WEBVTT 00:00:00.140 --> 00:00:01.880 Father, thank you that you are the speaking God. 00:00:02.339 --> 00:00:07.620 You're not an idol that can do nothing, but you speak to us with words of power, words of love. 00:00:08.140 --> 00:00:10.500 So please would you speak to each one of our hearts. 00:00:10.759 --> 00:00:16.320 We hear what you want us to hear, no matter how close we are to you, how far we are to you. 00:00:16.460 --> 00:00:18.400 Thank you that you reach out to each one of us. 00:00:18.940 --> 00:00:24.460 So would we hear your voice today as Annabelle reads as I try to speak in Jesus' name. 00:00:24.940 --> 00:00:25.260 Amen. 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:27.440 Annabelle. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.920 Good morning, Watermark. 00:00:34.039 --> 00:00:39.920 The scripture for today comes from 1 Corinthians 13, verses 1 to 13. 00:00:40.719 --> 00:00:44.719 Please follow along on the bulletin, the screen, or your own Bibles. 00:00:46.620 --> 00:00:55.579 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 00:00:55.579 --> 00:01:10.599 And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 00:01:10.599 --> 00:01:20.699 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 00:01:20.700 --> 00:01:24.740 Love is patient and kind. 00:01:24.740 --> 00:01:27.620 Love does not envy or boast. 00:01:28.340 --> 00:01:30.780 It is not arrogant or rude. 00:01:30.780 --> 00:01:34.159 It does not insist on its own way. 00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:37.680 It is not irritable or resentful. 00:01:38.579 --> 00:01:43.439 It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 00:01:43.439 --> 00:01:45.439 Love bears all things. 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:46.739 Love bears all things. 00:01:46.739 --> 00:01:48.640 Believes all things. 00:01:48.640 --> 00:01:50.200 Hopes all things. 00:01:50.200 --> 00:01:52.340 Endures all things. 00:01:53.519 --> 00:01:55.480 Love never ends. 00:01:56.359 --> 00:01:59.159 As for prophecies, they will pass away. 00:01:59.819 --> 00:02:02.439 As for tongues, they will cease. 00:02:03.359 --> 00:02:06.439 As for knowledge, it will pass away. 00:02:06.439 --> 00:02:16.639 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 00:02:17.719 --> 00:02:20.800 When I was a child, I spoke like a child. 00:02:21.079 --> 00:02:22.599 I thought like a child. 00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:24.620 I reasoned like a child. 00:02:25.259 --> 00:02:28.699 When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 00:02:28.699 --> 00:02:34.539 For now, we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. 00:02:34.539 --> 00:02:37.039 Now I know in part. 00:02:37.840 --> 00:02:43.799 Then I shall know fully, even as I have been known fully. 00:02:45.139 --> 00:02:49.060 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three. 00:02:49.699 --> 00:02:52.399 But the greatest of these is love. 00:02:53.259 --> 00:02:54.259 This is the word of God. 00:02:57.599 --> 00:02:58.579 Thank you, Annabelle. 00:03:04.539 --> 00:03:17.919 Dearly beloved, we are gathered today on this wonderful occasion in the presence of God to witness the marriage of Richard and Susan. 00:03:18.359 --> 00:03:19.459 Thank you all for coming. 00:03:20.199 --> 00:03:22.319 I mean, that's kind of what you expect me to say now, right? 00:03:22.359 --> 00:03:23.780 Because you heard this passage. 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:27.319 My guess is the previous time you heard it was at a wedding. 00:03:27.319 --> 00:03:32.120 This is the most popular wedding passage in the world. 00:03:33.079 --> 00:03:34.199 It's about love. 00:03:34.959 --> 00:03:43.239 And even if you're here, maybe you're a visitor, your first time in church, you probably think, hey, I've heard that passage before at a wedding, maybe at a funeral. 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:44.819 Yeah, it's so famous, right? 00:03:45.280 --> 00:03:47.400 And we all know what it means. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:49.680 Love is the most important thing. 00:03:50.079 --> 00:03:52.819 And so many people, they say, oh, this is my favorite passage. 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:55.079 So in a way, I don't want to preach on it, right? 00:03:55.139 --> 00:03:57.060 Because I'm just going to ruin it. 00:03:57.099 --> 00:03:58.959 I'm going to get my dirty hands all over it. 00:03:59.019 --> 00:04:00.739 And you kind of, oh, you've ruined it for me. 00:04:02.699 --> 00:04:05.419 But I think it's a great passage because, of course, it's in the Bible. 00:04:06.579 --> 00:04:11.159 It's also, you know, Hong Kong is at the city of love. 00:04:11.620 --> 00:04:13.299 Do we live in a great city? 00:04:13.299 --> 00:04:15.459 But it's not really known as the city of love, right? 00:04:15.500 --> 00:04:17.519 It's the city of hard work and making money. 00:04:18.339 --> 00:04:22.439 And so I'm not sure if we come from a culture where love is so valued. 00:04:23.259 --> 00:04:28.459 As a church, you know, we know in our heads, yeah, love is the most important thing. 00:04:29.240 --> 00:04:31.399 But do we really believe it and practice it? 00:04:31.959 --> 00:04:34.659 Certainly the Corinthians had problems with that. 00:04:35.219 --> 00:04:36.920 So this actually is poem. 00:04:37.300 --> 00:04:38.139 It's not from a wedding. 00:04:38.339 --> 00:04:40.039 It's from the letter of one Corinthians. 00:04:41.139 --> 00:04:44.500 And, yeah, Paul was addressing this church. 00:04:44.500 --> 00:04:50.939 They were into spiritual gifts, really miraculous abilities that God gives. 00:04:51.560 --> 00:04:55.699 And they were proud about it, envious, those kind of things. 00:04:55.779 --> 00:04:56.959 And Paul wants to address them. 00:04:57.079 --> 00:05:03.519 And so in that, as he addresses this problem, he gives this beautiful poem about love. 00:05:04.339 --> 00:05:05.540 It is a poem, right? 00:05:05.579 --> 00:05:06.519 It's really beautiful. 00:05:06.519 --> 00:05:11.039 It's really, you know, love believes all things, hopes all things. 00:05:11.159 --> 00:05:12.019 It's really beautiful. 00:05:12.680 --> 00:05:14.120 But it's not from a wedding. 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:19.099 You know, you don't hear anything about marriage, nothing about husband or wife. 00:05:19.100 --> 00:05:24.740 On the other hand, you do hear, well, tongues and prophecy and knowledge, right? 00:05:24.820 --> 00:05:26.460 He's talking about spiritual gifts. 00:05:26.600 --> 00:05:31.840 He's talking about, yeah, speaking in tongues, about a word of knowledge, those kind of things. 00:05:32.500 --> 00:05:34.700 So, yeah, that's what we're going to look at today. 00:05:35.379 --> 00:05:39.640 And, yeah, I pray that it will be really good for us. 00:05:39.639 --> 00:05:41.879 So, what is Paul saying? 00:05:42.899 --> 00:05:45.479 Well, the first point, I think it's pretty clear. 00:05:46.360 --> 00:05:49.399 That gifts without love mean nothing. 00:05:50.019 --> 00:05:53.240 He's telling the Corinthians, gifts without love mean nothing. 00:05:54.139 --> 00:05:59.899 And so, first one, if I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, 00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:03.300 I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 00:06:04.279 --> 00:06:08.699 Speaking about speaking in tongues, you know, if I can speak by the Holy Spirit 00:06:08.699 --> 00:06:11.659 in the language of angels, right, it's so special. 00:06:11.779 --> 00:06:16.079 Well, actually, if I don't have any love, if I do that without love, 00:06:16.120 --> 00:06:18.439 then I'm just a clanging gong. 00:06:18.620 --> 00:06:22.519 I'm just this really annoying noise that no one wants to hear. 00:06:23.240 --> 00:06:25.740 Like if we put this drum kit in the river class, 00:06:25.839 --> 00:06:29.139 I think that's the kind of noise that you would get, right? 00:06:29.199 --> 00:06:30.079 That's what it's like. 00:06:31.939 --> 00:06:33.919 So, gifts without love mean nothing. 00:06:34.919 --> 00:06:37.180 Some people last week thought that, you know, 00:06:37.180 --> 00:06:38.959 I have something against speaking in tongues. 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:41.340 That's just the Apostle Paul, right? 00:06:41.400 --> 00:06:45.060 He's talking to this church that is obsessed with speaking in tongues. 00:06:45.160 --> 00:06:48.540 And so, he, you know, really wants to address that. 00:06:48.720 --> 00:06:49.699 So, it's not me. 00:06:49.800 --> 00:06:50.300 It's Paul. 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:52.620 But it's not the only gift, right? 00:06:52.680 --> 00:06:55.079 So, prophecy, verse 2. 00:06:55.079 --> 00:07:00.759 And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, 00:07:01.339 --> 00:07:06.159 and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains but have not love, 00:07:06.939 --> 00:07:07.839 I am nothing. 00:07:08.539 --> 00:07:11.079 You know, I have prophetic powers. 00:07:11.079 --> 00:07:14.359 I can give everyone a word directly from God. 00:07:14.819 --> 00:07:18.240 And if I pray, you know, the mountains can move. 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:20.800 If you were in prayer meeting in CGs this week, 00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:22.899 you heard that famous verse from Jesus, right? 00:07:23.099 --> 00:07:25.079 If you have just faith as small as a mustard seed, 00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:27.139 you can say to this mountain, it will move. 