1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,360 Marcel Hall: We're in a season right now, which we're calling the season of 2 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:07,620 the Lord's Favor, in which we're trying to, we're on a journey and we're trying 3 00:00:07,620 --> 00:00:10,200 to grow and experience collectively. 4 00:00:10,515 --> 00:00:13,995 As a North OC Church family, the Lord's favor. 5 00:00:13,995 --> 00:00:18,525 And so we studied out, uh, the Jubilee principles that God established 6 00:00:18,525 --> 00:00:22,485 for his kingdom back under the Old Covenant, and see how Jesus is 7 00:00:22,485 --> 00:00:26,565 the fulfillment of the jubilee and how he proclaims the Lord's favor. 8 00:00:26,565 --> 00:00:29,715 And so we even have some things that we're doing in September. 9 00:00:30,135 --> 00:00:32,985 Still in the middle of our prayer and fasting chain and those who have, 10 00:00:33,225 --> 00:00:35,625 uh, participated or will participate. 11 00:00:35,625 --> 00:00:36,585 Thank you so much. 12 00:00:36,794 --> 00:00:40,574 Uh, I saw a couple of people signed up twice, uh, this month to go ahead 13 00:00:40,574 --> 00:00:44,175 and pray and fast, and if you haven't already signed up, you still can. 14 00:00:44,355 --> 00:00:46,154 And that's the QR code to sign up there. 15 00:00:46,154 --> 00:00:50,565 Next month we'll have a time to release to reconciliation night, and 16 00:00:50,565 --> 00:00:54,464 then a gratitude wall and service project, which we're excited about. 17 00:00:54,615 --> 00:00:56,565 And so we have a theme scripture. 18 00:00:57,300 --> 00:01:01,470 For our sermon series, and this is it right here, Luke four, verse 18. 19 00:01:01,470 --> 00:01:04,769 It says, the spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me 20 00:01:04,769 --> 00:01:07,050 to proclaim good news to the poor. 21 00:01:07,170 --> 00:01:10,110 He sent me, he has sent me to proclaim freedom for the 22 00:01:10,110 --> 00:01:11,855 prisoners and recovery of sight. 23 00:01:12,405 --> 00:01:17,025 For the blind to set the oppressed free to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. 24 00:01:17,025 --> 00:01:20,625 That's found in Luke chapter four, verses 18 through 19. 25 00:01:20,625 --> 00:01:24,555 And so, uh, we know that the Lord's favor encompasses a lot of things and 26 00:01:24,555 --> 00:01:30,375 some of it, it encompasses what we see here in, uh, um, uh, what we call rest. 27 00:01:30,795 --> 00:01:36,525 Uh, and reset and also having release and restoration. 28 00:01:36,525 --> 00:01:40,275 And so last couple of weeks we've talked about having a reset 29 00:01:40,425 --> 00:01:42,164 in our relationship with God. 30 00:01:42,435 --> 00:01:46,185 And in two weeks ago we talked about having a reset in our relationships, 31 00:01:46,185 --> 00:01:48,255 how we view and how we treat people. 32 00:01:48,255 --> 00:01:52,289 And today we'll be talking about having a holy reset. 33 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:54,720 Let's go ahead and let's go to God in prayer. 34 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:58,890 Father, thank you so much already for the time that we've had of worship. 35 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:03,060 Uh, so inspired, so encouraged, uh, hearing Jane's story, 36 00:02:03,060 --> 00:02:04,410 how you changed her life. 37 00:02:04,410 --> 00:02:08,280 And Father, it makes me think about the ways you have transformed my 38 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:11,520 life, the opportunity we've already had to encourage one another. 39 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:14,160 So cool to see Jack here and connect with him. 40 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:16,380 And memories start to come to my mind. 41 00:02:16,380 --> 00:02:18,900 And, uh, father also being able to worship you. 42 00:02:19,130 --> 00:02:20,600 In song and in prayer. 43 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:26,090 God, we are blessed and we are so grateful for these opportunities that we have. 44 00:02:26,090 --> 00:02:30,650 We pray right now that as we want to experience more and more collectively 45 00:02:30,650 --> 00:02:35,450 and individually, your favor guide our time in the scriptures here today. 46 00:02:35,450 --> 00:02:39,410 Help us to have the reset that you want us to experience in Jesus name. 47 00:02:39,650 --> 00:02:40,700 Amen. 48 00:02:41,270 --> 00:02:42,110 All right. 49 00:02:42,110 --> 00:02:46,610 Did you guys know that on Wednesday, uh, it was Constitution Day. 50 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:46,770 Yes. 51 00:02:48,900 --> 00:02:49,800 One person knew. 52 00:02:51,150 --> 00:02:55,020 I didn't know either, but yeah, it was, we, it was Constitution 53 00:02:55,020 --> 00:02:56,910 Day on Wednesday, September 17th. 54 00:02:56,910 --> 00:03:00,120 There's always constitution, I guess it was established many years ago, but it's, 55 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:03,900 it's becoming bigger and, uh, this year is really big because it's kicking off 56 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:08,880 really this, uh, uh, lead up until July 4th of next year, which will be, what 57 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:14,550 do you guys know what it will be 250 years that America will be a country. 58 00:03:15,300 --> 00:03:17,970 So, 17 76 20 20 26 there. 59 00:03:17,970 --> 00:03:18,270 Right. 60 00:03:18,270 --> 00:03:20,190 And so, uh, so here we are coming up. 61 00:03:20,190 --> 00:03:21,990 So there's a lot of things that are building up. 62 00:03:21,990 --> 00:03:26,579 And so Constitution Day was bigger this year than maybe it was in the years past. 63 00:03:26,579 --> 00:03:31,470 And there's a big emphasis on, on the Declaration of Independence and, 64 00:03:31,470 --> 00:03:33,570 uh, you know, in the Declaration of Independence, we're all 65 00:03:33,570 --> 00:03:35,670 familiar, uh, with it, aren't we? 66 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:37,440 Yes. 67 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:37,530 What. 68 00:03:38,055 --> 00:03:38,985 What another, what? 69 00:03:39,945 --> 00:03:40,845 No, we're familiar with it. 70 00:03:40,845 --> 00:03:43,665 We might not know all of it, but we do know a couple of things that 71 00:03:43,785 --> 00:03:45,105 was written in Thomas Jefferson. 