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If Jesus Asked You This… What Would You Say? · Wetumpka Church of Christ Online

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First word, you said, probably not.
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If you do, I'd love to talk to you afterwards because you've
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got quite the memory is very possible.
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You've been told what your first word was.
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Maybe it was mama or daddy or breakfast.
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I don't know what that first word may have been, but it did
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not take any of us. Probably very long.
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Once those first words started coming out for us to be able to
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string a couple of words together to Make a question
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because little children learn very early.
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The desire for asking questions. In fact, you've probably
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experienced with a child where they can take your name and turn
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it into a question. They come into your room, knock
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on your door mama. And so they're saying your name.
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But they've asked they said your name in the form of a question.
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It usually doesn't take us very long.
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Once we start learning to ask questions to start asking the
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question, why interview parents ever been asked a series of why
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questions by a child. That come from various and
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Sundry topics, that question, why?
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I want to thank just for a moment about Jesus asking a, why
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question in Matthew chapter 26 and verse 50.
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And he did not ask the why question because he needed some
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information. In fact, God never asks
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questions because he needs to learn information that he does
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not already know you remember, I believe it's the first recorded.
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Question in scripture Genesis chapter 3 and verse 9 where God
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is Walking, In The Garden, in the cool of the day and he calls
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out to Adam and Eve. Where are you?
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God not know where they were. Of course, he knew where they
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were. He asked that question for their
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benefit, not for his and they asked to follow up questions.
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And to Genesis chapter 3, verse 11 after they explained where
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they were and why they were where they were God, then asks.
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Well, who told you you were naked.
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And then question number 3. Have you eaten of the fruit that
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I forbade you to eat? And God already knew the answer
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to all those questions. So when God asked questions in
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scripture, he's not asking questions because he's needing
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to obtain some information that he does not know.
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He asks questions for the benefit of the person to whom,
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he's asking the question in the passages that were read for us
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this morning from John Chapter 13, brother Danny reading, those
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passages for us and then just a moment ago, the Reading from
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Matthew chapter 26 we knew we know very well that Jesus knew
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exactly who would betray him. He knew when he was going to be
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betrayed, he knew where he was going to be betrayed.
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He knew why he was going to be betrayed.
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And yet in verse 50 of Matthew chapter 26, Jesus asks, Judas
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friend. Why have you come?
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Was it for? Jesus need to understand what
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was going on. I don't know and we can
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speculate this morning and it's really not what we're going to
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do. Well, this morning, we can
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speculate the reason for Jesus asking this question and it may
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be, especially in the way. The question is introduced
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friend. Can you imagine how that would
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cut even to a heart of of a man like Judas where he knows?
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That he's doing this for all the wrong reasons.
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He knows that he is doing something, in fact, he admits it
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later on in that same chapter, Matthew chapter 26.
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He knows he is he has conspired against an innocent man.
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And maybe the reason for Jesus, asking the question on this
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occasion, is he wanted Judas to have one more opportunity?
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To come to his senses and make the necessary changes in his
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heart and his mind. Maybe it's Jesus in a show of
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love, in a show of compassion, in a show of Mercy.
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He has given Judas every opportunity Under the Sun to not
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go through with this. Most people when they know their
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cover is blown, if they are up to something that is no good.
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They'll kind of pause before they go through with it.
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And so in John Chapter 13, the reading that brother, Danny read
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for us this morning. Judas is cover is blown.
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Jesus says Judas. I know what you're going to do.
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And now what you're going to do. Please do quickly.
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Judas knew exactly what Jesus was talking about.
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He immediately excused himself from the table and went out to
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begin the process of betraying the Lord.
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His cover was blown. The one that he's going to
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betray knows, he's going to betray him and yet he is so set
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in his heart. For what he is set out to do
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that. Nothing is going to change his
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mind by. I'm sorry.
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I forgot to mention this. I'm just now looking down here.
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The invitation song is 538 538 will be our invitation song this
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morning after the lesson. And so maybe it's the Lord
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showing us his capacity to love to forgive his capacity, for
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mercy. And he's giving Judas just one
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more opportunity, one more opportunity to come to his
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senses and to think about the motivation behind what he is
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doing and that's the word. I want to spend a moment
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reflecting on this morning, that word motivation because God from
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the very beginning has always been concerned about motivation
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when it comes to serving and obeying him.
