Hello, I'm
Lance. And I'm Dwayne.
00:00:29.42\00:00:31.39
And you are here with us
at another episode of TKS,
00:00:31.43\00:00:35.23
"A True Knowledge of Self",
00:00:35.26\00:00:36.83
where we get to know ourselves
from a biblical perspective.
00:00:36.87\00:00:40.17
We were privileged in
going over the Word of God
00:00:40.20\00:00:42.64
and being able to look
at some of the realities
00:00:42.67\00:00:44.51
that are happening right now,
00:00:44.54\00:00:45.91
as it pertains to
the hip-hop culture
00:00:45.94\00:00:48.28
and doing a comparison
to the Christian culture
00:00:48.31\00:00:51.58
and trying to see, do
they blend or do they not.
00:00:51.61\00:00:54.98
There is a reason for this.
00:00:55.02\00:00:56.45
There are many today
00:00:56.48\00:00:58.02
that are trying to make
all sorts of amalgamations,
00:00:58.05\00:01:00.89
trying to blend things
together and develop good.
00:01:00.92\00:01:05.06
But the problem is that
00:01:05.09\00:01:06.73
when things are
tested by scripture,
00:01:06.76\00:01:09.10
which is the
duty of the Christian
00:01:09.13\00:01:10.73
to prove all things
00:01:10.77\00:01:12.17
and to live by every word
00:01:12.20\00:01:13.54
that proceeds out
of the mouth of God.
00:01:13.57\00:01:15.27
We begin to see
that a lot of things
00:01:15.30\00:01:17.21
that even
Christians have embraced,
00:01:17.24\00:01:19.31
even Christianity has embraced.
00:01:19.34\00:01:21.41
We find that there
are contradictions,
00:01:21.44\00:01:23.98
there are living hypocrisies,
and there are inconstancies,
00:01:24.01\00:01:27.62
and as a result of that
00:01:27.65\00:01:28.98
the will of God
cannot be accomplished,
00:01:29.02\00:01:31.15
which we have established
in previous episodes,
00:01:31.19\00:01:33.39
which is putting that
robe back on humanity.
00:01:33.42\00:01:36.62
Once again, man coming
in right union with God
00:01:36.66\00:01:39.43
and experiencing righteousness,
which can only come by faith.
00:01:39.46\00:01:43.16
It is because of
this that we had to look
00:01:43.20\00:01:44.93
at the lifestyles
of the world today
00:01:44.97\00:01:46.57
and there is nothing
00:01:46.60\00:01:47.94
that has affected this world
like the culture of hip-hop.
00:01:47.97\00:01:51.17
Hip-hop is incredible
as it relates to its power
00:01:51.21\00:01:53.61
and influence in the world.
00:01:53.64\00:01:55.14
And though there be many people
who believe in it, exercise it,
00:01:55.18\00:01:58.31
practice it, advocate it, etc.,
00:01:58.35\00:02:00.65
though they may be
doing it even innocently,
00:02:00.68\00:02:03.05
it has to be looked upon
from the biblical lens and see,
00:02:03.08\00:02:06.15
is there
consistency or inconsistency.
00:02:06.19\00:02:09.76
We've been seeing consistent
inconsistency thus far.
00:02:09.79\00:02:12.79
We have been looking
clearly at the Word of God,
00:02:12.83\00:02:14.83
we looked especially at a clip
where one of the great teachers
00:02:14.86\00:02:19.83
and thought
leaders in hip-hop culture,
00:02:19.87\00:02:21.50
KRS-One stated the
very four key elements,
00:02:21.54\00:02:25.74
cornerstones or
pillars of the hip-hop culture,
00:02:25.77\00:02:28.14
which was love, peace,
unity, and safely having fun.
00:02:28.18\00:02:31.31
And we have been
really looking at love
00:02:31.35\00:02:32.85
because love, quite
honestly is inexhaustible,
00:02:32.88\00:02:36.08
because God is love
and God is inexhaustible.
00:02:36.12\00:02:39.15
And we have been looking at
it and doing some comparatives
00:02:39.19\00:02:41.89
and in our previous
episode we looked at, you know,
00:02:41.92\00:02:45.09
some of the thought leaders
00:02:45.13\00:02:46.46
from Russell
Simmons to Afrika Bambaataa
00:02:46.49\00:02:48.40
and things that they have shared
00:02:48.43\00:02:50.40
that unfortunately does
not gel with some of the things
00:02:50.43\00:02:54.44
we are seeing
from the Word of God.
00:02:54.47\00:02:55.80
We are seeing
that love is something
00:02:55.84\00:02:57.94
that causes us to
take stance against things
00:02:57.97\00:03:01.98
that even though it
may make us uncomfortable,
00:03:02.01\00:03:04.95
we have to be
willing to take that stand
00:03:04.98\00:03:06.85
because of those whom we love.
00:03:06.88\00:03:08.88
And we saw through those
clips, Lance, that, you know,
00:03:08.92\00:03:11.29
some of these
things were not consistent,
00:03:11.32\00:03:13.86
we were looking at it
and trying to figure out,
00:03:13.89\00:03:15.92
okay, how can we
say we love somebody
00:03:15.96\00:03:19.59
and at the same time
we will not correct them
00:03:19.63\00:03:21.56
when they are
worthy of correction,
00:03:21.60\00:03:23.00
which was admitted by
both of the two individuals
00:03:23.03\00:03:26.03
that we just looked at,
00:03:26.07\00:03:27.40
Russell Simmons
and Afrika Bambaataa,
00:03:27.44\00:03:28.97
where they are
saying, "Hey, you know,
00:03:29.00\00:03:31.37
though these things may
very well be wrong or evil,"
00:03:31.41\00:03:34.38
you know, "I'm not
gonna go ahead and say,
00:03:34.41\00:03:36.24
"Let's get rid of it,
00:03:36.28\00:03:37.61
let's stop it or
speak against it."
00:03:37.65\00:03:38.98
Yeah.
00:03:39.01\00:03:40.35
"Yet when other things
take place in our world,
00:03:40.38\00:03:43.92
the hip-hop community
knows how to come together
00:03:43.95\00:03:45.49
and speak against it,
call it wrong and call it evil,
00:03:45.52\00:03:48.22
and all these other things,
00:03:48.26\00:03:49.59
but they don't
seem to want to do it
00:03:49.62\00:03:50.96
when it comes close to home.
00:03:50.99\00:03:52.33
At least this is what is seeming
00:03:52.36\00:03:54.03
to be the reality thus far.
