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1 Peter 3:13-17 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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And grab your copy of God's Word.
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1 Peter chapter 3 is where we're going to be this morning.
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As Wes has already mentioned, this is one of those days where it doesn't go the way you had planned the night before.
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Nathan is sick.
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He called me this morning, so I give that to you as a...
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If it's terrible, blame Nathan. If it's good, just talk to me, alright?
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Let me know.
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1 Peter chapter 3 is our text this morning.
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We've got some things that are happening at Christ Family Church that we're really excited about.
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And one of those is our community groups.
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We've got three community groups right now.
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We want to see them grow, expand, and multiply.
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And in our community groups, we've been talking a lot about loving our neighbors and reaching our communities with the gospel.
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And we've been praying for opportunities to join God in what He's already doing.
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To be part of what He is working out.
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Because God invites us to join in what He is already doing.
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We don't have to do anything new.
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Well, all of us here, I can say with boldness, we all live in the South.
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We all live in the Bible Belt, although the Bible Belt might not exist much longer.
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And one of the barriers that we as Christians in the South deal with is that people already have a preconceived notion of what a Christian looks like.
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They already know.
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They think they have the idea of what a Christian is supposed to look like and how they're going to or supposed to act.
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Well, this barrier prohibits us from having deep conversations with people without first removing that barrier.
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Without first proving to them who we really are.
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Proving to them that we're real.
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Proving to them that our life has been changed through the gospel.
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The problem here in the South is there's a ton of people just like that.
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Who have the preconceived notion of what a Christian looks like.
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So this circumstance that we face, the people around us, people who know or think they know what a Christian is,
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people who claim to be Christians and maybe aren't at all,
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makes it vitally important that we live a specific way, a certain way through the gospel in our communities.
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If we're going to reach those communities, we have to be real.
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We have to live a specific way, a biblical way, not a denomination way or not a religious way.
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So this morning I want to talk about for us evidences of a Christian life.
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Evidences that are dead giveaways to people around us that we are Christians, that we are believers,
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that we are followers of Christ, that we live the gospel out.
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There's a saying in sports, the saying is the team looks good coming off the bus.
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Meaning they've got their great uniforms on, they've got the physique, whether it's football or basketball or whatever.
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They've got their confidence, they're strutting around with their headphones and they're dressed to the tee or whatever.
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And you look at them and say, oh man, they look good coming off the bus.
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But you guys know the reality is, is how do they play?
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How do they act it out, out on the field or out on the court?
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That's what speaks, not how they look coming off the bus.
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The same is for us as Christians.
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We may look good getting off the bus.
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We may look good leaving the church building.
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We may look good sitting in a room with a bunch of Christians singing songs.
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But how are we when we're out in life?
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How are we out on the field?
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And that's what I want to talk about this morning.
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So, 1 Peter chapter 3, we're looking at five verses.
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We're going to start reading in verse 13 and kind of dig through them.
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Starting in verse 13.
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Now, who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?
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But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed.
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Have no fear of them, nor be troubled.
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But in your hearts, honor Christ the Lord as holy,
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always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.
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Yet, do it with gentleness and respect,
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having a good conscience so that when you are slandered,
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those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
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For it is better to suffer for doing good,
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if that should be God's will,
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than for doing evil.
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Let's pray together.
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Father, you know the circumstances of this day.
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None of this has surprised you.
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None of this has taken you,
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thrown you off guard.
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God, we trust in you this morning,
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that you are at work here this morning.
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And I ask, God, that you would speak through me,
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that you would use me,
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that what is spoken would not be my opinions,
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that it would be your word to us this morning.
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As nerve-wracking as this may be,
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God, you have put me in this position,
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so I pray, God, that you would use me to proclaim,
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to build your kingdom this morning.
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I pray for the hearers of your word,
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that we would hear with our hearts,
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and not with just our ears.
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And when that happens,
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we know that action is to follow.
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When that happens,
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we know that we leave this place different,
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living different,
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striving to be different,
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because we have heard a word from you.
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So, God, I plead and I beg,
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speak to us this morning.
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Use your word,
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spirit move,
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in Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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So, just a little background here.
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Peter is writing this letter to churches in Asia Minor,
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and there's persecution happening in these churches.
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These are churches in Asia Minor
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who are tasting great persecution.
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They are living it.
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And they're dealing with the question,
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is it worth it?
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Is it worth it to struggle,
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to deal with this type of persecution,
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to suffer?
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And Peter writes this letter,
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and it's to affirm to them,
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yes, it is.
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That's why in chapter 1, verse 3,
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it says we have a living hope
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for the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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He, right off the bat,
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tells them it is worth it
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through Jesus Christ
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and because of Jesus Christ.
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So, he affirms to them
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that this persecution is okay.
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It's worth it.
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So, now,
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we come to chapter 3.
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And in these five verses,
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Peter gives us some evidences
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of a Christian life.
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And these evidences for you this morning
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come in questions.
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The first one is,
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are you passionate for good?
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Are you passionate for good?
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The second one is,
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Christ Lord of your life.
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The third one,
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do you have a readiness
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to defend your faith?
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Fourth,
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do you live with a good conscience?
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And fifth,
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do you suffer for doing good?
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And of course,
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we'll run through those again.
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First one,
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first question for you,
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first evidence.
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Are you passionate for good?
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And we see this in verse 13.
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Now,
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who is there to harm you
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if you are zealous
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for what is good?
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Another word for good
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is righteous.
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You have a fervent pursuit
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of good,
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of righteousness.
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In the face of danger
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and suffering,
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the churches in Asia Minor
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were encouraged
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to pursue righteousness
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above everything else,
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no matter what.
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This word zealous
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means an intensity
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or an enthusiasm,
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a passion.
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In Jesus' time,
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zealots were a group
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that pledged
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to free the Jews
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no matter what
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from all foreign rule.
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And they would assassinate,
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they would steal,
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they would lie,
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they would kill themselves
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for the greater good.
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That's the kind of passion
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that Peter is talking about here.
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That's the word he's using.
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So much passion
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that they'd even give up
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their own lives for it.
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Now,
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there's an assumption here
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in verse 13.
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If we are zealous
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for what is good,
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then we're the opposite
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towards what is bad.
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See the assumption?
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If we're zealous
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for what is good,
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if we're passionate
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about what is good,
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what is righteous,
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then we're the opposite
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towards what is bad,
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which we know
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is sin.
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So the question for you
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and for me
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is are you zealous
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for sin
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or for what is good?
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Is there a line
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that you won't cross
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in your life?
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Do you have
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boundaries set up?
