WEBVTT 00:00:06.732 --> 00:00:10.632 well, I wasn't sure if she was going to leave me time to preach or not there for a minute. 00:00:10.632 --> 00:00:11.666 That had been okay. 00:00:11.666 --> 00:00:15.766 It would have been fine. 00:00:15.833 --> 00:00:16.733 Yeah. 00:00:16.733 --> 00:00:18.498 Transitions can be hard. 00:00:18.498 --> 00:00:20.798 It's part of life. 00:00:20.798 --> 00:00:29.332 We will have something that's more of an official reception As the date approaches to where the final transition is made. 00:00:29.332 --> 00:00:38.399 She's --Eddie Lee is going to help invest in the next person that comes in and continue to be a part of serving our senior adults especially. 00:00:38.399 --> 00:00:40.598 So that's it's really powerful. 00:00:40.598 --> 00:00:42.533 But you need to know something else about Eddie Lee. 00:00:42.533 --> 00:00:48.432 She presents herself as all sweet and kind all the time, but she she's got a sneaky side, too. 00:00:48.432 --> 00:00:49.832 Okay. 00:00:49.832 --> 00:00:51.466 This week she called me. She. 00:00:51.466 --> 00:00:53.365 She emailed me, didn't even call me. 00:00:53.365 --> 00:00:54.566 I need to have a meeting with you. 00:00:54.566 --> 00:00:56.732 I got to have a meeting this week. 00:00:56.732 --> 00:00:57.232 Okay. 00:00:57.232 --> 00:00:59.765 She must really be struggling with this decision. 00:00:59.765 --> 00:01:03.865 She must need prayer and counseling and comforting. 00:01:03.966 --> 00:01:09.865 So I set up the meeting, I rearranged stuff to make time just for her, and then I had to switch it and she adjusts. 00:01:09.865 --> 00:01:14.998 And so we get this meeting together and I walk out of my study and there she is and there's all the rest of the staff congregated. 00:01:14.998 --> 00:01:16.198 And I'm thinking, this is weird. 00:01:16.198 --> 00:01:17.066 What's going on? 00:01:17.066 --> 00:01:20.599 Is there a coup happening or what? 00:01:20.698 --> 00:01:29.433 But then she comes out, she and Susan had arranged she comes out with a big box of books because it was my 50th birthday that they were celebrating. 00:01:29.433 --> 00:01:31.198 So she tricked me into that. 00:01:31.198 --> 00:01:35.132 Yeah. 00:01:35.198 --> 00:01:38.998 She started by saying, you know, I was here when I started. 00:01:38.998 --> 00:01:50.266 She said, the pastor at the time, Brother Howe, in her first year turned 50, and she thought, I could never imagine anyone being that old at the time. Right. 00:01:50.332 --> 00:01:52.832 She sees it a little differently now. 00:01:52.832 --> 00:01:53.965 That's how it goes. 00:01:53.965 --> 00:01:55.733 But, you know, I was grateful. 00:01:55.733 --> 00:01:58.733 I felt very loved on, very encouraged. 00:01:58.733 --> 00:02:03.498 Each staff member brought a book from their own shelf at home that that reminded me of them. 00:02:03.498 --> 00:02:08.265 And so there was some interesting books in the midst of that, some interesting conversations. 00:02:08.265 --> 00:02:09.165 I really appreciate it. 00:02:09.165 --> 00:02:10.566 Well, all except one book, actually. 00:02:10.566 --> 00:02:13.899 There was one book that I really didn't appreciate. 00:02:13.899 --> 00:02:15.332 In fact, we're going to throw it up on the screen. 00:02:15.332 --> 00:02:17.432 Andrew gave it to me. 00:02:17.432 --> 00:02:20.432 Ham radio license manual. 00:02:20.432 --> 00:02:21.733 I can't read that from here. 00:02:21.733 --> 00:02:25.765 All you need to become an amateur radio operator. 00:02:25.765 --> 00:02:26.899 And I thought, What does he think? 00:02:26.899 --> 00:02:29.165 I've forgotten how to use a cell phone or something. 00:02:29.165 --> 00:02:33.665 Now I got to learned when you're old to use the radio, I guess that happens. 00:02:33.665 --> 00:02:36.532 Whatever. Thank you, Andrew. Maybe. 00:02:36.633 --> 00:02:42.233 The same day my youngest son said to me, Dad, do you think now that you're 50, you'll have the energy to preach on Sunday? 00:02:42.233 --> 00:02:46.066 Will you be able to get up on stage? 00:02:46.133 --> 00:02:49.066 We'll see, I said. He was kidding. 00:02:49.066 --> 00:02:51.265 I think I think. 00:02:51.265 --> 00:02:59.566 Anyway, we are continuing in our study of the book of John working through the book of John, and we're going to be in John chapter 15 today. 00:02:59.566 --> 00:03:01.133 We're in the middle of the book of John. 00:03:01.133 --> 00:03:07.765 We're just covering a short section of verses verses 12 through 17, and you're going to see a lot of familiar themes in this. 00:03:07.765 --> 00:03:11.532 It's a small section because we're hitting some of the same themes over and over again. 00:03:11.532 --> 00:03:20.765 And I confessed to the Elders this morning, I really struggle with this message how to best present it, because how do you present the same thing in a new, fresh way that we've been hearing week after week after week? 00:03:20.765 --> 00:03:25.133 How can I make that more interesting, more novel? 00:03:25.233 --> 00:03:27.366 But then it hit me. 00:03:27.366 --> 00:03:34.598 There's a reason Jesus keeps repeating the same thing over and over again, and I don't need to kind of dress it up and make it more interesting. 00:03:34.598 --> 00:03:36.733 We need to keep hearing it over and over again. 00:03:36.733 --> 00:03:39.966 We need to keep repeating some of the truths we'll hear in this passage. 00:03:39.966 --> 00:03:42.733 So we're going to work our way through some of these sections. 00:03:42.733 --> 00:03:46.699 And I think the emphasis of this passage obviously, is on the word love. 00:03:46.699 --> 00:03:48.532 You're going to see that right out of the gate. 00:03:48.532 --> 00:03:52.366 But I think he's trying to show us three things about love in this passage. 00:03:52.366 --> 00:03:57.598 I think he's trying to show us the mission, the command, the call on us is to love. 00:03:57.699 --> 00:04:04.598 But then he emphasizes that we're not left with just a command, but we have a model for how to love. 00:04:04.598 --> 00:04:07.799 He gives us that model, that example. 00:04:07.799 --> 00:04:09.133 It's not just an empty command. 00:04:09.133 --> 00:04:11.366 He shows us how to love. 00:04:11.466 --> 00:04:23.432 And then the third thing he emphasizes in this passage is not just the model, but he gives us specific methods or his specific ways of loving us. 00:04:23.499 --> 00:04:29.432 In fact, we're going to see six ways that he models love specifically in this passage. 