WEBVTT

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 Well, again, let me welcome you to Church of the Advent, to the Brooklyn Parish community.

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 A year ago, this community launched, and not without much effort and prayer and sacrifice.

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 A number of you here have been a part of Advent for years, and you know the time that it took,

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 and you know the sacrifice, you know the cost, the impact on our community.

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 And so what we're here to do today is to remember that, to acknowledge it,

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 and then also to give thanks for the fruit that has come from that sacrifice.

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 The Christian life is full of death and resurrection.

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 And so we have experienced death at Advent, and then we have begun to taste together the glory of resurrection

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 that always follows because of Jesus Christ.

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 And so we're here to celebrate that.

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 It's a wonderful opportunity to be together.

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 And we've been studying for the last couple of weeks the book of Colossians,

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 and I'm really excited about this passage here because I think as we gather together all in this place,

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 this is a fantastically appropriate passage for us to look at.

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 It's in the first chapter of Paul's letter to the Christians, the Colossian Christians,

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 and it's verses 9 to 14.

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 And this is Paul thinking about this church that he's heard about.

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 You know, like many of you in Columbia Heights, you heard about this community launching in Brooklyn,

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 but you never have seen it until now.

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 So Paul has heard about this community launching in Colossians,

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 but Paul's actually never met these people.

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 He's just heard about their faith.

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 And so Paul says,

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 As I've heard about you, and as I've heard about your faith,

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 from the moment I first heard, I have not ceased to pray for you.

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 I hope that's true of us.

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 I hope that here in Brooklyn we never cease to pray for Columbia Heights.

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 I hope that in Columbia Heights we never cease to pray for Brooklyn,

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 even if they're people we've never met.

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 I also hope that this is true for our prayers for churches all through this city

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 and all around the world,

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 that we would never cease to pray for God's church.

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 And what does Paul pray?

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 Well, that's the great part.

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 He prays that the whole church, them and us,

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 would be filled with the knowledge of God.

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 What a fantastic prayer.

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 I want to focus on that, and I think it's worth our time,

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 because that concept, being filled with the knowledge of God,

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 that can actually be very tricky and misleading.

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 So what does it mean?

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 And this passage shows us two things.

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 It shows us what it is,

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 what is this knowledge that Paul prays for,

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 and then how do we get it?

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 Where does it come from?

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 So let's pray as we get started.

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 Our Heavenly Father, we thank you

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 that there was at one time an apostle

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 who never ceased to pray for the church.

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 We thank you for the love and the faithfulness represented in that.

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 But more so, we thank you for your son Jesus,

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 because we know that even now, as he sits in the throne of heaven,

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 he prays for us.

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 Lord, your word says he never stops praying for us.

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 And so we know that the content of his prayer

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 is reflected in the content of Paul's prayer,

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 that we would be filled with the knowledge of you.

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 So Lord, help us to see through your written word

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 what that means,

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 and help us ultimately to encounter your living word

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 in your son Jesus Christ.

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 And it's in his name that we pray.

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 Amen.

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 So filled with the knowledge of God,

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 what is that?

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 What does it mean?

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 Let me give you some context about the Colossian Christians.

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 This is a relatively young church,

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 young congregation,

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 not just in age,

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 but also in spiritual maturity.

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 They're newer believers.

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 They're young.

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 They're excited about their faith,

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 but they're wanting more.

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 Paul has sent an emissary,

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 a representative,

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 to plant this church,

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 Epaphroditus,

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 to share the gospel,

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 and he's been their minister,

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 and the churches begin to grow,

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 and they've received the gospel.

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 And as Dan preached on last week,

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 Paul says,

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 because the gospel has the power to save,

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 and because you have received the gospel,

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 and you've been saved,

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 therefore I pray this prayer for you.

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 And he knows that the Colossian Christians,

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 they're new,

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 they're young,

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 they're just starting to grow,

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 that they're wanting more.

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 They're wanting to go deep.

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 They're wanting to experience the fullness of their faith.

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 Some of them are saying,

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 you know,

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 I've been a Christian for a couple of years now,

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 and I thought all my problems would go away.

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 I thought things would get easier.

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 I thought all my needs would be met,

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 that I would be satisfied.

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 And actually life has gotten harder.

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 And I struggle more.

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 And what's that about?

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 And so they're wondering,

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 is there more to this?

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 Well,

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 conveniently,

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 other teachers have come into the community.

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 And these teachers have said,

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 why yes?

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 There is more.

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 You believe in Jesus,

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 that's great,

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 that's step one.

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 But there are more steps.

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 There are deeper mysteries.

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 There is a knowledge that we can impart to you,

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 that will radically enhance,

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 your experience of the faith,

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 and will unlock the full potential,

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 of the Christian life.

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 Do you want that?

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 Yes,

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 I do.

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 We'll come right this way.

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 I'm going to give a brief talk,

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 and then my books will be for sale in the lobby.

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 And this is what's happening.

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 These false teachers are coming in.

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 And the knowledge that they offer is a certain kind of knowledge.

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 See,

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 in the Greek,

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 there are two words for knowledge.

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 The first is the word gnosis,

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 from which we get Gnosticism.

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 And this teaching later,

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 in the coming centuries,

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 will give rise to something called Gnosticism.

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 There's Gnostic knowledge,

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 which is an abstract knowledge,

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 an intellectual knowledge.

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 Gnosis is ideas,

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 it's theories,

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 right?

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 So that's gnosis knowledge,

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 head knowledge.

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 But then there's another word for knowledge,

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 epinosis.

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 And epinosis means a practical,

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 personal knowledge,

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 that can only come through lived experience.

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 So gnosis is abstract knowledge.

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 Epinosis is personal knowledge that comes through lived experience.

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 Well,

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 these teachers are offering the first kind of knowledge.

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 Gnosis knowledge,

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 deeper mysteries,

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 new ideas,

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 new concepts,

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 new methods,

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 new techniques to unlock the deeper mysteries of the Christian faith.

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 And I would stop and say,

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 I don't think that much has changed between then and now.

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 Right?

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 Post-enlightenment,

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 ever since the enlightenment sort of enthroned human reason,

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 humanity's intellectual capacity has been elevated to the highest levels.

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 Descartes,

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 I think,

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 therefore I am,

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 our ability to think and understand has been made primary.

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 And now we live in a culture that is oversaturated with gnosis,

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 knowledge,

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 with content,

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 with ideas,

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 with theories and methods,

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 abstract content.

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 And this isn't just in the spiritual world.

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 We have Netflix.

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 We have Hulu.

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 We have all of our favorite podcasts.

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 There are now an almost infinite array of podcasts out there.

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 Sermon recordings,

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 almost an infinite number of those.

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 TED Talks,

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 the Christian version of TED,

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 the Q Conference,

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 just finished this past weekend.

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 Right?

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 More content is now going out on the internet.

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 There's an enormous amount of content.

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 And we have this access to consume as much of it as we possibly want.

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 All of this gnosis that we can just drink in.

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 Right?

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 And you say,

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 well,

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 what's the problem with that?

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 And I would say,

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 nothing.

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 Nothing.

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 I love that stuff too.

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 I have my favorite podcasts.

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 I have my favorite preachers that I listen to.

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 I have my favorite TED Talks.

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 I have all of the things that I love to consume during the week.

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 The sources of gnosis knowledge.

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 I love it as much as you do.

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 So there's absolutely no problem with this at all.

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 Unless you make the mistake of thinking that that will lead to spiritual growth.

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 That's where we go wrong.

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 If I drink all of this in all week.

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 That somehow that will make me grow.

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 That's the danger.

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 Actually,

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 I believe this is one of the greatest threats crippling Christians in our culture today.

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 That we believe people to be,

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 as the philosopher James K.A.

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 Smith says,

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 giant bobbleheads.

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 You know,

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 tiny little body.

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 Enormous head.

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 Right?

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 And if we can just open the head up and then dump all of this knowledge in,

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 that somehow that will result in growth and transformation and maturity.

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 But people aren't bobbleheads.

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 And the result,

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 according to theologian Marva Dawn,

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 is that people have been habituated to,

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 quote,

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 a low information action ratio.

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 People are accustomed to learning good ideas and then doing nothing about them.

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 Right?

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 That's a great idea.

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 That's an amazing concept.

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 That would be a wonderful way to live.

00:10:08.700 --> 00:10:08.980
 Alright,

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 I'm done.

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 Right?

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 And we have this list of favorite podcasts.

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 So,

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 this approach,

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 what it actually does,

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 is create a bunch of people who have a lot of head knowledge,

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 but they live as functional atheists.

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 They have an enormous amount of head knowledge.

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 But their lifestyle

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 is functional atheism.

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 There's no connection.

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 Right?

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 And that's why Paul makes it clear here

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 that his desire,

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 his unceasing prayer,

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 is not that they would get more head knowledge.

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 That's not the word he uses.

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 He doesn't say,

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 you need to learn more.

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 He prays that they would be filled with epinosis.

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 personal,

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 experiential knowledge.

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 Knowledge that can only come

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 through lived experience.

00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:06.360
 Gnosis versus epinosis.

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 So,

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 think about the neighborhood

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 that you live in right now.

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 Or maybe the neighborhood

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 that you grew up in.

00:11:11.220 --> 00:11:12.179
 There are two ways

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 to know that neighborhood.

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 The first is to get out a map.

00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:18.480
 Right?

