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God Wants You to Get to Heaven (Matthew 7:7-14) | Louis Azuma
00:00 Introduction to Zion Williamson
00:34 Zion's Struggles and Resources
01:55 Transition to Spiritual Resources
02:46 God's Desire for Your Salvation
03:17 The Path to Eternal Life
04:29 The Power of Persistent Prayer
05:34 God's Promise to Answer Prayers
08:21 God's Goodness in Answering Prayers
10:06 Trusting God's Plan
11:41 The Importance of Persistent Asking
15:58 God's Goodness and Our Desires
24:24 God's Resources and Our Actions
24:54 The Golden Rule Explained
25:28 God's Support in Loving Others
26:52 The Essence of the Bible: Loving Others
27:50 God's Wisdom and Our Obedience
31:45 The Golden Rule vs. The Platinum Rule
36:47 Loving God to Love Others
41:54 The Narrow Path to Eternal Life
51:46 Trusting Jesus: The Narrow Gate
Transcript
I love basketball.
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:And one basketball player that I
made the mistake of drafting to my
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:fantasy basketball team a few years
ago, and I will never ever draft him
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:again, his name is Zion Williamson.
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:Zion Williamson.
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:And the reason I will never
draft this man, even though
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:he looks, he looks amazing.
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:Doesn't he look like a superhero?
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:The reason I will never draft this
guy again is because he never plays.
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:He never plays and the reason
he never plays he's always
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:injured or he's out of shape.
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:Now, can you imagine this
guy being out of shape?
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:Well, see the problem with this guy is
he has all these resources available.
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:He's a professional athlete.
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:He's got dietitians.
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:He's got millions of dollars.
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:He's got coaches.
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:He has other players.
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:He has maybe retired players he could talk
to and and hear from to help him learn
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:how to take care of his body and head in.
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:Do his job, which is to play
basketball to the best of ability.
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:He has all the resources in
the world, but he can't do it.
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:This is a stat from 2022.
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:He only played in 38 percent of
the games he could have played it.
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:So almost a third of the games he
should have been able to be at.
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:He only played in 38 percent 85, 226.
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:And guess what?
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:This year.
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:He's only played in 14 games, and
it's been more than half the season.
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:So once again, he's hurt.
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:Last year, he finally played a
lot of games, and then they got
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:to the playoffs, and guess what
happened to his first playoff game?
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:He got injured, left the game,
couldn't finish the game.
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:So he has all these
resources available, right?
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:He has millions of dollars, he's a
professional athlete, he has, the whole
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:New Orleans team, the whole organization
wants him to be healthy, to stay in shape.
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:And he can't do it.
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:Sometimes he'll show up to training camp
and he'll be 300 plus pounds, professional
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:athlete, all the resources in the world.
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:And see what I want you guys to
realize is that just like Mr.
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:Williamson has all these resources
available to him to help him
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:be a good basketball player,
but he can't stay on the court.
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:You have so many resources available
to you to get eternal life with God.
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:It's an obvious, clear way to heaven.
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:You have so many resources available,
but so many people still miss it.
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:So many people still end up missing out on
eternal life with God and instead go down
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:the path to eternal destruction away from
Him, despite all the resources you have.
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:So today we're going to look in Matthew 7.
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:We're going to see that God
offers you as much as He can, as
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:much help as He can to get you.
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:To heaven.
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:And so, the title of this sermon
is, God wants you to get to heaven.
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:God wants you there.
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:He's done everything he can to
get you there, but some people,
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:as we'll see in this passage, many
people still miss out on heaven.
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:Not many people will go
to heaven, which is sad.
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:Not many people will go to heaven.
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:That's what Jesus will tell us.
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:But God wants to help you get there.
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:Not many people will get to heaven,
but God wants to help you get there.
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:See, in our passage, Jesus is
presenting your life as a pathway.
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:Your life is a path, and it's
leading to one of two places.
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:It's either gonna lead in the
direction towards eternal life, or
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:it's gonna lead in the direction
towards eternal destruction.
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:There's only two options.
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:You either follow Jesus, or
you turn away from Jesus.
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:You either live for yourself,
or you live for God.
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:You And see, the path to life might be
unpopular or it might seem restrictive,
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:but really it's the happiest, the fullest,
the best way to live, and that path to
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:life is fueled by all of God's resources.
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:I'll try not to smack
you in the face, Lucas.
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:I almost did.
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:I'm sorry.
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:I'll back up a little bit.
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:The path to life, God is giving
you all of his resources.
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:God has way more resources
than millions of dollars.
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:of professional athlete resources.
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:God has way more available
at his disposal, and he wants
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:to help you get to heaven.
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:God's power, God's goodness, they're
all at your disposal if you will
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:reach out and grab God's hand in
faith and say, God, I need your help.
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:I want you to lead me
down the path to life.
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:So in this passage, we'll see four ways
that God helps Christians get to heaven.
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:Amen.
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:It.
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:So Matthew seven, right?
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:We're continuing on this
sermon on the Mount.
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:Jesus is teaching.
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:We're almost at the end, by the way.
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:So the first thing we're gonna
see in verses seven and eight.
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:So Jesus here in, in Matthew
seven, he says, ask, I should
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:just read this from here.
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:That would be helpful.
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:He says, ask and it will be given to you.
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:Seek and you'll find, knock
and it will be open to you.
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:For everyone who asks, receives,
and the one who seeks, finds, and to
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:the one who knocks, it will be open.
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:So God is talking, or Jesus
here, is talking about prayer.
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:He's talking about how to pray,
what it's like when you pray.
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:And what he's, he's giving
you three commands, right?
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:Ask, seek, knock.
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:You've probably heard about this before.
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:The reality here in this passage
is that if you ask, you'll get it.
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:If you knock It'll open, and
if you seek, you'll find.
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:So the, what Jesus is saying is, God
is available to answer your prayers.
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:God's ready.
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:He's ready to help.
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:He wants to help you.
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:So, you have the resource
of prayer to access God.
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:You can access God.
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:Sure thing.
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:That's what Jesus is saying.
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:You 100 percent have access to God.
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:So the first way that God helps
Christians get to Heaven is He says,
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:God promises to be available for you.
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:, God promises to be available for you.
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:And now all my points are gonna
have two sections tonight.
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:And that's because I want you to see
that there's two ways you can go.
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:You can go on the path to life.
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:You can see that God is available,
he's ready, he's willing to help me.
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:Or you can ignore God's availability.
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:You can say, God, I know you want
to help me, but I don't care.
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:You can stiff arm God and say,
God, I, I know I want you.
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:Or I, I know you want me.
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:I know you want me to, to
come to you and ask for help.
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:But I'm gonna ignore that.
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:I'm not gonna pray.
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:And that path leads to destruction.