00:03:54.06\00:03:55.76
It's because of this that
00:03:55.80\00:03:57.20
I believe we cannot count
00:03:57.23\00:03:59.87
on human manufactured
ideas of what constitutes love
00:03:59.90\00:04:03.27
even as taught
through hip-hop culture
00:04:03.30\00:04:05.41
and we need to
get a real picture,
00:04:05.44\00:04:07.68
what really is love?
00:04:07.71\00:04:09.04
How does it really work?
00:04:09.08\00:04:10.41
How can I make it
applicable in my life
00:04:10.45\00:04:12.45
and in my circumstances,
00:04:12.48\00:04:14.18
whether I'm in the
hood or I'm in a palace?
00:04:14.22\00:04:16.12
How can I make it
real for me? Right.
00:04:16.15\00:04:18.82
And so, I have some verses
that I want to talk about,
00:04:18.85\00:04:21.42
but I think you have
a verse there available
00:04:21.46\00:04:24.99
that kind of just
walks us through, you know,
00:04:25.03\00:04:27.46
that was
referred to in the Bible
00:04:27.50\00:04:29.00
as the love chapter.
00:04:29.03\00:04:30.37
That's right.
00:04:30.40\00:04:31.73
That kind of just
highlights what love is
00:04:31.77\00:04:33.13
and if you read that for us,
00:04:33.17\00:04:34.80
then we are gonna go ahead
00:04:34.84\00:04:36.17
and walk through
some other principles.
00:04:36.20\00:04:37.54
Well, then that
would be my pleasure.
00:04:37.57\00:04:38.91
So here it is that we're looking
00:04:38.94\00:04:40.28
at a chapter in the Bible
00:04:40.31\00:04:41.64
that has been known
00:04:41.68\00:04:43.01
throughout theological realms
00:04:43.04\00:04:44.38
and Christianity generally,
00:04:44.41\00:04:45.75
as the love chapter,
00:04:45.78\00:04:47.12
which is found
in 1 Corinthians 13.
00:04:47.15\00:04:48.52
Because I am reading
from a King James version,
00:04:48.55\00:04:50.59
we are gonna see that word
"charity" constantly come up,
00:04:50.62\00:04:53.25
but this is the
word agape in the Greek,
00:04:53.29\00:04:55.39
which really deals
with the Godly love.
00:04:55.42\00:04:57.29
Yeah.
00:04:57.33\00:04:58.66
So, it says in 1
Corinthians 13:1,
00:04:58.69\00:05:01.06
"Though I speak with the tongues
00:05:01.10\00:05:02.83
of men and of angels,
00:05:02.86\00:05:04.80
and have not charity, I
am become as sounding brass,
00:05:04.83\00:05:08.50
or a tinkling cymbal.
00:05:08.54\00:05:10.07
And though I have
the gift of prophecy,
00:05:10.11\00:05:12.07
and understand all
mysteries, and all knowledge.
00:05:12.11\00:05:16.04
And though I have all faith,
00:05:16.08\00:05:17.45
so that I could
remove mountains,
00:05:17.48\00:05:18.81
and have not
charity, I am nothing.
00:05:18.85\00:05:21.05
And though I bestow all
my goods to feed the poor,
00:05:21.08\00:05:24.22
and though I give
my body to be burned,
00:05:24.25\00:05:26.62
and have not charity,
00:05:26.65\00:05:28.09
it profiteth me nothing.
00:05:28.12\00:05:29.86
Charity suffereth
long, and is kind.
00:05:29.89\00:05:32.86
Charity envieth not.
00:05:32.89\00:05:34.93
Charity vaunteth not
itself, is not puffed up,
00:05:34.96\00:05:38.33
it doth not
behave itself unseemly,
00:05:38.37\00:05:41.30
it seeketh not her
own, is not easily provoked,
00:05:41.34\00:05:44.97
thinketh no evil.
00:05:45.01\00:05:47.64
Rejoiceth not in iniquity,
but rejoiceth in the truth.
00:05:47.68\00:05:51.81
Beareth all things,
believeth all things,
00:05:51.85\00:05:54.75
hopeth all things,
endureth all things.
00:05:54.78\00:05:57.72
Charity never faileth:
00:05:57.75\00:06:00.46
but whether there be prophecies,
00:06:00.49\00:06:01.99
they shall fail,
whether there be tongues,
00:06:02.02\00:06:03.93
they shall cease.
00:06:03.96\00:06:05.29
Whether there be
knowledge, it shall vanish away.
00:06:05.33\00:06:08.86
For we know in part,
and we prophesy in part.
00:06:08.90\00:06:11.43
But when that
which is perfect is come,
00:06:11.47\00:06:13.50
then that which is in
part shall be done away.
00:06:13.54\00:06:15.97
When I was a
child, I speak as a child,
00:06:16.00\00:06:17.54
I understood as a child,
and I thought as a child:
00:06:17.57\00:06:19.97
but when I became a man,
I put away childish things.
00:06:20.01\00:06:22.58
For now we see
through a glass, darkly,
00:06:22.61\00:06:24.48
but then face to
face: now I know in part,
00:06:24.51\00:06:27.18
but then shall I know
even as also I am known.
00:06:27.22\00:06:30.42
And now abideth faith,
hope, charity, these three,
00:06:30.45\00:06:34.19
but the greatest
of these is charity."
00:06:34.22\00:06:37.69
Amen. Amen.
00:06:37.73\00:06:39.06
So we're seeing a
situation, you know,
00:06:39.09\00:06:41.40
the whole context of Corinthians
00:06:41.43\00:06:42.76
is really dealing
with knowledge, wisdom
00:06:42.80\00:06:45.40
and essentially it identifies
wisdom as being Christ Himself.
00:06:45.43\00:06:49.10
We saw in 1
Corinthians 1:24 that,
00:06:49.14\00:06:53.78
"Christ is the power of
God and the wisdom of God."
00:06:53.81\00:06:56.95
That's right.
00:06:56.98\00:06:58.31
So, really that childish thing
00:06:58.35\00:06:59.68
that is being put
away is ignorance.
00:06:59.71\00:07:01.98
It's ignorance.
Powerful. Yes, sir.
00:07:02.02\00:07:03.35
It's a lack of the
true knowledge and wisdom
00:07:03.39\00:07:04.89
that leads to reality
that God is, that Christ is,
00:07:04.92\00:07:09.09
as it says in 1
Corinthians 1:30 that,
00:07:09.12\00:07:11.89
"He was made unto us
wisdom, and righteousness,
00:07:11.93\00:07:15.00
and
sanctification, and redemption."
00:07:15.03\00:07:17.37
So another thing that
the Bible stresses is,
00:07:17.40\00:07:20.20
it identifies the fact
that love is not an emotion
00:07:20.24\00:07:24.97
that you hear a
lot about feeling,
00:07:25.01\00:07:26.51
I want to feel the
love, I don't feel the love.
