>>> AMEN. LET'S PRAY TOGETHER. FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE GLORIFY THE ONLY NAME THAT IS WORTHY OF OUR PRAISE AND OUR AFFECTION IN THE NAME OF JESUS. KING OF KINGS AND THE LORD OF LORD'S AND THE MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH. GOD, WE THANK YOU. WE THANK YOU FOR RICH TEXT, LIKE WESTMINSTER CAT KISS EMS AND THE APOSTLE ELSE CREED. FOR GENERATIONS HAS ENCOURAGED FOLLOWERS OF JESUS TO BE REMINDED OF THE TRUTHS OF WHAT YOU TEACH US IN YOUR WORD. WE THANK YOU, THAT WE CAN LOOK TO YOU OUR HELPER AND OUR PROVIDER THIS MORNING. AS WE OPEN UP FIRSTstPETER CHAPTER 2, GOD, I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD DWELL ON THIS PLACE. THAT THE NAME OF JESUS WOULD ONLY BE ON OUR LIPS, BUT INTO OUR VERY SOULS AND THAT OUR HEARTS WOULD BE IN TUNE TO WHAT YOU HAVE FOR US THIS MORNING. GOD, IT'S ALL FOR YOU. IT'S ALL FOR YOU, LORD. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF THE STORY THAT YOU WRITE. BE WITH US AND GUIDE US. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. AS YOU'RE HAVING A SEAT CAN WE THANK THE WORSHIP COLLECTIVE FOR LEADING US IN MUSIC TODAY. [ APPLAUSE ] >> SPEAKING OF THE WORSHIP COLLECTIVE, NEXT WEEK IS SHAPING UP TO BE A PRETTY EXCITING FINAL WEEK OF CONVOCATION, AND WE ARE PUMPED THAT NEXT WEDNESDAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME LEADERS FOR SEVERAL YEARS OF THE WORSHIP COLLECTIVE, THE ONES WE HAVE SEEN SHOOT OUT TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH. WE HAVE BEEN SPENDING TIME THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS INVITING MANY OF THEM TO COME BACK FOR A BIT OF A FAMILY REUNION. WE ALWAYS LOVE THAT. THAT IS ALWAYS A FUN AND EXCITING TIME. SO NEXT WEDNESDAY MORNING AND EVENING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MEMBERS OF THE WORSHIP COLLECTIVE FROM THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS TO COME AND LEAD WITH US ALONGSIDE SOME OF THE GRADUATING SENIORS ON OUR TEAM, SO IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY SWEET TIME OF WORSHIP. WE ALSO OUR GUEST ABBY REIGAHRD. SHE IS THE DAUGHTER OF DR. I CAN WHO IS ON THE BOARD. OPPORTUNITY TICKETS OR THE FINAL CONVOCATION, WHICH IS ON FRIDAY, WE'LL HAVE CHRIS TOM LYNN IN THE HOUSE -- TOMLIN IN THE HOUSE. IT WILL BE AMAZING. IF YOU WANT TICKETS, TEXT THIS NUMBER: IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR CAMPUS COMMUNITY TICKETS LEFT YOU CAN TEXT THIS NUMBER: WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT AS WE CELEBRATE AND WRAP UP THIS FINAL SEMESTER AND FINAL WEEK OF CONVO. WE WANT YOU TO BE A PART OF IT. OUR GUEST TODAY, WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE IN THE HOUSE PASTOR MATT CARTER. MATT IS FROM THE STATE OF -- OR WE SHOULD SAY THE NATION OF TEXAS. NO TEXANS? HERE? CLEARLY. NO TEXANS? REALLY? YOU'RE BY YOURSELF, PASTOR MATT. HE IS A PASTOR AT SENSE SENSE. HE TRANSITIONED ABOUT A YEAR AGO INTO THAT POSITION. HE IS ALSO THE FOUNDING PASTOR WE'RE EXCITED THAT HE'S HERE WITH US TOMORROW MORNING. HE ACTUALLY HAS ONE OF HIS THREE CHILDREN WITH HIM, ANY. SHE STILL HASN'T CHOSEN WHERE SHE'S GOING TO BE GOING TO COLLEGE, SO WE