WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.679 All right, today is our final day in the Gospel-Shaped Family series. 00:00:08.279 --> 00:00:12.980 My voice is a little bit croaky as well, so please bear with me as I speak. 00:00:16.600 --> 00:00:17.080 Right. 00:00:18.859 --> 00:00:21.199 He's got us a chance to take a seat. 00:00:21.339 --> 00:00:23.620 So far in the series, we looked at relationships 00:00:23.620 --> 00:00:26.920 and how we're actually created for relationship. 00:00:26.920 --> 00:00:31.960 We're created by an eternally relational God, Father, Son and Spirit, yet one God. 00:00:32.400 --> 00:00:36.219 And we're created for relationship with each other, 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:39.480 a relationship that is expressed toward God as worship 00:00:39.480 --> 00:00:41.179 and toward each other as fellowship. 00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:46.540 We've then looked at some of the different dimensions that relationships can take 00:00:46.540 --> 00:00:50.380 in terms of between us and our church families, 00:00:50.380 --> 00:00:55.460 so husbands, wives, parents and children, and singles, 00:00:55.900 --> 00:00:59.700 in terms of how that works in our relationships within the church family. 00:00:59.920 --> 00:01:01.420 And today we're bringing it all back together again, 00:01:01.460 --> 00:01:02.880 looking at Gospel-Shaped Family. 00:01:03.660 --> 00:01:07.599 And as we do that, there's a bit of a surprise to it in a sense. 00:01:09.180 --> 00:01:13.400 And I hope you appreciate that that surprise is there for a very good reason, 00:01:13.480 --> 00:01:18.719 and actually it helps us to pursue the relationship that God intended for us to pursue 00:01:18.719 --> 00:01:19.659 and not just our own. 00:01:20.959 --> 00:01:26.079 Now, earlier this winter, I like buying stuff online. 00:01:26.179 --> 00:01:26.920 It's cheaper, right? 00:01:27.239 --> 00:01:31.519 Earlier this winter, I ordered a jumper online. 00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:36.560 It was actually supposed to be a dark red hoodie, a zip hoodie. 00:01:36.819 --> 00:01:37.859 You know what those are, yeah? 00:01:38.239 --> 00:01:39.920 A dark red zip hoodie was what I ordered. 00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:41.519 And this is what I got. 00:01:45.260 --> 00:01:45.820 Okay. 00:01:47.340 --> 00:01:50.560 That picture, if you have a look on the screen, 00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:53.379 that picture is a picture of Frankenstein's monster, 00:01:54.060 --> 00:01:55.840 nothing like what I ordered. 00:01:56.159 --> 00:01:57.420 This is not a large. 00:01:58.240 --> 00:02:00.260 It is not the same colour I ordered. 00:02:00.879 --> 00:02:03.500 It has no hood, no zip, 00:02:04.180 --> 00:02:08.280 no bearing or similarity to the thing that I ordered. 00:02:08.280 --> 00:02:11.439 And this is the first time I've worn it. 00:02:11.800 --> 00:02:12.979 It's still got the tags on. 00:02:13.020 --> 00:02:15.300 If you want it, it's yours after the service. 00:02:17.099 --> 00:02:19.159 But the really interesting thing about this is, 00:02:19.699 --> 00:02:22.099 this issue of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:25.879 You see, Frankenstein was a scientist who decided that what he would do was, 00:02:26.439 --> 00:02:29.560 through a process of chemistry and alchemy is how it's described, 00:02:29.659 --> 00:02:30.699 it's kind of vague in the book. 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:33.979 But this issue of, this thing of alchemy is actually where you, 00:02:34.460 --> 00:02:36.659 so I'm not dissing scientists, that's Dave's job. 00:02:36.659 --> 00:02:42.199 What I'm saying is that this person, Frankenstein, as a scientist, 00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:47.759 was actually trying to purify or perfect humanity. 00:02:48.340 --> 00:02:54.620 So in a lab, he assembled a person with the goal of actually making the perfect person. 00:02:55.900 --> 00:03:02.319 The result was a monster that even he as its creator could not love. 00:03:02.319 --> 00:03:09.099 The result was a monster who could only respond to how he was treated 00:03:09.099 --> 00:03:14.439 and paid back in even more, greater extent. 00:03:15.139 --> 00:03:19.400 So when his creator rejected him, 00:03:19.819 --> 00:03:23.099 he responded with incredible anger and revenge, vengefulness. 00:03:23.099 --> 00:03:29.039 One of the really interesting things about the Enlightenment movement 00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:33.319 is this tendency in us to want to actually create our version of humanity, 00:03:33.419 --> 00:03:35.599 a version of humanity that we actually think is better 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:39.079 than any other version of humanity, including God's. 00:03:39.900 --> 00:03:41.539 But what I want to suggest to you is this. 00:03:42.419 --> 00:03:45.959 The version of humanity that you create 00:03:45.960 --> 00:03:50.400 is always destined to be the monster. 00:03:51.920 --> 00:03:54.700 The version of humanity that God creates 00:03:54.700 --> 00:03:59.319 is beautiful, it's pure, it's inspiring. 00:04:00.500 --> 00:04:02.520 It's the only one really that we can set up 00:04:02.520 --> 00:04:05.540 and that we can set up as the thing to pursue. 00:04:05.539 --> 00:04:09.719 What are we, according to God? 00:04:10.819 --> 00:04:13.979 We are beloved children. 00:04:15.639 --> 00:04:18.939 Whatever we think of ourselves, good or bad. 00:04:21.319 --> 00:04:25.539 Good or bad, we are God's beloved children. 00:04:26.279 --> 00:04:27.319 Beloved is an old word. 00:04:28.120 --> 00:04:31.839 It means dearly loved or much loved. 00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:35.599 We are God's family. 00:04:37.359 --> 00:04:39.359 Now there's three key points in Ephesians 00:04:39.359 --> 00:04:41.119 where Paul applies this family imagery 00:04:41.119 --> 00:04:43.439 in chapter 1, chapter 3 and chapter 5. 00:04:43.819 --> 00:04:45.239 And we'll look at those as we go through. 00:04:45.979 --> 00:04:47.879 But each time he applies it, 00:04:49.039 --> 00:04:51.459 he's not talking about our families 00:04:51.459 --> 00:04:53.439 or families as we like to think of it. 00:04:54.559 --> 00:04:56.459 The families that we construct. 00:04:58.379 --> 00:05:01.339 He is talking about God's family. 00:05:02.659 --> 00:05:06.019 In his mind, this is the first family. 00:05:06.439 --> 00:05:08.899 This is the perfect family, the main family. 00:05:10.019 --> 00:05:13.399 Our families, as we express them, are derivative. 00:05:14.719 --> 00:05:18.879 They depend on God for meaning, significance and shape. 00:05:20.179 --> 00:05:22.579 And we see this in terms of how it unfolds. 00:05:22.620 --> 00:05:24.839 We see the Father, the Father loving. 00:05:24.939 --> 00:05:28.699 The Father loved us, we see in the book of Ephesians. 00:05:28.699 --> 00:05:30.399 He loved us by sending the Son. 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:32.920 His beloved Son. 00:05:33.560 --> 00:05:35.079 Not the one that he could spare. 00:05:35.219 --> 00:05:38.039 We all have kids in our families that like that, don't we? 00:05:38.199 --> 00:05:39.659 Not the one that he could spare. 00:05:40.519 --> 00:05:43.319 But the one that it tore his heart out to send. 00:05:43.319 --> 00:05:48.519 Our Father is the giver of good things. 00:05:49.879 --> 00:05:54.199 He delights in calling us his own precious children. 00:05:54.199 --> 00:05:59.659 In Ephesians 1, we discover that he set his heart on us to love us 00:05:59.659 --> 00:06:01.939 before he even created us. 00:06:04.659 --> 00:06:08.019 Our Father is also where the concept of fatherhood comes from. 00:06:08.060 --> 00:06:10.919 And in chapter 3, in verse 14 and the following, 00:06:10.919 --> 00:06:15.919 he is the Father from whom all fatherhood everywhere is named. 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:19.980 And whatever good you've experienced in your earthly father, 00:06:21.259 --> 00:06:27.040 that's a reflection, just a reflection, a power reflection too, 00:06:27.879 --> 00:06:29.240 of your heavenly father. 00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:32.439 Now some of us, I'll acknowledge this now, 00:06:32.500 --> 00:06:36.660 some of us will experience little or no good from our earthly father. 00:06:37.879 --> 00:06:39.160 But consider this. 00:06:39.160 --> 00:06:45.700 The fact that those experiences hurt so much points to something that's wrong, 00:06:46.700 --> 00:06:48.040 something gone wrong, 00:06:48.580 --> 00:06:52.780 which means that there is something right, a right expression, 00:06:53.520 --> 00:06:54.900 something way better in fact, 00:06:55.200 --> 00:06:57.980 and that better is our heavenly father. 00:06:59.580 --> 00:07:02.860 Now I can look at my own father's attempts to raise me, 00:07:02.920 --> 00:07:06.200 and you can probably judge from my behaviour how he did, 00:07:06.200 --> 00:07:08.940 but I can look at my father's story and I can tell you now, 00:07:08.939 --> 00:07:10.519 it is one of success and failure. 00:07:10.660 --> 00:07:13.600 There are many things that I look to my father and I'm just so grateful for. 00:07:13.860 --> 00:07:16.199 And there are a number of things that I'm not grateful at all for. 00:07:18.279 --> 00:07:20.219 Now I know I'm not just having a shot at my dad, 00:07:20.279 --> 00:07:23.939 because I can actually see that same pattern in myself as I parent my kids. 00:07:24.519 --> 00:07:27.740 There are many things that I just praise God that he's actually shone through me, 00:07:27.779 --> 00:07:32.680 despite me in a sense, in terms of how I've tried to parent my kids. 00:07:33.060 --> 00:07:36.159 But there are a number of things that if I could have a do-over on, 00:07:36.159 --> 00:07:38.240 I would love to have that opportunity. 