WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.300
 Good morning, everybody.

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 He had just had a bath, too.

00:00:16.660 --> 00:00:17.240
 Yeah.

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 Why do we do that?

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 Like Finley.

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 His name is Finley, by the way, in case you haven't seen him around town.

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 He's a small horse.

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 He's hard to wash, and then he promptly goes and rolls in the dirt.

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 Look, we would never do that, right?

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 We'd never go get ourselves all clean and then go out and roll in the mud.

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 You feel good about yourself.

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 You've been working outside, take a shower, put on clean clothes,

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 and then promptly go outside and dive straight in the mud and get all dirty again.

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 Nobody would do that, right?

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 That is Paul's reminder or question or challenge to us in Romans chapter 6.

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 So here's what we're talking about today, y'all.

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 Stay out of the mud.

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 It's what I really wish my dog would learn.

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 Stay out of the mud.

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 Jesus washed us clean.

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 So why do we insist on going back and crawling through the mud?

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 Turn with me, if you would, to Romans chapter 5.

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 We have been on this series,

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 Went in Romans, for quite a few weeks now.

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 I think this is week 11 that we've been diving through Paul's letter epistle to Romans.

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 We're going to try to dig through two chapters today, Romans 5 and Romans 6.

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 Romans 5 talks about what Jesus did for us.

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 Romans 6 talks about how we then live.

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 If this is what Jesus did for us, which we're going to see in Romans 5,

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 then Romans 6 tells us how to apply that.

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 So how should we live?

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 So as you turn to Romans chapter 5, I'm reminding you we started at the back of the book

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 and we've been working our way forward to the beginning,

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 and we're going to see why when we get there.

00:02:13.460 --> 00:02:15.980
 Romans chapter 5.

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 We're going to begin in verse 1.

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 I'm reading from the New Living Translation.

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 If y'all wouldn't mind, if you're able to stand, would you mind joining me in standing?

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 And let's read through these first five verses of Romans 5 together.

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 Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith,

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 we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

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 Boy, think back to everything that Jesus did for us.

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 That's how you and I can have peace with God.

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 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege

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 where we now stand.

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 And we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.

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 Imagine all of God's glory, all of his power, all of his majesty.

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 You and I will get to share in that glory.

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 And we can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, which we're all going to.

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 For we know that these problems and trials help us develop endurance.

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 And endurance develops strength of character.

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 And character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

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 And this hope will not lead to disappointment.

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 For we know how dearly God loves us because he's given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

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 Would you bow your heads with me?

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 God, we approach you today having sung your praises, having listened to your name lifted up.

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 Having seen a baby dedicated to you.

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 His parents' desire to raise him up in the way he ought to go.

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 God, that's all of our desire is just to follow you more closely.

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 To learn more of what it means to be your child and walk through this life as a child of God.

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 It's in Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 I pray that God would teach us exactly that today from Romans chapter 5 and Romans 6.

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 We're going to start off with this.

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 Jesus changed your status.

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 So this is the first truth that we get from Romans chapter 5 is Jesus has changed our status.

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 Look back at the text with me if you would.

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 If you don't have a copy of the word of God, there should be one there in the seat back in front of you.

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 Or you can pull out your handy little phone and get the Bible app up.

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 I don't care as long as we're all looking at the scriptures together.

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 So Romans 5, let's look down at verse 6.

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 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.

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 And now look down at verse 8.

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 This is a very well-known verse.

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 If you've been around the church a while, you've read the Bible, then you've probably heard this verse before.

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 But God showed or demonstrated or commended his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

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 Those verses before that talk about the difference.

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 It's how, yeah, maybe somebody might be willing to lay down their life or die for a good person, right?

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 But who would die for a bad person?

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 Who would die for an evil person?

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 Who would die for a sinner?

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 And that's the point that Jesus is making.

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 I died for you when you were sinners, not because you earned it, not because you were deserving of the ultimate sacrifice, but because I love you.

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 I showed you this love by dying for you while you were still sinners.

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 And then look down at verse 10.

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 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his son, while we were still his enemies.

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 Boy, we went from sinners to enemies.

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 Real quick there.

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 Yeah, God, we're sinners.

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 Nobody's perfect.

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 But you're calling us your enemies?

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 Yes, because you belong to the power of darkness.

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 Because you're trapped.

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 You can't break out.

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 You belong to the wrong kingdom.

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 And Jesus came to break you out, to free those chains.

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 So now you're no longer at odds.

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 Now you can be in God's, not just on his team, be in his family.

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 Be in God's family.

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 So he says in verse 10, while we were still his enemies, then friendship with God was restored by the death of his son.

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 And he said, because of this, we certainly will be saved through the life of his son.

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 What a demonstration.

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 What a gesture of love that someone would die for you.

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 But then if they can go on living for you at the same time, well, that's impossible.

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 But that's exactly what Jesus did.

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 He said, not only will I die for you, but I will raise myself back to life by the power of God.

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 And then I will be alive for you as well.

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 And you will have my living spirit living with you.

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 So this is what Jesus has offered us.

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 So we're talking about how God can change our status.

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 And if you are a child of God this morning, then he has changed your status.

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 What do we mean when we say status?

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 Y'all, maybe it's a generational thing, but you know what the first thing I think of when I think of status is?

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 Facebook.

00:07:37.139 --> 00:07:37.579
 Yeah.

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 Anybody ever update their Facebook status?

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 How many of y'all remember the early days of Facebook when it was really awkward and just information you didn't need to know?

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 And they were like dragging it out of you?

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 It would be a complete the sentence kind of thing.

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 Like Sam is feeling blank and then you fill in the blank and share Sam is feeling tired.

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 And then you share that.

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 And the people that see it are like, why are you telling us this?

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 Take a nap.

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 Sam is feeling hungry.

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 Eat a sandwich, Sam.

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 And while you're at it, make me one too.

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 Anyway, kind of silly, the whole status thing.

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 But statuses change all the time.

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 And Facebook wanted to play on that.

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 Give us your status update.

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 What's going on with you?

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 Employment status can change real quick.

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 One moment you've got a job, you're gainfully employed, and you're moving forward in life.

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 And then you get a phone call, and all of a sudden you don't have a job anymore.

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 Your employment status has moved to unemployed.

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 And that's no fun to be in that situation.