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:See, Satan would love
for you to ignore God.
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:To turn down everything he's given
you to help you get to heaven.
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:Now there's one thing I
want you to understand.
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:The point's still up there, by the
way, if you're still writing it.
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:There's one thing I want you to understand
with this sermon is it's massively
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:important that I want you to get, okay?
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:Christians fail at prayer.
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:This point, right?
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:You can be a Christian and
sometimes not feel like praying.
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:You can be a Christian and
sometimes not take advantage of
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:all of God's resources for you.
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:I'm not saying you have to be
perfect at this to go to heaven.
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:That's not what I'm saying, okay?
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:I'm not saying you have to
be perfect to go to heaven.
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:Are we good?
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:All right, cool.
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:But if the constant theme of your life.
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:is ignoring God, not even considering the
fact that you need to pray, neglecting
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:your need for God's help, then you are
heading down a path towards destruction.
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:If you are trying to pray and having
trouble focusing, that's very different.
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:Right?
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:You're not going to go to hell for
trying to pray and needing help focusing.
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:That's not what I'm saying.
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:What I am saying is that if you
are constantly ignoring God and
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:Putting him at arm's length and
saying, God, I don't need you.
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:Rejecting him, saying, God,
I don't want your help.
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:That's a dangerous spot to be in.
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:So, look back at our passage.
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:The first thing Jesus wants us
to do is He wants us to ask.
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:Now, what, what do we mean by ask?
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:Well, I think there's two things
that we learn about God from
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:looking at when Jesus says ask.
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:He says, one, that God wants
to answer your prayers, right?
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:Ask, and it will be given to you.
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:Jesus isn't saying, you know, if
you ask, God might answer your
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:prayers if he's in a good mood.
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:Maybe, you know, maybe you can argue
God into answering your prayers.
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:Maybe.
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:No!
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:Jesus is saying God wants
to answer your prayers.
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:He's willing to.
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:He's ready to.
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:He's happy to.
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:He's not saying you have to bother
God into answering your prayers.
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:The second thing is that
he's saying God promises.
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:This is a command and a promise.
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:Amen.
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:Ask and it will be given to you.
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:That's not a suggestion.
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:That's not a, well, if you ask in
this special way with the right words,
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:then God will answer your prayer.
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:No, ask and it'll be given to you.
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:There's, there's a promise there.
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:So God wants to answer your prayers and
God promises to answer your prayers.
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:And these are things you need to know
when you're having trouble praying, right?
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:I think back to when I, you
know, I'd always been school.
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:I would often try to talk my
teachers into putting an extra
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:credit question on the test, right?
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:Oh, can we have extra
credit on this assignment?
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:Oh, is there extra credit in this class?
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:And sometimes they're like, no, right?
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:So I try to talk them into it.
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:I'm like, oh, you know, well,
what if we did, you know, on
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:this project, what if I did this?
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:Could I get extra credit?
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:Like, no, okay.
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:I would be much more bold in asking
them for extra credit if I knew
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:they wanted to give me extra credit.
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:If they were like, I love
giving out extra credit.
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:It's like my favorite thing.
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:The highlight of my school year is
giving my students extra credit.
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:Then I'd be like, Hey, you
should do extra credit.
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:Hey, can you add this on this assignment?
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:Hey, can you do this over here?
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:Because I know that they want it.
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:I know that they want to give it.
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:When you pray, know that
God wants to answer.
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:God's disposition is, I want to
answer the prayers of my people.
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:I want to give them things
that are good for them.
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:And not only that, he
said, he's promised you.
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:Imagine if your teacher said,
I promise if you ask for extra
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:credit, I'll give it to you.
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:You'd ask every day, you'd ask every
minute, you'd raise your hand every,
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:like, in and out of them all the time.
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:Can you have extra credit?
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:Can I have extra credit?
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:You'd do it.
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:Because you, you know
what your teacher's like.
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:You know what they want to do.
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:You know if they, what
they've said they'll do.
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:And you have here, in God's word, a
promise that he wants to answer your
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:prayers and he promises to do it.
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:So, that's the first motivation to pray.
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:That shows that God is available.
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:Next, that word seek.
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:Right, ask, seek.
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:There's a progression.
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:There's three things.
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:This is the second one.
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:Seek.
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:Well, that means that God wants to
be asked, even if he seems distant.
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:Alright, think of the imagery here.
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:You ask someone, but now you're seeking.
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:You're looking for them.
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:You're trying to find them.
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:God, where are you?
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:I don't know where you are.
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:Well, let me go look for you.
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:Right?
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:Think of a kid.
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:When you're a kid, you're
looking for your parents.
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:You want something from them.
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:If you see them, you know where
they are, you say, Hey, hey mom,
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:hey dad, can I please have this?
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:Hopefully you're a polite
child and you say please.
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:But, if you don't know where
they are, what do you do?
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:You go look for them, right?
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:You go upstairs, you go to their
room, you say, where are my parents?
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:I need to ask them.
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:I want ice cream.
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:So I'm gonna go ask them.
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:I'm gonna go find them.
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:Mom, can I get ice cream, please?
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:God is saying, if you
seek me, I'm available.
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:I'm ready.
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:You can come look for me and find me.
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:If you don't know where I'm
at, you can come find me.
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:So, God is saying, look, I
want you to keep on praying.
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:If you don't feel like I'm answering
your prayers, if I don't feel
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:like, if you don't feel like I'm
available, I want you to keep going.
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:Don't just pray once and stop.
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:So I'm sure we've all had that experience.
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:You prayed for something, you're
like, Oh, it didn't happen.
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:God's not saying give up.
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:He's saying, no, I want
you to keep asking.
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:And that's the second part.
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:He wants you to be persistent.
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:He even expects you to be persistent.
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:See, all these verbs, the way that
they're written in Jesus original
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:language, is they're all ongoing verbs.
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:So you could read it as, keep
on asking, keep on seeking.
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:They're present, ongoing verbs.
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:So God expects you to be persistent.
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:So if you have to keep praying for
something over and over, that's normal.
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:That's okay.
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:God's not failing you.
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:God's not ignoring you.
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:That's normal.
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:You should expect to have to
pray for something over and over.
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:And that shows you that, hey, God
still wants to answer my prayer.
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:He's still available.
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:He's still ready.
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:That third word in the passage,
we've got knock, right?
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:Ask, seek, knock.
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:Well, what knocking implies,
think of, you know, you're in
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:your house, you're a little kid,
you're looking for your parents.
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:So first you got, you know where
they are, so you can ask them.
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:And then maybe later in the day,
you don't know where they are.
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:So now you got to go find them.
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:Well, now knock, you go, you
know, they are, you know, they're
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:in their room, the doors closed.
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:What do you do?
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:Jesus says, knock, right?
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:Keep knocking on the
door, bang on that door.
