WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, 00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:05.799 where we're dedicated to encouraging, equipping, 00:00:05.799 --> 00:00:08.040 and engaging lives for Christ. 00:00:08.040 --> 00:00:10.140 Located in Ontario, Oregon, 00:00:10.140 --> 00:00:12.759 Pastor Patrick Daly preaches insightful sermons 00:00:12.759 --> 00:00:14.000 from the Word of God, 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:17.000 offering practical applications for modern living. 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:20.080 We're delighted to share this sermon with you. 00:00:20.080 --> 00:00:21.600 Well, good morning, everyone. 00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:24.640 It is great to be here with all of you 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:27.879 as we are gonna go ahead and get started 00:00:27.879 --> 00:00:32.879 with continuing our biblical exposition of Colossians. 00:00:33.560 --> 00:00:36.719 I hope that all of you have been warmly greeted 00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:38.519 here at Ontario Community Church. 00:00:38.519 --> 00:00:43.039 We are absolutely a very loving and very friendly church, 00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:46.460 and I just hope and trust you've been warmly greeted. 00:00:46.460 --> 00:00:49.640 So we've been going through this verse by verse, 00:00:49.640 --> 00:00:53.759 line by line exposition of Colossians. 00:00:53.759 --> 00:00:56.200 We've been finding truth and connections 00:00:56.200 --> 00:01:01.200 with the Word of God and applications for our everyday lives. 00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:03.560 You know, believing in Jesus Christ 00:01:03.560 --> 00:01:06.900 is the greatest decision that you can make 00:01:06.900 --> 00:01:11.799 for your life here on earth and your life after this. 00:01:11.799 --> 00:01:16.359 Salvation is the beginning of your new life in Christ. 00:01:16.359 --> 00:01:20.240 And last week, we talked about how the apostle Paul 00:01:20.240 --> 00:01:22.320 challenged the church at Colossi 00:01:22.320 --> 00:01:25.439 to put to death the former life, 00:01:25.439 --> 00:01:28.399 the worldly life, the sinful life, 00:01:28.399 --> 00:01:32.439 and to set their minds on the higher things, 00:01:32.439 --> 00:01:35.140 the things above and what a challenge that is, 00:01:35.140 --> 00:01:37.459 even for us today. 00:01:37.459 --> 00:01:41.400 As we leave the former things of this former life, 00:01:41.400 --> 00:01:44.719 it makes us wonder, what does it mean 00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:47.200 to put on the new life? 00:01:47.200 --> 00:01:51.719 What does this spiritual transformation look like for us? 00:01:51.719 --> 00:01:53.900 If Christ is all that we need 00:01:53.900 --> 00:01:55.800 and is in all of us believers, 00:01:55.800 --> 00:01:58.880 what does that look like for us? 00:01:58.880 --> 00:02:01.840 If I am saved and I become this new creation, 00:02:01.840 --> 00:02:06.719 am I to go out and do everything in the name of Christ? 00:02:06.719 --> 00:02:11.520 Well, today we will discover these answers as we go along. 00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:13.780 But before we go any further, 00:02:13.780 --> 00:02:17.360 let us pray to God and let us ask Him to lead us 00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:20.240 and to guide us before we continue. 00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:21.200 Let's pray together. 00:02:21.200 --> 00:02:22.879 Will you pray with me? 00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:25.280 Let's bow our heads and pray. 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:30.280 Dear Jesus, we come before you today as we currently are. 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:34.560 We pray that truth is spoken here. 00:02:34.560 --> 00:02:37.400 Just as we learned this last week, 00:02:37.400 --> 00:02:40.199 we learned what it means to leave the former life 00:02:40.199 --> 00:02:44.359 and we pray that we will learn what it means, 00:02:44.359 --> 00:02:47.519 well, what it means to have new life in you. 00:02:47.519 --> 00:02:50.039 We ask that you open our minds to learn, 00:02:50.039 --> 00:02:55.039 our hearts to love and our lives to live for you. 00:02:55.239 --> 00:02:58.079 May we grow in this faith, leaving the former life, 00:02:58.079 --> 00:02:59.879 embracing the new life 00:02:59.879 --> 00:03:03.060 and boldly living out this faith in you. 00:03:03.060 --> 00:03:07.099 We ask all of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, 00:03:07.099 --> 00:03:11.399 the supplier of peace and the ruler of our hearts. 00:03:11.399 --> 00:03:13.399 We all say together, amen. 00:03:14.439 --> 00:03:16.479 It has been said that the grace of God 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:20.479 plus the faith of the believer equals salvation. 00:03:20.479 --> 00:03:22.159 Grace is supplied. 00:03:22.159 --> 00:03:24.679 It is freely given by God 00:03:24.679 --> 00:03:28.579 and the only thing that we must do is to believe in Him. 00:03:28.579 --> 00:03:31.560 Believe in the Lord and be saved. 00:03:31.560 --> 00:03:35.199 Salvation then is the beginning of our new lives in Christ. 00:03:35.199 --> 00:03:37.799 It is the foundation of our lives. 00:03:37.799 --> 00:03:40.439 It is set by Him. 00:03:40.439 --> 00:03:42.199 We are made new in Christ 00:03:42.199 --> 00:03:45.599 and we are transferred from the domain of darkness 00:03:45.599 --> 00:03:47.680 into the domain of light. 00:03:48.719 --> 00:03:51.960 We have to remember that God is the potter 00:03:51.960 --> 00:03:54.439 and we are the clay. 00:03:54.439 --> 00:03:58.079 God does not stop molding us though until the very end. 00:03:58.079 --> 00:04:01.759 In the same way that we build a physical house, 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:05.219 do we just lay the foundation there and call it a day? 00:04:05.219 --> 00:04:08.599 Do we just build that foundation and say, okay, that's it. 00:04:08.599 --> 00:04:10.159 We got a house there. 00:04:10.159 --> 00:04:13.039 Or is there much work that must be done? 00:04:13.039 --> 00:04:16.680 Because when we lay a foundation just in a physical house, 00:04:16.680 --> 00:04:21.680 there is wood, there is all of the things, the plumbing, 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:24.560 all of the pieces that have to go together 00:04:24.560 --> 00:04:28.839 that is built upon the foundation of a physical house. 00:04:28.839 --> 00:04:30.560 And in the same way, 00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:34.099 if Christ being the foundation for our lives, 00:04:34.099 --> 00:04:36.519 well, what about the rest of the house? 