WEBVTT 00:00:01.183 --> 00:00:03.450 Welcome to the First Love Church podcast. 00:00:03.450 --> 00:00:11.164 This is a collection of Sunday teachings inspired by the revised common lectionary and recorded weekly in Ocala, florida. 00:00:11.164 --> 00:00:17.650 We remind you that we made a commitment this morning when we said this is our worship confession. 00:00:17.650 --> 00:00:25.402 We're here to encounter the sacred and, piggybacking on what Thomas said earlier, we don't encounter the sacred when we're good enough. 00:00:25.402 --> 00:00:30.510 We don't encounter the sacred when we have cleaned ourself up enough. 00:00:30.510 --> 00:00:40.609 The intention is the moment we are aware the sacred is present, the moment we are aware that everything we do we do in the presence of the divine. 00:00:40.609 --> 00:00:52.590 That is when all of God's goodness and all of God's hope can help us return to the good, return to the love that we're created in and we're made in. 00:00:53.340 --> 00:01:21.387 We mentioned this earlier, but there are many people who join us online and we're grateful for that, and we're grateful for the ones actually who reach out and tell us their names and have us pray for them, or who give and participate in that way, and so we want you to know that, although we love so much the gathering physically together, it means something to see someone's face, to witness them, to witness their life, and when we can break bread together and share Holy Communion. 00:01:21.387 --> 00:01:25.121 That is a holy and sacred place, but from distance. 00:01:25.121 --> 00:01:32.406 For those of you, even internationally, who are online and who faithfully every week log on and say, hey, I want to hear what you have to say. 00:01:32.406 --> 00:01:33.067 We say thank you. 00:01:33.067 --> 00:01:34.331 It means something to us. 00:01:34.331 --> 00:01:35.233 We're grateful for that. 00:01:35.480 --> 00:01:36.725 Why don't you give them a round of applause for those people? 00:01:36.745 --> 00:01:38.634 Oh yeah, all those people, let's show them right there. 00:01:38.634 --> 00:01:41.236 And that tiny thing. 00:01:41.760 --> 00:01:48.852 And then you, online, you can give a round of applause to those people that showed up here A little louder. 00:01:49.534 --> 00:01:50.034 There we go. 00:01:51.022 --> 00:01:52.326 I think we can hear it, come on. 00:01:54.963 --> 00:01:57.531 We're so grateful to be in the house of God. 00:01:57.531 --> 00:02:01.829 I remind you that this is not the house of God that people are. 00:02:01.829 --> 00:02:10.290 The house of God, where God lives, is a tabernacle of living stones, but God's house assembled to this morning, almost like the transformers. 00:02:11.461 --> 00:02:13.367 Oh, don't say I know, I just. 00:02:13.367 --> 00:02:15.997 What is the one that builds? 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:17.525 What's the one that builds into the machine? 00:02:17.525 --> 00:02:20.362 Okay, thank you, I appreciate that. 00:02:20.362 --> 00:02:23.564 I saw the cartoons. 00:02:23.564 --> 00:02:24.764 I just wasn't paying attention. 00:02:24.764 --> 00:02:32.889 I was actually doing the work of making breakfast for the little people, but there is a cartoon where all the pieces come together and it makes something huge. 00:02:32.889 --> 00:02:33.711 That's unstoppable. 00:02:33.711 --> 00:02:36.963 And I'm thinking that's the house, that's the Power Rangers. 00:02:36.963 --> 00:02:39.425 No, it's a machine. 00:02:39.425 --> 00:02:40.287 There's a machine. 00:02:40.287 --> 00:02:41.110 It's both. 00:02:41.840 --> 00:02:43.506 Okay, I'll just tell us this beloved. 00:02:44.020 --> 00:02:44.864 It's morphing time. 00:02:44.864 --> 00:02:52.346 That's when I'm going to tell you that all of us need to morph into love, because that's what always have been the problem. 00:02:52.719 --> 00:03:10.526 So you will just be so gracious with me, because I got my cartoons or they're not cartoons, they're not animated, actually it's a show but this idea in our head that when we gather, there is something mystical that happens, there is something supernatural that happens, there is something holy that happens. 00:03:10.526 --> 00:03:22.611 Not only we gather physically, but we join our hearts, and that's the promise that Jesus made to us that the world can change, beloved, when we get our hearts in unity with love. 00:03:23.713 --> 00:03:24.055 Amen. 00:03:24.055 --> 00:03:34.471 Well, we're very grateful that you're here and when you're here, you're welcome to give to the offering boxes that are by each door. 00:03:34.471 --> 00:03:36.215 It's between you and the Lord. 00:03:36.215 --> 00:03:39.789 We're not going to pass the bucket, but you pass the box. 00:03:39.789 --> 00:03:42.288 So you figure out that between you and the Lord. 00:03:42.288 --> 00:03:47.467 Just because we're not high pressure sales doesn't mean that it's not important for you and for the church that you give. 00:03:47.467 --> 00:04:13.419 So we do thank those that are faithful in their giving and whatever capacity you're able to do that, and then we encourage those online that you're a part of our church and your support is greatly appreciated, and you can give by going to our website, firstlovechurchorg, go to the giving section or probably whatever social media device you're watching our service on right now. 00:04:13.419 --> 00:04:17.488 You can go to the bottom and there's a or somewhere there's a donation button. 00:04:17.488 --> 00:04:18.550 Look for it. 00:04:19.240 --> 00:04:25.805 In 1 Timothy, chapter six, command those who are rich in this, who are rich with the things of this world, not to be proud. 00:04:25.805 --> 00:04:46.225 And before you think I'm not rich because you know we all have levels or standards For those of you who used water from a sink today and you flipped a little lever and clean or cold or hot, however you chose water came out and you washed your hands in that, beloved, we are rich. 00:04:46.225 --> 00:04:57.281 For those of you who slept in a bed last night whether it was by your choosing or not maybe you wanted to sleep in a chair, I don't know, but you slept somewhere that wasn't the floor you are rich. 00:04:57.281 --> 00:05:01.228 Command those who are rich with the things of this world not to be proud. 