00:04:29.499 --> 00:04:32.199 So let's dive in and look at John chapter 15. 00:04:32.199 --> 00:04:35.499 If you have a church Bible, that page number is up on the screen. 00:04:35.499 --> 00:04:37.598 Page 800 something. 00:04:37.598 --> 00:04:40.533 848 If you don't have a Bible, those are in the connection corner. 00:04:40.533 --> 00:04:42.065 Grab one any time. 00:04:42.065 --> 00:04:43.665 We'd love to put one in your hands. 00:04:43.665 --> 00:04:50.499 I try to get us to read from our own Bibles, not just put the passage up on the screen where we passively have it read to us. 00:04:50.499 --> 00:04:58.598 But we need to be reading from God's Word to get familiar with His word, to be turning the pages of our Bible, having it absorbed in our lives. 00:04:58.632 --> 00:04:59.798 So, John, Chapter 15. 00:04:59.798 --> 00:05:01.399 Let's start by reading verse 12. 00:05:01.399 --> 00:05:07.233 We're actually going to read through the whole section for today, 12 through 17, and set the context for our 00:05:12.132 --> 00:05:17.632 This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you. 00:05:17.733 --> 00:05:22.365 Greater love has no one than this that someone lay down his life for his friends. 00:05:22.365 --> 00:05:23.798 You are my friends. 00:05:23.798 --> 00:05:27.999 If you do what I command you, no longer do I call you servants. 00:05:27.999 --> 00:05:30.665 But the servant does not know what his master is doing. 00:05:30.665 --> 00:05:32.798 But I have called you friends. 00:05:32.798 --> 00:05:36.598 For all that I have heard from my father, I have made known to you. 00:05:36.598 --> 00:05:38.266 You did not choose me. 00:05:38.266 --> 00:05:40.399 But I chose you and appointed you. 00:05:40.399 --> 00:05:51.932 That you should go bear fruit and that your fruit should abide so that whatever you ask in the father and the father in my name, he may give it to you. 00:05:51.932 --> 00:05:58.432 These things I command to you so that you will love one another. 00:05:58.531 --> 00:06:07.899 So the first thing he emphasizes about love in this passage is just the mission, the command, love, love one another. 00:06:07.899 --> 00:06:12.598 The passage starts with the command, and it ends with the almost exact same verse. 00:06:12.598 --> 00:06:15.999 Look at 12. This is my commandment- You love one another, verse 17. 00:06:15.999 --> 00:06:19.732 These things I commanded so that you will love one another. 00:06:19.732 --> 00:06:21.132 That's bookending this passage. 00:06:21.132 --> 00:06:22.732 That's the emphasis of this section. 00:06:22.732 --> 00:06:28.798 And it's been all throughout this whole upper room sermon, upper room discourse. 00:06:28.798 --> 00:06:39.831 In fact, if you think back to John chapter 13, that kind of kicked off this whole section, I give you a new command, love one another, and we talked about why that was new. 00:06:39.831 --> 00:06:41.065 It was a new standard. 00:06:41.065 --> 00:06:49.632 It was a new community, a new covenant, a new expression of love, lived out among people who aren't necessarily related. 00:06:49.699 --> 00:06:51.966 Meaning we're not all from Jewish lineage now. 00:06:51.966 --> 00:06:56.665 We have a new covenant in him, a new relationship in him, a new community together in him. 00:06:56.665 --> 00:07:00.565 But then that follows up with love one another. 00:07:00.565 --> 00:07:01.531 It's a new command. 00:07:01.531 --> 00:07:08.065 And this is how people will know that you're my disciple by your love for one another. 00:07:08.266 --> 00:07:11.665 And so the call is for us to be loving one another. 00:07:11.665 --> 00:07:14.999 This is how people will know that there's something different about us. 00:07:14.999 --> 00:07:22.966 This is how they will know that we're set apart from the rest of the world that that something about us operates differently. 00:07:23.031 --> 00:07:34.499 When our family first went to serve in missions in the South Pacific, I had a friend say to us, you know, you really should pick a passage, a scripture for your family to dwell on in that season. 00:07:34.499 --> 00:07:36.298 And so we did. He recommended one. 00:07:36.298 --> 00:07:39.165 And I'm going to take you there because I want to show you one verse in there briefly. 00:07:39.165 --> 00:07:41.298 It's in Colossians chapter three. 00:07:41.298 --> 00:07:45.232 We meditated on these verses for month after month after month. 00:07:45.232 --> 00:07:48.065 This short section of verses turn to Colossians chapter three. 00:07:48.065 --> 00:07:50.699 That'll be on page 925 in your Bible. 00:07:50.699 --> 00:07:59.331 Colossians is one of the epistles of Paul Galatians Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians are all there together. 00:07:59.331 --> 00:08:02.031 They share a lot of similar content. 00:08:02.031 --> 00:08:09.699 But this section here, it was amazing how relevant it was to our lives day in and day out in terms of loving one another. 00:08:09.699 --> 00:08:32.432 Well, Colossians Chapter three started verse 12-- put on then as God's chosen one- chosen ones- holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, bearing with one another and if anyone has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you. 00:08:32.432 --> 00:08:42.466 It's fascinating how many times as we meditated on these verses that that very day there was something in here that each of us needed to hear. 00:08:42.466 --> 00:08:52.399 If anyone has a complaint against one another, forgive one another, show kindness to one another, move toward one another. 00:08:52.466 --> 00:09:00.066 But the verse that I want us to see, the day that follows right on heels of this is verse 14. 00:09:00.066 --> 00:09:12.231 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony, Put on love, in fact, put on love because it binds us together. 00:09:12.231 --> 00:09:22.499 That in fact, I think you could say love is the means of unity, because there's a lot of things a church can unite around. 00:09:22.499 --> 00:09:24.099 It could be doctrine. 00:09:24.099 --> 00:09:26.099 I mean, it should be doctrine. 00:09:26.099 --> 00:09:30.298 There should be unity around our beliefs, could be a cause. 00:09:30.298 --> 00:09:34.765 Maybe there's some special cause that a church really rallies around. 