Fuld transskription af The 7th Commandment: You shall not commit Adultery (Be pure in Christ)

health, you're gonna be up all night going crazy. 00:02:37.759 --> 00:02:45.680 Now you may think of another cases where if someone says no, maybe a boss or another position of authority, and you're like, What why are they saying no? 00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:50.240 Well, with many of the cases, they may be good reasons. 00:02:51.039 --> 00:02:57.680 Perhaps in some cases it's not good reasons, but with God, his no is all really good and perfect reason, right? 00:02:58.240 --> 00:03:00.479 It's always good, and it's for our benefits. 00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:06.080 Now, let me see if God's law, he actually, we just read, says, do not commit adultery. 00:03:06.240 --> 00:03:10.960 And sometimes people can think, oh, God's just uh a buddy duddy and doesn't want us to have fun. 00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:13.199 No, this is for your good. 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:19.520 But God says, do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, and so on to the Ten Commandments. 00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:27.439 Now I have it in notes here, but really, do you want to see about how God's word itself speaks about uh God's law? 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:30.000 Look, read the whole chapter of Psalms 119. 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:41.840 We did a teaching on that at the beginning of the year, but it talks over and over about God's good law, how how much it is given for our flourishing and for our joy and for our protection. 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:47.280 Just like if I say, don't touch this hot stovetop, that's not because I don't want you to have joy. 00:03:47.360 --> 00:03:50.159 I want I want you to have joy for my kids. 00:03:50.319 --> 00:04:00.879 It's it's in like fashion, it's for our protection, protection of, particularly in this commandment, of the most sacred union, the marriage union, and for our purity. 00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:03.120 And you could argue it's for our joy. 00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:08.319 I love how I was just reading um earlier this morning, Psalms 84.11. 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:10.719 A great verse to get some memory. 00:04:11.039 --> 00:04:16.399 This says, The Lord God is a son in shill, the Lord bestows favor and honor. 00:04:16.720 --> 00:04:20.720 No good thing does he withhold it from those who walk uprightly. 00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:22.639 You think about that truth. 00:04:22.720 --> 00:04:26.800 Is God withholding something good from us when he commands us not to do something? 00:04:26.959 --> 00:04:29.199 Or does it give us something that we want? 00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:34.560 God's not withholding anything good, and it says, from those who walk uprightly. 00:04:35.040 --> 00:04:39.759 And yes, sometimes we fall under the discipline of the Lord, he disciplines those whom he loves, as St. 00:04:40.079 --> 00:04:41.279 Ruth 12 says. 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:43.839 But his commands are not him withholding. 00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:45.920 Oh, this would this would have been so nice. 00:04:46.160 --> 00:04:52.639 He's actually, he gives us such good and perfect

commands, he doesn't withhold anything good from his people. 00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:57.279 He gives us himself, Christ dwelling and his people. 00:04:57.439 --> 00:05:00.079 He gives us every good gift comes from where? 00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:01.439 Our Heavenly Father. 00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:08.480 Kings 1, 17 says, even the trials, even the trials that God gives us, he's not withholding. 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:11.439 Like I think it's kind of hard to hear, it's a little embarrassing. 00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:15.360 But am I, should I say, oh, God's withholding something good? 00:05:15.439 --> 00:05:19.199 No, even this is a trial that helps me depend upon him, Lord. 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:23.839 So that's a greater gift that I would become more dependent on the Lord and more Christ-like. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:25.839 He's not withholding any good gift. 00:05:26.160 --> 00:05:39.199 And we have to frame it up before we talk about God's design for marriage and the purity and the joy of marriage, because our culture has narrated a false story about God's design. 00:05:39.360 --> 00:05:44.079 They narrated so much that they lied about God and attacked his holding character. 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:48.560 He's saying that follow your heart is more satisfying. 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:52.879 That has minimized God's good and perfect and pleasing will. 00:05:53.199 --> 00:05:55.920 So let us talk some about God's design now. 00:05:56.160 --> 00:06:06.879 We see that this command clearly is referring back to God's design laid out in Genesis 2, the two shall become one flesh, uh, husband and wife. 00:06:06.959 --> 00:06:12.240 So God's design, I love how Christopher Ying Wan puts it in his book, Holy Sexuality. 00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:16.160 And he says, God has given us two paths. 00:06:16.399 --> 00:06:20.800 It's chastity in singleness and faithfulness in biblical marriage. 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:22.639 There's no third alternative. 00:06:23.279 --> 00:06:27.120 Chastity in singleness or faithfulness in biblical marriage. 00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:30.079 Now, we think about both of these two categories. 00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:33.040 Singleness and marriage are good gifts from the Lord. 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:34.160 Scripture makes that clear. 00:06:34.319 --> 00:06:35.519 1 Corinthians 7. 00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:38.959 And if some people say, well, singleness is a curse. 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:46.560 Well, you may feel that way, and if you're feeling that way, you may be inclined to pursue a marriage and encourage you to pursue a marriage in the Lord. 00:06:46.720 --> 00:06:54.879 Uh, it's scripture doesn't say it's a curse, it says that could be a gift of uh focused time and serving the Lord and his church as well. 00:06:55.040 --> 00:06:58.240 So should be seen as good gifts from the Lord. 00:06:58.319 --> 00:07:02.319 Uh, but marriage itself, we need to be very careful on how to define them. 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:08.160 Because our culture defines marriage

