WEBVTT

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 As you may remember from the previous times that I have had the opportunity to preach, I'd like to begin my sermons with a story that kind of gives you the context for what we're going to be looking at this morning.

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!

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 Something that helps create some interest and helps you to focus in on the topic that we are going to look at in Scripture.

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 And so this morning, before we begin, would you imagine with me that I told you a very engaging story?

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 If the Holy Spirit's been talking to you about holiness, would you imagine that I shared a story that helped you consider the importance of pursuing holiness,

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 some of the dangers of pursuing holiness, and how we can follow after Christ in holiness in a way that honors Him?

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 If the Holy Spirit's been dealing with you on the matter of love, which hopefully as you're going through our study guide on 1 Thessalonians that Pastor Andrew's prepared,

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 that may be very likely.

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 imagine that I shared with you a story that caught your attention about love, how it comes into our life, and how it flows out into our life.

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 And the reason that I'm asking you to help me with this this morning is even though when you study preaching or teaching,

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 they encourage you to focus on one main point that you want the congregation to remember and follow after this coming week,

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 I'm completely ignoring that advice.

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 And I'm going to try to cover all three of those topics, as you probably have noticed from your bulletin.

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 So, if you would just help me with this introduction, and just trust that the Holy Spirit will lay on your heart what it is He has for you this morning,

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 that would be of great help to me.

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 Let's open in prayer.

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 Father, we come before you this morning,

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 and Lord, we confess that we need you.

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 We need your Spirit to work in our lives.

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 We ask that you would open our hearts and minds to your Word.

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 You would help us to see truth.

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 You would help our hearts to be receptive to that truth,

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 and that through it, your Spirit would change us and make us more like Jesus.

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 Father, we thank you that you have not left us to ourselves,

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 but that you've placed us in a body with our brothers and sisters in Christ,

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 and that we can gather together this morning under the teaching of your Word.

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 And we ask that you would direct this time,

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 that you would direct my words,

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 that you would do as you see fit this morning to your Bride,

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 to the body, to the church.

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 And that through it all, you would be exalted and lifted up,

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 that you would be glorified,

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 and that we would be changed.

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 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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 This morning, we're going to be looking primarily at 1 Thessalonians 3,

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 verses 11 through 13.

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 And then, in some sense,

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 we're going to look at how 1 Thessalonians 4,

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 verses 9 through 12 connect to that.

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 And if you would follow along as I read those passages.

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 1 Thessalonians 3, verses 11 through 13.

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 Now may our God and Father himself,

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 and our Lord Jesus,

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 direct our way to you.

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 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all,

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 as we do for you.

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 So that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness

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 before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all the saints.

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 1 Thessalonians 4, 9 through 12.

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 Now concerning brotherly love,

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 you have no need for anyone to write to you,

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 for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.

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 For that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia.

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 But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,

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 and to aspire to live quietly,

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 and to mind your own affairs,

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 and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,

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 so that you may walk properly before outsiders

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 and be dependent on no one.

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 I don't know if it's just me,

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 but if you have been following along in the 1 Thessalonians study guide,

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 Pastor Andrew has pointed out a few times

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 the prayers of Paul.

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 And he's challenged us to consider

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 the content of Paul's prayers

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 in relation to how we normally pray.

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 And the Holy Spirit has really been addressing this issue

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 in my life from this study,

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 and I've been trying to continually keep this in my mind

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 over the last several weeks.

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 So when I began to study this passage

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 in 1 Thessalonians 3, 11 through 13,

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 the first thing that stood out to me

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 is that it is a prayer.

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 That we see God,

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 and we see Paul speaking to God

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 in asking for these things

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 on behalf of the Thessalonians.

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 And I don't know if you noticed,

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 let me read again this passage to you.

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 1 Thessalonians 3, 11 through 13.

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 And if you would,

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 be attentive to what Paul is praying.

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 He says,

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 Isn't that amazing?

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 The depth of spiritual prayer

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 in such a short passage.

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 And I don't know if you can immediately appreciate it.

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 Hopefully you've been considering it this week.

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 But as I have been meditating on it

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 over the last several weeks,

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 it continually surprises me

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 at the depth we see there

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 as Paul is praying for this church,

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 as he's asking for God

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 to cause their love to increase,

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 to abound,

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 as he's asking God

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 to establish their hearts

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 blameless in holiness.

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 And it causes me to stop

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 and consider myself.

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 The reality is,

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 you might be tempted to say,

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 well, he does pray here

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 that he'll get to visit them.

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 But even in that,

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 if you were to back up

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 just one verse

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 into 1 Thessalonians 3, 10,

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 we would see that he says,

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 we pray most earnestly night and day

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 that we may see you face to face

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 and supply what is lacking in your faith.

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 So even in his prayer to visit them,

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 Paul is asking to go

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 and be a part of their fellowship,

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 to share in strengthening them

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 in their faith.

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 And as you remember

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 from our study so far,

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 they're facing great persecution

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 during this time.

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 And Paul is saying,

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 Lord, let me enter into that persecution

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 with them

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 that we may walk

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 and labor together.

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 So even in that,

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 we see a depth to Paul's prayers.

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 And that leads me

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 to the first of seven diagnostic questions

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 that I have for you this morning.

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 The first is,

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 how are your prayers?

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 How are your prayers?

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 What are you praying for

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 on a daily basis?

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 For your physical needs,

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 your health,

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 your comfort,

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 your financial needs?

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 Maybe you're praying about these things

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 for others as well.

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 And it's not that those things are wrong.

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 Of course,

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 Scripture not only encourages us,

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 but commands us

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 to bring these things before God.

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 But the thing that struck me again

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 and again

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 as I have been thinking about this

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 is how often

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 that is the extent of my prayers.

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 How often

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 that is the extent of my prayers.

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 And the question goes on.

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 It says,

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 how often are you intentionally praying

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 for the spiritual growth

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 of those God has put in your life?

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 Your brothers and sisters in Christ.

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 Your co-workers.

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 Your friends.

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 Your parents.

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 Your spouse.

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 Your children.

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 And praying

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 the way we see Paul

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 pray here.

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 With that depth.

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 That wisdom.

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 Let me challenge you.

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 If you haven't picked up on it

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 in the study guide so far,

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 let me encourage you

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 to go back

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 and consider

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 your prayer life.

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 Consider

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 the prayer we find

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 in Scripture.

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 Begin to pray

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 the way David

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 prays in the Psalms.

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 Begin to pray

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 and align

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 with how Jesus

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 prays in the Gospels.

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 How we see Paul

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 praying in his letters.

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 Don't be satisfied

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 with a superficial

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 prayer life.

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 Don't be satisfied

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 with stopping

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 at just these

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 physical needs.

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 This first layer

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 of prayer.

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 But let me encourage you

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 and challenge you

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 to pray deeper.

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 To pray Scripture.

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 And that's the main point

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 of mini-sermon number one.

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 You can put that down

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 if you're following along

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 on your bulletin.

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 The main point.

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 Pray deeper.

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 Pray Scripture.

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 And so that's the first

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 thing that stands out.

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 The second thing

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 that I want us

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 to look at,

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 mini-sermon number two,

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 is how we see

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 in this prayer

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 that love

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 is not the end goal.

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 Okay?

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 The second section

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 that I want to look at

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 is on the issue

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 of holiness.

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 And I think

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 it's vitally important

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 for us,

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 before we get

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 to the topic of love,

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 which is our main topic,

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 for us to realize

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 even in Paul's prayer here

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 that we have

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 this sense

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 that he is wanting

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 not just

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 a bunch of loving,

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 nice people.

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 You know?

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 His prayer isn't

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 that the people

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 will just be pleasant

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 to be around.

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 He's not hoping

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 that, you know,

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 the church at Thessalonica

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 will be the Chick-fil-A

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 of their time.

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 You know?

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 Where you just go

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 and everybody's just nice.

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 But Paul is pressing

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 on further,

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 deeper,

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 and even in praying

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 for their love

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 to increase and abound.

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 His end goal

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 is in verse 13

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 that the Lord

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 would establish

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 their hearts

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 blameless

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 in holiness

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 before our God

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 and Father

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 at the coming

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 of the Lord Jesus

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 with all his saints.

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 And so I think

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 it's important

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 because

00:11:41.899 --> 00:11:44.079
 we live in a time

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 and a day

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 where churches

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 are often

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 letting holiness

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 slide

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 and pursuing

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 this sense

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 of love

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 that says,

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 you know what?

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 Everything's really okay.

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 We just,

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 we need to be tolerant.

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 We need to let people

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 just think what they want.

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 You know,

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 there's no need

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 to cause problems.

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 If it's okay for you,

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 then we just need

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 to let it go.

00:12:07.659 --> 00:12:09.200
 We need to show people

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 that we love them.

00:12:11.059 --> 00:12:11.340
 Okay?

00:12:11.539 --> 00:12:12.840
 Now the problem is,

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 and we've talked about

00:12:13.720 --> 00:12:14.720
 this many times

00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:16.440
 is just using

00:12:16.440 --> 00:12:17.259
 the word love

00:12:17.259 --> 00:12:18.300
 does not really,

00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:20.019
 really communicate

00:12:20.019 --> 00:12:21.700
 the biblical principle

00:12:21.700 --> 00:12:22.639
 of love, right?

00:12:22.840 --> 00:12:23.600
 In our culture,

00:12:23.700 --> 00:12:24.820
 we use the word love

00:12:24.820 --> 00:12:25.840
 indiscriminately.

00:12:26.019 --> 00:12:26.720
 And we've talked

00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:27.720
 about that a lot.

00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:29.139
 But one of the things

00:12:29.139 --> 00:12:29.660
 I noticed

00:12:29.660 --> 00:12:31.340
 as we look at this passage

00:12:31.340 --> 00:12:32.920
 is that you can

00:12:32.920 --> 00:12:34.620
 evaluate the authenticity

00:12:34.620 --> 00:12:35.920
 of your love

00:12:35.920 --> 00:12:37.320
 by determining

00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:38.160
 whether or not

00:12:38.160 --> 00:12:39.240
 it's moving you

00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:40.259
 and others

00:12:40.259 --> 00:12:41.320
 toward holiness

00:12:41.320 --> 00:12:42.720
 or intimacy

00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:43.960
 with Jesus.

00:12:45.220 --> 00:12:46.400
 Now think about that.

00:12:46.520 --> 00:12:47.720
 As often as we use

00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:48.520
 the word love

00:12:48.520 --> 00:12:50.020
 in regards

00:12:50.020 --> 00:12:51.060
 to your relationships

00:12:51.060 --> 00:12:51.780
 or the things

00:12:51.780 --> 00:12:52.560
 around you,

00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:53.879
 here's a test

00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:54.820
 that just stood out

00:12:54.820 --> 00:12:55.220
 to me

00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:56.500
 on how we can evaluate

00:12:56.500 --> 00:12:58.200
 is it really love?

00:12:58.420 --> 00:12:58.620
 Right?

00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:00.640
 So I'll just say it again.

00:13:01.260 --> 00:13:02.160
 Hopefully it's up here.

00:13:02.400 --> 00:13:03.080
 Oh good, it is.

00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:04.040
 The authenticity

00:13:04.040 --> 00:13:05.180
 of your love

00:13:05.180 --> 00:13:06.100
 can be determined

00:13:06.100 --> 00:13:07.240
 by whether or not

00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:08.480
 it is moving you

00:13:08.480 --> 00:13:09.200
 and others

00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:10.160
 towards holiness

00:13:10.159 --> 00:13:11.699
 or intimacy

00:13:11.699 --> 00:13:12.899
 with Jesus.