00:07:38.939 --> 00:07:46.600 I'm supposed to be that safe space for my children, 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:49.379 the nurturing person in the family, 00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:51.459 the protective person in the family. 00:07:52.120 --> 00:07:53.199 But the reality, 00:07:54.720 --> 00:07:59.579 the only person that can be that for my family is my heavenly father. 00:08:00.220 --> 00:08:01.720 He is that safe space. 00:08:01.939 --> 00:08:05.060 He is the one who knows us better than we know ourselves. 00:08:05.060 --> 00:08:09.519 He is the one who has held back nothing in his love for us. 00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:13.399 He is that one from whom before time began, 00:08:13.939 --> 00:08:16.339 has been longing to draw us to himself. 00:08:16.339 --> 00:08:20.099 That's our heavenly father. 00:08:22.779 --> 00:08:23.639 So father, 00:08:24.279 --> 00:08:25.699 and our son, 00:08:25.939 --> 00:08:26.779 the son, 00:08:27.039 --> 00:08:27.599 God the son, 00:08:28.479 --> 00:08:32.139 God the father has been loving and desiring to draw us to himself. 00:08:32.500 --> 00:08:35.579 God the son came to us in an act of love, 00:08:36.059 --> 00:08:36.720 saved us, 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:37.679 rescued us. 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:43.239 Jesus loved us by sacrificing himself to rescue us. 00:08:44.120 --> 00:08:45.339 We see that in verse two. 00:08:45.620 --> 00:08:49.599 It's not just a generic version of love that Paul puts out there. 00:08:49.599 --> 00:08:49.719 Oh, 00:08:49.759 --> 00:08:50.059 just be, 00:08:50.439 --> 00:08:50.639 you know, 00:08:50.699 --> 00:08:51.620 just love each other. 00:08:52.339 --> 00:08:52.919 Try and, 00:08:52.939 --> 00:08:53.399 you know, 00:08:54.639 --> 00:08:56.239 nurture and harness that, 00:08:56.239 --> 00:08:57.120 that mushy feeling. 00:08:57.120 --> 00:09:01.580 he actually talks about love as self-sacrifice. 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:03.919 This is the ultimate act of love. 00:09:04.659 --> 00:09:06.120 It's an extreme image too. 00:09:06.379 --> 00:09:06.519 I mean, 00:09:06.560 --> 00:09:09.980 when you become a sacrifice and you think about the way that they actually approach sacrifice, 00:09:10.100 --> 00:09:10.960 it wasn't just in a, 00:09:11.340 --> 00:09:14.299 like a hypothetical or a theoretical or a, 00:09:14.299 --> 00:09:16.560 a cognitive sense. 00:09:16.600 --> 00:09:18.320 It was actually in a very practical sense. 00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:19.060 The sacrifices, 00:09:19.820 --> 00:09:20.019 well, 00:09:20.659 --> 00:09:21.240 let's just say, 00:09:21.440 --> 00:09:22.539 if you became a sacrifice, 00:09:22.700 --> 00:09:24.240 it wasn't something you walked away from. 00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:24.879 Well, 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:27.799 this kind of love, 00:09:28.560 --> 00:09:31.560 this sacrificial kind of love is a humbling love. 00:09:33.080 --> 00:09:38.620 Jesus laid aside everything that he was to become the thing that he created. 00:09:39.700 --> 00:09:41.120 He had rights. 00:09:41.899 --> 00:09:43.120 He had power. 00:09:44.360 --> 00:09:46.419 And he let them go for our sake, 00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:48.379 just laid them aside for our sake. 00:09:49.480 --> 00:09:52.480 And we didn't even deserve it. 00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:54.740 We were the sinners, 00:09:55.039 --> 00:09:55.620 the rebels, 00:09:56.019 --> 00:09:57.519 suspicious of God's goodness. 00:09:57.920 --> 00:09:59.620 Our hearts were darkened. 00:10:03.080 --> 00:10:05.659 And Jesus became our rescuer, 00:10:06.740 --> 00:10:07.639 our redeemer. 00:10:09.680 --> 00:10:09.920 Now, 00:10:09.960 --> 00:10:10.779 we didn't dodge a bullet, 00:10:10.820 --> 00:10:11.980 and it was the executioner's bullet. 00:10:12.019 --> 00:10:14.659 We didn't dodge a bullet when we became Christians. 00:10:16.220 --> 00:10:19.379 Jesus stepped in the way of the bullet for us. 00:10:20.759 --> 00:10:22.300 Jesus' rescue was costly. 00:10:22.299 --> 00:10:22.979 It hurt. 00:10:23.939 --> 00:10:25.979 But its goal was our rescue, 00:10:26.139 --> 00:10:27.799 and that's something that God delights in. 00:10:28.339 --> 00:10:30.079 Our redemption was an act of love, 00:10:30.639 --> 00:10:31.099 grace, 00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:32.199 will, 00:10:33.059 --> 00:10:34.000 God's pleasure, 00:10:35.199 --> 00:10:36.959 his desire to forgive us. 00:10:38.579 --> 00:10:40.019 And it was all of these things, 00:10:40.359 --> 00:10:42.639 because it accomplished our adoption as his children. 00:10:43.979 --> 00:10:46.639 And that is something that God eternally delights in. 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:49.620 So the Father, 00:10:49.819 --> 00:10:50.319 the Son, 00:10:50.860 --> 00:10:51.740 and the Spirit, 00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:53.699 as the Father loves, 00:10:53.740 --> 00:10:55.519 and as the Son loves by saving us, 00:10:55.779 --> 00:10:57.600 the Spirit loves us, 00:10:57.639 --> 00:10:59.620 it embraces us by connecting us 00:10:59.620 --> 00:11:01.379 to God, 00:11:01.439 --> 00:11:01.759 the Father, 00:11:01.899 --> 00:11:02.039 Son, 00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:02.480 and Spirit. 00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:04.360 Can I ask you, 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:06.699 which person of the Trinity do you actually relate to most? 00:11:07.019 --> 00:11:09.220 If you were to think about it, 00:11:09.939 --> 00:11:10.779 who do you pray to? 00:11:10.819 --> 00:11:11.700 Who do you think about most? 00:11:11.700 --> 00:11:15.960 Do you relate your faith in God to most? 00:11:17.160 --> 00:11:19.360 Who do you think about when you think about God? 00:11:22.460 --> 00:11:22.860 Well, 00:11:22.860 --> 00:11:23.640 whoever it is, 00:11:24.460 --> 00:11:26.840 we need to remember this truth. 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:30.900 The Spirit is the one who connects us to God. 00:11:30.899 --> 00:11:33.740 He's the one who joins us to God. 00:11:34.039 --> 00:11:34.959 In Ephesians 1, 00:11:35.079 --> 00:11:36.299 verses 13 and 14, 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:38.100 we read that the Spirit is the deposit 00:11:38.100 --> 00:11:40.120 guaranteeing our inheritance. 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:41.740 Now, 00:11:41.819 --> 00:11:43.559 a deposit is the first payment. 00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:47.059 Not just a, 00:11:47.059 --> 00:11:47.480 you know, 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:48.579 a token amount. 00:11:48.679 --> 00:11:50.039 It's the first payment. 00:11:50.600 --> 00:11:52.959 So what we're receiving is the first part 00:11:52.959 --> 00:11:54.220 of what we will get in full 00:11:54.220 --> 00:11:56.740 when Jesus returns. 00:11:57.419 --> 00:11:58.980 We're getting that first payment 00:11:58.980 --> 00:12:00.639 in the Spirit. 00:12:01.799 --> 00:12:03.740 He is God with us. 00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:06.340 He provides a security 00:12:06.340 --> 00:12:07.720 in our relationship to God. 00:12:07.779 --> 00:12:08.079 In fact, 00:12:08.120 --> 00:12:09.699 it's a pretty one-sided relationship 00:12:09.699 --> 00:12:10.379 in that sense. 00:12:10.860 --> 00:12:12.039 And I'm sure you know 00:12:12.039 --> 00:12:13.799 what one-sided relationships are. 00:12:15.139 --> 00:12:18.019 The nature of how we relate to each other. 00:12:18.079 --> 00:12:20.220 I can remember the first year of marriage, 00:12:20.299 --> 00:12:20.740 which I thought, 00:12:20.819 --> 00:12:20.959 you know, 00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:21.620 everyone tells you 00:12:21.620 --> 00:12:22.799 the first year of marriage is so hard 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:23.659 and I thought it was great. 00:12:24.620 --> 00:12:25.319 I thought it was wonderful. 00:12:25.460 --> 00:12:26.439 I was having a chat with some friends 00:12:26.439 --> 00:12:27.500 about how wonderful 00:12:27.500 --> 00:12:28.819 the first year of marriage was 00:12:28.819 --> 00:12:29.679 and they were newly, 00:12:29.679 --> 00:12:31.219 we'd been married for about 10 years 00:12:31.219 --> 00:12:33.079 and they were newlyweds. 00:12:33.159 --> 00:12:33.799 They'd just completed 00:12:33.799 --> 00:12:34.759 their first year of marriage 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:35.500 and yeah, 00:12:35.659 --> 00:12:36.039 and you know, 00:12:36.439 --> 00:12:37.099 my mate's going, 00:12:37.219 --> 00:12:37.359 yeah, 00:12:37.419 --> 00:12:37.839 it was great. 00:12:37.899 --> 00:12:39.139 The first year of marriage was great. 00:12:39.399 --> 00:12:41.019 And I can see looking at his wife thinking, 00:12:41.500 --> 00:12:41.839 wow, 00:12:41.919 --> 00:12:43.500 she doesn't look like it was quite so great. 00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:44.739 But before, 00:12:44.959 --> 00:12:47.259 but before we got to that, 00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:48.859 I actually saw the look 00:12:48.860 --> 00:12:49.860 on my own wife's face 00:12:49.860 --> 00:12:50.399 and discover, 00:12:50.580 --> 00:12:50.700 well, 00:12:50.800 --> 00:12:51.000 okay, 00:12:51.080 --> 00:12:52.100 she has a different view to me. 00:12:52.340 --> 00:12:53.039 I'm there saying, 00:12:53.180 --> 00:12:53.340 wow, 00:12:53.460 --> 00:12:53.659 you know, 00:12:53.800 --> 00:12:54.879 first year of marriage was great 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:55.800 and Joe said, 00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:57.120 it wasn't for me. 00:12:59.139 --> 00:13:00.039 That's one-sided. 