as any consent to an adults, and those who say love is love. 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:16.000 Particularly, we think of this month, is where our culture uh celebrates a different definition of marriage. 00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:19.680 But marriage was designed by God who has the right to redefine it. 00:07:19.839 --> 00:07:29.360 Marriage, according to God's word and is consistent with how the world has been designed in order, is one man, one woman, becoming one flesh for one month time. 00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:32.319 That's what it's laid out in Genesis 2.24. 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:34.879 Jesus reiterates that in Matthew 19. 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:41.279 So some frequently you see unbelievers saying, Well, Jesus never talked about other types of marriage. 00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:42.160 Yes, he did. 00:07:42.319 --> 00:07:54.959 He is the ultimate author through Genesis, he is God, and he's affirming the creation ordinance, the creation design of one man and one woman becoming um one flesh for one life of time in Matthew 19. 00:07:55.279 --> 00:07:59.839 So he's affirming that moral ethic of marriage and sexual ethic. 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:04.000 He's condemning all forms of sexuality outside of biblical marriage. 00:08:04.160 --> 00:08:10.319 And we see that affirmed in um Leviticus 18, Romans 1, 136, many passages. 00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:14.160 Jesus is affirming the staying standard of marriage. 00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:18.879 Now you think of this concept as well of marriage, becoming one flesh. 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:24.000 Well, it doesn't mean that I like I'm gonna have the same exact personality as Kendra. 00:08:24.240 --> 00:08:26.240 Um some people may praise God for that. 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:27.519 Um I don't know. 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:31.759 Uh but it is clearly speaking of a union. 00:08:32.080 --> 00:08:40.720 Of the one flesh, union mirrors, the living and growing together in unity, emotionally, financially, spiritually, and sexually. 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:45.840 Because this, by definition, marriage, they're living together, they're united. 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:55.279 I would encourage you uh to have a united bank account, to be living together and pursuing union and that one flesh union designed by God and intimacy. 00:08:55.759 --> 00:09:02.480 Now it's frequent in our culture to think about this question about people living together before they're married. 00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:05.600 Um it's commonly called. 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:13.759 Now, prohabiting, living together when you're married is actually living in a category of people how you're as if you're married when they're not married. 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:17.039 So you're you're saying something false with your actions. 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:20.559 You're not married, so you shouldn't be living as if you are married. 00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:24.879 1 Peter 3 7 says, live with your life in an understanding life. 00:09:25.039 --> 00:09:40.799 So crowdhabity, living as if

you're married when you're not, is certainly sin, and they should um seek to walk with integrity, and if they're drawn to before the Lord, walk with integrity and purity, I think they should be separate and they'll get married and then live together. 00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:51.360 Um so we think of all these categories of one flesh, but what is the purpose of that one flesh union, particularly as it relates to the physical union? 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:52.559 What is the purpose of sex? 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:55.519 Now, immediately somebody's like, Can a pastor talk about that? 00:09:55.600 --> 00:10:00.480 It's it everything in God's word is is good, it is given for our edification of growth. 00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:03.679 There's nothing in God's word I'm going to apologize to God. 00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:08.240 God's word doesn't blush at these things as maybe our culture will. 00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:09.919 But God created sex. 00:10:10.559 --> 00:10:13.440 Sat was the purpose, sick is the one that distorts it. 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:24.080 Sex is for, you see, laid out in many scriptures, it's for creation, um, be fruitful, multiple, comfort, strengthening the marriage from the physical union. 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:29.440 And you could read for a whole bit dedicated to the celebration of God's good gift for marriage. 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:41.519 You can read um Proverbs 5 and Psalms of Psalms, um, and you can see how how much of a joyful union and gift of this is um to the marriage. 00:10:41.759 --> 00:10:46.000 And the this means you see, sex itself is God's gift to the marriage. 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:53.279 This is a word, it's not the wife's gift to the husband or the husband's gift to the um wife, it's God's gift to the marriage. 00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:54.639 This is so important. 00:10:54.720 --> 00:11:04.159 I love how uh the author of Mama Bear Apologetics she says sex is married people repeating their vows in bodily form. 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:08.000 And that's so important because we understand and define that. 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:15.519 It means throughout intimacy after there's been that physical uh that been that the verb of commitment, marriage. 00:11:15.679 --> 00:11:21.279 It is that commitment being for God and others that I'm going to be losing with sickness and in health. 00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:25.759 It is that commitment that comes first before the physical intimacy. 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:29.279 And that's why we'll look at later when you reverse that. 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:34.320 That's where we have chaos and losing God's good design for marriage. 00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:40.960 So then we think about the purpose of the definition of marriage and the purpose of physical intimacy. 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:44.720 What is the ultimate purpose, the ultimate purpose of marriage? 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:46.480 It's to glorify God. 00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:54.960 It's not just for our own self-satisfaction, our own happiness, it's to glorify God, reflect Christ's love for the church. 00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:58.480 So marriage is intended to be a reflection of the gospel, right? 00:11:58.720 --> 00:12:06.960 As Christ loved um His um the bride of Christ and gave himself up for the bride of Christ, the church. 