1 00:00:14,119 --> 00:00:17,359 Welcome to the Lansdale Life Church podcast. 2 00:00:18,399 --> 00:00:24,100 If you're seeking a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, this podcast is for you. 3 00:00:24,740 --> 00:00:27,019 Thank you for joining us today. 4 00:00:35,580 --> 00:00:41,320 Good morning, everyone. Thank you, Danny. It's a great job. Great man of God there. 5 00:00:41,420 --> 00:00:44,299 If you don't know Dan, you got to get to know him. Amen. 6 00:00:46,020 --> 00:00:53,420 So we're going to be looking at John chapter 21 today, and it's cool how 7 00:00:54,100 --> 00:01:01,840 again, most of the time, almost never do I speak to the worship team ahead of time 8 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:09,739 about what the message is. Sometimes they see it ahead. But as we were singing about loving, 9 00:01:10,079 --> 00:01:16,340 the God loving us today is about us loving God, right? But I love that song, don't you? 10 00:01:16,340 --> 00:01:34,819 He loves us. Oh, how He loves us. Oh, how He loves us. Oh, how He loves us. 11 00:01:35,459 --> 00:01:44,959 I mean, He really does love us, doesn't He? And yet, do we love Him? Do we love Him the way 12 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:52,640 He wants to be loved? What does love look like from God's perspective, us loving Him? 13 00:01:53,219 --> 00:01:59,120 We already know that we're loved. I mean, God loves everyone, even those who hate Him, right? 14 00:01:59,719 --> 00:02:06,680 God loves us. The question is, do we love God? And if so, how do we demonstrate it? 15 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:12,719 And that's what we're going to talk about today, about loving God. Let's pray. 16 00:02:12,719 --> 00:02:18,280 Father God, we ask you to speak powerfully. I already know you are, Lord, because your word 17 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:28,520 is so life changing, Lord. So we ask you to use your word to just dive and dig in deep, Lord God, 18 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:37,340 to rejuvenate us, to empower us, to set us free, Lord God. We want to be untethered to old thinking, 19 00:02:38,300 --> 00:02:44,740 untethered to our old creation, our old man, and renewed in you, tethered to you. 20 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:51,419 So, Lord God, just show us how we can love you better, Lord, because we know you love us, 21 00:02:51,460 --> 00:02:57,620 but we want to love you. So we ask you, Lord, to speak through your word in Jesus' name, amen. 22 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:05,680 So, you know, when Jesus was walking through his ministry of three plus years after he got 23 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:11,099 anointed by the Holy Spirit, and he always had people following him of all types, but, you know, 24 00:03:11,159 --> 00:03:18,580 the scribes, the Pharisees, they're always trying to trip him up and catch him off guard and question 25 00:03:18,580 --> 00:03:25,460 his authority. And when the scribes said, which is the greatest commandment? Do you remember that? 26 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:31,020 Which is the greatest commandment? They were thinking 10 commandments, maybe some Levitical 27 00:03:31,020 --> 00:03:37,020 commandments, but what did Jesus say? To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, 28 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:44,120 mind, and strength. This is the first commandment. Now, I look at that. 29 00:03:45,460 --> 00:03:52,819 How in the world can we love the Lord with all of our heart, all of our soul, 30 00:03:52,919 --> 00:03:58,460 all of our mind, and all of our strength? To me, that seems impossible. How about to you? 31 00:03:58,460 --> 00:04:05,300 Really? With everything? Love God with everything? You know, how can we possibly do that? 32 00:04:05,860 --> 00:04:10,819 And then he goes on and gives the second commandment. The second is like it. And he says, 33 00:04:10,900 --> 00:04:17,420 to love your neighbor as yourself. So in other words, to love others, right? So he's given us 34 00:04:17,420 --> 00:04:27,339 that second commandment. You know, what if these commandments are coupled together 35 00:04:27,900 --> 00:04:34,819 in that by loving God, we love God by loving others, right? In other words, we demonstrate our love 36 00:04:35,340 --> 00:04:45,319 for God by loving those he loves. You remember when in Matthew 25, when the Lord comes and 37 00:04:45,319 --> 00:04:51,399 he's judging on his throne and he gathers the sheep on his right hand, the goats on his left. 38 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:59,040 And he says, those of you who come to me, those righteous ones, the sheep, because when I was 39 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:06,699 hungry, you gave me food. When I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, 40 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:13,519 you took me in. When I was naked, you clothed me. When I was sick, you visited me. When I was in 41 00:05:13,519 --> 00:05:18,279 prison, you came to me. And of course, the righteous are saying like, 42 00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:23,899 when did we ever see you in those conditions? Well, when you did it for the least of these, 43 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:32,600 you did it for me. Like loving God is loving others in his name, loving those he loves, 44 00:05:33,100 --> 00:05:38,459 loving those on behalf of Christ, right? Because Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father 45 00:05:38,459 --> 00:05:44,500 right now. And we are a demonstration of his love to the world, right? So that's how we 46 00:05:44,500 --> 00:05:53,959 demonstrate our love to the Lord is by loving those he loves. Quite often, Jesus would give 47 00:05:53,959 --> 00:06:02,939 the answer within the question. Like when he said to those who are saying, oh, you're doing 48 00:06:02,939 --> 00:06:09,060 that in the power of Beelzebub. If I do that in the power of Beelzebub, how do your sons 49 00:06:09,060 --> 00:06:16,300 cast out demons, right? According to them by God's strength. So he's saying, no, I'm doing this 50 00:06:16,300 --> 00:06:22,740 by the power of God, right? When the rich young ruler came to him and he says, good teacher, 51 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:28,740 tell me how to get to heaven. And