1 00:00:00,060 --> 00:00:00,899 What is up church? 2 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:01,600 Good morning. 3 00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:02,730 How are we feeling this morning? 4 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:04,320 We're feeling good. 5 00:00:05,109 --> 00:00:06,430 Sorry about my voice. 6 00:00:06,470 --> 00:00:11,480 Um, I don't know what it is about us preachers and football. 7 00:00:11,490 --> 00:00:14,750 Last week, Marcel was screaming at a football game or last weekend. 8 00:00:14,910 --> 00:00:19,189 Yesterday I was screaming at a football game and my voice is shot right now. 9 00:00:19,189 --> 00:00:22,069 So I really need your encouragement today to get through it. 10 00:00:22,069 --> 00:00:24,369 So, but it's great to be with you all this morning. 11 00:00:24,430 --> 00:00:26,200 Um, my name is Daniel Samogi. 12 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:29,554 I hope I serve here in Orange County with the youth and the campus 13 00:00:29,554 --> 00:00:32,214 ministry, and it has been amazing. 14 00:00:32,214 --> 00:00:35,045 I've been truly blessed and honored in doing that. 15 00:00:35,075 --> 00:00:37,625 Like this past Friday, with the teens actually, we had 16 00:00:37,625 --> 00:00:39,515 a life size game night, so. 17 00:00:39,825 --> 00:00:41,735 We had, uh, we played Hungry Hungry Hippos. 18 00:00:41,745 --> 00:00:44,385 We put the teams on, like, this dolly and we rolled them in the 19 00:00:44,385 --> 00:00:47,825 center as they try to grab the, the, the balls into their bucket. 20 00:00:48,025 --> 00:00:49,554 And then we also did, like, Human Battleships. 21 00:00:49,555 --> 00:00:51,334 So the teams were having fun with that. 22 00:00:51,655 --> 00:00:56,514 And then yesterday, the Campus Ministry, we had an all LA football tournament. 23 00:00:56,774 --> 00:00:58,565 And, man, that was awesome. 24 00:00:58,595 --> 00:01:02,155 If we can give it up for the men, for the campus men over here. 25 00:01:02,925 --> 00:01:03,975 They fought hard. 26 00:01:05,119 --> 00:01:08,559 They represented OC proudly because we won our first game. 27 00:01:08,570 --> 00:01:09,929 We made it to the semi finals. 28 00:01:10,229 --> 00:01:13,459 We won the semi finals and we made it to the championship game. 29 00:01:13,690 --> 00:01:16,999 We made it to the championship game and college just didn't go our way 30 00:01:16,999 --> 00:01:18,940 and unfortunately we got second place. 31 00:01:19,199 --> 00:01:20,669 But I'm proud of the guys. 32 00:01:20,669 --> 00:01:24,049 If you see them limping, if you see them with the battle scars, just know 33 00:01:24,049 --> 00:01:27,140 that they represented OC proudly. 34 00:01:27,535 --> 00:01:32,465 Uh, but anyways, we're continuing our series, um, we started earlier this year. 35 00:01:32,465 --> 00:01:34,935 It's called Becoming More in 24. 36 00:01:35,125 --> 00:01:39,255 And with that, the theme passage is 2 Peter chapter 1. 37 00:01:39,555 --> 00:01:43,444 And in 2 Peter chapter 1, the message, the passage Peter talks about makes clear 38 00:01:43,444 --> 00:01:45,685 that God provides everything for us. 39 00:01:45,704 --> 00:01:48,485 He gives us all the resources and the tools to live a godly life. 40 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:51,190 And when I think about that, I think about, when I read the 41 00:01:51,190 --> 00:01:52,830 scripture, I thought about a dad. 42 00:01:52,929 --> 00:01:55,750 I don't know about you guys, but my dad, he was always prepared. 43 00:01:55,759 --> 00:01:57,628 He had that toolbox ready to go. 44 00:01:57,630 --> 00:02:00,349 When something was broken down the house, he was ready to go. 45 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,150 He provided everything for me to have this life. 46 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:05,810 He provided everything for my siblings and my mom, and I'm 47 00:02:05,810 --> 00:02:07,170 definitely grateful for that. 48 00:02:07,570 --> 00:02:11,530 And, you know, in it, in 2nd Peter chapter 1 verse 3, it says, His divine power has 49 00:02:11,540 --> 00:02:15,120 given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him, who 50 00:02:15,130 --> 00:02:17,680 called us by his own glory and goodness. 51 00:02:18,340 --> 00:02:21,579 And we say, you know, it says divine power, you know, think about God's power. 52 00:02:21,579 --> 00:02:24,680 So God's power has given us everything we need for a godly 53 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:26,390 life through our knowledge of Him. 54 00:02:26,679 --> 00:02:30,228 And it was through His glory and goodness, uh, that we get to, 55 00:02:30,300 --> 00:02:31,910 to align to His righteousness. 56 00:02:32,410 --> 00:02:37,079 And it mentions that in verse, uh, 8 and 9, I'm jumping over, but, for if you 57 00:02:37,079 --> 00:02:40,240 possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being 58 00:02:40,270 --> 00:02:43,430 ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 59 00:02:43,890 --> 00:02:47,460 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting what 60 00:02:47,460 --> 00:02:49,740 they have been cleansed from their past. 61 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:51,790 So, you know, Peter makes it clear for us. 62 00:02:51,850 --> 00:02:55,950 If we do not add to these qualities, if we do not add goodness to our faith, 63 00:02:55,990 --> 00:02:59,650 if we do not add perseverance, if we don't add knowledge and so on, we 64 00:02:59,650 --> 00:03:01,780 become ineffective and unproductive. 65 00:03:02,260 --> 00:03:04,240 We become nearsighted and blind. 66 00:03:04,700 --> 00:03:06,810 And when I think about that, you know, in the other version, when 67 00:03:06,810 --> 00:03:09,730 it talks about ineffective and unproductive, it talks about, uh, 68 00:03:09,730 --> 00:03:11,210 another version, they say barren. 69 00:03:11,750 --> 00:03:14,260 Meaning, you know, you're unable to produce offspring. 70 00:03:14,510 --> 00:03:17,510 You know, think of a woman that is barren, she is without child. 71 00:03:17,510 --> 00:03:19,430 She is unable to reproduce. 72 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:22,970 Think about a tree that is barren, it is unable to bear fruit. 73 00:03:23,540 --> 00:03:26,930 If, you know, if we have these, if we don't have these qualities, uh, sorry, if 74 00:03:26,930 --> 00:03:31,660 we have these qualities, such as goodness, knowledge, faith, you know, perseverance, 75 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:33,670 all that, we become effective. 76 00:03:34,300 --> 00:03:36,400 I don't know about you guys, but I feel like all of us, we want to be 77 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:38,480 effective for God, don't we, church? 78 00:03:38,770 --> 00:03:39,850 We want to be effective. 79 00:03:40,700 --> 00:03:45,770 But in order to be effective, you know, we have to be able to, to produce. 