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Matthew 7:7-12 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Please take your copy of God's Word and turn to Matthew chapter 7.
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Jordan, thank you for leading us in that song.
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! If you've ever requested a song to be learned and sung here on a Sunday morning,
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I want you to know how much time it takes to get that accomplished.
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I asked Jordan to do that song back at Easter.
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I want to think I carry a little bit of extra request weight, maybe.
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So be patient.
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It takes those guys a lot of work to put stuff together,
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and I do appreciate you taking the work to do it, Jordan.
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Yeah, it blessed me this morning.
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The doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture teaches us that the Bible contains everything in it
0:41
that we need for life and godliness.
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And we believe that the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture
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applies to how we meet together as a church.
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And so across the years, as we have considered what was necessary for us in our growing,
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so as we started to add particular mics and sound equipment and things of that nature,
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Wes and I worked very carefully together to say,
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what would happen if we suddenly didn't have those things?
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Like if the power went out.
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If the power went out, could we still meet the way that we meet as a church?
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And I want you to know that when the power went out this morning,
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a little bit of me was excited because I said,
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yes, we get to prove that it's possible to do it in this way.
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And then quite a bit of me was excited when it came back on
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because my voice is hurting this morning,
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and I'm glad I don't have to yell in this room.
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I can speak in my normal speaking tone.
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So, a blessing on both sides.
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Our text for today is Matthew 7, verses 7-12.
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And before I read it, beloved, this is God's Word to us.
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It was written for His glory and our good,
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and we would all do well to listen to it
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in order to believe its promises and obey its commands.
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Jesus says,
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Ask, and it will be given to you.
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Seek, and you will find.
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Knock, and it will be opened to you.
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For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds,
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and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
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Or which one of you, if the Son asks him for bread,
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will give him a stone.
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Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent.
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If then you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children,
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how much more will your Father who is in heaven
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give good things to those who ask Him?
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So whatever you wish that others would do to you,
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do also to them.
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For this is the law and the prophets.
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At first look at this morning's text,
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you may be wondering
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why it is that I jumped across
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the uninspired subheading
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that is likely found in your copy of God's Word.
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There between verse 11 and verse 12,
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your text probably says
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the golden rule.
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An uninspired addition to our printings of the Bible.
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Why did I read from verse 7 through verse 12?
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Why did I include verse 12 in today's text,
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which seems to be some further teaching about prayer?
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You may also be wondering,
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why is there further teaching about prayer
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in verses 7 through 11?
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Doesn't this teaching about prayer belong
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back with Jesus' prayer instruction
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in chapter 6, verses 7 through 13?
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Let me assure you that our Lord did not here
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have an afterthought about prayer.
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As we would tend to do,
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I find myself quite forgetful
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and want to go back and tack something on
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to something I said previously.
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Jesus, I'm confident,
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even in His humanity,
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was not nearly as scatterbrained as myself.
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He's not just going back
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and tapping on random instructions
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at the conclusion of His sermon on the mount.
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And many commentators treat it this way.
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He's been working thematically.
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Now He has some final things to say,
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and so He's dropping in
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these related but random instructions
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here at the end of the sermon.
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Quite the opposite, in fact.
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Jesus is bringing His sermon to a close
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and He is finishing His teaching
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on kingdom ethics in verse 12.
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He is wrapping up that portion,
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the major portion of His sermon
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on kingdom ethics.
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What does it look like for citizens
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of the kingdom of God
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to live in this world?
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The summary of all that He has said
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is found in verse 12.
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And it begins with this important word,
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so.
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So.
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In light of everything that I've said so far,
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so whatever you wish that others would do to you,
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do also to them.
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This teaching is often referred to
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as the golden rule.
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That would be to say the rule
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that rules other rules.
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And we can know that it is a summary statement
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because in Matthew 5,
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verse 17-19,
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Jesus says this,
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Do not think that I have come
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to abolish the law or the prophets.
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I have not come to abolish them,
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but to fulfill them.
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For truly I say to you,
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until heaven and earth pass away,
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not an iota,
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not a dot,
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will pass from the law
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until all is accomplished.
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Therefore,
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whoever relaxes one of the least
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of these commandments
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and teaches others through the same
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will be called least
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in the kingdom of God.
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But whoever does them
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and teaches them
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will be called great
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in the kingdom of God.
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And we spent quite a bit of time
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establishing the difference
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in the Old Testament law,
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the civil,
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the ceremonial,
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and the moral law.
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And we have put forth
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that the moral law
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is still meant to be obeyed.
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It is still the kingdom ethic
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by which we live
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empowered by the Spirit
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and having been redeemed by Christ.
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We spent quite a bit of time
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in Exodus 20
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walking through each of
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the Ten Commandments
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and considering all of the commandments
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that flow out of those commandments.
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So we have been there
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and then we find ourselves here
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where Jesus declares
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in chapter 7, verse 12,
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for this is the law
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and the prophets.
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This is very similar in form
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to what Jesus says
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in Mark chapter 12,
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verse 29 through 31
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when He is asked,
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which commandment
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is the most important of all?
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Jesus answered,
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the most important is,
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hear, O Israel,
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the Lord our God,
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the Lord is one,
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and you shall love
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the Lord your God
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with all your heart
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and with all your soul
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and with all your mind
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and with all your strength.
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The second is this,
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you shall love your neighbor
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as yourself.
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There is no other commandment
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greater than these.
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Love toward others
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is a volition of the will,
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it's a decision being made
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aimed at another's good
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at our expense.
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Which means that we cannot
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love others well
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unless we first love God.
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So in loving others
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as ourselves,
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we are keeping the law
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and the prophets.
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Last week we saw
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in chapter 7, verses 1 through 6,
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that to love others
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the way God would have us
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first of all requires
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that we do not
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self-righteously,
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carelessly criticize
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and condemn others,
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but rather lovingly,
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carefully aid others
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in the pursuit of holiness.
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We looked last week
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at Galatians chapter 6
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and verse 1,
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which reads,
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Brothers,
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if anyone is caught
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in any transgression,
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you who are spiritual
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shall restore him
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in a spirit of gentleness.
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This is a loving act
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of those who are called together
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as a family of God.
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Paul continues to say
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in Galatians 6, verse 2,
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Bear one another's burdens
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and so fulfill the law of Christ.
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So I hope that you are seeing
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the connection
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between Matthew chapter 5,
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verse 17 through 19,
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and chapter 7, verse 12.
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They're kind of bookends
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in that way.
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Citizens of the kingdom of heaven
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will be characterized
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by their love.
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Specifically, their love
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for one another.
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In John chapter 13,
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verse 34 and 35,
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as Jesus is eating
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the last supper
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with his disciples,
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he says,
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A new commandment
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I give to you,
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that you love
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one another.
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Just as I have loved you,
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you also are to love
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one another.
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By this,
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all people will know
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that you are my disciples
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if you have love
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for one another.
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We are not meant
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to be known
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by anything else
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but love
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for one another.
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We may prove ourselves
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to be disciples
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of someone
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or something else
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by the dressings
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that we put on.
