WEBVTT

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 So with that, we want to bless James.

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 We're going to pray for him.

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 We're grateful for him.

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 I know he's only had less than 24 hours

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 since his last sermon here.

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 He flew out to the Philippines

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 with a family on Sunday afternoon.

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 They got back last night.

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 So yeah, God's sustaining him.

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 We're going to pray for him

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 that he can sustain us,

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 speak the word and teach the word

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 in the next 45 minutes.

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 I want to bless Christina

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 and the kids who are helping Vincent, Danny.

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 Who else is at the back?

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 Alex as well.

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 Okay, we're going to pray and bless.

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 So let's reach out a hand for the kids

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 at the back or for James.

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 Father God, we thank you.

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 We thank you for our brother.

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 We thank you for this brother.

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 We thank you for the gift of teaching

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 and this heart of obedience for you.

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 We know you love him very much.

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 We know you've called us

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 and every one of us here this morning

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 to hear your word.

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 Lord, I pray that the gospel

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 will be preached in every single room

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 from the back to the front.

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 The gospel that sets us free,

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 the gospel that is truth,

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 the gospel that will stand forever

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 and must above and amidst

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 every storm and every thunderstorm

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 and black rain.

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 And Lord, we pray for James.

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 We pray that the best, best, best sermon

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 he'll ever, ever preach

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 will always be the life that he lives.

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 We thank you, Lord, for his heart.

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 We thank you for the message

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 that he's prepared for us

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 from Revelation 2.

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 Lord, humble our hearts

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 as we open up our spiritual ears

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 to hear what you are saying to us.

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 So speak to us today, Lord.

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 We welcome you, Holy Spirit.

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 In Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 Before that, Aaron,

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 we're going to read the passage today,

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 Revelations 2, 1 to 7.

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 Let's all stand to read the word together.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Revelation 2, verses 1 to 7.

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 To the angel of the church in Ephesus write,

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 These are the words of him

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 who holds the seven stars in his right hand

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 and walks among the seven golden lampstands.

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 I know your deeds,

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 your hard work,

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 and your perseverance.

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 I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men,

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 that you have tested those

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 who claim to be apostles but are not,

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 and have found them false.

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 You have persevered

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 and have endured hardships for my name.

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 And have not grown weary.

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 Yet I hold this against you.

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 You have forsaken your first love.

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 Remember the height from which you have fallen.

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 Repent and do the things you did at first.

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 If you do not repent,

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 I will come to you

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 and remove your lampstand from its place.

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 But you have this in your favor.

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 You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans,

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 which I also hate.

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 He who has an ear,

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 let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

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 To him who overcomes,

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 I will give the right to eat from the tree of life,

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 which is in the paradise of God.

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 This is the word of God.

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 Praise be to God.

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 Thank you, Aaron.

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 Thank you.

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 Please take a seat.

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 Thank you, Kelly and Kuban and the team.

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 Thank you, Aaron.

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 Thank you, Joe.

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 Joe has a few more years of these hair jokes

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 before he comes to join me.

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 And that's going to be a good day for me.

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 That's going to be a good day.

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 Come.

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 I am your future.

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 Okay, so...

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 It's going to be breezy.

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 It's going to be breezy.

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 We were on a flight yesterday

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 coming back with the Young Life team

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 and one of my staff,

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 immature staff,

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 was sat behind me

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 and he was like blowing on my head.

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 Just to be funny.

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 But I mean,

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 I'm used to just having it here.

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 Like, hair always just on my head

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 so I didn't really think Aaron was saying, right?

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 He's like, oh,

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 I didn't think it was the thing.

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 But anyway,

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 he found it very humorous.

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 So anyway,

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 there we go.

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 Hey, good to see you all.

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 Good to see you all.

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 Week two.

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 We're trying to figure things out.

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 I told you last week,

00:04:04.060 --> 00:04:04.500
 we were like,

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 hey,

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 we don't know what's happening here

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 but we're going to take one step at a time.

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 The TV wasn't tall enough

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 so praise God

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 we managed to get a TV

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 that's a little bit taller.

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 I don't know how that was for visual at the back.

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 Sadly, I am still the same height.

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 And as I said last week,

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 they've told me standing and sitting,

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 it doesn't matter.

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 It's the same.

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 So I'm just going to sit here

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 and hopefully you'll be able to hear

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 what I have to say.

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 We went through the book of Revelation

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 where we started the book of Revelation

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 and there's only one revelation.

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 It's not revelations.

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 There's only one.

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 And what was that?

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 That was the revelation of Jesus Christ.

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 John was praying.

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 This is old man John.

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 This is the John

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 whom was leaning on Jesus' shoulder

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 at the Last Supper,

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 the one who was dearly loved.

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 And he's praying many years later.

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 He's on the island of Patmos

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 because he's been sent there

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 because he refused to worship Caesar.

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 And he's praying.

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 And persecution is happening.

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 That's what I was talking about

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 last week, right?

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 The church is experiencing

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 all the persecution.

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 And he's just praying to God.

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 He's in the spirit.

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 He's going,

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 God, can you help my brothers and sisters?

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 Can you look after the churches?

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 And Jesus' response isn't,

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 hey, I'm going to come and help you.

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 I'm going to overthrow the Roman Empire.

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 Don't worry.

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 The enemy is gone.

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 He doesn't do that.

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 Jesus says, you know what?

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 You know what's going to help you?

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 I'm going to peel back the curtain.

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 I want to show you who I am.

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 Because when I show you who I am,

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 when I show you the end,

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 you're going to feel better about the now.

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 And so I talked about Jesus

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 being the beginning and the end,

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 the Alpha and Omega,

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 the first and the last.

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 And he says, hey, I was dead,

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 but now I'm alive forevermore.

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 I hold the keys.

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 And this is what I look like.

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 And he had the white hair.

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 He had the fire in his eyes.

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 He had the sword out of his mouth.

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 When he spoke,

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 it was like,

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 what was the word?

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 When he spoke,

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 it was like the roar of many waters.

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 And then a few days later,

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 we got to experience the roar of many waters.

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 We got to see on Instagram

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 or maybe just near our own homes

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 the sheer force of water.

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 When you're surrounded by water.

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 And Jesus is almost saying here,

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 when I speak,

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 it drowns out all the empty rhetoric,

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 all the lies,

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 all the distractions.

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 When I speak,

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 no one else can stand.

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 And you saw the force of that this week.

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 And so then he carries on.

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 And then he actually then starts

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 to talk to the church.

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 This is why we're doing this.

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 Because as we start this,

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 the title of our series is,

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 we start with the end in mind.

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 Because I'm that kind of person.

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 If it's not worth going,

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 if it's not worth continuing and sustaining,

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 let's not start it.

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 But if we're going to start it,

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 let's see what Jesus says about it at the end.

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 Because these are some of the few words

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 that Jesus actually directly addresses the church

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 and say,

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 hey,

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 I want you to know about this.

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 I don't know about you,

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 but I want to know.

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 As we do church,

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 I want to know whether this is a kind of church

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 that Jesus is actually pleased with.

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 Because if it's not,

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 then it doesn't matter.

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 Before we even came here,

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 the prayer for me was,

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 God, what do we do?

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 What should we talk about?

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 What should we learn?

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 And he just says,

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 bring them to me.

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 Not the space,

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 not the destination.

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 Bring them to me.

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 That's the goal of church.

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 I don't know why you gather here today,

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 whether it's because the parents dragged you here,

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 or whether it's just part of the routine,

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 or because it's rainy,

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 so you can't go and have the fun

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 that you were going to have,

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 whatever it is.

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 I hope you're here,

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 because for the one reason

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 why we all should be here,

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 for Jesus.

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 Jesus says,

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 bring them to me.

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 Are you here to meet the Lord?

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 And he introduced himself last week.

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 He peeled back the curtain.

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 This week,

00:07:39.919 --> 00:07:41.060
 he actually speaks to us.

00:07:41.480 --> 00:07:42.919
 He speaks to John and says,

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 I want you to pass a message

00:07:45.080 --> 00:07:46.379
 to my church.

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 And this one

00:07:47.560 --> 00:07:49.720
 sends chills down my spine.

00:07:49.800 --> 00:07:50.220
 It's probably,

00:07:50.740 --> 00:07:51.560
 my guess is probably

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 the second most famous one.

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 The one towards the end

00:07:53.720 --> 00:07:54.640
 is pretty famous too.

00:07:55.300 --> 00:07:56.439
 But this one is interesting,

00:07:56.700 --> 00:07:58.020
 and I wanted to talk to you

00:07:58.020 --> 00:07:59.240
 a little bit about this one.

00:07:59.379 --> 00:07:59.500
 Now,

00:07:59.580 --> 00:08:00.960
 he starts off by saying,

00:08:02.100 --> 00:08:02.319
 actually,

00:08:02.400 --> 00:08:03.840
 so just before chapter two,

00:08:04.040 --> 00:08:04.980
 at the end of chapter one,

00:08:05.200 --> 00:08:06.540
 as for the mystery of the seven stars

00:08:06.540 --> 00:08:07.680
 that you saw in my right hand

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 and the seven golden lampstands,

00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:09.939
 the seven stars are the angels

00:08:09.939 --> 00:08:10.819
 of the seven churches,

00:08:11.139 --> 00:08:12.319
 and the seven lampstands

00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:13.319
 are the seven churches.

00:08:13.639 --> 00:08:13.839
 Now,

00:08:13.899 --> 00:08:14.160
 of course,

00:08:14.259 --> 00:08:16.079
 there weren't just seven churches in Asia.

00:08:16.779 --> 00:08:17.360
 There were more.

00:08:18.219 --> 00:08:19.120
 But maybe this represents

00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:20.819
 seven being the complete number.

00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:22.040
 Maybe it just represents

00:08:22.040 --> 00:08:23.040
 the complete church.

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 And actually,

00:08:23.939 --> 00:08:24.519
 as you see,

00:08:24.759 --> 00:08:26.060
 as we go through these seven weeks

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 and these seven different churches,

00:08:27.740 --> 00:08:28.500
 what you see is

00:08:28.500 --> 00:08:30.180
 the problems that these churches face

00:08:30.180 --> 00:08:31.540
 are exactly the problems

00:08:31.540 --> 00:08:32.220
 that we face now.

00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:33.200
 They're the same.

00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:34.879
 In fact,

00:08:35.879 --> 00:08:36.580
 you can say that

00:08:36.580 --> 00:08:37.519
 we are experiencing them

00:08:37.519 --> 00:08:38.679
 to such a degree now

00:08:38.679 --> 00:08:39.539
 that we need to learn

00:08:39.539 --> 00:08:40.319
 and we need to take heed

00:08:40.319 --> 00:08:40.879
 of these words

00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:41.579
 because if not,

00:08:41.959 --> 00:08:43.419
 the consequences can be dire.

00:08:43.659 --> 00:08:44.599
 And we can see it here

00:08:44.599 --> 00:08:45.699
 as Jesus is talking

00:08:45.699 --> 00:08:46.799
 to the church in Ephesus.

00:08:47.059 --> 00:08:48.079
 So let's talk a little bit

00:08:48.079 --> 00:08:49.519
 about the church in Ephesus first.

00:08:49.719 --> 00:08:49.979
 He says,

00:08:50.059 --> 00:08:51.079
 so the angel of the church

00:08:51.079 --> 00:08:51.919
 in Ephesus writes.

00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:52.379
 So he's saying,

00:08:52.699 --> 00:08:53.359
 angel of the church,

00:08:53.819 --> 00:08:55.659
 pass this message to my church.

00:08:55.819 --> 00:08:56.599
 And he's passing it

00:08:56.599 --> 00:08:58.559
 to the church in Ephesus.

00:08:59.259 --> 00:08:59.659
 Now,

00:08:59.819 --> 00:09:01.339
 the reason why Ephesus is first

00:09:01.339 --> 00:09:02.659
 is from the island of Patmos.

00:09:03.319 --> 00:09:04.359
 He writes this letter.

00:09:05.219 --> 00:09:06.039
 John receives his vision

00:09:06.039 --> 00:09:06.699
 and starts writing.

00:09:07.059 --> 00:09:07.659
 And then as he sends

00:09:07.659 --> 00:09:08.159
 the messenger,

00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:09.240
 this is the first island.

00:09:09.339 --> 00:09:10.059
 This is the first place

00:09:10.059 --> 00:09:10.519
 he goes to.

00:09:10.980 --> 00:09:11.779
 It's just on the route.

00:09:11.980 --> 00:09:12.740
 This is the first one.

00:09:12.899 --> 00:09:13.959
 But it's more significant

00:09:13.959 --> 00:09:14.919
 than that because Ephesus

00:09:14.919 --> 00:09:16.339
 was a big deal.

00:09:17.439 --> 00:09:19.019
 Ephesus was a metropolitan.

00:09:20.419 --> 00:09:20.759
 Actually,

00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:21.339
 I wouldn't go,

00:09:21.539 --> 00:09:22.279
 I wouldn't even hesitate

00:09:22.279 --> 00:09:23.539
 to say it's maybe

00:09:23.539 --> 00:09:24.019
 the equivalent

00:09:24.019 --> 00:09:25.279
 of something like Hong Kong.

00:09:25.860 --> 00:09:26.620
 The fourth city

00:09:26.620 --> 00:09:28.159
 in the whole of the Roman Empire,

00:09:28.299 --> 00:09:28.419
 you had,

00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:28.679
 of course,

00:09:28.719 --> 00:09:29.139
 you had Rome,

00:09:29.240 --> 00:09:29.980
 you had Alexandria,

00:09:30.360 --> 00:09:31.139
 you had Antioch

00:09:31.139 --> 00:09:31.879
 where the disciples

00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:32.860
 first were dispersed

00:09:32.860 --> 00:09:34.279
 and then you have Ephesus.

00:09:34.939 --> 00:09:36.299
 It was the financial capital

00:09:36.299 --> 00:09:37.120
 because everyone

00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:37.779
 would come in

00:09:37.779 --> 00:09:39.059
 from all the different places

00:09:39.059 --> 00:09:40.079
 to deal,

00:09:40.579 --> 00:09:41.439
 to trade.

00:09:41.959 --> 00:09:43.359
 So all different kinds

00:09:43.359 --> 00:09:44.039
 of people were there.

00:09:45.139 --> 00:09:46.620
 It was also a political capital.

00:09:46.859 --> 00:09:46.959
 Now,

00:09:47.019 --> 00:09:47.699
 the official one

00:09:47.699 --> 00:09:48.299
 was Pergamum,

00:09:48.419 --> 00:09:49.359
 but actually the Roman

00:09:49.359 --> 00:09:50.279
 governor himself

00:09:50.279 --> 00:09:51.240
 lived in Ephesus.

00:09:51.959 --> 00:09:52.639
 And so you see

00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:53.379
 all these people

00:09:53.379 --> 00:09:54.219
 are centering

00:09:54.219 --> 00:09:55.599
 onto this city.

00:09:56.599 --> 00:09:57.120
 First of all,

00:09:57.139 --> 00:09:57.979
 this gives me encouragement

00:09:57.979 --> 00:09:58.879
 because actually,

00:09:59.199 --> 00:09:59.740
 discipling,

00:09:59.859 --> 00:10:00.419
 doing church,

00:10:00.539 --> 00:10:02.159
 doing missions work

00:10:02.159 --> 00:10:02.779
 in a city

00:10:02.779 --> 00:10:03.500
 is not easy.

00:10:04.320 --> 00:10:05.019
 It's not easy

00:10:05.019 --> 00:10:05.600
 because the city

00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:06.139
 is just filled

00:10:06.139 --> 00:10:06.720
 with distractions,

00:10:07.220 --> 00:10:08.320
 filled with all these things

00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:09.059
 that make it hard

00:10:09.059 --> 00:10:09.759
 to make disciples.

00:10:10.700 --> 00:10:11.659
 But yet you see here,

00:10:12.799 --> 00:10:13.500
 the book of Revelation

00:10:13.500 --> 00:10:14.200
 is almost just

00:10:14.200 --> 00:10:15.279
 a down-to-earth manual

00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:16.279
 on how to disciple,

00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:18.419
 how to be an urban disciple.

00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:20.779
 It was also a religious capital

00:10:20.779 --> 00:10:22.059
 because the goddess

00:10:22.059 --> 00:10:22.960
 that was maybe

00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:24.860
 the most prominent there

00:10:24.860 --> 00:10:25.620
 was the goddess

00:10:25.620 --> 00:10:26.399
 of Artemis,

00:10:26.740 --> 00:10:28.100
 the fertility goddess.

00:10:28.580 --> 00:10:28.879
 The Greeks

00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:29.500
 would call her Diana.

00:10:29.500 --> 00:10:29.580
 Diana.

00:10:30.460 --> 00:10:31.840
 So you know

00:10:31.840 --> 00:10:33.879
 the sexuality,

00:10:34.460 --> 00:10:34.980
 the fertility,

00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:35.639
 the lust

00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:36.720
 that was all going on there.

00:10:37.059 --> 00:10:37.299
 And actually,

00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:38.019
 that ties into

00:10:38.019 --> 00:10:38.539
 a little bit of

00:10:38.539 --> 00:10:39.980
 why this church

00:10:39.980 --> 00:10:40.399
 in Ephesus

00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:41.559
 was really struggling

00:10:41.559 --> 00:10:42.840
 because it was actually

00:10:42.840 --> 00:10:44.019
 calling people away

00:10:44.019 --> 00:10:45.279
 from all those things.

00:10:45.700 --> 00:10:47.139
 So this is a capital,

00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:47.500
 and actually,

00:10:47.580 --> 00:10:48.159
 this was a church

00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:49.019
 that was very dear

00:10:49.019 --> 00:10:50.179
 to Paul's heart.

