WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:29.980 Thank you. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:59.980 Thank you. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:29.980 Thank you. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:59.980 Thank you. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:29.979 Thank you. 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:59.979 Thank you. 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:29.979 Thank you. 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:59.979 Thank you. 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:29.980 Thank you. 00:04:29.980 --> 00:04:59.960 Thank you. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:29.960 Thank you. 00:05:29.959 --> 00:05:59.939 Thank you. 00:05:59.959 --> 00:06:29.939 Thank you. 00:06:29.959 --> 00:06:59.939 Thank you. 00:06:59.939 --> 00:07:29.920 Thank you. 00:07:29.939 --> 00:07:59.920 Thank you. 00:07:59.939 --> 00:08:29.920 Thank you. 00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:33.000 I'm going to ask this if you remain standing for our opening song. 00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:37.740 We're going to be singing Psalm 145, sorry, 145, verses 1 through 9. 00:08:37.740 --> 00:09:07.720 I will extol. 00:09:07.740 --> 00:09:09.740 Thank you. 00:09:37.740 --> 00:09:39.740 Each generation. 00:10:07.740 --> 00:10:09.740 Thank you. 00:10:37.740 --> 00:10:47.480 In your benevolence and your abundant grace, 00:10:47.480 --> 00:10:59.480 they'll celebrate the righteousness that you have shown to them. 00:10:59.480 --> 00:11:08.820 In praise and joy, so they will relate. 00:11:10.940 --> 00:11:17.480 The Lord is gracious and compassionate. 00:11:20.019 --> 00:11:28.600 He's slow to anger, rich in steadfast love. 00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:37.899 The Lord is good to all that He has made, 00:11:38.379 --> 00:11:46.120 and merciful to all on earth that move. 00:11:51.800 --> 00:11:53.820 I'm going to ask Stephen to come up now. 00:11:53.899 --> 00:11:56.340 He's going to be reading a passage of Scripture from the Old Testament. 00:11:56.340 --> 00:12:00.100 Ecclesiastes chapter 5, verses 10 through 17. 00:12:00.100 --> 00:12:07.460 Whoever loves money never has enough. 00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:11.259 Whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. 00:12:11.860 --> 00:12:13.080 This, too, is meaningless. 00:12:13.960 --> 00:12:16.759 As goods increase, so do those who consume them. 00:12:17.300 --> 00:12:21.100 And what benefits are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them? 00:12:21.100 --> 00:12:26.220 The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much. 00:12:26.460 --> 00:12:29.659 But as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep. 00:12:30.700 --> 00:12:33.220 I have seen such a grievous evil under the sun. 00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:38.740 Wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners, or wealth lost through some misfortune. 00:12:39.740 --> 00:12:43.159 So that when they have children, there is nothing left for them to inherit. 00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:49.279 Everyone comes from their mother's womb, and everyone comes, so they depart. 00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:53.659 They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands. 00:12:54.819 --> 00:12:56.459 This, too, is a grievous evil. 00:12:57.360 --> 00:12:59.319 As everyone comes, so they depart. 00:13:00.179 --> 00:13:02.759 And what do they gain, since they toil for the wind? 00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:08.539 All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction, and anger. 00:13:08.539 --> 00:13:10.639 This is God's words. 00:13:11.339 --> 00:13:11.839 Let's pray. 00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:23.740 Heavenly Father, we come before you this Sunday, acknowledging our sin and confessing our sin and our guilt. 00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:30.579 We acknowledge many times this week we have sinned against your holy law, even today. 00:13:30.580 --> 00:13:42.560 We have looked for security, satisfaction, goodness and truth, not in you, but in ourselves and in your creation. 00:13:44.800 --> 00:13:50.520 We know that we are not worthy to be called for us to approach you as our heavenly Father. 00:13:51.100 --> 00:13:56.500 But we are thankful for the grace and mercy that you've shown to us in Christ. 00:13:56.500 --> 00:14:03.080 That it's because of his work on the cross that we can be adopted into sonship, 00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:08.220 and that you can look upon us and forget our sins, 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:14.820 and that it is the righteousness of Christ that we have that allows us to be blameless in your sight. 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:19.460 We also lift up Keith before you as he comes to preach your word. 00:14:19.460 --> 00:14:26.780 We pray that you would be able to use him as your instrument to speak to us truth and goodness. 00:14:27.740 --> 00:14:29.600 We pray that your spirit would be with him. 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:36.960 And we just pray for us that we would be listening with hearts and minds open, 00:14:37.259 --> 00:14:41.720 and that we would be able to respond to your message in faith and repentance. 00:14:42.580 --> 00:14:43.980 And we just pray this all in your name. 00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:44.580 Amen. 00:14:44.580 --> 00:14:44.680 Amen. 00:14:44.679 --> 00:14:51.719 Well, we're about to stand again to sing our next psalm. 00:14:51.799 --> 00:14:53.019 This is Psalm 39. 00:14:53.379 --> 00:14:56.159 And it gives the same message of what we see in Ecclesiastes, 00:14:56.359 --> 00:15:00.779 the same message that what we're going to see in 1 John 2 about the vanity of life. 00:15:01.219 --> 00:15:07.739 We're going to be thinking tonight about how we need to have no love for this world and the darkness in it. 00:15:07.740 --> 00:15:12.820 And so we're going to sing the same thing in our psalm to recognize the brevity of our life, 00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:16.279 the vanity of our life apart from our love for Christ. 00:15:16.379 --> 00:15:18.620 Will you stand with me to sing Psalm 39? 00:15:18.620 --> 00:15:28.960 Lord, show me that my life will end, 00:15:29.299 --> 00:15:34.820 how many days I'll see, 00:15:34.820 --> 00:15:49.820 and cause me, Lord, to understand how brief my life will be. 00:15:49.820 --> 00:15:59.580 O Lord, how short you make my days, 00:15:59.580 --> 00:16:06.960 before I sink in death. 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:15.300 My years are nothing in your sight, 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:21.660 man's life is but a breath. 00:16:24.420 --> 00:16:32.139 Like shadows people go apart, 00:16:32.139 --> 00:16:38.139 they bustle to and fall. 00:16:39.819 --> 00:16:43.539 They heap up wealth, 00:16:43.539 --> 00:16:47.779 but do not know 00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:54.240 to whom their wealth will go. 00:16:56.580 --> 00:17:02.120 O Lord, please listen to me, 00:17:02.139 --> 00:17:04.139 my prayer, 00:17:04.139 --> 00:17:12.460 and hear my cry for aid. 00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:20.980 Do not be deaf to the appeal, 00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:29.599 which I with tears have made. 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:38.599 For as your guests I stay a while, 00:17:38.599 --> 00:17:46.059 I'm like my fathers all. 00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:54.559 A stranger and a pilgrim here, 00:17:54.559 --> 00:18:01.559 have mercy when I call. 00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:11.679 O turn away your eyes from me, 00:18:11.679 --> 00:18:17.559 let me rejoice again. 00:18:17.559 --> 00:18:27.700 before I finally depart, 00:18:27.700 --> 00:18:33.879 and hear no more remain. 00:18:33.880 --> 00:18:34.880 Amen. 00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:35.880 Amen. 00:18:43.880 --> 00:18:45.360 Well, let's turn to the Lord again in prayer. 00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:51.520 God, we thank you again for the privilege 00:18:51.520 --> 00:18:53.200 to be in your house this evening, 00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:55.820 to gather together as your people 00:18:55.820 --> 00:18:57.120 to give you praise. 00:18:57.119 --> 00:18:59.119 And we recognize, God, 00:18:59.159 --> 00:19:00.979 that we are not worthy to be called your people. 00:19:01.079 --> 00:19:03.279 We are not worthy to be your sons and daughters. 00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:06.599 As Stephen has already prayed, 00:19:06.699 --> 00:19:09.439 we recognize our own sin 00:19:09.439 --> 00:19:10.119 and our own depravity 00:19:10.719 --> 00:19:13.019 that separates us from your holiness. 00:19:13.019 --> 00:19:17.799 We recognize that we are children of wrath 00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:21.379 apart from the grace of God. 00:19:23.180 --> 00:19:25.139 And so, God, we come to you humbly 00:19:25.139 --> 00:19:27.660 and repent of our sins. 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:33.000 We recognize that we have wandered away from you 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:35.039 in thought, in word, and in deed. 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:37.899 And we ask for forgiveness. 00:19:38.839 --> 00:19:41.159 We ask that you may cleanse our hearts 00:19:41.159 --> 00:19:44.220 by the blood of Jesus. 00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:46.960 May you see his righteousness in us. 00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:49.720 And with that reality, Lord, 00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:51.899 may it transform the way that we live our lives 00:19:51.899 --> 00:19:53.779 as we've sung and read already 00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:56.259 to recognize the vanity of our lives, 00:19:56.839 --> 00:20:00.839 to recognize just how short our time on this earth is, 00:20:01.319 --> 00:20:03.759 but we desire to make it count for you. 00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:09.059 God, we think of the many ministries of this church, 00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:10.940 the activities within this community. 00:20:12.399 --> 00:20:13.379 And we pray, Lord, 00:20:13.420 --> 00:20:15.359 that you will allow us to be productive 00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:17.539 in our mission. 00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:21.079 That we may see this city, this community, 00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:24.220 this nation transformed with the truth of the gospel. 00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:28.460 And so, God, while the task seems so 00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:31.539 outside of our reach, 00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:36.519 we can be so overwhelmed by the secular society around us 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:38.159 that we think we are losing ground, 00:20:38.259 --> 00:20:41.299 may we not forget that you are the king 00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:43.319 and that your kingdom will never fail. 00:20:45.180 --> 00:20:47.680 And so, God, we ask that you equip us 00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:48.559 and enable us, 00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:50.920 give us a desire to serve you. 00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:54.279 We think of the many practical opportunities 00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:55.299 even in this church. 