WEBVTT 00:00:00.360 --> 00:00:05.360 This number of graduates is the largest we've had in several years. 00:00:06.219 --> 00:00:16.699 When I first saw the list, I started thinking about what many Christian leaders have been saying for the past 15 years or so 00:00:16.699 --> 00:00:22.260 about the religious beliefs of most high school students in this country. 00:00:22.260 --> 00:00:32.560 And as I'm going to mention a little bit later on, what we're going to look at is the predominant view of adults in this country as well. 00:00:33.660 --> 00:00:35.679 What we're going to see is disturbing. 00:00:37.520 --> 00:00:51.400 About three years ago, I preached a message that described these beliefs of Americans in general now under the heading moralistic therapeutic deism. 00:00:52.259 --> 00:00:54.979 If you remember that, would you raise your hand? 00:00:56.079 --> 00:00:57.960 Okay, there's a few. Good. 00:00:59.739 --> 00:01:03.859 Maybe it's not so good that more hands didn't go up, but I'm going to look on the positive side. 00:01:03.859 --> 00:01:15.400 This phrase, moralistic therapeutic deism, was coined by a sociologist, Christian Smith, from the University of North Carolina. 00:01:15.400 --> 00:01:29.700 In 2005, or their research was compiled and published in 2005, after they had conducted over 3,000 interviews with American teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17. 00:01:31.300 --> 00:01:39.880 Now, in doing this research, listening to these young people explain what they believe or didn't believe, 00:01:39.879 --> 00:01:49.859 Christian Smith and his team of researchers came up with what they call the mainstream belief system of American teenagers. 00:01:49.859 --> 00:01:57.879 This is not describing any denomination, any particular group. 00:01:58.879 --> 00:02:08.259 It's just what they came up with after all these interviews, and they call it the mainstream belief system of American teenagers. 00:02:08.259 --> 00:02:12.840 Here are the five statements that describe those beliefs. 00:02:13.399 --> 00:02:20.539 Number one, a God, little g, exists, who created and ordered the world and watches over human life on earth. 00:02:20.739 --> 00:02:28.099 Number two, God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions. 00:02:28.560 --> 00:02:33.259 Number three, the central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself. 00:02:33.259 --> 00:02:41.919 Number four, God does not need to be particularly involved in one's life except when God is needed to resolve a problem. 00:02:43.079 --> 00:02:45.939 Number five, good people go to heaven when they die. 00:02:47.399 --> 00:02:52.060 Now, here's one summary statement of those five points. 00:02:52.899 --> 00:02:59.120 God exists to meet my needs and help me be a nice person who feels good about myself. 00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:06.920 When I put that list of one through five on the screen, some of you probably scratched your head and thought, what's wrong with that? 00:03:08.740 --> 00:03:15.560 I hope this summary statement helps you to see what's wrong with that. 00:03:17.060 --> 00:03:22.259 Now, do you know where Smith and his team said that teenagers learned these beliefs? 00:03:22.259 --> 00:03:27.519 They learned these beliefs from their parents and their churches. 00:03:28.719 --> 00:03:36.179 But they explained it was not that their parents actually taught these things. 00:03:36.659 --> 00:03:43.259 It was not that any church had this as a part of their basic doctrine. 00:03:45.079 --> 00:03:47.719 They said it's what they saw. 00:03:47.719 --> 00:03:51.139 What they saw in their parents. 00:03:52.199 --> 00:03:57.500 Just how little their parents actually believed and put into practice in their daily lives. 00:03:58.819 --> 00:04:04.860 And concerning the church, they observed how their churches had tried to blend in with the culture of the world. 00:04:07.259 --> 00:04:14.579 And so, these young people, not just yes and no answers, but in discussing their beliefs, 00:04:14.580 --> 00:04:21.199 what they had heard, what they had seen, as they put it all together. 00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:37.560 They came up with this moralistic, therapeutic deism as being the predominant belief system of American teenagers and American adults. 00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:41.660 That's one thing that I'll follow up to these studies. 00:04:42.379 --> 00:04:46.579 Many Christian leaders have pointed out, pointed to a lot of different evidences. 00:04:47.639 --> 00:04:51.860 That this is the predominant view of Americans today. 00:04:52.639 --> 00:05:02.000 And disturbingly, a lot of people in churches, a lot of professing Christians think this way, believe this way as well. 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:07.040 But what I want us to look at this morning is, this is a belief system that is not found in Scripture. 00:05:08.220 --> 00:05:11.339 And if it's not found in Scripture, it cannot be true. 00:05:12.680 --> 00:05:20.899 I think this is something worthy of us interrupting our series on the family to pay close attention this morning. 00:05:22.180 --> 00:05:25.000 I want us, as we go through this message, to... 00:05:25.819 --> 00:05:26.819 I've got... let me put it this way. 00:05:27.019 --> 00:05:29.339 I've got three reasons for this message. 00:05:29.339 --> 00:05:34.459 Number one, I want to make sure that no one here believes this false teaching. 00:05:36.259 --> 00:05:40.099 I want to make sure that you, when you leave here as high school graduates going off somewhere, 00:05:40.859 --> 00:05:44.199 you didn't hear this garbage from this pulpit. 00:05:45.599 --> 00:05:51.939 You didn't hear it anywhere in our church, many of our other pastors, Sunday school teachers. 00:05:53.859 --> 00:05:56.459 And I don't think you heard it from any parent. 00:05:56.459 --> 00:06:06.959 But I want to make sure this morning that no one believes the kind of things that I've mentioned and will look at. 00:06:07.219 --> 00:06:12.799 Number two, every Christian needs to be aware of this and be able to spot this false teaching. 00:06:14.859 --> 00:06:16.679 Don't be misled by it. 00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:27.540 Number three, every parent, grandparent, and Sunday school teacher needs to make sure that you don't unintentionally teach it by your words or your actions. 00:06:29.259 --> 00:06:30.259 This is needed. 00:06:31.620 --> 00:06:33.460 I've been a pastor for a long time now. 00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:36.079 I've been around a lot of Christians in a lot of churches. 00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:39.199 And including our own church from time to time. 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:43.099 I hear church members say things along the line of, 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:47.919 I hope I'm good enough to get into heaven. 00:06:49.860 --> 00:06:53.659 I even heard it said one time by one person, 00:06:54.219 --> 00:06:58.560 I think I've earned my place in heaven. 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:02.579 I'm not exaggerating. 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:06.160 Church people, 00:07:07.160 --> 00:07:09.680 people who attend Pickens First Baptist Church, 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:16.240 sometimes think this way and make statements like this. 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:18.740 We need to hear this. 00:07:18.819 --> 00:07:19.720 We need to be clear. 00:07:20.540 --> 00:07:21.079 Let's start. 00:07:21.240 --> 00:07:21.720 Number one, 00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:27.740 the Bible does not teach the moralistic idea that God simply wants us to be good. 00:07:27.740 --> 00:07:32.639 The Christian faith is about much more than helping people be good. 00:07:34.699 --> 00:07:38.660 The false teaching of moralism says this. 00:07:39.019 --> 00:07:44.220 I'm going to use the survey of Smith's five statements here. 00:07:44.519 --> 00:07:44.960 Number two, 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:46.840 God wants people to be good, 00:07:46.960 --> 00:07:47.300 nice, 00:07:47.340 --> 00:07:51.400 and fair to each other as taught in the Bible and by most world religions. 00:07:51.980 --> 00:07:52.560 Number five, 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:54.240 good people go to heaven when they die. 00:07:55.100 --> 00:07:56.280 The Bible does not teach that. 00:07:56.279 --> 00:07:57.439 Now, 00:07:57.719 --> 00:08:00.059 I'm sure some of you say and scratch your head and said, 00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:02.059 are we not supposed to be good? 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:04.559 Obviously, 00:08:04.919 --> 00:08:06.959 we need to be as good as we can. 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:15.919 The gospel of Jesus Christ does come with moral commands and expectations. 