00:10:50.860 --> 00:10:51.700
 He'd visited it once

00:10:51.700 --> 00:10:52.299
 and then he went back

00:10:52.299 --> 00:10:52.700
 and he stayed

00:10:52.700 --> 00:10:53.639
 two and a half years there.

00:10:54.500 --> 00:10:55.240
 And what happened

00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:55.600
 after that,

00:10:55.639 --> 00:10:56.580
 he passed it to a couple

00:10:56.580 --> 00:10:57.820
 called Priscilla and Aquila

00:10:57.820 --> 00:10:59.680
 and they looked after it

00:10:59.680 --> 00:11:00.060
 for a while

00:11:00.060 --> 00:11:01.580
 and then his mentee,

00:11:01.700 --> 00:11:01.960
 Timothy,

00:11:02.100 --> 00:11:03.379
 looked after the church there.

00:11:04.300 --> 00:11:04.780
 And then,

00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:05.020
 of course,

00:11:05.080 --> 00:11:05.460
 towards the end

00:11:05.460 --> 00:11:06.000
 of the first century,

00:11:06.080 --> 00:11:06.740
 Timothy was murdered.

00:11:07.820 --> 00:11:08.560
 After that,

00:11:09.180 --> 00:11:09.500
 John,

00:11:10.440 --> 00:11:10.800
 young,

00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:11.600
 beloved John,

00:11:11.879 --> 00:11:12.460
 goes back

00:11:12.460 --> 00:11:13.240
 and actually

00:11:13.240 --> 00:11:14.180
 pastors the church

00:11:14.180 --> 00:11:16.180
 there in his final years.

00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:17.920
 So this is a very

00:11:17.920 --> 00:11:18.760
 important church.

00:11:18.860 --> 00:11:19.660
 What's even more important

00:11:19.660 --> 00:11:21.379
 is Mary herself,

00:11:21.620 --> 00:11:22.300
 Jesus' mother,

00:11:22.680 --> 00:11:23.860
 actually went to this church.

00:11:24.760 --> 00:11:25.640
 So can you imagine

00:11:25.640 --> 00:11:26.560
 being the preacher

00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:28.079
 at this church

00:11:28.079 --> 00:11:28.779
 and you're staring

00:11:28.779 --> 00:11:30.099
 and Mary is there.

00:11:30.959 --> 00:11:31.359
 And she's like,

00:11:31.419 --> 00:11:32.000
 you know Jesus?

00:11:32.159 --> 00:11:32.659
 And she's like,

00:11:32.679 --> 00:11:32.779
 oh,

00:11:32.819 --> 00:11:33.500
 I know Jesus.

00:11:33.899 --> 00:11:34.779
 I know Jesus.

00:11:34.899 --> 00:11:35.659
 Do you know Jesus?

00:11:37.719 --> 00:11:38.159
 So,

00:11:38.919 --> 00:11:39.619
 the church of Ephesus

00:11:39.619 --> 00:11:40.299
 had some pretty

00:11:40.299 --> 00:11:41.879
 crazy senior pastors.

00:11:43.379 --> 00:11:43.939
 And yet,

00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:44.639
 Jesus has some

00:11:44.639 --> 00:11:45.359
 pretty damning words

00:11:45.359 --> 00:11:45.599
 for them.

00:11:46.299 --> 00:11:47.079
 And these words

00:11:47.079 --> 00:11:48.199
 actually terrify me

00:11:48.199 --> 00:11:49.419
 because as you look

00:11:49.419 --> 00:11:49.899
 at this,

00:11:50.099 --> 00:11:51.299
 now put your Chinese hat on

00:11:51.299 --> 00:11:52.119
 and look

00:11:52.119 --> 00:11:53.219
 and just rank

00:11:53.219 --> 00:11:54.199
 how this church

00:11:54.199 --> 00:11:54.619
 is doing.

00:11:54.839 --> 00:11:55.639
 What you think

00:11:55.639 --> 00:11:56.459
 is a good church

00:11:56.460 --> 00:11:57.280
 and you see it

00:11:57.280 --> 00:11:57.800
 and you see

00:11:57.800 --> 00:11:58.840
 every single part here.

00:11:59.720 --> 00:12:00.000
 And yet,

00:12:00.040 --> 00:12:00.860
 Jesus is still

00:12:00.860 --> 00:12:01.220
 threatening

00:12:01.220 --> 00:12:02.139
 to close it down.

00:12:03.780 --> 00:12:04.940
 That should scare you.

00:12:05.420 --> 00:12:06.280
 That definitely scares me.

00:12:06.519 --> 00:12:06.960
 So let's just

00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:07.879
 quickly go through it.

00:12:08.120 --> 00:12:09.080
 I know your works.

00:12:09.440 --> 00:12:09.800
 Toil.

00:12:10.200 --> 00:12:10.900
 I know your toil

00:12:10.900 --> 00:12:12.580
 and I know your patient endurance.

00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:12.960
 He says,

00:12:13.060 --> 00:12:13.860
 I know your works.

00:12:13.940 --> 00:12:14.940
 I know that you guys

00:12:14.940 --> 00:12:16.580
 run so many programs.

00:12:17.540 --> 00:12:18.680
 You guys do such a good job

00:12:18.680 --> 00:12:19.139
 with church.

00:12:19.680 --> 00:12:21.100
 You have your kids programs.

00:12:21.220 --> 00:12:22.120
 You have your youth programs.

00:12:22.200 --> 00:12:23.560
 You have your social service programs.

00:12:23.639 --> 00:12:24.680
 You have all the programs.

00:12:24.679 --> 00:12:25.839
 I know your works.

00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:27.179
 You are doing good stuff.

00:12:27.959 --> 00:12:28.399
 James says,

00:12:28.479 --> 00:12:29.959
 faith without works is dead

00:12:29.959 --> 00:12:31.399
 but you've got the works.

00:12:31.859 --> 00:12:32.179
 And he says,

00:12:32.239 --> 00:12:32.620
 I know.

00:12:32.819 --> 00:12:33.579
 It's interesting here.

00:12:33.819 --> 00:12:34.259
 At the beginning,

00:12:34.359 --> 00:12:34.979
 the words of him,

00:12:35.099 --> 00:12:35.519
 chapter 2,

00:12:35.579 --> 00:12:36.000
 verse 1,

00:12:36.139 --> 00:12:36.699
 you can follow me

00:12:36.699 --> 00:12:37.359
 or if you're taking notes,

00:12:37.439 --> 00:12:37.899
 write these down.

00:12:38.439 --> 00:12:39.379
 Who holds the seven stars

00:12:39.379 --> 00:12:40.000
 in his right hand

00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:41.399
 who walks among

00:12:41.399 --> 00:12:42.679
 the seven golden lampstands.

00:12:43.959 --> 00:12:44.519
 Jesus is saying,

00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:45.059
 I know

00:12:45.059 --> 00:12:46.259
 because I'm walking

00:12:46.259 --> 00:12:47.259
 right amongst you.

00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:49.779
 I am in your church.

00:12:50.179 --> 00:12:51.339
 I am sat right there.

00:12:52.220 --> 00:12:52.939
 I am right there.

00:12:54.779 --> 00:12:55.419
 It ties back

00:12:55.419 --> 00:12:56.220
 to what I was thinking.

00:12:56.339 --> 00:12:56.519
 Actually,

00:12:56.579 --> 00:12:57.139
 when Jesus says,

00:12:57.259 --> 00:12:57.720
 bring them to me,

00:12:57.819 --> 00:12:58.039
 when we,

00:12:58.579 --> 00:12:58.799
 well,

00:12:58.839 --> 00:12:58.959
 sorry,

00:12:59.059 --> 00:13:00.199
 when I felt the Lord

00:13:00.199 --> 00:13:00.980
 tell me that this is

00:13:00.980 --> 00:13:01.720
 what we should be doing.

00:13:01.899 --> 00:13:02.539
 We should be going

00:13:02.539 --> 00:13:03.259
 to him together.

00:13:05.059 --> 00:13:05.779
 I reckon

00:13:05.779 --> 00:13:07.519
 many of us

00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:08.419
 and sometimes myself,

00:13:08.559 --> 00:13:09.159
 I don't turn up

00:13:09.159 --> 00:13:10.039
 to church for Jesus.

00:13:10.220 --> 00:13:11.679
 I'm not really acutely aware

00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:12.759
 that he's actually there.

00:13:14.139 --> 00:13:14.539
 Sometimes

00:13:14.539 --> 00:13:16.220
 I feel as though

00:13:16.220 --> 00:13:17.500
 when I'm sat in a church service,

00:13:17.500 --> 00:13:18.820
 maybe it feels more

00:13:18.820 --> 00:13:20.039
 like a memorial service

00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:21.480
 than an actual service

00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:22.539
 where Jesus is alive

00:13:22.539 --> 00:13:23.539
 and actually there.

00:13:24.019 --> 00:13:24.659
 Do you know what I mean?

00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:25.440
 Has anyone been to

00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:26.139
 a memorial service

00:13:26.139 --> 00:13:26.600
 or a funeral?

00:13:27.500 --> 00:13:28.200
 The way we talk

00:13:28.200 --> 00:13:28.899
 about that person,

00:13:29.059 --> 00:13:30.299
 we speak fondly of them,

00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:31.100
 whether it's true or not

00:13:31.100 --> 00:13:31.500
 doesn't matter

00:13:31.500 --> 00:13:32.159
 because he's gone now.

00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:33.399
 So we say,

00:13:33.460 --> 00:13:33.559
 oh,

00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:34.600
 that was such a nice person.

00:13:35.659 --> 00:13:36.740
 And we talk about him,

00:13:36.820 --> 00:13:37.440
 we sing songs,

00:13:37.539 --> 00:13:38.279
 encourage each other.

00:13:39.379 --> 00:13:39.940
 Aren't you scared

00:13:39.940 --> 00:13:40.879
 that that's how we treat

00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:41.960
 these services?

00:13:43.580 --> 00:13:44.240
 Jesus says,

00:13:44.460 --> 00:13:45.419
 I'm alive

00:13:45.419 --> 00:13:47.200
 and I walk among

00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:48.420
 the church.

00:13:48.580 --> 00:13:49.460
 I am here.

00:13:50.340 --> 00:13:51.840
 It's not a memorial service.

00:13:53.220 --> 00:13:54.259
 If that doesn't kind of

00:13:54.259 --> 00:13:54.940
 straighten your back,

00:13:54.980 --> 00:13:55.620
 I don't know what will.

00:13:56.020 --> 00:13:57.020
 But the Lord is here

00:13:57.020 --> 00:13:58.020
 right now.

00:13:58.100 --> 00:13:58.560
 And he says,

00:13:58.620 --> 00:13:59.120
 I am here

00:13:59.120 --> 00:14:00.680
 and I know your works.

00:14:00.780 --> 00:14:01.580
 I'm sitting through

00:14:01.580 --> 00:14:02.180
 your announcements

00:14:02.180 --> 00:14:03.520
 about the prison ministry

00:14:03.520 --> 00:14:04.420
 and I know

00:14:04.420 --> 00:14:05.480
 that you have a good heart,

00:14:05.680 --> 00:14:06.320
 that you are doing

00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:07.240
 good things here.

00:14:07.540 --> 00:14:08.320
 I know that.

00:14:08.400 --> 00:14:09.200
 I know your toil.

00:14:09.560 --> 00:14:10.620
 I know it's hard work.

00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:12.240
 I know discipling

00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:13.560
 in an urban city

00:14:13.560 --> 00:14:14.379
 is hard.

00:14:14.379 --> 00:14:15.720
 I know trying

00:14:15.720 --> 00:14:16.379
 to earn money

00:14:16.379 --> 00:14:17.539
 and still run a business

00:14:17.539 --> 00:14:18.559
 but still be upright

00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:19.399
 and still be righteous

00:14:19.399 --> 00:14:20.419
 is not easy.

00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:21.500
 I know it's hard.

00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:22.939
 I know that you are

00:14:22.939 --> 00:14:23.840
 causing such a stir

00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:24.779
 that people are starting

00:14:24.779 --> 00:14:25.659
 to persecute you,

00:14:26.039 --> 00:14:26.559
 that you're starting

00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:27.639
 to be afraid of your life.

00:14:27.720 --> 00:14:28.179
 I know.

00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:30.100
 I know your patient endurance.

00:14:30.580 --> 00:14:31.659
 I know your resilience

00:14:31.659 --> 00:14:32.820
 in all of this.

00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:33.980
 Can you imagine

00:14:33.980 --> 00:14:34.939
 this group of people

00:14:34.939 --> 00:14:36.320
 as he starts to draw

00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:36.759
 this picture

00:14:36.759 --> 00:14:37.460
 of what this group

00:14:37.460 --> 00:14:37.799
 were like?

00:14:38.159 --> 00:14:38.820
 These people were

00:14:38.820 --> 00:14:40.179
 just committed

00:14:40.179 --> 00:14:40.799
 committed to works,

00:14:41.939 --> 00:14:43.099
 committed to running things,

00:14:43.319 --> 00:14:43.959
 doing things.

00:14:45.659 --> 00:14:46.939
 These are good Christians.

00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:49.259
 So we say,

00:14:49.579 --> 00:14:51.379
 I know your toil.

00:14:51.479 --> 00:14:52.059
 I know that you are

00:14:52.059 --> 00:14:52.699
 pushing through.

00:14:53.199 --> 00:14:53.859
 It's much easier

00:14:53.859 --> 00:14:54.479
 to do other stuff

00:14:54.479 --> 00:14:55.279
 but you are here

00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:57.059
 and you are patiently enduring.

00:14:57.399 --> 00:14:57.899
 I know all that.

00:14:57.959 --> 00:14:58.559
 Even more so,

00:14:58.779 --> 00:14:59.919
 I know how you can't bear

00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:00.779
 with those who are evil

00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:01.799
 but test those

00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:02.919
 who call themselves apostles

00:15:02.919 --> 00:15:03.919
 and are not

00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:05.039
 and found them to be false.

00:15:05.539 --> 00:15:06.379
 Not only are you good

00:15:06.379 --> 00:15:06.899
 at your works,

00:15:06.959 --> 00:15:07.919
 not only are you hardworking

00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:08.579
 and you're resilient,

00:15:08.959 --> 00:15:10.099
 you also know the truth.

00:15:10.179 --> 00:15:11.059
 You are committed

00:15:11.059 --> 00:15:12.339
 to the truth.

00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:13.279
 That means not only

00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:13.819
 do you have

00:15:13.819 --> 00:15:14.879
 great outreach programs,

00:15:15.079 --> 00:15:16.500
 you have great discipleship

00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:17.459
 going on as well.

00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:19.479
 You have a good BSF group

00:15:19.479 --> 00:15:21.239
 where you know scripture,

00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:22.659
 where you know doctrine

00:15:22.659 --> 00:15:24.179
 to the point where

00:15:24.179 --> 00:15:25.179
 you are so weary

00:15:25.179 --> 00:15:27.019
 of the people outside

00:15:27.019 --> 00:15:29.039
 teaching false doctrine,

00:15:29.339 --> 00:15:31.339
 you have the systems in place

00:15:31.339 --> 00:15:32.339
 where you test

00:15:32.339 --> 00:15:33.979
 and that's incredible

00:15:33.979 --> 00:15:35.979
 and that's good.

00:15:36.059 --> 00:15:36.819
 You are so committed

00:15:36.819 --> 00:15:38.419
 to the truth

00:15:38.419 --> 00:15:40.860
 and then he says,

00:15:41.740 --> 00:15:42.939
 I know that you are

00:15:42.939 --> 00:15:43.799
 enduring patiently,

00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:45.000
 how you are bearing up

00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:45.759
 for my namesake

00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:47.079
 and you have not

00:15:47.079 --> 00:15:47.719
 grown weary.

00:15:48.479 --> 00:15:49.360
 Man, I would love

00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:50.620
 to hear Jesus say that to me.

00:15:51.639 --> 00:15:52.919
 James, I know everything

00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:53.459
 that you're doing

00:15:53.459 --> 00:15:54.779
 and I know how

00:15:54.779 --> 00:15:56.019
 you have not grown tired.

00:15:56.740 --> 00:15:57.679
 You've just kept going.

00:15:58.679 --> 00:16:00.000
 Isn't that a great compliment

00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:01.659
 that you would receive

00:16:01.659 --> 00:16:02.159
 from your Lord?

00:16:02.659 --> 00:16:03.059
 You've just been,

00:16:03.439 --> 00:16:04.379
 you're such a hard worker.

00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:05.539
 I mean, that definitely

00:16:05.539 --> 00:16:06.679
 appeals to the Chinese culture.

00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:09.000
 You have not grown weary.

00:16:11.460 --> 00:16:12.299
 You're so good

00:16:12.299 --> 00:16:13.179
 at doing what you're doing.

00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:15.379
 And so this church,

00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:15.960
 in my eyes,

00:16:16.100 --> 00:16:17.000
 is really doing everything.

00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:17.700
 It's doing it,

00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:18.939
 it's an A-star church.

00:16:19.500 --> 00:16:20.500
 It's doing everything

00:16:20.500 --> 00:16:20.960
 it should.

00:16:22.200 --> 00:16:22.720
 It's loving,

00:16:22.860 --> 00:16:23.159
 it's reaching,

00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:23.720
 it's defending,

00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:24.220
 it's serving,

00:16:24.439 --> 00:16:25.340
 it's doing everything

00:16:25.340 --> 00:16:26.159
 that the church

00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:26.919
 really should be doing.

00:16:26.980 --> 00:16:28.159
 It's what we should be doing.

00:16:29.419 --> 00:16:29.820
 But,

00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:32.159
 and this is a huge but,

00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:34.839
 but I have this

00:16:34.839 --> 00:16:35.959
 against you.

