WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.339 All right, so we are going to continue on. 00:00:10.599 --> 00:00:12.099 It's because it was on mute. 00:00:13.820 --> 00:00:14.859 That's why I was muted. 00:00:16.140 --> 00:00:17.539 It's usually not their fault. 00:00:17.640 --> 00:00:18.559 ! It's usually our fault. 00:00:18.839 --> 00:00:20.260 So I will fully admit that. 00:00:20.940 --> 00:00:24.320 We are going to continue on in our series on Colossians. 00:00:24.420 --> 00:00:25.660 If you'd like to get caught up, 00:00:25.660 --> 00:00:27.839 you can go visit our YouTube channel 00:00:27.839 --> 00:00:29.100 at FBC Henrietta. 00:00:29.100 --> 00:00:33.920 On YouTube and see previous sermons in this series and others. 00:00:34.280 --> 00:00:36.240 Before we move on with the service, 00:00:36.539 --> 00:00:40.160 if you are a veteran of any of our armed forces, 00:00:40.600 --> 00:00:41.859 would you mind standing? 00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:45.439 Current or past? 00:00:46.719 --> 00:00:47.760 Yes, thank you. 00:00:51.219 --> 00:00:52.100 There we go. 00:00:56.180 --> 00:00:58.500 Mike's standing up in the sound deck as well. 00:00:58.500 --> 00:01:02.500 I want to thank all of you for your service on this Veterans Day weekend. 00:01:03.200 --> 00:01:09.260 You just saw the introductory video into our series on Colossians called Christ Over All. 00:01:09.799 --> 00:01:12.019 And before we dive into it, can I ask you all a question? 00:01:13.060 --> 00:01:16.780 Have you ever been walking along outside, 00:01:17.319 --> 00:01:20.740 looking up at the sky, taking in the beauty of God's creation? 00:01:20.739 --> 00:01:24.659 Maybe the birds flying, the clouds floating through the sky, 00:01:24.780 --> 00:01:26.879 and the sun peeking through. 00:01:27.799 --> 00:01:30.379 And then you trip and fall because you weren't watching where you were going. 00:01:32.739 --> 00:01:33.560 Yeah, me too. 00:01:35.979 --> 00:01:39.340 And then at some point, I don't know what age you hit this, 00:01:39.439 --> 00:01:43.979 but when you're walking along, you're more concerned about walking along through a field. 00:01:44.199 --> 00:01:46.419 You're more concerned about twisting your ankle. 00:01:46.420 --> 00:01:49.900 I don't know what age that happens. 00:01:52.659 --> 00:01:53.719 Yeah, there you go. 00:01:54.579 --> 00:01:56.760 It keeps getting younger and younger, I feel like. 00:01:58.920 --> 00:02:02.560 The ancient philosophers had a bit of a reputation for that. 00:02:02.680 --> 00:02:05.520 They were so obsessed with gazing at the heavens, 00:02:06.520 --> 00:02:10.300 coming up with all kinds of wild and crazy theories about what might be up there, 00:02:10.300 --> 00:02:13.880 that they would sometimes walk right into a ditch. 00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:15.780 They became known for that. 00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:17.040 It was kind of a running joke. 00:02:18.140 --> 00:02:23.380 Maybe that's why Paul kicks off the third chapter of his letter to the church in Colossae, 00:02:23.380 --> 00:02:24.620 Colossians chapter 3, 00:02:25.320 --> 00:02:26.020 by saying, 00:02:26.439 --> 00:02:30.740 Set your sights on the realities of heaven. 00:02:30.740 --> 00:02:37.159 Set your sights on the realities of heaven. 00:02:37.260 --> 00:02:42.040 Not theories, not wild fantasies, but realities. 00:02:43.379 --> 00:02:45.460 But exactly what good is that going to do us? 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:47.000 Well, let's get into it. 00:02:47.200 --> 00:02:48.860 As you turn to Colossians chapter 3, 00:02:48.980 --> 00:02:50.420 we're going to kick it off in verse 1, 00:02:50.460 --> 00:02:52.379 and we can do a very, very brief recap 00:02:52.379 --> 00:02:57.219 of our study of Paul's letter to the church in Colossae. 00:02:57.219 --> 00:03:01.900 This is called Christ Over All, our series through Colossians. 00:03:02.340 --> 00:03:04.860 Paul wrote these not as books of the Bible, 00:03:05.139 --> 00:03:09.020 but as individual letters to specific churches at a point in time. 00:03:09.539 --> 00:03:15.099 Later, the church would compile them into what we now have as the scriptures, 00:03:15.319 --> 00:03:16.620 as the Holy Bible today. 00:03:17.300 --> 00:03:21.240 But they were specific letters written for specific people 00:03:21.240 --> 00:03:23.740 in a specific place at a specific time. 00:03:23.740 --> 00:03:28.120 So we can draw much from that while understanding 00:03:28.120 --> 00:03:30.540 this was for this church in Colossae. 00:03:30.920 --> 00:03:33.820 Three weeks ago, we saw from Colossians chapter 1 00:03:33.820 --> 00:03:38.200 that in Jesus Christ, all things hold together. 00:03:39.100 --> 00:03:40.540 All things hold together. 00:03:41.620 --> 00:03:43.260 He's holding it all together. 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:45.240 We called it Christ Over the Cosmos, 00:03:45.540 --> 00:03:47.640 the ordered universe as we know it. 00:03:48.080 --> 00:03:51.080 And then in week 2, we saw that once, 00:03:51.080 --> 00:03:53.020 we were alienated by sin. 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:55.860 We were seen as illegal aliens in God's eyes. 00:03:55.860 --> 00:04:00.040 But he has reconciled us through his son to himself, 00:04:00.040 --> 00:04:02.240 and he's rewriting us a brand new story. 00:04:02.680 --> 00:04:07.220 Once alienated, now reconciled Christ over us. 00:04:07.860 --> 00:04:11.500 And then last Sunday, we looked at Christ over religion 00:04:11.500 --> 00:04:15.600 when we saw that a rooted relationship with Jesus 00:04:15.600 --> 00:04:19.600 is always far more meaningful than the rules of religion. 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:24.780 So we're compelled to let our roots grow down deep into Jesus. 00:04:24.920 --> 00:04:28.640 So now let's look at chapter 3 and verse 1. 00:04:29.500 --> 00:04:31.900 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, 00:04:32.420 --> 00:04:36.080 set your sights on the realities of heaven, 00:04:37.080 --> 00:04:41.460 where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. 00:04:41.660 --> 00:04:45.200 Think about the things of heaven, not the things on the earth. 00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:49.240 Your Bible might say, set your affections on things above. 00:04:49.240 --> 00:04:51.780 Not on things of this earth. 00:04:52.439 --> 00:04:56.560 For you died to this life, and your real life, the realities, 00:04:57.660 --> 00:04:59.800 are hidden with Christ in God. 00:05:00.340 --> 00:05:04.699 And when Christ, who is your life, 00:05:05.480 --> 00:05:07.379 is revealed to the whole world, 00:05:07.860 --> 00:05:10.600 you will share in all his glory. 