WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.700 The reading today is John 15 verse 1 to 17. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:59.980 It says, 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:03.420 Ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. 00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:11.159 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 00:01:12.379 --> 00:01:15.379 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. 00:01:16.079 --> 00:01:16.980 Abide in my love. 00:01:17.799 --> 00:01:25.039 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:31.719 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full. 00:01:32.940 --> 00:01:36.380 This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 00:01:37.500 --> 00:01:43.180 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 00:01:43.180 --> 00:01:46.580 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 00:01:47.260 --> 00:01:53.400 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing. 00:01:54.120 --> 00:01:58.780 But I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 00:01:58.780 --> 00:02:06.500 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide, 00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:11.219 so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 00:02:11.719 --> 00:02:14.699 These things I command you, so that you will love one another. 00:02:14.699 --> 00:02:20.500 Will you pray with me as we come to God's word? 00:02:25.500 --> 00:02:30.159 Yeah, Father, I pray for an outpouring of your spirit. 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:35.139 Lord, I pray that you would help me to be truthful and clear. 00:02:36.859 --> 00:02:40.060 And I pray that you would give all of us listening ears. 00:02:40.799 --> 00:02:42.219 In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 00:02:42.219 --> 00:02:49.819 Well, is personal moral growth even possible? 00:02:52.439 --> 00:03:02.819 Like the besetting vice, like sexual sin or outbursts of anger, is it possible to be free from such things? 00:03:04.860 --> 00:03:07.139 To get growth from such things? 00:03:07.139 --> 00:03:15.539 If you're married, could in five years' time, could you look back and say that your marriage is now safer? 00:03:16.439 --> 00:03:17.139 There's more trust. 00:03:17.899 --> 00:03:20.959 It's more life-giving to one another and to people around you. 00:03:22.419 --> 00:03:25.279 If you're a parent, isn't it the burden of us parents? 00:03:25.419 --> 00:03:28.679 We want that growth, that personal growth in our children. 00:03:28.759 --> 00:03:30.679 Even when they're adults, that burden. 00:03:30.680 --> 00:03:37.540 And I don't have adult children, but I can see that burden in you if it's still there. 00:03:39.379 --> 00:03:41.300 Isn't it our core family business? 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:46.219 That personal growth as the church? 00:03:47.219 --> 00:03:52.020 Each conversation, we're pushing each other closer to the good, closer to God, 00:03:52.020 --> 00:03:55.439 or just letting each other drift and further away. 00:03:57.800 --> 00:04:00.700 So is personal moral growth even possible? 00:04:01.200 --> 00:04:02.420 I want to ask an expert. 00:04:04.920 --> 00:04:08.800 Jonathan Haidt, H-A-I-A-D-T. 00:04:10.120 --> 00:04:16.600 He's an unbeliever, but he's a professor of social psychology, and he's specialising in morality. 00:04:16.600 --> 00:04:20.439 Some of you might know his recent book, The Anxious Generation. 00:04:20.939 --> 00:04:24.520 He wrote another book, The Righteous Mind, back in 2012. 00:04:26.439 --> 00:04:34.700 He builds a compelling case that you can't use rational arguments to become more moral. 00:04:35.879 --> 00:04:38.040 Now, I don't have time to go through his arguments, okay, 00:04:38.100 --> 00:04:41.420 but I'm just going to share a funny example. 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:43.240 Well, I found it funny. 00:04:43.280 --> 00:04:43.980 I found it humorous. 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:44.420 You may not. 00:04:44.420 --> 00:04:55.000 But if rationality can produce more morality, then you would expect moral philosophers to be some of the most moral people. 00:04:55.120 --> 00:04:58.819 When they did a study on moral philosophers, did they give more to charity? 00:04:59.259 --> 00:04:59.520 No. 00:05:00.220 --> 00:05:01.580 Did they call their mothers more? 00:05:02.340 --> 00:05:02.660 No. 00:05:03.819 --> 00:05:06.180 Did they donate more blood or organs? 00:05:07.300 --> 00:05:10.939 Did they clean up after themselves after conferences more? 00:05:11.080 --> 00:05:11.240 No. 00:05:11.240 --> 00:05:22.060 In fact, the library missing book list, moral ethics topped the list of books that weren't returned. 00:05:23.639 --> 00:05:24.759 That's the point I found. 00:05:24.960 --> 00:05:26.660 I'm glad some people found it funny with me. 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:30.660 Now, I can't share his arguments. 00:05:30.759 --> 00:05:33.139 I'm not going to convince you of it because I don't have time. 00:05:33.139 --> 00:05:36.379 But his conclusion is this. 00:05:37.699 --> 00:05:47.819 In looking at human behaviour, it's our gut intuition that comes first and our reasoning comes second. 00:05:49.919 --> 00:05:52.979 He describes our intuition like this elephant. 00:05:53.379 --> 00:05:56.639 It is powerful, moving wherever we want it to go. 00:05:56.639 --> 00:06:01.899 And he describes our reasoning like a press secretary of the president. 00:06:02.659 --> 00:06:06.099 That press secretary is not there to persuade. 00:06:06.339 --> 00:06:08.300 It's just, here's what the president says. 00:06:09.819 --> 00:06:11.019 It's to justify. 00:06:13.620 --> 00:06:18.759 Now, this isn't sounding good for personal moral growth. 00:06:19.240 --> 00:06:20.699 That is not sounding good. 00:06:20.699 --> 00:06:24.620 It's a severe warning for individuals trying to go it on their own. 00:06:24.899 --> 00:06:27.979 You will just justify yourself wherever you want to go. 00:06:30.959 --> 00:06:38.300 Now, Jonathan, an unbeliever, he's arguing that together we can make tweaks to each other. 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:40.860 He's not even aiming that high. 00:06:40.980 --> 00:06:43.379 He's saying we can tweak each other for growth. 00:06:43.379 --> 00:06:49.300 Now, our passage today, it agrees and disagrees with Jonathan's finding. 00:06:49.560 --> 00:06:56.360 It agrees that left to ourselves, change, personal growth, it's not going to happen. 00:06:57.439 --> 00:07:05.480 Social change, social connection rather, it can use fear, it can use pride of our reputation to produce tweaks. 00:07:06.819 --> 00:07:11.139 And here's where our passage really disagrees with Jonathan. 00:07:11.139 --> 00:07:15.079 Jonathan, Jesus is in the business of changing our elephant. 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:17.419 I'm going to use his phrase. 00:07:18.360 --> 00:07:25.919 He's in the business of changing that deep person in us. 00:07:26.899 --> 00:07:28.219 He's not after little tweaks. 00:07:32.759 --> 00:07:36.120 Okay, so leaving the elephant image behind, that's Jonathan's image. 00:07:36.300 --> 00:07:38.860 Let's go to Scripture's image. 00:07:38.860 --> 00:07:46.580 We come to the seventh of the seven I am declarations of Jesus. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:49.420 And today is about what it means to follow Jesus. 