In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of following the Word of God and not relying solely on personal opinions or experiences. He compares the refining process of sandpaper to the way the Word of God shapes and molds us. The speaker also discusses the need for a method in educating children, rooted in the fear of the Lord. He encourages listeners to be vessels fit for God's use and to strive for maturity in Christ, with the Holy Spirit working mightily in their lives.

The last two messages involved living in Christ. Christ lives in us. Okay, the word of God says that. And we live in Him, or we abide in Him. In relationships within the body. For the longest time, I wrote dailies on what we call the rock tumbler effect, where you know a hard rock that is not easily smoothed out. You put them in a tumbler, put a bunch of them in together, and they bang up one against the other. And in doing so, they smooth out all the rough edges. Simple enough, and easily to, you know, to understand that. And when it comes to a body of believers, we do bump up one against the other. And from time to time, as growth gets better and better, and stronger and stronger in the Lord, the smoother edges are not removed, but they're left in. You know, these are mature rocks. These are ones that have been pounded. And they're very, almost like, hey, look at me, to the ones that have rough edges. When people look at me, look at me, they shouldn't see me. If you're a smooth rock, they should see Christ. Me is taken out of the equation. Me, as the rock that has jagged edges, no longer takes pride in those rough edges, in the type of rock I used to be. And there seems to be an awful lot of that in human nature, that it's very proud of what it was. And look how far I've come. I see that to myself. And I look at my life briefly through the ages of ten decades. And I can see many things that were, that I would, you know, take pride in as an individual. And there are many things that I would take fault with as one that is now more mature and understand what the Lord is after. When we look at ourselves, it should always be in the light of the Word of God. I very rarely have anything to say anymore. You know what I mean? You guys know who I am. I don't just talk about the good old days and what I used to do and all that. I mean, unless I'm quoting scripture or a precept found in my life that exalts Christ and in some way will strike up against you and take a rough edge off. I don't say anything. I don't have any opinions. Although you may say this guy is the most opinionated guy in the world. What are you talking about you don't have any opinions? That's all you are is an opinion. Well, the Lord had opinions about things. And he thought very highly of his Father. I think very highly of the Lord Jesus Christ. If anything that you do learn and you want to brag on is coming through Philippians 3.10 that I may know him. I do know him. Do I know him? Know him, know him? In the way that the Father would have me know him? I would say there's more to know. And as you grow, you get to know him more. You get to know him as a person. And what a person. What a man. He took all of what man could do to him to deprive him of who he really was. And he didn't open his mouth to defend himself. Why did he do that? Why didn't he just say, you know what? Kaboom. And hit them all with lightning bolts and take all the good ones off the earth and just totally destroy this earth. Well, guess what? He is going to do that. Now, are we in him or are we not in him? That's a question that we all have to deal with. You cannot be in Christ in your strength and in your works and in your opinion and stop looking at yourself for an answer. Because it will always lie to you. Self now is a self-righteous liar. Only the word of God, as it is appropriated and as it is grown within you, will develop you as the man of God. Nothing else. Experiences in life are all connected back to the cross. Everything that happens to you. Your victory is found in appropriating that victory in the finished work of Christ on the cross. And as you go through events in your life day by day, you have fellowship with him on the cross. The cross is a continual working mechanism in our life. You cannot get to the resurrection without the death. You can't do it. That's why I cannot just stand here or sit here and tell you all about how lovely it is to be accepted. Until I tell you and give you what the word of God tells us to do. To exhort, to rebuke, to reproof. Those things are, I love it. I absolutely love it. It's like somebody taking fine grain sandpaper and making me shine more and more and smoother and smoother. You know, a smooth stone was picked up by David when he went after the Goliath. Five smooth stones. So it could shoot straight. And when it hit, it hit with an edge that was designed to kill. Not to wound. Think about it. Think about the word of God and how perfect it is. And everything it says and does. David picked those stones up. I was told that he picked up five because the Goliath had four brothers and he was going to kill them all if they came out. Our resources in Christ far go anything that I can do on my own. I'm fighting up against Satan. And one of the things in 2nd Corinthians chapter