00:05:10.600 --> 00:05:15.240 What a powerful setup for the next several verses 00:05:15.240 --> 00:05:18.600 that he's going to get into here as he's teaching this church 00:05:18.600 --> 00:05:21.720 and he's teaching us today through this Bible 00:05:21.720 --> 00:05:23.480 that's been handed down through generations. 00:05:23.800 --> 00:05:27.480 This reminds me of a quote by a famous pastor 00:05:27.480 --> 00:05:30.540 from many, many years ago up in New England called Jonathan Edwards. 00:05:31.080 --> 00:05:31.540 He said, 00:05:31.540 --> 00:05:40.180 Let's look at that again. 00:05:40.180 --> 00:05:44.400 No change of religious nature will ever take place 00:05:44.400 --> 00:05:47.920 until the affections are moved. 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:51.900 I think that's what Paul was saying at the beginning of chapter 3. 00:05:51.980 --> 00:05:52.319 He said, 00:05:52.939 --> 00:05:56.220 Set your affections on things above, 00:05:56.699 --> 00:05:58.500 not things of the earth. 00:05:58.620 --> 00:06:00.420 Think about those things. 00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:02.620 Prioritize those things. 00:06:02.780 --> 00:06:04.500 But often we get them backwards, don't we? 00:06:04.960 --> 00:06:07.879 So Paul's kicking it off by teaching us this. 00:06:08.300 --> 00:06:11.060 Christ over our past. 00:06:11.060 --> 00:06:15.759 Christ over the past. 00:06:16.280 --> 00:06:17.300 New affections. 00:06:18.680 --> 00:06:19.780 New realities. 00:06:20.839 --> 00:06:21.899 A new life. 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:22.920 The old is gone. 00:06:23.459 --> 00:06:24.939 The new has come. 00:06:25.019 --> 00:06:27.399 And that's always the way with God. 00:06:27.840 --> 00:06:29.540 That's always the way with Jesus. 00:06:29.699 --> 00:06:31.199 That's always his message. 00:06:31.779 --> 00:06:34.399 We're replacing the old with the new. 00:06:34.680 --> 00:06:37.439 And Jesus came to bring the new. 00:06:37.540 --> 00:06:39.139 We're about to enter into the Christmas season. 00:06:39.139 --> 00:06:42.539 How many of y'all think it's crazy that Christmas is practically here? 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:44.360 Yeah, it can't be just right. 00:06:44.439 --> 00:06:45.319 There's a lot of hands. 00:06:47.379 --> 00:06:48.399 It's here, y'all. 00:06:48.560 --> 00:06:51.860 And we're going to be talking about Jesus coming and bringing something new. 00:06:52.139 --> 00:06:56.560 Let's not forget the message of Jesus is the old is gone. 00:06:56.839 --> 00:06:58.399 The new is here. 00:06:58.819 --> 00:07:00.339 That's what he came to do. 00:07:00.519 --> 00:07:03.759 So let's see what Paul's talking about in Colossians chapter 3. 00:07:03.939 --> 00:07:06.039 The big idea this morning is this. 00:07:06.439 --> 00:07:08.180 Christ over the past. 00:07:08.180 --> 00:07:10.699 What do we mean by Christ over the past? 00:07:10.699 --> 00:07:14.840 We mean trade your past for God's power. 00:07:15.720 --> 00:07:18.319 Trade your past for God's power. 00:07:18.500 --> 00:07:20.480 It doesn't mean that you can't learn from it. 00:07:20.759 --> 00:07:24.340 It doesn't mean that you didn't maybe have some good things in your past. 00:07:24.439 --> 00:07:27.500 Although often the bad things rise to the surface. 00:07:27.500 --> 00:07:33.459 I love how Jamie shared some of the problems and the struggles from his past. 00:07:33.459 --> 00:07:39.339 But that God used to bring him to a place of God's power in his life. 00:07:39.860 --> 00:07:44.500 And we got to see the evidence of that this morning with him being baptized in front of our church. 00:07:44.660 --> 00:07:46.639 What a powerful moment and testimony. 00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:49.740 So we're trading our past for God's power. 00:07:49.740 --> 00:07:52.819 Number one this morning, put the old you to death. 00:07:53.379 --> 00:07:54.560 Let's look back at the text. 00:07:55.139 --> 00:07:56.579 Colossians chapter 3 verse 5. 00:07:57.379 --> 00:07:58.579 Put the old you to death. 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:03.160 Therefore, Paul writes, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature. 00:08:03.840 --> 00:08:08.120 Sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, greed. 00:08:08.120 --> 00:08:10.759 This is idolatry. 00:08:11.500 --> 00:08:19.319 These are literally idols that will steal your worship away from God and cause you to worship other things. 00:08:20.100 --> 00:08:22.579 So put the old you to death. 00:08:22.720 --> 00:08:27.560 Put to death the sinful earthly things lurking within you. 00:08:27.639 --> 00:08:29.459 The New Living Translation puts it that way. 00:08:29.800 --> 00:08:32.860 The sinful earthly things lurking within you. 00:08:32.980 --> 00:08:36.060 Say, man, I don't have anything sinful and earthly lurking within me. 00:08:36.379 --> 00:08:37.139 What are you talking about? 00:08:37.139 --> 00:08:37.940 I'm a good person. 00:08:38.700 --> 00:08:40.240 You're deceiving yourself. 00:08:40.440 --> 00:08:44.960 We all have sinful earthly things lurking within us. 00:08:45.080 --> 00:08:53.320 Until God delivers us from this body that is sinful someday, we all have to deal with this struggle constantly. 00:08:53.480 --> 00:08:57.679 We even see those written about in the scriptures having to deal with this struggle. 00:08:58.580 --> 00:09:01.620 So we're not talking about a self-improvement plan. 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:06.120 That leads to death. 00:09:06.120 --> 00:09:08.240 You can't get anywhere with that. 00:09:08.440 --> 00:09:12.460 You can get down a certain way, but you're relying on your own strength. 00:09:12.460 --> 00:09:17.180 And that's not going to get you anywhere without the power of God. 00:09:17.179 --> 00:09:23.120 That's why we're saying trading God's past for his, your past for God's power. 00:09:23.599 --> 00:09:26.159 So I'm not talking about a self-improvement plan. 00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:28.159 We're talking about transformation. 00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:29.159 We're talking about transformation. 00:09:29.159 --> 00:09:32.559 By a power bigger than you. 00:09:33.000 --> 00:09:34.259 Bigger than me. 00:09:34.779 --> 00:09:39.959 You don't negotiate with what Jesus already nailed to the cross. 00:09:40.039 --> 00:09:40.620 What do you do? 00:09:41.019 --> 00:09:42.100 You let it die. 00:09:42.939 --> 00:09:43.980 You bury it. 00:09:43.980 --> 00:09:51.000 That's why Paul literally says, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature. 