WEBVTT

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 Anybody ever been to a victory parade? Anybody ever been to a victory parade? Anybody ever been to a victory parade? Anybody ever been to a victory parade? Anybody ever been to a victory parade? Anybody ever remember this one?

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! This was the Dallas Mavericks back in 2011, the last time they won the NBA championship.

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 Usually a victory parade, for those of you who don't know, is after your team wins the league championship.

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 And then at the end of the season, they get to come back to their home city.

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 And they get to throw a big bash, a big parade.

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 And go through the streets and everybody cheers and claps.

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 And it's a great time.

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 Taking pictures.

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 Usually they're playing, we are the champions, my friend.

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 I don't know if Queen knew that was going to become the official song of victory parades when he wrote that.

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 But listen, yeah, 2011, about 200,000 people lined the streets of downtown Dallas, climbing light poles, hanging off of overpasses.

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 It was great.

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 Then the Rangers, it was about two years ago when they won the World Series.

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 Wasn't that great?

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 We're getting a little more excited about that.

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 Okay, good.

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 Packed half a million people along the parade route in Arlington.

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 It was awesome.

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 I didn't get to go because I valued my life.

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 But had a great time and got to watch it online.

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 And then for the Dallas Cowboys.

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 I think I was 11.

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 It was great.

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 You should have been there.

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 Look, I'm mad too, folks.

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 All right?

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 Dak's going to get us there, maybe.

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 All right.

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 Anyway, that's not what this is about.

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 But wouldn't it be great if it was?

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 Wouldn't it be great if life was more like a victory parade?

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 No matter what happens, a flat tire, somebody cuts you off in traffic, somebody's passive aggressive to you at work,

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 a cold goes through your house, doesn't matter, man.

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 Your team won the championship and everything else just doesn't compare.

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 How great would that be?

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 Well, let's dive back into Colossians.

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 Paul's letter to the church at Colossae.

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 And let's see what in the world victory parades have to do with what he's teaching us in Colossians chapter 2.

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 This is our series, Christ Over All.

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 When you take a whole book of the Bible and you reduce it down to the main theme,

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 this is Christ Over All, our study of Colossians.

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 Two weeks ago, we learned that in him, Jesus Christ,

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 all things hold together in this grand cosmos, this ordered universe in which we live.

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 Jesus is holding it all together and he holds us together.

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 And then last Sunday, we looked at the end of Colossians 1.

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 We saw that once we were alienated and now we are reconciled.

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 God has brought us into the family as his children

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 when once we were considered his enemies because of our sin.

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 So, this Sunday, we're going to look at Colossians chapter 2.

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 Colossians 2 verses 1 through 3.

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 Let's go ahead and read.

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 For I want you to know how greatly I'm struggling for you,

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 for those in Laodicea,

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 for all who have not seen me in person.

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 I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love

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 so that they may have all the riches of complete understanding.

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 Wouldn't it be great to have complete understanding of God?

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 Someday we'll have it.

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 Right now, we get bits and pieces as his spirit reveals them to us through his word.

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 But that we would have complete understanding

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 and have the knowledge of God's mystery.

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 What is that mystery?

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 Christ.

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 Jesus Christ.

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 He is the mystery that we're beginning to have revealed to us.

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 In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

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 So, before we pick it up in verse 4 here,

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 I wanted to get through these three verses because Paul sets it up here.

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 And he says,

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 If you understand who Christ is,

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 if you understand who Jesus is,

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 and who you are in him,

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 then you'll never settle for religion again.

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 And that's what the theme is today.

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 Colossians chapter 2.

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 Christ over religion.

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 Let's pray together.

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 God, I pray that you would open up our minds to the teaching of your word today.

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 That through this letter from Paul to this church in Colossae so many years ago,

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 that this church in Henrietta

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 would by your spirit have our eyes open to see that you are so much bigger

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 than what we call religion.

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 That you would free us from its shackles.

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 Show us the freedom we have in you.

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 In Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 Alright, so we're picking it up in verse 4 now.

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 I am saying this, Paul says,

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 so that no one will deceive you

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 with arguments that sound reasonable.

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 Has anyone,

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 if you're not ashamed to lift your hand,

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 is anyone willing to admit

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 that you've been deceived by arguments that sounded reasonable?

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 And then later you found out they weren't.

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 Yep, me too.

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 I got both hands up.

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 There have been times in my life

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 when I was deceived by something that sounded really reasonable.

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 Yeah, that makes sense.

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 And then later I found out it was a bunch of crock.

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 It was absolutely false.

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 So, he says,

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 I don't want this to happen to you.

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 So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord,

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 continue to live in him.

