WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.060 Have you ever thought about the variety of ways 00:00:04.060 --> 00:00:07.480 that we all use the word love? 00:00:08.900 --> 00:00:11.580 I'm gonna guess, hopefully I'm right, 00:00:12.259 --> 00:00:15.839 you have told your spouse very recently 00:00:15.839 --> 00:00:19.359 that you love her or you love him. 00:00:20.400 --> 00:00:22.600 But you may have also said, 00:00:23.039 --> 00:00:25.019 or at least you've heard somebody say, 00:00:25.019 --> 00:00:28.320 I love my dog. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.780 I love the weather we're having right now. 00:00:34.679 --> 00:00:39.920 I love that movie that I saw last week. 00:00:40.600 --> 00:00:42.280 I love ice cream. 00:00:43.880 --> 00:00:45.200 Now, think. 00:00:46.280 --> 00:00:49.719 Do you love ice cream, movies, the weather, and your dog 00:00:49.719 --> 00:00:52.519 the same way that you love your spouse? 00:00:55.480 --> 00:00:57.340 Now, I hope nobody would say yes. 00:00:57.340 --> 00:01:01.980 But I'm just trying to show this word love. 00:01:03.200 --> 00:01:07.939 We have a hard time nailing down a definition. 00:01:08.120 --> 00:01:10.960 We have a hard way of describing what we mean. 00:01:11.760 --> 00:01:15.340 But most people, if you do pin them down, 00:01:16.439 --> 00:01:20.180 in some way they will use the word feeling 00:01:20.180 --> 00:01:23.800 to describe what they mean by love. 00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:27.140 That's the most popular way to describe it today. 00:01:27.740 --> 00:01:28.760 You hear it all the time. 00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:32.620 Somebody can fall in or out of love. 00:01:33.320 --> 00:01:35.980 Some people have a burning love one day, 00:01:36.700 --> 00:01:38.380 but later on it burns out. 00:01:39.960 --> 00:01:44.500 We just have a difficult time describing what the word love means, 00:01:44.500 --> 00:01:47.739 but the Apostle Paul didn't have that problem. 00:01:48.680 --> 00:01:51.000 I want you to turn with me to Romans chapter 12 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:56.120 and see how he described the love that God intends for his children, 00:01:56.280 --> 00:01:59.560 us, to demonstrate toward one another. 00:02:00.280 --> 00:02:02.079 And as we go through this, we're going to see, 00:02:03.740 --> 00:02:05.200 as Paul describes love, 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:07.439 it's an attitude. 00:02:09.060 --> 00:02:10.780 It is a mindset, 00:02:11.500 --> 00:02:14.439 not really an emotion. 00:02:15.939 --> 00:02:19.199 What we're going to see is that God commands us to love one another. 00:02:20.199 --> 00:02:21.099 And you think about it. 00:02:21.099 --> 00:02:25.199 If God commands us to do this, 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:25.980 to love one another, 00:02:26.759 --> 00:02:28.379 it cannot be a feeling 00:02:28.379 --> 00:02:31.020 because you cannot make someone. 00:02:31.199 --> 00:02:35.140 You cannot command someone to feel a certain way. 00:02:35.199 --> 00:02:35.479 Can you? 00:02:36.780 --> 00:02:39.039 No, love is something that we do. 00:02:40.039 --> 00:02:41.000 Love is a choice. 00:02:42.759 --> 00:02:44.419 Love is a commitment. 00:02:45.979 --> 00:02:48.280 It may or may not be 00:02:48.280 --> 00:02:50.479 something we feel 00:02:50.479 --> 00:02:52.399 in every situation. 00:02:53.519 --> 00:02:56.039 This kind of love is described in Romans chapter 12, 00:02:56.120 --> 00:02:57.439 verses 9 through 13. 00:02:58.120 --> 00:02:59.620 But before we read this, 00:03:00.399 --> 00:03:02.199 I want you to keep something in mind 00:03:02.199 --> 00:03:05.439 because what we're going to read, 00:03:05.659 --> 00:03:07.219 in some ways you're going to think, 00:03:07.359 --> 00:03:08.879 well, this just is impossible. 00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:11.339 And it's impossible to love 00:03:11.339 --> 00:03:13.759 a certain person 00:03:13.759 --> 00:03:15.699 like this. 00:03:16.359 --> 00:03:17.379 Keep in mind, 00:03:17.799 --> 00:03:20.099 Paul is writing to Christians. 00:03:20.099 --> 00:03:25.340 The other long description 00:03:25.340 --> 00:03:29.099 or comments on love 00:03:29.099 --> 00:03:31.159 is in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. 00:03:31.859 --> 00:03:33.620 Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 13 00:03:33.620 --> 00:03:35.459 about what love is 00:03:35.459 --> 00:03:37.419 and all these kind of things, 00:03:37.500 --> 00:03:38.799 how superior love is 00:03:38.799 --> 00:03:40.959 above everything else, 00:03:41.819 --> 00:03:43.039 the greatest Christian virtue. 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:46.219 Paul writes in Romans, 00:03:46.879 --> 00:03:47.900 he writes in Corinthians 00:03:47.900 --> 00:03:49.500 to Christians. 00:03:50.500 --> 00:03:52.519 When God saved us, 00:03:52.979 --> 00:03:55.139 He put His Spirit in us. 00:03:56.659 --> 00:03:58.560 We have the ability, 00:03:59.219 --> 00:04:03.620 not because of our strength, 00:04:03.979 --> 00:04:06.459 not because we're something special, 00:04:06.780 --> 00:04:07.599 we have the ability 00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:09.379 because the Spirit of God lives within us, 00:04:09.379 --> 00:04:13.379 to love people 00:04:13.379 --> 00:04:17.060 just like we're going to read about 00:04:17.060 --> 00:04:18.500 in this chapter. 00:04:20.040 --> 00:04:22.319 You can love 00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:24.639 some hard-to-love people 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:25.659 in your life. 00:04:26.040 --> 00:04:26.740 And there are people 00:04:26.740 --> 00:04:27.500 who are hard to love. 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:29.819 There are people that 00:04:29.819 --> 00:04:33.120 it's just everything within you 00:04:33.120 --> 00:04:34.079 as a Christian 00:04:34.079 --> 00:04:36.439 to love. 00:04:37.939 --> 00:04:39.000 But we can. 00:04:39.379 --> 00:04:41.060 The key is 00:04:41.060 --> 00:04:41.819 we've got to 00:04:41.819 --> 00:04:45.040 cooperate with the Spirit of God 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:47.659 when He prompts us 00:04:47.659 --> 00:04:49.759 to keep our mouth closed, 00:04:50.060 --> 00:04:52.180 when He prompts us 00:04:52.180 --> 00:04:54.240 to act a certain way 00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:56.279 towards some of these 00:04:56.279 --> 00:04:57.779 hard-to-love people. 00:04:58.120 --> 00:04:59.019 We've got to cooperate 00:04:59.019 --> 00:04:59.740 with the Holy Spirit 00:04:59.740 --> 00:05:01.379 and we've got to learn 00:05:01.379 --> 00:05:03.100 to develop this loving attitude 00:05:03.100 --> 00:05:04.959 that will translate 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:06.620 into loving actions 00:05:06.620 --> 00:05:08.500 like we read about 00:05:08.500 --> 00:05:09.840 in these verses. 00:05:10.540 --> 00:05:11.340 Romans 12. 00:05:12.280 --> 00:05:13.100 Let's read it. 00:05:13.160 --> 00:05:14.360 Verses 9 through 13. 00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:18.720 Let love be genuine. 00:05:20.040 --> 00:05:21.420 Abhor what is evil. 00:05:22.379 --> 00:05:23.620 Strongly hate 00:05:23.620 --> 00:05:24.840 what is evil. 00:05:25.519 --> 00:05:26.360 Hold fast 00:05:26.360 --> 00:05:27.040 to what is good. 00:05:27.860 --> 00:05:28.500 Love one another 00:05:28.500 --> 00:05:29.780 with brotherly affection. 00:05:30.180 --> 00:05:31.340 Outdo one another 00:05:31.340 --> 00:05:32.340 in showing honor. 00:05:32.339 --> 00:05:34.159 Do not be slothful 00:05:34.159 --> 00:05:34.779 and zeal. 00:05:35.239 --> 00:05:35.859 Be fervent 00:05:35.859 --> 00:05:36.500 and spirit. 00:05:36.859 --> 00:05:37.779 That's a little s 00:05:37.779 --> 00:05:39.859 in most translations. 00:05:40.119 --> 00:05:41.159 It is what I'm reading 00:05:41.159 --> 00:05:42.159 today in ESV. 00:05:42.739 --> 00:05:43.339 He's talking about 00:05:43.339 --> 00:05:44.560 our spirit here, 00:05:44.719 --> 00:05:45.759 not the Holy Spirit. 00:05:46.139 --> 00:05:47.299 Although that's not, 00:05:48.339 --> 00:05:49.219 it's possible 00:05:49.219 --> 00:05:49.759 He's talking about 00:05:49.759 --> 00:05:50.239 the Holy Spirit. 00:05:51.459 --> 00:05:51.879 But we're going to 00:05:51.879 --> 00:05:52.459 take it as 00:05:52.459 --> 00:05:55.919 do not be slothful 00:05:55.919 --> 00:05:56.339 and zeal. 00:05:56.859 --> 00:05:57.439 Be fervent 00:05:57.439 --> 00:05:58.719 in your spirit 00:05:58.719 --> 00:05:59.759 as you serve 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:00.240 the Lord. 00:06:02.939 --> 00:06:04.000 Rejoice in hope. 00:06:04.659 --> 00:06:05.279 Be patient 00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:06.159 in tribulation. 00:06:06.819 --> 00:06:07.500 Be constant 00:06:07.500 --> 00:06:08.180 in prayer. 00:06:08.839 --> 00:06:09.899 Contribute to the needs 00:06:09.899 --> 00:06:10.639 of the saints 00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:11.939 and seek to show 00:06:11.939 --> 00:06:12.939 hospitality. 00:06:13.980 --> 00:06:14.939 We're in a series 00:06:14.939 --> 00:06:15.779 from Romans 12. 00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:17.599 We're talking overall 00:06:17.599 --> 00:06:19.819 about how God 00:06:19.819 --> 00:06:20.579 wants us to live 00:06:20.579 --> 00:06:21.360 like a Christian 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:22.939 wherever we are. 00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:24.560 We've talked about 00:06:24.560 --> 00:06:25.599 living like a Christian 00:06:25.599 --> 00:06:26.240 in our relationship 00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:26.699 with Him 00:06:26.699 --> 00:06:27.699 and really focused on 00:06:27.699 --> 00:06:28.579 that requires 00:06:28.579 --> 00:06:29.680 wholehearted commitment. 00:06:30.259 --> 00:06:30.879 We've talked about 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:31.300 how to live 00:06:31.300 --> 00:06:31.800 like a Christian 00:06:31.800 --> 00:06:32.240 in the way 00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:32.719 that we think 00:06:32.719 --> 00:06:33.800 about ourselves. 00:06:34.719 --> 00:06:35.500 It means, 00:06:36.099 --> 00:06:36.699 as we saw 00:06:36.699 --> 00:06:37.779 in verses 3 through 8, 00:06:38.199 --> 00:06:39.060 don't think too highly 00:06:39.060 --> 00:06:39.560 of yourselves. 00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:40.699 Don't be prideful. 00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:42.000 But the opposite 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:42.879 of that, 00:06:43.180 --> 00:06:43.719 humility, 00:06:44.719 --> 00:06:46.379 is not don't think 00:06:46.379 --> 00:06:47.420 I can't do anything 00:06:47.420 --> 00:06:48.500 that I know anything. 00:06:48.759 --> 00:06:49.539 The opposite is 00:06:49.539 --> 00:06:50.300 be objective 00:06:50.300 --> 00:06:50.879 about yourself. 00:06:51.099 --> 00:06:51.879 Be realistic. 