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:Even if God seems unavailable, he's ready.
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:He's a, he's actually ready
to answer your prayers.
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:That's what Jesus is saying about God.
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:He's saying, even if God seems
distant, you can find him.
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:Even if God seems.
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:Unavailable or like he's ignoring
you like your prayers are bouncing
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:off the ceiling and coming back down
God is ready and willing and able
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:to answer your prayers And also he's
saying that God is still good and he
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:still wants to answer your prayers
even when you don't see him, right?
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:little kids Really little kids they
get scared when they can't see their
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:parents Right mom left the room mom's
around the corner They start crying.
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:They freak out.
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:Why?
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:Because they think mom disappeared.
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:They think mom doesn't exist anymore.
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:We do that with God, don't we?
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:Oh God, I don't see
you working in my life.
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:Oh God, I'm not really getting
a lot out of my Bible read.
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:God, my life's not going
the way I thought it would.
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:And then we're like, oh God doesn't exist.
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:God's abandoned me.
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:Maybe God's not real.
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:Maybe the Bible's not true.
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:We start freaking out.
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:Jesus is saying, look, you can knock.
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:You can knock on God's door.
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:You can keep bothering him
and he wants to answer.
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:He wants to open the door.
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:He wants you to come in.
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:So don't feel like God is
far away, disappeared around
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:the corner, out of your life.
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:Even if you have to keep praying for
something over and over and over.
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:If you keep going in the passage,
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:you can see that all of
this shows dependence.
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:It shows reliance.
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:It shows trust.
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:It's not the amount of praying
you do that gets you to heaven.
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:Right?
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:We're talking about our two paths, right?
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:The, the amount of prayers you do,
the frequency, the regularity, you
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:know, I use prayer mate, I do this,
that doesn't get you to heaven.
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:But the dependence on God
is what gets you to heaven.
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:It shows that you trust Him, you rely on
Him, that you recognize that you need Him.
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:Praying before your meals every day.
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:It doesn't matter if you're not relying
on God to give you those meals, if you're
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:taking them for granted and ignoring God.
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:It expresses your helplessness.
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:See, if you're praying like this,
if you're praying over and over and
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:over, and you're desperate and you're
constantly, actively taking God at his
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:word and saying, God, I know you're there.
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:I trust you.
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:I know you're good.
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:I want you to answer my prayers.
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:I know you're ready and available.
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:Then that expresses your
reliance on him, your trust.
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:And that's where Jesus goes next.
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:But what if you ask for something bad?
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:A lot of us, we read this passage
and we're like, great, I'm going
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:to pray for five million dollars.
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:I'm going to pray that I'm six foot four.
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:I'm going to pray that I'm the
prettiest girl in the world.
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:I'm going to pray that whatever,
what if you ask for something
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:and God doesn't give it?
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:What do I do?
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:Does Jesus lie?
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:He said, God's going to answer prayers.
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:What if I ask for something
that's bad for me?
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:Well, Jesus thought ahead of you.
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:So look now at Matthew 7, 9 through 11.
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:So Jesus says, Or which one of
you, if his son asks him for
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:bread, will give him a stone?
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:Alright, that would be me.
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:Or, if he asks for a fish,
will give him a serpent?
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:If you then, who are evil, which
that's just a passing, you know,
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:you heard the phrase, catching
strays, Jesus Just, just caught all
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:of humanity on a stray right there.
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:If you, who are evil people, by
the way, so all humans, Jesus
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:is saying, are evil people.
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:If you, who are evil, know how to give
good gifts to your children, how much
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:more will your Father, who is in heaven,
give good things to those who ask Him?
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:So what kind of things does God give?
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:Good things.
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:God only gives good things.
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:Things that are good for you.
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:Things that help you.
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:Things that grow you.
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:Things that shape you into more
like Jesus if you're a Christian.
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:So if you ask for something bad,
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:is God gonna give it to you?
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:Well this passage says no, because that
would be like a father giving his son
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:a snake if he asked for a fish to eat.
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:That would be like a son giving
it, or a father giving his son a
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:rock if he asked for some bread.
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:That's what God would be doing if he
gave you something that was bad for you.
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:Right?
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:What if the son asked for a rock?
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:What if he says, Dad, I want to
eat rocks for breakfast every day.
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:What's the dad going to do?
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:He's going to say, No, no
son, that's not good for you.
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:I love you too much to
give you what you want.
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:I, I give you good things for you.
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:So the second thing, The second way
that God helps you get to heaven is
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:He only wants what's good for you.
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:God only gives what's good for you.
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:That's why when you pray,
sometimes you don't get what you
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:prayed for, because you asked for
something that wasn't good for you.
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:And God only gives things
that are good for you.
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:So the alternate, right, of God
only wants what's good for you,
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:I shouldn't doubt God's goodness.
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:If you doubt God's God's goodness.
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:It's an easy way to distrust God.
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:To turn away from him and his commands.
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:Because you say, oh God, you don't
have my best interest at heart.
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:Your commands aren't good for
me, so I'm not going to do them.
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:I'm not going to listen to, to your word.
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:I'm not going to listen to my parents
or my small group leader because
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:I know that, I know better than
them, so I'm not going to listen.
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:That's an easy way to end up in hell.
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:Distrusting God's goodness.
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:Saying, God, I know better than you.
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:I know it's better, what's best for me.
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:I don't think you have my
best interests at heart.
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:God, your commands are for lame people.
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:Your commands are boring.
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:Your commands aren't good for me.
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:That's an easy way to end up in hell
because you end up distrusting God,
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:distancing yourself from him and going
further down the path towards destruction.
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:So God only wants what's good for you.
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:He only has your best interests at heart.
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:So don't doubt God's goodness.
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:And of course, As I said before, if
you occasionally doubt God's goodness,
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:and you struggle with it, and you
have a battle with your doubt, it
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:doesn't mean you're going to hell.
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:Okay, make that very clear.
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:You are not going to hell if
you occasionally doubt God.
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:Yes, we're all good on that?
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:Special PJ would say north south.
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:All right.
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:So, occasional doubts.
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:does not mean you're going to hell.
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:But if your life is characterized
by rejection of God's word,
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:saying, God, that's, I don't,
I don't want your commands.
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:They're not good for me.
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:God, I don't want what you have to say.
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:I don't want your desire for my life.
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:I don't want your worldview.
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:I don't want to believe
what, what you say.
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:I don't take you at your word.
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:Well, then that character and that
pattern of thought will lead you away
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:from God and to eternal destruction.
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:So, God only wants good things for us,
so he never gives us anything bad for us.
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:And that's when you need to remind
yourself, when you feel like you
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:got something bad from God, right?
446
:So a lot of kids, when their
dad gives them bread, they're
447
:like, No, dad, I want sugar.
