WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.660 everyone. Great to be in church with you today. You have already blessed me with your singing. 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:11.279 It was phenomenal to be at the front this morning and to hear you sing those songs with a great deal 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:18.240 of gusto and obviously with a great deal of connection in terms of what we're seeking to do 00:00:18.240 --> 00:00:23.960 as a church. So thank you for that, for serving me and serving each other in that way. Hopefully 00:00:23.960 --> 00:00:28.060 you've got to serve an outline in front of you. It's got some Bible passages in front of it. 00:00:28.059 --> 00:00:32.699 If you haven't got that, you can also get on the St. Paul's app or stick your hand up and someone 00:00:32.699 --> 00:00:41.739 will get one to you. The great English theologian and pastor John Stott captured the urgent need 00:00:41.739 --> 00:00:48.119 for unity in diversity for the local church in his commentary on the book of Ephesians, 00:00:48.820 --> 00:00:54.079 which I've been reading in process of preparing these messages through Ephesians. 00:00:54.079 --> 00:00:56.140 He wrote, 00:00:56.140 --> 00:01:04.939 It is simply impossible with any shred of Christian integrity to go on proclaiming that Jesus, 00:01:05.319 --> 00:01:11.579 by his cross, has abolished the old divisions and created a single new humanity of love, 00:01:12.140 --> 00:01:19.620 while at the same time we are contradicting our message by tolerating social, racial, 00:01:19.620 --> 00:01:26.400 or other barriers within the church fellowship. We need to get the failures of the church on our 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:34.960 conscience to feel the offense to Christ, to weep over the credibility gap between the church's talk 00:01:34.960 --> 00:01:43.060 and the church's walk, to repent of our readiness to excuse and even condone our failures, 00:01:43.060 --> 00:01:53.579 and to determine to do something about it. I wonder if anything is more urgent today for the honor of Christ 00:01:53.579 --> 00:02:00.840 and for the spread of the gospel than that the church should be and should be seen to be 00:02:00.840 --> 00:02:10.120 what by God's purpose and Christ's achievement it already is. A single new humanity, 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:19.580 a model of human community, a family of reconciled brothers and sisters who love their father 00:02:19.580 --> 00:02:28.219 and love each other, the evident dwelling place of God by his spirit. Only then will the world believe 00:02:28.219 --> 00:02:38.740 in Christ as peacemaker. Only then will God receive the glory due his name. I just read that and just want 00:02:38.740 --> 00:02:46.439 to applaud it. Absolutely, fundamentally true and something that we are deliberately working towards 00:02:46.439 --> 00:02:53.400 as a church here at St. Paul's. In the next few weeks, we're looking at Ephesians 4, 1 to 16. 00:02:53.400 --> 00:03:02.300 To discover the means that God uses to maintain the unity of such a diverse bunch of people. 00:03:03.340 --> 00:03:10.980 If you've just joined us today, we are in our annual vision series. We're in Ephesians because this 00:03:10.980 --> 00:03:18.520 letter is about the church, it's about who the church is. And we're also looking at the year ahead 00:03:18.520 --> 00:03:26.879 and aligning ourselves to what God has in store for us next as we plan to move forward in our life 00:03:26.879 --> 00:03:34.960 together in this setting. So first of all, as we looked at last week on your service outline, 00:03:35.400 --> 00:03:44.219 gospel-centered unity is who God has made us to be. Over the last two weeks, we've seen that God, 00:03:44.219 --> 00:03:51.280 the creator, the God of the Bible, the creator of all things, has overwhelmed us by his grace and his mercy 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:59.500 by giving us every spiritual blessing in the Lord Jesus Christ. That is, God has held no blessing back 00:03:59.500 --> 00:04:07.659 from us at all. He has lavished his grace on us in Jesus. We have been redeemed, we've been adopted, 00:04:07.819 --> 00:04:14.139 we've been given eternal life through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We've seen again and 00:04:14.139 --> 00:04:22.519 again the heart of the Christian message which separates Christianity from every other religion in the world 00:04:22.519 --> 00:04:31.360 and it's the gospel. It's on the back of your service sheet and it is about everything that God has 00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:39.519 achieved for you without a single bit of effort on your behalf. And the effect of the gospel is it so 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:50.259 breaks us down that it also breaks down the barriers of hostility that we have built up between us and 00:04:50.259 --> 00:04:58.639 God and us and other people. The pride that causes humanity to reject God and to live independent of 00:04:58.639 --> 00:05:09.500 him has been dealt with as the son of God himself humbled himself, became one of us, takes God's judgment 00:05:09.500 --> 00:05:18.920 for our sin upon himself. And because of his work of humility on our behalf, we have been liberated from 00:05:18.920 --> 00:05:27.500 selfishness and the ego to live, to praise and to serve. We've been set free to be who God has called us 00:05:27.500 --> 00:05:35.660 to be, who God made us to be in the first place. And the gospel also breaks down the deep divisions 00:05:35.660 --> 00:05:45.920 within humanity. In the gospel, Jesus has broken down the walls of hostility and he's building up a new 00:05:45.920 --> 00:05:53.860 eternal and united family of love and peace. It's called the church in Ephesians chapter 3. 00:05:55.160 --> 00:06:05.240 People with centuries of hatred have now been united in Jesus because they're making Jesus the main 00:06:05.240 --> 00:06:22.199 thing. They can do it because they've been given a much more significant identity in Jesus. In Jesus, we receive 00:06:22.199 --> 00:06:33.019 the praise and the affirmation of the praiseworthy. No higher praise can you get than the praise of the 00:06:33.019 --> 00:06:43.439 praiseworthy. This changes your life. Our new identity as God's much loved children means it changes us from the 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:51.459 inside out because it fills us up on the inside, gives us everything that we want for in life. 00:06:51.459 --> 00:07:02.799 And because of the amazing theological realities of chapters 1 through to 3, Paul urges the Ephesians in 00:07:02.799 --> 00:07:12.000 chapter 4 at the very beginning and us to live a life worthy of the calling that you have received. 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:26.540 He's calling us to be who we've been saved to be. The word worthy in verse 1 is translated from the word 00:07:26.540 --> 00:07:35.860 axios in the original New Testament language. This is the word from which we get our English word 00:07:35.860 --> 00:07:48.639 axiom, which means to be of equal weight. Paul is saying we should live lives equal to the great blessings 00:07:48.639 --> 00:08:01.139 described in chapters 1 to 3. How are we to live lives worthy of having every spiritual blessing in the 00:08:01.139 --> 00:08:08.000 gospel of the gospel of the Lord Jesus? Well, the remainder of Ephesians unpacks that for us as we go 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:16.459 through. But the immediate charge in chapter 4 verses 1 to 16 is to live lives worthy of our calling by 00:08:16.459 --> 00:08:29.939 living in unity as God's new family. See in verse 3, make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit 00:08:29.939 --> 00:08:36.700 through the bond of peace. There is one body and one spirit just as you were called to one hope when you were 00:08:36.700 --> 00:08:47.000 called. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. 00:08:49.779 --> 00:08:57.419 Now, Paul has already been emphasizing our unity in this letter. In chapter 2, he uses the language of household 00:08:57.419 --> 00:09:03.099 household to describe it, which is the image of family. It's family language in the New Testament. 00:09:04.179 --> 00:09:12.979 He also uses the image of a building to stress our unity, our togetherness, our oneness. We're cemented 00:09:12.979 --> 00:09:21.539 together like blocks. Now, he takes us a step further and uses the image of the body to emphasize 00:09:21.539 --> 00:09:30.439 our unity. We are one body. And it's an image of intimate connection. 00:09:32.740 --> 00:09:39.419 There are very few certainties in life. I mean, people say death and taxes are a certainty. 