00:06:52.240 --> 00:06:53.079 You have talents 00:06:53.079 --> 00:06:53.480 and gifts 00:06:53.480 --> 00:06:53.939 and abilities 00:06:53.939 --> 00:06:55.319 that God has given you 00:06:55.319 --> 00:06:56.060 and if you'll be 00:06:56.060 --> 00:06:56.899 faithful to Him, 00:06:57.399 --> 00:06:58.719 you can use 00:06:58.720 --> 00:06:59.220 your talents, 00:06:59.360 --> 00:06:59.500 gifts, 00:06:59.560 --> 00:07:00.080 and abilities 00:07:00.080 --> 00:07:02.220 in some great ways 00:07:02.220 --> 00:07:03.560 in people's lives 00:07:03.560 --> 00:07:04.780 as well as 00:07:04.780 --> 00:07:05.580 in serving God. 00:07:06.580 --> 00:07:07.040 Now, 00:07:07.260 --> 00:07:09.080 in this section, 00:07:09.740 --> 00:07:11.180 we're talking about 00:07:11.180 --> 00:07:11.940 living like a Christian 00:07:11.940 --> 00:07:13.720 in our relationships 00:07:13.720 --> 00:07:15.120 specifically 00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:17.020 with other Christians. 00:07:18.260 --> 00:07:19.260 That means 00:07:19.260 --> 00:07:20.300 we're talking about 00:07:20.300 --> 00:07:22.280 how we should love 00:07:22.280 --> 00:07:22.960 one another 00:07:22.960 --> 00:07:23.760 in this church 00:07:23.760 --> 00:07:24.620 as brothers and sisters 00:07:24.620 --> 00:07:25.160 in Christ. 00:07:26.019 --> 00:07:26.660 We're talking about 00:07:26.660 --> 00:07:27.680 how you should love, 00:07:27.800 --> 00:07:28.620 we should love 00:07:28.620 --> 00:07:29.740 other Christians 00:07:29.740 --> 00:07:30.780 in our lives 00:07:30.780 --> 00:07:32.300 and a lot of you 00:07:32.300 --> 00:07:33.360 work with other Christians. 00:07:34.360 --> 00:07:34.780 A lot of you 00:07:34.780 --> 00:07:35.280 go to school 00:07:35.280 --> 00:07:35.759 with people 00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:37.959 who are truly Christians. 00:07:38.680 --> 00:07:39.100 Some of you 00:07:39.100 --> 00:07:39.840 do things 00:07:39.840 --> 00:07:41.000 on the weekends, 00:07:41.399 --> 00:07:42.000 just interact 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:42.360 with people 00:07:42.360 --> 00:07:43.439 in this area, 00:07:43.620 --> 00:07:44.240 other places 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:45.319 who are Christians. 00:07:46.079 --> 00:07:47.139 We're talking about 00:07:47.139 --> 00:07:48.459 the love that exists 00:07:48.459 --> 00:07:49.879 among believers 00:07:49.879 --> 00:07:51.199 wherever 00:07:51.199 --> 00:07:52.699 and get this, 00:07:53.560 --> 00:07:56.000 in your home, 00:07:57.219 --> 00:07:58.039 if your spouse 00:07:58.039 --> 00:07:58.939 is a Christian, 00:07:59.740 --> 00:08:01.139 if your children are, 00:08:02.479 --> 00:08:04.039 this is how 00:08:04.039 --> 00:08:05.180 it's supposed to be 00:08:05.180 --> 00:08:06.920 in the way 00:08:06.920 --> 00:08:07.680 you relate, 00:08:08.899 --> 00:08:09.439 act, 00:08:10.159 --> 00:08:10.639 speak 00:08:10.639 --> 00:08:12.099 to one another 00:08:12.099 --> 00:08:13.259 at home. 00:08:14.259 --> 00:08:14.839 Now, 00:08:15.259 --> 00:08:16.219 when we read 00:08:16.219 --> 00:08:16.939 these verses, 00:08:17.939 --> 00:08:19.159 I don't know 00:08:19.159 --> 00:08:19.519 if it really 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:20.899 stood out to you 00:08:20.899 --> 00:08:22.699 this is all 00:08:22.699 --> 00:08:23.539 describing 00:08:23.539 --> 00:08:25.879 genuine love. 00:08:26.060 --> 00:08:26.979 Verse 9, 00:08:27.139 --> 00:08:27.779 the first part, 00:08:27.859 --> 00:08:28.839 let love be genuine, 00:08:29.139 --> 00:08:29.679 that's sort of 00:08:29.679 --> 00:08:30.639 like the statement 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:32.620 and the rest 00:08:32.620 --> 00:08:33.039 of this 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:33.759 is a description 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:34.240 of what 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:35.019 genuine 00:08:35.019 --> 00:08:35.759 or sincere 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:37.179 love is. 00:08:37.740 --> 00:08:38.819 It makes sense 00:08:38.819 --> 00:08:39.279 if you think 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:40.379 this is the Apostle 00:08:40.379 --> 00:08:41.100 Paul writing 00:08:41.100 --> 00:08:42.799 and in 1 Corinthians 00:08:42.799 --> 00:08:43.779 chapter 12 00:08:43.779 --> 00:08:45.199 he gave this 00:08:45.199 --> 00:08:46.600 long list 00:08:46.600 --> 00:08:48.879 of instructions 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:49.919 about spiritual 00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:50.500 gifts 00:08:50.500 --> 00:08:50.639 gifts. 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:52.340 And then he 00:08:52.340 --> 00:08:53.059 followed it up 00:08:53.059 --> 00:08:53.600 in 1 Corinthians 00:08:53.600 --> 00:08:54.700 13 by talking 00:08:54.700 --> 00:08:55.379 about what love 00:08:55.379 --> 00:08:55.740 is. 00:08:56.860 --> 00:08:57.720 Here in Romans 00:08:57.720 --> 00:08:58.360 12 we have 00:08:58.360 --> 00:08:59.000 a condensed 00:08:59.000 --> 00:08:59.840 version, 00:09:00.639 --> 00:09:01.500 verses 3-8 00:09:01.500 --> 00:09:02.019 of him talking 00:09:02.019 --> 00:09:02.620 about spiritual 00:09:02.620 --> 00:09:03.019 gifts 00:09:03.019 --> 00:09:04.879 and now in 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:05.940 verses 9-13 00:09:05.940 --> 00:09:06.899 a condensed 00:09:06.899 --> 00:09:07.980 version of what 00:09:07.980 --> 00:09:08.639 he says in 1 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:09.539 Corinthians 13 00:09:09.539 --> 00:09:11.539 about love. 00:09:11.539 --> 00:09:13.459 Let's look at it. 00:09:13.459 --> 00:09:14.319 If we're serious 00:09:14.319 --> 00:09:14.839 about pleasing 00:09:14.839 --> 00:09:16.639 God by living 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:17.379 like a Christian 00:09:17.379 --> 00:09:19.219 then we've got 00:09:19.219 --> 00:09:20.059 to love each 00:09:20.059 --> 00:09:21.259 other genuinely. 00:09:21.639 --> 00:09:22.399 Look at verse 9, 00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:23.199 that's the statement. 00:09:23.539 --> 00:09:24.539 Let love be 00:09:24.539 --> 00:09:25.219 genuine. 00:09:25.379 --> 00:09:25.740 The word 00:09:25.740 --> 00:09:27.459 genuine here 00:09:27.459 --> 00:09:28.740 means without 00:09:28.740 --> 00:09:29.559 hypocrisy. 00:09:30.679 --> 00:09:31.199 The word was 00:09:31.199 --> 00:09:31.839 often used 00:09:31.839 --> 00:09:32.339 in that day 00:09:32.339 --> 00:09:32.860 to describe 00:09:32.860 --> 00:09:33.419 an actor 00:09:33.419 --> 00:09:34.500 on a stage, 00:09:34.839 --> 00:09:35.279 somebody who 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:35.860 was playing 00:09:35.860 --> 00:09:36.379 a role, 00:09:36.679 --> 00:09:37.179 somebody who 00:09:37.179 --> 00:09:37.679 would hide 00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:38.819 behind a mask 00:09:38.820 --> 00:09:39.760 that they held 00:09:39.760 --> 00:09:40.120 up. 00:09:40.980 --> 00:09:41.440 Well Christian 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:42.260 love is the 00:09:42.260 --> 00:09:43.180 opposite of that. 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:43.760 Christian love 00:09:43.760 --> 00:09:44.080 is supposed 00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:45.320 to be sincere. 00:09:45.580 --> 00:09:46.060 It's supposed 00:09:46.060 --> 00:09:47.020 to be real. 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:49.280 It's not supposed 00:09:49.280 --> 00:09:49.879 to be phony. 00:09:51.320 --> 00:09:52.240 How much 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:53.600 of our lives 00:09:53.600 --> 00:09:55.460 are truly 00:09:55.460 --> 00:09:56.600 real? 00:09:59.480 --> 00:10:00.360 Think about it. 00:10:01.400 --> 00:10:02.480 We are good 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:03.800 at playing a part 00:10:03.800 --> 00:10:06.020 when it comes 00:10:06.020 --> 00:10:08.080 to projecting 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:08.900 the image 00:10:08.900 --> 00:10:09.560 we want people 00:10:09.560 --> 00:10:10.180 to see 00:10:10.180 --> 00:10:11.820 in us. 00:10:12.820 --> 00:10:13.379 You think 00:10:13.379 --> 00:10:13.840 about it. 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:15.320 There's people 00:10:15.320 --> 00:10:15.860 in this room, 00:10:17.139 --> 00:10:17.720 you play 00:10:17.720 --> 00:10:18.700 one part 00:10:18.700 --> 00:10:19.560 at work. 00:10:20.700 --> 00:10:21.420 You play 00:10:21.420 --> 00:10:22.259 another part 00:10:22.259 --> 00:10:22.900 that's different 00:10:22.900 --> 00:10:23.379 at home. 00:10:24.460 --> 00:10:25.259 And you may 00:10:25.259 --> 00:10:25.680 even play 00:10:25.680 --> 00:10:26.560 a third part 00:10:26.560 --> 00:10:27.759 here at church. 00:10:29.700 --> 00:10:30.220 Or 00:10:30.220 --> 00:10:31.620 if you're 00:10:31.620 --> 00:10:31.879 younger, 00:10:31.980 --> 00:10:32.360 you may do 00:10:32.360 --> 00:10:32.860 it that way 00:10:32.860 --> 00:10:33.440 at school 00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:34.020 at home 00:10:34.020 --> 00:10:35.080 at church. 00:10:35.080 --> 00:10:35.180 church. 00:10:37.340 --> 00:10:38.379 Most of us 00:10:38.379 --> 00:10:40.060 in this room 00:10:40.060 --> 00:10:41.160 we're southerners. 00:10:41.879 --> 00:10:42.580 Most of us 00:10:42.580 --> 00:10:43.060 in this room 00:10:43.060 --> 00:10:43.920 we are southern 00:10:43.920 --> 00:10:44.840 born and southern 00:10:44.840 --> 00:10:45.320 bred. 00:10:45.460 --> 00:10:46.040 When we die 00:10:46.040 --> 00:10:46.780 we'll be southern 00:10:46.780 --> 00:10:47.180 dead. 00:10:47.960 --> 00:10:48.820 We know that. 00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:49.160 That's just 00:10:49.160 --> 00:10:49.879 who we are. 00:10:51.280 --> 00:10:51.780 Now everybody 00:10:51.780 --> 00:10:52.320 here didn't 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:52.960 have the 00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:53.900 advantage of 00:10:53.900 --> 00:10:54.520 being born 00:10:54.520 --> 00:10:55.300 in the south. 00:10:56.020 --> 00:10:56.580 But I'm 00:10:56.580 --> 00:10:57.040 going to guess 00:10:57.040 --> 00:10:57.620 you got here 00:10:57.620 --> 00:10:58.080 as quick as 00:10:58.080 --> 00:10:58.560 you could. 00:10:58.560 --> 00:11:00.259 So you're 00:11:00.259 --> 00:11:00.840 here now. 00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:02.259 You know 00:11:02.259 --> 00:11:02.659 some of the 00:11:02.659 --> 00:11:02.939 things I'm 00:11:02.939 --> 00:11:03.319 about to 00:11:03.319 --> 00:11:03.559 say. 00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:05.319 We who 00:11:05.319 --> 00:11:06.759 are southerners 00:11:06.759 --> 00:11:09.759 we know 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:10.480 how. 00:11:13.179 --> 00:11:13.899 We know 00:11:13.899 --> 00:11:14.200 how to 00:11:14.200 --> 00:11:15.299 fake things. 00:11:17.399 --> 00:11:18.039 You know 00:11:18.039 --> 00:11:18.500 as southerners 00:11:18.500 --> 00:11:19.000 we pride 00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:19.480 ourselves on 00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:19.799 a lot of 00:11:19.799 --> 00:11:20.179 things. 