WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:05.400 God, we thank you so much for all that you are and for all that you do. 00:00:05.560 --> 00:00:11.759 And Lord, we pray that as you have throughout time, that you would speak to us, your people, afresh. 00:00:12.900 --> 00:00:22.359 God, many of us in these walls have heard the gospel and have heard your word preached so many times. 00:00:22.740 --> 00:00:26.019 But Father, would you open up our hearts again? 00:00:26.359 --> 00:00:29.800 God, would you speak to us and would you help it to bear good fruit? 00:00:30.699 --> 00:00:36.280 God, there's no amount of human effort that can achieve this. 00:00:36.359 --> 00:00:38.140 We're completely dependent on you. 00:00:38.759 --> 00:00:45.859 And so Father, would you turn our eyes to you now and would you continue the good work that you began within us? 00:00:46.539 --> 00:00:48.120 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:00:49.019 --> 00:00:49.859 Well, please be seated. 00:00:50.600 --> 00:00:57.859 This time last year, I was in Australia and I was at the Airlie Beach. 00:00:58.519 --> 00:00:59.759 It's incredible. 00:00:59.979 --> 00:01:03.539 I've never seen anything so stunning in my life. 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:08.120 I'm not an artist, but this was the greatest artwork I've ever seen. 00:01:08.579 --> 00:01:09.599 I was just there at the beach. 00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:12.439 It's complete, like piercing white sand. 00:01:12.439 --> 00:01:18.659 The water is like shades of blue that as a Canadian, I've never seen. 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:19.899 Grew up on the West Coast. 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:21.200 The ocean there is just black. 00:01:21.340 --> 00:01:23.120 You know, beautiful, but black. 00:01:23.340 --> 00:01:23.480 Okay. 00:01:23.500 --> 00:01:29.799 This is just these like light shades of blues and greens in the water that like billow out to like deeper blues. 00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:34.560 And the sky, like I thought we all have the same sky, but it's just not the case. 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:42.540 I think the ozone layer is like maybe some, but yeah, I'm not a scientist, but it's just the blues and the radiation is just absolutely stunning. 00:01:43.579 --> 00:01:45.900 Growing up here, I hear about palm trees. 00:01:46.299 --> 00:01:47.719 Did you know there's different types of palm trees? 00:01:47.879 --> 00:01:48.640 They have all of them. 00:01:48.740 --> 00:01:50.460 Like it's just absolutely stunning. 00:01:50.459 --> 00:01:55.959 And so I'm not much of a journalist either, or that's not the right word, someone who writes in a journal. 00:01:56.179 --> 00:01:58.780 But I was there on the beach on the white sand. 00:01:58.979 --> 00:02:01.339 I just had to write this down. 00:02:01.439 --> 00:02:06.759 And I was writing something to the effect of like, God, you are the most incredible artist. 00:02:07.159 --> 00:02:09.000 And this is your masterpiece. 00:02:09.319 --> 00:02:11.840 That last line is the right quote for my journal. 00:02:11.939 --> 00:02:13.539 This is your masterpiece. 00:02:14.500 --> 00:02:17.180 And then I put my journal away and it opened up the Bible. 00:02:17.180 --> 00:02:20.180 I was reading during July last year Ephesians. 00:02:20.760 --> 00:02:22.400 And this is the text that I read. 00:02:22.480 --> 00:02:25.840 And it's a text that Daniel Afton gave me to share with you today. 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:28.719 For by grace you have been saved through faith. 00:02:29.020 --> 00:02:30.540 And this is not your own doing. 00:02:30.659 --> 00:02:35.120 It is a gift of God, not a result of works that no one may boast. 00:02:35.560 --> 00:02:43.120 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 00:02:43.560 --> 00:02:46.480 I looked at the bottom of the Bible I had with me. 00:02:46.479 --> 00:02:52.060 And it literally says, workmanship can also be translated as masterpiece. 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:56.659 I literally had just written down like, this is your masterpiece. 00:02:56.799 --> 00:03:06.179 It's so easy to see that with the mixture of colors and to see the absolute creativity and power and beyond human ability at art. 00:03:06.180 --> 00:03:17.260 And then I look and Paul is saying about us, about you and me, that we are God's masterpiece. 00:03:17.259 --> 00:03:25.799 That he's not in any way taking away from the beauty of the most beautiful sunset you've ever seen or art you've ever known. 00:03:25.800 --> 00:03:36.880 But for all that and how stunning and breathtaking that is, that we, us human beings, his church is his masterpiece, his workmanship. 00:03:37.800 --> 00:03:40.439 And some of you, when you hear that, you're just like, yeah, I am. 00:03:40.480 --> 00:03:41.160 I know that. 00:03:41.340 --> 00:03:41.520 Right? 00:03:41.680 --> 00:03:44.560 You don't have any trouble believing that you are God's masterpiece. 00:03:44.560 --> 00:03:49.939 And it can sometimes, for us, almost be like an arrogant sense of like, over-inflated self-worth. 00:03:50.479 --> 00:03:55.039 But for many of us in the room, it's really hard to believe that we're his masterpiece. 00:03:55.900 --> 00:03:57.479 Like, we might believe we're his creation. 00:03:58.280 --> 00:04:02.300 Maybe we feel like he kind of, I don't know, didn't take too long when he's making that. 00:04:02.340 --> 00:04:03.740 Just like, okay, let's move on. 00:04:03.980 --> 00:04:06.699 But like, we are his masterpiece. 00:04:06.699 --> 00:04:10.359 And so, for some of us, we're living life with these insecurities. 00:04:10.719 --> 00:04:12.539 With others, we're living life with this arrogance. 00:04:12.959 --> 00:04:16.019 And these words can mean, can kind of make us feel different things. 00:04:16.439 --> 00:04:22.079 But when we can stop and see the beauty of these words through the power of the gospel, 00:04:22.980 --> 00:04:29.019 it both humbles us from our arrogance, and it builds us up and frees us from our insecurity. 00:04:29.019 --> 00:04:37.479 And it restores to us this humble, secure confidence that empowers us that we were made to have. 00:04:38.339 --> 00:04:41.279 For by grace, Ephesians 2, verse 8, 00:04:41.359 --> 00:04:43.620 For by grace you have been saved through faith. 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:48.699 Now, many of us, if you're a Protestant, you probably already know. 00:04:48.899 --> 00:04:49.899 It's okay if you don't. 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:50.680 We're here to tell you. 00:04:51.279 --> 00:04:53.939 Many of us know that we're saved through faith. 00:04:54.039 --> 00:04:56.479 That it's not a result of our human effort. 00:04:56.480 --> 00:05:00.439 Human beings, we like to feel like we, you know, can get our way to heaven 00:05:00.439 --> 00:05:04.160 or get our way to freedom or success by our achievements and our work. 00:05:04.540 --> 00:05:08.200 And yet, we know that we're saved not by the good things we've done, 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:10.660 but by what Jesus has done and that we receive it. 00:05:10.720 --> 00:05:13.319 It's wholly dependent on him, and we receive it through faith. 00:05:14.020 --> 00:05:15.460 I grew up being taught that. 00:05:15.840 --> 00:05:19.500 But growing up, I had this deep-seated anxiety in me 00:05:19.500 --> 00:05:24.259 that maybe my faith wasn't strong enough. 00:05:24.819 --> 00:05:26.839 Jesus said we need the faith of a mustard seed, 00:05:26.920 --> 00:05:29.579 but what if my faith wasn't even the size of a mustard seed? 00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:33.620 I know I'm not the only one to have said the sinner's prayer multiple times. 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:37.879 As a child, I'd pray it, and then a little bit later, I'd be like, 00:05:38.279 --> 00:05:40.680 did I pray it with enough earnestness? 00:05:41.079 --> 00:05:43.019 Was that really faith or was that fear? 00:05:43.159 --> 00:05:45.800 So I'd pray it again, just re-become a Christian. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:48.620 And then a little bit later, I re-became a Christian. 00:05:48.620 --> 00:05:52.720 I had this fear, not only maybe the prayer was real, 00:05:52.819 --> 00:05:56.139 maybe my faith was strong, but what if my faith evaporated? 00:05:56.660 --> 00:05:59.600 And there was a real deep-seated anxiety within me. 00:06:00.620 --> 00:06:04.000 And yet, it wasn't until I came across this reality, 00:06:04.280 --> 00:06:08.139 until I came across the Bible's teaching on grace, 00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:11.939 that those fears and anxieties dropped away. 00:06:12.759 --> 00:06:15.720 And for some of us, these words are going to remove fear. 00:06:15.720 --> 00:06:18.180 For others of us, these words humble us. 00:06:18.420 --> 00:06:20.540 For all of us, these words are life. 00:06:21.100 --> 00:06:23.700 For by grace, you have been saved through faith. 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:26.380 Look up what grace means. 00:06:26.520 --> 00:06:28.860 Some will say it means unmerited favor. 00:06:29.520 --> 00:06:31.960 And that way, we often think of it as like the mercy of God, 00:06:32.080 --> 00:06:33.920 his grace to us. 00:06:34.280 --> 00:06:37.100 But it's actually a whole lot more robust than that. 00:06:37.460 --> 00:06:40.800 Grace is this word that means this divine gift. 00:06:40.800 --> 00:06:45.579 If you know the term charismatic or the charismatic gifts, 00:06:45.660 --> 00:06:48.939 it refers to these divine gifts and power from God. 00:06:49.600 --> 00:06:52.360 And the Bible speaks of a variety of these gifts from him. 00:06:53.780 --> 00:06:57.220 But when the Bible speaks of his grace, 00:06:57.319 --> 00:07:01.139 his greatest gift that he gives us is himself. 00:07:01.139 --> 00:07:04.819 And we see that our faith in him, 00:07:06.139 --> 00:07:08.300 the fact that you believe in Jesus, 00:07:08.379 --> 00:07:11.060 that you believe he really is who he says he is. 00:07:11.399 --> 00:07:14.000 Whether for some of us, that's really kind of developed from 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:16.039 looking at how science points to God, 00:07:16.060 --> 00:07:17.800 or for some of us, really wrestle through 00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:19.120 why we believe the scriptures, 00:07:19.259 --> 00:07:22.079 and we see the logic in that for good reason. 