Ephesians 5 vs 1-21

[0:00] to know about me and my family. We are coming from Romania, and what do you know about Romania? What is Romania famous for? What's the first thing that comes to your mind when you say Romania?

[0:15] Ceausescu. You're struggling to pronounce that name. Ceausescu. You're saying Ceausescu. Well, that's... Next time when you see me stumbling, you know, not to be too hard on me when I'm pronouncing your words.

[0:33] So, you know, we are famous to this kind of people, Ceausescu, and, you know, we had another guy, dangerous one. Do you know that name? What is Romania famous for?

[0:46] What is the souvenir that you come and bring it out from Romania when you come to visit Romania? Well, you haven't been there. That's why you don't know what you bring back. But because I was born in Transylvania.

[0:57] And Transylvania, because of Dracula, you know, Stoker, the Irish guy, you know, was made famous to Dracula.

[1:08] So you think that I am very, very dangerous, so you should be very, very afraid. Because I'm going to tell you, if you're not reconciled with God, you will not see God, so you better be reconciled with God.

[1:20] You should be very, very afraid. But the Lord has taken us out, my wife and my family, my children. He's taken out from the darkness of Dracula. And now we are from the land of Romania, out of the darkness of Dracula, to tell you the light of Jesus Christ.

[1:36] He's our king, not Dracula. So here we are. And, you know, first time when I went and I preached in Dumfries, a lady came to me afterwards and she said, you have a dodgy accent, but you're all right.

[1:53] So you're to suffer a bit of dodgy accent for the next minute. Stephan, yeah? Or Stephen. Stephen told me that, you know, I asked, how long should I preach here?

[2:04] And I said, yeah, to finish just half, half eleven, yeah? Did I get it right? But then he added something. And I said, you should not say that to a preacher ever.

[2:18] He said, but depending how the spirit moves. Okay. Let's turn now to Ephesians chapter five.

[2:28] Have you been going through Ephesians? Like in a series, yeah? Okay. So let's turn to Ephesians chapter five. Well, I'm praying that I will not waste all that you have been building up through this series.

[2:48] So I'm praying that the Lord will give us his blessing. It's Ephesians chapter five. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

[3:12] Among you, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.

[3:26] Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For this, you can be sure, no immoral, impure, or greedy person, such a man is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

[3:47] Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things, God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore, do not be partners with them.

[3:59] For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.

[4:11] And find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

[4:25] But everything exposed by the light becomes visible. For it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it said, Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.

[4:38] Be very careful then how you live, not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

[4:52] Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[5:11] Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Amen. Lord, this is your word, your word given through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

[5:22] So, Lord, we reckon that if we want to find the strength, the healing that comes from this word, the life, we need the same Spirit. So, Lord, allow your Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit, come here and take this tongue, stammering tongue, Lord, to declare your glory and may your grace be made perfect in my weakness.

[5:47] In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. Amen. Okay.

[5:59] Make sure this is on. Thank you. I entitled this message, Be Who God Made You To Be.

[6:13] It's very strange. You know, if I am, what do I need to be what I already am? You know why? Because we're going to have the communion later on. And the communion is all about remembrance.

[6:26] Remember. God made Israel to be his nation, a holy people for himself. And the Lord did great things with them.

[6:37] And all the time they had a problem. They were forgetful. They were forgetful of who they are. And they were tempted to go back. Not soon they left Egypt. They were tempted to go back to Egypt again.

[6:49] They were reminiscing. And they were very sorry for what they left there. And God had to remember them all the time. And said, Remember. And Jesus comes with the communion.

[7:02] And says, Do this in remembrance of me. Remember. Because we are forgetful. You're a child of God. Remember that. And the Lord sent me here. And appointed. You appointed this message.

[7:14] These words. So that we can be reminded together. To be what we are to be. Before you're Scottish. Before you're English. Irish.

[7:24] Welsh. Whatever you are here. And Romanians. Remember. That you're a child of God. And live like one. So.