00:09:40.099 --> 00:09:46.559 There's another certainty that I generally operate with day by day, was when I went to bed last night, 00:09:46.559 --> 00:09:52.379 I didn't have the expectation that when I woke up in the morning, my hand wasn't going to be there. 00:09:54.139 --> 00:09:59.019 I just assumed when I went to bed at night, my hand was going to be there in the morning 00:09:59.019 --> 00:10:02.639 that it hadn't just decided, 00:10:03.259 --> 00:10:06.379 I'm off to get my nails done. 00:10:06.379 --> 00:10:11.879 And it just left the body. It just doesn't do that. 00:10:13.960 --> 00:10:20.939 Intimately connected. Your body is not sewn together. It's not stapled together. It grows together. 00:10:22.659 --> 00:10:29.000 And that's what happens when you have new life in Christ. It's an image of intimate connection. 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:33.580 And he uses the same image in other parts of the New Testament, like 1 Corinthians. 00:10:34.840 --> 00:10:41.519 Notice Paul calls us here to keep the unity that we have. 00:10:44.340 --> 00:10:49.399 He's saying that the unity that we have together isn't something that we can attain. 00:10:49.820 --> 00:10:51.440 It's not something that we gain. 00:10:51.879 --> 00:10:53.179 We only keep it. 00:10:53.639 --> 00:10:56.100 We are called into unity. 00:10:56.100 --> 00:11:00.019 And Paul alludes to this when he says, 00:11:00.139 --> 00:11:04.320 You were called to one hope when you were called. 00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:09.860 What he's saying is that our experience of new life in Jesus 00:11:09.860 --> 00:11:14.740 is what creates the unity that we have to keep. 00:11:16.980 --> 00:11:19.279 There is only one hope for humanity. 00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:24.120 There's one hope and the only hope is salvation in Jesus. 00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:25.320 New life in him. 00:11:25.659 --> 00:11:31.779 Acts 4 says there is no other name by which people can be saved than the name of Jesus. 00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:38.820 But our unity is also grounded in the nature of God himself. 00:11:39.580 --> 00:11:42.659 This is about who God is in and of his essence. 00:11:44.060 --> 00:11:48.200 Our God who made us in his image is himself unified. 00:11:48.200 --> 00:11:55.920 Three persons of the Godhead but operating as one in total perfect unity. 00:11:56.960 --> 00:12:01.960 The very nature of their operation is mutual love relationships. 00:12:02.259 --> 00:12:08.680 Each member of the Godhead exists for the other members of the Godhead serving the other. 00:12:08.679 --> 00:12:13.979 Technical term is perichoresis. 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:17.000 Which means mutual indwelling. 00:12:17.379 --> 00:12:21.359 Mutual love sacrifice and service for the other. 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:27.680 The Holy Trinity is mentioned here. 00:12:27.779 --> 00:12:28.680 Spirit verse 4. 00:12:28.800 --> 00:12:29.800 Lord verse 5. 00:12:30.180 --> 00:12:32.139 God the Father verse 6. 00:12:32.800 --> 00:12:37.960 Each of the seven great unities mentioned in verses 4 to 6 00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:42.419 is connected to one of the persons of the Trinity. 00:12:42.419 --> 00:12:50.199 After all is said and done, in all of our diversity, in all of our difference, 00:12:50.339 --> 00:12:56.919 we have the same Father being rescued by the same Son and indwelled by the same Spirit. 00:12:58.179 --> 00:12:59.679 We are his family. 00:12:59.860 --> 00:13:00.719 We are his temple. 00:13:01.339 --> 00:13:02.740 We are his body. 00:13:04.259 --> 00:13:06.199 Our unity is eternal. 00:13:06.200 --> 00:13:11.640 It is unbreakable because we have been united with the eternal and the unbreakable. 00:13:13.800 --> 00:13:16.060 And even though our unity is a gift, 00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:23.280 verse 3 calls us to be diligent in working every effort to keep it. 00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:28.060 Make every effort means to spare no effort. 00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:33.940 It is a matter for urgent, diligent and continuous activity. 00:13:36.200 --> 00:13:45.660 Unity is not something that gets worked out through committees and task force. 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:52.000 Chapter 4 reveals two means that God works in us 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:54.400 so that we keep the unity that we have been given. 00:13:55.940 --> 00:13:57.340 The rest of the New Testament, 00:13:57.420 --> 00:14:00.300 I want to use the rest of the New Testament to back up some of this 00:14:00.300 --> 00:14:01.540 over the next couple of weeks. 00:14:01.539 --> 00:14:06.620 Those two things are spiritual fruit and spiritual gifts. 00:14:07.699 --> 00:14:09.399 As members of God's family, 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:14.639 he's in the process of changing who we are and what we do 00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:18.980 so that it more reflects his family values. 00:14:20.139 --> 00:14:21.240 So over the next three weeks, 00:14:21.299 --> 00:14:24.579 I want to talk about being a community that serves, 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:28.360 serves God, serves each other, serves the world. 00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:34.580 And it's essential, however, that I begin where God begins. 00:14:35.539 --> 00:14:37.240 The fruit of the Spirit. 00:14:38.200 --> 00:14:38.960 Not the gifts. 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:40.019 We want to talk about gifts. 00:14:40.120 --> 00:14:42.960 We want to talk about my talents, my abilities, 00:14:43.220 --> 00:14:44.639 what I can bring to the table. 00:14:45.220 --> 00:14:47.000 God doesn't start there. 00:14:48.120 --> 00:14:50.080 He starts with your character. 00:14:51.139 --> 00:14:52.440 He starts with who you are. 00:14:53.500 --> 00:14:55.240 Galatians 5, it's on your service sheet. 00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:57.940 Galatians 5 is a list of the fruit. 00:14:58.740 --> 00:15:03.759 The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, 00:15:04.340 --> 00:15:06.799 faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 00:15:07.259 --> 00:15:14.720 Notice the word fruit is singular in its original language, 00:15:14.779 --> 00:15:16.159 which means there is one fruit, 00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:20.240 one fruit that has seven components to it. 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:25.740 Every Christian should have the fruit of the Spirit 00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:30.560 as they're outlined in Galatians 5 verses 22 to 23. 00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:33.960 Every single one of the components. 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:39.700 Some of us are naturally default to being more patient than others, 00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:42.220 but not necessarily courageous. 00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:47.980 Every Christian must be balanced in all the fruit. 00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:50.019 There's one fruit with seven different components. 00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:53.639 You're meant to be growing in all of them, collectively. 00:15:56.060 --> 00:15:59.860 But no Christian, apart from Jesus, 00:16:00.539 --> 00:16:01.800 if you want to call him a Christian, 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:05.879 has all the gifts of the Spirit. 00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:10.460 We must all have all fruit, 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:13.720 but we don't all have all gifts. 00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:17.980 Spiritual fruit is something we are, 00:16:18.100 --> 00:16:19.899 but a spiritual gift is something we do. 00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:24.779 That's why fruit has supremacy over gifts in the New Testament. 00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:27.259 And it's why we need to talk about it first. 00:16:28.620 --> 00:16:30.519 But that's not what our culture wants to do. 00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:33.420 Our culture values gifts, talents, abilities, 00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:37.540 as unfortunately the church often does. 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:40.480 We often get blamed by gifts and talents and abilities. 