WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: Kingdom Ethics 1 Publishing Date: 2017-03-05T05:00:44-08:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/kingdom-ethics-1/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.520 While Jesus may have appeared to disciples, to Paul and to many others in the Bible, 00:00:09.520 --> 00:00:16.560 you can't call his appearance to individuals or to groups as his second coming. 00:00:16.560 --> 00:00:20.400 His second coming hasn't happened yet. 00:00:20.400 --> 00:00:27.680 So you can't say that Christ has, his second coming is over. 00:00:27.840 --> 00:00:30.240 That cannot be substantiated. 00:00:30.240 --> 00:00:31.520 Sure, he appeared to Paul. 00:00:31.520 --> 00:00:36.400 Sure, he appeared to the apostles after he rose from the dead. 00:00:36.400 --> 00:00:41.040 But that is an appearing, but not his second coming. 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:44.800 And so one cannot say that Jesus has already returned. 00:00:46.640 --> 00:00:51.520 And there is this tendency to look at John 20 verse 17, if you go there. 00:00:51.520 --> 00:00:54.480 This might take about 10 or 15 minutes, but it'll be worth our time. 00:00:54.480 --> 00:00:55.840 And then I'll go to the main topic. 00:00:56.640 --> 00:01:08.640 And John 20 verse 17, John 20 verse 17, John 20 to zero verse 17. 00:01:12.800 --> 00:01:20.080 And it says that in John 20 17, this is when Mary sees Jesus in the garden. 00:01:20.080 --> 00:01:22.480 So let's start at verse 16. 00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:26.880 Jesus said to her, Mary, she turned towards him and cried out in Aramaic, 00:01:26.880 --> 00:01:30.240 rabboni, which means teacher. 00:01:30.240 --> 00:01:35.920 Jesus said, do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:40.720 Go instead to my brothers and tell them I'm returning to my Father 00:01:40.720 --> 00:01:43.520 and your Father, to my God and your God. 00:01:43.520 --> 00:01:49.440 It's assumed from that that Jesus somehow had to go to heaven and come back. 00:01:49.440 --> 00:01:54.000 But once Jesus rose again, he stayed on the earth for 40 days before he ascended. 00:01:57.360 --> 00:02:02.800 Yeah, so there is a tendency to think, here's how most people interpret it. 00:02:02.800 --> 00:02:11.920 I used to do the same, that the grave was open, Jesus came out, Mary met him, 00:02:12.720 --> 00:02:16.320 and she went towards him and he said, don't touch me. 00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:19.840 And some say Jesus said don't touch me because she was a woman. 00:02:20.480 --> 00:02:26.400 Others say Jesus said don't touch me because any touch from a human person would pollute him 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:27.920 before he went to heaven. 00:02:27.920 --> 00:02:34.240 And the third idea is that he had to go to heaven, place before the Father his blood 00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:35.440 and come back. 00:02:35.440 --> 00:02:41.920 While Hebrews 9 does talk about Jesus presenting himself as a sacrifice 00:02:41.920 --> 00:02:44.720 and his shed blood for our sins, he says, 00:02:44.720 --> 00:02:46.000 shed blood for our sins. 00:02:46.640 --> 00:02:52.080 I do not think it is right to literally interpret him as taking his blood before the Father. 00:02:53.360 --> 00:02:55.040 It shouldn't be interpreted that way. 00:02:55.040 --> 00:02:58.640 Go to Hebrews 9, Hebrews 9, keep your finger in John, 00:03:00.720 --> 00:03:02.880 you can't keep your finger when you're doing using your iPhone. 00:03:03.440 --> 00:03:14.560 Hebrews 9, Hebrews 9 verse 11. 00:03:15.040 --> 00:03:22.240 When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, 00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:26.560 he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:29.200 that is to say not a part of this creation. 00:03:29.200 --> 00:03:32.640 He did not enter it by means of the blood of goats and calves, 00:03:32.640 --> 00:03:36.160 but he entered the most holy place once and for all by his own blood, 00:03:36.160 --> 00:03:38.240 having obtained eternal redemption. 00:03:38.240 --> 00:03:43.440 So that is a basis for that people used to say Jesus first went to heaven 00:03:45.440 --> 00:03:48.320 and then came down and now he could be touched. 00:03:50.640 --> 00:03:57.760 That he met Thomas and showed Thomas his wounds after he came back from heaven. 00:03:59.040 --> 00:04:02.080 There's not enough grounds for that. 00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:07.920 Jesus rose from the dead and stayed on the earth for 40 days. 00:04:08.480 --> 00:04:12.240 In those 40 days, he met with about 512 people 00:04:12.880 --> 00:04:17.600 who saw him alive and then after 40 days he ascended to heaven. 00:04:18.400 --> 00:04:19.600 That's what really happened. 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:21.280 So let's look at some scriptures. 00:04:23.520 --> 00:04:26.960 Acts 3, Acts chapter 3, 19 to 21. 00:04:27.760 --> 00:04:31.200 So what is he saying when he tells Mary, do not hold on to me right now. 00:04:31.200 --> 00:04:35.360 If I had to finish this service and go for another meeting in Richmond 00:04:36.080 --> 00:04:39.520 and if you came and said, hey Jacob, just wait for a second, 00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:43.040 I said, not right now, man, I got to go. 00:04:44.560 --> 00:04:46.640 Don't hold me right now, I got to go. 00:04:46.640 --> 00:04:47.680 That's what Jesus is saying. 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:49.360 He's saying you've got a job to do, 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:53.920 go tell them that I'm going to my father and your father, tell my brothers. 00:04:53.920 --> 00:04:56.000 And he wasn't saying he's going right then and there. 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:57.760 It's an assumption. 00:04:57.760 --> 00:05:01.680 This is not a big deal, but it's a big deal to say that the second coming is over, 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:05.040 that Jesus went to heaven and came back so his second coming is over. 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:06.400 That is a big deal. 00:05:06.400 --> 00:05:09.440 But whether we are right about this interpretation, it's not that a big deal. 00:05:09.520 --> 00:05:11.680 But to say that Jesus Christ has already come, 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:13.840 that the second coming is over is a big deal. 00:05:13.840 --> 00:05:14.960 I do not agree with this. 00:05:20.080 --> 00:05:22.160 It has been, it's gaining popularity. 00:05:23.520 --> 00:05:25.280 It's gaining quite a lot of popularity. 00:05:25.280 --> 00:05:28.960 This is not an occasional view. 00:05:28.960 --> 00:05:33.120 More and more, this is being taught that Jesus's second coming has already happened. 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:35.680 And this is one of the ways it's taught. 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:37.280 So it's, books have been written about it. 00:05:37.280 --> 00:05:38.000 So it's not new. 00:05:38.960 --> 00:05:44.720 But he ascended, let's go to Acts chapter three, just so we can substantiate it with scripture. 00:05:44.720 --> 00:05:47.840 Acts chapter three, 19 to 21. 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:51.440 Acts chapter three, 19 to 21. 00:05:59.760 --> 00:06:01.440 I think I have the right scripture. 00:06:01.440 --> 00:06:04.480 Repent then and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:07.040 that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:11.440 and that he may send the Christ who has been appointed for you, even Jesus. 00:06:11.440 --> 00:06:15.760 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything. 00:06:15.760 --> 00:06:21.600 What it's saying there is that Jesus will come, not that he has already come. 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:22.720 First Corinthians 11. 