00:07:49.540 --> 00:07:50.720 What does it mean to be a believer? 00:07:51.240 --> 00:07:53.740 What is the essence of belonging to Jesus? 00:07:53.860 --> 00:07:55.620 And you'd expect the focus to be on us. 00:07:55.699 --> 00:07:57.759 But again, Jesus, he asserts himself. 00:07:58.220 --> 00:07:59.680 I am the true vine. 00:08:01.819 --> 00:08:02.819 You are the branches. 00:08:02.819 --> 00:08:13.659 Now, Israel, God's ancient covenant people were pictured by the prophets again and again in the Psalms as a vineyard. 00:08:13.800 --> 00:08:17.839 And now we should be pretty familiar with vineyard, Hunter Valley. 00:08:17.839 --> 00:08:23.919 In Isaiah 5, God is pictured as the vineyard owner. 00:08:24.099 --> 00:08:24.959 He's done everything. 00:08:25.079 --> 00:08:26.519 He's cleared the land. 00:08:26.939 --> 00:08:28.959 He's made it fertile soil. 00:08:29.979 --> 00:08:31.120 He's cared for it. 00:08:31.139 --> 00:08:32.299 He's provided for it. 00:08:32.339 --> 00:08:34.740 And he looks at the vine and he's looking for fruit. 00:08:34.839 --> 00:08:35.699 And here's verse 7. 00:08:35.699 --> 00:08:38.279 I wish I knew Hebrew at this point. 00:08:38.279 --> 00:08:52.199 But he looked for righteousness. 00:08:52.199 --> 00:08:52.220 He looked for righteousness. 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:59.220 He heard cries of distress. 00:08:59.939 --> 00:09:02.860 He looked for justice and found bloodshed. 00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:06.039 He looked for righteousness and he heard cries. 00:09:06.039 --> 00:09:12.519 Whenever Israel is referred as the vine, it's always a negative picture. 00:09:12.659 --> 00:09:13.480 There's no fruit. 00:09:16.079 --> 00:09:19.919 So do you hear what Jesus is saying when he says, I am the true vine? 00:09:21.879 --> 00:09:23.199 I am the true vine. 00:09:25.539 --> 00:09:31.980 He's saying, I'm creating the true covenant people that Israel failed to be. 00:09:36.039 --> 00:10:00.299 How can a warrior become a rock? 00:10:00.299 --> 00:10:03.819 How can a bigot become understanding? 00:10:05.539 --> 00:10:08.779 But when he says, I'm the true vine, he's saying, I'm the key to that. 00:10:09.779 --> 00:10:11.459 I'm the key to that kind of change. 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:16.019 So here's where we're headed today. 00:10:16.259 --> 00:10:18.500 I want to ask the question, what's the fruit? 00:10:19.740 --> 00:10:23.399 What's the ultimate purpose of the fruit and how is the fruit produced? 00:10:23.399 --> 00:10:27.279 So what's the fruit? 00:10:28.379 --> 00:10:31.100 Well, fruit in the New Testament can be spoken of in lots of terms. 00:10:31.179 --> 00:10:33.259 We just did one of them in terms of praising. 00:10:33.799 --> 00:10:36.419 It's the fruit of lips that praise the Lord. 00:10:37.539 --> 00:10:40.679 It can be talked about in terms of leading others to Christ. 00:10:41.019 --> 00:10:42.980 It can be talked about in terms of righteous behavior. 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:49.919 It can be talked about, most famous of all, the fruit of the Spirit, our character, our attitudes, love, joy, peace, and so on. 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:56.039 I can't see anything in here. 00:10:58.860 --> 00:11:04.639 We're going to come to verse 12 in a second, but I suspect we should probably choose E, all of the above. 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:12.120 Any fruit in the right response to God and one another is probably to be pictured here. 00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:20.659 But verse 12 does seem to emphasize how we relate to one another. 00:11:22.860 --> 00:11:30.539 The new commandment that characterizes the true vine, that you love one another as I have loved you. 00:11:30.539 --> 00:11:41.819 The love that we have at the cross of Jesus, it's no external pressure put on us. 00:11:42.620 --> 00:11:44.819 It gets inside of us. 00:11:47.319 --> 00:11:51.179 This love is different to anything you'll find in the world. 00:11:51.179 --> 00:11:56.019 Even the Greek word for love is different. 00:11:56.579 --> 00:12:02.219 The word that the New Testament writers used is totally different to the word they used at that time. 00:12:02.739 --> 00:12:08.679 There's other words for love in Greek, like storge, which is natural family connection. 00:12:09.639 --> 00:12:10.519 We get that kind of love. 00:12:10.979 --> 00:12:12.139 Philia, friendship. 00:12:12.139 --> 00:12:21.919 And then most common, eros, which we understand most of all romantic love. 00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:29.379 Now, have you had a friend who is desperately in love with a guy and you're like, 00:12:30.279 --> 00:12:32.740 I'm not sure what you see in him. 00:12:33.620 --> 00:12:34.539 Have you ever thought that way? 00:12:34.679 --> 00:12:36.159 I'm not thinking of anyone in this room. 00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:37.059 I just want to say that. 00:12:37.059 --> 00:12:45.439 Well, the first thing about eros kind of love is it's love for the worthy. 00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:48.599 You may not see something worthy in that person, but she does. 00:12:49.719 --> 00:12:51.500 Eros sees something worthy. 00:12:55.219 --> 00:12:57.199 And eros wants to possess it. 00:12:57.339 --> 00:12:59.979 She doesn't just look at him and go, oh, yeah, he's wonderful. 00:13:00.339 --> 00:13:02.259 I don't really care who he marries. 00:13:02.799 --> 00:13:03.939 No, I must have him. 00:13:05.019 --> 00:13:06.159 He must be mine. 00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:08.500 The world will be colourless. 00:13:08.659 --> 00:13:10.120 It will be meaningless. 00:13:10.500 --> 00:13:12.079 I'll be empty without him. 00:13:12.919 --> 00:13:19.219 So eros kind of love, it sees worth and I need it to feel full. 00:13:25.719 --> 00:13:32.659 Christ's love for us, the New Testament word, the authors choose a different word. 00:13:33.659 --> 00:13:34.339 Agape. 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:39.659 While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:41.539 Our worth had nothing to do with it. 00:13:43.740 --> 00:13:46.839 He didn't need to possess us for him to feel full. 00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:49.500 It's all to do with him. 00:13:50.819 --> 00:13:58.379 Agape love is, it's in his nature to overflow and to seek the well-being of others. 00:13:58.379 --> 00:14:01.019 It's a love that you don't find in this world. 00:14:01.019 --> 00:14:05.480 It is not human in a sense. 00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:06.919 We were made for it. 00:14:07.139 --> 00:14:08.340 Maybe I'm overstating that. 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:11.259 You won't find it in the world. 00:14:11.259 --> 00:14:18.100 Just imagine the difference. 00:14:18.100 --> 00:14:22.500 Agape love flowing in your soul would make to your marriage. 00:14:23.059 --> 00:14:27.600 When you're not looking for worth in your spouse to decide whether to love them. 00:14:28.600 --> 00:14:30.220 That would transform marriages. 00:14:31.879 --> 00:14:32.960 My marriage. 00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:37.820 Imagine that in your parenting. 00:14:38.460 --> 00:14:42.960 You don't need your child to flourish for you to feel whole. 00:14:45.460 --> 00:14:47.120 Because then you're using your child. 