Welcome to each
and every one of you,
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here at our 3ABN studios
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and those who are
watching around the world
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or listening
wherever you may be,
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want to give you a
very, very warm welcome
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to this new six
part series in time,
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love and loyalty
where we're going to unpack
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six all important
topics on how to prepare
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for the soon return of Jesus.
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The opening
message I've entitled
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"The Secret to
Peace and Happiness."
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I wanna begin by reflecting
on a Time magazine front cover
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from 50 years or so ago.
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Back in 1966, April 8,
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Time magazine put
out a fascinating cover.
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"Is God Dead?"
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was the title in
the midst of a time
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when they were great changes
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taking place in the world
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and I find it fascinating
now 50 years on almost exactly,
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we have this front
cover of Time magazine
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that came out on April 3,
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2017, "Is Truth Dead?"
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so as we take a look at
this title "Is Truth Dead?"
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And the story was highlighting
President Donald Trump
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and his take on truth
in this post truth world.
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The question is being
asked, can we know for certain
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what is right and what is wrong?
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Can we know what is
true and what isn't true?
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It's true today we
live in a post truth world
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where truth today
is very much relative.
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We live in what I like
to call the age of Nike.
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You know what
Nike is famous for?
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It's famous for
its logo, just do it.
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And we live in a day and age
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where people are
here for a good time
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and not necessarily a long time.
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I remember
hearing of this website,
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and I was very
distressed by this website,
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specifically
targeting married men
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and married women.
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And the website was entitled,
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"Have an
Affair, Have an Affair."
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Life is short, have an affair.
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And that's the kind of
world we are living in today.
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Today we find
ourselves in a world
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where "Moral standards
which ones were rock solid
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are now non-existent."
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And I wanna share with
you what I consider to be
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the downward spiral of morality
based on these standards
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that once were rock solid,
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but are now almost non-existent.
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Let me share this
with you and you tell me
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if you think
that this is the way
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things have been going.
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The downward spiral of morality.
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Firstly, immoral
acts are abhorred,
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then they are tolerated,
then they are accepted,
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then they are promoted
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and finally
immoral acts are defended.
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This is the day and age
that you and I are living in.
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Once upon a time was
considered very wrong,
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today is
considered just different
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and a different
way of doing things.
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I remember
hearing the first time
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that Hollywood
sent their cameras
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into the bedroom to film
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a husband and a wife
sitting in bed together
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with their pajamas.
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There was an outcry,
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how dare
Hollywood take their cameras
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into the sanctity of the bedroom
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and film a couple
in their bed together
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in their pajamas.
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Well, as Hollywood goes
into more than just a bedroom
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filled with individuals
who have their pajamas on,
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things have completely changed.
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And so today
we're living in a world
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where the moral compass
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has been thrown out the window,
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and we find ourselves
in a state of confusion.
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Today ourselves, our society,
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I would say has
turned its back on God
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and his moral standards.
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This was a billboard
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before the 2016 census
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that took place
here in Australia,
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a national census
and this was a billboard
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that was advertising,
"Not religious anymore?
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Mark 'No religion'
on the 2016 census."
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There was a
campaign to encourage
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those who are
no longer religious
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to tick the not religious
box which happened to be
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at the top of
the religious section
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on our census in 2016.
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I found it fascinating that
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when the census
results came through,
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there was an
article in the ABC News,
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June 27, 2017 with this title.
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"Census results,
Australians are older,
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ethnically diverse,
and losing their religion."
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Well, I wasn't too surprised
about the ethnic diversity
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here in Australia,
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and I certainly wasn't surprised
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that Australians
are getting older.
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I think most western
countries are experiencing this.
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But it was quite
interesting to notice that
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according to the census data
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that we are losing our religion,
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and this was a graph
in that particular article
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and I want to share it with you.
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Notice here, this is
a graph taking us back
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from 1966 to 2016,
so a 50 year period.
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Incidentally, that
were the two Time magazines
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that we looked at earlier
on, looking at this 50 year gap.
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Christianity or those
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who claimed to be
Christians in 1966,
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the numbers were around 90%.
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By 2016, those
numbers had gone down to 50%.
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So a 40% drop in 50 years
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of those who
claim to be Christian,
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whereas those who
claimed no religion,
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that number went from almost 0%,
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maybe 1 or 2%,
all the way up to 30%.
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And so today,
that's the day and age
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that you and I are living in.
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We are living in a day and age
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where people no
longer are affiliated
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with a particular
faith or religion,
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where people do
not necessarily have
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religious views and
convictions and morals
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that they run their lives by.
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Arnold Toynbee,
he was a historian,
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a very famous historian,
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he's passed away a
number of years ago,
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but he was a famous historian,
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and he is famous
for this epic series
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on world history entitled,
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"A Study of History,
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Why Do They
Disintegrate and Collapse?"
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Before we take a look at
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one of these major conclusions,
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I just want to share with you
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a little bit on
this 12 volume study.
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Arnold Toynbee
looked at history,
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he looked at 19 civilizations
that have arisen to ascendancy,
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but then they have
fallen and completely become
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crushed and obsolete.
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And he took a look at
these 19 civilizations
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and he took a look
from, from their development
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all the way
through to their decay
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and he took a look at
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what were some of
the major factors.
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A number of factors were listed.
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And one of the primary reasons
why these past civilizations,
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some of them
wonderful, great civilization,
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including the Roman
Empire not only decay,
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but were eventually
destroyed was through this
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and these are his own words,
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"Lawlessness
leads to destruction."
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These are the
words of Arnold Toynbee
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who studied these
world historical empires
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over a long period of time,
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and he wrote
this 12 volume series.
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Jesus, in fact,
shared the same thing with us
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2000 years ago.
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Well, before Arnold
Toynbee came on to the scene,
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these are the words of
Jesus in Matthew Chapter 24.
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Matthew 24 is a passage
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where Jesus outlines
the history of the world
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from His day all the way
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through to the end of time,
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including the
history of the Jewish nation
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from His day all the way through
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to the destruction
of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
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Notice what Jesus had
to say in Matthew 24:12,
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"And because
lawlessness will abound,"
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notice the next words,
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notice the result
when lawlessness abounds,
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the love of many will do," what?
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Will grow cold,
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"The love of
many will grow cold."
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So when there is lawlessness,
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the natural progression is that
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the love of many grows cold.
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Now, what kind of love
was Jesus here referring to?
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The Greeks had four
main words for the word love,
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and I'll have them up
here on the screen for you.
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The first one is Phileo,
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which is love
between close friends.
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The second one is Storge,
love between family members.
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Then you have the word Eros,
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we get the word
erotic in English
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from that and that is
sensual or romantic love.
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And then finally we
have the word Agape,
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the fourth Greek word
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and that is
referring to God's love,
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God's immeasurable,
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incomparable love for humankind.
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Agape love is perfect,
unconditional, sacrificial,
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and pure love.
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This is the love that
Jesus was speaking of.
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When Jesus said,
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"The love of many will grow cold
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when lawlessness abounds."
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What Jesus was saying is that
the natural consequence, sadly,
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of lawlessness will
be that genuine love,
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that Agape love.
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That's the word
there that is used,
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that Agape love,
that unconditional love
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between God and humanity,
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between humans
that will grow cold
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when God's law,
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when God law
goes out the window.
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So let's take a look at
what I consider to be exhibit A
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of that unconditional
love here amongst society.
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This is a picture
here of my grandparents.
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Here they are, my grandparents.
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This picture here on your left
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is taken a few years ago
when they were celebrating
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their 483rd birthday together.
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That's not a bad innings, is it?
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Not quite, granddad, he's 83,
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grandma, she's 84.
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So we put it all
together and yeah,
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we had a big
celebration for them,
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their birthdays are
10 days apart in June.
00:11:04.36\00:11:07.63
And so we had a
wonderful celebration.
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That picture there on your right
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was taken three years ago,
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when they celebrated
their 70th wedding anniversary.
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Can you believe being married
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to the same person for 70 years?
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That's quite amazing, isn't it?
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Some people
don't even live to 70,
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let alone are
married for 70 years.
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I mean, they were
married at an early age.
00:11:28.12\00:11:31.79
Granddad was 17
and grandma was 18
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when they got married
there in a village in Macedonia
00:11:34.82\00:11:39.36
and as far as they're concerned,
00:11:39.39\00:11:41.80
their love was to
remain until the day they died.
00:11:41.83\00:11:45.43
They were true
to their commitment,
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they were true to one another
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and they've been
through some difficult times,
00:11:50.37\00:11:52.61
many challenging times.
00:11:52.64\00:11:54.04
But through them
all, they made a decision
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that they were
going to stick it out,
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they were going to
encourage one another
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and help one another.
00:11:59.41\00:12:00.75
That is that love.
00:12:00.78\00:12:02.12
That is that genuine love.
00:12:02.15\00:12:03.49
Sadly, there isn't
that much of that today.
00:12:03.52\00:12:06.25
And I don't need to
remind you of the sadness
00:12:06.29\00:12:09.49
and the heartache
that many families today
00:12:09.52\00:12:12.39
are experiencing.
00:12:12.43\00:12:13.76
Many couples are experiencing,
many children are experiencing
00:12:13.80\00:12:16.83
due to the love
of many growing cold.
00:12:16.87\00:12:18.80
Here is a picture
of our entire family.
00:12:18.83\00:12:22.30
We got together and
we had a wonderful time.
00:12:22.34\00:12:25.91
Celebration is almost,
00:12:25.94\00:12:29.18
well there's over 40
members of the family now.
00:12:29.21\00:12:32.01
Grandma and
granddad had five children
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and 11 grandchildren.