00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:14.620
 So even though

00:13:14.620 --> 00:13:15.620
 we see Paul praying

00:13:15.620 --> 00:13:16.019
 for love

00:13:16.019 --> 00:13:17.279
 it's not his end goal.

00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:18.059
 The pursuit

00:13:18.059 --> 00:13:19.539
 of holiness is.

00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:21.059
 Now,

00:13:21.959 --> 00:13:23.899
 there is a danger

00:13:23.899 --> 00:13:26.059
 in our pursuing holiness.

00:13:27.059 --> 00:13:28.360
 There is a danger

00:13:28.360 --> 00:13:29.639
 in our pursuing holiness.

00:13:30.059 --> 00:13:31.059
 And it's this.

00:13:31.439 --> 00:13:32.319
 By nature

00:13:32.319 --> 00:13:33.959
 we are inclined

00:13:33.959 --> 00:13:35.100
 to evaluate

00:13:35.100 --> 00:13:36.720
 our holiness

00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:38.919
 and other people's holiness

00:13:38.919 --> 00:13:41.139
 based on a set of rules.

00:13:42.419 --> 00:13:42.799
 You see,

00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:43.919
 we see that

00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:44.659
 very clearly

00:13:44.659 --> 00:13:45.740
 in the Pharisees

00:13:45.740 --> 00:13:46.479
 and Scripture,

00:13:46.979 --> 00:13:48.079
 but you can also

00:13:48.079 --> 00:13:49.399
 see it clearly

00:13:49.399 --> 00:13:50.299
 if you look

00:13:50.299 --> 00:13:51.379
 at every other religion.

00:13:52.579 --> 00:13:53.299
 We begin

00:13:53.299 --> 00:13:54.179
 to evaluate

00:13:54.179 --> 00:13:55.399
 our holiness

00:13:55.399 --> 00:13:56.579
 or other people's holiness

00:13:56.579 --> 00:13:57.620
 on how well

00:13:57.620 --> 00:13:58.219
 they keep

00:13:58.219 --> 00:13:59.479
 a set of rules.

00:14:00.419 --> 00:14:00.559
 Now,

00:14:00.699 --> 00:14:01.519
 that leads me

00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:03.059
 to diagnostic question

00:14:03.059 --> 00:14:03.759
 number two

00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:04.439
 this morning.

00:14:05.299 --> 00:14:05.939
 There's seven.

00:14:06.179 --> 00:14:06.759
 Did I say that?

00:14:06.759 --> 00:14:07.279
 Anyway,

00:14:07.779 --> 00:14:08.779
 diagnostic question

00:14:08.779 --> 00:14:09.279
 number two.

00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:10.360
 What rules

00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:11.120
 are you using

00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:12.319
 to judge holiness?

00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:14.500
 And here's some options

00:14:14.500 --> 00:14:14.919
 for you.

00:14:15.700 --> 00:14:16.799
 Maybe you're using

00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:17.919
 appearance rules.

00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:19.179
 Maybe you're looking

00:14:19.179 --> 00:14:19.819
 at people,

00:14:20.039 --> 00:14:21.000
 how they dress,

00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:22.340
 looking at their hair,

00:14:22.700 --> 00:14:23.319
 their tattoos,

00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:24.220
 their piercings.

00:14:24.340 --> 00:14:25.519
 You're asking yourself,

00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:27.580
 do they look holy?

00:14:28.700 --> 00:14:30.039
 Maybe you're looking

00:14:30.039 --> 00:14:31.759
 at some educational rules.

00:14:32.840 --> 00:14:34.220
 You're asking yourself,

00:14:34.220 --> 00:14:36.379
 how's their vocabulary?

00:14:37.080 --> 00:14:38.440
 What is their thinking like?

00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:39.200
 What are their manners?

00:14:39.540 --> 00:14:40.300
 What are the topics

00:14:40.300 --> 00:14:41.960
 that they discuss openly

00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:43.220
 and considering,

00:14:43.420 --> 00:14:45.540
 do they sound holy?

00:14:46.560 --> 00:14:47.420
 Or maybe,

00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:48.700
 maybe you're more spiritual

00:14:48.700 --> 00:14:49.740
 and you're using

00:14:49.740 --> 00:14:51.720
 some spiritual activity rules.

00:14:51.940 --> 00:14:53.120
 Are they at church enough?

00:14:53.259 --> 00:14:53.980
 Are they doing

00:14:53.980 --> 00:14:55.220
 their devotions enough?

00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:56.320
 Are they involved

00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:57.460
 in the right ministries?

00:14:57.560 --> 00:14:59.180
 Do they act holy?

00:14:59.179 --> 00:14:59.659
 Now,

00:15:01.099 --> 00:15:02.120
 please,

00:15:02.199 --> 00:15:03.219
 let me be clear.

00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:05.099
 I'm not saying,

00:15:05.659 --> 00:15:07.039
 I'm not saying

00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:08.819
 that the way we look,

00:15:09.339 --> 00:15:10.399
 the way we sound,

00:15:10.699 --> 00:15:11.579
 and the things we do

00:15:11.579 --> 00:15:12.319
 are unimportant.

00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:13.599
 That they don't matter.

00:15:13.699 --> 00:15:14.679
 I'm not saying that.

00:15:15.739 --> 00:15:16.099
 But,

00:15:16.239 --> 00:15:17.500
 what I am saying

00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:19.299
 is there's a danger here

00:15:19.299 --> 00:15:20.899
 because if we begin

00:15:20.899 --> 00:15:21.759
 to evaluate

00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:22.759
 our holiness

00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:24.699
 and other people's holiness

00:15:24.699 --> 00:15:26.399
 on a list of rules,

00:15:27.099 --> 00:15:28.000
 inevitably,

00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:30.259
 we will then begin

00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:32.220
 to pursue holiness

00:15:32.220 --> 00:15:34.460
 by following these rules.

00:15:35.299 --> 00:15:36.139
 Did you follow that?

00:15:36.200 --> 00:15:36.779
 It's important.

00:15:37.080 --> 00:15:37.919
 Let me say it again.

00:15:38.740 --> 00:15:39.919
 If we begin

00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:41.120
 to evaluate

00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:42.720
 our holiness

00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:45.159
 and other people's holiness

00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:47.399
 based on a set of rules,

00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:50.080
 we will inevitably

00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:52.779
 begin to pursue holiness

00:15:52.779 --> 00:15:54.740
 by keeping those rules.

00:15:56.080 --> 00:15:57.000
 And the problem is,

00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:58.259
 that's legalism.

00:15:59.700 --> 00:16:00.659
 And we know,

00:16:00.779 --> 00:16:01.759
 we know from looking

00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.259
 at scripture,

00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:03.299
 the Pharisees are not

00:16:03.299 --> 00:16:04.600
 a good example given.

00:16:04.820 --> 00:16:05.840
 We know legalism

00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:06.840
 is a bad thing,

00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:08.299
 but we have to be careful

00:16:08.299 --> 00:16:09.159
 in our pursuit

00:16:09.159 --> 00:16:09.919
 of holiness

00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:11.940
 to not get caught up

00:16:11.940 --> 00:16:13.259
 in rule keeping.

00:16:14.259 --> 00:16:14.820
 So,

00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:16.480
 if holiness is important

00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:18.320
 and we can't pursue it

00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:19.340
 by following rules,

00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:20.419
 what's the answer?

00:16:21.179 --> 00:16:21.279
 Well,

00:16:21.320 --> 00:16:22.080
 I think the prayer

00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:23.420
 that Paul gives us

00:16:23.420 --> 00:16:24.080
 right here.

00:16:24.460 --> 00:16:25.460
 We pursue holiness

00:16:25.460 --> 00:16:27.000
 through love.

00:16:27.600 --> 00:16:28.639
 And it's not just Paul.

00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:29.720
 Here's some other passages

00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:30.440
 to consider.

00:16:30.940 --> 00:16:32.800
 Matthew chapter 22,

00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:35.400
 verses 36 through 40.

00:16:36.040 --> 00:16:36.320
 It says,

00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:36.700
 Teacher,

00:16:37.040 --> 00:16:38.780
 which is the great commandment

00:16:38.780 --> 00:16:39.420
 in the law?

00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:41.460
 And Jesus said to him,

00:16:41.780 --> 00:16:42.920
 You shall love the Lord

00:16:42.920 --> 00:16:43.580
 your God

00:16:43.580 --> 00:16:44.500
 with all your heart,

00:16:44.640 --> 00:16:45.440
 with all your soul,

00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:46.379
 and with all your mind.

00:16:46.700 --> 00:16:47.860
 This is the great

00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:49.379
 and first commandment,

00:16:49.580 --> 00:16:50.940
 and the second is like it.

00:16:51.020 --> 00:16:52.400
 You shall love your neighbor

00:16:52.400 --> 00:16:53.200
 as yourself.

00:16:53.980 --> 00:16:55.160
 On these two commandments

00:16:55.160 --> 00:16:56.660
 depend all the law

00:16:56.660 --> 00:16:57.540
 and the prophets.

00:16:58.640 --> 00:17:00.220
 Or Romans 13,

00:17:00.380 --> 00:17:01.240
 8 through 10.

00:17:01.540 --> 00:17:02.020
 Paul says,

00:17:02.019 --> 00:17:03.899
 Oh, no one anything

00:17:03.899 --> 00:17:06.180
 except to love each other.

00:17:06.940 --> 00:17:08.099
 For the one who loves another

00:17:08.099 --> 00:17:09.599
 has fulfilled the law.

00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:10.980
 For the commandments,

00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:12.420
 you shall not commit adultery,

00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:13.379
 you shall not murder,

00:17:13.500 --> 00:17:14.359
 you shall not steal,

00:17:14.639 --> 00:17:15.539
 you shall not covet,

00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:17.160
 and any other commandment

00:17:17.160 --> 00:17:18.680
 are summed up in this word.

00:17:19.119 --> 00:17:20.279
 You shall love your neighbor

00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:21.139
 as yourself.

00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:23.940
 Love does no wrong

00:17:23.940 --> 00:17:24.900
 to a neighbor.

00:17:25.480 --> 00:17:25.879
 Therefore,

00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:28.240
 love is the fulfilling

00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:29.220
 of the law.

00:17:29.220 --> 00:17:32.860
 And then 1 Peter 4, 8.

00:17:33.700 --> 00:17:34.380
 Above all,

00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:36.940
 keep loving one another earnestly,

00:17:37.460 --> 00:17:39.000
 since love covers

00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:41.740
 a multitude of sins.

00:17:42.460 --> 00:17:43.019
 You see,

00:17:43.120 --> 00:17:44.500
 if we pursue love,

00:17:44.779 --> 00:17:45.480
 true love,

00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:46.839
 godly love,

00:17:47.100 --> 00:17:48.559
 Christ-centered love,

00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:51.039
 it inevitably will move us

00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:52.039
 towards holiness.

00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:55.339
 And it will help us avoid

00:17:55.339 --> 00:17:57.640
 the trap of legalism.

00:17:57.640 --> 00:18:00.180
 So, here's the main point

00:18:00.180 --> 00:18:02.320
 for mini-sermon number two.

00:18:02.460 --> 00:18:03.700
 If you're serious about holiness,

00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:05.400
 pursue love,

00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:06.460
 not law.

00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:09.500
 Pursue love,

00:18:09.740 --> 00:18:11.259
 not law.