Jesus said, why do you call me good? There's only one 52 00:06:28,740 --> 00:06:35,439 who is good and that is God. So he's telling him, you're calling me good because I am God, 53 00:06:35,439 --> 00:06:40,500 right? So he's giving the answer. What if the second commandment is how we perform 54 00:06:40,500 --> 00:06:47,259 the first commandment by loving others on his behalf? You know, in fact, John wrote, 55 00:06:47,339 --> 00:06:55,620 he knew all about God's love, right? And he wrote in 1 John 4 verses 20 and 21, he says, 56 00:06:55,740 --> 00:07:03,000 if someone says, I love God and hates his brother, he is a liar. For he who does not love his 57 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:11,339 brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we 58 00:07:11,339 --> 00:07:19,339 have from him that he who loves God must love his brother also. So that is how we demonstrate 59 00:07:19,339 --> 00:07:25,819 our love to God is by loving those he loves. And we can say, well, I know that, of course. 60 00:07:26,519 --> 00:07:32,519 But a lot of times we lose track of that and think our love for God is purely a one-on-one 61 00:07:32,519 --> 00:07:39,920 relationship and forget, no, no, no, he wants to pour his love out through us to others, right? 62 00:07:40,379 --> 00:07:47,540 And so that's the idea here. So as I set up this scene that is very familiar to you, 63 00:07:47,879 --> 00:07:54,139 I'm sure if you're reading your Bible for any time at all, and we mentioned when Jesus 64 00:07:54,779 --> 00:08:01,819 appeared to the disciples on the Sea of Galilee, right? And so we talked two weeks ago 65 00:08:01,819 --> 00:08:10,740 on Easter, Jesus rose from the dead, right? And now he's walking upon the earth for a total 66 00:08:10,740 --> 00:08:17,759 of 40 days before he would be ascended to heaven. And during that time when he rose from the dead, 67 00:08:17,839 --> 00:08:23,319 the first person he appeared to was Mary Magdalene. I think that's so awesome, right? 68 00:08:24,100 --> 00:08:30,519 Mary Magdalene. Then he appears to Peter. Then he appeared to the two on the way to Emmaus. 69 00:08:30,519 --> 00:08:36,220 Remember that? And when they realized who he was and who they just saw, they ran back to Jerusalem, 70 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:40,480 saw the others. And as they're in there talking about, he appeared to see this. 71 00:08:40,879 --> 00:08:45,279 They didn't mention Mary Magdalene there, but of course, I'm sure it was said, 72 00:08:45,799 --> 00:08:51,200 he appeared to us on the road. And as they're like rejoicing, suddenly there's Jesus in the 73 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:57,200 midst of him. With the door shut, he's just there, right? And he appeared to them there again. 74 00:08:57,200 --> 00:09:02,059 If you can recall, Thomas wasn't there. So when Jesus left, he came and he goes, 75 00:09:02,139 --> 00:09:06,899 I don't believe you guys. Unless I touch his wounds, I won't believe that he actually rose 76 00:09:06,899 --> 00:09:12,659 from the dead. Eight days later, he appears again in front of all of them. And that's when 77 00:09:12,659 --> 00:09:17,759 Thomas says, my Lord and my God. And now he's convinced, right? So that was the second time 78 00:09:17,759 --> 00:09:22,100 he appeared to all of them. But you know, Jesus was appearing to a lot of people. 79 00:09:22,740 --> 00:09:28,840 In fact, Paul shares in 1 Corinthians 15, three to seven, he says, 80 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:37,139 and he was seen by Cephas, that's Peter. Then by the 12, after that he was seen by over 81 00:09:37,139 --> 00:09:44,419 500 brethren at once. So Jesus was actually doing small venue preaching. Isn't that awesome? 82 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:51,659 Like there is the resurrected Christ preaching to many, many people. So many people saw him, 83 00:09:51,659 --> 00:09:58,360 right? So where we pick this up is just after he appeared for the third time to all of his 84 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:03,120 disciples, okay? The third time. And that's when he came to the beach and he said, hey, 85 00:10:03,139 --> 00:10:07,299 do you have anything to eat? They didn't recognize him. Then he said, throw the net on the right 86 00:10:07,299 --> 00:10:13,860 side. And they caught this humongous catch of 153 fish. They drag it into the beach in this 87 00:10:13,860 --> 00:10:19,679 net and they're just overwhelmed. It's Jesus, right? And then they have breakfast together. 88 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:27,399 And now we pick it up in this scene where Jesus is going to have a tough conversation with Peter. 89 00:10:28,620 --> 00:10:36,399 And I think about this because this was probably the fourth time at least he was talking to Peter 90 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:44,559 after his resurrection. And yet it's not reported until now that Jesus is going to 91 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:51,679 speak to him. Frankly, do you even love me? Peter, right? He's going to confront him and yet he's 92 00:10:51,679 --> 00:10:59,480 going to restore him. Why did he wait maybe two and a half, two to two and a half weeks before he 93 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:04,659 actually appeared to Peter to have this conversation? We had already seen him three 94 00:11:04,659 --> 00:11:10,340 other times, right? And as I was thinking about that, you know, a lot of times difficult 95 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:18,440 conversations, yet we have to be sensitive to things, right? Now, as I was contemplating this, 96 00:11:18,519 --> 00:11:25,360 I'm thinking, what are the things that we need to consider when we are confronting people or trying 97 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:31,820 to reconcile differences or navigating, you know, touchy subjects, but we want to bring 98 00:11:32,419 --> 00:11:39,600 reconciliation. And the Lord gave me three things. Truth, right? Timing and temperament. 