00:12:34.42\00:12:36.42
And then they had
13 great granddaughters
00:12:36.45\00:12:39.35
in a row waiting
for their first great
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grandson who
finally arrived, number 14,
00:12:42.09\00:12:45.53
and there's
another one on the way
00:12:45.56\00:12:47.86
and two more twin great
granddaughters coming up
00:12:47.90\00:12:51.90
before the end of the year.
00:12:51.93\00:12:53.27
So they'll have 17
great grandchildren.
00:12:53.30\00:12:56.44
And I mean it's
wonderful to hang out
00:12:56.47\00:12:57.91
with my grandparents.
00:12:57.94\00:12:59.27
I love spending time with them
because when I am with them,
00:12:59.31\00:13:02.98
they show me just
the way they live,
00:13:03.01\00:13:05.71
the way they
interact with one another.
00:13:05.75\00:13:08.12
They show me what true love is
00:13:08.15\00:13:10.92
and they've been
married for so long.
00:13:10.95\00:13:12.29
I remember one time
00:13:12.32\00:13:13.66
I'll just tell
you this funny story.
00:13:13.69\00:13:15.02
One time I asked my grandma,
00:13:15.06\00:13:18.19
I said, "What's the secret?
00:13:18.23\00:13:19.93
What's the secret to
being married for so long,
00:13:19.96\00:13:22.16
70 years?"
00:13:22.20\00:13:23.83
And she looked at
me and with a smile,
00:13:23.87\00:13:25.80
she said, "Oh, my son."
00:13:25.83\00:13:27.44
She said, "You know,
00:13:27.47\00:13:28.97
your
grandfather's pretty much deaf."
00:13:29.00\00:13:32.24
And I said, "Yes, I know."
00:13:32.27\00:13:33.88
So that's part of the
secret, that's part of a secret.
00:13:33.91\00:13:39.55
So what's it like as we ask this
00:13:39.58\00:13:42.38
all important next question?
00:13:42.42\00:13:45.09
What is the God
given recipe for peace,
00:13:45.12\00:13:48.12
love and true happiness?
00:13:48.16\00:13:49.52
That's what we wanna find
out in this presentation today
00:13:49.56\00:13:54.03
and we're going to
pause and we're gonna ask God,
00:13:54.06\00:13:56.03
the God of the Bible
to bless our time together
00:13:56.06\00:13:58.47
as we seek to
understand what His plans
00:13:58.50\00:14:00.77
and His purposes
are for discovering
00:14:00.80\00:14:03.10
how we can have peace
and happiness in our lives,
00:14:03.14\00:14:06.47
which is what
everyone is seeking for.
00:14:06.51\00:14:08.11
So let's just pause
and pray for a moment.
00:14:08.14\00:14:10.25
Father in heaven, we
want to thank You so much
00:14:10.28\00:14:12.28
for Your Word.
00:14:12.31\00:14:13.65
We recognize that
we're living in a world
00:14:13.68\00:14:15.88
where things are falling apart,
00:14:15.92\00:14:18.35
things are
crumbling all around us.
00:14:18.39\00:14:20.72
Those most important
and precious relationships
00:14:20.76\00:14:24.13
are just falling
apart and we need something
00:14:24.16\00:14:27.76
to hold us together.
00:14:27.80\00:14:29.13
We need something to
hold our communities,
00:14:29.16\00:14:31.20
our families together.
00:14:31.23\00:14:32.63
And so we are
asking and praying that
00:14:32.67\00:14:34.97
as we open Your Word
today, that you'll speak to us
00:14:35.00\00:14:39.14
words of wisdom, words of grace,
00:14:39.17\00:14:41.64
words of truth,
00:14:41.68\00:14:43.38
for You have
promised in Your Word
00:14:43.41\00:14:44.81
that Your Word is truth.
00:14:44.85\00:14:46.78
So bless us we
pray in Jesus' name,
00:14:46.82\00:14:49.18
amen and amen.
00:14:49.22\00:14:51.39
Well, I want to begin by
going to the Book of Revelation
00:14:51.42\00:14:53.66
as we unpack what
scripture has to say
00:14:53.69\00:14:56.22
regarding God's perfect
plan for peace and happiness.
00:14:56.26\00:15:00.00
The Book of Revelation
00:15:00.03\00:15:01.53
has what is called the
three angels' messages,
00:15:01.56\00:15:06.50
these three angels' messages,
00:15:06.53\00:15:09.74
God's final message
of love to the world
00:15:09.77\00:15:12.74
needs to go to the entire world
00:15:12.77\00:15:14.31
and when these three
00:15:14.34\00:15:16.51
all important
messages are shared
00:15:16.54\00:15:18.18
with the entire world,
00:15:18.21\00:15:19.55
then the Bible says
in Revelation Chapter 14,
00:15:19.58\00:15:21.82
Jesus will come.
00:15:21.85\00:15:23.18
So these three angels' messages
prepare the entire world
00:15:23.22\00:15:27.19
for the second coming of Jesus,
00:15:27.22\00:15:28.56
and notice how
00:15:28.59\00:15:29.92
the first
angel's message begins.
00:15:29.96\00:15:32.49
John writes, "Then
I saw another angel
00:15:32.53\00:15:34.96
flying in the midst of heaven,
having the everlasting gospel
00:15:35.00\00:15:38.53
to preach to those
who dwell on the earth,
00:15:38.57\00:15:40.74
to every nation,
tribe, tongue and people."
00:15:40.77\00:15:43.37
Notice, this message
is the everlasting gospel.
00:15:43.41\00:15:47.94
Jesus in Matthew
24:14, He told us,
00:15:47.98\00:15:50.65
"And this gospel
of the kingdom will go
00:15:50.68\00:15:52.41
to all the world as a
witness to all the nations,"
00:15:52.45\00:15:55.48
and what will happen then?
00:15:55.52\00:15:57.09
The end will come.
00:15:57.12\00:15:58.62
So this is the
gospel that Jesus said,
00:15:58.65\00:16:01.66
must go to the whole world
00:16:01.69\00:16:03.53
before He returns
in an end time context.
00:16:03.56\00:16:07.33
And notice how the first angel
00:16:07.36\00:16:09.83
begins sharing the
everlasting gospel,
00:16:09.86\00:16:13.77
the everlasting good
news about God and His love,
00:16:13.80\00:16:16.50
and His willingness
to save all of humanity,
00:16:16.54\00:16:20.48
that all be
saved and none perish.
00:16:20.51\00:16:22.81
Notice the first
words of the the angel
00:16:22.84\00:16:26.48
as he shares this message
00:16:26.51\00:16:27.92
that needs to go
to the whole world.
00:16:27.95\00:16:29.38
In Revelation 14:7, we read,
"Saying with a loud voice..."
00:16:29.42\00:16:34.66
Those words they are
loud voice in the original.
00:16:34.69\00:16:37.13
In other words, megaphone,
this is a megaphone voice,
00:16:37.16\00:16:40.83
this is not a whisper.
00:16:40.86\00:16:42.90
This is a message
that needs to be proclaimed
00:16:42.93\00:16:45.97
in a loud voice
to the whole world.
00:16:46.00\00:16:48.34
"Fear God and give glory to Him,
00:16:48.37\00:16:50.97
for the hour of
His judgment has come,
00:16:51.01\00:16:53.14
and worship Him who
made heaven and earth,
00:16:53.17\00:16:55.11
the sea and the
springs of water."
00:16:55.14\00:16:57.25
Notice those first two
words, fear God, fear God.
00:16:57.28\00:17:01.95
Now, when it
comes to fearing God,
00:17:01.98\00:17:05.02
does this mean that we
ought to be afraid of God?
00:17:05.05\00:17:07.49
Is God someone to be afraid of?
00:17:07.52\00:17:10.33
The last time I
checked my Bible,
00:17:10.36\00:17:12.46
Jesus came, and He said,
"I'm a friend of sinners."
00:17:12.49\00:17:15.83
Jesus came, and He
was welcomed by the people
00:17:15.86\00:17:19.43
that He came to save,
00:17:19.47\00:17:22.37
those that were focused
00:17:22.40\00:17:24.64
on having a
relationship with Him.
00:17:24.67\00:17:26.78
God is not
someone to be afraid of.
00:17:26.81\00:17:28.84
God is someone
to be a friend of.
00:17:28.88\00:17:30.31
So what does the Bible
mean when it says, fear God?
00:17:30.35\00:17:34.55
Well, let's unpack
what these words mean.
00:17:34.58\00:17:37.29
In other parts of the
Bible, we have a definition
00:17:37.32\00:17:41.46
and we have some,
some more clarification
00:17:41.49\00:17:44.63
on what it means to be fear God.
00:17:44.66\00:17:46.43
Notice these words
00:17:46.46\00:17:48.13
that we find in
Deuteronomy 10:12-13.
00:17:48.16\00:17:52.03
"What does the Lord
your God require of you,"
00:17:52.07\00:17:54.80
but to do what?
00:17:54.84\00:17:56.30
"To fear the Lord your God,"
00:17:56.34\00:17:58.07
there are those
words again repeated,
00:17:58.11\00:18:00.38
"TO walk in all his
ways, and to love Him,
00:18:00.41\00:18:03.61
to serve the Lord your
God with all your heart
00:18:03.65\00:18:06.08
and with all your soul,
00:18:06.11\00:18:07.48
and to keep the
commandments of the Lord
00:18:07.52\00:18:09.55
and His statutes
00:18:09.58\00:18:10.92
which I command
you for your good?"
00:18:10.95\00:18:13.25
This is a beautiful passage
and a beautiful definition of
00:18:13.29\00:18:16.36
what it means to fear God.
00:18:16.39\00:18:18.63
To fear the Lord,
it means to love Him,
00:18:18.66\00:18:21.43
it means to serve Him
with all of your heart.