00:06:23.200 --> 00:06:29.040 This is such a common scripture which we look at every month. 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:31.840 First Corinthians 11, verse 26. 00:06:31.840 --> 00:06:34.640 First Corinthians 11, verse 26. 00:06:35.920 --> 00:06:40.080 Every time we have communion, the scripture comes to mind. 00:06:40.080 --> 00:06:46.880 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 00:06:47.840 --> 00:06:49.200 Okay, let's look at another scripture. 00:06:49.200 --> 00:06:53.920 Second Thessalonians, a book we don't even know where it is because we don't go there too often. 00:06:54.720 --> 00:07:00.640 Second Thessalonians, just the name Thessalonians just makes it sound like a word. 00:07:01.200 --> 00:07:11.760 Second Thessalonians, chapter one, verse six and seven. 00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:15.760 Second Thessalonians one, six and seven. 00:07:19.280 --> 00:07:20.080 God is just. 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:23.360 Second Thessalonians one, six and seven. 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:27.360 If you find it in the Pew Bible, just call out the page. 00:07:28.080 --> 00:07:31.040 Second Thessalonians one, eight three seven. 00:07:31.760 --> 00:07:32.480 Here's what it says. 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:33.680 God is just. 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:39.200 He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to those who are troubled and to us as well. 00:07:39.200 --> 00:07:47.040 This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:48.880 So it is not yet happened. 00:07:48.880 --> 00:07:50.800 It is supposed to happen. 00:07:50.800 --> 00:07:52.800 Revelations 22, 20. 00:07:52.800 --> 00:07:55.840 Revelations 22, verse 20 and 21. 00:07:55.840 --> 00:07:56.880 Last page in the Bible. 00:07:57.360 --> 00:08:00.960 Revelations 22, verse 20 and 21. 00:08:02.080 --> 00:08:06.080 Revelations 22, last two verses of the Bible. 00:08:06.880 --> 00:08:10.240 Revelations 22, verse 20 and 21. 00:08:15.760 --> 00:08:21.200 It says there, he who testifies to these things says, yes, I am coming soon. 00:08:21.200 --> 00:08:21.920 Amen. 00:08:21.920 --> 00:08:23.200 Come Lord Jesus. 00:08:23.200 --> 00:08:25.520 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. 00:08:25.520 --> 00:08:26.080 Amen. 00:08:26.080 --> 00:08:27.600 So we're talking about Maranatha. 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:28.400 Come Lord Jesus. 00:08:28.960 --> 00:08:34.880 So I would say, yes, he has appeared to many, but I wouldn't say that it has been a second coming. 00:08:34.880 --> 00:08:36.000 Let's look at two other verses. 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:39.680 Luke 24, Luke 24, Luke. 00:08:39.680 --> 00:08:43.520 Yeah, Luke 24, verse 51. 00:08:45.520 --> 00:08:48.080 Luke 24, verse 51. 00:08:48.880 --> 00:08:50.320 Or let's start at verse 50. 00:08:50.880 --> 00:08:53.200 Luke 24, verse 50. 00:08:54.960 --> 00:08:58.160 Last parah in the book of Luke. 00:09:13.360 --> 00:09:14.480 That's when he ascended. 00:09:15.120 --> 00:09:18.640 There isn't a scripture that would indicate that he ascended 00:09:18.640 --> 00:09:24.160 between meeting Mary and then went to heaven, came back and then ascended again. 00:09:24.160 --> 00:09:26.080 There is no scripture that says that. 00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:26.960 So it's an assumption. 00:09:27.840 --> 00:09:31.680 We could be wrong, we could be right, but you cannot say it's a second coming. 00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:33.200 And one more scripture. 00:09:33.680 --> 00:09:44.400 1 Corinthians 15, verse 3 to 8. 00:09:44.400 --> 00:09:49.440 1 Corinthians 15, verse 3 to 8. 00:09:51.680 --> 00:09:53.440 This is what happened during the 40 days. 00:09:54.640 --> 00:09:56.720 1 Corinthians 15, 3 to 8. 00:09:56.720 --> 00:10:01.120 For what I received, I passed on to you as of first importance, 00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:05.040 that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, 00:10:05.040 --> 00:10:10.560 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, 00:10:10.560 --> 00:10:13.760 and that he appeared to Peter and then to the 12. 00:10:14.400 --> 00:10:18.720 After that, he appeared to more than 500 of the brothers at the same time, 00:10:18.720 --> 00:10:21.760 most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 00:10:21.760 --> 00:10:25.200 Then he appeared to James and then to all the apostles. 00:10:25.200 --> 00:10:30.160 And last of all, he appeared to me also as one abnormally born. 00:10:30.800 --> 00:10:33.680 So you see the series of people. 00:10:33.680 --> 00:10:37.680 It never says he died, he rose again, he ascended, he came back and then he appeared. 00:10:37.680 --> 00:10:41.760 It says he died, he rose again, and then he began to appear to all these people. 00:10:41.760 --> 00:10:45.600 So since there is no specific scripture that says otherwise, 00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:47.760 we'll just stick with this for now. 00:10:47.760 --> 00:10:50.000 And if God shows otherwise, we'll change. 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:53.520 But nowhere does it say his second coming was when he came down. 00:10:54.080 --> 00:10:55.600 Yeah, so that's one. 00:10:55.600 --> 00:11:00.960 The second thing we need to look at is what is the new heaven and new earth? 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:03.600 Because that's also being talked about, books have been written about it. 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:08.720 I was surprised there's a number of books written about what the new heaven and new earth is. 00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:09.600 So we look at that. 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:15.360 These are so that in the future, we will know where we stand and what we need to change. 00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:17.520 And should God show us differently, we'll change it. 00:11:17.520 --> 00:11:20.640 But right now, based on scripture, this is what we can assume. 00:11:22.640 --> 00:11:26.720 Here's a statement made by many books and people who are better than me. 00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:33.680 Heaven and earth refers not to heaven and earth, but to the temple in Jerusalem. 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:41.280 That's a view that is now being written about that heaven and earth is not actually heaven 00:11:41.280 --> 00:11:44.720 and earth, but it is the temple. 00:11:46.800 --> 00:11:53.200 And therefore, people begin to preach that since the temple was destroyed, 00:11:53.200 --> 00:11:55.280 that is the old heaven and earth. 00:11:55.280 --> 00:11:57.280 And this is the new heaven and earth. 00:11:57.280 --> 00:11:57.760 We. 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:03.040 And that cannot be substantiated from scripture. 00:12:03.040 --> 00:12:05.040 Okay, so let me make that statement again. 00:12:05.680 --> 00:12:11.520 There are books being written and people preaching this and good people are preaching this 00:12:11.520 --> 00:12:15.920 where because God says the heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool. 00:12:15.920 --> 00:12:21.440 And because he dwelt in the temple in Jerusalem, people are saying that heaven is my throne 00:12:21.440 --> 00:12:22.720 and the earth is my footstool. 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:29.600 And because he dwelt in the temple in Jerusalem, people are saying that heaven and earth was 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:30.960 actually the temple. 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:35.520 And therefore, when in the Bible they write, the old heaven and earth shall pass away and 00:12:35.520 --> 00:12:37.440 the new heaven and earth shall come. 00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:43.680 In AD 70, when the Romans destroyed the temple, the old heaven and earth passed away and we 00:12:43.680 --> 00:12:46.000 live in the new heaven and earth. 