72 00:03:45,105 --> 00:03:48,765 We know that there's a, a promise for every American to have life, 73 00:03:48,765 --> 00:03:52,365 liberty, and what the pursuit of the pursuit, it's on the screen. 74 00:03:52,365 --> 00:03:53,055 So there you go. 75 00:03:53,835 --> 00:03:54,975 But we know that, right? 76 00:03:54,975 --> 00:03:59,775 We have, right, we have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 77 00:03:59,775 --> 00:04:04,695 Now this phrase, it still shapes how many people in America view success. 78 00:04:04,710 --> 00:04:04,800 Yes. 79 00:04:06,420 --> 00:04:07,200 Now, let me ask you this. 80 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:11,310 What comes to mind when you think about the pursuit of happiness? 81 00:04:12,660 --> 00:04:15,240 What comes to mind when you think about the pursuit of happiness? 82 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:16,260 Let, let's get one or two people. 83 00:04:16,260 --> 00:04:16,620 Yes. 84 00:04:16,740 --> 00:04:18,720 Oh, and Danny Barron is back from San Francisco. 85 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:20,490 Come on, this is Reunion Sunday. 86 00:04:20,490 --> 00:04:20,910 Let's go. 87 00:04:20,910 --> 00:04:21,300 All right. 88 00:04:21,300 --> 00:04:21,720 There you go. 89 00:04:22,890 --> 00:04:23,730 Well, why are you back? 90 00:04:23,730 --> 00:04:24,540 Is everything okay? 91 00:04:24,540 --> 00:04:25,380 That's what we need to ask. 92 00:04:25,380 --> 00:04:26,430 You just went two weeks ago. 93 00:04:26,430 --> 00:04:28,140 All right, so, uh, but go ahead, Danny. 94 00:04:28,140 --> 00:04:29,880 What, what, what, what, what comes to mind when you think 95 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:31,140 of the pursuit of happiness? 96 00:04:33,539 --> 00:04:34,890 Will Smith he thinks of. 97 00:04:35,190 --> 00:04:37,140 I appreciate that he said Will Smith. 98 00:04:37,140 --> 00:04:39,180 There was a movie, the Pursuit of Happiness. 99 00:04:39,180 --> 00:04:41,340 I think they use a Y instead of a i in happiness. 100 00:04:41,340 --> 00:04:41,520 Right. 101 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:41,820 Okay. 102 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:42,330 Alright. 103 00:04:42,330 --> 00:04:43,409 So he thinks of Will Smith. 104 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:43,740 Okay. 105 00:04:43,770 --> 00:04:44,070 Others. 106 00:04:44,070 --> 00:04:47,460 What do you think of what comes to mind when you're in pursuit of happiness? 107 00:04:47,460 --> 00:04:47,880 I can't see. 108 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:48,630 Who is that right there. 109 00:04:48,854 --> 00:04:49,455 Anything's possible. 110 00:04:50,135 --> 00:04:50,935 Anything's possible. 111 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:51,570 Okay. 112 00:04:51,570 --> 00:04:53,490 If I want this, I can go after it. 113 00:04:53,490 --> 00:04:53,880 Okay. 114 00:04:54,060 --> 00:04:54,510 Others? 115 00:04:54,510 --> 00:04:57,360 When I'm pursuing happiness, what comes to mind? 116 00:04:57,360 --> 00:04:57,810 Yes. 117 00:04:58,005 --> 00:04:58,695 Contentment. 118 00:04:59,010 --> 00:04:59,940 Contentment. 119 00:04:59,969 --> 00:05:00,539 Okay. 120 00:05:00,539 --> 00:05:00,549 Yes. 121 00:05:02,565 --> 00:05:03,825 New things in life. 122 00:05:03,825 --> 00:05:04,275 Okay? 123 00:05:04,275 --> 00:05:04,965 Yes. 124 00:05:05,775 --> 00:05:07,080 You have to go after it. 125 00:05:07,575 --> 00:05:11,205 Okay, so I get to go after whatever makes me happy, right? 126 00:05:11,205 --> 00:05:14,085 When you think about, there's all these things, but these things 127 00:05:14,085 --> 00:05:17,175 that come to mind a lot of times are the pursuit of happiness. 128 00:05:17,175 --> 00:05:17,925 What makes me happy? 129 00:05:17,925 --> 00:05:23,860 Money, success, possessions, uh, comforts. 130 00:05:24,780 --> 00:05:25,890 Security. 131 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:26,430 Right? 132 00:05:26,695 --> 00:05:29,100 And, and this is what kind of comes to mind for most people. 133 00:05:29,100 --> 00:05:33,690 When we think the pursuit of happiness, I get to pursue those things. 134 00:05:33,690 --> 00:05:36,450 I have the right to pursue those things. 135 00:05:36,450 --> 00:05:40,980 And as Americans, we enjoy these privileges, these freedoms, these rights. 136 00:05:41,159 --> 00:05:45,630 Uh, and there's so much that's good in of themselves and we appreciate it. 137 00:05:45,780 --> 00:05:51,510 But here's the thing with Jesus is that Jesus hits a reset on 138 00:05:51,510 --> 00:05:53,520 our perspective and our pursuits. 139 00:05:55,335 --> 00:06:01,215 Jesus hits a reset and says that we are not called to pursue happiness, 140 00:06:01,485 --> 00:06:05,205 but we are called to pursue holiness. 141 00:06:06,645 --> 00:06:12,405 Jesus says, yes, all those things might be good in the right context, but he 142 00:06:12,405 --> 00:06:21,795 calls us and he redirects us to now pursue holiness over pursuing happiness. 143 00:06:23,790 --> 00:06:26,160 It's a holy reset. 144 00:06:27,330 --> 00:06:32,220 And so now let's ask the question, okay, well what is holiness? 145 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:36,180 Because if we are called to pursue it, it'd be important for us to make sure that 146 00:06:36,180 --> 00:06:39,300 we're on the same page with God intends. 147 00:06:39,450 --> 00:06:46,050 Now the word holy appears over 900 times in the Bible, so that's a big concept. 148 00:06:46,050 --> 00:06:49,710 Would you agree if something is mentioned over 900 times, 149 00:06:49,710 --> 00:06:51,540 God is trying to communicate. 150 00:06:51,795 --> 00:06:52,575 Something. 151 00:06:53,565 --> 00:06:58,755 And in this we understand that it's also an old and under the new covenant 152 00:06:58,755 --> 00:07:02,535 in the Old Testament, new Testament before Jesus', life on earth and 153 00:07:02,535 --> 00:07:04,485 Jesus' life on earth and afterwards. 154 00:07:04,665 --> 00:07:06,885 But you can define holiness as this. 155 00:07:07,095 --> 00:07:12,735 It means to be set apart, in particular, set apart for a particular reason, in 156 00:07:12,735 --> 00:07:19,125 this case, set apart for God and God's purposes to be sacred, to be righteous. 