WEBVTT 00:00:00.500 --> 00:00:04.799 Good morning, Watermark. Good morning. That's good. That's good. 00:00:07.160 --> 00:00:13.900 Okay, my name's Chris. For those of you who don't know me, and for those of you who do know me, 00:00:14.179 --> 00:00:19.300 my name is still Chris, although I am called by other things occasionally. 00:00:20.280 --> 00:00:25.339 It's great to see you this morning. Just really excited as we're going on this series of looking 00:00:25.339 --> 00:00:33.539 in the Holy Spirit, and we're looking at what it means to have the Spirit of God, which 00:00:33.539 --> 00:00:40.140 is God's personal, life-giving presence, with us. Okay, so that's kind of what we're doing 00:00:40.140 --> 00:00:47.100 in this series. We're wanting to look at what it means to have the Spirit in and with us. 00:00:47.179 --> 00:00:50.780 And as Watermark, we haven't talked a lot about the Spirit, and we want to just get into what 00:00:50.780 --> 00:00:56.660 the Bible says. And Graham, last week, he showed us that the Spirit is the creator Spirit who 00:00:56.660 --> 00:01:02.299 brings life to us, who creates. As you look outside, he creates the beauty outside, and 00:01:02.299 --> 00:01:09.079 he creates new life in bringing people from darkness and death to life in Jesus. And that's 00:01:09.079 --> 00:01:15.180 what we kind of looked a little bit at last week. And I don't know about you, about how 00:01:15.180 --> 00:01:21.180 you think about the Holy Spirit. But some of us relate to the Holy Spirit a bit like going 00:01:21.180 --> 00:01:28.840 to Ocean Park. He's there to give me this kind of emotional experience. And a Spirit-filled 00:01:28.840 --> 00:01:33.800 church is just one which has a great kind of atmosphere to it. Some of the rest of us relate 00:01:33.800 --> 00:01:40.000 to the Spirit a bit like I relate to my thyroid gland. I know it's there. I'm grateful that I 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:43.800 have one. But I don't really have any kind of relationship with it. I don't really spend 00:01:43.799 --> 00:01:49.479 much time thinking about it. Okay? And you know, particularly when we start thinking about 00:01:49.479 --> 00:01:53.700 the Holy Spirit, his other name is the Holy Ghost. And that's a little bit spooky. And 00:01:53.700 --> 00:01:57.679 so it kind of freaks us out a little bit. And I don't know where we're somewhere in between 00:01:57.679 --> 00:02:03.819 those different camps, different of us. And yet, the Bible has a lot to say about the Spirit. 00:02:05.219 --> 00:02:13.599 And today, I want us to think that we serve a Trinitarian God who is not just an it, but a 00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:20.740 key. The Spirit is part of the Trinity. And he wants us to experience the sweetness of 00:02:20.740 --> 00:02:28.599 his presence with us. I don't know how many of us, if we're honest, we're kind of sleepy, 00:02:28.840 --> 00:02:36.359 going through the motions, Christians. I don't know whether you always feel sometimes defeated. 00:02:36.360 --> 00:02:45.120 You sometimes feel stuck where you are. Sometimes just wrapped up more in my career and my kids and 00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:48.920 the stuff that's happening in life than really passionate about Jesus. 00:02:52.020 --> 00:02:57.900 And honestly, I think often we get into this thing where, you know, you fall into the same 00:02:57.900 --> 00:03:03.200 habits again and again and again. And you feel like you're in this kind of hole which, 00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:08.019 no matter how hard you kind of climb, you just keep never trying to get out of it. You always seem 00:03:08.019 --> 00:03:19.899 to be stuck as a Christian. And as a church, I'm convinced that sometimes the lifelessness that 00:03:19.899 --> 00:03:28.079 we experience in our lives is caused not so much by our circumstances, but because we haven't learned 00:03:28.080 --> 00:03:34.340 to rely on the Holy Spirit in our lives, on God's personal presence with us. 00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:43.580 And this morning, here's what I think the Spirit wants to do in each one of us. I don't know if you 00:03:43.580 --> 00:03:51.780 drive. And, you know, when you have those GPS systems and you're driving along and then you miss your 00:03:51.780 --> 00:03:57.600 turn because you got distracted. And the thing I love about those GPSs is they don't turn around and say to you, 00:03:57.599 --> 00:04:03.840 oh, you stupid idiot, why did you miss that turn? They don't do that. What they say is, they say very 00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:13.879 calmly, they say, recalculating, turn left in 300 meters, recalculating, turn right. And your journey 00:04:13.879 --> 00:04:20.180 may be a little bit longer, but it's always going to get you there. It's always going to get you there 00:04:20.180 --> 00:04:27.420 because it's always pointing you back to where you need to go. That's what the Spirit wants to do 00:04:27.420 --> 00:04:33.240 in our lives. The Spirit is always pointing us to Jesus, how beautiful Jesus. It says Jesus, the Spirit 00:04:33.240 --> 00:04:38.899 is to glorify Jesus. And the Spirit right today in your life wants to point to you and to say, 00:04:39.060 --> 00:04:46.240 recalculating, recalculating, so that your life comes back in line with where he wants to take you 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:53.540 step by step to be more who he wants you to be. And the question is this morning, are you going to 00:04:53.540 --> 00:04:59.160 listen to him or are you going to ignore him? Because you know you can ignore your GPS. 00:05:01.180 --> 00:05:03.840 Sometimes that's a good idea, but no, not with the Spirit. 00:05:06.579 --> 00:05:11.680 And so I want to look at two passages this morning, which basically kind of they overlap. 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:17.240 And just to pull out some of the themes to show us what this really means to follow what the Spirit is doing. 00:05:18.600 --> 00:05:25.259 So if you have your bulletin with you, I'm just going to kind of run through a little bit some of these, 00:05:26.040 --> 00:05:33.220 some of what I think are two operating systems, okay? Two operating systems that Paul talks about 00:05:33.220 --> 00:05:38.319 here in these passages. One is called to be in the flesh and the other is called to be in the Spirit. 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:41.639 And then we'll look at how the Spirit kind of transforms us afterwards. 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:46.959 But there are two operating systems in the human heart. 00:05:47.879 --> 00:05:51.579 And they are incompatible, just like iOS and Windows. 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:53.199 They're not compatible. 00:05:54.500 --> 00:05:58.019 And you cannot try, and those two operating systems are the Spirit and the flesh. 00:05:58.240 --> 00:06:01.480 And you cannot try and have a little bit of Spirit and a little bit of flesh together. 00:06:01.740 --> 00:06:05.659 At any given moment, you will live under the rule of one or the other. 00:06:05.660 --> 00:06:08.700 There's no hybrid. 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:14.520 And so I want to talk about the flesh first, okay? 00:06:15.640 --> 00:06:20.720 Because in this passage in Romans 8, Paul says this about the flesh, verse 6 to 8. 00:06:20.820 --> 00:06:21.140 He says, 00:06:22.140 --> 00:06:25.100 To set the mind on the flesh is death. 00:06:25.620 --> 00:06:27.100 It's hostile to God. 00:06:27.200 --> 00:06:28.760 It doesn't submit to God's law. 00:06:28.980 --> 00:06:31.420 It cannot please God. 00:06:32.060 --> 00:06:34.300 It cannot please God. 00:06:34.300 --> 00:06:37.560 And you say, well, what is the flesh? 00:06:37.939 --> 00:06:38.139 Okay. 00:06:38.620 --> 00:06:41.040 We don't kind of go around talking about that very often. 00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:50.300 And the flesh is the self-reliant, self-centered, unrenewed part of every human which desires sin 00:06:50.300 --> 00:06:53.740 and craves to be filled with anything except Jesus. 00:06:53.740 --> 00:07:00.980 It's this hole inside of every person which wants to be satisfied with self. 00:07:03.019 --> 00:07:09.180 You know, growing up, I watched this slightly weird comedy horror movie called Little Shop of Horrors. 00:07:09.240 --> 00:07:09.980 Has anyone seen that? 00:07:11.280 --> 00:07:11.540 Okay. 00:07:11.660 --> 00:07:12.939 Three people have been scarred. 00:07:12.939 --> 00:07:13.579 Okay. 00:07:14.199 --> 00:07:22.319 Well, the thing about this movie is it's about this guy called Seymour who gets this plant. 00:07:22.920 --> 00:07:25.180 And one day this plant is starting to die. 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:29.199 And then one day he pricks his finger and the blood goes down onto the plant. 00:07:29.300 --> 00:07:30.779 Suddenly the plant comes alive. 00:07:30.779 --> 00:07:38.639 And the plant then begins to say exactly what the flesh says. 00:07:39.099 --> 00:07:41.539 Could I cue the song? 00:07:41.540 --> 00:08:11.520 Could I cue the song? 00:08:11.540 --> 00:08:13.540 Could I cue the song? 00:08:13.540 --> 00:08:15.540 Could I cue the song? 00:08:19.540 --> 00:08:20.540 Could I cue the song? 00:08:20.540 --> 00:08:21.540 Could I cue the song? 00:08:21.540 --> 00:08:23.540 You didn't realize inside of you. 00:08:25.300 --> 00:08:27.540 That is what the flesh says. 00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:38.399 And you know, in the movie, this plant provides him with money, success, and the girl he likes in return for blood. 