The Sunday School Lesson Consequences of Sin by David McGee
Aug 08, 2010
Consequences of Sin (48:39)
Referenced Scriptures: Genesis 3:8-24; Ecclesiastes 12:13,14; Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 16:22-25; Romans 6:23; 8:20-23; Ephesians 2:2-12; 4:18,19; Revelation 20:11 - 21:8
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Central Truth: Sin brings terrible consequences
Key Verse: (Romans 6:23)
The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (NIV).
Commentary & Application
1. Alienation from God (Genesis 3:8,22-24; Ephesians 2:2,3,12; 4:18,19)
Adam and Eve tried to hide from God (Genesis 3:8). Because of their sin, Adam and Eve had to leave the Garden of Eden (verses 22-24). God had the entrance to the Garden guarded so they could not return. That was to keep them from eating from the Tree of Life and so live forever in a sinful state. God's grace was manifested to them in this way.
Adam's and Eve's sins have affected the entire human race. Though many people today believe that people are basically good inside, the truth is many people allow themselves to be ruled by the sinful nature (Ephesians 2:2,3). Human nature cannot be explained away by appealing to a bad social environment or the need for a better education.
Ephesians 2:12 describes how people are alienated from God and have no hope outside of Christ. Sin hardens the heart and dulls people's ability to truly understand what God desires for them (4:18). When people lose their sensitivity to God, they tend to live to please self, indulging themselves in sensual pleasures (verse 19). The lie many people never come to recognize is taht a life lived to please the sinful nature rather than God can never satisfy. Seeking to find that satisfaction draws so many further down in the destructive cycle of sin.
Does this mean unsaved people can never do anything good? No, they are able to do good things, but the normal choices in their lives are often sinful and self-centered. Apart from the saving grace of God, people are doomed to being sinful and selfish.
In What way can sin cause you to hide from God?
2. Suffering and Death (Genesis 3:16-19; Romans 6:23;8:20-23)
Alienation from God is not the only consequence of sin. The Lord's judgments on Adam and Eve show taht sin, suffering, and death are closely linked. For Eve, as a mother, bearing children would involve pain and sorrow from that time forward. As a wife, she would have to submit to Adam's leadership (Genesis 3:16).
Because Adam chose to sin, the ground was now cursed (verse 17). He would have to work hard to grow his food, and thorns and thistles would grow with it (verses 18,19). Not only would sin bring suffering to life, it would also bring death.
The apostle Paul wrote that death is a result of sin (Romans 6:23). The good news is that "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (verse 23, KJV).
In Romans 8:20-23, Paul wrote about the frustration that is in the created order. Not only was the creation subject to difficulties but to corruption or decay as well. But there will come a time when the order of nature will be restored. This change in the natural world is related to "glorious liberty of the children of God" (verse 21, KJV).
Christians look forward to the time when God brings His plan of redemption to completion. They eagerly anticipate when their mortal, corruptible bodies are changed into immortal, incorruptible bodies. Christians will be set free from the suffering and death that result from sin.
What type of suffering have you observed that was the direct result of sinful behavior?
3. Retribution in the Afterlife (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14; Luke 16:22-25; Matthew 25:31,32,34,41,46; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8)
All people will give account to God for what they've done. Ecclesiastes 12:13 states people are to prepare for the coming judgment by fearing God and keeping His commandments. The basis of God's judgment will be people's works (verse 14).
Jesus' account of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16 is a sobering reminder that all people face an eternal destiby. Lazarus died and entered into a place of comfort (verse 22). The rich man died and found himself in the torments of hell (verses 23-25).
Jusus also taught of a time of judgment in which people will be seperated as sheep and goats (Matthew 25:31-46). The sheep are those whose works please Him because they have been faithful to Him. The sheep will go with Christ into His eternal kingdom (verses 34,46). The goats will be sent into everlasting punishment of fire (verses 41,46).
The final judgment will take place at the Great White Throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). The unbelieving dead will be resurrected to face this judgment. Anyone whose name is not found in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire. They face a terrifying eternal punishment (21:8).
Anyone who dies without saving faith in Christ will suffer that punishment. This is why it is so important that Christians live for Christ and witness of Him to the lost.
In what ways can your knowledge of God's plan for the future help you life a godly life?
Discipleship in Actions
Knowing the consequences of sin does not mean people will do anything about it. Consider how many people know that smoking cigarettes has terrible consequences, yet continue to smoke.
So what are you to do with your knowledge of the consequences of sin? First, if you have not accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, you need to do so. He died and rose again to deliver you from the power and consequences of sin. Then you need to live for Him, learning to follow the leading of His Spirit so you can obey His Word.
You also need to be a witness to unbelievers, telling them what Christ has done for you. Pray for them. Ask God to give you opportunities to present the gospel to them.
What is on thing you can do this week in response to this lesson?
Genesis 3:8-24
(3:8) 8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
(3:9) 9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?"
(3:10) 10 So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."
(3:11) 11 And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?"
(3:12) 12 Then the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate."
(3:13) 13 And the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
(3:14) 14 So the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life.
(3:15) 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(3:16) 16 To the woman He said: "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you."
(3:17) 17 Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, "You shall not eat of it": "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All thedays of your life.
(3:18) 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field.
(3:19) 19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return."
(3:20) 20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.
(3:21) 21 Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.
(3:22) 22 Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever"--
(3:23) 23 therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken.
(3:24) 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
(12:13) 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all.
(12:14) 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.
Matthew 25:31-46
(25:31) 31 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.
(25:32) 32 "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.
(25:33) 33 "And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
(25:34) 34 "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
(25:35) 35 "for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;
(25:36) 36 "I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me."
(25:37) 37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, "Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?
(25:38) 38 "When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?
(25:39) 39 "Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?"
(25:40) 40 "And the King will answer and say to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."
(25:41) 41 "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
(25:42) 42 "for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;
(25:43) 43 "I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me."
(25:44) 44 "Then they also will answer Him, saying, "Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?"
(25:45) 45 "Then He will answer them, saying, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me."
(25:46) 46 "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
Luke 16:22-25
(16:22) 22 "So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
(16:23) 23 "And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
(16:24) 24 "Then he cried and said, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame."
(16:25) 25 "But Abraham said, "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.
Romans 6:23
(6:23) 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:20-23
(8:20) 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;
(8:21) 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
(8:22) 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
(8:23) 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
Ephesians 2:2-12
(2:2) 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
(2:3) 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
(2:4) 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
(2:5) 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
(2:6) 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
(2:7) 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
(2:8) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
(2:9) 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
(2:10) 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
(2:11) 11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands--
(2:12) 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Ephesians 4:18-19
(4:18) 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
(4:19) 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Revelation 20:11 - 21:8
(20:11) 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.
(20:12) 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things whichwere written in the books.
(20:13) 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
(20:14) 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
(20:15) 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
(21:1) 1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
(21:2) 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
(21:3) 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
(21:4) 4 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
(21:5) 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."
(21:6) 6 And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.
(21:7) 7 "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
(21:8) 8 "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
The scriptures below are from the WEB Bible.
Genesis 3:8-24
8) They heard the voice of Yahweh God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh God among the trees of the garden.
9) Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?"
10) The man said, "I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself."
11) God said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
12) The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate."
13) Yahweh God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
14) Yahweh God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all cattle, and above every animal of the field. On your belly shall you go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life.
15) I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel."
16) To the woman he said, "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth. In pain you will bring forth children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."
17) To Adam he said, "Because you have listened to your wife‘s voice, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it,‘ cursed is the ground for your sake. In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
18) Thorns also and thistles will it bring forth to you; and you will eat the herb of the field.
19) By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
20) The man called his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all living.
21) Yahweh God made coats of skins for Adam and for his wife, and clothed them.
22) Yahweh God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he put forth his hand, and also take of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever..."
23) Therefore Yahweh God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
24) So he drove out the man; and he placed Cherubs at the east of the garden of Eden, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
Ecclesiastes 12:13,14
13) This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
14) For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.
Matthew 25:31-46
31) "But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then will he sit on the throne of his glory.
32) Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33) He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34) Then the King will tell them on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
35) for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in;
36) naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.‘
37) Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink?
38) When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you?
39) When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?‘
40) The King will answer them, ‘Most assuredly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.‘
41) Then will he say also to them on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;
42) for I was hungry, and you didn‘t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink;
43) I was a stranger, and you didn‘t take me in; naked, and you didn‘t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn‘t visit me.‘
44) Then will they also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not help you?‘
45) Then will he answer them, saying, ‘Most assuredly I tell you, inasmuch as you didn‘t do it to one of these least, you didn‘t do it to me.‘
46) These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
Luke 16:22-25
22) It happened that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels to Abraham‘s bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried.
23) In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom.
24) He cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.‘
25) But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in like manner, bad things. But now here he is comforted and you are in anguish.
Romans 6:23
23) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
8:20-23
Ephesians 2:2-12
2) in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience;
3) among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
