WEBVTT

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 Adolescence is the stage of human development between childhood and adulthood,

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 and a stage of development that a number of you are currently sitting in.

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 In medieval times, the adolescence didn't exist.

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 It's something that's really come to exist in sociological terms in the last 150, 200 years.

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 In fact, the concept of youth ministry, having a next-gen pastor, didn't exist in the church before the 1950s.

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 And so this is even a concept that's relatively new for the church.

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 But back in the Middle Ages, childhood ended at the age of seven.

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 You were a child and then you grew up and you started to work and make a contribution for the life of the family.

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 But since then, childhood and adolescence has constantly been refashioned.

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 And earlier this year, it received its latest round of remodeling.

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 Scientists announced, this is in the United States,

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 scientists announced that adolescence, previously thought to begin at around about 13 years of age

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 and end around about 18 years of age,

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 now stretches from 10 to 25 and some argue even up until 30.

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 And in fact, I'm speaking at a youth camp in Singapore in a couple of weeks

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 and I'm told that the youth there is 12 to 35.

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 So I'm just out of that bracket now.

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 Yeah.

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 Children, it's true on, you know, imagine 10 to 25.

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 Children are growing up faster nowadays as people are suggesting that they are.

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 But they are plateauing for an extended length of time.

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 They're staying in that bracket of adolescence for a long time.

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 Sociologists and psychologists suggesting that 20-somethings are not growing up.

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 They're not becoming independent or taking responsibility.

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 And I wonder whether there is a similar phenomenon happening in the church.

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 An extended period of spiritual adolescence.

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 Perhaps this may be you.

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 You become a Christian.

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 When you were young, you experienced what the Bible calls new birth.

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 You have new life.

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 You are a baby Christian.

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 And although there might be some initial growth, which often happens at that stage,

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 is an initial growth, for way too many people, it just stops.

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 They stay at this adolescent stage of spiritual development.

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 In fact, I can suggest to you that way too many Christians that I talk to

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 can talk about when they became a Christian,

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 but very few can talk about what God is doing in them right now

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 and how he's grown them even in the last 12 months.

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 That is, their growth has just kind of stopped.

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 And so they talk about things from the past, experiences of the past.

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 God answered the prayers from the past.

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 Some, unfortunately, have even got comfortable and, in fact, made peace with their immaturity.

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 And if that's you, I want to encourage you tonight to pay attention

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 as we explore this idea of spiritual maturity.

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 Because God's purposes for Christians is to grow up.

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 He wants them to grow up in their maturity.

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 In the same way, when parents have a baby, they are kind of intending for that baby to grow up.

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 That's the intention.

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 They don't ever give birth to a child and just hope it just sort of stops there.

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 Growth is a normal expression of life.

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 The New Testament writers assume that growth

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 and assume that there will be constant growth

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 and they urge constant growth.

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 They urge pursuing constant growth, spiritual growth.

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 In 2 Peter 3.18,

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 Peter urges us to grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus

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 and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

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 In fact, as distinct from physical growth,

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 Christians are never to stop growing spiritually.

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 There's no such thing as an adult Christian who no longer needs to grow.

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 We're always looking to grow, whereas physically we stop.

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 I'm assuming you had the thing as you're growing up,

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 little pencil marks on the doorpost to see how fast you're growing,

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 little dates and stuff like that.

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 At some point, I plateaued.

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 I wasn't going any further.

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 It was a bit shorter than what I was anticipating and what I like,

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 but I look around the family and I go,

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 yep, it's anticipated.

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 I'm not really going to go beyond six foot.

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 You know, short legs is part of our family DNA.

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 And so I hit my plateau.

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 And in fact, I'm anticipating in about 20 years to start shrinking

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 because that also I've noticed happens in my family too.

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 We just start shrinking.

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 And so you get to a point physically where you just stop growing.

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 But that's not the case spiritually.

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 So this week, we're in third of our vision series,

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 My Purpose, Our Purpose, God's Purpose.

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 In week one, we answered the question,

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 what is the purpose of life?

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 And we saw that God created and saved us for his glory.

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 We use the word magnification to summarize that.

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 In week two, last week, we narrowed it down.

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 Well, if that's the purpose of life, what is the purpose of church?

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 And we saw that God had gathered us together,

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 those he'd saved, he gathers together,

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 as a new people for his glory.

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 And we use the word membership to summarize and to capture that.

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 Now, this week, now that God has gathered us together,

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 he's given us new life,

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 what is his purpose for his gathered people?

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 And the word that we're using to summarize all of this is maturity.

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 So we're up to point two on your outline.

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 Grab a pen.

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 There's pens there.

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 You can follow along, take notes as you go.

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 What is God's purpose for his gathered people?

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 Now, to understand, to help us understand God's purpose for his children,

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 his gathered people,

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 we're going to trace a dominant theme that runs through the Bible.

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 And so what I'm going to do is I'm going to give you the big idea.

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 I'm going to give you the dominant theme,

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 and then we're going to take a bite at it, if you like.

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 So the big idea is this.

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 God wants to have children in his image and likeness.

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 That's his purpose.

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 That's his design.

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 So we're going to go back to the beginning,

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 Genesis chapter 1.

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 If you've got your Bibles there and you can come with me, that's great.

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 If not, skip ahead and go to Psalm 8.

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 Psalm 8, you see that's two verses down on your outline.

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 Just jump to Psalm 8.

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 I'll get there in a moment.

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 But I'm going to start in Genesis 1, 26.

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 Then God said,

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 So God makes humanity in his image and likeness,

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 which gives them a dignity and an honor that no other creature on earth has.

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 And when he creates us in his image,

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 he's including people in his plan to declare to the world that he rules all things.

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 So if you go to North Korea now and you would walk into that country and you would discover images and likenesses of Kim everywhere.

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 Classrooms, public meeting places in the street.

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 There'd be his likeness displayed everywhere.

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 And the reason for that is we just want to remind everyone all the time who's in charge around here.

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 Just so you don't forget who rules this place.

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 And that is what God's design is, is in making people in his image and likeness,

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 is that they are there to display to the universe the God who rules all things.

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 But there's something interesting in Genesis 5, when we jump there.

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 Genesis 5 verse 1.

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 It says,

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 This is the written account of Adam's family line.

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 When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God.

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 He created them male and female and he blessed them.

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 And he named them mankind when they were created.

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 So that's Genesis 1.

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 We've just seen that.

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 But have a look at what happens next.

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 In verse 3,

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 When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son.

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 Now that in itself boggles the mind.

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 You know, like, imagine being 130 and sleepless nights and stuff.

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 Just, man, I was done at like 45 with that.

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 130 years, he had a son.

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 And see what it says?

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 In his own likeness, in his own image.

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 And he named him Seth.

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 And it's the exact same words that are used there in Genesis 1.

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 In his likeness and in his image.

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 So God creates Adam and Eve in his own likeness.

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 And then Adam has a son in his own image and likeness.

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 That is, to father someone is to have them in your image and likeness.

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 Whether you have a relationship with them is irrelevant.

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 But they carry your DNA.

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 Adam can be called God's son.

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 That's little son.

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 But he is, in fact, still a son.

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 In fact, if you go to Luke 3.38,

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 that's who Adam is called.

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 God's son.

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 So this is regardless of how Adam lives.

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 Regardless of how, what he does.

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 He is created in God's likeness.

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 And he is God's son.

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 I am the son of my father.

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 As you are the sons and daughters of your fathers.

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 I am in his image.

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 I am in his likeness.

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 We have some similar features.

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 I have his DNA.

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 And so there's a whole bunch of stuff that I share with him.

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 Irrespective of how I behave.

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 We are related.

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 I am his offspring.

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 In the same way that I've got three daughters who have my DNA.

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 And some of my features.

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 Fortunately, they've got some natty in there as well.

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 But there is a sense.

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 And even to a greater or lesser extent.

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 Where I reflect my dad's image and likeness in the way that I behave.

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 So I have his DNA.

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 But I can, in a greater way, reflect his image and likeness by my attitudes and my behavior.

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 As my girls can with me.

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 There are times when I do or say something.

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 And I just hear my dad saying exactly the same thing.

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 And not that Nat ever does this.

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 But she would have every right to say, well, hello, Keith Jeffrey.

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 But she doesn't do that.

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 And I see it in my girls too.

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 I see the way their mannerisms and their attitudes.

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 Their way of speaking.

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 Their sense of humor.

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 It's all stuff that they've picked up from me.

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 Or, you know, from Nat.

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 But from me.

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 But I can certainly see my bits picked up and passed on to them.

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 When Adam and Eve were creating God's image and likeness.

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 God was giving them a dignity and honor as his offspring.

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 As his children.

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 And nothing else in creation had that.

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 But he also, at the same time, extends an invitation to them.

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 To become like him.

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 To reflect him.

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 To reflect and mirror the God in whose image they were created.

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 That is, regardless of how Adam lived as his son.

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 As a child of God.

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 Still his son.

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 Still his child.

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 But he could live in a way that would really display.

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 He is God's true son.

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 True child.

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 You see, being created in the image of God.

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 And we can go blue in the face.

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 Talking about will.

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 And all kinds of different things.

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 And intelligence.

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 And all sorts of stuff.

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 But being created in the image of God.

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 Has purpose to it.

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 It has a mission attached to it.

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 It is to mirror God.

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 It is to reflect his glory.

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 And his magnificence.

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 To live in such a way.

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 That when people see us.

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 They see a reflection of the character.

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 And the quality of God.

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 And I think that's the point of Psalm 8.

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 So I hope you got your finger in there.

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 If you go to Psalm 8.

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 And I want you to look what happens here in this Psalm.

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 We had it read out to us a couple of weeks ago.

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 But let's go there now.

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 Psalm 8 begins with this.

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 Oh Lord, our Lord.

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 How majestic is your name in all the earth.

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 That's how it begins.

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 And then in verse 9.

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 It ends in exactly the same way.

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 Oh Lord, our Lord.

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 How majestic is your name in all the earth.

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 That's its bookends if you like.

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 God is majestic.

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 That's clearly the point of this Psalm.

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 It's interesting, however, how verses 2 to 8 all connect with that thing.

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 You have set your glory above the heavens.

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 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise.

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 Because of your enemies.

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 To silence the foe and the avenger.

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 When I consider your heavens.

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 And the work of your fingers.

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 And the moon and the stars which you have set in place.

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 What is man that you're mindful of him?

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 The son of man that you would care for him.

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 So get that?

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 That you've created all of this universe.

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 And yet, what?

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 This people thing.

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 Why did you choose them like that?

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 What's the answer?

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 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings.

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 And you crowned him with glory and honor.

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 Or you've crowned him with glory and majesty.

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 And then the psalmist here goes on describing the uniqueness of humanity.

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 You made him ruler over the works of your hands.

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 That's Genesis 1 again.

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 You're created to rule.

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 You put everything under his feet.

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 All flocks and birds and beasts of the field and birds of the air.

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 The fish of the sea.

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 All that swim the paths of the seas are under the feet of humanity.

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 And you've made them just a little bit lower than the heavenly beings.

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 So you see, Genesis 1 is coming out here in Psalm 8.