00:07:22.399 --> 00:07:24.479 Whether it's because for some of us, we love history, 00:07:24.539 --> 00:07:26.759 and we've wrestled through the historical evidence 00:07:26.759 --> 00:07:29.479 that points to the fact that Jesus rose from the dead. 00:07:29.480 --> 00:07:34.240 The fact that we're able to even understand the evidence and the logic, 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:37.819 and we are convinced intellectually that Jesus is real. 00:07:37.879 --> 00:07:40.020 The fact that we believe he is real, 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:44.879 is that that faith in him is a gift from God. 00:07:45.520 --> 00:07:47.060 That it's not something we worked up, 00:07:47.100 --> 00:07:49.140 or any power of our own intellect, 00:07:49.280 --> 00:07:50.540 that we could believe reality. 00:07:51.420 --> 00:07:53.580 And not only our belief intellectually that he's real, 00:07:53.660 --> 00:07:55.140 but our trust in him, 00:07:55.819 --> 00:07:57.400 our surrender to him, 00:07:57.399 --> 00:07:59.879 our asking him for forgiveness, 00:08:00.359 --> 00:08:01.939 our committing our lives to him, 00:08:02.339 --> 00:08:04.859 all of that is a gift, 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:06.599 this divine gift, 00:08:06.719 --> 00:08:08.639 this grace from God 00:08:08.639 --> 00:08:10.459 that's not of our own doing. 00:08:11.279 --> 00:08:13.539 An analogy that many others have used 00:08:13.539 --> 00:08:15.859 is that we can think of 00:08:15.859 --> 00:08:18.299 Jesus rescuing us from drowning. 00:08:18.300 --> 00:08:19.819 And that the way that, 00:08:19.900 --> 00:08:21.540 like, as a kid with those anxieties I had, 00:08:21.780 --> 00:08:23.079 it was as if I saw my faith as, 00:08:23.300 --> 00:08:23.660 I'm like, 00:08:23.840 --> 00:08:25.660 out there in the ocean, 00:08:25.840 --> 00:08:26.120 and I'm like, 00:08:26.139 --> 00:08:26.579 treading, 00:08:26.660 --> 00:08:27.840 I'm trying to keep my head above water, 00:08:27.860 --> 00:08:28.540 and I can't, 00:08:28.780 --> 00:08:29.160 and I'm like, 00:08:29.199 --> 00:08:29.500 drowning, 00:08:29.699 --> 00:08:31.220 and Jesus throws me, 00:08:32.180 --> 00:08:32.659 like a, 00:08:32.759 --> 00:08:33.360 whatever it's called, 00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:34.320 those circular things, 00:08:34.360 --> 00:08:34.919 that look like donuts, 00:08:35.000 --> 00:08:35.700 but they're filled with air. 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:37.360 Yes. 00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:38.680 A lifesaver. 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:39.539 Yeah. 00:08:39.899 --> 00:08:40.580 So you're there, 00:08:40.820 --> 00:08:41.440 you get one, 00:08:41.680 --> 00:08:42.120 and it's like, 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:44.279 my faith is me reaching and grabbing hold of it, 00:08:44.279 --> 00:08:45.339 and now I'm like, 00:08:45.480 --> 00:08:47.159 towed back into the shore to life. 00:08:47.699 --> 00:08:48.679 And if that's the case, 00:08:48.740 --> 00:08:49.059 then yeah, 00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:49.879 I didn't, 00:08:49.879 --> 00:08:51.179 I didn't rescue myself, 00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:53.199 but my grip really matters. 00:08:53.740 --> 00:08:55.819 But that's not the image the Bible uses at all. 00:08:55.899 --> 00:08:56.079 Rather, 00:08:56.179 --> 00:08:58.959 the Bible uses the imagery of our being dead. 00:08:59.459 --> 00:09:00.339 And so it's more like, 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:01.419 it's not that we're drowning, 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:02.000 we've drowned. 00:09:02.959 --> 00:09:03.720 And it's not like we're like, 00:09:03.819 --> 00:09:05.459 struggling to keep our head above the water. 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:07.439 We're at the bottom of the ocean dead. 00:09:07.699 --> 00:09:10.079 And there is nothing that a dead person does 00:09:10.079 --> 00:09:12.299 to contribute to their rescue. 00:09:12.779 --> 00:09:13.459 They're dead. 00:09:14.279 --> 00:09:16.100 But Jesus in his death, 00:09:16.539 --> 00:09:20.240 and the Bible uses the language of him being submerged in the water, 00:09:20.319 --> 00:09:20.799 like it uses, 00:09:21.100 --> 00:09:22.079 regarding baptism, 00:09:22.199 --> 00:09:22.559 and that we've been, 00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:23.059 you know, 00:09:23.240 --> 00:09:23.620 with him, 00:09:23.740 --> 00:09:26.919 it's like Jesus has dove into the bottom of the ocean, 00:09:27.299 --> 00:09:28.959 joined us in our death, 00:09:29.299 --> 00:09:29.899 down there, 00:09:30.019 --> 00:09:30.839 grabbed us, 00:09:31.079 --> 00:09:32.379 and brought us out of the waters, 00:09:32.500 --> 00:09:34.259 and breathed his life into us. 00:09:34.860 --> 00:09:36.120 Now if you know much about science, 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:36.919 and I'll be honest, 00:09:36.959 --> 00:09:37.419 I don't, 00:09:37.699 --> 00:09:39.000 but if you know much about science, 00:09:39.039 --> 00:09:39.459 you can't like, 00:09:39.659 --> 00:09:41.240 breathe life into a dead thing, 00:09:41.399 --> 00:09:41.579 right? 00:09:41.879 --> 00:09:43.059 Someone's mostly dead, 00:09:43.419 --> 00:09:44.220 like they say in the princess, 00:09:44.279 --> 00:09:44.519 right? 00:09:44.600 --> 00:09:44.899 You can, 00:09:45.079 --> 00:09:45.299 you know, 00:09:45.339 --> 00:09:46.120 maybe breathe life, 00:09:46.459 --> 00:09:46.959 some CPR, 00:09:47.139 --> 00:09:47.919 but when you're dead, 00:09:48.459 --> 00:09:49.319 when you're gone, 00:09:50.139 --> 00:09:50.980 you're really gone. 00:09:51.639 --> 00:09:53.279 But that's the power, 00:09:53.419 --> 00:09:54.699 and the divine grace of God, 00:09:54.740 --> 00:09:56.319 that he has done the impossible, 00:09:56.559 --> 00:09:56.939 in your, 00:09:57.179 --> 00:09:57.759 and my life, 00:09:57.819 --> 00:09:59.559 that he breathed his life, 00:09:59.559 --> 00:10:00.500 into our dead, 00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:01.759 empty lungs, 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:04.100 and we've come to believe in him, 00:10:04.299 --> 00:10:05.340 that our faith, 00:10:06.419 --> 00:10:07.519 is his, 00:10:07.860 --> 00:10:09.360 is his action he took, 00:10:09.439 --> 00:10:10.500 it's his initiative, 00:10:10.840 --> 00:10:12.220 and it's sustained by him, 00:10:12.399 --> 00:10:13.759 not only begun by him. 00:10:14.419 --> 00:10:15.600 And so when we hear that, 00:10:16.019 --> 00:10:16.960 on the one hand, 00:10:17.059 --> 00:10:17.720 it is so, 00:10:18.500 --> 00:10:19.319 not even on the one hand, 00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:19.960 on all the hands, 00:10:20.019 --> 00:10:21.939 just beautifully freeing, 00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:24.360 that no longer do I have to live with this fear of, 00:10:24.439 --> 00:10:25.019 what if I had, 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:25.659 what if I, 00:10:25.799 --> 00:10:26.939 like my faith evaporates, 00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:28.259 because he's the one, 00:10:28.439 --> 00:10:29.620 that began that faith in me, 00:10:29.799 --> 00:10:30.779 and the ballast tells us, 00:10:30.819 --> 00:10:31.539 that he's the one, 00:10:31.779 --> 00:10:32.980 that will see it through to the end. 00:10:33.459 --> 00:10:34.679 And so we don't have to rely, 00:10:34.779 --> 00:10:35.539 on our own grip, 00:10:35.939 --> 00:10:36.519 of faith. 00:10:37.019 --> 00:10:38.199 But it's also humbling, 00:10:38.539 --> 00:10:39.219 because some of us, 00:10:39.219 --> 00:10:40.439 can start to feel like, 00:10:40.860 --> 00:10:42.259 that our faith, 00:10:42.360 --> 00:10:42.919 and this stuff, 00:10:43.059 --> 00:10:44.219 is a result of the work, 00:10:44.339 --> 00:10:44.879 that we've done, 00:10:44.980 --> 00:10:46.539 or how hard we've worked through, 00:10:46.600 --> 00:10:47.259 those questions, 00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:48.240 or whatever the case, 00:10:48.539 --> 00:10:49.559 and then we come to this, 00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:50.240 and we're humbled, 00:10:50.899 --> 00:10:51.699 that it was actually, 00:10:51.939 --> 00:10:52.220 God's, 00:10:52.919 --> 00:10:53.620 God's un, 00:10:53.860 --> 00:10:55.379 like the unmerited gift from God, 00:10:55.379 --> 00:10:56.460 that we don't deserve it at all, 00:10:56.539 --> 00:10:57.820 and it was completely his initiative, 00:10:58.080 --> 00:10:59.139 it was completely his work, 00:10:59.299 --> 00:11:00.080 that we have faith. 00:11:00.899 --> 00:11:01.740 For by grace, 00:11:01.799 --> 00:11:03.360 you have been saved through faith, 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:05.320 and this is not your own doing, 00:11:05.700 --> 00:11:07.039 it is a gift of God. 00:11:08.340 --> 00:11:08.919 I don't know, 00:11:08.939 --> 00:11:09.600 if you're the kind of person, 00:11:09.659 --> 00:11:10.899 that gets annoyed by repetition, 00:11:11.460 --> 00:11:13.259 but see how much repetition there is. 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:14.500 For by grace, 00:11:14.580 --> 00:11:15.960 you have been saved through faith, 00:11:16.059 --> 00:11:17.439 and this is not your own doing, 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:18.740 it is a gift from God. 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:19.740 And we see grace, 00:11:19.799 --> 00:11:21.059 and we see the beauty in it, 00:11:21.100 --> 00:11:22.059 but like those, 00:11:22.299 --> 00:11:23.000 in the original, 00:11:23.139 --> 00:11:23.419 this is, 00:11:23.559 --> 00:11:24.259 when it says grace, 00:11:24.360 --> 00:11:24.600 it has, 00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:25.840 it means like divine gift. 00:11:25.960 --> 00:11:26.120 So, 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:26.820 so listen, 00:11:26.940 --> 00:11:28.320 for by this divine gift, 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:29.420 you have been saved through faith, 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:30.620 and this is not your own doing, 00:11:30.659 --> 00:11:31.580 it is a gift of God. 00:11:31.879 --> 00:11:33.060 Paul is repeating himself, 00:11:33.500 --> 00:11:34.700 and then he continues, 00:11:34.820 --> 00:11:35.840 not a result of works, 00:11:35.899 --> 00:11:36.620 he's just said that, 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:37.899 but not a result of works, 00:11:38.180 --> 00:11:39.460 so that no one may boast. 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:41.540 For we are his workmanship, 00:11:41.639 --> 00:11:42.500 for we are this masterpiece, 00:11:42.500 --> 00:11:43.440 that he has made. 00:11:43.779 --> 00:11:44.480 So you see that Paul, 00:11:44.540 --> 00:11:45.600 just kind of circling around, 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:46.240 and around, 00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:47.180 coming at different angles, 00:11:47.259 --> 00:11:48.240 it's a divine gift, 00:11:48.379 --> 00:11:48.700 it's a, 00:11:48.820 --> 00:11:49.720 not a result of your works, 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:50.259 it's a gift, 00:11:50.360 --> 00:11:50.480 it's, 00:11:50.600 --> 00:11:52.000 it's not anything that we've done. 