WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:17.199 All right, good morning. Good to see all of you this morning. I know that there are going to be a lot more people that make their way in, but if I keep waiting for them to show up, then we're just going to keep starting later and later and later. 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:38.159 So if I try to start as close to nine as possible, then we'll maximize your time, give you opportunities for discussion. That's the goal. The goal today is to have just a compressed time of teaching, just about 40 minutes of teaching, and then about 45 minutes, 30 minutes to 45 minutes of discussion. 00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:51.979 Opportunities for you to break out and to talk about this material together in smaller groups, gender-specific, men with men, women with women, and then teens are going to be on your own too. 00:00:53.419 --> 00:01:02.640 So we'll work that out when we get to that time, okay? Let me open us in some prayer, and then we will dive in. 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:25.099 Father, thank you for the living word of God. Thank you that you have given us instruction. You have not left us without a voice. We have the word of God, the message, not just through prophets, but through God himself who became man. 00:01:25.099 --> 00:01:30.299 The word of God became flesh and dwelt among us. Thank you for that word. 00:01:31.239 --> 00:01:43.579 And so as we think about the word today, and as we seek to apply that word to our lives, God, go before us in this conversation, in this discussion of this material. 00:01:43.819 --> 00:01:49.519 Father, I pray that you would use your word to transform us, fundamentally change us from the inside out. 00:01:49.519 --> 00:02:00.299 Help us to look more like our Savior, and help us to reflect that living Savior light into this dark world. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:02:01.239 --> 00:02:06.640 We're good. Before we get going, just to let you know, there's two versions of this, okay? 00:02:07.319 --> 00:02:11.579 There's an adult version that just has the one banner. 00:02:11.580 --> 00:02:18.200 There's a teen version that will always have a second banner that says, ha-ha, this is for you, okay? 00:02:18.460 --> 00:02:23.800 It's going to try to get your attention and let you know that this is the one that you should have, okay? 00:02:24.380 --> 00:02:31.120 It's not that the material that we're going to go through as adults is really different from a lecture standpoint, 00:02:31.740 --> 00:02:37.580 but there are some questions, more specific questions kind of built in for you teens, 00:02:37.580 --> 00:02:44.260 as you evaluate your heart and think about the material, and I think just age-specific and gender-specific will be really beneficial. 00:02:44.860 --> 00:02:51.640 And then for the grown-ups, there's some questions that are oriented a little bit more for you 00:02:51.640 --> 00:02:58.460 as it relates to your heart and purity, especially in this very impure world that wants to bombard you 00:02:58.460 --> 00:03:04.600 with thoughts that are unchristian and ungodly. 00:03:04.599 --> 00:03:14.680 So we want to give you a chance to talk about that in certain age-specific, gender-specific areas, okay? 00:03:15.539 --> 00:03:16.840 So let's begin. 00:03:18.060 --> 00:03:23.319 Last time we were together, we spent some time talking about the significance of emotions, 00:03:23.900 --> 00:03:28.639 and we built that off of the phrase, we're talking about passions of the heart, 00:03:28.639 --> 00:03:37.779 and so we were thinking about emotions in particular because passions and desires and feelings and longings and yearnings, 00:03:37.879 --> 00:03:45.159 whatever you want to put into that, they all kind of collide and swirl together, and they produce something, okay? 00:03:45.779 --> 00:03:52.639 So what are some things that we learned last week about our emotions, our passions? 00:03:53.419 --> 00:03:53.919 Who remembers? 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:59.219 Okay, so our passions will drive our actions. 00:03:59.339 --> 00:03:59.459 Good. 00:04:00.599 --> 00:04:01.139 What else? 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:04.719 And maybe, why is that important to understand? 00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:11.039 Why is it important for us to understand that our passions and desires drive our actions? 00:04:15.919 --> 00:04:17.860 Okay, that's a well put. 00:04:17.860 --> 00:04:25.520 If we want to control the way we behave, we fundamentally need to understand our heart. 00:04:26.379 --> 00:04:36.000 We fundamentally need to understand the emotions and desires and passions that fuel action 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:41.680 and move us in the direction of obedience or disobedience. 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:42.400 Okay, good. 00:04:43.220 --> 00:04:43.840 What else? 00:04:43.960 --> 00:04:45.540 What else did we learn about emotions? 00:04:45.660 --> 00:04:45.980 Yeah, John. 00:04:45.980 --> 00:04:47.700 We discussed that they were neutral. 00:04:48.160 --> 00:04:48.400 Okay. 00:04:49.840 --> 00:04:50.420 That's good. 00:04:50.680 --> 00:04:52.000 So our emotions are neutral. 00:04:52.700 --> 00:05:00.660 Now, when I first heard that, I thought, eh, that doesn't seem right because I know a lot of negative emotions. 00:05:00.660 --> 00:05:05.040 As a matter of fact, I see a lot of negative emotions in me. 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:13.500 And to say those emotions are neutral in some standpoint doesn't seem correct. 00:05:14.100 --> 00:05:15.439 We think about anger. 00:05:16.840 --> 00:05:19.700 And I think we can think of a lot of examples, right? 00:05:20.180 --> 00:05:24.520 How anger pushes us and fuels ungodly behavior. 00:05:24.519 --> 00:05:30.560 Can you think of an example where anger fuels righteous anger? 00:05:32.620 --> 00:05:33.240 I'm sorry. 00:05:33.799 --> 00:05:35.879 Anger fuels righteous behavior? 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:37.719 Maybe I gave you a giveaway. 00:05:39.159 --> 00:05:42.719 What's an example of how good anger can be used in the right way? 00:05:42.720 --> 00:05:47.840 Think about what Jesus did at the temple, right? 00:05:48.640 --> 00:06:01.060 The zeal for the Lord, this righteous indignation that Jesus had for how the temple was being abused, misused, misrepresented. 00:06:02.160 --> 00:06:04.260 And Jesus was rightly upset about that. 00:06:04.259 --> 00:06:10.180 And it amplified and accelerated action in him, right action. 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:24.659 So anger, in that sense, which we tend to think is almost always bad, has this positive benefit when it's moving and oriented in the right direction. 00:06:24.659 --> 00:06:33.599 Can you think of any other examples of a negative emotion we almost always assign sin to? 00:06:34.259 --> 00:06:39.199 What are some other negative emotions that we experience? 