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 And you would imagine, therefore, that you get to verse 9.

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 And you'd hear the psalmist, oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is people.

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 He doesn't do that.

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 He says, how majestic is your name in all the earth.

00:16:39.480 --> 00:16:42.639
 So the psalm ends with the point of praise of God.

00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:50.699
 Which means, the point of the subordinate majesty of humanity

00:16:50.699 --> 00:17:00.279
 is for the praise and the glory and the majesty of the God to whom they reflect.

00:17:01.179 --> 00:17:03.559
 That's the point in Psalm 8.

00:17:03.559 --> 00:17:09.299
 And so the invitation from God to all of humanity

00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:16.839
 is to grow up and reflect his magnificence in the lives that they live.

00:17:18.419 --> 00:17:22.859
 We are made with a mission, with a purpose,

00:17:22.859 --> 00:17:30.720
 and it is to display the majesty of God in whose image and likeness we bear.

00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:35.500
 And then you get to Genesis 3.

00:17:36.579 --> 00:17:39.700
 Adam and Eve reject the invitation.

00:17:40.140 --> 00:17:40.980
 They reject God.

00:17:41.100 --> 00:17:43.559
 They decide to make life about them, not about God,

00:17:43.640 --> 00:17:44.839
 to pursue their own majesty.

00:17:45.579 --> 00:17:48.960
 They're scattered from God's presence, as we saw last week.

00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:52.380
 And even though sin has ruined everything,

00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:58.299
 they still bear the image of God after Genesis 3.

00:17:58.299 --> 00:18:01.859
 They are alienated from their father,

00:18:02.159 --> 00:18:07.799
 and therefore they won't grow up to reflect his true character.

00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:13.119
 And yet God's plans are not ruined yet.

00:18:14.099 --> 00:18:17.899
 He is still committed to having kids in his likeness.

00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:20.339
 So let's fast forward in the Old Testament.

00:18:20.899 --> 00:18:21.879
 A number of years later,

00:18:21.880 --> 00:18:25.760
 God calls another son to himself,

00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:29.480
 and this son is called Israel.

00:18:30.540 --> 00:18:33.720
 In Hosea 11, verse 1, we read this.

00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:37.120
 When Israel was a child,

00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:39.300
 I loved him,

00:18:39.820 --> 00:18:44.000
 and out of Egypt I called my son.

00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:48.359
 You see, when God calls the people of Israel out of Egypt,

00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:49.859
 out of slavery in Egypt,

00:18:50.119 --> 00:18:51.700
 and through the Red Sea,

00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:55.420
 it's like he has given birth to a new nation,

00:18:56.140 --> 00:18:58.480
 a new people, a new family, new children.

00:18:59.319 --> 00:19:01.720
 They become God's people,

00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:03.720
 his children, his son.

00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:06.019
 And at Mount Sinai,

00:19:06.140 --> 00:19:08.420
 when he gathers them to himself at Mount Sinai,

00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:11.339
 he gives them his word, his law.

00:19:11.339 --> 00:19:14.079
 And in a sense, what he's doing there,

00:19:14.199 --> 00:19:16.759
 he's extending to them the invitation again

00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:21.419
 to live in his image and likeness,

00:19:21.699 --> 00:19:23.359
 to reflect his character,

00:19:23.619 --> 00:19:24.459
 his purposes,

00:19:25.059 --> 00:19:25.899
 his priorities.

00:19:26.879 --> 00:19:28.000
 What does Israel do?

00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:31.959
 Well, if you read on the very next verse of Hosea 11,

00:19:32.579 --> 00:19:34.259
 it says this in verse 2.

00:19:35.179 --> 00:19:36.579
 But the more they were called,

00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:39.220
 the more they went away from me.

00:19:39.220 --> 00:19:41.360
 They sacrificed to the Baals

00:19:41.360 --> 00:19:43.259
 and they burnt incense to images.

00:19:44.380 --> 00:19:46.200
 Just like Adam before them,

00:19:47.259 --> 00:19:51.400
 Israel too fails to be the true son of God,

00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:54.620
 reflecting the image and the likeness of God.

00:19:56.799 --> 00:20:00.180
 And then there's silence in the Old Testament.

00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:06.620
 And then you get to Colossians chapter 1 verse 15.

00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:12.680
 And here we discover the one who is not just the son of God in name,

00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:17.039
 but also the son of God in character and purpose.

00:20:18.380 --> 00:20:23.759
 This is the one who truly mirrors the magnificence of God.

00:20:24.120 --> 00:20:27.980
 The apostle Paul makes this comment that is just so profound.

00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:29.599
 It says,

00:20:30.120 --> 00:20:30.559
 The son,

00:20:30.900 --> 00:20:32.180
 we're talking about Jesus,

00:20:32.839 --> 00:20:37.200
 the son is the image of the invisible God,

00:20:37.559 --> 00:20:40.120
 the firstborn over all creation.

00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:48.400
 Jesus Christ is the son of God in a far more profound sense than Adam or Israel ever were.

00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:50.140
 If you keep reading,

00:20:50.220 --> 00:20:51.660
 let me just keep reading in Colossians chapter 1.

00:20:51.660 --> 00:20:52.380
 For in him,

00:20:52.420 --> 00:20:53.300
 this is Jesus still,

00:20:53.700 --> 00:20:55.100
 all things were created,

00:20:55.800 --> 00:20:57.400
 things in heaven and on earth,

00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:58.400
 visible and invisible,

00:20:58.580 --> 00:21:00.460
 whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities,

00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:03.360
 all things have been created through him and for him.

00:21:03.700 --> 00:21:05.140
 He is before all things,

00:21:05.380 --> 00:21:07.380
 and in him all things hold together.

00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:10.519
 This is God the son

00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:14.700
 in the person of Jesus Christ.

00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:21.319
 Hebrews chapter 1 verse 3 says this about Jesus,

00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:24.080
 The son is the radiance of God's glory

00:21:24.080 --> 00:21:29.440
 and the exact representation of his being.

00:21:30.840 --> 00:21:34.880
 John 1 verse 14 says that Jesus is the word.

00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:38.740
 He became flesh and made his dwelling amongst us.

00:21:38.740 --> 00:21:40.779
 We have seen his glory,

00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:44.880
 the glory of the one and only son

00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:48.680
 who came from the father full of grace and truth.

00:21:50.819 --> 00:21:54.500
 Jesus is God the son,

00:21:55.579 --> 00:22:00.720
 the son of God in his image and his likeness.

00:22:00.920 --> 00:22:04.579
 But he also reflects the image and likeness of God perfectly

00:22:04.579 --> 00:22:10.659
 because he lives a life of righteous obedience to the father.

00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:14.559
 So why does this matter to us?

00:22:15.179 --> 00:22:18.599
 Let me keep reading in Colossians 1 verse 18.

00:22:19.139 --> 00:22:19.559
 And he,

00:22:19.639 --> 00:22:20.679
 we're still talking about Jesus,

00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:23.000
 and he is the head of the body,

00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:23.659
 the church,

00:22:23.699 --> 00:22:25.839
 he's the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead,

00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:30.259
 so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

00:22:30.259 --> 00:22:35.599
 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwelling in him

00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:40.640
 and through him to reconcile to himself all things,

00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:41.839
 whether things on earth,

00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:42.980
 things in heaven,

00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:46.619
 by making peace through his blood shed on the cross.

00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:50.500
 Once you were alienated from God,

00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:51.720
 you were scattered from God,

00:22:52.099 --> 00:22:54.799
 you were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior,

00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:56.579
 because you rejected the image and likeness.

00:22:56.579 --> 00:23:00.379
 But now he has reconciled you by his,

00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:03.839
 by Christ's physical body through death

00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:06.480
 to present you wholly in his sight

00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:10.359
 without blemish and free from accusation.

00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:17.379
 That is because of the son of God

00:23:17.379 --> 00:23:21.220
 doing his work on our behalf,

00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:25.299
 he now presents us in such a way

00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:28.720
 that we bear the image and the likeness of our father

00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:30.160
 through Christ.

00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:33.700
 That's what matters to us.

00:23:35.059 --> 00:23:37.980
 He gives us the image and the likeness

00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:39.319
 that we were created for.

00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:42.600
 You see,

00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:46.000
 God created us out of love to be part of his family.

00:23:46.819 --> 00:23:47.120
 However,

00:23:47.339 --> 00:23:48.420
 not just Adam and Eve,

00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:50.140
 but all of us have rejected him

00:23:50.140 --> 00:23:53.039
 and lived for our own magnification.

00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:54.920
 We are his offspring.

00:23:55.060 --> 00:23:56.160
 He gives us life,

00:23:56.300 --> 00:23:58.320
 but we walk away from his family

00:23:58.320 --> 00:24:00.220
 and he scatters us from his presence.

00:24:01.320 --> 00:24:03.279
 But because we have dignity and honor

00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:04.580
 at a level

00:24:04.580 --> 00:24:09.080
 that no other thing in creation does,

00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:12.720
 he holds us particularly accountable for that.

00:24:14.380 --> 00:24:16.560
 Death and separation from him,

00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:17.599
 eternal separation,

00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:18.579
 eternal scattering

00:24:18.579 --> 00:24:20.659
 is what we deserve.

00:24:21.059 --> 00:24:21.980
 And the good news is

00:24:21.980 --> 00:24:23.159
 that Jesus Christ,

00:24:23.259 --> 00:24:24.059
 the son of God,

00:24:24.179 --> 00:24:24.940
 God the son,

00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:26.679
 stepped into our world

00:24:26.679 --> 00:24:27.759
 and lived the life

00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:28.879
 that we should have lived.

00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:30.720
 He became like us.

00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:34.059
 He didn't just bear the image of God.

00:24:34.119 --> 00:24:35.899
 He bore the image of humanity.

00:24:36.619 --> 00:24:38.019
 He lived the perfect life

00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:38.940
 that we should have lived

00:24:38.940 --> 00:24:39.799
 and he died the death

00:24:39.799 --> 00:24:40.720
 that we should have died.

00:24:40.940 --> 00:24:43.220
 He faced separation from his father,

00:24:43.220 --> 00:24:44.839
 but he rose triumphant

00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:46.700
 over sin and death.

00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:50.079
 Now those who trust in Jesus

00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:52.440
 and his finished work for us,

00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:53.440
 we get adopted,

00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:56.059
 gathered back into the family.

00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:59.240
 Jesus dealt with our penalties

00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:00.319
 so effectively

00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:02.600
 that when God looks at us,

00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:04.059
 he doesn't see the flaws.

00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:05.259
 He doesn't see the sin.

00:25:05.500 --> 00:25:07.339
 He doesn't see the pursuit

00:25:07.339 --> 00:25:08.440
 of personal magnification.

00:25:08.440 --> 00:25:11.900
 He looks at his son

00:25:11.900 --> 00:25:14.019
 and he sees us covered

00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:15.580
 in the blood of his son

00:25:15.580 --> 00:25:19.100
 and he sees unblemished sons

00:25:19.100 --> 00:25:20.039
 and daughters

00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:22.600
 bearing his likeness,

00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:24.320
 his image.

