WEBVTT

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 Well, when I was in fifth grade, I started playing saxophone in my school band.

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 And we had a great band director.

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 His name was Mr. Johnson.

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 He was patient with us, he had fun with us, but he was also not afraid to work as hard

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 in preparation for concert season.

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 I can remember us being in the middle of a song and him yelling over all the din of the

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 instruments, tempo, keep the tempo.

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 And he wasn't afraid to call out individual players either in the middle of a song.

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 Billy, you're speeding us up.

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 Daniel, play softer.

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 Sometimes he would resort to banging out the rhythm with his wand on a music stand instead

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 of conducting us in the air because he wanted us to fall into step with where he was leading

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 us.

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 At the beginning of a new semester, we would always sound terrible.

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 Squeaky, out of tune, hitting wrong notes or hitting, not hitting notes at all.

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 But by the end of the semester, our conductor, having stuck with us, would lead us into some

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 pretty good sounding music.

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 The unity and the harmony of the whole body of instruments would fill the performance hall.

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 And it was all worth it to see his smile at the end of the concert.

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 Well, church, we have a conductor too.

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 We are all individual members of a whole body of instruments.

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 We are a spiritual orchestra.

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 And we have one conductor that we must fall into step with.

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 Or, if we don't, we will miss the beauty and the harmony of where he's leading us, of what

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 he's intending us to play.

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 And our conductor, church, is the Holy Spirit.

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 And although there are many songs that he has for us to play, there's one song that's

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 pretty close to his heart.

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 And the name of this song is Love One Another.

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 It's a tender, gentle, exquisitely beautiful song.

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 But it's also complicated.

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 It's messy, even.

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 It requires close and careful attention to our conductor.

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 At times, he'll speed us up.

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 Then he'll slow us back down.

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 Then we'll change keys.

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 Here we're loud.

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 Here we're soft.

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 And if we don't pay careful attention to where he's taking us, we're going to be hopelessly

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 lost as we try to play the song.

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 And so this morning, that's exactly what the Apostle Paul is trying to communicate to the

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 Galatian churches, starting at chapter 5, verse 25, and through chapter 6, verse 5.

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 And what he wants them to see, and what the God wants us to see, is this.

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 That when the church is in step with the Spirit, we will humbly care for one another.

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 When the church is in step with the Spirit, we will humbly care for one another.

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 When we, as the body of Christ, are paying close attention to our conductor, the resulting

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 melody will be humble care for one another.

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 That's the emphasis in this particular passage.

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 So let's unpack the passage in the following way.

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 First, there's a call to action in chapter 5, verse 25.

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 And then we'll see in 526 through 6.3, sorry, 6.2, that that call is for a community.

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 And lastly, we can't miss the caution in verses 3 to 5 in chapter 6.

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 So it's a call for a community with a caution.

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 Let's start looking at the call to action in chapter 5, verse 25.

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 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

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 If we live by the Spirit.

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 Well, what does that mean?

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 What does it mean to live by the Spirit?

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 Well, word to the wise, and maybe a quick preview of our word workshop coming up on January 25th.

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 If you're stuck on what something means in the Bible, take some time to take a look around at the context.

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 Look for clues around that phrase to help understand what that phrase means.

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 And that's what we're going to do with live by the Spirit.

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 Look up to verse 16 for starters.

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 Paul says, but I say, walk by the Spirit.

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 Well, that sounds pretty close to live by the Spirit.

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 That kind of helps us understand what that's about a little bit.

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 And Pastor Matt last week helped us see that people who have put their trust in Jesus, Christians,

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 and who have received God's Holy Spirit on the inside of them as His indwelling presence within,

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 we still have to cultivate a dependence upon the Holy Spirit to be able to live the life that God's called us to.

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 Right?

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 That's reinforced in verse 18.

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 If you are led by the Spirit, okay, that kind of gives us a little bit more understanding.

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 Walking by the Spirit, there's this kind of plodding mentality, it's activity.

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 Being led by the Spirit, we have to be leaning into His guidance and His leadership.

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 So being dependent upon the presence and the power of God's Spirit within us as Christians

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 is basically what Paul's saying here.

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 That's what it means to live by the Spirit, to be defined by the Spirit.

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 Christians are people whose lives are defined by the Holy Spirit.

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 By what the Spirit produces in them, the holy fruit of Christ's character.

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 He's the one who provides power to fight against the flesh.

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 He is the one who gave a spiritual life to the beginning.

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 So our lives are defined by the Holy Spirit.

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 So basically he's saying if you're a Christian, if you live by the Spirit,

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 then, here's the call to action, keep in step with the Spirit.

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 So yes, we are Spirit-dependent people.

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 We are Spirit-defined people from beginning to end.

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 We must rely on His presence and power to live this life that God has called us to in Christ.

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 So therefore, it makes a lot of sense that we have to put effort into keeping in step with Him.

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 So just as an orchestra has to pay close attention to its conductor,

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 the church has to pay close attention to put real effort into following and responding to the Spirit's lead.

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 This is a call to action.

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 It's the same way what Pastor Matt preached last week,

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 only here we're getting a little more nitty-gritty.

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 It's like keep an eye on Him.

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 Stay really closely connected to Him.

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 Now just in case you're not musical and the whole orchestra illustration doesn't work for you,

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 here's another one.

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 The Christian life in the Spirit is a lot less like flying a plane

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 and a lot more like a bicycle race.

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 In a plane, now I might be oversimplifying this if there are any pilots in the room,

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 but in a plane, once you're up in the air,

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 you can push the autopilot button

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 and it basically gets you to where you want to go.

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 You don't have to do a whole lot.

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 You kind of relax until you start your descent.

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 But in a bicycle race, there's no relaxing.

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 You have to stay on your leader.

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 You've got to stay with the group.

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 You've got to be pumping the pedals the whole way,

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 breathing hard the whole way.

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 Now there are easy stretches.

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 There are flat straightaways.

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 There's downhill slopes.

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 But even in those parts of the race,

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 you still have to stay on the leader.

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 You still have to keep pedaling.

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 You have to stay with the group.

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 And when Paul calls us to keep in step with the Spirit,

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 he's calling us to action.

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 We need to sit up straight when we hear that call.

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 We need to feel the urgency of that call.

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 We need to shake off the slackness that we tend to naturally get

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 as we run our Christian race,

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 and we need to prepare ourselves for real, steady, and sustainable action.

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 Now it's a new year.

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 This is a great time to begin asking the question,

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 where am I going?

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 What am I doing with my life?

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 How am I doing with my life?

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 And if this is a time when you realize,

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 I'm kind of drifting.

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 I'm coasting.

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 I'm not really pushing the pedals.

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 Then hear the call.

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 Hear the call of action.

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 Being a Christian does not mean pushing the autopilot button.

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 It means, okay, roll up my sleeves.

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 Let's get to work.

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 That's not how we earn our salvation.

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 We know that.

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 We know it's by faith.

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 But it is a call to work.

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 It's a call to action.

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 We need to hear that here.

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 So if you are a Christian,

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 if you have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you,

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 if we, the church, have the Spirit dwelling among us,

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 if we're defined by the work of the Spirit,

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 then hear the call to action.

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 What is the Spirit, our conductor, tapping out for us?

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 What's His rhythm?

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 Are we listening?

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 Are we paying close attention?

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 Are we leaning into Him?

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 That has to do with spiritual disciplines.

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 If you're slack in your prayer,

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 if you're slack in reading Scripture

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 and paying close attention to your own heart,

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 then that's going to mean you're drifting.

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 You're on autopilot.

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 So, all right.

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 Take a moment to say,

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 all right, this is what the Spirit's calling me to do.

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 Keep in step with Him.

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 Lean into Him.

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 This is whether you're new in the faith

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 or whether you've been a seasoned saint for many years

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 or if you're foot sore and you are war weary

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 or maybe you're discouraged from a lack of growth

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 or a lack of affection for the Lord

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 or maybe you are just awash in apathy

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 or maybe you're stuck in sin.

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 But wherever you're at,

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 the Spirit, hear what He's saying to you.

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 Pick up your instrument

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 or if you prefer, hop back on your bicycle.

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 Keep in step with Him.

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 Resist the temptation to push idle pilot.

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 There's no drifting or coasting here.

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 Posture yourself for action.

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 Roll up your sleeves.

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 Get ready to work.

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 Church, we're not home yet.

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 Just like the song we sang,

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 Come Thou Fount,

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 Come My Lord No Longer Tarry,

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 Bring Your Promises to Pass.

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 We're not home yet.

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 We live in between the comings of Jesus,

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 between His first advent and His second.

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 And so the time in between

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 is the life of the Spirit.

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 We get to participate in the life we have to come

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 that Christ has promised us,

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 of full fellowship with Him,

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 and yet we know that that fullness hasn't come yet.

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 And so we strive, we move towards Him,

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 because we know we're still pulled back

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 into our old ways of the flesh.

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 And so the time between the comings here

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 is to be lived in step with the Spirit.

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 He's our guide to our heavenly home,

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 to our destination.

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 So lean into Him.

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 That's the call to action.

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 But that's pretty broad.

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 It's pretty general.

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 It's not very specific.

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 So how do we start keeping in step with Him

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 in practical and specific ways?

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 Well, this call to action is for a community.

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 It's a call to action for a community.

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 And the call to action for the community is this.

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 Humbly care for each other.

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 That's the way that we keep in step with the Spirit.

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 That's the way we roll up our sleeves

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 and keep in step with our leader

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 is by humbly caring for each other,

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 right here, right now, as a body of Christ.

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 And we're going to spend the majority of our time on this

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 because that's the real emphasis of this passage.

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 So let's look at chapter 5, verse 26,

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 through chapter 6, verse 2.

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 I want to read it again.

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 And as I read, I want you to hunt for clues

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 that Paul is speaking to a community.

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 Did you see clues pointing to a community?

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 How about those one another's provoking one another,

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 envying one another,

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 bearing one another's burdens?

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 How about the way he addresses them as a church family?

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 Brothers, which can be translated easily,

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 brothers and sisters.

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 How about the call to restore the sinning member

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 by other members?

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 Remember, Paul is writing to a group of churches here.

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 He is writing to a community.

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 He's not writing to random individual Christians.

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 He's writing to groups of people

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 who have joined themselves together

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 because of their mutual faith in Christ

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 for the purpose of accountability and encouragement

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 to live the life of the Spirit together.

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 By the way, Christ the King Church,

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 that's what we are.

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 We are a group of people

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 who have joined ourselves together

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 because of our mutual faith in Christ

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 so that we can keep each other accountable

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 and encourage one another

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 as we live the life of the Spirit together.

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 So this has a lot to say to us right here,

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 right now, January 5th, 2020.

