1 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:07,580 Now we're going to pick up a verse 2 00:00:07,580 --> 00:00:11,020 first of all in Romans chapter 12 and 3 00:00:11,020 --> 00:00:15,379 then go back to Ephesians 4, Romans chapter 4 00:00:15,379 --> 00:00:20,860 12 and verse 10. 5 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:33,800 Romans 12 and 10 says be kindly affectioned 6 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:38,600 one to another with brotherly love in honor 7 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:42,080 preferring one another. 8 00:00:42,480 --> 00:00:47,840 Now let's go to Ephesians chapter 4, Ephesians 9 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:48,740 chapter 4. 10 00:00:52,030 --> 00:00:54,990 Now there's a number of verses here probably 11 00:00:54,990 --> 00:00:57,290 way too many for me to cover properly 12 00:00:57,290 --> 00:01:02,130 but I want you just to remember the 13 00:01:02,130 --> 00:01:05,430 emphasis from last Sunday we were looking at 14 00:01:05,430 --> 00:01:10,650 expressions through Ephesians called in love and there 15 00:01:10,650 --> 00:01:13,770 was a series of expressions relating to that. 16 00:01:14,630 --> 00:01:15,830 I'm going to pick up a couple of 17 00:01:15,830 --> 00:01:17,710 them here in verse 15 it says but 18 00:01:17,710 --> 00:01:22,490 speaking the truth in love may grow up 19 00:01:22,490 --> 00:01:25,730 into him in all things who is the 20 00:01:25,730 --> 00:01:28,790 head even Christ from whom the whole body 21 00:01:28,790 --> 00:01:33,170 fitly joined together and compacted by that which 22 00:01:33,170 --> 00:01:36,530 every joint supplies according to the effectual working 23 00:01:36,530 --> 00:01:39,150 in the measure of every part makes increase 24 00:01:39,150 --> 00:01:42,590 of the body unto the edifying of itself 25 00:01:42,590 --> 00:01:44,230 in love. 26 00:01:44,310 --> 00:01:47,350 So there's two things associated together here we 27 00:01:47,350 --> 00:01:52,010 have speaking the truth in love and then 28 00:01:52,010 --> 00:01:58,330 growing, developing, building up one another in love 29 00:01:58,330 --> 00:02:03,830 and so verse 17 then presents a challenge 30 00:02:03,830 --> 00:02:09,030 and you can look at this this last 31 00:02:09,030 --> 00:02:11,890 section especially as with an emphasis of what 32 00:02:11,890 --> 00:02:17,520 we would call transforming love and if you 33 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:20,060 remember again from last Sunday I spoke a 34 00:02:20,060 --> 00:02:22,500 little bit about chapter 1 on the idea 35 00:02:22,500 --> 00:02:25,180 that we are accepted in the beloved and 36 00:02:25,180 --> 00:02:29,220 we are holy and without blame before him 37 00:02:29,220 --> 00:02:31,120 in love so that's what we could call 38 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:35,700 accepting love and if we can appreciate that 39 00:02:35,700 --> 00:02:39,720 God has dealt with us that way that 40 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:43,080 becomes the incentive and the lever for us 41 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:44,700 to treat one another that way. 42 00:02:45,420 --> 00:02:48,240 In other words and this is something that 43 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:51,920 I have come to appreciate more in the 44 00:02:51,920 --> 00:02:56,240 last few years it's very very important for 45 00:02:56,240 --> 00:03:02,240 me to honor God's work not only in 46 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:06,660 myself I can't be careless about my life 47 00:03:06,660 --> 00:03:11,700 because it's not just my life it's a 48 00:03:11,700 --> 00:03:15,280 life that God is working in and so 49 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:18,500 I need to honor the work of God 50 00:03:18,500 --> 00:03:22,960 in progress in my life but Ephesians 4 51 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:26,000 brings the emphasis that we need to honor 52 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,360 the work of God that is in progress 53 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:31,100 in everyone else's life as well and so 54 00:03:31,100 --> 00:03:34,180 that's where our responsibilities towards one another emphasize 55 00:03:34,180 --> 00:03:38,400 so we have this emphasis and so there's 56 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:40,560 a contrast made in verse 17 this I 57 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:43,320 say therefore and testify in the Lord that 58 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:47,160 you henceforth that is that you no longer 59 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:51,440 walk as other Gentiles walk in the vanity 60 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:55,200 of their mind having the understanding darkened being 61 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,900 alienated from the life of God and so 62 00:03:57,900 --> 00:04:01,000 on and so we are looking at the 63 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:05,000 world around us with all its depravity with 64 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:08,800 all its licentious living it's very self-focused 65 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:12,620 self-fulfilling living verse 20 says in contrast 66 00:04:12,620 --> 00:04:17,959 but you have not so learned Christ this 67 00:04:17,959 --> 00:04:20,279 isn't what you learn from him and then 68 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:22,600 he says if so be that you have 69 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:25,700 heard him and have been taught by him 70 00:04:25,700 --> 00:04:31,720 as truth is in Jesus that you put 71 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:34,680 off concerning the former behavior the old man 72 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:37,480 which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts 73 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:39,220 and be renewed in the spirit of your 74 00:04:39,220 --> 00:04:43,560 mind so all through here there's this repeated 75 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:48,440 emphasis to change this is a