WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.120 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:09.540 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, 00:00:09.900 --> 00:00:15.300 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.300 --> 00:00:22.660 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:22.660 --> 00:00:34.659 Today's scripture lesson comes from the New Testament, a reading from John's first epistle, chapter 5, verse 1 to 12. 00:00:38.780 --> 00:00:43.519 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, 00:00:44.039 --> 00:00:48.240 and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 00:00:48.760 --> 00:00:51.500 By this we know that we love the children of God. 00:00:51.500 --> 00:00:54.359 When we love God and obey his commandments. 00:00:55.159 --> 00:01:00.840 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 00:01:01.740 --> 00:01:05.000 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world, 00:01:05.439 --> 00:01:09.480 and this is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith. 00:01:10.299 --> 00:01:15.579 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 00:01:16.240 --> 00:01:20.719 This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ. 00:01:20.719 --> 00:01:25.260 Not by the water only, but by the water and the blood. 00:01:25.620 --> 00:01:30.359 And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:36.039 For there are three that testify, the Spirit and the water and the blood. 00:01:36.319 --> 00:01:37.700 And these three agree. 00:01:37.700 --> 00:01:44.400 If we receive the testimony of man, the testimony of God is greater. 00:01:44.960 --> 00:01:49.640 For this is the testimony of God that he has born concerning his Son. 00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:53.780 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. 00:01:54.359 --> 00:01:57.280 Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:03.359 because he has not believed in the testimony that God has born concerning his Son. 00:02:03.359 --> 00:02:08.219 And this is the testimony that God gave us eternal life, 00:02:08.360 --> 00:02:10.319 and this life is in his Son. 00:02:10.840 --> 00:02:12.580 Whoever has the Son has life. 00:02:12.900 --> 00:02:16.120 Whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 00:02:16.460 --> 00:02:17.719 This is the word of God. 00:02:18.460 --> 00:02:19.419 Thank you to God. 00:02:19.800 --> 00:02:21.000 Good morning, Christ Church. 00:02:21.280 --> 00:02:23.159 My name is Andrew, one of the pastors here. 00:02:23.219 --> 00:02:25.400 It's good to be worshiping with you this morning. 00:02:25.879 --> 00:02:28.060 Will you join me in prayer as we open up God's word? 00:02:28.060 --> 00:02:36.460 Lord God, there is no place we'd rather be than in your presence, 00:02:36.920 --> 00:02:38.319 in the presence of your Spirit. 00:02:38.640 --> 00:02:42.900 And we ask that your Spirit, who is here now, would fill us 00:02:42.900 --> 00:02:47.960 and open up our hearts and soften them to receive your holy word. 00:02:48.740 --> 00:02:53.539 Your word that challenges us, but also invites us into the life that you want for us. 00:02:53.580 --> 00:02:56.140 Help us to believe that by the power of your Spirit. 00:02:56.139 --> 00:02:58.759 And in the name of Jesus, we pray. 00:02:59.259 --> 00:02:59.519 Amen. 00:03:00.919 --> 00:03:05.899 So I, in case you didn't know, we're in the sabbatical of our lead pastor. 00:03:06.179 --> 00:03:07.059 He's almost back. 00:03:07.479 --> 00:03:10.219 And so we've had a bunch of guest preachers throughout the summer. 00:03:10.579 --> 00:03:13.299 And I was really praying that I wouldn't have to do this. 00:03:13.919 --> 00:03:20.439 But last Sunday, our guest preacher said some things that I'm going to have to come up here and correct. 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:22.899 Some things that were not necessarily true. 00:03:22.900 --> 00:03:27.000 I really didn't want to do this, but we're a church that really wants to preach the truth. 00:03:27.400 --> 00:03:30.200 Some of you might remember last week, Ryan, he was here preaching. 00:03:30.900 --> 00:03:37.080 And he said some pretty negative things about this artificial lagoon in Castro Valley called Coal Canyon. 00:03:37.080 --> 00:03:42.800 I just want you to know that Coal Canyon is actually awesome. 00:03:43.500 --> 00:03:45.780 Like, thus saith the Lord, Coal Canyon is awesome. 00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:48.260 And I love Coal Canyon. 00:03:48.900 --> 00:03:50.740 My family loves Coal Canyon. 00:03:50.860 --> 00:03:53.840 I've loved it ever since I was a kid growing up around Castro Valley. 00:03:54.420 --> 00:03:55.620 Did I freak you out a little bit? 00:03:55.680 --> 00:03:55.960 Sorry. 00:03:57.860 --> 00:03:59.439 But we love Coal Canyon. 00:03:59.520 --> 00:03:59.980 It's awesome. 00:03:59.979 --> 00:04:09.859 And if you ever want to come visit us for a beach day at Coal Canyon, you'll come and you'll see that what Ryan preached last week was absolute heresy, all right, regarding Coal Canyon. 00:04:10.959 --> 00:04:21.379 Now, funnily enough, my family, we were actually at Coal Canyon just a little over a month ago with some of our daughters, some of the families in the preschool that our daughters go to. 00:04:21.379 --> 00:04:28.480 And I wanted to share with you a very interesting conversation that I overheard while we were there at Coal Canyon. 00:04:28.579 --> 00:04:33.379 I was just playing with my girls in the sand, and maybe just a couple yards behind me were two people. 00:04:33.540 --> 00:04:37.819 They were millennials like myself, but they were cool millennials, not like me. 00:04:37.860 --> 00:04:40.159 I was, like, wearing my Costco swimming trunks. 00:04:40.579 --> 00:04:44.399 And this guy, he wasn't black, but he had braids, so you knew he was cool, right? 00:04:44.399 --> 00:04:55.120 And one of the things that they were talking about was Burning Man and how transformative of an experience it was for them to be at Burning Man. 00:04:55.199 --> 00:05:01.779 Now, if you are not familiar with what Burning Man is, it actually started here in the Bay Area in San Francisco in the 80s. 00:05:02.019 --> 00:05:06.399 And it's become, like, this big thing where, like, tons of people go out into the desert in Nevada. 00:05:06.399 --> 00:05:25.439 I think the last event had over 500,000 people, and they experiment with living as an alternative community where the principles of participation and community and radical inclusion and self-reliance and self-expression are elevated and valued and celebrated. 00:05:25.560 --> 00:05:27.139 And they try to be this kind of community out there. 00:05:27.199 --> 00:05:32.079 And it culminates, the end of the week culminates in the burning of this wooden structure called the man, right? 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:38.740 It's, like, this place where people can be free to be as unconventional as they want to be. 00:05:39.259 --> 00:05:44.919 And I'm not here to condemn or to praise Burning Man or these two millennials who are talking about it. 00:05:45.180 --> 00:05:51.719 But one thing I overheard in their conversation has really stuck with me over the last month or so. 00:05:51.799 --> 00:06:00.019 They were talking about Burning Man, and the guy was like, yeah, you know, living by the ten principles of Burning Man has really, really changed my life and for the better. 00:06:00.019 --> 00:06:03.099 And the girl, she said something that was so interesting. 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:04.680 She said, yeah, you know what? 00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:08.819 It's kind of like religion but without all the bad stuff. 00:06:09.959 --> 00:06:12.599 It's kind of like religion but without all the bad stuff. 00:06:12.620 --> 00:06:17.099 And I've been pondering ever since what she might have meant by religion and all the bad stuff. 