00:05:01.228 --> 00:05:05.608 Tell them to put their hope in God, not in the uncertainty of riches. 00:05:05.608 --> 00:05:10.670 God richly gives us everything to enjoy. 00:05:10.670 --> 00:05:15.250 Beloved, are you enjoying the things that God has given us? 00:05:15.250 --> 00:05:19.230 Are you enjoying the fact that you drove here this morning? 00:05:19.230 --> 00:05:25.271 Are you enjoying the fact that it is hot, oppressive heat with lots of humidity? 00:05:25.271 --> 00:05:27.204 It's good for our skins. 00:05:27.204 --> 00:05:28.262 That's what I tell us. 00:05:28.262 --> 00:05:32.088 It is very good for our skin to have this much humidity. 00:05:32.088 --> 00:05:35.829 We have lush greenery and I try to convince myself of these things. 00:05:35.829 --> 00:05:41.031 Beloved, just leave me there in this, trying to make some gratitude for the humidity. 00:05:41.031 --> 00:05:44.127 God richly gives us everything to enjoy. 00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:49.249 Tell the rich people to do good, to be rich in doing good deeds. 00:05:49.249 --> 00:05:51.661 Be generous and ready to share. 00:05:51.661 --> 00:06:00.766 By doing that, they will be saving a treasure for themselves as a strong foundation for the future. 00:06:00.766 --> 00:06:06.802 Then they will be able to have the life that is true life. 00:06:06.802 --> 00:06:17.108 This is so reminiscent of what Jesus told us when he said I have come, that you would have life and have it to the full. 00:06:17.108 --> 00:06:25.413 What is it like for us to imagine a life that is flourishing and not just for ourselves, beloved? 00:06:25.413 --> 00:06:34.966 What is it like for us to imagine a world that flourishes in divine love and in brotherly love and in community love? 00:06:34.966 --> 00:06:39.089 That's the hope of the world and that's the good news of Jesus. 00:06:39.089 --> 00:06:50.490 That is what it looks like for us to understand the gospel, not just for our own personal improvement, but that the world would be the realm of love. 00:06:52.100 --> 00:07:07.625 I just can't get away from the importance of gratitude that we would find gratitude and the fact that we, if you missed a meal, probably you were fasting or you were busy because you have so much stuff to do. 00:07:07.625 --> 00:07:11.548 Not, we didn't miss a meal because we just can't eat. 00:07:11.548 --> 00:07:12.230 There's no food. 00:07:12.230 --> 00:07:16.029 We're so blessed and yet we complain about so much. 00:07:16.029 --> 00:07:28.627 I'd really encourage you to let God show you places where gratitude could be replaced for our dissatisfaction and for our complaints. 00:07:28.627 --> 00:07:32.934 That must just be disgusting to hear. 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:35.704 I was thinking about recently. 00:07:35.704 --> 00:07:49.512 I just live in Florida so I'm complaining about the heat for half of the year, but then I was listening to this guy talk about we're circling around the sun. 00:07:49.512 --> 00:07:54.050 The next closest star is a few hundred light years away. 00:07:54.050 --> 00:07:58.444 If you could figure out a way to travel at the speed of light, it would take you several hundred years to get to it. 00:07:58.444 --> 00:08:09.387 We're by this particular star and if we were a little bit closer we would have burnt up, or a little bit further away we would have frozen this. 00:08:09.387 --> 00:08:28.408 We're right in this spot that you can go outside right now and you can feel the warmth of a sun, of an actual star that's burning, that it's having nuclear explosions, and it's not melting you, it's warming you. 00:08:29.000 --> 00:08:37.847 The next time you're complaining about hot, think about the fact that how much of a miracle it is that you can feel that warmth. 00:08:37.847 --> 00:08:41.347 I've decided I'm never going to have a sunburn again. 00:08:41.347 --> 00:08:42.169 I'm starburned. 00:08:42.169 --> 00:08:45.668 At least that's just cooler. 00:08:45.668 --> 00:08:51.048 I'm pasty and so I'm going to burn, but I'm starburned. 00:08:51.048 --> 00:08:58.631 My God has taken care of me and I can be grateful, even when I'm outside in that muggy heat. 00:08:58.631 --> 00:08:59.982 Just make me think about that. 00:08:59.982 --> 00:09:15.986 When you were saying that we just if we let God shift our perspective, we could be filled with gratitude, and gratitude creates an energy around you that people want to be around, and I'm telling you they're not digging that whole negative vibe thing you got going on. 00:09:15.986 --> 00:09:18.732 Somebody say amen. 00:09:18.732 --> 00:09:25.253 I'm telling you God is offering a transformation for us just in this way. 00:09:25.799 --> 00:09:26.844 People want to be with you. 00:09:26.844 --> 00:09:27.285 They do. 00:09:27.285 --> 00:09:28.823 People want to be with everybody. 00:09:28.823 --> 00:09:34.211 There is something that would make people enjoy themselves more, and it's the practice of gratitude. 00:09:34.211 --> 00:09:44.427 Sometimes we need to be taught how to, or we need just an imagination expansion how to be able to be grateful for the things that we're going through. 00:09:44.427 --> 00:09:46.865 We can create a liturgy. 00:09:46.865 --> 00:09:59.029 I haven't done it yet, but for times of oppressive heat, when it doesn't feel like the star is very helpful at all, feels like the star is way too close to you, you will be thankful for sunscreen and Columbia shirts and nice big hats and shade. 00:09:59.029 --> 00:10:05.202 You could really find a way to be grateful for all the things that we have, but it becomes a practice. 00:10:05.202 --> 00:10:10.171 Do I become an unfaithful narrator in my own story? 