THINK THAT THERE IS ONE REALLY GREAT PLACE CALLED WHAT? LIBERTY, YEAH. SO WE WANT HER TO FEEL WELCOME. BEFORE BEFORE WE DO THAT, GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO PASTOR MATT CARTER. [ APPLAUSE ] >> IT'S GOOD TO BE WITH YOU ALL THIS MORNING. ENTER YOU TO KNOW THERE ARE VERY FEW COLLEGES IN THIS WORLD WHERE THE SPIRIT OF GOD SHOWS UNLIKE IT DOES BY UNIVERSITY. YOU ARE FORTUNATE TO BE HERE. MAN, IF YOU GOT A BIBLE OR YOU WANT TO OPEN UP YOUR PHONE BIBLES TO FIRSTstPETER CHAPTER 2, I'LL BE THERE OPINION I CAME ACROSS A TEXT AT MY CHURCH A FEW WEEKS AGO FROM THAT VERSE, WHICH WILL BE APPLICABLE VERSE FOR YOUR GENERATION HERE IT IS: HERE IS WHAT PETER TOLD US. HE TOLD US EXACTLY HOW YOU AND I ARE SUPPOSED TO RESPOND WHEN THE WORLD HATES US, WHEN THE WORLD SPEAKING EVIL AGAINST US BECAUSE OF OUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. LIBERTY, I THINK THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT FIRST FOR US TODAY. IT ACTUALLY CAN COST YOU SOMETHING TO BE A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST. THE FACT IT USED TO NOT BE A PROBLEM, IT'S CHANGING DRAMATICALLY. >> I GREW UP IN THE '80s AND '90s. I SPECIFICALLY REMEMBER MY SCIENCE TEACHER PRESENTING THE GENESIS CREATION THERE. IN MY SCIENCE BOOK THERE ARE A COUPLE OF CHAPTERS IN EVOLUTION. YOU THINK ABOUT THE BIBLICAL VIEWS OF GENDER, SAME-SEX ATTRACTION, HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE, EARLY GENERATIONS OF CHRISTIANS IN OUR COUNTRY WERE NEVER QUESTIONED, THEY WERE NEVER CHALLENGED ON THOSE THINGS BECAUSE THEY WERE ACTUALLY SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE POSITIONS, BUT IN TODAY'S SOCIETY, A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST HOLDS TO THE TRADITIONAL VIEW OF MARRIAGE IN THOSE THINGS YOU CAN EXPECT HARSH CRITICISM. SEVERAL ARE BEING CANCELLED, SOME HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS BECAUSE OF IT. IT WASN'T UNTIL NOT LONG AGO THAT JESUS WAS THE ONLY WAY TO GOD, BUT IF YOU GO INTO THE PUBLIC SPEAKER AND YOU MAKE THAT STATEMENT THAT THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU CAN GO TO HEAVEN IS THROUGH THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST, YOU'RE GOING TO BE CALLED HATEFUL, YOU'LL BE CALLED BIG UTTER DISREGARDED. I COULD GO ON AND ON. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION AS AN INDIVIDUAL THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO LIVE THAT OUT WHEN YOU LEAVE LIBERTY UNIVERSITY. IN IN VERSE PETER MAKES THREE DISTINCTIVE POINTS. >> NUMBER ONE, LET'S LOOK AT THAT ONE. LET'S LOOK AT IT AGAIN: WHEN HE USES THE PHRASE GENTILES THERE, HE IS USING IT AS A BLANKET PHRASE FOR ALL NON-BELIEVERS. IT SAYS: HE STARTS OFF AND SAID YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE AS A BELIEVER, WHEN YOU'RE INTERACTING WITH NON-BELIEVERS AND THEY SPEAK EVIL AGAINST YOU, THAT YOU KEEP YOUR CONDUCT HONORABLE. NOTICE SOMETHING IN THAT VERSE THAT HE DID NOT SAY. PETER DOESN'T SAY KEEP YOUR CONDUCT HONORABLE AMONG THE GENTILES SO THAT IF THEE SPEAK AGAINST YOU AS EVIL DOERS, THE SCRIPTURE SAYS KEEP YOUR CONDUCT AMONG NON-BELIEVERS, SO THAT WHEN THEY SPEAK AGAINST