WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.120 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:15.300 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.660 --> 00:00:22.640 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:28.460 --> 00:00:29.859 Good morning, Christ Church. 00:00:29.859 --> 00:00:30.679 My name is Stevie. 00:00:30.939 --> 00:00:33.100 I'm part of the North Berkeley Community Group. 00:00:33.960 --> 00:00:42.019 And this morning's scripture reading is from John's first epistle, chapter 3, verse 19 through chapter 4, verse 6. 00:00:43.420 --> 00:00:48.920 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him. 00:00:49.539 --> 00:00:55.239 For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and he knows everything. 00:00:55.240 --> 00:01:01.579 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God. 00:01:02.260 --> 00:01:08.439 And whatever we ask, we receive from him because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 00:01:08.439 --> 00:01:18.439 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 00:01:19.259 --> 00:01:23.200 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God and God in him. 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:28.980 And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. 00:01:29.799 --> 00:01:35.780 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. 00:01:36.200 --> 00:01:39.079 For many false prophets have gone out into the world. 00:01:39.079 --> 00:01:47.060 By this you know the Spirit of God, every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. 00:01:47.620 --> 00:01:51.019 And every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. 00:01:52.159 --> 00:01:57.680 This is the Spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 00:01:58.680 --> 00:02:02.159 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them. 00:02:02.459 --> 00:02:06.039 For he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 00:02:06.040 --> 00:02:11.740 They are from the world, therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 00:02:12.500 --> 00:02:13.520 We are from God. 00:02:14.120 --> 00:02:16.159 Whoever knows God listens to us. 00:02:16.740 --> 00:02:19.439 Whoever is not from God does not listen to us. 00:02:19.960 --> 00:02:23.080 By this we know the Spirit of truth and the Spirit of error. 00:02:23.560 --> 00:02:24.920 This is the word of the Lord. 00:02:25.659 --> 00:02:26.759 Thanks be to be God. 00:02:31.860 --> 00:02:33.719 Thank you, Stevie, for that scripture reading. 00:02:33.780 --> 00:02:34.460 Good morning, everyone. 00:02:34.460 --> 00:02:35.500 My name is Andrew. 00:02:35.500 --> 00:02:36.919 I'm one of the pastors here. 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:40.419 It's good to be with you and to deliver God's word to you this morning. 00:02:40.520 --> 00:02:42.080 Will you join me in prayer? 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:50.099 Lord, your word says to us here, whoever knows God listens. 00:02:51.419 --> 00:02:53.240 Whoever is not from God does not listen. 00:02:54.420 --> 00:02:59.539 But your Spirit has been given to us, the Spirit of truth, that we might discern the Spirit of error. 00:02:59.539 --> 00:03:02.479 So would we listen closely to the Spirit this morning? 00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:11.139 And would the Spirit speak so loudly to us, more loudly than any other spirit in this world, more loudly than any other voice? 00:03:12.199 --> 00:03:14.599 And would we believe what the Spirit has to say to us? 00:03:14.599 --> 00:03:16.919 Because this is the Spirit of Christ. 00:03:16.919 --> 00:03:20.559 So would you be honored in the preaching of your word this morning, God? 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:25.139 And would you change us by your Spirit for your glory? 00:03:25.560 --> 00:03:27.159 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:03:27.159 --> 00:03:27.240 Amen. 00:03:28.240 --> 00:03:28.719 All right. 00:03:28.819 --> 00:03:38.800 So if you are new, this is the 11th week of our lead pastor's long overdue and well-deserved sabbatical. 00:03:39.180 --> 00:03:44.800 And so that means that this is my 11th Sunday solo pastoring as the assistant pastor. 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:48.700 And thanks to so many of you, especially our wonderful staff here. 00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:49.900 Oh, okay. 00:03:50.080 --> 00:03:51.400 I wasn't expecting that. 00:03:52.020 --> 00:03:54.500 I don't think that was exactly deserved, but I'll take it. 00:03:55.100 --> 00:03:58.439 But thanks especially to our amazing staff. 00:03:58.520 --> 00:04:02.160 I'm happy to report that it hasn't been a disastrous 11 weeks. 00:04:02.360 --> 00:04:06.160 It hasn't even been an unmanageable 11 weeks as I expected. 00:04:06.700 --> 00:04:12.020 As far as I know, no one has deconverted, you know, from Christianity to Satanism. 00:04:12.020 --> 00:04:13.860 So not bad, right? 00:04:13.920 --> 00:04:14.840 Praise God for that. 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:22.680 But, you know, in the spirit of full disclosure, I still have to admit that even with plenty of support 00:04:22.680 --> 00:04:28.340 and no major shipwrecks in this season, this sabbatical season, to no one's fault really, 00:04:29.100 --> 00:04:37.300 this season has still managed to trigger within me my own personal and lifelong struggle with imposter syndrome. 00:04:37.300 --> 00:04:43.699 You know, every Sunday I get up here, even before the sabbatical, but especially recently, 00:04:43.900 --> 00:04:49.180 and every Sunday I get up here at night, I wonder if this is going to be the Sunday when I'm found out. 00:04:50.020 --> 00:04:54.740 When I'm found out that I'm not supposed to be up here, that I have no business preaching 00:04:54.740 --> 00:04:58.720 and being a pastor here and being a counselor and being a leader, 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:05.820 and it was all a huge mistake to ordain me a year ago and let me lead in this season because I'm not enough. 00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:10.260 Because I'm not good enough morally, spiritually. 00:05:10.460 --> 00:05:13.120 I'm not wise enough as a leader. 00:05:13.280 --> 00:05:15.380 I'm not skilled enough as a preacher. 00:05:15.540 --> 00:05:22.540 Because maybe I'm not responsible or disciplined or diligent enough to get better or to get better faster enough. 00:05:22.540 --> 00:05:28.080 And so every, you know, B- sermon or worse, and I feel like there have been a lot of those, 00:05:28.580 --> 00:05:31.800 every pastoral interaction that could have gone better, 00:05:32.520 --> 00:05:37.379 after every visitor that doesn't return, every regrettable leadership decision, 00:05:38.040 --> 00:05:43.340 every failure in my own life, in my own home, and in my neighborhood to practice what I preach, 00:05:43.340 --> 00:05:48.759 to love my wife and my children, and to serve my community in the name of Jesus. 00:05:48.759 --> 00:05:57.620 Every failure and less than perfect outcome often becomes for me an occasion in which my heart condemns me. 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:01.620 An occasion for that inner critic within me to say things like, 00:06:01.740 --> 00:06:04.920 Andrew, you are not enough, and you're not doing enough, 00:06:05.459 --> 00:06:09.659 and what you're doing, you're doing wrong, and everything that's gone wrong is all your fault. 00:06:09.659 --> 00:06:14.459 And Andrew, if anyone knew who you truly were, they would know that you are a fraud, 00:06:14.939 --> 00:06:17.120 and they too would condemn you. 00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:22.980 And my heart condemns me, not just as a bad pastor, but also often as a bad husband, 00:06:23.280 --> 00:06:28.819 and a bad dad, and a bad brother, and son, and friend, and colleague, and neighbor, and citizen. 00:06:29.740 --> 00:06:34.220 Just this past week, we spent some time with my wife's side of the family, 00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:36.459 and she has a brother, he's one of my best friends, 00:06:36.459 --> 00:06:39.860 and they have a four-year-old girl, she's nine months older than my oldest, Cammie. 00:06:40.379 --> 00:06:43.879 And we were hanging out with them, and this four-year-old girl, 00:06:43.879 --> 00:06:46.819 she could read in Chinese and English. 00:06:48.579 --> 00:06:50.939 She read the word butterflies to me. 00:06:51.800 --> 00:06:53.360 She can ride a bike. 00:06:53.740 --> 00:06:56.659 She was subtracting seven minus two equals five, man. 00:06:58.120 --> 00:07:01.159 And so I went to bed that night, 00:07:02.040 --> 00:07:04.259 and my heart condemned me. 00:07:04.259 --> 00:07:07.659 I'm not just a bad pastor, I'm a bad parent. 00:07:07.899 --> 00:07:08.860 I'm an awful parent. 00:07:10.120 --> 00:07:12.219 And I wonder if you struggle with this too. 00:07:12.740 --> 00:07:14.959 Maybe your own version of imposter syndrome, 00:07:15.219 --> 00:07:18.860 or just plain old-fashioned guilt, shame, and regret. 00:07:19.620 --> 00:07:23.199 Maybe your heart condemns you concerning all the things that you've done 00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:25.360 that you ought not to have done. 00:07:26.060 --> 00:07:30.580 Those words or those actions that you so wish that you could just take back. 00:07:30.699 --> 00:07:34.240 Those wounding words that did not honor someone's vulnerability with you, 00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:35.500 but exploited it. 00:07:36.280 --> 00:07:39.160 That particular moment of weakness when you just gave in 00:07:39.160 --> 00:07:42.139 to what you knew was a wicked desire that would be destructive 00:07:42.139 --> 00:07:46.139 and have destructive consequences for you and for all those around you. 00:07:46.660 --> 00:07:50.939 Maybe your heart condemns you over your shameful habits of self-medicating 00:07:50.939 --> 00:07:54.899 with drugs, alcohol, porn, sex, 00:07:55.379 --> 00:07:59.000 or maybe some other more culturally acceptable mode of consumerism. 