157 00:07:19,590 --> 00:07:22,020 To be divine and of God. 158 00:07:23,220 --> 00:07:26,700 And so being holy means I'm separate. 159 00:07:27,060 --> 00:07:28,170 I'm set apart. 160 00:07:29,550 --> 00:07:31,860 To be holy means it's sacred. 161 00:07:32,070 --> 00:07:36,630 Like, like we saying earlier, the the holy water, like our baptism was holy water. 162 00:07:36,630 --> 00:07:40,260 Not because the water was put particularly special in itself, 163 00:07:40,409 --> 00:07:43,830 but because what God was doing in the water made that water holy. 164 00:07:43,830 --> 00:07:44,445 You get what I'm saying? 165 00:07:45,645 --> 00:07:47,445 And so we have the Holy Bible. 166 00:07:47,445 --> 00:07:50,325 Many Bibles say that, I know we don't, we don't a lot of times buy 167 00:07:50,325 --> 00:07:51,794 physical Bibles, but you can see that. 168 00:07:51,914 --> 00:07:52,185 Why? 169 00:07:52,185 --> 00:07:53,265 Because it's holy. 170 00:07:53,265 --> 00:07:53,864 It's sacred. 171 00:07:53,864 --> 00:07:58,724 It's divine, it's of God, it's righteous in his message to us. 172 00:07:58,755 --> 00:08:01,784 And the thing I always like to do is, uh, you know, it's kind 173 00:08:01,784 --> 00:08:03,734 of like, uh, green Skittles. 174 00:08:04,245 --> 00:08:04,875 Alright. 175 00:08:04,950 --> 00:08:07,140 I always like to give this analogy here. 176 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:09,930 So if you had a whole bunch of Skittles together and you separated 177 00:08:09,930 --> 00:08:11,039 all the green ones, right? 178 00:08:11,039 --> 00:08:12,810 Green, Marcel, 'cause green's my favorite color. 179 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:15,810 Alright, so if we separated all the green Skittles and we put 180 00:08:15,810 --> 00:08:18,000 them to the side, they are holy. 181 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:21,900 Now because they're set apart, they're, they're for a different reason. 182 00:08:21,900 --> 00:08:24,180 They're, in my opinion, they're divine vine. 183 00:08:26,250 --> 00:08:30,360 But God calls his people to be holy, like these green Skittles. 184 00:08:31,605 --> 00:08:37,635 And so holiness means to be divine, to be sacred, and be righteous to be of God. 185 00:08:37,905 --> 00:08:43,065 And so again, here, God calls us to pursue holiness. 186 00:08:44,475 --> 00:08:45,225 Well, why? 187 00:08:45,885 --> 00:08:51,135 Why does God want us to pursue holiness over pursuing happiness? 188 00:08:52,845 --> 00:08:57,915 Well, let's, let's go to, uh, let's go to Matthew chapter six here, and I will 189 00:08:57,915 --> 00:08:59,834 say this, uh, a couple quick things. 190 00:09:00,045 --> 00:09:02,745 Um, man, I was feeling it yesterday. 191 00:09:02,745 --> 00:09:03,704 All right, so here you go. 192 00:09:03,704 --> 00:09:05,655 So if you use the YouVersion Bible Lab. 193 00:09:05,939 --> 00:09:09,030 They should have a little note that popped up if you, if you subscribe to 194 00:09:09,030 --> 00:09:10,589 like you're part of our church or fan. 195 00:09:10,589 --> 00:09:11,459 I'm not sure how that works. 196 00:09:11,459 --> 00:09:13,469 Again, what's the correct terminology? 197 00:09:13,680 --> 00:09:17,849 But the sermon notes are in the YouVersion app under North OC Church today. 198 00:09:17,849 --> 00:09:19,050 You know what I'm saying, brother? 199 00:09:19,050 --> 00:09:20,130 Trying to stuff his game up. 200 00:09:20,130 --> 00:09:20,550 All right. 201 00:09:20,550 --> 00:09:21,089 There you go. 202 00:09:21,270 --> 00:09:22,439 Don't expect that every week. 203 00:09:22,469 --> 00:09:22,890 Okay. 204 00:09:22,949 --> 00:09:23,939 But it's in there today. 205 00:09:23,969 --> 00:09:24,360 Okay. 206 00:09:24,675 --> 00:09:27,885 And then also, uh, I think that we're gonna have a part two to this. 207 00:09:27,885 --> 00:09:30,105 I think we either we'll have a video in the week, or we'll do something 208 00:09:30,105 --> 00:09:32,265 because this is a, this is massive. 209 00:09:32,265 --> 00:09:35,325 This is so cool, so encouraging, and there's so much here. 210 00:09:35,475 --> 00:09:38,295 We don't have enough time to really drill it all the way home. 211 00:09:38,295 --> 00:09:41,175 So I think we'll have some form of a version, uh, part two. 212 00:09:41,325 --> 00:09:45,060 Now we're gonna take it over to the, to what is called the Sermon on the Mount. 213 00:09:45,500 --> 00:09:50,450 This was Jesus', go-to sermon wherever Jesus preached and wherever he went. 214 00:09:50,810 --> 00:09:54,770 The way we see from the scripture, this appears to be his go-to sermon, 215 00:09:54,770 --> 00:09:58,880 he would go there and, and, and adjust the sermon depending on the context 216 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:00,440 and where he was, his environment. 217 00:10:00,650 --> 00:10:02,240 But this was his go-to sermon. 218 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:07,400 And in this sermon, Jesus reveals what the kingdom of God is like. 219 00:10:08,445 --> 00:10:09,255 What does it mean? 220 00:10:09,255 --> 00:10:12,945 Because he's the king who's ushering in God's kingdom. 221 00:10:13,335 --> 00:10:16,935 And so he reveals what the kingdom is like and what it's like to 222 00:10:16,935 --> 00:10:20,235 be a citizen in God's kingdom. 223 00:10:20,985 --> 00:10:27,375 And in this sermon, it's actually a reset sermon because he resets 224 00:10:27,615 --> 00:10:29,925 our values through the beatitudes. 225 00:10:30,255 --> 00:10:36,525 What we value is reset, bless R, and then he resets our lifestyle. 226 00:10:36,975 --> 00:10:40,005 That it's more than uh, uh, uh, being a citizen in Kingdom. 227 00:10:40,005 --> 00:10:43,755 God is more than an outward appearance or outward religion. 228 00:10:44,685 --> 00:10:48,825 And then he also resets our focus. 229 00:10:48,885 --> 00:10:49,965 He says, don't worry. 230 00:10:49,965 --> 00:10:54,585 Don't worry about food, drink clothes, don't even worry about tomorrow. 231 00:10:54,705 --> 00:10:58,395 And then he sums it up with the reset verse. 232 00:10:58,785 --> 00:11:03,525 In Matthew chapter six, verse 33, I'm gonna read from the NET version, 233 00:11:03,585 --> 00:11:08,745 and here's what Jesus says, he says, but above all, pursue his kingdom 234 00:11:08,805 --> 00:11:15,045 and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 235 00:11:16,575 --> 00:11:20,625 Jesus redirects our pursuits. 