00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:38.379
 You have abandoned

00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:39.059
 your first love.

00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:41.360
 Abandoned.

00:16:41.899 --> 00:16:42.719
 So you may be

00:16:42.719 --> 00:16:43.620
 an A-star pupil,

00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:45.199
 but you've forgotten

00:16:45.199 --> 00:16:46.259
 what course you were studying.

00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:48.500
 You may be getting

00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:49.339
 the best grades

00:16:49.339 --> 00:16:49.959
 and doing everything

00:16:49.959 --> 00:16:50.699
 that you need to do,

00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:51.519
 but actually you've missed

00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:52.860
 the point completely.

00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:56.039
 You've abandoned

00:16:56.039 --> 00:16:56.679
 your first love.

00:16:56.720 --> 00:16:57.600
 And this word is strong.

00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:57.939
 I mean,

00:16:58.019 --> 00:16:58.620
 the one that Aaron read

00:16:58.620 --> 00:16:59.399
 I think was forsaken.

00:17:00.539 --> 00:17:01.159
 Not only have you

00:17:01.159 --> 00:17:01.839
 just forgotten it,

00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:02.560
 you've deliberately

00:17:02.560 --> 00:17:03.639
 left it behind.

00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:05.940
 You've been so caught up

00:17:05.940 --> 00:17:06.380
 in doctrine

00:17:06.380 --> 00:17:07.180
 that you've left

00:17:07.180 --> 00:17:08.019
 the main point

00:17:08.019 --> 00:17:08.480
 of all of it.

00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:09.559
 You've been so caught up

00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:10.579
 in looking out

00:17:10.579 --> 00:17:11.180
 and serving,

00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:12.680
 you've lost sight of me.

00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:15.460
 You've abandoned

00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:17.079
 your first love.

00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:21.160
 We know that's possible

00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:23.200
 because we know churches,

00:17:23.299 --> 00:17:24.600
 we know we are susceptible

00:17:24.600 --> 00:17:25.740
 to abandoning

00:17:25.740 --> 00:17:26.400
 our first love.

00:17:26.579 --> 00:17:27.140
 Why do we know that?

00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:28.180
 We know that we can

00:17:28.180 --> 00:17:29.019
 abandon first love

00:17:29.019 --> 00:17:29.640
 in our marriages.

00:17:29.640 --> 00:17:31.900
 If you're a married couple,

00:17:31.980 --> 00:17:33.140
 look over at each other

00:17:33.140 --> 00:17:33.980
 right now

00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:34.300
 and go,

00:17:35.300 --> 00:17:36.200
 do you remember

00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:37.800
 when you first fell in love

00:17:37.800 --> 00:17:39.280
 with your spouse?

00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:40.940
 Those of you who are dating,

00:17:41.580 --> 00:17:42.700
 wearing matching T-shirts.

00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:43.880
 Cute.

00:17:47.360 --> 00:17:48.200
 We used to wear

00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:49.160
 matching T-shirts too.

00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:53.759
 Then I got big.

00:17:54.300 --> 00:17:55.460
 I couldn't fit them anymore.

00:17:59.560 --> 00:17:59.960
 Okay,

00:18:00.120 --> 00:18:00.860
 are my children here?

00:18:01.019 --> 00:18:02.000
 My children are not here.

00:18:02.080 --> 00:18:02.860
 So Christina and I,

00:18:02.859 --> 00:18:06.419
 I was 12

00:18:06.419 --> 00:18:07.740
 and she was 13.

00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:09.639
 Yeah,

00:18:09.740 --> 00:18:10.399
 it was bad.

00:18:10.579 --> 00:18:11.359
 It was bad.

00:18:11.419 --> 00:18:11.879
 It's not good.

00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:13.259
 I could see the judging eyes

00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:14.119
 from the parents already.

00:18:17.699 --> 00:18:18.519
 More emphatically,

00:18:18.699 --> 00:18:19.619
 I was in Sunday school

00:18:19.619 --> 00:18:20.519
 and she was in youth group.

00:18:21.419 --> 00:18:22.299
 And I remember

00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:24.099
 I was out in my Sunday school class

00:18:24.099 --> 00:18:25.219
 and I was just leaning back

00:18:25.219 --> 00:18:25.979
 because I'm cool

00:18:25.979 --> 00:18:27.279
 and I know all the Bible study

00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:28.779
 and then the youth group kids

00:18:28.779 --> 00:18:29.240
 walk past

00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:29.779
 and I'm just like,

00:18:29.859 --> 00:18:30.339
 what's up?

00:18:30.339 --> 00:18:30.959
 What's up?

00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:33.919
 And this tiny little girl,

00:18:34.019 --> 00:18:34.279
 Christina,

00:18:34.439 --> 00:18:34.639
 was like,

00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:36.259
 I'll see you.

00:18:36.599 --> 00:18:37.899
 I need to finish my coloring here

00:18:37.899 --> 00:18:38.699
 and then I'll come over.

00:18:41.199 --> 00:18:42.019
 Oh dear.

00:18:43.879 --> 00:18:44.779
 Do you remember the butterflies?

00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:46.119
 Come on,

00:18:46.119 --> 00:18:46.980
 who's been married here

00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:49.220
 for more than 10 years?

00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:49.519
 Come on,

00:18:49.539 --> 00:18:50.139
 put your hand up.

00:18:50.659 --> 00:18:51.399
 More than 10 years,

00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:52.139
 more than 20.

00:18:52.699 --> 00:18:53.419
 We are getting exposed

00:18:53.419 --> 00:18:54.419
 to more than 30,

00:18:55.480 --> 00:18:56.039
 40.

00:18:57.119 --> 00:18:57.480
 Wow.

00:18:59.000 --> 00:18:59.959
 Do you remember

00:18:59.960 --> 00:19:00.380
 like,

00:19:00.940 --> 00:19:01.240
 Agnes,

00:19:01.340 --> 00:19:01.559
 do you remember

00:19:01.559 --> 00:19:02.740
 butterflies for Vincent?

00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:03.600
 Was that a thing?

00:19:06.660 --> 00:19:07.299
 Agnes is like,

00:19:07.340 --> 00:19:07.539
 no,

00:19:07.860 --> 00:19:09.559
 I do not remember that at all.

00:19:10.279 --> 00:19:11.259
 Do you remember the butterflies?

00:19:11.860 --> 00:19:12.200
 We were,

00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:13.779
 we started dating

00:19:13.779 --> 00:19:14.460
 when it was like

00:19:14.460 --> 00:19:16.019
 you had to drag

00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:16.940
 the dial-up cable

00:19:16.940 --> 00:19:18.460
 to connect to the internet

00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:18.740
 and then

00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:20.460
 you dial up

00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:21.259
 and then you send an email

00:19:21.259 --> 00:19:22.579
 or you write texts

00:19:22.579 --> 00:19:23.340
 but the texts

00:19:23.340 --> 00:19:25.019
 were only 160 characters,

00:19:25.360 --> 00:19:26.079
 kind of like Twitter.

00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:27.659
 but then

00:19:27.659 --> 00:19:29.819
 because they cost money

00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:30.579
 each text

00:19:30.579 --> 00:19:31.839
 so Christina

00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:32.679
 wouldn't use spaces.

00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:33.879
 She would just like,

00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:34.599
 she would differentiate

00:19:34.599 --> 00:19:35.179
 each word

00:19:35.179 --> 00:19:35.939
 with a capital letter

00:19:35.939 --> 00:19:38.379
 so it was so hard to read

00:19:38.379 --> 00:19:38.779
 and of course

00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:39.839
 every word is shortened

00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:40.259
 as well

00:19:40.259 --> 00:19:41.039
 so as I'm reading

00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:41.419
 I'm like,

00:19:41.919 --> 00:19:42.220
 oh,

00:19:43.379 --> 00:19:45.659
 but I've got butterflies.

00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:45.839
 Oh,

00:19:45.899 --> 00:19:46.679
 you write so well,

00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:46.980
 baby.

00:19:48.980 --> 00:19:49.619
 TTYL,

00:19:49.939 --> 00:19:50.939
 BRB.

00:19:50.940 --> 00:19:54.600
 Oh dear,

00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:55.279
 the butterflies

00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:56.880
 and then she'd call

00:19:56.880 --> 00:19:57.539
 and I was like,

00:19:57.580 --> 00:19:58.000
 oh,

00:19:58.100 --> 00:19:59.080
 that's so cute

00:19:59.080 --> 00:19:59.960
 and then of course

00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:01.440
 we did have a few years

00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:01.860
 in the middle

00:20:01.860 --> 00:20:03.600
 where we were not dating

00:20:03.600 --> 00:20:04.740
 and then we started dating

00:20:04.740 --> 00:20:05.400
 and back again

00:20:05.400 --> 00:20:06.120
 in university

00:20:06.120 --> 00:20:06.840
 and even then

00:20:06.840 --> 00:20:07.400
 it was kind of like,

00:20:07.600 --> 00:20:08.420
 where are you going?

00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:08.759
 Oh,

00:20:09.400 --> 00:20:10.460
 let me walk you.

00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:10.820
 Oh,

00:20:10.840 --> 00:20:11.700
 but you're really far away.

00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:13.620
 That's like an hour bus ride

00:20:13.620 --> 00:20:14.620
 to come hang out with me

00:20:14.620 --> 00:20:15.500
 just to walk me to.

00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:16.100
 I'm like,

00:20:16.140 --> 00:20:16.620
 it's okay,

00:20:17.140 --> 00:20:18.000
 I'll do it for you.

00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:19.180
 Like that Adele song,

00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:20.100
 make you feel my love.

00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:20.799
 I'm going to do anything

00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:21.459
 I need to do

00:20:21.459 --> 00:20:22.399
 to be for you

00:20:22.399 --> 00:20:23.779
 and now she's like,

00:20:23.819 --> 00:20:23.919
 hey,

00:20:23.939 --> 00:20:24.599
 can you go and get me

00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:24.939
 some milk?

00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:25.199
 I'm like,

00:20:25.799 --> 00:20:30.199
 Rebecca's like,

00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:30.379
 oh,

00:20:30.459 --> 00:20:30.659
 Aaron,

00:20:30.719 --> 00:20:31.259
 we need to talk.

00:20:34.899 --> 00:20:36.000
 The things you do,

00:20:36.399 --> 00:20:36.599
 like,

00:20:37.079 --> 00:20:37.839
 you hang up.

00:20:38.139 --> 00:20:38.339
 No,

00:20:38.459 --> 00:20:39.139
 you hang up.

00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:39.699
 Good night.

00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:40.779
 I love you.

00:20:40.879 --> 00:20:41.559
 I love you more.

00:20:42.059 --> 00:20:42.699
 I love you more.

00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:43.599
 I love you infinity.

00:20:45.099 --> 00:20:46.119
 All those things.

00:20:47.619 --> 00:20:48.919
 What was I talking about?

00:20:50.099 --> 00:20:52.019
 I would say,

00:20:52.139 --> 00:20:52.619
 side note,

00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:54.119
 as I was preparing this

00:20:54.119 --> 00:20:54.699
 and praying over this,

00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:54.980
 I was like,

00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:55.199
 man,

00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:56.019
 maybe there should be

00:20:56.019 --> 00:20:57.439
 just a word for married couples here.

00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:58.219
 Just for a second.

00:20:58.319 --> 00:20:59.339
 It's not exactly what Jesus

00:20:59.339 --> 00:20:59.879
 was talking about,

00:21:00.099 --> 00:21:01.179
 but it really does remind me.

00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:02.139
 It's talking about that.

00:21:02.539 --> 00:21:02.740
 Hey,

00:21:02.899 --> 00:21:04.019
 if you've been married

00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:04.539
 for a long time,

00:21:04.599 --> 00:21:05.019
 you've been dating

00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:05.679
 for a long time,

00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:08.000
 look at your spouse

00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:08.819
 in like,

00:21:10.259 --> 00:21:10.759
 a loving,

00:21:12.379 --> 00:21:13.419
 mildly sexy kind of way.

00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:14.120
 Like,

00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:15.120
 take them out for a date.

00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:15.640
 Like,

00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:17.740
 don't,

00:21:17.860 --> 00:21:19.240
 don't take it for granted

00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:20.720
 because I know

00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:21.680
 that the church can do this

00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:22.039
 because I know

00:21:22.039 --> 00:21:23.539
 that marriages do this.

00:21:24.340 --> 00:21:25.420
 And before you know it,

00:21:25.640 --> 00:21:25.940
 you're like,

00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:27.920
 you're just co-partners in life.

00:21:28.860 --> 00:21:29.920
 You've forgotten

00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:31.840
 why you loved that person

00:21:31.840 --> 00:21:33.420
 in the first place.

00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:34.779
 You're like,

00:21:34.820 --> 00:21:35.180
 oh man,

00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:36.080
 now you're just annoying.

00:21:37.560 --> 00:21:37.820
 Like,

00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:39.759
 my kids were saying,

00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:39.980
 oh,

00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:40.659
 what were you like

00:21:40.659 --> 00:21:41.799
 when we started dating you?

00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:42.439
 This was 18,

00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:42.819
 of course.

00:21:43.619 --> 00:21:44.460
 We did not tell them

00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:45.339
 about the prequel.

00:21:47.139 --> 00:21:47.460
 Well,

00:21:47.480 --> 00:21:48.119
 I was still playing

00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:48.759
 a lot of sports

00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.619
 in the university's team,

00:21:49.700 --> 00:21:50.839
 so I was going to the gym

00:21:50.839 --> 00:21:51.779
 all the time with my friends.

00:21:51.879 --> 00:21:52.980
 I looked a little bit like Uday.

00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.700
 Had just about as much hair

00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:55.359
 as Uday did.

00:21:57.279 --> 00:21:58.579
 And then she started dating me

00:21:58.579 --> 00:21:59.299
 and then we got married

00:21:59.299 --> 00:22:00.339
 and then it was a bait and switch.

00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:00.819
 Now,

00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:02.019
 no working out

00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:02.519
 and no hair.

00:22:04.399 --> 00:22:05.179
 So Christina was like,

00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:05.379
 yeah,

00:22:05.439 --> 00:22:06.059
 that's the person

00:22:06.059 --> 00:22:07.220
 that I fell in love with.

00:22:07.220 --> 00:22:10.019
 But somewhere along the line

00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:10.660
 as married couples,

00:22:10.740 --> 00:22:11.799
 you kind of just drift off.

00:22:12.039 --> 00:22:12.839
 You just kind of just

00:22:12.839 --> 00:22:14.319
 take each other for granted.

00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:15.519
 You don't date.

00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:16.839
 We were just with a couple

00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:18.240
 who had been married

00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:18.920
 for 40 years

00:22:18.920 --> 00:22:19.640
 and they were like,

00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:19.759
 no,

00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:20.600
 that's the one thing

00:22:20.600 --> 00:22:21.220
 we kept on to,

00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:22.720
 just dating.

00:22:23.120 --> 00:22:23.620
 Every week,

00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:24.779
 just spending time together.

00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:26.059
 Just whether,

00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:27.759
 through whatever season it was,

00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:29.380
 we spent that day together,

00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:30.000
 we go out

00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:31.000
 and we just spend that time.

00:22:32.200 --> 00:22:32.920
 Talk to each other.

00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:34.279
 Talk to each other

00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:35.720
 like we talk to other people.

00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:37.180
 That's how bad it gets.

00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:37.539
 Sometimes,

00:22:37.620 --> 00:22:37.799
 right?

00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:38.940
 Because with the people

00:22:38.940 --> 00:22:41.039
 that we are so comfortable with,

00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:41.980
 we don't bother talking

00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:42.539
 to them anymore.

00:22:43.079 --> 00:22:43.839
 We know.

00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:44.680
 We've been around for so long.

00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:45.640
 We've been together for so long.

00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:46.720
 But to other people,

00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:47.700
 we're asking questions.

00:22:47.940 --> 00:22:48.900
 We're intrigued

00:22:48.900 --> 00:22:49.400
 in their lives

00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:51.000
 and making sure

00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:51.579
 that we do that.

00:22:52.860 --> 00:22:53.980
 So those images,

00:22:54.279 --> 00:22:55.140
 those memories

00:22:55.140 --> 00:22:55.799
 of first love

00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:56.339
 is what Jesus

00:22:56.339 --> 00:22:57.100
 is talking about here.

00:22:57.160 --> 00:22:57.400
 He's saying,

00:22:57.600 --> 00:22:58.620
 you have abandoned

00:22:58.620 --> 00:22:59.240
 your first love.

00:22:59.339 --> 00:23:00.519
 You have left it behind.

00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:02.079
 You've forgotten

00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:03.960
 why this gathering

00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:04.519
 is happening

00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:05.599
 in the first place.

00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:07.519
 You've abandoned

00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:08.879
 your first love.

00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:09.139
 You see,

00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:10.379
 he's writing to the church

00:23:10.379 --> 00:23:10.759
 in Ephesus.

00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:12.019
 So if we actually go

00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:13.779
 to the book of Ephesians,

00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:15.819
 Paul actually talks about this.

00:23:16.119 --> 00:23:18.339
 If you go to Ephesians chapter 1,

00:23:18.619 --> 00:23:19.579
 so now it's not John

00:23:19.579 --> 00:23:20.259
 or Jesus talking

00:23:20.259 --> 00:23:20.980
 to the church in Ephesus,

00:23:21.119 --> 00:23:21.519
 it's Paul.

00:23:21.799 --> 00:23:21.960
 Okay?

00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:22.920
 So this is a few years before.

00:23:23.259 --> 00:23:23.980
 And Paul's saying,

00:23:24.340 --> 00:23:25.900
 chapter 1, verse 15,

00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:26.900
 for this reason,

00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:27.600
 because I've heard

00:23:27.600 --> 00:23:28.140
 of your faith

00:23:28.140 --> 00:23:28.720
 in the Lord Jesus

00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:29.880
 and your love

00:23:29.880 --> 00:23:30.900
 toward all the saints.

