WEBVTT 00:00:12.132 --> 00:00:14.532 Well, good morning Valley View. 00:00:14.532 --> 00:00:16.065 It's great to be with you today. 00:00:16.065 --> 00:00:18.765 I was traveling last week. 00:00:18.765 --> 00:00:20.733 I went with Julie to a conference. 00:00:20.733 --> 00:00:26.798 She was going to a conference about teaching and I went to support her by mountain biking while she was in the conference. 00:00:26.798 --> 00:00:30.466 It was a very helpful thing for her. 00:00:30.533 --> 00:00:32.098 So we had a few days away together. 00:00:32.098 --> 00:00:32.732 That was good. 00:00:32.732 --> 00:00:35.732 And thank you to Colby for bringing the word last week. 00:00:35.732 --> 00:00:36.832 Really grateful for him. 00:00:36.832 --> 00:00:38.165 Does a great job. 00:00:38.165 --> 00:00:40.698 Yeah. 00:00:40.698 --> 00:00:43.365 And I also want to say thank you to our veterans. 00:00:43.365 --> 00:00:49.999 I know yesterday was Veterans Day, but for those who have served, thank you so much for serving. 00:00:50.066 --> 00:00:54.665 When I think of veterans, I think of a verse we covered a couple of weeks ago. 00:00:54.665 --> 00:00:59.298 Greater love has no one than to lay down his life for a friend. 00:00:59.365 --> 00:01:02.999 And many of us have signed up to difficult jobs. 00:01:03.098 --> 00:01:06.533 But rarely do we sign up to lay our life down in that job. 00:01:06.533 --> 00:01:10.899 And those veterans have and so thank you for that. 00:01:10.998 --> 00:01:17.332 And when I think of the military, I also think of something that I think relates to today's passage. 00:01:17.332 --> 00:01:22.733 One thing that is really important for the military is to deal with truth. 00:01:22.799 --> 00:01:27.965 If you're going to confront a hostile enemy, you've got to deal with the truth of the situation. 00:01:27.965 --> 00:01:34.933 Winston Churchill, no perfect man, but he was known for being one who was fastidious to get the facts. 00:01:35.033 --> 00:01:36.933 World War Two, Prime Minister of England. 00:01:36.933 --> 00:01:39.266 How many planes does the other side have? 00:01:39.266 --> 00:01:40.766 How many tanks do they have? 00:01:40.766 --> 00:01:42.198 What are their fuel reserves? 00:01:42.198 --> 00:01:43.132 Where are their bases? 00:01:43.132 --> 00:01:44.965 We've got to know the facts. 00:01:44.965 --> 00:01:46.433 We got to know what we're dealing with. 00:01:46.433 --> 00:01:53.632 We can't just be oblivious to it so that we can prepare for what might come. 00:01:53.698 --> 00:02:00.899 And in today's passage, I think we're going to just see a hint of that with Jesus saying to the disciples, We're in John chapter 16. 00:02:00.899 --> 00:02:03.766 We've been working through the Book of John. 00:02:03.766 --> 00:02:09.466 In fact, we've been working, maybe some might say slowly through the Book of John, but we're going to start to pick up speed. 00:02:09.466 --> 00:02:13.832 We're in chapter 16 and each chapter is going to move along a little more quickly. 00:02:13.832 --> 00:02:21.066 We're in really the final hours of Jesus's life, even though there's six or seven chapters left. 00:02:21.066 --> 00:02:22.998 But in this passage, we're going to see two things. 00:02:22.998 --> 00:02:28.765 First, we're going to see Jesus give the disciples a warning. 00:02:28.832 --> 00:02:30.032 Here's what's coming. 00:02:30.032 --> 00:02:31.532 Here's what you need to deal with. 00:02:31.532 --> 00:02:33.366 Here's the reality of the situation. 00:02:33.366 --> 00:02:34.532 Here's truth. 00:02:34.532 --> 00:02:37.899 He doesn't try to soft pedal to make it sound better than it is. 00:02:37.899 --> 00:02:39.966 Here's what's coming. 00:02:40.066 --> 00:02:47.466 But he doesn't leave him just with the warning, but he also gives them the work of the Holy Spirit. 00:02:47.466 --> 00:02:49.165 You're not left to figure this out on your own. 00:02:49.165 --> 00:02:50.532 There's a warning. 00:02:50.532 --> 00:02:56.032 But then we have the work of the Holy Spirit to guide us, to get us through the difficult situation to come. 00:02:56.032 --> 00:03:00.133 This was relevant to the disciples then, and I think it's going to be relevant to us today as well. 00:03:00.133 --> 00:03:02.665 So if you have your Bibles, turn to John, Chapter 16. 00:03:02.665 --> 00:03:05.498 If you don't have a Bible, we have Bibles in the connection corner. 00:03:05.498 --> 00:03:07.066 We'd love to put those in your hand. 00:03:07.066 --> 00:03:08.466 The page numbers on the screen. 00:03:08.466 --> 00:03:20.932 Page 848 In that particular Bible makes it easy for you to find the passage, easy for you to get through the Bible and find what we'll be reading today so that you can read from God's Word your own copy of God's Word. 00:03:20.932 --> 00:03:21.765 John Chapter six. 00:03:21.765 --> 00:03:25.466 So we're going to start by reading just these first couple of verses here, 00:03:28.598 --> 00:03:33.066 I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 00:03:33.165 --> 00:03:35.633 They will put you out of the synagogues. 00:03:35.633 --> 00:03:48.998 Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God and they will do these things because they have not known the Father nor me. 00:03:48.998 --> 00:03:57.665 But I have said these things to you that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told them to you. 00:03:57.765 --> 00:04:21.999 Here we have Jesus speaking to the disciples, and we're in this long section called the Upper Room Discourse or the farewell discourse, kind of his final sermon or message to them that goes across chapters 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 long section of Jesus just investing in his guys right before he leaves. 00:04:22.098 --> 00:04:25.533 But here he gives them this warning. 00:04:25.598 --> 00:04:28.733 He says to them, Here's what you need to be mindful of and what is coming. 