99 00:11:40,639 --> 00:11:45,980 You know, I think we need all three of those things before we're going to discuss something with 100 00:11:45,980 --> 00:11:51,220 someone who we have an issue with or things that need to be resolved. You know what I mean? 101 00:11:51,340 --> 00:11:57,220 You need to have truth on your side. I mean, I've messed that up at times thinking I knew the 102 00:11:57,220 --> 00:12:01,940 full truth and I knew a part of the truth, right? But I didn't know everything. We can really jump 103 00:12:01,940 --> 00:12:11,080 to conclusions, can't we? Or timing. We jump in too soon. You know, for Jesus to talk to Peter the 104 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:17,299 very first time Peter sees him, and he's like saying, Lord, you're alive. I can't believe it. 105 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:23,639 Yeah, Peter, I got to talk to you. Remember that denial three times? Let's hash this out 106 00:12:23,639 --> 00:12:28,700 right here now. I mean, it's kind of too soon, right? You know, I mean, it's like they're just 107 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:35,639 rejoicing that they're together. Do you know what I mean? And for him to already start to discuss 108 00:12:35,639 --> 00:12:42,299 these difficult issues might have been too soon. Do you know what I mean? It's almost like picture 109 00:12:42,299 --> 00:12:47,720 the prodigal son. Give me my inheritance. He runs away. He squanders it. Suddenly he's there 110 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:54,740 watching the pigs eat. He's like, my servants of my father have it better than me. He goes back, 111 00:12:55,219 --> 00:13:00,600 humble. His father sees him up the road. You know the story, right? And he sees him coming. 112 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:07,519 And what does the father do? He runs to him and embraces and kisses his neck. You're back. My son 113 00:13:07,519 --> 00:13:13,659 who was lost is now found. He's rejoicing. Now, could you imagine if he had seen him down the 114 00:13:13,659 --> 00:13:21,659 road? I'm like, yep, yep. I figured he'd come back. Just go back in the house and sit down and wait. 115 00:13:22,379 --> 00:13:29,679 Imagine that, like his son is coming down the road, like wretched, starving, barefooted, dirty, 116 00:13:30,340 --> 00:13:38,879 smelly. And his dad just turns back. No, he's got to pay for this decision, you know? Or his father 117 00:13:38,879 --> 00:13:45,360 does run to him. He gets to him. Man, you reek. Where's all your money? You don't even have shoes on? 118 00:13:46,519 --> 00:13:55,720 What did you do with all your money? Immediately address the difficult issues. How did you become 119 00:13:55,720 --> 00:14:01,200 dissatisfied with what I offered you here? Did he have any of those conversations? No, 120 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:10,820 he rejoiced, right? Get my son a robe, a ring, shoes, kill the fatted calf. We're having a party 121 00:14:10,820 --> 00:14:17,639 because my son who was lost is now found. He's home. It would have been too soon to get into 122 00:14:17,639 --> 00:14:23,120 all these, you know, you know, you got to work on your budgeting and you really have to, like, 123 00:14:23,299 --> 00:14:28,500 learn discipline in your work. It's too soon, right? It's just not the right timing, right? 124 00:14:28,500 --> 00:14:36,179 And I believe that's a part of this with Jesus. He loves Peter. He knows how guilty Peter must 125 00:14:36,179 --> 00:14:41,519 feel. He remembers. He told him in advance, you know, by the time the rooster crows, 126 00:14:41,740 --> 00:14:48,320 you will deny me three times. Suddenly, Peter, for the last time, is cursing. I swear by blah, 127 00:14:48,340 --> 00:14:54,840 blah, blah. I don't know him. Suddenly, the rooster crows. He looks across the courtyard 128 00:14:55,639 --> 00:15:01,980 and Jesus turns to him. Could you just imagine that? Like he's in the middle of all kinds of stuff, 129 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:06,700 right? By then, maybe the crown was already hammered into his head, 130 00:15:07,759 --> 00:15:14,200 but he at least was beaten, spit on, his beard was torn, and there he is. And suddenly, the rooster 131 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:23,600 crows and Jesus knows exactly where Peter is and what he just did. Can you imagine, like, 132 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:30,519 imagine rewinding that again and again in your mind. Like, man, he was my life. Like, 133 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:35,600 I followed him everywhere. Like, he was, he had everything, you know, he had the words of life 134 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:43,519 and I reject that even to some little girl. Like, really? Like, imagine that. And then Jesus 135 00:15:43,519 --> 00:15:50,139 sees him. Do you think he's going to bring up that at that time? But now it's time to address it. 136 00:15:50,139 --> 00:15:59,159 And more for Peter's sake than Christ. Because, you know, he had to work these things out for 137 00:15:59,159 --> 00:16:06,879 Peter's benefit. You ever notice sometimes when there's some difficult issues that we should 138 00:16:06,879 --> 00:16:12,500 work through? There was a little blow up, a little argument, a little something or other. 139 00:16:13,659 --> 00:16:18,700 And we say, you know what? We're back to being peaceful now. Like, I don't want to 140 00:16:18,990 --> 00:16:23,129 ruffle their feathers. We'll get in another argument. I don't want to talk about that now 141 00:16:23,129 --> 00:16:28,769 because we're doing good now. Well, you know, if we don't reconcile the things of the past, 142 00:16:29,950 --> 00:16:34,110 they're going to be part of our future too, right? They're just going to keep coming back. 143 00:16:34,730 --> 00:16:40,690 If it's a pattern, it's going to come back again and again. The best time to do it 144 00:16:40,690 --> 00:16:45,870 was when there isn't a lot of emotion. There isn't a lot of strife. And we could just say, 145 00:16:45,870 --> 00:16:53,590 listen with truth, with timing and temperament. That means like, you know, I have to be cool. 146 00:16:54,389 --> 00:17:01,570 I have to be loving. I have to want something good to come out of this interaction. You know, 147 00:17:01,950 --> 00:17:07,529 this conversation. I want what God wants. That's what I want. I don't want me to win. 148 00:17:08,029 --> 00:17:14,509 I don't want them to win. I want God to win. I want him to resolve this situation. That's 149 00:17:14,509 --> 00:17:20,150 what Christ wanted. He wanted Peter to be resolved. He didn't want to rub his face in the fact that 150 00:17:20,150 --> 00:17:26,410 he denied him three times. No, he wanted to restore him. And not only for Peter's sake, 151 00:17:26,690 --> 00:17:32,289 but for all of their sakes. He had to do this in public with all of his other disciples there. 