1 00:00:00,050 --> 00:00:00,560 Marcel: Amen. 2 00:00:04,030 --> 00:00:04,460 Amen. 3 00:00:04,460 --> 00:00:04,580 Good morning, brothers and sisters. 4 00:00:04,580 --> 00:00:04,600 Good morning. 5 00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:04,620 Amen. 6 00:00:04,620 --> 00:00:06,230 God's gonna trouble the water. 7 00:00:06,650 --> 00:00:10,450 All right, my name is Marcel Hall, and, uh, with my wife Karina. 8 00:00:10,790 --> 00:00:13,460 Uh, we've been married now almost 21 years. 9 00:00:13,460 --> 00:00:16,420 We're able and blessed to be able to serve in a full-time 10 00:00:16,430 --> 00:00:18,489 ministry, and grateful to speak. 11 00:00:18,770 --> 00:00:21,799 Uh, I was told, "Marcel, do not go long today." 12 00:00:23,149 --> 00:00:25,569 'Cause there is the World Cup, and people have some watch 13 00:00:25,569 --> 00:00:26,960 parties and stuff like that. 14 00:00:27,709 --> 00:00:27,799 Yeah. 15 00:00:27,819 --> 00:00:29,530 So I said, "Well, amen. 16 00:00:29,530 --> 00:00:30,729 I appreciate that." 17 00:00:30,729 --> 00:00:32,628 I see we already have some people rocking… 18 00:00:32,630 --> 00:00:36,069 I saw Rocky rocking the Argentina jersey right there. 19 00:00:36,270 --> 00:00:38,720 Any, uh, Argentinian fans today? 20 00:00:38,860 --> 00:00:41,000 Are there any fans going for Argentina? 21 00:00:42,664 --> 00:00:43,114 Okay. 22 00:00:43,184 --> 00:00:45,424 And so I take it the rest of you are going for Spain? 23 00:00:47,194 --> 00:00:48,094 There you go. 24 00:00:48,234 --> 00:00:48,874 All right. 25 00:00:48,924 --> 00:00:49,534 All right. 26 00:00:49,984 --> 00:00:50,674 Sounds good. 27 00:00:50,674 --> 00:00:53,184 I know, I know Kathy Moretzky, I know who she's going for. 28 00:00:53,624 --> 00:00:56,114 Uh, you have to ask her, 'cause she has conviction about it. 29 00:00:56,683 --> 00:01:00,564 And, uh, so we're going to go ahead and continue with a sermon 30 00:01:00,573 --> 00:01:04,583 series that we started several weeks ago called Life on the Vine. 31 00:01:04,593 --> 00:01:08,753 And so, uh, Jesus talked about the importance of staying connected 32 00:01:08,794 --> 00:01:12,754 to the vine, and the Apostle Paul tells the church that, you know, 33 00:01:12,754 --> 00:01:14,403 there's the fruit of the Spirit. 34 00:01:14,433 --> 00:01:18,543 There's this, uh, uh, uh, uh, if we stay close to God, then God will 35 00:01:18,543 --> 00:01:20,073 produce some things in our lives. 36 00:01:20,074 --> 00:01:24,053 And so we're studying these things out, and it's called The Fruit of the Spirit. 37 00:01:24,054 --> 00:01:27,652 And as was mentioned, and as you have seen the theme for today, we 38 00:01:27,652 --> 00:01:32,813 will be talking and looking into the idea and topic of faithfulness. 39 00:01:32,854 --> 00:01:35,303 Let's go ahead and let's go to God in prayer. 40 00:01:35,304 --> 00:01:40,283 Father, thank you so much for this opportunity to get into your Word. 41 00:01:40,283 --> 00:01:43,203 I know I've been excited about the things you have been teaching me, 42 00:01:43,223 --> 00:01:48,203 reminding me, inspiring me with as we look at this idea of faithfulness. 43 00:01:48,713 --> 00:01:52,843 And God, I pray that you will speak today, that you will minister to every 44 00:01:52,844 --> 00:01:59,174 soul, that every soul will walk out with the message that you have for them. 45 00:01:59,433 --> 00:02:01,243 We pray this in the name of Jesus. 46 00:02:01,353 --> 00:02:01,573 Amen. 47 00:02:02,043 --> 00:02:02,573 Amen. 48 00:02:03,473 --> 00:02:08,374 Let's go to our theme passage here, Galatians 5:22. 49 00:02:08,863 --> 00:02:15,183 It reads, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, 50 00:02:15,223 --> 00:02:20,373 kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 51 00:02:20,414 --> 00:02:24,273 Against such things there is no law." 52 00:02:24,743 --> 00:02:26,973 Again, we're talking about this idea of faithfulness. 53 00:02:26,973 --> 00:02:31,053 And so the New Testament, what we call the New Testament, was 54 00:02:31,054 --> 00:02:32,843 written primarily in Greek. 55 00:02:32,844 --> 00:02:36,653 And so this was actually, it's translated to English, and so this word faithfulness 56 00:02:37,353 --> 00:02:39,403 comes from this Greek word pistis. 57 00:02:40,293 --> 00:02:44,584 And so pistis means, mostly it's translated as faith, but it's als- 58 00:02:44,603 --> 00:02:46,713 also translated as faithfulness. 59 00:02:47,633 --> 00:02:51,884 And so it could be, uh, goodness, faith, gentleness or self-control, but most 60 00:02:51,894 --> 00:02:56,963 scholars translate it faithfulness because it fits the context of the character 61 00:02:56,963 --> 00:02:59,903 qualities that God is producing in us. 62 00:02:59,913 --> 00:03:02,793 But I don't think we really need to worry too much about separating the 63 00:03:02,793 --> 00:03:07,374 concepts of faith and faithfulness, because when you have a deepening 64 00:03:07,383 --> 00:03:11,853 faith, a trust in God that is growing, it will produce a faithful life. 65 00:03:13,694 --> 00:03:16,784 And so we will look at this some more today. 66 00:03:17,434 --> 00:03:19,664 And so this, again, this idea of faithfulness. 67 00:03:20,353 --> 00:03:26,484 It's a quality of being loyal, steadfast, reliable, responsible. 68 00:03:27,914 --> 00:03:31,994 Faithfulness means, especially biblically, to have an unwavering 69 00:03:32,192 --> 00:03:38,944 loyalty, a steadfast reliability, and an absolute trustworthiness. 70 00:03:39,244 --> 00:03:43,793 It's being dedicated to our commitments, our commitments to God, 71 00:03:43,793 --> 00:03:45,493 our commitments in our relationships. 72 00:03:45,754 --> 00:03:49,993 It means to keep our promises, keep our word, to stay true to our 73 00:03:49,993 --> 00:03:54,843 duties that we have, and stay true to the standard by which we live. 74 00:03:55,254 --> 00:03:56,203 Now, I don't know about you. 75 00:03:56,223 --> 00:03:59,123 Now, I can assume, I'm gonna assu- safely assume that we 76 00:03:59,123 --> 00:04:01,603 all want to be faithful people. 77 00:04:01,614 --> 00:04:01,644 Right. 78 00:04:01,923 --> 00:04:02,233 Yeah. 79 00:04:02,484 --> 00:04:06,393 Don't you wanna be described a faithful woman or a faithful man? 80 00:04:07,193 --> 00:04:07,213 Yeah. 81 00:04:07,223 --> 00:04:11,734 Especially when it comes to your faith, I wanna be known as a faithful man of 82 00:04:11,743 --> 00:04:15,862 God I also want to have faithful friends. 