[7:36] In 1820's. Charles Caleb Colton. Coined the phrase that states. Imitation is the sincerest. Form of flattery.

[7:49] If you really want to flatter somebody. Try to imitate that person. You know. When we see it on our children. You know. They have their own people.

[8:01] That they look up to. They have a Messi. They have a Ronaldo. And they try to imitate their skills. They try to imitate their hairstyle. They try to imitate their.

[8:13] Their. Their. Rejoice. In their celebrations. When they score. A goal. And then you have. Other kind of idols. All kind of idols. And celebrities.

[8:25] And when. You see. If I see somebody imitating me. Then I know. That's. Real flattering. Not just with words. Have you heard of the duck test?

[8:38] I never heard of it. Until I prepared this sermon. The duck test. Have you heard about it? It sounds like that. If it looks like a duck. Swims like a duck.

[8:50] And quakes like a duck. Then it probably. Is a duck. That's. The duck test. You remember next time now. Yeah. In other words.

[9:04] If you. Sound like Christ. If you speak. Talk like Christ. If your attitude. Is that of Christ Jesus.

[9:16] Who although being God. He didn't. Consider equality with God. Something to be grasped. But he humbled himself. If you imitate Christ.

[9:27] Christ. Then probably. You are a. Christian. How many. Just claim to be Christians. And how many.

[9:38] Don't. Imitate Christ. They come on Sunday. They do their lip service. I adore you. I worship you. But they don't make the slightest effort. To imitate Christ. So if you say you're a Christian.

[9:50] Be. Who God made you to be. Be. Like Christ. Christ. Now how to recognize a believer. When.

[10:01] Somebody. Is told to go. Do I need to go to the next. To the slide. Not yet. When somebody goes. To the airport.

[10:12] And is supposed to go and meet. That person. And you never met that person. You know. Usually what you're doing. You speak over the phone. And you say. A guy. Bold. With beard.

[10:23] Medium size. He is about to come. And then. You there. You have maybe a. Piece of paper. Packard. And you have.

[10:34] Something written there. The guy. We are waiting from. The guy from the land of Dracula. And you know. And we are looking for science. You're looking.

[10:44] For the science. Of a bald guy. With beard. And I'm looking for. A sign. That says something. About Dracula land. So you're looking. For the science. That's how you know.

[10:56] A person. And people. Are looking. For the science. People. Are looking. If they want to know. A Christian. What a Christian is.

[11:06] They are looking. At three things. That are. At least. I see in this passage. First. They're looking. At the impression. That we give. The fragrance. The smell. That we give.

[11:19] What do people sense. When they see us. Second. They're looking. At the character. At the behavior. That we display. What are our values. And third.

[11:30] They're looking. At the attitude. At the spirit. That we reveal. What controls. And what fuels. Our living. So in order to walk.

[11:43] We need to have a balance. In order. To walk. We need first. To stand. And then to have the balance. And see the toddlers. You have. Maybe. Used to have some toddlers.

[11:54] They've grown. Or maybe. Some of them. Went over there. The baby. The moment he's born. Has two feet. But it's not enough. To have two feet. Those feet first.

[12:05] They need to get strong enough. And to stand. And once. The toddler stands. You think that's enough? No. It's still wobbling. Because the purpose. Of the feet. Is that they will.

[12:16] Make steps. And then they will run. So that's. What happens with us. We have everything. We have in Christ. We need in Christ. But the problem is.

[12:27] Are we making progress? Are we standing? For who we are? Are we serving? Or are we just happy. To sit down. Laying down there. With all the blessings.

[12:39] And the gifts. That God has given us. So the question is. What is the purpose. Of the feet. In a person. They are to walk. What is the purpose. Of the walking.

[12:50] So that you can make a living. So what is the purpose. Of the living. For us. To make God. To make God known. To the people around us. To reveal God.

[13:02] So looking back now. To Ephesians. We have been chosen. Paul says in the first chapter. We have been redeemed. We have been raised. With Christ. And in Christ.

