Brian Guerin emphasizes the significance of the twelve pillars of a godly life, focusing on qualities such as yieldedness, gratitude, selflessness, and love. He encourages believers to remain teachable and pliable, fostering a spirit of humility and obedience to God and one another. The sermon highlights the importance of living in a constant flow of repentance and forgiveness, which leads to unity and health within the community. Guerin concludes by stressing that love is the greatest commandment, binding all the pillars together and reflecting the character of Christ in our lives.

So, let's jump straight in, if we can, to the pillars. And I've got seven I've got to mow through, if that's okay with you guys. I hope they have that. Yeah. So, recap, we went through intimacy, purity, humility, honor, and excellence. And again, you know, these aren't like all-exclusive for life. You know, there's so many other things. You could do a million of them. But I would say some of the main structural base pillars that hopefully we would attain in life and always kind of come back to and try and aspire to walk in, you know, and reflect, is really like the Lord. And so, and again, a lot of them really overlap and pull in other ones that are beautiful. So, it's like you hit one and it covers several other, especially our last and 12th one, you'll see it just about hits them all. But the sixth one is yielded, pliable. I even have here, even teachable. You know, that we'd be a people that are always yielded, pliable, and this is super important, teachable. I have here, may we be a company that is very tender in heart and yielded, first and foremost to the Holy Spirit, but secondly, one to another. Super important life, you know, and look, when you start running more, anybody that's been in a community any length of time, just kingdom, just the body of Christ, it's such a beautiful thing to prefer one another and be pliable, you know. But I have here that we would have a pliable spirit about us in all that we do and all of who we are, that we would remain teachable all the days of our lives. Listen, the day you think you know it all, you hit the biggest plateau ever, you ain't going nowhere. And this applies really in anything, but when you start to think, you kind of just have it all wrapped up. Number one, with God, that's a train wreck waiting to happen. Number two, with people, you know, it's just super important to stay teachable, pliable, yielded. May obedience to the things and ways of God come very natural and be a safe place for us. This is why humility is so important. A lot of these connect with each other. When there's pride there, it's hard to be pliable and teachable because you think you know it already and you can't be taught a lot, you know. Where when humility is set in in such a strong way, it's like your safe place is pliability. You're not trying to prove anything. You know, sometimes people ask me questions like, that's a great question, I have no idea. I tell the kids that, look, don't act like you know everything. You don't know it, just you don't know it. We don't need to, you know, but the pride people that aren't, you know, it's like, oh yeah, let's make up something. It's like, you are totally pulling that out of, you know, you don't know what you, you know. Humility is kind of like it teach me more, want to learn and be pliable. Again, most importantly to the Holy Spirit, God first, but then one to another. And you'll see it in scripture here in a second, super vital. That we would find comfort in yielding one to another. And look, these pillars work in everything. Marriage, you're like, you don't know what you're talking about. You're divorced. I'm teasing, like the O for one. I'm totally joking. That's normally a joke I bring up because we counsel and we do all kinds of stuff. But it's a strong point I have for couples that are still married. Cause I'm like, look, man, you guys are doing better than me. You know, I'll encourage them. I'm teasing, but that we would find comfort in yielding one to another. May we be a people that are so secure in body, soul, and spirit that we are quick to defer, quick to prefer one another. And happy, listen to this, to bend toward the bond of unity and peace in both truth and love. So not bending just for the sake of bending. Still in truth and love, but also bending for the bond of peace, unity, in truth and love. But having that spirit that's real pliable. Look, when you find a company that's this way, it's really incredible. Ephesians 5, 18-21. And you don't have to turn there. I think we may, I'll get with our team and see, but we may put these on YouTube. Only because we've been getting, people wanting the teachings and the notes and things. And it may just help for just a send culture to be out there before people come to the church and everything else. And be always a go-to that we can pull from. We'll see. But don't, you don't have to turn. And our team's not going to follow us on the verses if we're going through so many. Ephesians 5, 18-21. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation. But be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 21. Submitting to one another in the fear of God. Pliability. Yielded. Teachable. Easy. Like it was just easy to flow. One to another. Oh, you prefer to go that way? No problem. Unless, again, it contradicts scripture or something. It's super easy to submit one to another. Philippians 2, 3. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit but in humility. Count others more significant than yourselves. And when you do that from an authentic place, it's super easy, once again, to be pliable, teachable. You know, and yielded. Galatians 5, 13. For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love, serve one another. This is getting low, you know, in looking how we can serve one another. Hebrews 13, 17. Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. I love this. See, and a lot of people, if we're honest, you start talking verses like this that are just the inherent word of God. It gets real like, oh, we've got a controlling, you know, lord it over type leader. No, no. To me, just to be honest with you, the more I'm with the Lord, I love verses like this. Submission. I'm trying to find the authority to yield unto uprightly and in a right way. It's a very comfortable place. It's godly. And I'll get it. I'm getting ahead of my nose. Watch here. I have here. Always remember that everybody is under some form of leadership. So you see right here. It says have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this, you know, that their work will be a joy, so forth and so on. But I have here just in my notes. Always remember that everybody is under some form of leadership. And the greatest leaders of all kingdom leaders, the greatest leaders of all submit very, very well. That's how you can always tell a good leader. Kingdom leader. Great kingdom leaders follow like masters. You can't lead real well if you don't follow well. True godly promotion of leaders always comes to those that know how to follow real well. Isn't that awesome? I love that. And so the more I'm in this, you know, like you even can look at a home, a family, you know, marriage, a husband and a wife. And so, OK, the husband is the head of the wife. They're both over the children. So a lot of times and we deal this when we do marriage counseling, you know, you kind of it can start to be viewed and stop. There is the husband's the leader and it just stops with him. But then you have to look from a true scriptural stance that no, no, no, it didn't stop there. The husband submitted to Jesus. So he's not even the ultimate say so. Like there's this there's always a leader. And so even myself, like I have a sphere of leadership, you all do as well. Even as we increase in growth, even let's just say within the church, there'll be leaders at different levels. But I'm always under different authorities. I travel so much and there's different streams I run with and all the time under different authorities. And I love that. So I'll go out on my way and I hope we would be this way. We may not be perfect initially, but at least we can hopefully get better and better at this. But the more I'm in this thing, I'm comfortable, I'm comforted. Sorry there. So any given moment, if I'm in a house, I'm trying to find out what's going to best serve them. Come under, compliment them, strengthen them by no means divide. Always honor. I'm not trying to take and pull from. I'm never trying to pull attention to us. I'm trying to push it to them and submit for sure. There's often things I'm under that even theologically we're not on the same page. But when I'm under them, that doesn't matter. They can answer to God one day for it. I'm there and I won't get outside of it for anything. Does that make sense to you? Because that's how we should be, honestly. The true biblical way is to come under and they're just the leaders there. They're the leaders in that moment. And so we'd hopefully be that people because you do get these mavericks, man. And I can tell you right now they don't last long. They come in, blow in and out of houses. They're tooting their own horn. It's all about them. They think that, you know, and you don't want to be that way. It's not biblical, number one. It doesn't reflect Christ and it's not healthy for the body of Christ. And so we want to gravitate to yielded pliability, obedient submission to authority. And it's also not out of a weird controlling way. That's never good. That's why I pointed out great leaders actually follow well. Because then on the other hand, you can get leaders that just have a dominant A personality. You've seen them. They're in the world a lot. And they just are real good at giving orders, but they can't take them. You know what I mean? But that's not what I'm talking about at all. Great leaders are real pliable. They're quick to admit when they're wrong. We're going to get there in a second. And they follow really, really well. And that's what I try to be. Not perfect, but more and more. If I'm under a different leadership, we're going this way. Okay. No questions asked. We're going this way. Good. You'd like to do that. You got it that way. No problem. Do I agree? Maybe not. But you're the leader. You're the authority. And look, the Lord's like, God, I can trust these people. It's beautiful. That's the character of Christ. And it's so awesome. So again, not to the point where it's not biblical. You guys know what I mean? But I think that's healthy to always realize sometimes the enemy will falsely present things and not realize, like some of the other leaders are typically following really well and submitting at different levels. And it's just all the body. So it's really beautiful. 1 Peter 3, 8. Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another. Love as brothers, being tenderhearted and be courteous. Romans 12, 16. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. See, in the yielded, teachable, they're not always some know-it-alls. Look, as soon as you think you know it all, Holy Spirit's gone. Again, unless you're in truth. So that's good. So that's that one. Seventh pillar, gratitude. This one's massive. I love this one. Thankfulness. I have here, oh, that we would be a people who exude gratitude and thankfulness all the days of our lives. May we be a people that constantly remain in the butter lane of Thanksgiving. Look, I'm telling you, you stay in thankful, gratitude, Thanksgiving. You just slide. Like you slide to a different pace than everybody else. May we never begin to take for granted even the smallest things of life, thereby neglecting one of the most beautiful God-given attributes of all time, being thankful. When you find a thankful company. I'm going to tell you right now, is Janet in here? Yeah. Look, Janet, I'm just going to tell you, just honor her. Most thankful person I've ever seen on planet Earth and the universe and everything in between. She's amazing. Yeah, look, she goes, Jesus, but like you ever feel like you're lacking, go rub up against Janet for about a day or two. I'm not kidding, man. We love her. It is the fullness. It's a gift. It's the fullness of Jesus that all over her. I'll be honest. We go way back actually. She's been on crusades with us. Amazing woman of God. And when I first met her, I was like, okay, whoa, she's having a good day. You know, you're like, we'll see tomorrow. And then you're like, wait, another good day. You know, that's three, four, five days in a row. Wait, this is just Janet. It's for real. It's incredible that she has no off switch. You know, it's just so beautiful. But I want to commend her in that and call us all higher. But it is, it is very hard to have a bad day when you were always finding things to be thankful for. Love this man. My kids will tell you, we just don't, we don't do it. Are we perfect by no means, but also for a long, long time. Now we just, whatever situation you put us in, we're going to find the thankful thing in it. Just, just pull it back, pull it back and just stay in this lane. It's butter lane of Thanksgiving gratitude. You know, it doesn't matter what situation you get thrown into. I promise you, you can find something to be thankful for in the enemy. He just can't stand a company like this. If it rains, it's pouring down rain outside. Thank God. Beautiful nap. They read a book. Awesome. I'm like, I find the beauty in rain. If his son is out scorching. Thank you. Jesus may sees working, you know, whatever. Um, if the sky is full of clouds looking like London all the time, thank God. There's more opportunities to find animal shapes in them. I'm serious. You can find something like, yep, there's a pig, a horse, and you know, I got more options. I mean, you