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 Being rooted.

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 Make note of that word.

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 Rooted.

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 And built up.

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 So did you get the contrast there?

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 We're going down deeper in our roots.

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 And we're going up,

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 built up in him

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 and established in the faith.

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 This is how you are established in the faith.

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 By digging your roots deep in Christ

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 and then letting him build this building on top of those roots.

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 Just as you were taught

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 and overflowing with gratitude.

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 So Paul's saying,

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 don't fall for reasonable sounding religion.

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 Instead,

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 choose Christ.

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 Don't settle for religion.

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 Save that for Jesus.

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 What are we talking about?

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 A reasonable sounding religion.

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 The kind that says,

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 if you just try harder,

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 do more,

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 follow all the rules that we've given you,

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 by the way,

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 then God will love you more.

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 God will value you more.

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 God will choose you

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 if you

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 follow what we say you should do.

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 But that,

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 in a nutshell,

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 described most religions

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 in the ancient times

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 and it still describes them today.

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 So when we say religion,

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 I want to be very clear about this up front.

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 When I say religion,

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 in this sermon today,

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 I'm talking about

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 the man-made construct

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 that often takes the place

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 of what Jesus

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 was coming to institute

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 on this world.

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 And if you look at Jesus' time

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 walking around on this earth,

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 much of it was spent

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 fighting against religion.

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 Fascinatingly enough,

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 most of it was spent

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 fighting against

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 the Jewish religion

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 that God had founded

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 and then man

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 had co-opted.

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 Man had

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 hijacked.

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 Jesus was coming

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 to turn the page

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 and do away

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 with what they had done.

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 So,

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 if you just

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 try harder,

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 if you do

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 what we tell you,

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 then you can have victory.

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 then you can have

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 what you're striving for.

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 But there's a truth here

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 that Paul is teaching

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 all through

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 Colossians chapter 2

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 that runs

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 totally counteracted

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 to that.

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 And it's this truth

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 that we don't fight

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 for victory.

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 We fight

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 from

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 victory.

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 We're going to dive

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 into that a little bit more

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 and flesh it out.

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 But I want to lay that out there

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 as where we're trying

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 to get to.

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 This is the point

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 we're trying to arrive at

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 today, okay?

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 We don't fight

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 for a victory.

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 We fight already

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 from the place

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 of victory.

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 So,

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 as we discover

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 that today,

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 let's look at

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 number one.

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 From rules

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 to roots.

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 We're going to look

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 at what Paul

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 just taught us

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 in verse 7

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 being rooted

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 and built up

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 in Jesus.

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 So,

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 we're shifting

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 from the rules

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 of religion

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 to our roots

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 in Christ.

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 What do we mean

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 by roots?

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 How are we rooted

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 in Christ?

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 Well,

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 don't you just love

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 roses?

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 Aren't they beautiful?

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 Lovely,

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 aren't they?

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 Wives,

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 would you accept that

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 as an anniversary gift?

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 It's roses, man.

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 It's the roots

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 of roses.

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 roses.

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 How many of y'all

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 like apples?

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 Aren't they tasty

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 and delicious?

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 Don't you just want

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 one right now

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 looking at that picture?

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 That's an apple tree,

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 folks.

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 It's the roots.

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 One of my favorite

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 things in all the world

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 is a nice,

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 crisp,

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 juicy,

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 green grape.

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 Don't they look appetizing?

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 It's the roots.

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 roots.

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 But I can promise you

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 that roses,

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 apples,

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 and grapes

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 would not exist

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 without these three things.

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 These things

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 cause the fruit

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 to appear

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 that we then enjoy.

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 But the roots

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 are the most important part.

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 Without the roots

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 digging deep

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 into good soil,

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 we don't get to enjoy

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 the roses

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 or the apples

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 or the grapes

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 or you substitute

00:10:43.980 --> 00:10:45.080
 whatever you'd like to.

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 You don't grow

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 by pretty fruit.

00:10:51.460 --> 00:10:52.680
 You don't grow

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 by making your fruit

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 prettier.

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 How do you grow?

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 By making

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 your roots

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 deeper.

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 You grow

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 by getting

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 your roots

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 deeper.

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 That is what

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 produces fruit.

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 That is what

00:11:07.659 --> 00:11:08.560
 produces something

00:11:08.560 --> 00:11:09.700
 that you would enjoy.

00:11:10.019 --> 00:11:11.180
 Something of value.