00:06:17.319 --> 00:06:18.019 And I'll never know. 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:20.620 I won't be able to ask her what she meant. 00:06:20.620 --> 00:06:29.459 But based on what I know about Burning Man, my guess is that at least part of what she means by all the bad stuff is probably, like, the restrictiveness of religion, right? 00:06:29.819 --> 00:06:33.660 As opposed to the supposed freedom of Burning Man, right? 00:06:34.139 --> 00:06:36.079 I think that's what she was getting at. 00:06:36.100 --> 00:06:38.079 And she's not necessarily wrong. 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:46.759 Every way of life comes with a set of restrictions regarding against whatever is believed to be bad and harmful and thus better avoided, right? 00:06:46.759 --> 00:06:57.500 And so depending on how much you agree with a certain religion, depending on how much you agree with a certain way of life, it could definitely seem quite restrictive and burdensome. 00:06:58.319 --> 00:07:01.000 Maybe some of us here feel that way about Christianity. 00:07:01.339 --> 00:07:07.439 Maybe this is why some of us are hesitant to take that next step into a deeper relationship with Christ and his church. 00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:20.660 Every time we find ourselves drawn to Jesus, we also remember those hard things he says about what he wants us to do with, you know, our money or our grudges or our bodies, our sex lives or our ultimate allegiances. 00:07:20.920 --> 00:07:30.300 And it's unclear to us whether his ways and his commandments are a benefit or a burden in this game of life that we're all trying to win at. 00:07:30.300 --> 00:07:34.600 And this is not just a struggle for those who are exploring the faith, right? 00:07:34.920 --> 00:07:37.720 But also for Christians, even for me as a pastor. 00:07:37.819 --> 00:07:38.220 Let's be real. 00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:45.259 God's ways, God's commandments, quite often, what, they seem far more burdensome than not, right? 00:07:45.720 --> 00:07:48.480 And antithetical to winning at life. 00:07:49.199 --> 00:07:54.160 You know, even though I've been a Christian pretty much my whole life, I grew up in the church in a Christian home, 00:07:54.160 --> 00:08:04.000 I still often wondered since early in my childhood whether my Christian faith was true and whether the way of Jesus was actually the best way. 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:07.920 For much of my life, I've entertained this thought experiment. 00:08:08.440 --> 00:08:11.660 Maybe you've played this same imagination game. 00:08:12.020 --> 00:08:18.200 It goes like this, man, if I wasn't a Christian, then da-da-da-da-da, right? 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:22.360 Man, if I wasn't a Christian, then fill in the blank. 00:08:22.360 --> 00:08:25.460 Have any of you Christians in the room pondered that question? 00:08:26.040 --> 00:08:28.620 If I weren't a Christian, then what? 00:08:29.319 --> 00:08:32.940 You know, as a kid, me and my best friend, we used to say this to each other all the time. 00:08:33.019 --> 00:08:34.639 Man, if I wasn't a Christian, this. 00:08:34.720 --> 00:08:39.360 And it wasn't, man, if I wasn't a Christian, oh, I'd be so miserable without Jesus watching over me. 00:08:40.039 --> 00:08:48.279 No, it was more like, man, if I wasn't a Christian, oh, the things I would do without Jesus watching me, right? 00:08:48.279 --> 00:08:55.399 I remember as a kid, I was thinking, man, if I wasn't a Christian, I'd have this awesome hidden stash of stolen candy in my bedroom. 00:08:56.199 --> 00:09:01.759 If I wasn't a Christian in high school, man, I would have so much more time from just copying my friend's homework. 00:09:02.439 --> 00:09:08.899 If I wasn't a Christian in undergrad, I thought, man, if I wasn't a Christian, I'd have so much more fun with maybe the girls in my dorm. 00:09:08.899 --> 00:09:24.179 Man, if I wasn't a Christian, even now as an adult, as a pastor even, I think sometimes, man, if I wasn't a Christian, man, you know, all those, all the tithes and the offerings and the charitable donations, man, I could use that for a more secure retirement. 00:09:24.379 --> 00:09:27.000 I could use that for more vacations, better vacations. 00:09:27.720 --> 00:09:30.980 Man, if I wasn't a Christian, I could go for longer weekend trips. 00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:34.840 My kids would have access to more extracurricular options. 00:09:34.840 --> 00:09:43.500 Man, if I wasn't a Christian, I wouldn't feel so at odds with so much of what society values and celebrates and accepts and praises. 00:09:44.980 --> 00:09:46.320 I mean, am I the only one here? 00:09:46.680 --> 00:09:48.820 Or does anyone else here sometimes feel like this, right? 00:09:49.320 --> 00:09:51.879 Their faith is holding them back. 00:09:52.180 --> 00:09:58.019 Like, Jesus' ways and his commands are such a burden, such a drag. 00:09:58.519 --> 00:10:03.759 Anyone else here sometimes indulge that inner voice and maybe even mutter under their breath, 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:09.980 man, if I wasn't a Christian, my life could be, my life would be so good. 00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:11.539 So good. 00:10:11.620 --> 00:10:12.139 So free. 00:10:12.659 --> 00:10:13.740 So unfettered. 00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:17.299 So unburdened by the rigorous commandments of God. 00:10:18.399 --> 00:10:24.179 Maybe this is how some of you have been feeling about this letter of 1 John we've been focusing on throughout the summer. 00:10:25.019 --> 00:10:30.480 Some of you have mentioned to me how much you've noticed this obedience theme throughout the sermon series this summer. 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:34.159 You've noticed I've been preaching some pretty hard, some pretty challenging things. 00:10:34.840 --> 00:10:41.899 And honestly, if it were up to me, I'd much prefer to just coddle you and give you hugs and lift you up with positive words of affirmation. 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:44.620 But 1 John hasn't exactly been that, right? 00:10:45.500 --> 00:10:49.379 And here in the first three verses of this last chapter, it's a lot more of the same. 00:10:49.620 --> 00:10:51.519 A lot more of the same of what we've been hearing. 00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:59.860 Verse 1, everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 00:11:00.439 --> 00:11:05.759 It's saying if you really believe in Jesus, if you're really a child of God and say that you love your Father in heaven, 00:11:05.860 --> 00:11:09.980 then you will also obey him and love him like the rest of his children. 00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:15.759 And not just loving him and his children with any kind of permissive, you know, relativistic love, 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:20.399 but this is a love for others that is aligned with a love for God and his commandments. 00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:27.399 Verse 2, by this we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments. 00:11:28.220 --> 00:11:33.879 This letter has been saying again and again and again that all these things, all these three things, they always go together. 00:11:34.179 --> 00:11:38.299 Love for God, love for others, and obedience to God's commandments. 00:11:38.519 --> 00:11:42.500 Verse 3, for this is the love of God that we keep his commandments. 00:11:42.500 --> 00:11:48.940 And at this point, you may be like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, we've heard this all already throughout this letter. 00:11:49.419 --> 00:11:52.440 Maybe some of us are so ready, right, for the next sermon series. 