WEBVTT

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 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

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! Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us.

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! We're talking this summer about our union with Christ,

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 about this glorious truth that God has placed us in Christ and Christ in us

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 and how that reality impacts every aspect of our lives.

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 Each week so far as we've talked about being located in Christ,

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 being defined in Christ, being blessed in Christ,

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 we've mentioned every week the idea of being loved in Christ,

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 but it deserves a closer look.

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 One of the big life questions that we all ask is,

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 how can I find love?

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 So we're going to look at a bunch of passages this morning,

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 but I want to start in Romans 8.

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 If you've never read Romans 8, it's a magnificent chapter that begins with this declaration

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 that there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

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 Forgiveness, pardon in union with Christ.

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 But as Paul continues, he says, there's even more than that.

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 We're not merely pardoned, but we're truly adopted into God's family.

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 So that even when things are difficult in our lives,

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 we can know that he is working them all for our good, right?

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 We're going to pick up the reading at verse 31 of Romans 8,

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 as the crescendo peaks.

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 I could say this every week when we open God's Word,

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 but these words I'm about to read could change your life.

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 They could transform your eternity.

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 They could impact every day that you have between now and then.

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 Not my words, God's.

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 Listen to the wonder of his love.

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 What then shall we say to these things?

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 If God is for us, who can be against us?

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 He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all,

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 how will he not also along with him graciously give us all things?

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 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect?

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 It is God who justifies.

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 Who is to condemn?

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 Christ Jesus is the one who died.

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 More than that, who was raised.

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 Who is at the right hand of God.

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 Who indeed is interceding for us.

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 So who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

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 Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

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 As it is written, for your sake, we are being killed all the day long.

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 We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.

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 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

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 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers,

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 nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth,

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 nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God

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 in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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 Father, thank you for love like that.

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 might we hear it and see it and feel it by your spirit.

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 Might we know more of it and share more of it today.

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 Come and work in each of our hearts.

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 We ask by your word in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Look at those last two verses again.

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 Secondly, I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers,

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 nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth,

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 nor anything else in all creation will be able to do what?

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 To separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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 There it is.

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 In Christ Jesus, living in that unbreakable union,

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 you can never be separated from God's love.

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 Inseparable.

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 Nothing can do it.

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 Not anything spiritual or physical.

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 Not your sin.

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 Not their sin against you,

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 as a derogates to tell these women.

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 Nothing.

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 That's really the takeaway today.

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 That's it.

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 I can give it to you right here up front in three words.

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 God loves you.

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 That's all I got.

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 God loves you.

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 And some of you may be wondering,

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 did he forget he's not talking to the nursery kids this morning?

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 Why do we need to hear this again?

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 I knew that before I came to church.

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 30 minutes for that?

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 It's going to take him that long?

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 It always takes him that long.

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 Well, some of us need this message

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 because in our particular tribe,

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 sometimes we skip over love

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 to focus on the legal realities of our salvation

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 because we know well the enormity of the debt of our sin.

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 And we see that.

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 And we calculate in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

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 We add in his imputed righteousness.

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 We carry the one.

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 And we conclude that God has to forgive us

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 and let us into heaven

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 because we receive Jesus by faith alone.

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 Now that is good stuff.

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 And those are important legal calculations to be made.

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 But sometimes we forget

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 that all of that glorious theology

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 is part of a love story

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 where the God who made you

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 for his own glory

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 is redeeming you

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 into relationship with him

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 that is to be eternally delightful,

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 full of love.

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 Others of us need this truth

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 because life is so bad

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 that most days

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 it feels like I must not be loved.

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 Maybe you can relate to some of the women

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 that Deer was sharing about.

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 Maybe your story is different

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 but life's hard enough and bad enough

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 that it doesn't feel like the one in charge loves me.

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 My kids are wandering away

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 from what I want for them.

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 My job is uncertain

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 and it's unfulfilling anyway.

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 My last doctor's appointment,

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 my last bank statement

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 was alarming.

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 Life is so hard

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 I'm not feeling the love, God.

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 Still others of us need to listen

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 because I know the reality of my heart.

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 I live with myself.

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 I'm deeply unlovable.

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 If anyone knew,

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 and God knows by the way,

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 no way could he love me.

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 For others,

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 the people supposed to show God's love to us

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 have been such a distorted reflection of it

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 that we're not sure anymore

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 about a loving God.

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 Others of us can sense

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 that we're living life

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 looking for a spouse

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 or a friend

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 or a career

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 to affirm us,

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 to fill up our love tank

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 and we keep coming up empty

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 and at the same time

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 crushing them in the process.

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 Still others of us

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 are living with a deep feeling

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 that we were made to love

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 God,

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 family,

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 neighbors,

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 enemies,

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 at least someone

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 and we're not sure

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 where to find resources

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 to do that.

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 We feel like we're empty

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 all the time.

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 I don't know where you are in that

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 but God wants

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 to look at every one of his children

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 to hold your face in his hands

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 and to say this morning,

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 I love you.

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 That means I have a deep affection for you,

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 a high value of you,

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 a deep commitment

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 that is unshakable

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 to work for your good.

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 In fact,

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 nothing can stop me

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 and nothing can ever

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 separate you

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 from my love.

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 Jesus didn't twist my arm

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 with salvation mathematics

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 when he went to the cross.

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 No,

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 it was because

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 of the great love

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 with which I loved you

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 that I united you

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 to Jesus

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 in the first place

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 that I made you alive

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 together with him.

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 It was because of my great love,

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 Ephesians 2.

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 And you remember last week,

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 Ephesians 1,

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 it was in love

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 that I predestined you

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 to be adopted,

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 that I set out

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 to welcome you

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 into my family

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 as a son

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 or a daughter.

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 Children of God

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 by faith

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 through

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 Jesus

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 Christ.

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 God says,

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 my love is not

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 a momentary feeling.

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 It's not a high value now

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 that may go down

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 when you have a bad day.

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 It's not a one-time gift

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 of grace,

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 but it's a permanent

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 commitment

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 that I am working

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 everything

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 for your

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 eternal good.

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 You remember what we read

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 earlier in this service?

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 Love

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 never

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 ends.

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 And you may think,

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 yeah,

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 not this love

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 never

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 ends.

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 When you are in Jesus,

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 nothing

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 can separate you

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 from God's

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 love.

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 Paul gets specific

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 for us,

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 not tribulation,

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 our suffering

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 and painful

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 circumstances,

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 not distress,

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 our fears

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 and anxieties,

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 not persecution,

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 Satan's attacks,

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 not famine

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 or nakedness,

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 threats to our

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 health and safety,

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 not danger

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 or sword,

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 our harm

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 or even

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 our death.

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 Nothing

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 can separate you

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 from God's

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 passionate,

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 personal,

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 persistent

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 love.

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 It's as Sally Lloyd-Jones

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 describes it so well,

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 a never stopping,

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 never giving up,

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 unbreaking,

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 always

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 and forever

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 love.

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 If you

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 and Jesus

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 are inseparable,

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 then you

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 and God's love

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 are inseparable.

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 Amen?

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 That's the truth.

00:11:35.139 --> 00:11:35.279
 truth.

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 I told you

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 that's the message.

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 That we need it

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 in so many ways.

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 That we

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 struggle to embrace it

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 for so many reasons.

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 So I want to spend

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 just a few minutes

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 together

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 asking God

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 to help it

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 sink deep

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 into our hearts.

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 That's what He wants.

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 He wants us to know it

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 and believe it

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 and He's going to help us

00:11:58.379 --> 00:11:59.819
 with that this morning.

00:11:59.820 --> 00:12:02.480
 using many of our senses

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 to embrace His love.

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 First,

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 hear His love.

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 Hear it

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 straight

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 from the lips

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 of Jesus first.

00:12:13.640 --> 00:12:15.060
 John 17,

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 Jesus is praying.

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 He's talking to His Father

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 on His way

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 to the cross.