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 I almost said 2019.

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 Phew, okay, good thing I didn't.

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 So what is the call to action?

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 To humbly care for one another,

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 to demonstrate real Christ-like love

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 in the power of the Spirit to one another.

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 In verse two, he gives us a great visual,

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 bear one another's burdens.

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 Well, that helps us, doesn't it?

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 It gets that in our minds.

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 But before we get to that serving one another part,

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 the bearing one another's burdens part,

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 that's what keeping in step with the Spirit

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 means for us in community.

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 Let's take a peek in verse 26

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 of what it doesn't look like.

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 Paul's great at setting up a negative

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 before he gets to the positive.

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 So let's look at verse 26.

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 Let us not become conceited,

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 provoking one another, envying one another.

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 So how do we put effort into keeping in step

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 with the Spirit in our community of a church?

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 Put to death your self-important attitude.

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 That's how.

00:14:55.159 --> 00:14:57.740
 That word translated conceited in our Bibles

00:14:57.740 --> 00:14:59.840
 could also be translated literally

00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:02.659
 empty honor or empty glory.

00:15:03.899 --> 00:15:06.220
 Paul's warning the community of the church

00:15:06.220 --> 00:15:08.580
 right on the heels of his call to action

00:15:08.580 --> 00:15:11.120
 that if they want to stifle the Spirit's

00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:12.820
 life-giving work in their midst,

00:15:13.820 --> 00:15:16.360
 then be thirsty for self-importance.

00:15:18.040 --> 00:15:21.820
 A desire to be recognized and praised for yourself,

00:15:22.600 --> 00:15:23.860
 to think highly of yourself,

00:15:23.900 --> 00:15:25.960
 that's how you can quench the Spirit in your midst.

00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:28.540
 That's how you can not keep in step with the Spirit.

00:15:29.860 --> 00:15:31.500
 And this appetite for recognition,

00:15:32.139 --> 00:15:34.680
 for reputation, for being known as something,

00:15:35.060 --> 00:15:37.140
 produces all kinds of sinful activity

00:15:37.139 --> 00:15:38.159
 within a community.

00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:42.240
 For one, those who desire recognition and praise

00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:45.480
 often provoke others within the community,

00:15:45.860 --> 00:15:47.139
 basically picking fights,

00:15:48.899 --> 00:15:50.500
 challenging those who disagree with them,

00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:51.679
 calling them out,

00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:54.039
 stirring up dissension and division within the body.

00:15:55.460 --> 00:15:57.980
 Some of us, perhaps this can get kind of glossed over

00:15:57.980 --> 00:15:59.039
 with spiritual language,

00:15:59.199 --> 00:16:01.460
 but it is, if it walks like a duck,

00:16:01.539 --> 00:16:02.580
 talks like a duck, it's a duck.

00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:05.539
 Some of us are more prone to this,

00:16:05.539 --> 00:16:08.799
 especially those of us who have more dominant personalities,

00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:11.459
 we're go-getters, we're more vocal,

00:16:11.579 --> 00:16:12.539
 we're more opinionated.

00:16:13.559 --> 00:16:14.899
 We can tend to be this way.

00:16:15.299 --> 00:16:18.139
 That is not keeping in step with the Spirit.

00:16:18.219 --> 00:16:19.059
 But there's also another way.

00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:19.599
 Do you see that?

00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:21.399
 Envying one another.

00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:25.539
 Perhaps this is more common for us.

00:16:26.719 --> 00:16:30.079
 Self-important person may not necessarily show

00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:33.639
 their self-importance by picking fights externally,

00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:36.940
 but it's an internal attitude of envy

00:16:36.940 --> 00:16:39.860
 or comparison or holding grudges,

00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:43.660
 and it can poison our attitude toward others

00:16:43.660 --> 00:16:47.480
 and rob us and them of the life-giving work

00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:49.620
 of the Spirit at work among us.

00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:53.299
 For six years, I was a teacher at a Christian school

00:16:53.299 --> 00:16:53.899
 here in town.

00:16:54.700 --> 00:16:56.259
 I started as a Spanish teacher,

00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:58.919
 and then I was really hoping they'd ask me

00:16:58.919 --> 00:17:00.240
 to teach Bible at some point.

00:17:01.340 --> 00:17:02.440
 Well, during a staff meeting,

00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:04.059
 midway through my time there,

00:17:04.380 --> 00:17:08.319
 it was announced that they had asked another guy

00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:11.500
 to teach Bible, and they hadn't asked me.

00:17:11.500 --> 00:17:17.539
 And immediately, my conceit, my self-importance,

00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:20.119
 my sinful desire for recognition

00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:23.579
 as a great Bible teacher raised its ugly head,

00:17:23.900 --> 00:17:27.259
 and it showed up in the form of intense envy

00:17:27.259 --> 00:17:29.259
 toward my brother in Christ.

00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:32.519
 It took me a little bit of time to realize

00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:34.259
 that was what was going on in my heart.

00:17:34.839 --> 00:17:36.359
 I couldn't quite tell, and then it's like,

00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:37.920
 oh, wait, that's what's going on.

00:17:38.339 --> 00:17:39.299
 I'm envying him.

00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:42.240
 Have you ever had something like that happen to you

00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:44.940
 in the context of the church or somewhere else?

00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:47.519
 Hear the call to action.

00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:52.399
 Self-importance has no place in the community

00:17:52.399 --> 00:17:54.139
 where the Spirit is in charge.

00:17:55.740 --> 00:17:57.960
 Put it to death, the Spirit says,

00:17:58.500 --> 00:18:01.359
 whether in its outward form of picking fights

00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:04.079
 or dissension or division

00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:07.460
 or in the slow internal poison of envy

00:18:07.460 --> 00:18:09.680
 or comparing yourself with others

00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:13.519
 or bearing grudges against others.

00:18:14.460 --> 00:18:16.100
 Rather, Paul says,

00:18:16.600 --> 00:18:19.340
 now that you know what keeping in step

00:18:19.340 --> 00:18:21.160
 with the Spirit doesn't look like

00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:23.079
 in the community,

00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:25.039
 this is what it does look like.

00:18:25.880 --> 00:18:28.039
 It looks like humbly caring for each other.

00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:31.940
 It means laying aside your sense of self-importance

00:18:31.940 --> 00:18:33.620
 and adopting an attitude

00:18:33.620 --> 00:18:36.400
 that emphasizes the importance of others.

00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:39.720
 In verse 1, Paul shows us

00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:42.259
 that not only are we not supposed to sin

00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:43.000
 against one another,

00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:45.920
 we're supposed to help restore those who do sin.

00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:49.240
 We are to care for one another's souls.

00:18:49.580 --> 00:18:51.920
 So, if anyone is overtaken in a sin,

00:18:52.140 --> 00:18:52.720
 Paul says,

00:18:53.360 --> 00:18:55.500
 you who are spiritual are to restore them

00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:57.480
 in a spirit of gentleness.

00:18:58.299 --> 00:18:59.960
 In the ESV, it uses the word caught,

00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:02.160
 but I think the word overtake might be better.

00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:03.579
 Caught makes us think of, like,

00:19:03.620 --> 00:19:04.480
 you're caught in the act,

00:19:04.940 --> 00:19:05.839
 caught red-handed.

00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:07.740
 That's not, I mean, obviously,

00:19:07.900 --> 00:19:08.519
 that's going to,

00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:10.360
 we need to restore folks

00:19:10.360 --> 00:19:11.180
 who are caught red-handed,

00:19:11.539 --> 00:19:14.579
 but we also need to restore anyone

00:19:14.579 --> 00:19:16.360
 who is overtaken in a sin,

00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:18.099
 and that's all of us.

00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:21.319
 Sin has a way of sneaking up on us.

00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:24.440
 Think about the last time you blew it

00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:25.279
 and you knew it.

00:19:26.140 --> 00:19:28.039
 You weren't planning on sinning that day,

00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:30.460
 but a combination of circumstances

00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:32.799
 caused you to get angry

00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:35.000
 or to lust

00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:37.799
 or to be dishonest

00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:39.120
 or whatever it was.

00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:41.200
 And just think about,

00:19:41.620 --> 00:19:43.400
 once you knew that that happened,

00:19:44.279 --> 00:19:46.120
 despair starts to set in,

00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:49.640
 shame and condemnation start to come in,

00:19:49.640 --> 00:19:50.200
 and you're thinking,

00:19:50.700 --> 00:19:51.720
 whatever,

00:19:52.540 --> 00:19:53.740
 I just might as well give up.

00:19:54.220 --> 00:19:55.640
 I just might as well keep on doing this

00:19:55.640 --> 00:19:56.500
 because there's no hope

00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:57.900
 in trying to resist this anymore.

00:19:59.580 --> 00:20:01.600
 Well, that's where God's saying here,

00:20:02.120 --> 00:20:03.400
 community to the rescue.

00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:06.640
 That's why we have each other, church.

00:20:08.100 --> 00:20:09.780
 There are men in this church

00:20:09.780 --> 00:20:11.580
 that God has used to restore me

00:20:11.580 --> 00:20:13.400
 when I have been overtaken in sin,

00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:15.660
 and they did it in a spirit of gentleness.

00:20:16.580 --> 00:20:18.580
 And I am very thankful for those men.

00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:21.660
 And don't think for one minute

00:20:21.660 --> 00:20:23.640
 that that word spiritual

00:20:23.640 --> 00:20:27.259
 means only pastors and leaders.

00:20:28.300 --> 00:20:29.840
 It's a temptation we have, I think,

00:20:29.860 --> 00:20:30.780
 in the American church.

00:20:31.020 --> 00:20:31.300
 Uh-uh.

00:20:31.800 --> 00:20:33.200
 That word spiritual

00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:34.820
 could just be translated,

00:20:35.520 --> 00:20:36.360
 you spirit people.

00:20:37.060 --> 00:20:38.800
 Same thing back up in verse 25.

00:20:39.040 --> 00:20:40.440
 If we live by the spirit.

00:20:40.780 --> 00:20:41.480
 Well, that's Christians.

00:20:42.259 --> 00:20:43.220
 If you are a Christian,

00:20:43.540 --> 00:20:44.740
 you are a spirit person.

00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:45.580
 You are spiritual

00:20:45.580 --> 00:20:46.880
 because you have the Holy Spirit.

00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:49.140
 And you are being called upon here

00:20:49.140 --> 00:20:51.040
 to help restore your brother or sister

00:20:51.040 --> 00:20:51.980
 who falls into sin.

00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:53.840
 This is not something

00:20:53.840 --> 00:20:55.180
 we should slough off

00:20:55.180 --> 00:20:56.500
 to the professionals

00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:58.020
 because, guess what?