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Why We do what we do in every act of worship, where the cliff
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we were talking about this Wednesday night.
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And you mentioned, I think his brother Holland that you had
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heard talk about the, you just named the act of worship and we
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can look to a scripture that shows that God is interested in.
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Not just the What the how he's interested in the why?
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For example, with regard to our prayer life, you remember that
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great Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew chapter 6, beginning
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in verse 5 for about the next ten verses Jesus talks about the
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prayer life of his disciples. And he says, when you pray, I
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want you to consider your motivation.
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I'm just kind of summing up what he has to say in those few
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verses there in Matthew chapter 6.
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When you pray, don't be like the Hypocrites.
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And what does he go on? To say about the Hypocrites who
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love to have their prayers heard by men.
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They use these flower. We were flowery words.
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They stand and very, Places. And they say these, Meaningless
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hypocritical prayers because they're motivated by the
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impression that they're giving off to those that are hearing
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them. Pray.
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And so, Jesus says, when you pray remember what he says, go
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into your closet in this place of solitude, in this place of
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isolation where it's just you and God because at that point, I
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know what's motivating. You to pray this prayer.
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You're motivated by your relationship with the Father,
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James chapter 4 and verse 3. The Holy Spirit through James
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says, remember you ask and do not receive because you ask
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amiss that word, basically means you were asking with improper
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motivation so that you may spend it that it is the answer that
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you're hoping to receive from the prayers that you may spend
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it on your pleasures. So James is saying you ask you
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pray and you do not receive because you're not properly
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motivated When you pray to the father.
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So we can see, there is a why given to us when it comes to
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prayer, when it comes together around the Lord's table.
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It's not just the what? It's not just the emblems.
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Yes. They are important.
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Those emblems are extremely important.
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It's not just the water. It's not just the wind doing on
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the first day of the week. But what is the motivation?
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I appreciate it, brother Pete, taking our thoughts, to First
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Corinthians chapter 11. And when you continue a couple
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of verses past the verses that he reminded us of this morning,
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you see to two things that are happening when we commune with
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the Lord around his table. Where does earning the Lord's
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body? We're thinking about that body
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was brought that was broken. We're thinking about that blood
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that was shed. And while we're Discerning, the
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Lord's body. We are examining ourselves.
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And realizing how desperately me, how desperately we need that
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broken body in that shed blood. And so the motivation behind get
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around the table, is it just some ritual that we do?
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We've been doing in its habitual and our mind is not involved in
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it, or are we doing the, why this do?
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Why in remembrance of me? Discerning my son's body that
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was broken for your sin and examining yourself while doing
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so so that you can see why you so desperately needed him to do
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that for you giving second Corinthians 9:7.
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So let each one of you give as he purposes in his heart, not
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grudgingly or of necessity for God, loves a cheerful Giver.
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So, why are you giving are you giving because you feel
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obligated to do so, are you giving?
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Because you're expecting a blessing in return, or You
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giving cheerfully and what is the motivation behind that
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cheer, because you're so thankful for the way this is
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that God has provided for you over the previous week and you
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were want to return a portion of what he has blessed you with its
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thankfulness. Its gratitude, the why behind
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our giving is mentioned for us in Scripture.
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When we sing, we're told in First Corinthians 14 and verse
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15 to sing with the spirit to sing with the understanding.
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And what is it that we're supposed to be understanding
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while we sing? Well, for one thing, we're to
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understand the audience to whom that singing is supposed to be
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headed toward. Ephesians chapter 5, and verse
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19, singing, and making melody in your heart, to the Lord.
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That's where it's headed. We're not supposed to be
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entertaining ourselves. We're not supposed to be trying
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to show off. Our the range of notes that we
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can hit or the different parts that we can sing the design
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behind the singing. With the understanding
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understanding these words, realizing these words are
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intended to be a show of praise to the Lord.
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Colossians. 3:16 Says that we sing with Grace, in our heart to
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the Lord. So we're probably partially
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motivated when we sing. By our love for the Lord and
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what he has done for us. Lord, you are worthy of this
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praise. You are worthy of this honor.
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You are worthy of the time that we are spending in.
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Offering these words to you. The motivation behind our
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singing is important. The motivation behind our
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teaching and preaching Paul understood this.
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In First Corinthians chapter, 14 and verse 19 in the church.
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I would rather speak five words with my understanding that I may
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teach others also than ten. Thousand words in the tongue.