00:04:28.733 --> 00:04:34.833 He said, The first thing I've said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 00:04:34.899 --> 00:04:36.165 That's the warning he gives to them. 00:04:36.165 --> 00:04:40.565 Now, why does he need to warn them about that? In particular? 00:04:40.565 --> 00:04:42.865 Why does he need to warn them about falling away? 00:04:42.865 --> 00:04:45.533 Jesus, we've been here with you through all this. 00:04:45.533 --> 00:04:50.132 Up to this point. 00:04:50.199 --> 00:04:52.333 Well, they don't know what it's about to come. 00:04:52.333 --> 00:04:58.033 They think they do, but they don't know all that's about to come. 00:04:58.033 --> 00:05:05.432 And by the way, we got to keep in mind that just probably a few minutes ago, one of their own fell away. 00:05:05.499 --> 00:05:16.098 You know, again, many, many weeks we're talking about a few verses, but in real time, 15, 20, 30 minutes ago, Judas walked away. 00:05:16.098 --> 00:05:18.565 He was there with them this whole time. 00:05:18.565 --> 00:05:20.266 He saw the same things they saw. 00:05:20.266 --> 00:05:21.233 He walked away. 00:05:21.233 --> 00:05:24.466 What makes them think they're any better than him? 00:05:24.466 --> 00:05:28.533 Well, there's still the temptation to think I didn't walk away. 00:05:28.533 --> 00:05:31.266 I'm better than that guy. 00:05:31.266 --> 00:05:35.766 But, man, they're facing the same challenge that Judas did. 00:05:35.899 --> 00:05:39.232 They are not better than him. 00:05:39.298 --> 00:05:43.199 I shared with our Wednesday night group we're working through the topic of forgiveness. 00:05:43.199 --> 00:05:50.932 We meet on Wednesday nights after the meal and have a Bible study, kind of an open service, sing a hymn together, study the topic of forgiveness. 00:05:51.065 --> 00:05:54.831 And there's this really powerful story, post-World War two. 00:05:54.831 --> 00:06:02.831 So World War two, obviously, America, a number of other countries when beat the Nazis, in particular in Germany. 00:06:02.831 --> 00:06:06.699 But a lot of the Nazis went on the run, went into hiding. 00:06:06.798 --> 00:06:11.999 One in particular, probably the most high profile guy they hadn't captured was hiding in Argentina. 00:06:11.999 --> 00:06:16.865 It's 1962 when they finally find him, track him down. 00:06:16.865 --> 00:06:20.499 And Israelis, they extricate him, take him back to the country, put him on trial. 00:06:20.499 --> 00:06:22.732 His name was Adolf Eichmann. 00:06:22.732 --> 00:06:28.899 And of course, they're bringing in people in particular from Auschwitz, the death camp there. 00:06:28.899 --> 00:06:31.732 And there was a guy they bring in, Yehiel De-nur. 00:06:31.732 --> 00:06:34.365 They brought in a number of different people to testify. Yes. 00:06:34.365 --> 00:06:36.031 That's the guy. Yes. 00:06:36.031 --> 00:06:38.732 This is what I went through. 00:06:38.732 --> 00:06:40.798 They bring him in. 00:06:40.798 --> 00:06:42.798 He's testifying. 00:06:42.798 --> 00:06:55.365 But in the midst of his testimony, he just collapses on the ground in a puddle, sobbing uncontrollably, body convulsions he can't even stand. 00:06:55.365 --> 00:06:56.932 They have to grab him by his arms. 00:06:56.932 --> 00:06:58.298 In fact, here's a picture. 00:06:58.298 --> 00:07:02.932 After they had got him set back up, they just had to drag him out. 00:07:02.932 --> 00:07:12.665 He was in just this uncontrollable state of emotion, understandably so. 00:07:12.665 --> 00:07:15.031 And afterwards, he was interviewed. 00:07:15.031 --> 00:07:18.999 Mike Wallace interviewed him 60 Minutes and said what was going on there? 00:07:18.999 --> 00:07:20.899 I mean, clearly, you were overwhelmed with emotion. 00:07:20.899 --> 00:07:23.732 Was it just the craziness of the moment? 00:07:23.732 --> 00:07:29.665 Was it all the memories of what happened before, maybe lost loved ones and family members? 00:07:29.665 --> 00:07:34.132 And he said, no, it was none of that. 00:07:34.266 --> 00:07:36.365 None of that. 00:07:36.365 --> 00:07:45.132 In that moment, I'm staring at a man who I thought was some god of a general who had control over people's lives. 00:07:45.132 --> 00:07:46.766 And he did. 00:07:46.766 --> 00:07:59.899 But in that moment, I saw him for the very plain, ordinary, boring-- in fact, they use the word banal-- man that he was. 00:07:59.966 --> 00:08:02.232 And here's the quote that he said, what that did to him. 00:08:02.232 --> 00:08:08.632 I'm going to put this on screen for you to read as well when he saw him that way, if you can put up that quote. 00:08:08.632 --> 00:08:10.132 Here it is. It's coming. 00:08:10.132 --> 00:08:12.466 That's the right one. 00:08:12.466 --> 00:08:15.966 I was afraid about myself. 00:08:16.065 --> 00:08:19.331 I saw that I am capable to do this. 00:08:19.331 --> 00:08:26.932 I am like him, the guy who seems so plain, so boring, so normal. 00:08:26.932 --> 00:08:36.399 If he was capable of that in that moment, he said that that must that be inside me too. 00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:38.131 I'm ultimately no better than that guy. 00:08:38.131 --> 00:08:39.831 Maybe I didn't end up down the same path. 00:08:39.831 --> 00:08:44.099 And I think the disciples in this moment, Jesus is saying, You think you're better than Jesus. 00:08:44.099 --> 00:08:45.966 Be careful, Judas. 00:08:45.966 --> 00:08:53.066 Sorry. You might think that too, Be careful. 00:08:53.066 --> 00:08:54.466 Be careful. 00:08:54.466 --> 00:08:57.466 Watch out. 00:08:57.499 --> 00:08:59.131 Troubles are coming. 00:08:59.131 --> 00:09:00.599 Struggles are coming. 00:09:00.599 --> 00:09:03.298 Don't fall away. 00:09:03.298 --> 00:09:08.331 That word for fall away has this whole idea of stumbling over something. 00:09:08.331 --> 00:09:10.231 Tripping over something. 00:09:10.231 --> 00:09:12.731 It's the we get our word scandalized from it. 00:09:12.731 --> 00:09:15.265 It sounds the same in the original language. 00:09:15.265 --> 00:09:17.698 Scandalize. And we even use that today. 