00:09:52.539 --> 00:09:55.720 Jesus buried your sin. 00:09:56.860 --> 00:09:58.940 He buried your sin. 00:09:59.300 --> 00:10:01.560 Psalm 103 and verse 12 puts it this way. 00:10:01.559 --> 00:10:07.339 David was writing before Christ ever came about what God would do someday. 00:10:07.339 --> 00:10:15.159 And he said, he has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. 00:10:15.379 --> 00:10:16.419 I got backwards. 00:10:17.139 --> 00:10:18.419 For y'all, that worked well, though. 00:10:19.879 --> 00:10:20.439 Anyway. 00:10:23.500 --> 00:10:24.739 Which way is east? 00:10:24.939 --> 00:10:25.539 Which way is west? 00:10:25.559 --> 00:10:25.919 There you go. 00:10:25.979 --> 00:10:26.179 East. 00:10:26.299 --> 00:10:26.500 Okay. 00:10:26.500 --> 00:10:28.759 From the east, from the west. 00:10:28.820 --> 00:10:29.360 There we go. 00:10:30.220 --> 00:10:34.620 God has removed our sins or our transgressions from us. 00:10:34.740 --> 00:10:37.299 That is if we are in Christ. 00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:39.799 I always want to throw that caveat in there. 00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:44.480 Because if you're not in Christ, then you're still carrying the full load of your sin. 00:10:45.340 --> 00:10:46.480 And I don't want that for you. 00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:48.620 Nobody here wants that for you. 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:53.840 We saw the testimony of someone who has experienced freedom in Christ this morning. 00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:54.480 We heard it. 00:10:54.799 --> 00:10:55.820 It was powerful. 00:10:55.820 --> 00:10:56.500 It was moving. 00:10:57.440 --> 00:10:59.300 And I want you to have that testimony. 00:10:59.860 --> 00:11:01.400 As so many in this room share. 00:11:02.400 --> 00:11:04.879 He has removed our sins. 00:11:05.220 --> 00:11:07.000 We'll still remember some of the things we did. 00:11:07.680 --> 00:11:09.160 But God has wiped it clean. 00:11:09.980 --> 00:11:11.440 Past, present, and future. 00:11:11.879 --> 00:11:13.320 He's put it to death. 00:11:13.740 --> 00:11:17.820 There's another verse that says he's literally nailed it to his cross. 00:11:17.820 --> 00:11:28.120 So while they were nailing his hands, nailing his feet to the cross, in a sense, they were nailing our sins to his cross. 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:29.879 Because they were going to die. 00:11:29.960 --> 00:11:33.399 The punishment for those sins was going to be gone. 00:11:33.399 --> 00:11:41.019 The effect of those sins eternally separating us from God was going to be rendered irrelevant now. 00:11:41.019 --> 00:11:43.980 Because Jesus conquered them. 00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:46.240 Jesus won victory over them. 00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:50.220 So now he says, don't keep those sins alive. 00:11:50.439 --> 00:11:53.120 Don't keep your sinful past alive. 00:11:53.539 --> 00:11:56.120 Put the old you to death. 00:11:56.120 --> 00:11:59.659 Romans chapter 6 and verse 4. 00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:03.740 Paul's writing to the church in Rome this time. 00:12:04.100 --> 00:12:10.720 And he says, we died and we were buried with Christ by baptism. 00:12:11.480 --> 00:12:12.399 Isn't that a cool thing? 00:12:13.139 --> 00:12:17.899 That was the illustration of what Jesus did for us. 00:12:17.899 --> 00:12:24.039 Thank God he didn't literally ask us to go get nailed to a cross and buried in a tomb. 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:25.620 Only God could do that. 00:12:25.860 --> 00:12:27.459 Only Jesus could pull that off. 00:12:27.799 --> 00:12:31.919 But he says, now you walk in the way that I have modeled for you. 00:12:33.079 --> 00:12:40.360 And step number one after placing your faith in me is to get up and model what I did and would be baptized. 00:12:40.819 --> 00:12:41.779 We got to see that. 00:12:41.860 --> 00:12:42.699 We celebrate that. 00:12:42.779 --> 00:12:45.980 And we'll watch the video again next week and get excited about it again. 00:12:46.419 --> 00:12:47.120 It'll be great. 00:12:47.899 --> 00:12:50.919 So we died and we were buried with Christ by baptism. 00:12:50.919 --> 00:13:00.000 And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of his father, now we also may live new lives. 00:13:00.779 --> 00:13:03.639 By the glorious power of the father. 00:13:04.459 --> 00:13:05.840 That's inferred there. 00:13:06.740 --> 00:13:12.100 By God's glorious power, we get to live new lives. 00:13:12.679 --> 00:13:14.340 So here's the thought. 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:17.120 Stop dicking up. 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:20.139 What Jesus already buried. 00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:22.639 Stop digging up. 00:13:23.139 --> 00:13:25.399 What Jesus already buried. 00:13:26.740 --> 00:13:28.139 I don't know about y'all. 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:30.279 Every once in a while. 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:34.759 Something from my past will worm its way into my mind. 00:13:35.139 --> 00:13:37.139 And it'll make me feel like. 00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:40.440 Trash. 00:13:40.440 --> 00:13:43.080 Anybody else? 00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:43.120 Anybody else? 00:13:44.520 --> 00:13:46.960 We're good at accusing ourselves, aren't we? 00:13:48.300 --> 00:13:50.820 Do you know who accuses you? 00:13:51.940 --> 00:13:52.740 Anybody? 00:13:54.020 --> 00:13:55.120 The devil. 00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:58.620 That's why he's called the accuser. 00:13:58.620 --> 00:14:03.500 Does Jesus accuse you anymore? 00:14:04.139 --> 00:14:05.080 No, he doesn't. 00:14:05.580 --> 00:14:11.519 If you are in Christ, then you stand free and clear, forgiven for Jesus. 00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:16.559 So stop digging up what Jesus already nailed to his cross. 00:14:16.740 --> 00:14:19.720 Stop digging up what Jesus already buried. 00:14:19.939 --> 00:14:21.519 Now go back to Colossians 3, would you? 00:14:22.079 --> 00:14:23.299 Colossians 3, verse 10. 00:14:23.299 --> 00:14:28.799 He said, put these things to death. 00:14:28.899 --> 00:14:32.819 The sexual immorality, the impurity, the lust, the evil desire, the greed, the idolatry. 