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:08.559 It's a reflection there. 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:10.720 And it's intended to sanctify you. 00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:17.279 Uh Luther the Reformer says marriage is the really the school grounds for growing in Christ-likeness. 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:23.519 If you spend time with united with someone, you really grow to see your areas of weakness, right? 00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:27.679 I don't want to hear any uh nudging right now from different wives or husbands. 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:30.080 But you certainly see that to be the case, right? 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:35.600 You see each other's flaws, but it's so it is the school ground for growing in Christ-like. 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:40.000 But it would say, not only that, but to produce godly offspring. 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:46.879 Malign 2 makes that very clear that the goal, one of the fruits of marriage, is godly children. 00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:53.360 Not just well-educated children, but godliness uh in our children and to stabilize society. 00:12:53.840 --> 00:13:08.000 Society is at risk currently, there is a discussion of overturning of Burger Fellow 2015 because kids are facing the harms of normalizing same-sex marriage, and now there's been a push to overturn it. 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:11.039 Um I know what that does. 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:13.840 Well, we redefine marriage itself. 00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:25.759 It harms kids, it deprives them of a mother or father at the risk of people's own individual happiness, causes the expense of the kids and the harm that comes by it. 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:30.480 So it misdefines, misunderstands, and misdefines the whole ultimate purpose of marriage. 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:36.320 Becoming the normal by God reflect Christ's love for the church and produce godly children. 00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:38.399 But need to think of these categories. 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:39.600 How do we define love? 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:42.000 Our culture says love is love, right? 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:43.360 Is that true? 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:45.600 He just define love, love you want. 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:50.080 Well, certainly, uh God speaks a lot about love in his word. 00:13:50.559 --> 00:14:03.519 But biblically, love is one way that you can define it, I think, is consistent with scripture as being committed to your neighbor's ultimate good as defined by God's word, God's standards. 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:07.360 So I don't get we don't get to define love by just our feelings. 00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:10.320 We we are tied to how scripture defines love. 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:16.480 If I'm committed to someone's ultimate good, that that means the loving thing

to do is to share the gospel. 00:14:16.559 --> 00:14:21.120 Well, it means the loving thing is turn from your sad and self and look to Christ. 00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:26.000 Don't define these relationships as loving if it goes against God's word. 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:29.279 If it goes against it, then it's not loving to affirm sin. 00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:37.039 It's loving to actually say, this is the disease, here's the cure in Christ. 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:42.320 And that's where you are committed to someone's ultimate good and flourishing. 00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:48.480 God's design for marriage is actually, as we mentioned, I mentioned earlier, was for the flourishing of society. 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:52.559 1 Corinthians 13, 6 says, Love does not rejoice in evil. 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:56.480 That's a clear thing where it rejoices in the truth. 00:14:56.720 --> 00:15:03.279 And so, right now we treat everyone with honor, dignity, and worth, as we looked at last week. 00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:06.720 The sixth commandment is grounded that everyone is an image bearer of God. 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:08.480 So we can't hate them in our hearts. 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:09.279 Absolutely. 00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:13.600 We pray for them, pray for those who are even opposed to our message 100%. 00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:15.600 We pray for them. 00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:24.559 But we don't buy into their redefinition to say that you don't affirm my identity that's rejecting God's design, then you don't love me. 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:26.480 No, we don't accept that definition. 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:29.519 We love them and we love them by telling them the truth. 00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:31.600 That hope is only found in Christ. 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:34.480 Don't identify by your disordered desires. 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:39.039 A part of Christ, you by all of us are hopeless. 00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:42.720 So we don't love them by buying into the word of definition. 00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:48.240 But as we see here, these paths of polisexuality are chastity and singleness. 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:51.120 It's not a word that's used as often, chastity. 00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:53.600 I have I've heard of a few people named that. 00:15:53.679 --> 00:16:01.919 It's a beautiful name, and it really speaks of a quality uh of being morally pure, uh with integrity or modesty. 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:08.240 So if someone's single, they don't just get to say, oh, I have an excuse to live in sexual morality. 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:11.279 No, it's still purity before the Lord as well. 00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:14.559 And this is important as we think about the seven commandments. 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:17.360 So I love how the West Music Shorter Catechism puts it. 00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:19.200 What's required in the seventh command? 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:25.600 It requires the preservation of our own in our neighbors' chastity and hard speech and behavior. 