WEBVTT 00:00:03.600 --> 00:00:05.599 I have a devotional for you this morning. 00:00:05.759 --> 00:00:08.640 So it's not a full sermon, but it's a devotional. 00:00:08.720 --> 00:00:10.560 So if you could, let's just jump right into it. 00:00:10.640 --> 00:00:14.880 If you could turn to Ephesians chapter 5, verses 1 and 2. 00:00:15.119 --> 00:00:16.160 And we'll get into that. 00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:19.120 We're in a sermon series right now called In Christ. 00:00:19.199 --> 00:00:20.719 And we're in the second half of it. 00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:31.359 The first half was about our identity in Christ, and the second half is about our purpose in Christ, who we are in Christ, and what he asks for us to do for him. 00:00:31.760 --> 00:00:38.560 And uh the last couple of weeks we've talked about the fact that believers in Jesus are called to live differently than the world. 00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:43.920 Have you been challenged in the choices that you made this week and the way that you've lived your life? 00:00:44.240 --> 00:00:48.960 Last week we saw a series of things that we're supposed to put off and put on. 00:00:49.119 --> 00:00:50.719 So let me just remind you of those. 00:00:50.880 --> 00:01:08.079 We're supposed to put off lying and put on truth, put off anger and put on peace, put off stealing and put on generosity, put off destructive words and put off, put on, I'm sorry, life-giving words. 00:01:08.319 --> 00:01:15.359 So in our passage today, the first word of it is therefore, and when there's therefore, it's to connect two thoughts. 00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:22.640 So it connects the thoughts that we just learned about in the last couple of weeks with this new thought in chapter 5, right? 00:01:22.799 --> 00:01:27.359 So let's read this couple of verses, Ephesians 5, 1 and 2. 00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:40.799 Therefore, be imitators of God as beloved children and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:42.400 Let us pray. 00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:48.319 Father, we thank you that this is your word, and the entrance of your word brings life and light. 00:01:48.480 --> 00:01:57.120 And Lord, we pray that your word would land upon good soil this morning and that it would produce the fruit and the harvest that you desire for it to produce. 00:01:57.359 --> 00:02:09.919 I ask, Lord, that it would not just be words of my wisdom, but that it would be words that would come directly from you, empowered by your spirit to do the good work that only you can do in Jesus' name. 00:02:10.240 --> 00:02:10.879 Amen. 00:02:11.439 --> 00:02:13.360 So have you ever said these words? 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:18.719 You're acting like your father, or you sound like your mother. 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:24.639 Most of the time when we say those things, is it a positive thing that we're talking about? 00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:28.960 Or does it tend towards the negative side of things? 00:02:29.199 --> 00:02:31.280 Usually towards the negative side of things. 00:02:31.360 --> 00:02:32.560 But why is that? 00:02:33.039 --> 00:02:37.840 Why is it that we focus on the negative side of that instead of the positive? 00:02:37.919 --> 00:02:40.639 Wouldn't it be better to highlight the positive things? 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:49.039 Like when we catch somebody doing something good and we say, Oh, just like your just like your mother or just like your dad, right? 00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:50.879 Now, here may be one reason. 00:02:51.039 --> 00:02:53.680 Maybe it's because people are flawed, right? 00:02:54.240 --> 00:02:59.919 And the points in our lives where we felt unloved are places that we try to avoid. 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:05.680 And so sometimes we highlight even, and and sometimes it's for good sake. 00:03:05.919 --> 00:03:10.960 Some of us grew up in homes where things were said and done that were very difficult. 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:16.719 And so, because of that, we we try to avoid sort of repeating that, right? 00:03:17.199 --> 00:03:30.400 So let's let's look at, we're going to look today at the fact that believers in Jesus are members of a new family, and that the love of our Father and His Son is perfect in every way and worth emulating. 00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:41.280 So we're gonna move from the negative side of carrying forward or talking about the things that happened, and we're gonna move to the positive side, and that's what we're gonna focus on here this morning. 00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:44.479 So the first point is we should live like God. 00:03:44.879 --> 00:03:45.840 We should live like God. 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:49.759 Our passage says, therefore be imitators of God. 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:53.599 Wow, that sounds like a heavy task, right? 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:59.520 But how many of you know if you imitate God, it's not gonna be any problem for you to tell the truth. 00:03:59.840 --> 00:04:01.599 He is truth, right? 00:04:01.840 --> 00:04:06.719 It won't be any issue for you to be a peacemaker, because God is peace. 00:04:06.960 --> 00:04:14.479 You'll be able to speak, you'll be able to be generous because there's no one in the universe more generous than our Heavenly Father. 00:04:14.639 --> 00:04:23.519 And you'll be able to speak life-giving words because the very words of God spoke life into existence, right? 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:30.319 And so if we emulate or imitate our Heavenly Father, we will exemplify his character and nature. 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:31.839 We will live like him. 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:35.600 We are called to be holy as he is holy. 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:36.800 What does holy mean? 00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:41.920 It means to be set apart, it means to be set apart for something. 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:48.639 We are set apart and we are holy, and we are to live holy lives just as he is holy. 00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:52.560 And in fact, humanity itself was made to bear God's image. 00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:55.759 Pastor Derek brought this to us uh a few months ago. 00:04:55.839 --> 00:05:00.160 He brought a sermon to us that really highlighted this, and I'll just kind of skim over that. 00:05:00.399 --> 00:05:06.720 God the Father and God the Son in eternity past decided that they wanted to expand their family. 00:05:06.879 --> 00:05:08.319 And so, how were they gonna do that? 00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:14.959 Well, the Holy Spirit was going to take their words and he was going to cause creation to come about, right? 