00:20:58.180 --> 00:20:59.920
 There are no professional Christians.

00:21:01.180 --> 00:21:03.480
 We are all the body of Christ

00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:04.960
 indwelled by the spirit,

00:21:05.080 --> 00:21:06.240
 and he has laid on us

00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:07.080
 the responsibility

00:21:07.080 --> 00:21:09.900
 to humbly care for one another

00:21:09.900 --> 00:21:10.800
 and help each other

00:21:10.800 --> 00:21:12.300
 follow Christ together.

00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:14.680
 So if someone in this body

00:21:14.680 --> 00:21:15.860
 has a sin problem,

00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:18.320
 then that should concern you.

00:21:19.380 --> 00:21:19.820
 It is,

00:21:20.820 --> 00:21:21.980
 falls on you

00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:23.779
 to be concerned about them

00:21:23.779 --> 00:21:26.279
 because you are one with them

00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:27.019
 in Christ.

00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:28.039
 You are members

00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:29.759
 one of another.

00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:31.600
 That doesn't mean

00:21:31.600 --> 00:21:32.140
 you're responsible

00:21:32.140 --> 00:21:32.960
 for their sin

00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:34.560
 nor ultimately responsible

00:21:34.560 --> 00:21:35.240
 for their well-being,

00:21:35.340 --> 00:21:36.580
 but you are being called upon

00:21:36.580 --> 00:21:37.960
 to humbly care for them

00:21:37.960 --> 00:21:39.500
 by helping to restore them

00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:40.140
 in some way.

00:21:41.140 --> 00:21:41.840
 Now you might be wondering

00:21:41.840 --> 00:21:42.700
 how this works,

00:21:42.940 --> 00:21:43.680
 practically speaking.

00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:45.019
 This is maybe a little bit tricky.

00:21:45.620 --> 00:21:46.240
 What do you do

00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:48.200
 if someone confesses sin to you?

00:21:49.320 --> 00:21:50.860
 Well, you remind that sinner

00:21:50.860 --> 00:21:52.080
 that they have a friend

00:21:52.080 --> 00:21:53.539
 and his name is Jesus.

00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:55.600
 He is the friend of sinners.

00:21:56.400 --> 00:21:58.519
 So speak 1 John 1, 9 to them.

00:21:59.220 --> 00:22:01.019
 If anyone confesses their sin,

00:22:01.180 --> 00:22:03.380
 God is faithful and just

00:22:03.380 --> 00:22:05.380
 to forgive them of their sin

00:22:05.380 --> 00:22:06.440
 and to cleanse them

00:22:06.440 --> 00:22:07.940
 of all unrighteousness.

00:22:08.380 --> 00:22:10.860
 So speak words of gospel truth to them,

00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:11.580
 of forgiveness

00:22:11.579 --> 00:22:14.359
 and assurance of pardon.

00:22:14.359 --> 00:22:15.539
 And you get to be

00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:16.740
 the Spirit's agent

00:22:16.740 --> 00:22:19.299
 to help heal their soul.

00:22:20.059 --> 00:22:21.279
 What an awesome privilege.

00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:23.279
 Don't shy away from that

00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:24.000
 just because you don't feel

00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:24.819
 like you're a professional.

00:22:26.179 --> 00:22:27.159
 Now if it's a matter

00:22:27.159 --> 00:22:28.519
 that feels pretty heavy,

00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:29.699
 like an addiction

00:22:29.699 --> 00:22:31.339
 or maybe a sin

00:22:31.339 --> 00:22:32.480
 involving lots of people

00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:33.519
 that's rather complicated

00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:34.919
 or a sin that's pretty grievous

00:22:34.919 --> 00:22:35.599
 and serious,

00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:37.619
 well then talk to that person

00:22:37.619 --> 00:22:39.879
 and to see about involving

00:22:39.879 --> 00:22:40.799
 a pastor or an elder

00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:42.039
 or some other life group leader,

00:22:42.159 --> 00:22:43.539
 some other mature Christian

00:22:43.539 --> 00:22:45.019
 who can help maybe shed light

00:22:45.019 --> 00:22:46.239
 on a complicated issue.

00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:47.639
 So be careful,

00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:48.239
 be humble,

00:22:48.399 --> 00:22:49.579
 speaking into situations

00:22:49.579 --> 00:22:52.219
 you don't understand well necessarily,

00:22:52.459 --> 00:22:54.679
 but don't let that keep you

00:22:54.679 --> 00:22:56.559
 from participating

00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:59.659
 in restoring a brother or a sister.

00:23:00.599 --> 00:23:01.599
 Now life group leaders,

00:23:01.879 --> 00:23:02.699
 life group members,

00:23:03.239 --> 00:23:04.099
 you need to hear this.

00:23:04.099 --> 00:23:05.879
 If something like this

00:23:05.879 --> 00:23:07.039
 comes up in your group,

00:23:07.379 --> 00:23:08.159
 lean into it.

00:23:09.299 --> 00:23:10.519
 Don't overwhelm the person

00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:11.459
 with lots of words,

00:23:12.219 --> 00:23:13.500
 just listen sympathetically,

00:23:14.299 --> 00:23:15.339
 ask good questions,

00:23:15.879 --> 00:23:17.639
 and speak weighty words

00:23:17.639 --> 00:23:18.899
 of gospel truth,

00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:19.579
 of forgiveness

00:23:19.579 --> 00:23:21.079
 and assurance to them.

00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:24.379
 But don't do the other error.

00:23:24.579 --> 00:23:25.480
 Don't paint their sin

00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:26.159
 in a good light.

00:23:26.459 --> 00:23:27.719
 Don't sugar coat things.

00:23:27.939 --> 00:23:28.919
 Call a spade a spade.

00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:30.319
 If it's sin, it's sin.

00:23:30.959 --> 00:23:31.799
 Deal with it head on

00:23:31.799 --> 00:23:32.379
 with the gospel.

00:23:32.380 --> 00:23:34.640
 So treat others

00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:35.540
 how you would like them

00:23:35.540 --> 00:23:36.140
 to treat you

00:23:36.140 --> 00:23:37.400
 if you're confessing sin.

00:23:38.040 --> 00:23:40.460
 Gently, truthfully, lovingly

00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:41.700
 point them to Jesus.

00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:43.760
 And you will be

00:23:43.760 --> 00:23:45.660
 an agent of restoration.

00:23:46.820 --> 00:23:48.820
 But you also need to hear this.

00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:51.300
 Whether you're in life group or not,

00:23:52.120 --> 00:23:54.300
 this is what the community is for.

00:23:55.400 --> 00:23:58.520
 We exist to help each other do this.

00:23:58.580 --> 00:24:00.000
 So if you are the one

00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:01.420
 overtaken in a sin,

00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:03.140
 don't stay quiet.

00:24:04.300 --> 00:24:05.180
 The Psalms talks about

00:24:05.180 --> 00:24:07.200
 if I kept my sin within myself

00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:09.440
 and my bones started rotting.

00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:12.620
 Sin has a way of rotting us

00:24:12.620 --> 00:24:13.560
 from the inside out.

00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:14.500
 Speak it.

00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:15.340
 Confess it.

00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:17.800
 Go to someone in service.

00:24:18.300 --> 00:24:19.560
 Go to someone in your life group.

00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:20.860
 Go to someone you know well

00:24:20.860 --> 00:24:21.960
 who would be able

00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:23.259
 to speak God's truth to you.

00:24:23.640 --> 00:24:24.660
 Risk the transparency

00:24:24.660 --> 00:24:26.300
 in order to keep in step

00:24:26.300 --> 00:24:27.320
 with the Spirit.

00:24:27.319 --> 00:24:29.179
 Obey James 5.16.

00:24:29.679 --> 00:24:30.799
 Confess your sins

00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:31.599
 one to another

00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:34.039
 and pray for one another

00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:35.119
 so that you may be healed.

00:24:37.339 --> 00:24:38.599
 Sometimes this might mean

00:24:38.599 --> 00:24:40.339
 having to confront someone gently.

00:24:41.379 --> 00:24:42.299
 That's scary.

00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:45.019
 But along the lines of Matthew 18,

00:24:45.139 --> 00:24:46.220
 we're called to do this too.

00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:48.519
 If you see or become aware

00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:49.539
 of a sinful behavior

00:24:49.539 --> 00:24:50.339
 and another believer,

00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:51.900
 then we are called upon

00:24:51.900 --> 00:24:53.019
 to humbly care

00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:54.259
 for that brother or sister

00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:56.339
 in the spirit of gentleness

00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:58.180
 by asking them about it.

00:24:59.120 --> 00:25:00.960
 Much humility is needed here.

00:25:01.160 --> 00:25:02.339
 Not self-righteous judgment.

00:25:02.600 --> 00:25:03.700
 We're not trying to accuse.

00:25:03.819 --> 00:25:04.880
 We're trying to restore.

00:25:06.360 --> 00:25:07.620
 And you've got to be careful.

00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:08.420
 Remember Jesus used

00:25:08.420 --> 00:25:09.660
 the log in the eye

00:25:09.660 --> 00:25:10.640
 and the speck of sawdust

00:25:10.640 --> 00:25:11.839
 in the eye illustration.

00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:14.059
 Approaching someone's eye

00:25:14.059 --> 00:25:16.019
 to get a speck of sawdust out

00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:18.559
 is a very delicate process.

00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:19.939
 You've got to be very gentle.

00:25:20.759 --> 00:25:22.220
 You've got to have confidence.

00:25:22.879 --> 00:25:24.220
 They need to have confidence in you.

00:25:24.839 --> 00:25:26.319
 But if Jesus is our Lord

00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:27.079
 and our Master

00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:28.259
 and we are His servants,

00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:29.819
 we must be willing

00:25:29.819 --> 00:25:31.199
 to approach another servant

00:25:31.199 --> 00:25:32.119
 in gentleness

00:25:32.119 --> 00:25:33.599
 if they're doing something

00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:34.559
 that does not please

00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:36.279
 or bring honor to the Master.

00:25:36.399 --> 00:25:37.720
 And this is for all of us.

00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:38.879
 This is not just for pastors,

00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:39.779
 not just for leaders.

00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:42.460
 Now before we move on

00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:43.099
 to other ways

00:25:43.099 --> 00:25:44.059
 we can care for one another,

00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:45.220
 look at the end of verse 1.

00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:48.379
 Keep watch on yourself

00:25:48.379 --> 00:25:49.920
 lest you too be tempted.

00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:52.519
 When helping restore

00:25:52.519 --> 00:25:53.259
 a fellow sinner,

00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:54.500
 we are often tempted

00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:56.460
 to fall into sin ourselves.

00:25:57.899 --> 00:25:58.480
 We are tempted

00:25:58.480 --> 00:26:01.299
 to conceited self-righteousness.

