1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:01,350 Dallas Kaauwai: All right. 2 00:00:01,350 --> 00:00:02,370 Good morning everyone. 3 00:00:02,370 --> 00:00:03,240 How are we doing? 4 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:03,660 Morning. 5 00:00:04,290 --> 00:00:06,900 Happy Father's Day, all the fathers in the room. 6 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:11,310 Um, also just a special shout out to all the spiritual fathers in the room as well. 7 00:00:11,370 --> 00:00:14,880 Um, we saw, I just wanna, like I said, I, for those of you who don't 8 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:17,940 know, I grew up in, not in Orange County, but in our family of churches. 9 00:00:17,940 --> 00:00:21,390 And, uh, one of the things that my parents emphasized on me is that 10 00:00:21,390 --> 00:00:24,360 to have deep relationships in the church, to like have another family. 11 00:00:24,690 --> 00:00:27,870 Um, I didn't have a lot of extended family growing up in my life, so all I 12 00:00:27,870 --> 00:00:29,400 had growing up really was the church. 13 00:00:30,165 --> 00:00:32,174 For me standing before you today. 14 00:00:32,174 --> 00:00:32,985 I see family. 15 00:00:32,985 --> 00:00:35,625 I don't just see people or congregants or members in a church. 16 00:00:35,625 --> 00:00:36,285 I see family. 17 00:00:36,285 --> 00:00:41,114 I see mothers and fathers and sisters, brothers, uncles, uh, aunts and cousins. 18 00:00:41,114 --> 00:00:43,004 I don't really say cousins, but I'd probably just say brothers and sisters 19 00:00:43,004 --> 00:00:43,935 is probably the best way to put it. 20 00:00:44,295 --> 00:00:47,985 But I see family in this room and I thank you to all the fathers that have helped 21 00:00:48,015 --> 00:00:50,415 me, uh, make Orange County feel like home. 22 00:00:50,415 --> 00:00:51,735 It's, I'm coming up on. 23 00:00:52,410 --> 00:00:55,230 Oh, dear God, seven years, uh, here. 24 00:00:55,440 --> 00:01:01,350 Um, and it is definitely, definitely felt like home the last, at the last few years. 25 00:01:01,350 --> 00:01:04,500 I mean, in my undergrad I would feel like I was just wandering around 26 00:01:04,500 --> 00:01:06,990 trying to figure out where I was gonna be in life, and then I ended 27 00:01:06,990 --> 00:01:08,610 up staying here after my undergrad. 28 00:01:08,610 --> 00:01:11,460 So I, I feel like I'm building my roots down here pretty deep. 29 00:01:11,460 --> 00:01:14,640 So, but Happy Father's Day to all the fathers spiritual fathers in the room 30 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:17,760 that have really helped me mature in my faith and have invested into me. 31 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:18,900 I can't thank you enough. 32 00:01:19,230 --> 00:01:21,600 Um, but also the way that you guys lead your families as well. 33 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:25,080 We appreciate the way you guys set the example for us, especially for young 34 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:28,800 men like myself, um, who aspire to be fathers one day, aspire to be husbands. 35 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:30,060 So I appreciate you guys so much. 36 00:01:30,060 --> 00:01:31,080 Let's give you round applause for that. 37 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:31,440 So thank you. 38 00:01:33,690 --> 00:01:37,139 Um, one other thing, um, as Marelle mentioned earlier, with everything 39 00:01:37,139 --> 00:01:40,199 going on in our country right now, we just want to emphasize that. 40 00:01:40,475 --> 00:01:44,195 The staff and the ministry leaders are very open to really discussing and helping 41 00:01:44,375 --> 00:01:45,875 process through these things spiritually. 42 00:01:45,875 --> 00:01:49,535 So please feel free to reach out to any, uh, any of those in your family 43 00:01:49,535 --> 00:01:52,025 group or even just the leaders in the ministry here, um, to really 44 00:01:52,025 --> 00:01:52,985 help you process through that. 45 00:01:52,985 --> 00:01:55,505 Like, so we really wanna emphasize that we wanna do this together. 46 00:01:55,535 --> 00:01:58,865 This is not a solo thing that you've gotta go figure it on your own. 47 00:01:59,045 --> 00:02:01,985 Obviously, take the time to figure out and discern on your own and those things, 48 00:02:01,985 --> 00:02:03,155 but also, let's have a discussion. 49 00:02:03,455 --> 00:02:06,485 Let's not feel like we gotta silo ourselves to lay our own beliefs, 50 00:02:06,485 --> 00:02:08,195 but let's do this in unification. 51 00:02:08,225 --> 00:02:08,615 Amen. 52 00:02:09,095 --> 00:02:09,663 Um. 53 00:02:10,259 --> 00:02:12,120 But today we're gonna continue in our season. 54 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:15,300 Well, actually I want to first shout out my dad real quick. 55 00:02:15,300 --> 00:02:17,280 There he is, uh, Kevin Kawai. 56 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:17,910 Aw man. 57 00:02:17,910 --> 00:02:19,470 I get emotional every time I talk about this guy. 58 00:02:19,770 --> 00:02:20,520 I love this guy. 59 00:02:20,550 --> 00:02:22,410 Um, yeah, it's my dad. 60 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:25,350 He's, uh, unfortunately not with us today in the service. 61 00:02:25,350 --> 00:02:27,840 He's actually, um, helping out in the lifeway service. 62 00:02:28,079 --> 00:02:29,820 Um, he did leads worship out there. 63 00:02:30,150 --> 00:02:33,750 Shout out to Frank and Florence Korea, who are here as well, um, from Lifeway. 64 00:02:33,810 --> 00:02:37,320 Um, and, uh, yeah, it's my dad, you know, so on the left. 65 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:37,620 Left. 66 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:39,870 Um, yes, your left, my right. 67 00:02:40,109 --> 00:02:41,100 Um, that's me and my dad. 68 00:02:41,100 --> 00:02:42,329 I think when I was like six or seven. 69 00:02:42,329 --> 00:02:44,820 I think he, my dad is the one that helped me fall in love with baseball 70 00:02:44,820 --> 00:02:45,810 and fall in love with the Dodgers. 71 00:02:45,810 --> 00:02:48,989 He was, he's, uh, always just bled the blue and so he, I 72 00:02:48,989 --> 00:02:50,220 will ooze that out as well. 73 00:02:50,220 --> 00:02:52,140 That's passed down in my generation as well. 74 00:02:52,410 --> 00:02:54,660 Um, and that is us on opening day this year. 75 00:02:54,870 --> 00:02:59,490 Um, so like the legacy continues and, uh, yeah, he's just my, he, he's my rock. 76 00:02:59,490 --> 00:03:00,240 He's my inspiration. 77 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:00,899 I love this guy. 78 00:03:00,959 --> 00:03:02,280 I mean, he is just. 79 00:03:02,820 --> 00:03:07,350 I think a lot of what you see is from him and I can't express enough of how much 80 00:03:07,350 --> 00:03:08,910 I am just blessed to have him as my dad. 81 00:03:12,090 --> 00:03:13,050 Oh my gosh. 82 00:03:14,460 --> 00:03:15,810 Haven't even started yet, man. 83 00:03:16,380 --> 00:03:17,700 Oh, goodness gracious. 84 00:03:17,700 --> 00:03:18,480 I love my dad. 85 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:19,110 He's awesome. 86 00:03:19,140 --> 00:03:20,310 And I love my mom as well. 87 00:03:20,340 --> 00:03:24,420 Uh, one and the same and very much, uh, my rocks in my life. 88 00:03:24,420 --> 00:03:27,900 But my dad is definitely, uh, the man that I aspire to be every day. 89 00:03:29,685 --> 00:03:30,795 Whew, man. 90 00:03:34,965 --> 00:03:35,325 Woo. 91 00:03:35,325 --> 00:03:36,165 All right, here we go. 92 00:03:36,165 --> 00:03:36,495 All right. 93 00:03:36,495 --> 00:03:36,915 Amen. 94 00:03:37,484 --> 00:03:38,174 Let's pray. 95 00:03:39,405 --> 00:03:41,174 Let me get myself centered here, but let's pray. 96 00:03:41,234 --> 00:03:42,885 Um, before we get into our spirit, let's bow our heads. 97 00:03:43,364 --> 00:03:44,984 Uh, God, thank you so much for today. 98 00:03:45,045 --> 00:03:46,935 God, thank you so much for the fathers in the room. 99 00:03:47,084 --> 00:03:50,234 God, thank you so much for the way that you are the ultimate Father, 100 00:03:50,234 --> 00:03:52,695 the, the father that is ever loving. 101 00:03:53,204 --> 00:03:55,635 Ever compassionate, ever present? 102 00:03:55,725 --> 00:03:59,385 Um, God, we, we thank you so much for your son and the sacrifice that he, 103 00:03:59,385 --> 00:04:02,685 uh, had laid before us, God, in the way that we get to live our lives today. 104 00:04:02,685 --> 00:04:04,905 Not for ourselves, but for you, God, and that you desire to 105 00:04:04,905 --> 00:04:05,745 have a relationship with us. 106 00:04:05,745 --> 00:04:09,225 I pray today that the words that come out of my heart, God, are from your spirit 107 00:04:09,225 --> 00:04:12,315 and from your word, and that they carry so much greater than my own Father. 108 00:04:12,315 --> 00:04:16,875 We pray to be, um, inspired and encouraged, uh, but also convicted, um, 109 00:04:16,875 --> 00:04:18,105 by what you have to share with us today. 110 00:04:18,195 --> 00:04:19,875 Um, but Father, we love you so much. 111 00:04:20,204 --> 00:04:21,344 We pray on your son Jesus name. 112 00:04:21,459 --> 00:04:21,750 Amen. 113 00:04:22,739 --> 00:04:25,500 All right, so we are studying out what's called the Forgotten Letters. 