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Paul realized there would be no value to those to whom he was
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teaching. If he preaches in a tongue.
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There's no interpreter present for them to glean anything.
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From the words. He's saying if he's just
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speaking in a tongue so that he can show off the spiritual gift
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that he's been endowed with. He realizes, there is no value
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in that because God is not being honored and people are not being
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taught. And so, Paul says, I would
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rather say five words that make sense, that will bring someone
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closer to Christ than a thousand words in a tongue.
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Motivation, indeed is important to the Lord.
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And so now I want to bring this closer to home.
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Let's make some personal application this morning, and
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let's take the question that Jesus asked in Matthew chapter
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26, and verse 50. And let's not just look at
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Jesus, asking that question to Judas.
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I want you this morning for a moment to take that question and
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I want you to Envision Jesus asking that question to you.
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Here's the scenario. I'd like for us to consider for
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a moment hypothetical, because, of course, we can't see Jesus
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with our Earthly eyes in the way that they were able to in
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Matthew chapter 26, but I want you to imagine for a moment that
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Jesus had a has allowed us. He allowed us this morning to
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see him physically. We know he's here.
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With a spiritually. We know he is present.
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We just cannot see him with the limitations that we have with
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these Earthly eyes. Now.
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We should imagine for a moment that this morning.
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The greeter was Jesus in the flesh.
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And Jesus is holding out his hand and he's handing you the
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bulletin this morning. And his question is, is he
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shakes your hand friend? Why have you come?
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Why did you show up? It's at 408 Westbridge Street
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this morning. Why are you here?
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Why have you come? Now, I want you to take just a
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moment. Then in your mind.
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I want you to process the honest, because we know what is
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Jesus. He is a discerner of the
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thoughts and intents of the heart so you can try to give him
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what he wants to hear. But he's going to see through
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all that. And so I want you to think for a
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moment. What would be your honest
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reaction? Excuse me, your honest answer.
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To Jesus asking you upon your arrival at the church building
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this morning friend. Why have you come?
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Why are you here? Let me give you a few examples
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of what I hope. Our answer would not be.
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Number one, what I hope our answer would not be is.
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Well, I'm afraid I would go to hell.
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If I didn't show up for worship every Sunday that I can.
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Fear is an okay motivating factor early on in a
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relationship. I mean, parents isn't part of
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our relationship with our children when they are young.
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Isn't there a little bit of a fear factor involved in that?
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A fear of punishment, a fear of consequence for being
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disobedient. And probably If we're honest,
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most of us, especially if we were baptized at a relatively
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young age. We were probably motivated,
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maybe strongly to obey the gospel to be baptized because
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of, I don't want to go to hell. I'm afraid of the thought of
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going to hell, if I die before, I'm baptized, and for most of
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us, that was probably part of what motivated us to make that
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decision, but as we grow and as we mature in the faith,
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hopefully, none of our motivation to serve God.
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Whether it is showing up with his brothers, with his children,
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our brothers and sisters to worship him.
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Whether it's engaging in Acts of service, whether it is doing
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what we can to spread the gospel.
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Hopefully, none of that is Motivated by fear because what
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does John tell us in 1st John chapter 4, beginning in verse
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18, there is no fear in love, but perfect love, casts out fear
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because we're fear is, there is torment.
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He who fears has not been made perfect in love.
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John at this point in time, his come to such a maturity in his
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faith and his walk with Christ. John's not motivated to do what
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he does to make the sacrifices that he's making.
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To encourage the Brethren. Like he's been trying to
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encourage them to write through inspiration.
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The letters, he's riding. He's not motivated by a fear of
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condemnation. He's not motivated by a fear of
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going to hell. He's motivated by this perfect.
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Love. Jesus.
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I'm so thankful for what you came in.
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Did I am so thankful that you came in such a time where John
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could say we can't? But John could say the way that
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he opened his first epistle. First, John chapter one, the one
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that we've beheld, the one that we touched, the one that we
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heard the one that we looked upon.
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And so John was motivated by his love by his gratitude, by his,
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by his thankfulness. So as we grow and mature in the
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faith, we should be able to mature to a point where yes, you
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should a fear of Hell still still be there.
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It should be. We should when we think about
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hail. We should fear the the very
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thought of spending one second there, but that should not be
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what is motivating us in our Christian walk.
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We're being motivated by perfect, love by God's perfect,
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love for us, and coming to an understanding of what he has
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done for us and then realizing I just owe him so much in return.