00:07:26.54\00:07:30.11
They are looking for this
kind of emotional response
00:07:30.15\00:07:33.82
and this emotional fulfillment,
00:07:33.85\00:07:35.25
which God does
provide emotional fulfillment.
00:07:35.28\00:07:37.42
It's not that that
is completely negated.
00:07:37.45\00:07:39.95
It's just that
love is a principle,
00:07:39.99\00:07:41.62
it transcends emotion.
00:07:41.66\00:07:42.99
That's right.
00:07:43.02\00:07:44.36
So when we talk about love,
00:07:44.39\00:07:45.73
there is much
more to say about it,
00:07:45.76\00:07:47.50
I want to turn to a Bible verse,
00:07:47.53\00:07:48.86
but I know that
you have something else
00:07:48.90\00:07:50.23
that you want to share.
00:07:50.27\00:07:51.60
Yeah, I mean, when
I look at this concept
00:07:51.63\00:07:53.00
of what's coming
out in 1 Corinthians 13,
00:07:53.03\00:07:55.70
it really does hone
in on like what you said,
00:07:55.74\00:07:57.77
it really is
functional of a principle
00:07:57.81\00:08:00.21
rather than simply
an emotional stimuli,
00:08:00.24\00:08:02.28
some type of feeling
we have here or there.
00:08:02.31\00:08:04.31
And I was reading
one day a book called,
00:08:04.35\00:08:06.75
"Acts of the Apostles,"
00:08:06.78\00:08:08.12
and it says
something very powerful
00:08:08.15\00:08:10.32
commenting on this 1
Corinthians 13 passage
00:08:10.35\00:08:13.99
and dealing with, you
know, the love chapter,
00:08:14.02\00:08:16.09
and I just thought it
was so profound that I said,
00:08:16.12\00:08:17.56
"We have to read this."
00:08:17.59\00:08:18.93
And it's in Acts of
the Apostles, page 318,
00:08:18.96\00:08:21.33
and here is what it says,
00:08:21.36\00:08:22.96
"No matter how
high the profession,
00:08:23.00\00:08:26.03
he whose heart is not
filled with love for God
00:08:26.07\00:08:29.80
and his fellowmen is not
a true disciple of Christ.
00:08:29.84\00:08:33.88
Though he should
possess great faith
00:08:33.91\00:08:36.38
and have power
even to work miracles,
00:08:36.41\00:08:39.08
yet without love his
faith would be worthless.
00:08:39.11\00:08:43.08
He might display
great liberality,
00:08:43.12\00:08:45.55
but should he,
from some other motive
00:08:45.59\00:08:48.32
than genuine love,
00:08:48.36\00:08:49.69
bestow all his
goods to feed the poor,
00:08:49.72\00:08:53.09
the act would not
commend him to the favor of God.
00:08:53.13\00:08:56.10
In his zeal he might
even meet a martyr's death,
00:08:56.13\00:08:59.53
yet if not actuated by love,
00:08:59.57\00:09:02.20
he would be regarded by God
00:09:02.24\00:09:04.64
as a deluded enthusiast
or an ambitious hypocrite."
00:09:04.67\00:09:09.91
My brother, that is
profound. Absolutely.
00:09:09.94\00:09:12.35
And this is why
love is worthy of study.
00:09:12.38\00:09:15.92
We have to be able to
say, "Lord, I need Your love,
00:09:15.95\00:09:18.95
not my human manufactured love."
00:09:18.99\00:09:21.06
"Not my love with all of its
incredible human limitations,
00:09:21.09\00:09:24.59
and acceptances, and
all these other things."
00:09:24.63\00:09:27.40
We need a love
that is born of heaven.
00:09:27.43\00:09:29.70
And God wants to give it to us.
00:09:29.73\00:09:31.47
He is willing to give it to us
00:09:31.50\00:09:32.83
through the medium of His spirit
00:09:32.87\00:09:34.20
and thank the Lord, the
Bible says in Luke 11:13,
00:09:34.24\00:09:36.47
"If you want the Spirit
of God, you can ask for Him."
00:09:36.50\00:09:38.34
Yeah.
00:09:38.37\00:09:39.71
So that we can literally say,
00:09:39.74\00:09:41.08
"Lord, I don't have Your love
00:09:41.11\00:09:42.44
but I'm asking You to
put that love in my heart."
00:09:42.48\00:09:43.81
But it does require that element
00:09:43.85\00:09:45.18
that we've been talking
about in previous episodes,
00:09:45.21\00:09:47.42
which is submission.
00:09:47.45\00:09:48.78
You got to be
willing to submit to God
00:09:48.82\00:09:50.99
and then you can have
power to resist the devil
00:09:51.02\00:09:53.59
that he may flee from
us as James 4 tells us.
00:09:53.62\00:09:55.99
So this is a very, very
important part of our study,
00:09:56.02\00:09:58.56
where we are
really dealing with now,
00:09:58.59\00:10:00.16
you know, love, what is it?
00:10:00.20\00:10:01.80
How does it work?
00:10:01.83\00:10:03.16
How can I make
it real for my life
00:10:03.20\00:10:04.53
and my circumstance?
00:10:04.57\00:10:05.90
And I hope that this is gonna
00:10:05.93\00:10:07.27
be an absolute
blessing to our viewers
00:10:07.30\00:10:09.14
as I'm sure it's
gonna be a blessing
00:10:09.17\00:10:10.51
even to us just to rehearse it.
00:10:10.54\00:10:11.87
Right, and just to
mention as well is that
00:10:11.91\00:10:13.58
love requires constant
scrutiny and accountability.
00:10:13.61\00:10:18.35
And that is the
responsibility that we have.
00:10:18.38\00:10:21.25
And that is
really how you maintain
00:10:21.28\00:10:24.35
the love for the community,
00:10:24.39\00:10:27.32
the love for your
brothers and sisters,
00:10:27.36\00:10:29.56
the love for your family
is what your motivation, your,
00:10:29.59\00:10:33.46
what you are doing
00:10:33.50\00:10:34.83
and how you are
expressing "love"
00:10:34.86\00:10:37.83
has to constantly be scrutinized
00:10:37.87\00:10:39.43
and you have to be
constantly held accountable.
00:10:39.47\00:10:41.60
And if there is nobody in
the hip-hop culture for example
00:10:41.64\00:10:45.61
or many that are not
willing to scrutinize,
00:10:45.64\00:10:50.38
to hold accountable
within their own ranks,
00:10:50.41\00:10:52.65
then you know,
00:10:52.68\00:10:54.02
you have to question
the love principle there.