114 00:04:25,500 --> 00:04:28,590 Not so much from the sense that they are forgotten and because that we 115 00:04:28,590 --> 00:04:31,229 just don't think they exist, but they're actually just those smaller 116 00:04:31,229 --> 00:04:33,810 books in the Bible that we don't usually get around to talking about. 117 00:04:33,989 --> 00:04:37,200 Last week, Marcel started off with Philemon, and that was a great series. 118 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:39,150 I think I haven't, I can't remember the last time I talked through 119 00:04:39,150 --> 00:04:40,469 him, went through Fight Philemon. 120 00:04:40,469 --> 00:04:42,900 But honestly, it was also great to see that. 121 00:04:42,929 --> 00:04:45,419 I think for me, what I grew up in, what I see is that. 122 00:04:45,465 --> 00:04:49,965 Like we have to fight tooth and nail in the church to see each other 123 00:04:49,965 --> 00:04:52,215 as brothers and sisters in Christ. 124 00:04:52,395 --> 00:04:53,114 First. 125 00:04:53,895 --> 00:04:57,854 It's hard because easy, it's easy to see each other as friends or as colleagues 126 00:04:57,854 --> 00:05:01,664 or as coworkers, but sometimes, but it's really that we are brothers and 127 00:05:01,664 --> 00:05:04,755 sisters in the spiritual kingdom of God. 128 00:05:04,875 --> 00:05:05,325 Amen. 129 00:05:05,745 --> 00:05:08,145 And so in, in the context of giving, what I'm giving you from 130 00:05:08,145 --> 00:05:11,510 FIMA was that, you know, FIMA was writing to one and he had, um. 131 00:05:12,284 --> 00:05:15,885 He had a slave was, was a slave that he was sending back to him. 132 00:05:15,885 --> 00:05:19,155 And basically it was like finally was saying, Hey, please receive this 133 00:05:19,155 --> 00:05:22,544 man, this back, this slave that once ran away from you as your brother in 134 00:05:22,544 --> 00:05:25,125 Christ, not as this slave something even better, which is your brother. 135 00:05:25,484 --> 00:05:28,155 And so I think I really loved that talk and I mean, it was just really, it was 136 00:05:28,155 --> 00:05:31,635 really inspiring because like I said, in the world it's easy to see each other as 137 00:05:31,635 --> 00:05:33,344 odds of what we can get from each other. 138 00:05:33,645 --> 00:05:36,674 But in the kingdom we look to collectively be unified and can be connected. 139 00:05:36,674 --> 00:05:37,005 Amen. 140 00:05:37,380 --> 00:05:39,030 So today we're gonna talk about second John. 141 00:05:39,030 --> 00:05:40,770 So if you wanna flip your Bibles over there, if you can 142 00:05:40,770 --> 00:05:42,750 find it, it's there, trust me. 143 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:46,020 Um, but we're gonna be in second John in just a little bit of background. 144 00:05:46,020 --> 00:05:49,830 So the author of this is traditionally attributed to the Apostle John, 145 00:05:50,070 --> 00:05:54,630 one of the 12, likely written between 80, 85 and 90 and 80 95. 146 00:05:55,020 --> 00:05:57,299 John lived the longest outta all the other, all the other 147 00:05:57,299 --> 00:05:59,099 apostles, and died a natural death. 148 00:05:59,099 --> 00:06:02,700 So if you didn't know that, John actually was obviously one of the original 12. 149 00:06:02,955 --> 00:06:07,155 He was actually the only one that was not crucified or beaten or, um, 150 00:06:07,185 --> 00:06:08,625 even, or not Cruc crucified, beaten. 151 00:06:08,625 --> 00:06:11,235 He was definitely beaten in, in certain, in certain capacities, 152 00:06:11,235 --> 00:06:12,525 but he wasn't like crucified. 153 00:06:12,525 --> 00:06:13,275 He wasn't killed. 154 00:06:13,275 --> 00:06:16,395 He wasn't like necessarily tortured to death in a way, but he died a 155 00:06:16,395 --> 00:06:19,755 natural death on his own, which is honestly pretty, it's pretty 156 00:06:19,755 --> 00:06:21,285 intense to think that he lived. 157 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:22,719 Such a long span of life. 158 00:06:22,719 --> 00:06:26,349 So usually he's attributed to this letter and especially in his style of writing, 159 00:06:26,349 --> 00:06:27,640 which we'll get into a little bit later. 160 00:06:27,849 --> 00:06:30,729 But some of the main characters that we wanna talk about here are John the 161 00:06:30,729 --> 00:06:34,599 elder, the elect lady, her children, which in this context I believe it could 162 00:06:34,599 --> 00:06:36,460 be the A local church and its members. 163 00:06:36,460 --> 00:06:37,750 And I'll explain why a little bit later. 164 00:06:37,900 --> 00:06:42,070 But also the deceivers false teachers who denied the incarnation of Jesus Christ and 165 00:06:42,070 --> 00:06:44,679 pose a threat to the believers in faith. 166 00:06:45,900 --> 00:06:48,600 You know, the purpose of this is for John to write, uh, to encourage 167 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:52,350 believers to walk in the truth and with love while warning them to remain 168 00:06:52,350 --> 00:06:55,860 vigilant against the Sears who deny the incarnation of Jesus Christ. 169 00:06:56,130 --> 00:07:00,000 The letter emphasizes obedience to God's commandments, the importance 170 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:03,660 of abiding in correct doctrine, and the need to avoid giving false 171 00:07:03,660 --> 00:07:05,550 teachers any platform or support. 172 00:07:05,910 --> 00:07:08,670 This is not your normal Father's Day lesson, so I'm sorry if you 173 00:07:08,670 --> 00:07:09,990 were coming in for something fuzzy. 174 00:07:10,470 --> 00:07:11,430 We're about to get into it. 175 00:07:11,430 --> 00:07:11,730 All right. 176 00:07:12,734 --> 00:07:13,844 So let's jump in real quick. 177 00:07:13,844 --> 00:07:16,395 So first, uh, second John chapter, uh, verse one. 178 00:07:16,395 --> 00:07:20,115 See, this is where I'm, this chapters are gonna get me, um, to the la to the, uh, 179 00:07:20,115 --> 00:07:24,585 the elder, to the lady chosen by God and her children, whom I love in the truth. 180 00:07:24,885 --> 00:07:29,235 Not only I, but also all who know the truth because of the truth which 181 00:07:29,235 --> 00:07:31,755 lives in us will be with us forever. 182 00:07:31,965 --> 00:07:35,565 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father, and from Jesus 183 00:07:35,565 --> 00:07:40,575 Christ, the father's son, will be with us in truth and love. 184 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:43,409 Alright, so obviously context real quick. 185 00:07:43,409 --> 00:07:45,330 So the lady chosen by God and her children. 186 00:07:45,330 --> 00:07:48,840 Now remember we have to also understand that we can't read 187 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:49,890 this from our perspective. 188 00:07:49,890 --> 00:07:52,620 We have to remember that we're reading this from someone in a 189 00:07:52,620 --> 00:07:56,580 different times, in a different, uh, era of time right now when they're 190 00:07:56,580 --> 00:07:57,720 sending letters around the church. 191 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:00,660 Obviously Christianity was not very, pop was popular, but very 192 00:08:00,660 --> 00:08:02,070 unpopular against the government. 193 00:08:02,070 --> 00:08:05,550 That was honestly, um, overseeing, uh, the times of where John 194 00:08:05,550 --> 00:08:06,630 and the church were at. 195 00:08:06,990 --> 00:08:09,840 Now, like I said, if a letter was intercepted at any point, maybe that's the 196 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:11,790 context of certain letters of who it was. 197 00:08:11,790 --> 00:08:14,880 So maybe when John was writing this, John was trying to maybe keep a 198 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:18,180 secret, the identity of who he was writing to and call it the elect lady. 199 00:08:18,180 --> 00:08:19,740 That's what some scholars choose there to believe. 200 00:08:19,740 --> 00:08:22,440 I'm not trying to impose my own self here, but that's just what some 201 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:25,620 scholars have were choosing to believe or, uh, just, uh, theorize at times. 202 00:08:25,890 --> 00:08:30,450 Another thing as well is that think about how we refer to our family of churches. 203 00:08:30,750 --> 00:08:33,570 We say what our sister churches, right? 204 00:08:33,975 --> 00:08:37,875 So the idea is that in Greek, the Ecclesia is actually a feminine term, 205 00:08:38,205 --> 00:08:41,115 so that when we refer to the elect lady, we're actually referring, he's 206 00:08:41,115 --> 00:08:42,674 probably referring to a local church. 207 00:08:42,945 --> 00:08:44,295 I don't know if he's talking about to the greater church. 208 00:08:44,295 --> 00:08:46,965 Obviously this is, this letter has gone to us today as the Greater 209 00:08:46,965 --> 00:08:50,145 church, but as the elect church, maybe this was a local church and it's, 210 00:08:50,265 --> 00:08:52,005 and her children are the members. 211 00:08:52,215 --> 00:08:56,505 So that's where most scholars have believed to get this perspective from 212 00:08:56,505 --> 00:08:58,275 what John was writing from at this point. 