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:28.399 I've never done that. 00:07:28.479 --> 00:07:30.240 But even if you could do that, 00:07:31.079 --> 00:07:33.139 and Paul says, if you do that for selfish reasons, 00:07:34.060 --> 00:07:34.860 it's nothing. 00:07:35.660 --> 00:07:40.280 It is, yeah, it doesn't mean anything, right? 00:07:40.340 --> 00:07:42.520 It's really not what we expect, right? 00:07:42.580 --> 00:07:43.900 Or charity. 00:07:44.639 --> 00:07:45.379 Verse 3. 00:07:45.500 --> 00:07:47.560 If I give away all I have, 00:07:48.139 --> 00:07:50.460 and if I deliver up my body to be burned, 00:07:50.900 --> 00:07:53.280 but have not love, I gain nothing, right? 00:07:53.379 --> 00:07:57.000 If you give millions and millions of dollars to charity. 00:07:57.860 --> 00:07:59.660 As we walk around here in Hong Kong, 00:07:59.720 --> 00:08:03.360 you see all these buildings named after people who paid for it. 00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:05.139 And that's really wonderful. 00:08:05.620 --> 00:08:07.720 And yet Paul says, if that is without love, 00:08:08.379 --> 00:08:10.340 if you give money just to, you know, 00:08:10.360 --> 00:08:11.379 to feel good about yourself, 00:08:11.660 --> 00:08:13.100 if you just do it to show off, 00:08:14.100 --> 00:08:15.199 it's nothing, right? 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:16.960 That is what Paul says. 00:08:17.020 --> 00:08:18.199 I don't know what it is for you. 00:08:19.100 --> 00:08:20.900 Certainly for the Corinthians, it's a challenge. 00:08:21.080 --> 00:08:24.400 Their obsession with gifts, well, without love, it's nothing. 00:08:25.259 --> 00:08:26.560 Maybe you can do miracles. 00:08:26.819 --> 00:08:28.540 Maybe you can heal people. 00:08:28.680 --> 00:08:30.220 You can raise people from the dead. 00:08:30.220 --> 00:08:33.460 Or maybe you've planted a church, 00:08:33.660 --> 00:08:36.480 and within two years, it's grown to 6,000. 00:08:36.980 --> 00:08:37.379 Wow. 00:08:38.180 --> 00:08:40.700 Maybe you understand every single book of the Bible, 00:08:40.840 --> 00:08:41.800 even the Song of Songs. 00:08:43.860 --> 00:08:45.540 And yet, if you do that without love, 00:08:46.100 --> 00:08:48.240 Paul says, it is nothing. 00:08:48.779 --> 00:08:49.660 And if you lack love, 00:08:50.139 --> 00:08:51.960 you can go to North Korea as a missionary. 00:08:52.259 --> 00:08:53.200 If it's not out of love, 00:08:53.899 --> 00:08:55.680 Paul says, well, it doesn't mean anything. 00:08:56.680 --> 00:08:58.120 It's really interesting, right? 00:08:58.120 --> 00:09:01.560 We often, you know, we're a pretty results-oriented society, 00:09:01.560 --> 00:09:04.360 and we think, you know, what you do is what matters, right? 00:09:04.759 --> 00:09:07.279 It doesn't really matter why you give. 00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:08.960 As long as you give money to the poor, 00:09:09.019 --> 00:09:09.759 the poor are happy. 00:09:11.480 --> 00:09:12.539 It's a good challenge. 00:09:12.639 --> 00:09:14.379 What makes for a good action? 00:09:14.519 --> 00:09:16.799 Maybe if you're here, you're not a Christian. 00:09:17.139 --> 00:09:18.500 What makes something good? 00:09:18.560 --> 00:09:20.120 What makes something right? 00:09:20.820 --> 00:09:21.960 If you give for selfish, 00:09:22.120 --> 00:09:24.000 if you do something good for selfish reasons, 00:09:24.060 --> 00:09:25.259 is it actually still good? 00:09:25.259 --> 00:09:28.860 And of course, if it's not actually that good, 00:09:28.860 --> 00:09:29.899 if you do it for yourself, 00:09:31.139 --> 00:09:31.939 I think one question is, 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:33.139 how good are we really, right? 00:09:33.639 --> 00:09:35.860 If motivation matters and not just what we do. 00:09:37.019 --> 00:09:38.980 But that's the challenge. 00:09:39.419 --> 00:09:40.879 Paul says, well, without love, 00:09:41.319 --> 00:09:43.919 all your gifts and all your prophecies 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:44.939 and tongues and everything, 00:09:45.179 --> 00:09:45.919 it's nothing. 00:09:47.960 --> 00:09:49.899 Again, as Christians, it challenges us. 00:09:49.980 --> 00:09:51.679 We usually think that, you know, 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:53.539 if someone can do something really spiritual, 00:09:53.539 --> 00:09:56.219 it must be, that must be a man of God, right? 00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:57.860 They must be really close to God. 00:09:57.939 --> 00:09:59.959 I mean, how can you heal people 00:09:59.959 --> 00:10:01.000 and hear from God 00:10:01.000 --> 00:10:02.919 and you're not close to him? 00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:05.639 Well, sometimes, of course, 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:07.439 the Bible says, yeah, that's true. 00:10:08.179 --> 00:10:10.240 Jesus can say, yeah, look at my miracles. 00:10:10.679 --> 00:10:11.639 Clearly, I'm the Messiah. 00:10:12.179 --> 00:10:12.279 Yeah? 00:10:12.759 --> 00:10:14.120 Sometimes it does work. 00:10:14.699 --> 00:10:15.579 But not always. 00:10:16.419 --> 00:10:17.719 The fact that you can do these things 00:10:17.719 --> 00:10:19.419 doesn't always have to mean anything. 00:10:19.959 --> 00:10:20.939 In the Old Testament, 00:10:20.940 --> 00:10:22.760 you probably know the story of Samson. 00:10:23.660 --> 00:10:25.680 I mean, he was really gifted by God. 00:10:25.780 --> 00:10:28.200 He was so strong and powerful to save people. 00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:32.740 And yet he was immoral and proud and bad-tempered. 00:10:33.260 --> 00:10:35.260 And he was not at all a good role model, right? 00:10:35.460 --> 00:10:36.140 We know that. 00:10:37.180 --> 00:10:38.440 Or even worse, 00:10:38.540 --> 00:10:40.900 there's this scary passage in Matthew. 00:10:42.680 --> 00:10:44.600 The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, 00:10:44.600 --> 00:10:48.159 Not everyone who says to me, 00:10:48.220 --> 00:10:48.820 Lord, Lord, 00:10:48.920 --> 00:10:50.240 will enter the kingdom of heaven, 00:10:50.680 --> 00:10:53.000 but the one who does the will of my Father 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:53.740 who is in heaven. 00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:55.100 On that day, 00:10:55.180 --> 00:10:56.259 many will say to me, 00:10:56.320 --> 00:10:57.019 Lord, Lord, 00:10:57.100 --> 00:10:58.879 did we not prophesy in your name 00:10:58.879 --> 00:11:00.940 and cast out demons in your name 00:11:00.940 --> 00:11:03.720 and do mighty, mighty works in your name? 00:11:04.460 --> 00:11:05.980 And then will I declare to them, 00:11:06.420 --> 00:11:07.420 I never knew you. 00:11:08.139 --> 00:11:08.960 Depart from me, 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:10.040 you workers of lawlessness. 00:11:10.039 --> 00:11:12.879 There are people who can do miracles 00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:14.799 and yet they don't know Jesus. 00:11:15.139 --> 00:11:18.480 That's the scary thing that this passage says. 00:11:18.719 --> 00:11:18.980 So yeah, 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:20.500 someone, 00:11:21.159 --> 00:11:21.399 you know, 00:11:21.459 --> 00:11:22.500 some televangelist 00:11:22.500 --> 00:11:23.699 and they do miracles, 00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:25.299 but they have shady finances. 00:11:25.879 --> 00:11:26.860 It's all for themselves. 00:11:28.740 --> 00:11:29.259 Yeah. 00:11:29.899 --> 00:11:31.639 We shouldn't treat a person as if, 00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:31.919 you know, 00:11:31.959 --> 00:11:33.240 this must be a real man of God 00:11:33.240 --> 00:11:34.319 just because of the miracles. 00:11:34.959 --> 00:11:35.899 That's the challenge here. 00:11:36.279 --> 00:11:37.959 It's ultimately about love. 00:11:37.960 --> 00:11:40.280 It's a challenge for me, 00:11:40.340 --> 00:11:40.500 right? 00:11:40.540 --> 00:11:42.660 The fact that God can do amazing things 00:11:42.660 --> 00:11:44.680 even if that means nothing 00:11:44.680 --> 00:11:45.800 for my spiritual state, 00:11:45.860 --> 00:11:46.000 right? 00:11:46.040 --> 00:11:46.759 So I preach 00:11:46.759 --> 00:11:48.160 and a couple of people say, 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:48.340 oh, 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:49.440 that was such a great sermon. 00:11:49.860 --> 00:11:51.200 And then I probably think, 00:11:51.280 --> 00:11:51.400 oh, 00:11:51.440 --> 00:11:51.620 wow, 00:11:51.680 --> 00:11:52.160 I must be, 00:11:52.360 --> 00:11:52.540 well, 00:11:52.600 --> 00:11:53.420 I must be really good, 00:11:53.480 --> 00:11:53.600 right? 00:11:54.019 --> 00:11:55.360 God must be happy with me. 00:11:55.620 --> 00:11:55.759 No. 00:11:56.700 --> 00:11:58.060 God just loves you guys. 00:11:58.460 --> 00:11:59.600 He wants to speak to you, 00:11:59.680 --> 00:12:00.759 even if it is through me, 00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:01.420 right? 00:12:01.500 --> 00:12:02.540 That's what I should think. 00:12:02.620 --> 00:12:03.460 It means nothing. 00:12:04.580 --> 00:12:05.139 Paul says, 00:12:05.400 --> 00:12:06.440 look at your heart, 00:12:07.300 --> 00:12:07.560 right? 00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:09.800 It's not about how gifted you are. 00:12:09.879 --> 00:12:11.280 It's not about how great you are 00:12:11.280 --> 00:12:12.060 and how much you do. 00:12:12.420 --> 00:12:13.440 What is your heart like? 00:12:14.139 --> 00:12:14.900 Is there love? 