00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:03.259 Maybe for you it's just binge eating, or binge Netflix, or binge shopping. 00:08:04.379 --> 00:08:07.860 Or maybe your heart condemns you for the things that you haven't done, 00:08:07.939 --> 00:08:08.959 that you ought to have done, 00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:12.540 for not loving your neighbor as yourself. 00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:15.959 Maybe your heart condemns you for not actually caring that much 00:08:15.959 --> 00:08:17.360 about what's going on in Ukraine, 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:20.480 or at our border with our Latin American refugees. 00:08:20.480 --> 00:08:23.300 Maybe you don't care that much about our unhoused neighbors 00:08:23.300 --> 00:08:24.879 under your freeways. 00:08:25.879 --> 00:08:29.319 Maybe we don't care that much about these women 00:08:29.319 --> 00:08:31.100 who have unwanted pregnancies, 00:08:31.100 --> 00:08:32.940 or about these unborn children. 00:08:34.980 --> 00:08:37.320 Or maybe your heart condemns you just for not loving God 00:08:37.320 --> 00:08:40.800 with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, 00:08:41.300 --> 00:08:45.340 for not committing to Him the time and the attention that He deserves. 00:08:46.279 --> 00:08:47.740 As we open up God's Word, 00:08:47.899 --> 00:08:50.180 and as we listen for His voice this morning, 00:08:50.179 --> 00:08:52.939 I want to ask us all to consider this question, 00:08:53.500 --> 00:08:56.000 what does your heart condemn you about? 00:08:56.639 --> 00:08:58.679 What does your heart condemn you about? 00:08:58.739 --> 00:08:59.979 And as we ask this question, 00:09:00.059 --> 00:09:02.899 I hope we'll see how God would have us 00:09:02.899 --> 00:09:05.679 to respond to the self-condemning hearts 00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:08.099 that reside within each and every one of us. 00:09:08.979 --> 00:09:09.759 Now I want to ask, 00:09:10.039 --> 00:09:13.019 why do we even have self-condemning hearts in the first place? 00:09:13.019 --> 00:09:16.219 Where did this burdensome affliction even come from? 00:09:16.940 --> 00:09:21.000 Maybe you're here today and you're skeptical about God and Christianity 00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:22.139 for this very reason. 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:24.540 You read, look with me at chapter 3, verse 19. 00:09:24.620 --> 00:09:26.480 You read this first verse, verse 19. 00:09:27.040 --> 00:09:29.320 By this we shall know that we are of the truth 00:09:29.320 --> 00:09:31.639 and reassure our heart before Him. 00:09:31.899 --> 00:09:33.220 And you're like, well that's why 00:09:33.220 --> 00:09:35.040 so many of us struggle with self-condemnation. 00:09:35.620 --> 00:09:38.820 It's because of this oppressive notion of God and truth 00:09:38.820 --> 00:09:41.720 that have been externally imposed upon our society 00:09:41.720 --> 00:09:44.500 by, you know, legalistic religious types of people. 00:09:44.980 --> 00:09:46.940 These primitive religious boundaries 00:09:46.940 --> 00:09:48.700 making insiders and outsiders 00:09:48.700 --> 00:09:50.160 these arbitrary standards 00:09:50.160 --> 00:09:53.320 employed as power plays to control people's lives. 00:09:54.420 --> 00:09:55.879 And thus, maybe you are persuaded 00:09:55.879 --> 00:09:58.379 that the remedy for self-condemnation 00:09:58.379 --> 00:10:01.240 is actually freedom from God. 00:10:01.680 --> 00:10:04.700 And really from every external source of alleged authority 00:10:04.700 --> 00:10:06.779 outside of your internal self. 00:10:07.500 --> 00:10:09.960 This is the conclusion that New York Times best-selling author 00:10:09.960 --> 00:10:12.620 Glendon Doyle promoted in her book, Untamed. 00:10:13.060 --> 00:10:15.820 In her memoir, she retells the various ways 00:10:15.820 --> 00:10:19.080 that men and institutions and cultural norms 00:10:19.080 --> 00:10:21.360 and even Sunday school teachers in her life 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:25.860 tried to tame her and to fit her into simplistic boxes. 00:10:26.700 --> 00:10:29.300 But she says, I will not stay, not ever again, 00:10:29.400 --> 00:10:32.940 in a room or conversation or relationship or institution 00:10:32.940 --> 00:10:35.700 that requires me to abandon myself. 00:10:36.540 --> 00:10:38.100 This life is mine alone, 00:10:38.100 --> 00:10:40.580 so I have stopped asking people for directions 00:10:40.580 --> 00:10:42.480 to places they've never been. 00:10:43.960 --> 00:10:45.360 And that sounds pretty compelling, right? 00:10:46.519 --> 00:10:47.540 It sounds pretty compelling. 00:10:48.100 --> 00:10:51.300 Why allow myself to be tamed like a zoo animal 00:10:51.300 --> 00:10:54.200 by other people and other institutions' 00:10:54.500 --> 00:10:56.040 culturally constructed standards 00:10:56.040 --> 00:10:58.620 when I was meant to be a free-roaming cheetah? 00:10:58.620 --> 00:10:58.700 Cheetah. 00:10:59.899 --> 00:11:01.120 Oh, that's the language she used. 00:11:01.179 --> 00:11:02.399 She likes to call herself a cheetah. 00:11:03.259 --> 00:11:05.139 And this is why so much of our, you know, 00:11:05.179 --> 00:11:08.820 a modern secular psychology emphasizes the self-talk, right, 00:11:08.940 --> 00:11:11.879 of positive psychology, cognitive behavioral therapy. 00:11:12.060 --> 00:11:14.299 If we just practice positive self-talk, 00:11:14.419 --> 00:11:17.480 rewire our brains and the stories that we tell ourselves, 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:19.259 if we just practice self-kindness 00:11:19.259 --> 00:11:22.419 and speak positivity against the self-condemnation 00:11:22.419 --> 00:11:25.419 that we've wrongly internalized from outside of us, 00:11:25.419 --> 00:11:28.120 then we will discover and express our truest, 00:11:28.379 --> 00:11:29.439 most authentic selves 00:11:29.439 --> 00:11:32.599 and become invulnerable to all condemnation. 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:35.059 But may I ask, 00:11:35.799 --> 00:11:36.799 is it really that simple? 00:11:37.860 --> 00:11:38.719 Is it really that simple? 00:11:38.839 --> 00:11:41.039 Can all our self-condemnation 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:42.539 really be extinguished 00:11:42.539 --> 00:11:46.199 by even the largest dose of self-compassion? 00:11:47.139 --> 00:11:49.279 And is all our self-condemnation 00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:52.120 really just because we've all just foolishly, 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:53.459 you know, mindlessly accepted 00:11:53.460 --> 00:11:55.840 arbitrary external standards imposed upon us 00:11:55.840 --> 00:11:57.960 like passive, gullible, naive children? 00:11:59.220 --> 00:12:01.840 Or might there be a grander, 00:12:02.220 --> 00:12:03.940 more nuanced explanation 00:12:03.940 --> 00:12:06.420 for the problem of self-condemnation 00:12:06.420 --> 00:12:07.800 in all of our hearts? 00:12:08.920 --> 00:12:10.019 So I want to suggest 00:12:10.019 --> 00:12:12.120 that the grand narrative of Scripture 00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:13.400 has a far more nuanced, 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:15.360 far more compelling story 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:17.840 of where self-condemnation comes from 00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:19.360 and how to deal with it. 00:12:20.280 --> 00:12:22.379 See, humanity was created in God's image 00:12:22.379 --> 00:12:23.399 to flourish, 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:25.519 to confidently, before God, 00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:27.000 be sons and daughters 00:12:27.000 --> 00:12:28.200 in all the world, 00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:30.519 making true and right evaluations 00:12:30.519 --> 00:12:31.200 and judgments, 00:12:31.379 --> 00:12:32.139 using our mind 00:12:32.139 --> 00:12:34.620 to evaluate all that we've experienced, 00:12:34.740 --> 00:12:35.899 thinking God's thoughts 00:12:35.899 --> 00:12:36.939 about the world 00:12:36.939 --> 00:12:38.379 and about ourselves. 00:12:39.460 --> 00:12:40.299 But what happened, 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:42.120 what led to our self-condemning hearts, 00:12:42.220 --> 00:12:43.620 is what the Bible calls sin. 00:12:44.259 --> 00:12:44.919 That is people, 00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:46.000 you and me, 00:12:46.059 --> 00:12:47.279 and all the rest of humanity, 00:12:47.860 --> 00:12:48.940 going our own way 00:12:48.940 --> 00:12:50.080 apart from God, 00:12:50.580 --> 00:12:51.440 walking in darkness 00:12:51.440 --> 00:12:52.120 instead of light, 00:12:52.200 --> 00:12:52.860 walking in death 00:12:52.860 --> 00:12:53.500 instead of life, 00:12:53.580 --> 00:12:54.420 walking in falsehood 00:12:54.420 --> 00:12:55.580 instead of truth, 00:12:55.620 --> 00:12:56.240 and this broke 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:57.920 our evaluative capacities 00:12:57.920 --> 00:12:58.860 and our verdicts 00:12:58.860 --> 00:12:59.600 became faulty 00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:00.580 and we stopped thinking 00:13:00.580 --> 00:13:01.460 like God 00:13:01.460 --> 00:13:02.220 about Him 00:13:02.220 --> 00:13:03.040 and about the world 00:13:03.040 --> 00:13:04.140 and about ourselves. 00:13:05.280 --> 00:13:05.980 Do you remember 00:13:05.980 --> 00:13:06.660 what happened 00:13:06.660 --> 00:13:07.460 when Adam and Eve 00:13:07.460 --> 00:13:08.580 went their own way, 00:13:09.060 --> 00:13:09.480 when they went 00:13:09.480 --> 00:13:10.340 the serpent's way 00:13:10.340 --> 00:13:11.520 rather than God's? 