00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:29.380
 God has gathered us together

00:25:29.380 --> 00:25:31.340
 through and in Jesus Christ.

00:25:32.900 --> 00:25:34.700
 So what does he want from us?

00:25:34.700 --> 00:25:38.640
 We exist for his magnification.

00:25:38.920 --> 00:25:40.480
 He's saved us through Christ,

00:25:40.600 --> 00:25:41.559
 gathered us through himself.

00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:42.559
 What does he want for us?

00:25:42.580 --> 00:25:43.340
 What does he want

00:25:43.340 --> 00:25:44.680
 for his children?

00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:47.140
 Is it just that he wants

00:25:47.140 --> 00:25:48.059
 to give us new birth?

00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:48.580
 That's it?

00:25:48.840 --> 00:25:49.799
 Just to be saved?

00:25:50.200 --> 00:25:50.460
 You know,

00:25:50.580 --> 00:25:51.420
 along the way to get to go to heaven,

00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:52.100
 that's the main thing?

00:25:52.380 --> 00:25:53.400
 Is that all it is?

00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:54.860
 Or does he have

00:25:54.860 --> 00:25:56.299
 a much bigger purpose?

00:25:58.059 --> 00:25:59.400
 Romans 8, 28.

00:26:01.160 --> 00:26:02.920
 And we know that in all things

00:26:02.920 --> 00:26:03.960
 God works for the good

00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:05.420
 of those who love him,

00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:07.320
 who have been called

00:26:07.320 --> 00:26:10.340
 according to his purpose.

00:26:11.620 --> 00:26:13.019
 And so you ask the question,

00:26:13.360 --> 00:26:14.279
 well, what is his purpose?

00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:16.019
 And then you just need

00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:16.820
 to read the next verse.

00:26:17.420 --> 00:26:18.240
 Verse 29.

00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:20.519
 And for those God foreknew,

00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:22.240
 he also predestined

00:26:22.840 --> 00:26:24.600
 to be conformed

00:26:24.600 --> 00:26:27.600
 to the image of his son.

00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:39.799
 God's purpose

00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:43.240
 is to form us,

00:26:43.419 --> 00:26:44.379
 transform us,

00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:45.579
 conform us

00:26:45.579 --> 00:26:47.299
 into the likeness

00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:48.480
 and the image

00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:50.139
 of his true son,

00:26:50.859 --> 00:26:51.179
 Jesus.

00:26:51.180 --> 00:26:55.060
 God wants

00:26:55.060 --> 00:26:56.279
 every single one

00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:57.039
 of his children

00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:58.259
 to grow up,

00:26:58.759 --> 00:27:00.580
 to be more

00:27:00.580 --> 00:27:01.740
 and more like Jesus,

00:27:01.960 --> 00:27:02.640
 to grow up,

00:27:02.680 --> 00:27:03.240
 to be like,

00:27:03.320 --> 00:27:03.980
 to act like,

00:27:04.100 --> 00:27:05.220
 to have the attitude

00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:06.299
 of the priorities

00:27:06.299 --> 00:27:06.980
 of Jesus.

00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:10.080
 And maturity

00:27:10.080 --> 00:27:11.519
 is the word

00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:12.940
 that the Bible uses

00:27:12.940 --> 00:27:14.299
 for becoming

00:27:14.299 --> 00:27:15.259
 more and more

00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:15.980
 like Jesus.

00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:20.180
 We see this

00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:20.660
 in Ephesians.

00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:21.640
 So if you've

00:27:21.640 --> 00:27:23.140
 got the service outline,

00:27:23.320 --> 00:27:24.440
 let's go to Ephesians now.

00:27:26.420 --> 00:27:27.480
 We can use your Bible.

00:27:29.160 --> 00:27:30.120
 Going to linger here

00:27:30.120 --> 00:27:30.460
 for a bit.

00:27:30.539 --> 00:27:31.160
 Actually, use your Bible

00:27:31.160 --> 00:27:32.320
 because not every verse

00:27:32.320 --> 00:27:33.060
 I'm going to refer to

00:27:33.060 --> 00:27:33.900
 is right in front of you.

00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:35.259
 But if you've got your Bibles,

00:27:35.299 --> 00:27:35.620
 that'll be good.

00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:40.299
 We see in Ephesians 4,

00:27:40.360 --> 00:27:40.779
 verse 1.

00:27:40.860 --> 00:27:41.860
 So Christ himself,

00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:42.900
 he's about halfway

00:27:42.900 --> 00:27:43.480
 down the page,

00:27:43.580 --> 00:27:44.400
 Christ himself

00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:46.019
 gave the apostles,

00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:46.660
 the prophets,

00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:47.500
 the evangelists,

00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.060
 the pastors,

00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:48.759
 and the teachers.

00:27:49.299 --> 00:27:49.680
 And he goes,

00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:50.340
 well, he did that,

00:27:50.380 --> 00:27:50.920
 so what's the purpose

00:27:50.920 --> 00:27:51.299
 of that?

00:27:51.660 --> 00:27:52.340
 Verse 12,

00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:53.420
 to equip his people

00:27:53.420 --> 00:27:54.380
 for works of service.

00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:55.380
 Well, why do you want

00:27:55.380 --> 00:27:55.900
 to do that?

00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:57.420
 So that the body

00:27:57.420 --> 00:27:58.200
 of Christ might be

00:27:58.200 --> 00:27:58.720
 built up.

00:27:58.740 --> 00:27:59.200
 And how long

00:27:59.200 --> 00:28:00.000
 is that going to take?

00:28:00.100 --> 00:28:00.860
 Verse 13,

00:28:00.980 --> 00:28:02.160
 until we all reach

00:28:02.160 --> 00:28:03.259
 unity in the faith,

00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:04.200
 in the knowledge

00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:05.240
 of the Son of God,

00:28:05.360 --> 00:28:06.740
 and become mature,

00:28:07.420 --> 00:28:08.460
 attaining to the

00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:09.220
 whole measure

00:28:09.220 --> 00:28:10.019
 of the fullness

00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:11.080
 of Christ.

00:28:11.079 --> 00:28:20.740
 God's plan for you

00:28:20.740 --> 00:28:21.659
 conforms us

00:28:21.659 --> 00:28:23.240
 more and more

00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:24.319
 into the image

00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:25.199
 and the likeness

00:28:25.199 --> 00:28:26.539
 of his true Son,

00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:27.879
 the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:28.619
 He does that both

00:28:28.619 --> 00:28:29.919
 individually and corporately

00:28:29.919 --> 00:28:30.720
 as a church.

00:28:31.099 --> 00:28:32.759
 That is what God's

00:28:32.759 --> 00:28:33.879
 plan for you

00:28:33.879 --> 00:28:35.379
 if you are part of

00:28:35.379 --> 00:28:36.220
 his rescued and

00:28:36.220 --> 00:28:37.079
 adopted people.

00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:38.019
 He doesn't just want

00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:39.139
 to give birth to you

00:28:39.140 --> 00:28:40.880
 and you to be a baby.

00:28:41.060 --> 00:28:42.400
 He wants you to grow up,

00:28:42.620 --> 00:28:44.120
 to be more and more

00:28:44.120 --> 00:28:44.960
 and transformed

00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:45.440
 in the image

00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:46.140
 of the Lord Jesus.

00:28:46.800 --> 00:28:47.800
 That is his design.

00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:48.580
 And according to

00:28:48.580 --> 00:28:49.800
 Romans chapter 8,

00:28:50.220 --> 00:28:50.920
 he will throw

00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:52.240
 anything at you

00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:53.580
 in order for you

00:28:53.580 --> 00:28:54.500
 to pursue that.

00:28:56.500 --> 00:28:57.500
 He will throw

00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:58.660
 anything at you

00:28:58.660 --> 00:28:59.880
 that you might grow

00:28:59.880 --> 00:29:00.500
 to become more

00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:01.080
 like Jesus.

00:29:04.280 --> 00:29:04.800
 So,

00:29:05.580 --> 00:29:07.180
 last point.

00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:08.120
 How can we grow

00:29:08.120 --> 00:29:08.860
 in maturity

00:29:08.859 --> 00:29:09.719
 on purpose?

00:29:11.419 --> 00:29:12.519
 Spiritual growth

00:29:12.519 --> 00:29:13.899
 doesn't just

00:29:13.899 --> 00:29:14.759
 happen.

00:29:15.659 --> 00:29:16.259
 Spiritual growth

00:29:16.259 --> 00:29:17.699
 occurs as a result

00:29:17.699 --> 00:29:18.279
 of

00:29:18.279 --> 00:29:20.099
 intentional

00:29:20.099 --> 00:29:21.740
 and appropriate

00:29:21.740 --> 00:29:22.359
 effort.

00:29:23.619 --> 00:29:24.639
 There is intentional

00:29:24.639 --> 00:29:25.179
 pursuit

00:29:25.179 --> 00:29:26.579
 of a

00:29:26.579 --> 00:29:27.740
 clear goal

00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:29.359
 and there is

00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:30.319
 an appropriate

00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:31.199
 use

00:29:31.199 --> 00:29:32.359
 of God-given

00:29:32.359 --> 00:29:33.779
 means for growth.

00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:34.879
 It's both.

00:29:35.359 --> 00:29:36.159
 Intentional

00:29:36.159 --> 00:29:37.139
 and appropriate.

00:29:37.140 --> 00:29:38.940
 Over 170

00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:39.620
 years ago,

00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:40.640
 Archibald Alexander,

00:29:40.759 --> 00:29:41.540
 the first president

00:29:41.540 --> 00:29:42.700
 of Princeton

00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:43.940
 Theological Seminary,

00:29:44.440 --> 00:29:45.480
 wrote down

00:29:45.480 --> 00:29:46.160
 some thoughts

00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:46.860
 on hindrance

00:29:46.860 --> 00:29:47.540
 to spiritual

00:29:47.540 --> 00:29:48.000
 growth.

00:29:48.800 --> 00:29:49.360
 And the first

00:29:49.360 --> 00:29:50.640
 hindrance he listed

00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:52.060
 was what he

00:29:52.060 --> 00:29:53.240
 called a defect

00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:55.180
 in our belief

00:29:55.180 --> 00:29:55.740
 in the

00:29:55.740 --> 00:29:56.400
 freeness

00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:57.539
 of divine grace.

00:29:58.299 --> 00:29:59.000
 And he went on

00:29:59.000 --> 00:29:59.500
 to say

00:29:59.500 --> 00:30:00.200
 that a

00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:00.599
 correct

00:30:00.599 --> 00:30:01.279
 understanding

00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:01.920
 of God's

00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:02.339
 grace

00:30:02.339 --> 00:30:03.579
 and a

00:30:03.579 --> 00:30:04.039
 constant

00:30:04.039 --> 00:30:05.039
 appropriation

00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:05.640
 of God's

00:30:05.640 --> 00:30:05.920
 grace

00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:06.180
 of the

00:30:06.180 --> 00:30:06.460
 gospel

00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:06.819
 in our

00:30:06.819 --> 00:30:07.079
 life

00:30:07.079 --> 00:30:07.740
 reminding us

00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:07.960
 that we

00:30:07.960 --> 00:30:08.359
 are true

00:30:08.359 --> 00:30:08.779
 sons of

00:30:08.779 --> 00:30:09.099
 God

00:30:09.099 --> 00:30:09.819
 made in

00:30:09.819 --> 00:30:10.220
 his image

00:30:10.220 --> 00:30:10.740
 and likeness.