80 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:48,450 I don't know about you guys, but when I go on campus, sometimes at Cal State 81 00:03:48,450 --> 00:03:53,219 Fullerton, I meet a lot of people who claim to be a Christian and attend church, 82 00:03:53,429 --> 00:03:55,449 but yet they're unable to bear fruit. 83 00:03:56,139 --> 00:03:58,640 And not many people have the fruit of the Spirit. 84 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:03,820 But in order to produce, be effective, and not be nearsighted and blind, we have 85 00:04:03,820 --> 00:04:06,180 to make every effort to add to our faith. 86 00:04:07,630 --> 00:04:10,300 And last week, you know, Marcel talked about adding goodness to our faith. 87 00:04:10,350 --> 00:04:14,770 And this week, today, I'm going to talk about adding knowledge to our faith. 88 00:04:15,090 --> 00:04:16,059 Let's go to God in prayer. 89 00:04:17,289 --> 00:04:19,209 Father God, just thank you so much we get to be here. 90 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:21,790 God, just to honor and worship you, God. 91 00:04:21,930 --> 00:04:24,209 I'm so grateful for the people here, God. 92 00:04:24,410 --> 00:04:27,250 And then people online just wanting to know more about you 93 00:04:27,250 --> 00:04:28,660 and add to your faith, God. 94 00:04:28,670 --> 00:04:31,760 And I just pray right now, God, that you just remove me, God. 95 00:04:32,005 --> 00:04:35,284 That, uh, you speak through me, God, that, uh, you know, it's your 96 00:04:35,284 --> 00:04:37,095 word being spoken and not mine, God. 97 00:04:37,495 --> 00:04:38,925 Um, God, we love you so much. 98 00:04:38,955 --> 00:04:40,534 In Jesus name, amen. 99 00:04:41,305 --> 00:04:45,075 Alright, so, we're gonna explore knowledge, okay? 100 00:04:45,115 --> 00:04:48,435 Now, what does that mean, adding knowledge to your faith? 101 00:04:48,824 --> 00:04:52,635 Well, 2 Peter, chapter 1, verse 5, it says, For this very reason make 102 00:04:52,665 --> 00:04:55,985 every effort to add to your faith, goodness, and to goodness, knowledge. 103 00:04:56,630 --> 00:04:59,980 Alright, so when you think about knowledge, I know we can think about, you 104 00:04:59,980 --> 00:05:03,710 know, facts, you know, stuff we learn in school, stuff we learn in observation. 105 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:06,269 And here in this context, you know, I don't think this is 106 00:05:06,270 --> 00:05:07,559 what Peter is talking about. 107 00:05:07,890 --> 00:05:09,669 You know, it's great to add knowledge to our faith. 108 00:05:09,669 --> 00:05:11,599 It's great to memorize scriptures. 109 00:05:11,690 --> 00:05:14,800 It's great to know, you know, certain doctrine and theology. 110 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:16,319 Yes, I'm not trying to dismiss that. 111 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:19,120 But I think here what Peter's talking about, what I want to take 112 00:05:19,130 --> 00:05:23,380 a closer look at, is more so this spiritual knowledge, this deep 113 00:05:23,410 --> 00:05:25,500 knowledge of really knowing Christ. 114 00:05:25,905 --> 00:05:29,774 And in, you know, 2 Peter 1, verse 5, you know, it's rooted in 115 00:05:29,775 --> 00:05:31,495 Godin goodness and glory of God. 116 00:05:31,945 --> 00:05:33,395 And, you know, how do we do that? 117 00:05:33,844 --> 00:05:37,784 How do we, you know, become, uh, rooted in the goodness and glory of God? 118 00:05:37,874 --> 00:05:41,645 It comes from God and His Word, obviously. 119 00:05:41,944 --> 00:05:46,075 And in that, we discover that God's power, uh, grants us 120 00:05:46,105 --> 00:05:49,975 everything for this godliness life, this godly life through Him. 121 00:05:50,825 --> 00:05:53,735 An example of this, you know, I think of Knowing God, I feel like 122 00:05:53,735 --> 00:05:54,985 there's two different examples. 123 00:05:54,985 --> 00:05:58,375 There's this distant knowledge of God, and then there's this 124 00:05:58,495 --> 00:06:00,355 intimate knowledge of God. 125 00:06:00,695 --> 00:06:04,065 And when I think of a distant knowledge, I think of someone you may know, you know, 126 00:06:04,085 --> 00:06:07,415 maybe in your classroom or at your work, you're like, yeah, I know this person, 127 00:06:07,415 --> 00:06:10,704 I know of them, I know their name, I know where they're from, I kinda know 128 00:06:10,705 --> 00:06:12,345 a little bit about them, but that's it. 129 00:06:12,945 --> 00:06:17,675 You know, example of this could be maybe knowing someone, uh, a public figure or a 130 00:06:17,695 --> 00:06:21,434 celebrity that you may know, but you don't really have that personal connection with. 131 00:06:22,065 --> 00:06:24,305 And I know for me, honestly, this past Friday, I feel 132 00:06:24,305 --> 00:06:25,325 like I got to live that out. 133 00:06:25,635 --> 00:06:27,435 Uh, this distant knowledge of someone. 134 00:06:27,445 --> 00:06:30,505 You know, this past Friday, I was meeting with Marcel at Starbucks, and 135 00:06:30,505 --> 00:06:33,475 all of a sudden, next thing you know, this celebrity walks in, this musician. 136 00:06:34,244 --> 00:06:35,584 Marcel tells him I didn't believe him. 137 00:06:35,845 --> 00:06:38,405 I, then I go up to the celebrity, and I ask him if that's who he is. 138 00:06:38,695 --> 00:06:39,415 And he said, yes. 139 00:06:39,495 --> 00:06:42,935 And I was like, oh, no, no way. 140 00:06:43,185 --> 00:06:45,915 And that person turned out to be Mr. 141 00:06:45,945 --> 00:06:47,905 Andre 3000 from the OutKast. 142 00:06:48,104 --> 00:06:48,995 Or just OutKast. 143 00:06:48,995 --> 00:06:50,085 I don't know if you guys know OutKast. 144 00:06:50,085 --> 00:06:52,984 You know, the one, two, three, uh, the exact. 145 00:06:53,144 --> 00:06:53,704 Oh, sorry. 146 00:06:53,724 --> 00:06:54,384 I'm so sorry. 147 00:06:55,465 --> 00:06:55,775 There it is. 148 00:06:55,775 --> 00:06:56,695 That's just good. 149 00:06:56,795 --> 00:06:58,705 But there, Andre 3000. 150 00:06:58,775 --> 00:07:00,355 Yes, got to meet Andre 3000. 151 00:07:00,495 --> 00:07:01,455 And you know, it was great. 152 00:07:01,455 --> 00:07:05,395 I knew, I know of Andre 3000 though, but I don't really know him. 153 00:07:05,644 --> 00:07:06,755 I know of his music. 154 00:07:06,795 --> 00:07:07,935 I know of his work. 155 00:07:08,405 --> 00:07:10,675 But he doesn't know me really at all. 156 00:07:10,685 --> 00:07:15,385 He just, he probably forgot my name, but I don't really know him also as well. 157 00:07:15,745 --> 00:07:18,945 And there's this lack of intimacy that we have, like this personal 158 00:07:18,945 --> 00:07:20,575 knowledge that we have of each other. 159 00:07:20,724 --> 00:07:22,704 Rather, it's just a distant knowledge. 