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:54.120 I'm so ready for Jonathan to come back. 00:11:54.519 --> 00:11:59.399 Tired of this repetitive, burdensome talk about obedience to God's commandments. 00:12:00.620 --> 00:12:07.960 But as if the Holy Spirit-inspired author of 1 John anticipated our dismissive mood and exasperation at this point in this letter, 00:12:08.519 --> 00:12:09.879 verse 3 continues, what does it say? 00:12:09.879 --> 00:12:14.179 And his commandments are not burdensome. 00:12:14.820 --> 00:12:17.039 And his commandments are not burdensome. 00:12:17.080 --> 00:12:20.919 And I want to ask us today, like, whether you claim to be a Christian or not, 00:12:21.679 --> 00:12:24.000 is this an experience that you can confirm? 00:12:25.100 --> 00:12:27.720 That his commandments are not burdensome? 00:12:28.220 --> 00:12:28.960 Do you agree? 00:12:29.720 --> 00:12:31.399 And if not, why? 00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:34.919 I think if we're all honest, it's hard, right? 00:12:35.220 --> 00:12:37.080 It's hard to agree with God here. 00:12:37.080 --> 00:12:38.560 But why? 00:12:39.259 --> 00:12:40.220 Let's talk about why. 00:12:40.560 --> 00:12:44.300 Let's talk about why this is such a counterintuitive word from God. 00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:46.379 His commandments are not burdensome. 00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:48.600 Like, why, if this is really God's word, 00:12:48.980 --> 00:12:54.960 why does obedience to God's command seem so burdensome and so antithetical to winning at life? 00:12:54.960 --> 00:12:59.440 Well, if God's word here is saying that his commandments are not burdensome, 00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:05.960 then perhaps, just maybe, maybe the question that we need to ask ourselves is, 00:13:06.280 --> 00:13:11.800 is it possible that we have misidentified and misdefined the win? 00:13:11.799 --> 00:13:14.819 Is it possible that we've misdefined the win? 00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:18.539 Like, what if winning at life isn't what we thought that it was? 00:13:19.339 --> 00:13:25.240 What if winning at life wasn't necessarily home ownership, a Tesla, frequent tropical vacations, 00:13:25.419 --> 00:13:30.299 career success, health, status, reputation, and the admiration and approval of all our peers? 00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:35.120 What if winning at life wasn't merely possessing that lifestyle, that look, 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:38.719 that lover that we've been coveting as our thumbs scroll on our Instagram feeds? 00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:43.940 Like, could it be that God's commandments were actually only, 00:13:44.440 --> 00:13:50.060 they're only actually burdensome for those of us who are trying to play and win at the wrong game? 00:13:51.620 --> 00:13:52.840 Let's try this illustration. 00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:54.040 I want to try this illustration. 00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:57.320 And I never create illustrations, but I worked really hard on this one, so let's try it. 00:13:58.620 --> 00:14:03.180 Imagine someone, or maybe a whole society, believes that to win at life, 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:06.379 they must swim across this far expanse, 00:14:06.379 --> 00:14:10.039 or just get across this far expanse to this mythical island paradise, 00:14:10.840 --> 00:14:16.159 and claim as much of that paradise for themselves over against everyone else. 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:22.240 But they have no idea that the mythical island doesn't actually exist. 00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:27.480 And also, that the great expanse that everyone is building boats to try to cross 00:14:27.480 --> 00:14:31.000 is not filled with water, but lava. 00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:36.480 Now, imagine you're behind in this rat race, and other people's boats are already done, 00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:40.519 and they're inching toward what you believe to be water and paradise. 00:14:41.559 --> 00:14:46.059 And then imagine God comes to you with something that looks like floaties, all right? 00:14:46.419 --> 00:14:52.179 And God says, hey, just put these on, and I guarantee you that you will win at life. 00:14:52.179 --> 00:14:58.139 And so thinking that they'll help you wade across the great expanse, you put them on. 00:14:59.079 --> 00:15:05.000 But as soon as you put them on, you find out that these supposed floaties are like 100-pound weights, 00:15:05.219 --> 00:15:10.859 and even like magnets around your arms, pulling you away from what you believe to be water and paradise, 00:15:11.419 --> 00:15:15.779 and only drawing you nearer and nearer to the giver of these floaties. 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:21.500 Now, let me ask you, are these floaties a burden or a benefit? 00:15:22.659 --> 00:15:27.659 If you are blind to the actual non-existence of that paradise you thought you wanted, 00:15:27.779 --> 00:15:31.519 if you're blind to the reality of the lava you thought was water, 00:15:32.059 --> 00:15:35.480 then of course you'll see these floaties as a burden weighing you down, 00:15:35.659 --> 00:15:37.379 keeping you far from your goals, right? 00:15:38.139 --> 00:15:41.299 But if you had eyes to see reality as God saw it, 00:15:41.299 --> 00:15:46.019 then wouldn't you be thankful and glad and happily wear these magnetic weights 00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:50.479 pulling you closer and closer to God and away from the ominous lava? 00:15:51.539 --> 00:15:53.899 Now, forgive me if this was a bad or a silly illustration, 00:15:54.099 --> 00:15:58.579 but the point is what if God's commandments were better for us than we know, 00:15:59.179 --> 00:16:01.240 better for us than we could understand? 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:05.019 You know, in the beginning, in the beginning of all of history, 00:16:05.019 --> 00:16:06.819 as was recorded in Genesis chapter 1, 00:16:06.820 --> 00:16:11.840 God's first commandment to his people wasn't just a commandment. 00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:13.580 It was also a blessing. 00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:15.860 It was a commandment and a blessing. 00:16:16.020 --> 00:16:19.620 It wasn't a restrictive prohibition, but a directive benediction. 00:16:19.820 --> 00:16:20.360 He said what? 00:16:20.640 --> 00:16:21.680 Be fruitful. 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:24.200 He said, be fruitful. 00:16:24.260 --> 00:16:26.160 I command you to be fruitful. 00:16:27.180 --> 00:16:30.280 And every other command God has ever uttered since 00:16:30.280 --> 00:16:33.800 has been a follow-up to this original commandment. 00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:37.699 protective guardrails, bright signals pointing us toward this fruitful, 00:16:38.059 --> 00:16:41.919 flourishing life that our Father in Heaven has always wanted us to enjoy. 00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:47.199 God's commandments are not the words of some ominous, oppressive deity 00:16:47.199 --> 00:16:49.399 toward his dutiful religious adherents. 00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:49.740 No. 00:16:50.259 --> 00:16:54.959 They are words from a perfect and loving Father to his beloved children. 00:16:55.079 --> 00:16:56.339 They aren't restricting rules. 00:16:56.479 --> 00:16:58.519 They are enjoyable exhortations. 00:16:59.479 --> 00:17:01.120 They're meant to soothe us. 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:03.159 They're meant to guide us. 00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:04.779 Or think about it this way. 00:17:04.819 --> 00:17:08.039 If you're a parent, or even if you can just imagine having a baby, right, 00:17:08.639 --> 00:17:12.759 what are the first commands that we speak to our infant children? 