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I can never repay him for it. I can never earn my salvation,
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but I just want to do what I can to show him how much I love him.
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Being motivated by love as parents, don't we appreciate our
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children doing what we asked them to do when they get to the
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point where they're no longer fearing the consequence if they
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don't. But they've come to just love
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and respect you as their mom or their dad.
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They appreciate all the sacrifices that you've made the
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ways that you've provided, the things that you've done.
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And so, the motivation has now turned into a love and a
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respect. Don't we, as parents loved and
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longed for that point, our relationship with our kids,
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where there's no longer a Fear Factor.
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It's what's involved in a relationship is motivated and
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fueled by a genuine love. Hopefully that would not be the
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way any of us would answer. Jesus question this morning.
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Number two. Because I feel obligated to
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worship on Sunday. I feel like it is my duty.
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I was raised in a Christian home and I got drugged to church
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every Sunday. And so I feel obligated to go.
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It's just, you know part of the routine.
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I've got to check off the Box. Hopefully, none of us are
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motivated by sense of obligation.
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Jesus knew that his disciples would not be able to last long
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with the Temptations and the struggles and the tribulations
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that he knew were going to be coming their way as his
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followers. He knew that a sense of Duty was
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not going to be enough to fuel them to go through all of those
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things. So that's why I said in John
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14:15 if you love me, keep my Commandments.
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I know you're going to be able to Keep On Keepin On, I know
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you're going to be able to deal with all the issues that are
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coming. Scuse me if you love me.
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If that's what your fuel is by. Then I know you're going to be
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able to handle all of these hardships, all of these
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difficulties, all these persecutions, if you're fueled
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by love, and not by obligation. If you love me, keep my
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Commandments. Do any of us?
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Get any real joy and satisfaction.
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Out of for those of us that have children for your children,
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doing something for you and they are only doing it because they
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feel obligated to do so, does that does that bring any kind of
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Joy satisfaction to the heart of a parent?
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It doesn't doesn't don't we understand how empty it is.
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When we know someone is doing something for us only because
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they feel obligated duty-bound to do it.
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We get no love out of, we get no satisfaction out of that.
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We get no joy out of that. God has made us.
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He's Puttin us. Some some things that are a
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likeness to him. And I believe that God has that
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same emotion. Where he gets, no joy, he gets
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no satisfaction out of people, doing things in his name, or for
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him that are strictly being done out of obligation or Duty.
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There's no mode. There is no joy that comes to
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the heart of our God. When we serve him in that way,
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hopefully, none of us this morning would have to honestly
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respond friend. Why have you come to Jesus a
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well? I know, you know, my heart, you
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know, my mind. I'm just gonna have to go ahead
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and say it because I you already know it.
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I felt duty-bound. I felt obligated to be here this
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morning. Number three.
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Hopefully, none of us would answer the question this way.
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Well. They're folks that expect me to
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be here. And if I don't show up, I'm not
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gonna be able to check off the box and then I'm going to have
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my care group leader calling or sending an email or a text.
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Hope you're okay. I've got family members that are
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members this particular congregation.
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And I know if I don't show up, they're going to think I'm sick
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or something's going on. So I got to get there.
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Make my presence known so that I don't have anybody breathing
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down my back trying to. Hopefully, none of us. show up
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to worship our creator, our Lord, Our Savior on Sunday
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because There's someone who's expecting us to be there and
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we'll be in a little bit of trouble if we have to come up
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with some excuse. Excuse me.
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You know, how you can know? If you're doing a self
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examination of how this is, not what motivates you to worship,
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your lord, is that you don't even think about.
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When you're out of town on a Lord's day as to whether or not
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you're going to worship with the sayings because all of a sudden,
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now, you're out of town. There's No accountability from
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those that. Know you, there's nobody, that
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knows you're in this particular Town.
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There's nobody that knows you were supposed to be there.
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There's nobody, you know, personally at the closest,
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Irrigation to where you were staying.
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And if you struggle At that moment, as to whether or not
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you're going to choose to worship with the Saints at a
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congregation closest to where you are.
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If that's something that you juggle, if that's something that
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you contemplate, if that's something that she's, I will
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should I should I not? Then whether you realize it or
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not, it may be. That that's part of what's been
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motivating. You all along.