00:10:10.171 --> 00:10:23.563 Do I just rehearse the things that feel to me different than how I had planned it, or do I open my imagination and find all of the abundance and all of the goodness that is around me? 00:10:23.563 --> 00:10:26.186 That is the hope of gratitude. 00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:30.288 Nobody that lived in Florida 100 years ago had AC. 00:10:30.288 --> 00:10:32.706 Oh, come on. 00:10:33.080 --> 00:10:34.044 Together, we'll pray for them. 00:10:34.085 --> 00:10:37.200 Lord have mercy, christ have mercy, god have mercy. 00:10:37.200 --> 00:10:38.303 Can you be grateful? 00:10:38.303 --> 00:10:38.725 Amen. 00:10:38.725 --> 00:10:43.147 Okay, you can't, we'll keep trying. 00:10:43.299 --> 00:11:09.043 Really what we're doing is we're weeping with those who weep, we're thinking to our, and then we also say this is what the scripture says the Lord determines the times and the places where mankind should dwell, and I offer to God thank you that you saw me and said she's going to need the air conditioning and so there's hope for us, even in whatever situation we are to find, where is the goodness, where is the abundance? 00:11:09.546 --> 00:11:11.352 Where is the hope beloved? 00:11:11.352 --> 00:11:13.903 It is constantly in the returning to the good. 00:11:13.903 --> 00:11:27.225 We go again at this part of ordinary time, in this practice of ordinary time, where it is the season of Pentecost, where what does it look like for us to fully engage with spirit or wisdom? 00:11:27.225 --> 00:11:41.832 How do we practice living in this current situation, in this current world, not in a place where we hope that it gets better or cooler, but in this world right now, with the news that is happening all around us? 00:11:41.832 --> 00:11:53.049 How do we find wisdom to live, to flourish and to join with what God is doing and bringing the realm of love here, even as it is in heaven? 00:11:53.764 --> 00:12:05.909 You know, it's an amazing gift that God has given you and I of the Holy Spirit, yes, and God's very power, his leading and His direction is available to us. 00:12:05.909 --> 00:12:17.451 And it's maybe not natural, probably why it's called supernatural, and it's something that we learn to do, but it's not like a work thing. 00:12:17.451 --> 00:12:27.774 I loved what Tom was talking about how you're not going to increase a yield of the Holy Spirit by certain things, but by creating this perfect atmosphere for Him. 00:12:27.774 --> 00:12:43.202 But at the same time, I can learn when he is, she is, god, is moving, and I can be quick to step into that flow. 00:12:43.202 --> 00:12:52.615 Amen, you know, I can learn to hear what God of the universe is saying and wants to do, amen, amen. 00:12:52.615 --> 00:12:58.211 And that's a training that I'm excited to be a part of that training. 00:12:58.211 --> 00:13:09.352 Sign me up, because I think about the wonderful things that I can experience, the things that I can see and experience by following after Him. 00:13:09.352 --> 00:13:10.308 That's exciting to me. 00:13:10.845 --> 00:13:14.413 When you're talking like that I'm reminded of in the very beginning in Genesis. 00:13:14.413 --> 00:13:19.432 It talks about the Spirit of God then that the Spirit of God hovered over the chaos. 00:13:19.432 --> 00:13:29.133 If there's any chaos in your life, listen for the hovering of the Holy Spirit, okay, and then join the work of what the Holy Spirit is doing. 00:13:29.133 --> 00:13:32.631 The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. 00:13:32.631 --> 00:13:35.912 This portion of scripture beloved. 00:13:36.105 --> 00:13:44.933 I'm so glad you're here today, because one of the things that the Holy Spirit does and this is revealed to us in scripture is confirm or seal the promise. 00:13:44.933 --> 00:13:52.253 Has anyone made a promise to you and then you thought I don't believe you could do that. 00:13:52.253 --> 00:13:54.751 I don't recognize the authority. 00:13:54.751 --> 00:13:57.393 I've had children and my children make promises all the time. 00:13:57.393 --> 00:13:58.947 I'll never do that again. 00:13:58.947 --> 00:14:00.852 You know what I do. 00:14:00.852 --> 00:14:03.504 Just smile, we'll see, we will see. 00:14:03.504 --> 00:14:04.649 Or they make promises. 00:14:04.649 --> 00:14:06.014 I will never forget this. 00:14:06.014 --> 00:14:09.815 If I had this, I will never want anything again. 00:14:09.815 --> 00:14:23.316 I don't believe you have the authority to make that promise, but when God gives us promises, he also gives us the Holy Spirit, the authority behind what is actually doing this. 00:14:23.316 --> 00:14:34.014 So Paul is in this letter to the church at Rome, and I remind you that he's talking about individual believers that are there, but he's also using big language. 00:14:34.014 --> 00:14:40.792 The syntax here reminds us that we are a part of something that is so much bigger than ourselves. 00:14:41.304 --> 00:14:43.412 The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. 00:14:43.412 --> 00:14:48.615 For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. 00:14:48.615 --> 00:14:55.332 Beloved, I think we're all there now when we watch the news or read the news. 00:14:55.332 --> 00:15:00.048 This is when we trust that the Holy Spirit will give us directions. 00:15:00.048 --> 00:15:05.331 What if, while you're having a fight with someone that you love, what does the Holy Spirit want me to pray for? 00:15:05.331 --> 00:15:08.408 Probably not that they're struck dumb, not anything like that. 00:15:08.408 --> 00:15:10.230 Probably that you would understand that. 00:15:10.230 --> 00:15:15.591 But that's what we need to ask, what needs to be acknowledged and what do we need to be aware of? 00:15:15.591 --> 00:15:24.914 For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for, but the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 00:15:24.914 --> 00:15:31.592 Beloved, that is such a comfort or at least it should be to you that the Holy Spirit is praying for you. 00:15:32.264 --> 00:15:38.331 And I like this idea of the Holy Spirit's promise to help us in our weakness. 