00:18:21.46\00:18:24.37
It means to keep
His commandments,
00:18:24.40\00:18:27.87
and His statutes
00:18:27.90\00:18:29.24
which ultimately
are for your good
00:18:29.27\00:18:31.57
and my good always.
00:18:31.61\00:18:34.21
That's what it
means to fear God.
00:18:34.24\00:18:35.64
It means to honor
Him, to Reverence him,
00:18:35.68\00:18:38.18
and to do that which
He has invited us to do
00:18:38.21\00:18:41.52
which is for our good.
00:18:41.55\00:18:44.02
In Deuteronomy
6:24, we read these words,
00:18:44.05\00:18:47.62
"The Lord commanded us to
observe all these statutes
00:18:47.66\00:18:50.99
to fear the Lord,"
there are those words again,
00:18:51.03\00:18:53.60
"to fear the Lord
our God for our good,"
00:18:53.63\00:18:55.93
how often?
00:18:55.96\00:18:59.60
"For our good always."
00:18:59.63\00:19:01.44
When you and I
drive on the road,
00:19:01.47\00:19:04.74
as we drove to
this venue here today,
00:19:04.77\00:19:07.98
we came across
various traffic signals,
00:19:08.01\00:19:12.08
isn't that right?
00:19:12.11\00:19:13.45
Along the way, we
came across stop signs,
00:19:13.48\00:19:15.62
give way signs, traffic lights,
whatever the case may be,
00:19:15.65\00:19:20.99
why are they there?
00:19:21.02\00:19:22.72
They are there to protect us.
00:19:22.76\00:19:24.49
Isn't that right?
00:19:24.53\00:19:25.86
That's what the laws
on the road are there for,
00:19:25.89\00:19:28.70
they are there to protect us
so that we can safely navigate
00:19:28.73\00:19:32.37
from home to wherever
our destination may be.
00:19:32.40\00:19:36.30
Today, we have also laws
and we always have had laws
00:19:36.34\00:19:40.51
in physics and in science.
00:19:40.54\00:19:43.11
There are laws that
govern the solar system
00:19:43.14\00:19:46.15
and our universe.
00:19:46.18\00:19:47.65
There are laws of health.
00:19:47.68\00:19:50.02
If you and I,
00:19:50.05\00:19:51.39
if you and I
respect the laws of health,
00:19:51.42\00:19:53.86
we are more
likely to live a happy
00:19:53.89\00:19:56.66
and a healthy
life, isn't that right?
00:19:56.69\00:19:58.43
Than if we
disrespect the laws of health.
00:19:58.46\00:20:02.13
Then there are laws when
it comes to happy families
00:20:02.16\00:20:05.23
and happy marriages.
00:20:05.27\00:20:07.07
Then there are also laws
when it comes to finances.
00:20:07.10\00:20:10.17
So whichever way we look,
00:20:10.21\00:20:13.07
we discover that
laws are put in place
00:20:13.11\00:20:17.18
in order to bring us happiness,
00:20:17.21\00:20:19.45
in order to bring us
peace, in order to bring us joy,
00:20:19.48\00:20:22.78
in order to
bring us satisfaction,
00:20:22.82\00:20:26.22
in order that you and I
00:20:26.25\00:20:27.59
may enjoy a holistic life.
00:20:27.62\00:20:30.79
That is the
reason why we have laws
00:20:30.83\00:20:33.53
and the reason why
God has given us His laws.
00:20:33.56\00:20:36.36
The reason why He
has given us His Word
00:20:36.40\00:20:38.67
is for that same
reason, for our good always.
00:20:38.70\00:20:41.70
Notice some more scriptures.
00:20:41.74\00:20:44.07
In Proverbs 29:18,
we read these words,
00:20:44.11\00:20:48.54
"Happy is he who keeps the law."
00:20:48.58\00:20:51.61
Here is another
passage from Psalm 119:165,
00:20:51.65\00:20:56.22
"Great peace have
those who love your law,
00:20:56.25\00:20:59.42
and nothing
causes them to stumble."
00:20:59.45\00:21:01.76
So God's plan is
for us to have peace,
00:21:01.79\00:21:04.16
for us to have happiness.
00:21:04.19\00:21:05.79
Here is another, in John
15:10, the words of Jesus,
00:21:05.83\00:21:10.03
"If you keep My commandments,
you will abide in My love,
00:21:10.07\00:21:14.17
just as I have kept
my Father's commandments
00:21:14.20\00:21:16.74
and abide in His love."
00:21:16.77\00:21:18.64
Notice, by keeping
the commandments of God,
00:21:18.67\00:21:23.11
just as Jesus kept
His Father's commandments,
00:21:23.14\00:21:25.78
we abide in the love of Christ,
00:21:25.81\00:21:28.98
we are one with Christ.
00:21:29.02\00:21:32.79
Love is the very
foundation of God's government.
00:21:32.82\00:21:37.33
The Bible tells
us in 1 John 4:8,
00:21:37.36\00:21:41.53
"That God is love."
00:21:41.56\00:21:44.43
Not that God loves,
but that God is love.
00:21:44.47\00:21:48.40
The very essence of God is love.
00:21:48.44\00:21:52.24
The most powerful
force in the universe
00:21:52.27\00:21:56.14
is the love of God.
00:21:56.18\00:21:57.71
It's more powerful
than any other substance
00:21:57.75\00:22:01.22
in the universe,
the greatest force,
00:22:01.25\00:22:03.69
the greatest
power is God's love.
00:22:03.72\00:22:07.42
Let me share with you
something regarding God's love
00:22:07.46\00:22:11.89
and God's law.
00:22:11.93\00:22:13.60
Notice, up here on the
screen, we have scriptures
00:22:13.63\00:22:17.67
that describe God and who He is,
00:22:17.70\00:22:20.97
and God's law and what it is.
00:22:21.00\00:22:24.57
And you'll
discover the incredible,
00:22:24.61\00:22:26.64
the incredible
parallels and similarities
00:22:26.68\00:22:29.18
between God and His law.
00:22:29.21\00:22:31.88
The Bible says God is love.
00:22:31.91\00:22:33.95
The Bible says His law is love.
00:22:33.98\00:22:36.05
The Bible says God is good.
00:22:36.08\00:22:38.02
The Bible says
God's law is good.
00:22:38.05\00:22:40.26
And there are those
scriptures that you can look up.
00:22:40.29\00:22:42.72
God is holy and
perfect, and pure and just
00:22:42.76\00:22:47.16
and so is His law.
00:22:47.20\00:22:49.10
God is true and
spiritual, and righteous,
00:22:49.13\00:22:52.63
faithful and unchangeable,
eternal, and so is God's law.
00:22:52.67\00:22:57.11
So whatever God is, His law is.
00:22:57.14\00:23:00.71
In other words,
00:23:00.74\00:23:02.08
God's law is a transcript
00:23:02.11\00:23:05.91
of His character.
00:23:05.95\00:23:09.02
God's character is His law.
00:23:09.05\00:23:12.52
It's who He is.
00:23:12.55\00:23:14.32
And in fact, we
ought not be surprised,
00:23:14.36\00:23:17.59
because the constitution,
00:23:17.63\00:23:20.93
the laws that
govern a particular country
00:23:20.96\00:23:24.07
will determine
00:23:24.10\00:23:25.43
whether that country is a
place worth living in or not,
00:23:25.47\00:23:28.44
isn't that right?
00:23:28.47\00:23:29.84
There are
people around the world
00:23:29.87\00:23:32.44
that risk life and limb
00:23:32.47\00:23:34.31
including many that
have tried desperately
00:23:34.34\00:23:38.35
to make the trek
from their homeland
00:23:38.38\00:23:41.42
across the waters to Australia.
00:23:41.45\00:23:43.52
We call them boat
people here in Australia,
00:23:43.55\00:23:46.22
or refugees in
other parts of the world.
00:23:46.25\00:23:48.76
They risk life and
limb to leave their homes
00:23:48.79\00:23:52.59
where there is war,
where there is lawlessness,
00:23:52.63\00:23:56.03
where there is oppression,
where there is religious
00:23:56.06\00:23:58.90
and political persecution
in order to go to a country
00:23:58.93\00:24:03.44
where they can have
pace, where there are laws,
00:24:03.47\00:24:08.78
where there is a
freedom to worship,
00:24:08.81\00:24:11.98
and freedom to
have political rights
00:24:12.01\00:24:14.62
and so on and so forth.
00:24:14.65\00:24:16.05
So today, we live in a
country that is blessed
00:24:16.08\00:24:19.99
because of our laws
because of our constitution.
00:24:20.02\00:24:22.62
And so the commandments of God
are the constitution of heaven.
00:24:22.66\00:24:27.80
We will
discover the constitution
00:24:27.83\00:24:29.76
of the very universe.
00:24:29.80\00:24:31.83
Now let's take a look,
a closer look at this idea
00:24:31.87\00:24:36.44
the Bible shares
that God is love.
00:24:36.47\00:24:40.01
On one particular occasion,
00:24:40.04\00:24:42.14
we discover in Matthew 22:36-40,
00:24:42.18\00:24:46.05
a religious lawyer, an
expert in the law of Moses,
00:24:46.08\00:24:50.95
in particular,
the Ten Commandments,
00:24:50.99\00:24:53.15
he came to
Jesus on one occasion,
00:24:53.19\00:24:55.92
and this is
what Matthew records,
00:24:55.96\00:24:58.83
"Teacher is what he asked,
00:24:58.86\00:25:01.06
which is the great
commandment in the law,"
00:25:01.10\00:25:03.80
and he's speaking
of the Ten Commandments
00:25:03.83\00:25:05.23
in particular.
00:25:05.27\00:25:06.60
"And Jesus said to him,
'You shall love the Lord
00:25:06.63\00:25:08.74
your God with all your
heart, with all your soul,
00:25:08.77\00:25:11.14
and with all your mind.'