challenge to 76 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:52,380 change and so God's love to us on 77 00:04:52,380 --> 00:04:57,720 one hand is a wonderful accepting love but 78 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:00,100 it's also a transforming love he is going 79 00:05:00,100 --> 00:05:03,760 to change us into what pleases him and 80 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:07,040 honors him be renewed in the spirit of 81 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:08,340 your mind and that you put on the 82 00:05:08,340 --> 00:05:10,580 new man which after God or according to 83 00:05:10,580 --> 00:05:15,040 God is created in righteousness and true holiness 84 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:19,720 and you could also translate that expression the 85 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:23,880 holiness of truth and so while there is 86 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:28,660 a very strong emphasis on love there's also 87 00:05:28,660 --> 00:05:33,000 a very significant emphasis pulled in here about 88 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:39,140 truth truth honesty and so verse 25 down 89 00:05:39,140 --> 00:05:44,780 begins the direct challenges to us wherefore wherefore 90 00:05:44,780 --> 00:05:48,080 putting away lying speak every man truth with 91 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:50,920 his neighbor for we are members one of 92 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:54,420 another be angry and sin not let not 93 00:05:54,420 --> 00:05:56,400 the Sun go down upon your wrath or 94 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:58,660 your provocation neither give place to the devil 95 00:05:58,660 --> 00:06:01,660 let him that stole steal steal no more 96 00:06:01,660 --> 00:06:04,320 but rather let him labor working with his 97 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:05,920 hands the thing which is good that he 98 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:09,160 may have to give to him that needeth 99 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:12,640 let no corrupt communication proceed out of your 100 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:14,820 mouth but that which is good to the 101 00:06:14,820 --> 00:06:18,260 use of edifying that it may minister grace 102 00:06:18,260 --> 00:06:21,740 unto the hearers and grieve not the Holy 103 00:06:21,740 --> 00:06:25,760 Spirit of God whereby you are sealed unto 104 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:29,340 the day of redemption let all bitterness and 105 00:06:29,340 --> 00:06:32,460 wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking 106 00:06:32,460 --> 00:06:34,460 be put away from you with all malice 107 00:06:34,460 --> 00:06:38,520 and be kind one to another tender-hearted 108 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:42,520 forgiving one another even as God for Christ's 109 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:46,000 sake or God in Christ has forgiven you 110 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:48,220 now let's read the first two verses of 111 00:06:48,220 --> 00:06:50,940 chapter 5 because this is really the conclusion 112 00:06:50,940 --> 00:06:56,200 be ye therefore followers or imitators of God 113 00:06:56,200 --> 00:07:01,500 as dear children and walk in love as 114 00:07:01,500 --> 00:07:04,200 Christ also has loved us and has given 115 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:07,080 himself for us an offering and a sacrifice 116 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:13,000 to God for a sweet smelling savor now 117 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:15,740 every time we come together to break bread 118 00:07:15,740 --> 00:07:21,890 we focus on the work of Christ and 119 00:07:21,890 --> 00:07:25,490 we seek to honor his work on our 120 00:07:25,490 --> 00:07:29,990 behalf to bring us into salvation but wouldn't 121 00:07:29,990 --> 00:07:33,550 it be a shame to try all through 122 00:07:33,550 --> 00:07:37,870 our lifetime to truly honor what he did 123 00:07:37,870 --> 00:07:41,110 for us to bring us into this salvation 124 00:07:41,110 --> 00:07:46,470 and then to be negligent or careless indifferent 125 00:07:46,470 --> 00:07:50,270 or even resistant to the work that he's 126 00:07:50,270 --> 00:07:55,770 trying to do in us right now that 127 00:07:55,770 --> 00:07:59,010 would be very incompatible wouldn't it very inconsistent 128 00:07:59,010 --> 00:08:04,670 and so I am trying to learn more 129 00:08:04,670 --> 00:08:09,470 and more to look at fellow Christians as 130 00:08:09,470 --> 00:08:16,390 a work in progress to try to look 131 00:08:16,390 --> 00:08:21,630 from God's perspective and to see every believer 132 00:08:21,630 --> 00:08:25,750 as someone in whom the Spirit of God 133 00:08:25,750 --> 00:08:31,610 rests dwells and is working to bring into 134 00:08:31,610 --> 00:08:37,690 the perfection the blessedness the completeness that belongs 135 00:08:37,690 --> 00:08:41,110 to someone who is now part of Christ 136 00:08:41,110 --> 00:08:46,390 Christ's body we have a tremendous tremendous future 137 00:08:46,390 --> 00:08:51,820 and we have that future together and so 138 00:08:51,820 --> 00:08:57,400 we have to balance our awareness of what 139 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:04,210 we see failing that may irritate us that 140 00:09:04,210 --> 00:09:09,410 may hurt us that may be destructive in 141 00:09:09,410 --> 00:09:12,810 fellow believers we need to balance that awareness 142 00:09:12,810 --> 00:09:16,350 with the awareness that God is still at 143 00:09:16,350 --> 00:09:20,450 work and God is moving things to his 144 00:09:20,450 --> 00:09:25,650 ultimate purpose and so progress of God's work 145 00:09:25,650 --> 00:09:27,150 in each one and now I'm just going 146 00:09:27,150 --> 00:09:31,270 to use an expression pursuit of honor you 147 00:09:32,710 --> 00:09:38,770 see it's part of love's character to wish 148 00:09:38,770 --> 00:09:44,150 for the honor of someone that I love 149 00:09:44,150 --> 00:09:47,570 now sometimes it's good to just use it 150 00:09:47,570 --> 00:09:53,370 put it into another perspective parents love to 