1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,570 Get to go ahead and continue our sermon series that we began 2 00:00:03,570 --> 00:00:05,880 called Become More in twenty-four. 3 00:00:06,450 --> 00:00:08,160 God wants us to become more. 4 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:09,510 You want to become more. 5 00:00:09,510 --> 00:00:13,120 You want to become more kind, more loving, more punctual more 6 00:00:13,120 --> 00:00:14,680 in shape, whatever the case is. 7 00:00:15,159 --> 00:00:19,839 But God also wants you to become more, not only this year, but and beyond. 8 00:00:20,019 --> 00:00:20,949 And so we started. 9 00:00:21,574 --> 00:00:24,614 Looking through what is called maybe the Ladder of Faith 10 00:00:24,614 --> 00:00:27,864 or ladder of transformation in second Peter chapter one. 11 00:00:27,864 --> 00:00:29,154 And so we're studying that out. 12 00:00:29,154 --> 00:00:32,094 We actually have a little handout online, on our church app. 13 00:00:32,098 --> 00:00:35,514 You can go ahead and look at, uh, for a little handout to give 14 00:00:35,514 --> 00:00:39,464 you a little brief summary of the chapter or excuse me, of the book of 15 00:00:39,464 --> 00:00:41,395 second Peter that we're looking at. 16 00:00:41,395 --> 00:00:44,825 And so, as we go this, I wanna remind us of a couple of things because 17 00:00:44,825 --> 00:00:48,615 that helps us set up the proper context for what we're studying 18 00:00:48,615 --> 00:00:50,535 out and what we're delving into. 19 00:00:50,925 --> 00:00:57,075 God desires for you to become like him, not for you to 20 00:00:57,075 --> 00:00:58,515 have the power and all that. 21 00:00:58,520 --> 00:00:58,875 We're thinking. 22 00:00:58,875 --> 00:01:00,495 Well, can I be divine in that nature though? 23 00:01:00,495 --> 00:01:03,945 But for your character, for your likeness to be like. 24 00:01:04,394 --> 00:01:10,425 His, you know, my, my dad is in town and I haven't seen my dad in many years. 25 00:01:10,695 --> 00:01:15,495 And so my dad was in town and it's so funny because my dad he he 26 00:01:15,495 --> 00:01:17,385 really likes to dress up in suits. 27 00:01:18,315 --> 00:01:20,385 So you'll see him, he'll be in a casual setting, but he 28 00:01:20,390 --> 00:01:21,555 might be dressed up in a suit. 29 00:01:22,335 --> 00:01:24,164 And so our kids are like, you know, what's up? 30 00:01:24,315 --> 00:01:25,215 What's up with Grandpops? 31 00:01:25,215 --> 00:01:26,805 Why is he, why is he got a suit on? 32 00:01:26,805 --> 00:01:27,975 I'm like, that's your grandpops. 33 00:01:28,935 --> 00:01:31,185 And then I'm like, you see where I get some of that from? 34 00:01:32,190 --> 00:01:33,360 Hence my suit today. 35 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:34,200 You know what I'm saying? 36 00:01:34,860 --> 00:01:36,300 And so in many ways he's so proud. 37 00:01:36,300 --> 00:01:38,039 He is like, man, okay, you're being like me. 38 00:01:38,039 --> 00:01:38,640 You know what I mean? 39 00:01:38,695 --> 00:01:42,710 And in many ways I want my kids to as well, you know, to, to rock some suits 40 00:01:42,710 --> 00:01:46,275 on Sunday, you know, and then for little Dominique to go ahead with a mustache 41 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:47,565 and to goatee, you know what I mean? 42 00:01:47,565 --> 00:01:48,825 To have his suit on as well. 43 00:01:50,025 --> 00:01:52,965 And so God wants us to be like him, but the problem is we sin. 44 00:01:52,965 --> 00:01:54,375 And so we get corrupted. 45 00:01:54,615 --> 00:01:58,275 And so now he's in the process of redeeming us to become more like him. 46 00:01:58,280 --> 00:01:59,055 Are you with me, church? 47 00:02:00,060 --> 00:02:04,350 And so this is so huge for us to understand not only for our journey, 48 00:02:04,350 --> 00:02:08,910 but especially as we study out two Peter chapter one now, as we'll see, 49 00:02:08,910 --> 00:02:10,410 and we'll be reminded again in the text. 50 00:02:10,410 --> 00:02:16,350 God has given us everything we need to live a godly life. 51 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:22,620 He's given us everything we need, but then he says in the scripture, but your role is 52 00:02:22,620 --> 00:02:25,620 to make every effort to add to your faith. 53 00:02:26,475 --> 00:02:30,525 And so it's not just God just gives us in and that's sit, but God gives us in that 54 00:02:30,525 --> 00:02:36,555 we're called to put it into practice, but to make every effort to add to our faith. 55 00:02:37,065 --> 00:02:40,795 And so we've looked at so far adding to our faith, goodness. 56 00:02:41,395 --> 00:02:43,579 And we also looked at oh, excuse me, also. 57 00:02:43,610 --> 00:02:44,240 Uh, yes. 58 00:02:44,245 --> 00:02:49,579 Uh, uh, at the intersection of God's empowerment and our human effort 59 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:51,560 is when transformation takes place. 60 00:02:52,055 --> 00:02:55,715 Now we can change in many ways, but for us to transform into the likeness 61 00:02:55,715 --> 00:03:01,865 and image of God, we have to have human efforts that needs God's empowerment. 62 00:03:02,315 --> 00:03:05,735 And so we've looked at so far how, uh, goodness, how we can 63 00:03:05,740 --> 00:03:07,625 add goodness to our faith. 64 00:03:07,630 --> 00:03:11,345 Daniel talked about how we can add knowledge to our faith, and this week 65 00:03:11,345 --> 00:03:13,775 we'll talk about adding self-control. 66 00:03:14,405 --> 00:03:17,735 And so again, the, uh, title for today is Becoming More or 67 00:03:17,735 --> 00:03:19,115 Become More at twenty-four. 68 00:03:19,430 --> 00:03:20,600 And we're looking at self-control. 