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:54.120 Paul is trying to drive home for us, 00:11:54.259 --> 00:11:55.500 because he knows that, 00:11:55.679 --> 00:11:56.679 because God knows that, 00:11:56.860 --> 00:11:58.240 every single one of us, 00:11:58.460 --> 00:11:59.159 will struggle between, 00:11:59.240 --> 00:12:00.320 will kind of oscillate between, 00:12:00.580 --> 00:12:01.500 thinking arrogantly, 00:12:01.659 --> 00:12:03.519 as if we have achieved our freedom, 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:04.259 and our success, 00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:05.019 and our faith, 00:12:05.220 --> 00:12:06.840 and also that we're really afraid, 00:12:07.240 --> 00:12:08.440 and there's like a combination, 00:12:08.679 --> 00:12:09.500 and within ourselves, 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:10.100 of arrogance, 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:11.240 and insecurity, 00:12:11.500 --> 00:12:12.820 and they seem like they're opposites, 00:12:12.919 --> 00:12:14.000 but they're actually so intricately, 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:15.860 contributing to each other, 00:12:15.860 --> 00:12:17.980 and these words are freeing us, 00:12:18.180 --> 00:12:18.759 from either, 00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:20.399 as we see that our faith, 00:12:20.500 --> 00:12:21.399 and our salvation, 00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:22.919 our relationship with God, 00:12:23.220 --> 00:12:24.480 are being able to be, 00:12:24.539 --> 00:12:25.740 pure in his sight, 00:12:26.100 --> 00:12:27.320 redeemed in his children, 00:12:27.580 --> 00:12:29.180 is all because of his work, 00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:31.320 and that's absolutely incredible. 00:12:32.200 --> 00:12:33.340 As I was working through this, 00:12:33.379 --> 00:12:33.919 this week, 00:12:34.539 --> 00:12:35.019 I was, 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:35.940 I had the privilege, 00:12:36.200 --> 00:12:36.639 at camp, 00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:37.720 to sit down with a, 00:12:38.019 --> 00:12:39.340 a brother in Christ, 00:12:39.419 --> 00:12:40.800 and get to hear how they're doing, 00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:42.480 and they were sharing how they just, 00:12:42.759 --> 00:12:44.399 they were feeling really far from God, 00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:45.279 and they were mentioning, 00:12:45.659 --> 00:12:45.879 you know, 00:12:45.879 --> 00:12:46.699 trying to figure out why, 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:48.120 and telling me some of the mistakes, 00:12:48.199 --> 00:12:49.000 they'd made recently, 00:12:49.259 --> 00:12:50.399 and all this stuff, 00:12:50.519 --> 00:12:52.459 and I brought them back to this text, 00:12:53.139 --> 00:12:54.139 and the analogy, 00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:55.240 that kind of came to me there, 00:12:55.319 --> 00:12:56.100 to share with him, 00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:57.159 I'll share with you now, 00:12:57.259 --> 00:12:58.459 has meant a lot to me this week, 00:12:58.919 --> 00:13:00.659 I remembered a few years ago, 00:13:01.340 --> 00:13:02.340 I was at church on Wednesday, 00:13:02.840 --> 00:13:03.579 some of you are familiar, 00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:04.240 with that ministry, 00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:05.340 started by this church, 00:13:05.459 --> 00:13:06.919 it's a church service, 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:07.740 in the middle of the university, 00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:08.639 and there was a bunch of students, 00:13:08.679 --> 00:13:09.120 who had come, 00:13:09.399 --> 00:13:10.579 and a whole bunch of the students, 00:13:10.579 --> 00:13:11.740 from the Laurentian Leadership Center, 00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:13.399 it's a campus, 00:13:13.399 --> 00:13:14.620 Trinity Western University, 00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:16.399 and it's here in Ottawa, 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:17.340 it's this big house, 00:13:17.459 --> 00:13:17.819 mansion, 00:13:18.199 --> 00:13:19.500 a bunch of the students were coming, 00:13:19.659 --> 00:13:21.039 and I just love these students, 00:13:21.439 --> 00:13:21.980 I just love them, 00:13:22.039 --> 00:13:22.759 but like I like them, 00:13:22.819 --> 00:13:24.459 like they're so fun to be with, 00:13:24.819 --> 00:13:25.759 and in December, 00:13:25.939 --> 00:13:27.079 just before their exams, 00:13:27.220 --> 00:13:28.539 they all got the stomach flu, 00:13:28.860 --> 00:13:29.379 let's say all, 00:13:29.459 --> 00:13:30.340 I'm not talking about like five, 00:13:30.459 --> 00:13:31.559 there's like 18 of them, 00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:32.539 and they're all like, 00:13:32.779 --> 00:13:34.480 like violently throwing up, 00:13:35.059 --> 00:13:35.899 I know it's in the morning, 00:13:36.019 --> 00:13:37.100 but just got to be real, 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:38.199 they were violently throwing up, 00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:39.000 and so, 00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:40.519 I'm not much of a cook, 00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:41.980 but I am the son of a Jewish mother, 00:13:42.139 --> 00:13:43.079 so I went over there, 00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:44.579 brought a bunch of like chicken soup, 00:13:44.699 --> 00:13:45.100 a chicken, 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:46.340 and whatever I needed, 00:13:46.460 --> 00:13:47.139 asked my mom, 00:13:47.439 --> 00:13:49.740 and I put on this massive pot they had, 00:13:49.939 --> 00:13:50.720 and made them like this, 00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:53.399 this boiling pot of chicken soup, 00:13:53.860 --> 00:13:54.600 and again, 00:13:54.679 --> 00:13:55.259 not a scientist, 00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:56.480 but I've heard pomegranate seeds, 00:13:56.480 --> 00:13:59.059 are helpful for rebuilding your immune system, 00:13:59.439 --> 00:14:00.159 and blueberries, 00:14:00.299 --> 00:14:00.620 and whatever, 00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:02.659 but the stuff my mom did for me as a kid, 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:03.059 okay, 00:14:03.460 --> 00:14:04.059 not all the stuff, 00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:05.279 just a bit of the stuff my mom did, 00:14:05.319 --> 00:14:05.939 she did much more, 00:14:06.140 --> 00:14:07.220 but I brought the stuff, 00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:08.300 and I went there, 00:14:08.380 --> 00:14:09.440 and I started going on to the rooms, 00:14:09.540 --> 00:14:10.720 to give them chicken soup, 00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:12.120 and pomegranates, 00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:12.700 and blueberries, 00:14:12.800 --> 00:14:13.100 and stuff, 00:14:13.160 --> 00:14:13.780 by this point, 00:14:14.060 --> 00:14:15.500 most of them had stopped throwing up, 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:16.680 so don't judge me, 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:17.940 I wasn't like giving them soup, 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:18.180 and then, 00:14:18.340 --> 00:14:18.820 you know what I'm saying, 00:14:19.400 --> 00:14:20.840 why am I telling you this, 00:14:20.900 --> 00:14:21.680 we're just going to continue, 00:14:21.720 --> 00:14:22.080 you're committed, 00:14:22.440 --> 00:14:23.380 and so what was interesting, 00:14:23.520 --> 00:14:24.340 is that going to this room, 00:14:24.420 --> 00:14:25.620 and they looked awful, 00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:26.760 and I'll be honest, 00:14:26.860 --> 00:14:27.700 it didn't smell good either, 00:14:27.780 --> 00:14:28.440 and I went in there, 00:14:28.500 --> 00:14:28.680 and I just, 00:14:28.740 --> 00:14:29.140 it was like so, 00:14:29.320 --> 00:14:31.300 it was actually so like meaningful to me, 00:14:31.300 --> 00:14:32.380 for me to get to be with them, 00:14:32.500 --> 00:14:33.620 but some of them, 00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:34.060 were just like, 00:14:34.059 --> 00:14:34.799 no don't come in, 00:14:35.579 --> 00:14:36.399 like don't come into my room, 00:14:36.759 --> 00:14:37.419 and they literally, 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:37.799 one person like, 00:14:37.819 --> 00:14:38.399 don't come into the room, 00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:39.379 I look like a mess, 00:14:39.959 --> 00:14:40.839 like I'd come to like, 00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:41.979 join them in their mess, 00:14:42.059 --> 00:14:42.719 to help them like, 00:14:43.119 --> 00:14:43.979 to be with them, 00:14:44.019 --> 00:14:46.359 and to help try to get them better, 00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:46.759 right, 00:14:47.139 --> 00:14:48.379 but they literally just wanted, 00:14:48.479 --> 00:14:49.659 to get better themselves, 00:14:49.979 --> 00:14:51.099 and they wanted to clean up, 00:14:51.159 --> 00:14:51.659 and shower, 00:14:51.839 --> 00:14:53.579 and get the stuff out of their hair, 00:14:53.719 --> 00:14:55.179 and then be able to be with me, 00:14:55.379 --> 00:14:56.079 fully clean, 00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:57.939 and fully just shining, 00:14:58.439 --> 00:15:00.019 but I'd come to be with them, 00:15:00.059 --> 00:15:00.459 in fact, 00:15:00.819 --> 00:15:01.639 a couple of them, 00:15:01.699 --> 00:15:02.639 I wasn't going to give soup to, 00:15:02.719 --> 00:15:03.679 because they were still throwing up, 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:04.259 and like, 00:15:04.359 --> 00:15:05.099 had they let me, 00:15:05.179 --> 00:15:06.179 I would have just as happily, 00:15:06.319 --> 00:15:07.019 gone with them, 00:15:07.059 --> 00:15:07.279 and like, 00:15:07.439 --> 00:15:08.239 held back their hair, 00:15:08.279 --> 00:15:09.059 while they threw up, 00:15:09.079 --> 00:15:10.199 and just been with them, 00:15:10.239 --> 00:15:11.839 in their midst of their grossness, 00:15:11.979 --> 00:15:12.239 right, 00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:14.419 and I realized, 00:15:14.599 --> 00:15:16.439 as I was listening to my friends speak, 00:15:16.699 --> 00:15:17.819 I saw myself reflected, 00:15:18.439 --> 00:15:18.819 not, 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:19.419 not as, 00:15:19.859 --> 00:15:20.659 not in that story, 00:15:20.779 --> 00:15:20.879 like, 00:15:21.219 --> 00:15:22.039 not as the one, 00:15:22.079 --> 00:15:22.799 who's bringing the soup, 00:15:22.859 --> 00:15:23.459 but how often, 00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:24.759 in my relationship with God, 00:15:25.059 --> 00:15:25.659 I'm like the one, 00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:25.919 who's saying, 00:15:25.979 --> 00:15:26.819 hey no don't come in, 00:15:27.059 --> 00:15:27.659 I'm dirty, 00:15:28.219 --> 00:15:29.339 when we have failed, 00:15:29.399 --> 00:15:30.099 when we've sinned, 00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:31.659 which we do more than we realize, 00:15:32.040 --> 00:15:32.779 that we often, 00:15:32.940 --> 00:15:33.820 when we're aware of it, 00:15:33.940 --> 00:15:35.379 we kind of don't want God, 00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:36.560 to come too close, 00:15:37.060 --> 00:15:37.639 but we want to, 00:15:37.680 --> 00:15:38.600 we want to be able to like, 00:15:38.820 --> 00:15:39.220 clean up, 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:40.600 and do our stuff first, 00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:41.560 and then, 00:15:41.680 --> 00:15:42.360 when we feel like, 00:15:42.440 --> 00:15:43.019 we're like, 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:44.300 we're back in the Bible, 00:15:44.560 --> 00:15:44.820 or like, 00:15:45.019 --> 00:15:46.659 we're back away from that behavior, 00:15:46.820 --> 00:15:47.840 or away from that addiction, 00:15:48.040 --> 00:15:49.080 then we feel like we can, 00:15:49.300 --> 00:15:49.519 okay, 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:51.540 we can then really hold our head up, 00:15:51.639 --> 00:15:53.120 and engage with God again, 00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:55.100 but God has literally, 00:15:55.100 --> 00:15:56.600 come into this earth, 00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:57.679 come into our, 00:15:57.860 --> 00:15:58.259 the world, 00:15:58.299 --> 00:15:58.919 and our lives, 00:15:59.379 --> 00:15:59.560 to, 00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:01.700 to be with us, 00:16:01.899 --> 00:16:02.940 in our vomit, 00:16:03.399 --> 00:16:04.679 to be with us, 00:16:04.820 --> 00:16:06.039 in our defilement, 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:07.220 it's not that like, 00:16:07.399 --> 00:16:08.139 he wants to be with us, 00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:11.120 despite our grossness, 00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:12.840 he actually wants to be with us, 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:14.320 in light of our grossness, 00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:16.039 he wants to be there with us, 00:16:16.419 --> 00:16:16.980 even like, 00:16:17.180 --> 00:16:18.019 he says, 00:16:18.139 --> 00:16:19.060 I will never leave you, 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:20.080 nor forsake you, 00:16:21.019 --> 00:16:21.560 and it's not like, 00:16:21.580 --> 00:16:22.399 he's just in the other room, 00:16:22.460 --> 00:16:22.840 while we're like, 00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:23.940 doing our sin, 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:25.080 and then we come back to him, 00:16:25.399 --> 00:16:25.519 he, 00:16:25.660 --> 00:16:26.320 and this is almost, 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:26.800 this is, 00:16:27.180 --> 00:16:27.720 in some ways, 00:16:27.800 --> 00:16:28.500 it's like, 00:16:29.780 --> 00:16:30.160 I don't know, 00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:30.360 like, 00:16:31.259 --> 00:16:31.820 a healthy, 00:16:32.019 --> 00:16:32.860 disturbing thought, 00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:34.820 that he's even with us, 00:16:34.820 --> 00:16:36.920 in the midst of our sins, 00:16:37.560 --> 00:16:38.160 that he's like, 00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:40.280 in the midst of your most, 00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:41.259 embarrassing, 00:16:41.460 --> 00:16:42.220 or grotesque, 00:16:42.300 --> 00:16:43.120 or whatever stuff, 00:16:43.379 --> 00:16:44.639 that you have ever done, 00:16:45.180 --> 00:16:46.180 or in the midst of doing, 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:46.680 or will do, 00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:47.960 that he's there with us, 00:16:48.019 --> 00:16:48.280 him, 00:16:48.540 --> 00:16:49.180 the holy, 00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:50.100 and pure, 00:16:50.320 --> 00:16:50.980 and awesome, 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:52.180 greatest artist, 00:16:52.179 --> 00:16:53.259 and most wonderful, 00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:53.679 kind, 00:16:53.779 --> 00:16:54.259 understanding, 00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:54.839 compassionate, 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:56.659 that he's there with us, 00:16:57.299 --> 00:16:58.299 and he's there, 00:16:58.359 --> 00:16:58.899 not just to, 00:16:58.979 --> 00:17:00.839 not just to be chilling with us, 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:03.079 but he's there to hold us, 00:17:03.219 --> 00:17:04.500 in our brokenness, 00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:06.339 and to bring us healing, 00:17:06.339 --> 00:17:07.339 and freedom, 00:17:07.339 --> 00:17:09.519 and so I pray, 00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:10.819 that these words today, 00:17:10.879 --> 00:17:11.720 would help us, 00:17:12.159 --> 00:17:12.919 to allow us, 00:17:12.959 --> 00:17:14.259 to open our hearts, 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:15.099 and our lives, 00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:16.639 to God's presence, 00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:18.500 in the midst of our brokenness, 00:17:19.159 --> 00:17:20.319 in the midst of our sin, 00:17:20.359 --> 00:17:21.059 in the midst of our, 00:17:21.139 --> 00:17:22.599 our being wounded by others, 00:17:22.819 --> 00:17:24.799 that we can let God in, 00:17:25.879 --> 00:17:27.059 and it might be, 00:17:27.179 --> 00:17:28.079 even more uncomfortable, 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:29.059 to realize that, 00:17:29.299 --> 00:17:30.119 that God has said, 00:17:30.220 --> 00:17:31.439 that we're his hands and feet, 00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:33.159 and so if we're to let God in, 00:17:33.199 --> 00:17:33.899 it means not only, 00:17:33.939 --> 00:17:35.379 letting his spirit in, 00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:36.720 but letting his hands and feet, 00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:37.960 it means letting the church, 00:17:38.080 --> 00:17:38.760 letting each other, 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:39.820 into our lives, 00:17:39.880 --> 00:17:40.600 to be with us, 00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:41.400 in our brokenness, 00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:42.140 that we would stop, 00:17:42.220 --> 00:17:43.360 trying to hide away, 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:44.840 the ugly parts of us, 00:17:44.860 --> 00:17:46.220 or the broken parts of us, 00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:47.600 or the insecure parts of us, 00:17:47.600 --> 00:17:48.320 but that we would, 00:17:48.420 --> 00:17:50.100 be honest with ourselves, 00:17:50.180 --> 00:17:50.800 and with God, 00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:53.520 it's, 00:17:53.600 --> 00:17:55.680 it's not a matter, 00:17:55.860 --> 00:17:56.520 of cleaning up, 00:17:56.680 --> 00:17:57.680 so we can be with him, 00:17:58.160 --> 00:17:59.600 but that he is with us, 00:17:59.880 --> 00:18:01.140 and he'll clean us up, 00:18:01.320 --> 00:18:02.620 because he loves us, 00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:04.560 so profoundly much, 00:18:04.600 --> 00:18:05.040 too much, 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:05.720 to leave us, 00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:06.960 in our vomit, 00:18:07.099 --> 00:18:07.639 or sickness, 00:18:08.899 --> 00:18:09.799 for by grace, 00:18:09.859 --> 00:18:10.579 you have been saved, 00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:11.220 through faith, 00:18:11.399 --> 00:18:12.839 and this is not your own doing, 00:18:12.940 --> 00:18:14.319 it is a gift of God, 00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:15.779 not a result of work, 00:18:15.859 --> 00:18:17.240 so that no one may boast, 00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:19.220 for we are his workmanship, 00:18:19.319 --> 00:18:20.480 we are his masterpiece, 00:18:21.139 --> 00:18:22.539 created in Christ Jesus, 00:18:23.579 --> 00:18:25.539 for we are his masterpiece, 00:18:26.379 --> 00:18:29.759 even as the world, 00:18:30.619 --> 00:18:31.799 and our own flesh, 00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:33.159 and the devil tempt us, 00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:34.800 to try to live life, 00:18:35.220 --> 00:18:36.019 like we're gods, 00:18:36.080 --> 00:18:36.740 or goddesses, 00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:37.960 so also the world, 00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:38.980 ourselves, 00:18:39.100 --> 00:18:39.620 or flesh, 00:18:39.880 --> 00:18:40.460 and the devil, 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:41.440 are also teaching us, 00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:42.560 another message all the time, 00:18:42.820 --> 00:18:43.759 that we're just trash, 00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:44.920 so they're trying to like, 00:18:45.140 --> 00:18:46.100 pump us up, 00:18:46.180 --> 00:18:47.200 so we're too inflated, 00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:48.540 and trying to break us down, 00:18:48.620 --> 00:18:49.480 so we're just hurt people, 00:18:49.540 --> 00:18:50.160 hurting people, 00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:51.560 and we see here, 00:18:51.640 --> 00:18:52.720 that we're his masterpiece, 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:54.839 your understanding, 00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:55.480 of yourself, 00:18:56.180 --> 00:18:57.299 that your identity, 00:18:57.980 --> 00:18:59.140 is going to affect, 00:18:59.259 --> 00:19:00.460 the way you treat others, 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:01.860 relate to God, 00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:03.160 the world, 00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:03.880 and ourselves, 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:05.660 and you and I, 