00:09:17.698 --> 00:09:32.532 If someone is in a public scandal, you know, they had a fall from grace or what we like to say kind of euphemistically, they fell into sin like they didn't have a part in the problem or something, just fell into sin. 00:09:32.532 --> 00:09:36.099 Nooo, well, there may have been a choice there as well. 00:09:36.099 --> 00:09:38.865 Scandalize, don't fall away. 00:09:38.865 --> 00:09:41.432 Don't be drawn away. 00:09:41.432 --> 00:09:44.432 Tough times are coming. 00:09:44.631 --> 00:09:48.631 In fact, he says a couple of other things to them here about what is on the way. 00:09:48.631 --> 00:09:56.698 The reality of it. Look at verse two, they will put you out of the synagogues, which doesn't seem like that big of a deal to us. 00:09:56.698 --> 00:10:00.166 You go find another church here, but there that meant complete ostracization. 00:10:00.166 --> 00:10:03.066 Your life was utterly changed. 00:10:03.066 --> 00:10:04.231 They'll put you out of the synagogues. 00:10:04.231 --> 00:10:09.798 Indeed, the hour’s coming when whoever kills you will think he's offering service to God. 00:10:09.865 --> 00:10:13.731 That's messed up, completely upside down. 00:10:13.731 --> 00:10:17.932 But we've seen this in Scripture that that was Paul. 00:10:17.932 --> 00:10:24.066 He was passionate about killing these Christians who are ruining my faith, my belief in God. 00:10:24.066 --> 00:10:30.466 Before he knew Christ, he thought what he was doing was the right thing. 00:10:30.466 --> 00:10:32.566 They don't know this is about to come. 00:10:32.566 --> 00:10:36.666 And he says to them, Watch out, be careful. 00:10:36.666 --> 00:10:38.099 Be mindful. 00:10:38.099 --> 00:10:43.231 Not only will they think they are offering service to God when they kill you, there's a reason why they do that. 00:10:43.231 --> 00:10:45.599 Look at verse three. 00:10:45.666 --> 00:10:50.666 They will do these things because they have not known the father nor me. 00:10:50.666 --> 00:10:56.631 There is a reason why they act the way they do. 00:10:56.631 --> 00:11:00.432 They don't know Christ. 00:11:00.532 --> 00:11:07.798 And I think it's really helpful to take a step back and recognize that because I don't know about you, but it's easy to get angry. 00:11:07.798 --> 00:11:12.065 Maybe it's something you saw on Social media or something you see in the news. 00:11:12.065 --> 00:11:20.198 It's easy to get upset with non-Christians for being non-Christians, but we shouldn't be surprised by that. 00:11:20.198 --> 00:11:24.764 In fact, our natural bent before knowing Christ was to reject him. 00:11:24.764 --> 00:11:35.965 I mean, we're all that way going back to Yehiel De-nur, who am I to say I'm so much better that I've figured it out? 00:11:36.032 --> 00:11:41.631 Nah, that should cause us to just pause and yes, we should have sorrow. 00:11:41.631 --> 00:11:46.965 Yes, there is a part of maybe righteous anger of wishing that things were right as God intended them. 00:11:46.965 --> 00:12:04.731 But yet also there's a measure of I shouldn't be surprised that people live out full rejection of God, and that should give us pause to we should be aware of that as well. 00:12:04.798 --> 00:12:08.631 Be careful, be watchful, be mindful. 00:12:08.631 --> 00:12:12.365 There will be those who fall way. 00:12:12.465 --> 00:12:23.565 I think a practical takeaway of this for us that's really important, something that each of us needs to be mindful of. 00:12:23.631 --> 00:12:28.664 What Jesus is warning the disciples of is that problems will come. 00:12:28.731 --> 00:12:36.865 This isn't going to be an easy problem, free life and we shouldn't try to sell Christianity as being problem free. 00:12:36.932 --> 00:12:45.032 In fact, I would say there's a chance you might have more problems if you follow Christ. 00:12:45.099 --> 00:12:51.831 We have friends in Phoenix, they grew up Mormon, their families, both sides Mormon. 00:12:51.831 --> 00:12:55.264 They come to know Christ, they become Christians. 00:12:55.264 --> 00:13:07.432 They turn away from the Mormonism and their family disowned them and never spoke to them again on both sides Their life didn't get easier. 00:13:07.432 --> 00:13:09.731 And so we don't sell them on that. 00:13:09.731 --> 00:13:13.999 I'm not here selling Christianity to you based on the benefits. 00:13:13.999 --> 00:13:18.798 Come be a Christian, and here's all the good things that will happen to you. 00:13:18.798 --> 00:13:26.565 No, here's here's what we want you to experience is the person of Jesus Christ. 00:13:26.565 --> 00:13:37.798 Come to know him, fall in love with him, the person of Jesus Christ, and then everything else will follow from that. 00:13:37.798 --> 00:13:42.664 You, I hope you see the radical difference between the two approaches. 00:13:42.664 --> 00:13:47.399 I don't hang out with my friend because of his boat. 00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:48.965 He's my friend. 00:13:48.965 --> 00:13:51.798 I love him. I care about him. 00:13:51.865 --> 00:13:54.198 I care deeply about our friendship. 00:13:54.198 --> 00:13:57.899 And if he gets a boat, I like him a lot more after that. 00:13:57.899 --> 00:13:59.731 Right? 00:13:59.731 --> 00:14:01.164 Maybe. 00:14:01.164 --> 00:14:03.231 You see the difference. 00:14:03.231 --> 00:14:09.631 We don't come just-- here's what I will get from Jesus, this is why I follow him. 00:14:09.631 --> 00:14:12.432 I follow him because I love him. 00:14:12.432 --> 00:14:15.231 Because there is nothing better than him. 00:14:15.231 --> 00:14:27.599 And hard times will come and we don't soft pedal Christianity based on the benefits to people. There’s a person, Jesus Christ, God in human flesh, who we follow. 00:14:27.664 --> 00:14:29.999 And this is the warning He gives to the disciples. 00:14:29.999 --> 00:14:32.499 Hard times are coming. 00:14:32.499 --> 00:14:34.399 Now, here's the beautiful part of this passage. 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:39.198 He doesn't just leave them with the warning-- hey, hard times are coming. 