236 00:11:21,615 --> 00:11:24,015 The world tells us to chase happiness. 237 00:11:25,170 --> 00:11:30,000 Money, comfort, security, success, maybe even fame. 238 00:11:30,570 --> 00:11:35,130 But Jesus calls us to pursue God and righteousness. 239 00:11:35,850 --> 00:11:36,600 And what is that? 240 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:40,110 That's a call to pursue holiness. 241 00:11:40,230 --> 00:11:43,230 When I pursue God's kingdom, that's his reign, his rule. 242 00:11:43,980 --> 00:11:45,390 I'm pursuing God. 243 00:11:45,420 --> 00:11:50,220 And not only am I pursuing that, but I'm pursuing his righteousness, 244 00:11:50,460 --> 00:11:53,610 which again is his holiness. 245 00:11:54,945 --> 00:12:02,175 He redirects our pursuits, calls us to have a reset in not only what 246 00:12:02,175 --> 00:12:08,295 we value and what we prioritize, but what we pursue in our lives. 247 00:12:09,165 --> 00:12:11,415 And so why reset? 248 00:12:11,745 --> 00:12:16,665 Why reset our pursuit from happiness to holiness? 249 00:12:16,905 --> 00:12:19,035 Well, number one is because God is holy. 250 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:22,560 God is holy. 251 00:12:22,890 --> 00:12:25,650 You know, several times in the Bible there's times where we 252 00:12:25,650 --> 00:12:29,685 get a glimpse of what it's like at the throne of God in heaven. 253 00:12:30,390 --> 00:12:34,350 And these heavenly beings, these heavenly creatures, say something. 254 00:12:34,350 --> 00:12:36,600 And we wanna look at two verses here real quickly. 255 00:12:36,780 --> 00:12:40,950 In Isaiah six, verse three, it says, and they were calling to one another. 256 00:12:40,950 --> 00:12:44,580 Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty. 257 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:47,670 The whole earth is full of his glory. 258 00:12:48,060 --> 00:12:50,190 And then in the Revelation four verse eight, it. 259 00:12:50,850 --> 00:12:53,520 Each of the four living creatures had six wings. 260 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:57,480 It was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings, day and night. 261 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:03,450 They never stopped saying, holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, 262 00:13:03,450 --> 00:13:07,560 who was and is, and is to come. 263 00:13:08,190 --> 00:13:11,550 It's interesting, these holy beings, these beings that stand before or 264 00:13:11,550 --> 00:13:16,290 worship before the throne of the living God, what they do is they go around 265 00:13:16,290 --> 00:13:19,545 and they say, holy, holy, holy is God. 266 00:13:21,175 --> 00:13:21,465 Yeah. 267 00:13:21,470 --> 00:13:24,210 Not just holy, but we gotta say it three times. 268 00:13:24,210 --> 00:13:27,569 God is not just holy, he's holy, he's holy, and he's holy. 269 00:13:28,439 --> 00:13:30,630 And he keeps saying it's, you. 270 00:13:30,630 --> 00:13:34,020 See, holiness is who God is. 271 00:13:34,140 --> 00:13:35,520 It's his character. 272 00:13:36,630 --> 00:13:43,710 It's his choices, it's his relationships, his thoughts, his desires. 273 00:13:43,770 --> 00:13:46,680 Holiness is who God. 274 00:13:47,100 --> 00:13:50,370 Is God doesn't have to choose to be holy. 275 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:52,590 God is holy. 276 00:13:54,210 --> 00:13:59,670 And then not only is he holy, but here's what's crazy, what's radical. 277 00:13:59,670 --> 00:14:03,930 What's so cool for those of us who are children of the living God, meaning we 278 00:14:03,930 --> 00:14:08,490 made a decision to follow Jesus as his disciples, is that God makes us holy. 279 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:11,490 So not only is he holy. 280 00:14:12,225 --> 00:14:15,285 But then he goes, man, if you follow me, you make that decision. 281 00:14:15,285 --> 00:14:16,395 You are opinion, you get baptized. 282 00:14:16,574 --> 00:14:20,355 I make you holy through Jesus and through the Holy Spirits. 283 00:14:21,135 --> 00:14:22,605 And let's look at a couple scriptures. 284 00:14:22,755 --> 00:14:26,954 But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified. 285 00:14:27,135 --> 00:14:28,335 These are fancy names. 286 00:14:28,335 --> 00:14:32,324 Meaning that, that, that you are holy and that you are no longer guilty of sin. 287 00:14:32,865 --> 00:14:37,995 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the spirit of our God, one 288 00:14:37,995 --> 00:14:44,415 Corinthians 6 11, 2 Corinthians chapter three, verse 1318, and we all who with 289 00:14:44,415 --> 00:14:49,875 unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory are being transformed into his 290 00:14:49,875 --> 00:14:57,465 image with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the spirits. 291 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:02,160 What happens through Christ and the Spirit, we are made 292 00:15:02,160 --> 00:15:05,849 holy in our status before God. 293 00:15:08,579 --> 00:15:09,719 We are washed. 294 00:15:10,410 --> 00:15:12,839 We are sanctified, we are justified. 295 00:15:13,290 --> 00:15:17,579 Our relationship and status before God has been transformed. 296 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:17,969 Why? 297 00:15:17,969 --> 00:15:23,160 Because we are now forgiven and we are now his beloved child. 298 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:26,490 We went from creation to child of God. 299 00:15:27,030 --> 00:15:29,130 And so now we are made holiness. 300 00:15:29,130 --> 00:15:31,920 We have a new identity, and this is so cool. 301 00:15:32,099 --> 00:15:37,110 When we receive the Holy Spirit on the day of our baptism, we now share in 302 00:15:37,110 --> 00:15:40,740 Christ's holiness so Christ is holy. 303 00:15:42,150 --> 00:15:45,870 And then when he indwells in us with it by through the Holy 304 00:15:45,870 --> 00:15:47,550 Spirit, guess what happens? 305 00:15:47,670 --> 00:15:49,290 We now are holy. 306 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:54,690 We share in this spiritual DNA of Holiness. 