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:45.639 It is perilous to honor gifts over godly character, 00:16:45.960 --> 00:16:50.920 or for gifts to be mistaken for godly character. 00:16:51.800 --> 00:16:54.800 The Bible indicates it's possible to... 00:16:54.800 --> 00:16:56.080 So hear this. 00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:57.600 Very important. 00:16:58.860 --> 00:17:05.940 The Bible indicates it is possible to touch lives through gifts, 00:17:05.940 --> 00:17:11.799 while your own spiritual growth is in a downward spiral. 00:17:14.320 --> 00:17:18.700 In fact, there have been unregenerated people, 00:17:19.080 --> 00:17:22.759 like Judas Iscariot and those mentioned in Matthew 7, 00:17:23.059 --> 00:17:24.620 verses 22 and 23, 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:26.420 who come into the church, 00:17:26.900 --> 00:17:30.059 and whose natural talents God used 00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:33.740 to convert and to build up, 00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:37.700 but who later showed that they were never really Christian, 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:40.039 according to 1 John 2, verse 19. 00:17:41.879 --> 00:17:43.099 1 Corinthians 13. 00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:44.579 I've got that in front of you as well. 00:17:44.679 --> 00:17:46.599 We see a clear example of the need 00:17:46.599 --> 00:17:49.299 for Christian character over Christian giftedness. 00:17:50.099 --> 00:17:51.019 Church of Corinth. 00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:53.599 We've just spent a bit of time in Corinthians, 00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:55.379 but the Church of Corinth in 1 Corinthians 00:17:55.380 --> 00:17:56.760 was a growing congregation, 00:17:57.320 --> 00:17:59.920 blessed with abundant gifts in tongues, 00:18:00.060 --> 00:18:00.540 verse 1, 00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:02.180 prophecy, verse 2, 00:18:02.580 --> 00:18:04.480 teaching generosity and social concern, 00:18:04.560 --> 00:18:05.340 in verse 3, 00:18:05.760 --> 00:18:07.540 and yet the chapter also reveals 00:18:07.540 --> 00:18:11.860 all the ways in which this Corinthian church 00:18:11.860 --> 00:18:12.900 was ungodly. 00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:14.940 They were impatient and proud, 00:18:15.080 --> 00:18:15.700 verse 4, 00:18:16.120 --> 00:18:19.280 envious, critical, rude, jealous, 00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:21.940 self-absorbed, egotistical, 00:18:22.520 --> 00:18:25.020 and Paul went on to so far as to say 00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:26.019 that it was possible 00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:28.460 to have all of these gifts 00:18:28.460 --> 00:18:30.099 in a dynamic church 00:18:30.099 --> 00:18:32.319 and yet, in his words, 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:33.319 to be nothing. 00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:40.359 Most Bible commentators agree 00:18:40.359 --> 00:18:41.920 that Paul is saying 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:43.099 it is possible 00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:44.940 to do miracles 00:18:44.940 --> 00:18:47.339 by the power of God 00:18:47.339 --> 00:18:49.000 and have revelations 00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:51.160 and not even to be a Christian. 00:18:52.440 --> 00:18:54.319 To have no character at all. 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:57.200 No inward work of the Spirit at all. 00:18:58.939 --> 00:18:59.720 In other words, 00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:00.919 it's possible for you 00:19:00.919 --> 00:19:01.839 to do ministry 00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:03.220 through the power of God 00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:05.679 without any grace in your heart 00:19:05.679 --> 00:19:08.439 or without knowing, 00:19:08.899 --> 00:19:10.119 as verse 8 says, 00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:12.579 his true love that never fails. 00:19:14.379 --> 00:19:16.359 That's why Jesus said, 00:19:16.359 --> 00:19:20.879 by their fruit, 00:19:20.979 --> 00:19:23.759 you will know his disciples 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:26.799 rather than by their gifts. 00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:29.659 By their fruit, 00:19:29.879 --> 00:19:31.240 you will know his disciples. 00:19:31.679 --> 00:19:33.619 Love, joy, peace, 00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:37.139 humility cannot grow and flourish 00:19:37.139 --> 00:19:39.279 when our hearts are far from God. 00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:40.839 But teaching, 00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:42.460 evangelism, 00:19:43.139 --> 00:19:43.639 counselling, 00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:45.059 leading, 00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:46.420 can. 00:19:50.899 --> 00:19:52.019 So friends, 00:19:52.379 --> 00:19:53.500 the danger is 00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:55.480 that we look to our ministry activity 00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:56.799 as evidence 00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:58.319 that God is with us 00:19:58.319 --> 00:20:01.059 or as a way to earn God's favour. 00:20:01.059 --> 00:20:03.679 If, however, 00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:05.159 we are remembering the gospel, 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:07.639 if we're rejoicing 00:20:07.639 --> 00:20:09.019 in having received 00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:10.779 every spiritual blessing in Jesus, 00:20:10.899 --> 00:20:11.679 then our ministry 00:20:11.679 --> 00:20:13.379 will be a sacrifice 00:20:13.379 --> 00:20:14.480 of thanksgiving. 00:20:15.159 --> 00:20:15.919 And the result 00:20:15.919 --> 00:20:17.519 will be acts done in love, 00:20:17.899 --> 00:20:18.379 humility, 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:20.139 patience and tenderness. 00:20:20.140 --> 00:20:21.520 If our hearts 00:20:21.520 --> 00:20:23.420 are not solely centred 00:20:23.420 --> 00:20:26.060 in the saving work of Jesus 00:20:26.060 --> 00:20:27.620 and if we're not speaking 00:20:27.620 --> 00:20:28.360 the gospel 00:20:28.360 --> 00:20:30.880 into our hearts regularly, 00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:32.759 we will, 00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:33.740 by default, 00:20:34.280 --> 00:20:35.920 seek to control God, 00:20:37.280 --> 00:20:38.880 to attract his favour 00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:39.780 with, 00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:41.120 and I'll use the language 00:20:41.120 --> 00:20:42.540 of 1 Corinthians 13, 00:20:42.940 --> 00:20:43.880 attract his favour 00:20:43.880 --> 00:20:45.500 with our clanging symbols 00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:46.280 of service, 00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:50.700 noted by the telltale signs 00:20:50.700 --> 00:20:51.720 of impatience, 00:20:52.619 --> 00:20:53.420 irritability, 00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:55.519 pride, 00:20:56.299 --> 00:20:57.399 hurt feelings, 00:20:58.339 --> 00:20:58.920 generosity, 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:00.740 jealousy, 00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:01.480 sorry, 00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:02.920 not generosity, 00:21:03.859 --> 00:21:04.899 lack of generosity, 00:21:05.899 --> 00:21:06.299 jealousy, 00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:08.539 and boasting. 00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:11.639 We will identify 00:21:11.639 --> 00:21:12.579 with our ministry 00:21:12.579 --> 00:21:14.359 and we will make 00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:15.119 our ministry 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:15.919 an extension 00:21:15.919 --> 00:21:17.179 of ourselves. 00:21:20.339 --> 00:21:21.599 We will be driven, 00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:23.879 scared, 00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.579 we'll either be 00:21:25.579 --> 00:21:26.239 too timid 00:21:26.239 --> 00:21:27.299 or too brash, 00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:29.879 and the end result 00:21:29.879 --> 00:21:30.759 will be disunity 00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:31.459 and fracturing 00:21:31.459 --> 00:21:32.099 of the family. 