00:11:11.179 --> 00:11:12.719
 So just like

00:11:12.719 --> 00:11:13.399
 a plant

00:11:13.399 --> 00:11:14.500
 or a vegetable

00:11:14.500 --> 00:11:15.379
 or a fruit

00:11:15.379 --> 00:11:17.019
 that we enjoy,

00:11:17.219 --> 00:11:18.219
 it comes

00:11:18.219 --> 00:11:19.539
 from the roots.

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 So,

00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:23.019
 the fruits

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 only exist

00:11:23.959 --> 00:11:25.559
 because of the roots.

00:11:26.459 --> 00:11:27.539
 Jeremiah 17

00:11:27.539 --> 00:11:29.099
 produces a principle

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 here.

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 The more

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 we're rooted

00:11:31.019 --> 00:11:31.779
 in Christ,

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 the stronger

00:11:32.859 --> 00:11:33.779
 we will be.

00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:34.739
 The more

00:11:34.739 --> 00:11:35.259
 we're rooted

00:11:35.259 --> 00:11:35.879
 in Christ,

00:11:35.979 --> 00:11:36.579
 the stronger

00:11:36.579 --> 00:11:37.579
 we will be.

00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:38.319
 The person

00:11:38.319 --> 00:11:38.919
 who trusts

00:11:38.919 --> 00:11:39.359
 in the Lord,

00:11:39.359 --> 00:11:40.399
 whose confidence

00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:41.019
 indeed

00:11:41.019 --> 00:11:42.079
 is in the Lord,

00:11:42.279 --> 00:11:43.460
 is blessed.

00:11:45.259 --> 00:11:45.699
 Anybody ever

00:11:45.699 --> 00:11:46.220
 seen somebody

00:11:46.220 --> 00:11:47.019
 on social media

00:11:47.019 --> 00:11:47.559
 put in

00:11:47.559 --> 00:11:48.799
 hashtag blessed?

00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:50.019
 Usually when they

00:11:50.019 --> 00:11:50.759
 get a new car

00:11:50.759 --> 00:11:51.759
 or a new house

00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:52.579
 or something great

00:11:52.579 --> 00:11:53.199
 happens to them,

00:11:53.639 --> 00:11:54.419
 hashtag blessed.

00:11:54.740 --> 00:11:55.240
 It's great.

00:11:56.079 --> 00:11:56.879
 Kind of seems

00:11:56.879 --> 00:11:57.819
 a little shallow.

00:11:58.179 --> 00:11:58.559
 I don't know,

00:11:58.579 --> 00:11:58.980
 like they don't

00:11:58.980 --> 00:11:59.679
 maybe understand

00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:00.299
 exactly what

00:12:00.299 --> 00:12:00.720
 the blessings

00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:01.519
 of God are

00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:02.079
 because they

00:12:02.079 --> 00:12:02.439
 don't always

00:12:02.439 --> 00:12:03.840
 manifest themselves

00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:05.039
 in something

00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:07.360
 of monetary value.

00:12:07.559 --> 00:12:08.159
 Something that

00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:08.620
 would be

00:12:08.620 --> 00:12:10.339
 only for the

00:12:10.339 --> 00:12:10.719
 wealthy

00:12:10.719 --> 00:12:11.419
 or only for

00:12:11.419 --> 00:12:12.339
 those in

00:12:12.339 --> 00:12:12.939
 the financial

00:12:12.939 --> 00:12:13.559
 place to be

00:12:13.559 --> 00:12:14.000
 able to do it.

00:12:14.059 --> 00:12:14.459
 That's not

00:12:14.459 --> 00:12:14.860
 always how

00:12:14.860 --> 00:12:15.579
 God's blessings

00:12:15.579 --> 00:12:16.600
 manifest themselves

00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:17.299
 in our lives.

00:12:17.419 --> 00:12:18.219
 Sometimes they're

00:12:18.219 --> 00:12:19.000
 in joy

00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:19.379
 in the midst

00:12:19.379 --> 00:12:19.919
 of a storm.

00:12:20.319 --> 00:12:20.939
 Sometimes they're

00:12:20.939 --> 00:12:21.439
 in peace

00:12:21.439 --> 00:12:21.839
 when everyone

00:12:21.839 --> 00:12:22.480
 around you

00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:22.959
 is losing

00:12:22.959 --> 00:12:23.600
 their minds.

00:12:24.139 --> 00:12:24.919
 Often that is

00:12:24.919 --> 00:12:25.839
 how God's blessings

00:12:25.839 --> 00:12:26.879
 manifest themselves.

00:12:27.019 --> 00:12:27.679
 And so it says

00:12:27.679 --> 00:12:28.799
 when you trust

00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:29.240
 in God

00:12:29.240 --> 00:12:29.899
 and your confidence

00:12:29.899 --> 00:12:31.199
 is in Him,

00:12:31.559 --> 00:12:32.559
 you will experience

00:12:32.559 --> 00:12:33.259
 God's blessings.