00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:39.379 Okay? 00:08:39.379 --> 00:08:40.299 It's a little bit morbid. 00:08:40.600 --> 00:08:41.740 But it's a horror movie. 00:08:42.299 --> 00:08:45.399 But, so that's why you just don't watch it. 00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:47.779 But, it's not good. 00:08:48.379 --> 00:08:54.740 But once he starts feeding it, this plant's insatiable appetite, it can never have enough. 00:08:55.519 --> 00:08:56.799 It can never have enough. 00:08:57.139 --> 00:09:02.379 And what happens, the plant grows bigger and bigger and just overtakes and takes over control. 00:09:02.379 --> 00:09:06.559 And that's what the flesh is like. 00:09:06.600 --> 00:09:09.879 You get short-term pleasure for long-term destruction. 00:09:09.879 --> 00:09:20.159 And if you don't think that's what you have inside of you, well, Galatians 5, Paul gives a few little examples of what the flesh kind of looks like in practice. 00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:22.340 And, you know, there's a few categories there. 00:09:22.360 --> 00:09:23.220 I'll just pick out one or two. 00:09:23.480 --> 00:09:25.360 He says, sexual immorality. 00:09:26.679 --> 00:09:28.659 He says, you know, you're traveling alone. 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:30.039 You're in your hotel room. 00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:31.460 You're feeling a little bit lonely. 00:09:31.460 --> 00:09:34.240 And then you notice there is a porn channel on there. 00:09:34.420 --> 00:09:36.980 And your flesh says, feed me. 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:40.100 You know, you see that hot guy or that girl. 00:09:40.220 --> 00:09:41.160 And you take a glance. 00:09:41.340 --> 00:09:45.139 And suddenly, your flesh says, feed me. 00:09:45.240 --> 00:09:46.000 Take a second look. 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:47.060 Take a third look. 00:09:48.780 --> 00:09:50.360 You're at a work function. 00:09:51.220 --> 00:09:53.220 And you start chatting with someone. 00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:55.180 And you begin to feel attracted to them. 00:09:55.259 --> 00:09:56.580 And you know it's not healthy. 00:09:56.700 --> 00:09:57.800 And you know you shouldn't. 00:09:57.800 --> 00:09:58.960 But it feels good. 00:09:59.040 --> 00:10:01.220 And your flesh says, feed me. 00:10:01.879 --> 00:10:04.120 Feed me because I will satisfy you. 00:10:04.259 --> 00:10:05.379 I will fill you. 00:10:05.540 --> 00:10:06.560 I will give you pleasure. 00:10:06.680 --> 00:10:07.560 I'll give you comfort. 00:10:07.780 --> 00:10:09.180 I'll give you what you really want. 00:10:10.780 --> 00:10:12.680 And it's not just in the area of sex. 00:10:12.759 --> 00:10:14.180 You know, it's in the relationship breakdown. 00:10:14.420 --> 00:10:20.060 He says, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy. 00:10:20.379 --> 00:10:21.320 I mean, that's quite a list. 00:10:22.500 --> 00:10:26.879 He says, you know, your colleague says, I'll take this project. 00:10:26.879 --> 00:10:28.019 I know how to do it. 00:10:28.360 --> 00:10:30.519 Implying you don't know how to do it. 00:10:30.519 --> 00:10:35.659 And you feel so patronized that your self-righteous anger builds up inside of you. 00:10:35.740 --> 00:10:37.120 And it says, feed me. 00:10:38.120 --> 00:10:39.699 Like, dwell on that offense. 00:10:40.199 --> 00:10:42.659 Just get a little bit angrier about all they've done. 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:43.779 It's just not fair. 00:10:44.439 --> 00:10:45.019 Feed me. 00:10:45.019 --> 00:10:49.699 You know, someone's trying to push past you in the metaphorical queue at work. 00:10:51.559 --> 00:10:55.019 Someone's getting a job promotion when you think you deserve that job promotion. 00:10:55.539 --> 00:10:57.740 Someone else's kids are doing better than your kids. 00:10:57.860 --> 00:10:58.579 They're more obedient. 00:10:59.720 --> 00:11:00.600 More disciplined. 00:11:00.600 --> 00:11:06.180 And your flesh says, feed me that discontent. 00:11:06.740 --> 00:11:08.960 I reached 40 last week. 00:11:09.100 --> 00:11:09.899 That's scary. 00:11:11.340 --> 00:11:12.620 Yeah, don't clap. 00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:13.480 That's... 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:16.360 Thank you. 00:11:16.360 --> 00:11:24.600 But, you know, what happens is, you know, you compare to the people who are at the same peer level as you. 00:11:24.779 --> 00:11:27.360 And you see how other people are more successful than you. 00:11:27.500 --> 00:11:30.360 And what happens, you begin to feel like... 00:11:30.360 --> 00:11:33.340 A little bit jealous. 00:11:34.800 --> 00:11:36.399 Anyone know what I'm talking about? 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:39.079 And my flesh says, feed me. 00:11:39.439 --> 00:11:40.500 Feed that discontent. 00:11:40.759 --> 00:11:41.279 Dwell on it. 00:11:41.379 --> 00:11:43.039 Dwell on how life is not fair. 00:11:43.259 --> 00:11:44.039 Or the regrets. 00:11:44.279 --> 00:11:44.819 Feed me. 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:49.079 Maybe it's not that for you. 00:11:49.179 --> 00:11:51.259 Maybe it's substance abuse is another thing. 00:11:51.319 --> 00:11:51.799 He goes on to. 00:11:51.860 --> 00:11:53.220 He talks about drunkenness. 00:11:53.659 --> 00:11:56.000 And then he says, orgies and anything like these things. 00:11:56.139 --> 00:11:57.659 Which, I mean, that's like a whole category. 00:11:58.720 --> 00:11:59.519 You know, what is he saying? 00:11:59.559 --> 00:12:01.699 He's saying craving pleasure through whatever means. 00:12:01.699 --> 00:12:03.919 Just another drink to ease the stress. 00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:04.980 Forget your problems. 00:12:04.980 --> 00:12:08.180 Just another piece of chocolate cake and you'll feel better. 00:12:08.600 --> 00:12:09.180 Feed me. 00:12:11.420 --> 00:12:14.360 And what he says is, it leaves you guilty. 00:12:15.159 --> 00:12:15.759 Ashamed. 00:12:16.860 --> 00:12:17.460 Insecure. 00:12:17.899 --> 00:12:18.940 Broken relationships. 00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:19.800 Stress. 00:12:19.920 --> 00:12:20.500 Lacking peace. 00:12:20.820 --> 00:12:21.460 Impatient. 00:12:23.379 --> 00:12:25.039 Does that describe anyone you know? 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:27.360 Anything in this city? 00:12:29.560 --> 00:12:32.420 And the thing is, the flesh is so deceitful. 00:12:32.419 --> 00:12:37.120 Because I actually don't think I'm that bad, really. 00:12:37.899 --> 00:12:39.240 I think I'm actually pretty good. 00:12:39.319 --> 00:12:40.039 Pretty okay. 00:12:40.819 --> 00:12:44.179 Because, you know, I'm having an argument with my wife. 00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:47.479 And she's telling me all these things which are plainly unreasonable. 00:12:47.979 --> 00:12:49.039 But I hold my tongue. 00:12:49.979 --> 00:12:50.799 I'm disciplined. 00:12:51.379 --> 00:12:51.679 You know? 00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:53.439 I didn't give in to my anger. 00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:56.379 And do you know what the thought comes into my mind? 00:12:57.120 --> 00:13:01.000 It says, aren't I a holy, righteous individual? 00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:02.979 Aren't I good? 00:13:03.839 --> 00:13:08.339 I'm not like other people around who would lose their tongue, who'd lose their temper. 00:13:08.620 --> 00:13:10.479 I'm not so emotional as those. 00:13:10.579 --> 00:13:11.239 I'm logical. 00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:18.279 And my self-reliant pride says, feed me. 00:13:18.460 --> 00:13:20.779 Just make me feel a little bit better than everybody else. 00:13:21.980 --> 00:13:22.379 Do you see? 00:13:22.659 --> 00:13:25.180 You can do it through discipline or ill discipline. 00:13:25.659 --> 00:13:26.899 And it's not rational. 00:13:27.220 --> 00:13:28.539 It's driven by your desire. 00:13:28.620 --> 00:13:29.580 Your desire for praise. 00:13:29.659 --> 00:13:30.639 Your desire for respect. 00:13:30.759 --> 00:13:31.700 Your desire for comfort. 00:13:31.820 --> 00:13:32.779 Your desire for success. 00:13:33.060 --> 00:13:33.960 Your desire for me. 00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:36.340 That's what the flesh is all about. 00:13:36.340 --> 00:13:45.300 And Paul is saying every single human being after Adam and Eve is enslaved to the flesh. 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:46.440 It's a bit like this. 00:13:50.060 --> 00:13:51.639 The flesh is the one on the left. 00:13:51.860 --> 00:13:54.879 The one who looks like Jabba the Hutt. 00:13:55.160 --> 00:13:55.320 Okay. 00:13:57.480 --> 00:13:58.639 That's what we're all like. 00:13:58.639 --> 00:14:05.120 And that's why Paul says, the law, moral rules are powerless to stop it. 00:14:05.199 --> 00:14:07.860 Because they can't change the desires of your heart. 00:14:08.980 --> 00:14:09.319 You know? 00:14:09.500 --> 00:14:15.840 I only think I'm okay because I've hired a great inner lawyer to defend myself. 