307 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:56,430 You go, well, I don't feel too holy. 308 00:15:56,520 --> 00:16:02,280 I know you don't, but because we still have a choice in how we live. 309 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:03,150 You get what I'm saying? 310 00:16:04,140 --> 00:16:05,460 But God now looks at us. 311 00:16:05,460 --> 00:16:07,710 He doesn't see sin Center, center, center. 312 00:16:08,250 --> 00:16:11,790 He sees my son of my daughter who are holy. 313 00:16:12,810 --> 00:16:14,820 You share in my DNA. 314 00:16:16,380 --> 00:16:17,520 How incredible is that? 315 00:16:19,065 --> 00:16:22,185 I like being a part of my family, but boy, oh boy, nobody looks at my family 316 00:16:22,185 --> 00:16:23,835 and says, oh, that hall family is holy. 317 00:16:25,755 --> 00:16:29,535 But I had the living God, Jesus somehow. 318 00:16:29,625 --> 00:16:31,455 Hey man, it's so hard to wrap around somehow. 319 00:16:31,455 --> 00:16:36,495 Jesus is my brother and and, and His holiness is upon me. 320 00:16:38,660 --> 00:16:39,330 Hallelujah. 321 00:16:40,935 --> 00:16:43,035 And this is how God views you. 322 00:16:44,490 --> 00:16:46,890 You don't need to view yourself as, I'm just a safe sinner. 323 00:16:47,070 --> 00:16:48,480 Yes you are. 324 00:16:49,530 --> 00:16:52,230 But God never says, I just loved all my safe sinners. 325 00:16:53,310 --> 00:16:54,690 No, he calls us his children. 326 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:57,780 He says, you share what I am. 327 00:16:58,680 --> 00:16:59,730 I'm holy. 328 00:16:59,970 --> 00:17:00,630 So guess what? 329 00:17:00,630 --> 00:17:02,850 You have holiness within you. 330 00:17:06,810 --> 00:17:11,848 We are transformed into Christ's image and this Holy Spirit now empowers us. 331 00:17:12,660 --> 00:17:13,380 To do what? 332 00:17:13,770 --> 00:17:14,910 Live Holy Lives. 333 00:17:16,618 --> 00:17:18,210 You see, we still have to make a choice. 334 00:17:18,540 --> 00:17:20,098 You see, God is holy. 335 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:22,740 He transforms us into being holy. 336 00:17:22,829 --> 00:17:24,210 Now, what are we called to do? 337 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:25,618 Live holy lives. 338 00:17:26,339 --> 00:17:27,750 You get what I'm saying here. 339 00:17:28,050 --> 00:17:31,440 We still have to work in conjunction with our Holy Father 340 00:17:31,650 --> 00:17:33,990 and live according to who we are. 341 00:17:34,110 --> 00:17:37,230 Not something we are, but live according to who we are. 342 00:17:38,925 --> 00:17:43,245 And so again, why does Jesus redirect us from pursuing 343 00:17:43,245 --> 00:17:45,465 happiness to pursuing holiness? 344 00:17:45,644 --> 00:17:47,384 Because God is holy. 345 00:17:47,534 --> 00:17:51,584 God has made us holy through the, the, the spirit in Jesus, and now 346 00:17:51,584 --> 00:17:55,725 he calls us to pursue holiness. 347 00:17:56,114 --> 00:17:59,834 And so here's the question, brother and sisters, what am I pursuing? 348 00:18:01,215 --> 00:18:05,144 Ask yourself, what am I pursuing? 349 00:18:06,435 --> 00:18:11,745 Am I pursuing the American pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness, 350 00:18:12,225 --> 00:18:17,895 or am I pursuing the kingdom pursuit of God and holiness? 351 00:18:19,574 --> 00:18:24,524 Let's, let's, let's go back and let's compare and let's contrast the pursuit of 352 00:18:24,524 --> 00:18:27,885 happiness versus the pursuit of holiness. 353 00:18:28,335 --> 00:18:34,189 You see, the pursuit of, of happiness leads to, it's really what self-centered. 354 00:18:35,370 --> 00:18:35,610 Why? 355 00:18:35,610 --> 00:18:41,100 Because it's all about me being happy and I'm pursuing, I'm going after 356 00:18:41,190 --> 00:18:44,669 whatever is going to make me happy. 357 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:50,429 So what It's self-centered and what does that lead to? 358 00:18:51,030 --> 00:18:55,260 When I'm self-centered, it could lead to what a whole bunch of stuff can't it. 359 00:18:56,760 --> 00:19:00,659 But we know it leads to, and it definitely can lead to selfish ambition. 360 00:19:00,659 --> 00:19:03,629 Ambition isn't wrong, but selfish ambition is. 361 00:19:04,995 --> 00:19:07,574 It leads to envy. 362 00:19:08,175 --> 00:19:12,524 It leads to anger, it leads to bitterness. 363 00:19:12,855 --> 00:19:14,475 It can lead to hatred. 364 00:19:14,955 --> 00:19:21,165 I can hate people who are disrupting my pursuit of happiness. 365 00:19:22,034 --> 00:19:26,264 I can even point my hatred toward God or my bitterness toward God 366 00:19:26,415 --> 00:19:32,564 because God has somehow interrupted or prevented me from having my happiness. 367 00:19:34,139 --> 00:19:37,379 So now I'm mad at God or I'm mad at you. 368 00:19:37,530 --> 00:19:38,490 I'm mad at my mom. 369 00:19:38,490 --> 00:19:39,389 I'm mad at the man. 370 00:19:39,389 --> 00:19:40,889 I'm mad at the, the, the commercial. 371 00:19:40,949 --> 00:19:44,340 I'm mad at everything because you interrupted it. 372 00:19:44,340 --> 00:19:47,909 You stopped me from getting my happiness. 373 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:56,610 And ultimately it can lead to sin 'cause I'll do whatever it takes and discard. 374 00:19:56,610 --> 00:20:02,010 Or disregard so that I can have my happiness. 375 00:20:03,104 --> 00:20:09,104 But now when we contrast that with pursuit of holiness is, first of all, 376 00:20:09,134 --> 00:20:16,725 God-centered because I'm pursuing God, I'm pursuing his righteousness. 377 00:20:16,934 --> 00:20:18,044 And what does that lead to? 378 00:20:18,374 --> 00:20:22,454 Peace, comfort, compassion. 379 00:20:23,204 --> 00:20:28,124 Not only receiving these things, but having these things toward other people. 380 00:20:28,574 --> 00:20:31,034 Forgiveness perspective. 381 00:20:31,860 --> 00:20:35,939 This is the incredible thing is that when we pursue holiness, it gives a 382 00:20:35,939 --> 00:20:40,320 perspective because now I have a different perspective about those around me. 383 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:44,580 Yes, I see them as image bearers, but I see, I can even see challenging 384 00:20:44,580 --> 00:20:49,320 or difficult people or difficult situations, not in, ah, I hate 385 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:50,729 this, but I can see, you know what? 386 00:20:51,209 --> 00:20:56,310 God allows this so that I can actually become more holy through this. 387 00:20:57,899 --> 00:21:00,060 I have this challenging situation. 