152 00:17:32,470 --> 00:17:38,410 They're all on the beaches, right? And he asked him these questions we're about to read 153 00:17:38,410 --> 00:17:44,869 in the presence of everyone so that they could hear that Christ has restored Peter. 154 00:17:45,849 --> 00:17:50,849 Peter needed to know that he was right with God. Why? Because when that Pentecost came 155 00:17:50,849 --> 00:17:57,569 another like three weeks later or whatever, and the Holy Spirit came, Peter couldn't be carrying 156 00:17:57,569 --> 00:18:05,769 any guilt, any condemnation, any memory, rewinding, rewinding of the denial. Imagine that you're 157 00:18:06,079 --> 00:18:12,859 walking on the street, you hear a rooster crow, you're like, oh, gosh, like, yeah, it still stings. 158 00:18:13,119 --> 00:18:18,339 Every time I think of I did that, right? Well, I'm sure the Lord restoring him, 159 00:18:18,740 --> 00:18:24,200 that dissipated over time because he knew he was right with God. Imagine that Pentecost 160 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:28,200 when all of a sudden people say, what's going on here? And Peter says, 161 00:18:29,220 --> 00:18:38,059 I've been awakened. It's time. And bam, he gives that sermon that saves 3,000 people, 162 00:18:38,519 --> 00:18:44,900 just like that, right? The Lord gave him the worst because he was restored. It's so important 163 00:18:44,900 --> 00:18:53,940 to reconcile things, differences, patterns that are not right with God. We need to reconcile them 164 00:18:53,940 --> 00:18:59,420 in love, right? And so this is what Jesus is going to do. He's going to restore him. 165 00:19:00,599 --> 00:19:06,839 And he's going to, not only that, but he's going to show Peter how to prove to himself 166 00:19:07,380 --> 00:19:15,099 that he loves God, that he loves Christ by loving others on behalf of Christ, right? 167 00:19:15,099 --> 00:19:17,519 So let's dig in, you ready? It's only five verses. 168 00:19:21,420 --> 00:19:24,099 John 21 verse 15. 169 00:19:28,259 --> 00:19:34,900 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonah, 170 00:19:35,579 --> 00:19:43,680 do you love me more than these? Now, more than these, you know, some commentaries 171 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:49,140 said he was talking about the fish. I don't know. You know, like, do you love me more than this 172 00:19:49,140 --> 00:19:54,680 fishing career of yours? You know, like 153 fish sitting on the beach. We just ate a couple. 173 00:19:55,339 --> 00:19:59,740 But you know, do you love me more than fishing? I have a feeling that's not what it was. 174 00:20:00,539 --> 00:20:05,000 I have a feeling it was more like, do you love me more than these other disciples? Because Peter 175 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:09,980 was again and again saying like, I'm the best. I'm the greatest. When everyone else fails you, 176 00:20:09,980 --> 00:20:16,339 I will never surrender. I will never bail on you. In fact, he says it in Matthew 26, 33, 177 00:20:16,980 --> 00:20:25,680 he says, when all else stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble. I'm going to stick 178 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:29,500 up for you, Lord. And you know, he did. He actually cut off Malchus's ear with his sword. 179 00:20:29,799 --> 00:20:36,299 He tried in his feeble way to defend Jesus. And when that didn't work, I'm out. I'm out of ideas. 180 00:20:36,299 --> 00:20:41,279 I'm out of here. Right? Because he didn't know what else to do. But Jesus was saying, 181 00:20:41,380 --> 00:20:48,180 remember you said you were better than everybody else. Okay. I only make you great. You don't make 182 00:20:48,180 --> 00:20:54,220 you great. You know, he's saying, you love me more than these. It's not about that anyway. 183 00:20:54,579 --> 00:21:00,940 Right. And then, but he doesn't call him Peter. Did you notice that? Like Jesus gave Peter his 184 00:21:00,940 --> 00:21:05,240 name. Do you remember this? We see it in a couple of verses in 185 00:21:07,759 --> 00:21:17,579 John five 20. No, no. Matthew 16, 18. Sorry. He says, and also I say to you that you are Peter, 186 00:21:17,799 --> 00:21:23,539 just after Peter says, you are the son of the living God. Well, flesh and blood did not reveal 187 00:21:23,539 --> 00:21:27,920 this to you, but my father who was in heaven. And he said, and I say also to you that you are Peter 188 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:33,900 and on this rock, meaning himself, I will build my church and the gates of Haiti shall not 189 00:21:33,900 --> 00:21:40,420 prevail against it. We see also another place where Simon to whom he gave the name Peter. 190 00:21:40,579 --> 00:21:45,740 So he called Peter rock. That's what Peter means, right? As a rock. But here he wasn't calling 191 00:21:45,740 --> 00:21:50,920 him rock. He was calling him a son of a man. In other words, your ordinary flesh 192 00:21:51,559 --> 00:21:57,180 until I dwell in you. I empower you. Everything good in you is going to be because of me, 193 00:21:57,180 --> 00:22:04,420 not because of you. So he was, he was reconciling Peter to himself, right? And so he's saying, 194 00:22:04,599 --> 00:22:14,319 do you love me? And there's two words. I know you know this part because you've heard it before, 195 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:22,019 but we're going to see an interaction of two words for love. Okay. Because he says, Peter, 196 00:22:22,019 --> 00:22:29,279 son of Jonah, do you love me? And the word that Jesus uses is agape love. 197 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:36,740 But Peter replies and says to him, yes, Lord, you know that I filet oh you. 198 00:22:37,420 --> 00:22:45,380 And that's a different kind of love. Now, agape love is used most often. It's more most 199 00:22:45,380 --> 00:22:54,259 comprehensive, actually 116 times agape. Oh, which is the verb form is 142 times agape is very common. 200 00:22:54,279 --> 00:23:04,460 Okay. But it is, it's comprehensive, right? Whereas filet oh is actually, in a sense, 201 00:23:04,579 --> 00:23:12,420 a more intimate and more personal love. Did you realize I heard many times people compare it 202 00:23:12,420 --> 00:23:20,460 and no agape is sacrificial and it is and selfless and it is and filet oh is more surfacey. Well, 203 00:23:21,179 --> 00:23:27,160 it's more personal because a lot of times it involves personal connection, right? 