00:17:13.779 --> 00:17:17.419 Is it, do what I say because I'm the authority figure in your life? 00:17:17.859 --> 00:17:20.119 Is that the first command that you give to your little baby? 00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:21.460 No. 00:17:22.059 --> 00:17:22.680 Think about it. 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:26.119 Our first commands to our children are probably, 00:17:26.119 --> 00:17:31.000 shh, shh, right? 00:17:31.579 --> 00:17:32.419 Hush, little baby. 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:33.919 Don't you cry. 00:17:34.639 --> 00:17:35.759 Or when we say, it's okay. 00:17:36.339 --> 00:17:36.939 It's okay. 00:17:37.099 --> 00:17:39.339 We're basically giving them the commandment, what? 00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:40.500 Trust me. 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:42.539 Trust me. 00:17:42.659 --> 00:17:45.039 Trust your daddy because I promise you, 00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:49.359 I'm going to do everything in my power for your good. 00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:55.179 Now, I get that what I'm saying may seem like a big if to many of us. 00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:56.839 Like, how do I even know that there's a God? 00:17:56.919 --> 00:18:00.740 How do I know if he's there, that he's a good, perfect, and loving God? 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:06.359 And how do I know that this perfect island paradise that so many of us are pursuing 00:18:06.359 --> 00:18:07.699 actually doesn't exist? 00:18:08.399 --> 00:18:12.559 You might be thinking, Andrew, how do you know that the way of Jesus laid out in the scriptures 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:17.559 and his commandments are the best and only way to win at life? 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:20.740 And the first thing I'd say is that I've seen it. 00:18:21.379 --> 00:18:26.059 I've seen clear winners at life, people for whom God's ways are not burdensome, 00:18:26.139 --> 00:18:27.599 but actually life-giving. 00:18:28.779 --> 00:18:32.579 I was speaking with our children's director, Jane George, this week, 00:18:32.619 --> 00:18:34.200 and when I asked her to fill in the blank, 00:18:34.399 --> 00:18:36.279 if you weren't a Christian, then what? 00:18:37.079 --> 00:18:41.440 She said, if I weren't a Christian, I would be so profoundly bored. 00:18:43.419 --> 00:18:45.679 She was like, you know, before I became a Christian, 00:18:46.119 --> 00:18:48.259 I used to hate waiting in lines. 00:18:49.139 --> 00:18:52.399 Like, I just can't believe this is a necessary part of my human existence, 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:54.679 just waiting here in line at the supermarket. 00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:58.419 But then she said, but you know, when I became a Christian, 00:18:59.059 --> 00:19:01.240 I distinctly remember thinking to myself, 00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:03.759 wow, I'm never going to be bored again. 00:19:04.599 --> 00:19:08.960 I can stand in any line, because I will always and forever be in the presence of God 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:12.360 and never without purpose or anticipation of all the good things 00:19:12.360 --> 00:19:15.900 that he has in store for this world and how I can take part in it. 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:19.960 And you need to know that this is not coming from just a happy-go-lucky, 00:19:20.100 --> 00:19:24.460 naive woman who's enjoyed life mostly unscathed from heartache. 00:19:25.420 --> 00:19:27.960 In case those of you don't know Jane George's story, 00:19:28.120 --> 00:19:31.100 much like Maria Francis, she was a pastor's wife as well. 00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:34.340 I'm so lucky to be working with two amazing pastor's wives 00:19:34.339 --> 00:19:37.179 and gleaning their wisdom and the wisdom of their husbands. 00:19:38.179 --> 00:19:42.459 And her pastor's wife, her husband, his name was David George. 00:19:43.059 --> 00:19:44.919 Many of you know him because he used to pastor here. 00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:49.459 And before that, he was a well-respected church planner in the Sacramento area. 00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:53.339 And he's a huge reason, actually, why I'm here. 00:19:53.379 --> 00:19:54.559 And that's a story for another day. 00:19:55.319 --> 00:19:56.539 But for those of you who don't know, 00:19:56.659 --> 00:20:01.379 David passed away from a very sudden pancreatic cancer back in 2015. 00:20:01.380 --> 00:20:05.260 And yet Jane was sharing with me just this week 00:20:05.260 --> 00:20:08.380 how although of course she wishes David was still here 00:20:08.380 --> 00:20:12.100 and how of course she hates that he's gone, 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:14.940 she was sharing with me how amazed she is 00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:19.400 at how God's continued her story and her fruitful ministry. 00:20:20.180 --> 00:20:23.120 How God's allowed her to serve and to support 00:20:23.120 --> 00:20:25.160 and to meet people in their grief 00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:28.920 whom she otherwise would never have been able or equipped to care for. 00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:33.180 And even as she felt like she was winning at life at David's side 00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:35.060 in their thriving church plant, 00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:38.380 she will tell you that she still feels fulfilled 00:20:38.380 --> 00:20:40.580 and like a winner at life even now 00:20:40.580 --> 00:20:43.820 in the sadness of her present season without him. 00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:47.560 I believe Jane George is a winner at life 00:20:47.560 --> 00:20:49.360 following the way of Jesus. 00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:51.779 Now maybe you're still like, 00:20:51.880 --> 00:20:54.240 hey, okay, that might be good for Jane George, 00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:56.100 but I'm still not convinced. 00:20:56.099 --> 00:20:59.219 Maybe you have a different vision than she does 00:20:59.219 --> 00:21:00.579 for what it means to win at life. 00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:03.119 You'd rather be rich and famous 00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:06.119 than a whittled children's ministry director. 00:21:06.859 --> 00:21:07.359 I get it. 00:21:08.119 --> 00:21:10.879 You have other ambitions that you'd prefer to achieve, 00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:13.139 other appetites that you're looking to satisfy, 00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:15.959 the approval of others that you're focused on winning. 00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:18.139 And if that's the case, 00:21:18.219 --> 00:21:19.779 what I'd like to ask you this morning is, 00:21:19.899 --> 00:21:21.359 okay, maybe you have a different 00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:24.299 and supposedly better vision of winning at life. 00:21:25.099 --> 00:21:26.019 But think about it. 00:21:26.619 --> 00:21:30.240 What commandments does that way of life impose upon you? 00:21:31.139 --> 00:21:34.839 And are God's commandments really more burdensome than those? 