388 00:21:00,479 --> 00:21:03,810 That, yes, it's not making me happy, but guess what it's calling me to do. 389 00:21:03,929 --> 00:21:05,610 It's calling me to persevere in my faith. 390 00:21:06,389 --> 00:21:07,679 It's causing me to pray. 391 00:21:07,739 --> 00:21:11,729 It's causing me to not react and respond the way I would naturally, 392 00:21:11,879 --> 00:21:16,469 but to take it to God and to fight to have a holy response. 393 00:21:17,399 --> 00:21:21,479 And so now I can see these negative situations or even negative 394 00:21:21,479 --> 00:21:24,324 people as pathways to holiness. 395 00:21:28,439 --> 00:21:31,830 One of the things that CRE and I have a strong belief about is that even 396 00:21:31,830 --> 00:21:37,949 marriage, God designed not just to make us happy, but to make us holy. 397 00:21:39,629 --> 00:21:41,729 My marriage has refined me. 398 00:21:42,885 --> 00:21:43,175 Amen. 399 00:21:43,499 --> 00:21:43,620 Amen. 400 00:21:43,620 --> 00:21:48,360 Because God keeps saying, boy, you gotta change because there's a mirror now. 401 00:21:49,499 --> 00:21:52,050 And I get to see, yeah, there's some good, but boy, oh boy, 402 00:21:52,050 --> 00:21:52,975 there's some ugly up in here. 403 00:21:54,524 --> 00:21:56,204 And he is like, you gotta change this. 404 00:21:56,684 --> 00:22:00,314 And then he blessed me with kids, and then there becomes another opportunity 405 00:22:00,314 --> 00:22:04,544 for me to become holy because I wanna react and act in a different way. 406 00:22:04,544 --> 00:22:08,564 And God's like, don't you dare, or, okay, you messed up now, but you 407 00:22:08,564 --> 00:22:10,574 messed up and I need you to see that. 408 00:22:10,814 --> 00:22:12,584 We need to get this part out of you. 409 00:22:12,584 --> 00:22:16,694 Marcel, I never knew how selfish and prideful I was until I got married. 410 00:22:17,714 --> 00:22:19,964 And then I still, I didn't realize I was still selfish 411 00:22:19,964 --> 00:22:21,074 and prideful until I had kids. 412 00:22:21,914 --> 00:22:23,804 I'm like, how did you get rid of all of this guy's? 413 00:22:23,804 --> 00:22:24,374 Like, Nope. 414 00:22:24,554 --> 00:22:25,934 And he's still working on me. 415 00:22:27,284 --> 00:22:29,804 So what God is doing in these situations, he's making me 416 00:22:29,804 --> 00:22:31,634 holy and I have to pray a lot. 417 00:22:31,784 --> 00:22:33,495 God, you are making me holy through this. 418 00:22:35,774 --> 00:22:37,334 But it leads to resilience. 419 00:22:38,564 --> 00:22:40,965 When I'm pursuing hol, I'm gonna be resilience. 420 00:22:41,834 --> 00:22:47,804 When leads to transformation, it leads to righteousness and 421 00:22:47,804 --> 00:22:50,504 it leads to becoming like Jesus. 422 00:22:51,914 --> 00:22:56,894 So I don't know about you, but I'm so grateful that Jesus redirects 423 00:22:57,284 --> 00:23:01,904 my pursuit because I don't want that column on the left side. 424 00:23:02,594 --> 00:23:05,684 I want what God wants, and I want what's on the right. 425 00:23:05,745 --> 00:23:06,824 I wanna have peace. 426 00:23:06,824 --> 00:23:07,754 I wanna have comfort. 427 00:23:07,844 --> 00:23:10,965 I wanna have compassion, forgiveness, perspective, resilience, 428 00:23:10,965 --> 00:23:14,745 transformation, righteousness, and I wanna be like the Lord Jesus. 429 00:23:15,644 --> 00:23:16,259 Don't you too? 430 00:23:18,795 --> 00:23:26,325 But it only happens when we have a holy reset and we pursue holiness. 431 00:23:27,465 --> 00:23:30,585 See, again, the pursuit of happiness focuses on self, but the pursuit 432 00:23:30,585 --> 00:23:32,325 of holiness focuses on God. 433 00:23:32,925 --> 00:23:37,245 And so the holy reset is this, Jesus redefines what's worth 434 00:23:37,305 --> 00:23:41,595 chasing after Jesus redefines. 435 00:23:41,595 --> 00:23:43,395 What's worth chasing after? 436 00:23:43,395 --> 00:23:44,865 Is it really happiness? 437 00:23:47,114 --> 00:23:50,624 Or what's worth is holiness. 438 00:23:52,634 --> 00:23:55,694 And so what should our response be to this? 439 00:23:56,084 --> 00:23:57,014 I believe it's simple. 440 00:23:57,704 --> 00:24:00,794 Pursue holiness over happiness. 441 00:24:01,364 --> 00:24:04,334 To pursue holiness over happiness. 442 00:24:04,334 --> 00:24:05,984 Let's go to Matthew chapter six. 443 00:24:05,984 --> 00:24:07,274 Again, this has been our main text. 444 00:24:07,364 --> 00:24:10,304 Brothers and sisters, are you still with me here again? 445 00:24:10,304 --> 00:24:12,254 Let's read it again, but above all. 446 00:24:12,540 --> 00:24:15,780 All above all, that means this is a priority. 447 00:24:16,020 --> 00:24:20,430 If I told you, go to the store, buy some milk, some chicken, 448 00:24:20,490 --> 00:24:24,780 some eggs, some cheese, but above all, get my green Skittles. 449 00:24:25,590 --> 00:24:26,879 What are you gonna get? 450 00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:28,560 Those green Skittles. 451 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:32,010 Sorry, Marcel, I forgot everything else, but I got you those green Skittles. 452 00:24:32,550 --> 00:24:32,820 Why? 453 00:24:32,820 --> 00:24:33,960 Because it's important. 454 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:35,280 It's a priority. 455 00:24:35,310 --> 00:24:39,780 He's helping us understand where it should be in the pecking order above all. 456 00:24:39,780 --> 00:24:41,280 But then he tells us this, what? 457 00:24:41,669 --> 00:24:45,600 Pursue his kingdom and righteousness. 458 00:24:46,469 --> 00:24:51,270 You see, holiness is a priority, but it's also also our pursuits. 459 00:24:51,989 --> 00:24:53,879 Many times we can think it's just a priority. 460 00:24:53,879 --> 00:24:56,250 I just gotta prioritize his kingdom and his righteousness. 461 00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:59,639 And a lot of times in our fellowship, we, we, we focus in on the kingdom part. 462 00:24:59,669 --> 00:25:01,110 We don't focus on the righteousness part. 463 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:04,260 No. 464 00:25:04,260 --> 00:25:06,090 We pursue righteousness. 