WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.360 What a great night to gather with you, Darcy and Genesis, awesome public declaration of faith in 00:00:06.360 --> 00:00:11.880 Lord Jesus. That is just awesome. So great to be part of it. If you've just joined us, 00:00:12.339 --> 00:00:19.679 this is our second week in the book of Judges, Old Testament book, which is a little strange, 00:00:19.679 --> 00:00:26.780 a bit awkward, but a great start last week. Having said that, there's something I need to 00:00:26.780 --> 00:00:33.079 address because there's been a little bit of banter lately, I've noticed, in my presence, 00:00:33.240 --> 00:00:39.600 mind you, much more outside of my presence, about the length of my sermons. And I thought that I 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:44.540 needed to address that tonight. And I'm going to do it, first of all, I'm going to do it by giving 00:00:44.540 --> 00:00:50.040 you perspective on the length of my sermons. I'm going to do that by reading from Acts chapter 20. 00:00:51.040 --> 00:00:56.760 Paul spoke to the people and because he intended to leave the next day, he kept on talking until 00:00:56.780 --> 00:01:03.300 midnight. There were many lamps in the upstairs room where they were meeting. Seating in a window 00:01:03.300 --> 00:01:10.879 was a young man named Eutychus who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. 00:01:12.040 --> 00:01:17.939 When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 00:01:18.760 --> 00:01:24.319 So the first thing I want to say is that when someone dies from my preaching, then I'll shorten it. 00:01:24.319 --> 00:01:31.899 That's the first thing. The second thing I'd want to say is that what I've noticed is the longer I've 00:01:31.899 --> 00:01:41.599 been a Christian is that, and delving into God's Word, there is just so much there. So many gems in 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:47.799 the Bible. And this is the other bit of perspective. You don't get the original script. I get the original 00:01:47.799 --> 00:01:55.299 script. I write the original script. And every sermon I write, such as tonight's one, is there is another 00:01:55.299 --> 00:02:01.799 whole entire sermon which is scrapped before it gets to the final text. And it's the hard yards of trying 00:02:01.799 --> 00:02:08.800 to work out what to keep and what not to keep. There's so much more to be said. And so if you were just 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:16.439 engaged in that Bible reading, you would notice that this passage is a preacher's gift. It's a gift to me 00:02:16.439 --> 00:02:23.359 because as Nick was reading it, you would have picked up, I'm confident, that it is the second 00:02:23.359 --> 00:02:30.659 introduction to the book of Judges. Judges has got two introductions. And so everything that I didn't 00:02:30.659 --> 00:02:39.719 get to say last week, I get to say this week, which is a gift to me and to you. Praise God, you know, come on. 00:02:39.719 --> 00:02:53.479 So second introduction of the book of Judges. It is a great text. It is what I did say last week, 00:02:53.500 --> 00:02:58.579 and I want to repeat here because in all the confusion of this book of Judges, you can lose 00:02:58.579 --> 00:03:07.819 this, is that the book of Judges is pure gospel, absolute pure gospel, good news. You see, Judges 00:03:07.819 --> 00:03:15.239 is about the God of mercy, the God of long suffering and patience who continually works in and through 00:03:15.239 --> 00:03:23.979 and for his people. And what's more, he does that consistently despite his people's constant 00:03:23.979 --> 00:03:31.919 resistance to his purposes. God relentlessly offers his grace to people who neither deserve it nor seek 00:03:31.919 --> 00:03:39.000 nor even appreciate it, even after they've been saved by it. And so that, it's a great summary of 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:44.359 the Christian life, if you like. And what sets Christianity apart from every other world religion? 00:03:44.439 --> 00:03:48.219 Every other world religion says you come up to scratch and then God will love you to perform in 00:03:48.219 --> 00:03:53.099 this particular way and God will accept you. Christianity says you can't do anything to be 00:03:53.099 --> 00:03:58.019 acceptable to God. God does all the work on your behalf, which is what the baptism was all about, 00:03:58.020 --> 00:04:06.460 declaring that God has saved me by his grace. He's washed me clean from my sins by his death on the 00:04:06.460 --> 00:04:13.379 cross. And so what we notice in the book of Judges is that the only, even though there's a bunch of 00:04:13.379 --> 00:04:20.199 figures in here who are famous Bible characters, the only true hero in this book is God himself. 00:04:20.199 --> 00:04:28.620 And so the verses today, which are before us today, they are a second introduction to the book, 00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:35.759 but there are somewhat more than that, a little bit more. They are, in fact, a summary of the whole book, 00:04:36.659 --> 00:04:41.259 whole book in summary form. And the really sad thing is that if you were here last week, 00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:47.219 you would have noticed the first introduction ended with some kind of hope for Israel's future. 00:04:47.220 --> 00:04:55.140 Now, this second introduction ends on a much more depressing tone about the spiritual state of 00:04:55.140 --> 00:04:59.260 God's people by the time we get to the end of the book of Judges. And have a look at it there. You 00:04:59.260 --> 00:05:04.560 can see it in chapter three, verses five and six. It says, the Israelites lived among the Canaanites, 00:05:04.640 --> 00:05:08.960 the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, the Jebusites, and they took their daughters 00:05:08.960 --> 00:05:15.820 in marriage and gave their own sons to their daughters to their sons and served their gods. 00:05:17.220 --> 00:05:23.400 That's the end of it, if you like. That's the end of the picture for them. 00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:33.320 Like the first introduction, the second introduction begins with Joshua. What we see with the life of 00:05:33.320 --> 00:05:42.340 Joshua is that he had a life that was lived well. Joshua was supremely a servant of his God. He was a 00:05:42.339 --> 00:05:50.799 wholehearted servant of his God, of all the leaders of Israel, from Joseph right through, in fact, to 00:05:50.799 --> 00:05:59.799 Joshua. Joshua was the very first of them to have the privilege to die and be buried in the land of 00:05:59.799 --> 00:06:05.439 his inheritance. Every one of the leaders before then, if they had the opportunity, he said, 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:08.699 don't leave me in this place. When you leave this place, pick up my bones and take it with you. 00:06:09.939 --> 00:06:19.360 But not Joshua. His was a life that was lived well in service of his God. However, those that came 00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:26.980 after Joshua served the Lord wholeheartedly. It's what we saw last week. But Joshua saw it, 00:06:26.980 --> 00:06:35.400 or at least saw the seeds of it, in his own generation. He warned them at the end of the 00:06:35.400 --> 00:06:44.460 book that bears his name. Joshua chapter 24, verses 19 and 20, verse 23, he says this to his generation. 