1 00:00:07,359 --> 00:00:10,800 Praise God. What a sweet spirit of 2 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:14,340 celebration here in this house this morning, church. I'm so excited 3 00:00:14,885 --> 00:00:18,245 to, to join in with, just 4 00:00:18,245 --> 00:00:21,925 congratulating Hal Laughlin. He is he is the epitome of 5 00:00:21,925 --> 00:00:25,445 what it means to to see God's faithfulness in action, 6 00:00:25,445 --> 00:00:28,744 and a man of integrity. Man, I tell you what, 7 00:00:29,180 --> 00:00:32,780 I just hope that we can all, see that 8 00:00:32,780 --> 00:00:36,400 and and and see that bar that Hal has set, and say, 9 00:00:36,460 --> 00:00:40,060 Lord, let me, you know, achieve this one day. 10 00:00:40,060 --> 00:00:43,675 Thirty years of faithfulness and service to the 11 00:00:43,675 --> 00:00:47,515 Lord. So wow, what an incredible incredible thing. We are 12 00:00:47,515 --> 00:00:51,195 gonna talk about some things that might ruffle some feathers today. 13 00:00:51,195 --> 00:00:54,655 So we're gonna go from celebration to maybe, oh, 14 00:00:56,500 --> 00:01:00,260 maybe. But you know what? I pray that this morning it's gonna provide 15 00:01:00,260 --> 00:01:03,480 some freedom, in and amongst ourselves. 16 00:01:04,580 --> 00:01:08,340 It'll break some bondages that maybe we've been holding on to for 17 00:01:08,340 --> 00:01:11,805 a long time that I pray that the Lord is gonna use it 18 00:01:11,805 --> 00:01:15,104 mightily to to just set us free. 19 00:01:15,325 --> 00:01:18,685 Amen? Alright, so let me ask you something this 20 00:01:18,685 --> 00:01:22,445 morning. Have you ever felt like maybe sometimes you're just going 21 00:01:22,445 --> 00:01:26,060 through the motions? Just another day, one step at a 22 00:01:26,060 --> 00:01:29,580 time. Here's another day, so I'm going to go through it. This is what I 23 00:01:29,580 --> 00:01:32,720 got to do. Right? These are the things that I'm 24 00:01:32,940 --> 00:01:35,580 responsible for, so I'm going to step in and I'm going to do it and 25 00:01:35,580 --> 00:01:39,375 I'm going to perform it because that's what's expected of me. Like 26 00:01:39,375 --> 00:01:43,215 maybe there was a sometimes maybe there might be a different image that you're 27 00:01:43,215 --> 00:01:46,355 presenting to the world than what you're actually 28 00:01:47,055 --> 00:01:49,715 who you are on the inside. Right? 29 00:01:51,615 --> 00:01:55,440 I know I have. I have, felt that way a 30 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:58,960 lot of times. I felt like I was living a lie. I felt 31 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:02,720 like what I was allowing other people to see was 32 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:06,560 not the real me. It was maybe this facade or 33 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:10,405 this, act. And, you know, whenever 34 00:02:10,405 --> 00:02:14,165 I really came to the real moments of, okay 35 00:02:14,165 --> 00:02:17,925 God, you know, what am I doing here? Times 36 00:02:17,925 --> 00:02:21,685 of reflection of going deeper of who am I 37 00:02:21,685 --> 00:02:25,480 and who who do I want to be. Right? The Lord has shown me some 38 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:29,319 things. I started to crave something 39 00:02:29,319 --> 00:02:32,940 real, something genuine, and I and I got real honest with myself. 40 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:37,880 So today, we're gonna unpack a portion of scripture that cuts right to the 41 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:41,415 heart of this very struggle. It offers us not just comfort, 42 00:02:41,715 --> 00:02:45,495 but a pathway to a deeply authentic and powerfully 43 00:02:45,715 --> 00:02:49,495 impactful life. It's out of the book of Romans chapter 44 00:02:49,555 --> 00:02:53,190 twelve:nine, just one Scripture. I'm not gonna make you read a 45 00:02:53,190 --> 00:02:56,950 whole bunch, so if you would stand with me this morning, and we'll 46 00:02:56,950 --> 00:03:00,790 all read it together. Love is 47 00:03:00,790 --> 00:03:04,410 to be sincere and active, the real thing 48 00:03:04,470 --> 00:03:08,205 without guile and hypocrisy. Hate what 49 00:03:08,205 --> 00:03:10,944 is evil. Detest all ungodliness. 50 00:03:11,965 --> 00:03:15,665 Do not tolerate wickedness. Hold on tightly 51 00:03:15,805 --> 00:03:19,405 to what is good. Amen. Lord, thank You for Your 52 00:03:19,405 --> 00:03:22,765 Word. Thank You for the truth of Your Word, God. I just pray that You 53 00:03:22,765 --> 00:03:26,420 would use it this morning to penetrate our hearts, Lord, that 54 00:03:26,420 --> 00:03:29,860 any hardness that's there, God, I pray that You would soften 55 00:03:29,860 --> 00:03:33,540 us and correct us, God. It's in Your name we 56 00:03:33,540 --> 00:03:37,315 pray. Amen. You may be seated. I 57 00:03:37,315 --> 00:03:40,995 love reading out of the amplified version of the Bible throughout this, 58 00:03:42,195 --> 00:03:46,035 teaching this morning. You're actually gonna hear probably four different versions of 59 00:03:46,035 --> 00:03:49,750 the Bible because I like to study, and I like to see 60 00:03:49,750 --> 00:03:53,430 what different, versions, say. And 61 00:03:53,430 --> 00:03:57,270 so, the Amplified, it just kinda goes a little bit deeper. It gives 62 00:03:57,270 --> 00:04:00,890 a little bit more context context, maybe some more explanation. 