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 I in them

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 and you in me.

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 He's talking about

00:12:25.360 --> 00:12:26.500
 our union with Him.

00:12:26.660 --> 00:12:28.400
 I in them.

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 so that the world

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 may know

00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:34.100
 that You sent me

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 and loved them

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 even

00:12:36.640 --> 00:12:39.100
 as You loved me.

00:12:39.220 --> 00:12:39.740
 Father,

00:12:40.360 --> 00:12:41.500
 You love

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 them

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 even

00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:45.560
 as You love

00:12:45.560 --> 00:12:47.100
 me.

00:12:47.820 --> 00:12:48.900
 His one

00:12:48.900 --> 00:12:50.020
 and only

00:12:50.020 --> 00:12:50.780
 Son

00:12:50.780 --> 00:12:51.820
 begotten

00:12:51.820 --> 00:12:52.580
 and beloved

00:12:52.580 --> 00:12:53.620
 by the Father

00:12:53.620 --> 00:12:55.020
 before all worlds.

00:12:55.300 --> 00:12:56.580
 The perfect image

00:12:56.580 --> 00:12:58.420
 of the invisible God.

00:12:58.419 --> 00:12:59.099
 Oh,

00:12:59.219 --> 00:13:00.240
 how the Father

00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:01.299
 loves Him.

00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:02.579
 Can you even

00:13:02.579 --> 00:13:03.419
 imagine

00:13:03.419 --> 00:13:04.959
 how much

00:13:04.959 --> 00:13:05.799
 He loves Him?

00:13:06.279 --> 00:13:07.120
 He loves Him

00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:07.879
 to the moon

00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:08.679
 and back

00:13:08.679 --> 00:13:09.779
 and beyond

00:13:09.779 --> 00:13:11.399
 and listen,

00:13:11.620 --> 00:13:11.919
 listen,

00:13:13.079 --> 00:13:14.439
 so does

00:13:14.439 --> 00:13:15.579
 He love

00:13:15.579 --> 00:13:16.319
 you.

00:13:16.719 --> 00:13:18.159
 Jesus says it.

00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:19.360
 You're hidden

00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:20.199
 in Christ.

00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:21.860
 You're covered

00:13:21.860 --> 00:13:22.699
 by Christ.

00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:23.819
 You're united

00:13:23.819 --> 00:13:24.939
 to Christ.

00:13:24.940 --> 00:13:26.540
 so He loves

00:13:26.540 --> 00:13:27.520
 you

00:13:27.520 --> 00:13:29.120
 that way.

00:13:31.620 --> 00:13:32.660
 Maybe this will

00:13:32.660 --> 00:13:33.260
 help you a little

00:13:33.260 --> 00:13:34.640
 get at what we're

00:13:34.640 --> 00:13:35.200
 thinking here,

00:13:35.260 --> 00:13:35.880
 what the Bible's

00:13:35.880 --> 00:13:36.360
 describing.

00:13:36.680 --> 00:13:37.380
 When it speaks

00:13:37.380 --> 00:13:38.580
 of union with Christ,

00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:39.700
 the Bible speaks

00:13:39.700 --> 00:13:40.360
 of the analogy

00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:41.160
 of marriage,

00:13:41.880 --> 00:13:42.180
 right?

00:13:42.680 --> 00:13:43.660
 In particular,

00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:44.360
 that we,

00:13:44.520 --> 00:13:45.200
 God's people,

00:13:45.320 --> 00:13:46.280
 are the bride

00:13:46.280 --> 00:13:47.700
 of Christ.

00:13:47.700 --> 00:13:48.820
 So here,

00:13:48.980 --> 00:13:49.500
 we would be

00:13:49.500 --> 00:13:50.680
 loved by

00:13:50.680 --> 00:13:52.180
 our father-in-law

00:13:52.180 --> 00:13:54.120
 because He

00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:55.080
 loves His Son.

00:13:57.500 --> 00:13:58.500
 Let me very

00:13:58.500 --> 00:13:59.140
 carefully

00:13:59.140 --> 00:14:00.340
 preface this

00:14:00.340 --> 00:14:01.500
 example with

00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:02.420
 I love

00:14:02.420 --> 00:14:03.560
 my in-laws.

00:14:06.740 --> 00:14:07.720
 But I've got

00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:08.340
 to tell you,

00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:10.240
 if they met

00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:11.520
 me on my own,

00:14:12.040 --> 00:14:13.580
 I'm not sure

00:14:13.580 --> 00:14:14.160
 they would love

00:14:14.160 --> 00:14:14.460
 me.

00:14:14.460 --> 00:14:16.460
 I mean,

00:14:16.940 --> 00:14:17.560
 let's just be

00:14:17.560 --> 00:14:17.800
 honest,

00:14:17.940 --> 00:14:18.420
 I am an

00:14:18.420 --> 00:14:20.160
 extreme extrovert

00:14:20.160 --> 00:14:21.560
 who can talk

00:14:21.560 --> 00:14:22.519
 until I wear

00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:23.120
 them out.

00:14:24.100 --> 00:14:25.040
 I am a

00:14:25.040 --> 00:14:25.980
 planner with

00:14:25.980 --> 00:14:26.660
 a tight

00:14:26.660 --> 00:14:27.160
 schedule,

00:14:27.320 --> 00:14:28.000
 especially if

00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:28.740
 you travel with

00:14:28.740 --> 00:14:29.420
 me on a trip

00:14:29.420 --> 00:14:30.200
 where I've

00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:30.840
 created the

00:14:30.840 --> 00:14:31.620
 itinerary.

00:14:32.860 --> 00:14:33.960
 I often

00:14:33.960 --> 00:14:34.740
 don't love

00:14:34.740 --> 00:14:35.700
 their animals

00:14:35.700 --> 00:14:36.460
 the way

00:14:36.460 --> 00:14:36.860
 that they

00:14:36.860 --> 00:14:37.220
 do.

00:14:39.580 --> 00:14:40.220
 Theoretically,

00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:41.860
 hypothetically,

00:14:42.060 --> 00:14:43.060
 I could drive

00:14:43.060 --> 00:14:43.980
 them crazy.

00:14:44.460 --> 00:14:47.340
 Amen.

00:14:49.220 --> 00:14:53.220
 That was a

00:14:53.220 --> 00:14:53.800
 big mistake

00:14:53.800 --> 00:14:54.400
 on my part,

00:14:54.460 --> 00:14:54.800
 wasn't it?

00:14:55.220 --> 00:14:57.100
 Just softball.

00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:00.400
 Well done.

00:15:04.620 --> 00:15:07.680
 But they

00:15:07.680 --> 00:15:08.519
 have never

00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:09.400
 known me

00:15:09.400 --> 00:15:11.120
 apart from

00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:11.660
 their daughter.

00:15:11.659 --> 00:15:11.980
 never.

00:15:11.980 --> 00:15:12.500
 Never.

00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:13.179
 Never.

00:15:14.179 --> 00:15:14.899
 They have

00:15:14.899 --> 00:15:16.000
 loved Christy

00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:17.240
 since before

00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:18.019
 she was born.

00:15:19.299 --> 00:15:20.559
 So because

00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:21.639
 she loved

00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:22.240
 me,

00:15:23.079 --> 00:15:24.360
 married me,

00:15:24.839 --> 00:15:25.899
 is connected

00:15:25.899 --> 00:15:26.779
 to me,

00:15:27.579 --> 00:15:28.339
 they love

00:15:28.339 --> 00:15:28.679
 me.

00:15:29.620 --> 00:15:30.279
 And I really

00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:31.659
 do believe

00:15:31.659 --> 00:15:32.199
 that with

00:15:32.199 --> 00:15:32.860
 Bob and

00:15:32.860 --> 00:15:33.100
 Deb.

