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 The Holy Spirit will empower us.

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 He'll guide us.

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 And he'll use us.

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 And then he closes his time

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 in the upper room in John 17.

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 It's often called the high priestly prayer

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 because Jesus closes out his time

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 in the upper room

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 praying for his disciples.

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 As he progresses through the prayer,

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 he prays for those

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 that the disciples will reach.

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 As he continues to progress,

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 he prays for those

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 that will be reached

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 by those that are reached

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 by the disciples.

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 Do you know who that is?

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 That's us.

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 He's praying for us.

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 And do you know what he prays for us?

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 He prays for us to be unified

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 for his cause

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 so that all the world can see him

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 for who he is.

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 Now you're going to be glad to hear

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 what I'm about to say

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 because I will tell you

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 that John chapter 13 through 17

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 is too much teaching for one time.

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 Okay?

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 I could literally spend

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 a year of Sundays

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 teaching John 13 through 17

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 and I'm not going to do,

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 I'm not going to try to squeeze

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 five chapters out of you this morning.

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 To attempt to scan that this morning hastily

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 I believe would be unjust

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 and I will not do it.

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 I just want us to,

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 I encourage you to read it this week,

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 but I just want us to dip our toe

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 in a key portion of this passage

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 that reminds us of how we are to do

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 what we are to do for the Lord.

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 I just want to take a few moments,

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 you're going to love this,

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 to look at one verse.

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 One key verse.

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 It was key for them that day.

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 It is key for us today.

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 He goes on to define what this verse means

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 and the Apostle Paul spends a lot of time

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 defining what it means.

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 It's John chapter 15 verse 5.

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 And Jesus said,

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 I am the vine,

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 you are the branches,

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 whoever abides in me and I in him,

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 he it is that bears much fruit

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 for apart from me,

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 you can do nothing.

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 We are to bear fruit.

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 How do you bear fruit

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 when you abide in Christ?

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 Well, Scripture shows us that

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 and it's a lot more broad in scope

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 than you probably thought

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 because when we are saved,

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 when we surrender our lives to the Lord Jesus,

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 we are indwelled with the Holy Spirit.

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 And when our lives are hooked into the vine,

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 getting a full run of the sap from the Lord,

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 our lives produce fruit.

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 Just like a healthy branch of a fruit tree

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 produces fruit.

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 So what kind of fruit are we to produce?

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 Our fruit ought to be characterized by character.

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 We ought to produce a fruit of character.

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 There are obvious traits in the lives of folks

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 that are right with the Lord.

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 Paul put it this way.

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 In Galatians chapter 5 verse 22 and 23,

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 he says this,

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 But the fruit of the Spirit is love,

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 joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

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 faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

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 Against such things, there is no law.

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 Now I will tell you that the fruit of the Spirit

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 is not for you to pick and choose what fruit that you want.

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 Instead, we're responsible for all of them

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 to live it out.

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 And listen, he's not talking about being fake here either.

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 As disappointing as it would be

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 if you saw a big, beautiful basket of fruit

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 and said,

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 Man, I want one of those apples right off the top

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 and went and grabbed that

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 and it was one of those plastic things, you know,

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 that looked so good,

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 but in reality it's not.

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 Sometimes Christians can be just as fake as that.

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 They can be just as bad as that.

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 Real love is not smiling

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 or even telling people that you love them.

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 Real love, 1 Corinthians 13, 7 says,

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 always protects, always trusts,

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 always hopes, and always perseveres.

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 Now, I will tell you to be clear,

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 because I don't want you to misunderstand me,

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 when you love somebody,

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 you ought to tell them.

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 Men, I'm particularly speaking to you this morning

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 because it's not manly sometimes to,

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 we think it's not manly to tell somebody

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 that you love them,

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 but the reality is it's not manly to not tell them.

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 Those that God has entrusted to you,

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 that you love them.

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 Reva McIntyre sang a song years ago

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 called The Greatest Man I Never Knew,

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 and one of those lines says,

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 he never said he loved me,

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 guess he thought I knew,

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 and she's talking about her daddy.

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 Your family, your loved ones need to know it

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 by how you live it and how you tell them.

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 And if you're dropping off a teenager at school,

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 you roll the window down or let the window down

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 and you yell it out to them.

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 They love that.

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 You tell them how much you love them,

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 right in front of all their friends.

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 It's great.

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 It's great.

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 They deserve it.

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 Instead of fussing and fighting,

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 have joy.

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 Instead of factions and feuds,

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 promote peace.

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 Instead of bringing discord,

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 be patient.

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 Instead of being selfish,

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 be kind.

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 Instead of living without restraint,

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 embrace genuine goodness.

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 Instead of envying everyone,

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 be faithful.

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 Be trustworthy.

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 Be dependable.

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 Instead of being jealous and resentful and revengeful,

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 be gentle toward other folks.

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 Instead of being filled with rage,

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 exhibit self-control.

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 It will stand out in the society that we live in today.

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 Produce a real basket of fruit.

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 Not that plastic Sunday morning fake stuff.

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 But the real stuff.

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 We're to be people bearing the fruit of good character.

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 We also are to be people who are bearing the fruit of compassion.

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 And that's what he talks about in this context.

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 Because he says in John 15 verse 12,

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 this is my commandment,

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 that you love one another as I have loved you.

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 Now if you really want to know what a verse is talking about,

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 read the verses around it.

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 And the verses around it point exactly to that.

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 Now if you love God,

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 you obey him.

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 And he's telling us to reflect that kind of love that he has for us.

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 He goes on in verse 13 to say this.

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 Greater love has no one than this,

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 that someone lay down his life for his friends.

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 You're my friends if you do what I command you.

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 We live in a day when there's a lot of lashing out.

00:13:04.780 --> 00:13:07.360
 There's a lot of pointing fingers at somebody else.