00:09:34.765 --> 00:09:38.865 They consider this is the burden that God has put on us. 00:09:38.865 --> 00:09:41.865 The thing he wants us to be all about. 00:09:42.099 --> 00:09:44.198 It could be style of worship. 00:09:44.198 --> 00:09:44.765 Yeah. 00:09:44.765 --> 00:09:46.666 This is what sets us apart from others. 00:09:46.666 --> 00:09:48.932 This is how we worship. 00:09:48.932 --> 00:09:53.831 It could be a style of chili you prefer maybe-- noodles, not noodles. 00:09:53.831 --> 00:09:54.466 I don't know. 00:09:54.466 --> 00:09:57.599 We could unite. Divide around that. 00:09:57.698 --> 00:10:01.298 There's a lot of things you can unite around. 00:10:01.331 --> 00:10:08.432 But if there's not love in the midst of that, it doesn't matter. 00:10:08.432 --> 00:10:13.831 You've seen those churches where they are steadfastly united around doctrine. 00:10:13.932 --> 00:10:17.231 they know their doctrine, but there's no love. 00:10:17.231 --> 00:10:25.399 There's bitterness, there's anger, there's no friendliness. 00:10:25.466 --> 00:10:28.899 So we can be perfectly united around doctrine. 00:10:28.899 --> 00:10:40.899 Let me tell you, we could have really outdated styles of worship and so, so preaching, maybe we do point being we can have all that. 00:10:40.966 --> 00:11:06.131 But if we have people who are kindhearted, sincerely loving Christ, servant hearted, full of loving one another in that church that can't keep from growing, you see how love binds us together, how love creates unity, how critical it is to us serving him. 00:11:06.198 --> 00:11:08.664 I reached out to Bob Russell recently. 00:11:08.664 --> 00:11:11.499 He was the pastor at Southeast Christian. 00:11:11.499 --> 00:11:14.698 You know, when he came there, they were 100 people. 00:11:14.698 --> 00:11:21.465 And when he left, I don't know, 22,000 plus people after 40 years and one place. 00:11:21.599 --> 00:11:23.264 And I reached out to him to say, thank you. 00:11:23.264 --> 00:11:25.231 I am the new pastor of Valley View. 00:11:25.231 --> 00:11:27.932 Bob Russell actually helped install elders here. 00:11:27.932 --> 00:11:29.831 He worked with us to develop an elder board. 00:11:29.831 --> 00:11:35.131 He preached the sermon to launch the elders to commission the elders. 00:11:35.131 --> 00:11:38.499 And so I just said, Thank you for your investment here. 00:11:38.499 --> 00:11:41.731 I really appreciate it as the new pastor. 00:11:41.798 --> 00:11:43.599 And so he said, Hey, let's grab lunch. 00:11:43.599 --> 00:11:46.532 I want to hear about what God's doing at Valley View. 00:11:46.532 --> 00:11:48.698 Okay, Bob, No problem. 00:11:48.698 --> 00:11:53.065 So we get together and then he starts to ask me what's happening at Valley View, What's God doing at Valley View? 00:11:53.065 --> 00:11:56.399 You tell me about how things are going there. I want to hear. 00:11:56.499 --> 00:11:57.465 Tell me about your staff. 00:11:57.465 --> 00:12:03.399 How are your staff? Man, Bob, I got great staff, great group of people who really love the Lord. 00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:04.731 Okay. Tell me about the elders. 00:12:04.731 --> 00:12:05.698 How are they? 00:12:05.698 --> 00:12:07.599 You know, we put them in place how are they doing? 00:12:07.599 --> 00:12:08.764 Amazing elders. 00:12:08.764 --> 00:12:11.798 These are men who deeply love the Lord, that they're serving the body. 00:12:11.798 --> 00:12:14.965 They're willing to do whatever it takes to serve people. 00:12:14.965 --> 00:12:16.664 Well, tell me about that. 00:12:16.664 --> 00:12:17.164 Sounds great. 00:12:17.164 --> 00:12:18.432 Tell me about your finances. 00:12:18.432 --> 00:12:20.731 Is this is the church in debt? 00:12:20.731 --> 00:12:23.664 No, Bob, we don't have any debt. 00:12:23.664 --> 00:12:25.432 Well, well, tell me about your people. 00:12:25.432 --> 00:12:26.731 What's the tone of your people like? 00:12:26.731 --> 00:12:29.365 Are they encouraging or are they difficult? 00:12:29.365 --> 00:12:34.899 I’m like, Bob, the people here, they're amazing person after person is just excited and encouraged. 00:12:34.899 --> 00:12:37.032 There's an excitement in the room every Sunday. 00:12:37.032 --> 00:12:42.865 I can't wait to get there and just talk with people and hear what they're excited about. 00:12:42.965 --> 00:12:50.198 And Bob said, John, I really believe God has you in a place to see him do some amazing things in your community. 00:12:50.264 --> 00:12:55.298 Bob left the conversation encouraged and excited about Valley View. 00:12:55.298 --> 00:13:11.899 The dude who built the biggest church around is excited about what God is doing here, and I think what we can look to and see in the midst of that is that there is a spirit of loving one another that permeates all throughout the church. 00:13:11.899 --> 00:13:14.565 And I'm grateful for you and I'm grateful to be a part of that. 00:13:14.565 --> 00:13:20.331 And it's exciting to see another guy that I look up to get excited about that. 00:13:20.432 --> 00:13:21.631 So love one another. 00:13:21.631 --> 00:13:23.065 That's the first call. 00:13:23.065 --> 00:13:24.599 That's the mission of this passage. 00:13:24.599 --> 00:13:25.664 We need to love one another. 00:13:25.664 --> 00:13:32.231 Now, he doesn't just leave us with a command, he says, Now watch me. 00:13:32.231 --> 00:13:33.399 He gives us the method. 00:13:33.399 --> 00:13:37.231 In fact, look at the next verse, actually same verse, verse 12. 00:13:37.231 --> 00:13:44.032 This is my command that you love one another as I have loved you. 00:13:44.131 --> 00:13:47.899 He gives us the model, Here's the command to love. 00:13:47.899 --> 00:13:49.231 Do you want to know how? 00:13:49.231 --> 00:13:53.731 Watch me, he says back in chapter 13. 00:13:53.731 --> 00:13:55.264 You want to know how to serve one another. 00:13:55.264 --> 00:13:56.499 And he washed their feet. 00:13:56.499 --> 00:14:00.198 He showed them how to love. 00:14:00.264 --> 00:14:02.432 But what happens in these next few verses? 00:14:02.432 --> 00:14:07.298 In fact, I think verse 13 through 16 are an expansion on that idea. 00:14:07.298 --> 00:14:10.264 Love, as I have loved you. Want to know how to love one another? 00:14:10.264 --> 00:14:13.065 Watch my model as I have loved you. 00:14:13.065 --> 00:14:15.065 And here's what that means. 