00:30:10.880 --> 00:30:11.079
 It's all

00:30:11.079 --> 00:30:11.380
 by the

00:30:11.380 --> 00:30:11.799
 work of

00:30:11.799 --> 00:30:12.240
 Christ.

00:30:12.900 --> 00:30:13.579
 It's not

00:30:13.579 --> 00:30:14.059
 by my

00:30:14.059 --> 00:30:14.339
 effort

00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:14.660
 but all

00:30:14.660 --> 00:30:15.339
 by Christ.

00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:16.160
 He says

00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:16.740
 must be

00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:17.680
 the foundation

00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:18.859
 of all

00:30:18.859 --> 00:30:19.700
 personal

00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:20.380
 efforts to

00:30:20.380 --> 00:30:20.680
 grow.

00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:21.120
 Otherwise

00:30:21.120 --> 00:30:21.579
 it's just

00:30:21.579 --> 00:30:21.839
 pure

00:30:21.839 --> 00:30:22.400
 legalism.

00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:23.380
 Otherwise

00:30:23.380 --> 00:30:23.880
 it's just

00:30:23.880 --> 00:30:24.240
 pure

00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:24.900
 humanism.

00:30:25.259 --> 00:30:25.840
 Just my

00:30:25.840 --> 00:30:26.340
 effort to

00:30:26.340 --> 00:30:26.800
 make me

00:30:26.800 --> 00:30:27.140
 grow.

00:30:28.540 --> 00:30:29.460
 We need

00:30:29.460 --> 00:30:30.019
 the gospel

00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:30.800
 to shroud

00:30:30.800 --> 00:30:31.000
 us,

00:30:31.080 --> 00:30:31.640
 consistently

00:30:31.640 --> 00:30:32.300
 permeate

00:30:32.300 --> 00:30:33.540
 every effort

00:30:33.540 --> 00:30:33.920
 that we

00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:34.340
 make.

00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:35.680
 God's

00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:36.040
 grace

00:30:36.040 --> 00:30:36.740
 underpins

00:30:36.740 --> 00:30:37.320
 every

00:30:37.320 --> 00:30:37.920
 means

00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:38.980
 that God

00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:39.780
 gives us

00:30:39.780 --> 00:30:40.680
 to intentionally

00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:41.200
 grow up.

00:30:41.460 --> 00:30:41.640
 So I'm

00:30:41.640 --> 00:30:41.740
 going to

00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:41.980
 mention

00:30:41.980 --> 00:30:42.400
 four.

00:30:43.360 --> 00:30:43.540
 They're

00:30:43.540 --> 00:30:43.759
 on the

00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:44.180
 page

00:30:44.180 --> 00:30:45.120
 real quick

00:30:45.120 --> 00:30:45.400
 and they're

00:30:45.400 --> 00:30:45.540
 from

00:30:45.540 --> 00:30:45.980
 Ephesians

00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:46.320
 4.

00:30:46.540 --> 00:30:46.880
 Daily

00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:47.519
 devotions.

00:30:48.340 --> 00:30:48.600
 The

00:30:48.600 --> 00:30:48.960
 key

00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:49.660
 influencer

00:30:49.660 --> 00:30:50.560
 in us

00:30:50.560 --> 00:30:51.080
 growing

00:30:51.080 --> 00:30:51.480
 to

00:30:51.480 --> 00:30:52.000
 maturity

00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:53.099
 is the

00:30:53.099 --> 00:30:53.480
 Bible.

00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:55.039
 If you

00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:55.660
 want a

00:30:55.660 --> 00:30:56.160
 child to

00:30:56.160 --> 00:30:56.720
 grow up

00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:56.900
 into

00:30:56.900 --> 00:30:57.339
 maturity

00:30:57.339 --> 00:30:57.900
 you have

00:30:57.900 --> 00:30:58.359
 to feed

00:30:58.359 --> 00:30:58.619
 them.

00:30:59.380 --> 00:30:59.700
 Without

00:30:59.700 --> 00:31:00.299
 that the

00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:00.759
 child will

00:31:00.759 --> 00:31:02.140
 become malnourished

00:31:02.140 --> 00:31:03.119
 and die.

00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:04.220
 That's

00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:05.019
 certainly the

00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:05.559
 case when

00:31:05.559 --> 00:31:05.880
 they don't

00:31:05.880 --> 00:31:06.160
 have a

00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:06.500
 pantry

00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:06.880
 that they

00:31:06.880 --> 00:31:07.480
 can access.

00:31:08.980 --> 00:31:09.140
 The

00:31:09.140 --> 00:31:09.599
 word of

00:31:09.599 --> 00:31:10.079
 God

00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:11.359
 is your

00:31:11.359 --> 00:31:11.900
 spiritual

00:31:11.900 --> 00:31:12.500
 food.

00:31:12.779 --> 00:31:13.420
 I'm not

00:31:13.420 --> 00:31:13.619
 going to

00:31:13.619 --> 00:31:13.900
 go into

00:31:13.900 --> 00:31:14.400
 a theology

00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:14.940
 of that.

00:31:15.079 --> 00:31:15.319
 It's

00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:15.940
 everywhere.

00:31:16.160 --> 00:31:16.279
 I'll just

00:31:16.279 --> 00:31:16.619
 take that

00:31:16.619 --> 00:31:16.819
 as a

00:31:16.819 --> 00:31:16.940
 given.

00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:17.099
 The

00:31:17.099 --> 00:31:17.359
 word of

00:31:17.359 --> 00:31:17.500
 God

00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:17.779
 is your

00:31:17.779 --> 00:31:18.140
 spiritual

00:31:18.140 --> 00:31:18.480
 food.

00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:19.059
 To

00:31:19.059 --> 00:31:19.480
 grow up

00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:19.619
 into

00:31:19.619 --> 00:31:20.180
 spiritual

00:31:20.180 --> 00:31:20.779
 maturity

00:31:20.779 --> 00:31:21.599
 we need

00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:22.199
 to feed

00:31:22.199 --> 00:31:22.659
 on the

00:31:22.659 --> 00:31:23.039
 word

00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:24.399
 and live

00:31:24.399 --> 00:31:25.899
 out what

00:31:25.899 --> 00:31:26.480
 we feed

00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:26.759
 on.

00:31:27.559 --> 00:31:27.879
 It's not

00:31:27.879 --> 00:31:28.199
 just a

00:31:28.199 --> 00:31:28.639
 matter of

00:31:28.639 --> 00:31:29.240
 getting

00:31:29.240 --> 00:31:29.919
 Bible

00:31:29.919 --> 00:31:30.519
 knowledge

00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:31.419
 into your

00:31:31.419 --> 00:31:32.259
 brain.

00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:33.199
 It's about

00:31:33.199 --> 00:31:33.819
 obedience.

00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:34.639
 We'll come to

00:31:34.639 --> 00:31:34.899
 that in a

00:31:34.899 --> 00:31:35.299
 moment in my

00:31:35.299 --> 00:31:36.099
 second point.

00:31:37.079 --> 00:31:37.619
 We see the

00:31:37.619 --> 00:31:38.699
 significance of

00:31:38.699 --> 00:31:39.219
 the word of

00:31:39.219 --> 00:31:39.980
 God in

00:31:39.980 --> 00:31:41.539
 Ephesians 4.

00:31:42.639 --> 00:31:43.059
 Who does

00:31:43.059 --> 00:31:43.839
 Christ give to

00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:44.459
 the church so

00:31:44.459 --> 00:31:44.959
 that they might

00:31:44.959 --> 00:31:45.359
 mature?

00:31:45.539 --> 00:31:45.939
 Verse 11

00:31:45.939 --> 00:31:46.359
 says the

00:31:46.359 --> 00:31:46.659
 apostles,

00:31:46.819 --> 00:31:47.119
 the prophets,

00:31:47.219 --> 00:31:47.639
 the evangelists,

00:31:47.699 --> 00:31:47.959
 the pastors,

00:31:47.959 --> 00:31:48.379
 the teachers.

00:31:48.380 --> 00:31:49.720
 What is

00:31:49.720 --> 00:31:50.460
 interesting is

00:31:50.460 --> 00:31:51.380
 all of

00:31:51.380 --> 00:31:53.580
 those roles

00:31:53.580 --> 00:31:54.620
 are word

00:31:54.620 --> 00:31:55.880
 based ministries.

00:31:56.640 --> 00:31:57.080
 It's the

00:31:57.080 --> 00:31:57.400
 word of

00:31:57.400 --> 00:31:58.520
 God that

00:31:58.520 --> 00:31:59.540
 grows the

00:31:59.540 --> 00:32:00.100
 church.

00:32:01.340 --> 00:32:02.040
 Now the

00:32:02.040 --> 00:32:02.480
 Center for

00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:02.820
 Bible

00:32:02.820 --> 00:32:03.340
 Engagement

00:32:03.340 --> 00:32:03.660
 in the

00:32:03.660 --> 00:32:04.360
 United States

00:32:04.360 --> 00:32:05.040
 released a

00:32:05.040 --> 00:32:05.840
 research paper,

00:32:05.960 --> 00:32:06.260
 extensive

00:32:06.260 --> 00:32:07.020
 research paper

00:32:07.020 --> 00:32:08.020
 back in

00:32:08.020 --> 00:32:09.380
 2009.

00:32:10.300 --> 00:32:10.880
 The title

00:32:10.880 --> 00:32:12.740
 of it is

00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:13.700
 Understanding

00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:14.800
 the Bible

00:32:14.800 --> 00:32:15.680
 Engagement

00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:16.520
 Challenge.

00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:17.680
 Scientific

00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:18.160
 Evidence

00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:18.420
 for the

00:32:18.420 --> 00:32:18.900
 Power of

00:32:18.900 --> 00:32:19.259
 Fall.

00:32:20.639 --> 00:32:21.059
 Now the

00:32:21.059 --> 00:32:21.480
 bottom line

00:32:21.480 --> 00:32:22.299
 conclusion of

00:32:22.299 --> 00:32:23.299
 this research

00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:24.539
 was that

00:32:24.539 --> 00:32:25.220
 people who

00:32:25.220 --> 00:32:25.740
 read the

00:32:25.740 --> 00:32:26.200
 Bible,

00:32:26.440 --> 00:32:26.900
 engage in

00:32:26.900 --> 00:32:27.160
 the Bible,

00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:27.539
 personal

00:32:27.539 --> 00:32:28.240
 devotions,

00:32:28.700 --> 00:32:29.519
 four or

00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:30.639
 more times

00:32:30.639 --> 00:32:31.559
 a week

00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:32.559
 saw

00:32:32.559 --> 00:32:33.519
 significant

00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:34.240
 spiritual

00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:34.900
 growth.

00:32:38.200 --> 00:32:39.119
 Four or

00:32:39.119 --> 00:32:39.700
 more times

00:32:39.700 --> 00:32:40.139
 a week.