00:14:50.400 --> 00:14:51.740 Imagine that in the church. 00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:54.600 This is humanly impossible love. 00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:56.360 It's only found in the cross. 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:03.220 So I think that's the main fruit we should be picturing. 00:15:05.139 --> 00:15:08.039 Now what's the ultimate purpose of this fruit? 00:15:12.220 --> 00:15:21.120 It's so that we progressively share in the glory of the beauty of the great I am himself. 00:15:21.740 --> 00:15:23.060 Verse 11. 00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:25.440 These things I have spoken to you. 00:15:26.180 --> 00:15:29.799 That my joy may be in you. 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:34.779 And that your joy may be full. 00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:42.639 The Christian life is no just grin and bear it. 00:15:42.960 --> 00:15:45.480 Got to be serious all the time. 00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:48.480 Now there's a lot of serious things in life. 00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:51.240 But the Christian life is joy. 00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:54.480 He wants fullness of joy. 00:15:55.820 --> 00:15:56.419 Wholeness. 00:15:58.220 --> 00:16:01.279 So the purpose of producing this fruit in us. 00:16:01.680 --> 00:16:05.080 In us is joy. 00:16:06.139 --> 00:16:07.039 Fullness of joy. 00:16:10.220 --> 00:16:14.340 And the ultimate purpose of this we see in verse 8. 00:16:14.340 --> 00:16:18.639 By this my father is glorified. 00:16:19.780 --> 00:16:21.519 That you bear much fruit. 00:16:21.740 --> 00:16:23.360 And so prove to be my disciples. 00:16:28.860 --> 00:16:31.280 When agape love is seen in us. 00:16:32.019 --> 00:16:33.360 It's from out of this world. 00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:36.139 It demonstrates that we are the children of God. 00:16:36.700 --> 00:16:38.320 It honors the father. 00:16:38.320 --> 00:16:40.960 And it glorifies the father. 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:43.960 Because there is no way you produced it. 00:16:44.760 --> 00:16:47.520 There's no way the world produced it. 00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:49.120 He did. 00:16:49.960 --> 00:16:51.420 His cross produces it. 00:16:51.780 --> 00:16:53.240 And so it glorifies him that way. 00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:55.680 So the purpose of this fruit. 00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:59.360 Is our full joy. 00:17:00.299 --> 00:17:02.039 To the father's glory. 00:17:07.880 --> 00:17:10.240 So I want to turn to our final question. 00:17:10.359 --> 00:17:11.559 Which we'll spend the most time on. 00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:13.500 How is this fruit produced? 00:17:18.220 --> 00:17:22.500 I feel burdened as a preacher. 00:17:22.659 --> 00:17:25.379 Because I'm guessing there's one verse in here. 00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:26.319 That a few of you. 00:17:26.440 --> 00:17:28.599 You probably barely heard a word I said. 00:17:28.839 --> 00:17:32.059 Because fear is gripping you. 00:17:32.679 --> 00:17:35.819 The image of the father taking away. 00:17:36.139 --> 00:17:37.559 Any unfruitful branch. 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:40.559 Gathered and thrown into the fire. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:41.440 That is terrifying. 00:17:41.559 --> 00:17:47.220 The picture here. 00:17:47.579 --> 00:17:50.299 Is not about the amount of fruit. 00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:51.399 It's not like. 00:17:52.259 --> 00:17:53.480 He looks and goes. 00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:54.599 Oh there's only one grape. 00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:55.539 Chop it off. 00:17:56.339 --> 00:17:56.519 No. 00:17:56.759 --> 00:17:57.500 If there's a grape. 00:17:58.799 --> 00:17:59.319 Wonderful. 00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:00.539 And he prunes it. 00:18:02.619 --> 00:18:04.119 It's not about the amount. 00:18:06.899 --> 00:18:10.259 And we aren't given a time frame here. 00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:13.579 Whatever time frame you're using to measure your life. 00:18:13.900 --> 00:18:16.299 It could be a whole person's entire lifespan. 00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:18.379 We're not told here a week. 00:18:18.379 --> 00:18:19.480 Or a few years. 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:24.599 But if you want to be in Jesus. 00:18:24.599 --> 00:18:32.099 And your soul is telling you that I must be one of those useless branches. 00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:33.640 Can I plead with you? 00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:38.519 Give as much weight to the surrounding verses as you're giving to that one verse. 00:18:39.259 --> 00:18:40.559 Look at the surrounding verses. 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:41.180 Verse 3. 00:18:41.180 --> 00:18:42.759 Already you are clean. 00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:46.200 Because of the word that I have spoken to you. 00:18:46.340 --> 00:18:48.840 If you believe the word of the gospel, you're clean. 00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:51.259 Verse 16. 00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:54.759 Jesus underlines and he bolds this in verse 16. 00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:57.539 You did not choose me. 00:18:58.579 --> 00:19:00.039 But I chose you. 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:06.599 And our Lord's high priest. 00:19:06.599 --> 00:19:07.659 I know it's not in this passage. 00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:08.680 But in chapter 17. 00:19:09.099 --> 00:19:13.240 This section ends with our high priest praying over us. 00:19:13.819 --> 00:19:17.339 The father's going to answer our high priest's prayer. 00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:17.779 And he says, 00:19:17.899 --> 00:19:19.299 Holy Father, keep them. 00:19:20.059 --> 00:19:21.319 Keep them in your name. 00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:25.460 He knows the pressure we're under in this world. 00:19:25.579 --> 00:19:26.799 That our faith is struggling. 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:28.119 And he says, 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:28.720 Keep them. 00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:38.799 And can I... 00:19:39.460 --> 00:19:41.639 That's okay? 00:19:44.159 --> 00:19:44.819 All good. 00:19:47.960 --> 00:19:49.779 And notice God's role here. 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:53.919 Notice God's role in producing fruit and our role. 00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:58.079 He doesn't ask, 00:19:58.259 --> 00:19:59.419 Are you producing fruit? 00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:01.319 I think our minds go there. 00:20:01.639 --> 00:20:02.700 Am I producing fruit? 00:20:03.059 --> 00:20:04.119 Am I producing fruit? 00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:05.159 Is it enough? 00:20:05.700 --> 00:20:06.559 He doesn't ask that. 