63 00:04:01,350 --> 00:04:05,185 And so that's, that's an incredible thing. It 64 00:04:05,185 --> 00:04:08,724 it says to, it says love 65 00:04:08,784 --> 00:04:11,845 meaning the real thing without guile and hypocrisy. 66 00:04:12,545 --> 00:04:16,005 And then whenever it says hate what is evil, detest all ungodliness. 67 00:04:16,544 --> 00:04:20,340 Do not tolerate wickedness. These are things that I think we 68 00:04:20,340 --> 00:04:24,120 need to think about. Right? So 69 00:04:25,380 --> 00:04:28,740 it's not just a a phrase, it's not just a verse in the Bible, it's 70 00:04:28,740 --> 00:04:32,565 not just a real feel good sentiment, it is powerful. It is 71 00:04:32,565 --> 00:04:34,425 something that we are to break down. 72 00:04:36,165 --> 00:04:39,765 So I believe there's three key parts to this 73 00:04:39,765 --> 00:04:42,425 verse. Love being the first, 74 00:04:43,365 --> 00:04:46,920 holiness the second, and righteousness the 75 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:50,600 third. And as we break this verse 76 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:54,440 down, we're gonna I'm gonna ask you some questions, and I want you 77 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:57,980 to be real with yourselves before anything else. 78 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,514 So dig deep. What's the one thing 79 00:05:02,735 --> 00:05:06,574 that you need to let go of? What's that one thing? 80 00:05:06,574 --> 00:05:10,335 This is our one thing conference. Right? So we're going to need to dig deep 81 00:05:10,335 --> 00:05:13,074 and think about what's that one thing in my life, 82 00:05:14,820 --> 00:05:17,800 and go more than just the surface, go more than just 83 00:05:18,740 --> 00:05:22,500 a vague word that encompasses a lot more 84 00:05:22,500 --> 00:05:26,235 whenever you really dive in, because I 85 00:05:26,235 --> 00:05:29,514 know that the Lord is bringing it to us right now. Even now as I'm 86 00:05:29,514 --> 00:05:32,895 speaking, I know that the Lord is bringing it to us. What's that one thing 87 00:05:33,195 --> 00:05:36,635 that we need to let go of? And the second question is what's the one 88 00:05:36,635 --> 00:05:40,415 thing that might be separating you from an even deeper, 89 00:05:40,555 --> 00:05:44,170 more intimate relationship with the Lord. 90 00:05:44,710 --> 00:05:46,890 Do you want an intimate relationship with Jesus? 91 00:05:48,550 --> 00:05:52,310 Yes. Your answer should be profoundly yes. So do you want 92 00:05:52,310 --> 00:05:55,854 an intimate relationship with Jesus? Yes. Yes. 93 00:05:56,155 --> 00:05:59,055 Yes. That is what we strive for. 94 00:06:01,195 --> 00:06:04,495 So let's start with the first part. Love is to be 95 00:06:05,195 --> 00:06:08,940 sincere and active. The word here in the 96 00:06:08,940 --> 00:06:12,540 original Greek is agape. Now I'm If 97 00:06:12,540 --> 00:06:15,500 you've been coming to church for a while or if you've been a believer of 98 00:06:15,500 --> 00:06:18,860 Jesus, you know that this agape love is the 99 00:06:18,860 --> 00:06:22,245 highest form of love. Right? 100 00:06:23,745 --> 00:06:27,585 It's not any you know, if we can forget about the emotional I I 101 00:06:27,585 --> 00:06:31,185 I Chelsea, I love those shoes over there. You are sporting them, girl. The 102 00:06:31,264 --> 00:06:34,965 I love Cole, that jacket, come on, man. I love that. 103 00:06:35,025 --> 00:06:38,700 Man, I I really love pizza. Pizza's good. 104 00:06:38,700 --> 00:06:42,220 I love it. As a culture, we throw around this word 105 00:06:42,220 --> 00:06:45,600 love like it's just kind of, you know, 106 00:06:45,900 --> 00:06:49,040 anything and everything. But agape 107 00:06:49,260 --> 00:06:52,835 love is so much different than that. It is sincere 108 00:06:53,775 --> 00:06:56,675 and active. Agape love is complete. 109 00:06:57,295 --> 00:07:01,135 It's willful. It's not just a fleeting feeling. It's a 110 00:07:01,135 --> 00:07:04,895 conscious deliberate choice. See, everybody, we 111 00:07:04,895 --> 00:07:08,520 have a choice to make. We can choose to love. 112 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:12,199 We can choose to hate. But the one thing 113 00:07:12,199 --> 00:07:15,639 that we have is a choice. We can 114 00:07:15,639 --> 00:07:19,099 choose righteousness, or we can choose wickedness. 115 00:07:20,375 --> 00:07:23,975 These are choices that we're all gonna have to make. And one 116 00:07:23,975 --> 00:07:27,815 day, whenever we're standing face to face with the Lord, He's 117 00:07:27,815 --> 00:07:31,275 gonna ask us about those choices. He's gonna say, 118 00:07:31,909 --> 00:07:34,870 I don't I'm just I'm gonna I'm gonna think about this is what I think 119 00:07:34,870 --> 00:07:38,550 the Lord is gonna say. What have you done with the life 120 00:07:38,550 --> 00:07:42,310 I've given you? And then He's gonna say, what have you 121 00:07:42,310 --> 00:07:44,810 done with the life of my son 122 00:07:46,055 --> 00:07:48,075 whom I sent for you? 123 00:07:50,375 --> 00:07:53,595 It's a choice. We can choose. 