160 00:07:23,275 --> 00:07:26,465 But then there's also this intimate knowledge, which I believe what 161 00:07:26,474 --> 00:07:28,565 Peter wants us to have with our Lord. 162 00:07:28,784 --> 00:07:31,544 He wants to have this intimate knowledge where he knows us, or 163 00:07:31,544 --> 00:07:33,005 we know him, and he knows us. 164 00:07:33,495 --> 00:07:37,050 An example of that, I mean, I went to the slide here, but I think of people in my 165 00:07:37,050 --> 00:07:41,070 life who really know me, you know, they know my, my, my joys, my sorrows, they 166 00:07:41,070 --> 00:07:45,329 know my, my weakness, they know my pain, we experience life together, you know, we 167 00:07:45,329 --> 00:07:49,450 know each other's dislikes and everything, and likes, we've spent countless hours 168 00:07:49,510 --> 00:07:53,239 of each other, with each other, in each other's company, and during challenging 169 00:07:53,239 --> 00:07:58,245 times as well, you know, it's great to have this Knowledge of each other, right? 170 00:07:58,245 --> 00:08:01,765 It's great that we have people in our lives that we have this close intimate 171 00:08:01,765 --> 00:08:04,925 relationship with where people really know us and we know Them and they 172 00:08:04,925 --> 00:08:09,374 know what's going on in our lives But I also think that peter wants 173 00:08:09,374 --> 00:08:11,185 us to have that with god as well. 174 00:08:11,195 --> 00:08:16,445 He wants us to have that deep intimate knowledge Of jesus and I 175 00:08:16,475 --> 00:08:20,285 think of story that that kind of encapsulates knowledge knowing really 176 00:08:20,335 --> 00:08:23,170 knowing jesus Is in Luke chapter 10. 177 00:08:23,170 --> 00:08:25,510 So if you guys can turn your Bibles there to Luke chapter 10. 178 00:08:25,670 --> 00:08:29,529 We're going to look at a story of, you know, these two women in 179 00:08:29,530 --> 00:08:33,010 the Bible where I feel like we can be either one or the other. 180 00:08:33,318 --> 00:08:35,549 And it's in Luke chapter 10 verse 38. 181 00:08:35,549 --> 00:08:38,149 We're going to do 38 through 42. 182 00:08:38,149 --> 00:08:38,489 Sorry. 183 00:08:38,568 --> 00:08:42,250 And it says, As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he 184 00:08:42,250 --> 00:08:45,510 came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 185 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:50,930 She had a sister called Mary who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 186 00:08:51,405 --> 00:08:55,035 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. 187 00:08:55,495 --> 00:08:58,545 She came to him and asked, Lord, don't you care that my sister has 188 00:08:58,545 --> 00:09:00,505 left me to do the work by myself? 189 00:09:00,985 --> 00:09:01,995 Tell her to help me. 190 00:09:02,365 --> 00:09:04,015 Martha, Martha, the Lord answered. 191 00:09:04,244 --> 00:09:07,394 You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are 192 00:09:07,394 --> 00:09:09,595 needed, or indeed, only one. 193 00:09:09,685 --> 00:09:12,985 Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her. 194 00:09:13,829 --> 00:09:16,930 You know, like I said, I love this story of Mary, Martha, and Jesus 195 00:09:16,930 --> 00:09:20,430 because there's certain times, certain seasons of our life where we can be 196 00:09:20,530 --> 00:09:22,900 either Martha or we can either be Mary. 197 00:09:23,339 --> 00:09:27,329 You know, in verse 39 it says, Mary sat at the Lord's feet. 198 00:09:28,189 --> 00:09:30,860 You know, I don't think you guys, I, I, when I was doing research on 199 00:09:30,860 --> 00:09:34,860 it, there's so much importance to, to Mary sitting at the Lord's feet. 200 00:09:35,290 --> 00:09:38,319 Because back then, you know, Jesus being a rabbi, when you're a rabbi, it's 201 00:09:38,329 --> 00:09:41,689 such a high honor and call as a man. 202 00:09:41,699 --> 00:09:44,790 Most rabbis were men, and because you get to, you know the scriptures, 203 00:09:44,829 --> 00:09:47,810 not many people knew how to interpret the scriptures or read it. 204 00:09:47,870 --> 00:09:52,469 And you were able to, to read and, and, um, and help others, 205 00:09:52,510 --> 00:09:54,170 uh, understand it as well. 206 00:09:54,510 --> 00:09:59,220 And, you know, when it becomes a rabbi, you know, it's almost like being a Jedi. 207 00:09:59,530 --> 00:10:02,250 You know, you don't just be born a Jedi. 208 00:10:02,260 --> 00:10:04,090 You gotta, you know, have the midichlorians in you. 209 00:10:04,090 --> 00:10:04,970 And you have to train. 210 00:10:04,970 --> 00:10:07,060 And it begins at a very young age. 211 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:11,119 So at the age of four and five, there is these Jewish boys who, who, uh, they 212 00:10:11,129 --> 00:10:12,270 would start reading the scriptures. 213 00:10:12,270 --> 00:10:13,370 They'll start reading the Torah. 214 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:15,380 They'll start memorizing it. 215 00:10:15,500 --> 00:10:18,850 So just imagine some of the kids kingdom, you know, the kids right now, instead 216 00:10:18,850 --> 00:10:21,520 of coloring and doing memory, like, you know, they're actually memorizing 217 00:10:21,530 --> 00:10:23,740 the whole Bible right now, at that age. 218 00:10:24,145 --> 00:10:27,064 But, uh, but yeah, so at four and five, they start studying the Bible, 219 00:10:27,064 --> 00:10:30,824 and as the boys grow older, uh, they start interpreting other texts. 220 00:10:31,155 --> 00:10:34,074 And then, next you know, a rabbi or a teacher would take notice of 221 00:10:34,074 --> 00:10:36,704 a, of a young boy, probably around the age of twelve or thirteen. 222 00:10:36,985 --> 00:10:40,014 And he would choose a young boy who he believes that he 223 00:10:40,014 --> 00:10:41,264 can, you know, he has faith in. 224 00:10:41,264 --> 00:10:44,844 He's like, I know I can train him, and you know, he's gonna, he's gonna be with me. 225 00:10:45,074 --> 00:10:49,035 So the rabbi would take the young boy, and then the rabbi would train him. 226 00:10:49,245 --> 00:10:50,684 And they would follow closely. 227 00:10:50,684 --> 00:10:53,714 It wasn't just, hey, I'm gonna teach you how to interpret scriptures. 228 00:10:54,125 --> 00:10:55,435 But you're gonna see my life. 229 00:10:55,445 --> 00:10:56,805 You're gonna be right behind me. 230 00:10:56,825 --> 00:10:58,665 Whatever I do, you're gonna follow. 231 00:10:58,665 --> 00:11:00,375 You're gonna see how my life is. 232 00:11:00,485 --> 00:11:03,875 And that's where the saying, you know, being in the dust of the rabbi's feet. 233 00:11:04,395 --> 00:11:07,494 You know, the idea of being in the dust of the rabbi's feet where the rabbi is 234 00:11:07,494 --> 00:11:12,204 walking, uh, is walking on these dusty roads that your student will follow so 235 00:11:12,204 --> 00:11:17,695 closely that the dust walked on by your rabbi will fall on your feet as well. 236 00:11:18,415 --> 00:11:22,515 And this symbolizes the, the, the commitment from that student to learn 237 00:11:22,604 --> 00:11:24,814 and imitate the ways of their rabbi. 238 00:11:25,734 --> 00:11:28,694 And when we look at Mary, we see the significance of her choice, 239 00:11:28,805 --> 00:11:29,974 sitting at the Lord's feet. 240 00:11:30,584 --> 00:11:34,675 You know, it wasn't merely about gaining intellectual insight, but it was an 241 00:11:34,684 --> 00:11:39,005 acknowledgment that true knowledge begins in a context of a relationship. 