[13:13] Now what? Walk. Like a. Newborn baby. Walk. Get strength. Live out. Your purpose.

[13:24] And do the good deeds. Says Paul. That were prepared for us. In advance. By God. Remember when Paul says that. In Ephesians chapter 2. For you have.

[13:35] Your God's creation. God's workmanship. Created in Christ Jesus. For the good works. Prepared by God's. In advance. For those that he loves. So. Just I want to make a short summary.

[13:47] Of Ephesians. So that you'll know where. Where we're coming. And where we're going. First of all. Let's. Let us know. Ephesians. Ephesians. Is divided. Is divided. In three parts. Sit. Walk.

[13:58] Stand. Remember that. Sit. Know your position. That you're secure. Stand. Walk. And then.

[14:09] Stand. Resist. Ephesians. The book of Ephesians. Is about the church. As the body of Christ. Or if you want. Ephesians. Represents the bride. Ephesians.

[14:20] Is the book. That speaks about. Us. As being the bride. The church being the bride. Colossians. On the other hand. Speaks about Christ. As the head. Of the. Church.

[14:30] As the head of the bride. As the head. Of the body. So. This is what. It's all about. First. Four chapters. Speak about.

[14:42] Our position. In Christ. Here. We are shown. That we are secure. In Christ. That's why. I have the belt. There. That you have it. In the plane. You have your redemption. In Jesus.

[14:52] As Paul. We have our union. With Christ. That was the mystery. Hidden from the ages. But revealed now. And we have the formation. Of the body. In chapter four. How.

[15:03] The Holy Spirit. Has come to form. The body of Christ. So this is. Our position. In Christ. Then we have. Our walk. In Christ. And this is about. Our living. And it's shown.

[15:14] In chapter. First. In the. In chapter four. We are shown. How to live. Our Christian life. Something that. Hopefully. You looked last Sunday. And today. We look at. What is the effect. Of that living.

[15:25] In society. And then. Next Sunday. You look at. What is the effect. Of that living. In the relationship. With one another. And then. The last thing. Will be. Stand. And it's the spiritual battle.

[15:38] We have an enemy. Called Satan. And we are to resist him. To say. Stop. You don't trespass. Here. Over my life. That belongs to Jesus.

[15:50] And now. Let's go. With our passage. Be who. God made you. To be. Who God made you. To be. God made you. To be. Says Paul. This.

[16:01] God made you. To be. A fragrance. For those. That are perishing. And the question. Is this. What are you spreading. What are you spreading. As a Christian.

[16:12] Be. Imitators of God. Therefore. As dearly loved children. And live a life. Of love. Just as Christ. Loved us. And gave himself. Up for us. As a fragrant. Offering.

[16:23] And sacrifice. To God. See when Jesus came. There was something nice. About him. He spread something. That was like a. Sweet perfume. Because.

[16:34] People were flocking him. They were coming by thousands. And he had. Not an easy job. To feed thousands of people. Remember. Five thousand. On two occasions.

[16:45] Not counting the children. And the women. And that was because. He came with a sweet aroma. And we are told. By Paul.

[16:55] That God. Is carrying us. In his. Procession. Triumphant procession. And we are spreading. The fragrance. The aroma.

[17:06] Of Jesus. To everybody. For those that are. Perishing. We are to spread the aroma. And to tell them. Come with us. We have found something.

[17:16] That is so sweet for us. And how do we spread. The sweet fragrance. You know. The first impression. About the person. Is the way. That person smells. And you are attracted.

[17:27] If you go into a place. To stay. And to enjoy or not. According. With the first impression. That the smells. The fragrance of that place. Is for you. And.

[17:37] What causes us. To have. A nice offering. Is love. Says that Jesus. To live a life of love.

[17:48] Just as Christ loved us. And when you love. It's impossible. Not to attract people. To around yourself. Because people are starving. For love. They are not loved. In this world. And age.