00:04:36.519 --> 00:04:40.939 We build our lives on the foundation that exists in Christ. 00:04:40.939 --> 00:04:45.040 There is much work to be done once the foundation is laid. 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:49.199 As it is with building the physical house, so too again. 00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:51.680 Is it the spiritual foundation 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:54.879 building upon what Christ has laid? 00:04:54.879 --> 00:04:59.199 We must build our house upon the rock of Jesus Christ. 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:02.399 Salvation then is a decision that we make to believe 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:04.000 or to not believe. 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:07.159 From this, there exists a continual decision 00:05:07.159 --> 00:05:10.199 to live or to not live for Christ. 00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:11.800 And ask yourself the question, 00:05:11.800 --> 00:05:14.719 have you left your former life? 00:05:14.719 --> 00:05:19.420 Or are you still doing the things of your former life? 00:05:19.420 --> 00:05:22.680 Have you believed in the Lord and have you been saved, 00:05:22.680 --> 00:05:26.539 but you're still in that former habits, 00:05:26.539 --> 00:05:28.560 the former way you used to live? 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:32.279 In believing in Christ, let us leave the former, 00:05:32.279 --> 00:05:35.759 the sinful and the sin filled life 00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:39.000 and enter into a spirit filled, 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:43.319 a Christ centered and a God led life. 00:05:43.319 --> 00:05:45.959 The apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians saying, 00:05:45.959 --> 00:05:48.199 to leave the former life, 00:05:48.199 --> 00:05:52.360 leave the former life and put on as God's chosen ones, 00:05:52.360 --> 00:05:55.160 many good and godly attributes. 00:05:55.160 --> 00:05:59.720 This is a call for us as believers to live out the faith, 00:05:59.720 --> 00:06:02.319 to be a doer of the word. 00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:05.279 These qualities that the apostle Paul was mentioning, 00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:08.439 that's not only applicable to the church at Colossae, 00:06:08.439 --> 00:06:11.879 they are directly applicable to the church today. 00:06:11.879 --> 00:06:13.920 And I wanna go ahead and show you 00:06:13.920 --> 00:06:15.759 the first two sets of verses, 00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:17.959 we'll go ahead and put that on the screen. 00:06:17.959 --> 00:06:20.959 This is found in Colossians chapter three, 00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:23.399 verses 12 through 14. 00:06:23.399 --> 00:06:27.240 Feel free to follow along in your Bible, your mobile device, 00:06:27.240 --> 00:06:30.720 or you can simply follow along on the screen. 00:06:31.600 --> 00:06:35.959 It says here, put on then as God's chosen ones, 00:06:35.959 --> 00:06:40.959 holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, 00:06:41.399 --> 00:06:45.519 humility, meekness and impatience. 00:06:46.519 --> 00:06:48.199 Impatience, right? 00:06:48.199 --> 00:06:49.879 Bearing with one another, 00:06:49.879 --> 00:06:52.679 if one has a complaint against another, 00:06:52.679 --> 00:06:56.359 forgiving each other as the Lord has forgiven you, 00:06:56.359 --> 00:07:00.919 so you must also forgive, right? 00:07:00.919 --> 00:07:03.639 And above all these put on love, 00:07:03.639 --> 00:07:08.639 which binds everything together in perfect what? 00:07:08.719 --> 00:07:09.560 Harmony. 00:07:09.560 --> 00:07:13.199 So verse 12, it starts off by mentioning the call 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:16.279 for us to put on the new self. 00:07:16.279 --> 00:07:18.120 In becoming a Christian, 00:07:18.120 --> 00:07:21.199 we are now part of God's chosen ones. 00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:23.839 Believers become God's chosen people, 00:07:23.839 --> 00:07:26.680 and we are called to live a more holy life. 00:07:26.680 --> 00:07:30.360 It is following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. 00:07:30.360 --> 00:07:34.879 First Peter chapter one, verses 14 through 16, 00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:38.639 it also mentions the call for us to live a holy life 00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:40.639 as a new creation. 00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:45.199 It says, obedient children, 00:07:45.199 --> 00:07:49.720 do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 00:07:49.720 --> 00:07:52.120 but as he who called you as holy, 00:07:52.120 --> 00:07:56.000 you also be holy in all of your conduct. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:08:01.000 Since it is written, you shall be holy for I am holy. 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:04.279 And regarding the word beloved, 00:08:04.279 --> 00:08:06.040 when we become a Christian, 00:08:06.040 --> 00:08:08.680 as mentioning here in Colossians, right? 00:08:08.680 --> 00:08:13.139 Put on then as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved. 00:08:13.139 --> 00:08:16.120 Do you realize that when we become a Christian, 00:08:16.120 --> 00:08:18.399 we enter into the beloved? 00:08:18.399 --> 00:08:19.800 There's gonna be a slide on here. 00:08:19.800 --> 00:08:22.600 It's Ephesians chapter one, verse six here, 00:08:22.600 --> 00:08:27.600 and it goes on to say, to the praise of his glorious grace, 00:08:27.840 --> 00:08:29.840 which he, God the Father, 00:08:29.840 --> 00:08:34.000 has blessed us believers into the what? 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:36.000 Into the beloved one, right? 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:38.639 One sometimes shows up in some translations. 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:42.200 In your ESV, it'll just say the beloved. 00:08:42.200 --> 00:08:44.600 The beloved is the beloved son, 00:08:44.600 --> 00:08:48.040 which is mentioned in Matthew chapter 17, verse five, 00:08:48.040 --> 00:08:50.200 and in numerous other passages. 00:08:50.200 --> 00:08:51.639 Let's put that next one. 00:08:51.639 --> 00:08:54.679 He, Peter, he was speaking when, 00:08:54.679 --> 00:08:58.080 behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, 00:08:58.080 --> 00:09:00.720 and a voice from the cloud said, what? 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:02.480 This is my what? 