00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:20.199 To stop me seeing the blind spots in my life. 00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:24.139 To kind of get me off the hook and just blame everybody else. 00:14:24.139 --> 00:14:27.600 Because, you know, I have both an inner lawyer and an external lawyer. 00:14:27.799 --> 00:14:29.639 Because my wife is a lawyer as well. 00:14:30.100 --> 00:14:32.559 But we all have this. 00:14:34.460 --> 00:14:40.179 And what Paul is saying, if you want to get real, you've got to fire your inner lawyer. 00:14:40.360 --> 00:14:44.000 Which justifies yourself and see the true state of what you're in. 00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:52.899 Because Paul says, when you think you can please God, keep his law, be okay by yourself, by your own self-effort. 00:14:52.899 --> 00:14:56.360 But you're actually hostile to God, he says. 00:14:56.419 --> 00:14:58.360 You're at war with God. 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:04.720 Until you realize your utter need for him, you're giving him the middle finger. 00:15:05.340 --> 00:15:07.759 And saying, I'm going to do life my way. 00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:08.720 That's the flesh. 00:15:10.319 --> 00:15:12.139 And he says it leads to death. 00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:13.579 Death in your relationships. 00:15:14.139 --> 00:15:17.299 Death in your separation from God eternally. 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:20.100 That's one operating system. 00:15:20.100 --> 00:15:24.379 But then Paul says, there's another operating system. 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:25.159 Okay? 00:15:25.259 --> 00:15:28.120 You can choose whether it's iOS or Windows, depending on which one you like. 00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:35.139 He says, there is also life in the spirit. 00:15:37.779 --> 00:15:39.879 Chapter 8, verse 1, he says this. 00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:46.840 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:53.720 For the law of the spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 00:15:55.299 --> 00:15:57.779 You say, here's what you were like. 00:15:57.980 --> 00:15:59.820 You were like that guy on the leash. 00:15:59.820 --> 00:16:06.040 But Jesus on the cross, he defeated your sin and the flesh. 00:16:06.160 --> 00:16:06.960 He condemned it. 00:16:07.020 --> 00:16:08.120 He gave it a death sentence. 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:10.740 He broke the grip that it had on you. 00:16:11.300 --> 00:16:16.260 He died to set you free from all of the demands and the slavery to the flesh. 00:16:16.400 --> 00:16:17.860 To all of it saying, feed me. 00:16:18.100 --> 00:16:19.660 He died to set you free from that. 00:16:20.020 --> 00:16:24.420 Free from the guilt, the shame, the never being good enough to meet up to God's standard. 00:16:25.520 --> 00:16:26.820 He says there's freedom, no condemnation. 00:16:26.820 --> 00:16:27.460 Condemnation. 00:16:27.760 --> 00:16:28.580 It's like this. 00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:36.920 He sets you free from trying in your own strength to fill that hole inside of you. 00:16:38.460 --> 00:16:46.700 Instead, he says, if you are a Christian and the mark of being a Christian is the spirit of God comes to dwell in you. 00:16:47.680 --> 00:16:55.920 Which is why, verse 9, Paul says, you're not in the flesh, but in the spirit of the spirit of God dwells in you. 00:16:55.919 --> 00:16:57.219 You've got a new master. 00:16:57.899 --> 00:16:59.299 You've got a new status. 00:16:59.699 --> 00:17:01.240 You don't owe the flesh anything. 00:17:01.659 --> 00:17:03.199 You're not enslaved to him anymore. 00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:06.480 You don't have to march according to his tune. 00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:13.920 That's why, as a Christian, you can never say, I couldn't help it when I sinned. 00:17:14.879 --> 00:17:17.960 Because he says, no, I have set you free. 00:17:18.659 --> 00:17:19.960 I have set you free. 00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:20.799 You have a choice. 00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:21.980 Before, you had no choice. 00:17:21.980 --> 00:17:25.360 Now you can be free to resist the flesh. 00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:33.259 And you can be free, and you are free, and the spirit wants to help you to live free. 00:17:34.140 --> 00:17:35.360 Now, what do I mean by that? 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:41.120 I read an article on the BBC about orangutans. 00:17:41.559 --> 00:17:41.920 Okay. 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:45.600 That have been held captive by trappers. 00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:47.960 And they've been kept in cages. 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:49.600 But then they were rescued. 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:55.759 And they're brought back to a sanctuary where the goal was to help them to live as orangutans should live. 00:17:55.820 --> 00:17:58.300 Which is like swinging in the trees in the forest, in the jungle. 00:17:59.140 --> 00:18:03.660 But these orangutans are so used to living in cages, they don't know how to live as orangutans. 00:18:03.660 --> 00:18:16.320 And so the purpose of the whole sanctuary was to help them, like take them out into the jungle, help them to learn how to swing from the trees, step by step, to help them to live as orangutans. 00:18:18.540 --> 00:18:19.840 And it's a process. 00:18:20.840 --> 00:18:23.320 But that's what the spirit is doing in our lives. 00:18:23.319 --> 00:18:31.139 He's saying, I've set you free from that cage of slavery to begin to swing in the trees of who Jesus made you to be. 00:18:32.439 --> 00:18:38.319 He just died that you would bear all the fruit of the spirit in your life and look just like Jesus. 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:41.119 What's the fruit of the spirit? 00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:42.720 Anyone help me? 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:45.419 Love. 00:18:46.139 --> 00:18:46.539 Joy. 00:18:47.379 --> 00:18:47.799 Peace. 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.200 Patience. 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:50.480 Kindness. 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:51.359 Goodness. 00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:54.259 Oh, you get stuck there. 00:18:54.719 --> 00:18:55.319 Faithfulness. 00:18:56.679 --> 00:18:57.279 Gentleness. 00:18:58.339 --> 00:18:59.199 Self-control. 00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:02.099 Anyone want to be more loving? 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:05.399 One person. 00:19:05.919 --> 00:19:06.179 Okay. 00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:10.839 Anyone want to have more joy in your life? 00:19:11.959 --> 00:19:13.299 Okay, there's a few more now. 00:19:13.859 --> 00:19:14.379 That's good. 00:19:15.059 --> 00:19:17.179 Anyone want more peace in your life? 00:19:17.879 --> 00:19:18.579 Oh, even more. 00:19:18.719 --> 00:19:18.939 Okay. 00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:22.380 Anyone want more self-control in your life? 00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:24.140 Yeah? 00:19:24.140 --> 00:19:24.240 Yeah? 00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:42.799 Do you realize that the cross and resurrection of Jesus guarantees that you will one day be perfectly loving, kind, generous, joy-filled, patient, self-controlled? 00:19:42.940 --> 00:19:43.779 It's guaranteed. 00:19:43.779 --> 00:19:48.440 Because Jesus has paid on the cross for that to happen. 00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:53.680 You know, Jesus has already bought your future for you. 00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:54.299 Did you know that? 00:19:54.920 --> 00:19:56.059 He's already bought your future. 00:19:57.079 --> 00:19:58.859 That's why verse 11 says this. 00:19:58.899 --> 00:19:59.819 This is amazing. 00:20:00.099 --> 00:20:00.359 He says, 00:20:00.359 --> 00:20:06.439 The spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you. 00:20:06.859 --> 00:20:14.279 He who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his spirit who dwells in you. 00:20:15.159 --> 00:20:16.079 Now, what is he saying? 00:20:16.219 --> 00:20:16.879 He's saying, 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:22.040 I will give life to this thing which is kind of corrupted by the flesh. 00:20:22.120 --> 00:20:26.760 I'm going to give life to you that you have never experienced before. 00:20:26.940 --> 00:20:32.880 I'm going to lead you into the destiny of being like Jesus that he has waiting for you. 00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:38.360 I'm going to completely renew you, every single part of you. 00:20:39.360 --> 00:20:40.840 And I'm going to start today. 00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:42.880 Will you let me? 00:20:44.120 --> 00:20:44.980 Will you let me? 00:20:45.780 --> 00:20:47.800 Or are you going to keep relying on yourself? 00:20:49.120 --> 00:20:50.260 Because I don't know about you. 00:20:50.300 --> 00:20:52.960 When you rely on yourself, how much of the fruit of the spirit do you really bear? 00:20:54.100 --> 00:20:55.660 I don't do a great job. 