00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:02.940
 Like thinking,

00:26:03.299 --> 00:26:04.339
 I would never sin like that.

00:26:05.379 --> 00:26:06.859
 We are tempted to frustration

00:26:06.859 --> 00:26:07.839
 and impatience

00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:09.299
 with our brother or sister,

00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:10.859
 especially if they're not changing

00:26:10.859 --> 00:26:12.480
 or especially if their sin

00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:14.019
 affects us negatively.

00:26:14.919 --> 00:26:15.919
 We might be tempted

00:26:15.919 --> 00:26:17.099
 to join them in their sin

00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:18.139
 in some way.

00:26:18.839 --> 00:26:20.200
 Coming into contact with sin

00:26:20.200 --> 00:26:21.279
 can sometimes soften

00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:22.839
 our hearts to it

00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:23.940
 and tempt us toward it.

00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.680
 So just think about Johnny Cash.

00:26:26.359 --> 00:26:27.099
 Walk in the line.

00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:29.039
 I keep a close watch

00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:29.960
 on this heart of mine.

00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:31.940
 I keep my eyes wide open

00:26:31.940 --> 00:26:32.619
 all the time.

00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:35.539
 Keep a close eye

00:26:35.539 --> 00:26:37.019
 on your own heart

00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:38.399
 when you're in the process

00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:39.060
 of doing this.

00:26:39.140 --> 00:26:40.759
 It helps us do this

00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:42.500
 in humility and gentleness.

00:26:43.860 --> 00:26:45.420
 So restoring a sinning

00:26:45.420 --> 00:26:46.140
 family member

00:26:46.140 --> 00:26:47.680
 is a way we humbly care

00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:48.660
 for one another

00:26:48.660 --> 00:26:49.440
 and keep in step

00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:50.080
 with the Spirit.

00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:51.120
 But it's not the only way

00:26:51.120 --> 00:26:52.259
 we keep in step

00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:52.840
 with the Spirit

00:26:52.840 --> 00:26:53.460
 in community.

00:26:53.580 --> 00:26:54.300
 Look at verse 2.

00:26:55.100 --> 00:26:56.200
 Paul tells the Galatians

00:26:56.200 --> 00:26:58.040
 to bear one another's burdens

00:26:58.040 --> 00:26:59.460
 and so fulfill

00:26:59.460 --> 00:27:00.820
 the law of Christ.

00:27:02.060 --> 00:27:03.040
 This includes

00:27:03.040 --> 00:27:03.800
 bearing the burdens

00:27:03.800 --> 00:27:04.680
 of those who've sinned

00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:05.400
 and need restoration,

00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:07.019
 but it's broader than that.

00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:08.859
 It means lending

00:27:08.859 --> 00:27:09.900
 your strength,

00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:11.099
 skill,

00:27:11.859 --> 00:27:12.319
 time,

00:27:13.059 --> 00:27:13.460
 energy,

00:27:14.220 --> 00:27:14.819
 resources

00:27:14.819 --> 00:27:16.240
 to help another believer

00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:17.920
 through difficulty.

00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:19.960
 As Paul says

00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:20.539
 somewhere else,

00:27:20.639 --> 00:27:21.759
 when one member hurts,

00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:22.799
 the whole body does.

00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:24.319
 That's because

00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:24.980
 the Spirit

00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:26.180
 binds us together.

00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:27.740
 We have Him

00:27:27.740 --> 00:27:28.379
 in common.

00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:29.160
 So therefore,

00:27:29.259 --> 00:27:30.160
 when we become aware

00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:31.079
 of a difficulty

00:27:31.079 --> 00:27:32.160
 that another member

00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:32.639
 of the church

00:27:32.639 --> 00:27:33.359
 is going through,

00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:34.159
 then we ought

00:27:34.159 --> 00:27:34.899
 to have an impulse

00:27:34.899 --> 00:27:35.939
 to help shoulder

00:27:35.939 --> 00:27:37.099
 that burden.

00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:38.439
 That's what

00:27:38.439 --> 00:27:39.599
 keeping in step

00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:40.179
 with the Spirit

00:27:40.179 --> 00:27:40.859
 looks like

00:27:40.859 --> 00:27:41.719
 in the community

00:27:41.719 --> 00:27:42.819
 of the Spirit.

00:27:43.459 --> 00:27:44.399
 We get to humbly

00:27:44.399 --> 00:27:45.279
 care for one another

00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:46.779
 and bear one another's

00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:47.059
 burdens

00:27:47.059 --> 00:27:48.559
 in a variety of ways.

00:27:48.659 --> 00:27:49.379
 It can be acts

00:27:49.379 --> 00:27:50.000
 of service.

00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:51.740
 This summer,

00:27:51.979 --> 00:27:52.759
 my wife had

00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:53.539
 shoulder surgery.

00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:55.199
 So many of you

00:27:55.199 --> 00:27:56.279
 cared for us

00:27:56.279 --> 00:27:57.579
 in very practical

00:27:57.579 --> 00:27:58.819
 and needed ways.

00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:00.119
 Y'all bared,

00:28:00.379 --> 00:28:01.059
 you bared,

00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:01.980
 you bore our

00:28:01.980 --> 00:28:02.980
 burdens with us.

00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:03.819
 Thank you.

00:28:04.159 --> 00:28:04.839
 That's exactly,

00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:05.539
 and this church

00:28:05.539 --> 00:28:06.359
 is so good at that.

00:28:06.700 --> 00:28:07.200
 Our deacons

00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:08.159
 are so fantastic

00:28:08.159 --> 00:28:08.679
 at being able

00:28:08.679 --> 00:28:09.339
 to find ways

00:28:09.339 --> 00:28:10.399
 to care for

00:28:10.399 --> 00:28:11.379
 body members

00:28:11.379 --> 00:28:12.279
 that are hurting.

00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:13.819
 But we also bear

00:28:13.819 --> 00:28:15.039
 one another's burdens

00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:15.759
 when we sit

00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:16.480
 and we listen

00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:17.440
 and we share

00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:18.379
 God's Word together

00:28:18.379 --> 00:28:19.019
 and encourage

00:28:19.019 --> 00:28:19.500
 one another.

00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:20.960
 When someone's

00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:21.319
 going through

00:28:21.319 --> 00:28:22.240
 a difficult time,

00:28:22.539 --> 00:28:23.539
 we have one another

00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:24.279
 over for dinner

00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:25.139
 and we ask

00:28:25.139 --> 00:28:25.859
 good questions.

00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:26.619
 We take time

00:28:26.619 --> 00:28:27.319
 after service

00:28:27.319 --> 00:28:28.399
 to hunt down

00:28:28.399 --> 00:28:29.079
 people we know

00:28:29.079 --> 00:28:29.639
 are going through

00:28:29.639 --> 00:28:30.440
 a rough patch

00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:31.360
 to be able

00:28:31.360 --> 00:28:32.259
 to ask them

00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:32.920
 how they're doing

00:28:32.920 --> 00:28:33.920
 and pray for them.

00:28:34.200 --> 00:28:34.720
 That's bearing

00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:35.539
 one another's burdens

00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:36.120
 as a body.

00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:37.820
 And speaking of praying,

00:28:38.100 --> 00:28:38.539
 that's probably

00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:40.380
 the most wonderful,

00:28:40.620 --> 00:28:41.400
 most effective,

00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:43.640
 and maybe hardest

00:28:43.640 --> 00:28:44.740
 way to bear

00:28:44.740 --> 00:28:45.840
 one another's burdens

00:28:45.840 --> 00:28:47.759
 is to take

00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:48.740
 intentional time

00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:49.360
 to pray

00:28:49.360 --> 00:28:50.580
 and care for

00:28:50.580 --> 00:28:51.420
 one another's burdens

00:28:51.420 --> 00:28:52.440
 in prayer.

00:28:53.900 --> 00:28:54.799
 So when we do

00:28:54.799 --> 00:28:55.640
 this burden bearing

00:28:55.640 --> 00:28:56.620
 in all of its forms,

00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:57.519
 we fulfill

00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:58.840
 the law of Christ.

00:28:58.839 --> 00:29:00.679
 what does Paul

00:29:00.679 --> 00:29:01.519
 mean by that?

00:29:02.679 --> 00:29:03.299
 Look back up

00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:04.240
 to chapter 5,

00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:05.459
 verse 13 and 14.

00:29:07.099 --> 00:29:08.159
 Do not use

00:29:08.159 --> 00:29:08.699
 your freedom

00:29:08.699 --> 00:29:09.659
 as an opportunity

00:29:09.659 --> 00:29:10.699
 for the flesh,

00:29:10.699 --> 00:29:12.139
 but through love

00:29:12.139 --> 00:29:13.379
 serve one another.

00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:15.039
 For the whole law

00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:15.679
 is fulfilled

00:29:15.679 --> 00:29:16.639
 in one word.

00:29:17.139 --> 00:29:18.059
 You shall love

00:29:18.059 --> 00:29:18.579
 your neighbor

00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:20.220
 as yourself.

00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:24.099
 This is very similar

00:29:24.099 --> 00:29:24.959
 to the command

00:29:24.959 --> 00:29:26.039
 that Jesus gave

00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:26.599
 his church,

00:29:26.759 --> 00:29:27.259
 the disciples,

00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:28.379
 in John 13.

00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:29.859
 A new command

00:29:29.859 --> 00:29:30.519
 I give you

00:29:30.519 --> 00:29:31.759
 that you love

00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:32.279
 one another.

00:29:32.759 --> 00:29:34.039
 Just as I have loved you,

00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:35.000
 you are to love

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:35.859
 one another.

00:29:36.379 --> 00:29:37.160
 So we fulfill

00:29:37.160 --> 00:29:37.779
 the whole law

00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:38.480
 of the Old Testament

00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:39.220
 in one sense

00:29:39.220 --> 00:29:40.819
 by just doing this,

00:29:41.259 --> 00:29:42.039
 by bearing

00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:42.779
 one another's burdens

00:29:42.779 --> 00:29:43.500
 in practical,

00:29:43.779 --> 00:29:44.059
 real,

00:29:44.420 --> 00:29:45.180
 meaningful ways.

00:29:45.700 --> 00:29:46.279
 So in one sense,

00:29:46.359 --> 00:29:46.720
 it's what

00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:48.180
 the law of Christ

00:29:48.180 --> 00:29:49.339
 is what he's spoken

00:29:49.339 --> 00:29:49.680
 to us,

00:29:49.900 --> 00:29:50.539
 love one another.

00:29:51.400 --> 00:29:52.480
 But it's also

00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:53.339
 the model

00:29:53.339 --> 00:29:53.940
 he's provided

00:29:53.940 --> 00:29:54.480
 for us.