69 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:21,860 Let's go to the father in prayer. 70 00:03:21,860 --> 00:03:24,380 Father, we thank you so much for your word. 71 00:03:24,380 --> 00:03:26,870 God, I'm excited about what you've been teaching me. 72 00:03:26,870 --> 00:03:27,829 I feel challenged. 73 00:03:28,130 --> 00:03:30,950 Uh, God, I feel grateful, and I pray right now. 74 00:03:30,950 --> 00:03:34,220 Father, I know you have a, a message and a point here for every soul 75 00:03:34,220 --> 00:03:37,820 that's here, every soul that is online, every soul that will hear it 76 00:03:37,820 --> 00:03:40,010 later through a podcast or YouTube. 77 00:03:40,010 --> 00:03:44,329 God, I pray right now that as every soul hears your word, not mine, 78 00:03:44,690 --> 00:03:45,860 but Father, they hear your word. 79 00:03:46,204 --> 00:03:49,715 And God, that, that, that you minister to all of us for others so that we 80 00:03:49,715 --> 00:03:53,765 can add to our faith so we become more like you and live out your will. 81 00:03:53,765 --> 00:03:55,355 We pray this in the name of Jesus. 82 00:03:56,105 --> 00:03:56,495 Amen. 83 00:03:57,125 --> 00:04:00,665 Alright, so let's go ahead, let's go to second Peter, chapter one here. 84 00:04:00,845 --> 00:04:03,365 Uh, I will say this, uh, uh, uh, you know what, pray for me. 85 00:04:03,695 --> 00:04:07,415 Uh, last time I preached, I, I had to be subdued because I threw out my 86 00:04:07,415 --> 00:04:08,840 voice watching the Forty-Niner game. 87 00:04:09,260 --> 00:04:13,070 And, uh, and then, then the next week we went to the Hope Saturday 88 00:04:13,070 --> 00:04:14,750 Academy and our orientation. 89 00:04:14,930 --> 00:04:18,740 And I think I threw out my voice again, yelling and trying to do the hope chant. 90 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:22,040 And, uh, so this week I'm like, all right, I gotta save myself. 91 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:24,950 And, uh, so I'm trying right now to save myself. 92 00:04:24,950 --> 00:04:28,460 And then later on at three-thirty, I need your prayers that I don't throw out my 93 00:04:28,460 --> 00:04:29,840 voice when the Forty-Niners are playing. 94 00:04:29,840 --> 00:04:30,200 Amen. 95 00:04:32,210 --> 00:04:34,159 And some have said, this is my Forty-Niners tie. 96 00:04:34,159 --> 00:04:34,610 You know what? 97 00:04:34,610 --> 00:04:36,200 I guess it is my Forty-Niners tie. 98 00:04:36,830 --> 00:04:39,740 And so if they don't win, do not call or text me at all. 99 00:04:39,770 --> 00:04:40,220 Okay? 100 00:04:41,210 --> 00:04:42,740 Now I'm be like, oh, I'm gonna be funny and text 'em. 101 00:04:42,740 --> 00:04:43,430 No, do not. 102 00:04:43,430 --> 00:04:43,730 Okay. 103 00:04:43,730 --> 00:04:45,260 I might block your number going forward. 104 00:04:45,289 --> 00:04:45,560 Okay. 105 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:45,920 All right. 106 00:04:47,330 --> 00:04:48,440 And that's just a partial joke. 107 00:04:48,445 --> 00:04:49,909 All right, so second Peter, chapter one. 108 00:04:50,510 --> 00:04:51,710 Let's go in verse three here. 109 00:04:51,710 --> 00:04:52,039 Okay. 110 00:04:52,940 --> 00:04:59,630 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our 111 00:04:59,630 --> 00:05:05,659 knowledge of him who has called us by his own glory and goodness through these. 112 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:10,370 He has given us his very great and precious promises so that through them 113 00:05:10,370 --> 00:05:14,210 you may participate in the divine nature. 114 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:19,190 Having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires for 115 00:05:19,190 --> 00:05:22,910 this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness and to 116 00:05:22,915 --> 00:05:24,800 goodness knowledge and to knowledge. 117 00:05:25,010 --> 00:05:26,450 Self-control. 118 00:05:26,990 --> 00:05:29,690 Again, I wanna remind us as we add these things, it's not, 119 00:05:29,900 --> 00:05:31,430 uh, we're adding one by one. 120 00:05:31,430 --> 00:05:33,800 Once I get one down, then I can get to the other. 121 00:05:34,280 --> 00:05:37,040 No, this is like, uh, baking ingredients here. 122 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:37,250 Okay? 123 00:05:37,250 --> 00:05:40,070 We're adding the sugar, we're adding the flour, the eggs, whatever. 124 00:05:40,075 --> 00:05:42,770 We're adding 'em all the time so that again, what comes 125 00:05:42,770 --> 00:05:45,110 out is the image of Christ. 126 00:05:45,635 --> 00:05:48,065 And so we wanna look at this idea of self-control. 127 00:05:48,065 --> 00:05:50,914 And so the Greek here, we're gonna drop a little Greek here for you. 128 00:05:50,914 --> 00:05:54,335 All right, is a cretia, the N is actually silent. 129 00:05:54,664 --> 00:05:58,625 And this word here in Greek, it, it means self-control, especially, uh, 130 00:05:58,655 --> 00:06:03,875 Continents temperance, but really has its meaning of dominion over the self 131 00:06:04,445 --> 00:06:11,015 or something Dominion over the self. 132 00:06:11,435 --> 00:06:14,345 What comes to mind when you hear dominion over the self? 133 00:06:16,970 --> 00:06:19,730 There's a mastery, there's a control, there's a, there's a 134 00:06:19,730 --> 00:06:21,560 sovereignty, there's a lordship. 135 00:06:22,580 --> 00:06:28,340 And so Peter is calling us to add to our faith this dominion 136 00:06:28,430 --> 00:06:30,830 and control over ourselves. 137 00:06:31,550 --> 00:06:33,950 And so it makes me think, okay, well what does this look 138 00:06:33,950 --> 00:06:37,190 like in the disciple of Jesus? 