124 00:07:54,535 --> 00:07:57,915 It's about actively seeking the best for another person 125 00:07:58,375 --> 00:08:02,030 regardless of what they deserve or even about how 126 00:08:02,030 --> 00:08:05,010 we might feel at the moment. Feelings are fickle. 127 00:08:05,630 --> 00:08:09,390 Feelings are caught up with emotion. So it 128 00:08:09,390 --> 00:08:12,850 doesn't matter how we feel, we are called to love 129 00:08:12,910 --> 00:08:16,645 regardless, called to put others before our 130 00:08:16,645 --> 00:08:17,945 own selves. 131 00:08:20,405 --> 00:08:22,905 Think about it. God's love for us, it's sacrificial. 132 00:08:24,165 --> 00:08:27,685 He came and gave His life for each one of us. It's 133 00:08:27,685 --> 00:08:30,890 unconditional. He loves us regardless 134 00:08:31,110 --> 00:08:34,710 of what we do. Does it hurt 135 00:08:34,710 --> 00:08:38,549 Him? Yes. But He's right there to pick us right back up, dust 136 00:08:38,549 --> 00:08:42,330 us off, and welcome us with a warm embrace. 137 00:08:42,390 --> 00:08:46,045 He loves us unconditionally. He 138 00:08:46,045 --> 00:08:49,425 is constantly pursuing our ultimate good 139 00:08:49,725 --> 00:08:53,345 even when we wander away. That's agape love. 140 00:08:54,204 --> 00:08:57,964 But Paul doesn't stop there. Remember, he 141 00:08:57,964 --> 00:09:00,430 says we ought to love what? Unhypocritically. 142 00:09:02,170 --> 00:09:05,950 Unhypocritically. The church has gotten a bad rap for 143 00:09:06,089 --> 00:09:09,769 being hypocrites at some point and sometimes. There's a lot of people who are turned 144 00:09:09,769 --> 00:09:13,370 away from coming to church because sometimes they see 145 00:09:13,370 --> 00:09:16,925 Christians doing one thing, saying one thing, and doing 146 00:09:16,925 --> 00:09:20,765 another. That's the definition of being a 147 00:09:20,765 --> 00:09:23,505 hypocrite. We're supposed to love unhypocritically 148 00:09:25,085 --> 00:09:28,925 without our desires, without something that, well, what's in 149 00:09:28,925 --> 00:09:30,899 it for me? Right? 150 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:35,779 Let that go unhypocritically. 151 00:09:36,959 --> 00:09:40,660 Agape love is transparent. What you see is what you truly 152 00:09:41,279 --> 00:09:44,815 get. So why does this authenticity 153 00:09:44,954 --> 00:09:47,295 and love, why does it matter so much? 154 00:09:48,714 --> 00:09:52,415 Guys, we are people. We are hurt. We are broken. 155 00:09:52,714 --> 00:09:55,774 We can easily put on a facade. 156 00:09:57,240 --> 00:10:00,700 Right? And then also, we can easily be ones to determine, 157 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:04,680 oh, that's fake right there. Right? That's why it's 158 00:10:04,680 --> 00:10:07,660 so important for this love to be authentically 159 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:12,375 lived out step by step each day, because authenticity 160 00:10:14,035 --> 00:10:16,214 is the real currency 161 00:10:18,115 --> 00:10:21,954 as a believer. We 162 00:10:21,954 --> 00:10:25,690 have to live what we believe. And if we 163 00:10:25,690 --> 00:10:29,070 believe that he is who he says he is and he came 164 00:10:30,250 --> 00:10:33,850 and he set us free, guess what? We better live that 165 00:10:33,850 --> 00:10:37,529 way. We better let other people see that we 166 00:10:37,529 --> 00:10:40,830 believe that, and they better hear it coming out of our mouths 167 00:10:42,225 --> 00:10:46,065 because that's what's gonna bring them to make the choice to follow 168 00:10:46,065 --> 00:10:49,685 Jesus. Authentic 169 00:10:49,745 --> 00:10:51,925 love resonates. It transforms. 170 00:10:53,750 --> 00:10:57,589 That love, my friends, it reflects the very heart of God 171 00:10:57,589 --> 00:11:01,350 himself. We are his 172 00:11:01,350 --> 00:11:04,810 image bearers. So let's be honest with ourselves. 173 00:11:06,415 --> 00:11:10,175 Is our love always? That word always is bold 174 00:11:10,175 --> 00:11:13,954 for a reason. Is it always sincere and active? 175 00:11:14,254 --> 00:11:18,095 Is it always looking out for the best interests of others? 176 00:11:18,095 --> 00:11:20,514 Is it always authentic, genuine? 177 00:11:23,090 --> 00:11:26,850 And if it's not, what needs to change? What 178 00:11:26,850 --> 00:11:30,610 are the things that we need to course correct as 179 00:11:30,610 --> 00:11:34,150 we're living this life? It's a tough question, 180 00:11:35,485 --> 00:11:38,625 But honesty, that's the first step. 181 00:11:39,644 --> 00:11:43,345 See, honesty, it will go beyond 182 00:11:44,045 --> 00:11:47,644 what we do, what we say. It has to 183 00:11:47,644 --> 00:11:51,000 be the very first thing. Are we honest with ourselves? 184 00:11:52,580 --> 00:11:56,260 Am am I truly the person that I believe I 185 00:11:56,260 --> 00:11:58,920 am, the person that I am letting other people see? 186 00:12:00,665 --> 00:12:04,345 So here's our challenge this morning. Let's intentionally examine 187 00:12:04,345 --> 00:12:07,965 ourselves. Think about your interactions with your families, 188 00:12:08,505 --> 00:12:12,205 your workplaces, in your church communities, in your neighborhoods. 