00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:19.899
 You can get out a map

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 and you can do that from anywhere.

00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:22.039
 Get out a map,

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 look at all the streets,

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 memorize the map,

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 you know that neighborhood

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 on one level.

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 That's gnosis.

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 But the other way

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 to know that neighborhood

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 is to live there.

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 Is to walk the streets

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 every day.

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 Is to take in

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 the smells

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 and the unique sounds

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 and the sights

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 and the landmarks

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 and meet the people

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 and get to know the families

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 and the issues

00:11:47.099 --> 00:11:48.839
 that are facing that neighborhood.

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 That's another way

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 of knowing that neighborhood.

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 And what Paul is saying

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 is that our doctrine

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 is a lot like a map.

00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:00.660
 We need it.

00:12:01.040 --> 00:12:01.960
 We need to know

00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:03.379
 how things fit together.

00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:04.379
 It's very important.

00:12:05.980 --> 00:12:06.840
 But Christianity

00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:08.220
 ultimately is not meant

00:12:08.220 --> 00:12:09.759
 to be learned

00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:11.580
 so much as inhabited.

00:12:12.820 --> 00:12:14.279
 The Christian faith

00:12:14.279 --> 00:12:16.800
 is meant to be inhabited.

00:12:17.860 --> 00:12:19.379
 You have to move in.

00:12:19.920 --> 00:12:20.920
 You have to live there.

00:12:20.919 --> 00:12:22.079
 You have to walk

00:12:22.079 --> 00:12:23.079
 the streets of faith

00:12:23.079 --> 00:12:24.439
 with your own two feet.

00:12:27.219 --> 00:12:28.299
 So if that's what

00:12:28.299 --> 00:12:29.659
 Paul is praying for

00:12:29.659 --> 00:12:30.779
 then how do we get it?

00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:31.839
 What does that mean?

00:12:32.459 --> 00:12:34.019
 And if we look at this passage

00:12:34.019 --> 00:12:35.299
 that's what he's talking about.

00:12:35.599 --> 00:12:35.899
 He says,

00:12:35.979 --> 00:12:37.379
 And so from the day we've heard

00:12:37.379 --> 00:12:38.360
 we've not ceased

00:12:38.360 --> 00:12:39.279
 to pray for you

00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:41.079
 asking that you may be filled

00:12:41.079 --> 00:12:41.779
 with the knowledge

00:12:41.779 --> 00:12:42.459
 of his will

00:12:42.459 --> 00:12:44.079
 in all spiritual wisdom

00:12:44.079 --> 00:12:44.759
 and understanding.

00:12:44.899 --> 00:12:45.799
 So I'm asking

00:12:45.799 --> 00:12:46.779
 that you would be filled

00:12:46.779 --> 00:12:47.500
 with the knowledge

00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:48.240
 of his will.

00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:48.699
 Why?

00:12:48.700 --> 00:12:51.700
 So as to walk

00:12:51.700 --> 00:12:52.759
 in a manner worthy

00:12:52.759 --> 00:12:53.420
 of the Lord

00:12:53.420 --> 00:12:55.360
 fully pleasing to him

00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:56.480
 bearing fruit

00:12:56.480 --> 00:12:57.340
 in every good work.

00:12:57.440 --> 00:12:57.620
 Okay,

00:12:57.759 --> 00:12:59.180
 so I want you to know

00:12:59.180 --> 00:13:01.700
 and understand the map.

00:13:01.820 --> 00:13:02.540
 I want you to know

00:13:02.540 --> 00:13:03.540
 the will of God

00:13:03.540 --> 00:13:04.120
 and be filled

00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:05.480
 with the understanding

00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:06.120
 and the wisdom

00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:06.860
 that comes from

00:13:06.860 --> 00:13:07.759
 knowing the will of God

00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:09.320
 so that you can then

00:13:09.320 --> 00:13:10.379
 begin to walk

00:13:10.379 --> 00:13:11.580
 in a manner

00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:12.940
 that is pleasing to him

00:13:12.940 --> 00:13:13.980
 in a manner

00:13:13.980 --> 00:13:14.640
 where you begin

00:13:14.640 --> 00:13:15.580
 to bear genuine

00:13:15.580 --> 00:13:16.560
 kingdom fruit.

00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:17.719
 Why?

00:13:20.239 --> 00:13:20.639
 Well,

00:13:20.699 --> 00:13:21.379
 look what it says.

00:13:22.179 --> 00:13:22.859
 Bearing fruit

00:13:22.859 --> 00:13:23.559
 in every good work

00:13:23.559 --> 00:13:24.959
 and increasing

00:13:24.959 --> 00:13:26.179
 in the knowledge

00:13:26.179 --> 00:13:26.619
 of God.

00:13:27.059 --> 00:13:28.199
 You see how this works?

00:13:28.519 --> 00:13:29.799
 You learn God's will

00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:30.559
 and then you begin

00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:31.119
 to do

00:13:31.119 --> 00:13:32.059
 and to live out

00:13:32.059 --> 00:13:32.619
 God's will

00:13:32.619 --> 00:13:34.000
 and only through that

00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:34.439
 do you come

00:13:34.439 --> 00:13:35.779
 to a deeper knowledge

00:13:35.779 --> 00:13:36.719
 of God.

00:13:36.819 --> 00:13:37.899
 I want you to move in.

00:13:38.079 --> 00:13:38.679
 I want you to walk

00:13:38.679 --> 00:13:39.179
 the streets.

00:13:39.419 --> 00:13:40.000
 I want you to trip

00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:40.919
 and fall and stumble

00:13:40.919 --> 00:13:41.419
 and get up

00:13:41.419 --> 00:13:42.779
 and learn your way around.

00:13:43.979 --> 00:13:44.939
 Life in the kingdom.

00:13:44.940 --> 00:13:47.320
 And through that

00:13:47.320 --> 00:13:47.840
 you will gain

00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:49.000
 that deeper knowledge.

00:13:49.160 --> 00:13:49.780
 It's not going to come

00:13:49.780 --> 00:13:50.440
 from these books.

00:13:50.760 --> 00:13:51.460
 It's not going to come

00:13:51.460 --> 00:13:52.820
 from these cults

00:13:52.820 --> 00:13:53.460
 of personality,

00:13:53.660 --> 00:13:56.100
 these ideas,

00:13:56.320 --> 00:13:57.240
 these methodologies.

00:13:58.600 --> 00:13:59.440
 It's going to come

00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:00.080
 when you walk

00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:00.600
 those streets

00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:01.620
 with your own two feet.

00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:04.360
 Right?

00:14:04.520 --> 00:14:04.740
 So,

00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:06.160
 gnosis,

00:14:06.740 --> 00:14:07.260
 head knowledge,

00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:08.060
 is important

00:14:08.060 --> 00:14:09.400
 but it's meant

00:14:09.400 --> 00:14:10.340
 to be converted

00:14:10.340 --> 00:14:11.520
 into epinosis.

00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:12.919
 It's meant

00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:13.720
 to be converted

00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:14.939
 into personal,

00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:15.699
 practical,

00:14:16.139 --> 00:14:17.000
 lived experience.

00:14:17.299 --> 00:14:17.799
 Let me give you

00:14:17.799 --> 00:14:18.159
 an example.

00:14:18.299 --> 00:14:19.399
 Back in 2008,

00:14:19.779 --> 00:14:20.559
 Michael Phelps'

00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:23.039
 diet made news.

00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:24.559
 He's an Olympic swimmer.

00:14:24.939 --> 00:14:25.059
 Right?

00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:26.159
 He was at the peak

00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:26.819
 of performance

00:14:26.819 --> 00:14:27.639
 in 2008.

00:14:27.960 --> 00:14:28.659
 Why was his

00:14:28.659 --> 00:14:30.799
 breakfast newsworthy?

00:14:31.019 --> 00:14:31.240
 Well,

00:14:31.480 --> 00:14:32.240
 you tell me.

00:14:32.319 --> 00:14:32.699
 I'll tell you

00:14:32.699 --> 00:14:33.279
 what it was.

00:14:33.779 --> 00:14:35.240
 Three fried egg sandwiches

00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:35.919
 with cheese,

00:14:36.039 --> 00:14:36.419
 tomatoes,

00:14:36.579 --> 00:14:37.079
 fried onions,

00:14:37.179 --> 00:14:37.539
 and mayo.

00:14:38.600 --> 00:14:40.039
 Then a five egg omelet.

00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:42.719
 Then a bowl of grits.

00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:44.819
 Then three slices

00:14:44.819 --> 00:14:45.759
 of French toast.

00:14:46.419 --> 00:14:47.939
 Then three pancakes

00:14:47.939 --> 00:14:48.819
 with chocolate chips.

00:14:49.059 --> 00:14:49.319
 Do you know

00:14:49.319 --> 00:14:50.839
 the total caloric content

00:14:50.839 --> 00:14:51.860
 of that breakfast?

00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:54.699
 4,000 calories.

00:14:55.539 --> 00:14:56.219
 That's twice

00:14:56.219 --> 00:14:57.500
 the recommended amount

00:14:57.500 --> 00:14:59.539
 for a human male.

00:15:00.279 --> 00:15:00.459
 Right?

00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:01.360
 And then he would do

00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:02.459
 the same thing for lunch

00:15:02.459 --> 00:15:03.439
 and the same thing

00:15:03.439 --> 00:15:03.879
 for dinner.

