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Would you please open in God's Word

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to 1 John 1:1.

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1 John 1:1.

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"That which was from the beginning,

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which we have heard,

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which we have seen with our eyes,

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which we looked upon

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and have touched with our hands,

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concerning the word of life -

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the life was made manifest,

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and we have seen it,

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and testify to it

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and proclaimed to you

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the eternal life,

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which was with the Father

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and was made manifest to us-

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that which we have seen and heard

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we proclaim also to you,

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so that you too may 
have fellowship with us;

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and indeed our fellowship

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is with the Father and with His Son,

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Jesus Christ

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We are writing these 
things so that our joy

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may be complete."

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Brothers and sisters,

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when we read John's Gospel -

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not this first epistle, but his Gospel -

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John is pretty plain to tell us

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who he's addressing.

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Let me just quote John.

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John 20:30.

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You don't need to 
turn there but listen.

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This comes from John's Gospel.

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It gives us John's own reason

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for writing the Gospel.

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"Now Jesus," he says,

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"did many other signs

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in the presence of His disciples

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which are not written in this book."

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The book is the Gospel of John.

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"But these are written,"

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here he is going to tell 
us the reason why,

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"so that you may believe

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that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,

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and that by believing you may have life

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in His name."

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John writes his Gospel to the lost,

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so that they might believe.

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But when we come to John's first epistle,

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John is not seeking to convince the lost

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in hopes that they will believe.

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John distinctly writes this letter

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to those who are already Christian

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and I want to show you this.

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Let your eyes go down to 1 John 2:1.

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"My little children,"

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he's writing to Christians,

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"I'm writing these things--"

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what "these things"?

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All of chapter one.

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"To you so that,"

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well all of chapter one 
and all of the epistle.

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"But I'm writing these things to you..."

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to who? To "little children."

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1 John 2:7:

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"Beloved."

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You use beloved because 
they're beloved of God.

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"I'm writing you,"

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that's who he is writing too.

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1 John 2:12:

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"I'm writing to you little children..."

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who are these little children?

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Well, they're the ones 
whose sins are forgiven

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for His namesake.

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He says in verse 13,

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"I'm writing to you fathers 
because you know Him."

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These are people that know God.

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If you go to 1 John 2:18:

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"Children."

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1 John 2:21:

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"I write to you," who?

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"Not because you do not know the 
truth but because you know it."

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These are people that know the truth.

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1 John 3:1: "See what kind of love

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the Father has given to us."

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John's including himself 
with his audience.

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That what?

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"We should be called 
the children of God."

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That's who this is to and for.

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And so we are.

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We're the children of God.

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If you go to 1 John 3:2,

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"Beloved, we are God's children..."

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That's who this is written to.

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1 John 3:7,

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"Little children;"

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1 John 3:13,

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"Do not be surprised, brothers..."

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1 John 3:18,

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"Little children."

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1 John 3:21,

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"Beloved;"

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1 John 4:1,

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"Beloved."

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I mean what you see is:

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"Little children,"

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"beloved,"

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"God's children."

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You see this kind of terminology

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literally every few verses.

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1 John 4:11,

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"Beloved."

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1 John 5:13,

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"I write these things to you who believe."

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That's who he's writing to.

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1 John 5:21, the book ends:

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"Little children, keep 
yourselves from idols."

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I think you get the idea.

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1 John is not written for 
the same purpose

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as John's Gospel.

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It's not written to unbelievers

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that they might believe.

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This epistle is specifically targeting

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God's children.

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It's not like James

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You remember when David 
went through James?

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I mean when I read James

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I try to follow,

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"Ok, is he talking to a believer here?"

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"Is he talking to an unbeliever?"

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When you were going 
through it, I always thought,

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"How's David going to handle this?"

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Because with James,

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you're just not certain 
a lot of the times.

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But there is no doubt 
with John in this epistle

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who he's writing to.

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There's no doubt whatsoever.

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Now that doesn't mean 
the lost can't read it

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and even, you know, perhaps get saved

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through exposure to its truths.

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But the principle audience

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John has in mind are Christians.

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Now there is a reason 
I am emphasizing this.

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I emphasize this

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because it helps us recognize

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what's going on back up in 1 John 1:3.

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When you hear this,

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"So that you too--"

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he's saying we "proclaim this truth

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about this Christ whom we felt,

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and heard, and saw.

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We proclaimed this to you

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so that you too may 
have fellowship with us

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and indeed our fellowship 
is with the Father

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and with His Son Jesus Christ."

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We don't want to imagine

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that these words are aimed

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primarily at unbelievers.

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Listen.

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1 John 2:13

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"I am writing to you, fathers." Why?

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"Because you know Him."

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These are people that do know Him.

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They do have some intimacy with Him.

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Again in verse 13.

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of chapter 2.

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"I write to you children

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because you know the Father."

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There's some level of intimacy there.

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Verse 14,

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"I write to you fathers 
because you know Him

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who is from the beginning."

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Look, John speaks about fellowship

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to these people much the same way

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and in much the same manner

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as he speaks to them 
about abiding in Christ.

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You go to 1 John 2:28,

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What does it say?

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"Little children, abide in Him."

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Now let's think about that truth,

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"abiding in Christ".

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Do you know that John tells us

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in John 15

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that if you don't abide in Christ

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what happens to you?

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"If anyone does not abide in Christ

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he is thrown away like 
a branch and withers,

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and the branches are gathered,
thrown into the fire and burned."

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Here's the truth:

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does every Christian abide in Christ?

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Yeah!

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Well if they do,

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I mean if that's part of the essence

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of what it is to be a Christian,

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why do you tell the little children

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to abide in Him?

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Brethren, that's just 
consistent with the way

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Scripture operates.

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Scripture all over the place,

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gives us these indicatives, these truths.

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This is the way it is.

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And then it comes right around

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and gives us the imperatives.

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And it commands us to do the very things

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that over here it tells us

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will always be true of the Christian.

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Over here it tells us to do those things

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that are always true of the Christian.

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That's the way it is.

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"Little children, abide in Him."

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And it's the same with fellowship.

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John presses us into the inner circle

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of this fellowship with the 
Father and with the Son.

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Why?

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Not because he thinks 
we are on the outside

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of those windows 
out there looking in,

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wishing, well, you know

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we could have a part 
with the people of God.

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That's not it. But 
because we, as Christians,

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need to be pressed.

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We need to be pressed to continue

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more and more in this fellowship

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and to dive further and further in!

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In fact I want you to notice

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what John says in 1 John 2:1.

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Now we looked at it

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but I want you to look at it more closely.

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"My little children,

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I'm writing these things to you

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so that you may not sin."

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Now notice three things about this verse.

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First, again, who's John 
specifically writing to?

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Believers!

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"My little children."

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Second.

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What's his purpose for writing to them?

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That they may not sin.

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But third,

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what are "these things?"

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that he writes to them 
that they may not sin.

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I mean if someone just got done writing

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to you, and they just wrote

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a couple paragraphs

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and you're reading through the letter

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from them to you

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and you've read a couple paragraphs

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and then you come to where it says,

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"I'm writing these things 
so that you may not sin;"

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it's pretty normal and naturally intuitive

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to think that "these things"

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are the things he just 
got done writing to you.

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Now that doesn't mean that there's 
not application to the whole letter.

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But certainly he's 
talking about chapter 1!

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Chapter one is in view here.

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And chapter one is about fellowship.

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Listen, fellowship gets mentioned

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four times in chapter one.

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Fellowship with God is 
certainly a major incentive

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to not sin, is it not?

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Isn't fellowship with God

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an incentive not to sin?

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Maybe you're not making the connection.

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Why is fellowship with God 
an incentive not to sin?

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Well, obviously because sin is the major

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disturber of fellowship with God.

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But again, my point that I'm making to you

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is that I want you to see that John

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is addressing Christians in chapter 1.

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He tells us that

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by the very thing that 
he says in 1 John 2:1.

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You know what John's doing?

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He's coming alongside us believers,

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in 1 John 2:1,

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and he's encouraging purity.

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I mean he's saying, 
"I'm writing these things..."

276
00:11:08,795 --> 00:11:10,151
the encouragement to purity

277
00:11:10,151 --> 00:11:12,717
is in the things that 
he's writing. But he says,

278
00:11:12,717 --> 00:11:15,332
"I write these things to you 
that you might not sin."

279
00:11:15,332 --> 00:11:17,342
Now yes, there may be failure,

280
00:11:17,354 --> 00:11:18,816
and if so we have an advocate,

281
00:11:18,816 --> 00:11:20,255
Jesus Christ the Righteous.

282
00:11:20,255 --> 00:11:23,495
But we're to be pressing towards

283
00:11:23,495 --> 00:11:25,075
more and more purity.

284
00:11:25,075 --> 00:11:26,683
I'll tell you this,

285
00:11:26,683 --> 00:11:27,876
fellowship with God

286
00:11:27,876 --> 00:11:31,107
and purity go hand and in hand.

287
00:11:31,107 --> 00:11:33,299
There's a real connection there.

288
00:11:33,299 --> 00:11:38,539
Now, if we fail, there's blood.

289
00:11:38,539 --> 00:11:42,106
If we fail, we can confess.

290
00:11:42,106 --> 00:11:43,622
But they go hand in hand,

291
00:11:43,622 --> 00:11:46,889
and he's encouraging purity and progress.

292
00:11:46,889 --> 00:11:49,578
He's pressing us onward and inward

293
00:11:49,578 --> 00:11:51,405
fighting to maintain fellowship,

294
00:11:51,405 --> 00:11:53,425
striving to abide in Christ.

295
00:11:53,425 --> 00:11:56,665
And so, I come to the 
question of the hour.

296
00:11:56,665 --> 00:12:02,797
How is your fellowship with God?

297
00:12:02,797 --> 00:12:05,813
That's the question that 
I want us to think about.

298
00:12:05,813 --> 00:12:08,263
Every Christian ought to be able to say -

299
00:12:08,263 --> 00:12:10,339
doesn't John say it so boldly?

300
00:12:10,339 --> 00:12:14,526
He says, "Our fellowship 
is with the Father

301
00:12:14,526 --> 00:12:17,318
and with His Son Jesus Christ."

302
00:12:17,318 --> 00:12:19,220
I mean are we all able to say that?

303
00:12:19,220 --> 00:12:20,647
Can we say that boldly?

304
00:12:20,647 --> 00:12:22,951
Can you come in here today and say that,

305
00:12:22,951 --> 00:12:24,459
"Yes! I know it!"

306
00:12:24,459 --> 00:12:27,254
"That is my life!"

307
00:12:27,254 --> 00:12:29,824
"My life is one of fellowship

308
00:12:29,824 --> 00:12:31,943
with the Father and with His Son.

309
00:12:31,943 --> 00:12:32,780
I know it!"

310
00:12:32,780 --> 00:12:35,883
"Since I've been saved, that is true!"

311
00:12:35,883 --> 00:12:37,764
That is normative of my life.

312
00:12:37,764 --> 00:12:39,836
That is descriptive of my life.

313
00:12:39,836 --> 00:12:41,072
That is true!

314
00:12:41,072 --> 00:12:41,933
I see it!

315
00:12:41,933 --> 00:12:43,572
Oh it's not where I want it to be!

316
00:12:43,572 --> 00:12:46,502
Some days, I can't find Him 
the way that I want to find Him.

317
00:12:46,502 --> 00:12:47,482
But as a rule,

318
00:12:47,482 --> 00:12:48,847
I have walked with the Lord,

319
00:12:48,847 --> 00:12:50,450
and I know what that is.

320
00:12:50,450 --> 00:12:53,221
And it's heaven on earth.

321
00:12:53,221 --> 00:12:54,944
It's as best as it gets here.

322
00:12:54,944 --> 00:12:57,021
And the little bit that I've tasted

323
00:12:57,021 --> 00:12:58,908
I would not turn back from the world."

324
00:12:58,908 --> 00:12:59,881
Can you say that?

325
00:12:59,881 --> 00:13:02,313
Can you say that dogmatically

326
00:13:02,313 --> 00:13:04,954
like he says it?

327
00:13:04,954 --> 00:13:07,668
Or are you seized by hesitation?

328
00:13:07,668 --> 00:13:09,986
Does conscience hold back?