00:20:55.420 --> 00:20:57.159 We think of our international ministry, Connect. 00:20:57.160 --> 00:20:59.940 We thank you for the numbers that you have brought 00:20:59.940 --> 00:21:01.279 in recent weeks, 00:21:01.380 --> 00:21:02.240 both students, 00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:05.080 middle-aged and elderly, 00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:06.600 those who are new to our city, 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:08.840 those craving relationship, 00:21:09.900 --> 00:21:11.320 those searching for truth. 00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:14.019 May we be faithful in pointing them to you. 00:21:15.180 --> 00:21:18.160 We thank you for the revamping of our toddlers group, 00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:21.600 for the new faces of parents and children who have come. 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:24.980 We pray, Lord, for more in this community 00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:27.939 to know the opportunity for relationship here, 00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:32.179 that these families may be loved and served well, 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:33.639 that they may come into this building 00:21:33.639 --> 00:21:36.339 and recognize your presence and your love 00:21:36.339 --> 00:21:38.079 in a way that they never have before. 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:44.019 Lord, we thank you for the many students we have in our midst. 00:21:45.439 --> 00:21:47.059 And though some cycle through 00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:49.099 and some are only here for a short amount of time, 00:21:49.099 --> 00:21:50.899 Lord, we do ask that we may be faithful 00:21:50.899 --> 00:21:53.379 in loving them and serving them. 00:21:54.919 --> 00:21:56.480 We know there are many other churches 00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:58.259 that care for students well also, 00:21:58.359 --> 00:22:00.279 so we ask that you equip them 00:22:00.279 --> 00:22:02.319 with the heart and the desire 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:04.919 and the ability to transform lives. 00:22:06.099 --> 00:22:07.339 We pray, Lord, for our students 00:22:07.339 --> 00:22:11.179 who are in the midst of a very difficult environment 00:22:11.179 --> 00:22:15.119 where darkness pervades the campus, 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:17.379 where Christianity is scoffed at. 00:22:17.380 --> 00:22:20.220 May they hold firm to their faith. 00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:22.280 May you be close to them. 00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:24.020 May you prove yourself faithful to them 00:22:24.020 --> 00:22:25.500 and may you give them a boldness 00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:27.780 to share the good news of the gospel. 00:22:27.940 --> 00:22:29.500 Lord, we pray that for each one of us 00:22:29.500 --> 00:22:30.840 in our each walks of lives 00:22:30.840 --> 00:22:32.520 in the corners of this city that we live, 00:22:33.940 --> 00:22:35.780 that we may be lights in darkness, 00:22:36.520 --> 00:22:39.880 that we may speak truth in love, 00:22:40.660 --> 00:22:42.100 that others may come to know you. 00:22:42.099 --> 00:22:47.519 Lord, as we want to focus more tonight on prayer, 00:22:47.619 --> 00:22:49.199 may that be our desire not only tonight 00:22:49.199 --> 00:22:50.319 but throughout our week 00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:52.899 to be in constant communication with you, 00:22:53.439 --> 00:22:55.399 to hear what you have to say through your word, 00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:57.240 to be able to respond through prayer, 00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:59.599 to recognize that you are close, 00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:01.519 that you are a God who listens, 00:23:01.679 --> 00:23:02.939 that you are a God who answers. 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:06.299 May we find great comfort 00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:07.599 and make great assurance 00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:09.279 in our relationship with you. 00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:13.159 And so, Lord, we ask that 00:23:13.159 --> 00:23:14.679 as we gather after this service 00:23:14.679 --> 00:23:15.879 to pray with one another, 00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:17.980 that we may be able to do so in sincerity, 00:23:19.639 --> 00:23:21.500 recognizing that you are a powerful God, 00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:22.959 that you are sovereign over all, 00:23:23.240 --> 00:23:25.419 and that you will answer our prayers 00:23:25.419 --> 00:23:27.000 according to your perfect will. 00:23:29.059 --> 00:23:31.139 We thank you that you are a God who loves us, 00:23:32.199 --> 00:23:33.659 that you are a God who cares, 00:23:33.660 --> 00:23:35.660 and we pray, Lord, 00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:36.620 that you be with us now 00:23:36.620 --> 00:23:38.240 as we turn to the preaching of your word. 00:23:39.120 --> 00:23:40.120 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:23:40.800 --> 00:23:41.120 Amen. 00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:45.140 Well, this evening we're going to be 00:23:45.140 --> 00:23:46.279 continuing our study 00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:47.900 in the book of 1 John. 00:23:48.340 --> 00:23:49.759 We're going to be looking specifically 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:51.000 in John chapter 2, 00:23:51.100 --> 00:23:52.240 starting in verse 12. 00:23:52.980 --> 00:23:54.880 And as we would have seen in recent weeks 00:23:54.880 --> 00:23:55.759 and we're going to see tonight, 00:23:55.900 --> 00:23:57.120 how John writes this book 00:23:57.120 --> 00:24:00.180 is very much like a reminder to the church. 00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:03.040 And so I wonder how many of us 00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:05.159 often get reminders from one another. 00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:07.599 I think in our day and age with technology, 00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:09.680 we're often getting reminders on our watches, 00:24:10.059 --> 00:24:12.299 on our phones, on our computers, 00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:14.180 about appointments and tasks 00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:15.039 that we have to complete. 00:24:15.859 --> 00:24:17.799 If you're married, have a spouse, 00:24:17.940 --> 00:24:19.619 they're likely one to remind you 00:24:19.619 --> 00:24:20.539 of many things, 00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:24.159 birthdays, appointments, invitations. 00:24:25.399 --> 00:24:26.279 If you have children, 00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:29.099 oftentimes be a reminder 00:24:29.099 --> 00:24:30.519 to pick up a child here, 00:24:30.839 --> 00:24:32.200 a reminder that you may be late here, 00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:33.220 a reminder that you have people 00:24:33.220 --> 00:24:34.480 coming over to your home 00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:35.920 for dinner this night. 00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:39.080 One reminder that I often get 00:24:39.080 --> 00:24:40.319 is with this Apple Watch. 00:24:40.380 --> 00:24:41.960 I've had this watch for a number of years. 00:24:42.180 --> 00:24:43.039 And when you get the watch, 00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:45.620 it comes with these programmed notifications. 00:24:46.360 --> 00:24:48.340 And so I get more reminders 00:24:48.340 --> 00:24:49.900 than I really care to oftentimes. 00:24:50.440 --> 00:24:51.380 And one of those reminders 00:24:51.380 --> 00:24:54.519 comes from a mindfulness app. 00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:55.360 I don't know if any of you 00:24:55.360 --> 00:24:56.180 have seen this before. 00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:58.279 And oftentimes throughout the day, 00:24:58.340 --> 00:24:59.940 it will ding and I'll look at it 00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:00.680 and it says, 00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:02.140 don't forget to breathe. 00:25:04.120 --> 00:25:05.600 There's other reminders that say, 00:25:05.880 --> 00:25:07.500 stand up or go for a walk. 00:25:08.059 --> 00:25:08.460 And you think, 00:25:08.600 --> 00:25:10.400 these kind of seem a little patronizing. 00:25:10.539 --> 00:25:12.539 Like, I'm not holding my breath here. 00:25:12.620 --> 00:25:13.980 Of course I'm going to be breathing. 00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:16.360 And so for some, though, 00:25:16.380 --> 00:25:17.240 they actually like those. 00:25:17.400 --> 00:25:18.860 I've disabled those alerts 00:25:18.860 --> 00:25:19.960 because I don't really find them helpful. 00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:21.000 But some people do, 00:25:21.380 --> 00:25:23.880 even though it's a basic reminder 00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:26.640 that you can kind of split up your day, 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:28.279 that can help you to refocus in a way. 00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:29.259 That's why it's intended. 00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:31.660 These well-intended reminders 00:25:31.660 --> 00:25:33.579 that give us a greater purpose 00:25:33.579 --> 00:25:35.359 to refocus on a task, 00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:38.480 on what we have going on that day. 00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:40.059 And I think in a similar way, 00:25:40.119 --> 00:25:41.019 this is what we see 00:25:41.019 --> 00:25:43.599 in this letter of 1 John. 00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:47.259 It's a reminder to the church 00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:48.940 of who we are 00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:50.680 and how we're supposed to live. 00:25:51.879 --> 00:25:53.559 You see, John wrote this letter 00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:56.420 as a leader of a number of house churches 00:25:56.420 --> 00:25:59.900 around, likely around Ephesus. 00:26:01.080 --> 00:26:01.700 And the thing was, 00:26:01.900 --> 00:26:03.140 this is the same John 00:26:03.140 --> 00:26:04.620 who wrote the Gospel of John, 00:26:04.660 --> 00:26:05.980 who would have been and seen 00:26:05.980 --> 00:26:08.320 and experienced life with Jesus. 