WEBVTT - AR Bernard - Oct 29 - 3:30 am 0:00:01.950 --> 0:00:02.310 Really? 0:00:02.750 --> 0:00:03.570 The real A.R. 0:00:03.590 --> 0:00:05.029 Bernard is on Instagram? 0:00:05.190 --> 0:00:06.449 Did you say the real A.R. 0:00:06.470 --> 0:00:14.130 Bernard is on Instagram? You mean every other Thursday at 0:00:14.130 --> 0:00:17.110 3 p.m. Eastern time, we can catch the real A.R. 0:00:17.140 --> 0:00:19.890 Bernard live on Instagram? Yes. 0:00:20.300 --> 0:00:21.040 Join A.R. 0:00:21.079 --> 0:00:25.320 Bernard on Instagram Live every other Thursday at 3 p.m. 0:00:25.420 --> 0:00:25.780 Eastern. 0:00:26.380 --> 0:00:26.599 A.R. 0:00:26.739 --> 0:00:27.100 Bernard. 0:00:32.680 --> 0:00:36.200 So the opening of eyes, having your eyes open, means 0:00:36.280 --> 0:00:40.870 that you are now introduced to a new understanding, a 0:00:40.920 --> 0:00:44.690 new lens, a new way of seeing things. You've experienced 0:00:44.729 --> 0:00:47.610 something called a cognitive effect. 0:00:48.610 --> 0:00:51.670 Welcome to A.R. Bernard Ministries. You are about to hear 0:00:51.750 --> 0:00:55.170 from A.R. Bernard, one of today's most influential voices in ministry, 0:00:55.510 --> 0:00:59.760 a best-selling author and charismatic teacher of spirit-led truth. Today's 0:00:59.820 --> 0:01:04.080 thought-provoking message and captivating word will empower you spiritually, inform 0:01:04.120 --> 0:01:07.600 you intellectually, and motivate you with renewed strength to stand 0:01:07.700 --> 0:01:10.060 boldly in your purpose and live out your faith in 0:01:10.080 --> 0:01:14.210 today's ever-changing culture. Tune in and join us now for A.R. Bernard. 0:01:16.050 --> 0:01:17.890 We're gonna get into the word. You know, last week, 0:01:18.760 --> 0:01:27.640 I thought about how many people responded to the whole 0:01:27.819 --> 0:01:33.440 idea of our confidence to come into the presence of 0:01:33.980 --> 0:01:38.760 God and what that means. I got emails, text messages, 0:01:39.360 --> 0:01:43.940 Pastor Jamal, who was enjoying with his lovely wife Rita, 0:01:44.440 --> 0:01:48.980 the 24th wedding anniversary today. But we shared during the 0:01:49.040 --> 0:01:52.740 week the feedback that came when we talked about being 0:01:52.880 --> 0:01:56.309 able to boldly, confidently stand in the presence of God. 0:01:56.950 --> 0:02:01.390 And how if even a believer can be trapped in 0:02:01.430 --> 0:02:04.850 an old mindset, even though they're in relationship with Christ, 0:02:05.610 --> 0:02:09.070 and now experiencing the God of love, they could still 0:02:09.130 --> 0:02:14.540 have an old mindset. And as I thought about that, 0:02:14.600 --> 0:02:18.060 I said, wow, let me take some time to kind 0:02:18.100 --> 0:02:21.600 of break that down as we think about presence, our 0:02:21.680 --> 0:02:25.000 theme throughout the year. So, and I had to go 0:02:25.060 --> 0:02:27.580 back because we have to contrast. I had to go 0:02:27.660 --> 0:02:33.300 back to the book of Genesis, of course, beginnings in 0:02:34.020 --> 0:02:40.880 chapter two and chapter three, because we have the words 0:02:42.000 --> 0:02:45.140 before the fall, before Adam and Eve ate from the 0:02:45.700 --> 0:02:49.350 fruit of the tree And please don't waste time trying 0:02:49.370 --> 0:02:51.270 to figure it out, whether it was an apple or 0:02:51.290 --> 0:02:56.049 a cranberry. It's fruit. It doesn't matter. The fact that 0:02:56.090 --> 0:03:00.900 they engaged in an act. Before that, they were, the 0:03:00.940 --> 0:03:09.079 Bible says, naked and unashamed. And after they ate, they 0:03:09.120 --> 0:03:18.919 were naked and ashamed. Same word, naked. But now a 0:03:18.960 --> 0:03:23.000 change has taken place. And I wanted to just unpack 0:03:23.040 --> 0:03:26.239 that with you a little bit. If we can go 0:03:26.440 --> 0:03:33.820 to Genesis 3, 7. Because this is what happened. And 0:03:33.880 --> 0:03:39.790 I'm reading from the English Standard Version. Verse 6. Genesis 3, 6. 