00:11:21.340 --> 00:11:22.439 We think 00:11:22.439 --> 00:11:23.100 at least 00:11:23.100 --> 00:11:24.379 about all 00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:24.639 the many 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:25.120 positive 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:25.639 qualities 00:11:25.639 --> 00:11:26.240 that we 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:26.799 have. 00:11:27.939 --> 00:11:28.480 But being 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:29.000 genuine 00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:29.500 is not 00:11:29.500 --> 00:11:30.200 really a 00:11:30.200 --> 00:11:30.939 strong 00:11:30.939 --> 00:11:31.879 suit. 00:11:32.879 --> 00:11:33.279 We've 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:33.819 learned how 00:11:33.819 --> 00:11:34.120 to be 00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:34.860 nice 00:11:34.860 --> 00:11:36.500 from an 00:11:36.500 --> 00:11:37.519 early age. 00:11:38.740 --> 00:11:39.319 How many 00:11:39.319 --> 00:11:39.620 of you 00:11:39.620 --> 00:11:40.059 have ever 00:11:40.059 --> 00:11:41.299 said this 00:11:41.299 --> 00:11:41.639 or done 00:11:41.639 --> 00:11:41.919 this or 00:11:41.919 --> 00:11:42.159 had it 00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:42.460 said to 00:11:42.460 --> 00:11:42.659 you? 00:11:43.639 --> 00:11:44.220 You talk 00:11:44.220 --> 00:11:44.500 to someone 00:11:44.500 --> 00:11:44.779 on the 00:11:44.779 --> 00:11:45.340 telephone 00:11:45.340 --> 00:11:45.879 or you 00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:46.159 talk to 00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:46.379 them in 00:11:46.379 --> 00:11:46.720 person 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:48.039 and as 00:11:48.039 --> 00:11:48.299 you get 00:11:48.299 --> 00:11:48.759 ready to 00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:49.139 end the 00:11:49.139 --> 00:11:49.860 conversation 00:11:49.860 --> 00:11:50.879 before you 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:51.399 say goodbye 00:11:51.399 --> 00:11:51.960 before they 00:11:51.960 --> 00:11:52.500 say goodbye 00:11:52.500 --> 00:11:53.360 one of the 00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:53.819 last things 00:11:53.819 --> 00:11:54.399 they'll say 00:11:54.399 --> 00:11:55.980 is come 00:11:55.980 --> 00:11:56.740 to see us. 00:11:57.519 --> 00:11:57.659 How many 00:11:57.659 --> 00:11:57.919 of you have 00:11:57.919 --> 00:11:58.299 heard that 00:11:58.299 --> 00:11:58.840 all your 00:11:58.840 --> 00:11:59.120 life? 00:11:59.240 --> 00:11:59.539 Come to 00:11:59.539 --> 00:11:59.980 see us. 00:12:02.259 --> 00:12:03.399 They don't 00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:03.899 really mean 00:12:03.899 --> 00:12:04.259 that. 00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:07.399 No. 00:12:08.980 --> 00:12:09.759 If I have 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:10.559 a conversation 00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:12.379 with, 00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:13.319 I'm not 00:12:13.319 --> 00:12:13.439 going to 00:12:13.439 --> 00:12:13.700 pick on 00:12:13.700 --> 00:12:13.840 my, 00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:14.220 if I have 00:12:14.220 --> 00:12:14.840 a conversation 00:12:14.840 --> 00:12:15.259 with, 00:12:15.500 --> 00:12:15.939 who could I 00:12:15.939 --> 00:12:16.379 pick on 00:12:16.379 --> 00:12:16.840 in here this 00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:17.019 morning? 00:12:17.639 --> 00:12:17.939 I'm not 00:12:17.939 --> 00:12:18.120 going to 00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:18.460 pick on 00:12:18.460 --> 00:12:18.960 Rick this 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:19.279 morning. 00:12:21.019 --> 00:12:21.379 Go ahead, 00:12:21.439 --> 00:12:21.600 I'll 00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:21.779 Rick, 00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:22.059 okay? 00:12:22.059 --> 00:12:23.819 If I have 00:12:23.819 --> 00:12:24.319 a conversation 00:12:24.319 --> 00:12:24.799 with Rick 00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:26.439 and we get 00:12:26.439 --> 00:12:26.740 ready to 00:12:26.740 --> 00:12:27.399 wind it down, 00:12:28.360 --> 00:12:28.759 he says, 00:12:28.840 --> 00:12:29.279 come to see 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:29.500 us, 00:12:30.579 --> 00:12:31.159 hang up. 00:12:32.319 --> 00:12:32.720 Well, 00:12:32.779 --> 00:12:33.139 just out 00:12:33.139 --> 00:12:33.360 of the 00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:33.699 blue, 00:12:34.860 --> 00:12:35.240 out of 00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:35.659 the blue, 00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:36.799 I show 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:38.000 up ready 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:38.379 just to 00:12:38.379 --> 00:12:38.819 come in 00:12:38.819 --> 00:12:39.139 and sit 00:12:39.139 --> 00:12:39.620 down and 00:12:39.620 --> 00:12:40.319 visit for 00:12:40.319 --> 00:12:40.860 a while. 00:12:41.419 --> 00:12:41.699 He's 00:12:41.699 --> 00:12:41.879 going to 00:12:41.879 --> 00:12:42.480 be mad. 00:12:43.659 --> 00:12:44.100 He's not 00:12:44.100 --> 00:12:44.379 going to 00:12:44.379 --> 00:12:44.740 appreciate 00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:45.139 that. 00:12:45.339 --> 00:12:45.720 In this 00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:46.039 day and 00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:46.299 time, 00:12:46.539 --> 00:12:47.240 everybody's 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:47.539 busy. 00:12:47.819 --> 00:12:48.059 Everybody 00:12:48.059 --> 00:12:48.740 has something 00:12:48.740 --> 00:12:49.059 to do. 00:12:49.559 --> 00:12:49.980 Nobody's 00:12:49.980 --> 00:12:50.439 sitting at 00:12:50.439 --> 00:12:51.139 home waiting 00:12:51.139 --> 00:12:51.819 for somebody 00:12:51.819 --> 00:12:52.199 to come 00:12:52.199 --> 00:12:52.620 by just 00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:53.039 out of the 00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:53.259 blue, 00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:53.879 knock on 00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:54.159 the door 00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:54.439 and say, 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:54.860 I want 00:12:54.860 --> 00:12:55.100 to come 00:12:55.100 --> 00:12:55.439 in and 00:12:55.439 --> 00:12:55.919 visit with 00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:56.819 you a little 00:12:56.819 --> 00:12:57.079 while. 00:12:57.080 --> 00:12:58.040 that's 00:12:58.040 --> 00:12:58.639 just not 00:12:58.639 --> 00:12:59.320 how life 00:12:59.320 --> 00:13:00.120 is today. 00:13:01.320 --> 00:13:01.900 But we 00:13:01.900 --> 00:13:02.900 say things 00:13:02.900 --> 00:13:04.259 trying to 00:13:04.259 --> 00:13:04.960 be nice 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:06.840 that we 00:13:06.840 --> 00:13:07.139 don't really 00:13:07.139 --> 00:13:07.500 mean. 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:09.000 You know, 00:13:09.040 --> 00:13:09.280 one of the 00:13:09.280 --> 00:13:09.860 worst things 00:13:09.860 --> 00:13:10.259 that we do 00:13:10.259 --> 00:13:10.940 as Southerners, 00:13:11.340 --> 00:13:11.740 one of our 00:13:11.740 --> 00:13:13.220 worst sayings, 00:13:13.740 --> 00:13:14.360 what is it? 00:13:15.940 --> 00:13:16.580 Bless your 00:13:16.580 --> 00:13:16.980 heart. 00:13:17.920 --> 00:13:18.180 That's 00:13:18.180 --> 00:13:18.540 Southern 00:13:18.540 --> 00:13:19.340 license to 00:13:19.340 --> 00:13:19.980 gossip and 00:13:19.980 --> 00:13:20.340 slander, 00:13:20.460 --> 00:13:20.700 just say 00:13:20.700 --> 00:13:21.080 anything you 00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:21.379 want about 00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:21.680 someone. 00:13:23.180 --> 00:13:23.759 I'll bet 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:24.120 we've got 00:13:24.120 --> 00:13:24.720 teachers in 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:25.220 this room 00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:26.720 that you 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:27.180 have said 00:13:27.180 --> 00:13:27.480 this, 00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:28.100 bless his 00:13:28.100 --> 00:13:28.800 little heart. 00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:29.340 He's the 00:13:29.340 --> 00:13:30.100 dumbest child 00:13:30.100 --> 00:13:30.600 I've ever 00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:31.220 had in my 00:13:31.220 --> 00:13:31.660 classes. 00:13:34.080 --> 00:13:34.680 Some of 00:13:34.680 --> 00:13:35.220 you may 00:13:35.220 --> 00:13:35.800 have said, 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:36.899 or some 00:13:36.899 --> 00:13:37.360 of you may 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:37.720 have had 00:13:37.720 --> 00:13:38.500 one friend 00:13:38.500 --> 00:13:39.240 say to 00:13:39.240 --> 00:13:39.660 another 00:13:39.660 --> 00:13:40.279 friend, 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:43.160 she's got 00:13:43.160 --> 00:13:43.759 the ugliest 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:44.519 baby I have 00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:45.220 ever seen. 00:13:47.980 --> 00:13:48.660 Bless her 00:13:48.660 --> 00:13:49.200 heart. 00:13:51.220 --> 00:13:51.860 We do 00:13:51.860 --> 00:13:52.320 that now. 00:13:52.920 --> 00:13:53.240 You know, 00:13:53.279 --> 00:13:53.540 I'm going 00:13:53.540 --> 00:13:54.100 over the top 00:13:54.100 --> 00:13:54.560 with this. 00:13:55.220 --> 00:13:56.620 But we 00:13:56.620 --> 00:13:57.200 have a 00:13:57.200 --> 00:13:57.740 way, 00:13:58.540 --> 00:13:59.639 most of 00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:00.000 us, 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:02.360 we have a 00:14:02.360 --> 00:14:03.360 way of 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:04.340 projecting an 00:14:04.340 --> 00:14:05.379 image that 00:14:05.379 --> 00:14:05.740 is not 00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:06.139 real. 00:14:07.139 --> 00:14:07.879 We have a 00:14:07.879 --> 00:14:08.200 way of 00:14:08.200 --> 00:14:08.920 saying things 00:14:08.920 --> 00:14:09.279 that we 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:09.779 really and 00:14:09.779 --> 00:14:10.259 truly do 00:14:10.259 --> 00:14:11.139 not mean, 00:14:12.300 --> 00:14:12.580 and we 00:14:12.580 --> 00:14:13.220 have a way 00:14:13.220 --> 00:14:13.680 of saying 00:14:13.680 --> 00:14:14.180 things that 00:14:14.180 --> 00:14:14.540 we do 00:14:14.540 --> 00:14:14.980 mean, 00:14:15.300 --> 00:14:15.840 that is 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:16.560 mean, 00:14:16.800 --> 00:14:17.180 literally. 