00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:06.380 our default, 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:07.660 is to believe both, 00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:08.839 that we are gods, 00:19:09.860 --> 00:19:11.319 as well as that we're trash, 00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:15.900 and I've seen with others, 00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:16.839 and I've seen in my own life, 00:19:16.900 --> 00:19:17.680 that when we think, 00:19:17.940 --> 00:19:19.019 that we're trash, 00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:20.259 it impacts, 00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:21.599 the decisions we make, 00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:23.440 it impacts who we date, 00:19:23.859 --> 00:19:24.579 it impacts, 00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:25.859 what we do with our time, 00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:27.539 it impacts even our ability, 00:19:27.619 --> 00:19:28.460 to say no to sin, 00:19:28.859 --> 00:19:29.680 because trash, 00:19:29.940 --> 00:19:31.220 is what trash does, 00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:32.019 is how we think, 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:32.980 if I'm trash, 00:19:33.079 --> 00:19:34.180 I'm just going to sell, 00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:34.720 for being, 00:19:34.819 --> 00:19:35.160 and doing, 00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:36.180 and living in trash, 00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:37.799 if we think, 00:19:37.900 --> 00:19:38.420 that we're gods, 00:19:38.440 --> 00:19:38.980 and goddesses, 00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:40.019 we use people, 00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:40.900 we abuse people, 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:42.059 we trample people, 00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:43.759 both the arrogance, 00:19:43.900 --> 00:19:44.599 and the insecurity, 00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:45.480 lead us to, 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:46.779 to living life, 00:19:46.839 --> 00:19:47.720 that's turned in, 00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:48.960 and a life that's empty, 00:19:49.059 --> 00:19:50.240 and a life that's so much less, 00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:51.000 and we're made for, 00:19:51.420 --> 00:19:52.500 but we see here, 00:19:52.579 --> 00:19:53.660 that we're neither gods, 00:19:54.019 --> 00:19:55.339 nor that we're trash, 00:19:55.420 --> 00:19:56.079 but we see that we're, 00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:57.119 God's masterpiece, 00:19:58.279 --> 00:19:59.000 that you and I, 00:19:59.099 --> 00:19:59.740 have been saved, 00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:00.920 not only from sin, 00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:01.700 but to life, 00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:02.359 we've been saved, 00:20:02.440 --> 00:20:02.980 not only from being, 00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:03.900 slaves to sin, 00:20:04.180 --> 00:20:05.180 but we've been saved, 00:20:05.220 --> 00:20:06.359 to be sons, 00:20:06.460 --> 00:20:07.460 and daughters of God, 00:20:08.839 --> 00:20:09.900 I should rephrase it, 00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:10.500 we're not just saved, 00:20:10.500 --> 00:20:11.799 from being slaves to sin, 00:20:12.119 --> 00:20:13.059 but we are, 00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:14.180 saved, 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:15.279 and therefore, 00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:15.960 sons, 00:20:16.140 --> 00:20:17.039 and daughters of God, 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:18.039 that's who we are, 00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:20.099 in that respect, 00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:20.899 we're royalty, 00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:22.639 and that understanding, 00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:23.500 that we are royalty, 00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:26.000 in submission to God's power, 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:27.680 that we are God's workmanship, 00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:28.859 we're his masterpiece, 00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:30.619 it leads us, 00:20:30.619 --> 00:20:31.779 to treat others, 00:20:32.359 --> 00:20:33.159 with respect, 00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:33.779 and dignity, 00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:35.379 it leads us, 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:36.220 to this respect, 00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:36.740 and awe, 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:37.720 of the one, 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:39.440 who made us, 00:20:39.960 --> 00:20:40.759 whose masterpiece, 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:41.480 we are, 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:43.360 and it leads us, 00:20:43.420 --> 00:20:45.019 to a healthy self-respect, 00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:45.759 that doesn't need, 00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:46.640 to prove ourselves, 00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:48.559 so much of what we do, 00:20:49.120 --> 00:20:50.319 so much of what I do, 00:20:50.700 --> 00:20:51.779 is trying to prove myself, 00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:52.519 not just to God, 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:53.180 or to other people, 00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:54.240 but even to myself, 00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:55.099 I want to prove, 00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:55.700 my worth, 00:20:55.740 --> 00:20:56.420 I want to prove, 00:20:56.420 --> 00:20:57.299 that I matter, 00:20:57.360 --> 00:20:57.640 I want to, 00:20:58.740 --> 00:20:59.480 and you'll see it, 00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:00.220 I'll see it at least, 00:21:00.279 --> 00:21:00.880 in reflecting the way, 00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:02.019 that I play sports, 00:21:02.099 --> 00:21:02.460 or games, 00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:02.900 or anything, 00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:04.420 that sense of my identity, 00:21:04.599 --> 00:21:05.160 being on the line, 00:21:05.860 --> 00:21:06.819 the sports, 00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:09.059 it's less fun that way, 00:21:09.339 --> 00:21:10.620 and more savage that way, 00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:11.799 but, 00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:13.759 I remember playing, 00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:15.019 ping pong, 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:15.859 with one of my roommates, 00:21:16.259 --> 00:21:16.719 and this guy, 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:17.719 is a fierce competitor, 00:21:18.239 --> 00:21:20.519 he always wins, 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:21.239 and yet, 00:21:21.299 --> 00:21:22.119 you also get the sense, 00:21:22.179 --> 00:21:22.639 to which he's like, 00:21:22.699 --> 00:21:23.819 rooting for you, 00:21:23.939 --> 00:21:24.579 to do well, 00:21:24.659 --> 00:21:25.679 like he's delighting, 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:25.979 in my, 00:21:26.299 --> 00:21:26.919 when I actually, 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:28.159 rarely do get that great, 00:21:28.159 --> 00:21:28.959 spin in or whatever, 00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:30.379 like he's happy for me, 00:21:31.339 --> 00:21:31.979 there's a sense, 00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:33.239 to which he's competitive, 00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:34.379 and he seeks to do his best, 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:35.459 but his identity, 00:21:35.639 --> 00:21:36.019 isn't on the line, 00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:36.639 he's not threatened, 00:21:36.739 --> 00:21:37.599 by my success, 00:21:38.299 --> 00:21:38.799 he can also, 00:21:38.919 --> 00:21:40.139 he can seek to do his best, 00:21:40.140 --> 00:21:41.160 while cheering for me, 00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:41.900 I asked him, 00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:42.680 I told him that, 00:21:42.759 --> 00:21:43.400 I said all that to him, 00:21:43.460 --> 00:21:43.560 I said, 00:21:43.620 --> 00:21:44.540 how are you like this, 00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:45.620 and he just said, 00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:47.100 how he used to be so insecure, 00:21:47.620 --> 00:21:48.240 and as a result, 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:49.520 everyone else's success, 00:21:49.620 --> 00:21:50.400 was a threat to him, 00:21:51.280 --> 00:21:52.160 but, 00:21:52.300 --> 00:21:53.600 as he has allowed God, 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:54.940 into the broken places, 00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:55.680 in his life, 00:21:56.060 --> 00:21:57.600 and allowed God's grace, 00:21:57.600 --> 00:21:58.720 to make him secure, 00:21:59.180 --> 00:21:59.780 and confident, 00:22:00.300 --> 00:22:01.140 he's been able to, 00:22:01.180 --> 00:22:02.020 continue to seek, 00:22:02.100 --> 00:22:02.900 to do his best, 00:22:03.320 --> 00:22:03.960 but his identity, 00:22:04.060 --> 00:22:04.759 is not on the line, 00:22:05.040 --> 00:22:06.259 he's able to do his best, 00:22:06.320 --> 00:22:07.740 while cheering for other success, 00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:09.759 that's what I want for us, 00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:10.819 more than that, 00:22:10.839 --> 00:22:12.160 that's what God wants for us, 00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:13.599 for us to be able to be, 00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:14.279 that secure, 00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:14.960 humble, 00:22:15.120 --> 00:22:15.839 confident people, 00:22:16.220 --> 00:22:16.519 listen, 00:22:16.620 --> 00:22:17.259 it doesn't just say, 00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:17.900 for you, 00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:19.359 are his workmanship, 00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:20.200 it says, 