00:15:39.205 --> 00:15:50.894 I am so aware of my weaknesses, the areas where I can't seem to get a victory or I can't seem to break through. 00:15:51.024 --> 00:16:07.217 There's a continual habit that seems to be less than where God is inviting me to and I see the opportunity to invite God to that area. 00:16:07.217 --> 00:16:15.791 And also there can be just a trust while I'm in my predicament that he helps me in my weakness. 00:16:15.791 --> 00:16:30.533 Not well, he'll help you if you get out of that, you climb out of that hole and then go ahead and walk with him, but that he's right there in that hole with us and that is such a comfort that he helps us in our weaknesses. 00:16:30.533 --> 00:16:35.176 And I do believe that there's a trajectory out of that. 00:16:35.176 --> 00:17:00.510 But I think that we tend to look at it in such black and white terms that if I have that weakness, then clearly God wants no part of me and he's saying, in fact he's given you a gift for those very moments, implying that he knew that they were going to happen, not like you're the one Christian that just can't seem to pull it off. 00:17:00.510 --> 00:17:09.390 But isn't that good to know that he promises to and that God will move in such a way that we can't even understand it. 00:17:10.365 --> 00:17:31.292 And the Father, who knows all hearts, knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers, in harmony with God's own will, and we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 00:17:31.292 --> 00:17:33.711 What a beautiful promise. 00:17:33.711 --> 00:17:42.219 What a difficult word, because many times people have used this to negate someone else's pain or their suffering. 00:17:42.219 --> 00:17:47.560 This verse says God will cause everything to work together for the good. 00:17:47.560 --> 00:17:51.339 This promise is a promise that transcends time. 00:17:51.339 --> 00:17:53.769 These people that are here are suffering. 00:17:53.769 --> 00:17:57.815 Jesus has come, he has died, he's been resurrected, he's ascended. 00:17:57.815 --> 00:18:04.596 They're trying to live out this new kind of love and they are suffering and Paul is reminding them. 00:18:04.916 --> 00:18:09.720 Beloved, god knew about this and God is working. 00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:13.039 God is working even in suffering. 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:25.938 God is not the cause of that suffering, but God is working, even though it's not the magic that we hoped for, even though it's not the paradise that we thought it would be immediately, even though Rome is still oppressing. 00:18:25.938 --> 00:18:43.538 God is at work and that beloved is the promise that we can all cling to and since the beginning of time, god had us in mind and had established for us this thought that we would be made whole and holy by his love. 00:18:43.538 --> 00:18:50.397 So there is for us an understanding that Paul is reminding them from the beginning of time to the very end. 00:18:50.397 --> 00:18:57.276 God exists outside of that and God said there is a plan, god will work it together. 00:18:57.276 --> 00:19:08.776 It doesn't mean that if it's not working together, the plan is finished, but there's a hope for us in understanding that this is big, this is eternal, and we get to be a part of this. 00:19:09.170 --> 00:19:16.919 You know, and here is the apostle Paul talking very matter-factly about the gift of the Holy Spirit. 00:19:16.919 --> 00:19:36.854 Now, I don't know what denomination you grew up in or what teaching you have had up to this point about the Holy Spirit, but some people believe that it's not for today, that it passed away with those disciples, and I would really challenge that teaching with experiences that I've had in my own life and with others. 00:19:36.854 --> 00:19:55.077 I've watched, you know, I've seen God move, but then I've also been around people that stood over young children and screamed at them, speaking tongues, speaking tongues, or you're not filled with the Holy Ghost, and these little children are crying because they got all these people trying to lay hands on them and shout at them and they're terrified. 00:19:55.077 --> 00:19:57.878 You know, and we're calling that a move of God. 00:19:57.878 --> 00:20:07.439 That's more like child abuse in the, but it doesn't mean that the Spirit of God isn't alive and moving, you know. 00:20:07.439 --> 00:20:25.599 And so this is something that we need to talk about, and some I think a lot of churches, if we're this seeker, sensitive church, we're gonna kind of put the Holy Spirit back on a shelf and not really talk about it, because that stuff is a little different, it's a little strange, it's hard to explain. 00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:28.156 It doesn't? 00:20:28.156 --> 00:20:29.221 I don't know. 00:20:29.221 --> 00:20:31.477 It doesn't test well in markets. 00:20:31.477 --> 00:20:33.252 You know, and you know what. 00:20:33.252 --> 00:20:34.818 We don't care about that. 00:20:34.818 --> 00:20:52.413 We want the truth, we want to know God, and I can tell you that I have shared this message with people, people that don't know a lot about Christianity, haven't been following God a long time, that maybe don't have PhDs or whatever, but they'll come back and go. 00:20:52.734 --> 00:20:59.173 I was at the hair salon and all of a sudden, these people were talking about and I started to share stuff and I didn't even know. 00:20:59.173 --> 00:21:01.836 I knew that, and the whole place started crying. 00:21:01.836 --> 00:21:02.679 What was that? 00:21:02.679 --> 00:21:06.638 Well, it sounds like to me the Holy Spirit used you. 00:21:06.638 --> 00:21:13.777 Yeah, I was quoting scriptures, I didn't know, and at the end of that we prayed and I just felt God's presence in there. 