0:03:39.790 --> 0:03:41.950 We'll start there. So when the woman saw that the 0:03:42.050 --> 0:03:44.750 tree was good for food and that it was a 0:03:44.810 --> 0:03:48.390 delight to the eyes and that The tree was to 0:03:48.470 --> 0:03:51.490 be desired to make one wise, and we can unpack that, 0:03:51.550 --> 0:03:54.850 but we won't this morning. She took of its fruit 0:03:55.100 --> 0:03:58.680 and ate, and she also gave some to her husband 0:03:59.060 --> 0:04:04.980 who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes 0:04:05.340 --> 0:04:10.280 of both were opened. Let's take a moment with that. 0:04:10.840 --> 0:04:16.670 The eyes, then the eyes of both were opened. Boy, 0:04:16.790 --> 0:04:19.530 I know some of you are saying, well, you know, 0:04:20.150 --> 0:04:23.760 why did it happen after Adam and not immediately after Eve? 0:04:23.800 --> 0:04:26.640 That's another conversation, but take some time to think about 0:04:26.660 --> 0:04:29.700 it and study it. But what does it mean? Does 0:04:29.740 --> 0:04:33.360 it mean all of a sudden physical sight came to them? No, 0:04:33.560 --> 0:04:38.900 they had physical sight. Something else happened. You know, in 0:04:39.400 --> 0:04:43.219 the New Testament, we have language where The Apostle Paul 0:04:43.360 --> 0:04:49.600 prays that the eyes of our understanding be opened so 0:04:49.640 --> 0:04:54.060 that we can know the breadth, depth, the length of 0:04:54.460 --> 0:04:58.320 Christ and the riches of Christ's love for us. So 0:04:58.360 --> 0:05:01.940 the opening of eyes, having your eyes open, means that 0:05:02.060 --> 0:05:07.000 you are now introduced to a new understanding, a new lens, 0:05:07.120 --> 0:05:11.290 a new way of seeing things. you've experienced something called 0:05:11.430 --> 0:05:16.529 a cognitive effect. So it wasn't that their eyes were 0:05:16.630 --> 0:05:19.710 open and all of a sudden, you know, their physical 0:05:19.890 --> 0:05:20.730 eyes could see. 0:05:21.230 --> 0:05:21.490 No. 0:05:22.170 --> 0:05:29.080 Their understanding changed. Something deep and profound took place. So 0:05:29.220 --> 0:05:34.720 it was a cognitive effect. It affected their thinking, the 0:05:34.760 --> 0:05:38.940 way they would learn and process information, and the way 0:05:39.000 --> 0:05:44.060 they would recall information, memory. Because cognitive skills have to 0:05:44.170 --> 0:05:48.610 do with our reasoning process, the way we think. Secondly, 0:05:49.510 --> 0:05:51.270 the way we learn, the way we take in and 0:05:51.310 --> 0:05:57.430 process information, and the way we recall information. Because if 0:05:57.470 --> 0:06:04.940 you notice, we tend to not recall with the necessary 0:06:04.980 --> 0:06:09.060 degree of accuracy that we become reliable witnesses. That's why 0:06:09.120 --> 0:06:12.960 whenever there's a situation, they gather many witnesses. And you 0:06:12.980 --> 0:06:16.740 could have ten witnesses see the same thing and recall 0:06:16.800 --> 0:06:23.340 it differently. Something happened inside of them. So I want 0:06:23.360 --> 0:06:29.610 to go back to that and talk about this cognitive 0:06:30.930 --> 0:06:36.929 effect that it had upon them. Their eyes were opened. 