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But the way
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we're to be known
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as disciples
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of Jesus Christ
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is because of the way
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we love
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one another.
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Now,
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this ethic
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of reciprocity,
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track me for a second,
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this ethic
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of reciprocity
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was not new
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to Jesus'
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day.
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but it was
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always stated
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in the negative.
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Let me show you
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what I mean.
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The Jewish
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Rabbi Hillel,
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all of these
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predate the teaching
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of Jesus here
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in Matthew chapter 7.
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The Jewish
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Rabbi Hillel
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quoted a saying,
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What is hateful
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to yourself,
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do not
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to someone
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else.
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The book of
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Tobit,
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which is included
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in the Apocrypha,
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says,
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What thou
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thyself
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hatest
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to no man
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do.
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Confucius
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taught,
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and I quote,
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What you do not
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want done to yourself,
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do not do
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to others.
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An ancient
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Greek king
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named
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Nicocles
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wrote,
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Do not do
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to others
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the things
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which make you
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angry when you
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experience them
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at the hands
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of other people.
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And the Greek
11:19
philosopher
11:20
Epictetus
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once wrote,
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What you avoid
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suffering yourself,
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do not
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afflict
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on others.
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You see,
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the ethic
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of reciprocity
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had been taught
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for a long,
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long time,
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but not
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in the way
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that Jesus
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taught it.
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The hearers
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of Jesus' day
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would have been
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very familiar
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with this form
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of teaching,
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but what Jesus
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does with it
11:46
is astounding.
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He flips
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the teaching
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on its head.
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He makes it
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rather than
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a negative
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exhortation,
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he makes it
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a positive
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exhortation.
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He makes it
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from a
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avoid harm
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done to you
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into a
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do good
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for others
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ethic
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of reciprocity.
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It's significant
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that he's even
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using this
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form of
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language
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because the
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people in his
12:11
day would have
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gone,
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Wait,
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what?
12:13
being a
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citizen of
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the kingdom
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of heaven
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is not
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about me
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and getting
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mine.
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It's about
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what I
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can do
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for others.
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And Jesus
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would say
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to that,
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yes,
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this is
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exactly what
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it looks
12:26
like to
12:26
be a
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citizen
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of the
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kingdom
12:28
of heaven.
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And so
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in our
12:31
text,
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Jesus gives
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us three
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reasons to
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obey the
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command to
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love others
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as ourselves.
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three reasons
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to obey the
12:41
command to
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love others
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as ourselves.
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First reason
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is God's
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promise to
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his people.
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And we see
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this in
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verse 7
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and verse
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8.
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Now,
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I don't
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believe,
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some do,
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I don't
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believe that
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we're given
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here some
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kind of
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code by
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which to
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get response
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from God.
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This
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asking,
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seeking,
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knocking.
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These are
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three different
13:09
steps in
13:10
some process
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by which.
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I think
13:12
that Jesus
13:12
is just
13:13
elaborating
13:14
on the
13:14
point.
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If you
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go to
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God for
13:18
something that
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God is
13:19
willing to
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give,
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he will
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in fact
13:21
give it
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to you.
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Ask and
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it will
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be given
13:24
to you.
13:24
Seek and
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you will
13:25
find.
13:25
Knock and
13:26
it will
13:26
be opened
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to you.
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For
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everyone who
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asks,
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receives,
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and the
13:30
one who
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seeks,
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finds,
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and the
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one who
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knocks,
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it will
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be opened.
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And so
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for us,
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this is
13:38
most readily
13:39
a teaching
13:39
about prayer.
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It is,
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in fact,
13:42
some teaching
13:43
about prayer.
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And I
13:46
want to
13:46
look first
13:47
at its
13:47
general
13:48
application,
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and then
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we'll look
13:50
a little bit
13:50
at its
13:51
specific
13:51
application,
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and try
13:52
to understand
13:52
why we
13:53
find it
13:54
in the
13:54
flow of
13:55
text here
13:55
in Jesus'
13:56
sermon on
13:57
the mount.
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So there
13:58
is certainly
13:59
a general
14:00
application
14:01
for our
14:02
praying,
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right?
14:03
God
14:03
promises
14:04
to
14:04
answer
14:05
prayer.
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God
14:08
answers
14:09
prayer,
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and this
14:10
should
14:10
move
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us
14:12
to
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pray.
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God
14:13
wants
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us
14:14
to
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ask
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and
14:16
seek
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and
14:17
knock.
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This
14:20
text,
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however,
14:21
is not
14:22
meant for
14:22
us to
14:22
think
14:23
that God
14:23
has
14:23
written
14:24
us
14:24
a
14:24
blank
14:25
check
14:25
that
14:26
we
14:26
can
14:26
fill
14:27
in
14:27
any
14:27
way
14:28
we
14:29
want.
14:30
Many
14:30
have
14:31
used
14:31
these
14:32
verses
14:32
in
14:33
this
14:33
way.
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It's
14:34
a
14:34
plain
14:35
teaching
14:35
of
14:35
Jesus
14:36
here.
14:37
Ask
14:37
seek
14:37
knock.
14:38
It
14:38
will
14:38
be
14:38
given
14:39
to
14:40
you.