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:16.740 And the fruit of the spirit 00:12:16.740 --> 00:12:18.220 is far more important 00:12:18.220 --> 00:12:20.000 than the gifts of the spirit. 00:12:22.139 --> 00:12:22.800 And yeah, 00:12:22.900 --> 00:12:23.840 gifts without love. 00:12:23.940 --> 00:12:24.920 Is that the Corinthians? 00:12:26.060 --> 00:12:26.440 Well, 00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:28.900 let's look at verses four to seven 00:12:28.900 --> 00:12:30.680 because these are these 00:12:30.680 --> 00:12:31.840 really famous verses, 00:12:31.980 --> 00:12:32.120 right? 00:12:32.180 --> 00:12:33.879 Love is patient and kind. 00:12:34.620 --> 00:12:36.080 Love does not envy or boast. 00:12:36.139 --> 00:12:36.840 And that's what we read 00:12:36.840 --> 00:12:37.400 at the weddings, 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:37.700 right? 00:12:38.140 --> 00:12:39.660 Love does not envy or boast. 00:12:39.660 --> 00:12:39.980 Ah, 00:12:40.680 --> 00:12:41.780 love is patient. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:42.160 Ah, 00:12:42.780 --> 00:12:43.320 and it's so, 00:12:43.720 --> 00:12:43.900 right? 00:12:44.020 --> 00:12:45.220 You know the feeling. 00:12:45.340 --> 00:12:46.540 That's what a wedding is like. 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:46.900 Oh, 00:12:48.280 --> 00:12:49.220 and we always just, 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:50.780 I've heard so many sermons 00:12:50.780 --> 00:12:51.480 where they say, 00:12:51.820 --> 00:12:52.759 Paul was just dreaming 00:12:52.759 --> 00:12:53.560 about Jesus, 00:12:53.680 --> 00:12:53.840 right? 00:12:53.860 --> 00:12:54.840 He's writing this letter 00:12:54.840 --> 00:12:56.480 and he's thinking about Jesus 00:12:56.480 --> 00:12:57.420 and writing down, 00:12:58.000 --> 00:12:58.020 oh, 00:12:58.080 --> 00:12:58.640 Jesus is, 00:12:58.740 --> 00:12:59.000 but then, 00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:00.200 of course, 00:13:00.259 --> 00:13:01.600 changing Jesus to love 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:04.200 because Jesus is love incarnate, 00:13:04.259 --> 00:13:04.440 right? 00:13:04.440 --> 00:13:05.100 Someone says, 00:13:05.500 --> 00:13:07.420 Jesus is love covered with flesh, 00:13:07.520 --> 00:13:07.680 so, 00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:08.320 ah, 00:13:08.400 --> 00:13:09.920 love is patient and kind. 00:13:11.280 --> 00:13:12.500 And the Corinthians hear it 00:13:12.500 --> 00:13:13.660 and they are so inspired 00:13:13.660 --> 00:13:14.360 to be loving. 00:13:15.480 --> 00:13:15.740 Well, 00:13:16.940 --> 00:13:18.700 Paul is definitely thinking of someone, 00:13:18.780 --> 00:13:19.820 but I'm not sure it's Jesus. 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:21.040 The thing is, 00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:22.720 this is chapter 13, 00:13:23.040 --> 00:13:23.380 right? 00:13:23.379 --> 00:13:25.419 And what kind of things 00:13:25.419 --> 00:13:26.840 has Paul been saying to them 00:13:26.840 --> 00:13:29.059 in chapters 1 to 12? 00:13:29.240 --> 00:13:29.419 Well, 00:13:29.439 --> 00:13:30.480 let me read a few verses. 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:32.159 In chapter 11, 00:13:32.580 --> 00:13:33.879 each one goes ahead 00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:34.919 with his own meal 00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:36.659 and so wait for one another. 00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:38.259 Chapter 3, 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:39.580 while there is jealousy 00:13:39.580 --> 00:13:40.960 and strife among you, 00:13:41.340 --> 00:13:42.539 are you not of the flesh? 00:13:43.460 --> 00:13:44.159 Chapter 4, 00:13:44.259 --> 00:13:45.519 if then you received it, 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:46.500 why do you boast 00:13:46.500 --> 00:13:47.840 as if you did not receive it? 00:13:48.440 --> 00:13:49.240 Chapter 5, 00:13:49.320 --> 00:13:50.279 and you are arrogant. 00:13:51.179 --> 00:13:51.860 Chapter 10, 00:13:51.860 --> 00:13:53.580 let no one seek his own good, 00:13:53.700 --> 00:13:54.740 but the good of his neighbor. 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:56.560 But you yourselves 00:13:56.560 --> 00:13:57.560 wrong and defraud 00:13:57.560 --> 00:13:58.700 even your own brothers, 00:13:59.139 --> 00:13:59.379 right? 00:13:59.480 --> 00:14:00.279 The whole letter 00:14:00.279 --> 00:14:01.639 has been one big rebuke. 00:14:02.220 --> 00:14:02.620 And now, 00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:04.080 Paul talks about love 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:05.080 and so what does he say? 00:14:05.220 --> 00:14:05.399 Well, 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:07.039 love is patient. 00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:08.960 Love does not envy 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:10.360 or boast. 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:12.120 Love is not arrogant. 00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:13.500 Love does not exist 00:14:13.500 --> 00:14:14.200 on its own way, 00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:14.480 right? 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:16.120 What is Paul saying? 00:14:16.740 --> 00:14:16.899 Well, 00:14:16.960 --> 00:14:18.360 love is not you, 00:14:19.300 --> 00:14:19.519 right? 00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:20.680 Look at yourselves. 00:14:20.679 --> 00:14:21.979 You are not loving, 00:14:22.059 --> 00:14:22.259 right? 00:14:23.559 --> 00:14:24.000 Guys, 00:14:24.419 --> 00:14:25.079 look at yourselves. 00:14:25.239 --> 00:14:25.879 Love is, 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:27.099 it does not envy. 00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:28.799 Love does not eat 00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:29.479 all the foods 00:14:29.479 --> 00:14:30.239 at the Lord's Supper 00:14:30.239 --> 00:14:31.459 before the poor arrive. 00:14:31.859 --> 00:14:33.059 Love does not boast 00:14:33.059 --> 00:14:33.359 in, 00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:33.899 you know, 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:34.699 in your pastor. 00:14:34.899 --> 00:14:35.159 Love, 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:35.899 you know, 00:14:35.959 --> 00:14:36.699 it doesn't envy 00:14:36.699 --> 00:14:37.579 the person who speaks 00:14:37.579 --> 00:14:38.019 in tongues, 00:14:38.299 --> 00:14:38.500 right? 00:14:39.239 --> 00:14:40.279 That's what he's saying. 00:14:40.419 --> 00:14:41.120 This is actually 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:42.879 a pretty stinging passage 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:44.000 if you think about it, 00:14:44.019 --> 00:14:44.159 right? 00:14:44.539 --> 00:14:46.179 He's just throwing tomatoes 00:14:46.179 --> 00:14:47.059 at the Corinthians, 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:47.659 basically. 00:14:47.659 --> 00:14:49.439 I don't know, 00:14:49.539 --> 00:14:50.439 there's a lot of young 00:14:50.439 --> 00:14:51.139 people here. 00:14:51.579 --> 00:14:52.399 Maybe you're dating, 00:14:52.939 --> 00:14:53.860 getting engaged. 00:14:54.860 --> 00:14:55.539 Maybe don't give, 00:14:55.679 --> 00:14:56.620 if you ask me to preach 00:14:56.620 --> 00:14:57.139 at your wedding, 00:14:57.219 --> 00:14:58.259 don't give me this passage, 00:14:58.339 --> 00:14:58.500 right? 00:14:58.519 --> 00:14:59.579 Because you may not like 00:14:59.579 --> 00:15:00.799 what I'm going to say. 00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:01.279 Okay, 00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:02.039 well, 00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:03.860 love is not 00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:05.360 what Richard did like 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:05.879 last week, 00:15:05.939 --> 00:15:06.639 right? 00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:08.480 But that is basically 00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:09.100 what he's saying. 00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:10.959 But yeah, 00:15:11.079 --> 00:15:12.079 we think it's funny, 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:12.939 but at the same time, 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:13.240 you know, 00:15:13.539 --> 00:15:14.339 that's the Corinthians. 00:15:14.340 --> 00:15:15.980 What would Paul say to us? 00:15:17.060 --> 00:15:17.320 Right? 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:18.759 We were at confession 00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:19.300 just now. 00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:20.660 You know, 00:15:20.980 --> 00:15:22.139 love remembers 00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:23.200 to pray for people 00:15:23.200 --> 00:15:23.720 when you said 00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:24.500 you would pray for them. 00:15:25.660 --> 00:15:26.560 Love does not 00:15:26.560 --> 00:15:27.600 bail out of serving 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:28.500 at the last moment. 00:15:29.700 --> 00:15:30.720 Love does not have 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:31.780 difficult conversations 00:15:31.780 --> 00:15:32.740 by text message. 