00:12:47.440 --> 00:12:52.400 This cannot be substantiated from scripture yet. 00:12:52.400 --> 00:12:56.560 It doesn't have scriptural muscle, so we'll have to let it be. 00:12:56.560 --> 00:12:58.800 Otherwise, it can lead into error. 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:02.800 So look at Romans 8, 19 to 21. 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:05.440 Romans 8, 19 to 21. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:12.480 Yeah, Romans 8, 19 to 21. 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:18.720 So these are interpretations, but because they don't have enough scriptural muscle, 00:13:19.520 --> 00:13:24.320 it's best to not go down that route because it can lead to, it may lead to error. 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:29.680 So Romans 8, 19. 00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:35.200 It says, 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:40.000 Creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 00:13:40.800 --> 00:13:46.800 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the 00:13:46.800 --> 00:13:52.480 one who subjected it in hope that creation itself will be liberated from its bondage 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:56.320 to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 00:13:56.320 --> 00:14:03.520 So this, the cosmos that we presently occupy is in decay, just like we are in decay. 00:14:04.800 --> 00:14:10.320 We will die, our bodies are decaying, but one day it will be set free, just as we are going to be 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:11.680 set free. 00:14:11.680 --> 00:14:14.640 Another scripture to look at is 2 Peter 3. 00:14:15.280 --> 00:14:16.240 2 Peter 3. 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:24.480 Please understand guys, these are becoming commonly held views. 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:26.880 It's not an occasional view. 00:14:26.880 --> 00:14:29.920 That's why, just be aware. 00:14:29.920 --> 00:14:32.640 2 Peter 3, 10 to 13. 00:14:33.760 --> 00:14:35.440 2 Peter 3, 10 to 13. 00:14:37.760 --> 00:14:40.000 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. 00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:43.040 The heavens will disappear with a roar. 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:48.400 The elements will be destroyed by fire and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 00:14:49.200 --> 00:14:52.320 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? 00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:58.640 You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. 00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:03.520 That day will bring about the destruction of heaven by fire and the elements will melt in the heat. 00:15:03.520 --> 00:15:08.320 But in keeping with this promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, 00:15:08.320 --> 00:15:09.440 the home of righteousness. 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:11.360 It's very clear there, isn't it? 00:15:11.920 --> 00:15:16.000 And it doesn't equate anything with the temple or with stuff. 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:19.840 And then the last scripture that we can look at for now is Revelation 21.1. 00:15:20.400 --> 00:15:22.320 Revelation 21.1. 00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:27.040 Revelation 21.1. 00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:30.400 And it says that, 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:33.200 Then I saw a new heaven. 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:37.280 Oh, it's closed. 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:40.720 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:46.320 For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and there was no longer any sea. 00:15:49.680 --> 00:15:52.480 So it looks like there is a new heaven and a new earth coming. 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:54.240 So these are three scriptures that indicate that. 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:59.920 And then the third issue that I want to deal with, which is again being written about, 00:16:00.800 --> 00:16:06.960 is that, and for instance, there's, I don't need to name names now, 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:15.040 there's a famous church in the US that is beginning to teach this from the song of songs and so on. 00:16:15.040 --> 00:16:17.680 So here's a third view that we've got to be careful of, 00:16:17.680 --> 00:16:23.520 that in heaven there will be the mature bride and then others who are not mature. 00:16:25.520 --> 00:16:27.520 That there'll be two categories in heaven. 00:16:27.520 --> 00:16:32.560 There'll be those of us that are mature and are really overcoming people. 00:16:32.560 --> 00:16:35.760 And they will be the closest to Christ. 00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:38.320 And then there will be others who are not mature. 00:16:39.680 --> 00:16:42.720 So an elite mature and a not so mature. 00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:49.840 This almost begins to sound like Jehovah's Witnesses where there'll be 144,000 chosen and then the rest. 00:16:49.840 --> 00:16:56.480 So that is not a view that has any strength either. 00:16:56.480 --> 00:17:03.200 The parables don't indicate that God chooses those who are mature to be the bride or to be closest to him, 00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:06.320 while others are outside or bridesmaids. 00:17:09.840 --> 00:17:17.440 So what if all of us make it to heaven but few of us are the bride and few of us are bridesmaids? 00:17:18.080 --> 00:17:18.880 That won't be fun. 00:17:21.600 --> 00:17:22.640 Forget the fun part of it. 00:17:23.520 --> 00:17:24.640 Let me be serious about it. 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:27.280 I don't see any such indication in the Bible. 00:17:27.280 --> 00:17:37.040 The parable of the wedding feast where the guy invites a lot of people but there's a man that's not dressed well and he's thrown out. 00:17:37.040 --> 00:17:44.640 I don't think you can equate that to the guys who are called for the wedding feast where the guys who are going to be close to Christ and the others are not. 00:17:45.280 --> 00:17:48.560 So let's look at some scriptures and then close this. 00:17:49.120 --> 00:17:50.480 So what I'm trying to say is this. 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:55.920 The parables don't indicate that God chooses those who are mature to be his bride and closest to him, 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:57.920 while others are on the outside or bridesmaids. 00:17:59.600 --> 00:18:05.360 There are no different categories like that and there are rewards in heaven guys. 00:18:05.360 --> 00:18:06.800 There are rewards in heaven. 00:18:09.520 --> 00:18:15.360 But the same God who didn't think very highly of Jacob and Rebecca when they, 00:18:15.360 --> 00:18:20.480 Isaac and Rebecca, when they showed favor to Jacob and Esau and literally split the family, 00:18:21.120 --> 00:18:24.480 isn't going to be a God who says, you, you, you, you can be the bride, you, you, you, 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:26.800 bridesmaids, stay out, stay out now. 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:28.560 He's not that kind of a God. 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:31.760 It goes against the very nature of God. 00:18:33.840 --> 00:18:37.440 Some things have to be examined just based on the nature of God. 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:39.440 As parents, we don't do that to our children. 