YOU AS AN EVIL DOER. THE WORD OF GOD JUST TOLD US THAT PERSECUTION, BECAUSE OF OUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, IS A FORGONE CONCLUSIONS. IT'S NOT A MATTER OF IF IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. IT'S GOING TO BE WHEN IT HAPPENS. OBVIOUSLY, THAT SHOULDN'T SHOCK US. IT SHOULDN'T SURPRISE US WHEN THAT HAPPENS OR IF IT'S HAPPENING IN OUR CULTURE BECAUSE OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST PROMISED US IT WOULD HAPPEN. IN MATTHEW 10:22, THIS IS HIM SPEAKING, YOU WILL BE HATED BY ALL FOR MY NAMESAKE, BUT THE ONE WHO ENDURES TO THE END WILL BE SAVED. GOSH, HE DIDN'T SAY WE MIGHT BE HATED, HE DIDN'T SAY IF YOU LIVE A SET FORTH WAY IT'S POSSIBLE THAT YOU'LL BE HATED. HE SAID YOU WILL BE BE HATED BY ALL ON ACCOUNT OF MY NAME. I WANT TO ASK YOU GUYS A QUESTION. WHY IS THE LOST WORLD HATE BELIEVERS BECAUSE OF THE NAME JESUS? YOU WANT TO STOP FOR A SECOND AND THINK ABOUT THAT? WHY? WHY DOES THE WORLD HATE US BECAUSE WE'RE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST AND THAT WE'RE HIS FOLLOWERS. I THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT IT. THERE IS A VERSE IN TWO CORINTHIANS 2:15, THIS IS AN INTERESTING VERSE, BUT I THINK IT GIVES US PART OF THE ANSWER FOR WHY. IT SAYS: HE SAID YOU AND -- AND I AS BELIEVERS ARE THE AROMA. YOU WALK LIKE JESUS, TALK LIKE JESUS, SMELL LIKE JESUS. GOD IS IN THE PROCESS OF SAVING AND REVEAL HIMSELF TO, AND WHEN YOU GET AROUND HIM THAT IS THE THE AROMA OF CHRIST. THERE IS THIS OTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE, THOSE THAT ARE PERISHING. BECAUSE YOU ARE THE AIG -- AROMA OF CHRIST, ACTIVELY REBELGIUM AGAINST GOD, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SMELL LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO SMELL LIKE DEATH. -- SMELL LIKE DEATH. I'VE ALWAYS WONDERED WHY DO ATHEISTS HATE BELIEVERS. THEY ACTUALLY HATE BELIEVERS. I NEVER QUITE UNDERSTOOD THAT. IF SOMEONE DOESN'T BELIEVE IN SOMETHING YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN, YOU DON'T HATE THEM FOR IT, YOU JUST KIND OF IGNORE IT. IF YOU'RE A PERSON THABELIEVES IN SANTA CLAUS, I DON'T HATE YOU FOR THAT, I THINK THAT'S KIND OF WEIRD AND I MOVE ON WITH MY LIFE. BUT YET WE BELIEVE IN SOMETHING THEY THINK DOESN'T EXIST AND THEY HATE US, AND I THINK THIS ANSWERS WHY, IS WHEN YOU GET AROUND THEM AS THE ROW MA OF CHRIST -- AROMA OF CHRIST YOU ARE A LIVING BREATHING REMINDER OF THEM TO THE REMEMBER 81 AGAINST GOD -- THAT GOD CREATED TO SERVE. IN YOU'RE A PERSON THAT IS NEVER PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF THE NAME JESUS CHRIST, THERE ARE TWO REASONS, BECAUSE YOU'RE AROUND LOST PEOPLE AND TWO THAT YOU DON'T SMELL LIKE JESUS BECAUSE WE'RE THE AROMA OF CHRIST. NUMBER TWO, THE SECOND POINT, OUR HOLINESS SHOULD BE VISIBLE. OUR HOLINESS SHOULD BE VISIBLE. LET'S READ IT AGAIN: WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN YOU KEEP YOUR CONDUCT HONORABLE, SO THAT THEY MAY SEE IT. AND GLORIFY GOD. YOUR HOLINESS SHOULD BE VISIBLE TO A LOST WORLD. I WAS READING THIS COAT THE OTHER DAY. I READ A LOT OF PURE TIN PREACHERS FROM THE 1700s, 1800s BECAUSE THEY SAY