00:15:34.040 --> 00:15:34.700 Love considers 00:15:34.700 --> 00:15:35.480 what others may be 00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:36.139 going through 00:15:36.139 --> 00:15:37.280 before making a joke. 00:15:38.560 --> 00:15:39.519 Love does not change 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:40.420 CG just over 00:15:40.420 --> 00:15:41.040 a misunderstanding. 00:15:42.220 --> 00:15:43.139 And so on, 00:15:43.180 --> 00:15:43.720 and so on, 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:43.960 right? 00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:44.840 I don't know 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:45.480 what it is for you. 00:15:45.540 --> 00:15:46.100 The Holy Spirit 00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:47.660 needs to speak to you, 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:48.639 but that is basically 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:49.500 what Paul is saying. 00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:49.800 Look, 00:15:50.379 --> 00:15:50.780 guys, 00:15:51.460 --> 00:15:53.080 love is not you. 00:15:53.879 --> 00:15:54.740 Gifts without love, 00:15:54.860 --> 00:15:56.700 that very much describes 00:15:56.700 --> 00:15:57.320 what you are like, 00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:57.519 right? 00:15:59.420 --> 00:16:00.560 You lack love. 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:03.320 Of course, 00:16:03.379 --> 00:16:04.280 that raises the question, 00:16:04.400 --> 00:16:05.280 then why is love 00:16:05.280 --> 00:16:06.060 so important, 00:16:06.220 --> 00:16:06.400 right? 00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:07.180 Why, 00:16:07.580 --> 00:16:07.879 hey, 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:08.720 we have all these 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:09.379 spiritual gifts. 00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:10.500 Why are they 00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:11.860 less important than love? 00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:13.160 And so we get 00:16:13.160 --> 00:16:13.920 the last section. 00:16:13.960 --> 00:16:15.139 Verses 8 to 13. 00:16:16.100 --> 00:16:17.560 And he is saying, 00:16:17.680 --> 00:16:17.759 well, 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:18.600 the thing is, 00:16:18.700 --> 00:16:19.600 love lasts 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:21.500 and gifts don't. 00:16:22.420 --> 00:16:22.600 Right? 00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:23.800 Compared to love, 00:16:23.879 --> 00:16:24.500 spiritual gifts, 00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:25.639 they just don't last. 00:16:26.180 --> 00:16:26.980 They are temporary. 00:16:27.800 --> 00:16:28.180 And Paul, 00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:29.060 you know, 00:16:29.400 --> 00:16:30.840 Christian life is quite easy. 00:16:31.180 --> 00:16:32.000 Just think about 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:32.600 what matters 00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:33.800 in a thousand years. 00:16:34.340 --> 00:16:35.040 And then you know 00:16:35.040 --> 00:16:35.720 what really matters. 00:16:36.259 --> 00:16:37.200 And that's what Paul thinks. 00:16:37.280 --> 00:16:37.420 Well, 00:16:37.420 --> 00:16:38.879 think of the future. 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:40.000 Think, 00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:40.940 take the long-term view. 00:16:40.940 --> 00:16:41.300 And then, 00:16:41.680 --> 00:16:41.880 yeah, 00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:43.060 it says, 00:16:43.220 --> 00:16:43.660 verse 8, 00:16:43.740 --> 00:16:44.820 love never ends. 00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:46.480 But as for prophecies, 00:16:46.580 --> 00:16:47.480 they will pass away. 00:16:47.900 --> 00:16:48.620 As for tongues, 00:16:48.740 --> 00:16:49.520 they will cease. 00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:50.860 As for knowledge, 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:52.000 it will pass away. 00:16:52.340 --> 00:16:53.060 So prophecy, 00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:54.220 words of knowledge, 00:16:54.680 --> 00:16:55.340 all that stuff 00:16:55.340 --> 00:16:56.160 will pass away. 00:16:57.540 --> 00:16:58.540 But when 00:16:58.540 --> 00:16:59.220 and why? 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:00.720 Well, 00:17:00.760 --> 00:17:01.200 verse 9, 00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:03.160 for we know in part 00:17:03.160 --> 00:17:04.259 and we prophesy 00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:05.039 in part. 00:17:05.819 --> 00:17:06.899 But when the perfect 00:17:06.899 --> 00:17:07.379 comes, 00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:08.059 the partial 00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:09.059 will pass away. 00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:10.440 And he's saying, 00:17:10.579 --> 00:17:10.659 well, 00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:12.019 gifts are partial, 00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:13.240 but the perfect 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:14.339 will come. 00:17:14.700 --> 00:17:14.839 Now, 00:17:14.859 --> 00:17:15.899 what is the perfect? 00:17:16.779 --> 00:17:17.180 I think, 00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:17.799 you know, 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:19.180 Christians have wrestled 00:17:19.180 --> 00:17:19.579 with that. 00:17:20.059 --> 00:17:20.720 There are some people 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:21.759 who would say, 00:17:21.859 --> 00:17:22.039 well, 00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:22.500 look, 00:17:22.539 --> 00:17:23.680 that is the New Testament. 00:17:24.420 --> 00:17:25.139 Back then, 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:26.539 Christians did not have 00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:27.440 the New Testament yet, 00:17:27.720 --> 00:17:28.680 so we needed things 00:17:28.680 --> 00:17:29.359 like prophecy 00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:31.440 and those kind of things 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:32.180 just because, 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:32.940 yeah, 00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:33.740 because we needed 00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:34.519 to know God's will. 00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:35.500 But now we have 00:17:35.500 --> 00:17:36.059 the New Testament, 00:17:36.059 --> 00:17:37.119 so we don't need 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:37.960 those gifts anymore 00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:38.599 and they've stopped. 00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:40.879 I'm not sure 00:17:40.879 --> 00:17:41.539 if that's right, 00:17:41.619 --> 00:17:41.759 right? 00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:42.480 Because if you look 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:43.440 at verse 12, 00:17:44.299 --> 00:17:45.139 for now we see 00:17:45.139 --> 00:17:46.139 in a mirror dimly, 00:17:46.619 --> 00:17:48.299 but then face to face. 00:17:48.940 --> 00:17:50.299 Now I know in part, 00:17:50.859 --> 00:17:52.200 then I shall know fully, 00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:55.339 even as I have been fully known. 00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:56.359 Now, 00:17:56.400 --> 00:17:56.920 the New Testament 00:17:56.920 --> 00:17:57.599 is wonderful. 00:17:58.200 --> 00:17:59.539 It is not face to face 00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:00.059 with Jesus, 00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:00.339 right? 00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:01.519 It isn't. 00:18:01.819 --> 00:18:03.180 It's not fully knowing 00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:04.000 Jesus, 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:04.940 as we will know him 00:18:04.940 --> 00:18:05.599 that one day 00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:06.319 when he comes. 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:07.440 So I think that is 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:08.220 what it's talking about. 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:09.160 It's talking about 00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:10.579 the return of Jesus. 00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:12.539 And now, 00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:14.700 those people are partly right. 00:18:15.460 --> 00:18:16.660 If you were here last week, 00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:17.519 I talked about, 00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:18.259 you know, 00:18:18.339 --> 00:18:19.599 apostles and prophets 00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:20.759 as kind of the foundation 00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:21.559 of the church. 00:18:22.200 --> 00:18:23.559 Those 12 guys 00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:24.660 that Jesus commissioned 00:18:24.660 --> 00:18:26.099 as his authorized witnesses, 00:18:26.940 --> 00:18:27.099 you know, 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:27.400 yeah, 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:28.359 they were the foundation 00:18:28.359 --> 00:18:28.940 of the church 00:18:28.940 --> 00:18:30.519 and we don't have them anymore. 