00:13:01.560 --> 00:13:02.980 Things were great for me 00:13:02.980 --> 00:13:04.399 because I was taking 00:13:04.399 --> 00:13:06.000 and she was doing all the giving. 00:13:07.139 --> 00:13:08.019 We know what it's like 00:13:08.019 --> 00:13:09.259 to be in a one-sided relationship 00:13:09.259 --> 00:13:11.960 and that's just in an earthly sense. 00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:14.320 In the sense that we're talking about here 00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:15.780 where God actually has to rescue us 00:13:15.780 --> 00:13:16.379 from ourselves 00:13:16.379 --> 00:13:17.480 at the cost 00:13:17.480 --> 00:13:19.360 of his beloved son, 00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:21.520 we're talking about 00:13:21.520 --> 00:13:24.000 an infinitely one-sided relationship. 00:13:27.920 --> 00:13:29.060 Perhaps during the series 00:13:29.060 --> 00:13:30.560 you've been drawn to 00:13:30.560 --> 00:13:32.160 thinking through 00:13:32.160 --> 00:13:35.280 your relationships 00:13:35.280 --> 00:13:37.040 in terms of how one-sided they are. 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:37.800 Perhaps you've been thinking, 00:13:37.920 --> 00:13:38.020 wow, 00:13:38.140 --> 00:13:38.340 you know, 00:13:38.420 --> 00:13:39.820 as husbands have been listening to us 00:13:39.820 --> 00:13:40.540 talk about wives 00:13:40.540 --> 00:13:41.860 and wives have been listening to us 00:13:41.860 --> 00:13:42.520 talk about husbands 00:13:42.520 --> 00:13:43.800 and each of you have been thinking, 00:13:43.920 --> 00:13:44.000 wow, 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:45.259 he's not delivering 00:13:45.259 --> 00:13:46.120 or she's not delivering 00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:47.480 or kids and parents, 00:13:47.580 --> 00:13:47.700 you know, 00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:49.000 our parents aren't delivering. 00:13:51.620 --> 00:13:52.580 Think about this. 00:13:53.019 --> 00:13:53.679 The relationship 00:13:53.679 --> 00:13:54.860 that you have with God 00:13:54.860 --> 00:13:56.460 as his beloved child 00:13:56.460 --> 00:13:58.519 is entirely one-sided. 00:14:02.120 --> 00:14:03.460 In Ephesians 3, 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:04.820 verses 14 to 19, 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:06.279 we discover there 00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:07.299 that the spirit 00:14:07.299 --> 00:14:08.200 actually provides 00:14:08.200 --> 00:14:09.480 the strength we need 00:14:09.480 --> 00:14:10.379 to know God. 00:14:12.460 --> 00:14:13.580 That's really interesting. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:15.580 The spirit provides 00:14:15.580 --> 00:14:16.759 the power behind 00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:17.580 our faith. 00:14:18.019 --> 00:14:18.659 He provides us 00:14:18.659 --> 00:14:19.299 with the ability 00:14:19.299 --> 00:14:20.259 to understand, 00:14:21.860 --> 00:14:23.620 to maintain our faith. 00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:25.419 He provides 00:14:25.419 --> 00:14:26.679 real experience 00:14:26.679 --> 00:14:27.659 of God's love, 00:14:27.740 --> 00:14:28.840 we discover in those verses. 00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:31.980 Now, 00:14:32.059 --> 00:14:32.960 in Galatians 4, 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:33.200 6, 00:14:33.259 --> 00:14:34.519 which we preached on Galatians 00:14:34.519 --> 00:14:35.120 earlier this year, 00:14:35.659 --> 00:14:36.919 and Romans 8, 15, 00:14:36.919 --> 00:14:38.979 we discover that the spirit 00:14:38.979 --> 00:14:39.799 actually teaches 00:14:39.799 --> 00:14:40.779 our spirits 00:14:40.779 --> 00:14:41.919 to cry, 00:14:42.120 --> 00:14:42.479 Abba, 00:14:43.059 --> 00:14:43.679 Father. 00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:46.219 This is the work 00:14:46.219 --> 00:14:47.000 of the Holy Spirit 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:47.339 in us. 00:14:47.620 --> 00:14:48.639 He is connecting us 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:49.639 to God relationally, 00:14:49.799 --> 00:14:50.139 deeply. 00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:55.120 And in Ephesians 5, 00:14:55.159 --> 00:14:55.899 18 to 21, 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:56.519 in this passage 00:14:56.519 --> 00:14:57.679 we've just had read out, 00:14:58.500 --> 00:14:59.460 Paul urges us 00:14:59.460 --> 00:15:00.340 to get drunk 00:15:00.340 --> 00:15:01.220 on the spirit. 00:15:01.559 --> 00:15:02.379 That's what he's saying. 00:15:03.100 --> 00:15:03.720 Do not get drunk 00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:04.539 on wine, 00:15:05.199 --> 00:15:05.779 but be filled 00:15:05.779 --> 00:15:06.379 with the spirit. 00:15:08.139 --> 00:15:08.960 The spirit 00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:10.179 turns our hearts 00:15:10.179 --> 00:15:11.259 from wanting 00:15:11.259 --> 00:15:12.500 more in life 00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:14.419 to overflowing 00:15:14.419 --> 00:15:15.240 with thanksgiving 00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:15.819 to our heavenly 00:15:15.819 --> 00:15:16.639 Father for all 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:17.159 that we have 00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:17.759 in Christ. 00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:19.360 the spirit 00:15:19.360 --> 00:15:19.899 teaches us 00:15:19.899 --> 00:15:20.620 what it actually means 00:15:20.620 --> 00:15:21.379 to submit 00:15:21.379 --> 00:15:22.019 to one another. 00:15:22.659 --> 00:15:23.620 Apart from the spirit 00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:24.220 that would just be 00:15:24.220 --> 00:15:25.419 not just a scary thing 00:15:25.419 --> 00:15:25.860 but just 00:15:25.860 --> 00:15:27.240 totally unnecessary 00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:28.379 thing in life. 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:31.179 The spirit 00:15:31.179 --> 00:15:31.740 connects us 00:15:31.740 --> 00:15:32.559 to God personally, 00:15:33.159 --> 00:15:33.840 relationally, 00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:35.039 cognitively, 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:36.120 and emotionally. 00:15:37.539 --> 00:15:38.720 Our triune God, 00:15:38.819 --> 00:15:39.460 three persons, 00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:39.860 Father, 00:15:40.059 --> 00:15:40.240 Son, 00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:40.679 and Spirit, 00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:42.100 yet one God. 00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:45.419 And his family 00:15:45.419 --> 00:15:47.279 is the family 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:47.980 that Paul sees 00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:48.620 as a source 00:15:48.620 --> 00:15:49.559 of all other family. 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:50.639 His family 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:51.779 is the one 00:15:51.779 --> 00:15:52.259 that we've been 00:15:52.259 --> 00:15:53.639 invited into 00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:54.939 for the rest 00:15:54.939 --> 00:15:55.539 of eternity. 00:15:59.439 --> 00:16:00.360 What you are, 00:16:01.439 --> 00:16:02.339 beloved children 00:16:02.339 --> 00:16:02.819 of God. 00:16:04.699 --> 00:16:05.879 What you become 00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:07.639 is imitators 00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:08.079 of God. 00:16:09.500 --> 00:16:10.100 When we enter 00:16:10.100 --> 00:16:11.000 his family, 00:16:11.559 --> 00:16:12.339 we become 00:16:12.339 --> 00:16:13.159 his children. 00:16:14.059 --> 00:16:15.120 This is our identity. 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:16.339 God is our protector. 00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:17.200 He's our provider. 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:18.220 He's the one 00:16:18.220 --> 00:16:18.580 who actually 00:16:18.580 --> 00:16:19.240 raises us 00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:20.600 and transforms us. 00:16:20.940 --> 00:16:22.180 And as he loves us 00:16:22.180 --> 00:16:22.879 without condition 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:23.600 or restraint, 00:16:25.060 --> 00:16:28.139 we need to understand 00:16:28.139 --> 00:16:29.060 the basis of that. 00:16:29.139 --> 00:16:29.899 He loves us 00:16:29.899 --> 00:16:30.420 without condition 00:16:30.420 --> 00:16:31.019 or restraint 00:16:31.019 --> 00:16:33.160 because he sees us 00:16:33.160 --> 00:16:33.759 as having 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:34.300 the righteousness 00:16:34.300 --> 00:16:35.040 of Christ. 