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:18.840 The problem is, 00:08:19.280 --> 00:08:21.720 we can't be good on our own. 00:08:22.920 --> 00:08:31.400 We can never be good enough for God to accept us as his children just by the way that we live. 00:08:32.460 --> 00:08:39.759 The Bible clearly teaches that we cannot live a morally pure or upright life on our own. 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:45.299 The first point of the gospel is that we are sinners by nature and by choice. 00:08:46.620 --> 00:08:55.879 We naturally choose to live life our way, my way, as opposed to God's way. 00:08:56.700 --> 00:08:58.480 Children are the best examples of this. 00:08:59.019 --> 00:08:59.159 You know, 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:01.059 I think about when I try to explain this point, 00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:03.299 there's no better way to explain it than to say, 00:09:03.580 --> 00:09:04.419 look at children. 00:09:04.419 --> 00:09:08.259 No one teaches their child to disobey their parent. 00:09:09.939 --> 00:09:12.979 Nobody in their right mind will teach their child to disobey their parent. 00:09:13.779 --> 00:09:16.279 No one teaches a child to be just selfish, 00:09:16.539 --> 00:09:18.579 to take things away from another child, 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:23.240 to hit another child over the head with their toy in the nursery, even in church. 00:09:23.240 --> 00:09:30.399 No one has to teach a child how to tell a lie to avoid being punished. 00:09:32.960 --> 00:09:38.680 Children just are born into this world with a sinful nature, 00:09:39.100 --> 00:09:40.379 with a tendency, 00:09:41.159 --> 00:09:42.519 look out for me. 00:09:43.899 --> 00:09:46.080 And as they grow and mature, 00:09:46.659 --> 00:09:47.899 can make their own decisions, 00:09:47.980 --> 00:09:49.759 even as little fellas all the way up, 00:09:49.759 --> 00:09:54.059 you see that they choose to be selfish. 00:09:54.639 --> 00:09:54.759 Now, 00:09:55.740 --> 00:09:58.319 the idea that everyone is a sinner before God 00:09:58.319 --> 00:10:00.600 does not mean that everyone is purely evil. 00:10:01.580 --> 00:10:03.259 Some people mistakenly think 00:10:03.259 --> 00:10:04.720 that when the Bible talks about 00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:07.000 we've all sinned, 00:10:07.039 --> 00:10:08.200 come short of the glory of God, 00:10:08.580 --> 00:10:10.059 some people have the idea that 00:10:10.059 --> 00:10:11.639 the Bible is saying we're all just 00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:13.500 purely evil people. 00:10:13.639 --> 00:10:14.600 That is not 00:10:14.600 --> 00:10:17.259 what it means when the Bible talks about 00:10:17.259 --> 00:10:18.419 sin in our lives. 00:10:18.419 --> 00:10:20.819 Everyone is created in the image of God. 00:10:21.459 --> 00:10:22.339 Every human being 00:10:22.339 --> 00:10:24.979 is created in the image of God. 00:10:25.779 --> 00:10:28.360 And we have an inner sense of right and wrong. 00:10:29.860 --> 00:10:32.099 Some people refer to it as the conscience. 00:10:32.919 --> 00:10:35.479 The Apostle Paul talks about it in Romans chapter 2. 00:10:36.019 --> 00:10:37.819 God has put it within us. 00:10:38.259 --> 00:10:40.439 This basic moral law. 00:10:41.079 --> 00:10:43.139 This basic understanding of what is right 00:10:43.139 --> 00:10:44.240 and what is wrong. 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:45.939 And here's how it comes out. 00:10:46.079 --> 00:10:46.899 Let's go back to children. 00:10:46.899 --> 00:10:50.399 Some children are more compliant than others. 00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:51.899 If you've got more than one child, 00:10:52.259 --> 00:10:54.639 probably you had one 00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:56.279 that you could just sort of look at. 00:10:57.720 --> 00:10:59.240 He or she would straighten up. 00:11:00.199 --> 00:11:01.980 Or you could have had two like me 00:11:01.980 --> 00:11:03.039 that you had to horse whip 00:11:03.039 --> 00:11:03.959 to get their attention 00:11:03.959 --> 00:11:05.059 to make them do anything. 00:11:07.459 --> 00:11:09.199 Now, for any liberals to worry about that, 00:11:09.259 --> 00:11:10.279 I'm just, I'm joking. 00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:12.480 I did whip them, spank them. 00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:14.840 I would do it again if they needed it. 00:11:14.840 --> 00:11:17.220 If they were little, I'm talking about. 00:11:18.060 --> 00:11:20.759 They could whip me now, size-wise. 00:11:22.180 --> 00:11:24.480 But you know what I'm talking about. 00:11:25.460 --> 00:11:26.560 Adults are the same way. 00:11:27.980 --> 00:11:29.040 Some people in this room 00:11:29.040 --> 00:11:36.580 just do more what's good and kind. 00:11:36.580 --> 00:11:41.240 Some people just are more self-giving 00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:43.180 than others by nature. 00:11:43.460 --> 00:11:44.620 It's not because they're Christians. 00:11:46.680 --> 00:11:48.960 So, just look around. 00:11:49.060 --> 00:11:51.060 In your family, among your friends, 00:11:51.740 --> 00:11:54.320 there are varying degrees of goodness 00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:55.980 and evil. 00:11:57.200 --> 00:11:59.200 The problem that the gospel addresses 00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:00.360 is that we're sinners 00:12:00.360 --> 00:12:03.259 who cannot be good as God defines goodness. 00:12:03.400 --> 00:12:04.060 And that's the point. 00:12:04.059 --> 00:12:07.899 Some of us are good 00:12:07.899 --> 00:12:09.679 in comparison to others. 00:12:10.779 --> 00:12:11.859 But we cannot be good 00:12:11.859 --> 00:12:12.939 as God defines goodness 00:12:12.939 --> 00:12:15.179 because God's standard is perfection. 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:18.879 We're talking about almighty God, 00:12:19.639 --> 00:12:20.539 holy God. 00:12:20.659 --> 00:12:21.959 His standard is perfection. 00:12:22.699 --> 00:12:23.819 If we want to be good 00:12:23.819 --> 00:12:24.699 or do what is right 00:12:24.699 --> 00:12:27.179 in a way that pleases God 00:12:27.179 --> 00:12:28.359 on our own, 00:12:29.199 --> 00:12:30.399 we've got to be perfect. 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:32.299 Let me show you a verse of scripture 00:12:32.299 --> 00:12:33.839 that makes this real clear. 00:12:34.359 --> 00:12:37.899 James is writing a letter to Christians. 00:12:38.579 --> 00:12:39.759 He's trying to help them understand 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:42.799 they cannot earn their salvation 00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:44.059 by their good works. 00:12:44.459 --> 00:12:44.899 He says, 00:12:45.019 --> 00:12:46.859 for whoever keeps the whole law 00:12:46.859 --> 00:12:50.059 and yet stumbles at just one point 00:12:50.059 --> 00:12:52.979 is guilty of breaking all of it. 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:56.519 You might be a very good person 00:12:56.519 --> 00:12:58.779 and you know 00:12:58.779 --> 00:13:01.039 what the scripture teaches 00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:02.019 about how you ought to live. 00:13:02.539 --> 00:13:03.399 And for the most part, 00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:04.460 you do that. 00:13:04.600 --> 00:13:06.340 You're conscientiously doing that. 00:13:08.079 --> 00:13:09.220 But are you perfect? 00:13:10.620 --> 00:13:12.100 If you ever break one 00:13:12.100 --> 00:13:13.120 of God's commands, 00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:15.079 you are guilty 00:13:15.079 --> 00:13:16.639 of being a lawbreaker 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:17.799 before God. 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:20.480 So even the best person you know 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:22.139 is not perfect. 00:13:22.139 --> 00:13:24.879 Well, therefore, 00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:27.699 we all stand before God 00:13:27.699 --> 00:13:28.340 as sinners, 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:30.460 guilty of breaking God's laws, 00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:31.819 not living up 00:13:31.819 --> 00:13:33.279 to his standards of perfection. 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:33.840 Listen, 00:13:33.939 --> 00:13:35.279 that's where we all are. 00:13:36.199 --> 00:13:37.460 That's how we enter the world. 00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:39.199 That's how we are 00:13:39.199 --> 00:13:39.879 as we grow up 00:13:39.879 --> 00:13:40.699 and make choices. 00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:43.600 Well, the penalty for our sin, 00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:44.360 the scripture says, 00:13:44.419 --> 00:13:45.159 is death, 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:48.139 which ultimately means 00:13:48.139 --> 00:13:49.159 eternal separation 00:13:49.159 --> 00:13:50.139 from God in hell. 00:13:50.139 --> 00:13:51.960 This is the bad news 00:13:51.960 --> 00:13:52.500 of the Bible. 00:13:53.080 --> 00:13:53.659 You know something? 