00:06:44.980 --> 00:06:50.900 You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God. He's a jealous God. He will not forgive your 00:06:50.899 --> 00:06:57.819 rebellion and your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster 00:06:57.819 --> 00:07:05.599 on you and make an end of you after he has been good to you. And then he says, now then, throw away 00:07:05.599 --> 00:07:15.620 the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel. And that's the 00:07:15.620 --> 00:07:22.500 theme I want to pick up today, which was in the first introduction, again in the second one, 00:07:22.560 --> 00:07:30.319 the concept of yielding your heart wholeheartedly to God as opposed to serving him with other gods. 00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:35.079 So there's three things I want to focus on. Compromising with idols, identifying idols, 00:07:35.079 --> 00:07:42.600 and dealing with idols. So first of all, compromising with idols. As you get to verse 10, 00:07:42.600 --> 00:07:47.700 so have your text in front of you, open in front of you, chapter 2 of Judges, verse 10, 00:07:48.220 --> 00:07:55.520 we see a significant shift from one generation to the next generation. Joshua's wholehearted commitment 00:07:55.520 --> 00:08:05.180 is contrasted with the complacency of his own generation, which is then contrasted to the 00:08:05.180 --> 00:08:16.980 slippery slide of compromise with the generation that follows. And so verses 10 and 11 of Judges 2 00:08:16.980 --> 00:08:28.920 describe a rebellion. Verse 10 says that the generation after Joshua neither knew the Lord nor what he had done 00:08:28.920 --> 00:08:45.220 for Israel. Now, that doesn't mean that they didn't know about the Exodus from slavery in Egypt. It 00:08:45.220 --> 00:08:50.779 doesn't mean that they didn't know about the miraculous Red Sea crossing, that they weren't aware of the 00:08:50.779 --> 00:08:56.680 crossing of the Jordan River into the Promised Land. They weren't aware of the walls of Jericho being 00:08:56.679 --> 00:09:05.799 torn down without them even raising a sword. What that verse means is that the saving acts of God 00:09:05.799 --> 00:09:17.699 were no longer precious to them. They had not learned to revere and to rejoice in what God had done for 00:09:17.699 --> 00:09:25.419 them. They had forgotten the good news that they were saved from slavery in Egypt and brought into the 00:09:25.419 --> 00:09:36.279 promised land by the gracious, mighty acts of God. That activity of God on their behalf was not 00:09:36.279 --> 00:09:43.959 something that was close to their hearts, where they enjoyed it and revered it. Now, there is essentially 00:09:43.959 --> 00:09:51.980 a warning here for Christians to never forget the good news of the gospel. The baptism display that for us, 00:09:51.980 --> 00:10:00.279 the good news in physical form, visual display of the gospel of what Christ has done for us. 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:06.120 In fact, the Lord's Supper is the same thing that we, Jesus says, do this in remembrance of me. 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:13.139 Take it and remember again that my body was broken and my blood was shed. There's a warning here not to 00:10:13.139 --> 00:10:20.720 forget that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, came into this world, took the just and the righteous 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:29.299 punishment from God that we deserve for making good things ultimate things, for making God's good gifts 00:10:29.299 --> 00:10:37.779 the ultimate things and forgetting God the gift giver. See, the essence of idolatry is us substituting a good 00:10:37.779 --> 00:10:42.459 thing for an ultimate thing for an ultimate thing. Well, the essence of the good news of the Christian faith 00:10:42.459 --> 00:10:51.799 is that God substitutes himself for us. We have put created things, good gifts from God at the center of 00:10:51.799 --> 00:10:59.199 our lives and build our lives around them. And so God chooses to put himself where we deserve to be. 00:10:59.200 --> 00:11:08.460 Though Jesus was equal with God, the Father, he emptied himself of his glory. He came down and took the 00:11:08.460 --> 00:11:16.740 place of a servant, our place, and he gave his life for ours. He traded his life for ours. He took our seat 00:11:16.740 --> 00:11:24.680 so that we can take his. He died our death so that we can live his life. And as long as we remember who 00:11:24.679 --> 00:11:30.779 God is and what he has done for us in the Lord Jesus, we will serve him wholeheartedly, radically, 00:11:31.019 --> 00:11:38.299 and joyfully. And it's not just a simple matter of knowing that intellectually, it is actually adoring 00:11:38.299 --> 00:11:46.179 that truth, of that truth, building, you're building your life around that truth, wholeheartedly being 00:11:46.179 --> 00:11:58.979 determined by that truth. Now the consequence of forgetting is in verse 11 of chapter 2 of Judges, 00:11:59.639 --> 00:12:05.399 they did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. 00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:20.220 Now what's interesting here is that God's definition of doing evil is in fact turning away from God and towards 00:12:20.220 --> 00:12:29.000 loving and serving idols. That's his definition of evil. And it's also interesting that the word Baal 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:37.500 is a Canaanite word for Lord. And so the description here is that this generation forgot 00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:48.519 to put the true Lord, they forgot the true Lord, and they replaced him by serving many lords instead. 00:12:50.019 --> 00:12:55.720 And it happened within a generation. Commitments replaced by complacency, which is replaced by compromise. 00:12:55.720 --> 00:13:04.560 Now, let me just, you know, divert over here just for a moment. We've got kids in kids' church right 00:13:04.560 --> 00:13:08.960 now. And if you're a parent here, you're a godparent. In fact, you're someone who's an older generation 00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:17.560 with kids amongst us as a church. We as a church have a core value called Christ-centered Bible 00:13:17.560 --> 00:13:23.620 saturation. And it says there that we are committed to passing on to the next generation a biblically 00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:27.860 informed love of God. And there's a bunch of passages in the Bible that you want to go to to 00:13:27.860 --> 00:13:33.200 talk about that. But there's one, a couple that really sort of stand out for me. Deuteronomy 6 00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:42.980 verses 4 to 9 and 20-25 are really instructive, I think. Deuteronomy 6 was written to avoid 00:13:42.980 --> 00:13:51.500 the generation that does not know God relationally or personally, as you see in the beginning of the 00:13:51.500 --> 00:13:56.100 book of Judges. It was written just before they entered the promised land. And they'd obviously 00:13:56.100 --> 00:14:03.279 forgotten it somehow in a very short period of time. And Deuteronomy 6 tells us how they and we 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:11.379 should lead the next generation. And ultimately, it's about us. So if you're a parent, you're a godparent, 00:14:11.899 --> 00:14:17.460 you're an older member of a congregation here and there's younger members in our church, 00:14:17.460 --> 00:14:27.300 firstly, here's a few tips. We must love God ourselves. We have God's Word at the centre of 00:14:27.300 --> 00:14:33.040 our hearts and our lives. That means that we're not hypocritical. We're not inconsistent in our behaviour. 00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:40.259 God's Word impacts every aspect of our lives. We are confident in it as the Word of God and 00:14:40.259 --> 00:14:47.319 transforming our lives by it. You see, young people see inconsistencies so clearly. 