00:26:09.400 --> 00:26:10.440 And so now he's trying 00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:12.019 to encourage the church 00:26:12.019 --> 00:26:14.360 in light of what he has experienced, 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:15.539 in light of what he knows, 00:26:15.600 --> 00:26:16.660 and in light of conflict 00:26:16.660 --> 00:26:18.360 that has come to the church. 00:26:18.560 --> 00:26:20.460 So he wants to remind the church 00:26:20.460 --> 00:26:21.259 of the Gospel 00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:22.560 and how we are to live 00:26:22.560 --> 00:26:24.019 in light of the Gospel. 00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:25.740 And so we actually looked 00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:26.660 at this last week. 00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:27.720 One of these things 00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:28.579 that John says, 00:26:28.639 --> 00:26:28.859 he says, 00:26:28.940 --> 00:26:29.900 I'm not writing you 00:26:29.900 --> 00:26:30.740 a new command. 00:26:31.660 --> 00:26:32.700 What I'm telling you, 00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:34.139 you would have already heard. 00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:37.319 In a text that we'll look at later 00:26:37.319 --> 00:26:37.980 in chapter 2, 00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:38.319 he says, 00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:39.299 I'm not writing you 00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:40.680 because you don't know the truth. 00:26:40.839 --> 00:26:41.599 I'm writing you 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:43.180 because you do know the truth. 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:45.980 And so he's reminding the church 00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:47.139 of what they ought to know. 00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:48.139 Something very simple, 00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:49.379 something very basic. 00:26:50.119 --> 00:26:51.660 A reminder to us as well 00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:53.180 to understand as he begins 00:26:53.180 --> 00:26:53.720 in this letter 00:26:53.720 --> 00:26:54.840 that God is light. 00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:57.320 And if we want to have fellowship 00:26:57.320 --> 00:26:57.720 with him, 00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:59.840 we need to walk in the light. 00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:01.600 We are to keep his commandments. 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:03.480 We're supposed to have this love 00:27:03.480 --> 00:27:04.160 for one another 00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:05.600 as James preached last week. 00:27:06.560 --> 00:27:07.820 And what we're going to see tonight, 00:27:07.900 --> 00:27:08.759 that we're not to have 00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:10.000 this love for the world. 00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:11.120 If we love God 00:27:11.120 --> 00:27:12.759 and God is light, 00:27:13.420 --> 00:27:14.820 then we should have no love 00:27:14.820 --> 00:27:17.200 for the darkness of this world. 00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:19.900 And so let's read our passage, 00:27:20.039 --> 00:27:21.100 1 John chapter 2, 00:27:21.099 --> 00:27:23.379 starting in verse 12 through 17. 00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:26.980 I am writing to you, dear children, 00:27:27.500 --> 00:27:29.299 because your sins have been forgiven 00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:30.559 on account of his name. 00:27:31.379 --> 00:27:32.759 I am writing to you, fathers, 00:27:33.500 --> 00:27:35.639 because you know him 00:27:35.639 --> 00:27:36.839 who is from the beginning. 00:27:37.919 --> 00:27:39.480 I am writing to you, young men, 00:27:40.079 --> 00:27:41.939 because you have overcome the evil one. 00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:44.719 I am writing to you, dear children, 00:27:44.819 --> 00:27:45.959 because you know the Father. 00:27:46.879 --> 00:27:48.059 I am writing to you, fathers, 00:27:48.059 --> 00:27:49.200 because you know him 00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:50.220 who is from the beginning. 00:27:51.099 --> 00:27:52.579 I am writing to you, young men, 00:27:52.639 --> 00:27:53.859 because you are strong 00:27:53.859 --> 00:27:56.279 and the word of God lives in you 00:27:56.279 --> 00:27:58.440 and you have overcome the evil one. 00:27:59.579 --> 00:28:00.639 Do not love the world 00:28:00.639 --> 00:28:01.919 or anything in the world. 00:28:02.659 --> 00:28:04.000 If anyone loves the world, 00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:06.500 love for the Father is not in him. 00:28:07.259 --> 00:28:08.579 For everything in the world, 00:28:08.679 --> 00:28:09.779 the lust of the flesh, 00:28:09.899 --> 00:28:10.919 the lust of the eyes, 00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:12.139 the pride of life, 00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:14.319 comes not from the Father, 00:28:14.419 --> 00:28:15.200 but from the world. 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:18.480 The world and its desires pass away, 00:28:19.120 --> 00:28:20.900 but whoever does the will of God 00:28:20.900 --> 00:28:21.980 lives forever. 00:28:22.860 --> 00:28:24.039 This is the word of God. 00:28:25.019 --> 00:28:26.000 Pray with me once more. 00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:30.900 God, as we hear your text 00:28:30.900 --> 00:28:32.840 and we listen to it preached, 00:28:32.940 --> 00:28:33.480 we ask, Lord, 00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:35.080 that the truth of the gospel 00:28:35.080 --> 00:28:36.340 may penetrate our hearts. 00:28:38.299 --> 00:28:39.500 So, God, we ask now, 00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:40.259 even in these moments, 00:28:40.319 --> 00:28:41.799 that we put away all distraction, 00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:43.600 that you do a work through your Spirit 00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:44.859 to soften our hearts, 00:28:44.939 --> 00:28:46.240 to open our eyes and ears 00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:47.419 to the reality of the gospel, 00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:50.379 that it may transform us 00:28:50.379 --> 00:28:52.799 for our good and your glory. 00:28:52.899 --> 00:28:54.579 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:28:54.619 --> 00:28:54.799 Amen. 00:28:57.019 --> 00:28:58.359 Now, I mentioned these reminders. 00:28:58.519 --> 00:29:00.019 Some of us find reminders helpful. 00:29:00.159 --> 00:29:02.079 Other of us may really hate reminders. 00:29:03.059 --> 00:29:04.339 Perhaps if you're a child 00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:06.379 living at home with your parents, 00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:08.019 you get reminders frequently 00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:09.699 for things like brushing your teeth 00:29:09.700 --> 00:29:10.880 or making your bed 00:29:10.880 --> 00:29:12.340 or putting your shoes on. 00:29:13.380 --> 00:29:14.660 My children are already smiling 00:29:14.660 --> 00:29:15.980 because they're used to these reminders. 00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:17.279 It's things that they know, 00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:18.700 but it's things that they need to hear. 00:29:18.779 --> 00:29:20.440 The thing they don't like to hear it 00:29:20.440 --> 00:29:22.340 is because, like most of us, 00:29:22.360 --> 00:29:23.319 we don't like being told 00:29:23.319 --> 00:29:24.519 what to do oftentimes. 00:29:25.779 --> 00:29:27.220 And so, as we look at this reminder 00:29:27.220 --> 00:29:28.920 from this letter tonight 00:29:28.920 --> 00:29:30.240 from John, 00:29:30.360 --> 00:29:31.299 he doesn't just come out 00:29:31.299 --> 00:29:32.900 and just tell us what to do. 00:29:33.840 --> 00:29:35.240 We're going to see that in this passage, 00:29:35.360 --> 00:29:36.360 but really his reminder 00:29:36.359 --> 00:29:37.359 is threefold 00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:38.479 because, first, 00:29:38.579 --> 00:29:40.019 he reminds us of our identity, 00:29:40.179 --> 00:29:41.399 who we are in Christ, 00:29:41.579 --> 00:29:43.279 what Christ has done for us. 00:29:44.419 --> 00:29:45.899 Secondly, then he reminds us 00:29:45.899 --> 00:29:47.619 what are we supposed to do 00:29:47.619 --> 00:29:49.000 in light of this reality, 00:29:49.299 --> 00:29:50.119 and thirdly, 00:29:50.279 --> 00:29:52.459 why we need to do it. 00:29:53.219 --> 00:29:53.859 And so that's really 00:29:53.859 --> 00:29:54.519 the three points 00:29:54.519 --> 00:29:56.019 that we're going to be focusing on tonight, 00:29:56.119 --> 00:29:57.459 who we are in Christ, 00:29:57.819 --> 00:29:58.919 what we are to do, 00:29:58.919 --> 00:30:00.979 and why we are to do it. 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:02.819 And so let's consider 00:30:02.819 --> 00:30:05.919 this first point, 00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:06.800 who we are. 00:30:07.880 --> 00:30:09.360 Now, my youngest, Crawford, 00:30:09.400 --> 00:30:10.300 just turned three, 00:30:11.300 --> 00:30:12.300 and he's getting to the age 00:30:12.300 --> 00:30:13.000 where we want him 00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:14.180 to be a little more independent. 00:30:14.320 --> 00:30:15.400 We want him to do 00:30:15.400 --> 00:30:17.019 more things for himself 00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:18.120 as he grows up. 00:30:18.580 --> 00:30:19.920 But it doesn't often work 00:30:19.920 --> 00:30:21.019 if we just tell him, 00:30:21.300 --> 00:30:22.320 Crawford, do this. 00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:24.420 The best way to get him 00:30:24.420 --> 00:30:25.000 to do things 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:26.259 is to encourage him 00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:27.980 that he's becoming a big boy. 00:30:28.560 --> 00:30:30.039 He wants to be big and strong 00:30:30.039 --> 00:30:30.660 like his brother, 00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:32.060 so we encourage him that way. 00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:33.779 You're getting so big now, 00:30:33.779 --> 00:30:35.299 you can take your plate 00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:37.119 to the dishwasher yourself. 00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:38.440 You're getting so big now, 00:30:38.500 --> 00:30:40.099 you can clean up after yourself 00:30:40.099 --> 00:30:41.079 and put away your toys. 00:30:41.119 --> 00:30:42.299 You're such a big boy now. 00:30:43.379 --> 00:30:44.579 That's much more useful 00:30:44.579 --> 00:30:46.339 in getting him to act 00:30:46.339 --> 00:30:47.399 like a big boy 00:30:47.399 --> 00:30:48.559 when we encourage him 00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:49.319 that he is one. 00:30:49.399 --> 00:30:51.019 And I think the same works for us. 00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:52.879 We are much more motivated 00:30:52.879 --> 00:30:54.079 when we are reminded 00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:54.899 what to do, 00:30:54.899 --> 00:30:56.799 not just by being told 00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:57.799 to do it, 00:30:58.500 --> 00:30:59.660 but by being reminded 00:30:59.660 --> 00:31:00.960 of our own identity. 