139 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:41,450 And number one, I think what it means here is for the Christian, for you 140 00:06:41,450 --> 00:06:42,860 and me, for the disciple of Jesus. 141 00:06:43,145 --> 00:06:47,825 Self-control is submission to the control of the indwelling Christ. 142 00:06:49,115 --> 00:06:51,995 See those who have repented and got baptized, we received the 143 00:06:52,115 --> 00:06:53,855 indwelling of God's holy Spirit. 144 00:06:55,025 --> 00:07:00,155 And so self-control then for the Christian is to be in full submission 145 00:07:00,335 --> 00:07:05,494 to the Holy Spirit's reign and rule in our lives that the Holy Spirit is 146 00:07:05,494 --> 00:07:12,094 master and ruler, and not ourselves, not our feelings, not our appetite. 147 00:07:13,010 --> 00:07:14,600 But God and his will. 148 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:17,930 It's living for God and serving others rather than serving 149 00:07:17,990 --> 00:07:21,470 our self and our desires. 150 00:07:22,190 --> 00:07:29,090 It means feelings and emotions becoming servants and not masters because many 151 00:07:29,090 --> 00:07:30,800 times we can have it backwards, right? 152 00:07:30,865 --> 00:07:36,680 Where our feelings, our emotions become our masters and therefore what 153 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:40,909 happens, we lose What self-control I. 154 00:07:41,615 --> 00:07:44,615 When you give into that impulse and you lash out or you, you, 155 00:07:44,615 --> 00:07:45,695 you go out, what happens? 156 00:07:45,695 --> 00:07:49,565 You have lost control and you created, or maybe not created, but 157 00:07:49,565 --> 00:07:53,555 you therefore behave in a way in which you knew you really didn't want to or 158 00:07:53,555 --> 00:07:54,965 wouldn't in a different circumstance. 159 00:07:55,175 --> 00:08:01,234 But because you lost self-control and gave in, now there's damage. 160 00:08:03,364 --> 00:08:07,325 It's dominion and control over our mind, our eyes. 161 00:08:08,150 --> 00:08:12,320 Our ears, our hearts, our hands, and our feet, our stomach. 162 00:08:12,590 --> 00:08:13,490 It's demeaning. 163 00:08:13,490 --> 00:08:15,560 Controlling these things. 164 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:22,550 Controlling what we consume, and controlling what we put 165 00:08:22,555 --> 00:08:26,960 out, what we, what we take in. 166 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:28,370 We have a control over. 167 00:08:28,430 --> 00:08:29,960 And then also what comes out of us. 168 00:08:30,020 --> 00:08:32,328 We have dominion over. 169 00:08:32,375 --> 00:08:40,024 For that, and obviously this means a denial of evil and sinful desires 170 00:08:42,183 --> 00:08:43,385 and we're gonna have self-control. 171 00:08:43,504 --> 00:08:46,204 God is obviously meaning, Hey, you know, we gotta make sure that 172 00:08:46,204 --> 00:08:50,014 you control yourself with these temptations and evil desires that are 173 00:08:50,014 --> 00:08:51,575 in your life or that are around you. 174 00:08:53,105 --> 00:08:55,474 You know, let's, it's sports. 175 00:08:55,849 --> 00:08:56,450 Season here. 176 00:08:56,450 --> 00:08:57,560 We got the Super Bowl today. 177 00:08:58,250 --> 00:08:59,150 Jessica's got her. 178 00:08:59,150 --> 00:09:01,609 Uh, yeah, yeah, she's got that jersey on. 179 00:09:01,615 --> 00:09:01,910 Amen. 180 00:09:02,150 --> 00:09:07,310 Um, and so in football, you know, we, we've talked about this, but, but 181 00:09:07,310 --> 00:09:08,329 even in basketball, you know what? 182 00:09:08,329 --> 00:09:09,230 Let, let's just do this here. 183 00:09:09,234 --> 00:09:09,859 Okay, come on man. 184 00:09:09,859 --> 00:09:11,060 Can you come up to the stage real quick? 185 00:09:11,065 --> 00:09:11,810 Come on up here, man. 186 00:09:11,810 --> 00:09:13,130 Come on up to the stage here real quick. 187 00:09:14,930 --> 00:09:16,460 Come on up here to the stage real quick. 188 00:09:16,460 --> 00:09:17,510 Gabe's a good friend of mine. 189 00:09:18,140 --> 00:09:19,280 At least I think we're good friends. 190 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:19,910 All right, here we go. 191 00:09:21,319 --> 00:09:22,069 There you go, Gabe. 192 00:09:22,099 --> 00:09:22,670 I'm sorry man. 193 00:09:22,670 --> 00:09:23,990 You want you, you strong. 194 00:09:23,990 --> 00:09:24,290 There you go. 195 00:09:24,290 --> 00:09:24,710 Look at him. 196 00:09:24,710 --> 00:09:25,099 Come on. 197 00:09:26,704 --> 00:09:27,214 There you go. 198 00:09:27,214 --> 00:09:27,964 There's Gabe here. 199 00:09:27,964 --> 00:09:28,325 All right. 200 00:09:29,615 --> 00:09:30,785 He said No, you'll, you'll be good, man. 201 00:09:30,785 --> 00:09:31,265 Don't worry about it. 202 00:09:31,265 --> 00:09:31,775 All right, here we go. 203 00:09:32,345 --> 00:09:35,795 So, so, so I'm, I'm a huge football fan, but I'm also a basketball fan. 204 00:09:36,125 --> 00:09:41,105 And so in basketball, uh, you know, sometimes they tell you that you 205 00:09:41,105 --> 00:09:43,475 have to deny the person the ball. 206 00:09:44,105 --> 00:09:47,285 So let's say he's like, Steph Curry or something like that, right. 207 00:09:47,285 --> 00:09:49,175 Or, uh, LeBron James here. 208 00:09:49,685 --> 00:09:51,725 That, that, that you would describe yourself that way. 209 00:09:51,725 --> 00:09:52,355 Yes, he is. 210 00:09:52,714 --> 00:09:54,815 He's a Caucasian version of LeBron James. 211 00:09:54,815 --> 00:09:55,325 So there you go. 212 00:09:56,210 --> 00:09:57,649 Built like him too, you know what I'm saying? 213 00:09:58,010 --> 00:10:01,970 And so in basketball, you know, they'll say, Hey, deny LeBron James the ball. 214 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:04,460 Deny, uh, LeBron, Strobel the ball here. 215 00:10:04,490 --> 00:10:04,849 Okay. 216 00:10:04,849 --> 00:10:05,210 All right. 