I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Removing pain
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Lord, let my words
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Heal a heart that hurts
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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Hello, and welcome
to 3ABN Family Worship.
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We just wanna say Happy Sabbath
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and we're so glad
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that you are
joining us for worship.
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This is probably my
favorite program to do
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because it's just laid back
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we get into the Word of God.
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And we hope that you
will enjoy this study tonight.
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Hope you've got
your Bible there.
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We're going to talk
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about the Kingdom
Law of Reciprocity.
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It's something important
that we should consider.
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But we have
family around the table.
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I'm Shelley Quinn.
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I'm JD.
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You wanna introduce the rest?
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Oh, most certainly,
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I love my dear
brothers and sisters in Christ.
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We have Jason over here.
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We have Gary, and we have Jill.
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We have Shelley and myself.
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And welcome to our table.
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Yes. Amen.
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And hopefully, we'll be going
to the Lord's Table to be fed.
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Honey, do you
wanna open with prayer?
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Yes.
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Father, as we
come to You once again,
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we just wanna thank You,
Lord, for Your many blessings.
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Father, we look to You for all.
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And, Father, as we just talk
about the topic of reciprocity.
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Father, we
cannot even go anywhere
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without thinking about You
and how You are in our life.
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And, Father, how all things
should revolve around You.
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So, Father, be with
us, take care of us,
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be with our family members,
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we give You praise and
glory in Jesus' name, amen.
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Amen. Amen.
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You know, aren't
you glad it's Sabbath?
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Amen. Amen.
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When the Sabbath rolls
around, it's like you can,
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you know, the Sabbath hours open
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and you can just
take a deep breath,
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and relax, and just
enjoy a time of refreshing
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in the presence of the Lord.
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Amen.
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And so we're going to start,
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we've got one more
person we need to introduce
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and that is Summer Boyd
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who is going to be
on the piano for us.
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We're going to sing a hymn
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out of the hymnal number 590
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"Trust and Obey."
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And we want you
to join in with us,
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drown us out if you will.
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We gonna make a
joyful noise to the Lord.
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When we walk with the Lord
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In the light of his word
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What a glory he
sheds on our way!
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While we do his good will
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He abides with us still
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And with all who
will trust and obey
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Trust and obey
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For there's no other way
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To be happy in Jesus
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But to trust and obey
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But we never can prove
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The delights of his love
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Until all on the altar we lay
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For the favor he shows
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And the joy he bestows
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Are for them who
will trust and obey
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Trust and obey
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For there's no other way
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To be happy in Jesus
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But to trust and obey
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And I love that song.
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Amen. Amen.
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And thank you,
Summer, for playing for us.
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And she is such a
precious thing in set.
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Amen.
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Actually, you're the one
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who taught her
to play the piano.
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That's right.
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I'm trying to think
if she was my very first.
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Were you my very
first piano student, Summer?
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She was my very
first piano student
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and she broke me.
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And you could say
because I was scared to death.
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I remember thinking I
don't know how to do this.
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And she was
such a great pianist.
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In fact, as I taught later
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parents would come and say,
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why isn't my kid
playing like Summers,
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so she kind of sets a standard.
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She did and she
set a high standard.
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Okay, tonight we're
talking about reciprocity,
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and that it is a kingdom law.
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And there's so many
scriptures in the Bible
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that indicate reciprocal actions
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and to reciprocate simply means
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that you respond to a gesture
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or an action
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with a
corresponding gesture or action.
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It's, you know, you've heard
the saying what goes around,
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comes around.
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That's kind of
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it's a mutual
exchange, reciprocity.
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And I wanted to set a
little foundation for this
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because I think it all
has to do with covenant.
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Amen.
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And first, let me read the
most interesting scripture.
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Turn to 2 Chronicles 15:2.
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2 Chronicles 15:2,
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"The Spirit of the
Lord has come on Azariah.
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And he goes out to meet Asa.
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And he says,
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'Hear me, Asa and
all Judah and Benjamin.
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The Lord is with you
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while you were with Him.
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If you seek Him,
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He will be found by you,
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but if you forsake Him,
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He will forsake you.' "
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So can you see?
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Does that look
like reciprocity to you?
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There's a reciprocal action.
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Anybody else want to jump in
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on the
definition of reciprocity?
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Your thought? Well,
it's a mutual exchange.
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Yeah.
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You know, there's
maybe cause effect
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or whatever it could be,
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you know, but it's
a back and forward.
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Something that stood out to me
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when I was studying this.
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And I don't know
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if it works with the
definition of reciprocity.
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But as I look and see
the reciprocal relationship
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we have with God the Father
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and how He gifts
to, give to us, right?
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And then we respond,
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but even our response is a gift.
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Amen. I mean, it's incredible.
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In that sense, it's not
even truly balanced, reciprocal,
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right?
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Because He gives to us,
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and then even for me
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to respond back
to Him in repentance
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or me to respond
back in whatever.
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It's a gift from
Him to respond back.
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So to me that's it's beautiful.
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It is beautiful.
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But I think it all
comes down to the idea,
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to me what reciprocity
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when we look at the
kingdom law of reciprocity.
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God is a covenant maker.
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God is a covenant keeper.
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When we enter
into covenant with God,
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all of the
promises are made by God.
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All He asks of us,
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the reciprocal
action is that we receive,
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and then that we
walk in covenant loyalty.
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And that is the...
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Because of our
covenant love for Him,
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we love Him because...
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He first loved
us. He first loved us.
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So and Jesus said,
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"If you love Me,
keep My commandments."
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So we walk in obedience.
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That's this covenant idea
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is that God
makes all the promises.
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And as you said,
Jill, that's perfect.
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Everything that
happens to us is by His grace,
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even obedience.
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Absolutely.
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So God makes the promises,
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we step in and just say,
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yes, I'll receive
salvation by grace,
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and I'm just so grateful,
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Lord, I'm gonna
let you change me.
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And we fall in love with Him.
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And then we walk in obedience,
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not to save ourselves,
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but because we love Him.
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Now there is this
kingdom principle.
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And it's very well
seen in Daniel 7:9.
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The way I say it
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and it kind of ties
into 2 Chronicles 15:2
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that we just read.
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But the way I look at it
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is God keeps covenant
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with those who
keep covenant with Him.
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That's the reciprocity.
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So let's look at.
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Jill, you want to
read Deuteronomy 7:9?
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Oh, I was in Daniel.
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I though
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where are we getting
reciprocity in Daniel.
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Did I say Daniel?
00:10:00.60\00:10:01.93
No doubt. No doubt. Yeah.
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Okay, so Deuteronomy, what?
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Deuteronomy 7:9.
00:10:04.70\00:10:07.20
Got it.
00:10:07.24\00:10:08.57
"Therefore know
that the Lord your God,
00:10:08.60\00:10:10.11
He is God, the faithful God
00:10:10.14\00:10:12.64
who keeps covenant
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and mercy for
thousand generations
00:10:14.04\00:10:16.58
with those who love Him
and keep His commandments."
00:10:16.61\00:10:19.68
Okay, what's the
reciprocal action?
00:10:19.71\00:10:23.52
We love Him and
keep His commandments.
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He's gonna keep
all His promises.
00:10:26.89\00:10:28.99
He keeps
covenant and mercy forever
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a thousand generations,
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and we love Him and
keep His commandments.
00:10:32.73\00:10:34.10
Yeah.
00:10:34.13\00:10:35.46
But yet He's the one
who gives us the love.
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And He's the one who
enables the commandment keeping.
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That's just beautiful. He
does all the heavy lifting.
00:10:39.30\00:10:41.87
It does say, does
all the heavy lifting.
00:10:41.90\00:10:43.61
So, you know,
00:10:43.64\00:10:44.97
when God announced a
covenant of grace with Abraham,
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and that's, you know,
I mean, that's obvious,
00:10:49.08\00:10:51.38
like, well, he
announced it in Genesis 3:15.
00:10:51.41\00:10:54.25
But we know that
Abraham believed God,
00:10:54.28\00:10:57.75
it was credited to
him as righteousness.
00:10:57.79\00:11:00.16
So that's
righteousness by faith,
00:11:00.19\00:11:02.29
which is the only kind
of righteousness there is.
00:11:02.32\00:11:05.83
But people will say,
00:11:05.86\00:11:08.20
"Okay, I'm saved by
grace through faith.
00:11:08.23\00:11:10.27
I don't have to
worry about obedience."
00:11:10.30\00:11:12.50
But it's interesting.
00:11:12.53\00:11:14.04
If you look at Genesis 26:5,
00:11:14.07\00:11:17.07
when God renewed the
covenant with Abraham son Isaac,
00:11:17.11\00:11:23.41
why did he renew it?
00:11:23.45\00:11:25.65
Because Abraham had
kept covenant with him.
00:11:25.68\00:11:28.55
Genesis 26:5,
00:11:28.58\00:11:31.15
it says, because Abraham
obeyed me kept my charge,
00:11:31.19\00:11:36.26
my covenants and my command.
00:11:36.29\00:11:38.69
So we know that
Jesus says to us,
00:11:38.73\00:11:43.00
in 1 John 2:5, Gary,
you wanna read that one?
00:11:43.03\00:11:45.60
1 John 2:5.
00:11:45.63\00:11:47.77
"But whoever keeps His Word,
00:11:47.80\00:11:50.07
truly the love of
God is perfected in him.
00:11:50.11\00:11:52.57
By this we know
that we are in Him."
00:11:52.61\00:11:54.98
So what's the reciprocal action?
00:11:55.01\00:11:58.01
We keep the word
and what happens?
00:11:58.05\00:12:01.58
He perfects love in our heart.
00:12:01.62\00:12:02.95
He perfects love in our heart
00:12:02.98\00:12:04.69
because that's what
His word is all about.
00:12:04.72\00:12:07.52
His character is love.
00:12:07.56\00:12:08.89
So, to me, that's just the idea
00:12:08.92\00:12:14.10
'cause everything
else we're gonna be looking
00:12:14.13\00:12:15.86
at are promises of God.
00:12:15.90\00:12:17.40
2 Corinthians 1:20 says,
00:12:17.43\00:12:19.23
"All of God's promises
are yes and amen for us,
00:12:19.27\00:12:22.77
in Christ Jesus."
00:12:22.80\00:12:24.54
We are new covenant Christians.
00:12:24.57\00:12:26.88
But God keeps
covenant with those
00:12:26.91\00:12:28.78
who keep covenant with Him.
00:12:28.81\00:12:31.11
His love is unconditional.
00:12:31.15\00:12:33.52
But His promises are
conditional on obedience.
00:12:33.55\00:12:37.82
So...
00:12:37.85\00:12:39.19
There's a temptation for people
00:12:39.22\00:12:40.56
to look at the subject
of reciprocity and say,
00:12:40.59\00:12:42.42
well, you're just
doing it to get something.
00:12:42.46\00:12:44.66
In fact, isn't that
what Satan accused the Job?
00:12:44.69\00:12:47.73
Oh, that's good.
00:12:47.76\00:12:49.10
That's a good
thought. Yeah, that is.
00:12:49.13\00:12:50.90
So what is it that
we're really talking about
00:12:50.93\00:12:52.93
what type of reciprocity?
00:12:52.97\00:12:54.34
I came across three different
types of reciprocities,
00:12:54.37\00:12:58.34
general reciprocity,
00:12:58.37\00:13:00.74
balanced reciprocity,
and negative reciprocity.