00:13:54.419 --> 00:13:57.199 The Bible clearly presents this. 00:13:59.019 --> 00:14:00.059 The Bible writers, 00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:02.779 they care enough about 00:14:02.779 --> 00:14:04.539 human beings 00:14:04.539 --> 00:14:05.720 to tell the truth. 00:14:07.220 --> 00:14:08.819 This is a reality. 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:11.240 We're born with a sinful nature. 00:14:11.580 --> 00:14:12.779 We make sinful choices. 00:14:12.939 --> 00:14:14.819 The penalty for sin is death. 00:14:15.179 --> 00:14:16.620 And that's all of us. 00:14:16.939 --> 00:14:18.019 And that's the bad news 00:14:18.019 --> 00:14:18.500 of the Bible 00:14:18.500 --> 00:14:21.179 that we all need to listen, 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:22.440 understand, 00:14:23.220 --> 00:14:23.759 accept. 00:14:24.100 --> 00:14:24.879 You cannot 00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:26.559 wish it away. 00:14:28.820 --> 00:14:30.259 The good news 00:14:30.259 --> 00:14:33.340 is that God loves us. 00:14:34.059 --> 00:14:35.200 And he has provided a way 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:35.980 for us to be 00:14:35.980 --> 00:14:36.740 forgiven 00:14:36.740 --> 00:14:38.759 of our sins. 00:14:39.779 --> 00:14:40.580 He's provided a way 00:14:40.580 --> 00:14:41.200 for us not only 00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:41.799 to be forgiven, 00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:42.879 but to actually become 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:44.320 his children. 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:47.960 And when we're forgiven, 00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:49.060 we become 00:14:49.060 --> 00:14:50.080 his children. 00:14:50.920 --> 00:14:51.940 He puts his spirit 00:14:51.940 --> 00:14:52.680 in us 00:14:52.680 --> 00:14:54.280 and that's how 00:14:54.280 --> 00:14:55.240 we are able 00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:55.820 to live 00:14:55.820 --> 00:14:56.700 a morally 00:14:56.700 --> 00:14:58.360 pure life 00:14:58.360 --> 00:15:00.100 that will please 00:15:00.100 --> 00:15:00.640 God 00:15:00.640 --> 00:15:02.300 and be satisfying 00:15:02.300 --> 00:15:02.860 to us. 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:05.160 Here's what God 00:15:05.160 --> 00:15:05.700 has done 00:15:05.700 --> 00:15:06.640 more specifically. 00:15:07.320 --> 00:15:08.320 God sent his son 00:15:08.320 --> 00:15:08.640 Jesus 00:15:08.640 --> 00:15:09.360 into this world 00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:11.040 for the purpose 00:15:11.040 --> 00:15:13.120 of saving us. 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:15.259 Jesus lived a perfect, 00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:16.480 morally 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:19.299 pure life 00:15:19.299 --> 00:15:21.960 throughout his time 00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:22.580 here on earth. 00:15:23.580 --> 00:15:24.840 He lived the perfect life 00:15:24.840 --> 00:15:25.679 that we couldn't live. 00:15:27.080 --> 00:15:28.340 And then Jesus died 00:15:28.340 --> 00:15:29.159 on the cross 00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:30.899 as our substitute 00:15:30.899 --> 00:15:31.759 according to the plan 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:32.299 of God 00:15:32.299 --> 00:15:34.060 to pay the penalty 00:15:34.060 --> 00:15:35.120 for our sins. 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:36.700 He died in our place, 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:38.080 suffered the punishment 00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:38.879 that we deserve 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:40.060 so that we wouldn't 00:15:40.060 --> 00:15:40.919 have to 00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:43.139 experience that punishment. 00:15:44.339 --> 00:15:44.819 And then God 00:15:44.819 --> 00:15:45.539 raised Jesus 00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:46.419 from the dead 00:15:46.419 --> 00:15:47.500 to prove 00:15:47.500 --> 00:15:48.379 he's accepted 00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:49.659 Jesus' sacrifice. 00:15:50.459 --> 00:15:51.199 That Jesus is 00:15:51.199 --> 00:15:52.159 who he said he was. 00:15:52.479 --> 00:15:53.459 He did what he said 00:15:53.459 --> 00:15:54.259 he came to do. 00:15:54.620 --> 00:15:55.839 He came back to live. 00:15:55.919 --> 00:15:56.759 He's alive today 00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:57.399 in heaven. 00:15:57.539 --> 00:15:58.559 One day he'll come back 00:15:58.559 --> 00:15:59.199 to this world 00:15:59.199 --> 00:16:00.379 the scripture tells us. 00:16:00.379 --> 00:16:01.500 Now, 00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:03.320 this is the basic 00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:04.960 gospel good news 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:06.200 of God message 00:16:06.200 --> 00:16:06.799 from the Bible. 00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:08.860 But that's not all 00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:09.379 the Bible says 00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:10.860 about our relationship 00:16:10.860 --> 00:16:11.240 with God, 00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:12.179 being right with God. 00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:13.840 We've got to respond 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:15.080 to this gospel. 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:17.519 We've got to respond 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:18.240 to what Christ 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:19.519 has done for us 00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:20.759 in order to experience 00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:22.759 God's gracious salvation. 00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:24.720 The apostle Paul 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:25.759 summarized it 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:26.700 like this. 00:16:26.700 --> 00:16:29.379 He was talking 00:16:29.379 --> 00:16:30.080 about how he had 00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:30.879 traveled the world 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:31.480 and what he had 00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:32.000 been preaching. 00:16:32.520 --> 00:16:32.740 He says, 00:16:32.820 --> 00:16:33.300 I have declared 00:16:33.300 --> 00:16:33.980 to both Jews 00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:34.640 and Greeks 00:16:34.640 --> 00:16:35.600 and in his mind 00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:36.740 that's everybody. 00:16:38.140 --> 00:16:38.600 There's two kinds 00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:39.160 of people in the world. 00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:39.680 There's Jews 00:16:39.680 --> 00:16:40.220 and Greeks. 00:16:40.680 --> 00:16:41.160 I have declared 00:16:41.160 --> 00:16:41.860 to both Jews 00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:42.520 and Greeks 00:16:42.520 --> 00:16:43.600 that they must turn 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:44.220 to God 00:16:44.220 --> 00:16:44.920 in repentance 00:16:44.920 --> 00:16:46.640 and have faith 00:16:46.640 --> 00:16:47.800 in our Lord Jesus. 00:16:48.800 --> 00:16:49.620 Paul is saying 00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:50.020 that the way 00:16:50.020 --> 00:16:50.560 of salvation 00:16:50.560 --> 00:16:51.540 is open to anyone 00:16:51.540 --> 00:16:52.780 who will repent 00:16:52.780 --> 00:16:53.560 of their sin. 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:55.500 Admit that you have 00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:57.100 failed God. 00:16:57.940 --> 00:16:58.919 Change your mind 00:16:58.919 --> 00:16:59.480 about living 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:00.720 your selfish way, 00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:02.259 your disobedient way. 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:03.419 Sort of like 00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:04.779 you make a debout face. 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:07.140 You turn from your sin 00:17:07.140 --> 00:17:09.440 and you put your trust 00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:10.400 in Jesus 00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:12.559 as your Savior 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:14.460 and your Lord. 00:17:15.400 --> 00:17:16.180 We're not talking 00:17:16.180 --> 00:17:17.279 about just believing 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:18.039 the Bible. 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:19.680 Most people 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:20.339 in this room, 00:17:20.420 --> 00:17:21.039 I'm going to guess, 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:21.599 you believe 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:22.740 John 3.16. 