00:14:15.065 --> 00:14:23.698 And so we're going to see six ways, six methods that he lays out in these next few verses about the ways he loved us. 00:14:23.798 --> 00:14:29.865 And this is a different take on how to love one another, because I could stand up here and give and it would be good. 00:14:29.865 --> 00:14:31.331 By the way, there'll be other times we'll do that. 00:14:31.331 --> 00:14:32.565 There's other times I have done that. 00:14:32.565 --> 00:14:41.631 I could give specific methods on how we should love one another, you know, be kind to one another, give encouragement, give compliments, serve one another. 00:14:41.631 --> 00:14:44.231 And that's really important. 00:14:44.231 --> 00:14:50.331 But where we're starting today is looking at how Jesus loved his followers. 00:14:50.331 --> 00:14:55.599 That takes us back to the source of love, because we can have great methods for how we love one another. 00:14:55.599 --> 00:14:58.298 But it's got to be rooted in the source of love. 00:14:58.298 --> 00:15:00.631 That's where we want to start. 00:15:00.631 --> 00:15:07.965 So we're going to look at the six ways in this passage that he loved his disciples and I think also how he loves us. 00:15:08.032 --> 00:15:11.365 That's the starting point for how we love one another. 00:15:11.465 --> 00:15:16.099 So let's look at the first one here, first method he outlines here and how we love one another. 00:15:16.099 --> 00:15:20.731 Look at verse 13, Love one another as I have loved you. 00:15:20.731 --> 00:15:26.798 Greater love has no one than this that someone laid down his life for his friends. 00:15:26.798 --> 00:15:29.231 So the first is sacrifice. 00:15:29.231 --> 00:15:34.865 The first way he models loving one another is sacrifice. 00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:41.731 You know, all love involves some measure of sacrifice. 00:15:41.798 --> 00:15:45.331 In fact, love is the greatest commandment. 00:15:45.331 --> 00:15:47.965 Love your neighbor, love the Lord your God. 00:15:47.965 --> 00:15:59.865 And among the greatest commands, the greatest expression of that, he says, here, is to lay down your life for someone else to be willing to lay down your life. 00:15:59.865 --> 00:16:12.599 Now we know that what he is referring to primarily here is that he is about to lay down his life for them and of course, for us and for the world to know him, to know true life. 00:16:12.599 --> 00:16:17.231 We know that's what he's referring to primarily, but they don't know that. 00:16:17.231 --> 00:16:22.231 In fact, we've seen all along how they're missing what he's really saying. Right? 00:16:22.231 --> 00:16:26.831 So try to imagine how this phrase would land on his disciples. 00:16:26.831 --> 00:16:27.465 I mean, look back. 00:16:27.465 --> 00:16:36.631 He says, Greater love-- verse 13-- has no one than this, that someone laid down his life for his friends. 00:16:36.631 --> 00:16:40.365 And you are my friends. 00:16:40.432 --> 00:16:47.532 You have to be imagining in that moment that they're hearing him say, You want to know what real love looks like. 00:16:47.532 --> 00:16:56.398 You lay down your life for your friends and you’re my friends, and they've all along been all about what they believed to be the mission of the Messiah. 00:16:56.398 --> 00:16:58.565 Let's go overthrow the government. 00:16:58.565 --> 00:17:02.764 You take over, set up a new righteous rule, and we'll be at your right hand. 00:17:02.764 --> 00:17:07.065 The left will be in power as well. 00:17:07.132 --> 00:17:10.964 And they hear time to lay down your life. 00:17:11.031 --> 00:17:13.597 The time is ahead of us. 00:17:13.597 --> 00:17:17.365 I've got to think that they're sitting here thinking, This is time. 00:17:17.365 --> 00:17:20.565 We're going out in a blaze of glory in this moment. 00:17:20.565 --> 00:17:30.198 You know, they're probably saying, remember the Alamo or thinking of Custer's Last Stand or Thermopylae and the Spartans or maybe Mel Gibson in Scotland. 00:17:30.198 --> 00:17:34.298 Like who knows what all is running through their mind in terms of rallying cry. 00:17:34.298 --> 00:17:36.097 Let's charge the mountain. 00:17:36.097 --> 00:17:40.565 We're willing to lay down our lives in this moment. 00:17:40.632 --> 00:17:47.397 But I think there's a day to day application for us because, by the way, they will lay down their lives just not the way they thought and not the time they thought. 00:17:47.397 --> 00:17:52.231 They're going to lay down their lives for the gospel, for the proclamation of the gospel. 00:17:52.298 --> 00:18:08.897 But when it comes to us, this idea of laying down our lives for our friends, this idea of love involving sacrifice --man, that can take on a million different iterations every single day. 00:18:08.998 --> 00:18:18.765 And, you know, the really maddening part of this is it's easy to lay down my life to love someone when I want to. 00:18:18.865 --> 00:18:23.397 When I find them loving, when they feel worth it. 00:18:23.397 --> 00:18:26.231 Maybe they did something for me first. 00:18:26.231 --> 00:18:33.832 But you know what's crazy is so many of the opportunities to really love someone come from a hard situation. 00:18:33.932 --> 00:18:38.531 Someone being maybe someone being rude to you. 00:18:38.597 --> 00:18:51.498 In fact, I've found it seems like that when people are difficult with you and rude to you, that's one of the ways they're saying I need love. 00:18:51.498 --> 00:18:53.464 Okay. Waving the red flag. 00:18:53.464 --> 00:18:56.031 Love me. 00:18:56.132 --> 00:18:58.464 I need to be seen. 00:18:58.464 --> 00:19:00.132 No one else will love me. 00:19:00.132 --> 00:19:01.298 I don't know what else to do. 00:19:01.298 --> 00:19:04.897 I got to react. 00:19:04.964 --> 00:19:06.097 I just finished reading. 00:19:06.097 --> 00:19:07.432 I mentioned it many months ago. 00:19:07.432 --> 00:19:08.198 I finally got through it. 00:19:08.198 --> 00:19:10.964 A book on the history of delusions. 00:19:10.964 --> 00:19:11.397 Okay. 00:19:11.397 --> 00:19:15.632 Research for something that I see here in the crowd. Don't worry. 00:19:15.632 --> 00:19:18.397 I just found the topic interesting. 00:19:18.397 --> 00:19:22.298 But the author walks through a bunch of different delusions in the history of the world. 