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:44.320 You and you can be special and all mine but you and you can stay on the outside 00:18:44.320 --> 00:18:45.920 because you're not mature yet. 00:18:45.920 --> 00:18:50.880 In fact, Jesus has a tendency to or a divine preference for the powerless 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:53.520 and the weak. 00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:56.800 So let's look at some scriptures. 00:18:56.800 --> 00:19:00.160 Galatians 3, 26 to 28. 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:03.360 Galatians 3, 26 to 28. 00:19:15.040 --> 00:19:16.560 26 to 28. 00:19:19.360 --> 00:19:19.760 Should be. 00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:26.320 We'd like to check your Bible and just verify it. 00:19:27.760 --> 00:19:29.600 Galatians 3, 26 to 28. 00:19:30.320 --> 00:19:33.520 So here's what it says and look at this beautiful statement right off the back. 00:19:33.520 --> 00:19:38.560 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 00:19:39.520 --> 00:19:45.360 For all of you who are baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 00:19:46.320 --> 00:19:51.520 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female. 00:19:51.520 --> 00:19:55.440 For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 00:19:56.320 --> 00:20:00.480 So it doesn't, if that is how he looks at the church here on earth, 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:02.800 may I suggest it'll be even better than heaven? 00:20:02.800 --> 00:20:04.240 That there won't be that kind of a division. 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:08.160 Second scripture, Revelations 21. 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:18.800 Revelations 21, verse 20, Revelation 21, 27. 00:20:18.800 --> 00:20:21.280 Revelation 21, 27. 00:20:25.120 --> 00:20:29.440 This is to say who will and who will not be in heaven. 00:20:30.320 --> 00:20:32.160 It's a very clear demarcation. 00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:33.840 There aren't extra categories. 00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:37.360 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone 00:20:37.360 --> 00:20:39.280 who does what is shameful or deceitful. 00:20:39.840 --> 00:20:42.960 But only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. 00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:44.320 It's a very simple statement. 00:20:44.320 --> 00:20:47.600 If your name is in the Lamb's Book of Life, then there won't be. 00:20:47.600 --> 00:20:51.440 Lamb's Book of Life, Part 1, the mature ones, the not-mature ones. 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:53.840 Mature lambs and immature lambs won't be there. 00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:57.280 22, 17. 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:06.160 The spirit and the bride say, Come, and let him who hears say, Come. 00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:07.440 Whoever is thirsty, let him come. 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:10.800 Whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. 00:21:10.800 --> 00:21:13.200 So the spirit and the bride are always inviting. 00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:15.840 They're not trying to demarcate. 00:21:15.840 --> 00:21:23.840 And the last scripture, Ephesians 4, Ephesians 4, Ephesians, Ephesians, Ephesians 4, 00:21:24.880 --> 00:21:29.760 4, verse 4 to 6, and that's the last one. 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:33.760 Ephesians 4, verse 4 to 6. 00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:42.240 And here's what it says. 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:48.400 There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to one hope. 00:21:49.280 --> 00:21:57.200 When you were called one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, 00:21:57.200 --> 00:22:01.520 who is overall and through all and all in all. 00:22:01.520 --> 00:22:04.640 It's one, not a division there. 00:22:05.360 --> 00:22:10.720 So just keep these scriptures in mind so that regardless of how many books may be written, 00:22:11.600 --> 00:22:17.920 that till we can verify something substantially with a lot of scriptural muscle, 00:22:18.800 --> 00:22:25.120 even when we hypothesize or assume something, that we do it with this intent of hold it loosely 00:22:25.120 --> 00:22:29.600 because I'm really not sure of this, because otherwise it brings unnecessary confusion, 00:22:30.560 --> 00:22:33.120 where we've got enough meaty matters to deal with. 00:22:35.040 --> 00:22:36.160 Why throw in tofu? 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:44.720 All righty, now we can, any questions before we move on? 00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:54.240 No, no. Judgment Day is something called a 00:22:54.800 --> 00:22:58.800 Great White Throne Judgment, which is after the Second Coming. 00:22:58.800 --> 00:23:02.800 So yeah. 00:23:16.800 --> 00:23:20.480 Again, this is a careful assumption we are making. 00:23:21.040 --> 00:23:26.320 We are making, if God changes our view, we'll change. 00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:35.280 In first Thessalonians it says, and with a trumpet call, Jesus descends and then we meet 00:23:35.280 --> 00:23:39.920 him in the air. But then after that, it doesn't say which direction Jesus is going. 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:45.200 We don't know, for some reason we assume that he meets us in the air and then does a reversal, 00:23:45.840 --> 00:23:50.880 but we don't know. So till we find out, we let it be. But at present, 00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:56.320 all we know is we meet the Lord in the air. And then that is sufficient. 00:23:58.320 --> 00:24:01.520 Isn't that wonderful? That if we meet the Lord Jesus in the air, 00:24:01.520 --> 00:24:04.080 that is more than enough. I don't care where he goes after that. 00:24:09.120 --> 00:24:14.720 Yeah, it's him doing it. I'm so grateful to be face to face with him. Now you can go wherever 00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:22.560 you want. I'll come up, down, left, right. I'm there with you. And it'd be a shame if 00:24:22.560 --> 00:24:24.000 we try to figure out the direction. 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:31.120 Not a shame. No need of spending time on that. So any other questions? 00:24:32.560 --> 00:24:36.720 Yeah. It can be distracting. Yeah. 00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:44.400 It can be. And yet we are supposed to figure things out too, but with scriptural muscle. 00:24:45.280 --> 00:24:50.080 Okay. Can we go on with the teaching today? Okay. You've given out the sheets, right? 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:53.280 Okay. Man, you're good even when your folks are not here. 00:24:56.640 --> 00:25:04.080 Alrighty. I'm ready. Wayne, good to tape? Okay. Guys, we've been talking about kingdom ethics. 00:25:04.080 --> 00:25:11.760 We talked about two of the Beatitudes last week. And so now we do the next two. 00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:21.920 I think two should be enough. So in Jesus, the kingdom, what did we define the kingdom as? 00:25:24.400 --> 00:25:29.040 Yeah, the governing influence of Jesus Christ's life. That's what the kingdom is. 00:25:29.040 --> 00:25:31.760 The governing influence. Man, you're already convicted, eh? 00:25:31.760 --> 00:25:46.080 Okay. Later, Karen. She's going for that festival of hope thingy. Yeah. Derek was 00:25:46.080 --> 00:25:55.680 there as a protester, but we forgive him. In Jesus, the kingdom or the governing influence of his life 00:25:56.320 --> 00:26:02.560 breaks into the kingdom of darkness, oppression and death. So you've got this kingdom of darkness, 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:13.760 oppression and death. But in Jesus, 00:26:17.840 --> 00:26:22.400 the governing influence of his life breaks into this. But the beautiful thing is this, guys. 00:26:23.040 --> 00:26:30.720 We might think that we actually live here in this kingdom of darkness, oppression and death, 00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:37.680 but because we are in Jesus, it is through us and by his Spirit that he's trying to bring 00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:41.360 his life and his light into darkness, oppression and death. 