00:13:00.78\00:13:03.31
General, balanced...
00:13:03.35\00:13:04.68
General, balanced, and negative.
00:13:04.71\00:13:06.05
In general, sorry, generalized.
00:13:06.08\00:13:08.45
Generalized actually
has elements of altruism,
00:13:08.48\00:13:11.45
where you do it not to
get anything in return.
00:13:11.49\00:13:14.26
But it always comes back to you.
00:13:14.29\00:13:16.16
Yes. Okay.
00:13:16.19\00:13:17.53
That would be generalized.
00:13:17.56\00:13:18.89
And then balanced is when
00:13:18.93\00:13:20.83
you're, it's
equal, you give something
00:13:20.86\00:13:22.86
and you expect
something in return.
00:13:22.90\00:13:24.40
Sometimes in modern societies,
00:13:24.43\00:13:26.43
excuse me, people give gifts
00:13:26.47\00:13:27.84
and so they give a gift
and expect the gift in return.
00:13:27.87\00:13:30.24
And it has to be
the same size gift.
00:13:30.27\00:13:31.67
Exactly.
00:13:31.71\00:13:34.31
Have your thought that,
like, oh, they gave a big gift,
00:13:34.34\00:13:36.81
I better give something similar
as you feel almost guilty.
00:13:36.85\00:13:39.21
Yes.
00:13:39.25\00:13:40.58
So you feel like
it has to be balanced?
00:13:40.62\00:13:41.95
It does.
00:13:41.98\00:13:43.32
And then a negative one would be
00:13:43.35\00:13:44.69
as where one party
attempts to get more
00:13:44.72\00:13:46.05
out of the exchange than others.
00:13:46.09\00:13:47.42
And I think,
00:13:47.46\00:13:48.79
I think that's what
Satan was accusing Job of was,
00:13:48.82\00:13:51.59
well, he's only doing
it because You blessed him.
00:13:51.63\00:13:54.26
So I think, you know,
it'd be good to develop that.
00:13:54.30\00:13:57.27
You know, what is reciprocity
as far as the positive aspects,
00:13:57.30\00:14:00.74
you know, do we do it
just to get God's blessings?
00:14:00.77\00:14:04.34
Yeah, that's a good point.
00:14:04.37\00:14:06.51
Because a lot of people
feel like you give to get,
00:14:06.54\00:14:11.21
and we don't
always get in return,
00:14:11.25\00:14:14.05
like when, what is it?
00:14:14.08\00:14:15.58
Luke 6:38 says, "Give,
and it will be given to you,
00:14:15.62\00:14:18.22
good measure, pressed
down, shaken together."
00:14:18.25\00:14:21.29
But what, you know,
00:14:21.32\00:14:23.06
just because maybe I'm
generous toward the poor,
00:14:23.09\00:14:26.90
benevolent,
doesn't necessarily mean it
00:14:26.93\00:14:29.56
comes back to me that way.
00:14:29.60\00:14:32.03
But I do believe
God sees and blesses,
00:14:32.07\00:14:34.40
and it may be opportunity,
00:14:34.44\00:14:36.00
your harvest
could be opportunities,
00:14:36.04\00:14:38.01
it could be all kinds of things.
00:14:38.04\00:14:39.51
Yeah.
00:14:39.54\00:14:40.88
I think everything that we do
00:14:40.91\00:14:42.24
should be motivated by love.
00:14:42.28\00:14:43.75
Amen.
00:14:43.78\00:14:45.11
We shouldn't do things
in order to get something.
00:14:45.15\00:14:47.15
Amen.
00:14:47.18\00:14:48.52
In fact, it speaks
about that in the Bible.
00:14:48.55\00:14:49.88
I think it's
somewhere in Matthew,
00:14:49.92\00:14:51.25
I'm gonna paraphrase
00:14:51.29\00:14:52.62
'cause I don't know
exactly where it is.
00:14:52.65\00:14:55.16
But it's something
00:14:55.19\00:14:56.52
along the lines
of inviting somebody.
00:14:56.56\00:14:59.09
You don't invite
somebody to your house to eat
00:14:59.13\00:15:01.70
or something
because they're rich,
00:15:01.73\00:15:03.57
and they can return the favor...
00:15:03.60\00:15:05.60
You do it out of the, you know,
00:15:05.63\00:15:07.40
the love aspect.
00:15:07.44\00:15:10.37
So we shouldn't give to get,
00:15:10.41\00:15:13.24
you know, and even when we do
00:15:13.27\00:15:16.64
give in terms of like,
00:15:16.68\00:15:18.58
giving to God
and all that stuff,
00:15:18.61\00:15:20.25
He always out gives us,
00:15:20.28\00:15:22.05
you know, we can
never out give God.
00:15:22.08\00:15:24.49
You know, and let me
ask you who's trying?
00:15:24.52\00:15:29.42
You know, it's
an amazing concept
00:15:29.46\00:15:30.79
'cause you think
about in a marriage.
00:15:30.83\00:15:32.96
I think some marriages are based
00:15:32.99\00:15:34.46
on this negative
reciprocity, right?
00:15:34.50\00:15:36.50
One person has taken
advantage of someone else.
00:15:36.53\00:15:38.53
Some are based on balance,
00:15:38.57\00:15:40.50
you get 50, I'm gonna give 50
00:15:40.54\00:15:42.67
and you're both miserable.
00:15:42.70\00:15:44.17
But if you
think about a marriage
00:15:44.21\00:15:45.77
based on this general,
you call it the generalized,
00:15:45.81\00:15:48.21
more altruistic,
00:15:48.24\00:15:49.91
where you give
100%, you give everything.
00:15:49.94\00:15:52.38
That's good.
00:15:52.41\00:15:53.75
And if the other
person has the same concept,
00:15:53.78\00:15:56.38
they want to
give everything too,
00:15:56.42\00:15:58.19
I mean, what happiness in that.
00:15:58.22\00:16:00.29
And you're not giving to get,
00:16:00.32\00:16:02.52
you're giving out a love
00:16:02.56\00:16:04.23
because you love the person.
00:16:04.26\00:16:07.03
And what I've
learned dealing with that,
00:16:07.06\00:16:08.60
it's not always equal,
00:16:08.63\00:16:09.96
lots of times it
has to be learned.
00:16:10.00\00:16:12.20
And you're very fortunate
00:16:12.23\00:16:13.94
if you find that
special person or that friend,
00:16:13.97\00:16:17.67
or who you work with
that you do have like values
00:16:17.71\00:16:21.31
because it may be
that your partner,
00:16:21.34\00:16:25.75
whether it be your
husband, or your wife,
00:16:25.78\00:16:28.95
that they have
the right motivation
00:16:28.98\00:16:34.92
because they do
have a loving heart.
00:16:34.96\00:16:37.23
And it might be that their mate
00:16:37.26\00:16:39.93
because of the
consistency of their mate,
00:16:39.96\00:16:42.56
then they can catch up.
00:16:42.60\00:16:44.37
And the thing that I like
about today's particular lesson
00:16:44.40\00:16:48.30
that I caught on later,
00:16:48.34\00:16:50.74
is that we're dealing
with spiritual reciprocity.
00:16:50.77\00:16:54.71
Because coming out
the business field,
00:16:54.74\00:16:57.28
you think about the
financial reciprocity,
00:16:57.31\00:17:00.38
don't you give
because you are gonna receive,
00:17:00.42\00:17:02.72
you work hard
00:17:02.75\00:17:04.09
because of to receive,
00:17:04.12\00:17:05.85
but on the spiritual aspect,
00:17:05.89\00:17:07.59
boy, the rules
are totally different.
00:17:07.62\00:17:09.79
Yeah.
00:17:09.82\00:17:11.16
He loves us because we love Him.
00:17:11.19\00:17:13.76
He loved us first, and
that's why we loved Him.
00:17:13.80\00:17:15.13
Yeah.
00:17:15.16\00:17:16.50
So the golden rule actually,
00:17:16.53\00:17:17.87
is the perfect
definition of reciprocity.
00:17:17.90\00:17:19.23
Exactly.
00:17:19.27\00:17:20.60
That's good. The what?
00:17:20.64\00:17:21.97
The golden rule. Absolutely.
00:17:22.00\00:17:23.34
Perfect
definition of reciprocity.
00:17:23.37\00:17:24.71
Absolutely.
00:17:24.74\00:17:26.07
And speak the golden rule
for some who don't know it.
00:17:26.11\00:17:27.74
Oh, I always tell my
kids I have modified,
00:17:27.78\00:17:29.54
it says treat others like
you wanna be treated basically.
00:17:29.58\00:17:32.61
Do unto others
00:17:32.65\00:17:33.98
as you would
have them do unto you.
00:17:34.02\00:17:35.35
Amen. Amen.
00:17:35.38\00:17:36.72
But see, when you
talk about covenant,
00:17:36.75\00:17:39.82
it is generalized.
00:17:39.85\00:17:41.69
God is altruistic. Absolutely.
00:17:41.72\00:17:44.23
He's providing everything.
00:17:44.26\00:17:47.63
And it is not, you know,
00:17:47.66\00:17:49.43
some people
will get the covenant
00:17:49.46\00:17:51.00
is a contract, but it's not.
00:17:51.03\00:17:53.70
And the reason I can say
00:17:53.74\00:17:55.17
that with
absolute 100% certainty
00:17:55.20\00:17:58.57
is when 70 Hebrew scholars
00:17:58.61\00:18:02.61
translated the Old Testament
00:18:02.64\00:18:05.18
into the book of
the first six books
00:18:05.21\00:18:08.92
of "The Law of Moses,"
00:18:08.95\00:18:12.02
when they translated that
into Greek, the Septuagint.
00:18:12.05\00:18:16.99
Every time there's
two words for covenant,
00:18:17.03\00:18:20.76
Diatheke and Sintheke.
00:18:20.80\00:18:23.47
Diatheke is like a will,
00:18:23.50\00:18:25.70
when one person
is the benefactor,
00:18:25.73\00:18:29.94
giving all.
00:18:29.97\00:18:31.91
Sintheke, that's where we
get synthesize is a contract
00:18:31.94\00:18:36.14
when you got two or more parties
00:18:36.18\00:18:37.58
where this is your part of
the agreement, this is mine.
00:18:37.61\00:18:40.42
I'll do mine, you do yours.
00:18:40.45\00:18:42.85
But every single time
they refer to God's covenants.
00:18:42.88\00:18:47.99
It's Diatheke.
00:18:48.02\00:18:49.79
It's a will. It's powerful.
00:18:49.82\00:18:51.46
Isn't that powerful?
00:18:51.49\00:18:52.96
So all that God is asking of us?
00:18:52.99\00:18:56.83
See, we don't obey to get.
00:18:56.87\00:18:59.73
We're just proven our
loyalty to Him, if we love Him,
00:18:59.77\00:19:04.01
we walk in obedience.
00:19:04.04\00:19:06.61
And that's what He looks for.
00:19:06.64\00:19:08.04
Yeah, that's like
you ever hear people say,
00:19:08.08\00:19:11.01
why do you do the right thing?
00:19:11.05\00:19:12.38
You do the right thing
00:19:12.41\00:19:13.75
'cause it's the
right thing to you,
00:19:13.78\00:19:15.12
you know, not because you
expect some kind of reward
00:19:15.15\00:19:16.95
or something like that.
00:19:16.99\00:19:18.32
You know, you find $500
that's not yours somewhere.