329
00:13:09,986 --> 00:13:12,376
And look you know what 
I'm talking about here.

330
00:13:12,376 --> 00:13:13,247
John hit on it.

331
00:13:13,247 --> 00:13:14,890
We're not talking doctrine here.

332
00:13:14,890 --> 00:13:16,735
We're not talking just the knowledge,

333
00:13:16,735 --> 00:13:17,547
a head knowledge.

334
00:13:17,547 --> 00:13:20,630
I'm not talking about whether you 
made it to church on Sunday.

335
00:13:20,630 --> 00:13:23,067
I'm talking about this, can you say

336
00:13:23,067 --> 00:13:25,550
"I walk with the Lord"?

337
00:13:25,550 --> 00:13:26,859
Can you say that?

338
00:13:26,859 --> 00:13:28,173
Are you walking with Him?

339
00:13:28,173 --> 00:13:33,215
Jesus Christ died to purchase us

340
00:13:33,215 --> 00:13:36,001
the privilege to walk with God.

341
00:13:36,001 --> 00:13:37,492
That's what He died for.

342
00:13:37,492 --> 00:13:38,997
That's what this is all about.

343
00:13:38,997 --> 00:13:42,407
So let's think about this 
relationship with God.

344
00:13:42,407 --> 00:13:44,287
Let's put our minds there.

345
00:13:44,287 --> 00:13:46,817
Let's think about how we nurture this.

346
00:13:46,824 --> 00:13:49,244
And I want to give you 
some thoughts this morning.

347
00:13:49,244 --> 00:13:50,782
Maybe that's what we'll call it,

348
00:13:50,782 --> 00:13:53,429
"Some Thoughts on Walking with God."

349
00:13:53,429 --> 00:13:57,798
That's the title.

350
00:13:57,798 --> 00:14:00,588
Here's the first point 
that I want to make.

351
00:14:00,588 --> 00:14:11,268
Fellowship with God takes effort.

352
00:14:11,268 --> 00:14:13,621
Look if I were to ask you this,

353
00:14:13,621 --> 00:14:15,768
"Does God want your love?"

354
00:14:15,768 --> 00:14:19,012
I mean you can think about the 
chiefest of all commandments.

355
00:14:19,012 --> 00:14:20,760
Are we to love the Father?

356
00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:25,771
Are we to love the Son?

357
00:14:25,771 --> 00:14:32,461
Well, any of you that are married

358
00:14:32,461 --> 00:14:33,930
for any amount of time,

359
00:14:33,930 --> 00:14:36,749
you're past your honeymoon,

360
00:14:36,749 --> 00:14:39,945
is love always easy?

361
00:14:39,945 --> 00:14:43,014
I mean, fellowship with the Father

362
00:14:43,014 --> 00:14:45,192
and with the Son is not automatic.

363
00:14:45,192 --> 00:14:47,484
And it is not effortless.

364
00:14:47,484 --> 00:14:50,349
Any relationship in this world

365
00:14:50,349 --> 00:14:53,321
that has any sort of real depth or value

366
00:14:53,321 --> 00:14:55,022
takes time.

367
00:14:55,022 --> 00:14:57,162
And it takes effort.

368
00:14:57,163 --> 00:14:59,373
I mean you answer this,

369
00:14:59,373 --> 00:15:06,157
do good marriages happen spontaneously?

370
00:15:06,157 --> 00:15:07,662
I hear "no's."

371
00:15:07,662 --> 00:15:09,535
I mean does anybody raise their hand

372
00:15:09,535 --> 00:15:14,017
and says, "yes mine 
happens spontaneously."

373
00:15:14,017 --> 00:15:16,369
Della.

374
00:15:16,369 --> 00:15:19,163
She's laughing, so I take that as a no.

375
00:15:19,163 --> 00:15:23,695
There's effort there. Effort!

376
00:15:23,695 --> 00:15:26,626
Look, you know what you know.

377
00:15:26,626 --> 00:15:29,745
if you look over and you 
see a good marriage -

378
00:15:29,745 --> 00:15:31,273
I mean it's good.

379
00:15:31,273 --> 00:15:35,543
You can see, they are happily married.

380
00:15:35,543 --> 00:15:37,292
You can be certain about this.

381
00:15:37,292 --> 00:15:40,129
You can be certain that somewhere

382
00:15:40,129 --> 00:15:41,259
in that good marriage,

383
00:15:41,259 --> 00:15:43,171
you're going to find somebody

384
00:15:43,171 --> 00:15:45,861
who's doing something to keep

385
00:15:45,877 --> 00:15:52,630
that marriage close, warm, healthy.

386
00:15:52,630 --> 00:15:54,365
Are you not?

387
00:15:54,365 --> 00:15:56,617
I mean somebody in there

388
00:15:56,617 --> 00:15:59,871
is working to communicate.

389
00:15:59,874 --> 00:16:02,136
Somebody is working to keep

390
00:16:02,136 --> 00:16:06,269
the kind of words and actions that tend

391
00:16:06,269 --> 00:16:07,897
to cause distance.

392
00:16:07,897 --> 00:16:09,272
They're working at that.

393
00:16:09,272 --> 00:16:11,760
They're working to keep 
those things out of there.

394
00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:13,121
They're going after them.

395
00:16:13,121 --> 00:16:15,914
Somebody is committed to 
battling through hard situations

396
00:16:15,914 --> 00:16:17,959
and hurt feelings and suspicion

397
00:16:17,959 --> 00:16:20,323
and anger that crops up

398
00:16:20,324 --> 00:16:23,018
and distrust and hostility and grudges

399
00:16:23,018 --> 00:16:24,467
and resentment and offenses.

400
00:16:24,467 --> 00:16:27,167
I mean somebody there

401
00:16:27,167 --> 00:16:28,812
is making an effort.

402
00:16:28,812 --> 00:16:33,674
And look, the thing is God regards Himself

403
00:16:33,674 --> 00:16:35,096
as our Husband.

404
00:16:35,096 --> 00:16:37,616
This is a relationship that we're in.

405
00:16:37,629 --> 00:16:39,071
The Lord is our Husband.

406
00:16:39,071 --> 00:16:41,453
Is this any different? Yes.

407
00:16:41,453 --> 00:16:43,498
In some ways it is different.

408
00:16:43,498 --> 00:16:47,148
He is invisible to my naked eye.

409
00:16:47,148 --> 00:16:50,247
He is high and He is holy.

410
00:16:50,247 --> 00:16:52,051
And He is lifted up.

411
00:16:52,051 --> 00:16:55,251
And that is true.

412
00:16:55,251 --> 00:16:57,496
But you remember this,

413
00:16:57,496 --> 00:17:04,364
we have a personal God.

414
00:17:04,364 --> 00:17:08,133
Scripture tells us He feels.

415
00:17:08,133 --> 00:17:14,180
Scripture tell us He is sensitive.

416
00:17:14,180 --> 00:17:16,551
That's what it tells us.

417
00:17:16,551 --> 00:17:21,294
And I recognize that this is different 
about the relationship too,

418
00:17:21,294 --> 00:17:23,519
one of us -

419
00:17:23,519 --> 00:17:28,267
one of us is perfect.

420
00:17:28,267 --> 00:17:32,105
And it's not me.

421
00:17:32,105 --> 00:17:36,825
That's different.

422
00:17:36,825 --> 00:17:39,530
And you know what that means.

423
00:17:39,530 --> 00:17:41,959
It means that whenever 
my relationship with Him

424
00:17:41,959 --> 00:17:53,771
becomes strained or there's distance,

425
00:17:53,771 --> 00:17:55,350
it's never His fault.

426
00:17:55,350 --> 00:17:57,891
It's mine.

427
00:17:57,891 --> 00:18:01,303
That I know.

428
00:18:01,313 --> 00:18:03,771
It's always my fault.

429
00:18:03,771 --> 00:18:05,237
But it is a relationship.

430
00:18:05,237 --> 00:18:08,914
And it's one that we have to 
work at and make time for.

431
00:18:08,914 --> 00:18:14,769
Listen, any relationship in 
your life that's healthy,

432
00:18:14,769 --> 00:18:17,099
you need to work at it.

433
00:18:17,099 --> 00:18:18,405
And we need to work.

434
00:18:18,405 --> 00:18:22,003
There's priorities.

435
00:18:22,003 --> 00:18:24,556
This walk with the Lord 
needs to be a priority.

436
00:18:24,556 --> 00:18:27,255
It needs to be something that 
we are giving thought to,

437
00:18:27,255 --> 00:18:29,363
that we are giving our mind, our heart to.

438
00:18:29,363 --> 00:18:31,836
There has to be a prioritization.

439
00:18:31,836 --> 00:18:34,546
We must make choices

440
00:18:34,546 --> 00:18:37,056
that nurture this relationship.

441
00:18:37,056 --> 00:18:39,606
We must turn away from the things

442
00:18:39,606 --> 00:18:42,984
that create distance between us and God.

443
00:18:42,984 --> 00:18:44,385
Priority! Priority!

444
00:18:44,385 --> 00:18:45,901
This takes effort!

445
00:18:45,901 --> 00:18:48,754
This takes time!

446
00:18:48,754 --> 00:18:50,678
There's going to be an exertion.

447
00:18:50,678 --> 00:18:53,708
It doesn't happen for free.

448
00:18:53,713 --> 00:18:58,646
Oh yeah you get into it for free.

449
00:18:58,646 --> 00:19:00,569
But there's effort.

450
00:19:00,569 --> 00:19:02,530
That's the thing we need to recognize.

451
00:19:02,530 --> 00:19:04,580
There is effort.

452
00:19:04,587 --> 00:19:09,320
Did James not say, "draw near to God."

453
00:19:09,320 --> 00:19:10,538
God says that to us,

454
00:19:10,538 --> 00:19:11,945
"draw near to Me

455
00:19:11,945 --> 00:19:13,397
and I will draw near to you."

456
00:19:13,397 --> 00:19:16,228
When you think about fighting 
the good fight of faith,

457
00:19:16,228 --> 00:19:17,879
fighting the good fight of faith,

458
00:19:17,879 --> 00:19:20,240
I mean one of the points of that fight

459
00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:22,440
is just staying where we trust God.

460
00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:24,014
That's what faith is all about.

461
00:19:24,014 --> 00:19:25,576
We're fighting to trust Him.

462
00:19:25,576 --> 00:19:27,884
We're fighting to keep our hope in Him.

463
00:19:27,884 --> 00:19:29,293
We're fighting for that.

464
00:19:29,293 --> 00:19:30,910
There's a battle in this.

465
00:19:30,910 --> 00:19:33,197
You have all manner of enemies

466
00:19:33,197 --> 00:19:35,540
that are moving at you

467
00:19:35,540 --> 00:19:36,970
to distract you away.

468
00:19:36,970 --> 00:19:38,563
And to take your time away.

469
00:19:38,563 --> 00:19:41,118
And to take your eyes off.

470
00:19:41,118 --> 00:19:43,154
To move you away from this relationship.

471
00:19:43,154 --> 00:19:45,823
You've got to fight for this relationship.

472
00:19:45,823 --> 00:19:48,643
A man will fight for his marriage.

473
00:19:48,643 --> 00:19:49,986
We got to fight for this.

474
00:19:49,986 --> 00:19:52,557
This is the chiefest of all relationships.

475
00:19:52,557 --> 00:19:53,943
We've got to fight for it!

476
00:19:53,943 --> 00:19:56,396
That means priorities in your life!

477
00:19:56,396 --> 00:19:58,089
Is it a priority in your life?

478
00:19:58,089 --> 00:20:00,189
You know, if you hesitated,

479
00:20:00,189 --> 00:20:02,814
your conscience wouldn't let you say,

480
00:20:02,814 --> 00:20:04,511
"Yes, I can boldly say

481
00:20:04,511 --> 00:20:07,791
my fellowship is with the 
Father and with His Son!"

482
00:20:07,791 --> 00:20:09,852
One of the reasons you may have hesitated

483
00:20:09,852 --> 00:20:12,268
is because you don't 
have your priorities right.

484
00:20:12,268 --> 00:20:14,090
And your conscience knows it.

485
00:20:14,090 --> 00:20:16,362
Your walk with God is not 
what it ought to be

486
00:20:16,362 --> 00:20:19,374
because your priorities are 
not what they ought to be.