204 00:23:27,660 --> 00:23:33,519 Filet oh, isn't a bad love. It's a very personal love. Agape is a comprehensive like, 205 00:23:33,539 --> 00:23:41,279 I commit to agape you no matter what you do or say, right? You know, you can agape love someone 206 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:48,559 that you don't like at all. They annoy you and you can agape them because you're committing 207 00:23:48,559 --> 00:23:55,960 and saying, you know what, this person, but I love them. I love them. I agape them, right? 208 00:23:56,799 --> 00:24:01,680 But you might not filet oh them. Do you know what I'm saying? It's not like you get the 209 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:06,880 warm and fuzzies by being around them, but you still commit to love. Jesus is saying, 210 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:12,200 I want that kind of love. I know you love me. I know you only want to stay with me, 211 00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:17,119 but guess what? I'm leaving in a couple of weeks and I'm ascending to heaven. You're 212 00:24:17,119 --> 00:24:24,859 not going to see this anymore, but you're going to sense me living in you. Trust that 213 00:24:24,859 --> 00:24:28,839 because you're not going to see through your senses. You're not going to hear me. 214 00:24:28,839 --> 00:24:37,579 In a sense, filet oh hinges really on our five senses, right? Whereas agape is just a commitment 215 00:24:37,579 --> 00:24:45,640 in the soul. It's like, I love this person because Jesus loves them. It's a sacrificial. 216 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:53,099 You can read in 1 Corinthians 13 all about this love that never fails and it doesn't sound fun, 217 00:24:53,660 --> 00:24:59,259 but it's a commitment and it's a great thing. You know, John, when he talked about 218 00:24:59,259 --> 00:25:06,039 himself, the one whom Jesus, he said both the one whom Jesus filet oh'd and the one whom Jesus 219 00:25:06,900 --> 00:25:13,779 agape'd. He used both words for love because it was all good, right? But this word filet oh 220 00:25:13,779 --> 00:25:19,460 is not a bad word. In fact, I'll show you two verses that are going to kind of stun you about 221 00:25:19,460 --> 00:25:29,380 this filet oh love, John 5.20, for the father filet oh's the son. I mean, the father-in-law 222 00:25:29,380 --> 00:25:33,519 like loves hanging out with his son. Right now they're up there like, I don't know what they're 223 00:25:33,519 --> 00:25:38,099 doing, but they're having a good time, right? He's at the right hand of the father. I'm not even 224 00:25:38,099 --> 00:25:43,519 going to put some conjecture on that, but they're having a great time, right? Because he loves 225 00:25:43,519 --> 00:25:47,660 being with the son because they're one. I know that I'm not going to get into Trinity today, 226 00:25:47,660 --> 00:25:55,019 but they're connected. They're one, right? They love that connection, right? But he also agape's, 227 00:25:55,039 --> 00:26:05,079 of course, the son, right? The father filet oh's the son and shows him all things that he himself 228 00:26:05,079 --> 00:26:12,019 does, and he will show him greater works than these that you may marvel. So that's a good love. 229 00:26:12,019 --> 00:26:20,359 You know what? In fact, Paul takes it even further. 1 Corinthians 6 verse 22, he says, 230 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:28,680 and anyone who does not filet oh the Lord Jesus, let him be accursed. Oh, Lord, come. I mean, that's, 231 00:26:29,420 --> 00:26:36,220 so he wants us to desire him through our senses. And I believe like worship, you know, when I 232 00:26:36,220 --> 00:26:42,079 worship, I just filet oh God. Do you know what I mean? I feel him, don't you? You know, 233 00:26:42,319 --> 00:26:48,380 when I'm engaged in something that is just like, that's so Godly and I sense him, I'm just like 234 00:26:48,380 --> 00:26:55,740 alive in the spirit. You know, it was so awesome. First Friday, you know, a few of us were walking 235 00:26:55,740 --> 00:27:02,700 around suddenly, there was this group of young teens just hanging out. And we look over and like, 236 00:27:02,700 --> 00:27:07,740 you know, you ever just sense like the Lord just saying, you're trying to walk away, you just keep 237 00:27:07,740 --> 00:27:14,420 like, you know, and you just can't. And so we got to go over there, right? So we go in the midst, 238 00:27:15,099 --> 00:27:20,279 and it was so beautiful, because you could just sense, you could just sense there was something 239 00:27:20,279 --> 00:27:26,779 there, right? And as we're talking, their lights, their eyes just start to light up, right? And 240 00:27:26,779 --> 00:27:32,640 we're talking, I'm just a zoning on one guy. And this kid like, I'm saying, don't you want this? 241 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:38,519 Don't you want to? And he said, I do. And all of a sudden, so do I, so do I, so do I seven of them 242 00:27:38,519 --> 00:27:45,859 prayed and received Jesus Christ on Friday night. And I'm telling you, it was a few of us there 243 00:27:45,859 --> 00:27:51,279 were praying with and it was like, wow, like, you know, it's just like that all together. And 244 00:27:51,279 --> 00:27:55,799 you're like, and we encouraged him, we said, look, the enemy is going to try to steal this 245 00:27:55,799 --> 00:28:01,940 seed away. Don't trust him. What you did here is real. Put it in your phones. You accept the Christ, 246 00:28:02,099 --> 00:28:06,519 here's some stuff, read it, come out. I don't know. It doesn't look like any of them are here 247 00:28:06,519 --> 00:28:12,299 right now. So maybe next Sunday, but, but like, but like, I'll tell you what, you just feel like 248 00:28:12,299 --> 00:28:18,380 doing backflips. If I could, I would, right? Because your spirit is alive. You're sensing that 249 00:28:18,380 --> 00:28:24,480 filetio love of God in all five senses, because he's living in you, you know, so you can have the 250 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:31,119 agape and the filetio, but the Lord says, you know, agape, you're even when you don't feel it, 251 00:28:31,960 --> 00:28:38,220 you commit. How many times do you go to events and, you know, and you're waiting for something 252 00:28:38,220 --> 00:28:43,039 to happen and it's not happening, but you're committed. The Lord told me to come, I'm going 253 00:28:43,039 --> 00:28:49,599 to come. I don't have to feel good about it. I don't have to feel it in my senses because I'm 254 00:28:49,599 --> 00:28:56,640 committed to agape love, you know, because I love those who God loves. So we're going to 255 00:28:56,640 --> 00:29:04,539 see this exchange that, that Jesus is saying, do you agape me? And he says, Lord, you know, 256 00:29:04,759 --> 00:29:09,259 I filetio you. Yeah, I know that, but there's going to be a time you're going to need more 257 00:29:09,259 --> 00:29:14,700 than the senses. You're going to need to love me beyond your five senses. You're going to need 258 00:29:14,700 --> 00:29:21,720 to love me because you've committed to love me and love others, right? And so let's read on. 259 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:31,559 So then verse 16, oh, verse 15. So then he says, feed my lambs and literally feed lambs are youngen 260 00:29:31,559 --> 00:29:38,160 of the flock, right? So it's like, feed my baby flock. And what he's saying is new believers, 261 00:29:38,980 --> 00:29:43,759 feed them with the word of God, you know, it's so essential that when someone comes to Christ, 262 00:29:43,759 --> 00:29:50,960 we give them a Bible, we start to get them plugged into Bible teaching things that we're doing here 263 00:29:50,960 --> 00:29:55,799 so that they can immediately start growing and knowing the word of God. You know what our mission 264 00:29:55,799 --> 00:30:03,180 statement is to bring the kingdom and what's our vision? Nobody even know to know the love of God, 265 00:30:03,519 --> 00:30:08,500 grow in the love of God and show the love of God, right? So that's what we want people to do, 266 00:30:08,500 --> 00:30:14,440 to know, grow and show the love of God, to know this, you know, for themselves. And so let's read 267 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:21,980 on verse 16. And he said to him again a second time, Simon, son of Jonah, do you agape me? 268 00:30:22,680 --> 00:30:28,680 And he said to him, yes, Lord, you know that I love you. And he said to him, tend my sheep. 269 00:30:29,519 --> 00:30:36,440 Now tend means to more care for, like protect, like a shepherd takes the sheep out and protects 270 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:40,980 them from the wolves, you know, and they have sheep dogs and, and they're protecting, 271 00:30:41,599 --> 00:30:47,440 they also care for them, you know, if they suddenly get some sort of thing in their eye, 272 00:30:47,579 --> 00:30:53,099 a sty or a disease or whatever, you know, they're putting ointments on, they're caring for them, 273 00:30:53,119 --> 00:30:57,900 they're treating them, they're bringing them out to bigger pastures as they grow, 274 00:30:58,299 --> 00:31:02,839 you know, they're caring for them. And, you know, we all need to be cared for, 275 00:31:02,839 --> 00:31:09,039 you know, that's what discipleship is. It's really caring for one another, our walk, 276 00:31:09,500 --> 00:31:13,940 you know, in life groups, if you don't belong to one, join one, because you're going to learn 277 00:31:13,940 --> 00:31:20,539 what it looks like to be in a community, a smaller community, and learn what it looks like to walk 278 00:31:21,279 --> 00:31:27,160 in Christ, you know, and then cell groups, it's even a smaller version where you really learn, 279 00:31:27,160 --> 00:31:33,059 you know, the aspects, the different foundations of Christianity, you know, 280 00:31:33,359 --> 00:31:39,180 and so it's important to just grow that way, and that is really to tend the sheep. 281 00:31:40,579 --> 00:31:46,500 And then, verse 17, and then he said to him a third time, Simon, son of Jonah, 282 00:31:47,380 --> 00:31:52,160 do you love me? And Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, 283 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:59,420 do you love me with agape love? But this third time he said phileo. It's interesting because 284 00:31:59,420 --> 00:32:03,940 first it's do you agape me? Do you agape me? And he said, Jesus finally said, all right, 285 00:32:03,980 --> 00:32:10,000 I'm just going to bring this down to your level, okay? Do you really phileo me, right? He kind of 286 00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:19,799 like defaulted to what Peter's word for love was. Do you really phileo me? And he said, 287 00:32:19,799 --> 00:32:29,039 Lord, you know all things. You know that I phileo you. And Jesus said to him, feed my sheep. 288 00:32:29,880 --> 00:32:36,619 So here he's actually saying, first it was feed my lambs, the baby ones, then it was tend my mature 289 00:32:36,619 --> 00:32:45,000 ones. Now he's saying, feed my mature ones. You know, we're all, we all need to eat every day. 290 00:32:45,559 --> 00:32:52,059 We all need to consume the word of God, learn the word of God, study the word of God. It's so 291 00:32:52,059 --> 00:32:58,400 essential because the Holy Spirit knows how to use the word of God, right? It's the sword. And 292 00:32:58,400 --> 00:33:03,819 he does all kinds of work in your soul, mind and spirit to cause you to love him more, right? 293 00:33:04,259 --> 00:33:10,319 And he works in you. And it's so important to always be growing in the word of God, 294 00:33:10,319 --> 00:33:16,019 not for knowledge sake, not to get puffed up, but so that you can use the word of God 295 00:33:16,019 --> 00:33:22,579 and advance in this lifetime. Because when we get to the other side, 296 00:33:22,579 --> 00:33:27,119 we're going to know all things, right? In fact, in Hebrews 5, 12, 297 00:33:29,839 --> 00:33:35,799 the author of Hebrews was kind of rebuking the readers. He said, in fact, though by this time, 298 00:33:35,799 --> 00:33:42,700 you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word 299 00:33:42,700 --> 00:33:51,259 all over again. You need milk, not solid food. You know, as a believer, we can't be following people. 300 00:33:51,920 --> 00:33:58,559 We need to be following the Lord and knowing the word of God. We really do. You know, it's, 301 00:33:58,779 --> 00:34:04,099 you know, even like just listening to preaching, it's not good enough. You know, listening to 302 00:34:04,099 --> 00:34:09,619 different podcasts, it's not good enough. You need to read the word for yourself. 