0:06:38.110 --> 0:06:42.330 It had a cognitive effect upon their soul. Yes, it 0:06:42.370 --> 0:06:48.180 affected them physically. They would surely die. But it affected 0:06:48.700 --> 0:06:51.779 their soul. What is the soul? The soul is the mind, 0:06:52.500 --> 0:06:57.580 the will, and the emotions. It affected how they thought, 0:06:57.620 --> 0:07:00.900 how they processed information, how they saw the world around them, 0:07:01.500 --> 0:07:05.690 how they saw themselves. Remember, they hid themselves they were 0:07:05.770 --> 0:07:10.090 afraid how they saw god change even how they saw 0:07:10.190 --> 0:07:16.000 each other adam and eve change so relationship change because 0:07:16.060 --> 0:07:20.180 understanding change the soul is the mind the will and 0:07:20.220 --> 0:07:24.500 emotions so it affected the way they think the way 0:07:24.540 --> 0:07:28.880 they exercise their will all right and motivations And also 0:07:29.120 --> 0:07:34.040 how they felt, how they experienced emotional interaction with the 0:07:34.100 --> 0:07:37.880 world around them, each other, and with God. That's why 0:07:38.060 --> 0:07:39.620 I put Romans 12 too here. 0:07:40.120 --> 0:07:40.340 Why? 0:07:40.400 --> 0:07:43.740 Because it says you'll be transformed by the renewing of 0:07:43.860 --> 0:07:49.400 your mind. And that's important because when we become born again, 0:07:49.880 --> 0:07:54.570 born again, born of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, right? 0:07:55.610 --> 0:08:00.510 We have to now think differently. our eyes are opened 0:08:00.630 --> 0:08:03.350 in a different way. Our eyes are now open to 0:08:03.390 --> 0:08:06.780 the truth of God in Christ who has come to 0:08:06.940 --> 0:08:11.500 uncover things that were hidden intentionally from the foundation of 0:08:11.540 --> 0:08:15.400 the world. So we have to go through a process 0:08:15.820 --> 0:08:19.370 of undoing. But too often we don't realize that, and 0:08:19.400 --> 0:08:21.290 this is why we have to be taught. That's why 0:08:21.330 --> 0:08:26.610 the teaching ministry is so important. It's important to feel good, hallelujah, 0:08:26.810 --> 0:08:30.050 to be inspired and stir the creative juices. But what 0:08:30.150 --> 0:08:36.370 transforms you is when that information changes you on the inside. 0:08:36.429 --> 0:08:39.589 Not just inspires you, but transform the way you think, 0:08:40.010 --> 0:08:42.850 the way you exercise your will, the choices that you make, 0:08:44.030 --> 0:08:46.630 and it changes the way you feel, the way you 0:08:46.730 --> 0:08:51.949 feel about yourself. It gets into the realm of your emotions. 0:08:52.390 --> 0:08:55.850 So their eyes were opened. They began to see the 0:08:55.910 --> 0:09:00.530 world differently. They began to see things differently. And that's 0:09:00.580 --> 0:09:05.059 what should happen when you are born again. I will 0:09:05.100 --> 0:09:09.630 tell you, I remember the night That I gave my 0:09:09.690 --> 0:09:13.400 life to Jesus Christ. A whole new world opened to 0:09:13.440 --> 0:09:16.839 me that was foreign. It was new to me. I 0:09:16.900 --> 0:09:19.449 had no idea. I know what I felt. I know 0:09:19.470 --> 0:09:23.030 what I was thinking about when I experienced. So it 0:09:23.100 --> 0:09:26.800 took hold of me in terms of my thought