00:14:18.620 --> 00:14:19.740 We try to 00:14:19.740 --> 00:14:20.860 camouflage it 00:14:20.860 --> 00:14:22.340 in some 00:14:22.340 --> 00:14:22.620 way. 00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:24.720 Most of 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:25.040 us have 00:14:25.040 --> 00:14:25.320 had a 00:14:25.320 --> 00:14:25.680 lot of 00:14:25.680 --> 00:14:26.180 practice 00:14:26.180 --> 00:14:27.000 play 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:27.500 acting 00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:28.899 about a 00:14:28.899 --> 00:14:29.220 lot of 00:14:29.220 --> 00:14:29.840 things, 00:14:30.580 --> 00:14:31.259 including 00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:32.740 expressing 00:14:32.740 --> 00:14:33.519 love. 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:36.060 What Paul 00:14:36.060 --> 00:14:36.420 is saying 00:14:36.420 --> 00:14:37.040 here is, 00:14:38.040 --> 00:14:40.040 be real, 00:14:41.180 --> 00:14:42.560 be genuine 00:14:42.560 --> 00:14:44.259 in your 00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:45.500 love for 00:14:45.500 --> 00:14:46.379 the people 00:14:46.379 --> 00:14:47.200 around about 00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:47.840 you that you 00:14:47.840 --> 00:14:48.500 should be the 00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:49.700 closest to. 00:14:49.700 --> 00:14:52.800 be sincere. 00:14:54.800 --> 00:14:55.379 And as I 00:14:55.379 --> 00:14:55.840 said earlier, 00:14:55.960 --> 00:14:56.360 because the 00:14:56.360 --> 00:14:56.820 Spirit of God 00:14:56.820 --> 00:14:57.259 lives within 00:14:57.259 --> 00:14:58.259 us, we 00:14:58.259 --> 00:14:58.620 can. 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:00.960 We can be 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:02.580 real people 00:15:02.580 --> 00:15:04.160 and what we 00:15:04.160 --> 00:15:04.840 say is what 00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:05.440 we mean. 00:15:07.640 --> 00:15:08.440 We need to 00:15:08.440 --> 00:15:08.860 learn to do 00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:09.020 that. 00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:09.400 It's something 00:15:09.400 --> 00:15:09.720 that we're 00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:10.320 commanded to 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:10.500 do. 00:15:10.740 --> 00:15:11.280 Let love 00:15:11.280 --> 00:15:11.960 be genuine. 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:12.800 But what 00:15:12.800 --> 00:15:13.040 will that 00:15:13.040 --> 00:15:13.580 look like? 00:15:14.340 --> 00:15:14.920 Let's look 00:15:14.920 --> 00:15:15.240 now. 00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:15.920 Let's look 00:15:15.920 --> 00:15:16.120 at what the 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:16.440 rest of these 00:15:16.440 --> 00:15:17.140 verses describe. 00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:17.779 We must 00:15:17.779 --> 00:15:18.620 demonstrate 00:15:18.620 --> 00:15:19.419 genuine love 00:15:19.419 --> 00:15:20.779 verses 9b 00:15:20.779 --> 00:15:21.460 through 13. 00:15:21.659 --> 00:15:22.399 First of all, 00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:23.039 sincere love 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:23.860 is discerning. 00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:24.679 He says, 00:15:24.819 --> 00:15:25.620 abhor what is 00:15:25.620 --> 00:15:26.500 evil, hold 00:15:26.500 --> 00:15:27.080 fast to what 00:15:27.080 --> 00:15:27.899 is good, or 00:15:27.899 --> 00:15:28.559 hate what is 00:15:28.559 --> 00:15:29.259 evil, cling 00:15:29.259 --> 00:15:29.600 to what's 00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:29.840 good. 00:15:30.319 --> 00:15:31.019 Christian love 00:15:31.019 --> 00:15:31.419 is not a 00:15:31.419 --> 00:15:31.679 sentimental 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:32.240 love. 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:34.279 Christian 00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:36.360 love, it's 00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:37.100 not the warm 00:15:37.100 --> 00:15:37.819 fuzzies. 00:15:39.100 --> 00:15:39.939 It requires, 00:15:40.340 --> 00:15:41.039 in this case, 00:15:41.100 --> 00:15:41.519 looking at what 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:41.819 he's saying 00:15:41.819 --> 00:15:42.659 here, it 00:15:42.659 --> 00:15:43.360 requires a 00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:44.600 violent 00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:46.620 hatred of 00:15:46.620 --> 00:15:47.059 evil, 00:15:47.139 --> 00:15:48.179 and a 00:15:48.179 --> 00:15:48.720 strong 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:49.460 attachment 00:15:49.460 --> 00:15:50.620 to what's 00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:50.919 good. 00:15:51.559 --> 00:15:51.960 Some 00:15:51.960 --> 00:15:52.279 Christians 00:15:52.279 --> 00:15:52.819 think that 00:15:52.819 --> 00:15:53.519 love means 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:53.819 you're just 00:15:53.819 --> 00:15:55.059 always nice. 00:15:56.559 --> 00:15:57.120 Everything's 00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:57.980 always okay. 00:15:59.019 --> 00:15:59.899 You never 00:15:59.899 --> 00:16:01.120 respond negatively 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:01.519 to any 00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:01.919 behavior. 00:16:02.179 --> 00:16:02.500 Some people 00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:02.779 have the 00:16:02.779 --> 00:16:03.259 idea, if 00:16:03.259 --> 00:16:03.539 you're a 00:16:03.539 --> 00:16:03.939 Christian and 00:16:03.939 --> 00:16:04.360 you love 00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:05.519 people, hate 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:06.059 won't even be 00:16:06.059 --> 00:16:06.439 a part of 00:16:06.439 --> 00:16:07.279 your vocabulary. 00:16:07.659 --> 00:16:07.939 Well, that's 00:16:07.939 --> 00:16:08.419 not true. 00:16:10.679 --> 00:16:11.559 We're supposed 00:16:11.559 --> 00:16:12.220 to hate 00:16:12.220 --> 00:16:14.179 evil and 00:16:14.179 --> 00:16:15.000 cling fast 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:15.580 to, hold 00:16:15.580 --> 00:16:16.319 strongly to 00:16:16.320 --> 00:16:16.980 that which 00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:17.400 is good. 00:16:17.400 --> 00:16:18.960 Our problem 00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:20.440 is, a lot 00:16:20.440 --> 00:16:20.840 of people, 00:16:20.940 --> 00:16:21.160 including 00:16:21.160 --> 00:16:21.600 Christians, 00:16:21.760 --> 00:16:22.480 define right 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:22.920 and wrong 00:16:22.920 --> 00:16:23.920 by their 00:16:23.920 --> 00:16:25.280 own standard 00:16:25.280 --> 00:16:26.560 of what's 00:16:26.560 --> 00:16:26.920 right and 00:16:26.920 --> 00:16:28.440 wrong, or 00:16:28.440 --> 00:16:28.720 by their 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:29.220 own standard 00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:29.680 of what's 00:16:29.680 --> 00:16:30.180 loving. 00:16:31.780 --> 00:16:32.480 Think of 00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:32.879 it this way. 00:16:33.300 --> 00:16:33.500 A lot of 00:16:33.500 --> 00:16:33.940 people think 00:16:33.940 --> 00:16:34.720 sex outside 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:35.340 of marriage 00:16:35.340 --> 00:16:36.240 cannot possibly 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:37.220 be wrong. 00:16:38.260 --> 00:16:38.879 We 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:39.720 rationalize. 00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:40.899 if it 00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:41.480 takes place 00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:41.759 in the 00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:42.460 context of 00:16:42.460 --> 00:16:43.160 a loving 00:16:43.160 --> 00:16:44.399 relationship. 00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:46.420 That's how 00:16:46.420 --> 00:16:47.019 many people 00:16:47.019 --> 00:16:47.700 justify 00:16:47.700 --> 00:16:48.540 premarital 00:16:48.540 --> 00:16:49.019 sex. 00:16:49.680 --> 00:16:50.279 We love 00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:50.700 one another, 00:16:51.220 --> 00:16:52.000 or even 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:53.759 adultery, 00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:55.279 or 00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:57.460 homosexuality. 00:16:58.460 --> 00:16:59.040 It just 00:16:59.040 --> 00:16:59.580 seems like, 00:16:59.980 --> 00:17:00.759 and it is in 00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:01.600 today's world, 00:17:01.700 --> 00:17:02.580 today's culture, 00:17:02.580 --> 00:17:05.380 the idea is 00:17:05.380 --> 00:17:06.079 you do what 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:06.920 feels good 00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:07.400 to you. 00:17:08.340 --> 00:17:09.079 You define 00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:09.759 all your 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:10.160 terms. 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:10.880 You define 00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:11.380 truth, 00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:12.220 you define 00:17:12.220 --> 00:17:12.819 love, 00:17:13.360 --> 00:17:13.819 and you do 00:17:13.819 --> 00:17:14.279 what you 00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:15.120 think is the 00:17:15.120 --> 00:17:15.759 loving thing 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:16.059 to do. 00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:16.680 Here's the 00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:17.160 problems. 00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:18.819 Christians 00:17:18.819 --> 00:17:19.380 don't get to 00:17:19.380 --> 00:17:19.759 do that. 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:22.400 God does 00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:23.600 that for us, 00:17:23.900 --> 00:17:24.400 and He's 00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:25.000 done that in 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:25.640 His Word. 00:17:26.920 --> 00:17:27.720 God defines 00:17:27.720 --> 00:17:29.079 for us what 00:17:29.079 --> 00:17:29.819 is right and 00:17:29.819 --> 00:17:30.420 wrong, what 00:17:30.420 --> 00:17:31.120 is evil and 00:17:31.120 --> 00:17:31.819 what is good. 00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:32.799 He defines 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:33.819 for us what 00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:34.679 love is as 00:17:34.679 --> 00:17:35.159 we're reading 00:17:35.159 --> 00:17:35.839 here and also 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:36.519 in 1 Corinthians 00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:37.079 13. 00:17:37.639 --> 00:17:38.119 That's just a 00:17:38.119 --> 00:17:38.679 more lengthy 00:17:38.679 --> 00:17:39.659 example. 