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:41.420 What's that? 00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:41.920 You. 00:06:42.860 --> 00:06:43.459 Jealousy. 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:43.839 Okay. 00:06:44.180 --> 00:06:45.259 That's a great example. 00:06:45.879 --> 00:06:53.099 So jealousy or envy in the scripture, the Old Testament, we're told, thou shalt not envy. 00:06:53.759 --> 00:06:53.939 Right? 00:06:54.300 --> 00:06:55.079 Don't be jealous. 00:06:55.519 --> 00:06:58.079 And yet, what do we know about God? 00:06:59.219 --> 00:07:00.339 He's a jealous God. 00:07:01.039 --> 00:07:02.500 He is rightly jealous. 00:07:02.500 --> 00:07:02.680 Jealous. 00:07:03.480 --> 00:07:09.959 It reminds me of, and forgive me for this, but it reminds me of Oprah Winfrey. 00:07:10.519 --> 00:07:10.620 Okay? 00:07:11.220 --> 00:07:18.040 And there's this little segment, okay, when she's addressing how the insanity of God. 00:07:18.180 --> 00:07:23.139 She's addressing how foolish it is for people to actually believe in God. 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:25.720 And she uses jealousy as an example. 00:07:26.600 --> 00:07:27.939 Why would God be jealous? 00:07:28.500 --> 00:07:30.100 What does he have to be jealous for? 00:07:30.100 --> 00:07:35.900 If there's anything that should disqualify God from being God, in her mind, it was jealousy. 00:07:36.200 --> 00:07:42.780 Because if he is perfectly self-contained, then what would he ever need to be jealous about? 00:07:42.860 --> 00:07:44.920 Why would he ever want somebody else's stuff? 00:07:45.939 --> 00:07:48.120 And she totally misunderstands, right? 00:07:48.120 --> 00:08:10.540 Because jealousy in God is that God has staked his claim on something and he is rightly wanting or expecting that that object that he has staked his claim on reveres him, worships him, obeys him, submits to him in the way that he has decided it should be. 00:08:10.540 --> 00:08:10.900 Right? 00:08:11.700 --> 00:08:18.620 And we can go through a lot of these kinds of examples and we can think about the significance of emotions. 00:08:18.840 --> 00:08:19.020 Right? 00:08:19.819 --> 00:08:26.560 And I trust that we kind of got this closer look at how much we're led by our emotions. 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:35.240 And what kind of grip emotions tends to have in our own hearts. 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:37.379 We see it all the time, don't we? 00:08:38.279 --> 00:08:44.279 What are some examples from day to day how our emotions drive action? 00:08:46.519 --> 00:08:47.320 What are some examples? 00:08:47.740 --> 00:08:53.320 Think about the whole gamut of things that you experience in a given day. 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:54.040 Okay? 00:08:54.580 --> 00:08:57.480 Driving on a busy road to work. 00:08:58.960 --> 00:09:07.680 Relating with individuals at work who don't seem to understand your perspective and don't seem to appreciate what you bring to the table. 00:09:08.360 --> 00:09:12.560 Students, think about teachers that aren't always as receptive. 00:09:12.780 --> 00:09:17.080 Or even parents who are homeschooling who don't really understand where you're coming from. 00:09:17.080 --> 00:09:25.379 How do emotions begin to affect the way that we respond? 00:09:25.700 --> 00:09:27.400 And I think about families. 00:09:27.820 --> 00:09:29.500 And I think about friends. 00:09:29.620 --> 00:09:31.060 I think about sports. 00:09:31.280 --> 00:09:33.379 I think about all of these things that we go through. 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:38.940 How and when do you see emotions begin to show up in your life? 00:09:40.920 --> 00:09:41.820 What are some examples? 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:43.879 Okay. 00:09:43.879 --> 00:09:46.639 I am not getting what I want when I want it. 00:09:47.240 --> 00:09:48.100 That's a great example. 00:09:48.820 --> 00:09:56.279 And so when someone is robbing you of what you want, and we're going to talk about this some more as we go along today, 00:09:56.820 --> 00:10:00.259 then it creates an emotion in me, right? 00:10:00.580 --> 00:10:00.799 Good. 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:01.700 Ellie, did you have something? 00:10:01.700 --> 00:10:05.340 I think we're constantly involved in our relationship. 00:10:06.800 --> 00:10:16.360 I think that whenever we are engaged with anything, if there's a level of hardness, we need to have for the hurts. 00:10:16.460 --> 00:10:16.740 That's good. 00:10:17.560 --> 00:10:26.440 I don't think that we can ever separate anything from our natural bent to experience emotion. 00:10:26.640 --> 00:10:27.060 That's good. 00:10:27.580 --> 00:10:27.960 That's good. 00:10:28.379 --> 00:10:29.360 So wherever we are. 00:10:29.480 --> 00:10:29.720 Go ahead. 00:10:29.720 --> 00:10:34.480 Well, I was going to bring up in your first question about emotions being neutral. 00:10:34.680 --> 00:10:37.840 You've used examples of negative ones not always being negative. 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:41.399 But positive ones aren't always beneficial either. 00:10:42.019 --> 00:10:48.379 If I'm driven by my desire for happiness, but it's self-centered and self-consuming, 00:10:48.379 --> 00:10:59.379 then it's going to lead to, it's not having an eternal end or a good end for me as a whole person. 00:10:59.779 --> 00:11:04.240 And so we face our emotions during the day with our happiness. 00:11:04.240 --> 00:11:17.240 Like, I'm looking forward to that free moment when I can go, or I can text my friends, or I can whatever, to Elliot's point, like, weird. 00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:21.399 Or to even to Carrie, like, I don't get what I want when I want it. 00:11:21.399 --> 00:11:21.539 Right. 00:11:21.899 --> 00:11:32.220 Then it leads to what we would call negative emotions because what was driving me to help me be happy is now an interference. 00:11:32.799 --> 00:11:33.159 That's good. 00:11:33.159 --> 00:11:37.259 So is what I'm driven by really a benefit? 00:11:37.259 --> 00:11:37.740 Great. 00:11:39.100 --> 00:11:40.019 Did you all hear that? 00:11:40.379 --> 00:11:40.580 Okay. 00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:43.200 Let me try to summarize for those of you who may not have heard that. 00:11:43.419 --> 00:11:48.100 And I want to come back to this anyway, talking about how emotions are neutral. 00:11:48.519 --> 00:11:53.220 We did talk about negative emotions, but the same is true with positive emotions. 00:11:54.980 --> 00:12:02.080 When joy or delight or satisfaction or happiness becomes the ultimate goal, 00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:11.600 then it can be negative if I'm doing whatever it takes to secure happiness and joy and satisfaction and delight. 00:12:11.860 --> 00:12:12.000 Right. 