00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:24.339 For God so loved 00:17:24.339 --> 00:17:24.779 the world, 00:17:24.859 --> 00:17:25.299 that he gave 00:17:25.299 --> 00:17:26.679 his only son, 00:17:27.099 --> 00:17:28.299 that whoever believes 00:17:28.299 --> 00:17:29.759 in him will not perish, 00:17:30.379 --> 00:17:31.859 but have eternal life. 00:17:32.419 --> 00:17:32.959 Most people 00:17:32.959 --> 00:17:33.319 in this room, 00:17:33.559 --> 00:17:34.099 you believe. 00:17:34.220 --> 00:17:34.839 That's in the Bible. 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:36.019 I believe it. 00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:37.459 But do you believe 00:17:37.459 --> 00:17:38.279 it just like you believe 00:17:38.279 --> 00:17:39.299 a lot of facts 00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:40.319 that you read 00:17:40.319 --> 00:17:41.619 in history books? 00:17:41.619 --> 00:17:44.039 Or do you believe 00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:45.039 in this Jesus, 00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:46.379 this son of God, 00:17:47.379 --> 00:17:48.819 personally, 00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:49.720 that he died 00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:50.619 for you 00:17:50.619 --> 00:17:52.699 to pay the penalty 00:17:52.700 --> 00:17:53.620 for your sin? 00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:56.140 Are you trusting him, 00:17:56.580 --> 00:17:57.500 counting on him, 00:17:57.600 --> 00:17:58.519 depending on him 00:17:58.519 --> 00:17:59.680 to be right with God? 00:18:01.120 --> 00:18:02.600 Are you truly 00:18:02.600 --> 00:18:03.980 honoring him 00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:04.860 as the Lord 00:18:04.860 --> 00:18:07.279 of your life, 00:18:07.420 --> 00:18:08.799 the ultimate leader 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:10.799 of your life? 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:13.220 When we choose 00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:13.759 to live life 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:14.580 God's way, 00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:17.080 when we choose 00:18:17.080 --> 00:18:18.019 to trust Christ, 00:18:18.340 --> 00:18:19.200 to follow him, 00:18:19.940 --> 00:18:20.620 listen to this, 00:18:20.619 --> 00:18:21.399 the Spirit of God 00:18:21.399 --> 00:18:22.239 lives in us, 00:18:22.859 --> 00:18:23.619 and he gives us 00:18:23.619 --> 00:18:24.319 the desire 00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:25.239 and the ability 00:18:25.239 --> 00:18:27.159 to live that morally 00:18:27.159 --> 00:18:28.099 good life 00:18:28.099 --> 00:18:28.939 that pleases God. 00:18:29.099 --> 00:18:29.919 Look at this passage 00:18:29.919 --> 00:18:30.379 of Scripture. 00:18:31.379 --> 00:18:32.019 Paul writes, 00:18:32.119 --> 00:18:32.819 to a church, 00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:33.219 therefore, 00:18:33.379 --> 00:18:33.919 my beloved, 00:18:34.139 --> 00:18:34.899 as you have always 00:18:34.899 --> 00:18:35.500 obeyed, 00:18:35.659 --> 00:18:36.259 so now, 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:38.399 not only as in my presence, 00:18:38.639 --> 00:18:39.500 but much more 00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:40.699 in my absence, 00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:43.179 work out your own salvation 00:18:43.179 --> 00:18:44.739 with fear and trembling, 00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:46.139 for it is God 00:18:46.139 --> 00:18:47.119 who works in you 00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:48.259 both to will 00:18:48.259 --> 00:18:49.859 and to work 00:18:49.859 --> 00:18:51.559 for his good pleasure. 00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:53.500 Paul is writing 00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:54.039 to Christians, 00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:55.220 people who are 00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:56.140 trusting in Jesus. 00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:57.779 This is his way 00:18:57.779 --> 00:18:58.319 of telling them, 00:18:58.440 --> 00:18:59.299 now you need to grow, 00:18:59.619 --> 00:19:00.400 you need to mature, 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:01.319 you need to become 00:19:01.319 --> 00:19:02.519 more like Jesus. 00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:04.319 And the way that happens 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:04.579 is, 00:19:04.940 --> 00:19:05.920 it's not that you try 00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:07.099 to be good. 00:19:07.879 --> 00:19:09.099 It's not that you try 00:19:09.099 --> 00:19:09.980 to do your best 00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:12.279 to just do this or that. 00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:13.539 The idea is, 00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:14.259 if you're a Christian, 00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:15.759 the Spirit of God 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:16.519 lives within you, 00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:18.759 and he works in you 00:19:18.759 --> 00:19:20.339 to give you the desire 00:19:20.339 --> 00:19:22.359 to please God, 00:19:22.680 --> 00:19:23.660 to obey him. 00:19:24.859 --> 00:19:26.480 He gives you the ability 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:28.339 to act on that desire 00:19:28.339 --> 00:19:32.079 to live this morally pure life. 00:19:33.079 --> 00:19:33.980 Do you see evidence 00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:34.559 in your life 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:36.259 that you are a Christian 00:19:36.259 --> 00:19:37.440 based on what 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:38.619 the scripture says 00:19:38.619 --> 00:19:40.160 that a Christian is? 00:19:42.579 --> 00:19:43.519 If we're really 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:44.319 God's children, 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:46.500 it will show, 00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:48.059 it will show 00:19:48.059 --> 00:19:48.339 in the way 00:19:48.339 --> 00:19:50.299 that we love him, 00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:52.419 the way that we obey him, 00:19:53.799 --> 00:19:54.619 the way that we are 00:19:54.619 --> 00:19:56.599 developing Christ-like character, 00:19:56.919 --> 00:19:57.419 the way that we're 00:19:57.419 --> 00:19:58.519 treating the people 00:19:58.519 --> 00:20:00.339 that we live with, 00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:01.339 that we interact with 00:20:01.339 --> 00:20:02.000 every day. 00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:04.059 Following Jesus 00:20:04.059 --> 00:20:04.720 will lead us 00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:05.500 to develop a loving 00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:06.059 relationship 00:20:06.059 --> 00:20:07.480 with our Heavenly Father. 00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:09.919 Real followers of Jesus 00:20:09.919 --> 00:20:10.879 have a desire 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:12.620 to know God better 00:20:12.620 --> 00:20:14.480 by reading his word, 00:20:15.020 --> 00:20:15.740 listening to God 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:16.720 speak through his word. 00:20:17.280 --> 00:20:18.620 Real followers of Jesus 00:20:18.620 --> 00:20:19.300 have a desire 00:20:19.300 --> 00:20:20.400 to have a real relationship 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:20.860 with God 00:20:20.860 --> 00:20:21.760 as their Heavenly Father, 00:20:22.760 --> 00:20:24.420 and we want to talk to him. 00:20:24.860 --> 00:20:25.800 That's what prayer is, 00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:27.260 talking to God. 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:30.440 Once we know 00:20:30.440 --> 00:20:32.640 how to please God 00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:35.280 by spending time with him 00:20:35.280 --> 00:20:36.400 in his word and prayer, 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:37.740 once we know 00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:38.880 how to please God, 00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:40.580 the Holy Spirit 00:20:40.580 --> 00:20:41.480 will give us 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:42.400 those desires 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:43.040 and abilities 00:20:43.040 --> 00:20:43.940 to do it. 00:20:46.060 --> 00:20:46.520 Now, 00:20:47.040 --> 00:20:48.400 the Bible does not teach 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:49.900 this moralistic idea 00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:52.060 that all we need to do 00:20:52.060 --> 00:20:53.340 is just try to be good. 00:20:54.440 --> 00:20:55.780 And if we do our best 00:20:55.780 --> 00:20:56.420 to be good 00:20:56.420 --> 00:20:57.400 and we do more good 00:20:57.400 --> 00:20:57.860 than bad, 00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:58.640 we go to heaven 00:20:58.640 --> 00:20:59.200 when we die. 00:20:59.580 --> 00:21:01.600 That is a lie. 00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:03.660 There is nothing 00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:04.140 in the Bible 00:21:04.140 --> 00:21:05.060 that even implies 00:21:05.060 --> 00:21:06.080 some kind of 00:21:06.080 --> 00:21:07.700 teaching like that. 