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:12.720 What happened? 00:13:13.540 --> 00:13:14.820 They lost a sense 00:13:14.820 --> 00:13:15.600 of who they were. 00:13:16.420 --> 00:13:17.040 They lost a sense 00:13:17.040 --> 00:13:17.380 of who they were. 00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:18.380 They became entangled 00:13:18.380 --> 00:13:19.620 in the lie of the serpent. 00:13:19.700 --> 00:13:20.260 The serpent's lie 00:13:20.259 --> 00:13:21.200 about who God was 00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:21.899 and who they were 00:13:21.899 --> 00:13:23.179 and who they could be. 00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:23.919 They were no longer 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:24.919 of the truth 00:13:24.919 --> 00:13:25.679 but complicit 00:13:25.679 --> 00:13:27.179 with the serpent's lies 00:13:27.179 --> 00:13:28.139 and so the assurance 00:13:28.139 --> 00:13:28.879 of heart 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:29.679 that they once enjoyed 00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:30.279 in the garden 00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:31.759 when they went for walks 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:32.819 with God Himself 00:13:32.819 --> 00:13:34.319 was gone 00:13:34.319 --> 00:13:35.779 because of sin. 00:13:36.580 --> 00:13:37.620 Because of their sin, 00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:38.460 the presence of God 00:13:38.460 --> 00:13:39.000 all of a sudden 00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:40.159 became a threat, right? 00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:42.259 An unsettling reality 00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:43.059 in which they were 00:13:43.059 --> 00:13:44.379 no longer sure 00:13:44.379 --> 00:13:45.620 who they were 00:13:45.620 --> 00:13:47.139 for they no longer 00:13:47.139 --> 00:13:47.879 had the confidence 00:13:47.879 --> 00:13:48.399 that children 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:49.240 ought to have 00:13:49.240 --> 00:13:50.159 in the presence 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:51.340 of their father. 00:13:52.580 --> 00:13:53.419 And it wasn't that 00:13:53.419 --> 00:13:54.320 anything had changed 00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:55.240 in God, right? 00:13:55.580 --> 00:13:56.460 Nothing had changed 00:13:56.460 --> 00:13:56.779 in God. 00:13:57.000 --> 00:13:57.980 Even His love for them 00:13:57.980 --> 00:13:58.759 did not wane 00:13:58.759 --> 00:14:00.419 for one single second. 00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:02.460 But because God 00:14:02.460 --> 00:14:02.899 is light 00:14:02.899 --> 00:14:03.740 and because in Him 00:14:03.740 --> 00:14:04.919 there is no darkness 00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:05.500 at all 00:14:05.500 --> 00:14:06.539 and because they brought 00:14:06.539 --> 00:14:07.539 darkness into the world, 00:14:07.799 --> 00:14:08.720 this was the beginning 00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:10.340 of all of our 00:14:10.340 --> 00:14:11.580 self-condemning hearts. 00:14:11.700 --> 00:14:12.620 Our hearts condemn us 00:14:12.620 --> 00:14:13.360 because of sin. 00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:15.700 See, because of sin, 00:14:15.960 --> 00:14:16.860 three things happened. 00:14:17.019 --> 00:14:17.740 First, our hearts 00:14:17.740 --> 00:14:18.379 now condemn us 00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:19.120 because there is 00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:20.320 within each of us now 00:14:20.320 --> 00:14:21.379 something truly worthy 00:14:21.379 --> 00:14:22.580 of condemnation. 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:25.039 Our ultimate accuser 00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:26.279 actually has a real case 00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:27.100 against us now 00:14:27.100 --> 00:14:28.440 because of our sin. 00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:29.600 Think about it. 00:14:29.740 --> 00:14:31.200 Would our self-condemning hearts 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:32.419 be so convincing, 00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:33.300 so heavy, 00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:34.480 so burdensome 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:35.139 if they were not 00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:36.740 at least partially true? 00:14:37.680 --> 00:14:37.820 Right? 00:14:38.300 --> 00:14:39.000 And then secondly, 00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:40.259 our hearts now condemn us 00:14:40.259 --> 00:14:41.519 because we no longer see 00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:42.580 like we used to 00:14:42.580 --> 00:14:44.060 when we took our eyes 00:14:44.060 --> 00:14:44.879 off of the light 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:45.320 of the world. 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:47.100 We lost our 2020 vision 00:14:47.100 --> 00:14:49.020 and we no longer see 00:14:49.020 --> 00:14:49.980 God, 00:14:50.520 --> 00:14:51.040 the world, 00:14:51.160 --> 00:14:51.900 or ourselves 00:14:51.900 --> 00:14:53.000 rightly. 00:14:54.340 --> 00:14:55.000 And thirdly, 00:14:55.080 --> 00:14:56.060 to add to the confusion, 00:14:56.620 --> 00:14:57.240 the introduction 00:14:57.240 --> 00:14:58.000 of darkness 00:14:58.000 --> 00:14:59.360 into the world 00:14:59.360 --> 00:14:59.920 has resulted 00:14:59.920 --> 00:15:01.680 in many evil spirits 00:15:01.680 --> 00:15:03.000 and false prophets, 00:15:03.080 --> 00:15:04.000 all these false voices 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:05.400 adding to the distortion. 00:15:06.040 --> 00:15:06.800 That's why it says here, 00:15:06.860 --> 00:15:07.580 that's why it talks here 00:15:07.580 --> 00:15:08.500 in chapter four, 00:15:08.560 --> 00:15:09.100 verse one about, 00:15:09.320 --> 00:15:09.560 beloved, 00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:10.940 do not believe every spirit, 00:15:10.940 --> 00:15:12.460 but test the spirits 00:15:12.460 --> 00:15:13.420 to see whether 00:15:13.420 --> 00:15:14.400 they are from God. 00:15:14.900 --> 00:15:16.020 For many false prophets 00:15:16.020 --> 00:15:16.840 have gone out 00:15:16.840 --> 00:15:17.400 into the world. 00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:17.840 Verse three, 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:18.660 every spirit 00:15:18.660 --> 00:15:19.640 that does not confess 00:15:19.640 --> 00:15:21.020 Jesus is not from God. 00:15:21.560 --> 00:15:22.360 This is the spirit 00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:23.620 of the Antichrist, 00:15:23.900 --> 00:15:24.460 which you heard 00:15:24.460 --> 00:15:24.940 was coming 00:15:24.940 --> 00:15:26.480 and now is in the world 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:27.080 already. 00:15:27.920 --> 00:15:28.120 See, 00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:28.720 this is where 00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:30.280 our self-condemning hearts 00:15:30.280 --> 00:15:30.980 come from. 00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:32.780 Our hearts condemn us 00:15:32.780 --> 00:15:34.080 because of sin. 00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:35.900 Sin in us 00:15:35.900 --> 00:15:36.680 worth condemning 00:15:36.680 --> 00:15:38.140 and sin clouding 00:15:38.139 --> 00:15:39.279 our view of God 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:39.779 and ourselves 00:15:39.779 --> 00:15:40.960 and sinful voices 00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:41.960 outside of us 00:15:41.960 --> 00:15:43.259 trying to persuade us 00:15:43.259 --> 00:15:44.279 of falsehood. 00:15:45.319 --> 00:15:46.299 Now let's talk about 00:15:46.299 --> 00:15:46.819 how to deal 00:15:46.819 --> 00:15:47.539 with this affliction, 00:15:47.819 --> 00:15:48.299 this affliction 00:15:48.299 --> 00:15:49.360 of self-condemnation. 00:15:49.460 --> 00:15:49.919 How does God 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:50.679 want us to process 00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:51.620 and engage 00:15:51.620 --> 00:15:52.240 with these hearts 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:52.720 of ours 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:53.919 that condemn us? 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:55.279 Well look with me again 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:56.159 at verse 19. 00:15:57.639 --> 00:15:58.759 By this we shall know 00:15:58.759 --> 00:15:59.960 that we are of the truth 00:15:59.960 --> 00:16:01.559 and reassure our heart 00:16:01.559 --> 00:16:02.419 before him. 00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:03.059 So first John 00:16:03.059 --> 00:16:03.580 is saying that 00:16:03.580 --> 00:16:04.679 the way to have assurance 00:16:04.679 --> 00:16:06.279 and to be in God's truth 00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:06.620 is this, 00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:07.080 verse 20, 00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:08.480 for whenever our hearts 00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:09.379 condemn us, 00:16:09.980 --> 00:16:11.020 God is greater 00:16:11.020 --> 00:16:11.800 than our heart 00:16:11.800 --> 00:16:13.759 and he knows everything. 