can just find it. Just being thankful. You'll see in scripture in all circumstances, this, and it's really attainable. I know some of us are thinking, no, you just can't, but it's like, um, working out or riding a bike and it's training wheels. And the more you said, no, no, no, wait, I'm not being grateful right now. Forgive me, Lord, help me. And then you grab the pillar of thankfulness and you choose and be thankful and, and you just start to live that life. And then your kids are like, oh yeah, I don't like to be ungrateful. That feels yuck. And man, the Holy Spirit doesn't like that. And then all of a sudden you just start seeing everything through what it really should be. Thankfulness. And also I love the mission field too and bringing my kids over there. It just gives you a healthy, and I've been real mission trips. Ours are like luxury, you know, just being honest and, but still there's still things that are awesome. Um, that in a teachable way, you know, um, that you don't get the third world, um, issues and things, but they just, I think it's awesome. They can recalibrate you at times, but also by the spirit of God, you don't even need that. You can just remain thankful. But I have here. Thankfulness is the MO of heaven. The mode of operation is what heaven operates on. You can't even enter his gates without Thanksgiving. One of the main ways to keep the Holy Spirit around in a rich way and not quench him as being grateful. Um, I have, I have here. We always want to remain in an attitude of gratitude. We've heard that while reflecting that one to another first Thessalonians five, 16 through 18. Rejoice. Always pray without ceasing in everything. Give thanks. Not in the things that are, you know, granted of, of giving thanks towards knowing everything. Some versions say in all circumstances, but my car broke down. I'm stuck on the side of the road. Thank God you met the person. You can tell about Jesus. Oh, you follow. That was amazing. You know, we don't have time, but hopefully, you know, it'd be awesome. She could tell the story, but you were traveling to Charlotte. Yeah. Charlotte. Her car broke down and she gets in there, trapped this dude in the Holy ghost. So awesome in the mechanic shop. She goes, I'm on assignment. She goes, it's the way she does. It means that we loved it. She is so full of love, but it's like she's, she goes, no, you don't understand to this young man waiting in the mechanic shop. She goes, no, you don't understand. I'm not supposed to be here right now. My car broke down so I could tell you about Jesus. She started, she started giving it to him. It was awesome. Started prophesying over him and all this stuff. Yeah. Really powerful. But it's like you give people lemons that lemonade baby. Let's get, you know, yes, I love lemons. Cause I'll add sugar. You're like, just whatever you go. Gratitudes. So beautiful. You know, just whatever it is. The food set before you thank God, at least I got something to put in my belly or whatever. You can always find reason to be thankful. It's so beautiful. Um, but, Oh, but I love this first Thessalonians and you could teach man whole series weeks on each pillar, but we're trying to really mainly go through them quick. But in this first Thessalonians five, 16 through 18, it says, rejoice, always pray without ceasing and everything. Give thanks. All circumstances, not most all any given time of the day, how bad it may seem you give thanks. And I promise you, you have something to get. Thanks for watch this. Paul writes for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. So how do you find the will of God by giving thanks in all circumstances? As soon as we start becoming ungrateful, we immediately start stepping outside of God's perfect will. Isn't that awesome? Not the ungrateful part, but, but the, um, but he literally says, this is God's will for you. Giving thanks in all circumstances. As soon as we start becoming ungrateful, which we all have done, we'll do super gracious on each other and merciful. We get that. Um, but it's healthy to know that right when we start stepping outside of God's perfect will. Colossians two, six through seven. Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus, the Lord, so walk in him rooted and built up in him and established in the faith. Just as you were taught abounding in Thanksgiving, overflowing can't contain it with Thanksgiving. Philippians four, six through seven, do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition with Thanksgiving, you'll see Thanksgiving connected to prayer. All the time. It's like the thread that sews it all together. It's always in there with the father. Our father loves a thankful heart. Thanksgiving gratitude by prayer and petition petition with Thanksgiving presents your requests to God. The peace of God was transcends all understanding. We'll guard your hearts and your minds in Christ. Psalm 104 enter his gates with Thanksgiving and his courts with praise. One of the greatest keys. If you ever feel like you're not getting into the presence of God is just turn on the knob full blast of Thanksgiving. Thankfulness. You'll enter his gates are like quicker than you ever knew. Just thank you, Jesus. I can't tell you not to toot my own horn, but to hopefully just, and I know you guys are the same, but to just, um, you know, show how, how we should hopefully be. And, um, but I can't tell you how many times a day I'm just like, thank you, Jesus. All, all the time. All the smallest things. Thank you, Lord. Jesus. Thank you. In my heart out loud. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Lord. It can be the most simplest thing. We start getting that attitude, that constant, just constantly. Thank you, Lord. Recognizing him, appreciation, gratitude. His presence is just there. And if you're ever in prayer and it's like there's a barrier, just thank you. Just stop. They're like, really? Thank you, Lord. My gosh. Thank you. Thank you for my kids. Thank you for your presence, your word, all you're doing. Thank you that I can, you know, you can find a zillion. All of a sudden, there goes his glory. All of a sudden, you don't even know it. You're in his gates, his presence. He loves it. Um, Psalm 107, four, give thanks to the Lord for he is good. His love endures forever. If that's all you even have, you, you can give thanks for him and stay on that forever. All of his attributes, all of his faithfulness through the years. All the time he's spoken, he's still speaking. Oh, my gosh, you know. Um, Colossians 315, let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts since as members of one body you are called to peace and be thankful. Colossians 317, whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. There's a million. Hebrews 1228, therefore, since we're receiving in a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. Colossians 4 to devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and guess what? Thankful. There it is again in prayer. Um, number eight. Sorry, I'm moving quick, but I know we got a good bit more. Number eight, selflessness. It's, it's so selfless. We didn't put it up there. I went to kind of quick to that one. OK. Um, may we be a people that become more naturally driven to that of a selfless lifestyle than that of the self seeking way. May we be quick to lay our lives down for others through the true biblical definition of he who is love. May our interest be first towards others and second unto ourselves as this is the beautiful likeness of Christ. Jesus so loved the world that he laid down his life for it. Um, first Corinthians 13, four through five. Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It does not dishonor others. It is not self seeking. Some versions say it does not insist on its own way. Some versions say it does not demand its own way or seek its own. So that we'd be a selfless people again. Are you going to make mistakes? Oh, yeah. Do you want to get the bigger, you know, plate of the same food somebody ordered next to you when they bring both of them out? Oh, yeah. Like, it's just, it's just natural human, you know. Like, oh, we both got a number one. Wow, this one has more fries. You slide that one over. It's like just, it's just humanity, you know, and you're going to make, make mistakes. But, uh, that we'd hopefully slowly be gravitating back to the, the selfless way. Um, first Corinthians 13, four through five. Yeah. Just quarter that one. I'm sorry. First Corinthians 10, 24. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. And, and please don't mishear me. I'm all about, look, love your neighbor as yourself. We're going to love ourselves. You can't even love yourself well until you love God fully and receive his. So, so please don't mishear me. I'm big time into that. But also a true biblical way of, of this is, is real key as well. Um, Philippians two, three, we quoted this earlier in a different context, but do nothing from rivalry or conceit. Um, but in humility, uh, count others more significant than yourselves. Um, yeah. First Corinthians nine 19. Uh, for though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all that I might win more of them. Um, James three 16 for well, where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder in every vile practice. This is the self seeking side. And listen, it's way more common than you would think. And, uh, and I know we've all even been guilty of it and that's okay, but selfish ambition, it's just this drive for me. And it can paint itself in so many different pictures that look right and quote verses, but really deep at its core. Bible says every evil, every vile practice runs alongside selfish ambition. So, so that we'd be a selfless people the other way, not self seeking, not what it's in it for me. Um, listen, you see all kinds of stuff and the true motive is me. I want to get near cause really what I'm doing, I'm trying to be seen and connect and build my name and, and, and just all kinds of selfish ambition. And so when you feel that rise up, it's okay. It's, it's natural, um, for human nature, not pleasing to God, nor Godly character. Just help me, Lord. I don't, I don't want to you. I don't want that in me. Burn it out in your presence. Let me be selfless. You, you do whatever you want with me. I want Godly ambition. I don't need, you know, but that's the other extreme, but there would be selfless quick to lay our lifetime for others. Think of others first and slowly getting there more and more easier said than done. This is another one. I love this one. Um, the number ninth one, ninth pillar, um, repentance and forgiveness. I wonder if it'll fit up there really good. Yeah. Okay. Praise God. This is so beautiful. So massive and key. Um, I have here, Oh, that we would be a people who live in a constant flow of both repentance and forgiveness. That we would be quick to repent and even quicker to forgive. See, this is where, why humility is so key. Cause when pride is strong, repentance is super hard to come by. And then even forgiveness, cause you think you're right anyway. And it's just, it's hard to, these work hand in hand, a lot of these, um, that we would come to love the river of life. That flows ever so beautifully with the adjoining currents of both repentance and forgiveness. They flow in life. Wherever you find, uh, an atmosphere without these two flowing in a healthy way, it's, it's, um, it becomes super unhealthy. Are they fun always? No, but in a culture of mercy and love, and we get it. It's beautiful. It's beautiful. I can't tell you how often me and my kids, we just live this life. Just, Oh, totally messed up on that. Please forgive me. No worries. I did that twice last week. It's like we get it high, high mercy, but there's such a love there. And for quick to forgive, humble yourself. You're never better than no matter where you are. If you mess up, you know, own it. And, um, and there's such a trust that can be built there. It's so beautiful, healthy, repentance, and forgiveness. Super biblical. I'll show you here in a second. Um, when you find a company of people, a tribe and community that have dug out the two wells of both repentance and forgiveness, you will find health and wholeness accompanied by the beauty of Christ in and through his bride. Like this world has not yet seen. Um, you cannot have, I have here calm unity, all caps, common union, true community without both repentance and forgiveness. When repentance and forgiveness collide, the product that comes forth is love. It is so beautiful. Repentance and forgiveness. And I have them together because they have to work together. Of course, you know, um, we need to truly operate in repentance. We need to be quick to forgive. Sometimes some people don't repent and that's okay. We still forgive. And I may give some examples on that, but hopefully in a healthy community, you have both. And it's so beautiful. And you just go deeper in the Lord, higher in his ways, super healthy, high, high mercies, their high levels of mercy, which that could even be another pillow, but it almost, it'll be covered in the last one. But also it intertwines with all this. You can't even repent in a healthy way and operate forgiveness without mercy because you see things in truth. I have here, um, repentance and forgiveness. They caused the two that were divided to become one now united. Didn't mean to rhyme when I was typing it, but it just happened that way. Uh, there's just always such a solid union and unity in the community, uh, where there is any form of community culture or relational context, void of repentance and forgiveness. You will find a crippled, diseased and divided people group at its core. And a house divided against itself cannot ultimately stand. So I'm going to hit some repentance versus first and I'll