process, 0:09:27.240 --> 0:09:30.900 my emotions, my will. I just wanted to do God's will. 0:09:30.960 --> 0:09:35.360 Whatever God wanted done, I wanted to do it. And 0:09:35.500 --> 0:09:40.350 I felt this sense of repentance. I just needed to 0:09:40.450 --> 0:09:44.190 cleanse myself of all of the things. I didn't want 0:09:44.510 --> 0:09:49.350 any identification with evil. Boy, it was a honeymoon. I 0:09:49.550 --> 0:09:53.240 enjoyed it. those first few months, and then I had 0:09:53.260 --> 0:09:55.260 to come off the mountain and deal with the real world. 0:09:56.000 --> 0:10:00.050 But it was a whole change for me. and it 0:10:00.100 --> 0:10:03.679 began to feed on the Word of God and allow 0:10:03.740 --> 0:10:08.340 it to inform the way I thought, inform the exercising 0:10:08.480 --> 0:10:12.980 of my will, my motivations, and inform my feelings, how 0:10:13.240 --> 0:10:17.360 I should feel. And I let God begin to shape 0:10:17.500 --> 0:10:23.199 my brain, reshape my brain to think differently. So their 0:10:23.480 --> 0:10:26.580 eyes were open. And you know what happens when your 0:10:26.800 --> 0:10:30.120 eyes are open to something. Maybe you've been blind to something, 0:10:30.900 --> 0:10:35.110 willfully blind because you choose not to see it. And 0:10:35.190 --> 0:10:39.790 then when you finally embrace a reality, you think differently. 0:10:39.970 --> 0:10:45.530 Truth will change your understanding. Truth will open your eyes. 0:10:45.630 --> 0:10:49.490 And it's not always a pleasant experience. when truth opens 0:10:49.750 --> 0:10:53.860 your eyes. So you're familiar with the term, and you've 0:10:53.929 --> 0:10:57.600 probably said it again and again. Boy, did I have 0:10:57.660 --> 0:11:01.439 my eyes open on that one. Yeah, you're saying you 0:11:01.500 --> 0:11:04.479 didn't see certain things before. You were not aware of 0:11:04.520 --> 0:11:07.060 certain things, even though it may have been right in 0:11:07.520 --> 0:11:12.209 front of you. Your perspective changed, and that's what happened 0:11:12.260 --> 0:11:17.630 to them. I want to make a comparison Because I 0:11:17.670 --> 0:11:22.760 think it's important that you understand that redemption in Christ 0:11:23.160 --> 0:11:27.420 is about bringing us back to that beautiful innocence that 0:11:27.460 --> 0:11:32.140 they experienced in the garden before sin entered. Right now, 0:11:32.640 --> 0:11:36.780 we're still wrestling with the world, the flesh, and the devil. 0:11:37.760 --> 0:11:40.840 But you need to know the goal. You need to 0:11:40.900 --> 0:11:44.140 know the objective that God has in mind. 0:11:44.970 --> 0:11:49.969 ARB Ministries works hard to provide content and programs that 0:11:50.010 --> 0:11:54.040 will enrich and impact your life. If any of these 0:11:54.160 --> 0:11:57.900 programs have been a blessing to you, please consider supporting 0:11:57.960 --> 0:12:01.570 the ministry with a monetary donation that is suitable for you. 0:12:01.950 --> 0:12:09.170 You can donate directly online at arbernard.com or arb.tv. You 0:12:09.230 --> 0:12:13.550 can also mail a check payable to ARB Ministries and 0:12:13.650 --> 0:12:17.420 send it to ARB Ministries P.O. Box 1548, Smithtown, New 0:12:17.620 --> 0:12:19.820 York 11787. 