00:16:14.780 --> 00:16:15.680 I want you to notice 00:16:15.680 --> 00:16:16.560 what first John 00:16:16.560 --> 00:16:17.259 doesn't say. 00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:18.520 Whereas modern 00:16:18.520 --> 00:16:19.520 secular psychology 00:16:19.520 --> 00:16:20.120 might tell us 00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:20.920 to engage 00:16:20.920 --> 00:16:21.820 in more positive 00:16:21.820 --> 00:16:22.879 and affirming 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:23.600 self-talk 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:25.139 and self-compassion. 00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:26.280 I'm not saying 00:16:26.280 --> 00:16:27.160 that that's all bad 00:16:27.160 --> 00:16:27.879 and that's all wrong 00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:28.580 but I do want us 00:16:28.580 --> 00:16:29.120 to notice that 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:29.660 first John 00:16:29.660 --> 00:16:30.500 doesn't point us 00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:31.180 there first. 00:16:31.740 --> 00:16:32.320 It doesn't point us 00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:33.720 to our own voice first. 00:16:34.040 --> 00:16:34.540 First John 00:16:34.540 --> 00:16:35.540 points us to who? 00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:36.220 To God. 00:16:37.080 --> 00:16:38.420 I mean think about it. 00:16:38.420 --> 00:16:38.860 If your heart 00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:39.560 condemns you 00:16:39.560 --> 00:16:40.840 and your therapist 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:41.500 just tells you 00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:42.800 to more mindfully 00:16:42.800 --> 00:16:44.000 speak to yourself 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:45.240 alternative truths 00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:46.100 about who you think 00:16:46.100 --> 00:16:46.460 you are 00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:47.040 in opposition 00:16:47.040 --> 00:16:47.840 to what your heart 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:49.160 is saying about you, 00:16:49.900 --> 00:16:50.580 it's still going to be 00:16:50.580 --> 00:16:50.980 a battle. 00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:52.080 It's still going to be 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:53.180 you against you, 00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:54.560 your head against your heart 00:16:54.560 --> 00:16:56.139 and in the worst case scenario, 00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:57.300 this only perpetuates 00:16:57.300 --> 00:16:57.920 the pitfalls 00:16:57.920 --> 00:17:00.240 of self-expressive individualism 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:02.000 where you have to be 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:02.580 your own hero 00:17:02.580 --> 00:17:04.200 because you belong 00:17:04.200 --> 00:17:05.120 only to yourself 00:17:05.120 --> 00:17:06.420 and you must bear 00:17:06.420 --> 00:17:07.240 the crushing weight 00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:07.860 of determining 00:17:07.860 --> 00:17:09.080 your own identity 00:17:09.080 --> 00:17:10.240 and your own destiny 00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:11.480 and it's still on you 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:12.420 to talk back 00:17:12.420 --> 00:17:13.740 to your already powerful 00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:14.779 self-condemning heart 00:17:14.779 --> 00:17:15.740 with words that you 00:17:15.740 --> 00:17:16.580 have to come up with 00:17:16.580 --> 00:17:17.180 yourself 00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:19.400 and I don't know about you 00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:20.279 but to me 00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:20.900 this is not 00:17:20.900 --> 00:17:22.420 a desirable scenario. 00:17:23.700 --> 00:17:24.580 In this book 00:17:24.580 --> 00:17:25.220 that I'm still 00:17:25.220 --> 00:17:26.080 highly recommending 00:17:26.080 --> 00:17:27.100 our elder Bill Barnes 00:17:27.100 --> 00:17:27.380 read it, 00:17:27.400 --> 00:17:27.759 he loved it, 00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:28.420 he even contacted 00:17:28.420 --> 00:17:28.880 the author, 00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:30.059 I feel sorry for the author 00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:30.639 because Bill Barnes 00:17:30.639 --> 00:17:31.480 could talk a lot 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:34.919 but this is a great book 00:17:34.919 --> 00:17:35.579 and I hope everyone 00:17:35.579 --> 00:17:36.440 will get their hands on it, 00:17:36.619 --> 00:17:36.899 it's called 00:17:36.899 --> 00:17:38.000 You Are Not Your Own. 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:39.319 I'm going to advocate, 00:17:39.579 --> 00:17:40.480 promote it all the time, 00:17:40.539 --> 00:17:41.379 it's by Alan Noble 00:17:41.379 --> 00:17:42.940 and this is what he says, 00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:45.139 to be your own 00:17:45.139 --> 00:17:47.119 and belong to yourself 00:17:47.119 --> 00:17:48.079 means that the most 00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:48.960 fundamental truth 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:49.819 about existence 00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:51.200 is that you 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:52.119 are responsible 00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:53.119 for your existence 00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:54.779 and everything it entails. 00:17:55.339 --> 00:17:55.859 No one else 00:17:55.859 --> 00:17:56.220 has the right 00:17:56.220 --> 00:17:56.899 to define me, 00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:57.759 to choose my journey 00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:58.179 in life 00:17:58.179 --> 00:17:58.899 or to assure me 00:17:58.899 --> 00:17:59.700 that I am okay, 00:17:59.700 --> 00:18:01.000 I belong to myself 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:02.500 but the freedom 00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:04.160 of sovereign individualism 00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:05.759 comes at a great price. 00:18:06.580 --> 00:18:07.960 Once I am liberated 00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:09.180 from all social, 00:18:09.539 --> 00:18:09.860 moral, 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:10.500 natural 00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:11.559 and religious values, 00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:12.920 I become responsible 00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:13.620 for the meaning 00:18:13.620 --> 00:18:14.740 of my own life 00:18:14.740 --> 00:18:16.160 with no God 00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:16.700 to judge 00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:18.440 or justify me. 00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:19.460 I have to be 00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:20.240 my own judge 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:21.460 and redeemer. 00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:22.920 This burden 00:18:22.920 --> 00:18:23.420 manifests 00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:24.539 as a desperate need 00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:25.620 to justify our lives 00:18:25.620 --> 00:18:26.860 through identity crafting 00:18:26.860 --> 00:18:28.160 and expression 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:29.779 and Alan Noble, 00:18:29.860 --> 00:18:30.320 he goes on 00:18:30.320 --> 00:18:30.800 to talk about 00:18:30.800 --> 00:18:31.340 how this has 00:18:31.340 --> 00:18:32.060 contributed 00:18:32.060 --> 00:18:33.240 to our crazy 00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:34.360 competitive culture 00:18:34.360 --> 00:18:35.840 where our very identities 00:18:35.840 --> 00:18:36.540 and our senses 00:18:36.540 --> 00:18:37.279 of worth 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:37.860 and meaning 00:18:37.860 --> 00:18:38.680 and purpose 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:39.420 are on the line 00:18:39.420 --> 00:18:40.720 based on our performances 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:41.920 in comparison 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:43.160 with one another 00:18:43.160 --> 00:18:45.060 and so you wonder 00:18:45.060 --> 00:18:45.800 why we all have 00:18:45.800 --> 00:18:47.140 self-condemning hearts 00:18:47.140 --> 00:18:48.740 because I look at 00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:49.779 Instagram too much. 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:51.060 That's why. 00:18:52.100 --> 00:18:52.920 I follow these 00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:53.740 celebrity preachers 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:53.980 and I say, 00:18:54.080 --> 00:18:54.700 I can never preach 00:18:54.700 --> 00:18:55.440 like that guy. 00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:56.779 I can never be a dad 00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:58.039 like that guy. 00:18:59.220 --> 00:19:00.019 That's why we have 00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:00.860 self-condemning hearts. 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:01.400 We're comparing 00:19:01.400 --> 00:19:02.059 with one another. 