00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:02.100 And that's what we see here 00:31:02.100 --> 00:31:02.680 in a pattern 00:31:02.680 --> 00:31:04.140 that actually repeats 00:31:04.140 --> 00:31:05.680 often throughout the Bible. 00:31:06.620 --> 00:31:07.759 When we have these commands 00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:08.740 that are given by God, 00:31:08.819 --> 00:31:10.360 it's usually preceded 00:31:10.360 --> 00:31:11.840 by a statement of some sort, 00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:13.340 reminding us of who we are. 00:31:13.640 --> 00:31:14.299 The indicative 00:31:14.299 --> 00:31:15.980 precedes the imperative. 00:31:16.819 --> 00:31:17.680 And it's both 00:31:17.680 --> 00:31:18.480 that are important. 00:31:19.059 --> 00:31:20.019 Both that are important 00:31:20.019 --> 00:31:21.019 in this passage. 00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:23.460 Because if we only stress 00:31:23.460 --> 00:31:24.940 what we're to do 00:31:24.940 --> 00:31:26.640 without remembering 00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:27.460 who we are, 00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:30.019 what does that do to us? 00:31:30.019 --> 00:31:31.500 We become reliant 00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:32.220 on the law 00:31:32.220 --> 00:31:33.319 as a means of our own 00:31:33.319 --> 00:31:34.259 assurance and approval. 00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:36.180 Instead, 00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:37.519 if we do the opposite, 00:31:37.700 --> 00:31:38.619 if we're only focused 00:31:38.619 --> 00:31:39.980 on what we're to do 00:31:39.980 --> 00:31:42.019 without who we actually are, 00:31:43.220 --> 00:31:44.359 did I say that right? 00:31:44.420 --> 00:31:45.139 Or did I do that in reverse? 00:31:46.139 --> 00:31:47.099 If we focus on 00:31:47.099 --> 00:31:47.700 what we're to do 00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:49.099 rather than who we are, 00:31:49.539 --> 00:31:49.980 we focus, 00:31:50.299 --> 00:31:52.099 we cling to the law, right? 00:31:52.700 --> 00:31:53.539 If it's the opposite, 00:31:53.700 --> 00:31:55.740 if we focus on who we are, 00:31:56.440 --> 00:31:57.299 am I getting this wrong? 00:31:57.500 --> 00:31:58.980 Am I sounding ridiculous here? 00:31:59.980 --> 00:32:00.900 If we stress only, 00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:02.299 if we have this concern 00:32:02.299 --> 00:32:05.660 for who we are, 00:32:06.259 --> 00:32:06.500 man, 00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:07.900 I'm really confusing myself here. 00:32:07.940 --> 00:32:08.259 I've never done that. 00:32:08.420 --> 00:32:09.819 If we stress what we're to do 00:32:09.819 --> 00:32:10.500 without remembering 00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:11.079 who we are, 00:32:11.140 --> 00:32:12.279 that leads us to rely 00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:13.400 on the law, right? 00:32:13.539 --> 00:32:15.259 If we stress who we are 00:32:15.259 --> 00:32:16.500 without concern 00:32:16.500 --> 00:32:17.680 for what we are to do, 00:32:17.799 --> 00:32:19.380 that leads to a rejection 00:32:19.380 --> 00:32:20.480 of the law. 00:32:20.539 --> 00:32:21.000 There we go. 00:32:22.019 --> 00:32:22.680 And so what John 00:32:22.680 --> 00:32:23.500 is saying here, 00:32:23.599 --> 00:32:25.099 that both are really important. 00:32:25.660 --> 00:32:26.960 And so he starts this phrase 00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:27.440 by saying, 00:32:27.799 --> 00:32:28.620 I'm writing to you, 00:32:28.680 --> 00:32:29.440 I'm writing to you, 00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:30.120 I'm writing to you 00:32:30.120 --> 00:32:30.900 over and over again, 00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:32.960 really in a poetic fashion 00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:35.120 to really emphasize 00:32:35.120 --> 00:32:36.140 the assurance 00:32:36.140 --> 00:32:37.740 that he wants believers 00:32:37.740 --> 00:32:38.579 to have 00:32:38.579 --> 00:32:40.579 about what we're to do 00:32:40.579 --> 00:32:42.840 based on the fact 00:32:42.840 --> 00:32:43.380 of what Christ 00:32:43.380 --> 00:32:44.299 has done for us. 00:32:45.360 --> 00:32:46.160 And so he focuses 00:32:46.160 --> 00:32:47.140 on these three groups, 00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:47.720 on children, 00:32:47.860 --> 00:32:48.460 on fathers, 00:32:48.819 --> 00:32:49.880 on young men. 00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:52.000 But really, 00:32:52.160 --> 00:32:53.299 when we think about it, 00:32:53.319 --> 00:32:53.720 I don't know 00:32:53.720 --> 00:32:54.140 if it's really 00:32:54.140 --> 00:32:54.780 that helpful 00:32:54.780 --> 00:32:55.800 to kind of distinguish 00:32:55.800 --> 00:32:56.759 these three groups. 00:32:56.860 --> 00:32:57.420 Some people say, 00:32:57.500 --> 00:32:58.500 well, it's kind of 00:32:58.500 --> 00:32:59.840 he's talking to different stages 00:32:59.840 --> 00:33:01.380 of spiritual maturity. 00:33:01.520 --> 00:33:01.860 I don't know 00:33:01.860 --> 00:33:03.460 if that's really the case here. 00:33:03.940 --> 00:33:04.700 Because when he talks 00:33:04.700 --> 00:33:05.600 about little children, 00:33:06.020 --> 00:33:06.920 this isn't the only time 00:33:06.920 --> 00:33:07.620 he says in this letter, 00:33:07.740 --> 00:33:08.780 seven times he talks 00:33:08.780 --> 00:33:09.500 about little children. 00:33:09.600 --> 00:33:10.240 Each time, 00:33:10.540 --> 00:33:11.880 he's referring to believers 00:33:11.880 --> 00:33:12.640 in general. 00:33:13.880 --> 00:33:14.540 When he speaks 00:33:14.540 --> 00:33:15.300 to young men 00:33:15.300 --> 00:33:16.020 and to fathers, 00:33:16.220 --> 00:33:17.140 what's true of one 00:33:17.140 --> 00:33:19.200 is true of the other group 00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:19.560 as well. 00:33:19.620 --> 00:33:20.220 These are not 00:33:20.220 --> 00:33:21.140 mutually exclusive 00:33:21.680 --> 00:33:22.640 reminders here. 00:33:24.140 --> 00:33:25.520 And so it's kind of like 00:33:25.520 --> 00:33:25.960 if you've heard 00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:26.740 like an announcement, 00:33:26.940 --> 00:33:27.240 if you've been 00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:28.860 at a big event 00:33:28.860 --> 00:33:29.900 or a performance 00:33:29.900 --> 00:33:30.780 of some sort, 00:33:31.400 --> 00:33:32.020 and someone gets 00:33:32.020 --> 00:33:33.140 on the loudspeakers 00:33:33.140 --> 00:33:33.520 and says, 00:33:33.620 --> 00:33:34.380 ladies and gentlemen, 00:33:34.520 --> 00:33:35.120 boys and girls, 00:33:35.300 --> 00:33:36.400 children of all ages. 00:33:37.420 --> 00:33:37.620 Right? 00:33:37.640 --> 00:33:38.500 They could have just said 00:33:38.500 --> 00:33:40.060 everybody who's here. 00:33:40.680 --> 00:33:41.080 Right? 00:33:41.100 --> 00:33:41.660 But they're adding 00:33:41.660 --> 00:33:42.780 a bit of flourish 00:33:42.780 --> 00:33:43.700 to what they're saying. 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:45.200 I think John is doing 00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:46.460 a very similar thing here. 00:33:46.560 --> 00:33:48.200 In this poetic flourish, 00:33:48.880 --> 00:33:49.920 he's addressing 00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:51.480 everyone in the church. 00:33:51.980 --> 00:33:53.240 Young and old, 00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:54.240 mature Christians, 00:33:54.400 --> 00:33:55.079 those who are new 00:33:55.079 --> 00:33:55.799 to the faith, 00:33:56.220 --> 00:33:57.640 and he's reminding them 00:33:57.640 --> 00:33:58.200 of this. 00:33:59.539 --> 00:34:01.559 Your sins are forgiven. 00:34:03.200 --> 00:34:04.339 You know him 00:34:04.339 --> 00:34:05.539 who is from the beginning. 00:34:06.519 --> 00:34:07.779 You have overcome 00:34:07.779 --> 00:34:09.239 the evil one. 00:34:10.519 --> 00:34:11.739 You know the Father. 00:34:13.539 --> 00:34:14.760 Again, you know him 00:34:14.760 --> 00:34:15.719 who is from the beginning. 00:34:15.860 --> 00:34:16.239 You are strong. 00:34:17.079 --> 00:34:17.760 The word of God 00:34:17.760 --> 00:34:18.519 is in you. 00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:19.719 And I'm going to say it again. 00:34:19.840 --> 00:34:20.659 You have overcome 00:34:20.659 --> 00:34:21.920 the evil one. 00:34:23.679 --> 00:34:24.579 Is this not a good 00:34:24.579 --> 00:34:25.359 reminder to hear? 00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:28.099 We can read this 00:34:28.099 --> 00:34:28.719 and think that 00:34:28.719 --> 00:34:29.879 John is just talking 00:34:29.879 --> 00:34:31.239 to this New Testament church 00:34:31.239 --> 00:34:32.159 without really taking it 00:34:32.159 --> 00:34:33.319 to heart ourselves. 00:34:34.619 --> 00:34:35.679 But this is true 00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:36.679 for you and me 00:34:36.679 --> 00:34:37.559 if we are believers. 00:34:39.319 --> 00:34:40.339 And so it's good 00:34:40.339 --> 00:34:41.159 for that reminder 00:34:41.159 --> 00:34:42.119 to sink in. 00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:44.039 If we're here tonight 00:34:44.039 --> 00:34:44.960 and we feel heavy 00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:45.920 and burdened 00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:47.879 by sin in our lives, 00:34:47.880 --> 00:34:49.300 know this, 00:34:49.380 --> 00:34:50.099 that your sin 00:34:50.099 --> 00:34:50.860 is forgiven. 00:34:52.860 --> 00:34:53.700 If you feel 00:34:53.700 --> 00:34:55.260 spiritually alone 00:34:55.260 --> 00:34:56.140 and isolated, 00:34:57.700 --> 00:34:58.280 be encouraged 00:34:58.280 --> 00:34:59.280 that you know 00:34:59.280 --> 00:35:00.220 the Father 00:35:00.220 --> 00:35:00.920 and his word 00:35:00.920 --> 00:35:01.500 is in you. 00:35:03.140 --> 00:35:04.160 If you are spiritually 00:35:04.160 --> 00:35:04.579 weak 00:35:04.579 --> 00:35:06.039 and tired 00:35:06.039 --> 00:35:07.200 and broken, 00:35:07.200 --> 00:35:09.119 know that you are 00:35:09.119 --> 00:35:10.760 strong in Christ. 00:35:11.860 --> 00:35:13.360 That you have overcome 00:35:13.360 --> 00:35:14.420 the evil one. 00:35:16.019 --> 00:35:16.519 And so John 00:35:16.519 --> 00:35:17.820 is not saying this 00:35:17.820 --> 00:35:19.599 to motivate the church 00:35:19.599 --> 00:35:20.559 to earn this 00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:21.079 in any way, 00:35:21.159 --> 00:35:22.059 to prove themselves 00:35:22.059 --> 00:35:23.340 so that this may be true. 00:35:23.960 --> 00:35:24.920 He's not hoping 00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:26.019 that this may become 00:35:26.019 --> 00:35:26.880 true for the church. 00:35:28.280 --> 00:35:29.139 He's speaking 00:35:29.139 --> 00:35:30.179 as though this 00:35:30.179 --> 00:35:32.519 is a current reality 00:35:32.519 --> 00:35:33.639 for those who are 00:35:33.639 --> 00:35:34.619 in Christ. 