00:25:11.17\00:25:12.51
This is the first
and great commandment.
00:25:12.54\00:25:14.78
And the second is like it,
00:25:14.81\00:25:16.71
'You shall love your
neighbor as yourself.'
00:25:16.75\00:25:19.51
On these two
commandments hang all the law
00:25:19.55\00:25:22.98
and the prophets.'"
00:25:23.02\00:25:24.69
This is a very
powerful scripture.
00:25:24.72\00:25:26.92
Here, Jesus
summarized the entirety
00:25:26.96\00:25:31.59
of not only who He is,
00:25:31.63\00:25:34.13
not only what His
aim is for humanity,
00:25:34.16\00:25:37.70
but what God's plan
is for the entire world
00:25:37.73\00:25:42.74
in order for there to be peace,
00:25:42.77\00:25:44.67
happiness, joy, and security.
00:25:44.71\00:25:47.94
Let's unpack this.
00:25:47.98\00:25:50.31
Firstly, the Bible
tells us that God is love.
00:25:50.35\00:25:54.18
That's what the
Bible says, God is love.
00:25:54.22\00:25:55.88
1 John 4:8, Jesus said,
00:25:55.92\00:25:58.42
"You show the love of God
00:25:58.45\00:26:00.59
by showing love towards God,
00:26:00.62\00:26:02.32
love the Lord your
God with all your heart,
00:26:02.36\00:26:04.23
and love your
neighbor as yourself."
00:26:04.26\00:26:06.09
Love towards God,
00:26:06.13\00:26:07.46
love towards your
fellow human being.
00:26:07.50\00:26:10.53
Well, how do we
show love towards God?
00:26:10.57\00:26:12.50
We show love towards God
00:26:12.53\00:26:14.20
by keeping those
first four commandments.
00:26:14.24\00:26:16.74
How do we show love
towards one another?
00:26:16.77\00:26:19.14
By keeping the
next six commandments
00:26:19.17\00:26:21.58
which pertain
to our relationship
00:26:21.61\00:26:23.55
with one another.
00:26:23.58\00:26:24.91
Well, what did Jesus say on
these two hang all the what?
00:26:24.95\00:26:28.72
All the law and the prophets.
00:26:28.75\00:26:31.09
Now what are all the
law and the prophets?
00:26:31.12\00:26:33.32
That's the
entirety of Scripture.
00:26:33.36\00:26:35.79
That's another way of
saying, the whole Bible.
00:26:35.82\00:26:38.73
So the whole
Bible is summed up in
00:26:38.76\00:26:43.93
love the Lord your
God with all your heart,
00:26:43.97\00:26:46.57
and love your
neighbor as yourself,
00:26:46.60\00:26:49.14
which shared in more
detail in those first four,
00:26:49.17\00:26:54.18
and in the last six commandments
00:26:54.21\00:26:55.94
on those two tablets of stone.
00:26:55.98\00:26:58.08
So can you see this
entirety of God's law?
00:26:58.11\00:27:01.78
This is the very foundation
of not only the universe,
00:27:01.82\00:27:06.45
but this is the very
foundation for happiness,
00:27:06.49\00:27:09.32
peace and security.
00:27:09.36\00:27:12.43
As we continue, we
discover that God gave us
00:27:12.46\00:27:17.17
the Ten Commandments,
00:27:17.20\00:27:18.53
and He wrote them on
two tablets of stone,
00:27:18.57\00:27:22.47
and He wrote them
with His very own finger,
00:27:22.50\00:27:26.78
and He placed them in the ark,
00:27:26.81\00:27:30.45
the Ark of the Covenant.
00:27:30.48\00:27:33.31
This was to be placed
in the most holy place.
00:27:33.35\00:27:37.95
It was placed in
the most holy place
00:27:37.99\00:27:39.62
there in the sanctuary,
00:27:39.65\00:27:41.56
and the Ark of the Covenant
00:27:41.59\00:27:43.19
represented the very
throne room of heaven.
00:27:43.22\00:27:47.13
We have these two angels
that represent the two cherubim
00:27:47.16\00:27:52.40
that are there
by the throne of God
00:27:52.43\00:27:54.40
and they are there
00:27:54.44\00:27:58.31
kneeling in this
artist's depiction
00:27:58.34\00:28:02.41
on what is the mercy seat,
00:28:02.44\00:28:04.05
the lid of the
Ark of the Covenant,
00:28:04.08\00:28:05.91
which is the mercy seat,
00:28:05.95\00:28:07.42
and inside the
Ark of the Covenant,
00:28:07.45\00:28:10.15
we have the Ten Commandments.
00:28:10.19\00:28:12.49
We have these
two tablets of stone
00:28:12.52\00:28:15.72
that God Himself wrote
with His very own finger.
00:28:15.76\00:28:20.43
That's significant,
00:28:20.46\00:28:21.80
the Ten Commandments
are that significant
00:28:21.83\00:28:23.40
that God wrote with
His very own finger.
00:28:23.43\00:28:26.07
They call
commandments for a reason.
00:28:26.10\00:28:28.30
They're not the 10 good ideas.
00:28:28.34\00:28:30.47
They're not the
10 recommendations.
00:28:30.51\00:28:32.64
They're not the 10 suggestions,
they are the Ten Commandments.
00:28:32.67\00:28:36.58
That is because they
are extremely important
00:28:36.61\00:28:38.91
and there is no
other place in Scripture
00:28:38.95\00:28:44.42
where God with His
very own hand writes
00:28:44.45\00:28:48.69
on tablets of stone
00:28:48.72\00:28:50.66
instructions for the human race.
00:28:50.69\00:28:52.86
And why do we
write things on stone?
00:28:52.89\00:28:55.06
That's because we want
that to remain forever,
00:28:55.10\00:28:57.30
isn't that right?
00:28:57.33\00:28:58.67
I have been to the
Middle East on two occasions,
00:28:58.70\00:29:01.57
and there are inscriptions
from thousands of years ago
00:29:01.60\00:29:06.07
that are still to this day,
00:29:06.11\00:29:10.48
and these inscriptions
00:29:10.51\00:29:12.11
give the history and
messages from the past,
00:29:12.15\00:29:15.78
because they
were to be remembered
00:29:15.82\00:29:18.59
and to remain for a long time.
00:29:18.62\00:29:22.76
Now there is huge significance
to these Ten Commandments.
00:29:22.79\00:29:26.86
There was a time
00:29:26.90\00:29:28.23
when I used to
believe and think that
00:29:28.26\00:29:31.67
when God wrote on
those Ten Commandments,
00:29:31.70\00:29:34.74
He wrote on two tablets of stone
00:29:34.77\00:29:37.84
from Mount Sinai
that Moses handed to God.
00:29:37.87\00:29:42.68
And He wrote on
those two tablets of stone,
00:29:42.71\00:29:45.51
and then passed
them back to Moses.
00:29:45.55\00:29:47.98
In fact, a few years ago,
when I had the opportunity
00:29:48.02\00:29:51.55
of going to what is called
a traditional Mount Sinai,
00:29:51.59\00:29:56.56
the place there in
Egypt on the Sinai Peninsula,
00:29:56.59\00:29:59.73
place called St. Catherine's,
I picked up a stone.
00:29:59.76\00:30:03.67
This is from the
traditional mountain
00:30:03.70\00:30:06.50
where many believe,
00:30:06.53\00:30:09.07
we're not sure, the
mountain and where it exactly is
00:30:09.10\00:30:13.91
that Moses received
the Ten Commandments,
00:30:13.94\00:30:15.71
but I picked up a stone
and I used to think that
00:30:15.74\00:30:19.05
the Ten Commandments
were placed on stone
00:30:19.08\00:30:23.42
similar to this.
00:30:23.45\00:30:26.49
Until one day I discovered
00:30:26.52\00:30:28.96
where the
original Ten Commandments
00:30:28.99\00:30:31.56
in fact came from.
00:30:31.59\00:30:32.99
Let me share with you something
00:30:33.03\00:30:34.86
absolutely incredible.
00:30:34.90\00:30:37.23
Let's go to the Book
of Exodus, Exodus, 24:9.
00:30:37.27\00:30:41.20
Exodus 24:9 and
notice these words,
00:30:41.24\00:30:44.94
"Then Moses went up,"
00:30:44.97\00:30:47.08
this is God inviting
Moses to go up to the mountain,
00:30:47.11\00:30:50.38
to receive the Ten Commandments.
00:30:50.41\00:30:52.51
And he went up also
Aaron, Nadab and Abihu,
00:30:52.55\00:30:55.68
and seventy of
the elders of Israel,
00:30:55.72\00:31:00.19
and they saw the God of Israel.
00:31:00.22\00:31:02.39
And there was under His feet
00:31:02.42\00:31:04.33
as it were a paved
work of sapphire stone,
00:31:04.36\00:31:08.46
and it was like the very heavens
00:31:08.50\00:31:10.80
in its clarity."
00:31:10.83\00:31:12.23
So here, what the
Bible is describing
00:31:12.27\00:31:15.67
is this
sapphire stone that Moses
00:31:15.70\00:31:20.91
and those that
were with him saw,
00:31:20.94\00:31:23.41
and they say
that it was as clear
00:31:23.45\00:31:25.75
as the heavens.
00:31:25.78\00:31:27.42
Now what color is the heaven?
00:31:27.45\00:31:29.52
When you look up
when there are no clouds?
00:31:29.55\00:31:30.99
What color is it?
00:31:31.02\00:31:32.35
Blue, and there's
plenty of blue sky today,
00:31:32.39\00:31:34.66
when I left home,
it was all blue sky,
00:31:34.69\00:31:36.32
not a cloud in the sky.
