WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:07.040 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:18.559 --> 00:00:19.839 Well, good morning. 00:00:20.239 --> 00:00:23.519 If you'll stand or remain standing with me, go ahead. 00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:29.120 If you're needing a seat with our junior hires, there's some seats over there to my left, your right. 00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:30.399 Welcome if you're new. 00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:31.280 My name's Ryan. 00:00:31.839 --> 00:00:32.799 Thrilled to have you. 00:00:32.960 --> 00:00:34.320 Yeah, stand up if you have. 00:00:34.479 --> 00:00:35.600 I'm gonna just say I know. 00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:41.039 I changed at the last minute how I start in right now, so there you go. 00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:43.679 We're in the book of 1 John. 00:00:43.840 --> 00:00:46.079 I just want to read the text for us and then pray. 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:48.240 We stand in honor of God's word. 00:00:48.880 --> 00:00:51.759 For this is the message you heard from the beginning. 00:00:51.920 --> 00:00:53.359 We should love one another. 00:00:53.600 --> 00:00:58.240 Do not be like Cain who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. 00:00:58.399 --> 00:00:59.759 And why did he murder him? 00:00:59.920 --> 00:01:02.560 Because his own actions were evil and his brothers were righteous. 00:01:02.719 --> 00:01:06.400 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:10.480 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love each other. 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:13.040 Anyone who does not love remains in death. 00:01:13.200 --> 00:01:18.959 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. 00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:21.040 This is how we know what love is. 00:01:21.359 --> 00:01:27.120 Jesus Christ laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 00:01:27.359 --> 00:01:34.480 If anyone has material possession and sees a brother or sister in need, but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:40.799 Dear children, let us not love with word or speech, but with action and in truth. 00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:45.519 Heavenly Father, we invite you here to speak to us. 00:01:47.120 --> 00:01:50.480 What's incredible is you knew we were gonna be here. 00:01:51.359 --> 00:01:56.239 And you designed this moment in such a way to meet with us and speak to us. 00:01:57.280 --> 00:02:03.200 And so would you give us ears to hear, hearts to respond to what you have to say. 00:02:03.359 --> 00:02:04.879 We long to meet with you. 00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:06.560 In Jesus' name. 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:09.039 And all God's people said, Amen. 00:02:09.199 --> 00:02:10.719 You can grab a seat. 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:28.479 Every day it seems that we wake up to a world that's more divided, exhausted, cynical, Republican, Democrat, liberal, conservative, young, old, you name it. 00:02:29.120 --> 00:02:38.080 I mean, do you ever scroll through, you know, whether it's the newsfeed or social media and just go, is this really the world we're living in? 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:39.039 Really? 00:02:40.479 --> 00:02:52.319 Rolling Stones journalist uh Matt Tabby in his book Hate Inc argues that we live in a system designed to fuel hatred, uh, to keep us addicted to outrage, anger, and division. 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:52.719 Why? 00:02:52.960 --> 00:02:57.840 Because hate grabs our attention and attention drives profit. 00:02:58.240 --> 00:03:09.280 Uh he writes this the goal of modern media is not to facilitate meaningful public debate, but to generate profit by stoking outrage and division. 00:03:09.599 --> 00:03:11.840 And boy are they successful. 00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:16.400 According to Pew Research, we are more divided than ever. 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:24.479 The political spectrum in America sees not just disagreement, but disdain for those on the other side. 00:03:24.639 --> 00:03:25.280 Listen to this. 00:03:25.520 --> 00:03:34.319 Over 60% of Republicans and Democrats alike now say they view members of the opposing party as immoral. 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:48.560 And here's the thing: it's not just affecting politics, it's bleeding into our homes, our schools, our social spaces, our churches. 00:03:48.879 --> 00:03:52.639 Even professional sports sees this as such a problem. 00:03:52.960 --> 00:03:56.719 I saw this last night as I was watching the Oregon, Ohio State game. 00:03:57.039 --> 00:04:00.319 The anti-hate campaign, time out against hate. 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:04.800 And if Pro Sports is getting involved in it, it must be a problem. 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:11.280 And so it begs the question: where is life found? 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:18.399 Where is life found in a politically divided, polarized world? 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:29.519 Because it's soul-sucking, isn't it, so often, the world we live in and the inundation of division and the rhetoric of the politicians. 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:38.000 We're just holding our breath, hoping the season just will come to an end with as few collateral damage as possible. 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:43.360 The early church lived in a world just as divided and polarized as ours, by the way. 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:46.879 Jew, Gentile, Roman, slave, free, rich, poor. 00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:50.800 And John knew exactly what we're facing today. 00:04:51.519 --> 00:04:56.000 In a world that shouts that life is found in winning, being right, holding power. 00:04:56.160 --> 00:04:59.600 The Apostle John says it's actually found somewhere else. 00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:03.519 Not in hate, but in any guesses? 00:05:04.720 --> 00:05:07.199 You're right, you should have said it more confidently. 00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:10.480 Not in hate, but in love. 00:05:12.879 --> 00:05:17.199 See, he's gonna say something that sounds so simplistic. 00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:27.040 It sounds cliche, but it is far from simplistic, though it is simple, those are different. 00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:37.439 It actually is profound and powerful, yet we dismiss it because we don't understand the depths of it. 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:43.199 He says, in a world of hate, this is where we're going today, love is the answer. 