83 00:04:16,962 --> 00:04:18,862 Don't you want to have some faithful friends around you? 84 00:04:18,872 --> 00:04:18,902 Yes. 85 00:04:19,492 --> 00:04:20,122 'Cause you don't want to be… 86 00:04:20,122 --> 00:04:23,251 I don't like those, I don't want to hang out with those unfaithful people. 87 00:04:23,902 --> 00:04:26,251 'Cause you know, when we goin' to battle, you know you can't depend on them. 88 00:04:26,282 --> 00:04:30,361 So we want to be surrounded by faithful people. 89 00:04:30,651 --> 00:04:34,512 But again, this is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. 90 00:04:34,512 --> 00:04:38,251 It comes from walking closely with God. 91 00:04:38,591 --> 00:04:41,551 And so the very first thing that we need to remind ourselves, we 92 00:04:41,552 --> 00:04:43,992 need to be reminded of this truth. 93 00:04:44,001 --> 00:04:50,121 This is our theology here for the moment, and this is that God is faithful. 94 00:04:50,711 --> 00:04:50,741 Yes. 95 00:04:50,951 --> 00:04:50,991 Amen. 96 00:04:51,132 --> 00:04:52,582 God is loyal. 97 00:04:52,812 --> 00:04:54,121 God is steadfast. 98 00:04:54,431 --> 00:04:55,762 God is reliable. 99 00:04:55,781 --> 00:04:58,351 God is trustworthy. 100 00:04:59,181 --> 00:04:59,221 Amen. 101 00:04:59,231 --> 00:05:03,791 And so if we can remember that, then that will flow into everything we understand 102 00:05:03,801 --> 00:05:09,181 about this idea of the fruit of the Spirit producing faithfulness in our lives. 103 00:05:09,511 --> 00:05:13,401 But let's look some more here, because the Bible has throughout the, from the 104 00:05:13,441 --> 00:05:18,712 Old Testament to the New Testament, so many times in which it describes 105 00:05:18,712 --> 00:05:22,342 and reveals that our God is faithful. 106 00:05:22,582 --> 00:05:24,412 And I want to look at a couple passages here. 107 00:05:24,412 --> 00:05:29,471 In Deuteronomy 7:9, "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God. 108 00:05:30,161 --> 00:05:35,311 He is the faithful God- Yes … keeping his covenant of love to a thousand 109 00:05:35,311 --> 00:05:39,781 generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. 110 00:05:40,061 --> 00:05:44,111 For the Word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful 111 00:05:44,161 --> 00:05:48,051 in all he does," Psalm 33:4. 112 00:05:48,051 --> 00:05:48,951 And I love this one. 113 00:05:48,951 --> 00:05:49,721 Check this one out. 114 00:05:49,722 --> 00:05:51,011 Paul says this to Timothy. 115 00:05:51,012 --> 00:05:57,371 He says, "If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself." 116 00:05:58,332 --> 00:06:02,561 1 Thessalonians 5:24 says, "The one who calls you," talking about God, 117 00:06:02,741 --> 00:06:06,432 "is faithful and he will do it." 118 00:06:07,181 --> 00:06:08,911 God is faithful. 119 00:06:08,911 --> 00:06:11,071 He is a faithful God. 120 00:06:11,441 --> 00:06:12,962 God is faithful to His covenant. 121 00:06:12,962 --> 00:06:14,511 He's faithful to His people. 122 00:06:14,911 --> 00:06:16,872 God is faithful to His promises. 123 00:06:16,872 --> 00:06:18,521 He's faithful to His Word. 124 00:06:18,781 --> 00:06:22,261 God is faithful because that's His character. 125 00:06:22,331 --> 00:06:23,531 That's who He is. 126 00:06:23,741 --> 00:06:29,161 He cannot be anything but faithful because that's who He is in His being. 127 00:06:29,181 --> 00:06:29,231 Yeah. 128 00:06:29,872 --> 00:06:32,361 God is faithful. 129 00:06:33,232 --> 00:06:36,461 Can anyone testify to God being faithful? 130 00:06:37,171 --> 00:06:37,261 Yes. 131 00:06:37,391 --> 00:06:40,591 Are there some people in here that can testify and say, "You know what? 132 00:06:40,711 --> 00:06:44,272 I know those scriptures are true because I've seen it be true in my 133 00:06:44,272 --> 00:06:45,701 own life and in those around me"? 134 00:06:45,811 --> 00:06:49,951 Are there any people in here that can testify to God being faithful? 135 00:06:49,951 --> 00:06:51,402 Yes. 136 00:06:51,402 --> 00:06:52,301 Yes, there is. 137 00:06:52,301 --> 00:06:53,202 Yes, he is. 138 00:06:53,202 --> 00:06:54,881 I want you to think about it just real quickly. 139 00:06:54,902 --> 00:06:55,841 Take 30 seconds. 140 00:06:55,842 --> 00:06:58,371 And it's okay, maybe you're visiting here, you're like, "I don't know if God 141 00:06:58,372 --> 00:06:59,832 is faithful," but just bear with us here. 142 00:06:59,991 --> 00:07:01,311 I want you to take 30 seconds. 143 00:07:01,811 --> 00:07:05,332 Think of a time in which God showed his faithfulness to you. 144 00:07:07,776 --> 00:07:11,006 If you want to write that down, let's go ahead and write that down in your notes. 145 00:07:11,356 --> 00:07:17,085 But I want you to think about a time in which God revealed his faithfulness to you 146 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:24,920 I can think through my whole life, even before I became a Christian, 147 00:07:25,510 --> 00:07:28,400 how faithful God has been to me. 148 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:34,880 I look at my life and I go, "I should not be here, but I stand as a testimony 149 00:07:34,980 --> 00:07:38,580 to God being faithful to this short Black dude from Orange County." 150 00:07:41,234 --> 00:07:44,894 I stand as a witness and testimony that there's a faithful God. 151 00:07:44,994 --> 00:07:48,094 And you all raised your hand that you could testify that 152 00:07:48,094 --> 00:07:49,394 God is faithful as well. 153 00:07:49,404 --> 00:07:49,433 Yes. 154 00:07:50,054 --> 00:07:51,124 We need to remember this. 155 00:07:51,124 --> 00:07:54,224 We need to make sure that this is rooted in our faith and in our 156 00:07:54,243 --> 00:07:58,914 everyday thinking- Yes … because it influences our everyday decision-making. 157 00:08:00,764 --> 00:08:00,903 That's right. 158 00:08:00,903 --> 00:08:00,923 That's right. 159 00:08:00,923 --> 00:08:03,224 Now, follow the logic here. 160 00:08:03,723 --> 00:08:05,123 God is faithful. 