4) But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,
5) even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have you been saved),
6) and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7) that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus;
8) for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9) not of works, that no one would boast.
10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.
11) Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "uncircumcision" by that which is called "circumcision," (in the flesh, made by hands);
12) that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
4:18,19
Revelation 20:11
11) I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them.
The WEB Bible is provided by Public Domain.
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T h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f s i n a n d t h e e x c i t i n g a n d q u i t e a n i n t e r e s t i n g l e s s o n . S o , w i l l b e g i n w i t h p r a y e r . F a t h e r t h a n k y o u f o r b l e s s i n g t h i s d a y i n G o d f o r y o u r w o r d t h a t i s a l i k e t o o u r p a t h a n d I p r a y G o d y o u h e l p ? u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h a t w h i c h i s r i g h t a n d i n y o u r s i g h t , s o b l e s s u s n o w , L o r d , a n d g u i d e u s . W e a s k i n J e s u s K s u p c o n s e q u e n c e s a s s u m e t h e k e y v e r s e i s i n R o m a n s c h a p t e r s i x v e r s e t w e n t y t h r e e . T h e w a g e s o f s i n i s d e a t h , b u t t h e g i f t o f G o d i s e t e r n a l l i f e t h r o u g h J e s u s C h r i s t o u r L o r d . T h e c e n t r a l t r u t h . S i n b r i n g s t e r r i b l e c o n s e q u e n c e s . 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S o s e n d i n t h e a u t h o r m a n y t i m e s S i g r i d a s a c t s i n a l l t h i n g s t h a t a r e d o n e , b u t i n r e a l i t y , t h o s e t h i n g s t h a t a r e d o n e h a p p e n e d b e c a u s e o f t h i n k t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p h a v e s o m e t h i n g h a s g o n e w r o n g i n t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p . L i k e i f t h i n g s a r r i v e d i n a r e l a t i o n s h i p . W e d o n ' t w r i t e i t o r f o r t h a t w i t h i n . I g u e s s y o u w i l l b e t h e s a m e w e h a v e a d d e d h e r n a m e i n t h e g a r d e n . T h e y h a v e e v e r y t h i n g r i g h t i n t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p a n d b r o k e n . T h a t ' s t h e t e m p t a t i o n , t h e t e m p t a t i o n w o u l d b e t o b r e a k t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p a n d t h e t e m p t a t i o n t h a t w e f i n d w i t h o u t a n i m e i s t h a t t h e y a r e b a s e d a n d i t w a s i t w a s i n t e r e s t i n g w i l l g e t t o w i l l t h a t b u t i t w a s i n t e r e s t i n g h o w t h a t t h a t i t w a s n ' t t h a t G o d d i d n ' t w a n t t h e m t o h a v e t h e k n o w l e d g e o f g o o d a n d e v i l . H e d i d n ' t w a n t t h e m t o h a v e t h e k n o w l e d g e o f g o o d a n d e v i l w h e n i t b r o k e t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b r o u g h t a b o u t t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s t o t h a t k n o w l e d g e . O k a y , i t ' s l i k e w h i l e w e w e r e i n W e l l e s l e y ' s w e r e o v e r t h a t t e r m l i g h t l y , a s w e r e o l d e r . R e a d w e w e s e e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f p e o p l e ' s s i n s , s u c h a s d r u g a d d i c t i o n , s o w e s e e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f t h a t n o w w h a t w e r e s a y i n g t o o u r c h i l d r e n i s d o n ' t u s e d r u g s . W h y , b e c a u s e t h e r e ' s a c o n s e q u e n c e t o t h o s e a c t i o n s , b u t w h e n t h e y b e c o m e a d r u g a t a i f t h e y b e c o m e a d r u g a d d i c t t o e x p e r i e n c e t h a t a d d i c t i o n . W e f i n d t h a t t h a t ' s n o t l a t e m a y e n t e r t h a t k n o w l e d g e t h e w r o n g w a y . O k a y , s o , w h e n G o d i s g i v i n g u s t h e k n o w l e d g e o f g o o d a n d e v i l . I t i s n ' t a n i d e o l o g y i s a l i k e l y s t r i k e t o s h e l t e r u s f r o m t h i n g s , y e l l , a n d t h i s i s w h e r e I s o m e t i m e s i n d i v i d u a l s w a n t t o s h e l t e r t h e i r c h i l d r e n a n d s o t h e y w o n ' t l e t t h e m g o t o n o w w h y d o n ' t t h e s c h o o l o r w h e r e v e r . A n d a g a i n , i t d e p e n d s o n t h e s c h o o l s y s t e m d e p e n d s ( d e p e n d s o n i t . A l o t o f l o t o f v a r i a b l e s o l v e r s . T h e r e ' s n o w i l d n o r i g h t . I ' m n o t a s y o u n g S a m a g a i n s t s o m e t h i n g , b u t t h e i d e a i s w e w e n e e d t o k n o w t h a t w e c a n h i r e o u r o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h J e s u s C h r i s t i s s e c u r e e n o u g h t o k e e p u s i n t h e m o s t d i f f i c u l t o f p l a c e s , b u t i t i s g o i n g t o t h o s e d i f f i c u l t p l a c e s p u t s u s i n t h e i n t h e p l a c e w e r e w e a r e b r e a k i n g o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d , a n d o b v i o u s l y t h a t ' s n o t w h a t G o d h a d i n m i n d w i t h w i t h t h e g a r d e n a n d w i t h t h e t r y i n g t o k e e p t h e m t o A v e n u e f r o m t h e k n o w l e d g e o f g o o d a n d e v i l , a c h a r a c t e r t h a t w o u l d a g a i n s e n d w e l l s e n d w h i l e t a k i n g m y w a n t i n g o u t , s o o n w i l l t a k e y o u o n e w a y d o n ' t w a n t t o g o w i t h t h a t k i n k y l o n g a s a n y o n e t o s a y a n d c o s t y o u m o r e t h a n y o u w a n t t o p a y s o a n d i n s o c e r t a i n i s t h a t a s a A L m o s t t h e t i m e s a y s s o i s a n a d d i c t i v e b e h a v i o r t h a t c a u s e s u s t o l o s e p e r s p e c t i v e o f w h o w e a r e a n d w h a t w e r e t h e r e f o r e , N a s i r i s a s a d e c a y i n g o n t h e p e r s o n y o u h e l p m e l o o k a t i n o u r s o c i e t y . K n o w t h e B i b l e s a y s i n t h e e n d t i m e s , y o u k n o w , p e o p l e w i l l c a l l g o o d e v i l a n d e v i l g o o d , s o w e l o o k a t o u r s o c i e t y a n d a n e w l o o k a t w h a t ' s p r e s e n t e d t h a t t h e l i f e s t y l e o f t h e d e b a u c h e r y i n o u r b e s t t h a t t h i s l i f e s t y l e i s w h e r e i t a l l t h a t i s p r o m i s c u o u s a n d w h a t e v e r a n d w e f i n d t h a t t h a t r e a l l y i s t h e d e c a y i n g o f t h e s o u l . I f t h e d e c a y o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p t h a t t h e d e c a y i n g i n a c a r i n g w a y a b o u t , w h i c h i s g o o d i n u s , a n d s o o n f o r t h r e e d a y s . T h e t h r e e d e s c r i p t o r s t h a t w e f i n d h e r e i n G e n e s i s a n d E p h e s i a n s a n d b a c k t o G e n e s i s , R o m a n s , L u k e M a t t h e w t o R e v e l a t i o n , t h e b u n c h o f G e n e s i s t h r e e e i g h t . T h e n t h e m a n a n d h i s w i f e h e a r d t h e s o u n d o f t h e L o r d G o d a s h e w a s w a l k i n g i n t h e g a r d e n c o o l t h e d a y a n d t h e y h a d f r o m t h e L o r d G o d a m o n g t h e t r e e s o f t h e g a r d e n a n d t h e L o r d G o d s a i d t h e m a n h a s n o w b e c o m e l i k e o n e o f u s , k n o w i n g g o o d a n d e v i l . H e m u s t n o t b e a l l o w e d t o r e a c h o u t h i s h a n d a n d t a k e a l s o f r o m t h e t r e e o f l i f e a n d e a t a n d l i v e f o r e v e r , s o t h e L o r d G o d b a n i s h e d h i m f r o m t h e g a r d e n o f E d e n t o w o r k t h e g r o u n d f r o m w h i c h h e h a d b e e n t a k e n i n E p h e s i a n s c h a p t e r t w o v e r s e t w e l v e . R e m e m b e r t h a t a t t h a t t i m e y o u w e r e s e p a r a t e d f r o m C h r i s t , s e c l u d e d f r o m c i t i z e n s h i p i n I s r a e l a n d f o r e i g n e r s t o t h e c o v e n a n t o f p r o m i s e , w i t h o u t h o p e a n d w i t h o u t G o d i n t h e w o r l d a n d b a c k . G e n e s i s t h r e e s i x t e e n t o t h e w o m a n h e s a i d , I w i l l g r e a t l y i n c r e a s e y o u r p a i n s i n c h i l d b e a r i n g p a i n y o u w i l l g i v e b i r t h t o c h i l d r e n . Y o u r d e s i r e w i l l b e f o r y o u r h u s b a n d , a n d h e w i l l r u l e o v e r y o u . T h e l a t t e r , h e s a i d , b e c a u s e y o u l i s t e n t o y o u r w i f e a n d a t e f r o m t h e t r e e o f I r e c o m m e n d y o u d o , y o u m u s t n o t b e l i m i t e d c u r s e d t h e g r o u n d b e c a u s e o f n e w o p e n w h i l e y o u w o r k i n g o f i t , a n d t h e d a y s o f a l l t h e d a y s o f y o u r l i f e , t h e n R o m a n s c h a p t e r s i x v e r s e t w e n t y t h r e e f o r t h e w a y s o f s i n i s d e a t h , b u t t h e g i f t o f G o d i s e t e r n a l l i f e i n C h r i s t J e s u s o u r L o r d a n d L u k e s i x t e e n t w e n t y t w o . T h e t i m e c a m e w h e n t h e b e g g a r d i e d , a n d t h e a n g e l s c a r r i e d h i m t o A b r a h a m ' s s i d e . T h e r i c h m a n a l s o d i e d a n d w a s b u r i e d i n t h e h o u s e w h e r e h e w a s i n t o r m e n t , h e l o o k e d u p a n d s a w A b r a h a m f a r a w a y w i t h L a z a r u s b y h i s s i d e i n M a t t h e w t w e n t y f i v e t h i r t y f o u r t h e n t h e K i n g w i l l s a y t o t h o s e o n h i s r i g h t , y o u w h o a r e b l e s s e d b y m y f a t h e r t a k e y o u r i n h e r i t a n c e , t h e k i n g d o m p r e p a r e d f o r y o u s i n c e t h e c r e a t i o n o f t h e w o r l d . I n R e v e l a t i o n t w e n t y o n e , h e b u t t h e c o w a r d l y , t h e u n b e l i e v i n g , t h e v i l e m u r d e r e r . T h e s e x u a l l y m o r e . I ' l l i m m o r a l , t h o s e w h o p r a c t i c e m a g i c a r t s , i d o l a t e r s , a n d a l l l i a r s , t h e i r p l a c e w i l l b e t h e f i e r y l a k e o f b u r n i n g s u l f u r . T h i s i s t h e s e c o n d d e a t h . S o , s i n c i t y i s a d e s t r u c t i v e , b e c a m e d e s t r o y i n g f o r e s t s i n o u r l i v e s a n d o u r l i v e s i n o u r n a t u r e , a n d o n l y t h r o u g h t h e b l o o d o f J e s u s C h r i s t a n d w h a t C h r i s t i s d o n e f o r u s . W i l l t h i s b e t a k e n f r o m u s a r e r e m o v e d f r o m . I l i k e N o a h i n t h e g a r d e n i n t h e g a r d e n . W e h a v e h a d a n e v e n a n d w e h a v e t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f s i n . W e w e h a v e a l l o k a y w h a t w e l o s t i n t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d w h e n w e l o s t t h a t r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d i n r e g a r d w i l l b e l o s t c o m m u n i o n w i t h G o d a l l w h a t w e l o s t . W e l o s t c o m m u n i o n w e d i e p h y s i c a l l y a n d s p i r i t u a l l y , a n d i n t h i s d y i n g o u t b e c a u s e G o d i n t e n d e d f o r u s t o t o b e w i t h h i m f o r e t e r n i t y . T h e t r i m t h e t r e e o f l i f e t h a t w a s i n t h e g a r d e n . W e s e e i t i n t h e b o o k o f R e v e l a t i o n i n t h e e n d i n t h e h a b i t s a w i t , i t d o e s n ' t a l w a y s s t r e s s p l a n a n d I g o t u p a n d g o t t r a n s p l a n t e d t r a n s p l a n t e d f r o m f r o m t h e g a r d e n i n g i n t o h e a v e n . S o t h e i n t e n t i o n , t h e n w a s n o t t h a t m a n s h o u l d b e a l l w i t h o u t k n o w l e d g e , a n d b e c a u s e i t w a s t h a t t h e i n t e n t i o n w a s t h a t t h e y w o u l d n o t f i n d o r c o m e t o t h i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f s i n b y e x p e r i e n c i n g i t a n d b e i n g s e p a r a t e d f r o m G o d . W h a t w e l o s t i n t h e g a r d e n . W e r e g a i n e d a c r o s s w h e n J e s u s d i e d f o r o u r s i n s , h e d i e , S a u l , t h a t w e m i g h t h a v e t h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p r e s t o r e d . S o w e h a v e t h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p r e s t o r e d w i t h C h r i s t J e s u s r o s e f r o m t h e d e a d p h y s i c a l l y , s o t h e r e w i l l b e a w h e n e v e r w e r i s e f r o m t h e d e a d , a n d i n t h e e n d o f t i m e w h e n t h e t r o u b l e g o t s o s o u n d t h a t i n C h r i s t s h a l l r i s e , a n d a l l w h i c h a r e l i v e a n d r e m a i n s h a l l b e c a u g h t u p t o m e e t t h e m i n t h e a i r . W e a r e b e c a u s e J e s u s R o s e n , t h e d e a d p h y s i c a l l y . T h a t ' s w h y i t ' s s o i m p o r t a n t t h a t w e u n d e r s t a n d t h a t i t d o i t , t h e r e s u r r e c t i o n o f J e s u s C h r i s t . H e i s a r e s u r r e c t i o n . T h e f i r s t f r u i t s o f t h e m t h a t s l e p t . M e a n i n g h e c o u l d b e b y h i s r e s u r r e c t i o n , w e t o o s h a l l r i s e , a n d o f c o u r s e s p i r i t u a l l y w e d i e s p i r i t u a l l y t o G o d , b u t s a l v a t i o n i s t h r o u g h t h e b l o o d d e s c r i b e , s o J e s u s C h r i s t i s t h e L a m b o f G o d w h o t o o k a w a y t h e s i n s o f t h e w o r l d . S o w h e n J e s u s d i e d o n t h e c r o s s p a i d t h e p u r c h a s e b a c k e v e r y t h i n g t h a t w e l o s t i n t h e g a r d e n s o w a s n ' t G o d ' s i n t e n t t h a t w e f a i l i t w a s G o d ' s i n t e n t t h a t w e s p e n d a n e t e r n i t y w i t h h i m . N o w t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f s i n a r e d e s t r u c t i v e . T h e y a r e e t e r n a l , j u s t l i k e t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f s a l v a t i o n . O u r e t e r n a l l i f e . T h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f s a i d i s s e p a r a t i o n a n d I t h i n k I ' m w h e n w e t h i n k o f o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e h o l y i l l w e b e h o l y i s t h e L o r d ' s s i n g l e s o n g s , a n d s o o n . W h a t w e a r e t o l i v e a l i f e t h a t i s h o l y t o G o d , b u t h o l y i s a l s o h o m e l e s s s o w e h a v e a w h o l e n e s s i n o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d . T h e w h o l e n e s s t h a t w e h a v e i n h o n e s t i s t h a t t h e p e r s o n t h a t G o d c r e a t e d u s t o b e w h i l e y o u w e r e g e t t i n g t h e i r m o t h e r s w h o m h e k n e w w a s i n f o r m e d u s h e p u t w i t h i n u s t h e s e e d s o f w h o w e a r e t h e p e r s o n o u r t a l e n t s o r a b i l i t i e s . A l l I s t u f f i s p l a n t e d i n t h e