00:13:07.580 --> 00:13:11.160
 And many things are done and said in a hateful attitude.

00:13:11.159 --> 00:13:17.139
 And I will tell you it is so easy for us to jump right in that fray.

00:13:17.799 --> 00:13:19.459
 To be just a part of that.

00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:21.240
 If that's where the world's going to be,

00:13:21.899 --> 00:13:23.059
 we'll set them straight.

00:13:23.799 --> 00:13:25.259
 We'll do just like they do.

00:13:26.079 --> 00:13:27.279
 That don't set anything straight.

00:13:28.039 --> 00:13:29.419
 That just joins the fray.

00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:32.240
 Let me be clear about something.

00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:35.600
 Just because you think it

00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:39.500
 does not mean you need to say it.

00:13:41.159 --> 00:13:45.179
 It does not mean that you need to type it.

00:13:48.319 --> 00:13:52.179
 It is best not to show all your inner feelings on social media.

00:13:52.179 --> 00:13:57.459
 You're to love people

00:13:57.459 --> 00:14:00.219
 that you don't agree with.

00:14:01.959 --> 00:14:03.359
 You're to love people

00:14:03.359 --> 00:14:05.379
 that you're not very happy with.

00:14:07.879 --> 00:14:09.199
 He goes as far

00:14:09.199 --> 00:14:12.000
 as telling us to love folks

00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:13.659
 that we'd rather not even tend to.

00:14:13.659 --> 00:14:17.100
 We're to love folks

00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:19.240
 like the Lord has loved us.

00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:21.000
 And man, I'm telling you,

00:14:21.620 --> 00:14:24.199
 the Lord has looked past a lot in our lives,

00:14:24.259 --> 00:14:24.559
 hasn't He?

00:14:25.779 --> 00:14:26.839
 He's loved us enough

00:14:26.839 --> 00:14:28.360
 to forgive us of those things.

00:14:29.439 --> 00:14:30.500
 He's loved us enough

00:14:30.500 --> 00:14:32.120
 to die for those things.

00:14:33.299 --> 00:14:34.059
 And in return,

00:14:34.559 --> 00:14:36.419
 we share that same kind of love for each other.

00:14:36.419 --> 00:14:39.979
 If you've asked Him to forgive you,

00:14:40.079 --> 00:14:41.059
 He's forgiven you.

00:14:42.079 --> 00:14:43.259
 And He loves you so much

00:14:43.259 --> 00:14:44.139
 that even in our mess,

00:14:44.179 --> 00:14:44.979
 He died for us.

00:14:45.419 --> 00:14:46.439
 And now He just tells us

00:14:46.439 --> 00:14:47.419
 to respond by loving others.

00:14:48.219 --> 00:14:49.500
 There's a fruit of compassion there.

00:14:51.259 --> 00:14:53.299
 There's also a fruit of our conduct.

00:14:54.279 --> 00:14:55.259
 How we are to act.

00:14:55.439 --> 00:14:57.399
 Romans 6, verse 22 says this,

00:14:57.399 --> 00:14:59.500
 But now that you've been set free from sin

00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:00.799
 and have become slaves of God,

00:15:01.179 --> 00:15:04.399
 the fruit you get leads to sanctification

00:15:05.179 --> 00:15:07.039
 and its end eternal life.

00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:09.779
 Now when Scripture speaks of sanctification,

00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:12.399
 it's speaking of becoming more like Christ

00:15:12.980 --> 00:15:14.799
 throughout our lives.

00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:17.799
 It means that we are made holy.

00:15:18.220 --> 00:15:19.559
 That means we're set apart

00:15:19.559 --> 00:15:22.159
 by and for God.

00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:23.519
 Does not mean we're perfect.

00:15:24.460 --> 00:15:25.019
 We're not.

00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:28.699
 It does mean that we're set apart for Him.

00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:31.740
 And our salvation will be consummated in eternity

00:15:31.740 --> 00:15:34.480
 when we are made more like Him.

00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:35.819
 That's our glorification.

00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:36.819
 But in the meantime,

00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:39.139
 we are to grow more like Him.

00:15:40.059 --> 00:15:42.220
 I like old Swindoll's book,

00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:43.360
 the title,

00:15:43.439 --> 00:15:44.000
 never read the book,

00:15:44.059 --> 00:15:44.600
 but I love the title.

00:15:45.179 --> 00:15:46.899
 Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back.

00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:48.259
 You know?

00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:50.240
 That's how we live our lives.

00:15:50.319 --> 00:15:51.279
 We make some progress

00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:52.139
 and then we mess up.

00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:53.720
 But you know what?

00:15:53.720 --> 00:15:55.340
 If you take three steps forward and two steps back,

00:15:55.399 --> 00:15:56.420
 you've made a step of progress.

00:15:57.600 --> 00:15:59.000
 And the key to the Christian life

00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:01.639
 is making progress toward being more like Christ.

00:16:02.060 --> 00:16:03.480
 1 Peter makes it very clear.

00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:06.180
 He says in 1 Peter 1, verse 14,

00:16:06.460 --> 00:16:07.740
 As obedient children,

00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:09.500
 do not conform to the passions

00:16:09.500 --> 00:16:11.040
 of your former ignorance.

00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:15.559
 But as He who called you is holy,

00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:17.639
 you also be holy in your conduct.

00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:18.659
 Since it's written,

00:16:18.819 --> 00:16:22.159
 you shall be holy for I am holy.

00:16:22.319 --> 00:16:24.319
 In order for us to do

00:16:24.319 --> 00:16:28.459
 and to be what God has set out for us to be,

00:16:28.719 --> 00:16:31.799
 we have to pursue holiness.