465 00:25:07,199 --> 00:25:09,479 We go after righteousness. 466 00:25:10,709 --> 00:25:13,350 When you pursue something, you do what? 467 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:15,509 Sit back and wait till it comes. 468 00:25:16,590 --> 00:25:16,830 No. 469 00:25:16,830 --> 00:25:18,300 That's not pursuing at all is it? 470 00:25:18,629 --> 00:25:21,689 You pursue, think about when you pursue a relationship. 471 00:25:21,899 --> 00:25:24,389 Maybe it's a friendship or a romantic relationship. 472 00:25:24,479 --> 00:25:25,320 What do you do? 473 00:25:25,439 --> 00:25:27,600 You go after it, right? 474 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:28,590 You, you try to learn. 475 00:25:28,590 --> 00:25:30,029 You go after connecting. 476 00:25:30,209 --> 00:25:31,560 You try to learn about the person. 477 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:35,669 When I was, when I was, uh, pursuing Carina, we were, uh, I was liking Carina. 478 00:25:35,820 --> 00:25:37,179 Uh, I, I, I was pursuing her. 479 00:25:38,009 --> 00:25:40,229 Uh, you know, I was stopping by at random times. 480 00:25:40,229 --> 00:25:40,469 Oh. 481 00:25:40,469 --> 00:25:41,729 Just happened to be an area, 482 00:25:44,159 --> 00:25:45,629 you know, there's a text, there's a call, whatever. 483 00:25:45,629 --> 00:25:46,739 Actually, we didn't do text back then. 484 00:25:46,769 --> 00:25:47,459 That's how old I am. 485 00:25:47,459 --> 00:25:48,059 I'm 44. 486 00:25:48,059 --> 00:25:48,329 Okay. 487 00:25:48,329 --> 00:25:48,809 There you go. 488 00:25:48,959 --> 00:25:50,909 And then when texting happened, you couldn't afford text. 489 00:25:50,909 --> 00:25:52,169 It was like, don't you dare text me. 490 00:25:53,069 --> 00:25:54,089 Why did you text me? 491 00:25:54,089 --> 00:25:55,259 Man, I'm gonna get charged for that. 492 00:25:55,259 --> 00:25:55,889 You know what I'm saying? 493 00:25:56,339 --> 00:25:56,789 Sorry. 494 00:25:56,819 --> 00:25:58,469 All my old people, y'all know what I'm talking about. 495 00:25:58,469 --> 00:25:58,709 All right. 496 00:25:58,949 --> 00:25:59,969 We were like, hallelujah. 497 00:25:59,969 --> 00:26:00,629 Free texting. 498 00:26:00,629 --> 00:26:00,809 Alright. 499 00:26:00,809 --> 00:26:01,110 Sorry. 500 00:26:01,319 --> 00:26:02,069 You're getting sidetracked. 501 00:26:02,249 --> 00:26:05,279 So when I was pursuing Karina, I went after it. 502 00:26:06,090 --> 00:26:09,510 I even made her a little, a little, this is, this is, again, I'm aging myself here. 503 00:26:09,629 --> 00:26:11,310 I made her a little cd. 504 00:26:11,879 --> 00:26:12,570 Oh yeah. 505 00:26:12,570 --> 00:26:13,290 Remember that? 506 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:18,149 We didn't have Spotify playlists back then, so I went over there and had some 507 00:26:18,149 --> 00:26:22,110 songs she liked and put in a couple of my songs and girl, here you go. 508 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:24,450 Oh, smooth Operator. 509 00:26:24,450 --> 00:26:25,260 You know what I'm saying? 510 00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:27,689 I was pursuing her. 511 00:26:27,810 --> 00:26:28,590 There you go. 512 00:26:28,934 --> 00:26:29,864 I was pursuing. 513 00:26:29,864 --> 00:26:31,274 I'll give her a little thing there. 514 00:26:31,274 --> 00:26:33,104 She was fired up, obviously, 20 plus years. 515 00:26:33,104 --> 00:26:33,614 It worked. 516 00:26:33,614 --> 00:26:34,245 Hallelujah. 517 00:26:34,245 --> 00:26:34,934 Right? 518 00:26:34,995 --> 00:26:36,944 But I was pursuing her. 519 00:26:37,394 --> 00:26:41,444 When I was pursuing a career in, in sports, in sports entertainment. 520 00:26:41,474 --> 00:26:42,464 I went to school. 521 00:26:42,464 --> 00:26:43,304 I went to college. 522 00:26:43,304 --> 00:26:44,054 I tried to learn. 523 00:26:44,054 --> 00:26:45,284 I studied, I was blessed. 524 00:26:45,284 --> 00:26:46,514 I got an internship. 525 00:26:46,574 --> 00:26:47,564 I was practicing. 526 00:26:47,564 --> 00:26:50,834 I was volunteering for certain things so that I can get my craft. 527 00:26:50,834 --> 00:26:55,034 I was speaking, I was trying to do things to enhance my skillset so that 528 00:26:55,034 --> 00:26:57,254 I can achieve what I was pursuing. 529 00:26:58,470 --> 00:27:01,260 And you do the same where you're going after a job, where you're 530 00:27:01,260 --> 00:27:05,520 going after a certain achievement, you intentionally do things. 531 00:27:06,240 --> 00:27:09,300 So when we pursue holiness, what should we do? 532 00:27:10,139 --> 00:27:11,850 The same thing. 533 00:27:12,540 --> 00:27:16,080 We pursue holiness, we go after it. 534 00:27:16,230 --> 00:27:17,520 We're intentional. 535 00:27:17,820 --> 00:27:21,600 We make decisions that will align with what's being holy. 536 00:27:23,504 --> 00:27:25,304 We study it out, we learn. 537 00:27:25,365 --> 00:27:27,915 We ask God, God, help me to be holy. 538 00:27:27,915 --> 00:27:29,024 Help me to see this. 539 00:27:29,205 --> 00:27:33,075 And then when holy or a lack of holiness is exposed, we don't just 540 00:27:33,075 --> 00:27:34,995 say, well, that just is what it is. 541 00:27:35,115 --> 00:27:38,595 No, we make a decision to get rid of what's unholy in our lives. 542 00:27:39,225 --> 00:27:43,965 We also make a decision to get over hurdles that prevent us from being holy. 543 00:27:45,104 --> 00:27:49,634 So we make decisions about relationships, about media consumption, 544 00:27:49,784 --> 00:27:51,465 about where I spend my time. 545 00:27:51,554 --> 00:27:54,524 Should I really be doom scrolling at this time or not? 546 00:27:54,975 --> 00:28:02,894 We make decisions because we're pursuing God, his kingdom, and his holiness. 547 00:28:03,884 --> 00:28:05,384 So we get very practical. 548 00:28:05,445 --> 00:28:07,064 Church, are you with me here? 549 00:28:07,574 --> 00:28:08,864 We get advice. 550 00:28:08,924 --> 00:28:10,935 We ask, we go to the scriptures. 551 00:28:13,485 --> 00:28:14,985 We don't just sit back and wait. 552 00:28:16,004 --> 00:28:21,584 We choose righteousness over convenience, and we fight because we know it's 553 00:28:21,584 --> 00:28:23,715 a spiritual battle and it's tough. 554 00:28:24,584 --> 00:28:31,664 And then we get back up when we fail because we often do fail, but we get 555 00:28:31,664 --> 00:28:38,024 back up and we fight and we persevere because we're pursuing holiness. 