00:21:35.639 --> 00:21:36.319 Are they? 00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:39.559 See, even those of us who aren't religious, 00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:41.879 as we all try to win at life, 00:21:41.939 --> 00:21:45.199 we're also all bound by the rules of some game, 00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:47.459 bound by some set of commandments 00:21:47.460 --> 00:21:49.480 that will help us achieve our ambitions, 00:21:49.900 --> 00:21:50.779 win people's approval, 00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:52.140 and satisfy our appetites. 00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:52.720 We're all doing it. 00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:54.100 We're all going after the three A's, 00:21:54.380 --> 00:21:56.120 ambition, appetite, and approval. 00:21:56.579 --> 00:21:58.840 And we're all obeying some set of commands 00:21:58.840 --> 00:22:01.799 that we believe will help us arrive at the three A's. 00:22:02.819 --> 00:22:04.440 And I want us to honestly think 00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:06.720 about what kind of a world that's resulted in. 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:08.960 I mean, don't you see 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:11.500 how pursuing our ambitions, 00:22:11.579 --> 00:22:12.799 apart from God's ways, 00:22:12.900 --> 00:22:14.680 has only perpetuated the world's 00:22:14.680 --> 00:22:16.640 cutthroat culture of competition? 00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:18.519 And can't you see 00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:19.940 how following our appetites, 00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:21.340 apart from God's ways, 00:22:21.600 --> 00:22:23.079 has only perpetuated the world's 00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:25.460 gluttonous culture of consumerism? 00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:27.579 And can we not see 00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:29.240 how living for the approval of others 00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:30.579 has only perpetuated 00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:33.460 the world's vain culture of celebrity? 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:36.220 And don't we see 00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:37.259 how each of these cultures 00:22:37.259 --> 00:22:39.240 of competition and consumerism 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:40.019 and celebrity, 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:42.120 how they all have commandments of their own, 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:42.799 and their commandments 00:22:42.799 --> 00:22:44.000 are absolutely crushing. 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:46.600 Thou shalt get into the best school. 00:22:46.599 --> 00:22:48.240 Thou shalt get the best career, 00:22:48.419 --> 00:22:49.859 or you cannot win at life. 00:22:50.639 --> 00:22:52.619 Thou shalt accumulate the most toys 00:22:52.619 --> 00:22:54.480 and experience the most pleasures, 00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:56.299 or else you cannot win at life. 00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:58.579 Thou shalt be the most lovely 00:22:58.579 --> 00:23:00.839 and beautiful and admirable person 00:23:00.839 --> 00:23:01.359 in the world, 00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:04.500 or you cannot win at life. 00:23:05.359 --> 00:23:06.299 Think about it. 00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:09.099 The world commands us to work 00:23:09.099 --> 00:23:10.639 and to sacrifice and to hustle 00:23:10.639 --> 00:23:12.240 and to work these 60 hours a week 00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:13.880 just to have a chance 00:23:13.880 --> 00:23:15.019 at winning at life. 00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:17.620 Meanwhile, God commands us, 00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:20.039 thou shalt rest. 00:23:21.160 --> 00:23:22.759 Thou shalt observe the Sabbath 00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:24.519 and keep it holy. 00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:25.920 Thou shalt trust me. 00:23:27.400 --> 00:23:28.099 I want to ask you, 00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:29.140 which of these commandments 00:23:29.140 --> 00:23:31.799 is truly more liberating? 00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:33.680 Which of these commandments 00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:35.859 truly offers a better freedom? 00:23:35.859 --> 00:23:39.299 See, God's word that his commandments 00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:40.299 are not burdensome, 00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:42.939 this is an implicit critique 00:23:42.939 --> 00:23:45.240 of American culture's prevalent 00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:46.979 misunderstanding of freedom. 00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:49.979 You know, we have so naively 00:23:49.979 --> 00:23:51.459 come to believe that freedom 00:23:51.459 --> 00:23:53.979 is radical, individual autonomy 00:23:53.979 --> 00:23:55.819 and independence from all sources 00:23:55.819 --> 00:23:56.639 of authority. 00:23:57.879 --> 00:23:58.579 But in his book, 00:23:58.659 --> 00:23:59.319 The Second Mountain, 00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:01.339 New York Times columnist David Brooks, 00:24:01.399 --> 00:24:03.159 he reminds us of how problematic 00:24:03.160 --> 00:24:05.600 this understanding of freedom really is. 00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:07.480 Commenting on the naivete 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:08.259 of what he calls 00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:09.880 the secular sermons of our day, 00:24:10.340 --> 00:24:11.240 commencement addresses, 00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:12.440 he says, 00:24:12.820 --> 00:24:13.620 many young people 00:24:13.620 --> 00:24:15.279 are graduating into limbo, 00:24:15.900 --> 00:24:17.640 floating and plagued by uncertainty. 00:24:17.820 --> 00:24:18.360 They want to know 00:24:18.360 --> 00:24:19.160 what specifically 00:24:19.160 --> 00:24:20.620 they should do with their lives. 00:24:21.060 --> 00:24:22.000 So we hand them 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:24.500 the great empty box of freedom. 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:28.120 But the students put down this box 00:24:28.120 --> 00:24:29.940 asking what this freedom is for. 00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:31.540 And so we hand them 00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:32.940 the equally empty boxes 00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:34.059 of possibility 00:24:34.059 --> 00:24:35.159 and authenticity 00:24:35.159 --> 00:24:36.339 and autonomy 00:24:36.339 --> 00:24:36.839 and tell them, 00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:37.920 sky's the limits, 00:24:38.220 --> 00:24:39.180 look inside yourself, 00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:40.480 find your passion, 00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:41.279 you do you, 00:24:41.539 --> 00:24:43.200 define your own values. 00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:45.139 But, he writes, 00:24:45.579 --> 00:24:46.099 you will notice 00:24:46.099 --> 00:24:46.920 that our answers 00:24:46.920 --> 00:24:48.200 take all the difficulties 00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:49.619 of living in your 20s 00:24:49.619 --> 00:24:51.200 and make them worse. 00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:54.619 The graduates are in limbo 00:24:54.619 --> 00:24:56.339 and we give them uncertainty. 