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:24.560 And so it drives me towards something at times to hang on to that relationship because I don't want the implications of what it might happen 00:12:24.560 --> 00:12:30.640 if I have to be honest with them in confronting sin or addressing an issue in their life. 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:35.000 I'm going to hang on to that emotion of happiness. 00:12:35.100 --> 00:12:41.919 I want to preserve that and I'll do whatever it takes to get it because that becomes that emotional response, 00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:46.240 that thing that you feel becomes the driving force for activity. 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:47.840 That's good. 00:12:47.840 --> 00:13:00.980 So how can our emotions begin to turn positive and negative emotions into something that pleases God? 00:13:01.620 --> 00:13:06.500 How can they be good whether they're negative or positive? 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:09.860 How can we turn them into something that is godly? 00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:12.820 What must happen? 00:13:12.820 --> 00:13:15.500 What's that? 00:13:16.360 --> 00:13:16.920 That's right. 00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:20.840 We place Jesus at the center of those emotions. 00:13:21.980 --> 00:13:27.780 So when we're feeling discouraged, we feel inadequate. 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:30.860 We feel this sense of emptiness in our life. 00:13:31.740 --> 00:13:32.360 Where do we turn? 00:13:32.640 --> 00:13:33.080 What do we do? 00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:40.860 What does a person who puts Jesus at the center do with feelings of emptiness? 00:13:42.060 --> 00:13:43.139 What do you do? 00:13:45.060 --> 00:13:45.840 What's that? 00:13:46.560 --> 00:13:47.740 You tell Jesus. 00:13:48.160 --> 00:13:48.980 That's right. 00:13:49.900 --> 00:13:53.000 You find that Jesus is the answer for that, don't you? 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:57.340 You find that Jesus is the all-sufficient one. 00:13:57.440 --> 00:14:00.419 That he is the friend that never leaves you or forsakes you. 00:14:01.820 --> 00:14:09.620 When you feel this sense of elation and joy and excitement and you don't want that feeling to go away. 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:12.879 And you want to just hang on to that. 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:23.399 And I imagine that's a little bit what the apostles or the disciples are experiencing in these moments of seeing Jesus after the resurrection for 40 days. 00:14:23.980 --> 00:14:27.220 And then Jesus is like, guys, sorry to break it to you. 00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:27.980 I'm leaving. 00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:32.519 And by the way, I'm doing that now. 00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:34.820 And so I'm sorry. 00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:36.620 You're not going to see me for a little while. 00:14:37.860 --> 00:14:39.399 What secured their emotions? 00:14:39.399 --> 00:14:43.899 Well, what secured their emotions is remembering that this was temporary. 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:54.120 And that while Jesus was physically going to be absent in bodily form, he was spiritually present through his Holy Spirit. 00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:57.100 That he would truly never leave them or forsake them. 00:14:58.899 --> 00:15:09.079 And so whatever it is, whatever we were feeling, pointing those emotions to Jesus is really the absolute. 00:15:09.399 --> 00:15:11.480 That's the primary thing that we need to do. 00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:21.159 Okay, so regardless of what that feeling or temptation or desire might be, the strategy is point it to Jesus. 00:15:22.600 --> 00:15:24.980 And we realize that we have a lot of coping mechanisms. 00:15:25.159 --> 00:15:28.879 That's kind of went through those a little bit last week as well. 00:15:29.379 --> 00:15:33.980 You know, the ways that we tend to deal with our feelings, our negative feelings in particular. 00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:43.680 And when we deal with those negative feelings, apart from Jesus, we end up finding ourselves escaping, right? 00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:51.000 Whether we're scrolling or binge watching or sleeping or overeating or whatever it might be. 00:15:51.659 --> 00:15:54.080 Or we not just escape, we try to control. 00:15:54.080 --> 00:16:24.080 If we can't control. 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:32.320 What we do to have what we want apart from submitting our feelings to the Lord. 00:16:34.020 --> 00:16:45.500 So, while feelings can be bad, feelings are really meant to be this dashboard indicator on the console of our vehicle. 00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:46.740 Kind of like that. 00:16:47.020 --> 00:16:49.900 That says, hey, warning, warning, warning. 00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:54.879 And what we should think immediately is, okay, I'm experiencing an emotion here. 00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:56.959 I need to take my emotions to Jesus. 00:16:58.079 --> 00:17:03.779 I need to allow Jesus to resolve these good emotions. 00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:08.539 To be the center even of the negative emotions that I feel. 00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:12.500 So that I can be, so that I'm not vulnerable. 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:14.339 And really that's what this is about. 00:17:14.339 --> 00:17:21.779 Not being vulnerable in a very emotion-driven, fueled, amplified world. 00:17:21.919 --> 00:17:25.240 We live in an emotional world. 00:17:26.159 --> 00:17:30.299 As an emotional creature, we live in a very emotional world. 00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:33.439 But, yes. 00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:40.359 Okay. 00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:43.799 Okay, so thank you for that, Angela. 00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:55.419 When I talk about vulnerability, I'm talking about how fragile we are to be swept away in the current of emotions and carried away from Jesus. 00:17:56.079 --> 00:18:02.319 That kind of vulnerability because of not being watchful, not being sober-minded, not being vigilant. 00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:08.599 As we're kind of going to keep, as we work through a little bit of 1 Peter and see these landing spots. 00:18:08.659 --> 00:18:19.159 We're going to see that our vulnerability to sin, that the danger that we encounter is not a danger we have to succumb to. 00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:22.220 Because of the strengthening power of the Lord. 00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:23.460 Okay. 00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:27.920 Our emotions are meant to point us to something. 