00:15:33.100 --> 00:15:34.100
 love

00:15:34.100 --> 00:15:35.100
 love

00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:35.540
 but that

00:15:35.540 --> 00:15:35.860
 loving

00:15:35.860 --> 00:15:36.259
 in-law

00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:36.940
 relationship

00:15:36.940 --> 00:15:38.139
 is certainly

00:15:38.139 --> 00:15:38.879
 not to be

00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:39.560
 taken for

00:15:39.560 --> 00:15:39.879
 granted,

00:15:40.139 --> 00:15:40.519
 is it?

00:15:41.300 --> 00:15:41.920
 In our

00:15:41.920 --> 00:15:43.120
 broken world,

00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:45.159
 sometimes in-laws

00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:45.980
 resent you.

00:15:47.680 --> 00:15:48.740
 Sometimes they

00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:50.019
 tolerate you

00:15:50.019 --> 00:15:50.740
 but they

00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:52.019
 honestly feel

00:15:52.019 --> 00:15:52.820
 that their

00:15:52.820 --> 00:15:53.519
 child could

00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:53.879
 have done

00:15:53.879 --> 00:15:54.300
 better.

00:15:54.800 --> 00:15:55.060
 No,

00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:55.600
 no show of

00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:55.960
 hands,

00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:57.080
 but you're

00:15:57.080 --> 00:15:57.800
 feeling it.

00:15:57.960 --> 00:15:58.460
 Some of you

00:15:58.460 --> 00:15:59.060
 know that

00:15:59.060 --> 00:16:00.040
 truth.

00:16:02.160 --> 00:16:02.940
 Not in

00:16:02.940 --> 00:16:03.280
 God's

00:16:03.280 --> 00:16:03.660
 family.

00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:05.060
 No,

00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:05.180
 no,

00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:05.340
 no.

00:16:06.160 --> 00:16:06.500
 Listen,

00:16:06.980 --> 00:16:07.580
 the bride

00:16:07.580 --> 00:16:08.480
 of Christ

00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:09.620
 is actually

00:16:09.620 --> 00:16:10.700
 a gift

00:16:10.700 --> 00:16:12.139
 given to

00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:12.820
 the Son

00:16:12.820 --> 00:16:13.980
 by the

00:16:13.980 --> 00:16:14.320
 Father.

00:16:14.420 --> 00:16:14.860
 Remember how

00:16:14.860 --> 00:16:15.200
 that kept

00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:15.660
 coming up

00:16:15.660 --> 00:16:15.879
 in our

00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:16.280
 study of

00:16:16.280 --> 00:16:16.680
 the Gospel

00:16:16.680 --> 00:16:17.200
 of John?

00:16:17.860 --> 00:16:19.019
 So God

00:16:19.019 --> 00:16:20.519
 loved us

00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:21.660
 but never

00:16:21.660 --> 00:16:23.500
 apart from

00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:24.080
 loving us

00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:24.700
 in Christ.

00:16:24.920 --> 00:16:25.460
 From the

00:16:25.460 --> 00:16:26.440
 very beginning

00:16:26.440 --> 00:16:27.520
 He united

00:16:27.520 --> 00:16:28.520
 us in

00:16:28.520 --> 00:16:29.580
 Him so

00:16:29.580 --> 00:16:29.940
 that He

00:16:29.940 --> 00:16:30.660
 could love

00:16:30.660 --> 00:16:31.780
 us and

00:16:31.780 --> 00:16:32.240
 we would

00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:32.980
 never drift

00:16:32.980 --> 00:16:33.520
 in and out

00:16:33.520 --> 00:16:33.800
 of His

00:16:33.800 --> 00:16:34.600
 good graces

00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:35.600
 based on

00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:36.260
 our failures.

00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:37.640
 We've been

00:16:37.640 --> 00:16:38.520
 connected to,

00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:39.580
 covered by

00:16:39.580 --> 00:16:40.680
 the perfect

00:16:40.680 --> 00:16:41.200
 Son.

00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:42.040
 Listen,

00:16:42.140 --> 00:16:42.660
 I'm not making

00:16:42.660 --> 00:16:42.980
 this up.

00:16:43.080 --> 00:16:43.400
 Listen to

00:16:43.400 --> 00:16:43.960
 Jesus again.

00:16:44.280 --> 00:16:44.760
 He is the

00:16:44.760 --> 00:16:45.820
 crown prince,

00:16:46.280 --> 00:16:47.240
 the heir to

00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:48.080
 heaven's throne,

00:16:48.420 --> 00:16:49.440
 the apple of

00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:50.120
 His Father's

00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:50.500
 eye.

00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:52.140
 You loved

00:16:52.140 --> 00:16:53.700
 them even

00:16:53.700 --> 00:16:54.620
 as you

00:16:54.620 --> 00:16:55.800
 loved me.

00:16:56.440 --> 00:16:57.000
 I've told you

00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:57.600
 every week

00:16:57.600 --> 00:16:58.420
 that union

00:16:58.420 --> 00:16:58.980
 with Christ

00:16:58.980 --> 00:16:59.560
 means whatever

00:16:59.560 --> 00:17:00.140
 happens to

00:17:00.140 --> 00:17:00.860
 Jesus happens

00:17:00.860 --> 00:17:01.460
 to you.

00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:03.560
 Now you

00:17:03.560 --> 00:17:04.160
 believe God

00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:04.880
 loves Jesus.

00:17:07.120 --> 00:17:07.759
 Won't you

00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:09.000
 believe that

00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:09.820
 God loves you

00:17:09.820 --> 00:17:10.440
 too?

00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:11.440
 That's what

00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:11.980
 He says.

00:17:14.059 --> 00:17:14.900
 You can hear

00:17:14.900 --> 00:17:15.660
 God's love for

00:17:15.660 --> 00:17:16.259
 you from the

00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:17.180
 lips of Jesus.

00:17:18.180 --> 00:17:18.880
 You can hear

00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:19.559
 God's love if

00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:20.279
 you listen to

00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:21.059
 the songs of

00:17:21.059 --> 00:17:21.840
 His people

00:17:21.840 --> 00:17:22.640
 in the Psalms

00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:23.019
 where His

00:17:23.019 --> 00:17:24.539
 steadfast love

00:17:24.539 --> 00:17:25.279
 that endures

00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:26.140
 forever is

00:17:26.140 --> 00:17:26.580
 sung of

00:17:26.580 --> 00:17:27.300
 hundreds and

00:17:27.300 --> 00:17:28.160
 hundreds of

00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:28.600
 times.

00:17:28.980 --> 00:17:29.440
 You can hear

00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:30.100
 God's love if

00:17:30.100 --> 00:17:30.920
 you listen to

00:17:30.920 --> 00:17:31.380
 His voice

00:17:31.380 --> 00:17:31.860
 to the

00:17:31.860 --> 00:17:32.340
 prophets.

00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:34.320
 They speak

00:17:34.320 --> 00:17:34.700
 to His

00:17:34.700 --> 00:17:35.960
 beloved people.

00:17:36.080 --> 00:17:37.160
 Jeremiah 31,

00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:38.540
 I have loved

00:17:38.540 --> 00:17:39.680
 you with an

00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:41.140
 everlasting love,

00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:42.280
 therefore I have

00:17:42.280 --> 00:17:43.540
 continued my

00:17:43.540 --> 00:17:44.560
 faithfulness to

00:17:44.560 --> 00:17:44.700
 you.

00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:45.240
 An everlasting

00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:47.040
 love because

00:17:47.040 --> 00:17:47.960
 you're precious

00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:49.280
 in my eyes,

00:17:49.360 --> 00:17:50.000
 Isaiah says,

00:17:50.340 --> 00:17:51.700
 honored and I

00:17:51.700 --> 00:17:52.580
 love you.

00:17:53.220 --> 00:17:53.800
 I give men

00:17:53.800 --> 00:17:54.460
 in return for

00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:55.280
 you, peoples,

00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:56.240
 in exchange for

00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:56.579
 your life.