00:16:34.299 --> 00:16:35.939
 Between the 6 a.m. crowd

00:16:35.940 --> 00:16:37.260
 and the 9 a.m. crowd

00:16:37.260 --> 00:16:38.600
 is about 40 men

00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:39.880
 reading through

00:16:39.880 --> 00:16:41.280
 The Pursuit of Holiness

00:16:41.280 --> 00:16:42.460
 by Jerry Bridges.

00:16:43.040 --> 00:16:43.960
 It is a challenge

00:16:43.960 --> 00:16:45.300
 to each one of us.

00:16:46.040 --> 00:16:47.620
 And we are challenged by that

00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:49.460
 and we encourage each other through that.

00:16:50.520 --> 00:16:52.160
 And Jerry in that work says this.

00:16:52.280 --> 00:16:52.620
 He says,

00:16:52.820 --> 00:16:54.540
 But God has not called us

00:16:54.540 --> 00:16:56.580
 to be like those around us.

00:16:58.180 --> 00:17:00.260
 He's called us to be like Himself.

00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:04.000
 Holiness is nothing less

00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:05.119
 than conformity

00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:07.640
 to the character of God.

00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:10.039
 Not about being a little bit better

00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:11.019
 than the guy next to you.

00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:13.180
 It's about being like the Lord.

00:17:14.359 --> 00:17:15.839
 So to pursue holiness

00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:17.240
 involves at least two things.

00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:19.420
 One, it involves our diligence

00:17:19.420 --> 00:17:20.460
 and our effort.

00:17:20.579 --> 00:17:21.559
 And that is required

00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:23.980
 to be pursuing holiness.

00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:26.200
 And we are to be pursuing it.

00:17:26.779 --> 00:17:27.879
 And I will tell you too,

00:17:27.940 --> 00:17:29.019
 it's a lifelong task.

00:17:29.019 --> 00:17:30.660
 You will never finish it.

00:17:31.379 --> 00:17:32.660
 You will spend the rest of your life,

00:17:32.779 --> 00:17:33.019
 Christian,

00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:35.000
 serving the Lord.

00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:37.519
 Becoming more like Him.

00:17:37.579 --> 00:17:38.839
 It's not a crash course.

00:17:39.079 --> 00:17:40.180
 It's a long haul.

00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:41.839
 We will spend our lives

00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:44.400
 being more like Him.

00:17:44.879 --> 00:17:46.539
 That's the kind of evidence

00:17:46.539 --> 00:17:48.799
 that the fruit

00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:51.279
 that Jesus told us to bear

00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:52.559
 because He's the vine

00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:53.940
 and we're the branches.

00:17:54.440 --> 00:17:55.400
 That's the kind of fruit

00:17:55.400 --> 00:17:56.119
 that we're to bear

00:17:56.119 --> 00:17:58.099
 in His last teaching

00:17:58.099 --> 00:17:59.859
 before He went to the cross.

00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:01.119
 He also said

00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:01.699
 we ought to have

00:18:01.699 --> 00:18:03.039
 the fruit of our conversation.

00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:06.439
 The Lord's name

00:18:06.439 --> 00:18:07.059
 and His praise

00:18:07.059 --> 00:18:08.240
 ought to be quick on your tongue.

00:18:10.199 --> 00:18:11.319
 Hebrews chapter 13,

00:18:11.379 --> 00:18:12.199
 verse 15 says this,

00:18:12.539 --> 00:18:13.199
 through Him,

00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:14.139
 speaking of Christ,

00:18:14.959 --> 00:18:16.379
 then let us continually

00:18:16.379 --> 00:18:17.819
 offer up a sacrifice

00:18:17.819 --> 00:18:18.939
 of praise to God.

00:18:19.139 --> 00:18:20.899
 That is the fruit of lips

00:18:20.899 --> 00:18:22.500
 that acknowledge His name.

00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:23.119
 In other words,

00:18:23.159 --> 00:18:24.059
 we need to be speaking

00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:24.679
 of the Lord

00:18:24.679 --> 00:18:26.079
 every chance we get.

00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:27.299
 It needs to be a part

00:18:27.299 --> 00:18:28.240
 of our talk.

00:18:29.619 --> 00:18:30.599
 James chapter 4,

00:18:30.679 --> 00:18:31.720
 13 through 15,

00:18:31.919 --> 00:18:33.179
 tells us to acknowledge

00:18:33.179 --> 00:18:34.259
 our dependence upon Him

00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:35.720
 in the plans that we make.

00:18:36.679 --> 00:18:37.139
 He says,

00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:37.939
 come now,

00:18:38.679 --> 00:18:40.019
 you who say today

00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:40.599
 or tomorrow

00:18:40.599 --> 00:18:41.519
 will go into such

00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:42.220
 and such a town

00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:43.199
 and spend a year there

00:18:43.199 --> 00:18:43.699
 and trade

00:18:43.699 --> 00:18:44.460
 and make a profit.

00:18:45.579 --> 00:18:46.139
 Yet you don't know

00:18:46.139 --> 00:18:47.220
 what tomorrow will bring.

00:18:48.139 --> 00:18:49.079
 What is your life?

00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:50.220
 For you are a mist

00:18:50.220 --> 00:18:51.339
 that appears for a little time

00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:51.879
 and then vanishes.

00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:52.559
 Instead,

00:18:52.679 --> 00:18:53.159
 you ought to say,

00:18:53.160 --> 00:18:54.400
 if the Lord wills,

00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:56.620
 we'll live and do this

00:18:56.620 --> 00:18:57.560
 or that.

00:18:59.440 --> 00:18:59.660
 Friend,

00:19:00.040 --> 00:19:00.700
 be careful.

00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:01.960
 Don't assume

00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:03.700
 other people know.

00:19:05.340 --> 00:19:07.080
 Talk of your love.

00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:10.160
 Talk of your praise.

00:19:10.340 --> 00:19:11.920
 Talk of your dependence

00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:14.759
 upon the Lord.