00:18:13.640 --> 00:18:14.440
 Well,

00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:17.600
 that gets the introductory matter

00:18:17.600 --> 00:18:18.340
 out of the way.

00:18:20.420 --> 00:18:21.240
 Now,

00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:22.720
 we can turn our attention

00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:24.360
 to the main focus

00:18:24.360 --> 00:18:25.160
 this morning,

00:18:25.160 --> 00:18:26.519
 and that is

00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:27.600
 spiritual affection.

00:18:28.800 --> 00:18:29.840
 Spiritual affection.

00:18:30.660 --> 00:18:32.100
 Let me just read again

00:18:32.100 --> 00:18:33.620
 1 Thessalonians 3,

00:18:33.700 --> 00:18:34.779
 11 through 13.

00:18:35.220 --> 00:18:36.120
 And we're going to look

00:18:36.120 --> 00:18:38.320
 primarily at verse 12.

00:18:39.120 --> 00:18:39.380
 Okay,

00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:39.660
 so,

00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:41.100
 pay very close attention

00:18:41.100 --> 00:18:41.759
 in verse 12.

00:18:41.840 --> 00:18:42.240
 But it says,

00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:44.240
 Now may our God and Father

00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:45.259
 and our Lord Jesus

00:18:45.259 --> 00:18:47.000
 direct our way to you,

00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:48.579
 and may the Lord make you

00:18:48.579 --> 00:18:49.839
 increase and abound

00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:51.059
 in love for one another

00:18:51.059 --> 00:18:52.039
 and for all

00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:53.640
 as we do for you,

00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:55.359
 so that he may establish

00:18:55.359 --> 00:18:56.559
 your hearts blameless

00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:57.599
 in holiness

00:18:57.599 --> 00:18:59.359
 before our God and Father

00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:00.140
 at the coming

00:19:00.140 --> 00:19:01.160
 of the Lord Jesus

00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:02.480
 with his saints.

00:19:03.579 --> 00:19:04.099
 So,

00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:05.160
 spiritual affection.

00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:06.880
 The first thing

00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:08.380
 I want us to look at

00:19:08.380 --> 00:19:08.960
 in this

00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:10.500
 is the source

00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:11.519
 of love.

00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:13.240
 The source of love.

00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:14.380
 And we see that,

00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:14.700
 again,

00:19:14.819 --> 00:19:16.000
 in 1 Thessalonians 3,

00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:16.420
 12,

00:19:16.660 --> 00:19:17.680
 as Paul is praying,

00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:18.960
 May the Lord

00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:20.039
 make you

00:19:20.039 --> 00:19:20.500
 increase

00:19:21.079 --> 00:19:21.819
 and abound

00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:22.160
 in love

00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:22.779
 for one another

00:19:22.779 --> 00:19:23.279
 and for all.

00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:25.519
 The source of love.

00:19:25.940 --> 00:19:26.259
 You see,

00:19:26.339 --> 00:19:27.640
 Jesus is the source

00:19:27.640 --> 00:19:28.539
 of real love.

00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:30.299
 God-honoring love.

00:19:31.160 --> 00:19:32.720
 Life-changing love.

00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:34.480
 If you want to experience

00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:36.099
 this kind of love

00:19:36.099 --> 00:19:37.059
 in and through

00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:37.920
 your life,

00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:39.400
 it has to begin

00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:40.300
 with a relationship

00:19:40.300 --> 00:19:41.160
 with Jesus.

00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:43.279
 He's the source.

00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:44.080
 Now,

00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:45.460
 that brings us

00:19:45.460 --> 00:19:46.600
 to diagnostic question

00:19:46.600 --> 00:19:47.400
 number three.

00:19:48.500 --> 00:19:49.920
 How is your relationship

00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:51.200
 with Jesus?

00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:53.900
 How is your relationship

00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:54.580
 with Jesus?

00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:55.300
 Now,

00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:56.240
 let's be clear.

00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:57.779
 I'm not asking you,

00:19:57.900 --> 00:19:59.220
 are you attending church

00:19:59.220 --> 00:20:00.519
 or are you reading

00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:01.120
 your Bible

00:20:01.120 --> 00:20:02.539
 or are you praying enough?

00:20:02.800 --> 00:20:03.380
 The truth is,

00:20:03.420 --> 00:20:04.000
 you could be doing

00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:05.620
 all of those things

00:20:05.619 --> 00:20:07.379
 and not have

00:20:07.379 --> 00:20:08.119
 a relationship

00:20:08.119 --> 00:20:08.779
 with Jesus.

00:20:09.979 --> 00:20:10.500
 Honestly,

00:20:10.619 --> 00:20:11.139
 you could be doing

00:20:11.139 --> 00:20:11.759
 those things

00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:13.039
 your entire life

00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:13.859
 and not have

00:20:13.859 --> 00:20:14.439
 a relationship

00:20:14.439 --> 00:20:15.139
 with Jesus.

00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:17.019
 So,

00:20:17.219 --> 00:20:18.339
 how do we determine

00:20:18.339 --> 00:20:19.179
 if we have

00:20:19.179 --> 00:20:19.759
 a relationship

00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:20.399
 with Jesus?

00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:21.339
 Well,

00:20:21.379 --> 00:20:22.319
 here are some questions

00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:23.779
 that you can consider.

00:20:24.119 --> 00:20:25.139
 And interestingly enough,

00:20:25.199 --> 00:20:25.839
 it's not really

00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:26.419
 any different

00:20:26.419 --> 00:20:27.219
 than any other

00:20:27.219 --> 00:20:27.919
 relationship.

00:20:28.739 --> 00:20:28.919
 Okay?

00:20:29.599 --> 00:20:30.519
 Are you growing

00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:31.839
 in your understanding

00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:33.279
 of who Jesus is?

00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:35.019
 what he loves,

00:20:35.180 --> 00:20:36.240
 what he hates?

00:20:37.899 --> 00:20:39.079
 As you see him

00:20:39.079 --> 00:20:39.839
 more clearly,

00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:41.220
 is your affection

00:20:41.220 --> 00:20:42.420
 for him growing?

00:20:43.259 --> 00:20:44.399
 Do you desire

00:20:44.399 --> 00:20:45.559
 greater intimacy

00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:46.519
 with him?

00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:48.019
 Do you love

00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:48.980
 what he loves?

00:20:49.379 --> 00:20:50.319
 Do you hate

00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:51.579
 what he hates?

00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:53.480
 Do you see

00:20:53.480 --> 00:20:54.240
 his influence

00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:54.940
 in your life

00:20:54.940 --> 00:20:56.599
 affecting who you are,

00:20:56.940 --> 00:20:58.220
 how you think,

00:20:58.539 --> 00:20:59.500
 what you do?

00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:01.639
 Are you aware

00:21:01.639 --> 00:21:02.259
 of the things

00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:03.079
 that you think,

00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:03.500
 say,

00:21:03.559 --> 00:21:03.879
 or do

00:21:03.879 --> 00:21:04.700
 that hurt

00:21:04.700 --> 00:21:05.460
 your relationship

00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:06.059
 with him

00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:07.619
 or cause distance

00:21:07.619 --> 00:21:08.160
 with him?

00:21:09.379 --> 00:21:10.240
 Do you want

00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:11.000
 to spend time

00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:11.420
 with him?

00:21:11.660 --> 00:21:12.559
 When you neglect

00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:13.400
 your time with him,

00:21:13.559 --> 00:21:14.140
 do you see

00:21:14.140 --> 00:21:14.759
 a hunger

00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:16.500
 or a longing

00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:17.640
 that's growing

00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:18.339
 in your heart

00:21:18.339 --> 00:21:19.059
 to be with him

00:21:19.059 --> 00:21:20.539
 or more simply,

00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:21.539
 do you miss him?

00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:22.839
 You see,

00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:23.660
 these are the kind

00:21:23.660 --> 00:21:24.119
 of questions

00:21:24.119 --> 00:21:24.599
 that we need

00:21:24.599 --> 00:21:25.279
 to consider

00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:26.279
 in evaluating

00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:27.740
 our relationship

00:21:27.740 --> 00:21:28.779
 with Jesus.

00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:29.839
 Now,

00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:30.839
 maybe those

00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:31.659
 questions

00:21:31.659 --> 00:21:32.980
 cause you

00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:33.319
 to realize

00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:33.639
 you don't

00:21:33.639 --> 00:21:34.480
 have a relationship

00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:35.099
 with Jesus.

00:21:35.980 --> 00:21:36.379
 Or,

00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:37.319
 maybe it

00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:37.899
 causes you

00:21:37.899 --> 00:21:38.359
 to realize

00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:38.779
 that you're

00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:40.419
 pursuing activities

00:21:40.419 --> 00:21:41.699
 related to Jesus

00:21:41.699 --> 00:21:42.859
 but not pursuing

00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:43.659
 a relationship

00:21:43.659 --> 00:21:44.439
 with him.

00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:46.079
 The good news

00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:46.379
 is,

00:21:46.579 --> 00:21:47.659
 that can change

00:21:47.659 --> 00:21:48.480
 right now,

00:21:48.619 --> 00:21:48.959
 today.

00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:50.379
 You can make

00:21:50.379 --> 00:21:51.539
 a complete U-turn

00:21:51.539 --> 00:21:52.139
 from whatever

00:21:52.139 --> 00:21:53.480
 you've been doing

00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:54.579
 and begin

00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:55.279
 pursuing

00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:56.059
 an intimate

00:21:56.059 --> 00:21:56.819
 relationship

00:21:56.819 --> 00:21:57.539
 with Jesus.

00:21:58.740 --> 00:21:59.539
 If you're not

00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:00.019
 sure how to

00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:00.960
 start a relationship

00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:01.599
 with Jesus

00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:02.799
 or how to

00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:03.339
 renew your

00:22:03.339 --> 00:22:03.819
 relationship

00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:04.319
 with Jesus,

00:22:04.619 --> 00:22:05.720
 let me encourage

00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:05.960
 you,

00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:06.819
 don't leave

00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:07.519
 today without

00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:08.399
 talking to me

00:22:08.399 --> 00:22:09.259
 or one of the

00:22:09.259 --> 00:22:09.859
 leaders here

00:22:09.859 --> 00:22:10.460
 at Maranatha.

00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:11.439
 We would really

00:22:11.439 --> 00:22:12.519
 delight in

00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:13.619
 helping you

00:22:13.619 --> 00:22:15.619
 begin or

00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:16.559
 restore an

00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:16.919
 intimate

00:22:16.919 --> 00:22:17.679
 relationship

00:22:17.679 --> 00:22:18.779
 with Jesus.

00:22:19.619 --> 00:22:20.139
 But the

00:22:20.139 --> 00:22:20.759
 important thing

00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:21.419
 for our sermon

00:22:21.419 --> 00:22:21.919
 this morning

00:22:21.919 --> 00:22:22.179
 is,

00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:23.059
 this is the

00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:24.159
 source of love.

00:22:24.619 --> 00:22:25.379
 If you want

00:22:25.380 --> 00:22:26.180
 to experience

00:22:26.180 --> 00:22:27.380
 life-changing

00:22:27.380 --> 00:22:27.820
 love,

00:22:27.900 --> 00:22:28.320
 love that

00:22:28.320 --> 00:22:29.080
 not only

00:22:29.080 --> 00:22:30.060
 impacts you

00:22:30.060 --> 00:22:30.740
 but impacts

00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:31.200
 others,

00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:32.020
 it has to

00:22:32.020 --> 00:22:33.060
 begin in

00:22:33.060 --> 00:22:33.800
 your relationship

00:22:33.800 --> 00:22:34.400
 with Jesus

00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:35.060
 because he

00:22:35.060 --> 00:22:35.420
 is the

00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:35.820
 source.