00:35:36.019 --> 00:35:37.659 And so we can take heart 00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:39.519 and let this be 00:35:39.519 --> 00:35:40.179 our comfort 00:35:40.179 --> 00:35:41.219 and our assurance 00:35:41.219 --> 00:35:42.860 knowing what Christ 00:35:42.860 --> 00:35:44.139 has already done 00:35:44.139 --> 00:35:44.679 for us. 00:35:44.679 --> 00:35:47.419 And it's because 00:35:47.419 --> 00:35:48.099 we know 00:35:48.099 --> 00:35:49.319 that sense of identity 00:35:49.319 --> 00:35:50.399 that we can then 00:35:50.399 --> 00:35:51.379 listen to this 00:35:51.379 --> 00:35:52.000 second point, 00:35:52.099 --> 00:35:53.019 this second reminder 00:35:53.019 --> 00:35:53.819 because 00:35:53.819 --> 00:35:56.179 when we know 00:35:56.179 --> 00:35:56.940 who we are, 00:35:57.379 --> 00:35:57.879 it makes us 00:35:57.879 --> 00:35:58.719 much more receptive 00:35:58.719 --> 00:35:59.899 to listen 00:35:59.899 --> 00:36:00.819 to what we are to do. 00:36:01.679 --> 00:36:02.219 Verse 15, 00:36:02.299 --> 00:36:03.179 do not love the world 00:36:03.179 --> 00:36:03.779 or the things 00:36:03.779 --> 00:36:04.319 in the world. 00:36:04.399 --> 00:36:05.079 If anyone loves 00:36:05.079 --> 00:36:05.559 the world, 00:36:05.960 --> 00:36:07.199 the love for the Father 00:36:07.199 --> 00:36:08.500 is not in them. 00:36:09.799 --> 00:36:10.519 Now immediately 00:36:10.519 --> 00:36:11.539 this may raise 00:36:11.539 --> 00:36:12.279 some red flags 00:36:12.279 --> 00:36:12.799 for some. 00:36:12.800 --> 00:36:13.860 those outside 00:36:13.860 --> 00:36:14.300 the church 00:36:14.300 --> 00:36:15.260 may try to use 00:36:15.260 --> 00:36:16.080 this verse 00:36:16.080 --> 00:36:17.039 in a weaponized 00:36:17.039 --> 00:36:17.560 fashion 00:36:17.560 --> 00:36:18.340 to think, 00:36:18.460 --> 00:36:18.560 look, 00:36:18.620 --> 00:36:19.360 these Christians 00:36:19.360 --> 00:36:20.200 they're just 00:36:20.200 --> 00:36:20.680 a bunch of 00:36:20.680 --> 00:36:21.720 self-righteous 00:36:21.720 --> 00:36:22.820 judgmental people 00:36:22.820 --> 00:36:23.900 who hate everyone 00:36:23.900 --> 00:36:24.720 who's not like them. 00:36:26.360 --> 00:36:27.240 Certainly this isn't 00:36:27.240 --> 00:36:28.080 what John is saying 00:36:28.080 --> 00:36:28.420 here. 00:36:29.060 --> 00:36:30.140 But even for Christians 00:36:30.140 --> 00:36:31.120 this may confuse us 00:36:31.120 --> 00:36:31.760 because we've heard 00:36:31.760 --> 00:36:32.380 other verses 00:36:32.380 --> 00:36:32.980 in the Bible, 00:36:33.120 --> 00:36:33.240 right? 00:36:33.320 --> 00:36:34.100 John 3, 16, 00:36:34.180 --> 00:36:35.400 for God so loved 00:36:35.400 --> 00:36:35.780 the world 00:36:35.780 --> 00:36:36.380 that he gave 00:36:36.380 --> 00:36:37.180 his only son. 00:36:38.500 --> 00:36:39.080 So if God 00:36:39.080 --> 00:36:39.660 loves the world 00:36:39.660 --> 00:36:40.620 why would he command 00:36:40.619 --> 00:36:41.880 us to not love 00:36:41.880 --> 00:36:42.199 the world? 00:36:42.319 --> 00:36:43.500 How can we reconcile 00:36:43.500 --> 00:36:44.539 these two things? 00:36:46.239 --> 00:36:47.019 I think it's important 00:36:47.019 --> 00:36:47.779 that we define 00:36:47.779 --> 00:36:48.579 some terms here 00:36:48.579 --> 00:36:49.339 that we understand 00:36:49.339 --> 00:36:50.279 what John is trying 00:36:50.279 --> 00:36:50.699 to say. 00:36:50.900 --> 00:36:51.599 We need to understand 00:36:51.599 --> 00:36:52.199 what he's talking 00:36:52.199 --> 00:36:52.799 about when he says 00:36:52.799 --> 00:36:54.119 world and understand 00:36:54.119 --> 00:36:54.639 what he's talking 00:36:54.639 --> 00:36:55.259 about when he says 00:36:55.259 --> 00:36:55.679 love. 00:36:57.639 --> 00:36:58.400 My dad always 00:36:58.400 --> 00:36:59.079 tells a story 00:36:59.079 --> 00:36:59.460 when he, 00:37:00.299 --> 00:37:00.859 years ago 00:37:00.859 --> 00:37:01.259 when he was 00:37:01.259 --> 00:37:02.019 starting the practice 00:37:02.019 --> 00:37:02.420 of law, 00:37:02.500 --> 00:37:03.480 one of his law 00:37:03.480 --> 00:37:04.739 partners was doing 00:37:04.739 --> 00:37:05.440 some wills 00:37:05.440 --> 00:37:06.119 for this couple 00:37:06.119 --> 00:37:08.099 and he had completed 00:37:08.099 --> 00:37:08.799 the wills 00:37:08.799 --> 00:37:09.679 and he had a secretary 00:37:09.679 --> 00:37:10.239 wanted to bring 00:37:10.239 --> 00:37:10.839 them back in 00:37:10.839 --> 00:37:11.599 so his secretary 00:37:11.599 --> 00:37:12.859 had this thick 00:37:12.859 --> 00:37:13.719 southern accent 00:37:13.719 --> 00:37:14.719 called this couple 00:37:14.719 --> 00:37:15.919 and said your wheels 00:37:15.919 --> 00:37:16.339 are done 00:37:16.339 --> 00:37:18.739 and they had actually 00:37:18.739 --> 00:37:20.000 just taken their car 00:37:20.000 --> 00:37:20.819 to the body shop 00:37:20.819 --> 00:37:21.799 to get new tires 00:37:21.799 --> 00:37:22.519 on their car 00:37:22.519 --> 00:37:23.519 and so when they 00:37:23.519 --> 00:37:24.359 heard that message 00:37:24.359 --> 00:37:25.259 your wheels are done 00:37:25.259 --> 00:37:26.879 they thought they said 00:37:26.879 --> 00:37:28.579 your wheels are done 00:37:28.579 --> 00:37:29.519 and so they went 00:37:29.519 --> 00:37:30.460 to the auto body shop 00:37:30.460 --> 00:37:31.339 to pick up their car 00:37:31.339 --> 00:37:32.299 even though they got 00:37:32.299 --> 00:37:32.960 there and realized 00:37:32.960 --> 00:37:34.259 no one had called 00:37:34.259 --> 00:37:35.119 and their wheels 00:37:35.119 --> 00:37:35.960 were not done 00:37:35.960 --> 00:37:37.679 before they realized 00:37:37.679 --> 00:37:38.399 their mistake 00:37:38.399 --> 00:37:39.019 that there was 00:37:39.019 --> 00:37:39.880 the secretary 00:37:39.880 --> 00:37:41.139 saying your wills 00:37:41.139 --> 00:37:41.759 are done 00:37:41.759 --> 00:37:43.239 not your wheels 00:37:43.239 --> 00:37:44.380 are done 00:37:44.380 --> 00:37:45.960 and so in the same way 00:37:45.960 --> 00:37:46.820 I think it's 00:37:46.820 --> 00:37:47.840 very important 00:37:47.840 --> 00:37:48.880 that we understand 00:37:48.880 --> 00:37:50.059 what's being communicated 00:37:50.059 --> 00:37:50.739 here when we think 00:37:50.739 --> 00:37:51.759 about this word world 00:37:51.759 --> 00:37:52.659 and we think about 00:37:52.659 --> 00:37:53.619 this word love 00:37:53.619 --> 00:37:55.619 when the Bible 00:37:55.619 --> 00:37:56.659 speaks of this word 00:37:56.659 --> 00:37:57.420 world 00:37:57.420 --> 00:37:58.280 it speaks of it 00:37:58.280 --> 00:37:59.259 in two different ways 00:37:59.259 --> 00:38:00.139 in different passages 00:38:00.139 --> 00:38:01.719 on the one hand 00:38:01.719 --> 00:38:03.000 this word world 00:38:03.000 --> 00:38:03.559 it can mean 00:38:03.559 --> 00:38:04.579 this physical 00:38:04.579 --> 00:38:06.119 material world 00:38:06.119 --> 00:38:07.800 and so we have 00:38:07.800 --> 00:38:08.539 some religions 00:38:08.539 --> 00:38:09.280 maybe even some 00:38:09.280 --> 00:38:10.380 within Christianity 00:38:10.380 --> 00:38:11.200 who want to think 00:38:11.200 --> 00:38:12.560 that the physical world 00:38:12.560 --> 00:38:13.220 is bad 00:38:13.220 --> 00:38:14.820 they hold it in contrast 00:38:14.820 --> 00:38:16.060 to the spiritual world 00:38:16.060 --> 00:38:17.280 and so they want 00:38:17.280 --> 00:38:18.000 nothing to do 00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:19.060 with the physical world 00:38:19.060 --> 00:38:20.060 you might have heard 00:38:20.060 --> 00:38:21.260 of asceticism before 00:38:21.260 --> 00:38:22.000 it's these people 00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:23.080 that deny themselves 00:38:23.080 --> 00:38:24.180 any worldly pleasure 00:38:24.180 --> 00:38:26.320 they want to leave society 00:38:26.320 --> 00:38:27.080 be separated 00:38:27.080 --> 00:38:28.160 from secular world 00:38:28.160 --> 00:38:29.720 go live in a commune 00:38:29.720 --> 00:38:30.720 in the desert somewhere 00:38:30.720 --> 00:38:33.120 that's not what Paul 00:38:33.120 --> 00:38:34.220 is saying here 00:38:34.220 --> 00:38:35.120 in fact that's a harmful 00:38:35.119 --> 00:38:36.119 way of thinking 00:38:36.119 --> 00:38:37.019 about the physical world 00:38:37.019 --> 00:38:37.859 because we recognize 00:38:37.859 --> 00:38:39.259 that God created 00:38:39.259 --> 00:38:40.079 the physical world 00:38:40.079 --> 00:38:41.059 and he called it good 00:38:41.059 --> 00:38:43.039 and he promises 00:38:43.039 --> 00:38:44.279 to come again 00:38:44.279 --> 00:38:44.880 he has promised 00:38:44.880 --> 00:38:46.639 to redeem the world 00:38:46.639 --> 00:38:48.339 this physical world 00:38:48.339 --> 00:38:49.859 from the effects 00:38:49.859 --> 00:38:50.480 of sin 00:38:50.480 --> 00:38:52.679 and so this verse 00:38:52.679 --> 00:38:53.339 it's not saying 00:38:53.339 --> 00:38:54.739 reject the physical world 00:38:54.739 --> 00:38:56.239 reject this created world 00:38:56.239 --> 00:38:57.900 as if it's totally evil 00:38:57.900 --> 00:39:00.000 instead John is speaking 00:39:00.000 --> 00:39:00.819 in a different way 00:39:00.819 --> 00:39:02.079 in this context 00:39:02.079 --> 00:39:03.099 he speaks of the world 00:39:03.099 --> 00:39:04.960 as this whole way of life 00:39:04.960 --> 00:39:06.599 resulting from the fall 00:39:06.599 --> 00:39:07.219 of humanity 00:39:07.219 --> 00:39:09.179 he's speaking of 00:39:09.179 --> 00:39:10.599 a whole value system 00:39:10.599 --> 00:39:12.199 of attitudes 00:39:12.199 --> 00:39:14.239 which are opposed to God 00:39:14.239 --> 00:39:17.139 and so that's what 00:39:17.139 --> 00:39:18.119 we mean by world 00:39:18.119 --> 00:39:18.679 what does he mean 00:39:18.679 --> 00:39:20.259 by this phrase love 00:39:20.259 --> 00:39:22.239 when John is using love here 00:39:22.239 --> 00:39:22.980 he's not using 00:39:22.980 --> 00:39:24.480 the same word 00:39:24.480 --> 00:39:25.380 or the expression 00:39:25.380 --> 00:39:26.279 as when we say 00:39:26.279 --> 00:39:27.960 that God loved the world 00:39:27.960 --> 00:39:29.299 or God loved his creation 00:39:29.299 --> 00:39:30.599 with a love in which 00:39:30.599 --> 00:39:32.179 he's going to rescue humanity 00:39:32.179 --> 00:39:34.679 here when John talks 00:39:34.679 --> 00:39:35.980 about this love 00:39:35.980 --> 00:39:36.739 he's talking about 00:39:36.739 --> 00:39:38.259 more of an attraction 00:39:38.259 --> 00:39:40.239 that we have 00:39:40.239 --> 00:39:40.839 to something 00:39:40.839 --> 00:39:42.440 that we want to enjoy 00:39:42.440 --> 00:39:43.460 apart from God 00:39:43.460 --> 00:39:45.899 and so when we combine 00:39:45.899 --> 00:39:46.559 these understanding 00:39:46.559 --> 00:39:47.699 of world and love 00:39:47.699 --> 00:39:49.179 what we see in John 3.16 00:39:49.179 --> 00:39:50.339 is actually very different 00:39:50.339 --> 00:39:51.079 from what we see 00:39:51.079 --> 00:39:52.480 in 1 John 2 00:39:52.480 --> 00:39:54.419 so we're not confused 00:39:54.419 --> 00:39:55.259 John 3.16 00:39:55.259 --> 00:39:56.719 John is talking about 00:39:56.719 --> 00:39:58.779 God's divine love 00:39:58.779 --> 00:40:00.779 divine selfless love 00:40:00.780 --> 00:40:01.440 of redemption 00:40:01.440 --> 00:40:02.500 for his creation 00:40:02.500 --> 00:40:05.440 in their passage tonight 00:40:05.440 --> 00:40:06.360 John is talking about 00:40:06.360 --> 00:40:08.480 this humanly selfish love 00:40:08.480 --> 00:40:09.980 of participation 00:40:09.980 --> 00:40:12.320 in the evil things 00:40:12.320 --> 00:40:13.340 of this fallen world 00:40:13.340 --> 00:40:15.700 and so he goes on 00:40:15.700 --> 00:40:16.840 to give us a definition 00:40:16.840 --> 00:40:17.760 of this world 00:40:17.760 --> 00:40:19.000 really this worldliness 00:40:19.000 --> 00:40:21.280 that is all around us 00:40:21.280 --> 00:40:22.460 