00:19:15.640 --> 00:19:16.800
 The fruit of our conversations.

00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:20.259
 Lastly,

00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:22.399
 we ought to bear

00:19:22.399 --> 00:19:23.579
 the fruit of harvest.

00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:29.099
 If we live our lives

00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:30.579
 of character,

00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:33.899
 if we live our lives

00:19:33.899 --> 00:19:35.279
 of Christian compassion,

00:19:36.339 --> 00:19:38.740
 if we conduct ourselves

00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:40.220
 with gospel conversations

00:19:40.220 --> 00:19:41.220
 that are real

00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:42.519
 and that are evident

00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:43.500
 through our lives,

00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:46.480
 God will use us

00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:47.700
 and lead us

00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:49.400
 to reach other folks.

00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:51.740
 In Romans 1,

00:19:51.859 --> 00:19:52.380
 verse 13,

00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:53.519
 Paul spoke of his hunger

00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:54.539
 to come to them

00:19:54.539 --> 00:19:55.519
 so that he could,

00:19:55.859 --> 00:19:55.880
 quote,

00:19:55.980 --> 00:19:58.000
 reap some harvest.

00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:01.599
 Paul was hungry

00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:03.099
 to reach people

00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:04.180
 for Christ.

00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:06.700
 And your hunger

00:20:06.700 --> 00:20:08.900
 to see people saved

00:20:08.900 --> 00:20:10.579
 is a sure sign

00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:11.759
 of your faithfulness

00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:13.119
 to live for the Lord.

00:20:13.500 --> 00:20:15.680
 It's a sure sign

00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:16.400
 of your faithfulness

00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:18.019
 to pray for the lost.

00:20:20.140 --> 00:20:21.119
 Lift them up.

00:20:22.619 --> 00:20:23.599
 Ask God to move

00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:24.599
 in their lives.

00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:25.799
 Ask God to move

00:20:25.799 --> 00:20:26.579
 in your life.

00:20:26.940 --> 00:20:27.819
 Ask God to somehow

00:20:27.819 --> 00:20:29.200
 allow you to be a part

00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:30.119
 of that process

00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:32.559
 to see them come

00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:33.640
 to know the Lord personally.

00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:37.619
 Proverbs 11,

00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:38.559
 verse 30 says,

00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:40.039
 the fruit of the righteous

00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:41.180
 is a tree of life.

00:20:41.180 --> 00:20:43.440
 And I love the way

00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:44.259
 King James put it.

00:20:44.299 --> 00:20:44.620
 It says,

00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:46.840
 and he that winneth souls

00:20:46.840 --> 00:20:47.640
 is wise.

00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:54.360
 I believe the greatest

00:20:54.360 --> 00:20:55.580
 investment

00:20:55.580 --> 00:20:57.140
 of your time

00:20:57.140 --> 00:20:59.480
 can be made

00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:01.980
 sharing Jesus

00:21:01.980 --> 00:21:04.240
 with somebody else.

00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:08.339
 there's an ancient fable

00:21:08.339 --> 00:21:11.220
 that tells the story

00:21:11.220 --> 00:21:12.120
 of three merchants

00:21:12.120 --> 00:21:13.900
 crossing the Arabian desert.

00:21:15.339 --> 00:21:16.539
 They were traveling

00:21:16.539 --> 00:21:17.940
 on a starless night

00:21:17.940 --> 00:21:19.500
 in order to avoid

00:21:19.500 --> 00:21:20.039
 the heat

00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:21.559
 and they passed

00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:23.059
 over a dry creek bed.

00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:26.559
 In the midst of that,

00:21:26.660 --> 00:21:27.480
 they heard a voice

00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:30.019
 from the night,

00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:31.539
 not knowing where it came from,

00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:32.460
 commanding them

00:21:32.460 --> 00:21:33.279
 to stop.

00:21:34.159 --> 00:21:35.079
 They were ordered

00:21:35.079 --> 00:21:36.119
 to stoop down

00:21:36.119 --> 00:21:36.839
 and to pick up

00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:37.440
 the pebbles

00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:39.299
 from that dry creek bed

00:21:39.299 --> 00:21:40.000
 and to put them

00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:40.579
 in their pocket

00:21:40.579 --> 00:21:42.000
 and then to leave

00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:44.119
 and to camp

00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:45.299
 nowhere near

00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:46.099
 that location.

00:21:48.339 --> 00:21:49.980
 The voice then told them

00:21:49.980 --> 00:21:50.700
 that in the morning

00:21:50.700 --> 00:21:53.200
 they would be both happy

00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:55.519
 and sad.

00:21:55.519 --> 00:21:57.639
 They did what

00:21:57.639 --> 00:21:58.180
 they were told.

00:21:59.299 --> 00:22:00.039
 They picked up

00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:00.480
 the pebbles,

00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:00.920
 they put them

00:22:00.920 --> 00:22:01.500
 in their pockets,

00:22:01.700 --> 00:22:03.079
 they went on their way

00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:04.099
 and the next morning

00:22:04.099 --> 00:22:05.160
 when they woke up

00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:06.180
 far away

00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:07.259
 from that dry creek bed

00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:08.119
 they reached

00:22:08.119 --> 00:22:08.799
 in their pocket

00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:09.859
 and anxiously looked

00:22:09.859 --> 00:22:10.940
 and rather than

00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:11.859
 finding pebbles

00:22:11.859 --> 00:22:12.660
 in their pocket

00:22:12.660 --> 00:22:14.599
 they found

00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:15.619
 precious jewels.

00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:18.160
 And just like

00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:18.579
 that voice

00:22:18.579 --> 00:22:19.319
 had told them

00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:20.879
 they were both

00:22:20.879 --> 00:22:21.639
 happy

00:22:21.639 --> 00:22:23.279
 and sad.

00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:25.839
 they were happy

00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:26.920
 that they had jewels.