161 00:08:05,733 --> 00:08:11,124 When we repent and get baptized, God gives us His Holy Spirit to dwell within us. 162 00:08:11,194 --> 00:08:15,413 That's awesome, that's indescribable, but that's the reality in which we live in. 163 00:08:15,893 --> 00:08:19,133 So now, this faithful God, now His faithful spirit living in 164 00:08:19,134 --> 00:08:20,543 us, and what does it produce? 165 00:08:20,573 --> 00:08:22,573 It produces the traits of God. 166 00:08:23,733 --> 00:08:24,082 That's right. 167 00:08:24,103 --> 00:08:24,133 Yes. 168 00:08:24,133 --> 00:08:27,163 Every fruit of the Spirit is a trait or characteristic of God. 169 00:08:27,163 --> 00:08:27,673 Right. 170 00:08:27,673 --> 00:08:29,183 And this is how it's produced in us. 171 00:08:29,364 --> 00:08:30,654 Love grows because what? 172 00:08:30,733 --> 00:08:31,493 God is love. 173 00:08:31,504 --> 00:08:31,594 Yeah. 174 00:08:32,653 --> 00:08:34,543 We … Peace grows because what? 175 00:08:34,703 --> 00:08:36,043 God is the God of peace. 176 00:08:36,524 --> 00:08:39,443 Faithfulness grows because God is faithful. 177 00:08:39,453 --> 00:08:39,484 Right. 178 00:08:39,933 --> 00:08:45,744 So when the Spirit lives in us, He's forming in us God's own character. 179 00:08:45,904 --> 00:08:45,934 Right. 180 00:08:46,724 --> 00:08:47,753 And so this is amazing. 181 00:08:47,754 --> 00:08:51,993 Again, this faithful God now dwells in us, and a big component of the work 182 00:08:52,004 --> 00:08:56,453 of the Holy Spirit is to now form us and shape us in our character and our 183 00:08:56,453 --> 00:09:01,323 nature to resemble, look, and reflect the faithful God who dwells within us. 184 00:09:01,334 --> 00:09:01,634 Yes. 185 00:09:03,313 --> 00:09:05,263 Now, I want to remind us of a couple of things. 186 00:09:05,264 --> 00:09:06,623 Church, are you still with me here? 187 00:09:06,633 --> 00:09:06,653 Yeah. 188 00:09:07,254 --> 00:09:07,724 Okay. 189 00:09:07,754 --> 00:09:08,203 All right. 190 00:09:08,434 --> 00:09:10,323 I want to remind us of a couple things here. 191 00:09:10,323 --> 00:09:14,714 We remember that it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. 192 00:09:15,334 --> 00:09:18,914 That mean it, it's a byproduct, a production of the Spirit 193 00:09:18,923 --> 00:09:21,783 working in our lives. 194 00:09:22,313 --> 00:09:28,903 Now, we also can recall, remember, that we're also called to a responsibility 195 00:09:28,943 --> 00:09:31,163 in this growth in our lives. 196 00:09:31,654 --> 00:09:33,383 And we talked about this a couple weeks. 197 00:09:33,383 --> 00:09:37,643 Again, this metaphor, this imagery that's in the scripture is, again, 198 00:09:37,643 --> 00:09:39,643 of, of, you could say gardening. 199 00:09:39,943 --> 00:09:43,073 And so when you plant something, you have to what? 200 00:09:43,083 --> 00:09:46,463 Set the conditions so that it can grow. 201 00:09:46,474 --> 00:09:46,494 Yeah. 202 00:09:47,283 --> 00:09:47,323 Right. 203 00:09:47,953 --> 00:09:53,604 I shared this a couple weeks ago, and I shared with you, uh, my son's plant that 204 00:09:53,604 --> 00:09:57,993 he got from school right before school ended, and that was it several weeks ago. 205 00:09:57,993 --> 00:09:58,933 And I showed you a picture. 206 00:09:58,934 --> 00:10:00,204 I said, "Dominic, what are you growing?" 207 00:10:00,204 --> 00:10:01,344 He said, "I don't know what I'm growing." 208 00:10:01,484 --> 00:10:03,494 I said, "Well, you probably should know what you're supposed to be growing." 209 00:10:04,544 --> 00:10:06,834 And so he had this plant, and that was several weeks ago. 210 00:10:08,673 --> 00:10:10,584 I wanted to give you a update on how it looks today. 211 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:14,400 Here's what it looked like the other day 212 00:10:18,024 --> 00:10:19,544 I told my son I was gonna share. 213 00:10:19,544 --> 00:10:22,104 I didn't say what I was gonna share with him, so don't, you know what I'm saying? 214 00:10:22,794 --> 00:10:24,144 Don't say too much to him, okay? 215 00:10:25,794 --> 00:10:27,924 But I went out there, said, "Dominic, where's the, where, where, 216 00:10:28,094 --> 00:10:29,333 what's going on with your plan?" 217 00:10:29,344 --> 00:10:30,114 He said, "I don't know." 218 00:10:30,144 --> 00:10:31,364 I said, "Uh-oh, we in trouble." 219 00:10:32,354 --> 00:10:33,454 I said, "Man, let me go find this." 220 00:10:33,454 --> 00:10:35,793 I went over there and took a picture and I said, "Oh, Dominic, 221 00:10:35,814 --> 00:10:37,144 you haven't done a thing with it." 222 00:10:38,134 --> 00:10:43,953 And so here's what happens when we do not cultivate the conditions 223 00:10:43,953 --> 00:10:45,604 for the Spirit to work in our lives 224 00:10:47,624 --> 00:10:52,494 We do not see the growth that it was designed to be, not because 225 00:10:52,504 --> 00:10:56,923 God is incapable, but because we didn't work in partnership with God. 226 00:10:57,633 --> 00:10:57,703 That's right. 227 00:10:57,944 --> 00:11:02,224 We have to cultivate the conditions for the spirit to grow the fruit 228 00:11:02,224 --> 00:11:03,133 of the spirit in our lives. 229 00:11:03,354 --> 00:11:04,964 Do you understand what I'm saying? 230 00:11:04,973 --> 00:11:04,993 Yeah. 231 00:11:05,873 --> 00:11:09,454 And so we need to make sure that we do our part. 232 00:11:09,654 --> 00:11:13,713 God's gonna do the work, but he calls us to be in partnership 233 00:11:13,873 --> 00:11:17,163 and work with him so that he can produce the fruits in our lives. 234 00:11:17,353 --> 00:11:21,873 You see, we become faithful by being close to the faithful God. 235 00:11:21,883 --> 00:11:21,923 Amen. 236 00:11:23,363 --> 00:11:29,224 We become faithful by being close to the faithful God. 237 00:11:29,973 --> 00:11:33,674 And as I was thinking about this, it, I was reminded of, to me, this is, 238 00:11:33,703 --> 00:11:37,633 this was, again, it wa- it was just deep, mind-blowing and profound for me. 239 00:11:37,633 --> 00:11:39,713 Maybe it won't be for you, maybe it will be. 240 00:11:39,973 --> 00:11:42,553 But I was thinking about this, and I go let, let's get 241 00:11:42,553 --> 00:11:45,094 to the core of faithfulness. 242 00:11:45,244 --> 00:11:47,973 What's at the core of faithfulness? 243 00:11:48,033 --> 00:11:51,713 Yes, we know it's to be loyal, it's to be steadfast, it's to be 244 00:11:51,713 --> 00:11:53,663 reliable, or to be responsible. 