00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:57.399
 Even when you

00:17:57.399 --> 00:17:58.259
 have run away,

00:17:58.359 --> 00:17:58.740
 that's what's

00:17:58.740 --> 00:17:59.180
 going on in

00:17:59.180 --> 00:17:59.940
 Isaiah, you've

00:17:59.940 --> 00:18:00.359
 turned your

00:18:00.359 --> 00:18:01.000
 back on me.

00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:01.500
 God says, I'm

00:18:01.500 --> 00:18:02.059
 going to run

00:18:02.059 --> 00:18:02.619
 after you and

00:18:02.619 --> 00:18:03.460
 bring you back.

00:18:03.539 --> 00:18:04.099
 Listen to chapter

00:18:04.099 --> 00:18:05.420
 54, God says,

00:18:05.539 --> 00:18:06.139
 with everlasting

00:18:06.139 --> 00:18:07.480
 love I will have

00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:08.639
 compassion on you.

00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:10.259
 For the mountains

00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:11.180
 may depart and the

00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:12.019
 hills be removed,

00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:14.539
 but my steadfast love

00:18:14.539 --> 00:18:16.079
 shall not depart

00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:16.680
 from you.

00:18:16.879 --> 00:18:18.000
 My covenant of

00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:19.240
 peace shall not

00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:20.399
 be removed,

00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:21.480
 says the Lord

00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:23.099
 who thinks you've

00:18:23.099 --> 00:18:23.859
 been perfect.

00:18:23.859 --> 00:18:24.979
 no.

00:18:26.259 --> 00:18:27.119
 Says the Lord

00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:28.819
 who has compassion

00:18:28.819 --> 00:18:30.240
 on you because

00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:31.099
 you need his

00:18:31.099 --> 00:18:32.500
 mercy and his

00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:33.219
 grace.

00:18:33.699 --> 00:18:34.579
 Do you hear his

00:18:34.579 --> 00:18:35.619
 voice this morning?

00:18:35.819 --> 00:18:36.719
 I love you.

00:18:36.859 --> 00:18:37.659
 I love you.

00:18:37.819 --> 00:18:38.759
 I love you.

00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:40.079
 I'll never stop.

00:18:42.359 --> 00:18:43.000
 Will you believe

00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:44.059
 what he says in

00:18:44.059 --> 00:18:44.819
 spite of what you

00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:46.399
 feel, in spite of

00:18:46.399 --> 00:18:47.399
 the circumstances

00:18:47.399 --> 00:18:48.740
 screaming at you?

00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:50.740
 I love you.

00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:51.579
 I love you with

00:18:51.579 --> 00:18:52.259
 an enduring,

00:18:53.160 --> 00:18:54.579
 everlasting love,

00:18:54.680 --> 00:18:55.339
 an unbreaking,

00:18:55.539 --> 00:18:56.720
 always and forever

00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:57.720
 love.

00:19:01.319 --> 00:19:02.660
 But most of us

00:19:02.660 --> 00:19:04.720
 need more than

00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:05.400
 just words,

00:19:05.539 --> 00:19:05.960
 don't we?

00:19:07.380 --> 00:19:08.400
 I told you I've

00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:09.180
 got plenty of

00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:10.900
 words, so Christy

00:19:10.900 --> 00:19:12.200
 hears I love you

00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:13.279
 from me more than

00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:14.299
 she can stand

00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:14.980
 some days.

00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:17.640
 Maybe you've

00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:18.440
 felt what I know

00:19:18.440 --> 00:19:19.640
 she has at times,

00:19:19.860 --> 00:19:20.759
 something like,

00:19:21.420 --> 00:19:22.039
 why don't you

00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:23.700
 stop talking about

00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:24.799
 it so much and

00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:26.200
 actually do

00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:27.160
 something about

00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:27.299
 it?

00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:28.259
 Show me!

00:19:28.259 --> 00:19:31.599
 God won't stop

00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:32.640
 telling us, but

00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:34.000
 he will show us

00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:34.900
 because he wants

00:19:34.900 --> 00:19:35.839
 us to see

00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:36.879
 his love

00:19:36.879 --> 00:19:37.680
 too.

00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:40.579
 How'd he do it?

00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:42.019
 He came in the

00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:42.599
 flesh, didn't he?

00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.799
 For sake of time,

00:19:43.879 --> 00:19:44.500
 let's just skip

00:19:44.500 --> 00:19:45.099
 straight to the

00:19:45.099 --> 00:19:46.259
 cross, okay?

00:19:47.299 --> 00:19:48.119
 Where we already

00:19:48.119 --> 00:19:49.259
 know we were

00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:50.720
 crucified with

00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:51.400
 Christ.

00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:52.359
 We were really

00:19:52.359 --> 00:19:54.000
 mysteriously united

00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:54.779
 to him in his

00:19:54.779 --> 00:19:56.379
 death, but he's

00:19:56.379 --> 00:19:56.940
 the one who

00:19:56.940 --> 00:19:57.879
 personally,

00:19:57.880 --> 00:19:59.780
 physically suffered

00:19:59.780 --> 00:20:01.340
 and died as he

00:20:01.340 --> 00:20:02.000
 showed us the

00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:03.220
 full extent of

00:20:03.220 --> 00:20:04.000
 his love, as he

00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:04.940
 loved us to the

00:20:04.940 --> 00:20:05.740
 very end.

00:20:07.640 --> 00:20:08.500
 Romans 5, 8

00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:09.820
 reminds us that

00:20:09.820 --> 00:20:12.940
 God shows his

00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:13.860
 love so we can

00:20:13.860 --> 00:20:14.380
 see it.

00:20:14.620 --> 00:20:15.680
 He shows his

00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:16.660
 love in that

00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:18.320
 Christ died for

00:20:18.320 --> 00:20:19.560
 us while we were

00:20:19.560 --> 00:20:21.040
 still sinners.

00:20:22.100 --> 00:20:22.700
 In other words,

00:20:22.800 --> 00:20:24.120
 God sent his

00:20:24.120 --> 00:20:26.680
 perfect son to

00:20:26.680 --> 00:20:28.799
 rescue very

00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:30.440
 imperfect people,

00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:31.700
 to die in

00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:32.820
 their place.

00:20:33.019 --> 00:20:34.519
 How deep the

00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:36.240
 father's love,

00:20:36.820 --> 00:20:38.180
 giving his only

00:20:38.180 --> 00:20:40.019
 son his treasure

00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:41.140
 in order to make

00:20:41.140 --> 00:20:42.880
 a wretch his

00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:43.580
 treasure.

00:20:44.299 --> 00:20:45.799
 The father turns

00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:47.420
 his face away from

00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:49.140
 the son of his

00:20:49.140 --> 00:20:51.019
 delight so that

00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:52.019
 wounds that mar the

00:20:52.019 --> 00:20:53.279
 chosen one bring

00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:56.019
 many sons to

00:20:56.019 --> 00:20:56.680
 glory.

00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:57.899
 See?

00:20:59.039 --> 00:20:59.500
 Look!

00:21:00.039 --> 00:21:01.180
 Behold what

00:21:01.180 --> 00:21:02.819
 manner of love the

00:21:02.819 --> 00:21:04.059
 father has given to

00:21:04.059 --> 00:21:05.399
 us that we should be

00:21:05.399 --> 00:21:08.139
 called the sons of

00:21:08.139 --> 00:21:08.480
 God.

00:21:08.619 --> 00:21:10.099
 Adopted, chosen,

00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:11.680
 brought into his

00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:13.819
 family because of our

00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:16.019
 relationship with his

00:21:16.019 --> 00:21:16.859
 son.

00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:18.639
 This is why the

00:21:18.639 --> 00:21:19.680
 Bible says the father

00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:21.440
 sent the son.

00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:22.259
 at just the right

00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:24.740
 time so that we

00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:26.980
 could be sons of

00:21:26.980 --> 00:21:27.420
 God.

00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:28.660
 Galatians 4.