00:22:28.399 --> 00:22:29.639
 They were sad

00:22:29.639 --> 00:22:30.319
 that they left

00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:31.160
 a lot of others

00:22:31.160 --> 00:22:32.539
 behind.

00:22:34.940 --> 00:22:35.920
 My friend

00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:38.599
 if you ever

00:22:38.599 --> 00:22:39.480
 lead anybody

00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:41.599
 to the Lord Jesus

00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:44.420
 you'll find

00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:45.639
 it's the most

00:22:45.639 --> 00:22:46.660
 satisfying thing

00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:47.359
 in your life

00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:48.720
 that you'll ever do.

00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:51.019
 When somebody

00:22:51.019 --> 00:22:51.779
 genuinely

00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:53.700
 surrenders

00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:54.160
 their life

00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:54.639
 to the Lord

00:22:54.639 --> 00:22:56.099
 and God

00:22:56.099 --> 00:22:56.539
 allows you

00:22:56.539 --> 00:22:57.039
 to be a part

00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:57.700
 of that closing

00:22:57.700 --> 00:22:58.200
 process

00:22:58.200 --> 00:23:00.079
 it's a blessing.

00:23:03.160 --> 00:23:04.039
 I don't believe

00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:04.579
 the half

00:23:04.579 --> 00:23:05.559
 has been told

00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:05.879
 though

00:23:05.879 --> 00:23:08.799
 because I believe

00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:09.500
 that if you

00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:10.920
 will pray

00:23:10.920 --> 00:23:12.680
 for folks

00:23:12.680 --> 00:23:13.000
 to come

00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:13.519
 to know the Lord

00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:14.779
 that you'll be

00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.660
 a part of that process.

00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:17.960
 I believe

00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:18.480
 that if you'll

00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:18.920
 share

00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:19.359
 and you'll

00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:19.859
 invite

00:23:19.859 --> 00:23:20.259
 and you'll

00:23:20.259 --> 00:23:20.659
 be

00:23:20.659 --> 00:23:22.279
 anxious

00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:23.419
 ready

00:23:23.419 --> 00:23:24.479
 to share

00:23:24.479 --> 00:23:26.539
 your love

00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:26.939
 for the Lord

00:23:26.939 --> 00:23:27.199
 Jesus

00:23:27.199 --> 00:23:27.740
 with somebody

00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:27.959
 else

00:23:27.959 --> 00:23:28.519
 God will

00:23:28.519 --> 00:23:28.899
 allow you

00:23:28.899 --> 00:23:29.379
 to be part

00:23:29.379 --> 00:23:30.139
 of that process.