00:22:37.040 --> 00:22:37.860
 The second

00:22:37.860 --> 00:22:38.500
 thing that I

00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:39.020
 want us to

00:22:39.020 --> 00:22:39.640
 consider from

00:22:39.640 --> 00:22:40.260
 this passage

00:22:40.260 --> 00:22:41.100
 is the

00:22:41.100 --> 00:22:41.740
 abundance

00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:43.160
 of love.

00:22:43.840 --> 00:22:44.600
 The abundance

00:22:44.600 --> 00:22:45.540
 of love.

00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:46.420
 And we see

00:22:46.420 --> 00:22:46.940
 that also

00:22:46.940 --> 00:22:47.780
 in chapter

00:22:47.780 --> 00:22:48.280
 3,

00:22:48.360 --> 00:22:48.900
 verse 12,

00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:49.180
 where he

00:22:49.180 --> 00:22:49.300
 says,

00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:49.620
 may the

00:22:49.620 --> 00:22:50.060
 Lord make

00:22:50.060 --> 00:22:51.340
 you increase

00:22:51.340 --> 00:22:52.480
 and abound

00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:53.460
 in love.

00:22:54.080 --> 00:22:54.560
 That word

00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:55.339
 abound is

00:22:55.339 --> 00:22:55.839
 the Greek

00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:56.259
 word,

00:22:56.940 --> 00:22:57.359
 I've been

00:22:57.359 --> 00:22:57.859
 practicing

00:22:57.859 --> 00:22:58.500
 this all

00:22:58.500 --> 00:22:58.919
 week and

00:22:58.919 --> 00:22:59.460
 I still

00:22:59.460 --> 00:22:59.819
 know I'm

00:22:59.819 --> 00:23:00.000
 going to

00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:00.279
 get it

00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:00.500
 wrong,

00:23:01.179 --> 00:23:02.039
 parasuyo.

00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:03.879
 If you're

00:23:03.879 --> 00:23:04.119
 a Greek

00:23:04.119 --> 00:23:04.419
 scholar,

00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:05.099
 pretend I

00:23:05.099 --> 00:23:05.379
 said it

00:23:05.379 --> 00:23:05.619
 right.

00:23:07.079 --> 00:23:07.720
 And sometimes

00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:08.339
 that word

00:23:08.339 --> 00:23:09.099
 is translated

00:23:09.099 --> 00:23:09.899
 overflow,

00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:12.079
 but here's a

00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:12.519
 picture of

00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:12.940
 overflow.

00:23:15.859 --> 00:23:16.659
 But here's

00:23:16.659 --> 00:23:17.000
 a picture,

00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:17.259
 okay.

00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:20.079
 And as

00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:20.619
 good as

00:23:20.619 --> 00:23:21.619
 this concept

00:23:21.619 --> 00:23:22.379
 is,

00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:23.379
 I really

00:23:23.379 --> 00:23:24.099
 like better

00:23:24.099 --> 00:23:25.039
 how strong

00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:26.559
 translates it

00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:27.699
 as super

00:23:27.699 --> 00:23:28.539
 abounding.

00:23:29.139 --> 00:23:29.619
 Super

00:23:29.619 --> 00:23:30.139
 abounding.

00:23:31.179 --> 00:23:31.819
 Super

00:23:31.819 --> 00:23:32.259
 abounding.

00:23:32.399 --> 00:23:32.639
 That's

00:23:32.639 --> 00:23:33.319
 old faithful.

00:23:33.879 --> 00:23:34.179
 Super

00:23:34.179 --> 00:23:34.759
 abounding

00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:35.779
 30 to

00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:36.919
 40 gallons

00:23:36.919 --> 00:23:37.599
 of water

00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:38.559
 per second.

00:23:39.579 --> 00:23:40.159
 And that's

00:23:40.159 --> 00:23:40.740
 the concept

00:23:40.740 --> 00:23:41.599
 here in

00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:42.240
 this word

00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:43.059
 that we

00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:43.619
 translate

00:23:43.619 --> 00:23:44.199
 abound.

00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:45.899
 And I've

00:23:45.899 --> 00:23:46.279
 told you

00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:46.599
 before,

00:23:46.759 --> 00:23:47.279
 I am a

00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:48.079
 little ADD

00:23:48.079 --> 00:23:48.419
 when I'm

00:23:48.419 --> 00:23:48.839
 studying.

00:23:49.379 --> 00:23:50.059
 And this

00:23:50.059 --> 00:23:50.559
 word really

00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:50.939
 caught my

00:23:50.939 --> 00:23:51.639
 attention and

00:23:51.639 --> 00:23:52.279
 I like went

00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:52.719
 off and

00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:53.519
 began to

00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:54.380
 study this

00:23:54.380 --> 00:23:54.799
 word and

00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:55.140
 where it's

00:23:55.140 --> 00:23:55.500
 used in

00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:55.740
 the New

00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:56.120
 Testament.

00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:56.640
 I made a

00:23:56.640 --> 00:23:57.019
 list of

00:23:57.019 --> 00:23:58.200
 17 passages

00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:59.120
 and it's

00:23:59.120 --> 00:23:59.799
 just so

00:23:59.799 --> 00:24:00.700
 interesting to

00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:01.559
 see how

00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:01.980
 this is

00:24:01.980 --> 00:24:02.360
 used,

00:24:02.680 --> 00:24:03.160
 whether it's

00:24:03.160 --> 00:24:04.079
 from numbers

00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:04.799
 of people

00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:05.480
 to the

00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.019
 glory of

00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:06.799
 Christ to

00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:07.579
 us having

00:24:07.579 --> 00:24:08.360
 thanksgiving

00:24:08.360 --> 00:24:09.240
 or experiencing

00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:09.880
 grace,

00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:10.799
 love,

00:24:10.920 --> 00:24:11.559
 our ministry,

00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:12.120
 hope,

00:24:12.539 --> 00:24:13.120
 generosity,

00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:14.019
 obedience,

00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:15.140
 even suffering

00:24:15.140 --> 00:24:15.839
 and comfort.

00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:16.740
 Paul talks

00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:17.180
 about us

00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:17.660
 super

00:24:17.660 --> 00:24:18.259
 abounding.

00:24:19.100 --> 00:24:19.400
 As a matter

00:24:19.400 --> 00:24:19.640
 of fact,

00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:20.040
 we even

00:24:20.040 --> 00:24:20.640
 see it

00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:20.920
 in the

00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:21.280
 passage

00:24:21.280 --> 00:24:21.920
 that we're

00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:22.140
 going to

00:24:22.140 --> 00:24:22.500
 look at

00:24:22.500 --> 00:24:22.880
 later,

00:24:23.040 --> 00:24:23.840
 1 Thessalonians

00:24:23.840 --> 00:24:24.740
 4.10,

00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:25.840
 where Paul

00:24:25.840 --> 00:24:26.820
 urges them

00:24:26.820 --> 00:24:28.200
 to continue

00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:28.900
 to do this

00:24:28.900 --> 00:24:29.620
 more and

00:24:29.620 --> 00:24:30.060
 more.

00:24:30.600 --> 00:24:30.940
 That's how

00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:31.620
 it's translated

00:24:31.620 --> 00:24:32.280
 in the ESV,

00:24:32.380 --> 00:24:32.640
 but that

00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:33.380
 first more

00:24:33.380 --> 00:24:34.080
 is the

00:24:34.080 --> 00:24:34.400
 same

00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:35.780
 Greek word.

00:24:36.140 --> 00:24:36.580
 So really

00:24:36.580 --> 00:24:37.160
 he's saying

00:24:37.160 --> 00:24:37.940
 that he's

00:24:37.940 --> 00:24:38.400
 encouraging

00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:38.820
 them to

00:24:38.820 --> 00:24:39.220
 do this

00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:39.700
 super

00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:40.660
 aboundingly

00:24:40.660 --> 00:24:41.780
 even more.

00:24:43.040 --> 00:24:43.460
 And so

00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:44.220
 as we

00:24:44.220 --> 00:24:44.680
 come to

00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:45.400
 that list

00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:46.020
 of passages,

00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:46.700
 the one

00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:47.200
 that I like

00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:47.780
 best,

00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:48.759
 just for the

00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:49.619
 feeling of

00:24:49.619 --> 00:24:50.359
 this idea

00:24:50.359 --> 00:24:50.680
 of how

00:24:50.680 --> 00:24:51.119
 our love

00:24:51.119 --> 00:24:51.779
 should abound

00:24:51.779 --> 00:24:53.160
 is found

00:24:53.160 --> 00:24:54.140
 in 2 Corinthians

00:24:54.140 --> 00:24:55.240
 9.8.

00:24:55.640 --> 00:24:56.559
 2 Corinthians

00:24:56.559 --> 00:24:57.339
 9.8.

00:24:57.660 --> 00:24:58.220
 And it says,

00:24:58.619 --> 00:24:59.160
 And God

00:24:59.160 --> 00:24:59.920
 is able to

00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:00.539
 make all

00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:01.339
 grace abound

00:25:01.339 --> 00:25:01.799
 to you,

00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:02.680
 so that having

00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:03.640
 all sufficiency

00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:04.500
 in all things

00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:05.559
 at all times,

00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:06.879
 you may abound

00:25:06.879 --> 00:25:07.839
 in every good

00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:08.319
 work.

00:25:08.900 --> 00:25:09.259
 Isn't that a

00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:09.859
 great verse?

00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:10.640
 And you can

00:25:10.640 --> 00:25:11.299
 stick super

00:25:11.299 --> 00:25:11.960
 abound in there,

00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:12.559
 it feels even

00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:12.920
 better.

00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:14.039
 And God

00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:14.519
 is able to

00:25:14.519 --> 00:25:14.980
 make all

00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:15.900
 grace super

00:25:15.900 --> 00:25:16.839
 abound to you,

00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:17.680
 so that having

00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:18.660
 all sufficiency

00:25:18.660 --> 00:25:19.500
 in all things

00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:20.080
 at all times,

00:25:20.360 --> 00:25:20.880
 you may

00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:22.180
 super abound

00:25:22.180 --> 00:25:23.200
 in every

00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:24.340
 good work.

00:25:25.360 --> 00:25:26.019
 So diagnostic

00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:26.840
 question number

00:25:26.840 --> 00:25:27.220
 four.

00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:29.000
 How is your

00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:29.860
 abundance of

00:25:29.860 --> 00:25:30.279
 love?

00:25:30.560 --> 00:25:31.080
 This is a

00:25:31.080 --> 00:25:31.940
 visual comparison,

00:25:32.080 --> 00:25:32.440
 you'll have to

00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:33.019
 look up here.

00:25:33.540 --> 00:25:34.720
 So are you

00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:36.060
 feeling kind

00:25:36.060 --> 00:25:36.480
 of empty?

00:25:37.380 --> 00:25:38.279
 Are you

00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:39.580
 feeling kind

00:25:39.580 --> 00:25:41.180
 of midway,

00:25:41.400 --> 00:25:42.100
 maybe mostly

00:25:42.100 --> 00:25:42.500
 full?

00:25:42.660 --> 00:25:43.200
 Or are you

00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:43.900
 feeling like

00:25:43.900 --> 00:25:44.700
 you're super

00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:45.420
 abounding?