AWESOME STUFF. ENTER TO READ IT TO YOU. IT'S KIND OF FUNNY, BUT IT TALKS TO THIS POINT. YOU CAN SAY THAT YOU'RE BORN AGAIN, BUT IF YOU'RE BORN AGAIN, YOUR HORSE WILL SEE THE DIFFERENCE. YOU CAN SAY THAT YOU'RE BORN AGAIN, BUT IF YOU'RE BORN AGAIN, YOUR HORSE WILL SEE. BACK THEN THEY DIDN'T HAVE CARS. THEY HAD HORSES. THIS HORSE WAS SOMETHING YOU INTERACTED WITH EVERYDAY OF YOUR LIFE. HERE IS THE POINT. YOU CAN SAY YOU'RE SAVED ALL DAY LONG, BUT THIS ANIMAL YOU INTERACT WITH EVERYDAY OF YOUR LIFE, IS IT GOING TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE. WILL YOUR HORSE SEE THAT YOU'RE MORE PATIENT. WOULD YOUR HORSE SEE THAT YOU'RE LESS EARTH BULL. WOULD YOUR HORSE SEE THAT YOU'RE LESS PRONE TO OUTBURSTS OF ANGER, THAT YOU'RE MORE CONSISTENT IN YOUR CHOOSING HOLINESS. LET'S PUT SOMETHING IN THE BLANK THERE THAT IS A LITTLE MORE PRACTICAL. YOU SAY THAT YOU'RE SAVED, BUT DOES YOUR ROOMMATE ACTUALLY SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN YOU? YOU CAN SAY YOU'RE SAVED ALL DAY LONG, BUT DOES YOUR GIRLFRIEND SEE THE EFFORTS IN THE WAY THAT YOU INTERACT WITH HIM OR HER. YOU CAN ACT LIKE YOU'RE SAVED, BUT DO THE PEOPLE ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA FEED SEE THE DIFFERENCE. WHAT PETER SAYS IS YOU CAN SAY YOU'RE SAVED ALL DAY -- BORN AGAIN ALL DAY LONG, BUT IF YOU ARE, A LOST WORLD WILL SEE THE DIFFERENCE. LET'S LOOK REAL QUICK AT WHAT THROES WORLD IS SUPPOSED TO VIBRANCY US WHEN THEY PALSY LOOK AT VERSE 121 MORE TIME. ONE PETER 2:12: HERE IS WORDS THAT ARE USED FOR THAT. PETER SAYS WHEN THEY SLAPPEDDER YOU, WHEN THEY SPEAK EVIL AGAINST YOU, MAKE SURE YOU KEEP YOUR RESPONSE HONORABLE, LOVELY, EXCELLENT, NOBLE AND WIN SEW. HERE IS THE POINT. YOU SHALL LIFE AND YOUR BEHAVIOR SHOULD ALWAYS CON TICK THEIR SLANDER. ALL YOU DO IS VALIDATE EVERYTHING THEY THINK ABOUT YOU, BUT WHEN THEY SPEAK EVIL AGAINST YOU, YOU RESPOND IN AN HONORABLE, NOBEL, BEAUTIFUL, WINSOME, EXCELLENT WAY, IT COMPLETELY UNDER -- UNDERMINES EVERYTHING THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT YOU. AN EXAMPLE, IN THE FIRST CENTURY, THE CHRISTIANS WERE SLANDERED. ONE OF THE WAYS THEY WERE SPOKEN EVIL AGAINST IS THE CULTURE THOUGHT THEY WERE CANNIBALS. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT? BECAUSE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. THEY WERE EATING THE BREAD, DRINKING THE WINE THAT WAS REPRESENTATIVE OF CHRIST'S BODY AND HIS BLOOD. AND THE WORD GOT OUT. THESE NON-BELIEVERS WALKING AROUND SAYING MAN, HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THESE CHRISTIANS? THESE PEOPLE ARE EATING HUMAN FLESH, DRINKING HUMAN BLOOD. THE CULTURE REALLY THOUGHT THEY WERE MONSTERS. BUT THEN ONE DAY THESE PEOPLE THAT WERE SAYING THAT CHRISTIANS -- CHRISTIANS WERE MONITORS, THEY ACTUALLY -- THEY WOULD ACTUALLY MEET A CHRISTIAN FOR THE FIRST TIME. WE WOULD BE HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THEM. THIS PERSON THEY WERE TALKING TO TURNED OUT TO BE A CHRISTIAN. DON'T EAT ME, YOU ALL ARE CANNIBALS, ARE YOU? THE CHRISTIAN IN RESPONSE WOULDN'T GET DEFENSIVE, BUT THEY WOULD RESPOND IN AN HONORABLE, BEAUTIFUL, WINSOME, LOVELY, EXCELLENT WAY. AND THAT