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:30.080 So we want to walk of pure before the Lord with integrity. 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:37.679 We want to encourage others in their heart and speech and behavior to walk purely before the Lord. 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:40.000 And what is it, what does it forbid? 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:41.519 What does the seventh commandment forbid? 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:55.440 Well, it seems quite obvious on the act of adultery or an affair, but I think it's that, and eliminating where the Westminster Shorman catechism puts it this way, it permits all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions. 00:16:55.679 --> 00:16:58.159 So we're going to look at how Jesus unpacks that some more. 00:16:58.320 --> 00:17:00.559 Look at Matthew chapter 5 again. 00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:09.599 Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, he unpacks exactly the truest application, the heart of the seventh commandments. 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:19.839 And he says here, in Matthew 5.20, he says, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:22.640 As we looked at last week, what is he talking about? 00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:29.200 We sum up not just the external actions, you need to from your heart have a pure heart before the Lord. 00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:44.000 And not only that, you need to have a perfect righteousness, which is a way of saying, not only are we an action on the outside, but on the inside, and you need to be born again if we're going to have a true righteousness, not just the forms of it but deny its power. 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:49.680 It's a way of saying you need to be united with Christ, be made new from the inside out. 00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:52.480 But look at Matthew 5, 27. 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:56.160 Jesus says, You have heard that it was said, you shall not commit adultery. 00:17:56.319 --> 00:18:03.119 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with blustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:07.119 So he gets here, just as we read earlier, what is it forbidden? 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:10.960 Unchaste thoughts, words, and actions, not just the action. 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:14.720 Some people think, well, at least I have to commit an adultery in my actions. 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:16.319 But what does it say here? 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:18.480 Committed adultery at your heart. 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:20.240 He had lustful intent. 00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:24.000 We're going to define a lesson here in a second. 00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:27.200 But it is that impure distortion. 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:36.720 And now notice how it goes on the speak on if your right hand is causing you to sin, tear it out, throw it away. 00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:41.039 For it is better for you to lose one of your members than your whole body to be thrown into hell. 00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:44.319 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it out and throw it away.

00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:49.039 For it is better that you lose one of your members than your whole body go into hell. 00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:51.440 But this is so serious. 00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:57.759 He's talking about this heart, this true action that has a heart that wants to honor and take serious our sin. 00:18:57.920 --> 00:19:00.160 This is what the Tona was forbidden. 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:05.200 But remember, God created marriage, God created sex, Satan is a perverter. 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:07.200 He's the one who just distorts it. 00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:08.799 God's good service. 00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:13.759 Now, if if I had a fire in the room right now, would that be the bunker place for it? 00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:15.200 Well, absolutely not. 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:18.480 All the deacons would be like, no, don't fire the place right here. 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:22.319 If I have a fire in a fireplace, that's a proper thing. 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:23.599 It has its boundaries. 00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:29.279 It's much like the physical intimacy has its boundaries for where it's supposed to be. 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:33.200 The outside of the marriage permanent is hard as destruction, right? 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:34.720 And that's what we see. 00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:38.079 Satan distorts and hates God's plan for marriage. 00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:40.720 He doesn't want Christ's honor in your marriage. 00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:44.400 He wants you, guys, to not become one in all the ways. 00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:50.000 He wants you to not honor Christ in all the ways that his word is showing us today. 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:51.680 He wants this distortion. 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:54.079 And that's what this distortion is. 00:19:54.240 --> 00:20:00.960 It's what adultery literally means to render something poorer in quality by adding another substance. 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:04.640 He makes it poorer in quality by adding another substance. 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:19.920 And this is why I think when you're adding a third party to the marriage, to the union, whether that's an extramarital affair or looking at explicit images, it's adding another substance and it's hurting that bond, that union. 00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:25.920 It is spoken of even in Genesis before the giving of the Ten Commandments as a great sin and wickedness against God. 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:31.279 You know, Joseph, when Paul's wife is reading Genesis 39, she tries to tempt him. 00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:33.680 He says, No, I don't want to do this wickedness against God. 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:38.400 And he runs, he flees from this temptures here. 00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:42.319 And that's the kind of approach that we should have, is just to leave this. 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:43.759 This is such a great sin. 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:46.000 It's destructive to society. 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:51.359 You know, even in the Old Testament, in the Old Covenant, there was the death penalty for