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Are you zealous enough?
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Are you passionate enough
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to care?
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Or do you just go through
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and whatever happens,
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happens?
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Do you take extreme measures
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to avoid sin?
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Guys,
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do you watch TV shows
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that lead to thoughts
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in your minds?
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Do you visit websites
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that you wouldn't visit
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in front of other people?
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These are the questions
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and the circumstances
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that a passionate person
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of good would not do.
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Are you zealous
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for what is good?
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Do you pursue people
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above God?
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Do you pursue
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the praise of people
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instead of the praise
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of God?
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Again,
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something that somebody
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who is zealous
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for good
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would not do.
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Another way to look at it
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in Matthew 5,
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verse 6
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in the Beatitudes,
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the beginning of the Sermon
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on the Mount,
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Jesus says,
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Blessed are those
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who hunger
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and thirst
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for righteousness
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for they shall be
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satisfied.
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Hunger and thirst.
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Two strong verbs.
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And we all can relate
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to these two verbs.
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We all know the feeling
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of being hungry.
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We all know the feeling
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of working outside
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in the middle of summer
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and being exhausted
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and thirsty
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and all you want
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is some water.
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And the only thing
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that's going to quench
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that thirst
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is that water.
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That's the idea here
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is hungering
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and thirsting
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for righteousness.
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Are we zealous?
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Are we passionate
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for good?
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If you're a Christian,
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the assumption
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will be true
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in your life.
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You will oppose
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the bad.
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You will oppose sin.
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And you will be
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passionate and zealous
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and you'll hunger
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and thirst
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for righteousness.
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Is there a passion
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in your life
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for good things?
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For godly things?
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Do you want
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to do good things?
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So there's our first
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piece of evidence
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found in verse 13.
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Passionate for good.
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The next one is,
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is Christ set apart
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in your heart
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as Lord?
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And this is found
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in verse 15.
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Verse 15 reads,
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but in your hearts
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honor Christ the Lord
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as holy.
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Christ as Lord
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is New Testament language.
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In the Old Testament,
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Lord was always used
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as Yahweh or Jehovah.
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So to say
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that Christ is Lord
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is saying
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that Christ is God.
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That Christ is God.
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He is the same
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as the God
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of the Old Testament.
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His deity
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is being proclaimed
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when it says
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Christ as Lord.
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So is Christ
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set apart
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as Lord
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in your heart?
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Is He holy?
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Holy.
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Now, of course,
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Christ is holy,
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but is He set apart?
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Is He part of your life?
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Has He changed your life?
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So, so many times
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in churches
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we describe salvation
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as a decision.
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It is a decision
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to be made.
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Choose this day
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to be saved.
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Do you want to go to heaven
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when you die?
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There's that aspect
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of biblical salvation.
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I will not
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shoot that down.
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But it's not
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the whole story.
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See, the depravity
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of all of us
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is missed.
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The depravity
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of our sin
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and our lack
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of doing good
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is missed.
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The holiness
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of God
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is missed.
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The atonement
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for our depravity
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of sin
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or sin
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is missed.
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The judgment
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of God
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is missed
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that we are guilty
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of that sin.
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The gospel
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is missed
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that we can't
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do anything
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good
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apart from
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Him.
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When you and I
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become Christians,
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we receive
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this gift
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from God.
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And when we
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receive this gift,
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we surrender
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our lives
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to Him.
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Not because
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it seems better
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or feels better
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or it beats hell,
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but because God
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has chosen you
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and He knows
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His children.
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And we surrender
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our lives
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and we make Him
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Lord of our lives.
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See, we were sinners
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with no hope.
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Sinners
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without a direction.
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Sinners,
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in fact,
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our direction
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was the opposite
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of God Himself.
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And we became
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saints with hope
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in eternity.
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Jesus Christ
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is not a decision.
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He's a Savior.
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He's not
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an invitation.
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He's a calling.
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He's not a part
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of your life.
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He is
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life.
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So to acknowledge
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Jesus Christ
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as Savior
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is to worship
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Him as Lord.
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He should be
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the sole object
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of our love,
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our reverence,
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our loyalty,
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and our obedience.
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So in so doing,
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then,
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our entire lives
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will flow
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from Him
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being Lord
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of our lives.
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So all our actions
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will be
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different,
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will be godly,
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will be passionate
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about good.
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if Christ
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is Lord
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of our lives,
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then we will
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do three things.
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First,
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we'll do
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is we'll
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recognize
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His perfection.
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Turn to
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Hebrews chapter 7
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real quick.
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Hebrews chapter 7
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verse 26.
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It reads,
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For it was indeed
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fitting that we
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should have such
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a high priest
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holy,
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innocent,
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unstained,
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separated from
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sinners,
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and exalted
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above the heavens.
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Verse 27.
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He has no need
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like those high
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priests to offer
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sacrifices daily,
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first for His own
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sins and then
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for those of the
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people.
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So He did this
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once for all
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when He offered
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up Himself.
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Holy,
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unstained,
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set apart.
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Jesus is the
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only one who
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is perfect
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and worthy
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to be praised.
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It's not us,
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not what we do,
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but Jesus alone.
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So if Christ
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is Lord of our
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lives,
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we'll recognize
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His perfection.
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But not only
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will we recognize
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His perfection,
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we will submit
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ourselves to
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His will.
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We'll submit
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ourselves to
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His will
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and not our
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own.
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Romans 12
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verse 2
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says,
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do not be
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conformed to
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this world,
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but be
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transformed by
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the renewal
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of your mind,
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that by testing
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you may discern
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what is the
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will of God,
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what is the
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good and
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acceptable and
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perfect.
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He knows
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all and He
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has what is
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best for us.
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So when
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Christ is Lord,
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we will submit
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ourselves to
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His will.
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And thirdly,
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we will make
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His glory known
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through our
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lives.
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So if we do
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these things,
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we hear repeat
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often that we
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were created to
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do two things.
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Logos question
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number two,
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to glorify Him
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and enjoy Him
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forever.
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Well, if that's
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our end,
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how we get to
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our end is by
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Jesus Christ
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being our
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Lord.
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In Revelation
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chapter 1,
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verse 12
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through 18,
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it reads,
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then I
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turned to see
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the voice that
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was speaking to
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me.
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And on
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turning, I
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saw seven
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golden lampstands
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and in the
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midst of the
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lampstands, one
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like a son of
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man, clothed
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with a long
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robe and with
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a golden sash
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around his
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chest.
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The hairs of
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his head were
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white, like
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white wool,
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like snow.
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His eyes were
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like a flame
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of fire.