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:37.859 We will shut down 00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:38.339 anyone 00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:39.139 who attempts 00:21:39.139 --> 00:21:40.519 to interfere 00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:41.519 with my ministry. 00:21:41.939 --> 00:21:43.079 We will shut down 00:21:43.079 --> 00:21:43.939 anyone who tries 00:21:43.939 --> 00:21:44.739 to take a little bit 00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:45.620 away from me. 00:21:51.420 --> 00:21:52.380 Our character 00:21:52.380 --> 00:21:53.500 is of supreme 00:21:53.500 --> 00:21:54.299 importance. 00:21:56.660 --> 00:21:57.759 Scottish minister 00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:59.000 Robert Murray 00:21:59.000 --> 00:21:59.480 Mishane 00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:01.240 was a remarkably 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:02.480 gifted man, 00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:04.539 remarkably gifted 00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:04.920 man, 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:05.539 especially 00:22:05.539 --> 00:22:06.819 as a preacher 00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:07.759 of God's word. 00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:09.480 There's hardly 00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:10.259 anyone, 00:22:10.620 --> 00:22:11.140 apart from 00:22:11.140 --> 00:22:12.099 probably John Knox, 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:12.500 who's had 00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:13.680 as much 00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:14.380 of an impact 00:22:14.380 --> 00:22:14.940 on the Church 00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:15.440 of Scotland 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:16.099 historically 00:22:16.099 --> 00:22:16.579 than Robert 00:22:16.579 --> 00:22:17.319 Murray Mishane, 00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:18.019 and he was 00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:18.980 dead by the time 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:19.839 he was 31. 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:22.420 Remarkably gifted. 00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:26.099 He's quoted 00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:27.119 as saying, 00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:28.559 the greatest 00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:29.559 need of my 00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:30.200 people 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:31.420 is my 00:22:31.420 --> 00:22:32.059 personal 00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:32.759 holiness. 00:22:32.759 --> 00:22:32.960 holiness. 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:35.900 That is 00:22:35.900 --> 00:22:36.660 his character 00:22:36.660 --> 00:22:37.440 in Christ. 00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:39.879 Before 00:22:39.879 --> 00:22:40.500 his death 00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:41.579 in 1841, 00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:42.099 Mishane 00:22:42.099 --> 00:22:42.559 preached 00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:43.099 his last 00:22:43.099 --> 00:22:43.379 sermon 00:22:43.379 --> 00:22:44.000 on Isaiah 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:45.440 chapter 60 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:46.220 verse 1. 00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:48.779 Arise, 00:22:48.940 --> 00:22:49.259 Shane, 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:49.819 for thy 00:22:49.819 --> 00:22:50.440 light is 00:22:50.440 --> 00:22:50.859 come, 00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:52.019 and the 00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:52.740 glory of 00:22:52.740 --> 00:22:53.279 the Lord 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:54.119 is risen 00:22:54.119 --> 00:22:54.920 upon thee. 00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:56.680 He preached 00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:57.140 the sermon, 00:22:57.340 --> 00:22:57.740 went home 00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:58.220 to bed 00:22:58.220 --> 00:22:59.039 with a 00:22:59.039 --> 00:22:59.320 fever, 00:22:59.460 --> 00:22:59.720 he was 00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:00.019 feeling 00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:00.580 unwell, 00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:01.100 and he 00:23:01.100 --> 00:23:01.560 died a 00:23:01.560 --> 00:23:02.120 week later. 00:23:03.220 --> 00:23:03.640 After 00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:04.539 his death, 00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:05.180 a letter 00:23:05.180 --> 00:23:06.039 was found 00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:06.539 in his 00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:06.920 bedroom 00:23:06.920 --> 00:23:07.600 beside his 00:23:07.600 --> 00:23:08.000 bed. 00:23:08.420 --> 00:23:09.019 Part of 00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:09.160 it, 00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:09.740 that letter 00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:11.080 which read 00:23:11.080 --> 00:23:11.519 this, 00:23:12.660 --> 00:23:14.039 I hope 00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:14.420 you will 00:23:14.420 --> 00:23:15.100 pardon a 00:23:15.100 --> 00:23:15.640 stranger 00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:16.920 for addressing 00:23:16.920 --> 00:23:17.519 to you in 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.039 such few 00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:18.640 lines. 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:20.039 I heard 00:23:20.039 --> 00:23:20.759 you preach 00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:22.220 last Sunday 00:23:22.220 --> 00:23:22.840 evening, 00:23:22.839 --> 00:23:24.000 and it 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:24.740 pleased God 00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:25.240 to bless 00:23:25.240 --> 00:23:25.899 that sermon 00:23:25.899 --> 00:23:26.379 to my 00:23:26.379 --> 00:23:26.879 soul. 00:23:27.959 --> 00:23:28.699 It was 00:23:28.699 --> 00:23:29.079 not so 00:23:29.079 --> 00:23:29.819 much what 00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:30.779 you said 00:23:30.779 --> 00:23:32.839 as your 00:23:32.839 --> 00:23:33.519 manner of 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:34.379 speaking that 00:23:34.379 --> 00:23:35.079 struck me. 00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:37.079 I saw 00:23:37.079 --> 00:23:37.740 in you a 00:23:37.740 --> 00:23:38.319 beauty of 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:38.759 holiness 00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:40.220 that I 00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:40.980 never saw 00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:41.519 before. 00:23:43.159 --> 00:23:43.879 You also 00:23:43.879 --> 00:23:44.500 said something 00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:44.939 in your 00:23:44.939 --> 00:23:46.339 prayer that 00:23:46.339 --> 00:23:47.359 struck me 00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:48.399 very much. 00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:50.599 It was 00:23:50.599 --> 00:23:51.079 this. 00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:54.199 thou 00:23:54.199 --> 00:23:55.179 knowest 00:23:55.179 --> 00:23:55.519 that we 00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.199 love thee. 00:23:58.639 --> 00:23:59.220 Oh, 00:23:59.439 --> 00:23:59.699 sir, 00:24:00.159 --> 00:24:00.980 what would 00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:01.859 I give 00:24:01.859 --> 00:24:03.039 that I 00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:03.740 could say 00:24:03.740 --> 00:24:04.179 to my 00:24:04.179 --> 00:24:04.619 blessed 00:24:04.619 --> 00:24:05.319 saviour, 00:24:05.980 --> 00:24:06.339 thou 00:24:06.339 --> 00:24:06.899 knowest 00:24:06.899 --> 00:24:07.279 that I 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:07.879 love thee. 00:24:11.459 --> 00:24:12.059 His 00:24:12.059 --> 00:24:12.720 character 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:14.220 shone 00:24:14.220 --> 00:24:16.399 even more 00:24:16.399 --> 00:24:16.699 than his 00:24:16.699 --> 00:24:17.119 remarkable 00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:17.480 gifting. 