00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:38.480 And children, 00:16:39.820 --> 00:16:41.100 even adoptive children, 00:16:41.900 --> 00:16:43.340 take on the characteristics 00:16:43.340 --> 00:16:44.280 of the fathers 00:16:44.280 --> 00:16:44.860 that raise them. 00:16:46.100 --> 00:16:46.280 Now, 00:16:46.300 --> 00:16:46.820 when I was working 00:16:46.820 --> 00:16:47.320 as a physio, 00:16:47.379 --> 00:16:47.920 I had a patient 00:16:47.920 --> 00:16:49.160 recovering from 00:16:49.160 --> 00:16:49.920 a broken leg. 00:16:50.340 --> 00:16:50.460 Now, 00:16:50.540 --> 00:16:51.399 he came in one day. 00:16:51.540 --> 00:16:52.639 I told my small group 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:53.720 this last week. 00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:55.899 But he came in one day 00:16:55.899 --> 00:16:57.000 and this particular day 00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:57.639 he was bringing 00:16:57.639 --> 00:16:59.120 his son in with him. 00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:00.060 He didn't have someone 00:17:00.060 --> 00:17:00.720 to look after him. 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:01.280 He was a three or four 00:17:01.280 --> 00:17:01.780 year old kid. 00:17:02.360 --> 00:17:03.019 And so they walked 00:17:03.019 --> 00:17:03.860 into the waiting room 00:17:03.860 --> 00:17:05.700 and he hobbled in 00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:06.220 with his crutches 00:17:06.220 --> 00:17:07.059 as he usually did. 00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:08.759 and his son, 00:17:08.859 --> 00:17:09.379 his three or four 00:17:09.379 --> 00:17:10.059 year old son, 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:11.559 walked alongside him 00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:13.519 and imitated 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:14.359 the limp 00:17:14.359 --> 00:17:15.359 of his father. 00:17:16.299 --> 00:17:16.879 This little three 00:17:16.879 --> 00:17:17.240 year old, 00:17:17.679 --> 00:17:18.679 three, four year old kid 00:17:18.679 --> 00:17:19.839 limping into the 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:20.679 waiting room as well. 00:17:21.159 --> 00:17:21.299 Now, 00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:21.839 I asked him, 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:23.179 is your child alright? 00:17:23.299 --> 00:17:23.899 Has your child been 00:17:23.899 --> 00:17:25.039 injured or something? 00:17:25.220 --> 00:17:26.059 And he said, 00:17:26.099 --> 00:17:26.720 oh no, no, no. 00:17:26.779 --> 00:17:28.279 He just likes to copy me. 00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:31.179 That's the nature 00:17:31.179 --> 00:17:31.819 of parenthood, 00:17:31.859 --> 00:17:32.220 isn't it? 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:34.039 That there's this 00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:34.859 bond between 00:17:34.859 --> 00:17:35.379 a parent 00:17:35.379 --> 00:17:36.759 and a child. 00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:38.259 There's a very 00:17:38.259 --> 00:17:38.740 strong bond 00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:39.319 between the father 00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:39.879 and the son. 00:17:41.960 --> 00:17:42.940 That bond 00:17:42.940 --> 00:17:43.980 is such that 00:17:43.980 --> 00:17:44.659 we want to 00:17:44.659 --> 00:17:45.799 imitate our father. 00:17:46.679 --> 00:17:47.379 We just want 00:17:47.379 --> 00:17:48.119 to be like him. 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:51.159 Children 00:17:51.159 --> 00:17:52.259 imitate 00:17:52.259 --> 00:17:53.339 their father. 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:55.679 Our fathers 00:17:55.679 --> 00:17:56.279 have a powerful 00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:56.980 influence in their 00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:57.279 household, 00:17:57.359 --> 00:17:57.879 and you can look up 00:17:57.879 --> 00:17:58.559 the research for that 00:17:58.559 --> 00:17:59.359 later if you like. 00:18:00.440 --> 00:18:01.279 We're just discovering 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:02.179 more and more 00:18:02.179 --> 00:18:02.819 the truth 00:18:02.819 --> 00:18:03.740 of the pattern 00:18:03.740 --> 00:18:04.440 that God set up 00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:04.940 for us. 00:18:04.940 --> 00:18:07.120 Our earthly 00:18:07.120 --> 00:18:08.180 experience of this 00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:09.620 can be inspiring, 00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:10.120 as I've said, 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:11.140 or it can be painful. 00:18:12.259 --> 00:18:13.580 But our experience 00:18:13.580 --> 00:18:14.240 of God 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:15.340 as our father 00:18:15.340 --> 00:18:17.080 is always 00:18:17.080 --> 00:18:18.279 inspiring. 00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:21.039 We don't obey 00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:22.080 because we have to. 00:18:22.700 --> 00:18:23.019 And please 00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:24.140 don't get me wrong here. 00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:25.620 I'm not questioning 00:18:25.620 --> 00:18:26.880 the authority of God 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:27.559 and his right 00:18:27.559 --> 00:18:28.460 to command us 00:18:28.460 --> 00:18:28.940 to do whatever 00:18:28.940 --> 00:18:29.440 he chooses. 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:31.700 but what I'm 00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:32.539 saying is this. 00:18:33.400 --> 00:18:34.360 We have a father 00:18:34.360 --> 00:18:35.779 who has that 00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:36.299 authority 00:18:36.299 --> 00:18:37.820 and yet goes 00:18:37.820 --> 00:18:38.920 after our hearts. 00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:40.460 I'm saying that 00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:41.299 we have a father 00:18:41.299 --> 00:18:42.259 who loves us 00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:42.799 perfectly, 00:18:43.660 --> 00:18:44.299 a father who 00:18:44.299 --> 00:18:45.200 delights in giving 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:46.039 us good things. 00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:46.740 And Jesus even 00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:47.420 describes this 00:18:47.420 --> 00:18:48.700 in Luke 11.11. 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.600 Which of your fathers, 00:18:49.960 --> 00:18:50.680 if your son asks 00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:51.180 for a fish, 00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:51.940 will give him a snake 00:18:51.940 --> 00:18:52.400 instead? 00:18:52.620 --> 00:18:53.299 Or if he asks 00:18:53.299 --> 00:18:53.860 for an egg, 00:18:53.900 --> 00:18:54.860 will give him a scorpion? 00:18:54.859 --> 00:18:57.659 If you then, 00:18:57.719 --> 00:18:58.459 though you are evil, 00:18:59.279 --> 00:18:59.919 here's a nice way 00:18:59.919 --> 00:19:00.679 of speaking to a crowd 00:19:00.679 --> 00:19:01.199 and keeping their 00:19:01.199 --> 00:19:01.839 attention, isn't it? 00:19:01.959 --> 00:19:02.539 If you then, 00:19:02.599 --> 00:19:03.359 although you are evil, 00:19:04.439 --> 00:19:05.059 know how to give 00:19:05.059 --> 00:19:05.779 good gifts to your 00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:06.139 children, 00:19:07.159 --> 00:19:07.859 how much more 00:19:07.859 --> 00:19:08.439 will your father 00:19:08.439 --> 00:19:09.459 in heaven give 00:19:09.459 --> 00:19:11.000 the Holy Spirit 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:12.859 to those who ask him? 00:19:16.919 --> 00:19:17.799 We have a father 00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:18.879 who loves us perfectly, 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:19.759 who delights in 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:20.699 giving us good things, 00:19:20.979 --> 00:19:21.659 a father who is 00:19:21.659 --> 00:19:23.039 undeniably good, 00:19:23.319 --> 00:19:23.959 a father who has 00:19:23.959 --> 00:19:24.839 captured our hearts, 00:19:24.859 --> 00:19:25.779 who is worthy 00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:26.539 of our praise, 00:19:26.639 --> 00:19:27.039 who is someone 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:28.159 we delight in imitating 00:19:28.159 --> 00:19:30.019 like little children do. 00:19:31.879 --> 00:19:32.759 This is more 00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:33.319 than obedience. 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:33.679 I mean, 00:19:33.859 --> 00:19:36.219 and I mean by that, 00:19:36.339 --> 00:19:36.740 it's more than 00:19:36.740 --> 00:19:37.599 obedience in the sense 00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:38.419 of an expression 00:19:38.419 --> 00:19:39.059 of the will, 00:19:39.399 --> 00:19:40.099 simply an expression 00:19:40.099 --> 00:19:40.579 of the will. 00:19:41.719 --> 00:19:42.519 This obedience 00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:43.299 goes deeper. 00:19:44.879 --> 00:19:45.479 Even that difference 00:19:45.479 --> 00:19:46.459 is best summed up 00:19:46.459 --> 00:19:47.359 in the word grace. 00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:50.119 I think about 00:19:50.119 --> 00:19:51.259 how I parent, 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:51.819 and this perhaps 00:19:51.819 --> 00:19:52.419 is one of the areas 00:19:52.419 --> 00:19:53.839 that I'm kind of 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:54.439 concerned about 00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:55.740 and in a sense 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.640 trying to redress, 00:19:56.779 --> 00:19:58.360 but have I modelled 00:19:58.360 --> 00:19:59.559 grace as a father? 