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These
14:41
people
14:42
will
14:42
also
14:42
use
14:43
texts
14:43
like
14:43
John
14:43
chapter
14:44
14
14:44
verse
14:45
13
14:45
and
14:45
14
14:46
in
14:46
the
14:46
same
14:47
way
14:47
where
14:47
Jesus
14:47
says
14:47
whatever
14:48
you
14:48
ask
14:48
in
14:48
my
14:49
name
14:49
this
14:50
I
14:50
will
14:50
do
14:51
that
14:51
the
14:52
Father
14:52
may
14:52
be
14:52
glorified
14:53
and
14:53
the
14:53
Son
14:53
if
14:53
you
14:53
ask
14:54
me
14:54
anything
14:54
in
14:54
my
14:55
name
14:55
I
15:00
is
15:01
the
15:01
nature
15:01
of
15:02
what
15:02
Jesus
15:02
is
15:02
saying
15:02
about
15:03
his
15:03
name
15:04
right
15:04
they
15:04
merely
15:05
tack
15:06
in
15:06
Jesus
15:06
name
15:07
onto
15:07
the
15:07
end
15:08
of
15:08
a
15:08
prayer
15:09
and
15:09
that's
15:09
not
15:09
why
15:10
we
15:10
say
15:11
that
15:11
at
15:11
the
15:11
end
15:11
of
15:11
a
15:11
prayer
15:12
we
15:12
don't
15:12
say
15:13
in
15:13
Jesus
15:13
name
15:14
as
15:14
an
15:14
incantation
15:15
to
15:16
get
15:16
what
15:16
we
15:16
want
15:18
but
15:19
rather
15:19
in
15:20
Jesus
15:20
day
15:20
a
15:21
name
15:21
carried
15:22
much
15:22
more
15:23
weight
15:23
than
15:23
it
15:23
typically
15:24
does
15:24
in
15:25
our
15:25
day
15:26
the
15:27
name
15:27
represented
15:28
all
15:29
that
15:29
a
15:29
person
15:30
was
15:31
in
15:32
Jesus
15:32
case
15:33
his
15:33
name
15:33
represents
15:34
all
15:34
that
15:35
he
15:35
is
15:36
to
15:37
ask
15:38
for
15:38
something
15:38
in
15:39
someone's
15:39
name
15:40
is
15:40
to
15:40
ask
15:41
for
15:41
something
15:41
consistent
15:42
with
15:42
who
15:43
that
15:43
person
15:44
is
15:45
and
15:47
so
15:47
at
15:47
the
15:47
end
15:47
of
15:47
my
15:47
praying
15:48
and
15:48
almost
15:49
every
15:49
time
15:49
I
15:49
pray
15:50
possibly
15:50
every
15:50
time
15:51
you've
15:51
heard
15:51
me
15:51
pray
15:52
publicly
15:53
I
15:53
will
15:53
say
15:54
something
15:54
to
15:54
the
15:55
effect
15:55
of
15:55
in
15:56
Jesus
15:56
name
15:57
and
15:57
for
15:58
his
15:58
sake
15:58
we
15:59
pray
15:59
and
16:00
what
16:00
I'm
16:01
saying
16:01
is
16:01
I
16:02
believe
16:02
that
16:03
what
16:03
I've
16:04
prayed
16:04
is
16:04
consistent
16:05
with
16:05
who
16:06
Jesus
16:06
is
16:07
consistent
16:08
with
16:08
his
16:08
character
16:08
it's
16:09
consistent
16:09
with
16:09
the
16:09
way
16:10
he's
16:10
working
16:10
in
16:11
the
16:11
world
16:11
and
16:12
then
16:12
we
16:12
utter
16:12
our
16:13
amen
16:13
God
16:14
let
16:14
it
16:14
be
16:15
believing
16:16
it's
16:16
consistent
16:16
with
16:17
who
16:17
Jesus
16:17
is
16:18
and
16:18
how
16:18
it
16:18
is
16:18
he's
16:19
working
16:19
in
16:19
the
16:19
world
16:19
his
16:19
mission
16:20
and
16:20
what
16:20
he
16:20
intends
16:20
to
16:21
accomplish
16:21
please
16:22
let
16:22
these
16:23
things
16:23
be
16:25
so
16:26
when
16:26
Jesus
16:26
makes
16:27
this
16:27
promise
16:27
if
16:27
you
16:28
ask
16:28
anything
16:28
in
16:29
my
16:29
name
16:30
he's
16:31
saying
16:31
if
16:31
you
16:31
ask
16:31
me
16:32
to
16:32
do
16:32
anything
16:32
that
16:32
I
16:33
would
16:33
do
16:33
I
16:33
will
16:34
do
16:34
it
16:34
some
16:37
other
16:37
texts
16:38
first
16:39
John
16:39
chapter
16:40
three
16:40
verse
16:40
twenty
16:40
one
16:41
and
16:41
twenty
16:41
two
16:41
John
16:43
writes
16:43
beloved
16:43
if
16:43
our
16:43
heart
16:44
does
16:44
not
16:44
condemn
16:44
us
16:45
we
16:45
have
16:46
confidence
16:46
before
16:47
God
16:47
so
16:48
if
16:48
we
16:48
are
16:48
not
16:48
finding
16:49
ourselves
16:49
in
16:49
sin
16:49
and
16:50
whatever
16:51
we
16:51
ask
16:51
we
16:51
receive
16:52
from
16:52
him
16:52
because
16:52
we
16:53
keep
16:53
his
16:53
commandments
16:54
and
16:54
do
16:54
what
16:55
pleases
16:55
him
16:56
so
16:57
as
16:57
we're
16:58
obediently
16:58
following
16:58
the
16:59
commands
16:59
of
16:59
God
16:59
or
17:00
asking
17:00
!
17:00
things
17:00
consistent
17:01
with
17:01
his
17:01
name
17:01
he
17:04
we
17:04
ask
17:05
and
17:05
later
17:06
in
17:06
first
17:06
John
17:06
chapter
17:06
five
17:07
and
17:07
verse
17:07
fourteen
17:08
and
17:08
this
17:08
is
17:09
the
17:09
confidence
17:09
that
17:09
we
17:10
have
17:10
toward
17:11
him
17:11
that
17:12
if
17:12
we
17:13
ask
17:13
anything
17:13
according
17:14
to
17:15
his
17:15
will
17:16
he
17:17
hears
17:19
us
17:19
so
17:21
if
17:22
you
17:22
want
17:22
to
17:22
pray
17:22
effective
17:23
prayers
17:24
and I
17:24
hope
17:24
that
17:24
you
17:25
do
17:25
if
17:26
you
17:26
want
17:26
to
17:26
take
17:26
hold
17:26
of
17:26
the
17:27
promise
17:27
of
17:27
God
17:28
found
17:28
in
17:28
this
17:28
test
17:29
that
17:29
for
17:29
the
17:29
one
17:29
who
17:30
asks
17:31
and
17:31
seeks
17:31
and
17:32
knocks
17:32
right
17:33
that
17:33
they
17:33
will
17:33
receive
17:34
then
17:35
we
17:35
need
17:35
to
17:36
know
17:36
our
17:37
God
17:37
we
17:38
need
17:38
to
17:38
know
17:38
who
17:39
this
17:39
Jesus
17:39
is
17:40
who
17:40
says
17:40
if
17:40
you
17:40
pray
17:41
anything
17:41
in
17:41
my
17:41
name
17:41
I
17:42
will
17:42
give
17:42
it
17:43
to
17:43
you
17:43
and
17:44
how
17:44
do
17:44
we
17:44
know
17:45
this
17:45
Jesus
17:46
we
17:47
meet
17:47
with
17:47
him
17:47
in
17:47
the
17:47
Bible
17:48
we
17:49
meet
17:49
with
17:49
him
17:49
in
17:49
the
17:49
scripture
17:49
we
17:50
go
17:50
to
17:51
it
17:51
regularly
17:52
and
17:53
often
17:54
and
17:54
we
17:55
dive
17:55
deeply
17:55
into
17:56
it
17:56
we
17:57
know
17:57
the
17:57
text
17:58
we
17:59
begin
18:03
pray
18:03
his
18:04
will
18:05
so
18:06
this
18:06
is
18:07
a
18:07
massively
18:08
encouraging
18:09
general
18:10
application
18:11
of the
18:12
text
18:12
is it
18:14
not
18:14
we
18:15
should
18:16
love
18:16
and
18:17
obey
18:17
God
18:18
which
18:19
will
18:19
find
18:19
our
18:20
desires
18:20
coming
18:20
into
18:21
line
18:21
with
18:22
his
18:22
so
18:22
that
18:23
as
18:23
we
18:23
pray
18:23
he
18:24
will
18:24
hear
18:25
and
18:25
answer
18:25
our
18:26
prayers
18:27
this
18:29
is a
18:29
promise
18:29
of our
18:30
text
18:30
today
18:32
but
18:33
there
18:33
is
18:33
a
18:33
more
18:34
specific
18:35
application
18:36
so
18:37
if
18:37
you
18:37
understand
18:38
the
18:38
text
18:38
in
18:38
that
18:38
way
18:39
in
18:39
other
18:40
applications
18:41
I
18:41
think
18:41
you're
18:41
correct
18:42
in
18:42
doing
18:42
so
18:42
there
18:42
is
18:43
general
18:43
application
18:43
for
18:44
your
18:44
praying
18:45
but
18:47
there's
18:47
specific
18:47
application
18:48
for
18:48
our
18:48
text
18:49
today
18:49
why
18:50
does
18:50
it
18:50
come
18:50
here
18:51
in
18:51
chapter
18:51
7
18:52
again
18:54
our
18:54
Lord
18:54
did
18:54
not
18:54
have
18:55
an
18:56
afterthought
18:56
about
18:57
prayer
18:57
and
18:57
begin
18:57
to
18:58
tack
18:58
on
18:58
random
18:59
instructions
19:00
!