00:14:49.100 --> 00:14:56.299 Secondly, we are to apply and reflect on the Gospel practically. This is not just an academic or an 00:14:56.299 --> 00:15:03.620 abstract exercise for the Christian to just increase your knowledge of the Bible. Deuteronomy 6-7 00:15:03.620 --> 00:15:14.539 is, does not promote regular family lecture times. The reference in there in Deuteronomy 6 is when 00:15:14.539 --> 00:15:21.360 you're sitting, walking along, lying down, getting up. That is in, it refers to the daily routines of life. 00:15:22.220 --> 00:15:27.000 Instruction in God's truth is not so much a series of lectures and classes 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:34.720 as it is showing how God permeates every aspect of your everyday life. 00:15:36.779 --> 00:15:42.039 It is a call to be wise and thoughtful about how the values and the virtues of the Gospel 00:15:42.039 --> 00:15:48.000 distinctively influence our decisions and our priorities. 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:58.179 Thirdly, verses 20 and 25, 20 to 25 of Deuteronomy 6, tell us that we are to give personal 00:15:58.179 --> 00:16:03.519 testimony to the difference that God has made to us. The sort of thing that Darcy was doing tonight. 00:16:03.820 --> 00:16:08.620 Personal testimony. How God has brought us from bondage to freedom. 00:16:09.879 --> 00:16:13.580 We are not just to speak of beliefs and behaviours, 00:16:13.580 --> 00:16:18.800 but of our own personal engagement and experience of God Himself through His Word. 00:16:19.879 --> 00:16:24.740 We are to be open about our own struggles and weaknesses as we grow. 00:16:25.480 --> 00:16:30.320 We are to be transparent about how repentance works in our life with the younger generation, 00:16:30.740 --> 00:16:36.480 which means older people say sorry to kids when you fail them. That's what it means. 00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:47.460 Really, really important. How rare it is for parents to humble themselves, for adults to humble themselves 00:16:47.460 --> 00:16:52.600 and to bend a knee and look a kid in the eye and say, I have failed you. 00:16:54.539 --> 00:16:56.480 Show them how repentance works. 00:16:56.480 --> 00:17:07.720 If you don't do that, they will just look at you as proud and arrogant. 00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:15.180 We must be consistent in behaviour, wise about reality and warmly personal in our faith. 00:17:15.620 --> 00:17:19.640 In other words, love and serve God wholeheartedly. 00:17:19.640 --> 00:17:32.720 And to do that, we need to be so real about the idols that lurk in our hearts, the idols of our hearts. 00:17:32.820 --> 00:17:34.960 We need to identify them and we need to deal with them, 00:17:35.020 --> 00:17:38.500 which is the things we're going to move to right now, identifying idols. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:43.520 One of the great things about this book of Judges is, 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:48.740 the thing you wouldn't normally think of when you read through Judges is the subtlety of the storyline. 00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:51.480 There's not a lot of subtlety in the book of Judges, frankly. 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:53.779 There's a lot of blood and guts, not a lot of subtlety. 00:17:54.099 --> 00:17:56.599 But there is a subtlety to the storyline. 00:17:58.539 --> 00:18:08.279 Verse 19, it doesn't say that Israel stopped serving God who rescued them from Egypt. 00:18:09.140 --> 00:18:12.759 It just says that they opted for some alternative gods. 00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:22.579 It just simply says they also served the Baals and the Ashtoreths in verse 13. 00:18:23.940 --> 00:18:25.379 They did both. 00:18:27.079 --> 00:18:35.359 That is, Israel's spiritual life was way more complex than a simple decision to stop worshipping this god 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:37.039 and start worshipping those gods. 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:39.779 Much more complex than that. 00:18:41.079 --> 00:18:42.599 They, in fact, combined the two. 00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:46.220 In fact, there's a great verse that you would just read over if you didn't notice it at all. 00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:52.980 In Judges 17, verse 3, it's an Israelite woman who gives her valuable stuff to her son 00:18:52.980 --> 00:18:54.480 and says this to him. 00:18:54.480 --> 00:19:02.640 I solemnly consecrate my silver to the Lord for my son to make an image overlaid with silver. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:12.759 I consecrate, I dedicate my valuables to God so that my son, with those valuables, can go and make an idol. 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:15.519 Do both things. 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:25.339 Now, when Westerners think of idols, our minds, we sort of wander off into sort of like carvings 00:19:25.339 --> 00:19:31.740 and incense and candles and dark rooms and stuff like that. 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:38.879 You know, the biblical concept is much more sophisticated than the Western mind. 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:41.940 And certainly my Western mind. 00:19:43.100 --> 00:19:53.520 Idolatry in the Bible integrates intellectual, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual categories. 00:19:54.820 --> 00:20:07.680 There are personal idols, such as romantic love and family and or maybe a love of money and power and achievement. 00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:11.980 Or access to particular social circles. 00:20:12.840 --> 00:20:16.960 Or the emotional dependence of other people on you. 00:20:18.120 --> 00:20:18.680 Or... 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:22.279 Sorry, this has gone crazy. 00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:24.820 Can I go back to a blank slide? Is it up there? 00:20:25.620 --> 00:20:26.160 Yep, thank you. 00:20:27.380 --> 00:20:32.539 Romantic love, power, emotional dependence of others on you, health, fitness, physical beauty. 00:20:32.539 --> 00:20:39.599 Many people look to these things in our culture for hope and for meaning and fulfilment that only God can provide. 00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:41.180 There are also cultural idols. 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:48.000 For instance, military power, technological process, progress, economic prosperity. 00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:51.339 In fact, every election that rolls around in this country, 00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:57.720 the biggest thing that is there front and centre in front of people is economic prosperity. 00:20:58.659 --> 00:20:59.779 We will make you richer. 00:20:59.779 --> 00:21:03.440 That's the promise of every government because it's the idol of our culture. 00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:10.559 The idols of traditional societies include family, hard work, duty, moral virtue and other stuff. 00:21:10.899 --> 00:21:13.920 Those of Western cultures include Western... 00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:20.299 Sorry, individual freedom and personal choice and self-discovery, personal affluence and happiness. 00:21:20.299 --> 00:21:33.480 Now, all of these good things can and do take on disproportionate size and power with a person and with a society. 