448
:Right?
449
:You feel like, man, my dad's
not giving me what I want.
450
:Well, your dad's giving
you something good for you.
451
:Because he loves you.
452
:And even if it's not what you want,
it's Better for you than what you want.
453
:We talked about this two weeks
ago when we talked about anxiety.
454
:James 4
455
:Has an interesting take on prayer.
456
:He says you don't have because you don't
ask so if you're like man I wish I had
457
:this but James is like hey pray for it.
458
:That's your fault.
459
:You don't have that's convicting, right?
460
:You don't have it because
you didn't pray for it.
461
:If you still don't have it, even
though you've asked well, guess what?
462
:It's because you asked it wrongly
Because you were being selfish.
463
:See that?
464
:Your passions, your desires, your kingdom.
465
:That's why you asked and did that.
466
:That's why your prayer didn't work.
467
:Because it wasn't for God, it was for you.
468
:That's what James is saying.
469
:When God doesn't answer the, the prayers
the way you, you want them to be answered,
470
:you should ask that, that question of why.
471
:Is this, is this for me?
472
:Or is this for God?
473
:You should also ask the question, when God
doesn't answer the prayer I want the way I
474
:want, Is it maybe because he has something
better in mind than what I'm asking for?
475
:Raise your hand if you're smarter than God
476
:So if you didn't get what you wanted from
God Maybe it's because God's smarter than
477
:you and God's like, hey, you know what?
478
:I know that if I give them that
that would be bad for them or maybe
479
:he just is like, you know what?
480
:That's not bad, but I have
something even better.
481
:I Have something way better for you Right?
482
:I don't want you to eat the snacks at 3 p.
483
:m.
484
:because we're going to Hutchins at 5 p.
485
:m.
486
:Right?
487
:Maybe that's what God has in
mind, but you're like, it's 3 p.
488
:m.
489
:God, and I'm hungry.
490
:I want my snacks.
491
:God's like, you're gonna ruin the
amazing thing I have for you later.
492
:That also could be the case.
493
:So maybe it would be better for
you not to give you what you want.
494
:So when you're praying for something,
you're like, no, it's not happening.
495
:Well, maybe God's like, hey, I
got something better for you.
496
:So.
497
:Chill out.
498
:It's okay.
499
:Trust me.
500
:Right?
501
:Or maybe, here's a thought, it would
be better for you to keep on asking.
502
:Maybe it would be better for you to keep
asking because you'll be a better person
503
:by the end of the time you're done asking.
504
:You'll be more patient.
505
:You'll be more kind.
506
:You'll be more loving.
507
:You'll trust God more.
508
:You'll have a better story
of God's faithfulness.
509
:Maybe that's why God lets you keep asking.
510
:Because you asking changes you.
511
:It shapes you.
512
:It grows your dependence on God.
513
:It grows you into a more content person.
514
:And those things are even more
valuable, maybe, than the thing
515
:you're asking for in the first place.
516
:So, sometimes the period of asking
shapes you and it makes you better.
517
:So now you get the thing you
want later, and you're a more
518
:Christ like person as a result.
519
:You're a more joyful person, you're
a more peaceful person, you're a
520
:more kind person, a gentle person.
521
:And that lasts forever.
522
:So.
523
:So, don't doubt God's goodness
because you remember that God
524
:only wants what's good for you.
525
:So, if I have all of God's
resources at my disposal, right,
526
:God's available, I can ask Him.
527
:I can look for Him, and I can
bother Him when I can't find Him.
528
:And He, so I'll have all His
resources at my disposal.
529
:He's intensely committed to my good.
530
:God is a loving Father.
531
:He wants what's best for Can't I just
then be selfish and do whatever I want?
532
:God's my, you know, I can be a spoiled
kid, rich dad, do whatever I want, right?
533
:Well, look where Jesus goes next.
534
:Matthew 7, 12.
535
:Jesus is so smart.
536
:He's put all of these things
together, right, as we're asking them.
537
:So, verse 12.
538
:I'll put it on the
screen so you can see it.
539
:That'll help.
540
:So, that whatever you wish that others
would do to you, do also to them,
541
:for this is the law and the prophets.
542
:Now see that word, so, at the beginning?
543
:That's the most important
word in this sentence.
544
:That word, so, connects this to
what we were just talking about.
545
:Means therefore.
546
:So you can pray, you have
unhindered access to God.
547
:You can pray, you can ask, you
can seek, you can knock, and you
548
:know that God's a loving Father.
549
:He gives you what's good for you.
550
:Therefore, whatever you wish
others would do to you, do to them.
551
:So because you know, God's
going to take care of you and
552
:God's going to be good to you.
553
:Now, you don't have to worry
about yourself anymore.
554
:God has freed you up to go follow him,
to go love others, to give yourself away
555
:for the good of other people, because
you can trust him to take care of you.
556
:You see that God wants
to help you obey him.
557
:You see that God's not like, all right,
I really need you to love others.
558
:So do your best.
559
:Have fun.
560
:Ready, set, go.
561
:That's not what God's doing.
562
:God's saying, look, I'll take
care of all the stuff so you
563
:can go out and love others.
564
:But when you, when, when you're
loving others, I'll take care of you.
565
:I'll supply you.
566
:I'll be good to you.
567
:I'm available to help you love others.
568
:I'll give you everything you
need while you're doing that.
569
:But that's where you're, that's
where I want your focus to be.
570
:But God wants to help you.
571
:God's not sitting there being
like, Oh, do my, do my commands.
572
:You're on your own.
573
:And see, this is all the, this
is the law and the prophets.
574
:Jesus is saying the whole
Bible is about loving others.
575
:Isn't that crazy?
576
:If someone asked you what's
the whole Bible about, you'd
577
:probably say loving God.
578
:Jesus is saying it's about loving others.
579
:We're going to look at what
in the world that means.
580
:But our, I should have had this,
this would have helped so much
581
:to explain what I just explained.
582
:Wouldn't that have been so helpful?
583
:I'll That's why they have the thing
where like you can see the next
584
:slide, you know, but rookie move.
585
:Okay, point three, God
equips you to follow Him.
586
:So, don't disregard God's wisdom.
587
:God equips you to follow Him.
588
:God is saying, look, I
will take care of you.
589
:I will supply all your needs so
that you can go love other people.
590
:I want you to do the law and the prophets.
591
:I want you to love people, which is
actually what my whole Bible's been about.
592
:So, trust God.
593
:God knows what's best for you.
594
:You know, if the whole Bible
comes down to loving other
595
:people, maybe that's a good idea.
596
:Maybe I should do that.
597
:That's, that's what we're saying here.
598
:Don't disregard God's wisdom.
599
:God is saying, my law
is the best way to live.
