WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.220 And let's bow our heads and pray together. 00:00:03.379 --> 00:00:07.200 Our gracious Father, we thank you so much for your word. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:12.419 ! And we thank you that your word is truth. 00:00:13.640 --> 00:00:14.280 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.640 Amen. 00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:47.679 So, as you've probably gathered, we are in the middle of a teaching, well, towards the end of a teaching series, 00:00:48.219 --> 00:00:53.320 about the ministry, life, and work of the Holy Spirit. 00:00:53.320 --> 00:01:04.620 And today, we're talking about something which, as I implied earlier, I think has a very kind of contemporary feel for our culture today. 00:01:04.760 --> 00:01:08.980 The Spirit liberates. The Spirit sets us free. 00:01:10.299 --> 00:01:20.280 And I want, by way of introduction, to make three points in relation to my text, which is just the first two verses. 00:01:20.280 --> 00:01:29.040 I wish there were opportunity to give detailed exposition of this whole chapter, 00:01:29.260 --> 00:01:34.299 but I appreciate you'd like to get your lunch before five o'clock this afternoon. 00:01:35.859 --> 00:01:37.840 But these are the most amazing verses. 00:01:38.040 --> 00:01:46.260 They're not immediately easy to understand, but they are verses which are dense with kind of gospel truth. 00:01:46.260 --> 00:01:55.800 There is, therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:01:55.960 --> 00:02:01.140 Because through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit, that's the Holy Spirit, 00:02:01.420 --> 00:02:07.540 who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 00:02:07.540 --> 00:02:14.379 It's by way of introduction, I want to say something very obvious to you. 00:02:15.040 --> 00:02:21.580 And that is, who this promise in particular relates to. 00:02:22.980 --> 00:02:25.360 Let me just remind you again, it says, 00:02:25.480 --> 00:02:27.159 No condemnation for who? 00:02:27.920 --> 00:02:31.080 For those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:02:31.080 --> 00:02:41.180 In other words, those who understand and are committed to Jesus' atoning work on the cross of Calvary, 00:02:42.840 --> 00:02:47.360 have believed that Jesus has been physically raised from the dead, 00:02:49.120 --> 00:02:50.980 and ascends into heaven. 00:02:51.240 --> 00:02:53.960 And as we were praying together then, 00:02:53.960 --> 00:02:57.200 the Bible tells us that our prayers go to Jesus, 00:02:57.360 --> 00:02:59.200 who sits at the right hand of God, 00:02:59.480 --> 00:03:02.480 and lives to make intercession for us. 00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:06.120 We have that privilege. 00:03:07.260 --> 00:03:08.500 But for this morning, 00:03:08.840 --> 00:03:13.100 let's just focus on these words about no condemnation. 00:03:15.180 --> 00:03:16.580 I imagine 00:03:16.580 --> 00:03:19.540 that in every church gathering, 00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:21.140 certainly one of this size, 00:03:21.139 --> 00:03:25.719 there are people whose lives are lived in the rain shadow 00:03:25.719 --> 00:03:27.899 of disappointment, 00:03:28.919 --> 00:03:29.779 of guilt, 00:03:30.739 --> 00:03:31.479 of regret. 00:03:34.039 --> 00:03:36.079 Things we think about where we think, 00:03:36.239 --> 00:03:38.259 if I had my time over again, 00:03:39.659 --> 00:03:42.519 I would decide differently. 00:03:44.079 --> 00:03:46.019 Or even more seriously, 00:03:47.139 --> 00:03:50.639 some of you who live with shame and guilt, 00:03:51.139 --> 00:03:53.739 because you've not yet discovered 00:03:53.739 --> 00:03:55.619 the liberating message 00:03:55.619 --> 00:03:57.839 of the cross of Calvary. 00:03:59.379 --> 00:04:01.539 The thing about this verse is, 00:04:01.779 --> 00:04:04.039 it's almost the gospel in one sentence. 00:04:04.179 --> 00:04:05.919 There is now no condemnation. 00:04:06.379 --> 00:04:07.759 Paul was talking about 00:04:07.759 --> 00:04:09.879 existential condemnation. 00:04:10.039 --> 00:04:10.500 That is, 00:04:11.319 --> 00:04:13.560 what will happen to us at the end of our lives? 00:04:13.659 --> 00:04:14.959 Will God condemn us? 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:19.019 If you have any doubts about that, 00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:21.740 then I think you need to come back to the cross. 00:04:21.780 --> 00:04:23.600 A little more about that in a moment. 00:04:23.740 --> 00:04:24.860 But just know for now, 00:04:25.220 --> 00:04:28.300 this promise is for those who are in Christ. 00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:29.560 And the good news is, 00:04:29.740 --> 00:04:31.340 if you don't feel you're in Christ, 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:33.199 you can do something about that today. 00:04:35.079 --> 00:04:36.439 The second thing is, 00:04:37.019 --> 00:04:38.680 why is it important? 00:04:38.680 --> 00:04:44.720 It's important for what I've already hinted at, 00:04:44.819 --> 00:04:47.500 that too many people in churches, 00:04:47.500 --> 00:04:51.439 I spent almost 50 years in pastoral ministry, 00:04:52.439 --> 00:04:53.960 and time and time again, 00:04:54.319 --> 00:04:56.319 people who really should understand 00:04:56.319 --> 00:04:58.060 there is no condemnation, 00:04:59.740 --> 00:05:01.740 actually live in the rain shadow of it. 00:05:03.100 --> 00:05:06.100 Their lives are less than they could be. 00:05:06.100 --> 00:05:08.680 And when the preacher gets in the pulpit, 00:05:08.820 --> 00:05:11.100 announces his text from John chapter 10, 00:05:11.580 --> 00:05:12.040 and says, 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:13.800 in quoting Jesus, 00:05:13.980 --> 00:05:14.160 says, 00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:16.000 I've come that they may have life, 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:17.840 and have it in all its fullness. 00:05:21.340 --> 00:05:22.800 They sit in church, 00:05:22.980 --> 00:05:24.520 and just think to themselves, 00:05:25.060 --> 00:05:25.840 I wish. 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:29.280 This is important. 00:05:30.360 --> 00:05:31.800 On two fronts. 00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:34.360 Like a lot of good theology, 00:05:34.360 --> 00:05:36.580 it has an extra spin-off. 00:05:37.080 --> 00:05:38.660 But this truth is good 00:05:38.660 --> 00:05:40.840 on the basis of theology. 00:05:41.060 --> 00:05:42.439 It's telling us the truth 00:05:42.439 --> 00:05:44.080 of the outcome of those 00:05:44.080 --> 00:05:45.819 who respond to the gospel 00:05:45.819 --> 00:05:47.720 and give their lives to Jesus. 00:05:48.319 --> 00:05:50.139 There is now no condemnation. 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:51.300 It doesn't say, 00:05:52.020 --> 00:05:54.420 there is now not much condemnation. 00:05:55.740 --> 00:05:58.400 There is now no condemnation. 00:05:58.399 --> 00:06:01.399 But it's not just good 00:06:01.399 --> 00:06:02.919 on a theological front, 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:05.019 it's good on a psychological front. 00:06:05.359 --> 00:06:06.799 For those of you who live 00:06:06.799 --> 00:06:09.539 in the light of fear and condemnation, 00:06:09.799 --> 00:06:11.219 for those of you who live in the light, 00:06:11.359 --> 00:06:13.060 especially in our culture today, 00:06:13.219 --> 00:06:14.839 of self-condemnation, 00:06:15.500 --> 00:06:18.399 this is surely good news. 00:06:18.399 --> 00:06:21.799 Why, even today, 00:06:23.419 --> 00:06:25.039 you could be set free 00:06:25.039 --> 00:06:26.319 from that dull ache 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:28.519 of worrying 00:06:28.519 --> 00:06:30.419 whether or not 00:06:30.419 --> 00:06:32.019 you are saved 00:06:32.019 --> 00:06:33.620 and saved for eternity. 00:06:35.620 --> 00:06:37.739 And finally, by way of introduction, 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:39.000 I just want to say 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:40.339 a little word 00:06:40.339 --> 00:06:42.659 about how freedom 00:06:42.659 --> 00:06:44.379 is understood 00:06:44.379 --> 00:06:46.159 in our culture. 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:49.260 I noted your vigorous conversations 00:06:49.260 --> 00:06:51.160 about identity cards. 00:06:52.100 --> 00:06:53.240 I mean, a peripheral thing 00:06:53.240 --> 00:06:54.000 at one level, 00:06:54.120 --> 00:06:55.500 but the kind of thing 00:06:55.500 --> 00:06:56.920 that civil liberties people 00:06:56.920 --> 00:06:59.220 get very exercised about. 00:06:59.480 --> 00:07:00.400 And some of you 00:07:00.400 --> 00:07:01.680 get exercised about, 00:07:01.760 --> 00:07:02.440 I could tell 00:07:02.440 --> 00:07:04.020 by the look on your faces. 00:07:07.200 --> 00:07:08.640 But freedom 00:07:08.640 --> 00:07:13.660 is quite a slippery idea. 00:07:13.660 --> 00:07:16.980 In our culture, 00:07:17.380 --> 00:07:19.220 there is a French philosopher 00:07:19.220 --> 00:07:20.820 called Jean-Jacques Rousseau 00:07:20.820 --> 00:07:23.200 who wrote in the 18th century. 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:25.600 Rousseau was a kind of classic 00:07:25.600 --> 00:07:28.420 libertarian. 00:07:28.660 --> 00:07:29.860 He believed that 00:07:29.860 --> 00:07:31.660 there should be no imposition. 00:07:32.080 --> 00:07:33.200 He believed we were all 00:07:33.200 --> 00:07:34.879 born free 00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:37.240 and no imposition whatsoever 00:07:37.240 --> 00:07:38.540 should be put on that 00:07:38.540 --> 00:07:39.740 other than one. 00:07:39.740 --> 00:07:40.819 And that is, 00:07:41.379 --> 00:07:42.400 we're free to do 00:07:42.400 --> 00:07:43.460 whatever we want 00:07:43.460 --> 00:07:45.600 unless it would harm 00:07:45.600 --> 00:07:46.600 somebody else. 00:07:47.800 --> 00:07:49.220 I've told you this before, 00:07:49.480 --> 00:07:51.500 that is a most fatuous argument. 00:07:52.780 --> 00:07:53.460 And the reason 00:07:53.460 --> 00:07:54.639 it's a fatuous argument 00:07:54.639 --> 00:07:56.519 is you have no idea 00:07:56.519 --> 00:07:58.819 what impact your behaviour 00:07:58.819 --> 00:08:00.160 will have on another person. 00:08:00.300 --> 00:08:01.579 You can't guarantee that. 00:08:01.579 --> 00:08:06.659 I know that one area 00:08:06.659 --> 00:08:08.019 that's big for 00:08:08.019 --> 00:08:08.919 kind of 00:08:08.919 --> 00:08:11.839 self-condemnation today 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:12.759 is the whole issue 00:08:12.759 --> 00:08:13.439 of parenting. 