00:31:36.36\00:31:37.86
Blue.
00:31:37.89\00:31:39.23
And we know that blue
is a significant color
00:31:39.26\00:31:42.76
when it comes to sapphire stone,
00:31:42.80\00:31:44.87
it's one of the most treasured,
00:31:44.90\00:31:46.37
one of the most expensive
sapphire stones is blue,
00:31:46.40\00:31:49.60
the color of royalty.
00:31:49.64\00:31:51.31
Well, let's continue on
and let's take a look at
00:31:51.34\00:31:53.98
what Ezekiel has to say,
00:31:54.01\00:31:56.44
as we put a couple
more pieces together.
00:31:56.48\00:31:58.65
Ezekiel says and
he is also in vision,
00:31:58.68\00:32:01.08
well, he is in
vision and he says,
00:32:01.12\00:32:02.85
"And there in the firmament
00:32:02.88\00:32:04.39
that was above the
head of the cherubim,"
00:32:04.42\00:32:06.96
is speaking of God's throne,
00:32:06.99\00:32:08.59
"there appeared something
like a sapphire stone,"
00:32:08.62\00:32:11.69
there are those words again,
00:32:11.73\00:32:13.29
"having the appearance
of the likeness of a throne.
00:32:13.33\00:32:17.43
So here Ezekiel
sees this sapphire stone
00:32:17.47\00:32:23.20
in the heavens that
appears like a throne.
00:32:23.24\00:32:27.34
Very interesting.
00:32:27.38\00:32:28.71
Now let's go back to Exodus
00:32:28.74\00:32:31.61
as we pick up the
rest of the story,
00:32:31.65\00:32:33.25
Exodus 24:12.
00:32:33.28\00:32:35.38
"Then the Lord said to Moses,
00:32:35.42\00:32:37.15
'Come up to Me on the
mountain and be there,
00:32:37.19\00:32:40.16
and I will give you tablets of,"
00:32:40.19\00:32:42.99
and I've included the
word the because the word the
00:32:43.02\00:32:45.96
is in the original,
00:32:45.99\00:32:47.40
it's not in the
New King James Version,
00:32:47.43\00:32:49.10
or the King James Version.
00:32:49.13\00:32:50.50
But I looked at the
New Living Translation,
00:32:50.53\00:32:52.13
and guess what?
00:32:52.17\00:32:53.50
It was there, they've
included that word the
00:32:53.54\00:32:55.17
which is in the original Hebrew.
00:32:55.20\00:32:57.34
"The stone and
the law and commanded
00:32:57.37\00:33:00.11
which I have written,
that you may teach them."
00:33:00.14\00:33:02.31
Now what so
significant about the?
00:33:02.34\00:33:06.11
What's
significant about the is that,
00:33:06.15\00:33:08.98
that the is in
reference to the stone
00:33:09.02\00:33:13.36
that Moses has
seen and that stone
00:33:13.39\00:33:17.29
is that sapphire
stone as clear as the what?
00:33:17.33\00:33:22.53
As clear as the heavens,
that blue sapphire stone.
00:33:22.56\00:33:25.87
So this was news to
me, and this was huge
00:33:25.90\00:33:29.00
and absolutely
huge spiritual insight
00:33:29.04\00:33:33.51
that I received that God,
00:33:33.54\00:33:35.14
those very first commandments
00:33:35.18\00:33:38.25
God wrote on tablets of stone
00:33:38.28\00:33:41.92
from His very throne room,
00:33:41.95\00:33:45.22
blue sapphire throne room,
00:33:45.25\00:33:48.72
God chiseled out of
his very throne room,
00:33:48.76\00:33:51.69
two tablets of sapphire
stone, blue sapphire stone,
00:33:51.73\00:33:56.53
He wrote His
law of love on them,
00:33:56.56\00:33:59.23
and He passed
them down to Moses.
00:33:59.27\00:34:04.37
Isn't that incredible?
00:34:04.41\00:34:07.28
That is so
incredible, absolutely amazing.
00:34:07.31\00:34:10.48
Let me share with you a
scripture from Hebrews 1:8,
00:34:10.51\00:34:15.12
"Your throne, O God," is what?
00:34:15.15\00:34:18.25
"Forever and ever."
00:34:18.29\00:34:20.52
This tells us that God's law
is to remain forever and ever.
00:34:20.56\00:34:24.59
And here's another
scripture, Luke 16:17.
00:34:24.63\00:34:28.06
"And it is easier for
heaven and earth to pass away,
00:34:28.10\00:34:30.53
said Jesus,
00:34:30.57\00:34:31.90
than for one tittle
of the law to fail."
00:34:31.93\00:34:35.44
This is the eternal law
of God and David in Psalm,
00:34:35.47\00:34:40.78
he shares that
00:34:40.81\00:34:42.14
all of God's
commandments are sure,
00:34:42.18\00:34:44.45
they last forever and ever.
00:34:44.48\00:34:47.98
In Numbers Chapter
15, Moses gave directions
00:34:48.02\00:34:52.05
based on God's Word of
what the children of Israel
00:34:52.09\00:34:55.36
were to sew on the
tassels of their garments,
00:34:55.39\00:34:58.16
okay, on their clothing
that they wore each day.
00:34:58.19\00:35:00.86
Notice these words
in Numbers 15:37-41.
00:35:00.90\00:35:06.17
"Again the Lord
spoke to Moses saying,
00:35:06.20\00:35:08.40
"Speak to the
children of Israel,
00:35:08.44\00:35:10.11
Tell them to make tassels
00:35:10.14\00:35:11.67
on the corners of their garments
00:35:11.71\00:35:13.64
throughout their generations,
00:35:13.68\00:35:15.21
and to put a blue
thread, notice the color,
00:35:15.24\00:35:18.51
a blue thread in the
tassels of the corners."
00:35:18.55\00:35:21.32
Let's continue.
00:35:21.35\00:35:23.42
"And you shall have the tassel,
00:35:23.45\00:35:25.05
that you may look
upon it and remember
00:35:25.09\00:35:27.49
all the commandments of the Lord
00:35:27.52\00:35:29.26
and do them, and that you
may not follow the harlotry
00:35:29.29\00:35:32.49
to which your own heart
and your own eyes are inclined,
00:35:32.53\00:35:36.13
and that you may remember
and do all My commandments,
00:35:36.16\00:35:38.93
and be holy for your God.
00:35:38.97\00:35:40.90
I am the Lord your God,
00:35:40.94\00:35:42.27
who brought you out
of the land of Egypt,
00:35:42.30\00:35:44.31
to be your God, I
am the Lord your God.'"
00:35:44.34\00:35:47.51
So what were the
children of Israel to do?
00:35:47.54\00:35:49.71
They were to sew blue thread
00:35:49.74\00:35:52.95
on the tassels
of their garments.
00:35:52.98\00:35:55.08
So as they walked,
wherever they walked,
00:35:55.12\00:35:58.09
they would
remember the law of God,
00:35:58.12\00:36:00.72
that law of love
that was to be a blessing,
00:36:00.76\00:36:04.03
that law of love that
was to offer them peace,
00:36:04.06\00:36:06.70
and happiness and to
be for their good always.
00:36:06.73\00:36:09.73
When the children of
Israel walked out of their tents
00:36:09.76\00:36:12.43
in the morning,
00:36:12.47\00:36:13.80
and they looked
up into the heavens,
00:36:13.84\00:36:15.50
and they could just see
the beautiful blue heavens
00:36:15.54\00:36:19.91
that were to be
reminded of God's law of love,
00:36:19.94\00:36:23.31
that law of love of protection,
00:36:23.35\00:36:26.21
that law of love
that provides blessings,
00:36:26.25\00:36:28.75
that law of love that
provides for everything
00:36:28.78\00:36:33.66
that is to be for
their good always,
00:36:33.69\00:36:35.99
and I want to
thank God and praise Him
00:36:36.02\00:36:38.39
that they are
encircled, encircled by the law,
00:36:38.43\00:36:42.70
which is the character,
which is the love of God,
00:36:42.73\00:36:46.90
encircled by the love
of God each and every day.
00:36:49.94\00:36:55.54
That's what
God's law is all about.
00:36:55.58\00:36:57.68
It tells us that we
have a solid foundation.
00:36:57.71\00:37:00.38
It tells us that
00:37:00.42\00:37:01.75
we come from a God who loves us.
00:37:01.78\00:37:03.32
We come from a God who
has given us instructions
00:37:03.35\00:37:07.09
on how we can enjoy
the best possible life
00:37:07.12\00:37:10.03
in the here and now
00:37:10.06\00:37:11.39
and be part of His
everlasting kingdom of love,
00:37:11.43\00:37:14.06
where His love will reign
00:37:14.10\00:37:16.63
supreme forevermore.
00:37:16.67\00:37:21.10
Lawlessness leads
to what, said Toynbee?
00:37:21.14\00:37:24.87
Destruction.
00:37:24.91\00:37:27.11
God's law leads to love,
00:37:27.14\00:37:31.65
prosperity, joy, happiness,
00:37:31.68\00:37:34.92
peace, and the list goes on.
00:37:34.95\00:37:40.16
Sadly, the children of Israel
00:37:40.19\00:37:44.03
did not follow
God's law of love,
00:37:44.06\00:37:46.39
they turned their
back on His law of love,
00:37:46.43\00:37:50.23
they turned away from the Lord
00:37:50.27\00:37:52.40
and sadly they were
taken into captivity.