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His feet were
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like burnished
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bronze, refined
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in a furnace,
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and his voice
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was like the
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roar of many
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waters.
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In his right
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hand he held
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seven stars.
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From his mouth
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came a sharp
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two-edged sword,
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and his face
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was like the
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sun shining in
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full strength.
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When I saw
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him, I fell
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at his feet
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as though dead,
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but he laid
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his right hand
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on me, saying,
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fear not.
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I am the
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first and the
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last and the
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living one.
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I died, and
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behold, I am
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living forevermore,
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and I have the
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keys of death
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and Hades.
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This is who
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we worship.
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This is Jesus.
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He is in
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heaven.
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He is the
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first and the
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last.
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He is the
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living one and
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alive forevermore.
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We bring him
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glory when he is
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Lord of our
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lives.
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We will honor
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his name, and
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his name will be
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above anything
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else.
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In other words,
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back to
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Matthew,
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Sermon on the
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Mount, chapter
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6, the Lord's
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prayer says,
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Hallowed be
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your name.
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Holy, holy,
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holy is your
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name.
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Your kingdom
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come.
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Your will be
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done.
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That will be the
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outpouring of
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Jesus as Lord of
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our lives.
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Holy, holy,
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holy, your
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kingdom come.
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Your will be
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done.
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Earlier in
19:16
1 Peter, and
19:18
in all of
19:18
Scripture, when
19:19
it says, when it
19:20
talks about the
19:20
heart, the
19:22
origin of the
19:23
human behavior,
19:24
the seat in
19:24
which all
19:25
decisions and
19:26
actions come
19:27
from, it is
19:29
what makes us
19:30
who we are.
19:33
So to make
19:34
Jesus the Lord
19:35
of our hearts
19:36
automatically makes
19:39
an inner thing
19:40
into an
19:41
external thing.
19:42
So an internal
19:43
thing becomes
19:45
an external
19:45
thing.
19:47
So what we
19:47
do on the
19:48
inside then
19:48
turns into
19:49
actions as
19:50
we live.
19:52
It will be
19:53
evident.
19:55
Our entire
19:55
lives will
19:56
change for the
19:57
good.
19:58
Our desires
19:59
will be His
20:00
desires.
20:01
Not because He
20:02
changed, but
20:02
because He
20:03
changed us.
20:05
Our actions
20:06
will line up
20:07
with His
20:07
will.
20:09
And as
20:09
Romans 12
20:10
said, we
20:10
will be
20:10
transformed by
20:12
Jesus Christ
20:13
and His
20:13
Lordship.
20:15
So Christ
20:16
being Lord
20:17
is another
20:17
piece of
20:18
evidence to
20:18
prove a
20:19
godly life.
20:21
The third
20:22
evidence is
20:24
in a
20:25
question.
20:26
Do you
20:26
have a
20:27
readiness to
20:27
defend your
20:29
faith?
20:29
Back to
20:30
1 Peter 3
20:31
verse 15,
20:34
the second
20:34
part of
20:34
15.
20:36
Read the
20:37
first part.
20:37
But in
20:37
your
20:37
hearts,
20:38
honor Christ
20:38
the Lord
20:39
as holy,
20:40
always being
20:40
prepared to
20:42
make a
20:42
defense to
20:42
anyone who
20:43
asks you
20:44
for a
20:44
reason for
20:45
the hope
20:45
that is
20:46
in you.
20:48
Always be
20:49
prepared.
20:51
Yet do it
20:52
with gentleness
20:53
and respect.
20:56
The language
20:57
here paints a
20:57
picture of a
20:58
courtroom.
20:59
Make a
21:00
defense.
21:00
Defend your
21:01
case.
21:02
Make an
21:02
argument.
21:04
This, of
21:05
course, does
21:05
not mean that
21:06
we're going to
21:06
be in a
21:07
courtroom or
21:07
setting like
21:08
that to
21:09
defend our
21:09
faith.
21:10
But it
21:11
does mean
21:11
that since
21:12
the gospel
21:13
is a
21:14
public
21:14
lifestyle,
21:15
it is a
21:15
changed
21:16
lifestyle,
21:16
lived out
21:17
for people
21:18
to see,
21:20
people are
21:22
going to
21:22
ask.
21:24
And we're
21:24
going to
21:24
have to
21:24
make public
21:25
defenses,
21:27
public
21:28
arguments.
21:31
A
21:31
commentator
21:31
said,
21:32
it does
21:32
mean that
21:33
every
21:33
believer
21:34
should grasp
21:35
the
21:36
essentials
21:36
of the
21:37
faith and
21:38
should have
21:38
the ability
21:39
to explain
21:40
to others
21:40
why they
21:41
think the
21:42
Christian
21:42
faith is
21:43
true.
21:44
So do you
21:45
have a
21:46
readiness to
21:46
defend your
21:47
faith?
21:49
Do you
21:49
have this
21:50
yearning just
21:51
to know
21:52
why you
21:54
believe what
21:54
you believe?
21:57
See,
21:58
apathy is
22:00
not accepted.
22:02
In verse
22:02
15, it
22:03
says,
22:03
always being
22:04
prepared.
22:06
Now, I'll
22:07
be honest,
22:07
this morning
22:08
took me by
22:08
surprise.
22:09
I don't
22:10
know that I
22:10
was prepared
22:11
this morning
22:11
for the
22:12
phone call.
22:14
Needless to
22:14
say, I
22:15
had to be
22:15
prepared.
22:16
I had to
22:16
prepare myself.
22:20
But see,
22:20
apathy is
22:22
not allowed.
22:24
The idea
22:25
that we
22:27
can just
22:27
coast on
22:28
through and
22:29
not care,
22:30
just, you
22:32
know, I'm
22:32
Christian,
22:33
whatever,
22:33
whatever that
22:34
means.
22:34
I'm going to
22:35
go to
22:35
heaven.
22:35
It's cool.
22:36
It's not
22:37
a fruit of
22:40
the gospel
22:40
in your
22:41
life.
22:43
We should
22:44
always be
22:45
concerned about
22:46
the opportunity
22:46
to share.
22:48
It is a
22:48
proactive
22:49
attitude.
22:52
I'm afraid
22:53
that churches,
22:55
the American
22:55
church, is
22:56
filled with
22:57
apathetic
22:58
people who
22:58
can defend
22:59
their church.
23:00
they can
23:01
defend their
23:02
worship
23:02
experience,
23:03
but they
23:04
cannot defend
23:04
the hope
23:05
that they
23:05
have or
23:06
they say
23:06
they have
23:07
in Christ.