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:32.400 Not only to Jesus, but as we talked about our hearts. 00:18:32.900 --> 00:18:36.600 We talked about some of the things that we know about our hearts. 00:18:37.140 --> 00:18:41.039 What do we know negatively about our hearts that goes all the way back to Genesis? 00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:42.660 Anyone remember? 00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:42.740 Remember? 00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:51.559 What does God say about the thoughts of the people who are living in Noah's day? 00:18:53.339 --> 00:18:53.819 Okay. 00:18:53.980 --> 00:18:54.500 Tremendous. 00:18:54.579 --> 00:18:54.680 Right? 00:18:55.019 --> 00:19:00.200 That every thought and intent of their heart was always evil continually. 00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:03.779 I can't even imagine that. 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:09.240 Of course, the further we go along in life, the easier it is to see. 00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:09.480 Right? 00:19:10.339 --> 00:19:17.099 And I think the more honest we are with ourselves, the easier it is for us to see in ourselves as well. 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:23.000 But what is God's ultimate objective for our hearts and for our emotions? 00:19:23.660 --> 00:19:26.240 That we find in the great commandment. 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:28.299 The first and greatest commandment. 00:19:28.380 --> 00:19:28.880 What is it? 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:35.640 To love the Lord our God with all our hearts, all our soul, all our mind, all our strength. 00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:37.599 Isn't that just an amazing verse? 00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:42.399 What an incredible encouragement that should be to all of us. 00:19:42.819 --> 00:19:45.379 It's like, I don't have to live this way. 00:19:46.219 --> 00:19:50.539 I don't have to live in the depravity of my heart. 00:19:51.059 --> 00:19:56.000 That there is restorative, regenerative power. 00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:58.559 That God can change it. 00:19:59.059 --> 00:20:00.519 I don't have to stay here. 00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:05.059 And God's purpose for me ultimately is worship. 00:20:06.180 --> 00:20:08.519 That God has created me to be a worshiping person. 00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:12.000 He has created you to be a worshiping person. 00:20:12.539 --> 00:20:14.059 Ultimately, God wants you to worship. 00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:16.119 So that's where we are. 00:20:16.920 --> 00:20:18.480 So turn with me in your booklets, if you would. 00:20:19.139 --> 00:20:20.920 You see there John chapter 4. 00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:21.360 Right? 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:33.800 And this is really, I would say, arguably the clearest and most comprehensive statement that Jesus makes on worship anywhere in the New Testament. 00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:42.200 If you were to just kind of boil it down and try to understand not only what Jesus' heart is for worship, but how worship is possible. 00:20:42.620 --> 00:20:43.660 This is where you go. 00:20:43.860 --> 00:20:43.980 Okay? 00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:46.660 And here it is. 00:20:46.839 --> 00:20:49.099 John chapter 4, 20 to 24. 00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:49.759 It says this. 00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:53.500 Our fathers, and of course Jesus is speaking to the woman at the well. 00:20:54.099 --> 00:20:54.319 Right? 00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:57.720 And he's just addressed, hey, why don't you go bring your husband? 00:20:58.200 --> 00:21:00.259 And the lady's like, I don't have a husband. 00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:01.559 And she's like, exactly. 00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:03.720 But you've got a bigger problem. 00:21:04.220 --> 00:21:08.920 The problem that you have is that you don't have a husband and the person you're living with isn't your husband. 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:10.960 And there's been like five others as well. 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:14.660 But even that, Jesus doesn't dismiss her. 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:17.840 He invites her to something. 00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:21.340 He doesn't cut her off because of how wicked her heart is. 00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:22.319 This is awesome. 00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:23.640 What a great story. 00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:26.279 And so Jesus is addressing her. 00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:27.740 But she begins. 00:21:28.140 --> 00:21:28.579 She says, 00:21:28.900 --> 00:21:30.460 Our fathers worshipped on this mountain. 00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:34.700 But you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship. 00:21:34.860 --> 00:21:35.799 Jesus said to her, 00:21:35.799 --> 00:21:44.000 Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 00:21:44.599 --> 00:21:46.659 You worship what you do not know. 00:21:46.839 --> 00:21:50.759 We worship what we know for salvation is from the Jews. 00:21:51.579 --> 00:21:54.980 But the hour is coming, and now is here, 00:21:54.980 --> 00:22:00.220 When the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:03.339 For the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. 00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:05.220 God is spirit. 00:22:06.120 --> 00:22:10.660 And those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth. 00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:11.519 Okay. 00:22:12.140 --> 00:22:13.620 Someone summarize this for me. 00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:15.420 What do we learn about worship here? 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:17.599 Maybe I'll say this. 00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:19.240 Who is worship for? 00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:23.079 Especially in this particular context. 00:22:23.900 --> 00:22:26.640 Who is Jesus inviting to salvation? 00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:28.339 Who is? 00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:30.440 Okay. 00:22:30.599 --> 00:22:30.980 Everyone. 00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:31.319 Right? 00:22:31.460 --> 00:22:34.859 And ultimately that is the invitation. 