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:19.920 And God created, and we'll look at it, let's look at Genesis 1, 26 and 27. 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:25.680 Then God said, Let us make man in our image after our likeness, in our what? 00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:26.800 In our likeness. 00:05:27.199 --> 00:05:30.959 Yeah, in our image and after our likeness. 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:41.600 And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 00:05:41.920 --> 00:05:48.560 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God, he created Is God trying to get a point across here? 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:56.560 Three times in the same passage, in the image of God, he created him, male and female, he created them. 00:05:56.959 --> 00:06:03.279 We are made to talk like God, to think like God, and to act like God. 00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:07.519 That's the way that was God's original intent for humanity. 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:14.079 We were to be imitators of God as his children, as his children. 00:06:14.319 --> 00:06:17.519 Now, how many of you know Adam and Eve enjoyed this reality in the garden? 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:22.480 The Bible says that they walked and talked with God in the cool of the day. 00:06:22.720 --> 00:06:27.120 They spent time face to face with God, talking with them. 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:30.639 Can you imagine the conversations that must have gone on? 00:06:30.959 --> 00:06:33.040 I would have loved to have been a part of that. 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:46.000 And how many of you know there will be a there's a restoration project at work and there will be a time and day, and I don't want to get too ahead of myself, but we will see things completely restored. 00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:47.120 Thank God. 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:54.639 So this sweet fellowship that Adam and Eve had with God the Father was God's original intent. 00:06:54.800 --> 00:06:57.680 This is God's plan for his family. 00:06:57.839 --> 00:07:00.000 But how many of you know the story didn't end there? 00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:01.519 What happened next? 00:07:01.839 --> 00:07:04.959 Sin separated separated us from God. 00:07:05.040 --> 00:07:06.879 There was one family rule in the garden. 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:08.000 What was it? 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:18.000 You can eat from every tree in the garden, but do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for if you eat of it, the day you eat of it, you will surely die. 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:23.279 Satan tempted Adam and Eve and he convinced them of a lie. 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:24.720 You know what the lie was? 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:26.800 God doesn't really care about you. 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:29.519 In fact, you can't even trust him. 00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:31.839 He's holding back on you. 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:36.240 He doesn't actually love you, he's just acting like he loves you. 00:07:36.399 --> 00:07:37.759 Boy, does that sound familiar? 00:07:38.879 --> 00:07:42.639 Anybody ever dealt with not really believing that God loved them? 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:45.279 That's what Satan was doing in the Garden of Eden. 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:53.519 And with that great deception that they yielded to, everything that they had experienced began to go away. 00:07:54.000 --> 00:08:00.319 But how many of you know this the reality is he completely lied to them because they were already like God. 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:04.000 He said to them, if you eat of the fruit, you'll be like God. 00:08:04.079 --> 00:08:09.040 And God doesn't want you, uh you know, you God is holding back on you. 00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:14.959 But they were already like him, they were already made in his image and likeness. 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:22.000 Because of their sin, they were cast out of the garden, and more importantly, they were cast away from the presence of God. 00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:29.120 Imagine what that must have been like, how they must have felt the burden that they must have carried. 00:08:29.199 --> 00:08:40.320 And the result of their sin is that every single person ever born on this planet, except for one, Jesus, has been born dead in their sins and trespasses. 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:45.120 All of us included, we have all been born dead. 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:55.600 Instead of bearing the image of God as we were created to, we have bear, we have borne the image of a false father who is Satan, the God of this world. 00:08:56.720 --> 00:08:59.519 And if you say, Well, how is that fair? 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:04.559 It's Adam and Eve's sin, not mine, but how many of you know we have followed in their footsteps? 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:08.159 We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:16.080 And what we deserve for the sin that we have committed is to die and to eternally be separated from God. 00:09:17.200 --> 00:09:18.720 This is the truth. 00:09:18.960 --> 00:09:20.480 This is the gospel. 00:09:21.840 --> 00:09:24.559 How many of you know it doesn't remain in that place? 00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:28.879 The story goes on, and by the way, when I say story, I mean true story. 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:32.960 It goes on, and we learn that we can live loved. 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:36.320 You see, Father God loves his children. 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:43.600 It says, as beloved children, can you picture God loving you like a beloved child? 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:47.200 Can you picture his heart being turned towards you? 00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:50.720 Can you picture him feeling the things that you feel? 00:09:50.879 --> 00:09:56.000 Can you picture him wanting to walk with you and talk with you and spend time with you? 00:09:56.159 --> 00:10:02.879 Can you picture, can you even imagine how great the Father's love is for you? 00:10:03.039 --> 00:10:11.919 You see, his father's heart could not stand to allow creation to be forever lost from being in relationship with him. 00:10:12.240 --> 00:10:20.159 In fact, at the very point that the curses were given out in the garden, God promised that there would be a seed that would come. 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:30.639 And the serpent would attempt to strike the heel, but the seed would crush the head of Satan, as we know the serpent to be. 