213 00:08:59,220 --> 00:09:03,360 Now, what's a phrase that or the, or the word that you see the most in these 214 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:05,550 three, in these three, uh, verses so far? 215 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:07,620 Truth. 216 00:09:07,620 --> 00:09:08,730 Right, right. 217 00:09:08,730 --> 00:09:14,160 It says Who I love in the truth and who I know the truth and because of the truth. 218 00:09:14,310 --> 00:09:14,610 Right? 219 00:09:14,610 --> 00:09:16,140 And with us in truth in love. 220 00:09:16,140 --> 00:09:16,590 Right. 221 00:09:16,620 --> 00:09:17,745 And so just some context as well. 222 00:09:18,210 --> 00:09:21,060 First, John was talking a lot about love First. 223 00:09:21,060 --> 00:09:23,310 John was all about love and the writing style that John has is 224 00:09:23,310 --> 00:09:25,710 that, you know, he calls himself the one that Jesus loved, right? 225 00:09:25,710 --> 00:09:26,069 I don't know. 226 00:09:26,069 --> 00:09:26,550 That's a. 227 00:09:26,565 --> 00:09:28,395 To me that that's a, I don't have that. 228 00:09:28,455 --> 00:09:30,735 I don't feel like I don't have that big of an ego, but if John calls 229 00:09:30,735 --> 00:09:33,225 us the one that Jesus loved, 'cause he said it, I'll give it to him. 230 00:09:33,495 --> 00:09:37,965 But John emphasizes a lot of love though in First John, and now in the second John. 231 00:09:37,965 --> 00:09:38,445 Here we are. 232 00:09:38,445 --> 00:09:39,975 And he's talking about truth. 233 00:09:40,455 --> 00:09:43,185 So it's like, okay, John, what is more important here? 234 00:09:43,335 --> 00:09:45,465 Is it love or is it truth? 235 00:09:46,035 --> 00:09:49,335 And I think it's, I think it's hard for us to kind of discern on our 236 00:09:49,335 --> 00:09:52,635 own what is more important without Jesus in the picture, because some 237 00:09:52,635 --> 00:09:54,285 of us lean more towards the truth. 238 00:09:54,750 --> 00:09:57,870 And some of us lean towards a lot of love, right? 239 00:09:57,870 --> 00:10:01,439 But in, in, on their, in, on their own, on their own planes, it's 240 00:10:01,439 --> 00:10:04,170 very hard to have one without the other and try to be like Jesus. 241 00:10:04,170 --> 00:10:04,590 Amen. 242 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:08,640 Because if you have a lot of truth and no love, it's harsh. 243 00:10:09,420 --> 00:10:12,360 If you have a lot of love, but no truth, it's very shallow. 244 00:10:13,350 --> 00:10:15,120 So it's hard to find the balance. 245 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:20,880 So John here is not trying to have us choose between the two or confuse us. 246 00:10:20,910 --> 00:10:23,670 He's trying to show us that both are needed. 247 00:10:23,730 --> 00:10:23,790 Yeah. 248 00:10:24,420 --> 00:10:26,430 Truth and love are both needed. 249 00:10:26,430 --> 00:10:31,260 Now, I don't know about you, but to me, truth gives us at least direction, right? 250 00:10:31,260 --> 00:10:36,210 The common ground that we share as disciples in the truth is Jesus is our 251 00:10:36,210 --> 00:10:37,980 Lord, and that he has died for our sins. 252 00:10:37,980 --> 00:10:38,430 Amen. 253 00:10:39,060 --> 00:10:41,190 And that the reason we are here is because of him. 254 00:10:41,580 --> 00:10:42,750 So that is the truth that we have. 255 00:10:42,750 --> 00:10:47,220 It gives us direction as to least where we are going, but how do we get there? 256 00:10:47,220 --> 00:10:50,640 Well, it's because of our love for him is where we can actually 257 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:51,930 have some direction to keep going. 258 00:10:51,930 --> 00:10:53,160 Now, moving forward. 259 00:10:53,490 --> 00:10:53,760 Right. 260 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:56,490 So if we have the truth and we say, well, Jesus loves me and he died for me, and we 261 00:10:56,490 --> 00:11:00,210 stay here in our truth, then it's hard for us to what move forward and branch out. 262 00:11:00,390 --> 00:11:02,820 Or we have love and say, well, I know I love Jesus and I love the 263 00:11:02,820 --> 00:11:05,880 church so much, but I have, but my truth is not rooted in that. 264 00:11:05,939 --> 00:11:08,189 Then we're just going aimlessly everywhere. 265 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:12,660 So we need to have truth, and we need to have love in our relationships. 266 00:11:12,660 --> 00:11:13,770 That is essential. 267 00:11:14,550 --> 00:11:18,000 Now, the love that he talks about here, and, and this is where we have 268 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,700 to, like I said, make sure we're doing our studies as we're reading. 269 00:11:21,030 --> 00:11:23,280 Is that we have to know what kind of love is he talking about? 270 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:25,320 And obviously he's talking about agape love. 271 00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:28,590 If you translate it, and we've talked about a lot about agape love here, 272 00:11:28,590 --> 00:11:34,410 and that is the selfless, selfless, action based and unconditional love. 273 00:11:34,680 --> 00:11:40,020 It's not rooted in emotion, but in commitment and in truth now. 274 00:11:40,260 --> 00:11:41,370 Now what is the truth? 275 00:11:41,370 --> 00:11:42,930 Now, like I said, he, he kind of keeps it. 276 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:46,710 Now obviously, I, I don't think he means to make it very ambiguous, 277 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:50,070 but if he's speaking to the church and what the truth is. 278 00:11:50,984 --> 00:11:51,765 It's called. 279 00:11:51,795 --> 00:11:53,655 It's called this word in Greek called Althea. 280 00:11:54,194 --> 00:11:59,025 It was this Unhidden reality, the Unhidden reality. 281 00:11:59,025 --> 00:12:00,870 So let's, okay, what is this Unhidden reality? 282 00:12:00,875 --> 00:12:03,165 What is the truth that you're talking about here, John? 283 00:12:03,584 --> 00:12:08,864 It says, the truth is that the full, unchanging reality of who Jesus is, what 284 00:12:08,864 --> 00:12:14,685 he's done, and what he teaches, that is the truth that we walk in, we walk in 285 00:12:14,685 --> 00:12:19,755 knowing that Jesus is who he says he is, and who he's said to be in the Bible. 286 00:12:20,459 --> 00:12:23,400 What he's done and the miracles and he's performed, the sacrifice on the 287 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:27,240 cross that he has and what he teaches us to do and how to live a godly life. 288 00:12:27,329 --> 00:12:28,859 That is the truth that we walk in. 289 00:12:29,250 --> 00:12:31,349 That is the common ground that we live in. 290 00:12:32,609 --> 00:12:33,900 Are you guys with me so far here? 291 00:12:33,930 --> 00:12:34,020 Yes. 292 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:39,150 And so you have to ask yourself though is, is your, are your relationships 293 00:12:39,150 --> 00:12:45,030 with one another built on shared truth or just shared interests? 294 00:12:47,010 --> 00:12:49,709 Because if this is your truth that we live by. 295 00:12:50,205 --> 00:12:52,814 Do our relationships look like we were reflecting more of 296 00:12:52,814 --> 00:12:54,375 Christ or more of the world? 297 00:12:55,064 --> 00:12:58,275 Because like I said, Marcel said yes, uh, last week that we have, it's 298 00:12:58,275 --> 00:12:59,895 the Kingdom of God versus the world. 299 00:12:59,895 --> 00:13:04,725 What perspec, what perception, what um, what nar know, what narrative are you 300 00:13:04,725 --> 00:13:08,415 going to take on the one that the world gives, the one that the kingdom gives? 301 00:13:08,415 --> 00:13:12,915 Because if it's the kingdom, this is your truth, and that you live by who 302 00:13:12,915 --> 00:13:17,475 Jesus was, who he said to have been, and what he commands us to become. 303 00:13:19,020 --> 00:13:21,810 Truth is the compass, love is the fuel. 304 00:13:21,810 --> 00:13:24,690 One gives direction, the other gives us power. 305 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:27,420 You know, my dad never shied away from the truth. 306 00:13:28,050 --> 00:13:30,925 He's always, I, I think that's why, for me, if you know me, I'm, I'm 307 00:13:30,930 --> 00:13:32,940 very much direct because of my dad. 308 00:13:33,305 --> 00:13:35,370 He, he, he, he laid it on me at times, man. 309 00:13:35,370 --> 00:13:37,950 There were times where I, I, I, I'll be honest, I was in knucklehead 310 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:42,120 and I, if he, if you could believe it or not, thank you Eric. 311 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:46,320 Um, but my dad never shied away from the truth. 312 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:51,390 One thing I love about my dad is that because he's a man of God, he also never 313 00:13:51,390 --> 00:13:52,860 shyed away from showing me love as well. 314 00:13:54,060 --> 00:13:57,210 That just because there was truth doesn't mean that there wasn't love in, 315 00:13:57,210 --> 00:14:00,180 in the discipline that I received in my sometimes when I said, when I was 316 00:14:00,180 --> 00:14:04,140 a knucklehead and I needed direction, the truth, yes, it set me on the right. 