245 00:11:54,113 --> 00:11:55,763 What's at the core there? 246 00:11:55,764 --> 00:11:57,364 And start thinking of a peach. 247 00:11:57,364 --> 00:11:59,893 And you know how the peach, you have the peach pit, and that's the little 248 00:11:59,893 --> 00:12:01,233 hard piece that's at the center. 249 00:12:01,234 --> 00:12:02,524 You guys know what I'm talking about, right? 250 00:12:02,984 --> 00:12:03,434 All right. 251 00:12:03,573 --> 00:12:08,304 And so if you get to the center of faithfulness, I believe at the 252 00:12:08,313 --> 00:12:14,824 center of faithfulness is this: It's a heart that desires what is right. 253 00:12:15,273 --> 00:12:19,083 It's a desire to do what is right. 254 00:12:19,563 --> 00:12:20,214 Think about it. 255 00:12:20,433 --> 00:12:23,053 Why is someone faithful employee? 256 00:12:23,343 --> 00:12:27,403 Because they feel that they want to respond, they wanna do what's right 257 00:12:27,584 --> 00:12:29,243 by the company that employs them. 258 00:12:30,283 --> 00:12:33,113 Why is someone a faithful, faithful to their spouse? 259 00:12:33,363 --> 00:12:38,223 Because they have a subtle desire to do what is right by their spouse. 260 00:12:39,093 --> 00:12:40,893 Why is someone faithful to God? 261 00:12:40,904 --> 00:12:46,733 Because they desire to do what is right by God, who has been faithful to them. 262 00:12:48,124 --> 00:12:51,223 What makes you want to be faithful? 263 00:12:52,143 --> 00:12:54,633 You want to do the right thing. 264 00:12:54,643 --> 00:12:54,673 Right. 265 00:12:55,203 --> 00:12:56,963 You want to be loyal. 266 00:12:56,963 --> 00:12:58,624 You want to be reliable. 267 00:12:58,744 --> 00:13:00,474 You want to be steadfast. 268 00:13:00,474 --> 00:13:02,743 You want to be responsible. 269 00:13:03,483 --> 00:13:10,193 See, at the center of faithfulness is this desire to do what is right. 270 00:13:11,513 --> 00:13:13,383 And the opposite is true. 271 00:13:13,903 --> 00:13:14,633 Think about it. 272 00:13:15,293 --> 00:13:19,424 When you don't care about doing right, what happens? 273 00:13:20,736 --> 00:13:22,466 You make different decisions, don't you? 274 00:13:22,976 --> 00:13:27,396 You have a different view and a different approach to whatever it is, whether it's 275 00:13:27,396 --> 00:13:29,816 that relationship or that situation. 276 00:13:30,256 --> 00:13:33,935 You don't wanna be faithful and loyal because you could care less about what? 277 00:13:34,156 --> 00:13:35,046 Doing what's right. 278 00:13:35,946 --> 00:13:37,186 You could care less about it. 279 00:13:37,186 --> 00:13:37,676 And so what? 280 00:13:37,806 --> 00:13:42,955 We might be tempted to take, to steal, to be disloyal. 281 00:13:43,406 --> 00:13:43,616 Why? 282 00:13:43,616 --> 00:13:48,085 Because we don't desire to do what is right. 283 00:13:48,775 --> 00:13:54,235 But when we desire to do what is right, it leads, it propels us to what? 284 00:13:54,705 --> 00:14:02,700 Be faithful See, the problem though is we don't always want to do the right thing. 285 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:07,280 Am I the only one that's ever tempted to do the wrong thing? 286 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:07,860 No. 287 00:14:07,870 --> 00:14:08,679 Don't you lie. 288 00:14:08,889 --> 00:14:10,530 You're, you, you doing the wrong thing right now. 289 00:14:12,060 --> 00:14:13,320 We're all familiar with this. 290 00:14:13,350 --> 00:14:15,420 My man, Kronk, from Emperor's New Groove. 291 00:14:16,199 --> 00:14:18,259 We're all familiar with this concept, right? 292 00:14:18,590 --> 00:14:20,630 You have the good angel and the bad angel. 293 00:14:20,650 --> 00:14:23,999 Man, I don't know about you, but this could be my life at times. 294 00:14:24,269 --> 00:14:28,040 Certain situations, I have something saying, "Marcel, here's the right thing 295 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:31,529 to do," and then I have this evil side saying, "No, you don't need to do that. 296 00:14:31,530 --> 00:14:32,809 In fact, here's what you need to do." 297 00:14:33,010 --> 00:14:34,510 Can you relate to this at all? 298 00:14:35,269 --> 00:14:35,359 Yes. 299 00:14:35,650 --> 00:14:39,239 You know, the Bible actually has a passage that actually kind of really 300 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:41,329 kinda shares this reality, this truth. 301 00:14:41,719 --> 00:14:45,769 You see, in Romans chapter 7, the Apostle Paul, he goes and he's telling, you 302 00:14:45,769 --> 00:14:48,879 know, i- it's, it's in the middle of a whole big argument there, but he, he 303 00:14:48,879 --> 00:14:53,249 goes and he says, "Hey, there's good that I wanna do, but then I don't do it. 304 00:14:53,549 --> 00:14:56,359 And the bad that I don't wanna do, I end up doing." 305 00:14:56,359 --> 00:14:58,760 So then, and he goes on to this back and forth, and you have to 306 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:00,919 really follow it 'cause you're like, "Where is he going with all this?" 307 00:15:01,350 --> 00:15:04,700 But he says this in Romans 7 in verse, uh, 21. 308 00:15:04,709 --> 00:15:05,780 Here's what he says here. 309 00:15:06,199 --> 00:15:08,639 He says, "So I find this law at work. 310 00:15:09,050 --> 00:15:14,089 Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 311 00:15:15,139 --> 00:15:20,039 For in my inner being I delight in God's law, but I see another law at 312 00:15:20,039 --> 00:15:25,669 work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner 313 00:15:25,699 --> 00:15:28,579 of the law of sin at work within me." 314 00:15:29,230 --> 00:15:29,749 What's he saying? 315 00:15:29,749 --> 00:15:32,260 Basically, I wanna do good, but there's a part of me that 316 00:15:32,279 --> 00:15:34,609 also wants to do what is bad. 317 00:15:34,969 --> 00:15:37,109 Can you relate to that at all? 318 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:37,140 Yeah. 319 00:15:37,719 --> 00:15:41,650 I'm r- I'm faced with this all the time, whether it's the flesh, giving 320 00:15:41,650 --> 00:15:45,999 into my emotions, thinking what I want to do right now is superior 321 00:15:45,999 --> 00:15:48,719 than what I know God wants me to do. 322 00:15:48,979 --> 00:15:51,459 And so I'm tempted, and it's this back and forth. 