23:08
Now, think
23:09
about that.
23:10
They can
23:11
defend why
23:12
they go to
23:12
a specific
23:13
church, but
23:14
they can't
23:15
defend Jesus
23:16
of the church
23:17
they say
23:18
they go to.
23:20
Here's the
23:21
reason I
23:21
think, I
23:22
believe, is
23:23
because they
23:26
have been
23:26
emotionally
23:27
infected.
23:28
their need
23:32
to get
23:33
their feelings
23:34
stirred up
23:36
has been
23:38
met and
23:39
not their
23:39
spiritual
23:40
need.
23:42
So, when
23:43
you attack
23:43
a feeling
23:46
or attack
23:46
emotion,
23:47
the gloves
23:47
come off
23:48
and they're
23:49
able to
23:50
defend that,
23:50
but they're
23:51
not able to
23:51
defend the
23:52
Jesus.
23:54
And Peter
23:55
is not
23:55
saying,
23:56
now, defend
23:58
those churches
23:59
you're with.
23:59
Defend those
24:00
churches in
24:01
Asia Minor.
24:01
He's saying
24:02
be ready to
24:03
give an
24:03
answer for
24:03
what?
24:06
For the
24:07
hope.
24:09
Always being
24:10
prepared to
24:10
make a
24:11
defense.
24:11
Anyone
24:11
asks you
24:12
for a
24:12
reason for
24:12
the hope
24:13
that is
24:14
in you.
24:17
A living
24:18
hope, as
24:19
1 Peter 1
24:20
3 says,
24:21
we have a
24:21
living hope
24:22
for the
24:22
resurrection
24:23
of Jesus
24:23
Christ from
24:24
the dead.
24:26
Jesus
24:26
resurrecting
24:27
gives us
24:28
hope.
24:28
And because
24:29
of his
24:29
action, we
24:30
no longer
24:30
fear death.
24:32
Or we
24:32
should no
24:33
longer fear
24:34
death.
24:35
Now, I
24:35
can guarantee
24:36
that if I
24:37
surveyed
24:37
everybody in
24:38
this room
24:38
and I
24:39
said, what
24:39
is your
24:39
greatest fear?
24:41
Some of
24:41
you are
24:41
going to
24:41
say to
24:42
die.
24:44
Death.
24:45
And that's
24:45
reality.
24:48
Some will
24:48
say spiders.
24:49
Some will
24:49
say snakes.
24:50
Some will
24:50
say, I
24:53
don't
24:53
know.
24:54
some of
24:55
you will
24:56
say death
24:58
or dying.
25:00
Now, the
25:01
reason is
25:01
probably
25:02
something
25:02
related to
25:03
not being
25:04
able to
25:05
do or
25:05
accomplish
25:06
something
25:06
yet that
25:07
you want
25:07
to accomplish.
25:10
And I
25:11
can relate
25:12
to that a
25:12
little bit.
25:14
But Jesus
25:15
himself and
25:17
eternity with
25:18
Jesus is
25:20
far better
25:21
than anything
25:22
this world
25:23
has to
25:23
offer.
25:24
Anything.
25:25
Think of
25:25
the greatest
25:26
thing that
25:27
you could
25:27
accomplish.
25:28
And he
25:29
is far
25:29
better than
25:30
that.
25:32
When we
25:32
die, it's
25:33
going to be
25:33
like Apple
25:34
with their
25:35
new iPad
25:36
3.
25:37
Hang with
25:37
me.
25:38
Don't drop
25:39
off the
25:40
cliff.
25:40
Hold on.
25:43
The iPad
25:44
2 is a
25:45
remarkable
25:46
piece of
25:46
technology.
25:48
People in
25:49
here have
25:49
it right
25:49
now.
25:50
They're
25:50
studying.
25:51
They're
25:51
cross-referencing.
25:52
And I'm
25:53
okay with
25:53
that.
25:55
Remarkable
25:55
piece of
25:55
technology.
25:56
But when
25:57
the iPad
25:57
3 comes
25:58
in, what
25:58
does Apple
25:59
do?
26:00
They tell
26:00
you, you
26:01
don't want
26:02
the iPad
26:02
2.
26:02
It's a piece
26:03
of junk.
26:04
You want
26:04
the iPad
26:05
3.
26:05
Look at
26:06
it.
26:06
It's even
26:06
better.
26:07
better.
26:08
And they
26:09
do this so
26:09
that you'll
26:10
buy their
26:10
product.
26:12
Now, the
26:13
reality is
26:14
that when
26:15
we get to
26:15
heaven, it's
26:18
not going to
26:19
be like the
26:19
Apple iPad
26:20
2, which is
26:21
good, and the
26:22
iPad 3, which
26:22
is better.
26:23
It's going to
26:24
be Jesus'
26:25
best and
26:26
everything else
26:26
is garbage.
26:27
And we're not
26:28
even going to
26:28
want what's
26:29
behind us.
26:30
We're not
26:30
even going to
26:30
want what's
26:31
here.
26:31
We're going to
26:32
want Jesus.
26:33
We're going to
26:33
want to worship
26:34
Jesus alone.
26:36
So, we can
26:37
then say,
26:39
nothing is
26:41
better than
26:41
Jesus, here
26:43
or in
26:44
eternity.
26:46
And we can
26:47
no longer
26:48
fear death.
26:51
So then, if
26:52
we can no
26:52
longer fear
26:53
death, the
26:55
question in
26:55
verse 13 is
26:56
rhetorical.
26:59
Now, who is
27:00
there to harm
27:00
you if you
27:02
are zealous
27:02
for what is
27:03
good?
27:04
You're
27:04
zealous for
27:05
what is
27:05
good?
27:06
You're
27:06
zealous for
27:07
righteousness?
27:08
That desire
27:08
has been put
27:09
in you through
27:09
Jesus.
27:12
Jesus is our
27:13
living hope
27:13
through His
27:14
resurrection.
27:15
We have
27:16
eternal security.
27:18
He is far
27:18
better than
27:18
anything this
27:19
world has to
27:20
offer.
27:21
The answer
27:21
is simple.
27:23
No one.
27:25
We no longer
27:25
fear death.
27:26
Then no one
27:27
can intimidate
27:30
us.
27:31
No one can
27:32
change our
27:32
mind.
27:33
strongholds
27:34
that we
27:35
struggle with.
27:36
Strongholds
27:37
that just
27:37
grab us
27:38
and hold
27:38
on to us
27:39
really can
27:41
no longer
27:41
be strong.
27:46
So, let's
27:48
turn it a
27:48
little bit.