00:22:35.299 --> 00:22:39.140 But immediately what do we find in this story? 00:22:39.539 --> 00:22:42.299 Who is the person that Jesus is addressing right here? 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:45.720 The woman at the well, and what do you know about her? 00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:48.400 She's a sinner. 00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:49.220 What kind of sinner? 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:50.960 A bad sinner. 00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:51.640 Okay. 00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:52.560 Someone help David out. 00:22:52.660 --> 00:22:53.500 What kind of bad sinner? 00:22:54.120 --> 00:22:56.940 I appreciate, David, your modesty and wanting to. 00:22:57.400 --> 00:22:58.759 What else do we learn about her? 00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:02.980 She's an unfaithful woman. 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:06.380 And she's like unfaithful to the max. 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:09.320 What else do we learn about her? 00:23:12.340 --> 00:23:15.700 Is she somebody that Jesus really should be talking to? 00:23:16.840 --> 00:23:18.120 She's a Samaritan woman. 00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:19.420 Okay? 00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:19.480 Okay? 00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:22.440 She's cut off in a lot of ways. 00:23:22.800 --> 00:23:24.380 At least as far as the Jews were concerned. 00:23:25.320 --> 00:23:29.180 She's disqualified because she's no longer a true Jew. 00:23:29.280 --> 00:23:29.940 She's mixed. 00:23:30.340 --> 00:23:34.920 She has some history from Jewishness and some history from outside. 00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:46.019 And this mingling of heritage in her from a Jewish perspective disqualifies her from even being considered. 00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:49.500 In the mind of the Jew, she was irredeemable. 00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:50.680 Okay? 00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:51.180 Sorry. 00:23:51.180 --> 00:23:51.299 Okay. 00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:51.680 Okay. 00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:52.380 Sorry. 00:23:52.380 --> 00:23:55.240 It's just too bad. 00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:56.660 It's not for you. 00:23:56.660 --> 00:24:09.540 But now, how does Jesus describe the kind of worship that he's inviting her to enjoy and thus the kind of worship that he's inviting all of us to participate in? 00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:10.920 How does it happen? 00:24:14.200 --> 00:24:14.960 What do you see? 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:15.039 Okay. 00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:19.259 The true worshipers will worship what? 00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:21.400 The Father. 00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:24.039 In spirit and in truth. 00:24:25.379 --> 00:24:28.720 And I think this is important and it's often misunderstood. 00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:32.160 Even as I have kind of thought about and taught this in the past. 00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:39.220 I think there is an element where we're worshiping the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:24:39.640 --> 00:24:41.360 But that's not what we're talking about here. 00:24:41.700 --> 00:24:41.820 Okay? 00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:45.940 It's that there's something fundamental. 00:24:46.140 --> 00:24:50.980 There's something holistic about the worship that you bring to the table. 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:53.460 It's not just a mechanical kind of worship. 00:24:53.660 --> 00:24:56.900 But it goes fundamentally to the very core of your being. 00:24:56.900 --> 00:25:04.160 The whole spirit, the heart, the mind, it's all kind of represented in the essence of who you are. 00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:10.620 That spiritual side of you that God has made at the very beginning where there's humanity. 00:25:10.860 --> 00:25:13.240 He's made physical and spiritual. 00:25:13.400 --> 00:25:16.120 And so that spiritual part of you is meant to worship. 00:25:18.060 --> 00:25:20.540 And that's what Jesus is inviting her to. 00:25:20.540 --> 00:25:26.660 But not just spiritual worship, but spiritual worship that's guided by something. 00:25:27.780 --> 00:25:28.759 It's guided by truth. 00:25:29.840 --> 00:25:31.100 It's guided by the word of God. 00:25:31.360 --> 00:25:34.120 It's guided by the message that God has given. 00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:37.140 And here's the astounding part. 00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:43.480 That who wants these kinds of worshipers? 00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:46.019 It's right here. 00:25:47.140 --> 00:25:48.300 The Father does. 00:25:49.040 --> 00:25:52.019 And what is the Father doing to get these kinds of worshipers? 00:25:53.660 --> 00:25:54.460 What does it say? 00:25:55.420 --> 00:25:56.220 He's seeking. 00:25:56.900 --> 00:25:59.420 This is amazing, guys. 00:26:00.560 --> 00:26:01.940 This is amazing. 00:26:02.820 --> 00:26:04.360 We have a seeking Father. 00:26:07.600 --> 00:26:10.420 Whatever the baggage that you bring to the table. 00:26:11.620 --> 00:26:14.259 Whatever the brokenness. 00:26:14.259 --> 00:26:27.180 Swirl of emotion that continues to capture you away and lead you away from Jesus. 00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:30.420 Whatever it is. 00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:32.859 Every single part of that. 00:26:34.140 --> 00:26:38.039 And God the Father indiscriminately seeks you. 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:39.859 Wow. 00:26:39.859 --> 00:26:41.679 That's amazing. 00:26:42.919 --> 00:26:43.879 Will you respond? 00:26:44.919 --> 00:26:46.279 Will I respond? 00:26:47.399 --> 00:26:49.419 And what is it meant to lead us into? 00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:50.779 I know we've covered this ground already. 00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:52.959 It's meant to lead us into worship. 00:26:53.379 --> 00:26:53.579 Right? 00:26:54.399 --> 00:26:56.119 Because we're supposed to be. 00:26:56.339 --> 00:26:57.579 And by the way, we are. 00:26:58.059 --> 00:26:59.679 You are a worshiping person. 00:27:00.959 --> 00:27:01.359 Okay? 00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:02.839 And that's where we're going next. 00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:05.539 You are a worshiping person. 00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:07.959 And this is very interesting. 