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:05.919 Beloved son, with whom I am well pleased. 00:09:05.919 --> 00:09:07.860 Listen to him. 00:09:07.860 --> 00:09:10.039 So when you become a Christian, 00:09:10.039 --> 00:09:13.080 you are entering into the beloved one. 00:09:13.080 --> 00:09:16.559 We are chosen and to be on a path of holiness, 00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:20.200 becoming more like the Lord, becoming more like Christ. 00:09:20.200 --> 00:09:21.920 Let us be called to live a life 00:09:21.920 --> 00:09:24.280 that is holy and beloved. 00:09:24.280 --> 00:09:29.000 Let us allow for God to work in and through us along the way. 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:32.700 These two qualities, they're not the only ones though. 00:09:32.700 --> 00:09:34.840 I like to show you guys a chart, 00:09:34.840 --> 00:09:37.400 and you'll find this on your notes, 00:09:37.400 --> 00:09:40.440 and you'll find this on the screen here. 00:09:40.440 --> 00:09:43.040 You know, it's always incredible. 00:09:43.040 --> 00:09:48.040 When you find a pattern or a connection within scripture, 00:09:48.039 --> 00:09:50.799 and in preparing for this sermon, 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:52.759 I found this beautiful connection 00:09:52.759 --> 00:09:54.919 between Colossians chapter three, 00:09:54.919 --> 00:09:56.919 verses 12 through 14, 00:09:56.919 --> 00:10:01.919 and 1 Corinthians chapter 13, verses four through seven. 00:10:02.039 --> 00:10:04.639 How many of us know the 1 Corinthians one? 00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:06.839 Love is patient, love is kind. 00:10:06.839 --> 00:10:08.439 How many of us know that one? 00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:14.360 You hear that passage very often in marriages, right? 00:10:14.360 --> 00:10:18.000 So this chart was made to match as much as possible 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:20.759 by considering the original language, 00:10:20.759 --> 00:10:24.559 the concept and the main idea presented in these passages. 00:10:24.559 --> 00:10:27.440 In putting on the new self, becoming more holy, 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:29.240 and living the beloved life, 00:10:29.240 --> 00:10:34.080 we are to show compassionate hearts and kindness, right? 00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:37.840 Show compassion and mercy to others. 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:42.720 We are to exhibit kindness, a spirit of gentleness. 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:47.679 This is much like how it is said that love is kind. 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:49.479 Then we have humility, right? 00:10:49.479 --> 00:10:50.679 Exhibiting humility. 00:10:50.679 --> 00:10:52.959 Let us love God, let us love others, 00:10:52.959 --> 00:10:56.479 and we also need to love ourselves as well. 00:10:56.479 --> 00:11:01.079 Humility is caring for more than just yourself. 00:11:01.079 --> 00:11:03.519 The Bible says in James chapter four, 00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:05.919 verse six and first Peter five, five, 00:11:05.919 --> 00:11:08.479 that God opposes the proud, 00:11:08.479 --> 00:11:10.919 but gives grace to the humble. 00:11:10.919 --> 00:11:15.399 Part of humility is not being puffed up with worldly things. 00:11:15.399 --> 00:11:18.600 There are many people who boast up in worldly affairs 00:11:18.600 --> 00:11:21.919 and worldly matters, but if we are to boast, 00:11:21.919 --> 00:11:25.439 as the scripture says, we should boast in the Lord, 00:11:25.439 --> 00:11:28.039 as it says, and you'll find that in your notes, 00:11:28.039 --> 00:11:31.039 so many times in scripture. 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:33.759 You will find that, look, there is a call here 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:38.079 for us to lay aside envy, just like how the apostle Paul 00:11:38.079 --> 00:11:41.279 mentioned putting to death covetness. 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:44.399 So then we have also here meekness. 00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:48.639 In the Greek, meekness means having gentle strength 00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:50.600 and self-control. 00:11:50.600 --> 00:11:52.919 Now, very often when we hear the word meekness, 00:11:52.919 --> 00:11:55.519 we think of someone who is weak, 00:11:55.519 --> 00:11:58.840 but it is the ability to control your strength. 00:11:58.840 --> 00:12:01.559 This can manifest in respect for others 00:12:01.559 --> 00:12:04.439 by not being arrogant or rude. 00:12:04.439 --> 00:12:08.919 And it's the question of how do you respond to other people? 00:12:08.919 --> 00:12:11.960 How do you act and behave towards others? 00:12:11.960 --> 00:12:15.160 Consider how you respond to your brothers and sisters 00:12:15.160 --> 00:12:17.200 in Christ and to your neighbor. 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:20.280 Even Christ mentions that it is the meek 00:12:20.280 --> 00:12:25.000 who will inherit the earth, as mentioned in Matthew 5, verse 5. 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:29.160 Then we go on into patience, right? 00:12:29.160 --> 00:12:31.960 It's a call for us to endure all things, 00:12:31.960 --> 00:12:35.560 wait upon the Lord and remain calm under pressure. 00:12:35.560 --> 00:12:38.320 How many of us remain calm under pressure, right? 00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:40.360 And how many of us, when we want patience, 00:12:40.360 --> 00:12:41.560 we always say the prayer, 00:12:41.559 --> 00:12:43.519 God, I need patience right now. 00:12:45.119 --> 00:12:46.839 I think you gotta rethink your prayer there 00:12:46.839 --> 00:12:49.000 when that's happening, right? 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:54.000 When we consider patience, it is waiting for God's timing, 00:12:54.199 --> 00:12:59.199 right, the kairos, God's divine appointed time for our lives. 00:12:59.239 --> 00:13:02.759 And just be mindful when you pray that prayer as well. 00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:04.039 If you're gonna ask for patience, 00:13:04.039 --> 00:13:05.439 don't ask for it right now. 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:08.839 But going on, patience is something 00:13:08.839 --> 00:13:11.039 that can be difficult today, though. 00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:13.839 Especially in the culture that we live in. 00:13:13.839 --> 00:13:16.120 You know, we have these really fancy things. 