317 00:14:04,140 --> 00:14:07,890 It gave me direction, but it also, the love prompted me to want to be better. 318 00:14:08,700 --> 00:14:11,430 And in our relationships with one another is the truth. 319 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:14,700 Directing ourselves back to you need to become more like me. 320 00:14:15,195 --> 00:14:16,935 Or do we need to become more like Christ? 321 00:14:17,295 --> 00:14:20,925 And if you're encouraging one another to do that daily, then that should 322 00:14:21,045 --> 00:14:25,245 be felt in the truth that you share through God's word and also in the love 323 00:14:25,245 --> 00:14:28,305 that you share because of your love for him and your love for each other. 324 00:14:28,545 --> 00:14:30,855 Like I said, 'cause our love is limited, right? 325 00:14:31,185 --> 00:14:35,355 We cap our love at a certain point, but if we are trying to live within the 326 00:14:35,355 --> 00:14:37,395 truth, then our love has to be agape. 327 00:14:37,395 --> 00:14:38,625 It has to have no limits. 328 00:14:38,625 --> 00:14:40,185 It can't be based on emotions. 329 00:14:40,335 --> 00:14:43,515 It can't be based on similar interests or likeness. 330 00:14:44,025 --> 00:14:46,005 It has to be based in the truth. 331 00:14:46,365 --> 00:14:46,935 Amen. 332 00:14:47,069 --> 00:14:47,360 Amen. 333 00:14:47,775 --> 00:14:49,605 All right, let's keeping, let's keep it moving here. 334 00:14:50,085 --> 00:14:51,345 We have to love with truth at the center. 335 00:14:51,345 --> 00:14:51,525 Sorry. 336 00:14:51,525 --> 00:14:52,215 That's my first point. 337 00:14:52,215 --> 00:14:55,515 Love with truth at the center, we're gonna continue. 338 00:14:55,515 --> 00:14:58,305 In verse four, it says, it has given me great joy to find some of 339 00:14:58,305 --> 00:15:02,385 your children walking in the truth just as the father commanded us. 340 00:15:02,625 --> 00:15:07,814 And now, dear lady, I'm not writing to you a new command, but one, um, 341 00:15:07,814 --> 00:15:11,745 we have had from the beginning, I ask that we love one another. 342 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:15,540 This is love that we walk in obedience to his commands. 343 00:15:15,570 --> 00:15:19,830 As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. 344 00:15:21,540 --> 00:15:23,280 He says, you know, I, I love how you points out. 345 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:25,740 He's like, I'm not writing to you something new here. 346 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:28,440 He says something that we've heard from the beginning. 347 00:15:28,980 --> 00:15:31,560 And you know what's pretty funny is that I think some of us can feel 348 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:34,200 like even myself, I, I put myself in this, in this, in this bowl with 349 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:38,610 you, is that we hear this all the time, love, love, love one another. 350 00:15:38,895 --> 00:15:40,125 Love God, we'll love one another. 351 00:15:40,395 --> 00:15:43,005 And you think to yourself, you're like, man, how many times does someone 352 00:15:43,005 --> 00:15:44,385 have to say it before we get it? 353 00:15:45,225 --> 00:15:46,750 But don't you don't you have to. 354 00:15:46,770 --> 00:15:49,035 We have to kind of, I have to humble myself to think of like, 355 00:15:49,065 --> 00:15:51,945 okay, you think the reason why he says it so many times is 'cause we 356 00:15:51,945 --> 00:15:53,565 actually haven't done it all the way. 357 00:15:54,585 --> 00:15:55,215 Right? 358 00:15:55,515 --> 00:15:56,175 Let's think about it. 359 00:15:56,175 --> 00:15:56,685 Right? 360 00:15:56,835 --> 00:15:59,835 Like if someone has to tell you to do something over and over and over 361 00:15:59,835 --> 00:16:03,225 again, which honestly my dad hated having me do it because I would 362 00:16:03,285 --> 00:16:04,095 tell me, he'd tell me something. 363 00:16:04,095 --> 00:16:05,445 I was like, Dallas, make sure you take the trash. 364 00:16:05,505 --> 00:16:06,075 Yeah, I got it. 365 00:16:06,555 --> 00:16:07,814 Five minutes later, Dallas, take out the trash. 366 00:16:07,875 --> 00:16:08,385 Yeah, I got it. 367 00:16:08,385 --> 00:16:08,685 Don't worry. 368 00:16:08,685 --> 00:16:09,075 Don't worry, dad. 369 00:16:09,075 --> 00:16:09,465 I got it. 370 00:16:10,095 --> 00:16:10,875 Dallas, take out the trash. 371 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:11,069 Dad. 372 00:16:11,145 --> 00:16:11,805 I told you I get it. 373 00:16:11,805 --> 00:16:14,805 He's like, this is my third time telling you when are you going to do it. 374 00:16:15,165 --> 00:16:15,675 Right. 375 00:16:15,915 --> 00:16:19,814 So in the same way John said, I'm not writing to you something groundbreaking 376 00:16:19,814 --> 00:16:21,555 or something new or fresh off the pre. 377 00:16:21,555 --> 00:16:23,895 Like this is something that has been preached since the 378 00:16:23,895 --> 00:16:26,030 beginning to love one another. 379 00:16:26,625 --> 00:16:30,135 And like I said, if we're being told something time and time again, maybe we 380 00:16:30,135 --> 00:16:33,314 have to take a look in the mirror and think, am I doing this the right way? 381 00:16:33,944 --> 00:16:37,484 Am I doing this to the full extent that I'm expected through Christ? 382 00:16:37,484 --> 00:16:41,925 Now, obviously it's not perfection, but it's the idea that if we are called to 383 00:16:41,925 --> 00:16:45,435 love one another, how important is it though that we truly love one another? 384 00:16:45,435 --> 00:16:50,025 And think about this, what would it truly look like if we love to the full 385 00:16:50,025 --> 00:16:52,454 capacity that we are called to love? 386 00:16:53,415 --> 00:16:54,435 What would our church look like? 387 00:16:55,094 --> 00:16:56,444 What would your relationships look like? 388 00:16:56,444 --> 00:16:57,645 What would your families look like? 389 00:16:57,645 --> 00:17:01,035 What would your marriages look like to love to the full capacity? 390 00:17:01,500 --> 00:17:04,829 We are called to love, and it's hard because like I said, it's not based on 391 00:17:04,829 --> 00:17:10,710 your limits and based on your standards and what your capacity is to love. 392 00:17:10,919 --> 00:17:13,378 It's based on the capacity to give sacrificially like Christ. 393 00:17:14,430 --> 00:17:18,480 Now, honestly, it's pretty interesting because what now, he goes, he goes a 394 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:20,970 step further to define what love is. 395 00:17:21,358 --> 00:17:22,950 He says that what is to that? 396 00:17:22,950 --> 00:17:23,940 This is love. 397 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:25,079 He says, I'm gonna define it for you. 398 00:17:25,079 --> 00:17:28,950 He's like, if you, if it wasn't clear enough what love is, this is what it is. 399 00:17:29,460 --> 00:17:32,370 It says that we walk in obedience to his commands. 400 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:36,750 John is not trying to make this an ambiguous thing that he's like, no, love 401 00:17:36,750 --> 00:17:40,110 is like this abstract, confusing emotion. 402 00:17:40,110 --> 00:17:42,780 No, love is obedience to God. 403 00:17:43,170 --> 00:17:44,700 And it's as simple as that. 404 00:17:45,120 --> 00:17:46,830 But I know it's easier said than done. 405 00:17:47,190 --> 00:17:47,850 Let's be honest. 406 00:17:47,850 --> 00:17:48,360 Right? 407 00:17:48,390 --> 00:17:49,830 It's easier said than done. 408 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:54,150 And it's hard because sometimes for me, I know for myself is I feel like, oh man, 409 00:17:54,150 --> 00:17:56,310 I'm feel like I'm doing a pretty good job. 410 00:17:56,700 --> 00:17:57,630 But like I said. 411 00:17:58,455 --> 00:18:00,975 To, when we're called to love someone, to the full extent, 412 00:18:01,245 --> 00:18:02,445 let's tie that in with obedience. 413 00:18:02,445 --> 00:18:05,475 Are we being obedient to the full extent that we know that we should? 414 00:18:06,945 --> 00:18:07,905 That's where we have to be. 415 00:18:07,905 --> 00:18:12,375 Kinda like, ugh, that, that, it kind of, it, it, it checks us because we have to 416 00:18:12,375 --> 00:18:14,865 sit there and think, man, and be honest. 417 00:18:15,615 --> 00:18:20,685 Am I being, am I being obedient to the full extent that God expects me? 418 00:18:21,225 --> 00:18:22,245 And it's a high calling, right? 419 00:18:22,245 --> 00:18:23,560 'cause I'm not, this is not talking about. 420 00:18:24,015 --> 00:18:24,975 Perfection. 421 00:18:25,155 --> 00:18:28,695 We're not talking about living it to the T because obviously we are 422 00:18:28,695 --> 00:18:33,585 flawed beings, but the desire has to be there if you desire to only go. 423 00:18:33,585 --> 00:18:37,605 Like I said, if I was a, if I, if I was an athlete, I remember my, and my dad, 424 00:18:37,665 --> 00:18:41,415 um, he played baseball and man, he, he would, we would go to the field when I 425 00:18:41,415 --> 00:18:44,145 was growing up and we would, we would, I'd throw and I would, because I was a 426 00:18:44,145 --> 00:18:47,685 pitcher and I would field, he would, he would help me train everything like that. 427 00:18:47,805 --> 00:18:50,985 And man, if my goal was only to be 50% good. 428 00:18:51,314 --> 00:18:53,175 Man, I would let some balls go by. 429 00:18:53,264 --> 00:18:56,985 I would let some throws go sailing over first base or I, I would just, 430 00:18:57,284 --> 00:18:59,865 I would, I wouldn't swing at some pitches when we were practicing batting 431 00:19:00,044 --> 00:19:02,294 if I, if my desire was to go 50%. 