00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:04.139
 So,

00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:05.279
 every day around

00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:07.399
 10,000 to 12,000 calories.

00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:08.759
 Now,

00:15:08.819 --> 00:15:09.679
 you probably remember this.

00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:10.479
 Michael Phelps

00:15:10.479 --> 00:15:11.179
 can do that.

00:15:11.239 --> 00:15:11.500
 Why?

00:15:13.839 --> 00:15:14.919
 Because his body

00:15:14.919 --> 00:15:15.759
 takes that

00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:17.399
 caloric content

00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:18.419
 into his body

00:15:18.419 --> 00:15:19.179
 and it converts

00:15:19.179 --> 00:15:19.879
 those calories

00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:20.679
 into energy.

00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:23.079
 And the guy's swimming

00:15:23.079 --> 00:15:25.159
 like 26 hours a day.

00:15:26.059 --> 00:15:26.539
 So,

00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:27.319
 he can do that.

00:15:28.039 --> 00:15:28.899
 He's spending

00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:30.239
 thousands of calories.

00:15:30.459 --> 00:15:30.579
 Right?

00:15:30.839 --> 00:15:31.539
 His metabolism

00:15:31.539 --> 00:15:32.559
 is off the charts.

00:15:33.059 --> 00:15:33.539
 Right?

00:15:33.599 --> 00:15:33.699
 So,

00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:34.339
 he can do that

00:15:34.339 --> 00:15:35.339
 because the calories

00:15:35.339 --> 00:15:35.839
 get converted

00:15:35.839 --> 00:15:36.379
 into energy.

00:15:36.740 --> 00:15:37.899
 If I did that,

00:15:37.899 --> 00:15:40.259
 this may be

00:15:40.259 --> 00:15:41.000
 a huge surprise.

00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:42.259
 My activity level

00:15:42.259 --> 00:15:43.559
 is not as high

00:15:43.559 --> 00:15:44.120
 as that.

00:15:45.620 --> 00:15:47.019
 And if I did that,

00:15:47.799 --> 00:15:48.779
 it would literally

00:15:48.779 --> 00:15:49.740
 puff me up.

00:15:50.319 --> 00:15:50.720
 Why?

00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:52.939
 Because my body

00:15:52.939 --> 00:15:53.659
 wouldn't convert

00:15:53.659 --> 00:15:54.419
 those calories

00:15:54.419 --> 00:15:55.360
 into energy.

00:15:55.559 --> 00:15:56.299
 And what happens

00:15:56.299 --> 00:15:57.220
 if your calories

00:15:57.220 --> 00:15:57.959
 don't get converted

00:15:57.959 --> 00:15:58.639
 into energy?

00:15:58.639 --> 00:15:59.639
 What does your body do?

00:16:00.039 --> 00:16:00.319
 Well,

00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:01.939
 I might need this later.

00:16:02.899 --> 00:16:04.159
 I don't need it now,

00:16:04.259 --> 00:16:05.159
 but I might need it

00:16:05.159 --> 00:16:05.600
 down the road.

00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:05.779
 So,

00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:06.240
 we're just going

00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:06.820
 to convert this

00:16:06.820 --> 00:16:07.440
 into fat.

00:16:08.040 --> 00:16:08.620
 And we're going

00:16:08.620 --> 00:16:09.600
 to put it over here

00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:11.019
 next to the belly button.

00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:14.420
 And then down the road,

00:16:14.540 --> 00:16:15.180
 if we need it,

00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:16.180
 we'll remember where it is

00:16:16.180 --> 00:16:16.779
 and we'll come back

00:16:16.779 --> 00:16:17.480
 and then we'll get it out

00:16:17.480 --> 00:16:17.980
 and use it.

00:16:18.060 --> 00:16:18.259
 Right?

00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:20.519
 And so,

00:16:20.580 --> 00:16:21.620
 in the same way,

00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:24.279
 Paul says that for Christians,

00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:26.399
 gaining gnosis knowledge

00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:28.240
 is like taking in calories.

00:16:28.940 --> 00:16:30.139
 You're taking in calories.

00:16:30.139 --> 00:16:30.540
 Right?

00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:32.860
 And these calories,

00:16:33.060 --> 00:16:33.580
 this gnosis,

00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:34.860
 is meant to be converted

00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:36.639
 immediately into loving,

00:16:36.800 --> 00:16:37.860
 active obedience.

00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:38.680
 And if not,

00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:39.420
 what happens?

00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:42.060
 It makes us fat.

00:16:42.540 --> 00:16:44.000
 It makes us fat.

00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:45.100
 Spiritually fat.

00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:47.100
 As Paul says

00:16:47.100 --> 00:16:48.100
 in 1 Corinthians 8,

00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:49.480
 gnosis knowledge

00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:51.259
 can make us puffed up.

00:16:51.580 --> 00:16:51.800
 Right?

00:16:51.940 --> 00:16:52.900
 Spiritually fat.

00:16:54.300 --> 00:16:55.139
 And by that,

00:16:55.220 --> 00:16:55.780
 what does he mean?

00:16:56.680 --> 00:16:56.920
 Well,

00:16:56.920 --> 00:16:58.420
 he means conceited.

00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:00.440
 Right?

00:17:01.020 --> 00:17:01.420
 Conceited.

00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:03.779
 Look at the big brain on Brad.

00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:05.799
 Look how much he knows.

00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:06.839
 Right?

00:17:06.899 --> 00:17:08.019
 Look how much he's memorized.

00:17:08.899 --> 00:17:10.079
 Look how much he understands.

00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:11.359
 He's a great teacher.

00:17:11.500 --> 00:17:12.279
 He's a great preacher.

00:17:12.659 --> 00:17:13.599
 I love his books.

00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:16.539
 But we can become

00:17:16.539 --> 00:17:17.659
 spiritually fat.

00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:17.920
 Right?

00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:19.420
 Because we do the same thing.

00:17:19.779 --> 00:17:20.720
 We take in this knowledge.

00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:21.339
 This is great.

00:17:21.399 --> 00:17:22.319
 This is an awesome idea.

00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:23.619
 I don't really have any need

00:17:23.619 --> 00:17:24.220
 for it right now.

00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:25.500
 I'm just going to put it over here.

00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:26.599
 And maybe down the road,

00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:27.579
 I'll have a use for it.

00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:28.200
 But it's here.

00:17:28.299 --> 00:17:29.019
 It's in the file.

00:17:29.980 --> 00:17:30.180
 Right?

00:17:30.180 --> 00:17:31.759
 And we get fat.

00:17:31.880 --> 00:17:32.640
 We get puffed up.

00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:34.140
 The files get huge.

00:17:34.900 --> 00:17:36.180
 But we never convert them.

00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:38.200
 So this is what John Calvin meant

00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:38.799
 when he said that

00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:40.220
 all true knowledge of God

00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:42.840
 is born out of obedience.

00:17:44.580 --> 00:17:45.560
 Born out of obedience.

00:17:45.820 --> 00:17:46.299
 So let me give you

00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:47.220
 some examples of this.

00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:49.740
 One quick example.

00:17:50.120 --> 00:17:51.360
 You're doing it right now.

00:17:52.420 --> 00:17:53.299
 Our liturgy

00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:55.160
 is a great way

00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:56.160
 to begin to see this happen.

00:17:56.320 --> 00:17:57.440
 Liturgy is a fantastic way

00:17:57.440 --> 00:17:57.980
 to see this happen.

00:17:58.080 --> 00:17:58.279
 Why?

00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:59.639
 Because when we come here

00:17:59.639 --> 00:18:00.500
 and we stand

00:18:00.500 --> 00:18:01.079
 and we kneel

00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:01.960
 and we raise our hands

00:18:01.960 --> 00:18:02.859
 and we call

00:18:02.859 --> 00:18:03.680
 and we respond

00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:04.899
 and we pray these colics

00:18:04.899 --> 00:18:08.279
 and we enter into this liturgy,

00:18:08.379 --> 00:18:10.259
 we're actually embodying our faith.

00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:11.599
 Do you know that?

00:18:11.639 --> 00:18:12.619
 That's the purpose of liturgy.

00:18:13.879 --> 00:18:15.279
 We're embodying our faith.

00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:17.539
 We're doing with our bodies

00:18:17.539 --> 00:18:18.539
 things that represent

00:18:18.539 --> 00:18:19.399
 what we believe.

00:18:19.619 --> 00:18:20.319
 It's connecting

00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:21.899
 epinosis and gnosis.

00:18:22.059 --> 00:18:22.759
 Do you know another great way

00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:23.180
 to do that?

00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:25.819
 The sacraments.

00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:27.720
 The sacraments are like

00:18:27.720 --> 00:18:28.899
 a bridge between gnosis

00:18:28.899 --> 00:18:29.899
 and epinosis.

00:18:31.460 --> 00:18:32.079
 Right?

00:18:32.159 --> 00:18:32.839
 I know

00:18:32.839 --> 00:18:34.359
 that I need

00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:36.139
 the grace of Jesus Christ.

00:18:37.179 --> 00:18:38.700
 But there's something else

00:18:38.700 --> 00:18:39.439
 that happens

00:18:39.439 --> 00:18:42.119
 when I actually come up

00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:43.819
 and I extend my hands

00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:46.700
 and somebody places

00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:49.319
 a physical manifestation

00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:51.679
 of the grace of Jesus Christ

00:18:51.679 --> 00:18:52.519
 into my hand.