242 00:11:40,074 --> 00:11:41,685 Mary knew what was important. 243 00:11:42,135 --> 00:11:47,524 She knew that sitting at the Lord's feet, Jesus, and being present, getting 244 00:11:47,524 --> 00:11:48,984 to know him is what mattered most. 245 00:11:50,020 --> 00:11:52,770 You know, she wasn't there to impress Jesus with, with her 246 00:11:52,770 --> 00:11:55,480 theology, but to know him intimately. 247 00:11:55,750 --> 00:12:00,610 To understand the heart behind the teachings and be transformed by Jesus. 248 00:12:01,070 --> 00:12:05,710 You know, Mary was making every effort to add knowledge to her faith. 249 00:12:06,410 --> 00:12:09,440 Knowledge that Jesus is the most important relationship in her life. 250 00:12:09,650 --> 00:12:14,810 And because of that, she decided to carry, uh, uh, she decided to drop 251 00:12:14,850 --> 00:12:16,550 everything in the midst of busyness. 252 00:12:17,335 --> 00:12:20,275 And church, I think that's so important for us to kind of 253 00:12:20,275 --> 00:12:21,815 carry that posture of Mary. 254 00:12:22,065 --> 00:12:24,385 Of, hey, I know there's a lot of things going on in my life. 255 00:12:24,425 --> 00:12:26,225 I know there's plenty of busyness. 256 00:12:26,225 --> 00:12:27,265 I know I'm in school. 257 00:12:27,425 --> 00:12:28,635 I know I have a family. 258 00:12:28,664 --> 00:12:29,674 I know I have work. 259 00:12:29,675 --> 00:12:31,835 I have so many things I have to balance. 260 00:12:31,845 --> 00:12:34,985 But all of that, you know, it does matter. 261 00:12:35,225 --> 00:12:38,195 But none of that should compare to being with Jesus. 262 00:12:38,225 --> 00:12:40,305 Really knowing Him intimately. 263 00:12:41,225 --> 00:12:45,630 You know, I also want to remind us, you know, That adding knowledge to our faith 264 00:12:45,790 --> 00:12:51,000 is not passive, but involves actively seeking God's word and teachings. 265 00:12:51,099 --> 00:12:55,689 So we must continue to add knowledge to our faith and continually seek God 266 00:12:56,300 --> 00:12:58,339 on a close intimate level like Mary. 267 00:12:58,969 --> 00:13:02,829 Because we see that Martha was caught up in many things in life that she thought 268 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:07,939 was important and she had Jesus right there, right in front of her in her house. 269 00:13:08,219 --> 00:13:12,719 She was in the presence of Jesus and had decided to do many other things. 270 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:17,110 And at times, I think, you know, we can get caught up in that. 271 00:13:17,310 --> 00:13:20,970 I know for me, in my life right now, like, trying to do so many things. 272 00:13:21,060 --> 00:13:22,160 Oh, I'm trying to plan a wedding. 273 00:13:22,220 --> 00:13:23,180 Oh, I'm trying to plan this. 274 00:13:23,220 --> 00:13:25,920 Oh, I gotta, you know, I wanna do all these other things. 275 00:13:25,930 --> 00:13:27,669 And I'm just like, you know what, God? 276 00:13:27,730 --> 00:13:29,289 I feel like these things are more important. 277 00:13:29,289 --> 00:13:29,799 But guess what? 278 00:13:29,990 --> 00:13:30,909 I'm gonna know you, though. 279 00:13:30,910 --> 00:13:31,870 I still know you, God. 280 00:13:31,900 --> 00:13:34,180 But I'm gonna do all these other things because I feel 281 00:13:34,180 --> 00:13:35,730 like that's what matters most. 282 00:13:35,770 --> 00:13:37,030 But no, it's not true. 283 00:13:37,870 --> 00:13:38,800 Jesus is what matters most. 284 00:13:38,820 --> 00:13:41,900 Being in the presence, getting to know Him is what matters most. 285 00:13:42,675 --> 00:13:46,545 And if we want to become more in 2024, we have to make every effort 286 00:13:46,595 --> 00:13:47,865 to add knowledge to our faith. 287 00:13:48,645 --> 00:13:49,985 You know, it's not a suggestion. 288 00:13:49,985 --> 00:13:52,325 It's not, hey, perhaps you may add knowledge. 289 00:13:52,345 --> 00:13:52,675 No. 290 00:13:52,955 --> 00:13:56,135 He said, make every effort to add knowledge. 291 00:13:56,795 --> 00:13:59,215 And not just knowledge of memorizing scriptures, as I 292 00:13:59,215 --> 00:14:01,144 said, or theological teaching. 293 00:14:01,155 --> 00:14:04,465 It's great, but the knowledge that's intimate and personal. 294 00:14:04,955 --> 00:14:09,494 You know, I've made the mistake as a young man who's been very passionate 295 00:14:09,495 --> 00:14:13,959 and eager to To, you know, wield knowing scriptures as a weapon to others. 296 00:14:14,230 --> 00:14:17,600 And because of that, I've been drawing people away from God. 297 00:14:17,870 --> 00:14:20,310 And I had to realize, like, wow, God, like, I don't know why 298 00:14:20,310 --> 00:14:21,260 people don't want to know you. 299 00:14:21,490 --> 00:14:25,359 But I had to take a look in the mirror of myself, knowing that I don't really, 300 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:27,190 I'm not living the life you called me. 301 00:14:27,209 --> 00:14:29,319 I'm just using scriptures here as a weapon. 302 00:14:29,319 --> 00:14:31,420 I'm, I'm too busy condemning people. 303 00:14:31,420 --> 00:14:35,260 I'm too busy being black and white of the scripture rather than the heart of it. 304 00:14:35,540 --> 00:14:38,389 Rather than having the, the knowledge, intimate knowledge. 305 00:14:38,870 --> 00:14:42,030 Not allowing His Word to be transformative for me. 306 00:14:42,830 --> 00:14:46,350 And I think that we have to allow the knowledge, knowing 307 00:14:46,350 --> 00:14:47,760 Jesus, to be transformative. 308 00:14:47,790 --> 00:14:50,300 To shape every aspect of our lives. 309 00:14:50,390 --> 00:14:53,740 Our thoughts, our actions, our identities, and our purpose. 310 00:14:55,130 --> 00:14:58,230 But practically, what would it look like for us, church, if we 311 00:14:58,230 --> 00:14:59,620 were to add knowledge to our faith? 312 00:15:00,700 --> 00:15:03,630 When I think of the, you know, 2 Peter 1, I think of the 313 00:15:03,630 --> 00:15:04,850 progression of the scripture. 314 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:06,170 It says, 315 00:15:09,830 --> 00:15:13,090 For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness, 316 00:15:13,490 --> 00:15:15,230 and to goodness knowledge. 317 00:15:16,950 --> 00:15:20,450 Add to your faith goodness, which is virtue, and virtue knowledge. 318 00:15:20,500 --> 00:15:24,580 The coupling of adding goodness with knowledge implies that knowledge 319 00:15:24,629 --> 00:15:27,870 is not isolated, but intimately linked with virtuous living. 320 00:15:28,950 --> 00:15:31,480 Knowledge when lived out, Church, translates into virtuous 321 00:15:31,550 --> 00:15:34,840 actions in a life that reflects transformative power of Jesus. 322 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:35,769 Now, what do I mean by that? 323 00:15:36,385 --> 00:15:40,064 Well, it means, Church, that if I'm at work and I deeply understand the 324 00:15:40,064 --> 00:15:43,685 knowledge of Christ's teaching on servant and leadership and integrity and 325 00:15:43,685 --> 00:15:47,964 fairness, at work, I'm going to foster a relationship, a workplace culture 326 00:15:48,194 --> 00:15:50,235 where respect and teamwork are valued. 