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:08.480 We need to have the right question. 00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:09.819 Here's the question from the passage. 00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:11.559 Am I abiding in Christ? 00:20:11.859 --> 00:20:14.359 Am I looking to him as my only hope? 00:20:16.220 --> 00:20:17.659 This passage is telling us, 00:20:17.879 --> 00:20:20.159 Don't infer God's love. 00:20:21.539 --> 00:20:22.740 From my performance, 00:20:22.740 --> 00:20:26.599 If I can see good things or not, 00:20:27.420 --> 00:20:29.799 I'll infer whether God loves me or not. 00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:31.500 Don't infer it. 00:20:32.299 --> 00:20:33.220 Draw on it. 00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:36.680 You've got to draw the life, 00:20:38.059 --> 00:20:39.799 the love from his word. 00:20:43.380 --> 00:20:45.279 You've got to draw that I am loved. 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:49.160 It's the I am's responsibility to produce this fruit. 00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:50.680 Verse 4. 00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:52.039 Let's look at the vine. 00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:53.879 Abide in me and I in you. 00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:56.899 As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself 00:20:56.899 --> 00:20:58.200 unless it abides in the vine, 00:20:58.299 --> 00:21:00.220 neither can you unless you abide in me. 00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:05.259 Apart from me, you can do nothing. 00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:08.559 Like the Greek is a double negative here, 00:21:08.639 --> 00:21:10.220 which doesn't make sense in English, 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:12.119 to put it exactly. 00:21:13.159 --> 00:21:14.079 So let me say, 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:16.659 I'm going to really annoy the grammar people in this room. 00:21:17.379 --> 00:21:18.559 You can't do nothing. 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:24.899 You can't do nothing without me. 00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:28.039 It's his responsibility to produce the fruit. 00:21:28.379 --> 00:21:30.519 I continually struggle to believe that, 00:21:30.819 --> 00:21:32.119 fully and always. 00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:35.019 Otherwise, my success wouldn't make me proud. 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:36.819 It wasn't me. 00:21:37.159 --> 00:21:39.460 It's the vine through me. 00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:42.039 And my failures wouldn't leave me crushed, 00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:46.579 because it's the I am who's still with me. 00:21:46.579 --> 00:21:50.720 It's the vine's responsibility. 00:21:55.659 --> 00:21:58.339 And this talk of Jesus living in us, 00:21:59.419 --> 00:22:00.980 so we're in him and he in us, 00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:02.599 it's not just a nice idea. 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:03.519 It's reality. 00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:06.599 He says to his disciples in chapter 14, 00:22:06.679 --> 00:22:07.519 we didn't read this bit, 00:22:07.579 --> 00:22:09.679 but I will not leave you as orphans. 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:10.980 I will come to you. 00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:12.779 Now, how does he come to us? 00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:15.859 Because the Father and the Son send his Spirit. 00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:19.359 And he's called an advocate. 00:22:23.779 --> 00:22:25.940 He's the Spirit of truth. 00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:31.480 The Holy Spirit never draws attention to himself. 00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:33.399 He keeps pointing to the Son. 00:22:33.940 --> 00:22:37.519 He wants to press into our minds and hearts 00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:40.039 more of the person and work of Jesus. 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:41.899 That's what the Spirit does for us. 00:22:41.900 --> 00:22:43.040 He's our advocate. 00:22:43.320 --> 00:22:45.920 He pushes Jesus deeper into us. 00:22:50.820 --> 00:22:54.540 Charles Hodge is a Bible teacher from the 19th century. 00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:57.900 He explains the Spirit's advocacy work like this. 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:02.460 The Spirit is an advocate in that he's like a lawyer. 00:23:03.340 --> 00:23:05.720 He's making a case for you. 00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:07.240 And he's not just going, 00:23:08.500 --> 00:23:10.620 well, David's a shocker. 00:23:10.619 --> 00:23:12.979 Just have mercy, please. 00:23:13.879 --> 00:23:14.899 That's not the case. 00:23:14.939 --> 00:23:16.399 He's making a legal case. 00:23:17.619 --> 00:23:20.539 Father, the law demands death for David. 00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:22.659 Your son has paid in full. 00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:25.199 Your son was obedient in fulfilling the law 00:23:25.199 --> 00:23:26.419 all on his behalf. 00:23:26.939 --> 00:23:30.859 It would be unjust to reject him 00:23:30.859 --> 00:23:32.059 because he's in your son. 00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:37.480 It would be fully just to embrace him as your own. 00:23:39.059 --> 00:23:42.500 And so the Spirit's advocacy role for us is saying 00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:44.879 God's justice, which we fear, 00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:48.359 is now totally for us and on our side. 00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:53.419 That's wonderful news. 00:23:53.420 --> 00:23:59.019 All the son is and does. 00:23:59.800 --> 00:24:03.680 The Spirit presses into us. 00:24:03.840 --> 00:24:06.640 And just think of that power of that, 00:24:06.920 --> 00:24:08.700 that you can have in those moments 00:24:08.700 --> 00:24:10.900 where you are feeling totally unworthy, 00:24:11.300 --> 00:24:14.640 that God surely doesn't want to stand next to you 00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:16.640 in the shame. 00:24:16.640 --> 00:24:19.720 Don't infer his love. 00:24:19.860 --> 00:24:20.560 Draw on it. 00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:22.200 Let the Spirit speak to you. 00:24:22.420 --> 00:24:23.460 Preach to yourself 00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:27.340 that the Son is all I need, 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:30.720 that God's justice is totally for me now. 00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:37.440 So it's the vine's responsibility to produce the fruit. 00:24:37.540 --> 00:24:40.400 The Spirit is in us, pressing Jesus into us. 00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:48.240 And the Father here is pictured as the vine dresser, pruning. 00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:52.100 Now Emma recently pruned back our roses. 