189 00:12:12,425 --> 00:12:16,220 Do your neighbors know you? I'm in 190 00:12:16,220 --> 00:12:19,180 a we're in a day and age in which, man, I don't know if the 191 00:12:19,180 --> 00:12:22,459 people across the street or to the left or the right if they know my 192 00:12:22,459 --> 00:12:26,220 name. Go bring them a 193 00:12:26,220 --> 00:12:29,825 meal, break bread with them, Go introduce yourself. 194 00:12:29,885 --> 00:12:33,024 Ask them about their life. Get 195 00:12:33,404 --> 00:12:37,084 real with one another. We are 196 00:12:37,084 --> 00:12:40,765 people. We are made and created to be personable, to 197 00:12:40,765 --> 00:12:44,500 be, interactive, to share with 198 00:12:44,500 --> 00:12:47,960 one another. God designed us specifically 199 00:12:48,180 --> 00:12:51,860 for community. And when we say we're a believer, we 200 00:12:51,860 --> 00:12:55,400 will live it out sincerely and actively 201 00:12:56,340 --> 00:12:59,815 pursuing God, pursuing his 202 00:12:59,815 --> 00:13:03,654 heart for others. If that means I'm gonna go bake some cookies and 203 00:13:03,654 --> 00:13:07,255 bring it to my neighbor because I don't know him, then that's what I need 204 00:13:07,255 --> 00:13:09,595 to do. Amen? 205 00:13:11,014 --> 00:13:14,790 Amen. So I want you to 206 00:13:14,790 --> 00:13:18,390 ask yourself, am I actively seeking the good of others even when 207 00:13:18,390 --> 00:13:22,170 it's inconvenient for me, even when it's 208 00:13:22,230 --> 00:13:26,070 challenging? I might have to go out of my way to bake those cookies 209 00:13:26,070 --> 00:13:29,825 and bring it over to my neighbor. I might have to set aside a 210 00:13:29,825 --> 00:13:32,005 portion of time to do this, 211 00:13:33,825 --> 00:13:35,925 but is that what you're called to do? 212 00:13:37,745 --> 00:13:41,345 Is that what's gonna bridge the gap between someone 213 00:13:41,345 --> 00:13:45,120 knowing the Lord and not? It could 214 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:48,740 be the simplest of phrases. It could be one word 215 00:13:48,879 --> 00:13:52,639 that speaks to their heart that the Lord uses and says, come 216 00:13:52,639 --> 00:13:53,300 to me. 217 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,985 Alright. Let's strive for that authentic 218 00:13:59,524 --> 00:14:02,425 agape love in everything that we do. 219 00:14:03,845 --> 00:14:07,524 Let's move on to the second part of this verse. Hate what is 220 00:14:07,524 --> 00:14:11,285 evil. Oh. Oh. Does anybody get chills when they hear that 221 00:14:11,285 --> 00:14:15,010 word? Hate. Gosh, I was always told 222 00:14:15,010 --> 00:14:18,529 whenever I was younger, don't hate. You should never have hate 223 00:14:18,529 --> 00:14:21,970 in your heart. I was always told 224 00:14:21,970 --> 00:14:25,810 that hate is not a good thing. It is 225 00:14:25,810 --> 00:14:28,935 actually the opposite of good. 226 00:14:31,075 --> 00:14:34,595 But the Bible says to hate what is 227 00:14:34,595 --> 00:14:38,035 evil. So it so we are supposed 228 00:14:38,035 --> 00:14:41,495 to have hate. Right? We are supposed to hate 229 00:14:41,715 --> 00:14:45,190 the evil. Right? That's what the Bible says. 230 00:14:45,649 --> 00:14:48,070 Hate what is evil. 231 00:14:49,250 --> 00:14:53,089 Listen to the strength of the original Greek word here. It's not just a 232 00:14:53,089 --> 00:14:56,630 mild dislike. It's an intense revulsion 233 00:14:56,850 --> 00:15:00,425 too. It's to detest, to abhor, 234 00:15:00,965 --> 00:15:04,565 to shrink back from. This is 235 00:15:04,565 --> 00:15:08,325 what the word hate means. It's 236 00:15:08,325 --> 00:15:11,990 a strong active rejection. We're 237 00:15:11,990 --> 00:15:15,670 not Or we are called as followers of Jesus to have a gut 238 00:15:15,670 --> 00:15:19,370 level disgust for evil, for wickedness, 239 00:15:19,589 --> 00:15:22,649 for the things that don't belong in the kingdom. 240 00:15:24,405 --> 00:15:28,085 Now, I'm not talking about people, because people will pick 241 00:15:28,085 --> 00:15:31,845 up this wickedness, and they will carry it, right, and 242 00:15:31,845 --> 00:15:35,145 they will live it out continually throughout their days. 243 00:15:36,510 --> 00:15:39,250 And we are not called to hate people. 244 00:15:40,110 --> 00:15:43,810 People are just conduits. People are shells, 245 00:15:43,870 --> 00:15:47,310 our bodies. Right? We are called to 246 00:15:47,310 --> 00:15:50,845 love people, see past what 247 00:15:50,845 --> 00:15:54,625 they do, the wickedness that is is produced 248 00:15:55,005 --> 00:15:58,545 in them and called to love them beyond it. 249 00:15:59,645 --> 00:16:03,390 To hate what the enemy is doing in their life 250 00:16:03,690 --> 00:16:07,450 is appropriate. To hate the evil that is 251 00:16:07,450 --> 00:16:09,709 plaguing this world is right. 252 00:16:11,690 --> 00:16:15,450 Love the person. God 253 00:16:15,450 --> 00:16:16,430 loves everyone. 