303 00:34:10,179 --> 00:34:16,639 Know your Bible. Just like, let it get, just soak it in because you will be so empowered 304 00:34:16,639 --> 00:34:23,619 by the word of God, right? And so then he reads on in verse 13 and 14, he says, 305 00:34:23,960 --> 00:34:29,739 anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant is not acquainted with the teaching 306 00:34:29,739 --> 00:34:38,420 about righteousness, but solid food is for the mature who by constant use have trained themselves 307 00:34:38,420 --> 00:34:44,800 to distinguish good from evil. So it's, we have to be maturing and knowing more and more 308 00:34:44,800 --> 00:34:51,940 deep things of God. I don't know if you ever did like, like a real intense study of one particular 309 00:34:51,940 --> 00:34:58,420 subject, let's say sin, and you look up all the Hebrew words for sin and all the Greek words 310 00:34:58,420 --> 00:35:04,360 for sin and see how they're used. I love that stuff because it's, it's, it's so fun to see where 311 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:07,639 it takes you. A lot of times you come at the other side and say, what did I learn? I don't even know 312 00:35:07,639 --> 00:35:13,960 for sure. But like somehow you're richer in the word of God. You know, in fact, I heard a 313 00:35:13,960 --> 00:35:20,559 comparison with the word of God. They have to eat it every day, you know? And did you ever like 314 00:35:21,480 --> 00:35:26,159 read something in scripture and, you know, an hour later, you're like, I have no idea what I 315 00:35:26,159 --> 00:35:33,079 just read, you know? Well, like food can be that way. Like, do you remember what you ate last week 316 00:35:34,480 --> 00:35:42,980 on Sunday afternoon? Maybe you do, but how about a year ago? Like, no, I'm still here though. 317 00:35:43,719 --> 00:35:48,400 I'm still alive, right? You know, we can, we read the word. We don't know what it's actually 318 00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:55,639 doing in us, but it's keeping us alive and it is strengthening us. So it's so important to always 319 00:35:55,639 --> 00:36:03,179 be digesting the word of God over and over again. In fact, in Leviticus, it talks about the clean 320 00:36:03,179 --> 00:36:08,920 animals and the clean animals chew the cud. Have you ever heard that whole scenario? But really, 321 00:36:09,059 --> 00:36:13,239 it's like kind of like you eat it, you start digesting, it's a little broken down and also, 322 00:36:16,579 --> 00:36:19,480 you know, when you look at a cow out in the field, it's like, 323 00:36:20,839 --> 00:36:26,900 I do that sometimes when I start to choke on my tuna because it's too dry. No, I'm kidding. 324 00:36:27,360 --> 00:36:34,059 Too much information. Thank you, Ken. But like, really, it goes in, it starts to digest and it 325 00:36:34,059 --> 00:36:38,820 comes back up and you're getting more and more out of it. Well, the word of God is like that, 326 00:36:38,860 --> 00:36:43,199 isn't it? You start to read, you're like, I never saw that before. Well, you did, 327 00:36:43,199 --> 00:36:50,239 but it didn't mean the same thing because the word of God is active, alive, sharper than any 328 00:36:50,239 --> 00:36:56,639 two-edged sword, dividing soul and spirit, joint and marrow, thoughts and intentions of the heart. 329 00:36:56,880 --> 00:37:02,280 It's alive. It's active. It's always at work in you. And you read it one time, you think, 330 00:37:02,400 --> 00:37:08,080 I got nothing out of that. It's still in there. The seeds in there. It just, the water didn't 331 00:37:08,099 --> 00:37:14,239 hit it yet. Right? But then all of a sudden you read it again. You're like, wow. And you're getting 332 00:37:14,239 --> 00:37:21,460 more and more enriched in the word of God. You know? So anyway, but so he, so Jesus is saying, 333 00:37:21,880 --> 00:37:28,400 do you love me? Whatever word you want to use. And Peter's like, how can you ask that? 334 00:37:30,400 --> 00:37:40,219 Show me by loving those I love because I'm not going to be here anymore. And the only way you're 335 00:37:40,219 --> 00:37:48,219 going to experience that love that you have for me is when you love others, just like, you know, 336 00:37:48,539 --> 00:37:56,119 feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, taking in 337 00:37:56,119 --> 00:38:02,139 the stranger, going to those who are in prison. Like all these things are aspects of us loving 338 00:38:02,139 --> 00:38:11,539 on behalf of Christ. That's how we love God by loving others. Amen. Just two more quick verses. 339 00:38:13,420 --> 00:38:18,940 Well, let's finish this. Verse 18. Most assuredly I say to you, 340 00:38:19,579 --> 00:38:27,559 when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished. But when you are old, 341 00:38:28,000 --> 00:38:34,300 you will stretch out your hands and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish. 342 00:38:35,440 --> 00:38:43,059 And this he spoke signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when he had spoken this, 343 00:38:43,059 --> 00:38:53,500 he said to him, follow me. Now we know John's like, if you just gave me that prophecy, I mean, Peter, 344 00:38:54,099 --> 00:39:01,119 like, if you just told me that's my future, follow you. And what about John? How come he's not coming 345 00:39:01,119 --> 00:39:07,699 too, right? But like he's telling him, you're going to have to agape me to get through the stuff 346 00:39:07,699 --> 00:39:14,179 you're going to be facing. You know, it's interesting. Peter, throughout his two letters 347 00:39:14,179 --> 00:39:21,059 of first and second Peter, only used the word agape, never even uses filetio anymore, 348 00:39:21,840 --> 00:39:30,960 because he experienced the true love of God is so vast. It's so sacrificial. But when you love 349 00:39:30,960 --> 00:39:36,800 agape love, you feel the filetio love of God. We already know we're loved by him. 350 00:39:36,800 --> 00:39:44,699 How do we love him? By loving those he loves. You know, we are the only ones on earth who can 351 00:39:44,699 --> 00:39:50,380 demonstrate Christ's love to this world. Isn't that something? We're it. And you're like thinking, 352 00:39:50,420 --> 00:39:55,679 I don't do much. Well, I feel that way about myself sometimes. I'm not doing enough. Well, 353 00:39:56,079 --> 00:40:01,760 it's not guilt or condemnation, but it's a fulfillment of why we're still here. Amen. 354 00:40:02,940 --> 00:40:07,800 So we're going to ask Pastor Doug to come up. He's going to lead us in communion 355 00:40:09,340 --> 00:40:20,260 as we celebrate the Lord's body and blood that was expended for us if the worship team can come 356 00:40:20,260 --> 00:40:29,920 up as well. And I think you guys have some of the elements up here, don't you? Yeah, good. 357 00:40:32,380 --> 00:40:33,199 Thank you. 358 00:40:35,940 --> 00:40:41,579 So good morning. So now we're going to partake in communion together. 