00:12:34.159 --> 00:12:34.620
 You will be

00:12:34.620 --> 00:12:35.279
 like a tree

00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:36.179
 planted by

00:12:36.179 --> 00:12:37.000
 the water.

00:12:37.820 --> 00:12:38.399
 Notice that

00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:38.980
 word water.

00:12:39.159 --> 00:12:39.480
 And then in

00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:40.440
 verse 8 it says

00:12:40.440 --> 00:12:42.340
 it sends its

00:12:42.340 --> 00:12:43.039
 roots out

00:12:43.039 --> 00:12:44.539
 toward a stream.

00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:45.220
 There it is

00:12:45.220 --> 00:12:45.659
 again.

00:12:46.139 --> 00:12:46.720
 The water,

00:12:46.820 --> 00:12:47.320
 the stream.

00:12:47.440 --> 00:12:48.200
 It doesn't fear

00:12:48.200 --> 00:12:49.000
 when the heat

00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:49.560
 comes.

00:12:49.940 --> 00:12:50.100
 Why?

00:12:50.200 --> 00:12:50.560
 Because it's

00:12:50.560 --> 00:12:51.259
 near the water.

00:12:52.019 --> 00:12:52.600
 Its foliage,

00:12:52.779 --> 00:12:53.220
 its leaves

00:12:53.220 --> 00:12:54.399
 remain green.

00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:55.879
 This is what

00:12:55.879 --> 00:12:56.840
 a life looks

00:12:56.840 --> 00:12:58.039
 like when its

00:12:58.039 --> 00:12:58.919
 roots are deep

00:12:58.919 --> 00:12:59.419
 in Christ.

00:12:59.500 --> 00:13:00.379
 Because who's

00:13:00.379 --> 00:13:00.840
 the water?

00:13:01.659 --> 00:13:02.639
 Who's the stream?

00:13:03.659 --> 00:13:04.299
 It's Jesus.

00:13:05.019 --> 00:13:05.840
 It's God's

00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:06.139
 spirit.

00:13:07.259 --> 00:13:07.960
 That's where

00:13:07.960 --> 00:13:08.740
 we draw our

00:13:08.740 --> 00:13:09.340
 strength.

00:13:09.639 --> 00:13:10.120
 So when the

00:13:10.120 --> 00:13:10.879
 heat comes

00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:11.779
 and it threatens

00:13:11.779 --> 00:13:12.820
 to dry you up

00:13:12.820 --> 00:13:13.860
 and those around

00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:14.620
 you are getting

00:13:14.620 --> 00:13:15.480
 dried up,

00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:18.399
 you remain

00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:19.139
 productive

00:13:19.139 --> 00:13:20.340
 because your

00:13:20.340 --> 00:13:21.480
 roots are deep

00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:22.480
 and moving

00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:23.620
 toward the

00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:23.899
 water.

00:13:24.820 --> 00:13:25.679
 Moving toward

00:13:25.679 --> 00:13:26.200
 the stream.

00:13:27.299 --> 00:13:28.080
 So this is

00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:28.580
 what Paul's

00:13:28.580 --> 00:13:29.320
 encouraging this

00:13:29.320 --> 00:13:30.440
 church to do.

00:13:31.620 --> 00:13:32.500
 Move your

00:13:32.500 --> 00:13:33.860
 roots toward

00:13:33.860 --> 00:13:34.539
 Christ.

00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:35.340
 let them

00:13:35.340 --> 00:13:36.200
 grow deeper

00:13:36.200 --> 00:13:37.220
 down.

00:13:37.220 --> 00:13:39.000
 I can promise

00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:39.519
 you there are

00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:40.940
 so many people

00:13:40.940 --> 00:13:42.480
 who come to

00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:42.940
 church on

00:13:42.940 --> 00:13:43.340
 Sundays

00:13:43.340 --> 00:13:46.220
 and they live

00:13:46.220 --> 00:13:47.960
 relatively upright

00:13:47.960 --> 00:13:49.299
 lives in society

00:13:49.299 --> 00:13:51.799
 and they say

00:13:51.799 --> 00:13:52.440
 they're Christians

00:13:52.440 --> 00:13:56.240
 but when the

00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:57.000
 storm comes

00:13:57.000 --> 00:13:59.460
 their house is

00:13:59.460 --> 00:14:00.220
 built on sand.

00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:02.019
 when the heat

00:14:02.019 --> 00:14:02.580
 comes

00:14:02.580 --> 00:14:03.960
 their roots

00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:04.399
 are not

00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:04.740
 deep.