00:24:57.619 --> 00:24:58.180 And while, of course, 00:24:58.379 --> 00:24:59.639 David Brooks, 00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:00.420 he acknowledges, 00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:00.720 of course, 00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:01.740 the benefits of freedom 00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:03.420 from unjust structures 00:25:03.420 --> 00:25:04.360 of oppression, right? 00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:05.759 But the point he's making 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:06.340 is that freedom 00:25:06.340 --> 00:25:07.860 for freedom's sake alone, 00:25:08.340 --> 00:25:09.180 this kind of radical, 00:25:09.360 --> 00:25:10.420 autonomous freedom, 00:25:10.560 --> 00:25:11.539 it won't deliver 00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:13.600 because it can't deliver. 00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:15.460 In the conclusion 00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:16.380 of this chapter 00:25:16.380 --> 00:25:17.480 entitled, 00:25:17.620 --> 00:25:18.360 Instagram Life, 00:25:18.460 --> 00:25:19.420 he mourns 00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:20.480 for our many 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:22.000 contemporary graduates. 00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:23.200 He says, 00:25:23.300 --> 00:25:24.320 nobody told them 00:25:24.320 --> 00:25:25.820 freedom sucks. 00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:27.360 Political freedom 00:25:27.360 --> 00:25:27.759 is great, 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:28.379 but personal, 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:29.059 social, 00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:30.220 and emotional freedom 00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:30.900 when it becomes 00:25:30.900 --> 00:25:31.900 an ultimate end 00:25:31.900 --> 00:25:33.259 absolutely sucks. 00:25:33.379 --> 00:25:34.339 It leads to a random, 00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:35.359 busy life 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:36.940 with no discernible direction, 00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:38.279 no firm foundation. 00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:39.680 It turns out that freedom 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:40.579 isn't an ocean 00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:41.220 you want to spend 00:25:41.220 --> 00:25:41.920 your life in. 00:25:42.599 --> 00:25:43.740 Freedom is a river 00:25:43.740 --> 00:25:45.220 you want to get across 00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:46.660 so you can plant yourself 00:25:46.660 --> 00:25:47.759 on the other side 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:48.940 and fully commit 00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:49.500 to something. 00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.500 And this brings us 00:25:51.500 --> 00:25:52.099 to verse four. 00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:53.099 You see, 00:25:53.099 --> 00:25:53.839 the key to winning 00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:54.219 at life 00:25:54.219 --> 00:25:56.240 isn't radical autonomy, 00:25:56.459 --> 00:25:57.139 self-expression, 00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:57.659 or freedom 00:25:57.659 --> 00:25:58.579 from God's commands. 00:25:59.279 --> 00:25:59.859 It doesn't say 00:25:59.859 --> 00:26:00.659 that to win at life 00:26:00.659 --> 00:26:01.219 you need to become 00:26:01.219 --> 00:26:02.559 God-like on your own 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:03.399 by your own strength 00:26:03.399 --> 00:26:04.059 and ingenuity. 00:26:04.379 --> 00:26:04.500 No, 00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:05.399 to win at life 00:26:05.399 --> 00:26:06.659 you have to be 00:26:06.659 --> 00:26:08.039 a dependent child 00:26:08.039 --> 00:26:08.759 of God. 00:26:09.619 --> 00:26:10.079 Verse four, 00:26:10.459 --> 00:26:10.899 for everyone 00:26:10.899 --> 00:26:11.819 who has been born 00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:12.439 of God 00:26:12.439 --> 00:26:13.679 overcomes the world 00:26:13.679 --> 00:26:14.539 and this is the victory 00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:15.159 that has overcome 00:26:15.159 --> 00:26:15.459 the world, 00:26:15.699 --> 00:26:16.279 not our might, 00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:17.240 not our accomplishments, 00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:18.240 not our reputation, 00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:20.179 but our faith. 00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:21.959 Our dependence, 00:26:21.960 --> 00:26:22.980 our trust. 00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:23.759 The word for overcome 00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:24.740 here is nikao, 00:26:24.819 --> 00:26:26.059 it's where Nike comes from 00:26:26.059 --> 00:26:26.819 meaning to conquer. 00:26:27.660 --> 00:26:28.259 And the beauty 00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:29.240 of the Christian faith 00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:30.240 is that we conquer 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:32.160 not as warriors 00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:33.259 but as children. 00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:35.519 Not through independence 00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:36.680 but through utter 00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:38.120 dependence on God. 00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:38.380 And see, 00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:39.140 this is the gospel. 00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:40.660 This is the gospel. 00:26:41.340 --> 00:26:42.200 Every other method 00:26:42.200 --> 00:26:43.079 of winning at life 00:26:43.079 --> 00:26:44.140 requires that we 00:26:44.140 --> 00:26:45.059 win at life, 00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:46.279 that we conquer, 00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:47.340 that we overcome 00:26:47.340 --> 00:26:47.779 the world 00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:48.660 by our own 00:26:48.660 --> 00:26:50.220 independent faithfulness 00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:50.960 to the burdensome 00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:51.440 commands 00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:52.360 of this world. 00:26:53.140 --> 00:26:53.960 But the good news 00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:55.140 of the Christian faith 00:26:55.140 --> 00:26:56.640 is that Jesus says 00:26:56.640 --> 00:26:57.279 to his disciples, 00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:57.980 take heart, 00:26:58.660 --> 00:27:00.180 I have overcome 00:27:00.180 --> 00:27:00.660 the world. 00:27:01.799 --> 00:27:02.880 This is how verse five 00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:03.279 can say, 00:27:03.380 --> 00:27:03.860 who is it 00:27:03.860 --> 00:27:04.720 that overcomes 00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:05.160 the world 00:27:05.160 --> 00:27:05.940 except the one 00:27:05.940 --> 00:27:06.779 who believes 00:27:06.779 --> 00:27:07.680 that Jesus 00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:08.559 is the Son of God? 00:27:09.299 --> 00:27:10.240 Or as the Apostle Paul 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:10.860 writes, 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:12.799 we are more than conquerors, 00:27:12.820 --> 00:27:13.039 right, 00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:13.820 through him 00:27:13.820 --> 00:27:14.799 who loved us. 00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:16.460 This is the gospel, 00:27:17.120 --> 00:27:17.840 that Jesus, 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:18.740 the Son of God, 00:27:19.220 --> 00:27:20.180 came to conquer 00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:21.019 the world 00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:22.039 we couldn't conquer, 00:27:22.580 --> 00:27:23.960 to win at life 00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:24.660 when we were doomed 00:27:24.660 --> 00:27:26.100 to lose at life. 00:27:26.860 --> 00:27:27.600 And he did it 00:27:27.600 --> 00:27:28.900 precisely by obeying 00:27:28.900 --> 00:27:29.779 the commandments 00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:31.880 of his Father in heaven 00:27:31.880 --> 00:27:33.840 as a real life 00:27:33.840 --> 00:27:34.660 human being 00:27:34.660 --> 00:27:35.820 in the flesh. 