217 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:08,540 And so in, and so I have to go ahead and I have to deny him. 218 00:10:08,540 --> 00:10:11,240 And so if he were to move that way, move that way, I'm trying to 219 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:12,649 make sure he doesn't get the ball. 220 00:10:12,649 --> 00:10:13,280 You get what I'm saying? 221 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:19,010 Oh, look, he thinks he's way, oh, oh, he thought he had me. 222 00:10:19,010 --> 00:10:21,679 He thought because I'm old, I couldn't deny him, but I did. 223 00:10:22,444 --> 00:10:23,944 And so here's what happens here. 224 00:10:24,065 --> 00:10:27,244 So if somebody throws the ball, I'm supposed to deny him the ball. 225 00:10:27,875 --> 00:10:28,835 I gotta deny it. 226 00:10:28,835 --> 00:10:29,915 I don't want him to have it. 227 00:10:30,185 --> 00:10:32,014 Now, this represents our souls. 228 00:10:32,494 --> 00:10:33,875 And sometimes we have temptations. 229 00:10:33,875 --> 00:10:35,675 And what he's saying is, you gotta add self-control. 230 00:10:35,675 --> 00:10:36,454 Deny that. 231 00:10:37,264 --> 00:10:39,335 Deny that sin, deny that lust. 232 00:10:39,395 --> 00:10:42,335 Deny that thing that maybe not now, but for later. 233 00:10:42,335 --> 00:10:43,385 You gotta deny that. 234 00:10:43,565 --> 00:10:46,805 Don't let it feed into your soul because it will corrupt you. 235 00:10:47,855 --> 00:10:49,835 So when we have self-control, I control it. 236 00:10:49,895 --> 00:10:51,244 I'm denying myself. 237 00:10:51,910 --> 00:10:55,925 I Denying my, my, my anger giving my, my lashing out. 238 00:10:57,785 --> 00:11:00,785 I'm denying myself and taking things I shouldn't, I 239 00:11:00,785 --> 00:11:01,925 shouldn't, I shouldn't take in. 240 00:11:03,605 --> 00:11:07,775 And so God is calling us to add to ourselves self-control 241 00:11:07,775 --> 00:11:09,425 that denies evil desires. 242 00:11:09,425 --> 00:11:10,925 Give it up for Gabe LeBron. 243 00:11:10,925 --> 00:11:11,585 James Strobel. 244 00:11:18,964 --> 00:11:20,165 That man thought he can get by me. 245 00:11:20,165 --> 00:11:20,765 You crazy. 246 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:25,069 I am tired now, but Amen. 247 00:11:26,060 --> 00:11:29,389 Here's the thing, brothers and sisters, this isn't a denial of just 248 00:11:29,780 --> 00:11:34,490 sin, but it's having self-control in all aspects of our lives. 249 00:11:36,859 --> 00:11:43,129 It's having self-control with our thoughts, our internet 250 00:11:43,129 --> 00:11:47,389 usage, our speech, our eating. 251 00:11:48,155 --> 00:11:51,605 Our schoolwork, our homework, our our, our, our work at our 252 00:11:51,605 --> 00:11:54,214 jobs, our sleep, our anger, etc. 253 00:11:55,925 --> 00:12:02,585 In every area of life, we must learn to control ourselves and let Christ reign 254 00:12:02,645 --> 00:12:10,145 rather than our own self-centered desires, because if we don't, then we'll be 255 00:12:10,145 --> 00:12:13,234 mastered and controlled by other things. 256 00:12:14,615 --> 00:12:16,655 Second Peter chapter two, write this down. 257 00:12:16,954 --> 00:12:17,855 Verse 19. 258 00:12:18,875 --> 00:12:22,325 He says, people are slaves to whatever has mastered them. 259 00:12:23,795 --> 00:12:27,305 So again, if I don't control myself, then I will be a slave 260 00:12:27,515 --> 00:12:30,065 to whatever is mastering me. 261 00:12:31,685 --> 00:12:32,494 That might be sick. 262 00:12:33,694 --> 00:12:35,944 It might be my stomach, it might be my cravings, it 263 00:12:35,944 --> 00:12:37,325 might be whatever the case is. 264 00:12:37,655 --> 00:12:42,845 We have to make sure that we add to our faith, Self-control. 265 00:12:43,385 --> 00:12:44,825 Now, can we just have a moment of honesty? 266 00:12:45,995 --> 00:12:47,855 I know y'all like moments of, of non-honesty, right? 267 00:12:49,175 --> 00:12:52,115 Can we just have a moment here where we, where we can just acknowledge something? 268 00:12:53,255 --> 00:12:54,454 Self-control is what? 269 00:12:55,625 --> 00:12:56,224 Hard. 270 00:12:57,245 --> 00:12:57,935 It's hard. 271 00:12:59,255 --> 00:13:01,115 If it was easy, then it wouldn't even be added. 272 00:13:01,115 --> 00:13:02,825 It wouldn't, we wouldn't be mentioned because it would be 273 00:13:02,825 --> 00:13:04,295 something that we naturally do. 274 00:13:04,444 --> 00:13:08,285 But our natural tendency is to lack self-control. 275 00:13:09,454 --> 00:13:14,615 And so it's hard and what happens often. 276 00:13:15,260 --> 00:13:17,060 Is that because it's hard. 277 00:13:17,329 --> 00:13:20,839 We give in too easily sometimes. 278 00:13:22,700 --> 00:13:26,569 We give in to sin, we give into temptation. 279 00:13:26,900 --> 00:13:32,120 We give into our feelings and our emotions, our impulses, and we give in, 280 00:13:33,140 --> 00:13:35,450 and therefore we become a slave to that. 281 00:13:36,380 --> 00:13:39,110 I know before I became a Christian, there was times where I would have these 282 00:13:39,110 --> 00:13:40,850 moments where I would be religious. 283 00:13:40,910 --> 00:13:43,280 I would say, you know what, I, I, I really wanna live for God. 284 00:13:43,745 --> 00:13:47,224 And, and, but I never really, you know, would submit my whole life to God. 285 00:13:47,224 --> 00:13:49,444 So I would want to give, I didn't realize this at the time, but 286 00:13:49,444 --> 00:13:53,135 I realized later I'd give maybe 50, 75% of my heart and my faith. 