00:26:41.360 --> 00:26:49.600 I mean, just think of this, huh? You used to live here. You used to live here. Your life was dark. 00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:55.760 Your life was oppressed, far more than it is now. And there are times where our lives are still dark, 00:26:55.760 --> 00:27:02.000 but your life was dark. Thanks so much, man. Your life was oppressed. Your life was headed for death 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:10.000 and hell. And then one day, Jesus comes and he's going to bring his life and his life into darkness, 00:27:10.320 --> 00:27:18.720 Jesus comes, someone comes, some Franklin Graham or some Billy Graham or some not Graham comes and 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:27.520 brings the governing influence of Jesus's life into your heart. And the moment that happens to 00:27:27.520 --> 00:27:35.760 your heart, you get removed from here and find yourself lodged in Christ. But Christ doesn't take 00:27:35.760 --> 00:27:42.640 you to heaven. He says, you are in me in this. That's what he's doing. 00:27:45.040 --> 00:27:48.640 And therefore, who does the governing influence of his life come through? 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:52.240 By the Holy Spirit, through us, by the Holy Spirit, through us. 00:27:57.120 --> 00:28:01.600 It's fascinating. By the Holy Spirit, through us. 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:07.920 And Jesus is saying, in these Beatitudes, I'll tell you how to live so that you can be more and more 00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:14.480 effective in bringing my life into this kingdom of darkness, oppression and death. 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:21.600 That's what he's saying. Let me, let me show you some simple ways where Jacob, you can be highly 00:28:21.600 --> 00:28:27.760 effective in bringing my life into the kingdom of darkness, oppression and death. Every week, guys, 00:28:27.760 --> 00:28:37.840 every week, you should have at least one itsy bitsy teeny weeny story about how you did something 00:28:37.840 --> 00:28:46.800 that caused the life of Jesus to enter into someone or some situation. Because it's impossible to 00:28:46.800 --> 00:28:55.200 live a whole week unless you're locked up in your house with your cat. It is impossible to live a 00:28:56.000 --> 00:29:04.720 whole week and not affect somebody with something. It may be a kindness, 00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:13.360 but every week we should have this. Every week. It has to happen. 00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:34.640 Yeah, and guys, here's the thing. This is why when I say share a story, 00:29:36.320 --> 00:29:40.560 what we should expect is here's a way that the governing influence of the king 00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:44.960 was introduced into someone's life through a simple action of mind. 00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:51.120 And when you really think of it, there aren't too many of us who didn't have that happen this week. 00:29:51.120 --> 00:29:59.120 Something or the other happened. We are thinking of miracles, healing, salvation. No, man, there are 00:29:59.760 --> 00:30:04.720 so many other things that happen where the governing influence of the life of Christ 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:12.640 enters somebody. Today, we're only going to talk about two things, mercy and righteousness. 00:30:12.640 --> 00:30:18.080 That's all. And Jesus is saying, here is how you can do this, Jacob. Become like this. The Beatitudes 00:30:18.080 --> 00:30:23.360 are a self-portrait of Jesus. If Jesus could paint a picture, he painted it with words. He said, 00:30:23.360 --> 00:30:30.000 this is what I look like. Become like this and see what happens. Any questions on this? 00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:42.720 You were here. Someone came and brought in the governing influence of Christ's life into you 00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:49.760 through words. It changed your heart. Colossians 1.13 kicked in, out of the dominion of darkness 00:30:49.760 --> 00:30:56.400 into the kingdom of the sun. You are now in Christ. Again and again the Bible says, 00:30:56.400 --> 00:31:00.160 you are in Christ, Christ is in you. You are in Christ, Christ is in you. You are in Christ, 00:31:00.160 --> 00:31:04.400 Christ is in you. And now Christ says, I am king of the universe 00:31:04.560 --> 00:31:11.760 and I choose to intervene, break into this kingdom of darkness, oppression and death 00:31:11.760 --> 00:31:16.560 by the sovereign power of my spirit who is there to set captives free, open blind eyes, 00:31:17.360 --> 00:31:23.360 pronounce favor. But who do I do it through? I primarily do it through you, Dagmar, through you, 00:31:23.360 --> 00:31:30.000 Jillian, through you, Don, through you, Ryan. But let me tell you how to be super kingdom friendly. 00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:36.240 Become like this and then he presents the Beatitudes. So here's the first Beatitude 00:31:37.360 --> 00:31:41.360 that we're looking at today. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness, 00:31:42.320 --> 00:31:49.920 blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 00:31:49.920 --> 00:31:55.520 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 00:31:56.240 --> 00:32:03.600 For they shall be satisfied. Strange. Jesus is not saying blessed are they who do righteous things, 00:32:03.600 --> 00:32:10.320 though that's super important. Jesus is not even saying blessed are they who are declared righteous 00:32:10.320 --> 00:32:14.080 because he declares people righteous. He isn't even saying that. He isn't saying 00:32:14.080 --> 00:32:19.280 blessed are they who do righteous things, nor is he saying blessed are they who I declare righteousness. 00:32:19.280 --> 00:32:27.040 His emphasis is simply on this. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:31.520 blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. 00:32:32.560 --> 00:32:35.600 And here's a crazy definition of righteousness. 00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:40.640 Unfortunately, I didn't come up with it. Daryl Johnson did. 00:32:40.640 --> 00:32:51.120 It's so simple, it just disarms you. Righteousness is entirely about relationship. 00:32:53.120 --> 00:33:00.080 Righteousness is entirely about relationship. It's not about living up to legal standards, 00:33:00.080 --> 00:33:06.720 it's entirely about relationship. So it is about living in faithfulness to the terms of a 00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:13.360 relationship. Righteousness is entirely about relationship. 00:33:16.640 --> 00:33:30.480 As in, are you faithful to the claims of, are you faithful to the claims, 00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:36.800 to the terms, sorry, to the terms of a relationship or the claims of any given relationship? 00:33:36.800 --> 00:33:43.840 Are you faithful to the claims of any given relationship? I'll explain that. 00:33:46.400 --> 00:33:51.280 Are you faithful to the terms or the claims of any given relationship 00:33:51.760 --> 00:34:00.400 that is laid upon you? This is why, is a spouse faithful to the claims and the terms of the 00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:05.120 relationship that they enter into when they enter the contract of marriage or the covenant of 00:34:05.120 --> 00:34:11.600 marriage? Are you faithful to the claims and the terms of the relationship when you take on the 00:34:11.600 --> 00:34:18.080 citizenship of a country? Are you faithful to the terms and claims of the covenant that Christ has 00:34:18.080 --> 00:34:25.120 established with you? Because at the end of the day, righteousness is entirely about relationship. 