00:32:41.339 --> 00:32:42.339
 What is

00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:42.879
 troubling

00:32:42.879 --> 00:32:43.519
 however,

00:32:44.480 --> 00:32:44.960
 was the

00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:45.639
 conclusion

00:32:45.640 --> 00:32:46.480
 that those

00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:46.900
 who read

00:32:46.900 --> 00:32:47.340
 the Bible

00:32:47.340 --> 00:32:47.780
 between

00:32:47.780 --> 00:32:48.460
 one and

00:32:48.460 --> 00:32:49.400
 three times

00:32:49.400 --> 00:32:50.120
 per week

00:32:50.120 --> 00:32:51.420
 on average

00:32:51.420 --> 00:32:52.380
 experienced

00:32:52.380 --> 00:32:53.060
 the same

00:32:53.060 --> 00:32:53.780
 level of

00:32:53.780 --> 00:32:55.080
 growth as

00:32:55.080 --> 00:32:55.620
 those who

00:32:55.620 --> 00:32:56.140
 didn't read

00:32:56.140 --> 00:32:56.940
 it at all.

00:32:58.320 --> 00:32:58.820
 Basically

00:32:58.820 --> 00:33:00.500
 none is

00:33:00.500 --> 00:33:01.200
 what they're

00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:01.480
 saying.

00:33:05.880 --> 00:33:06.780
 So how's

00:33:06.780 --> 00:33:07.120
 your Bible

00:33:07.120 --> 00:33:07.640
 reading going?

00:33:09.180 --> 00:33:10.340
 I think

00:33:10.340 --> 00:33:10.780
 there's very

00:33:10.780 --> 00:33:11.380
 good reason

00:33:11.380 --> 00:33:12.040
 here to

00:33:12.040 --> 00:33:12.540
 adopt the

00:33:12.540 --> 00:33:12.940
 motto

00:33:12.940 --> 00:33:13.960
 more than

00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:14.300
 four.

00:33:14.299 --> 00:33:16.779
 more than

00:33:16.779 --> 00:33:17.059
 four.

00:33:17.839 --> 00:33:18.419
 Write it

00:33:18.419 --> 00:33:18.599
 down,

00:33:18.680 --> 00:33:18.940
 stick it

00:33:18.940 --> 00:33:19.119
 in your

00:33:19.119 --> 00:33:19.399
 diary,

00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:19.940
 more than

00:33:19.940 --> 00:33:20.240
 four.

00:33:21.180 --> 00:33:21.819
 There is

00:33:21.819 --> 00:33:22.519
 no

00:33:22.519 --> 00:33:23.500
 shortcut

00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:25.259
 to growth.

00:33:26.960 --> 00:33:27.500
 There's

00:33:27.500 --> 00:33:27.700
 no

00:33:27.700 --> 00:33:28.180
 shortcut.

00:33:31.139 --> 00:33:31.700
 Don't,

00:33:32.359 --> 00:33:33.079
 you know,

00:33:33.139 --> 00:33:33.799
 if you're not

00:33:33.799 --> 00:33:34.720
 actually engaging

00:33:34.720 --> 00:33:35.220
 with the

00:33:35.220 --> 00:33:35.500
 Word of

00:33:35.500 --> 00:33:36.460
 God as

00:33:36.460 --> 00:33:37.059
 a regular

00:33:37.059 --> 00:33:37.659
 personal

00:33:37.659 --> 00:33:38.180
 devotional

00:33:38.180 --> 00:33:38.539
 thing,

00:33:38.899 --> 00:33:40.019
 don't assume

00:33:40.019 --> 00:33:40.500
 you're growing.

00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:40.559
 growing.

00:33:42.920 --> 00:33:43.900
 The mistake

00:33:43.900 --> 00:33:44.500
 we make

00:33:44.500 --> 00:33:45.180
 in churches

00:33:45.180 --> 00:33:46.299
 is because

00:33:46.299 --> 00:33:46.900
 we're hanging

00:33:46.900 --> 00:33:47.460
 around the

00:33:47.460 --> 00:33:47.960
 place,

00:33:48.180 --> 00:33:48.640
 we just

00:33:48.640 --> 00:33:48.960
 think it's

00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:49.579
 an osmosis

00:33:49.579 --> 00:33:49.880
 thing.

00:33:51.880 --> 00:33:52.839
 Because we've

00:33:52.839 --> 00:33:53.240
 got longer

00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:53.619
 history,

00:33:53.700 --> 00:33:53.880
 we've got

00:33:53.880 --> 00:33:54.519
 more stories

00:33:54.519 --> 00:33:55.079
 to tell,

00:33:55.559 --> 00:33:56.220
 we just

00:33:56.220 --> 00:33:57.019
 assume we're

00:33:57.019 --> 00:33:57.359
 growing.

00:33:58.880 --> 00:33:59.500
 But you're

00:33:59.500 --> 00:33:59.799
 not.

00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:01.059
 If you're not

00:34:01.059 --> 00:34:01.400
 reading the

00:34:01.400 --> 00:34:01.599
 Scriptures,

00:34:01.700 --> 00:34:02.119
 you're not.

00:34:03.480 --> 00:34:04.079
 You've got to

00:34:04.079 --> 00:34:04.779
 understand you're

00:34:04.779 --> 00:34:05.259
 an adolescent.

00:34:05.259 --> 00:34:09.480
 So friends,

00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:11.139
 as I said,

00:34:11.179 --> 00:34:11.440
 there's no

00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:12.239
 shortcut here.

00:34:12.679 --> 00:34:13.260
 At some

00:34:13.260 --> 00:34:13.699
 point,

00:34:14.059 --> 00:34:14.420
 you're going

00:34:14.420 --> 00:34:14.880
 to have to

00:34:14.880 --> 00:34:15.340
 make a

00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:15.679
 conscious

00:34:15.679 --> 00:34:16.460
 decision to

00:34:16.460 --> 00:34:17.699
 prioritize the

00:34:17.699 --> 00:34:18.199
 reading of

00:34:18.199 --> 00:34:18.699
 your Bible,

00:34:19.099 --> 00:34:19.880
 the reflection

00:34:19.880 --> 00:34:20.940
 on your

00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:21.260
 Scriptures,

00:34:21.400 --> 00:34:22.000
 the meditation

00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:22.800
 over it,

00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:23.559
 reflecting on

00:34:23.559 --> 00:34:23.659
 it,

00:34:24.039 --> 00:34:24.840
 praying over

00:34:24.840 --> 00:34:25.440
 it.

00:34:25.440 --> 00:34:26.000
 You've got to

00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:27.440
 prioritize that

00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:29.119
 over responding

00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:29.900
 to emails,

00:34:30.280 --> 00:34:30.679
 Facebook,

00:34:31.019 --> 00:34:31.480
 TV,

00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:32.480
 sleep,

00:34:32.619 --> 00:34:33.300
 even sleep.

00:34:33.300 --> 00:34:35.340
 And if

00:34:35.340 --> 00:34:35.720
 you follow

00:34:35.720 --> 00:34:36.160
 the words

00:34:36.160 --> 00:34:36.560
 of Jonathan

00:34:36.560 --> 00:34:36.900
 Edwards,

00:34:37.060 --> 00:34:37.780
 even food.

00:34:40.780 --> 00:34:41.220
 Nothing

00:34:41.220 --> 00:34:41.640
 gets in

00:34:41.640 --> 00:34:41.960
 the way

00:34:41.960 --> 00:34:42.539
 of this.

00:34:44.440 --> 00:34:44.600
 You know,

00:34:44.680 --> 00:34:44.880
 like,

00:34:47.039 --> 00:34:47.280
 okay,

00:34:47.380 --> 00:34:47.539
 we'll move

00:34:47.539 --> 00:34:47.780
 to point

00:34:47.780 --> 00:34:47.980
 two.

00:34:50.060 --> 00:34:50.480
 Regular

00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:51.200
 repentance.

00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:53.019
 Too often,

00:34:53.120 --> 00:34:53.360
 I think,

00:34:53.580 --> 00:34:55.400
 in the

00:34:55.400 --> 00:34:55.840
 Christian circles,

00:34:55.920 --> 00:34:56.340
 we think of

00:34:56.340 --> 00:34:57.039
 repentance as a

00:34:57.039 --> 00:34:57.660
 one-off moment

00:34:57.660 --> 00:34:58.460
 when we come

00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:58.900
 to Jesus,

00:34:59.019 --> 00:34:59.480
 need to repent,

00:34:59.640 --> 00:35:00.120
 forgive your sins,

00:35:00.200 --> 00:35:01.019
 and turn to

00:35:01.019 --> 00:35:01.340
 Jesus.

00:35:01.680 --> 00:35:02.160
 The biblical

00:35:02.160 --> 00:35:02.720
 word for

00:35:02.720 --> 00:35:03.140
 repentance,

00:35:03.139 --> 00:35:03.579
 means to

00:35:03.579 --> 00:35:04.139
 change your

00:35:04.139 --> 00:35:04.639
 mind.

00:35:05.980 --> 00:35:06.359
 And so,

00:35:06.519 --> 00:35:07.179
 as we

00:35:07.179 --> 00:35:08.059
 engage with

00:35:08.059 --> 00:35:08.400
 the Bible,

00:35:08.480 --> 00:35:08.779
 so it's not

00:35:08.779 --> 00:35:09.279
 just Bible

00:35:09.279 --> 00:35:09.839
 knowledge,

00:35:09.940 --> 00:35:10.139
 it's not

00:35:10.139 --> 00:35:11.319
 just understanding

00:35:11.319 --> 00:35:11.839
 more and

00:35:11.839 --> 00:35:12.500
 more the

00:35:12.500 --> 00:35:13.279
 technicalities,

00:35:13.420 --> 00:35:13.960
 academic stuff

00:35:13.960 --> 00:35:14.179
 in the

00:35:14.179 --> 00:35:14.500
 Bible,

00:35:15.379 --> 00:35:17.379
 but as

00:35:17.379 --> 00:35:18.759
 we read

00:35:18.759 --> 00:35:19.400
 the Bible,

00:35:21.420 --> 00:35:22.379
 God is

00:35:22.379 --> 00:35:22.759
 constantly

00:35:22.759 --> 00:35:23.579
 working in

00:35:23.579 --> 00:35:24.179
 our hearts

00:35:24.179 --> 00:35:24.759
 to bring

00:35:24.759 --> 00:35:25.519
 our minds

00:35:25.519 --> 00:35:25.879
 and our

00:35:25.879 --> 00:35:26.440
 lives in

00:35:26.440 --> 00:35:26.920
 line with

00:35:26.920 --> 00:35:27.119
 it.

00:35:28.559 --> 00:35:29.119
 Repentance

00:35:29.119 --> 00:35:29.639
 is this

00:35:29.639 --> 00:35:30.679
 constant process

00:35:30.679 --> 00:35:31.259
 of changing

00:35:31.259 --> 00:35:31.639
 course.