00:08:13.579 --> 00:08:14.819 I don't want to go into that, 00:08:14.939 --> 00:08:15.060 but 00:08:15.060 --> 00:08:16.259 you know, 00:08:16.479 --> 00:08:18.740 you quickly learn 00:08:18.740 --> 00:08:19.120 that 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:20.459 your children learn 00:08:20.459 --> 00:08:21.120 far more 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:22.279 by your behaviour 00:08:22.279 --> 00:08:24.399 than they do 00:08:24.399 --> 00:08:25.379 from your threats. 00:08:25.379 --> 00:08:29.420 So, 00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:30.920 at this end 00:08:30.920 --> 00:08:31.699 of one scale, 00:08:31.860 --> 00:08:32.120 you've got 00:08:32.120 --> 00:08:33.320 Jean-Jacques Rousseau 00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:33.899 and then 00:08:33.899 --> 00:08:34.740 you've got 00:08:34.740 --> 00:08:36.879 a man called 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:38.340 Locke. 00:08:40.200 --> 00:08:40.320 And, 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:41.840 sorry, 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:42.639 I don't mean Locke, 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:44.000 I mean Thomas Hobbes. 00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:45.939 And Thomas Hobbes 00:08:45.939 --> 00:08:47.759 believed that 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:50.039 at the other end 00:08:50.039 --> 00:08:50.620 of the scale, 00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:51.100 really, 00:08:51.879 --> 00:08:52.740 that in order 00:08:52.740 --> 00:08:53.519 to live in a 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:54.759 civilised society, 00:08:55.379 --> 00:08:56.439 Hobbes would have 00:08:56.439 --> 00:08:57.580 agreed with Rousseau 00:08:57.580 --> 00:08:58.220 that we're all 00:08:58.220 --> 00:08:58.820 born free, 00:08:58.919 --> 00:08:59.320 but he said 00:08:59.320 --> 00:09:00.139 in order to live 00:09:00.139 --> 00:09:01.600 in a civilised society, 00:09:02.200 --> 00:09:03.559 we have to submit 00:09:03.559 --> 00:09:04.340 some of those 00:09:04.340 --> 00:09:05.899 freedoms to the state 00:09:05.899 --> 00:09:07.740 in order that 00:09:07.740 --> 00:09:08.799 we can live together 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:09.379 civilly. 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:12.000 We can't just 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:13.039 make it up 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:14.559 as we go along. 00:09:16.259 --> 00:09:16.519 So, 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:17.460 Rousseau thought 00:09:17.460 --> 00:09:18.980 everything was in, 00:09:19.200 --> 00:09:20.320 Hobbes had a more 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:21.159 qualified 00:09:21.159 --> 00:09:22.600 understanding 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:23.440 of it. 00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:25.560 and I guess 00:09:25.560 --> 00:09:26.460 that most of us 00:09:26.460 --> 00:09:27.520 sit somewhere 00:09:27.520 --> 00:09:28.940 between the two. 00:09:29.680 --> 00:09:30.980 If you are a 00:09:30.980 --> 00:09:32.180 card-carrying 00:09:32.180 --> 00:09:33.140 libertarian, 00:09:33.300 --> 00:09:33.760 you'll be 00:09:33.760 --> 00:09:34.820 near Rousseau 00:09:34.820 --> 00:09:35.520 than you will 00:09:35.520 --> 00:09:36.500 be Hobbes. 00:09:39.080 --> 00:09:40.300 But this stuff 00:09:40.300 --> 00:09:41.180 doesn't really 00:09:41.180 --> 00:09:41.780 square 00:09:41.780 --> 00:09:43.740 with the freedom 00:09:43.740 --> 00:09:44.440 that God 00:09:44.440 --> 00:09:45.020 offers 00:09:45.020 --> 00:09:46.760 in Jesus Christ. 00:09:46.759 --> 00:09:46.879 Christ. 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:49.200 The Bible 00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:49.639 says, 00:09:49.819 --> 00:09:50.419 if the Son 00:09:50.419 --> 00:09:51.279 sets you 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:51.620 free, 00:09:52.039 --> 00:09:52.480 the Son, 00:09:52.580 --> 00:09:53.240 S-O-N, 00:09:53.819 --> 00:09:54.460 sets you 00:09:54.460 --> 00:09:54.759 free, 00:09:55.960 --> 00:09:56.879 you will be 00:09:56.879 --> 00:09:57.319 free 00:09:57.319 --> 00:09:58.379 indeed. 00:10:01.379 --> 00:10:01.939 Psychologists 00:10:01.939 --> 00:10:03.279 and theologians 00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:04.059 are happy to 00:10:04.059 --> 00:10:05.019 speak and write 00:10:05.019 --> 00:10:05.980 about our 00:10:05.980 --> 00:10:07.299 pathological fear 00:10:07.299 --> 00:10:08.720 of condemnation. 00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:10.860 those of you 00:10:10.860 --> 00:10:11.300 who have been 00:10:11.300 --> 00:10:12.100 involved in 00:10:12.100 --> 00:10:13.040 counseling ministry 00:10:13.040 --> 00:10:14.040 will have been 00:10:14.040 --> 00:10:15.360 exposed to the 00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:17.460 teaching of 00:10:17.460 --> 00:10:18.420 Carl Jung. 00:10:20.420 --> 00:10:21.960 And Carl Jung, 00:10:22.040 --> 00:10:22.399 I mean, 00:10:22.540 --> 00:10:23.259 said a lot of 00:10:23.259 --> 00:10:24.220 not very good 00:10:24.220 --> 00:10:24.720 things. 00:10:25.160 --> 00:10:25.920 But one of the 00:10:25.920 --> 00:10:26.860 things he fastened 00:10:26.860 --> 00:10:27.759 onto is this. 00:10:28.060 --> 00:10:29.220 He talked about 00:10:29.220 --> 00:10:30.940 our fear of 00:10:30.940 --> 00:10:32.340 moral condemnation. 00:10:32.340 --> 00:10:35.820 He thought that 00:10:35.820 --> 00:10:37.780 human beings 00:10:37.780 --> 00:10:38.480 had what he 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:39.399 called a shadow 00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:40.280 side to our 00:10:40.280 --> 00:10:41.120 personality, 00:10:41.740 --> 00:10:42.920 which lived in 00:10:42.920 --> 00:10:44.019 constant fear 00:10:44.019 --> 00:10:45.519 of condemnation. 00:10:47.379 --> 00:10:48.160 Writing a little 00:10:48.160 --> 00:10:48.639 later, 00:10:48.899 --> 00:10:49.580 a psychologist 00:10:49.580 --> 00:10:50.620 called John 00:10:50.620 --> 00:10:51.300 Bradshaw, 00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:51.920 quite an 00:10:51.920 --> 00:10:52.600 influential 00:10:52.600 --> 00:10:56.400 psychologist, 00:10:56.660 --> 00:10:57.379 talks about 00:10:57.379 --> 00:10:58.300 something he 00:10:58.300 --> 00:10:59.160 called toxic 00:10:59.160 --> 00:10:59.720 shame. 00:11:01.259 --> 00:11:02.200 I don't know 00:11:02.200 --> 00:11:02.660 whether you've 00:11:02.660 --> 00:11:03.259 ever watched 00:11:03.259 --> 00:11:03.540 it, 00:11:03.640 --> 00:11:04.280 and I don't 00:11:04.280 --> 00:11:04.879 think she's 00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:05.600 a person of 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:05.980 faith. 00:11:06.540 --> 00:11:07.040 But if you 00:11:07.040 --> 00:11:07.660 want to learn 00:11:07.660 --> 00:11:08.500 something about 00:11:08.500 --> 00:11:08.940 shame, 00:11:09.379 --> 00:11:10.360 go and 00:11:10.360 --> 00:11:11.820 Google TED, 00:11:13.100 --> 00:11:14.000 and then 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:14.800 Google on 00:11:14.800 --> 00:11:15.440 the search 00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:16.759 site on 00:11:16.759 --> 00:11:17.259 the TED 00:11:17.259 --> 00:11:18.080 website, 00:11:18.660 --> 00:11:19.600 Monica Lewinsky, 00:11:20.700 --> 00:11:24.120 who talks 00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:25.720 understandably 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:27.780 about shame. 00:11:29.580 --> 00:11:30.180 That's what 00:11:30.180 --> 00:11:30.980 John Bradshaw 00:11:30.980 --> 00:11:31.820 is on about. 00:11:31.820 --> 00:11:32.960 he's on about 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:33.700 that kind of 00:11:33.700 --> 00:11:34.520 toxic thing 00:11:34.520 --> 00:11:34.940 that can 00:11:34.940 --> 00:11:35.640 really wreck 00:11:35.640 --> 00:11:36.200 your life. 00:11:36.360 --> 00:11:37.320 And in a 00:11:37.320 --> 00:11:38.040 way, I think 00:11:38.040 --> 00:11:38.840 Monica Lewinsky 00:11:38.840 --> 00:11:39.500 has moved on 00:11:39.500 --> 00:11:39.900 a bit. 00:11:41.700 --> 00:11:42.480 I don't know 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:42.920 how she's 00:11:42.920 --> 00:11:43.580 managed that, 00:11:43.680 --> 00:11:44.560 but she's 00:11:44.560 --> 00:11:45.140 moved on a 00:11:45.140 --> 00:11:45.740 bit from it. 00:11:47.220 --> 00:11:48.120 But again, 00:11:48.500 --> 00:11:49.240 some of you 00:11:49.240 --> 00:11:50.220 will be living 00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:51.060 today with 00:11:51.060 --> 00:11:52.000 toxic shame. 00:11:53.200 --> 00:11:53.800 Things you've 00:11:53.800 --> 00:11:54.780 said or done 00:11:54.780 --> 00:11:55.500 that you kind 00:11:55.500 --> 00:11:56.180 of can't get 00:11:56.180 --> 00:11:56.660 past. 00:11:56.659 --> 00:11:56.740 lost. 00:11:58.399 --> 00:11:59.039 I was 00:11:59.039 --> 00:12:00.779 speaking last 00:12:00.779 --> 00:12:01.279 week in the 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:02.179 family church, 00:12:02.759 --> 00:12:04.259 and a lady 00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:05.100 came up to 00:12:05.100 --> 00:12:05.579 me at the 00:12:05.579 --> 00:12:05.860 end. 00:12:05.980 --> 00:12:06.480 She said, 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:08.159 could I have 00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:08.699 your phone 00:12:08.699 --> 00:12:09.039 number? 00:12:09.219 --> 00:12:09.500 I'm like, 00:12:09.579 --> 00:12:09.759 look. 00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:12.919 You know, 00:12:12.980 --> 00:12:13.519 women don't 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:14.339 normally react 00:12:14.339 --> 00:12:14.879 to me like 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:15.199 that. 00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:17.579 Here we go, 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:17.919 you know. 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:19.259 I said, 00:12:19.319 --> 00:12:19.719 there's any 00:12:19.719 --> 00:12:20.339 reason for 00:12:20.339 --> 00:12:20.699 this? 00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:23.059 She said, 00:12:23.459 --> 00:12:26.579 I've done 00:12:26.579 --> 00:12:27.319 something in 00:12:27.319 --> 00:12:28.000 my life. 00:12:29.099 --> 00:12:29.519 She said, 00:12:29.539 --> 00:12:29.819 I'm in 00:12:29.819 --> 00:12:30.439 church every 00:12:30.439 --> 00:12:31.039 Sunday, 00:12:31.159 --> 00:12:32.799 but I just 00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:33.259 can't get 00:12:33.259 --> 00:12:33.939 past it. 