00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:56.160 I knew that roses are hardy, 00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:58.759 that you can go to town on them. 00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:02.920 But this time, I thought they're gone. 00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:05.700 She went to town on them. 00:25:06.360 --> 00:25:07.160 They're gone for good. 00:25:07.540 --> 00:25:08.180 But sure enough, 00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:10.980 the spring's here. 00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:12.180 I'm wrong. 00:25:13.180 --> 00:25:14.799 This new growth is coming. 00:25:17.400 --> 00:25:22.019 Now with all due respect to Emma and her gardening, 00:25:22.580 --> 00:25:27.019 how much more should we trust our Father in his wisdom 00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:28.480 to know where to cut it? 00:25:34.220 --> 00:25:35.360 Now I'm no gardener, 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:38.539 but when you cut the branch, 00:25:39.459 --> 00:25:41.759 it's in the act of cutting that draws. 00:25:43.199 --> 00:25:44.519 I think it's called bleeding. 00:25:44.719 --> 00:25:46.639 Someone can correct me when I ask. 00:25:47.639 --> 00:25:51.419 You're drawing the life by the cut. 00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:59.120 Sometimes the cuts are very deep. 00:26:00.660 --> 00:26:01.960 As Luke shared with us, 00:26:02.080 --> 00:26:03.300 the cuts are very deep. 00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:07.220 It feels like it's the core of our being he's cutting. 00:26:07.560 --> 00:26:10.160 But it's only to draw more of the life of the Son 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:11.220 that our Father doesn't. 00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:18.580 We're to receive his cuts as our Father's love for us, 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:19.759 his commitment to us. 00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:23.759 Now Amy Carmichael, 00:26:23.900 --> 00:26:25.559 she was a missionary to India. 00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:27.680 I think she helps us feel this. 00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:31.839 What prodigal waste it appears to be 00:26:31.839 --> 00:26:33.480 to see scattered on the floor 00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:34.799 the bright green leaves 00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:38.680 and the bare stem bleeding in a hundred places 00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:39.799 from the sharp knife. 00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:44.899 But with a tried and tested vine dresser, 00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:47.180 there is not a random stroke in it all. 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:49.759 Nothing cut away, 00:26:50.500 --> 00:26:53.180 which it would not have been a loss to keep 00:26:53.180 --> 00:26:55.579 and gain to lose. 00:26:55.579 --> 00:27:05.939 So it's the vine that produces fruit. 00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:08.679 It's the Spirit pressing Jesus into us. 00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:10.439 It's the Father knowing where to cut. 00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:16.480 So what's our role 00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:19.539 in producing this deep change? 00:27:19.700 --> 00:27:22.180 We keep getting caught up on 00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:25.240 how much we do 00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:27.380 or how much we're serving Jesus. 00:27:27.380 --> 00:27:31.440 To quote another pastor, 00:27:31.580 --> 00:27:32.160 Dane Ortland, 00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:34.400 one of the great mistakes made 00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:36.580 generation after generation 00:27:36.580 --> 00:27:37.620 through church history 00:27:37.620 --> 00:27:40.060 is to slather rules onto our behaviour 00:27:40.060 --> 00:27:41.740 and think that external behaviour 00:27:41.740 --> 00:27:42.759 is what fosters 00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:45.360 or even accurately reflects 00:27:45.360 --> 00:27:47.779 vital spiritual growth. 00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:49.779 If you want spiritual growth, 00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:51.779 if you want spiritual growth, 00:27:51.779 --> 00:27:55.240 if you want vital spiritual growth, 00:27:55.740 --> 00:27:58.039 we need to know we're a branch. 00:28:01.139 --> 00:28:02.740 You can't do nothing. 00:28:05.819 --> 00:28:08.339 You need the life of the I am 00:28:08.339 --> 00:28:09.559 flowing through you. 00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:11.440 In a sense, it's not our job 00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:12.440 to produce fruit. 00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:14.359 We're told abide. 00:28:15.859 --> 00:28:16.960 Focus on me. 00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:20.420 Keep my living words in you, 00:28:20.539 --> 00:28:21.340 flowing in you, 00:28:22.100 --> 00:28:22.860 among you. 00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:27.500 Now, what does it look like 00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:30.059 to abide in Christ? 00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:34.860 It's his word living with us. 00:28:34.940 --> 00:28:35.400 Absolutely. 00:28:36.620 --> 00:28:39.360 I think here your concept 00:28:39.360 --> 00:28:41.180 of growth in holiness, 00:28:42.120 --> 00:28:42.860 sanctification, 00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:44.019 is really important. 00:28:44.019 --> 00:28:47.200 And fortunately, 00:28:47.339 --> 00:28:48.920 I found some technical drawings, 00:28:49.099 --> 00:28:49.779 which, Sean, 00:28:50.059 --> 00:28:51.019 do we have... 00:28:52.639 --> 00:28:53.059 All right. 00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:54.359 First, 00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:55.480 I didn't write this. 00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:56.259 I didn't draw this. 00:28:56.299 --> 00:28:58.319 This is some guy in the US. 00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:00.920 I don't know why 00:29:00.920 --> 00:29:02.420 I'm distancing myself from that, 00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:03.519 but I could have drawn it. 00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:08.019 Here's... 00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:11.500 Here's one concept 00:29:11.500 --> 00:29:12.759 of sanctification. 00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:14.480 The cross is the foundation 00:29:15.059 --> 00:29:16.079 of the Christian life. 00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:17.420 All Christians believe that. 00:29:18.059 --> 00:29:20.599 But you learn to climb 00:29:20.599 --> 00:29:22.359 in your holiness. 00:29:23.160 --> 00:29:24.519 You see progress 00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:25.960 over time, 00:29:26.019 --> 00:29:26.660 maybe years. 00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:29.500 But usually this is measured 00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:31.099 in terms of outward behaviour, 00:29:31.099 --> 00:29:33.000 usually in terms of socially 00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:35.379 seen behaviour, 00:29:35.380 --> 00:29:37.160 that there's progress. 