00:35:31.759 --> 00:35:31.980
 I'm heading

00:35:31.980 --> 00:35:32.379
 down this

00:35:32.379 --> 00:35:32.799
 direction,

00:35:32.800 --> 00:35:33.620
 and I

00:35:33.620 --> 00:35:34.280
 engage

00:35:34.280 --> 00:35:34.519
 with the

00:35:34.519 --> 00:35:34.760
 scriptures

00:35:34.760 --> 00:35:35.160
 and it

00:35:35.160 --> 00:35:35.440
 says,

00:35:35.600 --> 00:35:35.820
 I need

00:35:35.820 --> 00:35:36.039
 to go

00:35:36.039 --> 00:35:36.300
 in this

00:35:36.300 --> 00:35:36.680
 direction.

00:35:37.060 --> 00:35:37.380
 This is

00:35:37.380 --> 00:35:37.820
 the life

00:35:37.820 --> 00:35:37.960
 that

00:35:37.960 --> 00:35:38.340
 pursues

00:35:38.340 --> 00:35:38.720
 God's

00:35:38.720 --> 00:35:39.100
 glory.

00:35:39.480 --> 00:35:39.660
 This is

00:35:39.660 --> 00:35:40.039
 for my

00:35:40.039 --> 00:35:40.360
 joy.

00:35:40.440 --> 00:35:40.680
 This is

00:35:40.680 --> 00:35:40.920
 for my

00:35:40.920 --> 00:35:41.200
 good.

00:35:41.300 --> 00:35:41.480
 I go

00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:41.720
 this

00:35:41.720 --> 00:35:42.180
 direction.

00:35:42.680 --> 00:35:43.039
 It's the

00:35:43.039 --> 00:35:43.340
 daily

00:35:43.340 --> 00:35:44.760
 process of

00:35:44.760 --> 00:35:45.380
 what Ephesians

00:35:45.380 --> 00:35:46.280
 4 calls

00:35:46.280 --> 00:35:47.160
 taking off the

00:35:47.160 --> 00:35:47.680
 old self and

00:35:47.680 --> 00:35:48.100
 putting on the

00:35:48.100 --> 00:35:48.700
 new self.

00:35:49.060 --> 00:35:49.460
 Have a look.

00:35:49.539 --> 00:35:50.060
 Ephesians 4

00:35:50.060 --> 00:35:50.620
 verse 22.

00:35:50.619 --> 00:35:50.819
 If you've

00:35:50.819 --> 00:35:51.000
 got your

00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:51.259
 Bibles

00:35:51.259 --> 00:35:51.519
 there,

00:35:51.519 --> 00:35:52.199
 you were

00:35:52.199 --> 00:35:52.960
 taught with

00:35:52.960 --> 00:35:53.539
 regard to

00:35:53.539 --> 00:35:54.000
 your former

00:35:54.000 --> 00:35:54.440
 way of

00:35:54.440 --> 00:35:55.420
 life to

00:35:55.420 --> 00:35:55.920
 put off

00:35:55.920 --> 00:35:56.339
 your old

00:35:56.339 --> 00:35:56.599
 self,

00:35:56.659 --> 00:35:56.920
 which has

00:35:56.920 --> 00:35:57.500
 been corrupted

00:35:57.500 --> 00:35:57.900
 by its

00:35:57.900 --> 00:35:58.380
 deceitful

00:35:58.380 --> 00:35:59.019
 desires,

00:35:59.219 --> 00:36:00.039
 to be

00:36:00.039 --> 00:36:00.880
 made new

00:36:00.880 --> 00:36:01.519
 in the

00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:02.460
 attitude of

00:36:02.460 --> 00:36:03.480
 your minds

00:36:03.480 --> 00:36:04.639
 and to

00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:05.079
 put on

00:36:05.079 --> 00:36:05.719
 the new

00:36:05.719 --> 00:36:06.279
 self

00:36:06.279 --> 00:36:07.500
 created

00:36:07.500 --> 00:36:08.779
 to be

00:36:08.779 --> 00:36:09.559
 like

00:36:09.559 --> 00:36:10.519
 God.

00:36:12.599 --> 00:36:13.359
 Created

00:36:13.359 --> 00:36:14.679
 to be

00:36:14.679 --> 00:36:15.359
 in his

00:36:15.359 --> 00:36:16.199
 image and

00:36:16.199 --> 00:36:17.159
 likeness in

00:36:17.159 --> 00:36:17.940
 true righteousness

00:36:17.940 --> 00:36:18.780
 and holiness.

00:36:20.960 --> 00:36:21.700
 So I

00:36:21.700 --> 00:36:22.320
 wonder if

00:36:22.320 --> 00:36:22.700
 one of the

00:36:22.700 --> 00:36:23.840
 main reasons

00:36:23.840 --> 00:36:24.980
 so many

00:36:24.980 --> 00:36:25.380
 Christians

00:36:25.380 --> 00:36:26.360
 start well

00:36:26.360 --> 00:36:26.880
 and then

00:36:26.880 --> 00:36:27.260
 they just

00:36:27.260 --> 00:36:27.880
 hit this

00:36:27.880 --> 00:36:28.539
 plateau

00:36:28.539 --> 00:36:30.480
 of

00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:31.159
 spiritual

00:36:31.159 --> 00:36:31.700
 adolescent

00:36:31.700 --> 00:36:32.940
 stage is

00:36:32.940 --> 00:36:33.800
 frankly because

00:36:33.800 --> 00:36:34.139
 they've just

00:36:34.139 --> 00:36:34.960
 stopped repenting.

00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:36.400
 I asked you

00:36:36.400 --> 00:36:36.820
 two weeks

00:36:36.820 --> 00:36:37.179
 ago,

00:36:38.240 --> 00:36:38.619
 I asked you

00:36:38.619 --> 00:36:39.059
 two weeks

00:36:39.059 --> 00:36:39.380
 ago,

00:36:40.179 --> 00:36:40.800
 when was

00:36:40.800 --> 00:36:41.260
 the last

00:36:41.260 --> 00:36:41.760
 time you

00:36:41.760 --> 00:36:42.340
 lamented

00:36:42.340 --> 00:36:42.800
 over your

00:36:42.800 --> 00:36:43.300
 sin?

00:36:46.880 --> 00:36:47.539
 We hit

00:36:47.539 --> 00:36:48.000
 this thing

00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:48.219
 where we

00:36:48.219 --> 00:36:48.659
 just stop

00:36:48.659 --> 00:36:49.219
 repenting,

00:36:49.300 --> 00:36:49.599
 we just

00:36:49.599 --> 00:36:50.480
 stop changing,

00:36:50.900 --> 00:36:51.480
 we get

00:36:51.480 --> 00:36:51.900
 into a

00:36:51.900 --> 00:36:52.360
 settled

00:36:52.360 --> 00:36:52.960
 position.

00:36:53.779 --> 00:36:53.980
 You know,

00:36:54.719 --> 00:36:55.300
 is there

00:36:55.300 --> 00:36:56.460
 part of

00:36:56.460 --> 00:36:57.199
 your old

00:36:57.199 --> 00:36:58.019
 self where

00:36:58.019 --> 00:36:58.679
 you've just

00:36:58.679 --> 00:36:59.000
 become

00:36:59.000 --> 00:36:59.519
 comfortable

00:36:59.519 --> 00:37:00.019
 with it?

00:37:00.420 --> 00:37:00.880
 Like an

00:37:00.880 --> 00:37:01.579
 old blanket,

00:37:01.940 --> 00:37:02.279
 just got

00:37:02.279 --> 00:37:02.679
 comfortable

00:37:02.679 --> 00:37:03.139
 with it.

00:37:04.820 --> 00:37:05.340
 Maybe

00:37:05.340 --> 00:37:05.599
 you've

00:37:05.599 --> 00:37:07.139
 got friends

00:37:07.139 --> 00:37:07.659
 with it,

00:37:09.059 --> 00:37:09.900
 started to

00:37:09.900 --> 00:37:10.779
 make excuses

00:37:10.779 --> 00:37:11.279
 for the

00:37:11.279 --> 00:37:11.800
 smell.

00:37:15.759 --> 00:37:16.300
 Is

00:37:16.300 --> 00:37:16.599
 there?

00:37:17.539 --> 00:37:18.239
 bitterness,

00:37:18.920 --> 00:37:19.440
 unforgiving

00:37:19.440 --> 00:37:19.900
 spirit,

00:37:20.079 --> 00:37:20.360
 pride,

00:37:20.539 --> 00:37:21.039
 arrogance,

00:37:21.199 --> 00:37:21.820
 an ungodly

00:37:21.820 --> 00:37:22.340
 relationship,

00:37:22.519 --> 00:37:22.800
 greed,

00:37:23.019 --> 00:37:23.279
 gossip,

00:37:23.460 --> 00:37:23.980
 pornography,

00:37:24.500 --> 00:37:24.960
 spiritual

00:37:24.960 --> 00:37:25.679
 laziness.

00:37:28.420 --> 00:37:28.940
 You

00:37:28.940 --> 00:37:29.059
 could just

00:37:29.059 --> 00:37:29.539
 go on.

00:37:30.699 --> 00:37:31.360
 Paul says

00:37:31.360 --> 00:37:31.659
 here,

00:37:31.860 --> 00:37:32.380
 take it

00:37:32.380 --> 00:37:32.880
 off and

00:37:32.880 --> 00:37:33.139
 put on

00:37:33.139 --> 00:37:33.480
 the new

00:37:33.480 --> 00:37:33.960
 self in

00:37:33.960 --> 00:37:34.420
 the image

00:37:34.420 --> 00:37:34.739
 and the

00:37:34.739 --> 00:37:35.480
 likeness of

00:37:35.480 --> 00:37:36.119
 your father.

00:37:37.920 --> 00:37:38.059
 Number

00:37:38.059 --> 00:37:38.340
 three,

00:37:38.460 --> 00:37:38.639
 other

00:37:38.639 --> 00:37:39.079
 Christians.

00:37:40.360 --> 00:37:41.059
 The third

00:37:41.059 --> 00:37:41.460
 thing that we

00:37:41.460 --> 00:37:41.840
 need to

00:37:41.840 --> 00:37:42.300
 mature on

00:37:42.300 --> 00:37:43.059
 purpose is

00:37:43.059 --> 00:37:43.380
 other

00:37:43.380 --> 00:37:43.840
 Christians.

00:37:44.380 --> 00:37:44.559
 You see,

00:37:44.659 --> 00:37:45.079
 reading your

00:37:45.079 --> 00:37:45.300
 Bible,

00:37:45.440 --> 00:37:45.840
 listening to

00:37:45.840 --> 00:37:46.079
 sermons

00:37:46.079 --> 00:37:46.559
 online,

00:37:46.559 --> 00:37:47.659
 getting prayer

00:37:47.659 --> 00:37:48.320
 updates on

00:37:48.320 --> 00:37:48.840
 your phone

00:37:48.840 --> 00:37:49.380
 and mission

00:37:49.380 --> 00:37:50.059
 newsletters in

00:37:50.059 --> 00:37:50.500
 your mailbox.

00:37:50.659 --> 00:37:50.960
 They're all

00:37:50.960 --> 00:37:51.679
 good stuff.