27:50
Are you
27:50
being asked
27:51
to make a
27:52
defense?
27:54
Are you
27:54
being asked
27:55
to defend
27:56
the hope
27:57
that you
27:58
have in
27:59
Jesus
27:59
Christ?
27:59
Christ?
28:01
Does your
28:02
lifestyle lead
28:03
to questions
28:04
of why you
28:05
act the
28:06
way that
28:07
you do?
28:11
A godly
28:12
life is a
28:12
life that
28:13
lives in
28:14
opposition or
28:14
opposite to
28:15
the world.
28:17
That is as
28:17
clear a
28:18
statement and
28:18
as simple
28:19
statement as I
28:19
can make.
28:21
It is
28:21
opposite of
28:22
the world.
28:23
See, the
28:24
world celebrates
28:25
individuality.
28:27
The gospel
28:27
promotes unity.
28:29
unity.
28:30
The world
28:30
preaches
28:31
self-preservation.
28:33
The gospel
28:34
promotes one.
28:36
The world
28:37
promotes the
28:38
idea that
28:39
beauty and
28:39
attractiveness
28:40
is all we
28:41
need.
28:42
The gospel
28:43
proclaims the
28:44
blood of
28:45
Christ is all
28:46
we need.
28:47
The world
28:47
promotes do.
28:49
Do, do,
28:50
got to do
28:50
this, got to
28:50
do that.
28:51
The gospel
28:52
proclaims done.
28:53
Jesus has
28:54
already done
28:54
it.
28:55
The world
28:56
leads to
28:56
death forever.
28:57
forever.
28:58
The gospel
28:59
leads to
28:59
life everlasting.
29:02
If we
29:02
live a
29:03
gospel-centered
29:04
life, people
29:05
will ask
29:06
for us to
29:08
make a
29:09
defense because
29:09
we will
29:11
be different.
29:14
Are you
29:14
being asked?
29:16
Are you
29:17
being asked?
29:18
The last
29:19
part of
29:20
verse 15
29:20
says,
29:22
yet do it
29:23
with gentleness
29:24
forgiveness and
29:25
respect?
29:27
Now, when you
29:28
encounter a
29:29
hostile challenge
29:30
to something
29:31
important to
29:32
you, no
29:32
matter what
29:33
it is,
29:34
what is your
29:34
response like?
29:36
Does it
29:37
tend to be
29:37
more emotional
29:38
and harsh
29:39
and more
29:39
right at
29:40
them?
29:42
If it is,
29:43
we're all in
29:44
the same
29:44
group.
29:45
We're all
29:46
together.
29:48
It's because
29:49
answering critics
29:50
in your own
29:51
power, with
29:51
your own
29:52
emotion,
29:53
that's going
29:53
to be the
29:54
reaction.
29:55
We're going
29:55
to go after
29:56
them.
29:56
We're going
29:57
to defend
29:57
with raw
29:59
emotion.
30:01
But see,
30:01
the gospel
30:02
enables us
30:04
to answer
30:04
with gentleness,
30:05
with respect.
30:09
Now, I know
30:09
what some of you
30:10
are thinking.
30:11
This doesn't
30:12
mean that we
30:12
fold like
30:13
lawn chairs.
30:15
We just,
30:15
you know,
30:15
take the
30:16
critics and
30:16
that's cool,
30:17
man.
30:18
Whatever.
30:19
Just tell
30:20
me.
30:21
Tell me
30:21
I suck.
30:22
It's cool.
30:24
Tell me
30:24
Jesus is
30:25
horrible.
30:26
That's cool.
30:27
No.
30:29
But we
30:29
can, the
30:30
gospel still
30:30
allows us to
30:31
correct with
30:32
gentleness,
30:33
with love,
30:34
with care and
30:35
concern for
30:35
their hearts
30:36
and their
30:36
souls.
30:37
We can
30:38
still be bold
30:39
and right
30:40
and not
30:40
sin.
30:45
The gospel
30:46
enables us
30:46
to answer
30:47
with gentleness
30:48
and respect.
30:50
See, this is
30:51
why Peter
30:52
tells us to
30:52
do this,
30:53
to do it
30:53
with gentleness
30:54
and respect.
30:55
He knows
30:55
that we're
30:55
human.
30:56
He knows
30:57
that the
30:57
readers of
30:58
this are
30:58
going to
30:58
be human
30:59
and we're
31:00
going to
31:00
have the
31:00
same sinful
31:01
nature,
31:03
the same
31:04
emotional
31:05
fortitude
31:06
and whatever.
31:09
We're going
31:10
to be made
31:10
the same.
31:12
And he
31:12
knows
31:13
through the
31:15
leading of
31:15
the Holy
31:15
Spirit,
31:16
of course.
31:19
Nevertheless,
31:21
our response
31:22
can be and
31:22
must be
31:23
gentleness
31:24
and respect.
31:26
Gentleness
31:27
to the
31:27
unbeliever,
31:29
concern for
31:30
their souls,
31:31
love for
31:32
them,
31:34
respect
31:35
towards God,
31:36
respect and
31:37
fear is
31:38
another word
31:38
here,
31:39
towards God.
31:40
which as
31:43
we know,
31:45
fear of
31:46
God,
31:47
everything
31:47
trickles
31:48
down from
31:48
that,
31:49
from our
31:50
reverence
31:50
to God,
31:52
everything
31:52
kind of
31:53
trickles
31:53
down from
31:54
that.
31:54
So,
31:54
we fear
31:55
God,
31:56
we're going
31:56
to be
31:56
humble.
31:58
We fear
31:58
God,
31:59
we're going
31:59
to put
31:59
others
31:59
before
32:00
ourselves.
32:01
We fear
32:01
God,
32:02
we will
32:02
respond to
32:03
our offenders
32:04
with love
32:05
and gentleness.
32:07
Here's what
32:08
Martin Luther
32:09
wrote about
32:10
speaking to
32:11
people about
32:11
the hope
32:12
that we
32:13
have.
32:14
He says,
32:15
do you know
32:16
what the
32:16
devil thinks
32:17
when he
32:17
sees men
32:17
use violence
32:19
to propagate
32:19
the gospel?
32:21
He sits
32:22
with folded
32:22
arms behind
32:23
the fire
32:24
of hell
32:24
and says
32:24
with malignant
32:25
looks and
32:26
frightful grin,
32:27
ah,
32:28
how wise
32:28
these madmen
32:29
are to play
32:30
my game.
32:32
Let them
32:32
go on.
32:33
I shall
32:33
reap the
32:34
benefit
32:34
and I
32:35
delight in
32:36
it.