00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:54.299
 And I take that.

00:18:55.059 --> 00:18:56.180
 I take literally

00:18:56.180 --> 00:18:57.079
 the manifestation

00:18:57.079 --> 00:18:58.160
 of Jesus'

00:18:58.420 --> 00:18:59.420
 once and for all

00:18:59.420 --> 00:19:00.379
 sacrifice for me

00:19:00.379 --> 00:19:01.240
 and I take it

00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:01.859
 into my body.

00:19:02.940 --> 00:19:04.279
 I'm bridging gnosis

00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:05.579
 and epinosis.

00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:06.420
 It's becoming

00:19:06.420 --> 00:19:07.980
 tangible to me.

00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:09.000
 That's why we do it

00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:09.400
 every week.

00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:10.960
 Baptism,

00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:11.660
 the same thing.

00:19:12.339 --> 00:19:12.480
 Right?

00:19:12.639 --> 00:19:13.539
 So our liturgy

00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:14.440
 and sacraments do this

00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:15.220
 but beyond that

00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:16.000
 we're talking about

00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:17.139
 daily faithfulness.

00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:19.139
 Right?

00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:19.379
 Listen.

00:19:19.380 --> 00:19:20.780
 We all know

00:19:20.780 --> 00:19:21.560
 gnosis

00:19:21.560 --> 00:19:22.780
 that we are called

00:19:22.780 --> 00:19:23.820
 to resist temptation.

00:19:24.040 --> 00:19:25.000
 We all know that.

00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:27.220
 But we don't actually

00:19:27.220 --> 00:19:28.480
 know what that means

00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:29.520
 until we've tried

00:19:29.520 --> 00:19:30.260
 to do it.

00:19:31.100 --> 00:19:32.520
 And I love C.S. Lewis

00:19:32.520 --> 00:19:33.360
 in Mere Christianity.

00:19:33.540 --> 00:19:33.900
 He says,

00:19:34.340 --> 00:19:35.220
 A silly idea

00:19:35.220 --> 00:19:35.840
 is current

00:19:35.840 --> 00:19:37.100
 that good people

00:19:37.100 --> 00:19:37.760
 do not know

00:19:37.760 --> 00:19:38.900
 what temptation means.

00:19:39.760 --> 00:19:41.520
 That's an obvious lie.

00:19:42.420 --> 00:19:43.000
 Only those

00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:44.680
 who try to resist temptation

00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:46.580
 know how strong it is.

00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:47.820
 That's epinosis.

00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:48.000
 Epinosis.

00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:50.099
 A man who gives

00:19:50.099 --> 00:19:50.759
 in to temptation

00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:51.980
 after five minutes

00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:53.980
 simply does not know

00:19:53.980 --> 00:19:55.000
 what it would have been

00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:56.240
 like an hour later.

00:19:57.119 --> 00:19:57.519
 And he says,

00:19:57.660 --> 00:19:58.920
 That's why bad people

00:19:58.920 --> 00:19:59.680
 in one sense

00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:00.660
 know very little

00:20:00.660 --> 00:20:01.519
 about badness.

00:20:02.380 --> 00:20:03.299
 Because they've lived

00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:04.240
 a sheltered life

00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:05.599
 by always giving in.

00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:07.019
 Right?

00:20:07.099 --> 00:20:07.960
 You can know

00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:08.579
 that you're called

00:20:08.579 --> 00:20:09.220
 to resist temptation

00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:10.660
 but only after an hour,

00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:11.400
 two hours,

00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:11.980
 a day,

00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:13.440
 a week of resisting

00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:14.900
 do you really come to

00:20:14.900 --> 00:20:15.539
 know

00:20:15.539 --> 00:20:16.299
 in the sense of

00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:17.500
 walking the streets

00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:18.000
 of faith,

00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:20.440
 what that actually means,

00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:22.079
 the deeper knowledge

00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:22.920
 begins to come.

00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:23.180
 Right?

00:20:23.660 --> 00:20:24.400
 Another example.

00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:25.460
 You can know

00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:26.160
 theologically

00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:26.980
 that you're called

00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:27.460
 to forgive.

00:20:28.839 --> 00:20:29.319
 Yes,

00:20:29.380 --> 00:20:30.319
 God has forgiven me.

00:20:30.420 --> 00:20:31.059
 I know I'm called

00:20:31.059 --> 00:20:31.819
 to forgive others.

00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:32.880
 Right?

00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:33.940
 Every week we get together

00:20:33.940 --> 00:20:34.900
 we pass the peace.

00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:35.259
 Right?

00:20:35.619 --> 00:20:36.779
 To ensure that there's

00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:37.599
 forgiveness and unity

00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:38.099
 in our midst.

00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:40.500
 But we don't know

00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:41.339
 anything about

00:20:41.339 --> 00:20:42.099
 God's forgiveness

00:20:42.099 --> 00:20:43.699
 until we actually

00:20:43.699 --> 00:20:44.519
 have to forgive

00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:45.879
 someone ourselves.

00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:48.359
 Until you look

00:20:48.359 --> 00:20:49.119
 at the blood

00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:49.899
 and the guts

00:20:49.899 --> 00:20:50.699
 and the destruction

00:20:50.699 --> 00:20:51.480
 and the damage

00:20:51.480 --> 00:20:51.939
 that comes

00:20:51.939 --> 00:20:52.819
 because somebody else

00:20:52.819 --> 00:20:53.539
 has done something

00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:54.559
 horrendously wrong

00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:54.959
 to you.

00:20:56.219 --> 00:20:57.480
 And every cell

00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:58.039
 in your body

00:20:58.039 --> 00:20:59.319
 is screaming

00:20:59.319 --> 00:21:00.119
 for justice,

00:21:00.919 --> 00:21:01.779
 for retribution,

00:21:02.299 --> 00:21:03.099
 for payback,

00:21:03.339 --> 00:21:04.019
 at least for an

00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:04.679
 acknowledgement

00:21:04.679 --> 00:21:05.740
 of the wrong.

00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:07.659
 And it doesn't come.

00:21:08.219 --> 00:21:09.500
 And you have to decide.

00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:11.240
 This person

00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:12.019
 has not repented.

00:21:12.619 --> 00:21:13.200
 They've not

00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:14.079
 acknowledged it.

00:21:15.140 --> 00:21:16.220
 And you have to decide.

00:21:17.160 --> 00:21:18.000
 Am I going to

00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:18.940
 forgive this person?

00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:20.680
 Not because of

00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:21.460
 what they've done,

00:21:22.339 --> 00:21:22.980
 but because of

00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:23.859
 what Jesus has done

00:21:23.859 --> 00:21:24.380
 or not.

00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:26.279
 And if you do,

00:21:26.420 --> 00:21:27.319
 it means wading

00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:27.900
 into,

00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:28.880
 up to your neck,

00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:30.039
 the blood

00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:30.599
 and the guts

00:21:30.599 --> 00:21:31.720
 and the injustice.

00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:33.500
 And it means

00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:34.359
 taking that cup

00:21:34.359 --> 00:21:34.980
 of pain

00:21:34.980 --> 00:21:36.359
 and drinking

00:21:36.359 --> 00:21:36.880
 it down

00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:38.640
 and asking

00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:39.359
 for nothing.

00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:41.480
 No repayment.

00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:43.559
 No retribution.

00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:45.720
 Nothing in return.

00:21:47.539 --> 00:21:48.880
 The reason we do that,

00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:49.140
 why?

00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:49.900
 Because Jesus

00:21:49.900 --> 00:21:50.779
 drank the cup

00:21:50.779 --> 00:21:51.380
 of pain.

00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:52.579
 Right?

00:21:53.420 --> 00:21:54.019
 He didn't let it

00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:54.799
 pass from his lips.

00:21:55.380 --> 00:21:56.000
 But you don't

00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:56.819
 know that

00:21:56.819 --> 00:21:57.859
 in your bones

00:21:57.859 --> 00:21:58.960
 until you do it.

00:21:59.140 --> 00:21:59.680
 Until you're

00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:00.339
 laying awake

00:22:00.339 --> 00:22:01.519
 wrestling with

00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:02.400
 the injustice of it.

00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:03.640
 Wrestling with

00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:04.079
 the anger

00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:04.519
 and the hurt

00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:05.319
 and the unfairness

00:22:05.319 --> 00:22:05.720
 of it.

00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:06.819
 Then you're

00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:07.319
 beginning to

00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:07.839
 understand

00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:09.019
 how Jesus felt

00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:09.960
 in Gethsemane.

00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:11.879
 Right?

00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:12.660
 We know

00:22:12.660 --> 00:22:13.099
 that we are

00:22:13.099 --> 00:22:13.559
 called to

00:22:13.559 --> 00:22:14.639
 give sacrificially

00:22:14.639 --> 00:22:15.180
 but you don't

00:22:15.180 --> 00:22:15.619
 understand

00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:16.400
 what that means.

00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:17.319
 I don't understand

00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:18.240
 until my

00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:18.960
 tithing,

00:22:19.079 --> 00:22:19.639
 my giving,

00:22:20.039 --> 00:22:20.940
 my generosity

00:22:20.940 --> 00:22:22.000
 means that I have

00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:22.920
 to rearrange

00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:23.639
 my budget.