487
00:20:19,374 --> 00:20:20,437
Effort brethren!

488
00:20:20,437 --> 00:20:23,007
Effort!

489
00:20:23,007 --> 00:20:26,108
The second thing.

490
00:20:26,108 --> 00:20:31,086
Worship and honor are essential

491
00:20:31,086 --> 00:20:32,806
to this relationship.

492
00:20:32,806 --> 00:20:35,736
Now John was telling us in 
the Sunday school about missions.

493
00:20:35,736 --> 00:20:38,464
And he's calling us, you 
know, to give ourselves

494
00:20:38,464 --> 00:20:40,177
to one another in love

495
00:20:40,177 --> 00:20:41,771
and help encourage one another

496
00:20:41,771 --> 00:20:43,580
so that we might see this church grow

497
00:20:43,580 --> 00:20:45,659
and people being able 
to be launched forth.

498
00:20:45,659 --> 00:20:47,255
But you just remember this,

499
00:20:47,255 --> 00:20:51,151
missions is never the end.

500
00:20:51,151 --> 00:20:55,226
Missions is not the goal.

501
00:20:55,226 --> 00:20:56,993
What does God want most?

502
00:20:56,993 --> 00:20:58,034
He wants our heart.

503
00:20:58,034 --> 00:20:59,066
He wants our love.

504
00:20:59,066 --> 00:21:00,138
He wants our worship.

505
00:21:00,138 --> 00:21:03,742
This thing is about worship, by and large.

506
00:21:03,742 --> 00:21:06,622
That's the chief thing.

507
00:21:06,622 --> 00:21:08,973
Piper said it in his book on missions.

508
00:21:08,973 --> 00:21:10,604
You know the reason we launch

509
00:21:10,604 --> 00:21:11,969
off to those foreign coasts

510
00:21:11,969 --> 00:21:14,691
is because there isn't worship there.

511
00:21:14,691 --> 00:21:15,929
That's what we're after.

512
00:21:15,929 --> 00:21:17,585
That's what we're longing for.

513
00:21:17,585 --> 00:21:23,204
Now look, I want you to 
all turn to over to Malachi 1.

514
00:21:23,204 --> 00:21:25,485
Some of you, you're familiar with this.

515
00:21:25,485 --> 00:21:26,885
But I want you to see this,

516
00:21:26,885 --> 00:21:31,508
I want you to feel this.

517
00:21:31,508 --> 00:21:33,829
We're talking about

518
00:21:33,829 --> 00:21:36,387
some thoughts on walking with God

519
00:21:36,387 --> 00:21:38,713
and we're going to let the Lord Himself

520
00:21:38,713 --> 00:21:42,767
speak to us about some things that,

521
00:21:42,767 --> 00:21:45,412
to Him, are of chief importance

522
00:21:45,412 --> 00:21:47,469
in this walk that we have with Him.

523
00:21:47,469 --> 00:21:52,994
If you go to Malachi 1:6.

524
00:21:52,994 --> 00:21:57,535
Watch this. Last book 
in the Old Testament,

525
00:21:57,535 --> 00:22:00,128
if you're looking for it.

526
00:22:00,128 --> 00:22:04,049
Right before Matthew.

527
00:22:04,049 --> 00:22:06,357
"A son honors his Father

528
00:22:06,357 --> 00:22:10,834
and a servant his master.

529
00:22:10,834 --> 00:22:13,434
If then, I am a Father, 
where is My honor?"

530
00:22:13,434 --> 00:22:14,981
God wants honor.

531
00:22:14,981 --> 00:22:16,489
God deserves honor.

532
00:22:16,489 --> 00:22:20,177
God is worthy of honor!

533
00:22:20,177 --> 00:22:24,547
"If I am a master, where is my fear?"

534
00:22:24,547 --> 00:22:28,972
Now you see, intimacy - yes.

535
00:22:28,977 --> 00:22:32,402
But you need to remember this,

536
00:22:32,402 --> 00:22:35,784
the one that we are 
in relationship with here

537
00:22:35,784 --> 00:22:37,985
is God Almighty.

538
00:22:37,985 --> 00:22:40,192
And there needs to be a fear on our part

539
00:22:40,192 --> 00:22:43,906
and there needs to be an honor.

540
00:22:43,906 --> 00:22:49,661
We are not equals.

541
00:22:49,661 --> 00:22:51,190
"'Where is My fear?'

542
00:22:51,190 --> 00:22:52,943
says the Lord of Hosts,

543
00:22:52,943 --> 00:22:55,240
'To you, O priests who despise My name.'

544
00:22:55,240 --> 00:22:56,299
But you say,

545
00:22:56,299 --> 00:22:57,981
'How have we despised your name?'"

546
00:22:57,981 --> 00:23:00,267
And you know what that 
happens to many of us.

547
00:23:00,267 --> 00:23:02,636
If God could speak to you right now -

548
00:23:02,636 --> 00:23:04,434
well, He can.

549
00:23:04,434 --> 00:23:08,521
But if He did speak to you audibly

550
00:23:08,521 --> 00:23:11,063
or in written word through a prophet

551
00:23:11,063 --> 00:23:12,904
just like this,

552
00:23:12,904 --> 00:23:14,879
He may say the same things about you.

553
00:23:14,879 --> 00:23:16,455
"You despise Me."

554
00:23:16,455 --> 00:23:19,371
And for many of you who do despise Him,

555
00:23:19,371 --> 00:23:23,536
you would say, "Where do I despise Him?"

556
00:23:23,536 --> 00:23:26,184
"Well, by offering polluted 
food upon My altar."

557
00:23:26,184 --> 00:23:29,911
Now look, we offer sacrifices

558
00:23:29,911 --> 00:23:33,453
as New Testament believers.

559
00:23:33,453 --> 00:23:35,539
Our sacrifices are good works.

560
00:23:35,539 --> 00:23:38,563
Our sacrifices are sharing what we have.

561
00:23:38,563 --> 00:23:41,360
Our sacrifices are the praise of our lips.

562
00:23:41,360 --> 00:23:43,779
You get many texts in the New Testament

563
00:23:43,779 --> 00:23:46,697
that talk about the 
sacrifices that we offer.

564
00:23:46,697 --> 00:23:47,900
But you say,

565
00:23:47,900 --> 00:23:50,116
"How have we polluted you?"

566
00:23:50,116 --> 00:23:52,919
"By saying that the Lord's 
table may be despised."

567
00:23:52,919 --> 00:23:53,964
Now watch this,

568
00:23:53,964 --> 00:23:57,728
"When you offer blind animals in sacrfice

569
00:23:57,728 --> 00:23:58,953
is that not evil?"

570
00:23:58,953 --> 00:24:00,112
Now here's the thing.

571
00:24:00,112 --> 00:24:02,060
Here's a thing that I want you to see.

572
00:24:02,060 --> 00:24:07,153
These priests were making the offering.

573
00:24:07,153 --> 00:24:09,855
You say, you know, I do this.

574
00:24:09,855 --> 00:24:12,476
I do that. I'm at church! Right?

575
00:24:12,476 --> 00:24:16,530
I mean I'm there.

576
00:24:16,530 --> 00:24:17,858
God looks at the quality

577
00:24:17,858 --> 00:24:20,037
because the quality has a lot to do with

578
00:24:20,037 --> 00:24:24,072
where your heart is.

579
00:24:24,072 --> 00:24:27,354
He says, when you're offering

580
00:24:27,357 --> 00:24:32,617
substandard sacrifices

581
00:24:32,617 --> 00:24:34,346
God says, "Is that not evil?"

582
00:24:34,346 --> 00:24:36,173
And He's looking for

583
00:24:36,173 --> 00:24:39,143
an answer that you all know.

584
00:24:39,143 --> 00:24:42,043
Yes, it is evil when you offer

585
00:24:42,043 --> 00:24:44,172
substandard sacrifices to God.

586
00:24:44,172 --> 00:24:46,152
"When you offer those that are lame

587
00:24:46,152 --> 00:24:48,390
or sick is that not evil?"

588
00:24:48,390 --> 00:24:51,902
Present that to your governor.

589
00:24:51,902 --> 00:24:56,281
You know when I think about worship,

590
00:24:56,281 --> 00:25:05,117
I think, oh, I want to be in my seat

591
00:25:05,117 --> 00:25:07,597
when God's word begins to be preached.

592
00:25:07,597 --> 00:25:08,885
I want to be in my seat

593
00:25:08,885 --> 00:25:11,056
when they begin to sing His--

594
00:25:11,056 --> 00:25:12,461
I want to hear from Him.

595
00:25:12,461 --> 00:25:16,212
I want to be ready.

596
00:25:16,212 --> 00:25:18,117
You know,

597
00:25:18,117 --> 00:25:20,543
the problem with this whole setup here is

598
00:25:20,543 --> 00:25:22,413
everybody that walks in late

599
00:25:22,413 --> 00:25:23,920
you all see it.

600
00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:26,649
And you know, the thing is

601
00:25:26,649 --> 00:25:29,708
would you guys walk into work like that?

602
00:25:29,708 --> 00:25:31,143
Offer it to your governor!

603
00:25:31,143 --> 00:25:33,078
Offer it to your boss!

604
00:25:33,078 --> 00:25:35,329
Will he accept it?

605
00:25:35,329 --> 00:25:37,175
And I'm not saying

606
00:25:37,175 --> 00:25:38,820
that whether you make it on time

607
00:25:38,820 --> 00:25:40,215
is the pinnacle of all this.

608
00:25:40,215 --> 00:25:41,428
But I can tell you this,

609
00:25:41,428 --> 00:25:43,217
when somebody's 
walking with the Lord

610
00:25:43,217 --> 00:25:45,297
and their heart - their heart is hungry,

611
00:25:45,304 --> 00:25:47,677
Oh, I want to be there when 
the Word's opened up.

612
00:25:47,677 --> 00:25:49,255
I don't want to miss any of it.

613
00:25:49,255 --> 00:25:51,321
I want to be there when they sing.
I don't want to miss any of it.

614
00:25:51,321 --> 00:25:52,625
Where are your priorities?

615
00:25:52,625 --> 00:25:54,859
You see this has to do 
with walking with God,

616
00:25:54,859 --> 00:25:56,931
not just appeasing 
those who are watching.

617
00:25:56,931 --> 00:26:02,320
But as what are you offering to Him?

618
00:26:02,320 --> 00:26:05,807
What are you offering?

619
00:26:05,807 --> 00:26:08,986
Are you giving?

620
00:26:08,986 --> 00:26:11,246
And I know some are.

621
00:26:11,246 --> 00:26:12,967
There's sacrifice.

622
00:26:12,967 --> 00:26:14,873
But when you walk with the Lord,

623
00:26:14,873 --> 00:26:17,052
He watches to see the qualtity.

624
00:26:17,052 --> 00:26:20,100
Why? Because the quality matters.

625
00:26:20,100 --> 00:26:22,169
Men, you come to this woman

626
00:26:22,169 --> 00:26:23,803
and you say, "will you marry me?"

627
00:26:23,803 --> 00:26:27,384
And then she finds out you got 
the ring from a pawn shop,

628
00:26:27,384 --> 00:26:30,166
Is she going to be affected by that?

629
00:26:30,166 --> 00:26:31,625
Well, some might not be.

630
00:26:31,625 --> 00:26:33,533
But some might just be prudent,

631
00:26:33,533 --> 00:26:34,917
"Well I'm glad he did that."

632
00:26:34,917 --> 00:26:36,413
He saved a bunch of money,

633
00:26:36,413 --> 00:26:41,419
now we can get into a house sooner.

634
00:26:41,419 --> 00:26:45,246
Ask her first if that's ok.

635
00:26:45,246 --> 00:26:48,366
But look, the reality is,

636
00:26:48,366 --> 00:26:49,681
I mean he might as well say

637
00:26:49,681 --> 00:26:50,883
not just your governor,

638
00:26:50,883 --> 00:26:53,466
would your wife accept that?

639
00:26:53,466 --> 00:26:55,193
I mean the truth is,

640
00:26:55,193 --> 00:26:57,357
that we become negligent

641
00:26:57,357 --> 00:27:00,281
with the way that we serve God.

642
00:27:00,281 --> 00:27:03,931
We give Him the leftovers.