0:12:23.300 --> 0:12:27.920 So I outlined it here, and we'll take some time 0:12:28.260 --> 0:12:33.040 with it, okay? So first, get this. Their eyes were open. 0:12:33.280 --> 0:12:37.870 It had a cognitive effect. It affected the mind, the will, 0:12:38.309 --> 0:12:42.870 and the emotions. It affected the way they thought, the 0:12:42.910 --> 0:12:47.070 way they learned, process information, the way they remembered. Jesus said, 0:12:47.550 --> 0:12:54.240 take heed what you hear. Pay attention to what's informing you, 0:12:54.700 --> 0:12:58.150 informing the way you think, to what's informing your mind, 0:12:58.170 --> 0:13:01.429 your will, and emotions. And then Jesus said, take heed 0:13:02.010 --> 0:13:06.990 how you hear. Pay attention to how you process the information. 0:13:07.570 --> 0:13:10.000 Is it being processed through the lens of your hurt 0:13:10.500 --> 0:13:14.459 or fear or personal prejudices? Or are you allowing the 0:13:14.520 --> 0:13:18.740 information to speak to you directly, freely, openly, so that 0:13:18.780 --> 0:13:23.000 you can then hear? Give it critical thinking. I was 0:13:23.040 --> 0:13:26.339 having a conversation with a rabbi friend of mine. We 0:13:26.380 --> 0:13:29.660 were having coffee this past week, and we were talking 0:13:29.760 --> 0:13:36.270 about the power of entertainment and how entertainment is designed to, yes, 0:13:36.730 --> 0:13:42.069 take you on an emotional ride by some storyline, but 0:13:42.190 --> 0:13:48.079 quite often that ride also requires you to suspend your 0:13:48.120 --> 0:13:52.479 critical thinking. And that's a problem because when we suspend 0:13:52.550 --> 0:13:57.240 our critical thinking, we're open to deception. So thinking, this 0:13:57.300 --> 0:13:59.040 is why Pastor Karen doesn't like to go to movies 0:13:59.080 --> 0:14:00.960 with me because I'm watching a movie and scriptures are 0:14:00.980 --> 0:14:02.939 popping up in my mind and I'm telling her the 0:14:02.960 --> 0:14:04.800 scriptures and she says, I just want to see the movie. 0:14:05.440 --> 0:14:08.380 But entertainment is designed to do that. But we can't 0:14:08.760 --> 0:14:13.520 suspend critical thinking. We have to take heed what we're 0:14:13.540 --> 0:14:19.570 hearing and how we're processing it. So This took place 0:14:21.130 --> 0:14:23.450 and we ended up with this. 0:14:23.570 --> 0:14:24.210 Let me go back. 0:14:25.210 --> 0:14:31.480 All right. So in Genesis 2, I think verse 22 0:14:31.480 --> 0:14:36.020 and Genesis 3, 7. So in chapter 2 of Genesis, right, 0:14:36.860 --> 0:14:44.720 they were naked and unashamed. In Genesis chapter 3, after 0:14:44.760 --> 0:14:49.330 they sin, what happens? They are now still naked, but 0:14:49.410 --> 0:14:54.930 now they are ashamed of their nakedness. Let's look at 0:14:55.570 --> 0:14:59.650 how the transition took place. In the garden, in the 0:14:59.690 --> 0:15:04.010 way God intended things to be, they were innocent. They 0:15:04.030 --> 0:15:08.000 were in a state of innocence. Remember, it was a 0:15:08.100 --> 0:15:13.300 tree of the knowledge of good and evil. So they 0:15:13.320 --> 0:15:17.600 were now exposed to evil again. in a way that 0:15:17.720 --> 0:15:24.400 they were not exposed before. They developed a consciousness. When 0:15:24.460 --> 0:15:28.240 God said to them, who told you you were naked? 0:15:28.780 --> 0:15:32.100 He was pointing to the activation of their conscience. Their 0:15:32.220 --> 0:15:37.560 conscience was activated. They were now being judged for right 0:15:37.760 --> 0:15:41.700 and wrong actions. It took them into a whole new 0:15:42.220 --> 0:15:47.130 mindset and relationship with themselves and with God. Before they sinned, 0:15:47.450 --> 0:15:51.690 they were in a state of innocence. There was no guilt. 