00:21:13.777 --> 00:21:24.840 And you mean, that's not just for the pastors, that's not just for people that you read about, but the Holy Spirit wants to move in the lives of all of us. 00:21:24.840 --> 00:21:36.057 I believe it's true and I believe it's for today, and what a blessing to help me out of the predicaments that I get myself in on a pretty regular basis. 00:21:36.057 --> 00:21:37.594 Anybody else with me? 00:21:37.594 --> 00:21:43.638 Oh, we need you, lord, and he has provided this way of escape for us. 00:21:44.309 --> 00:22:02.337 I'm also reminding you that the evidence of the Holy Spirit is also when you are depressed and in your bed and you can't think any good thoughts and your body aches and the world around you is dark and you find one thread of hope that beloved is a working of the Holy Spirit as well. 00:22:02.337 --> 00:22:06.519 The Holy Spirit's working is everywhere. 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:11.400 If you go outside, in your garden, the Holy Spirit is at work, and this is amazing. 00:22:11.400 --> 00:22:19.277 If you stand on the ground and feel the breath of God, the breeze of God on your cheek, this is a move of the Holy Spirit. 00:22:19.277 --> 00:22:24.435 And what the Holy Spirit is is this connection to the presence of divine. 00:22:24.435 --> 00:22:39.018 The Holy Spirit is wisdom that gives us direction and that gives us hope, and we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 00:22:39.018 --> 00:22:45.598 For God knew his people in advance and he chose them to become like his son. 00:22:45.598 --> 00:22:50.176 So this son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 00:22:50.730 --> 00:22:57.179 Paul is reminding people who are suffering greatly God has always had a plan, and the plan is big family. 00:22:57.179 --> 00:23:03.960 The plan is there's gonna be a big table and God is calling all the sons and daughters home. 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:06.678 And this is what Paul is reminding them. 00:23:06.678 --> 00:23:08.916 Yes, rome is still oppressing us. 00:23:08.916 --> 00:23:12.500 Yes, you are still in a hierarchy. 00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:18.738 And then Jesus reminds us there is a new way of love, and love removes hierarchy. 00:23:18.738 --> 00:23:37.277 Love says that there is equality and equity, because we are all sons and daughters of God, and he's painting this picture that goes against what they're actually living in, this empire, this upside down system where some people are slaves and some people have lots of money. 00:23:37.277 --> 00:23:45.338 And Paul is reminding them, god's way of love is family, where everyone is loved and honored. 00:23:45.338 --> 00:23:56.298 And, having chosen them, he called them to come to him and then, having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. 00:23:56.298 --> 00:24:04.978 Beloved, if you didn't need any encouragement today, put this one in your pocket for later, because, having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. 00:24:04.978 --> 00:24:10.537 Seems to me you didn't do a whole lot except turn your face toward the father. 00:24:10.537 --> 00:24:18.621 Yes, because Jesus said come, and you turned, and here he said that I'm giving them right standing with God. 00:24:18.621 --> 00:24:22.473 And having giving them right standing, he gave them his glory. 00:24:23.630 --> 00:24:26.258 This is such a hopeful text. 00:24:26.258 --> 00:24:27.221 It's gonna get better. 00:24:27.221 --> 00:24:46.719 It is, I promise you, even from here it's going to get better, but this is such a good one to remind yourself when you find yourself struggling to perform, when you find yourself saying I didn't do enough, when you find yourself questioning have I done enough to earn it, remind yourself it is God who gave us the ability to stand before him. 00:24:46.719 --> 00:24:57.654 It is God who made us righteous, it is not our own works Another verse of Paul, lest we should boast and so none of us are gonna say I have done it, I have achieved. 00:24:57.654 --> 00:25:01.333 In fact, this is the hope of Christianity that we would understand. 00:25:01.333 --> 00:25:14.858 It is not about what we have earned, but that it is an invitation that the Holy Spirit is saying come home, beloved, come back to love, come back to God who is present with us. 00:25:14.858 --> 00:25:21.958 And then he says this what shall we say about such wonderful things as these? 00:25:21.958 --> 00:25:31.736 He's actually questioning, and it's really important to read the questions that Paul asks, because sometimes we feel like it comes at such a place of it's a statement. 00:25:31.736 --> 00:25:32.352 It's not. 00:25:32.352 --> 00:25:44.814 He's pondering these things and he's inviting us to ask the same thing what do you say about the fact that God has given you the right to stand before him whole and holy and loved? 00:25:44.814 --> 00:25:48.494 Because God said that Consider this with us. 00:25:48.494 --> 00:25:50.155 This is what the Holy Spirit is saying. 00:25:50.155 --> 00:25:54.637 Let's have a conversation, let's ask these kind of questions. 00:25:54.637 --> 00:26:01.721 And then he asks another one If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 00:26:02.990 --> 00:26:06.634 We pause here for a moment to thank you for joining us today. 00:26:06.634 --> 00:26:12.096 If you're finding this episode meaningful, would you take a moment to share it with a friend? 00:26:12.096 --> 00:26:17.678 This podcast is made possible thanks to the generosity of people just like you. 00:26:17.678 --> 00:26:30.298 If you would like to support the ongoing work of First Love Church and the continued work of our podcast, visit us online at firstlovechurchorg, reminding you to like, follow and subscribe. 00:26:30.298 --> 00:26:33.394 Well, I'll think of a list right now. 00:26:33.394 --> 00:26:33.951 Hold on. 00:26:33.951 --> 00:26:45.597 Firstly me, firstly my thoughts and my plans and the things that run through my head and the templates that I use to view the world. 