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:02.100 And today he wants to say to you, recalculating. 00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:04.160 Recalculating. 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:07.940 And you say, that sounds really nice, but I keep falling. 00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:09.600 I've lost hope. 00:21:09.940 --> 00:21:13.960 And the spirit says, Christian, do you know who is inside of you? 00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:19.780 Do you know who has taken up residency in your heart? 00:21:20.820 --> 00:21:25.120 He says, the spirit of God, the God who created the universe, 00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:29.640 who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. 00:21:29.640 --> 00:21:34.040 Now, I don't know if you, you're kind of like, oh, that's great. 00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:37.960 I mean, if we get hold of that, that is mind-blowing. 00:21:38.860 --> 00:21:39.620 Mind-blowing. 00:21:40.560 --> 00:21:43.960 Because we say things like, but you don't know what I've done. 00:21:44.020 --> 00:21:45.440 You don't know what I'm addicted to. 00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:47.820 And God says, but Jesus was dead. 00:21:48.600 --> 00:21:50.500 Are you more far gone than death? 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:53.320 Yet he raised him from the dead. 00:21:54.100 --> 00:21:55.539 Don't you think he can raise you? 00:21:56.600 --> 00:22:00.299 And you say, I've been trying to kick this habit for so long in my life, 00:22:00.340 --> 00:22:01.480 and I seem to be defeated. 00:22:01.480 --> 00:22:03.160 I don't see any hope of change. 00:22:03.880 --> 00:22:05.200 But Jesus was dead. 00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:08.480 Anything more hopeless than death? 00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:10.980 But Jesus raised him. 00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:12.559 God raised him from the dead. 00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:15.720 And you say, but I don't really want to change. 00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:20.400 But Jesus was dead, and he raised him. 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:24.980 Do you think that he can't melt your icy, cold, stubborn heart, 00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:28.700 and set you on fire for him today if you ask him? 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:33.500 Is not the God who created everything capable of doing that? 00:22:35.059 --> 00:22:36.140 Do you know who is in you? 00:22:37.940 --> 00:22:41.000 You see, I realize in my own life, and I think many of us, 00:22:41.059 --> 00:22:42.500 we've placed God in this little box, 00:22:42.700 --> 00:22:46.559 which is just about as big as my own capability to do things. 00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:50.440 And so I limit God to this kind of size. 00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:53.299 And no wonder, you know, it's kind of SIM card size God. 00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:54.500 Right? 00:22:55.880 --> 00:22:58.500 And, you know, sometimes you get a slightly bigger SIM card than others. 00:22:59.640 --> 00:23:01.720 But he's saying, no, don't you know who I am? 00:23:02.660 --> 00:23:05.160 And no wonder we live with a sense of powerlessness 00:23:05.160 --> 00:23:08.680 when we just rely on ourselves to change ourselves, 00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:13.539 and we don't realize that the Spirit of God lives in us to transform us. 00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:19.120 Do we want to limit God to what I'm capable of? 00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:22.799 Or do we want to see his power transforming us? 00:23:24.140 --> 00:23:24.400 Right? 00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:27.980 There's a true story I know of a guy called Brennan. 00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:31.339 He had a strong sexual addiction. 00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:35.859 He made all kinds of commitments to fight it. 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:37.439 You know, he did everything he could. 00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:38.799 He memorized Bible verses. 00:23:39.099 --> 00:23:40.319 He got rid of his internet. 00:23:41.539 --> 00:23:44.919 Instead of breaking free to his addiction, he actually got worse. 00:23:45.439 --> 00:23:47.319 You know, he's a part of real despair. 00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:52.639 Every time he seemed to gain a little bit of victory, he then slipped back down again. 00:23:54.939 --> 00:23:56.099 Despair, defeat. 00:23:57.439 --> 00:24:01.960 But finally, he checked himself into like an intensive Christian kind of ministry. 00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:06.100 And eight months later, he comes out a completely changed man. 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:09.100 His pastor goes up to him and said, what did you learn? 00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:12.980 And the guy said, I didn't learn anything new. 00:24:13.660 --> 00:24:16.299 I learned to rely on the Spirit's power. 00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:18.779 That's what changed me. 00:24:23.299 --> 00:24:26.399 We can either live in the flesh or we can live in the Spirit. 00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:31.960 But the flesh is going to lead you away from who God has created you to be. 00:24:32.059 --> 00:24:36.000 The Spirit is leading you into the destiny of where he wants to take you. 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:40.460 He's going to drag you there if you allow him to make you who he wants you to be. 00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:42.880 But how does he do that? 00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:44.360 How does he do that? 00:24:46.640 --> 00:24:50.200 Galatians 5 says, 00:24:51.340 --> 00:24:59.920 Walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:02.880 In verse 25, he says, 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:07.220 If you live by the Spirit, which every Christian does, 00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:11.579 let us keep in step, in step with the Spirit. 00:25:13.100 --> 00:25:16.759 You know, there's this myth that we think, you know, 00:25:16.940 --> 00:25:20.960 we believe we can kind of walk by the Spirit in his power but not do anything. 00:25:21.660 --> 00:25:21.880 Okay? 00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:24.360 It's like sometimes you're kind of just going to wake up godly. 00:25:24.839 --> 00:25:25.079 Right? 00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:29.360 That's what I think some of us actually believe in practice. 00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:32.480 And Paul says it doesn't work like that. 00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:34.380 We need to walk in the Spirit. 00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:37.059 And walking requires effort. 00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:43.579 It doesn't save us, but we have to walk in what God has given us. 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:51.980 You know, in my life, I am a much better version of Chris Thornton because of my wife. 00:25:53.059 --> 00:25:53.400 Okay? 00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:55.500 I lived in France for a year. 00:25:55.640 --> 00:25:57.880 I stayed with a couple there. 00:25:58.279 --> 00:26:00.819 The wife, at the end of the year, she sat me down and said, 00:26:01.140 --> 00:26:04.339 because she'd seen my eating habits, my domestic habits, 00:26:04.460 --> 00:26:04.880 and she said, 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:06.560 you really need a wife. 00:26:08.920 --> 00:26:10.640 And, you know, I don't know. 00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:12.420 Some of you may have a friend like this. 00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:14.420 But for me, you know, 00:26:14.580 --> 00:26:18.900 my wife has influenced, like, my eating habits, 00:26:19.040 --> 00:26:19.820 my dress sense, 00:26:19.880 --> 00:26:22.100 many things for the good. 00:26:22.099 --> 00:26:25.719 And she does it by pointing things out, sometimes gently, 00:26:26.379 --> 00:26:28.919 sometimes a little bit more strongly. 00:26:31.299 --> 00:26:35.299 You know, she shows me a better way of folding clothes in the drawer 00:26:35.299 --> 00:26:39.339 and how not to throw the towel on the bed, okay, 00:26:39.399 --> 00:26:40.399 when you've used it, 00:26:40.459 --> 00:26:44.599 and all kinds of things which are changing and transforming me. 00:26:45.199 --> 00:26:45.459 Okay? 00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:47.240 I'm not the same person I was, 00:26:47.659 --> 00:26:49.480 which is good. 00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:53.240 But, you know, 00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:56.119 I know that her presence is so powerfully influencing me 00:26:56.119 --> 00:26:57.619 because when she goes away, 00:26:59.179 --> 00:27:02.099 when she goes away, 00:27:02.099 --> 00:27:06.279 everything falls apart, you know. 00:27:07.359 --> 00:27:08.679 It's like, you know, 00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:11.099 I start eating just canned food, you know. 00:27:11.299 --> 00:27:11.879 You know, 00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:14.179 I put on the worst combination of clothes. 