two, you don't have to go there, but I'm just going to read you a verse or two. When Paul was writing a letter back to the Corinthians people because of the sin of the man in chapter one, when he was in sexual sin. And they and they says to that man, the Lord told them to put that person away from them and to have nothing to do with them socially. Not just with the one that you should not eat. That doesn't just mean eat at the Lord's table. That means do not have social relations with them. So they will be ashamed. So they will feel alone so that they will know that they are no longer accepted at any level for any reason. Because of this sin and the stigma of evil that they brought to the Lord's table and to his reputation in that location. But once the man repented. You see, then their evil hearts have to be adjusted. Because when the man repented. Paul said. First of all, in chapter two, verse four, for out of much affliction and anguish of heart, I wrote unto you with many tears. Not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. He was telling them about that letter that he wrote to them, how hard it was to tell them what to do with this young man, what he did. Verse five, but if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part that I may not overcharge you all. Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. In other words, to turn their back on this guy. So that counterclockwise, you are rather to forgive him now and comfort him. Thus perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore, I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. Can you imagine this guy put out of the assembly and he had no more fellowship with truth. And that was the only thing that brought him around to save his soul. Because he could have been put away for this thing and never ever been received back. But there is forgiveness with the Lord. When is the right time to forgive somebody? When you know in your heart of hearts that this person has had enough. If you got it in your head and in your mind that you are not going to forgive somebody no matter what they have done to you. Then you are going to have to give account to God. There is a message I gave back a couple of months ago, probably six or eight months ago. About that. About the guy who the Lord forgave him his debt and then he went after his, the buddy that owed him money and grabbed him by the throat and threw him in jail. Do we not have a forgiveness? Do we not want to forgive one another? Absolutely, I live for that. I live for that moment when somebody will repent. But here he was saying to him, enough already. Receive him back, lest he be overtaken with grief. To say that there is no hope for somebody is evil. You could warn people of being in darkness and in sin and how easily. Because he goes on here to say in verse 9, To this end also did I write that ye might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive anything, I forgave also. For if I forgave anything to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ. Lest Satan should get an advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his devices. What do you think that means? When he says I forgave you in the person of Christ, it says in a sight of Christ. Listen, understanding that Christ is with us. In all of our actions. You put somebody out of fellowship in the sight of the word of God. Because of the word of God. You receive them back as Christ would in his sight. We do everything as unto God. Not from a self-righteous point of view. That's why we preach the cross. Because I was raised to perform. I was raised that works should be visible. I was raised by men who gave us the answer without giving us the method. And you know that that's wrong. You have to have the method. The method is more important than the right answer. Because if you have the method, eventually you will get the right answer. If you just have right answers without the method, what are you going to do when the question comes and you don't know how to figure out an answer to it? This goes to the root of educating our children. This goes to the root of educating them in the right way. In admonition and fear of the Lord. To give them the method. How do we do this? God has a plan. God has a plan. You want to hear the plan again? You know what it is, but you're always going, yeah, toss. I'd like to hear it. I'd love to hear it, Peter. I'd love to hear it, Dad. Paul, whoever you want to call me. Don't you love to hear the story? So that you know that you can have fellowship with the Lord. And to know that he's given it to us fresh. Out of this idea that we know Satan's devices. I'm not going to be hard on you because you've offended me. See, I don't exist. Sometimes I get very irritated at people that abuse my wife. Because they don't know her or my daughter. They don't know them. But they've got plenty to say. Are they doing it in the sight of God? Or in the sight of having their toes stepped on? Because you know that's what happened this week. No. I don't like that person. Because that person is as the mouth of God to me. I love the person. But I can't stand the message. You know, my psalm the other day. Psalm 120. I am for peace. But when I speak, they are for war. How can that be? Well, Paul ran into the same