00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:50.160 We get that, we know that, we see that, but how in the world do we actually bring this about? 00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:53.920 What is, like, what kind of love is the answer? 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:56.800 What do you mean, love is the answer? 00:05:56.959 --> 00:06:01.920 And it's not the wimpy kind of love, it's not the you know, here and there kind of love. 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:12.959 He's saying this love, this sacrificial, self-giving Jesus kind of love, this enemy loving kind of love is the answer. 00:06:13.759 --> 00:06:18.959 And the question is, how do we learn to love like that? 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:24.800 What does it look like to love when everything around us is trying to divide us? 00:06:25.279 --> 00:06:31.439 What does it mean to love in a polarized world without compromising truth? 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:34.319 And here's, I think, the real challenge. 00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:38.639 How do we love the person we most disagree with? 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:42.639 Sermon titled today is Where's the Love? 00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:45.839 Go ahead and turn to your neighbor and just say, Where's the love? 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:55.279 He might be going, I don't know, I don't know. 00:06:55.519 --> 00:06:59.600 If you got your Bibles, would you turn to 1 John 3.11? 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:02.879 1 John 3.11, this is the way he begins this. 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:08.959 And by the way, John is this book, 1 John or letter, or really it's a sermon, is divided in two halves. 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:13.199 God is light, and because he's light, life is found in the light. 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:15.839 And what does that look like to walk and live in the light? 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:17.680 And then the second half begins right here. 00:07:17.920 --> 00:07:29.920 God is love and life, true life, like the thing that fulfills purpose and meaning and hope, living, not just existing, is found in this love of God. 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:35.360 And so he begins this way: he says, For this is the message you've heard from the beginning. 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:37.600 We should love one another. 00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:39.519 You've heard it from the very beginning. 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:40.319 What's the beginning? 00:07:40.480 --> 00:07:42.800 Well, John's about 90 years old at this point. 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:46.959 Jesus rose from the grave about 50 years ago. 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:54.399 So 50 years ago, Jesus is teaching and telling the disciples, love one another from the very beginning. 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:57.199 He's like from the very beginning, we should love one another. 00:07:57.360 --> 00:08:01.120 In fact, this is something that Jesus was absolutely clear on. 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:06.240 That love is to be the defining mark of a follower of Jesus. 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:30.959 It is to be the thing that when people look at a follower of Jesus, at a disciple, at what we call today a Christian, they would say, I'm not sure I believe what you believe or hold what you hold, but I cannot deny how you live and the love upon which you show not only each other, but everyone else around you. 00:08:31.279 --> 00:08:38.559 John 13, 34, on the night Jesus was betrayed, he says to his disciples, a new command I give you. 00:08:38.720 --> 00:08:44.480 And it's not new like love isn't been around, it's been commanded, but he's telling us in kind how to love. 00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:47.440 And he says this, love one another. 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:48.159 How? 00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:51.919 In the same way I have loved you. 00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:54.399 So you are to love one another. 00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:58.720 This is the quality, the kind of love that followers of Jesus are to have. 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:11.840 And then he says this line by this, by this love, the entire world will know you're my disciples. 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:21.759 The defining mark of a follower of Jesus fundamentally is to be our love. 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:23.840 Love in the way of Jesus. 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:30.320 And so if our lives are not marked by love, then we have to wrestle with this question: what Jesus am I following? 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:34.399 Because it isn't the Jesus of the New Testament. 00:09:35.840 --> 00:09:39.600 And so we're gonna wrestle with John is gonna tell us what does love look like? 00:09:39.759 --> 00:09:41.039 Who exactly do I love? 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:42.399 How do I do this? 00:09:42.559 --> 00:09:53.440 He's gonna give us the antithesis of love, the opposite opposite of love, and then the definition of love, and we'll get some real practical ways of how do we do this in our everyday life. 00:09:53.679 --> 00:10:01.200 The antithesis of love, he goes on to say, he says, Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one, murdered his brother. 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:02.320 Bummers. 00:10:02.639 --> 00:10:04.159 And why did he murder him? 00:10:04.320 --> 00:10:08.159 Because his own actions were evil and his brothers were righteous. 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:13.200 Now, Cain is the archetype of hate and division biblically. 00:10:13.519 --> 00:10:20.240 Uh Cain and Abel, if you don't know uh their story, you can pick it up in Genesis 4, verses 1 through 11. 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:23.279 They were brothers, they're the sons of Adam and Eve. 00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:31.919 Uh, we don't know a lot about their story, but what we do know is Cain, well, he chose to not live rightly. 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:44.960 Abel did, and the thing for Cain, rather than adjusting his life and doing what was right, he had jealousy, and that jealousy eventually caused him, uh moved him to murder his brother. 00:10:45.039 --> 00:10:50.000 It's the first recorded sin in scripture against another human being. 