600
:See, looking down on law, on God, and
not taking what he says seriously, and
601
:thinking you know a better way to live,
that's another easy way to go to hell.
602
:If you're saying, you know what God, I
know you want me to love other people,
603
:but I think I should do life this way.
604
:If you're saying, God, I know that, you
know, all of history has kind of like,
605
:you know, you've orchestrated it and you
made me and you know how I work and you
606
:know what's good for me, but I don't know.
607
:I don't feel like loving other people.
608
:That's disregarding God's wisdom.
609
:That's what you're doing when you're
saying, God, I know better than you.
610
:I don't want to do your commands.
611
:Not thinking that you know a
better way to live than God.
612
:It's also not very unique.
613
:I'm sure millions of people have done
that and they would all tell you They were
614
:wrong So god equips you to follow him.
615
:So don't disregard his wisdom Well
first thing we can learn from verse 12
616
:here is that god thinks other centered
living is essential to following him
617
:Remember, this is all the law and the
prophets If you're not loving other
618
:people if you're not focused on loving
other people then You're disobeying
619
:Everything That's what Jesus is saying.
620
:You're breaking all the law.
621
:You're disregarding the whole bible
if you're not loving other people.
622
:And see this, this idea, it's looking
for what's best for others, right?
623
:It's not just, oh, I won't bother you.
624
:It's, oh, I'm looking
for what's best for you.
625
:I'm actively engaged in loving you
and thinking about how I can do this.
626
:Now, one more thing, pause.
627
:You don't love other people
to gain favor with God.
628
:Or to gain good standing with God, right?
629
:If you're loving other people, it
doesn't make you more acceptable to God.
630
:If you're really good at caring
for people, it doesn't make you
631
:more acceptable to God, okay?
632
:Or if you're having a hard time
loving someone, does that mean
633
:you're going to go to hell?
634
:No, right?
635
:Struggling to obey God, but
pushing through, persevering,
636
:trying, is very different than
saying, God, your law is stupid.
637
:I don't want that.
638
:That's a, there's two
very different things.
639
:So,
640
:this passage here also assumes that
God knows the best way to love others.
641
:That God, because think
about what we just read.
642
:All the law and the prophets
mean, like, loving other people.
643
:So that means that God's word is how
you, shows you how to love other people.
644
:Did you catch that?
645
:This is all a law in the prophets.
646
:What is?
647
:Do unto others as you'd
have them do unto you.
648
:Right?
649
:So, God made up how to love other people.
650
:That's God's idea.
651
:God explains how to do that in his word.
652
:So God shows us how to love other people.
653
:Not us.
654
:We don't get to say, You know what God,
I think we should love other people
655
:by not sharing the gospel with them.
656
:We should never tell them
That, that they need Jesus.
657
:That would be way more loving, God.
658
:God's like, no, that's, that's not loving.
659
:That's actually really hateful.
660
:To withhold salvation from someone because
you're scared to share the gospel, right?
661
:So, here's the thing.
662
:You might have heard about
something called the Platinum Rule.
663
:We just talked about,
right, the Golden Rule.
664
:Do unto others as you would
have them do unto you.
665
:You might have heard something
called the Platinum Rule.
666
:So the Golden Rule, treat others
as you would want to be treated.
667
:The Platinum Rule, which is really
cool and trendy now, Is treat
668
:others as they want to be treated.
669
:Isn't that better?
670
:Isn't that more focused on them?
671
:It's not treat others how
you want to be treated.
672
:It's focused, it's focused on them.
673
:It's how do they want to treat?
674
:What do they want?
675
:I want to do that, right?
676
:Because if you're treating others how
you want to be treated, and you really
677
:like chocolate, but they're allergic
to chocolate, and you get them a
678
:chocolate dessert, that's not loving.
679
:Because you weren't considerate,
and you weren't kind, right?
680
:You're like, okay, that's got a point.
681
:We got a point there.
682
:I need to know other people
and do what they want, okay?
683
:There's a point to that, but here's the
problem with, with the Platinum Rule.
684
:So, See, I can even come up with
a fancy heading and everything.
685
:Jesus is smarter than everybody.
686
:Whoa, breaking news.
687
:So the Golden Rule is better than
the Platinum Rule because what's
688
:the Platinum Rule really saying?
689
:Look at number one.
690
:Before you start writing, just look, okay?
691
:Pause the writing and just look.
692
:The Platinum Rule is really just
saying give people whatever they
693
:want, even if it's bad for them.
694
:Because, what if you applied
the Platinum Rule to parenting?
695
:Treat others how they want to be treated.
696
:I don't think any kids would survive.
697
:Like, at all.
698
:Treat the kids how they
want to be treated.
699
:That's not happening.
700
:Right?
701
:Remember two weeks ago we talked about
Levi and Angelo and Levi's jacket.
702
:Levi didn't want his jacket.
703
:But Levi didn't know that if he didn't
have a jacket he was going to die of
704
:pneumonia because he's going to get cold,
705
:right?
706
:So the Platinum Rule is really
just saying, give people what they
707
:want, even if it's bad for them.
708
:Just affirm whatever desires they have.
709
:That's really bad.
710
:Because what if I want
something that's bad for me?
711
:See, aren't you glad that God doesn't
always give you what you want?
712
:Because we're all broken.
713
:We all want sin sometimes.
714
:We all want poison.
715
:It looks good on the outside, and
then we drink it and die, right?
716
:That's sin.
717
:So, the Platinum Rule really isn't loving.
718
:The Golden Rule asks you to put
yourself in their shoes, because
719
:you would want them to put them
in your shoes, wouldn't you?
720
:Right?
721
:If, it would, our chocolate illustration,
right, you have to go, I really like
722
:chocolate, and you're allergic to
chocolate, but I'm like, I love chocolate,
723
:I bet Pastrata would love chocolate
for his birthday next Wednesday.
724
:So I would be like, Oh, I'll get
Pastor Rod a bunch of chocolate.
725
:And let's say Pastor Rod is very
unfortunate and has a very large cross
726
:to bear and he's allergic to chocolate.
727
:And he can't taste chocolate until he gets
to heaven, when everything's chocolate.
728
:Just kidding.
729
:Um, but it would be unloving for
me to get Pastor Rod chocolate if
730
:he's allergic to chocolate, right?
731
:Yes, because that would be torture.
732
:But, if I really thought about it,
if I really treated Pastor Rod how I
733
:would want to be treated, I wouldn't.
734
:If I was Pasterado and I was allergic
to chocolate, I would want Lewis
735
:to find out that Pasterado was
allergic to chocolate and get him
736
:something not chocolate, right?
737
:So see how the Golden Rule
still is actually better?
738
:Because if you treat them how you
want to be treated, you're going
739
:to treat them with everything that
the Platinum Rule says is better
740
:than the Golden Rule, right?