287 00:13:54,155 --> 00:13:57,005 And I remember this time I was like, alright, I want to be a moral person. 288 00:13:57,755 --> 00:14:00,545 And then this temptation came along and I told my friends, all right, 289 00:14:00,545 --> 00:14:01,835 I'm, I'm leaving all this stuff. 290 00:14:01,835 --> 00:14:03,275 I'm not gonna do this anymore. 291 00:14:03,545 --> 00:14:07,145 And within two weeks I was right back into everything I was doing. 292 00:14:07,745 --> 00:14:11,795 As soon as a serious temptation came to be a moral I gave in. 293 00:14:13,550 --> 00:14:15,920 I just gave in way too easily. 294 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:19,879 What I also notice is when it's hard, we not only give in 295 00:14:19,885 --> 00:14:22,339 too easy, but we make excuses. 296 00:14:23,839 --> 00:14:26,990 We make excuses, and what do those excuses do? 297 00:14:27,710 --> 00:14:29,119 Justify ourselves. 298 00:14:30,050 --> 00:14:35,690 We make excuses so that we can justify ourselves so we don't feel bad or guilty. 299 00:14:37,129 --> 00:14:39,800 And so we say, oh, well it's because of this and because of that. 300 00:14:41,464 --> 00:14:44,260 You know, even recently, I, I, uh, I, I'm saying, all right, I, I 301 00:14:44,265 --> 00:14:46,295 want to grow and, and discipline. 302 00:14:46,295 --> 00:14:48,694 This year I felt like I had been slipping and getting back, and so 303 00:14:49,055 --> 00:14:50,525 I'm like, all right, in every area. 304 00:14:50,915 --> 00:14:53,525 And so one of the areas is, is, is what I eat. 305 00:14:54,454 --> 00:14:57,214 And uh, a couple weeks ago we had a ministry event and we had some, some 306 00:14:57,214 --> 00:15:03,365 leftover food and some cookies, and Karina put the cookies on the kitchen counter. 307 00:15:05,704 --> 00:15:08,795 And I'm looking at 'em, I'm like, why she do this? 308 00:15:10,774 --> 00:15:14,675 There were Oreos, and you know, if you have one Oreo, you don't have one 309 00:15:14,675 --> 00:15:16,444 Oreo, you have more than one Oreo. 310 00:15:17,764 --> 00:15:20,194 And so I see it and I'm like, no. 311 00:15:20,464 --> 00:15:22,835 Okay, well it's just one. 312 00:15:23,345 --> 00:15:25,264 Then I come back, well, let me grab two more for the go. 313 00:15:25,534 --> 00:15:26,194 You know what I'm saying? 314 00:15:27,425 --> 00:15:29,524 And then the next day I was like, oh, let me just take another one. 315 00:15:29,524 --> 00:15:32,494 I'm like, well, you know, I've be doing better in these areas when I 316 00:15:32,494 --> 00:15:34,385 eat and I'm justifying it to myself. 317 00:15:35,675 --> 00:15:38,075 And I look up and I'm like, man, I have four or five days in a 318 00:15:38,075 --> 00:15:39,845 row, man, I ate half the bag here. 319 00:15:41,285 --> 00:15:41,675 There you go. 320 00:15:41,675 --> 00:15:42,635 So now I ate half the bag. 321 00:15:42,635 --> 00:15:46,175 All right, so, and how was I doing? 322 00:15:46,415 --> 00:15:49,565 Making excuses, justifying myself. 323 00:15:49,955 --> 00:15:53,795 Well, you were okay in this area, but the goal was to be 324 00:15:53,795 --> 00:15:55,175 self-controlled in all areas. 325 00:15:57,515 --> 00:15:59,315 And so how can we overcome this? 326 00:16:00,215 --> 00:16:02,885 Well, here's the beauty is that we can. 327 00:16:03,245 --> 00:16:06,035 Overcome this and we can become self-control because 328 00:16:06,035 --> 00:16:07,655 God's word even tells us. 329 00:16:07,985 --> 00:16:09,905 In fact, let's go back to this verse. 330 00:16:09,905 --> 00:16:10,505 What does he say? 331 00:16:10,775 --> 00:16:15,905 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life. 332 00:16:17,944 --> 00:16:19,265 Did you, did you see that? 333 00:16:20,795 --> 00:16:21,724 Are we ill-equipped? 334 00:16:23,194 --> 00:16:24,365 Do we lack something? 335 00:16:25,895 --> 00:16:26,135 No. 336 00:16:26,135 --> 00:16:31,204 You and I, those of us who are in Christ, we have everything we need. 337 00:16:32,254 --> 00:16:33,395 To live a godly life. 338 00:16:34,714 --> 00:16:36,605 But he says, but you still have to do something. 339 00:16:36,994 --> 00:16:38,224 You have a role in this. 340 00:16:38,645 --> 00:16:42,214 Make every effort to add to your faith. 341 00:16:43,204 --> 00:16:45,274 So we can, that's the, that's the great thing. 342 00:16:45,274 --> 00:16:51,095 We can be men and women of God who are self-controlled, but we gotta 343 00:16:51,095 --> 00:16:53,915 make sure that we add it to our faith. 344 00:16:53,915 --> 00:16:58,115 And so how can we add self-control to our faith and overcome these things? 345 00:16:58,115 --> 00:16:59,345 Church, are you still with me here? 346 00:17:00,410 --> 00:17:01,940 So let's go ahead and let's get into it here. 347 00:17:02,300 --> 00:17:03,140 So here's a couple things. 348 00:17:03,140 --> 00:17:05,180 Number one, uh, it always starts with prayer. 349 00:17:06,410 --> 00:17:09,050 Again, this, this will be a thread throughout the whole series. 350 00:17:09,050 --> 00:17:14,270 If we want to add anything, we have to pray about it, desiring it. 351 00:17:14,270 --> 00:17:17,150 It is a part of our daily prayer, therefore, it becomes part of our 352 00:17:17,150 --> 00:17:21,680 consciousness, and therefore we can have more Being tuned with the Holy Spirit. 353 00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:24,260 So when these situations arise, we can overcome. 354 00:17:25,010 --> 00:17:28,580 So we need to pray about it, but secondly, to have a no excuses mentality. 355 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:34,820 No excuses mentality, a determination. 356 00:17:35,930 --> 00:17:38,990 I am going to grow in this area. 357 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:42,740 I'm not gonna make excuses what we saw well earlier, right? 