359 00:40:42,679 --> 00:40:49,000 And as we come to the table of the Lord, we want to pause to remember the incredible sacrifice 360 00:40:49,700 --> 00:40:56,239 that Jesus made for us, each one of us individually and also as a body together. 361 00:40:57,120 --> 00:40:59,159 It's not just a ritual or tradition. 362 00:41:02,700 --> 00:41:11,000 It's a moment of reflection showing gratitude and unity with Christ and with one another as his 363 00:41:11,000 --> 00:41:19,079 body together. The bread represents his body that is broken for us. 364 00:41:20,840 --> 00:41:25,199 The cup represents his blood shed for the forgiveness of our sins. 365 00:41:26,860 --> 00:41:30,679 In partaking, we proclaim his death until he comes again 366 00:41:31,380 --> 00:41:37,760 and will reaffirm our faith in the one who gave everything so that we could have life. 367 00:41:39,539 --> 00:41:46,440 The apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 11 to examine our hearts before taking communion, 368 00:41:46,719 --> 00:41:52,639 not out of fear, but out of reverence and awe for the grace we have been giving. 369 00:41:59,059 --> 00:42:05,300 He says, starting in verse 26, for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, 370 00:42:05,440 --> 00:42:10,659 you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Therefore, whoever eats this bread or drinks 371 00:42:10,659 --> 00:42:17,099 this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 372 00:42:18,039 --> 00:42:24,039 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup, 373 00:42:24,599 --> 00:42:31,800 for he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, 374 00:42:31,980 --> 00:42:38,980 not for discerning the Lord's body. For this reason, many who are weak and sick among you, 375 00:42:39,400 --> 00:42:47,579 and many sleep, for if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 376 00:42:48,280 --> 00:42:56,760 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord that we may not be condemned with the world. 377 00:42:57,500 --> 00:43:04,760 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. But if anyone 378 00:43:04,760 --> 00:43:08,920 is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment, 379 00:43:09,460 --> 00:43:12,980 and the rest I will set in order when I come. 380 00:43:19,380 --> 00:43:23,840 Then in Luke 22, 19 to 22, we read, 381 00:43:24,420 --> 00:43:27,760 and he took bread and gave thanks and broke it and gave it to them, saying, 382 00:43:27,820 --> 00:43:32,659 This is my body given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. In the same way, 383 00:43:33,420 --> 00:43:38,500 after supper he took the cup, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, 384 00:43:38,559 --> 00:43:42,360 which is poured out for you. Let's pray. 385 00:43:44,519 --> 00:43:48,619 Father, we take a moment to come before you and reflect. 386 00:43:49,780 --> 00:43:51,559 We want to come in a worthy manner, Father. 387 00:43:53,619 --> 00:43:59,800 We ask forgiveness of our sins, Lord. Bring those things to our minds that we need to write. 388 00:44:01,619 --> 00:44:06,480 We want to be connected with you. We want to remember what you have done for each one of us, 389 00:44:06,480 --> 00:44:10,820 taking away our sins. And, Father, we just ask, Lord, 390 00:44:10,980 --> 00:44:15,719 that each one you would touch in a special way this morning. Amen. 391 00:44:29,120 --> 00:44:34,159 So in 1 Corinthians 11, starting in verse 23, 392 00:44:34,460 --> 00:44:39,080 For I received from the Lord that which you also delivered to you, 393 00:44:39,280 --> 00:44:46,519 that which he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, 394 00:44:46,739 --> 00:44:52,599 and said, Take and eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me. 395 00:45:09,280 --> 00:45:13,119 In the same manner, he also took the cup after supper, saying, 396 00:45:13,659 --> 00:45:22,099 This cup is the new covenant in my blood. This do often as you drink of it in remembrance of me. 397 00:45:46,360 --> 00:45:47,960 So how do we love God 398 00:45:51,480 --> 00:46:00,059 by loving others, right? Loving those he loves. It's easy, you know, because if we can't love people 399 00:46:00,059 --> 00:46:04,980 we see, how can we love God who we can't see, right? So that's the demonstration. We are the 400 00:46:04,980 --> 00:46:12,320 demonstration of his love to the world. So let's all stand up and we're gonna close out with some 401 00:46:12,320 --> 00:46:23,099 worship. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Prince Maverick, Apollo's Brown, is in the 402 00:46:23,099 --> 00:46:34,320 house. Let's give a hand. Give a little wave, Dez. There you go. So make sure you congratulate them. 403 00:46:35,280 --> 00:46:41,380 And thanks for joining us today. And it's just great being part of the family of God. Amen. 404 00:46:42,619 --> 00:46:46,800 We need to spread this love everywhere, right? Because he so loves the world 405 00:46:47,440 --> 00:46:54,619 and they need to know about it. You know, as my brother, Pastor Bill Devlin always says, 406 00:46:55,159 --> 00:47:00,960 Jesus loves you and there's anything you can do about it. He loves them, right? So Father God, 407 00:47:01,059 --> 00:47:07,179 we thank you that you love us. You have that covered, Lord God. We ask you to empower us 408 00:47:07,840 --> 00:47:13,340 to love others on your behalf, to love others the way you love them, Lord. 409 00:47:14,059 --> 00:47:20,440 That's what we want, Lord God. We want to be your demonstration of love to this world who is so 410 00:47:20,440 --> 00:47:32,719 starving and so thirsty, Lord, and so estranged and naked, imprisoned, Lord, and sick. They need 411 00:47:32,719 --> 00:47:38,860 to know, Lord God, that you love them. So show us where they are and show us how to serve and 412 00:47:38,880 --> 00:47:44,920 minister to them on your behalf. And we ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. Let's give the Lord a round 413 00:47:44,920 --> 00:47:55,840 of applause. Thanks for joining us at Lansdale Life Church as we praise God and discuss his word. 414 00:47:56,519 --> 00:48:02,000 Don't forget to join us for worship live Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. Eastern on YouTube. 415 00:48:02,000 --> 00:48:05,099 Be blessed and have a great day!