00:17:40.919 --> 00:17:41.279 God has 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:42.639 established real 00:17:42.639 --> 00:17:43.859 standards, 00:17:44.579 --> 00:17:45.099 objective 00:17:45.099 --> 00:17:46.599 standards of 00:17:46.599 --> 00:17:47.339 what evil and 00:17:47.339 --> 00:17:47.859 good behavior 00:17:47.859 --> 00:17:49.879 is in His 00:17:49.879 --> 00:17:50.339 Word. 00:17:51.619 --> 00:17:52.119 So whatever 00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:52.939 God calls 00:17:52.939 --> 00:17:53.659 evil, whatever 00:17:53.659 --> 00:17:54.319 God calls 00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:56.700 sin, it is 00:17:56.700 --> 00:17:57.019 evil. 00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:58.779 It is sin. 00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:00.099 And we 00:18:00.099 --> 00:18:01.279 should hate 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:01.579 it. 00:18:01.819 --> 00:18:03.099 we should 00:18:03.099 --> 00:18:04.619 hate strongly 00:18:04.619 --> 00:18:06.599 that which 00:18:06.599 --> 00:18:07.259 is truly 00:18:07.259 --> 00:18:08.240 evil. 00:18:09.799 --> 00:18:10.639 Do you? 00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:12.819 But whatever 00:18:12.819 --> 00:18:13.539 God says is 00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:14.779 right, whatever 00:18:14.779 --> 00:18:15.480 God says is 00:18:15.480 --> 00:18:17.519 good, that 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.980 is what's 00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:19.399 right and 00:18:19.399 --> 00:18:19.700 good. 00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:20.720 And that's 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:21.279 what we should 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:22.679 cling to, hold 00:18:22.679 --> 00:18:24.639 close fast to. 00:18:25.859 --> 00:18:26.659 Do you? 00:18:26.660 --> 00:18:28.740 Let me make a 00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:29.500 clarification here. 00:18:30.120 --> 00:18:30.740 This is not 00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:31.380 teaching that we 00:18:31.380 --> 00:18:32.040 are to hate 00:18:32.040 --> 00:18:32.840 evil people. 00:18:33.380 --> 00:18:34.320 We'll see later 00:18:34.320 --> 00:18:34.980 on in our 00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:36.000 studies on down 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:37.340 past verse 14, 00:18:38.340 --> 00:18:39.779 we're called to 00:18:39.779 --> 00:18:40.500 love our enemies. 00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:42.740 But we're to 00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:44.140 hate evil. 00:18:44.660 --> 00:18:45.460 As the old saying 00:18:45.460 --> 00:18:46.059 goes, we love 00:18:46.059 --> 00:18:46.500 the sinner but 00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:47.119 hate the sin. 00:18:48.019 --> 00:18:48.960 Sincere love 00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:50.420 is discerning. 00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:52.119 Sincere love 00:18:52.119 --> 00:18:53.440 is also devoted 00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:53.960 to others. 00:18:54.059 --> 00:18:54.440 Look at verse 00:18:54.440 --> 00:18:54.759 10. 00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:55.660 Love one 00:18:55.660 --> 00:18:56.160 another with 00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:57.160 brotherly affection. 00:18:57.579 --> 00:18:58.319 Outdo one 00:18:58.319 --> 00:18:59.099 another in 00:18:59.099 --> 00:18:59.960 showing honor. 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:01.319 The first 00:19:01.319 --> 00:19:02.019 command in 00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:03.059 this verse 00:19:03.059 --> 00:19:04.000 10 is love 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:04.519 one another with 00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:05.380 brotherly love. 00:19:05.380 --> 00:19:08.040 our relationships 00:19:08.040 --> 00:19:09.120 with other 00:19:09.120 --> 00:19:11.520 Christians is 00:19:11.520 --> 00:19:12.620 supposed to be 00:19:12.620 --> 00:19:16.460 as close as 00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:17.540 relationships with 00:19:17.540 --> 00:19:18.720 our biological 00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:19.480 brothers and 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:22.060 sisters on our 00:19:22.060 --> 00:19:23.020 good days. 00:19:25.020 --> 00:19:25.260 You know, 00:19:25.320 --> 00:19:25.820 brothers and 00:19:25.820 --> 00:19:26.780 sisters are known 00:19:26.780 --> 00:19:27.460 to fight like 00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:28.180 cats and dogs. 00:19:29.340 --> 00:19:29.940 Brothers and 00:19:29.940 --> 00:19:30.720 sisters are known 00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:31.800 to hurt one 00:19:31.800 --> 00:19:32.160 another. 00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:33.780 But on their 00:19:33.780 --> 00:19:34.880 best days, 00:19:35.380 --> 00:19:36.540 brothers and 00:19:36.540 --> 00:19:37.200 sisters will 00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:38.160 defend one 00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:39.360 another and 00:19:39.360 --> 00:19:40.400 hurt the person 00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:41.080 that tries to 00:19:41.080 --> 00:19:42.140 hurt their 00:19:42.140 --> 00:19:42.620 brother and 00:19:42.620 --> 00:19:42.820 sister. 00:19:44.220 --> 00:19:45.320 Paul is saying 00:19:45.320 --> 00:19:46.000 that as 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:46.480 Christians, 00:19:46.800 --> 00:19:47.500 we're a part 00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:48.300 of God's 00:19:48.300 --> 00:19:48.860 family. 00:19:49.280 --> 00:19:49.860 There is a 00:19:49.860 --> 00:19:50.920 spiritual family 00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:51.380 that we're a 00:19:51.380 --> 00:19:51.940 part of that 00:19:51.940 --> 00:19:52.620 should be as 00:19:52.620 --> 00:19:54.500 close as 00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:55.140 brothers and 00:19:55.140 --> 00:19:56.620 sisters under 00:19:56.620 --> 00:19:57.520 the ideal 00:19:57.520 --> 00:19:58.200 brother-sister 00:19:58.200 --> 00:19:59.260 relationship. 00:19:59.260 --> 00:20:00.060 The second 00:20:00.060 --> 00:20:00.700 command here is 00:20:00.700 --> 00:20:01.080 that we should 00:20:01.080 --> 00:20:01.920 outdo one 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:02.340 another in 00:20:02.340 --> 00:20:02.980 showing honor. 00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:04.280 The idea is 00:20:04.280 --> 00:20:05.120 that you respect 00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:05.939 others first. 00:20:06.179 --> 00:20:06.579 You're not 00:20:06.579 --> 00:20:06.739 going to do 00:20:06.739 --> 00:20:06.919 this if you 00:20:06.919 --> 00:20:07.419 don't respect 00:20:07.419 --> 00:20:08.559 them and put 00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:09.119 them first. 00:20:09.939 --> 00:20:10.559 The idea is 00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:12.119 sincere love 00:20:12.119 --> 00:20:13.399 seeks the best 00:20:13.399 --> 00:20:14.139 for the one 00:20:14.139 --> 00:20:15.379 you love, 00:20:15.579 --> 00:20:16.319 not yourself. 00:20:17.439 --> 00:20:17.859 The best 00:20:17.859 --> 00:20:18.859 example I've 00:20:18.859 --> 00:20:19.959 ever heard in 00:20:19.959 --> 00:20:20.539 just people 00:20:20.539 --> 00:20:21.119 living and 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:22.159 doing came 00:20:22.159 --> 00:20:22.779 from children. 00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:24.419 Lisa teaches 00:20:24.419 --> 00:20:26.219 music at an 00:20:26.219 --> 00:20:26.959 elementary school. 00:20:28.059 --> 00:20:28.859 One year, 00:20:29.099 --> 00:20:29.579 several years 00:20:29.579 --> 00:20:30.039 ago now, 00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:31.379 a brother and 00:20:31.379 --> 00:20:32.699 sister both 00:20:32.699 --> 00:20:33.639 tried out for 00:20:33.639 --> 00:20:34.779 honors choir. 00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:36.379 The sister 00:20:36.379 --> 00:20:37.119 made it. 00:20:37.899 --> 00:20:38.739 The brother 00:20:38.739 --> 00:20:39.659 did not. 00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:41.239 When Lisa 00:20:41.239 --> 00:20:42.319 explained to 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:42.979 the brother, 00:20:43.859 --> 00:20:44.519 your sister 00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:45.279 made honors 00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:46.299 choir and 00:20:46.299 --> 00:20:47.059 you didn't, 00:20:48.059 --> 00:20:48.379 you know 00:20:48.379 --> 00:20:49.259 what he said? 00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:50.719 He said, 00:20:50.839 --> 00:20:52.739 well, if only 00:20:52.739 --> 00:20:53.439 one of us 00:20:53.439 --> 00:20:54.119 could make it, 00:20:54.419 --> 00:20:55.099 I'm glad it 00:20:55.099 --> 00:20:55.979 was my sister. 00:20:56.679 --> 00:20:57.159 And he 00:20:57.159 --> 00:20:57.939 meant it. 00:20:58.699 --> 00:20:59.799 He loved his 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:00.099 sister. 00:21:00.099 --> 00:21:01.500 And he 00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:02.219 was happy 00:21:02.219 --> 00:21:02.679 for her 00:21:02.679 --> 00:21:03.119 to get 00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:04.119 that honor 00:21:04.119 --> 00:21:05.679 above 00:21:05.679 --> 00:21:06.379 himself. 00:21:06.779 --> 00:21:07.279 And he 00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:08.019 was genuine. 00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:09.659 It was the 00:21:09.659 --> 00:21:11.059 real deal. 00:21:13.219 --> 00:21:14.219 Sincere love 00:21:14.219 --> 00:21:14.779 is devoted 00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:15.480 to others. 00:21:15.819 --> 00:21:16.419 Sincere love 00:21:16.419 --> 00:21:17.079 provides us 00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:17.719 with positive 00:21:17.719 --> 00:21:18.179 energy. 00:21:18.299 --> 00:21:18.539 In verses 00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:19.319 11 and 12, 00:21:19.379 --> 00:21:19.759 look at it. 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:20.559 Do not be 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.379 slothful in 00:21:21.379 --> 00:21:21.740 zeal, 00:21:21.919 --> 00:21:22.759 but fervent in 00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:23.099 spirit. 00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:23.879 Serve the Lord, 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:24.539 rejoice in 00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:24.819 hope, 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:25.699 be patient in 00:21:25.699 --> 00:21:26.119 tribulation, 00:21:26.219 --> 00:21:26.799 be constant in 00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:27.019 prayer. 