00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:31.460
 This is love.

00:21:32.660 --> 00:21:33.860
 How do we see it?

00:21:35.080 --> 00:21:36.140
 1 John 4.

00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:38.460
 Not even our own

00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:39.460
 love for God,

00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.820
 although I hope that

00:21:40.820 --> 00:21:42.140
 we do love him,

00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:43.080
 but that's not even

00:21:43.080 --> 00:21:44.600
 really what love is.

00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:46.860
 I mean, how could we

00:21:46.860 --> 00:21:49.039
 not love God when he

00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:50.340
 rescued us as orphans

00:21:50.339 --> 00:21:51.879
 and lavished his grace

00:21:51.879 --> 00:21:52.980
 upon us and making us

00:21:52.980 --> 00:21:54.459
 his sons, heirs?

00:21:55.679 --> 00:21:57.659
 Not that, but that he

00:21:57.659 --> 00:22:00.379
 loved us and sent his

00:22:00.379 --> 00:22:01.579
 son to pay the penalty

00:22:01.579 --> 00:22:03.899
 to cover all of our

00:22:03.899 --> 00:22:04.799
 sins.

00:22:06.879 --> 00:22:08.559
 Survey the wondrous

00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:09.339
 cross.

00:22:10.779 --> 00:22:12.039
 See from his head,

00:22:12.419 --> 00:22:14.579
 his hands, his feet,

00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:16.339
 sorrow and love flow

00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:18.799
 mingled down.

00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:20.899
 Did e'er such love

00:22:20.899 --> 00:22:22.359
 and sorrow meet

00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:24.500
 or thorns compose

00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:27.579
 so rich a crown?

00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:30.279
 Have you looked at the

00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:31.940
 cross of Jesus today

00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:33.759
 to see his love?

00:22:34.680 --> 00:22:36.099
 Have you spent an hour

00:22:36.099 --> 00:22:37.759
 there lately at the

00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:38.859
 foot of the cross

00:22:38.859 --> 00:22:40.839
 just taking it in,

00:22:40.899 --> 00:22:42.299
 letting his love sink

00:22:42.299 --> 00:22:43.339
 deeply in?

00:22:44.359 --> 00:22:45.419
 Have you let it be more

00:22:45.419 --> 00:22:46.659
 than just a passing

00:22:46.659 --> 00:22:47.740
 thing you've heard or

00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:48.519
 you were to sense to,

00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:49.680
 but actually starts to

00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:51.500
 change your heart?

00:22:52.660 --> 00:22:53.920
 I mean, just look at

00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:54.940
 the ways we show our

00:22:54.940 --> 00:22:55.079
 love.

00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:56.240
 We show our love by

00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:57.440
 waking up so that our

00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:58.680
 spouse can sleep,

00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:01.279
 by eating our kids

00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:02.900
 broccoli so that they

00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:04.000
 can focus on dessert,

00:23:06.680 --> 00:23:07.599
 disadvantaging

00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:09.079
 ourselves for the

00:23:09.079 --> 00:23:10.339
 advantage of one we

00:23:10.339 --> 00:23:11.019
 love, right?

00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:15.379
 how much further does Jesus

00:23:15.379 --> 00:23:17.379
 go to do that for you?

00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:20.519
 Have you contemplated what

00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:21.980
 it feels like when

00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:23.400
 someone takes something

00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:26.119
 that you hate for you

00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:27.700
 to give you something

00:23:27.700 --> 00:23:29.359
 that you love?

00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:31.759
 And Jesus has done that

00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:33.519
 with the worst possible

00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:35.579
 thing, eternal separation

00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:37.639
 from God and his love.

00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:39.600
 And Jesus takes your

00:23:39.600 --> 00:23:40.980
 separation to bring you

00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:41.660
 back to him.

00:23:42.100 --> 00:23:44.080
 God gave you his best

00:23:44.080 --> 00:23:45.460
 when you were at your

00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:46.100
 worst.

00:23:46.660 --> 00:23:48.500
 He loves you.

00:23:48.500 --> 00:23:52.359
 And the reason I'm talking

00:23:52.359 --> 00:23:55.000
 about contemplating and

00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:57.099
 meditating, slowing down

00:23:57.099 --> 00:23:58.140
 with this is that God

00:23:58.140 --> 00:23:59.480
 wants it to go beyond our

00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:01.799
 ears and our eyes to our

00:24:01.799 --> 00:24:03.380
 hearts through our whole

00:24:03.380 --> 00:24:04.000
 beings.

00:24:05.660 --> 00:24:07.019
 Puritan preacher Thomas

00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:08.440
 Goodwin noticed a

00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:09.660
 beautiful example of this

00:24:09.660 --> 00:24:11.220
 one day as a father and a

00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:13.839
 son were walking together

00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:16.599
 down a street and he saw

00:24:16.599 --> 00:24:17.960
 them coming towards him.

00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:20.160
 They were just kind of

00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:21.700
 walking a few feet apart

00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:22.940
 when suddenly the father

00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:24.640
 bent down and he grabbed

00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:25.839
 his son and he swept him

00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:27.779
 up into his arms and he

00:24:27.779 --> 00:24:29.299
 hugged him and he kissed

00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:31.000
 him and he told him I love

00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:32.259
 you so much.

00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:34.759
 He just held him for a

00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:36.460
 minute while busy people

00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:37.700
 passed by them on either

00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:38.160
 side.

00:24:40.220 --> 00:24:41.220
 And then he put him back

00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:43.500
 down and they walked on

00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:44.200
 together.

00:24:44.900 --> 00:24:46.299
 And Goodwin said he looked

00:24:46.299 --> 00:24:48.200
 and he realized that the

00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:49.779
 boy was objectively,

00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:52.659
 legally, just as much the

00:24:52.659 --> 00:24:54.259
 father's son on the ground

00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:56.980
 as he was in his arms.

00:24:56.980 --> 00:24:57.659
 Right?

00:24:59.019 --> 00:25:01.019
 But he subjectively,

00:25:01.299 --> 00:25:04.859
 experientially felt the truth

00:25:04.859 --> 00:25:06.139
 of his sonship, the

00:25:06.139 --> 00:25:08.759
 relationship, the safety, the

00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:11.039
 love, so much more in his

00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:11.919
 father's arms.

00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:15.360
 That's what Paul's getting

00:25:15.360 --> 00:25:17.259
 at, I believe, earlier in

00:25:17.259 --> 00:25:19.560
 Romans 8 when he talks about

00:25:19.560 --> 00:25:21.600
 our adoption and helping us

00:25:21.600 --> 00:25:23.000
 get to the point that we know

00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:24.779
 God loves us and is working

00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:26.340
 for our good and can't be

00:25:26.340 --> 00:25:27.539
 separated from us.

00:25:27.600 --> 00:25:28.920
 Look at verse 15.

00:25:28.920 --> 00:25:30.980
 For you did not receive the

00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:32.759
 spirit of slavery to fall back

00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:35.160
 into fear, but you have

00:25:35.160 --> 00:25:36.420
 received the spirit of

00:25:36.420 --> 00:25:38.600
 adoption as sons by whom we

00:25:38.600 --> 00:25:40.060
 cry, Abba, Father.

00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:41.900
 The spirit himself bears

00:25:41.900 --> 00:25:43.820
 witness with our spirit that we

00:25:43.820 --> 00:25:45.940
 are children of God.

00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:47.779
 See, he's wanting you to

00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:50.000
 experience not fear.

00:25:50.620 --> 00:25:51.740
 That's an experience, an

00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:52.440
 emotion, right?

00:25:52.600 --> 00:25:54.960
 When cars are rushing by you

00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:56.820
 and people are everywhere and

00:25:56.820 --> 00:25:58.539
 there's chaos around you.

00:25:58.539 --> 00:26:00.259
 And you're in the street and

00:26:00.259 --> 00:26:01.539
 you have a father somewhere

00:26:02.119 --> 00:26:04.119
 but you feel alone and

00:26:04.119 --> 00:26:04.599
 afraid.