00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:24.440
 That I can't

00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:25.420
 do the things

00:22:25.420 --> 00:22:26.119
 that I want to do

00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:26.740
 over here

00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:27.559
 because this is

00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:28.500
 a priority for me.

00:22:29.940 --> 00:22:30.279
 Right?

00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:30.660
 I'll give you

00:22:30.660 --> 00:22:31.079
 an example

00:22:31.079 --> 00:22:32.259
 from my own life

00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:34.839
 of a way

00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:35.420
 that this began

00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:35.879
 to happen.

00:22:35.880 --> 00:22:37.620
 In John 15

00:22:37.620 --> 00:22:38.140
 12,

00:22:38.300 --> 00:22:39.060
 what's the verse

00:22:39.060 --> 00:22:39.380
 say?

00:22:39.900 --> 00:22:40.420
 Very famous

00:22:40.420 --> 00:22:40.680
 verse.

00:22:41.060 --> 00:22:41.840
 Love one another

00:22:41.840 --> 00:22:42.640
 as I have

00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:43.140
 loved you.

00:22:43.940 --> 00:22:44.560
 A new commandment

00:22:44.560 --> 00:22:44.980
 I give you.

00:22:45.540 --> 00:22:46.300
 Love one another

00:22:46.300 --> 00:22:46.920
 as I have

00:22:46.920 --> 00:22:47.200
 loved you.

00:22:47.280 --> 00:22:47.820
 Jesus is saying

00:22:47.820 --> 00:22:48.520
 in the same way

00:22:48.520 --> 00:22:48.840
 that I have

00:22:48.840 --> 00:22:49.180
 loved you,

00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:49.800
 I want you

00:22:49.800 --> 00:22:50.240
 to go out

00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:50.620
 and love

00:22:50.620 --> 00:22:51.520
 other people.

00:22:53.100 --> 00:22:53.860
 I know

00:22:53.860 --> 00:22:54.500
 that verse.

00:22:55.520 --> 00:22:55.960
 Gnosis.

00:22:56.960 --> 00:22:57.860
 I love

00:22:57.860 --> 00:22:58.480
 that verse.

00:22:58.680 --> 00:22:59.680
 I've memorized it.

00:22:59.800 --> 00:23:00.100
 I had it

00:23:00.100 --> 00:23:00.680
 written on my

00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:01.020
 wall.

00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:02.940
 I've studied

00:23:02.940 --> 00:23:03.379
 that verse

00:23:03.379 --> 00:23:04.299
 in the Greek.

00:23:09.579 --> 00:23:10.379
 Have you?

00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:13.319
 Probably two-thirds

00:23:13.319 --> 00:23:13.740
 of you are like,

00:23:13.779 --> 00:23:14.740
 yep, I have.

00:23:15.539 --> 00:23:16.220
 I learned Greek

00:23:16.220 --> 00:23:16.900
 in elementary school.

00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:19.859
 D.C.

00:23:22.639 --> 00:23:23.700
 Well, I have too.

00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:26.019
 And yet,

00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:26.859
 I never really

00:23:26.859 --> 00:23:27.539
 understood it.

00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:28.019
 I didn't know

00:23:28.019 --> 00:23:28.839
 I didn't understand it,

00:23:29.079 --> 00:23:29.980
 but I didn't really

00:23:29.980 --> 00:23:30.759
 understand it.

00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:32.259
 Until I was in

00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:32.740
 seminary,

00:23:33.019 --> 00:23:33.579
 watch out,

00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:35.460
 and a bunch

00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:35.819
 of guys,

00:23:35.900 --> 00:23:36.019
 and I,

00:23:36.099 --> 00:23:36.680
 six other guys,

00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.220
 and some of you

00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:37.900
 know this story,

00:23:38.139 --> 00:23:38.759
 we moved in

00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:39.480
 and our vision

00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:39.900
 was to have

00:23:39.900 --> 00:23:40.599
 this intentional

00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:41.180
 community

00:23:41.180 --> 00:23:42.099
 in Salem,

00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:42.660
 Massachusetts,

00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:43.359
 north of Boston.

00:23:44.220 --> 00:23:44.920
 And we're living

00:23:44.920 --> 00:23:45.639
 there and our

00:23:45.639 --> 00:23:46.079
 intention,

00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:46.759
 our desire was

00:23:46.759 --> 00:23:47.379
 to love the

00:23:47.379 --> 00:23:47.700
 neighborhood

00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:48.420
 as Christ

00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:48.920
 has loved us.

00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:49.200
 We want to

00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:49.519
 love our

00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:49.819
 neighbors,

00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:50.200
 right?

00:23:50.879 --> 00:23:51.680
 Core Christian

00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:51.980
 ethic,

00:23:52.440 --> 00:23:52.720
 right?

00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:54.619
 And we notice

00:23:54.619 --> 00:23:55.400
 this man from

00:23:55.400 --> 00:23:55.819
 day to day

00:23:55.819 --> 00:23:56.299
 as we're living

00:23:56.299 --> 00:23:56.480
 there,

00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:57.099
 we notice this

00:23:57.099 --> 00:23:58.000
 man that's in

00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:58.480
 our neighborhood

00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:59.119
 and everybody

00:23:59.119 --> 00:23:59.579
 in the neighborhood

00:23:59.579 --> 00:24:00.259
 knows this guy

00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:00.700
 and calls him

00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:01.160
 shuffles.

00:24:02.340 --> 00:24:03.140
 Because he would

00:24:03.140 --> 00:24:03.920
 walk like this,

00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:04.620
 he would sort of

00:24:04.620 --> 00:24:04.920
 shuffle.

00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:06.900
 And most of the

00:24:06.900 --> 00:24:07.539
 time we would see

00:24:07.539 --> 00:24:08.480
 this man digging

00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:09.160
 through dumpsters

00:24:09.160 --> 00:24:09.860
 near our house.

00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:10.980
 And so we started

00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:11.380
 to get to know

00:24:11.380 --> 00:24:12.019
 this man and get

00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:12.740
 to know his story

00:24:12.740 --> 00:24:13.519
 and it turns out

00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:14.440
 he has Parkinson's

00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:14.940
 and that's why

00:24:14.940 --> 00:24:15.940
 he can't walk.

00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:17.580
 He walks like this.

00:24:17.579 --> 00:24:19.980
 And we were filled

00:24:19.980 --> 00:24:20.980
 with pity and compassion

00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:21.579
 and we met

00:24:21.579 --> 00:24:22.079
 and we prayed

00:24:22.079 --> 00:24:22.460
 and we said

00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.000
 we need to let

00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:23.699
 this guy move in.

00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:24.259
 We need to take

00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:24.659
 care of him.

00:24:24.839 --> 00:24:25.439
 We can't let him

00:24:25.439 --> 00:24:25.819
 stay out there.

00:24:25.859 --> 00:24:26.359
 We need to love

00:24:26.359 --> 00:24:26.919
 him as Christ

00:24:26.919 --> 00:24:27.460
 loves us.

00:24:28.199 --> 00:24:28.819
 And then we let

00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:29.919
 Al move into

00:24:29.919 --> 00:24:30.500
 our house

00:24:30.500 --> 00:24:31.539
 and we gave him

00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:31.960
 a bedroom

00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:32.579
 and a couple of

00:24:32.579 --> 00:24:33.059
 us bunked

00:24:33.059 --> 00:24:33.939
 together

00:24:33.939 --> 00:24:35.439
 and we gave

00:24:35.439 --> 00:24:35.839
 him a room

00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:37.059
 and we began

00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:37.500
 to try to

00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:37.960
 take care of

00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:38.099
 him.

00:24:39.500 --> 00:24:40.599
 And we find

00:24:40.599 --> 00:24:41.339
 out that Al

00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:42.659
 not only does

00:24:42.659 --> 00:24:43.439
 he have Parkinson's

00:24:43.439 --> 00:24:44.220
 but he's addicted

00:24:44.220 --> 00:24:44.679
 to crack.

00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:45.560
 We found that

00:24:45.560 --> 00:24:46.000
 out a long

00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:47.039
 time in.

00:24:47.740 --> 00:24:48.460
 We found that

00:24:48.460 --> 00:24:48.920
 out because

00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:50.660
 things started

00:24:50.660 --> 00:24:51.180
 disappearing.

00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:52.060
 And at first

00:24:52.060 --> 00:24:52.519
 it was small

00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:53.000
 things and then

00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:53.380
 it was bigger

00:24:53.380 --> 00:24:53.840
 things and it

00:24:53.840 --> 00:24:54.279
 was things like

00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:55.799
 TVs and laptops.

00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:56.820
 We began to

00:24:56.820 --> 00:24:57.420
 realize we're not

00:24:57.420 --> 00:24:58.720
 that disorganized.

00:24:59.060 --> 00:24:59.340
 Something's

00:24:59.340 --> 00:24:59.620
 happening.

00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:00.440
 And of course

00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:01.259
 Al was stealing

00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:02.600
 stuff to buy

00:25:02.600 --> 00:25:03.000
 drugs.

00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:05.640
 And then came

00:25:05.640 --> 00:25:06.759
 the realization

00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:07.519
 very early on

00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:08.259
 that Al had

00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:09.920
 because of his

00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:10.519
 Parkinson's and

00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:11.080
 because he wasn't

00:25:11.080 --> 00:25:11.680
 getting adequate

00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:12.360
 treatment he would

00:25:12.360 --> 00:25:13.120
 lock up at night.