00:14:05.540 --> 00:14:06.540
 They're not

00:14:06.540 --> 00:14:07.500
 digging toward

00:14:07.500 --> 00:14:08.000
 the water

00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:08.560
 of Jesus

00:14:08.560 --> 00:14:10.460
 and they dry

00:14:10.460 --> 00:14:10.740
 up.

00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:12.460
 Their house

00:14:12.460 --> 00:14:12.840
 falls.

00:14:14.500 --> 00:14:15.100
 They can't

00:14:15.100 --> 00:14:15.700
 last

00:14:15.700 --> 00:14:17.080
 because it

00:14:17.080 --> 00:14:17.899
 wasn't real.

00:14:18.620 --> 00:14:19.460
 It wasn't

00:14:19.460 --> 00:14:20.139
 faith.

00:14:20.139 --> 00:14:22.860
 it was

00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:23.580
 something else.

00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:25.100
 So Paul's

00:14:25.100 --> 00:14:25.799
 saying don't

00:14:25.799 --> 00:14:26.679
 be like

00:14:26.679 --> 00:14:27.080
 that.

00:14:27.639 --> 00:14:28.080
 Dig your

00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:28.860
 roots down

00:14:28.860 --> 00:14:29.460
 deep.

00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:30.460
 Continue to

00:14:30.460 --> 00:14:31.259
 live in

00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:32.080
 Christ Jesus

00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:33.120
 being rooted

00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:34.240
 and built up

00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:34.740
 in him and

00:14:34.740 --> 00:14:35.939
 established in

00:14:35.939 --> 00:14:36.439
 the faith.

00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:37.360
 So from

00:14:37.360 --> 00:14:38.699
 rules to

00:14:38.699 --> 00:14:39.100
 roots.

00:14:39.419 --> 00:14:40.000
 Before we go

00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:40.360
 on to number

00:14:40.360 --> 00:14:41.240
 two I want

00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:41.659
 to make this

00:14:41.659 --> 00:14:42.220
 last point.

00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:45.179
 Religion is

00:14:45.179 --> 00:14:46.039
 all about

00:14:46.039 --> 00:14:46.620
 rules.

00:14:47.399 --> 00:14:48.219
 Jesus is

00:14:48.219 --> 00:14:49.019
 all about

00:14:49.019 --> 00:14:49.500
 roots.

00:14:50.059 --> 00:14:50.519
 You say

00:14:50.519 --> 00:14:51.339
 what makes

00:14:51.339 --> 00:14:51.919
 our church

00:14:51.919 --> 00:14:52.620
 the Baptist

00:14:52.620 --> 00:14:53.000
 church

00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:53.579
 different from

00:14:53.579 --> 00:14:54.099
 the Methodist

00:14:54.099 --> 00:14:54.739
 church or

00:14:54.739 --> 00:14:55.259
 the Christian

00:14:55.259 --> 00:14:55.739
 church or

00:14:55.739 --> 00:14:56.120
 the church

00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:56.579
 of Christ

00:14:56.579 --> 00:14:57.139
 or the

00:14:57.139 --> 00:14:57.479
 Catholic

00:14:57.479 --> 00:14:58.279
 church or

00:14:58.279 --> 00:14:59.059
 whatever else.

00:14:59.219 --> 00:14:59.879
 When you

00:14:59.879 --> 00:15:00.699
 nail it down

00:15:00.699 --> 00:15:01.519
 it comes down

00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:02.000
 to whatever

00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:02.719
 rules that

00:15:02.719 --> 00:15:02.979
 we have

00:15:02.979 --> 00:15:03.899
 decided to

00:15:03.899 --> 00:15:05.439
 believe

00:15:05.439 --> 00:15:06.699
 or teach.

00:15:09.359 --> 00:15:10.599
 The sign

00:15:10.599 --> 00:15:11.120
 on the

00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:11.639
 church

00:15:11.639 --> 00:15:13.779
 usually

00:15:13.779 --> 00:15:15.459
 distinguishes

00:15:15.459 --> 00:15:16.519
 that church's

00:15:16.519 --> 00:15:16.879
 set of

00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:17.699
 rules from

00:15:17.699 --> 00:15:18.120
 a different

00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:18.399
 one.

00:15:19.579 --> 00:15:20.539
 But that's

00:15:20.539 --> 00:15:21.220
 not what

00:15:21.220 --> 00:15:21.879
 it's about.

00:15:23.279 --> 00:15:23.759
 And I'm

00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:24.220
 not telling

00:15:24.220 --> 00:15:24.519
 you that

00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:26.279
 there's no

00:15:26.279 --> 00:15:26.959
 difference between

00:15:26.959 --> 00:15:27.379
 the churches

00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:28.139
 sometimes there

00:15:28.139 --> 00:15:28.379
 are.