i r a t t e n d a n t a n d l i k e C r a i g t h a n o n t h e s a u c e t o o l o n g . I e n o u g h o f m y d o i n g i t . Y e s , J e n n i f e r t h e n h i l a r i o u s . S o a n y h o w , h o l i n e s s i s w h o l e n e s s . W e d o n ' t h a v e o n e o f r e c o g n i t i o n . A n y t h i n g b u t t h e o t h e r t h i n g I c a n . S o h o l i n e s s i s a c t u a l l y h o m e l e s s . S o w h e n e v e r w h e n e v e r w e c a n . W e d o n ' t . I w i s h I d o n ' t . Y o u d o n ' t t h i n k o f i t a r e o k a y c o n t e n t . S o m e t i m e s , t h a t w h e n e v e r w e s e n d w i l l a c t u a l l y t a k e a w a y t a k i n g a w a y f r o m o u r o w n p e r s o n a l w h o l e n e s s . T h e p e r s o n w e k n o w w e a r e a t a c o m p l e t e p e r s o n . W e a r e c o m p l e t i n g c r i m e s . N o w , a s w e a r e c o m p l e t e i n h i m , t h e n w e s t a r t h o w t h i s w e s t a r t o u r h a r d o u r w a l k w i t h G o d i n t h a t d e a l . W e a r e . W e a r e h o l d c o m p l e t e w i t h o u t n o t f i n i s h e d w i t h u s . W e d o l i k e t h e l i m i t e d a n d e t e r n i t y l i m i t e d , s o w e a r e i n t h e p r o c e s s . T h e n , o n g a i n i n g o u r k n o w l e d g e , g r o w i n g o u r k n o w l e d g e o f o u r L o r d a n d S a v i o r J e s u s C h r i s t , m y G o d , t h e k n o w l e d g e t h a t h e h a s f o r u s i s n o t t h a t w e h a v e t o e x p e r i e n c e e v e r y t h i n g . I d o n ' t h a v e t o e x p e r i e n c e a d d i c t i o n t o u n d e r s t a n d a d d i c t i o n . S o , j u s t a s i n t h e g a r d e n . I t w a s G o d ' s d e s i r e f o r a m a n t o u n d e r s t a n d a n d c o m e t o a k n o w l e d g e t o b e c o m e l i k e u s . B u t h e d i d n ' t w a n t t h e k n o w l e d g e t o c o m e t h e w a y t h e y d i d , w h y b r e a k i n g o f h i s c o m m a n d . T h e b r e a k i n g o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p i t s e l f i n o u r l i v e s , s i n f u l b e h a v i o r e n d s u p b r e a k i n g o u r w h o l e n e s s w i t h G o d . I t g i v e s u s k n o w l e d g e , b u t i n k n o w l e d g e t h a t t h e M s . J a n e , j u s t l i k e i t w a s i n t h e g a r d e n a n d a n l e s s o n . I t t a l k s a b o u t h o w t h a t s o m e t i m e s w e i s o l a t e i n m y m i n d . I ' v e d o n e t h i s . I i s o l a t e d t h e g a r d e n , y o u k n o w , t h e s a m e y e a r t h e y a r e t h e r e i n t h e g a r d e n o f E d e n m a n i s t h e r e m a n , w o m a n t h e r a p y a t t h e s e r p e n t a n d n o w t h e s e r p e n t c o m e s i n t e n s e a n d s o o n . W e l l , I b e c o m e v e r y t a l k e d a b o u t h o w t h a t i t ' s i t ' s i t ' s i t ' s i t ' s i t ' s a l o t l i k e o u r s o c i e t y . T h e v e g e t a t i o n o f o u r s o c i e t y i s t h a t v i a L a u r e n i s t h e a l l u r i n g H a m a s t o b r e a k t h e c o m m a n d h a v e t o I ' m r e a l l y s a d t h i n g t h a t b e c o m e s t h e q u e s t i o n , d i d G o d r e a l l y m e a n i t t h a t w a y . S o w h a t w i l l b r e a k o u r h o m e . T h i s , i n w h o w e a r e , a r e h o m e l e s s w i t h G o d i s b r o k e n . W h e n e v e r w e s t a r t d o u b t i n g a n d d i d n o t s o u n d i s n o t t h e p r o b l e m i t d o w n w h e n t h e d o g t a k e s w a r m a n d t h e n w h e n t h e d o g t a k e s f o r m a n d i t b e c o m e s a p l o t w h i c h b e c o m e s a n a c t i o n t h a t i t b e c o m e s t h a t m a k e s t h e s a m e a b o u t i s n o t t h e p r o b l e m s a l t . T h e h o l i s t i c G o d h a s f o r u s i s i n o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p , o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d a n d o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h o t h e r s . S o t h e n k n o w l e d g e t h a t w e g a i n i n o u r l i f e a n d t i m e s , n o t b y b r e a k i n g t h e w h o l e n e s s , b u t b y e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p a n d i n t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p c o m e s l i f e a n d t h e n c o m e s t h e p r o m i s e s o f G o d t o h e l p u s g a i n i n s i g h t i n t o w h o G o d i s a n d w h o w e a r e . J o e a n d J o e h a d h i s k n o w l e d g e o f G o d t h a t w a s c h a l l e n g e d b y h i s l i f e e x p e r i e n c e a n d J o b w a s a b l e t o b e c a u s e o f h i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e c h a r a c t e r o f G o d w a s a b l e t o c h a l l e n g e t h e a l l o f t h e a l l o f h i s f r i e n d s . T h e p e e r p r e s s u r e s o f h i s t i m e . T h e e x p e r i e n c e t h a t h e h a d g o n e t h r o u g h t h e l o s s o f h i s f a m i l y . T h e l o s s o f h i s w i f e w h e n h e r e ' s a w o m a n w h o l o s t p l a y e r s , w i l d t w e l v e k i d s d i e d i n w h a t A O C m a d m a n g r a d e n o w . I ' v e b e e n w i t h p e o p l e t h a t y o u n g o f t h e i r c h i l d r e n m i d f i e l d e r o n e o r t w o o t h e r w o m e n k i l l e d w h a t y o u g e t w h e n y o u r w h o l e f a m i l y ' s l i f e t h a t c u r s e G o d a n d d i e s u c h o t h e r w o m a n i n s u b u r b a n a n d a l o t o u t o f l i f e n o w I k n o w w e a l l u n d e r s t a n d w h a t i t ' s l i k e n o w t o t h e p r o m i n e n t w o m a n a n d s h e l o s e s e v e r y t h i n g i n s o c i e t y . T h e l i v e s o f t h e i r p l a c e i n s o c i e t y . S h e l o s e s h e r h u s b a n d t o h i s p a i n a n d s o r r o w . S h e l i v e s w i t h h e r w h i l e s h e l o s e s m o s t o f a l l h e r c h i l d r e n a r e s e r m o n s h e r h o u s e . E v e r y t h i n g i s G o d a l a d i e s , h o w d o y o u t h i n k y o u a n d t h e n h o w l i n g o n a x i s . I f y o u a r e J o e t h i n k a b o u t w h a t w o r k e d , w h a t w a s G o d d o i n g g e l d i d n o t r e a s o n r e s o r t t o t h a t o n e . A d a m a n d E v e d i d n o t i c e a n o t h e r o n e o f w i t h o u t a r e l i e v e r i n t h e g a r d e n , a n d t h e r e a t t e m p t e d A d a m o r a r e y o u a l w a y s l i k e t h a t , a n d i f o n e o f m y f a v o r i t e v e r s e s a n d w h e r e a r e y o u l i k e A l l a w i c a n s e e y o u . I r e a l l y o v e r h e a r G o d . A l l I d i d n ' t k n o w w h e r e y o u a r e a t t h e M r s . q u e s t i o n I ' v e s o m e t i m e s I l a y o u t s o m e s o m e t h i n g t h a t t h e y w e r e l i k e t h a t t o o , l i k e r i d i n g s o m e w h e r e i n a l o w l i f e g o i n g o n m o v i n g a g a i n . G o d d o e s n ' t k n o w B a r b a r a . Y o u k n o w , h e d o e s n ' t k n o w w h a t ' s g o i n g o n , G o d i s l o s t h i m a g a i n , a s I r e g a r d . B u t I h a v e m o r e a r e y o u l o w e r n a k e d w h i l e i t w a s n ' t t h e g u y d i d n ' t w a n t t h e m t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e i r t h e i r s e x u a l i t y . A u g u s t v e r y w i r e l e s s i n d i v i d u a l s a n d t h a t t h e y w e r e a m a n a n d a w o m a n h e d i d n ' t k n o w w h a t t h e p r o b l e m . I t w a s t h e p r o b l e m w a s a n d h o w t h e y g a i n t h e k n o w l e d g e t h e y g o t i s n o t a d v a n c e d k n o w l e d g e g o t a g a i n s t G o d i s n o t a g a i n s t n o i c e u n d e r s t a n d i n g a f e w n o t h a v e e x p e r i e n c e i n O t t a w a ' s e x p e r i e n t i a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g , b u t h a v e a u n d e r s t a n d i n g l i f e e v e n t , y o u d o n ' t h a v e t o g o n o t u n d e r s t a n d p e o p l e w h o a r e n o t n e v e r m y w i l l g o t h e r e e i t h e r . O k a y , s o a h a l f i n t h e r i g h t h a l f . I t d i d n ' t l e f t u n d e r s t a n d t h e a p p e a l b e a l i t t l e l o n g e r t h a n t h o s e w h o a r e n o t t h a t o f t h e d a y . H o w d o t h e l a t t e r g o t s a y s o f o u r u n i t y a n d a l w a y s i n v i s i b l e . H o w d o y o u k n o w h o w t o d i d y o u c o m e b y t h i s k n o w l e d g e . H o w d i d y o u c o m e b y t h i s k n o w l e d g e t h a t y o u a r e s e p a r a t e d f r o m t h e w o w , y o u d o n ' t a c t u a l l y t h a t w o m a n y o u m a d e . S h e g a v e m e f r u i t i s a w h i l e i t ' s n o t m y f a u l t i f t h a t s t a r t e d y o u m a y s t i l l u l t i m a t e l y g o e s b a c k t o w h e n G o d b u t i n i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e c u r s e . N o w t h i s i s a b i g f r o m G o d a g r e e m e n t t h a t t h e a g r e e m e n t t h a t w e k n o w w e a g r e e w i t h t h e m b e c a u s e h e c u r s e t h e s e r p e n t , b e c a u s e t h e c i r c u i t , b u t w h a t i t a l s o i m p l i e s i s t h a t e v e n t h a t w e a r e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r o u r d e c i s i o n , e v e n i f t h e y a r e d e c i s i o n s t h a t b r o u g h t a b o u t b y t h e s e r v e r w e r e s t i l l r e s p o n s i b l e f o r m a k i n g t h e c h o i c e s o a d a m a n t h e w i l l w e a r b e c a u s e t h e y b r o k e t h e c o m m a n d m e n t t h e y b r o k e t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d a n d G o d t h e n p r o n o u n c e d t h e j u d g m e n t o n t h e s a l t . T h e p u r p o s e o f s a l v a t i o n , t h e n , i s t o r e s t o r e w h a t w e l o s t i n t h e g u a r d . N o w i f w e g o t o t h e k n e e a n d t h e b o o k w i l l s e e k y o u r m o t h e r t h i n k s s o t h e y w e r e v i c t i m s o f d e c e p t i o n . T h e y b r o k e t h e l a w , t h e G o d h e a d h a d c o m m a n d e d . S i n c r e a t e s b a r r i e r s b y s e p a r a t i n g p e o p l e f r o m t h e m s e l v e s f r o m o n e a n o t h e r a n d f r o m G o d . I t t h a t w e a r e c o m p l e t e i n C h r i s t w h o l e n e s s , h o l y , b u t w h e n s u r g e o n s i n a s e p a r a t e u s f r o m o u r t r u e p o t e n t i a l f r o m o u r G o d - g i v e n r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s a r e G o d - g i v e n p r i v i l e g e s a n d i n c e n t i v e s i n a n e r e c t b a r r i e r s . J e s u s D a l e t h e B a r t l e t t s a y s t h a t h e i s o u r p r o p i t i a t i o n i s t h e o n e w h o b r e a k s d o w n t h e w a l l s o f p e t i t i o n o f t h e p a r t i t i o n s o f t h e I r a q . S o w h e n J e s u s b r e a k s d o w n t h e w a l l s t h a t t h a t t h e b a r r i e r s i s n o t b r e a k i n g d o w n t h e w a l l s . H e c r e a t e d b r e a k i n g d o w n t h e w a l l s a n d w e c r e a t e a p e r s o n c a n b a l a n c e s o s o G o d ' s j u d g m e n t , t h e n , w a s t o e x i l e I s l a n d . E v e n f r o m t h e g a r d e n . H i s e x i l e i s a l w a y s h i s r e d e m p t i v e r e m e m b e r t h a t G o d i s n o t h o w h i s u l t i m a t e g o a l i s n e v e r s e p a r a t e d h i s u l t i m a t e g o a l i s r e s t o r a t i o n . S o w h e n A d a m a n d E v e w e r e d r i v e n f r o m t h e g a r d e n , a n d t h i s i s t h e h o m e o f t h e s t u d y i t s e l f , b u t t h e y w e r e d r i v e n f r o m t h e g a r d e n a n d w h a t w e r e t h e y c l o a k e d i t . A n i m a l s w e d d i n g a g a i n , m o s t l y . G o d h a d p r o v i d e d a s a c r i f i c e i s n o t s t a t e d t h e r e , b u t i t i t ' s l i k e t h a t G o d d i d n ' t d r i v e h i m o u t o f t h e g a r d e n i n t h e i r s i n . G o d , t h e y h a d t o l e a v e t h e g a r d e n b e c a u s e o f t h e i r s i n , b u t G o d p r o v i d e d a s a c r i f i c e t h a t a l l c o m e s l a t e r w i t h M o s e s , s o a n d w e s e e a g a i n t h a t t h e b o o k i n t h e b o o k o f R e v e l a t i o n , t h e t r e e o f l i f e a g a i n i n R e v e l a t i o n a s p a r t o f t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f a l l t h i n g s , G e n e s i s a n d R e v e l a t i o n t w e n t y t w o t w o n o w , a n d a n y s e a s o n s . C h a p t e r t w o v e r s e s o n e t o t h r e e a n d t w e l v e . T h i s i s a n e w h a t a n d y o u h a t h h e q u i c k e n e d , w h o w e r e d e a d i n y o u r t r e s p a s s e s s i n c e a l l , a s w e s e e m t o s e p a r a t i o n a n d H o w a r d G o d h e r e m a i l i n g o u t t o t h e h o t e l a n d P a u l L a n d r y ' s w r i t i n g c h u r c h i n E p h e s u s , a n d h e ' s t a l k i n g t o t h e m a b o u t t h e i r t r e s p a s s e s a n d s i n s , a n y t h i n g h e h a t h h e q u i c k e n e d , w h o w e r e d e a d s o y o u w e r e d e a d . J e s u s m a d e y o u a l i v e y o u w e r e d e a d i n y o u r t r e s p a s s e s a n d s i n s t h a t G o d h a s m a d e y o u a l i v e b e c a u s e h e i s q u i c k a n d w e r e i n t i m e s p a s t t o w a l k a c c o r d i n g t o t h e c o u r s e o f t h i s w o r l d , a c c o r d i n g t h e p r e s e n t o u r b e e r . T h e s p i r i t t h a t n o w m o r e t h a n t h e c h i l d r e n o f d i s o b e d i e n c e . S o t h e r e i s a s p i r i t u a l w o r k s i n p e o p l e w h o a r e s o b e n o w . N o t a l l s i n n e r s , n o t a l l p e o p l e w h o a r e e s t r a n g e d f r o m G o d o r u n d e r i t . A l l a r e i n s p i r e d b y e v i l , t h e m o r e t h i s i s a l l C h r i s t i a n s a r e n o t c o m p l e t e l y i n s p i r e d b y G o d s o a m o n g w h o m a l s o w e a l l h a v e o u r c o n v e r t o u r c o n v e r s a t i o n i n t i m e s p a s t a n d l e s s t h a n o n e / f u l f i l l i n g t h e d e s i r e s o f t h e f l e s h i n t h e e n d o f t h e m i n e w e r e m a d e b y n a t u r e t h e c h i l d r e n o f w r a t h , e v e n a s o t h e r s s o t a l k e d a b o u t h o w t h e s e p a r a t i o n h a s h a s b r o u g h t a b o u t t h i s o n t h e l i f e s t y l e t h a t w e l i v e y e l l o w w h e a t w h e a t . W h e a t w e l i v e d q u i t e t h e l a s t o f o u r m i n d a n d n o t a c c o r d i n g t o c o u r s e o f t h i s w o r l d , a c c o r d i n g t h e P r i n c e o f p o w e r o f t h e a i r , t h e o n e w h o i n s p i r e d e v i l . T h e o n e w h o b r o u g h t a b o u t e v i l w e e k l y f o l l o w t h a t p a t h . B u t G o d h a s c h a n g e d t h i n g s t h a t t h e t i m e w e w e r e w i t h o u t C h r i s t , b e i n g a l i e n s f r o m t h e c o m m o n w e a l t h o f r a i n . I s r a e l s t r a n g e r s f r o m t h e c o v e n a n t o f p r o m i s e , s o t h e s i n s e p a r a t e s u s a r e h o m e l e s s a n d w h o w e a r e a n d s e p a r a t e s u s f r o m t h e c o v e n a n t o f p r o m i s e t h a t t h e a g r e e m e n t t h a t G o d h a s m a d e w i t h a s i n d i v i d u a l s t h a t G o d w a n t s t o b l e s s o u r l i v e s . G o d w a n t s t o r e s t o