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Is that your not? If your thought is, if it's the
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Lord's day, whether I'm at home, or I'm in Willow switch, Wyoming
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or I'm in Timbuktu. I'm going to find a Congregation
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of the Lord's people, and I'm going to worship with them and
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physically possible if that's your mindset.
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It doesn't matter where I am. If I'm healthy, if I'm able to
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time allows where you're not being restricted by health or
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whatever work. I'm going to be worshiping with
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the Saints. If that's something that you
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debate with, in your heart, in your mind, then it baby that
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you're struggling. With this, there are other
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people who expect me to be there.
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And so I better be so that the heat will be off.
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Number four. Hopefully, we never answer the
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question in this way so I can be entertained.
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So, I can be entertained. What is this?
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We're here together this morning.
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We are here for a worship. What service, right?
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Is service a word we use. When we are receiving something
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or a serve, as a word that we use, when we are giving
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something. Worship service.
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There's one audience member when we worship and that audience
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member is God. There is one, who is the
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beneficiary of what it is? Everything else that happens?
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Should we be stirred up on to love and good works when we're
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here? Yes, Hebrews 10 verse 24 says
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that we should. Should we receive some
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encouragement when we gather together as Brothers and Sisters
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in Christ? Well, if we're doing our job,
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yes, somebody somewhere should be encouraging us and as we
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should be doing for others. Should we be warmly greeted?
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Yes, if we're doing our job, sure.
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As we should be warmly, greeting others, there's some secondary
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benefits that come with gathering with the Saints, but
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those are secondary. The primary reason why we gather
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together to worship is to provide something.
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To the one who is the recipient. Of that worship the audience
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member being one, the audience member being God.
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If you've ever heard someone say as they're leaving a worship
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service, I didn't get anything out of that.
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Then you realize you are in the presence of someone who didn't
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realize why they were there to begin with.
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Worship is not something. We simply experience is not
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something that happens to us. Secondarily.
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Yes. Should we when we leave a
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worship service, feel edified feel encouraged, feel stirred
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up, feel more motivated to keep on keeping on.
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Yes, those things. We should be able to leave with
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especially if we are interacting with one another, the way that
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we should be interacting with one another when we gather
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together. So all those things should be
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happening. But they're not the primary.
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Reason for why we gather together.
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The primary reason is something different entirely.
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Number 5. Hopefully, none of us would
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answer. Jesus question friend.
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Why have you come with this response?
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Because attending worship is how I measure my faithfulness to
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God. My relationship with God, pretty
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much Rises and falls with. Whether I show up on Sundays to
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worship with my brothers and sisters in Christ.
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It's the main thing I do for God every week.
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I don't spend a whole lot of time during the week doing
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things for him. I don't spend a whole lot of
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time during the week studying his word.
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So I've really measure my faithfulness to God on showing
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up on Sunday. Hopefully, that is not the
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reason that any of us would give to Jesus Friend.
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Why have you come? That?
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This is Basically, the end-all-be-all of my
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relationship with you. Hopefully attending the worship
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of the Lord on Sundays Wednesday's.
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Whenever we gather together is just an example of our
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faithfulness to the lord. It's just one of the things that
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we do to show how much we love him to show how much we
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appreciate him to show how thankful we are for him.
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And for what he has done for us by no means.
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Should it be the end-all be-all the measuring stick?
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Sometimes we use a phrase and I think Well, intended, when we
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use it, sometimes there are people who become erratic run,
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faithful in their attendance to worship and we may say about
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that person. We need to get them back in
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church. Well, what we really need to do
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is get behind, what's motivating, them to lay out and
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figure out what we need to do, to try to stir them back up to
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loving the Lord. So that, that will be just one
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of the many examples of their faithfulness to the Lord.
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And that is their faithfulness in attendance to the worship
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Services of the Lord. Then finally this morning of the
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types of answers that I hope none of us would give to this
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question. Number 6.
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Because I'm seeking validation. It seems to me more and more in
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our particular culture. Among many, they are constantly
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looking. I think social media is kind of
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fueled this. To an unhealthy level.
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We're constantly looking for validation, for affirmation for
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things that make us feel good about who we are.
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We've even got songs that are sung pop songs that have been
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written recently. You were born this way.
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So however, it is that that you were behaving and acting.
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You were born this way. You were just following the
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impulses that you were born with your following, the sexual
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orientation that that you chose not what was assigned to you by
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the law. Word.