741
:Look here at Philippians 2, 3.
742
:Do nothing from selfish ambition or
conceit, that means to seem better
743
:than you are, but in humility, this
will say count, like, count, like,
744
:um, the Sesame Street guy, right?
745
:One.
746
:Ah, ah.
747
:Okay.
748
:Um, but in humility, count others
more significant than yourself.
749
:And then it goes on to say, don't
look out for your own interests, but
750
:look out for the interests of others.
751
:So really the golden rule is still more
other centered than the platinum rule.
752
:Because you're saying, okay,
how would I want to be treated?
753
:I would want that, I would
want someone to be thoughtful.
754
:I'd want them to think about my desires.
755
:I'd want them to give me something that's
good for me, even if I don't like it.
756
:I would want them to help me.
757
:I wouldn't want them to just
put up a facade and say that
758
:everything in my life is okay.
759
:Pastor Rod told me something
once when I was in high school.
760
:He said, A good friend
stabs you in the front.
761
:There's something wrong with you.
762
:You want your friend to tell you.
763
:You want your friend to be like, Oh,
well, I don't want to offend them.
764
:So I'm not going to tell him.
765
:That, you know, they're
a really unkind person.
766
:Would you want your friend to tell you
that and and help and help you grow with?
767
:Yeah, you would.
768
:So the golden rule is actually way
more loving than the platinum rule,
769
:and Jesus is a genius even if people
are trying not to believe that.
770
:So God knows the best way to love others.
771
:Right?
772
:The Golden Rule is better
than the Platinum Rule.
773
:The Platinum Rule is just catering
to whatever people desire.
774
:So, the next thing, number three
down there, God must be loved
775
:first in order to love others well.
776
:Because, right, loving others
is the law and the promise.
777
:Well, if you ask someone, what's the whole
Bible about, they would say, loving God.
778
:Yes, that is true.
779
:It is about loving God.
780
:That means that loving God, right?
781
:What did Jesus say?
782
:What's the best commandment?
783
:What's the greatest commandment?
784
:Love God with everything you've got.
785
:Right?
786
:Well, that's the best way to love others.
787
:Because if the whole Bible is about, like,
the greatest commandment is about love
788
:God with everything you've got, and the
whole Bible is also about loving others
789
:as you would want to be loved, well, then
that means that loving God with everything
790
:you've got is the best way to love others.
791
:See that?
792
:Because it's the same thing.
793
:The Bible can't be, the main point of
the Bible can't be two things, right?
794
:So that means loving God with everything
you've got is the best way to love others.
795
:So you love others best
when you love God most.
796
:When I got married, the first vow
I promised my wife was that I would
797
:pursue Jesus more than I pursued her.
798
:I would love Jesus more than I loved her.
799
:Because if I love her more than I
love Jesus, guess what she's is?
800
:She's an idol.
801
:And she's not supposed to be an
idol because that's bad for her.
802
:If my life's about her,
that's bad for her.
803
:But if my life's about
Jesus, that's good for her.
804
:So you love other people
best when you love God most.
805
:And, this is the genius of what Jesus
is saying, the deeper your relationship
806
:with God, the more like God you become.
807
:And then you become more like
a loving father from verses
808
:Verses 8, 9, or 9, 10, and 11.
809
:I haven't taken math in like 6 years.
810
:Um, verses 9, 10, 11.
811
:The loving father who gives good things.
812
:Because you have a closer
relationship with God.
813
:So now you love other people
more like God loves them.
814
:So now you're even better for them.
815
:So you see how loving God more makes
you more like God, which actually makes
816
:you better at loving other people.
817
:So the best way to love God, Or the
best way to love others is to love
818
:God, because then you become more
like the loving Father that God is.
819
:Fourthly, God thinks other centered
living is essential for your happiness.
820
:God thinks other centered
living is essential.
821
:You won't be happy unless you love
other people and count their interests
822
:as more significant than yourselves.
823
:You will not be happy, unless you
love other people more than yourself.
824
:That's what Jesus is saying.
825
:How did we get there?
826
:Well, remember what Jesus has
said this whole sermon is about.
827
:Remember how Jesus started this sermon?
828
:He started with blessing, right?
829
:Sermon on the Mount.
830
:He's the new Moses coming down
the mountain with, instead of Ten
831
:Commandments, he's got Beatitudes.
832
:He has blessing.
833
:And so he's saying that, and then he
goes on, he talks about the law, right?
834
:He says, You've heard it
said, but I say to you.
835
:So he's got a better law.
836
:The true intention of the law.
837
:Of God's law and prophets.
838
:He's saying, Here it is,
and it brings blessing.
839
:Because it's from the heart.
840
:Amen.
841
:And so the blessed life that Jesus
has been describing, this whole
842
:sermon, about being pure, about
not being angry, about laying up
843
:treasures in heaven, about not being
anxious, that's part of loving others.
844
:So loving others is
essential for your happiness.
845
:Now, again, if you're struggling to
love others, but you're trying, Does
846
:that mean you're gonna go to hell?
847
:No, right?
848
:But, loving others is an extension
of your reliance on the Lord.
849
:You aren't obeying to get to heaven.
850
:Obeying doesn't get you
closer to, to heaven.
851
:You're obeying out of trust.
852
:That your good loving father
has your best interest in mind.
853
:Because remember, the reason
we love is because we know
854
:that God is providing for us.
855
:And so that overflows
into a love for others.
856
:So when Jesus says, The whole
law and prophets is summed up in
857
:love your neighbor as yourself.
858
:He's saying that living for the good
of others is the best way to live.
859
:So he's presenting his disciples
with the heart of God's law.
860
:Which, as we've seen, is the path to
life, to joy, to peace, to security.
861
:So the law, loving others,
is the path to life.
862
:Now the last two verses in this
passage start a new section
863
:in the Sermon on the Mount.
864
:The final section.
865
:In this section, Jesus is
going to give you two choices.
866
:He gives, in these two verses,
you'll see he gives two paths.
867
:And then next week we'll see
that he gives you two prophets.
868
:Or two kinds of, of tree, if you will.
869
:Different kinds of fruit.
870
:And then he'll give you two
foundations to build your life on.
871
:Jesus is giving you a choice.
872
:Look with me at Matthew 7, 13 and 14.
873
:Enter by the narrow gate.
874
:For the gate is wide and the way
is easy that leads to destruction.
875
:And those who enter by it are many.
876
:Amen.
877
:For the gate is narrow, and the
way is hard, that leads to life,
878
:and those who find it are few.
879
:So there's two options here, right?
880
:You see that?
881
:Verse 13.
882
:There's a wide, easy way, and
there's a narrow, hard way.
883
:The difference is where they go.
884
:Now I want you to see, not just the
seriousness of this, I do want you to
885
:see that, but I also want you to see that
God is helping you pick the right one.