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 You're like, oh boy, what are we doing now?

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 Relationship statuses can change.

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 Everything's moving along, and all of a sudden, one mistake, one conversation, and now you're not in a relationship anymore.

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 These statuses are very fluid.

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 They can change.

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 That's not the kind of status that Jesus offers us.

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 He offers us a permanent status change.

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 Your status, your situation, your outlook, your identity is probably a better word.

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 It's secure.

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 It is cemented when Jesus changes your status.

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 And here's what it was.

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 It was from slave to sin to son of God.

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 From slave to sin to son of God.

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 Now look over in Galatians chapter 2.

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 You don't even have to turn in your Bibles if you don't want.

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 You can just look at the screen.

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 Paul was writing, and he said,

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 He's kind of fleshing out how the whole status change thing works.

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 When God changes your status, this is how he does it, and this is how he leaves you.

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 I was crucified.

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 My old status, my old self, my old identity was put to death with Jesus.

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 It's no longer that person who lives anymore.

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 Now it's Christ giving me a new life.

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 It's his life.

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 It's him living in and through me.

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 So when I live in this earthly body, which I still have, and it reminds me of that from time to time,

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 when it wants to do the wrong thing, think the wrong thing.

00:10:32.500 --> 00:10:34.159
 We've talked about that in recent weeks.

00:10:34.919 --> 00:10:39.279
 Last Sunday, we talked about in Romans 7, how Paul's just all over the place saying,

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 I know I shouldn't do this, but I find myself doing it.

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 I know I should be doing this, and I don't do that.

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 So when this earthly body reminds me of how, oh man, this is still who you are.

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 You're still that same old guy, that same old girl with all the same problems, all the same issues.

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 He says, I live in that earthly body.

00:10:59.099 --> 00:10:59.419
 How?

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 How?

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 Only by trusting in Jesus.

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 Jesus.

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 He's the source of my life.

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 He's the source of my new status.

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 My new identity.

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 It's because he loved me so much.

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 And he gave himself for me.

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 So now I can offer up this, this earthly body,

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 this new identity,

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 this mess that I am,

00:11:21.819 --> 00:11:23.239
 this conflict going on within me.

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 I can offer that back up to Jesus and say,

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 God, this is what I give to you.

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 This is the sacrifice I bring to you.

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 You say, man, that's kind of a mess.

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 How great of a sacrifice is that to offer to God?

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 It's the sacrifice he wants.

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 It's exactly what he wants.

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 He wants you with all of your inner conflict,

00:11:42.139 --> 00:11:43.139
 all of your turmoil,

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 all of your mess,

00:11:44.740 --> 00:11:45.139
 all of your inconsistency.

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 He wants that.

00:11:47.100 --> 00:11:47.819
 He wants you to say,

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 Jesus, take it.

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 You take it and shape it

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 and teach me how to live for you.

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 And that's what he's going to get into

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 in chapter six.

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 But this is the status change

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 from slave to sin

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 to son of God.

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 You ladies could put daughter of God

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 if you wanted to.

00:12:06.580 --> 00:12:07.120
 That's fine.

00:12:07.179 --> 00:12:07.439
 Okay.

00:12:08.160 --> 00:12:10.120
 We're just talking about children of God

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 from slave to sin

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 to daughter and son of God.

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 It means we're at peace with God.

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 It means we're part of his family.

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 And we didn't earn this status update

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 and we can't lose it

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 by having a bad day

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 or having a bad week

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 or having a bad month

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 or having a bad season.

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 So stop trying to work

00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:38.960
 for a status update

00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:42.120
 that Jesus already purchased for you

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 from slave to sin

00:12:44.080 --> 00:12:45.159
 to son of God.

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 Number two,

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 Jesus is changing you.

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 Jesus not only changes your status,

00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:53.700
 he changes you.

00:12:54.419 --> 00:12:55.899
 He changes me.

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 He's literally in the process

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 of changing you.

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 It's not just your identity.

00:13:02.620 --> 00:13:04.100
 He's not just saying,

00:13:04.560 --> 00:13:05.600
 now I've rescued you

00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:06.940
 from the kingdom of this world

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 and I've brought you into my kingdom.

00:13:09.480 --> 00:13:10.560
 I've rescued you

00:13:10.560 --> 00:13:11.779
 from being a slave to sin

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 and I've brought you into my family.

00:13:13.539 --> 00:13:14.860
 He's not just giving you

00:13:14.860 --> 00:13:16.139
 a status change

00:13:16.139 --> 00:13:17.980
 or even an identity change.

00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:18.600
 He says,

00:13:18.679 --> 00:13:20.639
 now I'm changing how you live.

00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:22.500
 I'm changing even more than that.

00:13:22.560 --> 00:13:24.679
 I'm changing who you are.

00:13:25.779 --> 00:13:26.159
 Now look,

00:13:26.200 --> 00:13:27.279
 we've said this a couple of times

00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:28.480
 but I'm going to keep hitting it, okay?

00:13:29.080 --> 00:13:31.120
 That's why there's really no excuse

00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:33.560
 when you and I are encountered

00:13:33.560 --> 00:13:34.360
 with some way

00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:35.539
 that we need to change

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 or something that God wants us to do

00:13:37.740 --> 00:13:39.279
 and we just respond with,

00:13:39.379 --> 00:13:40.159
 well, that's not me.

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 That's just not who I am.

00:13:43.580 --> 00:13:45.039
 That's really not an excuse

00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:47.379
 because what God wants to do

00:13:47.379 --> 00:13:49.659
 is change who we are.

00:13:50.200 --> 00:13:51.779
 He wants to change us

00:13:51.779 --> 00:13:53.960
 and this might be an important step,

00:13:54.139 --> 00:13:54.960
 whatever it is,

00:13:55.060 --> 00:13:57.740
 in the process of him doing that.

00:13:57.740 --> 00:14:00.639
 So let's look down now at Romans 6.

00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:04.240
 Jesus is changing you.

00:14:04.680 --> 00:14:05.220
 Romans 6,

00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:06.399
 let's look at the first couple verses.

00:14:08.100 --> 00:14:08.519
 Well then,

00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:10.759
 should we keep on sinning

00:14:10.759 --> 00:14:13.019
 so that God can show us

00:14:13.019 --> 00:14:14.799
 more and more of his wonderful grace?