[18:00] And Jesus said. You have. I'm giving you. Something that the world. Doesn't have. The world. Has plenty of. Hey. They don't have love. Because God is love. And I. When I'm making you a Christian.

[18:11] A born again Christian. I'm placing my love in you. Holy Spirit. Is in you. And that. Has to express. Himself. Out. For others. Let your love. Flow.

[18:21] Be imitatus of Jesus. And love. What is unlovable. Forgive. What is unforgivable. It doesn't mean. That you have to. Compromise. Because. Paul explains. How is it with love.

[18:32] Shortly. But first. This is what we need. If we have been forgiven. If we have been loved. And I didn't deserve. To be forgiven. I didn't deserve. To be loved. Who am I. To hold grudges.

[18:43] Against somebody else. Who am I. To condemn somebody else. To judge somebody else. I am to love. With the same love. That I have been loved. That's why we have. The burnt offerings.

[18:54] In Old Testament. If you look. And read. In Leviticus. Chapter 2. 3 and 4. He speaks so much about. Burnt offerings. Because. Unlike sin offerings. These.

[19:05] Were only. To create a nice smell. You know. Remember. There were lots of things. There going on. And you know. Killings. And God said. I want to be a nice male.

[19:16] In my. In my tent. Covenant. In my tabernacle. And. Said. When. These burnt offerings. Are brought. There. It will be as nice.

[19:27] Aroma. That will come up. To me. Says God. God likes. To have this. From us. And the world. Likes to have this. From us. Be who God.

[19:38] Made you to be. Be a fragrance. For those. That are perishing. Spread. The love of Jesus. And second. Thing that Paul. Tells us here. In be who God.

[19:49] Made you to be. Be a light. For those. That are in the darkness. Be a light. For those. Who are in the darkness. In other words. The question is. What are your values.

[20:01] And priorities. As a Christian. You should be different. Because it says. But. Among you. There must not be. Even a hint. Of sexual immorality. Rather. Because you know.

[20:11] That once you were darkness. But now you are light. In the Lord. It doesn't say. You were in the darkness. This time says. You are. You were darkness. You were identified.

[20:22] You were one with the darkness. And now that you are in the light. You are not just in the light. You are one with the light. You are one with Christ. Christ identifies with us. Do we identify with Jesus?

[20:35] But. Among you. There must not be. Even a hint. Of sexual immorality. Or any kind of impurity. Or of greed. And I am looking.

[20:45] What is going on? You know that people in this country. Have prayed for us in Romania. When we never believe. That communism can fall. And Ceausescu.

[20:56] Will lose his grip on us. Because we were discouraged. To believe in God. We were brainwashed. That there is no God. That we are coming from the monkeys. And we thought this.

[21:09] It will never happen. And when we couldn't believe. You believed for us. And you prayed for us. And God answered your prayers. But what happened in your own country. Because I am coming from.

[21:20] Free to Romania. From Ceausescu. From communism. I am coming here. What do I find? I find it even worse. Of what we have there. Except that you have food here.

[21:30] And you have power. Electricity. We didn't have those things. But what happened to the freedom. We don't have anymore. A man like. Franklin Graham.

[21:42] That is the son. Of Billy Graham. And Billy Graham. For over 80 years. He spread the message. The fragrance of Jesus. The message of God's love. Jesus loves you. That's why he came to die for you.

[21:54] To save you from your sins. And that was. That's the same message. That Franklin Graham. Wanted to bring to you. Cain. And he's not being allowed anymore. For his father. Schools.

[22:05] Stadiums. Kings. Queens. Prime ministers. Presidents. They opened up their doors. To bring the message of love. But now. It's not allowed anymore.

[22:17] In our post Brexit UK. I expect that. You know. From personal reasons. I didn't want Brexit to happen. Because I'm a Romanian. I wanted to have free travel. To my parents.