886
:Cause he's making it really
obvious which one you should pick.
887
:One of them, destruction.
888
:One of them, life.
889
:So God is offering you life.
890
:He's offering you joy and peace and
security and, and embraced by him.
891
:So he's helping you get to heaven
by offering you the reward.
892
:He's saying, look, if you live
this way, this will happen.
893
:If you live this way, this will happen.
894
:So point four.
895
:That should be a plural offers.
896
:God offers the path to eternal life.
897
:So don't reject God's salvation.
898
:God offers the path to eternal life.
899
:So don't reject God's salvation.
900
:See, God is helping you get to heaven by
offering you a choice and he's making it
901
:really obvious which way you should go.
902
:Something that this passage makes
really clear is that it's really easy
903
:and it's really common to go to hell.
904
:Like the way is, the gate is wide and
the way is easy that leads to destruction
905
:and those who enter by it are many.
906
:A lot of people go to hell.
907
:It's not uncommon to go to hell.
908
:And that's because living
for anything but Jesus.
909
:We'll send you to hell.
910
:Remember, three weeks ago, we talked
about your master and your treasure.
911
:If those things are anything but God,
if you're the most important thing in
912
:your life, the most precious thing to
you, and the one you build your life
913
:around, the one you're, the direction
you're pursuing with your life, your
914
:master, are anything but Jesus, that
definitely will send you to hell.
915
:Now, if you are tempted to value other
things but Jesus, and you value other
916
:things a lot, or you serve things, and you
love things, and you're devoted to other
917
:things, and maybe they're competing with
Jesus, but at the end of the day, maybe
918
:it's hard, maybe you give in sometimes,
but you choose Jesus, Jesus is your
919
:treasure, does that send you to hell?
920
:No, right?
921
:So struggling does not send you to hell.
922
:Rejecting sends you to hell.
923
:Turning away, saying, God, I
don't, I don't find you appealing.
924
:I don't want to be with you.
925
:I don't love you.
926
:You're not important.
927
:You're not valuable.
928
:That's rejecting God.
929
:And that's what sends you to hell.
930
:And so when you're tempted,
when you are tempted, you're
931
:wavering between the two paths.
932
:When you're struggling,
God wants to help you.
933
:He doesn't want to say, Oh, figure it out.
934
:Deal with it.
935
:No, he wants to help you.
936
:So what does he do?
937
:He, he gives you the reward.
938
:He says, you can have eternal life.
939
:It's easy to get distracted
by the world or to give your
940
:heart to, to other treasures.
941
:But when you're tempted to be
distracted, remember your reward.
942
:Remember where this will take me, right?
943
:Take a step back and think about,
man, if I click on these things,
944
:where are they going to take me?
945
:If I say those words,
where does that lead me?
946
:If I look at those things,
where will that lead me?
947
:If I treat this person that
way, what is that, what is
948
:that pulling my heart towards?
949
:Remember the reward.
950
:Take a step back and ask
yourself, Where does this lead?
951
:Where does this go?
952
:See, God, He motivates us.
953
:He motivates our exclusive
allegiance with eternal life.
954
:Because And maybe you've never thought
about it this way, but following
955
:Jesus leads to the greatest amount of
joy for the longest amount of time.
956
:Psalm 1611 says, At God's right
hand are pleasures forevermore.
957
:The greatest amount of joy for
the longest amount of time.
958
:That's a good enough reason to follow God.
959
:I hope.
960
:Following Jesus is about, it's
about trusting Him to be your
961
:only hope, your only treasure.
962
:Your only Savior.
963
:And you're motivated to do
that by God's offer of life.
964
:This is going to be
best for you in the end.
965
:So walk the narrow path.
966
:Enter the narrow gate.
967
:See, this sermon, it puts
two paths in front of you.
968
:One of them is easy and common,
and many people are going down it.
969
:It doesn't take much work.
970
:I heard one pastor talk about it like
the lazy river at the water You just
971
:float on down, following everyone else.
972
:But see, there's actually a bunch of
different ways you can go down this path.
973
:It's wide.
974
:There's a bunch of different
ways you can do it.
975
:You can make it a big party.
976
:You can say, Oh, I, I love disobeying God.
977
:It's so fun.
978
:It's so much better than being a boring
church person and be proud, right?
979
:That I'm those lame
people who read the Bible.
980
:You can do it spitefully because
you feel like the other path is
981
:restrictive and legalistic and boring.
982
:Right?
983
:You can say, oh, I don't
like parents rules.
984
:I don't like God's rules.
985
:He's so, so mean.
986
:He's so hateful.
987
:He does that.
988
:He says that.
989
:Or you can do it because
you think God lets you down.
990
:God, He didn't answer my prayers.
991
:He burned me.
992
:You know, my family's a mess.
993
:It's God's fault.
994
:You can do that.
995
:That's one way down this wide path.
996
:You can also go down this path
morally, nicely, religiously, even.
997
:You can do it serving at church,
reading the Bible to make yourself
998
:feel good enough to go to heaven.
999
:You can be a Pharisee and rely
on your churchianity to save you.
:
00:49:07,245 --> 00:49:10,815
You can even go down this path without
really noticing that you're on it.
:
00:49:11,335 --> 00:49:14,425
And just float your way down and
fill your life with distractions and
:
00:49:14,425 --> 00:49:19,195
games and fun and VR headsets and
TikTok reels and float your way down.
:
00:49:22,005 --> 00:49:23,325
This path will kill you.
:
00:49:26,790 --> 00:49:32,250
It will leave you unsatisfied,
empty, bitter, hurt, and regretting
:
00:49:32,250 --> 00:49:35,440
that you wasted your life
and you turned away from God.
:
00:49:37,170 --> 00:49:40,070
It will bring you under the
wrath of God, burning forever
:
00:49:40,070 --> 00:49:41,859
in hell, that's destruction.
:
00:49:44,259 --> 00:49:48,450
Because nothing good you did, or
religious you did, or fun you did,
:
00:49:48,860 --> 00:49:50,230
could cleanse you of your sin.
:
00:49:52,425 --> 00:49:53,735
It isn't hard to go down this path.
:
00:49:53,745 --> 00:49:57,295
All you have to do is ignore God, doubt
God, look down on God, and reject God.
:
00:49:57,505 --> 00:50:00,275
And if you keep doing those
things the rest of your life,
:
00:50:00,445 --> 00:50:01,735
that's the path you're down.
:
00:50:02,085 --> 00:50:06,694
The more persistently you do that,
the further down this path you'll go.
:
00:50:08,534 --> 00:50:11,995
And see, the other path, the narrow
path, it's not much to look at.
:
00:50:12,025 --> 00:50:13,535
There's only one way to go down it.