00:14:15.560 --> 00:14:17.680
 What a warped way of looking at it, right?

00:14:18.440 --> 00:14:20.279
 Boy, if Jesus just shows us grace

00:14:20.279 --> 00:14:21.560
 and he takes all that sin

00:14:21.560 --> 00:14:22.340
 and all that mess

00:14:22.340 --> 00:14:23.100
 and all that conflict

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 and says,

00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:24.759
 here, give it to me.

00:14:24.980 --> 00:14:27.960
 I'll give you grace in exchange.

00:14:28.679 --> 00:14:29.399
 Then you say,

00:14:29.480 --> 00:14:29.899
 well, God,

00:14:30.120 --> 00:14:30.919
 let me just give you

00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:32.019
 more and more opportunities

00:14:32.019 --> 00:14:33.000
 to show me grace

00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:33.840
 because I'm going to go out

00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:35.039
 and do whatever I want.

00:14:36.039 --> 00:14:37.399
 That's not the answer, right?

00:14:37.500 --> 00:14:38.799
 But Paul deals with that

00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:39.639
 because he knows

00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:40.960
 how his sin nature works

00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:41.819
 and guess what?

00:14:41.860 --> 00:14:43.600
 He knows how our sin nature works too.

00:14:43.960 --> 00:14:44.679
 And he says,

00:14:44.899 --> 00:14:46.319
 should we just keep on sinning

00:14:46.319 --> 00:14:47.779
 so God can show us more grace?

00:14:47.819 --> 00:14:48.539
 Of course not.

00:14:48.899 --> 00:14:50.580
 Since we have died to sin,

00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:52.799
 how can we continue to live in it?

00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:55.839
 Dog, I just washed you.

00:14:55.979 --> 00:14:57.419
 Don't go roll around in the mud.

00:14:58.000 --> 00:14:58.919
 And that's what he's saying.

00:14:59.620 --> 00:15:02.019
 We know that our old sinful selves

00:15:02.019 --> 00:15:03.839
 were crucified with Christ

00:15:03.839 --> 00:15:06.519
 so that sin would lose its power

00:15:06.519 --> 00:15:08.419
 in our lives.

00:15:08.579 --> 00:15:09.699
 That's the key there

00:15:09.699 --> 00:15:12.639
 because you were under the power of sin.

00:15:13.019 --> 00:15:15.740
 So don't let it have the same power over you

00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:16.939
 that you had before

00:15:16.939 --> 00:15:18.379
 because you don't have to anymore.

00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:20.259
 Before you didn't have a choice.

00:15:20.259 --> 00:15:21.759
 You were a slave.

00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:23.759
 Sin held power over you.

00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:26.600
 You couldn't break those temptations.

00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:28.240
 You couldn't resist those temptations.

00:15:28.539 --> 00:15:30.000
 You couldn't break those addictions.

00:15:30.679 --> 00:15:32.179
 You couldn't break that curse.

00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:33.819
 You were trapped under it.

00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:35.220
 But then you gained access

00:15:35.220 --> 00:15:37.000
 to divine power.

00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:38.419
 Jesus' power.

00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:41.819
 The same power that raised him from the dead.

00:15:42.059 --> 00:15:44.679
 The same power by which he resurrected.

00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:47.539
 The same power by which he conquered

00:15:47.539 --> 00:15:49.000
 and broke death.

00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:51.399
 Look, death is the thing

00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:52.620
 that you and I can't avoid.

00:15:53.659 --> 00:15:55.299
 We don't know when it's going to come.

00:15:56.019 --> 00:15:58.480
 If Jesus has power

00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:01.080
 over the thing that we can't beat

00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:02.960
 with all of science

00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:03.879
 and all of technology

00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:05.120
 and all of the developments

00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:06.139
 of modern man,

00:16:06.340 --> 00:16:08.139
 we haven't figured out a way

00:16:08.139 --> 00:16:10.940
 to beat death.

00:16:11.500 --> 00:16:12.379
 And we never will

00:16:12.379 --> 00:16:14.879
 because only God holds the keys

00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:15.840
 to life and death.

00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:17.860
 And if he says,

00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:19.780
 you've got access to that power,

00:16:20.500 --> 00:16:23.160
 then you can break addictions.

00:16:25.460 --> 00:16:27.180
 Then you can beat depression.

00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:29.220
 And you can change

00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:33.960
 by the power of Jesus Christ.

00:16:35.420 --> 00:16:37.680
 Maybe God will use all kinds of things

00:16:37.680 --> 00:16:39.580
 in your life to help you through those.

00:16:39.580 --> 00:16:42.280
 But he's got the power.

00:16:42.800 --> 00:16:44.160
 And you've got access to it.

00:16:44.620 --> 00:16:45.400
 What does he tell us

00:16:45.400 --> 00:16:46.660
 at the end of Matthew 28,

00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:48.560
 the end of the gospel record of Matthew?

00:16:48.700 --> 00:16:49.060
 He says,

00:16:49.540 --> 00:16:51.879
 all power is given to me.

00:16:52.280 --> 00:16:53.220
 Now you go

00:16:53.220 --> 00:16:55.500
 with that power

00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:57.360
 and do the work

00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:58.820
 I've given you to do.

00:17:00.100 --> 00:17:01.060
 That's what it's about.

00:17:01.059 --> 00:17:03.500
 So he says

00:17:03.500 --> 00:17:06.159
 in Romans chapter 6 here,

00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:07.659
 we know

00:17:07.659 --> 00:17:09.440
 that our old sinful selves

00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:10.819
 were crucified with Christ

00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:11.859
 so sin would lose

00:17:11.859 --> 00:17:13.200
 its power in our lives

00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:14.399
 and we're no longer

00:17:14.399 --> 00:17:15.379
 slaves to sin.

00:17:16.019 --> 00:17:16.799
 And now skip down

00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:17.399
 to verse 12.

00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:19.099
 Do not let sin

00:17:19.099 --> 00:17:20.700
 control the way you live.

00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:22.099
 Don't give in

00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:23.159
 to sinful desires.

00:17:23.819 --> 00:17:24.759
 What is Paul saying?

00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:26.000
 Should we keep sinning

00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:26.899
 so God can keep

00:17:26.899 --> 00:17:27.839
 showing us more grace?