00:29:38.120 --> 00:29:38.900 Do you see the problem 00:29:38.900 --> 00:29:39.560 with this model 00:29:39.560 --> 00:29:40.900 of thinking about growth? 00:29:42.120 --> 00:29:44.060 Because the more you think 00:29:44.060 --> 00:29:44.880 you're progressing, 00:29:45.140 --> 00:29:46.480 the cross gets smaller 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:48.620 and smaller 00:29:48.620 --> 00:29:50.560 and smaller. 00:29:53.200 --> 00:29:55.700 The guy I'm stealing this off, 00:29:55.800 --> 00:29:56.080 Brian, 00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:56.380 says, 00:29:56.380 --> 00:29:58.440 self-reliance and pride 00:29:58.440 --> 00:30:00.640 in their own holiness grow 00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:01.820 while thankfulness 00:30:01.820 --> 00:30:03.080 and reliance on God 00:30:03.080 --> 00:30:04.160 seem to diminish. 00:30:05.380 --> 00:30:07.540 Can I suggest 00:30:07.540 --> 00:30:09.760 abiding doesn't feel 00:30:09.760 --> 00:30:10.940 like progress? 00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:15.180 I'm going to suggest... 00:30:15.180 --> 00:30:15.940 I'm going to say that again, 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:17.980 that abiding doesn't feel 00:30:17.980 --> 00:30:18.960 like progress. 00:30:19.820 --> 00:30:21.740 Here's the other 00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:22.660 technical drawing. 00:30:25.100 --> 00:30:26.840 As we get to know Jesus 00:30:26.840 --> 00:30:27.720 more and more 00:30:27.720 --> 00:30:29.440 and he confronts us 00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:30.520 more and more 00:30:30.520 --> 00:30:31.420 in the depths 00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:32.320 of our sinfulness, 00:30:32.840 --> 00:30:33.900 that we're not matching up 00:30:33.900 --> 00:30:34.620 to who he is 00:30:34.620 --> 00:30:36.820 and he goes after things 00:30:36.820 --> 00:30:37.940 that just socially 00:30:37.940 --> 00:30:39.860 are respectable even, 00:30:40.019 --> 00:30:42.060 like our discontentment 00:30:42.060 --> 00:30:43.380 and our impatience 00:30:43.380 --> 00:30:44.440 and our thanklessness 00:30:44.440 --> 00:30:45.800 and our envy 00:30:45.800 --> 00:30:46.880 and our covetousness. 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:48.160 He comes after us 00:30:48.160 --> 00:30:50.180 and we go deeper 00:30:50.180 --> 00:30:50.980 into our sin, 00:30:51.220 --> 00:30:52.000 but by doing that 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:53.420 the cross becomes bigger 00:30:53.420 --> 00:30:54.900 and bigger. 00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:55.900 Not that... 00:30:56.900 --> 00:30:57.440 It's as big 00:30:57.440 --> 00:30:58.420 as it actually is. 00:30:58.420 --> 00:31:03.220 So Brian again, 00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:03.519 he says, 00:31:03.640 --> 00:31:04.259 we need to confess 00:31:04.259 --> 00:31:04.880 our sins 00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:05.840 not less 00:31:05.840 --> 00:31:06.560 but more. 00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:09.759 We're forced 00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:10.160 to look 00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:10.960 not to ourselves 00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:11.580 but upward. 00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:15.140 We see how glorious 00:31:15.140 --> 00:31:16.220 the finished work 00:31:16.220 --> 00:31:17.200 of Jesus is 00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:18.920 and how desperately 00:31:18.920 --> 00:31:19.620 we need 00:31:19.620 --> 00:31:20.100 the cross 00:31:20.100 --> 00:31:20.800 of Christ. 00:31:22.220 --> 00:31:23.060 I think that's 00:31:23.060 --> 00:31:23.700 a better picture 00:31:23.700 --> 00:31:24.259 of abiding. 00:31:25.860 --> 00:31:26.519 The cross 00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:27.180 becomes bigger. 00:31:27.180 --> 00:31:33.720 Confession increases. 00:31:34.060 --> 00:31:34.519 Thankfulness 00:31:34.519 --> 00:31:36.560 increases. 00:31:36.840 --> 00:31:37.340 Humility 00:31:37.340 --> 00:31:38.000 increases. 00:31:38.360 --> 00:31:39.039 Reliance. 00:31:45.320 --> 00:31:46.560 Do you find it odd 00:31:46.560 --> 00:31:48.620 when over morning tea 00:31:48.620 --> 00:31:49.740 there's one or two people 00:31:49.740 --> 00:31:51.320 they just bow in prayer 00:31:51.320 --> 00:31:52.140 just in the middle 00:31:52.140 --> 00:31:52.740 of everyone's shower? 00:31:52.900 --> 00:31:53.539 It's a bit weird, 00:31:53.620 --> 00:31:53.920 isn't it? 00:31:54.840 --> 00:31:55.779 That doesn't happen 00:31:55.779 --> 00:31:56.539 in most places. 00:31:57.180 --> 00:31:59.200 May that become 00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:00.279 increasingly normal 00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:01.779 among us. 00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:04.279 That growth 00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:06.380 in reliance. 00:32:12.060 --> 00:32:12.460 Prayer 00:32:12.460 --> 00:32:13.560 is what really 00:32:13.560 --> 00:32:14.900 gets things done. 00:32:16.279 --> 00:32:17.560 I'm not going to do justice 00:32:17.560 --> 00:32:18.060 to it here 00:32:18.060 --> 00:32:18.600 in this passage 00:32:18.600 --> 00:32:19.640 but ask anything 00:32:19.640 --> 00:32:20.480 in my name 00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:23.620 when we want to be... 00:32:23.620 --> 00:32:24.100 when the cross 00:32:24.100 --> 00:32:24.860 wants to be big. 00:32:24.940 --> 00:32:25.600 Oh, by the way, 00:32:25.620 --> 00:32:25.759 Sean, 00:32:25.799 --> 00:32:26.680 we can get rid of that now. 00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:29.759 Ask anything in my name. 00:32:31.140 --> 00:32:32.380 Draw on the line. 00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:35.279 I think that's abiding. 00:32:37.600 --> 00:32:38.440 Where the cross 00:32:38.440 --> 00:32:39.039 gets bigger 00:32:39.039 --> 00:32:40.840 and we're asking. 00:32:47.500 --> 00:32:48.640 Now, in case you don't think 00:32:48.640 --> 00:32:49.620 this is very practical, 00:32:49.880 --> 00:32:50.940 I want to give two 00:32:50.940 --> 00:32:53.580 illustrations that is 00:32:53.580 --> 00:32:55.600 the most important thing. 00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:59.199 I love that parenting article 00:32:59.199 --> 00:33:00.119 that Beau put up 00:33:00.119 --> 00:33:01.259 on the Facebook page. 00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:04.759 What does a godly man 00:33:04.759 --> 00:33:05.359 say 00:33:05.359 --> 00:33:07.000 when he's got adult kids 00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:07.799 and he's looking back 00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:08.219 and he says, 00:33:08.299 --> 00:33:09.679 what's my biggest regret? 00:33:11.219 --> 00:33:11.819 You want to hear 00:33:11.819 --> 00:33:12.559 his answer there. 