00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:33.960
 This was a church of love

00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:35.299
 at the beginning.

00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:37.019
 The founding fathers

00:23:37.019 --> 00:23:37.920
 of the church of Ephesus

00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:38.960
 had love

00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:40.500
 and so much

00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:41.380
 that Paul had heard

00:23:41.380 --> 00:23:42.100
 about the love

00:23:42.100 --> 00:23:43.380
 that they had

00:23:43.380 --> 00:23:43.860
 for each other.

00:23:45.620 --> 00:23:46.539
 Isn't that incredible?

00:23:46.660 --> 00:23:47.259
 That this church

00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:47.799
 was known,

00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:48.460
 was heard,

00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:49.240
 had a reputation

00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:49.700
 of love,

00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:51.140
 but many years later now,

00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:52.059
 Jesus says,

00:23:52.360 --> 00:23:53.000
 but you have abandoned

00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:53.660
 that first love.

00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:55.120
 So maybe the first generation,

00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:55.900
 the founding fathers,

00:23:56.140 --> 00:23:57.319
 loved the people

00:23:57.319 --> 00:23:58.960
 that were in their church.

00:23:59.539 --> 00:24:01.200
 But as the second generation came,

00:24:01.620 --> 00:24:02.759
 as the third generation came,

00:24:03.140 --> 00:24:04.080
 it completely dwindles.

00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:05.799
 And what started off with love

00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:06.799
 now ends up being

00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:07.460
 just a program.

00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:10.000
 What started off

00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:11.360
 with compassion

00:24:11.360 --> 00:24:14.720
 and faith in the Lord

00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:15.860
 is now just routine.

00:24:16.840 --> 00:24:17.740
 And Jesus comes and says,

00:24:17.860 --> 00:24:17.980
 hey,

00:24:18.580 --> 00:24:19.400
 you have abandoned

00:24:19.400 --> 00:24:20.220
 your first love.

00:24:20.440 --> 00:24:22.220
 I have this against you.

00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:22.960
 You see,

00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:23.519
 we all forget.

00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:25.240
 We all forget.

00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:26.880
 We all lose our way.

00:24:28.580 --> 00:24:29.180
 And I think Jesus

00:24:29.180 --> 00:24:29.980
 writes this

00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:31.180
 as the first letter

00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:32.380
 to all the churches

00:24:32.380 --> 00:24:32.880
 because I think

00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:33.640
 this is the biggest thing.

00:24:33.700 --> 00:24:34.759
 This is the most important thing.

00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:36.480
 And then he gives us

00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:37.220
 some solutions

00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:38.000
 as to what he needs

00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:38.580
 to do about it.

00:24:38.840 --> 00:24:39.120
 Now,

00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:40.160
 each time he writes

00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:41.540
 a letter to a church,

00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:42.600
 he comes out with

00:24:42.600 --> 00:24:43.560
 what he knows.

00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:45.300
 I'm walking among you.

00:24:45.380 --> 00:24:46.480
 I know this is what you are.

00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:47.160
 I know,

00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:47.519
 I know,

00:24:47.560 --> 00:24:48.519
 I'm not a distant God

00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:49.759
 just dropping down bombs.

00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:50.720
 I know because

00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:51.660
 I'm walking amongst you.

00:24:52.119 --> 00:24:53.180
 I know you've got good stuff.

00:24:53.700 --> 00:24:54.539
 But then it's got,

00:24:54.639 --> 00:24:55.440
 you've got some bad stuff.

00:24:55.859 --> 00:24:56.900
 And now I want to tell you

00:24:56.900 --> 00:24:57.619
 how to overcome it.

00:24:59.139 --> 00:25:00.119
 So here he says,

00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:00.319
 hey,

00:25:01.099 --> 00:25:01.599
 you've abandoned

00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:02.180
 your love at first.

00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:03.819
 And then verse 5,

00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:04.420
 chapter 2,

00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:04.799
 verse 5,

00:25:04.859 --> 00:25:05.180
 revelation.

00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:05.879
 Remember,

00:25:06.139 --> 00:25:06.420
 therefore,

00:25:06.539 --> 00:25:07.500
 from where you have fallen,

00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:08.139
 repent

00:25:08.139 --> 00:25:09.720
 and do the works

00:25:09.720 --> 00:25:10.660
 you did at first.

00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:11.519
 First of all,

00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:12.240
 remember.

00:25:13.299 --> 00:25:14.160
 So whether this is

00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:15.319
 your marriage or not,

00:25:15.319 --> 00:25:16.319
 but for church,

00:25:16.359 --> 00:25:17.439
 we definitely need to do this

00:25:17.439 --> 00:25:18.980
 is we need to remember

00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:19.779
 every week

00:25:19.779 --> 00:25:20.619
 why we gather here.

00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:22.299
 We need to remember

00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:23.039
 what it is for.

00:25:23.179 --> 00:25:24.399
 And the reason what it is for

00:25:24.399 --> 00:25:25.460
 is for love.

00:25:26.619 --> 00:25:26.919
 It says,

00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:27.939
 remember from where

00:25:27.939 --> 00:25:28.720
 you have fallen.

00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:29.659
 So it's saying,

00:25:29.919 --> 00:25:30.059
 hey,

00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:30.619
 remember

00:25:30.619 --> 00:25:32.339
 what you were like

00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:32.899
 at the beginning.

00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:34.859
 Those of us

00:25:34.859 --> 00:25:35.639
 who have been Christians

00:25:35.639 --> 00:25:36.339
 for a long time,

00:25:36.399 --> 00:25:36.839
 I think Albert

00:25:36.839 --> 00:25:38.259
 won the prize last week.

00:25:39.559 --> 00:25:40.599
 Do you remember

00:25:40.599 --> 00:25:42.039
 that first moment

00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:42.659
 you fell in love

00:25:42.660 --> 00:25:43.019
 of Jesus?

00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:45.300
 Do you remember

00:25:45.300 --> 00:25:46.019
 that first moment

00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:47.080
 where he peeled back

00:25:47.080 --> 00:25:48.279
 the curtains to you?

00:25:50.360 --> 00:25:50.940
 Do you?

00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:54.400
 It seems to me

00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:55.120
 that we need to

00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:55.660
 actively

00:25:55.660 --> 00:25:56.820
 make sure

00:25:56.820 --> 00:25:57.400
 we remember.

00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:00.440
 Remember

00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:01.620
 from where

00:26:01.620 --> 00:26:02.300
 you have fallen.

00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:03.080
 Remember where

00:26:03.080 --> 00:26:04.279
 you came from.

00:26:04.820 --> 00:26:05.400
 The love

00:26:05.400 --> 00:26:06.160
 that you had.

00:26:07.540 --> 00:26:08.460
 Because just like

00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:08.820
 marriages,

00:26:09.300 --> 00:26:10.080
 just like friendships,

00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:10.920
 it's so easy

00:26:10.920 --> 00:26:11.420
 to forget.

00:26:11.420 --> 00:26:12.800
 And before you know it,

00:26:12.820 --> 00:26:13.440
 you forgot why

00:26:13.440 --> 00:26:13.860
 you're here.

00:26:14.420 --> 00:26:15.539
 You're just doing life,

00:26:16.320 --> 00:26:17.300
 following the routine,

00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:18.580
 and there's no love.

00:26:20.539 --> 00:26:20.940
 Remember

00:26:20.940 --> 00:26:21.560
 from where

00:26:21.560 --> 00:26:22.140
 you have fallen.

00:26:24.039 --> 00:26:24.440
 Actually,

00:26:24.580 --> 00:26:25.480
 in the book of Ephesians,

00:26:26.140 --> 00:26:27.180
 Paul talks about this too.

00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:27.880
 So he says,

00:26:27.940 --> 00:26:28.019
 hey,

00:26:28.060 --> 00:26:29.519
 I've heard about your love

00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:30.420
 to all the saints.

00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:31.360
 Chapter 2,

00:26:31.640 --> 00:26:32.360
 and then he says,

00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:33.060
 remember

00:26:33.060 --> 00:26:33.940
 that you were

00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:34.620
 at that time

00:26:34.620 --> 00:26:35.720
 separated from Christ,

00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:36.779
 alienated from the

00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:37.560
 commonwealth of Israel,

00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:38.620
 estranged to the

00:26:38.620 --> 00:26:39.240
 covenant of promise,

00:26:39.539 --> 00:26:40.180
 having no hope,

00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:40.779
 and without God

00:26:40.779 --> 00:26:41.180
 in the world.

00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:41.700
 Hey,

00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:42.779
 church in Ephesus,

00:26:43.099 --> 00:26:44.079
 remember that you

00:26:44.079 --> 00:26:45.420
 were once like this too,

00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.619
 that you were once lost.

00:26:47.899 --> 00:26:48.799
 And you have to keep

00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:49.779
 that front and center

00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:51.119
 because somewhere

00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:51.859
 along the line,

00:26:52.220 --> 00:26:53.139
 you get married

00:26:53.139 --> 00:26:53.639
 to the church,

00:26:53.700 --> 00:26:54.359
 you start doing

00:26:54.359 --> 00:26:54.980
 Jesus stuff,

00:26:55.139 --> 00:26:55.700
 you start doing

00:26:55.700 --> 00:26:56.180
 Bible studies,

00:26:56.259 --> 00:26:56.740
 you start doing

00:26:56.740 --> 00:26:57.160
 BSF,

00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:57.619
 you start doing

00:26:57.619 --> 00:26:58.460
 all these things,

00:26:58.759 --> 00:26:59.579
 and you forget

00:26:59.579 --> 00:27:00.579
 that actually

00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:02.099
 the original reason

00:27:02.099 --> 00:27:02.639
 why you came

00:27:02.639 --> 00:27:03.220
 in the first place.

00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:06.460
 so he says,

00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:06.900
 remember.

00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:08.180
 Whatever you need

00:27:08.180 --> 00:27:08.960
 to do to remember,

00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:09.860
 you need to remember

00:27:09.860 --> 00:27:10.720
 from where you

00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:11.319
 have fallen.

00:27:14.740 --> 00:27:15.920
 Because the more

00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:16.660
 you do church,

00:27:17.140 --> 00:27:19.100
 the more you forget

00:27:19.100 --> 00:27:19.980
 what it was like

00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:20.740
 to have no hope.

00:27:21.860 --> 00:27:22.900
 The more you forget

00:27:22.900 --> 00:27:23.559
 what it's like,

00:27:23.620 --> 00:27:23.980
 actually,

00:27:24.380 --> 00:27:25.880
 to not have a God

00:27:25.880 --> 00:27:27.339
 that you trust

00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:28.680
 despite anything

00:27:28.680 --> 00:27:29.120
 and everything.

00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:30.659
 do you know

00:27:30.659 --> 00:27:31.339
 what happens then?

00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:32.299
 When you forget

00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:33.639
 what it's like

00:27:33.639 --> 00:27:34.239
 to have no God,

00:27:34.979 --> 00:27:35.500
 you then start

00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:36.399
 becoming judgmental

00:27:36.399 --> 00:27:37.399
 to people.

00:27:38.479 --> 00:27:39.479
 When you forget

00:27:39.479 --> 00:27:40.179
 that you were

00:27:40.179 --> 00:27:40.759
 once drowning,

00:27:41.979 --> 00:27:44.039
 then you start

00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:44.659
 looking at people

00:27:44.659 --> 00:27:45.119
 who are drowning

00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:45.519
 and go,

00:27:46.439 --> 00:27:47.659
 I'm way better

00:27:47.659 --> 00:27:48.079
 than them.

00:27:48.719 --> 00:27:49.659
 They're so stupid.

00:27:50.159 --> 00:27:51.359
 Why would you do that?

00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:52.399
 That's such a stupid

00:27:52.399 --> 00:27:53.019
 life decision

00:27:53.019 --> 00:27:55.239
 until we remember

00:27:55.239 --> 00:27:55.419
 that,

00:27:55.459 --> 00:27:55.599
 oh,

00:27:56.439 --> 00:27:57.459
 I was there.

00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:59.200
 I literally did

00:27:59.200 --> 00:27:59.799
 just that.

00:28:02.120 --> 00:28:02.600
 Remember

00:28:02.600 --> 00:28:03.620
 from where you

00:28:03.620 --> 00:28:04.019
 have fallen.

00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:04.680
 And then he says

00:28:04.680 --> 00:28:05.000
 repent.

00:28:05.860 --> 00:28:06.319
 Repent.

00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:07.440
 Literally do a 180

00:28:07.440 --> 00:28:08.059
 and turn.

00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:09.779
 Do a 180

00:28:09.779 --> 00:28:10.700
 right now

00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:11.740
 before it's too late.

00:28:12.360 --> 00:28:12.779
 Repent

00:28:12.779 --> 00:28:13.759
 and start doing

00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:14.140
 the things

00:28:14.140 --> 00:28:14.539
 that you did

00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:14.980
 at first.

00:28:16.579 --> 00:28:17.819
 So for relationships

00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:18.600
 as couples,

00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:20.980
 start calling

00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:21.680
 each other again,

00:28:22.039 --> 00:28:22.680
 saying goodnight

00:28:22.680 --> 00:28:23.180
 to each other

00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:24.079
 just before you sleep.

00:28:24.120 --> 00:28:24.920
 You don't do that anymore,

00:28:25.299 --> 00:28:25.860
 do that again.

00:28:26.120 --> 00:28:26.700
 Start praying

00:28:26.700 --> 00:28:27.319
 with each other

00:28:27.319 --> 00:28:29.159
 like you did

00:28:29.159 --> 00:28:29.639
 at the beginning.

00:28:31.480 --> 00:28:32.059
 Go out

00:28:32.059 --> 00:28:32.359
 and buy

00:28:32.359 --> 00:28:32.839
 those matching

00:28:32.839 --> 00:28:33.500
 t-shirts again.

00:28:35.819 --> 00:28:36.460
 Do whatever

00:28:36.460 --> 00:28:37.279
 you need to do.

00:28:37.379 --> 00:28:38.240
 Do those works

00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:38.799
 that you did

00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:39.500
 at first,

00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:40.179
 not the works

00:28:40.179 --> 00:28:40.700
 that you're doing

00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:41.359
 right now

00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:42.139
 that you've been

00:28:42.139 --> 00:28:42.659
 caught up in.

00:28:42.919 --> 00:28:43.399
 Do the ones

00:28:43.399 --> 00:28:43.779
 that you did

00:28:43.779 --> 00:28:44.500
 at the very beginning.

00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:48.659
 If not,

00:28:49.139 --> 00:28:50.579
 if not,

00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.480
 I will come

00:28:51.480 --> 00:28:55.720
 and I will remove

00:28:55.720 --> 00:28:56.240
 your lampstand

00:28:56.240 --> 00:28:56.839
 from its place.

00:28:57.319 --> 00:28:58.500
 Can you believe

00:28:58.500 --> 00:28:58.759
 that?

00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:00.379
 This church

00:29:00.379 --> 00:29:01.339
 that is an A-star

00:29:01.339 --> 00:29:01.779
 church,

00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:02.720
 it has the works,

00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:03.480
 it has the resilience,

00:29:03.639 --> 00:29:04.079
 it has the toil,

00:29:04.119 --> 00:29:04.960
 it has the patient endurance,

00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:05.599
 it has the commitment

00:29:05.599 --> 00:29:06.220
 to the truth.

00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:07.279
 Jesus says,

00:29:07.639 --> 00:29:08.919
 if you don't

00:29:08.919 --> 00:29:09.359
 rediscover

00:29:09.359 --> 00:29:10.099
 your first love,

00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:11.359
 I will shut you down.

00:29:12.939 --> 00:29:13.339
 Completely.

00:29:14.379 --> 00:29:14.939
 Surely you're like,

00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:15.119
 wait,

00:29:15.419 --> 00:29:16.319
 well it's a good church,

00:29:16.359 --> 00:29:17.279
 it's doing good stuff.

00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:17.859
 Maybe the heart

00:29:17.859 --> 00:29:18.359
 isn't right,

00:29:18.460 --> 00:29:19.240
 maybe the intentions

00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:20.019
 were forgotten,

00:29:20.379 --> 00:29:21.839
 but it's doing good stuff.

00:29:22.179 --> 00:29:23.240
 We're teaching people

00:29:23.240 --> 00:29:24.039
 good, healthy,

00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:25.259
 sound doctrine.

00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:26.480
 We are serving

00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:26.900
 the poor.

00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:28.160
 Surely you still

00:29:28.160 --> 00:29:29.099
 want to keep us around.

00:29:29.579 --> 00:29:29.819
 No,

00:29:29.859 --> 00:29:30.160
 he says,

00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:31.259
 if you don't have

00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:31.799
 love,

00:29:32.279 --> 00:29:34.400
 I will remove you

00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:34.980
 from your lampstand.

00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:37.160
 This tells me

00:29:37.160 --> 00:29:37.599
 a couple of things.

00:29:37.640 --> 00:29:38.019
 This tells me

00:29:38.019 --> 00:29:38.619
 God doesn't really

00:29:38.619 --> 00:29:39.160
 need us

00:29:39.160 --> 00:29:40.240
 to do anything.

00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:42.480
 It's about our heart.

00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:44.059
 And our work for God

00:29:44.059 --> 00:29:44.759
 needs to be driven

00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:45.700
 by our love for God.

00:29:46.079 --> 00:29:46.619
 End of story.

00:29:47.619 --> 00:29:48.359
 Our work for God

00:29:48.359 --> 00:29:49.079
 has to be driven

00:29:49.079 --> 00:29:50.119
 by our love for God,

00:29:50.160 --> 00:29:50.960
 otherwise he does

00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:51.799
 not need us.