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:33.279 And the seed is Jesus. 00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:37.120 See, if you had to define God in one word, what would it be? 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:39.039 Love. 00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:46.080 If you really had to define God, if you had to narrow it down to one word, it would be love. 00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:52.960 Not just fluffy feelings, but love that cares enough to speak the truth. 00:10:53.200 --> 00:11:01.120 Love that corrects when correction is necessary, love that walks with somebody when they're grieving, love that never fails. 00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:04.240 That is who our God is. 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:15.679 And I am so sorry if you have been taught or if you've learned about a different God than that, because that is the true and living God. 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:22.639 He absolutely loves each and every one of his creation. 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:26.799 That's who he is and that's what he does. 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:27.679 What would it look like? 00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:29.039 Let me ask you a question. 00:11:30.080 --> 00:11:34.559 What would it look like for you to believe that he loved you? 00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:40.799 How would that change the way that you behave? 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:42.720 Or would it? 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:45.440 I think that it would. 00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:47.679 I think that it would change all of us. 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:56.399 And I think that none of us can experience any kind of transformation or change in our lives before that reality hits us. 00:11:57.360 --> 00:11:58.639 The love of God. 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:02.559 And how did he how far did he go to prove it? 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:08.559 The scripture tells us Jesus loved us enough to die for us. 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:16.159 It says Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:19.360 That's how much God loved us. 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:23.120 He sacrificed his only begotten Son. 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:33.679 He laid him on the altar of the cross so that he could say, Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they're doing, and it is finished. 00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:40.960 That's how much our Heavenly Father proves his great love for us. 00:12:41.440 --> 00:13:03.840 You see, Jesus took our sins upon himself, every sin that we've ever committed, every wrong thought that we've ever thought, every wrong deed that we've ever done, every wrong word that we've ever spoken, anything that is evil or that is wrong that we have, that has been a part of our psyche and our way of living, he took those things upon himself. 00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:08.639 And not only did he take our sins, but he took our guilt and our shame. 00:13:08.879 --> 00:13:13.279 How many of you know that we no longer have to live ashamed lives? 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:16.879 We no longer have to try to find fig leaves to hide behind. 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:21.440 We no longer have to live as beaten-down people. 00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:28.559 Because we have not only been given his love, but we've also been given what? 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:30.720 His approval. 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:37.519 What great love our Father has for us. 00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:40.559 Jesus was a willing party to these things. 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:45.759 He stood in our place. 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:51.279 God the Father was well pleased with Jesus' sacrifice because the end result was what? 00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:54.960 Reconciliation for the family. 00:13:55.519 --> 00:14:00.159 I know that many of you are praying for family relationships to be restored. 00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:02.000 You're praying for reconciliation. 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:04.240 Let me tell you, that is the heart of God. 00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:16.559 And he proved it in so many ways by working as hard as he did to woo his own family back to himself. 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:20.399 So, how do we acknowledge this? 00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:22.480 How do we participate in this great love? 00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:26.639 How do we understand this thing that Jesus did on the cross? 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:47.919 Well, we are restored to right relationship with Father God when we repent of our sins, which means to change our mind, change our attitude, change our direction concerning who God is and who we are, to repent of our sins and to put our faith, hope, and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ. 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:58.320 That, my friends, is how we participate in the family restoration project that God started in well before the beginning of time. 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:04.559 It was in his heart and in his mind that this is what was going to happen. 00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:15.919 I implore you, I beg of you, I plead with you, I ask you sincerely, will you please acknowledge Jesus, acknowledge who Jesus is? 00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:28.559 Not just the historical Jesus who was here and who lived in this life and all of the things that were accomplished, but Jesus, the Son of God, who takes away the sins of the world. 00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:32.639 Put your faith, hope, and trust in him today. 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:37.600 In the Old Testament, it says, choose you this day who you will serve. 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:46.720 And Joshua says of his family, as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:53.039 Dads in this room, I encourage you, speak up for your family, as for me and my family. 00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:56.240 And if there's not a dad in the picture, moms, stand up. 00:15:56.399 --> 00:16:00.080 And if parents aren't saved yet, grandparents, speak it out. 00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:02.799 Confess it, profess it, believe it. 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:12.960 God desires to restore more of humanity, much more of humanity to Himself before Jesus returns. 