00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:43.440 These things, when you have them, promise you peace and safety and happiness and identity 00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:49.140 in such a way that you base your life on them and they will offer you these things. 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:53.759 Now, to understand our hearts and our culture, we need to be able to discern 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:59.100 what are the idols that influence both our culture and our hearts. 00:21:59.099 --> 00:22:03.000 If we don't know them, we can't deal with them. 00:22:04.659 --> 00:22:10.439 And if we don't know that they're there, we are defaulting in exactly the same way the Israelites are 00:22:10.439 --> 00:22:15.539 of trying to meld gods together. 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:18.259 Now, you might be sitting here and say, I'm not a Christian. 00:22:18.379 --> 00:22:18.819 That's fine. 00:22:18.859 --> 00:22:21.240 You're just worshipping a certain set of idols. 00:22:21.959 --> 00:22:23.859 Christians here are doing both. 00:22:23.859 --> 00:22:33.459 So Romans 1, 21 to 23 shows us that idolatry is not one sin amongst many, 00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:38.579 but the core issue that is fundamentally wrong with the human heart. 00:22:39.479 --> 00:22:46.759 There may be a long list of sins, and there is a long list of sins that create misery and evil in our world, 00:22:47.299 --> 00:22:50.959 but they all germinate in the soil of idolatry. 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:55.720 Martin Luther, he's a German monk and a church reformer. 00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:58.660 He pointed this out centuries ago. 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:05.819 He said that 10 commandments begin with a commandment against idolatry. 00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:11.299 And he argues that you never break the other nine commandments 00:23:11.299 --> 00:23:14.759 without first breaking the first commandment. 00:23:15.700 --> 00:23:20.259 The other nine is ultimately a breaking of the first. 00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:25.500 And so the secret to change is to identify and dismantle the idols in our heart. 00:23:25.620 --> 00:23:31.079 So my starting point here is to assume that you're all idolaters, as I am. 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:32.480 I'm just making that assumption. 00:23:33.640 --> 00:23:36.860 And that they are hidden in every one of us. 00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:39.220 And the important question is what to do with them. 00:23:39.860 --> 00:23:41.340 How do we get some clarity on them? 00:23:42.179 --> 00:23:47.220 How do we get some clarity so that we don't remain under their power? 00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:51.980 How do we free from the idols so that we make sound decisions, wide choices, 00:23:52.359 --> 00:23:57.319 and be finally free from all idols that will ultimately crush us? 00:23:57.359 --> 00:23:58.279 They never set us free. 00:23:58.379 --> 00:23:59.559 They never give us what they promise. 00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:01.839 So here's four tests. 00:24:02.639 --> 00:24:04.759 First one, look at your imagination. 00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:07.319 Archbishop William Temple. 00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:12.279 He was an Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury during part of World War II. 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:14.640 And he said, 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:19.319 your religion is what you do with your solitude. 00:24:20.359 --> 00:24:23.660 Your religion is what you do with your solitude. 00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:33.840 In other words, the true God of your heart is what your thoughts effortlessly go to 00:24:33.840 --> 00:24:37.000 when there's nothing else demanding your attention. 00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:45.480 In other words, what do you effortlessly daydream about? 00:24:45.580 --> 00:24:47.500 What do you enjoy daydreaming about? 00:24:48.140 --> 00:24:52.580 What occupies your mind when there's nothing else to think about? 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:56.600 You know, when your head hits the pillow at night, 00:24:56.680 --> 00:25:00.120 you've got an opportunity to dream about all the weights of the world on you. 00:25:00.460 --> 00:25:03.160 And just what consumes your mind? 00:25:05.660 --> 00:25:11.600 Do you develop potential scenarios about career advancement or material goods like the dream home, 00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:18.040 a relationship, or one or two daydreams is an indication of idolatry. 00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:27.059 But what do you habitually think about to get joy and comfort and escape in the privacy of your heart? 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:29.920 What is your habit there in that moment? 00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:31.379 That's the first test. 00:25:31.380 --> 00:25:39.480 The second test of a heart's true value is how you spend your money, your spending habits. 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:44.580 And I think I want to develop this a little bit more since even speaking about it this morning. 00:25:44.800 --> 00:25:48.960 It's more than what's your spending habits, but what are your habits of your money? 00:25:49.820 --> 00:25:50.860 What do you do with your money? 00:25:50.859 --> 00:25:57.000 Jesus said your heart is wherever your treasure is in Matthew 6.21. 00:25:57.679 --> 00:26:03.899 And our money flows most effortlessly towards our heart's greatest love. 00:26:03.900 --> 00:26:09.519 It flows effortlessly towards our heart's greatest love, 00:26:09.660 --> 00:26:15.160 to the thing that we get our affirmation, our applause, our security from. 00:26:16.900 --> 00:26:21.900 In fact, one measure of an idol is that we spend too much money on it. 00:26:22.320 --> 00:26:26.920 And it's the one area where if you're married, your spouse is saying to you, 00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:29.000 you need to exercise some more self-control there. 00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:34.019 I'm noticing the number of visits in the last two weeks to Bunnings. 00:26:35.700 --> 00:26:38.619 You know, or somewhere. 00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:44.519 What is it that you need to exercise constant self-control in? 00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:48.319 Now, this one's important. 00:26:48.440 --> 00:26:51.119 I've made the change from spending habits to what you do with your money 00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:54.039 because some of us don't spend it, some of us save it instead. 00:26:54.039 --> 00:27:01.039 So if you're habitually pushing your money to investments, saving, 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:08.799 it most likely means that your sense of identity is wrapped up in security. 00:27:09.399 --> 00:27:10.220 I need security. 00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:11.539 That's the big idol of my heart. 