00:24:17.480 --> 00:24:17.599 He 00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:18.599 unity. 00:24:24.339 --> 00:24:25.419 The unity 00:24:25.419 --> 00:24:26.119 which Paul 00:24:26.119 --> 00:24:27.000 urges upon 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:27.559 us 00:24:27.559 --> 00:24:29.299 is 00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:30.679 maintained 00:24:30.679 --> 00:24:31.759 as we 00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:32.480 get 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:33.419 reshaped 00:24:33.419 --> 00:24:34.159 into the 00:24:34.159 --> 00:24:34.679 character 00:24:34.679 --> 00:24:35.000 of the 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:35.219 Lord 00:24:35.219 --> 00:24:35.539 Jesus 00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:36.240 Christ. 00:24:36.899 --> 00:24:37.699 Before he 00:24:37.699 --> 00:24:38.119 gets to 00:24:38.119 --> 00:24:38.980 any gifts, 00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:39.939 he says 00:24:39.939 --> 00:24:40.419 this in 00:24:40.419 --> 00:24:41.059 verse 2, 00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:42.480 be 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.259 completely 00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:43.859 humble 00:24:43.859 --> 00:24:46.740 and gentle, 00:24:46.879 --> 00:24:47.539 being patient, 00:24:47.659 --> 00:24:48.200 bearing one 00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:48.579 other in 00:24:48.579 --> 00:24:48.859 love. 00:24:49.500 --> 00:24:50.379 The key 00:24:50.379 --> 00:24:51.139 here is 00:24:51.139 --> 00:24:51.700 humility. 00:24:53.179 --> 00:24:53.839 Humility 00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:55.099 will lead 00:24:55.099 --> 00:24:56.019 to gentleness 00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:56.679 and patience 00:24:56.679 --> 00:24:57.339 and forbearing 00:24:57.339 --> 00:24:57.740 with each 00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:58.139 other in 00:24:58.139 --> 00:24:58.480 love. 00:24:59.179 --> 00:24:59.919 In the 00:24:59.919 --> 00:25:00.339 ancient 00:25:00.339 --> 00:25:01.119 Greco-Roman 00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:01.799 world, 00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:02.460 when Paul 00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.119 first wrote 00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:03.740 this letter, 00:25:04.279 --> 00:25:04.759 humility 00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:06.519 was despised. 00:25:07.159 --> 00:25:07.659 It was 00:25:07.659 --> 00:25:08.240 what was 00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:09.119 regarded as 00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:10.659 a slave-like 00:25:10.659 --> 00:25:11.419 quality. 00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:13.579 What was 00:25:13.579 --> 00:25:14.219 admired 00:25:14.219 --> 00:25:15.439 was the 00:25:15.439 --> 00:25:17.579 mega-souled 00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:18.299 man or 00:25:18.299 --> 00:25:20.219 the great-souled 00:25:20.219 --> 00:25:20.799 man, 00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:23.199 the self-made 00:25:23.199 --> 00:25:23.939 man 00:25:23.939 --> 00:25:25.599 who was 00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:26.279 complete, 00:25:27.139 --> 00:25:27.939 self-sufficient. 00:25:30.439 --> 00:25:31.479 That's what 00:25:31.479 --> 00:25:32.319 was admired 00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:33.439 as much as 00:25:33.439 --> 00:25:34.339 power and 00:25:34.339 --> 00:25:35.079 influence is 00:25:35.079 --> 00:25:36.099 admired today. 00:25:36.099 --> 00:25:39.980 pride is 00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:40.679 the opposite 00:25:40.679 --> 00:25:41.579 of humility. 00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:42.980 Pride not 00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:44.059 only appears 00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:44.599 to be the 00:25:44.599 --> 00:25:45.319 earliest of 00:25:45.319 --> 00:25:46.179 sin, but 00:25:46.179 --> 00:25:46.719 it's also 00:25:46.719 --> 00:25:47.439 the core 00:25:47.439 --> 00:25:47.939 of all 00:25:47.939 --> 00:25:48.299 sin. 00:25:48.839 --> 00:25:49.139 Maybe 00:25:49.139 --> 00:25:49.559 that's why 00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:50.699 God hates 00:25:50.699 --> 00:25:51.279 the sin of 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:51.879 pride so 00:25:51.879 --> 00:25:52.419 much. 00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:53.719 Proverbs 00:25:53.719 --> 00:25:54.419 8 verse 00:25:54.419 --> 00:25:55.299 13 quotes 00:25:55.299 --> 00:25:55.799 God as 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.139 saying, 00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:56.959 to fear 00:25:56.959 --> 00:25:57.619 the Lord 00:25:57.619 --> 00:25:58.039 is to 00:25:58.039 --> 00:25:58.919 hate evil. 00:25:59.379 --> 00:26:00.559 I hate 00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:01.919 pride and 00:26:01.919 --> 00:26:02.439 arrogance. 00:26:03.879 --> 00:26:04.259 Of course 00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:04.639 he hates 00:26:04.639 --> 00:26:05.319 all sin, 00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:06.679 but pride 00:26:06.679 --> 00:26:07.200 seems to 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:08.259 be particularly 00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:09.279 offensive to 00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:09.539 him. 00:26:11.099 --> 00:26:11.539 Why does 00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:11.980 God hate 00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:12.419 pride so 00:26:12.419 --> 00:26:12.740 much? 00:26:13.899 --> 00:26:14.559 It's because 00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:15.279 pride is 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:15.899 when sinful 00:26:15.899 --> 00:26:16.879 human beings 00:26:16.879 --> 00:26:18.279 aspire to 00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:19.039 the status 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:19.419 and the 00:26:19.419 --> 00:26:20.179 position of 00:26:20.179 --> 00:26:21.679 God and 00:26:21.679 --> 00:26:22.679 refuse to 00:26:22.679 --> 00:26:23.119 acknowledge 00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:23.939 dependence upon 00:26:23.939 --> 00:26:24.359 God. 00:26:25.379 --> 00:26:26.000 Pride is the 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:26.559 essence of 00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:26.960 sin, it's the 00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:27.779 foundation of 00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:27.879 it. 00:26:28.179 --> 00:26:28.879 Pride takes 00:26:28.879 --> 00:26:29.799 many forms 00:26:29.799 --> 00:26:30.859 but it all 00:26:30.859 --> 00:26:32.379 has it all 00:26:32.379 --> 00:26:33.359 directed towards 00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:34.419 one end. 00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:36.819 self 00:26:36.819 --> 00:26:37.899 glorification, 00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:39.939 the 00:26:39.939 --> 00:26:40.299 self 00:26:40.299 --> 00:26:40.679 made 00:26:40.679 --> 00:26:41.200 person. 00:26:42.859 --> 00:26:43.500 Pride is 00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:44.359 so dangerous 00:26:44.359 --> 00:26:44.740 for a 00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:45.039 church. 00:26:45.419 --> 00:26:46.119 Pride works 00:26:46.119 --> 00:26:46.740 to undermine 00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:47.319 the unity 00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:47.639 of a 00:26:47.639 --> 00:26:47.899 church. 00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:48.740 It elevates 00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:49.240 individual, 00:26:49.399 --> 00:26:49.919 it elevates 00:26:49.919 --> 00:26:50.419 groups, 00:26:50.519 --> 00:26:50.819 cultural 00:26:50.819 --> 00:26:51.819 groups above 00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:52.339 others. 00:26:52.679 --> 00:26:53.200 Pride brings 00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:54.059 down leaders. 