r e u s b r i n g b r i n g o u t t h e b e s t i n u s . B r i n g o n h i s w o r d i n o u r l i f e s o t h a t w e c a n h a v e a t h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d s o t h a t y o u c a n y o u a n d I c a n b e t h i s p e r s o n t o G o d i n t e n d e d u s t o b e . B u t S a t a n b e c o m e s t h e d e s t r u c t i v e f o r c e . T h e b a r r i e r a n d n e v e r a l l o w t h a t t o h a p p e n t h a t h e l o n g s t o b e g r a c i o u s t o u s t h a t s o w h e n I ' m b r e a k i n g h i s c o m m a n d s . I ' m d o i n g t h i n g s t h a t s t o p s t h a t g r a c i o u s n e s s f r o m w e l l , I t h i n k r i n g s o f G o d . S o w h e n I ' m w h e n I ' m a w a r e o f G o d ' s g r a c e a n d G o d ' s m e r c y . I t e x t e n d s t o m e w h o l e n e s s . S o m e t i m e s w e f e e l i n c o m p l e t e . W h i l e i t i s n ' t b e c a u s e w e d o n ' t h a v e p r i c e . I t h i n k s o m e t i m e s i t ' s b e c a u s e w e k n o w t h a t t h e r e ' s m o r e t o k n o w . A n d a s w e k n o w t h a t t h e r e ' s m o r e t o b e i n g w h o w e a r e o r w e r e a t r i g h t n o w , s o t h a t d e s i r e f o r c o m p l e t e n e s s i s t o g r o w i n t o m a t u r e i n t o d e v e l o p m e n t . T h e t a k e o u r t a l e n t s o r a b i l i t i e s , a n d c o n t i n u e t o w o r k w i t h t h e m a s a s p i r i t s p i r e s a n d b r i n g t h a t i n t o o u r l i f e . S o t h a t t y p e o f s t r i v i n g f o r m o r e i s g o o d . N o , I a m c o m p l e t e i n C h r i s t t h a t I ' m s a y i n g I ' m f o r g i v e n m y n a m e s i n h i s b o o k o f l i f e . S t i l l t h e r e ' s m o r e i n s t a l l e r s ' s c o t t a g e D r i v e d e s i r e , y o u k n o w t h a t w e w o u l d m o v e o n w i t h o u r l i f e a n d t h a t w e g r o w d e a d i n t r e s p a s s e s , t h e t e r m d e a t h h i g h l i g h t s n o t o n l y t h e i r s e p a r a t i o n f r o m G o d , b u t a l s o t h e s e l f - d e s t r u c t i v e a n d d i s i n t e g r a t i n g n a t u r e . T h i s c o n d i t i o n d i s i n t e g r a t i n g n a t u r e t o b e d e a d i s t o b e i n v o l v e d i n a n u n s u s t a i n a b l e w a y o f l i v i n g . J u d g m e n t w a s a m a z i n g i n s o m e I h a d n ' t r e a l i z e d t h i s s a w t h i s o n o n e o f s h o w s y o u ' r e a b l e t o c h a l l e n g e t h e s t r e e t s o m e t h i n g r a t h e r n a t u r e . T h i s p e r s o n w a s b i t t e n b y s n a k e b i t t e n u n d e r h a n d a n a l m o s t b a d n o t h i n g l e f t o f t h e i r h a n d s j u s t j u s t l i t t l e b i t s a n d b o b s o f f i n g e r s s t u c k r e p o r t h a d d i s i n t e g r a t e d t h e b o n e s , m u s c l e s , t h e p o i s o n f r o m t h e s n a k e a n d I f i g u r e d I i s t h e c a n . I k n o w t h a t t h e y a r e y o u r r e n t a s h e r e i n o t h e r w i s e n o w , b u t t h e o n l y g u y t h e r e n o w a n d a g a i n , t h e a n t i - m e n , a n d t h e y d i d t h e w h o l e t h i n g , b u t t h e y a l m o s t l o s t t h e i r e n t i r e b e c a u s e t h e B e n s o n d i s i n t e g r a t e s . I d i d n ' t k n o w , a n d i t ' s a l m o s t l i k e d i g e s t i n g i t a h e a d o f t i m e a n d h o w I g u e s s t h a t ' s a s n a k e s d i g e s t w h a t e v e r , b u t I w a s s u r p r i s e d a t h o w d e f o r m e d t h a t p e r s o n ' s h a n d w a s a n d h o w m u c h o f t h e i r h a n d h a d b e e n l o s t b e c a u s e o f t h e p o i s o n i n s i g n i a s t h a t t y p e o f p o i s o n t h a t d i s i n t e g r a t e s u s k n o w . D i s i n t e g r a t e t h r o u g h t h e p e r s o n i s a n a n d w h i l e a l l t h a t t h e y h a d t h e i r p o t e n t i a l a n d N A T O i n t h e i r d e s i r e a n d y o u k n o w , m a y b e t h a t ' s w h y s o m e p e o p l e d o t h e t e r r i b l e a c c i d e n t . T h e y k n o w t h a t i n d i v i d u a l w h o k i l l e d t h e t h a t s o y o u n g w o m a n ' s w e e k , a n o t h e r i n d i v i d u a l h a d s h o t s o m e o n e e l s e ' s . H o w c a n p e o p l e j u s t d i s i n t e g r a t e i n t h e i r c h a r a c t e r t o p e r f o r m c e r t a i n t h i n g s l i k e t h a t . A n d w h e n e v e r w e t h i n k o f i t i n t h a t c o n t e x t , t h e s a m e d i s i n t e g r a t e s t h e c h a r a c t e r w h e n t h a t c h a r a c t e r i s d i s i n t e g r a t e d . W h a t a r e t h e y c a p a b l e o f d o i n g a n d a r e r i g h t I b e e n i n a n d o u t o f d i s i n t e g r a t i n g p a t t e r n o f o f o f o f . S o m e t i m e s i t i s e v e n m e n t a l i l l n e s s t h a t t h a t t h e c h e m i c a l i m b a l a n c e s a n d s o m e t i m e s i t i s t h e d i s i n t e g r a t i o n o f t h e p o i s o n t h a t t h a t i s t h a t w e n e v e r f i n d f o r g i v e n e s s f r o m h e r n e v e r a c c e p t t h e f o r g i v e n e s s y e l l . W e c a n e v e n a s C h r i s t i a n s w e c a n k n o w t h a t w e r e f o r g i v e n t h e m k n o w t h a t G o d f o r g i v e s u s a n d s t i l l n o t a l o t a b o u t f o r g i v e n e s s w h e n w e c a n d o t h e s a m e t h i n g . F o r g i v e n e s s i s l e t t i n g G o d t a k e c a r e o f t h e p a s t a n d t h e r e a r e c e r t a i n c o n s e q u e n c e s t o o u r a c t i o n s t h a t w e h a v e t o l i v e w i t h n o f i v e d i d s o m e t h i n g t h a t c a u s e d m e t o l o s e m y a r m w h e n I r i s e o f s k i d b e c a u s e o f s o m e a c t i v i t y d o e s n ' t m e a n t h a t n o w t h a t I ' m f o r g i v e n a g r o w n a r m b a c k . I s t i l l l a s t e d . I s t i l l l i v e w i t h t h a t i n m y l i f e , b u t G o d h a s a w a y o f g i v i n g m e s t r e n g t h t h r o u g h G o d ' s w a y o f t a k i n g a n d r e n e w i n g a n d g i v i n g u s l i f e a n d g i v i n g u s h o p e s o . T h i s b e c o m e s l e s s l i k e i t s o i m p o r t a n t t h a t w e h a d e n o u g h t h a t t h e k n o w l e d g e t h a t w e h a d o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h J e s u s R i c e i s c o m p l e t e n o w . G o d g i v e s u s a n e n t i r e l i f e t i m e t o t o c o m e t h r o u g h t h i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g t o c o m e t o t h i s r e v e l a t i o n t o c o m e t o t h e p o i n t o f f o r g i v e n e s s , a n d i t ' s s i m p l e e n o u g h t h a t a c h i l d c a n d o i t . I t ' s , y o u k n o w , b u t y o u w a n t t o m a k e a c o m p l e x b e c a u s e w e t r i e d t o m a k e g o d l i k e g u y s i n a l a u g h t e r a l l u p p i t y , n o t m e w h e r e t h e u l t i m a t e w h a t e v e r y o u k n o w , a n d i n t h e g u y s t r y t o g e t u s u n d e r s t a n d t h a t w a s a l s o u n d e r s t a n d h i m f o r w h o h e i s a n d t h e n w e a r e t o a c c e p t h i m f o r w h o h e h a s h i s c h a r a c t e r s o n a n d h o w t h a t c h a r a c t e r a n d c h a r a c t e r o f G o d i n t e r a c t s w i t h o u r l i f e t o r e s t o r e t h e w h o l e n e s s i n u s t h a t G o d i n t e n d e d f o r s a l e o c c u r s t o t h e i n t e r s e c t i o n o f t h e i m a g i n a t i o n a n d d e s i r e s a r e i n P a u l ' s f a n c y w a y o f s a y i n g y o u t h i n k a b o u t i t , y o u i m a g i n e i t i n a n e w c r e a t e d e s i r e s f o r a n d t h e n y o u f i n d i m p u l s e s t o f o o d t o a c t u p o n m a n y e v e n o f v e r s e s e i g h t e e n a n d n i n e t e e n o f c h a p t e r f o u r , h a v i n g t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g d a r k e n e d , b e i n g a l i e n a t e d f r o m t h e l i f e o f G o d t h r o u g h t h e i g n o r a n c e t h a t i s w i t h i n t h a t i s i n t h e m b e c a u s e o f t h e b l i n d n e s s o f t h e i r h e a r t . I t ' s l i k e t h e r e ' s t h i s b l i n d n e s s t h a t p e o p l e h a v e , t o t h e g o s p e l o f J e s u s C h r i s t a n d w h o g a v e u s t h e f e e l i n g h a v e g i v e n t h e m s e l v e s o v e r t o a n d t o L e i c e s t e r b u s i n e s s t o w o r k a l l u n c l e a n n e s s w i t h r e a d i n g t h i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g i s d a r k , P a u l r e f e r s t o a m o r a l i n s i d e r p e r c e p t i o n h o w c a n p e o p l e d o t h e t h i n g s I d o h a v e a l l o w e d t h e p o i s o n o f t h e i r s i n t o d i s i n t e g r a t e a n d b e g i n t o b l i n d t h e m t o a n y w a y o u t f r o m w h o t h e y a r e a s a p e r s o n a n d a n d w h a t t h e y h a v e d o n e t h a t a n d w e g o o n , w e f i n d i t g o i n g t o g o t h e l a s t s e c t i o n h e r e f o r t h e w a g e s o f s i n i s d e a t h , b u t t h e g i f t o f G o d i s e t e r n a l l i f e . W e e a r n e d t h e r i g h t t o g o t o h e l l t h a t t h e w a g e s o f s i n t h a t w e a r e i n t h e r i g h t , j u s t l i k e a p a y c h e c k w e h e a r d w e a r e i n t h e r i g h t f o r s e p a r a t i o n . W e a r e b y o u r b e h a v i o r b y o u r a c t i o n s b y o u r t h o u g h t s , b y o u r d e e d s . W e e a r n e d t h e r i g h t w a g e s o f s i n , b u t w e g e t t h e m . T h e g i f t o f G o d , a n d t h a t ' s w h a t m a k e s s a l v a t i o n , s o , s o d i f f i c u l t s o m e t i m e s b e c a u s e y o u c a n d o a n y t h i n g b u t a c c e p t w h a t G o d h a s d o n e f o r y o u , b u t w e h a v e t o a c c e p t w h a t G o d h a s d o n e f o r u s i f w e d o n ' t a c c e p t w h a t G o d h a s d o n e f o r u s t h a t s a l v a t i o n i s b a s e d u p o n m y w o r k s i n m y e f f o r t s , a n d i f m y w o r k s i n m y e f f o r t s t o g e t m e i n t o h e a v e n , t h e n w h y d i d I n e e d t h a t . W h y d i d J e s u s n e e d t o d i e . J e s u s d i e d s o t h a t o u r s i n s c o u l d b e f o r g i v e n h o m e . T h i s c o u l d b e r e s t o r e d t o u s t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d c a n b e r e s t o r e d t h a t w e c a n h a v e a r i g h t r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d , a n d t h a t i t i s t h e r e f o r e a n e t e r n i t y a n d w e a l l o u r k n o w l e d g e o f o u r L o r d a n d S a v i o r J e s u s r i g h t t h e n a n d i n s t e a d i s , l i k e a q u i c k f i x , w h i l e i f w e e v e n t h e d r e a m t o b e l i k e G o d , a n d h a v e k n o w l e d g e g o b b l e s u p a g a i n s t t h e k n o w l e d g e w a s a g a i n s t t h e w a y t h e y o b t a i n e d s a l t . L i v e s i n G o d i s n o t i n m a y b e a g a i n s t w h a t d e s i r e s , r e h a b , b u t h o w a r e w e g o i n g t o a t t a i n t h i s b a c k t o t h e a t t i t u d e h e a r t d o e s n ' t p r o m o t e t h e w h o l e n e s s o f G o d i n o u r l i f e . N o w i f w e g o o n a n d c o n t i n u e t h e c o n c l u s i o n , l e t u s h e a r t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e w h o l e m a t t e r . L e t u s h e a r t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e w h o l e m a t t e r , f e a r G o d a n d k e e p h i s c o m m a n d m e n t s . T h i s i s t h e w h o l e d u t y o f m a n . T h e r e i s a r e v e r e n t i a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g , r e s p e c t , h o n o r , f o r G o d . F e a r G o d i s n o t l i k e I ' m t e r r i f i e d o f h i m . I b e t t e r g e t m o r n i n g o f t h e n o l o v e . G o d u n d e r s t a n d t h e w h o l e m a t t e r i s t h i s f e a r G o d a n d k e e p h i s c o m m a n d s . W h i l e h i s c o m m a n d , s a y t o u s . H i s c o m m a n d s f r o m t a x o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h h i m a n d p r o t e c t o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h o t h e r s . T h a t ' s w h a t G o d c o m m a n d s d o t h e y p r o t e c t u s . T h e y h o l d t h e i n t e g r i t y o f t h e h o l i n e s s o f t h e p e r s o n a n d h a l t t h e i n t e g r i t y o f t h e w h o l e l i s t t o g e t h e r . S o w h e n I h a v e t h a t h o m e l e s s i n m y l i f e , I f i n d f u l f i l l m e n t k n o w i n g t h a t G o d h a s a p u r p o s e o f t h e p l a n . G o d i s w o r k i n g h i s p u r p o s e a n d h i s p l a n a n d I ' m g a i n i n g k n o w l e d g e o f G o d , b u t I ' m n o t c e r t a i n I ' m g a i n i n g k n o w l e d g e o f G o d w o r k i n m y l i f e b u t I ' m n o t r e v e r t i n g t o t h e 1 0 K S h a r o n p r e s s u r e f r o m m y s e l f f r o m o t h e r s . J o b o r a s A d a m a n d E v e i n t h e g a r d e n . S a t a n , I ' m n o t r e v e r t i n g t o t h a t p l a c e w h e r e G o d r e a l l y s a i d I d o n ' t d o u b t w h a t G o d i s s e n d i n g . I j u s t d o n ' t u n d e r s t a n d t h a t s t i l l b u t I d o n ' t b e l i e v e w h a t y o u g u y s a r e t e l l i n g m e , a n d t h e n s a d p a r t a b o u t i t i s f o r g o t s o m e t h i n g e v e r y w o r k i n t o j u d g m e n t w i t h e v e r y s e c r e t t h i n g w h e t h e r i t b e g o o d o r w h e t h e r p e o p l e . T h e s a d t h i n g i s t h a t e v e r y t h o u g h t e v e r y t h i n g i s g o i n g t o b e b r o u g h t i n t o j u d g m e n t , a n d t h o s e w h o d o n o t h a v e w i s e t h e y w e r e g o i n g t o f i n d j u d g m e n t a n d e t e r n a l s e p a r a t i o n f r o m G o d . A n d t h i s i s t h e s a m e a t h i m a n d t h e g u y t e l l i n g t h e s t o r y a b o u t t h i s h e s a i d w h e n e v e r w e a p p r o a c h e t e r n i t y . I w o u l d l i k e t h i s w h e n w e a r e w e a p p r o a c h i n g e t e r n i t y w i t h r a d a r t r a i l e r l o a d s o f s t u f f a w a y b r i g h t n e s s l a w l e s s s t o p l i g h t , m y l i f e w h e r e d r a g g i n g a l o n g i s o u r g r e a t e s t t i m e a n d n o t a l l e g e a l o o k a t t h i s l i s t o f a l l t h e s t u f f I ' v e d o n e o k a y a n d s o w i l l G o d s a y s , o k a y , f i n e . W o u l d y o u p a s s t h r o u g h t h e f i r e a n d y o u ' r e g o i n g t o t h i s r o o m a n d I t h i s i s j u s t m y b i g g o o d s , n o t l i b e r a l s , n o t i n t h e B i b l e t h e r e i s a r u l e w h e r e w e g e t t h i s n o w t h e r e ' s n o t r o o m i n t h e B i b l e s a y s t h a t ' s o k a y i s m y p i c t u r e , b u t I j u s t g i v e y o u a w o r d p i c t u r e . T h e w i n d h a u l e d t h e s t u f f i n t h e r o o m a n d t h e r e w e a r e s t a n d w i t h o u r g u y s a n d t h e H o l y S p i r i t , t h e f i r e o f t h e s p i r i t c o m e s i n . R e m e m b e r , t h e o n l y t h i n g t h a t p a s s e s t h r o u g h i s w h a t w e ' v e d o n e f o r C h r i s t . S o i n J e s u s C h r i s t a n d a l l w e ' v e e v e r d o n e i s g i v e o u r h e a r t s t o