00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:03.720 And so what I want 00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:04.480 to ask us is, 00:19:04.580 --> 00:19:05.460 is this the kind of life 00:19:05.460 --> 00:19:06.120 we want to live? 00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:07.559 Is this the kind of world 00:19:07.559 --> 00:19:09.160 that we want to live in, 00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:09.920 a world where we are 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:11.120 just our own? 00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:12.980 And if so, 00:19:13.420 --> 00:19:14.440 how will we ever escape 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:15.120 then the threat 00:19:15.120 --> 00:19:16.559 of self-condemnation? 00:19:17.700 --> 00:19:18.240 See, there is 00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:19.580 no more fertile ground 00:19:19.580 --> 00:19:20.680 for self-condemnation 00:19:20.680 --> 00:19:21.340 to grow in 00:19:21.340 --> 00:19:22.080 than in the soil 00:19:22.080 --> 00:19:22.960 of which we are 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:23.940 just our own. 00:19:23.940 --> 00:19:25.759 But see, 00:19:25.840 --> 00:19:27.299 that's why verse 20 says, 00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:28.360 for whenever our hearts 00:19:28.360 --> 00:19:29.200 condemn us, 00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:30.519 God. 00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:32.140 God. 00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:33.559 Whenever our hearts 00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:34.059 condemn us, 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:35.000 God is greater 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:35.660 than our hearts 00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:36.519 and he knows 00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:37.500 everything. 00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:39.200 Now, what does this mean 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:39.920 and how is it good news 00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:41.120 for us 00:19:41.120 --> 00:19:42.320 with our self-condemning hearts? 00:19:42.420 --> 00:19:43.000 Because at first, 00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:43.620 it kind of seems 00:19:43.620 --> 00:19:44.640 like bad news, right? 00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:45.680 Like, oh shoot, 00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:47.200 God knows everything? 00:19:47.960 --> 00:19:49.200 Everything I ever did? 00:19:49.320 --> 00:19:50.039 Everything I ever 00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:51.420 failed to do? 00:19:51.820 --> 00:19:52.620 Man, I feel even 00:19:52.619 --> 00:19:53.739 more condemned 00:19:53.739 --> 00:19:54.539 in the presence 00:19:54.539 --> 00:19:55.339 of God. 00:19:56.699 --> 00:19:57.000 But see, 00:19:57.059 --> 00:19:57.679 that's not the point 00:19:57.679 --> 00:19:58.339 that 1 John 00:19:58.339 --> 00:19:59.099 is trying to make. 00:19:59.959 --> 00:20:00.939 When verse 20 says, 00:20:01.439 --> 00:20:02.199 for whenever our hearts 00:20:02.199 --> 00:20:02.859 condemn us, 00:20:02.959 --> 00:20:03.839 God is greater 00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:04.539 than our hearts 00:20:04.539 --> 00:20:05.339 and he knows everything, 00:20:05.439 --> 00:20:06.339 the point is actually 00:20:06.339 --> 00:20:07.279 that it is not 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:08.679 about you. 00:20:09.739 --> 00:20:10.839 God is greater 00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:12.379 than your heart. 00:20:13.139 --> 00:20:14.199 What this is saying 00:20:14.199 --> 00:20:14.939 is that there is 00:20:14.939 --> 00:20:15.539 a voice 00:20:15.539 --> 00:20:16.939 that speaks 00:20:16.939 --> 00:20:18.059 with infinitely 00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:19.299 higher authority 00:20:19.299 --> 00:20:20.099 than the voice 00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:22.059 of your own heart. 00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:23.199 And even when 00:20:23.199 --> 00:20:23.539 your heart 00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:24.259 is speaking things 00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:25.199 that might very well 00:20:25.199 --> 00:20:25.859 be true 00:20:25.859 --> 00:20:26.699 about what you've done 00:20:26.699 --> 00:20:27.699 or what you've not done, 00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:28.759 God is greater 00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:29.899 than your heart 00:20:29.899 --> 00:20:31.339 and he knows everything. 00:20:31.480 --> 00:20:31.919 And when it says 00:20:31.919 --> 00:20:32.579 he knows everything, 00:20:32.699 --> 00:20:33.219 it's not just saying 00:20:33.219 --> 00:20:33.799 he knows everything 00:20:33.799 --> 00:20:34.480 about you, 00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:35.119 but it's saying, 00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:35.579 yeah, sure, 00:20:35.659 --> 00:20:36.039 he might know 00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:36.859 everything about you, 00:20:36.939 --> 00:20:37.819 but more importantly, 00:20:37.899 --> 00:20:38.480 he also knows 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:40.079 everything about himself 00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:42.259 and about his will 00:20:42.259 --> 00:20:44.079 and about his ways. 00:20:44.959 --> 00:20:45.599 And his will 00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:47.319 is not to condemn us, 00:20:47.959 --> 00:20:48.679 it's to redeem 00:20:48.680 --> 00:20:49.220 his children. 00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:51.380 And this is the gospel. 00:20:52.600 --> 00:20:53.519 This is the gospel 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:54.580 that God's voice 00:20:54.580 --> 00:20:55.880 speaks with more clarity 00:20:55.880 --> 00:20:57.840 and more authority 00:20:57.840 --> 00:21:00.920 than our self-condemning hearts. 00:21:02.080 --> 00:21:03.279 So to all of us 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:04.120 who struggle 00:21:04.120 --> 00:21:06.060 with a self-condemning heart, 00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:07.320 God's word to us today 00:21:07.320 --> 00:21:07.740 is, 00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:08.860 child, 00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:10.900 am I not greater 00:21:10.900 --> 00:21:11.779 than your heart? 00:21:13.360 --> 00:21:14.060 Beloved child, 00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:15.600 am I not greater 00:21:15.600 --> 00:21:17.259 than your heart? 00:21:17.259 --> 00:21:19.559 Like, think about it. 00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:21.599 A self-condemning heart, 00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:23.119 it is not a sign 00:21:23.119 --> 00:21:24.599 of humility before God. 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:26.119 It's just the opposite 00:21:26.119 --> 00:21:26.980 side of the coin 00:21:26.980 --> 00:21:28.460 to self-righteousness. 00:21:29.619 --> 00:21:30.779 I recently read 00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:31.680 a magazine article 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.440 by a professor 00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:33.559 of biblical counseling, 00:21:33.960 --> 00:21:34.920 and he told a story 00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:36.119 from his childhood 00:21:36.119 --> 00:21:37.359 about how he was, 00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:37.559 you know, 00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:38.220 a doughy, 00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:39.680 bookish little boy 00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:40.759 who was so embarrassed 00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:42.099 and so ashamed 00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:42.900 because he could never 00:21:42.900 --> 00:21:43.400 measure up 00:21:43.400 --> 00:21:44.160 to the lean, 00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:45.799 athletic soccer gods 00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:47.119 who graced the halls 00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:48.240 of his junior high school. 00:21:49.500 --> 00:21:50.480 And he told of 00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:51.639 how one day 00:21:51.639 --> 00:21:53.359 his self-dissatisfaction 00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:54.139 just boiled over 00:21:54.139 --> 00:21:54.619 one night 00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:55.740 and he said something 00:21:55.740 --> 00:21:56.200 out loud 00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:57.019 that he'd only said 00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:57.579 many times 00:21:57.579 --> 00:21:58.319 just in his head. 00:21:58.819 --> 00:21:59.200 He said, 00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:00.980 I hate myself. 00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:03.379 I hate myself. 00:22:03.899 --> 00:22:04.379 Anyone here 00:22:04.379 --> 00:22:05.379 mutter that to themselves? 00:22:06.419 --> 00:22:07.599 Maybe not in those words, 00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:08.799 but just in grunts 00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:09.619 or maybe curses 00:22:09.619 --> 00:22:10.240 under your breath 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:10.839 out of regret. 00:22:11.639 --> 00:22:12.059 He said, 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:14.240 I hate myself. 