problem in Galatians. I am therefore become your enemy. Because I tell you the truth. You know, he said at one time that they would give his eyes. Because they knew that he was blind. Or near blind. You would give me your very eyes. You would pluck your eyes out and give them to me. But now because he was telling them the truth. He become their enemy. What was the truth by the way? It was that they were no longer to mix law with grace. No longer to have their old man get involved with spiritual things. That in itself is spiritual adultery. That in itself is sufficient enough to put somebody away from you. Or at least warn them and exhort them. We don't have that problem too much of people being self-righteous in a positive sense. They are always looking to justify themselves. Which makes them self-righteous. Which is an obvious thing. And if you are an obvious sin. And you justify yourself. Then you got your eyes on yourself. Or if you are preaching the gospel. When you don't live it. Then you are being self-righteous in plain view. Don't be deceived. Satan could conceal himself as an angel of light. We are not going to get confused. We are aware of Satan's devices. He knows that he can use self-righteousness on people very quickly. And have us turn our backs on one another. When somebody is not living up to our standard. But in the sight of Christ. Because he is in us watching. And I am in him watching him perform. I must abide in him. The purpose of the gospel is to preach Christ. The purpose of a meeting like this is to preach Christ. Preach the cross. Preach how it is we are able to be sure that I am abiding in him. And he is abiding in me. To live in Christ. What a tremendous thing. What a tremendous thing. When you think about the beauty of God's plan of things. And he says in 2nd Colossians. Let's go there. 1st Colossians. And let's just bathe in the simple truth. Of what God's plan is for us. And having made peace. Verse 20 of chapter 1. And having made peace through the blood of his cross. How do we have peace with God? God killed his son. God allowed his son to be slaughtered on a cross. To have nails driven in his hands and feet. To have a soldier thrust a spear into his side. To push the crown of thorns on his head. I am not trying to work up any emotion here. But just look at what they did to this man. Look what they did to him. They didn't take him out and give him a party. Or cover him in flowers and say oh look at this is Jesus. The one who feeds the crowds. They all turned their back on him. Because they did not want to eat of him. In other words to have him be their spiritual food. They didn't want it. I will not have this man to reign over me. This is what was quoted earlier today. I will have this man reign over me. Should be the tone of our whole life. That I will have this man. Please God have this man rule over me. Break that sound barrier. And that he that is able to keep you from falling. That's the guy you want to know. And you've got to support. You have the tumbler. You've got the rock tumbler here. You have those that will exhort you and rebuke you. Listen this is proof and positive that God has chosen you. Can you imagine the hours and days that have gone into your salvation. God Christ crucified. Plus the church that he's given you. To exhort you. To reprove you. To rebuke you. Listen what an awesome loving God. Look the devices he has to fight against Satan. Kill him. Kill you. Separate you from the two. Separate you from the world. Separate you from your sin. Separate you from all your enemies. Put you in Christ. Abiding in him where nothing can touch you. And then put Christ in you. To protect you from yourself. And the power of his word. And having made peace through the blood of his cross. By him to reconcile all things unto himself. By him I say whether they be in earth things in heaven. And you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works. Yet now hath he reconciled. And I'll tell you that those wicked works are still capable of coming to the surface. And anybody tells you anything different than I promise you. That's wrong. That's a false gospel. No. You're not going to be getting away with while we all make mistakes. We all have growing processes. But unless you go back to the cross. And submit your evil heart. And see it is dead. And forgive it. And be sorry for your sin. You cannot have acceptance with God. Except that you go by the blood of his cross. And continually going back there. Yeah it was a one time event. From the father's point of view. But obviously one view for us is not enough. To keep us conditionally. Positionally you're always on the bus. You never get off. So when you're waiting at a bus stop for yourself to get on. It's ridiculous. You're already in the bus. You're already there. There's no works needed. No time needed. Just abide. Abide by the power of the word of God. If somebody is rebuking you. You're either going to take it and grow. Or you're going to go away. But the word of God is not going to change this to suit your feelings. And what you think about a certain thing. And how badly you've been touched and treated. Get over it. And you. In the body of his flesh through death. To present you holy and unblameable. And unreprovable in his sight. Don't