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:36.399 And then 00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:37.000 she said, 00:12:37.079 --> 00:12:38.039 in response 00:12:38.039 --> 00:12:38.979 to the 00:12:38.979 --> 00:12:39.459 thing I 00:12:39.459 --> 00:12:39.819 did, 00:12:40.319 --> 00:12:41.019 the church 00:12:41.019 --> 00:12:42.039 really just 00:12:42.039 --> 00:12:44.759 ignored me. 00:12:46.059 --> 00:12:46.799 I can't 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:47.299 get past 00:12:47.299 --> 00:12:47.879 that either. 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:51.019 can I 00:12:51.019 --> 00:12:51.819 fix up to 00:12:51.819 --> 00:12:52.120 have a 00:12:52.120 --> 00:12:52.779 conversation 00:12:52.779 --> 00:12:53.360 with you? 00:12:54.279 --> 00:12:54.860 I said, 00:12:54.939 --> 00:12:55.139 yes, 00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:55.679 sure you 00:12:55.679 --> 00:12:56.579 can do 00:12:56.579 --> 00:12:56.939 that, 00:12:57.019 --> 00:12:57.199 yeah. 00:12:57.740 --> 00:12:58.319 And some 00:12:58.319 --> 00:12:58.799 of you I 00:12:58.799 --> 00:12:59.079 know, 00:12:59.240 --> 00:13:00.179 understandably, 00:13:00.360 --> 00:13:01.139 are a fan 00:13:01.139 --> 00:13:02.259 of a 00:13:02.259 --> 00:13:03.139 well-known 00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:03.819 international 00:13:03.819 --> 00:13:04.740 speaker now 00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:05.000 called 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:05.860 Brené Brown. 00:13:07.419 --> 00:13:08.419 And she 00:13:08.419 --> 00:13:09.559 talks about 00:13:09.559 --> 00:13:10.039 all the 00:13:10.039 --> 00:13:10.479 shame 00:13:10.479 --> 00:13:11.099 business 00:13:11.099 --> 00:13:12.319 and fear 00:13:12.319 --> 00:13:13.219 of condemnation. 00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:13.899 She talks 00:13:13.899 --> 00:13:14.779 about the 00:13:14.779 --> 00:13:15.319 fear of 00:13:15.319 --> 00:13:16.279 disconnection 00:13:16.279 --> 00:13:17.539 and moral 00:13:17.539 --> 00:13:18.439 exposure. 00:13:22.439 --> 00:13:23.299 In Romans 00:13:23.299 --> 00:13:23.740 8, 00:13:24.179 --> 00:13:24.899 Paul tells 00:13:24.899 --> 00:13:26.360 us that 00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:27.199 in Christ 00:13:27.199 --> 00:13:27.839 there is 00:13:27.839 --> 00:13:28.299 no 00:13:28.299 --> 00:13:29.419 condemnation. 00:13:31.319 --> 00:13:32.339 I have 00:13:32.339 --> 00:13:33.159 an anxiety 00:13:33.159 --> 00:13:33.799 that some 00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:35.099 people sit 00:13:35.099 --> 00:13:36.159 or lie on 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:36.779 the couches 00:13:36.779 --> 00:13:38.079 of psychotherapists 00:13:38.079 --> 00:13:39.000 for decades, 00:13:39.599 --> 00:13:40.779 trying to 00:13:40.779 --> 00:13:41.279 work out, 00:13:41.539 --> 00:13:42.000 how am I 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:42.480 going to get 00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:43.059 rid of this 00:13:43.059 --> 00:13:44.139 baggage that 00:13:44.139 --> 00:13:44.679 I'm walking 00:13:44.679 --> 00:13:45.399 through life 00:13:45.399 --> 00:13:45.599 in? 00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:51.539 I think 00:13:51.539 --> 00:13:52.099 Jesus 00:13:52.099 --> 00:13:54.019 can heal 00:13:54.019 --> 00:13:54.439 you in a 00:13:54.439 --> 00:13:54.799 moment 00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:56.779 of 00:13:56.779 --> 00:13:57.739 condemnation 00:13:57.739 --> 00:13:59.579 and the 00:13:59.579 --> 00:14:00.059 fear of 00:14:00.059 --> 00:14:00.959 condemnation. 00:14:03.579 --> 00:14:04.259 But it 00:14:04.259 --> 00:14:04.739 will take 00:14:04.739 --> 00:14:05.559 a work of 00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:05.939 the Holy 00:14:05.939 --> 00:14:06.459 Spirit 00:14:06.459 --> 00:14:07.839 to do 00:14:07.839 --> 00:14:08.139 that. 00:14:08.139 --> 00:14:08.759 God 00:14:08.759 --> 00:14:09.480 is 00:14:09.480 --> 00:14:11.740 God. 00:14:11.740 --> 00:14:12.360 So the 00:14:12.360 --> 00:14:13.080 theologian 00:14:13.080 --> 00:14:14.039 Paul Tillich, 00:14:14.620 --> 00:14:15.879 he talked 00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:16.860 about the 00:14:16.860 --> 00:14:17.600 anxiety 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:18.299 of 00:14:18.299 --> 00:14:19.279 condemnation. 00:14:19.939 --> 00:14:20.319 This is 00:14:20.319 --> 00:14:20.580 what he 00:14:20.580 --> 00:14:20.879 said, 00:14:21.199 --> 00:14:21.899 the anxiety 00:14:21.899 --> 00:14:22.899 of condemnation 00:14:22.899 --> 00:14:23.319 is the 00:14:23.319 --> 00:14:23.879 awareness 00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:24.779 of being 00:14:24.779 --> 00:14:25.679 unacceptable 00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:27.179 before what 00:14:27.179 --> 00:14:27.639 he called 00:14:27.639 --> 00:14:28.259 the source 00:14:28.259 --> 00:14:28.620 of our 00:14:28.620 --> 00:14:28.919 being. 00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:29.399 I don't 00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:29.860 find that 00:14:29.860 --> 00:14:30.480 a particularly 00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:31.460 helpful way 00:14:31.460 --> 00:14:32.480 of describing 00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:32.960 God. 00:14:34.059 --> 00:14:34.720 But nevertheless, 00:14:35.220 --> 00:14:36.039 he's referring 00:14:36.039 --> 00:14:36.599 to God. 00:14:37.799 --> 00:14:38.319 I wonder 00:14:38.319 --> 00:14:38.579 if there's 00:14:38.579 --> 00:14:39.079 anyone in 00:14:39.079 --> 00:14:39.539 the house 00:14:39.539 --> 00:14:40.139 this morning 00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:41.299 who just 00:14:41.299 --> 00:14:41.899 has this 00:14:41.899 --> 00:14:42.559 awareness 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:44.259 of feeling 00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:45.120 unacceptable. 00:14:47.159 --> 00:14:47.699 I mean, 00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:48.240 a lot of 00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:49.319 Christians who 00:14:49.319 --> 00:14:50.559 feel unacceptable. 00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:51.939 In their 00:14:51.939 --> 00:14:52.620 head they 00:14:52.620 --> 00:14:53.579 believe the 00:14:53.579 --> 00:14:54.259 gospel, but 00:14:54.259 --> 00:14:54.740 in their 00:14:54.740 --> 00:14:55.939 hearts, you 00:14:55.939 --> 00:14:56.919 know, just 00:14:56.919 --> 00:14:57.620 not quite 00:14:57.620 --> 00:14:58.860 sure about 00:14:58.860 --> 00:14:59.159 that. 00:15:00.740 --> 00:15:01.759 The wonderful 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:02.799 news of the 00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:04.519 gospel is 00:15:04.519 --> 00:15:05.259 that today 00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:06.080 you can 00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:06.759 start to 00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:07.360 be free. 00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:08.679 Not just 00:15:08.679 --> 00:15:09.899 from condemnation, 00:15:10.019 --> 00:15:10.500 but from the 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:10.980 fear of 00:15:10.980 --> 00:15:11.840 condemnation. 00:15:13.340 --> 00:15:13.779 And there 00:15:13.779 --> 00:15:14.659 is no more 00:15:14.659 --> 00:15:15.500 existential 00:15:15.500 --> 00:15:17.200 fear than 00:15:17.200 --> 00:15:18.500 the fear of 00:15:18.500 --> 00:15:19.340 condemnation 00:15:19.340 --> 00:15:19.879 of God. 00:15:22.580 --> 00:15:23.220 You 00:15:23.220 --> 00:15:23.679 imagine, 00:15:24.819 --> 00:15:25.299 you 00:15:25.299 --> 00:15:25.759 imagine, 00:15:26.659 --> 00:15:27.319 you might 00:15:27.319 --> 00:15:28.220 walk through, 00:15:28.360 --> 00:15:28.720 I think we 00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:29.200 blocked that 00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:29.720 door, that 00:15:29.720 --> 00:15:31.019 door today, 00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:32.659 free. 00:15:32.659 --> 00:15:34.879 free from 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:35.459 the fear 00:15:35.459 --> 00:15:36.279 and the 00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:37.120 fact of 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:38.500 self-condemnation. 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:40.399 Wondering 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:41.199 whether you 00:15:41.199 --> 00:15:42.179 are acceptable 00:15:42.179 --> 00:15:43.179 or not. 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:45.480 Listen, 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:46.339 if you want 00:15:46.339 --> 00:15:47.079 to be really 00:15:47.079 --> 00:15:48.139 free, you 00:15:48.139 --> 00:15:48.480 need to 00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:49.019 listen up, 00:15:49.079 --> 00:15:49.719 because this 00:15:49.719 --> 00:15:51.000 is a really 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:51.759 profound 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:53.319 spiritual truth. 00:15:53.419 --> 00:15:54.120 There is now 00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:55.419 no condemnation. 00:15:57.679 --> 00:15:57.939 I mean, 00:15:58.000 --> 00:15:58.379 I think the 00:15:58.379 --> 00:15:59.199 spirit frees us 00:15:59.199 --> 00:15:59.740 in a lot of 00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:00.179 ways, and 00:16:00.179 --> 00:16:00.639 maybe they'll 00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:01.199 come up in 00:16:01.199 --> 00:16:01.679 other weeks, 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.100 maybe it 00:16:02.100 --> 00:16:02.799 has already, 00:16:03.439 --> 00:16:03.980 but you 00:16:03.980 --> 00:16:04.720 can be free 00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:05.679 of thinking 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:06.299 that you 00:16:06.299 --> 00:16:06.679 have to 00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:07.340 earn your 00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:07.939 salvation. 