00:33:12.779 --> 00:33:13.299 And he says, 00:33:14.299 --> 00:33:16.519 I wish I would have shown 00:33:16.519 --> 00:33:17.099 my kids 00:33:17.099 --> 00:33:18.039 my need 00:33:18.039 --> 00:33:18.899 for Christ more. 00:33:18.900 --> 00:33:21.759 I worked so hard 00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:22.400 to show them 00:33:22.400 --> 00:33:23.240 my godliness 00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:24.320 that I didn't show 00:33:24.320 --> 00:33:25.340 them my need. 00:33:26.280 --> 00:33:27.519 I should have been 00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:28.580 more transparent. 00:33:28.740 --> 00:33:29.660 I should have shown 00:33:29.660 --> 00:33:30.480 them just how much 00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:31.519 I needed Jesus. 00:33:36.480 --> 00:33:37.340 That's a profound 00:33:37.340 --> 00:33:38.280 comment, I think, 00:33:38.320 --> 00:33:38.920 about parenting. 00:33:40.180 --> 00:33:40.980 The best thing 00:33:40.980 --> 00:33:41.440 we can do 00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:41.880 for our kids 00:33:41.880 --> 00:33:42.780 is to show them 00:33:42.780 --> 00:33:45.320 we need to abide. 00:33:45.319 --> 00:33:47.980 We need him. 00:33:50.139 --> 00:33:51.399 Not techniques. 00:33:51.740 --> 00:33:53.039 As good as they are, 00:33:53.159 --> 00:33:54.759 we need him. 00:33:55.079 --> 00:33:55.720 That's how we can 00:33:55.720 --> 00:33:56.079 model 00:33:56.079 --> 00:33:57.639 the Christian life. 00:33:58.179 --> 00:33:58.659 Abiding. 00:34:03.919 --> 00:34:05.119 And what about 00:34:05.119 --> 00:34:07.299 vices 00:34:07.299 --> 00:34:08.440 like sexual sin? 00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:11.119 At Recharge 00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:11.940 Men's Conference 00:34:11.940 --> 00:34:12.360 yesterday, 00:34:12.480 --> 00:34:13.059 there was a segment 00:34:13.059 --> 00:34:14.420 on pornography addiction. 00:34:14.420 --> 00:34:17.200 about bringing 00:34:17.200 --> 00:34:18.320 it into the light 00:34:18.320 --> 00:34:19.139 so that brothers 00:34:19.139 --> 00:34:20.420 can help one another. 00:34:21.200 --> 00:34:22.500 How does growth occur? 00:34:22.740 --> 00:34:23.960 So much could be said 00:34:23.960 --> 00:34:24.980 about techniques 00:34:24.980 --> 00:34:26.460 and accountability 00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:28.200 and lots of good things. 00:34:30.360 --> 00:34:31.460 Could I suggest 00:34:31.460 --> 00:34:33.480 that God is interested 00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:35.599 in lifetime change? 00:34:35.700 --> 00:34:36.400 He wants to change 00:34:36.400 --> 00:34:37.059 our elephant 00:34:37.059 --> 00:34:39.300 to use that image again 00:34:39.300 --> 00:34:40.460 more than the fact 00:34:40.460 --> 00:34:41.680 that the battle 00:34:41.680 --> 00:34:42.340 of lust 00:34:42.340 --> 00:34:43.059 that you lost 00:34:43.059 --> 00:34:43.740 last night 00:34:43.739 --> 00:34:46.159 He's more interested 00:34:46.159 --> 00:34:47.419 in over time. 00:34:47.639 --> 00:34:47.899 He wants 00:34:47.899 --> 00:34:49.819 change. 00:34:52.459 --> 00:34:53.439 How does growth 00:34:53.439 --> 00:34:53.839 occur? 00:34:56.879 --> 00:34:57.919 I really like 00:34:57.919 --> 00:34:58.799 something John Piper 00:34:58.799 --> 00:34:59.119 said. 00:34:59.619 --> 00:35:00.779 He uses strategies 00:35:00.779 --> 00:35:02.059 for battling lust. 00:35:02.259 --> 00:35:02.839 He talks about 00:35:02.839 --> 00:35:03.839 seeing a billboard 00:35:03.839 --> 00:35:04.699 and he's got this 00:35:04.699 --> 00:35:05.579 acronym called 00:35:05.579 --> 00:35:06.159 Anthem 00:35:06.159 --> 00:35:07.179 Avoid 00:35:07.179 --> 00:35:08.119 No 00:35:08.119 --> 00:35:08.979 Turn 00:35:08.979 --> 00:35:10.779 Hold on to truth 00:35:10.779 --> 00:35:12.259 Enjoy what is good 00:35:12.260 --> 00:35:12.880 move. 00:35:13.380 --> 00:35:14.440 He's got techniques 00:35:14.440 --> 00:35:15.300 but here's what he says 00:35:15.300 --> 00:35:18.520 The deepest cure 00:35:18.520 --> 00:35:22.320 to lust 00:35:22.320 --> 00:35:24.100 is to be 00:35:24.100 --> 00:35:24.840 intellectually 00:35:24.840 --> 00:35:26.120 and emotionally 00:35:26.120 --> 00:35:27.260 staggered 00:35:28.160 --> 00:35:30.760 by the infinite 00:35:30.760 --> 00:35:31.260 everlasting 00:35:32.640 --> 00:35:33.580 unchanging 00:35:33.580 --> 00:35:35.040 supremacy of Christ 00:35:35.040 --> 00:35:35.880 in all things. 00:35:35.880 --> 00:35:39.000 That's what it means 00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:39.880 to know him. 00:35:42.760 --> 00:35:43.559 He has purchased 00:35:43.559 --> 00:35:44.240 this gift 00:35:44.240 --> 00:35:45.059 of knowing him 00:35:45.059 --> 00:35:45.559 at the cost 00:35:45.559 --> 00:35:46.220 of his life 00:35:46.220 --> 00:35:47.140 and therefore 00:35:47.140 --> 00:35:48.320 I say with Hosea 00:35:48.320 --> 00:35:48.680 again 00:35:48.680 --> 00:35:49.519 let us press 00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:50.340 on to know 00:35:50.340 --> 00:35:50.980 the Lord. 00:35:52.760 --> 00:35:53.380 And he finishes 00:35:53.380 --> 00:35:54.440 with this sentence 00:35:54.440 --> 00:35:55.820 which I think 00:35:55.820 --> 00:35:56.539 is a really 00:35:56.539 --> 00:35:57.280 profound point. 00:35:58.059 --> 00:35:58.680 Large 00:35:58.680 --> 00:35:59.539 souls 00:35:59.539 --> 00:36:01.559 make little 00:36:01.559 --> 00:36:02.039 lust 00:36:02.039 --> 00:36:02.960 lose their 00:36:02.960 --> 00:36:03.360 power. 00:36:03.360 --> 00:36:03.760 They 00:36:05.880 --> 00:36:06.760 large 00:36:06.760 --> 00:36:07.420 souls 00:36:07.420 --> 00:36:08.180 make little 00:36:08.180 --> 00:36:08.619 lust 00:36:08.619 --> 00:36:09.559 lose 00:36:09.559 --> 00:36:09.840 their 00:36:09.840 --> 00:36:10.240 power. 00:36:11.760 --> 00:36:12.940 As good 00:36:12.940 --> 00:36:13.519 as strategies 00:36:13.519 --> 00:36:14.039 are 00:36:14.039 --> 00:36:15.420 do you hear 00:36:15.420 --> 00:36:16.000 what Piper 00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:16.220 is saying? 00:36:16.240 --> 00:36:16.619 He's saying 00:36:16.619 --> 00:36:17.240 abide. 00:36:19.240 --> 00:36:19.800 Abide. 00:36:21.039 --> 00:36:21.700 Get to know 00:36:21.700 --> 00:36:22.000 him 00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:23.059 and your 00:36:23.059 --> 00:36:23.420 soul 00:36:23.420 --> 00:36:24.019 increases 00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:25.920 and the 00:36:25.920 --> 00:36:27.000 lusts 00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:28.180 just 00:36:28.180 --> 00:36:28.980 lose their 00:36:28.980 --> 00:36:29.400 power. 00:36:29.400 --> 00:36:29.720 women. 00:36:34.840 --> 00:36:35.460 So is 00:36:35.460 --> 00:36:35.900 personal 00:36:35.900 --> 00:36:36.200 moral 00:36:36.200 --> 00:36:36.500 growth 00:36:36.500 --> 00:36:36.920 possible? 00:36:37.079 --> 00:36:37.500 Absolutely 00:36:37.500 --> 00:36:38.059 but not 00:36:38.059 --> 00:36:38.320 on your 00:36:38.320 --> 00:36:38.599 own. 00:36:39.700 --> 00:36:40.019 Not 00:36:40.019 --> 00:36:40.300 on your 00:36:40.300 --> 00:36:40.539 own. 00:36:41.920 --> 00:36:42.360 Deep 00:36:42.360 --> 00:36:42.740 lasting 00:36:42.740 --> 00:36:43.320 change 00:36:43.320 --> 00:36:43.960 is only 00:36:43.960 --> 00:36:44.700 in the 00:36:44.700 --> 00:36:45.119 vine. 00:36:49.880 --> 00:36:50.380 Now 00:36:50.380 --> 00:36:50.900 why would 00:36:50.900 --> 00:36:51.360 the great 00:36:51.360 --> 00:36:51.820 I am 00:36:51.820 --> 00:36:52.760 why would 00:36:52.760 --> 00:36:53.059 he want 00:36:53.059 --> 00:36:53.280 to be 00:36:53.280 --> 00:36:53.960 so united 00:36:53.960 --> 00:36:54.579 to me 00:36:54.579 --> 00:36:56.480 to you 00:36:56.480 --> 00:36:59.219 to be 00:36:59.219 --> 00:36:59.539 so 00:36:59.539 --> 00:37:00.300 organically 00:37:00.300 --> 00:37:01.000 connected 00:37:01.000 --> 00:37:01.599 to one 00:37:01.599 --> 00:37:01.920 another 00:37:01.920 --> 00:37:02.320 as a 00:37:02.320 --> 00:37:02.820 vine is 00:37:02.820 --> 00:37:03.219 to a 00:37:03.219 --> 00:37:03.900 branch. 