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:52.720 He's this archetype of hate and evil. 00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:54.480 And here's what John is telling us. 00:10:54.639 --> 00:11:02.799 If we're gonna love in the Jesus kind of love, if we're gonna be a disciple marked by love, we have to be aware of the emotions that destroy. 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:04.799 We have to be aware of these emotions. 00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:06.240 Why did Cain do this? 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:10.080 He says his own actions were evil, his brothers were righteous. 00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:16.559 There was an emotion of jealousy, envy, jealousy, bitterness, selfishness, contempt. 00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:19.279 These are emotions that destroy. 00:11:19.600 --> 00:11:23.039 It started all the way back with jealousy for Cain. 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:25.679 Started as a small thing. 00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:35.360 That word evil in the text, it means an active opposition to the good, seeking to drag others down. 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:37.519 I like this word, it's pernicious. 00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:38.320 Isn't that fun to say? 00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:39.360 Just say that with me. 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:40.240 Pernicious. 00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:41.360 We don't use this word a lot. 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:42.240 Pernicious. 00:11:42.320 --> 00:11:43.600 It's just fun to say. 00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:51.759 It means having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way. 00:11:52.399 --> 00:12:00.799 See, envy, jealousy, bitterness, resentment, and I could go on with other ones, it has a harmful effect, but in a subtle way. 00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:09.120 We allow it into our lives, and in some ways it feels good as a part of our lives. 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:14.000 And it begins to change us and shape us in ways that we're unaware of. 00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:16.080 It's subtle, it moves us along. 00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:24.000 We have to be aware of the emotions that destroy, because we begin to say, well, why does that person always get the promotion? 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:27.279 Why does she always have it all together? 00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:32.399 And left unchecked, our emotions grow like weeds. 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:41.759 If you go by my house right now, it's actually not uh my yard isn't very green, and it's not because I'm so water conscious, I wish that was the case. 00:12:41.919 --> 00:12:43.919 I don't have a sprinkler system that works. 00:12:44.080 --> 00:12:47.279 And so I gotta do it myself, and I'm lazy. 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:58.559 I was on it earlier in the summer, and I went out and I was um, you know, I did a weed and feed, and I'm like, hand got the spray trying to kill these weeds. 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:03.039 There was honestly about a month the yard looked great. 00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:10.399 Uh last week I was mowing the yard, and I'm like, there are so many weeds in my yard. 00:13:10.480 --> 00:13:11.679 What happened? 00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:14.559 I mean, it's like it's just like overnight. 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:20.639 It wasn't overnight, it's several weeks, but I just didn't notice, and then all of a sudden, my backyard, I'm noticing all these weeds. 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:23.679 Emotions that destroy catch us by surprise. 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:32.720 We allow a little bit in, and it multiplies so fast, and we barely notice it, and it leads us down paths of unlove and destruction. 00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:35.200 He says, be aware of emotions that destroy. 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:39.200 Then he says, be aware of excuses that deceive us. 00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:41.519 Uh he uses an interesting word here. 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:42.799 He says murder. 00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:47.120 Uh, and that's that's intense, but it's not intense just because of the word murder. 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:51.519 This is like a very um graphic word in the Greek. 00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:56.399 Uh, I'm trying to look around at how many kids are in here to how graphically I can share this word. 00:13:56.799 --> 00:14:04.559 It means um to butcher, to kill violently, literally to cut the throat and blood everywhere. 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:05.679 Literally. 00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:07.039 Yeah. 00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:18.799 And interestingly enough, it occurs frequently in sacrificial context, implying a religious butchering, a slain wed to piety, murder laced with prayer. 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:27.039 That we can feel so justified in what we feel uh and what we are, so that we do things. 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:31.200 Nancy Ortberg has talked here a few times. 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:35.840 Last time she explained this triangle when we are in conflict. 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:40.080 Uh, she's I've had her explain it to me and our team at different times. 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:45.919 And this triangle is we go to this conflict triangle of victim, villain, hero. 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:55.360 We immediately kind of devolve to that that when we're in conflict with someone else, so uh maybe you're the victim, uh, they're always the villain. 00:14:55.519 --> 00:15:01.440 They're evil, they're bad, and maybe sometimes we're both the victim and the hero because of the way we're gonna respond. 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:15.120 Uh and he says we've got to be so careful because we uh make characters of people, we we simplify them and think the worst of them, be aware of excuses that deceive, and he explains it even further. 00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:21.120 He says, Don't be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you, you're gonna have bad behavior. 00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:23.679 Now, this is interesting. 