PERSON WOULD WALK AWAY FROM THAT ENCOUNTERED AND THEY'D THINK TO THEMSELVES, THE PERSON WASN'T A MONSTER. THAT PERSON WAS ONE OF THE MOST HONORABLE KIND PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET IN MY LIFE, AND IT UNDERMINED EVERYTHING THE CULTURE WAS SAYING ABOUT CHRISTIANS. STUDENTS, LIBERTY, LISTEN, IF THERE WAS EVER A TIME IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY THAT WE NEED TO COMMIT TO LIVING THIS OUT, IT'S RIGHT NOW. IT'S RIGHT NOW. HERE IS THE THING. LISTEN, WE'RE BEING ATLANTAERED. -- SLANDERED. EVIL AGAINST US MAYBE THAN ANY OTHER POINT IN TIME IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY. PART OF THE REASON IS FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS. AS BELIEVERS WE STAND AGAINST ABORTION, AGAINST THE BIBLICAL DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE AND SEXUALITY. WE DO THAT UNASHAMEDLY. WE STAND FOR THE BILL CULL VIEW OF GENDER, FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS, BUT I WANT YOU TO HEAR THIS. A HUGE PART OF WHY WE'RE BEING SLAPPEDDERED AS CHRISTIANS IS HOW WE'RE STANDING FOR THOSE THINGS. A HUGE PART OF WHY WE'RE BEING SLANDERED AS CHRISTIANS IS HOW WE'RE STANDING FOR THOSE THINGS. YES, WE'RE BEING SPOKEN OF EVIL BECAUSE OF OUR ASSOCIATION WITH CHRIST, BUT A LOT OF THE REASON THAT CHRISTIANS ARE BEING SPOKEN EVIL OF IS THAT WHEN WE'RE STANDING FOR THOSE THINGS, WE'RE BEING MEAN, INSULTING JURISDICTION. I WANT YOU TO HEAR THIS. STANDING -- CORRECTS. I WANT YOU TO HEAR THIS. STANDING AGAINST ABORTION IS RIGHT, BUT STANDING OUTSIDE THE PLANNED PARENTHOOD CLINIC AND SCREAMING DOWN SOME 18-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN THE WORST MOMENT OF HER LIFE IS NOT HONORABLE, IT'S NOT BEAUTIFUL, IT'S NOT LOVELY, IT'S NOT EXCELLENT. GETTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND ATTACKING THE OPPOSING POLITICAL PARTY IN THE WAY THAT THEY'RE ATTACKING YOU IS NOT HONORABLE. AND THE WORD OF GOD SAYS HEY, THERE'S A BETTER WAY. THERE'S A BETTER WAY. 1 PETER 2:12: OUR HOLINESS WILL BE CONFRONTATIONAL TO A LOST WORLD: NUMBER TWO: OUR HOLINESS SHOULD BE VISIBLE TO A LOST WORLD. THE LAST ONE, NUMBER THREE, OUR HOLINESS WILL BE EVANGELISTIC TO A LOST WORLD. LET ME READ IT TO YOU ONE MORE TIME HERE. IT SAYS KEEP YOUR CONDUCT AMONG THE GENTILES HONORABLE SO WHEN THEY SPEAK AGAINST YOU AS EVIL DOERS, AND WATCH WHAT IT SAYS, AND GLORIFY GOD ON THE DAY OF VISITATION. THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT LOST PEOPLE. DAY OF VISITATION IS ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. IT'S ALL SAID AND ALL DONE. PETER SAID LOOK, YOU'RE GOING TO GET AROUND PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW THE LORD, YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE AROMA OF CHRIST, IT'S GOING TO SMELL LIKE DEATH TO THEM, THEY'LL SPEAK EVIL AGAINST YOU, BUT WHEN THEY DO YOU RESPOND IN A -- HONORABLE, WINSOME, NOBLE WAY, AND WHEN YOU SEE THAT, THAT HAS THE POWER TO TURN THEIR HEARTS TO GOD. THAT HAS THE POWER TO DO IT. THEY WILL TURN AND GLORIFY GOD TODAY OF VISITATION. WHEN I WAS PREPARED FOR THIS SERMON, I THOUGHT OF SOMETHING THAT I'VE NEVER REALLY THOUGHT