323 00:15:52,239 --> 00:15:55,829 And so sometimes internally, I can be arguing with myself back and forth. 324 00:15:55,859 --> 00:15:57,320 Can you relate to that, or is that just me? 325 00:15:57,419 --> 00:15:57,439 No. 326 00:15:58,459 --> 00:15:59,189 Maybe it's just me. 327 00:15:59,190 --> 00:15:59,809 That's okay. 328 00:16:00,719 --> 00:16:02,600 It's bad when you argue with yourself out loud. 329 00:16:02,609 --> 00:16:03,610 Don't do that, okay? 330 00:16:03,610 --> 00:16:04,239 You know what I'm saying? 331 00:16:04,589 --> 00:16:05,450 Then people get worried. 332 00:16:05,519 --> 00:16:08,029 But we can, we can, we can go back and forth. 333 00:16:08,639 --> 00:16:14,669 Man, here's what I want to do, but man, here's what feels right at the moment. 334 00:16:14,669 --> 00:16:15,639 Yeah. 335 00:16:15,639 --> 00:16:15,749 Yeah. 336 00:16:15,889 --> 00:16:21,419 I know it feels right at the moment, but I know this is the right thing to do. 337 00:16:21,879 --> 00:16:21,899 Yeah. 338 00:16:21,899 --> 00:16:22,580 Yeah. 339 00:16:22,580 --> 00:16:25,059 And so we face this battle. 340 00:16:25,580 --> 00:16:26,780 But here's what's so cool. 341 00:16:26,780 --> 00:16:27,370 I love God. 342 00:16:27,779 --> 00:16:29,439 This is where the Spirit of God helps. 343 00:16:30,609 --> 00:16:33,630 This is where walking in step with the Spirit of God helps. 344 00:16:34,099 --> 00:16:38,609 You see, the Spirit of God changes our desires. 345 00:16:41,312 --> 00:16:44,712 You see, at the center of faithfulness is the desire to do what's right, and 346 00:16:44,712 --> 00:16:47,882 the Spirit of God changes our desires. 347 00:16:47,892 --> 00:16:49,702 Let's go back here to Galatians chapter 5. 348 00:16:49,712 --> 00:16:51,402 Brothers and sisters, are you still with me here? 349 00:16:51,411 --> 00:16:51,441 Yes. 350 00:16:51,972 --> 00:16:53,332 Okay, Galatians chapter 5. 351 00:16:53,332 --> 00:16:56,712 So this is a little bit, uh, in front of, before our, our theme verse at 352 00:16:57,341 --> 00:16:58,732 22, and he's talking about the Spirit. 353 00:16:58,732 --> 00:17:03,721 He says, "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not 354 00:17:03,732 --> 00:17:05,771 gratify the desires of the flesh. 355 00:17:06,361 --> 00:17:11,261 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the 356 00:17:11,261 --> 00:17:14,851 Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. 357 00:17:15,211 --> 00:17:21,121 They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want." 358 00:17:21,672 --> 00:17:22,590 Did you catch that? 359 00:17:23,172 --> 00:17:26,330 The Spirit and the flesh desire different things. 360 00:17:26,911 --> 00:17:27,922 They're not compatible. 361 00:17:27,931 --> 00:17:28,732 They don't work together. 362 00:17:28,861 --> 00:17:31,021 They actually conflict with each other. 363 00:17:31,332 --> 00:17:36,172 The Spirit desires what God desires because the Spirit is of God. 364 00:17:36,652 --> 00:17:40,611 And so the Spirit desires godly things, God's will. 365 00:17:41,071 --> 00:17:45,211 And when we walk in step with the Spirit, what does it do? 366 00:17:45,242 --> 00:17:50,101 It increases our desires to do the right thing. 367 00:17:51,001 --> 00:17:56,742 And this is why it's so important that we stay in step with the Holy Spirit. 368 00:17:56,922 --> 00:17:57,042 Yes. 369 00:17:57,922 --> 00:18:01,991 Because when we stay in step with the Holy Spirit, what is the Spirit doing? 370 00:18:02,001 --> 00:18:04,431 He's reorienting us. 371 00:18:04,471 --> 00:18:08,802 He's developing, He's increasing our desire to do what is right. 372 00:18:08,982 --> 00:18:13,602 And so therefore, we remove ourselves from the desire to do what is wrong. 373 00:18:14,532 --> 00:18:19,251 But not only does it increase our desires, it also empowers 374 00:18:19,251 --> 00:18:21,281 us to be able to accomplish it. 375 00:18:21,291 --> 00:18:21,311 Yeah. 376 00:18:22,251 --> 00:18:25,431 It's one thing to desire it, but it's another to be 377 00:18:25,431 --> 00:18:27,561 enabled to actually achieve it. 378 00:18:27,571 --> 00:18:28,991 Do you guys get what I'm saying here? 379 00:18:29,001 --> 00:18:29,091 Yes. 380 00:18:29,331 --> 00:18:31,151 And that's what the Holy Spirit does. 381 00:18:31,341 --> 00:18:37,481 It increases our desires, but then it empowers us to overcome the sinful desires 382 00:18:37,481 --> 00:18:40,981 in our lives and to do the right thing. 383 00:18:41,591 --> 00:18:47,801 You see, again, we become faithful by being close to the faithful God. 384 00:18:48,852 --> 00:18:53,671 When we're in step with Him, then again, He's producing faithfulness in us. 385 00:18:53,701 --> 00:18:57,221 Our desires are growing, and therefore, our actions follow. 386 00:18:57,351 --> 00:18:58,952 We overcome sin. 387 00:18:59,112 --> 00:18:59,911 And here's the thing. 388 00:18:59,911 --> 00:19:06,072 We become more like God- That's right … in our character and in our nature. 389 00:19:06,091 --> 00:19:09,642 And we follow God not just because that's the right thing, 390 00:19:09,642 --> 00:19:11,052 and I don't want to be judged. 391 00:19:11,052 --> 00:19:13,401 I don't want to be in trouble with God. 392 00:19:13,401 --> 00:19:14,901 I don't want to go to hell. 393 00:19:14,922 --> 00:19:16,951 No, those don't become the reasons anymore. 394 00:19:17,172 --> 00:19:21,022 And it goes from, "Yes, I do this because I love God," but, "Yes, I 395 00:19:21,022 --> 00:19:23,322 do this because I think like God." 396 00:19:24,872 --> 00:19:26,752 I desire what God desires. 397 00:19:27,312 --> 00:19:29,432 So why would I turn to the flesh? 398 00:19:29,442 --> 00:19:29,472 Right. 399 00:19:30,042 --> 00:19:33,632 You see, this is what the Spirit is producing in us, and it doesn't just 400 00:19:33,632 --> 00:19:35,862 start at the day of our baptism. 401 00:19:36,051 --> 00:19:38,272 It's a lifelong transformation. 402 00:19:39,182 --> 00:19:39,322 Amen. 403 00:19:40,272 --> 00:19:44,202 The Spirit isn't trying to produce behavior modification. 404 00:19:44,211 --> 00:19:44,241 Right. 405 00:19:44,391 --> 00:19:49,332 The Spirit is producing transformation into the image of Jesus. 406 00:19:50,211 --> 00:19:50,251 Amen. 407 00:19:50,342 --> 00:19:52,092 And for that we can say hallelujah. 