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:09.780 So I want to ask you, 00:21:10.780 --> 00:21:11.920 are you a Christian? 00:21:12.820 --> 00:21:14.160 Why would you say that? 00:21:16.320 --> 00:21:17.820 Are you trusting Christ 00:21:17.820 --> 00:21:18.520 and him alone 00:21:18.520 --> 00:21:19.300 as your Savior? 00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:21.040 Have you 00:21:21.040 --> 00:21:22.000 and are you still 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:23.220 turning from sin 00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:24.480 as just a way of life? 00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:26.800 Are you seeking, 00:21:26.940 --> 00:21:27.800 do you have the desire 00:21:27.800 --> 00:21:28.660 to be more and more 00:21:28.660 --> 00:21:29.500 like Jesus? 00:21:30.620 --> 00:21:31.880 To please God 00:21:31.880 --> 00:21:32.540 more and more 00:21:32.540 --> 00:21:33.480 by discovering 00:21:34.380 --> 00:21:35.320 how he wants you to live 00:21:35.320 --> 00:21:36.420 and then living that way? 00:21:36.420 --> 00:21:38.980 Do you have the desires 00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:39.620 within you 00:21:39.620 --> 00:21:40.180 that come from 00:21:40.180 --> 00:21:41.100 the Spirit of God 00:21:41.100 --> 00:21:42.300 who indwells you 00:21:42.300 --> 00:21:43.600 when God saves you? 00:21:45.660 --> 00:21:46.220 Number two, 00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:47.500 the Bible does not teach 00:21:47.500 --> 00:21:48.880 the therapeutic idea 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:50.080 that our major problem 00:21:50.080 --> 00:21:51.180 is low self-esteem 00:21:51.180 --> 00:21:52.940 and that God's main concern 00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:54.060 is to make us feel better 00:21:54.060 --> 00:21:55.100 about ourselves. 00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:59.740 This therapeutic teaching, 00:21:59.920 --> 00:22:00.500 number three, 00:22:00.900 --> 00:22:02.340 the central goal of life 00:22:02.340 --> 00:22:03.120 is to be happy 00:22:03.120 --> 00:22:04.539 and to feel good 00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:05.779 about oneself. 00:22:07.159 --> 00:22:07.480 Now, 00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:09.420 everybody wants to be happy. 00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:11.659 Everybody wants to feel good 00:22:11.659 --> 00:22:12.379 about themselves. 00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:14.899 Problem is, 00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:16.960 we decide 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:18.339 the best way 00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:19.099 to make us happy 00:22:19.099 --> 00:22:19.639 and feel good 00:22:19.639 --> 00:22:20.420 about ourselves. 00:22:22.299 --> 00:22:23.379 The problem is 00:22:23.379 --> 00:22:24.639 we put ourself 00:22:24.639 --> 00:22:26.019 at the center of life. 00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:28.440 That's the problem. 00:22:30.119 --> 00:22:30.960 In today's 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:33.539 therapeutic age, 00:22:33.539 --> 00:22:35.879 human problems 00:22:35.879 --> 00:22:36.440 are identified 00:22:36.440 --> 00:22:37.099 as anything 00:22:37.099 --> 00:22:37.899 and everything 00:22:37.899 --> 00:22:40.500 except the result 00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:41.740 of our sinful choices. 00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:44.599 Solutions are identified 00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:45.399 today in terms 00:22:45.399 --> 00:22:46.420 of treatment plans 00:22:46.420 --> 00:22:47.779 and self-help programs. 00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:50.099 But rarely do you hear 00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:50.879 people talking today 00:22:50.879 --> 00:22:51.259 about 00:22:51.259 --> 00:22:53.920 the problem 00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:54.359 comes from 00:22:54.359 --> 00:22:55.359 my sinful choices 00:22:55.359 --> 00:22:58.399 and I need to repent. 00:22:58.639 --> 00:22:59.599 I need to change 00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:00.599 the way that I 00:23:00.599 --> 00:23:01.559 am choosing 00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:02.259 to respond 00:23:02.259 --> 00:23:02.859 to the truth 00:23:02.859 --> 00:23:03.720 of God's word. 00:23:04.200 --> 00:23:04.279 Now, 00:23:04.339 --> 00:23:04.819 let me say this. 00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:06.539 For sure, 00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.299 every problem 00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:07.879 we deal with 00:23:07.879 --> 00:23:09.000 is not a sin problem. 00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:10.879 It is not. 00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:13.259 There are some 00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:14.500 personal issues. 00:23:14.919 --> 00:23:15.279 There are some 00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:16.240 relational issues, 00:23:16.359 --> 00:23:17.200 emotional issues. 00:23:17.899 --> 00:23:18.500 It would do 00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:19.019 a lot of people 00:23:19.019 --> 00:23:19.919 good to talk 00:23:19.919 --> 00:23:21.419 to a true, 00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:22.960 trained, 00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:24.460 biblically sound 00:23:24.460 --> 00:23:25.159 counselor. 00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:26.900 It's like you go 00:23:26.900 --> 00:23:28.220 to a doctor, 00:23:28.360 --> 00:23:29.040 physical doctor, 00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:30.320 MD for a health 00:23:30.320 --> 00:23:30.840 problem, 00:23:31.320 --> 00:23:32.400 physical health. 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:33.600 There's people 00:23:33.600 --> 00:23:34.400 that could help you 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:35.620 with some issues 00:23:35.620 --> 00:23:37.279 if you give them 00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:37.860 the opportunity. 00:23:40.140 --> 00:23:41.160 Every problem 00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:42.620 is not a sin problem. 00:23:42.820 --> 00:23:43.779 Hear me say that. 00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:46.040 But many of the 00:23:46.040 --> 00:23:46.940 problems we deal 00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:47.360 with 00:23:47.360 --> 00:23:49.519 are a direct 00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:50.200 result 00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:51.360 of our sinful 00:23:51.360 --> 00:23:51.880 choices. 00:23:51.880 --> 00:23:53.520 And when that's 00:23:53.520 --> 00:23:54.120 the case, 00:23:54.880 --> 00:23:55.440 we'll never 00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:56.240 find answers 00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:57.080 when we ignore 00:23:57.080 --> 00:23:57.700 or deny 00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:58.740 our responsibility 00:23:58.740 --> 00:23:59.500 for our sinful 00:23:59.500 --> 00:23:59.880 choices. 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:00.520 Let me give you 00:24:00.520 --> 00:24:01.020 an example. 00:24:01.300 --> 00:24:01.960 The last two weeks 00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:02.400 we've been talking 00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:03.200 about marriage. 00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:05.080 We've been talking 00:24:05.080 --> 00:24:05.980 about God's design 00:24:05.980 --> 00:24:06.380 for marriage. 00:24:06.500 --> 00:24:06.940 Let's just say 00:24:06.940 --> 00:24:07.860 Genesis 2, 00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:08.840 24 right now. 00:24:10.140 --> 00:24:11.640 It's God's intent 00:24:11.640 --> 00:24:13.100 for a married couple 00:24:13.100 --> 00:24:14.800 to leave their parents, 00:24:15.760 --> 00:24:16.440 be united 00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:17.140 to one another 00:24:17.140 --> 00:24:18.160 in a one flesh 00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:18.820 relationship. 