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:16.120 And his mother, 00:22:16.259 --> 00:22:16.779 always known 00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:17.920 for her gentleness 00:22:17.920 --> 00:22:19.180 and her care, 00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:19.980 she responded 00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:20.480 in a way 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.940 that he had not expected. 00:22:22.680 --> 00:22:23.720 He expected pity 00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:24.220 from her, 00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:26.039 but what she gave him 00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:27.019 was far better. 00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:29.359 And with an unexpectedly 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:30.620 steely glance, 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:32.160 she looked at her son 00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:33.120 who had just declared 00:22:33.120 --> 00:22:35.059 his own self-hatred 00:22:35.059 --> 00:22:36.880 and a deep offense 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:38.140 was clearly awoken 00:22:38.140 --> 00:22:39.140 within her 00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:40.319 as she sternly responded 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:41.940 to her self-loathing son, 00:22:41.940 --> 00:22:44.440 you have no right. 00:22:45.900 --> 00:22:47.680 You have no right. 00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:50.000 See, 00:22:50.059 --> 00:22:51.000 a self-condemning heart 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:51.880 that views itself 00:22:51.880 --> 00:22:52.500 as bigger 00:22:52.500 --> 00:22:53.220 and greater 00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:54.620 and more authoritative 00:22:54.620 --> 00:22:55.559 than God 00:22:55.559 --> 00:22:56.279 who made us 00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:56.920 and loves us 00:22:56.920 --> 00:22:57.860 and plans to redeem 00:22:57.860 --> 00:22:58.799 his beloved children, 00:22:59.100 --> 00:23:00.420 a self-condemning heart 00:23:00.420 --> 00:23:01.080 that is lowered 00:23:01.080 --> 00:23:02.680 over my own identity 00:23:02.680 --> 00:23:03.519 is an arrogant 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:05.480 and prideful heart 00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:07.700 that is anti-Christ. 00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:09.660 And it's also 00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:10.360 the kind of heart 00:23:10.360 --> 00:23:11.200 that not only judges 00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:12.039 ourselves according 00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:13.100 to our blurred vision 00:23:13.100 --> 00:23:13.680 of reality, 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.400 but it ends up 00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:15.580 leading us to compare 00:23:15.580 --> 00:23:16.480 ourselves and judge 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:17.740 others and hold them 00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:18.700 up to our faulty 00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:19.779 standards too. 00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:22.019 See, there is no good 00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:22.920 news for anyone. 00:23:23.059 --> 00:23:23.819 There is no hope 00:23:23.819 --> 00:23:25.220 if God is not greater 00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:26.380 than our hearts. 00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:28.120 Or think about it 00:23:28.120 --> 00:23:28.559 this way. 00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:30.240 If God is not greater 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:30.860 than your heart, 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:31.980 then of course your heart 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:33.140 will condemn you forever. 00:23:33.940 --> 00:23:35.680 If God cannot overcome 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:37.799 your heart's self-condemnation, 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:38.640 then what hope 00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:39.380 is there for you? 00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:41.360 Maybe you can't 00:23:41.360 --> 00:23:42.160 forgive yourself 00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:43.060 for whatever heinous, 00:23:43.160 --> 00:23:43.500 hurtful, 00:23:43.880 --> 00:23:45.799 unpardonable thing 00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:46.519 that you've done. 00:23:46.840 --> 00:23:47.400 Well, God says 00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:48.279 that's the point. 00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:51.259 You can't forgive yourself. 00:23:52.080 --> 00:23:53.080 But I can. 00:23:54.180 --> 00:23:55.240 Because I am greater 00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:55.940 than your heart. 00:23:56.940 --> 00:23:58.019 You have no right 00:23:58.019 --> 00:23:59.720 to condemn yourself 00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:00.820 or to forgive yourself. 00:24:01.380 --> 00:24:02.460 But I have the right 00:24:02.460 --> 00:24:03.240 to condemn you 00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:04.420 and to forgive you. 00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:06.060 And I choose forgiveness. 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:07.600 In fact, 00:24:07.660 --> 00:24:08.480 I purchased it 00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:09.500 on the cross. 00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:11.560 And this is the amazing 00:24:11.560 --> 00:24:12.580 news of the gospel. 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:14.039 That the one who is 00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:15.340 greater than our hearts, 00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:16.539 the one who is 00:24:16.539 --> 00:24:19.300 greater than any voice, 00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:20.660 the one with ultimate 00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:21.680 authority to tell us 00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:22.500 who we are 00:24:22.500 --> 00:24:23.300 and whose we are 00:24:23.300 --> 00:24:24.140 and whether or not 00:24:24.140 --> 00:24:25.440 we have worth and value, 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:26.120 the one who knows 00:24:26.120 --> 00:24:26.779 everything, 00:24:27.360 --> 00:24:28.120 the one who knows 00:24:28.120 --> 00:24:28.800 us to the bottom, 00:24:29.340 --> 00:24:30.140 he loves us 00:24:30.140 --> 00:24:30.980 to the heavens. 00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:32.980 He who is greater 00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:33.620 than our hearts 00:24:33.619 --> 00:24:34.759 and knows everything 00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:35.719 still does not 00:24:35.719 --> 00:24:36.839 condemn us. 00:24:37.179 --> 00:24:38.219 And this is the gospel. 00:24:39.219 --> 00:24:40.500 The gospel says to us, 00:24:40.599 --> 00:24:41.259 if God is willing 00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:42.459 to forgive your sins 00:24:42.459 --> 00:24:44.059 and to justify you 00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:45.000 by the atoning blood 00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:45.619 of his son, 00:24:46.459 --> 00:24:48.399 you have no right 00:24:48.399 --> 00:24:50.619 to self-condemnation. 00:24:51.679 --> 00:24:53.019 You are a child of God. 00:24:54.399 --> 00:24:55.579 You are a child of God. 00:24:55.579 --> 00:24:57.559 And this is what 00:24:57.559 --> 00:24:58.819 verses 21 to 22 00:24:58.819 --> 00:24:59.539 are getting at. 00:25:00.419 --> 00:25:00.779 Beloved, 00:25:01.639 --> 00:25:02.179 if our heart 00:25:02.179 --> 00:25:03.299 does not condemn us, 00:25:03.619 --> 00:25:04.539 we have confidence 00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:05.480 before God 00:25:05.480 --> 00:25:07.059 and whatever we ask, 00:25:07.139 --> 00:25:08.019 we receive from him 00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:08.799 because we keep 00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:09.639 his commandments 00:25:09.639 --> 00:25:11.319 and do what pleases him. 00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:11.879 This is the kind 00:25:11.879 --> 00:25:12.439 of confident 00:25:12.439 --> 00:25:14.119 father-to-child relationship 00:25:14.119 --> 00:25:14.960 he desires 00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:16.079 to have with us. 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:18.000 Who is the only one 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:18.480 in the world 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:18.960 who could ask 00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:19.679 the prime minister 00:25:19.679 --> 00:25:20.819 to tie their shoelaces? 00:25:22.039 --> 00:25:22.859 Their child. 00:25:22.859 --> 00:25:25.039 See, the only way 00:25:25.039 --> 00:25:25.519 our hearts 00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:26.599 won't condemn us 00:25:26.599 --> 00:25:27.839 is if we understand 00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:28.759 that he is greater 00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:29.339 than our hearts 00:25:29.339 --> 00:25:30.279 and he knows everything 00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:31.079 and that he knows us 00:25:31.079 --> 00:25:31.919 not as enemies 00:25:31.919 --> 00:25:32.500 to condemn 00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:33.399 but as children 00:25:33.399 --> 00:25:34.279 to commend. 