00:14:39.198 --> 00:14:41.664 Good luck. 00:14:41.664 --> 00:14:44.331 No, he doesn't leave them that way. 00:14:44.331 --> 00:14:51.264 He's going to tell them that I have given you a power to get through what is coming. 00:14:51.331 --> 00:14:53.999 In fact, the warning is what is coming. 00:14:53.999 --> 00:14:54.899 But here is the power. 00:14:54.899 --> 00:14:56.798 It is the work of the Holy Spirit. 00:14:56.798 --> 00:15:08.331 And in these next few verses, we're going to see four key ways the Holy Spirit works in our lives to help us through the challenges we face. 00:15:08.331 --> 00:15:10.731 He doesn't leave us alone just to figure it out ourselves. 00:15:10.731 --> 00:15:13.731 The Holy Spirit is at work. 00:15:13.831 --> 00:15:16.131 If you know Him, he comes alongside you. 00:15:16.131 --> 00:15:16.798 He works in your life. 00:15:16.798 --> 00:15:18.264 We're going to see that in these next few verses. 00:15:18.264 --> 00:15:39.065 In fact, turn look back down at verse four, depending on your Bible, there's a paragraph break there around in the middle of verse four, and I'm going to start kind of in the middle of verse 4-4b- I did not say these things to you from the beginning because I was with you, but now I'm going to him who sent me. 00:15:39.164 --> 00:15:41.831 And none of you asked me where are you going? 00:15:41.831 --> 00:15:45.264 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 00:15:45.264 --> 00:15:47.065 So he's recognizing the situation. 00:15:47.065 --> 00:15:48.565 I'm about to leave you. 00:15:48.565 --> 00:15:49.865 I talked openly about it before. 00:15:49.865 --> 00:15:51.065 They did ask him about it before. 00:15:51.065 --> 00:15:53.465 Now they're not asking anymore. 00:15:53.465 --> 00:16:12.065 And I know you're full of sorrow in this moment, but you're full of sorrow, nevertheless, verse seven, I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the helper will not come to you. 00:16:12.065 --> 00:16:15.565 But if I go, I will send him to you. 00:16:15.631 --> 00:16:18.865 So this is the first way the Holy Spirit works right here. 00:16:18.865 --> 00:16:25.032 Jesus is saying to them, I've got to go away so that you can have the presence of the Holy Spirit around you. 00:16:25.032 --> 00:16:26.264 This is the first way. 00:16:26.264 --> 00:16:29.798 Just His presence is with us. 00:16:29.865 --> 00:16:31.899 Go and put that number one up presence. 00:16:31.899 --> 00:16:35.032 Now, here's what's kind of strange about this. 00:16:35.032 --> 00:16:40.731 Jesus says, If you look back, it is to your advantage that I go away. 00:16:40.798 --> 00:16:48.697 If you're the disciples, even now, you've got to wonder, is it you're saying that the Holy Spirit's better than Jesus? 00:16:48.697 --> 00:16:52.432 It's better to have Him than Jesus around? 00:16:52.432 --> 00:16:58.131 You know, if you ever hear these quizzes where they ask people if you could have a dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be? 00:16:58.131 --> 00:17:00.498 Jesus is always on that list, right? 00:17:00.498 --> 00:17:02.065 But no one ever goes, well, the Holy Spirit. 00:17:02.065 --> 00:17:04.432 I'd really love to have dinner with him as well. 00:17:04.432 --> 00:17:06.597 Well, but he's with you. 00:17:06.664 --> 00:17:10.464 That's why we don't we don't say it, They didn't know that at the time. 00:17:10.464 --> 00:17:18.832 Why would it be an advantage to them that Jesus, who's there with them in the person-- his physical presence there-- why would it be an advantage for him to leave? 00:17:18.832 --> 00:17:25.397 I've got to do just a quick pause down on the Trinity short topic to address it here in church for everyone. 00:17:25.397 --> 00:17:29.964 Probably the most complicated topic in the history of Christianity. 00:17:29.964 --> 00:17:39.632 But I'll quickly say this Father, Son, Holy Spirit, they're all equally God. 00:17:39.632 --> 00:17:42.731 It's not like God, the Father, he's really God. 00:17:42.731 --> 00:17:46.132 Then there's Jesus-- he's closer, but still mostly God. 00:17:46.132 --> 00:17:49.365 Then there's the Holy Spirit who's kind of like junior God. 00:17:49.365 --> 00:17:50.798 It's not like that. 00:17:50.798 --> 00:17:54.432 In fact, one guy wrote a whole book called The Forgotten God about the Holy Spirit. 00:17:54.432 --> 00:18:11.464 Kind of tend to tack him on after, know, they're all three are equally God, but they play-- there's a lot of different words you could use here, and I need to be careful-- different roles, different persons in the way that they live out life, in the way they relate to us. 00:18:11.464 --> 00:18:16.332 And so here when we see Jesus, here's one thing that Jesus did different. 00:18:16.332 --> 00:18:19.332 He took on human flesh. 00:18:19.565 --> 00:18:30.164 He came into the world, both God and man, which, by the way, he put on himself a physical limitation. 00:18:30.164 --> 00:18:31.897 He chose to limit himself. 00:18:31.897 --> 00:18:40.498 It feels really weird to say that Jesus had limitations, but on earth in a physical body, he chose to take limitations upon himself. 00:18:40.498 --> 00:18:42.932 And you've all experienced this. 00:18:42.932 --> 00:18:47.132 It doesn't make him less God, by the way. 00:18:47.198 --> 00:18:55.198 So when you had your first child and that toddler finally stood up and in them you saw a future NBA basketball star. 00:18:55.198 --> 00:19:03.664 In that moment, you knew greatness was in your genes, and so you ran out and bought one of those basketball goals that goes about this high, the plastic ones. 00:19:03.664 --> 00:19:05.731 It's somehow adjustable but never works. 00:19:05.731 --> 00:19:07.664 You know what I'm talking about? 00:19:07.731 --> 00:19:10.097 And you immediately got them playing on that goal. 00:19:10.097 --> 00:19:16.998 Now, when you played with them, you didn't come up to them and dominate and block their shot and dunk on top of that. 00:19:16.998 --> 00:19:17.932 I hope you didn't. 00:19:17.932 --> 00:19:19.897 But that's a temptation. 