432 00:19:02,294 --> 00:19:05,084 But I said that I wanted to be the best, right? 433 00:19:05,504 --> 00:19:10,004 I wanted to be the best I wanted to be in, in baseball, but if I wasn't able 434 00:19:10,004 --> 00:19:14,685 to give my 100%, if I just, because I had the, the thought and it was a 435 00:19:14,685 --> 00:19:16,155 good idea to give a hundred percent. 436 00:19:16,725 --> 00:19:19,725 And if, if I'm not showing that, do I truly want that? 437 00:19:20,415 --> 00:19:25,275 If we desire to be fully like Christ, but we're giving 50% effort, 438 00:19:25,965 --> 00:19:31,995 75% effort to wanting to be fully obedient, do we truly, truly love God? 439 00:19:34,455 --> 00:19:35,775 Can we be real about that? 440 00:19:36,825 --> 00:19:37,395 Right. 441 00:19:38,175 --> 00:19:42,195 I don't think anyone in this room desires to, to, to really, I honestly, I don't, 442 00:19:42,195 --> 00:19:45,315 I don't wanna assume, but I don't want think anyone fully desires to truly like. 443 00:19:45,525 --> 00:19:48,585 Just go off the deep end just for the, just for, just for, just for 444 00:19:48,585 --> 00:19:51,975 the fun of it and for and for the idea and the possibility of it. 445 00:19:51,975 --> 00:19:53,205 But let's think about it. 446 00:19:53,205 --> 00:19:56,505 If we're here today, your desire is that you want to walk in the truth. 447 00:19:56,505 --> 00:19:56,925 Amen. 448 00:19:57,465 --> 00:20:00,015 And if you want to walk in the truth, you want to love God. 449 00:20:00,015 --> 00:20:00,465 Amen. 450 00:20:00,915 --> 00:20:03,375 And if you want to love God, then you want to obey God. 451 00:20:03,375 --> 00:20:03,855 Amen. 452 00:20:04,845 --> 00:20:08,865 So if that's the case, are we fully obeying God to the full 453 00:20:08,865 --> 00:20:10,185 extent that we truly desire? 454 00:20:11,235 --> 00:20:13,035 We have to be honest with ourselves in that church. 455 00:20:14,745 --> 00:20:19,455 The point I wanna make is that loving God, love God by obeying all the way. 456 00:20:20,565 --> 00:20:24,585 It's simple as that, but it's an honest question that we have to observe within 457 00:20:24,585 --> 00:20:28,335 our own hearts and have to discern and honestly keep each other accountable 458 00:20:28,335 --> 00:20:31,275 to, is that we obey all the way. 459 00:20:31,605 --> 00:20:34,935 I know for myself, it's like it's easy for me to let myself off because I feel like 460 00:20:34,935 --> 00:20:37,545 I'm doing good enough, but you know what? 461 00:20:37,545 --> 00:20:39,315 God didn't ask for me to do good enough. 462 00:20:39,315 --> 00:20:42,315 He asked me to give everything that I have, and it's not perfection. 463 00:20:42,375 --> 00:20:42,675 Right? 464 00:20:43,229 --> 00:20:47,580 It's giving all of our hearts because he gave all of us, God never asked us 465 00:20:47,580 --> 00:20:49,350 to do something that he didn't do first. 466 00:20:51,419 --> 00:20:56,280 We have to be willing to give all the way, obey all the way, and love all the way. 467 00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:56,879 Amen. 468 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:01,139 I know my dad loved me all the way. 469 00:21:02,879 --> 00:21:08,429 I mean, if it was I, a memory that I had with him was I was, uh, in first grade 470 00:21:08,639 --> 00:21:10,739 and we were doing presentations and. 471 00:21:11,085 --> 00:21:14,985 I remember I chose to do the solar system and present what all the planets were, 472 00:21:14,985 --> 00:21:18,165 and I, it was really cool because I had like a, I wish I had a picture of it, man. 473 00:21:18,165 --> 00:21:19,005 I should have found that one. 474 00:21:19,425 --> 00:21:22,935 But it's a, basically, a picture is, it was like a black cardboard cutout 475 00:21:23,385 --> 00:21:24,855 and with a bunch of styrofoam balls. 476 00:21:24,855 --> 00:21:28,635 And I, and I, and I, my idea was to like, kind of put them all on sticks 477 00:21:28,635 --> 00:21:31,155 and then order them in the way from like the sun all the way to Pluto. 478 00:21:31,245 --> 00:21:32,415 You can argue Pluto is a planet. 479 00:21:32,445 --> 00:21:34,245 This was like way back when, so don't worry about it. 480 00:21:34,755 --> 00:21:35,025 Right. 481 00:21:35,025 --> 00:21:39,105 It's, but I remember, obviously I'm working on it as a kid. 482 00:21:39,135 --> 00:21:40,425 I have no clue what I'm doing. 483 00:21:41,010 --> 00:21:46,110 I fall asleep early, so who stays up late and finishes it for me. 484 00:21:46,830 --> 00:21:53,190 My dad and I wake up the next morning and my project is done, and it, and honestly, 485 00:21:53,250 --> 00:21:54,810 it was a pretty dang good project. 486 00:21:54,815 --> 00:21:56,340 I, I, I hate that mess. 487 00:21:56,340 --> 00:21:56,820 It was great. 488 00:21:57,180 --> 00:22:00,540 But I'm saying that I know my dad loved me all the way just because he said, he 489 00:22:00,540 --> 00:22:02,220 said, he didn't just say, I'll help you. 490 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:04,290 He said, let me do this for you. 491 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:10,290 And even then my dad, oh my gosh, this man, I'm telling you, he would. 492 00:22:10,815 --> 00:22:12,465 He just, he's so sacrificial. 493 00:22:13,545 --> 00:22:15,735 I know my, my parents, they work in team ministry. 494 00:22:15,735 --> 00:22:18,855 They've been in team ministry last 10 years since I was a teen. 495 00:22:18,975 --> 00:22:19,245 Yes. 496 00:22:19,245 --> 00:22:21,165 They, they kind of cramped my style a little bit when I was 497 00:22:21,165 --> 00:22:22,125 in the teens, but it's fine. 498 00:22:23,025 --> 00:22:28,485 But I know my, my parents and especially my dad loves the teens. 499 00:22:28,965 --> 00:22:32,715 Not because he just shows up to devo and not because he just gets time with 500 00:22:32,715 --> 00:22:35,985 them, but he just pours into them. 501 00:22:36,735 --> 00:22:38,175 He takes them out for lunch. 502 00:22:38,175 --> 00:22:39,375 He takes them out for dinner. 503 00:22:39,525 --> 00:22:41,895 He even, like I said, when I was a teen, we would have sleepovers 504 00:22:41,895 --> 00:22:43,005 at the house with other teen guys. 505 00:22:43,065 --> 00:22:47,175 Since I've left, he's continued to have boys over that sleepover at their house. 506 00:22:49,725 --> 00:22:52,635 My par, my dad loves the teens all the way. 507 00:22:53,745 --> 00:22:55,065 He doesn't wanna sell 'em short. 508 00:22:55,095 --> 00:23:00,075 He wants to make sure that they know that they are loved and that he, that 509 00:23:00,075 --> 00:23:01,455 they know that they are supported. 510 00:23:01,455 --> 00:23:03,555 He goes through all of their graduation. 511 00:23:06,090 --> 00:23:08,340 I think he, he went to his third graduation. 512 00:23:08,460 --> 00:23:09,450 This, this season already. 513 00:23:10,470 --> 00:23:13,500 Like this, like this, man, I, like I said, and I don't wanna, I don't 514 00:23:13,500 --> 00:23:14,520 wanna put this man on a pedestal. 515 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:15,870 Like, I just, like, I just like, he's my dad. 516 00:23:15,870 --> 00:23:17,070 I love, I gotta hype him up, you know? 517 00:23:17,070 --> 00:23:18,090 This is his day too. 518 00:23:18,629 --> 00:23:21,750 I, I, I mean, I'll, I'll hype him up 364 other days of the year. 519 00:23:21,750 --> 00:23:22,290 Absolutely. 520 00:23:22,409 --> 00:23:26,310 But you know, today I, I definitely gotta hype him up because he truly 521 00:23:26,490 --> 00:23:30,450 shows me what, when you wanna obey God, you love people all the way. 522 00:23:31,590 --> 00:23:32,790 You give all the way. 523 00:23:33,780 --> 00:23:37,800 You don't sit there and sit back and say, well, you know, this is my desire to give, 524 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:39,750 but I'm only gonna give up to this much. 525 00:23:40,710 --> 00:23:42,750 He says, what can I give to the full extent? 526 00:23:43,890 --> 00:23:46,740 And I think that we also have to embody that that's how Christ was. 527 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:51,510 He gave us all that he had to the full extent, not withholding anything. 528 00:23:52,380 --> 00:23:56,460 'cause if he withheld anything, his sacrifice would've been in vain. 529 00:23:56,460 --> 00:23:56,820 In a sense. 530 00:23:56,820 --> 00:23:59,340 It would've been invalid because he would've backed out 531 00:23:59,340 --> 00:24:00,405 whether that was on the cross. 532 00:24:01,095 --> 00:24:04,485 That was enduring the shame, whether enduring the scorn, the flogging, 533 00:24:04,485 --> 00:24:08,715 whatever it was, if he would've just pulled back, he would not be the 534 00:24:08,715 --> 00:24:13,155 blameless perfect sacrifice that we get to worship and be grateful for today. 