00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:06.180
 You have a spirit of fear.

00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:08.019
 Paul says, no, no, God

00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:08.539
 wants you to experience

00:26:09.079 --> 00:26:09.799
 something else.

00:26:10.259 --> 00:26:12.819
 Holy Spirit comes to pick

00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:14.399
 us up, put us in our

00:26:14.399 --> 00:26:16.680
 father's arms so that we feel

00:26:16.680 --> 00:26:18.659
 the reality that we're held

00:26:18.659 --> 00:26:20.299
 and we're safe and we can

00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:21.619
 cry, Abba, Father.

00:26:23.379 --> 00:26:24.740
 It's part of why we need to

00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:25.799
 pray, by the way.

00:26:27.079 --> 00:26:27.659
 You don't need to pray

00:26:27.660 --> 00:26:28.820
 because I told you to.

00:26:29.340 --> 00:26:30.740
 You need to pray to cry out,

00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:33.240
 Father, not because praying

00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:35.200
 makes you more a son of God

00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:36.840
 than you were before you

00:26:36.840 --> 00:26:37.220
 prayed.

00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:39.140
 Praying doesn't make you a

00:26:39.140 --> 00:26:39.920
 child of God.

00:26:40.920 --> 00:26:42.340
 No, prayer makes you more

00:26:42.340 --> 00:26:44.720
 aware of your father than you

00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:46.360
 were before you prayed.

00:26:46.860 --> 00:26:49.100
 It taps in to the unparalleled

00:26:49.100 --> 00:26:50.700
 access that you have to the

00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:52.200
 throne room of heaven, to the

00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:53.840
 king of glory himself.

00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:56.039
 It crawls up into his arms,

00:26:56.119 --> 00:26:56.519
 doesn't it?

00:26:56.699 --> 00:26:58.819
 To feel his love that was

00:26:58.819 --> 00:27:01.240
 already there, but it needed

00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:03.059
 to seep deep into your heart,

00:27:03.179 --> 00:27:03.779
 Jesus says.

00:27:04.099 --> 00:27:06.039
 Spend some time calling God

00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:08.639
 Father, depending upon him,

00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:10.379
 remembering that he delights

00:27:10.379 --> 00:27:11.799
 to give good gifts to his

00:27:11.799 --> 00:27:12.220
 children.

00:27:12.579 --> 00:27:13.959
 He is that kind of perfect

00:27:13.959 --> 00:27:16.459
 father for you now and always.

00:27:16.799 --> 00:27:19.000
 Let the Spirit call you to that.

00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:24.039
 Psalm 90 says,

00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:27.519
 Satisfy us in the morning

00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:30.740
 with your steadfast love,

00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:33.339
 that we may rejoice and be

00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:35.359
 glad all our days.

00:27:36.420 --> 00:27:38.059
 Psalm 90 is a prayer here,

00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:40.759
 not that God's love would be

00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:42.940
 good enough to satisfy us,

00:27:43.140 --> 00:27:43.359
 okay?

00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:44.599
 It is.

00:27:46.679 --> 00:27:49.199
 But that we would feel it,

00:27:49.719 --> 00:27:52.099
 that we would experience it

00:27:52.099 --> 00:27:54.599
 that way as it leads to joy

00:27:54.599 --> 00:27:56.339
 and gladness in our lives.

00:27:57.379 --> 00:27:59.399
 This is another way that being

00:27:59.399 --> 00:28:02.139
 in Christ, loved in him,

00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:03.679
 transforms your life.

00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:06.659
 You weren't meant to be

00:28:06.659 --> 00:28:09.439
 satisfied with merely human

00:28:09.439 --> 00:28:10.199
 love.

00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:13.700
 God didn't design you that way.

00:28:14.420 --> 00:28:15.940
 So when you try to make a

00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:17.100
 husband or a wife,

00:28:17.460 --> 00:28:18.980
 a boyfriend or a girlfriend,

00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:22.039
 a child or a parent,

00:28:22.840 --> 00:28:24.120
 satisfy you,

00:28:24.940 --> 00:28:26.779
 it doesn't work.

00:28:27.720 --> 00:28:29.319
 It doesn't last.

00:28:30.259 --> 00:28:31.380
 It can give you a taste,

00:28:31.640 --> 00:28:32.160
 a picture,

00:28:32.440 --> 00:28:34.400
 a glimpse of what you're

00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:35.279
 longing for,

00:28:35.880 --> 00:28:37.680
 but your heart was made

00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:39.900
 to be satisfied only in this

00:28:39.900 --> 00:28:42.259
 perfect and permanent love

00:28:42.259 --> 00:28:43.680
 of the one who made you

00:28:43.680 --> 00:28:44.980
 for himself.

00:28:46.660 --> 00:28:47.540
 So remembering,

00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:50.519
 feeling how deeply loved

00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:51.660
 you are in Christ

00:28:51.660 --> 00:28:53.600
 actually frees you

00:28:53.600 --> 00:28:56.140
 from searching for love,

00:28:56.400 --> 00:28:56.980
 for value,

00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:57.960
 for security

00:28:57.960 --> 00:29:00.000
 in someone else's arms.

00:29:00.780 --> 00:29:01.160
 Why?

00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:02.940
 Because you've already got it

00:29:02.940 --> 00:29:03.940
 in your father's.

00:29:06.360 --> 00:29:07.960
 It does something else.

00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:10.200
 It also frees you

00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:12.279
 to love

00:29:12.279 --> 00:29:14.400
 and be loved

00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:15.860
 selflessly,

00:29:16.420 --> 00:29:17.779
 at great cost,

00:29:18.140 --> 00:29:19.380
 even when they

00:29:19.380 --> 00:29:19.940
 and you

00:29:19.940 --> 00:29:20.900
 are imperfect

00:29:20.900 --> 00:29:22.660
 and to rejoice

00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:24.319
 in such imperfect

00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:24.920
 glimpses

00:29:24.920 --> 00:29:26.019
 of the perfect

00:29:26.019 --> 00:29:26.840
 lover.

00:29:28.120 --> 00:29:28.980
 Both of those.

00:29:29.420 --> 00:29:30.360
 You don't have to run

00:29:30.360 --> 00:29:31.860
 after human love

00:29:31.860 --> 00:29:32.680
 to find life,

00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:34.620
 but you're freed now

00:29:34.619 --> 00:29:35.899
 to enjoy

00:29:35.899 --> 00:29:37.219
 glimpses

00:29:37.219 --> 00:29:37.919
 of that love.

00:29:39.179 --> 00:29:39.859
 God loves us

00:29:39.859 --> 00:29:40.279
 so well,

00:29:40.339 --> 00:29:40.719
 doesn't he?

00:29:42.659 --> 00:29:43.419
 One more way

00:29:43.419 --> 00:29:44.399
 you experience it.

00:29:44.500 --> 00:29:45.299
 Zephaniah says

00:29:45.299 --> 00:29:46.299
 when we feel

00:29:46.299 --> 00:29:47.000
 his love,

00:29:47.679 --> 00:29:49.099
 it quiets

00:29:49.099 --> 00:29:51.219
 our noisy hearts.

00:29:54.359 --> 00:29:54.979
 I don't know

00:29:54.979 --> 00:29:55.419
 if there's anybody

00:29:55.419 --> 00:29:55.959
 else in here,

00:29:56.039 --> 00:29:56.419
 but I've got

00:29:56.419 --> 00:29:57.179
 a noisy heart.

00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:00.739
 This verse

00:30:00.739 --> 00:30:01.859
 in Zephaniah 3

00:30:01.859 --> 00:30:03.099
 says God's love

00:30:03.099 --> 00:30:04.199
 calms

00:30:04.199 --> 00:30:05.099
 our restless,

00:30:05.959 --> 00:30:06.559
 anxious,

00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:08.619
 fearful souls.