00:26:54.599 --> 00:26:54.939 Spiritual 00:26:54.939 --> 00:26:55.679 pride sets 00:26:55.679 --> 00:26:56.299 us up against 00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:56.980 the world 00:26:56.980 --> 00:26:57.639 as well. 00:26:57.640 --> 00:26:59.700 and the 00:26:59.700 --> 00:27:00.320 truth which 00:27:00.320 --> 00:27:01.300 radiates from 00:27:01.300 --> 00:27:02.920 verse 2 is 00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:03.640 that Christian 00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:05.180 unity doesn't 00:27:05.180 --> 00:27:05.820 begin with 00:27:05.820 --> 00:27:06.740 external 00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:09.500 structures but 00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:10.259 it begins 00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:11.340 with attitudes 00:27:11.340 --> 00:27:11.920 of the heart. 00:27:13.620 --> 00:27:15.759 Humility and 00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:17.400 mildness and 00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:19.160 patience and 00:27:19.160 --> 00:27:20.000 loving tolerance 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:20.620 of one another. 00:27:20.619 --> 00:27:20.659 power. 00:27:23.379 --> 00:27:23.699 And a 00:27:23.699 --> 00:27:24.239 character of 00:27:24.239 --> 00:27:26.259 humility means 00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:26.759 that we will 00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:27.479 hold any 00:27:27.479 --> 00:27:28.339 gifting that 00:27:28.339 --> 00:27:28.859 we have 00:27:28.859 --> 00:27:30.819 received as 00:27:30.819 --> 00:27:31.859 simply that. 00:27:32.719 --> 00:27:33.399 It's a 00:27:33.399 --> 00:27:33.859 gift. 00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:36.599 It's a 00:27:36.599 --> 00:27:36.879 gift. 00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:37.779 Any ability 00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:38.339 that we have, 00:27:38.399 --> 00:27:39.079 any talent that 00:27:39.079 --> 00:27:39.519 we have, 00:27:39.739 --> 00:27:40.579 anything that 00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:41.000 we have, 00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:41.759 any name that 00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.119 we have for 00:27:42.119 --> 00:27:42.479 ourselves, 00:27:42.619 --> 00:27:43.579 it is a 00:27:43.579 --> 00:27:43.939 gift. 00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:44.080 gift. 00:27:49.360 --> 00:27:50.120 They are 00:27:50.120 --> 00:27:50.820 gifts from 00:27:50.820 --> 00:27:51.299 God for 00:27:51.299 --> 00:27:52.120 his glory and 00:27:52.120 --> 00:27:52.460 for the good 00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:52.980 of others. 00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:55.059 Our gifting 00:27:55.059 --> 00:27:55.880 will not be 00:27:55.880 --> 00:27:56.559 about serving 00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:57.340 our ego, 00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:58.640 our need for 00:27:58.640 --> 00:27:59.320 approval, 00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:01.480 or the 00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:01.960 building up 00:28:01.960 --> 00:28:02.400 of positions 00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:02.960 of power and 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:03.480 influence. 00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:05.539 Pride and 00:28:05.539 --> 00:28:06.320 self-promoting 00:28:06.320 --> 00:28:07.059 arrogance 00:28:07.059 --> 00:28:09.059 sow seeds 00:28:09.059 --> 00:28:09.920 of disunity 00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:10.980 but a 00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:11.320 humble, 00:28:11.640 --> 00:28:12.420 gentle person 00:28:12.420 --> 00:28:13.120 is like a 00:28:13.120 --> 00:28:13.860 cool breeze 00:28:13.859 --> 00:28:14.719 on a hot 00:28:14.719 --> 00:28:15.059 day. 00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:17.000 They're a 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:17.339 delight. 00:28:20.899 --> 00:28:21.859 Charles Simeon, 00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:22.899 the great 00:28:22.899 --> 00:28:23.539 preacher of 00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:24.179 King's College 00:28:24.179 --> 00:28:24.579 and Holy 00:28:24.579 --> 00:28:24.899 Trinity 00:28:24.899 --> 00:28:25.479 Cambridge, 00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:27.899 was one 00:28:27.899 --> 00:28:29.939 humble man 00:28:29.939 --> 00:28:31.500 who over 00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:32.419 a long 00:28:32.419 --> 00:28:33.159 course of 00:28:33.159 --> 00:28:33.740 time, 00:28:35.399 --> 00:28:36.299 God 00:28:36.299 --> 00:28:38.419 beat him 00:28:38.419 --> 00:28:39.799 into 00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:40.379 humility. 00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:42.019 He was 00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:42.539 highly 00:28:42.539 --> 00:28:43.139 influential 00:28:43.140 --> 00:28:44.320 very 00:28:44.320 --> 00:28:45.020 successful 00:28:45.020 --> 00:28:45.720 in 00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:46.240 ministry. 00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:47.400 However, 00:28:47.600 --> 00:28:47.800 in 00:28:47.800 --> 00:28:49.060 1801, 00:28:50.080 --> 00:28:50.680 Simeon's 00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:51.100 health 00:28:51.100 --> 00:28:51.660 broke 00:28:51.660 --> 00:28:52.120 down. 00:28:53.420 --> 00:28:54.000 Sorry, 00:28:54.080 --> 00:28:54.800 1808, 00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:55.259 his health 00:28:55.259 --> 00:28:55.540 broke 00:28:55.540 --> 00:28:56.460 down and 00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:56.920 he had to 00:28:56.920 --> 00:28:57.520 spend about 00:28:57.520 --> 00:28:58.259 eight months 00:28:58.259 --> 00:28:59.400 recuperating on 00:28:59.400 --> 00:29:00.020 the Isle of 00:29:00.020 --> 00:29:00.360 White. 00:29:01.220 --> 00:29:02.180 His assistant 00:29:02.180 --> 00:29:03.100 stepped into 00:29:03.100 --> 00:29:04.300 the gap to 00:29:04.300 --> 00:29:05.060 preach as 00:29:05.060 --> 00:29:06.180 many as 00:29:06.180 --> 00:29:07.440 five times on 00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:08.060 a Sunday in 00:29:08.060 --> 00:29:08.740 Holy Trinity 00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:09.240 and another 00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:09.780 church in 00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:10.379 stable foot. 00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:13.099 The assistant 00:29:13.099 --> 00:29:14.619 surprised 00:29:14.619 --> 00:29:16.180 himself and 00:29:16.180 --> 00:29:16.480 as it 00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:17.039 turns out, 00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:18.279 the 00:29:18.279 --> 00:29:19.039 congregations 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:19.660 as well, 00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:20.980 by developing 00:29:20.980 --> 00:29:21.680 a preaching 00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:23.779 ability almost 00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:24.680 equal and 00:29:24.680 --> 00:29:25.079 some would 00:29:25.079 --> 00:29:25.599 say better 00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:26.559 than Simeon's. 00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:30.079 someone reported 00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:30.799 to Simeon 00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:31.200 while he's 00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:31.440 on the 00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:31.839 Isle of 00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:32.579 White, 00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:34.039 recuperating 00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:34.899 from, 00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:36.019 oh, 00:29:36.119 --> 00:29:36.419 by the 00:29:36.419 --> 00:29:36.799 way, 00:29:37.179 --> 00:29:37.659 no need 00:29:37.659 --> 00:29:38.000 to rush 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:38.359 back, 00:29:38.819 --> 00:29:39.539 your assistant's 00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:40.019 doing a 00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:40.619 fantastic 00:29:40.619 --> 00:29:41.139 job. 00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:46.019 Totally 00:29:46.019 --> 00:29:46.440 free from 00:29:46.440 --> 00:29:47.159 any suggestion 00:29:47.159 --> 00:29:47.819 of pride or 00:29:47.819 --> 00:29:48.279 professional 00:29:48.279 --> 00:29:48.819 jealousy, 00:29:49.399 --> 00:29:49.779 Simeon 00:29:49.779 --> 00:29:50.259 greatly 00:29:50.259 --> 00:29:50.899 rejoiced. 