00:14:33.019 --> 00:14:38.299 Because of these problems, these sins, God's wrath has come on the disobedient. 00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:41.099 By the way, we were all at one time disobedient. 00:14:41.800 --> 00:14:44.779 Oftentimes, we still disobey God's laws. 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:46.659 But now we are forgiven. 00:14:47.620 --> 00:14:50.180 Even before we do it, God's already forgiven it. 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:56.000 So, you once walked in these things when you were living in them, but now put them away. 00:14:56.360 --> 00:14:58.379 He says in verse 8, put away all the following. 00:14:58.519 --> 00:15:01.759 Anger, wrath, malice, slander, filthy language from your mouth. 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:05.300 Don't lie to one another, since you put off the old self with its practices. 00:15:05.680 --> 00:15:07.200 Now pick up with me in verse 10, would you? 00:15:07.740 --> 00:15:10.740 Have put on the new self. 00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:12.860 Put on the new self. 00:15:13.139 --> 00:15:17.320 He doesn't tell you to stop something without telling you to start something. 00:15:17.580 --> 00:15:21.659 He doesn't tell you to take something off without telling you to put something on. 00:15:21.800 --> 00:15:23.759 So, he says, put on the new self. 00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:31.440 You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your creator. 00:15:31.980 --> 00:15:35.519 By the way, we all bear the image of our creator. 00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:47.919 That's why we have to treat each other, not as some of us less than someone else, not as an enemy, not as an opposition, but as an image bearer of God. 00:15:48.419 --> 00:15:55.879 Every one of us bears the image of almighty God because we are his creation. 00:15:55.879 --> 00:16:00.759 So, you're being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your creator. 00:16:01.179 --> 00:16:01.919 Verse 11. 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:04.839 In Christ, watch this. 00:16:05.839 --> 00:16:06.719 There's no Greek. 00:16:07.179 --> 00:16:07.939 There's no Jew. 00:16:08.719 --> 00:16:10.779 There's no circumcision or uncircumcision. 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:12.419 We talked about this a little bit last Sunday. 00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:15.179 That was one of the controversies of the day. 00:16:15.939 --> 00:16:21.479 Nowadays, you take a brand new baby, you take him back to the hospital pretty soon after they're born and they get circumcised. 00:16:21.579 --> 00:16:22.519 It's a medical procedure. 00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:24.000 A lot of people do it. 00:16:24.219 --> 00:16:25.399 Back then, it was very rare. 00:16:25.479 --> 00:16:26.819 Pretty much only the Jews did it. 00:16:26.820 --> 00:16:28.100 So, that was their thing. 00:16:28.400 --> 00:16:31.000 God told us to do this and it makes us better than you. 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:32.500 We're circumcised and you're not. 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:34.900 He says, no. 00:16:35.680 --> 00:16:37.140 None of that matters anymore. 00:16:38.500 --> 00:16:46.900 If you're a barbarian, if you're a Scythian, if you're a slave or free, these were often insults that would be thrown around by people from different areas. 00:16:47.340 --> 00:16:49.160 He said, none of that matters anymore. 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:53.320 Substitute our modern day dividing lines into this verse. 00:16:54.820 --> 00:16:56.360 Every age has to do that. 00:16:56.360 --> 00:16:59.080 They have to look and see what was Paul saying by this. 00:16:59.159 --> 00:17:01.240 Why was he using these terms, these words? 00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:02.120 Oh, okay. 00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:02.840 Now I see. 00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:06.360 These were dividing lines across cultures that divided people. 00:17:07.380 --> 00:17:10.900 Let's put ours in there now so we can understand it in context. 00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:14.460 He says, none of this matters anymore. 00:17:15.319 --> 00:17:17.180 These lines of division don't matter anymore. 00:17:17.339 --> 00:17:19.819 Now Christ is all. 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:22.680 And in all. 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:32.500 That's why the whole title of this whole series and this whole letter from Paul is Christ over all. 00:17:32.500 --> 00:17:35.220 Jesus is the answer. 00:17:35.220 --> 00:17:35.539 Jesus is the answer. 00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:37.359 Jesus is the way. 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:43.980 And the further away his followers get from him, the less effective we are. 00:17:44.420 --> 00:17:46.140 The less good we do. 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:50.000 The less light of Jesus we shine in this world. 00:17:50.000 --> 00:18:01.859 So Colossians 3, 10 through 11 is teaching us Christ is more important than all these old dividing lines. 00:18:02.380 --> 00:18:07.779 So he says, throw those things out and replace it now with something new. 00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:09.420 So point number two is this. 00:18:10.139 --> 00:18:12.399 Put on what reflects Christ. 00:18:13.660 --> 00:18:15.539 Put the old you to death. 00:18:16.460 --> 00:18:19.839 Take that off and now put on what reflects Christ. 00:18:19.940 --> 00:18:20.819 Pick it up in verse 12. 00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:31.519 Therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another. 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:38.779 If anyone has a grievance against somebody else, just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also are to forgive. 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:41.519 Look at verse 14. 00:18:41.619 --> 00:18:46.819 Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:56.519 That's how we stay unified together, even when we disagree, even when we don't get along, is if we genuinely love one another. 00:18:57.679 --> 00:19:03.819 And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called, you were called to this peace. 00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:07.240 So if we're not experiencing it, why not? 