adultery. 00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:56.000 Now, I you can just drive down Alameda, and I've seen these sites recently. 00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:57.359 I think they were in Walmart. 00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:59.839 They said it's cheap and easy divorce. 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:02.640 No, there's not, it's not, it's not easy. 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:04.480 There's it's not pain-free. 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:14.960 Some of you have gone through this painful experience, and I've had people who have also experienced uh adultery, uh, and it's a painful experience. 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:17.440 It hurts with deadly unit. 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:19.039 There's a cost, almost. 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:21.440 Now, is there forgiveness and healing in Christ? 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:22.079 Yes. 00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:30.720 But adultery is, say in Matthew 5, is the case where Jesus says divorce is permissible in the case of adultery. 00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:33.680 It is it is not a sin that comes without cost. 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:36.079 No sin comes without a cost. 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:37.599 There's always a consequence. 00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:43.599 Now, unless you start thinking, oh, well, I've I've lusted in my heart, I might as well prevent the act of adultery. 00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:44.079 No. 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:47.519 That's not what Jesus is implying here. 00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:49.839 But morally, it's in a similar category. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:56.079 All sin is equal in its effect, separates us from God, but it's not equal in its consequence. 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:59.599 You could perhaps committed that a lust in the heart today. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:02.799 Repent of that and walk in purity today. 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:09.279 It's cool because it's that's where the sin of adultery starts, adultery in the heart. 00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:13.440 It starts with lust, as we just read over there in Matthew 5.27. 00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:15.279 Now, how do we define lust? 00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:19.440 Now, this is not a good godly desire for intimacy with your spouse. 00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:26.000 Lust is the desire for anything that is simple and God forbids and is outside of God's design. 00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:29.839 So that can include even coveting when we're talking about sexual life. 00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:36.240 It's however that word put, is uncovering that which is not lawful for us before God. 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:43.599 And I like that concept because you see when people were sexually abusing the Old Testament, they would say he was uncovered. 00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:50.960 And it's a way kind of a euphemism referring to something that should not have happened, that was not God's lawful design for it. 00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:57.599 Because the the uncovering, like Adam and Eve, they were naked and ashamed, they were naked and unashamed. 00:22:58.160 --> 00:23:03.359 And so that's where there should be that union, that love union without shame. 00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:15.839 And then when you uncover something that is not lawfully yours, that is, and that desire for it, there's a form of gathering lust, uh not a god honoring of desire. 00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:29.599 So this includes all these types of sexual morality and lust of fox, pornography, fortification, having sex outside of marriage, bisexuality, lesbianism, homosexuality, transgenderism, immodesty and dirty joking. 00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:32.400 This is just the summary of what God's word says on this. 00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:37.519 And all of these would be outside of God's design for our desires in our actions. 00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:50.720 So we think of what's the effects of sexual immorality, which again, everything outside of chastity and singleness or faithfulness in a biblical marriage between one man and one woman, that's like the word used in the Greek is porna. 00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:56.160 It's just like a large word, everything outside of God's toothpaste of homosexuality. 00:23:56.400 --> 00:24:02.400 The effects of selfishly amusing people, objectifying them, puts pleasure before commitment. 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:10.960 Um sexual morality leads frequently to divorce, harms children, puts someone on the throne of our own sexuality and identity. 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:16.880 Sexual sin in 1 Corinthians 6.18 says, it is a unique sin against your own body. 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:22.799 Now you may be thinking here today, yes, I am aware, and you're and you want to push that away. 00:24:23.119 --> 00:24:23.920 We're remembered. 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:27.519 We're all made new to those who look with Christ. 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:29.680 But don't be like mere legalists. 00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:36.000 You only focus on the outward informing and not inward purity before the Lord. 00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:38.480 You must have a pure heart. 00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:40.480 Modesty, where does it really start? 00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:44.160 Modesty really starts in the heart before it just starts outwards. 00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:48.480 Because it's a modest heart that has purely before the Lord. 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:51.680 Contrast it with the secular definition of love. 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:57.279 How does the world mind us say love is love or consent is all that matters? 00:24:57.519 --> 00:25:04.079 It's where it says feelings and self are the ultimate God and uh proper boundaries of love. 00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:09.440 Judging and accountability is seen as the ultimate sin, and commitment is seen as optional. 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:12.640 Does that sound like fire just going out of control? 00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:18.960 Does that describe our culture right now where it's just chaos of fire and destruction? 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:22.160 That's what happens outside of God's good design. 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:24.799 So that's where we led to what? 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:32.960 His law isn't just given just to make us miserable,