00:10:54.05\00:10:56.48
Is it a principle or it's
just something that is fleeting?
00:10:56.52\00:10:58.95
Absolutely.
00:10:58.99\00:11:00.32
So, let's look at
Hebrews 12, and in Hebrews 12:2,
00:11:00.36\00:11:04.16
it kind of highlights
00:11:04.19\00:11:05.53
what we've been
talking about the idea
00:11:05.56\00:11:06.90
that love is not
simply an emotional stimulus.
00:11:06.93\00:11:11.70
It is a principle
that transcends emotion.
00:11:11.73\00:11:14.77
So in Hebrews 12:2, it says,
00:11:14.80\00:11:18.27
"Looking unto Jesus the author
and finisher of our faith.
00:11:18.31\00:11:24.05
Who for the joy that was set
before Him endured the cross,
00:11:24.08\00:11:29.05
despising the
shame, and is set down
00:11:29.08\00:11:31.95
at the right hand
of the throne of God."
00:11:31.99\00:11:34.42
Now the question here
and we're gonna look at this,
00:11:34.46\00:11:36.86
but what is it that
motivated His action?
00:11:36.89\00:11:40.86
What is it that moved
Him to express this great,
00:11:40.90\00:11:44.87
immeasurable love?
00:11:44.90\00:11:47.34
And it says here that,
00:11:47.37\00:11:48.90
"The joy that
was set before Him,"
00:11:48.94\00:11:51.47
because of that,
"He endured the cross,
00:11:51.51\00:11:53.58
despising the shame."
00:11:53.61\00:11:54.94
That's right. So, what was it?
00:11:54.98\00:11:56.31
And if we go to Luke 15,
we'll see what that joy was.
00:11:56.34\00:12:00.05
What was it that
was motivating Christ
00:12:00.08\00:12:02.42
to go against every
single human impulse.
00:12:02.45\00:12:05.15
Every natural
earthly, psychological,
00:12:05.19\00:12:08.49
emotional impulse
was don't do this,
00:12:08.52\00:12:10.59
at all cost.
00:12:10.63\00:12:11.96
Protect yourself, you
know, we're kind of wired,
00:12:11.99\00:12:15.70
because of sin we are
wired for self preservation.
00:12:15.73\00:12:18.13
Yes. Right?
00:12:18.17\00:12:19.50
So, what was it
that motivated Christ,
00:12:19.53\00:12:20.87
Luke 15:7, I believe.
00:12:20.90\00:12:23.24
We're gonna read Luke 15 and...
00:12:23.27\00:12:27.48
All right.
00:12:27.51\00:12:28.84
Luke 15:7, it says,
00:12:28.88\00:12:31.71
"I say unto you,
00:12:31.75\00:12:33.65
that likewise joy
shall be in heaven
00:12:33.68\00:12:37.65
over one sinner that repenteth,
00:12:37.69\00:12:40.02
more than over ninety
and nine just persons,
00:12:40.06\00:12:42.86
which need no repentance."
00:12:42.89\00:12:44.83
Amen.
00:12:44.86\00:12:46.19
The salvation of
even one individual soul
00:12:46.23\00:12:50.37
brings
immeasurable joy in heaven.
00:12:50.40\00:12:53.67
That's right.
00:12:53.70\00:12:55.04
So, Jesus' motivation
for laying down His life
00:12:55.07\00:12:58.71
for His friends was going...
00:12:58.74\00:13:01.04
was there even if
it was just one person
00:13:01.08\00:13:03.04
who is gonna positively respond.
00:13:03.08\00:13:04.51
Even if there was just
one person to be saved,
00:13:04.55\00:13:06.51
He would have done it.
00:13:06.55\00:13:07.88
That's right.
00:13:07.92\00:13:09.25
He would have endured the
cross despising the shame,
00:13:09.28\00:13:10.62
that's love.
00:13:10.65\00:13:11.99
And we're saying it and
it's easy to kind of say it
00:13:12.02\00:13:14.99
and I'm not even gonna suggest
that we really understand
00:13:15.02\00:13:17.89
how deep that is,
00:13:17.93\00:13:19.26
and how strong
and powerful that is.
00:13:19.29\00:13:21.33
But nevertheless, we have
the testimony of the scripture
00:13:21.36\00:13:24.50
that shows us
clearly that the motivation,
00:13:24.53\00:13:27.14
the expression of love was
not necessarily in a sentiment,
00:13:27.17\00:13:33.54
it was in an action.
00:13:33.58\00:13:34.91
That's right.
00:13:34.94\00:13:36.28
It was in a principle
00:13:36.31\00:13:37.85
that was
exercised that went against
00:13:37.88\00:13:40.62
every single natural impulse.
00:13:40.65\00:13:43.18
And so love has to be
the fact that God is love
00:13:43.22\00:13:46.39
and if that is in us,
00:13:46.42\00:13:47.92
then we have to be willing also
00:13:47.96\00:13:49.62
to endure whatever might come
00:13:49.66\00:13:51.46
to endure that
cross, to despise the shame,
00:13:51.49\00:13:53.86
to be willing to
do whatever it takes
00:13:53.90\00:13:55.23
even if it's
just for one person,
00:13:55.26\00:13:56.83
even if it could
mean the salvation
00:13:56.87\00:13:58.67
and the saving of one person.
00:13:58.70\00:14:00.24
And this is a kind of love
that is very, very selfless.
00:14:00.27\00:14:04.11
Yes.
00:14:04.14\00:14:05.47
This is something 'cause if you
read the account in Matthew 26,
00:14:05.51\00:14:08.04
Jesus is in the
Garden of Gethsemane,
00:14:08.08\00:14:10.48
Luke 22 also brings this out,
00:14:10.51\00:14:12.38
He's in the Garden of Gethsemane
00:14:12.41\00:14:13.95
and He is saying,
00:14:13.98\00:14:15.32
"Father, if it is possible,
let this cup pass from me."
00:14:15.35\00:14:18.05
Jesus had to drink a cup
00:14:18.09\00:14:19.52
and that cup was filled
with a very wrath of God.
00:14:19.55\00:14:21.76
Jesus was taking
on the punishment
00:14:21.79\00:14:24.26
that should come to sinners
00:14:24.29\00:14:25.86
and He was willing to let
this punishment fall on Himself.
00:14:25.89\00:14:28.96
You know, when a man dies today,
00:14:29.00\00:14:30.67
he can die but he's
only bearing his issues,
00:14:30.70\00:14:33.50
what his challenges were.