00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:29.679 Loving the way Jesus loves means their bad behavior never justifies our bad behavior. 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:40.320 In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, you've heard it said, an eye for an eye, the Rex Talion, the retribution, the law of retribution. 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:46.080 But I say to you, if someone slaps you on the cheek, turn the other help me out. 00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:47.200 Cheek. 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:51.679 If someone forces you to go a mile, walk another. 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:54.639 Yeah, thank you. 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:55.519 You you got it right. 00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:56.480 That's good. 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:04.960 Like their bad behavior never justifies our bad behavior. 00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:06.639 Well, they deserved it. 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:09.120 She had what's coming to her. 00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:12.399 I wouldn't have to if they didn't. 00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:19.759 Um, not this last week, but the week before, my wife and I were at a prayer conference, and um, it's up in San Francisco. 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:24.080 We were staying up there and driving home from a prayer conference. 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:26.480 Oh boy. 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:32.080 Um well, so so we're driving. 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:35.519 I I pray for my driving. 00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:36.960 Okay, pray for my driving. 00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:38.080 No, we're driving. 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:40.559 I put my blinker on to change lanes. 00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:43.039 There's a lot of space, tons of room. 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:48.960 As I put my blinker on to head over, the car behind me speeds up to take that space and honk. 00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:57.440 So I did the most loving thing I could think of at that moment, and I tapped my brakes. 00:16:58.159 --> 00:16:58.799 Yeah. 00:16:58.960 --> 00:16:59.600 Yeah. 00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:03.759 Leaving a prayer conference. 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:11.920 I was sitting, my wife's next to me, and then she's mad at me for tapping my brakes. 00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:18.319 I'm justifying my behavior of what they did, so I'm mad at her for being mad at me for tapping my brakes. 00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:22.319 Then the guy flies past us, giving us the bird, woohoo! And he leaves. 00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:24.799 I'm like, fantastic, whatever. 00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:34.240 His bad behavior as a follower of Jesus never justifies my bad behavior. 00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:42.240 If we're gonna love the way Jesus loves, don't be just surprised. 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:44.480 Don't be shocked. 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:46.559 That's what Jesus experienced. 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:53.119 It's the reason he taught us, and then he goes on and says, We know that we've passed from death to life because we love each other. 00:17:54.799 --> 00:18:00.480 Like, anyone who does not remain in death, anyone who does not love remains in death. 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:02.640 Without love, you're it's dead. 00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:05.759 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer. 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:08.640 He's he's going back to the Sermon on the Mount again. 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:12.000 Like, you know, you've heard it said, don't murder, which is a good thing. 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:12.960 You shouldn't do that. 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:14.799 That's bad, that's wrong. 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:22.000 But then he goes, if we have hate for our brother or sister, it's the same. 00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:30.799 He says, anyone who seeks to take a life either internally or in reality does not have eternal life residing in him. 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:34.799 Here's what he's saying: we don't have life when we're holding on to hate. 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:39.440 We don't have life when we're holding on to hate. 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:43.119 The way Jesus would say it in Matthew 22, this was the conversation of the day. 00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:46.960 They were constantly wrestling with what's the greatest command. 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:53.920 He said, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:56.319 And then he gives this little connection. 00:18:56.400 --> 00:18:58.720 He says, and the second is like it. 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:02.960 And that little connection isn't just like these are similar. 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:09.200 What it is is the way it's constructed is it means these two are interlinked. 00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:13.359 You can't have one without the other. 00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:17.680 Love your neighbor as yourself. 00:19:17.839 --> 00:19:22.400 What he's saying is, I can't love God and not be good with you. 00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:25.759 I can't be good with God and not be loving to you. 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:34.720 When I have hate or anger in my heart towards you, I'm not in love or acting in a love relationship with God. 00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:42.480 And it makes sense because if you came up to me and you're like, Ryan, oh gosh, man, I love you, man. 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:44.000 Like, yeah, I love you too. 00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:45.279 That's cool. 00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:50.079 And then I watch you treat my kid poorly. 