he says in verse 16 00:40:22.460 --> 00:40:23.960 for everything in the world 00:40:23.960 --> 00:40:25.180 the lust of the flesh 00:40:25.180 --> 00:40:26.240 the lust of the eyes 00:40:26.240 --> 00:40:27.380 the pride of life 00:40:27.380 --> 00:40:29.420 comes not from the father 00:40:29.420 --> 00:40:30.240 but from the world 00:40:30.240 --> 00:40:32.619 and so what does 00:40:32.619 --> 00:40:33.800 this description mean 00:40:33.800 --> 00:40:35.059 when we hear this word lust 00:40:35.059 --> 00:40:36.099 I think in modern times 00:40:36.099 --> 00:40:36.800 we often just 00:40:36.800 --> 00:40:38.200 automatically relate it 00:40:38.200 --> 00:40:39.760 to the sexual desires 00:40:39.760 --> 00:40:40.700 that humans have 00:40:40.700 --> 00:40:42.840 but I think actually 00:40:42.840 --> 00:40:43.880 when we look at this word 00:40:43.880 --> 00:40:44.360 in the Greek 00:40:44.360 --> 00:40:45.119 it has a much more 00:40:45.119 --> 00:40:46.200 broad sense 00:40:46.200 --> 00:40:47.840 of this intense 00:40:47.840 --> 00:40:49.139 passionate longing 00:40:49.139 --> 00:40:50.280 for anything 00:40:50.280 --> 00:40:52.300 and most times 00:40:52.300 --> 00:40:53.039 when it's talked about 00:40:53.039 --> 00:40:53.519 in the Bible 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:55.139 it's in a negative connotation 00:40:55.139 --> 00:40:55.900 so here it's this 00:40:55.900 --> 00:40:57.259 it's this passionate 00:40:57.259 --> 00:40:58.339 intense longing 00:40:58.339 --> 00:40:59.659 for the flesh 00:40:59.659 --> 00:41:02.639 in John 6 00:41:02.639 --> 00:41:04.359 Jesus is talking 00:41:04.359 --> 00:41:05.579 to some Jewish leaders 00:41:05.579 --> 00:41:06.139 and he's talking 00:41:06.139 --> 00:41:06.759 about how they are 00:41:06.759 --> 00:41:07.539 to have life 00:41:07.539 --> 00:41:08.420 and saying 00:41:08.420 --> 00:41:09.199 you have to eat 00:41:09.199 --> 00:41:10.119 my flesh 00:41:10.119 --> 00:41:11.319 and drink my blood 00:41:11.319 --> 00:41:14.039 obviously we recognize 00:41:14.039 --> 00:41:15.659 that he's foreshadowing 00:41:15.659 --> 00:41:17.179 his own crucifixion here 00:41:17.179 --> 00:41:18.699 but these religious leaders 00:41:18.699 --> 00:41:19.799 even his own disciples 00:41:19.799 --> 00:41:20.539 were confused 00:41:20.539 --> 00:41:21.440 and really grossed out 00:41:21.440 --> 00:41:22.219 by what he was saying 00:41:22.219 --> 00:41:23.039 it was hard for them 00:41:23.039 --> 00:41:23.820 to understand 00:41:23.820 --> 00:41:25.820 and so he goes 00:41:25.820 --> 00:41:26.519 to his disciples 00:41:26.519 --> 00:41:26.920 and says 00:41:26.920 --> 00:41:27.940 does this offend you? 00:41:28.759 --> 00:41:29.639 it is the spirit 00:41:29.639 --> 00:41:30.599 who gives life 00:41:30.599 --> 00:41:31.539 and the flesh 00:41:31.539 --> 00:41:33.199 is no help at all 00:41:33.199 --> 00:41:35.579 it is only through 00:41:35.579 --> 00:41:36.159 the spirit 00:41:36.159 --> 00:41:37.099 that we can accept 00:41:37.099 --> 00:41:38.279 Christ as Savior 00:41:38.279 --> 00:41:38.940 the flesh 00:41:38.940 --> 00:41:40.579 only wants to reject him 00:41:40.579 --> 00:41:42.779 and so this desire 00:41:42.779 --> 00:41:43.400 of the flesh 00:41:43.400 --> 00:41:44.820 this lust of the flesh 00:41:44.820 --> 00:41:46.079 is this longing 00:41:46.079 --> 00:41:46.980 for anything 00:41:46.980 --> 00:41:48.420 contrary to God 00:41:48.420 --> 00:41:50.900 likewise 00:41:50.900 --> 00:41:51.619 in this lust 00:41:51.619 --> 00:41:52.199 of the eyes 00:41:52.199 --> 00:41:52.940 it's not simply 00:41:52.940 --> 00:41:53.579 talking again 00:41:53.579 --> 00:41:54.559 about sexual desire 00:41:54.559 --> 00:41:55.159 though that's 00:41:55.159 --> 00:41:56.220 included in this 00:41:56.220 --> 00:41:56.880 but it's referring 00:41:56.880 --> 00:41:57.360 to this 00:41:57.360 --> 00:41:59.179 short-sighted desire 00:41:59.179 --> 00:42:00.539 for what's 00:42:00.539 --> 00:42:01.519 in front of us 00:42:01.519 --> 00:42:03.340 and so maybe 00:42:03.340 --> 00:42:03.840 some of us 00:42:03.840 --> 00:42:04.780 have been a victim 00:42:04.780 --> 00:42:06.220 of false advertising 00:42:06.220 --> 00:42:06.940 in some way 00:42:06.940 --> 00:42:07.679 we see something 00:42:07.679 --> 00:42:08.840 on our phones 00:42:08.840 --> 00:42:09.559 or on the computer 00:42:09.559 --> 00:42:10.480 or on the television 00:42:10.480 --> 00:42:12.039 something that we want 00:42:12.039 --> 00:42:13.079 that looks really attractive 00:42:13.079 --> 00:42:14.159 maybe something to eat 00:42:14.159 --> 00:42:14.960 or something to buy 00:42:14.960 --> 00:42:15.760 and we get it 00:42:15.760 --> 00:42:16.659 and we realize 00:42:16.659 --> 00:42:18.700 that's not nearly as good 00:42:18.700 --> 00:42:19.260 as I thought 00:42:19.260 --> 00:42:19.940 it was going to be 00:42:19.940 --> 00:42:22.280 it's what we see here 00:42:22.280 --> 00:42:23.280 the lust of the eyes 00:42:23.280 --> 00:42:23.880 is when we are 00:42:23.880 --> 00:42:24.860 captivated 00:42:24.860 --> 00:42:26.060 by this 00:42:26.060 --> 00:42:27.280 outward appearance 00:42:27.280 --> 00:42:27.760 of something 00:42:27.760 --> 00:42:28.820 without really assessing 00:42:28.820 --> 00:42:30.640 its real true value 00:42:30.640 --> 00:42:31.900 especially in light 00:42:31.900 --> 00:42:32.420 of eternity 00:42:32.420 --> 00:42:35.680 and so things like 00:42:35.680 --> 00:42:36.400 this misplaced 00:42:36.400 --> 00:42:37.140 sexual desire 00:42:37.140 --> 00:42:37.880 this lust for 00:42:37.880 --> 00:42:38.740 possessions 00:42:38.740 --> 00:42:40.460 and comforts 00:42:40.460 --> 00:42:40.980 in this world 00:42:40.980 --> 00:42:41.900 that won't actually 00:42:41.900 --> 00:42:42.920 provide any sort 00:42:42.920 --> 00:42:44.100 of lasting satisfaction 00:42:44.099 --> 00:42:46.940 lastly here 00:42:46.940 --> 00:42:48.139 this pride of life 00:42:48.139 --> 00:42:49.259 it's this confidence 00:42:49.259 --> 00:42:49.900 that we have 00:42:49.900 --> 00:42:50.920 in our own resources 00:42:50.920 --> 00:42:52.400 in our own wealth 00:42:52.400 --> 00:42:53.519 in our own intellect 00:42:53.519 --> 00:42:54.599 in our own success 00:42:54.599 --> 00:42:56.460 things that set us up 00:42:56.460 --> 00:42:57.199 so that we can be 00:42:57.199 --> 00:42:57.920 self-reliant 00:42:57.920 --> 00:42:59.119 and self-sufficient 00:42:59.119 --> 00:43:00.500 forgetting our need 00:43:00.500 --> 00:43:01.119 to depend 00:43:01.119 --> 00:43:02.759 and rely on God 00:43:02.759 --> 00:43:05.460 and so when we combine 00:43:05.460 --> 00:43:06.819 these descriptions together 00:43:06.819 --> 00:43:07.440 to get a better 00:43:07.440 --> 00:43:07.779 understanding 00:43:07.779 --> 00:43:09.039 of what this worldliness 00:43:09.039 --> 00:43:09.799 looks like 00:43:09.799 --> 00:43:11.480 it's really this 00:43:11.480 --> 00:43:13.299 desire for earthly things 00:43:13.300 --> 00:43:14.560 that we don't have 00:43:14.560 --> 00:43:16.620 and a pride 00:43:16.620 --> 00:43:17.620 in earthly things 00:43:17.620 --> 00:43:18.460 that we do have 00:43:18.460 --> 00:43:21.280 and in either case 00:43:21.280 --> 00:43:23.260 this pushes us 00:43:23.260 --> 00:43:24.500 further and further away 00:43:24.500 --> 00:43:26.100 from our Heavenly Father 00:43:26.100 --> 00:43:28.220 and so we need to ask 00:43:28.220 --> 00:43:29.580 does this describe us 00:43:29.580 --> 00:43:30.960 do we have these cravings 00:43:30.960 --> 00:43:31.539 for the world 00:43:31.539 --> 00:43:31.900 do these 00:43:31.900 --> 00:43:33.100 how do these tendencies 00:43:33.100 --> 00:43:34.400 reveal themselves 00:43:34.400 --> 00:43:35.360 in the Christian life 00:43:35.360 --> 00:43:35.980 I think there's really 00:43:35.980 --> 00:43:36.680 two different ways 00:43:36.680 --> 00:43:38.019 of thinking about it 00:43:38.019 --> 00:43:39.920 in one way 00:43:39.920 --> 00:43:40.880 we may view Christianity 00:43:40.880 --> 00:43:42.420 as more of an accessory 00:43:42.420 --> 00:43:44.740 because we focus 00:43:44.740 --> 00:43:45.860 so much of our time 00:43:45.860 --> 00:43:46.659 and our energy 00:43:46.659 --> 00:43:47.780 on our work 00:43:47.780 --> 00:43:48.900 on our school 00:43:48.900 --> 00:43:50.039 on our family 00:43:50.039 --> 00:43:51.639 we're seeking wealth 00:43:51.639 --> 00:43:52.720 and health 00:43:52.720 --> 00:43:53.700 and comfort 00:43:53.700 --> 00:43:54.880 and prosperity 00:43:54.880 --> 00:43:57.680 and we want Christianity too 00:43:57.680 --> 00:43:59.760 but it kind of just serves 00:43:59.760 --> 00:44:01.320 as the cherry on top 00:44:01.320 --> 00:44:02.059 so to speak 00:44:02.059 --> 00:44:03.559 to our otherwise 00:44:03.559 --> 00:44:05.320 carefully curated lives 00:44:05.320 --> 00:44:07.559 I'll come to church 00:44:07.559 --> 00:44:08.139 on Sunday 00:44:08.139 --> 00:44:09.740 I'll volunteer 00:44:09.740 --> 00:44:10.559 when I can 00:44:10.559 --> 00:44:11.099 but you know what 00:44:11.099 --> 00:44:11.900 the rest of the week 00:44:11.900 --> 00:44:13.019 is really about me 00:44:13.019 --> 00:44:14.759 achieving my goals 00:44:14.759 --> 00:44:15.799 for my life 00:44:15.799 --> 00:44:18.619 the other way 00:44:18.619 --> 00:44:19.119 of looking at it 00:44:19.119 --> 00:44:19.579 maybe you think 00:44:19.579 --> 00:44:20.400 well it's maybe 00:44:20.400 --> 00:44:21.440 think of yourself 00:44:21.440 --> 00:44:22.839 in a slightly better light 00:44:22.839 --> 00:44:24.219 you would say 00:44:24.219 --> 00:44:24.960 that your relationship 00:44:24.960 --> 00:44:25.480 with God 00:44:25.480 --> 00:44:26.079 is foundational 00:44:26.079 --> 00:44:27.119 you want your faith 00:44:27.119 --> 00:44:27.980 to shape your life 00:44:27.980 --> 00:44:28.659 and your priorities 00:44:28.659 --> 00:44:30.779 but if we're really 00:44:30.779 --> 00:44:31.900 honest with ourselves 00:44:31.900 --> 00:44:32.319 sometimes 00:44:32.319 --> 00:44:33.779 we recognize that 00:44:33.779 --> 00:44:35.440 this Christian life 00:44:35.440 --> 00:44:35.920 is hard 00:44:35.920 --> 00:44:38.240 and 00:44:38.240 --> 00:44:40.559 the cravings 00:44:40.559 --> 00:44:41.180 that we have 00:44:41.180 --> 00:44:42.079 the sense 00:44:42.079 --> 00:44:42.720 that we thought 00:44:42.720 --> 00:44:43.599 that a Christian life 00:44:43.599 --> 00:44:45.559 would gratify us 00:44:45.559 --> 00:44:47.539 maybe fails to live up 00:44:47.539 --> 00:44:48.320 to expectation 00:44:48.320 --> 00:44:51.320 and so we feel like 00:44:51.320 --> 00:44:52.460 we have to top up 00:44:52.460 --> 00:44:53.420 our Christian life 00:44:53.420 --> 00:44:54.420 somehow 00:44:54.420 --> 00:44:57.659 we try to pile on 00:44:57.659 --> 00:44:58.960 some of the pleasures 00:44:58.960 --> 00:44:59.860 of the world 00:44:59.860 --> 00:45:01.519 so that we may have 00:45:01.519 --> 00:45:02.840 a more fulfilled life 00:45:02.840 --> 00:45:05.260 and this can happen 00:45:05.260 --> 00:45:06.460 in really unassuming ways 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:07.079 we don't get up 00:45:07.079 --> 00:45:07.480 in the morning 00:45:07.480 --> 00:45:07.820 and think 00:45:07.820 --> 00:45:08.460 what are the ways 00:45:08.460 --> 00:45:09.820 that I'm going to sin today 00:45:09.820 --> 00:45:10.880 to be distracted 00:45:10.880 --> 00:45:11.800 from the way of God 00:45:11.800 --> 00:45:14.720 but as the day goes on 00:45:14.720 --> 00:45:16.840 there are things 00:45:16.840 --> 00:45:18.320 that come before our eyes 00:45:18.320 --> 00:45:19.840 there are things 00:45:19.840 --> 00:45:21.000 that turn our heart 00:45:21.000 --> 00:45:22.059 and our mind 00:45:22.059 --> 00:45:24.760 away from God 00:45:24.760 --> 00:45:26.400 as we seek satisfaction 00:45:26.400 --> 00:45:27.000 elsewhere 00:45:27.000 --> 00:45:29.780 and so I wondered 00:45:29.780 --> 00:45:30.519 if either of these 00:45:30.519 --> 00:45:32.720 scenarios describe you 00:45:32.719 --> 00:45:33.359 do we have these 00:45:33.359 --> 00:45:34.359 desires for things 00:45:34.359 --> 00:45:35.239 apart from God 00:45:35.239 --> 00:45:36.899 and it's not that 00:45:36.899 --> 00:45:38.139 these desires 00:45:38.139 --> 00:45:39.480 are necessarily 00:45:39.480 --> 00:45:40.359 bad desires 00:45:40.359 --> 00:45:41.759 a passion for your family 00:45:41.759 --> 00:45:42.919 a passion for your work 00:45:42.919 --> 00:45:43.959 they're good things 00:45:43.959 --> 00:45:45.739 but it's when 00:45:45.739 --> 00:45:46.500 these passions 00:45:46.500 --> 00:45:47.939 these secondary things 00:45:47.939 --> 00:45:48.980 become primary 00:45:48.980 --> 00:45:50.899 that ultimately 00:45:50.899 --> 00:45:51.699 lead us 00:45:51.699 --> 00:45:52.879 away from God 00:45:52.879 --> 00:45:54.399 and so John 00:45:54.399 --> 00:45:55.259 is reminding us here 00:45:55.259 --> 00:45:55.899 to evaluate 00:45:55.899 --> 00:45:57.779 our whole value system 00:45:57.779 --> 00:45:59.099 do we find 00:45:59.099 --> 00:45:59.879 our satisfaction 00:45:59.879 --> 00:46:00.759 in the things 00:46:00.759 --> 00:46:01.339 of this world 00:46:01.339 --> 00:46:02.379 or in God 00:46:02.380 --> 00:46:05.039 our deepest 00:46:05.039 --> 00:46:05.640 desires 00:46:05.640 --> 00:46:07.059 in creating 00:46:07.059 --> 00:46:07.599 this own 00:46:07.599 --> 00:46:08.119 our own little 00:46:08.119 --> 00:46:08.920 earthly kingdom 00:46:08.920 --> 00:46:10.660 or do we care 00:46:10.660 --> 00:46:11.360 more about 00:46:11.360 --> 00:46:12.200 Christ's eternal 00:46:12.200 --> 00:46:12.559 kingdom 00:46:12.559 --> 00:46:15.500 that brings us 00:46:15.500 --> 00:46:16.280 to our final point 00:46:16.280 --> 00:46:16.840 we've looked at 00:46:16.840 --> 00:46:17.500 who we are 00:46:17.500 --> 00:46:18.000 and what we're 00:46:18.000 --> 00:46:18.500 to do 00:46:18.500 --> 00:46:19.940 and John 00:46:19.940 --> 00:46:20.500 reminds us 00:46:20.500 --> 00:46:21.160 of why we are 00:46:21.160 --> 00:46:21.860 to do it 00:46:21.860 --> 00:46:24.019 verse 16 and 17 00:46:24.019 --> 00:46:25.660 for everything 00:46:25.660 --> 00:46:26.059 in the world 00:46:26.059 --> 00:46:26.900 the lust of the flesh 00:46:26.900 --> 00:46:27.740 the lust of the eyes 00:46:27.740 --> 00:46:28.660 the pride of life 00:46:28.660 --> 00:46:29.660 comes not from the 00:46:29.660 --> 00:46:29.920 Father 00:46:29.920 --> 00:46:30.840 but from the world 00:46:30.840 --> 00:46:32.559 the world 00:46:32.559 --> 00:46:33.519 and its desires 00:46:33.519 --> 00:46:34.260 pass away 00:46:34.260 --> 00:46:35.900 but whoever 00:46:35.900 --> 00:46:36.760 does the will 00:46:36.760 --> 00:46:37.140 of God 00:46:37.140 --> 00:46:37.780 lives forever 00:46:37.780 --> 00:46:39.660 John is giving us 00:46:39.660 --> 00:46:40.600 two reasons here 00:46:40.600 --> 00:46:41.240 why we are not 00:46:41.240 --> 00:46:41.940 to love the world 00:46:41.940 --> 00:46:43.300 first love for the 00:46:43.300 --> 00:46:44.820 world is incompatible 00:46:44.820 --> 00:46:46.360 with love for God 00:46:46.360 --> 00:46:48.559 and secondly 00:46:48.559 --> 00:46:49.180 love 00:46:49.180 --> 00:46:50.240 this world 00:46:50.240 --> 00:46:51.320 is temporary 00:46:51.320 --> 00:46:53.320 while God 00:46:53.320 --> 00:46:54.400 and his kingdom 00:46:54.400 --> 00:46:55.079 are eternal 00:46:55.079 --> 00:46:57.220 and so let's look 00:46:57.220 --> 00:46:57.680 at each of them 00:46:57.680 --> 00:46:58.240 just briefly 00:46:58.240 --> 00:46:58.900 this first one 00:46:58.900 --> 00:46:59.700 love for the world 00:46:59.700 --> 00:47:00.700 is not compatible 00:47:00.700 --> 00:47:02.320 with love for God 00:47:02.320 --> 00:47:04.300 I don't know 00:47:04.300 --> 00:47:04.800 if many of you 00:47:04.800 --> 00:47:05.280 have been following 00:47:05.280 --> 00:47:05.740 the news 00:47:05.740 --> 00:47:06.539 from the hurricane 00:47:06.539 --> 00:47:06.920 Helene 00:47:06.920 --> 00:47:07.400 that came through 00:47:07.400 --> 00:47:07.880 the states 00:47:07.880 --> 00:47:08.280 Rachel and I 00:47:08.280 --> 00:47:08.760 have been paying 00:47:08.760 --> 00:47:09.780 particular attention 00:47:09.780 --> 00:47:10.260 to it because 00:47:10.260 --> 00:47:10.780 it came right 00:47:10.780 --> 00:47:11.420 through our town 00:47:11.420 --> 00:47:11.820 where we used 00:47:11.820 --> 00:47:12.079 to live 00:47:12.079 --> 00:47:12.539 in Greenville 00:47:12.539 --> 00:47:13.240 South Carolina 00:47:13.240 --> 00:47:14.320 and up into 00:47:14.320 --> 00:47:14.680 the mountains 00:47:14.680 --> 00:47:15.460 of North Carolina 00:47:15.460 --> 00:47:17.840 and it was devastating 00:47:17.840 --> 00:47:18.500 what was done 00:47:18.500 --> 00:47:19.539 we've been chatting 00:47:19.539 --> 00:47:20.119 with neighbors 00:47:20.119 --> 00:47:20.700 our own neighborhood 00:47:20.700 --> 00:47:21.579 which had just 00:47:21.579 --> 00:47:23.139 these huge oak trees 00:47:23.139 --> 00:47:24.519 they're still without 00:47:24.519 --> 00:47:25.380 power eight days 00:47:25.380 --> 00:47:26.220 after the storm 00:47:26.219 --> 00:47:27.899 one of my friends 00:47:27.899 --> 00:47:28.299 was saying 00:47:28.299 --> 00:47:28.939 that was our neighbor 00:47:28.939 --> 00:47:29.659 saying there's at least 00:47:29.659 --> 00:47:30.219 ten houses 00:47:30.219 --> 00:47:30.819 with trees 00:47:30.819 --> 00:47:31.739 right on the houses 00:47:31.739 --> 00:47:33.639 you go up through 00:47:33.639 --> 00:47:34.019 Greenville 00:47:34.019 --> 00:47:34.619 into the mountains 00:47:34.619 --> 00:47:35.399 these little towns 00:47:35.399 --> 00:47:36.219 where we used to drive 00:47:36.219 --> 00:47:36.639 and hike 00:47:36.639 --> 00:47:37.199 have been totally 00:47:37.199 --> 00:47:38.059 wiped off the map 00:47:38.059 --> 00:47:39.539 mudslides 00:47:39.539 --> 00:47:40.719 taking houses away 00:47:40.719 --> 00:47:42.279 rivers that have 00:47:42.279 --> 00:47:43.859 completely taken roads 00:47:43.859 --> 00:47:45.099 that where they are 00:47:45.099 --> 00:47:45.739 there no more 00:47:45.739 --> 00:47:46.699 people that are coming in 00:47:46.699 --> 00:47:47.279 are having to come 00:47:47.279 --> 00:47:47.919 by helicopter 00:47:47.919 --> 00:47:48.919 or hike through the woods 00:47:48.919 --> 00:47:49.519 because there's no 00:47:49.519 --> 00:47:50.139 other way in 00:47:50.139 --> 00:47:52.859 total devastation 00:47:52.859 --> 00:47:54.239 from these rains 00:47:54.239 --> 00:47:55.019 and winds 00:47:55.019 --> 00:47:57.579 and I think the same 00:47:57.579 --> 00:47:58.139 can be true 00:47:58.139 --> 00:47:58.900 of our hearts 00:47:58.900 --> 00:48:01.019 when love 00:48:01.019 --> 00:48:01.639 for the world 00:48:01.639 --> 00:48:02.480 and our desires 00:48:02.480 --> 00:48:03.280 for the flesh 00:48:03.280 --> 00:48:04.039 enter our heart 00:48:04.039 --> 00:48:05.079 it wants to wipe 00:48:05.079 --> 00:48:07.000 out every other desire 00:48:07.000 --> 00:48:08.739 it will erode 00:48:08.739 --> 00:48:09.739 and destroy 00:48:09.739 --> 00:48:10.579 our hearts 00:48:10.579 --> 00:48:11.759 leaving no place 00:48:11.759 --> 00:48:12.980 for the love 00:48:12.980 --> 00:48:13.800 of God to dwell 00:48:13.800 --> 00:48:17.239 it says in James 4 00:48:17.239 --> 00:48:17.500 4 00:48:17.500 --> 00:48:18.259 don't you know 00:48:18.259 --> 00:48:18.880 that friendship 00:48:18.880 --> 00:48:19.519 with the world 00:48:19.519 --> 00:48:20.239 means enmity 00:48:20.239 --> 00:48:21.400 against God 00:48:21.400 --> 00:48:23.199 therefore anyone 00:48:23.199 --> 00:48:23.820 who chooses 00:48:23.820 --> 00:48:24.619 to be a friend 00:48:24.619 --> 00:48:25.139 of the world 00:48:25.139 --> 00:48:26.219 becomes an enemy 00:48:26.219 --> 00:48:26.799 of God 00:48:26.799 --> 00:48:29.279 see a love 00:48:29.279 --> 00:48:29.839 for the father 00:48:29.839 --> 00:48:30.380 and a love 00:48:30.380 --> 00:48:30.920 for the world 00:48:30.920 --> 00:48:31.880 can't coexist 00:48:31.880 --> 00:48:34.400 and so we need 00:48:34.400 --> 00:48:35.179 to ask ourselves 00:48:35.179 --> 00:48:35.920 are we focused 00:48:35.920 --> 00:48:36.839 on our own success 00:48:36.839 --> 00:48:37.819 on our own comforts 00:48:37.819 --> 00:48:38.579 on our own collection 00:48:38.579 --> 00:48:39.179 of possessions 00:48:39.179 --> 00:48:41.420 or are we striving 00:48:41.420 --> 00:48:42.319 that our lives 00:48:42.319 --> 00:48:43.960 may be lived 00:48:43.960 --> 00:48:44.920 in conformity 00:48:44.920 --> 00:48:45.539 with the will 00:48:45.539 --> 00:48:46.019 of God 00:48:46.019 --> 00:48:48.500 do we delight 00:48:48.500 --> 00:48:49.339 in his law 00:48:49.339 --> 00:48:51.380 do we long 00:48:51.380 --> 00:48:52.460 to be in relationship 00:48:52.460 --> 00:48:52.920 with him 00:48:52.920 --> 00:48:53.820 are we passionate 00:48:53.820 --> 00:48:55.220 about Christ 00:48:55.220 --> 00:48:56.380 and his coming 00:48:56.380 --> 00:48:56.780 kingdom 00:48:56.780 --> 00:48:59.460 Paul says 00:48:59.460 --> 00:49:00.179 in Galatians 6 00:49:00.179 --> 00:49:00.579 14 00:49:00.579 --> 00:49:01.240 may I never 00:49:01.240 --> 00:49:01.699 boast 00:49:01.699 --> 00:49:02.440 except in the 00:49:02.440 --> 00:49:03.059 cross of our 00:49:03.059 --> 00:49:04.019 Lord Jesus Christ 00:49:04.019 --> 00:49:05.240 through which the 00:49:05.240 --> 00:49:05.960 world has been 00:49:05.960 --> 00:49:07.039 crucified to me 00:49:07.039 --> 00:49:08.059 and I to the 00:49:08.059 --> 00:49:08.380 world 00:49:08.380 --> 00:49:09.360 like Paul 00:49:09.360 --> 00:49:10.159 are we willing 00:49:10.159 --> 00:49:10.900 to die 00:49:10.900 --> 00:49:11.860 to our worldly 00:49:11.860 --> 00:49:12.380 desires 00:49:12.380 --> 00:49:13.220 in order that 00:49:13.220 --> 00:49:14.280 Christ may live 00:49:14.280 --> 00:49:14.800 in us 00:49:14.800 --> 00:49:17.960 so that brings us 00:49:17.960 --> 00:49:18.480 to our second 00:49:18.480 --> 00:49:19.400 and final reason 00:49:19.400 --> 00:49:19.740 here 00:49:19.740 --> 00:49:21.260 why we are not 00:49:21.260 --> 00:49:22.219 to love the world 00:49:22.219 --> 00:49:23.380 we don't love the 00:49:23.380 --> 00:49:23.740 world 00:49:23.740 --> 00:49:25.059 because it's 00:49:25.059 --> 00:49:25.519 temporary 00:49:25.519 --> 00:49:27.900 Stephen read for us 00:49:27.900 --> 00:49:29.179 from Ecclesiastes 00:49:29.179 --> 00:49:30.960 a book that talks 00:49:30.960 --> 00:49:32.059 frequently about 00:49:32.059 --> 00:49:33.000 the vanity of life 00:49:33.000 --> 00:49:33.579 how the things 00:49:33.579 --> 00:49:34.159 of this life 00:49:34.159 --> 00:49:34.980 are not going 00:49:34.980 --> 00:49:35.400 to last 00:49:35.400 --> 00:49:35.940 and they're not 00:49:35.940 --> 00:49:36.920 going to fulfill 00:49:36.920 --> 00:49:37.980 our desires 00:49:37.980 --> 00:49:40.360 Jesus has this 00:49:40.360 --> 00:49:41.119 same message 00:49:41.119 --> 00:49:42.519 in Matthew 6 00:49:42.519 --> 00:49:42.880 he says 00:49:42.880 --> 00:49:43.559 don't stow up 00:49:43.559 --> 00:49:43.940 for yourself 00:49:43.940 --> 00:49:44.780 treasures on earth 00:49:44.780 --> 00:49:45.320 where moth 00:49:45.320 --> 00:49:45.760 and vermin 00:49:45.760 --> 00:49:46.300 destroy 00:49:46.300 --> 00:49:47.380 where thieves 00:49:47.380 --> 00:49:47.820 