00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:10.639 I don't want to just keep this example brief. 00:27:11.619 --> 00:27:17.500 There was a commencement address that was given by an absolute God hater. 00:27:18.339 --> 00:27:18.459 Okay? 00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:22.960 To his name is David Foster Wallace. 00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:26.000 He was born in 1962. 00:27:26.920 --> 00:27:28.539 And he gave this commencement address. 00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:31.000 And I forget the place. 00:27:31.100 --> 00:27:35.120 It was at some sort of public renowned university. 00:27:35.819 --> 00:27:36.819 Listen to what he says. 00:27:37.579 --> 00:27:41.420 He's telling in this commencement address this group of graduates. 00:27:41.900 --> 00:27:46.920 You get to consciously decide what has meaning and what doesn't. 00:27:46.920 --> 00:27:49.700 You get to decide what to worship. 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:50.700 Hmm. 00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:51.720 Well, that's interesting. 00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:56.620 Because here's something else that's really weird and true, he says. 00:27:57.300 --> 00:28:01.759 In the day-to-day trenches of adult life, there is actually no such thing as atheism. 00:28:02.200 --> 00:28:03.840 Oh, well, that's insightful. 00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:07.920 There is no such thing as not worshiping, he says. 00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:10.100 Everybody worships. 00:28:11.360 --> 00:28:14.100 The only choice we get is what to worship. 00:28:14.099 --> 00:28:20.919 And the compelling reason for maybe choosing some sort of God or spiritual type of thing to worship 00:28:20.919 --> 00:28:24.759 is that pretty much anything else you worship will eat you alive. 00:28:25.599 --> 00:28:31.339 If you worship money and things, if they are what you tap real meaning into, 00:28:32.079 --> 00:28:34.099 then you will never have enough. 00:28:34.679 --> 00:28:36.240 Never feel you have enough. 00:28:36.679 --> 00:28:37.500 It is the truth. 00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:43.240 Worship your body and beauty and sexual allure and you will always feel ugly. 00:28:44.119 --> 00:28:49.460 And when time and age start slowing, you will die a million deaths before they finally grieve. 00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:54.420 On one level, we all know this stuff already. 00:28:54.660 --> 00:29:01.940 It's been codified as myths, proverbs, cliches, epigrams, parables, the skeleton of every great story. 00:29:01.940 --> 00:29:06.019 The whole trick is keeping the truth up front in daily consciousness. 00:29:06.860 --> 00:29:07.740 Worship power. 00:29:08.180 --> 00:29:09.940 You will end up feeling weak and afraid. 00:29:10.320 --> 00:29:15.519 And you will need ever more power over others to numb you to your own fear. 00:29:16.180 --> 00:29:17.019 Worship your intellect. 00:29:17.160 --> 00:29:21.840 Being seen as smart, you will end up feeling stupid, a fraud, always on the verge of being found out. 00:29:22.400 --> 00:29:26.580 The real important kind of freedom involves attention and awareness and discipline 00:29:26.579 --> 00:29:34.819 and being fully able to truly care about other people and to sacrifice for them over and over in a myriad of petty ways. 00:29:35.379 --> 00:29:37.159 Now that is really insightful. 00:29:37.919 --> 00:29:39.379 But also quite tragic. 00:29:40.699 --> 00:29:41.659 And I'll tell you why. 00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:50.759 Because while he has landed on some really important truth, it didn't actually change his life. 00:29:52.039 --> 00:29:56.139 And it led, inevitably, two years later, to his death. 00:29:56.579 --> 00:29:59.299 You see, we are worshiping people. 00:30:00.939 --> 00:30:05.099 You are worshiping, right now, someone or something. 00:30:06.139 --> 00:30:06.859 You're a worshiper. 00:30:07.539 --> 00:30:12.919 And when our worship is not directed to God, then what do we call that? 00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:15.480 Idolatry. 00:30:15.619 --> 00:30:15.960 Exactly. 00:30:16.559 --> 00:30:18.500 And that's the root problem here, right? 00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:28.220 The root problem is that our sinful heart not only consistently distorts worship. 00:30:29.119 --> 00:30:30.900 And we see that here in Romans 1. 00:30:33.099 --> 00:30:34.700 Verses 21 to 23. 00:30:34.859 --> 00:30:37.039 Can someone read that out loud, please? 00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:38.579 Romans 1. 00:30:38.859 --> 00:30:39.980 Do you have that on your page? 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:41.079 Okay. 00:30:41.079 --> 00:30:42.639 Elliot, can you read that nice and loud, please? 00:31:04.019 --> 00:31:04.579 Okay. 00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:06.939 Someone, what's happening here? 00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:08.399 What's taking place? 00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:10.280 What do they know about God? 00:31:14.120 --> 00:31:15.100 They know he exists. 00:31:15.800 --> 00:31:18.340 They can see his divine attributes, his power. 00:31:20.680 --> 00:31:21.759 It's unmistakable. 00:31:22.780 --> 00:31:23.940 They know that there is a God. 00:31:24.019 --> 00:31:25.800 And they know that he's not just any kind of God. 00:31:25.799 --> 00:31:36.139 But every heart without revelation, without divine revelation, the word of God itself always leads to this. 00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:43.819 Idolatry and worship of everything and anything except for God. 00:31:44.339 --> 00:31:45.099 And that's the danger. 00:31:45.099 --> 00:31:48.619 And even for us. 00:31:48.980 --> 00:31:56.719 Even for us as growing up in the church and even believing in Jesus Christ as our Savior, 00:31:57.500 --> 00:32:05.639 there are perhaps even some good things, some good things that you enjoy in life that can lead your heart away. 00:32:06.379 --> 00:32:06.619 Right? 00:32:06.619 --> 00:32:12.479 What are some examples of some good things that can become all-consuming things? 00:32:14.199 --> 00:32:14.719 What's that? 00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:16.179 Sports. 00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:17.679 Sports is a good thing. 00:32:18.479 --> 00:32:20.479 And, you know, Pittsburgh made the playoffs. 00:32:21.199 --> 00:32:25.319 Now, I don't imagine that's going to happen for very long, that they're going to stay in the playoffs for long. 00:32:25.399 --> 00:32:26.979 Probably they'll lose tomorrow. 00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:29.140 But, you know, they're there. 00:32:29.259 --> 00:32:30.099 And it would be really easy. 00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:38.620 And, by the way, it has been very easy in the past for me to get all twisted and wrapped up around the axle when Pittsburgh loses. 