h i m , t h e n a l l t h a t s t u f f g o e s , b u t e v e r y w e ' v e d o n e f o r C h r i s t c a n t a k e w i t h u s a n d w i l l b e r e w a r d e d f o r a n y t h i n g . W e t h e n w e d o n ' t h a v e t o b e i n m i n i s t r y a s i n p a s t o r i n g o u r m i s s i o n a r i e s o r w h a t e v e r o u r l i f e i s a l i f e o f s e r v i c e t o G o d b e c a u s e h e h a s m a d e u s w h o l e . T h e w h o l e n e s s o f G o d i s i n t h e p e r s o n a n d t h e n t h a t h o l i n e s s h a s i n t h e f a c t u p o n o u r t o u c h i n g p e o p l e ' s l i v e s a n d o u r f a m i l i e s , o u r f r i e n d s , a n d i n e v e r y t h i n g f r o m t h e r e o n o u t , a n d e v e r y p e r s o n w e ' v e i n f l u e n c e d f o r C h r i s t t h a t g o e s e v e r y p e r s o n t h a t i s c o n d e s c e n d i n g k n o w l e d g e o f J e s u s C h r i s t . E v e r y p e r s o n h a s b e e n i n f l u e n c e d t w e n t y y e a r s a g o f r o m w h a t y o u s a i d t w e n t y y e a r s a g o . T h e y m e t e c h o t h a t m a k e s i t a n o f w i t h y e a r s a r e n o w d i s e a s e s a n d c h u r c h s e r v i c e s . L e a r n i n g t h a t e v e r y S u n d a y m o r n i n g , e v e r y S u n d a y m o r n i n g i s a c h u r c h i n E l S a l v a d o r t u r n s o n t h e l i g h t s p u t o n t h e f a n s b e c a u s e o f y o u t h i n k a b o u t e v e r y S u n d a y m o r n i n g c o m i n g . W e n e v e r t h i n k o f a n i t e m o n w h y t h o u g h t o v e r t h i s m o r n i n g t h a t e v e r y S u n d a y m o r n i n g . T h e r e ' s a c h u r c h i n E l S a l v a d o r t u r n s o n t h e f a n s t u r n e d o n t h e l i g h t a n d p u t s o n t h e P A s y s t e m s o t h a t t h e y c a n h a v e c h u r c h b e c a u s e o f t h i s c o n g r e g a t i o n , p u t t i n g m o n e y i n t h e o f f e r i n g . W e s e n d i n c i d e n t a n d p o i n t i n g a b o x . Y o u k n o w e l e c t r i c a l b o x i n t h e c h u r c h a n d s t i l l w h a t e f f e c t d o e s t h a t h a v e o n e o f f e r i n g o n e t h o u s a n d d o l l a r s o r t w e l v e h u n d r e d d o l l a r s o r e i g h t h u n d r e d d o l l a r s . I r e m e m b e r t h a t w e g a v e h a s t h e m e a n i n g w i l l r e c e i v e a b l o o d f o r t h a t i n o u r l i f e a n d i n t h e c o u n t r y i n t e r v i e w i n g e v e r y o n e t h o u g h t a b o u t i t , w e w o n ' t h a v e t o r e m i n d b o t t o m c o v e r i n g u p s o d o i n g t h e w o r k w e d o p l a y e n a b l i n g u s t o h a v e a l i f e t h a t e n a b l e s u s t o t i e a g a i n s t t h e G o d h a s a n e f f e c t o n o u r l i f e a n d o u r r e w a r d i n h e a v e n s m a l l e r d o e s n ' t m a t t e r t h e a m o u n t m a t t e r s a m o u n t t h a t w e g i v e y o u s o a n d o f c o u r s e t h e f i n a l , b u t t h e f e a r f u l , t h e u n b e l i e v i n g , a b o m i n a b l e , m u r d e r e r s a n d w h o r e m o n g e r s a n d s o r c e r e r s a n d i d o l a t e r s , a n d a l l l i a r s s h a l l h a v e t h e i r p a r t , t h e l a k e w h i c h b u r n s w i t h f i r e a n d b r i m s t o n e , w h i c h i s t h e s e c o n d . T h a t ' s t h e s a d d e s t t h i n g . D o n ' t I h e a r p e o p l e s a y I ' m n o t a f r a i d t o d i e . I t ' s n o t d y i n g . W e n e e d t o w o r r y a b o u t t h e s e c o n d n o w t h e s e c o n d d e a t h i s t h e d e a t h t h a t s e p a r a t e s u s f r o m G o d . T h a t ' s t h e d e a t h w e h a v e n o p a r t a s p r i c e i s a c t u a l l y a n d w h e n J e s u s s p e a k s o u t t h a t i n h e l l s p e a k s l i m i t e d i n t h e s e n s e o f t h e r e t h i s t h e r e w a s t h i s g a r b a g e d u m p o u t s i d e o f J e r u s a l e m t h a t e v e r y b o d y t h r o u g h e v e r y t h i n g o n a n d b u r n e d a l l t h e t i m e a n d e n d . T h a t w a s t h e o t h e r , l i k e m e b e i n g i n c i n e r a t e d . T h a t j u s t g o e s o n c o n s t a n t t h a t w a s t h a t p i c t u r e t h a t p e o p l e w o u l d d i d J e s u s w a s s a y i n g . T h a t ' s w h a t h e l l i s l i k e a n e t e r n a l t o r m e n t o f d e a t h , i t n e v e r g o e s a w a y . A n d t h e s a d t h i n g i s , p e o p l e h a v e w h o l e n e s s . T h e y h a v e e v e r y t h i n g t h e y n e e d t o f i n d w h o l e n e s s i n t h e i r l i f e w h e n t h e y k n o w J e s u s t o r e j e c t h i m i s t h e f i n e e m p t i n e s s a n d t h e d e c a y c o m e s f r o m t h e p o i s o n o f s i n , b u t j u s t t a k e s a w a y a l l o f t h e g o o d i n a l l t h a t t h e t i s s u e o f l i f e . I t j u s t d i s i n t e g r a t e s , w h a t t h e p e r s o n c o u l d b e n o , d o n ' t I w e r e t a l k i n g t h i s m o r n i n g a b o u t s o m e o n e . S h o t a r e l a t i v e a n d j u s t w o n d e r h o w c o u l d t h a t p e r s o n d i s i n t e g r a t e t o s u c h a p o i n t t o t a k e a n o t h e r p e r s o n ' s l i f e o r t h e p e r s o n t h i s w e e k e n d . T h e b i n g e o n S u n d a y k i l l e d t h a t o t h e r w a n t t o t e l l t h a t y o u n g w o m a n . H o w c o u l d t h e y d i s i n t e g r a t e t o t h a t t y p e o f a n i n d i v i d u a l l o n g - t e r m e f f e c t s o f s i n a n d p o i s o n p o i s o n s t h e m i n d b e h i n d t h e e y e s . T h e v i s i o n w h a t t h e y c a n b e s o g r e a t t h i n g a b o u t i t i s . J e s u s i s t h e a n t i - v e n o m . J e s u s i s t h e s a l v a t i o n t h a t s a v e s o u r s o u l r e s t o r e s w h o l e n e s s g i v e s u s b a c k t o l i f e g i v e s u s g i v e s u s e t e r n a l l i f e g i v e s u s h o p e a n d g i v e s u s a l l t h i s i n o u r l i f e s o s o o n b r e a k i n g o f a r e l a t i o n s h i p w i l l t a k e y o u w h e r e y o u d o n ' t w a n t t o g o , k e e p y o u l o n g e r t h a n y o u w a n t t o s t a y a n d c o s t y o u m o r e t h a n y o u e v e r w a n t e d t o p a y , b u t w e h a v e s a l v a t i o n w h i c h b r e a k s t h e p o w e r o f c a n c e l e d s i n a n d s e t s t h e p r i s o n e r f r e e s a l v a t i o n g i v e s u s h o p e i n t h i s l i f e a n d i n t h e l i f e , s a l v a t i o n i s a r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d t h a t G o d i n t e n d e d . F r o m t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g . H e c r e a t e d u s f o r t h a t . S o a l l o w t h a t r e l a t i o n s h i p a l l o w t h e w o r d o f G o d t o c o m e t o g e t h e r i n o u r l i f e t o m a k e u s w h o l e . P u t b a c k w h a t w a s l o s t i n t h e f a l l a n d g i v e s u s h o p e i n t h i s l i f e i s w h y b e c o m e a m a n i n t h e h a r d w a r e o n S e n n h e i s e r c o m i n g t o g e t h e r w i t h a c o n c l u s i o n t h a t w a s , t h a t w o u l d h e l p u s r i g h t n o w . S o u t h w a n t e d t h a n k y o u t h a t s i n h a s l o t s o f t h e f a c t t h a t a l o t o f t h e p o w e r t o t o c o n t r o l o u r l i v e s , s o w e d o n o t l i v e i n f e a r . W e l i v e i n h o p e . W e w e n t o n a n y u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f y o u r p r o m i s e o f y o u r w o r d o f y o u r s t r e n g t h . B l e s s u s o f G o d . W e m i g h t c o n t i n u e t o b e b l e s s i n g s f o r y o u . I n J e s u s n a m e w e p r a y e v e r y b o d y f e d a n d r e a d t h a t w i t h a l i t t l e T h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f s i n a n d t h e e x c i t i n g a n d q u i t e a n i n t e r e s t i n g l e s s o n . S o , w i l l b e g i n w i t h p r a y e r . F a t h e r t h a n k y o u f o r b l e s s i n g t h i s d a y i n G o d f o r y o u r w o r d t h a t i s a l i k e t o o u r p a t h a n d I p r a y G o d y o u h e l p ? u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h a t w h i c h i s r i g h t a n d i n y o u r s i g h t , s o b l e s s u s n o w , L o r d , a n d g u i d e u s . W e a s k i n J e s u s K s u p c o n s e q u e n c e s a s s u m e t h e k e y v e r s e i s i n R o m a n s c h a p t e r s i x v e r s e t w e n t y t h r e e . T h e w a g e s o f s i n i s d e a t h , b u t t h e g i f t o f G o d i s e t e r n a l l i f e t h r o u g h J e s u s C h r i s t o u r L o r d . T h e c e n t r a l t r u t h . S i n b r i n g s t e r r i b l e c o n s e q u e n c e s . S o w h e n e v e r w e t h i n k o f s i n a n d b e i n g a l l s o m e p e o p l e p r o n o u n c e i t a s w a s f e e l i n g C N N a n d n o t m a k i n g f u n , b u t s o m e i n t h e o f s i n , i s a b r e a k i n g o f a r e l a t i o n s h i p a n d s o m e t i m e s w e t h i n k o f w h i l e S a n i s a d u l t e r y o r s t e a l i n g o r b e a r i n g f a l s e w i t n e s s t h e t e n c o m m i t m e n t s a n d b e l l s a r e c o r r e c t , b u t e a c h o f t h o s e c o m m a n d m e n t s d e a l w i t h b r e a k i n g a r e l a t i o n s h i p b r e a k i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d o r b r e a k i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h o t h e r s . S o s e n d i n t h e a u t h o r m a n y t i m e s S i g r i d a s a c t s i n a l l t h i n g s t h a t a r e d o n e , b u t i n r e a l i t y , t h o s e t h i n g s t h a t a r e d o n e h a p p e n e d b e c a u s e o f t h i n k t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p h a v e s o m e t h i n g h a s g o n e w r o n g i n t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p . L i k e i f t h i n g s a r r i v e d i n a r e l a t i o n s h i p . W e d o n ' t w r i t e i t o r f o r t h a t w i t h i n . I g u e s s y o u w i l l b e t h e s a m e w e h a v e a d d e d h e r n a m e i n t h e g a r d e n . T h e y h a v e e v e r y t h i n g r i g h t i n t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p a n d b r o k e n . T h a t ' s t h e t e m p t a t i o n , t h e t e m p t a t i o n w o u l d b e t o b r e a k t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p a n d t h e t e m p t a t i o n t h a t w e f i n d w i t h o u t a n i m e i s t h a t t h e y a r e b a s e d a n d i t w a s i t w a s i n t e r e s t i n g w i l l g e t t o w i l l t h a t b u t i t w a s i n t e r e s t i n g h o w t h a t t h a t i t w a s n ' t t h a t G o d d i d n ' t w a n t t h e m t o h a v e t h e k n o w l e d g e o f g o o d a n d e v i l . H e d i d n ' t w a n t t h e m t o h a v e t h e k n o w l e d g e o f g o o d a n d e v i l w h e n i t b r o k e t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b r o u g h t a b o u t t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s t o t h a t k n o w l e d g e . O k a y , i t ' s l i k e w h i l e w e w e r e i n W e l l e s l e y ' s w e r e o v e r t h a t t e r m l i g h t l y , a s w e r e o l d e r . R e a d w e w e s e e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f p e o p l e ' s s i n s , s u c h a s d r u g a d d i c t i o n , s o w e s e e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f t h a t n o w w h a t w e r e s a y i n g t o o u r c h i l d r e n i s d o n ' t u s e d r u g s . W h y , b e c a u s e t h e r e ' s a c o n s e q u e n c e t o t h o s e a c t i o n s , b u t w h e n t h e y b e c o m e a d r u g a t a i f t h e y b e c o m e a d r u g a d d i c t t o e x p e r i e n c e t h a t a d d i c t i o n . W e f i n d t h a t t h a t ' s n o t l a t e m a y e n t e r t h a t k n o w l e d g e t h e w r o n g w a y . O k a y , s o , w h e n G o d i s g i v i n g u s t h e k n o w l e d g e o f g o o d a n d e v i l . I t i s n ' t a n i d e o l o g y i s a l i k e l y s t r i k e t o s h e l t e r u s f r o m t h i n g s , y e l l , a n d t h i s i s w h e r e I s o m e t i m e s i n d i v i d u a l s w a n t t o s h e l t e r t h e i r c h i l d r e n a n d s o t h e y w o n ' t l e t t h e m g o t o n o w w h y d o n ' t t h e s c h o o l o r w h e r e v e r . A n d a g a i n , i t d e p e n d s o n t h e s c h o o l s y s t e m d e p e n d s ( d e p e n d s o n i t . A l o t o f l o t o f v a r i a b l e s o l v e r s . T h e r e ' s n o w i l d n o r i g h t . I ' m n o t a s y o u n g S a m a g a i n s t s o m e t h i n g , b u t t h e i d e a i s w e w e n e e d t o k n o w t h a t w e c a n h i r e o u r o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h J e s u s C h r i s t i s s e c u r e e n o u g h t o k e e p u s i n t h e m o s t d i f f i c u l t o f p l a c e s , b u t i t i s g o i n g t o t h o s e d i f f i c u l t p l a c e s p u t s u s i n t h e i n t h e p l a c e w e r e w e a r e b r e a k i n g o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d , a n d o b v i o u s l y t h a t ' s n o t w h a t G o d h a d i n m i n d w i t h w i t h t h e g a r d e n a n d w i t h t h e t r y i n g t o k e e p t h e m t o A v e n u e f r o m t h e k n o w l e d g e o f g o o d a n d e v i l , a c h a r a c t e r t h a t w o u l d a g a i n s e n d w e l l s e n d w h i l e t a k i n g m y w a n t i n g o u t , s o o n w i l l t a k e y o u o n e w a y d o n ' t w a n t t o g o w i t h t h a t k i n k y l o n g a s a n y o n e t o s a y a n d c o s t y o u m o r e t h a n y o u w a n t t o p a y s o a n d i n s o c e r t a i n i s t h a t a s a A L m o s t t h e t i m e s a y s s o i s a n a d d i c t i v e b e h a v i o r t h a t c a u s e s u s t o l o s e p e r s p e c t i v e o f w h o w e a r e a n d w h a t w e r e t h e r e f o r e , N a s i r i s a s a d e c a y i n g o n t h e p e r s o n y o u h e l p m e l o o k a t i n o u r s o c i e t y . K n o w t h e B i b l e s a y s i n t h e e n d t i m e s , y o u k n o w , p e o p l e w i l l c a l l g o o d e v i l a n d e v i l g o o d , s o w e l o o k a t o u r s o c i e t y a n d a n e w l o o k a t w h a t ' s p r e s e n t e d t h a t t h e l i f e s t y l e o f t h e d e b a u c h e r y i n o u r b e s t t h a t t h i s l i f e s t y l e i s w h e r e i t a l l t h a t i s p r o m i s c u o u s a n d w h a t e v e r a n d w e f i n d t h a t t h a t r e a l l y i s t h e d e c a y i n g o f t h e s o u l . I f t h e d e c a y o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p t h a t t h e d e c a y i n g i n a c a r i n g w a y a b o u t , w h i c h i s g o o d i n u s , a n d s o o n f o r t h r e e d a y s . T h e t h r e e d e s c r i p t o r s t h a t w e f i n d h e r e i n G e n e s i s a n d E p h e s i a n s a n d b a c k t o G e n e s i s , R o m a n s , L u k e M a t t h e w t o R e v e l a t i o n , t h e b u n c h o f G e n e s i s t h r e e e i g h t . T h e n t h e m a n a n d h i s w i f e h e a r d t h e s o u n d o f t h e L o r d G o d a s h e w a s w a l k i n g i n t h e g a r d e n c o o l t h e d a y a n d t h e y h a d f r o m t h e L o r d G o d a m o n g t h e t r e e s o f t h e g a r d e n a n d t h e L o r d G o d s a i d t h e m a n h a s n o w b e c o m e l i k e o n e o f u s , k n o w i n