00:22:20.339 --> 00:22:21.480 for we are his workmanship, 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:23.400 so not only, 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:24.039 do we need to hear, 00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:24.799 that you are, 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:25.539 you yourself, 00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:26.420 that me myself, 00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:27.279 is his masterpiece, 00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:28.259 his workmanship, 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:29.160 but you and I, 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:29.799 also need to hear, 00:22:29.940 --> 00:22:30.460 that the person, 00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:31.420 beside you, 00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:32.900 is his masterpiece, 00:22:32.900 --> 00:22:35.420 and for some of us, 00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:36.120 it might be difficult, 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:37.640 and not just the person, 00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:38.259 beside you, 00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:39.259 but the person you have, 00:22:39.300 --> 00:22:40.640 intentionally not sat beside, 00:22:41.140 --> 00:22:42.340 because they just annoy you, 00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:43.960 their singing is so loud, 00:22:44.040 --> 00:22:44.400 you're just like, 00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:45.800 I can't enter in, 00:22:46.080 --> 00:22:47.240 if I'm on the same side, 00:22:47.300 --> 00:22:47.600 so you're like, 00:22:47.640 --> 00:22:48.759 sitting on the other side, 00:22:48.820 --> 00:22:49.240 of this, 00:22:49.560 --> 00:22:50.400 because you're just like, 00:22:50.780 --> 00:22:51.019 oh, 00:22:51.560 --> 00:22:52.660 that person, 00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:53.640 is his masterpiece, 00:22:54.320 --> 00:22:54.860 whoever it is, 00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:55.620 that annoys you, 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:56.460 or bores you, 00:22:56.540 --> 00:22:57.920 or whatever the case may be, 00:22:58.380 --> 00:22:59.120 your colleague, 00:22:59.540 --> 00:23:00.000 who just, 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:02.980 is your colleague, 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:04.859 is God's masterpiece, 00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:06.779 we need to hear that, 00:23:07.380 --> 00:23:08.279 and it's not enough, 00:23:08.380 --> 00:23:09.700 for us to just try harder, 00:23:09.779 --> 00:23:10.380 to like them, 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:11.819 or to see God's beauty, 00:23:11.900 --> 00:23:12.220 in them, 00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:13.339 because you and I, 00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:14.640 just don't have the strength, 00:23:15.259 --> 00:23:16.880 but I want to invite us, 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:17.619 rather these words, 00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:18.420 challenge us, 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:19.960 to look to God, 00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:20.500 and say God, 00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:21.859 just as your, 00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:23.160 just as my faith in you, 00:23:23.240 --> 00:23:23.920 is a gift, 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:25.220 so I also need the gift, 00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:25.900 of your love, 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:26.539 for others, 00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:27.819 help me to love, 00:23:28.059 --> 00:23:29.339 help me to not only love, 00:23:29.400 --> 00:23:29.900 but like you, 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:30.680 to celebrate, 00:23:30.920 --> 00:23:31.680 who you've made, 00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:34.480 and it's, 00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:35.619 I've seen God, 00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:36.619 in surprising ways, 00:23:36.660 --> 00:23:37.819 be able to answer that prayer, 00:23:38.140 --> 00:23:39.079 and be able to, 00:23:39.079 --> 00:23:40.059 help someone, 00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:41.440 as self-centered as me, 00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:42.359 be able to like, 00:23:42.680 --> 00:23:43.259 and love, 00:23:43.299 --> 00:23:43.759 and even like, 00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:44.440 delight in, 00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:45.519 these people, 00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:46.519 who seem to me, 00:23:46.579 --> 00:23:47.299 to be hard to love, 00:23:47.339 --> 00:23:47.839 and to like, 00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:50.619 and really like, 00:23:51.339 --> 00:23:52.079 sometimes we can, 00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:53.099 over spiritualize, 00:23:53.140 --> 00:23:54.240 what it means to love someone, 00:23:54.779 --> 00:23:55.079 but, 00:23:55.900 --> 00:23:56.640 you can see, 00:23:56.920 --> 00:23:57.619 not only here, 00:23:57.740 --> 00:23:57.900 but, 00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:58.880 throughout the scriptures, 00:23:59.019 --> 00:23:59.819 in Colossians 3, 00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:02.019 Paul uses this language, 00:24:02.140 --> 00:24:03.359 that we're not only loved, 00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:04.279 but that we're beloved, 00:24:04.819 --> 00:24:05.799 that sense of beloved, 00:24:05.980 --> 00:24:06.599 means that, 00:24:06.839 --> 00:24:07.900 not only does God love us, 00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:08.220 but like, 00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:09.960 that he delights in us, 00:24:10.039 --> 00:24:10.200 he, 00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:11.240 there's not just, 00:24:11.339 --> 00:24:11.599 I don't, 00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:12.599 I hope it doesn't sound flaky, 00:24:12.680 --> 00:24:13.160 but that he like, 00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:15.240 celebrates who he's made in us, 00:24:15.500 --> 00:24:16.799 that he likes us, 00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:17.940 and if you and I, 00:24:17.940 --> 00:24:17.960 and if you and I, 00:24:17.960 --> 00:24:18.579 and I want to be people, 00:24:18.579 --> 00:24:19.319 who love, 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:20.200 what God loves, 00:24:20.379 --> 00:24:21.059 and hates, 00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:21.819 what God hates, 00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:23.200 then it includes, 00:24:23.379 --> 00:24:23.899 loving, 00:24:24.139 --> 00:24:25.919 and even liking people, 00:24:25.919 --> 00:24:27.319 that rub us the wrong way, 00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:28.180 and you and I, 00:24:28.220 --> 00:24:28.859 just don't have the strength, 00:24:28.899 --> 00:24:29.440 to do that, 00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:29.980 on our own, 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:30.619 we need, 00:24:30.619 --> 00:24:32.339 God's Holy Spirit, 00:24:32.919 --> 00:24:34.339 to bear that fruit in us, 00:24:34.399 --> 00:24:35.039 and it's something for us, 00:24:35.059 --> 00:24:35.579 to ask, 00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:36.579 and to, 00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:38.319 receive, 00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:41.639 for we are his workmanship, 00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:42.799 creating Christ Jesus, 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:43.879 listen, 00:24:44.259 --> 00:24:45.259 for good works, 00:24:45.980 --> 00:24:47.399 which God prepared beforehand, 00:24:48.019 --> 00:24:48.919 that we should walk in them, 00:24:49.179 --> 00:24:50.740 he's saying that we are his workmanship, 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:51.079 like, 00:24:51.339 --> 00:24:51.919 that we're this, 00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:53.659 we're the work of God's hands, 00:24:53.919 --> 00:24:54.960 created for work, 00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:56.059 sometimes, 00:24:56.359 --> 00:24:57.259 I think that it's, 00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:58.279 it's so easy for us, 00:24:58.299 --> 00:24:59.700 to speak of the work of God, 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:00.579 as if it ends, 00:25:00.839 --> 00:25:01.299 with our, 00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:02.759 believing in him, 00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:03.980 now that we believe in him, 00:25:04.039 --> 00:25:04.899 we've received his forgiveness, 00:25:05.419 --> 00:25:05.639 oh, 00:25:05.799 --> 00:25:06.319 that's it, 00:25:06.619 --> 00:25:07.279 but God has, 00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:08.579 rescued us, 00:25:08.879 --> 00:25:09.899 to join him, 00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:10.819 in his work, 00:25:10.859 --> 00:25:11.720 and what is his work, 00:25:12.139 --> 00:25:13.619 the opening of the Christmas story, 00:25:13.720 --> 00:25:14.839 the coming of Jesus, 00:25:14.940 --> 00:25:15.660 into the earth, 00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:16.799 in John 1 5, 00:25:17.139 --> 00:25:18.539 the opening words say, 00:25:18.859 --> 00:25:20.660 light shines in the darkness, 00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:21.319 and the darkness, 00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:22.599 has not overcome it, 00:25:22.920 --> 00:25:24.480 at the work of Jesus's, 00:25:24.599 --> 00:25:25.220 redemption, 00:25:25.399 --> 00:25:25.480 his, 00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:26.200 the gospel, 00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:27.700 is one of light shining, 00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:28.259 and darkness, 00:25:29.079 --> 00:25:29.960 Jesus calls us, 00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:30.639 to believe in him, 00:25:30.639 --> 00:25:31.399 five times, 00:25:31.460 --> 00:25:32.180 throughout the gospels, 00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:32.819 Jesus says, 00:25:32.899 --> 00:25:33.539 believe in me, 00:25:33.899 --> 00:25:35.200 but more than 20 times, 00:25:35.240 --> 00:25:36.519 he