[22:27] And back. And for my parents. Back and forth. But now that it happens. At least let it be. A clean break. With anything. A clean Brexit. From spiritual point of view.

[22:38] But it's not happening. What happened? So don't tell me. This country is a Christian country. We need to show the light. Because it's too much darkness.

[22:49] It's too much sexual immorality. And impurity. And it's too much greed. And they are improper. Says Paul. To the people.

[22:59] Of God. It's. Obscenity. Foolish talk. Coarse joking. How can I watch. The entertainment. Shows.

[23:10] On the TV. Honestly. I cannot enjoy them. Why will you enjoy them? Why do you try. To get your energy. For another week. Spending your time. In front of the TV. It breaks my heart.

[23:21] I've seen ministers. On Facebook. With a glass of wine. In front of their faces. Taking a picture. Said. Now I'm going to enjoy. Strictly come dancing. And it's no. Strictly come dancing.

[23:31] I'm having. The curse of. Strictly come dancing. Because people who go there. And they are couple. And dance. Then they are splitting. And they marry. And they split from their. Husbands.

[23:43] And it's all. Immorality. Why we. We ask Christians. We'll join this. Should be no hint. It says. Any kind of impurity.

[23:53] All the jokes. Are toilet jokes. Nowadays. I don't enjoy them anymore. I can't watch. Any more TV. Not with the family. Myself.

[24:04] It's not something. That we can do it anymore. It's worse. At least in Romania. The entertainment. Was clean. On our TVs. During Ceausescu. But the freedom.

[24:15] Has brought something else. What has brought it here. As well. No immoral. Impure or greedy person. Such a man. Is an idolater. Yes. And he will have.

[24:26] Not any inheritance. In the kingdom of Christ. And of God. Let no one deceive you. With empty words. When they are joking. When they are. Alluding you. And you laugh with them. That's when it happens.

[24:37] They are deceiving you. With empty words. They don't have. Any weight. Because you laugh. For five minutes. And then you come back. And you just feel worse. Than you felt before. Because not a refreshing.

[24:48] Of the Holy Spirit. In those jokes. So Paul speaks about. The need for purity. From verse three to seven.

[25:01] To live as a Christian. Is to have a hard time today. It's not convenient. It's not easy. It's not popular. It's not cool. It's costly.

[25:11] It's painful. It attracts persecution. Yet Paul stresses full commitment. He says be radical. Do not compromise. You know.

[25:22] Paul says only a bit of yeast. Spoils everything. You know that one drop. Of poison. In a glass with water. Will kill you the same way.

[25:33] Twenty drops. Of poison. In the same glass with water. Will kill you. You say. But I'm doing this. Just once in a while. It will still kill you.

[25:45] Don't allow yourself to be killed. It's still deadly. You can drown. In two hundred. Deep meter. Water. And you can drown in two.

[25:57] Meter. Deep water. Avoid. Flee. Says Paul. Immorality. Where do we see this kind of Christianity?

[26:10] Christianity that runs from sexual. From immorality. Honestly. I can't see it. As I said. Looking at the Christianity in the UK. And in Romania. In Europe.

[26:20] What's happened? I'm looking at what happened. Only here. I've been here since. The beginning. The end of. Last millennium.

[26:31] When I've been in faith mission. In ICC. And you know. I can see. Such. I've been back to Romania. And I came in 2010. And only from 2010. Up to now.

[26:43] Nearly ten years. Of. After. I can see such a big change. In the society. What's been left. Of Christianity. This fire.

[26:53] Keeps. Destroying. Lives. Virtues. And churches. Around us. What's left. Of Christianity. And if you. Make the same comparison. We have. Happened. In Australia. When the fires.

[27:03] Literally. They killed. They destroyed. The nation. The land there. What's left. Of Australia. Now. What did they do? They cried out. For help. They cried out.

[27:14] For fire brigade. They cried out. For water. And for rain. And what do we do? We need to cry out. For revival. Because the rain. That can. Extinguish. The fire.