you want that? Do you not want that? Because that's where we're looking on verse. Let's see now. 22 of Colossians. I kind of just went back to where we left off. And having made peace to the blood of his cross. Verse 20. To him. To reconcile all things unto himself. By him. I say whether they be things in earth. Or things in heaven. And you. That were sometimes alienated by the enemies. And enemies in your mind. Yet now hath he reconciled. In the body of his flesh. Through death. To present you holy and unblameable. And unapprovable in his sight. You don't get there. Through anything that you do. But I will say it is through the choices you make. Because God is not going to force you on this bus. But if you are on it. Then he's going to do everything possible. To keep you on it. To keep you in him. Conditionally. If. Verse 23. You continue in the faith. Grounded. And settled. And be not moved away from the hope of the gospel. Does that say in hope. In your works. Or hope in your preacher. Or hope in anything. Hope of the gospel. That's why you hear it every single time you come in this house. In the full gospel of grace. That you cannot attain life until you go to the death. And that death is indicated and clearly witnessed. By the people in the church. Because you no longer open your mouth. Except to praise God and thank him for what he's done for you. The Holy Spirit has not been able to witness to you long enough. To show you that you need to be thankful and grateful. And to be completely at peace with God. He hasn't been able to show you that. Because you're too self-centered. Or you're relying on other things. Other than the hope of the gospel. Which you have heard. And which was preached to every creature. Which is under heaven. Wherefore I, Paul, am made a minister. What a wonderful thing. Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you. And fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh. For his body's sake. Which is the church. Suffer for the church. You could do that because that's doing it for God. Christ is continually working the finished work of the cross in your life. For you to have power over that sin. Through identification with him. Identification. You can go through life and no problems. Everything is going fine. That's impossible. I'm sorry. But if you are doing the right thing, you're going to be persecuted for it. All those who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. It's a fact. But don't think that you're being persecuted. When somebody is trying to rebuke you. And exhort you. Because if you do, you've got the wrong view. You're in a flesh. And what you said. Yeah, sure. We just remember all that. You don't want to remember it. Our flesh nature does not want to remember one good thing about what God has done for us. He always wants more, more, more, more, more. If you love me God, give me this. If you love me God, give me that. The death of Christ is sufficient. For all things. Not one more person has to die in order for you to live before the Lord in peace. Not one more. And it's a shame to think otherwise. Self-centered. It's beyond words. And then Paul goes on to say in verse 24. Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you. And fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh. For his body's sake, which is a church. I read that already. Wherefore, I am made a minister according to the dispensation of God. Which is given to me for you to fulfill the word of God. We have to hear this message of grace. The message of grace because the gospel message, the gospel of the kingdom gospel. Includes works. Includes a dichotomous. Includes things that you are responsible for. In Paul's gospel of grace. All of those works have been done and completed by Christ. And only the life that flows out of him as a result of. Let me rephrase that. Even your life. Think about your life. Being in Adam. What does that mean? Adam's resources. Whatever it is that Adam has a resource for. What he automatically depends on. For life. That you don't even think about. It's so natural and so automatic. When you start to depend on the word of God. The finished work of God. With Christ on the cross. When you on purpose think these things. On purpose. Because you don't think of them on purpose. You don't. Once you hear the gospel of grace. You cannot embrace the gospel of the kingdom. You can't. And still live according to what Paul's gospel was. Paul suffered physically. On this earth. To and persecuted. So much. Because he carried the gospel of the truth. See everybody wants to hear about God's grace. And God's goodness. That's what they were doing when they were in John 6. When he delivered the message. I am the bread of life. He was feeding them fish and bread all day long. Healing the sick. And they were having a great party. But once they knew that they had to die in order to follow him. They all went away. Except 12. Those 12. Would become an example of how many people are actually getting. And understanding and appropriating the gospel of grace. We are very few in number. How does that make you feel? Will you go away too? Or do you have that sense of belonging? That's who Paul was preaching to. That's who he wrote his epistles to. To the remnant. To those of us that the Lord