408 00:19:53,092 --> 00:19:53,172 Hallelujah. 409 00:19:53,412 --> 00:19:58,521 And this is why I believe the call for you and I is what the scriptures call us to. 410 00:19:58,521 --> 00:20:00,441 Again, we talked about this before. 411 00:20:00,571 --> 00:20:02,672 It's to keep in step with the Spirit. 412 00:20:03,451 --> 00:20:06,771 This theme is going to always be throughout this series because we 413 00:20:06,771 --> 00:20:10,252 have to stay close to God, and we have to remain close to God, and 414 00:20:10,252 --> 00:20:12,741 we see God's work in our lives. 415 00:20:12,742 --> 00:20:17,021 Again, not for a momentary success, but for it to be our 416 00:20:17,111 --> 00:20:21,081 character, for it to be who we are. 417 00:20:21,091 --> 00:20:21,121 Right. 418 00:20:21,641 --> 00:20:25,771 And so we have to cultivate the conditions where the Spirit will produce faithfulness 419 00:20:26,001 --> 00:20:29,261 in our lives and in us as a church. 420 00:20:29,451 --> 00:20:30,591 And so how can we do this? 421 00:20:30,592 --> 00:20:34,321 I believe it's first through God's character, remembering, 422 00:20:34,631 --> 00:20:37,371 meditating on God's faithfulness. 423 00:20:37,521 --> 00:20:42,731 How rich were the words were we singing earlier today about the goodness of God. 424 00:20:42,741 --> 00:20:44,261 You've been faithful to me. 425 00:20:44,381 --> 00:20:48,641 About Christ being the firm foundation, therefore, I will get 426 00:20:48,652 --> 00:20:51,351 through whatever the circumstance is. 427 00:20:51,351 --> 00:20:51,641 Why? 428 00:20:51,762 --> 00:20:54,092 Because God is with me. 429 00:20:54,101 --> 00:20:58,461 He's faithful, so therefore, I can be faithful in return 430 00:21:00,542 --> 00:21:02,522 We remember that's who God is. 431 00:21:03,152 --> 00:21:04,392 I am a child of God. 432 00:21:04,822 --> 00:21:05,732 That's who I am. 433 00:21:06,282 --> 00:21:06,352 That's right. 434 00:21:06,822 --> 00:21:08,241 I am faithful. 435 00:21:08,782 --> 00:21:10,621 I am a faithful man of God. 436 00:21:10,621 --> 00:21:12,512 I am a faithful woman of God. 437 00:21:12,571 --> 00:21:17,732 So therefore, I will make the right choice. 438 00:21:18,422 --> 00:21:21,962 We reflect on God's faithfulness, and it's good to reflect on God's 439 00:21:21,962 --> 00:21:23,322 faithfulness in our own lives. 440 00:21:23,322 --> 00:21:25,192 Remember I asked you earlier, write that down. 441 00:21:25,231 --> 00:21:29,201 It does something when we remember how God's been faithful to us. 442 00:21:29,211 --> 00:21:29,241 Yes. 443 00:21:29,611 --> 00:21:33,572 You don't come away two minutes later the same after remembering God's faithfulness. 444 00:21:34,392 --> 00:21:39,171 It generates something in us, whether it's gratitude or grit and a conviction 445 00:21:39,361 --> 00:21:42,541 that I am going to be faithful in return. 446 00:21:42,602 --> 00:21:43,132 That's right. 447 00:21:43,881 --> 00:21:46,071 We also can cultivate through God's word. 448 00:21:46,391 --> 00:21:51,211 We can never escape growing outside of God's word. 449 00:21:52,151 --> 00:21:52,221 That's right. 450 00:21:52,221 --> 00:21:52,241 Yeah. 451 00:21:52,251 --> 00:21:55,632 Because it's God's truth that reminds us of these realities, 452 00:21:55,782 --> 00:21:59,691 but it's also God's truth that shapes who we are and our desires. 453 00:22:00,221 --> 00:22:03,561 When you get into the word, it shapes you, it forms you. 454 00:22:03,571 --> 00:22:03,591 Yeah. 455 00:22:03,901 --> 00:22:05,451 Again, it reorients you. 456 00:22:05,601 --> 00:22:10,041 It, it course corrects your life and your decision-making and your perspective. 457 00:22:10,162 --> 00:22:10,182 Yeah. 458 00:22:11,391 --> 00:22:16,331 And so this is how we cultivate the spirit to grow, by remembering and 459 00:22:16,331 --> 00:22:20,531 reflecting upon God's character, by having God's word, and also I 460 00:22:20,531 --> 00:22:22,721 believe one more, God's people. 461 00:22:23,501 --> 00:22:23,521 Yeah. 462 00:22:23,531 --> 00:22:25,711 You know, faithfulness requires help 463 00:22:28,202 --> 00:22:30,022 Faithfulness requires help. 464 00:22:30,602 --> 00:22:34,082 God designed it so that you and I wouldn't have to do this alone. 465 00:22:34,092 --> 00:22:35,062 Hallelujah for that. 466 00:22:35,112 --> 00:22:35,152 Amen. 467 00:22:36,142 --> 00:22:40,092 Because sometimes a brother gets weak, and I'm not talking Weak in the Knees, SWV. 468 00:22:40,262 --> 00:22:42,102 Gina, I know you caught that one right there. 469 00:22:43,201 --> 00:22:44,882 If you didn't, okay, all right, brother, there you go. 470 00:22:44,882 --> 00:22:45,692 That's a song anyway. 471 00:22:45,692 --> 00:22:46,012 Sorry. 472 00:22:46,112 --> 00:22:47,672 It just comes out of me every now and then 473 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:51,710 There you go, Santa Anna in the house. 474 00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:57,910 All right, so God's people help us to remain faithful. 475 00:22:57,920 --> 00:22:57,940 Yeah. 476 00:22:58,659 --> 00:22:58,919 Why? 477 00:22:58,930 --> 00:23:01,150 Because we encourage one another. 478 00:23:01,150 --> 00:23:01,619 Yeah. 479 00:23:01,619 --> 00:23:03,860 We strengthen one another. 480 00:23:03,860 --> 00:23:04,380 That's right. 481 00:23:04,380 --> 00:23:06,960 We challenge one another. 482 00:23:07,470 --> 00:23:09,770 We assist one another. 483 00:23:09,779 --> 00:23:12,349 We support one another. 484 00:23:12,490 --> 00:23:12,730 Why? 485 00:23:12,730 --> 00:23:15,289 Because we love one another. 486 00:23:16,139 --> 00:23:16,219 That's right. 487 00:23:16,279 --> 00:23:18,970 I believe Hebrews catches this, captures everything here. 488 00:23:18,970 --> 00:23:19,530 Let's read it. 489 00:23:19,730 --> 00:23:22,909 Hebrews 10:23, "Let us hold unswervingly…" 490 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:24,380 Did you catch that? 491 00:23:24,970 --> 00:23:26,170 "Let us hold unswer-… 492 00:23:26,190 --> 00:23:28,090 We're not all over the place in our faith. 493 00:23:28,090 --> 00:23:28,179 That's right. 494 00:23:29,119 --> 00:23:32,799 "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess. 495 00:23:33,439 --> 00:23:35,230 For he who promises," what? 496 00:23:35,610 --> 00:23:35,670 Faithful. 