00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:55.900
 Church,

00:29:55.900 --> 00:29:56.420
 the only reason

00:29:56.420 --> 00:29:57.140
 we exist

00:29:57.140 --> 00:29:58.780
 as a body

00:29:58.780 --> 00:30:00.620
 is because Christ

00:30:00.620 --> 00:30:02.360
 bore our burdens

00:30:02.360 --> 00:30:03.560
 on Calvary.

00:30:03.700 --> 00:30:04.600
 We sang of it earlier

00:30:04.600 --> 00:30:08.100
 in How Great Thou Art.

00:30:09.060 --> 00:30:10.740
 Christ bore our burdens

00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.980
 to the cross.

00:30:12.060 --> 00:30:12.640
 As Paul says

00:30:12.640 --> 00:30:13.519
 in Philippians 2,

00:30:13.640 --> 00:30:14.380
 Jesus took on

00:30:14.380 --> 00:30:15.580
 the form of a servant.

00:30:16.800 --> 00:30:17.580
 He took on the burden

00:30:17.580 --> 00:30:18.519
 of human flesh.

00:30:19.840 --> 00:30:20.340
 He was born

00:30:20.340 --> 00:30:21.200
 as one of us.

00:30:22.220 --> 00:30:22.759
 In being found

00:30:22.759 --> 00:30:23.380
 in human form,

00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:24.420
 he humbled himself

00:30:24.420 --> 00:30:25.700
 by becoming obedient

00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:26.680
 to the point of death,

00:30:26.759 --> 00:30:27.480
 even death

00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:28.539
 on a cross.

00:30:29.400 --> 00:30:30.200
 So we are to

00:30:30.200 --> 00:30:31.000
 humbly care

00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:31.660
 for one another

00:30:31.660 --> 00:30:32.220
 and bear

00:30:32.220 --> 00:30:33.140
 one another's burdens

00:30:33.140 --> 00:30:35.039
 in the same way

00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:37.000
 Jesus bore

00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:37.920
 our burdens

00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:38.960
 and because

00:30:38.960 --> 00:30:40.660
 Jesus bore

00:30:40.660 --> 00:30:41.539
 our burdens.

00:30:41.660 --> 00:30:42.480
 He did the same

00:30:42.480 --> 00:30:43.220
 for us.

00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:43.940
 And if we belong

00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:44.360
 to him

00:30:44.360 --> 00:30:45.360
 and we have

00:30:45.360 --> 00:30:46.039
 his spirit

00:30:46.039 --> 00:30:47.320
 within and among us,

00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:48.539
 how can we act

00:30:48.539 --> 00:30:49.300
 any differently?

00:30:49.299 --> 00:30:51.639
 So friends,

00:30:51.759 --> 00:30:52.359
 if we are

00:30:52.359 --> 00:30:53.639
 spirit-defined people,

00:30:54.359 --> 00:30:54.919
 if we are people

00:30:54.919 --> 00:30:55.859
 who have the spirit

00:30:55.859 --> 00:30:57.619
 and live by the spirit,

00:30:58.579 --> 00:30:59.440
 let us keep in step

00:30:59.440 --> 00:30:59.759
 with him.

00:30:59.919 --> 00:31:01.000
 We need to be about

00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:01.859
 the priority

00:31:01.859 --> 00:31:02.940
 in community

00:31:02.940 --> 00:31:04.579
 of humbly caring

00:31:04.579 --> 00:31:05.200
 for one another

00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:06.099
 and by doing so,

00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:07.519
 we keep in step

00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:07.859
 with him.

00:31:07.940 --> 00:31:08.519
 Our conductor

00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:09.779
 is tapping out

00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:10.539
 his rhythm

00:31:10.539 --> 00:31:12.159
 to a song of love

00:31:12.159 --> 00:31:12.859
 and we have

00:31:12.859 --> 00:31:14.279
 to keep our eyes

00:31:14.279 --> 00:31:14.819
 on him.

00:31:14.819 --> 00:31:17.019
 So let me just

00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:17.819
 give you a few

00:31:17.819 --> 00:31:18.799
 brief and concrete

00:31:18.799 --> 00:31:20.139
 ways to do this.

00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:21.279
 First, examine

00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:21.819
 your heart

00:31:21.819 --> 00:31:23.000
 for self-importance.

00:31:24.879 --> 00:31:25.879
 There is no better

00:31:25.879 --> 00:31:26.460
 way to keep

00:31:26.460 --> 00:31:26.899
 a community

00:31:26.899 --> 00:31:27.679
 from following

00:31:27.679 --> 00:31:28.799
 the spirit's lead

00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:29.939
 than to be concerned

00:31:29.939 --> 00:31:31.039
 about yourself

00:31:31.039 --> 00:31:32.240
 as your first priority.

00:31:34.220 --> 00:31:34.779
 Jesus came

00:31:34.779 --> 00:31:35.500
 to free us

00:31:35.500 --> 00:31:36.399
 from that destructive

00:31:36.399 --> 00:31:37.319
 tendency of our

00:31:37.319 --> 00:31:38.039
 human hearts.

00:31:38.500 --> 00:31:39.539
 So ask yourself

00:31:39.539 --> 00:31:40.480
 Philippians 2

00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:41.179
 verse 3

00:31:41.179 --> 00:31:42.480
 in question form.

00:31:43.599 --> 00:31:44.339
 How does God

00:31:44.339 --> 00:31:44.799
 want me to

00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:45.639
 humbly consider

00:31:45.639 --> 00:31:46.559
 others as more

00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:47.319
 significant than

00:31:47.319 --> 00:31:47.659
 myself?

00:31:50.359 --> 00:31:51.019
 I'm guessing

00:31:51.019 --> 00:31:51.500
 there are probably

00:31:51.500 --> 00:31:52.139
 a few people

00:31:52.139 --> 00:31:52.839
 within the church

00:31:52.839 --> 00:31:53.259
 that you have

00:31:53.259 --> 00:31:53.839
 a hard time

00:31:53.839 --> 00:31:54.720
 interacting with

00:31:54.720 --> 00:31:56.000
 without self-important

00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:57.139
 pride showing up

00:31:57.139 --> 00:31:58.259
 in your heart

00:31:58.259 --> 00:32:00.039
 and yet they are

00:32:00.039 --> 00:32:01.099
 your spiritual family.

00:32:02.460 --> 00:32:03.180
 So ask the Lord

00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:03.779
 to help you

00:32:03.779 --> 00:32:05.019
 put your self-importance

00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:05.500
 to death

00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:06.839
 and the Holy Spirit

00:32:06.839 --> 00:32:07.659
 will be glad

00:32:07.659 --> 00:32:08.599
 to assist you.

00:32:10.579 --> 00:32:11.079
 Secondly,

00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:11.899
 move towards

00:32:11.899 --> 00:32:12.379
 other people.

00:32:13.279 --> 00:32:14.359
 Move towards

00:32:14.359 --> 00:32:14.839
 other people.

00:32:15.199 --> 00:32:15.479
 Do you hear

00:32:15.479 --> 00:32:15.899
 the movement

00:32:15.899 --> 00:32:16.359
 in that?

00:32:16.419 --> 00:32:16.519
 Do you hear

00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:16.959
 the action

00:32:16.959 --> 00:32:17.299
 in that?

00:32:17.500 --> 00:32:18.199
 Move toward

00:32:18.199 --> 00:32:18.619
 other people.

00:32:19.740 --> 00:32:20.259
 This is a call

00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:20.779
 to action.

00:32:21.679 --> 00:32:22.099
 Bearing one

00:32:22.099 --> 00:32:22.659
 of those burdens

00:32:22.659 --> 00:32:23.339
 assumes you

00:32:23.339 --> 00:32:24.159
 have relationship

00:32:24.159 --> 00:32:24.819
 with people.

00:32:25.699 --> 00:32:26.519
 So move

00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:27.199
 towards people.

00:32:28.199 --> 00:32:28.579
 Now this is

00:32:28.579 --> 00:32:29.119
 harder for some

00:32:29.119 --> 00:32:29.479
 people than

00:32:29.479 --> 00:32:29.879
 for others.

00:32:29.979 --> 00:32:30.439
 I get that.

00:32:31.459 --> 00:32:31.859
 And it doesn't

00:32:31.859 --> 00:32:32.179
 mean you have

00:32:32.179 --> 00:32:32.779
 to be best friends

00:32:32.779 --> 00:32:33.199
 with everybody

00:32:33.199 --> 00:32:33.919
 or even know

00:32:33.919 --> 00:32:34.659
 everybody in the

00:32:34.659 --> 00:32:34.919
 church.

00:32:35.439 --> 00:32:35.979
 But it does

00:32:35.979 --> 00:32:36.599
 mean that your

00:32:36.599 --> 00:32:37.859
 posture is toward

00:32:37.859 --> 00:32:38.339
 people,

00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:39.979
 not away from

00:32:39.979 --> 00:32:40.219
 them.

00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:42.039
 It means a

00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:42.600
 willingness to

00:32:42.600 --> 00:32:43.220
 engage in

00:32:43.220 --> 00:32:44.120
 conversation with

00:32:44.120 --> 00:32:44.440
 people,

00:32:44.519 --> 00:32:45.259
 even the people

00:32:45.259 --> 00:32:45.720
 you're not

00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:47.220
 naturally attracted

00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:48.039
 to.

00:32:48.880 --> 00:32:49.839
 And not just in

00:32:49.839 --> 00:32:50.460
 conversation about

00:32:50.460 --> 00:32:52.180
 you, but also in

00:32:52.180 --> 00:32:52.860
 conversation about

00:32:52.860 --> 00:32:53.200
 them.

00:32:53.819 --> 00:32:54.960
 Ask good questions.

00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:56.240
 It's a way we bear

00:32:56.240 --> 00:32:56.759
 one of those burdens

00:32:56.759 --> 00:32:57.380
 and care for each

00:32:57.380 --> 00:32:57.579
 other.

00:32:58.019 --> 00:32:58.600
 Discover what's

00:32:58.600 --> 00:32:59.200
 going on in their

00:32:59.200 --> 00:32:59.600
 lives.

00:33:00.160 --> 00:33:00.900
 Be listening for

00:33:00.900 --> 00:33:01.759
 ways you can help.

00:33:02.900 --> 00:33:03.400
 It might mean

00:33:03.400 --> 00:33:04.019
 praying with them

00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:04.579
 on the spot

00:33:04.579 --> 00:33:05.400
 after service

00:33:05.400 --> 00:33:05.799
 today.

00:33:06.759 --> 00:33:07.400
 It might mean

00:33:07.400 --> 00:33:08.200
 intentionally praying

00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:08.840
 for them throughout

00:33:08.840 --> 00:33:09.299
 the week.