00:19:22.298 --> 00:19:28.765 One was a man who thought his head had been cut off and a new a different head had been. 00:19:28.765 --> 00:19:30.964 They put the wrong head back on him. 00:19:30.964 --> 00:19:34.432 You know, this was the time of the French Revolution and the guillotines. 00:19:34.432 --> 00:19:36.597 And his evidence was his teeth. 00:19:36.597 --> 00:19:37.464 It's like, look at my teeth. 00:19:37.464 --> 00:19:38.964 My teeth aren't that bad. 00:19:38.964 --> 00:19:41.198 It's got to be someone else's head. 00:19:41.198 --> 00:19:42.198 Okay. 00:19:42.198 --> 00:19:47.698 Another delusion was King Charles, the sixth king of France, 1300s. 00:19:47.832 --> 00:19:53.964 He was convinced all his bones had turned to glass as he wouldn't let people touch him or he would crumble. 00:19:53.964 --> 00:19:57.632 He even had iron rods sewn into his clothing just in case his bones break. 00:19:57.632 --> 00:20:06.265 You'd be able to still support himself and then go through people who were convinced they were Napoleon or some other famous leader. 00:20:06.265 --> 00:20:11.097 Even long after that person had died and passed away. 00:20:11.198 --> 00:20:18.432 The interesting conclusion of that book is, though, you see the author she really wrestled with, Why are there so many different kinds of delusions? 00:20:18.432 --> 00:20:22.798 Why do people end up there in these ridiculous places? 00:20:22.897 --> 00:20:34.932 And she said, I've come to see that most people who fall into a delusion, it's their mind in a subconscious way, saying, give me attention. 00:20:34.932 --> 00:20:37.298 I need to be seen. 00:20:37.298 --> 00:20:39.664 I'm not being seen. 00:20:39.664 --> 00:20:44.065 Even the king of France, no one knows me. 00:20:44.164 --> 00:20:46.597 No one loves me. 00:20:46.597 --> 00:20:49.865 Would you just notice me? 00:20:49.932 --> 00:20:54.464 And attention equals love. 00:20:54.464 --> 00:20:55.897 And love requires sacrifice. 00:20:55.897 --> 00:21:00.897 And here's what I would say to you in this moment. 00:21:00.998 --> 00:21:04.865 Who in your life needs love, right? 00:21:04.865 --> 00:21:06.998 Who is waving their hand? 00:21:06.998 --> 00:21:09.698 And now you're taking it more like a fist waving. 00:21:09.698 --> 00:21:15.698 And it might be who is saying I need love? 00:21:15.698 --> 00:21:17.132 I'm not seen. 00:21:17.132 --> 00:21:18.798 I need attention. 00:21:18.798 --> 00:21:21.498 Will you love me? 00:21:21.498 --> 00:21:25.031 How do we move toward that person? 00:21:25.097 --> 00:21:30.132 In fact, I'd encourage you as I continue, we're number one of six. 00:21:30.132 --> 00:21:35.198 The others will move along more quickly to write down specifics. 00:21:35.198 --> 00:21:37.298 Just be praying, Lord. 00:21:37.298 --> 00:21:40.798 Bring to mind specifically that person I need to love. 00:21:40.932 --> 00:21:42.231 What person? 00:21:42.231 --> 00:21:45.731 What time, what day, where. 00:21:45.798 --> 00:21:49.065 The more specifics you can put to it, the more likely it is to happen. 00:21:49.065 --> 00:21:50.597 We can't just leave it in the vague. 00:21:50.597 --> 00:21:52.897 Yeah. I need to be more loving. 00:21:52.897 --> 00:21:59.332 No, I'm going to call my grandma Thursday at noon and invite her to lunch because she needs love. 00:21:59.332 --> 00:22:05.464 Be specific, drive towards specifics, be praying, God would you put specifics on my heart? 00:22:05.531 --> 00:22:08.198 On how I can love someone? 00:22:08.198 --> 00:22:09.998 So that's the first way. 00:22:09.998 --> 00:22:11.531 Sacrifice. 00:22:11.531 --> 00:22:13.164 Now let's look at the second way here. 00:22:13.164 --> 00:22:15.765 Keep looking. Look at verse 13 again. 00:22:15.765 --> 00:22:16.931 Greater love has no one than this. 00:22:16.931 --> 00:22:19.865 That someone laid down his life for his friends. 00:22:19.865 --> 00:22:22.730 And then notice what he says to them. 00:22:22.730 --> 00:22:26.431 You are my friends if you do what I command. 00:22:26.431 --> 00:22:32.030 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing. 00:22:32.030 --> 00:22:33.964 But I have called you friend. 00:22:33.964 --> 00:22:42.464 So the second way he models, the second example he gives us of love is friendship. 00:22:42.530 --> 00:22:48.298 He calls us friends, which is a powerful thing to say. 00:22:48.298 --> 00:22:52.230 And we're in an age where you can have hundreds of friends online. 00:22:52.330 --> 00:22:58.397 We've got to add things like, in real life, a true friend. 00:22:58.397 --> 00:23:00.030 And you know the difference. 00:23:00.030 --> 00:23:02.230 Gigantic difference. 00:23:02.230 --> 00:23:04.698 Jesus calls them friends. 00:23:04.698 --> 00:23:11.631 The word there for friend shows up about 30 times in Scripture in the New Testament. 00:23:11.631 --> 00:23:15.798 And it's you hear this word play out in the city, Philadelphia. 00:23:15.798 --> 00:23:16.565 You know, what's this? 00:23:16.565 --> 00:23:17.498 What's that? 00:23:17.498 --> 00:23:19.897 The nickname or the meaning of the word Philadelphia. 00:23:19.897 --> 00:23:22.431 What are they called? Do you know? 00:23:22.431 --> 00:23:23.631 City of Brotherly Love. 00:23:23.631 --> 00:23:32.565 Those two words mean brother and love philos-- It's just the word for love, even baked into the word. 00:23:32.565 --> 00:23:34.097 That's the same word translated as friend. 00:23:34.097 --> 00:23:40.597 Even baked into that word friend, is the idea of love loving one another. 00:23:40.597 --> 00:23:47.431 And that word is used in a variety of ways, though in fact, one of the ways that's used is as an insult. 00:23:47.498 --> 00:23:57.397 The Pharisees call Jesus a friend of tax collectors, a friend of the unwanted. 00:23:57.397 --> 00:24:00.164 That they they're using it as an insult. 00:24:00.164 --> 00:24:01.897 Of course, he sees it as a compliment. 00:24:01.897 --> 00:24:03.397 Thank you. That's right. 00:24:03.397 --> 00:24:05.397 You've got it. 00:24:05.397 --> 00:24:09.131 It's also used just as a general term of address. 00:24:09.131 --> 00:24:13.530 He would use it with a large crowd. 00:24:13.597 --> 00:24:23.198 Let me tell you, my friends, today, you know, when he gives a sermon on the plane in Luke, friends, large crowd. 00:24:23.198 --> 00:24:30.631 But I only saw him use it that I could see three times in a personal address. 00:24:30.698 --> 00:24:31.565 And it's really interesting. 00:24:31.565 --> 00:24:34.565 The first time was with Judas. 