535 00:24:13,215 --> 00:24:13,605 Amen. 536 00:24:14,685 --> 00:24:20,415 So let's obey God by loving all the way by and love him, by obeying 537 00:24:20,445 --> 00:24:24,615 all the way it goes hand in hand, just the same way Christ obeyed God 538 00:24:24,615 --> 00:24:26,145 all the way on through the cross. 539 00:24:26,205 --> 00:24:26,625 Amen. 540 00:24:27,645 --> 00:24:28,515 Let's continue reading here. 541 00:24:29,070 --> 00:24:31,290 That's where we're gonna kind of get into it a little bit more here. 542 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:35,880 I say this because many deceivers who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ, 543 00:24:35,940 --> 00:24:38,730 verse seven as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. 544 00:24:39,090 --> 00:24:41,850 Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 545 00:24:42,120 --> 00:24:45,060 Watch how that you do not lose what we have worked for, but 546 00:24:45,060 --> 00:24:46,860 that you may be rewarded fully. 547 00:24:47,250 --> 00:24:49,620 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching 548 00:24:49,620 --> 00:24:51,480 of Christ, does not have God. 549 00:24:51,870 --> 00:24:55,020 Whoever continues in the teaching has both the father and the son. 550 00:24:55,335 --> 00:24:58,305 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take 551 00:24:58,305 --> 00:25:00,375 them into your house or welcome them. 552 00:25:00,705 --> 00:25:04,335 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work. 553 00:25:04,905 --> 00:25:07,485 Once again, this is not your typical Father's Day lesson. 554 00:25:08,145 --> 00:25:10,665 Alright, so let's break it down a little bit. 555 00:25:11,055 --> 00:25:13,305 I, I wanna underline the word antichrist. 556 00:25:13,305 --> 00:25:14,955 I don't know if you've heard about it. 557 00:25:14,955 --> 00:25:16,605 I, I'm sure some of us have heard about it. 558 00:25:16,605 --> 00:25:18,135 I don't know if it's been defined for you. 559 00:25:18,435 --> 00:25:20,865 Now, obviously, when we hear the word anti, what do we think of? 560 00:25:22,035 --> 00:25:22,605 Opposite. 561 00:25:22,605 --> 00:25:23,265 Right. 562 00:25:23,535 --> 00:25:23,775 Right. 563 00:25:23,775 --> 00:25:25,335 To night and day. 564 00:25:25,365 --> 00:25:25,725 Right. 565 00:25:25,725 --> 00:25:26,805 Black and white. 566 00:25:26,805 --> 00:25:26,925 Right. 567 00:25:26,925 --> 00:25:29,085 Those, they're antis, they're opposites of each other. 568 00:25:29,685 --> 00:25:32,475 Well, like I said, this is where we, let's say, continue to do the deep diving 569 00:25:32,475 --> 00:25:36,075 of certain things and we, and we study it out when we get to it, actually, 570 00:25:36,285 --> 00:25:42,885 anti means against, or instead of, it's anti cresto in Greek, and so the anti 571 00:25:43,485 --> 00:25:46,455 is against her instead of, and then c Christo obviously is Messiah or correct. 572 00:25:47,550 --> 00:25:51,150 So if you put those together, it's the against Christ, obviously, 573 00:25:51,390 --> 00:25:55,290 but also the instead of, or in other words, a replacement, 574 00:25:57,480 --> 00:25:59,160 interesting, interesting perspective, right? 575 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:01,380 Because now it is not just like the opposite of Christ, right? 576 00:26:01,380 --> 00:26:04,110 Obviously it's like good and bad, light and darkness. 577 00:26:04,115 --> 00:26:06,720 It's, it's not, it's, it's, it's the replacement. 578 00:26:07,530 --> 00:26:11,190 Because back in the day, people were actually trying to, to, to deceive other 579 00:26:11,190 --> 00:26:15,960 people saying that Jesus actually wasn't fully God or that he wasn't fully man. 580 00:26:16,919 --> 00:26:21,270 They try to alter and try to shift the perception of who Jesus was 581 00:26:21,270 --> 00:26:22,800 so that would fit their narrative. 582 00:26:23,730 --> 00:26:26,939 And I mean I can, I'm sure you can think about how that has formed out 583 00:26:26,939 --> 00:26:28,500 from there all the way until today. 584 00:26:28,679 --> 00:26:31,710 I mean, just this morning, I'll be honest, I was on Instagram and I was 585 00:26:31,710 --> 00:26:35,310 looking through and some of the things that come up on my feed about Jesus 586 00:26:35,310 --> 00:26:37,620 and about church are blowing my mind. 587 00:26:38,865 --> 00:26:42,825 The, the internet has become such a dangerous place for false 588 00:26:42,825 --> 00:26:46,695 teachers to insert their ways and their, and their doctrines into 589 00:26:46,695 --> 00:26:48,465 the minds of, of our, of us, right. 590 00:26:48,615 --> 00:26:50,745 And of our children who are receiving that. 591 00:26:51,885 --> 00:26:53,415 It is a dangerous place to be. 592 00:26:53,415 --> 00:26:55,695 I mean, something like, let's talk about a little bit some of the things 593 00:26:55,695 --> 00:27:00,495 that I feel like that are like, that are antichrist or replacement Jesus is, 594 00:27:00,705 --> 00:27:06,315 or that Jesus was just a good teacher, or that all religions lead to God. 595 00:27:07,350 --> 00:27:09,810 Or that Jesus, that God just wants you to be happy. 596 00:27:10,290 --> 00:27:14,580 You don't have to be holy or that, or that your truth is your truth, 597 00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:16,469 and that you can stand in it. 598 00:27:17,340 --> 00:27:21,120 And that Jesus affirms me without requiring change. 599 00:27:21,419 --> 00:27:24,870 That I'm saved by grace alone and that I don't have to live a life for him. 600 00:27:26,070 --> 00:27:30,959 That replacement, that idea that, that we take Christ out of the, we take the, the, 601 00:27:30,959 --> 00:27:35,340 the Biblical Christ out of the picture, we insert him with something else. 602 00:27:35,865 --> 00:27:38,685 Now obviously I think for us being here today, I don't think any of us are 603 00:27:38,685 --> 00:27:42,165 looking for an opportunity to, right now, at least I don't think of us are 604 00:27:42,165 --> 00:27:47,055 looking for an opportunity to really, um, to create, I guess, disunity within 605 00:27:47,055 --> 00:27:48,675 what the doctrine is of our church. 606 00:27:48,915 --> 00:27:52,125 We all believe that Jesus is the son of God, that he came down here, lived 607 00:27:52,125 --> 00:27:55,065 a perfect life, died on the cross of three days and was raised to life. 608 00:27:55,905 --> 00:27:58,005 There are people that are out there, like I said, that have a different 609 00:27:58,005 --> 00:28:02,295 narrative of who Jesus is, whether that's in Mormonism or Jehovah's Witness. 610 00:28:02,295 --> 00:28:03,585 Yes, I'm going to nineties. 611 00:28:04,290 --> 00:28:05,550 Because this is what we deal with. 612 00:28:05,550 --> 00:28:06,629 This is real talk. 613 00:28:06,689 --> 00:28:09,899 John talked about it back then and we're gonna talk about it right now. 614 00:28:12,210 --> 00:28:17,399 There are people here who are dis and disfiguring the image 615 00:28:17,429 --> 00:28:22,439 of the biblical Christ, who are looking to make it fit their own 616 00:28:22,439 --> 00:28:24,330 narrative and fit their own agenda. 617 00:28:26,669 --> 00:28:31,560 We have to be solidified in who Jesus is, and if anyone brings 618 00:28:31,560 --> 00:28:33,149 you anything that is not biblical. 619 00:28:33,900 --> 00:28:39,780 That is not the real Jesus that is an antichrist, that is a replacement Jesus. 620 00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:44,970 Or even like I said, the Jesus that tells you that you don't have to forgive of the 621 00:28:44,970 --> 00:28:46,590 people, that you just love 'em from afar. 622 00:28:47,760 --> 00:28:50,520 The Jesus that tells you that you don't have to repent of the sin or you have, 623 00:28:50,550 --> 00:28:54,090 you just have to just confess to him, but not confess to the rest of your brothers 624 00:28:54,090 --> 00:28:56,970 and sisters if you need people that get you in your life to help you out. 625 00:28:58,324 --> 00:29:01,719 There are things in this life that are going to try and disfigure and dis and, 626 00:29:01,725 --> 00:29:05,804 and, uh, and, and change you and form you away from what the biblical Christ is. 627 00:29:05,804 --> 00:29:08,834 That is what our culture, that is what the world, that is what Satan wants. 628 00:29:09,645 --> 00:29:13,844 He wants to take us away from what Jesus, who he truly is. 629 00:29:14,205 --> 00:29:16,455 And that is the biblically accurate Jesus. 630 00:29:17,054 --> 00:29:20,024 And like I said, as someone that is on campus at Cal State Fullerton, 631 00:29:20,024 --> 00:29:22,514 at Fullerton College, I run into a lot of people a lot of times. 632 00:29:22,844 --> 00:29:24,975 I remember talking to Eric one time and I was telling him, I 633 00:29:24,975 --> 00:29:26,625 was like, Hey, I, I, I ran into. 634 00:29:26,925 --> 00:29:29,475 Those of another, um, of another faith, another belief. 635 00:29:29,475 --> 00:29:32,175 And, you know, I wanted to debate and I wanted to go after it. 636 00:29:32,175 --> 00:29:34,845 I wanted to, I wanted to, I wanted to prove to them that this 637 00:29:34,845 --> 00:29:37,395 is, this is not the Jesus that they're preaching is inaccurate. 