151 00:09:53,370 --> 00:09:57,320 see their children do well if a husband 152 00:09:57,320 --> 00:10:00,720 loves his wife he's going to be delighted 153 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:05,100 when she's honored when she's well spoken of 154 00:10:05,100 --> 00:10:09,940 when someone speaks appreciatively of her he's going 155 00:10:09,940 --> 00:10:14,660 to be pleased if you don't there's something 156 00:10:14,660 --> 00:10:21,700 wrong in your love it is the nature 157 00:10:21,700 --> 00:10:26,460 of love to want to glorify to honor 158 00:10:26,460 --> 00:10:30,540 the one that you love this is part 159 00:10:30,540 --> 00:10:33,860 of the of the glory of the Godhead 160 00:10:33,860 --> 00:10:38,460 the father loves the son has given everything 161 00:10:38,460 --> 00:10:41,200 to him the father wants to honor the 162 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:46,080 son bring him into honor and appreciation in 163 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:48,760 the eyes of every other person the son 164 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:52,780 wants to honor the father and so love 165 00:10:52,780 --> 00:10:57,160 has this motivation this goal to bring into 166 00:10:57,160 --> 00:11:00,600 honor and praise and so on and so 167 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:03,320 there's a number of verses but I don't 168 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:05,480 want to be caught too long on just 169 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:09,640 trying to emphasize that idea but in our 170 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:12,000 relationships with one another whether it's in our 171 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:17,340 families or among fellow believers we need to 172 00:11:17,340 --> 00:11:23,240 cultivate an atmosphere of honor each person should 173 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:28,000 feel valued honored now I want to just 174 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:33,220 touch on a few principles or ways in 175 00:11:33,220 --> 00:11:36,900 which we can cultivate honor for one another 176 00:11:36,900 --> 00:11:39,300 now the very first one I want to 177 00:11:39,300 --> 00:11:42,320 emphasize is just simply learning how to listen 178 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:48,360 do you know how to listen one of 179 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:54,670 the biggest frustrations in conflict often is you're 180 00:11:54,670 --> 00:11:58,170 not listening to me you know as soon 181 00:11:58,170 --> 00:12:00,050 as I open my mouth you want to 182 00:12:00,050 --> 00:12:03,090 shut me down you don't want to hear 183 00:12:03,090 --> 00:12:06,190 what I have to say why because sometimes 184 00:12:06,190 --> 00:12:08,170 we think we already know what the other 185 00:12:08,170 --> 00:12:11,830 person is all about and we sometimes surmise 186 00:12:11,830 --> 00:12:15,190 the worst about them we already think we 187 00:12:15,190 --> 00:12:19,450 know now if you only listen in order 188 00:12:19,450 --> 00:12:27,310 to counter-attack you are conveying dishonor you 189 00:12:27,310 --> 00:12:32,530 are discrediting dishonoring that person and so it's 190 00:12:32,530 --> 00:12:35,330 very very important for us to learn this 191 00:12:35,330 --> 00:12:36,850 and I remember I think this was in 192 00:12:36,850 --> 00:12:41,790 a book called making love last forever by 193 00:12:41,790 --> 00:12:46,490 Gary Smalley where he talks about one of 194 00:12:46,490 --> 00:12:48,010 these principles I'm not sure if that was 195 00:12:48,010 --> 00:12:50,050 that book or not but there's a lot 196 00:12:50,050 --> 00:12:52,370 of excellent material in that book if it 197 00:12:52,370 --> 00:12:57,310 isn't in that book but the author at 198 00:12:57,310 --> 00:13:01,030 least suggests that we that we pick up 199 00:13:01,030 --> 00:13:04,910 on the what he calls drive-thru listening 200 00:13:04,910 --> 00:13:07,750 now we're all familiar with going through the 201 00:13:07,750 --> 00:13:11,610 drive-thru and you come up there and 202 00:13:11,610 --> 00:13:14,350 of course you obviously give some signal when 203 00:13:14,350 --> 00:13:16,670 you drive up there that they know you're 204 00:13:16,670 --> 00:13:20,690 there at that little wicket and and they 205 00:13:20,690 --> 00:13:22,310 would say you know how are you and 206 00:13:22,310 --> 00:13:24,750 what's what what's your order and so then 207 00:13:24,750 --> 00:13:30,070 you express what you want and then they 208 00:13:30,070 --> 00:13:33,810 repeat it to you and so what are 209 00:13:33,810 --> 00:13:36,370 they actually doing they want to make sure 210 00:13:36,370 --> 00:13:40,050 that when you get to the pickup wicket 211 00:13:40,050 --> 00:13:42,390 that you're going to get what you asked 212 00:13:42,390 --> 00:13:45,430 for everybody's going to be happy and so 213 00:13:45,430 --> 00:13:49,630 this concept basically is saying our first priority 214 00:13:49,630 --> 00:13:54,450 in listening is to make sure that I 215 00:13:54,450 --> 00:14:01,680 understand you instead of wanting to get my 216 00:14:01,680 --> 00:14:08,440 idea across my first priority is to understand 217 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:12,480 what you are thinking what you're feeling now 218 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:14,920 James told us this a long time ago 219 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:18,520 before drive-thru listening was fashionable and he 220 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:23,380 said let every man be to hear slow 221 00:14:23,380 --> 00:14:29,280 to speak slow to wrath when we're upset 222 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:32,720 we tend not to want to hear we 223 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:36,140 want to make them here and so this 224 00:14:36,140 --> 00:14:38,860 is an this is an aspect of honoring 225 00:14:38,860 --> 00:14:41,740 that other person going back to Romans 12 226 00:14:43,110 --> 00:14:51,270 brotherly love be affectionately with kindness affectionate kindness 227 00:14:51,270 --> 00:14:56,310 with brotherly love in honor preferring one another 228 