19:02
confidence
19:02
in
19:02
your
19:03
praying
19:03
he
19:05
is
19:05
instructing
19:05
us
19:05
to
19:06
pray
19:06
as
19:07
we
19:07
are
19:08
about
19:08
the
19:08
work
19:09
of
19:09
lovingly
19:10
carefully
19:11
aiding
19:11
others
19:12
in
19:12
the
19:12
pursuit
19:13
of
19:13
holiness
19:14
we've
19:16
seen
19:16
that
19:16
at
19:16
the
19:16
beginning
19:17
of
19:17
chapter
19:17
7
19:18
he's
19:19
saying
19:19
to
19:19
us
19:19
as
19:20
you're
19:20
doing
19:20
this
19:21
great
19:21
work
19:22
of
19:22
helping
19:22
each
19:23
other
19:23
pursue
19:24
Christ
19:24
likeness
19:25
pray
19:26
the
19:28
father
19:28
deeply
19:28
cares
19:29
about
19:29
this
19:29
thing
19:30
and
19:30
he
19:30
will
19:30
answer
19:30
your
19:31
prayers
19:32
so we're
19:32
about
19:33
supposed to
19:33
be doing
19:34
that
19:34
and
19:34
as
19:35
we
19:35
are
19:36
going
19:36
about
19:36
the
19:37
work
19:37
praying
19:39
for
19:39
strength
19:39
to
19:40
obey
19:40
the
19:41
command
19:41
to
19:42
love
19:42
others
19:43
as
19:44
ourselves
19:44
his
19:46
teaching
19:46
concerning
19:47
prayer
19:47
is
19:47
bridging
19:48
these
19:49
two
19:49
ideas
19:50
of
19:50
love
19:51
to
19:51
others
19:52
together
19:53
it's
19:54
bridging
19:54
it
19:54
together
19:55
right
19:55
verse
19:56
12
19:56
begins
19:57
so
19:58
so
19:58
what
19:59
so
20:00
because
20:01
you're
20:01
praying
20:01
in
20:01
this
20:02
way
20:02
it's
20:03
bridging
20:04
these
20:04
two
20:04
ideas
20:05
together
20:06
which
20:06
ought
20:07
to
20:07
make
20:07
it
20:07
so
20:08
clear
20:08
how
20:08
very
20:09
much
20:10
we
20:10
need
20:10
his
20:10
help
20:11
if
20:11
we
20:11
are
20:12
to
20:12
love
20:12
others
20:13
well
20:14
we
20:15
desperately
20:15
need
20:16
him
20:16
to
20:16
work
20:16
in
20:17
our
20:18
working
20:18
as
20:19
we're
20:19
loving
20:19
one
20:21
another
20:21
oh
20:23
may
20:23
we
20:23
be a
20:24
people
20:24
who
20:25
obey
20:25
the
20:25
command
20:26
to
20:26
love
20:26
others
20:26
as
20:27
ourselves
20:27
because
20:28
of
20:28
God's
20:29
promise
20:30
to
20:30
his
20:31
people
20:31
to
20:32
answer
20:32
their
20:33
prayers
20:33
may
20:35
we
20:35
also
20:36
be
20:36
a
20:36
people
20:36
who
20:36
obey
20:37
the
20:37
command
20:37
to
20:37
love
20:37
others
20:37
as
20:38
ourselves
20:38
because
20:39
secondly
20:40
God's
20:41
pattern
20:42
for
20:43
his
20:43
people
20:44
we've
20:44
got
20:44
God's
20:45
promise
20:45
to
20:45
his
20:45
people
20:45
secondly
20:46
God's
20:47
pattern
20:48
for
20:49
his
20:49
people
20:50
verse
20:52
9
20:52
10
20:53
and
20:53
11
20:54
Jesus
20:55
asks
20:56
here
20:57
three
20:57
rhetorical
20:58
questions
21:00
everyone
21:01
knows
21:02
the
21:02
answers
21:02
to
21:03
these
21:03
questions
21:04
if
21:05
any
21:05
one
21:06
of
21:06
my
21:06
sons
21:07
asked
21:07
me
21:07
for
21:08
bread
21:08
of
21:09
course
21:09
I
21:09
would
21:10
not
21:10
give
21:10
them
21:11
a
21:12
stone
21:12
too
21:13
many
21:13
of
21:13
us
21:13
are
21:13
familiar
21:14
with
21:14
loaves
21:14
of
21:14
bread
21:15
bread
21:15
then
21:16
looked
21:16
like
21:16
a
21:16
stone
21:17
it
21:18
was
21:18
brown
21:18
and
21:19
it
21:19
was
21:19
roundish
21:20
I
21:21
wouldn't
21:21
give
21:22
them
21:22
a
21:22
replacement
21:23
item
21:23
for
21:24
the
21:24
thing
21:24
that
21:25
they
21:25
asked
21:25
for
21:26
I
21:26
would
21:26
gladly
21:26
provide
21:27
for
21:27
them
21:27
in
21:28
our
21:28
family
21:29
gluten
21:29
free
21:30
bread
21:30
I
21:33
love
21:33
my
21:34
sons
21:34
and
21:34
their
21:35
sustenance
21:35
is
21:36
of
21:36
great
21:36
importance
21:37
to
21:38
me
21:38
when
21:39
my
21:39
boys
21:39
are
21:40
hungry
21:40
I
21:41
want
21:41
them
21:41
to
21:42
be
21:42
fed
21:43
if
21:44
any
21:45
one
21:45
of
21:45
my
21:45
sons
21:45
asked
21:46
me
21:46
for
21:46
a
21:46
fish
21:47
which
21:47
none
21:47
of
21:47
them
21:48
would
21:48
but
21:49
again
21:50
this
21:50
was
21:50
a
21:50
common
21:51
item
21:51
of
21:51
sustenance
21:52
right
21:53
this
21:53
would
21:53
have
21:53
been
21:53
a
21:53
common
21:54
thing
21:54
to
21:54
ask
21:54
for
21:55
if
21:55
one
21:55
were
21:56
hungry
21:57
of
21:58
course
21:58
I
21:59
would
21:59
give
21:59
them
21:59
the
21:59
good
22:00
nourishing
22:01
thing
22:01
for
22:02
them
22:02
and
22:02
not
22:03
a
22:03
thing
22:03
that
22:04
could
22:04
injure
22:05
them
22:05
not
22:06
a
22:06
thing
22:06
that
22:07
could
22:07
be
22:07
injurious
22:08
to
22:08
them
22:08
the
22:08
good
22:09
thing
22:09
that
22:09
they
22:10
need
22:11
to
22:11
sustain
22:12
them
22:12
Jesus
22:14
then
22:14
says
22:15
if
22:15
then
22:16
you
22:17
who
22:17
are
22:17
evil
22:18
know
22:19
how
22:19
to
22:19
give
22:19
good
22:20
gifts
22:20
to
22:20
your
22:21
children
22:22
he's
22:24
not
22:24