00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:18.639 I mean, I don't know who still has a flip phone, 00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:20.039 no judgment here. 00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:22.240 But it's still instant though, right? 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:25.399 You open your phone, you call someone, 00:13:25.399 --> 00:13:28.480 and very quickly there's someone answers, 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:31.399 unless they're ignoring you that's on you. 00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:35.759 But in this, you go to Amazon and you get what? 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:39.279 Two day delivery in some areas, you get two hour delivery. 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:41.799 The other day I was watching a YouTube video 00:13:41.799 --> 00:13:44.600 that was showing drone packages being delivered 00:13:44.600 --> 00:13:46.079 to your doorstep. 00:13:46.079 --> 00:13:49.639 And look, quite honestly, you know, 00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:51.039 you could just drive to the store. 00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:54.639 I don't, there comes a point when, 00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:56.360 I don't mean to be too critical of Amazon, 00:13:56.360 --> 00:13:58.360 but there comes a point where I'm like, 00:13:58.360 --> 00:14:00.399 you really needed that badly within two hours, 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:04.600 you need to call upon a drone to drop off your package. 00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:06.079 You ever heard of going to the grocery store? 00:14:06.079 --> 00:14:08.039 I don't know, but maybe some people can't drive. 00:14:08.039 --> 00:14:10.120 Maybe that's what it is. 00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:12.480 In all of that, we live in this culture 00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:14.559 where there's instant gratification, 00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:17.559 entertainment, hours upon thousands and thousands 00:14:17.559 --> 00:14:21.599 of hours of audiobooks and videos on demand. 00:14:21.599 --> 00:14:23.439 You can go to YouTube and you can find 00:14:23.439 --> 00:14:25.559 some really good things to watch, 00:14:25.559 --> 00:14:28.759 but what does that teach us about patience though? 00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:32.719 How many of us have ever, maybe you've bought 00:14:32.719 --> 00:14:37.039 a handcrafted item, something that is, 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:40.959 think of a, someone who works with wood. 00:14:40.959 --> 00:14:44.240 That takes a long time to fine tune it, right? 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:47.759 To make sure that the wood is carved in such a way. 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:50.759 Or if you look at old statues throughout history, right? 00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:54.480 If it's made out of a granite, how long that takes? 00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:57.159 You can't have that done in two hours, 00:14:57.159 --> 00:14:59.120 at least to my knowledge. 00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:03.839 But the idea is, again, the culture in which we live in, 00:15:03.839 --> 00:15:06.439 it's an instant gratification culture. 00:15:06.440 --> 00:15:09.240 We then go on to forgiving each other. 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:14.080 This echoes Ephesians chapter four verse 32, 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:16.560 which says we are to forgive one another 00:15:16.560 --> 00:15:18.880 as God forgives us. 00:15:18.880 --> 00:15:22.920 Forgiveness does not mean provoking one another, right? 00:15:22.920 --> 00:15:24.240 It doesn't mean provoking someone 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:26.640 because of the past things that you did. 00:15:26.640 --> 00:15:30.920 It's not being resentful or keeping a record of wrongs. 00:15:30.920 --> 00:15:32.680 It is obvious, look, I understand, 00:15:32.680 --> 00:15:34.720 it's challenging to forgive someone. 00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:38.879 Whatever they did, big or small is wrong. 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:39.920 I get it. 00:15:39.920 --> 00:15:44.920 But we are called by the Lord to forgive each other. 00:15:44.920 --> 00:15:47.720 Again, it can be challenging, but we must move forward. 00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:50.840 Then we have this next one, bearing with one another. 00:15:50.840 --> 00:15:52.840 Just like how it says in 1 Corinthians, 00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:55.920 the parallel passage that love bears all things 00:15:55.920 --> 00:15:58.200 and endures all things. 00:15:58.200 --> 00:16:00.920 Believers, the church, the body of Christ, 00:16:00.920 --> 00:16:04.639 we are to support, we are to help one another. 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:07.519 Hold one another up, just like when I brought up 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:12.519 this imagery before, the idea of Kinsugi art, right? 00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:14.279 That God takes that which is broken 00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:15.759 and brings it back together. 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:19.679 Well, we also help one another out. 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:23.360 If there is good, a celebration that is happening 00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:26.240 in your life, what better way than to share 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:28.480 with your church community? 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:32.960 If you're going through a crisis, a trial or a tribulation, 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:36.960 if there's sickness that's happening in your life, 00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:38.639 when you're bearing one another up, 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:40.240 you are supporting one another. 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:41.960 You are being there for one another. 00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:45.360 You're exhibiting the love of Christ for each other. 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:47.960 That is something that is very powerful, right? 