638 00:29:37,695 --> 00:29:38,805 And I was right to do so. 639 00:29:38,805 --> 00:29:42,165 I'm in every right to do so because that's what God calls us all to do. 640 00:29:42,825 --> 00:29:46,905 However, you know, I, I think, I think sometimes pride can get in the way 641 00:29:47,865 --> 00:29:53,655 and it becomes about, you know, let me tell you how you are wrong and let 642 00:29:53,655 --> 00:29:56,235 me show you who the true Jesus is. 643 00:29:57,285 --> 00:29:59,505 Like I said in that tone and that demeanor, that's not 644 00:29:59,505 --> 00:30:00,405 the true Jesus right there. 645 00:30:00,405 --> 00:30:02,895 I mean, Jesus obviously stood up to the Pharisees, but he did it with what? 646 00:30:02,925 --> 00:30:04,455 With love, right? 647 00:30:04,455 --> 00:30:06,645 The Bible tells us to correct with gentleness. 648 00:30:07,725 --> 00:30:10,395 Now, I don't want any of us to fall for a fake Jesus. 649 00:30:12,225 --> 00:30:13,215 That's what John didn't want. 650 00:30:13,215 --> 00:30:15,045 John was so he loved the church. 651 00:30:15,045 --> 00:30:19,545 Somebody says, please don't be deceived, but what should our response be, though? 652 00:30:20,535 --> 00:30:21,915 Well, I think it's these things right here. 653 00:30:21,915 --> 00:30:25,155 It says To discern, to disconnect, to correct and continue. 654 00:30:26,205 --> 00:30:30,165 Discern, like I said, that whatever is brought to you, whatever you hear online, 655 00:30:30,165 --> 00:30:33,764 whatever is said to you in person, discern, is this biblically accurate? 656 00:30:34,155 --> 00:30:35,655 Where is the biblical support? 657 00:30:35,655 --> 00:30:39,705 Or is it just what you think or what you interpret the scripture to be on your own? 658 00:30:41,145 --> 00:30:42,284 And honestly, disconnect. 659 00:30:42,284 --> 00:30:45,554 Not in a way that's just like, I'm gonna cut you off and never talk to you again. 660 00:30:45,855 --> 00:30:48,135 But like I said, if people come up to you. 661 00:30:49,379 --> 00:30:50,639 Iva witness this, they go door to door. 662 00:30:50,639 --> 00:30:52,860 I, I'll never forget my first encounter with Mormons. 663 00:30:52,860 --> 00:30:56,580 I remember I never had met a Mormon in my life, but I remember they 664 00:30:56,580 --> 00:30:59,760 came up to me and I was like, I was kind of scared 'cause I was like, 665 00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:03,870 these two men dressed up in uniform, approaching me on the street and I 666 00:31:03,870 --> 00:31:06,330 was in high school at this time, so I really didn't know what was going on. 667 00:31:06,899 --> 00:31:09,210 I'll be honest, I thought they had a gun on them. 668 00:31:09,810 --> 00:31:10,710 I was freaking out. 669 00:31:10,710 --> 00:31:12,030 I was like, I didn't know what to do. 670 00:31:12,750 --> 00:31:15,540 But as they, as they continued to share, I was like, oh, okay. 671 00:31:15,540 --> 00:31:16,770 I don't, I don't really. 672 00:31:16,785 --> 00:31:18,915 I don't think we agree on what this is. 673 00:31:19,365 --> 00:31:23,385 However, I think as I've grown older and I, as I've grown in my faith, 674 00:31:23,385 --> 00:31:27,825 I've learned that, you know what, I'm gonna continue to love these people. 675 00:31:27,885 --> 00:31:30,975 'cause that's what I'm called to do, even though I don't agree with them. 676 00:31:31,635 --> 00:31:34,125 But I'm gonna shepherd them and correct them gently and, and make 677 00:31:34,125 --> 00:31:37,095 sure that I point them back to God's word and what God's word truly says. 678 00:31:38,055 --> 00:31:39,585 And I disconnect with them in that way. 679 00:31:39,615 --> 00:31:42,255 Not to the sense, like I said, to like totally disregard or totally 680 00:31:42,255 --> 00:31:45,015 like in a sense of like shun them and like just, I'm not listening to you. 681 00:31:45,659 --> 00:31:47,370 Say, Hey, you share what you need to share, but I'm gonna 682 00:31:47,370 --> 00:31:49,950 share with you the truth and I'm gonna share with you in love. 683 00:31:50,520 --> 00:31:53,760 And I know as a young man, and for me, it's hard for me to kind of like look 684 00:31:53,760 --> 00:31:57,600 at a crowd that has probably seen a lot more than I have, but I can share 685 00:31:57,600 --> 00:32:01,379 with you this is that I'm glad that we are in a church that is Bible based. 686 00:32:02,310 --> 00:32:05,580 I'm grateful to be in a church that really discerns what the truth is. 687 00:32:05,790 --> 00:32:09,030 Because I think in the times in our, in our, in our next generation, what the kids 688 00:32:09,030 --> 00:32:11,580 need and what you guys need to hear is that you need to be based in the truth. 689 00:32:12,360 --> 00:32:13,950 You need to fight to know what is true. 690 00:32:14,895 --> 00:32:17,475 If you don't, this world will take you places where you do not 691 00:32:17,475 --> 00:32:20,025 want to go and you will believe in things that are just obscene. 692 00:32:21,254 --> 00:32:24,165 And so I pray that in our next generation, in our, in our older generation, that 693 00:32:24,165 --> 00:32:28,485 you please continue to help us discern in the truth so that we can know that 694 00:32:28,514 --> 00:32:31,905 though, that though there are, that though there are false teachers and 695 00:32:31,905 --> 00:32:36,315 false figureheads out there, try to deceive us that the truth is in God's 696 00:32:36,315 --> 00:32:37,635 word and that it hasn't changed. 697 00:32:37,635 --> 00:32:38,085 Amen. 698 00:32:39,254 --> 00:32:42,945 And in those to correct, like I said, are you in your word? 699 00:32:43,890 --> 00:32:45,090 Can you back it up? 700 00:32:45,510 --> 00:32:48,030 You can't just tell 'em they're wrong and then just say, well, it's just 'cause it's 701 00:32:48,030 --> 00:32:50,730 in the Bible where in the Bible, right? 702 00:32:50,730 --> 00:32:52,020 We've gotta be in our word this. 703 00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:55,620 We are not just church goers or just church attenders. 704 00:32:55,620 --> 00:32:56,880 We are students. 705 00:32:57,150 --> 00:32:58,290 We are disciples. 706 00:32:58,500 --> 00:33:00,450 We have to know and be in our word. 707 00:33:00,870 --> 00:33:01,440 Amen. 708 00:33:01,830 --> 00:33:02,820 Are you in your word? 709 00:33:02,880 --> 00:33:03,930 I'm not calling anybody out. 710 00:33:03,930 --> 00:33:06,600 I'm not trying to point fingers and play name names, but listen, these are 711 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:10,320 the things that we have to be ready for because like I said, this is not 712 00:33:10,320 --> 00:33:13,140 the first and not the last time that we're gonna hear about these things. 713 00:33:14,085 --> 00:33:16,215 It's gonna be continuous and they're gonna get worse. 714 00:33:16,215 --> 00:33:18,315 And they're gonna get worse, and they're gonna get worse. 715 00:33:18,975 --> 00:33:23,145 And if we are not gonna be a church, a body of Christ that is rooted and 716 00:33:23,145 --> 00:33:26,655 grounded in the truth, to correct in love with God's word, then 717 00:33:26,655 --> 00:33:28,305 this church is gonna just veer. 718 00:33:29,175 --> 00:33:32,775 We've gotta be rooted in the truth and at the end, we've just gotta continue. 719 00:33:33,825 --> 00:33:35,865 Don't, like I said, don't give 'em the time of day. 720 00:33:35,865 --> 00:33:38,235 They give you a plant fit, a pamphlet, take it. 721 00:33:38,295 --> 00:33:40,005 Throw in the trash after when you're done talking with them. 722 00:33:41,625 --> 00:33:42,375 Simple as that. 723 00:33:42,405 --> 00:33:43,635 Like I said, they've come on your door. 724 00:33:43,635 --> 00:33:44,715 Thank you for your time. 725 00:33:44,745 --> 00:33:48,465 Not interested, and just continue in your truth. 726 00:33:48,465 --> 00:33:50,564 Continue in the truth of who Jesus is. 727 00:33:50,594 --> 00:33:54,584 The unchanging reality, right, the truth that we all walk in, 728 00:33:55,304 --> 00:33:56,715 we have to remain in the truth. 729 00:33:56,715 --> 00:33:59,925 We have to continue forward because I think 'cause it's gonna be distractions, 730 00:33:59,925 --> 00:34:02,534 there's gonna be allegations, there's gonna be all these things that are gonna 731 00:34:02,534 --> 00:34:04,725 try and veer us off of what the truth is. 732 00:34:05,054 --> 00:34:06,675 But we have to stay rooted in the truth. 733 00:34:07,260 --> 00:34:08,310 It's getting distorted. 734 00:34:08,580 --> 00:34:09,120 And you know what? 735 00:34:09,120 --> 00:34:12,330 It's not even just about other false doctrines in a sense of just like, 736 00:34:12,510 --> 00:34:16,380 oh, that there's Muhammad and Buddha and all these things, but even in 737 00:34:16,380 --> 00:34:19,110 these churches, and let's be real, and I feel like I, I don't know. 738 00:34:19,110 --> 00:34:20,550 I'm just gonna be honest here. 739 00:34:20,550 --> 00:34:21,570 Can I be honest with you guys? 740 00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:27,510 It's even infiltrating our churches because we are having doc, we have 741 00:34:27,570 --> 00:34:29,280 people calling themselves gay pastors, 742 00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:34,110 and there's a pin drop in the room because yeah, that's a real thing. 