00:19:18.35\00:19:21.86
Why did you turn it in?
00:19:21.89\00:19:23.83
Well, 'cause it's
the right thing to do.
00:19:23.86\00:19:25.66
Amen.
00:19:25.69\00:19:27.03
Motive makes all the difference.
00:19:27.06\00:19:28.40
Yeah.
00:19:28.43\00:19:29.76
You know, it's
why we do what we do.
00:19:29.80\00:19:31.13
I think about Malachi,
00:19:31.17\00:19:32.50
Greg and I
talked about this a lot.
00:19:32.53\00:19:33.87
And, you know,
the tithe promise,
00:19:33.90\00:19:35.30
you know, he
says, "Prove me now,
00:19:35.34\00:19:36.74
bring all the
tithes into the storehouse,
00:19:36.77\00:19:38.64
and prove me now
if I will not open up
00:19:38.67\00:19:40.34
the windows of heaven
and pour out a blessing."
00:19:40.38\00:19:42.58
So Greg and I talk about that.
00:19:42.61\00:19:43.95
Does that mean every
time you return tithe,
00:19:43.98\00:19:46.65
you're gonna get a
financial blessing?
00:19:46.68\00:19:48.28
No.
00:19:48.32\00:19:49.65
But it does mean
that God blesses your life
00:19:49.68\00:19:52.65
in manifold ways.
00:19:52.69\00:19:54.09
Sometimes the tires last
a little longer on the cars
00:19:54.12\00:19:57.09
or the children of Israel,
their sandals did not wear out,
00:19:57.13\00:20:00.36
right, in the wilderness.
00:20:00.40\00:20:01.73
So there are
different blessings.
00:20:01.76\00:20:03.73
Sometimes the blessings are joy
and peace and the Holy Spirit.
00:20:03.77\00:20:06.67
So there are different blessings
00:20:06.70\00:20:08.90
to be poured out.
00:20:08.94\00:20:10.34
Amen.
00:20:10.37\00:20:11.71
Spiritual blessings in response.
00:20:11.74\00:20:13.48
Amen. Amen. Excellent.
00:20:13.51\00:20:15.51
Jay, you had something
that you wanted to talk
00:20:15.54\00:20:18.58
about from Matthew, I think.
00:20:18.61\00:20:20.18
Yes.
00:20:20.22\00:20:21.55
Matthew 6:33.
00:20:21.58\00:20:24.72
And it says, "But seek
first the kingdom of God
00:20:24.75\00:20:27.42
and His righteousness,
00:20:27.46\00:20:28.79
and all these things
shall be added to you."
00:20:28.82\00:20:31.99
To me, that
speaks the priorities.
00:20:32.03\00:20:33.56
Wow! Yeah.
00:20:33.60\00:20:34.93
You know, that speaks
to prioritizing your life,
00:20:34.96\00:20:37.63
you know, you shouldn't be
just seeking the material things
00:20:37.67\00:20:40.94
that are, you
know, they're temporary,
00:20:40.97\00:20:42.97
they're gonna burn up one day.
00:20:43.00\00:20:44.81
So, you know, we should
be focused on the eternal.
00:20:44.84\00:20:48.24
And it's
interesting how when we seek
00:20:48.28\00:20:51.45
the kingdom of God,
00:20:51.48\00:20:52.81
like everything
starts falling into place.
00:20:52.85\00:20:55.58
Yeah. I mean, it's amazing.
00:20:55.62\00:20:57.45
It is amazing.
00:20:57.49\00:20:58.89
But, you know, have
you ever thought of this,
00:20:58.92\00:21:00.49
and I know,
00:21:00.52\00:21:02.36
the thought hasn't
really crystallized in my mind.
00:21:02.39\00:21:05.06
But when you think about this,
00:21:05.09\00:21:07.10
along the line of reciprocity,
00:21:07.13\00:21:09.76
you seek, He adds.
00:21:09.80\00:21:12.93
I wonder if God looks at us,
00:21:12.97\00:21:16.57
and He gives the
blessings of the kingdom,
00:21:16.60\00:21:20.04
to the people who want them.
00:21:20.08\00:21:22.01
Yes.
00:21:22.04\00:21:23.38
You know, it's the seekers,
00:21:23.41\00:21:25.51
the people who are
looking to Him in faith,
00:21:25.55\00:21:29.78
seek first the kingdom of God
00:21:29.82\00:21:32.72
and everything
else comes to you.
00:21:32.75\00:21:34.99
And, you know, there's, I
mean, I know that there are...
00:21:35.02\00:21:39.36
What did you say
before we started,
00:21:39.39\00:21:41.16
an empty mouth
doesn't get closed...
00:21:41.20\00:21:42.76
A closed mouth doesn't get fed.
00:21:42.80\00:21:44.23
A closed mouth doesn't get fed.
00:21:44.27\00:21:46.80
I mean, you think
about when Jesus said,
00:21:46.84\00:21:49.84
"Blessed are those who hunger
and thirst for righteousness,
00:21:49.87\00:21:53.98
for they shall be filled."
00:21:54.01\00:21:55.81
So there's that reciprocity,
that reciprocal action,
00:21:55.84\00:22:01.05
but it comes
because as you said,
00:22:01.08\00:22:03.28
the motive is one
that you love Him,
00:22:03.32\00:22:06.69
you're seeking Him.
00:22:06.72\00:22:08.06
I think that's great. Yeah.
00:22:08.09\00:22:09.52
James 4, "You have
not because ye ask not."
00:22:09.56\00:22:11.36
Amen.
00:22:11.39\00:22:12.73
So we're called to ask,
00:22:12.76\00:22:14.30
I have written in the
margin of my Bible here for seek
00:22:14.33\00:22:16.70
in the Greek means to
strive for desire, search.
00:22:16.73\00:22:21.97
So you think, okay,
00:22:22.00\00:22:23.44
if I'm seeking
first the kingdom of God,
00:22:23.47\00:22:26.47
I'm striving
for, I'm desiring Him.
00:22:26.51\00:22:29.24
Amen.
00:22:29.28\00:22:30.61
I'm searching for Him.
00:22:30.65\00:22:31.98
It's like to me
a passionate heart,
00:22:32.01\00:22:33.65
longing for God.
00:22:33.68\00:22:35.02
Amen.
00:22:35.05\00:22:36.38
Seeking the things that
God and then He wants to,
00:22:36.42\00:22:39.35
He's waiting for that,
00:22:39.39\00:22:40.72
He wants to fill us
for all those blessings.
00:22:40.76\00:22:43.56
And things will fall into place.
00:22:43.59\00:22:45.09
And the more
maturity that you have,
00:22:45.13\00:22:48.16
the more you accept
that is part of His plan.
00:22:48.20\00:22:51.60
And there is where it
gets a little complicated
00:22:51.63\00:22:53.40
because wait a minute
here, you told me to seek.
00:22:53.44\00:22:56.04
Well, first of all,
I love the definitions,
00:22:56.07\00:22:58.64
you get desire.
00:22:58.67\00:23:00.98
Aren't that your heart's desire?
00:23:01.01\00:23:03.08
Strive versus seek,
00:23:03.11\00:23:05.51
coming to me
seeking is more of a...
00:23:05.55\00:23:08.78
You know, but boy
this is part of my desire.
00:23:08.82\00:23:11.85
That's who I am.
00:23:11.89\00:23:13.86
And then because of
that, then I have the peace
00:23:13.89\00:23:15.96
because I don't
have that condemnation
00:23:15.99\00:23:17.63
and that guilt.
00:23:17.66\00:23:19.03
But I can walk a
little bit taller
00:23:19.06\00:23:20.40
because I know
00:23:20.43\00:23:21.76
that I'm in the
center of His will.
00:23:21.80\00:23:23.13
Amen.
00:23:23.16\00:23:24.50
So that makes a lot of sense.
00:23:24.53\00:23:25.87
You know, the
interesting thing is,
00:23:25.90\00:23:27.74
the more you seek Him,
00:23:27.77\00:23:29.10
the more you desire to seek Him.
00:23:29.14\00:23:30.47
Yes. Yeah.
00:23:30.51\00:23:31.84
So it's kind of
like he's filling you
00:23:31.87\00:23:33.27
with that desire as
you come close to him.
00:23:33.31\00:23:36.18
And I think it's
because you start learning
00:23:36.21\00:23:38.15
more and more
about His character
00:23:38.18\00:23:39.61
and who He is.
00:23:39.65\00:23:40.98
And it's just
like a relationship.
00:23:41.02\00:23:42.72
You know, I think all of
this speaks to relationship.
00:23:42.75\00:23:45.95
Amen. Amen.
00:23:45.99\00:23:47.32
So as you continue
to get to know Him,
00:23:47.36\00:23:49.99
and you continue to
like, you take a look
00:23:50.03\00:23:51.56
at what Christ did
for us on the cross.
00:23:51.59\00:23:54.10
I mean, how do you not
fall in love, you know?
00:23:54.13\00:23:57.50
Amen.
00:23:57.53\00:23:58.87
Amen. Amen.
00:23:58.90\00:24:01.00
We also have
Matthew 5:7 to look at,
00:24:01.04\00:24:05.24
which says,
"Blessed are the merciful,
00:24:05.27\00:24:07.51
for they shall obtain mercy."
00:24:07.54\00:24:10.65
That's interesting.
00:24:10.68\00:24:12.11
Well, that's definitely
00:24:12.15\00:24:13.85
the law of
reciprocity, isn't it?
00:24:13.88\00:24:16.28
Instantly right there.
00:24:16.32\00:24:18.02
And you let something
00:24:18.05\00:24:19.42
that what goes
around comes around.
00:24:19.45\00:24:21.46
I mean that's,
00:24:21.49\00:24:22.82
if you were talking to
me sometime earlier today
00:24:22.86\00:24:27.13
about the unforgiving servant,
00:24:27.16\00:24:30.40
you would share that thought?
00:24:30.43\00:24:33.17
Can I jump over there for
that, that unforgiving servant?
00:24:33.20\00:24:36.00
I think we're in Matthew 18.
00:24:36.04\00:24:39.71
Matthew 18, of
course, there's the council
00:24:39.74\00:24:42.01
on what do we do
when we have a difficulty
00:24:42.04\00:24:44.58
with a brother or
sister and how do you go,
00:24:44.61\00:24:46.95
you address them, and
then you bring someone else
00:24:46.98\00:24:48.88
and all of that.
00:24:48.92\00:24:50.25
But after that Jesus tells
00:24:50.29\00:24:51.62
the parable of the
unforgiving servant.
00:24:51.65\00:24:53.82
And it's
interesting because Peter asked,
00:24:53.86\00:24:57.23
"How often am I
supposed to forgive my brother."
00:24:57.26\00:24:59.39
This was the catalysts
for Jesus telling the parable,
00:24:59.43\00:25:01.93
what, you know,
up to seven times,
00:25:01.96\00:25:04.40
and Peter thought,
00:25:04.43\00:25:05.77
he's been very generous compared
00:25:05.80\00:25:07.47
to what they
had in their system.
00:25:07.50\00:25:10.24
They said they normally
00:25:10.27\00:25:11.61
had to forgive
not even seven times,
00:25:11.64\00:25:13.11
you know, and he's
saying up to seven,
00:25:13.14\00:25:14.71
God, I'm gonna be generous.
00:25:14.74\00:25:16.41
And Jesus says, "I do not
say to you up to seven times,
00:25:16.44\00:25:19.48
but up to seventy times seven."