00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:28.859
 Of course not.

00:17:29.139 --> 00:17:30.019
 Absolutely not.

00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:31.279
 I want to share

00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:32.059
 this quote with you

00:17:32.059 --> 00:17:33.759
 from an old Baptist pastor

00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:34.879
 from many, many years ago.

00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:36.879
 We need restraining grace

00:17:36.879 --> 00:17:39.480
 as well as saving grace.

00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:42.660
 We love when God's grace

00:17:42.660 --> 00:17:43.720
 saves us.

00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:45.460
 It's a little harder

00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:46.379
 to swallow

00:17:46.379 --> 00:17:48.579
 when it restrains us.

00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:49.359
 What do we mean by that?

00:17:49.379 --> 00:17:50.139
 It keeps us

00:17:50.139 --> 00:17:51.119
 from doing something.

00:17:52.099 --> 00:17:53.039
 We love it

00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:54.200
 when God's grace

00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:55.279
 was extended to us

00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:56.400
 and forgave our sin

00:17:56.400 --> 00:17:58.139
 and wiped our slate clean

00:17:58.139 --> 00:17:58.799
 and continues

00:17:58.799 --> 00:17:59.980
 to wash us clean.

00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:01.599
 And keep us right

00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:02.119
 with God

00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:03.220
 and in right relationship

00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:03.799
 with God.

00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:05.599
 The harder thing

00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:06.039
 to swallow

00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:07.099
 about God's grace

00:18:07.099 --> 00:18:08.579
 is that it walks

00:18:08.579 --> 00:18:09.220
 through us

00:18:09.220 --> 00:18:10.099
 in our lives

00:18:10.099 --> 00:18:11.680
 and restrains us.

00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:13.220
 You ever had to

00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:14.359
 restrain your child

00:18:14.359 --> 00:18:15.099
 at times

00:18:15.099 --> 00:18:16.220
 from running out

00:18:16.220 --> 00:18:16.900
 into the street

00:18:16.900 --> 00:18:18.019
 or from

00:18:18.019 --> 00:18:19.420
 saying something

00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:20.480
 really embarrassing

00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:21.099
 in public

00:18:21.099 --> 00:18:21.639
 and you're like

00:18:21.639 --> 00:18:22.299
 clapping your hand

00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:22.799
 over their mouth?

00:18:22.879 --> 00:18:23.720
 Don't say that!

00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:25.680
 They didn't hear,

00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:26.000
 did they?

00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:28.140
 You gotta restrain

00:18:28.140 --> 00:18:29.039
 them sometimes.

00:18:29.660 --> 00:18:30.019
 Husbands,

00:18:30.140 --> 00:18:30.480
 your wives

00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:31.039
 never have to

00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:31.640
 restrain you,

00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:31.880
 right?

00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:33.200
 I don't know why

00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:33.720
 it never goes

00:18:33.720 --> 00:18:34.359
 the other way around.

00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:35.220
 It's not the husbands

00:18:35.220 --> 00:18:36.279
 restraining the wives,

00:18:36.339 --> 00:18:36.859
 it's the wives

00:18:36.859 --> 00:18:37.500
 restraining the husbands.

00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:38.519
 It's part of it, man.

00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:38.960
 It's who we are.

00:18:40.339 --> 00:18:41.559
 As much as I love

00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:42.240
 this concept,

00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:43.140
 I think there's

00:18:43.140 --> 00:18:44.519
 actually a better word.

00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:47.960
 I think instead

00:18:47.960 --> 00:18:49.599
 of restraining grace,

00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:50.879
 hang on a second,

00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:52.200
 let's go to Titus 2 first.

00:18:52.619 --> 00:18:53.200
 I'll show it to you

00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:53.660
 in the scriptures.

00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:55.819
 Titus chapter 2,

00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:57.639
 we're gonna find

00:18:57.639 --> 00:18:58.299
 a better word

00:18:58.299 --> 00:18:59.299
 for restraining.

00:18:59.900 --> 00:19:00.599
 That's part of

00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:01.400
 what grace does.

00:19:01.700 --> 00:19:02.460
 It's part of what

00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:03.599
 God does for us

00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:04.400
 as we walk through

00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:05.220
 this life with him.

00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:06.299
 He definitely

00:19:06.299 --> 00:19:07.119
 restrains us,

00:19:07.379 --> 00:19:08.039
 but there's more

00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:08.660
 to it than that.

00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:10.059
 I'm looking at

00:19:10.059 --> 00:19:10.559
 the New Testament

00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:11.180
 for everyone.

00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:11.500
 It says,

00:19:11.619 --> 00:19:12.019
 you see,

00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:13.480
 the grace of God

00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:14.180
 has appeared.

00:19:15.099 --> 00:19:16.139
 Bringing salvation

00:19:16.139 --> 00:19:17.000
 to all people.

00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:17.500
 We love it.

00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:18.559
 That's our saving grace

00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:19.819
 that we get from God.

00:19:20.420 --> 00:19:21.319
 But then what does it do?

00:19:21.700 --> 00:19:21.980
 It,

00:19:22.139 --> 00:19:23.139
 let's say that together,

00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:23.559
 can we?

00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:25.879
 It trains us.

00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:26.920
 Do y'all remember

00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:27.799
 two years ago?

00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:28.799
 Of course you don't remember.

00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:29.559
 I'm crazy.

00:19:30.139 --> 00:19:30.660
 Some of you

00:19:30.660 --> 00:19:31.460
 are nodding your heads.

00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:32.000
 You know where

00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:32.799
 I'm going with this.

00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:34.240
 We went through a series.

00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:35.579
 I got it from a pastor

00:19:35.579 --> 00:19:36.079
 in Oklahoma

00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:36.900
 and then I tried

00:19:36.900 --> 00:19:37.700
 to share it here.

00:19:38.639 --> 00:19:40.059
 We're not trying.

00:19:40.299 --> 00:19:41.299
 We're in...

00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:42.900
 Look at y'all.

00:19:43.099 --> 00:19:43.859
 You do remember.

00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:45.879
 We're not trying.

00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:47.299
 We're in training.

00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:49.940
 That is what God's grace

00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:51.139
 does for us.

00:19:51.319 --> 00:19:53.039
 It trains us.

00:19:53.339 --> 00:19:54.279
 This is the how

00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:55.539
 we're in training.