00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:15.019 I mean, it's terrible. 00:27:16.799 --> 00:27:18.259 And with the Spirit, 00:27:18.959 --> 00:27:20.819 when the Spirit moves in with us, 00:27:20.839 --> 00:27:21.719 that's what He's doing. 00:27:22.959 --> 00:27:26.619 He's about changing you increasingly to be like Jesus. 00:27:26.619 --> 00:27:29.619 But just as with my wife, 00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:32.179 His presence will influence me, 00:27:32.719 --> 00:27:34.319 but it's not kind of automatic. 00:27:35.219 --> 00:27:38.899 I've got to actually listen to what my wife says 00:27:38.899 --> 00:27:40.839 and to act on it, right? 00:27:41.539 --> 00:27:43.159 I don't just pick it up by osmosis. 00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:44.419 Oh, the clothes were in the drawer. 00:27:44.859 --> 00:27:45.039 Okay? 00:27:45.079 --> 00:27:46.279 It doesn't just happen like that. 00:27:47.919 --> 00:27:48.259 Okay? 00:27:49.019 --> 00:27:49.859 And so, 00:27:49.859 --> 00:27:51.919 to keep in the step with the Spirit, 00:27:52.039 --> 00:27:54.059 the Spirit is speaking to us. 00:27:54.219 --> 00:27:55.819 He's convicting us. 00:27:55.819 --> 00:27:56.220 You know, 00:27:56.339 --> 00:27:57.720 the Spirit wants to say things like, 00:27:57.799 --> 00:27:58.000 you know, 00:27:58.119 --> 00:27:59.740 when you fight with your wife 00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:01.339 and you know you should have been back earlier 00:28:01.339 --> 00:28:04.639 and kept your promise that you'd been back earlier, 00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:07.279 but your pride doesn't want to admit that you were wrong, 00:28:08.159 --> 00:28:10.740 and that voice in the back of your head says, 00:28:11.179 --> 00:28:11.659 apologize. 00:28:14.859 --> 00:28:15.299 Recalculating. 00:28:15.919 --> 00:28:17.519 It's the Spirit saying, 00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:18.359 turn, 00:28:19.099 --> 00:28:19.599 listen, 00:28:20.339 --> 00:28:20.700 repent, 00:28:21.419 --> 00:28:22.279 come back. 00:28:22.919 --> 00:28:23.179 You know, 00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:24.639 you're in the bar or the restaurant. 00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:25.980 The wine is flowing. 00:28:26.540 --> 00:28:28.460 And you have that voice in you saying, 00:28:28.600 --> 00:28:28.720 hey, 00:28:29.640 --> 00:28:29.860 just, 00:28:30.580 --> 00:28:31.680 that's enough now. 00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:33.100 Don't have any more 00:28:33.100 --> 00:28:34.759 because you're losing it. 00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:36.420 Do you listen? 00:28:37.480 --> 00:28:39.320 The Spirit's just prodding you, 00:28:39.520 --> 00:28:40.700 pointing to you. 00:28:41.280 --> 00:28:42.480 And you can listen 00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:44.040 or you can grieve the Spirit. 00:28:45.100 --> 00:28:45.259 You know, 00:28:45.320 --> 00:28:47.040 you can cause sorrow 00:28:47.040 --> 00:28:48.680 to the Holy Spirit. 00:28:48.980 --> 00:28:49.640 Did you know that? 00:28:49.640 --> 00:28:51.820 Because, 00:28:52.420 --> 00:28:53.140 I don't know, 00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:54.140 those of you who are married, 00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:55.660 in marriage, 00:28:55.860 --> 00:28:57.100 I have realized something. 00:28:57.780 --> 00:28:59.300 That if you're not careful, 00:28:59.400 --> 00:29:01.400 it's very easy to learn how to tune out 00:29:01.400 --> 00:29:02.040 to your wife, 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:03.160 your spouse's voice. 00:29:03.880 --> 00:29:04.120 Okay? 00:29:04.560 --> 00:29:05.180 Very easy. 00:29:05.500 --> 00:29:05.680 You know, 00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:07.520 I heard the story of Paul Tripp 00:29:07.520 --> 00:29:08.440 who said, 00:29:08.540 --> 00:29:09.480 at one point, 00:29:09.540 --> 00:29:11.740 his wife asked him to get his ears checked 00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:14.560 because he never seemed to really hear 00:29:14.560 --> 00:29:15.660 what his wife was saying. 00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:18.560 And so he goes to get his ear checked 00:29:18.560 --> 00:29:20.400 and they're 100% fine. 00:29:21.600 --> 00:29:23.320 And then they realized 00:29:23.320 --> 00:29:25.240 that he'd built up a habit 00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:28.779 of just zoning out 00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:30.259 whenever his wife said something. 00:29:32.820 --> 00:29:33.720 And you know, 00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:35.640 you know, 00:29:35.660 --> 00:29:35.960 it's like, 00:29:36.019 --> 00:29:36.200 you know, 00:29:36.279 --> 00:29:37.600 the husband's on the phone 00:29:37.600 --> 00:29:39.160 and the wife's trying to get his attention 00:29:39.160 --> 00:29:39.960 and says, 00:29:40.060 --> 00:29:40.259 hey, 00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:41.380 you know, 00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:42.240 I'm going out. 00:29:42.320 --> 00:29:42.460 It's like, 00:29:42.519 --> 00:29:42.700 oh, 00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:43.180 yeah, 00:29:43.340 --> 00:29:43.500 oh, 00:29:43.600 --> 00:29:44.080 okay. 00:29:44.700 --> 00:29:44.880 And, 00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:45.780 you know, 00:29:45.900 --> 00:29:47.700 and she knows he hasn't heard anything. 00:29:48.280 --> 00:29:49.700 And so she says things like, 00:29:49.940 --> 00:29:51.260 the flat's on fire. 00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:51.820 And he's like, 00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:52.180 oh, 00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:52.780 okay, 00:29:52.900 --> 00:29:53.200 great, 00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:53.840 great. 00:29:54.020 --> 00:29:54.280 You know, 00:29:54.380 --> 00:29:55.480 there's a dinosaur here. 00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:56.080 Great, 00:29:56.320 --> 00:29:56.600 great. 00:29:56.600 --> 00:29:56.980 Uh-huh. 00:29:58.260 --> 00:30:00.380 And that's often what we're like 00:30:00.380 --> 00:30:01.180 with the spirits. 00:30:02.740 --> 00:30:03.540 Some of us, 00:30:03.620 --> 00:30:05.320 the spirit has been saying to us, 00:30:05.520 --> 00:30:06.680 you need to place boundaries 00:30:06.680 --> 00:30:08.020 over your work life. 00:30:08.620 --> 00:30:10.800 Or you need to stop obsessively worrying 00:30:10.800 --> 00:30:12.500 about your financial security, 00:30:12.660 --> 00:30:13.540 about your future. 00:30:13.539 --> 00:30:14.619 And we've gone, 00:30:15.099 --> 00:30:15.319 uh-huh, 00:30:16.420 --> 00:30:16.740 uh-huh. 00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:18.279 And we just carried on. 00:30:19.859 --> 00:30:20.180 You know, 00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:20.799 some of us, 00:30:20.839 --> 00:30:22.039 the spirit has been calling you saying, 00:30:22.339 --> 00:30:23.480 join a community group. 00:30:23.879 --> 00:30:24.399 And we've said, 00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:24.559 yeah, 00:30:24.599 --> 00:30:24.680 well, 00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:26.059 it's not quite the right time. 00:30:26.859 --> 00:30:27.180 Uh-huh. 00:30:27.940 --> 00:30:28.359 Uh-huh. 00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:31.179 And the problem is, 00:30:31.419 --> 00:30:32.659 if repeatedly, 00:30:32.939 --> 00:30:34.259 over a length of time, 00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:35.079 you keep saying, 00:30:35.199 --> 00:30:35.479 uh-huh, 00:30:35.679 --> 00:30:36.159 uh-huh, 00:30:36.379 --> 00:30:36.759 uh-huh, 00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:37.879 do you know what happens? 00:30:38.099 --> 00:30:39.519 You begin to tune out 00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:40.799 of the spirit's voice 00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:42.039 and it gets fainter 00:30:42.039 --> 00:30:42.899 and fainter 00:30:42.899 --> 00:30:44.399 until the only voice you hear 00:30:44.399 --> 00:30:45.539 is the voice of the flesh. 00:30:48.339 --> 00:30:50.379 And when you hear the voice of the flesh, 00:30:50.419 --> 00:30:52.240 you just end up keeping on feeding it. 00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:53.579 You become like this. 00:30:53.579 --> 00:30:57.099 You see, 00:30:57.179 --> 00:30:58.779 you're not in chain to it. 00:30:59.879 --> 00:31:01.119 You're not chained to it, 00:31:01.179 --> 00:31:01.759 but you become, 00:31:01.859 --> 00:31:02.899 you just start feeding it. 00:31:02.960 --> 00:31:04.439 And so what happens is this. 00:31:06.740 --> 00:31:08.379 That's what happens in our lives. 