00:19:19.897 --> 00:19:20.998 I know. 00:19:20.998 --> 00:19:22.332 Take it while you can. Right? 00:19:22.332 --> 00:19:24.565 They're going to grow up. 00:19:24.565 --> 00:19:25.664 No. Here's what you did. 00:19:25.664 --> 00:19:30.597 You you got down in front of them on your knees and you got down to their level. 00:19:30.597 --> 00:19:31.798 Let's play. 00:19:31.798 --> 00:19:32.265 I tried. 00:19:32.265 --> 00:19:36.531 I missed. You got down where they were. 00:19:36.597 --> 00:19:38.897 And when they got a little older, you changed it up. 00:19:38.897 --> 00:19:42.397 Maybe you only played left handed, kept your arm behind your back. 00:19:42.397 --> 00:19:46.498 Maybe they got two points to your one. 00:19:46.565 --> 00:19:50.698 Does that make you less of a parent? 00:19:50.765 --> 00:19:56.798 I'd say it makes you more meeting them where they are. 00:19:56.798 --> 00:20:01.365 And Jesus came and chose to limit himself. 00:20:01.365 --> 00:20:03.832 And here's the advantage. 00:20:03.832 --> 00:20:05.298 His physical limitation. 00:20:05.298 --> 00:20:06.332 He left. 00:20:06.332 --> 00:20:07.265 He's leaving the scene. 00:20:07.265 --> 00:20:21.097 The disciples don't know it. With them now will be the presence of the Holy Spirit who will be with them, guiding them all the time, anywhere, everywhere. 00:20:21.198 --> 00:20:26.664 And look, I wish day to day I really realize that. 00:20:26.731 --> 00:20:38.832 I mean, imagine how differently you would live life if every day you were overwhelmed with the reality that the presence of the Holy Spirit is with you every step of the way. 00:20:38.932 --> 00:20:41.664 I would change everything. 00:20:41.664 --> 00:20:42.932 None of us do it. 00:20:42.932 --> 00:20:54.031 But the more we grow, the more we come to know him, the more we connect with him and the more aware we become of the Holy Spirit in our lives, in His presence. 00:20:54.132 --> 00:20:55.932 So that's the first one, his presence. 00:20:55.932 --> 00:20:57.332 But let's keep reading. 00:20:57.332 --> 00:21:03.332 Look secondly, at how the Holy Spirit works, verse eight. 00:21:03.332 --> 00:21:12.964 And when He comes, he will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness and judgment. 00:21:13.065 --> 00:21:15.397 That's part of the Holy Spirit maybe we could do without, right? 00:21:15.397 --> 00:21:21.865 We don't really need that conviction part Lord, especially not around sin, righteousness and judgment. 00:21:21.865 --> 00:21:25.164 I mean, just keep piling it on. 00:21:25.231 --> 00:21:26.698 Well, let's unpack these a little bit. 00:21:26.698 --> 00:21:38.065 Look at what he says concerning sin, because they do not believe in me, concerning righteousness, because I go to the father, you will see me no longer concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 00:21:38.065 --> 00:21:45.231 So the second way the Holy Spirit works is through convicting, through conviction. 00:21:45.231 --> 00:21:46.731 We're going to talk about each of those. 00:21:46.731 --> 00:21:48.097 What does that mean? 00:21:48.097 --> 00:21:50.332 Of course, first is sin. 00:21:50.332 --> 00:21:57.498 Look back at verse nine concerning sin, because they do not believe in me. 00:21:57.565 --> 00:21:59.964 This is the first way the Holy Spirit convicts. 00:21:59.964 --> 00:22:04.365 And it's the first one in this list because that's the starting place. 00:22:04.365 --> 00:22:07.365 Sin blocks belief. 00:22:07.397 --> 00:22:11.198 Sin builds barriers between you and God. 00:22:11.298 --> 00:22:14.730 Sin undermines truth. 00:22:14.798 --> 00:22:18.365 And so if you don't believe, you're not going to know Christ. 00:22:18.365 --> 00:22:20.464 You're not going to want to follow him. 00:22:20.464 --> 00:22:22.164 And so there's got to be conviction of sin. 00:22:22.164 --> 00:22:33.365 There's got to be this place where you become aware that the way you think, the way you live is against following Christ. 00:22:33.464 --> 00:22:40.765 And coming back to that same issue of we don't make Christianity easy, try to sell it easy to people. 00:22:40.830 --> 00:22:43.265 And it's the same way with sin. 00:22:43.265 --> 00:22:46.230 We don't soft pedal on sin. 00:22:46.230 --> 00:22:49.798 If someone asks you, Hey, does does the Bible teach? 00:22:49.798 --> 00:22:52.198 And by the way, this is an important difference. 00:22:52.198 --> 00:22:59.097 Does the Bible teach that this is whatever behavior is sin, not just do you think? 00:22:59.164 --> 00:23:00.230 Well, let me show you. 00:23:00.230 --> 00:23:05.698 Here's where scripture says that this is not what God has planned for people. 00:23:05.698 --> 00:23:13.565 If someone asks you that answer faithfully from Scripture, point them and do it graciously. 00:23:13.664 --> 00:23:15.198 It's not in a condemning way. 00:23:15.198 --> 00:23:15.830 But look. Yes. 00:23:15.830 --> 00:23:18.065 No, this is what Scripture says. 00:23:18.065 --> 00:23:20.698 We don't we're not trying to hide that. 00:23:20.698 --> 00:23:23.998 We don't kind of go, Yeah, I hate to say it. 00:23:23.998 --> 00:23:26.397 I think we try to hide that from everyone else. 00:23:26.397 --> 00:23:31.131 But no, it does say that what you're talking about is sin. 00:23:31.131 --> 00:23:34.030 And here's why we don't. 00:23:34.030 --> 00:23:39.265 Tim Keller, who is a pastor in New York City, passed away recently, very influential. 00:23:39.330 --> 00:23:42.265 He had a lady come up to him in church after he talked about following Christ. 00:23:42.265 --> 00:23:44.897 And she said to him, I really like what you're saying. 00:23:44.897 --> 00:23:47.330 I like some of where Christianity is heading. 00:23:47.330 --> 00:23:48.431 I like this Jesus guy. 00:23:48.431 --> 00:23:58.664 But let me ask you, if I were to follow him, does that mean I'd have to put aside my romantic relationship with this other woman? 