00:24:34.565 --> 00:24:38.664 Or one of the times was with Judas Friend. 00:24:38.664 --> 00:24:41.097 Go ahead and do what you've come to do. 00:24:41.097 --> 00:24:44.631 And we could unpack that for a while about what was going on there. 00:24:44.631 --> 00:24:51.597 Also, with Lazarus, one of our friends, our friend Lazarus has died. 00:24:51.698 --> 00:24:53.298 We need to go see him. 00:24:53.298 --> 00:24:56.198 But then he uses it here with the disciples friends. 00:24:56.198 --> 00:25:07.097 I call you friends and a friend is someone who lets you into their world. 00:25:07.198 --> 00:25:10.265 That's someone that cares about you in a different way. 00:25:10.265 --> 00:25:14.198 In fact, the contrast here is between a friend and a slave. 00:25:14.198 --> 00:25:15.698 Look back here again at verse 14. 00:25:15.698 --> 00:25:16.964 You are my friends. 00:25:16.964 --> 00:25:18.664 If you do what I command you. 00:25:18.664 --> 00:25:24.097 Now, let me make a comment about that, because this makes it sound a little too conditional. 00:25:24.097 --> 00:25:24.998 You are my friends. 00:25:24.998 --> 00:25:28.431 If like in middle school, you know. 00:25:28.431 --> 00:25:32.498 Yeah, you can be my friend if you give me part of your lunch every day. 00:25:32.498 --> 00:25:32.931 That's not. 00:25:32.931 --> 00:25:35.897 That's a red flag right there, by the way. 00:25:35.897 --> 00:25:37.631 That's not a real friend. 00:25:37.631 --> 00:25:38.565 We know that's not. 00:25:38.565 --> 00:25:40.431 It's not really if in the way we would think. 00:25:40.431 --> 00:25:46.931 It's more like since, you know, you are my friends, since you follow my commands. 00:25:46.931 --> 00:25:49.097 In fact, one, I'm gonna throw this quote up on the screen. 00:25:49.097 --> 00:25:51.164 One guy said it this way. 00:25:51.164 --> 00:25:55.931 Obedience marks rather than makes us friends. 00:25:55.931 --> 00:25:58.330 I thought that was a good way to say it. 00:25:58.330 --> 00:26:07.198 If we don't obey him just so that we can somehow try to gain favor with him enough so that maybe he will be our friend and kind to us. 00:26:07.198 --> 00:26:14.865 No, it's obedience out of the overflow, of the joy of knowing him and knowing that when we obey him, that's where we find our greatest joy in life. 00:26:14.865 --> 00:26:16.998 It's the overflow of that. 00:26:16.998 --> 00:26:21.498 Huge difference. Doesn't mark-- It doesn't make, it marks. 00:26:21.498 --> 00:26:25.230 It shows that we are his friends. 00:26:25.230 --> 00:26:28.298 And he called them friends. 00:26:28.365 --> 00:26:30.631 Noticing a shift in the relationship. 00:26:30.631 --> 00:26:39.664 Because the contrast with that-- continuing in verse 14-- No longer do I call you servants. 00:26:39.730 --> 00:26:46.065 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing. 00:26:46.131 --> 00:26:48.597 But I have called you friends. 00:26:48.597 --> 00:26:54.765 In fact, this is pointing at the third way that he gives them the method of love. 00:26:54.765 --> 00:26:56.830 The example of love. 00:26:56.830 --> 00:26:59.830 And that's knowledge. 00:26:59.964 --> 00:27:06.597 The difference between a friend and a slave, he says here, the servant does not know what his master is doing. 00:27:06.597 --> 00:27:09.097 But I've called you friends for all that I've heard from my father. 00:27:09.097 --> 00:27:10.830 I have made known to you. 00:27:10.830 --> 00:27:15.530 I have revealed to you a friend let you into their world. 00:27:15.530 --> 00:27:17.097 They don't keep things from you. 00:27:17.097 --> 00:27:20.030 They're not trying to hide things from you. 00:27:20.030 --> 00:27:25.230 There's a delight in exchange of ideas and information of being on the inside. 00:27:25.230 --> 00:27:28.030 And he has let them in even though they haven't seen it. 00:27:28.030 --> 00:27:31.464 He has shared with them over and over and over again here's what I'm really about. 00:27:31.464 --> 00:27:35.198 Here's why I've come. 00:27:35.265 --> 00:27:46.998 I remember working with a guy who he had a very specific way of doing things, a very specific way that he wanted things done for those who worked for him. 00:27:46.998 --> 00:27:52.064 And he would give very specific instructions about how he wanted the work done. 00:27:52.064 --> 00:27:55.030 And he didn't want any input from the guys who worked for him. 00:27:55.030 --> 00:27:57.864 You-- I give the commands, you carry it out. 00:27:57.864 --> 00:27:59.897 That's how it works. 00:27:59.897 --> 00:28:03.730 Now, this was really frustrating for those guys who worked for him. 00:28:03.730 --> 00:28:04.963 But then they came to a point. 00:28:04.963 --> 00:28:16.198 In fact, I was reminded of the Teddy Roosevelt quote, One of the best ways to show that a law is not a good law is to just carry it out to its fullest extent. 00:28:16.263 --> 00:28:24.998 You could ignore it and of course, you should try to change it, but go ahead, carry it out to its fullest extent and then everybody will see, well, that wasn't a good idea. 00:28:24.998 --> 00:28:26.830 And so these guys fully embrace that. 00:28:26.830 --> 00:28:28.198 Okay. 00:28:28.298 --> 00:28:29.864 That's how you want it done. 00:28:29.864 --> 00:28:31.663 That's what we'll do. 00:28:31.663 --> 00:28:33.030 Exactly as you said. 00:28:33.030 --> 00:28:36.330 And no more and no less. 00:28:36.397 --> 00:28:40.064 And of course, the work that he had for them to carry out always had problems. 00:28:40.064 --> 00:28:43.163 The projects never went the way they should. 00:28:43.163 --> 00:28:46.364 And he was frustrated and blaming them. 00:28:46.431 --> 00:28:48.498 We did what you said. 00:28:48.498 --> 00:28:52.198 Still didn’t- didn't want their input. 00:28:52.230 --> 00:28:55.698 We did what you said, and that's all. 00:28:55.763 --> 00:29:03.097 But you know how it's different when you serve with someone who you delight in doing what they ask. 00:29:03.097 --> 00:29:04.663 They want to hear from you as well. 00:29:04.663 --> 00:29:11.498 They want to tell you why there's a give and take when someone's not just the boss, but also a friend. 00:29:11.498 --> 00:29:20.597 I think of-- I put it in the midweek update this week about the Band of Brothers book that talked about the easy company on D-Day, World War Two. 00:29:20.698 --> 00:29:27.431 There's one guy in particular in that book that is featured as just the quintessential leader in that group, Major Dick Winters. 