00:37:52.43\00:37:55.54
The northern tribes or
the northern part of Israel,
00:37:55.57\00:37:58.84
the 10 northern tribes
00:37:58.87\00:38:00.21
were taken into
captivity in 722 BC,
00:38:00.24\00:38:03.98
followed by the southern
tribes Judah and Benjamin,
00:38:04.01\00:38:08.85
they were taken into
captivity by the Babylonians,
00:38:08.88\00:38:11.69
the northern
tribes by the Assyrians,
00:38:11.72\00:38:14.16
and the
Babylonians overthrew Jerusalem
00:38:14.19\00:38:16.89
and destroyed
the temple in 586 BC.
00:38:16.93\00:38:20.60
These words are very sad
00:38:20.63\00:38:23.33
that Isaiah pinned in
relation to God's people
00:38:23.37\00:38:27.97
walking away
from His law of love.
00:38:28.00\00:38:30.87
We read in Isaiah
48:18, "Oh, this is God.
00:38:30.91\00:38:35.28
This is God
crying for His people,
00:38:35.31\00:38:37.65
weeping over His people."
00:38:37.68\00:38:39.05
And these are the words of God,"
00:38:39.08\00:38:40.42
Oh, that you had
heeded My commandments!
00:38:40.45\00:38:43.28
Then your peace would
have been like a river,
00:38:43.32\00:38:46.12
and your righteousness
like the waves of the sea."
00:38:46.15\00:38:50.83
The reality of why
we have so much pain
00:38:50.86\00:38:54.10
and suffering today
00:38:54.13\00:38:55.63
is because we have walked
away from God's law of love.
00:38:55.66\00:38:58.97
That's the reason why
00:38:59.00\00:39:00.34
we have so much pain
and suffering in this world.
00:39:00.37\00:39:02.54
That is the reason
why there is so much pain
00:39:02.57\00:39:04.94
and heartache in families.
00:39:04.97\00:39:07.41
That is the reason
why there is just so much
00:39:07.44\00:39:11.35
of that which is
not God's plan for us,
00:39:11.38\00:39:13.72
because we have walked
away from God's law of love.
00:39:13.75\00:39:17.45
Therefore, today, God
is calling the world back
00:39:17.49\00:39:21.86
to the Ten Commandments.
00:39:21.89\00:39:24.63
Today,
00:39:24.66\00:39:27.60
the Ten
Commandments define and protect
00:39:27.63\00:39:30.60
our most precious relationships.
00:39:30.63\00:39:32.60
Notice, the
first four commandments
00:39:32.63\00:39:35.90
protect our
relationship with God.
00:39:35.94\00:39:39.61
And the next six,
00:39:39.64\00:39:41.61
the last six
protect our relationships
00:39:41.64\00:39:43.75
with one another.
00:39:43.78\00:39:45.11
You see God's commandments
00:39:45.15\00:39:46.51
are all about
protecting relationships,
00:39:46.55\00:39:50.35
our relationship with God
00:39:50.39\00:39:52.09
and our
relationship with one another.
00:39:52.12\00:39:54.56
And I don't know
about you, but for me
00:39:54.59\00:39:57.59
the most important thing in life
00:39:57.63\00:39:59.09
is relationships.
00:39:59.13\00:40:00.96
That's more
important than my home
00:40:01.00\00:40:03.20
that the bank owns anyway.
00:40:03.23\00:40:04.77
That's more
important than my car.
00:40:04.80\00:40:06.97
That's more important
than anything else I have.
00:40:07.00\00:40:10.91
My relationship with my wife,
00:40:10.94\00:40:12.61
my relationship
with my daughters,
00:40:12.64\00:40:14.34
my relationship with my parents,
00:40:14.38\00:40:16.04
my relationship with
my other family members,
00:40:16.08\00:40:18.35
my relationship
with my neighbors,
00:40:18.38\00:40:19.98
with my friends,
with my church family,
00:40:20.02\00:40:22.12
my relationships
with people in general,
00:40:22.15\00:40:25.25
that is what matters most.
00:40:25.29\00:40:27.82
And the Ten Commandments
have been given by God
00:40:27.86\00:40:32.09
to protect and affirm
00:40:32.13\00:40:36.43
and prosper
00:40:36.46\00:40:39.20
the most important thing in life
00:40:39.23\00:40:41.67
and that is
relationship between God and you
00:40:41.70\00:40:45.97
and between you
and your fellow man.
00:40:46.01\00:40:50.65
I wanna share with
you an interesting point
00:40:50.68\00:40:53.92
regarding the way
the Ten Commandments
00:40:53.95\00:40:56.42
have been set out.
00:40:56.45\00:40:58.25
If you take a
look at the first four,
00:40:58.29\00:41:00.39
the first four
commandments take a look at
00:41:00.42\00:41:03.09
and focus in on our
relationship with God.
00:41:03.12\00:41:06.83
The next commandment,
00:41:06.86\00:41:08.20
commandment number five
focuses on the relationship
00:41:08.23\00:41:12.47
between the
immediate family members,
00:41:12.50\00:41:16.24
mother, father,
00:41:16.27\00:41:17.61
and children,
family, that's next.
00:41:17.64\00:41:20.48
Then we have the
next four commandments,
00:41:20.51\00:41:24.35
commandments
number 6, 7, 8 and 9,
00:41:24.38\00:41:26.95
they're focused
on our relationship
00:41:26.98\00:41:28.82
with one another.
00:41:28.85\00:41:30.19
And then finally,
commandment number 10
00:41:30.22\00:41:32.09
is dealing with our
attitude toward our possessions.
00:41:32.12\00:41:36.29
Okay, this is the order that
God has given the commandments
00:41:36.32\00:41:39.93
from top to bottom.
00:41:39.96\00:41:41.30
God, family, others,
possessions that order
00:41:41.33\00:41:45.67
and notice when we
are following God's order,
00:41:45.70\00:41:49.50
which way are we heading?
00:41:49.54\00:41:51.57
We're heading up?
Can you see the arrow?
00:41:51.61\00:41:54.21
Yes or no. Who
can see the arrow?
00:41:54.24\00:41:56.34
Okay.
00:41:56.38\00:41:58.51
The arrow, it's pointing up.
00:41:58.55\00:42:00.62
Society is moving up.
00:42:00.65\00:42:03.22
You see, our societies
00:42:03.25\00:42:04.95
are only as
strong as their families.
00:42:04.99\00:42:09.79
The family unit
is the very basic
00:42:09.82\00:42:12.86
and the foundational
framework for a happy
00:42:12.89\00:42:16.43
and a prosperous society.
00:42:16.46\00:42:17.80
As goes the
family, so goes society.
00:42:17.83\00:42:21.24
Sadly, we have
turned our back on God,
00:42:21.27\00:42:23.37
and sadly we are
turning our back on family.
00:42:23.41\00:42:26.47
But notice how the enemy
00:42:26.51\00:42:27.94
has turned
God's Ten Commandments
00:42:27.98\00:42:29.84
and God's
priority list upside down.
00:42:29.88\00:42:33.11
We have possessions
on top for many people,
00:42:33.15\00:42:37.75
isn't that right?
00:42:37.79\00:42:39.12
People are willing to
sacrifice health, family,
00:42:39.15\00:42:43.22
whatever the case may
be in order to prosper
00:42:43.26\00:42:47.50
in their careers or finances
or whatever the case may be.
00:42:47.53\00:42:51.53
And then others,
00:42:51.57\00:42:53.10
others with the
time that's available.
00:42:53.13\00:42:56.27
Family, well, who needs family?
00:42:56.30\00:42:57.84
Who needs to worry
about grandparents?
00:42:57.87\00:42:59.91
I mean, why worry
about grandparents,
00:42:59.94\00:43:02.14
just stick them in
some nursing home and...
00:43:02.18\00:43:05.75
I mean, what use of grandparents
00:43:05.78\00:43:07.72
got to anyone today?
00:43:07.75\00:43:10.89
That's how a
lot of people think,
00:43:10.92\00:43:12.52
and I'm speaking
from people that I know.
00:43:12.55\00:43:15.79
Then there is family.
00:43:15.82\00:43:20.10
Well, we talked about
that and then finally God.
00:43:20.13\00:43:23.53
What's the point
of God in your life?
00:43:23.57\00:43:25.20
We don't need God today.
00:43:25.23\00:43:26.74
Why do we need God,
we've got everything.
00:43:26.77\00:43:29.40
And as you can say
the arrow is heading south
00:43:29.44\00:43:32.81
when our priorities
get tipped upside down
00:43:32.84\00:43:36.31
as individuals and as a society,
00:43:36.34\00:43:38.81
we head down.
00:43:38.85\00:43:40.68
The Ten
Commandments are God's standard
00:43:40.72\00:43:44.45
in the judgment.
00:43:44.49\00:43:45.99
Notice what we read
in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.
00:43:46.02\00:43:51.29
Solomon at the end of
his will and testimony
00:43:51.33\00:43:55.06
in the Book of Ecclesiastes,
00:43:55.10\00:43:56.77
he sums up what
is most important,
00:43:56.80\00:43:59.10
and he shares these words,
00:43:59.13\00:44:00.47
"Let us hear the conclusion
of the whole matter, Fear God,"
00:44:00.50\00:44:03.71
there are those words again,
00:44:03.74\00:44:05.54
from the Book
of Revelation 14:7,
00:44:05.57\00:44:08.84
that we looked at earlier,
00:44:08.88\00:44:10.21
"Fear God and
keep His commandments,
00:44:10.25\00:44:12.25
for this is man's all.
00:44:12.28\00:44:13.62
For God will bring
every work into judgment,
00:44:13.65\00:44:15.68
including every secret
thing whether good or evil."
00:44:15.72\00:44:19.05
So what matters
most is to put God first,
00:44:19.09\00:44:22.42
to put His law of love
first and foremost in your life
00:44:22.46\00:44:25.43
and then you will prosper
in harmony with God's plan
00:44:25.46\00:44:29.56
and God's will for your life.