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:15.680 Let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule in your hearts and be thankful. 00:19:16.440 --> 00:19:17.920 Throws that in there at the end. 00:19:18.420 --> 00:19:19.059 And be thankful. 00:19:19.579 --> 00:19:26.539 Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, spiritual songs. 00:19:26.859 --> 00:19:28.920 Say, why do y'all sing these songs when we come to church? 00:19:29.460 --> 00:19:33.180 No other gathering do they get around and sing unless it's like Fourth of July or something. 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:34.700 Why do y'all do that? 00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:35.620 Because we're told to. 00:19:35.619 --> 00:19:39.519 God loves to hear his people sing songs of praise to him. 00:19:39.979 --> 00:19:41.179 And it's good for us. 00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:47.599 We encourage and admonish and uplift one another by singing together. 00:19:48.399 --> 00:19:52.379 And we're singing it to God with gratitude, that thankfulness in our hearts. 00:19:52.699 --> 00:20:00.379 And whatever we do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 00:20:00.879 --> 00:20:03.500 Now, that was a lot all at once. 00:20:03.739 --> 00:20:05.039 Verses 12 through 17. 00:20:05.619 --> 00:20:06.599 He's teaching us a lot here. 00:20:06.739 --> 00:20:07.979 It's like drinking from a fire hose. 00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:10.239 Let's go over to Ephesians chapter 4. 00:20:11.579 --> 00:20:13.119 Turn back just a few pages. 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:14.799 Ephesians chapter 4. 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:17.559 A couple years ago, we did a study through Ephesians. 00:20:17.559 --> 00:20:25.099 By the way, there's a lot of similarities in what he wrote to the church at Ephesus and what he wrote to the church at Colossae. 00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:32.599 It seems like he might have written these letters around the same time and sent them by courier to these two far apart churches. 00:20:32.599 --> 00:20:36.259 So, Paul's teaching these guys something valuable. 00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:39.019 So, Ephesians chapter 4, verse 22. 00:20:39.439 --> 00:20:43.639 He's going to shed a little bit of light on what he was just talking about in Colossians 3. 00:20:43.899 --> 00:20:46.079 Let's go see what he's telling the Ephesians. 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:47.899 Verse 22. 00:20:47.899 --> 00:20:52.220 Take off your former way of life, the old self. 00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:59.559 Take off your former way of life, the old self. 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:01.559 Why? 00:21:01.940 --> 00:21:02.859 Because it's corrupted. 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:06.099 It's corrupted by deceitful desires. 00:21:07.220 --> 00:21:13.679 Instead, be renewed in the spirit of your minds and put on the new self. 00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:14.240 Here we are. 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:17.419 This is where we just said, put on what reflects Christ. 00:21:17.679 --> 00:21:19.700 He says, put on the new self. 00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:26.359 Clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience. 00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:32.819 He says back in Ephesians 4, put on the new self, the one created according to God's likeness. 00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:35.899 Remember that whole part about bearing the image of God? 00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:38.199 He's telling the Ephesians the same thing. 00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:48.939 The one that is created according to God's likeness, that new spirit that Jesus is giving you, put that on every day. 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:50.379 So, what does it mean? 00:21:50.380 --> 00:21:56.840 When we wake up before we get dressed for the day, we put on what reflects Christ. 00:21:57.680 --> 00:22:06.960 We put on our new spirit, the new self, according to God's likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth. 00:22:07.040 --> 00:22:09.320 Back in Colossians 3 now. 00:22:10.580 --> 00:22:13.920 Every once in a while you get to turn a couple pages in your Bible, you'll be all right, all right? 00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:19.240 You can't live a new life wearing old clothes. 00:22:19.840 --> 00:22:23.920 You can't live a new life wearing old clothes. 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:26.720 I think that's a principle we can draw from what Paul's teaching here. 00:22:27.560 --> 00:22:31.440 He's trying to teach us how to live a new life. 00:22:32.380 --> 00:22:35.180 Have you ever felt like things just aren't changing? 00:22:36.440 --> 00:22:37.960 Things aren't getting better. 00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:44.279 You keep waiting for God to make your life better, and it just isn't happening. 00:22:45.880 --> 00:22:49.000 Number one, we've got to reevaluate what we think is better. 00:22:50.059 --> 00:22:57.200 Is what is better what is of Jesus, or is it what is of this world? 00:22:58.579 --> 00:23:00.220 Got to draw a distinction there. 00:23:00.220 --> 00:23:08.900 Secondly, we're not going to get to what is better while we're wearing the old clothes of our former selves. 00:23:10.339 --> 00:23:11.880 That's what Paul's teaching here. 00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:16.339 You can't live a new life wearing old clothes. 00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:23.000 Some time ago, we studied Jesus' parables back over the summer, and we looked at the one of the wedding feast. 00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:28.299 And the king invited his guest list, and they turned him down. 00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:31.240 They had something better to do, and he was deeply hurt by that. 00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:32.880 And he said, anybody can come now. 00:23:33.099 --> 00:23:34.039 Go out into the streets. 00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:40.000 Invite anybody to the wedding feast of my son, because my guest list turned me down. 00:23:41.700 --> 00:23:43.259 And so he said, now anyone can come. 00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:44.660 And people started flooding in. 