00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:22.200 It may be 00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:22.679 that some of your 00:24:22.679 --> 00:24:23.819 marital problems 00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:24.419 are from your 00:24:24.419 --> 00:24:25.539 sinful choice 00:24:25.539 --> 00:24:26.259 of refusing 00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:27.460 to let go 00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:28.159 of your parents 00:24:28.159 --> 00:24:29.799 and make your spouse 00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:30.559 the number one person 00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:31.339 in your life, 00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:32.200 humanly speaking. 00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:35.159 It may be 00:24:35.159 --> 00:24:35.659 the problem 00:24:35.659 --> 00:24:36.460 in your marriage 00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:37.579 is your sinful choice 00:24:37.579 --> 00:24:38.139 just to be 00:24:38.139 --> 00:24:39.460 a selfish person 00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:40.980 and expect your spouse 00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:42.419 to live for you, 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:43.659 to please you, 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:44.439 rather than you 00:24:44.439 --> 00:24:45.299 living for him 00:24:45.299 --> 00:24:45.659 or her 00:24:45.659 --> 00:24:46.740 to serve him 00:24:46.740 --> 00:24:47.200 or her. 00:24:48.819 --> 00:24:49.659 as a part 00:24:49.659 --> 00:24:50.700 of your own life 00:24:50.700 --> 00:24:51.599 because you're 00:24:51.599 --> 00:24:52.579 that one flesh. 00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:57.200 The Bible 00:24:57.200 --> 00:24:57.639 has a lot 00:24:57.639 --> 00:24:58.099 to say 00:24:58.099 --> 00:25:00.839 about how 00:25:00.839 --> 00:25:01.399 we relate 00:25:01.399 --> 00:25:02.179 to self 00:25:02.179 --> 00:25:04.460 and most 00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:04.700 of it 00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:05.619 can be 00:25:05.619 --> 00:25:06.259 classified 00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:06.799 in terms 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:07.899 of humbling 00:25:07.899 --> 00:25:08.579 ourselves, 00:25:08.939 --> 00:25:10.000 not exalting 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:10.519 ourselves 00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:12.279 and denying 00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:13.179 ourselves, 00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:14.500 not 00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:15.799 indulging 00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:16.460 ourselves. 00:25:16.460 --> 00:25:17.900 The Bible 00:25:17.900 --> 00:25:18.319 repeatedly 00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:18.900 calls us 00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:19.279 to guard 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:19.620 against 00:25:19.620 --> 00:25:20.220 exalting 00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:20.680 ourselves 00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:21.519 by warning 00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:22.100 us against 00:25:22.100 --> 00:25:22.579 the sin 00:25:22.579 --> 00:25:23.240 of pride. 00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:24.039 Look quickly. 00:25:24.360 --> 00:25:24.860 Jesus made 00:25:24.860 --> 00:25:25.519 this clear. 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:26.259 He says, 00:25:26.380 --> 00:25:26.620 for everyone 00:25:26.620 --> 00:25:27.120 who exalts 00:25:27.120 --> 00:25:27.559 himself 00:25:27.559 --> 00:25:28.220 will be humbled, 00:25:28.420 --> 00:25:28.840 but the one 00:25:28.840 --> 00:25:29.299 who humbles 00:25:29.299 --> 00:25:29.660 himself 00:25:29.660 --> 00:25:30.500 will be exalted. 00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:31.860 Peter echoed 00:25:31.860 --> 00:25:32.220 this. 00:25:32.640 --> 00:25:33.579 Clothe yourselves, 00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:34.400 all of you, 00:25:34.539 --> 00:25:35.180 with humility 00:25:35.180 --> 00:25:36.039 toward one another. 00:25:36.140 --> 00:25:36.500 Stop. 00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:40.019 Just go back 00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:40.680 to marriage 00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:41.880 or just 00:25:41.880 --> 00:25:42.640 your home. 00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:43.759 Spouse, 00:25:44.039 --> 00:25:44.279 husband, 00:25:44.380 --> 00:25:45.059 wife relationships, 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:45.440 parent, 00:25:45.559 --> 00:25:46.480 child relationships. 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:48.460 Could it be 00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:48.700 that some 00:25:48.700 --> 00:25:49.420 of the tension, 00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:51.200 some of the 00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:51.980 hostility, 00:25:52.579 --> 00:25:53.420 some of the 00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:54.140 issues that 00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:55.259 you're dealing 00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:55.740 with in your 00:25:55.740 --> 00:25:57.240 home is 00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:57.640 because you're 00:25:57.640 --> 00:25:58.279 just a prideful 00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:58.660 person. 00:26:00.660 --> 00:26:01.579 You expect 00:26:01.579 --> 00:26:02.119 everybody in the 00:26:02.119 --> 00:26:03.019 house to sit 00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:03.400 up and take 00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:04.200 notice and wait 00:26:04.200 --> 00:26:04.680 on you. 00:26:04.680 --> 00:26:06.000 It's all 00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:06.600 about me. 00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:08.560 Children think 00:26:08.560 --> 00:26:08.860 that. 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:09.920 Parents think 00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:10.240 that. 00:26:10.560 --> 00:26:11.140 Some wives 00:26:11.140 --> 00:26:11.539 think that. 00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:12.180 Some husbands 00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:12.759 think that. 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:16.080 And that's 00:26:16.080 --> 00:26:17.240 the foundational 00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:17.740 problem. 00:26:18.080 --> 00:26:18.820 You're a prideful 00:26:18.820 --> 00:26:19.200 person. 00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:21.039 You're arrogant. 00:26:22.120 --> 00:26:22.860 Your spouse 00:26:22.860 --> 00:26:23.320 is supposed to 00:26:23.320 --> 00:26:24.019 serve you 00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:24.860 no matter what. 00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:25.920 Your children 00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:26.320 are supposed to 00:26:26.320 --> 00:26:27.299 bow down to you 00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:27.940 no matter what. 00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:29.000 Or your parents 00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:29.420 are supposed to 00:26:29.420 --> 00:26:30.039 do whatever you 00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:30.620 want them to do 00:26:30.620 --> 00:26:31.299 no matter what. 00:26:34.680 --> 00:26:36.340 Peter says, 00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:37.500 clothe yourselves, 00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:38.500 all of you, 00:26:38.860 --> 00:26:39.500 with humility 00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:40.140 toward one 00:26:40.140 --> 00:26:40.480 another. 00:26:41.100 --> 00:26:41.539 For God 00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:42.240 opposes the 00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:43.860 proud, but 00:26:43.860 --> 00:26:44.720 he gives grace 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:45.940 to the humble. 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:49.580 Our major 00:26:49.580 --> 00:26:51.880 problem is not 00:26:51.880 --> 00:26:52.799 low self-esteem. 00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:55.500 God's main 00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:56.480 concern is to 00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:57.019 not make us 00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:57.820 feel better 00:26:57.820 --> 00:26:59.240 about ourselves. 00:27:00.320 --> 00:27:01.759 That's heresy. 00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:04.000 That's in fact 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:05.019 the opposite 00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:06.140 of what the 00:27:06.140 --> 00:27:06.960 scripture teaches. 