g g o o d a n d e v i l . H e m u s t n o t b e a l l o w e d t o r e a c h o u t h i s h a n d a n d t a k e a l s o f r o m t h e t r e e o f l i f e a n d e a t a n d l i v e f o r e v e r , s o t h e L o r d G o d b a n i s h e d h i m f r o m t h e g a r d e n o f E d e n t o w o r k t h e g r o u n d f r o m w h i c h h e h a d b e e n t a k e n i n E p h e s i a n s c h a p t e r t w o v e r s e t w e l v e . R e m e m b e r t h a t a t t h a t t i m e y o u w e r e s e p a r a t e d f r o m C h r i s t , s e c l u d e d f r o m c i t i z e n s h i p i n I s r a e l a n d f o r e i g n e r s t o t h e c o v e n a n t o f p r o m i s e , w i t h o u t h o p e a n d w i t h o u t G o d i n t h e w o r l d a n d b a c k . G e n e s i s t h r e e s i x t e e n t o t h e w o m a n h e s a i d , I w i l l g r e a t l y i n c r e a s e y o u r p a i n s i n c h i l d b e a r i n g p a i n y o u w i l l g i v e b i r t h t o c h i l d r e n . Y o u r d e s i r e w i l l b e f o r y o u r h u s b a n d , a n d h e w i l l r u l e o v e r y o u . T h e l a t t e r , h e s a i d , b e c a u s e y o u l i s t e n t o y o u r w i f e a n d a t e f r o m t h e t r e e o f I r e c o m m e n d y o u d o , y o u m u s t n o t b e l i m i t e d c u r s e d t h e g r o u n d b e c a u s e o f n e w o p e n w h i l e y o u w o r k i n g o f i t , a n d t h e d a y s o f a l l t h e d a y s o f y o u r l i f e , t h e n R o m a n s c h a p t e r s i x v e r s e t w e n t y t h r e e f o r t h e w a y s o f s i n i s d e a t h , b u t t h e g i f t o f G o d i s e t e r n a l l i f e i n C h r i s t J e s u s o u r L o r d a n d L u k e s i x t e e n t w e n t y t w o . T h e t i m e c a m e w h e n t h e b e g g a r d i e d , a n d t h e a n g e l s c a r r i e d h i m t o A b r a h a m ' s s i d e . T h e r i c h m a n a l s o d i e d a n d w a s b u r i e d i n t h e h o u s e w h e r e h e w a s i n t o r m e n t , h e l o o k e d u p a n d s a w A b r a h a m f a r a w a y w i t h L a z a r u s b y h i s s i d e i n M a t t h e w t w e n t y f i v e t h i r t y f o u r t h e n t h e K i n g w i l l s a y t o t h o s e o n h i s r i g h t , y o u w h o a r e b l e s s e d b y m y f a t h e r t a k e y o u r i n h e r i t a n c e , t h e k i n g d o m p r e p a r e d f o r y o u s i n c e t h e c r e a t i o n o f t h e w o r l d . I n R e v e l a t i o n t w e n t y o n e , h e b u t t h e c o w a r d l y , t h e u n b e l i e v i n g , t h e v i l e m u r d e r e r . T h e s e x u a l l y m o r e . I ' l l i m m o r a l , t h o s e w h o p r a c t i c e m a g i c a r t s , i d o l a t e r s , a n d a l l l i a r s , t h e i r p l a c e w i l l b e t h e f i e r y l a k e o f b u r n i n g s u l f u r . T h i s i s t h e s e c o n d d e a t h . S o , s i n c i t y i s a d e s t r u c t i v e , b e c a m e d e s t r o y i n g f o r e s t s i n o u r l i v e s a n d o u r l i v e s i n o u r n a t u r e , a n d o n l y t h r o u g h t h e b l o o d o f J e s u s C h r i s t a n d w h a t C h r i s t i s d o n e f o r u s . W i l l t h i s b e t a k e n f r o m u s a r e r e m o v e d f r o m . I l i k e N o a h i n t h e g a r d e n i n t h e g a r d e n . W e h a v e h a d a n e v e n a n d w e h a v e t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f s i n . W e w e h a v e a l l o k a y w h a t w e l o s t i n t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d w h e n w e l o s t t h a t r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d i n r e g a r d w i l l b e l o s t c o m m u n i o n w i t h G o d a l l w h a t w e l o s t . W e l o s t c o m m u n i o n w e d i e p h y s i c a l l y a n d s p i r i t u a l l y , a n d i n t h i s d y i n g o u t b e c a u s e G o d i n t e n d e d f o r u s t o t o b e w i t h h i m f o r e t e r n i t y . T h e t r i m t h e t r e e o f l i f e t h a t w a s i n t h e g a r d e n . W e s e e i t i n t h e b o o k o f R e v e l a t i o n i n t h e e n d i n t h e h a b i t s a w i t , i t d o e s n ' t a l w a y s s t r e s s p l a n a n d I g o t u p a n d g o t t r a n s p l a n t e d t r a n s p l a n t e d f r o m f r o m t h e g a r d e n i n g i n t o h e a v e n . S o t h e i n t e n t i o n , t h e n w a s n o t t h a t m a n s h o u l d b e a l l w i t h o u t k n o w l e d g e , a n d b e c a u s e i t w a s t h a t t h e i n t e n t i o n w a s t h a t t h e y w o u l d n o t f i n d o r c o m e t o t h i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f s i n b y e x p e r i e n c i n g i t a n d b e i n g s e p a r a t e d f r o m G o d . W h a t w e l o s t i n t h e g a r d e n . W e r e g a i n e d a c r o s s w h e n J e s u s d i e d f o r o u r s i n s , h e d i e , S a u l , t h a t w e m i g h t h a v e t h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p r e s t o r e d . S o w e h a v e t h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p r e s t o r e d w i t h C h r i s t J e s u s r o s e f r o m t h e d e a d p h y s i c a l l y , s o t h e r e w i l l b e a w h e n e v e r w e r i s e f r o m t h e d e a d , a n d i n t h e e n d o f t i m e w h e n t h e t r o u b l e g o t s o s o u n d t h a t i n C h r i s t s h a l l r i s e , a n d a l l w h i c h a r e l i v e a n d r e m a i n s h a l l b e c a u g h t u p t o m e e t t h e m i n t h e a i r . W e a r e b e c a u s e J e s u s R o s e n , t h e d e a d p h y s i c a l l y . T h a t ' s w h y i t ' s s o i m p o r t a n t t h a t w e u n d e r s t a n d t h a t i t d o i t , t h e r e s u r r e c t i o n o f J e s u s C h r i s t . H e i s a r e s u r r e c t i o n . T h e f i r s t f r u i t s o f t h e m t h a t s l e p t . M e a n i n g h e c o u l d b e b y h i s r e s u r r e c t i o n , w e t o o s h a l l r i s e , a n d o f c o u r s e s p i r i t u a l l y w e d i e s p i r i t u a l l y t o G o d , b u t s a l v a t i o n i s t h r o u g h t h e b l o o d d e s c r i b e , s o J e s u s C h r i s t i s t h e L a m b o f G o d w h o t o o k a w a y t h e s i n s o f t h e w o r l d . S o w h e n J e s u s d i e d o n t h e c r o s s p a i d t h e p u r c h a s e b a c k e v e r y t h i n g t h a t w e l o s t i n t h e g a r d e n s o w a s n ' t G o d ' s i n t e n t t h a t w e f a i l i t w a s G o d ' s i n t e n t t h a t w e s p e n d a n e t e r n i t y w i t h h i m . N o w t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f s i n a r e d e s t r u c t i v e . T h e y a r e e t e r n a l , j u s t l i k e t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f s a l v a t i o n . O u r e t e r n a l l i f e . T h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f s a i d i s s e p a r a t i o n a n d I t h i n k I ' m w h e n w e t h i n k o f o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e h o l y i l l w e b e h o l y i s t h e L o r d ' s s i n g l e s o n g s , a n d s o o n . W h a t w e a r e t o l i v e a l i f e t h a t i s h o l y t o G o d , b u t h o l y i s a l s o h o m e l e s s s o w e h a v e a w h o l e n e s s i n o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d . T h e w h o l e n e s s t h a t w e h a v e i n h o n e s t i s t h a t t h e p e r s o n t h a t G o d c r e a t e d u s t o b e w h i l e y o u w e r e g e t t i n g t h e i r m o t h e r s w h o m h e k n e w w a s i n f o r m e d u s h e p u t w i t h i n u s t h e s e e d s o f w h o w e a r e t h e p e r s o n o u r t a l e n t s o r a b i l i t i e s . A l l I s t u f f i s p l a n t e d i n t h e i r a t t e n d a n t a n d l i k e C r a i g t h a n o n t h e s a u c e t o o l o n g . I e n o u g h o f m y d o i n g i t . Y e s , J e n n i f e r t h e n h i l a r i o u s . S o a n y h o w , h o l i n e s s i s w h o l e n e s s . W e d o n ' t h a v e o n e o f r e c o g n i t i o n . A n y t h i n g b u t t h e o t h e r t h i n g I c a n . S o h o l i n e s s i s a c t u a l l y h o m e l e s s . S o w h e n e v e r w h e n e v e r w e c a n . W e d o n ' t . I w i s h I d o n ' t . Y o u d o n ' t t h i n k o f i t a r e o k a y c o n t e n t . S o m e t i m e s , t h a t w h e n e v e r w e s e n d w i l l a c t u a l l y t a k e a w a y t a k i n g a w a y f r o m o u r o w n p e r s o n a l w h o l e n e s s . T h e p e r s o n w e k n o w w e a r e a t a c o m p l e t e p e r s o n . W e a r e c o m p l e t i n g c r i m e s . N o w , a s w e a r e c o m p l e t e i n h i m , t h e n w e s t a r t h o w t h i s w e s t a r t o u r h a r d o u r w a l k w i t h G o d i n t h a t d e a l . W e a r e . W e a r e h o l d c o m p l e t e w i t h o u t n o t f i n i s h e d w i t h u s . W e d o l i k e t h e l i m i t e d a n d e t e r n i t y l i m i t e d , s o w e a r e i n t h e p r o c e s s . T h e n , o n g a i n i n g o u r k n o w l e d g e , g r o w i n g o u r k n o w l e d g e o f o u r L o r d a n d S a v i o r J e s u s C h r i s t , m y G o d , t h e k n o w l e d g e t h a t h e h a s f o r u s i s n o t t h a t w e h a v e t o e x p e r i e n c e e v e r y t h i n g . I d o n ' t h a v e t o e x p e r i e n c e a d d i c t i o n t o u n d e r s t a n d a d d i c t i o n . S o , j u s t a s i n t h e g a r d e n . I t w a s G o d ' s d e s i r e f o r a m a n t o u n d e r s t a n d a n d c o m e t o a k n o w l e d g e t o b e c o m e l i k e u s . B u t h e d i d n ' t w a n t t h e k n o w l e d g e t o c o m e t h e w a y t h e y d i d , w h y b r e a k i n g o f h i s c o m m a n d . T h e b r e a k i n g o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p i t s e l f i n o u r l i v e s , s i n f u l b e h a v i o r e n d s u p b r e a k i n g o u r w h o l e n e s s w i t h G o d . I t g i v e s u s k n o w l e d g e , b u t i n k n o w l e d g e t h a t t h e M s . J a n e , j u s t l i k e i t w a s i n t h e g a r d e n a n d a n l e s s o n . I t t a l k s a b o u t h o w t h a t s o m e t i m e s w e i s o l a t e i n m y m i n d . I ' v e d o n e t h i s . I i s o l a t e d t h e g a r d e n , y o u k n o w , t h e s a m e y e a r t h e y a r e t h e r e i n t h e g a r d e n o f E d e n m a n i s t h e r e m a n , w o m a n t h e r a p y a t t h e s e r p e n t a n d n o w t h e s e r p e n t c o m e s i n t e n s e a n d s o o n . W e l l , I b e c o m e v e r y t a l k e d a b o u t h o w t h a t i t ' s i t ' s i t ' s i t ' s i t ' s i t ' s a l o t l i k e o u r s o c i e t y . T h e v e g e t a t i o n o f o u r s o c i e t y i s t h a t v i a L a u r e n i s t h e a l l u r i n g H a m a s t o b r e a k t h e c o m m a n d h a v e t o I ' m r e a l l y s a d t h i n g t h a t b e c o m e s t h e q u e s t i o n , d i d G o d r e a l l y m e a n i t t h a t w a y . S o w h a t w i l l b r e a k o u r h o m e . T h i s , i n w h o w e a r e , a r e h o m e l e s s w i t h G o d i s b r o k e n . W h e n e v e r w e s t a r t d o u b t i n g a n d d i d n o t s o u n d i s n o t t h e p r o b l e m i t d o w n w h e n t h e d o g t a k e s w a r m a n d t h e n w h e n t h e d o g t a k e s f o r m a n d i t b e c o m e s a p l o t w h i c h b e c o m e s a n a c t i o n t h a t i t b e c o m e s t h a t m a k e s t h e s a m e a b o u t i s n o t t h e p r o b l e m s a l t . T h e h o l i s t i c G o d h a s f o r u s i s i n o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p , o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d a n d o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h o t h e r s . S o t h e n k n o w l e d g e t h a t w e g a i n i n o u r l i f e a n d t i m e s , n o t b y b r e a k i n g t h e w h o l e n e s s , b u t b y e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p a n d i n t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p c o m e s l i f e a n d t h e n c o m e s t h e p r o m i s e s o f G o d t o h e l p u s g a i n i n s i g h t i n t o w h o G o d i s a n d w h o w e a r e . J o e a n d J o e h a d h i s k n o w l e d g e o f G o d t h a t w a s c h a l l e n g e d b y h i s l i f e e x p e r i e n c e a n d J o b w a s a b l e t o b e c a u s e o f h i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e c h a r a c t e r o f G o d w a s a b l e t o c h a l l e n g e t h e a l l o f t h e a l l o f h i s f r i e n d s . T h e p e e r p r e s s u r e s o f h i s t i m e . T h e e x p e r i e n c e t h a t h e h a d g o n e t h r o u g h t h e l o s s o f h i s f a m i l y . T h e l o s s o f h i s w i f e w h e n h e r e ' s a w o m a n w h o l o s t p l a y e r s , w i l d t w e l v e k i d s d i e d i n w h a t A O C m a d m a n g r a d e n o w . I ' v e b e e n w i t h p e o p l e t h a t y o u n g o f t h e i r c h i l d r e n m i d f i e l d e r o n e o r t w o o t h e r w o m e n k i l l e d w h a t y o u g e t w h e n y o u r w h o l e f a m i l y ' s l i f e t h a t c u r s e G o d a n d d i e s u c h o t h e r w o m a n i n s u b u r b a n a n d a l o t o u t o f l i f e n o w I k n o w w e a l l u n d e r s t a n d w h a t i t ' s l i k e n o w t o t h e p r o m i n e n t w o m a n a n d s h e l o s e s e v e r y t h i n g i n s o c i e t y . T h e l i v e s o f t h e i r p l a c e i n s o c i e t y . S h e l o s e s h e r h u s b a n d t o h i s p a i n a n d s o r r o w . S h e l i v e s w i t h h e r w h i l e s h e l o s e s m o s t o f a l l h e r c h i l d r e n a r e s e r m o n s h e r h o u s e . E v e r y t h i n g i s G o d a l a d i e s , h o w d o y o u t h i n k y o u a n d t h e n h o w l i n g o n a x i s . I f y o u a r e J o e t h i n k a b o u t w h a t w o r k e d , w h a t w a s G o d d o i n g g e l d i d n o t r e a s o n r e s o r t t o t h a t o n e . A d a m a n d E v e d i d n o t i c e a n o t h e r o n e o f w i t h o u t a r e l i e v e r i n t h e g a r d e n , a n d t h e r e a t t e m p t e d A d a m o r a r e y o u a l w a y s l i k e t h a t , a n d i f o n e o f m y f a v o r i t e v e r s e s a n d w h e r e a r e y o u l i k e A l l a w i c a n s e e y o u . I r e a l l y o v e r h e a r G o d . A l l I d i d n ' t k n o w w h e r e y o u a r e a t t h e M r s . q u e s t i o n I ' v e s o m e t i m e s I l a y o u t s o m e s o m e t h i n g t h a t t h e y w e r e l i k e t h a t t o o , l i k e r i d i n g s o m e w h e r e i n a l o w l i f e g o i n g o n m o v i n g a g a i n . G o d d o e s n ' t k n o w B a r b a r a . Y o u k n o w , h e d o e s n ' t k n o w w h a t ' s g o i n g o n , G o d i s l o s t h i m a g a i n , a s I r e g a r d . B u t I h a v e m o r e a r e y o u l o w e r n a k e d w h i l e i t w a s n ' t t h e g u y d i d n ' t w a n t t h e m t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e i r t h e i r s e x u a l i t y . A u g u s t v e r y w i r e l e s s i n d i v i d u a l s a n d t h a t t h e y w e r e a m a n a n d a w o m a n h e d i d n ' t k n o w w h a t t h e p r o b l e m . I t w a s t h e p r o b l e m w a s a n d h o w t h e y g a i n t h e k n o w l e d g e t h e y g o t i s n o t a d v a n c e d k n o w l e d g e g o t a g a i n s t G o d i s n o t a g a i n s t n o i c e u n d e r s t a n d i n g a f e w n o t h a v e e x p e r i e n c e i n O t t a w a ' s e x p e r i e n t i