00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:46.460
 Are you

00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:47.840
 overflowing

00:25:47.840 --> 00:25:48.860
 like old

00:25:48.860 --> 00:25:49.340
 faithful?

00:25:51.100 --> 00:25:51.880
 First thing

00:25:51.880 --> 00:25:52.880
 for you to

00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:53.340
 consider,

00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:54.819
 next thing

00:25:54.819 --> 00:25:55.340
 for you to

00:25:55.340 --> 00:25:55.740
 consider

00:25:55.740 --> 00:25:57.220
 in this

00:25:57.220 --> 00:25:57.779
 passage is

00:25:57.779 --> 00:25:58.579
 the expression

00:25:58.579 --> 00:25:59.740
 of our love,

00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:00.299
 the expression

00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:00.920
 of our love.

00:26:01.940 --> 00:26:03.100
 1 Thessalonians

00:26:03.100 --> 00:26:04.079
 3.12 again

00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:04.660
 we see,

00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:05.380
 he says,

00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:05.840
 may the Lord

00:26:05.840 --> 00:26:06.240
 make you

00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:07.120
 increase and

00:26:07.120 --> 00:26:07.720
 abound in

00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:09.180
 love for

00:26:09.180 --> 00:26:10.420
 one another

00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:11.740
 and for

00:26:11.740 --> 00:26:12.059
 all.

00:26:12.620 --> 00:26:13.559
 For one

00:26:13.559 --> 00:26:14.000
 another

00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:15.200
 and for

00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:15.480
 all.

00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.359
 You see,

00:26:16.599 --> 00:26:17.059
 there's two

00:26:17.059 --> 00:26:17.880
 dimensions to

00:26:17.880 --> 00:26:18.720
 this abounding,

00:26:18.920 --> 00:26:19.859
 super abounding

00:26:19.859 --> 00:26:20.599
 love in our

00:26:20.599 --> 00:26:20.859
 life.

00:26:21.180 --> 00:26:21.980
 One is an

00:26:21.980 --> 00:26:23.420
 internal expression

00:26:23.420 --> 00:26:25.240
 in our sharing

00:26:25.240 --> 00:26:26.099
 that love with

00:26:26.099 --> 00:26:26.859
 our brothers and

00:26:26.859 --> 00:26:27.400
 sisters in

00:26:27.400 --> 00:26:27.759
 Christ.

00:26:28.099 --> 00:26:28.500
 And we've

00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:28.900
 talked about

00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:29.940
 this extensively

00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:31.019
 in 1 John

00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:31.720
 and now even

00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:33.200
 into 1 Thessalonians.

00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:34.339
 But there is

00:26:34.339 --> 00:26:35.279
 also an

00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:36.779
 external expression

00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:37.440
 of this love

00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:38.259
 where he talks

00:26:38.259 --> 00:26:38.980
 about for

00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:39.539
 all.

00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:40.200
 You see,

00:26:40.279 --> 00:26:40.980
 this is a love

00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:41.519
 to those who

00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:42.420
 are not Christians.

00:26:42.420 --> 00:26:43.400
 This super

00:26:43.400 --> 00:26:44.259
 abounding love

00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:45.180
 isn't content

00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:46.800
 just to gather

00:26:46.800 --> 00:26:47.600
 us all together

00:26:47.600 --> 00:26:48.560
 so we can stand

00:26:48.560 --> 00:26:49.340
 inside the four

00:26:49.340 --> 00:26:49.840
 walls of the

00:26:49.840 --> 00:26:50.420
 church singing

00:26:50.420 --> 00:26:51.000
 Kumbaya.

00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:52.620
 It overflows

00:26:52.620 --> 00:26:53.519
 out into the

00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:53.820
 world,

00:26:53.900 --> 00:26:54.360
 into our

00:26:54.360 --> 00:26:54.880
 neighborhoods.

00:26:55.380 --> 00:26:56.100
 It gives us

00:26:56.100 --> 00:26:56.720
 a love,

00:26:56.920 --> 00:26:57.560
 a passionate

00:26:57.560 --> 00:26:58.440
 love for

00:26:58.440 --> 00:26:59.180
 those around

00:26:59.180 --> 00:26:59.759
 us.

00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:00.820
 And so,

00:27:01.080 --> 00:27:01.640
 in that,

00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:02.200
 we come to

00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:03.240
 diagnostic question

00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:03.779
 number five.

00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:04.700
 How is the

00:27:04.700 --> 00:27:06.380
 expression of

00:27:06.380 --> 00:27:07.019
 your love?

00:27:07.640 --> 00:27:08.120
 How is the

00:27:08.120 --> 00:27:08.740
 expression of

00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:09.160
 your love?

00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:10.960
 Internally.

00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:12.299
 Are you

00:27:12.299 --> 00:27:13.160
 loving your

00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:13.980
 brothers and

00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:15.460
 sisters here

00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:16.259
 at Maranatha?

00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:18.000
 Are you

00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:18.440
 willing to

00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:19.559
 give sacrificially

00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:20.299
 of your time,

00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:20.720
 money,

00:27:20.920 --> 00:27:21.299
 skills,

00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:22.140
 and other

00:27:22.140 --> 00:27:23.380
 resources to

00:27:23.380 --> 00:27:23.900
 help meet

00:27:23.900 --> 00:27:24.600
 their needs?

00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:26.140
 Are you

00:27:26.140 --> 00:27:26.840
 being faithful

00:27:26.840 --> 00:27:27.480
 in attending

00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:28.240
 Sunday school

00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:28.940
 worship and

00:27:28.940 --> 00:27:29.840
 small groups

00:27:29.840 --> 00:27:30.920
 as an expression

00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:31.819
 of your love

00:27:31.819 --> 00:27:32.600
 for the

00:27:32.600 --> 00:27:33.240
 brothers and

00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:33.880
 sisters here?

00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:34.799
 Are you

00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:35.440
 engaged in

00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:36.039
 some ministry

00:27:36.039 --> 00:27:36.740
 of the church

00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.740
 in order to

00:27:37.740 --> 00:27:38.299
 build each

00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:38.900
 other up?

00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:39.900
 Are you

00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:40.759
 praying faithfully

00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:41.619
 intentionally

00:27:41.619 --> 00:27:42.500
 and deeply

00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:43.160
 for the

00:27:43.160 --> 00:27:44.039
 people at

00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:44.559
 Maranatha?

00:27:45.099 --> 00:27:45.819
 Are you

00:27:45.819 --> 00:27:46.799
 nurturing unity

00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:47.619
 or causing

00:27:47.619 --> 00:27:48.119
 divisions?

00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:49.099
 Are there

00:27:49.099 --> 00:27:49.900
 any people

00:27:49.900 --> 00:27:50.359
 that you're

00:27:50.359 --> 00:27:50.859
 trying to

00:27:50.859 --> 00:27:51.220
 avoid?

00:27:52.140 --> 00:27:52.539
 Is there

00:27:52.539 --> 00:27:53.180
 anyone that

00:27:53.180 --> 00:27:53.599
 you're holding

00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:54.140
 on to an

00:27:54.140 --> 00:27:54.859
 offense or

00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:55.859
 frustration,

00:27:56.319 --> 00:27:56.920
 an anger,

00:27:57.339 --> 00:27:57.700
 resentment,

00:27:57.879 --> 00:27:58.200
 or some

00:27:58.200 --> 00:27:58.539
 bitterness

00:27:58.539 --> 00:27:59.160
 towards?

00:28:00.579 --> 00:28:01.140
 So stop

00:28:01.140 --> 00:28:01.460
 and just

00:28:01.460 --> 00:28:02.099
 consider that

00:28:02.099 --> 00:28:02.519
 for a minute.

00:28:02.900 --> 00:28:03.379
 How are you

00:28:03.379 --> 00:28:04.339
 doing in

00:28:04.339 --> 00:28:04.940
 your abundance

00:28:04.940 --> 00:28:05.720
 of love

00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:07.079
 internally

00:28:07.079 --> 00:28:07.879
 to the

00:28:07.879 --> 00:28:08.259
 body of

00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:08.660
 Christ?

00:28:08.660 --> 00:28:12.620
 Now consider

00:28:12.620 --> 00:28:13.340
 externally.

00:28:15.120 --> 00:28:15.720
 Externally,

00:28:15.800 --> 00:28:16.060
 are you

00:28:16.060 --> 00:28:17.259
 concerned about

00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:18.040
 those around

00:28:18.040 --> 00:28:18.759
 you who don't

00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:19.360
 know Jesus?

00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:21.279
 Are you

00:28:21.279 --> 00:28:21.960
 living with a

00:28:21.960 --> 00:28:22.940
 missionary mindset

00:28:22.940 --> 00:28:23.800
 right now?

00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:25.800
 Are you

00:28:25.800 --> 00:28:26.680
 willing to

00:28:26.680 --> 00:28:28.060
 give sacrificially

00:28:28.060 --> 00:28:28.800
 of your time,

00:28:28.920 --> 00:28:29.080
 money,

00:28:29.259 --> 00:28:29.560
 skills,

00:28:29.660 --> 00:28:29.980
 and other

00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:31.019
 resources to

00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:31.640
 help those

00:28:31.640 --> 00:28:32.400
 outside the

00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:32.720
 church?

00:28:33.300 --> 00:28:33.960
 Are you

00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:34.519
 praying for

00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:35.500
 specific people

00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:35.960
 and seeking

00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:36.460
 ways to

00:28:36.460 --> 00:28:37.540
 intentionally build

00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:38.180
 relationships

00:28:38.180 --> 00:28:38.779
 with them?

00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:40.379
 Are you

00:28:40.379 --> 00:28:40.859
 seeking to

00:28:40.859 --> 00:28:41.819
 connect more

00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:43.039
 intimately with

00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:43.879
 those at work

00:28:43.879 --> 00:28:44.680
 or in your

00:28:44.680 --> 00:28:45.099
 neighborhood?

00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:46.700
 Are you

00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:47.180
 working to

00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:47.859
 build teams

00:28:47.859 --> 00:28:48.180
 that will

00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:48.720
 care for

00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:49.180
 those who

00:28:49.180 --> 00:28:49.619
 don't know

00:28:49.619 --> 00:28:49.980
 Jesus?

00:28:51.019 --> 00:28:51.539
 Are there

00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:52.259
 any types

00:28:52.259 --> 00:28:53.319
 or kinds

00:28:53.319 --> 00:28:53.899
 of people

00:28:53.899 --> 00:28:54.319
 that you

00:28:54.319 --> 00:28:54.960
 dislike,

00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:56.240
 distrust,

00:28:56.639 --> 00:28:57.399
 or avoid?

00:28:58.480 --> 00:28:59.139
 Are there

00:28:59.139 --> 00:28:59.759
 any people

00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:00.599
 that you feel

00:29:00.599 --> 00:29:01.139
 like you have

00:29:01.139 --> 00:29:01.619
 hit your

00:29:01.619 --> 00:29:02.680
 limit on

00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:03.240
 forgiving,

00:29:03.859 --> 00:29:04.119
 loving,

00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:05.299
 and serving?

00:29:05.299 --> 00:29:07.039
 Again,

00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:07.859
 take a

00:29:07.859 --> 00:29:08.099
 minute.