327 00:15:50,914 --> 00:15:53,874 Or maybe it's in our community where we are inspired by Christ's teaching on 328 00:15:53,885 --> 00:15:58,245 love and compassion and service of others that we get to organize other community 329 00:15:58,245 --> 00:16:00,015 outreach in addressing local needs. 330 00:16:00,454 --> 00:16:03,365 Maybe we're a student in school and we understand the values 331 00:16:03,615 --> 00:16:05,765 of honesty and integrity. 332 00:16:06,145 --> 00:16:09,365 That, you know, as a student, I'm gonna do everything I can 333 00:16:09,365 --> 00:16:11,385 to, to have academic integrity. 334 00:16:11,405 --> 00:16:14,415 I'm gonna do everything I can to get the, the, the good grade in school. 335 00:16:14,415 --> 00:16:15,645 I'm gonna make every effort to. 336 00:16:15,834 --> 00:16:17,974 I'm gonna help my classmates who are struggling. 337 00:16:17,975 --> 00:16:20,454 I'm gonna help them understand this topic in school. 338 00:16:20,655 --> 00:16:22,814 I'm gonna be, uh, you know, I'm gonna actively promote 339 00:16:22,824 --> 00:16:25,744 positive and inclusiveness environment within the school. 340 00:16:26,404 --> 00:16:30,074 Or maybe it's at church, where we understand Christ's teachings on community 341 00:16:30,214 --> 00:16:31,454 and worship and spiritual growth. 342 00:16:31,525 --> 00:16:35,045 That it will allow, it'll lead us to participate in church activities. 343 00:16:35,065 --> 00:16:42,234 And maybe it's with family and friends where we actively, you know, we know 344 00:16:42,234 --> 00:16:45,394 and add to our faith the values of Christ's teaching on forgiveness and 345 00:16:45,395 --> 00:16:47,155 love and support with relationship. 346 00:16:47,645 --> 00:16:51,614 That it will lead to us actively pursue forgiveness and grace with 347 00:16:51,614 --> 00:16:53,185 our own family and close friends. 348 00:16:54,045 --> 00:16:56,474 You know, in each scenario, you know, knowledge becomes a guiding 349 00:16:56,474 --> 00:17:00,484 principle and informs actions, decisions, and interactions. 350 00:17:01,290 --> 00:17:03,170 And an interaction I think of, we're not going to turn there, 351 00:17:03,170 --> 00:17:06,240 but I think of an interaction with Jesus and the Samaritan woman. 352 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:07,589 It's in John chapter 4. 353 00:17:07,589 --> 00:17:10,709 I really encourage you guys to read it if you guys haven't done so already. 354 00:17:11,079 --> 00:17:14,460 But it's such a powerful story, because Jesus engages in a 355 00:17:14,460 --> 00:17:16,560 conversation with the Samaritan woman. 356 00:17:17,060 --> 00:17:21,159 And in this conversation, Jesus displayed a profound knowledge of her life. 357 00:17:21,430 --> 00:17:24,490 He didn't just know facts about her, or he did know facts. 358 00:17:24,490 --> 00:17:27,348 He didn't know, okay, you're a Samaritan, you're a woman, yes. 359 00:17:27,598 --> 00:17:31,730 He knew the, uh, The distant knowledge, but the intimate 360 00:17:31,730 --> 00:17:33,280 knowledge that he knew of her. 361 00:17:33,590 --> 00:17:37,070 He knew that, hey, you have more than one husband, I know that. 362 00:17:37,550 --> 00:17:40,660 Oh wait, I know you say you're thirsty, but I know you're 363 00:17:40,670 --> 00:17:42,219 longing for something more. 364 00:17:42,430 --> 00:17:46,239 I know your heart, I know your desires, I know your longing. 365 00:17:46,369 --> 00:17:47,659 Jesus knew that. 366 00:17:48,219 --> 00:17:51,260 And because of that, that knowledge, in this instance, 367 00:17:51,330 --> 00:17:52,930 led to a radical transformation. 368 00:17:53,300 --> 00:17:56,010 Because Jesus knew that she was struggling, and she needed a drink 369 00:17:56,399 --> 00:17:59,180 of water from the eternal life, where she would never go thirsty. 370 00:17:59,770 --> 00:18:02,630 And by Jesus engaging in this conversation with the Samaritan 371 00:18:02,630 --> 00:18:04,530 woman, he was breaking cultural norms. 372 00:18:04,590 --> 00:18:08,030 I mean, Jews and Samaritans were not, like, they, there was barriers there. 373 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:11,090 No one, you know, they didn't like them, or they didn't like each other. 374 00:18:11,540 --> 00:18:15,429 And for Jesus to interact with a woman who was a Samaritan, it 375 00:18:15,430 --> 00:18:16,820 did not go well with the culture. 376 00:18:17,919 --> 00:18:22,400 But the knowledge he demonstrated shattered these prejudices, 377 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:27,050 and revealed a God whose grace transcends all cultural divides. 378 00:18:27,860 --> 00:18:32,070 You know, the Samaritan woman encountering with the living knowledge of God results 379 00:18:32,070 --> 00:18:34,080 in the transformation of her own heart. 380 00:18:35,139 --> 00:18:37,939 You know, knowledge, when lived out, becomes a beacon 381 00:18:37,939 --> 00:18:39,220 of light in this dark world. 382 00:18:40,070 --> 00:18:44,919 It's not about wielding information as a weapon, but embodying Christ's teaching, 383 00:18:44,990 --> 00:18:48,360 Christ's way, dispelling darkness in this world and bringing healing. 384 00:18:49,310 --> 00:18:52,169 You know, knowledge, when expressed through love, compassion, and 385 00:18:52,169 --> 00:18:54,870 grace, Church, becomes a powerful force of positive change. 386 00:18:55,940 --> 00:18:58,970 And that means knowledge when coupled with goodness has potential 387 00:18:58,970 --> 00:19:00,380 to impact the world around us. 388 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:04,889 It looks like sacrificial love, compassion for the marginalized, and 389 00:19:04,890 --> 00:19:06,540 forgiveness in the face of wrongs. 390 00:19:07,329 --> 00:19:10,289 So let's have our knowledge be a lived out expression of goodness. 391 00:19:11,329 --> 00:19:14,449 Now, you're probably thinking, how can we add knowledge to our faith though, Dan? 392 00:19:15,079 --> 00:19:18,690 So as we continue about that, you know, I think there's certain ways 393 00:19:18,690 --> 00:19:19,600 to add knowledge to our faith. 394 00:19:19,610 --> 00:19:24,780 There's a few ways, and I think of the first one, You know, just, oh, sorry. 395 00:19:24,870 --> 00:19:25,899 There was supposed to be another slide there. 396 00:19:25,939 --> 00:19:27,699 But the first one is just being in your word. 397 00:19:28,429 --> 00:19:30,879 You know, I think of the scripture in Acts 17 verse 11. 398 00:19:30,879 --> 00:19:34,159 It says, Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character 399 00:19:34,229 --> 00:19:35,409 than those in Thessalonica. 