00:14:33.54\00:14:35.00
Christ was taking on
the sins of humanity.
00:14:35.04\00:14:37.87
2 Corinthians
5:21, tells us that,
00:14:37.91\00:14:41.11
"He became sin for us."
00:14:41.14\00:14:44.35
It's like literally
sinners' past, sinners' present,
00:14:44.38\00:14:47.68
sinners' future, all
was weighing on Christ
00:14:47.72\00:14:50.89
in the Garden of Gethsemane.
00:14:50.92\00:14:52.32
And this why it
caused Him to sweat so much
00:14:52.35\00:14:54.32
that it literally
popped His blood vessels
00:14:54.36\00:14:56.06
and blood was being
mingled with the sweat.
00:14:56.09\00:14:57.99
He was dealing with the
weight of the sins of the world,
00:14:58.03\00:15:02.50
strange enough, not His own.
00:15:02.53\00:15:04.57
So this is incredible
because this is a love that,
00:15:04.60\00:15:06.70
like you stated,
you stated it perfectly,
00:15:06.74\00:15:08.60
we're gonna spend eternity
00:15:08.64\00:15:10.31
seeking to
understand such a love.
00:15:10.34\00:15:12.21
That you would be willing to
step down from absolute glory,
00:15:12.24\00:15:16.78
absolute beauty,
00:15:16.81\00:15:18.41
looking your father face-to-face
00:15:18.45\00:15:21.12
and enjoying the
beauty of angels and holiness,
00:15:21.15\00:15:24.82
and He came down
to a sin cursed earth,
00:15:24.85\00:15:27.42
clothed yourself
with human flesh,
00:15:27.46\00:15:30.03
human nature,
00:15:30.06\00:15:31.86
and went through
all the trials of life,
00:15:31.89\00:15:33.80
and went through
temptations far worse
00:15:33.83\00:15:35.43
than we ever could have faced,
00:15:35.46\00:15:36.80
and ridicule, put down, etc.,
00:15:36.83\00:15:38.87
and then to have
all of the sinners' sins
00:15:38.90\00:15:42.64
laid upon you.
00:15:42.67\00:15:44.97
We don't understand that,
00:15:45.01\00:15:46.91
our minds are way
too limited to understand
00:15:46.94\00:15:49.68
what Christ was going
through at Calvary and He said,
00:15:49.71\00:15:52.55
"I did all of this that
00:15:52.58\00:15:54.22
even if one
person would accept it,
00:15:54.25\00:15:56.25
it was worth it."
00:15:56.28\00:15:57.62
Man, this is a
selfless kind of love
00:15:57.65\00:16:00.82
that we would do
well to consider often
00:16:00.86\00:16:03.53
is to think on
Calvary and to understand
00:16:03.56\00:16:06.39
what Christ did
that we may be saved.
00:16:06.43\00:16:09.20
And to appreciate and to cherish
00:16:09.23\00:16:10.93
the plan of salvation
00:16:10.97\00:16:12.30
rather than to shun
it, and joke about it,
00:16:12.33\00:16:14.74
and jest upon it, as many do
00:16:14.77\00:16:18.27
even in positions of thought
leadership in hip-hop culture.
00:16:18.31\00:16:21.74
It is so incredibly insulting.
00:16:21.78\00:16:23.75
And this is why Christians
need to take a stand and to say,
00:16:23.78\00:16:27.18
"Listen, what's being taught
00:16:27.22\00:16:29.12
through hip-hop
culture is error.
00:16:29.15\00:16:30.75
It is something
that is dangerous."
00:16:30.79\00:16:32.32
Jesus said, "If
you're not with Me,
00:16:32.35\00:16:33.69
you are against Me."
00:16:33.72\00:16:35.06
And therefore I'm not
here to try to put, you know,
00:16:35.09\00:16:37.39
hip-hop culture in
a neutral position.
00:16:37.43\00:16:39.29
There is no neutral, either
you are for or you're against.
00:16:39.33\00:16:41.86
And everything
that is being purported
00:16:41.90\00:16:43.63
through hip-hop culture
00:16:43.67\00:16:45.00
is against Christianity,
00:16:45.03\00:16:47.27
which is against Christ,
00:16:47.30\00:16:48.90
which is
against the Word of God,
00:16:48.94\00:16:50.67
which is against God.
00:16:50.71\00:16:52.21
And this has to be taught,
00:16:52.24\00:16:53.81
it has to be made plain
00:16:53.84\00:16:55.28
and God's people
need to come out of it
00:16:55.31\00:16:56.85
and into His marvelous light
00:16:56.88\00:16:58.48
and really understand
00:16:58.51\00:16:59.85
what it means to bear the cross.
00:16:59.88\00:17:01.55
To be able to say,
00:17:01.58\00:17:02.92
"Listen, if Jesus kept
the view in front of Him,
00:17:02.95\00:17:06.59
the goal, even when
He didn't feel to do it,
00:17:06.62\00:17:10.16
the view and the goal of what
this process would accomplish
00:17:10.19\00:17:14.40
is greater than my
feelings right now."
00:17:14.43\00:17:16.60
Yeah. And that's how love works.
00:17:16.63\00:17:18.80
And this is something we
can take in our lives, if I,
00:17:18.83\00:17:20.97
you know, if I
got to change my diet,
00:17:21.00\00:17:22.60
I can literally learn
a lesson from the cross.
00:17:22.64\00:17:24.94
I can say, "Man, you know what?
00:17:24.97\00:17:26.88
I've been
saying for a long time,
00:17:26.91\00:17:28.24
I need to eat better
to have greater health."
00:17:28.28\00:17:29.61
But every time I
see that food object,
00:17:29.64\00:17:31.31
it just pulls me
and I just give in,
00:17:31.35\00:17:33.55
but what if I could remember
a lesson from the cross.
00:17:33.58\00:17:35.68
Christ says, "It was the
joy that was set before me
00:17:35.72\00:17:38.19
that I endured this."
00:17:38.22\00:17:39.55
What if you had the joy of
your health set before you,
00:17:39.59\00:17:42.29
kept that in your vision
00:17:42.32\00:17:43.83
when you start practicing
your dietary restrictions.
00:17:43.86\00:17:46.49
If you keep that
joy set before you,
00:17:46.53\00:17:48.46
it helps better
enable you to not give in
00:17:48.50\00:17:51.27
to the call of
appetite or the god belly.
00:17:51.30\00:17:53.54
We can literally take
principles from the cross
00:17:53.57\00:17:55.60
and make it
practical in our own lives.
00:17:55.64\00:17:57.57
And this is a
demonstration of the love of God
00:17:57.61\00:18:00.34
and this is how we can
show forth our love back to God
00:18:00.38\00:18:03.38
and to our fellowmen.