00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:53.680 Be like, we ain't good. 00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:56.240 Not at all. 00:19:56.799 --> 00:20:08.480 And God's saying, when you treat my kids, when you treat those created in the Imago Dei, the very image of God, poorly with disdain or hate, we aren't good. 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:12.880 And as a result, we don't have life when we're holding on to hate. 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:20.480 This word hate is not just a passing sense of emotion, this momentary, it's in the present active tense. 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:26.079 It's a state of being, it's a holding onto, it's a fostering, it's a harboring. 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:31.039 It means to allow hate or ill will to settle into the heart. 00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:35.680 Have you ever been around someone who exudes bitterness? 00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:40.400 Envy, jealousy. 00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:43.200 It's soul sucking, isn't it? 00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:49.440 They may have a smile on their face, but it just drips out all around them. 00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:56.559 It seeps out of their words, affects the environment, it diminishes them, it kills the life in them. 00:20:58.400 --> 00:21:03.440 First, the warning, the antithesis of love. 00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:05.440 The way of Cain. 00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:07.920 Then he's gonna give us the definition of love. 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:11.519 This is how we know what love is. 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:15.440 What does it look like to love in the way of Jesus? 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:20.960 Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:24.960 I'm gonna read that again. 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:30.319 And I want first, if you have your Bibles here taking notes, circle the word no. 00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:39.200 Secondly, when I finish it, I want you to just, if you're, if that resonates with you, I want you to just say amen. 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:41.200 Like, yes. 00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:46.720 Like this is how I know love is he has first loved me. 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:49.599 This is how we know what love is. 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:54.319 Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. 00:21:57.839 --> 00:22:02.720 If Cain is the archetype of hate, Division, Jesus is the archetype of love. 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:09.759 In John 15, 20 uh 12, he would look and say, This is my command, love each other. 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:11.759 Exactly what John is saying. 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:18.880 And then he would say, Greater love has no one than this, than he that laid down his life for his friends. 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:23.920 A murderer takes life, it takes the most valuable thing from you. 00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:28.720 The most valuable, precious thing we could ever do is give our life for another. 00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:32.319 And then Jesus says, You are my friends. 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:33.920 And I love this word no. 00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:35.039 I had you circle it. 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:36.799 It's the Greek word gnosko. 00:22:37.359 --> 00:22:42.960 It's not just knowledge like I intellectually know something, I understand facts about this. 00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:51.599 This word is knowledge that goes beyond knowing facts or information, knowledge by way of experience, intimate understanding. 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:53.119 It's personal. 00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:56.000 This is how we know what love is. 00:22:56.160 --> 00:23:11.039 It's not just like you heard about love, it's not even that Jesus set an example or you saw what love is, that you personally, powerfully, and profoundly experienced the very love of Christ, like it pervaded and invaded your heart. 00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:14.480 I am in the experienced the love of God. 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:17.359 Well, how has Jesus loved you? 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:23.599 How has he loved you? 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:26.640 How has he loved me? 00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:30.640 Well, at our very worst, he gave his very best. 00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:37.519 When we wanted nothing to do with him, he still came before us. 00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:48.319 He stepped out of eternity and glory and humility, became vulnerable one of us. 00:23:53.359 --> 00:24:01.599 Scripture tells us that though he was rich, for our sake he became poor so that in him we might become rich. 00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:12.000 Again, he became sin so that in him we might become the very righteousness of God. 00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:30.960 On the cross, with nails drilled through his hand and a crown on his head and his back bloodied and beaten, he cries out to his father, forgive them for they know not what they do. 00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:42.240 It is a love that no matter how far you've ever gone, no matter what you've ever done, no matter where you've wandered, he says, You are always welcome back, and my arms have always been open wide. 00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:45.920 And even as you're running from me, I'm still going after you. 00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:52.000 And the minute you turn to me, you say, he says, Welcome, I love you, and I cover you. 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:56.079 That is the love of Jesus. 00:24:58.799 --> 00:25:06.880 And then John says this, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:15.359 We are to love others the way Jesus loved us. 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:36.559 Like when I experience the unconditional, unrelenting love of my Savior, when I'm actually overwhelmed by that and allow it to not just be in my head but move to my heart, then he says, You are to love others the way I have loved you. 00:25:39.359 --> 00:25:41.359 He uses this word laid down. 00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:44.480 It's a technical term. 00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:47.359 To take off, setting aside something. 