400 00:19:35,689 --> 00:19:39,229 For they received the message with great eagerness and examined the scripture every 401 00:19:39,229 --> 00:19:42,639 day to see if what Paul said was true. 402 00:19:43,710 --> 00:19:46,890 You know, the Bereans, they weren't satisfied by just hearing the text. 403 00:19:46,900 --> 00:19:49,200 They went back to see what Paul was said was true. 404 00:19:49,210 --> 00:19:50,750 They were eager to hear it. 405 00:19:50,770 --> 00:19:53,129 They were in noble character of it. 406 00:19:53,919 --> 00:19:56,119 And by that, you know, they were in their word. 407 00:19:56,120 --> 00:19:58,160 And because of that, we have to be in our word in order to 408 00:19:58,220 --> 00:20:00,780 understand the knowledge of Christ. 409 00:20:02,149 --> 00:20:04,560 You know, the second one is prayer. 410 00:20:05,330 --> 00:20:07,270 We have to, we have to be praying. 411 00:20:07,270 --> 00:20:11,379 In Proverbs 2, Verse 3 to 6 says, Indeed, if you all call out for insight 412 00:20:11,379 --> 00:20:15,090 and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and 413 00:20:15,090 --> 00:20:18,540 search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of 414 00:20:18,540 --> 00:20:21,100 the Lord and find the knowledge of God. 415 00:20:21,530 --> 00:20:22,820 For the Lord gives wisdom. 416 00:20:22,890 --> 00:20:25,790 From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 417 00:20:26,420 --> 00:20:29,820 You know, we have to actively seek knowledge and wisdom through prayer. 418 00:20:30,660 --> 00:20:32,850 And I don't know about you guys, but when I read this scripture, what I 419 00:20:32,870 --> 00:20:35,140 thought of is a little kid at Target. 420 00:20:35,685 --> 00:20:38,304 Now, you ever bring your, your kids to Target, you've seen a little kid in 421 00:20:38,304 --> 00:20:41,514 the toy section or the candy section, they start crying to their parents. 422 00:20:41,514 --> 00:20:43,514 They're like, Mom, Dad, I want this toy. 423 00:20:43,645 --> 00:20:45,465 They start pounding the ground, you probably see that. 424 00:20:45,504 --> 00:20:47,595 I want this candy, and you say no. 425 00:20:48,085 --> 00:20:52,154 But, guess what, I thought about, uh, are we doing the same thing in our lives? 426 00:20:52,244 --> 00:20:56,235 Are we crying to God, wanting to know more and more about Him each day? 427 00:20:56,985 --> 00:20:58,365 Are we doing that, church? 428 00:20:59,655 --> 00:21:04,074 You know, another way to add knowledge is to seek advice from others. 429 00:21:04,639 --> 00:21:08,429 You know, I feel like this is, at least for, for my generation, just a lost start. 430 00:21:08,449 --> 00:21:11,750 We're, we're too much in the feeling generation of what feels right. 431 00:21:12,689 --> 00:21:14,019 And that's not the case here. 432 00:21:14,360 --> 00:21:20,320 You know, when we, uh, uh, we actively add knowledge to our faith by going to others. 433 00:21:20,860 --> 00:21:23,529 And the importance of listening to advice and being open and learning 434 00:21:23,529 --> 00:21:25,589 from others, it leads to wisdom there. 435 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:29,720 You know, just to, to show you, here are a few scriptures to show just, uh, 436 00:21:30,030 --> 00:21:34,260 Searching for wise individuals, how they can contribute to your wisdom, and seeking 437 00:21:34,270 --> 00:21:38,350 their counsel aligns with the idea of actively adding knowledge to your faith. 438 00:21:38,950 --> 00:21:42,800 You know, there is value in seeking the advice and counsels from others 439 00:21:42,849 --> 00:21:45,040 to make informed and wise decisions. 440 00:21:45,970 --> 00:21:50,560 By actively seeking wisdom from others, you don't add to your 441 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:53,460 faith necessarily like that, but it does complement your faith. 442 00:21:53,919 --> 00:21:56,370 And in that area, it does enhance your faith. 443 00:21:56,609 --> 00:21:58,139 Just as 2 Peter 1. 444 00:21:58,139 --> 00:21:58,940 5 encourages us to. 445 00:21:59,500 --> 00:22:01,130 Uh, add knowledge to the faith. 446 00:22:01,350 --> 00:22:05,440 Engaging in knowledgeable and wise individuals, listening to their 447 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:09,200 counsel, incorporating their their insights into your understanding can 448 00:22:09,360 --> 00:22:12,440 contribute to spiritual growth from a deeper connection of your faith. 449 00:22:13,790 --> 00:22:16,780 But with that being said, there are also challenges though, of course, of adding 450 00:22:16,790 --> 00:22:18,750 faith or adding knowledge to your faith. 451 00:22:19,170 --> 00:22:22,120 And the first one being complacency. 452 00:22:23,350 --> 00:22:26,330 Being complacent is the most dangerous thing ever. 453 00:22:26,935 --> 00:22:29,885 You know, we, we as humans, we think that we are always right, and 454 00:22:29,885 --> 00:22:31,235 that we don't really have to grow. 455 00:22:31,695 --> 00:22:35,525 But that's not the case as disciples, because we made Jesus Lord of our life. 456 00:22:35,545 --> 00:22:37,694 We said yes to being a disciple. 457 00:22:37,695 --> 00:22:40,685 And the disciple in the heart of it, in the root of all, is a student. 458 00:22:40,975 --> 00:22:42,314 And a student is a learner. 459 00:22:42,565 --> 00:22:45,224 So we are always learning, church. 460 00:22:46,195 --> 00:22:48,845 You know, I think of complacency of being stagnant. 461 00:22:48,845 --> 00:22:53,504 I don't know if you guys ever seen a stagnant water in, at a lake or a pond. 462 00:22:54,159 --> 00:22:56,320 But stagnant water, it's disgusting church. 463 00:22:56,389 --> 00:22:57,139 It's nasty. 464 00:22:57,139 --> 00:22:58,889 There's, there's algae on it. 465 00:22:59,139 --> 00:23:01,450 The, the livestock around it is dead. 466 00:23:01,649 --> 00:23:04,149 You know, dead plants, dead sea animals in there. 467 00:23:04,149 --> 00:23:06,600 Or dead, uh, uh, like fish in there. 468 00:23:07,179 --> 00:23:10,839 But I think about it, like how does, uh, uh, water become stagnant? 469 00:23:10,899 --> 00:23:13,970 Well it becomes stagnant because it has less oxygen. 470 00:23:14,659 --> 00:23:17,110 And I think about how do we become stagnant? 471 00:23:17,129 --> 00:23:18,580 Like what would happen if we were to be stagnant? 472 00:23:18,590 --> 00:23:22,060 Well when we're stagnant church, we also become like that pond. 473 00:23:22,649 --> 00:23:24,709 There's less spiritual oxygen for us. 474 00:23:24,709 --> 00:23:26,449 We start suffocating ourselves. 475 00:23:26,530 --> 00:23:31,379 We start becoming, uh, that body of lake where it becomes nasty, stinky. 476 00:23:31,379 --> 00:23:33,449 The livestock around it's not flourishing. 477 00:23:33,449 --> 00:23:34,860 It's not doing its best. 478 00:23:34,860 --> 00:23:35,799 It's not thriving. 479 00:23:35,919 --> 00:23:37,229 We become that. 480 00:23:37,330 --> 00:23:39,409 We become complacent, church. 481 00:23:39,459 --> 00:23:42,789 That's where we are unable to bear fruit and become barren. 482 00:23:43,629 --> 00:23:46,289 And the second challenge is distractions. 483 00:23:46,839 --> 00:23:48,959 And we live in a fast paced society, guys. 484 00:23:49,009 --> 00:23:53,335 I mean, social media has been, you know, Everything's just 485 00:23:53,335 --> 00:23:55,794 been, uh, enhanced to a 10. 