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:31.599 That's true. 00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:32.220 Some gifts, 00:18:32.220 --> 00:18:32.400 yeah, 00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:33.620 they have now been replaced 00:18:33.620 --> 00:18:34.960 by the New Testament. 00:18:35.319 --> 00:18:36.440 But the things mentioned here, 00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:37.059 tongues, 00:18:37.880 --> 00:18:38.240 prophecy, 00:18:38.920 --> 00:18:39.720 words of knowledge, 00:18:40.860 --> 00:18:42.519 they should continue, 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:43.019 right? 00:18:43.059 --> 00:18:44.240 Because that's what the passage says. 00:18:44.299 --> 00:18:45.140 We should expect them 00:18:45.140 --> 00:18:46.319 today in church. 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:49.019 Of course, 00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:49.880 the thing is, 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:52.000 Paul isn't trying to say, 00:18:52.120 --> 00:18:52.299 look, 00:18:53.140 --> 00:18:54.539 those gifts are lasting 00:18:54.539 --> 00:18:56.059 and they should continue now. 00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:57.120 Paul is saying, 00:18:57.119 --> 00:18:57.319 well, 00:18:57.319 --> 00:18:57.619 actually, 00:18:57.839 --> 00:18:58.319 ultimately, 00:18:58.679 --> 00:19:00.119 they do not last, 00:19:00.479 --> 00:19:00.739 right? 00:19:00.779 --> 00:19:02.379 They are only until Jesus comes. 00:19:03.819 --> 00:19:04.359 And why? 00:19:04.739 --> 00:19:04.939 Well, 00:19:04.979 --> 00:19:06.019 because they are partial, 00:19:06.299 --> 00:19:06.519 right? 00:19:06.959 --> 00:19:08.479 It's like reflecting, 00:19:08.899 --> 00:19:09.539 you know, 00:19:09.859 --> 00:19:11.279 it's like dimly in a mirror. 00:19:11.479 --> 00:19:11.899 These days, 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:13.039 mirrors are really good. 00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:14.000 Back then, 00:19:14.099 --> 00:19:15.179 mirrors were not very good. 00:19:15.259 --> 00:19:16.419 You couldn't really see. 00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:17.659 This morning, 00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:19.539 I was practicing my sermon 00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:20.319 in the living room 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:21.419 and there's this piano 00:19:21.419 --> 00:19:22.759 and it's nice and shiny 00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:24.519 and I can kind of see myself, 00:19:24.659 --> 00:19:25.159 but it's not, 00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:26.579 it's not clear, 00:19:26.579 --> 00:19:26.839 right? 00:19:27.679 --> 00:19:28.500 And that is like 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:30.279 our view of Jesus now. 00:19:31.419 --> 00:19:31.439 But, 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:34.720 it's not face to face, 00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:35.399 but gifts, 00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:35.939 yeah, 00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:37.559 he says that they're limited, 00:19:37.699 --> 00:19:38.659 that they're like that piano. 00:19:39.099 --> 00:19:40.519 It's a temporary measure 00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:41.639 while we wait for Jesus. 00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:42.759 Or, 00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:43.839 yeah, 00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:45.819 verse 11, 00:19:45.919 --> 00:19:46.899 when I was a child, 00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:48.639 I spoke like a child, 00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:49.819 I fought like a child, 00:19:49.939 --> 00:19:51.019 I reasoned like a child. 00:19:51.799 --> 00:19:52.879 When I became a man, 00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:54.659 I gave up childish ways. 00:19:55.619 --> 00:19:56.079 It's, 00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:57.519 a child here is a, 00:19:57.720 --> 00:19:58.559 like a toddler, 00:19:58.839 --> 00:19:59.859 a really young child. 00:20:00.859 --> 00:20:01.079 Now, 00:20:01.159 --> 00:20:01.779 young children, 00:20:01.879 --> 00:20:03.000 they can really communicate, 00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:03.740 right? 00:20:03.779 --> 00:20:04.879 They see a car 00:20:04.879 --> 00:20:05.839 and they say, 00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:06.099 vroom, 00:20:06.179 --> 00:20:06.339 vroom, 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:06.919 vroom, 00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:07.159 vroom, 00:20:07.559 --> 00:20:07.720 right? 00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:08.759 They really talk. 00:20:09.419 --> 00:20:09.819 And yet, 00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:11.399 that's not how adults talk, 00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:11.639 right? 00:20:12.980 --> 00:20:13.960 Children grow up 00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:14.960 and Paul says, 00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:15.140 well, 00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:16.519 that is basically gifts. 00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:17.079 Gifts are, 00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:18.140 they're limited. 00:20:19.640 --> 00:20:20.220 And so, 00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:22.840 you know, 00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:24.640 getting a word from God, 00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:25.700 maybe once a week, 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:27.620 God gives you a message 00:20:27.620 --> 00:20:28.819 or at least you get some message 00:20:28.819 --> 00:20:29.640 and you need to work out, 00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:30.420 it's this from God. 00:20:30.980 --> 00:20:31.140 But, 00:20:31.600 --> 00:20:32.000 anyway, 00:20:32.059 --> 00:20:32.640 that's amazing, 00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:32.900 right? 00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:33.960 That God speaks to you 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:34.900 and gives you this message 00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:35.940 to give to someone else. 00:20:35.940 --> 00:20:38.160 But one day, 00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:39.440 you're going to be with God forever, 00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:39.759 right? 00:20:39.820 --> 00:20:41.380 And you can hear from him 00:20:41.380 --> 00:20:41.980 all the time, 00:20:42.120 --> 00:20:42.559 constantly, 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:43.700 right? 00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:44.320 Directly, 00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:47.360 without any discernment needed. 00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:50.240 That's going to be so much more amazing, 00:20:50.340 --> 00:20:50.539 right? 00:20:50.580 --> 00:20:52.580 Than a word of knowledge now. 00:20:54.580 --> 00:20:54.980 Healing. 00:20:56.140 --> 00:20:57.940 It's amazing if God heals someone, 00:20:58.019 --> 00:20:58.140 right? 00:20:58.140 --> 00:20:58.700 It's a miracle. 00:20:59.660 --> 00:21:00.740 They're going to die again, 00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:00.980 though. 00:21:02.320 --> 00:21:04.200 Getting a whole new resurrection body, 00:21:04.380 --> 00:21:05.420 that will be later 00:21:05.420 --> 00:21:07.180 and that will be so much more amazing, 00:21:07.320 --> 00:21:07.420 right? 00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:08.700 I preached on that a few weeks ago. 00:21:09.640 --> 00:21:10.580 Speaking in tongues. 00:21:11.840 --> 00:21:12.720 That's another thing. 00:21:12.900 --> 00:21:13.220 In a way, 00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:13.820 it's quite limited. 00:21:14.120 --> 00:21:14.240 Now, 00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:16.100 some people don't know this, 00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:18.380 but I can actually speak in tongues. 00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:20.440 I used to go to a Pentecostal church 00:21:20.440 --> 00:21:21.000 in the past, 00:21:21.940 --> 00:21:23.779 but Paul says it's limited 00:21:23.779 --> 00:21:24.200 and, 00:21:24.400 --> 00:21:24.620 you know, 00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:25.400 I agree. 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:27.259 The Holy Spirit makes you speak 00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:27.900 all these things, 00:21:27.900 --> 00:21:29.779 but I don't know what I'm saying. 