743 00:34:35,925 --> 00:34:39,705 There are people that are, are, are emphasizing gay marriages in church. 744 00:34:41,114 --> 00:34:44,114 There are people that are, are allowing sin to take place and 745 00:34:44,114 --> 00:34:45,495 not be held accountable for it. 746 00:34:47,385 --> 00:34:51,435 Like we have to understand that this is not just outside of this building, but 747 00:34:51,495 --> 00:34:55,005 this could easily infiltrate our building if we are not rooted in the truth. 748 00:34:57,014 --> 00:35:03,075 And this is why as God's chosen people, we have to stick to God's word. 749 00:35:03,480 --> 00:35:04,650 His word alone. 750 00:35:05,100 --> 00:35:07,200 'cause if we don't, we are going to veer. 751 00:35:07,980 --> 00:35:10,440 If we don't, we're going to allow things that should never have 752 00:35:10,440 --> 00:35:11,610 been allowed in the first place. 753 00:35:13,170 --> 00:35:17,070 And that doesn't mean we get all legalistic and we get all like all by the 754 00:35:17,070 --> 00:35:18,750 book Hard rule and everything like that. 755 00:35:18,780 --> 00:35:20,280 'cause that's where we used to be. 756 00:35:20,640 --> 00:35:23,700 I feel you've incorporated a lot of love and a lot of grace in the last few years. 757 00:35:23,700 --> 00:35:25,890 And I think that we're trying to learn how to balance it both in the church. 758 00:35:25,890 --> 00:35:27,360 'cause I said it's a, it's a dance. 759 00:35:27,630 --> 00:35:29,790 We're constantly dancing with it because it's gonna be hard. 760 00:35:30,420 --> 00:35:35,070 If we can learn as a church to do love and truth together, then the things 761 00:35:35,070 --> 00:35:38,250 that I said that are infiltrating other churches will not infiltrate this one. 762 00:35:40,020 --> 00:35:46,440 And if we are going to be the royal priesthood, the holy people, God's 763 00:35:46,440 --> 00:35:50,430 holy nation, that he has chosen for us, we've gotta be rooted in the 764 00:35:50,430 --> 00:35:54,240 truth, but also rooted in the fact that God's love is the one that covers 765 00:35:54,240 --> 00:35:57,900 all of us, and that, that we get to live in the truth because of his love. 766 00:35:57,900 --> 00:35:58,380 Amen. 767 00:36:02,520 --> 00:36:04,230 In the end, John writes this in verse 12. 768 00:36:04,230 --> 00:36:09,149 He says, I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper ink. 769 00:36:10,920 --> 00:36:13,770 Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face 770 00:36:13,770 --> 00:36:15,839 that our joy may be complete. 771 00:36:16,740 --> 00:36:20,069 The children of your sister who is chosen by God send their 772 00:36:20,069 --> 00:36:22,230 greetings, and I love John's heart. 773 00:36:22,230 --> 00:36:25,109 John has such a pastoral heart for his people. 774 00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:27,390 He loves his people. 775 00:36:27,509 --> 00:36:31,380 Guys, I, and this is no disrespect to anyone that is watching online, 776 00:36:32,520 --> 00:36:36,750 but please come, please be connected. 777 00:36:38,940 --> 00:36:44,370 Like there, what you, what you desire for outside of this out or online and 778 00:36:44,370 --> 00:36:48,990 I guess what you, what you hope to gain relationships digitally is never gonna 779 00:36:48,990 --> 00:36:50,340 be the same as is being right here. 780 00:36:51,690 --> 00:36:53,279 Doing life with the people in this room. 781 00:36:53,279 --> 00:36:54,900 That's why we even, we have family groups. 782 00:36:54,990 --> 00:36:56,430 That's why we have ministries. 783 00:36:56,940 --> 00:36:59,310 It's not just that we come together on a Sunday and then we just go 784 00:36:59,310 --> 00:37:01,500 out our separate ways and we never see each other throughout the week. 785 00:37:02,160 --> 00:37:03,779 No, we do life together. 786 00:37:04,290 --> 00:37:08,160 And John shows that in his heart, that he desires to do life with his 787 00:37:08,160 --> 00:37:10,799 people and to see them face to face. 788 00:37:11,790 --> 00:37:16,410 So in the same way, let us join together and let's say continue to do life 789 00:37:16,410 --> 00:37:18,120 together and to do life, not just. 790 00:37:18,465 --> 00:37:21,795 In within it, just 'cause we're going together in church, but to do life 791 00:37:21,825 --> 00:37:24,165 in love and to do life in the truth. 792 00:37:24,195 --> 00:37:24,735 Amen. 793 00:37:26,625 --> 00:37:29,865 So actor said for this week, I want us to live out the command, to love, 794 00:37:29,865 --> 00:37:35,925 intentionally connect, encourage, confess, forgive, whatever it is 795 00:37:35,925 --> 00:37:37,425 that falls in the category of love. 796 00:37:37,425 --> 00:37:39,375 Please do it and live it out intentionally. 797 00:37:40,305 --> 00:37:43,365 And finally, examine all the voice or influences in your life. 798 00:37:43,455 --> 00:37:47,385 Ask yourself, is this helping me walk in the truth or leading me away from it? 799 00:37:47,385 --> 00:37:54,675 It because if we can discern that as disciples, we truly will be able to 800 00:37:54,675 --> 00:37:57,795 discern what the truth is, not on our own, but because of what God says. 801 00:37:58,365 --> 00:37:59,445 And then we can align this. 802 00:37:59,445 --> 00:38:00,945 And like I said, if you're having a hard time, if you have 803 00:38:00,945 --> 00:38:02,265 questions, please ask them. 804 00:38:03,135 --> 00:38:06,135 Don't feel like this is a, this is a, a doubt free zone. 805 00:38:06,855 --> 00:38:09,435 This is where we have to be able to ponder and, and honestly, those 806 00:38:09,435 --> 00:38:11,955 questions will give us answers that will deepen our faith. 807 00:38:12,705 --> 00:38:14,145 So it's okay to ask questions. 808 00:38:14,145 --> 00:38:16,155 This is, like I said, this is not a final. 809 00:38:16,545 --> 00:38:19,725 Answer from Dallas or from Marcel, from whoever. 810 00:38:20,174 --> 00:38:23,805 If it's in God's word, let's discern it together and let's work to find the truth 811 00:38:23,805 --> 00:38:27,105 about what God is truly trying to speak to us, not just what we want to hear. 812 00:38:28,005 --> 00:38:30,375 'cause then, like I said, it becomes the salad bar Christianity where 813 00:38:30,375 --> 00:38:34,755 I take this and I don't want that, but we accept the truth in its 814 00:38:34,935 --> 00:38:36,915 entirety, the unchanging reality. 815 00:38:36,945 --> 00:38:37,485 Amen. 816 00:38:38,924 --> 00:38:40,605 So that's my lesson for today. 817 00:38:40,605 --> 00:38:44,055 But I just wanna say, I encourage and say, happy Father's Day once again. 818 00:38:44,400 --> 00:38:47,190 Uh, to all the fathers in the room, thank you for being rocks of faith 819 00:38:47,400 --> 00:38:50,550 and leading your families and your marriages, um, for faithfully. 820 00:38:50,880 --> 00:38:53,850 Um, and for those that are new fathers or are soon to be fathers, we hope to 821 00:38:53,850 --> 00:38:55,740 you continue that same legacy as well. 822 00:38:55,950 --> 00:38:57,210 Um, we're grateful for all those. 823 00:38:57,210 --> 00:38:59,940 And, uh, I just want to pray us out before we have one final song. 824 00:38:59,940 --> 00:39:00,270 Amen. 825 00:39:01,290 --> 00:39:01,740 Let's pray. 826 00:39:02,550 --> 00:39:06,150 Uh, God thank you for today and just the time to, uh, connect with, uh, not just 827 00:39:06,150 --> 00:39:07,650 my brothers and sister God, but my family. 828 00:39:07,710 --> 00:39:09,420 Just like, it's so awesome to be able to. 829 00:39:09,750 --> 00:39:12,480 That you, it's awesome God, that you've really prepared this for us. 830 00:39:12,480 --> 00:39:15,629 That you desire, uh, nothing more, but for us to feel this connection 831 00:39:15,629 --> 00:39:18,419 that we have with you but with each other God, and that we share in that. 832 00:39:18,419 --> 00:39:22,109 And the truth that we walk in God, that your son died for each and every 833 00:39:22,109 --> 00:39:25,770 person in this room and that his blood covers over all of our sins, God. 834 00:39:25,770 --> 00:39:28,740 But we pray that we just continue to love intentionally God, 835 00:39:28,740 --> 00:39:30,089 we pray to be truth seekers. 836 00:39:30,630 --> 00:39:34,770 God, we pray to be people that dive into your word, that truly want to know, uh, 837 00:39:34,770 --> 00:39:36,780 what you're speaking, um, to us about God. 838 00:39:36,780 --> 00:39:40,140 We pray to be people that are knowledgeable, um, and that are, 839 00:39:40,140 --> 00:39:41,610 are studious in the word God. 840 00:39:41,610 --> 00:39:44,940 Not just people who, who like to hear it or people that like hear it passively, 841 00:39:45,210 --> 00:39:48,000 but God, that people that want to live it out and live it in action. 842 00:39:48,330 --> 00:39:51,870 We pray to see them in our relationships and in the church as we continue to grow. 843 00:39:51,870 --> 00:39:54,360 We pray to see the love and the truth that you have based for us 844 00:39:54,360 --> 00:39:57,510 since the beginning, flourish and be fruitful in our relationship. 845 00:39:58,095 --> 00:40:00,165 Father, we prayed for all this in your son Jesus' name. 846 00:40:00,390 --> 00:40:00,680 Amen. 847 00:40:01,110 --> 00:40:01,400 Amen.