00:29:09.339 --> 00:29:09.839
 Prayerfully

00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:11.500
 consider the

00:29:11.500 --> 00:29:12.220
 abundance of

00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:12.799
 your love,

00:29:13.119 --> 00:29:14.159
 both to your

00:29:14.159 --> 00:29:14.680
 brothers and

00:29:14.680 --> 00:29:15.240
 sisters in

00:29:15.240 --> 00:29:16.019
 Christ and

00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:16.700
 to the world,

00:29:16.859 --> 00:29:17.339
 to those

00:29:17.339 --> 00:29:18.039
 outside the

00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:18.379
 church.

00:29:18.680 --> 00:29:19.240
 How are you

00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:19.579
 doing?

00:29:20.220 --> 00:29:20.639
 Is your

00:29:20.639 --> 00:29:21.500
 love abounding?

00:29:21.639 --> 00:29:22.460
 Is it super

00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:23.019
 abounding?

00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:25.980
 The last thing

00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:26.379
 we're going to

00:29:26.379 --> 00:29:26.919
 look at from

00:29:26.919 --> 00:29:28.480
 this passage is

00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:29.180
 the multiplication

00:29:29.180 --> 00:29:30.319
 of love.

00:29:31.220 --> 00:29:32.019
 The multiplication

00:29:32.019 --> 00:29:32.819
 of love.

00:29:32.819 --> 00:29:34.839
 You see,

00:29:34.919 --> 00:29:35.359
 this isn't

00:29:35.359 --> 00:29:36.240
 just a love

00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:36.799
 that we

00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:37.379
 receive,

00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:38.039
 but it's a

00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:38.799
 love that

00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:40.079
 multiplies out.

00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:41.039
 And we see

00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:41.619
 first and

00:29:41.619 --> 00:29:42.439
 foremost that it

00:29:42.439 --> 00:29:43.359
 multiplies out

00:29:43.359 --> 00:29:44.099
 from God.

00:29:44.740 --> 00:29:45.039
 Remember,

00:29:45.159 --> 00:29:45.839
 the first point

00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:46.619
 is that Jesus

00:29:46.619 --> 00:29:47.879
 is the

00:29:47.879 --> 00:29:48.419
 source.

00:29:50.059 --> 00:29:50.679
 Here's some

00:29:50.679 --> 00:29:51.319
 verses that

00:29:51.319 --> 00:29:52.639
 talk about how

00:29:52.639 --> 00:29:54.519
 love multiplies

00:29:54.519 --> 00:29:55.339
 out from God.

00:29:55.439 --> 00:29:56.960
 John 3.16

00:29:56.960 --> 00:30:10.120
 John 15.9

00:30:10.120 --> 00:30:11.340
 where Jesus

00:30:11.340 --> 00:30:11.680
 says,

00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:12.539
 As the

00:30:12.539 --> 00:30:13.240
 Father has

00:30:13.240 --> 00:30:13.980
 loved me,

00:30:14.299 --> 00:30:15.100
 so have I

00:30:15.100 --> 00:30:15.700
 loved you.

00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:17.259
 Abide in

00:30:17.259 --> 00:30:17.799
 my love.

00:30:18.700 --> 00:30:19.920
 John 15.12

00:30:19.920 --> 00:30:20.759
 Jesus says,

00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:21.440
 This is my

00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:22.059
 commandment,

00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:22.600
 that you

00:30:22.600 --> 00:30:23.319
 love one

00:30:23.319 --> 00:30:24.279
 another as I

00:30:24.279 --> 00:30:24.759
 have loved

00:30:24.759 --> 00:30:25.059
 you.

00:30:25.059 --> 00:30:28.220
 Romans 5.8

00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:29.559
 But God

00:30:29.559 --> 00:30:30.139
 shows his

00:30:30.139 --> 00:30:30.899
 love for us

00:30:30.899 --> 00:30:31.539
 in that while

00:30:31.539 --> 00:30:32.659
 we were still

00:30:32.659 --> 00:30:33.299
 sinners,

00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:35.059
 Christ died

00:30:35.059 --> 00:30:36.000
 for us.

00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:39.159
 Ephesians 2.4

00:30:39.159 --> 00:30:39.679
 and 5

00:30:39.679 --> 00:30:41.099
 But God

00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:42.139
 being rich

00:30:42.139 --> 00:30:42.879
 in mercy

00:30:42.879 --> 00:30:43.579
 because of

00:30:43.579 --> 00:30:44.179
 the great

00:30:44.179 --> 00:30:45.039
 love with

00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:45.539
 which he

00:30:45.539 --> 00:30:46.279
 loved us,

00:30:46.579 --> 00:30:47.399
 even when

00:30:47.399 --> 00:30:48.039
 we were dead

00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:48.319
 in our

00:30:48.319 --> 00:30:49.099
 trespasses,

00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:49.980
 made us

00:30:49.980 --> 00:30:51.359
 alive together

00:30:51.359 --> 00:30:52.500
 with Christ.

00:30:52.799 --> 00:30:53.559
 By grace

00:30:53.559 --> 00:30:54.119
 you have

00:30:54.119 --> 00:30:54.859
 been saved.

00:30:55.059 --> 00:30:58.339
 1 John 3.1

00:30:58.339 --> 00:30:59.980
 See what

00:30:59.980 --> 00:31:00.519
 kind of

00:31:00.519 --> 00:31:01.039
 love the

00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:01.639
 Father has

00:31:01.639 --> 00:31:02.200
 given to

00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:02.559
 us,

00:31:03.039 --> 00:31:03.679
 that we

00:31:03.679 --> 00:31:04.259
 should be

00:31:04.259 --> 00:31:04.819
 called

00:31:04.819 --> 00:31:05.819
 children of

00:31:05.819 --> 00:31:06.359
 God,

00:31:06.859 --> 00:31:07.559
 and so

00:31:07.559 --> 00:31:08.639
 we are.

00:31:09.740 --> 00:31:10.960
 1 John 4.19

00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:11.940
 We love

00:31:11.940 --> 00:31:12.619
 because he

00:31:12.619 --> 00:31:13.579
 first loved

00:31:13.579 --> 00:31:14.119
 us.

00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:15.740
 Then into

00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:16.859
 1 Thessalonians

00:31:16.859 --> 00:31:18.019
 1.4

00:31:18.019 --> 00:31:19.139
 For we

00:31:19.139 --> 00:31:19.399
 know,

00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:19.899
 brothers,

00:31:20.299 --> 00:31:20.819
 loved by

00:31:20.819 --> 00:31:21.220
 God,

00:31:21.319 --> 00:31:21.799
 that he

00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:22.659
 has chosen

00:31:22.659 --> 00:31:23.200
 you.

00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:24.500
 In the

00:31:24.500 --> 00:31:24.819
 verse that

00:31:24.819 --> 00:31:25.039
 we're going

00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:25.460
 to look at

00:31:25.460 --> 00:31:26.120
 momentarily,

00:31:26.580 --> 00:31:27.140
 chapter 4,

00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:27.700
 verse 9,

00:31:27.779 --> 00:31:28.500
 Now concerning

00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:29.500
 brotherly love,

00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:30.380
 you have no

00:31:30.380 --> 00:31:30.880
 need for

00:31:30.880 --> 00:31:31.620
 anyone to

00:31:31.620 --> 00:31:32.000
 write to

00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:32.140
 you,

00:31:32.360 --> 00:31:32.819
 for you

00:31:32.819 --> 00:31:33.400
 yourselves

00:31:33.400 --> 00:31:34.000
 have been

00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:34.700
 taught by

00:31:34.700 --> 00:31:35.500
 God to

00:31:35.500 --> 00:31:36.279
 love one

00:31:36.279 --> 00:31:36.640
 another.

00:31:37.019 --> 00:31:37.400
 You see,

00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:37.980
 this super

00:31:37.980 --> 00:31:38.519
 abounding

00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:39.559
 love is a

00:31:39.559 --> 00:31:40.019
 multiplying

00:31:40.019 --> 00:31:40.900
 love that

00:31:40.900 --> 00:31:41.759
 starts with

00:31:41.759 --> 00:31:42.220
 God.

00:31:43.980 --> 00:31:44.940
 He has

00:31:44.940 --> 00:31:45.519
 poured it

00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:46.180
 out into

00:31:46.180 --> 00:31:47.180
 our lives.

00:31:47.779 --> 00:31:48.319
 We're the

00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:49.340
 recipients of

00:31:49.340 --> 00:31:49.960
 this super

00:31:49.960 --> 00:31:50.420
 abounding

00:31:50.420 --> 00:31:50.840
 love.

00:31:50.839 --> 00:31:50.879
 love.

00:31:52.059 --> 00:31:52.619
 We've

00:31:52.619 --> 00:31:53.379
 received it.

00:31:53.659 --> 00:31:54.000
 We've

00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:54.740
 tasted it.

00:31:54.919 --> 00:31:55.099
 We've

00:31:55.099 --> 00:31:55.779
 experienced

00:31:55.779 --> 00:31:56.359
 it.

00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:56.919
 But it's

00:31:56.919 --> 00:31:57.639
 not just

00:31:57.639 --> 00:31:58.099
 for our

00:31:58.099 --> 00:31:58.539
 pleasure.

00:31:59.039 --> 00:31:59.379
 We see

00:31:59.379 --> 00:32:00.079
 Paul even

00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:01.319
 here continuing

00:32:01.319 --> 00:32:02.500
 to challenge

00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:03.819
 the Thessalonians

00:32:03.819 --> 00:32:05.059
 because it's

00:32:05.059 --> 00:32:05.579
 a love that

00:32:05.579 --> 00:32:06.919
 multiplies from

00:32:06.919 --> 00:32:07.879
 believers as

00:32:07.879 --> 00:32:08.299
 well.

00:32:09.099 --> 00:32:09.699
 Notice in

00:32:09.699 --> 00:32:10.599
 chapter 1

00:32:10.599 --> 00:32:11.119
 Thessalonians

00:32:11.119 --> 00:32:11.799
 3.12

00:32:11.799 --> 00:32:12.579
 He says,

00:32:12.699 --> 00:32:12.859
 May the

00:32:12.859 --> 00:32:13.319
 Lord make

00:32:13.319 --> 00:32:13.980
 you increase

00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:14.579
 and abound

00:32:14.579 --> 00:32:15.059
 in love

00:32:15.059 --> 00:32:15.459
 for one

00:32:15.459 --> 00:32:16.379
 another and

00:32:16.379 --> 00:32:16.959
 for all

00:32:16.959 --> 00:32:17.980
 as we

00:32:17.980 --> 00:32:18.959
 do for

00:32:18.959 --> 00:32:19.319
 you.

00:32:19.319 --> 00:32:20.559
 Now,

00:32:20.720 --> 00:32:21.179
 we've been

00:32:21.179 --> 00:32:21.659
 looking at

00:32:21.659 --> 00:32:22.419
 1 Thessalonians

00:32:22.419 --> 00:32:22.759
 so I'm

00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:23.139
 sure you

00:32:23.139 --> 00:32:24.079
 remember how

00:32:24.079 --> 00:32:24.599
 Paul has

00:32:24.599 --> 00:32:25.720
 described the

00:32:25.720 --> 00:32:26.439
 love that he

00:32:26.439 --> 00:32:27.200
 and his team

00:32:27.200 --> 00:32:28.240
 have showed the

00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:28.740
 people in

00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.419
 Thessalonica.