00:21:30.860 --> 00:21:31.460 One day, 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:32.300 I'll be with Jesus 00:21:32.300 --> 00:21:33.700 and I can just speak to him, 00:21:34.100 --> 00:21:34.640 my heart, 00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:36.300 everything I want to say directly, 00:21:36.840 --> 00:21:38.560 isn't that just so much better 00:21:38.560 --> 00:21:40.500 than anything we have here? 00:21:41.280 --> 00:21:41.820 And so Paul says, 00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:42.140 actually, 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:42.700 these gifts, 00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:43.940 you know, 00:21:44.020 --> 00:21:44.640 they're good, 00:21:44.800 --> 00:21:45.460 they're useful, 00:21:46.580 --> 00:21:47.900 but long-term, 00:21:48.020 --> 00:21:48.200 actually, 00:21:48.320 --> 00:21:49.780 they're not that special 00:21:49.780 --> 00:21:50.660 and they won't last. 00:21:50.780 --> 00:21:51.080 Later, 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:52.240 you won't need them anymore. 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:55.440 Maybe this is a good illustration. 00:21:56.100 --> 00:21:56.840 Many of us, 00:21:56.900 --> 00:21:58.080 we have family abroad 00:21:58.080 --> 00:21:59.880 and we want to communicate with them. 00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:01.920 And how do you do that? 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:02.060 Well, 00:22:02.080 --> 00:22:02.500 in the past, 00:22:02.560 --> 00:22:03.600 you had to write a letter 00:22:03.600 --> 00:22:04.940 and, 00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:05.900 you know, 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:07.360 then you could make a phone call 00:22:07.360 --> 00:22:08.039 and that was amazing. 00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:09.000 You could hear that voice 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:09.960 and now, 00:22:10.300 --> 00:22:11.480 you can make a video call 00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:12.200 and you can see them 00:22:12.200 --> 00:22:12.900 and that's so cool, 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:13.200 right? 00:22:13.900 --> 00:22:14.920 And maybe one day, 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:17.200 you can put on your Apple Vision Pro 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:19.000 and it's like you're in the living room 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:19.400 with them, 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:19.600 right? 00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:20.740 And that's so cool. 00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:22.019 Well, 00:22:22.100 --> 00:22:22.700 it is cool. 00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:24.940 And yet, 00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:26.480 a few months later, 00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:27.640 you actually see your family. 00:22:28.120 --> 00:22:29.559 You don't need your Apple Vision Pro, 00:22:29.640 --> 00:22:29.799 right? 00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:31.920 You are face-to-face 00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:32.440 and actually, 00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:34.519 this thing doesn't really matter. 00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:35.720 And so, 00:22:35.799 --> 00:22:37.140 the fact that you don't have one, 00:22:37.779 --> 00:22:37.920 well, 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:38.400 shouldn't be, 00:22:38.660 --> 00:22:39.220 right now, 00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:40.340 shouldn't be a cause of envy 00:22:40.340 --> 00:22:42.319 if you know you're going to see your family soon, 00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:43.200 right? 00:22:43.460 --> 00:22:45.100 You don't need to be proud about it. 00:22:45.140 --> 00:22:45.299 I mean, 00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:46.319 what's the thing that matters? 00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:48.140 It's your relationship, 00:22:48.299 --> 00:22:48.460 right? 00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:52.840 If you have a wonderful relationship with your family, 00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:54.680 it doesn't matter if you can only call them. 00:22:55.840 --> 00:22:57.660 And even if you have an Apple Vision Pro, 00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:58.279 but actually, 00:22:59.279 --> 00:22:59.620 you know, 00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:01.660 there's a lot of conflict and tension, 00:23:03.340 --> 00:23:04.819 that's not the real thing, 00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:05.019 right? 00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:07.400 The real thing that matters is love. 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:09.220 Love is what lasts. 00:23:09.299 --> 00:23:11.279 The relationship is what lasts, 00:23:11.579 --> 00:23:12.440 not the gifts. 00:23:13.799 --> 00:23:15.519 Heaven is a world of love. 00:23:15.620 --> 00:23:16.779 The love that you have, 00:23:16.779 --> 00:23:20.639 the love that the Holy Spirit has created in your heart, 00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:23.779 that is the love you will have for all eternity. 00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:26.579 And your gifts will cease. 00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:27.839 So yeah, 00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:28.500 love matters. 00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.980 Verse 13, 00:23:30.099 --> 00:23:30.279 right? 00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:31.339 These things remain, 00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:31.700 faith, 00:23:31.799 --> 00:23:31.940 hope, 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:32.379 and love, 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:34.759 but the greatest of these is love. 00:23:35.259 --> 00:23:36.519 Love is what matters. 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:37.720 And gifts, 00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:38.819 they're good, 00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:40.819 but they're partial, 00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:41.599 they're temporary, 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:43.240 not as good as love. 00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:45.480 And so Paul says, 00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:45.759 well, 00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:47.059 14 verse 1, 00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:48.059 pursue love, 00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:48.500 right? 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:50.700 If love is what matters the most, 00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:53.220 pursue love in everything, 00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:54.539 in your spiritual gifts, 00:23:54.660 --> 00:23:56.059 but also, 00:23:56.460 --> 00:23:56.720 well, 00:23:57.079 --> 00:23:57.779 in everything. 00:23:58.120 --> 00:23:58.359 So yeah. 00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:00.299 So here's a few good questions. 00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:02.480 Who is the most spiritual, 00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:03.720 mature Christian you know? 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:07.200 Is it the person who planted the church, 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:08.160 that grew to 6,000? 00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:10.400 Is it the person here on the stage, 00:24:10.440 --> 00:24:11.820 who is so bold, 00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:12.400 and charismatic, 00:24:12.920 --> 00:24:14.700 and amazing, 00:24:14.840 --> 00:24:15.019 right? 00:24:15.320 --> 00:24:18.080 Charismatic in the personal sense. 00:24:19.420 --> 00:24:21.640 Or is it maybe the person behind the scenes, 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:22.820 the person who no one knows, 00:24:22.880 --> 00:24:24.800 who is caring for a spouse, 00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:25.940 with a terminal illness, 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:27.279 really selflessly. 00:24:27.900 --> 00:24:30.240 Maybe that person is far more spiritual, 00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:31.140 far more loving, 00:24:31.620 --> 00:24:32.700 than anyone here on stage. 00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:36.440 That's a good question. 00:24:36.440 --> 00:24:36.960 Who is, 00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:37.480 yeah, 00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:38.620 who do you want to be? 00:24:39.640 --> 00:24:41.059 What do we want for our church? 00:24:41.900 --> 00:24:42.900 Maybe we want, 00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:43.519 you know, 00:24:43.580 --> 00:24:44.559 more evangelism, 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:45.420 and more serving, 00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:46.620 and more spiritual gifts. 00:24:47.420 --> 00:24:49.660 Do we pray that we'd be a more loving church? 00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:50.880 That actually, 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:53.160 our love is the big thing. 00:24:53.820 --> 00:24:55.160 And that we would be watermarked, 00:24:55.200 --> 00:24:55.299 wow, 00:24:55.360 --> 00:24:57.779 that church is really a place of love, 00:24:57.860 --> 00:24:59.960 where people really love Jesus, 00:25:00.080 --> 00:25:00.880 and love each other. 