00:34:27.680 --> 00:34:31.920 In other words, what Jesus is saying is, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for right 00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:38.560 relationship. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for right relationship. Isn't that 00:34:38.560 --> 00:34:44.000 beautiful? Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for right relationship. 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:50.000 You know what they used to call the Ten Commandments, what Paul calls, what Paul calls the Ten Commandments in the New Testament? 00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:53.520 In Romans 9.31, he calls it the law of righteousness. 00:34:55.920 --> 00:35:01.280 Now what did the Ten Commandments outline? The relationship between man and God and man and man. 00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:05.920 That's what it outlined. What was the first, how does it start? 00:35:05.920 --> 00:35:10.800 How does the Ten Commandments start? Sorry, so you were saying, love the Lord your God with all your heart. Anyone else? 00:35:14.000 --> 00:35:17.600 It's crazy. I used to think the same thing, love the Lord your God with all your heart. It starts with, I am your God. 00:35:17.600 --> 00:35:24.400 It starts with this whole thing of relationship. I am your God. 00:35:24.400 --> 00:35:30.400 I am your God. I am your God. I am your God. I am your God. I am your God. I am your God. 00:35:30.400 --> 00:35:34.720 It starts with this whole thing of relationship. I am your God. 00:35:36.880 --> 00:35:42.880 The Ten Commandments, we've made it this list of do's and don'ts when it was really, here is how man needs to be with God and here is how man needs to be with man. 00:35:42.880 --> 00:35:50.080 The first four are how man should be with God and the next six are how man should be with man. 00:35:50.640 --> 00:35:52.720 Do not steal, do not covet, do not kill, do not do that. 00:35:53.280 --> 00:35:57.280 And so what happened to the Pharisees and Israel was they started maintaining the do's and don'ts without any desire for right relationship. 00:36:05.440 --> 00:36:09.440 So as long as one didn't sleep with someone else's wife, it was okay. But to desire and to lust after her is completely okay. 00:36:16.240 --> 00:36:20.240 As long as one didn't spill blood, it was okay but to hate and wish that the other person would die didn't matter. 00:36:22.720 --> 00:36:27.720 Right relationship is always a condition of the heart which is then worked out. 00:36:27.720 --> 00:36:36.720 And therefore this is why guys, disobedience is so grievous not because a code of ethics has been violated 00:36:36.720 --> 00:36:39.720 but because a relationship has not been taken seriously. 00:36:39.720 --> 00:36:46.720 Disobedience is so grievous in the eyes of God, not because I had told him to do this and he didn't do it 00:36:46.720 --> 00:36:52.720 but because the terms of a relationship or the condition of a relationship is not taken seriously. 00:36:52.720 --> 00:36:58.720 That's why it's grievous to God, not because something is broken. He can always fix that which is broken. 00:36:58.720 --> 00:37:04.720 But what is, every time I sin, what is violated is my relationship. 00:37:04.720 --> 00:37:13.720 This is why for a woman more than sometimes a man to be betrayed or cheated on by her husband is such a violation. 00:37:14.720 --> 00:37:17.720 It's very hard for a woman to handle that. 00:37:17.720 --> 00:37:22.720 The man can come and say sorry a million times and promise and bring chocolates and jewelry and the works 00:37:22.720 --> 00:37:26.720 but inside there's such a violation of a relationship. 00:37:31.720 --> 00:37:34.720 Righteousness is about relationship. 00:37:34.720 --> 00:37:41.720 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for right relationships for they will be satisfied. 00:37:42.720 --> 00:37:45.720 That's why Jesus didn't think much of the letter of the law. 00:37:45.720 --> 00:37:50.720 He didn't think much about do not murder so well, you haven't committed murder, you're righteous. 00:37:50.720 --> 00:37:56.720 Remember the rich man who came and said I followed every, how shall I enter into the kingdom of God? 00:37:56.720 --> 00:38:00.720 And Jesus said go do the commandments. I've held on to every one of them. 00:38:00.720 --> 00:38:07.720 And what was he saying? I have not slept with anybody, I have not killed anybody, I have not stolen anything from anybody 00:38:07.720 --> 00:38:18.720 but Jesus didn't care much about the letter of the law because the intent and the faithfulness of the heart is what makes the relationship right or wrong. 00:38:24.720 --> 00:38:28.720 And here's the other thing guys, this makes it a little bit more difficult. 00:38:29.720 --> 00:38:34.720 There are four relationships that God wants us to get right here on earth. 00:38:34.720 --> 00:38:51.720 First one, a right relationship with, what do you think they are? 00:38:51.720 --> 00:39:11.720 With him, so the first one would be a right relationship with God as in to get into a right relationship where you begin to experience the delight he has in you. 00:39:11.720 --> 00:39:13.720 Otherwise you never experience that. 00:39:13.720 --> 00:39:17.720 Religion is when there is a desire to please him. 00:39:17.720 --> 00:39:25.720 Relationship is when there is a desire to enjoy his delight over you and then respond, he first loved me. 00:39:26.720 --> 00:39:33.720 Beautiful, huh? Religion is when there is a desire to appease God, to please him, to get into his good books. 00:39:33.720 --> 00:39:38.720 But relationship, and only Christianity has this, no other religion has it. 00:39:39.720 --> 00:39:46.720 Relationship is when one wants to delight in the delight that God has over you. 00:39:49.720 --> 00:39:53.720 Other one's right. So a right relationship with God, what else? 00:39:56.720 --> 00:40:00.720 With the body, let's assume that that's part of Christ and the body. 00:40:01.720 --> 00:40:03.720 Or use another word, with others. 00:40:04.720 --> 00:40:08.720 With others, in the body and outside the body too. 00:40:08.720 --> 00:40:11.720 With others, right relationship with others. 00:40:11.720 --> 00:40:22.720 This is why Jesus said, if you are bringing a sacrifice to the altar and you find that Christ has something against you, leave your gift at the altar and go settle things with Christ. 00:40:25.720 --> 00:40:28.720 Go ahead, Jilid. I'm just kidding. 00:40:30.720 --> 00:40:37.720 So go settle things with Christ so that you can move on. Why? Because it was important for him, a right relationship with God, a right relationship with others. 00:40:37.720 --> 00:40:39.720 What's the next one? 00:40:41.720 --> 00:40:43.720 Two more. 00:40:44.720 --> 00:40:46.720 It'll all come under others. 00:40:49.720 --> 00:40:53.720 Let's put that also under others. Everything else comes under others. 00:40:53.720 --> 00:40:57.720 So it's not one of those things, it's not government, it's not... 00:40:57.720 --> 00:40:59.720 All of that comes under others. 00:41:00.720 --> 00:41:01.720 Third one. 00:41:04.720 --> 00:41:06.720 That's already here, with God. 00:41:07.720 --> 00:41:08.720 Cats and dogs. 00:41:10.720 --> 00:41:12.720 There's a fifth category. 00:41:14.720 --> 00:41:15.720 Pardon? 00:41:18.720 --> 00:41:19.720 Yeah. 00:41:20.720 --> 00:41:22.720 Crazy, with creation. 00:41:22.720 --> 00:41:25.720 That really I didn't like. 00:41:25.720 --> 00:41:28.720 Because suddenly recycling may be something I need to reconsider. 