00:20:00.360 --> 00:20:01.400 I taught my kids 00:20:01.400 --> 00:20:01.960 to obey, 00:20:02.360 --> 00:20:02.660 yes. 00:20:02.900 --> 00:20:03.660 I taught my kids 00:20:03.660 --> 00:20:04.660 obedience in terms 00:20:04.660 --> 00:20:06.000 of appealing 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:07.039 to their wills. 00:20:08.180 --> 00:20:09.299 But did I actually 00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:10.480 teach them inadvertently 00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:11.580 that that was the 00:20:11.580 --> 00:20:12.539 foundation of my 00:20:12.539 --> 00:20:13.559 relationship with them, 00:20:13.600 --> 00:20:14.700 my regard for them? 00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:20.220 See, if I express 00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:21.779 a desire to promote 00:20:21.779 --> 00:20:23.039 obedience in my child 00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:23.500 and obedience 00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:24.420 without grace, 00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:27.039 my feelings for my child 00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:27.680 will waver 00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:29.799 based on how they perform. 00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:33.220 But if my approach 00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:34.400 to raising my children 00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:36.819 is obedience with grace 00:20:36.819 --> 00:20:37.940 as my Heavenly Father 00:20:37.940 --> 00:20:38.819 relates to me, 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:41.279 my feelings for my children 00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:42.640 will remain unchanged. 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:49.840 children imitate their 00:20:49.840 --> 00:20:51.100 father from admiration 00:20:51.100 --> 00:20:53.620 or wonder. 00:20:55.100 --> 00:20:56.740 As his precious children, 00:20:56.940 --> 00:20:58.160 we are called to do the same. 00:21:02.380 --> 00:21:03.920 Children imitate the father. 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:06.020 Paul also calls us 00:21:06.020 --> 00:21:06.780 in chapter 5 00:21:06.780 --> 00:21:07.520 to walk, 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:08.780 and he describes walking 00:21:08.780 --> 00:21:09.920 in two different ways. 00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:12.039 He's imitating the father. 00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:12.340 He's like, 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:13.519 he uses action words 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:14.220 for these things. 00:21:15.080 --> 00:21:16.320 He says to walk in love 00:21:16.320 --> 00:21:18.060 and to walk in light. 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:22.039 Imitating the father 00:21:22.039 --> 00:21:22.660 is something that 00:21:22.660 --> 00:21:23.759 shapes what we do. 00:21:24.800 --> 00:21:25.800 We become children 00:21:25.800 --> 00:21:26.720 who love 00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:28.320 like God loved us. 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:31.279 And verse 2, 00:21:31.320 --> 00:21:31.800 as I've said, 00:21:31.900 --> 00:21:32.320 Paul gives us 00:21:32.320 --> 00:21:33.100 a model for loving 00:21:33.100 --> 00:21:34.220 to set us on the right track 00:21:34.220 --> 00:21:35.060 so we don't go astray 00:21:35.060 --> 00:21:35.759 even in that. 00:21:36.060 --> 00:21:36.759 And the example 00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:37.880 is Jesus' sacrifice. 00:21:37.880 --> 00:21:40.260 When you become 00:21:40.260 --> 00:21:41.100 a sacrifice, 00:21:41.380 --> 00:21:43.340 when you become a, 00:21:43.360 --> 00:21:44.460 when he became a sacrifice, 00:21:44.580 --> 00:21:45.200 he didn't walk away 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:45.560 from that. 00:21:46.040 --> 00:21:47.400 When you become a sacrifice, 00:21:47.580 --> 00:21:48.360 it's the same deal. 00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:52.260 This kind of love 00:21:52.260 --> 00:21:53.660 expressed in sacrifice 00:21:53.660 --> 00:21:55.260 is a humbling love. 00:21:56.520 --> 00:21:57.660 When it's expressed 00:21:57.660 --> 00:21:58.600 in relationship, 00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:01.260 it's a humiliating love. 00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:04.039 I think we've sanitized 00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:04.619 humility. 00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:06.440 I'll explain this to you. 00:22:07.379 --> 00:22:08.420 In our minds, 00:22:08.920 --> 00:22:09.619 we've kind of 00:22:09.619 --> 00:22:10.599 categorized humility 00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:11.359 as the opposite 00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:12.099 to pride 00:22:12.099 --> 00:22:13.500 or arrogance. 00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:13.900 And that, 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:14.240 you know, 00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:15.200 in Australian culture, 00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:15.640 that's something 00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:16.119 that we're kind of 00:22:16.119 --> 00:22:16.960 born into anyway. 00:22:18.660 --> 00:22:20.000 But it's more than that. 00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:20.400 You see, 00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:21.519 it is that. 00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:23.660 But being humble 00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:24.339 in practice, 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:25.740 exercising humility, 00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:27.259 is actually 00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:28.299 opening yourself up 00:22:28.299 --> 00:22:29.140 to the experience 00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:30.059 of humiliation. 00:22:30.059 --> 00:22:30.179 humiliation. 00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:32.579 Think about that 00:22:32.579 --> 00:22:33.099 relationally. 00:22:33.460 --> 00:22:34.779 I can value humility 00:22:34.779 --> 00:22:35.460 as a virtue, 00:22:35.899 --> 00:22:36.639 but I can only 00:22:36.639 --> 00:22:37.759 live humility 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:40.039 if I'm prepared for 00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:41.679 and accept 00:22:41.679 --> 00:22:42.819 humiliation 00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:43.519 as an outcome. 00:22:46.099 --> 00:22:46.539 Now, 00:22:46.619 --> 00:22:47.179 I come from 00:22:47.179 --> 00:22:48.679 a family background 00:22:48.679 --> 00:22:50.079 where one of the ways 00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:51.220 that we love each other, 00:22:51.339 --> 00:22:51.919 so to speak, 00:22:52.159 --> 00:22:53.639 is by put-down humour. 00:22:53.799 --> 00:22:54.559 Do you know what that means? 00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:55.859 Where you basically 00:22:55.859 --> 00:22:56.980 chip each other 00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:57.500 all the time. 00:22:58.460 --> 00:22:59.099 You don't have that. 00:22:59.179 --> 00:22:59.279 No, 00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:00.759 none of you do that. 00:23:00.879 --> 00:23:01.039 No? 00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:01.399 Okay, 00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:02.440 it's just my family then. 00:23:02.619 --> 00:23:03.059 That's fine, 00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:03.839 I'm happy to own that. 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:05.500 But one of the things 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.200 I found was that 00:23:06.200 --> 00:23:07.000 when I married Jo, 00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:08.240 she does not come 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:09.079 from that kind of background. 00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:11.000 She's British 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:12.160 through and through. 00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:12.859 I'm kind of British 00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:13.579 by birth, 00:23:13.639 --> 00:23:13.819 you know, 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:15.079 made in England, 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:15.960 assembled in Australia. 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:17.559 But she's actually 00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:18.779 British. 00:23:18.940 --> 00:23:19.779 And over in England, 00:23:19.879 --> 00:23:20.700 you put yourself down, 00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:21.519 but not other people. 00:23:21.639 --> 00:23:22.799 That's just not kind. 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:25.480 So here she was 00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:26.619 married to someone like me 00:23:26.619 --> 00:23:27.039 who had actually 00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:28.119 perfected the art 00:23:28.119 --> 00:23:28.960 of put-down humour. 