00:14:56,310 --> 00:14:59,950 in honor putting the other one first and 229 00:14:59,950 --> 00:15:02,410 so learning to listen is very very very 230 00:15:02,410 --> 00:15:05,930 very vital and it has been said that 231 00:15:05,930 --> 00:15:11,070 that nothing conveys honor so well as attentive 232 00:15:11,070 --> 00:15:17,250 active listening where you accept equal responsibility with 233 00:15:17,250 --> 00:15:20,650 the person speaking to you to make sure 234 00:15:20,650 --> 00:15:24,350 understanding true understanding takes place and you give 235 00:15:24,350 --> 00:15:28,110 the person opportunity to express their feelings what 236 00:15:28,110 --> 00:15:30,270 they see happening and what they feel about 237 00:15:30,270 --> 00:15:33,790 it now of course if you're going to 238 00:15:33,790 --> 00:15:37,490 be mature you both have to do this 239 00:15:37,490 --> 00:15:42,030 you both have to practice this willingness to 240 00:15:42,030 --> 00:15:45,450 hear willingness to listen the other person in 241 00:15:45,450 --> 00:15:47,690 what they are saying now the emphasis we 242 00:15:47,690 --> 00:15:49,470 have here in the latter part of Ephesians 243 00:15:49,470 --> 00:15:52,470 4 is the next principle of showing honor 244 00:15:52,470 --> 00:15:57,850 and that is being honest being honest with 245 00:15:57,850 --> 00:16:01,530 one another and so it says here in 246 00:16:01,530 --> 00:16:04,710 verse 15 speaking the truth in love now 247 00:16:04,710 --> 00:16:08,650 some translations will put actually being truthful in 248 00:16:08,650 --> 00:16:11,990 love or being sincere in love so it 249 00:16:11,990 --> 00:16:13,790 could have something to do with not only 250 00:16:13,790 --> 00:16:16,950 how we speak and what we speak but 251 00:16:16,950 --> 00:16:21,450 being sincere in our motivation now there's a 252 00:16:21,450 --> 00:16:23,290 very important section here that is a bit 253 00:16:23,290 --> 00:16:26,510 more doctrinal from verse 20 down to verse 254 00:16:26,510 --> 00:16:32,610 24 and it's important for us to understand 255 00:16:32,610 --> 00:16:40,290 that God in saving us has created within 256 00:16:40,290 --> 00:16:47,200 us a life that is holy a life 257 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:51,260 that is righteous a life that is genuine 258 00:16:51,260 --> 00:16:54,820 and sincere now he starts out by saying 259 00:16:54,820 --> 00:17:00,080 truth is in Jesus now I don't know 260 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:02,260 if you've ever thought about this but if 261 00:17:02,260 --> 00:17:04,900 you had not been willing to become honest 262 00:17:04,900 --> 00:17:08,540 you never would have gotten saved we began 263 00:17:08,540 --> 00:17:13,180 our our Christian life in that element of 264 00:17:13,180 --> 00:17:19,540 brokenness of honesty confession acknowledgement and simple honestly 265 00:17:19,540 --> 00:17:22,200 honesty we weren't trying to hide what we 266 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:26,680 were we simply honestly received the Word of 267 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:29,040 God now that's also touched on in first 268 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:32,360 Peter chapter 1 when it says that you 269 00:17:32,360 --> 00:17:37,640 obeyed the truth through the Spirit then it 270 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:41,260 says unto unfeigned love of the brethren and 271 00:17:41,260 --> 00:17:44,800 so into that embryo of life in the 272 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:47,780 element of honesty was born the love of 273 00:17:47,780 --> 00:17:50,860 God within our beings and so love has 274 00:17:50,860 --> 00:17:53,460 this very nature and character in it it's 275 00:17:53,460 --> 00:17:57,500 absolutely genuine and sincere in all its intentions 276 00:17:57,500 --> 00:18:00,220 in all its and all its purposes and 277 00:18:00,220 --> 00:18:05,520 so he says truth is in Jesus and 278 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:07,940 we are supposed to be learning from him 279 00:18:07,940 --> 00:18:12,540 we're supposed to be gaining knowledge we're supposed 280 00:18:12,540 --> 00:18:14,900 to be following what he is if so 281 00:18:14,900 --> 00:18:16,460 be you have heard him been taught by 282 00:18:16,460 --> 00:18:18,740 him and then he says that you put 283 00:18:18,740 --> 00:18:22,480 off and this is actually something that took 284 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:27,360 place at conversion as it's spoken in the 285 00:18:27,360 --> 00:18:30,300 Colossian Epistle it's a little more clear it's 286 00:18:30,300 --> 00:18:33,940 having put off and having put on this 287 00:18:33,940 --> 00:18:36,120 is what happened when we got saved we 288 00:18:36,120 --> 00:18:39,440 put off the old man we put on 289 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:42,040 the new man and the character of the 290 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:45,820 old man which is the sinful person that 291 00:18:45,820 --> 00:18:52,760 we were in Adam was deceitfulness do you 292 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:55,420 know that every sin has a lie in 293 00:18:55,420 --> 00:19:01,130 it every sin has in it a distortion 294 00:19:01,130 --> 00:19:06,570 a corruption from reality from truth and you 295 00:19:06,570 --> 00:19:09,750 know it's also very typical for people to 296 00:19:09,750 --> 00:19:13,990 lie when they have sinned because lying is 297 00:19:13,990 --> 00:19:18,010 the cover-up to protect from the repercussions 298 00:19:18,010 --> 00:19:21,150 of sinning and so honesty is a very 299 00:19:21,150 --> 00:19:24,490 fundamental thing and I'll just say this very 300 00:19:24,490 --> 00:19:29,390 very clearly that we will not mature and 301 00:19:29,390 --> 00:19:35,590 we will not build mature permanent relationships without 302 00:19:35,590 --> 00:19:42,010 love and truth love and honesty have to 303 00:19:42,010 --> 00:19:46,430 work together for relationships to endure and to 304 00:19:46,430 --> 00:19:49,930 progress and so he makes this expression you 305 00:19:49,930 --> 00:19:51,990 put on the new man which according to 306 00:19:51,990 --> 00:19:57,370 God has been created in righteousness and true 307 00:19:57,370 --> 