00:26:45.597 --> 00:26:57.936 And then there's other people that I admire or I like or I want to be like, and then I give them more authority and I say well, I'm not sure they would approve, you know so we do this all the time. 00:26:57.936 --> 00:27:00.778 And Paul is saying beloved, be aware of your thoughts. 00:27:00.778 --> 00:27:08.894 I mean, if we would actually consciously say who would stand against God, we would all say not me, I'm gonna stand on God's side. 00:27:09.829 --> 00:27:10.914 I remind you of this story. 00:27:10.914 --> 00:27:14.900 It's in the ancient text, in the Hebrew text. 00:27:14.900 --> 00:27:25.836 Israel is at war, not necessarily in this time of their own choosing, but the Philistines had come against them and they come to steal a bunch of things. 00:27:25.836 --> 00:27:28.076 And the Philistines were quite a people. 00:27:28.076 --> 00:27:30.056 I mean you could look in history about that. 00:27:30.056 --> 00:27:36.655 One thing I know in particular the Philistines apparently loved to lentil and they were constantly after the lentils that the Jewish people there were planting. 00:27:36.655 --> 00:27:38.717 This is not that story, but I just remind you. 00:27:38.717 --> 00:27:45.435 They liked food and this particular Philistine was a giant, so he probably ate a lot of food. 00:27:45.435 --> 00:27:51.138 I don't know, but I'm just assuming he's a giant of a man and this is how the Philistines kind of fought. 00:27:51.138 --> 00:28:00.393 I guess until we actually had the skirmish, he would just stand there and say horrible things about the Israelites. 00:28:00.393 --> 00:28:12.000 This is their war tactic Just constant accusations and constant, just a barrage of negativity. 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:14.977 This is a technique to bring people to war. 00:28:17.049 --> 00:28:17.873 And David shows up. 00:28:17.873 --> 00:28:21.375 His dad sent him to get his brother some cheese. 00:28:21.375 --> 00:28:32.493 I wonder about the whole story because I'm thinking to myself maybe Goliath, had he had some cheese, would stop the rotten talking Like maybe if we shared our Gouda or something smoked Gouda with him. 00:28:32.493 --> 00:28:35.453 Maybe we could have come to the table differently, but it didn't happen that way. 00:28:35.453 --> 00:28:54.803 David goes, listens to his father he's bringing his brother's cheese and he listens to this giant tormenting them by screaming these things and he just simply asks a question who is this uncircumcised Philistine who dares to speak against the armies of the living God? 00:28:54.803 --> 00:28:57.337 Now you read the story later. 00:28:57.337 --> 00:28:58.301 I don't want to spoil it for you. 00:28:59.095 --> 00:29:05.784 But the question is this Is there anybody in your life who can come and listen or see and observe and go? 00:29:05.784 --> 00:29:10.282 If God is for you, who or what can be against you? 00:29:10.282 --> 00:29:13.040 What if it's the mirror in the morning? 00:29:13.040 --> 00:29:18.115 What if we get to retrain the way that we think about ourselves or about our lives and go? 00:29:18.115 --> 00:29:23.247 Wait a second, who is this uncircumcised Philistine who is coming against God? 00:29:23.247 --> 00:29:34.526 If God is for us and it's really essential that he says us, because some people say this if God is for me, beloved me is part of us, just want to tell you that. 00:29:34.526 --> 00:29:40.318 And so this idea of I am the one that special, listen, we're all special because we're all God's children. 00:29:40.318 --> 00:29:49.944 But God is saying us intentionally, he's reminding you you're part of something, you are part of family, you're part of the bigger plan, you're part of hope. 00:29:49.944 --> 00:29:53.582 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these of God is for us? 00:29:53.582 --> 00:29:54.905 Who can ever be against? 00:29:55.046 --> 00:29:55.125 us. 00:29:55.125 --> 00:30:10.093 You know, I wanted to just talk about verse 30 and 31 for a moment because you know I think the loose cannon in Christianity is doctrine and it's rolling all over the ship smashing people. 00:30:10.093 --> 00:30:10.993 You know what I mean. 00:30:10.993 --> 00:30:13.193 It's throwing some people over. 00:30:13.836 --> 00:30:15.281 It is a loose cannon. 00:30:15.694 --> 00:30:16.597 And it's supposed to be. 00:30:16.597 --> 00:30:26.123 But you know, I want to remind you any doctrine that you've ever heard, ever the best to the weirdest, was concocted by a man. 00:30:26.123 --> 00:30:37.756 Probably Men have thrown some cockamamie doctrines in there now and again, I'm sure, but let's just say by and large as a whole. 00:30:37.776 --> 00:30:42.732 the men haven't let the women do a whole lot of talking, so it's better to say that's always going to be a man. 00:30:43.095 --> 00:30:53.067 For the past couple thousand years, men have had a juggernaut on trying to control this thing and done a wonderful job of creating a bunch of stuff that traps you. 00:30:53.067 --> 00:31:22.221 You know, and you can't feel good because, if I did this and because what about with this and what's happened I noticed over my lifetime of being a Christian is people just come to God with this exciting need for transformation and then next thing you know, they're just derailed and distracted and they chase doctrine and they chase knowledge, as if somehow this knowledge is going to figure God out. 00:31:22.221 --> 00:31:34.224 I even heard one girl say one time that she figured God out and then he had to change and I just thought, well, what kind of drugs are you smoking, or something. 00:31:34.224 --> 00:31:50.321 But the thing is, you know, it's these doctrines of men that get us all twisted up, and they're with good intention, and I'm not saying all doctrine is wicked, but I gotta tell you that sometimes we need to just hold what scriptures? 00:31:50.321 --> 00:31:51.404 What is it saying? 00:31:51.444 --> 00:31:52.666 Verse 30 and 31? 