00:32:38.839 --> 00:32:39.579 I was like, oh! 00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:47.460 But I just learned, I've learned to turn the game off and not just, I'm not even going to, I'm not even going to put myself through that rodeo. 00:32:47.620 --> 00:32:47.759 Okay? 00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:52.440 Sports can become a good thing that turns into a bad thing. 00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:52.779 What else? 00:32:55.019 --> 00:32:55.420 Acceptance. 00:32:55.420 --> 00:32:55.500 Acceptance. 00:32:55.620 --> 00:32:55.799 Right. 00:32:56.980 --> 00:33:00.900 Isn't it amazing that we're accepted by God? 00:33:02.400 --> 00:33:12.339 And that we can enjoy His acceptance with His people and with good friends and even in relationships with our spouses. 00:33:12.579 --> 00:33:14.480 Now, they're always supposed to accept us, right? 00:33:14.900 --> 00:33:16.339 What happens when they don't? 00:33:17.339 --> 00:33:20.940 And so sometimes even good things can become all-consuming things. 00:33:21.640 --> 00:33:22.099 What else? 00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:23.640 What's that? 00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:25.720 Cookies. 00:33:25.720 --> 00:33:25.920 Cookies. 00:33:26.339 --> 00:33:27.319 Or cooking. 00:33:28.100 --> 00:33:28.400 Okay. 00:33:31.140 --> 00:33:31.819 That's good. 00:33:32.079 --> 00:33:36.460 And you can tell looking at Sam that cookies are really his problem. 00:33:38.120 --> 00:33:40.480 I want you to get up and show off your cookie figure. 00:33:40.480 --> 00:33:44.000 Oh, man. 00:33:44.099 --> 00:33:45.680 I wish I had an obsession with cookies. 00:33:45.819 --> 00:33:47.039 The way Sam does. 00:33:47.160 --> 00:33:47.559 It's good. 00:33:49.579 --> 00:33:50.720 But it is true. 00:33:51.140 --> 00:33:52.000 It is so true. 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:59.220 I have learned the most about how food controls me when I decide to fast. 00:33:59.220 --> 00:34:03.380 And I'm like, you know, that cookie, man. 00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:05.620 It's only so small. 00:34:05.740 --> 00:34:07.660 It won't hurt anything. 00:34:07.900 --> 00:34:08.840 Or whatever it is. 00:34:08.900 --> 00:34:17.760 I learn how fragile and vulnerable I am when I make a decision to want to put something away. 00:34:18.220 --> 00:34:22.139 And when I don't have it, then it becomes a tendency to become all-consuming. 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:22.599 Okay? 00:34:22.599 --> 00:34:22.659 Okay? 00:34:24.940 --> 00:34:25.339 Wow. 00:34:26.659 --> 00:34:28.099 We're really going too slow. 00:34:28.099 --> 00:34:35.319 I've got an inventory in there for you. 00:34:35.779 --> 00:34:36.000 Okay? 00:34:36.420 --> 00:34:40.099 And I'm just going to encourage you to do this after the fact. 00:34:40.319 --> 00:34:41.659 Because I want to just... 00:34:41.659 --> 00:34:43.299 This is meant. 00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:48.319 This personal inventory is meant to help expose you. 00:34:48.639 --> 00:34:48.860 Okay? 00:34:49.420 --> 00:34:51.239 That's my hidden agenda. 00:34:51.239 --> 00:34:58.079 My hidden agenda is for you to say, you know, I don't think I'm really that consumed with other things. 00:34:58.199 --> 00:35:05.339 But you kind of work through this and you say, you know, actually there are a lot of other secondary gods in my life. 00:35:06.139 --> 00:35:13.659 And I'll let you do that on your own so that I can quickly work through the rest of this. 00:35:14.019 --> 00:35:14.239 Okay? 00:35:14.979 --> 00:35:16.839 I actually want you to turn. 00:35:16.979 --> 00:35:18.639 I don't know where it is in your workbook. 00:35:18.639 --> 00:35:22.159 But I want you to understand that there is hope. 00:35:23.179 --> 00:35:25.480 That God's word does give us hope. 00:35:26.519 --> 00:35:35.460 And when we find ourselves, our emotions getting the best of us, we need to turn to the life-giving power of the scripture. 00:35:36.440 --> 00:35:42.639 And we talked a little bit about some of those verses that help to reinforce the power of the word of God. 00:35:43.339 --> 00:35:45.920 I think about Psalm 119, 105. 00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:48.480 Thy word is a lamp. 00:35:48.639 --> 00:35:49.239 To my feet. 00:35:49.359 --> 00:35:50.199 And a light to my path. 00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:52.819 Your word have I hidden in my heart. 00:35:53.179 --> 00:35:56.179 That I might not sin against you. 00:35:56.859 --> 00:36:02.920 The word of God gives us fundamentally not only the direction for how to live. 00:36:03.339 --> 00:36:13.019 But there is some inherent quality of strength that we can enjoy when we're reminded about God's objective for our life. 00:36:13.019 --> 00:36:16.940 And how we're supposed to live out that objective. 00:36:17.559 --> 00:36:21.559 And so, James chapter 1, verses 13 to 15. 00:36:21.659 --> 00:36:22.780 We're going to touch on this. 00:36:23.360 --> 00:36:30.000 And then we have some discussion questions that I'm going to give you a chance to discuss on your own. 00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:34.079 Once we're done here, I'm going to just a few more minutes. 00:36:34.079 --> 00:36:35.320 Five more minutes at the tops. 00:36:35.400 --> 00:36:35.539 Okay? 00:36:37.539 --> 00:36:39.599 I want to just read this passage. 00:36:40.400 --> 00:36:50.239 And I want us to identify these four stages of how sin ultimately leads to consequences in our life. 00:36:50.239 --> 00:36:50.479 Okay? 00:36:51.619 --> 00:36:52.219 It says this. 00:36:52.219 --> 00:36:55.359 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial. 00:36:55.699 --> 00:37:01.359 For when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him. 00:37:01.659 --> 00:37:02.619 Now, just pause for a moment. 00:37:03.899 --> 00:37:04.679 What's the promise? 00:37:04.679 --> 00:37:15.359 I love how God so often begins a section of warning with a beautiful nugget of promise. 00:37:15.679 --> 00:37:17.739 What a God, a gracious God we have. 00:37:17.819 --> 00:37:18.899 What's the promise here? 00:37:20.239 --> 00:37:20.599 What's that? 00:37:20.859 --> 00:37:22.199 A crown of life. 00:37:22.619 --> 00:37:23.819 A crown of life to who? 00:37:26.679 --> 00:37:27.339 What's that? 00:37:28.119 --> 00:37:29.839 I think I heard the word all. 00:37:30.779 --> 00:37:31.919 Did I hear the word all? 00:37:32.079 --> 00:37:33.219 All who do what? 00:37:34.679 --> 00:37:36.659 All who are steadfast. 00:37:38.859 --> 00:37:40.159 Isn't it amazing? 00:37:41.039 --> 00:37:48.279 Again, this pattern that we enjoy or see in Christ, he doesn't just cut us off. 00:37:49.159 --> 00:37:49.319 Right? 00:37:49.440 --> 00:37:54.159 He doesn't say, sorry, too late, over, game over. 00:37:54.919 --> 00:38:00.519 He continues to invite us to enjoy the benefits of this crown of life. 00:38:00.519 --> 00:38:07.699 This especially fellowship, renewed fellowship, forgiveness, cleansing from sin, enjoyment with him. 00:38:07.920 --> 00:38:10.179 He begins with promise before the warning comes. 