00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:53.279
 What's the most

00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:53.860
 famous chapter

00:29:53.860 --> 00:29:54.940
 in the Bible

00:29:54.940 --> 00:29:55.519
 about love?

00:29:57.380 --> 00:29:58.079
 1 Corinthians,

00:29:58.559 --> 00:30:01.360
 1 Corinthians 13.

00:30:02.579 --> 00:30:03.319
 Read our weddings,

00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:03.620
 right?

00:30:04.620 --> 00:30:05.240
 Love is patient,

00:30:05.340 --> 00:30:05.819
 love is kind,

00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:06.380
 all these things.

00:30:07.880 --> 00:30:08.079
 Of course,

00:30:08.120 --> 00:30:08.519
 at the beginning

00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:09.500
 of 1 Corinthians 13,

00:30:09.660 --> 00:30:10.140
 he's saying,

00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:10.380
 hey,

00:30:11.160 --> 00:30:12.000
 if you don't have love,

00:30:12.039 --> 00:30:13.220
 you can be amazing.

00:30:13.340 --> 00:30:13.960
 You can be the most

00:30:13.960 --> 00:30:14.980
 incredible musician.

00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:15.539
 You can be,

00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:16.400
 you can know

00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:17.240
 all of your scripture.

00:30:17.360 --> 00:30:18.400
 You can be the best teacher,

00:30:18.400 --> 00:30:20.000
 but if you don't have love,

00:30:20.800 --> 00:30:24.340
 you are 80%

00:30:24.340 --> 00:30:25.780
 of your functioning capacity.

00:30:25.900 --> 00:30:26.019
 No.

00:30:26.920 --> 00:30:28.080
 You are 40%.

00:30:28.080 --> 00:30:28.380
 No.

00:30:29.380 --> 00:30:30.340
 You are nothing.

00:30:31.800 --> 00:30:32.240
 Nothing?

00:30:32.940 --> 00:30:33.200
 Like,

00:30:33.320 --> 00:30:34.080
 all the good stuff

00:30:34.080 --> 00:30:34.519
 that I'm doing

00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:35.080
 wiped out,

00:30:35.200 --> 00:30:35.519
 nothing?

00:30:36.300 --> 00:30:37.200
 That's pretty harsh.

00:30:38.700 --> 00:30:39.759
 Until we realize

00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:40.560
 why we do

00:30:40.560 --> 00:30:41.140
 all that we do.

00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:44.519
 When we forget

00:30:44.519 --> 00:30:46.080
 love,

00:30:47.120 --> 00:30:47.980
 none of it matters.

00:30:47.980 --> 00:30:48.900
 It's a loud gong.

00:30:51.720 --> 00:30:52.960
 And if we don't have it,

00:30:53.860 --> 00:30:55.019
 he'd rather shut us down.

00:30:56.539 --> 00:30:57.120
 That's the thing

00:30:57.120 --> 00:30:57.900
 that scares me the most

00:30:57.900 --> 00:30:58.559
 because that means

00:30:58.559 --> 00:30:59.339
 on the outside,

00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:00.019
 we can be doing

00:31:00.019 --> 00:31:00.920
 everything right.

00:31:03.240 --> 00:31:04.240
 Jesus talks about that,

00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:04.420
 right?

00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:05.140
 You worship me

00:31:05.140 --> 00:31:05.680
 with your lips,

00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.259
 but your hearts

00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:06.900
 are far from me.

00:31:08.500 --> 00:31:09.059
 Our outside

00:31:09.059 --> 00:31:09.720
 may be complete.

00:31:09.860 --> 00:31:11.279
 You may tick every box

00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:12.099
 as a good Christian,

00:31:12.660 --> 00:31:14.539
 but if you don't have love,

00:31:15.579 --> 00:31:16.420
 you better remember

00:31:16.420 --> 00:31:17.480
 from where you've fallen,

00:31:17.480 --> 00:31:18.259
 and you better

00:31:18.259 --> 00:31:20.059
 turn around 180

00:31:20.059 --> 00:31:21.579
 and go back to doing

00:31:21.579 --> 00:31:22.059
 one of the things

00:31:22.059 --> 00:31:22.720
 that you did at first.

00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:25.259
 It's that important.

00:31:25.920 --> 00:31:26.380
 If not,

00:31:26.400 --> 00:31:27.079
 I will remove you.

00:31:27.360 --> 00:31:28.200
 But then he does say

00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:28.539
 something.

00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:29.299
 He says,

00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:30.220
 yeah,

00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:31.039
 this you have.

00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:32.700
 You hate the works

00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:33.880
 of the Nicolaitans.

00:31:34.019 --> 00:31:34.839
 Nicolaitans were a group

00:31:34.839 --> 00:31:35.319
 of people

00:31:35.319 --> 00:31:36.660
 who had basically

00:31:36.660 --> 00:31:37.559
 made arrangements

00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:38.220
 and compromised

00:31:38.220 --> 00:31:39.539
 with pagan society

00:31:39.539 --> 00:31:39.920
 to saying,

00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:40.120
 hey,

00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:41.920
 we're the Jesus people.

00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:42.500
 We're still

00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:44.259
 into all of that,

00:31:44.440 --> 00:31:46.019
 but our spiritual liberty

00:31:46.019 --> 00:31:47.019
 gives us a liberty

00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:47.880
 to do everything else

00:31:47.880 --> 00:31:48.160
 as well,

00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:48.880
 so we can still

00:31:48.880 --> 00:31:50.120
 do all the things

00:31:50.120 --> 00:31:50.560
 for pleasure.

00:31:51.580 --> 00:31:52.240
 That's that group

00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:52.600
 of people.

00:31:52.980 --> 00:31:53.360
 They're saying,

00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:53.519
 hey,

00:31:53.600 --> 00:31:53.779
 yeah,

00:31:53.820 --> 00:31:54.700
 I believe in God,

00:31:54.900 --> 00:31:55.720
 but I'm still going

00:31:55.720 --> 00:31:56.560
 to enjoy everything

00:31:56.560 --> 00:31:57.620
 about life here

00:31:57.620 --> 00:31:58.180
 on earth as well.

00:31:58.259 --> 00:31:59.080
 I believe in heaven,

00:31:59.500 --> 00:32:00.200
 but I actually really

00:32:00.200 --> 00:32:01.539
 just want all the

00:32:01.539 --> 00:32:02.019
 pleasures here.

00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:03.080
 That's that group.

00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:03.640
 And Jesus says,

00:32:03.720 --> 00:32:03.840
 no.

00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:04.620
 You know what

00:32:04.620 --> 00:32:05.120
 that group did?

00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:06.539
 That group started

00:32:06.539 --> 00:32:07.539
 flirting with other things.

00:32:08.440 --> 00:32:09.360
 They had a first love.

00:32:09.359 --> 00:32:10.859
 When you first meet

00:32:10.859 --> 00:32:11.919
 your girlfriend,

00:32:12.099 --> 00:32:12.339
 boyfriend,

00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:12.839
 spouse,

00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:14.919
 you can see nothing else.

00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:16.859
 You are just looking

00:32:16.859 --> 00:32:17.219
 at them.

00:32:17.479 --> 00:32:18.599
 There is no other person

00:32:18.599 --> 00:32:19.059
 in the room.

00:32:19.599 --> 00:32:20.779
 Even if it's a room

00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:21.419
 full of people

00:32:21.419 --> 00:32:23.759
 in the side of your mind,

00:32:23.819 --> 00:32:24.740
 you can still see

00:32:24.740 --> 00:32:25.519
 that person

00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:26.399
 because everything

00:32:26.399 --> 00:32:27.399
 is about that person.

00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:30.299
 But what God's saying here

00:32:30.299 --> 00:32:31.259
 is what Jesus is saying here.

00:32:31.319 --> 00:32:32.079
 But you've taken

00:32:32.079 --> 00:32:32.899
 your eyes off me.

00:32:34.639 --> 00:32:35.639
 Some people have taken

00:32:35.639 --> 00:32:36.240
 their eyes off me

00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:37.299
 and they've started flirting

00:32:37.299 --> 00:32:37.899
 with other things.

00:32:37.900 --> 00:32:39.500
 other people.

00:32:41.120 --> 00:32:41.820
 But again,

00:32:42.360 --> 00:32:42.720
 you,

00:32:43.720 --> 00:32:45.180
 you've stuck to it

00:32:45.180 --> 00:32:47.440
 but not out of love anymore.

00:32:49.380 --> 00:32:50.620
 I need you to have

00:32:50.620 --> 00:32:51.460
 that love for me.

00:32:54.560 --> 00:32:55.040
 I mean,

00:32:55.100 --> 00:32:55.640
 the Nicolaitans,

00:32:55.720 --> 00:32:56.360
 I think we need to heed

00:32:56.360 --> 00:32:57.040
 that warning too.

00:32:57.380 --> 00:32:58.380
 Jesus hates the Nicolaitans.

00:32:58.500 --> 00:32:59.000
 Jesus hates,

00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:00.980
 doesn't hate the people

00:33:00.980 --> 00:33:02.480
 but hates those

00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:03.300
 who have made arrangements,

00:33:03.660 --> 00:33:04.480
 made compromises

00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:05.780
 to still enjoy

00:33:05.780 --> 00:33:07.200
 all the things of life

00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:07.780
 that don't last.

00:33:08.720 --> 00:33:09.360
 They started flirting.

00:33:09.460 --> 00:33:09.580
 Actually,

00:33:09.620 --> 00:33:10.400
 one of the biggest things

00:33:10.400 --> 00:33:11.920
 about modern Christianity

00:33:11.920 --> 00:33:13.140
 is modernity itself.

00:33:13.900 --> 00:33:14.720
 All the traps of,

00:33:15.180 --> 00:33:16.240
 all the traps of Babylon,

00:33:16.620 --> 00:33:17.180
 all the pleasures,

00:33:17.680 --> 00:33:18.140
 all the riches,

00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:18.840
 all the luxuries,

00:33:18.960 --> 00:33:19.720
 all the comforts.

00:33:22.560 --> 00:33:23.780
 We must not compromise

00:33:23.780 --> 00:33:24.259
 with those

00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:26.280
 and we must still maintain

00:33:26.280 --> 00:33:27.420
 to have that first love.

00:33:28.280 --> 00:33:30.259
 Do we have that first love?

00:33:30.259 --> 00:33:32.680
 And then he says,

00:33:33.240 --> 00:33:33.720
 and he finishes,

00:33:33.859 --> 00:33:34.599
 he who has an ear,

00:33:34.660 --> 00:33:35.599
 let him hear what the Spirit

00:33:35.599 --> 00:33:36.420
 says to the churches.

00:33:36.640 --> 00:33:37.000
 He's saying,

00:33:37.740 --> 00:33:38.700
 the Spirit's constantly

00:33:38.700 --> 00:33:39.599
 going to be talking,

00:33:40.119 --> 00:33:40.700
 guiding us.

00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:42.200
 Let us hear,

00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:43.039
 let us take heed

00:33:43.039 --> 00:33:44.339
 of what is happening here.

00:33:44.619 --> 00:33:45.839
 And to the one who conquers,

00:33:46.839 --> 00:33:47.599
 I will grant to eat

00:33:47.599 --> 00:33:48.279
 of the tree of life

00:33:48.279 --> 00:33:49.980
 which is in the paradise

00:33:49.980 --> 00:33:51.079
 of God.

00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:52.359
 In the Garden of Eden,

00:33:52.480 --> 00:33:53.359
 right at the very beginning,

00:33:54.039 --> 00:33:54.660
 there were two trees,

00:33:54.779 --> 00:33:54.859
 right?

00:33:54.980 --> 00:33:55.640
 There's the tree of life

00:33:55.640 --> 00:33:56.140
 and there's the tree

00:33:56.140 --> 00:33:56.460
 of knowledge

00:33:56.460 --> 00:33:56.980
 of good and evil.

00:33:58.420 --> 00:33:58.840
 Adam and Eve

00:33:58.840 --> 00:33:59.759
 make the wrong choice.

00:34:00.280 --> 00:34:00.540
 They say,

00:34:00.580 --> 00:34:01.840
 God, we don't trust you completely.

00:34:02.420 --> 00:34:03.220
 We don't think you have

00:34:03.220 --> 00:34:06.600
 what's best in mind for us,

00:34:06.700 --> 00:34:07.420
 so we're going to

00:34:07.420 --> 00:34:08.140
 choose this tree.

00:34:09.300 --> 00:34:09.780
 But he says,

00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:11.099
 to the one who conquers here,

00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:12.240
 to the one who keeps

00:34:12.240 --> 00:34:13.119
 his mind focused

00:34:13.119 --> 00:34:14.039
 on the first love,

00:34:14.539 --> 00:34:15.119
 I will grant you

00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:16.099
 to eat of the tree of life

00:34:16.099 --> 00:34:18.079
 which is in the paradise

00:34:18.079 --> 00:34:19.400
 of God.

00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:21.079
 To the one who conquers.

00:34:21.880 --> 00:34:22.579
 The question is,

00:34:22.619 --> 00:34:23.599
 how do you conquer

00:34:23.599 --> 00:34:26.139
 in this day and age?

00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:27.480
 Again,

00:34:27.539 --> 00:34:28.259
 it's the same answer.

00:34:28.360 --> 00:34:29.239
 It's the only answer.

00:34:30.279 --> 00:34:30.579
 Love.

00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:33.019
 But love is a hard thing

00:34:33.019 --> 00:34:34.159
 to kind of grasp, right?

00:34:34.519 --> 00:34:35.639
 We know we should love.

00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:37.440
 Actually,

00:34:37.519 --> 00:34:38.139
 there might be some of you

00:34:38.139 --> 00:34:38.360
 thinking,

00:34:38.480 --> 00:34:38.799
 you know what,

00:34:38.819 --> 00:34:39.980
 I don't think I've ever

00:34:39.980 --> 00:34:42.019
 had that first experience

00:34:42.019 --> 00:34:43.500
 of love with Jesus.

00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:46.099
 What do I do?

00:34:46.319 --> 00:34:46.819
 I don't know

00:34:46.819 --> 00:34:47.880
 if I've ever loved Jesus.

00:34:49.559 --> 00:34:50.559
 Maybe not even the way

00:34:50.559 --> 00:34:51.679
 that the church in Ephesus

00:34:51.679 --> 00:34:53.099
 did.

00:34:53.599 --> 00:34:54.619
 Or the way that you,

00:34:54.719 --> 00:34:55.679
 some people that I see do.

00:34:57.940 --> 00:34:59.839
 How do I love?

00:35:00.819 --> 00:35:02.000
 It's really hard to love.

00:35:02.659 --> 00:35:03.099
 I'll tell you,

00:35:03.219 --> 00:35:03.860
 you're not alone.

00:35:04.539 --> 00:35:05.460
 I have that too.

00:35:06.019 --> 00:35:06.239
 Actually,

00:35:06.299 --> 00:35:07.199
 my prayer isn't,

00:35:07.539 --> 00:35:07.699
 God,

00:35:07.759 --> 00:35:08.719
 I love you so much.

00:35:09.019 --> 00:35:09.539
 God is,

00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:10.039
 God,

00:35:10.119 --> 00:35:11.099
 I want to love you.

00:35:11.460 --> 00:35:12.619
 And I want to love you

00:35:12.619 --> 00:35:13.319
 and only you.

00:35:13.599 --> 00:35:15.619
 Help me love you.

00:35:16.819 --> 00:35:17.920
 Show me what that means.

00:35:18.380 --> 00:35:18.739
 Yesterday,

00:35:18.839 --> 00:35:19.460
 I was in 1 John

00:35:19.460 --> 00:35:20.199
 and I was reminded,

00:35:20.339 --> 00:35:20.579
 actually,

00:35:20.920 --> 00:35:21.500
 this is love.

00:35:21.500 --> 00:35:22.380
 If you go to 1 John

00:35:22.380 --> 00:35:24.679
 chapter 3,

00:35:24.880 --> 00:35:25.940
 if you're asking yourself,

00:35:26.039 --> 00:35:27.119
 I want to know this love.

00:35:27.760 --> 00:35:28.800
 I don't know if I've abandoned it

00:35:28.800 --> 00:35:29.340
 but I don't think

00:35:29.340 --> 00:35:30.280
 I ever even had it.

00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:31.480
 By this,

00:35:31.739 --> 00:35:32.820
 1 John chapter 3,

00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:33.440
 verse 16,

00:35:33.719 --> 00:35:34.980
 by this we know love,

00:35:35.159 --> 00:35:36.099
 that he laid down

00:35:36.099 --> 00:35:36.880
 his life for us

00:35:36.880 --> 00:35:38.219
 and we ought to lay down

00:35:38.219 --> 00:35:38.719
 our lives

00:35:38.719 --> 00:35:39.900
 for the brothers.

00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:42.260
 When we're talking

00:35:42.260 --> 00:35:43.179
 about love itself,

00:35:43.420 --> 00:35:44.800
 when we want to love others,

00:35:44.940 --> 00:35:46.440
 we must first understand

00:35:46.440 --> 00:35:47.340
 that it is because

00:35:47.340 --> 00:35:48.159
 God loved us.

00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:50.000
 That's how it happens.

00:35:50.379 --> 00:35:51.339
 It's not the other way around.

00:35:51.679 --> 00:35:52.460
 You don't try

00:35:52.460 --> 00:35:53.879
 and conjure up love.

00:35:54.679 --> 00:35:55.519
 But the moment

00:35:55.519 --> 00:35:56.299
 you realize

00:35:56.299 --> 00:35:57.559
 how much you are loved,

00:35:58.179 --> 00:35:59.299
 then it's automatic.