it's given for our joy, for our flourishing. 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:37.839 It leads to us focusing on a joy from holiness in Jesus. 00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:46.240 So some of you, quite practically, if you think about the seven commandments, you it's time for some of you to step up and cultivate your marriage. 00:25:46.400 --> 00:25:50.880 That has to be the positive implication against the command to not commit adultery. 00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:52.400 It's not just coast. 00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:55.359 Some of us, maybe our marriages have been just coasting. 00:25:55.599 --> 00:26:00.720 When the Lord wants your marriage to thrive while you're together, prioritize your marriage. 00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:04.559 Like this week, if that's not a reality, prioritize your marriage. 00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:06.960 No, I'm not saying you neglect your kids. 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:10.000 Deuteronomy 6, we're talking about earlier. 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:17.039 We are intentional with our kids, but that doesn't mean that we prioritize our kids of our marriage. 00:26:17.119 --> 00:26:20.480 We have a one, we have a union, the two become one. 00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:22.799 That's why we should be prioritizing that. 00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:27.680 We don't want our kids to become an idol, and then we neglect our marriage. 00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:32.799 And when our kids see us prioritizing our marriage, it's a reflection of the gospel. 00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:38.559 Christ takes care of his bride, the church. 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:40.160 We prioritize that. 00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:47.599 And now, I mean, well, practically speaking, if you haven't had a date night, like prioritize that, like that's a clear application here. 00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:50.000 But it needs to be more than that, certainly. 00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:54.640 Prioritizing teaching our time together and pursuing Christ together. 00:26:54.799 --> 00:26:57.279 Which I think that means husbands, you take the lead. 00:26:57.359 --> 00:26:59.519 We're also taking the lead in our families. 00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:01.200 Take the lead initiates. 00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:13.279 But keep we notice how even Hebrews 13 4 speaks to reiterating the seventh commandment, and now we're all to think about it. 00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:22.880 Let the marriage bed be held in, let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be under fire, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. 00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:27.279 So keep the marriage bed pure, regular, and mutual. 00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:30.799 We'll see in 1 Corinthians 7 repeating that same truth. 00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:36.240 Over and over, this is a a good gift to marriage. 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:42.559 You look at in Flip's book went to Proverbs, Proverbs chapter 5. 00:27:42.880 --> 00:27:50.480 It and 5 and 6 both speak on keeping your that union pure and fleeing adultery. 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:52.160 This is a great verse. 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:59.039 It's being tempted in our heart to have sinful desires, that for which God has not lawfully given to us. 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:06.960 Proverbs 5.15, drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own love. 00:28:07.440 --> 00:28:11.279 We are it's like the Lord commanding something that's a good gift. 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:12.880 It's interesting. 00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:17.519 Go and be with your spouse and enjoy each other. 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:25.039 And Proverbs 5.15 and on uh talks about being intoxicated already when alone verse 19. 00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:27.599 This is a thing we won't achieve. 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:30.000 We're not ashamed of anything in God's word of it. 00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:37.680 So you you read about these other uh sections in Proverbs where it speaks of Proverbs 6.27. 00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:42.000 Can a man throw fire into his chest and his clothes not be burdened? 00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:56.319 Some of you today, perhaps, have been in your heart struggling with sexual lust, and you're kind of hiding that close and thinking that you can't be burned because you just didn't do the action of adultery. 00:28:56.559 --> 00:29:02.880 But in your heart you're trying to hold this fire and thinking you can come through this with no consequence. 00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:09.680 But see, here's the reality is you just like anyone, we need to bring this out into the open. 00:29:09.920 --> 00:29:11.279 You say, but I can't change. 00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:12.720 This is who I am. 00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:16.319 Well, we have a 2,000-year-old testimony that says different. 00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:25.279 1 Corinthians chapter 6, verse 9 says, Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? 00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:26.559 Do not be deceived. 00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:38.240 Neither the sexually involved, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, who are men who practice homosexuality, who are thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor sprindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:44.000 So he's saying all of these thieves unrepentant, idolaters, sexually involved, all of these are these hellgones. 00:29:44.400 --> 00:29:49.279 Unless they're born again and they continue in this direction, they're not going to inherit the kingdom of God. 00:29:49.359 --> 00:29:52.319 But notice what it says right here in verse 11. 00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:55.599 It says, and such were some of you. 00:29:56.319 --> 00:29:57.680 That's the past tense. 00:29:58.079 --> 00:30:06.640 Such were some of you, but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:11.759 See, Christ saves what kind of people who were just had a few mistakes. 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:13.440 No, he saves the impure. 00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:15.440 That's the only kind of people he saves. 00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:21.599 So