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:17.180 But if it's spending, what is it spending on? 00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:23.399 Because you can see that that's a good indicator of where your affirmation lies. 00:27:23.400 --> 00:27:26.960 You see, if God and his grace is the thing that we love the most, 00:27:27.040 --> 00:27:31.680 we will give our money away to ministry, charity, and the poor in astonishing amounts. 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:38.980 Most, however, tend to overspend on clothing, on travel, on their children, 00:27:39.300 --> 00:27:45.480 on success symbols like cars and houses and whatever else. 00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:48.819 Okay, third test. 00:27:51.120 --> 00:27:56.140 And this is especially for those who profess a faith in Jesus. 00:27:57.480 --> 00:28:02.539 It is possible to declare faith in Jesus, be regular at a place of worship, 00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:07.480 have an orthodox set of beliefs, be rigorous in practicing those beliefs, 00:28:07.860 --> 00:28:11.259 and yet have a different functional saviour at the core of your heart. 00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:19.900 And one way to test this is how we respond to unanswered prayers and frustrated hopes. 00:28:23.339 --> 00:28:26.920 So, for instance, if there appears to be silence from God, 00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:31.980 it is reasonable, I think, to become sad and disappointed. 00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:37.420 But if it's not an idol, you won't be crushed by it. 00:28:38.420 --> 00:28:39.500 Life goes on. 00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:43.880 However, if it's something that you're consistently asking for, 00:28:44.180 --> 00:28:45.680 but you don't get it, 00:28:46.339 --> 00:28:48.099 and you get angry, 00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:52.860 is it that that thing is your functional saviour? 00:28:53.720 --> 00:28:56.380 You're using the true saviour to get to your functional saviour, 00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:58.000 to provide you with your functional saviour. 00:28:58.000 --> 00:29:03.299 If we pray and work for something you don't get, 00:29:03.420 --> 00:29:05.000 and you respond with anger and despair, 00:29:05.160 --> 00:29:09.740 it's possible that you have found your true saviour in that moment, 00:29:09.819 --> 00:29:10.940 your true God, your idol. 00:29:12.599 --> 00:29:14.460 Fourthly, this test works for everyone. 00:29:15.400 --> 00:29:18.759 Take a look at your most uncontrollable emotions. 00:29:19.859 --> 00:29:22.900 If you are angry over something, 00:29:23.119 --> 00:29:23.480 ask, 00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:27.400 is there something here way too important to me? 00:29:28.259 --> 00:29:32.220 Is there something here that I must have at all costs? 00:29:32.299 --> 00:29:35.140 And the reason I'm getting angry is because someone or something 00:29:35.140 --> 00:29:38.319 is blocking me from getting it. 00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:41.880 Do the same with fear, 00:29:42.400 --> 00:29:43.140 with despair, 00:29:43.319 --> 00:29:43.700 with guilt, 00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:44.319 with shame. 00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:45.440 Ask yourself, 00:29:45.700 --> 00:29:46.880 am I so scared 00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:50.559 because something in my life is being threatened 00:29:50.559 --> 00:29:53.480 that I think is a necessity for my life 00:29:53.480 --> 00:29:55.440 when in actual fact it isn't? 00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:59.079 Am I so down on myself 00:29:59.079 --> 00:30:01.759 because I've lost or I've failed at something 00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:02.940 I think is a necessity 00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:05.240 when it's not? 00:30:07.419 --> 00:30:09.039 If you are overworking 00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:11.000 and driving yourself into the ground 00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:12.339 with frantic activity, 00:30:12.500 --> 00:30:13.240 ask yourself, 00:30:13.639 --> 00:30:15.899 do I feel that I must have 00:30:15.899 --> 00:30:19.019 this thing to be fulfilled and significant? 00:30:19.019 --> 00:30:19.160 Second, 00:30:20.160 --> 00:30:24.500 I think what test number four is suggesting 00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:26.359 is that when you grab your emotions 00:30:26.359 --> 00:30:29.059 and pull them up from the roots, 00:30:29.379 --> 00:30:32.720 you will notice your idols generally attached to them. 00:30:38.019 --> 00:30:39.379 So let's deal with them. 00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:41.379 You see, 00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:44.500 idolatry is not just a failure to obey God. 00:30:44.500 --> 00:30:47.819 It is fundamentally setting your heart 00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:49.480 on something besides God. 00:30:50.640 --> 00:30:53.859 And this can't be fixed simply by repenting 00:30:53.859 --> 00:30:57.680 or with a determination to live differently. 00:30:58.279 --> 00:30:59.819 It's not less than those things, 00:30:59.940 --> 00:31:01.819 but it's so much more than just repenting 00:31:01.819 --> 00:31:04.259 and a determination to do differently. 00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:07.160 Let's see 00:31:07.160 --> 00:31:10.000 how we go about dealing with idols. 00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:13.599 And I think Colossians 3, 1 to 5 00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:15.880 is a great place to start. 00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:17.440 Since then, 00:31:17.539 --> 00:31:18.680 you've been raised with Christ, 00:31:18.779 --> 00:31:20.019 set your hearts on things above 00:31:20.019 --> 00:31:21.220 where Christ is seated 00:31:21.220 --> 00:31:22.859 at the right hand of God. 00:31:23.339 --> 00:31:25.400 Set your minds on things above, 00:31:25.599 --> 00:31:27.039 not on earthly things. 00:31:27.400 --> 00:31:28.380 For you died 00:31:28.380 --> 00:31:30.859 and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 00:31:31.079 --> 00:31:32.000 When Christ, 00:31:32.400 --> 00:31:33.500 who is your life, 00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:34.140 appears, 00:31:34.460 --> 00:31:37.299 then you also will appear with him in glory. 00:31:37.299 --> 00:31:38.819 Put to death, therefore, 00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:41.079 whatever belongs to your earthly nature, 00:31:41.460 --> 00:31:42.359 sexual immorality, 00:31:42.519 --> 00:31:42.919 impurity, 00:31:43.099 --> 00:31:43.339 lust, 00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:44.079 evil desires, 00:31:44.240 --> 00:31:44.619 greed, 00:31:44.940 --> 00:31:47.220 which is idolatry. 00:31:48.599 --> 00:31:51.259 He's saying all those things are idolatry. 00:31:53.119 --> 00:31:53.319 So, 00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:54.480 see the right beginning, 00:31:54.839 --> 00:31:55.099 set, 00:31:55.419 --> 00:31:57.339 setting the minds on things above 00:31:57.339 --> 00:31:58.980 where your life is hid with Christ. 00:31:59.139 --> 00:32:01.079 What that means is 00:32:01.079 --> 00:32:03.759 appreciating, 00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:06.299 rejoicing, 00:32:07.299 --> 00:32:09.839 and resting 00:32:09.839 --> 00:32:11.180 in what Jesus 00:32:11.180 --> 00:32:13.319 has done for you 00:32:13.319 --> 00:32:14.359 in the gospel. 00:32:15.379 --> 00:32:16.500 That's what that means. 