00:29:27.431 --> 00:29:33.198 And the guys said of him, We hated to let him down. 00:29:33.298 --> 00:29:34.698 We hated to let him down. 00:29:34.698 --> 00:29:39.663 We wanted to go to whatever length it took to carry out what he said. 00:29:39.663 --> 00:29:41.663 And of course, he was listening to them. 00:29:41.663 --> 00:29:42.798 He was leading them. 00:29:42.798 --> 00:29:44.830 He was making sure that they were heard. 00:29:44.830 --> 00:29:49.698 They were as involved in it as as he was. 00:29:49.698 --> 00:29:51.198 Gigantic difference. 00:29:51.198 --> 00:29:55.830 The movement from slave to friend. 00:29:55.897 --> 00:29:59.263 Now, I got to say, though, I love that idea. 00:29:59.263 --> 00:30:02.263 Jesus is my friend. 00:30:02.298 --> 00:30:06.730 But also it makes me a little nervous to say that. Does anybody else go, I don't know about that. 00:30:06.730 --> 00:30:08.698 That feels a little weird to call Jesus, my friend. 00:30:08.698 --> 00:30:11.397 I don't know how comfortable I am with that. 00:30:11.397 --> 00:30:16.597 Feels too informal, maybe feels a little too loosey goosey. 00:30:16.663 --> 00:30:19.698 Like Jesus... friend... 00:30:19.763 --> 00:30:22.364 I don't know. 00:30:22.364 --> 00:30:23.998 You know, I think. 00:30:23.998 --> 00:30:26.597 I think there's something to that, actually. 00:30:26.597 --> 00:30:28.864 I wouldn't just say, Well, hey, just get over that. 00:30:28.864 --> 00:30:29.763 He calls us friend. 00:30:29.763 --> 00:30:30.663 You're his friend. 00:30:30.663 --> 00:30:33.663 Be good with that. 00:30:33.698 --> 00:30:42.298 I think there's something to that, because in scripture, you see Jesus calling people friends, but you don't really see them calling him friend. 00:30:42.298 --> 00:30:49.998 And I don’t know that this is a perfect analogy, but maybe maybe it's a little bit like it's okay for the president to give you a nickname. 00:30:50.064 --> 00:30:56.830 George Bush was kind of famous for that, handing out nicknames, but you don't walk up and call him Prezzy or something, right? 00:30:56.830 --> 00:31:00.763 It's not really right for you to give him a nickname. 00:31:00.763 --> 00:31:07.298 Again, not a perfect analogy, but there's still a level of respect and difference that's there. 00:31:07.298 --> 00:31:16.131 Even Paul in Titus, he starts out by saying, I'm an apostle and then I know you've heard this because we've talked about this in our men's breakfast. 00:31:16.131 --> 00:31:20.431 I'm an apostle and I'm a slave. 00:31:20.498 --> 00:31:24.364 He still sees part of his identity. 00:31:24.431 --> 00:31:25.364 Jesus is our friend. 00:31:25.364 --> 00:31:27.163 Yes. Yes. There's a friendship. 00:31:27.163 --> 00:31:28.698 There's a deeper connection there. 00:31:28.698 --> 00:31:33.498 He's not just a dictator, but there's still a difference. 00:31:33.498 --> 00:31:37.998 And that's okay to recognize that it's okay to hold those in tension. 00:31:38.163 --> 00:31:39.730 So third is friendship. 00:31:39.730 --> 00:31:50.064 And now fourth, look what he does in verse 14, going into verse 15, I've called you friends for all that I have heard from my father, I've made known to you. 00:31:50.064 --> 00:32:02.230 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide or remain. 00:32:02.230 --> 00:32:04.798 Jesus chooses his disciples. 00:32:04.798 --> 00:32:07.498 In ancient times it was usually the other way around. 00:32:07.498 --> 00:32:08.963 The disciples found the rabbi. 00:32:08.963 --> 00:32:10.498 They went after him to follow him. 00:32:10.498 --> 00:32:15.798 And maybe if they were fortunate, the rabbi would finally give them attention and allow him to continue following them. 00:32:15.798 --> 00:32:25.963 But Jesus, He goes to people who seem totally fine where they were fishing or messing with money. 00:32:26.030 --> 00:32:30.897 You follow me, you’re mine. 00:32:30.897 --> 00:32:35.064 Come put down everything else. 00:32:35.064 --> 00:32:37.330 Follow me. 00:32:37.330 --> 00:32:39.097 Jesus chooses them. 00:32:39.097 --> 00:32:46.931 And you know what I think what's fascinating about that and I'm this way, it probably felt like to them. 00:32:46.931 --> 00:32:49.897 Yeah, I chose Jesus. 00:32:49.897 --> 00:32:53.097 I was smart enough to know where that guy was going. 00:32:53.097 --> 00:32:58.830 Latched myself on to him, look at how great I am. 00:32:58.830 --> 00:33:02.064 And look, by the way, they did choose him, too. 00:33:02.064 --> 00:33:05.397 That's true. 00:33:05.498 --> 00:33:07.897 But we're able to love one another because he first loved us. 00:33:07.897 --> 00:33:12.564 He came to us first and said, You're mine, you're mine. 00:33:12.663 --> 00:33:16.230 And we had to respond to that. 00:33:16.298 --> 00:33:17.364 But you're mine. 00:33:17.364 --> 00:33:21.763 He chose and he chose number four. 00:33:21.830 --> 00:33:22.963 Number five. 00:33:22.963 --> 00:33:25.131 He chose for a purpose. 00:33:25.131 --> 00:33:28.064 Look at what it says he chose in verse 16. 00:33:28.064 --> 00:33:28.830 You did not choose me. 00:33:28.830 --> 00:33:32.931 I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit. 00:33:32.931 --> 00:33:35.131 Your fruit should abide. 00:33:35.196 --> 00:33:43.431 When he chose us, he also gave us a purpose, which is to love, to multiply, to bear fruit. 00:33:43.431 --> 00:33:51.396 The purpose of the disciples was to then now multiply, to spread the Great Commission, to spread the gospel to the world. 00:33:51.396 --> 00:33:56.064 So number five is a point he chooses, but he also appoints. 00:33:56.064 --> 00:33:57.797 And he gives us a mission. 00:33:57.797 --> 00:33:59.096 He gives us purpose. 00:33:59.096 --> 00:34:01.963 And we all need purpose in life. 00:34:01.963 --> 00:34:04.030 You need direction in life. 00:34:04.030 --> 00:34:08.297 There's nothing harder than a purposeless life. 00:34:08.364 --> 00:34:10.197 But he gives that when he chooses. 00:34:10.197 --> 00:34:11.630 He guides. 00:34:11.630 --> 00:34:12.764 He directs. 00:34:12.764 --> 00:34:17.996 And then number six, look at verse 16. 00:34:18.097 --> 00:34:18.996 Whatever you ask. 00:34:18.996 --> 00:34:22.896 The father in my name, he may give it to you. 00:34:22.896 --> 00:34:25.963 Whatever you ask the father in my name, he may give it to you. 00:34:25.963 --> 00:34:29.597 We've seen that verse a couple of other times already. 