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:52.640 It literally means to divest oneself of something that is precious and personally valuable. 00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:56.559 In John 10, 11, it's the Good Shepherd, the story that Jesus is telling. 00:25:56.720 --> 00:26:00.240 He says, the Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:05.279 In John 13, and it's where Jesus, this is how he loved his disciples, how he loves us. 00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:15.200 He got up from the table as the Last Supper, and he takes off his garment, his outer cloak, and he becomes and takes on the nature of a servant to wash their feet. 00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:19.440 It's that word of taking off that outer garment of servitude. 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:21.680 It's divesting. 00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:23.759 Like love is costly. 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:28.160 Loving the way Jesus loves, inconvenience. 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:41.200 We are to love Jesus or love others the way Jesus loved us. 00:26:41.359 --> 00:26:43.920 This kind of love is not devoid of feelings. 00:26:44.160 --> 00:26:46.720 It, however, is not defined by feelings. 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:51.519 It is sacrificial, self-giving for the good of others. 00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:53.119 And then he gives us an example. 00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:54.400 He's bringing it home. 00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:55.200 Stay with me. 00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:56.319 This is how we do it. 00:26:56.400 --> 00:26:57.680 And he gives us an example. 00:26:57.839 --> 00:27:06.160 He says, if anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:08.079 Who? 00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:14.160 First thing he's going to tell us is love costs time, money, and energy. 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:20.880 Material possession, the financial means by which one lives, resources needed to maintain life. 00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:22.640 Do you have material possession? 00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:24.079 Some of you don't. 00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:25.359 Most of us do. 00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:27.839 Do you have financial means by which you live? 00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:30.240 Resources to maintain life? 00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:34.720 John is clear that our financial generosity is an act of love. 00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:47.519 The gospel is love and it's generosity at the heart of it, for God so loved the world that he gave. 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:50.160 It's generous. 00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:54.640 We cannot be miserly and loving at the same time. 00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:57.359 We cannot be stingy and loving at the same time. 00:27:57.519 --> 00:28:01.039 We cannot be withholding and say we're loving at the same time. 00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:10.799 We cannot have material possession and pass someone in need and have the ability to meet that need and say, I'm still loving you. 00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:27.039 Because it was an act of generosity. 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:35.039 Those that showed up on Saturday and this morning and gave up sleep so that you could have this moment, we could have this moment together. 00:28:35.119 --> 00:28:36.079 It was an act of love. 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:41.920 Those that are serving your kids that you don't want to be with, I know because you're not with them right now. 00:28:42.319 --> 00:28:43.279 Just kidding. 00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:46.559 It's an act of love. 00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:54.480 We don't even make that connection that when we give financially, it's actually an act of love. 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:58.160 We were doing our 101 last week. 00:28:58.480 --> 00:29:03.519 It's our new to awakening, get connected, hear about the heart and values. 00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:05.680 And we're just sharing our stories. 00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:07.359 It was beautiful, it was wonderful. 00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:11.119 I love getting to know those who are new at our church. 00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:31.200 And this gal was sharing her story, and she kind of grew up, I think it was Catholic background, hadn't been in church in a long time, wanted to like start, you know, having this spiritual thirst, come back to church, struggling with anxiety and depression. 00:29:32.319 --> 00:29:34.319 Do you know what Sunday she came on? 00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:36.960 It was in the spring. 00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:44.400 Her very first Sunday in this space, in this room, was during our anxiety series when we're teaching and talking on depression. 00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:49.119 Isn't it amazing, one, that God actually crafts this moment. 00:29:49.200 --> 00:29:50.160 He knew you were here. 00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:56.000 He knew this message and this time and this space, and he longs to speak to you and meet you in a very personal way. 00:29:59.599 --> 00:30:10.960 And that moment never would have happened without those who gave generously to open up a way for her to encounter the presence of Jesus and for him to meet her personally. 00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:14.000 Because if we give, it's an act of love. 00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:16.000 Love, it always cost. 00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:20.720 It always costs us time, it always cost us money, it always costs us energy. 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:24.880 And then he says, love requires seeing others' needs. 00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:31.920 He says, if anyone has material possession and sees a brother or sister, it's seeing others' needs. 00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:37.039 We don't see people anymore because we live such a hurried, fast-paced life. 00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:43.920 To see is to observe something with sustained attention, to come to an understanding, to perceive or notice. 