00:32:29.819 --> 00:32:30.439
 He's talked

00:32:30.439 --> 00:32:31.419
 about being

00:32:31.419 --> 00:32:32.220
 like a

00:32:32.220 --> 00:32:33.000
 nursing mother

00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:33.819
 taking care of

00:32:33.819 --> 00:32:34.139
 his own

00:32:34.139 --> 00:32:34.599
 children,

00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:35.939
 being affectionately

00:32:35.939 --> 00:32:36.879
 desirous of

00:32:36.879 --> 00:32:37.059
 them,

00:32:37.299 --> 00:32:38.159
 being willing to

00:32:38.159 --> 00:32:39.220
 share not only

00:32:39.220 --> 00:32:40.019
 the gospel but

00:32:40.019 --> 00:32:41.240
 their very lives

00:32:41.240 --> 00:32:41.819
 with them,

00:32:42.099 --> 00:32:43.000
 or talking about

00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:43.899
 his love for

00:32:43.899 --> 00:32:44.439
 them like a

00:32:44.439 --> 00:32:44.839
 father,

00:32:45.139 --> 00:32:45.960
 how he's worked

00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:46.779
 and toiled to

00:32:46.779 --> 00:32:47.519
 not be a burden

00:32:47.519 --> 00:32:47.980
 to them,

00:32:48.220 --> 00:32:48.879
 how he has

00:32:48.880 --> 00:32:49.560
 been faithful

00:32:49.560 --> 00:32:50.500
 to challenge

00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:50.740
 them,

00:32:50.820 --> 00:32:51.500
 to encourage

00:32:51.500 --> 00:32:51.700
 them,

00:32:51.760 --> 00:32:52.440
 to instruct

00:32:52.440 --> 00:32:52.860
 them.

00:32:53.500 --> 00:32:53.940
 And so we

00:32:53.940 --> 00:32:54.640
 see this kind

00:32:54.640 --> 00:32:55.260
 of love that's

00:32:55.260 --> 00:32:55.940
 been multiplied

00:32:55.940 --> 00:32:57.340
 out of Paul's

00:32:57.340 --> 00:32:58.600
 life into the

00:32:58.600 --> 00:32:59.040
 church at

00:32:59.040 --> 00:32:59.760
 Thessalonica.

00:33:00.720 --> 00:33:01.720
 But we see

00:33:01.720 --> 00:33:02.980
 here in chapter

00:33:02.980 --> 00:33:04.600
 4, verses 9

00:33:04.600 --> 00:33:04.980
 and 10,

00:33:05.300 --> 00:33:06.420
 he is calling

00:33:06.420 --> 00:33:07.760
 them not to

00:33:07.760 --> 00:33:08.400
 be content

00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:09.800
 in receiving

00:33:09.800 --> 00:33:10.800
 it, not even

00:33:10.800 --> 00:33:11.640
 to be content

00:33:11.640 --> 00:33:12.460
 with how they're

00:33:12.460 --> 00:33:13.320
 expressing it

00:33:13.320 --> 00:33:14.600
 presently, but

00:33:14.600 --> 00:33:15.440
 challenging them

00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:16.580
 to multiply it

00:33:16.580 --> 00:33:18.000
 more and more.

00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:19.640
 1 Thessalonians

00:33:19.640 --> 00:33:20.259
 4, 9

00:33:20.259 --> 00:33:20.680
 and 10

00:33:20.680 --> 00:33:20.960
 says,

00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:22.180
 Now concerning

00:33:22.180 --> 00:33:23.240
 brotherly love,

00:33:23.940 --> 00:33:24.660
 you have no

00:33:24.660 --> 00:33:26.160
 need for anyone

00:33:26.160 --> 00:33:27.059
 to write to you.

00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:28.200
 You yourselves

00:33:28.200 --> 00:33:28.779
 have been taught

00:33:28.779 --> 00:33:29.720
 by God to love

00:33:29.720 --> 00:33:30.240
 one another,

00:33:30.599 --> 00:33:31.480
 for that indeed

00:33:31.480 --> 00:33:32.079
 is what you're

00:33:32.079 --> 00:33:33.140
 doing to all

00:33:33.140 --> 00:33:33.720
 the brothers

00:33:33.720 --> 00:33:34.960
 throughout Macedonia.

00:33:35.460 --> 00:33:36.279
 But we urge

00:33:36.279 --> 00:33:37.380
 you brothers to

00:33:37.380 --> 00:33:38.859
 do this super

00:33:38.859 --> 00:33:39.819
 aboundingly

00:33:39.819 --> 00:33:40.779
 even more.

00:33:42.779 --> 00:33:43.259
 And then we

00:33:43.259 --> 00:33:44.240
 see as he

00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:45.579
 continues in

00:33:45.579 --> 00:33:46.200
 chapter 4,

00:33:46.200 --> 00:33:46.920
 verses 11

00:33:46.920 --> 00:33:47.480
 and 12,

00:33:47.940 --> 00:33:48.519
 he paints

00:33:48.519 --> 00:33:49.319
 this picture

00:33:49.319 --> 00:33:50.120
 of this

00:33:50.120 --> 00:33:51.220
 multiplying love

00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:52.220
 as it is

00:33:52.220 --> 00:33:52.840
 lived out

00:33:52.840 --> 00:33:53.600
 in their lives.

00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:54.299
 As he says,

00:33:54.640 --> 00:33:55.240
 And aspire

00:33:55.240 --> 00:33:56.319
 to live

00:33:56.319 --> 00:33:56.900
 quietly,

00:33:57.660 --> 00:33:58.220
 to mind

00:33:58.220 --> 00:33:58.600
 your own

00:33:58.600 --> 00:33:59.019
 affairs,

00:33:59.340 --> 00:34:00.019
 to work

00:34:00.019 --> 00:34:00.420
 with your

00:34:00.420 --> 00:34:01.019
 hands as

00:34:01.019 --> 00:34:01.680
 we instructed

00:34:01.680 --> 00:34:02.039
 you,

00:34:02.640 --> 00:34:03.100
 so that you

00:34:03.100 --> 00:34:03.640
 may walk

00:34:03.640 --> 00:34:04.319
 properly

00:34:04.319 --> 00:34:05.880
 before outsiders

00:34:05.880 --> 00:34:06.860
 and be

00:34:06.860 --> 00:34:07.400
 dependent

00:34:07.400 --> 00:34:09.280
 on no one.

00:34:09.820 --> 00:34:10.179
 You see,

00:34:10.340 --> 00:34:11.099
 he talks about

00:34:11.099 --> 00:34:11.500
 how this

00:34:11.500 --> 00:34:12.420
 multiplying love

00:34:12.420 --> 00:34:13.159
 should affect

00:34:13.159 --> 00:34:13.579
 how they're

00:34:13.579 --> 00:34:14.220
 living in

00:34:14.219 --> 00:34:14.959
 their community.

00:34:15.639 --> 00:34:16.239
 And, you

00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:16.599
 know, he

00:34:16.599 --> 00:34:17.039
 talks about

00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:17.759
 living quietly

00:34:17.759 --> 00:34:18.319
 and minding

00:34:18.319 --> 00:34:18.699
 your own

00:34:18.699 --> 00:34:19.500
 affairs.

00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:20.799
 Don't take

00:34:20.799 --> 00:34:21.279
 that as

00:34:21.279 --> 00:34:22.339
 isolationism.

00:34:22.859 --> 00:34:23.279
 His point

00:34:23.279 --> 00:34:23.980
 isn't, you

00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:24.559
 know, just

00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:24.939
 stay in your

00:34:24.939 --> 00:34:25.419
 house and

00:34:25.419 --> 00:34:25.759
 don't talk

00:34:25.759 --> 00:34:26.299
 to anybody,

00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:26.659
 you know,

00:34:26.799 --> 00:34:27.319
 cocoon.

00:34:27.699 --> 00:34:28.779
 That's what

00:34:28.779 --> 00:34:29.679
 we tend to

00:34:29.679 --> 00:34:29.899
 do.

00:34:30.119 --> 00:34:30.500
 But that's

00:34:30.500 --> 00:34:30.779
 not his

00:34:30.779 --> 00:34:31.239
 point here.

00:34:31.279 --> 00:34:31.779
 His point

00:34:31.779 --> 00:34:33.439
 here is that

00:34:33.439 --> 00:34:34.219
 you should be

00:34:34.219 --> 00:34:35.059
 seeking to

00:34:35.059 --> 00:34:35.819
 live in a way

00:34:35.819 --> 00:34:36.619
 that builds

00:34:36.619 --> 00:34:37.299
 peace and

00:34:37.299 --> 00:34:37.839
 harmony in

00:34:37.839 --> 00:34:38.519
 your community,

00:34:38.699 --> 00:34:39.500
 not be in a

00:34:39.500 --> 00:34:40.139
 busybody.

00:34:40.579 --> 00:34:41.279
 Don't be all

00:34:41.279 --> 00:34:42.159
 up in everybody's

00:34:42.159 --> 00:34:42.659
 business.

00:34:42.659 --> 00:34:43.639
 right?

00:34:44.139 --> 00:34:44.659
 And so,

00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:45.719
 live in a way

00:34:45.719 --> 00:34:46.579
 that's creating

00:34:46.579 --> 00:34:47.000
 in your

00:34:47.000 --> 00:34:47.619
 community

00:34:47.619 --> 00:34:48.279
 something

00:34:48.279 --> 00:34:49.000
 distinctive.

00:34:49.539 --> 00:34:49.879
 He talks

00:34:49.879 --> 00:34:50.440
 about working

00:34:50.440 --> 00:34:50.839
 with your

00:34:50.839 --> 00:34:51.339
 hands.

00:34:51.940 --> 00:34:52.559
 And it's

00:34:52.559 --> 00:34:53.259
 obvious,

00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:54.899
 if we were

00:34:54.899 --> 00:34:55.579
 to look at

00:34:55.579 --> 00:34:57.179
 2 Thessalonians,

00:34:57.259 --> 00:34:57.960
 that this is a

00:34:57.960 --> 00:34:59.299
 challenge because

00:34:59.299 --> 00:35:00.339
 the church at

00:35:00.339 --> 00:35:01.460
 Thessalonica is

00:35:01.460 --> 00:35:02.500
 so generous,

00:35:02.679 --> 00:35:03.440
 so gracious,

00:35:03.679 --> 00:35:04.539
 so giving,

00:35:05.159 --> 00:35:05.519
 that there's

00:35:05.519 --> 00:35:05.879
 some people

00:35:05.879 --> 00:35:06.379
 that start to

00:35:06.379 --> 00:35:07.039
 take advantage

00:35:07.039 --> 00:35:07.659
 of that.

00:35:08.039 --> 00:35:08.539
 And in 2

00:35:08.539 --> 00:35:09.659
 Thessalonians 3,

00:35:10.179 --> 00:35:10.799
 Paul says,

00:35:10.940 --> 00:35:11.579
 for even when

00:35:11.579 --> 00:35:12.239
 we were with

00:35:12.239 --> 00:35:12.420
 you,

00:35:12.420 --> 00:35:13.019
 we'd give you

00:35:13.019 --> 00:35:13.579
 this command,

00:35:13.700 --> 00:35:14.420
 if anyone's

00:35:14.420 --> 00:35:14.960
 not willing

00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:15.500
 to work,

00:35:15.820 --> 00:35:16.420
 let him not

00:35:16.420 --> 00:35:16.720
 eat.

00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:17.500
 For we hear

00:35:17.500 --> 00:35:18.000
 that there are

00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:18.500
 some among

00:35:18.500 --> 00:35:19.260
 you who are

00:35:19.260 --> 00:35:19.940
 walking in

00:35:19.940 --> 00:35:20.480
 idleness,

00:35:20.800 --> 00:35:21.639
 not busy at

00:35:21.639 --> 00:35:21.940
 work,

00:35:22.059 --> 00:35:22.639
 but busy

00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:23.039
 bodies.