00:31:09.240 --> 00:31:10.599 And no wonder we feel like 00:31:10.599 --> 00:31:11.099 defeated, 00:31:11.339 --> 00:31:12.859 miserable Christians sometimes 00:31:12.859 --> 00:31:14.359 who lack the joy 00:31:14.359 --> 00:31:16.099 because we've just been 00:31:16.099 --> 00:31:17.619 zoning out of the spirit 00:31:17.619 --> 00:31:18.859 and we've just been 00:31:18.859 --> 00:31:20.659 feeding the flesh in our lives. 00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:22.859 Anyone know what I'm talking about? 00:31:23.579 --> 00:31:29.179 And if there are some of you 00:31:29.179 --> 00:31:29.939 who've been doing this 00:31:29.939 --> 00:31:31.299 for such a long time 00:31:31.299 --> 00:31:33.460 that you need to know 00:31:33.460 --> 00:31:34.980 how dangerous it is, 00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:37.559 eternally dangerous. 00:31:38.859 --> 00:31:41.159 And if you hear his voice today, 00:31:41.339 --> 00:31:42.519 the book of Hebrews says, 00:31:42.819 --> 00:31:44.980 don't harden your heart. 00:31:46.019 --> 00:31:47.199 Listen to him. 00:31:47.879 --> 00:31:48.359 Repent. 00:31:48.779 --> 00:31:49.559 Turn back. 00:31:49.879 --> 00:31:51.799 He's a gracious God 00:31:51.799 --> 00:31:52.619 who just says, 00:31:52.619 --> 00:31:53.799 recalculating. 00:31:54.219 --> 00:31:55.399 Come back to me 00:31:55.399 --> 00:31:57.279 and I will change 00:31:57.279 --> 00:31:58.299 and transform you. 00:31:59.419 --> 00:32:00.779 So you've got to listen 00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:02.479 to the spirit's voice. 00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:04.539 But you've also got to do 00:32:04.539 --> 00:32:05.659 two other things, 00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:06.219 which are, 00:32:06.539 --> 00:32:07.859 you've got to starve the flesh 00:32:07.859 --> 00:32:09.500 and you've got to feed the spirit. 00:32:11.579 --> 00:32:12.500 Starve the flesh, 00:32:12.619 --> 00:32:13.179 feed the spirit. 00:32:13.180 --> 00:32:15.120 Romans 8, 13 says, 00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:17.700 if you live according to the flesh, 00:32:17.740 --> 00:32:18.620 you will die. 00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:20.299 But if by the spirit, 00:32:20.580 --> 00:32:21.700 by the spirit, 00:32:21.960 --> 00:32:23.660 you put to death 00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:25.080 the deeds of the body, 00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:26.460 you will live. 00:32:27.500 --> 00:32:28.539 The spirit's not going to wave 00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:29.279 a magic wand 00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:30.779 and just change you like this. 00:32:32.080 --> 00:32:33.660 The Puritan John Owen said, 00:32:34.060 --> 00:32:35.180 be killing sin 00:32:35.180 --> 00:32:36.580 or it will be killing you. 00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:38.539 Be killing sin 00:32:38.539 --> 00:32:40.180 or it will be killing you. 00:32:40.180 --> 00:32:41.680 You know, 00:32:41.720 --> 00:32:42.420 there's a story 00:32:42.420 --> 00:32:44.240 of a man with two wolves 00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:45.920 and he used to bring them 00:32:45.920 --> 00:32:46.900 to town every week 00:32:46.900 --> 00:32:48.560 and they used to fight each other 00:32:48.560 --> 00:32:49.440 and people would place bets 00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:50.380 on which wolf would win. 00:32:50.940 --> 00:32:51.799 And every week, 00:32:52.100 --> 00:32:53.259 the owner of the wolves 00:32:53.259 --> 00:32:55.519 would guess correctly 00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:56.880 and he'd guess the winner 00:32:56.880 --> 00:32:57.380 every time. 00:32:57.460 --> 00:32:57.980 And after a while, 00:32:58.060 --> 00:32:58.700 this was going on, 00:32:59.019 --> 00:33:00.140 the people in the town said, 00:33:00.700 --> 00:33:01.279 like, 00:33:01.360 --> 00:33:02.360 how come you managed 00:33:02.360 --> 00:33:03.160 to guess correctly 00:33:03.160 --> 00:33:04.060 which wolf is going 00:33:04.060 --> 00:33:04.680 to win the fight? 00:33:05.600 --> 00:33:06.140 And he said, 00:33:06.180 --> 00:33:06.580 it's easy. 00:33:07.680 --> 00:33:09.320 Whichever wolf I fed that week, 00:33:09.580 --> 00:33:10.120 that's the one 00:33:10.120 --> 00:33:10.620 that's going to win. 00:33:12.460 --> 00:33:13.539 And that's what it's like 00:33:13.539 --> 00:33:14.340 in your own life. 00:33:15.740 --> 00:33:16.259 You see, 00:33:16.980 --> 00:33:19.920 if you want to starve sin, 00:33:19.980 --> 00:33:21.240 you've got to take it seriously. 00:33:22.920 --> 00:33:24.019 Don't play with it. 00:33:25.060 --> 00:33:25.360 You know, 00:33:25.779 --> 00:33:26.400 you can say, 00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:26.640 well, 00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:27.360 it's only small. 00:33:28.120 --> 00:33:28.279 You know, 00:33:28.320 --> 00:33:29.700 if you have a little lion cub 00:33:29.700 --> 00:33:30.759 in your house 00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:32.539 and it looks cute 00:33:32.539 --> 00:33:34.100 and you keep feeding that thing, 00:33:34.099 --> 00:33:35.719 what does it grow up to be? 00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:38.339 A full-scale lion 00:33:38.339 --> 00:33:39.179 that will mold you. 00:33:41.399 --> 00:33:42.619 That's what sin is like. 00:33:42.699 --> 00:33:43.759 Get rid of the cub 00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:44.899 at the first thought. 00:33:46.319 --> 00:33:46.799 And you know, 00:33:46.879 --> 00:33:48.099 just because you think of thought 00:33:48.099 --> 00:33:49.159 doesn't mean it's sin. 00:33:49.299 --> 00:33:51.139 It's how you react to that. 00:33:53.000 --> 00:33:54.000 And that determines 00:33:54.000 --> 00:33:54.980 whether you feed the flesh 00:33:54.980 --> 00:33:56.339 or you feed the spirit. 00:33:58.099 --> 00:33:59.659 So let me just think practically 00:33:59.659 --> 00:34:00.839 just a couple of things. 00:34:00.839 --> 00:34:01.659 What does this mean? 00:34:03.519 --> 00:34:03.539 What does this mean? 00:34:04.099 --> 00:34:05.199 I think some of you, 00:34:05.899 --> 00:34:07.439 the spirit wants to put his finger 00:34:07.439 --> 00:34:08.699 on an area in your life 00:34:08.699 --> 00:34:09.360 right now 00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:10.639 that you know 00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:11.940 you're feeding the flesh. 00:34:13.279 --> 00:34:14.619 Do you know what it is? 00:34:15.960 --> 00:34:16.960 Do you know what it is? 00:34:18.159 --> 00:34:19.480 Maybe a small area. 00:34:20.099 --> 00:34:20.779 It may be 00:34:20.779 --> 00:34:22.099 the use of your phone. 00:34:24.719 --> 00:34:25.139 Do you know, 00:34:25.400 --> 00:34:25.940 it may be 00:34:25.940 --> 00:34:27.039 every time that notification 00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:28.279 ping goes off, 00:34:28.579 --> 00:34:29.440 the flesh says, 00:34:29.860 --> 00:34:30.500 feed me. 00:34:30.500 --> 00:34:32.179 And I've got to get it 00:34:32.179 --> 00:34:32.820 straight away 00:34:32.820 --> 00:34:33.940 like an addict. 00:34:35.940 --> 00:34:36.559 You know, 00:34:36.780 --> 00:34:37.659 feed my desire 00:34:37.659 --> 00:34:38.380 to feel important. 00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:39.199 Feed my desire 00:34:39.199 --> 00:34:39.900 to not feel like 00:34:39.900 --> 00:34:40.880 I'm missing out on anything. 00:34:41.059 --> 00:34:41.539 Feed me. 00:34:44.159 --> 00:34:45.059 And the way that you 00:34:45.059 --> 00:34:46.059 starve the flesh 00:34:46.059 --> 00:34:48.139 is to work out a plan 00:34:48.139 --> 00:34:49.639 to go on a technology fast. 00:34:51.760 --> 00:34:52.119 Maybe 00:34:52.119 --> 00:34:52.960 once, 00:34:53.099 --> 00:34:53.960 one hour a day 00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:55.159 you say, 00:34:55.239 --> 00:34:56.300 I'm not going to look at this. 00:34:56.800 --> 00:34:57.060 Maybe 00:34:57.060 --> 00:34:58.340 one day a week 00:34:58.340 --> 00:34:59.620 you say, 00:34:59.720 --> 00:35:02.060 maybe one week a year 00:35:02.060 --> 00:35:03.060 you say, 00:35:03.120 --> 00:35:03.980 I'm not going to do that. 00:35:05.120 --> 00:35:05.680 And if 00:35:05.680 --> 00:35:07.780 right inside of you 00:35:07.780 --> 00:35:09.019 you start feeling stressful 00:35:09.019 --> 00:35:10.060 at even that thought, 00:35:11.100 --> 00:35:11.700 then that's probably 00:35:11.700 --> 00:35:12.740 because you've got an addiction. 00:35:14.700 --> 00:35:15.420 And I know, 00:35:15.500 --> 00:35:15.740 like, 00:35:15.800 --> 00:35:16.700 we have work stuff 00:35:16.700 --> 00:35:17.400 and you've just got to be 00:35:17.400 --> 00:35:18.560 creative sometimes. 