254 00:16:22,464 --> 00:16:25,605 Evil here is ungodliness 255 00:16:26,225 --> 00:16:29,910 in all forms. It is more 256 00:16:29,910 --> 00:16:33,690 than just a word. It is more than just something that we do. 257 00:16:33,750 --> 00:16:37,430 It is anything in opposition to 258 00:16:37,430 --> 00:16:41,210 God, anything that opposes Him, His precepts, 259 00:16:41,670 --> 00:16:45,515 His Word, anything that is in opposition 260 00:16:46,215 --> 00:16:49,975 to God. So this brings 261 00:16:49,975 --> 00:16:53,735 us to a really important first question. What is the one 262 00:16:53,735 --> 00:16:56,475 thing that you need to let go of? 263 00:16:57,630 --> 00:17:01,390 What is the one thing that is in our hearts 264 00:17:01,390 --> 00:17:05,230 that is maybe it's something that we're doing. Maybe it's a thought 265 00:17:05,230 --> 00:17:08,910 process or an action. What is the one thing that we 266 00:17:08,910 --> 00:17:12,744 were called to let go of? 267 00:17:15,204 --> 00:17:18,265 First John one nine points us directly to it. 268 00:17:18,724 --> 00:17:22,345 Boom. Sin. Big, bold 269 00:17:22,645 --> 00:17:26,419 sin. I couldn't get the words any bigger than that on 270 00:17:26,419 --> 00:17:30,179 the screen. I wanted to make sure that 271 00:17:30,179 --> 00:17:33,940 it was as big as we can make it because it 272 00:17:33,940 --> 00:17:37,620 is the one thing that we need to let go 273 00:17:37,620 --> 00:17:40,755 of. Now, that is an all encompassing 274 00:17:41,215 --> 00:17:44,735 sin, and I pray this morning that the Lord 275 00:17:44,735 --> 00:17:48,575 speaks to each one of us and reveals what that sin 276 00:17:48,575 --> 00:17:52,335 is. What is it in the workings of 277 00:17:52,335 --> 00:17:55,810 our minds, our hearts, the things that we're doing 278 00:17:56,110 --> 00:17:59,890 when nobody's looking? What is that sin? 279 00:18:00,190 --> 00:18:03,950 God, speak to us. Reveal it to us. First 280 00:18:03,950 --> 00:18:07,390 John one nine says, if we confess our sins to Him, He is 281 00:18:07,390 --> 00:18:11,115 faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us 282 00:18:11,115 --> 00:18:14,735 from all wickedness. All of it. 283 00:18:16,154 --> 00:18:19,775 It seems so easy, doesn't it, just to to hate sin? 284 00:18:20,794 --> 00:18:23,615 Seems easy. Hate the sin 285 00:18:25,070 --> 00:18:28,610 out there. So easy to point fingers, 286 00:18:29,390 --> 00:18:33,070 to judge, to say, I can so easily see your 287 00:18:33,070 --> 00:18:36,050 sin and I'm gonna call you up out of it 288 00:18:37,024 --> 00:18:40,644 because I know that you're better than that. Right? 289 00:18:41,264 --> 00:18:44,325 How easy is it to point here? 290 00:18:45,825 --> 00:18:49,664 The sin that is in our own hearts, the sin that 291 00:18:49,664 --> 00:18:52,820 works through us in our minds, the sin that 292 00:18:53,120 --> 00:18:56,340 we're maybe afraid to share with anybody. How 293 00:18:57,360 --> 00:19:01,039 easy is it for us to do that, to succumb to that type 294 00:19:01,039 --> 00:19:04,720 of level? But that's 295 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:06,020 what we're called to. 296 00:19:09,845 --> 00:19:12,585 The secret sin, that habit, 297 00:19:13,765 --> 00:19:17,465 that pattern of thought or action that we make excuses for, that we tolerate 298 00:19:18,510 --> 00:19:22,350 because it's not so bad, is it? It's not really 299 00:19:22,350 --> 00:19:24,850 so bad. Look at everybody else, they're doing it. 300 00:19:26,270 --> 00:19:30,030 We make excuses for it. We justify our actions and we 301 00:19:30,030 --> 00:19:33,525 say, you know what? I think God might be 302 00:19:33,525 --> 00:19:37,365 okay with it. I think I can probably get away with 303 00:19:37,365 --> 00:19:40,905 this. He sees 304 00:19:41,045 --> 00:19:44,505 everything. He knows us through and through, 305 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:47,060 every fiber of our being. 306 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:52,100 He knows every hair on our head. 307 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:57,360 Why would we think that we can for one second get 308 00:19:57,360 --> 00:20:00,934 away with something from God. 309 00:20:02,434 --> 00:20:05,975 Remember what sin is? It's it's ungodliness in all forms. 310 00:20:07,795 --> 00:20:11,635 Anything in opposition to God. So if it doesn't line up with 311 00:20:11,635 --> 00:20:15,429 His Word, if it's not a characteristic of His 312 00:20:15,429 --> 00:20:19,030 heart, should we be carrying it? Should we be doing 313 00:20:19,030 --> 00:20:22,790 it? Or should we turn like the Bible 314 00:20:22,790 --> 00:20:26,150 says and run as fast as we can away from 315 00:20:26,150 --> 00:20:26,650 it? 316 00:20:30,915 --> 00:20:34,595 I pray that he's urging us in this way to 317 00:20:34,595 --> 00:20:38,115 hate the sin. God is calling 318 00:20:38,115 --> 00:20:40,935 us every day to 319 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:46,400 come to Him at a deeper level. Lord, I 320 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:50,240 pray that You would use this to flesh out any sin that 321 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:53,840 still remains. The Word 322 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:57,620 talks about in first John one eight, it tells us plainly 323 00:20:58,965 --> 00:21:02,805 that if we have no sin, we deceive If we say we have no sin, 324 00:21:02,805 --> 00:21:06,645 we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. Remember 325 00:21:06,645 --> 00:21:09,865 what I said about being honest? The first thing 326 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:13,740 is to be honest with ourselves, to be honest 327 00:21:14,039 --> 00:21:15,820 about the sin that we're carrying. 