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:27.819 Let's look at 00:21:27.819 --> 00:21:28.259 this quickly 00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:28.480 here. 00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:29.779 Love is 00:21:29.779 --> 00:21:30.539 enthusiastic. 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:31.559 Another way 00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:32.079 that can be 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:32.779 translated is 00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:33.439 love is not 00:21:33.439 --> 00:21:35.339 lazy or 00:21:35.339 --> 00:21:37.619 indifferent when 00:21:37.619 --> 00:21:38.519 it comes to 00:21:38.519 --> 00:21:39.539 service. 00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:40.720 Serving God 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:41.419 and serving 00:21:41.419 --> 00:21:42.179 other people 00:21:42.179 --> 00:21:42.519 is what it's 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:42.919 talking about 00:21:42.919 --> 00:21:43.139 here. 00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:46.119 Sincere love 00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:46.740 will cause us 00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:47.480 to want to 00:21:47.480 --> 00:21:48.379 do our best 00:21:48.379 --> 00:21:49.079 in fulfilling 00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:50.339 our responsibilities 00:21:50.339 --> 00:21:51.139 to other 00:21:51.139 --> 00:21:51.480 people. 00:21:52.419 --> 00:21:53.119 We won't be 00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:54.240 lazy or half-hearted 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:54.619 about it. 00:21:54.679 --> 00:21:54.960 And you know 00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:55.179 what I'm 00:21:55.179 --> 00:21:55.639 talking about. 00:21:56.179 --> 00:21:56.619 There are 00:21:56.619 --> 00:21:57.259 things that you 00:21:57.259 --> 00:21:57.940 do in life 00:21:57.940 --> 00:21:58.379 that you 00:21:58.379 --> 00:21:59.140 love, 00:21:59.319 --> 00:22:00.180 you thoroughly 00:22:00.180 --> 00:22:00.839 enjoy, 00:22:01.160 --> 00:22:01.619 but it's 00:22:01.619 --> 00:22:02.119 hard. 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:04.059 It's a labor 00:22:04.059 --> 00:22:04.559 of love. 00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.160 It may be 00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:05.940 your job, 00:22:06.140 --> 00:22:06.619 it may be 00:22:06.619 --> 00:22:07.240 a hobby, 00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:08.220 it may be 00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:08.900 something fun 00:22:08.900 --> 00:22:09.500 you just do 00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:10.259 with your 00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:10.920 friends or 00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:11.660 your children 00:22:11.660 --> 00:22:12.180 or someone. 00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:14.019 You work 00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:14.440 at it, 00:22:14.680 --> 00:22:15.480 you sweat 00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:15.960 at it, 00:22:16.379 --> 00:22:16.819 you get 00:22:16.819 --> 00:22:17.839 worn out, 00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:18.740 but you 00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.599 love it. 00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:20.700 It's a labor 00:22:20.700 --> 00:22:21.279 of love, 00:22:21.420 --> 00:22:21.900 you're not 00:22:21.900 --> 00:22:22.759 lazy in it. 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:23.299 And what 00:22:23.299 --> 00:22:23.980 Paul is saying 00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:24.759 here is we 00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:25.160 have the right 00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:25.680 kind of love 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:26.400 for one another 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:27.100 when we've 00:22:27.100 --> 00:22:27.860 got to get 00:22:27.860 --> 00:22:28.140 in there 00:22:28.140 --> 00:22:28.519 and roll 00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:28.759 up our 00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:28.960 sleeves 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:29.280 and do 00:22:29.280 --> 00:22:29.740 some things 00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:30.400 to meet 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:30.940 one another's 00:22:30.940 --> 00:22:31.420 needs, 00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:33.360 we'll do 00:22:33.360 --> 00:22:34.400 it enthusiastically. 00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:36.140 We won't 00:22:36.140 --> 00:22:36.440 do it 00:22:36.440 --> 00:22:37.360 begrudgingly, 00:22:37.380 --> 00:22:37.759 that's not 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:38.180 love. 00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:39.720 We won't 00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:40.300 be lazy 00:22:40.300 --> 00:22:40.759 in doing 00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:40.960 it. 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:41.580 Love is 00:22:41.580 --> 00:22:42.040 patient. 00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:43.040 It enables 00:22:43.040 --> 00:22:43.400 us to 00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:44.000 persevere 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:45.380 and not 00:22:45.380 --> 00:22:45.840 give up 00:22:45.840 --> 00:22:46.300 in hard 00:22:46.300 --> 00:22:47.120 times. 00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:48.940 Everybody 00:22:48.940 --> 00:22:49.519 has hard 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:50.000 times. 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:51.440 Life is 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:52.160 not simple 00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:52.920 for anyone. 00:22:53.860 --> 00:22:54.540 Most people 00:22:54.540 --> 00:22:55.080 thankfully, 00:22:55.079 --> 00:22:56.039 it sort 00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:56.379 of comes 00:22:56.379 --> 00:22:56.980 and goes. 00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:58.039 There's 00:22:58.039 --> 00:22:58.319 people in 00:22:58.319 --> 00:22:58.539 this room 00:22:58.539 --> 00:22:58.919 right now, 00:22:58.980 --> 00:22:59.359 right now 00:22:59.359 --> 00:22:59.899 life is 00:22:59.899 --> 00:23:00.439 great for 00:23:00.439 --> 00:23:00.699 you. 00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:00.899 You 00:23:00.899 --> 00:23:01.159 couldn't 00:23:01.159 --> 00:23:01.480 ask for 00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:01.839 things to 00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:02.299 be better. 00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:03.220 There's 00:23:03.220 --> 00:23:03.500 people in 00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:03.819 this room 00:23:03.819 --> 00:23:04.259 that life 00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:04.839 is very 00:23:04.839 --> 00:23:05.879 hard right 00:23:05.879 --> 00:23:06.179 now. 00:23:08.399 --> 00:23:09.000 It's the 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:09.439 hardest you've 00:23:09.439 --> 00:23:09.839 ever gone 00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:10.099 through. 00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:13.179 Love is 00:23:13.179 --> 00:23:16.000 patient in 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:16.399 that it 00:23:16.399 --> 00:23:17.000 will help 00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:20.099 us sometimes 00:23:20.099 --> 00:23:20.679 just to 00:23:20.679 --> 00:23:21.299 take one 00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:21.899 more step. 00:23:22.899 --> 00:23:23.519 It'll 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:24.279 help us 00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:25.299 to continue 00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:25.879 on. 00:23:27.139 --> 00:23:27.519 And let's 00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:28.119 think especially 00:23:28.119 --> 00:23:29.299 in difficulties 00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:30.079 with certain 00:23:30.079 --> 00:23:30.559 people. 00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:31.839 Love will 00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:32.199 help us to 00:23:32.199 --> 00:23:32.759 be patient, 00:23:33.059 --> 00:23:33.519 to work 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:34.039 with them, 00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:34.939 to build 00:23:34.939 --> 00:23:35.599 bridges, 00:23:36.199 --> 00:23:37.659 not to 00:23:37.659 --> 00:23:38.259 burn them. 00:23:39.359 --> 00:23:40.079 Love motivates 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:40.719 us to pray. 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:41.619 If we truly 00:23:41.619 --> 00:23:42.279 believe that God 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:43.000 answers prayer 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:44.139 and we love 00:23:44.139 --> 00:23:44.619 people, 00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:45.699 doesn't it make 00:23:45.699 --> 00:23:46.379 sense that we 00:23:46.379 --> 00:23:47.619 ought to want 00:23:47.619 --> 00:23:48.740 to pray for 00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:49.039 them? 00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:50.819 Let's just 00:23:50.819 --> 00:23:51.200 be real 00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:51.599 honest. 00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:53.579 There's 00:23:53.579 --> 00:23:53.940 people in 00:23:53.940 --> 00:23:54.420 your life, 00:23:54.460 --> 00:23:54.700 you just 00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:55.079 love to tell 00:23:55.079 --> 00:23:55.279 them what 00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:55.519 you really 00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:55.779 think. 00:23:57.539 --> 00:23:57.920 There's 00:23:57.920 --> 00:23:58.220 people in 00:23:58.220 --> 00:23:58.700 your life 00:23:58.700 --> 00:23:58.980 that you 00:23:58.980 --> 00:23:59.740 don't like, 00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:01.879 you don't 00:24:01.879 --> 00:24:02.180 like what 00:24:02.180 --> 00:24:02.680 they're doing, 00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:04.659 they irritate 00:24:04.659 --> 00:24:06.720 you, and 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:08.059 if you could 00:24:08.059 --> 00:24:08.700 just get by 00:24:08.700 --> 00:24:09.159 with it, if 00:24:09.159 --> 00:24:09.480 it could be 00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.379 Groundhog Day, 00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:12.000 remember the 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:12.259 movie? 