358 00:17:42,740 --> 00:17:45,710 When we make excuses, what happens, we justify ourselves 359 00:17:45,710 --> 00:17:46,760 and therefore we don't grow. 360 00:17:47,630 --> 00:17:50,360 Had a good friend of mine, he said this to me, uh, many years ago. 361 00:17:50,360 --> 00:17:52,970 I'm not sure where he got it from, but he said, you know, uh, there 362 00:17:52,970 --> 00:17:54,950 are many reasons, but no excuse. 363 00:17:56,960 --> 00:17:57,830 I said, man, that's good. 364 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:01,430 Because there are many reasons to do anything, isn't there? 365 00:18:02,300 --> 00:18:04,670 There's a reason for me to, to leave my family. 366 00:18:04,670 --> 00:18:06,200 There's a reason for me to leave God. 367 00:18:06,205 --> 00:18:07,910 There's a reason for me to cheat on my taxes. 368 00:18:07,910 --> 00:18:09,620 There's a reason for me to lie to your face. 369 00:18:09,740 --> 00:18:12,260 There are many reasons for me to do any of those things, but 370 00:18:12,260 --> 00:18:13,400 there would be no excuse for it. 371 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:18,530 So it's good to understand the reasons, but we can't justify 372 00:18:18,530 --> 00:18:20,690 or make excuses when we give in. 373 00:18:22,100 --> 00:18:23,300 We need to have a mentality. 374 00:18:23,660 --> 00:18:25,730 I'm not gonna make any excuses. 375 00:18:27,305 --> 00:18:28,385 Does that mean we'll be perfect? 376 00:18:29,345 --> 00:18:31,295 Probably not, but we can grow some. 377 00:18:31,295 --> 00:18:33,125 And in fact, we need accountability. 378 00:18:34,025 --> 00:18:36,785 I know for some of us, we, we get a little squirmish when we hear this word. 379 00:18:36,785 --> 00:18:37,595 Accountability. 380 00:18:39,095 --> 00:18:43,235 Accountability is when, uh, you, you are accountable to people 381 00:18:43,745 --> 00:18:45,695 in a good and healthy way. 382 00:18:46,445 --> 00:18:49,445 I wanna read this scripture here in Proverbs 27 verse six. 383 00:18:49,445 --> 00:18:53,435 It says, Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. 384 00:18:55,340 --> 00:19:00,350 Many times we want to go and hear what we want to hear, but the true 385 00:19:00,350 --> 00:19:02,690 friends isn't gonna multiply kiss. 386 00:19:02,690 --> 00:19:03,800 Oh, you're awesome. 387 00:19:04,010 --> 00:19:05,150 You lack self-control. 388 00:19:05,150 --> 00:19:06,260 Don't worry about it, bro. 389 00:19:06,265 --> 00:19:07,790 In sis, we all do. 390 00:19:09,410 --> 00:19:10,100 Say, you know what? 391 00:19:10,100 --> 00:19:11,360 You want to grow, bro. 392 00:19:11,360 --> 00:19:12,830 Here's what can help you. 393 00:19:13,820 --> 00:19:15,950 Hey, what can I do to help you in this? 394 00:19:16,940 --> 00:19:18,740 You know, LA about two years ago. 395 00:19:19,460 --> 00:19:23,060 During that time, uh, me, me and a couple brothers, we had a, a, a small, 396 00:19:23,060 --> 00:19:24,620 what we call, uh, discipling group. 397 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:28,879 We'd get together on Saturday mornings and, uh, and, and, and, and, and 398 00:19:28,885 --> 00:19:31,010 the, the we'd get together and we decide, all right, we're gonna have 399 00:19:31,010 --> 00:19:32,629 some goals for the next three months. 400 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:35,540 So we had some goals for the next three months, and we go around and we share, 401 00:19:35,930 --> 00:19:41,870 and that at that time, I saw the most spiritual personal growth I had in my 402 00:19:41,870 --> 00:19:44,210 life, probably for the previous two years. 403 00:19:45,620 --> 00:19:49,910 And the brothers that, that I was with, they actually, they actually didn't offer 404 00:19:49,910 --> 00:19:54,110 up a lot of spiritual input and advice to me, and there was no knock against 'em. 405 00:19:54,110 --> 00:19:56,990 But they didn't say like, Hey bro, you should do this, you should do that. 406 00:19:57,200 --> 00:19:58,220 That wasn't the case. 407 00:19:58,370 --> 00:20:02,210 It was the accountability that I had that helped inspire me to 408 00:20:02,210 --> 00:20:05,930 push through when I didn't feel like doing what I wanted to do. 409 00:20:07,700 --> 00:20:09,800 And so I would come in and, and then there was times where I'm 410 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:11,120 like, yeah, I didn't do as well. 411 00:20:11,150 --> 00:20:12,710 Oh, okay, well let's talk about it. 412 00:20:12,710 --> 00:20:14,930 And that was healthy and it was good for me. 413 00:20:16,580 --> 00:20:18,260 And then there was times where I'm like, man, I'm on it. 414 00:20:18,260 --> 00:20:18,710 And you know what? 415 00:20:18,715 --> 00:20:21,020 Part of the reason I'm on it is 'cause I knew this Saturday morning 416 00:20:21,020 --> 00:20:22,040 I was gonna have to talk about it. 417 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:25,790 And so I'm grateful for that extra motivation. 418 00:20:25,790 --> 00:20:26,630 You get what I'm saying? 419 00:20:28,130 --> 00:20:29,840 And so we need some accountability. 420 00:20:30,110 --> 00:20:32,030 Another thing here is confession. 421 00:20:32,030 --> 00:20:34,610 When we fall short, which we will fall short. 422 00:20:35,795 --> 00:20:37,775 But it's to confess it not to, hold on. 423 00:20:38,135 --> 00:20:41,495 'cause when we confess, then we put it out there not only to God and others, 424 00:20:41,645 --> 00:20:44,015 but then we can actually see growth. 425 00:20:44,795 --> 00:20:47,135 'cause here's what happens when we confess, well, the proper 426 00:20:47,135 --> 00:20:50,525 confession, whoever can steal their sin does not prosper. 