00:30:10.219 --> 00:30:11.019
 This is the difference

00:30:11.019 --> 00:30:11.639
 that being loved

00:30:11.639 --> 00:30:12.139
 in Christ

00:30:12.139 --> 00:30:14.079
 makes in hard times.

00:30:14.799 --> 00:30:15.399
 When everything

00:30:15.399 --> 00:30:15.959
 around us

00:30:15.959 --> 00:30:16.740
 screams that we

00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:18.000
 can't possibly

00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:18.859
 be loved,

00:30:19.099 --> 00:30:20.079
 that we must have

00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:20.719
 fallen out of

00:30:20.719 --> 00:30:21.699
 God's good graces

00:30:21.699 --> 00:30:22.879
 and that makes sense

00:30:22.879 --> 00:30:23.199
 to us,

00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:24.359
 we know we deserve

00:30:24.359 --> 00:30:24.859
 that.

00:30:24.859 --> 00:30:26.839
 But the world

00:30:26.839 --> 00:30:27.639
 seems to be spinning

00:30:27.639 --> 00:30:28.459
 out of control.

00:30:28.759 --> 00:30:29.439
 Where's the God

00:30:29.439 --> 00:30:30.079
 who loves me?

00:30:30.139 --> 00:30:30.939
 Is he looking

00:30:30.940 --> 00:30:31.559
 out for me?

00:30:32.320 --> 00:30:33.200
 I've messed up

00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:33.740
 so much,

00:30:33.779 --> 00:30:34.340
 he probably will

00:30:34.340 --> 00:30:35.000
 never do anything

00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:35.539
 good for me.

00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:37.400
 And Zephaniah says

00:30:37.400 --> 00:30:38.100
 don't be frantic.

00:30:39.400 --> 00:30:40.240
 Don't try to earn

00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:40.880
 your way back

00:30:40.880 --> 00:30:41.559
 into God.

00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:42.460
 Don't forget

00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:43.500
 how even imperfect

00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:44.660
 parents often

00:30:44.660 --> 00:30:45.519
 love their children

00:30:45.519 --> 00:30:46.660
 on bad days.

00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:49.400
 So let God's

00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:50.820
 perfect love

00:30:50.820 --> 00:30:53.019
 quiet you

00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:54.940
 this morning.

00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:57.680
 Hear his love.

00:30:58.880 --> 00:31:00.000
 See his love.

00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:02.779
 feel his love.

00:31:02.779 --> 00:31:03.839
 You have been

00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:05.779
 married to his son.

00:31:06.559 --> 00:31:07.400
 He has paid

00:31:07.400 --> 00:31:08.579
 the most precious

00:31:08.579 --> 00:31:09.819
 price ever

00:31:09.819 --> 00:31:10.960
 to have you

00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:11.559
 as his own.

00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:12.980
 He has adopted

00:31:12.980 --> 00:31:14.259
 you into his

00:31:14.259 --> 00:31:14.799
 family.

00:31:15.259 --> 00:31:15.839
 He has given

00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:16.700
 you his spirit

00:31:16.700 --> 00:31:17.559
 so that you can

00:31:17.559 --> 00:31:18.380
 crawl up into

00:31:18.380 --> 00:31:19.480
 his arms anytime

00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:20.759
 and talk to him

00:31:20.759 --> 00:31:21.339
 even when you

00:31:21.339 --> 00:31:21.819
 don't know what

00:31:21.819 --> 00:31:22.380
 to say.

00:31:23.500 --> 00:31:24.259
 He has loved

00:31:24.259 --> 00:31:25.400
 you with an

00:31:25.400 --> 00:31:27.220
 everlasting love

00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:28.339
 like the eternal

00:31:28.339 --> 00:31:29.519
 love between

00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:30.960
 father and son

00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:32.100
 from which you

00:31:32.100 --> 00:31:33.140
 can never

00:31:33.140 --> 00:31:35.000
 be separated.

00:31:36.920 --> 00:31:38.559
 So child of God

00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:41.339
 come taste his

00:31:41.339 --> 00:31:43.039
 love as well

00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:44.940
 as what he wants

00:31:44.940 --> 00:31:45.460
 for you.

00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:47.259
 He's set the table.

00:31:47.420 --> 00:31:48.700
 What a father

00:31:48.700 --> 00:31:51.259
 who knew how much

00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:52.000
 we would need his

00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:52.339
 love.

00:31:53.059 --> 00:31:53.839
 Who knew how much

00:31:53.839 --> 00:31:54.699
 we would struggle

00:31:54.699 --> 00:31:56.199
 to let it sink

00:31:56.199 --> 00:31:57.240
 in and really

00:31:57.240 --> 00:31:58.039
 be embraced

00:31:58.039 --> 00:31:58.859
 and change our

00:31:58.859 --> 00:31:59.399
 hearts.

00:32:01.119 --> 00:32:02.079
 So he keeps

00:32:02.079 --> 00:32:03.159
 giving us himself

00:32:03.159 --> 00:32:04.740
 a taste

00:32:04.740 --> 00:32:05.879
 of the way

00:32:05.879 --> 00:32:06.839
 he most fully

00:32:06.839 --> 00:32:07.579
 showed his

00:32:07.579 --> 00:32:08.000
 love.

00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:10.179
 A picture

00:32:10.179 --> 00:32:11.579
 of relationship

00:32:11.579 --> 00:32:13.119
 shared intimately

00:32:13.119 --> 00:32:14.559
 around a table.

00:32:14.859 --> 00:32:15.419
 That's what he

00:32:15.419 --> 00:32:16.240
 made you for.

00:32:16.459 --> 00:32:17.559
 The love story

00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:18.720
 that will never

00:32:18.720 --> 00:32:19.259
 end

00:32:19.259 --> 00:32:20.220
 because his

00:32:20.220 --> 00:32:21.220
 love will

00:32:21.220 --> 00:32:21.819
 never end.

00:32:22.140 --> 00:32:23.400
 Jesus said it

00:32:23.400 --> 00:32:24.079
 this way on the

00:32:24.079 --> 00:32:24.559
 night he was

00:32:24.559 --> 00:32:25.279
 betrayed he told

00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:26.220
 his disciples that

00:32:26.220 --> 00:32:27.319
 story as he took

00:32:27.319 --> 00:32:28.160
 bread and broke

00:32:28.160 --> 00:32:29.640
 it and gave it

00:32:29.640 --> 00:32:30.480
 to them as I

00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:31.700
 ministering in his

00:32:31.700 --> 00:32:32.460
 name give this

00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:33.379
 bread to you.

00:32:34.019 --> 00:32:34.539
 And he said

00:32:34.539 --> 00:32:35.279
 take and eat

00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:36.720
 this is my body

00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:37.900
 given to you

00:32:37.900 --> 00:32:38.940
 do this in

00:32:38.940 --> 00:32:40.140
 remembrance of

00:32:40.140 --> 00:32:40.500
 me.

00:32:42.119 --> 00:32:42.700
 And in the same

00:32:42.700 --> 00:32:43.359
 way he took the

00:32:43.359 --> 00:32:44.440
 cup after supper

00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:45.720
 and said this

00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:46.740
 cup is the new

00:32:46.740 --> 00:32:47.720
 covenant in my

00:32:47.720 --> 00:32:48.220
 blood.

00:32:48.220 --> 00:32:49.640
 shed for many

00:32:49.640 --> 00:32:50.039
 for the

00:32:50.039 --> 00:32:50.740
 forgiveness of

00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:51.720
 sins drink

00:32:51.720 --> 00:32:52.740
 from it all

00:32:52.740 --> 00:32:53.559
 of you for as

00:32:53.559 --> 00:32:54.180
 often as you

00:32:54.180 --> 00:32:54.819
 eat this bread

00:32:54.819 --> 00:32:55.740
 and drink this

00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:56.720
 cup you proclaim

00:32:56.720 --> 00:32:57.740
 the Lord's death

00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:58.779
 until he comes.