00:16:47.960 --> 00:16:50.720 Just as God takes what is broken and bends us 00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:53.960 and upholds us, we are called to bear one another. 00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:57.519 We help one another through life's highs and lows, 00:16:57.519 --> 00:17:00.920 just like how we're celebrating Mateo today, right? 00:17:00.919 --> 00:17:04.079 It's a wonderful time for us as the body of Christ 00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:07.680 to celebrate the birth of a child. 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:12.680 Or when someone, again, is sick, we can support one another. 00:17:13.559 --> 00:17:16.799 Do you realize that God loves you? 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:20.799 Do you realize that you should not live this life alone? 00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:24.839 That God calls you to have a relationship with him? 00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:29.440 And in the same way, God calls for us to love one another 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:33.000 just as Christ has loved us. 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:35.080 We are not alone in this life. 00:17:35.080 --> 00:17:39.600 God is here for us, and in turn, the body of Christ, 00:17:39.600 --> 00:17:41.600 we should be there for one another. 00:17:41.600 --> 00:17:45.080 This is the beauty of the church. 00:17:45.080 --> 00:17:46.720 Then of course, you have love, 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:49.519 which binds everything together in perfect harmony, 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:51.600 and love never ending, right? 00:17:51.600 --> 00:17:54.880 Love believes all things and hope all things. 00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:58.080 In 1 Corinthians, it's stating 00:17:58.079 --> 00:17:59.799 that love is the most important thing. 00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:01.599 Without love, we are nothing. 00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:04.000 Love remains forever, and it never fails. 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:06.039 And it even goes as far as to say 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:09.039 that love lasts more than spiritual gifts 00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:11.480 and is deemed superior in the eyes of God. 00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:13.159 That's a very difficult one. 00:18:13.159 --> 00:18:15.119 But knowing that love will endure that long, 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:17.359 that's a very encouraging thing. 00:18:17.359 --> 00:18:21.279 That love perseveres through all circumstances. 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:23.119 When we're considering Colossians, 00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:25.359 it is the call to put on love, 00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:28.759 which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:32.279 The difference here is that it's the difference 00:18:32.279 --> 00:18:34.279 between love being a description 00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:38.519 and love being a call to live out love with other people. 00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:39.959 Can I get any men on that? 00:18:40.959 --> 00:18:44.439 If we know that love upholds and it never fails, 00:18:44.439 --> 00:18:47.000 why would we not want to exhibit love? 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:49.319 Why would we not want to love one another 00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:50.839 as God has loved us? 00:18:50.839 --> 00:18:52.439 Why would we not want to exhibit 00:18:52.439 --> 00:18:54.639 the love of Christ to our neighbor? 00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:55.480 Think about that. 00:18:55.480 --> 00:18:56.560 Let me ask that again. 00:18:56.560 --> 00:19:00.759 If we know that love upholds and it never fails, 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:03.720 why would we not want to love? 00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:07.920 Why would we exhibit hatred or rudeness or arrogance? 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:10.080 Why wouldn't we want to share 00:19:10.080 --> 00:19:11.960 in the love of Christ with others? 00:19:12.800 --> 00:19:15.880 That's very thought-provoking, right? 00:19:15.880 --> 00:19:18.080 Aren't we called to love God? 00:19:18.080 --> 00:19:21.000 Aren't we called to love others, our neighbors, 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:23.480 and even ourselves? 00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:28.000 The love of God, as I've mentioned, the Kinsugi bowl, 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:31.319 God taking what is broken and bringing it back together, 00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:36.319 we become through belief one with God connected and restored. 00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:39.519 We go from darkness to light 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:42.480 and we are held together by the love of God. 00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:45.279 This binding and upholding love never fails 00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:49.620 and brings us into perfect harmony with the beloved one. 00:19:49.619 --> 00:19:55.219 John chapter 17, it's that next slide here. 00:19:57.779 --> 00:20:00.299 Chapter 17, verses 22 through 23. 00:20:00.299 --> 00:20:02.699 This is when Christ is saying, 00:20:02.699 --> 00:20:06.779 the glory that you have given me, I have given to them, 00:20:06.779 --> 00:20:10.619 that they may be one even as we are one. 00:20:10.619 --> 00:20:15.419 I am them and you and me that they become perfectly one. 00:20:15.419 --> 00:20:17.259 So that what? 00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:20.980 The world may know that you sent me and love them 00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:23.180 even as you loved me. 00:20:23.180 --> 00:20:26.099 So it's a lot of this is happening, 00:20:26.099 --> 00:20:31.099 but the main idea here is that the love that comes from God, 00:20:31.379 --> 00:20:36.460 the love that comes from Christ, it should dwell within us 00:20:36.460 --> 00:20:41.000 and that love should radiate out to other people. 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:45.059 Do you experience this kind of love? 00:20:45.059 --> 00:20:49.480 Do you want to experience this kind of love and restoration? 