00:20:01,650 holiness or holiness of truth now that has 308 00:20:01,650 --> 00:20:04,550 been done within you and so you have 309 00:20:04,550 --> 00:20:09,190 this inner core of life that corresponds to 310 00:20:09,190 --> 00:20:12,970 what God is himself so verse 25 down 311 00:20:12,970 --> 00:20:16,830 is where our responsibility comes in then he 312 00:20:16,830 --> 00:20:20,570 says wherefore putting away lying speak every man 313 00:20:20,570 --> 00:20:23,870 truth with his neighbor for we are members 314 00:20:23,870 --> 00:20:30,990 one of another now again I'm just going 315 00:20:30,990 --> 00:20:34,970 to make a few quick comments about lying 316 00:20:34,970 --> 00:20:42,280 why do we lie why do we fail 317 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:48,420 to express ourselves honestly well you probably won't 318 00:20:48,420 --> 00:20:50,240 remember what I said in the first three 319 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:53,460 verses of the chapter last week but two 320 00:20:53,460 --> 00:21:01,600 of the important characteristics is meekness lowliness forbearance 321 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:04,680 long-suffering and I mentioned that these involve 322 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:09,180 an absence of self-promotion and an absence 323 00:21:09,180 --> 00:21:13,520 of self-protection now guess what lying does 324 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:19,700 for us lying works for self promotion do 325 00:21:19,700 --> 00:21:23,940 we exaggerate embellish our stories to make ourselves 326 00:21:23,940 --> 00:21:27,320 seem that much more noble that much more 327 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:29,520 wonderful and so on and so on if 328 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:31,060 you're the hero of all the stories you 329 00:21:31,060 --> 00:21:34,420 tell most people will recognize it after a 330 00:21:34,420 --> 00:21:37,440 while and they sort of cut whatever you 331 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:41,670 say in half and so we have the 332 00:21:41,670 --> 00:21:44,710 tendency in our self-centeredness this is one 333 00:21:44,710 --> 00:21:48,590 of the distortions that that sin has created 334 00:21:48,590 --> 00:21:51,370 that we are the center of everything and 335 00:21:51,370 --> 00:21:54,910 so we're either trying to promote ourselves or 336 00:21:54,910 --> 00:21:57,850 we're trying to protect ourselves because we do 337 00:21:57,850 --> 00:22:01,910 things that are unknowable we do things that 338 00:22:01,910 --> 00:22:06,050 are disgusting that are ungodly and so we 339 00:22:06,050 --> 00:22:10,470 disguise them we we make ourselves appear better 340 00:22:10,470 --> 00:22:13,450 than we really are and so on and 341 00:22:13,450 --> 00:22:16,890 so lying basically serves these two purposes either 342 00:22:16,890 --> 00:22:22,370 promoting ourselves or protecting ourselves from consequences of 343 00:22:22,370 --> 00:22:24,170 our own problems now when it comes to 344 00:22:24,170 --> 00:22:26,790 the marriage relationship a very common one is 345 00:22:26,790 --> 00:22:31,630 a husband hiding financial problems from his wife 346 00:22:31,630 --> 00:22:35,870 or a wife hiding her spending from her 347 00:22:35,870 --> 00:22:41,490 husband and you know eventually unless unless you 348 00:22:41,490 --> 00:22:43,690 have your own credit cards and never see 349 00:22:43,690 --> 00:22:47,910 each other's credit card eventually the truth comes 350 00:22:47,910 --> 00:22:54,130 out right and so deceitfulness covering things up 351 00:22:54,130 --> 00:22:58,330 in any realm does not solve a problem 352 00:22:58,330 --> 00:23:03,330 it actually multiplies the problems because as soon 353 00:23:03,330 --> 00:23:06,410 as another individual whether it's your partner in 354 00:23:06,410 --> 00:23:08,090 the marriage or whether it's in the fact 355 00:23:08,090 --> 00:23:11,230 in the family of God if you find 356 00:23:11,230 --> 00:23:14,070 out that another person is not dealing with 357 00:23:14,070 --> 00:23:19,550 you honestly trust is broken and when trust 358 00:23:19,550 --> 00:23:23,250 is broken it's very very difficult to maintain 359 00:23:23,250 --> 00:23:26,370 closeness because now you have to protect yourself 360 00:23:26,370 --> 00:23:29,870 from that person or you can't count on 361 00:23:29,870 --> 00:23:33,790 that person in being faithful and genuine with 362 00:23:33,790 --> 00:23:37,350 you and so honesty should be for every 363 00:23:37,350 --> 00:23:41,290 one of us a bottom-line absolutely necessary 364 00:23:41,290 --> 00:23:43,970 thing for us in our lives and so 365 00:23:43,970 --> 00:23:46,970 he says putting away lying speak everyone truth 366 00:23:46,970 --> 00:23:49,030 with his neighbor for we are members one 367 00:23:49,030 --> 00:23:51,670 of another don't ever try to put one 368 00:23:51,670 --> 00:23:55,030 over on somebody else and then verse 26 369 00:23:55,030 --> 00:23:57,810 is linked with this in a logical way 370 00:23:57,810 --> 00:24:00,110 because somebody says well if I'm going to 371 00:24:00,110 --> 00:24:02,630 start being really honest we're gonna have a 372 00:24:02,630 --> 00:24:06,250 lot more conflict now it is true that 373 00:24:06,250 --> 00:24:09,750 there are times when you might feel irritated 374 00:24:09,750 --> 00:24:12,930 by somebody and it's better for you just 375 00:24:12,930 --> 00:24:16,430 to swallow and to gain your own self 376 00:24:16,430 --> 00:24:20,070 -control and think it through yourself instead of 377 00:24:20,070 --> 00:24:25,030 just mouthing off immediately because sometimes our initial 378 00:24:25,030 --> 00:24:29,070 reactions are faulty they're not based on adequate 379 00:24:29,070 --> 00:24:34,110 information but here he's recognizing that if we 380 00:24:34,110 --> 00:24:36,830 are going to deal with one other honestly 381 00:24:36,830 --> 00:24:38,750 we're going to have to deal with problems 382 00:24:38,750 --> 00:24:41,910 we're going to have to deal with sins 383 00:24:41,910 --> 00:24:46,770 with things that are wrong that happen but 384 00:24:46,770 --> 00:24:48,050 he puts a caution with it he says 385 00:24:48,050 --> 00:24:52,550 be angry and sin not now further down 386 00:24:52,550 --> 00:24:54,770 