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:11.480 I 00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:14.240 studied for 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:14.679 a brief 00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:15.419 time when 00:16:15.419 --> 00:16:16.019 I was 00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:17.539 studying 00:16:17.539 --> 00:16:19.199 what they 00:16:19.199 --> 00:16:20.299 call comparative 00:16:20.299 --> 00:16:21.059 religion. 00:16:22.439 --> 00:16:22.879 It was 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:23.740 based on a 00:16:23.740 --> 00:16:24.679 mad idea, 00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:25.319 frankly, that 00:16:25.319 --> 00:16:25.919 all religions 00:16:25.919 --> 00:16:26.539 are equal, 00:16:26.700 --> 00:16:27.379 and the fact 00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:27.819 that we're 00:16:27.819 --> 00:16:28.539 Christians is 00:16:28.539 --> 00:16:29.019 kind of 00:16:29.019 --> 00:16:30.919 random, and 00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:32.460 yeah, just 00:16:32.460 --> 00:16:32.980 not good. 00:16:34.319 --> 00:16:36.939 And so 00:16:36.939 --> 00:16:37.460 one of the 00:16:37.460 --> 00:16:37.879 things that 00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:38.519 amazed me 00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:39.279 about the 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:40.039 other religions 00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:40.980 I heard of 00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:42.720 is that they 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:43.659 all contain 00:16:43.659 --> 00:16:44.539 an element 00:16:44.539 --> 00:16:45.799 of trying to 00:16:45.799 --> 00:16:46.419 earn their 00:16:46.419 --> 00:16:47.500 way into 00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:48.019 the presence 00:16:48.019 --> 00:16:48.559 of God. 00:16:51.199 --> 00:16:51.819 And of 00:16:51.819 --> 00:16:52.500 course, that 00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:53.819 inevitably, because 00:16:53.819 --> 00:16:54.399 we're human 00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:55.600 beings, leads 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:56.299 to a kind of 00:16:56.299 --> 00:16:57.079 neurosis, and 00:16:57.079 --> 00:16:58.079 the neurosis is, 00:16:58.080 --> 00:16:58.759 have I done 00:16:58.759 --> 00:16:59.220 enough? 00:17:00.060 --> 00:17:00.720 Have I done 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:01.420 enough good 00:17:01.420 --> 00:17:02.360 in my life to 00:17:02.360 --> 00:17:02.960 kind of 00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:04.240 obliterate the 00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:04.759 stuff that's 00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:05.400 not so good? 00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:08.740 It goes back 00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:09.240 to Tillich, 00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:09.600 doesn't it? 00:17:09.660 --> 00:17:10.400 Worrying about 00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:11.680 our acceptability. 00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:12.420 And the 00:17:12.420 --> 00:17:13.160 great news of 00:17:13.160 --> 00:17:13.880 the gospel is, 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:14.759 you don't have 00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:15.579 to earn your 00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:16.799 salvation, it's 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:17.559 a gospel of 00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:17.940 grace. 00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:18.640 Someone say 00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:18.980 amen. 00:17:20.660 --> 00:17:21.700 It's a gospel 00:17:21.700 --> 00:17:22.360 of God's love 00:17:22.360 --> 00:17:23.340 shown to you, 00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:24.579 even though you 00:17:24.579 --> 00:17:25.640 don't deserve 00:17:25.640 --> 00:17:25.940 it. 00:17:25.940 --> 00:17:33.920 that truth 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:34.660 in itself 00:17:34.660 --> 00:17:35.779 would be 00:17:35.779 --> 00:17:36.259 enough. 00:17:37.460 --> 00:17:38.180 I don't 00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:39.140 have to earn 00:17:39.140 --> 00:17:40.100 my salvation. 00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:42.799 And when it 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:43.440 comes to that 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:44.360 toxic shame 00:17:44.360 --> 00:17:44.940 that John 00:17:44.940 --> 00:17:45.440 Bradshaw 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:46.220 writes about, 00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:47.100 you can be 00:17:47.100 --> 00:17:47.980 free forever 00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:49.480 from the 00:17:49.480 --> 00:17:50.539 acute pain 00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:51.539 of shame. 00:17:51.539 --> 00:17:54.440 The writer 00:17:54.440 --> 00:17:54.940 of the 00:17:54.940 --> 00:17:55.579 epistle to 00:17:55.579 --> 00:17:56.379 the Hebrews 00:17:56.379 --> 00:17:57.559 wrote these 00:17:57.559 --> 00:17:58.440 truly 00:17:58.440 --> 00:17:59.480 reassuring 00:17:59.480 --> 00:17:59.839 words. 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:00.159 He said, 00:18:00.259 --> 00:18:00.799 let us draw 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:01.480 near to God 00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:02.279 with a sincere 00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:03.299 heart and 00:18:03.299 --> 00:18:03.839 with full 00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:05.059 assurance that 00:18:05.059 --> 00:18:06.180 faith brings, 00:18:07.099 --> 00:18:07.879 having our 00:18:07.879 --> 00:18:08.940 hearts sprinkled 00:18:08.940 --> 00:18:09.920 to cleanse us 00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:10.940 from a guilty 00:18:10.940 --> 00:18:11.680 conscience, 00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:13.279 and having our 00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:14.159 bodies washed 00:18:14.159 --> 00:18:15.059 with pure 00:18:15.059 --> 00:18:15.579 water. 00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:17.980 let us hold 00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:19.319 unswervingly, 00:18:19.399 --> 00:18:19.879 he said, 00:18:20.220 --> 00:18:21.000 to the hope 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:21.819 we profess, 00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:23.220 for he who 00:18:23.220 --> 00:18:24.500 promised is 00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:25.159 faithful. 00:18:27.679 --> 00:18:28.639 God doesn't 00:18:28.639 --> 00:18:29.399 promise this 00:18:29.399 --> 00:18:30.220 stuff to you 00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:31.299 and let you 00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:31.699 down. 00:18:31.899 --> 00:18:32.619 We've all had 00:18:32.619 --> 00:18:33.199 that in our 00:18:33.199 --> 00:18:33.579 lives, 00:18:33.659 --> 00:18:34.039 haven't we? 00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:36.740 People who 00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:37.519 promise us 00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:39.299 things and 00:18:39.299 --> 00:18:39.919 then let us 00:18:39.919 --> 00:18:40.319 down. 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:47.839 I've, 00:18:48.659 --> 00:18:49.019 you know, 00:18:49.099 --> 00:18:49.399 a couple 00:18:49.399 --> 00:18:49.879 of times 00:18:49.879 --> 00:18:50.500 I really, 00:18:51.399 --> 00:18:51.960 you know, 00:18:52.119 --> 00:18:53.619 felt let 00:18:53.619 --> 00:18:54.019 down. 00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:54.839 I remember 00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:56.240 when Antti 00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:56.519 and I 00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:57.019 worked on 00:18:57.019 --> 00:18:57.679 the Scargill 00:18:57.679 --> 00:18:58.399 community, 00:18:58.659 --> 00:18:59.659 which it 00:18:59.659 --> 00:19:00.119 was there 00:19:00.119 --> 00:19:00.639 to serve 00:19:00.639 --> 00:19:01.220 the guests 00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:01.740 who came 00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:02.299 on house 00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:03.220 parties and 00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:03.759 who came, 00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:05.419 you know, 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:06.240 for conferences 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:06.899 and stuff. 00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:07.319 And we 00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:08.279 had a 00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:09.559 very focused 00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:10.879 purpose, 00:19:11.500 --> 00:19:12.039 serve the 00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:12.419 guests. 00:19:13.980 --> 00:19:14.299 If you 00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:14.619 have never 00:19:14.619 --> 00:19:15.000 heard of 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:15.440 Scargill, 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:15.700 you've 00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:15.899 probably 00:19:15.899 --> 00:19:16.259 heard of 00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:16.720 Lee Abbey, 00:19:16.839 --> 00:19:17.359 same kind 00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:17.859 of deal. 00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:20.579 And 00:19:20.579 --> 00:19:22.639 suddenly, 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:23.519 there seemed 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:23.960 to be a 00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:24.460 move in 00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:25.279 the community. 