00:27:07.859 --> 00:27:08.220 Let's look at 00:27:08.220 --> 00:27:08.579 one more. 00:27:08.879 --> 00:27:09.400 The Bible does 00:27:09.400 --> 00:27:09.879 not teach 00:27:09.879 --> 00:27:11.019 deism, that 00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:11.579 God created 00:27:11.579 --> 00:27:12.140 the world, but 00:27:12.140 --> 00:27:12.779 does not remain 00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.700 actively involved 00:27:13.700 --> 00:27:14.200 in guiding 00:27:14.200 --> 00:27:15.019 everything according 00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:15.680 to his purpose. 00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:18.359 This moralistic 00:27:18.359 --> 00:27:19.299 therapeutic deism 00:27:19.299 --> 00:27:19.980 teaches that a 00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:20.839 God exists who 00:27:20.839 --> 00:27:21.539 created and ordered 00:27:21.539 --> 00:27:22.119 the world and 00:27:22.119 --> 00:27:22.920 watches over human 00:27:22.920 --> 00:27:23.799 life on earth. 00:27:25.420 --> 00:27:26.700 Good, as far as 00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:27.279 it goes. 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:28.400 But look at the 00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:28.879 next one, number 00:27:28.879 --> 00:27:29.160 four. 00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:30.480 God does not 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:31.079 need to be 00:27:31.079 --> 00:27:31.639 particularly 00:27:31.639 --> 00:27:32.559 involved in 00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:33.359 one's life 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:34.000 except when 00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:35.059 God is needed 00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:36.659 to resolve a 00:27:36.659 --> 00:27:37.220 problem. 00:27:38.159 --> 00:27:38.819 For sake of 00:27:38.819 --> 00:27:39.240 time, I'm 00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:39.579 going to skip 00:27:39.579 --> 00:27:40.539 over the 00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:42.159 teaching that 00:27:42.159 --> 00:27:43.899 God is involved 00:27:43.899 --> 00:27:44.619 in every detail 00:27:44.619 --> 00:27:45.179 of life. 00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:46.639 That God is 00:27:46.639 --> 00:27:47.079 working out 00:27:47.079 --> 00:27:47.679 everything according 00:27:47.679 --> 00:27:48.819 to his eternal 00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:49.919 plan in your 00:27:49.919 --> 00:27:50.720 life, in this 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:51.159 world, and 00:27:51.159 --> 00:27:51.500 everything. 00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:53.659 I want to 00:27:53.659 --> 00:27:54.480 zero in on one 00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:55.279 major point that 00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:55.779 needs to be made 00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:56.679 about this last 00:27:56.679 --> 00:27:58.000 heretical idea. 00:27:58.439 --> 00:27:58.799 Look at it 00:27:58.799 --> 00:27:59.079 again. 00:27:59.419 --> 00:28:00.059 God does not 00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:00.619 need to be 00:28:00.619 --> 00:28:01.119 particularly 00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:01.879 involved in 00:28:01.879 --> 00:28:02.579 one's life 00:28:02.579 --> 00:28:03.139 except when 00:28:03.139 --> 00:28:03.959 God is needed 00:28:03.959 --> 00:28:04.879 to resolve a 00:28:04.879 --> 00:28:05.339 problem. 00:28:05.679 --> 00:28:06.139 That's like 00:28:06.139 --> 00:28:06.899 saying God is 00:28:06.899 --> 00:28:07.739 always there for 00:28:07.739 --> 00:28:07.979 me. 00:28:09.659 --> 00:28:10.359 Now I know 00:28:10.359 --> 00:28:12.959 as Christians 00:28:12.959 --> 00:28:15.359 we may not 00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:16.099 mean it to 00:28:16.099 --> 00:28:16.899 sound as bad 00:28:16.899 --> 00:28:17.579 as it does 00:28:17.579 --> 00:28:19.839 when we say 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:20.799 well God's 00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:21.579 always there for 00:28:21.579 --> 00:28:21.839 me. 00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:23.319 But let it 00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:24.000 sink in what 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:24.399 you're saying 00:28:24.399 --> 00:28:25.039 if you really 00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:26.299 believe that. 00:28:26.299 --> 00:28:31.480 to think God's 00:28:31.480 --> 00:28:32.139 always there for 00:28:32.139 --> 00:28:32.359 me. 00:28:32.759 --> 00:28:33.399 As if he's on 00:28:33.399 --> 00:28:33.960 the side 00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:36.539 waiting like a 00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:37.299 bellhop. 00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:39.839 That's one of 00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:40.059 the most 00:28:40.059 --> 00:28:41.000 blasphemous, 00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:42.559 God 00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:43.339 dishonoring, 00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:44.879 and personally 00:28:44.879 --> 00:28:46.119 arrogant statements 00:28:46.119 --> 00:28:46.759 a human being 00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:47.460 can make. 00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:48.859 I want you to 00:28:48.859 --> 00:28:49.220 look at what 00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:50.019 David Wells, 00:28:50.119 --> 00:28:50.779 a theologian, 00:28:51.139 --> 00:28:52.720 says about 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:53.200 this. 00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:54.720 He says God 00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:55.360 is not there 00:28:55.360 --> 00:28:56.380 to conform to 00:28:56.380 --> 00:28:57.240 us, we must 00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:57.920 conform to 00:28:57.920 --> 00:28:58.220 him. 00:28:58.779 --> 00:29:00.100 He summons us 00:29:00.100 --> 00:29:00.759 to know him. 00:29:01.100 --> 00:29:01.980 We are summoned 00:29:01.980 --> 00:29:03.059 to know him 00:29:03.059 --> 00:29:04.100 only on his 00:29:04.100 --> 00:29:04.559 terms. 00:29:04.940 --> 00:29:05.580 He is not 00:29:05.580 --> 00:29:06.460 known on our 00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:06.960 terms. 00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:08.759 This summons is 00:29:08.759 --> 00:29:09.519 heard in and 00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:10.360 through his word. 00:29:10.700 --> 00:29:11.660 It is not heard 00:29:11.660 --> 00:29:12.480 through our 00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:13.759 intuitions. 00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:15.700 God is not 00:29:15.700 --> 00:29:16.840 there at our 00:29:16.840 --> 00:29:18.400 convenience or 00:29:18.400 --> 00:29:19.779 simply for our 00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:20.819 healings or 00:29:20.819 --> 00:29:21.640 simply as the 00:29:21.640 --> 00:29:22.880 divine teller 00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:24.120 handing out 00:29:24.120 --> 00:29:25.220 stuff from his 00:29:25.220 --> 00:29:25.680 bank. 00:29:26.020 --> 00:29:26.920 No, we are 00:29:26.920 --> 00:29:27.780 here for his 00:29:27.780 --> 00:29:28.220 service. 00:29:28.660 --> 00:29:29.320 We are here to 00:29:29.320 --> 00:29:30.680 know him as 00:29:30.680 --> 00:29:31.920 he is and not 00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:32.940 as we want him 00:29:32.940 --> 00:29:33.500 to be. 00:29:35.380 --> 00:29:36.440 God is not who 00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:37.600 you think he is 00:29:37.600 --> 00:29:38.220 or want him to 00:29:38.220 --> 00:29:39.020 be or imagine 00:29:39.020 --> 00:29:39.460 him to be. 00:29:39.660 --> 00:29:40.940 God is as he 00:29:40.940 --> 00:29:42.000 is and he has 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:42.840 revealed himself 00:29:42.840 --> 00:29:43.840 in his word. 00:29:45.120 --> 00:29:45.680 I think one of 00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:46.180 the best ways to 00:29:46.180 --> 00:29:47.180 describe this is 00:29:47.180 --> 00:29:48.860 like this. 00:29:49.960 --> 00:29:50.840 I'm a father 00:29:50.840 --> 00:29:52.220 of two sons. 00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:55.320 I've got two 00:29:55.320 --> 00:29:56.200 little grandchildren. 