speaking
22:25
of
22:25
any
22:25
specific
22:26
fathers
22:27
but
22:28
of
22:28
all
22:29
fathers
22:30
in
22:30
general
22:31
he
22:32
is
22:32
saying
22:33
that
22:33
all
22:33
human
22:34
fathers
22:35
are
22:36
imperfect
22:37
the
22:38
fathers
22:38
in the
22:39
room
22:39
know
22:40
this
22:40
very
22:41
well
22:42
probably
22:43
because
22:43
you
22:44
all
22:44
have
22:44
fathers
22:45
you're
22:45
very
22:46
aware
22:46
of
22:46
this
22:47
none
22:47
of
22:48
us
22:48
have
22:48
had
22:48
perfect
22:50
fathers
22:50
none
22:51
of
22:51
us
22:51
will
22:51
be
22:52
perfect
22:53
fathers
22:54
all
22:55
human
22:55
fathers
22:56
are
22:56
imperfect
22:57
but
22:59
we
22:59
can
22:59
manage
23:00
the
23:00
giving
23:00
of
23:00
good
23:01
gifts
23:01
to
23:01
our
23:01
children
23:02
we
23:02
can
23:03
manage
23:03
when
23:03
they
23:03
ask
23:04
for
23:04
food
23:04
to
23:05
give
23:05
them
23:05
food
23:05
and
23:05
not
23:05
something
23:06
else
23:06
right
23:07
he
23:10
then
23:10
asks
23:11
his
23:11
third
23:12
rhetorical
23:13
question
23:14
Jesus
23:15
says
23:15
how
23:16
much
23:17
more
23:18
will
23:19
your
23:19
father
23:19
who
23:20
is
23:20
in
23:20
heaven
23:20
give
23:20
good
23:21
things
23:21
to
23:21
those
23:22
who
23:23
ask
23:23
him
23:24
the
23:26
answer
23:26
here
23:26
is
23:26
meant
23:27
to
23:28
be
23:28
obvious
23:28
our
23:30
heavenly
23:31
father
23:31
will
23:32
give
23:33
to
23:33
us
23:33
the
23:33
good
23:34
things
23:34
we
23:35
ask
23:35
for
23:36
specifically
23:37
the
23:38
ability
23:39
to
23:40
love
23:40
one
23:41
another
23:41
and
23:42
to
23:42
provide
23:42
for
23:42
all
23:43
that
23:43
is
23:43
necessary
23:43
for
23:44
us
23:44
to
23:44
love
23:44
one
23:45
another
23:46
not
23:47
only
23:47
is
23:48
our
23:48
heavenly
23:48
father
23:48
willing
23:49
to
23:49
give
23:49
us
23:49
good
23:49
gifts
23:50
he
23:51
is
23:51
also
23:51
able
23:53
he
23:54
does
23:54
not
23:55
lack
23:55
the
23:55
power
23:56
to
23:56
give
23:56
us
23:56
exactly
23:57
what
23:58
is
23:58
good
23:58
and
23:58
necessary
23:59
for
24:00
us
24:00
he
24:01
can
24:01
do
24:01
all
24:02
that
24:02
his
24:02
will
24:02
purposes
24:03
and
24:04
we
24:04
know
24:04
that
24:05
he
24:05
will
24:05
provide
24:05
for
24:06
all
24:06
that
24:06
he
24:06
commands
24:08
!
24:10
that
24:11
if
24:11
he
24:11
has
24:11
given
24:11
you
24:12
a
24:12
command
24:12
in
24:13
the
24:13
scripture
24:13
that
24:14
he
24:14
will
24:14
provide
24:15
for
24:15
you
24:15
the
24:15
grace
24:15
necessary
24:16
to
24:16
keep
24:16
the
24:17
command
24:17
right
24:18
it
24:18
is
24:18
never
24:19
an
24:19
excuse
24:19
for
24:19
to
24:19
say
24:19
oh
24:20
I
24:20
can't
24:20
do
24:20
that
24:20
it
24:21
is
24:21
too
24:21
hard
24:22
right
24:22
then
24:23
you're
24:23
not
24:23
asking
24:23
ask
24:25
seek
24:26
knock
24:27
right
24:28
God
24:28
provides
24:29
for
24:29
all
24:29
that
24:29
he
24:30
commands
24:31
so
24:32
if
24:32
we
24:32
are
24:32
being
24:32
told
24:33
to
24:33
love
24:33
others
24:33
as
24:33
ourselves
24:34
he
24:35
will
24:35
provide
24:36
all
24:36
that
24:36
is
24:37
necessary
24:37
to
24:38
do
24:38
so
24:39
he
24:40
will
24:40
provide
24:40
the
24:41
ability
24:41
to
24:41
forgive
24:41
the
24:43
ability
24:43
to
24:43
be
24:44
patient
24:44
the
24:45
ability
24:46
to
24:46
see
24:46
past
24:46
each
24:47
other's
24:47
differences
24:48
the
24:49
ability
24:49
to
24:50
love
24:50
each
24:50
other
24:50
even
24:51
when
24:51
we
24:51
don't
24:52
like
24:52
each
24:53
other
24:53
the
24:54
ability
24:55
to
24:55
have
24:55
difficult
24:56
conversations
24:56
the
24:58
ability
24:58
to
24:58
be
24:58
bold
24:59
when
24:59
necessary
25:00
the
25:00
ability
25:00
to
25:01
be
25:01
humble
25:02
all
25:03
the
25:03
time
25:03
you
25:05
see
25:05
beloved
25:05
he
25:06
has
25:06
given
25:06
to
25:06
us
25:07
his
25:07
spirit
25:08
who
25:09
leads
25:09
us
25:09
into
25:10
all
25:10
righteousness
25:11
Paul
25:13
tells
25:13
us
25:14
in
25:14
Galatians
25:14
chapter
25:15
5
25:15
verse
25:15
22
25:16
and
25:16
23
25:17
the
25:18
fruit
25:18
of
25:19
the
25:19
spirit
25:19
is
25:20
love
25:21
joy
25:22
peace
25:23
patience
25:25
kindness
25:26
goodness
25:27
faithfulness
25:29
gentleness
25:31
self
25:32
control
25:33
against
25:35
such
25:35
things
25:36
there
25:36
is
25:37
no
25:38
law
25:39
and
25:40
in
25:40
fact
25:40
that
25:40
what
25:40
I
25:41
think
25:41
Paul
25:41
meant
25:41
these
25:42
things
25:42
are
25:43
law
25:43
fulfilling
25:44
things
25:45
right
25:46
the
25:46
spirit
25:46
is
25:46
working
25:47
them
25:47
in
25:48
us
25:49
to
25:49
God's
25:49
glory
25:50
God
25:51
if
25:51
God
25:51
will
25:52
God
25:53
can
25:57
and
25:58
will
25:58
infinitely
25:59
outdo
26:00
them
26:00
in
26:01
every
26:01
way
26:02
a
26:04
couple