00:19:56.099 --> 00:19:57.700
 It's through God's grace.

00:19:58.279 --> 00:19:59.900
 So I would almost say

00:19:59.900 --> 00:20:01.379
 that we need

00:20:01.379 --> 00:20:04.039
 retraining grace

00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:06.700
 as well as saving grace.

00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:08.819
 Restraining is part

00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:10.220
 of how it trains us,

00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:11.900
 but there is so much more.

00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:13.240
 We have to retrain

00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:14.640
 our flesh.

00:20:14.740 --> 00:20:15.700
 We have to retrain

00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:16.460
 our brains.

00:20:16.579 --> 00:20:17.480
 We have to retrain

00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:18.299
 our desires,

00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:19.400
 our wants,

00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:20.440
 our habits.

00:20:20.579 --> 00:20:22.000
 We retrain all that

00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:22.700
 and we do it

00:20:22.700 --> 00:20:23.380
 through the power

00:20:23.380 --> 00:20:24.740
 of God's grace.

00:20:24.860 --> 00:20:25.799
 It trains us

00:20:25.799 --> 00:20:26.360
 to do what?

00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:28.160
 To reject ungodly ways

00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:28.960
 and worldly desires.

00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:30.160
 To live sober,

00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:30.640
 upright,

00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:31.680
 and godly lives

00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:32.680
 in the present age

00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:33.720
 while we wait

00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:34.640
 for the appearance

00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:35.400
 of Jesus,

00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:36.559
 the Messiah,

00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:38.019
 who gave himself

00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:38.659
 for us

00:20:38.659 --> 00:20:39.559
 to rescue us

00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:40.700
 from all lawlessness

00:20:40.700 --> 00:20:41.839
 and to cleanse

00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:42.519
 for himself

00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:43.519
 a special people

00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:45.480
 eager to do good works.

00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.440
 That's how God

00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:47.339
 trains us

00:20:47.339 --> 00:20:48.059
 and what he's

00:20:48.059 --> 00:20:49.700
 training us to be.

00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:50.779
 So here's the truth

00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:51.379
 about grace.

00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:52.579
 Grace is your

00:20:52.579 --> 00:20:53.339
 personal trainer.

00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:55.639
 Look,

00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:56.259
 I can't afford

00:20:56.259 --> 00:20:57.159
 a personal trainer,

00:20:57.339 --> 00:20:57.659
 all right?

00:20:57.700 --> 00:20:58.779
 They're stinking expensive.

00:21:00.339 --> 00:21:01.139
 When the gym

00:21:01.139 --> 00:21:01.819
 was open here,

00:21:01.899 --> 00:21:02.659
 what is going on

00:21:02.659 --> 00:21:03.059
 with the gym?

00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:03.480
 We don't need

00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:04.139
 to go down that road

00:21:04.139 --> 00:21:04.440
 right now.

00:21:04.639 --> 00:21:05.279
 When the gym

00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:05.919
 was open here,

00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:06.220
 you know,

00:21:06.220 --> 00:21:06.720
 I was there

00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:07.420
 for a long time.

00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:07.980
 Now I'm trying

00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:08.620
 to just run

00:21:08.620 --> 00:21:09.680
 and lift dumbbells

00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:10.000
 at home,

00:21:10.059 --> 00:21:10.279
 you know,

00:21:10.339 --> 00:21:10.740
 but look,

00:21:11.620 --> 00:21:12.880
 grace is the personal

00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:14.039
 trainer that we all

00:21:14.039 --> 00:21:15.160
 need every day.

00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:17.120
 And it's not just

00:21:17.120 --> 00:21:18.259
 a three days a week

00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:19.620
 or a once a week

00:21:19.620 --> 00:21:20.240
 and I'll try

00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:20.860
 to work out

00:21:20.860 --> 00:21:21.299
 with grace

00:21:21.299 --> 00:21:22.200
 when I get a chance.

00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:23.680
 It's every single day

00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:25.200
 grace is working

00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:26.059
 on us.

00:21:26.539 --> 00:21:27.880
 Grace is training us.

00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:28.799
 God's grace

00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:30.279
 is there available

00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:31.140
 every day

00:21:31.140 --> 00:21:32.519
 and we experience it

00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:33.460
 and we live in it

00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:34.079
 every day.

00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:35.079
 And even when you

00:21:35.079 --> 00:21:36.200
 don't even realize it,

00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:37.019
 God's grace

00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:39.279
 is retraining you.

00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:41.720
 And when you do

00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:42.319
 realize it

00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:44.380
 and you lean into it

00:21:44.380 --> 00:21:45.880
 and you embrace it

00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:47.600
 and you pray for it

00:21:47.600 --> 00:21:48.799
 and you ask God

00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:50.259
 to retrain you more,

00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:52.080
 oh, he loves to hear that

00:21:52.080 --> 00:21:53.299
 and he'll do it.

00:21:54.460 --> 00:21:55.660
 And then we see

00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:57.539
 transformation happen.

00:21:58.180 --> 00:21:59.980
 Real positive change

00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:01.200
 to becoming more

00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:02.160
 and more like Jesus

00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:02.539
 happens.

00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:03.819
 and then our spouse

00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:04.539
 notices it too.

00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:06.220
 Our kids notice it too.

00:22:06.639 --> 00:22:07.039
 And kids,

00:22:07.099 --> 00:22:07.980
 your parents notice it.

00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:09.460
 And your friends notice it.

00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:11.659
 Your brothers,

00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:12.559
 sisters notice it.

00:22:13.559 --> 00:22:14.619
 You are becoming different.

00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:15.099
 Yeah,

00:22:15.139 --> 00:22:15.559
 because grace

00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:16.420
 is retraining me.

00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:19.319
 This is a process.

00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:20.480
 This doesn't happen

00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:20.960
 quickly.

00:22:21.819 --> 00:22:22.960
 But this is exactly

00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:24.039
 what God does

00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:24.740
 for us.

00:22:25.139 --> 00:22:26.259
 Grace is not

00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:27.259
 standing in front

00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:28.019
 of a classroom

00:22:28.019 --> 00:22:30.400
 instructing you

00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:32.059
 or just teaching you.