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And so, so much of our culture is obsessed with this looking
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for seeking validation affirmation.
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I want to feel good about who I am.
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I want to feel good about what I'm doing.
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I want to be accepted. I don't want to be judged.
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And unfortunately, some of that has filtered into the religious
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world where people are going and they're attending religious
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services and they're wanting to hear words of comfort words, of
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validation words of affirmation. And there's a place for that at
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times. There's a time and a place Rush
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together together and really encourage and make each other
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feel good and make each other feel loved.
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Is that the only thing we should be looking for when we gather
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together? As Brothers and Sisters in
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Christ, as children of the Living, God for affirmation what
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we really need to be looking for when we come as we are
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reflecting on, what God has done for us.
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Is we reflecting on what he has taught us through his word?
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What we really should be seeking his transformation.
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Not simply validation. Be not conformed to this world
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Romans 12:2, but be ye transformed by the renewing of
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your mind. That word that's translated,
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transform Romans. Chapter 12 to is the same word
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that is used in Matthew chapter 17 and Mark chapter 9, the two
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examples that we have of Jesus Transfiguration on the mountain,
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in the presence of Peter James and John.
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It's the word that we get our word metamorphosis from.
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What do you think of, when you think of a metamorphosis?
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Do you think of just some subtle alteration?
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Just just always, did you get your haircut?
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I can't tell for sure or not. No, we're not talking about a
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subtle change. We're talking to Metamorphoses
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where Jesus on that mountain was transfigured from that body,
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that he inhabited, while he was in the flesh on the earth, to
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his glorified state. Radically dramatically different
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from the appearance that he had held onto In the Flesh for some
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33 years. And so what God is calling for
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us to do is to be transformed. Look with me is as we start to
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wind down this morning. 2nd Corinthians chapter 3. 2nd
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Corinthians chapter 3, there's a very powerful illustration that
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Paul uses near the end of this chapter.
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About how God is supposed to change us.
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From our image to the image that he is calling for us to be
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beginning around verse 13. Paul takes them back to believe
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it's Deuteronomy chapter 29. You remember the what is
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described in that chapter where Moses?
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I think it's Exodus 29 where Moses received the law in your
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member and being in the presence of the Lord.
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His face shown to the point where it scared the nation when
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he came back down from the mountain.
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And they were scared to even look at him and because of that
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he would put a veil on his face until the effects of being in
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the presence of the Lord wore off physically speaking from his
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face. And so, Paul is talking a little
33:35
bit about that issue with the veil and Moses wearing the veil
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and how he makes this. Analogy here where it's the veil
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in essence. He did the nation of Israel from
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being able to see the transforming power of the Lord,
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and how it was being revealed in the face of Moses.
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And so the people were not allowing the lesson from that to
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sink in. As it could have, we're being in
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the presence of God. Causes transformation.
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It causes a change. That is visible, not just
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internal, but you can see it in the person who's been changed
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after being in the presence of the Lord.
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And so there was a lesson really that was lost on the people.
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They didn't benefit as much from Moses encounter with the Lord
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and how it changed the appearance of his face because
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of the veil that Moses put on because of the fear that they
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had and looking at Moses in that state.
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Look with me in verse 16 of second Corinthians chapter 3.
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Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be
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taken away. Now, the Lord is that spirit and
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where the spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty, but we all
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with open face beholding as in a glass.
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The glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from
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glory to glory, even as by the spirit of the Lord.
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Here's what Paul is saying. Spiritually speaking, when we
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behold the Lord's face when we allow what he did for us to sink
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into our heart, when we meditate upon it.
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When we spend some time in meditating upon what his will is
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for our lives. What happens is we are changed.
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We are change Verse 18 into the same image from glory to glory,
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even as by the spirit of the Lord.
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It is a transformation that is visible to everyone who
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encounters us. And so what we should be seeking
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when we gather together in God's presence with his people.
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We don't need to be looking just for validation and affirmation.
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We need to look for what part of my life does.
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God still need me to transform. What kind of metamorphosis, what
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area of my life? Needs to be changed in such a
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dramatic way. Where everybody went around me
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will be able to notice. as we close this morning, I want to
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think about what the only acceptable answer to that
36:10
question would be I want you to put yourself back out there in
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the lobby, Jesus, in the flesh is held out his hand friend.
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Why have you come? There's only one acceptable
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answer. Lord, cause you're here.