says to follow him, 00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:37.960 that he has created us, 00:25:38.019 --> 00:25:38.779 to join him, 00:25:39.019 --> 00:25:39.660 in being light, 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.299 in the darkness, 00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:41.660 at the very start, 00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:42.519 of Jesus's ministry, 00:25:42.619 --> 00:25:43.180 Jesus read, 00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:44.339 over himself, 00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:45.339 Isaiah 61, 00:25:45.579 --> 00:25:47.019 this is his mission statement, 00:25:47.420 --> 00:25:48.539 this ancient prophecy, 00:25:48.700 --> 00:25:49.339 hundreds of years, 00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:50.119 before he came, 00:25:50.579 --> 00:25:51.000 which says, 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:51.639 that the spirit, 00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:52.420 of the Lord God, 00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:53.240 is upon me, 00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:54.680 because he has anointed me, 00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:55.039 to preach, 00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:56.039 the good news, 00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:56.579 to the poor, 00:25:56.660 --> 00:25:57.420 to bind up, 00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:58.279 the broken hearted, 00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:59.119 to bring freedom, 00:25:59.240 --> 00:26:00.019 to the captives, 00:26:00.339 --> 00:26:01.400 freedom to the captives, 00:26:01.579 --> 00:26:01.759 sure, 00:26:01.859 --> 00:26:02.440 that includes, 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:03.200 victims, 00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:04.240 of human trafficking, 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:04.839 victims, 00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:05.700 of those who are, 00:26:05.940 --> 00:26:06.579 for their faith, 00:26:06.640 --> 00:26:07.039 imprisoned, 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:07.980 a variety, 00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:08.980 of that type of people, 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:09.700 behind bars, 00:26:09.819 --> 00:26:10.039 but, 00:26:10.579 --> 00:26:11.059 but includes, 00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:11.980 so much more, 00:26:12.059 --> 00:26:12.559 than that, 00:26:12.859 --> 00:26:13.920 some of the greatest, 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:14.779 prisons, 00:26:14.900 --> 00:26:16.059 we ever find ourselves in, 00:26:16.660 --> 00:26:17.620 is the prison, 00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:18.220 of bitterness, 00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:19.200 and unforgiveness, 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:20.099 is the prison, 00:26:20.460 --> 00:26:21.460 of anger, 00:26:21.740 --> 00:26:23.240 and betrayal, 00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:24.839 and Jesus, 00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:25.799 has come into the world, 00:26:25.859 --> 00:26:27.000 he's broken into the world, 00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:27.500 to save, 00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:28.660 not only you and me, 00:26:28.660 --> 00:26:29.799 but to the people, 00:26:29.960 --> 00:26:30.660 on our street, 00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:32.759 to save our family members, 00:26:32.800 --> 00:26:33.500 and our colleagues, 00:26:33.860 --> 00:26:34.660 from those prisons, 00:26:34.779 --> 00:26:35.340 of bitterness, 00:26:35.640 --> 00:26:36.180 and resentment, 00:26:36.420 --> 00:26:37.080 and entitlement, 00:26:38.800 --> 00:26:39.720 on large scale, 00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:40.519 and small scale, 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:42.040 and he has saved us, 00:26:42.080 --> 00:26:42.820 to join him, 00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:44.259 in being rescuers, 00:26:45.340 --> 00:26:46.600 recently, 00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:47.420 I've been just kind of, 00:26:47.600 --> 00:26:49.040 hit by Harriet Tubman, 00:26:49.140 --> 00:26:49.540 she was, 00:26:49.840 --> 00:26:50.580 a young woman, 00:26:50.900 --> 00:26:52.380 who was saved from slavery, 00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:53.300 200 years ago, 00:26:53.700 --> 00:26:54.700 she was living in the, 00:26:54.700 --> 00:26:56.480 in the deep American south, 00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:57.800 I believe she was like, 00:26:57.800 --> 00:26:58.720 13 at the time, 00:26:58.720 --> 00:26:59.860 and this, 00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:01.339 this rescuer came, 00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:02.400 and led her, 00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:02.839 and others, 00:27:02.940 --> 00:27:03.700 on foot, 00:27:04.059 --> 00:27:04.960 all the way up, 00:27:05.120 --> 00:27:05.579 to Canada, 00:27:05.640 --> 00:27:05.980 recently, 00:27:06.120 --> 00:27:06.579 I've been doing, 00:27:06.660 --> 00:27:07.380 a step challenge, 00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:08.019 on my phone, 00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:09.059 I get scene points, 00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:09.420 for it, 00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:10.000 this is not, 00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:10.980 this sermon, 00:27:11.059 --> 00:27:11.880 is not like, 00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:12.740 sponsored by them, 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:13.900 but you can sign up too, 00:27:14.140 --> 00:27:14.380 anyway, 00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:15.059 I've been doing, 00:27:15.140 --> 00:27:15.640 a step challenge, 00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:16.279 I've been really proud, 00:27:16.339 --> 00:27:16.640 of myself, 00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:18.140 for just destroying, 00:27:18.299 --> 00:27:18.900 the step challenge, 00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:20.079 I'm killing it, 00:27:20.640 --> 00:27:21.960 if I look at my step challenge, 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:22.860 on my best day, 00:27:23.240 --> 00:27:24.059 like it is less, 00:27:24.140 --> 00:27:24.740 than a quarter, 00:27:24.740 --> 00:27:25.660 of what the steps, 00:27:25.759 --> 00:27:26.299 that she was doing, 00:27:26.360 --> 00:27:27.140 every single day, 00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:27.839 all the way up, 00:27:27.900 --> 00:27:28.279 from the south, 00:27:28.279 --> 00:27:28.720 you know what I'm saying, 00:27:29.420 --> 00:27:29.740 I don't know, 00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:30.139 if I'm communicating, 00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:31.220 but that's a very far, 00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:32.000 place to come from, 00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:32.500 the deep south, 00:27:32.579 --> 00:27:33.139 to walk up to Canada, 00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:33.960 she gets here, 00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:34.859 and like all the other, 00:27:34.859 --> 00:27:35.619 rescue slaves, 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:36.740 she has, 00:27:36.859 --> 00:27:37.460 for the first time, 00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.000 in her life, 00:27:38.339 --> 00:27:38.660 freedom, 00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:39.899 for the first time, 00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:40.319 in her life, 00:27:40.399 --> 00:27:40.920 the laws, 00:27:41.299 --> 00:27:43.500 that protect people's, 00:27:43.500 --> 00:27:44.519 worth, 00:27:44.599 --> 00:27:45.039 and safety, 00:27:45.099 --> 00:27:45.740 apply to her, 00:27:46.399 --> 00:27:47.359 and all these slaves, 00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:48.180 are trying to make, 00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:49.279 their best run at it, 00:27:49.339 --> 00:27:50.259 for life in Canada, 00:27:50.660 --> 00:27:51.539 still coming up, 00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:52.299 against all sorts, 00:27:52.339 --> 00:27:52.759 of racism, 00:27:53.099 --> 00:27:54.039 and stuff, 00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:54.619 but still, 00:27:54.779 --> 00:27:55.460 so much better, 00:27:55.559 --> 00:27:56.379 than what they'd come from, 00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:57.339 but Harriet, 00:27:57.339 --> 00:27:58.539 the teenager, 00:27:58.699 --> 00:27:59.199 was just like, 00:27:59.579 --> 00:28:00.579 I can't stay here, 00:28:01.199 --> 00:28:02.639 there's so many people, 00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.279 back there, 00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:04.899 and so she used, 00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:05.740 her freedom, 00:28:06.139 --> 00:28:06.879 turned around, 00:28:07.139 --> 00:28:07.899 and walked, 00:28:08.179 --> 00:28:09.559 back to the south, 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:10.779 and led, 00:28:10.939 --> 00:28:11.399 as a teenager, 00:28:11.539 --> 00:28:12.220 people back, 00:28:12.439 --> 00:28:13.179 up all the way, 00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:13.579 to Canada, 00:28:13.699 --> 00:28:14.039 freedom, 00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:15.559 and then, 00:28:15.559 --> 00:28:16.279 and then she went back, 00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:17.700 and the more, 00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:18.359 that she did it, 00:28:18.399 --> 00:28:18.779 the more, 00:28:18.899 --> 00:28:19.619 the enemies, 00:28:19.879 --> 00:28:20.399 hated her, 00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:20.700 the more, 00:28:20.779 --> 00:28:21.519 that the slave owners, 00:28:21.899 --> 00:28:22.339 and so people, 00:28:22.399 --> 00:28:23.279 they started having posters, 00:28:23.379 --> 00:28:24.119 with her face on it, 00:28:24.139 --> 00:28:25.299 and huge rewards, 00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:26.279 and all this kind of stuff, 00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:27.379 to try to find her, 00:28:27.579 --> 00:28:28.220 and still, 00:28:28.359 --> 00:28:29.000 she went back, 00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:31.359 her life, 