00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:32.639
 God has

00:23:32.639 --> 00:23:33.199
 a way

00:23:33.199 --> 00:23:33.679
 of

00:23:33.679 --> 00:23:35.339
 capturing

00:23:35.339 --> 00:23:36.179
 somebody

00:23:36.179 --> 00:23:37.339
 through

00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:38.299
 several

00:23:38.299 --> 00:23:38.839
 different

00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:39.339
 means

00:23:39.339 --> 00:23:40.279
 of contact

00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:41.179
 along the way

00:23:41.179 --> 00:23:42.799
 and if you

00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:43.579
 happen to be

00:23:43.579 --> 00:23:44.079
 at the end

00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:44.559
 of that

00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:45.659
 when they

00:23:45.659 --> 00:23:46.019
 give their

00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:46.599
 heart and life

00:23:46.599 --> 00:23:46.939
 to the Lord

00:23:46.939 --> 00:23:47.319
 Jesus

00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:47.899
 he just

00:23:47.899 --> 00:23:48.359
 blesses you

00:23:48.359 --> 00:23:48.699
 that much

00:23:48.699 --> 00:23:48.859
 more

00:23:48.859 --> 00:23:49.299
 because you

00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:49.859
 happen to be

00:23:49.859 --> 00:23:50.299
 a part of that

00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:51.139
 but you

00:23:51.139 --> 00:23:51.740
 didn't do

00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:52.159
 that

00:23:52.159 --> 00:23:53.000
 God did

00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:53.359
 that

00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:53.699
 and he

00:23:53.699 --> 00:23:54.000
 did it

00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:54.559
 through a lot

00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:54.959
 of other

00:23:54.959 --> 00:23:55.419
 people

00:23:55.419 --> 00:23:56.459
 working and

00:23:56.459 --> 00:23:57.179
 moving all

00:23:57.179 --> 00:23:57.819
 the time

00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:58.299
 in their

00:23:58.299 --> 00:23:58.919
 life

00:23:58.919 --> 00:24:01.059
 the jewels

00:24:01.059 --> 00:24:01.719
 of heaven

00:24:01.719 --> 00:24:02.919
 has to be

00:24:02.919 --> 00:24:03.459
 the souls

00:24:03.459 --> 00:24:03.859
 that we

00:24:03.859 --> 00:24:04.399
 touch

00:24:04.399 --> 00:24:06.059
 and how

00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:06.439
 some of

00:24:06.439 --> 00:24:06.759
 them are

00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:07.859
 we see

00:24:07.859 --> 00:24:08.379
 change

00:24:08.379 --> 00:24:08.659
 in their

00:24:08.659 --> 00:24:09.079
 life

00:24:09.079 --> 00:24:10.679
 and I

00:24:10.679 --> 00:24:11.479
 am convinced

00:24:11.479 --> 00:24:13.000
 when we

00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:13.279
 get to

00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:13.659
 eternity

00:24:13.659 --> 00:24:14.359
 we'll see

00:24:14.359 --> 00:24:15.199
 folks that

00:24:15.199 --> 00:24:15.679
 we didn't

00:24:15.679 --> 00:24:15.939
 know

00:24:15.939 --> 00:24:16.619
 they ever

00:24:16.619 --> 00:24:16.959
 came to

00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:17.340
 the Lord

00:24:17.340 --> 00:24:19.600
 but if we

00:24:19.600 --> 00:24:19.840
 had a

00:24:19.840 --> 00:24:20.140
 testimony

00:24:20.140 --> 00:24:20.500
 for the

00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:20.680
 Lord

00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:20.940
 and we

00:24:20.940 --> 00:24:21.240
 lived it

00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:21.700
 out before

00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:22.079
 them and

00:24:22.079 --> 00:24:22.519
 we shared

00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:22.880
 with them

00:24:22.880 --> 00:24:23.200
 we know

00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:23.640
 that somewhere

00:24:23.640 --> 00:24:24.019
 along the

00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:25.059
 way we

00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:25.600
 played a part

00:24:25.600 --> 00:24:25.819
 in that

00:24:25.819 --> 00:24:26.559
 process

00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:27.400
 but we

00:24:27.400 --> 00:24:27.620
 didn't know

00:24:27.620 --> 00:24:27.860
 the end

00:24:27.860 --> 00:24:28.279
 result till

00:24:28.279 --> 00:24:28.559
 we saw

00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:28.880
 them face

00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:29.480
 to face

00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:33.319
 it'll make

00:24:33.319 --> 00:24:33.640
 you both

00:24:33.640 --> 00:24:34.299
 happy and

00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:34.640
 sad

00:24:34.640 --> 00:24:37.960
 happy for

00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:38.500
 all those

00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:38.900
 that's been

00:24:38.900 --> 00:24:39.539
 reached and

00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:39.980
 sad for

00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:40.400
 those that

00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:40.819
 you didn't

00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:41.440
 share with

00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:46.580
 if it

00:24:46.580 --> 00:24:47.200
 meant enough

00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:48.100
 to Christ

00:24:48.100 --> 00:24:49.420
 in the

00:24:49.420 --> 00:24:50.120
 upper room

00:24:50.120 --> 00:24:50.720
 to be the

00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:51.279
 focal

00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:51.880
 passage

00:24:51.880 --> 00:24:52.140
 I mean

00:24:52.140 --> 00:24:52.299
 we're

00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:52.559
 talking

00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:53.360
 John 13

00:24:53.360 --> 00:24:54.000
 through 17

00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:54.920
 and right

00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:55.820
 smack in

00:24:55.820 --> 00:24:56.259
 the middle

00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:56.759
 at John

00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:57.680
 15 5

00:24:57.680 --> 00:24:58.580
 he says

00:24:58.580 --> 00:25:01.559
 I'm the

00:25:01.559 --> 00:25:02.019
 vine

00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:03.240
 and you're

00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:03.820
 the branches

00:25:03.820 --> 00:25:06.480
 without me

00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:07.080
 you can do

00:25:07.080 --> 00:25:07.660
 nothing

00:25:07.660 --> 00:25:09.740
 but in me

00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:10.140
 you'll bear

00:25:10.140 --> 00:25:10.500
 fruit

00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:14.079
 they got

00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:14.519
 up from

00:25:14.519 --> 00:25:14.960
 there just

00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:15.279
 minutes

00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:15.640
 later

00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:17.819
 and went

00:25:17.819 --> 00:25:18.059
 to the

00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:18.480
 garden where

00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:18.759
 he'd be

00:25:18.759 --> 00:25:19.180
 arrested

00:25:19.180 --> 00:25:21.279
 he knew

00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:21.660
 what was

00:25:21.660 --> 00:25:21.980
 coming

00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:23.579
 he knew

00:25:23.579 --> 00:25:23.980
 what to

00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:24.339
 share

00:25:24.339 --> 00:25:26.119
 it was

00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:26.819
 important to

00:25:26.819 --> 00:25:27.299
 him then

00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:28.059
 it's important

00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:28.839
 to us now

00:25:28.839 --> 00:25:29.759
 let's make

00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:30.539