the chapter he says let all bitterness and 387 00:24:54,770 --> 00:24:56,950 wrath and anger and clamor and so on 388 00:24:56,950 --> 00:24:58,690 be put away from you so you might 389 00:24:58,690 --> 00:25:01,430 say that sounds kind of contradictory but I 390 00:25:01,430 --> 00:25:05,970 think we have to we should recognize there 391 00:25:05,970 --> 00:25:10,370 is a place for righteous anger God is 392 00:25:10,370 --> 00:25:14,230 angry with wickedness we ought to be angry 393 00:25:14,230 --> 00:25:20,330 with wickedness we ought to feel the injustice 394 00:25:20,330 --> 00:25:22,890 of something that is done that is wrong 395 00:25:22,890 --> 00:25:27,770 and we we need to feel that anger 396 00:25:27,770 --> 00:25:32,170 but we need to be very controlled in 397 00:25:32,170 --> 00:25:35,510 what we do in response now something that 398 00:25:35,510 --> 00:25:39,530 I learned that I probably wouldn't have thought 399 00:25:39,530 --> 00:25:42,770 of myself is that anger is a secondary 400 00:25:42,770 --> 00:25:46,270 emotion now you might say I'm not so 401 00:25:46,270 --> 00:25:50,150 sure about that some people are so explosive 402 00:25:50,150 --> 00:25:51,790 and quick in their anger that it's hard 403 00:25:51,790 --> 00:25:54,610 to imagine there's any other emotion happens first 404 00:25:54,610 --> 00:25:57,590 but let me just suggest this to you 405 00:25:57,590 --> 00:26:02,710 that anger is more of a response that 406 00:26:02,710 --> 00:26:06,330 we make that arises out of one of 407 00:26:06,330 --> 00:26:15,600 three things out of fear out of frustration 408 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:21,750 or out of hurt now I don't know 409 00:26:21,750 --> 00:26:24,850 if you understand how this works but if 410 00:26:24,850 --> 00:26:29,430 you've ever had children and watch them get 411 00:26:29,430 --> 00:26:31,850 into trouble doing something and their lives are 412 00:26:31,850 --> 00:26:36,390 in danger you ever wonder why you react 413 00:26:36,390 --> 00:26:41,320 so angrily at times they may have run 414 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:43,300 out on the street or you know into 415 00:26:43,300 --> 00:26:46,200 the pathway of something or they've put themselves 416 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:48,760 in danger and and you go and you 417 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:50,900 and you bring them back and you're so 418 00:26:50,900 --> 00:26:55,140 angry well that anger is because you've been 419 00:26:55,140 --> 00:26:58,420 scared to death you're afraid that that child 420 00:26:58,420 --> 00:27:02,120 is going to get killed and you don't 421 00:27:02,120 --> 00:27:03,480 want them to ever do it again and 422 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:07,200 so your fear causes you to respond in 423 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:10,060 anger because you want to prevent that from 424 00:27:10,060 --> 00:27:13,580 happening the same thing happens in other aspects 425 00:27:13,580 --> 00:27:17,800 of relationship sometimes it's our fear of what 426 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:20,520 is going to happen that causes us to 427 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:23,700 express anger to try to cause it to 428 00:27:23,700 --> 00:27:28,000 stop and so anger can be very manipulative 429 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:32,740 I'm sure we've met people who use anger 430 00:27:32,740 --> 00:27:35,400 as a way of life to keep everybody 431 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:41,070 around them in control where use anger to 432 00:27:41,070 --> 00:27:44,390 control others to control consequences and so it 433 00:27:44,390 --> 00:27:46,670 can be there because of fear and it 434 00:27:46,670 --> 00:27:50,950 can be because of frustration when somebody hasn't 435 00:27:50,950 --> 00:27:54,390 done what you expected them to do and 436 00:27:54,390 --> 00:27:57,290 you react in anger well it's because you've 437 00:27:57,290 --> 00:28:01,930 been frustrated by them not meeting an expectation 438 00:28:01,930 --> 00:28:06,350 and then we have been hurt and so 439 00:28:06,350 --> 00:28:09,910 now what should we do with angry feelings 440 00:28:09,910 --> 00:28:12,190 that's what this passage is really saying be 441 00:28:12,190 --> 00:28:15,850 angry and sin not and let not the 442 00:28:15,850 --> 00:28:18,450 Sun go down upon your wrath or your 443 00:28:18,450 --> 00:28:21,730 provocation I'm just going to give you a 444 00:28:21,730 --> 00:28:25,670 few little suggestions here the first thing we 445 00:28:25,670 --> 00:28:28,370 need to do with angry feelings is to 446 00:28:28,370 --> 00:28:35,460 number one discern the cause because I need 447 00:28:35,460 --> 00:28:41,400 to recognize whether my anger is righteous or 448 00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:45,520 unrighteous now if I just feel a little 449 00:28:45,520 --> 00:28:47,780 bit slighted because I wasn't noticed as much 450 00:28:47,780 --> 00:28:50,500 as somebody else was noticed that's not something 451 00:28:50,500 --> 00:28:52,600 that I should lash out at somebody for 452 00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:54,980 that's something I should be ashamed of myself 453 00:28:54,980 --> 00:29:00,380 for and so we need to recognize whether 454 00:29:00,380 --> 00:29:06,300 our anger is right remember what the Lord 455 00:29:06,300 --> 00:29:08,440 said to Jonah do you have a right 456 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:14,610 to be angry yes I do he wasn't 457 00:29:14,610 --> 00:29:17,470 going to give up on his anger but 458 00:29:17,470 --> 00:29:19,450 it's very important for us because that's the 459 00:29:19,450 --> 00:29:22,170 very first thing and then the second point 460 00:29:22,170 --> 00:29:26,790 after we discern the cause is to defer 461 00:29:26,790 --> 00:29:31,850 to God how important it is to relate 462 00:29:31,850 --> 00:29:35,670 yourself to the Lord as quickly as you 463 00:29:35,670 --> 00:29:40,150 can because it's vital for us to regain 464 00:29:40,150 --> 00:29:45,330 control so that whatever anger we may express 465 00:29:45,330 --> 00:29:50,190 may be done righteously honestly honorably and not 466 00:29:50,190 --> 