00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:54.480 Let this be a call to come to him and to believe in Christ 00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:58.339 and to be saved by God's grace through faith in him. 00:20:58.339 --> 00:21:01.099 From this belief and this faith in Christ, 00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:04.500 we are called to leave once again the former life 00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:06.299 and to put on the new life. 00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:09.779 And just from reading these descriptions here, 00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:12.779 I don't wanna live in the former life. 00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:16.180 I want to live in the new life that God is going to 00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:19.779 transform my mind and my heart the very way that I think, 00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:22.180 the very way that I act. 00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:25.599 Don't you want to take upon these attributes? 00:21:26.460 --> 00:21:28.859 Something to think about. 00:21:28.859 --> 00:21:30.899 We now go into verse 15, 00:21:30.899 --> 00:21:34.819 one body in peace from Christ to be thankful 00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:38.059 and let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts 00:21:38.059 --> 00:21:42.059 to which indeed you were called one body and be thankful. 00:21:42.059 --> 00:21:46.500 This peace is the peace that surpasses all understanding. 00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:49.419 It brings us together in the body of Christ, 00:21:49.419 --> 00:21:52.139 the unity of the spirit. 00:21:52.139 --> 00:21:53.700 And in such a noisy world, 00:21:53.700 --> 00:21:56.579 just like I was mentioning those Amazon drones 00:21:56.579 --> 00:22:01.339 and everything, there's also a noisy world of culture. 00:22:01.339 --> 00:22:05.579 I've called it the cultural fog that exists in this world. 00:22:05.579 --> 00:22:09.259 I would love for Christ's peace to be in my heart 00:22:09.259 --> 00:22:12.019 and I would like to be connected to something better. 00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:16.299 Don't you get tired of the crazy noise of culture, 00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:20.379 the fog and the confusion that the world has to offer? 00:22:20.379 --> 00:22:23.140 Don't you want peace in your life? 00:22:23.140 --> 00:22:27.579 Because God provides peace that surpasses all understanding. 00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:29.779 The apostle Paul is saying here, 00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:32.940 let that peace of Christ rule in our hearts, 00:22:32.940 --> 00:22:37.940 rule within us to which indeed you were called into one body. 00:22:37.940 --> 00:22:40.259 You weren't called to be separated. 00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:43.220 You were called to come together. 00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:46.259 There's just comfort in knowing that as a believer, 00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:49.340 you have Christ within you 00:22:49.340 --> 00:22:53.820 and your brothers and sisters have Christ living within you. 00:22:55.259 --> 00:23:00.259 Don't you think that the world needs peace and clarity 00:23:00.380 --> 00:23:02.539 in such a time as this? 00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:06.299 There is also this peace that is the bond. 00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:09.059 It is the unity of the Holy Spirit. 00:23:09.059 --> 00:23:13.259 We now go to verse 16, which says here, 00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:17.779 let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, 00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:21.419 teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, 00:23:21.419 --> 00:23:25.099 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs 00:23:25.099 --> 00:23:27.819 with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:31.659 The apostle Paul writes that as we are putting on the new self 00:23:31.659 --> 00:23:34.339 and as we're being called to live this new life, 00:23:34.339 --> 00:23:37.819 receiving the peace that surpasses all understanding, 00:23:37.819 --> 00:23:42.819 we must let the word of Christ dwell within us richly. 00:23:42.899 --> 00:23:45.259 Paul is calling for the Colossian church 00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:49.179 to have this word dwell richly in them. 00:23:49.179 --> 00:23:52.539 This too is after salvation. 00:23:52.539 --> 00:23:55.259 To have the word of Christ dwell within 00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:59.699 means having the teachings of Jesus Christ live 00:23:59.699 --> 00:24:03.699 or inhabit within the context of the Colossian church. 00:24:03.700 --> 00:24:06.819 And since Jesus Christ is the word 00:24:06.819 --> 00:24:09.299 and the word is living inactive, 00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:11.940 we can see this wonderful connection 00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:15.660 that the word of Christ not only speaks of the teaching 00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:18.620 and the parables and the wisdom from Jesus Christ, 00:24:18.620 --> 00:24:21.500 but also the word of God. 00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:24.660 Let the word of God dwell within you. 00:24:24.660 --> 00:24:27.740 The scripture has many verses that show the evidence 00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:31.539 of the triune God and that God, the Father, the Son 00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:34.460 and the Holy Spirit dwells within us. 00:24:34.460 --> 00:24:39.460 I find it remarkable to know that the triune God 00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:43.659 dwells within me and it should dwell within you. 00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:46.539 The dwelling of the word of Christ, 00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:50.899 we are to let it teach us and to admonish us, right? 00:24:50.899 --> 00:24:53.819 That word admonish is to warn us. 00:24:53.819 --> 00:24:57.420 The apostle Paul wants the Colossians to continue 00:24:57.420 --> 00:24:59.379 in their trajectory of being a church 00:24:59.380 --> 00:25:02.980 that again is faithful to God and his word. 00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:06.260 It is a call to let the word help them grow, 00:25:06.260 --> 00:25:10.380 but also to be cautious of things that distract, 00:25:10.380 --> 00:25:14.220 things that dilute or rob them or opportunities 00:25:14.220 --> 00:25:17.100 to do good in the name of Christ. 