26:04
of
26:04
times
26:05
each
26:05
Sunday
26:05
I
26:06
think
26:06
I
26:06
have
26:06
managed
26:07
it
26:07
a
26:08
few
26:08
times
26:08
by
26:08
now
26:09
I
26:10
refer
26:10
to
26:10
you
26:11
as
26:11
beloved
26:12
I
26:13
think
26:14
you've
26:14
heard
26:14
this
26:14
I
26:15
hope
26:15
that
26:15
you
26:15
have
26:16
and
26:17
I
26:17
hope
26:17
that
26:17
it
26:17
arrests
26:19
your
26:19
brain
26:19
at
26:20
least
26:20
a
26:20
bit
26:20
maybe
26:21
if
26:21
only
26:21
to
26:22
say
26:22
I
26:23
wonder
26:23
why
26:23
why
26:24
does
26:24
he
26:24
use
26:25
that
26:25
terminology
26:26
with
26:27
us
26:27
on
26:28
Sundays
26:28
here's
26:30
why
26:30
when
26:32
Jesus
26:32
was
26:32
baptized
26:33
by
26:33
John
26:33
in
26:33
the
26:34
wilderness
26:34
God
26:35
spoke
26:36
from
26:36
heaven
26:36
saying
26:37
you can
26:37
see
26:37
this
26:37
in
26:37
Matthew
26:38
chapter
26:38
3
26:38
verse
26:39
17
26:39
this
26:41
is
26:42
my
26:42
beloved
26:43
son
26:44
with
26:45
whom
26:46
I
26:46
am
26:47
well
26:48
pleased
26:49
God
26:50
the
26:50
father
26:50
called
26:52
God
26:52
the
26:52
son
26:53
beloved
26:54
and
26:56
now
26:56
for
26:57
those
26:57
of
26:58
us
26:58
who
26:58
have
26:58
placed
26:58
our
26:59
faith
26:59
in
26:59
Christ
26:59
who
27:00
have
27:00
believed
27:00
in
27:00
him
27:01
for
27:01
the
27:01
salvation
27:01
of
27:01
our
27:02
souls
27:02
this
27:03
same
27:04
terminology
27:04
is
27:05
extended
27:05
to
27:05
us
27:06
we
27:06
are
27:06
now
27:06
co-heirs
27:07
with
27:07
Christ
27:08
we
27:08
are
27:08
his
27:08
brothers
27:09
and
27:10
his
27:10
sisters
27:11
so
27:13
God
27:13
looks
27:13
at
27:13
us
27:14
and
27:14
he
27:14
calls
27:14
us
27:15
beloved
27:16
how
27:18
would
27:18
I
27:18
know
27:18
such
27:18
a
27:19
thing
27:19
later
27:20
in
27:21
history
27:22
in
27:23
the
27:23
writing
27:23
of
27:23
first
27:23
John
27:24
John
27:24
uses
27:24
this
27:25
title
27:25
for
27:25
the
27:25
Christians
27:26
that
27:26
he
27:26
is
27:26
writing
27:27
to
27:28
he
27:29
and
27:30
I
27:30
and
27:30
using
27:30
that
27:31
terminology
27:31
intend
27:32
to
27:32
remind
27:33
you
27:33
that
27:35
if
27:35
you
27:35
are
27:35
in
27:36
Christ
27:36
you
27:36
have
27:36
all
27:37
the
27:37
blessings
27:38
of
27:38
being
27:38
called
27:39
God's
27:40
children
27:41
it's
27:42
my way
27:43
of saying
27:43
to those
27:43
in the
27:44
room
27:44
Christian
27:45
listen to
27:45
this
27:46
thing
27:46
right
27:47
but
27:47
rooting
27:47
that
27:48
in
27:48
us
27:49
being
27:49
God's
27:50
children
27:51
him
27:51
being
27:51
our
27:52
father
27:54
Paul
27:55
wrote
27:56
in
27:56
Ephesians
27:56
chapter
27:56
1
27:57
verse
27:57
3
27:58
blessed
27:59
be
27:59
the
27:59
God
28:00
and
28:00
father
28:00
of
28:00
our
28:01
Lord
28:01
Jesus
28:01
Christ
28:02
who
28:03
has
28:03
blessed
28:03
us
28:04
in
28:04
Christ
28:05
with
28:05
every
28:06
spiritual
28:06
blessing
28:07
in
28:08
the
28:08
heavenly
28:08
places
28:09
we
28:11
have
28:11
full
28:12
access
28:12
to
28:13
God
28:14
and
28:14
all
28:15
that
28:15
he's
28:15
promised
28:15
for
28:16
us
28:16
and
28:17
we
28:17
can
28:17
see
28:18
that
28:18
so
28:18
simply
28:19
in
28:19
this
28:20
pattern
28:20
right
28:21
that
28:21
fathers
28:22
know
28:22
how
28:22
to
28:22
give
28:22
good
28:23
gifts
28:23
to
28:23
their
28:23
children
28:24
how
28:24
much
28:25
more
28:26
will
28:27
our
28:27
heavenly
28:28
father
28:28
provide
28:29
for
28:29
us
28:29
all
28:30
that
28:30
we
28:30
need
28:30
as
28:31
we
28:31
endeavor
28:31
to
28:32
love
28:32
one
28:33
another
28:33
as
28:34
we
28:34
should
28:35
so
28:36
may
28:37
we
28:37
be
28:37
a
28:37
people
28:37
who
28:37
obey
28:38
the
28:38
command
28:38
to
28:38
love
28:39
others
28:39
as
28:39
ourselves
28:40
because
28:41
God
28:41
promises
28:41
God's
28:43
promises
28:43
to his
28:43
people
28:43
God's
28:44
pattern
28:45
for his
28:45
people
28:46
and
28:46
third
28:47
and
28:47
lastly
28:47
God's
28:48
purpose
28:49
for his
28:50
people
28:50
we
28:53
find this
28:53
in verse
28:53
12
28:54
so
28:54
whatever
28:54
you
28:54
wish
28:55
that
28:55
others
28:55
would
28:55
do
28:56
to
28:56
you
28:57
do
28:57
also
28:57
to
28:58
them
28:58
for
28:58
this
28:59
is
28:59
the
29:00
law
29:00
and
29:01
the
29:01
prophets
29:02
there
29:04
is
29:04
no
29:04
capacity
29:05
in
29:06
an
29:06
unbeliever
29:07
one
29:07
who
29:07
does
29:07
not
29:08
follow
29:08
Christ
29:09
to
29:10
love
29:10
others
29:11
as
29:12
ourselves
29:12
sinful
29:14
man
29:15
is
29:15
only
29:16
interested
29:16
in
29:17
self
29:18
all
29:19
that
29:19
he
29:19
does
29:20
is
29:20
aimed
29:20
at
29:20
his
29:21
own
29:21
well
29:22
being
29:23
the
29:24
affirmation
29:25
affirmation
29:26
statements
29:26
of the
29:27
ethic
29:27
of
29:28
reciprocity
29:28