00:37:52.759 --> 00:37:53.480
 But if that

00:37:53.480 --> 00:37:54.380
 is all you

00:37:54.380 --> 00:37:54.920
 do,

00:37:55.460 --> 00:37:56.279
 then it is a

00:37:56.279 --> 00:37:56.980
 sign of

00:37:56.980 --> 00:37:57.759
 immaturity.

00:37:59.719 --> 00:38:00.579
 It's a sign

00:38:00.579 --> 00:38:01.219
 of immaturity.

00:38:02.099 --> 00:38:03.320
 Let me push

00:38:03.320 --> 00:38:03.900
 this point.

00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:05.659
 You can have

00:38:05.659 --> 00:38:06.639
 every Bible

00:38:06.639 --> 00:38:07.360
 app on your

00:38:07.360 --> 00:38:08.000
 phone from

00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:08.480
 all the

00:38:08.480 --> 00:38:09.940
 ace

00:38:09.940 --> 00:38:10.539
 Christian

00:38:10.539 --> 00:38:11.380
 organizations

00:38:11.380 --> 00:38:12.139
 and receive

00:38:12.139 --> 00:38:12.639
 their prayer

00:38:12.639 --> 00:38:13.019
 points.

00:38:13.019 --> 00:38:13.739
 You can

00:38:13.739 --> 00:38:14.059
 even have

00:38:14.059 --> 00:38:14.360
 a fish

00:38:14.360 --> 00:38:14.800
 sticker on

00:38:14.800 --> 00:38:15.259
 your car.

00:38:16.780 --> 00:38:17.420
 But if

00:38:17.420 --> 00:38:17.719
 you are

00:38:17.719 --> 00:38:18.139
 doing it

00:38:18.139 --> 00:38:18.599
 all in

00:38:18.599 --> 00:38:19.059
 isolation,

00:38:19.199 --> 00:38:19.400
 you can

00:38:19.400 --> 00:38:19.679
 listen to

00:38:19.679 --> 00:38:19.960
 the great

00:38:19.960 --> 00:38:20.340
 preachers of

00:38:20.340 --> 00:38:20.759
 the world,

00:38:20.920 --> 00:38:21.380
 download your

00:38:21.380 --> 00:38:22.000
 podcast on

00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:22.280
 the way to

00:38:22.280 --> 00:38:22.579
 work.

00:38:23.380 --> 00:38:23.659
 But if

00:38:23.659 --> 00:38:24.039
 you're doing

00:38:24.039 --> 00:38:24.280
 it in

00:38:24.280 --> 00:38:24.980
 isolation,

00:38:26.199 --> 00:38:26.559
 it's

00:38:26.559 --> 00:38:27.259
 actually a

00:38:27.259 --> 00:38:27.639
 sign of

00:38:27.639 --> 00:38:28.440
 immaturity,

00:38:28.579 --> 00:38:29.119
 not maturity.

00:38:31.159 --> 00:38:32.219
 Maturity is

00:38:32.219 --> 00:38:33.579
 a team

00:38:33.579 --> 00:38:34.219
 sport.

00:38:34.980 --> 00:38:35.619
 Have a look

00:38:35.619 --> 00:38:36.400
 at Ephesians

00:38:36.400 --> 00:38:37.019
 4 verse

00:38:37.019 --> 00:38:37.719
 15.

00:38:37.719 --> 00:38:40.359
 Speaking the

00:38:40.359 --> 00:38:40.939
 truth in

00:38:40.939 --> 00:38:42.419
 love, we

00:38:42.419 --> 00:38:43.179
 will grow to

00:38:43.179 --> 00:38:43.879
 become in

00:38:43.879 --> 00:38:45.279
 every respect

00:38:45.279 --> 00:38:46.339
 the mature

00:38:46.339 --> 00:38:46.959
 body of

00:38:46.959 --> 00:38:47.859
 him who

00:38:47.859 --> 00:38:48.279
 is the

00:38:48.279 --> 00:38:48.859
 head that

00:38:48.859 --> 00:38:49.939
 is Christ.

00:38:51.699 --> 00:38:52.219
 So verse

00:38:52.219 --> 00:38:53.199
 11 tells

00:38:53.199 --> 00:38:54.619
 us about

00:38:54.619 --> 00:38:55.659
 the apostles

00:38:55.659 --> 00:38:56.359
 and others

00:38:56.359 --> 00:38:57.259
 who have the

00:38:57.259 --> 00:38:57.699
 job of

00:38:57.699 --> 00:38:58.159
 bringing the

00:38:58.159 --> 00:38:58.480
 word of

00:38:58.480 --> 00:38:58.859
 God to

00:38:58.859 --> 00:38:59.459
 the church.

00:38:59.699 --> 00:39:00.000
 That's

00:39:00.000 --> 00:39:00.619
 verse 11.

00:39:01.239 --> 00:39:01.839
 And then

00:39:01.839 --> 00:39:03.719
 verse 15,

00:39:04.299 --> 00:39:04.699
 we are

00:39:04.699 --> 00:39:06.480
 instructed to

00:39:06.480 --> 00:39:07.359
 speak the

00:39:07.360 --> 00:39:08.500
 word that's

00:39:08.500 --> 00:39:09.000
 brought to

00:39:09.000 --> 00:39:10.180
 us to

00:39:10.180 --> 00:39:10.720
 each other.

00:39:12.820 --> 00:39:13.539
 Speak the

00:39:13.539 --> 00:39:14.099
 word, speak

00:39:14.099 --> 00:39:14.920
 the truth to

00:39:14.920 --> 00:39:15.579
 each other so

00:39:15.579 --> 00:39:16.300
 that together

00:39:16.300 --> 00:39:16.860
 we might

00:39:16.860 --> 00:39:18.140
 grow up.

00:39:19.519 --> 00:39:20.519
 As we, the

00:39:20.519 --> 00:39:21.120
 church, speak

00:39:21.120 --> 00:39:21.680
 the truth to

00:39:21.680 --> 00:39:22.099
 each other,

00:39:22.660 --> 00:39:23.300
 the whole

00:39:23.300 --> 00:39:24.680
 church grows

00:39:24.680 --> 00:39:25.220
 up.

00:39:26.280 --> 00:39:27.059
 So let me

00:39:27.059 --> 00:39:28.019
 highlight again,

00:39:28.160 --> 00:39:28.820
 it was said

00:39:28.820 --> 00:39:29.400
 already tonight,

00:39:29.480 --> 00:39:29.680
 I'm going to

00:39:29.680 --> 00:39:30.160
 do it again,

00:39:30.240 --> 00:39:30.700
 the important

00:39:30.700 --> 00:39:32.059
 place that

00:39:32.059 --> 00:39:32.840
 community groups

00:39:32.840 --> 00:39:33.700
 have in the

00:39:33.700 --> 00:39:34.120
 maturing

00:39:34.120 --> 00:39:34.900
 process.

00:39:34.900 --> 00:39:38.240
 this

00:39:38.240 --> 00:39:39.500
 tonight is

00:39:39.500 --> 00:39:40.000
 an opportunity

00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:40.579
 for you,

00:39:40.639 --> 00:39:41.059
 if you're not

00:39:41.059 --> 00:39:41.519
 in a community

00:39:41.519 --> 00:39:41.900
 group, this

00:39:41.900 --> 00:39:42.360
 is an opportunity

00:39:42.360 --> 00:39:42.940
 for you to

00:39:42.940 --> 00:39:43.519
 repent

00:39:43.519 --> 00:39:44.800
 tonight.

00:39:45.519 --> 00:39:45.880
 That is,

00:39:46.000 --> 00:39:46.400
 change your

00:39:46.400 --> 00:39:47.680
 mind, start

00:39:47.680 --> 00:39:48.139
 hitting on a

00:39:48.139 --> 00:39:48.619
 course to

00:39:48.619 --> 00:39:50.320
 grow up, and

00:39:50.320 --> 00:39:51.460
 go out there

00:39:51.460 --> 00:39:52.039
 to the sign

00:39:52.039 --> 00:39:52.619
 up table,

00:39:53.000 --> 00:39:53.440
 speak to

00:39:53.440 --> 00:39:53.980
 Paul, speak

00:39:53.980 --> 00:39:55.059
 to James, and

00:39:55.059 --> 00:39:55.480
 get yourself

00:39:55.480 --> 00:39:55.880
 into a

00:39:55.880 --> 00:39:56.119
 community

00:39:56.119 --> 00:39:56.420
 group.

00:40:01.039 --> 00:40:01.480
 Don't

00:40:01.480 --> 00:40:01.960
 deprive

00:40:01.960 --> 00:40:02.940
 others or

00:40:02.940 --> 00:40:03.619
 yourself.

00:40:04.679 --> 00:40:05.119
 Fourthly,

00:40:06.599 --> 00:40:06.900
 worship

00:40:06.900 --> 00:40:07.539
 Christ.

00:40:09.240 --> 00:40:09.679
 That is,

00:40:09.800 --> 00:40:10.639
 pay attention

00:40:10.639 --> 00:40:11.039
 to the

00:40:11.039 --> 00:40:11.860
 affections of

00:40:11.860 --> 00:40:12.320
 the heart.

00:40:13.460 --> 00:40:14.220
 What do

00:40:14.220 --> 00:40:15.519
 the

00:40:15.519 --> 00:40:17.280
 longings of

00:40:17.280 --> 00:40:17.860
 your heart

00:40:17.860 --> 00:40:18.619
 tell you

00:40:18.619 --> 00:40:19.079
 that you

00:40:19.079 --> 00:40:19.820
 are worshipping?

00:40:21.679 --> 00:40:22.360
 You see,

00:40:22.460 --> 00:40:22.960
 what we

00:40:22.960 --> 00:40:23.860
 revere,

00:40:24.360 --> 00:40:25.280
 we come

00:40:25.280 --> 00:40:26.159
 to resemble.

00:40:27.740 --> 00:40:28.240
 Whatever

00:40:28.240 --> 00:40:28.760
 it is that

00:40:28.760 --> 00:40:29.720
 we revere,

00:40:30.280 --> 00:40:31.039
 we come

00:40:31.039 --> 00:40:32.179
 to be

00:40:32.179 --> 00:40:33.000
 like it.

00:40:35.320 --> 00:40:35.800
 Get

00:40:35.800 --> 00:40:36.719
 remade in

00:40:36.719 --> 00:40:37.460
 its image.

00:40:39.420 --> 00:40:40.279
 We become

00:40:40.279 --> 00:40:40.639
 what we

00:40:40.639 --> 00:40:41.039
 worship.

00:40:41.259 --> 00:40:41.599
 Set your

00:40:41.599 --> 00:40:42.179
 affections on

00:40:42.179 --> 00:40:42.940
 Christ, and

00:40:42.940 --> 00:40:43.539
 you will

00:40:43.539 --> 00:40:44.159
 more and

00:40:44.159 --> 00:40:44.679
 more become

00:40:44.679 --> 00:40:45.400
 like Christ.