486 00:23:55,835 --> 00:24:00,325 But, I think other distractions besides social media can be, like I said, school. 487 00:24:00,985 --> 00:24:01,914 It can be work. 488 00:24:02,445 --> 00:24:04,034 It can be certain relationships. 489 00:24:05,855 --> 00:24:10,874 And when we, you know, when we're distracted by it, Um, you know, we 490 00:24:10,895 --> 00:24:14,075 just, we lose sight of God, obviously. 491 00:24:14,695 --> 00:24:16,955 And even Peter, writing this before social media, he knew 492 00:24:16,955 --> 00:24:17,945 that there was distractions. 493 00:24:17,945 --> 00:24:20,675 He knows that we have to make every effort. 494 00:24:21,004 --> 00:24:25,745 Yet, as Paul writes in Philippians 3, What is more, I consider everything a 495 00:24:25,745 --> 00:24:30,135 loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ, Jesus my Lord, for 496 00:24:30,135 --> 00:24:32,245 whose sake I have lost all things. 497 00:24:32,365 --> 00:24:35,215 I consider them garbage that I may gain Christ. 498 00:24:36,115 --> 00:24:40,194 Even the Apostle Paul expresses the surpassing value of knowing Christ 499 00:24:40,744 --> 00:24:42,534 compared to the worldly achievements. 500 00:24:43,094 --> 00:24:47,715 He considers everything a loss, Church, in the excellence of knowing Jesus. 501 00:24:48,784 --> 00:24:52,764 And I have to ask, Church, Do we have the same attitude of considering 502 00:24:52,835 --> 00:24:56,655 everything a loss compared to the excellence of knowing Jesus? 503 00:24:57,895 --> 00:25:00,815 Or do we get our value from our achievements and our accomplishments? 504 00:25:01,854 --> 00:25:06,534 No, it's a conscious decision to view the pursuit of knowledge as a priceless 505 00:25:06,544 --> 00:25:10,024 treasure worth more than any temporary pleasure the world has to offer. 506 00:25:10,695 --> 00:25:14,274 And the key in overcoming this challenge lies in prioritizing 507 00:25:14,284 --> 00:25:15,465 your relationship with God. 508 00:25:16,135 --> 00:25:20,065 This involves intentionally setting aside for prayer, Maybe it's setting 509 00:25:20,085 --> 00:25:23,965 time aside for, for studying the Bible and seeking Him and His people. 510 00:25:24,615 --> 00:25:26,345 You know, it's great to have ambition, church. 511 00:25:26,345 --> 00:25:29,315 I, I, I know, like, you know, get that promotion. 512 00:25:29,525 --> 00:25:31,264 Yes, strive for those straight A's. 513 00:25:31,264 --> 00:25:32,895 Yes, do all of those things. 514 00:25:33,014 --> 00:25:37,985 But don't do it at the cost of having Lord be number two in your life. 515 00:25:39,185 --> 00:25:39,605 Amen? 516 00:25:40,135 --> 00:25:43,005 You know, the challenge of complacency and distractions are real. 517 00:25:43,005 --> 00:25:43,445 I get it. 518 00:25:43,855 --> 00:25:46,805 But as we prioritize our relationship with God and view the pursuit of 519 00:25:46,805 --> 00:25:51,725 knowledge as incomparable to worldly distractions, we position ourselves 520 00:25:51,725 --> 00:25:55,865 to experience the surpassing greatness of knowing God more deeply. 521 00:25:56,825 --> 00:26:01,135 So as we add knowledge to our faith, we also get the benefits of it. 522 00:26:01,205 --> 00:26:03,005 Not only for us, but for others around. 523 00:26:03,575 --> 00:26:07,600 You know, I think one of the benefits, well For one, I think it's in this 524 00:26:07,610 --> 00:26:11,389 Proverbs in 18, it says, Blessed are those who find wisdom, those 525 00:26:11,389 --> 00:26:14,299 who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and 526 00:26:14,300 --> 00:26:16,449 yields better return than gold. 527 00:26:16,459 --> 00:26:18,189 She is more precious than rubies. 528 00:26:18,389 --> 00:26:20,360 Nothing you desire can compare with her. 529 00:26:20,620 --> 00:26:24,570 Long life is in her right hand, in her left hand are riches and honor. 530 00:26:24,919 --> 00:26:28,199 Her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace. 531 00:26:28,770 --> 00:26:31,389 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her. 532 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:34,110 Those who hold her fast will be blessed. 533 00:26:35,245 --> 00:26:38,465 You know, I, I love this, this, uh, this scripture here, because it 534 00:26:38,465 --> 00:26:42,004 talks about, you know, often using wisdom, adding that to our faith. 535 00:26:42,014 --> 00:26:46,345 And I think about the benefit of adding knowledge to it, for one, is 536 00:26:46,365 --> 00:26:48,055 you get a deeper relationship with God. 537 00:26:48,424 --> 00:26:51,704 You know, this scripture, it talks about a tree, and, you know, obviously a 538 00:26:51,704 --> 00:26:53,854 tree just doesn't spawn out of nowhere. 539 00:26:53,875 --> 00:26:56,014 I mean, in Minecraft it does, but not here in life. 540 00:26:56,085 --> 00:26:57,725 You have to plant the seed. 541 00:26:58,344 --> 00:27:01,044 And just like us, we have to plant this seed, and we have to water 542 00:27:01,044 --> 00:27:02,415 it, and we have to let it grow. 543 00:27:02,435 --> 00:27:05,114 And we grow in it by knowing God more deeply. 544 00:27:05,375 --> 00:27:06,274 We get to think about it. 545 00:27:06,284 --> 00:27:09,125 We have a deeper relationship with God, the creator of us. 546 00:27:09,804 --> 00:27:11,314 That's one of the benefits. 547 00:27:11,314 --> 00:27:15,514 The other benefit is we'll have a strong foundation. 548 00:27:16,165 --> 00:27:19,094 I mean, if you see any big tree in the sequoias, you see 549 00:27:19,094 --> 00:27:20,814 that those trunks are thick. 550 00:27:20,895 --> 00:27:22,905 They have a strong foundation. 551 00:27:23,455 --> 00:27:27,935 And for us, that strong foundation begins with, you know, building it on God. 552 00:27:28,264 --> 00:27:30,004 I think of the wise and foolish builder. 553 00:27:30,004 --> 00:27:33,334 You know, the wise builder who built his foundation on sand. 554 00:27:33,334 --> 00:27:37,175 And when the rain came, the storm came, the house blew off. 555 00:27:37,524 --> 00:27:40,254 But then the wise builder built it on the rock, which is God. 556 00:27:40,594 --> 00:27:44,675 He built it on it, so when times of rain and different seasons 557 00:27:44,675 --> 00:27:47,105 came, that was still standing tall. 558 00:27:47,905 --> 00:27:50,645 And when I think about that, when we have a deep relationship with God, 559 00:27:50,645 --> 00:27:54,605 when we have a strong foundation, we get to experience joy and peace. 560 00:27:55,825 --> 00:27:57,195 Sorry, I keep clicking fast, guys. 561 00:27:57,195 --> 00:27:58,165 I'm like really excited. 562 00:27:58,974 --> 00:28:01,145 We experience joy and peace, all right? 563 00:28:01,145 --> 00:28:03,834 And think about this world, everyone thinks, you know, they want joy 564 00:28:03,844 --> 00:28:06,045 and peace and people think they have joy and peace in their life. 565 00:28:06,225 --> 00:28:09,355 But when I ask them and see, you know, what they're doing and stuff, they're 566 00:28:09,355 --> 00:28:13,635 finding it all in this, in substances, in different relationships, in their 567 00:28:13,635 --> 00:28:14,975 accomplishments and achievements. 