0:15:52.090 --> 0:15:57.360 But after they sinned, their innocence turned to what? Turned 0:15:57.380 --> 0:16:01.320 into guilt. It turned into guilt. They began to feel 0:16:01.400 --> 0:16:05.160 the guilt of their conscience. And your conscience is God-given. 0:16:05.740 --> 0:16:09.960 In fact, it's universal. Every human being has a conscience. 0:16:10.640 --> 0:16:15.530 And that conscience is sensitized to the universal law of 0:16:15.990 --> 0:16:20.290 moral right and wrong conduct, no matter who you are. 0:16:20.450 --> 0:16:25.270 In fact, in Romans chapter 2, the apostle Paul, verse 0:16:25.270 --> 0:16:29.780 14 and 15, says that even when the Gentiles, having 0:16:30.220 --> 0:16:33.780 not the law, but do those things written in the law, 0:16:34.280 --> 0:16:38.000 they show, they become a law unto themselves, showing that 0:16:38.060 --> 0:16:41.560 there is a law written in their hearts. In other words, 0:16:41.960 --> 0:16:44.119 even if you didn't know the Ten Commandments, there is 0:16:44.180 --> 0:16:47.840 something written on the human heart that judges our actions 0:16:48.440 --> 0:16:52.920 according to a moral standard that God placed in every 0:16:53.060 --> 0:16:57.560 human being. When they were naked and unashamed before the fall, 0:16:58.020 --> 0:17:01.900 there was innocence, there was freedom, there was openness and transparency. 0:17:02.340 --> 0:17:06.900 There was simplicity. There was open intimacy. There was confidence. 0:17:07.280 --> 0:17:11.900 And there was faith. Once they sinned, the conditions changed. 0:17:11.920 --> 0:17:15.590 This is important. What did they begin to experience as 0:17:15.670 --> 0:17:19.770 the norm? This was the norm. Hallelujah. What did they 0:17:19.810 --> 0:17:23.950 begin to experience as the norm? Guilt. They went from 0:17:24.119 --> 0:17:29.280 freedom to bondage. Bondage to fear. Bondage to sin. Bondage 0:17:29.320 --> 0:17:34.869 to death. They went from openness and transparency to concealment 0:17:35.550 --> 0:17:41.600 and secrecy. They went from simplicity to complexity, especially when 0:17:41.650 --> 0:17:47.220 it came to relationships. Relationships became complex, and you know 0:17:47.240 --> 0:17:51.900 what I'm talking about. Relationships can be quite complicated. Yeah, 0:17:52.020 --> 0:17:54.420 it wasn't meant to be that way. It was meant 0:17:54.500 --> 0:18:00.230 to be simple interaction between loving human beings. So simplicity 0:18:00.350 --> 0:18:07.380 became complexity. Open intimacy became shame. They were embarrassed. They 0:18:07.500 --> 0:18:15.280 covered themselves up. Confidence became vulnerability. They now experienced the 0:18:15.380 --> 0:18:20.600 fact that they were exposed to being emotionally and physically 0:18:20.940 --> 0:18:26.500 wounded and hurt. That reality came. And look, once you 0:18:26.840 --> 0:18:31.260 experience vulnerability, and you know that you now are capable 0:18:31.300 --> 0:18:34.840 of being wounded and hurt, what happens? Your guard goes up. 0:18:35.220 --> 0:18:38.410 Your defense goes up. So covering themselves with the fig 0:18:38.450 --> 0:18:42.030 leaves was more than just covering their physical body. It 0:18:42.070 --> 0:18:45.570 was trying to protect themselves because of the feeling of 0:18:45.670 --> 0:18:51.169 shame and vulnerability. They went from faith to fear of 0:18:51.300 --> 0:18:55.400 being judged. Why did they hide themselves? I'm glad you asked. 