00:41:29.720 --> 00:41:36.720 Because the right relationship with creation is important for God. 00:41:38.720 --> 00:41:47.720 I mean, an environmental engineer like Derek would never have a problem like this because he's so finicky about stuff like that. 00:41:47.720 --> 00:41:49.720 That everything goes into the same bin. 00:41:49.720 --> 00:41:51.720 And so moving on. 00:41:51.720 --> 00:41:53.720 A right relationship with creation. 00:41:54.720 --> 00:41:56.720 This is so important, guys. 00:41:56.720 --> 00:41:58.720 I don't know enough about it. 00:41:58.720 --> 00:42:03.720 So all I can say is it is important and that is critical to God to have a right relationship with creation. 00:42:03.720 --> 00:42:06.720 He still does that, day in, day out. 00:42:07.720 --> 00:42:10.720 And maybe one day we'll look at it. At present I don't know enough about it. 00:42:10.720 --> 00:42:13.720 Anything I say will just be talk. 00:42:13.720 --> 00:42:16.720 And the fourth one is, I don't know enough about it. 00:42:16.720 --> 00:42:17.720 And the fourth one? 00:42:18.720 --> 00:42:20.720 Assuming cats and dogs are excluded for now. 00:42:20.720 --> 00:42:22.720 What would be the fourth one? 00:42:34.720 --> 00:42:35.720 With ourselves. 00:42:35.720 --> 00:42:37.720 With ourselves. 00:42:38.720 --> 00:42:41.720 A right relatedness or a right relationship with ourselves. 00:42:41.720 --> 00:42:44.720 David says in Psalm 51 verse 6. 00:42:44.720 --> 00:42:47.720 Psalm 51 verse 6. 00:42:47.720 --> 00:42:51.720 Psalm 51 verse 6. 00:42:57.720 --> 00:42:59.720 He says, and here's what he says. 00:43:00.720 --> 00:43:04.720 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 00:43:04.720 --> 00:43:07.720 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts. 00:43:07.720 --> 00:43:10.720 You teach me wisdom in the inmost places. 00:43:10.720 --> 00:43:14.720 Where there's a right relatedness to oneself. 00:43:14.720 --> 00:43:17.720 To one's body, to one's soul, to one's strength, to one's spirit. 00:43:18.720 --> 00:43:20.720 For God this is important. 00:43:21.720 --> 00:43:24.720 This is why he says, it's so important. 00:43:24.720 --> 00:43:28.720 I mean we talked about this in 2013 or 2014. 00:43:28.720 --> 00:43:33.720 Love the Lord your God with all your mind, strength and heart. 00:43:33.720 --> 00:43:38.720 And love your neighbor as you love yourself. 00:43:38.720 --> 00:43:42.720 And if I don't get the right relatedness with myself. 00:43:42.720 --> 00:43:48.720 I'm not able to then go and help my neighbor the way I'm supposed to help my neighbor. 00:43:51.720 --> 00:43:54.720 I'm just listing it now. Maybe another day we'll touch on this. 00:43:54.720 --> 00:43:56.720 But please think about this. 00:43:59.720 --> 00:44:01.720 A right relationship. 00:44:01.720 --> 00:44:05.720 And right relationship with others means that there's a greater demand on honesty. 00:44:06.720 --> 00:44:08.720 Greater demand on justice. 00:44:08.720 --> 00:44:10.720 As in doing that which is just. 00:44:10.720 --> 00:44:12.720 Greater demand on mercy. 00:44:12.720 --> 00:44:14.720 And greater demand on servanthood. 00:44:14.720 --> 00:44:16.720 Let's forget what I just said. 00:44:16.720 --> 00:44:18.720 Let's just focus on these little things. 00:44:18.720 --> 00:44:20.720 Because this itself is overwhelming. 00:44:20.720 --> 00:44:22.720 These are the right relationship things guys. 00:44:22.720 --> 00:44:24.720 Righteousness is about right relationship. 00:44:24.720 --> 00:44:29.720 Guys, do you see why Jesus said all the law is summarized in this one thing. 00:44:29.720 --> 00:44:31.720 Love your neighbor as you love yourself. 00:44:31.720 --> 00:44:33.720 What was he trying to say? 00:44:33.720 --> 00:44:37.720 That if I actually like Matt. 00:44:37.720 --> 00:44:39.720 Then I will not steal from him. 00:44:39.720 --> 00:44:42.720 Then I will not do anything that will be to his detriment. 00:44:42.720 --> 00:44:45.720 That I in my anger will choose to forgive and show mercy. 00:44:45.720 --> 00:44:48.720 Not do harm. 00:44:48.720 --> 00:44:50.720 Once that is established. 00:44:50.720 --> 00:44:52.720 Once right relationship is established. 00:44:52.720 --> 00:44:54.720 The law is not necessary. 00:44:54.720 --> 00:44:56.720 Just think of that. 00:44:56.720 --> 00:44:58.720 When right relationship is established. 00:44:58.720 --> 00:45:00.720 You don't need the law. 00:45:00.720 --> 00:45:02.720 When right relationship is established. 00:45:02.720 --> 00:45:04.720 You don't need tithing. 00:45:08.720 --> 00:45:10.720 Is no law. 00:45:10.720 --> 00:45:12.720 Against this there is no law. 00:45:12.720 --> 00:45:15.720 I mean when you don't have a relationship with somebody. 00:45:15.720 --> 00:45:17.720 And you have to give them money. 00:45:17.720 --> 00:45:19.720 You will calculate how much they gave. 00:45:19.720 --> 00:45:22.720 And then decide whether you want to give 10% less or 10% more. 00:45:22.720 --> 00:45:25.720 But if there is a right relationship. 00:45:25.720 --> 00:45:27.720 What do you care? 00:45:27.720 --> 00:45:29.720 Same with God. 00:45:32.720 --> 00:45:34.720 Same with God. 00:45:36.720 --> 00:45:38.720 Critical this is. 00:45:38.720 --> 00:45:41.720 I love the fact that righteousness about right relationship. 00:45:41.720 --> 00:45:43.720 Simplifies things. 00:45:43.720 --> 00:45:47.720 And that it affects God, others, creation and with myself. 00:45:49.720 --> 00:45:53.720 So in a world that is so opposite to this. 00:45:53.720 --> 00:45:55.720 In a world that is broken. 00:45:55.720 --> 00:45:57.720 In a world that is alienating. 00:45:57.720 --> 00:45:59.720 In a world that manipulates. 00:45:59.720 --> 00:46:01.720 In a world that is full of fear. 00:46:01.720 --> 00:46:04.720 In a world that is full of hate and violence. 00:46:06.720 --> 00:46:08.720 Look at what God is asking. 00:46:08.720 --> 00:46:10.720 And this is why it's so sometimes. 00:46:10.720 --> 00:46:14.720 These beatitudes are not as easy as you think. 00:46:14.720 --> 00:46:16.720 God is saying. 00:46:16.720 --> 00:46:18.720 Hey guys. 00:46:18.720 --> 00:46:20.720 Begin to hunger like a starving man. 00:46:20.720 --> 00:46:22.720 Who cannot live. 00:46:22.720 --> 00:46:24.720 If he doesn't find right relationship. 00:46:24.720 --> 00:46:27.720 Blessed are those that hunger and thirst. 00:46:27.720 --> 00:46:29.720 Most of us on good days. 00:46:29.720 --> 00:46:31.720 Will have a mild dissatisfaction. 00:46:31.720 --> 00:46:33.720 If these things are out of sync. 00:46:33.720 --> 00:46:35.720 Not everything is good in my world. 00:46:35.720 --> 00:46:38.720 I'm not in good relationship with God and with others. 00:46:38.720 --> 00:46:40.720 Creation don't even talk about it. 00:46:40.720 --> 00:46:42.720 And with myself. 00:46:44.720 --> 00:46:46.720 That's our attitude. 00:46:46.720 --> 00:46:48.720 And there is mild dissatisfaction. 00:46:48.720 --> 00:46:52.720 And in contrast to my mild dissatisfaction. 00:46:52.720 --> 00:46:54.720 Is Jesus' simple command saying. 00:46:54.720 --> 00:46:57.720 Hunger and thirst for it like a starving man. 00:46:57.720 --> 00:46:59.720 Who will die if he cannot get this. 00:47:01.720 --> 00:47:03.720 What a demand man. 00:47:05.720 --> 00:47:07.720 I pray God that by his spirit. 00:47:07.720 --> 00:47:10.720 You and I will begin to take this to heart. 00:47:10.720 --> 00:47:13.720 That right relationship is critical to God. 00:47:13.720 --> 00:47:14.720 Critical to God. 00:47:14.720 --> 00:47:16.720 First with him. 00:47:16.720 --> 00:47:17.720 With others. 00:47:17.720 --> 00:47:19.720 I would put with the right relationship. 00:47:19.720 --> 00:47:21.720 With others. 00:47:21.720 --> 00:47:24.720 I would put with oneself and with creation. 00:47:24.720 --> 00:47:26.720 Let's work in that order. 00:47:28.720 --> 00:47:29.720 Yeah. 00:47:29.720 --> 00:47:31.720 Creation right on top and that's it. 00:47:31.720 --> 00:47:34.720 You recycle and mother nature will take care of you. 00:47:39.720 --> 00:47:41.720 Critical it is guys. 00:47:41.720 --> 00:47:45.720 Unfortunately I don't have the words to convince me or you. 00:47:45.720 --> 00:47:48.720 Of the emphasis that Jesus is putting on this. 00:47:49.720 --> 00:47:51.720 Because remember what he is saying. 