568 00:28:15,465 --> 00:28:17,805 But then when they look at, you know, our lives, they're 569 00:28:17,805 --> 00:28:18,815 just gonna see joy and peace. 570 00:28:18,815 --> 00:28:21,875 Because no matter what, regardless if we're having a good day or a 571 00:28:21,875 --> 00:28:24,984 bad day, if we're having drama or no drama in our life, we're still 572 00:28:24,984 --> 00:28:26,784 gonna look at it as joy and peace. 573 00:28:26,795 --> 00:28:30,724 We're gonna consider it pure joy as it was written in James. 574 00:28:31,024 --> 00:28:34,295 And when we have that joy and peace in our life, we see that we become 575 00:28:34,295 --> 00:28:36,105 a blessing to others around us. 576 00:28:36,705 --> 00:28:39,935 You know, in Proverbs 3 and 18, I'm so sorry, guys. 577 00:28:39,975 --> 00:28:43,565 This is Proverbs 3 18, you know, it talks about the, she is a tree of 578 00:28:43,565 --> 00:28:45,545 life to those who take hold of her. 579 00:28:45,985 --> 00:28:48,555 Uh, those who will hold fast will be blessed by her. 580 00:28:48,905 --> 00:28:51,445 I think about being a blessing of others, you know, when a tree grows 581 00:28:51,475 --> 00:28:55,314 and becomes bigger and healthy and strong, it has healthy branches and, 582 00:28:55,345 --> 00:28:59,315 and, and leaves and bushes around it and becomes a shade for us to be in. 583 00:28:59,315 --> 00:29:02,615 And I think about when we have a deep relationship with God, when we 584 00:29:02,615 --> 00:29:05,955 have a strong foundation, when we experience the joy and peace, that 585 00:29:06,055 --> 00:29:08,455 others will come to us like a tree. 586 00:29:08,770 --> 00:29:10,070 And they will take comfort in us. 587 00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:13,940 They will take shade in us from this dark world that they desperately need. 588 00:29:14,270 --> 00:29:17,299 And I think that's where the blessing lies, when we really know God. 589 00:29:17,300 --> 00:29:21,010 It doesn't just benefit us, but it benefits those around us as well. 590 00:29:21,760 --> 00:29:24,940 And similarly, as we grow in our knowledge, our lives become testimonies 591 00:29:25,009 --> 00:29:28,940 to the transformative power of faith, enriched with divine knowledge. 592 00:29:29,330 --> 00:29:31,100 It's not just about personal growth. 593 00:29:31,580 --> 00:29:34,320 It's about becoming vessels through which God's wisdom and 594 00:29:34,320 --> 00:29:36,110 love flow into the lives of others. 595 00:29:36,989 --> 00:29:40,489 Our actions, and attitudes, and responses become living expressions 596 00:29:40,499 --> 00:29:41,879 of the knowledge that we've gained. 597 00:29:42,649 --> 00:29:45,649 And encourage us to keep adding to the faith, church. 598 00:29:46,139 --> 00:29:47,610 Let's add knowledge to our faith. 599 00:29:48,059 --> 00:29:50,749 Let's be at the feet of the Lord, just like Mary. 600 00:29:51,209 --> 00:29:55,320 Let's grow in our knowledge and our depth of God, so we can be a beacon of light. 601 00:29:55,860 --> 00:29:59,529 To this world and be wise around others be, you know beacon of light and wisdom 602 00:29:59,529 --> 00:30:04,639 around others So let's make every effort church So as we close church, I'd like 603 00:30:04,639 --> 00:30:09,459 to give a few practicals today You know action steps to adding knowledge to your 604 00:30:09,459 --> 00:30:13,469 faith this week I mean first we gotta let's pray through second peter chapter 605 00:30:13,469 --> 00:30:17,589 one five through seven Let's pray that we continuously add knowledge to our faith. 606 00:30:17,589 --> 00:30:18,839 Let's not be stagnant. 607 00:30:19,189 --> 00:30:24,479 Let's not be complacent with where we're at But let's continue to pray to God 608 00:30:24,500 --> 00:30:28,550 to actively work in our lives so we can keep, um, adding knowledge to our faith. 609 00:30:28,560 --> 00:30:33,070 The second one is, do something to add knowledge each day of the week. 610 00:30:33,079 --> 00:30:33,770 What does that look like? 611 00:30:33,770 --> 00:30:37,360 Well, it meanit could mean, hey, I'm gonna set time aside to read my Bible. 612 00:30:37,469 --> 00:30:39,469 I'm gonna set time aside to pray to God. 613 00:30:39,860 --> 00:30:43,719 Or maybe I'm gonna set time aside to think about ways I've been stagnant in my life. 614 00:30:44,010 --> 00:30:45,790 Or what are the distractions in my life? 615 00:30:45,790 --> 00:30:48,679 I'm gonna take time aside to write that down and combat that this week. 616 00:30:49,689 --> 00:30:53,299 So let's continue to make every effort, church, to add knowledge to our faith. 617 00:30:53,769 --> 00:30:56,049 Right now we're about to take communion, and during this time 618 00:30:56,049 --> 00:30:59,709 of communion, we get to reflect on Jesus dying on the cross for us. 619 00:31:00,219 --> 00:31:03,979 And in Luke 22, verse 19 20, it says, And he took the bread, and gave thanks, 620 00:31:03,979 --> 00:31:08,389 and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This is my body given for you. 621 00:31:08,620 --> 00:31:10,049 Do this in remembrance of me. 622 00:31:10,459 --> 00:31:15,049 In the same way, after supper, he took the cup, saying, This cup is the new covenant 623 00:31:15,349 --> 00:31:17,749 in my blood, which is poured out for you. 624 00:31:19,034 --> 00:31:24,184 No, it's a simple yet powerful act Jesus was teaching us and his disciples and 625 00:31:24,184 --> 00:31:28,634 extension all of us, that the significance of adding knowledge to your faith, 626 00:31:29,244 --> 00:31:33,684 a knowledge of sacrifice when Jesus says, this is my body, a knowledge of 627 00:31:33,684 --> 00:31:35,984 remembrance and a knowledge of unity. 628 00:31:36,954 --> 00:31:37,924 Let's go to God in prayer. 629 00:31:39,495 --> 00:31:43,684 Uh, God, thank you so much just for, for your word, God. 630 00:31:44,600 --> 00:31:47,189 I'm just so grateful for the fact that you've just given us all 631 00:31:47,199 --> 00:31:51,259 the resources already, God, to live a godly life for you, God. 632 00:31:51,769 --> 00:31:55,469 God, I just pray, God, that, uh, as we reflect on adding knowledge, God, 633 00:31:55,589 --> 00:31:58,419 uh, throughout our week, God, I pray, God, that we can, uh, really take 634 00:31:58,419 --> 00:32:02,549 time aside, God, to, to really add to our faith, knowledge, to really just 635 00:32:02,559 --> 00:32:06,829 knowing you, having the posture of Mary, of just being at your feet, Lord. 636 00:32:07,469 --> 00:32:12,209 God, as we, uh, take communion, as we take the, the bread that represents your body 637 00:32:12,209 --> 00:32:15,000 and the, the juice that represents your blood on the cross, God, help us remember, 638 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:17,780 God, the sacrifice that you've made, God. 639 00:32:18,040 --> 00:32:21,279 Help us acknowledge that in knowing, in, in doing that, making us wanting 640 00:32:21,279 --> 00:32:23,089 to know you more and more, God. 641 00:32:23,659 --> 00:32:24,629 God, we love you so much. 642 00:32:24,649 --> 00:32:25,860 In Jesus name, amen.