00:25:19.51\00:25:22.85
And then he tells this parable,
about the Kingdom of Heaven
00:25:22.88\00:25:26.29
being like a king,
00:25:26.32\00:25:27.66
settling accounts
with his servants.
00:25:27.69\00:25:29.36
We won't read the whole passage.
00:25:29.39\00:25:32.16
But the contrast
and what they're owed
00:25:32.19\00:25:34.20
is interesting to me.
00:25:34.23\00:25:35.66
The one gentleman in verse 24,
00:25:35.70\00:25:38.40
owed him ten thousand talents.
00:25:38.43\00:25:42.94
Now, my Andrew
Study Bible says that,
00:25:42.97\00:25:45.04
"That is worth 60
million days wages."
00:25:45.07\00:25:49.71
Wow!
00:25:49.74\00:25:51.08
So this would be an account
that could never be settled.
00:25:51.11\00:25:52.65
Right?
00:25:52.68\00:25:54.02
You could never live long enough
00:25:54.05\00:25:56.35
for almost eternity, to
me it's just unfathomable.
00:25:56.38\00:26:00.56
So this he could never repay.
00:26:00.59\00:26:03.36
And yet he came
down and he cried
00:26:03.39\00:26:05.39
before the master's
feet, please have mercy on me.
00:26:05.43\00:26:09.20
Have patience with
me, and I'll pay you all.
00:26:09.23\00:26:11.90
And what did the king do?
00:26:11.93\00:26:13.34
He had compassion.
00:26:13.37\00:26:14.77
It says in verse 27,
00:26:14.80\00:26:16.64
"Released him,
and forgave the debt."
00:26:16.67\00:26:20.14
And then this servant
00:26:20.18\00:26:21.68
who was just
forgiven a great deal,
00:26:21.71\00:26:24.81
and mercy, Jay,
was extended to him,
00:26:24.85\00:26:27.95
in abundant measure.
00:26:27.98\00:26:30.05
Someone came to
him who owed him.
00:26:30.09\00:26:32.09
The Bible says in verse
28, "A hundred denarii."
00:26:32.12\00:26:35.52
That's 100 days wages.
00:26:35.56\00:26:37.09
So we're talking a
third of a year, right?
00:26:37.13\00:26:39.36
Or maybe more if you
don't work every day.
00:26:39.39\00:26:41.46
But still, we're talking
not a great deal compared
00:26:41.50\00:26:44.23
to something
you can never repay.
00:26:44.27\00:26:45.60
Amen.
00:26:45.63\00:26:46.97
And the gentleman who
had just been shown mercy,
00:26:47.00\00:26:51.24
refused to extend
mercy, even though
00:26:51.27\00:26:54.14
the man asked
for it in verse 29,
00:26:54.18\00:26:56.21
he says, "Have patience with me,
00:26:56.24\00:26:57.78
and I'm gonna pay you all."
00:26:57.81\00:26:59.15
He asked for
forgiveness, he asked for mercy,
00:26:59.18\00:27:02.25
and it was not granted to him.
00:27:02.28\00:27:05.05
And then at the end,
the master says, verse 32,
00:27:05.09\00:27:08.32
"You wicked servant!
00:27:08.36\00:27:09.72
I forgave you all that debt
00:27:09.76\00:27:11.53
because you asked me to.
00:27:11.56\00:27:13.60
Should you not
also have had compassion
00:27:13.63\00:27:15.76
on your fellow servant,
00:27:15.80\00:27:17.13
just as I had pity on you?"
00:27:17.17\00:27:19.53
So that kingdom
principle you see of reciprocity
00:27:19.57\00:27:23.07
of extending mercy,
extending forgiveness,
00:27:23.10\00:27:26.74
and it being given to
you and then you refusing
00:27:26.78\00:27:29.04
to give it to someone else?
00:27:29.08\00:27:30.85
It's amazing. Yeah.
00:27:30.88\00:27:32.28
And so he ended up
in prison, didn't he?
00:27:32.31\00:27:34.32
I mean, if you want,
"Blessed are the merciful,
00:27:34.35\00:27:38.82
for they shall obtain mercy."
00:27:38.85\00:27:40.66
Here he had and, you know,
00:27:40.69\00:27:43.63
I was praying for
someone the other night.
00:27:43.66\00:27:46.39
Someone who's doing
something that's not very nice.
00:27:46.43\00:27:49.63
And I was praying, and praying,
00:27:49.66\00:27:51.00
and I always pray
for their salvation,
00:27:51.03\00:27:53.30
and I pray.
00:27:53.34\00:27:54.87
And, but I always
pray, Lord, Proverbs 26:27.
00:27:54.90\00:28:00.34
He says, in Proverbs 26:27,
00:28:00.38\00:28:02.94
"Those who dig
trap will fall into it."
00:28:02.98\00:28:06.58
And all of a sudden,
this earnestness for mercy
00:28:06.61\00:28:12.39
came upon me.
00:28:12.42\00:28:13.76
And I was begging for
mercy for this person.
00:28:13.79\00:28:17.99
And it was such an
interesting experience.
00:28:18.03\00:28:20.06
And you know why?
00:28:20.10\00:28:21.43
I think it's just
because the Lord was,
00:28:21.46\00:28:23.80
you know, suddenly brought
back to me how much mercy
00:28:23.83\00:28:28.04
He had extended to me.
00:28:28.07\00:28:29.90
And I think when
you recognize this man,
00:28:29.94\00:28:33.84
with 60 million days wages,
00:28:33.88\00:28:36.54
he should have recognized that
00:28:36.58\00:28:37.91
but then to think
00:28:37.95\00:28:39.31
that he didn't reciprocate.
00:28:39.35\00:28:43.28
I mean, that's amazing.
00:28:43.32\00:28:44.65
Yeah, that is,
I mean, how do you
00:28:44.69\00:28:47.32
not forgive
somebody who's wronged you?
00:28:47.36\00:28:50.43
Like way,
00:28:50.46\00:28:51.99
done wrong to you way less than
you just did to somebody else,
00:28:52.03\00:28:54.96
and you were just forgiven.
00:28:55.00\00:28:57.63
How's that verse go?
00:28:57.67\00:28:59.00
I think it's him
who is forgiven much.
00:28:59.03\00:29:03.74
Too much is
given much is required.
00:29:03.77\00:29:05.67
Yes. Yes.
00:29:05.71\00:29:07.64
So I mean, yeah, I
don't understand that one.
00:29:07.68\00:29:11.08
Well, there's a lot of people
that walk around with mask on.
00:29:11.11\00:29:14.75
You know, that maybe inside
and outside don't really gel.
00:29:14.78\00:29:19.65
They need to work.
00:29:19.69\00:29:21.02
They're pretenders. Yeah.
00:29:21.06\00:29:22.76
They need to, well,
Lord, please help me.
00:29:22.79\00:29:25.59
Yeah.
00:29:25.63\00:29:28.33
Matthew 7:1-2,
00:29:28.36\00:29:32.97
"Judge not, that
you be not judged.
00:29:33.00\00:29:35.64
For with what judgment
you judge, you will be judged.
00:29:35.67\00:29:39.17
And with the measure you use,
00:29:39.21\00:29:41.11
it will be
measured back to you."
00:29:41.14\00:29:42.94
I think this,
00:29:42.98\00:29:44.71
this is really nice rebuke.
00:29:44.75\00:29:50.22
Because I mean,
there's some people that,
00:29:50.25\00:29:52.35
like you'll walk into
church or something like that.
00:29:52.39\00:29:55.42
And sometimes you come across
00:29:55.46\00:29:57.33
some of the most
judgmental people,
00:29:57.36\00:29:59.63
you know, and really
like Christ is not in that.
00:29:59.66\00:30:02.23
No, He wasn't.
00:30:02.26\00:30:03.70
So when you're having
00:30:03.73\00:30:05.07
and I think it's
important to speak on this
00:30:05.10\00:30:06.94
is when you're having visitors
00:30:06.97\00:30:09.10
or somebody that's not a
part of the denomination,
00:30:09.14\00:30:12.24
maybe they were
never a Christian,
00:30:12.27\00:30:14.61
and then they
walk into the church.
00:30:14.64\00:30:17.18
And then they walk into a
bunch of judgmental people.
00:30:17.21\00:30:21.82
Pit of vipers. Yeah.
00:30:21.85\00:30:24.15
Well said.
00:30:24.19\00:30:26.25
That you're not
pointing them to Christ,
00:30:26.29\00:30:28.62
you're not showing them
Christ's character, you know.
00:30:28.66\00:30:31.49
So I really like that verse,
00:30:31.53\00:30:34.00
"Judge not, that
you be not judged.
00:30:34.03\00:30:36.53
For with what
judgment you judge,
00:30:36.56\00:30:38.67
you will be judged.
00:30:38.70\00:30:40.14
And with the measure you use,
00:30:40.17\00:30:41.84
it will be
measured back to you."
00:30:41.87\00:30:43.87
So, you know,
00:30:43.91\00:30:45.24
when you think about and
there's that other verse,
00:30:45.27\00:30:47.41
like, you know, but Lord,
I prophesied in Your name,
00:30:47.44\00:30:50.01
I did this, I did that.
00:30:50.05\00:30:51.48
Depart from me,
I never knew you.
00:30:51.51\00:30:54.45
Think about that,
with that judgment.
00:30:54.48\00:30:56.45
You know, I think that's...
00:30:56.48\00:30:59.09
And I like
where it says measure,
00:30:59.12\00:31:01.09
with what measure you measure.
00:31:01.12\00:31:02.46
So don't set a standard so high
00:31:02.49\00:31:03.83
that you yourself can't reach.
00:31:03.86\00:31:05.19
Yeah. Yeah, that's good.
00:31:05.23\00:31:06.66
Yeah.
00:31:06.70\00:31:08.03
That's really good.
00:31:08.06\00:31:09.40
That's good. JD?
00:31:09.43\00:31:10.77
You want me to
go into mine. Okay.
00:31:14.10\00:31:16.57
This is really interesting.
00:31:16.60\00:31:17.94
And I'm gonna talk
about Galatians 6:7-10.
00:31:17.97\00:31:21.54
We're talking about sowing
00:31:21.58\00:31:22.98
and we're talking about reaping.
00:31:23.01\00:31:24.68
And I just want to
be transparent here.
00:31:24.71\00:31:26.88
I was, I see sowing and reaping.
00:31:26.92\00:31:28.88
And I knew immediately
where this was going.
00:31:28.92\00:31:31.59
Because I do know
00:31:31.62\00:31:32.95
that if you go
out to the cornfield,
00:31:32.99\00:31:34.89
and you sow,
00:31:34.92\00:31:36.73
if you sow a kernel of corn,
00:31:36.76\00:31:39.63
and you get the
right environment,
00:31:39.66\00:31:42.86
that kernel of
corn will produce an ear
00:31:42.90\00:31:46.57
and there's 300
kernels of corn on the ear.
00:31:46.60\00:31:49.70
Wow, that was 800.
00:31:49.74\00:31:52.97
Well. Whatever it is.
00:31:53.01\00:31:57.21
If it's a poor crop, it's 300.
00:31:57.25\00:31:59.38
If it's a big crop, it's 800.
00:31:59.41\00:32:01.38
Good.
00:32:01.42\00:32:03.02
On it, let's talk about wheat
00:32:03.05\00:32:04.69
because we all understand wheat
00:32:04.72\00:32:06.05
to play a kernel of wheat.