a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g , b u t h a v e a u n d e r s t a n d i n g l i f e e v e n t , y o u d o n ' t h a v e t o g o n o t u n d e r s t a n d p e o p l e w h o a r e n o t n e v e r m y w i l l g o t h e r e e i t h e r . O k a y , s o a h a l f i n t h e r i g h t h a l f . I t d i d n ' t l e f t u n d e r s t a n d t h e a p p e a l b e a l i t t l e l o n g e r t h a n t h o s e w h o a r e n o t t h a t o f t h e d a y . H o w d o t h e l a t t e r g o t s a y s o f o u r u n i t y a n d a l w a y s i n v i s i b l e . H o w d o y o u k n o w h o w t o d i d y o u c o m e b y t h i s k n o w l e d g e . H o w d i d y o u c o m e b y t h i s k n o w l e d g e t h a t y o u a r e s e p a r a t e d f r o m t h e w o w , y o u d o n ' t a c t u a l l y t h a t w o m a n y o u m a d e . S h e g a v e m e f r u i t i s a w h i l e i t ' s n o t m y f a u l t i f t h a t s t a r t e d y o u m a y s t i l l u l t i m a t e l y g o e s b a c k t o w h e n G o d b u t i n i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e c u r s e . N o w t h i s i s a b i g f r o m G o d a g r e e m e n t t h a t t h e a g r e e m e n t t h a t w e k n o w w e a g r e e w i t h t h e m b e c a u s e h e c u r s e t h e s e r p e n t , b e c a u s e t h e c i r c u i t , b u t w h a t i t a l s o i m p l i e s i s t h a t e v e n t h a t w e a r e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r o u r d e c i s i o n , e v e n i f t h e y a r e d e c i s i o n s t h a t b r o u g h t a b o u t b y t h e s e r v e r w e r e s t i l l r e s p o n s i b l e f o r m a k i n g t h e c h o i c e s o a d a m a n t h e w i l l w e a r b e c a u s e t h e y b r o k e t h e c o m m a n d m e n t t h e y b r o k e t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d a n d G o d t h e n p r o n o u n c e d t h e j u d g m e n t o n t h e s a l t . T h e p u r p o s e o f s a l v a t i o n , t h e n , i s t o r e s t o r e w h a t w e l o s t i n t h e g u a r d . N o w i f w e g o t o t h e k n e e a n d t h e b o o k w i l l s e e k y o u r m o t h e r t h i n k s s o t h e y w e r e v i c t i m s o f d e c e p t i o n . T h e y b r o k e t h e l a w , t h e G o d h e a d h a d c o m m a n d e d . S i n c r e a t e s b a r r i e r s b y s e p a r a t i n g p e o p l e f r o m t h e m s e l v e s f r o m o n e a n o t h e r a n d f r o m G o d . I t t h a t w e a r e c o m p l e t e i n C h r i s t w h o l e n e s s , h o l y , b u t w h e n s u r g e o n s i n a s e p a r a t e u s f r o m o u r t r u e p o t e n t i a l f r o m o u r G o d - g i v e n r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s a r e G o d - g i v e n p r i v i l e g e s a n d i n c e n t i v e s i n a n e r e c t b a r r i e r s . J e s u s D a l e t h e B a r t l e t t s a y s t h a t h e i s o u r p r o p i t i a t i o n i s t h e o n e w h o b r e a k s d o w n t h e w a l l s o f p e t i t i o n o f t h e p a r t i t i o n s o f t h e I r a q . S o w h e n J e s u s b r e a k s d o w n t h e w a l l s t h a t t h a t t h e b a r r i e r s i s n o t b r e a k i n g d o w n t h e w a l l s . H e c r e a t e d b r e a k i n g d o w n t h e w a l l s a n d w e c r e a t e a p e r s o n c a n b a l a n c e s o s o G o d ' s j u d g m e n t , t h e n , w a s t o e x i l e I s l a n d . E v e n f r o m t h e g a r d e n . H i s e x i l e i s a l w a y s h i s r e d e m p t i v e r e m e m b e r t h a t G o d i s n o t h o w h i s u l t i m a t e g o a l i s n e v e r s e p a r a t e d h i s u l t i m a t e g o a l i s r e s t o r a t i o n . S o w h e n A d a m a n d E v e w e r e d r i v e n f r o m t h e g a r d e n , a n d t h i s i s t h e h o m e o f t h e s t u d y i t s e l f , b u t t h e y w e r e d r i v e n f r o m t h e g a r d e n a n d w h a t w e r e t h e y c l o a k e d i t . A n i m a l s w e d d i n g a g a i n , m o s t l y . G o d h a d p r o v i d e d a s a c r i f i c e i s n o t s t a t e d t h e r e , b u t i t i t ' s l i k e t h a t G o d d i d n ' t d r i v e h i m o u t o f t h e g a r d e n i n t h e i r s i n . G o d , t h e y h a d t o l e a v e t h e g a r d e n b e c a u s e o f t h e i r s i n , b u t G o d p r o v i d e d a s a c r i f i c e t h a t a l l c o m e s l a t e r w i t h M o s e s , s o a n d w e s e e a g a i n t h a t t h e b o o k i n t h e b o o k o f R e v e l a t i o n , t h e t r e e o f l i f e a g a i n i n R e v e l a t i o n a s p a r t o f t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f a l l t h i n g s , G e n e s i s a n d R e v e l a t i o n t w e n t y t w o t w o n o w , a n d a n y s e a s o n s . C h a p t e r t w o v e r s e s o n e t o t h r e e a n d t w e l v e . T h i s i s a n e w h a t a n d y o u h a t h h e q u i c k e n e d , w h o w e r e d e a d i n y o u r t r e s p a s s e s s i n c e a l l , a s w e s e e m t o s e p a r a t i o n a n d H o w a r d G o d h e r e m a i l i n g o u t t o t h e h o t e l a n d P a u l L a n d r y ' s w r i t i n g c h u r c h i n E p h e s u s , a n d h e ' s t a l k i n g t o t h e m a b o u t t h e i r t r e s p a s s e s a n d s i n s , a n y t h i n g h e h a t h h e q u i c k e n e d , w h o w e r e d e a d s o y o u w e r e d e a d . J e s u s m a d e y o u a l i v e y o u w e r e d e a d i n y o u r t r e s p a s s e s a n d s i n s t h a t G o d h a s m a d e y o u a l i v e b e c a u s e h e i s q u i c k a n d w e r e i n t i m e s p a s t t o w a l k a c c o r d i n g t o t h e c o u r s e o f t h i s w o r l d , a c c o r d i n g t h e p r e s e n t o u r b e e r . T h e s p i r i t t h a t n o w m o r e t h a n t h e c h i l d r e n o f d i s o b e d i e n c e . S o t h e r e i s a s p i r i t u a l w o r k s i n p e o p l e w h o a r e s o b e n o w . N o t a l l s i n n e r s , n o t a l l p e o p l e w h o a r e e s t r a n g e d f r o m G o d o r u n d e r i t . A l l a r e i n s p i r e d b y e v i l , t h e m o r e t h i s i s a l l C h r i s t i a n s a r e n o t c o m p l e t e l y i n s p i r e d b y G o d s o a m o n g w h o m a l s o w e a l l h a v e o u r c o n v e r t o u r c o n v e r s a t i o n i n t i m e s p a s t a n d l e s s t h a n o n e / f u l f i l l i n g t h e d e s i r e s o f t h e f l e s h i n t h e e n d o f t h e m i n e w e r e m a d e b y n a t u r e t h e c h i l d r e n o f w r a t h , e v e n a s o t h e r s s o t a l k e d a b o u t h o w t h e s e p a r a t i o n h a s h a s b r o u g h t a b o u t t h i s o n t h e l i f e s t y l e t h a t w e l i v e y e l l o w w h e a t w h e a t . W h e a t w e l i v e d q u i t e t h e l a s t o f o u r m i n d a n d n o t a c c o r d i n g t o c o u r s e o f t h i s w o r l d , a c c o r d i n g t h e P r i n c e o f p o w e r o f t h e a i r , t h e o n e w h o i n s p i r e d e v i l . T h e o n e w h o b r o u g h t a b o u t e v i l w e e k l y f o l l o w t h a t p a t h . B u t G o d h a s c h a n g e d t h i n g s t h a t t h e t i m e w e w e r e w i t h o u t C h r i s t , b e i n g a l i e n s f r o m t h e c o m m o n w e a l t h o f r a i n . I s r a e l s t r a n g e r s f r o m t h e c o v e n a n t o f p r o m i s e , s o t h e s i n s e p a r a t e s u s a r e h o m e l e s s a n d w h o w e a r e a n d s e p a r a t e s u s f r o m t h e c o v e n a n t o f p r o m i s e t h a t t h e a g r e e m e n t t h a t G o d h a s m a d e w i t h a s i n d i v i d u a l s t h a t G o d w a n t s t o b l e s s o u r l i v e s . G o d w a n t s t o r e s t o r e u s b r i n g b r i n g o u t t h e b e s t i n u s . B r i n g o n h i s w o r d i n o u r l i f e s o t h a t w e c a n h a v e a t h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d s o t h a t y o u c a n y o u a n d I c a n b e t h i s p e r s o n t o G o d i n t e n d e d u s t o b e . B u t S a t a n b e c o m e s t h e d e s t r u c t i v e f o r c e . T h e b a r r i e r a n d n e v e r a l l o w t h a t t o h a p p e n t h a t h e l o n g s t o b e g r a c i o u s t o u s t h a t s o w h e n I ' m b r e a k i n g h i s c o m m a n d s . I ' m d o i n g t h i n g s t h a t s t o p s t h a t g r a c i o u s n e s s f r o m w e l l , I t h i n k r i n g s o f G o d . S o w h e n I ' m w h e n I ' m a w a r e o f G o d ' s g r a c e a n d G o d ' s m e r c y . I t e x t e n d s t o m e w h o l e n e s s . S o m e t i m e s w e f e e l i n c o m p l e t e . W h i l e i t i s n ' t b e c a u s e w e d o n ' t h a v e p r i c e . I t h i n k s o m e t i m e s i t ' s b e c a u s e w e k n o w t h a t t h e r e ' s m o r e t o k n o w . A n d a s w e k n o w t h a t t h e r e ' s m o r e t o b e i n g w h o w e a r e o r w e r e a t r i g h t n o w , s o t h a t d e s i r e f o r c o m p l e t e n e s s i s t o g r o w i n t o m a t u r e i n t o d e v e l o p m e n t . T h e t a k e o u r t a l e n t s o r a b i l i t i e s , a n d c o n t i n u e t o w o r k w i t h t h e m a s a s p i r i t s p i r e s a n d b r i n g t h a t i n t o o u r l i f e . S o t h a t t y p e o f s t r i v i n g f o r m o r e i s g o o d . N o , I a m c o m p l e t e i n C h r i s t t h a t I ' m s a y i n g I ' m f o r g i v e n m y n a m e s i n h i s b o o k o f l i f e . S t i l l t h e r e ' s m o r e i n s t a l l e r s ' s c o t t a g e D r i v e d e s i r e , y o u k n o w t h a t w e w o u l d m o v e o n w i t h o u r l i f e a n d t h a t w e g r o w d e a d i n t r e s p a s s e s , t h e t e r m d e a t h h i g h l i g h t s n o t o n l y t h e i r s e p a r a t i o n f r o m G o d , b u t a l s o t h e s e l f - d e s t r u c t i v e a n d d i s i n t e g r a t i n g n a t u r e . T h i s c o n d i t i o n d i s i n t e g r a t i n g n a t u r e t o b e d e a d i s t o b e i n v o l v e d i n a n u n s u s t a i n a b l e w a y o f l i v i n g . J u d g m e n t w a s a m a z i n g i n s o m e I h a d n ' t r e a l i z e d t h i s s a w t h i s o n o n e o f s h o w s y o u ' r e a b l e t o c h a l l e n g e t h e s t r e e t s o m e t h i n g r a t h e r n a t u r e . T h i s p e r s o n w a s b i t t e n b y s n a k e b i t t e n u n d e r h a n d a n a l m o s t b a d n o t h i n g l e f t o f t h e i r h a n d s j u s t j u s t l i t t l e b i t s a n d b o b s o f f i n g e r s s t u c k r e p o r t h a d d i s i n t e g r a t e d t h e b o n e s , m u s c l e s , t h e p o i s o n f r o m t h e s n a k e a n d I f i g u r e d I i s t h e c a n . I k n o w t h a t t h e y a r e y o u r r e n t a s h e r e i n o t h e r w i s e n o w , b u t t h e o n l y g u y t h e r e n o w a n d a g a i n , t h e a n t i - m e n , a n d t h e y d i d t h e w h o l e t h i n g , b u t t h e y a l m o s t l o s t t h e i r e n t i r e b e c a u s e t h e B e n s o n d i s i n t e g r a t e s . I d i d n ' t k n o w , a n d i t ' s a l m o s t l i k e d i g e s t i n g i t a h e a d o f t i m e a n d h o w I g u e s s t h a t ' s a s n a k e s d i g e s t w h a t e v e r , b u t I w a s s u r p r i s e d a t h o w d e f o r m e d t h a t p e r s o n ' s h a n d w a s a n d h o w m u c h o f t h e i r h a n d h a d b e e n l o s t b e c a u s e o f t h e p o i s o n i n s i g n i a s t h a t t y p e o f p o i s o n t h a t d i s i n t e g r a t e s u s k n o w . D i s i n t e g r a t e t h r o u g h t h e p e r s o n i s a n a n d w h i l e a l l t h a t t h e y h a d t h e i r p o t e n t i a l a n d N A T O i n t h e i r d e s i r e a n d y o u k n o w , m a y b e t h a t ' s w h y s o m e p e o p l e d o t h e t e r r i b l e a c c i d e n t . T h e y k n o w t h a t i n d i v i d u a l w h o k i l l e d t h e t h a t s o y o u n g w o m a n ' s w e e k , a n o t h e r i n d i v i d u a l h a d s h o t s o m e o n e e l s e ' s . H o w c a n p e o p l e j u s t d i s i n t e g r a t e i n t h e i r c h a r a c t e r t o p e r f o r m c e r t a i n t h i n g s l i k e t h a t . A n d w h e n e v e r w e t h i n k o f i t i n t h a t c o n t e x t , t h e s a m e d i s i n t e g r a t e s t h e c h a r a c t e r w h e n t h a t c h a r a c t e r i s d i s i n t e g r a t e d . W h a t a r e t h e y c a p a b l e o f d o i n g a n d a r e r i g h t I b e e n i n a n d o u t o f d i s i n t e g r a t i n g p a t t e r n o f o f o f o f . S o m e t i m e s i t i s e v e n m e n t a l i l l n e s s t h a t t h a t t h e c h e m i c a l i m b a l a n c e s a n d s o m e t i m e s i t i s t h e d i s i n t e g r a t i o n o f t h e p o i s o n t h a t t h a t i s t h a t w e n e v e r f i n d f o r g i v e n e s s f r o m h e r n e v e r a c c e p t t h e f o r g i v e n e s s y e l l . W e c a n e v e n a s C h r i s t i a n s w e c a n k n o w t h a t w e r e f o r g i v e n t h e m k n o w t h a t G o d f o r g i v e s u s a n d s t i l l n o t a l o t a b o u t f o r g i v e n e s s w h e n w e c a n d o t h e s a m e t h i n g . F o r g i v e n e s s i s l e t t i n g G o d t a k e c a r e o f t h e p a s t a n d t h e r e a r e c e r t a i n c o n s e q u e n c e s t o o u r a c t i o n s t h a t w e h a v e t o l i v e w i t h n o f i v e d i d s o m e t h i n g t h a t c a u s e d m e t o l o s e m y a r m w h e n I r i s e o f s k i d b e c a u s e o f s o m e a c t i v i t y d o e s n ' t m e a n t h a t n o w t h a t I ' m f o r g i v e n a g r o w n a r m b a c k . I s t i l l l a s t e d . I s t i l l l i v e w i t h t h a t i n m y l i f e , b u t G o d h a s a w a y o f g i v i n g m e s t r e n g t h t h r o u g h G o d ' s w a y o f t a k i n g a n d r e n e w i n g a n d g i v i n g u s l i f e a n d g i v i n g u s h o p e s o . T h i s b e c o m e s l e s s l i k e i t s o i m p o r t a n t t h a t w e h a d e n o u g h t h a t t h e k n o w l e d g e t h a t w e h a d o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h J e s u s R i c e i s c o m p l e t e n o w . G o d g i v e s u s a n e n t i r e l i f e t i m e t o t o c o m e t h r o u g h t h i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g t o c o m e t o t h i s r e v e l a t i o n t o c o m e t o t h e p o i n t o f f o r g i v e n e s s , a n d i t ' s s i m p l e e n o u g h t h a t a c h i l d c a n d o i t . I t ' s , y o u k n o w , b u t y o u w a n t t o m a k e a c o m p l e x b e c a u s e w e t r i e d t o m a k e g o d l i k e g u y s i n a l a u g h t e r a l l u p p i t y , n o t m e w h e r e t h e u l t i m a t e w h a t e v e r y o u k n o w , a n d i n t h e g u y s t r y t o g e t u s u n d e r s t a n d t h a t w a s a l s o u n d e r s t a n d h i m f o r w h o h e i s a n d t h e n w e a r e t o a c c e p t h i m f o r w h o h e h a s h i s c h a r a c t e r s o n a n d h o w t h a t c h a r a c t e r a n d c h a r a c t e r o f G o d i n t e r a c t s w i t h o u r l i f e t o r e s t o r e t h e w h o l e n e s s i n u s t h a t G o d i n t e n d e d f o r s a l e o c c u r s t o t h e i n t e r s e c t i o n o f t h e i m a g i n a t i o n a n d d e s i r e s a r e i n P a u l ' s f a n c y w a y o f s a y i n g y o u t h i n k a b o u t i t , y o u i m a g i n e i t i n a n e w c r e a t e d e s i r e s f o r a n d t h e n y o u f i n d i m p u l s e s t o f o o d t o a c t u p o n m a n y e v e