00:32:17.720 --> 00:32:19.159 And it includes 00:32:19.159 --> 00:32:20.460 joyful worship 00:32:20.460 --> 00:32:23.500 and a sense of God's reality in prayer. 00:32:23.980 --> 00:32:26.339 Jesus must become 00:32:26.339 --> 00:32:27.559 more beautiful 00:32:27.559 --> 00:32:29.099 in your imagination 00:32:29.099 --> 00:32:30.500 and more attractive 00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:31.539 in your heart 00:32:31.539 --> 00:32:32.200 than idols. 00:32:33.339 --> 00:32:34.440 That's what 00:32:34.440 --> 00:32:36.480 Colossians 3 is saying. 00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:38.160 And this 00:32:38.160 --> 00:32:39.720 is the only way 00:32:39.720 --> 00:32:40.940 to replace an idol. 00:32:41.319 --> 00:32:42.759 It's so much more 00:32:42.759 --> 00:32:44.019 than just repenting 00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:45.120 and being determined 00:32:45.120 --> 00:32:46.000 to work harder. 00:32:48.019 --> 00:32:48.500 Idols 00:32:48.500 --> 00:32:50.059 are removed 00:32:50.059 --> 00:32:51.299 by them being 00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:52.779 forced out 00:32:52.779 --> 00:32:54.079 from the 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:55.640 centre of our lives 00:32:55.640 --> 00:32:56.860 by something 00:32:56.860 --> 00:32:57.900 that is 00:32:57.900 --> 00:32:58.759 greater. 00:32:58.759 --> 00:33:02.220 an idol 00:33:02.220 --> 00:33:02.859 is something 00:33:02.859 --> 00:33:03.519 that we 00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:04.720 is dear to us. 00:33:04.759 --> 00:33:05.099 It's something 00:33:05.099 --> 00:33:06.140 that we love. 00:33:07.500 --> 00:33:08.240 We become 00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:09.119 enslaved to 00:33:09.119 --> 00:33:10.099 what we love. 00:33:10.660 --> 00:33:11.859 And the only way 00:33:11.859 --> 00:33:12.900 to remove 00:33:12.900 --> 00:33:14.200 something that we love 00:33:14.200 --> 00:33:15.220 is for 00:33:15.220 --> 00:33:16.480 a greater love 00:33:16.480 --> 00:33:17.160 to come in 00:33:17.160 --> 00:33:18.019 and push it out. 00:33:19.519 --> 00:33:20.400 That's what 00:33:20.400 --> 00:33:21.839 Colossians 3 is saying. 00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:26.019 which means 00:33:26.019 --> 00:33:27.759 for the Christian 00:33:27.759 --> 00:33:29.039 rejoicing 00:33:29.039 --> 00:33:30.000 and repentance 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:31.699 go together. 00:33:34.339 --> 00:33:34.919 Repentance 00:33:34.919 --> 00:33:36.220 without rejoicing 00:33:36.220 --> 00:33:38.000 leads to despair. 00:33:38.220 --> 00:33:38.379 Oh, 00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:38.980 woe is me. 00:33:39.019 --> 00:33:39.659 I'm such a rotten 00:33:39.659 --> 00:33:40.119 individual. 00:33:41.759 --> 00:33:42.319 Rejoicing 00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:43.379 without repentance 00:33:43.379 --> 00:33:44.439 on the other hand 00:33:44.439 --> 00:33:45.119 is shallow 00:33:45.119 --> 00:33:45.939 and at best 00:33:45.939 --> 00:33:46.919 it produces 00:33:46.919 --> 00:33:47.879 a fleeting 00:33:47.879 --> 00:33:48.639 inspiration 00:33:48.640 --> 00:33:49.700 to pull up 00:33:49.700 --> 00:33:50.340 your socks 00:33:50.340 --> 00:33:51.660 instead of 00:33:51.660 --> 00:33:52.280 going through 00:33:52.280 --> 00:33:52.800 deep, 00:33:53.000 --> 00:33:53.259 deep, 00:33:53.400 --> 00:33:53.980 deep heart 00:33:53.980 --> 00:33:54.520 change. 00:33:56.600 --> 00:33:57.500 When we 00:33:57.500 --> 00:33:57.960 repent 00:33:57.960 --> 00:33:58.860 out of fear 00:33:58.860 --> 00:34:00.500 of consequences 00:34:00.500 --> 00:34:01.759 which fundamentally 00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:02.800 is what religion 00:34:02.800 --> 00:34:03.960 is all about 00:34:03.960 --> 00:34:06.240 we aren't 00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:06.900 actually saying 00:34:06.900 --> 00:34:07.640 sorry for our 00:34:07.640 --> 00:34:07.980 sins 00:34:07.980 --> 00:34:08.880 we're actually 00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:09.500 saying sorry 00:34:09.500 --> 00:34:10.220 for ourselves. 00:34:11.760 --> 00:34:12.039 You know, 00:34:12.059 --> 00:34:12.720 it's the fire 00:34:12.720 --> 00:34:13.200 insurance 00:34:13.200 --> 00:34:14.059 just in case 00:34:14.059 --> 00:34:14.840 I must repent. 00:34:16.619 --> 00:34:17.320 Repentance 00:34:17.320 --> 00:34:18.039 because of 00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:18.500 fear 00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:19.380 is actually 00:34:19.380 --> 00:34:20.579 self-pity. 00:34:21.880 --> 00:34:22.619 We don't 00:34:22.619 --> 00:34:22.960 learn to 00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:23.639 hate the sin 00:34:23.639 --> 00:34:24.159 we learn 00:34:24.159 --> 00:34:24.480 to hate 00:34:24.480 --> 00:34:25.119 ourselves 00:34:25.119 --> 00:34:29.420 and the 00:34:29.420 --> 00:34:29.900 sin 00:34:29.900 --> 00:34:30.699 doesn't 00:34:30.699 --> 00:34:31.219 lose 00:34:31.219 --> 00:34:31.480 its 00:34:31.480 --> 00:34:31.920 attractive 00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:32.559 power. 00:34:34.860 --> 00:34:35.639 On the 00:34:35.639 --> 00:34:36.219 other hand 00:34:36.219 --> 00:34:37.340 when we 00:34:37.340 --> 00:34:37.960 rejoice 00:34:37.960 --> 00:34:39.599 in God's 00:34:39.599 --> 00:34:40.440 sacrificial 00:34:40.440 --> 00:34:42.579 suffering 00:34:42.579 --> 00:34:43.179 love for 00:34:43.179 --> 00:34:43.619 us 00:34:43.619 --> 00:34:44.539 where he 00:34:44.539 --> 00:34:45.039 has given 00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:45.340 us 00:34:45.340 --> 00:34:46.000 everything 00:34:46.000 --> 00:34:46.659 even though 00:34:46.659 --> 00:34:47.099 we don't 00:34:47.099 --> 00:34:47.500 deserve 00:34:47.500 --> 00:34:48.280 anything 00:34:48.280 --> 00:34:50.600 we learn 00:34:50.600 --> 00:34:51.040 to hate 00:34:51.040 --> 00:34:51.420 the sin 00:34:51.420 --> 00:34:51.800 for what 00:34:51.800 --> 00:34:52.300 it is. 00:34:54.540 --> 00:34:55.720 We see 00:34:55.720 --> 00:34:57.200 what our 00:34:57.200 --> 00:34:57.620 sin 00:34:57.620 --> 00:34:58.400 costs God 00:34:58.400 --> 00:34:58.800 and we 00:34:58.800 --> 00:34:59.340 see what 00:34:59.340 --> 00:34:59.860 his love 00:34:59.860 --> 00:35:00.560 cost him 00:35:00.560 --> 00:35:01.400 and 00:35:01.400 --> 00:35:03.920 you see 00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:04.780 fear-based 00:35:04.780 --> 00:35:05.360 repentance 00:35:05.360 --> 00:35:06.360 makes us 00:35:06.360 --> 00:35:06.580 hate 00:35:06.580 --> 00:35:07.320 ourselves 00:35:07.320 --> 00:35:08.820 joy-based 00:35:08.820 --> 00:35:09.320 repentance 00:35:09.320 --> 00:35:09.900 makes us 00:35:09.900 --> 00:35:10.300 hate the 00:35:10.300 --> 00:35:10.600 sin. 00:35:12.220 --> 00:35:12.660 Rejoicing 00:35:12.660 --> 00:35:13.280 in Jesus 00:35:13.280 --> 00:35:14.100 is so 00:35:14.100 --> 00:35:14.640 essential 00:35:14.640 --> 00:35:16.180 because 00:35:16.180 --> 00:35:16.940 idols 00:35:16.940 --> 00:35:17.460 are 00:35:17.460 --> 00:35:18.100 almost 00:35:18.100 --> 00:35:19.180 always 00:35:19.180 --> 00:35:19.920 good 00:35:19.920 --> 00:35:20.620 things. 00:35:21.740 --> 00:35:22.140 They are 00:35:22.140 --> 00:35:22.880 good gifts 00:35:22.880 --> 00:35:23.260 that have 00:35:23.260 --> 00:35:23.640 been given 00:35:23.640 --> 00:35:24.000 to us 00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:24.400 from our 00:35:24.400 --> 00:35:24.800 God 00:35:24.800 --> 00:35:26.180 and 00:35:26.180 --> 00:35:26.519 instead 00:35:26.519 --> 00:35:26.800 of 00:35:26.800 --> 00:35:27.320 honouring 00:35:27.320 --> 00:35:27.540 him 00:35:27.540 --> 00:35:28.120 for them 00:35:28.120 --> 00:35:28.900 we've 00:35:28.900 --> 00:35:29.160 made 00:35:29.160 --> 00:35:29.640 the gift 00:35:29.640 --> 00:35:29.880 the 00:35:29.880 --> 00:35:30.320 ultimate. 