 sure that our

00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:31.220
 branches are

00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:32.299
 healthy enough

00:25:32.299 --> 00:25:32.640
 with our

00:25:32.640 --> 00:25:33.200
 character

00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:34.579
 healthy enough

00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:34.900
 with our

00:25:34.900 --> 00:25:35.519
 compassion

00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:36.339
 healthy enough

00:25:36.339 --> 00:25:36.640
 with our

00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:37.160
 conduct

00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:37.500
 with our

00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:38.440
 conversation

00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:38.920
 with our

00:25:38.920 --> 00:25:39.420
 contentment

00:25:39.420 --> 00:25:40.240
 to bear

00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:40.720
 fruit

00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:41.539
 fruit that

00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:42.299
 is fit

00:25:42.299 --> 00:25:43.059
 to reach

00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:43.519
 others

00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:44.400
 for Christ

00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:46.400
 because if

00:25:46.400 --> 00:25:46.819
 that's the

00:25:46.819 --> 00:25:47.279
 burden of

00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:47.759
 Christ in

00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:48.120
 the upper

00:25:48.120 --> 00:25:48.500
 room

00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:49.140
 in his

00:25:49.140 --> 00:25:50.000
 last sit

00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:50.420
 down with

00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:51.099
 his disciples

00:25:51.099 --> 00:25:51.599
 before he

00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:51.799
 went to

00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:52.299
 the cross

00:25:52.299 --> 00:25:54.220
 if that's

00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:54.559
 such a

00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:55.200
 priority to

00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:55.539
 him

00:25:55.539 --> 00:25:56.859
 it ought to

00:25:56.859 --> 00:25:57.099
 be to

00:25:57.099 --> 00:25:57.599
 us

00:25:57.599 --> 00:25:59.440
 and just

00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:00.180
 quite honestly

00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:01.799
 there is

00:26:01.799 --> 00:26:02.799
 never a

00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:03.660
 better time

00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:06.079
 than as we

00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:06.480
 approach

00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:07.039
 Easter

00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:09.039
 what an

00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:10.220
 open door

00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:11.220
 of opportunity

00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:13.399
 to welcome

00:26:13.399 --> 00:26:15.899
 to invite

00:26:15.899 --> 00:26:17.720
 to begin

00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:18.680
 a conversation

00:26:18.680 --> 00:26:20.460
 with somebody

00:26:20.460 --> 00:26:21.899
 about the

00:26:21.899 --> 00:26:22.500
 difference that

00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:23.279
 Jesus has made

00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:25.440
 in your life

00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:27.079
 may God

00:26:27.079 --> 00:26:27.759
 help us

00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:29.319
 to be

00:26:29.319 --> 00:26:30.019
 fruit bearing

00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:30.779
 Christians

00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:33.480
 may he bless

00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:34.000
 that path

00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:35.119
 with every

00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:35.640
 head bowed

00:26:35.640 --> 00:26:35.900
 and every

00:26:35.900 --> 00:26:36.539
 eye closed

00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:38.299
 it's a

00:26:38.299 --> 00:26:38.759
 challenge

00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:39.240
 folks

00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:41.559
 it's a

00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:42.119
 challenge

00:26:42.119 --> 00:26:44.839
 and I

00:26:44.839 --> 00:26:45.240
 asked you

00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:45.799
 last week

00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:46.400
 to pray

00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:49.039
 that God

00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:49.460
 would give

00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:50.319
 you names

00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:51.240
 and lay

00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:51.599
 them upon

00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:52.119
 your heart

00:26:52.119 --> 00:26:54.200
 and I

00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:54.619
 asked you

00:26:54.619 --> 00:26:55.079
 this week

00:26:55.079 --> 00:26:55.500
 to spend

00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:56.220
 time praying

00:26:56.220 --> 00:26:56.680
 for those

00:26:56.680 --> 00:26:57.220
 names

00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:59.460
 asking God

00:26:59.460 --> 00:26:59.839
 to work

00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:00.120
 in their

00:27:00.120 --> 00:27:00.460
 lives

00:27:00.460 --> 00:27:01.039
 asking God

00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:01.339
 to work

00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:01.660
 in your

00:27:01.660 --> 00:27:02.059
 life

00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:02.920
 asking God

00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:03.360
 to work

00:27:03.360 --> 00:27:03.740
 out

00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:04.660
 just a

00:27:04.660 --> 00:27:05.000
 way

00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:05.380
 for you

00:27:05.380 --> 00:27:05.920
 to invite

00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:08.279
 we'll make

00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:08.920
 that process

00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:09.960
 just as easy

00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:10.700
 as possible

00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:11.140
 for you

00:27:11.140 --> 00:27:11.940
 with invitation

00:27:11.940 --> 00:27:12.620
 cards that

00:27:12.620 --> 00:27:13.539
 tell all

00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:14.319
 the details

00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:16.680
 if you're

00:27:16.680 --> 00:27:17.140
 shy and

00:27:17.140 --> 00:27:17.500
 don't say

00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:17.980
 much

00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:19.279
 hand them

00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:19.819
 a card

00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:21.759
 man I'd

00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:22.079
 love for you

00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:22.360
 to come

00:27:22.360 --> 00:27:22.839
 to this

00:27:22.839 --> 00:27:27.299
 but you

00:27:27.299 --> 00:27:27.740
 know there's

00:27:27.740 --> 00:27:28.319
 folks around

00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:28.759
 you that

00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.699
 desperately

00:27:29.699 --> 00:27:30.500
 need Jesus

00:27:30.500 --> 00:27:33.039
 and if you

00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:33.500
 prayed for

00:27:33.500 --> 00:27:34.039
 those folks

00:27:34.039 --> 00:27:34.699
 God's laid

00:27:34.699 --> 00:27:35.159
 folks on

00:27:35.159 --> 00:27:35.779
 your heart

00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:37.980
 some of you