643
00:27:03,933 --> 00:27:05,384
You wake up in the morning

644
00:27:05,384 --> 00:27:08,187
and boy, the best part of your day,

645
00:27:08,187 --> 00:27:09,942
and what do you do with it?

646
00:27:09,942 --> 00:27:12,981
Well you wake up fifteen minutes 
before you got to be at work,

647
00:27:12,981 --> 00:27:14,577
and so the best part of your day,

648
00:27:14,577 --> 00:27:15,845
those first hours

649
00:27:15,845 --> 00:27:19,517
you give to your employer.

650
00:27:19,517 --> 00:27:21,356
Or you hit the weights.

651
00:27:21,356 --> 00:27:25,622
Or you turn on the news.

652
00:27:25,622 --> 00:27:27,322
Not all of you do that.

653
00:27:27,322 --> 00:27:30,866
But are you giving God the best?

654
00:27:30,866 --> 00:27:32,419
I mean when you walk with Him,

655
00:27:32,419 --> 00:27:33,451
He's mindful of that.

656
00:27:33,451 --> 00:27:35,607
You can see it right 
here in the Scriptures.

657
00:27:35,607 --> 00:27:36,489
I mean He says,

658
00:27:36,489 --> 00:27:38,019
"Present that to your governor,

659
00:27:38,019 --> 00:27:39,972
will he accept you or show you favor?"

660
00:27:39,972 --> 00:27:41,321
says the Lord of Hosts.

661
00:27:41,321 --> 00:27:42,696
I mean, come on!

662
00:27:42,696 --> 00:27:44,916
Don't give to God

663
00:27:44,916 --> 00:27:47,256
what you wouldn't give to your parents!

664
00:27:47,256 --> 00:27:51,156
Don't give to God what you 
wouldn't give to your spouse.

665
00:27:51,156 --> 00:27:55,755
Don't give to God what you 
wouldn't give to your boss.

666
00:27:55,755 --> 00:27:57,135
Or to your governor.

667
00:27:57,135 --> 00:27:59,043
Don't do that!

668
00:27:59,043 --> 00:28:03,514
God is worthy of your best.

669
00:28:03,524 --> 00:28:05,209
Walk with Him this way.

670
00:28:05,209 --> 00:28:06,115
He's says,

671
00:28:06,115 --> 00:28:08,693
"For from the rising of 
the sun to its setting

672
00:28:08,693 --> 00:28:11,382
My name will be great among the nations."

673
00:28:11,382 --> 00:28:13,662
Do you all remember when David -

674
00:28:13,662 --> 00:28:15,429
remember David did a foolish thing,

675
00:28:15,429 --> 00:28:17,312
and he went and he numbered the people.

676
00:28:17,312 --> 00:28:19,801
And you remember the prophet
came to him and said,

677
00:28:19,801 --> 00:28:21,402
"Well God sent me with a message.

678
00:28:21,402 --> 00:28:26,369
David, you got to pick 
one of three bad things.

679
00:28:26,369 --> 00:28:28,066
I mean you're either going to get

680
00:28:28,066 --> 00:28:31,088
three days, three months, or three years

681
00:28:31,088 --> 00:28:33,378
of some really horrible stuff."

682
00:28:33,378 --> 00:28:35,501
And David said,

683
00:28:35,501 --> 00:28:38,291
"I don't want God to turn me 
over into the hands of men;

684
00:28:38,291 --> 00:28:39,319
let God do it."

685
00:28:39,319 --> 00:28:43,668
And He brought three days of pestilence.

686
00:28:43,668 --> 00:28:47,549
And you may remember what happened there.

687
00:28:47,549 --> 00:28:49,910
In the end of that whole scenario,

688
00:28:49,910 --> 00:28:54,100
he was to go to this man Araunah.

689
00:28:54,100 --> 00:28:59,127
To his threshing floor.

690
00:28:59,127 --> 00:29:01,497
Araunah saw him coming and said,

691
00:29:01,509 --> 00:29:03,810
"I am coming and I have to build

692
00:29:03,810 --> 00:29:06,051
an altar and make a sacrifice here."

693
00:29:06,051 --> 00:29:08,987
And Araunah said, "David, it's all yours."

694
00:29:08,987 --> 00:29:12,555
Do you remember what David said?

695
00:29:12,555 --> 00:29:15,265
He said, "I will not give to the Lord

696
00:29:15,265 --> 00:29:19,583
that which cost me nothing."

697
00:29:19,583 --> 00:29:22,495
Are you giving to the Lord 
that which costs you nothing.

698
00:29:22,495 --> 00:29:24,294
The lame thing,

699
00:29:24,294 --> 00:29:26,833
You see when they brought the blind thing,

700
00:29:26,833 --> 00:29:27,893
what did that say?

701
00:29:27,893 --> 00:29:31,827
Well, it was the lamb they didn't want!

702
00:29:31,827 --> 00:29:33,934
Don't do that to God? 
David wouldn't do it.

703
00:29:33,934 --> 00:29:35,858
He was a man after God's own heart.

704
00:29:35,858 --> 00:29:37,388
Imitate David in this.

705
00:29:37,388 --> 00:29:40,568
You remember what was 
said in the days of Eli?

706
00:29:40,568 --> 00:29:45,115
That God honors those who honor Him.

707
00:29:45,115 --> 00:29:46,525
Just that's the second thing.

708
00:29:46,525 --> 00:29:49,812
Worship and honor are essential 
to this relationship.

709
00:29:49,812 --> 00:29:51,935
The third thing I would say.

710
00:29:51,935 --> 00:29:54,705
Sin wrecks intimacy.

711
00:29:54,705 --> 00:29:57,813
And here we might go back to 1 John 2:1

712
00:29:57,813 --> 00:29:59,714
where it says, "My little children

713
00:29:59,714 --> 00:30:01,380
I am writing these things to you

714
00:30:01,380 --> 00:30:05,301
so that you may not sin."

715
00:30:05,311 --> 00:30:07,586
Remember one of the things
he's written to them

716
00:30:07,586 --> 00:30:08,923
or he's mentioned four times

717
00:30:08,923 --> 00:30:10,096
in that first chapter

718
00:30:10,096 --> 00:30:12,637
which is clearly an emphasis to him

719
00:30:12,637 --> 00:30:14,254
is he's talking to Christians

720
00:30:14,254 --> 00:30:15,919
about fellowship with God.

721
00:30:15,919 --> 00:30:18,786
It's the perfect thing to 
talk to God's children about,

722
00:30:18,786 --> 00:30:20,705
who you want to encourage not to sin.

723
00:30:20,705 --> 00:30:22,021
And why?

724
00:30:22,021 --> 00:30:25,111
Is the danger that they're 
going to go to hell?

725
00:30:25,111 --> 00:30:26,348
Perish forever?

726
00:30:26,348 --> 00:30:28,271
Well, not for God's true children

727
00:30:28,271 --> 00:30:31,216
who are trusting in Christ alone.

728
00:30:31,216 --> 00:30:33,373
Who are clinging to His cross work

729
00:30:33,373 --> 00:30:35,415
as their only hope.

730
00:30:35,415 --> 00:30:37,588
For the true Christian,

731
00:30:37,588 --> 00:30:40,578
sin - there's no condemnation.

732
00:30:40,578 --> 00:30:42,069
And we have an Advocate.

733
00:30:42,069 --> 00:30:44,861
That's what he's assuring us of.

734
00:30:44,861 --> 00:30:49,525
But it ruins close 
fellowship and intimacy.

735
00:30:49,525 --> 00:30:50,645
Brethren!

736
00:30:50,645 --> 00:30:55,017
Throughout history, the men and the women

737
00:30:55,018 --> 00:30:57,799
who have, among God's children,

738
00:30:57,799 --> 00:31:01,391
who have had the privileges

739
00:31:01,391 --> 00:31:03,144
to ascend that hill of the Lord

740
00:31:03,144 --> 00:31:04,684
into the secret places

741
00:31:04,684 --> 00:31:09,311
of God's most glorious manifest presence.

742
00:31:09,311 --> 00:31:13,518
Brethren, throughout the age of man,

743
00:31:13,518 --> 00:31:16,011
there have been those 
that had been invited

744
00:31:16,011 --> 00:31:22,185
most closely into manifestations of God.

745
00:31:22,185 --> 00:31:25,387
And I'll guarantee you this,

746
00:31:25,387 --> 00:31:26,896
you're hard pressed to find

747
00:31:26,896 --> 00:31:33,368
that it's ever been 
the spiritually sloppy.

748
00:31:33,368 --> 00:31:35,468
We have too many professing Christians

749
00:31:35,468 --> 00:31:38,408
who sin cheap!

750
00:31:38,408 --> 00:31:41,006
You just sell it for a song!

751
00:31:41,006 --> 00:31:43,058
Walking with Him.

752
00:31:43,058 --> 00:31:46,078
Some of you need to stop and think

753
00:31:46,084 --> 00:31:48,592
before you do and say 
the things you do and say!

754
00:31:48,592 --> 00:31:50,260
You need to count the cost

755
00:31:50,260 --> 00:31:52,357
of the intimacy with God

756
00:31:52,357 --> 00:31:53,558
that's going to be lost

757
00:31:53,558 --> 00:31:55,072
for doing those very things

758
00:31:55,072 --> 00:31:56,177
that some of you do

759
00:31:56,177 --> 00:31:58,160
and some of you say.

760
00:31:58,160 --> 00:32:00,025
Brethren, we have to walk

761
00:32:00,025 --> 00:32:04,815
recognizing God is sensitive.

762
00:32:04,815 --> 00:32:10,017
Our sin hurts closeness.

763
00:32:10,017 --> 00:32:12,812
And I know, the Lord is gracious.

764
00:32:12,812 --> 00:32:14,725
And I know that there are times

765
00:32:14,725 --> 00:32:17,426
that when we do stupid and foolish things,

766
00:32:17,426 --> 00:32:18,646
and we are expecting Him

767
00:32:18,646 --> 00:32:20,247
to turn His back on us

768
00:32:20,247 --> 00:32:22,611
or to take the rod to us,

769
00:32:22,611 --> 00:32:24,952
and He just lavishes us 
with hugs and kisses.

770
00:32:24,952 --> 00:32:26,970
I know that, but listen,

771
00:32:26,970 --> 00:32:32,047
the innermost regions 
of fellowship with God

772
00:32:32,047 --> 00:32:34,169
goes beyond anything in this world.

773
00:32:34,169 --> 00:32:36,092
It's glorious without description.

774
00:32:36,092 --> 00:32:37,460
Those that have tasted of it

775
00:32:37,460 --> 00:32:39,445
can barely put words together

776
00:32:39,445 --> 00:32:41,684
to describe to other people.

777
00:32:41,684 --> 00:32:48,158
But it's a very sensitive place to walk.

778
00:32:48,158 --> 00:32:49,219
Very delicate.

779
00:32:49,219 --> 00:32:50,855
Martin Lloyd-Jones,

780
00:32:50,855 --> 00:32:51,862
I came across this,

781
00:32:51,862 --> 00:32:53,782
I don't even know where I got this from,

782
00:32:53,782 --> 00:32:55,284
but he said,

783
00:32:55,284 --> 00:32:58,154
"The air here in this region--"

784
00:32:58,154 --> 00:32:59,847
these innermost regions,

785
00:32:59,847 --> 00:33:03,122
he said, "it's very pure and very rarified

786
00:33:03,122 --> 00:33:06,947
and slight changes are immediately felt."

787
00:33:06,947 --> 00:33:10,855
You know we can grieve God.

788
00:33:10,855 --> 00:33:14,381
Ephesians chapter four warns us

789
00:33:14,381 --> 00:33:20,911
against grieving the Holy Spirit.

790
00:33:20,911 --> 00:33:24,865
Brethren you think 
about grieving the Spirit

791
00:33:24,865 --> 00:33:26,615
We don't have a God who is

792
00:33:26,615 --> 00:33:28,534
cold and indifferent

793
00:33:28,534 --> 00:33:30,934
and distant and disinterested.

794
00:33:30,934 --> 00:33:33,333
Brethren, grief.

795
00:33:33,333 --> 00:33:36,461
You think about grief.

796
00:33:36,461 --> 00:33:42,932
Who has the greatest 
ability to cause you grief?

797
00:33:42,932 --> 00:33:45,554
I mean, you think about it.