00:44:29.60\00:44:31.93
Well, the
question needs to be asked,
00:44:31.97\00:44:33.77
can I be saved by
keeping God's law?
00:44:33.80\00:44:37.67
That's a good question.
00:44:37.71\00:44:39.04
Let's find out
what the Bible says.
00:44:39.07\00:44:41.28
We read in Ephesians
2:8-9, the Apostle Paul writes,
00:44:41.31\00:44:45.38
"For by grace you have
been saved through faith,
00:44:45.41\00:44:48.55
and that not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God,
00:44:48.58\00:44:51.92
not of works, lest
anyone should boast."
00:44:51.95\00:44:55.39
So we cannot be
saved by keeping God's law.
00:44:55.42\00:44:59.09
God's law is not
designed to save anyone.
00:44:59.13\00:45:03.47
We are saved as
the Apostle Paul writes
00:45:03.50\00:45:06.43
so succinctly and so clearly,
00:45:06.47\00:45:09.10
we are saved by
God's grace through faith,
00:45:09.14\00:45:14.44
not of ourselves,
it is the gift of God,
00:45:14.48\00:45:17.95
God's grace alone saves us.
00:45:17.98\00:45:22.45
So the question is,
00:45:22.48\00:45:24.59
what is the main purpose
of God's Ten Commandments?
00:45:24.62\00:45:28.56
If we cannot be
saved by keeping God's law,
00:45:28.59\00:45:31.39
then why bother?
00:45:31.43\00:45:32.76
And what's the purpose?
00:45:32.79\00:45:34.70
Well, let me share with you
what the Book of James shares
00:45:34.73\00:45:37.90
regarding what the main
purpose is for God's law.
00:45:37.93\00:45:41.64
The main
purpose for God's law is
00:45:41.67\00:45:44.41
to point us to our great need,
00:45:44.44\00:45:47.68
just as a mirror.
00:45:47.71\00:45:50.45
A mirror points out the mark,
00:45:50.48\00:45:54.25
the dirt in someone's face,
00:45:54.28\00:45:57.29
so too God's law
is like a mirror.
00:45:57.32\00:46:00.36
I didn't come up with that,
00:46:00.39\00:46:01.72
you can read
about that in James.
00:46:01.76\00:46:03.09
James talks about
God's law as a mirror.
00:46:03.12\00:46:07.20
It's there to help us
understand what we look like,
00:46:07.23\00:46:10.33
what our condition is,
that's why you go to a mirror,
00:46:10.37\00:46:12.60
isn't that right?
00:46:12.63\00:46:13.97
You go to the mirror,
00:46:14.00\00:46:15.34
especially if you
need to go to the mirror.
00:46:15.37\00:46:19.64
I was about to say something,
00:46:19.67\00:46:21.01
and I know I would
have got in trouble
00:46:21.04\00:46:22.38
so I just as well
that I contain myself.
00:46:22.41\00:46:26.82
You go to the mirror to
discover what you look like
00:46:26.85\00:46:31.39
and what needs to be addressed.
00:46:31.42\00:46:32.75
Isn't that right?
That's the purpose of a mirror.
00:46:32.79\00:46:35.09
A mirror doesn't clean you.
00:46:35.12\00:46:37.16
A mirror just simply states
the obvious and shares with you
00:46:37.19\00:46:41.56
what your
condition is and then you,
00:46:41.60\00:46:44.17
you take that water,
00:46:44.20\00:46:45.77
and you take the soap and
that's how you get cleaned.
00:46:45.80\00:46:50.17
That's how you get cleaned.
00:46:50.21\00:46:52.44
In the same way, God's
law is there to tell us
00:46:52.47\00:46:57.31
that we need Jesus,
that we desperately need Him,
00:46:57.35\00:47:01.05
we need His
precious blood to clean us,
00:47:01.08\00:47:03.59
to cleanse us
from all of our sins,
00:47:03.62\00:47:05.75
we need His robe
of righteousness,
00:47:05.79\00:47:07.79
that towel to clothe us.
00:47:07.82\00:47:11.59
We need Jesus to
take away that dirt,
00:47:11.63\00:47:13.86
that sin that only He can take.
00:47:13.90\00:47:16.56
And so God's law,
and without God's law,
00:47:16.60\00:47:20.67
we would not know
our true condition.
00:47:20.70\00:47:23.24
Without the law,
there would be no sin
00:47:23.27\00:47:25.77
'cause the Bible
very clearly says
00:47:25.81\00:47:27.98
that without the
law, there is no sin,
00:47:28.01\00:47:29.98
and we'll look at that scripture
00:47:30.01\00:47:31.35
in just a moment.
00:47:31.38\00:47:32.71
And without sin,
00:47:32.75\00:47:34.08
there would be no
need for a savior.
00:47:34.12\00:47:36.05
I wanna to go to
this next scripture,
00:47:36.08\00:47:38.65
and then I want to
unpack that just a little more.
00:47:38.69\00:47:40.96
In Romans 3:20,
the Apostle Paul says,
00:47:40.99\00:47:43.43
"Therefore by
the deeds of the law
00:47:43.46\00:47:45.39
no flesh will be
justified in His sight,
00:47:45.43\00:47:47.93
for by the law is
the knowledge of sin."
00:47:47.96\00:47:51.67
God's law helps us to know
00:47:51.70\00:47:54.54
what is right and what is wrong.
00:47:54.57\00:47:56.20
God's law enables us
to understand what is sin
00:47:56.24\00:48:00.61
and what is righteousness.
00:48:00.64\00:48:02.24
God's law is there designed
00:48:02.28\00:48:05.71
to point us to Jesus.
00:48:05.75\00:48:08.35
God's law is that mirror
and it points us to Jesus,
00:48:08.38\00:48:11.95
who cleanses us from
sin, and then helps us to know
00:48:11.99\00:48:15.76
how we ought to live our
life in harmony with God's will,
00:48:15.79\00:48:20.30
in harmony with
God's plans for our lives,
00:48:20.33\00:48:22.70
because God
ultimately wants us to prosper.
00:48:22.73\00:48:25.77
He ultimately wants
us to be successful.
00:48:25.80\00:48:28.40
He ultimately wants
us to be in good health.
00:48:28.44\00:48:30.91
He wants us to be happy.
00:48:30.94\00:48:32.77
That is God's ultimate plan.
00:48:32.81\00:48:34.44
So the law of God
says to point us to Christ.
00:48:34.48\00:48:37.31
And if we did not
have the law of God,
00:48:37.35\00:48:41.32
we would not
realize that we are sinners.
00:48:41.35\00:48:44.62
And we would not realize
00:48:44.65\00:48:46.52
that we need a
sin pardoning savior.
00:48:46.55\00:48:48.49
And we would have no
idea and we would not realize
00:48:48.52\00:48:51.76
that we need Jesus.
00:48:51.79\00:48:53.19
The law is absolutely essential.
00:48:53.23\00:48:55.20
Without the law,
00:48:55.23\00:48:56.70
there ultimately is
no need for a savior.
00:48:56.73\00:48:59.73
And so that is
00:48:59.77\00:49:01.27
the absolute foundational
importance of God's law.
00:49:01.30\00:49:07.18
Notice,
00:49:07.21\00:49:09.74
"For those who love God,
00:49:09.78\00:49:12.01
keeping His
commandments is not a burden,
00:49:12.05\00:49:14.62
but a blessing."
00:49:14.65\00:49:15.98
Notice what we read,
00:49:16.02\00:49:17.95
in 1 John 5:2-3,
00:49:17.99\00:49:21.92
"By this, writes John,
00:49:21.96\00:49:24.13
we know that we
love the children of God,
00:49:24.16\00:49:26.66
when we love God and
keep His commandments.
00:49:26.70\00:49:30.10
For this is the love of God,
that we keep His commandments,
00:49:30.13\00:49:33.94
and His commandments
are not burdensome."
00:49:33.97\00:49:36.84
When you love someone,
00:49:36.87\00:49:39.64
when you love someone,
00:49:39.67\00:49:42.88
you honor them,
you're loyal to them.
00:49:42.91\00:49:47.22
You're even
willing to fulfill the vows
00:49:47.25\00:49:50.75
you have made to
that special someone
00:49:50.79\00:49:53.22
not because you have to,
not because it's a burden,
00:49:53.25\00:49:56.32
but because you love
them, isn't that right?
00:49:56.36\00:49:58.79
You count it a
blessing, you count it a joy,
00:49:58.83\00:50:01.36
because you're in
love with that person.
00:50:01.40\00:50:03.97
And so those who honor God,
00:50:04.00\00:50:07.20
those who keep His commandments,
00:50:07.24\00:50:09.17
they do it not as a burden,
00:50:09.20\00:50:11.81
not as a requirement,
but they do it out of love,
00:50:11.84\00:50:15.38
out of loyalty and the greatest,
00:50:15.41\00:50:19.45
the absolute
greatest sign of loyalty
00:50:19.48\00:50:25.09
and love is obedience.
00:50:25.12\00:50:27.12
That's the greatest sign.
00:50:27.16\00:50:29.06
And that's why two
people, when they get married,
00:50:29.09\00:50:32.66
they will exchange
vows and those wedding vows
00:50:32.69\00:50:37.40
declared before one another
00:50:37.43\00:50:39.73
declared before many
witnesses are precious
00:50:39.77\00:50:44.37
because those wedding vows
00:50:44.41\00:50:46.11
are signs of
loyalty and commitment,
00:50:46.14\00:50:49.91
and genuine love for one another
00:50:49.94\00:50:51.85
that is lived
out through actions
00:50:51.88\00:50:54.22
and not just
00:50:54.25\00:50:58.29
talk, talk, talk.
00:50:58.32\00:50:59.65
Isn't that right?