00:19:27.099 --> 00:19:27.619 People 00:19:27.619 --> 00:19:28.200 wanted more 00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:28.980 time off. 00:19:29.619 --> 00:19:30.119 They wanted 00:19:30.119 --> 00:19:30.899 not as much 00:19:30.899 --> 00:19:32.119 time exposing, 00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:32.859 you know, 00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:34.000 themselves and 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:35.139 their personalities 00:19:35.139 --> 00:19:36.079 to guests. 00:19:38.099 --> 00:19:38.480 And I 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:40.200 I smelled 00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:40.720 a rat 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:41.059 here. 00:19:41.779 --> 00:19:42.059 And I 00:19:42.059 --> 00:19:42.779 talked to 00:19:42.779 --> 00:19:43.579 several 00:19:43.579 --> 00:19:44.140 community 00:19:44.140 --> 00:19:44.579 members. 00:19:44.860 --> 00:19:45.200 Guess what? 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:45.500 They all 00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:46.019 agreed with 00:19:46.019 --> 00:19:46.240 me. 00:19:48.579 --> 00:19:49.279 We get 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:49.640 to the 00:19:49.640 --> 00:19:50.519 vital meeting 00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:50.819 of the 00:19:50.819 --> 00:19:51.360 community 00:19:51.360 --> 00:19:51.759 with the 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:52.279 warden and 00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:52.860 the chair. 00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:54.400 I spoke 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:54.960 up thinking 00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:55.360 I'm going 00:19:55.360 --> 00:19:55.799 to be on 00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:56.440 safe ground 00:19:56.440 --> 00:19:56.779 here. 00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:00.120 There were 00:20:00.120 --> 00:20:00.900 40 people 00:20:00.900 --> 00:20:01.420 in the room. 00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:01.620 Do you 00:20:01.620 --> 00:20:01.819 know how 00:20:01.819 --> 00:20:02.259 many more 00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:03.059 people spoke 00:20:03.059 --> 00:20:03.299 up? 00:20:04.680 --> 00:20:05.420 Just one 00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:05.759 more. 00:20:06.059 --> 00:20:06.559 And everybody 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:07.339 thought he was 00:20:07.339 --> 00:20:08.119 weird anyway. 00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:16.099 Life can 00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:16.740 be messy. 00:20:18.379 --> 00:20:19.299 People will 00:20:19.299 --> 00:20:19.779 let you 00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:20.299 down but 00:20:20.299 --> 00:20:20.720 you've got 00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:21.000 to get 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:21.679 past it. 00:20:22.819 --> 00:20:23.419 Here's the 00:20:23.419 --> 00:20:23.779 truth. 00:20:24.199 --> 00:20:24.459 There is 00:20:24.459 --> 00:20:25.000 now no 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:25.879 condemnation 00:20:25.879 --> 00:20:26.799 for those 00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:27.240 who are 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:27.899 in Christ 00:20:27.899 --> 00:20:28.379 Jesus. 00:20:29.959 --> 00:20:30.740 But there's 00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:31.279 a painful 00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:32.159 truth here 00:20:32.159 --> 00:20:32.579 which, 00:20:33.619 --> 00:20:33.980 you know, 00:20:34.099 --> 00:20:34.839 trigger warning, 00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:35.799 some of you 00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:36.359 won't like 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:36.799 this. 00:20:38.659 --> 00:20:39.399 But the 00:20:39.399 --> 00:20:40.359 implication is 00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:41.200 surely that 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:42.180 if there is 00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:43.200 no condemnation 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:43.680 for those 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:44.039 who are in 00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:44.779 Christ Jesus, 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:45.740 there might 00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:46.379 be some 00:20:46.379 --> 00:20:47.399 condemnation 00:20:47.399 --> 00:20:49.460 for those 00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:49.720 who are 00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:50.019 not. 00:20:52.359 --> 00:20:53.139 I say 00:20:53.139 --> 00:20:53.819 that and 00:20:53.819 --> 00:20:56.099 I almost 00:20:56.099 --> 00:20:56.779 feel a lump 00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:57.419 in my throat 00:20:57.419 --> 00:20:57.940 about my 00:20:57.940 --> 00:20:58.779 own sister. 00:20:58.779 --> 00:21:01.200 who, 00:21:01.339 --> 00:21:01.740 when she 00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:02.379 was younger, 00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:02.819 you know, 00:21:02.859 --> 00:21:03.240 went to 00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:04.019 church twice 00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:04.420 a day, 00:21:04.539 --> 00:21:04.859 taught in 00:21:04.859 --> 00:21:05.299 a Sunday 00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:05.879 school. 00:21:06.920 --> 00:21:07.299 I mean, 00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:08.399 you could 00:21:08.399 --> 00:21:09.259 almost see 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:09.819 the halo 00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:10.299 on that 00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:10.619 girl. 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:12.079 I was 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:12.500 always the 00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:12.879 one in 00:21:12.879 --> 00:21:13.240 trouble. 00:21:13.639 --> 00:21:13.980 She was 00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:14.379 always the 00:21:14.379 --> 00:21:14.779 one getting 00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:15.519 rewards and 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:16.180 goodness knows 00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:16.519 what. 00:21:18.619 --> 00:21:19.440 And I 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:19.920 have no 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:20.599 idea what 00:21:20.599 --> 00:21:21.279 happened to 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:21.440 her. 00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:21.859 I think, 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:22.220 you know, 00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:23.079 maybe she 00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:23.579 married a 00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:23.940 guy who 00:21:23.940 --> 00:21:24.339 wasn't a 00:21:24.339 --> 00:21:24.700 Christian. 00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:25.559 He may 00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:25.839 have had 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:26.319 more influence. 00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:27.119 But when I 00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:27.619 say that, 00:21:27.679 --> 00:21:28.099 there may 00:21:28.099 --> 00:21:28.779 be some 00:21:28.779 --> 00:21:29.960 condemnation 00:21:29.960 --> 00:21:30.559 for some. 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:35.019 I don't 00:21:35.019 --> 00:21:35.419 like the 00:21:35.419 --> 00:21:35.879 thought of 00:21:35.879 --> 00:21:36.099 that. 00:21:37.700 --> 00:21:38.379 Will some 00:21:38.379 --> 00:21:39.159 people be 00:21:39.159 --> 00:21:39.799 eternally 00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:40.139 condemned? 00:21:41.460 --> 00:21:42.579 The concept 00:21:42.579 --> 00:21:43.359 of judgment 00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:44.859 is avoided 00:21:44.859 --> 00:21:45.619 in many 00:21:45.619 --> 00:21:46.240 pulpits, 00:21:46.399 --> 00:21:46.960 certainly in 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:47.439 the Church 00:21:47.439 --> 00:21:47.899 of England 00:21:47.899 --> 00:21:48.439 today. 00:21:49.419 --> 00:21:50.139 But it's 00:21:50.139 --> 00:21:50.639 there in 00:21:50.639 --> 00:21:51.059 Scripture. 00:21:51.159 --> 00:21:51.359 This is 00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:51.859 what Jesus 00:21:51.859 --> 00:21:52.259 said. 00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:52.960 Enter 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:53.480 through the 00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:54.139 narrow gate, 00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:55.059 for wide 00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:55.439 is the 00:21:55.439 --> 00:21:55.759 gate, 00:21:55.939 --> 00:21:56.059 and 00:21:56.059 --> 00:21:56.639 broad is 00:21:56.639 --> 00:21:57.099 the road 00:21:57.099 --> 00:21:57.659 that leads 00:21:57.659 --> 00:21:58.480 to destruction, 00:21:59.119 --> 00:21:59.779 and many 00:21:59.779 --> 00:22:00.519 enter through 00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:00.759 it. 00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:01.759 But small 00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:02.159 is the 00:22:02.159 --> 00:22:02.500 gate, 00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:03.359 and narrow 00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:03.940 the road 00:22:03.940 --> 00:22:04.500 that leads 00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:05.200 to life. 00:22:09.359 --> 00:22:10.319 And only 00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:11.000 a few 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:12.000 find it. 00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:17.539 Here's 00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:18.019 some great 00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:18.460 news. 00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:20.559 You can 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.099 join the 00:22:21.099 --> 00:22:21.919 few today 00:22:21.919 --> 00:22:23.079 with 00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:23.700 certainty. 