798
00:33:45,554 --> 00:33:48,761
If John happens to be walking over

799
00:33:48,761 --> 00:33:53,485
somewhere in Mozambique or in Nepal,

800
00:33:53,485 --> 00:33:54,945
and somebody, you know,

801
00:33:54,945 --> 00:33:56,449
somebody just said,

802
00:33:56,449 --> 00:33:58,717
"I hate you Christians!"

803
00:33:58,717 --> 00:34:00,927
Well, John just shakes that off.

804
00:34:00,927 --> 00:34:03,297
If his wife said that to him...

805
00:34:03,297 --> 00:34:07,754
Who has the greatest 
ability to cause you grief?

806
00:34:07,754 --> 00:34:09,306
And here we have God,

807
00:34:09,306 --> 00:34:13,863
He's bidding us not to grieve Him.

808
00:34:13,863 --> 00:34:15,656
The more one person loves another

809
00:34:15,656 --> 00:34:18,352
the more the person doing 
the loving is affected by

810
00:34:18,352 --> 00:34:20,480
any coldness or any distance

811
00:34:20,480 --> 00:34:21,699
or any failure

812
00:34:21,699 --> 00:34:23,449
on the part of the one who they're

813
00:34:23,449 --> 00:34:24,677
extending their love to.

814
00:34:24,677 --> 00:34:26,966
Brother. Sister.

815
00:34:26,966 --> 00:34:29,065
Would you suppose that your sins

816
00:34:29,065 --> 00:34:30,925
don't grieve God?

817
00:34:30,925 --> 00:34:32,543
I mean do read that text and say,

818
00:34:32,543 --> 00:34:34,117
"Well, that's for somebody else

819
00:34:34,117 --> 00:34:36,733
it's certainly not for me when I sin."

820
00:34:36,733 --> 00:34:40,047
Brethren, that's given to common

821
00:34:40,047 --> 00:34:42,402
brothers and sisters at Ephesus.

822
00:34:42,402 --> 00:34:46,957
People just like you and just like me.

823
00:34:46,957 --> 00:34:49,605
I mean did Jesus not say -

824
00:34:49,605 --> 00:34:52,994
speaking of His manifest presence -

825
00:34:52,994 --> 00:34:54,564
He said this,

826
00:34:54,564 --> 00:34:57,695
"I will love him and 
manifest Myself to him."

827
00:34:57,695 --> 00:35:00,124
Who is that?

828
00:35:00,124 --> 00:35:02,352
Well, "whoever has My commandments."

829
00:35:02,352 --> 00:35:05,668
You see this is a person 
that's walking in truth.

830
00:35:05,668 --> 00:35:08,720
This a person walking in righteousness.

831
00:35:08,720 --> 00:35:12,015
They are walking in obedience.

832
00:35:12,015 --> 00:35:14,351
"Whoever has My commandments 
and keeps them,

833
00:35:14,351 --> 00:35:15,757
he it is who loves Me,

834
00:35:15,757 --> 00:35:18,564
and he who loves Me 
will be loved by My Father

835
00:35:18,564 --> 00:35:21,336
and I will love him and 
manifest Myself to him."

836
00:35:21,336 --> 00:35:22,861
Look, are you going to forsake

837
00:35:22,861 --> 00:35:24,802
a closer walk with Him

838
00:35:24,802 --> 00:35:28,968
for some cheap sin?

839
00:35:28,968 --> 00:35:30,301
Is Jesus not making it clear

840
00:35:30,301 --> 00:35:34,173
that our fellowship with God

841
00:35:34,173 --> 00:35:39,225
is clearly impacted by our obedience?

842
00:35:39,225 --> 00:35:43,648
I mean look, the doctrine of justification

843
00:35:43,648 --> 00:35:48,143
is a wonderful doctrine.

844
00:35:48,143 --> 00:35:50,423
But the reason some of you walk around

845
00:35:50,423 --> 00:35:53,970
with a cloud hanging over 
your head all the time

846
00:35:53,970 --> 00:35:58,626
is because you sin way too easily.

847
00:35:58,626 --> 00:36:01,981
Yeah, the doctrine of 
justification is wonderful,

848
00:36:01,987 --> 00:36:04,433
but if you're living an impure life -

849
00:36:04,433 --> 00:36:09,384
you're regularly giving God

850
00:36:09,396 --> 00:36:12,211
the off-scouring, the leftovers;

851
00:36:12,217 --> 00:36:14,894
if you're walking like that,

852
00:36:14,894 --> 00:36:18,592
brethren, it's not surprising

853
00:36:18,592 --> 00:36:21,006
that you're not enjoying

854
00:36:21,006 --> 00:36:22,914
the manifestations of God

855
00:36:22,914 --> 00:36:26,116
the way others are.

856
00:36:26,124 --> 00:36:27,925
I mean the more we humbly obey Him,

857
00:36:27,925 --> 00:36:31,213
empowered by His Spirit,

858
00:36:31,213 --> 00:36:32,462
helped by His grace,

859
00:36:32,462 --> 00:36:34,330
the more intimate is our fellowship

860
00:36:34,330 --> 00:36:35,736
with the Father and the Son.

861
00:36:35,736 --> 00:36:37,905
I mean ask yourself this,

862
00:36:37,905 --> 00:36:40,585
(incomplete thought)

863
00:36:40,585 --> 00:36:42,645
Choices.

864
00:36:42,645 --> 00:36:43,734
Sin.

865
00:36:43,734 --> 00:36:45,229
Intimacy.

866
00:36:45,229 --> 00:36:49,094
Do I want this empty, fleeting pleasure

867
00:36:49,094 --> 00:36:51,275
of this sin, or do I want

868
00:36:51,275 --> 00:36:52,449
the unsearchable riches

869
00:36:52,449 --> 00:36:54,739
of what this fellowship

870
00:36:54,739 --> 00:36:56,358
with the Father and with His Son

871
00:36:56,358 --> 00:36:57,669
is going to be.

872
00:36:57,669 --> 00:36:59,682
John tells in chapter 1

873
00:36:59,682 --> 00:37:01,787
how this deeper walk with God

874
00:37:01,787 --> 00:37:02,934
can become a reality.

875
00:37:02,934 --> 00:37:03,952
What did he say?

876
00:37:03,952 --> 00:37:05,964
He said, "Walk in God's light."

877
00:37:05,964 --> 00:37:07,290
Bring all your words,

878
00:37:07,290 --> 00:37:09,721
bring all your actions into the light.

879
00:37:09,721 --> 00:37:11,188
Bring your sin into the light.

880
00:37:11,188 --> 00:37:12,467
Be honest about your sins.

881
00:37:12,467 --> 00:37:15,235
Confess them to God for 
forgiveness and cleansing.

882
00:37:15,235 --> 00:37:16,496
But press on brethren.

883
00:37:16,496 --> 00:37:17,972
Walking in the light.

884
00:37:17,972 --> 00:37:20,054
Walk in the light.

885
00:37:20,054 --> 00:37:22,804
That's where your fellowship with God is.

886
00:37:22,804 --> 00:37:24,974
It's in the light.

887
00:37:24,974 --> 00:37:29,752
And he says, "I write these 
things to you that you sin not.

888
00:37:29,752 --> 00:37:32,617
Well, that's the third thing.

889
00:37:32,617 --> 00:37:33,819
Sin wrecks intimacy.

890
00:37:33,819 --> 00:37:39,309
Let's move on even into the realm

891
00:37:39,309 --> 00:37:41,949
where we're not talking 
specifically about sin.

892
00:37:41,949 --> 00:37:43,420
I would say fourthly,

893
00:37:43,420 --> 00:37:48,476
beware of distractions.

894
00:37:48,476 --> 00:37:50,936
Of course sin always hinders fellowship.

895
00:37:50,936 --> 00:37:53,066
But so often our problem is not with sin.

896
00:37:53,066 --> 00:37:55,093
It's with the things that are permissible.

897
00:37:55,093 --> 00:37:58,158
And you remember how Paul said it.

898
00:37:58,158 --> 00:38:01,441
He said, "All things 
are lawful," but what?

899
00:38:01,441 --> 00:38:04,752
He said it various ways.

900
00:38:04,752 --> 00:38:11,771
But what?

901
00:38:11,771 --> 00:38:13,241
Not all things are profitable.

902
00:38:13,241 --> 00:38:14,448
Not all things edify.

903
00:38:14,448 --> 00:38:18,775
Not all things build up.

904
00:38:18,775 --> 00:38:20,211
Beware!

905
00:38:20,211 --> 00:38:23,739
Beware of the things that pull you

906
00:38:23,739 --> 00:38:25,282
away from the Lord!

907
00:38:25,282 --> 00:38:27,095
I'll tell you this, the devil

908
00:38:27,095 --> 00:38:30,815
will happily have you doing lawful things

909
00:38:30,815 --> 00:38:33,045
if it keeps you away from

910
00:38:33,045 --> 00:38:35,166
intimacy with God.

911
00:38:35,166 --> 00:38:36,743
Be sure of it.

912
00:38:36,743 --> 00:38:38,963
Be sure!

913
00:38:38,963 --> 00:38:41,073
How many professing Christians

914
00:38:41,073 --> 00:38:43,430
squander precious time?

915
00:38:43,430 --> 00:38:44,467
O brethren!

916
00:38:44,467 --> 00:38:47,247
If we could have all the time

917
00:38:47,247 --> 00:38:50,245
from every one of you that has been

918
00:38:50,245 --> 00:38:55,014
spent foolishly in social media!

919
00:38:55,014 --> 00:38:56,576
And we can just put it together

920
00:38:56,576 --> 00:38:58,859
that precious time like gold

921
00:38:58,859 --> 00:39:01,324
and take it back from Facebook

922
00:39:01,324 --> 00:39:03,774
and whatever other things 
they got out there now.

923
00:39:03,774 --> 00:39:07,012
They're just inviting new 
ones one after another.

924
00:39:07,012 --> 00:39:11,339
They're just time 
absorbers for Christians.

925
00:39:11,339 --> 00:39:13,677
How many professing Christians squander

926
00:39:13,677 --> 00:39:16,927
that precious time spent with the Lord

927
00:39:16,932 --> 00:39:18,514
not just on social media but

928
00:39:18,514 --> 00:39:20,974
laying in bed!

929
00:39:20,974 --> 00:39:22,254
Or, TV.

930
00:39:22,254 --> 00:39:25,880
Or movies, music, and clothes,

931
00:39:25,880 --> 00:39:28,731
and houses and gardens and yards,

932
00:39:28,731 --> 00:39:30,106
and hobbies.

933
00:39:30,106 --> 00:39:33,048
There's all this stuff that just chews up.

934
00:39:33,048 --> 00:39:34,972
If you live a life

935
00:39:34,972 --> 00:39:37,998
where you regularly make choices

936
00:39:37,998 --> 00:39:39,806
allowing other things,

937
00:39:39,806 --> 00:39:41,169
it just becomes a pattern.

938
00:39:41,169 --> 00:39:43,061
You're making these choices.

939
00:39:43,061 --> 00:39:46,691
Constantly making choices that crowd out

940
00:39:46,691 --> 00:39:48,936
time spent with the living God

941
00:39:48,936 --> 00:39:50,440
and in His Word,

942
00:39:50,440 --> 00:39:51,622
and talking with Him,

943
00:39:51,622 --> 00:39:53,364
and in meditation;

944
00:39:53,364 --> 00:39:55,003
You're not going to grow closer.

945
00:39:55,003 --> 00:39:56,957
You're not going to grow more intimate.

946
00:39:56,957 --> 00:40:04,765
Brethren, the place where the glory comes;

947
00:40:04,765 --> 00:40:08,435
the place of transformation,

948
00:40:08,435 --> 00:40:12,062
Paul tells us is when 
you behold His glory.

949
00:40:12,062 --> 00:40:13,411
And that doesn't mean,

950
00:40:13,411 --> 00:40:14,888
oh, you wake up in the morning

951
00:40:14,888 --> 00:40:16,414
and five minutes you're there

952
00:40:16,414 --> 00:40:17,736
and then you're out.

953
00:40:17,736 --> 00:40:19,152
That's all you gave God.

954
00:40:19,152 --> 00:40:21,750
The best of your time 
you've given to the world.