00:30:44.240 --> 00:30:46.400 Hurry is the great enemy of the soul. 00:30:47.680 --> 00:30:49.359 We rush through our lives. 00:30:50.640 --> 00:30:52.319 I rush through my lives. 00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:59.680 We have so many different important things, and there are important, but we don't see people anymore. 00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:05.200 Love requires at least pausing long enough, looking around enough. 00:31:05.680 --> 00:31:08.000 God, who have you put along my path today? 00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:10.640 Who are the people in front of me? 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:23.599 And I don't know about you, but I think when I'm talking about seeing, you we are inundated with so much of like crappy stuff that's going on in the world, right? 00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:30.319 And can't it's so easy to get desensitized to where we just don't even see it. 00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:33.519 You just turn on the news feed and you're like, oh my gosh. 00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:44.799 Something that John doesn't he is a little bit earlier, he was talking about the plural brothers and sisters, and in this context, he just he brings it to the singular, to the personal. 00:31:44.880 --> 00:31:46.240 He says brother or sister. 00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:50.799 My job actually isn't to solve all the world's problems as a follower of Jesus. 00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:58.160 But my job is to engage in someone else's world to be the hands and feet of Jesus to that person. 00:31:58.640 --> 00:32:01.519 And I'm gonna go do for one, that one person. 00:32:01.680 --> 00:32:05.920 I can't do everything for everyone, but I can do something for someone. 00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:12.319 And when I begin to stop back, when I step back and take a look and actually see people. 00:32:22.079 --> 00:32:32.400 Imagine if we just saw people here in this moment, had a conversation, asked a deeper question, leaned in. 00:32:32.720 --> 00:32:35.680 Love costs time, money, and energy. 00:32:35.839 --> 00:32:37.839 Love requires seeing others' needs. 00:32:37.920 --> 00:32:42.799 And then finally, love is when compassion moves to action. 00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:48.079 He goes on and says, sees a brother's need, but then has no pity for them. 00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:57.039 This word no pity, no, uh isn't just no, it means to shut, to lock, to close one's heart against. 00:32:58.720 --> 00:33:05.599 Oh, how I've been guilty so many times of just closing my heart because I don't want to deal with it. 00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:08.319 Don't close your heart. 00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:13.119 And then this word pity, it's the Greek word, it's a fun word to say, splegisomai. 00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:15.119 I know, it's just fun. 00:33:15.839 --> 00:33:18.160 Um and I'm a dork, you know. 00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:20.720 I like saying, I like Greek, whatever. 00:33:21.200 --> 00:33:27.039 Uh pity to have compassion, a deep feeling that produces action. 00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:31.680 In fact, this is the word splegisomai is this this guttural hurt. 00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:36.400 Like your heart breaks. 00:33:37.920 --> 00:33:43.119 Like, when was the last time you allowed your heart to break for someone? 00:33:44.720 --> 00:33:48.000 Where like it just was a sucker punch to the gut. 00:33:52.880 --> 00:34:00.480 See, love requires when is when compassion is moved to action. 00:34:01.519 --> 00:34:11.760 I think the question in our day, as it was in Jesus' day, was what are the boundaries of this kind of love? 00:34:13.760 --> 00:34:16.559 Like, is this for everyone? 00:34:17.599 --> 00:34:24.159 In fact, an expert of the law was questioning Jesus, this very question, you know, what's the greatest command? 00:34:24.880 --> 00:34:28.559 Love the Lord God with all your heart, soul, and mind, love your neighbor as yourself. 00:34:28.639 --> 00:34:32.480 And then he asked this question because uh, like, love my neighbor. 00:34:32.559 --> 00:34:33.840 Well, who's my neighbor? 00:34:35.119 --> 00:34:37.119 Who do I have to love like that? 00:34:37.440 --> 00:34:39.840 Because that's a big deal. 00:34:41.679 --> 00:34:45.519 And then Jesus tells this story, it's called the Good Samaritan. 00:34:46.719 --> 00:34:54.880 Even if you've never heard of the story of the Good Samaritan, you know the Good Samaritan like this idea because it's in our language, in our cultural dialect. 00:34:55.519 --> 00:34:58.320 And and he tells this story, and here's how it goes. 00:34:58.559 --> 00:35:07.039 He says, There was a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho, this 17-mile journey, it's actually quite treacherous, rocky, Canaan needs travel. 00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:15.440 As he's traveling uh down to Jericho, uh, he falls into the hands of some bandits, some robbers, they beat him, leave him half dead, naked. 00:35:15.519 --> 00:35:18.639 And then it says that a priest comes along. 00:35:20.079 --> 00:35:23.679 Imagine, pastor, this person's paid to be good. 00:35:23.920 --> 00:35:34.880 Um, and he shows up and he sees this man, and he steps to the other side and keeps on going. 00:35:34.960 --> 00:35:37.039 And then he and then it says a Levite came along. 00:35:37.119 --> 00:35:38.800 This is yeah, let's just pretend like this. 00:35:39.280 --> 00:35:52.559 Just a normal, dedicated church going person, call themselves a Christian, sees this man in need, half dead, probably had plenty of excuses why busy, don't want to get messy, whatever. 00:35:52.639 --> 00:35:53.679 He's probably dead anyways. 00:35:53.760 --> 00:35:55.599 I'm probably not a lot I could do. 00:35:55.840 --> 00:35:59.599 Steps to the other side and keeps going on. 00:36:00.159 --> 00:36:03.760 And then Jesus does something so brilliant. 00:36:04.239 --> 00:36:13.199 He takes what for those the people in that day, the Jewish people in that day, would be what they'd consider an enemy. 00:36:14.719 --> 00:36:17.519 A Samaritan, a person they despised. 00:36:17.679 --> 00:36:22.159 The area of Samaria was kind of in the center of the region of Israel. 00:36:22.320 --> 00:36:24.559 They wouldn't even walk through that area. 00:36:24.719 --> 00:36:29.280 They would spend a day's journey to walk around just to not even be around these people. 00:36:32.480 --> 00:36:34.719 Who is somebody you despise? 00:36:35.679 --> 00:36:37.760 And if you go, nobody, you're lying. 00:36:37.920 --> 00:36:39.440 You despise somebody. 00:36:39.840 --> 00:36:45.199 An enemy in the ancient day was one with whom you would not welcome into your house. 