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:49.720 And when they got into the door, they were given a wedding garment to put on. 00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:50.980 A special garment. 00:23:51.079 --> 00:23:52.039 This was common back then. 00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:52.640 It was the custom. 00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:57.099 And nobody could brag about their outfit being better or more expensive than someone else's. 00:23:57.279 --> 00:24:01.819 So everyone got a new wedding garment to put on so they could be part of the wedding party. 00:24:02.160 --> 00:24:03.000 There's my little friend. 00:24:03.079 --> 00:24:04.099 He comes to visit every Sunday. 00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:13.839 And then finally, the king saw one person standing over there not wearing a wedding garment. 00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:15.000 He said, how did he get in? 00:24:15.579 --> 00:24:17.319 He's not wearing the wedding garment. 00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:23.439 The point of that is, you have to be wearing the new garment that Jesus gives you. 00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:27.319 If you're not, then you don't belong. 00:24:28.099 --> 00:24:29.159 You don't fit in. 00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:33.759 And you'll never live the life that Jesus has for you. 00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:38.299 So you can't live a new life wearing old clothes. 00:24:38.299 --> 00:24:45.919 Talking about this reminds me of Lazarus. 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:49.019 Remember this story? 00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:53.759 Jesus' dear friends back in Bethany. 00:24:54.180 --> 00:24:56.500 Mary, Martha, their brother Lazarus. 00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:57.600 He grew up with these people. 00:24:57.599 --> 00:25:02.859 And he would go see them and visit them and eat at their house. 00:25:02.959 --> 00:25:05.240 And then he gets word that Lazarus is dying. 00:25:06.039 --> 00:25:08.559 And he doesn't rush back to say goodbye to him. 00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:10.759 He doesn't even rush back to heal him. 00:25:12.039 --> 00:25:14.019 He waits for Lazarus to die. 00:25:15.299 --> 00:25:16.740 And then he goes back to Bethany. 00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:18.879 And the sisters greet him and say, 00:25:19.339 --> 00:25:20.399 Jesus, he's dead. 00:25:21.059 --> 00:25:23.359 If you had been here, maybe you could have saved him. 00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:27.519 And he goes to the grave and he says, 00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:29.119 Lazarus, come out. 00:25:29.959 --> 00:25:31.240 Lazarus, come forth. 00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:32.919 And what happens? 00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:39.919 Life is breathed back by God's power into that dead body. 00:25:40.359 --> 00:25:44.059 And Lazarus rises up, wrapped in his grave clothes. 00:25:45.719 --> 00:25:47.959 And they move the stone and he comes out. 00:25:48.419 --> 00:25:50.439 And the first thing Jesus said is, 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:51.719 unwrap him. 00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:54.819 Get those grave clothes off of the guy. 00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:57.400 He doesn't need to wear those any longer. 00:25:57.600 --> 00:25:59.500 He is alive. 00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:02.059 And I think that is what Jesus is teaching us. 00:26:02.200 --> 00:26:04.220 And that's what Paul was trying to teach this church. 00:26:04.620 --> 00:26:06.600 Get those grave clothes off of you. 00:26:07.819 --> 00:26:09.980 Trade them for grace clothes. 00:26:10.779 --> 00:26:15.100 We trade our grave clothes for the clothes of God's grace 00:26:15.100 --> 00:26:18.220 that he has mercifully given to us. 00:26:18.460 --> 00:26:19.860 You did nothing to earn it. 00:26:19.859 --> 00:26:22.759 Lazarus did nothing to bring himself back to life. 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:25.039 But God, by his good pleasure, 00:26:25.439 --> 00:26:29.219 breathed life into us when we were dead in our sins. 00:26:29.379 --> 00:26:31.219 And he brought us back to life. 00:26:31.479 --> 00:26:32.500 And now he says, 00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:36.419 don't go back and put on the clothes of your past life. 00:26:36.420 --> 00:26:42.120 And I'm not just talking about going out and carousing and living like the devil. 00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:46.220 I'm talking about the internal clothes that we put on. 00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:47.560 The clothes of fear. 00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:49.680 The clothes of being judgmental. 00:26:50.060 --> 00:26:51.320 The clothes of being selfish. 00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:53.920 The clothes of being self-absorbed. 00:26:54.840 --> 00:26:56.720 The clothes of looking down on others. 00:26:56.840 --> 00:26:57.820 The clothes of pride. 00:26:57.940 --> 00:26:58.759 The clothes of ego. 00:26:58.759 --> 00:27:02.720 Those old grave clothes that were holding us down. 00:27:03.059 --> 00:27:04.500 Condemning us to death. 00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:06.440 Separating us from God. 00:27:06.779 --> 00:27:08.119 God says, take them off. 00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:10.480 Every day, take them off. 00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:12.660 Because if not, 00:27:13.319 --> 00:27:15.200 you'll never taste the freedom. 00:27:15.339 --> 00:27:16.559 You'll never taste the life 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:18.920 that I have for you. 00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:20.620 The guilt. 00:27:21.160 --> 00:27:21.680 The shame. 00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:22.440 The sin. 00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:25.640 Those are the grave clothes. 00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:28.279 Jesus calls you out. 00:27:29.560 --> 00:27:32.100 Just trade them for grace clothes. 00:27:32.900 --> 00:27:34.320 Live in resurrection power. 00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:36.259 Isaiah chapter 61. 