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:13.299 You could just 00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:13.659 do whatever 00:24:13.659 --> 00:24:14.079 you wanted to 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:14.579 do, say 00:24:14.579 --> 00:24:14.899 whatever you 00:24:14.899 --> 00:24:15.180 wanted to 00:24:15.180 --> 00:24:15.539 say, and 00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:16.119 tomorrow they 00:24:16.119 --> 00:24:16.339 wouldn't 00:24:16.339 --> 00:24:16.720 remember. 00:24:17.480 --> 00:24:17.879 You just 00:24:17.879 --> 00:24:18.420 love to 00:24:18.420 --> 00:24:19.539 explode on 00:24:19.539 --> 00:24:19.960 them, just 00:24:19.960 --> 00:24:20.480 tell them what 00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:20.800 you think. 00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:24.920 We can't 00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:25.279 do that. 00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:27.840 Groundhog Day 00:24:27.840 --> 00:24:28.320 in the movie 00:24:28.320 --> 00:24:29.640 was fiction. 00:24:31.580 --> 00:24:32.580 We have to 00:24:32.580 --> 00:24:33.200 love some 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:33.759 people that 00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:34.420 God has in 00:24:34.420 --> 00:24:35.080 our life 00:24:35.080 --> 00:24:36.840 that's hard 00:24:36.840 --> 00:24:38.259 to love, and 00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:38.960 everybody has 00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:39.160 them. 00:24:40.700 --> 00:24:41.100 You know, as 00:24:41.100 --> 00:24:41.680 the saying goes, 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:42.080 if you don't 00:24:42.080 --> 00:24:42.480 know who they 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:44.120 are, you're 00:24:44.120 --> 00:24:45.800 probably it in 00:24:45.799 --> 00:24:46.579 your family or 00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:47.039 your circle. 00:24:48.339 --> 00:24:48.700 And so what 00:24:48.700 --> 00:24:49.019 we've got to 00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:49.539 learn to do 00:24:49.539 --> 00:24:50.859 is love these 00:24:50.859 --> 00:24:51.559 people, and 00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:51.839 one of the 00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:52.480 best ways to 00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:52.960 learn to do 00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:53.659 that is to 00:24:53.659 --> 00:24:54.500 pray for 00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:54.740 them. 00:24:55.079 --> 00:24:55.500 Pray for 00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:56.159 yourself. 00:24:57.240 --> 00:24:57.960 God, help 00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:58.799 me to be 00:24:58.799 --> 00:24:59.159 patient. 00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:00.740 Help me to 00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:02.519 actually meet 00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:03.339 this person's 00:25:03.339 --> 00:25:05.519 need in a 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:05.940 genuine, 00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:08.419 sincere, kind 00:25:08.419 --> 00:25:08.819 way. 00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:10.259 And then pray 00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:10.659 for that 00:25:10.659 --> 00:25:11.039 person. 00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:12.960 Pray that God 00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:13.500 would work in 00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:15.019 the situation to 00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:15.720 meet the need, 00:25:16.139 --> 00:25:16.819 even to use 00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:17.059 you. 00:25:17.859 --> 00:25:18.480 That goes on 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:19.139 to verse 13. 00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:20.119 Sincere love 00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:20.920 meets people's 00:25:20.920 --> 00:25:21.319 needs. 00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:21.799 He says, 00:25:21.859 --> 00:25:22.259 contribute to 00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:23.420 the needs of 00:25:23.420 --> 00:25:24.079 the saints, 00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:24.660 and show 00:25:24.660 --> 00:25:25.180 hospitality. 00:25:25.900 --> 00:25:26.359 We're supposed 00:25:26.359 --> 00:25:27.059 to share with 00:25:27.059 --> 00:25:27.740 people as they 00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:28.259 have need. 00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:28.859 What do we 00:25:28.859 --> 00:25:29.180 share? 00:25:29.879 --> 00:25:31.019 Whatever it is 00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:31.720 that they need 00:25:31.720 --> 00:25:32.279 that you can 00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:32.819 meet the need 00:25:32.819 --> 00:25:33.099 with. 00:25:33.400 --> 00:25:33.700 I want you to 00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:33.960 look at a 00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:34.379 passage of 00:25:34.379 --> 00:25:35.039 scripture quickly 00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:35.700 from 1 John 00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:36.099 3. 00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:36.680 It's on the 00:25:36.680 --> 00:25:37.039 screen. 00:25:38.099 --> 00:25:38.759 This is written 00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:39.279 to Christians. 00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:40.319 This applies to 00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:40.940 all of us. 00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:42.379 If anyone has 00:25:42.379 --> 00:25:43.400 material possessions 00:25:43.400 --> 00:25:44.180 and sees his 00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:45.000 brother in need, 00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:45.799 but has no 00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:46.440 pity on him, 00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:47.279 how can the 00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:47.779 love of God 00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:48.339 be in him? 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:49.299 Dear children, 00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:50.000 let us love 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:51.720 not with words 00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:52.359 or tongue, 00:25:52.460 --> 00:25:53.319 but with actions 00:25:53.319 --> 00:25:54.279 and in truth. 00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:56.279 Sometimes love 00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:56.579 is going to 00:25:56.579 --> 00:25:58.079 compel us to 00:25:58.079 --> 00:25:58.740 take out our 00:25:58.740 --> 00:25:59.879 billfold, 00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:01.559 checkbook, 00:26:02.680 --> 00:26:03.339 debit card, 00:26:04.339 --> 00:26:05.079 and meet a 00:26:05.079 --> 00:26:05.660 person's need. 00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:07.920 Sometimes love 00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:08.319 is going to 00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:09.139 compel us to 00:26:09.139 --> 00:26:10.039 be inconvenienced 00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:11.139 to even sacrifice 00:26:11.140 --> 00:26:13.540 to meet a 00:26:13.540 --> 00:26:14.080 brother or 00:26:14.080 --> 00:26:14.640 sister in 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:14.940 Christ. 00:26:15.060 --> 00:26:15.520 Not just a 00:26:15.520 --> 00:26:16.540 physical brother 00:26:16.540 --> 00:26:17.360 or sister, 00:26:17.820 --> 00:26:18.240 but a brother 00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:18.780 or sister in 00:26:18.780 --> 00:26:20.100 Christ's need. 00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:20.820 Showing 00:26:20.820 --> 00:26:21.580 hospitalities. 00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:22.080 The next one, 00:26:22.360 --> 00:26:23.200 that was of 00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:23.800 great importance 00:26:23.800 --> 00:26:24.200 in the early 00:26:24.200 --> 00:26:24.560 church. 00:26:25.460 --> 00:26:25.900 It was not 00:26:25.900 --> 00:26:26.740 always possible 00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:27.620 that there was a 00:26:27.620 --> 00:26:28.140 place like a 00:26:28.140 --> 00:26:28.480 hotel. 00:26:29.020 --> 00:26:29.500 There weren't 00:26:29.500 --> 00:26:29.860 that many 00:26:29.860 --> 00:26:30.340 inns. 00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:30.800 And a lot of 00:26:30.800 --> 00:26:31.620 times if there 00:26:31.620 --> 00:26:32.280 were, there 00:26:32.280 --> 00:26:33.200 were shady, 00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:34.240 sleazy places 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:34.860 that you wouldn't 00:26:34.860 --> 00:26:35.720 want someone 00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:36.240 coming in. 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:37.279 And so, in 00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:37.579 the early 00:26:37.579 --> 00:26:39.579 church, Christians 00:26:39.579 --> 00:26:40.400 who travel like, 00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:40.799 for example, 00:26:40.900 --> 00:26:41.539 the Apostle 00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:43.359 Paul, if he 00:26:43.359 --> 00:26:44.779 came to the 00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:45.279 church at Rome, 00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:45.779 if he came to 00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:48.319 Pickens, he 00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:50.160 would expect for 00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:51.380 a Christian 00:26:51.380 --> 00:26:52.859 family to open 00:26:52.859 --> 00:26:53.960 their home to 00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:54.319 him. 00:26:55.160 --> 00:26:56.019 Him being a 00:26:56.019 --> 00:26:56.839 stranger to them 00:26:56.839 --> 00:26:57.539 on one hand, 00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:58.920 but he, they 00:26:58.920 --> 00:26:59.400 would have heard 00:26:59.400 --> 00:26:59.799 about him. 