00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:34.119 It was costly 00:23:34.119 --> 00:23:35.359 for Jo 00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:36.220 to continue 00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:36.960 to love me 00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:37.419 through that 00:23:37.419 --> 00:23:38.500 when what she was hearing 00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:39.200 was the opposite. 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:43.940 It was costly 00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:44.480 for her 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:45.079 to continue 00:23:45.079 --> 00:23:45.819 to love me. 00:23:45.819 --> 00:23:49.240 It was humiliating. 00:23:51.779 --> 00:23:52.519 Friends, 00:23:52.639 --> 00:23:54.480 love is costly. 00:23:56.339 --> 00:23:58.240 Sometimes it hurts 00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:59.319 deeply 00:23:59.319 --> 00:24:00.839 to love another person. 00:24:02.700 --> 00:24:03.939 But remember this, 00:24:04.339 --> 00:24:05.259 the kind of love 00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:06.200 that Jesus modelled 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:07.159 is a love 00:24:07.159 --> 00:24:08.740 that actually has its goal 00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:10.299 outside of self. 00:24:11.159 --> 00:24:12.539 In the lifting up 00:24:12.539 --> 00:24:13.119 of another, 00:24:14.359 --> 00:24:15.159 each other, 00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:17.359 ultimately 00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:18.859 in worship 00:24:18.859 --> 00:24:19.819 of our God. 00:24:22.220 --> 00:24:22.659 That's 00:24:22.659 --> 00:24:23.700 the noble thing 00:24:23.700 --> 00:24:24.839 that we were created for. 00:24:26.099 --> 00:24:26.679 When you think 00:24:26.679 --> 00:24:27.500 about walking 00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:29.179 as a beloved 00:24:29.179 --> 00:24:29.980 child of God, 00:24:30.399 --> 00:24:31.759 think about that 00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:32.899 as your calling. 00:24:35.879 --> 00:24:36.619 The other thing 00:24:36.619 --> 00:24:37.240 that Paul does 00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:37.980 right in the middle 00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:38.700 of chapter 5 00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:39.679 is he basically says 00:24:39.679 --> 00:24:40.339 wake up 00:24:40.339 --> 00:24:41.159 is the other thing 00:24:41.159 --> 00:24:41.740 that he uses. 00:24:42.339 --> 00:24:42.919 So he talks about 00:24:42.919 --> 00:24:43.480 being children 00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:44.419 imitating their father 00:24:44.419 --> 00:24:45.059 walking 00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:45.899 and he talks 00:24:45.899 --> 00:24:46.839 about waking up. 00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:50.579 Imitating God 00:24:50.579 --> 00:24:51.119 involves, 00:24:51.319 --> 00:24:52.000 it also involves 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:52.579 not just 00:24:52.579 --> 00:24:53.599 how we live 00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:54.480 but how we think, 00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:55.480 even getting behind 00:24:55.480 --> 00:24:56.679 what we do 00:24:56.679 --> 00:24:57.460 to why we do 00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:57.919 what we do. 00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:00.399 Paul says 00:25:00.399 --> 00:25:01.220 wake up. 00:25:02.399 --> 00:25:03.159 Don't let anyone 00:25:03.159 --> 00:25:03.899 deceive you. 00:25:04.679 --> 00:25:05.559 Examine things 00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:06.319 in the light. 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:07.000 Pull things 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:07.559 into the light 00:25:07.559 --> 00:25:08.240 and examine them 00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:08.700 closely. 00:25:09.579 --> 00:25:10.359 Look carefully 00:25:10.359 --> 00:25:11.139 how you walk, 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:12.200 he says in this passage. 00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:14.140 be wise. 00:25:15.340 --> 00:25:15.900 Understand 00:25:15.900 --> 00:25:17.259 the Lord's will. 00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:20.180 All of these things 00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:20.740 addressing 00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:22.200 how we think, 00:25:22.819 --> 00:25:23.840 what we believe, 00:25:24.100 --> 00:25:24.980 what we value, 00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:26.920 all of these 00:25:26.920 --> 00:25:27.460 things 00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:28.759 requiring us 00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:29.600 to put those things 00:25:29.600 --> 00:25:30.299 under scrutiny. 00:25:31.299 --> 00:25:32.480 Question ourselves. 00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:35.460 Think through 00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:36.380 why we're doing 00:25:36.380 --> 00:25:36.900 what we do. 00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:38.940 not just 00:25:38.940 --> 00:25:40.640 conforming the will 00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:41.480 by force 00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:42.100 to a particular 00:25:42.100 --> 00:25:42.580 pattern. 00:25:42.900 --> 00:25:43.360 I can tell you 00:25:43.360 --> 00:25:43.680 you do that, 00:25:43.740 --> 00:25:44.400 it doesn't last. 00:25:45.900 --> 00:25:46.660 And you hate yourself 00:25:46.660 --> 00:25:47.460 for it when you fail. 00:25:50.560 --> 00:25:51.220 God's asking 00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:51.940 for more than that 00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:52.400 from us. 00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:54.120 He's calling 00:25:54.120 --> 00:25:55.160 after our hearts. 00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:56.740 And friends, 00:25:56.800 --> 00:25:57.440 that takes effort, 00:25:57.560 --> 00:25:58.380 that takes mental effort 00:25:58.380 --> 00:25:59.240 to actually do that, 00:25:59.300 --> 00:25:59.920 to actually examine 00:25:59.920 --> 00:26:00.440 our hearts 00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:01.259 and really 00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:02.059 put them 00:26:02.059 --> 00:26:02.779 under the microscope. 00:26:06.539 --> 00:26:06.920 Walk. 00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:08.000 Wake up. 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:10.240 And the final thing 00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:10.940 that Paul finishes 00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:11.759 with is worship. 00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:14.340 There are a number 00:26:14.340 --> 00:26:14.720 of ways 00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:15.820 that being 00:26:15.820 --> 00:26:16.539 in God's family 00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:17.320 changes us. 00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:19.200 The final thing 00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:19.640 that he wants 00:26:19.640 --> 00:26:20.200 to say to us 00:26:20.200 --> 00:26:20.759 though is this. 00:26:21.100 --> 00:26:21.900 He wants to bring us 00:26:21.900 --> 00:26:22.559 back, I guess, 00:26:22.620 --> 00:26:23.460 to what David 00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:23.920 talked about 00:26:23.920 --> 00:26:24.700 in our very first 00:26:24.700 --> 00:26:25.340 talk on the series, 00:26:25.420 --> 00:26:25.860 Gospel-shaped 00:26:25.860 --> 00:26:26.440 relationships, 00:26:26.860 --> 00:26:27.660 when he described 00:26:27.660 --> 00:26:28.160 how we were 00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:28.940 actually created 00:26:28.940 --> 00:26:30.000 for worship. 00:26:30.440 --> 00:26:33.880 We are creatures 00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:37.000 who were created 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:38.240 to worship. 00:26:40.080 --> 00:26:40.840 When we don't 00:26:40.840 --> 00:26:42.160 worship God, 00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:42.860 we will find 00:26:42.860 --> 00:26:43.420 other things 00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:44.039 to worship. 00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:47.080 Mostly ourselves, 00:26:47.840 --> 00:26:48.140 though on the 00:26:48.140 --> 00:26:48.600 bulletin front 00:26:48.600 --> 00:26:49.000 you'll see, 00:26:49.860 --> 00:26:50.400 sometimes it's 00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:51.460 our families, 00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:53.799 our marriage partners, 00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:54.420 our parents, 00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:55.080 our children. 