427 00:20:50,855 --> 00:20:54,785 But the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. 428 00:20:55,955 --> 00:20:59,375 Not just confessing, but renouncing the sin. 429 00:21:00,845 --> 00:21:03,185 Renouncing means I'm going to do away with it. 430 00:21:03,770 --> 00:21:05,000 I'm going to get better. 431 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:08,750 I'm no longer going to succumb to the pressure and temptation in this 432 00:21:08,750 --> 00:21:15,170 area and 'cause true confession leads to change, which is repentance. 433 00:21:15,380 --> 00:21:18,020 And lastly here, crawl, walk, run. 434 00:21:20,030 --> 00:21:21,050 What do we mean by this? 435 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:25,970 We mean starting off in small areas helps build habits which 436 00:21:25,970 --> 00:21:29,810 build character, which leads to greater success and transformation. 437 00:21:31,280 --> 00:21:34,460 Remember when I told you I was, uh, I gave him to the cookies a couple weeks ago? 438 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:39,350 What would also happen during that time, I, I saw this correlation is, uh, I 439 00:21:39,350 --> 00:21:41,810 decided beginning of the year, you know, I'm gonna make sure that all my shoes, 440 00:21:41,810 --> 00:21:43,580 when I go into my closet, I put 'em away. 441 00:21:44,570 --> 00:21:47,419 'cause sometimes I can go over there and put my shoes down and then they start 442 00:21:47,425 --> 00:21:50,960 to pile up, and then you have to do exercises when you come into the closet. 443 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:51,409 You know what I'm saying? 444 00:21:51,409 --> 00:21:53,389 You gotta dodge the shoes by Marcel. 445 00:21:53,389 --> 00:21:54,080 You know what I'm saying? 446 00:21:54,740 --> 00:21:57,169 And so I was like, man, I don't, I don't wanna do that because I know that's 447 00:21:57,169 --> 00:21:58,520 just a reflection of my character. 448 00:21:59,090 --> 00:22:01,760 And so then as I was giving into the cookies a couple weeks ago, 449 00:22:01,925 --> 00:22:05,810 I, I come into my, my, my closet and I'm like, wait a second, man. 450 00:22:05,810 --> 00:22:07,129 I've been slipping on my shoes here. 451 00:22:08,540 --> 00:22:09,110 Because why? 452 00:22:09,110 --> 00:22:11,030 Because it became a habit. 453 00:22:11,180 --> 00:22:15,710 It was small things, but it revealed itself Now as my character, 454 00:22:17,150 --> 00:22:19,910 you see, that's why we have to crawl, walk, and then run. 455 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:23,120 Let's go ahead and let's focus on some smaller things. 456 00:22:23,300 --> 00:22:24,650 Let's get better at those. 457 00:22:24,695 --> 00:22:27,725 So that again, we can change it and it becomes our character, or we 458 00:22:27,725 --> 00:22:31,295 can master and overcome the larger issues and challenges in our life. 459 00:22:31,385 --> 00:22:31,685 Church. 460 00:22:31,685 --> 00:22:32,735 Do you understand what I'm saying? 461 00:22:34,235 --> 00:22:38,735 So here are some ways that you and I can add self-control to our life. 462 00:22:39,815 --> 00:22:40,775 How will it affect us? 463 00:22:41,135 --> 00:22:42,395 What would be the benefits? 464 00:22:42,425 --> 00:22:47,495 Let's be reminded what it says in second Peter, verse eight, for if you possess 465 00:22:47,495 --> 00:22:49,505 these qualities, an increasing measure. 466 00:22:49,505 --> 00:22:50,435 So we never arrive. 467 00:22:50,435 --> 00:22:52,175 It's increasing, it's growing. 468 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:57,170 They will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your 469 00:22:57,170 --> 00:22:59,180 knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 470 00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:05,690 You and I both want to be effective, productive in our lives as Christians, 471 00:23:07,010 --> 00:23:10,700 and so one of the benefits is that we will avoid being ineffective and unproductive, 472 00:23:10,730 --> 00:23:12,950 but we will be effective and productive. 473 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:16,700 But whoever does not have them is near sight and blind forgetting what they 474 00:23:16,700 --> 00:23:18,770 have been clenched from their past sins. 475 00:23:19,115 --> 00:23:21,815 Therefore, my brothers and sisters make every effort. 476 00:23:21,875 --> 00:23:26,465 There it is again, to confirm your calling and election for if you do these things, 477 00:23:26,465 --> 00:23:31,895 you will never Stumble and you'll receive a rich welcome to the eternal kingdom 478 00:23:31,895 --> 00:23:35,135 of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 479 00:23:36,665 --> 00:23:37,595 Again, this never stumbled. 480 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:41,255 Doesn't mean we never sinned, but it means that we never fall away 481 00:23:41,255 --> 00:23:45,995 from God and we actually do conquer our sin more and more in our lives. 482 00:23:47,195 --> 00:23:52,175 And so we can become stronger spiritually, stronger emotionally, stronger mentally, 483 00:23:52,775 --> 00:23:57,815 and stronger physically, and it also will have an impact on our relationships. 484 00:23:58,385 --> 00:23:59,345 Think about this. 485 00:23:59,585 --> 00:24:03,275 If you are self-controlled in your relationships, what will that do 486 00:24:03,305 --> 00:24:04,775 for you and your relationships? 487 00:24:05,765 --> 00:24:09,545 If you control your tongue and what you say and how you say it, will that 488 00:24:09,545 --> 00:24:12,815 affect your, your, your roommates or your spouse, or your kids or your parents? 