00:35:30.320 --> 00:35:31.900 it's 00:35:31.900 --> 00:35:32.059 the 00:35:32.059 --> 00:35:32.440 ultimate. 00:35:39.900 --> 00:35:40.840 And so 00:35:40.840 --> 00:35:41.260 if we've 00:35:41.260 --> 00:35:41.740 made 00:35:41.740 --> 00:35:42.880 idols 00:35:42.880 --> 00:35:43.600 out of 00:35:43.600 --> 00:35:43.820 our 00:35:43.820 --> 00:35:44.280 work 00:35:44.280 --> 00:35:45.920 or 00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:46.280 out of 00:35:46.280 --> 00:35:46.780 family 00:35:46.780 --> 00:35:47.480 or 00:35:47.480 --> 00:35:48.140 a bunch 00:35:48.140 --> 00:35:48.280 of 00:35:48.280 --> 00:35:48.500 other 00:35:48.500 --> 00:35:49.019 things 00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:49.720 we 00:35:49.720 --> 00:35:50.080 actually 00:35:50.080 --> 00:35:50.480 don't 00:35:50.480 --> 00:35:50.640 want 00:35:50.640 --> 00:35:50.800 to 00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:51.220 stop 00:35:51.220 --> 00:35:51.660 loving 00:35:51.660 --> 00:35:51.900 our 00:35:51.900 --> 00:35:52.480 family 00:35:52.480 --> 00:35:52.880 and 00:35:52.880 --> 00:35:53.220 stop 00:35:53.220 --> 00:35:53.820 loving 00:35:53.820 --> 00:35:54.059 our 00:35:54.059 --> 00:35:54.480 work. 00:35:55.180 --> 00:35:55.380 That 00:35:55.380 --> 00:35:56.059 is 00:35:56.059 --> 00:35:57.160 fear-based 00:35:57.160 --> 00:35:57.700 repentance. 00:35:57.699 --> 00:36:00.339 we 00:36:00.339 --> 00:36:00.739 actually 00:36:00.739 --> 00:36:01.079 just 00:36:01.079 --> 00:36:01.359 need 00:36:01.359 --> 00:36:01.539 to 00:36:01.539 --> 00:36:02.019 see 00:36:02.019 --> 00:36:02.299 and 00:36:02.299 --> 00:36:03.179 experience 00:36:03.179 --> 00:36:03.500 that 00:36:03.500 --> 00:36:03.919 Jesus 00:36:03.919 --> 00:36:04.480 is 00:36:04.480 --> 00:36:04.699 in 00:36:04.699 --> 00:36:04.919 fact 00:36:04.919 --> 00:36:05.319 better 00:36:05.319 --> 00:36:07.039 that 00:36:07.039 --> 00:36:07.339 he's 00:36:07.339 --> 00:36:07.699 bigger 00:36:07.699 --> 00:36:08.619 and 00:36:08.619 --> 00:36:08.779 that 00:36:08.779 --> 00:36:09.079 he's 00:36:09.079 --> 00:36:09.539 greater. 00:36:10.219 --> 00:36:10.919 We 00:36:10.919 --> 00:36:11.319 actually 00:36:11.319 --> 00:36:11.699 want to 00:36:11.699 --> 00:36:12.019 treasure 00:36:12.019 --> 00:36:12.419 Jesus 00:36:12.419 --> 00:36:12.879 so 00:36:12.879 --> 00:36:13.480 much 00:36:13.480 --> 00:36:15.579 that 00:36:15.579 --> 00:36:15.839 we 00:36:15.839 --> 00:36:16.000 are 00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:16.179 no 00:36:16.179 --> 00:36:16.519 longer 00:36:16.519 --> 00:36:17.599 enslaved 00:36:17.599 --> 00:36:18.319 by the 00:36:18.319 --> 00:36:18.879 attachments 00:36:18.879 --> 00:36:19.519 but set 00:36:19.519 --> 00:36:19.919 free 00:36:19.919 --> 00:36:20.299 in order 00:36:20.299 --> 00:36:20.779 to love 00:36:20.779 --> 00:36:21.099 them 00:36:21.099 --> 00:36:21.679 as they 00:36:21.679 --> 00:36:21.919 should 00:36:21.919 --> 00:36:22.099 be 00:36:22.099 --> 00:36:22.500 loved 00:36:22.500 --> 00:36:23.779 as 00:36:23.779 --> 00:36:24.079 gifts 00:36:24.079 --> 00:36:24.319 from 00:36:24.319 --> 00:36:24.699 God. 00:36:26.279 --> 00:36:26.960 And 00:36:26.960 --> 00:36:27.279 at that 00:36:27.279 --> 00:36:27.619 point 00:36:27.619 --> 00:36:28.500 we 00:36:28.500 --> 00:36:28.679 won't 00:36:28.679 --> 00:36:28.819 be 00:36:28.819 --> 00:36:29.099 crushed 00:36:29.099 --> 00:36:29.339 by 00:36:29.339 --> 00:36:29.599 them. 00:36:31.420 --> 00:36:31.900 Rejoicing 00:36:31.900 --> 00:36:32.319 in 00:36:32.319 --> 00:36:32.699 Jesus 00:36:32.699 --> 00:36:33.339 is 00:36:33.339 --> 00:36:33.500 in 00:36:33.500 --> 00:36:33.699 fact 00:36:33.699 --> 00:36:33.880 to 00:36:33.880 --> 00:36:34.159 treasure 00:36:34.159 --> 00:36:34.619 Jesus. 00:36:34.799 --> 00:36:34.920 It's 00:36:34.920 --> 00:36:35.139 why 00:36:35.139 --> 00:36:35.359 we 00:36:35.359 --> 00:36:35.619 as a 00:36:35.619 --> 00:36:35.839 church 00:36:35.839 --> 00:36:36.259 exist 00:36:36.259 --> 00:36:36.460 to 00:36:36.460 --> 00:36:36.779 treasure 00:36:36.779 --> 00:36:37.259 Jesus. 00:36:37.819 --> 00:36:38.179 It 00:36:38.179 --> 00:36:38.400 is 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.619 to 00:36:38.619 --> 00:36:39.279 assess 00:36:39.279 --> 00:36:39.559 his 00:36:39.559 --> 00:36:39.920 value 00:36:39.920 --> 00:36:40.159 to 00:36:40.159 --> 00:36:40.359 you 00:36:40.359 --> 00:36:40.799 to 00:36:40.799 --> 00:36:43.559 reflect 00:36:43.559 --> 00:36:43.859 on 00:36:43.859 --> 00:36:44.059 his 00:36:44.059 --> 00:36:44.519 beauty 00:36:44.519 --> 00:36:44.819 and 00:36:44.819 --> 00:36:45.000 his 00:36:45.000 --> 00:36:45.480 worth 00:36:45.480 --> 00:36:45.799 and 00:36:45.799 --> 00:36:45.940 his 00:36:45.940 --> 00:36:46.719 importance 00:36:46.719 --> 00:36:47.859 until 00:36:47.859 --> 00:36:48.619 your 00:36:48.619 --> 00:36:49.139 heart 00:36:49.139 --> 00:36:49.739 rests 00:36:49.739 --> 00:36:50.099 on 00:36:50.099 --> 00:36:50.480 him. 00:36:53.440 --> 00:36:54.000 This 00:36:54.000 --> 00:36:54.380 is so 00:36:54.380 --> 00:36:54.599 much 00:36:54.599 --> 00:36:54.960 more 00:36:54.960 --> 00:36:55.159 than 00:36:55.159 --> 00:36:55.380 just 00:36:55.380 --> 00:36:55.559 an 00:36:55.559 --> 00:36:56.019 intellectual 00:36:56.019 --> 00:36:56.639 assent 00:36:56.639 --> 00:36:56.940 and 00:36:56.940 --> 00:36:57.260 knowledge 00:36:57.260 --> 00:36:57.380 of 00:36:57.380 --> 00:36:57.480 the 00:36:57.480 --> 00:36:57.740 Christian 00:36:57.740 --> 00:36:58.260 faith, 00:36:58.619 --> 00:36:58.720 the 00:36:58.720 --> 00:36:58.900 core 00:36:58.900 --> 00:36:59.360 doctrines 00:36:59.360 --> 00:36:59.460 of 00:36:59.460 --> 00:36:59.559 the 00:36:59.559 --> 00:36:59.900 faith. 00:37:01.380 --> 00:37:01.679 This 00:37:01.679 --> 00:37:01.940 is 00:37:01.940 --> 00:37:02.280 seeing 00:37:02.280 --> 00:37:02.519 the 00:37:02.519 --> 00:37:02.900 value 00:37:02.900 --> 00:37:03.119 of 00:37:03.119 --> 00:37:03.220 them, 00:37:03.280 --> 00:37:03.380 the 00:37:03.380 --> 00:37:03.679 beauty 00:37:03.679 --> 00:37:03.880 of 00:37:03.880 --> 00:37:03.960 them, 00:37:03.960 --> 00:37:04.119 the 00:37:04.119 --> 00:37:04.500 worth 00:37:04.500 --> 00:37:04.659 of 00:37:04.659 --> 00:37:04.780 them 00:37:04.780 --> 00:37:05.059 until 00:37:05.059 --> 00:37:05.320 your 00:37:05.320 --> 00:37:06.159 affections 00:37:06.159 --> 00:37:06.960 fall 00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:08.320 up. 00:37:08.320 --> 00:37:11.960 And 00:37:11.960 --> 00:37:12.100 the 00:37:12.100 --> 00:37:12.780 way 00:37:12.780 --> 00:37:12.940 of 00:37:12.940 --> 00:37:13.780 the 00:37:13.780 --> 00:37:15.220 idols, 00:37:15.440 --> 00:37:15.539 the 00:37:15.539 --> 00:37:16.059 tools 00:37:16.059 --> 00:37:16.260 that 00:37:16.260 --> 00:37:16.460 God 00:37:16.460 --> 00:37:16.600 has 00:37:16.600 --> 00:37:16.820 given 00:37:16.820 --> 00:37:17.039 us 00:37:17.039 --> 00:37:17.220 for 00:37:17.220 --> 00:37:17.519 that 00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:18.180 is 00:37:18.180 --> 00:37:18.519 what 00:37:18.519 --> 00:37:18.800 has 00:37:18.800 --> 00:37:19.240 traditionally 00:37:19.240 --> 00:37:19.480 been 00:37:19.480 --> 00:37:19.800 called 00:37:19.800 --> 00:37:20.380 spiritual 00:37:20.380 --> 00:37:21.140 disciplines. 