00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:58.180 Sometimes it's 00:26:58.180 --> 00:26:58.700 just stuff 00:26:58.700 --> 00:26:59.000 and that's 00:26:59.000 --> 00:26:59.500 really sad. 00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:03.380 when we do 00:27:03.380 --> 00:27:03.740 that, 00:27:04.320 --> 00:27:04.660 when we 00:27:04.660 --> 00:27:05.039 practice 00:27:05.039 --> 00:27:05.759 idolatry, 00:27:06.380 --> 00:27:06.779 Paul again 00:27:06.779 --> 00:27:07.340 in this passage 00:27:07.340 --> 00:27:08.500 links idolatry 00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:11.200 to covetousness, 00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:12.080 wanting it 00:27:12.080 --> 00:27:12.900 more than we 00:27:12.900 --> 00:27:13.299 have. 00:27:14.299 --> 00:27:14.799 Or in terms 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:15.240 of covetousness 00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:15.600 you could even 00:27:15.600 --> 00:27:16.299 say wanting 00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:16.860 what is not 00:27:16.860 --> 00:27:17.840 ours to have 00:27:17.840 --> 00:27:19.799 in God's 00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:20.360 providence. 00:27:20.359 --> 00:27:25.339 all the time 00:27:25.339 --> 00:27:25.779 we're doing 00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:26.099 that, 00:27:26.099 --> 00:27:27.779 all the time 00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:27.959 that we're 00:27:27.959 --> 00:27:28.319 looking for 00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:28.740 more in 00:27:28.740 --> 00:27:29.099 life than 00:27:29.099 --> 00:27:29.759 there is, 00:27:30.879 --> 00:27:32.299 all that 00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:32.699 time, 00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:34.039 we are 00:27:34.039 --> 00:27:34.679 missing all 00:27:34.679 --> 00:27:34.959 that we 00:27:34.959 --> 00:27:36.240 have in 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:36.659 Christ. 00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:38.459 Paul says 00:27:38.459 --> 00:27:39.219 in verse 17, 00:27:39.299 --> 00:27:40.019 and I paraphrase 00:27:40.019 --> 00:27:40.279 here, 00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:40.879 don't get 00:27:40.879 --> 00:27:41.279 drunk on 00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:41.579 wine, 00:27:42.059 --> 00:27:42.579 get drunk 00:27:42.579 --> 00:27:42.919 on the 00:27:42.919 --> 00:27:43.439 Holy Spirit. 00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:43.880 Yes, 00:27:45.140 --> 00:27:45.660 your pastor 00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:46.160 said get 00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:46.620 drunk, 00:27:47.340 --> 00:27:47.820 but listen 00:27:47.820 --> 00:27:48.120 to the 00:27:48.120 --> 00:27:48.600 second part 00:27:48.600 --> 00:27:48.759 of the 00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:49.220 get drunk 00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:49.799 on the 00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:50.420 Holy Spirit. 00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:51.480 And when 00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:51.920 we do, 00:27:52.039 --> 00:27:52.580 he will 00:27:52.580 --> 00:27:53.559 transform us. 00:27:55.420 --> 00:27:56.279 A community 00:27:56.279 --> 00:27:56.759 of people 00:27:56.759 --> 00:27:57.279 who invite 00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:58.039 the Holy Spirit 00:27:58.039 --> 00:27:58.860 to fill them 00:27:58.860 --> 00:27:59.380 will be 00:27:59.380 --> 00:27:59.799 characterized 00:27:59.799 --> 00:28:00.259 by the 00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:00.600 things that 00:28:00.600 --> 00:28:01.000 Paul lists 00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:01.279 in this 00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:01.660 passage. 00:28:02.100 --> 00:28:02.539 Joyful, 00:28:02.660 --> 00:28:03.259 exuberant, 00:28:03.400 --> 00:28:03.900 God-shaped 00:28:03.900 --> 00:28:04.720 conversation. 00:28:05.620 --> 00:28:05.840 In fact, 00:28:05.880 --> 00:28:06.160 not just 00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:06.620 conversation, 00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:07.180 but we sing 00:28:07.180 --> 00:28:07.519 to each 00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:07.640 other, 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:08.019 we turn 00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:08.519 into a 00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:08.880 musical. 00:28:09.360 --> 00:28:09.720 For some 00:28:09.720 --> 00:28:09.920 of you, 00:28:09.980 --> 00:28:10.220 that may 00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:10.460 be a 00:28:10.460 --> 00:28:10.740 nightmare, 00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:11.480 but that's 00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:12.060 actually a 00:28:12.060 --> 00:28:12.360 beautiful 00:28:12.360 --> 00:28:12.780 thing. 00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:14.320 Yes, 00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:15.180 it really 00:28:15.180 --> 00:28:15.440 is a 00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:15.600 nightmare 00:28:15.600 --> 00:28:15.940 for some 00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:16.040 of 00:28:16.040 --> 00:28:16.220 things. 00:28:17.420 --> 00:28:18.060 But that's 00:28:18.060 --> 00:28:18.280 what we 00:28:18.280 --> 00:28:18.620 become. 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:18.840 And you 00:28:18.840 --> 00:28:19.060 know what 00:28:19.060 --> 00:28:19.440 a musical 00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:19.960 is like? 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:20.300 A musical 00:28:20.300 --> 00:28:20.560 is one 00:28:20.560 --> 00:28:20.780 of those 00:28:20.780 --> 00:28:21.000 things that 00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:21.520 just evokes 00:28:21.520 --> 00:28:21.960 the emotion 00:28:21.960 --> 00:28:22.400 all the way 00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:22.660 through. 00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:23.300 You come 00:28:23.300 --> 00:28:24.040 through it 00:28:24.040 --> 00:28:24.480 wrung out, 00:28:24.580 --> 00:28:25.000 exhausted, 00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:25.920 emotionally. 00:28:28.420 --> 00:28:29.020 Imagine if 00:28:29.020 --> 00:28:29.360 that was 00:28:29.360 --> 00:28:29.800 us, 00:28:30.280 --> 00:28:31.080 a musical 00:28:31.080 --> 00:28:32.120 devoted to 00:28:32.120 --> 00:28:32.960 singing praise 00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:33.740 to our 00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:35.160 God to 00:28:35.160 --> 00:28:35.660 each other, 00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:36.980 constantly 00:28:36.980 --> 00:28:37.820 lifting each 00:28:37.820 --> 00:28:38.180 other up, 00:28:38.280 --> 00:28:38.780 inspiring 00:28:38.779 --> 00:28:39.399 each other, 00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:42.519 constantly 00:28:42.519 --> 00:28:43.299 creating and 00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:43.799 encouraging 00:28:43.799 --> 00:28:44.879 in each 00:28:44.879 --> 00:28:45.099 other, 00:28:45.299 --> 00:28:45.660 all for 00:28:45.660 --> 00:28:45.980 God, 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:47.039 delight in 00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:47.339 Him. 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:50.539 We also 00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:50.740 have a 00:28:50.740 --> 00:28:51.039 community 00:28:51.039 --> 00:28:51.559 characterized 00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:51.920 by 00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:52.700 thankfulness 00:28:52.700 --> 00:28:53.099 to God, 00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:55.180 always, 00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:56.639 in 00:28:56.639 --> 00:28:57.619 everything, 00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:58.539 says Paul. 00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:02.220 Thankfulness 00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:03.639 rather than 00:29:03.639 --> 00:29:04.180 setting our 00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:04.660 hearts on 00:29:04.660 --> 00:29:05.379 getting more 00:29:05.379 --> 00:29:06.339 out of 00:29:06.339 --> 00:29:07.599 life than 00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:07.960 God has 00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:08.500 actually given 00:29:08.500 --> 00:29:08.859 us. 00:29:11.099 --> 00:29:11.839 More from 00:29:11.839 --> 00:29:12.420 our lives 00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:13.319 than in 00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:13.680 God and 00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:14.220 His commands 00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:14.519 and His 00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:15.539 good pleasure 00:29:15.539 --> 00:29:16.700 have actually 00:29:16.700 --> 00:29:17.539 destined for 00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:17.880 us in the 00:29:17.880 --> 00:29:18.359 path that we 00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:18.740 walk as 00:29:18.740 --> 00:29:19.119 His beloved 00:29:19.119 --> 00:29:19.539 children. 00:29:21.920 --> 00:29:22.539 And the 00:29:22.539 --> 00:29:23.039 final thing 00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:23.500 Paul says 00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:23.759 that the 00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:24.160 Holy Spirit 00:29:24.160 --> 00:29:24.559 does in 00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:25.700 us is the 00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:26.299 Holy Spirit 00:29:26.299 --> 00:29:28.099 actually promotes 00:29:28.099 --> 00:29:29.279 submission to 00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:29.740 each other. 