328 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:22,059 Acknowledge the sin. We have to acknowledge 329 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:25,905 it in our lives, acknowledge its grip 330 00:21:25,905 --> 00:21:29,265 on us, acknowledge what it produces in 331 00:21:29,265 --> 00:21:33,025 us, and turn and run from 332 00:21:33,025 --> 00:21:36,750 it. See, denial is not 333 00:21:37,049 --> 00:21:40,590 just a river in Egypt. Denial, 334 00:21:41,610 --> 00:21:44,830 denial I learned that from VeggieTales, by the way. 335 00:21:45,370 --> 00:21:48,030 Denial is pretending. 336 00:21:49,225 --> 00:21:51,725 It is pretending it's not a problem. 337 00:21:53,304 --> 00:21:56,605 That's our enemy number one, denial. 338 00:21:57,065 --> 00:22:00,205 Honesty first. Always. Honesty 339 00:22:00,504 --> 00:22:04,090 first. Second, we need to know God, know 340 00:22:04,090 --> 00:22:07,770 Him deeply. We need to know Him and and what 341 00:22:07,770 --> 00:22:11,530 He desires for us. Guys, if you have problem 342 00:22:11,530 --> 00:22:14,590 with coming to know God, pick this up 343 00:22:15,205 --> 00:22:18,805 and read it. His truth tells all 344 00:22:18,805 --> 00:22:22,325 about who He is. It shares stories of 345 00:22:22,325 --> 00:22:25,925 His goodness through and through. It is a 346 00:22:25,925 --> 00:22:29,685 book of His faithfulness in generation after 347 00:22:29,685 --> 00:22:33,279 generation. The 348 00:22:33,279 --> 00:22:37,120 Word of God is living and active. It's sharper than a double 349 00:22:37,120 --> 00:22:40,799 edged sword. It penetrates even to dividing of 350 00:22:40,799 --> 00:22:44,625 soul and spirit, joint and marrow. The word of 351 00:22:44,625 --> 00:22:48,305 God is our truth. It is 352 00:22:48,305 --> 00:22:51,985 the only offensive weapon that we have in this world, 353 00:22:51,985 --> 00:22:55,685 and it defends us from the fiery 354 00:22:55,745 --> 00:22:59,440 darts of the enemy. Pick up the word of God 355 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:03,200 and apply it to your lives every day. Be 356 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:06,500 in it and live through it. 357 00:23:07,120 --> 00:23:10,100 Amen? We need to know Him. 358 00:23:10,915 --> 00:23:14,675 Psalm 29 says, honor the Lord, you heavenly beings. Honor the 359 00:23:14,675 --> 00:23:18,115 Lord for His glory and strength. Honor the 360 00:23:18,115 --> 00:23:21,895 Lord for the glory of His name. Worship the Lord 361 00:23:22,115 --> 00:23:25,780 in the splendor of His holiness. The splendor. What 362 00:23:25,780 --> 00:23:29,380 is that? The splendor of His holiness. He 363 00:23:29,380 --> 00:23:33,140 is holy, and that looks like something. That looks 364 00:23:33,140 --> 00:23:36,660 like this incredible gift that we 365 00:23:36,660 --> 00:23:40,085 have to worship Him. He is all 366 00:23:40,085 --> 00:23:43,865 encompassing. God is good, 367 00:23:44,405 --> 00:23:47,785 and His goodness will prevail over any wickedness. 368 00:23:49,205 --> 00:23:53,037 The more we know God, the uglier our own sin will inevitably inevitably become in 369 00:23:53,037 --> 00:23:54,195 comparison. See, when we come to know Him, right, 370 00:24:02,780 --> 00:24:06,460 opposition to God. That's that's something 371 00:24:06,460 --> 00:24:10,185 that doesn't agree with what I just read. This is 372 00:24:10,185 --> 00:24:13,825 the the splendor of His holiness is right here and so it does not 373 00:24:13,825 --> 00:24:17,424 line up with what is right here, what is what is going 374 00:24:17,424 --> 00:24:18,485 on right here. 375 00:24:24,140 --> 00:24:27,760 Spend time in His Word. Communicate with Him in prayer. Draw closer 376 00:24:28,380 --> 00:24:32,220 to His radiant light, and any darkness in our 377 00:24:32,220 --> 00:24:35,520 own hearts will become undeniably more apparent. 378 00:24:36,895 --> 00:24:40,495 It will be highlighted. This doesn't belong. This 379 00:24:40,495 --> 00:24:43,955 darkness that's in here, I need to get it out because 380 00:24:44,174 --> 00:24:47,715 I'm in here, because He's taking me deeper, because 381 00:24:47,855 --> 00:24:51,075 He's showing me the splendor of His holiness. 382 00:24:53,370 --> 00:24:56,830 Third, we must understand the devastating consequences 383 00:24:57,450 --> 00:25:01,050 of sin. Well, if I do this, 384 00:25:01,050 --> 00:25:04,750 it's it's not really gonna matter in the long run. It's not hurting anybody. 