00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:34.680
 That Greek word,

00:22:34.779 --> 00:22:35.460
 remember the New Testament

00:22:35.460 --> 00:22:36.319
 wasn't written in English,

00:22:36.420 --> 00:22:37.220
 it was written in Greek.

00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:38.619
 It's that Greek word

00:22:38.619 --> 00:22:39.819
 that it uses

00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:41.740
 for training in there.

00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:43.400
 Training is the best

00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:44.680
 possible application

00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:44.940
 to that.

00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:46.559
 There's a part of it

00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:47.039
 that would say

00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:48.039
 instruction or teaching,

00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:49.400
 but it really comes down

00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:50.440
 to how a parent

00:22:50.440 --> 00:22:51.740
 would train a child.

00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:53.019
 It's kind of what the word

00:22:53.019 --> 00:22:53.900
 meant that they were using.

00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:55.759
 Well, there's a lot of training

00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:56.960
 that goes on with kids,

00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:57.220
 right?

00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:58.400
 When you're raising kids.

00:22:59.019 --> 00:23:00.259
 That's what God's doing

00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:00.920
 with us.

00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:02.119
 He's training

00:23:02.119 --> 00:23:03.839
 or retraining us.

00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:05.039
 Now go back

00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:06.680
 to Romans chapter 6.

00:23:08.700 --> 00:23:09.559
 We're going to finish

00:23:09.559 --> 00:23:10.259
 up this chapter.

00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:11.599
 Romans 6.

00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:19.339
 When you were slaves

00:23:19.339 --> 00:23:19.839
 to sin,

00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:21.440
 you were free

00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:23.460
 from the obligation

00:23:23.460 --> 00:23:24.519
 to do right.

00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:26.240
 verse 20.

00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:29.420
 And now on to verse 21

00:23:29.420 --> 00:23:30.500
 down through verse 23.

00:23:31.579 --> 00:23:32.559
 When you were slaves

00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:32.920
 to sin,

00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:33.359
 you were free

00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:34.039
 from the obligation

00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:34.559
 to do right.

00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:35.960
 And what was the result

00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:36.299
 of that?

00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:36.940
 Well,

00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:38.160
 a lot of shame.

00:23:38.879 --> 00:23:39.639
 You're now ashamed

00:23:39.639 --> 00:23:40.759
 of the things you used to do,

00:23:41.339 --> 00:23:42.099
 things that end

00:23:42.099 --> 00:23:43.019
 in eternal doom.

00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:44.920
 But now you're free

00:23:44.920 --> 00:23:46.420
 from the power of sin

00:23:46.420 --> 00:23:47.740
 and you become

00:23:47.740 --> 00:23:48.960
 slaves of God.

00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:49.859
 Let me tell you,

00:23:50.059 --> 00:23:50.819
 it's a whole lot better

00:23:50.819 --> 00:23:51.700
 to be a slave of God

00:23:51.700 --> 00:23:52.480
 than a slave of sin.

00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:54.460
 And normally,

00:23:54.660 --> 00:23:55.920
 I think Paul was making

00:23:55.920 --> 00:23:57.519
 the comparison here,

00:23:57.900 --> 00:23:59.220
 slaves of sin,

00:23:59.319 --> 00:24:00.339
 now slaves of God

00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:00.839
 or righteousness.

00:24:01.460 --> 00:24:02.319
 But normally,

00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:03.039
 the word that Jesus

00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:03.640
 would use

00:24:03.640 --> 00:24:04.579
 is servant

00:24:04.579 --> 00:24:05.920
 or son,

00:24:06.360 --> 00:24:06.620
 daughter,

00:24:06.819 --> 00:24:07.140
 child.

00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:09.400
 That's what he would use.

00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:11.960
 So this is what you are now.

00:24:12.680 --> 00:24:13.920
 Now you do those things

00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:14.940
 that lead to holiness

00:24:14.940 --> 00:24:17.580
 and result in eternal life.

00:24:18.100 --> 00:24:19.220
 Not eternal doom.

00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:22.120
 Eternal life.

00:24:22.120 --> 00:24:24.019
 For the wages of sin

00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:24.759
 is what?

00:24:26.539 --> 00:24:27.740
 Everybody looking at the Bible?

00:24:27.860 --> 00:24:28.920
 The wages of sin is what?

00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:30.420
 Yes, it is.

00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:32.140
 But the free gift of God

00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:33.160
 is eternal what?

00:24:34.140 --> 00:24:35.160
 Through who?

00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:37.460
 Christ Jesus,

00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:38.519
 our Lord.

00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:40.620
 That is the gospel.

00:24:40.619 --> 00:24:42.839
 That's what Jesus

00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:44.279
 offers us.

00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:46.099
 He says,

00:24:46.239 --> 00:24:47.439
 this is who you were

00:24:47.439 --> 00:24:48.459
 and this is what

00:24:48.459 --> 00:24:49.479
 it was leading you to.

00:24:50.199 --> 00:24:51.679
 But then you found me.

00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:53.219
 I found you.

00:24:53.579 --> 00:24:54.739
 And I offered you

00:24:54.739 --> 00:24:55.779
 something different.

00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:57.219
 I offered you

00:24:57.219 --> 00:24:57.819
 to follow

00:24:57.819 --> 00:24:58.619
 a different way.

00:24:59.659 --> 00:24:59.879
 You know,

00:24:59.919 --> 00:25:00.599
 that's what the earliest

00:25:00.599 --> 00:25:01.539
 Christians were called.

00:25:01.659 --> 00:25:02.659
 Before they were called Christians,

00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:03.639
 they were called followers

00:25:03.639 --> 00:25:04.819
 of the way.

00:25:05.459 --> 00:25:06.500
 And that's what you

00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:07.459
 and I still are.

00:25:07.779 --> 00:25:08.839
 We're still following

00:25:08.839 --> 00:25:09.939
 that same way

00:25:09.939 --> 00:25:11.359
 that those early believers

00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:12.199
 who put their faith

00:25:12.199 --> 00:25:13.500
 in Jesus did.

00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:14.480
 That's what you

00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:15.339
 and I still do.

00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:17.259
 And when you follow

00:25:17.259 --> 00:25:17.799
 that way,

00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:19.759
 when Jesus becomes

00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:20.740
 Lord of your life,

00:25:21.339 --> 00:25:23.679
 you experience

00:25:23.679 --> 00:25:24.839
 a whole different wage.