[27:24] Of this. Iniquity. That is. Destroying us. Is only the. Water of the Holy Spirit. The rain of the Holy Spirit. And I challenge. In my church. And I'm trying. Wherever. I can. On Wednesday.

[27:35] Set aside. The day. For fast and prayer. And pray for revival. Pray that the Lord. Will intervene. For this nation. Over 900 people. Have joined. For revival. Online.

[27:45] In Romania. To pray. Every Wednesday. For revival. We join in. The world. In the moral decay. Enjoying the humor. The entertainment. Of all language.

[27:56] And obscenity. It's become normal. And we condemn. The rapper. One who rapes. A sex maniac. One who sneaks through. A keyhole. In another's bedroom. We condemn.

[28:07] A Wayne stain. Of Hollywood. But we created them. By demanding. To see bare flesh. In action. Through the keyhole. Of our televisions. And internet. In the comfort. Of our own very rooms.

[28:19] Be who you say you are. Be who God made you to be. Be a Christian. Be a child of God. And that's why Paul says. You need to show discernment. Paul says. Stop it. Don't take part.

[28:29] Don't join. Rather expose. John Piper showed us. How we can expose. Our light makes the sleepy eyes. Feel uncomfortable. Our righteous standards.

[28:41] Are an affront. To the pattern of this world. If you cherish chastity. Your life will be an attack. On people's love. For free sex. If you embrace temperance. Your life will be a statement.

[28:52] Against the love of alcohol. If you pursue self-control. Your life will indeed. Excess. And eating. And say. But how? How should I do this? Because it says.

[29:02] We should not. We should expose. And I don't want to be judgmental. But there's a difference. There's a difference. Between being judgmental. And being discerning. And being discerning. Judgmental is when you compare yourself with another one.

[29:16] And say. I am better than you. My church is better than you. Our worship is better than you. That's when it's judgmental. It's on one to one.

[29:28] That's what Jesus says. How can you see. The speck from your brother. And you cannot see the plank. In your own. The log. In your own eye. But discerning. It's something else.

[29:38] Discerning has. A larger sphere. It's not to do only with one another. It's to. It's about an idea. It's to do it an idea. It's to do it a current.

[29:49] It's to do it a teaching. That may have an impact. On a larger group of people. And when I see that the churches. Are swept by this new. Progressive ideology. I am saying. We should be discerning.

[30:00] We are not judging. But we are to be discerning. Discerning is choosing. It's separating. Distinguishing between. What is false.

[30:11] And what is true. Between what is lie. And what is truth. Between what is fake. And what is original. Between what is dangerous. And what is safe. Between evil and good. Between foolish and wise.

[30:21] It's to do it. Two different worlds. The word of man. And the word of God. Paul was very discerning.

[30:36] Because he called them. To walk in a manner. Worthy of Jesus. He was always. Leaving an open door. For the church. To repent. Of her identified error.

[30:47] And turn to God. With a promise. For the overcomer. There is so much. False teaching. And we need to be discerning. We are so discerning. When we go.

[30:58] To find our own medication. We just don't take anything. Oh I don't want to judge. What you are giving me. Just give it. You are trying to discern. To make sure. You are taking the right medication. The right pill. When you go to buy veggies.

[31:08] You don't want to buy rotten potatoes. You are discerning. To take something. That is quality for yourself. When you buy a car. You don't buy any car. You are discerning. You don't accept. Somebody wants to sell this car.

[31:20] And say just take it. And you just take it. Because you don't want to be judgmental. First you look to see. How much money you have in the pocket. And the value for the right money. Otherwise you will be paying too much. Or you will take a car that is rubbish.

[31:32] So why are we discerning. With the things of this world. And why we say. Oh we don't want to be judgmental. And we are not discerning. With the things of God. And then. Is the vigilance.

[31:43] The time it's expiring for me. My time. It's always enemy for me. Paul calls us. Wake up or sleep. Arise from the dead. And Christ will shine. In other words. Man up.