00:25:17.100 --> 00:25:19.940 The description that we find here in verse 16, 00:25:19.940 --> 00:25:22.140 it speaks of a church setting 00:25:22.140 --> 00:25:25.500 where the teaching of God's word happens 00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:27.820 and warnings happen. 00:25:27.819 --> 00:25:30.779 That's always a hard one when we hear that, right? 00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:34.179 Right, okay, I wanna come to learn the word of God. 00:25:34.179 --> 00:25:35.460 What about the warning? 00:25:36.419 --> 00:25:38.659 Can we skip that part? 00:25:38.659 --> 00:25:41.139 Well, there's an importance for knowing warnings 00:25:41.139 --> 00:25:43.659 in the early church much like we need to know 00:25:43.659 --> 00:25:46.559 the warning of today, right? 00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:48.899 Churches today, there needs to be the teaching 00:25:48.899 --> 00:25:51.779 of God's word, the preaching of God's word 00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:56.460 and the warning of infiltration or of evil. 00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:59.740 Just as there were warnings in the Colossian church, 00:25:59.740 --> 00:26:03.100 there are certainly warnings for Christians today. 00:26:03.100 --> 00:26:05.220 In regards to warnings here, 00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:07.660 we have to think of things that are happening 00:26:07.660 --> 00:26:10.380 in our culture that can distract us, 00:26:10.380 --> 00:26:12.980 that can distort the truth of the gospel, 00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:15.940 things that can dilute you or deceive you 00:26:17.059 --> 00:26:19.860 because the truth of the word of God is simple. 00:26:21.059 --> 00:26:24.940 How easy is it for us to get distracted by things? 00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:27.380 It can be anything from technology. 00:26:27.380 --> 00:26:29.779 It can be social movements, right? 00:26:29.779 --> 00:26:31.620 That can become a distraction 00:26:31.620 --> 00:26:33.779 from your relationship with the Lord. 00:26:34.580 --> 00:26:38.860 And so that's something we must all think about. 00:26:38.860 --> 00:26:41.580 It's not a call for us to be afraid, 00:26:41.580 --> 00:26:43.660 but it's for us to be aware 00:26:43.660 --> 00:26:47.019 so that we know how to respond appropriately. 00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:49.820 The verse also mentions singing psalms, hymns, 00:26:49.820 --> 00:26:52.779 and spiritual songs, it's a great description 00:26:52.779 --> 00:26:55.579 of praise and worship in the church, right? 00:26:55.579 --> 00:26:58.899 We as the church are to be together 00:26:58.899 --> 00:27:02.500 as the body of Christ to hear, 00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:05.379 teaching, and preaching of God's word, 00:27:05.379 --> 00:27:08.899 to know how to respond to warnings, 00:27:08.899 --> 00:27:10.099 things that are happening, 00:27:10.099 --> 00:27:11.980 trends that are happening in our culture 00:27:11.980 --> 00:27:14.059 or in the Christian world, 00:27:14.059 --> 00:27:16.539 what are things we need to be mindful of? 00:27:16.539 --> 00:27:20.539 But also a time to praise and worship the living God. 00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:23.539 We are to give thanks to our God, right? 00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:26.539 Let us be thankful to God for our salvation, 00:27:26.539 --> 00:27:29.180 for life and the moments that we share 00:27:29.180 --> 00:27:31.180 with our friends and with our family, 00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:33.899 the church and to the Lord. 00:27:33.899 --> 00:27:37.059 God is the God of salvation. 00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:39.539 He is the God of restoration, 00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:43.099 of healing, of love, and of holiness. 00:27:43.099 --> 00:27:47.339 We must thank Him every day for being the truth, 00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:50.259 for being the light and the life. 00:27:50.259 --> 00:27:53.619 And we now go to verse 17 here, 00:27:53.619 --> 00:27:56.379 which says everything in the name of Christ. 00:27:56.379 --> 00:27:58.220 And I love this verse. 00:27:59.140 --> 00:28:03.059 Whatever you do in word or indeed, 00:28:03.059 --> 00:28:07.579 do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, 00:28:07.579 --> 00:28:11.019 giving thanks to God the Father through Him. 00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:16.019 And in all of this, the apostle Paul is calling the Colossians 00:28:16.460 --> 00:28:18.619 and it's a call for us today 00:28:18.619 --> 00:28:22.139 to put off the former life, the former ways, 00:28:22.139 --> 00:28:25.500 and to put on the new life and the qualities, 00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:28.619 letting the word of Christ dwell within us 00:28:28.619 --> 00:28:30.659 to become more like Christ. 00:28:31.539 --> 00:28:34.379 And as I said it in the beginning of this sermon here, 00:28:34.379 --> 00:28:37.259 believing in the Lord is the most critical. 00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:39.139 It is the most important decision 00:28:39.139 --> 00:28:40.659 that you can make in this life 00:28:40.659 --> 00:28:43.179 that not only affects the here and the now, 00:28:43.179 --> 00:28:46.779 but it affects the next life, the eternal. 00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:49.500 There is a call to grow in the word of God 00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:52.899 and to exhibit these qualities, right? 00:28:52.899 --> 00:28:55.180 To live out the new self. 00:28:55.180 --> 00:29:00.180 This is transformation into becoming the man or the woman 00:29:00.180 --> 00:29:03.180 that God wants you to become. 00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:08.180 This final verse, it calls you to go out into the world 00:29:09.579 --> 00:29:12.420 and in everything that you do, 00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:15.579 you do in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:29:15.579 --> 00:29:19.460 It is the call to do good in the name of Christ, 00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:21.740 not to do evil in Christ's name, 00:29:21.740 --> 00:29:25.019 but to do good, to love one another, right? 