everyone in here that is a that is a believer today, they're not saved because they were good enough, so they learned it. 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:32.480 They were the unrighteous, they became righteous because Christ came to bring unholy people, impure people, into a sin of making them pure. 00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:35.039 That's where that's where our hope lies. 00:30:35.200 --> 00:30:38.240 That we can have a new purity in Christ. 00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:43.759 Christ died for us while we are still ungodly, while we were enemies. 00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:45.759 And that's that's the beauty here. 00:30:45.920 --> 00:30:54.079 When we were enslaved with simple desires, now he gives those in Christ new desires and then real lies. 00:30:54.799 --> 00:31:01.039 So there's a challenge where if you're in Christ, you must continue to fuck for walking in purity. 00:31:01.680 --> 00:31:06.160 See, real biblical community and accountability is what every single one of us needs. 00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:08.880 And I'm not just talking about you see someone once a week. 00:31:08.960 --> 00:31:14.480 Like Proverbs 18.1 says, see who isolates himself breaks out against all sound judgment. 00:31:14.880 --> 00:31:18.880 Like everyone in here needs real biblical community. 00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:24.240 You need someone where you can you can share your sins and your struggles to confess that to one another. 00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:28.400 I talked to a lot of brothers in the Lord who struggle with sexual immorality. 00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:31.200 And I'm saying, brother, what does your community look like? 00:31:31.359 --> 00:31:34.720 Do you have other people who can speak into your life and challenge you? 00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:38.960 And they're like, look, more often than not, they're isolated. 00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:41.680 See, sin always survives in isolation. 00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:52.799 And if you don't have that community, you're seeking for a false sense of connection or explicit images or sexual morality of different thoughts and sinful desires. 00:31:52.880 --> 00:32:01.200 You need to find community that actually pursue joy in the Lord and one that you can confess to one another so that your sins may be showed. 00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:04.559 Some of you, maybe that's your status finding that community. 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:05.759 You want to fight sin? 00:32:06.160 --> 00:32:07.920 Get a real relationship for us. 00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:10.079 So not only that, name the sin. 00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:13.200 But name it, this is rebellion to God. 00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:16.079 This does not need to be completely anymore. 00:32:16.319 --> 00:32:18.240 I need to speak the truth about this. 00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:23.200 Athenians 4.22 says these are deceitful, deceitful desires. 00:32:23.519 --> 00:32:26.240 These desires lie to us about what's satisfies. 00:32:26.640 --> 00:32:33.599 We need to name it and say, this is rebellion to God, this is adultery in the heart,

this is evil on the vocabulary. 00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:35.039 I would call it for what it is. 00:32:35.200 --> 00:32:39.839 But if you have a part for what it is, it continues to pride and secrecy, right? 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:43.599 And that's why you look in Proverbs 28-13. 00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:49.119 It talks about the one who thinks he can hide his thing, he's really just lying to himself. 00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:50.960 You're not going to prosecute. 00:32:51.200 --> 00:33:00.319 Psalms 36 also echoes that same truth, where he says, the one will turn your wicked things. 00:33:14.880 --> 00:33:17.359 The Lord sees all of your secret sin. 00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:21.839 You've been justified, washing things online or on your fold. 00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:29.279 If no one knows, my spouse doesn't know. 00:33:29.599 --> 00:33:30.559 Yes, it does. 00:33:30.880 --> 00:33:36.720 Sin always causes separation between you and God and personal relationships with others. 00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:43.119 The Lord, may the Lord today help that come out into the open, there be true healing. 00:33:43.359 --> 00:33:47.359 As we said earlier, take those drastic measures. 00:33:48.160 --> 00:33:51.839 Like Joseph running away from God of his wife? 00:33:52.079 --> 00:33:54.480 Like that's the kind of passion we should have. 00:33:54.640 --> 00:33:57.759 Or 2 Timothy 2, flee youthful passions. 00:33:58.079 --> 00:34:00.880 Now, it's common for people to say, well, you can flee boys. 00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:03.599 I guess I could just say this dirty joke. 00:34:03.839 --> 00:34:07.039 Is there any precedent in scripture that that's how we could treat sin? 00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:08.000 No. 00:34:08.480 --> 00:34:10.079 We don't say, well, I'm just young. 00:34:10.320 --> 00:34:18.239 Like what no, Paul says, flee those youthful passions, which is not only true for uh immature young men, but it can be true for young women as well. 00:34:18.880 --> 00:34:23.280 Men and women both are guilty of sexual immorality in many times. 00:34:23.599 --> 00:34:24.480 So flee these. 00:34:24.719 --> 00:34:27.199 So look at Matthew 5 again. 00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:31.280 Well, he says, if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. 00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:40.639 Now I don't think he's talking about self-muteration because Jesus frequently used hyperproofable uh where he's talking about extreme exaggeration. 00:34:40.800 --> 00:34:41.519 What does he say? 00:34:41.760 --> 00:34:43.280 Well we have a good application. 