00:36:00.139 --> 00:36:01.619
 Then it's the only

00:36:01.619 --> 00:36:02.719
 natural response.

00:36:02.819 --> 00:36:03.799
 Chapter 4,

00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:04.779
 verse 8,

00:36:04.839 --> 00:36:05.299
 says this,

00:36:05.619 --> 00:36:06.759
 anyone who does not love

00:36:06.759 --> 00:36:07.599
 does not know God

00:36:07.599 --> 00:36:08.779
 because God is love.

00:36:09.579 --> 00:36:10.279
 In this love,

00:36:10.379 --> 00:36:11.379
 in this love of God

00:36:11.379 --> 00:36:12.579
 was made manifest among us

00:36:12.579 --> 00:36:13.239
 that God sent

00:36:13.239 --> 00:36:13.980
 his only son

00:36:13.980 --> 00:36:14.579
 into the world

00:36:14.579 --> 00:36:15.539
 so that we might

00:36:15.539 --> 00:36:16.179
 live through him.

00:36:16.599 --> 00:36:17.559
 In this is love.

00:36:17.559 --> 00:36:18.639
 Not that we have loved God,

00:36:18.920 --> 00:36:19.900
 but that he loved us

00:36:19.900 --> 00:36:20.679
 and sent his son

00:36:20.679 --> 00:36:22.179
 to be the propitiation

00:36:22.179 --> 00:36:22.779
 for our sins.

00:36:22.900 --> 00:36:23.940
 He paid for the cost

00:36:23.940 --> 00:36:24.880
 of our sins.

00:36:25.579 --> 00:36:26.139
 Verse 10 again,

00:36:26.440 --> 00:36:27.920
 in this is love,

00:36:28.019 --> 00:36:29.179
 not that we have loved God,

00:36:29.239 --> 00:36:30.019
 but that he loved us

00:36:30.019 --> 00:36:30.820
 and sent his son.

00:36:31.299 --> 00:36:32.360
 Do you understand that?

00:36:32.420 --> 00:36:33.099
 If you are struggling

00:36:33.099 --> 00:36:33.659
 with love,

00:36:34.079 --> 00:36:35.420
 that's the point

00:36:35.420 --> 00:36:36.440
 that you just cling on to.

00:36:37.219 --> 00:36:37.440
 Lord,

00:36:37.480 --> 00:36:38.579
 I want to know your love.

00:36:38.739 --> 00:36:39.159
 At the beginning

00:36:39.159 --> 00:36:39.719
 of chapter 3,

00:36:39.779 --> 00:36:39.980
 it says,

00:36:40.079 --> 00:36:41.079
 how deep the Father's love.

00:36:41.139 --> 00:36:41.639
 That's the song

00:36:41.639 --> 00:36:42.119
 that we sing.

00:36:42.719 --> 00:36:44.259
 Until we really understand

00:36:44.259 --> 00:36:45.279
 how much we are loved,

00:36:45.440 --> 00:36:46.000
 it is going to be

00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:46.719
 very hard to love.

00:36:47.559 --> 00:36:49.000
 Does that make sense?

00:36:51.299 --> 00:36:52.299
 So if you're with me

00:36:52.299 --> 00:36:52.460
 going,

00:36:52.519 --> 00:36:52.619
 oh,

00:36:52.659 --> 00:36:53.099
 I don't know.

00:36:53.259 --> 00:36:53.900
 I don't know how,

00:36:54.099 --> 00:36:54.579
 I don't know whether

00:36:54.579 --> 00:36:55.500
 I'm loving God.

00:36:55.599 --> 00:36:56.159
 I don't know whether

00:36:56.159 --> 00:36:56.579
 I've abandoned.

00:36:57.159 --> 00:36:58.139
 Just go back to him.

00:36:58.980 --> 00:37:00.039
 Go back to what he did

00:37:00.039 --> 00:37:00.960
 for you.

00:37:01.960 --> 00:37:02.980
 How great his love

00:37:02.980 --> 00:37:03.460
 is for you.

00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:05.440
 That's it.

00:37:05.500 --> 00:37:06.719
 I think if you were

00:37:06.719 --> 00:37:08.099
 to sum up this whole book,

00:37:08.639 --> 00:37:09.940
 if you say,

00:37:09.980 --> 00:37:10.179
 God,

00:37:10.719 --> 00:37:12.320
 I have a short

00:37:12.320 --> 00:37:12.900
 attention span.

00:37:13.340 --> 00:37:13.960
 Can you sum up

00:37:13.960 --> 00:37:14.599
 what this whole book

00:37:14.599 --> 00:37:15.000
 is about,

00:37:15.400 --> 00:37:16.139
 open up the skies

00:37:16.139 --> 00:37:16.579
 right now

00:37:16.579 --> 00:37:17.099
 and tell me,

00:37:17.599 --> 00:37:18.480
 just sum this up for me.

00:37:19.339 --> 00:37:19.719
 He'll say,

00:37:19.900 --> 00:37:20.839
 you are loved.

00:37:22.839 --> 00:37:23.559
 You are loved.

00:37:23.960 --> 00:37:24.779
 And that's the secret

00:37:24.779 --> 00:37:25.500
 to remembering

00:37:25.500 --> 00:37:26.639
 that first love

00:37:26.639 --> 00:37:27.639
 is that when you

00:37:27.639 --> 00:37:28.139
 recognize,

00:37:28.259 --> 00:37:29.179
 when you remember

00:37:29.179 --> 00:37:30.880
 that you are

00:37:30.880 --> 00:37:31.920
 loved,

00:37:31.920 --> 00:37:35.000
 I don't know,

00:37:35.579 --> 00:37:35.960
 there might be

00:37:35.960 --> 00:37:36.460
 some people here

00:37:36.460 --> 00:37:37.039
 we actually need

00:37:37.039 --> 00:37:37.599
 to repeat that

00:37:37.599 --> 00:37:38.139
 to ourselves

00:37:38.139 --> 00:37:39.260
 constantly

00:37:39.260 --> 00:37:41.559
 because we've never

00:37:41.559 --> 00:37:42.420
 truly understood

00:37:42.420 --> 00:37:43.000
 what love is.

00:37:43.840 --> 00:37:44.420
 Forget the love

00:37:44.420 --> 00:37:45.099
 of the Heavenly Father.

00:37:45.200 --> 00:37:45.900
 I've not experienced

00:37:45.900 --> 00:37:46.340
 the love from

00:37:46.340 --> 00:37:46.920
 an earthly father.

00:37:49.139 --> 00:37:49.840
 Forget loving

00:37:49.840 --> 00:37:50.260
 the saints

00:37:50.260 --> 00:37:50.760
 and other people

00:37:50.760 --> 00:37:51.200
 in my church.

00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:52.920
 I've never experienced

00:37:52.920 --> 00:37:53.320
 any love

00:37:53.320 --> 00:37:55.980
 myself or my friends.

00:37:57.039 --> 00:37:57.960
 The only way

00:37:57.960 --> 00:37:58.900
 you know how to love

00:37:58.900 --> 00:37:59.960
 is if you experience

00:37:59.960 --> 00:38:00.619
 love first.

00:38:01.920 --> 00:38:04.680
 And that's my prayer.

00:38:05.240 --> 00:38:06.059
 That's why we gather.

00:38:07.619 --> 00:38:08.460
 It's because we hope

00:38:08.460 --> 00:38:09.500
 to have a space,

00:38:10.500 --> 00:38:11.340
 a platform

00:38:11.340 --> 00:38:12.420
 where we can practice

00:38:12.420 --> 00:38:12.900
 that love,

00:38:13.300 --> 00:38:14.280
 where we can remind

00:38:14.280 --> 00:38:14.980
 each other

00:38:14.980 --> 00:38:16.500
 of the love

00:38:16.500 --> 00:38:17.579
 that God has for us.

00:38:19.039 --> 00:38:20.340
 That's why we gather.

00:38:20.559 --> 00:38:21.460
 That's why we're here

00:38:21.460 --> 00:38:22.420
 because ultimately

00:38:22.420 --> 00:38:23.920
 Jesus is the tree of life.

00:38:25.800 --> 00:38:27.099
 So the one who conquers,

00:38:27.159 --> 00:38:27.860
 how can you conquer?

00:38:28.039 --> 00:38:28.480
 Through love.

00:38:29.139 --> 00:38:29.860
 And who did it?

00:38:30.260 --> 00:38:31.099
 The one who laid

00:38:31.099 --> 00:38:31.639
 his life down.

00:38:32.820 --> 00:38:33.180
 First.

00:38:34.619 --> 00:38:35.619
 I prayed that,

00:38:35.860 --> 00:38:36.019
 I mean,

00:38:36.059 --> 00:38:36.599
 I'm not saying

00:38:36.599 --> 00:38:37.139
 anything new.

00:38:37.320 --> 00:38:38.079
 Most of you have heard

00:38:38.079 --> 00:38:39.260
 this time and time again.

00:38:39.760 --> 00:38:40.960
 But for most of us,

00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:41.800
 it often just sticks

00:38:41.800 --> 00:38:42.300
 in our brain

00:38:42.300 --> 00:38:42.920
 and never drops

00:38:42.920 --> 00:38:43.519
 into our hearts.

00:38:44.800 --> 00:38:45.780
 But there's a moment

00:38:45.780 --> 00:38:47.440
 in the Christian faith,

00:38:47.980 --> 00:38:48.940
 in the walk with God,

00:38:49.019 --> 00:38:50.380
 where that knowledge

00:38:50.380 --> 00:38:51.820
 drops in

00:38:51.820 --> 00:38:53.460
 and you suddenly

00:38:53.460 --> 00:38:54.659
 feel the love.

00:38:55.119 --> 00:38:55.780
 And that's what

00:38:55.780 --> 00:38:56.599
 drives you to love.

00:38:56.659 --> 00:38:57.220
 Because one thing

00:38:57.220 --> 00:38:57.720
 is for sure,

00:38:58.240 --> 00:38:58.700
 you can run

00:38:58.700 --> 00:38:59.340
 all the programs

00:38:59.340 --> 00:38:59.800
 you like

00:38:59.800 --> 00:39:01.920
 and it won't

00:39:01.920 --> 00:39:03.140
 have any purpose

00:39:03.140 --> 00:39:04.039
 in the kingdom of God

00:39:04.039 --> 00:39:05.079
 unless you have love.

00:39:06.940 --> 00:39:07.660
 Some people say,

00:39:07.720 --> 00:39:08.620
 oh, I do all these things

00:39:08.620 --> 00:39:09.440
 because I love people

00:39:09.440 --> 00:39:09.920
 and I'll say,

00:39:09.960 --> 00:39:10.559
 that's not enough.

00:39:11.760 --> 00:39:12.640
 Don't just do stuff

00:39:12.640 --> 00:39:13.600
 because you love people.

00:39:14.500 --> 00:39:15.120
 Because why?

00:39:15.800 --> 00:39:16.539
 At some point,

00:39:17.100 --> 00:39:17.860
 they're going to annoy you.

00:39:17.920 --> 00:39:18.400
 At some point,

00:39:18.440 --> 00:39:19.220
 they're going to let you down.

00:39:19.860 --> 00:39:21.000
 And once they let you down,

00:39:21.079 --> 00:39:21.740
 you stop loving them.

00:39:21.820 --> 00:39:24.079
 You only do it

00:39:24.079 --> 00:39:25.000
 because of your love for God.

00:39:25.000 --> 00:39:28.440
 I'm here doing this.

00:39:29.320 --> 00:39:29.920
 Joe's here doing this.

00:39:29.960 --> 00:39:30.659
 Christina's here doing this.

00:39:31.320 --> 00:39:32.539
 Not necessarily because

00:39:32.539 --> 00:39:33.940
 we love you guys,

00:39:34.699 --> 00:39:35.619
 which we do,

00:39:35.980 --> 00:39:37.360
 but it's because

00:39:37.360 --> 00:39:38.119
 we love him first.

00:39:39.380 --> 00:39:40.619
 My eyes are on him.

00:39:41.860 --> 00:39:43.039
 And why is my eye on him?

00:39:43.099 --> 00:39:44.079
 Because he gave his son

00:39:44.079 --> 00:39:45.440
 to die for me.

00:39:46.780 --> 00:39:47.699
 When you do stuff

00:39:47.699 --> 00:39:48.880
 out of your love for God,

00:39:49.179 --> 00:39:49.820
 then you can never

00:39:49.820 --> 00:39:50.420
 be disappointed.

00:39:51.239 --> 00:39:51.820
 Because it's not...

00:39:51.820 --> 00:39:56.240
 It's not mine anyway.

00:39:57.900 --> 00:39:59.100
 The question then becomes,

00:39:59.240 --> 00:40:00.320
 how much do we love God?

00:40:00.400 --> 00:40:01.600
 Because when we do love God,

00:40:01.800 --> 00:40:02.960
 then we do love other people.

00:40:03.080 --> 00:40:04.580
 1 John keeps talking about this.

00:40:04.800 --> 00:40:05.539
 If you love God,

00:40:05.820 --> 00:40:06.480
 you love other people.

00:40:06.539 --> 00:40:07.080
 That's the summary

00:40:07.080 --> 00:40:08.019
 of the whole book, right?

00:40:08.700 --> 00:40:09.539
 Love God with all your heart,

00:40:09.600 --> 00:40:10.300
 soul, mind, and strength.

00:40:10.600 --> 00:40:11.720
 Love your neighbor as yourself.

00:40:12.519 --> 00:40:14.120
 The moment you start struggling

00:40:14.120 --> 00:40:15.039
 to love your neighbors,

00:40:15.440 --> 00:40:16.820
 which is what the church

00:40:16.820 --> 00:40:17.940
 in Ephesus is guilty of,

00:40:18.580 --> 00:40:19.440
 it means you've

00:40:19.440 --> 00:40:21.220
 stopped loving God.

00:40:21.820 --> 00:40:24.340
 And it's a very easy way

00:40:24.340 --> 00:40:24.940
 to measure this.

00:40:26.160 --> 00:40:27.120
 How quickly do you

00:40:27.120 --> 00:40:27.880
 get annoyed at people?

00:40:30.240 --> 00:40:31.380
 When someone does something

00:40:31.380 --> 00:40:32.120
 that you don't like,

00:40:33.000 --> 00:40:34.120
 when someone acts in a way

00:40:34.120 --> 00:40:35.080
 that you don't approve of,

00:40:35.900 --> 00:40:36.620
 very quickly,

00:40:36.700 --> 00:40:37.559
 your heart will show you

00:40:37.559 --> 00:40:38.160
 whether you love

00:40:38.160 --> 00:40:39.160
 that person or not,

00:40:39.680 --> 00:40:40.640
 which then very quickly

00:40:40.640 --> 00:40:41.539
 will indicate to you

00:40:41.539 --> 00:40:42.720
 how your love for God is.

00:40:43.740 --> 00:40:44.840
 And we should be wise

00:40:44.840 --> 00:40:45.500
 to heed the words

00:40:45.500 --> 00:40:46.140
 that Jesus says

00:40:46.140 --> 00:40:46.980
 to the church in Ephesus.

00:40:47.360 --> 00:40:48.240
 You have abandoned

00:40:48.240 --> 00:40:49.660
 your first love.

00:40:50.519 --> 00:40:51.500
 But when you love God,

00:40:51.820 --> 00:40:52.740
 even when people

00:40:52.740 --> 00:40:53.480
 are still figuring

00:40:53.480 --> 00:40:54.160
 themselves out,

00:40:54.440 --> 00:40:55.620
 even when people

00:40:55.620 --> 00:40:56.539
 are still making

00:40:56.539 --> 00:40:57.539
 all the dumbest mistakes,

00:40:58.120 --> 00:40:59.420
 you still have love

00:40:59.420 --> 00:40:59.700
 for them.

00:41:01.620 --> 00:41:02.519
 Because you remember

00:41:02.519 --> 00:41:03.380
 what God did for them,

00:41:03.460 --> 00:41:04.000
 because you remember

00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:05.080
 how much God loves them,

00:41:05.260 --> 00:41:05.920
 because you remember

00:41:05.920 --> 00:41:07.280
 that you were once

00:41:07.280 --> 00:41:08.260
 in that place too,

00:41:08.340 --> 00:41:09.380
 but you were saved by God.

00:41:10.440 --> 00:41:11.460
 And it allows you

00:41:11.460 --> 00:41:12.320
 to love that person.

00:41:13.900 --> 00:41:15.620
 So maybe just a final challenge

00:41:15.619 --> 00:41:16.500
 to us.

00:41:20.920 --> 00:41:21.779
 Your love for God.

00:41:23.579 --> 00:41:24.500
 How would you describe

00:41:24.500 --> 00:41:25.000
 it right now?

00:41:26.920 --> 00:41:27.980
 Is it as bad as what

00:41:27.980 --> 00:41:28.900
 the church in Ephesus

00:41:28.900 --> 00:41:29.319
 have done?

00:41:29.460 --> 00:41:30.299
 They've abandoned it?

00:41:31.259 --> 00:41:32.039
 They've so caught up

00:41:32.039 --> 00:41:33.059
 in doing all the stuff?

00:41:34.480 --> 00:41:35.059
 By the way,

00:41:35.099 --> 00:41:35.440
 as a church,

00:41:35.480 --> 00:41:36.259
 we should still keep

00:41:36.259 --> 00:41:37.819
 doing everything that we,

00:41:37.920 --> 00:41:39.359
 doing the best that we can

00:41:39.359 --> 00:41:40.900
 out of love.

00:41:40.900 --> 00:41:43.940
 But how would you describe

00:41:43.940 --> 00:41:44.980
 your love for God?