even touch on, I'm trying to move quick, but you know, there's a healthy way to, cause we don't want the unhealthy condemnation side at all. The true biblical side that there's a repentance that we constantly live in with God and then one to another when that's needed. And, um, and that's so beautiful. And I want to help you guys like, or just note that. I don't know if you guys have come across it, but if you ever do, there's a theological, uh, like a theology coming out. It's not even theological, but a doctrine that repentance isn't even needed anymore and things like this. And it all claimed because of where we're at in Christ and it's way off. Um, it's not healthy and I'm about to show you crystal clear biblical precedent. We are seated in Christ. We have all riches in him. But also there's repentance that's needed. And if you're married or have any, if you have any relational context of anything, it is needed. You say, well, Jesus never repented. He never made a mistake. He was flawless. But if you're dealing with humanity, guess what? You're going to make mistakes. And so what's healthy is in a high mercy and truth. You get truth. You realize like, oh yeah, I need the mercy. Blessed are the merciful. They shall receive mercy. And you see it for what it is. And so it's no, it's so easy to forgive because you know you need it. And so then it's a safe place for those that want to repent because they know like, man, they can come to you. That's how we want to be, you know, uh, me and Jasmine, man, all the time. She won't care. I'll tell her, I'm like, ah, totally messed up on that one. Please forgive me. She's like, one of her things is no problemo, you know? And, uh, but I mean, here I am the leader. That doesn't mean anything. I'll make a mistake. Please forgive me. Totally saw that wrong. My, uh, uh, you know, but you got to own it and repent. And then if she misses something, no worries. My gosh, I'm glad you caught that. Didn't even see it. Yeah. And so then there's a safe place. My kids as well, whoever I run with a lot of other streams and it's there in a healthy way. And it should be where you don't fear to come repent because then they just, oh yeah. And Lord are over and you beat you down. There's no mercy there. Then at least you did your job before God and the rest is on them. But in a healthy culture where there's mercy, it's like actually you love to meet together there cause you know forgiveness is there and then they collide and there's love. You're quick to repent cause you know they're going to forgive and then you're man, thank you so much for that. And then you're like, that felt amazing. Wait, I can't wait for them. I come repent to me. You're forgiving you. They can't even get it out of their mouth. I'll forgive you. You don't say it. They're like, I messed up. You forget it. But it's and you feel it unlocks. It's like, wow, there's truth there. There's love. It's so healthy, beautiful. I would encourage even, you know, any relational dynamic because what you're dealing with is man going to be mistakes. Thank the Lord for the Holy Spirit is presence and then repentance and forgiveness. It's a beautiful working together and walking together with a high standard of mercy and so safe, so comfortable, so healthy. But Proverbs 28, 13, whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounce them finds mercy. James 5, 16, therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Matthew 3, 8 produce fruit in keeping with repentance. This is John the Baptist. There's even a fruit you can bear in keeping with a lifestyle of repentance. It's beautiful. Not a one time thing, you know, and you just grow and mature and things deepen. But I want to point this out. This is beautiful. You see in James 5, 16, therefore confess your sins one to another. This is typically in the context of when things have been done one to another. Right. So I don't propose that all of a sudden you start just you don't need to, you know, because like even Catholicism, it's OK, you know, but there's this confession booth and all this stuff. True biblical. You start to see in a second there's a confession repentance to God. He'll remember your sins no more. That's the majority of the time. Sometimes when it's done this way, there's need repentance here. But what I'm not proposing is you've done sins that, you know, in your heart or things that the Lord's trying to take you deeper into and you can repent and move on. You don't need to sit there and, you know, have this negative complex and spill all this junk out that you don't hurt anybody on either. Although counseling stuff's healthy when you feel led. But another enemy can run with that and it gets super unhealthy. So I just want to point that out. You see scriptural when it's this way, repentance, forgiveness needed this way, this way and all of its healthy. But watch the ones that are more vertical. Proverbs thirty two five. Then I acknowledge my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said I will confess my transgressions to the Lord and you forgave the guilt of my sin. You guys hear that? James five was one to another because typically it's done one to another. And that's beautiful, too. And then other ways with God and walking that out. First, John one nine. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. You know, there's sometimes where the enemy, though, he'll want to bring up all the stuff that the Lord's already forgiven you for your repentance. And that's condemnation, shame, digging back into old skeletons. And and and there's even some inner healing methods that, you know, I'm not trying to go there, but I don't just biblically, you know, can start to get cross lines that aren't that healthy. And but true repentance is beautiful. It's all throughout the word. Act three. Nineteen. Repent then and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out. The times are refreshing, may come from the Lord. So those are repentance versus plenty more we could go into. I'm sure. But let's go into forgiveness versus Colossians three thirteen. Bear with each other and forgive one another. If any of you has grievance against someone, forgive as the Lord forgave you. Ephesians four thirty one through thirty two. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other. Just as Christ just as in Christ. God forgave you. Luke six thirty seven. Do not judge. You will not be judged. Do not condemn. You won't be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Matthew six fourteen through fifteen. For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you. Listen to this. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your father will not forgive your sins. Unforgiveness is a deadly trap. We don't want anything to do with it. We don't want to touch it with a hundred yard foot pole. A hundred, I totally said something that didn't make sense. I know it's a ten foot pole, but I was trying to really crank it up a notch. But, you know, the longest we just don't want anything to do with unforgiveness, bitterness. It's pretty much known that often arthritis comes in connection to unforgiveness. A lot of sicknesses and ailments are directly tied into unforgiveness. Because then your sins can't be forgiven. And you're sitting there holding things in your body that aren't intended. And then your body starts taking on ailments and things that, you know, aren't supposed to be. And so a lot of times, even this could be something for another day. But when you're praying for the sick, you can sometimes go straight to it. If you feel like the spirit's leading you that way. Is there anybody you've not forgiven? Anybody you're holding bitterness against or unforgiveness. And you can, once you get them to truly repent in the spirit of God, they can be healed. But, if the Father can't forgive you of your sins, that can hem up things. So we want to be quick to forgive. And again, I was going to touch on it. I alluded to it earlier. But, especially in the world, you're going to have people that don't even get these principles. They don't go by them. And they're going to hurt you. And they're not going to repent. They're often going to do the wrong and think that you're wrong. Have you guys ever been in a situation where you're like, how do they get that out of that? They dug the hole, hurt you, but yet they're the victim. It's just weird. It doesn't make sense. Because there's no spirit of truth. There's no clarity on anything. They don't go by any of the same guidelines. But our job, by the spirit and the word, is to forgive regardless. You cannot hang on to these things. So you, and I've been really hurt. We all have. I mean, on high levels. And then the more you get into ministry and think, yay, platform this impact, it only increases. The weight, the arrows, it just comes. It increases. And you start to learn, like, man, if I don't stay slammed full of the Holy Spirit, deep in his presence of the word, there's things that they can get in. And so you've got to just fly above it all and let just water roll off your back and just stay forgiving. No worries. No worries. But it can set in because then there's not even repentance given to forgive. Does that make sense? You've not even been given anything to forgive, but it's still our job to do that. And if we're on the side of causing the wrong, our job is to repent. And sometimes they won't forgive. That's on them now. At least you repented. Does that make sense? So you do. And, you know, that's, that's our role that we're quick to repent and forgive repentance and forgiveness. I messed up. Please forgive me. That's fine. But you should have never done that. I'll never forget that. You know, there's just whatever. And they hold this unforgiveness. You're like, okay, man, I'm really, I'm sorry. I messed up. Didn't mean it. It was in the moment, whatever it is. And it's not at that point. Now they hang on to it. It's bitter. You've done your job. You can pray. There's not much more you can do and vice versa. If they won't repent, we are still to forgive. Does that make sense? But what's beautiful amongst us all. We're like, we love both. It's like high five repentance. You know, we just love to repent, to forgive. And it's all like, no worries. You know, I already forgave you, but if you feel better, whatever. But it's just very healthy. Mark 11, 25. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them so that your father in heaven may forgive your sins. Same thing. So I just want to encourage you guys. I remember I was really, you know, I mean, a deep one. There's been plenty. And you all would have the exact same stories. I know it. But one, it just cut deep. And it was those ones you need the Holy Ghost to heal. You can't conjure it up to forgive. You guys ever been hurt at that level? And so I remember I literally had to lock up praying tongues for hours. I don't remember how long it was. And finally, the presence of God came in so strong, it snapped. I could feel it. It snapped in a mega supernatural way. Because every time this situation with this person would pop up, I could just feel it. And I was younger in the Lord. Not that that means anything. You're always susceptible. That's why we must have a deep place in the Lord. His presence is the word always. Stay full. And so anyway, I could feel it. And so it just snapped in such a supernatural way. I've shared this story before. I actually felt a deep supernatural love for them. Like a godly love that made absolutely no sense in the natural. I was legitimately done wrong too. You guys know when you have a reason to be hurt, it's very hard to forgive sometimes. And you're like, no, I got a legitimate two plus two. It's four. They hurt me. They didn't say they're sorry. Whatever. But again, we don't have that luxury as believers. And you don't want to. That's where the enemy dwells. So I could feel it that day too. That same day I was like, thank you, Lord. I'm free. I'm never going back there again. That does not feel good. And I felt such a supernatural love. I literally made a gift. I knew that this scenario was special to the scenario. I'm trying to be real general. And I sent it out that day. Never heard a word back. And these things happen. You do things in no need. But man, I'm free now. And so we walk in free and keep flying. But others that hang on unforgiveness and don't repent, it's not a pretty future. You don't wish it for them, but it just happens. But so healthy. And we want that. Number 10. Sorry, we're going to go a little over. Sorry, you guys. Number 10, faithfulness. Super key. I have here loyalty, being found trustworthy. May we be a people found loyal through and through. Trustworthy and faithful in all things. May we reflect that character and nature of God that is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Constant, stable, reliable day in and day out. Week in and week out. Month in and month out for years to come. This is beautiful. I appreciate it more and more. Just steady, trustworthy, faithful, loyal. You see it all over the Word of God. Whatever it is that the Lord has called us into in each and every season, may we be found loyal, steady, and true. Sometimes, especially within the environment of believers, being led by the Spirit. I've got quotes there. Being led by the Spirit can simply look like making life choices on how we feel that day, or even in that moment, or what next opportunity might present itself to us. I love this and I came up with this. Obviously, it's my nose. Or what next networking ploy we can conjure up that leads back to the web domain of ishmael.com. Or I have here Martha.org. Oh yeah, that's a fun one. Not realizing that all the while we are missing the faithful and true. I wonder if somebody really has that one. That would be a bad one. We've