00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:25.759
 What's a wage?

00:25:26.619 --> 00:25:26.939
 Anybody know

00:25:26.939 --> 00:25:27.679
 what a wage is?

00:25:28.639 --> 00:25:29.639
 Something you've earned.

00:25:30.139 --> 00:25:31.299
 Call it a paycheck.

00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:31.839
 Whatever.

00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:32.720
 Something you earned, right?

00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:35.059
 What have we earned

00:25:35.059 --> 00:25:36.099
 through our

00:25:36.099 --> 00:25:37.959
 slavery to sin?

00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:39.279
 Death.

00:25:39.940 --> 00:25:41.120
 What have we earned now

00:25:41.120 --> 00:25:43.420
 by becoming a child of God?

00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:44.480
 Life.

00:25:44.940 --> 00:25:45.799
 That's what's offered

00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:46.480
 to us now.

00:25:46.680 --> 00:25:47.980
 But that wasn't a wage.

00:25:48.019 --> 00:25:49.140
 He calls it a gift.

00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:50.680
 He says,

00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:52.279
 you can't earn that.

00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:54.680
 It was my gift to you.

00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:56.100
 You earned this.

00:25:56.200 --> 00:25:57.299
 You did everything you could.

00:25:57.559 --> 00:25:58.319
 Most of you tried

00:25:58.319 --> 00:25:59.340
 to do the best you could.

00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:00.900
 You tried to live clean lives.

00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:02.640
 And this is what you earned

00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:04.039
 for all of your efforts.

00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:05.799
 You earned eternal death

00:26:05.799 --> 00:26:07.680
 because that's the only outcome

00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:09.399
 of that way of life.

00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:10.559
 That team

00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:11.919
 has already lost

00:26:11.919 --> 00:26:14.019
 and you're going to experience

00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:15.240
 the loss

00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:17.099
 when you stay on that team.

00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:18.919
 But when you join Team Jesus,

00:26:19.919 --> 00:26:22.279
 the family of God,

00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:24.440
 then you're not offered

00:26:24.440 --> 00:26:25.559
 anything to earn.

00:26:25.919 --> 00:26:27.480
 You're offered a free gift

00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:29.539
 and it's eternal life.

00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:31.119
 So he says,

00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:31.960
 because of this,

00:26:32.639 --> 00:26:35.779
 because of his saving grace,

00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:39.440
 now live with his retraining grace

00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:41.099
 and let that same grace

00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:42.259
 that you put your faith in

00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:43.799
 to forgive you of your sin

00:26:43.799 --> 00:26:45.019
 and become God's child,

00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:46.399
 let that same grace

00:26:46.399 --> 00:26:48.000
 retrain your thinking,

00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:49.680
 retrain your behavior,

00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:51.480
 retrain your attitudes,

00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:53.319
 retrain your personality,

00:26:54.019 --> 00:26:55.619
 retrain who you are

00:26:55.619 --> 00:26:58.500
 to become more like Jesus

00:26:58.500 --> 00:26:59.920
 because that's what he promises.

00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:00.920
 So,

00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:02.799
 we've been talking this year

00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:03.579
 about direction,

00:27:03.859 --> 00:27:04.740
 not perfection.

00:27:05.140 --> 00:27:06.420
 This is a year of direction,

00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:07.119
 not perfection.

00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:08.200
 We're not going to achieve

00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:09.920
 perfection in this church,

00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:11.400
 but we can start moving

00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:12.599
 in a common direction

00:27:12.599 --> 00:27:13.519
 toward Jesus.

00:27:13.819 --> 00:27:14.880
 And when we do that,

00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:16.039
 this is what it looks like.

00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:18.839
 God's grace retraining us.

00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:22.039
 You don't have to clean yourself up

00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:22.900
 to come to Jesus.

00:27:23.619 --> 00:27:25.500
 His grace washes you clean

00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:26.720
 right where you are.

00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:31.579
 But when he washes you clean,

00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:34.380
 let him keep you clean.

00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:36.559
 And don't keep running back

00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:38.339
 to the same old dirt,

00:27:38.900 --> 00:27:39.920
 the same old mud.

00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:43.759
 Let God's grace retrain you.

00:27:44.019 --> 00:27:46.180
 Don't use grace as an excuse

00:27:46.180 --> 00:27:48.599
 to go jump back in the mud.

00:27:49.079 --> 00:27:50.140
 Would you pray with me right now?

00:27:50.140 --> 00:27:50.540
 God,

00:27:50.540 --> 00:27:51.700
 God,

00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:52.180
 right now,

00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:53.040
 I ask you

00:27:53.040 --> 00:27:55.380
 to speak to us

00:27:55.380 --> 00:27:56.100
 from your word,

00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:58.320
 to speak to us

00:27:58.320 --> 00:27:59.200
 by your spirit.

00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:04.300
 And as we open our hearts

00:28:04.300 --> 00:28:04.880
 and our minds

00:28:04.880 --> 00:28:05.460
 to listen

00:28:05.460 --> 00:28:06.860
 to you leading us

00:28:06.860 --> 00:28:07.780
 and guiding our thoughts

00:28:07.780 --> 00:28:08.300
 right now,

00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:10.060
 we're going to be getting out of here

00:28:10.060 --> 00:28:10.800
 in just a second.

00:28:10.920 --> 00:28:12.180
 We're picking up kids

00:28:12.180 --> 00:28:13.920
 and going off

00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:14.840
 and grabbing some food

00:28:14.840 --> 00:28:15.840
 and figuring out whatever

00:28:15.840 --> 00:28:16.540
 we're going to do

00:28:16.540 --> 00:28:17.460
 with the rest of our day.

00:28:17.460 --> 00:28:20.759
 But before we rush off,

00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:22.700
 I pray that you would use

00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:24.059
 these couple of moments

00:28:24.059 --> 00:28:25.360
 of quietness

00:28:25.360 --> 00:28:27.559
 that we could hear

00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:28.340
 from you right now.

00:28:29.420 --> 00:28:30.860
 Your spirit doesn't wait

00:28:30.860 --> 00:28:31.620
 to retrain.

00:28:32.279 --> 00:28:33.319
 It can start training

00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:34.079
 right now.