00:41:46.920 --> 00:41:47.960
 How do we,

00:41:48.500 --> 00:41:49.180
 as a church,

00:41:49.320 --> 00:41:50.480
 when someone walks in here

00:41:50.480 --> 00:41:51.000
 who is new,

00:41:51.420 --> 00:41:52.340
 if you are new here

00:41:52.340 --> 00:41:53.019
 for the first time,

00:41:53.099 --> 00:41:54.440
 my deepest prayer

00:41:54.440 --> 00:41:57.360
 is not that you come in here

00:41:57.360 --> 00:41:57.500
 and go,

00:41:57.559 --> 00:41:58.320
 oh, this is a really

00:41:58.320 --> 00:41:59.079
 cool community.

00:41:59.760 --> 00:42:00.599
 This is really cool.

00:42:00.700 --> 00:42:01.300
 They've got some

00:42:01.300 --> 00:42:02.820
 good kids programs.

00:42:02.920 --> 00:42:03.420
 They've got some

00:42:03.420 --> 00:42:04.360
 good singers.

00:42:05.440 --> 00:42:06.360
 My prayer is that you

00:42:06.360 --> 00:42:08.240
 would just feel love

00:42:08.240 --> 00:42:08.900
 and that you would

00:42:08.900 --> 00:42:09.480
 meet Jesus.

00:42:10.900 --> 00:42:12.420
 That's the only thing

00:42:12.420 --> 00:42:13.880
 because if not,

00:42:14.280 --> 00:42:15.320
 this is pointless,

00:42:16.220 --> 00:42:16.720
 worthless,

00:42:17.420 --> 00:42:18.200
 a loud gong,

00:42:18.940 --> 00:42:19.420
 nothing,

00:42:20.119 --> 00:42:21.039
 and Jesus would rather

00:42:21.039 --> 00:42:22.320
 remove this whole thing

00:42:22.320 --> 00:42:24.059
 from his lampstand.

00:42:26.320 --> 00:42:27.639
 I hope last week

00:42:27.639 --> 00:42:28.539
 what you experienced

00:42:28.539 --> 00:42:29.480
 was just a sense

00:42:29.480 --> 00:42:30.079
 of reverence

00:42:30.079 --> 00:42:31.220
 for who Jesus is,

00:42:31.559 --> 00:42:32.180
 that maybe Jesus

00:42:32.180 --> 00:42:33.220
 isn't quite the

00:42:33.220 --> 00:42:34.099
 bubbling head Jesus

00:42:34.099 --> 00:42:35.680
 that we picture,

00:42:36.180 --> 00:42:37.180
 the one we bring out

00:42:37.180 --> 00:42:37.760
 when we're sick,

00:42:38.000 --> 00:42:38.680
 the one we bring out

00:42:38.680 --> 00:42:39.300
 when we're stressed,

00:42:39.300 --> 00:42:41.000
 that this Jesus

00:42:41.000 --> 00:42:41.660
 is far beyond

00:42:41.660 --> 00:42:42.200
 anything that we

00:42:42.200 --> 00:42:42.600
 can imagine.

00:42:44.300 --> 00:42:44.700
 But today,

00:42:44.780 --> 00:42:45.260
 I hope you

00:42:45.260 --> 00:42:46.880
 understand that

00:42:46.880 --> 00:42:47.580
 all of this,

00:42:48.039 --> 00:42:48.960
 all of this

00:42:48.960 --> 00:42:49.440
 has something

00:42:49.440 --> 00:42:50.120
 to do with love.

00:42:52.160 --> 00:42:52.920
 Final question

00:42:52.920 --> 00:42:53.880
 I wonder whether

00:42:53.880 --> 00:42:54.500
 you may ask.

00:42:54.880 --> 00:42:55.700
 Well, how do we love?

00:42:57.600 --> 00:42:58.400
 How do we love?

00:43:00.640 --> 00:43:01.420
 I found there's

00:43:01.420 --> 00:43:02.039
 a really practical

00:43:02.039 --> 00:43:02.640
 way for me,

00:43:03.260 --> 00:43:03.900
 maybe as a guy

00:43:03.900 --> 00:43:05.280
 who's less attached

00:43:05.280 --> 00:43:06.000
 to my emotions

00:43:06.000 --> 00:43:07.579
 than the average

00:43:07.579 --> 00:43:07.960
 person.

00:43:10.000 --> 00:43:10.920
 The way I try

00:43:10.920 --> 00:43:11.579
 and remind myself

00:43:11.579 --> 00:43:12.719
 to love is,

00:43:13.659 --> 00:43:14.239
 when was the last

00:43:14.239 --> 00:43:14.960
 time I went out

00:43:14.960 --> 00:43:15.539
 of my way

00:43:15.539 --> 00:43:16.039
 for someone?

00:43:18.360 --> 00:43:18.820
 That's it.

00:43:19.380 --> 00:43:19.559
 I mean,

00:43:19.579 --> 00:43:20.280
 I know it's a low bar.

00:43:20.480 --> 00:43:20.920
 Those of you

00:43:20.920 --> 00:43:21.440
 who are really good

00:43:21.440 --> 00:43:21.780
 at loving,

00:43:22.860 --> 00:43:23.320
 you're just like,

00:43:23.500 --> 00:43:24.400
 that's lame.

00:43:25.860 --> 00:43:28.639
 But so often,

00:43:29.139 --> 00:43:30.340
 I struggle to go

00:43:30.340 --> 00:43:30.880
 out of my way

00:43:30.880 --> 00:43:31.219
 for someone.

00:43:31.219 --> 00:43:33.299
 If someone

00:43:33.299 --> 00:43:33.879
 needs something,

00:43:33.959 --> 00:43:34.399
 if my wife

00:43:34.399 --> 00:43:34.959
 needs me to go

00:43:34.959 --> 00:43:36.000
 and get the milk,

00:43:36.119 --> 00:43:36.279
 I'm like,

00:43:36.319 --> 00:43:37.799
 that's out of my way,

00:43:38.559 --> 00:43:38.980
 darling.

00:43:42.379 --> 00:43:43.119
 I love you.

00:43:45.399 --> 00:43:46.279
 But I love

00:43:46.279 --> 00:43:46.980
 Indeed's as well.

00:43:47.159 --> 00:43:47.679
 Am I willing

00:43:47.679 --> 00:43:48.799
 to go out of my way?

00:43:49.899 --> 00:43:51.079
 If I asked you,

00:43:51.359 --> 00:43:51.519
 hey,

00:43:51.579 --> 00:43:52.319
 can you do this

00:43:52.319 --> 00:43:52.759
 with me?

00:43:53.980 --> 00:43:54.259
 Oh,

00:43:54.339 --> 00:43:54.879
 that takes my

00:43:54.879 --> 00:43:55.639
 Saturday afternoon.

00:43:56.419 --> 00:43:57.159
 That's going out

00:43:57.159 --> 00:43:57.539
 of my way.

00:43:58.500 --> 00:43:59.139
 Do we have

00:43:59.139 --> 00:43:59.679
 that capacity?

00:44:01.219 --> 00:44:01.779
 Oh,

00:44:01.839 --> 00:44:02.199
 there's prison

00:44:02.199 --> 00:44:02.779
 training this

00:44:02.779 --> 00:44:03.159
 afternoon.

00:44:04.119 --> 00:44:04.480
 Oh,

00:44:04.539 --> 00:44:05.019
 but I was going

00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:06.480
 to go play pool.

00:44:07.639 --> 00:44:08.239
 Are we willing

00:44:08.239 --> 00:44:08.719
 to go out

00:44:08.719 --> 00:44:09.199
 of our way

00:44:09.199 --> 00:44:10.359
 for each other?

00:44:11.039 --> 00:44:11.919
 Someone is in need

00:44:11.919 --> 00:44:12.419
 financially.

00:44:12.539 --> 00:44:12.859
 Are we willing

00:44:12.859 --> 00:44:13.399
 to go out

00:44:13.399 --> 00:44:13.959
 of our way?

00:44:16.399 --> 00:44:17.079
 I think that's

00:44:17.079 --> 00:44:17.480
 a fairly,

00:44:17.699 --> 00:44:18.319
 again,

00:44:18.519 --> 00:44:19.119
 low bar,

00:44:19.379 --> 00:44:19.819
 but a fairly

00:44:19.819 --> 00:44:21.279
 decent indicator

00:44:21.279 --> 00:44:22.359
 of how well

00:44:22.359 --> 00:44:22.959
 this community

00:44:22.959 --> 00:44:23.259
 loves.

00:44:25.139 --> 00:44:26.239
 Are we a community

00:44:26.239 --> 00:44:26.819
 that are willing

00:44:26.819 --> 00:44:27.379
 to go out

00:44:27.379 --> 00:44:27.879
 of our way,

00:44:28.219 --> 00:44:28.419
 one,

00:44:28.519 --> 00:44:29.000
 for each other,

00:44:29.279 --> 00:44:29.719
 and two,

00:44:29.799 --> 00:44:30.559
 for those outside?

00:44:31.219 --> 00:44:32.199
 I think if we

00:44:32.199 --> 00:44:32.739
 can do that,

00:44:33.559 --> 00:44:33.980
 we might be

00:44:33.980 --> 00:44:35.019
 on the right track.

00:44:35.919 --> 00:44:36.539
 But again,

00:44:36.599 --> 00:44:37.239
 it starts off

00:44:37.239 --> 00:44:37.759
 with the same

00:44:37.759 --> 00:44:38.019
 thing.

00:44:39.219 --> 00:44:39.819
 It has to be

00:44:39.819 --> 00:44:40.379
 from a group

00:44:40.379 --> 00:44:40.779
 of people

00:44:40.779 --> 00:44:41.299
 who know

00:44:41.299 --> 00:44:42.079
 deeply in

00:44:42.079 --> 00:44:42.639
 their hearts

00:44:42.639 --> 00:44:43.079
 and souls

00:44:43.079 --> 00:44:43.659
 that they

00:44:43.659 --> 00:44:45.319
 are loved.

00:44:46.259 --> 00:44:46.980
 That's the only

00:44:46.980 --> 00:44:47.679
 reason you do it,

00:44:47.799 --> 00:44:48.239
 because there are

00:44:48.239 --> 00:44:48.779
 actually plenty

00:44:48.779 --> 00:44:49.339
 of people that

00:44:49.339 --> 00:44:50.000
 are doing great

00:44:50.000 --> 00:44:50.539
 work outside

00:44:50.539 --> 00:44:51.119
 in society

00:44:51.119 --> 00:44:51.919
 that don't

00:44:51.919 --> 00:44:52.399
 know the love

00:44:52.399 --> 00:44:52.679
 of God.

00:44:54.359 --> 00:44:54.879
 That's not

00:44:54.879 --> 00:44:55.199
 who Jesus

00:44:55.199 --> 00:44:55.799
 is talking to.

00:44:55.879 --> 00:44:56.539
 Jesus is talking

00:44:56.539 --> 00:44:57.179
 to the church.

00:44:57.459 --> 00:44:58.119
 Jesus is talking

00:44:58.119 --> 00:44:58.920
 to us.

00:45:01.139 --> 00:45:01.839
 Are we a group

00:45:01.839 --> 00:45:02.159
 of people

00:45:02.159 --> 00:45:02.639
 who know

00:45:02.639 --> 00:45:03.039
 that we are

00:45:03.039 --> 00:45:03.460
 loved and

00:45:03.460 --> 00:45:03.759
 are willing

00:45:03.759 --> 00:45:04.179
 to go out

00:45:04.179 --> 00:45:04.539
 of our way?

00:45:05.099 --> 00:45:05.539
 That's my

00:45:05.539 --> 00:45:06.119
 final question.

00:45:07.279 --> 00:45:07.759
 And I pray

00:45:07.759 --> 00:45:08.179
 that we are.

00:45:10.019 --> 00:45:10.500
 I pray

00:45:10.500 --> 00:45:10.900
 that we are.

00:45:11.980 --> 00:45:12.359
 Why don't we

00:45:12.359 --> 00:45:12.679
 pray now?

00:45:12.739 --> 00:45:13.000
 Why don't we

00:45:13.000 --> 00:45:13.639
 spend some time

00:45:13.639 --> 00:45:14.900
 as I invite

00:45:14.900 --> 00:45:15.339
 the team up?

00:45:16.920 --> 00:45:17.440
 Let's ask

00:45:17.440 --> 00:45:18.400
 the Lord.

00:45:20.779 --> 00:45:21.000
 Well,

00:45:21.079 --> 00:45:21.599
 first of all,

00:45:21.759 --> 00:45:21.900
 no,

00:45:21.940 --> 00:45:22.000
 no,

00:45:22.000 --> 00:45:22.179
 actually,

00:45:22.239 --> 00:45:22.719
 let's just do

00:45:22.719 --> 00:45:23.539
 what he says

00:45:23.539 --> 00:45:23.699
 here.

00:45:23.699 --> 00:45:24.299
 Remember

00:45:24.300 --> 00:45:25.460
 and repent.

00:45:27.440 --> 00:45:28.200
 If you are

00:45:28.200 --> 00:45:28.680
 that person

00:45:28.680 --> 00:45:29.039
 who actually

00:45:29.039 --> 00:45:29.840
 does remember

00:45:29.840 --> 00:45:31.160
 that moment

00:45:31.160 --> 00:45:31.440
 that you

00:45:31.440 --> 00:45:31.980
 experienced

00:45:31.980 --> 00:45:32.280
 the love

00:45:32.280 --> 00:45:32.680
 of Christ,

00:45:34.180 --> 00:45:35.160
 let's just,

00:45:35.500 --> 00:45:35.860
 why don't you

00:45:35.860 --> 00:45:36.200
 spend that

00:45:36.200 --> 00:45:37.000
 moment reminiscing

00:45:37.000 --> 00:45:37.920
 with him?

00:45:39.600 --> 00:45:40.000
 Jesus,

00:45:40.120 --> 00:45:40.320
 do you remember

00:45:40.320 --> 00:45:40.780
 that time

00:45:40.780 --> 00:45:41.080
 when you

00:45:41.080 --> 00:45:41.480
 just came

00:45:41.480 --> 00:45:43.240
 and touched

00:45:43.240 --> 00:45:44.019
 me so deep

00:45:44.019 --> 00:45:44.539
 in my heart

00:45:44.539 --> 00:45:44.860
 that I

00:45:44.860 --> 00:45:45.740
 couldn't ignore

00:45:45.740 --> 00:45:46.120
 it anymore?

00:45:50.620 --> 00:45:51.180
 Close your

00:45:51.180 --> 00:45:51.720
 eyes and just

00:45:51.720 --> 00:45:52.680
 reimagine yourself

00:45:52.680 --> 00:45:53.360
 being in that

00:45:53.360 --> 00:45:53.640
 place.

00:45:53.720 --> 00:45:54.120
 Maybe it was

00:45:54.119 --> 00:45:54.480
 at a youth

00:45:54.480 --> 00:45:54.739
 camp.

00:45:57.679 --> 00:45:58.179
 Maybe it

00:45:58.179 --> 00:45:58.460
 was in

00:45:58.460 --> 00:45:58.759
 church.

00:46:02.779 --> 00:46:03.339
 For me,

00:46:03.400 --> 00:46:03.699
 it's the

00:46:03.699 --> 00:46:04.139
 most random

00:46:04.139 --> 00:46:04.799
 place in a

00:46:04.799 --> 00:46:05.639
 pub called

00:46:05.639 --> 00:46:06.179
 Weatherspoons

00:46:06.179 --> 00:46:06.659
 in England

00:46:06.659 --> 00:46:08.619
 on a Tuesday

00:46:08.619 --> 00:46:09.139
 morning that

00:46:09.139 --> 00:46:09.799
 just completely

00:46:09.799 --> 00:46:10.400
 undid me.

00:46:13.059 --> 00:46:13.639
 I was in

00:46:13.639 --> 00:46:14.259
 tears on this

00:46:14.259 --> 00:46:14.799
 Tuesday morning

00:46:14.799 --> 00:46:15.339
 in this pub

00:46:15.339 --> 00:46:15.619
 because I

00:46:15.619 --> 00:46:16.460
 just realized

00:46:16.460 --> 00:46:17.539
 that the

00:46:17.539 --> 00:46:18.819
 Lord was

00:46:18.819 --> 00:46:19.139
 with me

00:46:19.139 --> 00:46:19.359
 and that

00:46:19.359 --> 00:46:19.619
 he loved

00:46:19.619 --> 00:46:19.799
 me.

00:46:20.719 --> 00:46:20.980
 And I

00:46:20.980 --> 00:46:21.259
 tell you

00:46:21.259 --> 00:46:21.400
 what,

00:46:21.480 --> 00:46:22.019
 that moment

00:46:22.019 --> 00:46:22.759
 keeps me

00:46:22.759 --> 00:46:23.420
 going today.

00:46:23.420 --> 00:46:28.200
 we spend

00:46:28.200 --> 00:46:28.539
 a few

00:46:28.539 --> 00:46:29.099
 minutes now

00:46:29.099 --> 00:46:29.500
 and we

00:46:29.500 --> 00:46:29.860
 don't need

00:46:29.860 --> 00:46:30.159
 to rush

00:46:30.159 --> 00:46:30.340
 this,

00:46:30.400 --> 00:46:30.519
 can we

00:46:30.519 --> 00:46:30.820
 spend a

00:46:30.820 --> 00:46:30.980
 few

00:46:30.980 --> 00:46:31.180
 minutes

00:46:31.180 --> 00:46:31.320
 now

00:46:31.320 --> 00:46:31.500
 just

00:46:31.500 --> 00:46:32.200
 remembering,

00:46:32.659 --> 00:46:33.380
 reminiscing

00:46:33.380 --> 00:46:36.039
 of that

00:46:36.039 --> 00:46:36.280
 love.

00:46:36.280 --> 00:46:36.300
 love.