00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:37.220 I love it. 00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:38.800 When the Old Testament prophets 00:27:38.800 --> 00:27:41.980 testify to something that we get to experience now 00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:44.100 since Jesus has come and died 00:27:44.100 --> 00:27:45.660 and raised back to life. 00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:48.320 And we get to live in this age of his church. 00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:49.579 Carrying out his mission. 00:27:49.939 --> 00:27:51.200 So this prophet Isaiah says, 00:27:51.359 --> 00:27:53.939 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord my God 00:27:53.939 --> 00:27:57.159 for he has clothed me with garments of salvation. 00:27:57.899 --> 00:28:00.599 That's what you and I get to put on every day. 00:28:01.139 --> 00:28:04.480 We recognize we are clothed in garments of salvation. 00:28:05.099 --> 00:28:07.980 And he has covered me with the robe of righteousness. 00:28:08.399 --> 00:28:11.039 Thank God that every day 00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:14.799 I get to be covered with the robe of God's righteousness. 00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:17.279 Because I don't have a robe of righteousness. 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:19.879 I can't afford it. 00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:23.439 It's too expensive. 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:25.599 It requires perfection. 00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:28.659 It requires being divine. 00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:32.899 It requires not being born into this sinful human race. 00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:36.359 I can't get me a robe of righteousness. 00:28:37.059 --> 00:28:38.539 There's no black market deals. 00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:43.819 Only Jesus has the real authentic article. 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:48.500 But he clothes me with that every day. 00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:54.339 So I get to wake up clothed in a robe of righteousness. 00:28:54.339 --> 00:28:58.559 And then when God looks at me, 00:28:59.059 --> 00:28:59.879 he says, 00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:01.240 you can stay at the wedding feast. 00:29:01.959 --> 00:29:02.980 You could be here. 00:29:03.899 --> 00:29:04.839 You're dressed right. 00:29:05.459 --> 00:29:06.419 You got the garment on. 00:29:07.679 --> 00:29:10.319 So don't go out in the street 00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:13.759 and go slumming 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:16.220 with the old way. 00:29:16.939 --> 00:29:17.899 With the old you. 00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:20.259 If you don't know what it is, 00:29:20.339 --> 00:29:21.419 husbands, ask your wives. 00:29:21.500 --> 00:29:22.980 And they'll tell you what the old you is. 00:29:23.899 --> 00:29:25.059 Wives, ask your husbands. 00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:27.700 If neither one of you are being honest with each other, 00:29:27.819 --> 00:29:28.439 ask your kids. 00:29:28.519 --> 00:29:29.519 Have an honest conversation. 00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:34.680 The ones who know us best 00:29:34.680 --> 00:29:37.579 know what we are at our worst. 00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:39.519 God's saying, 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:41.359 I love you at your worst. 00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:44.039 But don't stay at your worst. 00:29:44.839 --> 00:29:45.960 Put on me. 00:29:46.619 --> 00:29:47.500 I can help you. 00:29:47.839 --> 00:29:50.500 Not asking you to enter into a 10-step program 00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:52.019 or a self-improvement plan. 00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:53.900 And maybe there's been a 10-step program 00:29:53.900 --> 00:29:55.180 that helped you break an addiction. 00:29:55.579 --> 00:29:56.940 God can use all kinds of things. 00:29:57.180 --> 00:29:58.059 But I'm telling you, 00:29:58.059 --> 00:30:01.019 God's power is where the secret lies. 00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:03.740 He has power over your past. 00:30:04.139 --> 00:30:05.519 He has power over your present. 00:30:05.899 --> 00:30:08.460 But He has power over your past. 00:30:09.659 --> 00:30:11.200 We're going to close with this this morning. 00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:14.200 Trade the fantasy of your past 00:30:14.200 --> 00:30:17.220 for the reality of God's power. 00:30:18.039 --> 00:30:20.019 What do we mean by the fantasy of your past? 00:30:20.019 --> 00:30:20.579 Sometimes, 00:30:21.079 --> 00:30:23.339 sometimes we'll glorify the past. 00:30:24.899 --> 00:30:26.679 Has there ever been a generation 00:30:26.679 --> 00:30:27.679 that didn't believe 00:30:27.680 --> 00:30:29.000 how they grew up was better 00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:30.580 than how the current one was growing up? 00:30:31.940 --> 00:30:33.000 How many of y'all believe 00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:33.759 that how you grew up 00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:35.340 was better than how they're growing up nowadays? 00:30:35.779 --> 00:30:37.019 I do too, okay? 00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:38.420 Except I'm right. 00:30:39.060 --> 00:30:39.220 So, 00:30:39.660 --> 00:30:41.420 we had the perfect blend 00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:41.920 of like, 00:30:42.180 --> 00:30:43.380 still keeping it old school 00:30:43.380 --> 00:30:45.100 but also enjoying some of the new stuff. 00:30:45.180 --> 00:30:45.820 You know, it was great. 00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:48.100 Truth is, 00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:49.759 none of our pasts 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:50.420 were as good 00:30:50.420 --> 00:30:51.680 as we think they were. 00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:55.299 Every generation has its flaws. 00:30:55.580 --> 00:30:57.080 Every generation has its problems. 00:30:58.539 --> 00:30:59.600 We look back 00:30:59.600 --> 00:31:01.240 and often we'll glorify the past. 00:31:01.340 --> 00:31:02.620 Sometimes we'll do the opposite. 00:31:03.820 --> 00:31:05.480 Sometimes we'll make it worse 00:31:05.480 --> 00:31:06.140 than it was. 00:31:07.100 --> 00:31:07.960 And psychiatrists 00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:09.420 have made a living off of that sometimes. 