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:25.679 And you 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:26.200 can work 00:22:26.200 --> 00:22:26.880 tirelessly 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:27.779 to seek 00:22:27.779 --> 00:22:28.259 to help 00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:28.720 others 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:29.779 join the 00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:30.120 few. 00:22:32.320 --> 00:22:32.539 I 00:22:32.539 --> 00:22:33.440 wouldn't 00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:34.960 dare to 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:35.519 kind of 00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:36.160 put a 00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:36.779 thermometer, 00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:37.820 a thermometer, 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:39.019 try and read 00:22:39.019 --> 00:22:39.799 the temperature 00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:40.799 of many 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:41.440 churches. 00:22:42.120 --> 00:22:42.660 Maybe not 00:22:42.660 --> 00:22:43.240 even this 00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:43.580 church, 00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:44.920 but a lot 00:22:44.920 --> 00:22:45.480 of churches. 00:22:45.600 --> 00:22:46.200 I spent 00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:48.420 30 years 00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:49.340 in peripatetic 00:22:49.340 --> 00:22:49.960 ministry. 00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:52.539 And if 00:22:52.539 --> 00:22:52.960 you said 00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:53.400 to me, 00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:54.360 give a 00:22:54.360 --> 00:22:55.140 score out 00:22:55.140 --> 00:22:55.779 of 10, 00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:56.779 10 being 00:22:56.779 --> 00:22:57.300 people are 00:22:57.300 --> 00:22:57.960 really hot 00:22:57.960 --> 00:22:58.320 for the 00:22:58.320 --> 00:22:59.220 gospel and 00:22:59.220 --> 00:22:59.900 seeing lives 00:22:59.900 --> 00:23:00.620 transformed, 00:23:00.620 --> 00:23:01.560 and one 00:23:01.560 --> 00:23:02.000 is, 00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:04.140 business as 00:23:04.140 --> 00:23:04.560 usual, 00:23:06.500 --> 00:23:07.680 I'd have to 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:08.039 say, 00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:09.859 most 00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:10.420 churches 00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:11.139 full of 00:23:11.139 --> 00:23:11.440 nice 00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:11.940 people, 00:23:13.319 --> 00:23:13.659 they don't 00:23:13.659 --> 00:23:14.399 give squat 00:23:14.399 --> 00:23:15.000 about 00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:15.619 unsaved 00:23:15.619 --> 00:23:16.079 people. 00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:18.460 And then 00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:18.980 they expect 00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:19.579 people like 00:23:19.579 --> 00:23:19.899 me to 00:23:19.899 --> 00:23:20.379 stand up 00:23:20.379 --> 00:23:21.440 at a 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:21.940 funeral and 00:23:21.940 --> 00:23:22.359 try and 00:23:22.359 --> 00:23:23.039 say stuff 00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:25.480 that implies 00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:25.879 they're going 00:23:25.879 --> 00:23:26.399 to make it 00:23:26.399 --> 00:23:26.819 home. 00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:30.720 I think 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:31.079 that, 00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:32.319 you know, 00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:33.319 the whole 00:23:33.319 --> 00:23:34.579 business of 00:23:34.579 --> 00:23:35.920 judgment is 00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:36.440 God's 00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:36.940 business. 00:23:36.940 --> 00:23:39.480 and I 00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:39.860 think there 00:23:39.860 --> 00:23:40.220 will be 00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:40.480 some 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:41.100 surprises 00:23:41.100 --> 00:23:41.680 in heaven. 00:23:43.840 --> 00:23:44.580 But the 00:23:44.580 --> 00:23:45.299 Bible is 00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:45.900 very, 00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:46.720 very clear. 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:49.259 The 00:23:49.259 --> 00:23:49.799 Bible's 00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:50.320 witness is 00:23:50.320 --> 00:23:50.700 there is 00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:51.500 only one 00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:51.940 way to 00:23:51.940 --> 00:23:52.299 God, 00:23:53.820 --> 00:23:54.620 and that 00:23:54.620 --> 00:23:55.039 is through 00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:55.759 his grace 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.259 and through 00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:57.120 faith in 00:23:57.120 --> 00:23:58.019 Jesus Christ. 00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:02.259 That's the 00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:02.720 only way 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:03.440 I know. 00:24:04.380 --> 00:24:04.759 And you 00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.160 say to me, 00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:05.580 what about 00:24:05.580 --> 00:24:06.000 devout 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:06.380 Muslims? 00:24:06.380 --> 00:24:06.880 I don't 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:07.240 know. 00:24:08.560 --> 00:24:09.080 But I 00:24:09.080 --> 00:24:09.520 know one 00:24:09.520 --> 00:24:09.780 way. 00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:12.440 And it's 00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:13.040 working for 00:24:13.040 --> 00:24:14.360 me and 00:24:14.360 --> 00:24:14.840 for many 00:24:14.840 --> 00:24:15.340 of you. 00:24:19.420 --> 00:24:19.940 The 00:24:19.940 --> 00:24:20.220 Spirit 00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:20.920 liberates 00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:21.160 us, 00:24:21.260 --> 00:24:21.720 frees us 00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:21.920 from 00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:22.920 condemnation. 00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:24.700 And it 00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:25.220 frees us 00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:25.420 from 00:24:25.420 --> 00:24:26.280 condemnation 00:24:26.280 --> 00:24:26.820 because it 00:24:26.820 --> 00:24:27.600 liberates us 00:24:27.600 --> 00:24:28.020 from the 00:24:28.020 --> 00:24:28.780 consequences 00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:29.899 of our 00:24:29.899 --> 00:24:30.200 sin. 00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:33.220 But the 00:24:33.220 --> 00:24:33.819 Spirit can 00:24:33.819 --> 00:24:34.319 also 00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:34.940 liberate 00:24:34.940 --> 00:24:35.240 you 00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:36.980 from 00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:37.480 something 00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:37.819 that I 00:24:37.819 --> 00:24:38.279 imagine 00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:38.779 worries 00:24:38.779 --> 00:24:39.259 some of 00:24:39.259 --> 00:24:39.440 you. 00:24:40.680 --> 00:24:41.059 The 00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:41.519 Spirit 00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:42.160 can 00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:42.839 liberate 00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:43.099 you 00:24:43.099 --> 00:24:43.599 from the 00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:44.180 desire 00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:44.799 to sin, 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:47.539 providing 00:24:47.539 --> 00:24:48.200 you allow 00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:48.399 him. 00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:48.660 At the 00:24:48.660 --> 00:24:49.039 beginning 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:49.440 of the 00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:49.899 service, 00:24:50.319 --> 00:24:50.759 we quoted 00:24:50.759 --> 00:24:51.379 from 1 00:24:51.379 --> 00:24:51.680 John 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:53.079 chapter 1, 00:24:53.079 --> 00:24:53.599 if we 00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:54.019 say we 00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:54.460 have no 00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:54.759 sin, 00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:55.439 what are 00:24:55.439 --> 00:24:55.599 we? 00:24:55.699 --> 00:24:55.919 We're 00:24:55.919 --> 00:24:56.399 deceived. 00:24:57.980 --> 00:24:58.579 But if we 00:24:58.579 --> 00:24:59.379 confess our 00:24:59.379 --> 00:24:59.679 sins, 00:25:00.019 --> 00:25:00.460 God is 00:25:00.460 --> 00:25:01.179 faithful and 00:25:01.179 --> 00:25:01.639 just to 00:25:01.639 --> 00:25:02.159 forgive us 00:25:02.159 --> 00:25:02.740 our sins. 00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:03.559 Amen? 00:25:05.220 --> 00:25:05.980 And then 00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:06.519 one more 00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:06.899 thing. 00:25:08.179 --> 00:25:08.639 And 00:25:08.639 --> 00:25:09.379 cleanse us 00:25:09.379 --> 00:25:10.740 from all 00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:12.319 unrighteousness. 