00:35:20.060 --> 00:35:20.460 But 00:35:20.460 --> 00:35:21.960 when I'm on my phone 00:35:21.960 --> 00:35:24.880 and my wife is trying 00:35:24.880 --> 00:35:25.680 to talk to me, 00:35:26.300 --> 00:35:28.000 and I'm on my phone 00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:28.480 all the time, 00:35:28.580 --> 00:35:29.640 how loved do you think 00:35:29.640 --> 00:35:30.180 she feels 00:35:30.180 --> 00:35:32.880 when your kids 00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:33.420 are trying to get 00:35:33.420 --> 00:35:34.280 your attention 00:35:34.280 --> 00:35:36.340 and 00:35:36.340 --> 00:35:37.640 you just want to send 00:35:37.640 --> 00:35:38.420 that one email 00:35:38.420 --> 00:35:39.019 and it's like, 00:35:39.080 --> 00:35:39.660 you could send it 00:35:39.660 --> 00:35:40.400 in ten minutes time 00:35:40.400 --> 00:35:41.000 but you've just got to 00:35:41.000 --> 00:35:41.760 get it out now. 00:35:44.740 --> 00:35:45.100 And 00:35:45.100 --> 00:35:46.620 how loved do you think 00:35:46.620 --> 00:35:47.480 your kids will feel? 00:35:49.600 --> 00:35:50.360 And over 00:35:50.360 --> 00:35:51.160 time, 00:35:51.240 --> 00:35:52.260 every time I do that, 00:35:52.300 --> 00:35:53.460 if I continually do that, 00:35:53.460 --> 00:35:54.660 I am distancing 00:35:54.660 --> 00:35:55.900 myself from the people 00:35:55.900 --> 00:35:56.400 I love. 00:35:58.260 --> 00:35:58.619 Now, 00:35:58.720 --> 00:35:59.539 if that is just 00:35:59.539 --> 00:36:00.440 in a simple thing 00:36:00.440 --> 00:36:01.320 like the phone, 00:36:02.880 --> 00:36:04.320 where I need to say, 00:36:04.420 --> 00:36:05.200 am I serious 00:36:05.200 --> 00:36:06.019 about changing? 00:36:06.260 --> 00:36:06.920 Just think there are 00:36:06.920 --> 00:36:07.840 many other things 00:36:07.840 --> 00:36:08.660 in our lives. 00:36:10.099 --> 00:36:11.160 If you're impatient, 00:36:12.760 --> 00:36:13.840 stand in the longer queue 00:36:13.840 --> 00:36:14.420 at the checkout 00:36:14.420 --> 00:36:17.760 and you think, 00:36:17.840 --> 00:36:17.920 well, 00:36:17.960 --> 00:36:18.780 why should I do that? 00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:20.160 I'm like, 00:36:20.519 --> 00:36:21.019 don't you know 00:36:21.019 --> 00:36:21.700 how much time 00:36:21.699 --> 00:36:22.919 I have? 00:36:23.579 --> 00:36:24.339 And he says, 00:36:24.859 --> 00:36:26.319 are you serious 00:36:26.319 --> 00:36:27.279 about killing your sin? 00:36:28.399 --> 00:36:29.299 Are you serious 00:36:29.299 --> 00:36:29.779 about it? 00:36:35.000 --> 00:36:35.439 Finally, 00:36:36.239 --> 00:36:36.779 you've got to 00:36:36.779 --> 00:36:38.000 starve the flesh 00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:39.099 but we also need 00:36:39.099 --> 00:36:40.059 to feed the spirit 00:36:40.059 --> 00:36:41.039 because you know, 00:36:41.099 --> 00:36:41.960 when my wife says 00:36:41.960 --> 00:36:42.759 to me things like, 00:36:43.079 --> 00:36:43.819 do you think 00:36:43.819 --> 00:36:44.779 you should be eating 00:36:44.779 --> 00:36:45.460 that last piece, 00:36:45.559 --> 00:36:46.299 that extra piece 00:36:46.299 --> 00:36:47.019 of chocolate cake? 00:36:47.019 --> 00:36:48.980 Do you know 00:36:48.980 --> 00:36:49.800 what my response 00:36:49.800 --> 00:36:50.559 is at that moment? 00:36:51.259 --> 00:36:52.139 It isn't, 00:36:52.519 --> 00:36:52.699 oh, 00:36:52.840 --> 00:36:53.820 thank you so much 00:36:53.820 --> 00:36:54.460 for saving me 00:36:54.460 --> 00:36:55.119 from gluttony. 00:36:56.179 --> 00:36:56.559 It's like, 00:36:56.619 --> 00:36:56.880 oh, 00:36:58.500 --> 00:36:59.440 but it's just 00:36:59.440 --> 00:37:00.259 one piece. 00:37:02.559 --> 00:37:02.900 Now, 00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:03.739 why do I do that? 00:37:03.759 --> 00:37:04.400 Even though I know 00:37:04.400 --> 00:37:05.639 it's going to harm me 00:37:05.639 --> 00:37:06.119 in the long term, 00:37:06.179 --> 00:37:06.820 why do I do it? 00:37:06.840 --> 00:37:07.719 Because I'm not driven 00:37:07.719 --> 00:37:09.360 by rational thought, 00:37:09.400 --> 00:37:10.519 I'm driven by my desire. 00:37:11.759 --> 00:37:13.280 And so the only way 00:37:13.280 --> 00:37:14.119 to remove 00:37:14.119 --> 00:37:15.000 and defeat sin 00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:15.659 in your life 00:37:15.659 --> 00:37:16.779 is to fight desire 00:37:16.779 --> 00:37:17.440 with desire. 00:37:19.639 --> 00:37:20.239 You know, 00:37:20.339 --> 00:37:21.699 because if you just 00:37:21.699 --> 00:37:23.019 try and starve yourself 00:37:23.019 --> 00:37:24.119 without filling 00:37:24.119 --> 00:37:24.679 that emptiness 00:37:24.679 --> 00:37:25.599 inside of you, 00:37:26.519 --> 00:37:27.619 you're going to be like 00:37:27.619 --> 00:37:29.199 somebody who's a chocoholic 00:37:29.199 --> 00:37:30.039 looking at a piece 00:37:30.039 --> 00:37:30.779 of chocolate cake 00:37:30.779 --> 00:37:31.019 saying, 00:37:31.099 --> 00:37:31.739 I mustn't eat it, 00:37:31.879 --> 00:37:32.679 I mustn't eat it, 00:37:32.779 --> 00:37:33.699 I mustn't eat it. 00:37:34.379 --> 00:37:35.440 And what happens? 00:37:37.279 --> 00:37:38.239 That desire 00:37:38.239 --> 00:37:38.859 to eat it 00:37:38.859 --> 00:37:39.759 grows, 00:37:40.679 --> 00:37:41.119 right? 00:37:44.039 --> 00:37:44.399 Instead, 00:37:44.619 --> 00:37:45.219 you need to see 00:37:45.219 --> 00:37:45.859 something which is 00:37:45.859 --> 00:37:46.539 more beautiful, 00:37:46.719 --> 00:37:47.519 more desirable, 00:37:47.679 --> 00:37:48.419 more tasty. 00:37:49.039 --> 00:37:50.019 And that is the way 00:37:50.019 --> 00:37:50.659 that you overcome 00:37:50.659 --> 00:37:51.359 your flesh. 00:37:54.419 --> 00:37:55.519 Here's a couple of things. 00:37:56.719 --> 00:37:57.480 Fight desire 00:37:57.480 --> 00:37:57.980 with desire. 00:37:58.059 --> 00:37:58.639 One person said, 00:37:58.739 --> 00:37:59.799 for every look at sin, 00:38:00.139 --> 00:38:01.480 take ten looks 00:38:01.480 --> 00:38:02.459 at Christ. 00:38:03.559 --> 00:38:04.459 Every look at sin, 00:38:04.779 --> 00:38:05.500 take ten looks 00:38:05.500 --> 00:38:05.839 at Christ. 00:38:05.919 --> 00:38:06.419 The Spirit 00:38:06.419 --> 00:38:08.179 wants to excite you 00:38:08.179 --> 00:38:09.159 about Jesus. 00:38:10.079 --> 00:38:10.939 I'm British, 00:38:11.299 --> 00:38:12.480 we don't do emotions, 00:38:12.480 --> 00:38:13.960 but the Spirit 00:38:13.960 --> 00:38:15.280 actually wants to give 00:38:15.280 --> 00:38:15.960 British people 00:38:15.960 --> 00:38:16.659 emotions 00:38:16.659 --> 00:38:17.960 and excitement 00:38:17.960 --> 00:38:19.079 about Jesus. 00:38:20.500 --> 00:38:20.800 You know, 00:38:20.920 --> 00:38:21.440 that's why 00:38:21.440 --> 00:38:22.300 in a service, 00:38:23.360 --> 00:38:24.219 it's okay, 00:38:24.679 --> 00:38:24.860 like, 00:38:25.079 --> 00:38:25.820 raise your hands, 00:38:26.079 --> 00:38:26.599 clap, 00:38:26.860 --> 00:38:27.800 get excited 00:38:27.800 --> 00:38:28.679 about Jesus. 00:38:30.860 --> 00:38:31.240 You know, 00:38:31.960 --> 00:38:33.740 music is one of the things 00:38:33.740 --> 00:38:34.940 that captures your heart. 00:38:35.119 --> 00:38:36.039 It can take truth 00:38:36.039 --> 00:38:36.980 from here down to here. 00:38:37.240 --> 00:38:38.460 So play worship music, 00:38:38.800 --> 00:38:39.639 sing on the MTR, 00:38:39.840 --> 00:38:40.380 softly, 00:38:40.900 --> 00:38:41.139 okay? 00:38:41.579 --> 00:38:44.480 But do whatever it takes, 00:38:44.579 --> 00:38:45.340 build habits 00:38:45.340 --> 00:38:46.719 where you are sowing 00:38:46.719 --> 00:38:48.400 a delight in Jesus. 00:38:50.900 --> 00:38:52.679 Meditate on God's Word. 00:38:53.260 --> 00:38:54.719 Don't just read it. 00:38:55.440 --> 00:38:56.440 Think about it. 00:38:56.659 --> 00:38:57.219 Pray it. 00:38:57.480 --> 00:38:58.240 Reflect on it. 00:38:58.480 --> 00:38:59.800 Preach it to yourself 00:38:59.800 --> 00:39:01.599 every single day. 00:39:01.699 --> 00:39:02.099 And you say, 00:39:02.199 --> 00:39:03.159 I don't have time. 00:39:03.159 --> 00:39:03.920 And he says, 00:39:04.139 --> 00:39:04.820 but you have time 00:39:04.820 --> 00:39:05.260 to meditate 00:39:05.260 --> 00:39:05.960 on what your boss 00:39:05.960 --> 00:39:06.719 said this morning. 00:39:07.980 --> 00:39:08.820 So you tell me 00:39:08.820 --> 00:39:09.360 you don't have time 00:39:09.360 --> 00:39:10.000 to meditate on 00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:10.860 who the King of Kings 00:39:10.860 --> 00:39:11.659 says about you? 00:39:13.440 --> 00:39:14.579 And this is what we need 00:39:14.579 --> 00:39:15.480 every morning 00:39:15.480 --> 00:39:16.780 to rehearse 00:39:16.780 --> 00:39:17.960 who Jesus is 00:39:17.960 --> 00:39:18.500 in our lives 00:39:18.500 --> 00:39:18.940 because we, 00:39:19.059 --> 00:39:19.940 if not feeding it, 00:39:20.119 --> 00:39:20.719 we're going to feed 00:39:20.719 --> 00:39:21.559 the flesh. 00:39:22.099 --> 00:39:23.000 This is what we need 00:39:23.000 --> 00:39:24.500 to say to ourselves. 00:39:24.780 --> 00:39:25.639 I've said this again, 00:39:25.719 --> 00:39:26.619 but we need to do it. 00:39:27.740 --> 00:39:29.059 I am a dearly loved, 00:39:29.159 --> 00:39:29.840 chosen child 00:39:29.840 --> 00:39:30.840 of the King of the Universe. 00:39:31.420 --> 00:39:32.460 The Spirit of Him 00:39:32.460 --> 00:39:33.320 who raised Jesus 00:39:33.320 --> 00:39:34.119 from the dead 00:39:34.119 --> 00:39:35.179 lives in me. 00:39:35.500 --> 00:39:36.240 I am more than 00:39:36.240 --> 00:39:36.960 a conqueror 00:39:36.960 --> 00:39:37.360 through Him 00:39:37.360 --> 00:39:38.059 who loved me. 00:39:38.300 --> 00:39:39.280 He has set me free 00:39:39.280 --> 00:39:39.880 from sin. 00:39:40.039 --> 00:39:40.920 I don't need to live 00:39:40.920 --> 00:39:41.980 under its power today. 00:39:42.460 --> 00:39:43.300 Though I mess up, 00:39:43.340 --> 00:39:43.880 I'm forgiven. 00:39:44.119 --> 00:39:44.980 I will not live 00:39:44.980 --> 00:39:45.880 under guilt and shame 00:39:45.880 --> 00:39:47.179 for there's no condemnation 00:39:47.179 --> 00:39:48.300 for me in Jesus. 