00:29:53,510 destructively so defer to God by that I 467 00:29:53,510 --> 00:29:56,290 mean to bring it into God's presence acknowledge 468 00:29:56,290 --> 00:30:00,710 fully what you're feeling how upset you are 469 00:30:00,710 --> 00:30:04,010 how hurt you are and so on but 470 00:30:04,010 --> 00:30:09,370 then appeal to God help you for to 471 00:30:09,370 --> 00:30:12,590 have grace to be able to handle yourself 472 00:30:12,590 --> 00:30:18,370 righteously and honorably and then decide the right 473 00:30:18,370 --> 00:30:21,830 course of action now some of us tend 474 00:30:21,830 --> 00:30:24,070 not to blow off steam all the time 475 00:30:24,070 --> 00:30:27,130 we all we actually have the opposite problem 476 00:30:27,130 --> 00:30:30,690 is that we just stuff it inside and 477 00:30:30,690 --> 00:30:36,030 hold it and keep it within ourselves and 478 00:30:36,030 --> 00:30:42,350 sometimes we hold on to resentment hurt for 479 00:30:42,350 --> 00:30:46,010 a lot more than 24 hours we hold 480 00:30:46,010 --> 00:30:48,670 on to it for weeks for months for 481 00:30:48,670 --> 00:30:54,650 years and when we finally express it it 482 00:30:54,650 --> 00:30:56,770 has been so it has become so much 483 00:30:56,770 --> 00:31:00,490 a part of us that we are completely 484 00:31:00,490 --> 00:31:03,910 unreasonable in it and we can accuse somebody 485 00:31:03,910 --> 00:31:05,970 of something that they may never have even 486 00:31:05,970 --> 00:31:10,950 thought or intended or understood what harm they 487 00:31:10,950 --> 00:31:13,910 were doing to us the longer we hold 488 00:31:13,910 --> 00:31:17,910 it the more opportunity we are giving to 489 00:31:17,910 --> 00:31:20,770 Satan and that's where the that last little 490 00:31:20,770 --> 00:31:27,690 part comes in if you have any emotion 491 00:31:27,690 --> 00:31:34,000 within you unjudged not brought under proper perspective 492 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:37,040 proper control you are giving to Satan a 493 00:31:37,040 --> 00:31:39,860 foothold in your life from which to begin 494 00:31:39,860 --> 00:31:44,900 his goal to destroy you with it and 495 00:31:44,900 --> 00:31:46,740 to destroy as many other people around you 496 00:31:46,740 --> 00:31:50,520 as is possible and I've lived along long 497 00:31:50,520 --> 00:31:54,320 enough in assembly life to know that this 498 00:31:54,320 --> 00:31:58,240 is one of the most crucial things for 499 00:31:58,240 --> 00:32:05,720 Christians to overcome because anger stored up ends 500 00:32:05,720 --> 00:32:10,220 up eventually in verse 31 it ends up 501 00:32:10,220 --> 00:32:14,440 in that realm of bitterness bitterness is when 502 00:32:14,440 --> 00:32:19,320 you begin to hold another person responsible for 503 00:32:19,320 --> 00:32:22,600 your unhappiness for the disaster that's happened in 504 00:32:22,600 --> 00:32:25,380 your life or whatever has gone on you 505 00:32:25,380 --> 00:32:28,200 hold them responsible and so you are bitter 506 00:32:28,200 --> 00:32:34,180 towards them and bitterness leads to malice malice 507 00:32:34,180 --> 00:32:38,120 is actually a desire to destroy that person 508 00:32:38,120 --> 00:32:41,740 to the point of a hatred that you 509 00:32:41,740 --> 00:32:44,900 would wish that person to be harmed or 510 00:32:44,900 --> 00:32:48,740 destroyed and it speaks there about bitterness wrath 511 00:32:48,740 --> 00:32:53,580 anger clamor evil speaking now I found this 512 00:32:53,580 --> 00:32:57,560 within myself to my own shame that there 513 00:32:57,560 --> 00:33:00,600 are certain other Christians that for a number 514 00:33:00,600 --> 00:33:03,840 of years every time their name came up 515 00:33:03,840 --> 00:33:06,760 I had to say something negative about them 516 00:33:08,450 --> 00:33:12,150 it was just like I couldn't let them 517 00:33:12,150 --> 00:33:17,670 be spoken of honorably without somehow exposing them 518 00:33:17,670 --> 00:33:19,650 for what they really were in my at 519 00:33:19,650 --> 00:33:23,330 least in my estimation now I think I 520 00:33:23,330 --> 00:33:26,030 was justified in being angry with them it 521 00:33:26,030 --> 00:33:28,730 wasn't anything they did to me directly but 522 00:33:28,730 --> 00:33:30,350 the damage I saw them do to other 523 00:33:30,350 --> 00:33:33,970 Christians and I held them responsible for a 524 00:33:33,970 --> 00:33:38,190 number of believers leaving the assembly lives being 525 00:33:38,190 --> 00:33:42,590 damaged drastically spiritually and that's very that's a 526 00:33:42,590 --> 00:33:47,330 very real possibility but it didn't help me 527 00:33:47,330 --> 00:33:51,050 and it became something that was was destructive 528 00:33:51,050 --> 00:33:55,090 within within my own spirit and so this 529 00:33:55,090 --> 00:33:58,170 can happen within our marriage it can happen 530 00:33:58,170 --> 00:34:00,870 in our families it can happen among the 531 00:34:00,870 --> 00:34:03,590 Saints and so how we deal with anger 532 00:34:03,590 --> 00:34:06,690 is one of the most important things for 533 00:34:06,690 --> 00:34:08,909 us to overcome I think it's in that 534 00:34:08,909 --> 00:34:10,889 same book that I already referred to making 535 00:34:10,889 --> 00:34:13,949 love last forever that this author Gary Smalley 536 00:34:13,949 --> 00:34:21,270 identifies stored-up anger as being the number 537 00:34:21,270 --> 00:34:25,850 one enemy of love and he lists a 538 00:34:25,850 --> 00:34:29,889 whole a whole list of things that stored 539 00:34:29,889 --> 00:34:34,550 -up anger causes and good things that it 540 00:34:34,550 --> 00:34:39,989 prevents and the unfortunate thing is it never 541 00:34:39,989 --> 00:34:43,429 stays in only the relationship in which the 542 00:34:43,429 --> 00:34:47,110 anger was first directed I don't know how 543 00:34:47,110 --> 00:34:50,830 they come to these calculations or estimations but 544 00:34:50,830 --> 00:34:56,250 I've read that possibly 80% of displayed 545 00:34:56,250 --> 00:35:02,170 anger is actually displaced anger where somebody has 546 00:35:02,170 --> 00:35:05,850 irritated you in one relationship you're frustrated you're 547 00:35:05,850 --> 00:35:08,510 resentful and so on but that has created 548 00:35:08,510 --> 00:35:11,630 a tension of frustration within you and then 549 00:35:11,630 --> 