00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:36.419 The only cure 00:25:36.419 --> 00:25:38.019 for a self-condemning heart 00:25:38.019 --> 00:25:38.679 is to come 00:25:38.679 --> 00:25:39.599 before God 00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:40.519 with the confidence 00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:41.519 and the faith 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:42.339 that we are known 00:25:42.339 --> 00:25:42.939 by him 00:25:42.939 --> 00:25:44.319 as his children 00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:45.740 and we can ask him 00:25:45.740 --> 00:25:46.500 anything 00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:47.799 just happily 00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:49.240 and trustingly 00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:50.419 following the pleasing 00:25:50.419 --> 00:25:51.679 way of our father 00:25:51.679 --> 00:25:52.719 in heaven. 00:25:53.859 --> 00:25:55.119 And this will not happen 00:25:55.119 --> 00:25:56.059 apart from the presence 00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:57.079 of God's spirit 00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:57.719 in our lives 00:25:57.719 --> 00:25:58.099 and that's why 00:25:58.099 --> 00:25:58.919 verse 23 says 00:25:58.919 --> 00:26:00.000 and this is his commandment 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:00.759 that we believe 00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:01.899 in the name of his son 00:26:01.899 --> 00:26:02.579 Jesus Christ 00:26:02.579 --> 00:26:03.479 and love one another 00:26:03.479 --> 00:26:05.279 just as he has commanded us 00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:06.839 whoever keeps his commandments 00:26:06.839 --> 00:26:08.039 abides in God 00:26:08.039 --> 00:26:09.379 and God in him 00:26:09.379 --> 00:26:10.799 and by this we know 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:12.019 that he abides in us 00:26:12.019 --> 00:26:13.039 by the spirit 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:14.919 whom he has given us. 00:26:15.659 --> 00:26:16.699 And I wish I had more time 00:26:16.699 --> 00:26:17.139 to unpack 00:26:17.139 --> 00:26:18.159 and to talk about 00:26:18.159 --> 00:26:18.799 the spirits 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:20.240 in chapter 4 00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:21.139 verses 1 through 4 00:26:21.139 --> 00:26:21.919 but let me just wrap up 00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:22.700 by saying that there are 00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:23.560 far more spirits 00:26:23.560 --> 00:26:25.080 at work in this world 00:26:25.080 --> 00:26:25.880 than we realize 00:26:25.880 --> 00:26:28.080 influencing this world 00:26:28.080 --> 00:26:29.000 in ways that we take 00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:29.440 for granted 00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:30.140 and are likely 00:26:30.140 --> 00:26:31.300 oblivious to 00:26:31.300 --> 00:26:32.920 influencing what we think 00:26:32.920 --> 00:26:33.700 about God 00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:34.600 and the world 00:26:34.600 --> 00:26:35.240 and ourselves 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:36.920 but what's important 00:26:36.920 --> 00:26:37.380 to know 00:26:37.380 --> 00:26:38.620 is that the spirit 00:26:38.620 --> 00:26:39.019 of God 00:26:39.019 --> 00:26:40.539 is unlike any other spirit 00:26:40.539 --> 00:26:41.740 for every other spirit 00:26:41.740 --> 00:26:42.420 will only lead 00:26:42.420 --> 00:26:43.560 to self-condemnation 00:26:43.560 --> 00:26:44.360 but because the spirit 00:26:44.360 --> 00:26:44.840 of God 00:26:44.840 --> 00:26:45.680 is the spirit 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:46.580 of Jesus Christ 00:26:46.580 --> 00:26:47.860 who came in the flesh 00:26:47.860 --> 00:26:49.019 to put our condemnation 00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:49.720 to death 00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:50.420 on a cross 00:26:50.420 --> 00:26:51.440 and rise from the grave 00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:52.339 and ascend into heaven 00:26:52.339 --> 00:26:53.740 in power and victory 00:26:53.740 --> 00:26:56.000 both the condemnation 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:56.819 of our hearts 00:26:56.819 --> 00:26:58.099 and the condemnation 00:26:58.099 --> 00:26:59.980 of the devilish accuser himself 00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:01.039 have been ultimately 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:01.879 overcome 00:27:01.879 --> 00:27:03.039 by the God 00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:03.839 who is greater 00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:04.759 than our hearts 00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:05.819 and also greater 00:27:05.819 --> 00:27:06.519 than he 00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:08.019 who is in the world. 00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:10.379 And the application 00:27:10.379 --> 00:27:11.259 question for us 00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:12.279 is which spirit 00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:13.779 will we listen to? 00:27:14.200 --> 00:27:14.680 Which spirit 00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:15.339 will we allow 00:27:15.339 --> 00:27:16.319 to speak into 00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:17.039 and inform 00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:17.619 our heads 00:27:17.619 --> 00:27:18.639 and our hearts? 00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:20.240 Verse 5 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:21.619 They are from the world 00:27:21.619 --> 00:27:22.819 therefore they speak 00:27:22.819 --> 00:27:23.379 from the world 00:27:23.379 --> 00:27:23.980 and the world 00:27:23.980 --> 00:27:25.039 listens to them 00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:26.460 we are from God. 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:27.939 Whoever knows God 00:27:27.939 --> 00:27:28.679 listens to us 00:27:28.679 --> 00:27:29.619 these apostles of Jesus 00:27:29.619 --> 00:27:30.700 whoever is not from God 00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:31.599 does not listen 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:32.419 to us. 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:33.960 By this we know 00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:35.240 the spirit of truth 00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:36.379 and the spirit 00:27:36.379 --> 00:27:37.159 of error. 00:27:37.919 --> 00:27:38.759 You see there is not 00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.659 a single second 00:27:39.659 --> 00:27:40.399 of our lives 00:27:40.399 --> 00:27:41.039 that is lived 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:42.059 in neutral territory. 00:27:42.659 --> 00:27:43.599 For those who have 00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:44.379 eyes to see 00:27:44.379 --> 00:27:45.740 there is a spiritual war 00:27:45.740 --> 00:27:46.779 that is going on 00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:47.799 a spirit of fear 00:27:47.799 --> 00:27:48.880 and condemnation 00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:49.660 that seeks 00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:50.839 to envelop us 00:27:50.839 --> 00:27:51.900 and swallow us up 00:27:51.900 --> 00:27:53.400 and we must not 00:27:53.400 --> 00:27:54.160 naively think 00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:55.720 that we are unaffected. 00:27:56.380 --> 00:27:57.140 The devil delights 00:27:57.140 --> 00:27:58.400 in our self-condemnation 00:27:58.400 --> 00:27:59.940 so we need 00:27:59.940 --> 00:28:01.140 to be spiritually sober 00:28:01.140 --> 00:28:02.420 and discerning 00:28:02.420 --> 00:28:03.240 and guided 00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:04.299 by God's words. 00:28:05.400 --> 00:28:06.079 Just the other week 00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:06.740 I went to 00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:07.740 a spiritual director 00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:08.920 for the very first time 00:28:08.920 --> 00:28:09.559 I had no idea 00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:10.259 what it was about 00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:11.140 but I wanted to try it 00:28:11.140 --> 00:28:11.620 because Jonathan 00:28:11.620 --> 00:28:12.620 was really into it 00:28:12.620 --> 00:28:15.079 and I just went in there 00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:15.379 and I said 00:28:15.379 --> 00:28:15.899 I just want to be 00:28:15.899 --> 00:28:16.579 closer to God 00:28:16.579 --> 00:28:18.039 and it was actually 00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:18.939 a really good experience 00:28:18.939 --> 00:28:19.799 helping me discern 00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:21.059 what God was trying 00:28:21.059 --> 00:28:22.179 to reveal to me 00:28:22.179 --> 00:28:23.399 particularly 00:28:23.399 --> 00:28:25.240 in my unique situation 00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:26.859 and there was one question 00:28:26.859 --> 00:28:28.419 that he kept asking me 00:28:28.419 --> 00:28:29.199 returning to 00:28:29.199 --> 00:28:30.980 I'd maybe say something like 00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:31.399 you know 00:28:31.399 --> 00:28:32.220 I think God wants me 00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:33.439 to be a more intentional 00:28:33.439 --> 00:28:35.379 more sacrificial father 00:28:35.379 --> 00:28:37.119 but then