00:23:58.730 --> 00:24:02.498 And he said, I can address that directly and I will. 00:24:02.498 --> 00:24:11.631 But let me tell you, if you follow Christ, there's all kinds of things in your life that will change, not just that one thing. 00:24:11.631 --> 00:24:13.198 You know, we don't bargain with God. 00:24:13.198 --> 00:24:13.865 I'll follow you. 00:24:13.865 --> 00:24:17.230 But let me let me let me just hang on to this. 00:24:17.230 --> 00:24:21.597 No, If you follow him, everything will change. 00:24:21.597 --> 00:24:26.030 And here's what he said and you'll want to change. 00:24:26.097 --> 00:24:30.330 Look, if you've got life perfectly figured out, you don't want any change in life. 00:24:30.330 --> 00:24:31.830 Everything's good. 00:24:31.830 --> 00:24:34.431 I'm good to go. 00:24:34.431 --> 00:24:38.330 And if you meet that person, I'd love to meet them as well. 00:24:38.330 --> 00:24:42.964 None of us have life figured out, even if it appears we do. 00:24:42.964 --> 00:24:44.030 Where are you going to find hope? 00:24:44.030 --> 00:24:44.931 Where are you going to find purpose? 00:24:44.931 --> 00:24:47.330 Where are you going to find meaning in life? 00:24:47.397 --> 00:24:49.164 I couldn't do it on my own. 00:24:49.164 --> 00:24:51.597 I haven't met anyone yet that has. 00:24:51.597 --> 00:24:57.198 The Christ will give you that in him you will find. 00:24:57.198 --> 00:24:58.798 And that means conviction of sin. 00:24:58.798 --> 00:25:00.164 The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts. 00:25:00.164 --> 00:25:01.164 He does it for the world. 00:25:01.164 --> 00:25:02.230 That's who he's talking about here. 00:25:02.230 --> 00:25:03.330 He does it for us to. 00:25:03.330 --> 00:25:04.730 Thankfully, he does that for us. 00:25:04.730 --> 00:25:06.565 Doesn't leave us where we are. 00:25:06.565 --> 00:25:08.330 You're not to stay where you are. 00:25:08.330 --> 00:25:09.565 He doesn't leave us where we are. 00:25:09.565 --> 00:25:11.230 Come as you are. 00:25:11.230 --> 00:25:13.565 But don't stay where you are. 00:25:13.565 --> 00:25:15.431 So the first is he convicts of sin. 00:25:15.431 --> 00:25:19.964 Second is righteousness concerning righteousness. 00:25:19.964 --> 00:25:22.164 Because I go to the father and you will see me no longer. 00:25:22.164 --> 00:25:23.365 Now, this one's a little harder. 00:25:23.365 --> 00:25:24.230 It seems kind of weird. 00:25:24.230 --> 00:25:28.097 How do you convict about righteousness? 00:25:28.164 --> 00:25:29.897 Let's think about that word righteousness. 00:25:29.897 --> 00:25:30.765 For our purposes. 00:25:30.765 --> 00:25:35.597 I'll just say you might shorten it to the word rightness. 00:25:35.597 --> 00:25:38.097 How do I know I am right? 00:25:38.097 --> 00:25:56.865 How do I know that if I see God, that He will accept me, that I am living rightly in a way that He will accept me and he will convict the world concerning righteousness, There's a verse that I think is real helpful to understand what he's talking about here in terms of what is the right way to live. 00:25:56.865 --> 00:25:58.698 9. 00:25:58.698 --> 00:26:04.730 That's just one book back from John and it's on page 824 in the church Bible. 00:26:04.798 --> 00:26:09.931 This is a parable where Jesus is contrasting 00:26:09.931 --> 00:26:15.198 a Pharisee and a tax collector and how they both see themselves before God. 00:26:15.265 --> 00:26:18.830 And I'm not going to read through the whole parable. 00:26:18.998 --> 00:26:23.198 But this first verse highlights the whole purpose he tells on the front end why 00:26:27.330 --> 00:26:38.065 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt. 00:26:38.131 --> 00:26:53.865 I think we all have the temptation to think and here's the phrase we use self-righteous, but I've got it figured out the way I live, this is how I justify myself before God, the way I live, the things I do. 00:26:53.865 --> 00:26:55.230 This is why he will accept me. 00:26:55.230 --> 00:26:57.798 This is why I am right. 00:26:57.798 --> 00:27:02.431 And Jesus contrasts here, there are those who think, No, I'm good. 00:27:02.431 --> 00:27:05.730 I got it all figured out and then look down on others. 00:27:05.730 --> 00:27:17.164 The Holy Spirit came to convict of that kind of self-righteousness, and Jesus came to show the correct standard of righteousness. 00:27:17.164 --> 00:27:18.931 Here is true righteousness. 00:27:18.931 --> 00:27:19.865 It's him. 00:27:19.865 --> 00:27:22.730 It's knowing him and following him. 00:27:22.730 --> 00:27:23.597 So that's righteousness. 00:27:23.597 --> 00:27:33.097 And then number three, I will convict concerning judgment verse 11, because the ruler of this world is judged. 00:27:33.164 --> 00:27:35.431 This one is also a little tricky. 00:27:35.431 --> 00:27:39.030 He will convict concerning judgment. 00:27:39.097 --> 00:27:50.397 Even that phrase the ruler of this world is already judged is maybe kind of hard to swallow because there are times where it doesn't feel like the ruler of this world is already judged. 00:27:50.397 --> 00:27:54.998 But we live in this in-between moment where he has been judged. 00:27:54.998 --> 00:28:01.564 God allows sin to continue on Earth for a season, but it won't always be that way. 00:28:01.663 --> 00:28:08.397 But conviction around judgment here-- what he's responding to-- Jesus came when he came, 00:28:08.397 --> 00:28:15.530 47, I did not come to judge, but to save. 00:28:15.597 --> 00:28:20.364 He didn't come to judge in the moment, he came at that time, You will later, but to save. 00:28:20.364 --> 00:28:25.763 But the problem was when he came to save, others were judging him. 00:28:25.763 --> 00:28:28.830 Others were saying, No, you're not the right way. 00:28:28.830 --> 00:28:31.730 No, you're, in fact, Satan himself. 00:28:31.730 --> 00:28:33.631 No, the Pharisees, don't follow him. 00:28:33.631 --> 00:28:34.798 Don't trust what he has to say. 00:28:34.798 --> 00:28:37.064 How do we get rid of him? 00:28:37.064 --> 00:28:46.530 There was judgment being heaped upon him, and the Holy Spirit came to convict those to judge rightly. 