00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:10.740
 It might mean

00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:11.819
 texting them.

00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:12.620
 It might mean

00:33:12.620 --> 00:33:13.200
 getting together

00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:13.840
 with them through

00:33:13.840 --> 00:33:14.400
 the week to hear

00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:15.100
 how they're doing

00:33:15.100 --> 00:33:16.039
 or to help restore

00:33:16.039 --> 00:33:16.660
 them when they've

00:33:16.660 --> 00:33:17.039
 sinned.

00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:18.259
 It might mean

00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:18.720
 showing up at

00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:19.200
 their house to

00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:19.940
 fix their dryer

00:33:19.940 --> 00:33:20.940
 or with a cooked

00:33:20.940 --> 00:33:21.259
 meal.

00:33:21.360 --> 00:33:21.900
 There are a

00:33:21.900 --> 00:33:23.240
 zillion ways we

00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:23.960
 can bear one

00:33:23.960 --> 00:33:24.559
 of those burdens.

00:33:25.299 --> 00:33:26.220
 But we must be

00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:26.980
 willing to move

00:33:26.980 --> 00:33:27.819
 towards people to

00:33:27.819 --> 00:33:28.279
 find out what

00:33:28.279 --> 00:33:29.039
 those burdens are.

00:33:31.140 --> 00:33:31.840
 Well, I'm

00:33:31.840 --> 00:33:32.380
 guessing you've

00:33:32.380 --> 00:33:32.980
 heard the call

00:33:32.980 --> 00:33:33.819
 to action.

00:33:34.539 --> 00:33:34.840
 And you've

00:33:34.840 --> 00:33:35.340
 heard what that

00:33:35.340 --> 00:33:36.019
 looks like in

00:33:36.019 --> 00:33:36.539
 community.

00:33:36.740 --> 00:33:37.319
 But there's one

00:33:37.319 --> 00:33:37.840
 more thing we

00:33:37.840 --> 00:33:38.160
 need to pay

00:33:38.160 --> 00:33:38.640
 attention to.

00:33:39.759 --> 00:33:40.380
 It's the

00:33:40.380 --> 00:33:41.420
 caution that's

00:33:41.420 --> 00:33:42.240
 attached to

00:33:42.240 --> 00:33:43.380
 the call in

00:33:43.380 --> 00:33:43.920
 verses 4 to

00:33:43.920 --> 00:33:44.200
 5.

00:33:44.720 --> 00:33:45.240
 Sorry, 3 to

00:33:45.240 --> 00:33:45.500
 5.

00:33:45.940 --> 00:33:46.279
 And the

00:33:46.279 --> 00:33:46.740
 caution is

00:33:46.740 --> 00:33:47.080
 this.

00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:48.820
 Don't forget

00:33:48.820 --> 00:33:50.779
 that the only

00:33:50.779 --> 00:33:51.640
 one God will

00:33:51.640 --> 00:33:52.380
 hold accountable

00:33:52.380 --> 00:33:53.880
 for you is

00:33:53.880 --> 00:33:54.080
 you.

00:33:55.220 --> 00:33:56.140
 Don't forget

00:33:56.140 --> 00:33:57.080
 that the only

00:33:57.080 --> 00:33:57.880
 one God will

00:33:57.880 --> 00:33:58.540
 hold accountable

00:33:58.540 --> 00:34:00.420
 for you is

00:34:00.420 --> 00:34:00.660
 you.

00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:03.060
 Verse 3.

00:34:03.720 --> 00:34:04.200
 For if anyone

00:34:04.200 --> 00:34:04.800
 thinks he is

00:34:04.800 --> 00:34:05.640
 something when he

00:34:05.640 --> 00:34:06.680
 is nothing, he

00:34:06.680 --> 00:34:07.460
 deceives himself.

00:34:07.460 --> 00:34:08.860
 But let each

00:34:08.860 --> 00:34:09.619
 one test his

00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:10.840
 own work, and

00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:11.420
 then his reason

00:34:11.420 --> 00:34:11.920
 to boast will

00:34:11.920 --> 00:34:12.500
 be in himself

00:34:12.500 --> 00:34:13.280
 alone and not

00:34:13.280 --> 00:34:13.900
 in his neighbor.

00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:15.420
 For each will

00:34:15.420 --> 00:34:16.119
 have to bear

00:34:16.119 --> 00:34:17.760
 his own load.

00:34:18.980 --> 00:34:19.559
 Notice that

00:34:19.559 --> 00:34:19.980
 little word

00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:20.880
 for in verse

00:34:20.880 --> 00:34:21.159
 3.

00:34:21.840 --> 00:34:22.360
 That should

00:34:22.360 --> 00:34:23.019
 signal to us

00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:23.579
 that Paul's

00:34:23.579 --> 00:34:24.340
 connecting this

00:34:24.340 --> 00:34:25.820
 caution to the

00:34:25.820 --> 00:34:27.380
 community call in

00:34:27.380 --> 00:34:28.139
 the previous part

00:34:28.139 --> 00:34:28.720
 of the passage.

00:34:29.280 --> 00:34:30.079
 He's connecting

00:34:30.079 --> 00:34:30.320
 it.

00:34:30.619 --> 00:34:31.139
 And what he's

00:34:31.139 --> 00:34:32.220
 warning against in

00:34:32.220 --> 00:34:33.679
 verse 3 is that

00:34:33.679 --> 00:34:34.440
 we won't be able

00:34:34.440 --> 00:34:35.159
 to bear the

00:34:35.159 --> 00:34:35.900
 burdens of

00:34:35.900 --> 00:34:36.720
 others properly

00:34:36.720 --> 00:34:37.740
 without an

00:34:37.740 --> 00:34:38.579
 honest and

00:34:38.579 --> 00:34:39.820
 humble view of

00:34:39.820 --> 00:34:40.840
 ourselves before

00:34:40.840 --> 00:34:41.200
 God.

00:34:42.980 --> 00:34:44.059
 This caution has

00:34:44.059 --> 00:34:45.119
 a lot to do with

00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:45.840
 what Paul says at

00:34:45.840 --> 00:34:46.400
 the end of verse

00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:46.679
 1.

00:34:47.840 --> 00:34:48.200
 When you're

00:34:48.200 --> 00:34:48.940
 restoring someone

00:34:48.940 --> 00:34:49.760
 who sinned, keep

00:34:49.760 --> 00:34:50.559
 a close eye on

00:34:50.559 --> 00:34:52.019
 yourself so that

00:34:52.019 --> 00:34:52.659
 you too are not

00:34:52.659 --> 00:34:52.960
 tempted.

00:34:53.099 --> 00:34:53.720
 He's saying, hey,

00:34:54.240 --> 00:34:54.760
 pay attention to

00:34:54.760 --> 00:34:55.320
 yourself too.

00:34:57.280 --> 00:34:58.000
 The caution is

00:34:58.000 --> 00:34:58.880
 also related to his

00:34:58.880 --> 00:34:59.539
 command to put

00:34:59.539 --> 00:35:00.440
 self-importance to

00:35:00.440 --> 00:35:01.099
 death back in

00:35:01.099 --> 00:35:01.800
 verse 26.

00:35:01.800 --> 00:35:03.600
 It's very easy

00:35:03.600 --> 00:35:05.160
 to serve others

00:35:05.160 --> 00:35:07.120
 self-importantly.

00:35:08.539 --> 00:35:09.840
 At times, our

00:35:09.840 --> 00:35:10.740
 conceit and our

00:35:10.740 --> 00:35:11.460
 self-importance

00:35:11.460 --> 00:35:12.600
 prevents us from

00:35:12.600 --> 00:35:13.400
 serving others

00:35:13.400 --> 00:35:14.260
 because we're

00:35:14.260 --> 00:35:15.000
 picking fights with

00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:15.720
 them or envying

00:35:15.720 --> 00:35:16.039
 them.

00:35:17.180 --> 00:35:17.760
 But at other

00:35:17.760 --> 00:35:18.539
 times, our

00:35:18.539 --> 00:35:19.440
 self-importance

00:35:19.440 --> 00:35:20.180
 makes us think

00:35:20.180 --> 00:35:20.920
 that we're stronger

00:35:20.920 --> 00:35:21.640
 and healthier than

00:35:21.640 --> 00:35:22.600
 we actually are.

00:35:23.680 --> 00:35:24.920
 And then we think

00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:25.800
 we're something when

00:35:25.800 --> 00:35:26.720
 we're actually nothing

00:35:26.720 --> 00:35:27.440
 and we deceive

00:35:27.440 --> 00:35:27.960
 ourselves.

00:35:28.360 --> 00:35:29.140
 And out of that

00:35:29.140 --> 00:35:30.900
 self-deceit, we

00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:31.560
 serve others

00:35:31.559 --> 00:35:33.420
 but really, we're

00:35:33.420 --> 00:35:34.039
 doing it for

00:35:34.039 --> 00:35:35.799
 ourselves and not

00:35:35.799 --> 00:35:36.440
 out of obedience

00:35:36.440 --> 00:35:37.880
 for Christ or out

00:35:37.880 --> 00:35:38.820
 of love for

00:35:38.820 --> 00:35:39.259
 others.

00:35:40.440 --> 00:35:42.500
 Some of us just

00:35:42.500 --> 00:35:43.599
 need to be needed.

00:35:44.519 --> 00:35:45.679
 We want to be

00:35:45.679 --> 00:35:46.019
 wanted.

00:35:47.840 --> 00:35:48.980
 It makes us feel

00:35:48.980 --> 00:35:50.799
 stronger when we

00:35:50.799 --> 00:35:51.519
 feel needed or

00:35:51.519 --> 00:35:51.860
 wanted.

00:35:52.659 --> 00:35:53.519
 It makes us feel

00:35:53.519 --> 00:35:54.199
 healthier than we

00:35:54.199 --> 00:35:54.759
 actually are.

00:35:54.840 --> 00:35:55.840
 And so when we

00:35:55.840 --> 00:35:57.079
 actually stop serving

00:35:57.079 --> 00:35:58.159
 and things get

00:35:58.159 --> 00:35:59.099
 quiet and we start

00:35:59.099 --> 00:35:59.960
 honestly assessing

00:35:59.960 --> 00:36:00.699
 where we're at

00:36:00.699 --> 00:36:01.219
 spiritually,

00:36:01.559 --> 00:36:02.440
 we start realizing

00:36:02.440 --> 00:36:03.940
 maybe I'm not as

00:36:03.940 --> 00:36:04.480
 strong or healthy

00:36:04.480 --> 00:36:05.259
 as I think I am.