00:31:12.420 --> 00:31:13.440 Whatever it is, 00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:15.660 we never see the past clearly. 00:31:15.660 --> 00:31:17.500 You know who has 00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:19.720 20-20 vision of your past? 00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:20.940 God. 00:31:21.580 --> 00:31:22.600 He's the only one. 00:31:23.440 --> 00:31:25.120 When you and I look back 00:31:25.120 --> 00:31:26.000 in our memory, 00:31:26.540 --> 00:31:27.980 it's always distorted. 00:31:29.140 --> 00:31:30.580 It's actually a fantasy. 00:31:32.560 --> 00:31:34.440 Whether we've erred on making it better 00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:36.220 or we've erred on making it worse. 00:31:37.540 --> 00:31:38.620 Sometimes we'll do both. 00:31:40.019 --> 00:31:41.580 God is teaching us. 00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:43.660 Paul is using this 00:31:43.660 --> 00:31:45.180 to teach this church 00:31:45.180 --> 00:31:46.279 and we can learn 00:31:46.279 --> 00:31:47.519 just like they did 00:31:47.519 --> 00:31:50.420 to trade the fantasy of our past 00:31:50.420 --> 00:31:51.980 for the reality. 00:31:52.860 --> 00:31:53.779 Not a fantasy, 00:31:53.920 --> 00:31:54.680 not walking up, 00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:55.800 wondering what's up there. 00:31:56.060 --> 00:31:57.080 We can know 00:31:57.080 --> 00:31:58.980 for reality 00:31:58.980 --> 00:32:01.700 what is God's power. 00:32:02.460 --> 00:32:03.500 Would you bow with me in prayer? 00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:05.220 God, I pray that you would reveal 00:32:05.220 --> 00:32:06.700 your power to us right now. 00:32:10.900 --> 00:32:12.279 We tasted your power. 00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:13.519 We saw the results of it 00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:14.960 earlier in the service. 00:32:15.079 --> 00:32:16.539 We saw Jamie up there 00:32:16.539 --> 00:32:21.059 going before a whole church 00:32:21.059 --> 00:32:22.299 out of his comfort zone 00:32:22.299 --> 00:32:22.660 saying, 00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:25.160 I have chosen to follow Jesus. 00:32:25.720 --> 00:32:26.740 Now I'm going to be an example 00:32:26.740 --> 00:32:27.519 for my family, 00:32:27.639 --> 00:32:28.519 for my church family 00:32:28.519 --> 00:32:30.059 of what it looks like 00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:31.299 to be a follower of Jesus. 00:32:31.440 --> 00:32:32.099 I'm going to get up 00:32:32.099 --> 00:32:33.240 and I'm going to testify 00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:35.299 in front of my church family 00:32:35.299 --> 00:32:35.759 and say, 00:32:35.879 --> 00:32:37.619 I choose the Jesus way. 00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:39.500 God's been teaching me. 00:32:39.559 --> 00:32:40.619 God's been walking with me. 00:32:40.619 --> 00:32:42.639 We saw that power on display. 00:32:44.639 --> 00:32:46.539 We felt the power of your spirit 00:32:46.539 --> 00:32:48.259 as we lifted up those songs to you 00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:49.439 and we're singing about 00:32:49.439 --> 00:32:50.459 how we don't need to live 00:32:50.459 --> 00:32:51.799 in that place of shame anymore. 00:32:52.039 --> 00:32:53.139 We can let it go. 00:32:54.899 --> 00:32:56.079 We can recognize 00:32:56.079 --> 00:32:57.179 that you've buried it. 00:32:57.559 --> 00:32:59.099 You've nailed it to your cross. 00:32:59.559 --> 00:33:01.399 Let us not get our shovel 00:33:01.399 --> 00:33:03.379 of shame and regret 00:33:03.379 --> 00:33:04.399 and go dig it up again. 00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:07.860 Let us trade that for your power. 00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:14.519 God, to your glory, 00:33:14.620 --> 00:33:15.360 by your spirit, 00:33:16.360 --> 00:33:19.300 let us not try to live this life 00:33:19.300 --> 00:33:20.320 wearing old clothes, 00:33:22.320 --> 00:33:24.500 but trade our past for your power. 00:33:25.360 --> 00:33:26.680 We'll give you the glory for it. 00:33:28.360 --> 00:33:29.400 In Jesus' name. 00:33:30.360 --> 00:33:31.340 Would you keep your seats 00:33:31.340 --> 00:33:32.100 just for a moment? 00:33:32.099 --> 00:33:34.159 We'll have just a moment of prayer, 00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:34.980 quiet reflection. 00:33:35.599 --> 00:33:36.959 If God's doing business with you, 00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:37.959 then you listen to him. 00:33:38.439 --> 00:33:39.579 You respond to him. 00:33:45.299 --> 00:33:46.059 If there's somebody 00:33:46.059 --> 00:33:47.199 who needs to turn from sin 00:33:47.199 --> 00:33:47.919 and turn to Jesus 00:33:47.919 --> 00:33:49.559 and give your life to Jesus 00:33:49.559 --> 00:33:50.459 for the first time, 00:33:50.679 --> 00:33:51.839 then please walk down here. 00:33:51.919 --> 00:33:52.599 Meet me at the front. 00:33:52.639 --> 00:33:53.199 I'd love to sit 00:33:53.199 --> 00:33:54.319 and talk with you about that. 00:33:54.779 --> 00:33:55.799 There's many in this room 00:33:55.799 --> 00:33:56.899 who would love to share with you 00:33:56.899 --> 00:33:58.439 the gospel of Jesus, 00:33:58.579 --> 00:33:59.679 how you can know for sure 00:33:59.680 --> 00:34:02.039 that God is your savior, 00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:03.200 the forgiver of your sins. 00:34:06.860 --> 00:34:07.500 If there's somebody 00:34:07.500 --> 00:34:08.559 who would like to make a decision 00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:09.680 to partner with this church 00:34:09.680 --> 00:34:10.180 and membership 00:34:10.180 --> 00:34:10.639 and say, 00:34:10.700 --> 00:34:12.500 I'd like to join with you 00:34:12.500 --> 00:34:13.880 as you follow Jesus together, 00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:14.760 then please come down. 00:34:14.860 --> 00:34:15.760 I would love to talk with you 00:34:15.760 --> 00:34:16.579 about that as well. 00:34:17.500 --> 00:34:18.680 If you just need prayer, 00:34:19.559 --> 00:34:20.280 stay in your seat, 00:34:20.420 --> 00:34:22.079 come down to these steps. 00:34:22.180 --> 00:34:22.860 You can kneel here, 00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:23.860 whatever you'd like to do. 00:34:24.820 --> 00:34:25.940 Do some business with God. 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:26.599