00:28:46.597 --> 00:28:49.030 So, the Holy Spirit convicts. 00:28:49.030 --> 00:28:54.663 The Holy Spirit brings different levels of conviction around sin, righteousness and judgment. 00:28:54.864 --> 00:29:10.798 And through this, you know, the Holy Spirit exposes-- we're talking about the world here with those terms-- and he says world, but the Holy Spirit also exposes in us the ways that we think we are saving ourselves. 00:29:10.864 --> 00:29:12.830 I do it too, right? 00:29:12.830 --> 00:29:20.663 If I just do this thing, if I say this thing, if I treat this person this way, God will have more favor shown upon me. 00:29:20.730 --> 00:29:26.631 And clearly there are right ways to live according to Scripture. 00:29:26.698 --> 00:29:38.663 But the only thing that justifies you is Jesus and His death, burial, resurrection on your behalf and the Holy Spirit comes to convict around that. 00:29:38.663 --> 00:29:42.931 Don't self justify, lean on Christ. 00:29:42.931 --> 00:29:43.931 So that's number two. 00:29:43.931 --> 00:29:48.397 Number three, we're going to skip to the end of the passage verse 14. 00:29:48.498 --> 00:29:49.897 Here's what the Holy Spirit does. 00:29:49.897 --> 00:29:51.298 He will glorify me. 00:29:51.298 --> 00:29:52.763 Jesus says of the Holy Spirit. 00:29:52.763 --> 00:29:58.064 He will glorify me, for He will take what is mine and declare it to you. 00:29:58.064 --> 00:30:00.763 All that the Father has in me is mine. 00:30:00.763 --> 00:30:03.698 Therefore, I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 00:30:03.698 --> 00:30:09.597 The key phrase for us, and this is number three the Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus. 00:30:09.663 --> 00:30:13.431 The Holy Spirit points to Jesus, again, talking about the Trinity. 00:30:13.431 --> 00:30:18.864 There is a relationship between Jesus and the Holy Spirit and the Father that we see even in this verse. 00:30:18.864 --> 00:30:22.663 He will glorify me, takes what is mine that I got from the Father. 00:30:22.663 --> 00:30:33.263 There is this beautiful interaction between them where they're building up one another, encouraging one another, pointing others to each of them. 00:30:33.530 --> 00:30:38.564 And the Holy Spirit glorifies Christ. 00:30:38.564 --> 00:30:45.364 It's a beautiful picture that I think as a church paints a picture of what unity means for us. 00:30:45.364 --> 00:30:48.763 I'm looking to build up others around me. 00:30:48.864 --> 00:30:53.298 I'm not looking to tear them down so that I look better than them. 00:30:53.298 --> 00:30:56.830 If there is a difference between us, I move toward them, not away. 00:30:56.830 --> 00:30:58.397 I don't avoid them. 00:30:58.397 --> 00:31:00.163 I move toward them. 00:31:00.163 --> 00:31:06.864 If there's someone here that you have a big problem with or a small problem with, you move toward them. 00:31:06.864 --> 00:31:11.698 This is a radical difference between the church in the world. 00:31:11.763 --> 00:31:13.097 You know what I'm talking about. 00:31:13.097 --> 00:31:16.530 And I know where some of you work, some of your coworkers. 00:31:16.530 --> 00:31:24.364 It's all about the backbiting and it's all about, let me put you down so I can move up. 00:31:24.463 --> 00:31:25.830 I've experienced it, too. 00:31:25.830 --> 00:31:26.663 Not here. 00:31:26.663 --> 00:31:26.897 Okay. 00:31:26.897 --> 00:31:31.163 There's no comment on church staff, other places. 00:31:31.163 --> 00:31:33.097 You know what I'm saying? 00:31:33.097 --> 00:31:42.864 But when you're in a place where people move toward one another, push through conflict, love one another, build one another up, who doesn't want to be around that? 00:31:42.864 --> 00:31:46.864 That's what we all long for. 00:31:46.931 --> 00:31:49.097 And so the Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus. 00:31:49.097 --> 00:31:55.864 And then number four, the Holy Spirit guides us to truth. 00:31:55.931 --> 00:31:58.498 Look back at verse 12. 00:31:58.498 --> 00:32:03.364 I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now, which is wise. 00:32:03.364 --> 00:32:03.631 All right. 00:32:03.631 --> 00:32:07.230 We've all been in that place where that's all I can absorb. 00:32:07.230 --> 00:32:10.064 Jesus knows you're not going to get this till later. 00:32:10.064 --> 00:32:11.097 I can't tell you any more. 00:32:11.097 --> 00:32:13.397 Won't make any sense. 00:32:13.463 --> 00:32:23.931 But then verse 13, when the spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak on his own authority. 00:32:23.931 --> 00:32:31.064 But whatever he hears, he will speak and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 00:32:31.163 --> 00:32:34.463 The Holy Spirit guides to truth. 00:32:34.530 --> 00:32:37.530 We are called to be people of truth. 00:32:37.631 --> 00:32:42.663 Our standard of truth is up here. 00:32:42.663 --> 00:32:56.064 We move away from lies and falsehood in our lives, even though we're often tempted, even in the subtlest way, to move away from truth. 00:32:56.064 --> 00:33:03.131 But you have to start and at the beginning of this whole message today was start with reality. 00:33:03.230 --> 00:33:06.163 Start with where you are. 00:33:06.163 --> 00:33:08.830 Can't ignore truth. 00:33:08.830 --> 00:33:10.198 I wish I could remember who told me this. 00:33:10.198 --> 00:33:15.030 I know it's I'm pretty sure it's somebody here, but I can't remember who it is. 00:33:15.030 --> 00:33:18.198 But it was so funny I had to share it. 00:33:18.198 --> 00:33:32.530 One parent-- I can't remember who it is-- they said there was this day where one of their kids came into the room and just had chocolate all over their face, just everywhere, smeared and the parent was like, Johnny, have you been eating chocolate? 00:33:32.530 --> 00:33:34.864 No. 00:33:34.864 --> 00:33:37.864 Nope, not me. 00:33:37.997 --> 00:33:38.864 Are you sure? 00:33:38.864 --> 00:33:41.864 You know his hands are like, sticky. 00:33:42.030 --> 00:33:43.963 Can't hardly pull his fingers apart. 