00:18:03.41\00:18:04.75
Right.
00:18:04.78\00:18:06.11
So love goes deeper,
I mean, it's clear that
00:18:06.15\00:18:08.15
love does not glory in itself,
00:18:08.18\00:18:09.82
in other words,
love is not competitive.
00:18:09.85\00:18:11.95
In Philippians 2:3-4,
00:18:11.99\00:18:15.52
it says something very powerful.
00:18:15.56\00:18:17.49
It says, "Fulfil ye my
joy, that ye be likeminded,
00:18:17.53\00:18:22.66
having the same love,
00:18:22.70\00:18:24.03
being of one
accord, of one mind.
00:18:24.07\00:18:26.33
Let nothing be done
through strife or vainglory,
00:18:26.37\00:18:30.51
but in lowliness of
mind let each esteem other
00:18:30.54\00:18:33.61
better than themselves."
00:18:33.64\00:18:35.78
So, we see here, you know,
00:18:35.81\00:18:37.98
if we thought of just
life in general, I mean,
00:18:38.01\00:18:40.95
almost every single culture
is rooted in competitive,
00:18:40.98\00:18:44.99
you know, behavior
00:18:45.02\00:18:46.35
and if we just
think of hip-hop, I mean,
00:18:46.39\00:18:49.52
I don't know how many,
00:18:49.56\00:18:50.89
when I was in the
culture and I was MCing,
00:18:50.93\00:18:53.36
I don't know how
many battles I had.
00:18:53.40\00:18:55.36
I don't know how many battles
as a dancer that you had.
00:18:55.40\00:18:57.57
But that is the...
00:18:57.60\00:18:58.93
that is one of the
fundamental aspects
00:18:58.97\00:19:01.54
and elements there that
it's really me against you.
00:19:01.57\00:19:04.81
Who's better? I'm better.
00:19:04.84\00:19:06.17
And that is encouraged,
that in fact is cheered
00:19:06.21\00:19:08.58
and revered whether it's over,
00:19:08.61\00:19:10.88
you know, how many record sales,
00:19:10.91\00:19:12.38
how many units you move,
how many downloads you had,
00:19:12.41\00:19:14.78
how many views you had
on YouTube or you know,
00:19:14.82\00:19:18.22
somebody on the
street corner with no money
00:19:18.25\00:19:20.02
and how many battles he
won and how many, you know,
00:19:20.06\00:19:22.09
punch lines he had.
00:19:22.12\00:19:23.46
So this idea of competition
00:19:23.49\00:19:25.76
is contradicting love, you know,
00:19:25.79\00:19:29.03
and we know that whether
it's on the basketball court
00:19:29.06\00:19:31.77
or what have you, often
times this turns to violence.
00:19:31.80\00:19:34.20
It can.
00:19:34.24\00:19:35.57
This friendly,
friendly competition
00:19:35.60\00:19:37.67
can quickly turn to violence
00:19:37.71\00:19:39.27
and that's just
part of the culture,
00:19:39.31\00:19:41.01
that's just part
of life, you know,
00:19:41.04\00:19:42.51
we are gonna have some
of that and some of this,
00:19:42.54\00:19:44.01
we just need to have a balance.
00:19:44.05\00:19:45.41
And if we were to
take the Word of God
00:19:45.45\00:19:46.88
just for what it says,
00:19:46.92\00:19:48.25
it says, "In lowliness of
mind let each esteem others
00:19:48.28\00:19:52.99
better than themselves."
00:19:53.02\00:19:55.19
How can you do that
and engage in an activity
00:19:55.22\00:19:58.63
where my goal is to
demonstrate I'm better than you.
00:19:58.66\00:20:01.73
Exactly. It's
literally impossible.
00:20:01.76\00:20:04.97
Yeah. It's a contradiction.
00:20:05.00\00:20:06.47
So when we are
looking at the Word of God
00:20:06.50\00:20:08.40
and we are looking
at the love of God,
00:20:08.44\00:20:10.01
we are seeing
something very profound,
00:20:10.04\00:20:12.31
because I know you
just read verses 3 and 4,
00:20:12.34\00:20:14.28
but if we were to
go further in verse 5,
00:20:14.31\00:20:16.54
Paul is really trying to
just summarize his point.
00:20:16.58\00:20:18.85
He is saying, "Do you know
what I'm really trying to say?"
00:20:18.88\00:20:20.32
Verse 5, "Let
this mind be in you,
00:20:20.35\00:20:21.68
which was also in Christ Jesus."
00:20:21.72\00:20:23.05
That's right.
00:20:23.08\00:20:24.42
You want to know
the mind of Christ?
00:20:24.45\00:20:25.79
Let me show you
the mind of Christ.
00:20:25.82\00:20:27.16
Who thought it not
robbery to be equal with God.
00:20:27.19\00:20:29.82
But He humbled Himself,
became obedient unto death,
00:20:29.86\00:20:33.66
etc., this is the demonstration,
00:20:33.70\00:20:36.33
the character, the example
that Christ wanted us to have.
00:20:36.36\00:20:39.60
Not to be busy
trying to battle each other
00:20:39.63\00:20:41.74
and I'm trying to
beat you or beat me,
00:20:41.77\00:20:43.44
because my human nature
doesn't like to be defeated.
00:20:43.47\00:20:45.37
No.
00:20:45.41\00:20:46.74
So even though I can be
like, "Good, good one there,
00:20:46.78\00:20:48.78
you've got me, you've got me."
00:20:48.81\00:20:50.15
A lot of times
there is something
00:20:50.18\00:20:51.51
in my heart that says,
00:20:51.55\00:20:52.88
"I can't believe this
brother beat me, man, if it...
00:20:52.91\00:20:54.32
You know what?
00:20:54.35\00:20:55.68
In fact, if I
could, I'd probably
00:20:55.72\00:20:57.05
knock him out right now
00:20:57.09\00:20:58.42
but I know there's
so many people looking."
00:20:58.45\00:20:59.79
I mean, these things
going on in the heart
00:20:59.82\00:21:01.66
that can come out
eventually in the character,
00:21:01.69\00:21:03.66
and this is how a
lot of those fights
00:21:03.69\00:21:05.19
break out at
different, you know,
00:21:05.23\00:21:06.56
sports arenas or
some of the, you know,
00:21:06.59\00:21:09.10
the house
parties, and the clubs,
00:21:09.13\00:21:10.77
and everything,
where all these battles
00:21:10.80\00:21:12.53
and this competing and
trying to beat each other
00:21:12.57\00:21:15.00
when if we follow
the biblical blueprint,
00:21:15.04\00:21:17.17
we wouldn't have
to deal with this.