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:02.140 And that's why people come here. 00:25:02.860 --> 00:25:03.740 Wouldn't that be amazing? 00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:05.920 But of course, 00:25:06.359 --> 00:25:08.740 let's talk more about spiritual gifts. 00:25:09.140 --> 00:25:10.519 Because that is what Paul wants, 00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:10.759 right? 00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:12.680 Doesn't mean gifts are nothing. 00:25:12.759 --> 00:25:13.140 He says, 00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:13.400 you know, 00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:13.920 earnestly, 00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:14.720 verse 14, 00:25:14.819 --> 00:25:15.259 verse 1, 00:25:15.299 --> 00:25:15.880 he continues, 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.140 right? 00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:16.980 Pursue love, 00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:20.099 and earnestly desire spiritual gifts. 00:25:20.759 --> 00:25:22.339 And he doesn't mean helping, 00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:23.160 administrating, 00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:24.559 he means miraculous gifts. 00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:24.859 You know, 00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:25.880 we should pursue them. 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:27.539 But as we'll hear next week, 00:25:27.620 --> 00:25:27.839 well, 00:25:28.180 --> 00:25:28.759 which gift? 00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:30.519 That is what love determines. 00:25:30.660 --> 00:25:33.039 But let's go back to last week. 00:25:33.879 --> 00:25:34.119 You know, 00:25:34.180 --> 00:25:35.240 last week I told us, 00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:35.420 hey, 00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:37.240 let's think about who we are, 00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:38.220 and what gifts we have, 00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:39.940 and let's use them, 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:40.579 let's serve. 00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:43.259 But do we do that out of love? 00:25:43.619 --> 00:25:46.119 So why do we want to use our gifts? 00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:48.119 Do we want to do that out of love? 00:25:48.980 --> 00:25:50.920 If you want to be here on stage playing music, 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:53.440 is it because you want to really serve people, 00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:56.900 really help them worship through our music? 00:25:57.079 --> 00:26:00.379 Or is it maybe because you feel so great being on the stage? 00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:01.759 Yeah, 00:26:01.799 --> 00:26:03.740 sometimes our motivations are wrong. 00:26:03.859 --> 00:26:04.660 I know this guy, 00:26:04.740 --> 00:26:05.879 he wanted to be a pastor, 00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:08.180 and that's great. 00:26:09.119 --> 00:26:09.779 But basically, 00:26:09.900 --> 00:26:10.000 well, 00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:11.139 my dad was a pastor, 00:26:11.299 --> 00:26:13.740 and he had a low self-esteem because he felt, 00:26:14.059 --> 00:26:14.240 you know, 00:26:14.259 --> 00:26:15.599 I'm a disappointment to my parents. 00:26:15.700 --> 00:26:16.480 That's when I become a, 00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:17.599 why I want to be a pastor. 00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:18.720 It had nothing to do with people. 00:26:19.579 --> 00:26:21.019 It's not really a good motivation, 00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:21.359 right? 00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:23.240 It should be love. 00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:24.720 And so, 00:26:24.920 --> 00:26:26.740 why do we want to use our gifts? 00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:30.140 Have you considered the needs in the church? 00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:31.660 Right? 00:26:31.700 --> 00:26:32.460 It's easy to think, 00:26:32.559 --> 00:26:32.700 okay, 00:26:32.740 --> 00:26:33.759 this is what I'm good at. 00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:35.180 This is what I'm like to do. 00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:36.059 You know, 00:26:36.099 --> 00:26:36.480 in a church, 00:26:36.579 --> 00:26:37.920 lots of stuff needs to happen. 00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:39.339 Maybe actually, 00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:40.019 if you're loving, 00:26:40.200 --> 00:26:40.240 you, 00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:41.420 rather than thinking, 00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:42.339 what do I want to do? 00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:44.500 What needs to be done? 00:26:45.079 --> 00:26:45.240 Right? 00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:45.459 Well, 00:26:45.459 --> 00:26:46.659 how can I serve others? 00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:48.039 So, 00:26:48.119 --> 00:26:48.919 here at the coffee, 00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:50.179 we have disposable cups. 00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:50.720 That's easy. 00:26:51.159 --> 00:26:52.339 I was at another church, 00:26:52.459 --> 00:26:53.079 and basically, 00:26:53.740 --> 00:26:54.379 what people, 00:26:54.959 --> 00:26:55.379 we do, 00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:56.480 use real cups, 00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:57.439 and they had to be washed. 00:26:58.599 --> 00:27:01.939 And there was just no one with the spiritual gift of washing dishes. 00:27:02.599 --> 00:27:03.779 No one came forward, 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:04.500 hey, 00:27:04.699 --> 00:27:06.539 I feel really cold to washing dishes, 00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:06.759 right? 00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:09.240 It was just so hard to get anyone to do that. 00:27:10.419 --> 00:27:10.819 Why? 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:11.199 Right? 00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:12.039 It needs to be done. 00:27:13.339 --> 00:27:16.179 Why not love and do these things? 00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:16.639 Right? 00:27:17.379 --> 00:27:17.859 Crash, 00:27:17.939 --> 00:27:18.959 looking after babies, 00:27:19.079 --> 00:27:21.179 so that the parents can have a moment, 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:22.659 or actually to listen to God. 00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:24.779 In other churches, 00:27:24.939 --> 00:27:25.039 yeah? 00:27:26.399 --> 00:27:27.720 No one wants to do that. 00:27:28.119 --> 00:27:28.220 Right? 00:27:28.419 --> 00:27:29.959 Have we considered the needs of the church? 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:31.159 Or maybe, 00:27:31.679 --> 00:27:33.419 why would you not use your gifts? 00:27:34.379 --> 00:27:35.059 Maybe some people, 00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:36.240 you have gifts, 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:37.720 but I don't want to use them, 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:37.939 right? 00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:39.299 I can play music, 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:42.319 but that means coming in on Saturday to rehearse, 00:27:42.879 --> 00:27:43.439 and Sunday, 00:27:43.500 --> 00:27:45.279 I need to be here at 9 a.m.? 00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:45.659 No, 00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:46.119 thank you. 00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:46.759 Right? 00:27:48.439 --> 00:27:49.039 Some of us, 00:27:49.099 --> 00:27:49.259 of course, 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:50.220 we don't have the capacity, 00:27:50.419 --> 00:27:51.019 but for others, 00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:51.839 you know, 00:27:52.159 --> 00:27:53.500 are we driven by love, 00:27:53.639 --> 00:27:55.000 or by our own comfort? 00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:57.119 I think it's a really good question. 00:27:57.960 --> 00:27:59.460 I hope you get the point, 00:27:59.559 --> 00:27:59.700 right? 00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:00.099 Love, 00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:01.839 it's seeking the good of others, 00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:02.700 not our own good. 00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:03.019 So, 00:28:03.480 --> 00:28:03.660 you know, 00:28:03.700 --> 00:28:05.180 let's pray about our gifts, 00:28:05.339 --> 00:28:06.779 let's pray how we can serve, 00:28:07.140 --> 00:28:08.319 let's pray how we can do, 00:28:08.819 --> 00:28:10.259 but ask the Holy Spirit to, 00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:11.880 show us our hearts, 00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:12.420 right? 