955
00:40:21,750 --> 00:40:24,591
You've given to other stuff.

956
00:40:24,591 --> 00:40:28,709
You think that is just going to emblazon

957
00:40:28,709 --> 00:40:30,678
the image of Christ on you?

958
00:40:30,678 --> 00:40:32,203
No!

959
00:40:32,203 --> 00:40:35,341
You do not have a quality walk with God,

960
00:40:35,341 --> 00:40:38,735
any less then you can have 
a quality walk with a wife

961
00:40:38,735 --> 00:40:41,975
if it's just five minutes.

962
00:40:41,980 --> 00:40:43,774
That doesn't work.

963
00:40:43,774 --> 00:40:45,950
Beware of the distractions.

964
00:40:45,950 --> 00:40:48,717
Beware! Beware! Beware!

965
00:40:48,717 --> 00:40:53,041
Brethren, if you can 
put on spiritual glasses

966
00:40:53,041 --> 00:40:56,497
and but see and look with me

967
00:40:56,497 --> 00:40:58,351
at the Song of Solomon.

968
00:40:58,351 --> 00:40:59,547
Go back there.

969
00:40:59,547 --> 00:41:02,570
Right after the Proverbs.

970
00:41:02,570 --> 00:41:08,246
You have this Song of Solomon

971
00:41:08,246 --> 00:41:09,757
after the Psalms

972
00:41:09,757 --> 00:41:14,968
and after the Proverbs.

973
00:41:14,968 --> 00:41:19,287
Like I say if you can put 
the spiritual glasses on,

974
00:41:19,287 --> 00:41:20,780
did Christ not tell us

975
00:41:20,780 --> 00:41:22,518
that Scripture is all about Him

976
00:41:22,518 --> 00:41:24,148
and I believe the Song of Solomon

977
00:41:24,148 --> 00:41:26,115
is not just a story about Solomon

978
00:41:26,115 --> 00:41:27,957
and one of his earthly wives.

979
00:41:27,957 --> 00:41:29,920
I believe that this is a picture,

980
00:41:29,920 --> 00:41:32,482
as many of the forefathers

981
00:41:32,482 --> 00:41:33,914
have down through history

982
00:41:33,914 --> 00:41:35,863
believed that this is a picture

983
00:41:35,863 --> 00:41:37,285
of Christ and His Church.

984
00:41:37,285 --> 00:41:45,614
And if you look at the Song of Solomon 5:2

985
00:41:45,614 --> 00:41:47,495
the church is saying this,

986
00:41:47,495 --> 00:41:51,206
"I slept, but my heart was awake."

987
00:41:51,206 --> 00:41:53,766
I mean this is a person 
who's thinking on Christ.

988
00:41:53,766 --> 00:41:54,750
"...the sound;

989
00:41:54,750 --> 00:41:56,099
my Beloved is knocking."

990
00:41:56,099 --> 00:41:58,221
Christ has come knocking.

991
00:41:58,221 --> 00:42:00,836
"Open to Me, My sister."

992
00:42:00,836 --> 00:42:04,034
This is Christ calling out to the church.

993
00:42:04,034 --> 00:42:06,289
My sister open.

994
00:42:06,289 --> 00:42:12,446
I want even a greater closeness.

995
00:42:12,456 --> 00:42:15,094
"My love, My dove, My perfect one,

996
00:42:15,094 --> 00:42:16,549
for My head is wet with dew,

997
00:42:16,549 --> 00:42:19,666
My locks with the drops of the night."

998
00:42:19,666 --> 00:42:22,068
How the church responded,

999
00:42:22,068 --> 00:42:23,926
with an excuse.

1000
00:42:23,926 --> 00:42:25,809
That's all this is.

1001
00:42:25,809 --> 00:42:29,762
"Well, I've put off my garment,

1002
00:42:29,762 --> 00:42:32,079
how can I put it on again?"

1003
00:42:32,079 --> 00:42:33,226
I've bathed my feet;

1004
00:42:33,226 --> 00:42:35,620
I'm going to get them 
dirty if I go on the floor.

1005
00:42:35,620 --> 00:42:37,693
And do you known what this moment

1006
00:42:37,693 --> 00:42:43,405
of hesitation cost her?

1007
00:42:43,405 --> 00:42:45,358
My Beloved put His hand to the latch

1008
00:42:45,358 --> 00:42:47,267
and my heart was thrilled within me.

1009
00:42:47,267 --> 00:42:48,868
I arose to open to my Beloved,

1010
00:42:48,868 --> 00:42:50,863
and my hands dripped with myrrh,

1011
00:42:50,863 --> 00:42:52,254
my fingers with liquid myrrh,

1012
00:42:52,254 --> 00:42:54,399
on the handles of the bolt.

1013
00:42:54,399 --> 00:42:56,094
I opened to my Beloved,

1014
00:42:56,094 --> 00:43:04,626
but my Beloved had turned and gone.

1015
00:43:04,626 --> 00:43:06,619
Brethren, there are times when the Lord

1016
00:43:06,619 --> 00:43:07,780
is bidding us to come.

1017
00:43:07,780 --> 00:43:09,412
You feel prompted to pray.

1018
00:43:09,412 --> 00:43:12,714
You feel prompted to get alone.

1019
00:43:12,714 --> 00:43:14,403
And you don't do it.

1020
00:43:14,403 --> 00:43:15,997
You know what?

1021
00:43:15,997 --> 00:43:18,844
It's not even that she didn't do it.

1022
00:43:18,844 --> 00:43:21,441
She did it.

1023
00:43:21,441 --> 00:43:24,252
She just took too much time

1024
00:43:24,252 --> 00:43:26,862
thinking about it.

1025
00:43:26,862 --> 00:43:29,214
Give yourself freely to Christ.

1026
00:43:29,214 --> 00:43:31,710
Oh, be ready when He prompts, to go.

1027
00:43:31,713 --> 00:43:32,918
To you who are young,

1028
00:43:32,918 --> 00:43:35,091
you're full of health and strength.

1029
00:43:35,091 --> 00:43:39,082
We need to stop and think.

1030
00:43:39,082 --> 00:43:41,243
What are all those 
things that you're trading

1031
00:43:41,243 --> 00:43:42,363
for time with Christ?

1032
00:43:42,363 --> 00:43:44,435
What are they? You tell me!

1033
00:43:44,435 --> 00:43:46,896
What real rest have they 
brought to your soul?

1034
00:43:46,896 --> 00:43:49,594
What real joy have they brought to you?

1035
00:43:49,594 --> 00:43:54,475
What quietness in your spirit?

1036
00:43:54,484 --> 00:43:56,653
What true satisfaction?

1037
00:43:56,653 --> 00:43:58,802
You know it. You know it as well as I do.

1038
00:43:58,802 --> 00:44:00,977
Their pleasures are fleeting

1039
00:44:00,977 --> 00:44:03,352
and they're quickly hollow.

1040
00:44:03,352 --> 00:44:05,181
But Christ is never that way.

1041
00:44:05,181 --> 00:44:09,893
He's truly satisfying.

1042
00:44:09,893 --> 00:44:14,241
Do those things that you trade,

1043
00:44:14,241 --> 00:44:15,848
I mean are they really fit

1044
00:44:15,848 --> 00:44:17,820
objects for your highest love?

1045
00:44:17,820 --> 00:44:20,039
Think about what you're 
giving your life to?

1046
00:44:20,039 --> 00:44:21,452
You're walking with God.

1047
00:44:21,452 --> 00:44:24,484
Christ bought us the privilege!

1048
00:44:24,484 --> 00:44:27,221
Don't squander this in idleness

1049
00:44:27,221 --> 00:44:28,583
and foolishness,

1050
00:44:28,583 --> 00:44:33,998
wasting your precious time!

1051
00:44:33,998 --> 00:44:35,194
I can remember reading -

1052
00:44:35,194 --> 00:44:36,884
I think Spurgeon tells this story

1053
00:44:36,884 --> 00:44:40,496
about a man who was in his eighties,

1054
00:44:40,496 --> 00:44:42,189
and he got converted.

1055
00:44:42,189 --> 00:44:44,281
Yeah, I think he got 
converted in a meeting,

1056
00:44:44,281 --> 00:44:46,104
and in the very same meeting

1057
00:44:46,104 --> 00:44:47,727
he just wailed.

1058
00:44:47,727 --> 00:44:49,797
Seeking to console him,

1059
00:44:49,808 --> 00:44:51,737
"You've been saved."

1060
00:44:51,737 --> 00:44:53,590
He just wailed because

1061
00:44:53,590 --> 00:44:56,470
he had wasted his life.

1062
00:44:56,470 --> 00:44:59,373
It was gone.

1063
00:44:59,373 --> 00:45:00,484
I mean Isaiah says it,

1064
00:45:00,484 --> 00:45:02,169
"Why spend your money for that

1065
00:45:02,169 --> 00:45:05,129
which is not bread?"

1066
00:45:05,129 --> 00:45:06,849
And I would say fifthly this,

1067
00:45:06,849 --> 00:45:08,994
prayer is vital to this fellowship.

1068
00:45:08,994 --> 00:45:09,758
Prayer.

1069
00:45:09,758 --> 00:45:11,685
Listen to this again in Song of Solomon.

1070
00:45:11,685 --> 00:45:14,740
If you're still there look at 2:14.

1071
00:45:14,740 --> 00:45:17,805
Song of Solomon 2:14.

1072
00:45:17,805 --> 00:45:21,125
This is Christ speaking 
to His church again,

1073
00:45:21,137 --> 00:45:25,632
"O My dove, in the clefts of the rock,

1074
00:45:25,632 --> 00:45:27,220
in the crannies of the cliff,

1075
00:45:27,220 --> 00:45:30,048
let Me see your face,

1076
00:45:30,048 --> 00:45:34,379
let Me hear your voice,

1077
00:45:34,379 --> 00:45:35,925
for your voice is sweet,

1078
00:45:35,925 --> 00:45:37,303
and your face is lovely."

1079
00:45:37,303 --> 00:45:39,994
It's like Christ is saying to His people,

1080
00:45:39,994 --> 00:45:42,261
"Don't go hide

1081
00:45:42,261 --> 00:45:44,191
in the cracks and crevices.

1082
00:45:44,191 --> 00:45:46,384
Come out and speak to Me.

1083
00:45:46,384 --> 00:45:50,518
I want to hear your voice."

1084
00:45:50,518 --> 00:45:51,911
I mean sometimes we feel like

1085
00:45:51,911 --> 00:45:53,330
oh, we can hardly pray.

1086
00:45:53,330 --> 00:45:55,955
All it is groans and sighs.

1087
00:45:55,955 --> 00:45:57,325
But Jesus is saying,

1088
00:45:57,325 --> 00:46:01,129
"Your voice to Me is sweet.

1089
00:46:01,129 --> 00:46:04,504
Come out to Me in all your weakness."

1090
00:46:04,504 --> 00:46:06,354
I mean, it's like a parent whose child

1091
00:46:06,354 --> 00:46:08,703
struggles to get these words out.

1092
00:46:08,703 --> 00:46:12,374
The child is not despised by his parents.

1093
00:46:12,374 --> 00:46:14,038
Christ is saying,

1094
00:46:14,038 --> 00:46:16,785
"Your sighing and groaning is sweet to Me.

1095
00:46:16,785 --> 00:46:18,154
I'm not going to mock at it.

1096
00:46:18,154 --> 00:46:21,485
I'm not going to mock at your weakness."

1097
00:46:21,485 --> 00:46:23,292
Look, you won't enjoy

1098
00:46:23,292 --> 00:46:25,187
the deepest of fellowship with God

1099
00:46:25,187 --> 00:46:27,875
unless you learn to speak

1100
00:46:27,875 --> 00:46:32,251
with your Beloved in prayer and praise.

1101
00:46:32,251 --> 00:46:34,625
I mean, brethren, we need

1102
00:46:34,625 --> 00:46:36,137
seasons of prayer.

1103
00:46:36,137 --> 00:46:39,680
We need seasons where we talk.

1104
00:46:39,683 --> 00:46:41,225
I would say sixthly,

1105
00:46:41,225 --> 00:46:43,079
God's Word is vital to this fellowship.

1106
00:46:43,079 --> 00:46:44,580
I mean you know this text well,

1107
00:46:44,580 --> 00:46:47,371
most of you, Isaiah 66:2.