00:15:29.419 --> 00:15:29.860
 But the

00:15:29.860 --> 00:15:30.819
 real difference

00:15:30.819 --> 00:15:31.819
 between whether

00:15:31.819 --> 00:15:32.579
 a church is

00:15:32.579 --> 00:15:33.480
 right or

00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:33.980
 wrong.

00:15:34.079 --> 00:15:34.319
 You ready

00:15:34.319 --> 00:15:34.720
 for this?

00:15:34.980 --> 00:15:35.159
 It's going

00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:35.339
 to be a

00:15:35.339 --> 00:15:35.720
 controversial

00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:36.199
 statement.

00:15:36.579 --> 00:15:36.899
 You can put

00:15:36.899 --> 00:15:37.220
 it out on

00:15:37.220 --> 00:15:37.799
 Facebook and

00:15:37.799 --> 00:15:38.139
 say that

00:15:38.139 --> 00:15:38.539
 preacher's

00:15:38.539 --> 00:15:38.899
 lost his

00:15:38.899 --> 00:15:39.240
 mind if

00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:39.459
 he ever

00:15:39.459 --> 00:15:39.699
 had it in

00:15:39.699 --> 00:15:39.919
 the first

00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:40.220
 place.

00:15:40.500 --> 00:15:40.779
 Here we

00:15:40.779 --> 00:15:40.980
 go.

00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:42.339
 The

00:15:42.339 --> 00:15:42.959
 difference

00:15:42.960 --> 00:15:43.840
 and how

00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:44.480
 you decide

00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:44.940
 whether a

00:15:44.940 --> 00:15:45.519
 church is

00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:46.259
 right or

00:15:46.259 --> 00:15:48.240
 wrong is

00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:49.100
 whether Jesus

00:15:49.100 --> 00:15:49.879
 is more

00:15:49.879 --> 00:15:50.680
 important than

00:15:50.680 --> 00:15:51.220
 the rules.

00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:54.139
 Whether its

00:15:54.139 --> 00:15:54.960
 roots go

00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:56.000
 deeper than

00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:56.540
 the rules

00:15:56.540 --> 00:15:57.000
 that they've

00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:57.560
 decided on.

00:15:59.660 --> 00:16:00.300
 That's the

00:16:00.300 --> 00:16:00.860
 difference on

00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:01.259
 whether a

00:16:01.259 --> 00:16:01.759
 church is

00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.320
 right or

00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:02.600
 wrong.

00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:03.800
 So we're

00:16:03.800 --> 00:16:04.040
 not going

00:16:04.040 --> 00:16:04.480
 to pick on

00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:04.940
 a particular

00:16:04.940 --> 00:16:05.580
 denomination

00:16:05.580 --> 00:16:06.280
 or say this

00:16:06.280 --> 00:16:06.960
 one, there's

00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:07.500
 no way that

00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:07.840
 that's the

00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:08.160
 case.

00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:09.259
 You have to

00:16:09.259 --> 00:16:09.500
 let the

00:16:09.500 --> 00:16:09.920
 Holy Spirit

00:16:09.920 --> 00:16:10.519
 guide you

00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:11.080
 in that.

00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:12.080
 But there

00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:12.540
 are many

00:16:12.540 --> 00:16:13.920
 that it's

00:16:13.920 --> 00:16:14.660
 pretty obvious

00:16:14.660 --> 00:16:15.580
 from the

00:16:15.580 --> 00:16:16.220
 outside looking

00:16:16.220 --> 00:16:18.440
 in that

00:16:18.440 --> 00:16:19.000
 their rules

00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:19.420
 are more

00:16:19.420 --> 00:16:20.320
 important than

00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:21.100
 Jesus himself.

00:16:22.040 --> 00:16:22.580
 And I

00:16:22.580 --> 00:16:23.700
 pray, literally

00:16:23.700 --> 00:16:25.100
 every day, I

00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:25.860
 pray that our

00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:26.560
 church would not

00:16:26.560 --> 00:16:26.980
 be one of

00:16:26.980 --> 00:16:27.200
 those.