00:46:36.300 --> 00:46:49.360
 Jesus

00:46:49.360 --> 00:46:49.900
 towards the

00:46:49.900 --> 00:46:50.240
 end of his

00:46:50.240 --> 00:46:51.019
 time on

00:46:51.019 --> 00:46:51.260
 earth,

00:46:51.780 --> 00:46:52.120
 he's

00:46:52.120 --> 00:46:52.620
 talking about

00:46:52.620 --> 00:46:53.180
 the signs

00:46:53.180 --> 00:46:53.500
 of the

00:46:53.500 --> 00:46:53.820
 end of

00:46:53.820 --> 00:46:54.200
 the age.

00:46:55.039 --> 00:46:55.220
 He's

00:46:55.220 --> 00:46:55.320
 saying,

00:46:55.519 --> 00:46:55.519


00:46:56.460 --> 00:46:57.380
 this world

00:46:57.380 --> 00:46:57.680
 isn't going

00:46:57.680 --> 00:46:58.100
 to be around

00:46:58.100 --> 00:46:58.420
 forever.

00:46:58.420 --> 00:47:00.360
 And he

00:47:00.360 --> 00:47:00.500
 gives

00:47:00.500 --> 00:47:01.200
 some signs

00:47:01.200 --> 00:47:01.619
 as to

00:47:01.619 --> 00:47:02.280
 what will

00:47:02.280 --> 00:47:02.559
 happen

00:47:02.559 --> 00:47:02.780
 at the

00:47:02.780 --> 00:47:03.019
 end.

00:47:04.619 --> 00:47:05.059
 Matthew

00:47:05.059 --> 00:47:05.619
 24

00:47:05.619 --> 00:47:06.099
 verse 6

00:47:06.099 --> 00:47:06.340
 he says,

00:47:06.400 --> 00:47:06.659
 and you'll

00:47:06.659 --> 00:47:07.420
 hear wars

00:47:07.420 --> 00:47:09.000
 and rumors

00:47:09.000 --> 00:47:09.440
 of wars.

00:47:10.159 --> 00:47:10.519
 See that

00:47:10.519 --> 00:47:10.880
 you're not

00:47:10.880 --> 00:47:11.300
 alarmed,

00:47:11.400 --> 00:47:11.880
 this must

00:47:11.880 --> 00:47:12.480
 take place,

00:47:13.000 --> 00:47:13.300
 but the

00:47:13.300 --> 00:47:13.599
 end is

00:47:13.599 --> 00:47:13.960
 not yet.

00:47:14.159 --> 00:47:14.280
 The

00:47:14.280 --> 00:47:14.539
 nation

00:47:14.539 --> 00:47:15.019
 will rise

00:47:15.019 --> 00:47:15.240
 against

00:47:15.240 --> 00:47:15.619
 nation

00:47:15.619 --> 00:47:16.420
 and kingdom

00:47:16.420 --> 00:47:16.740
 against

00:47:16.740 --> 00:47:17.000
 kingdom

00:47:17.000 --> 00:47:18.300
 and there

00:47:18.300 --> 00:47:18.559
 will be

00:47:18.559 --> 00:47:18.960
 famines

00:47:18.960 --> 00:47:19.619
 and earthquakes

00:47:19.619 --> 00:47:20.180
 in various

00:47:20.180 --> 00:47:20.599
 places.

00:47:20.980 --> 00:47:21.380
 All these

00:47:21.380 --> 00:47:21.619
 are but

00:47:21.619 --> 00:47:22.119
 the beginning

00:47:22.119 --> 00:47:23.220
 of the

00:47:23.220 --> 00:47:23.700
 birth pains.

00:47:25.099 --> 00:47:25.659
 Then they'll

00:47:25.659 --> 00:47:26.220
 deliver you up

00:47:26.220 --> 00:47:26.840
 to tribulation

00:47:26.840 --> 00:47:27.360
 and put you

00:47:27.360 --> 00:47:27.740
 to death

00:47:27.740 --> 00:47:28.079
 and you'll

00:47:28.079 --> 00:47:28.480
 be hated

00:47:28.480 --> 00:47:28.900
 by all

00:47:28.900 --> 00:47:29.220
 nations

00:47:29.220 --> 00:47:29.579
 for my

00:47:29.579 --> 00:47:30.120
 namesake.

00:47:31.579 --> 00:47:32.099
 And many

00:47:32.099 --> 00:47:32.599
 will fall

00:47:32.599 --> 00:47:32.980
 away and

00:47:32.980 --> 00:47:33.480
 betray one

00:47:33.480 --> 00:47:34.039
 another and

00:47:34.039 --> 00:47:34.400
 hate one

00:47:34.400 --> 00:47:34.660
 another.

00:47:35.920 --> 00:47:36.660
 And many

00:47:36.660 --> 00:47:37.260
 false prophets

00:47:37.260 --> 00:47:37.780
 will arise

00:47:37.780 --> 00:47:38.140
 and lead

00:47:38.140 --> 00:47:38.780
 many astray.

00:47:39.460 --> 00:47:39.780
 But then he

00:47:39.780 --> 00:47:40.380
 finishes with

00:47:40.380 --> 00:47:40.620
 this.

00:47:40.700 --> 00:47:41.280
 That's not a

00:47:41.280 --> 00:47:42.039
 very fun

00:47:42.039 --> 00:47:42.380
 list.

00:47:43.820 --> 00:47:44.440
 But he

00:47:44.440 --> 00:47:45.099
 finishes with

00:47:45.099 --> 00:47:46.880
 the final

00:47:46.880 --> 00:47:47.200
 whammy.

00:47:48.620 --> 00:47:49.340
 And because

00:47:49.340 --> 00:47:49.960
 of lawlessness

00:47:49.960 --> 00:47:50.720
 will be

00:47:50.720 --> 00:47:51.120
 increasing,

00:47:51.660 --> 00:47:52.160
 the love

00:47:52.160 --> 00:47:53.200
 of many

00:47:53.200 --> 00:47:54.579
 will grow

00:47:54.579 --> 00:47:54.920
 cold.

00:47:57.360 --> 00:47:58.059
 That's the

00:47:58.059 --> 00:47:58.260
 biggest

00:47:58.260 --> 00:47:58.599
 danger.

00:47:58.740 --> 00:47:59.280
 Not floods,

00:47:59.559 --> 00:48:00.360
 not typhoons,

00:48:00.680 --> 00:48:01.360
 not wars.

00:48:02.539 --> 00:48:03.440
 It's that the

00:48:03.440 --> 00:48:04.400
 love will

00:48:04.400 --> 00:48:05.039
 grow cold.

00:48:09.960 --> 00:48:10.660
 But the

00:48:10.660 --> 00:48:10.960
 one who

00:48:10.960 --> 00:48:11.519
 endures to

00:48:11.519 --> 00:48:11.820
 the end

00:48:11.820 --> 00:48:12.099
 will be

00:48:12.099 --> 00:48:12.360
 saved.

00:48:18.599 --> 00:48:19.360
 So now

00:48:19.360 --> 00:48:19.559
 we've

00:48:19.559 --> 00:48:19.880
 remembered.

00:48:21.300 --> 00:48:22.000
 And for

00:48:22.000 --> 00:48:22.480
 those of us

00:48:22.480 --> 00:48:22.920
 who haven't

00:48:22.920 --> 00:48:23.440
 got that

00:48:23.440 --> 00:48:23.900
 moment to

00:48:23.900 --> 00:48:24.240
 draw back

00:48:24.240 --> 00:48:24.420
 on,

00:48:24.860 --> 00:48:25.160
 that's

00:48:25.160 --> 00:48:25.539
 completely

00:48:25.539 --> 00:48:25.920
 okay.

00:48:27.360 --> 00:48:31.740
 But it's

00:48:31.740 --> 00:48:32.280
 not okay to

00:48:32.280 --> 00:48:32.760
 just be happy

00:48:32.760 --> 00:48:33.220
 with that and

00:48:33.220 --> 00:48:33.400
 go,

00:48:33.539 --> 00:48:33.840
 then it's

00:48:33.840 --> 00:48:34.160
 not me.

00:48:35.380 --> 00:48:35.840
 Then you

00:48:35.840 --> 00:48:36.180
 ask the

00:48:36.180 --> 00:48:36.380
 Lord.

00:48:38.380 --> 00:48:38.740
 Lord,

00:48:38.780 --> 00:48:39.000
 would you

00:48:39.000 --> 00:48:39.360
 peel back

00:48:39.360 --> 00:48:39.760
 the curtain

00:48:39.760 --> 00:48:40.180
 for me?

00:48:41.220 --> 00:48:41.660
 Would you

00:48:41.660 --> 00:48:42.140
 let me see

00:48:42.140 --> 00:48:42.500
 who you

00:48:42.500 --> 00:48:43.019
 truly are?

00:48:44.740 --> 00:48:44.980
 Would you

00:48:44.980 --> 00:48:45.200
 let me

00:48:45.200 --> 00:48:46.019
 experience the

00:48:46.019 --> 00:48:48.980
 love that

00:48:48.980 --> 00:48:49.440
 this guy is

00:48:49.440 --> 00:48:49.940
 talking about?

00:48:53.880 --> 00:48:54.480
 And I'll tell

00:48:54.480 --> 00:48:54.840
 you, when you

00:48:54.840 --> 00:48:55.200
 get that

00:48:55.200 --> 00:48:55.700
 moment, when you

00:48:55.700 --> 00:48:56.200
 experience that

00:48:56.200 --> 00:48:56.539
 moment, it

00:48:56.539 --> 00:48:57.019
 won't be any

00:48:57.019 --> 00:48:57.380
 words that

00:48:57.380 --> 00:48:57.719
 I say.

00:49:02.559 --> 00:49:03.019
 If you

00:49:03.019 --> 00:49:03.360
 know, you

00:49:03.360 --> 00:49:03.559
 know.

00:49:10.139 --> 00:49:10.579
 And we

00:49:10.579 --> 00:49:11.019
 join you

00:49:11.019 --> 00:49:11.900
 together.

00:49:12.300 --> 00:49:12.599
 None of us

00:49:12.599 --> 00:49:12.980
 are perfect.

00:49:13.099 --> 00:49:13.480
 None of us

00:49:13.480 --> 00:49:14.079
 always feel

00:49:14.079 --> 00:49:14.599
 love all the

00:49:14.599 --> 00:49:14.880
 time.

00:49:15.980 --> 00:49:16.300
 It's

00:49:16.300 --> 00:49:16.559
 something that

00:49:16.559 --> 00:49:16.860
 we have to

00:49:16.860 --> 00:49:17.159
 remember.

00:49:18.679 --> 00:49:19.280
 So start that

00:49:19.280 --> 00:49:19.820
 journey today.

00:49:20.480 --> 00:49:21.719
 Ask him to

00:49:21.719 --> 00:49:22.340
 reveal himself.

00:49:22.340 --> 00:49:22.400
 love.

00:49:24.980 --> 00:49:25.760
 You can be a

00:49:25.760 --> 00:49:26.140
 Christian for

00:49:26.140 --> 00:49:26.760
 50 years and

00:49:26.760 --> 00:49:27.280
 not experience

00:49:27.280 --> 00:49:28.700
 any love, but

00:49:28.700 --> 00:49:29.079
 that's not what

00:49:29.079 --> 00:49:29.400
 we want.

00:49:31.440 --> 00:49:32.140
 But we know

00:49:32.140 --> 00:49:33.079
 that Jesus is

00:49:33.079 --> 00:49:33.700
 willing to pull

00:49:33.700 --> 00:49:34.079
 back that

00:49:34.079 --> 00:49:34.340
 curtain.

00:49:38.460 --> 00:49:38.980
 And then

00:49:38.980 --> 00:49:39.460
 let's repent.

00:49:40.100 --> 00:49:40.800
 We remember

00:49:40.800 --> 00:49:41.300
 and then we

00:49:41.300 --> 00:49:41.559
 repent.

00:49:41.559 --> 00:50:09.779
 turn back.

00:50:09.780 --> 00:50:30.800
 commit right now,

00:50:31.360 --> 00:50:32.120
 this moment,

00:50:32.119 --> 00:50:37.420
 to living in a

00:50:37.420 --> 00:50:38.299
 way that is

00:50:38.299 --> 00:50:39.819
 worthy of the

00:50:39.819 --> 00:50:40.179
 love that you

00:50:40.179 --> 00:50:40.599
 received.

00:50:45.599 --> 00:50:46.579
 See what kind

00:50:46.579 --> 00:50:47.019
 of love the

00:50:47.019 --> 00:50:47.559
 Father has given

00:50:47.559 --> 00:50:48.699
 to us, that we

00:50:48.699 --> 00:50:49.380
 should be called

00:50:49.380 --> 00:50:50.159
 children of God.

00:50:50.159 --> 00:50:50.299
 love.

00:50:52.739 --> 00:50:53.659
 How deep, how

00:50:53.659 --> 00:50:55.039
 great is that

00:50:55.039 --> 00:50:55.319
 love.

00:50:58.739 --> 00:50:59.559
 And I'll finish

00:50:59.559 --> 00:51:00.119
 with this prayer.

00:51:02.480 --> 00:51:03.480
 It's a prayer that

00:51:03.480 --> 00:51:05.980
 Paul wrote and

00:51:05.980 --> 00:51:07.159
 prayed for the

00:51:07.159 --> 00:51:07.500
 church in

00:51:07.500 --> 00:51:07.819
 Ephesus.

00:51:12.519 --> 00:51:13.219
 He says in

00:51:13.219 --> 00:51:13.679
 chapter 3,

00:51:13.759 --> 00:51:14.279
 for this reason

00:51:14.279 --> 00:51:14.819
 I bow my

00:51:14.819 --> 00:51:15.119
 knees.

00:51:15.119 --> 00:51:15.119


00:51:15.119 --> 00:51:15.159
 knees.

00:51:15.159 --> 00:51:20.359
 to the

00:51:20.359 --> 00:51:20.859
 Father from

00:51:20.859 --> 00:51:21.539
 whom every

00:51:21.539 --> 00:51:22.539
 family in

00:51:22.539 --> 00:51:23.079
 heaven and

00:51:23.079 --> 00:51:23.599
 on earth is

00:51:23.599 --> 00:51:23.879
 named.

00:51:29.480 --> 00:51:30.279
 That according

00:51:30.279 --> 00:51:30.859
 to the riches

00:51:30.859 --> 00:51:31.539
 of his glory,

00:51:32.099 --> 00:51:32.839
 he may grant

00:51:32.839 --> 00:51:33.199
 you to be

00:51:33.199 --> 00:51:33.940
 strengthened with

00:51:33.940 --> 00:51:34.559
 power through

00:51:34.559 --> 00:51:36.219
 his spirit in

00:51:36.219 --> 00:51:36.519
 your inner

00:51:36.519 --> 00:51:39.719
 being, so

00:51:39.719 --> 00:51:40.339
 that Christ may

00:51:40.339 --> 00:51:40.940
 dwell in your

00:51:40.940 --> 00:51:41.879
 hearts, our

00:51:41.879 --> 00:51:42.659
 hearts through

00:51:42.659 --> 00:51:42.920
 faith.

00:51:42.920 --> 00:51:47.720
 And here it

00:51:47.720 --> 00:51:48.320
 comes, that you

00:51:48.320 --> 00:51:49.340
 being rooted and

00:51:49.340 --> 00:51:50.599
 grounded in love

00:51:50.599 --> 00:51:51.579
 may have strength

00:51:51.579 --> 00:51:52.500
 to comprehend with

00:51:52.500 --> 00:51:53.320
 all the saints

00:51:53.320 --> 00:51:54.280
 what is the

00:51:54.280 --> 00:51:55.119
 breadth and length

00:51:55.119 --> 00:51:55.720
 and height and

00:51:55.720 --> 00:51:57.059
 depth, and to

00:51:57.059 --> 00:51:58.320
 know the love of

00:51:58.320 --> 00:51:59.000
 Christ that

00:51:59.000 --> 00:51:59.800
 surpasses knowledge.

00:52:01.300 --> 00:52:01.900
 That you,

00:52:03.400 --> 00:52:05.940
 that you,

00:52:06.059 --> 00:52:06.340
 English

00:52:06.340 --> 00:52:06.920
 gathering of

00:52:06.920 --> 00:52:07.260
 Kong Fu

00:52:07.260 --> 00:52:07.680
 Church in

00:52:07.680 --> 00:52:08.280
 Admorti in

00:52:08.280 --> 00:52:08.659
 Hong Kong,

00:52:10.800 --> 00:52:11.420
 may be filled

00:52:11.420 --> 00:52:12.220
 with all the

00:52:12.220 --> 00:52:12.740
 fullness of

00:52:12.739 --> 00:52:12.919
 God.

00:52:16.879 --> 00:52:17.579
 Now to him

00:52:17.579 --> 00:52:18.119
 who is able to

00:52:18.119 --> 00:52:18.799
 do far more

00:52:18.799 --> 00:52:19.439
 abundantly than

00:52:19.439 --> 00:52:20.039
 all that we

00:52:20.039 --> 00:52:20.679
 ask or think

00:52:20.679 --> 00:52:21.639
 according to the

00:52:21.639 --> 00:52:22.659
 power at work

00:52:22.659 --> 00:52:25.179
 within us, to

00:52:25.179 --> 00:52:26.019
 him be glory in

00:52:26.019 --> 00:52:27.599
 the church and

00:52:27.599 --> 00:52:28.399
 in Christ Jesus

00:52:28.399 --> 00:52:30.599
 throughout all

00:52:30.599 --> 00:52:31.139
 generations,

00:52:32.819 --> 00:52:33.819
 forever and

00:52:33.819 --> 00:52:33.979
 ever.

00:52:36.419 --> 00:52:36.859
 Amen.