00:29:31.680 --> 00:29:32.019 Friends, 00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:32.380 if we're 00:29:32.380 --> 00:29:33.059 struggling with 00:29:33.059 --> 00:29:34.019 that concept of 00:29:34.019 --> 00:29:34.519 submitting to 00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:34.920 one another, 00:29:35.619 --> 00:29:36.960 putting others 00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:37.480 first, 00:29:37.900 --> 00:29:38.660 seeking their 00:29:38.660 --> 00:29:39.039 good, 00:29:39.879 --> 00:29:41.240 sometimes at 00:29:41.240 --> 00:29:41.779 the cost to 00:29:41.779 --> 00:29:42.359 ourselves, 00:29:43.359 --> 00:29:45.200 if we're 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:45.740 struggling with 00:29:45.740 --> 00:29:46.379 that concept, 00:29:47.379 --> 00:29:48.539 where do we 00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:50.019 go but to 00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:51.279 God to ask 00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:52.259 for more 00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:53.259 from the 00:29:53.259 --> 00:29:53.819 Holy Spirit, 00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:55.940 to ask Him 00:29:55.940 --> 00:29:56.720 to fill us 00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:56.940 more. 00:29:57.019 --> 00:29:57.940 If you're a 00:29:57.940 --> 00:29:58.220 Christian, 00:29:58.559 --> 00:29:59.180 you have the 00:29:59.180 --> 00:29:59.700 Spirit in you. 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:00.119 He is the 00:30:00.119 --> 00:30:01.000 deposit guaranteeing 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:02.220 your inheritance. 00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:03.819 But the 00:30:03.819 --> 00:30:04.420 interesting thing 00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:04.880 Paul says 00:30:04.880 --> 00:30:06.220 here is you 00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:07.500 can also 00:30:07.500 --> 00:30:09.380 actually engage 00:30:09.380 --> 00:30:09.900 with the Holy 00:30:09.900 --> 00:30:10.920 Spirit relationally 00:30:10.920 --> 00:30:11.960 so that He 00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:13.539 fills you with 00:30:13.539 --> 00:30:14.019 all the things 00:30:14.019 --> 00:30:14.759 He's desiring 00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:15.519 to produce in 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:15.720 you. 00:30:18.359 --> 00:30:19.299 Was it G.K. 00:30:19.460 --> 00:30:19.900 Chesterton 00:30:19.900 --> 00:30:20.599 that described? 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:21.099 No, no, 00:30:21.180 --> 00:30:21.559 sorry, it 00:30:21.559 --> 00:30:21.880 wasn't that. 00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:22.400 It wasn't him. 00:30:24.819 --> 00:30:25.500 I can't remember 00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:25.960 the guy's name, 00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:26.359 the guy who 00:30:26.359 --> 00:30:26.940 first translated 00:30:26.940 --> 00:30:27.500 the Bible into 00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:27.880 English. 00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:29.099 William Tyndale, 00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:29.420 was it? 00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:30.359 William Tyndale. 00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:31.819 who describes 00:30:31.819 --> 00:30:33.720 a Christian 00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:35.420 community as 00:30:35.420 --> 00:30:36.599 like a summer 00:30:36.599 --> 00:30:38.119 garden, a 00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:38.500 garden where 00:30:38.500 --> 00:30:39.140 the sun is 00:30:39.140 --> 00:30:40.039 always shining 00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:40.900 and fruit is 00:30:40.900 --> 00:30:41.700 always being 00:30:41.700 --> 00:30:42.220 produced. 00:30:43.079 --> 00:30:43.779 The Christian 00:30:43.779 --> 00:30:44.400 community is 00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:44.960 like a summer 00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:48.000 garden, which 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:48.640 the Spirit is 00:30:48.640 --> 00:30:49.660 delighting in and 00:30:49.660 --> 00:30:50.539 desiring to 00:30:50.539 --> 00:30:51.200 produce fruit in 00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:51.460 us. 00:30:53.579 --> 00:30:54.000 So I need to 00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:54.359 finish there. 00:30:54.420 --> 00:30:54.759 I think I may 00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:55.180 have gone too 00:30:55.180 --> 00:30:55.900 long, but let 00:30:55.900 --> 00:30:56.359 me just say 00:30:56.359 --> 00:30:56.700 this. 00:30:58.400 --> 00:30:59.160 The thing that 00:30:59.160 --> 00:30:59.700 we try and 00:30:59.700 --> 00:31:00.180 create for 00:31:00.180 --> 00:31:00.680 ourselves, 00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:03.319 is destined 00:31:03.319 --> 00:31:04.140 only to 00:31:04.140 --> 00:31:04.539 become a 00:31:04.539 --> 00:31:04.839 monster. 00:31:06.819 --> 00:31:07.400 But the 00:31:07.400 --> 00:31:08.039 family that 00:31:08.039 --> 00:31:08.339 God has 00:31:08.339 --> 00:31:08.680 called us 00:31:08.680 --> 00:31:09.640 to be, that 00:31:09.640 --> 00:31:10.119 he's rescued 00:31:10.119 --> 00:31:10.680 us to be a 00:31:10.680 --> 00:31:11.420 part of, that 00:31:11.420 --> 00:31:11.779 he's given 00:31:11.779 --> 00:31:12.500 us a spirit to 00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:13.660 guarantee us 00:31:13.660 --> 00:31:14.619 and is building 00:31:14.619 --> 00:31:15.299 in us even 00:31:15.299 --> 00:31:17.359 now, that 00:31:17.359 --> 00:31:19.259 family is 00:31:19.259 --> 00:31:19.759 beautiful, 00:31:20.619 --> 00:31:21.039 compelling, 00:31:22.660 --> 00:31:24.059 nothing better. 00:31:24.059 --> 00:31:28.299 God, let me 00:31:28.299 --> 00:31:28.480 pray. 00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:28.579 Let me pray and 00:31:28.579 --> 00:31:29.059 as I pray, the 00:31:29.059 --> 00:31:29.579 musicians will 00:31:29.579 --> 00:31:29.980 come up. 00:31:32.539 --> 00:31:33.299 Father God, we 00:31:33.299 --> 00:31:34.200 thank you for 00:31:34.200 --> 00:31:35.819 inviting us into 00:31:35.819 --> 00:31:36.339 your family. 00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:38.159 Thank you for 00:31:38.159 --> 00:31:38.659 the thought you've 00:31:38.659 --> 00:31:39.200 put into that 00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:39.940 that actually 00:31:39.940 --> 00:31:42.539 just goes back 00:31:42.539 --> 00:31:43.159 before even the 00:31:43.159 --> 00:31:43.559 beginning of 00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:43.980 time. 00:31:44.839 --> 00:31:45.639 It's hard to 00:31:45.639 --> 00:31:46.159 even imagine 00:31:46.159 --> 00:31:46.480 that. 00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:48.480 The love that 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:49.059 you've invested 00:31:49.059 --> 00:31:50.899 in us, the 00:31:50.899 --> 00:31:51.679 sacrifice you 00:31:51.679 --> 00:31:52.099 were willing to 00:31:52.099 --> 00:31:53.099 make for us 00:31:53.099 --> 00:31:54.859 and the 00:31:54.859 --> 00:31:56.459 delight you 00:31:56.459 --> 00:31:57.259 have in us 00:31:57.259 --> 00:31:59.459 even and 00:31:59.459 --> 00:32:00.039 despite what 00:32:00.039 --> 00:32:00.879 we know about 00:32:00.879 --> 00:32:01.500 ourselves. 00:32:02.339 --> 00:32:02.899 Lord, we 00:32:02.899 --> 00:32:03.459 thank you for 00:32:03.459 --> 00:32:03.619 that. 00:32:03.699 --> 00:32:04.019 Thank you for 00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:04.359 making that 00:32:04.359 --> 00:32:04.980 possible through 00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:05.659 Jesus Christ 00:32:05.659 --> 00:32:06.119 and for 00:32:06.119 --> 00:32:07.480 awakening the 00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:08.179 reality of it 00:32:08.179 --> 00:32:09.519 in our lives 00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:09.839 through your 00:32:09.839 --> 00:32:10.419 spirit and we 00:32:10.419 --> 00:32:10.759 pray that you 00:32:10.759 --> 00:32:11.299 would continue 00:32:11.299 --> 00:32:11.879 to do that. 00:32:14.359 --> 00:32:15.059 Lord, I pray 00:32:15.059 --> 00:32:15.459 that we would 00:32:15.459 --> 00:32:16.099 be a community 00:32:16.099 --> 00:32:17.779 that delights in 00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:18.359 being drunk on 00:32:18.359 --> 00:32:19.039 your Holy Spirit. 00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:20.359 Amen. 00:32:22.099 --> 00:32:25.659 The next 00:32:25.659 --> 00:32:26.419 song is 00:32:26.419 --> 00:32:27.159 By Faith. 00:32:27.259 --> 00:32:27.819 The lyrics to 00:32:27.819 --> 00:32:28.519 the song comes 00:32:28.519 --> 00:32:29.379 from Hebrews 00:32:29.379 --> 00:32:30.039 11, if you'd 00:32:30.039 --> 00:32:30.439 like to read 00:32:30.439 --> 00:32:30.899 through that. 00:32:32.019 --> 00:32:33.240 But it's right 00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:34.219 through the old 00:32:34.219 --> 00:32:34.619 text and it's 00:32:34.619 --> 00:32:35.319 been By Faith. 00:32:36.259 --> 00:32:36.879 The author says 00:32:36.879 --> 00:32:38.039 and it's By Faith 00:32:38.039 --> 00:32:39.319 in the pen for 00:32:39.319 --> 00:32:39.859 the verse stands 00:32:39.859 --> 00:32:40.159 to it. 00:32:40.359 --> 00:32:40.779 So let's 00:32:40.779 --> 00:32:40.879 stand.