0:18:56.140 --> 0:19:00.800 They were afraid. of being judged. I'm going to say 0:19:00.840 --> 0:19:06.260 it again. They were afraid of being judged. And guess what? 0:19:06.840 --> 0:19:12.140 To this day, all human beings are afraid of being judged. 0:19:12.180 --> 0:19:15.640 Don't judge me. We're afraid of what other people may 0:19:15.880 --> 0:19:20.850 think of us. We're afraid of how people will look 0:19:21.410 --> 0:19:26.790 at us. The fear of judgment not only a final 0:19:26.869 --> 0:19:32.250 judgment for the whole world, but personally, individually. We are 0:19:32.369 --> 0:19:37.230 constantly thinking about the potential that we're going to be judged, 0:19:37.710 --> 0:19:40.869 and we don't want to be misjudged. We don't want 0:19:40.890 --> 0:19:46.810 to be misunderstood. But all of this became a reality 0:19:47.490 --> 0:19:51.830 once we move from the innocence of the garden into 0:19:51.869 --> 0:19:57.859 the place of sin. I'll say it again. Innocence became guilt. 0:19:58.760 --> 0:20:04.300 Freedom became bondage to fear, sin, and death. Openness and 0:20:04.380 --> 0:20:09.830 transparency became concealment and secrecy. And think about it. Think 0:20:09.890 --> 0:20:15.530 about it. We still experience that today in that when 0:20:15.550 --> 0:20:20.150 you enter a new relationship, all relationships are based on trust, right? 0:20:20.730 --> 0:20:24.870 All relationships are based on trust. So when we have 0:20:24.910 --> 0:20:29.290 a new relationship, right, we work our way towards what? 0:20:29.890 --> 0:20:32.989 Openness and transparency. I want to get to know you. 0:20:33.770 --> 0:20:39.020 Relationships go through a process. Introduction first, right? You're introduced. 0:20:39.840 --> 0:20:42.420 get to know each other a little bit. You move 0:20:42.520 --> 0:20:50.100 from introduction to the next stage of acquaintanceship, getting acquainted, 0:20:50.440 --> 0:20:54.660 getting to know each other. And if that's good, then 0:20:54.700 --> 0:20:59.150 you move to the next level, which is building a relationship, 0:20:59.270 --> 0:21:03.969 a friendship. And then friendship becomes the basis for the 0:21:04.030 --> 0:21:10.510 next level of intimacy. And that doesn't mean physical intimacy. Yes, 0:21:10.550 --> 0:21:14.210 in the context of marriage, you know. But intimacy in 0:21:14.230 --> 0:21:20.040 the terms of sharing ideas, openness, and transparency. So even 0:21:20.080 --> 0:21:25.139 in relationships, right, we start out innocent. We start out 0:21:25.960 --> 0:21:30.160 wanting to trust and working through. Unless you've been wounded badly, then, 0:21:30.540 --> 0:21:34.359 you know, you have a hermeneutic of suspicions. Everybody's guilty 0:21:34.380 --> 0:21:38.070 until proven innocent. I get it. I understand that. But essentially, 0:21:38.109 --> 0:21:41.389 we start out saying, okay, I'm going to give you 0:21:41.410 --> 0:21:45.369 the benefit of the doubt. And we start off with 0:21:45.470 --> 0:21:49.209 openness and transparency. But then when sin enters the relationship, 0:21:49.250 --> 0:21:53.910 when someone sins against the other person, what happens? Immediately, 0:21:54.600 --> 0:21:59.359 we move to concealment. The relationship begins to experience secrecy. 0:21:59.740 --> 0:22:03.710 We start concealing. hiding. This whole psychology of this is 0:22:04.130 --> 0:22:07.050 taking us over, and we live it out, not only 0:22:07.150 --> 0:22:11.330 on a personal level, but think about concealment and secrecy 0:22:12.060 --> 0:22:16.210 on a national level. Right now, in our nation, the 0:22:16.230 --> 0:22:21.290 United States, we're making announcements. The president is making announcements. Well, 0:22:21.410 --> 0:22:24.350 is Russia going to go to war on the Ukraine? 