00:29:51.839 --> 00:29:52.339 He quoted 00:29:52.339 --> 00:29:53.000 this scripture, 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:53.059 Peter, 00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:54.500 he must 00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:55.140 increase, 00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:56.140 but I 00:29:56.140 --> 00:29:56.380 must 00:29:56.380 --> 00:29:57.000 decrease. 00:29:58.019 --> 00:29:58.460 And he 00:29:58.460 --> 00:29:58.900 told a 00:29:58.900 --> 00:29:59.240 friend, 00:30:00.539 --> 00:30:00.880 ah, 00:30:01.599 --> 00:30:02.819 now I 00:30:02.819 --> 00:30:04.279 see why 00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:04.720 I have 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:05.460 been laid 00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:06.539 aside with 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:07.579 this illness 00:30:07.579 --> 00:30:08.180 for this 00:30:08.180 --> 00:30:09.599 time and 00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:10.119 I bless 00:30:10.119 --> 00:30:10.859 God for 00:30:10.859 --> 00:30:11.119 it. 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:16.859 Some of 00:30:16.859 --> 00:30:17.279 you may 00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:18.099 still be 00:30:18.099 --> 00:30:18.799 seething, 00:30:20.180 --> 00:30:20.940 still holding 00:30:20.940 --> 00:30:21.380 on to 00:30:21.380 --> 00:30:23.280 issues 00:30:23.280 --> 00:30:24.740 because 00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:25.160 you've 00:30:25.160 --> 00:30:25.660 been laid 00:30:25.660 --> 00:30:26.300 aside by 00:30:26.300 --> 00:30:26.840 somebody. 00:30:32.380 --> 00:30:33.080 So how 00:30:33.080 --> 00:30:33.700 did Simeon 00:30:33.700 --> 00:30:34.240 get to the 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:35.000 position where 00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:35.300 he had 00:30:35.300 --> 00:30:36.280 grown in 00:30:36.280 --> 00:30:36.940 humility to 00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:37.560 the point 00:30:37.560 --> 00:30:38.540 where he 00:30:38.540 --> 00:30:39.560 was rejoicing 00:30:39.560 --> 00:30:40.000 in the 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:40.560 gifting of 00:30:40.560 --> 00:30:41.600 others in 00:30:41.600 --> 00:30:42.120 such a way 00:30:42.120 --> 00:30:42.540 that even 00:30:42.540 --> 00:30:43.000 that gifting 00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:43.820 was surpassing 00:30:43.820 --> 00:30:44.180 his own? 00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:46.580 After Simeon 00:30:46.580 --> 00:30:46.980 had been a 00:30:46.980 --> 00:30:47.440 Christian for 00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:48.080 40 years, 00:30:48.140 --> 00:30:48.480 he wrote 00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:48.860 this. 00:30:48.859 --> 00:31:12.619 Simeon 00:31:12.619 --> 00:31:13.719 spent 40 00:31:13.719 --> 00:31:15.000 years of 00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:15.959 applying the 00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:16.720 good news 00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:17.220 of the 00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:18.360 gospel to 00:31:18.360 --> 00:31:19.039 his life 00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:19.700 in such 00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:20.039 a way 00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:20.360 that it 00:31:20.360 --> 00:31:20.660 humbled 00:31:20.660 --> 00:31:21.019 him. 00:31:22.220 --> 00:31:22.920 He never 00:31:22.920 --> 00:31:23.840 let go of 00:31:23.840 --> 00:31:24.299 the fact 00:31:24.299 --> 00:31:25.140 that everything 00:31:25.140 --> 00:31:25.900 was a gift. 00:31:27.019 --> 00:31:27.819 Never let 00:31:27.819 --> 00:31:28.200 go of the 00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:28.779 fact that he 00:31:28.779 --> 00:31:29.680 was sinful. 00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:31.380 He's quoted 00:31:31.380 --> 00:31:32.059 as saying, 00:31:32.460 --> 00:31:33.120 I spend 00:31:33.120 --> 00:31:33.819 my days 00:31:33.819 --> 00:31:34.880 mining, 00:31:35.140 --> 00:31:35.779 mining the 00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:36.299 depths of 00:31:36.299 --> 00:31:37.079 my sinfulness 00:31:37.079 --> 00:31:39.420 and at the 00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:40.360 same time 00:31:40.360 --> 00:31:41.960 clutching to 00:31:41.960 --> 00:31:42.660 the grace of 00:31:42.660 --> 00:31:43.059 God in 00:31:43.059 --> 00:31:43.980 Jesus Christ. 00:31:44.679 --> 00:31:45.539 The deeper 00:31:45.539 --> 00:31:46.740 I go in 00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:47.379 understanding 00:31:47.379 --> 00:31:48.139 my sin, 00:31:48.419 --> 00:31:49.059 the greater 00:31:49.059 --> 00:31:49.899 I see his 00:31:49.899 --> 00:31:50.759 glory and 00:31:50.759 --> 00:31:51.240 grace to 00:31:51.240 --> 00:31:51.500 me. 00:31:54.539 --> 00:31:55.980 He labored, 00:31:56.339 --> 00:31:57.220 labored to 00:31:57.220 --> 00:31:57.579 know the 00:31:57.579 --> 00:31:58.039 God in 00:31:58.039 --> 00:31:58.500 the Bible 00:31:58.500 --> 00:31:59.039 and also 00:31:59.039 --> 00:31:59.500 to know 00:31:59.500 --> 00:32:00.419 his true 00:32:00.419 --> 00:32:01.480 vileness 00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:01.759 at the 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:02.339 same time. 00:32:02.639 --> 00:32:03.000 And this 00:32:03.000 --> 00:32:03.440 clicked him 00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:04.059 close to 00:32:04.059 --> 00:32:05.000 God through 00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:05.740 the many, 00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:06.759 many difficult 00:32:06.759 --> 00:32:07.519 seasons of 00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:07.960 life and 00:32:07.960 --> 00:32:08.539 ministry that 00:32:08.539 --> 00:32:09.259 he faced. 00:32:13.059 --> 00:32:14.099 But that's 00:32:14.099 --> 00:32:14.679 not all. 00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:17.019 He didn't 00:32:17.019 --> 00:32:17.599 labor by 00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:18.159 himself. 00:32:19.419 --> 00:32:20.319 As I said 00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:20.899 last week, 00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:21.639 we cannot 00:32:21.639 --> 00:32:22.200 know an 00:32:22.200 --> 00:32:22.960 individual by 00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:23.519 ourselves. 00:32:23.799 --> 00:32:24.240 We cannot 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:24.779 even know 00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:25.759 ourselves by 00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:26.379 ourselves. 00:32:27.839 --> 00:32:28.619 One of the 00:32:28.619 --> 00:32:29.279 remarkable things 00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:30.099 about Simeon 00:32:30.099 --> 00:32:32.059 was that he 00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:32.960 could take a 00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:35.899 rebuke and 00:32:35.899 --> 00:32:36.740 he grew from 00:32:36.740 --> 00:32:36.919 it. 00:32:39.559 --> 00:32:40.559 I could go 00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:41.480 on and on 00:32:41.480 --> 00:32:42.159 and on 00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:42.980 about it. 00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:44.100 But back 00:32:44.100 --> 00:32:45.300 in 2009, 00:32:45.640 --> 00:32:46.180 I wrote a 00:32:46.180 --> 00:32:46.800 core value 00:32:46.800 --> 00:32:48.560 for us to 00:32:48.560 --> 00:32:49.259 address this 00:32:49.259 --> 00:32:49.759 issue. 00:32:52.800 --> 00:32:53.620 If there is 00:32:53.620 --> 00:32:54.380 one thing 00:32:54.380 --> 00:32:54.900 that I'd 00:32:54.900 --> 00:32:55.500 love us 00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:55.800 at St. 00:32:55.820 --> 00:32:56.140 Paul's to 00:32:56.140 --> 00:32:56.540 be known 00:32:56.540 --> 00:32:56.960 for, it 00:32:56.960 --> 00:32:57.200 would be 00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:57.660 this, 00:32:58.120 --> 00:32:58.540 humble 00:32:58.540 --> 00:32:59.240 authenticity. 