00:31:52.666 --> 00:31:57.642 Real, quickly there in verse 30, I just love that word there. 00:31:57.642 --> 00:32:02.902 No, I wanted 30, but 29 is good too. 00:32:02.902 --> 00:32:04.200 I mean, we can go back as far as you want. 00:32:04.200 --> 00:32:13.076 We'll go back to Genesis right here, but gave them right standing, yeah, but what about? 00:32:13.076 --> 00:32:16.605 Isn't that what rises up in most of us? 00:32:16.605 --> 00:32:22.726 The stuff you were taught, right, these doctrines of men that you know, and if you're Baptist you got a whole bunch of them. 00:32:22.726 --> 00:32:25.038 If you're charismatic you got a bunch of them. 00:32:25.038 --> 00:32:33.605 Or you know Pentecostals to the Presbyterians and we just got all this stuff instead of taking God in His word. 00:32:33.605 --> 00:32:39.923 Wait a minute, I'm right standing with Him, yeah, but how about getting rid of that? 00:32:39.923 --> 00:32:42.335 But he said you're in right standing. 00:32:42.355 --> 00:32:43.298 Go on to verse 31. 00:32:43.298 --> 00:32:45.178 I just love this. 00:32:45.178 --> 00:32:50.763 If God is for us, who can be against us? 00:32:50.763 --> 00:33:05.714 If God is for me, that is even a revelation, because doctrines told me now, because you know you did, and we got all this stuff and we got this maze inside of our head of confusion. 00:33:05.714 --> 00:33:11.303 And I gotta tell you, the Holy Spirit, that was what was amazing to me when I came to the Lord. 00:33:11.303 --> 00:33:35.882 I just knew some stuff and I maybe get some old crusty Christians angry, but when they'd spewed out some stuff, I've always kind of liked being a little bit rebellious, and when they would tell me all their stuff and try to lasso me with it, I just said no, and I'm still doing it right now. 00:33:36.555 --> 00:33:47.570 No to that stuff that you were told, even if it was generations old, even if your grandpa or grandma you loved them so much and they meant so much good when they heaped all of that condemnation on you. 00:33:47.570 --> 00:33:56.604 But I'm telling you you have right, standing with God and man when that really hits. 00:33:56.604 --> 00:34:00.233 And people, they come up with doctrines so afraid. 00:34:00.233 --> 00:34:01.838 If you get that you're gonna go buck wild. 00:34:01.838 --> 00:34:19.581 When you get that you can't help but love and serve this God and you don't do it out of increments and portion it out, but you abandon everything because you realize what he abandoned to reach you. 00:34:19.581 --> 00:34:27.898 And so look at these things and ponder them and let the Holy Spirit do what the Holy Spirit will do with them. 00:34:27.898 --> 00:34:35.143 I mean, it will explode inside of us and transformation will come. 00:34:35.143 --> 00:34:36.304 That's what he's about. 00:34:39.235 --> 00:34:48.900 Since he did not even spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won't he also give us everything else? 00:34:48.900 --> 00:34:59.606 I mean, paul, the Apostle right here is reminding people that the Gentiles are included because they thought that there was a God that was going to be very narrow with them. 00:34:59.606 --> 00:35:07.242 They were going to get to God and to God's promise and to paradise because they were Jews, and Paul is reminding them beloved. 00:35:07.242 --> 00:35:10.155 The plan has been all around time since the beginning of time. 00:35:10.155 --> 00:35:19.760 It's for everyone and even then, in this encouragement, he's challenging the way that they live this inclusion of God's love. 00:35:19.760 --> 00:35:22.847 The intention was that even the barbarians would come. 00:35:24.878 --> 00:35:30.608 Even though wherever it is that you have a margin, wherever it is that you say not there. 00:35:30.608 --> 00:35:45.972 God is reminding us over and over again, since God gave Jesus and didn't withhold Jesus For everyone beloved, not just for those who had been good or who had followed. 00:35:45.972 --> 00:35:48.721 Jesus was sent for everyone. 00:35:48.721 --> 00:35:52.382 Won't he also give us everything else? 00:35:52.382 --> 00:35:57.903 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for His own? 00:35:57.903 --> 00:36:06.947 No one, for God Himself, has given us right standing with Himself. 00:36:06.947 --> 00:36:08.014 Beloved. 00:36:08.014 --> 00:36:14.367 No accusation stands against you because God said you are innocent. 00:36:14.367 --> 00:36:16.641 God said you are holy. 00:36:16.641 --> 00:36:19.001 God said you are loved. 00:36:19.001 --> 00:36:21.822 God said you don't have to earn this. 00:36:21.822 --> 00:36:23.581 I gave it to you freely. 00:36:23.581 --> 00:36:25.958 God said beloved. 00:36:25.958 --> 00:36:27.623 Everything else has to bow. 00:36:27.623 --> 00:36:32.925 The written word always has to bow to the living word. 00:36:32.925 --> 00:36:40.927 Jesus is the living word and Jesus has said to us I am the weight, real life. 00:36:40.927 --> 00:36:45.224 No one, for God Himself, has given us right standing. 00:36:45.875 --> 00:36:54.847 You know and know, where are you getting greater accusation than from yourself? 00:36:54.847 --> 00:37:04.159 I would just about guarantee that it's just part of the human experience, part of the struggle, part of why he gave us the Holy Spirit. 00:37:04.159 --> 00:37:13.318 And so ask the Holy Spirit, you know these things that I feel about myself, these things that constantly come up, is that how you see me? 00:37:13.318 --> 00:37:14.757 Let Him show you. 00:37:14.757 --> 00:37:15.775 And then what? 00:37:15.775 --> 00:37:16.277 Do you have? 00:37:16.277 --> 00:37:17.762 Anyone that you could trust? 00:37:17.762 --> 00:37:27.324 You know, one thing I really like about my relationship with my wife Heather is not only do I have a spouse, but I've got a partner in this following after God thing. 00:37:27.324 --> 00:37:33.322 And sometimes I'll just say things and she'll say who told you that? 00:37:33.322 --> 00:37:44.465 And it's like a light went on and I kind of feel dumb for a second because it's so obvious then. 00:37:44.465 --> 00:37:47.463 But it wasn't until someone I loved and trusted. 