00:27:36.299 --> 00:27:37.220 This is what verse six 00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:37.860 is getting at. 00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:39.240 This is he who came 00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:40.759 by water and blood. 00:27:41.360 --> 00:27:41.880 Jesus Christ, 00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:42.980 not by the water only, 00:27:43.380 --> 00:27:44.160 but by the water 00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:45.100 and the blood. 00:27:45.600 --> 00:27:45.700 See, 00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:46.400 the Son of God 00:27:46.400 --> 00:27:47.160 came into history 00:27:47.160 --> 00:27:47.980 in the flesh. 00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:48.620 He was baptized 00:27:48.620 --> 00:27:49.700 in the water 00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:50.220 of the Jordan 00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:50.759 at the beginning 00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:51.420 of his ministry 00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:52.200 and crucified 00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:53.279 on the bloody cross 00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:53.860 of Calvary 00:27:53.860 --> 00:27:54.319 at the end 00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:54.920 of his ministry. 00:27:55.720 --> 00:27:56.500 And while the spirits 00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:58.039 of this competitive world 00:27:58.039 --> 00:27:59.839 told us all, 00:28:00.140 --> 00:28:00.740 including him, 00:28:00.819 --> 00:28:01.519 that to conquer 00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:02.299 and overcome the world, 00:28:02.380 --> 00:28:03.299 we must paint the world 00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:04.299 red with the blood 00:28:04.299 --> 00:28:05.180 of others. 00:28:06.339 --> 00:28:06.680 Jesus, 00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:07.980 filled with the Spirit 00:28:07.980 --> 00:28:08.460 of God, 00:28:09.480 --> 00:28:10.700 the beloved Son of God, 00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:12.039 with whom the Father 00:28:12.039 --> 00:28:12.819 was well pleased 00:28:12.819 --> 00:28:14.180 from beginning to end, 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:15.779 Jesus insisted 00:28:15.779 --> 00:28:16.819 on conquering 00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:17.639 and overcoming 00:28:17.639 --> 00:28:18.119 the world, 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:18.899 not through the blood 00:28:18.899 --> 00:28:19.399 of others, 00:28:20.139 --> 00:28:21.160 but through his own blood. 00:28:22.119 --> 00:28:23.319 Through his own blood. 00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:25.119 And when the powers 00:28:25.119 --> 00:28:25.619 of this world 00:28:25.619 --> 00:28:26.799 thought that they were winning 00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:28.379 by crucifying him 00:28:28.379 --> 00:28:29.680 on a Roman cross, 00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:31.559 this king on a cross 00:28:31.559 --> 00:28:32.720 crowned with thorns 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:33.700 overcame the world, 00:28:33.940 --> 00:28:35.160 subverting all its ways 00:28:35.160 --> 00:28:36.019 and put death 00:28:36.019 --> 00:28:36.619 to death 00:28:36.619 --> 00:28:38.000 by his death 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:39.039 and his resurrection 00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:40.160 to victorious, 00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:41.660 eternal life. 00:28:42.940 --> 00:28:43.639 So you see, 00:28:43.740 --> 00:28:44.680 as it says in verse six 00:28:44.680 --> 00:28:45.019 and onward, 00:28:45.120 --> 00:28:46.700 the water and the blood 00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:48.140 and the Spirit of Jesus 00:28:48.140 --> 00:28:50.480 are the ultimate testimony 00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:51.539 from God himself 00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:52.620 of how 00:28:52.620 --> 00:28:54.519 and of what it looks like 00:28:54.519 --> 00:28:55.980 to win at life. 00:28:56.840 --> 00:28:58.519 Jesus is the ultimate testimony 00:28:58.519 --> 00:29:00.360 that God's way 00:29:00.360 --> 00:29:01.360 is the right way 00:29:01.360 --> 00:29:02.360 to win at life, 00:29:02.380 --> 00:29:03.759 even when it seems futile, 00:29:03.860 --> 00:29:04.960 even when God's way 00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:06.039 leads us through the valley 00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:07.720 of the shadow of death 00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:08.940 to a world 00:29:08.940 --> 00:29:09.700 that would question 00:29:09.700 --> 00:29:11.000 who has ever won at life 00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:12.120 by going God's way? 00:29:12.539 --> 00:29:13.799 Who on my Instagram feed, 00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:14.819 who on my TV screen, 00:29:14.919 --> 00:29:15.500 who at the top 00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:16.319 of the most powerful 00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:17.599 corporations and governments 00:29:17.599 --> 00:29:18.220 of this world, 00:29:18.399 --> 00:29:19.099 who of all the people 00:29:19.099 --> 00:29:21.000 we envy for their lavish lifestyles, 00:29:21.059 --> 00:29:22.379 whoever won at life 00:29:22.379 --> 00:29:23.460 by submitting to God, 00:29:23.859 --> 00:29:24.700 whoever won at life 00:29:24.700 --> 00:29:26.039 by utterly depending on him 00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:27.180 and obeying his commandments 00:29:27.180 --> 00:29:28.119 and loving others 00:29:28.119 --> 00:29:29.240 through self-denial 00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:30.799 and self-sacrifice, 00:29:31.919 --> 00:29:32.639 if we have ears 00:29:32.639 --> 00:29:33.200 to hear him 00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:33.960 as the truth teller 00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:34.519 that he is 00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:35.839 and not as a liar, 00:29:36.940 --> 00:29:38.159 God's answer is, 00:29:38.160 --> 00:29:39.420 my son, 00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:41.000 my crucified 00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:42.580 and risen son, 00:29:43.180 --> 00:29:43.960 Jesus Christ. 