00:47:51.720 --> 00:47:53.720 Blessed are you when. 00:47:53.720 --> 00:47:55.720 When you hunger and thirst like what. 00:47:55.720 --> 00:47:56.720 Like a starving man. 00:47:56.720 --> 00:47:59.720 Who would end up where. 00:47:59.720 --> 00:48:00.720 Dying. 00:48:00.720 --> 00:48:01.720 If what. 00:48:01.720 --> 00:48:04.720 If he doesn't crave after. 00:48:04.720 --> 00:48:06.720 Right relationship with God. 00:48:06.720 --> 00:48:07.720 With others. 00:48:07.720 --> 00:48:08.720 With creation. 00:48:08.720 --> 00:48:09.720 With oneself. 00:48:15.720 --> 00:48:17.720 And if you begin to crave like this Jacob. 00:48:17.720 --> 00:48:18.720 Guys. 00:48:18.720 --> 00:48:19.720 I don't think we can handle all four. 00:48:19.720 --> 00:48:21.720 Take one at a time. 00:48:21.720 --> 00:48:23.720 And go through it. 00:48:23.720 --> 00:48:25.720 If you crave like this Jacob. 00:48:25.720 --> 00:48:26.720 You will be satisfied. 00:48:26.720 --> 00:48:27.720 Satisfied when? 00:48:27.720 --> 00:48:29.720 On the last day of the earth? 00:48:29.720 --> 00:48:30.720 No. 00:48:30.720 --> 00:48:31.720 Yes. 00:48:31.720 --> 00:48:32.720 Everything will be completed. 00:48:32.720 --> 00:48:34.720 But because Jesus is present now. 00:48:34.720 --> 00:48:36.720 He can satisfy you even. 00:48:36.720 --> 00:48:37.720 Now. 00:48:39.720 --> 00:48:40.720 And so I am saying. 00:48:40.720 --> 00:48:42.720 I have written here long for it. 00:48:42.720 --> 00:48:46.720 Cry for a divine appetite for right relationship. 00:48:46.720 --> 00:48:47.720 That's all we can pray. 00:48:47.720 --> 00:48:48.720 Oh God. 00:48:48.720 --> 00:48:51.720 Please give me a divine appetite for right relationship. 00:48:51.720 --> 00:48:52.720 When things are wrong. 00:48:52.720 --> 00:48:55.720 Let me not be comfortable. 00:48:55.720 --> 00:48:57.720 Let me not be mildly dissatisfied. 00:48:58.720 --> 00:49:02.720 The opposite reaction is to try to fix things quickly. 00:49:02.720 --> 00:49:04.720 Don't do that either. 00:49:04.720 --> 00:49:06.720 Let's say I have a problem with Gisela. 00:49:10.720 --> 00:49:12.720 Very difficult to have a problem with you. 00:49:13.720 --> 00:49:14.720 No. 00:49:14.720 --> 00:49:15.720 Not very difficult. 00:49:16.720 --> 00:49:17.720 But. 00:49:18.720 --> 00:49:20.720 If I have a problem with Gisela. 00:49:22.720 --> 00:49:24.720 On one hand I shouldn't be. 00:49:24.720 --> 00:49:26.720 This mildly dissatisfied. 00:49:26.720 --> 00:49:28.720 Right relationship should be worked. 00:49:28.720 --> 00:49:31.720 But I shouldn't be in a hurry to fix it by tonight. 00:49:31.720 --> 00:49:34.720 Because when we get to blessed are the peacemakers. 00:49:34.720 --> 00:49:37.720 We will find that Jesus is interested in peacemakers. 00:49:37.720 --> 00:49:39.720 Not peacekeepers. 00:49:39.720 --> 00:49:41.720 Peacemakers have to make peace. 00:49:41.720 --> 00:49:42.720 And it's messy. 00:49:42.720 --> 00:49:45.720 Peacekeepers want to arrive at peace at any cost. 00:49:46.720 --> 00:49:48.720 And you don't want to do that. 00:49:48.720 --> 00:49:50.720 But that we'll deal with two weeks from now. 00:49:52.720 --> 00:49:57.720 I'm crying out for an appetite for right relationship with God. 00:49:57.720 --> 00:49:58.720 With others. 00:49:58.720 --> 00:49:59.720 With oneself. 00:49:59.720 --> 00:50:01.720 And one day also with creation. 00:50:01.720 --> 00:50:03.720 I'm sorry I'm putting it there. 00:50:03.720 --> 00:50:06.720 The whole idea of recycling just frightens me. 00:50:06.720 --> 00:50:10.720 Even though I'm trying to put the bottles aside and the stuff aside. 00:50:10.720 --> 00:50:11.720 It really bugs me. 00:50:11.720 --> 00:50:13.720 But I will do it now that God has said it. 00:50:13.720 --> 00:50:16.720 Yeah every time I see that ad I think to myself. 00:50:16.720 --> 00:50:19.720 One night these juice boxes are going to jump out of my. 00:50:22.720 --> 00:50:23.720 And here's the thing guys. 00:50:23.720 --> 00:50:26.720 As you keep getting satisfied with God. 00:50:26.720 --> 00:50:29.720 The strange thing about God and satisfaction. 00:50:29.720 --> 00:50:31.720 Is the more he satisfies you. 00:50:31.720 --> 00:50:34.720 The more you go running back because your desire grows. 00:50:34.720 --> 00:50:37.720 Anything else will satisfy you to a point where. 00:50:37.720 --> 00:50:40.720 There's a thing in economics called. 00:50:40.720 --> 00:50:43.720 The law of diminishing marginal something. 00:50:43.720 --> 00:50:46.720 Where the more you consume something the less you want it. 00:50:46.720 --> 00:50:49.720 But with God the more you consume something. 00:50:49.720 --> 00:50:51.720 The more your desire grows. 00:50:51.720 --> 00:50:54.720 Every time your thirst is slaked. 00:50:54.720 --> 00:50:58.720 Your appetite for thirst grows larger. 00:50:58.720 --> 00:51:02.720 And so you keep coming back and you're more and more satisfied. 00:51:02.720 --> 00:51:04.720 Never an end to it. 00:51:04.720 --> 00:51:07.720 Let me just pray this and then we'll move on to the next. 00:51:07.720 --> 00:51:09.720 Father this is a very simple prayer. 00:51:09.720 --> 00:51:11.720 And really there's nothing else I can do. 00:51:11.720 --> 00:51:14.720 Or we can do except pray this. 00:51:14.720 --> 00:51:16.720 That oh God. 00:51:16.720 --> 00:51:18.720 Please create in us. 00:51:18.720 --> 00:51:20.720 Please create in us. 00:51:20.720 --> 00:51:22.720 An appetite. 00:51:22.720 --> 00:51:24.720 For right relationship. 00:51:24.720 --> 00:51:26.720 And so you keep coming back. 00:51:26.720 --> 00:51:28.720 And you're more and more satisfied. 00:51:28.720 --> 00:51:30.720 Never an end to it. 00:51:30.720 --> 00:51:33.720 For right relationship. 00:51:35.720 --> 00:51:39.720 Please create in us an appetite for right relationship. 00:51:39.720 --> 00:51:42.720 Seven or eight months from now. 00:51:42.720 --> 00:51:45.720 Matt and Rachel are going to have a baby. 00:51:45.720 --> 00:51:47.720 And their desire will be. 00:51:47.720 --> 00:51:49.720 We pray that throughout our lives. 00:51:49.720 --> 00:51:50.720 This baby be. 00:51:50.720 --> 00:51:51.720 This child be. 00:51:51.720 --> 00:51:52.720 This son or daughter be. 00:51:52.720 --> 00:51:54.720 This man or woman be. 00:51:54.720 --> 00:51:57.720 In right relationship with us as parents. 00:51:57.720 --> 00:52:00.720 That's something every dad, every mum longs for. 00:52:01.720 --> 00:52:03.720 Works towards. 00:52:03.720 --> 00:52:05.720 You work towards it. 00:52:05.720 --> 00:52:07.720 We want to work towards it. 00:52:07.720 --> 00:52:10.720 Give us a divine desire and appetite. 00:52:10.720 --> 00:52:12.720 For right relationship with others. 00:52:12.720 --> 00:52:13.720 With you. 00:52:13.720 --> 00:52:14.720 With ourselves. 00:52:14.720 --> 00:52:16.720 We don't even know what that means. 00:52:16.720 --> 00:52:17.720 And with creation. 00:52:17.720 --> 00:52:18.720 Oh God. 00:52:18.720 --> 00:52:20.720 Please do this. 00:52:20.720 --> 00:52:23.720 Please do this because we don't know how to. 00:52:23.720 --> 00:52:26.720 Prevent us from being mildly dissatisfied. 00:52:26.720 --> 00:52:29.720 And just settling into kesara-sura. 00:52:29.720 --> 00:52:31.720 Please oh God. 00:52:31.720 --> 00:52:33.720 This is so important. 00:52:34.720 --> 00:52:36.720 Please do this. 00:52:38.720 --> 00:52:40.720 Let everything in our life come out of. 00:52:40.720 --> 00:52:43.720 Father son and father daughter intimacies. 00:52:45.720 --> 00:52:48.720 Let everything of our lives come from father son. 00:52:48.720 --> 00:52:51.720 Or father daughter intimacies. 00:52:51.720 --> 00:52:53.720 Right relationship. 00:52:54.720 --> 00:52:57.720 Spirit of God you can do this in this room right now. 00:52:57.720 --> 00:52:58.720 Nobody else can. 00:52:58.720 --> 00:52:59.720 So please do. 00:52:59.720 --> 00:53:01.720 Please do. 00:53:01.720 --> 00:53:03.720 In Jesus name. 00:53:21.720 --> 00:53:23.720 Amen.