00:25:13.799 --> 00:25:14.240
 He would go

00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:15.059
 completely rigid

00:25:15.059 --> 00:25:15.960
 unable to move.

00:25:16.579 --> 00:25:17.259
 This is a problem

00:25:17.259 --> 00:25:17.839
 because he would

00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:18.720
 defecate on himself.

00:25:19.380 --> 00:25:19.799
 So what we had

00:25:19.799 --> 00:25:20.319
 to do is we had

00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:20.980
 to set up a call

00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:21.299
 schedule.

00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:22.039
 We figured seven

00:25:22.039 --> 00:25:22.920
 guys seven nights

00:25:22.920 --> 00:25:23.339
 of the week.

00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:24.680
 We bought a

00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:27.359
 doorbell at Home

00:25:27.359 --> 00:25:27.700
 Depot.

00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:28.859
 An electronic

00:25:28.859 --> 00:25:29.380
 doorbell.

00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:30.059
 And we installed

00:25:30.059 --> 00:25:31.180
 the button side

00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:31.980
 in his room

00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:32.740
 next to his bed.

00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:34.200
 And we would

00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:36.299
 pass the receiving

00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:37.039
 end off.

00:25:37.620 --> 00:25:38.539
 So one night

00:25:38.539 --> 00:25:39.559
 a week one of

00:25:39.559 --> 00:25:40.359
 the roommates would

00:25:40.359 --> 00:25:40.980
 have the other

00:25:40.980 --> 00:25:41.740
 end of the doorbell

00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:42.539
 next to their bed

00:25:42.539 --> 00:25:43.240
 and when Al needed

00:25:43.240 --> 00:25:45.819
 to use the potty

00:25:45.819 --> 00:25:47.680
 he would hit

00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:48.120
 the doorbell.

00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:48.359
 It would be

00:25:48.359 --> 00:25:49.059
 three in the morning

00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:49.900
 and your doorbell

00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:50.839
 sound would go off

00:25:50.839 --> 00:25:51.259
 and you'd have to

00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:53.000
 go in and let Al

00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:53.900
 use the bathroom

00:25:53.900 --> 00:25:54.740
 and clean him off.

00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:56.460
 What was interesting

00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:57.339
 about this experience

00:25:57.339 --> 00:25:58.140
 went on for a year

00:25:58.140 --> 00:25:58.519
 and a half.

00:25:59.039 --> 00:25:59.579
 What was interesting

00:25:59.579 --> 00:26:01.380
 is that all that

00:26:01.380 --> 00:26:01.839
 compassion,

00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:03.680
 all that love,

00:26:04.599 --> 00:26:05.339
 all that pity,

00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:07.579
 all that theology

00:26:07.579 --> 00:26:09.359
 of Jesus loves me

00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:09.819
 and I'm going to

00:26:09.819 --> 00:26:10.640
 extend this love,

00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:11.779
 that evaporated

00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:12.440
 in about a week.

00:26:14.619 --> 00:26:17.619
 And what was left

00:26:17.619 --> 00:26:20.639
 was just pure obedience.

00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:23.160
 There was nothing

00:26:23.160 --> 00:26:24.680
 fulfilling about it,

00:26:25.139 --> 00:26:25.399
 there was nothing

00:26:25.399 --> 00:26:26.599
 satisfying about it,

00:26:26.940 --> 00:26:27.639
 there was no spiritual

00:26:27.639 --> 00:26:28.440
 high that came

00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:29.799
 when you're getting

00:26:29.799 --> 00:26:30.379
 back in your bed

00:26:30.379 --> 00:26:31.119
 at four in the morning,

00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:32.700
 no sense of being

00:26:32.700 --> 00:26:33.480
 closer to God,

00:26:33.879 --> 00:26:34.740
 just pure obedience.

00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:36.740
 And I have to say

00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:37.879
 many, many, many nights

00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:39.460
 I deeply resented,

00:26:40.180 --> 00:26:41.380
 deeply resented Al.

00:26:41.600 --> 00:26:42.280
 I didn't go in there

00:26:42.280 --> 00:26:43.260
 with charity in my heart,

00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.560
 I didn't go in there

00:26:44.560 --> 00:26:46.100
 with joy, right?

00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:47.600
 I just went in there

00:26:47.600 --> 00:26:48.520
 angry and wanting

00:26:48.520 --> 00:26:49.180
 to get it over with

00:26:49.180 --> 00:26:50.100
 as soon as possible.

00:26:51.900 --> 00:26:52.500
 In other words,

00:26:52.580 --> 00:26:53.940
 I failed miserably.

00:26:55.320 --> 00:26:56.340
 In all the ways

00:26:56.340 --> 00:26:56.900
 that I thought

00:26:56.900 --> 00:26:58.040
 I was called to love,

00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:58.700
 I failed.

00:26:59.080 --> 00:26:59.660
 Most of the time

00:26:59.660 --> 00:27:00.180
 I just wanted him

00:27:00.180 --> 00:27:00.740
 out of the house,

00:27:00.900 --> 00:27:01.700
 if I can be totally honest.

00:27:02.100 --> 00:27:03.040
 I just wanted him gone

00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:05.240
 because it made life

00:27:05.240 --> 00:27:05.759
 so hard.

00:27:07.339 --> 00:27:08.480
 And yet over time,

00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:09.339
 something began

00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:09.740
 to happen.

00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:11.519
 A shift began

00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:12.279
 to happen in me.

00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:14.259
 I think it was

00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:14.920
 the Holy Spirit

00:27:14.920 --> 00:27:17.059
 beginning to show me

00:27:17.059 --> 00:27:19.759
 myself in Al

00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:21.720
 before a holy God.

00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:24.240
 I began to see myself

00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:25.700
 before Jesus.

00:27:26.180 --> 00:27:27.159
 Not as the one

00:27:27.159 --> 00:27:28.059
 who's coming to Jesus,

00:27:28.139 --> 00:27:28.940
 which is what I thought.

00:27:29.159 --> 00:27:30.059
 I wasn't the person

00:27:30.059 --> 00:27:30.839
 coming to Jesus

00:27:30.839 --> 00:27:32.500
 and pointing to Al

00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:33.319
 and saying,

00:27:33.679 --> 00:27:34.679
 look at all the things

00:27:34.679 --> 00:27:35.259
 that I've done

00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:35.819
 and all the ways

00:27:35.819 --> 00:27:36.579
 that I've loved him

00:27:36.579 --> 00:27:37.679
 just like you've loved me.

00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:38.459
 See what a good job

00:27:38.459 --> 00:27:38.819
 I've done?

00:27:39.799 --> 00:27:41.139
 I realized that spiritually

00:27:41.139 --> 00:27:42.859
 I was far worse off

00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:43.459
 than Al.

00:27:46.599 --> 00:27:47.919
 He's maybe addicted

00:27:47.919 --> 00:27:48.439
 to crack,

00:27:49.339 --> 00:27:50.939
 but I was far worse.

00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:53.779
 All of my hardcore

00:27:53.779 --> 00:27:55.319
 idolatrous addictions

00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:57.359
 to comfort and convenience

00:27:57.359 --> 00:27:58.759
 and my timeline

00:27:58.759 --> 00:27:59.759
 and my priorities

00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:01.180
 and my desire for sleep

00:28:01.180 --> 00:28:02.079
 and my wanting

00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:03.140
 to use my free time

00:28:03.140 --> 00:28:03.819
 in my own ways

00:28:03.819 --> 00:28:05.039
 and all of those things

00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:07.119
 stood out in stark contrast

00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:08.640
 because those are all

00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:09.539
 the things that I wanted

00:28:09.539 --> 00:28:10.539
 more than I wanted

00:28:10.539 --> 00:28:11.119
 to love Al.

00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:12.559
 Right?

00:28:12.599 --> 00:28:13.619
 And then go beyond that.

00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:14.359
 Right?

00:28:14.420 --> 00:28:15.400
 Al may have been

00:28:15.400 --> 00:28:17.279
 stealing this,

00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:17.539
 that,

00:28:17.559 --> 00:28:18.379
 or the other things.

00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:19.440
 Most of those things

00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:20.579
 insurance could replace.

00:28:21.940 --> 00:28:22.319
 Right?

00:28:22.420 --> 00:28:25.500
 But I had been stealing

00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:26.839
 from God my whole life.

00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:29.759
 I had been living

00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:30.839
 as though all my stuff

00:28:30.839 --> 00:28:31.419
 and my body

00:28:31.419 --> 00:28:31.899
 and my time,

00:28:31.959 --> 00:28:32.799
 but that's all mine

00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:33.959
 and that God gets

00:28:33.959 --> 00:28:34.459
 a part of it,

00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:35.379
 but I get most of it.

00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:36.859
 Instead of recognizing

00:28:36.859 --> 00:28:37.539
 that none of it

00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:38.339
 belongs to me,

00:28:38.379 --> 00:28:39.579
 it all belongs to God,

00:28:40.339 --> 00:28:41.599
 I'm called to use it

00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:42.480
 in ways that reflect

00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:43.240
 His heart

00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:44.079
 and His priorities

00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:45.019
 and His values.

00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:47.619
 That I've been stealing

00:28:47.619 --> 00:28:48.199
 from God

00:28:48.199 --> 00:28:49.599
 by living in His world

00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:50.799
 and ignoring Him.

00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:54.680
 Right?