00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:38.159
 have been

00:27:38.159 --> 00:27:38.679
 like me

00:27:38.679 --> 00:27:39.259
 your card's

00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:39.740
 too full

00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:40.779
 it ain't big

00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:41.139
 enough

00:27:41.139 --> 00:27:43.159
 as God

00:27:43.159 --> 00:27:43.720
 lays burdens

00:27:43.720 --> 00:27:44.120
 upon your

00:27:44.120 --> 00:27:44.460
 heart

00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:47.460
 let's be

00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:47.880
 diligent

00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:51.380
 let's go

00:27:51.380 --> 00:27:52.660
 and see

00:27:52.660 --> 00:27:54.680
 what God

00:27:54.680 --> 00:27:55.240
 has in

00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:55.600
 store for

00:27:55.600 --> 00:27:56.019
 us

00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:57.600
 and then

00:27:57.600 --> 00:27:57.960
 come and

00:27:57.960 --> 00:27:58.180
 see

00:27:58.180 --> 00:27:59.900
 what he

00:27:59.900 --> 00:28:00.240
 does in

00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:00.720
 our midst

00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:02.140
 if you're

00:28:02.140 --> 00:28:02.500
 here this

00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:02.900
 morning and

00:28:02.900 --> 00:28:03.579
 you've never

00:28:03.579 --> 00:28:04.360
 accepted the

00:28:04.360 --> 00:28:04.920
 Lord Jesus

00:28:04.920 --> 00:28:05.620
 Christ I

00:28:05.620 --> 00:28:06.100
 want you to

00:28:06.100 --> 00:28:06.420
 know

00:28:06.420 --> 00:28:08.759
 that if you

00:28:08.759 --> 00:28:09.120
 feel him

00:28:09.120 --> 00:28:09.740
 drawing you

00:28:09.740 --> 00:28:10.299
 this morning

00:28:10.299 --> 00:28:12.500
 if you feel

00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:12.900
 a burden

00:28:12.900 --> 00:28:13.860
 to ask

00:28:13.860 --> 00:28:14.300
 God to

00:28:14.300 --> 00:28:14.680
 forgive you

00:28:14.680 --> 00:28:14.920
 of your

00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:15.240
 sins

00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:15.480
 and to

00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:15.740
 come into

00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:16.240
 your life

00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:16.500
 and to

00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:17.040
 change you

00:28:17.040 --> 00:28:18.400
 I promise

00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:18.740
 you today

00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:19.220
 he'll save

00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:19.360
 you

00:28:19.360 --> 00:28:19.700
 today's

00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:19.960
 day of

00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:20.420
 salvation

00:28:20.420 --> 00:28:22.220
 he'll work

00:28:22.220 --> 00:28:22.500
 and move

00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:22.700
 in your

00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:23.060
 life as

00:28:23.060 --> 00:28:23.400
 only he

00:28:23.400 --> 00:28:23.759
 can

00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:24.900
 you don't

00:28:24.900 --> 00:28:25.100
 need to

00:28:25.100 --> 00:28:25.480
 clean up

00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:25.780
 to come

00:28:25.780 --> 00:28:26.040
 to him

00:28:26.040 --> 00:28:26.220
 he'll

00:28:26.220 --> 00:28:26.600
 clean you

00:28:26.600 --> 00:28:26.840
 up

00:28:26.840 --> 00:28:27.860
 he'll

00:28:27.860 --> 00:28:28.180
 make you

00:28:28.180 --> 00:28:28.519
 right

00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:29.600
 you surrender

00:28:29.600 --> 00:28:30.040
 your life

00:28:30.040 --> 00:28:30.420
 to him

00:28:30.420 --> 00:28:31.019
 give it

00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:31.400
 over to

00:28:31.400 --> 00:28:31.620
 him

00:28:31.620 --> 00:28:33.000
 maybe you're

00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:33.320
 here this

00:28:33.320 --> 00:28:33.820
 morning and

00:28:33.820 --> 00:28:34.560
 you've done

00:28:34.560 --> 00:28:34.920
 that but

00:28:34.920 --> 00:28:35.340
 you've never

00:28:35.340 --> 00:28:36.080
 acknowledged that

00:28:36.080 --> 00:28:36.800
 publicly and

00:28:36.800 --> 00:28:37.160
 you need to

00:28:37.160 --> 00:28:37.600
 do that

00:28:37.600 --> 00:28:38.120
 it's not a

00:28:38.120 --> 00:28:38.880
 private decision

00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:40.060
 everything Christ

00:28:40.060 --> 00:28:40.460
 ever did

00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:41.579
 said it

00:28:41.579 --> 00:28:42.180
 was public

00:28:42.180 --> 00:28:44.279
 he'd just

00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:44.700
 look at folks

00:28:44.700 --> 00:28:45.059
 and say come

00:28:45.059 --> 00:28:45.600
 follow me

00:28:45.600 --> 00:28:46.000
 and they'd

00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:47.200
 come on

00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:48.299
 or they'd

00:28:48.299 --> 00:28:48.779
 decide not

00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:49.340
 to come on

00:28:49.340 --> 00:28:50.200
 so I

00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:50.680
 encourage you

00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:51.000
 to make a

00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:51.440
 decision to

00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:51.799
 follow him

00:28:51.799 --> 00:28:52.059
 today

00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:53.740
 maybe God's

00:28:53.740 --> 00:28:54.120
 drawing you

00:28:54.120 --> 00:28:54.400
 to be a

00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:54.720
 part of this

00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:55.100
 fellowship

00:28:55.100 --> 00:28:55.700
 you know that

00:28:55.700 --> 00:28:56.200
 God's leading

00:28:56.200 --> 00:28:56.559
 you to be a

00:28:56.559 --> 00:28:56.860
 part of this

00:28:56.860 --> 00:28:57.120
 church

00:28:57.120 --> 00:28:58.120
 join us along

00:28:58.120 --> 00:28:58.660
 the journey

00:28:58.660 --> 00:29:00.539
 help us do

00:29:00.539 --> 00:29:01.079
 what God

00:29:01.079 --> 00:29:01.700
 has called

00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:03.180
 us to do

00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:03.799
 or maybe you

00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:04.299
 just need to

00:29:04.299 --> 00:29:04.819
 get your heart

00:29:04.819 --> 00:29:05.440
 right today

00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:07.200
 to just come to

00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:07.680
 this altar

00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:08.120
 or have a

00:29:08.120 --> 00:29:08.840
 pastor pray for

00:29:08.839 --> 00:29:11.279
 you to ask

00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:11.699
 God to do

00:29:11.699 --> 00:29:12.139
 a work in

00:29:12.139 --> 00:29:12.639
 your life

00:29:12.639 --> 00:29:14.459
 I don't know

00:29:14.459 --> 00:29:14.879
 what God's

00:29:14.879 --> 00:29:15.279
 telling you to

00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:15.619
 do but I

00:29:15.619 --> 00:29:15.919
 know you'll

00:29:15.919 --> 00:29:16.299
 never be

00:29:16.299 --> 00:29:16.980
 satisfied unless

00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:17.619
 you follow him

00:29:17.619 --> 00:29:19.039
 so let's be

00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:19.799
 obedient today

00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:20.559
 heavenly father

00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:21.559
 lead and work

00:29:21.559 --> 00:29:22.379
 in our midst

00:29:22.379 --> 00:29:23.779
 right now oh

00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:24.480
 God I pray

00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:25.599
 have your will

00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:25.980
 and your way

00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:26.819
 in our hearts

00:29:26.819 --> 00:29:28.299
 in Jesus precious

00:29:28.299 --> 00:29:29.419
 name amen