00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:26.159 So if we have been transformed, if we have been changed, if we have been made new, if we are born again, if there's this new life that has begun, we saw the examples in the waters of baptism this morning. 00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:28.399 All of these people have one thing in common. 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:33.039 Once they were lost, and now they are found. 00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:36.720 So how then should they live? 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:38.799 How then should we live? 00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:43.279 We should emulate the family trait of love. 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:48.639 It says in this passage that we should walk in love. 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:56.080 Not put on love occasionally or experience love when we want to experience love. 00:16:56.320 --> 00:16:57.519 Walk in it. 00:16:58.559 --> 00:16:59.519 Wear it. 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:02.240 Have it be a part of who you are. 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:05.839 As part of God's new creation, that's what it says. 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:08.480 When we are born again, we are a new creation. 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:13.200 Just like Adam and Eve were the original creation, we've been made new. 00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:21.759 Even though we haven't experienced the entirety of that which we will when Jesus returns and restores everything to the way that it's supposed to be. 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:24.880 In between now and then, we are made new. 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:31.599 We are the new creation, and we are once again tasked with bearing the image of God. 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:38.000 We are not God, but we are his children, and we should act like his family. 00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:52.079 It's my daughter. 00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:53.519 She's a sweetheart. 00:17:53.839 --> 00:18:03.200 But occasionally, when I call my wife, my daughter attempts to pretend like she's my wife on the phone. 00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:10.079 She picks up the phone and she will imitate and emulate her mother and attempt to uh to sound like her. 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:17.839 And a few times, if I'm honest, I get real quiet when that happens because I'm like, Tyler, you need to get this right. 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:19.599 So here's what goes through my head. 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:24.400 Do I say something that only Amy would want to hear as a test? 00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:25.599 And I've never done that. 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:26.319 Never done that. 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:27.279 Won't do that. 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:28.880 That's a temptation I've had. 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:30.240 That's a temptation. 00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:33.599 But then I'll I'll I'll just say something off the ball or whatever. 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:36.559 I can't even remember what I say, but I just I will distinguish. 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:40.079 They her and Amy, in some ways, are very much alike. 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:44.559 In fact, they can open each other's phones with the face recognition. 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:48.240 So there's some some real similarities between the two of them. 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:54.480 And I am so thankful that my daughter has learned so many wonderful things from her mother. 00:18:55.200 --> 00:19:02.640 She represents our family and her new family with her husband and children very, very well. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:05.119 Very, very well. 00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:10.720 And I love to catch her in doing that, but she's still don't don't tell her this when she gets back. 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:12.720 She's still a stinker pot, right? 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:14.960 No, nobody should do that. 00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:17.759 Anyway, it's fun. 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:18.559 It's fun. 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:28.880 So what a what a privilege it is for us in similar ways to represent Christ and our Heavenly Father in a fallen world. 00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:33.519 People should ask us, where did you learn this? 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:37.440 How can you live with such joy in the middle of sorrow? 00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:40.480 How can you have peace that makes no sense? 00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:45.839 How in the world is it that you don't argue all the time with your other employees? 00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:48.400 What is it that's different about you? 00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:54.000 Well, I had a great breakfast and I'm just feeling good this morning. 00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:56.160 No, that's not the answer. 00:19:56.319 --> 00:20:00.160 The answer is I'm a part of a family. 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:03.200 And this is the way the family lives. 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:07.200 This is the way my family lives. 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:13.599 The love that we have so graciously received from our Heavenly Father should motivate us to do what? 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:19.440 To pass it on to others, regardless of their current state of deservedness. 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:24.160 Isn't it interesting that we do want to we we do want to be like God in one way? 00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:26.640 We want to be the judge of everybody. 00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:30.640 That job is to him and to him alone. 00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:32.799 We're not to sit in judgment. 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:41.279 We are to give love in whatever form that takes, regardless of how we feel the other person deserves it or not. 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:44.880 The world will know us by our love for one another. 