00:50:59.69\00:51:01.82
What do they say?
Actions speak louder than what?
00:51:01.86\00:51:04.89
Words.
00:51:04.93\00:51:06.46
And often
you'll hear people say,
00:51:06.49\00:51:08.26
well, you know, put
your money where you are,
00:51:08.30\00:51:12.63
where your mouth
is, exactly right.
00:51:12.67\00:51:14.87
So we know that actions
speak louder than words.
00:51:14.90\00:51:19.84
Where does God want
to place His law of love?
00:51:19.87\00:51:23.01
Notice what we read
in the Book of Hebrews.
00:51:23.04\00:51:26.41
Hebrews 8:10, God says,
00:51:26.45\00:51:28.88
"I will put my
laws in their mind
00:51:28.92\00:51:31.35
and write them on their hearts,
00:51:31.39\00:51:33.25
and I will be their God
and they shall be My people."
00:51:33.29\00:51:36.83
God wants to
place His law of love
00:51:36.86\00:51:40.06
in our hearts.
00:51:40.10\00:51:41.70
We say unless God's law
of love is in our hearts,
00:51:41.73\00:51:44.80
we will never genuinely obey God
00:51:44.83\00:51:48.04
from the right motive.
00:51:48.07\00:51:49.97
And the motive for obedience
00:51:50.01\00:51:54.74
must always be love
00:51:54.78\00:51:57.71
not because we have to,
but because we're forced to,
00:51:57.75\00:52:01.35
but because we love
to, because we love God,
00:52:01.38\00:52:04.45
and we want to honor Him
00:52:04.49\00:52:05.85
and we want to have a
relationship with Him.
00:52:05.89\00:52:08.89
Revelation
describes God's faithful
00:52:08.92\00:52:11.19
end time people in these words.
00:52:11.23\00:52:13.66
We read in Revelation
12:17, "And the dragon,"
00:52:13.70\00:52:16.46
and the dragon here
is a symbol for Satan,
00:52:16.50\00:52:18.80
"was enraged with the woman."
00:52:18.83\00:52:20.30
And this is a
symbol of God's Church,
00:52:20.34\00:52:22.04
or God's people,
00:52:22.07\00:52:23.41
in particular at the
end of time as we discover.
00:52:23.44\00:52:25.91
"And he went to make war
with the rest or the remnant,
00:52:25.94\00:52:28.58
or those remaining
ones at the end of time
00:52:28.61\00:52:31.41
of her offspring,
00:52:31.45\00:52:32.78
who notice, keep
the commandments of God
00:52:32.81\00:52:35.35
and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ."
00:52:35.38\00:52:37.59
Who is the enemy angry
with most at the end of time?
00:52:37.62\00:52:42.22
He's angry with
those who are showing love
00:52:42.26\00:52:45.29
and loyalty to Jesus Christ.
00:52:45.33\00:52:49.26
Why?
00:52:49.30\00:52:50.63
Because he wants
to take them away
00:52:50.67\00:52:52.73
from that love and
loyalty they're showing to God,
00:52:52.77\00:52:55.80
to His Son, Jesus Christ.
00:52:55.84\00:52:57.54
And he wants to take away
00:52:57.57\00:52:59.11
that loyalty
that belongs to God,
00:52:59.14\00:53:01.31
and to His Son, and
place that love and loyalty
00:53:01.34\00:53:04.11
toward himself.
00:53:04.15\00:53:05.48
We read in
Revelation 14:12, these words,"
00:53:05.51\00:53:08.38
Here is the
patience of the saints."
00:53:08.42\00:53:10.95
These are God's end
time people described.
00:53:10.99\00:53:13.29
"Here are those who
keep the commandments of God
00:53:13.32\00:53:16.62
and the faith of Jesus."
00:53:16.66\00:53:18.76
Here they are spoken of,
again, God's end time people
00:53:18.79\00:53:22.93
who the devil hates, but
they are faithful to Jesus,
00:53:22.96\00:53:26.67
they keep His commandments
and they are patient saints.
00:53:26.70\00:53:30.81
We also read in
Revelation 22:14,
00:53:30.84\00:53:33.81
the last chapter in
the Book of Revelation,
00:53:33.84\00:53:36.28
these words.
00:53:36.31\00:53:38.18
Revelation 22:14,
00:53:38.21\00:53:40.48
"Blessed are those
who do His commandments
00:53:40.52\00:53:44.15
that they may have the
right to the tree of life
00:53:44.19\00:53:46.79
and may enter through
the gates into the city."
00:53:46.82\00:53:49.29
Notice, this is the
reason why the devil hates God's
00:53:49.32\00:53:52.29
end time people.
00:53:52.33\00:53:53.66
This is the reason why
00:53:53.70\00:53:55.26
the enemy doesn't want anyone
00:53:55.30\00:53:56.63
to keep God's commandments,
00:53:56.67\00:53:58.00
because those that love God
00:53:58.03\00:54:01.17
and keep His
commandments out of loyalty,
00:54:01.20\00:54:05.11
they will through Christ
make their way into the city,
00:54:05.14\00:54:10.61
into the New Jerusalem,
00:54:10.65\00:54:12.15
they will be saved
according to Revelation 22:14,
00:54:12.18\00:54:15.35
but notice who is on
the outside of the city.
00:54:15.38\00:54:18.35
Notice these words in verse 15.
00:54:18.39\00:54:19.92
We keep reading,
00:54:19.95\00:54:21.29
"But outside are
dogs and sorcerers,
00:54:21.32\00:54:23.46
and sexually immoral
and murderers and idolaters,
00:54:23.49\00:54:26.93
and whoever lives
and practices a lie."
00:54:26.96\00:54:31.03
Inside the city we have
00:54:31.07\00:54:32.47
God's
commandment keeping people,
00:54:32.50\00:54:34.80
outside the city
00:54:34.84\00:54:36.17
we have those who
are commandment breakers,
00:54:36.20\00:54:38.84
can you see that?
00:54:38.87\00:54:41.44
These individuals have chosen
to break God's commandments,
00:54:41.48\00:54:46.65
they have chosen not to
live their lives in harmony
00:54:46.68\00:54:50.12
with God's principles of love.
00:54:50.15\00:54:52.12
They have chosen to live
00:54:52.15\00:54:54.86
according to the
dictates of this world
00:54:54.89\00:55:00.16
according to the
constitution of the enemy,
00:55:00.20\00:55:04.53
who roams and who
influences this world
00:55:04.57\00:55:09.14
whose basic constitution
00:55:09.17\00:55:10.67
is if it feels good, just do it.
00:55:10.71\00:55:14.18
If it makes you
feel good, just do it.
00:55:14.21\00:55:16.54
Don't worry about the
consequences to yourself
00:55:16.58\00:55:18.81
or anyone else that
have chosen to live like that
00:55:18.85\00:55:22.02
and they will sadly be
outside the New Jerusalem.
00:55:22.05\00:55:27.36
Because only those who
want to live in harmony
00:55:27.39\00:55:30.86
with the law of God's
love will be inside that city
00:55:30.89\00:55:36.33
where there will be
peace, and happiness,
00:55:36.36\00:55:38.33
and joy forevermore.
00:55:38.37\00:55:40.84
Ultimately, our love for Jesus
00:55:40.87\00:55:44.44
will determine our
loyalty to God's law of love.
00:55:44.47\00:55:47.84
I want to finish off
with the words of Jesus,
00:55:47.88\00:55:50.35
where He writes,
where He says in John 14:15.
00:55:50.38\00:55:54.18
"If you love Me,
keep My commandments."
00:55:54.22\00:55:57.62
If you love Me,
keep My commandments.
00:55:57.65\00:56:01.19
That's what it's all about.
00:56:01.22\00:56:02.62
If you love Me,
keep My commandments.
00:56:02.66\00:56:05.16
Jesus asks, "Do you love Me?
00:56:05.19\00:56:08.36
Do you want to be
part of My kingdom?
00:56:08.40\00:56:10.53
Do you want to be
part of My kingdom
00:56:10.57\00:56:12.03
where there will
be no more separation?
00:56:12.07\00:56:15.87
Where there will
be no more suffering?
00:56:15.90\00:56:17.54
There'll be no more sorrow.
00:56:17.57\00:56:19.04
There'll be no more
death, divorce, destruction.
00:56:19.07\00:56:22.74
There'll be no more famine.
00:56:22.78\00:56:24.98
There'll be no more pain.
00:56:25.01\00:56:27.32
Do you want to
be part of a kingdom
00:56:27.35\00:56:29.22
where everyone will live in
harmony with My law of love,
00:56:29.25\00:56:33.46
love towards God
00:56:33.49\00:56:34.86
and eternal love
towards one another.
00:56:34.89\00:56:38.16
If you do, I'm inviting you.
00:56:38.19\00:56:40.66
Come and join me and
be part of My kingdom.
00:56:40.70\00:56:43.40
Is that your desire to be
part of that kind of kingdom?
00:56:43.43\00:56:46.90
If it is, I want to invite you
00:56:46.94\00:56:48.27
to bow your heads
with me as we pray.
00:56:48.30\00:56:50.34
Father in heaven,
we thank You so much
00:56:50.37\00:56:52.64
for Your law of love.
00:56:52.67\00:56:54.11
Thank You so much for
inviting us to be part
00:56:54.14\00:56:56.48
of Your
everlasting kingdom of love
00:56:56.51\00:56:58.81
that will rule forever more.
00:56:58.85\00:57:00.95
Oh, Father, may we all
find ourselves in Your kingdom
00:57:00.98\00:57:03.82
in that city on that
great and awesome day
00:57:03.85\00:57:06.39
when Jesus comes is
your prayer in His name.
00:57:06.42\00:57:08.92
Amen.
00:57:08.96\00:57:10.29