has called. And chosen. To go on into the deeper things of Christ. To understand identification with him. To suffer with him. Understand that this gospel brings a lot of persecution. And when you speak peace. They speak war. You are not going to be well received. No you won't. But here we go on. Verse 26. Even the mystery. Which hath been hid from ages. And from generations. But now is made manifest to his saints. To whom God would make known. What is the riches of the glory of this mystery. Among the Gentiles. Which is Christ in you. The hope of glory. What a tremendous thing. When you just let the Holy Spirit. Reveal to you. That the one who created this universe. And all of it's beauty. And it's mysteries. Is living inside of you. Doesn't that. Cause you. To be still. Just to quieten your spirit. And compare your pile. Of stuff. That you think you have created with your hands. Is there a possibility. That my pile of stuff. Is worth giving up. The knowledge. Of the man who created all of his stuff. Is living in me. If we truly believe that. If I believed it. As much as I want to. I would be a different person. But I'm limited. By my sin nature. By my mind. Is continually thinking about other things. And other problems. And this that and the other thing. It is so. The war is so bad. Because the more you know. The more you. You don't you know you don't know. And the simplicity that is in Christ. Has to come before us all the time. And the way up is down. And the way of life is death. And you want to supersede. You want to get ahead. But every time you go ahead. You step into a storm. You want to be in the eye of the tornado. Or the hurricane where it can't hurt you. But boy oh boy you better keep up with it. If you stop you get sucked in. If you go ahead you get sucked in. You got to move. And that is called faith. Your faith is moving with that hurricane. Because all around you. Satan is waiting to devour you. To stop this truth from being an active part of your life. You can say Paul what are you an idiot. Look at you. You got 10, 12, 15 people here. And you're crippled and you don't. You know has God really paid you off. You hear what I'm saying to you. You hear me whining and complaining. No I'm happy. I'm content. I have a hope. The gospel brings me hope. Hope. That. Those that hear me. Will believe it. That the Holy Spirit can work through me. That should be your only purpose on this earth. Is that you could be a vessel fit for the Master's use. For those people that he intends to reach through you. That you love. That he loves. That is our purpose. That is what we're here for. Is that the Lord may be able to use us. Not that we could play with our stuff. Verse 28. You know is almost a downer. Whom we preach. Warning every man. Warning what. And teach every man in all wisdom. That we may present every man perfect or mature. Well rounded out. No more bumps on your rock. You know. Perfect. In Christ Jesus. Where unto I also labor. Striving according to his working. Which worketh in me mightily. Is the Spirit of God working in you mightily? Do you sense it? Do you sense his working in your life? Is it sufficient for you? When you know. That Christ is in you. Then you can get out of bed in the morning. Then you can make your first phone call. I told a guy the other day. You're sitting or standing. When you stand you're going to take a step. That step physically. Reduce that to spiritually. That first step is either going to be in the flesh or in the spirit. And if it's in the flesh I hope you stub your toe. Because you know. In all reality. You step into a hole. And at the level that we're at. Satan is going to throw holes in front of you quicker than he can dig them. You know in that book I wrote. Step by step to the minefield. I'm going to stand up here for a minute. Just a minute Emma. Step by step to the minefield. Everything. Every step you take is a mine. Every one. There's only a very few safe spots. Say in an area of this room. Of 50 by 20 or whatever. You may have 8 or 10 mines. And you figure well I've got a pretty good chance of getting through here. No. You've got 8 or 10 safe spots. That's the kind of odds we're up against. If I'm in the flesh. I'm almost guaranteed to hit a mine. In fact there is no safe spot at all. None. None. Because of Satan's devices. Are we aware of his devices? Do you know that one single step. That you hit a mine. You step into a hole. And you start to go down. Listen. Relationships. Stubborn. Rebellious. Never had to be. Never ever had to have any responsibility. Always had a provision for you. Look there's all types of reasons. Why angry children grow up to be angry men. And I say it's for the same reason. Contradiction. Confusion. You know that's why for the majority of things. In the world today. Most any type of Jesus teaching. Is accepted. And it's all fluff. It's all either fluff or rhetoric. Because most homes have a mom and dad. And rules. And you walk to school. And you take your bike. And you obey mom and dad. And you go on and on. And you're just taught good things. And you grow up. And you know when to wear a sweater vest. And you go to the prom. And whatever. You're just taught these things. And life carries on on a normal basis. But then you have the extreme poor. And you