1108
00:46:47,371 --> 00:46:49,310
Don't turn there. But God says,

1109
00:46:49,310 --> 00:46:51,272
"This is the one to whom I will look..."

1110
00:46:51,272 --> 00:46:54,569
who does God look to?

1111
00:46:54,569 --> 00:46:57,480
He looks to those who are

1112
00:46:57,480 --> 00:46:59,098
humble and contrite in spirit

1113
00:46:59,098 --> 00:47:00,503
and tremble at His Word.

1114
00:47:00,503 --> 00:47:01,597
Coming to His Word.

1115
00:47:01,597 --> 00:47:02,887
Trembling at His Word.

1116
00:47:02,887 --> 00:47:04,339
"To them I'll look."

1117
00:47:04,339 --> 00:47:05,274
That look of God.

1118
00:47:05,274 --> 00:47:08,825
That means He'll look on them with favor.

1119
00:47:08,825 --> 00:47:15,356
It means, it's a look 
that is very desirable.

1120
00:47:15,356 --> 00:47:18,888
It's not only that God needs 
to be hearing our voice,

1121
00:47:18,888 --> 00:47:21,823
we must hear the voice 
of God in our souls.

1122
00:47:21,823 --> 00:47:24,476
You're never going to enjoy 
fellowship with Him

1123
00:47:24,476 --> 00:47:27,826
unless your ear is 
trained to hear His voice.

1124
00:47:27,826 --> 00:47:30,766
It's in the Word, yes.

1125
00:47:30,766 --> 00:47:34,673
It comes from pulpits, yes.

1126
00:47:34,673 --> 00:47:37,683
We see that the Psalmist says,

1127
00:47:37,683 --> 00:47:39,653
"The heavens declare it."

1128
00:47:39,653 --> 00:47:41,370
It's in the creation.

1129
00:47:41,370 --> 00:47:43,770
God speaks to us by His Providence.

1130
00:47:43,770 --> 00:47:46,324
He speaks to us in creation.

1131
00:47:46,324 --> 00:47:48,716
He speaks to us through His preachers.

1132
00:47:48,716 --> 00:47:53,338
He speaks to us in His book.

1133
00:47:53,338 --> 00:47:57,594
He speaks to us in 
promptings of the Holy Spirit.

1134
00:47:57,594 --> 00:48:00,983
He speaks to us in conscience.

1135
00:48:00,983 --> 00:48:03,130
He's given Himself a voice

1136
00:48:03,130 --> 00:48:04,310
through many means.

1137
00:48:04,310 --> 00:48:06,049
We need ears,

1138
00:48:06,049 --> 00:48:08,051
not just that are trained to hear,

1139
00:48:08,051 --> 00:48:10,347
but take time to hear.

1140
00:48:10,347 --> 00:48:12,410
O, when you got all the noise coming!

1141
00:48:12,410 --> 00:48:13,914
That's one of the things

1142
00:48:13,914 --> 00:48:16,184
about all the technology today

1143
00:48:16,184 --> 00:48:20,428
it just bombs us with noise!

1144
00:48:20,428 --> 00:48:25,600
I would say seventhly, meditation.

1145
00:48:25,600 --> 00:48:27,671
Close, sweet communion with God

1146
00:48:27,671 --> 00:48:29,553
is kept up by meditation.

1147
00:48:29,553 --> 00:48:31,455
You remember there in Genesis 24.

1148
00:48:31,455 --> 00:48:33,649
Remember what Isaac was doing?

1149
00:48:33,649 --> 00:48:36,599
Here comes his bride-to-be.

1150
00:48:36,599 --> 00:48:38,839
And what was he doing?

1151
00:48:38,839 --> 00:48:41,176
He was walking in the fields.

1152
00:48:41,176 --> 00:48:43,371
Oh, if there is a time 
to walk in the fields -

1153
00:48:43,371 --> 00:48:44,706
sunrise and sunset.

1154
00:48:44,706 --> 00:48:46,825
Especially here in hot Texas.

1155
00:48:46,825 --> 00:48:48,323
But there's a time to get out.

1156
00:48:48,323 --> 00:48:50,635
I don't know, maybe not 
all of you need to walk.

1157
00:48:50,635 --> 00:48:53,392
But oh, walking outside is the place

1158
00:48:53,392 --> 00:48:55,742
for me to meditate.

1159
00:48:55,742 --> 00:48:57,510
I know

1160
00:48:57,510 --> 00:48:59,651
you know Charles and 
John Wesley's mother,

1161
00:48:59,651 --> 00:49:01,101
hers was under an apron.

1162
00:49:01,101 --> 00:49:03,214
The place isn't what's most important.

1163
00:49:03,214 --> 00:49:06,497
But Isaac was out there meditating.

1164
00:49:06,497 --> 00:49:11,362
Meditation is giving real time

1165
00:49:11,362 --> 00:49:13,915
to think and chew,

1166
00:49:13,915 --> 00:49:17,102
to contemplate God's works,

1167
00:49:17,102 --> 00:49:19,146
and His wonders, and His glory,

1168
00:49:19,146 --> 00:49:21,107
and His beauty, and what He says

1169
00:49:21,117 --> 00:49:22,232
in His word.

1170
00:49:22,232 --> 00:49:24,413
And what our needs are, our wants,

1171
00:49:24,413 --> 00:49:25,702
it's how He's working.

1172
00:49:25,702 --> 00:49:28,652
Meditation just rivets the mind

1173
00:49:28,652 --> 00:49:30,932
to biblical truths, and it brings

1174
00:49:30,932 --> 00:49:33,030
God and the soul close together.

1175
00:49:33,030 --> 00:49:35,377
Those of you that know 
something about meditation,

1176
00:49:35,377 --> 00:49:37,137
you know that's true.

1177
00:49:37,137 --> 00:49:39,856
Meditation tends to open our eyes

1178
00:49:39,856 --> 00:49:42,086
to the invisible glory of God.

1179
00:49:42,094 --> 00:49:44,473
Brethren, I'll tell you, 
there have been times -

1180
00:49:44,473 --> 00:49:45,656
Yes, you go in the Word.

1181
00:49:45,656 --> 00:49:47,446
Yes, you have some time in prayer.

1182
00:49:47,446 --> 00:49:49,567
But you walk and you walk,

1183
00:49:49,567 --> 00:49:52,056
and you linger in prayer,

1184
00:49:52,056 --> 00:49:53,682
and just communing with God

1185
00:49:53,682 --> 00:49:54,620
and meditating.

1186
00:49:54,620 --> 00:49:55,919
And you get into that

1187
00:49:55,919 --> 00:49:58,002
maybe a half hour, an hour,

1188
00:49:58,002 --> 00:49:59,399
an hour and a half

1189
00:49:59,399 --> 00:50:01,446
and suddenly God comes!

1190
00:50:01,446 --> 00:50:03,178
If you only did that for ten minutes

1191
00:50:03,178 --> 00:50:04,930
it wouldn't have happened.

1192
00:50:04,930 --> 00:50:07,348
Meditation, brethren.

1193
00:50:07,348 --> 00:50:10,168
Oh, Psalm 63:6, we read there today.

1194
00:50:10,168 --> 00:50:12,634
"I remember You upon my bed

1195
00:50:12,638 --> 00:50:15,537
and meditate on You in 
the watches of the night."

1196
00:50:15,537 --> 00:50:18,637
And I would end with this last point.

1197
00:50:18,637 --> 00:50:20,049
Number 8.

1198
00:50:20,049 --> 00:50:22,012
Christian,

1199
00:50:22,012 --> 00:50:26,133
Scripture says that you are God's garden.

1200
00:50:26,133 --> 00:50:29,440
That is a such a picture for fellowship.

1201
00:50:29,440 --> 00:50:31,772
If you're still there in Song of Solomon

1202
00:50:31,772 --> 00:50:34,462
I want you to turn to chapter 4.

1203
00:50:34,462 --> 00:50:39,780
Scripture describes you as God's garden,

1204
00:50:39,780 --> 00:50:42,506
which means it's a place He wants to come

1205
00:50:42,506 --> 00:50:46,280
and delight Himself in the beauty.

1206
00:50:46,280 --> 00:50:51,919
It's a place God delights to walk.

1207
00:50:51,919 --> 00:50:54,921
I mean, what this is

1208
00:50:54,921 --> 00:50:56,882
is it's God telling His people,

1209
00:50:56,882 --> 00:50:58,619
"I want fellowship with you.

1210
00:50:58,619 --> 00:51:00,604
I want to find the sweetness there.

1211
00:51:00,604 --> 00:51:02,604
I want to enjoy it.

1212
00:51:02,604 --> 00:51:04,072
I want to delight in it."

1213
00:51:04,072 --> 00:51:08,649
If you look at the Song of Solomon 4:10.

1214
00:51:08,649 --> 00:51:11,166
Look what Christ says.

1215
00:51:11,166 --> 00:51:12,647
Christ says this to His church,

1216
00:51:12,647 --> 00:51:14,074
"How beautiful is your love

1217
00:51:14,074 --> 00:51:15,783
My sister, My bride!

1218
00:51:15,783 --> 00:51:17,894
How much better is your love than wine

1219
00:51:17,894 --> 00:51:19,405
and the fragrance of your oils

1220
00:51:19,405 --> 00:51:21,138
than any spice!

1221
00:51:21,138 --> 00:51:23,554
Your lips drip nectar, My bride;

1222
00:51:23,554 --> 00:51:25,495
honey and milk are under your tongue;

1223
00:51:25,495 --> 00:51:26,934
the fragrance of your garments

1224
00:51:26,934 --> 00:51:30,382
is like the fragrance of Lebanon."

1225
00:51:30,392 --> 00:51:32,702
He says this in verse 12.

1226
00:51:32,702 --> 00:51:39,375
"A garden locked is My sister, My bride."

1227
00:51:39,375 --> 00:51:42,025
And then you go to verse 16.

1228
00:51:42,025 --> 00:51:44,392
And the church says,

1229
00:51:44,392 --> 00:51:46,871
"Awake, O north wind, 
and come O south wind!

1230
00:51:46,871 --> 00:51:48,685
Blow upon my garden,

1231
00:51:48,685 --> 00:51:50,622
let its spices flow.

1232
00:51:50,622 --> 00:51:53,156
Let my Beloved come to His garden

1233
00:51:53,156 --> 00:51:55,786
and eat its choicest fruits."

1234
00:51:55,786 --> 00:51:57,193
And then you go to 5:1

1235
00:51:57,193 --> 00:52:00,118
and Christ responds,

1236
00:52:00,118 --> 00:52:03,960
"I came to My garden, My sister, My bride

1237
00:52:03,960 --> 00:52:06,876
I gathered My myrrh with My spice.

1238
00:52:06,876 --> 00:52:09,152
I ate My honeycomb with My honey,

1239
00:52:09,152 --> 00:52:10,862
I drank My wine with My milk.

1240
00:52:10,862 --> 00:52:16,704
Eat, friends, drink, 
and be drunk with love!"

1241
00:52:16,704 --> 00:52:17,993
I just ask you this,

1242
00:52:17,993 --> 00:52:20,283
I mean this is a picture of Christ

1243
00:52:20,283 --> 00:52:24,030
wanting to come and enjoy

1244
00:52:24,030 --> 00:52:28,705
the delights of His garden.

1245
00:52:28,705 --> 00:52:32,196
We really need to see 
the Lord desiring that.

1246
00:52:32,196 --> 00:52:34,244
I think sometimes we have this distant,

1247
00:52:34,244 --> 00:52:37,803
austere idea.

1248
00:52:37,803 --> 00:52:41,273
We don't see God really wanting

1249
00:52:41,282 --> 00:52:44,823
this fellowship.

1250
00:52:44,823 --> 00:52:46,754
Desiring it.

1251
00:52:46,754 --> 00:52:48,525
So I ask you this, how you would you

1252
00:52:48,525 --> 00:52:50,764
rate your fellowship with God?

1253
00:52:50,764 --> 00:52:53,104
We're going to move 
on in 1 John after this.

1254
00:52:53,104 --> 00:52:55,294
But as we leave this topic,

1255
00:52:55,294 --> 00:52:59,534
at least for now,

1256
00:52:59,534 --> 00:53:03,626
how would you rate 
your fellowship with God?