00:33:01.680 --> 00:33:02.360 I'll read 00:33:02.360 --> 00:33:02.880 it to you. 00:33:03.779 --> 00:33:04.600 We seek 00:33:04.600 --> 00:33:05.120 our words 00:33:05.120 --> 00:33:05.660 and actions 00:33:05.660 --> 00:33:06.180 to be what 00:33:06.180 --> 00:33:06.620 we believe 00:33:06.620 --> 00:33:07.080 and teach 00:33:07.080 --> 00:33:07.660 from God's 00:33:07.660 --> 00:33:07.960 word. 00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:09.160 We desire 00:33:09.160 --> 00:33:09.800 for our 00:33:09.800 --> 00:33:10.240 lives, 00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:10.980 ministries, 00:33:11.140 --> 00:33:11.460 and church 00:33:11.460 --> 00:33:12.140 policies to 00:33:12.140 --> 00:33:13.000 give explicit 00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:14.280 evidence that 00:33:14.280 --> 00:33:14.940 we treasure 00:33:14.940 --> 00:33:15.800 Jesus Christ 00:33:15.800 --> 00:33:16.580 above everything 00:33:16.580 --> 00:33:17.000 else. 00:33:17.920 --> 00:33:18.380 We will 00:33:18.380 --> 00:33:19.300 pursue loving 00:33:19.300 --> 00:33:20.020 honesty in 00:33:20.020 --> 00:33:20.320 all our 00:33:20.320 --> 00:33:20.980 communication. 00:33:21.600 --> 00:33:21.820 We will 00:33:21.820 --> 00:33:22.200 seek to 00:33:22.200 --> 00:33:23.140 serve others 00:33:23.140 --> 00:33:23.720 and consider 00:33:23.720 --> 00:33:24.240 them more 00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:24.800 important than 00:33:24.800 --> 00:33:25.280 ourselves. 00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:25.900 In 00:33:25.900 --> 00:33:26.700 disagreements, 00:33:26.800 --> 00:33:27.240 we'll assume 00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:27.840 the best of 00:33:27.840 --> 00:33:28.300 others and 00:33:28.300 --> 00:33:29.060 ask clarifying 00:33:29.060 --> 00:33:29.860 questions before 00:33:29.860 --> 00:33:30.680 making judgments. 00:33:31.580 --> 00:33:32.259 When we have 00:33:32.259 --> 00:33:33.160 offended another, 00:33:33.300 --> 00:33:33.700 we will be 00:33:33.700 --> 00:33:34.560 quick to confess 00:33:34.560 --> 00:33:35.200 error and 00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:35.660 sin. 00:33:36.160 --> 00:33:36.700 We will 00:33:36.700 --> 00:33:37.280 pursue 00:33:37.280 --> 00:33:38.040 reconciliation 00:33:38.039 --> 00:33:39.379 and we 00:33:39.379 --> 00:33:39.819 will work 00:33:39.819 --> 00:33:40.220 towards 00:33:40.220 --> 00:33:40.859 change. 00:33:41.399 --> 00:33:41.819 We will 00:33:41.819 --> 00:33:42.700 not tolerate 00:33:42.700 --> 00:33:43.440 contention. 00:33:44.099 --> 00:33:44.519 We value 00:33:44.519 --> 00:33:45.339 unity in 00:33:45.339 --> 00:33:46.460 Christ and 00:33:46.460 --> 00:33:46.899 so we 00:33:46.899 --> 00:33:47.579 work together 00:33:47.579 --> 00:33:48.279 as one 00:33:48.279 --> 00:33:48.940 team to 00:33:48.940 --> 00:33:49.619 fulfill our 00:33:49.619 --> 00:33:50.000 mission. 00:33:50.899 --> 00:33:51.759 We are 00:33:51.759 --> 00:33:52.960 committed to 00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:53.799 being rigorously 00:33:53.799 --> 00:33:54.319 honest, 00:33:55.500 --> 00:33:55.940 financially 00:33:55.940 --> 00:33:56.599 accountable, 00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:57.359 and above 00:33:57.359 --> 00:33:58.099 approach in 00:33:58.099 --> 00:33:58.680 all of our 00:33:58.680 --> 00:33:59.519 dealings. 00:33:59.519 --> 00:34:01.299 I could go 00:34:01.299 --> 00:34:01.660 on and 00:34:01.660 --> 00:34:01.920 on and 00:34:01.920 --> 00:34:02.460 unpack that 00:34:02.460 --> 00:34:03.019 for you, 00:34:03.519 --> 00:34:03.859 but I've 00:34:03.859 --> 00:34:04.339 got a gift 00:34:04.339 --> 00:34:04.879 instead. 00:34:05.359 --> 00:34:05.660 I wrote 00:34:05.660 --> 00:34:06.099 this in 00:34:06.099 --> 00:34:07.139 2010, 00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:08.280 humble 00:34:08.280 --> 00:34:08.880 authenticity, 00:34:09.860 --> 00:34:10.340 over a 00:34:10.340 --> 00:34:11.460 series of 00:34:11.460 --> 00:34:13.900 posts for 00:34:13.900 --> 00:34:14.280 a church 00:34:14.280 --> 00:34:14.820 bulletin that 00:34:14.820 --> 00:34:15.219 we had at 00:34:15.219 --> 00:34:15.840 the time. 00:34:16.679 --> 00:34:17.000 I wanted 00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:17.800 to unpack 00:34:17.800 --> 00:34:18.139 what it 00:34:18.139 --> 00:34:18.599 might look 00:34:18.599 --> 00:34:20.400 for us to 00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:20.980 shape our 00:34:20.980 --> 00:34:21.699 corporate life 00:34:21.699 --> 00:34:22.119 together. 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:23.039 It's not the 00:34:23.039 --> 00:34:23.780 final word on 00:34:23.780 --> 00:34:24.219 humility. 00:34:24.420 --> 00:34:24.880 What is the 00:34:24.880 --> 00:34:25.480 final word on 00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.800 humility? 00:34:26.380 --> 00:34:26.719 And it would 00:34:26.719 --> 00:34:27.099 be somewhat 00:34:27.099 --> 00:34:27.960 ironic if I 00:34:27.960 --> 00:34:29.199 actually wrote 00:34:29.199 --> 00:34:29.839 the final word 00:34:29.839 --> 00:34:30.480 on humility. 00:34:32.299 --> 00:34:33.179 But I gave 00:34:33.179 --> 00:34:33.799 a go at it 00:34:33.799 --> 00:34:34.219 anyway. 00:34:35.500 --> 00:34:37.259 I was 00:34:37.259 --> 00:34:38.119 thoroughly 00:34:38.119 --> 00:34:39.119 convinced then, 00:34:39.559 --> 00:34:40.119 I am even 00:34:40.119 --> 00:34:40.879 more thoroughly 00:34:40.879 --> 00:34:41.559 convinced now, 00:34:41.619 --> 00:34:41.839 if it's 00:34:41.839 --> 00:34:42.599 possibly more 00:34:42.599 --> 00:34:42.960 thoroughly 00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:43.559 convinced, 00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:44.539 that there is 00:34:44.539 --> 00:34:45.259 no effective 00:34:45.259 --> 00:34:45.879 service, 00:34:46.319 --> 00:34:46.759 there is no 00:34:46.759 --> 00:34:47.699 effective mission 00:34:47.699 --> 00:34:48.839 without the 00:34:48.839 --> 00:34:49.599 cultivation of 00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:50.179 humility in 00:34:50.179 --> 00:34:50.639 the heart and 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:51.079 the weakening 00:34:51.079 --> 00:34:51.619 of pride in 00:34:51.619 --> 00:34:52.159 our life. 00:34:52.439 --> 00:34:53.179 It is the 00:34:53.179 --> 00:34:54.000 very foundation 00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:55.299 before we move 00:34:55.299 --> 00:34:55.879 on to any 00:34:55.879 --> 00:34:56.439 talk about 00:34:56.439 --> 00:34:57.199 giftings. 00:34:57.199 --> 00:34:59.559 character 00:34:59.559 --> 00:35:00.599 comes 00:35:00.599 --> 00:35:01.559 first. 00:35:06.119 --> 00:35:06.879 May we 00:35:06.879 --> 00:35:07.199 all, 00:35:07.359 --> 00:35:07.619 like the 00:35:07.619 --> 00:35:08.219 Lord Jesus, 00:35:08.480 --> 00:35:09.319 descend into 00:35:09.319 --> 00:35:09.839 greatness, 00:35:12.019 --> 00:35:12.859 laid aside, 00:35:12.980 --> 00:35:13.659 his glory 00:35:13.659 --> 00:35:14.339 became one 00:35:14.339 --> 00:35:14.939 of us, 00:35:15.199 --> 00:35:15.799 and now 00:35:15.799 --> 00:35:16.559 been ascended 00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:16.899 to the 00:35:16.899 --> 00:35:18.079 highest heights 00:35:18.079 --> 00:35:18.559 that every 00:35:18.559 --> 00:35:19.059 name will 00:35:19.059 --> 00:35:20.139 bow to 00:35:20.139 --> 00:35:20.599 him and 00:35:20.599 --> 00:35:21.339 confess him. 00:35:21.340 --> 00:35:24.180 The last 00:35:24.180 --> 00:35:24.539 word on 00:35:24.539 --> 00:35:24.960 this goes 00:35:24.960 --> 00:35:25.400 to God 00:35:25.400 --> 00:35:25.940 himself. 00:35:27.300 --> 00:35:27.920 This is 00:35:27.920 --> 00:35:28.320 for all 00:35:28.320 --> 00:35:28.579 of us 00:35:28.579 --> 00:35:29.039 who think 00:35:29.039 --> 00:35:29.420 that through 00:35:29.420 --> 00:35:29.820 our good 00:35:29.820 --> 00:35:30.660 works we 00:35:30.660 --> 00:35:31.860 can earn 00:35:31.860 --> 00:35:32.380 God's 00:35:32.380 --> 00:35:33.000 attention, 00:35:33.160 --> 00:35:33.980 his gaze. 00:35:34.900 --> 00:35:35.380 The last 00:35:35.380 --> 00:35:35.840 word goes 00:35:35.840 --> 00:35:36.180 to God 00:35:36.180 --> 00:35:36.579 himself, 00:35:36.840 --> 00:35:38.200 Isaiah 66 00:35:38.200 --> 00:35:38.940 verse 2. 00:35:39.740 --> 00:35:40.360 This is the 00:35:40.360 --> 00:35:40.980 one I 00:35:40.980 --> 00:35:41.579 esteem. 00:35:41.940 --> 00:35:42.600 This is 00:35:42.600 --> 00:35:43.260 what draws 00:35:43.260 --> 00:35:44.039 my attention. 00:35:44.860 --> 00:35:45.480 This is 00:35:45.480 --> 00:35:46.079 the one I 00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:46.559 notice. 00:35:47.940 --> 00:35:48.720 He who is 00:35:48.720 --> 00:35:49.240 humble and 00:35:49.240 --> 00:35:49.900 contrite in 00:35:49.900 --> 00:35:51.079 spirit and 00:35:51.079 --> 00:35:51.940 trembles at 00:35:51.940 --> 00:35:52.519 my word.