489 00:24:13,985 --> 00:24:17,195 If you control yourself from an outburst, would that infect, would 490 00:24:17,195 --> 00:24:18,965 that impact your relationship? 491 00:24:19,055 --> 00:24:23,885 Of course it will and allows for more intimacy and closeness. 492 00:24:24,395 --> 00:24:28,295 So we see the benefits not only for our lives, for our eternity, but even in 493 00:24:28,295 --> 00:24:31,085 our relationships for the here and now. 494 00:24:31,985 --> 00:24:34,235 So what's the call for the hour? 495 00:24:34,235 --> 00:24:35,405 What's the call for? 496 00:24:35,405 --> 00:24:42,155 The hour every time is to make every effort not to make some efforts. 497 00:24:42,740 --> 00:24:47,960 But to make every effort to grow in Christ. 498 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:52,190 Again, this is the call to join God in his transformative work, 499 00:24:52,460 --> 00:24:55,130 in our lives and in our churches. 500 00:24:55,135 --> 00:24:57,170 It requires every effort. 501 00:24:57,170 --> 00:24:59,150 So let's get real practical here. 502 00:24:59,330 --> 00:25:00,830 Action steps this week here. 503 00:25:00,830 --> 00:25:03,590 And so one encourages every one of us to write this down. 504 00:25:03,590 --> 00:25:04,885 Take a picture, do whatever you need to do. 505 00:25:05,345 --> 00:25:08,795 And first off here is let's continue praying for the church, not just for 506 00:25:08,795 --> 00:25:12,965 ourselves, not just for our small groups, but let's pray for God's people 507 00:25:12,965 --> 00:25:16,090 all across, especially here in Orange County, but all across the world. 508 00:25:16,175 --> 00:25:16,535 World. 509 00:25:16,535 --> 00:25:20,735 Really pray for us to add to our faith the list that is listed out, 510 00:25:20,735 --> 00:25:23,975 that virtues that are listed in two Peter one, five through seven. 511 00:25:24,125 --> 00:25:28,385 And then secondly, get accountability for an area that needs more self-control. 512 00:25:29,825 --> 00:25:31,385 Find a partner, find whatever it is. 513 00:25:31,565 --> 00:25:33,635 Say this is the area, I need some more self-control. 514 00:25:34,340 --> 00:25:37,400 It gives him accountability for this week and that can serve you and help 515 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:40,430 you going forward in your faith. 516 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:42,230 Right now we're gonna take communion. 517 00:25:43,070 --> 00:25:46,520 That's where we take the emblems that represent Jesus' body and blood. 518 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:50,990 That was sacrificed for our salvation and as we think of Christ, he always the 519 00:25:50,990 --> 00:25:55,760 example of all the virtues, but we see in Christ the example of self-control, 520 00:25:55,790 --> 00:25:58,490 even as he suffered upon the cross. 521 00:25:58,745 --> 00:26:03,155 And what led to him in, in, in going to the cross, and we see this laid out in, 522 00:26:03,155 --> 00:26:08,945 in one peter, he says, when they hurled the insults at him, he did not retaliate. 523 00:26:10,265 --> 00:26:14,285 When he suffered, he made no threats. 524 00:26:14,975 --> 00:26:21,035 Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 525 00:26:21,725 --> 00:26:27,425 He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross so that we might die to sins. 526 00:26:28,100 --> 00:26:32,360 And live for righteousness by his wounds. 527 00:26:32,450 --> 00:26:33,530 You have been healed. 528 00:26:33,950 --> 00:26:38,150 For, you are like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the 529 00:26:38,150 --> 00:26:42,440 shepherd and overseer of your souls. 530 00:26:42,500 --> 00:26:43,040 Let's pray. 531 00:26:43,790 --> 00:26:48,800 Father in heaven, I thank you so much for Jesus, for his example. 532 00:26:50,330 --> 00:26:52,700 God, again, even as I was praying earlier, talking with the kids' 533 00:26:52,700 --> 00:26:57,290 Kingdom volunteers, God, I I, I'm just amazed at Jesus' example. 534 00:26:58,625 --> 00:27:02,195 Father, I think of man threats when people lie or say things to me, I wanna 535 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:04,685 retaliate, I want to defend myself. 536 00:27:05,345 --> 00:27:09,815 But we see Jesus be totally self-controlled father, and 537 00:27:09,820 --> 00:27:11,735 he did that for all of us. 538 00:27:12,125 --> 00:27:15,575 He did that for your creation so that we can have a relationship 539 00:27:15,575 --> 00:27:18,965 with you so that our wounds could be healed, so that we can return to you. 540 00:27:19,145 --> 00:27:23,345 The shepherd and overseer of our souls, the God we say. 541 00:27:23,345 --> 00:27:23,705 Thank you. 542 00:27:24,395 --> 00:27:25,955 Thank you for sending your son, Lord Jesus. 543 00:27:25,955 --> 00:27:28,925 Thank you for displaying self-control upon the cross. 544 00:27:28,925 --> 00:27:30,665 You could have come down at any time. 545 00:27:30,935 --> 00:27:34,355 It, it's written that you could have called 12 legions of angels. 546 00:27:34,360 --> 00:27:36,935 They could have stopped it, but yet you didn't so that the 547 00:27:36,935 --> 00:27:38,645 greater good could take place. 548 00:27:39,245 --> 00:27:40,445 Father, we say thank you. 549 00:27:41,195 --> 00:27:44,255 Thank you for the mercy and grace that is in Christ. 550 00:27:44,615 --> 00:27:48,365 Father, may we respond with devotion, faith, love, and father 551 00:27:48,365 --> 00:27:50,615 adding to our faith, self-control. 552 00:27:51,305 --> 00:27:51,965 We thank you. 553 00:27:52,445 --> 00:27:53,165 We love you. 554 00:27:53,720 --> 00:27:54,500 We need you. 555 00:27:54,500 --> 00:27:58,040 We honor you, we adore you, we admire you, and we praise you.