00:35:23.639 --> 00:35:24.079
 Now such

00:35:24.079 --> 00:35:24.680
 persons we

00:35:24.680 --> 00:35:25.559
 command and

00:35:25.559 --> 00:35:26.460
 encourage in

00:35:26.460 --> 00:35:26.960
 the Lord Jesus

00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:27.740
 Christ to do

00:35:27.740 --> 00:35:28.139
 their work

00:35:28.139 --> 00:35:29.240
 quietly and

00:35:29.240 --> 00:35:29.820
 earn their

00:35:29.820 --> 00:35:30.780
 own living.

00:35:31.599 --> 00:35:31.880
 So,

00:35:32.119 --> 00:35:32.860
 Paul calls

00:35:32.860 --> 00:35:33.800
 them to live

00:35:33.800 --> 00:35:34.340
 out this

00:35:34.340 --> 00:35:35.000
 multiplying

00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:35.700
 love in

00:35:35.700 --> 00:35:36.480
 their community.

00:35:37.099 --> 00:35:37.400
 And that

00:35:37.400 --> 00:35:38.260
 brings us to

00:35:38.260 --> 00:35:39.159
 diagnostic question

00:35:39.159 --> 00:35:39.820
 number six.

00:35:39.820 --> 00:35:41.160
 are you

00:35:41.160 --> 00:35:41.880
 multiplying

00:35:41.880 --> 00:35:42.460
 love?

00:35:42.980 --> 00:35:43.240
 Are you

00:35:43.240 --> 00:35:43.700
 multiplying

00:35:43.700 --> 00:35:44.180
 love?

00:35:44.500 --> 00:35:45.019
 So consider

00:35:45.019 --> 00:35:45.380
 this.

00:35:46.100 --> 00:35:46.980
 Who are you

00:35:46.980 --> 00:35:47.800
 intentionally

00:35:47.800 --> 00:35:49.180
 showing the

00:35:49.180 --> 00:35:49.780
 love of Jesus

00:35:49.780 --> 00:35:50.340
 to in your

00:35:50.340 --> 00:35:50.980
 daily life?

00:35:52.100 --> 00:35:52.840
 Who are you

00:35:52.840 --> 00:35:53.860
 actively seeking

00:35:53.860 --> 00:35:54.539
 to multiply

00:35:54.539 --> 00:35:55.300
 love into,

00:35:55.740 --> 00:35:56.500
 both Christians

00:35:56.500 --> 00:35:57.740
 and non-Christians?

00:35:57.739 --> 00:35:59.279
 are you

00:35:59.279 --> 00:35:59.979
 living in a

00:35:59.979 --> 00:36:00.359
 way that

00:36:00.359 --> 00:36:01.179
 promotes peace

00:36:01.179 --> 00:36:01.799
 and unity

00:36:01.799 --> 00:36:02.559
 in the church

00:36:02.559 --> 00:36:03.439
 and promotes

00:36:03.439 --> 00:36:04.239
 harmony and

00:36:04.239 --> 00:36:04.879
 reconciliation

00:36:04.879 --> 00:36:06.599
 outside of

00:36:06.599 --> 00:36:07.119
 the church?

00:36:08.019 --> 00:36:08.579
 Are you

00:36:08.579 --> 00:36:08.979
 doing all

00:36:08.979 --> 00:36:09.579
 you can

00:36:09.579 --> 00:36:10.319
 to work

00:36:10.319 --> 00:36:10.699
 and take

00:36:10.699 --> 00:36:11.099
 care of

00:36:11.099 --> 00:36:11.479
 yourself,

00:36:11.599 --> 00:36:12.239
 your family,

00:36:12.539 --> 00:36:13.139
 and provide

00:36:13.139 --> 00:36:13.679
 for those

00:36:13.679 --> 00:36:14.159
 in need?

00:36:15.299 --> 00:36:15.859
 Are you

00:36:15.859 --> 00:36:16.519
 living in a

00:36:16.519 --> 00:36:17.139
 way that

00:36:17.139 --> 00:36:18.539
 even non-Christians

00:36:18.539 --> 00:36:19.279
 would see

00:36:19.279 --> 00:36:20.219
 as having

00:36:20.219 --> 00:36:21.219
 an integrity

00:36:21.219 --> 00:36:22.839
 of character

00:36:22.839 --> 00:36:24.479
 so that

00:36:24.479 --> 00:36:25.059
 this love

00:36:25.059 --> 00:36:25.500
 that we've

00:36:25.500 --> 00:36:26.259
 received from

00:36:26.259 --> 00:36:27.279
 God can

00:36:27.280 --> 00:36:28.400
 multiply out

00:36:28.400 --> 00:36:29.660
 into the

00:36:29.660 --> 00:36:30.560
 lives of

00:36:30.560 --> 00:36:30.940
 others?

00:36:32.519 --> 00:36:33.780
 So here's

00:36:33.780 --> 00:36:34.600
 the main

00:36:34.600 --> 00:36:35.660
 point for

00:36:35.660 --> 00:36:36.019
 the main

00:36:36.019 --> 00:36:36.380
 sermon.

00:36:37.300 --> 00:36:37.620
 Super

00:36:37.620 --> 00:36:38.160
 abound

00:36:38.160 --> 00:36:38.720
 in love.

00:36:39.940 --> 00:36:40.380
 Super

00:36:40.380 --> 00:36:41.440
 abound

00:36:41.440 --> 00:36:42.860
 in love.

00:36:43.900 --> 00:36:44.660
 Super

00:36:44.660 --> 00:36:45.300
 abound

00:36:45.300 --> 00:36:46.019
 in love.

00:36:46.760 --> 00:36:47.400
 But there's

00:36:47.400 --> 00:36:47.800
 one more

00:36:47.800 --> 00:36:48.340
 diagnostic

00:36:48.340 --> 00:36:48.840
 question.

00:36:48.940 --> 00:36:49.320
 I told you

00:36:49.320 --> 00:36:49.640
 there was

00:36:49.640 --> 00:36:49.940
 seven.

00:36:50.860 --> 00:36:51.380
 So in

00:36:51.380 --> 00:36:51.800
 closing,

00:36:52.560 --> 00:36:53.340
 consider this.

00:36:53.780 --> 00:36:54.380
 What are

00:36:54.380 --> 00:36:55.440
 your barriers

00:36:55.440 --> 00:36:56.940
 to super

00:36:56.940 --> 00:36:57.840
 abounding

00:36:57.840 --> 00:36:58.599
 love?

00:37:00.000 --> 00:37:00.780
 What are

00:37:00.780 --> 00:37:01.380
 your barriers

00:37:01.380 --> 00:37:02.179
 to super

00:37:02.179 --> 00:37:02.679
 abounding

00:37:02.679 --> 00:37:03.079
 love?

00:37:03.740 --> 00:37:04.139
 Fear?

00:37:05.599 --> 00:37:06.139
 Pride?

00:37:07.260 --> 00:37:07.800
 Pain?

00:37:08.760 --> 00:37:09.340
 Greed?

00:37:10.139 --> 00:37:10.800
 Laziness?

00:37:11.480 --> 00:37:12.539
 Self-centeredness?

00:37:12.900 --> 00:37:13.500
 Prejudice?

00:37:13.820 --> 00:37:14.400
 Busyness?

00:37:14.539 --> 00:37:15.079
 Bitterness?

00:37:15.280 --> 00:37:15.800
 Anger?

00:37:16.380 --> 00:37:16.860
 Apathy?

00:37:17.559 --> 00:37:18.059
 Lack of

00:37:18.059 --> 00:37:18.440
 faith?

00:37:18.980 --> 00:37:19.460
 Lack of

00:37:19.460 --> 00:37:19.820
 hope?

00:37:20.280 --> 00:37:20.760
 Lack of

00:37:20.760 --> 00:37:21.380
 confidence?

00:37:22.599 --> 00:37:23.240
 Stubbornness?

00:37:23.239 --> 00:37:24.479
 Maybe

00:37:24.479 --> 00:37:24.779
 there's

00:37:24.779 --> 00:37:25.019
 something

00:37:25.019 --> 00:37:25.419
 more.

00:37:27.259 --> 00:37:27.939
 I can

00:37:27.939 --> 00:37:28.339
 tell you

00:37:28.339 --> 00:37:29.379
 that just

00:37:29.379 --> 00:37:30.399
 studying this

00:37:30.399 --> 00:37:30.899
 passage

00:37:30.899 --> 00:37:32.519
 has really

00:37:32.519 --> 00:37:33.179
 challenged

00:37:33.179 --> 00:37:33.519
 me.

00:37:33.959 --> 00:37:34.319
 I, you

00:37:34.319 --> 00:37:34.659
 know, I

00:37:34.659 --> 00:37:35.119
 was kind

00:37:35.119 --> 00:37:35.459
 of like

00:37:35.459 --> 00:37:35.739
 at a

00:37:35.739 --> 00:37:36.419
 full glass

00:37:36.419 --> 00:37:36.799
 kind of

00:37:36.799 --> 00:37:37.799
 guy when

00:37:37.799 --> 00:37:38.000
 I was

00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:38.419
 looking at

00:37:38.419 --> 00:37:38.859
 the love

00:37:38.859 --> 00:37:39.159
 in my

00:37:39.159 --> 00:37:39.459
 life.

00:37:40.199 --> 00:37:40.439
 And as

00:37:40.439 --> 00:37:41.659
 I dug

00:37:41.659 --> 00:37:42.119
 into this

00:37:42.119 --> 00:37:42.599
 passage,

00:37:43.239 --> 00:37:43.899
 God just

00:37:43.899 --> 00:37:44.439
 in his

00:37:44.439 --> 00:37:44.959
 grace,

00:37:45.319 --> 00:37:45.939
 his painful

00:37:45.939 --> 00:37:46.459
 grace,

00:37:46.779 --> 00:37:47.479
 has continued

00:37:47.479 --> 00:37:48.079
 to show me

00:37:48.079 --> 00:37:48.479
 again and

00:37:48.479 --> 00:37:49.559
 again how

00:37:49.559 --> 00:37:50.399
 unloving

00:37:50.400 --> 00:37:50.940
 I really

00:37:50.940 --> 00:37:51.320
 am.

00:37:53.200 --> 00:37:53.940
 So as

00:37:53.940 --> 00:37:54.400
 we close

00:37:54.400 --> 00:37:54.760
 today, I

00:37:54.760 --> 00:37:55.139
 would just

00:37:55.139 --> 00:37:55.760
 encourage

00:37:55.760 --> 00:37:57.519
 you, be

00:37:57.519 --> 00:37:59.039
 praying deeper.

00:38:00.240 --> 00:38:01.099
 Be seeking

00:38:01.099 --> 00:38:01.800
 to pursue

00:38:01.800 --> 00:38:03.900
 love and

00:38:03.900 --> 00:38:04.619
 asking that

00:38:04.619 --> 00:38:04.960
 we would

00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:06.119
 all, myself

00:38:06.119 --> 00:38:06.700
 included,

00:38:07.220 --> 00:38:07.519
 super

00:38:07.519 --> 00:38:08.660
 abound in

00:38:08.660 --> 00:38:09.059
 love.

00:38:09.660 --> 00:38:10.420
 If you

00:38:10.420 --> 00:38:10.680
 would,

00:38:10.900 --> 00:38:11.099
 pray.

00:38:11.099 --> 00:38:41.079
 Thank you.