00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:27.379 In your jobs and in your school 00:29:27.379 --> 00:29:31.500 or when you interact with people in the community, 00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:33.139 you exhibit the love of Christ, 00:29:33.139 --> 00:29:36.579 you exhibit these attributes to others. 00:29:36.579 --> 00:29:37.980 Let it be a call. 00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:40.919 Let our lives be a testimony to God 00:29:40.919 --> 00:29:43.500 that he gave us eternal life 00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:48.259 and this life is in his son, Jesus Christ. 00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:52.339 Salvation is not the end of your life. 00:29:52.339 --> 00:29:56.140 It is the beginning and as you learn and grow, 00:29:57.140 --> 00:29:59.619 live this new life in Christ. 00:29:59.619 --> 00:30:03.619 Let us be called to go out into the world 00:30:03.619 --> 00:30:06.940 and make a difference doing everything 00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:10.900 in the name of Jesus Christ for the glory of God. 00:30:10.900 --> 00:30:14.620 And as it says here, to give thanks to him. 00:30:15.540 --> 00:30:17.300 Isn't that a beautiful verse here? 00:30:18.100 --> 00:30:20.340 And I want you to think, 00:30:20.340 --> 00:30:25.340 this world needs compassion in an uncompassionate world. 00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:29.500 This world needs humility, 00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:32.460 people who care for one another. 00:30:32.460 --> 00:30:35.019 This world needs meekness, 00:30:35.019 --> 00:30:37.780 gentle strength in a world full of anger 00:30:37.779 --> 00:30:41.339 and hostility and arrogance and rudeness. 00:30:41.339 --> 00:30:44.220 This world needs patience 00:30:44.220 --> 00:30:48.460 in a world that knows nothing but instant gratification. 00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:51.859 This world needs forgiveness, 00:30:51.859 --> 00:30:53.879 especially in a world and a culture 00:30:53.879 --> 00:30:57.319 that doesn't forgive or doesn't forget. 00:30:57.319 --> 00:31:01.119 People need to know that they are not alone in this life. 00:31:01.119 --> 00:31:03.940 From the teenager to the single mother 00:31:03.940 --> 00:31:06.539 to the elderly man or whatever, 00:31:06.539 --> 00:31:11.539 people need, they desire something more in this life. 00:31:11.940 --> 00:31:15.899 They crave life, a sense of belonging and purpose. 00:31:15.899 --> 00:31:18.980 And above all, this world needs love 00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:23.740 because love binds things together and it brings harmony. 00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:27.299 And all of these things are available 00:31:27.299 --> 00:31:29.940 for those who believe in Christ. 00:31:29.940 --> 00:31:32.740 Not only is this a call for us as Christians 00:31:32.740 --> 00:31:34.440 to go out into the world, 00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:38.420 but it's a call for us to share in our faith with others. 00:31:38.420 --> 00:31:41.299 That is why we are to live out this new life 00:31:41.299 --> 00:31:44.259 and to share our faith with others. 00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:46.220 If you do not believe in the Lord, 00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:49.420 let this be a call for you to believe and be saved. 00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:50.980 If you are a believer, 00:31:50.980 --> 00:31:53.180 let this be a call for you to begin 00:31:53.180 --> 00:31:56.720 or to continue your journey of spiritual transformation, 00:31:56.720 --> 00:32:00.700 restoration, renewal and healing. 00:32:00.700 --> 00:32:02.380 If you are being changed 00:32:02.380 --> 00:32:04.460 and you're living out this new life, 00:32:04.460 --> 00:32:06.860 continue to be a salt of the earth 00:32:06.860 --> 00:32:09.220 and ambassador for Christ. 00:32:09.220 --> 00:32:13.420 Can you imagine your life being transformed? 00:32:13.420 --> 00:32:17.820 Can you imagine the impact we as a church, 00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:22.500 can you imagine the impact that we can have on the community? 00:32:22.500 --> 00:32:25.180 The good that we can do in the name of Christ? 00:32:26.740 --> 00:32:28.940 Why aren't we called to do? 00:32:28.940 --> 00:32:30.540 We are called to do. 00:32:30.539 --> 00:32:33.139 We're called to do good in the name of Christ. 00:32:33.139 --> 00:32:35.659 We're called to act upon this faith. 00:32:35.659 --> 00:32:38.220 So why wouldn't we want to do this? 00:32:38.220 --> 00:32:42.299 Let this be a call for you to believe in the Lord, 00:32:42.299 --> 00:32:45.220 to know Him, to grow in faith, 00:32:45.220 --> 00:32:47.539 set aside your former life, 00:32:47.539 --> 00:32:52.539 take on the new self and do good in the name of Christ. 00:32:52.779 --> 00:32:53.700 Let us pray. 00:32:55.819 --> 00:32:59.619 And gracious Father, we thank you for loving us. 00:32:59.619 --> 00:33:01.059 We thank you for your word 00:33:01.059 --> 00:33:03.259 and we thank you for sending your Son 00:33:03.259 --> 00:33:06.819 to make salvation available for all who believe. 00:33:06.819 --> 00:33:10.139 We pray that as truth is spoken here, 00:33:10.139 --> 00:33:12.779 there will be a response to your call, 00:33:12.779 --> 00:33:15.539 believing in you, growing in you, 00:33:15.539 --> 00:33:17.379 putting on this new self, 00:33:17.379 --> 00:33:19.539 letting go of the former life 00:33:19.539 --> 00:33:21.619 and doing good in your name. 00:33:21.619 --> 00:33:24.659 We pray for transformation in our lives. 00:33:24.659 --> 00:33:27.579 We pray that we can be beacons of hope, 00:33:27.579 --> 00:33:30.579 shining the light, love and truth of Christ, 00:33:31.539 --> 00:33:33.699 to the community, to the neighbor, 00:33:33.699 --> 00:33:36.899 those who don't know you, those who need encouragement, 00:33:36.899 --> 00:33:39.619 maybe the ones who need to come back to you. 00:33:39.619 --> 00:33:41.980 May we sing this song with thankfulness 00:33:41.980 --> 00:33:43.859 in our hearts towards you 00:33:43.859 --> 00:33:47.980 and may we boldly live this new life in you. 00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:50.859 It is in Jesus' name that we pray 00:33:50.859 --> 00:33:54.019 and we all say together, amen. 00:33:54.019 --> 00:33:55.059 Thank you for tuning in 00:33:55.059 --> 00:33:58.059 to the Ontario Community Church Sermon Podcast. 00:33:58.059 --> 00:33:59.579 For more about our church 00:33:59.579 --> 00:34:02.259 and how you can get involved or support our mission, 00:34:02.259 --> 00:34:05.980 please visit ontariocommunitychurch.org. 00:34:05.980 --> 00:34:25.940 May God's blessings be with you.