00:32:06.09\00:32:08.12
Damp, and then all of a sudden,
00:32:08.16\00:32:10.33
that will yield on
one stem 80 kernels.
00:32:10.36\00:32:14.60
Wow!
00:32:14.63\00:32:15.96
So these are
things that we understand.
00:32:16.00\00:32:17.47
And so as I was
going through this,
00:32:17.50\00:32:19.47
boy, thank You, Jesus,
00:32:19.50\00:32:20.87
that You gave me a wakeup call,
00:32:20.90\00:32:22.87
I just want to just read,
00:32:22.90\00:32:25.57
read this real quick
because thank You, Jesus,
00:32:25.61\00:32:28.58
that this helped me
00:32:28.61\00:32:29.94
because I took it
from a physical aspect
00:32:29.98\00:32:32.65
to a spiritual aspect.
00:32:32.68\00:32:34.55
I wanna start with
Galatians 6:1, real quick.
00:32:34.58\00:32:37.62
Brothers and sisters,
00:32:37.65\00:32:38.99
that's talking
about each one of us.
00:32:39.02\00:32:40.36
"If someone is caught in a sin,
00:32:40.39\00:32:42.62
who, you who live by the Spirit
00:32:42.66\00:32:45.99
should restore
that person gently."
00:32:46.03\00:32:47.93
Whoo.
00:32:47.96\00:32:49.30
That's just what we
were talking about while ago
00:32:49.33\00:32:50.67
coming to church,
"But watch yourselves,
00:32:50.70\00:32:52.03
or you may also be tempted.
00:32:52.07\00:32:54.07
Carry each other's burdens,
00:32:54.10\00:32:55.44
and in this way
00:32:55.47\00:32:56.81
you will fulfill
the law of Christ.
00:32:56.84\00:32:58.17
If anyone thinks
that they are something
00:32:58.21\00:33:01.11
when they are not,
they deceive themselves.
00:33:01.14\00:33:04.91
Each one should
test their own actions.
00:33:04.95\00:33:07.92
Then they can take
pride in them alone,
00:33:07.95\00:33:10.52
without comparing
themselves to someone else,
00:33:10.55\00:33:12.52
for each one should
carry their own load."
00:33:12.55\00:33:14.89
Please hear that.
00:33:14.92\00:33:16.83
"Nevertheless,
00:33:16.86\00:33:18.19
the one who receives
instruction in the word
00:33:18.23\00:33:20.03
should share all good
things with their instructor."
00:33:20.06\00:33:23.57
Then coming down to 7 and 10
00:33:23.60\00:33:26.03
and that's where
I was gonna start.
00:33:26.07\00:33:27.47
"So do not be deceived."
00:33:27.50\00:33:29.60
What that is saying right there.
00:33:29.64\00:33:31.74
Is that you're going to be
held accountable for yourself.
00:33:31.77\00:33:34.01
So know what you believe.
00:33:34.04\00:33:36.48
"God cannot be mocked."
00:33:36.51\00:33:38.48
Amen.
00:33:38.51\00:33:40.12
"A man reaps what he sows."
00:33:40.15\00:33:43.55
So what he feels
himself with what he eats,
00:33:43.59\00:33:46.89
takes in, that's
what he's going to,
00:33:46.92\00:33:50.26
that's what he's going to sow.
00:33:50.29\00:33:52.53
So who,
00:33:52.56\00:33:53.90
that's what he's going to reap,
00:33:53.93\00:33:55.60
"A man reaps what he sows."
00:33:55.63\00:33:57.13
Yes, "Whoever sows
to please their flesh,
00:33:57.17\00:34:00.10
from the flesh
will reap destruction,
00:34:00.14\00:34:01.64
whoever sows to
please the Spirit."
00:34:01.67\00:34:03.77
Thank You, Jesus,
00:34:03.81\00:34:05.14
"from the Spirit
will reap eternal life."
00:34:05.17\00:34:08.88
Now speaking directly
00:34:08.91\00:34:10.25
to each one of
us here in verse 9.
00:34:10.28\00:34:11.95
"So let us not become weary
00:34:11.98\00:34:14.22
in doing good,
00:34:14.25\00:34:15.78
for at the proper time
00:34:15.82\00:34:17.35
we will reap a harvest
00:34:17.39\00:34:19.59
if we do not give up.
00:34:19.62\00:34:21.96
So therefore,
00:34:21.99\00:34:23.32
as we have an opportunity,
00:34:23.36\00:34:25.16
let us do good to all people,
00:34:25.19\00:34:26.66
especially to those who belong
to the family of believers."
00:34:26.70\00:34:31.87
Here we,
00:34:31.90\00:34:35.27
Jesus, please assist me,
00:34:35.30\00:34:38.17
I choose to believe
00:34:38.21\00:34:40.08
and what we're talking
about here, reciprocity
00:34:40.11\00:34:42.01
that he's going to feed you.
00:34:42.04\00:34:44.25
Because you are requesting it,
00:34:44.28\00:34:46.82
that's how
you're choosing to be.
00:34:46.85\00:34:48.78
And then as you're being failed,
00:34:48.82\00:34:51.59
then you begin to look through
a more simplified person,
00:34:51.62\00:34:57.16
godlike person,
00:34:57.19\00:34:59.19
and at that particular time,
00:34:59.23\00:35:01.33
you will be benefit
to those around you,
00:35:01.36\00:35:04.37
you will be able
to handle them gently.
00:35:04.40\00:35:07.34
And then at
that particular time,
00:35:07.37\00:35:09.07
then we're
fulfilling our particular roles,
00:35:09.10\00:35:11.71
that what we are
filling ourselves with,
00:35:11.74\00:35:14.71
what we are reaping is
what's been sowed to us,
00:35:14.74\00:35:18.31
and then hopefully
then is distributed.
00:35:18.35\00:35:21.25
And then hopefully
those ears of corn,
00:35:21.28\00:35:24.92
those stems of wheat,
00:35:24.95\00:35:26.59
that they will be multiplied.
00:35:26.62\00:35:29.86
And so that's kind of
00:35:29.89\00:35:31.23
how I mean in 25 words, or less,
00:35:31.26\00:35:33.09
excuse me for getting on a page,
00:35:33.13\00:35:34.86
but it's really quite simple,
00:35:34.90\00:35:37.53
that but it all just,
00:35:37.57\00:35:39.00
it all starts
with just one thing.
00:35:39.03\00:35:41.04
Do not be deceived.
00:35:41.07\00:35:43.47
Give him permission
to work in your life,
00:35:43.51\00:35:46.07
to clear up that junk,
00:35:46.11\00:35:47.74
you know, that we
perhaps can buy into.
00:35:47.78\00:35:50.61
And then Lord,
please fertilize us,
00:35:50.65\00:35:54.48
please let Your Son come down.
00:35:54.52\00:35:56.72
So I will be able
to share accordingly.
00:35:56.75\00:35:58.79
Amen.
00:35:58.82\00:36:00.16
So there is the
spiritual harvesting
00:36:00.19\00:36:02.12
is what we're
talking about here.
00:36:02.16\00:36:06.19
Back in 1999,
00:36:06.23\00:36:08.26
the Lord gave me the
most amazing illustration.
00:36:08.30\00:36:13.37
And it's really simple.
00:36:13.40\00:36:14.97
You reap what you sow.
00:36:15.00\00:36:16.47
If I've got corn
here and wheat here,
00:36:16.50\00:36:19.54
I plant corn over here.
00:36:19.57\00:36:21.54
What am I gonna get?
00:36:21.58\00:36:22.91
Corn. Corn.
00:36:22.94\00:36:24.28
I plant wheat over
here, what am I gonna get?
00:36:24.31\00:36:25.65
Wheat. Wheat.
00:36:25.68\00:36:27.02
Why?
00:36:27.05\00:36:28.38
That's what you planted.
00:36:28.42\00:36:29.75
That's what and
what the Lord said is,
00:36:29.78\00:36:31.55
the potential of the
harvest is in the seeds.
00:36:31.59\00:36:34.89
That's right.
00:36:34.92\00:36:36.52
The potential of the
harvest is in the seed.
00:36:36.56\00:36:40.50
Well, Jesus tells us
00:36:40.53\00:36:42.60
when He told the
Parable of the Sower,
00:36:42.63\00:36:45.33
that the word is the seed
00:36:45.37\00:36:48.97
was the Word of God.
00:36:49.00\00:36:51.01
All of our potential
is in the Word of God.
00:36:51.04\00:36:53.98
Amen.
00:36:54.01\00:36:55.34
So as we sow,
00:36:55.38\00:36:56.71
if you will
claim God's promises,
00:36:56.75\00:36:59.71
pray God's promises back to Him,
00:36:59.75\00:37:02.22
praying them over your life,
00:37:02.25\00:37:04.35
you're sowing or
praying over the other,
00:37:04.39\00:37:06.76
the potential of the
harvest is in His Word.
00:37:06.79\00:37:11.86
Because you are
who God says you are.
00:37:11.89\00:37:14.56
Amen. Amen.
00:37:14.60\00:37:16.46
No one stood out to me
00:37:16.50\00:37:17.83
when you were reading that JD
00:37:17.87\00:37:19.20
and I'm not sure I've ever
even processed this before.
00:37:19.23\00:37:21.27
It's just one of the thoughts
you have as you were talking.
00:37:21.30\00:37:24.27
I was thinking that the
process of sowing is continual.
00:37:24.31\00:37:28.54
In other words,
we sow every day,
00:37:28.58\00:37:30.35
we either every day,
00:37:30.38\00:37:31.71
we sow to the flesh,
or we sow to the Spirit.
00:37:31.75\00:37:33.82
Every day are making choices,
00:37:33.85\00:37:36.65
and how I'm sowing into my life.
00:37:36.69\00:37:39.55
But the reaping happens twice.
00:37:39.59\00:37:43.22
There's the
reaping in this world.
00:37:43.26\00:37:45.66
So another words
what I mean by that is,
00:37:45.69\00:37:47.66
when I sow,
00:37:47.70\00:37:49.56
I reap benefits in this world.
00:37:49.60\00:37:51.33
If I sow Christ like godliness
00:37:51.37\00:37:53.44
into my heart into
other people's lives,
00:37:53.47\00:37:56.20
that response and how
other people treat you
00:37:56.24\00:37:58.77
and your relationships in
your life in your decisions.
00:37:58.81\00:38:02.18
But also, there's
a coming judgment.
00:38:02.21\00:38:04.45
Amen.
00:38:04.48\00:38:05.81
Where the reaping
for what I'm sowing today
00:38:05.85\00:38:08.15
means I'm gonna
stand before Christ.
00:38:08.18\00:38:10.59
And I'm gonna spend
eternal life with Him.
00:38:10.62\00:38:13.86
Or He's gonna say,
"I never knew you".
00:38:13.89\00:38:16.42
So the sowing I do
00:38:16.46\00:38:17.79
which is continuous has
to reaping both here today.
00:38:17.83\00:38:21.46
To harvest.
00:38:21.50\00:38:22.83
And to harvest, thank you,
00:38:22.86\00:38:24.20
and eternal life
or not eternal life.
00:38:24.23\00:38:27.57
Yeah. Excellent.
00:38:27.60\00:38:29.80
Wonderful, wonderful.
00:38:29.84\00:38:31.97
Yes.