00:35:14,230 you end up carrying it with you maybe 550 00:35:14,230 --> 00:35:17,670 to your home to your family or to 551 00:35:17,670 --> 00:35:19,450 the assembly or you carry it from the 552 00:35:19,450 --> 00:35:21,850 assembly into your family and your friends and 553 00:35:21,850 --> 00:35:24,230 so on and you you end up being 554 00:35:24,230 --> 00:35:28,190 this angry individual that is always hard to 555 00:35:28,190 --> 00:35:31,650 be around dangerous to be around and so 556 00:35:31,650 --> 00:35:34,810 on and it's a displaced anger it's not 557 00:35:34,810 --> 00:35:37,650 being dealt with where it belongs and so 558 00:35:37,650 --> 00:35:41,570 it expresses itself in other relationships and so 559 00:35:41,570 --> 00:35:45,550 these are very important things and so the 560 00:35:45,550 --> 00:35:48,430 rule in verse 26 is don't let the 561 00:35:48,430 --> 00:35:51,710 Sun go down on your provocation if something 562 00:35:51,710 --> 00:35:55,570 has provoked you someone has provoked this upset 563 00:35:55,570 --> 00:35:58,850 and anger resolve it before you go to 564 00:35:58,850 --> 00:36:01,130 bed now I don't know if any of 565 00:36:01,130 --> 00:36:02,570 you have ever had this problem in your 566 00:36:02,570 --> 00:36:06,730 marriage but if you have ever gone to 567 00:36:06,730 --> 00:36:10,170 bed trying to sleep in the same bed 568 00:36:10,170 --> 00:36:13,990 besides somebody that you're holding hostage in your 569 00:36:13,990 --> 00:36:18,110 anger it doesn't work does it you won't 570 00:36:18,110 --> 00:36:21,030 get to sleep and if they get to 571 00:36:21,030 --> 00:36:22,870 sleep then it makes you twice as angry 572 00:36:22,870 --> 00:36:28,110 because they shouldn't be either this is this 573 00:36:28,110 --> 00:36:32,490 is very wise sound counsel do you know 574 00:36:32,490 --> 00:36:36,090 that every time you rehash something in your 575 00:36:36,090 --> 00:36:42,730 mind you're actually making it stronger more of 576 00:36:42,730 --> 00:36:45,790 a fortress in fact I'm not going to 577 00:36:45,790 --> 00:36:47,970 get into this but there's a there's a 578 00:36:47,970 --> 00:36:54,230 21 day detox program available that recognizes scientifically 579 00:36:54,230 --> 00:36:59,210 that it takes about 21 days to break 580 00:36:59,210 --> 00:37:02,930 down something that has been formed very strongly 581 00:37:02,930 --> 00:37:07,230 in your mind about a certain situation it 582 00:37:07,230 --> 00:37:10,090 takes about 21 days to overcome that by 583 00:37:10,090 --> 00:37:14,310 replacing it by working through it and reaching 584 00:37:14,310 --> 00:37:17,190 out to a different kind of resolution that 585 00:37:17,190 --> 00:37:19,950 honors God and it's a bit so these 586 00:37:19,950 --> 00:37:22,010 things are stubborn it's not just I have 587 00:37:22,010 --> 00:37:25,710 to try harder to forgive try harder to 588 00:37:25,710 --> 00:37:27,810 get over it and to not be angry 589 00:37:27,810 --> 00:37:30,890 with that person sometimes it's not renewed effort 590 00:37:30,890 --> 00:37:33,690 we need we need to change our perception 591 00:37:33,690 --> 00:37:36,510 of it we need to have renewed thinking 592 00:37:36,510 --> 00:37:40,550 now obviously there's a lot more involved in 593 00:37:40,550 --> 00:37:42,950 that than what I can touch right at 594 00:37:42,950 --> 00:37:45,190 the moment and so as he goes through 595 00:37:45,190 --> 00:37:49,790 this he is emphasizing that we need transformation 596 00:37:49,790 --> 00:37:53,270 we need to have the control of the 597 00:37:53,270 --> 00:37:56,370 Spirit of God to be able to take 598 00:37:56,370 --> 00:38:01,090 and control our thoughts our attitudes our motives 599 00:38:01,090 --> 00:38:04,550 so that they begin to produce the beautiful 600 00:38:04,550 --> 00:38:08,650 quality of his life within us so I'll 601 00:38:08,650 --> 00:38:10,730 have to shut down for now because the 602 00:38:10,730 --> 00:38:12,970 time is gone but there's a lot here 603 00:38:12,970 --> 00:38:16,810 that is worth meditating in and taking before 604 00:38:16,810 --> 00:38:20,250 the Lord if it takes 21 days that 605 00:38:20,250 --> 00:38:23,050 would be a miracle most of us have 606 00:38:23,050 --> 00:38:25,350 struggled with things for years that we haven't 607 00:38:25,350 --> 00:38:28,110 been able to overcome so may God be 608 00:38:28,110 --> 00:38:30,670 with us and enable us to truly love 609 00:38:30,670 --> 00:38:36,590 as he does let's pray our father we 610 00:38:36,590 --> 00:38:39,210 thank thee that we are thine we thank 611 00:38:39,210 --> 00:38:42,210 thee that you have sealed us with your 612 00:38:42,210 --> 00:38:45,970 spirit we thank thee that the gracious Spirit 613 00:38:45,970 --> 00:38:49,130 of God dwells within us despite all the 614 00:38:49,130 --> 00:38:52,710 contradiction and conflict that we find within ourselves 615 00:38:52,710 --> 00:38:56,530 we pray that we might be submissive to 616 00:38:56,530 --> 00:38:59,710 the grace and love of your own Holy 617 00:38:59,710 --> 00:39:02,870 Spirit that we might be truly renewed in 618 00:39:02,870 --> 00:39:05,950 the spirit of our mind and that we 619 00:39:05,950 --> 00:39:08,250 might be able to build that we might 620 00:39:08,250 --> 00:39:11,070 overcome what hinders we might be able to 621 00:39:11,070 --> 00:39:14,070 build these qualities and to build up one 622 00:39:14,070 --> 00:39:17,730 another and to be able to fulfill this 623 00:39:17,730 --> 00:39:23,430 exhortation to be kind tender-hearted forgiving one 624 00:39:23,430 --> 00:39:27,510 another even as thou in thy grace for 625 00:39:27,510 --> 00:39:30,870 his sake has forgiven us and so we 626 00:39:30,870 --> 00:39:33,350 bow in their presence and entrust ourselves to 627 00:39:33,350 --> 00:39:36,070 thee we pray again that you would be 628 00:39:36,070 --> 00:39:39,370 with us in this ongoing effort to reach 629 00:39:39,370 --> 00:39:41,830 out to people in the community and for 630 00:39:41,830 --> 00:39:44,470 the children of your people here how we 631 00:39:44,470 --> 00:39:47,770 would love to see them delivered and brought 632 00:39:47,770 --> 00:39:51,150 into the security the safety of your eternal 633 00:39:51,150 --> 00:39:53,530 love and we entrust this into your hands 634 00:39:53,530 --> 00:39:54,450 in our Savior's name