00:37:04.860 --> 00:37:05.300 You 00:37:05.300 --> 00:37:06.240 almost 00:37:06.240 --> 00:37:06.519 can't 00:37:06.519 --> 00:37:06.880 tell where 00:37:06.880 --> 00:37:07.119 one 00:37:07.119 --> 00:37:07.599 stops 00:37:07.599 --> 00:37:08.599 and another 00:37:08.599 --> 00:37:09.260 starts. 00:37:09.619 --> 00:37:09.940 That's how 00:37:09.940 --> 00:37:10.380 connected 00:37:10.380 --> 00:37:11.199 Jesus sees 00:37:11.199 --> 00:37:11.719 himself to 00:37:11.719 --> 00:37:11.940 us. 00:37:12.039 --> 00:37:12.159 The 00:37:12.159 --> 00:37:12.500 Father 00:37:12.500 --> 00:37:13.179 and the 00:37:13.179 --> 00:37:13.440 Son 00:37:13.440 --> 00:37:14.280 and the 00:37:14.280 --> 00:37:14.519 Holy 00:37:14.519 --> 00:37:14.940 Spirit. 00:37:15.240 --> 00:37:15.519 He wants 00:37:15.519 --> 00:37:15.780 to be 00:37:15.780 --> 00:37:16.099 connected 00:37:16.099 --> 00:37:16.760 forever. 00:37:24.440 --> 00:37:24.960 That's 00:37:24.960 --> 00:37:25.380 staggering. 00:37:26.480 --> 00:37:28.980 change 00:37:28.980 --> 00:37:29.159 is 00:37:29.159 --> 00:37:29.619 possible 00:37:29.619 --> 00:37:31.599 if we're 00:37:31.599 --> 00:37:31.980 in his 00:37:31.980 --> 00:37:32.240 Son. 00:37:32.380 --> 00:37:32.619 If we're 00:37:32.619 --> 00:37:33.340 drawing on 00:37:33.340 --> 00:37:33.800 his life. 00:37:33.900 --> 00:37:34.039 Not 00:37:34.039 --> 00:37:34.900 inferring 00:37:34.900 --> 00:37:35.480 his love 00:37:35.480 --> 00:37:37.079 based on 00:37:37.079 --> 00:37:37.240 our 00:37:37.240 --> 00:37:37.679 performance 00:37:37.679 --> 00:37:37.940 but 00:37:37.940 --> 00:37:38.539 drawing 00:37:38.539 --> 00:37:38.840 on 00:37:38.840 --> 00:37:39.039 his 00:37:39.039 --> 00:37:39.340 love. 00:37:41.480 --> 00:37:42.000 The 00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:42.420 Spirit 00:37:42.420 --> 00:37:43.099 pressing 00:37:43.099 --> 00:37:43.639 his love 00:37:43.639 --> 00:37:44.000 deeper 00:37:44.000 --> 00:37:44.519 into us. 00:37:44.679 --> 00:37:45.179 Trusting 00:37:45.179 --> 00:37:45.360 the 00:37:45.360 --> 00:37:45.659 Father 00:37:45.659 --> 00:37:45.980 when he 00:37:45.980 --> 00:37:46.300 cuts 00:37:46.300 --> 00:37:46.539 us. 00:37:46.619 --> 00:37:46.719 That 00:37:46.719 --> 00:37:46.860 it's 00:37:46.860 --> 00:37:47.059 for 00:37:47.059 --> 00:37:47.260 our 00:37:47.260 --> 00:37:47.679 joy. 00:37:50.960 --> 00:37:51.440 Then 00:37:51.440 --> 00:37:51.920 deep 00:37:51.920 --> 00:37:52.300 lasting 00:37:52.300 --> 00:37:52.760 change 00:37:52.760 --> 00:37:53.199 happens. 00:37:53.940 --> 00:37:54.039 And 00:37:54.039 --> 00:37:54.860 apart 00:37:54.860 --> 00:37:55.119 from 00:37:55.119 --> 00:37:55.360 him 00:37:55.360 --> 00:37:57.079 you 00:37:57.079 --> 00:37:57.220 can 00:37:57.220 --> 00:37:57.360 do 00:37:57.360 --> 00:37:57.680 nothing. 00:38:01.140 --> 00:38:01.660 Please 00:38:01.660 --> 00:38:01.880 would you 00:38:01.880 --> 00:38:02.099 pray? 00:38:02.099 --> 00:38:02.599 Let's 00:38:02.599 --> 00:38:02.780 pray. 00:38:12.780 --> 00:38:13.620 Lord, 00:38:13.660 --> 00:38:14.079 there's so 00:38:14.079 --> 00:38:14.539 much 00:38:14.539 --> 00:38:17.340 in us 00:38:17.340 --> 00:38:18.000 and in 00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:18.760 this world 00:38:18.760 --> 00:38:19.360 and 00:38:19.360 --> 00:38:20.880 spiritual 00:38:20.880 --> 00:38:21.380 forces 00:38:21.380 --> 00:38:21.860 that 00:38:21.860 --> 00:38:22.619 are 00:38:22.619 --> 00:38:23.200 working 00:38:23.200 --> 00:38:23.760 against 00:38:23.760 --> 00:38:24.059 us 00:38:24.059 --> 00:38:24.440 to 00:38:24.440 --> 00:38:25.280 not 00:38:25.280 --> 00:38:25.860 abide 00:38:25.860 --> 00:38:26.099 in 00:38:26.099 --> 00:38:26.280 you. 00:38:28.119 --> 00:38:28.640 And 00:38:28.640 --> 00:38:28.980 so I 00:38:28.980 --> 00:38:29.340 thank you 00:38:29.340 --> 00:38:29.700 that you 00:38:29.700 --> 00:38:30.000 are 00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:30.440 sovereign. 00:38:31.619 --> 00:38:32.200 Thank you 00:38:32.200 --> 00:38:32.519 that you 00:38:32.519 --> 00:38:33.039 hold on 00:38:33.039 --> 00:38:33.440 to us 00:38:33.440 --> 00:38:34.039 and I 00:38:34.039 --> 00:38:34.480 thank you 00:38:34.480 --> 00:38:34.720 that 00:38:34.720 --> 00:38:36.460 you have 00:38:36.460 --> 00:38:36.780 put your 00:38:36.780 --> 00:38:37.519 spirit in 00:38:37.519 --> 00:38:38.440 us as 00:38:38.440 --> 00:38:38.599 your 00:38:38.599 --> 00:38:39.099 permanent 00:38:39.099 --> 00:38:39.599 home. 00:38:41.180 --> 00:38:41.700 And 00:38:41.700 --> 00:38:42.480 I thank 00:38:42.480 --> 00:38:42.720 you that 00:38:42.720 --> 00:38:43.260 one day 00:38:43.260 --> 00:38:45.660 we will 00:38:45.660 --> 00:38:46.240 be as 00:38:46.240 --> 00:38:46.760 glorious 00:38:46.760 --> 00:38:47.480 as the 00:38:47.480 --> 00:38:48.000 I am 00:38:48.000 --> 00:38:48.559 himself. 00:38:48.559 --> 00:38:50.039 It 00:38:50.039 --> 00:38:50.320 almost 00:38:50.320 --> 00:38:50.559 feels 00:38:50.559 --> 00:38:50.739 like 00:38:50.739 --> 00:38:51.199 blasphemy 00:38:51.199 --> 00:38:51.599 to say 00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:51.920 that. 00:38:53.119 --> 00:38:53.599 But 00:38:53.599 --> 00:38:53.940 thank you 00:38:53.940 --> 00:38:54.179 that you 00:38:54.179 --> 00:38:54.539 promised 00:38:54.539 --> 00:38:55.099 that and 00:38:55.099 --> 00:38:55.259 it will 00:38:55.259 --> 00:38:55.599 be to 00:38:55.599 --> 00:38:55.779 your 00:38:55.779 --> 00:38:56.159 glory. 00:38:56.320 --> 00:38:56.420 I 00:38:56.420 --> 00:38:56.579 pray 00:38:56.579 --> 00:38:56.779 that 00:38:56.779 --> 00:38:56.980 that 00:38:56.980 --> 00:38:57.360 hope 00:38:57.360 --> 00:38:58.219 will 00:38:58.219 --> 00:38:58.900 help us 00:38:58.900 --> 00:38:59.259 press 00:38:59.259 --> 00:38:59.539 into 00:38:59.539 --> 00:38:59.779 you 00:38:59.779 --> 00:39:00.139 more 00:39:00.139 --> 00:39:00.299 and 00:39:00.299 --> 00:39:00.539 more. 00:39:01.239 --> 00:39:01.440 I 00:39:01.440 --> 00:39:01.619 pray 00:39:01.619 --> 00:39:01.759 that 00:39:01.759 --> 00:39:01.820 you 00:39:01.820 --> 00:39:01.920 would 00:39:01.920 --> 00:39:02.139 help 00:39:02.139 --> 00:39:02.299 us 00:39:02.299 --> 00:39:02.559 as a 00:39:02.559 --> 00:39:02.799 church 00:39:02.799 --> 00:39:03.179 family 00:39:03.179 --> 00:39:03.400 to 00:39:03.400 --> 00:39:03.739 keep 00:39:03.739 --> 00:39:04.219 pushing 00:39:04.219 --> 00:39:04.460 one 00:39:04.460 --> 00:39:04.739 another 00:39:04.739 --> 00:39:05.059 into 00:39:05.059 --> 00:39:05.259 the 00:39:05.259 --> 00:39:05.460 Lord 00:39:05.460 --> 00:39:05.799 Jesus. 00:39:06.659 --> 00:39:06.900 Not 00:39:06.900 --> 00:39:07.079 to 00:39:07.079 --> 00:39:07.659 techniques 00:39:07.659 --> 00:39:08.019 or 00:39:08.019 --> 00:39:08.360 the 00:39:08.360 --> 00:39:08.739 world 00:39:08.739 --> 00:39:08.980 but 00:39:08.980 --> 00:39:09.259 into 00:39:09.259 --> 00:39:09.820 your 00:39:09.820 --> 00:39:10.139 Son. 00:39:11.239 --> 00:39:11.460 In 00:39:11.460 --> 00:39:11.699 Jesus' 00:39:11.699 --> 00:39:12.039 name. 00:39:12.199 --> 00:39:12.440 Amen.