00:29:45.100 --> 00:29:46.080 And if you have ears 00:29:46.080 --> 00:29:47.160 to hear his voice 00:29:47.160 --> 00:29:47.779 this morning, 00:29:48.560 --> 00:29:49.160 this Jesus says 00:29:49.160 --> 00:29:49.940 to all of us, 00:29:50.880 --> 00:29:51.480 come to me. 00:29:52.180 --> 00:29:52.860 Come to me, 00:29:53.080 --> 00:29:54.279 all you who are weary 00:29:54.279 --> 00:29:55.600 and heavy laden, 00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:57.240 and I will give you rest. 00:29:58.080 --> 00:29:59.800 Take my yoke upon you 00:29:59.800 --> 00:30:00.660 and learn from me, 00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:01.160 for I, 00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:02.360 and I alone, 00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:03.000 am gentle 00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:04.840 and lowly in heart, 00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:06.439 and you will find rest 00:30:06.439 --> 00:30:07.559 for your souls, 00:30:07.679 --> 00:30:09.579 for my yoke is easy 00:30:09.579 --> 00:30:12.199 and my burden is light. 00:30:13.539 --> 00:30:14.819 Jesus sees 00:30:14.819 --> 00:30:16.439 all the other yokes 00:30:16.439 --> 00:30:17.099 that we've been trying 00:30:17.099 --> 00:30:18.159 to fit around our neck 00:30:18.159 --> 00:30:18.819 and how badly 00:30:18.819 --> 00:30:19.899 they fit around our necks 00:30:19.899 --> 00:30:20.759 and how they only leave 00:30:20.759 --> 00:30:22.220 bruises and scars. 00:30:22.839 --> 00:30:23.699 He sees how heavily 00:30:23.699 --> 00:30:24.740 they weigh us down 00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:25.879 and how lazy and selfish 00:30:25.879 --> 00:30:26.819 and foolish and feeble 00:30:26.819 --> 00:30:28.079 are all these other beasts 00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:30.039 that we try to yoke ourselves to 00:30:30.039 --> 00:30:31.059 in the hopes of arriving 00:30:31.059 --> 00:30:32.220 at this salvation 00:30:32.220 --> 00:30:33.240 that we long for, 00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:34.459 this burdenless rest 00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:35.740 that we're all looking for. 00:30:36.779 --> 00:30:37.319 And he says, 00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:38.500 I know you're weary 00:30:38.500 --> 00:30:40.900 and I know you're heavy laden 00:30:40.900 --> 00:30:42.720 because you were never meant 00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:44.840 to lumber under the cultural yokes 00:30:44.840 --> 00:30:45.640 of competition 00:30:45.640 --> 00:30:46.860 and consumerism 00:30:46.860 --> 00:30:47.819 and celebrity. 00:30:48.700 --> 00:30:49.259 So come, 00:30:49.380 --> 00:30:51.600 take my yoke upon you 00:30:51.600 --> 00:30:53.420 and learn from me, 00:30:54.140 --> 00:30:55.440 for I am gentle 00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:56.500 and lowly in heart 00:30:56.500 --> 00:30:58.140 and you will find rest 00:30:58.140 --> 00:30:59.079 for your souls 00:30:59.079 --> 00:31:00.960 because I have already 00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:02.420 overcome the world. 00:31:02.420 --> 00:31:04.840 and when you're yoked with me, 00:31:04.860 --> 00:31:05.259 he says, 00:31:05.560 --> 00:31:05.800 sure, 00:31:06.300 --> 00:31:07.380 that does mean you'll go 00:31:07.380 --> 00:31:08.000 where I go, 00:31:08.539 --> 00:31:09.900 but don't you want to? 00:31:10.920 --> 00:31:12.300 Even through the valley 00:31:12.300 --> 00:31:13.460 of the shadow of death, 00:31:14.560 --> 00:31:15.640 remember I've been there 00:31:15.640 --> 00:31:17.120 and back. 00:31:18.320 --> 00:31:19.460 Take my yoke upon you, 00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:19.960 he says. 00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:21.660 Take my yoke upon you, 00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:23.100 for my yoke is easy 00:31:23.100 --> 00:31:24.900 and my burden is light. 00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:26.259 Let's pray. 00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:33.019 Lord God, 00:31:33.099 --> 00:31:34.420 we want to heed these words, 00:31:34.579 --> 00:31:35.240 this invitation 00:31:35.240 --> 00:31:36.960 and this challenge from Jesus 00:31:36.960 --> 00:31:39.220 to take his yoke upon us. 00:31:40.700 --> 00:31:41.180 Lord, 00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:42.900 so many voices in this world 00:31:42.900 --> 00:31:46.359 tell us to offer us 00:31:46.359 --> 00:31:48.500 these foolish, 00:31:48.859 --> 00:31:49.799 weak oxen 00:31:49.799 --> 00:31:50.960 to yoke ourselves to 00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:51.960 where we have to do 00:31:51.960 --> 00:31:52.640 so much more 00:31:52.640 --> 00:31:53.700 of the pooling. 00:31:53.700 --> 00:31:56.080 so much of the world, 00:31:56.180 --> 00:31:57.059 of what the world tells us, 00:31:57.140 --> 00:31:57.299 God, 00:31:57.340 --> 00:31:59.180 is that it is foolishness 00:31:59.180 --> 00:32:00.120 to yoke ourselves 00:32:00.120 --> 00:32:03.200 to a submissive lamb 00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:04.700 about to be slaughtered. 00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:08.240 But help us to see the truth 00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:10.279 and to help us, 00:32:10.380 --> 00:32:11.200 help us to see 00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:12.200 that it is precisely 00:32:12.200 --> 00:32:14.039 because this lamb 00:32:14.039 --> 00:32:14.860 was submissive 00:32:14.860 --> 00:32:15.700 and slaughtered 00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:18.340 that he is also 00:32:18.340 --> 00:32:19.240 a lion. 00:32:20.680 --> 00:32:21.440 Help us to live 00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:22.299 in that reality, 00:32:22.519 --> 00:32:22.660 Lord. 00:32:22.660 --> 00:32:24.060 open our eyes 00:32:24.060 --> 00:32:25.400 to that better truth, 00:32:25.500 --> 00:32:26.660 that subversive truth 00:32:26.660 --> 00:32:28.120 that is so hard 00:32:28.120 --> 00:32:29.200 to believe sometimes. 00:32:30.140 --> 00:32:31.019 Fix our eyes 00:32:31.019 --> 00:32:32.019 upon Jesus, 00:32:33.019 --> 00:32:34.680 the one who won at life, 00:32:34.740 --> 00:32:35.480 the one who has overcome 00:32:35.480 --> 00:32:36.100 the world. 00:32:37.900 --> 00:32:38.420 And would we 00:32:38.420 --> 00:32:40.259 take his yoke upon us 00:32:40.259 --> 00:32:42.160 and know the lightness 00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:45.480 of his burden? 00:32:46.980 --> 00:32:48.180 Would we know your rest, 00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:48.620 oh God? 00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:50.779 Would we know your rest, 00:32:50.779 --> 00:32:52.099 this rest that you've wanted 00:32:52.099 --> 00:32:53.200 for us from all eternity 00:32:53.200 --> 00:32:54.619 yet we so often 00:32:54.619 --> 00:32:55.619 run away from? 00:32:56.720 --> 00:32:57.839 Help us to know it, 00:32:58.119 --> 00:32:58.859 to pursue it, 00:32:59.299 --> 00:32:59.960 and to trust it, 00:33:00.019 --> 00:33:00.180 God, 00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:01.519 we pray in the name of Jesus. 00:33:02.319 --> 00:33:02.519 Amen. 00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:02.639 Amen. 00:33:02.639 --> 00:33:02.680 Amen. 00:33:02.680 --> 00:33:02.720 Amen. 00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:02.740 Amen. 00:33:02.740 --> 00:33:02.759 Amen. 00:33:02.759 --> 00:33:02.779 Amen. 00:33:02.779 --> 00:33:04.720 Amen. 00:33:04.720 --> 00:33:04.779 Amen. 00:33:04.779 --> 00:33:04.799 Amen. 00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:04.839 Amen. 00:33:04.839 --> 00:33:06.839 Amen. 00:33:06.839 --> 00:33:08.779 Amen. 00:33:08.779 --> 00:33:08.839 Amen. 00:33:08.839 --> 00:33:10.779 Amen. 00:33:10.779 --> 00:33:10.839 Amen. 00:33:10.839 --> 00:33:12.779 Amen. 00:33:12.779 --> 00:33:12.839 Amen. 00:33:12.839 --> 00:33:14.779 Amen. 00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:16.779 Amen. 00:33:16.779 --> 00:33:16.799 Amen. 00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:18.779 Amen. 00:33:18.779 --> 00:33:18.839 Amen. 00:33:18.839 --> 00:33:18.899 Amen. 00:33:18.899 --> 00:33:20.759 Amen.