n o f v e r s e s e i g h t e e n a n d n i n e t e e n o f c h a p t e r f o u r , h a v i n g t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g d a r k e n e d , b e i n g a l i e n a t e d f r o m t h e l i f e o f G o d t h r o u g h t h e i g n o r a n c e t h a t i s w i t h i n t h a t i s i n t h e m b e c a u s e o f t h e b l i n d n e s s o f t h e i r h e a r t . I t ' s l i k e t h e r e ' s t h i s b l i n d n e s s t h a t p e o p l e h a v e , t o t h e g o s p e l o f J e s u s C h r i s t a n d w h o g a v e u s t h e f e e l i n g h a v e g i v e n t h e m s e l v e s o v e r t o a n d t o L e i c e s t e r b u s i n e s s t o w o r k a l l u n c l e a n n e s s w i t h r e a d i n g t h i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g i s d a r k , P a u l r e f e r s t o a m o r a l i n s i d e r p e r c e p t i o n h o w c a n p e o p l e d o t h e t h i n g s I d o h a v e a l l o w e d t h e p o i s o n o f t h e i r s i n t o d i s i n t e g r a t e a n d b e g i n t o b l i n d t h e m t o a n y w a y o u t f r o m w h o t h e y a r e a s a p e r s o n a n d a n d w h a t t h e y h a v e d o n e t h a t a n d w e g o o n , w e f i n d i t g o i n g t o g o t h e l a s t s e c t i o n h e r e f o r t h e w a g e s o f s i n i s d e a t h , b u t t h e g i f t o f G o d i s e t e r n a l l i f e . W e e a r n e d t h e r i g h t t o g o t o h e l l t h a t t h e w a g e s o f s i n t h a t w e a r e i n t h e r i g h t , j u s t l i k e a p a y c h e c k w e h e a r d w e a r e i n t h e r i g h t f o r s e p a r a t i o n . W e a r e b y o u r b e h a v i o r b y o u r a c t i o n s b y o u r t h o u g h t s , b y o u r d e e d s . W e e a r n e d t h e r i g h t w a g e s o f s i n , b u t w e g e t t h e m . T h e g i f t o f G o d , a n d t h a t ' s w h a t m a k e s s a l v a t i o n , s o , s o d i f f i c u l t s o m e t i m e s b e c a u s e y o u c a n d o a n y t h i n g b u t a c c e p t w h a t G o d h a s d o n e f o r y o u , b u t w e h a v e t o a c c e p t w h a t G o d h a s d o n e f o r u s i f w e d o n ' t a c c e p t w h a t G o d h a s d o n e f o r u s t h a t s a l v a t i o n i s b a s e d u p o n m y w o r k s i n m y e f f o r t s , a n d i f m y w o r k s i n m y e f f o r t s t o g e t m e i n t o h e a v e n , t h e n w h y d i d I n e e d t h a t . W h y d i d J e s u s n e e d t o d i e . J e s u s d i e d s o t h a t o u r s i n s c o u l d b e f o r g i v e n h o m e . T h i s c o u l d b e r e s t o r e d t o u s t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d c a n b e r e s t o r e d t h a t w e c a n h a v e a r i g h t r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d , a n d t h a t i t i s t h e r e f o r e a n e t e r n i t y a n d w e a l l o u r k n o w l e d g e o f o u r L o r d a n d S a v i o r J e s u s r i g h t t h e n a n d i n s t e a d i s , l i k e a q u i c k f i x , w h i l e i f w e e v e n t h e d r e a m t o b e l i k e G o d , a n d h a v e k n o w l e d g e g o b b l e s u p a g a i n s t t h e k n o w l e d g e w a s a g a i n s t t h e w a y t h e y o b t a i n e d s a l t . L i v e s i n G o d i s n o t i n m a y b e a g a i n s t w h a t d e s i r e s , r e h a b , b u t h o w a r e w e g o i n g t o a t t a i n t h i s b a c k t o t h e a t t i t u d e h e a r t d o e s n ' t p r o m o t e t h e w h o l e n e s s o f G o d i n o u r l i f e . N o w i f w e g o o n a n d c o n t i n u e t h e c o n c l u s i o n , l e t u s h e a r t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e w h o l e m a t t e r . L e t u s h e a r t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e w h o l e m a t t e r , f e a r G o d a n d k e e p h i s c o m m a n d m e n t s . T h i s i s t h e w h o l e d u t y o f m a n . T h e r e i s a r e v e r e n t i a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g , r e s p e c t , h o n o r , f o r G o d . F e a r G o d i s n o t l i k e I ' m t e r r i f i e d o f h i m . I b e t t e r g e t m o r n i n g o f t h e n o l o v e . G o d u n d e r s t a n d t h e w h o l e m a t t e r i s t h i s f e a r G o d a n d k e e p h i s c o m m a n d s . W h i l e h i s c o m m a n d , s a y t o u s . H i s c o m m a n d s f r o m t a x o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h h i m a n d p r o t e c t o u r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h o t h e r s . T h a t ' s w h a t G o d c o m m a n d s d o t h e y p r o t e c t u s . T h e y h o l d t h e i n t e g r i t y o f t h e h o l i n e s s o f t h e p e r s o n a n d h a l t t h e i n t e g r i t y o f t h e w h o l e l i s t t o g e t h e r . S o w h e n I h a v e t h a t h o m e l e s s i n m y l i f e , I f i n d f u l f i l l m e n t k n o w i n g t h a t G o d h a s a p u r p o s e o f t h e p l a n . G o d i s w o r k i n g h i s p u r p o s e a n d h i s p l a n a n d I ' m g a i n i n g k n o w l e d g e o f G o d , b u t I ' m n o t c e r t a i n I ' m g a i n i n g k n o w l e d g e o f G o d w o r k i n m y l i f e b u t I ' m n o t r e v e r t i n g t o t h e 1 0 K S h a r o n p r e s s u r e f r o m m y s e l f f r o m o t h e r s . J o b o r a s A d a m a n d E v e i n t h e g a r d e n . S a t a n , I ' m n o t r e v e r t i n g t o t h a t p l a c e w h e r e G o d r e a l l y s a i d I d o n ' t d o u b t w h a t G o d i s s e n d i n g . I j u s t d o n ' t u n d e r s t a n d t h a t s t i l l b u t I d o n ' t b e l i e v e w h a t y o u g u y s a r e t e l l i n g m e , a n d t h e n s a d p a r t a b o u t i t i s f o r g o t s o m e t h i n g e v e r y w o r k i n t o j u d g m e n t w i t h e v e r y s e c r e t t h i n g w h e t h e r i t b e g o o d o r w h e t h e r p e o p l e . T h e s a d t h i n g i s t h a t e v e r y t h o u g h t e v e r y t h i n g i s g o i n g t o b e b r o u g h t i n t o j u d g m e n t , a n d t h o s e w h o d o n o t h a v e w i s e t h e y w e r e g o i n g t o f i n d j u d g m e n t a n d e t e r n a l s e p a r a t i o n f r o m G o d . A n d t h i s i s t h e s a m e a t h i m a n d t h e g u y t e l l i n g t h e s t o r y a b o u t t h i s h e s a i d w h e n e v e r w e a p p r o a c h e t e r n i t y . I w o u l d l i k e t h i s w h e n w e a r e w e a p p r o a c h i n g e t e r n i t y w i t h r a d a r t r a i l e r l o a d s o f s t u f f a w a y b r i g h t n e s s l a w l e s s s t o p l i g h t , m y l i f e w h e r e d r a g g i n g a l o n g i s o u r g r e a t e s t t i m e a n d n o t a l l e g e a l o o k a t t h i s l i s t o f a l l t h e s t u f f I ' v e d o n e o k a y a n d s o w i l l G o d s a y s , o k a y , f i n e . W o u l d y o u p a s s t h r o u g h t h e f i r e a n d y o u ' r e g o i n g t o t h i s r o o m a n d I t h i s i s j u s t m y b i g g o o d s , n o t l i b e r a l s , n o t i n t h e B i b l e t h e r e i s a r u l e w h e r e w e g e t t h i s n o w t h e r e ' s n o t r o o m i n t h e B i b l e s a y s t h a t ' s o k a y i s m y p i c t u r e , b u t I j u s t g i v e y o u a w o r d p i c t u r e . T h e w i n d h a u l e d t h e s t u f f i n t h e r o o m a n d t h e r e w e a r e s t a n d w i t h o u r g u y s a n d t h e H o l y S p i r i t , t h e f i r e o f t h e s p i r i t c o m e s i n . R e m e m b e r , t h e o n l y t h i n g t h a t p a s s e s t h r o u g h i s w h a t w e ' v e d o n e f o r C h r i s t . S o i n J e s u s C h r i s t a n d a l l w e ' v e e v e r d o n e i s g i v e o u r h e a r t s t o h i m , t h e n a l l t h a t s t u f f g o e s , b u t e v e r y w e ' v e d o n e f o r C h r i s t c a n t a k e w i t h u s a n d w i l l b e r e w a r d e d f o r a n y t h i n g . W e t h e n w e d o n ' t h a v e t o b e i n m i n i s t r y a s i n p a s t o r i n g o u r m i s s i o n a r i e s o r w h a t e v e r o u r l i f e i s a l i f e o f s e r v i c e t o G o d b e c a u s e h e h a s m a d e u s w h o l e . T h e w h o l e n e s s o f G o d i s i n t h e p e r s o n a n d t h e n t h a t h o l i n e s s h a s i n t h e f a c t u p o n o u r t o u c h i n g p e o p l e ' s l i v e s a n d o u r f a m i l i e s , o u r f r i e n d s , a n d i n e v e r y t h i n g f r o m t h e r e o n o u t , a n d e v e r y p e r s o n w e ' v e i n f l u e n c e d f o r C h r i s t t h a t g o e s e v e r y p e r s o n t h a t i s c o n d e s c e n d i n g k n o w l e d g e o f J e s u s C h r i s t . E v e r y p e r s o n h a s b e e n i n f l u e n c e d t w e n t y y e a r s a g o f r o m w h a t y o u s a i d t w e n t y y e a r s a g o . T h e y m e t e c h o t h a t m a k e s i t a n o f w i t h y e a r s a r e n o w d i s e a s e s a n d c h u r c h s e r v i c e s . L e a r n i n g t h a t e v e r y S u n d a y m o r n i n g , e v e r y S u n d a y m o r n i n g i s a c h u r c h i n E l S a l v a d o r t u r n s o n t h e l i g h t s p u t o n t h e f a n s b e c a u s e o f y o u t h i n k a b o u t e v e r y S u n d a y m o r n i n g c o m i n g . W e n e v e r t h i n k o f a n i t e m o n w h y t h o u g h t o v e r t h i s m o r n i n g t h a t e v e r y S u n d a y m o r n i n g . T h e r e ' s a c h u r c h i n E l S a l v a d o r t u r n s o n t h e f a n s t u r n e d o n t h e l i g h t a n d p u t s o n t h e P A s y s t e m s o t h a t t h e y c a n h a v e c h u r c h b e c a u s e o f t h i s c o n g r e g a t i o n , p u t t i n g m o n e y i n t h e o f f e r i n g . W e s e n d i n c i d e n t a n d p o i n t i n g a b o x . Y o u k n o w e l e c t r i c a l b o x i n t h e c h u r c h a n d s t i l l w h a t e f f e c t d o e s t h a t h a v e o n e o f f e r i n g o n e t h o u s a n d d o l l a r s o r t w e l v e h u n d r e d d o l l a r s o r e i g h t h u n d r e d d o l l a r s . I r e m e m b e r t h a t w e g a v e h a s t h e m e a n i n g w i l l r e c e i v e a b l o o d f o r t h a t i n o u r l i f e a n d i n t h e c o u n t r y i n t e r v i e w i n g e v e r y o n e t h o u g h t a b o u t i t , w e w o n ' t h a v e t o r e m i n d b o t t o m c o v e r i n g u p s o d o i n g t h e w o r k w e d o p l a y e n a b l i n g u s t o h a v e a l i f e t h a t e n a b l e s u s t o t i e a g a i n s t t h e G o d h a s a n e f f e c t o n o u r l i f e a n d o u r r e w a r d i n h e a v e n s m a l l e r d o e s n ' t m a t t e r t h e a m o u n t m a t t e r s a m o u n t t h a t w e g i v e y o u s o a n d o f c o u r s e t h e f i n a l , b u t t h e f e a r f u l , t h e u n b e l i e v i n g , a b o m i n a b l e , m u r d e r e r s a n d w h o r e m o n g e r s a n d s o r c e r e r s a n d i d o l a t e r s , a n d a l l l i a r s s h a l l h a v e t h e i r p a r t , t h e l a k e w h i c h b u r n s w i t h f i r e a n d b r i m s t o n e , w h i c h i s t h e s e c o n d . T h a t ' s t h e s a d d e s t t h i n g . D o n ' t I h e a r p e o p l e s a y I ' m n o t a f r a i d t o d i e . I t ' s n o t d y i n g . W e n e e d t o w o r r y a b o u t t h e s e c o n d n o w t h e s e c o n d d e a t h i s t h e d e a t h t h a t s e p a r a t e s u s f r o m G o d . T h a t ' s t h e d e a t h w e h a v e n o p a r t a s p r i c e i s a c t u a l l y a n d w h e n J e s u s s p e a k s o u t t h a t i n h e l l s p e a k s l i m i t e d i n t h e s e n s e o f t h e r e t h i s t h e r e w a s t h i s g a r b a g e d u m p o u t s i d e o f J e r u s a l e m t h a t e v e r y b o d y t h r o u g h e v e r y t h i n g o n a n d b u r n e d a l l t h e t i m e a n d e n d . T h a t w a s t h e o t h e r , l i k e m e b e i n g i n c i n e r a t e d . T h a t j u s t g o e s o n c o n s t a n t t h a t w a s t h a t p i c t u r e t h a t p e o p l e w o u l d d i d J e s u s w a s s a y i n g . T h a t ' s w h a t h e l l i s l i k e a n e t e r n a l t o r m e n t o f d e a t h , i t n e v e r g o e s a w a y . A n d t h e s a d t h i n g i s , p e o p l e h a v e w h o l e n e s s . T h e y h a v e e v e r y t h i n g t h e y n e e d t o f i n d w h o l e n e s s i n t h e i r l i f e w h e n t h e y k n o w J e s u s t o r e j e c t h i m i s t h e f i n e e m p t i n e s s a n d t h e d e c a y c o m e s f r o m t h e p o i s o n o f s i n , b u t j u s t t a k e s a w a y a l l o f t h e g o o d i n a l l t h a t t h e t i s s u e o f l i f e . I t j u s t d i s i n t e g r a t e s , w h a t t h e p e r s o n c o u l d b e n o , d o n ' t I w e r e t a l k i n g t h i s m o r n i n g a b o u t s o m e o n e . S h o t a r e l a t i v e a n d j u s t w o n d e r h o w c o u l d t h a t p e r s o n d i s i n t e g r a t e t o s u c h a p o i n t t o t a k e a n o t h e r p e r s o n ' s l i f e o r t h e p e r s o n t h i s w e e k e n d . T h e b i n g e o n S u n d a y k i l l e d t h a t o t h e r w a n t t o t e l l t h a t y o u n g w o m a n . H o w c o u l d t h e y d i s i n t e g r a t e t o t h a t t y p e o f a n i n d i v i d u a l l o n g - t e r m e f f e c t s o f s i n a n d p o i s o n p o i s o n s t h e m i n d b e h i n d t h e e y e s . T h e v i s i o n w h a t t h e y c a n b e s o g r e a t t h i n g a b o u t i t i s . J e s u s i s t h e a n t i - v e n o m . J e s u s i s t h e s a l v a t i o n t h a t s a v e s o u r s o u l r e s t o r e s w h o l e n e s s g i v e s u s b a c k t o l i f e g i v e s u s g i v e s u s e t e r n a l l i f e g i v e s u s h o p e a n d g i v e s u s a l l t h i s i n o u r l i f e s o s o o n b r e a k i n g o f a r e l a t i o n s h i p w i l l t a k e y o u w h e r e y o u d o n ' t w a n t t o g o , k e e p y o u l o n g e r t h a n y o u w a n t t o s t a y a n d c o s t y o u m o r e t h a n y o u e v e r w a n t e d t o p a y , b u t w e h a v e s a l v a t i o n w h i c h b r e a k s t h e p o w e r o f c a n c e l e d s i n a n d s e t s t h e p r i s o n e r f r e e s a l v a t i o n g i v e s u s h o p e i n t h i s l i f e a n d i n t h e l i f e , s a l v a t i o n i s a r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d t h a t G o d i n t e n d e d . F r o m t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g . H e c r e a t e d u s f o r t h a t . S o a l l o w t h a t r e l a t i o n s h i p a l l o w t h e w o r d o f G o d t o c o m e t o g e t h e r i n o u r l i f e t o m a k e u s w h o l e . P u t b a c k w h a t w a s l o s t i n t h e f a l l a n d g i v e s u s h o p e i n t h i s l i f e i s w h y b e c o m e a m a n i n t h e h a r d w a r e o n S e n n h e i s e r c o m i n g t o g e t h e r w i t h a c o n c l u s i o n t h a t w a s , t h a t w o u l d h e l p u s r i g h t n o w . S o u t h w a n t e d t h a n k y o u t h a t s i n h a s l o t s o f t h e f a c t t h a t a l o t o f t h e p o w e r t o t o c o n t r o l o u r l i v e s , s o w e d o n o t l i v e i n f e a r . W e l i v e i n h o p e . W e w e n t o n a n y u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f y o u r p r o m i s e o f y o u r w o r d o f y o u r s t r e n g t h . B l e s s u s o f G o d . W e m i g h t c o n t i n u e t o b e b l e s s i n g s f o r y o u . I n J e s u s n a m e w e p r a y e v e r y b o d y f e d a n d r e a d t h a t w i t h a l i t t l e