have the extreme rich. That grow up to be angry. The extreme rich because they're given everything. And their identity is in things and stuff. Extreme poor is because you're deprived of everything. And you hate the rich. I guess. And you hate your mom and dad. Because they're just slugs and slobs. And then you grow up like I was raised. In contradiction. Where the love of God was supposed to bring the peace of God. And there was anything but peace. And something had to be attached the blame to. And it all fell on the one that wasn't able to perform. But why do I have this ministry? It's not because I'm angry. But the Lord has shown me things in my life. That there are things that are practical things. That the word of God teaches. That we can use in our spiritual life. We know what doesn't work. I was talking to Dr. David the other day in psychology. He knows what doesn't work. He knows that. And the Lord can use him and his work. As he could in all of us that have grown up with contradiction. We have an opportunity here to look back at our life. And thank God for it. Because all things work together for good. If you could follow that all the way back. But the trouble is people try to follow that all the way back. That haven't gone to the cross. And then they try to justify themselves because of those actions. Oh well I'm this way because da da da da da. Therefore that's just who I am. And I couldn't help it. Look that goes back to a couple of messages that I gave a few weeks ago. You cannot blame your childhood for who you are now. When I was a child I thought I was a child. I understood as a child. But no. I'm no longer a child. I have made that transformation. I cannot use the excuse that I'm only human. And everything that your mama did to you. Or your daddy did to you. Is dead. It should not affect you. But it will. And that's how the rock tumbler effect works. To get into relationships that are in this body. That's what Paul was saying that. Wherefore I also labor striving according to his working. Which worketh in me mightily. Said he could present every man perfect or mature in Jesus Christ. You've got men and women from every walk of life here. So what about you? Where do you fall on this line? And what is it that you want to get over? What has to be dealt with that hasn't already been dealt with at the cross? It's all been dealt with there. This is where the magic happens. This is where the therapy comes in. This is where everything comes to a conclusion. Wait a minute now. What did God do? He put all of that to death. And he raised me up as a new creation. And as I grow. Those old things that affected me as I grew up in Adam's world. I can never go back to them again. Even if they were good. Especially if they were good. I cannot rely on good. I have to rely on the finished work of Christ at the cross. On the cross. Listen, it's a simple message. It's so simple. But to make it work within the life. Yeah, all we've got to do is just give in to it quicker. Then it wouldn't happen. You know how true that is? It's as true as it is impossible. And I mean that in all sincerity. You have to look to the word of God. Not anything else. And when you are angry at God. You don't want to look there. The source for your cure is rejected. Because you believe that's what caused the pain. And Satan will tell you that. That's one of his devices. We are not ignorant of his devices. No, I'm not. He's tried them all on me. And one of them is, yeah, just do this quicker. How are you going to do it? When you know that this is the man who won't give you your stuff back. Well, this is the man who died on the cross to give you new stuff. And this is what he wants to give you. The life he wants you to have. And we fight against that. War. Day in and day out. And this is what we do here. You would think somebody who is on disability. And is locked into the position of a chair with his feet up. Doesn't have anything to do. Well, I like to see you follow us around. In the spirit world. And what we do on a daily basis in this house. The war. The lies. That we have to overcome. The contradiction. The undermining. The evil that is permeated. Saturated within the human heart. Really comes, this is like a refiner's house. You know. The evil has to boil. The gold has to boil to bring the dross out. That may sound self-righteous. I'll have to deal with that. For I would that you know what great conflict I have for you. You think I don't know what Paul is talking about here? And for them in Laodicea. And for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh. He's not even seen them and he knows what they're up against. And he's praying that their hearts may be comforted. Being knit together in love. And remember, knit together in love. The greatest component of love is death. Remember that. Remember when somebody is accusing you of being unloving. Say, well, maybe they're right, let's see now. Have I put all of my emotions by the power of the word of God to death? Ask God. Ask Him. Do I have a root of bitterness in me in any place? Because a root of bitterness has to be put out. Because my fruit will be bitter. I got to analyze myself in the light of the word of God. And have Him point out to me if there be any secret sin in my heart. Not because some