00:32:59.100 --> 00:33:00.920
 You shout the

00:33:00.920 --> 00:33:02.180
 truth that he

00:33:02.180 --> 00:33:03.900
 loves me enough

00:33:03.900 --> 00:33:04.680
 to give his

00:33:04.680 --> 00:33:07.039
 life for me.

00:33:08.299 --> 00:33:09.660
 If you trust

00:33:09.660 --> 00:33:11.440
 that Jesus gave

00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:12.680
 his body and

00:33:12.680 --> 00:33:13.740
 blood on the

00:33:13.740 --> 00:33:14.779
 cross for you

00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:16.120
 because of how

00:33:16.120 --> 00:33:16.960
 much he loves

00:33:16.960 --> 00:33:18.180
 you then don't

00:33:18.180 --> 00:33:18.799
 let what you

00:33:18.799 --> 00:33:20.680
 have done or

00:33:20.680 --> 00:33:21.640
 how you feel

00:33:21.640 --> 00:33:23.480
 be more important

00:33:23.480 --> 00:33:24.660
 right now than

00:33:24.660 --> 00:33:25.500
 what he has

00:33:25.500 --> 00:33:27.120
 done and how

00:33:27.120 --> 00:33:29.120
 he feels about

00:33:29.120 --> 00:33:29.500
 you.

00:33:30.539 --> 00:33:31.880
 You believe this

00:33:31.880 --> 00:33:33.440
 and come and

00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:34.420
 celebrate with

00:33:34.420 --> 00:33:34.660
 him.

00:33:36.680 --> 00:33:38.320
 If all of this

00:33:38.320 --> 00:33:39.299
 talk about love

00:33:39.299 --> 00:33:40.580
 sounds like love

00:33:40.580 --> 00:33:41.220
 that could be

00:33:41.220 --> 00:33:42.360
 life changing to

00:33:42.360 --> 00:33:43.500
 you but you're

00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:44.680
 honestly just not

00:33:44.680 --> 00:33:46.080
 sure about Jesus

00:33:46.080 --> 00:33:48.920
 yet then I want

00:33:48.920 --> 00:33:50.140
 to offer you

00:33:50.140 --> 00:33:50.860
 once more his

00:33:50.860 --> 00:33:51.460
 invitation.

00:33:52.039 --> 00:33:52.880
 We would love to

00:33:52.880 --> 00:33:53.740
 talk with you more

00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:54.460
 about him.

00:33:54.519 --> 00:33:55.000
 He wants to

00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:55.960
 invite you not to

00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:57.500
 these elements this

00:33:57.500 --> 00:33:58.759
 morning but to

00:33:58.759 --> 00:34:00.060
 crawling up in

00:34:00.060 --> 00:34:01.240
 your father's arms

00:34:01.240 --> 00:34:02.700
 and actually knowing

00:34:02.700 --> 00:34:04.220
 his love and

00:34:04.220 --> 00:34:05.320
 resting there

00:34:05.320 --> 00:34:06.200
 forever.

00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:07.880
 So feel free to

00:34:07.880 --> 00:34:08.720
 come and observe.

00:34:09.240 --> 00:34:10.119
 Come let us pray

00:34:10.119 --> 00:34:11.019
 with you or if you

00:34:11.019 --> 00:34:12.179
 prefer stay where

00:34:12.179 --> 00:34:13.199
 you are and

00:34:13.199 --> 00:34:14.440
 contemplate these

00:34:14.440 --> 00:34:15.199
 things yourself

00:34:15.199 --> 00:34:17.739
 but for all of

00:34:17.739 --> 00:34:19.719
 you child of God

00:34:19.719 --> 00:34:20.800
 or one who's

00:34:20.800 --> 00:34:21.920
 wondering about

00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:24.579
 that my prayer is

00:34:24.579 --> 00:34:25.679
 that none of you

00:34:25.679 --> 00:34:26.820
 would leave here

00:34:26.820 --> 00:34:28.119
 and miss the

00:34:28.119 --> 00:34:29.559
 display of the

00:34:29.559 --> 00:34:30.820
 greatest love

00:34:30.820 --> 00:34:31.980
 ever given.

00:34:33.340 --> 00:34:34.400
 When you were at

00:34:34.400 --> 00:34:36.239
 your worst God

00:34:36.239 --> 00:34:37.679
 gave you his best

00:34:37.679 --> 00:34:40.079
 his son because

00:34:40.079 --> 00:34:41.079
 he loves you

00:34:41.079 --> 00:34:42.399
 let's pray and

00:34:42.399 --> 00:34:42.879
 we'll eat with

00:34:42.879 --> 00:34:43.099
 him.

00:34:45.659 --> 00:34:46.659
 Father might it

00:34:46.659 --> 00:34:47.500
 be that we would

00:34:47.500 --> 00:34:49.139
 actually taste

00:34:49.139 --> 00:34:51.940
 some of your love

00:34:51.940 --> 00:34:52.919
 that would sink

00:34:52.919 --> 00:34:54.279
 so deeply into

00:34:54.279 --> 00:34:56.039
 us that nothing

00:34:56.039 --> 00:34:56.839
 could be truer

00:34:56.839 --> 00:34:57.899
 nothing could be

00:34:57.899 --> 00:34:59.019
 more certain for

00:34:59.019 --> 00:34:59.419
 us.

00:35:00.699 --> 00:35:01.359
 Nothing could be

00:35:01.359 --> 00:35:03.500
 more inspiring to

00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:04.539
 us as we live

00:35:04.539 --> 00:35:05.239
 this week.

00:35:07.679 --> 00:35:08.799
 Because you are

00:35:08.799 --> 00:35:09.699
 so good would

00:35:09.699 --> 00:35:10.519
 you take things

00:35:10.519 --> 00:35:11.099
 that are really

00:35:11.099 --> 00:35:13.480
 common would you

00:35:13.480 --> 00:35:14.279
 use them for a

00:35:14.279 --> 00:35:15.239
 very uncommon

00:35:15.239 --> 00:35:16.879
 holy purpose in

00:35:16.879 --> 00:35:18.000
 our hearts to

00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:19.219
 build our faith

00:35:19.219 --> 00:35:20.480
 to bring us to

00:35:20.480 --> 00:35:21.440
 bow the knee and

00:35:21.440 --> 00:35:22.539
 embrace the love

00:35:22.539 --> 00:35:23.159
 of a God who

00:35:23.159 --> 00:35:23.919
 loves us when it

00:35:23.919 --> 00:35:24.940
 doesn't make sense

00:35:24.940 --> 00:35:25.919
 and when we don't

00:35:25.919 --> 00:35:26.619
 deserve it.

00:35:27.899 --> 00:35:28.599
 Thank you for

00:35:28.599 --> 00:35:29.279
 meeting with us

00:35:29.279 --> 00:35:29.940
 this morning that

00:35:29.940 --> 00:35:30.779
 we might believe

00:35:30.779 --> 00:35:31.539
 you don't just

00:35:31.539 --> 00:35:32.139
 love us from

00:35:32.139 --> 00:35:33.179
 afar but you love

00:35:33.179 --> 00:35:34.639
 us hand in hand

00:35:34.639 --> 00:35:36.279
 and even getting

00:35:36.280 --> 00:35:37.340
 up in your arms

00:35:37.340 --> 00:35:38.220
 right now.

00:35:41.300 --> 00:35:42.140
 Work by your

00:35:42.140 --> 00:35:42.940
 spirit in our

00:35:42.940 --> 00:35:44.140
 hearts in Jesus

00:35:44.140 --> 00:35:44.580
 name.

00:35:45.320 --> 00:35:45.640
 Amen.

00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:48.220
 For more

00:35:48.220 --> 00:35:49.340
 information visit

00:35:49.340 --> 00:35:50.280
 us online at

00:35:50.280 --> 00:35:51.060
 southwood.org