:
00:50:13,815 --> 00:50:15,735
It's very counterintuitive, right?
:
00:50:15,735 --> 00:50:19,884
It's forgetting yourself, taking up your
cross, being unpopular, taking Jesus at
:
00:50:19,885 --> 00:50:21,119
His word even when you don't really care.
:
00:50:21,130 --> 00:50:26,600
I don't get it, but as you
go down the path, you'll
:
00:50:26,600 --> 00:50:30,369
realize how much better it is.
:
00:50:31,290 --> 00:50:34,010
Even before you reach the end of
it, you'll see why other people,
:
00:50:35,010 --> 00:50:37,899
like your parents and your leaders,
took this choice so seriously.
:
00:50:38,950 --> 00:50:43,600
Because as you learn to trust Jesus,
to live for the good of others,
:
00:50:43,600 --> 00:50:48,140
to depend on God, to keep seeking
His wisdom, you realize that this
:
00:50:48,150 --> 00:50:49,890
path is the best way to live.
:
00:50:49,890 --> 00:50:49,904
Amen.
:
00:50:50,195 --> 00:50:54,635
Because you have a good and loving
wise father leading you down.
:
00:50:55,115 --> 00:50:58,705
It brings comfort, it brings peace,
security, even in hard seasons.
:
00:50:59,815 --> 00:51:05,625
It gives you joy and love that lasts way
longer than anything on the other path.
:
00:51:08,194 --> 00:51:14,715
And that's because this path fills you
up, even though you're emptying yourself.
:
00:51:14,715 --> 00:51:17,305
You're giving yourself away,
but you're coming back full.
:
00:51:18,400 --> 00:51:22,000
And that's because as you walk the
narrow road, you realize that this path
:
00:51:22,010 --> 00:51:26,580
isn't as much about the path, and it's
more about who you're walking with.
:
00:51:29,109 --> 00:51:35,000
You understand that the person you
get to know on this path is Jesus.
:
00:51:35,539 --> 00:51:40,260
And the longer you're with Jesus, the
more convinced you are that being with
:
00:51:40,260 --> 00:51:43,380
him is the best place that you can be.
:
00:51:46,950 --> 00:51:50,130
What I would hate for you to walk
away from this sermon thinking.
:
00:51:52,015 --> 00:51:56,095
is that the narrow way is a lifestyle
to earn you a spot in heaven.
:
00:51:58,165 --> 00:51:59,365
Please don't believe this.
:
00:52:00,415 --> 00:52:01,265
This will kill you.
:
00:52:03,755 --> 00:52:09,694
The narrow way, the narrow road
is not being religious enough to
:
00:52:09,694 --> 00:52:13,835
go to heaven or doing what God
says and following the rules good
:
00:52:13,835 --> 00:52:15,985
enough so you can make it to heaven.
:
00:52:18,305 --> 00:52:21,895
That's not what I want you to believe.
:
00:52:24,345 --> 00:52:28,755
See, the way you live on the path,
the lifestyle of the path, is
:
00:52:28,795 --> 00:52:34,035
only an expression of your trust
in Jesus to get you to heaven.
:
00:52:35,684 --> 00:52:37,724
Jesus is the one who gets you to heaven.
:
00:52:37,724 --> 00:52:43,375
The things you do on the way are
an expression of your dependence
:
00:52:43,415 --> 00:52:45,275
on him to get you there.
:
00:52:47,925 --> 00:52:51,615
See, the narrow way is trusting
Jesus to get you to heaven.
:
00:52:51,654 --> 00:52:52,385
That's what it is.
:
00:52:52,395 --> 00:52:53,534
It's not doing things.
:
00:52:53,980 --> 00:53:00,140
It's not obeying God, it's not listening
to your small group leader and all that.
:
00:53:00,960 --> 00:53:03,400
The narrow way is trusting
Jesus, depending on Him.
:
00:53:04,760 --> 00:53:06,400
Jesus is the narrow gate.
:
00:53:06,880 --> 00:53:07,779
Enter by the narrow gate.
:
00:53:07,780 --> 00:53:08,229
What is it?
:
00:53:08,240 --> 00:53:09,050
It's Jesus!
:
00:53:09,470 --> 00:53:12,339
He says, I am the way,
the truth, and the life.
:
00:53:12,429 --> 00:53:13,850
Trust me, depend on me.
:
00:53:15,730 --> 00:53:18,450
You can never be Christian enough,
religious enough, loving enough,
:
00:53:19,200 --> 00:53:21,180
anything enough to get to heaven.
:
00:53:21,180 --> 00:53:21,550
Amen.
:
00:53:21,825 --> 00:53:25,175
God wants to bring you there,
and He's the one who'll do it,
:
00:53:25,285 --> 00:53:29,785
and He does it by trust in Jesus.
:
00:53:30,045 --> 00:53:31,125
Dependence on Him.
:
00:53:31,895 --> 00:53:35,954
Saying, Jesus, your
righteousness qualifies me
:
00:53:35,954 --> 00:53:38,655
for heaven, not anything I do.
:
00:53:41,425 --> 00:53:42,944
That's the narrow way.
:
00:53:44,634 --> 00:53:45,054
Let's pray.
:
00:53:47,994 --> 00:53:51,875
Father, thank you that you want us
to be in heaven, that you love us
:
00:53:51,875 --> 00:53:57,680
so much that That you do everything
you can to make sure that we know
:
00:53:59,890 --> 00:54:01,260
that we have two options.
:
00:54:02,320 --> 00:54:07,450
We can either reject you and turn
away from you and go to our own
:
00:54:07,450 --> 00:54:13,740
destruction, or we can turn to you and
rely on you and follow you to life.
:
00:54:15,220 --> 00:54:20,280
So I pray tonight that you
help us all to trust you more.
:
00:54:20,369 --> 00:54:21,720
Maybe some of us for the first time.
:
00:54:21,720 --> 00:54:22,529
I pray that you help you.
:
00:54:23,710 --> 00:54:27,990
These students to realize that you
want them to be in heaven, and you've
:
00:54:28,150 --> 00:54:32,669
given them everything they need to
get there because ultimately, yes,
:
00:54:32,669 --> 00:54:36,920
you've given them so many good things,
but you've given them yourself.
:
00:54:36,959 --> 00:54:41,960
You've made yourself available
for us if we call on you in faith.
:
00:54:42,690 --> 00:54:47,200
So I pray tonight that you hope our
small group time to be about you.
:
00:54:47,250 --> 00:54:50,069
Help us to focus, help us to be
respectful and kind and thoughtful.
:
00:54:50,800 --> 00:54:54,180
And I pray that we walk away trusting
Jesus more than we walked in.
:
00:54:54,180 --> 00:54:55,310
I pray this in Jesus name.
:
00:54:55,590 --> 00:54:55,990
Amen.