00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:55.779
 And just like Al

00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:57.099
 would sometimes lock up

00:28:57.099 --> 00:28:58.240
 and be unable to move,

00:28:58.519 --> 00:28:59.159
 that spiritually

00:28:59.159 --> 00:29:00.759
 I was utterly paralyzed.

00:29:01.419 --> 00:29:02.159
 Apart from God,

00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:03.839
 I was completely paralyzed.

00:29:04.059 --> 00:29:04.720
 I could do nothing.

00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:07.319
 And my heart began

00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:08.059
 to break.

00:29:09.619 --> 00:29:10.659
 And I think

00:29:10.659 --> 00:29:11.539
 for the first time

00:29:11.539 --> 00:29:12.259
 I began to take

00:29:12.259 --> 00:29:13.019
 a few steps

00:29:13.019 --> 00:29:13.960
 toward understanding

00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:15.740
 the vast gulf

00:29:15.740 --> 00:29:16.619
 of difference

00:29:16.619 --> 00:29:17.659
 between the way

00:29:17.659 --> 00:29:18.579
 we love

00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:19.899
 and the way God loves.

00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:23.259
 because I would go in there

00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:24.859
 and sheerly out of obedience

00:29:24.859 --> 00:29:25.960
 I would grumble

00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:29.299
 and I would plod my way through

00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:30.180
 this commitment

00:29:30.180 --> 00:29:30.980
 that we had made.

00:29:33.220 --> 00:29:36.200
 But Jesus never even blinked.

00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:39.619
 Jesus every single moment

00:29:39.619 --> 00:29:40.319
 of our lives

00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:42.460
 is joyfully pouring

00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:44.379
 love and grace

00:29:44.379 --> 00:29:45.440
 and joy

00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:47.019
 into our lives.

00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:48.659
 Even though we're

00:29:48.659 --> 00:29:49.579
 stealing from Him,

00:29:49.579 --> 00:29:50.339
 even though we're

00:29:50.339 --> 00:29:51.359
 hopelessly addicted

00:29:51.359 --> 00:29:51.839
 to idols,

00:29:52.139 --> 00:29:52.819
 even though we're

00:29:52.819 --> 00:29:53.720
 utterly helpless

00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:54.720
 and dependent on Him,

00:29:55.139 --> 00:29:56.759
 it fills Him with joy.

00:29:57.539 --> 00:29:58.939
 When that doorbell alarm

00:29:58.939 --> 00:29:59.619
 goes off

00:29:59.619 --> 00:30:01.059
 and He can come in

00:30:01.059 --> 00:30:02.539
 and pour His life

00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:03.259
 into ours,

00:30:03.559 --> 00:30:05.919
 that's the greatest thing

00:30:05.919 --> 00:30:07.439
 for Him.

00:30:08.099 --> 00:30:09.759
 Because He loves us.

00:30:10.039 --> 00:30:10.939
 And once I began

00:30:10.939 --> 00:30:12.599
 to realize that love

00:30:12.599 --> 00:30:13.819
 and I began to look

00:30:13.819 --> 00:30:14.579
 at my love,

00:30:15.779 --> 00:30:16.939
 I think I took a step

00:30:16.939 --> 00:30:17.919
 toward understanding

00:30:17.920 --> 00:30:19.460
 what love really is.

00:30:19.600 --> 00:30:20.400
 I think I began

00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:21.100
 to take a step

00:30:21.100 --> 00:30:21.759
 from gnosis

00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:24.200
 to epinosis, right?

00:30:25.560 --> 00:30:26.860
 So I could go on

00:30:26.860 --> 00:30:27.779
 and on and on

00:30:27.779 --> 00:30:28.539
 but the point

00:30:28.539 --> 00:30:29.380
 that I'm trying to make

00:30:29.380 --> 00:30:29.800
 is this,

00:30:29.960 --> 00:30:31.420
 that only when I tried

00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:33.039
 to obey God's command

00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:33.700
 to love

00:30:33.700 --> 00:30:34.920
 and failed

00:30:34.920 --> 00:30:36.380
 was I able

00:30:36.380 --> 00:30:37.300
 to take a step

00:30:37.300 --> 00:30:38.560
 toward knowing

00:30:38.560 --> 00:30:39.360
 God's love

00:30:39.360 --> 00:30:40.820
 the way Paul

00:30:40.820 --> 00:30:41.820
 prays we would.

00:30:41.819 --> 00:30:44.439
 only when I tried

00:30:44.439 --> 00:30:45.259
 and failed

00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:46.779
 that I really began

00:30:46.779 --> 00:30:47.480
 to take a step

00:30:47.480 --> 00:30:48.019
 in that direction.

00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:48.599
 And of course,

00:30:48.679 --> 00:30:49.480
 this is why Paul

00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:50.319
 goes on to say

00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:50.879
 what he does

00:30:50.879 --> 00:30:52.200
 in verses 11 to 14.

00:30:52.359 --> 00:30:53.799
 Once we try to obey

00:30:53.799 --> 00:30:56.240
 and you know this,

00:30:56.299 --> 00:30:57.200
 many of you know this,

00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:58.139
 once you try to obey,

00:30:58.339 --> 00:30:59.960
 you immediately become aware

00:30:59.960 --> 00:31:00.679
 of your need

00:31:00.679 --> 00:31:01.319
 for power

00:31:01.319 --> 00:31:02.500
 and endurance

00:31:02.500 --> 00:31:03.139
 with patience.

00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:05.839
 You need power.

00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:06.919
 You go in there

00:31:06.919 --> 00:31:07.240
 and you say,

00:31:07.299 --> 00:31:08.740
 I can't do this.

00:31:09.399 --> 00:31:10.819
 Help me do this.

00:31:10.819 --> 00:31:11.700
 You need power

00:31:11.700 --> 00:31:14.139
 to endure with patience.

00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:16.619
 You become more thankful

00:31:16.619 --> 00:31:17.539
 about the certainty

00:31:17.539 --> 00:31:18.659
 you have in your inheritance

00:31:18.659 --> 00:31:19.179
 because you think,

00:31:19.539 --> 00:31:20.379
 oh my goodness,

00:31:20.439 --> 00:31:21.579
 if this depended on me,

00:31:21.659 --> 00:31:22.599
 I would be hopeless.

00:31:23.519 --> 00:31:24.399
 But it doesn't.

00:31:25.019 --> 00:31:25.859
 Jesus promised me

00:31:25.859 --> 00:31:26.259
 the inheritance

00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:27.119
 before I did anything.

00:31:28.379 --> 00:31:28.980
 And then ultimately,

00:31:29.099 --> 00:31:29.700
 the certainty

00:31:29.700 --> 00:31:31.039
 that we are now members

00:31:31.039 --> 00:31:31.779
 of the kingdom

00:31:31.779 --> 00:31:33.659
 of God's beloved son,

00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:34.960
 when you look at your actions

00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:35.480
 and you think,

00:31:35.700 --> 00:31:36.539
 this is exactly

00:31:36.539 --> 00:31:37.299
 how a person

00:31:37.299 --> 00:31:38.299
 in the domain

00:31:38.299 --> 00:31:38.919
 of darkness

00:31:38.919 --> 00:31:39.579
 would act.

00:31:40.819 --> 00:31:41.859
 And scripture says,

00:31:41.960 --> 00:31:42.379
 no, no, no.

00:31:42.639 --> 00:31:43.079
 Remember,

00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:44.819
 even though it may

00:31:44.819 --> 00:31:45.980
 feel that way,

00:31:46.519 --> 00:31:47.919
 God has transferred you

00:31:47.919 --> 00:31:48.539
 to the kingdom

00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:49.859
 of his beloved son.

00:31:49.980 --> 00:31:51.439
 It may not feel like it,

00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:52.859
 but you're a citizen there.

00:31:54.059 --> 00:31:55.119
 And all of that

00:31:55.119 --> 00:31:56.019
 begins to click home.

00:31:56.019 --> 00:31:56.939
 The more we try

00:31:56.939 --> 00:31:57.799
 to follow Jesus

00:31:57.799 --> 00:31:58.960
 and the more we fail,

00:31:59.319 --> 00:32:00.319
 the more assurance

00:32:00.319 --> 00:32:00.899
 we draw

00:32:00.899 --> 00:32:01.700
 from knowing

00:32:01.700 --> 00:32:02.779
 that God has once

00:32:02.779 --> 00:32:03.339
 and for all

00:32:03.339 --> 00:32:04.879
 made that citizenship

00:32:04.879 --> 00:32:05.859
 transfer.

00:32:05.859 --> 00:32:07.959
 And I think,

00:32:08.079 --> 00:32:09.079
 this is my last point,

00:32:09.159 --> 00:32:09.799
 that this is what

00:32:09.799 --> 00:32:11.539
 Christianity brings

00:32:11.539 --> 00:32:12.379
 and offers

00:32:12.379 --> 00:32:13.240
 that is unique

00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:14.079
 among the religions

00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:15.259
 and the worldviews

00:32:15.259 --> 00:32:16.379
 filling our culture.

00:32:18.039 --> 00:32:19.179
 The unique thing

00:32:19.179 --> 00:32:19.839
 about Christianity

00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:20.399
 is this.

00:32:20.500 --> 00:32:21.319
 All religions

00:32:21.319 --> 00:32:22.119
 talk about

00:32:22.119 --> 00:32:23.119
 knowing more

00:32:23.119 --> 00:32:23.759
 about God.