[31:54] Live up for who you are. In Christ Jesus. Watch for your own life. And I close with the last point. Is this. Be who God made you to be. Be an inspiration for those in confusion.

[32:06] What controls and fuels your life. And Paul says. It should be thankfulness. You know. The problem was that. In Ephesus. During that time.

[32:18] Dionysus. In Greek mythology. Was the God of wine. And vegetation. And people were celebrating him. By drinking wine. And they said. We are controlled by this God.

[32:29] And Paul says. How can you be controlled. By this kind of God. When you should be controlled. By the real God. And that's the God of the Holy Spirit. Not the God of wine. So flee. Anything that will. You know.

[32:40] That will knock you down. And be filled instead. With the Holy Spirit. And I explain you. How this is. And if you forget anything. About what I preach today.

[32:51] Remember this. We are. This. Love. And Jesus. Is this. And we are called to be in Christ.

[33:02] So God takes us from the life of sin. And he places us to be in Jesus. Exactly what Paul said. Our position is secure in Christ Jesus. But then.

[33:13] Jesus says. I am going up. And I will send my Holy Spirit. And my Holy Spirit will fill you. And God pulls the Holy Spirit. Pulls the Holy Spirit in our lives. Says.

[33:23] I am going to. Fill you to the brim. With my fullness of the Holy Spirit. And see. At this point. You still see a difference. Between you and Jesus. You can still see the glass.

[33:35] You can still see the Christian. You can still see me with my personality. With my way of being. But if I am being filled with the Holy Spirit. If I am being controlled by the Holy Spirit.

[33:48] If I allow the Holy Spirit to fill me. And not the wine. And not the jokes. The filthiness of this world. Look. Look what happens. The Holy Spirit will overflow over me. And slowly and slowly.

[33:59] You will see less and less of me. You will see less and less of the glass. Because all is to be seen. It's only Christ. And only the Holy Spirit. Where has the glass disappeared?

[34:13] Where has Daniel disappeared? You cannot see Daniel anymore. Daniel is immersed in Christ. Daniel is immersed in the Holy Spirit. That's why Paul says. I have been crucified with Christ.

[34:23] And I live. But not me. Christ liveth in me. Where is that kind of Christianity? Show me one. I want to see one. And Jesus is looking where? Jesus wants to rapture us. To be with us in heaven.

[34:34] How many will be raptured? I'm afraid that it might not make any difference to this world. When the church will be raptured. And that's why it's time to say like Paul. Wake up or sleep. Arise from the dead. And Christ will shine on you.

[34:46] The world needs to see Christ. And only then we have the nice fragrance. To give them a nice aroma. And then they will be attracted. My wife needs not me.

[34:56] Needs Christ. This church needs not better preachers. Needs Christ. In you and you. My church needs not. Doesn't need me.

[35:07] Needs Christ in me. My children need Christ in me. Scotland needs Christ in us. The hope of glory. Dear Lord.

[35:22] We stop here. And we let your Holy Spirit carry on. And what words cannot carry on anymore. We are bound by time.

[35:32] Lord. I trust that your Holy Spirit is not bound by time. You called us to redeem the days. Because the days. To redeem the time. Because the days are evil. We've given too much.

[35:45] To the old master. We've given too much to Satan. He doesn't. We don't owe anything to him anymore. We abhor what he's done to our lives. He's taken any drop of energy that was left in us.

[35:59] So Lord. We want to learn from this. Mistakes. And to turn back to you. And to say. Fill us afresh with the Holy Spirit. And use this day. Use this message. Use this time.

[36:10] Use this fellowship. And use the further communion time. That we're going to have together. So that we'll be cleansed. Examine our hearts before you. And we'll give you.

[36:21] All the rooms of our hearts. To you Lord. So that we'll be filled with you. And we'll wake up. And be who we are. To live up to the high call that we have in Christ Jesus.

[36:32] In whose name we pray. Amen.