00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:14.099 Why do we want to do this? 00:28:14.099 --> 00:28:15.720 Is this motivated by love? 00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:17.759 Do I want to do this for others, 00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:19.359 or for myself? 00:28:20.359 --> 00:28:20.559 Yeah, 00:28:20.619 --> 00:28:22.559 that's the big challenge we hear, 00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:23.939 and that's something, 00:28:24.039 --> 00:28:24.119 yeah, 00:28:24.199 --> 00:28:25.539 we should reflect on, 00:28:25.599 --> 00:28:27.139 we should pray about. 00:28:29.219 --> 00:28:30.339 But as we do that, 00:28:30.419 --> 00:28:31.219 as we close, 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:33.199 I hope you hear, 00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:34.859 this is not an inspiring passage, 00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:36.299 it's a rebuke, 00:28:36.299 --> 00:28:39.119 and some of us will feel very convicted, 00:28:39.379 --> 00:28:39.579 right? 00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:40.899 I can see this, 00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:42.839 I can see all the ways that I'm not loving. 00:28:44.639 --> 00:28:46.819 But if you feel convicted of a lack of love, 00:28:48.419 --> 00:28:49.539 do remember the gospel, 00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:50.680 right? 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:53.839 We were not in church last week because of our gifts, 00:28:54.200 --> 00:28:55.940 and also we're not here in church, 00:28:55.940 --> 00:28:58.639 we're not accepted because we are so loving, 00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:01.639 not because we have sorted out love. 00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:03.279 I know that's kind of our, 00:29:03.500 --> 00:29:03.960 you know, 00:29:04.159 --> 00:29:05.220 our instincts, 00:29:05.339 --> 00:29:05.500 right? 00:29:05.500 --> 00:29:06.539 We hear this and we think, 00:29:06.619 --> 00:29:06.700 oh, 00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:07.779 I need to be more loving. 00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:09.859 Maybe you're here as a visitor, 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:10.920 you're not, 00:29:11.039 --> 00:29:12.279 you wouldn't call yourself a Christian, 00:29:12.819 --> 00:29:14.000 and you hear this and you think, 00:29:14.099 --> 00:29:14.259 okay, 00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:15.319 I need to be more loving, 00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:17.220 and then God will accept me. 00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:17.460 No, 00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:19.339 we can't do that. 00:29:19.420 --> 00:29:20.140 I can't do that. 00:29:20.200 --> 00:29:21.319 None of us here can do that. 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:22.160 I mean, 00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:23.619 what is the standard of love? 00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:26.000 It's Jesus on the cross, 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:26.339 right? 00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:32.400 Jesus coming down from heaven to die for his enemies. 00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:33.579 I mean, 00:29:33.579 --> 00:29:34.419 if that is love, 00:29:34.619 --> 00:29:35.179 real love, 00:29:35.240 --> 00:29:37.119 then none of us have met the standard. 00:29:37.259 --> 00:29:37.859 None of us. 00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:39.519 But the thing is, 00:29:39.579 --> 00:29:42.139 Jesus didn't die for no purpose. 00:29:42.339 --> 00:29:43.240 He knew that we, 00:29:43.460 --> 00:29:44.220 we don't, 00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:45.179 we're not loving enough. 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:47.399 We don't love God with all our heart. 00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:48.919 We don't love our neighbor as ourselves. 00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:52.399 That's why he came down and died for us. 00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:55.480 Died to pay the penalty for our lack of love. 00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:55.759 So, 00:29:56.200 --> 00:29:56.339 yeah, 00:29:56.339 --> 00:29:58.059 we're not here because we got it all together. 00:29:58.599 --> 00:30:04.120 We are here because we're just a bunch of helpless sinners who need God's grace to receive his grace, 00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:04.759 his forgiveness. 00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:06.740 And if you don't know that, 00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:08.579 if you're here as a visitor, 00:30:09.259 --> 00:30:10.140 please come, 00:30:10.200 --> 00:30:10.860 come and talk to me. 00:30:10.859 --> 00:30:19.879 I'd love to help you know how you can come to Jesus and receive his love when you don't have the love that you need to come to God yourself. 00:30:20.639 --> 00:30:21.719 Come to talk to me later. 00:30:22.819 --> 00:30:24.159 But when we have done that, 00:30:24.219 --> 00:30:25.919 when we have received love, 00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:27.539 then of course, 00:30:27.959 --> 00:30:29.199 let that love change you. 00:30:30.219 --> 00:30:31.819 We do want to be people of love. 00:30:32.059 --> 00:30:33.219 And that will come as we, 00:30:33.899 --> 00:30:34.139 well, 00:30:34.199 --> 00:30:35.359 as we know Jesus' love. 00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:37.079 A famous verse in the Bible, 00:30:37.079 --> 00:30:39.619 we love because he first loved us. 00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:42.659 If you realize what Jesus did for you, 00:30:42.879 --> 00:30:43.980 it will change you. 00:30:44.399 --> 00:30:44.960 It will, 00:30:45.159 --> 00:30:45.839 yeah, 00:30:46.059 --> 00:30:47.220 make you loving. 00:30:47.939 --> 00:30:49.639 So let's pray that God would do that, 00:30:49.679 --> 00:30:50.179 that we would, 00:30:50.359 --> 00:30:50.759 you know, 00:30:50.819 --> 00:30:51.740 trust his love, 00:30:51.859 --> 00:30:54.919 that we would want to be as loving as he is, 00:30:55.059 --> 00:30:56.179 that we would rest in it. 00:30:56.299 --> 00:30:56.460 Right? 00:30:56.500 --> 00:31:00.000 I don't need to get my approval from spiritual gifts. 00:31:00.139 --> 00:31:00.939 I don't need to, 00:31:01.699 --> 00:31:03.019 I have Jesus already. 00:31:03.139 --> 00:31:03.960 I have his love. 00:31:04.579 --> 00:31:05.559 I don't need your love. 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:07.059 I can just serve. 00:31:07.079 --> 00:31:07.539 And love. 00:31:08.119 --> 00:31:08.839 That's the idea. 00:31:09.699 --> 00:31:13.599 So I'm going to leave us for 30 seconds just to reflect. 00:31:14.539 --> 00:31:15.539 And then I'll pray. 00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:19.859 And then Jeremy is going to lead us in a time of singing. 00:31:19.859 --> 00:31:20.000 Amen. 00:31:37.079 --> 00:31:58.859 Our Father, 00:31:58.980 --> 00:31:59.139 we, 00:31:59.279 --> 00:32:01.279 we haven't loved you with all our hearts. 00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:03.399 and we haven't loved our neighbors, 00:32:03.619 --> 00:32:04.700 each other as ourselves. 00:32:05.940 --> 00:32:09.200 We see the standard of love and we know it's not us. 00:32:10.740 --> 00:32:13.500 Thank you that Jesus paid for that. 00:32:13.879 --> 00:32:15.920 Thank you that we are accepted, 00:32:16.160 --> 00:32:16.299 well, 00:32:16.299 --> 00:32:16.759 because of your love. 00:32:16.759 --> 00:32:18.359 Because of your love and not because of ours. 00:32:19.259 --> 00:32:19.619 Please, 00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:20.399 would we know that? 00:32:21.159 --> 00:32:22.319 If we don't know that yet, 00:32:22.399 --> 00:32:27.460 would we help us receive that and to come to you and receive your love? 00:32:27.460 --> 00:32:30.220 But then to be changed by it. 00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:30.440 Father, 00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:32.740 we do want this church to be a place of love. 00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:38.400 We want this church to be known in the whole city as a place where we love you and where we love each other. 00:32:38.680 --> 00:32:39.480 That is a miracle. 00:32:40.200 --> 00:32:41.640 It's something that you need to do. 00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:43.680 It's something that, 00:32:44.559 --> 00:32:45.059 yeah, 00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:46.360 this will be the new creation. 00:32:46.500 --> 00:32:47.519 It's a world of love. 00:32:47.519 --> 00:32:51.240 And we want Watermark to be a little world of love right now. 00:32:51.900 --> 00:32:53.539 So do that work in us by your spirit. 00:32:53.960 --> 00:32:54.500 Change us. 00:32:54.639 --> 00:32:56.680 Transform us by your grace. 00:32:57.460 --> 00:32:57.660 And, 00:32:57.779 --> 00:32:58.240 yeah, 00:32:58.879 --> 00:33:01.139 and then it will bring you so much glory. 00:33:01.779 --> 00:33:02.980 And everyone will see it. 00:33:03.000 --> 00:33:03.599 That's our dream. 00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:05.139 In Jesus' name. 00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:05.859 Amen.