break in 00:49:47.820 --> 00:49:48.280 and steal 00:49:48.280 --> 00:49:50.240 but store up 00:49:50.240 --> 00:49:50.620 for yourself 00:49:50.620 --> 00:49:51.600 treasures in heaven 00:49:51.600 --> 00:49:52.220 where moths 00:49:52.220 --> 00:49:52.720 and vermin 00:49:52.720 --> 00:49:53.460 do not destroy 00:49:53.460 --> 00:49:53.980 where thieves 00:49:53.980 --> 00:49:54.539 do not break 00:49:54.539 --> 00:49:55.039 in and steal 00:49:55.039 --> 00:49:56.539 for where your 00:49:56.539 --> 00:49:57.220 treasure is 00:49:57.220 --> 00:49:58.039 there your heart 00:49:58.039 --> 00:49:58.740 will be also 00:49:58.740 --> 00:50:01.360 if you knew 00:50:01.360 --> 00:50:02.000 of a company 00:50:02.000 --> 00:50:02.620 that was about 00:50:02.620 --> 00:50:03.320 to go bankrupt 00:50:03.320 --> 00:50:03.740 that they were 00:50:03.740 --> 00:50:04.200 about to go 00:50:04.200 --> 00:50:05.080 out of business 00:50:05.080 --> 00:50:05.720 would you invest 00:50:05.720 --> 00:50:06.300 in that company 00:50:06.300 --> 00:50:08.280 of course not 00:50:08.280 --> 00:50:10.640 so why in the world 00:50:10.640 --> 00:50:11.400 are we so willing 00:50:11.400 --> 00:50:12.660 to invest our time 00:50:12.660 --> 00:50:13.340 and our energy 00:50:13.340 --> 00:50:14.059 and our money 00:50:14.059 --> 00:50:15.039 and our own love 00:50:15.039 --> 00:50:15.539 and affection 00:50:15.539 --> 00:50:16.880 for things in this world 00:50:16.880 --> 00:50:17.940 that will not last 00:50:17.940 --> 00:50:21.260 John who wrote 00:50:21.260 --> 00:50:21.599 this letter 00:50:21.599 --> 00:50:21.980 is the same 00:50:21.980 --> 00:50:22.820 John who writes 00:50:22.820 --> 00:50:23.740 the book of Revelation 00:50:23.740 --> 00:50:24.420 where he talks 00:50:24.420 --> 00:50:25.000 about Christ 00:50:25.000 --> 00:50:25.680 coming again 00:50:25.680 --> 00:50:26.599 and establishing 00:50:26.599 --> 00:50:27.280 a new heaven 00:50:27.280 --> 00:50:28.340 and a new earth 00:50:28.340 --> 00:50:30.180 that first heaven 00:50:30.180 --> 00:50:30.940 and the first earth 00:50:30.940 --> 00:50:31.660 will pass away 00:50:31.660 --> 00:50:32.760 and God will once 00:50:32.760 --> 00:50:33.880 again dwell 00:50:33.880 --> 00:50:34.640 with his people 00:50:34.640 --> 00:50:37.400 and so again 00:50:37.400 --> 00:50:38.420 we ask ourselves 00:50:38.420 --> 00:50:39.200 do we long 00:50:39.200 --> 00:50:40.000 for the temporary 00:50:40.000 --> 00:50:41.360 pleasures of this world 00:50:41.360 --> 00:50:43.140 are we content 00:50:43.140 --> 00:50:44.180 with investing 00:50:44.180 --> 00:50:45.240 our time and energy 00:50:45.239 --> 00:50:46.179 in the fleeting things 00:50:46.179 --> 00:50:46.679 in this world 00:50:46.679 --> 00:50:47.799 that will not last 00:50:47.799 --> 00:50:48.779 and will not satisfy 00:50:48.779 --> 00:50:51.739 or we desire 00:50:51.739 --> 00:50:53.059 to follow God's will 00:50:53.059 --> 00:50:54.659 that leads to eternal life 00:50:54.659 --> 00:50:55.559 do we long 00:50:55.559 --> 00:50:56.739 for Christ's return 00:50:56.739 --> 00:50:57.799 when he will rule 00:50:57.799 --> 00:50:59.119 and reign forever 00:50:59.119 --> 00:51:01.699 this is a very 00:51:01.699 --> 00:51:02.959 very simple reminder 00:51:02.959 --> 00:51:04.419 that John gives 00:51:04.419 --> 00:51:05.019 the church 00:51:05.019 --> 00:51:06.459 reminding us 00:51:06.459 --> 00:51:07.459 of who we are 00:51:07.459 --> 00:51:09.279 and what we're to do 00:51:09.279 --> 00:51:10.979 and why we're to do it 00:51:10.980 --> 00:51:13.800 a simple reminder 00:51:13.800 --> 00:51:16.199 with eternal implications 00:51:16.199 --> 00:51:19.500 and so if you are 00:51:19.500 --> 00:51:20.099 in Christ 00:51:20.099 --> 00:51:20.940 brother and sister 00:51:20.940 --> 00:51:21.920 may this reminder 00:51:21.920 --> 00:51:23.240 be taken to heart 00:51:23.240 --> 00:51:25.719 that we may examine 00:51:25.719 --> 00:51:26.559 the desires 00:51:26.559 --> 00:51:27.380 of our heart 00:51:27.380 --> 00:51:28.519 to see whether they lead us 00:51:28.519 --> 00:51:29.219 to God 00:51:29.219 --> 00:51:30.480 or away from him 00:51:30.480 --> 00:51:31.820 may it be our desire 00:51:31.820 --> 00:51:34.000 to follow after his will 00:51:34.000 --> 00:51:34.820 for our good 00:51:34.820 --> 00:51:35.539 and his glory 00:51:35.539 --> 00:51:39.039 and if this doesn't define you 00:51:39.039 --> 00:51:40.079 if you are not a believer 00:51:40.079 --> 00:51:41.099 John is actually 00:51:41.099 --> 00:51:42.159 not writing to you 00:51:42.159 --> 00:51:43.519 specifically in this passage 00:51:43.519 --> 00:51:44.699 we so often times 00:51:44.699 --> 00:51:45.319 in our lives 00:51:45.319 --> 00:51:46.460 want to judge 00:51:46.460 --> 00:51:47.319 the outside world 00:51:47.319 --> 00:51:47.980 for not living 00:51:47.980 --> 00:51:48.900 as Christians should 00:51:48.900 --> 00:51:50.179 why should we expect 00:51:50.179 --> 00:51:50.860 that they would 00:51:50.860 --> 00:51:51.960 because they do not have 00:51:51.960 --> 00:51:52.980 an identity in Christ 00:51:52.980 --> 00:51:55.400 but what we do see 00:51:55.400 --> 00:51:56.279 is an invitation 00:51:56.279 --> 00:51:59.599 an invitation to the lost 00:51:59.599 --> 00:52:00.719 an invitation to those 00:52:00.719 --> 00:52:01.739 who are not in Christ 00:52:01.739 --> 00:52:02.380 to come 00:52:02.380 --> 00:52:05.059 to find your identity 00:52:05.059 --> 00:52:05.759 in him 00:52:05.759 --> 00:52:07.340 to recognize 00:52:07.340 --> 00:52:07.940 that the things 00:52:07.940 --> 00:52:08.639 of this world 00:52:08.639 --> 00:52:09.940 are worthless 00:52:09.940 --> 00:52:12.380 they will not last 00:52:12.380 --> 00:52:14.720 but God 00:52:14.720 --> 00:52:15.420 and his kingdom 00:52:15.420 --> 00:52:15.780 will 00:52:15.780 --> 00:52:18.260 and that gives us 00:52:18.260 --> 00:52:19.280 reason to live 00:52:19.280 --> 00:52:20.059 for him 00:52:20.059 --> 00:52:21.460 to receive his love 00:52:21.460 --> 00:52:24.420 that he may be glorified 00:52:24.420 --> 00:52:26.440 may that be our prayer 00:52:26.440 --> 00:52:28.220 let's pray together 00:52:28.220 --> 00:52:34.619 Lord we thank you 00:52:34.619 --> 00:52:35.440 that you are 00:52:35.440 --> 00:52:36.220 a good God 00:52:36.220 --> 00:52:37.220 who loves us 00:52:37.219 --> 00:52:39.459 thank you 00:52:39.459 --> 00:52:40.619 that you are eternal 00:52:40.619 --> 00:52:41.459 that your kingdom 00:52:41.459 --> 00:52:42.459 will never end 00:52:42.459 --> 00:52:43.559 and so may it be 00:52:43.559 --> 00:52:44.339 our desire 00:52:44.339 --> 00:52:45.099 and our passion 00:52:45.099 --> 00:52:46.239 to see your kingdom 00:52:46.239 --> 00:52:46.559 come 00:52:46.559 --> 00:52:47.379 may we long 00:52:47.379 --> 00:52:48.199 for your return 00:52:48.199 --> 00:52:50.839 and may we put aside 00:52:50.839 --> 00:52:51.980 the desires of the flesh 00:52:51.980 --> 00:52:54.159 that distract us 00:52:54.159 --> 00:52:55.679 that cause us 00:52:55.679 --> 00:52:56.159 to wander 00:52:56.159 --> 00:52:58.419 that take us away 00:52:58.419 --> 00:52:58.879 from you 00:52:58.879 --> 00:53:02.439 may we find 00:53:02.439 --> 00:53:03.279 great assurance 00:53:03.280 --> 00:53:05.320 in what you have 00:53:05.320 --> 00:53:06.180 done for us 00:53:06.180 --> 00:53:07.880 and our identity 00:53:07.880 --> 00:53:08.400 in you 00:53:08.400 --> 00:53:11.740 may you deepen 00:53:11.740 --> 00:53:12.440 our love 00:53:12.440 --> 00:53:13.660 for you 00:53:13.660 --> 00:53:14.960 that we may desire 00:53:14.960 --> 00:53:15.940 to live for you 00:53:15.940 --> 00:53:17.760 and we pray this 00:53:17.760 --> 00:53:18.519 in Jesus name 00:53:18.519 --> 00:53:19.620 amen 00:53:19.620 --> 00:53:23.600 will you stand with me 00:53:23.600 --> 00:53:24.100 for the singing 00:53:24.100 --> 00:53:25.280 of our final psalm 00:53:25.280 --> 00:53:27.480 our final psalm 00:53:27.480 --> 00:53:28.760 Psalm 93 00:53:28.760 --> 00:53:30.760 the Lord reigns 00:53:30.760 --> 00:53:32.000 please 00:53:32.000 --> 00:53:39.080 the Lord is king 00:53:39.080 --> 00:53:40.600 his throne 00:53:40.600 --> 00:53:42.000 endures 00:53:42.000 --> 00:53:43.760 majestic 00:53:43.760 --> 00:53:47.580 in his height 00:53:47.579 --> 00:53:51.159 the Lord is robed 00:53:51.159 --> 00:53:53.440 in majesty 00:53:53.440 --> 00:53:57.500 and armed with strength 00:53:57.500 --> 00:54:00.139 and might 00:54:00.139 --> 00:54:04.159 the world is founded 00:54:04.159 --> 00:54:07.059 firm and sure 00:54:07.059 --> 00:54:11.579 removed it cannot be 00:54:11.579 --> 00:54:16.480 your throne is strong 00:54:16.480 --> 00:54:19.639 and you are gone 00:54:19.639 --> 00:54:24.139 from all eternity 00:54:24.139 --> 00:54:28.719 the seas 00:54:28.719 --> 00:54:30.219 O Lord 00:54:30.219 --> 00:54:33.280 have lifted up 00:54:33.280 --> 00:54:36.719 they lifted up 00:54:36.719 --> 00:54:39.340 their voice 00:54:39.340 --> 00:54:41.639 the seas 00:54:41.639 --> 00:54:44.820 have lifted up 00:54:44.820 --> 00:54:46.480 their waves 00:54:46.480 --> 00:54:48.460 and made 00:54:48.460 --> 00:54:50.120 a mighty 00:54:50.120 --> 00:54:53.240 noise 00:54:53.240 --> 00:54:55.860 the Lord 00:54:55.860 --> 00:54:57.420 in throne 00:54:57.420 --> 00:54:59.120 their high 00:54:59.120 --> 00:55:00.700 is strong 00:55:00.700 --> 00:55:03.620 or powerful 00:55:03.620 --> 00:55:05.400 receive 00:55:05.400 --> 00:55:09.280 and thunder 00:55:09.280 --> 00:55:10.820 up 00:55:10.820 --> 00:55:12.620 the ocean 00:55:12.619 --> 00:55:14.099 waves 00:55:14.099 --> 00:55:17.039 or breakers 00:55:17.039 --> 00:55:19.619 of the sea 00:55:19.619 --> 00:55:23.859 your royal 00:55:23.859 --> 00:55:26.039 statutes 00:55:26.039 --> 00:55:26.759 Lord 00:55:26.759 --> 00:55:28.559 stand firm 00:55:28.559 --> 00:55:30.460 and changing 00:55:30.460 --> 00:55:34.759 is your word 00:55:34.759 --> 00:55:37.779 and holiness 00:55:37.779 --> 00:55:41.659 adores your eyes 00:55:41.659 --> 00:55:43.659 horrendous 00:55:43.659 --> 00:55:44.819 days 00:55:44.819 --> 00:55:47.199 O Lord 00:55:47.199 --> 00:55:49.259 Lord 00:55:49.259 --> 00:55:51.819 a reminder for you 00:55:51.819 --> 00:55:52.599 to stay after 00:55:52.599 --> 00:55:53.239 if you can 00:55:53.239 --> 00:55:53.980 that we'll have 00:55:53.980 --> 00:55:54.480 a few minutes 00:55:54.480 --> 00:55:56.519 of just sharing time 00:55:56.519 --> 00:55:57.079 with one another 00:55:57.079 --> 00:55:58.000 and we'll gather back up 00:55:58.000 --> 00:55:58.960 in about ten minutes 00:55:58.960 --> 00:56:00.419 for some group prayer 00:56:00.419 --> 00:56:02.579 now receive this good word 00:56:02.579 --> 00:56:03.199 this benediction 00:56:03.199 --> 00:56:03.779 from the Lord 00:56:03.779 --> 00:56:04.639 now may the God 00:56:04.639 --> 00:56:05.159 of peace 00:56:05.159 --> 00:56:06.000 who brought again 00:56:06.000 --> 00:56:06.559 from the dead 00:56:06.559 --> 00:56:07.399 our Lord Jesus 00:56:07.399 --> 00:56:08.619 the great shepherd 00:56:08.619 --> 00:56:09.259 of the sheep 00:56:09.259 --> 00:56:10.439 by the blood 00:56:10.439 --> 00:56:11.299 of the eternal covenant 00:56:11.299 --> 00:56:12.079 equip you with 00:56:12.079 --> 00:56:12.980 everything good 00:56:12.980 --> 00:56:14.059 that you may do 00:56:14.059 --> 00:56:14.759 his will 00:56:14.759 --> 00:56:15.879 working in us 00:56:15.880 --> 00:56:16.800 that which is pleasing 00:56:16.800 --> 00:56:17.500 in his sight 00:56:17.500 --> 00:56:18.940 through Jesus Christ 00:56:18.940 --> 00:56:19.760 to him be glory 00:56:19.760 --> 00:56:21.220 forever and ever 00:56:21.220 --> 00:56:22.079 Amen