32:37
But,
32:38
when he
32:38
sees the
32:39
word
32:39
running
32:40
and contending
32:41
alone on
32:42
the battlefield,
32:43
then he
32:44
shudders
32:44
and shakes
32:45
for fear.
32:48
We must
32:48
defend,
32:49
not with
32:49
our opinions,
32:51
not with
32:51
our thoughts,
32:53
we defend
32:53
with the
32:55
word.
32:56
We defend
32:57
with the
32:58
word,
32:58
the gospel
32:59
of Jesus
33:00
Christ.
33:02
Do you
33:02
know the
33:02
word?
33:03
Do you
33:04
know the
33:04
word of
33:05
God?
33:07
So,
33:08
not only do
33:08
we have a
33:09
readiness to
33:09
defend our
33:10
faith,
33:11
but another
33:12
piece of
33:12
evidence is,
33:13
do you
33:14
have a
33:14
good
33:15
conscience?
33:16
Verse
33:17
16.
33:20
Having a
33:20
good
33:21
conscience.
33:23
Having a
33:23
good conscience.
33:24
So,
33:24
be ready to
33:25
defend your
33:26
faith for
33:26
the hope
33:26
that you
33:27
have,
33:27
with
33:27
gentleness
33:28
and respect,
33:29
having a
33:30
good
33:31
conscience.
33:32
the rest
33:36
of that
33:36
verse,
33:38
so that
33:38
when you
33:38
are
33:39
slandered,
33:40
those who
33:40
revile your
33:41
good behavior
33:42
in Christ
33:42
may be put
33:43
to shame.
33:45
The key
33:45
word here,
33:47
key words
33:48
here are
33:49
in Christ.
33:51
Does your
33:52
reaction,
33:54
does your
33:54
defense,
33:55
does the
33:55
way you
33:56
live your
33:56
life fit
33:57
within the
33:57
statement
33:58
in Christ?
33:59
Are you
34:01
living in
34:02
Christ?
34:03
Does your
34:03
life lean
34:04
towards sin
34:05
or towards
34:06
righteousness?
34:08
Now,
34:09
Jamie and I
34:09
had the
34:10
great opportunity
34:11
to take our
34:11
kids to see
34:12
the Lorax
34:12
last night.
34:14
So,
34:14
if they all
34:15
were at the
34:15
wedding and
34:16
you didn't
34:16
see us at
34:16
the reception,
34:17
that's where
34:17
we were.
34:18
We were at
34:18
the movie
34:19
theater.
34:22
There's a
34:22
line in
34:23
the movie
34:23
that's very
34:25
applicable to
34:25
this.
34:26
The Lorax
34:27
asks the
34:28
once-ler,
34:28
he says,
34:29
which way
34:30
does a
34:30
tree fall?
34:32
And the
34:33
once-ler says,
34:34
I don't
34:35
know.
34:37
And the
34:37
Lorax
34:37
responds by
34:38
saying,
34:39
it falls
34:40
whichever way
34:40
it's leaning.
34:42
Be careful
34:43
which way
34:44
you lean.
34:47
So,
34:47
for you
34:48
and for
34:49
me,
34:49
which way
34:49
does your
34:50
life lean?
34:52
Sin
34:52
or
34:53
righteousness?
34:56
If a
34:57
life is in
34:57
Christ,
34:58
that means
34:58
your life
34:59
through the
34:59
gospel leans
35:00
towards
35:01
righteousness.
35:05
His term
35:06
in good
35:06
conscience
35:07
does not
35:08
mean that
35:08
you've got
35:09
a good
35:09
credit score.
35:10
It doesn't
35:10
mean that
35:11
you have
35:11
good
35:12
relationships
35:12
with your
35:13
co-workers
35:13
or you
35:14
can sleep
35:14
well at
35:15
night
35:15
or you
35:17
don't
35:17
believe in
35:18
the Easter
35:18
Bunny or
35:19
Santa Claus.
35:20
None of
35:21
that.
35:22
It has to
35:23
deal with
35:23
our
35:23
relationship
35:24
with God.
35:27
Because of
35:27
Christ and
35:28
His work
35:28
on the
35:29
cross,
35:30
we can
35:30
live in
35:31
God's
35:31
presence
35:31
clothed in
35:32
Christ,
35:33
clothed in
35:34
His
35:34
righteousness.
35:36
To have a
35:37
good conscience
35:37
means that
35:38
we stand
35:39
firm in
35:40
our knowledge
35:41
of Christ's
35:41
work for
35:42
us on the
35:42
cross and
35:43
our standing
35:44
with God.
35:46
What Paul
35:47
repeatedly says
35:48
to the church
35:48
in Corinth
35:50
talking about
35:51
their conscience,
35:53
where they
35:53
think they
35:54
are.
36:01
Our sins
36:03
all have
36:04
been forgiven.
36:06
We are
36:07
children of
36:08
God,
36:08
every single
36:09
one of
36:09
them.
36:09
We stand
36:10
as if none
36:11
have ever
36:11
been committed,
36:12
as if we
36:13
are perfect.
36:15
And in
36:15
fact,
36:15
we are
36:16
because of
36:16
Christ and
36:18
His
36:18
perfection
36:19
and His
36:19
righteousness.
36:23
There's a
36:23
saying,
36:24
and we've
36:25
got
36:25
presidential
36:26
campaign going
36:27
on this
36:28
year,
36:28
and there's
36:28
a saying
36:29
that says
36:29
we all
36:32
have
36:32
skeletons
36:32
in our
36:33
closet.
36:34
We all
36:34
have things
36:35
that are
36:35
in there
36:36
that we're
36:36
just ashamed
36:37
of,
36:37
things we've
36:38
done,
36:38
things we've
36:39
thought,
36:39
things we've
36:40
whatever.
36:42
Well,
36:43
politicians,
36:43
you'll notice,
36:44
ramping up
36:45
now,
36:45
and they've
36:46
already been
36:46
doing it,
36:47
they're
36:48
starting to
36:48
pull
36:49
skeletons
36:49
out of
36:50
the opposing
36:51
politicians'
36:52
closets.
36:53
Well,
36:54
this guy
36:54
had affairs,
36:55
and this
36:56
guy doesn't
36:56
do this,
36:57
or this
36:57
guy,
36:58
whatever,
36:58
and on
36:59
and on
36:59
and on.
37:01
They try
37:01
to sway
37:02
us as
37:02
voters to
37:03
vote for
37:04
who they
37:05
want us
37:06
to vote
37:06
for.
37:07
Well,
37:08
here's the
37:08
reality.