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:33.019 is to be a depiction, 00:28:33.019 --> 00:28:34.000 of what the life, 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:35.019 of a Christian is, 00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:36.720 I mean her sense of courage, 00:28:36.859 --> 00:28:37.759 and selflessness, 00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:40.180 came from her deep faith, 00:28:40.279 --> 00:28:40.680 in Jesus, 00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:43.339 but she's not to be some hero, 00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:44.680 but rather a template, 00:28:44.859 --> 00:28:45.740 for every one of us, 00:28:46.200 --> 00:28:47.359 that we have been saved, 00:28:47.460 --> 00:28:48.240 we've been made, 00:28:48.299 --> 00:28:48.960 this masterpiece, 00:28:49.259 --> 00:28:50.480 this workmanship for God, 00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:51.819 and we were saved, 00:28:51.900 --> 00:28:52.599 to be saved, 00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:53.779 to be joining Jesus, 00:28:53.839 --> 00:28:54.579 and being saviors, 00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:55.099 in a sense, 00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:56.819 you'll find sometimes, 00:28:56.919 --> 00:28:57.839 if you join God, 00:28:57.879 --> 00:28:58.459 in this work, 00:28:58.679 --> 00:28:59.419 in small ways, 00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:00.359 and in big ways, 00:29:00.519 --> 00:29:01.879 that you might get people, 00:29:02.019 --> 00:29:02.439 throwing at you, 00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:03.179 that you're a, 00:29:03.679 --> 00:29:04.740 that you got a hero complex, 00:29:05.399 --> 00:29:05.980 but honestly, 00:29:06.179 --> 00:29:06.699 for Christians, 00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:07.519 there should be a sense, 00:29:07.579 --> 00:29:08.459 to which our lives look, 00:29:08.719 --> 00:29:09.959 like we have a hero complex, 00:29:09.959 --> 00:29:11.500 because there should be, 00:29:11.659 --> 00:29:12.740 not a workaholism, 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:13.879 but a selflessness, 00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:14.639 to ourselves, 00:29:15.419 --> 00:29:16.359 and that line, 00:29:16.419 --> 00:29:17.119 is sometimes hard, 00:29:17.159 --> 00:29:17.859 and I fail it, 00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:18.279 but, 00:29:19.219 --> 00:29:20.059 we were created, 00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:20.819 to follow, 00:29:21.059 --> 00:29:21.819 to join in, 00:29:22.099 --> 00:29:23.259 to live life with, 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:24.859 the rescuer, 00:29:25.099 --> 00:29:26.500 of all of humanity, 00:29:26.939 --> 00:29:27.879 and the entire universe, 00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:29.219 and so, 00:29:29.339 --> 00:29:29.919 it's going to look, 00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:30.559 so different, 00:29:30.639 --> 00:29:31.659 for different ones of us, 00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:32.980 but we're all called, 00:29:33.059 --> 00:29:34.000 to that great work, 00:29:34.379 --> 00:29:34.719 you, 00:29:35.379 --> 00:29:35.759 listen, 00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:36.939 you, 00:29:37.059 --> 00:29:37.539 were made, 00:29:37.619 --> 00:29:38.480 to make a difference, 00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:40.240 you were saved, 00:29:40.959 --> 00:29:41.599 to be a light, 00:29:41.639 --> 00:29:42.199 in the darkness, 00:29:43.399 --> 00:29:44.740 that isn't hype, 00:29:45.319 --> 00:29:46.619 it's not an exaggeration, 00:29:46.959 --> 00:29:48.399 that is your mission statement, 00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:50.199 Isaiah 61, 00:29:50.199 --> 00:29:50.539 1, 00:29:50.719 --> 00:29:51.439 is your, 00:29:51.539 --> 00:29:52.439 my mission statement, 00:29:52.939 --> 00:29:54.119 as followers of Jesus, 00:29:54.119 --> 00:29:56.119 but it's so important, 00:29:56.239 --> 00:29:56.919 for us to see, 00:29:57.819 --> 00:29:58.439 and it's so easy, 00:29:58.559 --> 00:29:59.419 for us to fail, 00:29:59.619 --> 00:30:00.439 and fall into, 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:03.919 doing those good works, 00:30:04.959 --> 00:30:05.479 hoping, 00:30:06.039 --> 00:30:06.679 that that will, 00:30:07.199 --> 00:30:08.439 fulfill that sense, 00:30:08.459 --> 00:30:08.899 of emptiness, 00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:09.259 in us, 00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:09.879 hoping, 00:30:10.179 --> 00:30:11.199 that it might please God, 00:30:11.299 --> 00:30:11.959 hoping that, 00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:13.059 it somehow, 00:30:13.439 --> 00:30:14.059 compensates, 00:30:14.179 --> 00:30:15.919 for our failings, 00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:18.200 the life of someone, 00:30:18.340 --> 00:30:18.660 who is, 00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:19.440 doing this, 00:30:19.500 --> 00:30:20.259 out of the freedom, 00:30:20.380 --> 00:30:21.180 that God has won for us, 00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:21.980 and the life of someone, 00:30:22.039 --> 00:30:22.480 who is doing it, 00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:23.000 out of insecurity, 00:30:23.120 --> 00:30:24.500 might look very similar, 00:30:24.600 --> 00:30:25.560 even identical, 00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:27.060 but the, 00:30:27.060 --> 00:30:28.080 the inner health, 00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:30.259 is so different, 00:30:30.259 --> 00:30:33.440 and I find, 00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:34.039 it's so easy, 00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:34.559 for us, 00:30:35.180 --> 00:30:35.480 to, 00:30:35.660 --> 00:30:36.759 to fall into one, 00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:37.359 and then go back, 00:30:37.420 --> 00:30:38.240 and fall into one, 00:30:39.180 --> 00:30:39.619 and yet, 00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:41.140 he who the son, 00:30:41.180 --> 00:30:41.599 sets free, 00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:42.339 is free indeed, 00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:44.220 for by grace, 00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:45.079 you have been saved, 00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:45.740 through faith, 00:30:46.079 --> 00:30:47.519 and this is not your own doing, 00:30:47.579 --> 00:30:48.759 it is a gift of God, 00:30:48.879 --> 00:30:50.039 not a result of work, 00:30:50.099 --> 00:30:50.740 so that no one, 00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:51.400 may boast, 00:30:51.799 --> 00:30:53.200 for we are his workmanship, 00:30:53.339 --> 00:30:54.279 creating Christ Jesus, 00:30:54.420 --> 00:30:55.180 for good works, 00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:56.819 which God prepared beforehand, 00:30:56.960 --> 00:30:57.859 that we should walk in them, 00:30:58.079 --> 00:30:58.839 the same God, 00:30:58.839 --> 00:30:59.859 that has saved us, 00:30:59.939 --> 00:31:01.459 from being slaves to sin, 00:31:01.879 --> 00:31:02.959 and children of darkness, 00:31:03.059 --> 00:31:03.759 is the same God, 00:31:03.779 --> 00:31:04.839 that can save you and me, 00:31:05.299 --> 00:31:06.480 from falling into, 00:31:06.839 --> 00:31:07.679 this works righteousness, 00:31:07.879 --> 00:31:08.599 falling into trying to, 00:31:08.919 --> 00:31:09.919 use our good works, 00:31:09.959 --> 00:31:10.740 to prove something, 00:31:11.639 --> 00:31:12.579 he who has saved us, 00:31:12.619 --> 00:31:13.459 is saving us, 00:31:13.980 --> 00:31:14.480 let us pray, 00:31:14.599 --> 00:31:14.899 God, 00:31:15.799 --> 00:31:16.659 thank you, 00:31:17.059 --> 00:31:18.419 that you don't leave us, 00:31:18.579 --> 00:31:19.519 to our own pettiness, 00:31:19.939 --> 00:31:20.519 insecurities, 00:31:20.599 --> 00:31:21.059 or arrogance, 00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:22.919 but that you have joined us, 00:31:22.939 --> 00:31:24.419 in the midst of our brokenness, 00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:25.419 God, 00:31:26.419 --> 00:31:27.879 thank you for your love for us, 00:31:27.880 --> 00:31:29.800 that you not only love us, 00:31:29.800 --> 00:31:31.120 but you like us, 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:33.180 you like us, 00:31:33.840 --> 00:31:34.960 God, 00:31:35.020 --> 00:31:35.340 thank you, 00:31:35.380 --> 00:31:36.880 that we are your workmanship, 00:31:37.040 --> 00:31:38.000 we're your masterpiece, 00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:39.960 and that you are the one, 00:31:40.120 --> 00:31:41.920 who began this good work in us, 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:42.980 and you are the one, 00:31:43.060 --> 00:31:44.420 who will see it through the end, 00:31:45.500 --> 00:31:46.580 and so, 00:31:46.700 --> 00:31:46.840 Father, 00:31:46.920 --> 00:31:47.580 I pray that, 00:31:47.880 --> 00:31:48.960 you would once again, 00:31:50.040 --> 00:31:50.860 set us free, 00:31:50.920 --> 00:31:52.420 from our insecurities, 00:31:52.500 --> 00:31:53.080 or our arrogance, 00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:54.320 and God, 00:31:54.360 --> 00:31:55.900 that you would lead each one of us, 00:31:55.900 --> 00:31:57.980 not only in light of the gospel, 00:31:58.100 --> 00:31:59.120 but through the power, 00:31:59.240 --> 00:32:00.019 of the gospel, 00:32:00.120 --> 00:32:00.700 through the power, 00:32:00.800 --> 00:32:02.160 that raised Jesus from the dead, 00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:03.960 through his victory, 00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:06.100 that you would lead us, 00:32:06.180 --> 00:32:06.980 in that humble, 00:32:07.460 --> 00:32:08.000 confidence, 00:32:08.660 --> 00:32:09.500 selfless life, 00:32:09.620 --> 00:32:10.519 of courage, 00:32:10.780 --> 00:32:11.420 and rescue, 00:32:11.420 --> 00:32:12.480 as we join you, 00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:15.519 as we not only join you, 00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:16.860 but also let you in, 00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:18.580 to the broken places, 00:32:18.720 --> 00:32:19.300 in our lives, 00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:20.600 for the sake, 00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:21.460 of your name, 00:32:21.820 --> 00:32:22.560 and your renown, 00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:23.780 in your son's name, 00:32:23.779 --> 00:32:24.220 we pray, 00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:24.680 Amen.