497 00:23:36,099 --> 00:23:36,889 Faithful. 498 00:23:37,709 --> 00:23:43,170 "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not 499 00:23:43,179 --> 00:23:46,619 giving meeting up together- That's right 500 00:23:46,619 --> 00:23:51,519 as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another, and all the 501 00:23:51,529 --> 00:23:54,809 more as you see the day approaching." 502 00:23:54,820 --> 00:23:54,840 Yeah. 503 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:57,729 The Hebrew writer captures it clearly. 504 00:23:59,259 --> 00:24:05,240 Hey, this is how we cultivate the Spirit producing faithfulness in our lives. 505 00:24:05,909 --> 00:24:05,929 Yeah. 506 00:24:05,939 --> 00:24:08,310 It's reflecting, remember, God's character. 507 00:24:08,979 --> 00:24:11,689 It, it, it's having God's Word in our lives, and it's having 508 00:24:11,689 --> 00:24:13,299 God's people in our lives. 509 00:24:13,299 --> 00:24:16,730 And again, not just to receive, but so that we can also be there for others. 510 00:24:17,499 --> 00:24:17,629 Yeah. 511 00:24:18,079 --> 00:24:21,659 So what can or what should this look like? 512 00:24:21,869 --> 00:24:24,339 I believe God has a bigger vision for this. 513 00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:29,289 And again, this is written to the church, and so it wasn't just to be, 514 00:24:29,299 --> 00:24:33,069 s- supposed to be applied personally or just individually, excuse me. 515 00:24:33,649 --> 00:24:36,080 But it was supposed to be applied corporately. 516 00:24:36,089 --> 00:24:36,109 Yeah. 517 00:24:36,709 --> 00:24:37,729 Collectively. 518 00:24:38,579 --> 00:24:42,999 And so I believe that what it will produce is a faithful people. 519 00:24:43,019 --> 00:24:47,989 Not just faithful disciples, but a faithful collection of people. 520 00:24:48,199 --> 00:24:48,219 Yeah. 521 00:24:48,789 --> 00:24:50,599 And that faithful people will be what? 522 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:54,999 We will be faithful to God, faithful to God's people, and 523 00:24:54,999 --> 00:24:56,520 faithful to God's mission. 524 00:24:57,039 --> 00:24:57,359 Yeah. 525 00:24:57,789 --> 00:24:58,690 Faithful to God. 526 00:24:58,849 --> 00:25:03,090 We follow Jesus even when it is hard. 527 00:25:03,659 --> 00:25:03,679 Yeah. 528 00:25:03,689 --> 00:25:06,249 Even when we don't feel like it. 529 00:25:06,489 --> 00:25:06,509 Yeah. 530 00:25:07,259 --> 00:25:10,990 This is the faithfulness that God will produce, that we will be people that 531 00:25:10,990 --> 00:25:15,359 will say no to a culture that tells us to be faithful to our feelings. 532 00:25:15,360 --> 00:25:15,410 Come on. 533 00:25:15,410 --> 00:25:15,429 Yeah. 534 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:19,549 We will say no to a culture that tells us to be faithful to what 535 00:25:19,959 --> 00:25:24,539 feels authentic in the moment, because disciples of Jesus follow 536 00:25:24,539 --> 00:25:27,089 God even when we don't feel like it. 537 00:25:27,249 --> 00:25:27,319 That's right. 538 00:25:28,339 --> 00:25:31,699 Because it's who he is, and it's who we are. 539 00:25:32,199 --> 00:25:32,589 We are. 540 00:25:32,589 --> 00:25:34,589 We are faithful men and women of God. 541 00:25:35,449 --> 00:25:35,590 That's right. 542 00:25:35,590 --> 00:25:38,959 And so we don't give in to the moment and say, "Well, that's just who I am. 543 00:25:39,079 --> 00:25:40,370 That's not my authentic me." 544 00:25:40,409 --> 00:25:41,279 No, I follow Jesus. 545 00:25:41,879 --> 00:25:42,639 That's who I am. 546 00:25:42,789 --> 00:25:43,970 That's my authentic me. 547 00:25:50,174 --> 00:25:51,574 We remain loyal because what? 548 00:25:52,044 --> 00:25:53,424 God has remained loyal to us 549 00:25:55,488 --> 00:25:57,238 We're faithful to the church. 550 00:25:57,438 --> 00:25:59,538 We're faithful to the body of Christ. 551 00:25:59,558 --> 00:26:00,328 What does that mean? 552 00:26:00,398 --> 00:26:01,958 It means we're faithful to each other. 553 00:26:01,968 --> 00:26:02,578 Yeah, yeah. 554 00:26:02,778 --> 00:26:04,637 Look to the person to your right and to your left. 555 00:26:04,898 --> 00:26:07,267 That's who you're suppo- you're called to be faithful to. 556 00:26:08,258 --> 00:26:11,358 We cherish the church like Jesus does. 557 00:26:11,368 --> 00:26:11,408 Amen. 558 00:26:12,218 --> 00:26:13,217 So what do we do? 559 00:26:13,248 --> 00:26:17,308 We don't speak negative about the church, but we honor the church even 560 00:26:17,308 --> 00:26:19,427 with all its flaws and everything. 561 00:26:19,437 --> 00:26:19,457 Yeah. 562 00:26:20,277 --> 00:26:20,327 Come on. 563 00:26:20,457 --> 00:26:24,118 I don't think Jesus looked down at you and goes, "Man, oh, there's Johnny over there. 564 00:26:24,148 --> 00:26:25,537 Man, he's rough, he's terrible. 565 00:26:25,558 --> 00:26:27,708 Oh man, you should see Johnny on Thursdays. 566 00:26:27,778 --> 00:26:30,048 He's a mess, but I guess he's saved." 567 00:26:31,657 --> 00:26:33,087 I think Jesus goes, "You know what? 568 00:26:33,207 --> 00:26:34,098 I love Johnny." 569 00:26:34,758 --> 00:26:34,838 Yeah. 570 00:26:35,297 --> 00:26:36,467 "I'm working on Johnny." 571 00:26:36,467 --> 00:26:37,157 Come on. 572 00:26:37,157 --> 00:26:38,817 "Johnny, we're not done with Johnny." 573 00:26:38,828 --> 00:26:38,858 Right. 574 00:26:39,377 --> 00:26:41,907 "Where Johnny is today is not where Johnny's gonna be next year." 575 00:26:42,418 --> 00:26:42,448 Right. 576 00:26:42,508 --> 00:26:43,707 "'Cause I'm faithful to Johnny." 577 00:26:43,718 --> 00:26:43,738 Yeah. 578 00:26:44,117 --> 00:26:46,328 "And Johnny's gonna become faithful like me because that's 579 00:26:46,328 --> 00:26:47,637 who I am and that's who he is." 580 00:26:48,007 --> 00:26:48,077 That's right. 581 00:26:48,707 --> 00:26:50,247 "Yeah, Johnny got some problems." 582 00:26:51,808 --> 00:26:53,137 "But that's not who he is. 583 00:26:53,977 --> 00:26:55,277 He's my disciple." 584 00:26:55,727 --> 00:26:55,827 Yeah. 585 00:26:56,157 --> 00:26:58,167 And so how should we talk about the church? 586 00:26:58,627 --> 00:27:01,368 "Man, can you believe all the trouble and the drama and ooh, look at this." 587 00:27:01,547 --> 00:27:02,927 That's not the way Jesus does it with you. 588 00:27:02,927 --> 00:27:04,037 Don't do it with his bride. 