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:00.559 It wasn't just a 00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:01.380 total stranger, 00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:01.859 they would have 00:27:01.859 --> 00:27:02.319 heard about him. 00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:03.460 They, he may 00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:04.019 even have some 00:27:04.019 --> 00:27:04.680 letters of 00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:05.620 recommendation from 00:27:05.620 --> 00:27:06.220 another church 00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:07.440 or some other 00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:07.980 Christians that 00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:08.860 they knew of. 00:27:09.400 --> 00:27:09.700 And so they 00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:10.240 would take him 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:10.480 in. 00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:11.400 How that might 00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:12.319 apply today is 00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:13.480 sometimes we have 00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:14.299 had some youth 00:27:14.299 --> 00:27:15.380 conferences here. 00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:16.400 And we've brought 00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:17.779 in some, maybe 00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:18.600 college students 00:27:18.600 --> 00:27:19.319 from North 00:27:19.319 --> 00:27:20.059 Greenville or 00:27:20.059 --> 00:27:20.860 Liberty University 00:27:20.860 --> 00:27:21.420 or somewhere like 00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:21.680 that. 00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:22.539 And they're coming 00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:23.299 in for a weekend 00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:24.180 and we need 00:27:24.180 --> 00:27:25.220 families in our 00:27:25.220 --> 00:27:26.759 church to house 00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:27.259 these people. 00:27:27.460 --> 00:27:28.120 That is the kind 00:27:28.120 --> 00:27:28.400 of Christian 00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:29.700 hospitality we're 00:27:29.700 --> 00:27:30.079 talking about. 00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:30.900 You don't know 00:27:30.900 --> 00:27:32.460 them, but you do 00:27:32.460 --> 00:27:33.100 know of them. 00:27:33.140 --> 00:27:33.480 We're not talking 00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:34.259 about total stranger. 00:27:34.380 --> 00:27:35.000 They're Christians. 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:37.079 And so you open 00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:37.640 your home to 00:27:37.640 --> 00:27:38.420 these kinds of 00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:38.799 strangers. 00:27:39.019 --> 00:27:39.759 We talked about 00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:40.480 several years ago 00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:41.220 as a church 00:27:41.220 --> 00:27:43.319 family, partnering 00:27:43.319 --> 00:27:44.160 with a church 00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:44.779 that on the coast 00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:45.579 of South Carolina, 00:27:46.140 --> 00:27:47.140 that if they had 00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:48.500 a hurricane and 00:27:48.500 --> 00:27:48.940 they had to 00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:51.160 evacuate, we 00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:51.759 talked about 00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:53.859 enlisting church 00:27:53.859 --> 00:27:54.900 members to open 00:27:54.900 --> 00:27:57.059 our homes to a 00:27:57.059 --> 00:27:58.000 couple or a 00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:59.059 family from a 00:27:59.059 --> 00:28:00.299 church, say in the 00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:01.920 Charleston area, that 00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:02.839 had to leave because 00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:03.319 of the hurricane. 00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:04.159 That would be 00:28:04.159 --> 00:28:05.379 Christian hospitality 00:28:05.379 --> 00:28:07.079 as an example. 00:28:08.099 --> 00:28:08.759 Paul makes it 00:28:08.759 --> 00:28:10.519 clear, sincere 00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:12.579 love is a whole 00:28:12.579 --> 00:28:13.200 lot more than a 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:13.559 feeling. 00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:15.700 It's an attitude 00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:18.079 that we display in 00:28:18.079 --> 00:28:19.019 our actions. 00:28:19.579 --> 00:28:20.099 So I just want to 00:28:20.099 --> 00:28:21.720 ask you, in light of 00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:22.159 what we've seen 00:28:22.159 --> 00:28:23.119 here, are you 00:28:23.119 --> 00:28:24.319 demonstrating sincere 00:28:24.879 --> 00:28:26.480 love to your 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:27.279 brothers and sisters 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:28.119 in Christ in 00:28:28.119 --> 00:28:28.519 particular? 00:28:30.139 --> 00:28:31.019 The next question 00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:32.400 is, do you want 00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:32.599 to? 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:35.559 Is there 00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:36.299 something within 00:28:36.299 --> 00:28:38.740 you, the Spirit 00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:39.420 of God, that 00:28:39.420 --> 00:28:40.759 causes you to see 00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:42.200 this is what's 00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:43.619 right and this is 00:28:43.619 --> 00:28:44.599 what I want to do? 00:28:44.980 --> 00:28:45.559 Some of you may 00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:46.799 say, certainly I 00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:47.099 don't do it 00:28:47.099 --> 00:28:48.619 perfectly, but this 00:28:48.619 --> 00:28:51.139 is my goal. 00:28:51.859 --> 00:28:52.400 So you might need 00:28:52.400 --> 00:28:52.900 to ask God this 00:28:52.900 --> 00:28:53.339 morning to help 00:28:53.339 --> 00:28:54.819 you to continue 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:56.420 on to grow in 00:28:56.420 --> 00:28:56.920 some of these 00:28:56.920 --> 00:28:57.420 areas. 00:28:59.180 --> 00:29:00.100 Whatever it is 00:29:00.100 --> 00:29:01.300 that God's shown 00:29:01.300 --> 00:29:02.100 you, your 00:29:02.100 --> 00:29:02.759 response, what it 00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:04.480 needs to be, ask 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:05.259 God to help you 00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:06.200 right now to 00:29:06.200 --> 00:29:07.880 desire and 00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:09.920 demonstrate this 00:29:09.920 --> 00:29:11.039 kind of sincere 00:29:11.039 --> 00:29:14.240 love every day 00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:16.259 in all these 00:29:16.259 --> 00:29:16.940 relationships we're 00:29:16.940 --> 00:29:17.480 talking about, 00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:18.880 even the hard 00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:19.539 ones. 00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:21.500 And ask God to 00:29:21.500 --> 00:29:22.019 help you right 00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:23.620 now to do 00:29:23.620 --> 00:29:24.400 whatever it is to 00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:25.259 make the commitment 00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:28.340 to start now. 00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:29.740 Let's pray. 00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:32.900 Dear God, help 00:29:32.900 --> 00:29:33.580 us to see that 00:29:33.580 --> 00:29:34.280 love is not an 00:29:34.280 --> 00:29:35.759 option if we are 00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:36.360 your children. 00:29:37.660 --> 00:29:38.460 And help us to 00:29:38.460 --> 00:29:39.060 see, dear God, that 00:29:39.060 --> 00:29:39.560 we cannot be 00:29:39.560 --> 00:29:42.380 selective about how 00:29:42.380 --> 00:29:43.560 we love and who 00:29:43.560 --> 00:29:44.340 we love. 00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:47.080 So show us right 00:29:47.080 --> 00:29:47.620 now, dear God, 00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:48.380 what we need to 00:29:48.380 --> 00:29:50.820 do about maybe a 00:29:50.820 --> 00:29:51.700 changed attitude, 00:29:52.320 --> 00:29:53.540 changed priorities, 00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:56.780 what we need to 00:29:56.780 --> 00:29:57.640 do about confession 00:29:57.640 --> 00:30:00.720 of sin, that 00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:01.640 would enable us to 00:30:01.640 --> 00:30:04.400 leave here ready 00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:06.340 to start demonstrating 00:30:06.340 --> 00:30:07.440 sincere love. 00:30:08.180 --> 00:30:08.759 Father, if there's 00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:09.460 anyone in this room 00:30:09.460 --> 00:30:10.900 who is not your 00:30:10.900 --> 00:30:12.800 child, help them 00:30:12.800 --> 00:30:13.560 to understand this 00:30:13.560 --> 00:30:14.880 morning how much 00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:15.700 you love them. 00:30:16.300 --> 00:30:17.080 You love them so 00:30:17.080 --> 00:30:17.780 much you sent your 00:30:17.780 --> 00:30:18.960 son into this world, 00:30:19.960 --> 00:30:20.600 the Lord Jesus, 00:30:21.259 --> 00:30:23.000 to die and pay the 00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:23.839 penalty for their 00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:24.400 sins. 00:30:25.259 --> 00:30:26.160 Help them, dear God, 00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:26.980 right now to see 00:30:26.980 --> 00:30:28.640 their need, give them 00:30:28.640 --> 00:30:30.519 the desire to turn 00:30:30.519 --> 00:30:32.640 from their sin and to 00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:33.640 trust in Jesus and 00:30:33.640 --> 00:30:35.180 call upon Him to save 00:30:35.180 --> 00:30:35.980 them right now. 00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:38.220 You just listen to the 00:30:38.220 --> 00:30:38.839 Lord with the heads 00:30:38.839 --> 00:30:39.720 bowed and eyes closed 00:30:39.720 --> 00:30:40.619 and respond to Him. 00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:41.839 If I could help you 00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:42.900 during this time, I'll 00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:43.460 be here in front to 00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:44.000 pray with you. 00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:52.200 also 00:30:52.200 --> 00:30:53.940 a 00:30:53.940 --> 00:30:54.640 you 00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:55.539 B 00:30:55.539 --> 00:30:55.799 . 00:30:55.859 --> 00:30:56.539 .