OF BEFORE AND IT WAS -- I THOUGHT ABOUT THE NIGHT BEFORE THE CROSS, THE NIGHT BEFORE THE CROSS, JESUS WASHED THE DISCIPLES' FEET. HE'S GOT ALL HIS TRUE BELIEVERS SITTING WITH HIM. HE LOOKS ABOUT HIM AND HE TELLS THEM, BOYS, I'M GOING TO SEND YOU OUT INTO A WORLD THAT HATES YOU. AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE MY WITNESSES IN A WORLD THAT HATES YOU. AND THEN WHAT HE DOES IS HE STARTS TO PRAY FOR THEM. HE PRAYS FOR THEM AND HE ALSO PRAYED FOR YOU AND ME, DID YOU KNOW THAT? HE SAID FATHER, NOT ONLY DID I PRAY FOR THESE, BUT I PRAY FOR THE ONES THAT WILL COME TO KNOW ME THROUGH THEIR WORD AND WITNESS. GUESS WHO THAT IS? THAT IS YOU AND THAT IS ME. JESUS CHRIST PRAYED FOR ME AND YOU ON THE NIGHT BEFORE HE WAS ON THE CROSS. HERE IS WHAT HE PRAYED. I'M GOING TO SEND THEM OUT NATIONAL WORLD THAT HATES THEM AND WHEN I DO SEND THEM OUT, HERE IS WHAT HE DID NOT PRAY, HE DIDN'T PRAY FATHER, I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD MAKE THEM ARTICULATE IN THEIR WITNESS, HE DIDN'T PRAY THAT. HE DIDN'T PRAY FATHER, I PRAY THAT THEY WOULD BE CLEVER ADVANTAGE LISTS, HE DIDN'T PRAY THAT, HE DIDN'T PRAY -- FATHER,: I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD MAKE THEM HOLY, MAKE THEM HOLY. HE KNEW THE DARK DOES NOT HAVE THE POWER TO OVERCOME DARKNESS BUT LIKE US AND WHEN YOU WALK AS LIGHT IN THE ROMA OF CHRIST IN THE MIDST OF DARKNESS IT HAS THE POWER TO CHANGE PEOPLE'S HEARTS. HAVE THEM TURN TO GLORIFY GOD. I'M GOING TO END TODAY BY TELLING YOU A STORY. I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN THIS HAPPEN IN A REALLY POWERFUL WAY WITH MY OWN EYES. TWO YEARS AGO I GOT A CALL FROM THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, IT WAS RANDOM, I CAN'T GO INTO A TON OF DETAILS ABOUT THAT, YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHY IN A SECOND, BUT I GOT A CALL FROM FROM FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, THE STATE DEPARTMENT. THERE WAS A COUNTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST THAT WAS ON THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT'S WATCH LIST FOR COUNTRIES THAT DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD REPUTATION FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS. THEY WERE KNOWN FOR THEIR PERSECUTION AGAINST CHRISTIANS AND JEWS. THE PRESIDENT WANTED TO CHANGE THE ECONOMY, HE WANTED TO CHANGE THE WORLD'S PERCEPTION OF THEIR TOLERANCE TOWARDS RELIGION FREEDOMS, SO HE CALLED THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND SAID I WANT TO GET OFF YOU ALL'S LIST, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO, SO WHAT THE PRESIDENT DID IS HE CREATED THIS FOUR-DAY RETREAT IN THIS COUNTRY HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD, THEY INVITED THREE AMERICAN PASTORS, THREE AMERICAN MUSLIMS IMAMS, THREE U.S. RABBI. THREE MUSLIM IMAMS FROM THAT COUNTRY, AND THEY INVITED ONE CHRISTIAN PASTOR FROM THAT MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRY AND HE IS ONE OF THE ONLY CHRISTIAN PASTORS IN THAT MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRY. THEY ASKED ME TO BE A PART OF IT. SO WITH THE FOLKS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, ME