00:21:17.21\00:21:18.54
Let each esteem
others better than themselves
00:21:18.57\00:21:21.44
in lowliness of mind
00:21:21.48\00:21:23.41
and looking not out for yourself
00:21:23.45\00:21:26.05
but looking out for others,
that was what verse 4 said.
00:21:26.08\00:21:27.98
That's right.
00:21:28.02\00:21:29.35
So, if we follow this principle,
00:21:29.38\00:21:30.99
this is a demonstration of love.
00:21:31.02\00:21:33.86
Yeah.
00:21:33.89\00:21:35.22
So, if we, you know,
we've talked about this before,
00:21:35.26\00:21:38.13
but Jesus put it very
simply in John 14:15, it says,
00:21:38.16\00:21:41.13
"If you love Me,
keep My commandments."
00:21:41.16\00:21:43.43
Now this opens another
dynamic of love that, you know,
00:21:43.47\00:21:48.70
as it relates to
the human response,
00:21:48.74\00:21:50.51
how are we to response in love?
00:21:50.54\00:21:51.87
We understand
that we're supposed
00:21:51.91\00:21:53.24
to lay down our
lives for our brethren,
00:21:53.27\00:21:54.61
we understand
but when Jesus says,
00:21:54.64\00:21:56.95
"If you love Me,
keep My commandments."
00:21:56.98\00:21:58.75
Love now takes
on another aspect,
00:21:58.78\00:22:01.18
another
dimension, and another layer.
00:22:01.22\00:22:02.98
So I want to turn to 1 John 2
00:22:03.02\00:22:05.72
and really walk
through a principle here.
00:22:05.75\00:22:07.79
We've looked at some
of these verses before,
00:22:07.82\00:22:09.72
but when we look at 'em again,
00:22:09.76\00:22:11.09
we're gonna look at
'em through this lens,
00:22:11.13\00:22:12.46
so 1 John 2 and I'm
looking at verses 3-6,
00:22:12.49\00:22:16.36
it says here that,
00:22:16.40\00:22:20.24
"And hereby we do
know that we know Him,
00:22:20.27\00:22:22.44
if we keep His commandments.
00:22:22.47\00:22:24.51
He that saith, I know Him,
00:22:24.54\00:22:26.24
and keepeth not
His commandments,
00:22:26.27\00:22:27.61
is a liar,
00:22:27.64\00:22:28.98
and the truth is not in him.
00:22:29.01\00:22:30.35
But who so keepeth His word,
00:22:30.38\00:22:32.01
in Him verily is the
love of God perfected.
00:22:32.05\00:22:35.15
Hereby know we
that we are in Him."
00:22:35.18\00:22:38.65
And we stressed this
before but again the fact that
00:22:38.69\00:22:41.86
love can be demonstrated,
love can be witnessed.
00:22:41.89\00:22:44.23
That's right.
00:22:44.26\00:22:45.59
And in this case, is
witnessed through obedience
00:22:45.63\00:22:47.66
and obedience to
none other but God.
00:22:47.70\00:22:49.50
Obedience to His commandments
00:22:49.53\00:22:51.13
is an indication
that love is present,
00:22:51.17\00:22:54.27
the love of God is
present in the human heart.
00:22:54.30\00:22:56.71
Now it goes
further in 1 John 3:16
00:22:56.74\00:22:59.54
as we read before and
we'll stress it again.
00:22:59.57\00:23:02.14
"Hereby perceive
we the love of God,
00:23:02.18\00:23:04.55
because He laid
down His life for us.
00:23:04.58\00:23:06.38
And we ought to lay down
our lives for the brethren."
00:23:06.41\00:23:08.92
So love is
demonstrated through action,
00:23:08.95\00:23:11.79
so we understand
and we see the proof
00:23:11.82\00:23:14.52
and the
evidence of love in that,
00:23:14.56\00:23:17.36
"Christ laid
down His life for us."
00:23:17.39\00:23:18.73
Yes.
00:23:18.76\00:23:20.10
So, we had to demonstrate
that in the same fashion
00:23:20.13\00:23:21.46
but notice, it goes
further in 1 John 4,
00:23:21.50\00:23:24.50
1 John 4:8-9, it says,
00:23:24.53\00:23:28.84
"He that loveth
not knoweth not God,
00:23:28.87\00:23:31.14
for God is love.
00:23:31.17\00:23:33.61
In this was manifested
the love of God toward us,
00:23:33.64\00:23:36.88
because that God sent His only
begotten Son into the world,
00:23:36.91\00:23:40.72
that we might live through Him."
00:23:40.75\00:23:42.45
So God, the Father,
00:23:42.48\00:23:44.02
demonstrated His love by action.
00:23:44.05\00:23:46.72
He didn't just say it,
00:23:46.76\00:23:48.09
He didn't just
mention it or feel it,
00:23:48.12\00:23:49.79
He demonstrated His
love by sending His Son,
00:23:49.82\00:23:52.73
and His Son
demonstrated His love
00:23:52.76\00:23:54.63
by laying down His life.
00:23:54.66\00:23:56.10
We are supposed to demonstrate
love by laying down our lives
00:23:56.13\00:23:58.73
and keeping His commandments.
00:23:58.77\00:24:00.10
Now if we really were
to carefully consider this,
00:24:00.14\00:24:03.41
again these principles
00:24:03.44\00:24:05.77
will need to be
reflected in the heart
00:24:05.81\00:24:08.51
of God's people today, you know,
00:24:08.54\00:24:11.35
even in the most
trying circumstances.
00:24:11.38\00:24:13.68
I'm gonna use the
social issues right now.
00:24:13.72\00:24:15.78
Again, right
now we believe that,
00:24:15.82\00:24:19.22
there are many rather,
00:24:19.25\00:24:20.59
I'm not gonna include
myself in this on this point,
00:24:20.62\00:24:22.39
but there are many who believe
00:24:22.42\00:24:24.06
that the police
officers are the enemy.
00:24:24.09\00:24:27.10
And therefore, there's a lot
of things happening on that end.
00:24:27.13\00:24:29.13
Some of the police officers,
they believe some of these
00:24:29.16\00:24:30.87
civilians are the enemies
00:24:30.90\00:24:32.23
and there is a lot of unrest
happening in society right now.
00:24:32.27\00:24:36.27
Well, what does the Bible teach?
00:24:36.30\00:24:38.21
Christ, God the
Father loved humanity enough
00:24:38.24\00:24:41.54
that He was willing to let
the only one that was like Him,
00:24:41.58\00:24:44.48
come to save these individuals,
00:24:44.51\00:24:46.68
yet these
individuals were enemies.