00:28:34.299 --> 00:28:35.559
 As soon as we turn

00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:36.660
 our minds toward you,

00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:38.360
 you speak to us.

00:28:38.359 --> 00:28:40.579
 God,

00:28:40.639 --> 00:28:41.119
 we thank you

00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:41.719
 for your grace.

00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:42.699
 We don't need to use it

00:28:42.699 --> 00:28:43.339
 as an excuse

00:28:43.339 --> 00:28:44.419
 to go get dirty again.

00:28:46.339 --> 00:28:47.279
 We need to remember

00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:48.799
 that grace is what frees us

00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:49.559
 from the power

00:28:49.559 --> 00:28:53.240
 that used to make us

00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:53.819
 go get dirty.

00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:55.819
 We're not bound

00:28:55.819 --> 00:28:56.619
 by that power anymore.

00:28:58.659 --> 00:28:59.019
 God,

00:28:59.059 --> 00:29:00.219
 but if there is someone here

00:29:00.219 --> 00:29:01.419
 who's still bound

00:29:01.419 --> 00:29:02.639
 by that power of sin,

00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:06.400
 they haven't yet

00:29:06.400 --> 00:29:07.360
 made that decision

00:29:07.360 --> 00:29:08.620
 to choose Jesus

00:29:08.620 --> 00:29:09.340
 for their life,

00:29:10.380 --> 00:29:11.080
 say,

00:29:11.180 --> 00:29:11.720
 I want to follow

00:29:11.720 --> 00:29:12.500
 Jesus Christ.

00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:14.000
 Let him change me.

00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:15.840
 I want to be God's child.

00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:17.840
 Then please don't let

00:29:17.840 --> 00:29:18.560
 that person walk

00:29:18.560 --> 00:29:19.460
 out of this room today

00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:22.660
 without knowing

00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:23.400
 that you want them

00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:24.300
 more than anything else.

00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:27.640
 I'm going to ask

00:29:27.640 --> 00:29:28.080
 this question.

00:29:28.160 --> 00:29:28.700
 If there's somebody

00:29:28.700 --> 00:29:29.180
 in the room,

00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:31.200
 maybe a guest,

00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:31.880
 or maybe you've been

00:29:31.880 --> 00:29:32.779
 coming here a while,

00:29:33.319 --> 00:29:33.880
 regardless,

00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:36.480
 you believe that today

00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:37.400
 is the day you need

00:29:37.400 --> 00:29:38.140
 to make the decision

00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:38.799
 for yourself

00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:39.160
 and say,

00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:40.180
 I choose Jesus.

00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:42.059
 I want to follow Jesus.

00:29:42.279 --> 00:29:43.240
 I want him to change me.

00:29:43.900 --> 00:29:44.600
 I want to become

00:29:44.600 --> 00:29:45.299
 God's child.

00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:47.220
 Then with everyone else's

00:29:47.220 --> 00:29:47.799
 heads bowed,

00:29:47.840 --> 00:29:48.420
 would you just slip

00:29:48.420 --> 00:29:49.240
 your hand up quietly?

00:29:49.799 --> 00:29:50.700
 And I'd love to talk to you.

00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:51.580
 I'd love to pray with you.

00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:53.200
 But if that's you this morning,

00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:53.940
 say,

00:29:54.039 --> 00:29:55.660
 I want to become God's child.

00:29:56.420 --> 00:29:57.580
 I want to pray for you now.

00:29:58.660 --> 00:29:59.240
 Thank you.

00:29:59.620 --> 00:30:00.500
 You can put your hand down.

00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:02.019
 Let me ask this question.

00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:04.599
 There's somebody who says,

00:30:04.680 --> 00:30:06.180
 God has been working on me.

00:30:06.900 --> 00:30:08.539
 Maybe his retraining grace,

00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:11.200
 grateful for his saving grace,

00:30:11.319 --> 00:30:13.339
 but God's grace is training me

00:30:13.339 --> 00:30:15.200
 and I need to give in to that.

00:30:15.779 --> 00:30:17.079
 Maybe there's an area of my life

00:30:17.079 --> 00:30:18.420
 that God's retraining me in.

00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:19.700
 Would you pray for me

00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:20.839
 that I will submit

00:30:20.839 --> 00:30:22.079
 to God's grace in my life

00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:23.240
 and let him change me

00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:24.579
 in the areas I need to change in?

00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:25.960
 Would you slip your hand up

00:30:25.960 --> 00:30:26.819
 and I'll pray for you as well?

00:30:26.819 --> 00:30:29.039
 Thank you.

00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:30.759
 Thank you.

00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:32.000
 God,

00:30:32.059 --> 00:30:32.720
 I pray for those

00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:33.480
 who raised their hand.

00:30:33.579 --> 00:30:34.440
 I pray for everyone

00:30:34.440 --> 00:30:36.599
 who's talking with you right now.

00:30:36.720 --> 00:30:37.299
 You're listening.

00:30:37.799 --> 00:30:38.740
 You're always listening.

00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:42.220
 And your grace is so real.

00:30:44.899 --> 00:30:46.420
 Pray that you would remind us of that

00:30:46.420 --> 00:30:49.059
 as we go off our separate ways.

00:30:50.159 --> 00:30:52.119
 Let this truth from Scripture

00:30:52.119 --> 00:30:53.359
 stay with us,

00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:54.539
 stay in our hearts

00:30:54.539 --> 00:30:55.500
 and stay in our minds

00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:57.779
 that we would not run back

00:30:57.779 --> 00:30:58.680
 to the mud tomorrow.

00:31:00.460 --> 00:31:01.740
 We would let your grace

00:31:01.740 --> 00:31:02.420
 change us,

00:31:02.599 --> 00:31:03.319
 retrain us,

00:31:03.700 --> 00:31:05.700
 and then you'll get the glory for it.

00:31:07.359 --> 00:31:08.279
 Never look at me,

00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:09.559
 look what I've been able to conquer,

00:31:09.700 --> 00:31:10.799
 look what I've been able to do,

00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:13.019
 but always look what God's grace

00:31:13.019 --> 00:31:14.359
 has done in my life.

00:31:15.940 --> 00:31:17.180
 It's in Jesus' name we pray.

00:31:17.819 --> 00:31:18.099
 Amen.

00:31:18.099 --> 00:31:18.220
 Amen.

00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:18.220


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