385 00:25:05,850 --> 00:25:09,345 It's not really, is it? The 386 00:25:09,345 --> 00:25:11,845 devastating consequences of sin, 387 00:25:13,265 --> 00:25:16,645 it enslaves us. Sin 388 00:25:16,785 --> 00:25:19,845 separates us from God. Sin ultimately 389 00:25:20,305 --> 00:25:24,070 destroys us. Understanding 390 00:25:24,210 --> 00:25:27,650 the true eternal cost of of sin should 391 00:25:27,650 --> 00:25:31,250 fuel our hatred of it. When we 392 00:25:31,250 --> 00:25:34,850 realize that as we walk in sin, we are 393 00:25:34,850 --> 00:25:38,210 walking continually down a path that 394 00:25:38,210 --> 00:25:41,615 is away from Him, that is continually separating 395 00:25:41,995 --> 00:25:45,755 away from Him. When we realize that, and 396 00:25:45,755 --> 00:25:49,294 that one day, we'll have to give an account, 397 00:25:50,075 --> 00:25:53,890 one day, we're gonna spend eternity either here 398 00:25:53,890 --> 00:25:57,490 or here, the eternal cost of what 399 00:25:57,490 --> 00:25:59,190 sin does in our lives. 400 00:26:01,570 --> 00:26:05,165 Then we might change. Then we might 401 00:26:05,165 --> 00:26:08,945 see this is more than just for the now, for the here. 402 00:26:09,165 --> 00:26:10,785 This is an eternal weight. 403 00:26:13,325 --> 00:26:16,465 Next is we must love God deeply. 404 00:26:17,029 --> 00:26:20,789 We must love God with all of our hearts. We are not our own. 405 00:26:20,789 --> 00:26:24,169 We belong to Him. He gave us the very breath of 406 00:26:24,470 --> 00:26:27,769 life, making you fit for Himself. Okay. 407 00:26:28,710 --> 00:26:32,309 Ephesians four thirty says this. Don't grieve God. Don't break His 408 00:26:32,309 --> 00:26:35,955 heart. His Holy Spirit moving and breathing in you is the 409 00:26:35,955 --> 00:26:39,715 most intimate part of your life, making you fit for 410 00:26:39,715 --> 00:26:43,015 Himself. Don't take such a gift 411 00:26:43,075 --> 00:26:46,500 for granted. I love the message 412 00:26:46,500 --> 00:26:50,120 version of the Bible. It really brings it to 413 00:26:50,340 --> 00:26:53,560 another level of who He is. 414 00:26:54,820 --> 00:26:58,660 If we truly love the Lord, we will hate the very sin that breaks His 415 00:26:58,660 --> 00:27:02,135 heart. So let's commit to doing some 416 00:27:02,135 --> 00:27:05,735 truly so honest soul searching today. Take David's powerful 417 00:27:05,735 --> 00:27:09,575 prayer and make it your own. Search me, oh 418 00:27:09,575 --> 00:27:13,400 God. Know my heart. Test me and know 419 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:16,840 my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that 420 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:20,680 offends you and lead me along the path 421 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:24,375 of everlasting life. I pray 422 00:27:24,375 --> 00:27:28,135 that God will reveal that one thing that needs to 423 00:27:28,135 --> 00:27:28,635 go. 424 00:27:32,695 --> 00:27:36,155 Second part of this is to hold on tightly to what is good. 425 00:27:36,935 --> 00:27:38,315 To hold on tightly. 426 00:27:40,779 --> 00:27:44,620 It's God's goodness. God's goodness, 427 00:27:44,620 --> 00:27:48,460 his righteousness, his very character that we are called to 428 00:27:48,460 --> 00:27:51,200 cling to with all our mind. 429 00:27:55,225 --> 00:27:58,985 How do we cling to God's goodness? How do we know his 430 00:27:58,985 --> 00:28:02,525 character? Read the word. By passionately 431 00:28:02,585 --> 00:28:05,565 pursuing goodness, by choosing to cling to his righteousness. 432 00:28:09,210 --> 00:28:10,750 Wait. I think I did it. 433 00:28:15,529 --> 00:28:19,365 We are actively drawing ourselves closer to God, bridging the gap that 434 00:28:19,365 --> 00:28:22,905 sin creates and stepping into the fullness of relationship 435 00:28:23,685 --> 00:28:26,985 that he longs for us to experience with him. 436 00:28:28,965 --> 00:28:32,675 The one thing that separates us from an even deeper more intimate relationship with the 437 00:28:32,675 --> 00:28:35,580 Lord, guess what it is? Sin. Sin is a relationship with the Lord. Guess what 438 00:28:35,580 --> 00:28:39,340 it is? Sin. Sin 439 00:28:39,340 --> 00:28:42,000 separates us from an even more 440 00:28:43,100 --> 00:28:45,920 intimate deeper relationship with him. 441 00:28:50,695 --> 00:28:52,155 So how do we go about 442 00:28:56,535 --> 00:29:00,135 letting our love be sincere, hating what is evil 443 00:29:00,135 --> 00:29:01,560 and clinging to good, 444 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:08,460 Fall down on our knees in prayer and say, Lord, 445 00:29:09,720 --> 00:29:12,780 you know what's going on in my life. 446 00:29:14,040 --> 00:29:17,745 God, I pray that you would root it out. I pray 447 00:29:17,745 --> 00:29:21,265 that you would give me people to come 448 00:29:21,265 --> 00:29:23,685 alongside me and help hold me accountable 449 00:29:25,425 --> 00:29:29,105 to show me these areas so I can 450 00:29:29,105 --> 00:29:31,365 depend on you, Lord. 451 00:29:32,860 --> 00:29:36,620 In everything that I do, not just in my words, not just 452 00:29:36,620 --> 00:29:39,200 in my deed book, God, in my very heart, 453 00:29:42,860 --> 00:29:46,355 that you would live through me, That I would be 454 00:29:46,355 --> 00:29:47,735 used for you. 455 00:29:51,394 --> 00:29:55,095 Love must be sincere and active, 456 00:29:55,315 --> 00:29:58,929 real in real tangible ways. We have to have 457 00:29:58,929 --> 00:30:01,990 a an intense hatred for evil 458 00:30:02,450 --> 00:30:05,830 starting with the sin in our very own hearts. 