00:39:48.679 --> 00:39:49.460 Today the Spirit 00:39:49.460 --> 00:39:50.440 is leading me 00:39:50.440 --> 00:39:51.240 into the destiny 00:39:51.240 --> 00:39:52.360 Jesus has prepared 00:39:52.360 --> 00:39:52.920 for me. 00:39:54.679 --> 00:39:55.559 Every day 00:39:55.559 --> 00:39:56.220 you need to be 00:39:56.220 --> 00:39:56.900 preaching that 00:39:56.900 --> 00:39:57.519 to yourself 00:39:57.519 --> 00:39:59.059 because you'll be 00:39:59.059 --> 00:39:59.960 listening to the flesh 00:39:59.960 --> 00:40:00.340 otherwise. 00:40:01.360 --> 00:40:01.639 Now, 00:40:01.840 --> 00:40:02.619 are you going to go, 00:40:03.079 --> 00:40:03.400 uh-huh, 00:40:03.400 --> 00:40:05.800 or are you actually 00:40:05.800 --> 00:40:06.260 going to go 00:40:06.260 --> 00:40:06.920 and do something 00:40:06.920 --> 00:40:07.500 about it? 00:40:08.700 --> 00:40:09.880 Because if you want 00:40:09.880 --> 00:40:12.360 to be transformed 00:40:12.360 --> 00:40:13.200 by the Spirit, 00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:15.220 we need to take 00:40:15.220 --> 00:40:16.720 and sow to the Spirit 00:40:16.720 --> 00:40:17.599 and then we need 00:40:17.599 --> 00:40:19.180 to pray desperately, 00:40:19.380 --> 00:40:19.660 Spirit, 00:40:19.740 --> 00:40:20.940 I need you to fill me. 00:40:21.139 --> 00:40:22.380 I need you to change me. 00:40:22.440 --> 00:40:23.340 I can't do this 00:40:23.340 --> 00:40:24.059 by myself. 00:40:24.539 --> 00:40:25.340 Change me. 00:40:26.780 --> 00:40:27.460 And do you know 00:40:27.460 --> 00:40:28.200 what I found? 00:40:28.199 --> 00:40:30.379 When you get desperate 00:40:30.379 --> 00:40:30.980 for Jesus, 00:40:31.799 --> 00:40:33.159 He begins to change you 00:40:33.159 --> 00:40:35.019 from the inside out 00:40:35.019 --> 00:40:36.739 over time, 00:40:37.739 --> 00:40:38.859 step by step. 00:40:40.099 --> 00:40:40.659 And the thing is 00:40:40.659 --> 00:40:41.859 when I stop doing that 00:40:41.859 --> 00:40:42.419 because I cry, 00:40:42.519 --> 00:40:43.439 Jesus changed me 00:40:43.439 --> 00:40:44.559 and He starts working 00:40:44.559 --> 00:40:44.879 and I think, 00:40:44.980 --> 00:40:45.119 wow, 00:40:45.179 --> 00:40:46.259 I did that pretty well. 00:40:48.179 --> 00:40:48.500 You know, 00:40:48.739 --> 00:40:49.559 like change me. 00:40:49.759 --> 00:40:50.739 Help me not to get angry 00:40:50.739 --> 00:40:51.779 as I'm going into this meeting 00:40:51.779 --> 00:40:52.279 and I go in 00:40:52.279 --> 00:40:53.460 and I'm just so calm 00:40:53.460 --> 00:40:54.299 and then afterwards 00:40:54.299 --> 00:40:54.639 I think, 00:40:54.939 --> 00:40:55.399 wow, 00:40:55.899 --> 00:40:57.439 I'm pretty good at this. 00:40:58.199 --> 00:40:59.079 And I stop relying 00:40:59.079 --> 00:40:59.659 on the Spirit 00:40:59.659 --> 00:41:00.779 and I rely on myself, 00:41:00.919 --> 00:41:01.719 on the flesh. 00:41:04.579 --> 00:41:05.559 Will we fall? 00:41:05.759 --> 00:41:06.159 Yes. 00:41:06.439 --> 00:41:07.279 It's a journey 00:41:07.279 --> 00:41:08.819 step by step. 00:41:09.879 --> 00:41:10.759 But the Spirit 00:41:10.759 --> 00:41:11.399 is saying to you 00:41:11.399 --> 00:41:12.079 this morning, 00:41:12.659 --> 00:41:13.759 recalculating. 00:41:15.179 --> 00:41:15.619 Repent, 00:41:15.919 --> 00:41:16.699 get back up, 00:41:17.000 --> 00:41:18.199 enjoy my grace 00:41:18.199 --> 00:41:20.299 and you will grow 00:41:20.299 --> 00:41:21.839 like this. 00:41:22.679 --> 00:41:23.119 It's not going to be 00:41:23.119 --> 00:41:23.739 just like that, 00:41:23.799 --> 00:41:24.939 it will be like this. 00:41:25.619 --> 00:41:27.139 But He has the power 00:41:27.139 --> 00:41:28.259 to change you. 00:41:28.719 --> 00:41:29.539 Do you believe that? 00:41:30.599 --> 00:41:31.719 Do you believe that? 00:41:34.119 --> 00:41:35.219 So let's just pray. 00:41:36.719 --> 00:41:37.819 I think let's stand up. 00:41:46.279 --> 00:41:47.460 Just close your eyes 00:41:47.460 --> 00:41:47.900 for a minute. 00:41:47.900 --> 00:41:53.119 I think the Spirit 00:41:53.119 --> 00:41:53.960 is wanting to speak 00:41:53.960 --> 00:41:54.559 to some of you 00:41:54.559 --> 00:41:55.079 this morning. 00:41:57.680 --> 00:41:58.320 Some of you 00:41:58.320 --> 00:41:59.280 have just been saying 00:41:59.280 --> 00:41:59.720 uh-huh 00:41:59.720 --> 00:42:01.079 for a long time. 00:42:01.740 --> 00:42:02.660 You've been wrapped up 00:42:02.660 --> 00:42:03.840 in so many other things. 00:42:07.059 --> 00:42:07.740 This morning 00:42:07.740 --> 00:42:08.360 is the morning 00:42:08.360 --> 00:42:09.340 where God wants 00:42:09.340 --> 00:42:10.139 to say to you, 00:42:10.680 --> 00:42:11.160 are you going to 00:42:11.160 --> 00:42:12.200 listen to my voice? 00:42:12.199 --> 00:42:16.839 Some of you, 00:42:16.919 --> 00:42:17.699 you know that you 00:42:17.699 --> 00:42:18.639 felt defeated 00:42:18.639 --> 00:42:19.519 with certain habits 00:42:19.519 --> 00:42:20.239 in your life. 00:42:21.619 --> 00:42:22.439 And you feel like 00:42:22.439 --> 00:42:22.960 giving up. 00:42:23.579 --> 00:42:24.259 You just kind of know 00:42:24.259 --> 00:42:25.539 I'm never going to change. 00:42:27.279 --> 00:42:28.000 And there may be 00:42:28.000 --> 00:42:28.799 some sins that you're 00:42:28.799 --> 00:42:29.500 going to have to battle 00:42:29.500 --> 00:42:30.019 daily, 00:42:30.139 --> 00:42:31.179 every day of your life. 00:42:31.259 --> 00:42:32.419 But the Spirit says, 00:42:32.919 --> 00:42:33.919 I have power 00:42:33.919 --> 00:42:36.239 to change you. 00:42:36.239 --> 00:42:40.299 And this morning, 00:42:41.199 --> 00:42:43.319 God wants to say to you, 00:42:43.839 --> 00:42:45.379 I don't want that 00:42:45.379 --> 00:42:46.079 to be a thing 00:42:46.079 --> 00:42:46.679 in your head. 00:42:46.739 --> 00:42:47.539 I want you to actually 00:42:47.539 --> 00:42:48.459 experience that 00:42:48.459 --> 00:42:49.099 in your heart. 00:42:52.439 --> 00:42:54.819 And I just feel like 00:42:54.819 --> 00:42:58.039 there are some of you 00:42:58.039 --> 00:42:58.879 who just 00:42:58.879 --> 00:43:01.459 don't even know 00:43:01.459 --> 00:43:02.459 what it really means 00:43:02.459 --> 00:43:03.500 to walk with the Spirit. 00:43:06.899 --> 00:43:07.799 What I'm going to ask 00:43:07.799 --> 00:43:08.439 you to do is something 00:43:08.439 --> 00:43:09.199 I don't think we've 00:43:09.199 --> 00:43:09.719 done before, 00:43:09.799 --> 00:43:10.099 actually. 00:43:10.319 --> 00:43:11.319 If you feel like 00:43:11.319 --> 00:43:12.239 you know there's an 00:43:12.239 --> 00:43:13.239 area in your life 00:43:13.239 --> 00:43:14.939 that you just need 00:43:14.939 --> 00:43:15.939 the Spirit to get 00:43:15.939 --> 00:43:16.699 hold of you 00:43:16.699 --> 00:43:18.559 and to change you, 00:43:20.179 --> 00:43:20.979 I'm just going to ask 00:43:20.979 --> 00:43:21.139 you, 00:43:21.219 --> 00:43:21.879 everyone to close 00:43:21.879 --> 00:43:22.239 your eyes. 00:43:22.319 --> 00:43:22.819 I'm going to ask you 00:43:22.819 --> 00:43:23.839 to come down to the front. 00:43:24.559 --> 00:43:25.339 Don't be shy. 00:43:25.479 --> 00:43:26.799 Allow this to be a step 00:43:26.799 --> 00:43:27.379 where you're saying, 00:43:27.719 --> 00:43:27.979 yes, 00:43:28.019 --> 00:43:28.919 I want to follow you, 00:43:28.959 --> 00:43:29.179 God. 00:43:29.399 --> 00:43:30.559 I want to be changed 00:43:30.559 --> 00:43:31.079 by you. 00:43:33.739 --> 00:43:34.519 If the people 00:43:34.519 --> 00:43:35.519 from the prayer team 00:43:35.519 --> 00:43:36.119 can come down 00:43:36.119 --> 00:43:36.699 to the front, 00:43:37.480 --> 00:43:38.099 I just ask you 00:43:38.099 --> 00:43:39.339 to come down now. 00:43:39.400 --> 00:43:39.799 If you're like, 00:43:40.079 --> 00:43:40.960 there's an area 00:43:40.960 --> 00:43:41.480 in my life 00:43:41.480 --> 00:43:42.480 I need you to work in, 00:43:42.559 --> 00:43:42.799 God. 00:43:43.719 --> 00:43:44.679 Don't be afraid 00:43:44.679 --> 00:43:45.359 of what other people 00:43:45.359 --> 00:43:45.739 are thinking. 00:43:45.839 --> 00:43:46.599 Just come down. 00:43:48.199 --> 00:43:49.299 Just make that a step 00:43:49.299 --> 00:43:50.219 between you and God. 00:43:52.460 --> 00:43:54.279 As the music plays, 00:43:54.380 --> 00:43:54.900 we just want you 00:43:54.900 --> 00:43:55.960 to just come 00:43:55.960 --> 00:43:56.859 and experience 00:43:56.859 --> 00:43:58.679 the power of God 00:43:58.679 --> 00:43:59.900 to transform you. 00:44:01.559 --> 00:44:02.880 So just come down. 00:44:02.960 --> 00:44:03.799 Don't be afraid. 00:44:03.800 --> 00:44:07.060 Just ask God 00:44:07.060 --> 00:44:08.320 to work in your life. 00:44:08.539 --> 00:44:09.580 Just cry out to him, 00:44:09.700 --> 00:44:11.340 change me now. 00:44:12.560 --> 00:44:13.500 Carry on singing. 00:44:13.500 --> 00:44:24.559 It is, Father. 00:44:24.559 --> 00:44:24.639 Father, 00:44:24.639 --> 00:44:24.679 Father, 00:44:24.679 --> 00:44:38.440 we just pray 00:44:38.440 --> 00:44:39.920 that you would fill us 00:44:39.920 --> 00:44:40.639 with your spirit. 00:44:43.119 --> 00:44:44.340 We pray, Lord, 00:44:44.400 --> 00:44:45.539 where we're apathetic 00:44:45.539 --> 00:44:47.720 that you would awaken us, 00:44:48.420 --> 00:44:49.440 speak to us, 00:44:49.900 --> 00:44:50.740 change us, 00:44:51.460 --> 00:44:52.700 make us more like yourself. 00:44:53.760 --> 00:44:54.740 Help us desire 00:44:54.740 --> 00:44:55.559 to work with you.