00:37:47.463 --> 00:37:56.822 Now I could get angry at her and say, woman, quit pointing out my dumb things that I say and do, and I'll just stay dumb and say in ignorant things. 00:37:56.822 --> 00:38:05.309 Or I could allow the Holy Spirit to speak through my wife, my children. 00:38:05.735 --> 00:38:14.681 I can tell you that our church is so drastically different than it was 10 years ago and I would blame my children for it. 00:38:14.681 --> 00:38:17.402 I'm teasing. 00:38:17.402 --> 00:38:23.083 I'm grateful to God for my children for it, because they have shined a mirror as adults. 00:38:23.083 --> 00:38:27.965 They have shined a mirror on Heather and I and said who told you that? 00:38:27.965 --> 00:38:31.885 And we were just doing stuff because that's what we were taught. 00:38:31.885 --> 00:38:39.554 We're just trying over here and then do you have anybody in your life Sometimes it's your children that can just go, you know what? 00:38:39.554 --> 00:38:43.777 No, I'm not going to swallow that garbage, you know. 00:38:43.777 --> 00:38:52.043 I mean, there was a time when it was just the most offensive thing in the world to wear a hat in church. 00:38:52.043 --> 00:38:53.956 Look at Pastor Lee over there. 00:38:53.956 --> 00:38:58.289 He would be considered a sinner, a chief among sinners. 00:38:58.572 --> 00:38:59.358 No what. 00:39:00.871 --> 00:39:01.753 You look better with that on. 00:39:01.753 --> 00:39:02.396 Put it back on. 00:39:02.396 --> 00:39:04.574 No, no, no, but it's just like. 00:39:04.574 --> 00:39:08.690 Why would we make that the thing that separates us? 00:39:08.690 --> 00:39:12.697 Because we got some doctrine, oh, it's holy and we shouldn't have our heads covered. 00:39:12.717 --> 00:39:27.817 The Bible sits down, and we just get all this weird stuff instead of going hey, if the guy didn't want to do what Heresy has left before he came to church, let him put a hat on Amen and let him worship Jesus, and none of that matters. 00:39:27.817 --> 00:39:30.539 But when we focus on that, we miss the heart, you know. 00:39:30.539 --> 00:39:33.539 And so why do we get distracted by this stuff? 00:39:33.539 --> 00:39:37.099 And do we have somebody that might even say hey, lee, put that back on. 00:39:38.251 --> 00:39:44.516 And that's what relationship and community is about, and that's what the Holy Spirit wants to do Encourage one another through. 00:39:44.516 --> 00:40:01.255 And I'm so grateful for my children and for and Pastor Leo tell me oftentimes the hairs that are out of place in my life, so to speak, and it's and it's not always pleasant to hear, but I'm so grateful for the transformation that it potentially can bring. 00:40:01.255 --> 00:40:20.981 And so we could you look for the Spirit of God in there, because I'm telling you, the biggest accuser is right there, in between your ears, and the Holy Spirit wants to root that stuff out because it's just there to torment. 00:40:20.981 --> 00:40:22.782 Anyone know what I'm talking about? 00:40:22.782 --> 00:40:24.552 Amen, help us Jesus. 00:40:25.929 --> 00:40:27.094 Who, then, will condemn us? 00:40:27.094 --> 00:40:28.371 No one. 00:40:28.371 --> 00:40:32.576 I just want you to be reminded this morning. 00:40:32.576 --> 00:40:34.000 This was the ministry of Jesus. 00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:36.556 If people were hurting, he was healing. 00:40:36.556 --> 00:40:38.275 If people were hungry, he was feeding. 00:40:38.275 --> 00:40:40.496 If they were thirsty, he was giving them water. 00:40:40.496 --> 00:40:57.916 Nowhere did Jesus condemn people, and if we are followers of Jesus, then we should be feeding the hungry, healing those who are hurting and bringing love here, because, beloved, we can talk about this stuff and we can encourage each other, but God is love. 00:40:57.916 --> 00:41:00.175 That's all you need to know. 00:41:00.175 --> 00:41:11.554 And then the Holy Spirit inside of you will tell you this is not loving, not toward yourself or to your neighbor, and this is the hope of what we are remembering no one for Christ. 00:41:11.554 --> 00:41:18.690 Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God's right hand pleading for us. 00:41:18.690 --> 00:41:26.938 Again, paul is asking these people who are suffering and he's saying hey, look at this big picture, like, zoom out here and see this. 00:41:26.938 --> 00:41:28.650 Is God not withholding Jesus? 00:41:28.650 --> 00:41:37.159 God has given you Jesus, who died, was buried and is resurrected and now sits in heaven as your intercessor. 00:41:37.159 --> 00:41:43.690 Beloved, I remind you of this no matter what anyone says, jesus is saying something different and I'm going with what Jesus is saying. 00:41:43.690 --> 00:41:49.135 Jesus is saying they are mine, they are holy, I paid for them. 00:41:51.632 --> 00:41:54.983 There's an incredible sermon by Elistar Begg and we have so many good we're going to have to. 00:41:54.983 --> 00:41:55.670 This is going to be a two part. 00:41:55.670 --> 00:41:58.625 You've got to come up to the next part because we'll breeze over these next part. 00:41:58.625 --> 00:41:59.690 But I want to tell you something. 00:41:59.690 --> 00:42:02.057 If you're concerned about, like what do I know? 00:42:03.532 --> 00:42:14.396 Jesus was being crucified between two thieves and one particular thief said to him remember me when you get to paradise. 00:42:14.396 --> 00:42:19.976 And Jesus said this day you'll be with me in paradise. 00:42:19.976 --> 00:42:23.396 This thief did not confess anything. 00:42:23.396 --> 00:42:27.041 The thief didn't say what I've done is wrong and I choose your way. 00:42:27.041 --> 00:42:27.684 Didn't say anything. 00:42:27.684 --> 00:42:30.637 He just said hey, you remember me, think about me when you're there. 00:42:30.637 --> 00:42:33.278 And Jesus said you'll be there with me. 00:42:33.278 --> 00:42:49.503