00:24:46.72\00:24:49.02
You see, when we read Romans
5 in the previous episode,
00:24:49.05\00:24:51.82
it says, "God
commendeth His love toward us,
00:24:51.85\00:24:53.69
that while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us,"
00:24:53.72\00:24:56.19
that was Romans 5:8.
00:24:56.22\00:24:57.56
Literally, if you
go to Romans 5:10,
00:24:57.59\00:24:59.63
it actually says in verse
10, "While we were yet enemies,
00:24:59.66\00:25:03.26
Christ came and died for us."
00:25:03.30\00:25:04.70
So Jesus was
demonstrating a love
00:25:04.73\00:25:07.67
for enemies and the question is,
00:25:07.70\00:25:11.24
what happens to your
love or your love principle
00:25:11.27\00:25:14.44
that you function by
00:25:14.48\00:25:15.81
when you come in
contact with somebody
00:25:15.84\00:25:17.28
that you can deem in
your mind a bonafide enemy?
00:25:17.31\00:25:20.65
Jesus' love was
consistent to the point
00:25:20.68\00:25:22.68
that even one
day when Pilate says,
00:25:22.72\00:25:24.49
"All right, what
do you want me to do?
00:25:24.52\00:25:25.85
I got one man,
Barabbas and I got Jesus,
00:25:25.89\00:25:27.79
what do you want me to do?"
00:25:27.82\00:25:29.16
They said, "We want
Barabbas to be free,
00:25:29.19\00:25:31.03
and we want you
to crucify Christ."
00:25:31.06\00:25:32.76
He said, "Why?"
00:25:32.79\00:25:34.13
They said, "We just
want Him crucified,"
00:25:34.16\00:25:35.50
and they yelled even
louder and Pilate said,
00:25:35.53\00:25:37.40
"Look, I, my hands are innocent,
00:25:37.43\00:25:39.77
this man, my hands are clean,
00:25:39.80\00:25:41.60
this man is innocent,
00:25:41.64\00:25:42.97
I have nothing to do
with this just person,
00:25:43.00\00:25:44.37
I'm gonna let you go
ahead and do what you want,
00:25:44.41\00:25:46.44
but I believe He is all right."
00:25:46.47\00:25:47.81
And after He said
that, the people responded,
00:25:47.84\00:25:50.85
"Let His blood be on
us and on our children,"
00:25:50.88\00:25:54.52
and these are
people that Jesus blessed.
00:25:54.55\00:25:57.09
Christ gets on the cross
00:25:57.12\00:25:59.35
and He looks at these people
00:25:59.39\00:26:00.72
who are speaking
so intelligently,
00:26:00.76\00:26:02.12
I mean, they
are making it clear,
00:26:02.16\00:26:03.49
"This is what I want,
this is how we want it," etc.,
00:26:03.53\00:26:06.36
and lo and behold, Jesus
says, "Father, forgive them.
00:26:06.39\00:26:11.13
They actually don't
know what they are doing."
00:26:11.17\00:26:13.40
I wonder if this attitude
can be towards many of these
00:26:13.44\00:26:16.50
individuals who are functioning
like enemies right now.
00:26:16.54\00:26:19.17
Do we have this attitude?
00:26:19.21\00:26:20.61
Literally, I
mean, these are things
00:26:20.64\00:26:22.14
that we have to reconcile with
00:26:22.18\00:26:24.58
is even when someone
behaves like an enemy,
00:26:24.61\00:26:27.02
does that now give me license
00:26:27.05\00:26:29.85
to let emotion take
over my principle of love?
00:26:29.88\00:26:34.36
And this is why this has
been a very, very deep study
00:26:34.39\00:26:36.93
and you know, I know
that the Lord has blessed
00:26:36.96\00:26:38.93
and you know, I appreciate
you sharing these verses
00:26:38.96\00:26:41.10
and I believe that God just
wants to make this thing plain
00:26:41.13\00:26:43.90
that love is about obedience.
00:26:43.93\00:26:46.13
It's about following
God first and foremost,
00:26:46.17\00:26:48.40
loving your
fellowmen consistently even
00:26:48.44\00:26:50.81
when they act
ungodly towards you,
00:26:50.84\00:26:53.41
being willing to
lay down your life
00:26:53.44\00:26:55.44
even for
individuals if necessary
00:26:55.48\00:26:57.65
that they may receive
the everlasting gospel
00:26:57.68\00:27:00.28
which is the wonderful,
simplified a life's problems.
00:27:00.32\00:27:02.88
These are beautiful principles.
00:27:02.92\00:27:04.65
This is a balance of true love
00:27:04.69\00:27:07.92
that comes from
the heart of God.
00:27:07.96\00:27:10.43
We really want to praise
the Lord for just the things
00:27:10.46\00:27:12.39
that we were able to study,
00:27:12.43\00:27:13.76
I believe that it was imperative
00:27:13.80\00:27:15.50
that we could receive
a true knowledge of God
00:27:15.53\00:27:18.63
which gives us a
true knowledge of self
00:27:18.67\00:27:20.74
and helps us to
see our need for Christ
00:27:20.77\00:27:23.57
that our lives may
be surrendered unto Him
00:27:23.61\00:27:25.37
in such a way
00:27:25.41\00:27:26.74
that we can live like
Jesus lived on this earth,
00:27:26.78\00:27:28.68
and we can live by that
love principle that always says,
00:27:28.71\00:27:32.11
"Not my will but
thy will be done."
00:27:32.15\00:27:36.48
Until the next time, we want to
go ahead and encourage you to,
00:27:36.52\00:27:38.79
please,
meditate on these things,
00:27:38.82\00:27:40.56
study to show yourself approved,
00:27:40.59\00:27:42.19
pay attention to these words
and ask God through His Spirit
00:27:42.22\00:27:45.36
to settle these
truths home in your heart,
00:27:45.39\00:27:47.76
and then share
with somebody else,
00:27:47.80\00:27:49.13
and see what it
does in their lives,
00:27:49.16\00:27:50.80
and watch how you and them
will be encouraged together.
00:27:50.83\00:27:54.27
Until the next
time we come together,
00:27:54.30\00:27:56.04
please remember that
wonderful text of scripture
00:27:56.07\00:27:58.61
in Proverbs 2:6, which tells us,
00:27:58.64\00:28:01.48
"It is the Lord
that giveth wisdom
00:28:01.51\00:28:04.01
and out of His mouth comes
knowledge and understanding."
00:28:04.05\00:28:08.05
God bless you.
00:28:08.08\00:28:09.42