00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:28.320
 That we

00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:28.940
 would not be

00:16:28.940 --> 00:16:29.740
 one that

00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:30.420
 says our

00:16:30.420 --> 00:16:31.040
 rules that we

00:16:31.040 --> 00:16:31.720
 decided on,

00:16:31.780 --> 00:16:32.120
 because I can

00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:32.560
 promise you

00:16:32.560 --> 00:16:33.120
 this, you

00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:33.780
 take a passage

00:16:33.780 --> 00:16:34.280
 of scripture

00:16:34.280 --> 00:16:35.139
 and you get

00:16:35.139 --> 00:16:35.580
 ten different

00:16:35.580 --> 00:16:36.120
 people in the

00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:36.840
 room and they

00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:37.440
 can all read

00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:38.480
 it and they

00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:38.960
 can come away

00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:39.300
 with ten

00:16:39.300 --> 00:16:39.920
 different opinions

00:16:39.920 --> 00:16:40.540
 on what it

00:16:40.540 --> 00:16:40.900
 means.

00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:42.660
 The Bible

00:16:42.660 --> 00:16:43.100
 is like

00:16:43.100 --> 00:16:43.440
 that.

00:16:43.820 --> 00:16:44.120
 Why?

00:16:45.400 --> 00:16:46.240
 Because the

00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:47.000
 Holy Spirit

00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:47.740
 of God is

00:16:47.740 --> 00:16:48.340
 supposed to

00:16:48.340 --> 00:16:49.120
 guide each

00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:49.520
 of us

00:16:49.520 --> 00:16:50.060
 individually.

00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:51.580
 So we

00:16:51.580 --> 00:16:52.160
 can come away

00:16:52.160 --> 00:16:52.540
 with ten

00:16:52.540 --> 00:16:53.280
 different opinions

00:16:53.280 --> 00:16:54.060
 and ten

00:16:54.060 --> 00:16:54.800
 different set

00:16:54.800 --> 00:16:56.480
 of rules based

00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:57.060
 on what we

00:16:57.060 --> 00:16:57.500
 think the

00:16:57.500 --> 00:16:58.139
 Bible teaches

00:16:58.139 --> 00:16:58.639
 in this

00:16:58.639 --> 00:16:59.020
 passage.

00:17:00.020 --> 00:17:00.840
 So who's

00:17:00.840 --> 00:17:01.160
 right?

00:17:01.800 --> 00:17:02.280
 Which one

00:17:02.280 --> 00:17:02.700
 of the ten

00:17:02.700 --> 00:17:03.180
 is right?

00:17:03.820 --> 00:17:04.480
 That's where

00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:05.100
 God's Spirit

00:17:05.100 --> 00:17:05.799
 has to guide

00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:06.039
 you.

00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:08.720
 and you

00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:09.159
 have to

00:17:09.159 --> 00:17:10.980
 hold some

00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:11.379
 of those

00:17:11.379 --> 00:17:12.519
 rules loosely

00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:14.259
 and say

00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:15.200
 my roots

00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:15.720
 are going

00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:16.379
 to go deep

00:17:16.379 --> 00:17:16.960
 in Jesus

00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:17.839
 and that's

00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:18.240
 going to

00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:18.879
 guide me

00:17:18.879 --> 00:17:20.440
 more than

00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:21.379
 my interpretation

00:17:21.379 --> 00:17:22.240
 of this one

00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:23.019
 particular set

00:17:23.019 --> 00:17:23.779
 and how it

00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:24.440
 disagrees with

00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:25.259
 hers or his

00:17:25.259 --> 00:17:25.859
 or his or

00:17:25.859 --> 00:17:26.180
 hers.

00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:27.139
 But that's

00:17:27.139 --> 00:17:27.799
 not how the

00:17:27.799 --> 00:17:28.180
 church has

00:17:28.180 --> 00:17:28.599
 operated.

00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:30.500
 For centuries

00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:32.240
 splits have

00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:32.619
 happened.

00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:34.079
 Christians have

00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:34.720
 gotten mad at

00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:35.160
 each other.

00:17:35.880 --> 00:17:36.440
 They say I'm

00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:36.940
 done with this

00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:37.480
 kind of church

00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:38.220
 because they

00:17:38.220 --> 00:17:38.740
 believe these

00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:39.220
 rules and I

00:17:39.220 --> 00:17:39.500
 don't believe

00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:39.839
 this is what

00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:40.079
 the Bible

00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:40.400
 teaches.

00:17:40.900 --> 00:17:41.220
 So I'm

00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:41.440
 going to go

00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:41.700
 over here

00:17:41.700 --> 00:17:41.900
 and we're

00:17:41.900 --> 00:17:42.039
 going to

00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:42.360
 start our

00:17:42.360 --> 00:17:42.839
 own church.

00:17:43.539 --> 00:17:44.140
 And that

00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:44.980
 happens time

00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:45.480
 and time

00:17:45.480 --> 00:17:45.880
 and time

00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:46.200
 and time

00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:46.519
 again.