00:36:06.460 --> 00:36:06.900
 And this is

00:36:06.900 --> 00:36:07.259
 something that

00:36:07.259 --> 00:36:08.039
 leaders are

00:36:08.039 --> 00:36:08.759
 particularly prone

00:36:08.759 --> 00:36:09.000
 to.

00:36:09.900 --> 00:36:10.699
 Life group leaders,

00:36:10.960 --> 00:36:11.940
 elders, deacons,

00:36:12.079 --> 00:36:12.380
 pastors.

00:36:12.980 --> 00:36:14.679
 We serve and help

00:36:14.679 --> 00:36:15.460
 bear burdens and

00:36:15.460 --> 00:36:16.599
 teach and lead but

00:36:16.599 --> 00:36:18.000
 secretly, sometimes

00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:19.179
 if we're honest, we

00:36:19.179 --> 00:36:21.059
 can keep busy doing

00:36:21.059 --> 00:36:22.480
 these things because

00:36:22.480 --> 00:36:23.099
 we don't want to

00:36:23.099 --> 00:36:23.860
 acknowledge that we're

00:36:23.860 --> 00:36:24.739
 not as healthy as we

00:36:24.739 --> 00:36:25.259
 think we are.

00:36:25.940 --> 00:36:27.079
 Or because we find

00:36:27.079 --> 00:36:28.039
 our identity too much

00:36:28.039 --> 00:36:28.920
 in serving and not

00:36:28.920 --> 00:36:30.019
 enough in who we are

00:36:30.019 --> 00:36:31.239
 in Christ and how

00:36:31.239 --> 00:36:32.219
 he has loved us and

00:36:32.219 --> 00:36:33.300
 accomplished our

00:36:33.300 --> 00:36:34.380
 salvation for us.

00:36:35.739 --> 00:36:36.239
 But look at the

00:36:36.239 --> 00:36:37.179
 solution at verse 4.

00:36:38.980 --> 00:36:40.380
 How are we to not

00:36:40.380 --> 00:36:41.139
 think ourselves

00:36:41.139 --> 00:36:41.840
 something when we're

00:36:41.840 --> 00:36:42.119
 nothing?

00:36:42.780 --> 00:36:43.759
 Test your own work.

00:36:44.780 --> 00:36:45.559
 Test your own work

00:36:45.559 --> 00:36:46.179
 before God.

00:36:46.980 --> 00:36:47.900
 What Paul means here

00:36:47.900 --> 00:36:48.619
 is that we need to

00:36:48.619 --> 00:36:49.639
 ask ourselves whether

00:36:49.639 --> 00:36:50.679
 our work is just for

00:36:50.679 --> 00:36:52.679
 show or actually has

00:36:52.679 --> 00:36:54.480
 good quality to it.

00:36:55.980 --> 00:36:57.380
 Jess and I recently

00:36:57.380 --> 00:36:58.159
 watched the movie

00:36:58.159 --> 00:36:59.339
 Ford versus Ferrari.

00:37:00.079 --> 00:37:00.759
 It's a great movie.

00:37:01.659 --> 00:37:03.420
 At one point, the

00:37:03.420 --> 00:37:04.599
 Ford executives in

00:37:04.599 --> 00:37:06.079
 the movie unveiled the

00:37:06.079 --> 00:37:07.819
 exciting new Mustang

00:37:07.819 --> 00:37:09.539
 GT as its new racing

00:37:09.539 --> 00:37:09.879
 model.

00:37:10.659 --> 00:37:11.639
 And everyone in the

00:37:11.639 --> 00:37:12.699
 showroom is very

00:37:12.699 --> 00:37:13.199
 impressed.

00:37:13.719 --> 00:37:14.619
 It looks sleek.

00:37:14.719 --> 00:37:15.279
 It's slick.

00:37:15.679 --> 00:37:16.779
 It's very exciting.

00:37:17.059 --> 00:37:17.920
 It looks like a race

00:37:17.920 --> 00:37:19.319
 car on the outside.

00:37:19.480 --> 00:37:19.960
 But one of the

00:37:19.960 --> 00:37:21.059
 characters, one of the

00:37:21.059 --> 00:37:21.659
 main characters in the

00:37:21.659 --> 00:37:22.920
 movie, he's a veteran

00:37:22.920 --> 00:37:24.299
 mechanic and race car

00:37:24.299 --> 00:37:24.659
 driver.

00:37:24.920 --> 00:37:26.199
 He saw right through

00:37:26.199 --> 00:37:26.619
 the show.

00:37:27.839 --> 00:37:28.460
 And he told the

00:37:28.460 --> 00:37:30.119
 executives, this thing

00:37:30.119 --> 00:37:30.939
 is not going to race

00:37:30.939 --> 00:37:31.199
 well.

00:37:32.259 --> 00:37:33.279
 Its engine and its

00:37:33.279 --> 00:37:34.759
 design are not going

00:37:34.759 --> 00:37:36.519
 to keep it up with

00:37:36.519 --> 00:37:37.299
 how it looks on the

00:37:37.299 --> 00:37:37.679
 outside.

00:37:38.299 --> 00:37:39.339
 It's just not going to

00:37:39.339 --> 00:37:39.699
 perform.

00:37:40.980 --> 00:37:42.199
 And the same is true

00:37:42.199 --> 00:37:43.119
 with our caring for

00:37:43.119 --> 00:37:43.519
 each other.

00:37:44.739 --> 00:37:46.000
 We need to be humble

00:37:46.000 --> 00:37:48.399
 and honest about our

00:37:48.399 --> 00:37:49.239
 efforts to serve

00:37:49.239 --> 00:37:50.139
 others, whether they're

00:37:50.139 --> 00:37:52.619
 just for show, whether

00:37:52.619 --> 00:37:53.339
 we're longing for

00:37:53.339 --> 00:37:56.900
 recognition or whether

00:37:56.900 --> 00:37:57.980
 the engine that drives

00:37:57.980 --> 00:37:59.059
 them is of good

00:37:59.059 --> 00:37:59.480
 quality.

00:38:01.159 --> 00:38:02.940
 This is also keeping

00:38:02.940 --> 00:38:04.099
 in step with the

00:38:04.099 --> 00:38:04.339
 spirit.

00:38:05.679 --> 00:38:07.079
 He is concerned whether

00:38:07.079 --> 00:38:08.199
 we're serving others,

00:38:08.259 --> 00:38:08.839
 that's for sure.

00:38:09.559 --> 00:38:11.619
 He's also concerned why

00:38:11.619 --> 00:38:13.500
 and how we serve

00:38:13.500 --> 00:38:13.779
 others.

00:38:14.779 --> 00:38:15.960
 He has a way of getting

00:38:15.960 --> 00:38:17.480
 our serving out onto

00:38:17.480 --> 00:38:18.420
 the racetrack and

00:38:18.420 --> 00:38:19.219
 testing it out for

00:38:19.219 --> 00:38:19.639
 quality.

00:38:19.639 --> 00:38:21.739
 And we need to be

00:38:21.739 --> 00:38:22.639
 along with him in

00:38:22.639 --> 00:38:22.859
 that.

00:38:23.559 --> 00:38:24.699
 That's what he means by

00:38:24.699 --> 00:38:26.079
 boasting there in verse

00:38:26.079 --> 00:38:26.319
 four.

00:38:26.719 --> 00:38:27.699
 He's not talking about

00:38:27.699 --> 00:38:29.079
 self-important boasting.

00:38:30.159 --> 00:38:31.199
 Rather, this is kind of

00:38:31.199 --> 00:38:32.599
 the spiritual equivalent of

00:38:32.599 --> 00:38:34.059
 a good, healthy, taking

00:38:34.059 --> 00:38:35.179
 pride in your own work,

00:38:36.019 --> 00:38:37.480
 of satisfaction with

00:38:37.480 --> 00:38:38.019
 excellence.

00:38:38.739 --> 00:38:40.159
 It's kind of stepping

00:38:40.159 --> 00:38:41.059
 back and looking at the

00:38:41.059 --> 00:38:42.379
 floor you just mopped or

00:38:42.379 --> 00:38:43.699
 the meal you just made or

00:38:43.699 --> 00:38:45.159
 the car you just fixed and

00:38:45.159 --> 00:38:46.980
 saying, yep, that feels

00:38:46.980 --> 00:38:47.239
 good.

00:38:47.400 --> 00:38:47.960
 It's good work.

00:38:47.960 --> 00:38:50.460
 And the reason that the

00:38:50.460 --> 00:38:51.599
 spirit wants that for us

00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:52.760
 is because at the end of

00:38:52.760 --> 00:38:55.340
 the day, the only one that

00:38:55.340 --> 00:38:56.159
 God is going to hold

00:38:56.159 --> 00:38:57.840
 accountable for you is

00:38:57.840 --> 00:38:58.019
 you.

00:38:59.980 --> 00:39:01.039
 God will not ask your

00:39:01.039 --> 00:39:02.280
 brother who can vouch

00:39:02.280 --> 00:39:02.920
 that you helped him

00:39:02.920 --> 00:39:04.860
 through a rough time, nor

00:39:04.860 --> 00:39:06.079
 will he ask your sister

00:39:06.079 --> 00:39:07.599
 who will tell him on

00:39:07.599 --> 00:39:08.480
 judgment day that you

00:39:08.480 --> 00:39:09.420
 fixed her a meal when

00:39:09.420 --> 00:39:09.980
 she had a baby.

00:39:10.780 --> 00:39:12.360
 The only one who can

00:39:12.360 --> 00:39:13.480
 truly answer for your

00:39:13.480 --> 00:39:14.659
 motives and attitudes of

00:39:14.659 --> 00:39:15.539
 your heart is you.

00:39:15.539 --> 00:39:20.119
 Ultimately, God will hold

00:39:20.119 --> 00:39:21.340
 you accountable for you

00:39:21.340 --> 00:39:23.519
 for how and why you

00:39:23.519 --> 00:39:24.099
 served others.

00:39:25.059 --> 00:39:26.539
 He will weigh the

00:39:26.539 --> 00:39:27.679
 attitudes and intentions

00:39:27.679 --> 00:39:28.460
 of your heart.

00:39:29.579 --> 00:39:30.980
 He sees right through us.

00:39:32.119 --> 00:39:33.960
 Therefore, in our

00:39:33.960 --> 00:39:35.840
 serving, we don't do it

00:39:35.840 --> 00:39:37.099
 for others, we do it for

00:39:37.099 --> 00:39:39.340
 him as an act of worship

00:39:39.340 --> 00:39:41.219
 and service because you

00:39:41.219 --> 00:39:42.239
 have offered your life to

00:39:42.239 --> 00:39:43.440
 him in gratitude as a

00:39:43.440 --> 00:39:45.420
 living sacrifice, as Paul

00:39:45.420 --> 00:39:46.599
 says in Romans 12.