got to look it up later. Not realizing that all the while we are missing the faithful and true path that the Lord always leads His true followers down, thereby setting them up for the highest mark of destiny, this side of heaven. I can't tell you how often you see just simplicity connected to faithful and true and loyal. That far outweighs and launches quicker into the things of God than all the other stuff. It just runs around in all this. It's really valuable. People often don't realize that this is one of the greatest qualities that the Lord and actually leaders in the body of Christ are looking for, for far more than gifting talents and charisma. Those that are faithful and true, loyal, steady, and constant. I have more notes there, but we'll go to Proverbs 20, verse 6. Proverbs 20, verse 6 says, Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person, who can find? Like a needle in a haystack sometimes, but boy, they're beautiful. And they stand out. Proverbs 3, 3. Let love and faithfulness never leave you. Some versions say loyalty. Some say mercy. But let them never leave you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart. The Bible says, For by them you'll find favor with both God and man. Simple things like loyalty, faithfulness. Beautiful. 1 Corinthians 4, 1 through 2. This is how one should regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. Galatians 5, 22. But the fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and thank you, Holy Spirit, faithfulness. Holy Spirit is faithful. Jesus, faithful and true. And may we be that way. It's so beautiful. Some of these things now are just taking over other things that I valued in years past. They're beautiful. And may we be like this. Revelation 19, 11. Then I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse. The one sitting on it is called faithful and true. The Lord Jesus Christ. Revelation 3, 14. And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write the words of the amen. The faithful and true witness. The beginning of God's creation. And I think that's super important, real quick, to expound that faithful and true. Because sometimes you can depict mere faithfulness, which is awesome already. But often even that, it's may we be faithful and true. Meaning there's truth in why we're even being faithful. Because sometimes that faithfulness can be, again, for other reasons. And on the outward appearance it can look constant and always there and faithful. But there's all kinds of selfish ambitions, motives, and you see that a good bit. And so, you know, we want to be faithful and true. You'll start to learn in life sometimes your enemies are more faithful than some of your closest. I mean, they're always there. They're just constant. Paul's like, these thorn in my flesh, these messengers of Satan, they are so faithful. You know, I wish they weren't. And so where I'm getting at is that we be faithful and true, you know, with the life and things of God. Number 11, lover of truth. That we'd be a people that so love the truth. Lovers of truth. Oh, that we'd be a people who are completely infatuated with the truth and nothing but the truth. As Jesus clearly states, that he is the way, he is the truth, he is the life. That our loins would be girded up all the days of our lives with the belt of truth. Mentioned in Ephesians 6. That our best friend, this son of heaven, would be the Holy Spirit himself who has given the very title of the spirit of truth. That remaining inside the boundary lines of truth would be our happy place. Our land of delight. Our dwelling of promise, ever flowing with milk and honey. More and more, that's just where I want to dwell. Is it fun in the moment? Is it popular? I don't care, but wherever truth is, that's where he is, because he is the thing. It's where the Holy Spirit is, it's beautiful truth. And especially in this last hour, it's going to, I believe, become more and more needed, vital. You know, because truth is going to be very hard to come by. As darkness increases, deception, obscurity, truth is going to need to be a real strong plumb line we hang on to. A real strong pillar. It's just truth. But it's not popular. Well, there's persecution like you ain't ever said. I don't care, I need truth. Whatever. Truth. And we do not come off of it for anything. First Corinthians 13.6. Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. True love loves truth. It just throws a party every time it runs into it. In any scenario, whether the truth hurts or it's not popular or not fun, it just loves truth. That's where freedom is. That's where the spirit of God is. Second Thessalonians 2, 9 through 10. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth. And so be saved. We've got to love truth and just gain an increase in a love for it. I have here, deception sets in very easily when there isn't a deep love and value system for truth. You can see it when people are easily duped or thrown off of the railroad tracks of truth. Then, number one, the value system of truth is not there in a strong way, but also they're not walking with Jesus in a deep way. Just flat out facts. I'm not trying to be judgmental, but when you so love Jesus, who is the truth, capital T, he is the thing, and you're so used to him, you love everything about him, the spirit of truth, as soon as anything other than that comes in, the radars go off. But people that are easily bought into and fall into that which is half truth or polluted truth and facts alone, it's a dead giveaway that their roots aren't that deep in him, or at least in that season. Maybe they were at one point in time, and we don't want to be that. We want to be so in love with Jesus, the truth, the standard of it, where we're not easily thrown off of it. Because, listen, demonic doctrines are going to increase. They already are, and if you're not deeply rooted in it, it can get off quick. Watch this. We're going to even see how the truth is directly tied into the Father in a very important way, the Son, the Holy Spirit, and even his Word, all four. It's like truth, truth, truth. It's just really vital. John 4.24, Jesus says, God is spirit, talking about the Father, and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. In it. We've got to love truth. Worshiping the Father, the Father loves truth. You can't even worship him outside of it. John 1.14, regarding Jesus now. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, talking about Jesus, of course. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Jesus is completely slammed full of truth. There's no part of his being that is void in any area of truth. He's full. He is truth. He is the thing. May we be the same. John 16.13, but when he, the spirit of truth, comes. This is one of the Holy Spirit's titles. The spirit of truth comes. He will guide you into all truth. This is what he does. That's the land he dwells in. He doesn't go anywhere else, doesn't know anything else. He knows it, but he will not speak on his own. He will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. Now the Word, John 17.17, sanctify them by the truth. Why? Your Word is truth. Just love it. Just give me truth, Lord. I want truth. To love truth is to love the Father, the Son, the Spirit, and his eternal and unshakable Word. God's truth should be the plumb line by which we build our entire life around. John 8.32, then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. If there's ever even a hiccup relationally, in a disagreement, whatever it may be, all you have to do is find truth, and that's where freedom is. And somebody may have it, and the other doesn't. And when the other is brought into it, there's freedom. Both may not have it. But then you start working it through and ask. Sometimes if there's just, we can't get on the same page, stop and pray. Say, Holy Spirit, help us. Lead us to truth. And then all of a sudden, the present of truth is open, and it's like freedom. It's beautiful. Wherever truth is, there's always freedom. Complete life. His voice. Love. It's there. And so always know that, and you guys know this. But wherever truth is void or not full, there's always opportunity for the enemy, misunderstanding, things that aren't clear, and not complete freedom. Wherever full truth is, there's always full freedom. To love truth is to love. Oh, I already said that. Sorry. 1 John 4.6, we are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us, but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. Those that are with us, they listen to us. So if nobody's listening to you, be like spirit of falsehood. I'm teasing. They may just want to pay attention. But the spirit of truth. Psalm 25.5, David says, Guide me in your truth and teach me. Psalm 145.18, The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Father loves this stuff. Last one. I'll end it fast. Last pillar, last and final 12th pillar, rightfully so, love. This is massive. This really covers them all. That's awesome. Isn't that cool too? It's kind of on purpose. But so I started the first one with the first commandment and sealed it with the second commandment. The Bible, Jesus says the law and the prophets hang on these. Look, when we operate in these two, it's an unstoppable company, all for his glory. May we be a people that are so full of love to the likeness of something this world has not yet seen. May authentic, godly, abounding love be the number one fruit that people partake of when they encounter us. Isn't that would be amazing? They just run into you like, man, I've never experienced this before. Authentic, godly, true love. May we be known for our love because he is love. This one's another fun one. I just put it in there. Probably too much coffee. May people come around us and always think it's Valentine's Day. You know, you know, you get the point. May outsiders be like, what is wrong with this people? I ridicule them. They love me. I persecute them. They love me. I reject them. They love me. I love them. They love me more in return. Just a people that just love, love, love, love, love. And that we become this way more and more. Again, what would be perfect? Not even close, but let's go more and more that way. And how beautiful it will be. And how beautiful we reflect him, you know. Colossians 3.14. Put on then as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another. And if one has a complaint against forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so also you must forgive. And above all these, put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And sometimes, I think I touched on this before, we've got to put it on. I mean, sometimes love's a decision. Way more than often feeling. Most often, it's just something you can decide, you choose it. It's just biblical, it's godly. Sometimes you just put it on, I'm going to love, you choose it. Sometimes you feel it, praise God. Sometimes you don't, it's just what you do though. You put it on, you choose it, and let the fruit be evident. 1 Corinthians 13.13. And now these three remain, faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love. 1 John 4.12. No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us. And his love is made complete in us. When we love one another, God's love is made complete in us. It's beautiful. We often see it as when we intimately love him and pursue him, that happens, and it does, but also in just the routine of life as we love others, his love is perfected in us. It's beautiful. 1 John 4.16. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4.19. We love because he first loved us. Ephesians 4.2. Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love. Romans 12.10. Be devoted to one another in love. 1 Peter 4.8. Above all, Peter says, you can just hear him ranking it at the top. Love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. John 15.12. My command is this, love each other as I have loved you. John 15.13. Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. We'll land it here, John 13.35. By this, all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another. That's the greatest sign of a disciple you'll ever see, if they have love one for another. And I pray that we'd be just that. People would get around us and be like, what is up with these people? Like with Janet. That's just not... And then day two, day three, day four, you're like, no, this is really just it. Oh my gosh. And that we'd exude love, be so full and abounding in it. You know, this reflects Christ, and so awesome. Thank you, Jesus. You guys want to stand? We'll pray. Oh, thank you so much for the encouragement. Praise you, Jesus. I had that tucked in my cheek the whole time. I wasn't really thinking about it, sorry. Okay. Jesus, thank you so much for your word, for your presence. God, we love you. I pray that you would just make us like you. Let us reflect you like this world has never yet seen. Help us just ever so increasingly yield to these pillars of your word and your presence and your voice. And first and foremost, we love you more fully, but then represent you more clearly here on the earth. Be glorified, God. Touch us. Pray even right now for a supernatural transformation over our lives, over our homes. Yeah, just receive even now together on this last day of the fast. I pray for an exponential increase over the home of your presence. Your tangible manifest glory. Let the word come alive. Touch the children. Touch them, God, with a fresh fire and passion for the Holy Spirit of God. I pray you wreck our homes online as well across the world. Wreck our homes with your glory. Your manifest glory, God. I thank you even this night for incredible revelation that you'd release your voice and take us deeper into you. Incredible prophetic encounters. Take us higher. May we ascend in you. In Jesus' name, amen.