00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:59.380 If my sons and 00:29:59.380 --> 00:30:00.180 my grandchildren 00:30:00.180 --> 00:30:03.040 never come around 00:30:03.040 --> 00:30:05.200 me, never call 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:07.080 me, never have 00:30:07.080 --> 00:30:07.840 anything to do 00:30:07.840 --> 00:30:09.020 with me except 00:30:09.020 --> 00:30:11.540 when they get in a 00:30:11.540 --> 00:30:14.040 bind and then 00:30:14.040 --> 00:30:19.140 dad, bop, I'm 00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:19.900 going to resent it. 00:30:19.900 --> 00:30:22.940 I'm going to see 00:30:22.940 --> 00:30:23.540 through it. 00:30:24.759 --> 00:30:25.680 They don't care 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:26.180 about me. 00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:26.700 They care about 00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:27.300 what I can do 00:30:27.300 --> 00:30:27.840 for them. 00:30:29.840 --> 00:30:30.560 I want to tell 00:30:30.560 --> 00:30:32.400 you young people, 00:30:32.519 --> 00:30:34.480 graduates, don't 00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:35.600 go off to college 00:30:35.600 --> 00:30:36.540 and your parents 00:30:36.540 --> 00:30:37.560 never hear from 00:30:37.560 --> 00:30:38.360 you until you 00:30:38.360 --> 00:30:39.180 want something. 00:30:40.600 --> 00:30:41.600 You're using 00:30:41.600 --> 00:30:41.880 them. 00:30:41.960 --> 00:30:42.660 You're abusing 00:30:42.660 --> 00:30:42.980 them. 00:30:43.040 --> 00:30:43.700 If I was them, 00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:45.519 I wouldn't be 00:30:45.519 --> 00:30:46.019 abused. 00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:47.720 It's 00:30:47.720 --> 00:30:48.500 dishonoring. 00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:49.839 It's 00:30:49.839 --> 00:30:50.720 disgraceful. 00:30:52.039 --> 00:30:53.379 That is how a lot 00:30:53.379 --> 00:30:55.200 of people and 00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:55.960 even some 00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:56.599 professing 00:30:56.599 --> 00:30:57.720 Christians treat 00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:58.279 God. 00:30:59.420 --> 00:30:59.960 He's on the 00:30:59.960 --> 00:31:00.639 sideline. 00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:02.920 He's there when I 00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:03.519 need him. 00:31:06.059 --> 00:31:07.099 But there's no 00:31:07.099 --> 00:31:07.700 relationship. 00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:09.639 There's no ongoing 00:31:09.639 --> 00:31:10.379 fellowship. 00:31:11.019 --> 00:31:11.980 There's no talking 00:31:11.980 --> 00:31:12.980 to him, listening to 00:31:12.980 --> 00:31:14.019 him, no interaction 00:31:14.019 --> 00:31:14.900 with him, no concern 00:31:14.900 --> 00:31:16.120 about pleasing him 00:31:16.120 --> 00:31:17.900 until I need 00:31:17.900 --> 00:31:18.380 something. 00:31:19.120 --> 00:31:19.640 If that's your 00:31:19.640 --> 00:31:20.259 relationship with 00:31:20.259 --> 00:31:21.040 God, you have no 00:31:21.040 --> 00:31:21.700 relationship with 00:31:21.700 --> 00:31:21.960 God. 00:31:23.080 --> 00:31:24.380 You are doing more 00:31:24.380 --> 00:31:26.259 to anger him, to 00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:27.320 dishonor him, to 00:31:27.320 --> 00:31:28.300 disrespect him than 00:31:28.300 --> 00:31:29.380 anything by that 00:31:29.380 --> 00:31:29.820 attitude. 00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:34.840 Hear carefully 00:31:34.840 --> 00:31:35.460 this morning. 00:31:36.740 --> 00:31:37.900 The concept of 00:31:37.900 --> 00:31:39.000 moralistic therapeutic 00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:42.620 deism shows the 00:31:42.620 --> 00:31:44.880 shallowness of a 00:31:44.880 --> 00:31:45.880 American Christianity 00:31:45.880 --> 00:31:47.880 and it shows us 00:31:47.880 --> 00:31:49.000 there is a false 00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:50.140 gospel that many 00:31:50.140 --> 00:31:51.420 people have placed 00:31:51.420 --> 00:31:52.160 their hope in. 00:31:53.900 --> 00:31:55.140 And my prayer is 00:31:55.140 --> 00:31:55.900 that there's no one 00:31:55.900 --> 00:31:58.620 here that is placing 00:31:58.620 --> 00:31:59.420 your hope in such a 00:31:59.420 --> 00:31:59.760 gospel. 00:32:00.440 --> 00:32:01.760 But if you realize 00:32:01.760 --> 00:32:03.240 you have, you are, 00:32:05.040 --> 00:32:06.300 admit it to God 00:32:06.300 --> 00:32:06.680 now. 00:32:07.640 --> 00:32:08.420 Admit that you've 00:32:08.420 --> 00:32:09.460 been abusing him, 00:32:09.640 --> 00:32:10.620 dishonoring him, 00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:11.900 that you've been trying 00:32:11.900 --> 00:32:12.760 to work your way to 00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:13.579 heaven or whatever it 00:32:13.579 --> 00:32:13.940 is. 00:32:14.640 --> 00:32:15.599 Confess your sin. 00:32:16.019 --> 00:32:17.079 Repent of your sin. 00:32:18.119 --> 00:32:19.579 Put your trust truly in 00:32:19.579 --> 00:32:20.759 Jesus as your Savior and 00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:21.000 Lord. 00:32:22.920 --> 00:32:24.680 Seek to truly follow him, 00:32:25.259 --> 00:32:26.900 to please him, to serve 00:32:26.900 --> 00:32:28.220 him, to do his will. 00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:32.879 And you will find in, as 00:32:32.879 --> 00:32:35.680 Jesus said, if you'll lose 00:32:35.680 --> 00:32:37.500 your life for his sake, 00:32:37.500 --> 00:32:39.740 that's when you will 00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:42.140 really get the best life. 00:32:43.140 --> 00:32:44.440 Because that will be 00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:46.720 God's will, God's way. 00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:48.819 That's the way you'll most 00:32:48.819 --> 00:32:50.240 honor God and please him. 00:32:50.579 --> 00:32:51.660 That's the way you'll most 00:32:51.660 --> 00:32:53.019 impact other people in the 00:32:53.019 --> 00:32:54.000 right kind of way. 00:32:55.680 --> 00:32:57.220 And if you really want to 00:32:57.220 --> 00:32:58.480 feel the best about 00:32:58.480 --> 00:33:01.680 yourself, live life God's 00:33:01.680 --> 00:33:02.000 way. 00:33:03.000 --> 00:33:05.460 Humbling yourself, loving 00:33:05.460 --> 00:33:07.160 him, loving others, serving 00:33:07.160 --> 00:33:08.779 him, serving others. 00:33:09.600 --> 00:33:12.440 And you can feel good 00:33:12.440 --> 00:33:15.380 about that kind of God 00:33:15.380 --> 00:33:17.160 honoring, Christ 00:33:17.160 --> 00:33:19.019 following self. 00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:20.759 Let's pray together. 00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:25.840 Lord, show each of us how 00:33:25.840 --> 00:33:27.299 we should respond right now. 00:33:27.299 --> 00:33:37.440 Father, help us to not be 00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:41.680 mistaken in thinking that 00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:44.500 somehow or another, if we 00:33:44.500 --> 00:33:45.799 just do more good than bad, 00:33:45.879 --> 00:33:46.960 you'll accept us in heaven 00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:48.180 one day or that we can have 00:33:48.180 --> 00:33:49.159 a good relationship with you 00:33:49.159 --> 00:33:49.480 now. 00:33:50.819 --> 00:33:53.299 Help us to see and admit our 00:33:53.940 --> 00:33:55.639 sinfulness, the fact that we 00:33:55.639 --> 00:33:56.859 don't deserve a relationship 00:33:56.859 --> 00:33:58.439 with you, but that by your 00:33:58.439 --> 00:34:00.159 love and grace and mercy, you 00:34:00.159 --> 00:34:01.959 provide it through faith in 00:34:01.959 --> 00:34:02.419 Jesus. 00:34:07.279 --> 00:34:08.440 Lord, show every person in 00:34:08.440 --> 00:34:09.339 this room how they should 00:34:09.339 --> 00:34:10.480 respond to this message. 00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:15.039 For some, dear God, show them 00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:16.380 they need to thank their 00:34:16.380 --> 00:34:18.799 parents for being faithful to 00:34:18.799 --> 00:34:19.940 the truth of your word and 00:34:19.940 --> 00:34:21.119 guiding them in the right way. 00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:22.679 Or they need to be thankful to 00:34:22.679 --> 00:34:23.819 their Sunday school teacher or 00:34:23.819 --> 00:34:24.619 some other teacher. 00:34:26.860 --> 00:34:29.480 show us how we should respond. 00:34:30.780 --> 00:34:31.620 Help us to do that. 00:34:31.900 --> 00:34:32.579 And then an attitude of 00:34:32.579 --> 00:34:34.720 prayer, let's just do what God 00:34:34.720 --> 00:34:35.300 tells us to do. 00:34:35.340 --> 00:34:36.599 The heads bowed, eyes closed. 00:34:37.260 --> 00:34:38.440 If you'd like, I'd be happy to 00:34:38.440 --> 00:34:39.400 pray with you here in front of 00:34:39.400 --> 00:34:41.700 this room here in the next few 00:34:41.700 --> 00:34:42.099 minutes. 00:34:42.099 --> 00:34:42.519 Matthew 16. 00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:44.219 Until post time. 00:34:47.159 --> 00:34:47.980 Yeah. 00:34:48.059 --> 00:34:48.639 Incauchen. 00:34:48.759 --> 00:34:49.079 Hayesz.