00:38:10.340 --> 00:38:14.360 I just, what a great reminder that is for us. 00:38:14.659 --> 00:38:14.820 Right? 00:38:14.820 --> 00:38:23.120 Those of us who teach and those of us who learn that when you're instructing in whatever capacity you're in, 00:38:23.200 --> 00:38:27.100 and especially moms and dads, you're instructing your kids. 00:38:27.820 --> 00:38:29.080 Start with a promise. 00:38:29.539 --> 00:38:30.920 And I don't do this very well. 00:38:30.920 --> 00:38:35.059 But how beneficial it is for us to lead with promise. 00:38:35.820 --> 00:38:37.500 Here's what I'm inviting you to enjoy. 00:38:37.920 --> 00:38:39.300 Because here's the warning. 00:38:39.780 --> 00:38:44.079 And that two-edged approach is so significant. 00:38:44.340 --> 00:38:45.320 But here's how it goes. 00:38:45.840 --> 00:38:46.440 Verse 13. 00:38:46.440 --> 00:38:50.260 Let no one say when he is tempted, I'm being tempted by God. 00:38:51.139 --> 00:38:55.619 For God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 00:38:56.599 --> 00:39:00.000 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 00:39:00.360 --> 00:39:03.200 Then desire, when it is conceived, gives birth to sin. 00:39:03.519 --> 00:39:05.980 And sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death. 00:39:06.820 --> 00:39:08.720 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 00:39:08.720 --> 00:39:13.579 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, 00:39:13.579 --> 00:39:19.559 with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change of his own will. 00:39:19.779 --> 00:39:26.759 He brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 00:39:27.860 --> 00:39:35.559 James wants to cover this difficult topic, but he wants to invite us into this environment 00:39:35.559 --> 00:39:40.579 of enjoyment and fulfillment and blessing and favor. 00:39:40.579 --> 00:39:52.500 Sure, but what often wants to get in the way of stealing away and robbing away your enjoyment in Christ is sin. 00:39:53.719 --> 00:39:55.519 And there are four stages here. 00:39:55.619 --> 00:39:57.159 I want to just, again, touch that. 00:39:57.199 --> 00:40:01.239 I'm going to just draw attention to them briefly, and I'm going to let you discuss them in your groups. 00:40:01.900 --> 00:40:02.739 The first. 00:40:02.920 --> 00:40:06.519 What is the first stage that we see there in verse 13? 00:40:08.880 --> 00:40:09.559 What do you see? 00:40:10.579 --> 00:40:16.699 Let no one say when he's tempted, I'm tempted of God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 00:40:16.779 --> 00:40:21.619 But each person is tempted when he is lured away and enticed by his own desires. 00:40:21.699 --> 00:40:22.039 What do you see? 00:40:24.239 --> 00:40:24.759 Temptation. 00:40:25.000 --> 00:40:25.559 Okay, good. 00:40:26.299 --> 00:40:29.840 Your desire is stirred by thoughts or experiences. 00:40:31.019 --> 00:40:33.779 Sin happens because of me. 00:40:34.199 --> 00:40:36.559 It doesn't happen because of God. 00:40:36.559 --> 00:40:43.880 And sin happens because of me, not because of that person who just made you do it. 00:40:44.219 --> 00:40:47.719 Or that thing that was just too hard to overcome. 00:40:48.860 --> 00:40:50.500 It's not the problem. 00:40:50.880 --> 00:40:52.440 Fundamentally, it's a heart problem. 00:40:53.259 --> 00:40:58.820 Fundamentally, as David said earlier in our time together, it's a passion problem. 00:40:58.820 --> 00:41:00.120 It's the things that I want. 00:41:00.240 --> 00:41:13.860 The things that I want become so convincing, so dominating, so all-encompassing, that in my mind, I just had to do this. 00:41:14.720 --> 00:41:16.600 So our desire is stirred by our experience. 00:41:16.599 --> 00:41:22.779 Second, desire is awakened when the will grants permission. 00:41:23.779 --> 00:41:26.460 Or when the will says, oh, that's okay. 00:41:26.460 --> 00:41:39.320 When you are tempted and you've allowed that thought of temptation to come in your way and you don't say, no, get away, temptation. 00:41:39.840 --> 00:41:45.679 I'm going to set my mind on things above, not on the things of the earth, so I can stop this track right before it starts. 00:41:46.019 --> 00:41:48.800 You just kind of begin to wallow in that temptation. 00:41:48.800 --> 00:41:53.140 And you allow your thoughts to kind of stew over that. 00:41:53.280 --> 00:41:56.340 And then at some point, there's a breaking point where you say, you know what? 00:41:56.880 --> 00:42:01.700 Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if I just stepped a little closer. 00:42:01.820 --> 00:42:03.820 I want to get a little closer peek at this. 00:42:04.440 --> 00:42:05.120 I want to see it. 00:42:05.360 --> 00:42:08.800 Maybe it's not as bad as I think it is. 00:42:08.840 --> 00:42:16.720 And if I just get a little closer look or I just kind of tip my toes in just a little bit more, it'll be okay. 00:42:16.719 --> 00:42:19.619 And so our heart grants permission. 00:42:20.099 --> 00:42:21.039 It says, okay. 00:42:21.319 --> 00:42:21.899 And so we go. 00:42:22.000 --> 00:42:22.559 We go for it. 00:42:23.959 --> 00:42:27.799 Number three, the seeds of desire grow into sinful action. 00:42:28.379 --> 00:42:42.319 So now you've given yourself permission and now your feet are moving, your mouth is moving, your hands are moving, whatever is moving in the direction of that sin that you want so bad. 00:42:42.939 --> 00:42:45.699 And then finally, sin takes over and leads to death. 00:42:46.719 --> 00:42:48.559 That's when sin is full grown. 00:42:49.699 --> 00:42:54.039 And this is when we allow sin to have its way in our life. 00:42:55.039 --> 00:43:00.399 And now it creates these ruts and patterns of behavior. 00:43:01.439 --> 00:43:07.759 And whenever those ruts or patterns of behavior become so deep, getting out of those ruts becomes very difficult. 00:43:07.760 --> 00:43:11.280 And those reflexes, you've just learned to respond. 00:43:11.580 --> 00:43:15.220 This is the how I respond to kind of not feel this way anymore. 00:43:15.620 --> 00:43:23.020 And so those impulses, those reflexes, whatever they are, become so entrenched in who you are. 00:43:23.100 --> 00:43:26.620 They kind of fashion your identity and they become bondage for you. 00:43:27.460 --> 00:43:28.740 It's slavery for you. 00:43:29.460 --> 00:43:30.420 It's slavery for me. 00:43:30.420 --> 00:43:39.860 But the beauty is, Romans 6 says, that while we're also all worshipers, we're also all slaves. 00:43:40.639 --> 00:43:43.320 And you can choose who your master is. 00:43:44.119 --> 00:43:50.119 You can either choose to be a slave to sin or you can be a slave to righteousness. 00:43:50.119 --> 00:43:51.880 We have that choice. 00:43:52.699 --> 00:43:55.199 And that's what I want to give you a chance to talk about a little bit more. 00:43:55.199 --> 00:44:20.059 And that's what I want to give you a chance to talk about a little bit more.