00:40:46.279 --> 00:40:46.719
 Of course,

00:40:46.739 --> 00:40:47.340
 if you long

00:40:47.340 --> 00:40:48.159
 after and set

00:40:48.159 --> 00:40:48.679
 your affections

00:40:48.679 --> 00:40:49.119
 on other

00:40:49.119 --> 00:40:49.880
 things, apart

00:40:49.880 --> 00:40:50.519
 from Christ,

00:40:50.619 --> 00:40:51.059
 on money,

00:40:51.219 --> 00:40:51.759
 sex, power,

00:40:51.860 --> 00:40:52.179
 approval,

00:40:52.300 --> 00:40:52.719
 control,

00:40:54.099 --> 00:40:54.860
 you'll be

00:40:54.860 --> 00:40:55.619
 controlled by

00:40:55.619 --> 00:40:56.360
 those things,

00:40:56.779 --> 00:40:57.920
 and it will

00:40:57.920 --> 00:40:58.900
 ruin you because

00:40:58.900 --> 00:40:59.920
 you're not ever

00:40:59.920 --> 00:41:00.420
 meant to be

00:41:00.420 --> 00:41:00.940
 controlled by

00:41:00.940 --> 00:41:01.460
 those things.

00:41:02.940 --> 00:41:03.260
 Now, we

00:41:03.260 --> 00:41:04.380
 can apply

00:41:04.380 --> 00:41:05.180
 this fourth

00:41:05.180 --> 00:41:05.579
 point to a

00:41:05.579 --> 00:41:06.019
 whole range

00:41:06.019 --> 00:41:06.519
 of things.

00:41:06.960 --> 00:41:07.240
 Let me

00:41:07.240 --> 00:41:07.820
 just take

00:41:07.820 --> 00:41:08.460
 this opportunity

00:41:08.460 --> 00:41:09.019
 given that

00:41:09.019 --> 00:41:09.700
 Vision Sunday

00:41:09.700 --> 00:41:10.220
 is two

00:41:10.220 --> 00:41:10.900
 weeks away,

00:41:11.539 --> 00:41:11.960
 and we

00:41:11.960 --> 00:41:12.380
 are looking

00:41:12.380 --> 00:41:12.840
 to raise

00:41:12.840 --> 00:41:13.860
 $55,000

00:41:13.860 --> 00:41:14.700
 on one

00:41:14.700 --> 00:41:15.740
 day and

00:41:15.740 --> 00:41:16.380
 increase our

00:41:16.380 --> 00:41:17.159
 offertory for

00:41:17.159 --> 00:41:18.099
 next year by

00:41:18.099 --> 00:41:19.360
 5%.

00:41:19.360 --> 00:41:20.840
 So I want

00:41:20.840 --> 00:41:21.920
 to take money

00:41:21.920 --> 00:41:22.420
 as an

00:41:22.420 --> 00:41:22.900
 example,

00:41:24.119 --> 00:41:25.039
 because Jesus

00:41:25.039 --> 00:41:25.460
 does.

00:41:26.159 --> 00:41:26.800
 Matthew 6,

00:41:26.880 --> 00:41:27.440
 24,

00:41:27.860 --> 00:41:28.400
 Jesus says,

00:41:28.400 --> 00:41:28.880
 no one can

00:41:28.880 --> 00:41:29.380
 serve two

00:41:29.380 --> 00:41:29.920
 masters,

00:41:30.420 --> 00:41:30.740
 either you'll

00:41:30.740 --> 00:41:31.000
 hate the

00:41:31.000 --> 00:41:31.300
 one and

00:41:31.300 --> 00:41:31.599
 love the

00:41:31.599 --> 00:41:31.760
 other,

00:41:31.840 --> 00:41:32.059
 or you'll

00:41:32.059 --> 00:41:32.380
 be devoted

00:41:32.380 --> 00:41:32.660
 to the

00:41:32.660 --> 00:41:33.019
 one and

00:41:33.019 --> 00:41:33.619
 despise the

00:41:33.619 --> 00:41:33.780
 other,

00:41:33.840 --> 00:41:34.160
 you cannot

00:41:34.160 --> 00:41:34.740
 serve both

00:41:34.740 --> 00:41:35.119
 God and

00:41:35.119 --> 00:41:35.380
 money.

00:41:36.820 --> 00:41:37.880
 One way we

00:41:37.880 --> 00:41:38.820
 worship God

00:41:38.820 --> 00:41:39.460
 with our

00:41:39.460 --> 00:41:41.000
 money is

00:41:41.000 --> 00:41:41.680
 giving it

00:41:41.680 --> 00:41:42.220
 away.

00:41:43.400 --> 00:41:43.720
 Now, I

00:41:43.720 --> 00:41:43.980
 don't have

00:41:43.980 --> 00:41:44.500
 time here to

00:41:44.500 --> 00:41:44.880
 go on a

00:41:44.880 --> 00:41:45.579
 full theology

00:41:45.579 --> 00:41:46.380
 of giving,

00:41:46.840 --> 00:41:47.760
 so just let

00:41:47.760 --> 00:41:48.820
 me say that

00:41:48.820 --> 00:41:50.079
 radical generosity

00:41:50.079 --> 00:41:51.820
 is a sign of

00:41:51.820 --> 00:41:53.000
 spiritual maturity.

00:41:54.240 --> 00:41:55.200
 So again,

00:41:56.039 --> 00:41:56.800
 in the next two

00:41:56.800 --> 00:41:57.320
 weeks, you have an

00:41:57.320 --> 00:41:57.840
 opportunity to

00:41:57.840 --> 00:41:59.240
 repent, to

00:41:59.240 --> 00:41:59.740
 change your

00:41:59.740 --> 00:42:02.120
 mind, to

00:42:02.120 --> 00:42:04.240
 engage with

00:42:04.240 --> 00:42:04.800
 God in his

00:42:04.800 --> 00:42:05.640
 word, to

00:42:05.640 --> 00:42:06.400
 obey him and

00:42:06.400 --> 00:42:07.039
 be made more

00:42:07.039 --> 00:42:07.340
 into the

00:42:07.340 --> 00:42:07.760
 likeness of

00:42:07.760 --> 00:42:08.000
 the Lord

00:42:08.000 --> 00:42:08.340
 Jesus.

00:42:11.240 --> 00:42:11.840
 Spend your

00:42:11.840 --> 00:42:12.480
 time in the

00:42:12.480 --> 00:42:13.039
 next couple of

00:42:13.039 --> 00:42:13.660
 weeks, ask

00:42:13.660 --> 00:42:13.980
 yourself the

00:42:13.980 --> 00:42:14.420
 question, how

00:42:14.420 --> 00:42:14.980
 can I worship

00:42:14.980 --> 00:42:15.400
 God with my

00:42:15.400 --> 00:42:15.600
 money?

00:42:16.360 --> 00:42:16.860
 How can I

00:42:16.860 --> 00:42:17.519
 take steps to

00:42:17.519 --> 00:42:18.760
 grow, mature

00:42:18.760 --> 00:42:20.100
 in radical

00:42:20.100 --> 00:42:20.760
 generosity?

00:42:21.480 --> 00:42:21.960
 The German

00:42:21.960 --> 00:42:22.880
 church reformer

00:42:22.880 --> 00:42:23.700
 and theologian

00:42:23.700 --> 00:42:24.220
 Martin Luther

00:42:24.220 --> 00:42:24.800
 once said that

00:42:24.800 --> 00:42:25.440
 everyone needs

00:42:25.440 --> 00:42:26.280
 three conversions,

00:42:26.280 --> 00:42:27.580
 conversion of

00:42:27.580 --> 00:42:28.400
 the mind to

00:42:28.400 --> 00:42:29.420
 gospel truth,

00:42:30.000 --> 00:42:30.440
 conversion of

00:42:30.440 --> 00:42:31.200
 the heart to

00:42:31.200 --> 00:42:32.560
 embrace the

00:42:32.560 --> 00:42:33.400
 Lord Jesus as

00:42:33.400 --> 00:42:33.940
 saviour and

00:42:33.940 --> 00:42:35.240
 master, and

00:42:35.240 --> 00:42:36.060
 conversion of

00:42:36.060 --> 00:42:37.420
 the wallet, the

00:42:37.420 --> 00:42:38.760
 laying of one's

00:42:38.760 --> 00:42:39.980
 money at Christ's

00:42:39.980 --> 00:42:40.600
 feet, and he

00:42:40.600 --> 00:42:41.280
 says that's always

00:42:41.280 --> 00:42:41.980
 the last one,

00:42:42.760 --> 00:42:43.360
 because Jesus

00:42:43.360 --> 00:42:44.140
 was right.

00:42:45.620 --> 00:42:46.420
 You cannot

00:42:46.420 --> 00:42:47.160
 serve both God

00:42:47.160 --> 00:42:48.300
 and money, and

00:42:48.300 --> 00:42:49.180
 he put money up as

00:42:49.180 --> 00:42:49.840
 the alternative.

00:42:49.840 --> 00:42:54.039
 Luther certainly

00:42:54.039 --> 00:42:54.800
 knew that taking

00:42:54.800 --> 00:42:55.300
 off the old

00:42:55.300 --> 00:42:56.019
 self in relation

00:42:56.019 --> 00:42:56.600
 to our money is

00:42:56.600 --> 00:42:57.079
 one of the most

00:42:57.079 --> 00:42:58.140
 difficult dimensions

00:42:58.140 --> 00:42:58.800
 of our maturity

00:42:58.800 --> 00:42:59.400
 as Christians.

00:42:59.960 --> 00:43:00.840
 What we need as

00:43:00.840 --> 00:43:03.059
 a church is not a

00:43:03.059 --> 00:43:03.500
 whole bunch of

00:43:03.500 --> 00:43:04.000
 rules on this

00:43:04.000 --> 00:43:05.440
 stuff, is a

00:43:05.440 --> 00:43:06.140
 vision of what

00:43:06.140 --> 00:43:07.200
 God could do in

00:43:07.200 --> 00:43:08.100
 us and through

00:43:08.100 --> 00:43:10.019
 us as we pursue

00:43:10.019 --> 00:43:10.640
 maturity.

00:43:12.300 --> 00:43:13.480
 We won't attain

00:43:13.480 --> 00:43:14.340
 full maturity

00:43:14.340 --> 00:43:16.039
 until Jesus comes

00:43:16.039 --> 00:43:18.860
 back, but he does

00:43:18.860 --> 00:43:19.680
 call us to grow

00:43:19.680 --> 00:43:19.940
 up.

00:43:21.940 --> 00:43:22.440
 And so don't

00:43:22.440 --> 00:43:22.760
 settle.

00:43:23.360 --> 00:43:24.220
 Wherever you are,

00:43:24.280 --> 00:43:24.620
 and maybe you've

00:43:24.620 --> 00:43:25.120
 been settled there

00:43:25.120 --> 00:43:26.019
 for a long time,

00:43:26.680 --> 00:43:27.860
 don't settle for

00:43:27.860 --> 00:43:29.000
 being an adolescent

00:43:29.000 --> 00:43:29.680
 Christian.

00:43:31.220 --> 00:43:32.920
 Do the My Purpose

00:43:32.920 --> 00:43:33.760
 check-up, as I've

00:43:33.760 --> 00:43:34.440
 been reminded of

00:43:34.440 --> 00:43:37.120
 again tonight, and

00:43:37.120 --> 00:43:38.200
 plan to grow up.