00:33:43.963 --> 00:33:44.364 Nope. 00:33:44.364 --> 00:33:49.530 Never seen chocolate, Deal with truth. 00:33:49.530 --> 00:33:52.131 Acknowledge the truth of where you are. 00:33:52.131 --> 00:33:54.096 The Holy Spirit convicts. 00:33:54.096 --> 00:33:59.330 But he also guides you to truth. 00:33:59.396 --> 00:34:02.364 He got you to a place where you're open to hear from him. 00:34:02.364 --> 00:34:03.931 You're open to hear from others. 00:34:03.931 --> 00:34:08.197 You're open for God to work in your life. 00:34:08.297 --> 00:34:14.130 This week, I got to visit with a number of friends when we were--we went back to Arkansas-- we had a number of friends there. 00:34:14.130 --> 00:34:23.331 That's where Julie was with the conference, and I was supporting her and I met with a number of different friends along the way, conversations that we had, catching up on how God has worked in our lives. 00:34:23.331 --> 00:34:33.896 And one of the guys, one of the guys I met with, he told me, John, I got to tell you, God has done some amazing things in my life in the last two years, and it all started with a conflict in their marriage. 00:34:33.931 --> 00:34:39.864 You can start to look at conflict in your marriage that way as an opportunity for God to work in your way-- in life in amazing ways. 00:34:39.864 --> 00:34:42.431 And he said, Here's what happened. 00:34:42.431 --> 00:34:48.664 My wife brought up an issue, he said, and I remember the phrase, it's seared in my brain, the exact words I used. 00:34:48.664 --> 00:34:51.764 I said to her, This problem is not my problem. 00:34:51.764 --> 00:34:55.463 It's your problem and you need to get work done. 00:34:55.530 --> 00:34:59.664 Great way to start a conflict confrontation in marriage. 00:34:59.664 --> 00:35:01.764 So she says, okay, whatever. 00:35:01.764 --> 00:35:03.731 She meets with the counselor. 00:35:03.731 --> 00:35:06.597 She says the counselor gave me this book to read. 00:35:06.597 --> 00:35:07.364 I'm going to read it. 00:35:07.364 --> 00:35:12.664 She was going away on a trip, already planned, when I come back, we'll talk through it. 00:35:12.664 --> 00:35:13.331 He says, good. 00:35:13.331 --> 00:35:14.963 Finally, you'll get fixed, right? 00:35:14.963 --> 00:35:20.030 I don't think he said that part out loud, but he was thinking it. 00:35:20.097 --> 00:35:21.331 But here's what happens. 00:35:21.331 --> 00:35:27.396 He was in this season, in fact, a few of us talked about this morning being recovering control freaks. Right. 00:35:27.396 --> 00:35:29.130 Working on that as well. 00:35:29.130 --> 00:35:38.563 He was in the season-- I better read the book before she reads it to make sure it's okay for her to read it, make sure that she is hearing the right information. 00:35:38.664 --> 00:35:44.063 He reads the book, and he said, John, I’m weeping throughout the whole book. 00:35:44.063 --> 00:35:51.931 Because I see in this book that I was the problem, not her. 00:35:51.996 --> 00:35:54.463 His heart was tender. 00:35:54.463 --> 00:35:59.063 He was open to hearing from the Holy Spirit. 00:35:59.063 --> 00:36:11.164 The problem for him was he had walked away from God and in that moment he had all the despair of realizing he was the problem, but none of the power of the Holy Spirit to work to guide Him. 00:36:11.164 --> 00:36:17.164 And so he had to turn back to Christ and watch him work. 00:36:17.264 --> 00:36:27.130 The Holy Spirit warns, He convicts, and Jesus warns them, hard times are coming, but you don't have to walk alone. 00:36:27.130 --> 00:36:28.697 The Holy Spirit is with you. 00:36:28.697 --> 00:36:31.697 The Holy Spirit will guide you. 00:36:31.864 --> 00:36:34.731 The Holy Spirit will protect you. 00:36:34.831 --> 00:36:38.496 You can lean on Him through everything. 00:36:38.630 --> 00:36:41.963 Let's pray. 00:36:42.030 --> 00:36:44.896 Jesus, we thank you for this morning. 00:36:44.896 --> 00:36:46.831 Thank you for your word. 00:36:47.963 --> 00:36:51.197 Thank you for your Holy Spirit. 00:36:51.264 --> 00:36:54.896 And we know problems come. 00:36:54.963 --> 00:36:59.864 We could go around to person after person after person and problem and challenge. 00:36:59.864 --> 00:37:12.797 And we have to be aware that those problems want to draw us away from you want to force us to turn inward, want to push us into self-reliance. 00:37:12.864 --> 00:37:17.030 Thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit that we can lean on. 00:37:17.231 --> 00:37:19.197 We don't have to depend on ourselves. 00:37:19.197 --> 00:37:23.630 I've failed myself over and over and over again. 00:37:23.697 --> 00:37:28.530 I don't want to lean on myself and yet I still choose to do so at times. 00:37:28.764 --> 00:37:32.297 Lord, help us to listen to your spirit moving in our lives today. 00:37:32.297 --> 00:37:37.697 Help us to hear from you in fresh, new ways today. 00:37:37.764 --> 00:37:52.063 In fact, right now I would ask wherever you are, just even quietly where you are, you would cry out to God and say, Lord, help me to hear your voice today. 00:37:52.164 --> 00:37:53.731 It’s what we all want. 00:37:53.731 --> 00:37:56.731 Every one of us wants that. 00:37:56.764 --> 00:37:59.297 Help me to hear from you today. 00:37:59.297 --> 00:38:05.463 Jesus, would you move? Holy Spirit would you stir? 00:38:05.530 --> 00:38:08.364 Thank you for how you are working in this church. 00:38:08.364 --> 00:38:16.297 Thank you for so many who love you. Lord, help us to love one another well so that the whole world looks at us and says, I want that. 00:38:16.297 --> 00:38:17.896 Whatever that is. 00:38:17.896 --> 00:38:20.364 I've been looking for that. 00:38:20.364 --> 00:38:27.597 I pray that kind of love and unity would just pour out all around us. This week. 00:38:27.597 --> 00:38:29.731 Thank you that we can gather freely. 00:38:29.731 --> 00:38:31.896 Thank you for so many who have sacrificed for us. 00:38:31.896 --> 00:38:33.864 We love you, Jesus. 00:38:33.931 --> 00:38:34.364 Amen.