INTEND ON THE OTHER TWO GUYS FLEW HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD AND I SPENT FOUR DAYS WITH THIS ABSOLUTELY CRAZY MIX OF PEOPLE. AND IT WAS FASCINATING, BUT HERE IS KIND OF THE CRAZY PART. HERE IS WHERE IT GETS INTERESTING. THAT ONE CHRISTIAN PASTOR FROM THAT ONE MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRY, HE WAS ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF GUYS THAT WERE PUBLICLY CLAIMING THEIR CHURCH IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, HE HAD EXPERIENCED MASSIVE PERSECUTION AT THE HANDS OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THEY HAD TURNED DOWN HIS CHURCH. HE AND I TALKED TO EACH OTHER BEFORE WE WALKED INTO THE MEETING FOR THE FIRST TIME AND WE WALKED TOGETHER INTO THE MEETING FOR THE FIRST TIME. WHEN WE WALKED IN THE DOOR HE LOOKS UP AND HE FROZE. HE LOOKS UP AND OF THE MUSLIM IMAMS IN THE ROOM WERE THE TWO MEN THAT HAD BEEN ACCUSED OF BURNING HIS CHURCH DOWN, SO HE WAS ANGRY SO HE WAS ANGRY AND HE WAS SCARED TO DEATH. WE WALKED IN ANY WAY AND I WATCHED THIS GUY OVER THE COURSE OF THOSE FOUR DAYS THAT WATCHED THAT PASTOR ABSOLUTELY LIVE OUT IN A WINSOME, HONORABLE WAY. HE WAS KIND TO THOSE TWO MEN. I WATCHED HIM. GUYS BURNED DOWN MY CHURCH. I DON'T KNOW HOW I HANDLED THAT. HE SERVED THEM. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS HE WOULD STAND UP FIRST AND HE WOULD GRAB THEIR PLATE AND TAKE THEIR PLATE TO THE TRASH. I WATCHED ON MULTIPLE INDICATIONS HE'D SEE THEIR WATER GETTING LOW, HE'D JUMP UP, GO GRAB THEM A BOTTLE OF WATER. HE ASKED THEM ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES, ASKED TO SEE PICTURES OF THEIR KIDS, THOSE FOUR DAYS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, HE SHOWED THEM THE LOVE OF CHRIST AS HARD AS IT WAS. ON THE LAST DAY, THE LEADER OF THE WHOLE FOUR-DAY RETREAT STOOD UP AND SAID HERE WHAT IS WE'RE GOING TO DO. I WANT EACH REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH RELIGION TO STAND UP AND I WANT YOU TO PRAY. I GOT KIND OF UNCOMFORTABLE. I GOT A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE. I'D NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE, I NEVER PRAYED WITH MUSLIMS, SO I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THAT IS RIGHT TO DO. SO I WALKED OVER TO THE LEADER OF THE AMERICAN GROUP AND SAY IS THIS OKAY FOR US TO DO, IS THIS RIGHT, ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THIS. HE SAID, MAN, I WANT YOU TO JUST GO WITH IT. I SAID I'VE DONE THESE THINGS BEFORE. HE SAID HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO REMEMBER. OUR GOD IS THE ONE TRUE GOD. HE SAID I'VE SEEN THE SPIRIT MOVE IN THESE TIMES, SO JUST PRAY. SO WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR THE CHRISTIANS TO PRAY, THE CHRISTIAN PASTOR IN THAT COUNTRY, HE HAD BEEN PERSECUTED, BEEN LOVING THESE MEN WELL, STOOD UP, AND HE PRAYED FOR THOSE THREE MUSLIM IMAMS. HE PRAYED THAT GOD WOULD BLESS THEM, THEIR FAMILIES, THAT GOD WOULD GIVE THEM PEACE, PROTECT THEM, AND HE PRAYED THAT THE LORD WOULD SHOW THEM HIS LOVE FOR THEM AND HE SAID AMEN. AND WHAT HAPPENED NEXT, GUYS, BLEW MY MIND. AND