00:38:32.01\00:38:33.88
Well, when I
think of reciprocity,
00:38:33.91\00:38:36.41
what came to
mind was reciprocal.
00:38:36.44\00:38:38.88
And so I was thinking
about what is reciprocal.
00:38:38.91\00:38:42.25
And engines are reciprocal,
00:38:42.28\00:38:44.05
meaning they have
pistons that work together,
00:38:44.09\00:38:48.46
but against each other.
00:38:48.49\00:38:49.86
So one pushes, one pulls,
00:38:49.89\00:38:51.86
one pushes and pulls
00:38:51.89\00:38:53.36
and in an aircraft,
00:38:53.40\00:38:54.96
you have reciprocal engine
00:38:55.00\00:38:56.46
where they're absolutely
opposed to one another,
00:38:56.50\00:38:59.03
and you have multiple ones,
00:38:59.07\00:39:00.50
and they all
have to work together.
00:39:00.54\00:39:02.10
Because while they are
working, pushing and pulling,
00:39:02.14\00:39:05.94
they're turning a crank shaft.
00:39:05.97\00:39:07.38
And that crank
shafts are generating energy
00:39:07.41\00:39:09.18
that will create thrust,
00:39:09.21\00:39:11.85
which moves the plane forward.
00:39:11.88\00:39:13.78
And then the wings give it lift,
00:39:13.82\00:39:15.62
which overcome two negatives,
00:39:15.65\00:39:17.42
wait and drag.
00:39:17.45\00:39:19.52
And so as the
engine is reciprocating,
00:39:19.55\00:39:22.76
pushing and
pulling, pushing and pulling,
00:39:22.79\00:39:25.03
the plane is moving forward,
00:39:25.06\00:39:26.56
and then begins to take
off and working together.
00:39:26.59\00:39:30.07
Fascinating. Yeah.
00:39:30.10\00:39:31.43
And so God gave us this,
00:39:31.47\00:39:33.90
this system of reciprocity
so that we could work together.
00:39:33.94\00:39:37.97
And I was thinking
some examples came to mind
00:39:38.01\00:39:40.41
in the Bible, of
reciprocity in action.
00:39:40.44\00:39:43.65
And one was the
harlot in Jericho.
00:39:43.68\00:39:47.25
She out of the
goodness of her heart,
00:39:47.28\00:39:49.85
gave refuge to the spies
00:39:49.88\00:39:51.99
not to get anything in return,
00:39:52.02\00:39:54.06
but because she believes
she had heard the truth.
00:39:54.09\00:39:55.99
And she believed
00:39:56.02\00:39:57.36
that they
believed in the true God,
00:39:57.39\00:39:58.73
and she wanted to
associate ourselves with that.
00:39:58.76\00:40:00.10
So out of the goodness
of her heart, she hid them.
00:40:00.13\00:40:02.60
And in turn,
00:40:02.63\00:40:03.97
God saved not only
herself and her whole family.
00:40:04.00\00:40:06.40
Amen.
00:40:06.43\00:40:07.77
And another
example is the widow,
00:40:07.80\00:40:09.20
I think it's Zane with Elijah.
00:40:09.24\00:40:10.67
Yes.
00:40:10.71\00:40:12.04
Again, again,
00:40:12.07\00:40:13.41
Elijah asked for something
00:40:13.44\00:40:14.94
that was gonna be
detrimental to her and her kid,
00:40:14.98\00:40:17.28
but she gave it
00:40:17.31\00:40:18.65
not to get anything in return.
00:40:18.68\00:40:20.32
But she gave it
00:40:20.35\00:40:21.68
because she believed
in doing good for others.
00:40:21.72\00:40:25.45
And when she did that,
00:40:25.49\00:40:26.82
God saved her and her family.
00:40:26.86\00:40:29.99
Another example a woman,
00:40:30.03\00:40:32.19
and her husband
lived along the path
00:40:32.23\00:40:34.33
that Elijah traveled,
00:40:34.36\00:40:36.43
and they, she wanted to
do something good for him.
00:40:36.46\00:40:38.90
So she built him a room.
00:40:38.93\00:40:41.07
So that he would
have a place to stay.
00:40:41.10\00:40:43.57
Not for anything in return,
00:40:43.61\00:40:45.21
it was truly altruistic for him
00:40:45.24\00:40:47.31
to benefit him in his travels.
00:40:47.34\00:40:49.78
And God blessed
them with the child
00:40:49.81\00:40:52.11
that they wanted.
00:40:52.15\00:40:54.75
And you think of Joseph.
00:40:54.78\00:40:56.12
Joseph lived the
life of reciprocity,
00:40:56.15\00:40:58.22
he did not do
good to get in return,
00:40:58.25\00:41:00.89
he did good
because that's who he was.
00:41:00.92\00:41:02.69
Amen.
00:41:02.72\00:41:04.06
And so what's
fascinating though,
00:41:04.09\00:41:05.63
in all those stories,
00:41:05.66\00:41:07.00
is they did good
00:41:07.03\00:41:08.80
out of the
goodness of their heart,
00:41:08.83\00:41:10.37
but God was the one
00:41:10.40\00:41:12.03
who did the rewarding.
00:41:12.07\00:41:13.44
Amen. That's good.
00:41:13.47\00:41:14.80
And that's how we can look
at reciprocity with others.
00:41:14.84\00:41:17.31
When we do good for others,
00:41:17.34\00:41:18.67
we're not gonna get in
return necessarily from them,
00:41:18.71\00:41:20.61
we may get something.
00:41:20.64\00:41:21.98
That's right.
00:41:22.01\00:41:23.35
But it's God, it's God
who gives the blessing,
00:41:23.38\00:41:25.91
and the
rewarding for that action.
00:41:25.95\00:41:28.48
And an example of
negative reciprocity
00:41:28.52\00:41:30.65
would be Jacob and Esau.
00:41:30.69\00:41:33.22
The classic example.
00:41:33.25\00:41:36.02
Esau was starving.
00:41:36.06\00:41:38.03
And Jacob saw his opportunity
to give, to get something.
00:41:38.06\00:41:42.16
And what he gave
was disproportionate
00:41:42.20\00:41:44.80
to what he was
actually going to get in return.
00:41:44.83\00:41:46.87
It's true.
00:41:46.90\00:41:48.24
And so that would be an
example of negative reciprocity,
00:41:48.27\00:41:50.57
which God definitely frowns on.
00:41:50.61\00:41:53.04
He got a blessing, but
didn't get the blessing
00:41:53.07\00:41:54.74
that he was supposed to
get because he jumped the gun.
00:41:54.78\00:41:58.01
Abraham, you know, with Sarah,
00:41:58.05\00:41:59.81
and King with Ishmael,
00:41:59.85\00:42:01.78
you know, we
have another example.
00:42:01.82\00:42:03.89
And so, Ecclesiastes 11:1
00:42:03.92\00:42:07.89
if you turn to that.
00:42:07.92\00:42:09.26
I thought it was a
good text for reciprocity.
00:42:12.29\00:42:14.36
"Cast thy bread upon the waters,
00:42:14.40\00:42:17.10
for thou shalt find
it after many days."
00:42:17.13\00:42:20.54
God's principle is
give, give, give, give,
00:42:20.57\00:42:24.14
don't look for the
return, but always give,
00:42:24.17\00:42:26.84
and then he will give the return
00:42:26.88\00:42:29.94
in ways that, you know,
00:42:29.98\00:42:31.31
we can't even fathom
00:42:31.35\00:42:32.78
like you were
saying, in this life
00:42:32.81\00:42:34.78
will have to
harvest in this life
00:42:34.82\00:42:36.15
and the life to come.
00:42:36.18\00:42:39.55
And so and then I just
like wrap it up with James 1...
00:42:39.59\00:42:43.46
versus 5 through 8.
00:42:48.26\00:42:50.73
"If any of you lack
wisdom, let him ask God,
00:42:50.77\00:42:53.37
that giveth to
all men liberally,
00:42:53.40\00:42:55.00
and upbraideth not,
00:42:55.04\00:42:56.37
for it shall be given him.
00:42:56.40\00:42:58.14
But let him ask in
faith, nothing wavering.
00:42:58.17\00:43:00.54
For he that wavereth
00:43:00.58\00:43:01.91
is like a wave of the
sea driven in the wind,
00:43:01.94\00:43:04.28
by the wind and tossed.
00:43:04.31\00:43:06.15
For let not that man think
00:43:06.18\00:43:07.52
that he shall
receive anything of the Lord.
00:43:07.55\00:43:08.98
A double minded man is
unstable in all his ways."
00:43:09.02\00:43:11.82
So God wants us
00:43:11.85\00:43:14.99
to give in faith,
00:43:15.02\00:43:17.76
not expecting
anything in return,
00:43:17.79\00:43:19.66
not hoping for
some future glory,
00:43:19.69\00:43:22.50
but just because
00:43:22.53\00:43:24.90
we love and He's
instilled that love in us.
00:43:24.93\00:43:28.34
And then He is the one
that will bless us in turn
00:43:28.37\00:43:31.31
whatever we do into a blessing
00:43:31.34\00:43:33.04
not only for
ourselves, but for others.
00:43:33.07\00:43:34.84
Because we're like that engine,
00:43:34.88\00:43:36.21
we're all working together.
00:43:36.24\00:43:37.81
And if...
00:43:37.85\00:43:39.18
There's two things that
fight against the engine
00:43:39.21\00:43:41.75
is pre-explosion and detonation,
00:43:41.78\00:43:43.79
and what that means is,
00:43:43.82\00:43:45.25
a piece of carbon can
get into that cylinder
00:43:45.29\00:43:47.72
and cause it to misfire.
00:43:47.76\00:43:49.76
And when it starts to misfire,
00:43:49.79\00:43:51.29
it's working
against the other cylinders,
00:43:51.33\00:43:54.66
and then what
happens, it gets hot,
00:43:54.70\00:43:57.27
it starts breaking down,
00:43:57.30\00:43:58.67
and then if you're in a
plane, you're gonna crash,
00:43:58.70\00:44:00.90
eventually, the
engine's gonna stop
00:44:00.94\00:44:02.27
and you're going to crash.
00:44:02.30\00:44:03.64
And we as a people,
00:44:03.67\00:44:05.54
who believe in God
need to work together,
00:44:05.57\00:44:07.71
not let the
carbons get into our lives
00:44:07.74\00:44:10.05
to cause us to misfire
00:44:10.08\00:44:11.41
and to overheat into
what negative reciprocity,
00:44:11.45\00:44:14.85
we need to be in the
generalized reciprocity
00:44:14.88\00:44:17.25
with others.
00:44:17.29\00:44:18.62
So we can all work together.
00:44:18.65\00:44:19.99
And so then as we
are working together,
00:44:20.02\00:44:22.22
what is the
trajectory of our lift up?
00:44:22.26\00:44:24.46
Right. Forwarded up.
00:44:24.49\00:44:27.13
Exactly.
00:44:27.16\00:44:28.50
That's powerful.
00:44:28.53\00:44:29.86
That is real.
00:44:29.90\00:44:31.23
What a great example,
00:44:31.27\00:44:32.93
you know, we
talked about judge not,
00:44:32.97\00:44:35.80
the measure you use
will be measured to you.
00:44:35.84\00:44:39.01
And kind of go with both
what you all said, Luke 6:38,
00:44:39.04\00:44:43.21
Jesus said, "Given
it will be given to you,
00:44:43.24\00:44:45.95
good measure, pressed
down, shaken together,
00:44:45.98\00:44:48.32
but and running over will
be poured into your bosom.