00:37:22.440 --> 00:37:22.660 They 00:37:22.660 --> 00:37:23.019 include 00:37:23.019 --> 00:37:23.640 things like 00:37:23.640 --> 00:37:24.140 meditation 00:37:24.140 --> 00:37:24.600 on his 00:37:24.600 --> 00:37:24.880 word, 00:37:24.940 --> 00:37:25.120 that we 00:37:25.120 --> 00:37:25.460 might be 00:37:25.460 --> 00:37:25.880 flooded 00:37:25.880 --> 00:37:26.280 with the 00:37:26.280 --> 00:37:26.580 gospel 00:37:26.580 --> 00:37:27.059 and God's 00:37:27.059 --> 00:37:27.760 graciousness 00:37:27.760 --> 00:37:28.000 and his 00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:28.220 goodness 00:37:28.220 --> 00:37:28.559 to us 00:37:28.559 --> 00:37:29.120 consistently. 00:37:29.760 --> 00:37:30.039 That 00:37:30.039 --> 00:37:30.539 another 00:37:30.539 --> 00:37:30.860 one of 00:37:30.860 --> 00:37:31.120 these 00:37:31.120 --> 00:37:32.220 tools 00:37:32.220 --> 00:37:32.680 is 00:37:32.680 --> 00:37:33.180 corporate 00:37:33.180 --> 00:37:33.760 worship, 00:37:33.760 --> 00:37:34.519 what we're 00:37:34.519 --> 00:37:34.800 doing 00:37:34.800 --> 00:37:35.559 right now, 00:37:35.640 --> 00:37:36.240 and private 00:37:36.239 --> 00:37:36.659 prayer. 00:37:37.099 --> 00:37:37.359 These 00:37:37.359 --> 00:37:37.939 disciplines 00:37:37.939 --> 00:37:38.739 will 00:37:38.739 --> 00:37:39.319 ultimately 00:37:39.319 --> 00:37:40.119 over time 00:37:40.119 --> 00:37:40.719 take head 00:37:40.719 --> 00:37:41.079 knowledge 00:37:41.079 --> 00:37:41.659 and make 00:37:41.659 --> 00:37:42.139 it life 00:37:42.139 --> 00:37:42.519 shaping 00:37:42.519 --> 00:37:43.079 reality 00:37:43.079 --> 00:37:43.799 for us. 00:37:44.099 --> 00:37:44.459 What we're 00:37:44.459 --> 00:37:44.879 doing 00:37:44.879 --> 00:37:45.899 as we 00:37:45.899 --> 00:37:46.219 gather 00:37:46.219 --> 00:37:46.779 tonight 00:37:46.779 --> 00:37:47.039 with 00:37:47.039 --> 00:37:47.419 baptism, 00:37:47.599 --> 00:37:47.859 preaching, 00:37:47.979 --> 00:37:48.199 singing, 00:37:48.419 --> 00:37:48.659 prayers, 00:37:48.739 --> 00:37:48.979 all that 00:37:48.979 --> 00:37:49.199 sort of 00:37:49.199 --> 00:37:49.359 stuff, 00:37:49.419 --> 00:37:49.559 you know 00:37:49.559 --> 00:37:49.819 what we're 00:37:49.819 --> 00:37:50.219 doing, 00:37:50.879 --> 00:37:51.319 what we 00:37:51.319 --> 00:37:51.659 do tonight 00:37:51.659 --> 00:37:52.419 and every 00:37:52.419 --> 00:37:52.959 time we 00:37:52.959 --> 00:37:53.279 gather 00:37:53.279 --> 00:37:55.639 is just 00:37:55.639 --> 00:37:57.019 being reminded 00:37:57.019 --> 00:37:57.579 again of 00:37:57.579 --> 00:37:58.299 the magnificence 00:37:58.299 --> 00:37:58.859 of Jesus, 00:37:59.959 --> 00:38:00.319 of our 00:38:00.319 --> 00:38:00.979 priorities 00:38:00.979 --> 00:38:02.199 again 00:38:02.199 --> 00:38:03.159 and again 00:38:03.159 --> 00:38:03.919 and again 00:38:03.919 --> 00:38:04.599 and again 00:38:04.599 --> 00:38:05.119 and again 00:38:05.119 --> 00:38:05.459 for him 00:38:05.459 --> 00:38:05.959 to shape 00:38:05.960 --> 00:38:06.679 our lives, 00:38:06.860 --> 00:38:07.300 for us 00:38:07.300 --> 00:38:07.780 to declare 00:38:07.780 --> 00:38:08.280 how good 00:38:08.280 --> 00:38:08.619 he is, 00:38:08.679 --> 00:38:09.119 to be reminded 00:38:09.119 --> 00:38:09.320 of that, 00:38:09.360 --> 00:38:09.800 to hear other 00:38:09.800 --> 00:38:10.220 brothers and 00:38:10.220 --> 00:38:11.159 sisters do 00:38:11.159 --> 00:38:11.559 that. 00:38:13.119 --> 00:38:13.440 You see, 00:38:13.559 --> 00:38:13.900 spiritual 00:38:13.900 --> 00:38:14.360 disciplines 00:38:14.360 --> 00:38:15.079 are a 00:38:15.079 --> 00:38:15.500 form of 00:38:15.500 --> 00:38:15.880 worship 00:38:15.880 --> 00:38:17.720 and worship 00:38:17.720 --> 00:38:19.519 very simply 00:38:19.519 --> 00:38:22.220 worship 00:38:22.220 --> 00:38:22.940 is the 00:38:22.940 --> 00:38:23.440 ultimate 00:38:23.440 --> 00:38:24.280 way to 00:38:24.280 --> 00:38:24.780 replace 00:38:24.780 --> 00:38:25.519 idols in 00:38:25.519 --> 00:38:26.059 our heart, 00:38:26.539 --> 00:38:27.260 giving God 00:38:27.260 --> 00:38:27.619 the due 00:38:27.619 --> 00:38:28.000 honour 00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:29.720 to him. 00:38:31.139 --> 00:38:31.559 You see, 00:38:31.659 --> 00:38:31.880 you cannot 00:38:31.880 --> 00:38:32.519 get rid of 00:38:32.519 --> 00:38:33.039 idols simply 00:38:33.039 --> 00:38:33.940 by understanding 00:38:33.940 --> 00:38:34.380 what they 00:38:34.380 --> 00:38:34.760 are, 00:38:34.760 --> 00:38:36.220 just by 00:38:36.220 --> 00:38:36.660 identifying 00:38:36.660 --> 00:38:37.060 them. 00:38:37.940 --> 00:38:38.620 We actually 00:38:38.620 --> 00:38:39.060 have to 00:38:39.060 --> 00:38:39.580 get the 00:38:39.580 --> 00:38:40.160 peace that 00:38:40.160 --> 00:38:41.100 Jesus gives 00:38:41.100 --> 00:38:42.520 and that 00:38:42.520 --> 00:38:44.420 only comes 00:38:44.420 --> 00:38:44.960 as we 00:38:44.960 --> 00:38:45.720 worship him 00:38:45.720 --> 00:38:46.440 as our 00:38:46.440 --> 00:38:46.920 merciful, 00:38:47.480 --> 00:38:47.960 patient, 00:38:48.500 --> 00:38:48.880 sovereign 00:38:48.880 --> 00:38:49.860 saviour. 00:38:51.820 --> 00:38:52.300 And that 00:38:52.300 --> 00:38:52.760 process, 00:38:52.920 --> 00:38:53.500 my friends, 00:38:53.700 --> 00:38:54.240 is the bad 00:38:54.240 --> 00:38:54.920 news for you 00:38:54.920 --> 00:38:55.420 quick fix 00:38:55.420 --> 00:38:55.800 people. 00:38:56.940 --> 00:38:57.620 That's an 00:38:57.620 --> 00:38:58.360 entire life 00:38:58.360 --> 00:38:58.940 process. 00:38:58.940 --> 00:38:59.059 process. 00:39:00.720 --> 00:39:01.079 It's a 00:39:01.079 --> 00:39:01.840 process of 00:39:01.840 --> 00:39:02.460 rejoicing and 00:39:02.460 --> 00:39:02.880 repenting, 00:39:02.960 --> 00:39:03.500 rejoicing and 00:39:03.500 --> 00:39:04.320 repenting all 00:39:04.320 --> 00:39:04.800 of our 00:39:04.800 --> 00:39:05.240 lives. 00:39:05.800 --> 00:39:05.980 You see, 00:39:06.039 --> 00:39:06.340 mature 00:39:06.340 --> 00:39:07.099 Christians are 00:39:07.099 --> 00:39:07.740 not those 00:39:07.740 --> 00:39:08.539 who've got to 00:39:08.539 --> 00:39:08.860 the bottom 00:39:08.860 --> 00:39:09.220 of their 00:39:09.220 --> 00:39:09.619 hearts, 00:39:09.720 --> 00:39:09.860 you know, 00:39:09.900 --> 00:39:10.360 finally hit 00:39:10.360 --> 00:39:11.300 bedrock, 00:39:11.400 --> 00:39:11.539 clunk, 00:39:11.619 --> 00:39:11.780 clunk, 00:39:11.860 --> 00:39:12.079 clunk, 00:39:12.200 --> 00:39:12.440 nowhere 00:39:12.440 --> 00:39:12.880 further to 00:39:12.880 --> 00:39:13.099 go. 00:39:13.920 --> 00:39:14.300 Mature 00:39:14.300 --> 00:39:14.820 Christian 00:39:14.820 --> 00:39:16.099 are those 00:39:16.099 --> 00:39:16.639 who keep 00:39:16.639 --> 00:39:17.240 digging, 00:39:17.940 --> 00:39:18.340 who never 00:39:18.340 --> 00:39:19.220 stop digging 00:39:19.220 --> 00:39:20.260 into the 00:39:20.260 --> 00:39:20.559 depths of 00:39:20.559 --> 00:39:21.079 their hearts 00:39:21.079 --> 00:39:22.360 and constantly 00:39:22.360 --> 00:39:23.139 rooting out 00:39:23.139 --> 00:39:23.800 the idols of 00:39:23.800 --> 00:39:24.420 their hearts. 00:39:24.420 --> 00:39:26.240 setting your 00:39:26.240 --> 00:39:27.139 heart on 00:39:27.139 --> 00:39:27.960 Jesus as 00:39:27.960 --> 00:39:28.680 your peace 00:39:28.680 --> 00:39:29.539 and your 00:39:29.539 --> 00:39:30.220 hope and 00:39:30.220 --> 00:39:30.960 your life 00:39:30.960 --> 00:39:32.200 is the 00:39:32.200 --> 00:39:32.960 road to 00:39:32.960 --> 00:39:34.059 true freedom, 00:39:35.400 --> 00:39:36.280 freedom from 00:39:36.280 --> 00:39:37.820 enslaving idols 00:39:37.820 --> 00:39:39.059 that crush 00:39:39.059 --> 00:39:39.519 us, 00:39:40.039 --> 00:39:41.220 that control 00:39:41.220 --> 00:39:42.220 us and 00:39:42.220 --> 00:39:42.960 will ultimately 00:39:42.960 --> 00:39:44.320 destroy us.