37:09
Sure,
37:10
we all
37:11
have skeletons
37:11
in our
37:12
closet.
37:12
We all
37:12
have
37:13
something
37:13
we've
37:13
done
37:14
that
37:14
we're
37:14
ashamed
37:14
of.
37:15
But
37:15
because of
37:16
Christ,
37:18
because of
37:19
what He's
37:20
done,
37:21
those
37:22
skeletons
37:22
don't exist.
37:24
Because He
37:24
has forgiven
37:25
us of
37:25
those sins.
37:29
He has
37:30
cleansed
37:31
us as if
37:32
we've never
37:33
committed
37:34
them.
37:36
So if we
37:36
live in good
37:37
conscience
37:37
with God,
37:40
those
37:40
skeletons
37:41
don't exist.
37:43
that's good
37:44
news.
37:46
There's
37:46
nothing to
37:47
fear.
37:48
Am I
37:48
saying go
37:49
and run
37:49
for politics?
37:50
No.
37:51
I'm not
37:52
saying that.
37:54
But I
37:54
am saying
37:55
even better,
37:57
you're
37:57
standing
37:57
before a
37:58
holy,
37:59
righteous
37:59
God is
38:01
right because
38:02
of Christ.
38:03
If you
38:04
are a
38:04
child of
38:05
God,
38:06
if you
38:07
know Jesus,
38:07
if you
38:08
have
38:08
surrendered
38:08
your life
38:09
to Him.
38:12
So see
38:12
what matters
38:13
is our
38:15
relationship
38:16
with God.
38:17
Not how
38:18
we live.
38:20
Not what
38:21
we think.
38:22
What matters
38:22
is our
38:23
relationship
38:23
with Him
38:24
and then
38:24
everything
38:24
else gets
38:25
affected by
38:25
that.
38:26
So if we
38:26
know Jesus
38:27
and the
38:28
gospel has
38:29
infected us,
38:30
our lives
38:30
will be
38:31
affected.
38:33
So we
38:34
can live
38:34
as fearless
38:35
and forgiven
38:36
children of
38:37
God.
38:37
and when
38:39
we do
38:40
our
38:40
reaction
38:41
to our
38:41
slanderers
38:43
can be
38:46
gentle,
38:48
respectful,
38:50
and godly
38:51
and good
38:51
conscience.
38:54
Verse 16,
38:55
there's two
38:56
words right in
38:57
the middle.
38:57
It says,
38:58
so that
38:58
having a
39:02
good conscience
39:03
so that
39:04
when you are
39:05
slandered,
39:06
those who
39:06
revile your
39:07
good behavior
39:07
in Christ
39:08
may be
39:08
put to
39:09
shame.
39:12
They'll be
39:12
put to
39:12
shame because
39:13
nothing they
39:14
say will be
39:14
true.
39:16
Nothing will
39:16
matter.
39:18
You have
39:19
lived the
39:19
life in
39:19
honor and
39:20
praise of
39:21
God.
39:24
In good
39:25
conscience
39:26
with Him,
39:26
therefore,
39:27
nothing matters.
39:29
And what
39:29
somebody says,
39:31
rumor,
39:31
slander,
39:32
will not
39:33
matter because
39:34
your standing
39:35
with God
39:36
is right.
39:39
Now,
39:41
the last
39:42
evidence,
39:44
the last
39:45
piece is,
39:46
do you
39:46
suffer for
39:48
doing good?
39:49
Do you
39:50
suffer for
39:50
doing good?
39:52
And this is
39:52
found in
39:53
verse 14
39:53
and verse
39:54
17.
39:57
Remember,
39:58
Peter's
39:58
writing to
39:59
the churches
39:59
in Asia
40:00
Minor who
40:00
are already
40:01
suffering,
40:02
and in
40:02
fact,
40:02
worse is
40:04
headed their
40:05
way.
40:06
Peter knows
40:07
that more
40:08
is coming.
40:09
So in
40:09
verse 14
40:10
he says,
40:11
but even
40:12
if you
40:12
should suffer
40:13
for righteousness
40:14
sake,
40:14
you will
40:14
be blessed.
40:16
Have no
40:17
fear of
40:17
them,
40:18
nor be
40:18
troubled.
40:20
Verse 17,
40:21
for it is
40:21
better to
40:22
suffer for
40:22
doing good
40:23
if that
40:24
should be
40:24
God's
40:25
will than
40:25
for doing
40:26
evil.
40:29
Now,
40:29
as Christians,
40:30
there's going
40:31
to be times
40:31
of suffering.
40:32
There's going
40:33
to be
40:33
situations
40:34
that we're
40:35
going to
40:35
suffer
40:36
through.
40:37
Some
40:38
may be
40:38
persecution.
40:41
There are
40:41
two statements
40:42
that I've
40:43
read recently.
40:44
One says,
40:45
suffering
40:45
stalks the
40:46
believer
40:47
until this
40:48
present evil
40:49
age comes
40:49
to an end.
40:52
Another
40:52
one is
40:52
suffering
40:53
is an
40:53
indication
40:54
of God's
40:55
blessing.
40:57
We see
40:57
that in
40:58
James 1.
40:59
You guys
41:00
know,
41:00
James 1.
41:02
2-4,
41:03
it says,
41:03
Count it
41:03
all joy,
41:04
my brothers,
41:06
when you
41:06
meet trials
41:07
of various
41:07
kinds,
41:08
for you
41:08
know that
41:10
the testing
41:10
of your
41:10
faith produces
41:11
steadfastness.
41:13
And let
41:13
steadfastness
41:14
hold its
41:15
full effect,
41:16
that you
41:16
may be
41:16
perfect and
41:17
complete,
41:18
lacking in
41:19
nothing.
41:20
Count it
41:20
all joy,
41:21
my brothers,
41:21
when you
41:22
meet trials
41:22
of various
41:23
kinds.
41:24
We are
41:25
going to
41:25
suffer.
41:27
The people
41:28
in Asia
41:28
minor are
41:29
suffering at
41:29
this time
41:30
that Peter
41:30
is writing
41:31
this.
41:32
There are
41:33
brothers and
41:33
sisters in
41:34
our time
41:35
who are
41:35
dying,
41:37
being murdered
41:37
for their
41:38
faith.
41:39
Now,
41:40
of course,
41:41
for most
41:42
of us in
41:42
here,
41:43
that's not
41:43
really a
41:43
reality.
41:44
We're kind
41:44
of sheltered
41:45
here.
41:45
We've got
41:46
freedom.
41:47
We've got
41:47
safety.
41:49
We've got
41:50
houses.