0:22:24.970 --> 0:22:30.010 According to our information, we think they're ready to go 0:22:30.310 --> 0:22:32.149 to war, and we're back and forth. 0:22:32.609 --> 0:22:32.869 Why? 0:22:33.070 --> 0:22:38.480 Because everything is working based on what? Concealment, secrecy. We 0:22:38.520 --> 0:22:43.100 have espionage, counter espionage. We have spies. We have all 0:22:43.140 --> 0:22:46.859 of this. So what it became as a result of 0:22:47.000 --> 0:22:51.750 Adam and Eve's sin began to infiltrate and develop over time. 0:22:52.050 --> 0:22:54.830 And now we live in a world that is filled 0:22:55.170 --> 0:22:57.310 with what? Concealment, secrecy. 0:22:57.780 --> 0:23:00.720 In appreciation, we'd like to offer you the special opportunity 0:23:00.780 --> 0:23:04.060 to receive A.R. Bernard's best-selling book, Four Things Women Want 0:23:04.100 --> 0:23:06.600 from a Man. This practical guide is organized in a 0:23:06.640 --> 0:23:09.320 four-part system for men and women who genuinely seek to 0:23:09.380 --> 0:23:12.450 improve their lives and relationships. The book is the result 0:23:12.490 --> 0:23:15.570 of the personal wisdom learned from A.R. Bernard's 45 years 0:23:15.630 --> 0:23:18.350 of marriage and 38 years of counseling and is our 0:23:18.410 --> 0:23:21.410 gift to you for any donation of $ 25 or more. 0:23:21.550 --> 0:23:24.590 You won't want to miss the life-changing insights shared in A.R. 0:23:24.609 --> 0:23:25.910 Bernard's best-selling book. 0:23:26.270 --> 0:23:26.550 A.R. 0:23:26.590 --> 0:23:29.770 Bernard is the founder and pastor of the Christian Cultural Center, 0:23:29.930 --> 0:23:32.429 one of the fastest growing churches in America. Thanks to 0:23:32.470 --> 0:23:37.280 your prayers and financial support, spiritual leader A.R. Bernard educates, empowers, 0:23:37.420 --> 0:23:41.260 and inspires millions of people worldwide via his radio, TV, 0:23:41.440 --> 0:23:45.040 and online ministries. Visit our website at arbernard.com. 0:23:46.760 --> 0:23:47.160 Extra. 0:23:47.420 --> 0:23:47.800 Extra. 0:23:47.940 --> 0:23:51.040 Read all about it. The Anointed Teachings of Pastor A.R. 0:23:51.080 --> 0:23:51.500 Bernard. 0:23:52.119 --> 0:23:56.310 Among them Audacious Power and Basic Training, teaching us to 0:23:56.410 --> 0:23:59.150 navigate the intersection of faith and culture. 0:23:59.850 --> 0:24:01.270 CDs are just $ 7. 0:24:00.930 --> 0:24:06.510 DVDs $ 10, and downloads as little as $ 4. 99. Order them 0:24:06.550 --> 0:24:11.170 now at arbernard.com or go to cccinfo.org. 0:24:11.530 --> 0:24:13.530 The Anointed Teachings of Pastor A.R. 0:24:13.570 --> 0:24:21.680 Bernard. Get yours today. ARB Ministries works hard to provide 0:24:21.780 --> 0:24:26.680 content and programs that will enrich and impact your life. 0:24:27.100 --> 0:24:30.080 If any of these programs have been a blessing to you, 0:24:30.420 --> 0:24:34.260 please consider supporting the ministry with a monetary donation that 0:24:34.340 --> 0:24:38.199 is suitable for you. You can donate directly online at 0:24:38.380 --> 0:24:45.240 arbernard.com or arb.tv. You can also mail a check payable 0:24:45.300 --> 0:24:50.139 to ARB Ministries online and send it to ARB Ministries, P.O. 0:24:50.200 --> 0:24:53.830 Box 1548, Smithtown, New York, 11787.