he'd say 00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:38.480 well that may be 00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:39.559 objectively true 00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:40.439 in general 00:28:40.439 --> 00:28:41.799 but right now 00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:43.139 in this moment 00:28:43.140 --> 00:28:43.880 in this season 00:28:43.880 --> 00:28:45.620 is that from you 00:28:45.620 --> 00:28:47.540 or is that from God 00:28:47.540 --> 00:28:49.020 or is that possibly 00:28:49.020 --> 00:28:50.660 from another spirit 00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:53.259 God's word today 00:28:53.259 --> 00:28:54.320 invites us to consider 00:28:54.320 --> 00:28:55.880 the words spoken 00:28:55.880 --> 00:28:56.759 into our minds 00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:57.420 and our hearts 00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:58.520 by the spirits among us 00:28:58.520 --> 00:28:59.580 and to listen 00:28:59.580 --> 00:29:00.780 for the clear 00:29:00.780 --> 00:29:01.820 pure 00:29:01.820 --> 00:29:03.520 gracious voice 00:29:03.520 --> 00:29:04.860 of God's spirit 00:29:04.860 --> 00:29:06.200 who does not want 00:29:06.200 --> 00:29:07.640 to condemn his children 00:29:07.640 --> 00:29:09.040 but wants to reassure us 00:29:09.040 --> 00:29:10.280 in his love 00:29:10.280 --> 00:29:11.640 Christ Church 00:29:11.640 --> 00:29:12.660 what are the words 00:29:12.660 --> 00:29:13.200 we're allowing 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:14.400 to be spoken 00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:15.320 into us 00:29:15.320 --> 00:29:17.800 I'll end with this quote 00:29:17.800 --> 00:29:18.259 from the great 00:29:18.259 --> 00:29:19.220 20th century British 00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:20.440 preacher Martin Lloyd-Jones 00:29:20.440 --> 00:29:21.460 who suggests 00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:22.060 that we don't just 00:29:22.060 --> 00:29:23.340 listen to ourselves 00:29:23.340 --> 00:29:24.300 but that we draw 00:29:24.300 --> 00:29:25.180 upon the scriptures 00:29:25.180 --> 00:29:26.120 the very words 00:29:26.120 --> 00:29:27.259 that God has given us 00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:27.980 these words that maybe 00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:28.520 we've read 00:29:28.520 --> 00:29:29.580 and memorized 00:29:29.580 --> 00:29:31.160 and meditated upon 00:29:31.160 --> 00:29:32.500 and then we use 00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:33.140 those words 00:29:33.140 --> 00:29:33.980 the very words of God 00:29:33.980 --> 00:29:35.120 to talk to ourselves 00:29:35.120 --> 00:29:35.900 right 00:29:35.900 --> 00:29:37.520 to speak back 00:29:37.520 --> 00:29:38.400 against our self 00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:39.740 condemning hearts 00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:40.940 and the condemnations 00:29:40.940 --> 00:29:41.819 of all the spirits 00:29:41.819 --> 00:29:42.620 who are at war 00:29:42.620 --> 00:29:43.400 against us 00:29:43.400 --> 00:29:45.120 this is what Lloyd-Jones 00:29:45.120 --> 00:29:45.539 says 00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:47.339 the main trouble 00:29:47.339 --> 00:29:48.599 in this whole matter 00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:49.700 of spiritual depression 00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:51.319 in a sense is this 00:29:51.319 --> 00:29:53.120 that we allow ourself 00:29:53.120 --> 00:29:54.380 to talk to us 00:29:54.380 --> 00:29:55.559 instead of talking 00:29:55.559 --> 00:29:56.660 to ourself 00:29:56.660 --> 00:29:58.400 am I just trying 00:29:58.400 --> 00:29:59.019 to be deliberately 00:29:59.019 --> 00:29:59.819 paradoxical 00:29:59.819 --> 00:30:00.620 far from it 00:30:00.620 --> 00:30:02.180 this is the very essence 00:30:02.180 --> 00:30:02.720 of wisdom 00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:03.460 in this matter 00:30:03.460 --> 00:30:04.339 have you realized 00:30:04.339 --> 00:30:05.539 that most of your 00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:06.640 unhappiness in life 00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:07.819 is due to the fact 00:30:07.819 --> 00:30:08.759 that you are listening 00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:09.559 to yourself 00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:10.879 instead of talking 00:30:10.879 --> 00:30:11.539 to yourself 00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:13.259 take those thoughts 00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:13.920 that come to you 00:30:13.920 --> 00:30:14.819 the moment you wake up 00:30:14.819 --> 00:30:15.240 in the morning 00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:16.980 you have not originated them 00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:17.960 but they start talking 00:30:17.960 --> 00:30:18.379 to you 00:30:18.379 --> 00:30:19.200 they bring back 00:30:19.200 --> 00:30:19.859 the problems 00:30:19.859 --> 00:30:20.640 of yesterday 00:30:20.640 --> 00:30:22.359 somebody is talking 00:30:22.359 --> 00:30:23.640 who is talking to you 00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:25.200 yourself is talking 00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:25.619 to you 00:30:25.619 --> 00:30:26.599 the main art 00:30:26.599 --> 00:30:27.140 in the matter 00:30:27.140 --> 00:30:28.000 of spiritual living 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:28.440 is to know 00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:29.579 how to handle yourself 00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:31.059 you have to address yourself 00:30:31.059 --> 00:30:31.920 preach to yourself 00:30:31.920 --> 00:30:32.900 question yourself 00:30:32.900 --> 00:30:33.980 you must say to your soul 00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:35.000 why art thou 00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:35.680 cast down 00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:36.480 and say to yourself 00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:38.019 hope thou in God 00:30:38.019 --> 00:30:38.819 instead of muttering 00:30:38.819 --> 00:30:39.839 in this depressed 00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:40.579 unhappy way 00:30:40.579 --> 00:30:42.319 and then you must go on 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:43.259 to remind yourself 00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:43.859 of God 00:30:43.859 --> 00:30:45.240 who God is 00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:46.180 and what God is 00:30:46.180 --> 00:30:47.700 and what God has done 00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:49.039 and what God has pledged 00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:50.339 himself to do 00:30:50.339 --> 00:30:52.279 then having done that 00:30:52.279 --> 00:30:54.019 end on this great note 00:30:54.019 --> 00:30:55.440 defy yourself 00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:56.900 and defy other people 00:30:56.900 --> 00:30:57.879 and defy the devil 00:30:57.879 --> 00:30:58.639 and the whole world 00:30:58.639 --> 00:30:59.940 and say with the psalmist 00:30:59.940 --> 00:31:02.000 I shall yet praise him 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:03.599 who is my God 00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:05.819 when God is greater 00:31:05.819 --> 00:31:06.419 than our heart 00:31:06.419 --> 00:31:08.719 when our hearts 00:31:08.719 --> 00:31:09.459 condemn us 00:31:09.459 --> 00:31:10.279 Christ church 00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:11.639 God is greater 00:31:11.639 --> 00:31:12.480 than our hearts 00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:13.959 God is greater 00:31:13.959 --> 00:31:14.379 than our hearts 00:31:14.379 --> 00:31:15.439 that's his word to us 00:31:15.439 --> 00:31:16.559 would we let him 00:31:16.559 --> 00:31:17.879 speak that into our lives 00:31:17.879 --> 00:31:19.639 we meditate on that 00:31:19.639 --> 00:31:20.740 and live 00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:21.939 like he's greater 00:31:21.939 --> 00:31:22.699 than our hearts 00:31:22.699 --> 00:31:23.939 will you pray with me 00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:25.640 and then God 00:31:25.640 --> 00:31:26.080 and what's Your love 00:31:26.080 --> 00:31:27.400 is sir 00:31:27.400 --> 00:31:27.980 stuen 00:31:27.980 --> 00:31:28.279 thank you 00:31:28.279 --> 00:31:30.000 for His God 00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:30.480 and His love 00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:32.299 will you be 00:31:32.299 --> 00:31:32.980 as if I can 00:31:33.019 --> 00:31:33.620 let him 00:31:33.620 --> 00:31:35.480 say 00:31:35.480 --> 00:31:35.640 I can't 00:31:35.640 --> 00:31:37.360 say 00:31:37.360 --> 00:31:38.460 James 00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:38.640 that's her 00:31:38.640 --> 00:31:39.559 thing 00:31:39.559 --> 00:31:40.440 will you 00:31:40.440 --> 00:31:41.059 nak 00:31:41.059 --> 00:31:41.160 or 00:31:41.160 --> 00:31:41.519 you 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:42.000 I can 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:42.539 tell 00:31:42.539 --> 00:31:43.279 the 00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:43.740 song 00:31:43.799 --> 00:31:45.100 is 00:31:45.100 --> 00:31:45.140 and 00:31:45.140 --> 00:31:45.779 email 00:31:45.779 --> 00:31:46.259 free 00:31:46.900 --> 00:31:47.620 to 00:31:47.620 --> 00:31:47.779 your 00:31:47.779 --> 00:31:49.120 YouTube 00:31:49.120 --> 00:31:49.700 and 00:31:49.700 --> 00:31:50.680 acağız 00:31:50.680 --> 00:31:50.880 and 00:31:50.880 --> 00:31:51.620 and