00:34:29.597 --> 00:34:38.130 We've talked about how that's not just a formula, but it means as I get to know him better, my prayers more and more what he would have in me. 00:34:38.130 --> 00:34:53.063 But the key thing for us to hear here, because we've been focused on the asking part, we need to ask we need to ask in a way that honors him but what was powerful here is he listens. 00:34:53.164 --> 00:34:55.996 In fact, it’s number six in the ways he loves us. 00:34:55.996 --> 00:34:58.664 He listens. 00:34:58.664 --> 00:35:03.597 And whatever you ask the father in my name, he may give it to you. 00:35:03.597 --> 00:35:07.130 He hears us. 00:35:07.231 --> 00:35:13.164 Practically speaking, that's one of the most powerful way you can love other people is to just listen to them. 00:35:13.197 --> 00:35:21.164 Think of the person who has just listened to you and how much love that showed you. 00:35:21.231 --> 00:35:22.630 He listens. 00:35:22.630 --> 00:35:24.831 He hears where you are. 00:35:24.831 --> 00:35:27.563 He's... here's what you're going through. 00:35:27.563 --> 00:35:33.664 He knows where you are and he deeply loves and cares about you. 00:35:33.731 --> 00:35:39.097 And this section has already showed ends with a verse on love. 00:35:39.164 --> 00:35:41.630 The commandment is to love one another. 00:35:41.630 --> 00:35:44.896 And it began with the command on love. 00:35:44.996 --> 00:35:46.630 And that's our call. 00:35:46.630 --> 00:35:47.963 Love one another. 00:35:47.963 --> 00:35:53.331 Love one another well. 00:35:53.431 --> 00:35:57.231 man, because when God gets a hold of you, He changes you. 00:35:57.231 --> 00:36:00.963 He makes you able to love others. 00:36:01.030 --> 00:36:02.530 Had a friend he shared with me. 00:36:02.530 --> 00:36:08.563 This is a really sharp guy at so many levels. 00:36:08.563 --> 00:36:12.264 Degree after degree after degree and various fields. 00:36:12.264 --> 00:36:19.563 And he said, You know, before I knew Christ, I was one of the angriest persons you could ever meet. Quick tempered. 00:36:19.563 --> 00:36:23.664 And I would go blows in a heartbeat over nothing. 00:36:23.764 --> 00:36:26.731 And he said, Christ got a hold of him in a radical conversion. 00:36:26.731 --> 00:36:33.664 He put aside drugs and partying in a radical conversion. In a moment. 00:36:33.731 --> 00:36:38.431 And there shortly after he is on campus, is in college, and he's excited about Christ. 00:36:38.431 --> 00:36:43.463 And there's a there's a preacher out on the campus, open air preacher. 00:36:43.463 --> 00:36:49.197 And so he goes to hear him because he just wants to soak up God's word wherever he is, and he's listening to this guy. 00:36:49.197 --> 00:36:51.697 But then there's another guy over heckling him. 00:36:51.697 --> 00:36:52.896 You know come on, Whatever. 00:36:52.896 --> 00:36:54.063 That's dumb. 00:36:54.063 --> 00:36:54.664 You're an idiot. 00:36:54.664 --> 00:36:56.931 He probably chose different words than that. 00:36:56.931 --> 00:36:59.197 Nobody believes that junk, on and on. 00:36:59.197 --> 00:37:00.231 And finally, he turns to the guy. 00:37:00.231 --> 00:37:03.097 He's like, Hey, man, let him talk. 00:37:03.097 --> 00:37:05.197 It's okay. 00:37:05.197 --> 00:37:07.896 And this guy erupts on him. 00:37:07.896 --> 00:37:13.431 You know, you Nimcompoop. Again, different words. You moron. 00:37:13.431 --> 00:37:16.231 On and on. 00:37:16.231 --> 00:37:20.597 And my friend goes, I got to tell you, man, the rage meter. 00:37:20.697 --> 00:37:20.996 Ooooh... 00:37:20.996 --> 00:37:25.364 It was coming to the top in an instant. 00:37:25.431 --> 00:37:28.431 But the love of Christ overwhelmed me in that moment. 00:37:28.431 --> 00:37:30.664 He had changed me. 00:37:30.664 --> 00:37:39.030 And before I would have picked that guy apart in an instant, without a question. 00:37:39.097 --> 00:37:44.996 And he said, I turned to him and I looked at him and I just said, Hey, man, it's going to be okay. 00:37:44.996 --> 00:37:47.530 It's going to be all right. 00:37:47.530 --> 00:37:49.731 It's going to be okay. 00:37:49.731 --> 00:37:52.297 Jesus loves you. 00:37:52.297 --> 00:37:54.764 And that guy quieted down. 00:37:54.764 --> 00:37:58.996 He just began to take in the moment. 00:37:59.063 --> 00:38:03.496 When Christ gets a hold of you, he radically changes your life. 00:38:03.496 --> 00:38:05.563 And he puts us in a place where we can love one another. 00:38:05.563 --> 00:38:09.331 Even those who are unloving toward us. 00:38:09.396 --> 00:38:12.097 Move toward the unloving. 00:38:12.097 --> 00:38:14.797 Press toward the unloving. 00:38:14.864 --> 00:38:15.563 That's a flag. 00:38:15.563 --> 00:38:16.996 Love me. 00:38:16.996 --> 00:38:18.864 I need be seen. 00:38:18.864 --> 00:38:20.496 Show me love. 00:38:20.496 --> 00:38:21.331 I know that's hard. 00:38:21.331 --> 00:38:22.297 I know that's complicated. 00:38:22.297 --> 00:38:24.130 But that's our call. 00:38:24.130 --> 00:38:27.463 And Christ gives us the strength to do that. 00:38:27.463 --> 00:38:31.197 Let's pray. 00:38:31.297 --> 00:38:34.630 God, we thank you for this morning. 00:38:34.697 --> 00:38:39.664 We thank you that you give us the power to love. 00:38:39.731 --> 00:38:48.164 And I thank you that I'm in a church and full of people who love well. Okay, none of us do it perfectly. We know that. 00:38:48.164 --> 00:38:50.463 But Lord we want you to teach us how to love. 00:38:50.463 --> 00:38:53.197 Help us to know how to love one another. 00:38:53.197 --> 00:39:01.996 We want this church to be known as a place where your love is poured out in relationship after relationship after relationship. 00:39:02.097 --> 00:39:19.297 And God, we thank you for the loving care given to our children for decade after decade after decade after decade by a woman who has committed to you, who deeply loves you. 00:39:19.297 --> 00:39:24.697 And we pray overwhelming blessings on Eddie Lee's life moving forward. 00:39:24.697 --> 00:39:29.097 Help us to love her well, help us to continue to love our children well. 00:39:29.097 --> 00:39:36.829 We know that you are raising up through our children a future generation of people who steadfastly love and follow you. 00:39:36.929 --> 00:39:38.364 God, we ask all these things in your name. 00:39:38.364 --> 00:39:41.164 We pray. Amen.