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And I love you. And where else would I be?
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There's the only acceptable answer to that question.
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Lord, I knew you'd be here. I didn't know, I'd get to see
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you in the flesh, but I knew you'd be here.
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I knew your people would be here.
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And because of how much I love you.
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Where else would I be? It's You Lord, my motivation is
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you. You're the reason why I'm here.
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I woke up this morning and I was grouchy and I wasn't feeling
37:03
well. And physically speaking.
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I didn't feel like coming but my inner man, long to be in your
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presence. Because I know that's where you
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want me to be if at all possible, and I want to please
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you and so I want to be where you want me to be.
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The end of John chapter 6, when Jesus, preached that very
37:24
difficult sermon. And most of that multitude
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thousands who had heard the sermon began grumbling and
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mumbling among themselves. These are difficult sayings who
37:32
can understand it and many of them.
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It says, did not just leave on that occasion and come back
37:42
later after, they had taken some time to process.
37:46
The teaching is that they had just heard.
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What it says the end of John chapter 6 is they left never to
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walk with him again? You think Jesus knew?
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That the vast majority of that crowd as they left.
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We're leaving not just for that day, but for Lee, we're leaving
38:07
for forever. So Jesus turns to his disciples
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around in verse 60. And following John chapter 6,
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you can almost feel the disappointment coming off the
38:19
page when Jesus turns to his disciples.
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The 12, it seems to me that there's not many left other than
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them. And he says, are you also going
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to go away? You remember, Peter speaks up
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and says to whom shall we go? You alone?
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Have the words of life. Peter necessary, Lord.
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When he's asked, are you also going to go away?
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Where would we go? Is there a better place to be
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than with you? Are there better words to hear
39:00
than the words that you've got to say to us?
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Is there better company to keep than the company in which we are
39:06
in right now? Peter was answering his own
39:09
questions when he had when he gave the answer.
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Lord to whom shall we go? There's nobody else.
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You're it. You're the one.
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You've got the words that are transformative.
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You've provided for us, a friendship.
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That is unparalleled. There's nowhere else.
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We'd rather be. So hopefully we ask ourselves
39:36
this question friend. Why have you come wake up in the
39:38
morning on the Lord's day? Any other opportunity that we
39:41
have together together and Worship the Lord.
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What is our motivation? Because God is so concerned with
39:46
the why? Why, why are you doing?
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What you're doing? Why are you saying what you're
39:52
saying? Why are you going where you're
39:54
going? Why?
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The only acceptable answer is going to bring a smile to the
40:01
face of our savior for it. Where else would I be?
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It's the first day of the week. And your Saints are gathering to
40:14
worship you. Where else would I go?
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Is there better company to key? Is there one with wiser words to
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give than you? Is the one who can offer me more
40:27
than you've already given me. Where else would I be?
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Maybe there's someone here this morning.
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You're not a child of God. You've heard the word you
40:39
believe it for some reason or another.
40:44
You have hesitated, you have delayed.
40:47
You have. Done what lot did for far too
40:52
long, in Sodom and lingered in a place that you don't need to be
40:57
outside of the saving blood of Jesus Christ.
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There is no hope. There is no words of comfort.
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That P can be given to someone outside of Christ.
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Should this life end in a moment by faith.
41:14
You can repent of your sins confess.
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Jesus Christ, as Lord be baptized into Christ come out of
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that water and New Creation. Paul said, in Galatians chapter
41:22
3 and verse 27, for as many as have been baptized into Christ,
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have put on Christ your then wearing Christ.
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So that when we stand before the perfect god of the Universe on
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the day of judgment, he looks at us.
41:35
He does not see our sins Saints in stained Soul.
41:40
He sees his son for as many as have been baptized into Christ,
41:45
have put on your wearing Christ so that God when he looks at
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that great multitude of On that day.
41:53
I see my son. I don't see a sinner.
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Have you been walking in newness of life?
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If you are a child of God, maybe you've gone back to those old
42:07
ways. Those old habits.
42:09
Maybe your faith is grown cold. Maybe you need to renew your
42:15
relationship with the Lord this morning.
42:16
Maybe that's something you can do.
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Just between you and the Lord and your seat where you are.
42:20
Maybe it's something that you would like to solicit.
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The prayers of your brothers and sisters in Christ.
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In your behalf of we can pray for you.
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Encourage you in any way, please come as Together.
42:29
We Stand and sing.