00:44:48.35\00:44:51.55
And he there says,
00:44:51.59\00:44:53.42
"With the measure you use,
00:44:53.46\00:44:55.22
it will be measured to you."
00:44:55.26\00:44:56.66
But as you said,
00:44:56.69\00:44:58.39
it doesn't necessarily I mean,
00:44:58.43\00:45:01.66
if you're being
benevolent toward the poor,
00:45:01.70\00:45:04.63
and you're giving,
00:45:04.67\00:45:06.00
you don't expect anything
in return on those people,
00:45:06.03\00:45:09.87
but I think what happens
is God looks down and says,
00:45:09.90\00:45:13.91
"Here's somebody that is
developing my character."
00:45:13.94\00:45:16.81
He may give you more insight,
he may give you more peace.
00:45:16.85\00:45:20.45
He may, you know,
00:45:20.48\00:45:21.82
when you get in a scrape,
00:45:21.85\00:45:26.52
he comes around,
00:45:26.55\00:45:27.89
send somebody around
00:45:27.92\00:45:29.42
and we had that happen,
00:45:29.46\00:45:31.66
you know, when Jesus said,
00:45:31.69\00:45:33.06
it's more blessed
to give, to receive,
00:45:33.09\00:45:36.10
I'll tell you what,
00:45:36.13\00:45:37.57
it's more,
00:45:37.60\00:45:41.07
it's hard to be
on the receiving end.
00:45:41.10\00:45:43.67
It's humbling. And that's true.
00:45:43.71\00:45:45.31
When you get on, you know,
00:45:45.34\00:45:46.68
we were used to
being the big givers.
00:45:46.71\00:45:48.24
And we had a little situation
00:45:48.28\00:45:50.71
and somebody came
to us just shocked us.
00:45:50.75\00:45:55.48
And it was like,
00:45:55.52\00:45:56.99
we can't take that.
00:45:57.02\00:45:59.65
You know, and it was $500.
00:45:59.69\00:46:02.62
But it was still a $500.
00:46:02.66\00:46:05.39
We can't take that.
00:46:05.43\00:46:07.63
And it was very humbling.
00:46:07.66\00:46:09.46
And the Lord told
00:46:09.50\00:46:11.00
what he told us both,
00:46:11.03\00:46:12.37
we had to humble ourselves.
00:46:12.40\00:46:14.40
But God does.
00:46:14.44\00:46:16.97
There's no doubt.
00:46:17.01\00:46:18.34
I mean, we could go
on forever inherent.
00:46:18.37\00:46:20.24
I want to get to yours
00:46:20.28\00:46:21.61
'cause you're just so
important on the scriptures,
00:46:21.64\00:46:23.45
but there's no doubt
00:46:23.48\00:46:25.15
that there is this
kingdom law of reciprocity.
00:46:25.18\00:46:28.05
What a great
example with the pistons.
00:46:28.08\00:46:31.19
I like what you
said there, Shelley,
00:46:31.22\00:46:32.59
just now because I was thinking
00:46:32.62\00:46:34.16
it is hard to be
on the receiving end,
00:46:34.19\00:46:36.39
you know, it's a
different you think,
00:46:36.42\00:46:38.36
well, I'm supposed
to be the Christian
00:46:38.39\00:46:40.00
and the one giving,
00:46:40.03\00:46:41.36
I'm supposed to be helping,
I'm supposed to be serving.
00:46:41.40\00:46:43.77
And this is not financial.
00:46:43.80\00:46:45.47
But just recently,
00:46:45.50\00:46:46.84
someone had done
something for me.
00:46:46.87\00:46:49.50
And I said, I can't take that.
00:46:49.54\00:46:51.84
And they said, "Jill, are
you robbing me of my blessing?"
00:46:51.87\00:46:55.64
And I thought forgive
me, Lord, that's true.
00:46:55.68\00:46:59.15
You know, because God had put
on this precious woman's heart,
00:46:59.18\00:47:02.65
she needed to do
this certain thing for me.
00:47:02.68\00:47:05.62
And I saw it, but I feel guilty.
00:47:05.65\00:47:07.59
You know, I can't accept that.
00:47:07.62\00:47:09.09
And you're busy.
00:47:09.12\00:47:10.46
And I don't want take your time
00:47:10.49\00:47:12.16
and all that,
00:47:12.19\00:47:13.53
but are you
robbing me of my blessing?
00:47:13.56\00:47:15.06
Amen. Amen.
00:47:15.10\00:47:16.43
So. Yeah. Yeah.
That's a good one.
00:47:16.46\00:47:17.80
Yeah. That's a good one.
00:47:17.83\00:47:19.67
Okay, I want to talk
00:47:19.70\00:47:21.04
about the principle of
reciprocity of forgiveness.
00:47:21.07\00:47:25.97
So let's look at
Matthew Chapter 6.
00:47:26.01\00:47:32.15
We spend a lot of time
00:47:32.18\00:47:33.52
in the Sermon on the Mount, Jay,
00:47:33.55\00:47:34.88
all your scriptures were
from Matthew 5, or 6, or 7.
00:47:34.92\00:47:37.92
I love this passage.
00:47:37.95\00:47:40.19
Matthew 6, of course,
00:47:40.22\00:47:41.56
verses 9-11 is
the Lord's Prayer.
00:47:41.59\00:47:44.26
And in the Lord's Prayer,
00:47:44.29\00:47:46.23
there is that principle
of reciprocity seen there.
00:47:46.26\00:47:49.40
And then Jesus kind
of unpacks it afterward
00:47:49.43\00:47:52.47
and makes it even more clear
00:47:52.50\00:47:54.77
in case you
misunderstood what was there.
00:47:54.80\00:47:57.21
Let's read it first
in the Lord's Prayer,
00:47:57.24\00:47:59.47
we know that
00:47:59.51\00:48:00.84
I guess we have time
we read the whole passage
00:48:00.88\00:48:02.21
"Our Father in
heaven, hallowed be Your name.
00:48:02.24\00:48:04.98
Your kingdom come.
00:48:05.01\00:48:06.35
Your will be done.
00:48:06.38\00:48:08.42
On earth as it is in heaven.
00:48:08.45\00:48:10.52
Give us this
day our daily bread.
00:48:10.55\00:48:12.32
And forgive us our debts,
00:48:12.35\00:48:14.99
as we forgive our debtors."
00:48:15.02\00:48:16.73
So this is, I've
memorized it in King James,
00:48:16.76\00:48:20.00
"Forgive our trespasses,
00:48:20.03\00:48:21.36
as we forgive those
who trespass against us."
00:48:21.40\00:48:24.17
"And do not lead
us into temptation,
00:48:24.20\00:48:26.84
but deliver us from evil.
00:48:26.87\00:48:29.07
For Thine is the kingdom
00:48:29.10\00:48:30.44
and the power and
the glory forever.
00:48:30.47\00:48:31.81
Amen."
00:48:31.84\00:48:33.17
And then Jesus unpacks it,
00:48:33.21\00:48:34.54
as it were, right here, He said,
00:48:34.58\00:48:35.91
"If you missed the part
about the debts and forgiving."
00:48:35.94\00:48:38.75
Verse 14, "If you
forgive men their trespasses,
00:48:38.78\00:48:43.89
your heavenly Father
will also forgive you.
00:48:43.92\00:48:46.89
But if you do not
forgive men their trespasses,
00:48:46.92\00:48:50.83
neither will your Father forgive
00:48:50.86\00:48:53.93
your trespasses."
00:48:53.96\00:48:56.20
Now this is a heavy scripture.
00:48:56.23\00:48:58.47
To me, it's a heavy scripture,
00:48:58.50\00:49:00.07
when you sit down
00:49:00.10\00:49:01.44
and you actually
cogitate on what it means.
00:49:01.47\00:49:03.30
I just want to make clear
00:49:03.34\00:49:04.67
before I unpack this part about.
00:49:04.71\00:49:07.94
We're supposed to
forgive other people
00:49:07.98\00:49:09.51
if we want God to forgive us.
00:49:09.54\00:49:11.61
Before we talk about that,
00:49:11.65\00:49:13.68
I believe this
scripture specifically,
00:49:13.72\00:49:16.18
and you
theologians might jump on me
00:49:16.22\00:49:18.69
at this moment.
00:49:18.72\00:49:20.06
But I believe this scripture
specifically talks about us
00:49:20.09\00:49:22.69
in our sanctification process.
00:49:22.72\00:49:24.53
What I mean by that
is, you might be saying,
00:49:24.56\00:49:27.16
I know there's
unforgiveness in my heart,
00:49:27.20\00:49:28.83
but I've never even
asked Jesus into my heart,
00:49:28.86\00:49:30.90
and I've not even accepted Him.
00:49:30.93\00:49:32.87
And does that mean I
need to conjure up forgiveness
00:49:32.90\00:49:35.27
for someone else,
00:49:35.30\00:49:36.64
before I can even
come to the Father.
00:49:36.67\00:49:38.74
The Bible says in 1 John 1:9,
00:49:38.77\00:49:40.71
"If we confess our sins,
00:49:40.74\00:49:42.08
He's faithful and
just to forgive us
00:49:42.11\00:49:43.68
and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness."
00:49:43.71\00:49:45.98
We know that we are
justified freely by His grace.
00:49:46.01\00:49:49.15
So even if we're
battling with unforgiveness,
00:49:49.18\00:49:52.52
we can still come
before God and say,
00:49:52.55\00:49:54.26
I want to be
your son or daughter,
00:49:54.29\00:49:57.03
I want to be your child, I
want you to forgive my sins,
00:49:57.06\00:50:01.10
and Jesus will forgive
'cause He knows our heart.
00:50:01.13\00:50:05.50
Then, as we begin
taking the baby steps
00:50:05.53\00:50:08.80
in the Christian life,
00:50:08.84\00:50:10.17
and as we begin growing,
00:50:10.21\00:50:12.04
He brings to our attention areas
00:50:12.07\00:50:14.48
where He wants us to grow.
00:50:14.51\00:50:16.18
And this is one of those areas.
00:50:16.21\00:50:18.11
I agree.
00:50:18.15\00:50:19.48
He says, okay, Jill, if
you're harboring bitterness,
00:50:19.51\00:50:22.05
Hebrews 12 talks
about the root of bitterness
00:50:22.08\00:50:25.79
that can spring up
00:50:25.82\00:50:27.29
and trouble you and
thereby many people be defiled,
00:50:27.32\00:50:30.66
not just myself or your spouse,
00:50:30.69\00:50:34.66
but this is if you
hold on to unforgiveness
00:50:34.70\00:50:37.57
that affects your ministry.
00:50:37.60\00:50:38.93
It affects the
people around you,
00:50:38.97\00:50:40.74
it affects your marriage,
it affects your family.
00:50:40.77\00:50:44.21
So bitterness and
unforgiveness spreads.
00:50:44.24\00:50:48.41
But if we come before God
00:50:48.44\00:50:50.58
in this principle and say God,
00:50:50.61\00:50:52.55
will you pour Your love
and forgiveness into my heart.
00:50:52.58\00:50:55.85
This is where I think
this principle of reciprocity,
00:50:55.88\00:50:58.39
it is truly a gift.
00:50:58.42\00:51:00.29
Absolutely.
00:51:00.32\00:51:01.66
So it is not.