IT BROUGHT ME TO TEARS. IT FOREVER CONVINCED ME OF THE POWER OF 1 PETER 2:12 AND THE WORD OF GOD. AS SOON AS HE SAID AMEN, THOSE 3 IMAMS HOPPED UP, THEY WALKED OVER TO THE CHRISTIAN PASTOR AND HERE IS WHAT THEY SAID TO HIM. I WROTE THIS DOWN BASE I NEVER WANT TO FORGET IT. THEY SAID DURING THE FOUR DAYS THEY HAD WATCHED THE WAY THAT HE LIVES AND HE WATCHED THE WAY THAT HE TREATED THEM. THEY SAID GOD HAS SHOWN US THAT YOU ARE HONORABLE MAN AND FROM NOW ON YOU HAVE OUR FRIENDSHIP AND YOU HAVE OUR PROTECTION HAND FROM THIS MOMENT FORWARD NO ONE WILL HARM YOU OR YOUR CHURCH EVER AGAIN AND THEY WALKED OUT THE DOOR. I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT THOSE THREE GUYS GOT DOWN ON THE FLOOR AND GAVE THEIR HEARTS TO JESUS, THAT WOULD BE A BETTER STORY, WOULDN'T IT? BUT THEY DIDN'T. AT LEAST NOT YET ANYWAY. BECAUSE I WONDER IF MANY YEARS FROM NOW, WHEN THOSE GUYS ARE LYING ON THEIR DEATH BED, MOMENTS FROM TAKING THEIR FINAL BREATH, THAT THEY'LL REMEMBER THAT MOMENT. THEY'LL REMEMBER THE MOMENT WHEN THE MAN THAT THEY HAD HORROR BELOW PERSECUTED TREATED THEM WITH HONOR AND GRACE AND LOVE AND KINDNESS. AND IN THAT FINAL MOMENT OF THEIR LIFE, GIVE THEIR HEART TO THE ONE TRUE GOD. KEEP YOUR CONDUCT AMONG THE GENTILES HONORABLE. SO THAT WHEN THEY SPEAK AGAINST YOU AS EVIL DOERS, THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD DEEDS AND GORE IDENTIFY GOD ON THE DAY OF VISITATION. THE WORD OF GOD SAYS IT CAN HAPPEN. LIBERTY, I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN. SO WHEN PERSECUTION COMES, LET IT HAPPEN THROUGH YOU. ALL RIGHT? LET'S PRAY. FATHER, I PRAY FOR THESE STUDENTS. THE FUTURE OF OUR CHURCH, THE FUTURE OF YOUR BRIDE, IS LISTENING RIGHT NOW TO THE SOUND OF MY VOICE. SO MANY PASTORS, SO MANY CHRISTIANS LEADERS, SO MANY GODLY BUSINESSMEN AND BUSINESSWOMEN AND MOTHERS AND GRANDFATHERS AND GRANDMOTHERS, MISSIONARIES, WORSHIP LEADERS, ARE COMING OUT OF THIS PLACE AND GOING TO THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE WORLD. FATHER, I ASK YOU IN THE NAME OF CHRIST THAT THEY WOULD LIVE OUT THIS VERSE AND THAT THE RIPPLE EFFECTS OF IT WOULD BE SEEN AND FELT IN ETERNITY. GOD I ASK THAT TODAY IN JESUS' NAME FOR YOUR GLORY. AMEN. >> AMEN. CAN WE THANK PASTOR MATT? [ APPLAUSE ] >> WOOF. I AM NOT SURE THAT THE WORD HOW HAS EVER BEEN MORE APPROPRIATE AND CONVICTING, THE IDEA THAT IT'S NOT EXACTLY WHAT WE STAND FOR, BUT HOW WE STAND ARE FOR IT. I HOPE THAT SEEPS INTO US IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AHEAD. WE WANT TO PRAY FOR YOU, PASTOR MATT. WE CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU IN YOUR NEW SEASON AT SAGEMONT. QUICK REMINDER FOR NEXT WEEK'S EVENTS, BOTH CONVOS AND CAMPUS COMMUNITY, THOSE TICKETS WILL GO LIVE AT 9 A.M. ON MONDAY. FOR CAMPUS COMMUNITY, TEXT THIS NUMBER, AND CONVOCATION, YOU TEXT: THE TICKETS ARE OBVIOUSLY FREE, BUT THAT WOULD BE HOW YOU RESERVE THOSE TICKETS. WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE GOD DOING AMAZING THINGS THROUGH THOSE EVENTS ON THE LAST WEEK OF THE SEMESTER AS WE WRAP THINGS UP. GOD BLESS YOU GUYS. THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY. YOU'RE DISMISSED.