00:32:23.919 --> 00:32:24.679
 You can do this,

00:32:24.759 --> 00:32:25.299
 that, or the other,

00:32:25.299 --> 00:32:26.199
 and you will know

00:32:26.199 --> 00:32:27.319
 the divine more.

00:32:28.439 --> 00:32:29.659
 But only Christianity

00:32:29.659 --> 00:32:30.439
 talks about

00:32:30.439 --> 00:32:31.219
 all that God

00:32:31.219 --> 00:32:31.699
 has done

00:32:31.699 --> 00:32:33.059
 to know us.

00:32:33.059 --> 00:32:36.419
 Marvin Olasky

00:32:36.419 --> 00:32:36.919
 is a journalist.

00:32:37.079 --> 00:32:37.759
 He writes this,

00:32:39.139 --> 00:32:40.220
 Muslims say

00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:41.599
 Allah is omniscient,

00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:43.399
 but his supposed

00:32:43.399 --> 00:32:44.119
 pronouncements

00:32:44.119 --> 00:32:44.759
 in the Quran

00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:46.480
 show no epinosis.

00:32:47.899 --> 00:32:48.700
 Christians can have

00:32:48.700 --> 00:32:49.179
 confidence

00:32:49.179 --> 00:32:49.879
 in the God

00:32:49.879 --> 00:32:50.519
 we trust

00:32:50.519 --> 00:32:51.639
 because he is

00:32:51.639 --> 00:32:53.559
 truly omniscient

00:32:53.559 --> 00:32:54.179
 with both

00:32:54.179 --> 00:32:54.799
 gnosis

00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:56.639
 and epinosis,

00:32:56.839 --> 00:32:57.259
 with both

00:32:57.259 --> 00:32:58.700
 abstract knowledge

00:32:58.700 --> 00:32:59.639
 and personal

00:32:59.639 --> 00:33:00.659
 experience.

00:33:01.899 --> 00:33:02.339
 He says,

00:33:02.339 --> 00:33:03.000
 we rejoice

00:33:03.000 --> 00:33:03.659
 at Christmas

00:33:03.659 --> 00:33:04.500
 that God

00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:06.000
 knows our frames

00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:07.259
 because he came

00:33:07.259 --> 00:33:07.759
 to earth

00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:08.659
 and suffered

00:33:08.659 --> 00:33:10.019
 all the indignities

00:33:10.019 --> 00:33:10.839
 of babyhood

00:33:10.839 --> 00:33:11.699
 and eventually

00:33:11.699 --> 00:33:13.139
 experienced the ultimate

00:33:13.139 --> 00:33:14.199
 in pain

00:33:14.199 --> 00:33:15.119
 when he atoned

00:33:15.119 --> 00:33:16.039
 for our sins.

00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:18.259
 So what this is saying

00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:18.579
 is this,

00:33:18.699 --> 00:33:19.059
 we can,

00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:20.000
 with confidence,

00:33:20.419 --> 00:33:21.679
 seek to follow Jesus

00:33:21.679 --> 00:33:23.019
 and fail

00:33:23.019 --> 00:33:24.179
 and know

00:33:24.179 --> 00:33:25.259
 that in those failures

00:33:25.259 --> 00:33:26.159
 we will not be

00:33:26.159 --> 00:33:26.879
 cast away.

00:33:27.179 --> 00:33:27.439
 Why?

00:33:29.919 --> 00:33:31.099
 Through those things

00:33:31.099 --> 00:33:31.819
 we will actually

00:33:31.819 --> 00:33:32.699
 come to know

00:33:32.699 --> 00:33:33.859
 God more deeply

00:33:33.859 --> 00:33:34.839
 through our failures

00:33:34.839 --> 00:33:36.419
 and that's because

00:33:36.419 --> 00:33:37.419
 God has become

00:33:37.419 --> 00:33:38.679
 one of us.

00:33:39.179 --> 00:33:40.359
 He knows

00:33:40.359 --> 00:33:41.159
 our humanness,

00:33:41.259 --> 00:33:42.219
 not just epinosis,

00:33:42.599 --> 00:33:43.480
 not a detached

00:33:43.480 --> 00:33:44.639
 divine being

00:33:44.639 --> 00:33:45.439
 looking down

00:33:45.439 --> 00:33:46.659
 on these little

00:33:46.659 --> 00:33:47.679
 human servants

00:33:47.679 --> 00:33:48.179
 but rather

00:33:48.179 --> 00:33:49.139
 because he's

00:33:49.139 --> 00:33:49.719
 one of us

00:33:49.719 --> 00:33:50.619
 because right now

00:33:50.619 --> 00:33:51.419
 in the throne of heaven

00:33:51.419 --> 00:33:52.759
 sits a human body.

00:33:55.319 --> 00:33:56.379
 He's experienced

00:33:56.379 --> 00:33:57.000
 it firsthand.

00:33:57.000 --> 00:34:00.700
 As the apostle John

00:34:00.700 --> 00:34:01.259
 says,

00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:03.819
 we love

00:34:03.819 --> 00:34:04.579
 because God

00:34:04.579 --> 00:34:06.319
 first loved us

00:34:06.319 --> 00:34:07.799
 but if we're

00:34:07.799 --> 00:34:08.940
 reading this correctly

00:34:08.940 --> 00:34:09.920
 what this is also

00:34:09.920 --> 00:34:10.340
 saying

00:34:10.340 --> 00:34:12.159
 is that we can

00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:13.300
 know God

00:34:13.300 --> 00:34:16.059
 because he first

00:34:16.059 --> 00:34:17.820
 knew us

00:34:17.820 --> 00:34:19.780
 by becoming

00:34:19.780 --> 00:34:20.380
 one of us.

00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:21.840
 Let's pray.

00:34:23.599 --> 00:34:24.840
 Our Father in heaven

00:34:24.840 --> 00:34:25.719
 as we are gathered

00:34:25.719 --> 00:34:26.820
 here as your church body,

00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:29.539
 we are sinners.

00:34:30.539 --> 00:34:31.920
 We know that in all

00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:32.360
 of the things

00:34:32.360 --> 00:34:33.139
 you call us to do

00:34:33.139 --> 00:34:33.840
 we struggle

00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:35.760
 and even in our best

00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:37.139
 we fall short

00:34:37.139 --> 00:34:39.139
 and yet we know

00:34:39.139 --> 00:34:39.719
 that our hope

00:34:39.719 --> 00:34:40.719
 is not in those

00:34:40.719 --> 00:34:42.000
 successes and victories

00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:42.320
 Lord

00:34:42.320 --> 00:34:43.239
 but rather in

00:34:43.239 --> 00:34:44.559
 you coming to

00:34:44.559 --> 00:34:46.019
 know us

00:34:46.019 --> 00:34:47.139
 by walking

00:34:47.139 --> 00:34:47.920
 the streets

00:34:47.920 --> 00:34:49.300
 of our lives

00:34:49.300 --> 00:34:51.000
 by living

00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:52.119
 day and night

00:34:52.119 --> 00:34:53.500
 as one of us

00:34:53.500 --> 00:34:55.099
 feeling what we feel

00:34:55.099 --> 00:34:57.119
 and because of that

00:34:57.119 --> 00:34:57.779
 we know that as we

00:34:57.779 --> 00:34:59.019
 celebrate your resurrection

00:34:59.019 --> 00:35:00.059
 we're actually seeing

00:35:00.059 --> 00:35:00.679
 a preview

00:35:00.679 --> 00:35:01.579
 of our own

00:35:01.579 --> 00:35:02.339
 bodies

00:35:02.339 --> 00:35:03.219
 that we will be

00:35:03.219 --> 00:35:05.079
 raised like you

00:35:05.079 --> 00:35:06.159
 given bodies

00:35:06.159 --> 00:35:07.279
 like yours

00:35:07.279 --> 00:35:08.460
 that never perish

00:35:08.460 --> 00:35:10.380
 and Lord

00:35:10.380 --> 00:35:10.900
 in the light

00:35:10.900 --> 00:35:11.539
 of that hope

00:35:11.539 --> 00:35:12.400
 we do pray

00:35:12.400 --> 00:35:13.179
 for the answer

00:35:13.179 --> 00:35:13.980
 to Paul's

00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:15.000
 unceasing prayer

00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:15.960
 that we would be

00:35:15.960 --> 00:35:17.159
 filled with the

00:35:17.159 --> 00:35:18.199
 knowledge of you

00:35:18.199 --> 00:35:19.179
 even as you are

00:35:19.179 --> 00:35:20.460
 filled with the

00:35:20.460 --> 00:35:21.199
 knowledge of us

00:35:21.199 --> 00:35:21.659
 and that that would

00:35:21.659 --> 00:35:22.579
 give us confidence

00:35:22.579 --> 00:35:24.519
 to follow you boldly

00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:25.500
 knowing that it will

00:35:25.500 --> 00:35:26.639
 draw us ever deeper

00:35:26.639 --> 00:35:27.559
 into your heart

00:35:27.559 --> 00:35:29.380
 because that is what

00:35:29.380 --> 00:35:30.240
 we were made

00:35:30.240 --> 00:35:32.400
 to experience

00:35:32.400 --> 00:35:33.599
 we pray this in

00:35:33.599 --> 00:35:33.940
 your son's

00:35:33.940 --> 00:35:34.460
 holy name

00:35:34.460 --> 00:35:34.960
 amen