459 00:30:07,169 --> 00:30:10,230 And then we have to cling to good passionately. 460 00:30:11,490 --> 00:30:15,115 Pursuing his righteousness with all of our 461 00:30:15,115 --> 00:30:18,875 might. And remember, we 462 00:30:18,875 --> 00:30:21,835 don't have to do this alone. We don't have to do this in our own 463 00:30:21,835 --> 00:30:25,435 strength. Because Jesus left us with the 464 00:30:25,435 --> 00:30:28,919 Holy Spirit. Our helper. The one 465 00:30:28,919 --> 00:30:31,980 that walks with us through this life, 466 00:30:34,679 --> 00:30:38,360 we are called and empowered to do it in His 467 00:30:38,360 --> 00:30:41,980 strength, deeply rooted in 468 00:30:42,265 --> 00:30:44,765 the unshakable love of God. 469 00:30:46,345 --> 00:30:50,105 And with his hope that Jesus is gonna come back one 470 00:30:50,105 --> 00:30:53,485 day. He's gonna split the sky and he's gonna call us home. 471 00:30:54,280 --> 00:30:56,540 That hope at the forefront of our minds. 472 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:02,140 So that one thing that we're called to let go of. 473 00:31:03,080 --> 00:31:06,460 Sin. I pray 474 00:31:06,520 --> 00:31:10,175 that as we've talked this morning that the Lord has 475 00:31:10,175 --> 00:31:13,935 highlighted what that sin is in each one of 476 00:31:13,935 --> 00:31:17,375 us. I know as I was preparing I 477 00:31:17,375 --> 00:31:21,135 was so hesitant to share what that sin 478 00:31:21,135 --> 00:31:24,610 is or was in my life, but I think it's 479 00:31:24,610 --> 00:31:27,429 necessary. I was 480 00:31:28,690 --> 00:31:32,210 called to the Lord when I was eight years old, led in prayer of 481 00:31:32,210 --> 00:31:35,649 salvation from pastor Jerry Bryant right down the road in 482 00:31:35,649 --> 00:31:39,295 Antioch at a church called the Vineyard Church. And from a 483 00:31:39,295 --> 00:31:42,975 very young age, I was in a family 484 00:31:42,975 --> 00:31:45,395 that pursued the Lord, was in church. 485 00:31:46,815 --> 00:31:50,450 We actually came here when it was Smyrna assembly. I was baptized by 486 00:31:50,510 --> 00:31:53,010 miss Margaret Mink in the in the old sanctuary. 487 00:31:56,830 --> 00:32:00,670 But something happened. I started to choose 488 00:32:00,670 --> 00:32:04,125 selfishness. As a freshman in high school, I 489 00:32:04,285 --> 00:32:07,825 started smoking weed and it separated 490 00:32:07,965 --> 00:32:11,025 me from the Lord. 491 00:32:11,885 --> 00:32:15,245 And I continued in this pattern, this 492 00:32:15,245 --> 00:32:18,890 sinful selfish behavior pattern over and 493 00:32:18,890 --> 00:32:22,430 over again for the next fifteen years, 494 00:32:23,290 --> 00:32:26,970 it separated me from my 495 00:32:26,970 --> 00:32:30,645 father. It put a burden on my family. 496 00:32:32,385 --> 00:32:35,765 It made me desire the things 497 00:32:36,145 --> 00:32:39,905 of this world and forget about the better things that 498 00:32:39,905 --> 00:32:41,125 he had for me. 499 00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:48,840 The Lord brought me out of that. And he drew 500 00:32:48,840 --> 00:32:52,060 me close to him. And I was able to see 501 00:32:52,680 --> 00:32:56,360 those patterns of selfishness. And I'm 502 00:32:56,360 --> 00:33:00,165 so thankful for it. If 503 00:33:00,165 --> 00:33:03,785 you're in a deep pit 504 00:33:03,925 --> 00:33:07,605 in your own mind or in entangled in some 505 00:33:07,605 --> 00:33:10,745 sin and you don't know how to get out of it, 506 00:33:12,645 --> 00:33:15,850 he is with you. He wants 507 00:33:16,310 --> 00:33:18,170 you to come close to him. 508 00:33:20,070 --> 00:33:23,770 To get rid of those things that the world offers 509 00:33:23,830 --> 00:33:26,570 and say, I have better. 510 00:33:27,945 --> 00:33:31,705 He is so much better. He 511 00:33:31,705 --> 00:33:35,385 is so much more. There are things 512 00:33:35,385 --> 00:33:38,924 that He has to offer that no man, 513 00:33:40,265 --> 00:33:43,860 no nothing in this world can give. 514 00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:52,340 So Lord, I just pray God right now that you would 515 00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:56,985 illuminate the things that don't belong God. That you would rise 516 00:33:56,985 --> 00:34:00,505 up an intense hatred for in us for those 517 00:34:00,505 --> 00:34:03,325 things that you detest, God. 518 00:34:04,905 --> 00:34:08,685 That you would fill us completely with the things that are good. 519 00:34:08,905 --> 00:34:12,659 Your goodness, your mercy. God, that 520 00:34:12,659 --> 00:34:16,179 we don't have to rely on our own 521 00:34:16,179 --> 00:34:19,780 strength. And that we don't have to 522 00:34:19,780 --> 00:34:23,560 once we rid of those things be empty, but we can be filled to 523 00:34:23,780 --> 00:34:27,585 your good. Let us 524 00:34:27,585 --> 00:34:29,764 cling to them with all of our might. 525 00:34:32,864 --> 00:34:34,965 I pray that you be glorified, 526 00:34:36,864 --> 00:34:40,619 Lord, and that we would begin 527 00:34:41,080 --> 00:34:44,699 to let go of that sin 528 00:34:45,239 --> 00:34:47,659 in Jesus name. Amen. 529 00:34:49,159 --> 00:34:51,739 Now, Stan, we're gonna finish with some worship.