556 00:28:39,794 --> 00:28:43,965 Again, here's the cool thing is that when we pursue holiness, 557 00:28:44,144 --> 00:28:47,175 we actually receive joy. 558 00:28:49,814 --> 00:28:51,854 We can think that there are opposite ends. 559 00:28:51,915 --> 00:28:53,745 There's happiness and there's joy. 560 00:28:53,804 --> 00:28:56,594 Ah, I guess I just better be disgruntled, sad and bitter 561 00:28:56,594 --> 00:28:58,124 and, and have this holiness. 562 00:28:58,425 --> 00:28:58,634 No. 563 00:28:58,725 --> 00:29:05,955 When we pursue holiness, what God provides is joy in the presence, but eternal joy. 564 00:29:07,695 --> 00:29:12,675 That supersedes and is even greater than fleeting temporary happiness. 565 00:29:13,455 --> 00:29:16,305 It's a joy in the midst of a challenge. 566 00:29:16,305 --> 00:29:18,705 It's a joy in the midst of a struggle. 567 00:29:18,705 --> 00:29:24,915 It's a joy in the midst of a bad phone call from a relative or discouraging, 568 00:29:25,274 --> 00:29:29,685 uh, comment or call from the doctor, or when something sad or bad happens, 569 00:29:29,685 --> 00:29:33,705 or we have a struggle, there can be a joy in the midst of all of that. 570 00:29:35,189 --> 00:29:39,449 Because we have the holiness of God, and God provides even more 571 00:29:39,449 --> 00:29:42,659 than we can ever ask or imagine. 572 00:29:44,279 --> 00:29:50,519 And so holiness is the pursuit that resets our lives. 573 00:29:51,479 --> 00:29:52,469 Let's get real practical. 574 00:29:52,469 --> 00:29:53,789 Church, are you still with me here? 575 00:29:54,419 --> 00:29:56,249 All right, some of y'all still tripping off the cd. 576 00:29:56,249 --> 00:29:56,879 Alright, here we go. 577 00:29:57,764 --> 00:29:58,875 Let's get real practical here. 578 00:29:58,875 --> 00:30:00,465 Let's have some action steps for the week. 579 00:30:00,465 --> 00:30:01,304 This is just for the week. 580 00:30:01,304 --> 00:30:04,215 Again, you can try to do this afterwards, encourage you, but let's 581 00:30:04,215 --> 00:30:05,715 do this for the next seven days here. 582 00:30:05,715 --> 00:30:07,574 All right, number one, real simple. 583 00:30:07,784 --> 00:30:10,034 Pray each day this week for the next seven days. 584 00:30:10,034 --> 00:30:10,995 You include this day here. 585 00:30:10,995 --> 00:30:11,834 Let's make it eight here. 586 00:30:11,865 --> 00:30:15,915 Okay, for the next eight days here, pray something along the lines Here, God 587 00:30:15,915 --> 00:30:18,824 reset my, my, my pursuit to holiness. 588 00:30:19,485 --> 00:30:22,034 God, help me to pursue holiness. 589 00:30:22,425 --> 00:30:23,879 Help me to value holiness. 590 00:30:25,020 --> 00:30:27,689 Help me to pursue, not just can you give it to me? 591 00:30:27,689 --> 00:30:31,110 Help me to pursue holiness. 592 00:30:31,110 --> 00:30:34,679 You guys get what I'm saying here because we need divine helping this 593 00:30:34,889 --> 00:30:37,379 because it is a spiritual challenge. 594 00:30:37,379 --> 00:30:42,120 And then number two here, choose one area in your life to pursue holiness this week. 595 00:30:42,689 --> 00:30:43,770 Just one area in your life. 596 00:30:43,770 --> 00:30:44,909 Let's crawl, walk, run. 597 00:30:45,209 --> 00:30:46,139 Hey, there's that area. 598 00:30:46,139 --> 00:30:47,639 I know God's been gnawing at me. 599 00:30:47,669 --> 00:30:51,239 He's been saying, choose one area in which you were intentionally. 600 00:30:51,749 --> 00:30:54,809 Pursue holiness this week. 601 00:30:55,259 --> 00:30:58,199 Right now we're gonna take communion and we have the emblems, 602 00:30:58,199 --> 00:31:01,859 the juice, and the bread, which represent Jesus' body and his blood. 603 00:31:01,859 --> 00:31:06,120 That was sacrificed for our opportunity as salvation and communion. 604 00:31:06,120 --> 00:31:09,749 Today is such a great opportunity as a time for us to remember that 605 00:31:09,749 --> 00:31:13,139 we are made holy through Jesus. 606 00:31:13,499 --> 00:31:20,909 This eternal gift of a reset of holiness is only available through Jesus' life. 607 00:31:21,360 --> 00:31:23,519 Death and resurrection. 608 00:31:24,060 --> 00:31:28,769 And we read here in Hebrews chapter 10, verse 10, we have been made holy through 609 00:31:28,769 --> 00:31:32,249 the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ. 610 00:31:32,429 --> 00:31:35,129 Once for all. 611 00:31:35,370 --> 00:31:35,939 Let's pray. 612 00:31:35,939 --> 00:31:38,340 Father, thank you so much for Jesus. 613 00:31:38,340 --> 00:31:40,889 Thank you so much for, uh, your spirit. 614 00:31:40,889 --> 00:31:45,449 Thank you for your word that refined us, that sanctify us, that, 615 00:31:45,449 --> 00:31:50,729 uh, continually, uh, uh, wash us thoroughly and allow us to be holy. 616 00:31:51,225 --> 00:31:52,874 God, I'm so humbled and I'm so grateful. 617 00:31:52,874 --> 00:31:57,014 The fact that, uh, we share your holiness, not because we are are 618 00:31:57,014 --> 00:32:00,884 righteous in and of ourselves and that we're perfect by our decisions, but 619 00:32:00,884 --> 00:32:05,114 because Jesus is holy and your Holy Spirit dwells within us, and God, we 620 00:32:05,114 --> 00:32:06,495 don't wanna grieve the Holy Spirit. 621 00:32:06,495 --> 00:32:08,864 We wanna be in step with the Holy Spirit. 622 00:32:08,864 --> 00:32:11,864 And so we pray that you enable, you, empower you, strengthen 623 00:32:11,864 --> 00:32:15,374 us to have a holy reset today. 624 00:32:15,675 --> 00:32:20,304 May it not just be a sermon that was preached, but God, may you transform us. 625 00:32:20,850 --> 00:32:24,000 Today to have a reset in our relationship with you. 626 00:32:24,389 --> 00:32:26,820 Have a reset in our relationship with others. 627 00:32:26,820 --> 00:32:31,590 We'll view and treat others the way you want to and then we pursue you. 628 00:32:32,129 --> 00:32:35,940 Your kingdom, your righteousness, which is holiness. 629 00:32:35,940 --> 00:32:38,520 Thank you Jesus for staying upon the cross. 630 00:32:38,520 --> 00:32:42,300 Thank you for resurrecting and thank you Holy Spirit for dwelling with Dennis 631 00:32:42,300 --> 00:32:44,790 and empowering us to live holy lives. 632 00:32:44,970 --> 00:32:46,560 We pray this in your son's name. 633 00:32:47,639 --> 00:32:47,790 Amen.