were
29:29
only
29:30
aimed
29:30
at
29:30
self
29:31
interest
29:31
not
29:32
harming
29:32
others
29:33
so
29:33
that
29:34
they
29:34
would
29:34
not
29:34
harm
29:35
us
29:35
don't
29:37
do
29:37
to
29:37
others
29:38
so
29:38
that
29:38
they
29:38
won't
29:39
do
29:39
to
29:39
you
29:41
but
29:42
God
29:42
asks
29:43
so
29:43
much
29:44
more
29:44
of
29:45
his
29:45
people
29:46
he
29:47
asks
29:47
something
29:48
supernatural
29:49
of
29:50
his
29:51
people
29:51
that
29:51
he
29:51
would
29:52
accomplish
29:52
it
29:52
and
29:53
be
29:53
praised
29:53
for
29:54
it
29:54
loving
29:55
others
29:56
as
29:57
we
29:57
love
29:57
ourselves
29:58
this
30:00
kind
30:00
of
30:00
love
30:01
is
30:01
not
30:01
self
30:02
serving
30:04
the
30:05
self
30:06
love
30:06
comes
30:06
so
30:06
very
30:07
naturally
30:07
what
30:08
Jesus
30:08
is
30:08
trying
30:08
to
30:09
say
30:09
to
30:09
us
30:09
is
30:09
that
30:09
we
30:09
turn
30:10
that
30:10
natural
30:11
impulse
30:12
to
30:12
love
30:12
ourselves
30:13
outward
30:13
to
30:14
others
30:15
selfless
30:16
love
30:16
served
30:17
for the
30:17
sake
30:17
of
30:18
the
30:18
one
30:18
being
30:18
served
30:19
and
30:20
serves
30:20
in
30:20
the
30:21
way
30:21
it
30:21
likes
30:22
being
30:22
served
30:24
whether
30:24
you
30:25
are
30:25
served
30:25
in
30:25
this
30:25
way
30:26
or
30:27
not
30:28
beloved
30:29
when
30:30
was
30:30
the
30:30
last
30:31
time
30:31
you
30:31
gave
30:32
of
30:32
yourself
30:32
for
30:33
the
30:33
sake
30:33
of
30:34
another
30:34
you
30:36
may
30:36
find
30:36
yourself
30:37
being
30:37
one
30:38
of
30:38
those
30:38
people
30:38
this
30:39
morning
30:39
that
30:40
are
30:40
rather
30:41
unloving
30:42
maybe
30:42
you're
30:42
looking
30:43
for
30:43
others
30:43
to
30:44
love
30:44
you
30:44
well
30:45
and
30:45
then
30:46
you're
30:46
ready
30:46
to
30:46
love
30:47
others
30:47
you're
30:49
willing
30:49
to
30:50
play
30:50
in the
30:51
game
30:51
this
30:51
ethic
30:51
of
30:52
reciprocity
30:52
but
30:53
others
30:53
must
30:53
act
30:54
first
30:54
and
30:55
then
30:55
the
30:55
other
30:55
way
30:56
around
30:57
most
30:58
of you
30:58
have
30:59
jobs
30:59
or have
30:59
worked
31:00
a job
31:01
and how
31:01
often
31:02
have we
31:02
or
31:03
others
31:03
that we
31:04
work
31:04
with
31:04
said we
31:06
would work
31:06
harder
31:06
once we
31:07
got that
31:08
raise
31:08
guess what
31:09
that's
31:09
not the
31:10
way the
31:10
world
31:10
works
31:11
if you
31:12
ever
31:12
want
31:12
to
31:12
raise
31:13
you
31:13
better
31:13
work
31:13
really
31:14
really
31:14
hard
31:14
first
31:15
exceed
31:17
what
31:17
you're
31:17
being
31:17
paid
31:17
for
31:18
and
31:18
then
31:18
the
31:19
person
31:19
paying
31:19
you
31:19
I
31:20
hope
31:20
will
31:20
consider
31:20
giving
31:21
you
31:21
a
31:22
raise
31:23
we're
31:23
this
31:23
way
31:24
with
31:24
relationships
31:24
all
31:25
the
31:26
time
31:26
we want
31:27
others
31:27
to
31:27
invest
31:28
in
31:28
us
31:28
and
31:29
then
31:29
we'll
31:29
turn
31:29
around
31:30
and
31:30
invest
31:30
in
31:31
others
31:31
and
31:32
beloved
31:32
one
31:32
sided
31:33
relationships
31:33
are
31:34
almost
31:34
always
31:35
failed
31:35
almost
31:36
always
31:37
do
31:38
so
31:39
you may
31:40
find
31:40
yourself
31:40
in
31:41
that
31:41
place
31:41
this
31:41
morning
31:42
but
31:42
let me
31:44
tell you
31:44
that
31:45
I
31:45
think
31:45
that
31:46
may
31:46
be
31:46
the
31:46
minority
31:47
of
31:47
us
31:47
so
31:49
often
31:49
when
31:49
I
31:50
preach
31:50
text
31:50
I
31:51
go
31:51
oh
31:51
what
31:51
a
31:51
place
31:52
for
31:52
us
31:52
to
31:52
grow
31:52
in
31:53
oh
31:54
there
31:54
needs
31:55
to be
31:55
rebuke
31:55
brought
31:56
this
31:56
morning
31:57
but
31:57
I
31:58
want
31:58
you
31:58
to
31:58
know
31:58
that
31:58
I
31:59
see
31:59
many
32:00
examples
32:00
of
32:00
this
32:00
kind
32:01
of
32:01
selfless
32:02
love
32:02
in
32:03
our
32:03
midst
32:03
I
32:04
see
32:05
it
32:05
again
32:05
and
32:06
again
32:06
and
32:07
again
32:07
and
32:08
I
32:08
am
32:08
so
32:09
very
32:10
encouraged
32:11
by it
32:12
it
32:13
just
32:13
absolutely
32:14
it
32:14
encourages
32:14
me
32:15
to
32:15
no
32:15
end
32:16
even
32:16
the
32:16
simple
32:16
little
32:17
things
32:17
that
32:17
will
32:17
happen
32:17
on
32:18
slack
32:18
as
32:18
we
32:19
communicate
32:19
and
32:19
somebody
32:20
needs
32:20
a little
32:20
something
32:20
here
32:21
a little
32:21
something
32:21
there
32:21
and
32:21
somebody
32:21
jumps
32:22
right
32:22
on
32:22
helping
32:23
in
32:24
that
32:24
way
32:24
I
32:24
am
32:24
so
32:25
encouraged
32:26
by
32:26
it
32:26
and
32:27
I'm
32:27
encouraged
32:27
because
32:28
selfless
32:29
love
32:30
in our
32:30
midst
32:31
this
32:32
kind
32:32
of
32:32
love
32:33
that
32:33
seeks
32:33
!