00:36:46.880 --> 00:36:51.199 What type of person would you struggle to welcome into your house? 00:36:55.280 --> 00:37:01.199 Republican, Democrat, nationalism, wokeism. 00:37:06.480 --> 00:37:07.599 You name it. 00:37:09.119 --> 00:37:12.960 And then Jesus chooses that person to be the hero of the story. 00:37:14.719 --> 00:37:23.840 And what it says is the Samaritan person sees this person and they had splegizomai. 00:37:26.400 --> 00:37:38.480 Like, we're supposed to be enemies, but in reality, we're just humans, and I see that you are hurting, and my heart hurts to the point of action. 00:37:39.280 --> 00:37:52.800 And so I'm gonna pick you up, I'm gonna clean you up, I'm gonna put you on my donkey, I'm gonna take you into town, I'm gonna pay for your bills and take care of you and check in on you because that is what love does. 00:37:52.960 --> 00:37:54.880 And then Jesus asked this great question. 00:37:55.039 --> 00:38:01.679 He says, He says, Who was the neighbor and the person, this uh this lawyer? 00:38:02.639 --> 00:38:05.199 He couldn't even say the name Samaritan. 00:38:06.400 --> 00:38:10.239 He says, the one who had compassion. 00:38:12.639 --> 00:38:17.199 And then Jesus says, Go and do likewise. 00:38:18.960 --> 00:38:25.760 In a world of hate, love is the answer, but it is not any kind of love. 00:38:25.920 --> 00:38:31.599 It is love in the way that Jesus has loved you. 00:38:35.360 --> 00:38:38.639 Sacrificial, self-giving. 00:38:40.079 --> 00:38:48.239 A love that meets you where you're at, but because he loves you so much, he won't leave you where you're at. 00:38:50.400 --> 00:38:52.639 And then John closes out this way. 00:38:53.199 --> 00:39:03.840 Dear children, let us not love in word or speech, but with action and in truth. 00:39:04.159 --> 00:39:07.119 We need to love in word, don't get me wrong. 00:39:07.360 --> 00:39:15.840 We need to post, share, and love, but we need action and in truth. 00:39:16.800 --> 00:39:20.159 Uh, virtuous signaling is kind of what we do today. 00:39:20.320 --> 00:39:25.599 The act of expressing moral values to gain social approval rather than promote real change. 00:39:25.840 --> 00:39:29.840 Out of it, uh, research says it's produced slackism. 00:39:30.639 --> 00:39:37.199 Activism and slack together, where individuals feel they've contributed enough to a cause by sharing or liking contact. 00:39:37.280 --> 00:39:43.920 In fact, Pew Research says 64% of those engaged in online advocacy feel less inclined to engage in further action. 00:39:44.000 --> 00:39:44.320 Why? 00:39:44.559 --> 00:39:48.559 Because they're perceived their social media presence is sufficient. 00:39:51.360 --> 00:39:59.599 And Jesus says, My neighbor is anyone with a legitimate need for which God has given me the resources to meet that need. 00:40:18.639 --> 00:40:31.920 Well, near the beginning of the school year, on uh nights where they had AU practice, the boys are going to work out, they're lifting, and then all of a sudden, the first time we we had like six or seven teenage boys in our house. 00:40:32.159 --> 00:40:39.119 They spent all day, they um they just lifted weights, and then they're gonna go to basketball practice for like two hours that night. 00:40:39.360 --> 00:40:41.760 We're just looking at them like they need food. 00:40:42.000 --> 00:40:55.199 I'm just Jenny and I are pulling whatever we have out uh of our you know um uh pantry and just how do we feed starving teenage boys that eat more than any human ever should? 00:40:57.519 --> 00:40:58.880 It started something. 00:40:58.960 --> 00:41:03.119 Well, then they're there there was that was a Monday night, then they're there again on a Thursday night. 00:41:03.199 --> 00:41:04.239 Well, we need food. 00:41:04.400 --> 00:41:05.840 And we're like, well, okay. 00:41:06.079 --> 00:41:07.840 Do we have material possession to do that? 00:41:08.000 --> 00:41:08.239 Sure. 00:41:08.400 --> 00:41:09.280 Do we have opportunity? 00:41:09.440 --> 00:41:10.480 Do we see a need? 00:41:10.639 --> 00:41:14.960 And and one of the realities is a number of these boys don't even have a dad. 00:41:15.440 --> 00:41:18.000 And if God's brought them into our home. 00:41:20.079 --> 00:41:21.039 And so we started. 00:41:21.119 --> 00:41:23.440 We're like, well, we can't uh afford protein. 00:41:23.519 --> 00:41:25.599 Uh all these they eat a lot. 00:41:25.679 --> 00:41:32.400 I mean, when we get the we get the Costco size uh hamburger meat, they go through like seven pounds of ground beef. 00:41:32.480 --> 00:41:33.599 It's insane. 00:41:36.719 --> 00:41:39.519 My father-in-law got so excited about it. 00:41:40.960 --> 00:41:46.880 He he sent us like 40 pounds of pasta because we realized one one of those we got to do pasta. 00:41:49.440 --> 00:41:52.320 See, love is as simple as that. 00:41:54.960 --> 00:41:58.480 Where we go, here's what we have, here's the people God's put in front of us. 00:41:58.719 --> 00:42:00.000 We weren't even really planning on it. 00:42:00.079 --> 00:42:02.960 It's not like we're doing anything and you know, had this plan. 00:42:03.039 --> 00:42:06.960 It's just like, here's the people in front of us, let's be present to it. 00:42:07.039 --> 00:42:09.920 And God, how do you want to use us in that moment? 00:42:12.000 --> 00:42:20.400 And we're gonna be in their lives and just God has given us so many opportunities all around us. 00:42:23.360 --> 00:42:26.559 Let us not love with word and speech, but in action. 00:42:26.719 --> 00:42:28.559 Who has God called you to love? 00:42:28.719 --> 00:42:32.079 Who has he put along your path? 00:42:33.760 --> 00:42:37.039 For some, as we close, I'm gonna invite the band to come up. 00:42:37.599 --> 00:42:42.079 What are the emotions that are actually underwriting your love? 00:42:44.480 --> 00:42:46.480 That you need to just confess. 00:42:55.519 --> 00:42:57.920 That's the extra grace required people. 00:43:01.039 --> 00:43:06.400 That God may just be asking you to, what is a specific act of love this week for them? 00:43:07.599 --> 00:43:10.960 Because at the heart of it, love is the gospel. 00:43:12.000 --> 00:43:14.480 We're gonna partake in communion. 00:43:16.320 --> 00:43:27.280 And we know what love is because he first loved us and gave his life an atoning sacrifice for us. 00:43:28.480 --> 00:43:34.639 Communion is his body broken for us, that's the bread represents that, his blood poured out for us. 00:43:36.239 --> 00:43:44.800 And my prayer is as we do this as a community, you would be overwhelmed personally, know his love. 00:43:47.039 --> 00:43:49.360 And then that we would be a people of love. 00:43:50.000 --> 00:43:54.079 We would love those simply that God puts along our path. 00:43:54.320 --> 00:43:55.199 Let's worship. 00:43:56.800 --> 00:43:59.119 We hope you were blessed by this message. 00:43:59.280 --> 00:44:03.679 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:44:03.840 --> 00:44:06.000 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:44:06.159 --> 00:44:12.079 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.com slash card.