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:17.059 God 00:25:17.059 --> 00:25:18.679 wants to 00:25:18.679 --> 00:25:19.419 forgive you, 00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:21.759 but he 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:22.179 wants to 00:25:22.179 --> 00:25:22.819 cleanse you. 00:25:23.079 --> 00:25:25.039 he wants 00:25:25.039 --> 00:25:25.799 to cleanse 00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:27.099 you from 00:25:27.099 --> 00:25:27.500 the very 00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:28.559 desire to 00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:28.899 sin. 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:31.019 Oh, 00:25:31.179 --> 00:25:31.519 you know, 00:25:31.639 --> 00:25:32.519 Israel had 00:25:32.519 --> 00:25:33.119 the law, 00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:33.980 and if 00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:34.619 people could 00:25:34.619 --> 00:25:35.299 obey the 00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:35.500 law, 00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:36.259 that's Paul's 00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:36.759 point in 00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:37.179 the rest 00:25:37.179 --> 00:25:37.819 of Romans, 00:25:38.419 --> 00:25:39.000 if people 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:39.639 could keep 00:25:39.639 --> 00:25:40.019 all the 00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:40.279 law, 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.019 they probably 00:25:41.019 --> 00:25:41.480 would look 00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:42.299 fairly righteous, 00:25:42.439 --> 00:25:42.720 but they 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:43.119 couldn't. 00:25:44.179 --> 00:25:44.779 Paul says 00:25:44.779 --> 00:25:45.480 basically, 00:25:46.099 --> 00:25:46.639 the law 00:25:46.639 --> 00:25:47.559 as understood 00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:48.619 by Israel, 00:25:48.839 --> 00:25:49.179 the Old 00:25:49.179 --> 00:25:49.599 Testament, 00:25:50.059 --> 00:25:50.379 the Old 00:25:50.379 --> 00:25:50.699 Covenant 00:25:50.699 --> 00:25:51.299 people of 00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:51.579 God, 00:25:51.919 --> 00:25:52.480 is like a 00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:52.839 school. 00:25:53.079 --> 00:25:53.559 teacher. 00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:57.019 We learn 00:25:57.019 --> 00:25:57.599 about our 00:25:57.599 --> 00:25:58.019 sin when 00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:58.480 we break 00:25:58.480 --> 00:25:58.740 the law. 00:25:58.799 --> 00:25:59.079 In other 00:25:59.079 --> 00:25:59.259 words, 00:25:59.339 --> 00:25:59.899 the law's 00:25:59.899 --> 00:26:00.339 out there 00:26:00.339 --> 00:26:00.740 trying to 00:26:00.740 --> 00:26:01.319 change me 00:26:01.319 --> 00:26:01.699 from out 00:26:01.699 --> 00:26:02.159 there by 00:26:02.159 --> 00:26:02.559 my 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:03.519 adherence. 00:26:06.519 --> 00:26:06.960 Whereas 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:07.379 the Holy 00:26:07.379 --> 00:26:09.819 Spirit is 00:26:09.819 --> 00:26:10.159 trying to 00:26:10.159 --> 00:26:10.599 change you 00:26:10.599 --> 00:26:11.059 from the 00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:12.019 inside out. 00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:15.359 You want 00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:15.619 to be 00:26:15.619 --> 00:26:15.980 forgiven, 00:26:16.099 --> 00:26:16.439 that's a 00:26:16.439 --> 00:26:17.079 great start, 00:26:17.139 --> 00:26:17.419 but you 00:26:17.419 --> 00:26:17.819 want to be 00:26:17.819 --> 00:26:18.679 cleansed. 00:26:18.680 --> 00:26:22.500 trouble with 00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:22.840 sin, 00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:24.539 honestly, 00:26:25.360 --> 00:26:26.160 quite a lot 00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:26.500 of it's 00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:27.019 enjoyable. 00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:30.200 I never 00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:30.720 watched it, 00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:31.140 but somebody 00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:31.960 told me about 00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:32.519 that film, 00:26:32.580 --> 00:26:33.380 The Exorcist, 00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:34.240 which is 40 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:35.180 years old now. 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:36.180 Apparently, 00:26:36.279 --> 00:26:36.980 at one point, 00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:37.860 the poor 00:26:37.860 --> 00:26:38.380 little girl 00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:39.019 who's possessed, 00:26:39.120 --> 00:26:39.519 her head's 00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:40.160 whirling around 00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:41.140 at 360 00:26:41.140 --> 00:26:41.799 degrees, 00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:42.799 vomiting green 00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:43.600 bile everywhere. 00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:44.480 I mean, 00:26:44.539 --> 00:26:44.799 if that 00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:45.259 was sin, 00:26:45.559 --> 00:26:45.899 would you 00:26:45.899 --> 00:26:46.159 have a 00:26:46.159 --> 00:26:46.419 problem 00:26:46.419 --> 00:26:46.899 avoiding 00:26:46.899 --> 00:26:47.199 it? 00:26:49.719 --> 00:26:50.199 No. 00:26:54.599 --> 00:26:55.119 It's 00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:57.000 the sinful 00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:57.539 thoughts, 00:26:57.639 --> 00:26:58.199 the sinful 00:26:58.199 --> 00:26:59.179 behaviours. 00:27:01.579 --> 00:27:02.419 And in 00:27:02.419 --> 00:27:02.939 Christ, 00:27:04.019 --> 00:27:04.419 there will 00:27:04.419 --> 00:27:05.000 be no 00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:05.959 condemnation 00:27:05.959 --> 00:27:06.619 because you 00:27:06.619 --> 00:27:07.019 will be 00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:07.859 liberated 00:27:07.859 --> 00:27:08.459 from the 00:27:08.459 --> 00:27:09.219 consequences 00:27:09.219 --> 00:27:10.279 of your 00:27:10.279 --> 00:27:10.679 sin. 00:27:12.259 --> 00:27:12.859 So, 00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:13.459 let me 00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:13.960 end. 00:27:14.279 --> 00:27:14.620 This 00:27:14.620 --> 00:27:15.039 morning, 00:27:15.140 --> 00:27:15.319 God 00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:15.700 doesn't 00:27:15.700 --> 00:27:16.279 want you 00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:16.700 just to 00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:17.259 be free 00:27:17.259 --> 00:27:17.720 of guilt 00:27:17.720 --> 00:27:18.319 and shame. 00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:20.840 He wants 00:27:20.840 --> 00:27:21.160 you to 00:27:21.160 --> 00:27:21.840 know in 00:27:21.840 --> 00:27:22.380 the depth 00:27:22.380 --> 00:27:22.779 of your 00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:23.440 soul that 00:27:23.440 --> 00:27:24.240 you are 00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:25.180 free in 00:27:25.180 --> 00:27:25.660 Christ. 00:27:27.299 --> 00:27:27.900 There is 00:27:27.900 --> 00:27:28.980 now no 00:27:28.980 --> 00:27:29.880 condemnation. 00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:31.319 This 00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:31.680 morning, 00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:32.180 the Spirit 00:27:32.180 --> 00:27:32.819 wants to 00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:33.400 help to 00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:33.960 cleanse you 00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:34.319 from a 00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:35.100 desire to 00:27:35.100 --> 00:27:35.380 sin. 00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:37.960 Those of 00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:38.539 you struggling 00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:39.220 with addiction 00:27:39.220 --> 00:27:39.799 need to 00:27:39.799 --> 00:27:40.579 hear this. 00:27:41.779 --> 00:27:42.380 Those who 00:27:42.380 --> 00:27:42.960 are struggling 00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:43.980 with terrible 00:27:43.980 --> 00:27:45.140 habits need 00:27:45.140 --> 00:27:45.600 to hear 00:27:45.600 --> 00:27:46.019 this. 00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:48.700 He's 00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:49.299 calling you 00:27:49.299 --> 00:27:50.019 to repent 00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:50.480 of your 00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:50.920 habit, 00:27:51.740 --> 00:27:52.559 to repent 00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:52.980 of your 00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:53.539 repeated 00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:54.200 failure to 00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:54.980 come clean 00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:56.360 and seek 00:27:56.360 --> 00:27:57.120 the Spirit's 00:27:57.120 --> 00:27:57.500 help. 00:27:58.940 --> 00:27:59.440 And he 00:27:59.440 --> 00:27:59.860 doesn't want 00:27:59.860 --> 00:28:00.360 you just to 00:28:00.360 --> 00:28:01.160 know freedom 00:28:01.160 --> 00:28:01.539 in your 00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:01.799 head, 00:28:01.840 --> 00:28:02.140 he wants 00:28:02.140 --> 00:28:02.420 you to 00:28:02.420 --> 00:28:03.140 feel freedom 00:28:03.140 --> 00:28:03.559 in your 00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:04.000 heart. 00:28:04.840 --> 00:28:05.220 Can you 00:28:05.220 --> 00:28:05.600 imagine 00:28:05.600 --> 00:28:06.000 that? 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:06.299 Can you 00:28:06.299 --> 00:28:06.000 imagine 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:08.460 it's 00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:09.019 possible? 