1257
00:53:03,626 --> 00:53:07,408
Is it distant?

1258
00:53:07,408 --> 00:53:10,185
Is it sloppy?

1259
00:53:10,185 --> 00:53:11,241
Disrespectful?

1260
00:53:11,241 --> 00:53:13,606
Casual?

1261
00:53:13,616 --> 00:53:15,766
Is it close?

1262
00:53:15,766 --> 00:53:18,653
Is it precious to you?

1263
00:53:18,653 --> 00:53:20,398
I mean, can you really say that?

1264
00:53:20,398 --> 00:53:24,758
Walking with the Lord is precious.

1265
00:53:24,768 --> 00:53:26,490
How would you rate it?

1266
00:53:26,490 --> 00:53:28,093
Is it intimate?

1267
00:53:28,093 --> 00:53:30,130
Are you the sort of garden

1268
00:53:30,130 --> 00:53:32,718
where God comes looking for fruit

1269
00:53:32,718 --> 00:53:35,926
and He finds it?

1270
00:53:35,926 --> 00:53:38,584
Delights in it?

1271
00:53:38,584 --> 00:53:42,769
I mean this, brethren, 
this is heaven on earth

1272
00:53:42,769 --> 00:53:44,120
for the lover of God.

1273
00:53:44,120 --> 00:53:45,240
It really is.

1274
00:53:45,240 --> 00:53:46,856
And no matter how long

1275
00:53:46,856 --> 00:53:50,338
that you have been a child of God,

1276
00:53:50,338 --> 00:53:52,112
you've got to protect this.

1277
00:53:52,112 --> 00:53:54,647
You've got to make efforts at this.

1278
00:53:54,647 --> 00:53:57,449
This has to be a priority.

1279
00:53:57,449 --> 00:53:59,070
We all make choices.

1280
00:53:59,070 --> 00:54:00,671
We all have priorities.

1281
00:54:00,671 --> 00:54:02,031
We all get up in the morning

1282
00:54:02,031 --> 00:54:05,493
with the same number of hours in a day.

1283
00:54:05,503 --> 00:54:07,433
Those who walk close with God

1284
00:54:07,433 --> 00:54:11,234
have the same number of hours.

1285
00:54:11,234 --> 00:54:13,397
How do we spend them?

1286
00:54:13,397 --> 00:54:15,666
What are we doing with them?

1287
00:54:15,666 --> 00:54:17,386
You need to guard

1288
00:54:17,386 --> 00:54:20,048
your relationship with the Father

1289
00:54:20,048 --> 00:54:21,171
and with the Son

1290
00:54:21,171 --> 00:54:22,985
and with the Holy Spirit.

1291
00:54:22,985 --> 00:54:25,251
I mean brethren, ask yourself this.

1292
00:54:25,251 --> 00:54:27,595
Ask, "When was the last time

1293
00:54:27,595 --> 00:54:30,982
you had a sweet time with the Lord?"

1294
00:54:30,982 --> 00:54:34,110
Where your heart jumped because He came!

1295
00:54:34,111 --> 00:54:36,331
Oh, maybe it was overwhelming.

1296
00:54:36,337 --> 00:54:39,797
Maybe it was just that still, small voice.

1297
00:54:39,805 --> 00:54:41,158
He just came.

1298
00:54:41,158 --> 00:54:42,654
He thrilled your souls.

1299
00:54:42,654 --> 00:54:45,297
You felt your soul melt because His Word

1300
00:54:45,297 --> 00:54:47,337
came to you personally.

1301
00:54:47,337 --> 00:54:49,226
I mean, you know when that happens,

1302
00:54:49,226 --> 00:54:50,470
"He spoke to me!"

1303
00:54:50,470 --> 00:54:54,250
I mean you're in the Word and it's for me!

1304
00:54:54,250 --> 00:54:56,686
Or you're out in prayer and 
He comes and He says,

1305
00:54:56,687 --> 00:54:58,891
"I'm going to give you 
what you just asked."

1306
00:54:58,891 --> 00:54:59,887
And you know it!

1307
00:54:59,887 --> 00:55:01,710
Or you're just 
mediating on something

1308
00:55:01,710 --> 00:55:04,524
and suddenly you are so 
blown away by His glory.

1309
00:55:04,524 --> 00:55:06,246
And it's because His Spirit has come

1310
00:55:06,246 --> 00:55:07,564
and opened your mind

1311
00:55:07,564 --> 00:55:09,057
and your understanding

1312
00:55:09,057 --> 00:55:11,492
and just swept you away.

1313
00:55:11,492 --> 00:55:13,744
Brethren, when has that happened?

1314
00:55:13,744 --> 00:55:17,288
Look, I'm not talking about

1315
00:55:17,288 --> 00:55:19,484
knowing God in theory.

1316
00:55:19,484 --> 00:55:21,388
I'm not talking about

1317
00:55:21,388 --> 00:55:24,614
just knowing in theory that He loves you.

1318
00:55:24,614 --> 00:55:28,352
Do you personally drink the love

1319
00:55:28,352 --> 00:55:31,301
of the Father and the Son?

1320
00:55:31,301 --> 00:55:33,774
Manifestly?

1321
00:55:33,774 --> 00:55:35,164
I'm not talking about just

1322
00:55:35,164 --> 00:55:37,303
diving into the theology book.

1323
00:55:37,303 --> 00:55:38,914
Do you know this?

1324
00:55:38,914 --> 00:55:39,950
Brethren!

1325
00:55:39,950 --> 00:55:42,730
Do you know this?

1326
00:55:42,730 --> 00:55:44,277
I mean, we have a Husband.

1327
00:55:44,277 --> 00:55:48,992
Didn't He give us that picture in Hosea?

1328
00:55:48,992 --> 00:55:51,546
But we're like Gomer.

1329
00:55:51,546 --> 00:55:53,159
What a name! Gomer.

1330
00:55:53,159 --> 00:55:59,365
But we're like her!

1331
00:55:59,365 --> 00:56:01,327
I always think of Gomer Pyle.

1332
00:56:01,327 --> 00:56:02,918
It's like a ridiculous name.

1333
00:56:02,918 --> 00:56:05,288
But, Gomer.

1334
00:56:05,288 --> 00:56:09,071
She's unfaithful.

1335
00:56:09,071 --> 00:56:13,651
And Hosea is like Christ.

1336
00:56:13,662 --> 00:56:16,610
Brethren, He comes along 
to a bunch of prostitutes.

1337
00:56:16,610 --> 00:56:17,563
That's what we are.

1338
00:56:17,563 --> 00:56:20,086
That's what we were.

1339
00:56:20,086 --> 00:56:21,236
You'd say that's what

1340
00:56:21,236 --> 00:56:23,516
some of us are now.

1341
00:56:23,516 --> 00:56:25,594
That's what many of us were before.

1342
00:56:25,594 --> 00:56:27,808
Just prostitutes!

1343
00:56:27,808 --> 00:56:30,495
Just these unfaithful -

1344
00:56:30,495 --> 00:56:31,671
we were harlots.

1345
00:56:31,671 --> 00:56:34,305
We just gave ourselves freely

1346
00:56:34,305 --> 00:56:36,099
to our whoredom out there.

1347
00:56:36,099 --> 00:56:37,638
And He comes along

1348
00:56:37,638 --> 00:56:40,613
and He buys us off the slave block.

1349
00:56:40,613 --> 00:56:42,761
Is that not what He did?

1350
00:56:42,761 --> 00:56:45,985
He says, "I pay for you with My blood."

1351
00:56:45,985 --> 00:56:51,519
And now, I want you for Me.

1352
00:56:51,519 --> 00:56:56,084
I don't want you going and giving yourself

1353
00:56:56,084 --> 00:56:59,072
to all your other lovers anymore.

1354
00:56:59,072 --> 00:57:01,526
I want you for Me.

1355
00:57:01,526 --> 00:57:04,146
Brethren, that's a picture of the gospel.

1356
00:57:04,146 --> 00:57:05,730
That's what this is all about.

1357
00:57:05,730 --> 00:57:08,160
He wants us for Him.

1358
00:57:08,160 --> 00:57:11,646
He's bought us with a price.

1359
00:57:11,646 --> 00:57:14,157
Calls us to leave our other lovers

1360
00:57:14,157 --> 00:57:17,347
and surrender to His love.

1361
00:57:17,347 --> 00:57:21,962
To be that garden that He delights in.

1362
00:57:21,962 --> 00:57:24,130
If you all you ever 
heard is Christianity is

1363
00:57:24,130 --> 00:57:26,531
just be saved from your 
sin and saved from hell.

1364
00:57:26,531 --> 00:57:28,979
Brethren, this goes much deeper.

1365
00:57:28,979 --> 00:57:33,578
This thing is beautiful and 
precious to the uttermost.

1366
00:57:33,578 --> 00:57:37,192
Don't sell it for a song.

1367
00:57:37,192 --> 00:57:38,983
Brethren, priorities.

1368
00:57:38,983 --> 00:57:42,814
Priorities.

1369
00:57:42,814 --> 00:57:45,196
Choices.

1370
00:57:45,196 --> 00:57:48,634
May God help us.

1371
00:57:48,634 --> 00:57:52,801
Father, we ask for Your grace.

1372
00:57:52,801 --> 00:57:54,082
We ask for the power

1373
00:57:54,082 --> 00:57:56,457
of the Spirit of God.

1374
00:57:56,457 --> 00:57:58,553
Make this a reality.

1375
00:57:58,553 --> 00:58:00,308
Oh Lord, we know that you want us

1376
00:58:00,308 --> 00:58:02,274
to walk with you in worship, in honor,

1377
00:58:02,280 --> 00:58:05,772
in praise, in love.

1378
00:58:05,772 --> 00:58:11,365
We know that this is 
indeed the chief thing.

1379
00:58:11,365 --> 00:58:16,274
Giving our lives to You.

1380
00:58:16,274 --> 00:58:18,256
Giving ourselves entirely;

1381
00:58:18,258 --> 00:58:21,351
a sacrifice upon the altar of God

1382
00:58:21,351 --> 00:58:22,776
to be consumed

1383
00:58:22,776 --> 00:58:31,956
by Your fire of love for Your people.

1384
00:58:31,956 --> 00:58:36,942
Lord, I pray for the 
grace for this church.

1385
00:58:36,942 --> 00:58:38,221
That above all things

1386
00:58:38,221 --> 00:58:42,376
no matter what you do with us,

1387
00:58:42,376 --> 00:58:46,308
Lord, I pray,

1388
00:58:46,308 --> 00:58:49,662
pray that you would make this church,

1389
00:58:49,662 --> 00:58:54,281
at whatever cost necessary;

1390
00:58:54,281 --> 00:58:55,675
whatever you have to bring,

1391
00:58:55,675 --> 00:58:59,771
whatever fire to purify,

1392
00:58:59,771 --> 00:59:04,012
whatever comforts to help,

1393
00:59:04,012 --> 00:59:06,585
whatever is necessary, Lord.

1394
00:59:06,585 --> 00:59:08,975
I pray that You would make this church

1395
00:59:08,975 --> 00:59:10,683
what You want it to be.

1396
00:59:10,683 --> 00:59:15,204
Fruitful, beautiful in your sight.

1397
00:59:15,204 --> 00:59:19,172
Lord, spare us nothing

1398
00:59:19,172 --> 00:59:21,176
that you've given to your elect people

1399
00:59:21,176 --> 00:59:22,234
through the ages.

1400
00:59:22,234 --> 00:59:24,544
Spare us nothing

1401
00:59:24,544 --> 00:59:27,788
that will propel us forward

1402
00:59:27,788 --> 00:59:31,928
into these degrees of glory.

1403
00:59:31,938 --> 00:59:33,998
That will propel us forward

1404
00:59:33,998 --> 00:59:36,228
into a deeper intimacy

1405
00:59:36,228 --> 00:59:38,709
and knowing you with that knowledge,

1406
00:59:38,709 --> 00:59:44,419
that oh, that is so sweet and so valuable.

1407
00:59:44,419 --> 00:59:45,586
Help us, Lord,

1408
00:59:45,586 --> 00:59:47,218
we pray in Christ's name.

1409
00:59:47,218 --> 00:59:48,115
Amen.