41:50
We've got a
41:52
lot of
41:52
things that
41:53
shelter us
41:54
here.
41:54
But it
41:56
doesn't mean
41:57
that sooner
41:57
or later
41:58
our faith
41:58
is going
41:59
to go
41:59
head on
42:00
against
42:01
someone or
42:02
something in
42:02
this world
42:03
that is
42:04
against what
42:05
we preach,
42:07
against what
42:08
we live.
42:11
See,
42:11
the reason
42:11
that we're
42:11
going to
42:12
suffer is
42:12
because Jesus
42:13
is the
42:14
antithesis to
42:15
the world.
42:16
He's the
42:17
opposite of
42:18
the world.
42:18
He preaches
42:19
life.
42:20
World is
42:20
death.
42:21
He is
42:21
light.
42:22
World is
42:23
dark.
42:24
And if
42:25
he's the
42:26
light and
42:26
he shines
42:27
the light
42:27
in the
42:28
dark,
42:29
you get
42:30
to see
42:30
all the
42:31
defects,
42:32
all the
42:32
warts,
42:33
all the
42:33
cracks,
42:34
all the
42:34
whatever.
42:36
Because
42:36
Jesus'
42:37
light has
42:38
been
42:38
shown.
42:40
The
42:40
defects
42:41
in
42:41
religion,
42:43
the
42:43
defects
42:44
in
42:44
philosophy,
42:46
the
42:46
defects
42:46
in
42:47
social
42:47
priorities,
42:49
the
42:49
defects
42:50
in
42:50
moralism,
42:52
the
42:52
defects
42:52
in
42:53
personal
42:53
responsibility.
42:54
Jesus is
42:57
the
42:57
light.
42:58
And if
42:58
we claim
42:59
to be
42:59
his,
43:00
then we
43:00
will
43:01
suffer
43:01
for
43:01
his
43:02
name.
43:02
There
43:02
will
43:02
be a
43:03
time.
43:07
The
43:08
fact
43:08
that we
43:10
are
43:10
Christians
43:10
and in
43:12
Romans
43:12
chapter 8,
43:13
if God
43:13
is for
43:14
us,
43:15
then who
43:15
is there
43:16
to fear?
43:18
In
43:19
Revelation
43:19
chapter 2
43:20
verse 10,
43:21
Jesus gives
43:21
us some
43:22
encouragement.
43:22
He says,
43:24
do not
43:25
fear what
43:25
you are
43:26
about to
43:26
suffer.
43:28
Behold,
43:28
the devil
43:29
is about
43:29
to throw
43:30
some of
43:30
you into
43:30
prison,
43:31
that you
43:32
may be
43:32
tested,
43:32
and for
43:33
ten days
43:33
you will
43:33
have
43:34
tribulation.
43:35
Be
43:35
faithful
43:36
unto
43:36
death,
43:36
and I
43:37
will give
43:37
you the
43:37
crown
43:38
of life.
43:39
That's to
43:40
the church
43:40
in Smyrna
43:41
that he
43:41
writes to.
43:45
We
43:46
should not
43:47
go through
43:47
suffering
43:48
with our
43:48
heads
43:49
hung
43:49
low,
43:50
with the
43:51
poor me
43:52
attitude,
43:53
or the
43:53
poor me
43:55
signs all
43:55
over us.
43:59
We
43:59
should go
44:00
through
44:00
suffering
44:00
with
44:01
courage,
44:02
with
44:03
courage
44:05
and fight.
44:08
Courage in
44:09
order to be
44:10
faithful.
44:11
We must
44:12
face all
44:13
circumstances
44:13
with courage.
44:14
As Joshua
44:15
says in
44:17
Joshua
44:17
chapter 1,
44:18
only be
44:18
strong and
44:19
very
44:19
courageous,
44:20
being
44:20
careful to
44:21
do
44:21
according
44:22
to all
44:23
the law
44:23
that
44:23
Moses
44:23
my
44:24
servant
44:24
commanded
44:25
you.
44:26
Verse 9,
44:26
he repeats,
44:27
Have I
44:28
not
44:28
commanded
44:28
you?
44:29
Be
44:29
strong and
44:30
courageous.
44:31
Do not
44:31
be frightened
44:32
and do
44:32
not be
44:32
dismayed.
44:33
For the
44:33
Lord,
44:34
your God
44:34
is with
44:35
you
44:35
wherever
44:36
you go.
44:40
We
44:41
suffer
44:41
with
44:42
courage
44:43
because
44:43
it's
44:43
an
44:43
indication
44:44
of
44:44
God's
44:44
blessing
44:45
on our
44:46
lives.
44:47
We're
44:48
okay with
44:48
it because
44:49
we know
44:49
the end.
44:52
We're
44:52
okay with
44:53
it because
44:54
we know
44:54
the Savior.
44:57
So does
44:57
your life
44:58
give evidence
44:59
of a
44:59
godly
45:00
life?
45:01
Or do
45:02
you just
45:02
look good
45:03
coming off
45:03
the bus?
45:07
Do you
45:08
look like
45:08
something that
45:09
you're not?
45:11
As our
45:12
community groups
45:13
gather,
45:14
as we pray
45:15
through
45:15
opportunities
45:16
to share,
45:17
to reach
45:18
our community
45:19
for Jesus?
45:22
Do we
45:23
just look
45:23
good coming
45:23
off the
45:24
bus?
45:24
Do we
45:25
just have
45:25
good
45:25
intentions?
45:28
Do we
45:29
just carry
45:29
our Bible
45:30
in our
45:30
left hand
45:31
and not
45:31
our right
45:31
hand?
45:33
Do we
45:33
preach
45:35
and say
45:36
certain
45:36
words?
45:40
Do we
45:41
look good
45:41
coming off
45:42
the bus
45:42
or do we
45:42
actually live
45:43
it out?
45:44
Has our
45:44
life been
45:45
changed?
45:46
by the
45:47
gospel.
45:49
I pray
45:50
that all
45:50
of us
45:50
have a
45:51
passion
45:51
for what
45:52
is good.
45:53
That we
45:53
are ready
45:54
to defend
45:54
the questions
45:55
of our
45:55
faith.
45:56
That Christ
45:57
is set
45:58
apart in
45:58
our hearts
45:59
as Lord.
46:00
That we
46:00
live with a
46:01
good conscience
46:02
and that all
46:02
of us
46:03
suffer with
46:03
courage
46:04
and fear
46:05
of God
46:06
alone.
46:07
Let's pray
46:07
together.
46:08
Amen.
46:08
Amen.
46:10
Amen.