32:35
is an
32:36
evidence
32:36
of the
32:37
working
32:37
of the
32:38
spirit
32:38
of God
32:39
amongst
32:39
us
32:40
sacrificial
32:41
love
32:41
does not
32:42
come
32:42
naturally
32:44
it
32:44
doesn't
32:45
and we
32:46
should
32:46
rejoice
32:47
in those
32:48
things
32:48
that seem
32:48
so
32:49
simple
32:49
and so
32:50
mundane
32:51
this is
32:52
the way
32:52
God
32:53
is often
32:53
working
32:54
amongst
32:54
us
32:54
little
32:55
acts
32:55
of
32:56
loving
32:56
kindness
32:57
toward
32:58
one
32:58
another
32:58
Don Carson
33:01
who is a
33:01
contemporary
33:02
pastor
33:03
theologian
33:04
I would
33:04
commend
33:05
to you
33:05
once
33:06
wrote
33:06
the church
33:07
itself
33:08
is not
33:08
made up
33:09
of
33:09
natural
33:10
friends
33:11
what binds
33:12
us
33:13
together
33:13
is not
33:13
common
33:14
education
33:14
common
33:15
race
33:16
common
33:16
income
33:17
levels
33:17
common
33:17
politics
33:18
common
33:19
nationality
33:20
common
33:21
accents
33:21
common
33:22
jobs
33:22
or anything
33:23
of the
33:23
sort
33:24
what he's
33:24
saying
33:24
is at
33:25
least
33:25
that
33:25
shouldn't
33:25
be
33:26
what
33:26
binds
33:26
us
33:26
together
33:27
I
33:27
think
33:27
what
33:27
he's
33:27
saying
33:28
is
33:28
the
33:28
true
33:29
church
33:29
itself
33:29
is
33:30
not
33:30
made
33:30
up
33:30
of
33:30
natural
33:32
friends
33:33
anything
33:33
of the
33:34
sort
33:34
Christians
33:35
come
33:35
together
33:35
not
33:36
because
33:36
they
33:36
form
33:37
a
33:37
natural
33:38
co-location
33:39
which I
33:40
had to
33:40
look up
33:40
partnership
33:41
but because
33:43
they have
33:43
been saved
33:44
by Jesus
33:45
Christ
33:45
and owe
33:46
him
33:46
a common
33:47
allegiance
33:48
in the
33:49
light
33:50
in light
33:52
of the
33:52
fact
33:52
that
33:52
they
33:53
have
33:53
all
33:53
been
33:54
loved
33:54
by
33:54
Jesus
33:55
himself
33:56
they
33:57
commit
33:57
themselves
33:57
to
33:58
doing
33:58
what
33:58
he
33:59
says
33:59
and
34:00
he
34:00
commands
34:00
them
34:01
to
34:01
love
34:01
one
34:02
another
34:03
in
34:04
this
34:04
light
34:05
they
34:05
are
34:05
a
34:05
band
34:06
of
34:06
natural
34:07
enemies
34:08
who
34:08
love
34:09
one
34:09
another
34:10
for
34:11
Jesus
34:11
sake
34:13
beloved
34:14
we
34:15
love
34:16
because
34:16
God
34:16
first
34:17
loved
34:18
us
34:19
John
34:20
does not
34:20
write there
34:21
in
34:21
first
34:21
John
34:22
that we
34:23
have the
34:23
capacity
34:24
to love
34:25
or that
34:25
we
34:26
can
34:26
love
34:27
because
34:27
God
34:27
first
34:27
loved
34:28
us
34:28
but
34:28
we
34:28
do
34:28
in
34:29
fact
34:29
love
34:30
because
34:31
God
34:31
first
34:32
loved
34:33
us
34:34
like
34:34
we
34:34
are
34:34
moved
34:35
to
34:36
this
34:36
and I
34:38
see
34:38
this
34:38
in
34:39
our
34:39
church
34:39
you
34:41
do
34:41
this
34:42
do
34:43
it
34:43
more
34:43
you
34:44
do
34:45
it
34:45
already
34:45
but
34:46
do
34:46
it
34:46
more
34:48
in
34:51
closing
34:51
I
34:52
want to
34:52
encourage
34:52
you
34:52
from
34:53
first
34:53
Thessalonians
34:54
Paul
34:56
writes
34:56
to the
34:56
Thessalonian
34:57
church
34:57
the very
34:58
same
34:58
thing
34:59
the
34:59
thing
34:59
I'm
34:59
trying
35:00
to
35:00
say
35:00
to
35:00
you
35:00
and
35:00
the
35:00
thing
35:00
I'm
35:00
trying
35:01
to
35:01
encourage
35:01
you
35:01
with
35:01
in
35:02
first
35:02
Thessalonians
35:03
chapter
35:03
four
35:04
verse
35:04
one
35:04
he
35:04
says
35:04
finally
35:06
then
35:06
brothers
35:06
we
35:07
ask
35:08
and
35:08
urge
35:09
you
35:09
in
35:10
the
35:10
Lord
35:10
Jesus
35:10
that
35:12
as
35:12
you
35:12
receive
35:12
from
35:12
us
35:13
how
35:13
you
35:13
ought
35:13
to
35:14
walk
35:14
and
35:14
to
35:14
please
35:15
God
35:15
just
35:15
as
35:16
you
35:16
are
35:16
doing
35:17
that
35:17
you
35:17
do
35:18
so
35:18
more
35:19
and
35:20
more
35:20
and
35:20
he
35:20
begins
35:21
to
35:21
work
35:21
through
35:21
some
35:21
examples
35:22
and
35:22
so
35:22
down
35:23
in
35:23
verse
35:23
nine
35:23
and
35:24
ten
35:24
those
35:24
those
35:25
those
35:25
!
35:26
those
35:25
!
35:26
!
35:26
those
35:26
brothers
35:27
brothers
35:28
brothers
35:29
those
35:30
brothers
35:54
this more and more. To continue to press on, to love one another well and continue and do more
36:03
loving of one another. Because how is the world meant to know that we are disciples of Jesus
36:09
Christ by our love? We are meant to be a community of people who are set apart for God's praise. You
36:17
hear me say, we're supposed to be peculiar. Why? Because we're selfless in the way that we love
36:22
one another. We don't love the way the world loves. We give of ourselves. For other people's good,
36:29
at our expense, we love others. So I hope that you can see why we address verses 7 through 12
36:39
this morning. I think it's proper to carry through and ignore the subheading and go right through verse
36:46
12 to wrap these ideas together. I hope that you are moved to love more and more and to be
36:54
continue loving in more and more and higher and greater ways. I hope that you can see that Jesus'
37:01
kingdom ethic is summed up in command. So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to
37:09
them. May we be a people who continue to obey the command to love others as ourselves because of
37:16
God's promise to his people, God's pattern for his people, and God's purpose for his people.
37:25
Let's pray together.