00:39:47.780 --> 00:39:49.220
 When Paul says in verse

00:39:49.220 --> 00:39:50.860
 5 that each one must

00:39:50.860 --> 00:39:53.340
 carry his own load, it

00:39:53.340 --> 00:39:54.380
 could be talking about

00:39:54.380 --> 00:39:56.340
 making sure that you've

00:39:56.340 --> 00:39:57.179
 got your own life in

00:39:57.179 --> 00:39:57.900
 order before you help

00:39:57.900 --> 00:39:58.179
 others.

00:39:58.480 --> 00:39:59.579
 That's a pretty valid

00:39:59.579 --> 00:40:00.079
 interpretation.

00:40:00.700 --> 00:40:01.920
 It's hard to serve others

00:40:01.920 --> 00:40:02.860
 when your own life is in

00:40:02.860 --> 00:40:03.380
 disarray.

00:40:04.320 --> 00:40:05.760
 But more likely and more

00:40:05.760 --> 00:40:07.519
 importantly, it's a

00:40:07.519 --> 00:40:08.740
 reference to the day when

00:40:08.740 --> 00:40:09.920
 you stand before God to

00:40:09.920 --> 00:40:11.019
 give account for your

00:40:11.019 --> 00:40:11.340
 life.

00:40:11.340 --> 00:40:11.460
 life.

00:40:12.460 --> 00:40:14.120
 Everyone is only

00:40:14.120 --> 00:40:15.640
 accountable for themselves

00:40:15.640 --> 00:40:16.460
 on that day.

00:40:18.360 --> 00:40:19.539
 It means that God will

00:40:19.539 --> 00:40:20.559
 hold you accountable for

00:40:20.559 --> 00:40:20.760
 you.

00:40:20.940 --> 00:40:23.340
 So therefore, test your

00:40:23.340 --> 00:40:25.840
 work now so it may prove

00:40:25.840 --> 00:40:27.039
 to be of good quality

00:40:27.039 --> 00:40:27.780
 then.

00:40:29.220 --> 00:40:31.460
 This is also keeping in

00:40:31.460 --> 00:40:32.880
 step with the Spirit.

00:40:34.059 --> 00:40:34.820
 And here's what you test

00:40:34.820 --> 00:40:35.039
 for.

00:40:36.340 --> 00:40:37.860
 Ask yourself why you are

00:40:37.860 --> 00:40:39.039
 desiring to serve others.

00:40:40.800 --> 00:40:42.340
 Is it because you need

00:40:42.340 --> 00:40:42.860
 to be needed?

00:40:43.559 --> 00:40:44.480
 You want to be wanted?

00:40:45.900 --> 00:40:47.140
 Is it because you find

00:40:47.140 --> 00:40:48.240
 your identity not in

00:40:48.240 --> 00:40:49.480
 Christ's love for you but

00:40:49.480 --> 00:40:50.480
 in others' love for you

00:40:50.480 --> 00:40:51.200
 when you serve them?

00:40:52.640 --> 00:40:53.820
 Is it because it makes you

00:40:53.820 --> 00:40:54.740
 think that God loves you

00:40:54.740 --> 00:40:55.880
 more when you serve

00:40:55.880 --> 00:40:56.140
 others?

00:40:58.200 --> 00:40:59.720
 Is it because being around

00:40:59.720 --> 00:41:01.400
 hurting or less mature

00:41:01.400 --> 00:41:03.160
 believers reinforces a

00:41:03.160 --> 00:41:04.559
 self-righteous attitude in

00:41:04.559 --> 00:41:05.880
 you that you are a pretty

00:41:05.880 --> 00:41:06.900
 good Christian indeed?

00:41:09.940 --> 00:41:11.099
 Or is it this?

00:41:12.480 --> 00:41:14.059
 Do you joyfully bear the

00:41:14.059 --> 00:41:15.139
 burdens of others because

00:41:15.139 --> 00:41:16.320
 Christ has done the same

00:41:16.320 --> 00:41:16.779
 for you?

00:41:18.860 --> 00:41:20.259
 And you are eager to

00:41:20.259 --> 00:41:21.119
 follow his example.

00:41:22.559 --> 00:41:23.719
 Do you serve out of

00:41:23.719 --> 00:41:25.079
 gratitude for what Jesus

00:41:25.079 --> 00:41:26.279
 has accomplished for you

00:41:26.279 --> 00:41:27.960
 and the awesome privilege

00:41:27.960 --> 00:41:29.079
 that you have to be his

00:41:29.079 --> 00:41:31.519
 instrument for good, the

00:41:31.519 --> 00:41:32.139
 good of others?

00:41:32.139 --> 00:41:34.239
 Do you serve others

00:41:34.239 --> 00:41:35.219
 because you want to offer

00:41:35.219 --> 00:41:37.199
 your life to him as a

00:41:37.199 --> 00:41:39.039
 living sacrifice out of

00:41:39.039 --> 00:41:40.319
 joyful thanks for his

00:41:40.319 --> 00:41:40.719
 grace?

00:41:42.000 --> 00:41:42.960
 That's the ideal.

00:41:43.619 --> 00:41:44.119
 That's what we're

00:41:44.119 --> 00:41:44.679
 striving for.

00:41:44.759 --> 00:41:45.379
 That's what we need to

00:41:45.379 --> 00:41:45.799
 aim at.

00:41:46.099 --> 00:41:47.219
 That's the quality work

00:41:47.219 --> 00:41:48.839
 that will prove itself on

00:41:48.839 --> 00:41:49.379
 judgment day.

00:41:49.440 --> 00:41:50.779
 So let's aim for that.

00:41:51.400 --> 00:41:52.379
 Something that's not just

00:41:52.379 --> 00:41:53.319
 for show but has the

00:41:53.319 --> 00:41:54.339
 right kind of engine in

00:41:54.339 --> 00:41:54.519
 it.

00:41:55.599 --> 00:41:57.159
 But one word before we

00:41:57.159 --> 00:41:58.199
 move toward a close.

00:41:59.719 --> 00:42:01.379
 None of us does this

00:42:01.379 --> 00:42:01.779
 well.

00:42:03.119 --> 00:42:05.779
 We are all failures.

00:42:06.659 --> 00:42:08.519
 Not just in our lack of

00:42:08.519 --> 00:42:10.519
 serving, our lack of care,

00:42:10.739 --> 00:42:11.940
 but in the way that we

00:42:11.940 --> 00:42:12.739
 actually do it.

00:42:14.940 --> 00:42:17.339
 There is much grace for

00:42:17.339 --> 00:42:19.379
 those who are failures in

00:42:19.379 --> 00:42:20.339
 the way that we don't

00:42:20.339 --> 00:42:22.259
 serve or the poor way that

00:42:22.259 --> 00:42:22.859
 we do serve.

00:42:24.119 --> 00:42:25.420
 If you're feeling a

00:42:25.420 --> 00:42:27.960
 particular hopelessness in

00:42:27.960 --> 00:42:29.000
 this, particularly if you're

00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:30.659
 in a hard season of serving

00:42:30.659 --> 00:42:31.779
 a lot and it feels more

00:42:31.779 --> 00:42:32.819
 out of obligation than

00:42:32.819 --> 00:42:35.079
 anything else, continue to

00:42:35.079 --> 00:42:36.039
 press into the grace of

00:42:36.039 --> 00:42:36.299
 Jesus.

00:42:36.659 --> 00:42:37.879
 He is enough for you now,

00:42:38.219 --> 00:42:39.659
 today, and he will be

00:42:39.659 --> 00:42:40.559
 enough for you tomorrow

00:42:40.559 --> 00:42:40.859
 too.

00:42:42.759 --> 00:42:44.079
 This is the kind of humble

00:42:44.079 --> 00:42:45.460
 care that we need to have

00:42:45.460 --> 00:42:46.719
 for one another and it

00:42:46.719 --> 00:42:48.619
 will happen as we keep in

00:42:48.619 --> 00:42:50.039
 step with our conductor.

00:42:50.039 --> 00:42:50.099
 conductor.

00:42:51.340 --> 00:42:53.840
 Let's hear the words of our

00:42:53.840 --> 00:42:55.519
 spirit conductor today.

00:42:56.300 --> 00:42:57.840
 Let's pay careful attention to

00:42:57.840 --> 00:42:58.960
 the rhythm that he's tapping

00:42:58.960 --> 00:42:59.739
 out for us.

00:43:00.440 --> 00:43:01.900
 Let's keep our eyes on him so

00:43:01.900 --> 00:43:03.139
 that we can play beautiful

00:43:03.139 --> 00:43:05.320
 music together and it will all

00:43:05.320 --> 00:43:08.659
 be worth it to see the smile on

00:43:08.659 --> 00:43:10.659
 his face at the end.

00:43:11.539 --> 00:43:12.199
 Let's pray.

00:43:12.199 --> 00:43:12.259
 Let's pray.

00:43:24.259 --> 00:43:26.319
 Lord, I'm sure that many of us

00:43:26.319 --> 00:43:28.299
 can hear this and get excited,

00:43:29.539 --> 00:43:33.000
 eager to roll up our sleeves and

00:43:33.000 --> 00:43:34.519
 get to work and keep in step with

00:43:34.519 --> 00:43:36.759
 you, Jesus, by your spirit.

00:43:36.760 --> 00:43:39.460
 But Lord, I know that some of us

00:43:39.460 --> 00:43:39.860
 are weary.

00:43:42.020 --> 00:43:43.440
 Father, I pray particularly that

00:43:43.440 --> 00:43:45.500
 you would grant strength and

00:43:45.500 --> 00:43:46.900
 grace to those of us who are

00:43:46.900 --> 00:43:49.500
 weary in our serving and in our

00:43:49.500 --> 00:43:50.340
 caring for others.

00:43:52.100 --> 00:43:55.280
 Lord, especially if it's chronic

00:43:55.280 --> 00:43:57.800
 and seemingly unending situations,

00:43:57.920 --> 00:43:59.240
 would you grant much grace?

00:44:01.460 --> 00:44:04.640
 Father, fulfill every resolve we

00:44:04.640 --> 00:44:05.700
 have to do good.

00:44:06.760 --> 00:44:09.320
 And keep our eyes on you as you

00:44:09.320 --> 00:44:12.560
 lead us to your heavenly kingdom.

00:44:13.440 --> 00:44:16.340
 We will be with you forever and

00:44:16.340 --> 00:44:17.280
 faith will be sight.

00:44:18.480 --> 00:44:20.400
 Help us to strive after your smile

00:44:20.400 --> 00:44:21.620
 on that day, Jesus.

00:44:23.100 --> 00:44:24.300
 In your name, amen.