00:51:01.69\00:51:03.49
Where God says, okay,
00:51:03.53\00:51:04.86
you need to forgive, Jill,
00:51:04.89\00:51:06.23
otherwise, I'm
not gonna forgive you.
00:51:06.26\00:51:07.60
He says, I will
pour my forgiveness
00:51:07.63\00:51:09.66
into your heart for so and so
00:51:09.70\00:51:12.47
because He knows I
can't even do it myself.
00:51:12.50\00:51:14.60
We can't grit our teeth
and try to forgive each other.
00:51:14.64\00:51:17.34
But God gives
us His forgiveness.
00:51:17.37\00:51:19.14
And Ephesians
4:32 says, "Be kind,
00:51:19.17\00:51:21.94
one to another, tenderhearted,
00:51:21.98\00:51:24.08
forgiving one another,
00:51:24.11\00:51:25.95
just as God in
Christ forgave you."
00:51:25.98\00:51:29.48
Amen.
00:51:29.52\00:51:30.85
You know, that made
me think of Acts 5:32,
00:51:30.89\00:51:34.02
where I'm gonna
begin with verse 31.
00:51:34.06\00:51:38.19
"Him God,"
speaking of Christ, Christ,
00:51:38.23\00:51:41.76
"God has exalted
to His right hand
00:51:41.80\00:51:44.93
to be Prince and Savior,
00:51:44.97\00:51:46.94
to give repentance."
00:51:46.97\00:51:49.97
In other words, it is
God through Jesus Christ,
00:51:50.01\00:51:54.44
who grants us the
gift of repentance.
00:51:54.48\00:51:56.95
That's right.
00:51:56.98\00:51:58.31
And He said, "And
forgiveness of sins."
00:51:58.35\00:52:01.05
But this is
something that one time.
00:52:01.08\00:52:05.79
Do you ever as you're studying?
00:52:05.82\00:52:08.16
I bet I've read the
New Testament 400 times.
00:52:08.19\00:52:11.03
Wow!
00:52:11.06\00:52:12.39
I mean, I've just read it a lot.
00:52:12.43\00:52:14.46
But have you ever
just been reading along,
00:52:14.50\00:52:16.77
and all of a
sudden, this scripture,
00:52:16.80\00:52:18.40
just like a neon sign,
00:52:18.43\00:52:20.10
it just lights up
and shouts at you,
00:52:20.14\00:52:22.54
and maybe you've
read it 100 times before,
00:52:22.57\00:52:25.07
but it just jumps up at you.
00:52:25.11\00:52:28.48
This one, one day did that.
00:52:28.51\00:52:30.55
And I recognized
00:52:30.58\00:52:32.48
that God was showing me
00:52:32.51\00:52:35.28
that I needed not only
to ask for forgiveness,
00:52:35.32\00:52:39.65
but to ask that He
would grant me repentance.
00:52:39.69\00:52:42.02
Amen.
00:52:42.06\00:52:43.39
You know, and
what repentance means
00:52:43.43\00:52:45.36
is it's basically
180-degree turn around
00:52:45.39\00:52:48.63
that you're
walking in this direction.
00:52:48.66\00:52:50.77
And if you repent,
00:52:50.80\00:52:52.67
you're going in
the other direction.
00:52:52.70\00:52:54.70
And so this is something
that we need to be open to
00:52:54.74\00:52:58.57
'cause we can't
repent without His power.
00:52:58.61\00:53:05.11
I mean, it takes them.
00:53:05.15\00:53:07.58
I think I've got time
to tell real quick story.
00:53:07.62\00:53:11.15
When I was asking
God for an illustration
00:53:11.19\00:53:15.42
on forgiveness,
00:53:15.46\00:53:17.46
and He gave me
the greatest story,
00:53:17.49\00:53:19.16
I just love this story.
00:53:19.19\00:53:21.40
It's, if you think of a valley,
00:53:21.43\00:53:24.53
and there's a stream
coming down off the mountain,
00:53:24.57\00:53:27.07
in the valley.
00:53:27.10\00:53:28.44
If I take,
00:53:28.47\00:53:29.90
and let's say, this is a wire,
00:53:29.94\00:53:31.77
I anchor it here,
00:53:31.81\00:53:33.84
on this side of the stream
00:53:33.88\00:53:35.21
and I anchor the
other side, this wire,
00:53:35.24\00:53:37.71
right across this
valley, here's the wire.
00:53:37.75\00:53:41.28
All right, the water comes down,
00:53:41.32\00:53:44.75
somebody upstream throws trash
00:53:44.79\00:53:47.72
into the stream,
00:53:47.76\00:53:50.89
as it comes down.
00:53:50.93\00:53:52.26
What happens when it reaches?
00:53:52.29\00:53:53.63
It catches on the wire.
00:53:53.66\00:53:55.00
It catches,
00:53:55.03\00:53:56.36
more people
throw trash and trash,
00:53:56.40\00:53:58.10
eventually,
00:53:58.13\00:53:59.47
just like a beaver would
build a dam stick by stick,
00:53:59.50\00:54:03.00
this gets blocked up with trash.
00:54:03.04\00:54:07.38
And the water
can no longer flow.
00:54:07.41\00:54:09.58
So what the Lord showed me,
00:54:09.61\00:54:12.25
as He was
giving me this example,
00:54:12.28\00:54:14.15
which is like so powerful.
00:54:14.18\00:54:16.18
He said that
unforgiveness in our heart
00:54:16.22\00:54:20.36
is like that little tiny wire.
00:54:20.39\00:54:22.96
And people throw their insults
or your injuries in there.
00:54:22.99\00:54:27.06
And they begin to gather
up around that unforgiveness.
00:54:27.10\00:54:31.47
Guess what happens?
00:54:31.50\00:54:33.23
The bitterness, the anger,
00:54:33.27\00:54:36.30
and the Holy Spirit can
no longer fall through you.
00:54:36.34\00:54:39.44
See, when I think
when He says forgive,
00:54:39.47\00:54:43.41
it's for our own benefit
that He wants us to forgive.
00:54:43.45\00:54:47.58
So that it is part of
the sanctification process.
00:54:47.62\00:54:51.05
I just think it's beautiful.
00:54:51.09\00:54:52.85
Let's close with
thank you so much.
00:54:52.89\00:54:56.12
This has been
such an exciting study.
00:54:56.16\00:54:58.83
And thank you
for each one of you,
00:54:58.86\00:55:00.56
which brought to the table.
00:55:00.60\00:55:02.26
But let's have a closing prayer.
00:55:02.30\00:55:03.83
Jay, why don't we just
begin with you and go around.
00:55:03.87\00:55:06.53
Sure.
00:55:06.57\00:55:07.94
Dear, Heavenly Father,
00:55:07.97\00:55:09.30
we just want to thank
You for this wonderful topic.
00:55:09.34\00:55:12.47
Lord, we wanna thank
You for the fact that
00:55:12.51\00:55:15.01
even though we don't give to You
00:55:15.04\00:55:19.01
as much as You give to us,
00:55:19.05\00:55:20.88
You still pour out
Your blessings upon us.
00:55:20.92\00:55:23.75
We thank You for the
way that You love us.
00:55:23.79\00:55:27.02
We thank You for the way
that You take care of us.
00:55:27.06\00:55:30.19
And, Lord, we love You.
00:55:30.23\00:55:31.63
I ask that You
would strengthen us
00:55:31.66\00:55:33.96
and help us to always try
and reciprocate that love.
00:55:34.00\00:55:38.63
Amen.
00:55:38.67\00:55:40.00
In Jesus' name, amen.
00:55:40.04\00:55:42.64
Heavenly Father,
I wanna thank You
00:55:42.67\00:55:44.01
for the gift of giving.
00:55:44.04\00:55:47.54
Lord, we just ask
that You would give us
00:55:47.58\00:55:49.04
more of that gift
00:55:49.08\00:55:50.41
so that we can
share it with others
00:55:50.45\00:55:51.85
just like You shared
Your life for the world.
00:55:51.88\00:55:54.78
Help us to share our love
00:55:54.82\00:55:56.38
for the world
and those around us.
00:55:56.42\00:55:57.92
Amen.
00:55:57.95\00:55:59.29
Thank You for the
gift of forgiveness
00:55:59.32\00:56:00.66
and give us more
that gift as well
00:56:00.69\00:56:02.02
so that we can share it, Lord.
00:56:02.06\00:56:03.39
Help us not to hide
our lights under bushels,
00:56:03.43\00:56:05.69
but to shine them
00:56:05.73\00:56:07.06
so that they can glorify You
and this we pray in Your name.
00:56:07.10\00:56:09.00
Amen.
00:56:09.03\00:56:10.50
Father, I just want
thank You for the many things
00:56:10.53\00:56:12.43
that You continue to do
for each one of us bless.
00:56:12.47\00:56:14.94
And, Father, we do ask
00:56:14.97\00:56:16.30
that You'd be a
lamp to our feet.
00:56:16.34\00:56:18.04
So, Father, as we
continue to go forward,
00:56:18.07\00:56:20.18
that we will do all
things for Your benefit,
00:56:20.21\00:56:23.35
Lord, 'cause,
Father, we know that
00:56:23.38\00:56:26.18
'cause of Your reciprocation,
00:56:26.21\00:56:28.38
that we will be able to
see clear the next time.
00:56:28.42\00:56:31.85
Holy Father, we thank You
00:56:31.89\00:56:33.22
that You are a
promise keeping God.
00:56:33.25\00:56:35.62
You are a God of covenant.
00:56:35.66\00:56:37.69
And, Lord, we thank You
00:56:37.73\00:56:39.33
that You pour Your
love into our hearts.
00:56:39.36\00:56:42.10
And help us to open our heart
00:56:42.13\00:56:43.63
and receive Your
love that we may love You
00:56:43.67\00:56:45.43
with all of our heart,
soul, mind, and strength,
00:56:45.47\00:56:48.00
and love our
neighbor as ourselves.
00:56:48.04\00:56:50.91
Thank You, God, that
You stand at the door
00:56:50.94\00:56:52.64
of our heart and knock.
00:56:52.67\00:56:54.01
And You said if we
open up our heart to You,
00:56:54.04\00:56:56.54
You will come in and
change and transform us.
00:56:56.58\00:57:00.22
We give You
permission to do that
00:57:00.25\00:57:01.68
just now in Jesus' name.
00:57:01.72\00:57:03.62
Amen. Amen.
00:57:03.65\00:57:04.99
Amen.
00:57:05.02\00:57:06.35
Thank you so much
each and every one of you.
00:57:06.39\00:57:08.62
We're just so glad
that you joined us tonight.
00:57:08.66\00:57:11.63
And I just think
this was such a fun study.
00:57:11.66\00:57:14.16
Thank you to each one of you
00:57:14.20\00:57:15.93
for everything that
you brought to the table.
00:57:15.96\00:57:19.23
Really love you all.
It's a privilege to be here.
00:57:19.27\00:57:21.44
Amen.
00:57:21.47\00:57:22.80
Well, we love
you at home as well.
00:57:22.84\00:57:25.24
And just know that for
absolutely for certain.
00:57:25.27\00:57:29.18
And our prayer for you
00:57:29.21\00:57:30.61
is that the grace of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
00:57:30.65\00:57:33.18
the love of the Father
00:57:33.21\00:57:34.55
and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit
00:57:34.58\00:57:35.92
will be with you always.
00:57:35.95\00:57:37.62
Amen.
00:57:37.65\00:57:38.99