00:20:45.039 --> 00:21:00.960 It's not hard to live truth-filled lives, to be peacemakers, to live generously, and to speak life-giving words when we understand that we get a chance to honor our Heavenly Father and Jesus by walking in love as he walked in love for us. 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:02.799 Now, I could go on and on this morning. 00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:04.480 We don't have the time to do that. 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:06.480 But I wanted to read a passage to you. 00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:08.720 And as I do, I want you to really think about this. 00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:12.079 And I would ask you to meditate on this passage this week. 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:13.119 What does meditate mean? 00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:19.200 It just means to mull it over and over, to think about it, to consider it, to ask the Lord, how can you teach me through this? 00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:23.359 What is it that you want to implement in my life concerning these truths? 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:28.640 And it's found in the book of 1 John, chapter 4, starting in verse 7. 00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:32.079 Beloved, let us love one another. 00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:37.359 For love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:43.599 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:53.359 In this, the love of God was made manifest among us that God sent his only son into the world so that we might live through him. 00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:59.519 In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:03.359 Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:08.559 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:10.640 No one has ever seen God. 00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:16.240 If we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:24.000 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us because he has given us of his spirit. 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:29.680 Want to know how we can love and live according to the way God lives? 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:32.880 By the Spirit of God living on the inside of us. 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:38.480 And we have seen and testified that the Father has sent his son to be the Savior of the world. 00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:44.799 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God. 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:48.880 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. 00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:50.480 God is love. 00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:55.200 And whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 00:22:55.599 --> 00:23:05.680 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is, so also are we in this world. 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:10.160 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:15.519 For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:20.000 We love because he first loved us. 00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:25.200 If anyone says, I love God and hates his brother, he is a liar. 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:26.559 Wow. 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:32.000 For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:38.960 And this commandment we have from him, whoever loves God must also love his brothers. 00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:54.640 Isn't it interesting that Jesus, when asked about the greatest commandment, summed it up with two simple sayings shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself. 00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:58.000 That's what being a Christian looks like. 00:23:58.160 --> 00:24:06.799 That's what bearing the image of God as new creation, as his new creation and a part of his family, that's what it looks like. 00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:09.279 Are we ready to do it? 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:14.559 Are we ready to ask the Holy Spirit to continue to help us to do this? 00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:15.440 Amen. 00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:21.119 I'm gonna ask just quickly, if everybody just close your eyes where you're sitting, and I'm gonna ask a simple question. 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:23.519 There's a lot of people here that I don't know. 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:27.519 And so I'm just gonna ask you a simple question. 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:31.440 You've heard the gospel of Jesus Christ this morning. 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:48.880 And if the Holy Spirit is working in your heart and you realize that it's time for you to stop living according to the ways of this world, to stop living for yourself, and to turn your heart and mind and life over to Jesus Christ. 00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:54.480 You've run out of road, and the road that you've been on is not the right road. 00:24:54.799 --> 00:25:00.960 And you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you want to put your faith in Jesus Christ. 00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:05.279 I'm not gonna embarrass you, but I ask that you would just raise your hands where you're sitting. 00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:06.720 Thank you. 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:07.599 Thank you. 00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:08.720 Thank you. 00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:09.759 Thank you. 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:10.640 Thank you. 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:12.160 I see the hands. 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:14.079 Are there any others this morning? 00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:14.640 Thank you. 00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:16.400 In the back, I see in the back. 00:25:17.359 --> 00:25:18.079 Thank you. 00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:19.200 Thank you. 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:20.240 I see here in the front. 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:20.799 Yes. 00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:22.000 Anyone else? 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:24.079 Thank you. 00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:25.200 Thank you. 00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:26.400 Yes, I see. 00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:28.000 Thank you. 00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:30.319 Thank you, Lord. 00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:34.160 I'm going to pray a simple prayer. 