589 00:27:04,127 --> 00:27:04,137 Ooh. 590 00:27:05,837 --> 00:27:08,678 We have to make sure, and I know we got flaws, we got problems. 591 00:27:08,787 --> 00:27:09,027 Why? 592 00:27:09,028 --> 00:27:10,257 Because you have problems. 593 00:27:14,162 --> 00:27:15,802 I got problems Yeah. 594 00:27:17,182 --> 00:27:18,962 But we cherish the church. 595 00:27:19,102 --> 00:27:19,382 We… 596 00:27:19,682 --> 00:27:20,432 Relationships. 597 00:27:21,582 --> 00:27:23,242 Trustworthy in our relationships. 598 00:27:23,412 --> 00:27:23,862 Yes, we're gonna… 599 00:27:25,512 --> 00:27:26,082 disagreements. 600 00:27:26,082 --> 00:27:30,082 Yes, we're gonna have arguments, but we're committed to through the bond 601 00:27:33,596 --> 00:27:37,266 His convenience would suggest just walking away o- from rela- 602 00:27:41,578 --> 00:27:42,998 We're committed or we're faithful 603 00:27:45,632 --> 00:27:46,132 Faithful. 604 00:27:46,402 --> 00:27:47,031 What does that mean? 605 00:27:47,031 --> 00:27:49,321 We're faithful to having compassion for the world. 606 00:27:49,411 --> 00:27:49,482 That's right. 607 00:27:49,792 --> 00:27:49,812 Yeah. 608 00:27:50,552 --> 00:27:52,402 You see, we can lose compassion. 609 00:27:52,422 --> 00:27:57,152 We become numb, or we can become callous, or we can even become judgmental- Right 610 00:27:57,161 --> 00:28:00,042 … of those who aren't inside the church. 611 00:28:00,491 --> 00:28:00,522 True. 612 00:28:00,792 --> 00:28:02,942 That's not God's will, and that's not God's character. 613 00:28:03,132 --> 00:28:03,202 That's right. 614 00:28:04,322 --> 00:28:06,441 You know, God's people reflect God's character. 615 00:28:07,052 --> 00:28:07,071 Yeah. 616 00:28:07,081 --> 00:28:08,991 God's people do God's will. 617 00:28:09,001 --> 00:28:09,031 Yes. 618 00:28:09,531 --> 00:28:10,251 So what does that mean? 619 00:28:10,251 --> 00:28:12,732 We keep going and sharing the gospel. 620 00:28:13,261 --> 00:28:13,551 Why? 621 00:28:13,552 --> 00:28:16,311 Because we have compassion upon the world, because you and I 622 00:28:16,421 --> 00:28:17,602 were once part of the world. 623 00:28:17,611 --> 00:28:17,642 Right. 624 00:28:18,281 --> 00:28:20,722 And God used somebody to have compassion on us. 625 00:28:21,121 --> 00:28:21,192 That's right. 626 00:28:21,771 --> 00:28:24,521 And so we continue to serve in our communities. 627 00:28:24,632 --> 00:28:26,172 We continue to be involved. 628 00:28:26,191 --> 00:28:27,921 Wherever we go, we're a blessing. 629 00:28:27,922 --> 00:28:28,122 Why? 630 00:28:28,141 --> 00:28:30,081 Because God is a blessing in our lives. 631 00:28:30,081 --> 00:28:30,742 That's right. 632 00:28:30,742 --> 00:28:34,631 And we reflect God, and we produce what God produces in our lives, and 633 00:28:34,632 --> 00:28:36,401 we continue doing the right thing. 634 00:28:36,722 --> 00:28:39,531 We're faithful to God's mission. 635 00:28:39,551 --> 00:28:40,101 Amen? 636 00:28:40,101 --> 00:28:40,691 Amen. 637 00:28:40,691 --> 00:28:42,051 Let's get real practical here. 638 00:28:42,091 --> 00:28:43,402 Action steps here, all right? 639 00:28:43,511 --> 00:28:45,861 You know I like having some action steps here, all right? 640 00:28:45,871 --> 00:28:45,881 Oh. 641 00:28:45,911 --> 00:28:49,101 So go ahead, take out your, your, your camera or your, if you're taking notes, 642 00:28:49,241 --> 00:28:50,662 whatever it is you need to do here. 643 00:28:50,801 --> 00:28:52,152 But just for this week, okay? 644 00:28:52,172 --> 00:28:55,431 If we can all do this just for this week, several hundred of us doing this 645 00:28:55,441 --> 00:28:58,812 this week, I believe we're gonna see some great things that God is gonna do. 646 00:28:58,812 --> 00:29:03,251 Number one: reflect daily on one way God has been faithful to you. 647 00:29:03,301 --> 00:29:03,652 Oh, yeah. 648 00:29:04,441 --> 00:29:05,171 Just reflect. 649 00:29:05,551 --> 00:29:08,411 Whether it be at the end of the day, you're reflecting on how God's 650 00:29:08,411 --> 00:29:11,012 been faithful, or you start off the morning thinking about how God's 651 00:29:11,012 --> 00:29:12,472 been faithful to you yesterday. 652 00:29:12,532 --> 00:29:18,342 Just be reflecting, reflective of how God's been faithful to you. 653 00:29:18,852 --> 00:29:22,321 You know, the more we recognize God's faithfulness to us, the more the Spirit 654 00:29:22,321 --> 00:29:24,821 shapes us into a faithful people. 655 00:29:25,431 --> 00:29:27,441 And second, this week here, pray. 656 00:29:27,812 --> 00:29:33,361 Pray daily that our church, for our church to become a more faithful people. 657 00:29:33,371 --> 00:29:33,391 Yeah. 658 00:29:33,941 --> 00:29:37,011 Again, this application isn't just for us individually. 659 00:29:37,161 --> 00:29:38,771 It's for us collectively. 660 00:29:39,251 --> 00:29:46,201 For us to be a faithful people, showing our faithfulness to God, to 661 00:29:46,201 --> 00:29:49,521 God's people, and to God's mission. 662 00:29:50,281 --> 00:29:51,961 Imagine if all of us do that this week. 663 00:29:51,961 --> 00:29:55,031 I believe we're gonna see some testimony of how God's been faithful. 664 00:29:55,031 --> 00:29:57,261 We're also gonna be able to testify how we're seeing the Spirit 665 00:29:57,261 --> 00:29:59,362 grow this faithfulness in us. 666 00:29:59,371 --> 00:29:59,391 Yeah. 667 00:30:00,001 --> 00:30:05,082 So as we conclude, the faithful God has placed His faithful Spirit within us, 668 00:30:05,501 --> 00:30:12,031 and as we stay and keep in step with Him, He produces a faithful people. 669 00:30:12,031 --> 00:30:15,611 Galatians 5:22, we'll close out here. 670 00:30:15,941 --> 00:30:19,991 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, 671 00:30:20,021 --> 00:30:23,121 kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 672 00:30:23,361 --> 00:30:25,312 Against such things there is no law. 673 00:30:25,721 --> 00:30:29,011 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh 674 00:30:29,021 --> 00:30:30,521 with its passions and desires. 675 00:30:31,551 --> 00:30:36,612 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." 676 00:30:36,871 --> 00:30:40,191 May we become faithful from living a life on the vine. 677 00:30:40,251 --> 00:30:40,641 Amen.