person is more deserving of it than another. That's prejudice. No matter what they did to you. God wants that out of you. Whatever three women said or one woman said. You can't let those things affect you. That's a device of Satan. For whatever was said or whatever. You can't. You can't do it. Paul didn't even see these people. He knew human nature. But he's saying that your hearts might be comforted only after being knit together in love. Where they have laid down their life one for the other. That death works in us, working life in you. And that is the way of life. In 2 Corinthians 4, I'm telling you. What Paul wrote there is this. If our gospel be hid, it is to them that are lost. You cannot have love knit together with potluck dinners. And giving everybody a pass in the flesh. They want you to be in the flesh. So that they can take glory in your flesh. He says in Galatians. So that you'll let them get away with their stuff. In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not. Lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ. You see. Again the glorious gospel. The gospel. The gospel. Who is the image of God should shine unto them. When I've got my earthly perceptions of what love is. And I'm going to love only those that are lovable. And I'm going to, you know, hate those that are. Or have a root of bitterness towards those that are not lovable in my sight. That person just irritates me. Or this, that, and the other thing. God is in it to transform our hearts. See, that's why the Ten Commandments come down to two commandments. Love the Lord thy God and thy neighbor as thyself. You can't do that. You're too prejudiced. That's why Christ has to come and live in you. So that you could be kept by the law. Say, wait a minute. I thought you kept by grace. Yeah. That's a different subject. But the law of God is living in you. And living in the person of Christ who's always performing those things. Loving God and loving your neighbor. Or love your enemies. That is the crux of it all. And you know, to be honest with you, that guy, I know he's going to hell, that Bill Maher. I watch him sometimes because he's so, he was picking on the Christians last night. And he's saying, you know, isn't it right that the man, this bin Laden, that this Christian world put to death. Should they not love their enemies? Should they not? And he has a point. Even the world could see it. Even men that have confessed atheists and who hate religion because of that contradiction. Every Christian in his sight is a liar. Because this Christian country is having drunken parties for killing this man. Okay. This world is so polluted. It's so upside down that even the enemies of God are, they're right in their observations of things. I'm not going to start getting into is the death penalty legal or not. That's not what this is about. It's understanding that to have your hearts knit together in love. That's why there never be love on this earth and peace on this earth until Christ comes. And to remove his saints from this earth. And whoever are these people, only he knows. And I thank God and I know that I'm one. I don't have anything between me and God that has not been dealt with up to this moment that he has shown me. And I urge you and exhort you to do the same. Make sure that there's not root of bitterness in your heart that has to be burned out of you. Let it go. Let it go. But don't give up truth. For that kind of love. A false love. There has to be truth in it. There has to be the love of God. The truth of it all. That their hearts might be comforted. That's what brings comfort. Is knowing that there is forgiveness. And knowing that there is, that the cross works life and works love and understanding and brings us closer together. For their hearts might be comforted, be knit together in love. And unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding. Can you imagine what he has offered us? And in a few minutes we're going to break bread and take the cup. And we're going to understand it is by that. Oh, the love of Christ. And what he's done for us. But we've got to accept it in love. In death. We have to go to the cross. To the acknowledgement of the mystery of God. And of the Father and of Christ. In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I could go on for months. I will, I hope. But I promise you. Until we conditionally deal with flesh in our life. If we push it to the back. If we do not put Christianity on that first step that we take. We're going to go. The second step will be in the flesh. Third, fourth, fifth. Until we're so off track. Down, yeah, in a ravine. In a river. In quicksand. And who's going to pull you out then? Our Father, I thank you for truth. I thank you for exhorting us. And I feel exhorted today as well. To please let us continue on. On a step by step in the spirit of God. The first step we take is away from the cross. Then we can walk in the spirit. But make sure our old man is fastened securely. It's a simple thing. But the old man doesn't want to do it. He will say he did. But he will continue to live. And to wrack havoc. Havoc? I say wrack. Okay. But anyway, Lord. Again, I thank you for loving us. For showing us mercy. And for exalting us. To know that Christ is in us. For our hope and glory. Amen.