00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:37.200 And you can pray your own words. 00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:38.640 You don't have to follow mine. 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:43.599 I'm so thankful for what God's doing in this room right now. 00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:51.119 Spirit of God is working, and there are people here in this room that are acknowledging their need for a savior. 00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:54.640 And I'm telling you, all of heaven is rejoicing. 00:25:54.880 --> 00:26:04.400 And all of us who are already followers of Jesus Christ are eternally thankful for the decision that you're making right now. 00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:06.960 So you could pray your own words. 00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:09.440 There's no magic in the prayer itself. 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:11.680 But I'm going to lead in a prayer. 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:14.000 And if you want to, you can pray after me. 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:18.880 And this is a time where you just pour out your heart to Him. 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:20.720 God loves you. 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:21.839 He loves you. 00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:23.680 He's not ashamed of you. 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:25.519 He loves you. 00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:33.519 So if you would just say something like this God in heaven, I thank you for loving me. 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:41.200 I realize that I have made a lot of mistakes. 00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:46.079 I have fallen short and I have sinned. 00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:53.759 And I ask that you would forgive me and cleanse me. 00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:59.920 I believe in Jesus Christ. 00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:04.640 That he came to this earth and lived a perfect life. 00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:12.559 That he took my sins on himself and that he was crucified and died. 00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:18.319 And that on the third day he rose again from the dead. 00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:25.839 I put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ this day. 00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:33.759 I ask that you would change me, lead me and guide me. 00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:41.359 Fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me to walk after your ways. 00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:43.920 In Jesus' name. 00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:46.160 Amen. 00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:53.279 If you did that this morning, prayed your own prayer, followed after what I was praying. 00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:55.680 We want to walk with you. 00:27:56.079 --> 00:28:14.000 Or we would ask that you would find, if you're not from this area, that you would find a Bible-believing preaching church that's near you, and that you would attend there, and that you would, just like the people who were baptized this morning, allow others to walk with you in your faith journey and to help to disciple you. 00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:19.599 So there will be a prayer team that will be up here at the end of the service on the sites. 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:26.079 And if you would come and just talk with them, they'd they'd like to just again pray with you, talk with you. 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:29.440 We also have Bibles that we'd like to give to anybody who would like a Bible. 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:32.319 We have new Bibles we'd like to give to you. 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:39.279 And also we just want you to know that if you are in Knoxville, you're welcome here as a part of this church. 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:47.119 And we would love to be a part of your story and to walk with you as God does the good work that only He can do in your life. 00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:49.920 Can we thank the Lord for what He's done this morning? 00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:50.799 Amen. 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:53.359 Thank you, Lord. 00:28:53.839 --> 00:28:55.200 Thank you, Jesus. 00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:57.279 Thank you, Jesus. 00:28:58.720 --> 00:29:00.000 Thank you, Lord. 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:05.759 If we can all just in closing, if we can stand to our feet, I want to pray a prayer for us and then bless you. 00:29:06.079 --> 00:29:14.000 Remember, we will have prayer, a part of our 21 days of prayer and fasting that will start in 10 minutes after the service. 00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:14.559 Okay. 00:29:15.599 --> 00:29:17.359 But again, the prayer team will be here. 00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:18.079 Please come. 00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:22.960 Please come and let us continue this uh journey with you. 00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:28.720 So, Father, I thank you and praise you for each and every person that's here and those that are watching online. 00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:35.200 Father, we thank you for the Spirit of God that lives on the inside of us as believers. 00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:53.200 We ask that you would help us to be changed, to be holy, to be sanctified, that you would give us the ability to speak truthful words, to be patient and generous, that we would uh that we would speak life-giving words. 00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:59.680 Help us to be like you, to represent you well in this world. 00:30:00.400 --> 00:30:07.279 Father, I also pray, Father, for those who haven't in a long time felt loved by you. 00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:20.000 We take authority over anything that would try to deceive them or keep them away from experiencing not just knowing your great love, but feeling your great love for them. 00:30:20.319 --> 00:30:24.160 We ask, Lord, that you would do that in Jesus' name. 00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:28.079 We pray may the Lord bless you and keep you. 00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:31.920 May He cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. 00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:38.720 May He lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace in the mighty name of Jesus. 00:30:39.200 --> 00:30:39.839 Amen. 00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:40.880 Amen.