00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:46.320 If your computer causes you to sin, throw it away. 00:34:46.559 --> 00:34:48.639 That's one application you could do. 00:34:48.880 --> 00:34:55.280 I've heard of a guy taking his laptop and throwing it off the bank of the mountains because he couldn't stop looking at sexual and hard things. 00:34:55.599 --> 00:35:03.199 It's better to get rid of your computer, maybe a thousand dollars, than have your well these sample desires wage against your soul. 00:35:03.360 --> 00:35:05.280 Now, I'm not saying you absolutely have to do that. 00:35:05.360 --> 00:35:09.360 Maybe get some safeguards, maybe only be on the computer publicly somewhere. 00:35:09.599 --> 00:35:11.199 So do whatever it takes. 00:35:11.360 --> 00:35:14.159 This is not good for your relationships and your soul. 00:35:14.480 --> 00:35:18.480 You better take those extreme measures, find that accountability. 00:35:19.039 --> 00:35:21.840 And I think that's the heart of what Jesus is saying here. 00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:28.719 But he notice if we can't do that, at the end of the day, we're idolizing it so much than thus breaking the first commandment. 00:35:28.880 --> 00:35:34.000 We're idolizing the sexual sin so much, it continues to cause us grief and pain. 00:35:34.400 --> 00:35:44.239 But if you let that out of the idol and pursue that purity on the Lord in your marriage, there's going to be so much rejoicing. 00:35:44.719 --> 00:35:50.159 God's word is given for us for our joy to follow him as we look to him in Christ. 00:35:50.639 --> 00:35:52.960 That's why we're called to guard our heart. 00:35:53.280 --> 00:35:54.239 Guard our heart, what? 00:35:54.400 --> 00:35:56.800 Because out of it flow the well strings of life. 00:35:59.039 --> 00:36:05.679 So if you're started there, sometimes people think, okay, so what I think is I just go blah blah blah blah and just close my ears to sing. 00:36:06.159 --> 00:36:08.719 Well, in Greek mythology, you've probably heard of the sirens. 00:36:16.880 --> 00:36:18.880 Well, that's kind of like sin, right? 00:36:19.119 --> 00:36:24.559 Well, it looks so attractive, it looks so great, and then we go and do the sin with, oh, that's just being invisible. 00:36:25.039 --> 00:36:30.719 But they'd say the lines, well, what if you make what if what if you'll miss out if you follow God's way? 00:36:31.280 --> 00:36:32.800 This looks really satisfying. 00:36:33.039 --> 00:36:35.039 It's like the song of the sirens. 00:36:35.199 --> 00:36:37.920 And I put one version where they were saved. 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:48.400 They would have to either plug their ears, which didn't really work, or they tie themselves to the mass so they wouldn't have sinned, or in one case, someone would play a better song. 00:36:48.639 --> 00:36:50.320 That's what the gospel is. 00:36:50.400 --> 00:36:51.920 Is it gives us a new heart? 00:36:52.239 --> 00:36:53.679 It gives us a newly better song. 00:36:53.760 --> 00:37:00.320 And the word gospel kind of sounded like it was came from this contraction meaning good spell. 00:37:00.639 --> 00:37:07.760 Not talking about witchcraft, it was like this idea that it was like such a good message that it like captivated hearts. 00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:12.800 So the gospel changes hearts of what God has done to save sinners in Christ. 00:37:12.880 --> 00:37:14.559 That it is a new and better song. 00:37:14.800 --> 00:37:18.079 It is more satisfying where

we say, Oh, Jesus is better. 00:37:18.239 --> 00:37:19.039 Jesus is better. 00:37:19.119 --> 00:37:22.079 And so I'm not just gonna say, stop it. 00:37:22.400 --> 00:37:27.039 I'm going to pursue Christ and pursue joy in him. 00:37:28.079 --> 00:37:33.280 Because you will never good and forgiving, abounding and set us up, all will call upon you. 00:37:33.519 --> 00:37:38.400 Some of you come here with a sexual sin in your heart or actions in your past, you need to remember that. 00:37:38.559 --> 00:37:39.920 Psalms 85, 6. 00:37:40.079 --> 00:37:42.159 The Lord is forgiving and abounding. 00:37:42.400 --> 00:37:43.760 Do all will call upon him. 00:37:44.320 --> 00:37:54.719 See, that that's the beauty of the gospel, that we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, of our sexual trespasses, according to the riches in his grace. 00:37:55.519 --> 00:37:58.000 That's why David Right earlier. 00:37:58.800 --> 00:38:00.239 What is God's will of us? 00:38:00.559 --> 00:38:04.480 Your sanctification, and we avoid sexual immorality. 00:38:09.039 --> 00:38:13.599 He says God has not called us to impurity but in holiness. 00:38:13.840 --> 00:38:18.239 He has called us to pursue joy in Christ. 00:38:18.800 --> 00:38:20.480 Think about the seventh commandment. 00:38:20.719 --> 00:38:23.679 Don't just think about oh, it would be miserable. 00:38:23.760 --> 00:38:24.320 No, no, no. 00:38:24.400 --> 00:38:28.239 This is for your good and for your joy when you find it in Christ. 00:38:28.400 --> 00:38:35.039 We're gonna have a time, as always, in the past weeks, to get time in front of reflection what the Lord has taught us today. 00:38:35.280 --> 00:38:38.320 Some of us, it's time brought marriage to change its tune. 00:38:38.559 --> 00:38:42.800 It's time to pursue unity and all the good daughter-baby ways. 00:38:42.960 --> 00:38:46.159 Some of us time to leave that sexual sin behind. 00:38:46.639 --> 00:38:50.320 Stop trying to pursue it and go to Christ. 00:38:50.800 --> 00:38:53.360 It's time to rejoice in that as well. 00:38:53.679 --> 00:38:55.280 I'm going to close with a prayer now. 00:38:55.360 --> 00:39:00.239 And if uh during our reflection time, you're always welcome to visit me in the front or not here. 00:39:00.400 --> 00:39:02.159 But I do invite you to seek the Lord. 00:39:02.239 --> 00:39:07.039 We'll have some couple of reflection questions up there for you to continue seeking. 00:39:07.199 --> 00:39:11.679 And after a few minutes, uh Kendra and the ladies will come up to close our service out here. 00:39:12.159 --> 00:39:14.320 Let's go to the Lord together in prayer. 00:39:14.960 --> 00:39:16.880 Lord, we thank you for your good word. 00:39:17.119 --> 00:39:20.000 God, you do not withhold anything good from us. 00:39:20.239 --> 00:39:29.199 God, that your law shows us what's good, but also shows us that we have all fallen short of your law in our hearts, our attitudes and our actions. 00:39:32.480 --> 00:39:42.400 As we look at this hard text on what we're called to be in marriage, God, some of us, we need to we need to turn from what we have made marriage to be. 00:39:42.559 --> 00:39:45.760 God, maybe there's bitterness on our heart against our spouse. 00:39:46.000 --> 00:39:50.480 God, maybe we are we are not pursuing that union you call us to be in. 00:39:50.719 --> 00:39:56.559 God, I pray that we would lead and change, that we would seek you together and be united and honor you in our marriage. 00:39:56.800 --> 00:40:00.880 God, I pray for those who are trying to hide and conceal their sexual sin. 00:40:01.039 --> 00:40:02.880 That they would find healing today. 00:40:03.119 --> 00:40:09.599 Name it for what it is, and confess that to one another and find healing and perfect forgiveness in Christ. 00:40:11.599 --> 00:40:12.239 We pray.