00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:12.420 Two verses 00:28:12.420 --> 00:28:13.859 that could 00:28:13.859 --> 00:28:14.579 change your 00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:15.079 life, 00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:17.180 change your 00:28:17.180 --> 00:28:18.160 mental health, 00:28:19.299 --> 00:28:19.900 change your 00:28:19.900 --> 00:28:20.940 spiritual health. 00:28:21.059 --> 00:28:21.440 Therefore, 00:28:22.380 --> 00:28:23.339 there is now 00:28:23.339 --> 00:28:24.740 no condemnation 00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:25.440 for those who 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:26.039 are in Christ 00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:26.619 Jesus. 00:28:27.880 --> 00:28:29.140 Because God 00:28:29.140 --> 00:28:30.319 through Christ 00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:30.839 Jesus, 00:28:31.079 --> 00:28:31.960 the law of 00:28:31.960 --> 00:28:32.859 the Spirit 00:28:32.859 --> 00:28:33.939 who gives 00:28:33.939 --> 00:28:34.439 life, 00:28:34.879 --> 00:28:35.699 has set you 00:28:35.699 --> 00:28:36.839 free from 00:28:36.839 --> 00:28:37.500 the law 00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:38.359 of sin 00:28:38.359 --> 00:28:38.859 and death. 00:28:44.539 --> 00:28:45.279 The end 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:45.579 of this 00:28:45.579 --> 00:28:45.959 service, 00:28:46.119 --> 00:28:46.259 there are 00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:46.439 going to 00:28:46.439 --> 00:28:47.159 be people 00:28:47.159 --> 00:28:47.799 who've been 00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:48.639 trained and 00:28:48.639 --> 00:28:49.599 released to 00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:50.279 pray with 00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:50.519 you. 00:28:50.639 --> 00:28:51.079 If you 00:28:51.079 --> 00:28:51.359 want to 00:28:51.359 --> 00:28:51.879 pray through 00:28:51.879 --> 00:28:52.259 one of 00:28:52.259 --> 00:28:52.919 these issues, 00:28:52.919 --> 00:28:53.439 if you 00:28:53.439 --> 00:28:54.179 truly want 00:28:54.179 --> 00:28:54.500 to be 00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:54.759 free, 00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:55.419 and I 00:28:55.419 --> 00:28:55.619 would 00:28:55.619 --> 00:28:56.000 commend 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:56.679 you to 00:28:56.679 --> 00:28:57.259 do it. 00:28:58.439 --> 00:28:59.019 Go and 00:28:59.019 --> 00:28:59.439 see one 00:28:59.439 --> 00:28:59.619 of them, 00:28:59.719 --> 00:29:00.219 pray with 00:29:00.219 --> 00:29:00.359 them. 00:29:00.599 --> 00:29:00.879 Why? 00:29:02.179 --> 00:29:02.679 Because 00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:03.080 if you 00:29:03.080 --> 00:29:03.560 don't do 00:29:03.560 --> 00:29:04.140 something 00:29:04.140 --> 00:29:05.019 before you 00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:05.400 leave the 00:29:05.400 --> 00:29:05.960 house this 00:29:05.960 --> 00:29:06.279 morning, 00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:07.019 the likelihood 00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:07.720 is you 00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:08.120 will do 00:29:08.120 --> 00:29:08.440 what? 00:29:09.840 --> 00:29:10.320 Nothing. 00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:14.539 Just go 00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:15.080 home and 00:29:15.080 --> 00:29:15.279 say, 00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:15.960 poor old 00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:16.340 Mike was 00:29:16.340 --> 00:29:16.740 off on 00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:17.160 one this 00:29:17.160 --> 00:29:17.539 morning. 00:29:19.120 --> 00:29:19.799 It's not 00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:20.259 the point. 00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:23.440 I'm trying 00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:24.000 to declare 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:24.480 to you 00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:25.080 humbly 00:29:25.080 --> 00:29:26.100 and honestly 00:29:26.100 --> 00:29:28.140 the truth 00:29:28.140 --> 00:29:29.500 of Romans 00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:30.320 chapter 8 00:29:30.320 --> 00:29:31.299 verse 1. 00:29:31.299 --> 00:29:33.119 there is 00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:34.220 now no 00:29:34.220 --> 00:29:35.299 condemnation 00:29:35.299 --> 00:29:36.700 for those 00:29:36.700 --> 00:29:37.319 who are 00:29:37.319 --> 00:29:37.980 in Christ 00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:38.579 Jesus. 00:29:39.379 --> 00:29:39.700 Blessed 00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:40.359 are those 00:29:40.359 --> 00:29:40.680 who have 00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:41.319 ears to 00:29:41.319 --> 00:29:41.639 hear, 00:29:42.639 --> 00:29:43.200 and 00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:43.579 blessed 00:29:43.579 --> 00:29:44.399 are those 00:29:44.399 --> 00:29:45.940 who believe 00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:47.079 and are 00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:47.659 saved. 00:29:48.879 --> 00:29:49.639 Let us 00:29:49.639 --> 00:29:49.980 pray. 00:29:53.779 --> 00:29:54.419 Would you 00:29:54.419 --> 00:29:54.740 like to 00:29:54.740 --> 00:29:55.339 stand up? 00:29:55.339 --> 00:30:06.079 spirit can 00:30:06.079 --> 00:30:06.659 set you 00:30:06.659 --> 00:30:06.959 free. 00:30:07.099 --> 00:30:07.319 I'm just 00:30:07.319 --> 00:30:07.639 going to 00:30:07.639 --> 00:30:08.419 suggest 00:30:08.419 --> 00:30:10.459 that in a 00:30:10.459 --> 00:30:11.139 few moments 00:30:11.139 --> 00:30:11.899 of silence, 00:30:11.939 --> 00:30:12.319 as you 00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:13.039 stand there, 00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:15.019 just take 00:30:15.019 --> 00:30:16.419 a few deep 00:30:16.419 --> 00:30:16.919 breaths. 00:30:16.920 --> 00:30:17.039 breaths, 00:30:17.820 --> 00:30:18.640 not too 00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:18.920 many, 00:30:19.019 --> 00:30:19.420 because you 00:30:19.420 --> 00:30:20.019 get dizzy. 00:30:22.180 --> 00:30:22.920 Breathe in, 00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:24.440 and in your 00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:24.840 minds, 00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:26.200 I believe 00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:26.539 you're 00:30:26.539 --> 00:30:27.259 breathing in 00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:27.840 the spirit 00:30:27.840 --> 00:30:29.420 who will 00:30:29.420 --> 00:30:29.940 set you 00:30:29.940 --> 00:30:30.220 free. 00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:30.740 Let's just 00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:31.279 do that, 00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:31.420 let's see 00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:31.660 a few 00:30:31.660 --> 00:30:32.019 moments 00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:32.460 quiet. 00:30:46.920 --> 00:30:55.300 Our gracious Father, we're so grateful 00:30:55.300 --> 00:30:57.720 that in you, in Jesus, 00:30:57.880 --> 00:30:59.840 there is now no condemnation. 00:31:02.259 --> 00:31:03.259 Thank you, Lord. 00:31:03.340 --> 00:31:07.440 The Spirit of life, the Holy Spirit, 00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:11.600 wants to come to us this morning 00:31:11.600 --> 00:31:13.720 for those who have no faith. 00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:17.059 The Spirit wants to ignite a spark in you today. 00:31:20.220 --> 00:31:23.400 For those of you who would clearly say 00:31:23.400 --> 00:31:26.120 that I have faith, but I'm dogged by shame, 00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:27.880 I'm dogged by regret, 00:31:28.059 --> 00:31:31.360 I'm dogged by self-condemnation and fear 00:31:31.360 --> 00:31:33.740 that I may not be acceptable to you. 00:31:33.819 --> 00:31:36.740 Lord, speak a word of grace into their hearts, 00:31:36.819 --> 00:31:37.500 would you please? 00:31:39.680 --> 00:31:41.559 God says, I love you. 00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:45.319 Even though you don't deserve it. 00:31:46.960 --> 00:31:50.619 And the evidence for that is the cross of Calvary. 00:31:55.200 --> 00:31:58.759 On which the Prince of Glory died. 00:32:01.460 --> 00:32:04.259 My riches gained I count but lost, 00:32:04.399 --> 00:32:07.399 and poor contempt on all my pride. 00:32:07.400 --> 00:32:12.880 Lord, please don't let our pride stop us 00:32:12.880 --> 00:32:15.060 from facing the truth about ourselves 00:32:15.060 --> 00:32:17.160 and doing something about it. 00:32:20.420 --> 00:32:22.160 And Lord, help us, 00:32:22.780 --> 00:32:25.400 those of us who struggle with 00:32:25.400 --> 00:32:28.600 addictive behaviors, 00:32:30.680 --> 00:32:32.820 struggle with personalities 00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:35.579 that could start a row in an empty house. 00:32:37.899 --> 00:32:39.019 Lord, thank you. 00:32:39.099 --> 00:32:40.939 You forgive us from our sin 00:32:40.939 --> 00:32:41.919 when we turn to you, 00:32:41.980 --> 00:32:43.639 but Lord, please cleanse us. 00:32:45.740 --> 00:32:48.619 That our lives might become more like Jesus. 00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:53.339 And our church would be different. 00:32:53.339 --> 00:32:56.759 And our community would be different. 00:32:58.819 --> 00:33:00.419 And our county would be different. 00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:02.179 And our nation would be different. 00:33:04.959 --> 00:33:07.500 And the world would learn the truth 00:33:07.500 --> 00:33:10.299 that in Jesus, 00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:13.059 there is now no condemnation. 00:33:13.240 --> 00:33:15.319 Now, no condemnation. 00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:20.459 Lord, hear our prayer, we pray. 00:33:20.460 --> 00:33:23.360 Because we're desperate. 00:33:24.019 --> 00:33:26.700 Not just to know that truth in our heads, 00:33:26.819 --> 00:33:28.340 but in our hearts as well. 00:33:29.559 --> 00:33:31.819 Come, Holy Spirit, we pray. 00:33:34.380 --> 00:33:36.000 The people who agreed, 00:33:36.940 --> 00:33:38.779 joined together and said 00:33:38.779 --> 00:33:41.819 in a loud and confident voice, 00:33:43.039 --> 00:33:43.420 Amen. 00:33:43.420 --> 00:33:43.600 Amen.