00:17:46.880 --> 00:17:47.079
 Why?

00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:47.920
 Because the

00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:48.519
 roots were

00:17:48.519 --> 00:17:49.480
 not as deep

00:17:49.480 --> 00:17:50.079
 as their

00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:50.720
 belief in

00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:51.339
 their rules.

00:17:52.579 --> 00:17:53.240
 The truth

00:17:53.240 --> 00:17:54.380
 is we ought

00:17:54.380 --> 00:17:54.920
 to be able to

00:17:54.920 --> 00:17:55.579
 set aside

00:17:55.579 --> 00:17:56.220
 some of those

00:17:56.220 --> 00:17:56.680
 things.

00:17:59.019 --> 00:17:59.680
 Say well in

00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:00.200
 this church

00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:02.039
 we do this

00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:02.539
 kind of music.

00:18:02.620 --> 00:18:02.880
 In this

00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:04.079
 church we

00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:04.539
 believe in

00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:04.960
 this and

00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:06.119
 we absolutely

00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:06.519
 do not

00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:06.899
 believe in

00:18:06.899 --> 00:18:07.139
 that.

00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:08.200
 You say no

00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:08.799
 you do.

00:18:09.799 --> 00:18:10.399
 Truth is the

00:18:10.399 --> 00:18:10.940
 person on the

00:18:10.940 --> 00:18:11.379
 other side of

00:18:11.379 --> 00:18:12.019
 the sanctuary

00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:12.680
 from you may

00:18:12.680 --> 00:18:13.159
 not believe

00:18:13.159 --> 00:18:13.980
 that like you

00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:14.159
 do.

00:18:14.819 --> 00:18:15.279
 And that's

00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:15.960
 all right as

00:18:15.960 --> 00:18:16.539
 long as both

00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:17.099
 of your roots

00:18:17.099 --> 00:18:17.500
 are digging

00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:18.119
 down into

00:18:18.119 --> 00:18:18.460
 Jesus.

00:18:19.220 --> 00:18:19.799
 That's what

00:18:19.799 --> 00:18:20.200
 it's about.

00:18:21.940 --> 00:18:24.299
 So I'll

00:18:24.299 --> 00:18:24.779
 get off that

00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:25.500
 soapbox now

00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:27.059
 and we can

00:18:27.059 --> 00:18:27.519
 move on to

00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:27.960
 number two.

00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:28.859
 It's about

00:18:28.859 --> 00:18:29.799
 the roots in

00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:30.240
 Christ.

00:18:30.980 --> 00:18:31.680
 It's not about

00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:32.359
 the rules and

00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:32.980
 how good you

00:18:32.980 --> 00:18:33.680
 are or bad

00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:34.259
 you are at

00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:34.839
 obeying them.

00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:36.180
 It's about

00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:37.400
 how deep your

00:18:37.400 --> 00:18:38.240
 roots go in

00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:38.539
 Jesus.

00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:39.200
 Number two,

00:18:40.380 --> 00:18:41.099
 religion's about

00:18:41.099 --> 00:18:41.680
 the flesh.

00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:44.120
 Jesus is about

00:18:44.120 --> 00:18:44.599
 fullness.

00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:46.299
 We're moving

00:18:46.299 --> 00:18:47.620
 from flesh to

00:18:47.620 --> 00:18:47.900
 fullness.

00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:48.500
 Look down in

00:18:48.500 --> 00:18:48.960
 verse nine.

00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:57.000
 the entire

00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:58.059
 fullness of

00:18:58.059 --> 00:18:58.880
 God's nature

00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:00.440
 dwells bodily

00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:02.400
 in Christ

00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:02.779
 Jesus.

00:19:03.360 --> 00:19:04.140
 And you

00:19:04.140 --> 00:19:04.680
 have been

00:19:04.680 --> 00:19:05.579
 filled by

00:19:05.579 --> 00:19:06.620
 him who

00:19:06.620 --> 00:19:06.960
 is the

00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:07.579
 head over

00:19:07.579 --> 00:19:08.440
 every ruler

00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:09.220
 and authority.

00:19:09.660 --> 00:19:09.920
 You were

00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:11.019
 also circumcised

00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:11.860
 in him with

00:19:11.860 --> 00:19:12.579
 a circumcision

00:19:12.579 --> 00:19:13.380
 not done with

00:19:13.380 --> 00:19:13.700
 hands.

00:19:13.880 --> 00:19:14.400
 Does anybody

00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:15.160
 need to pause

00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:16.059
 here and try

00:19:16.059 --> 00:19:16.559
 to figure out

00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:17.240
 why Paul's

00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:17.740
 talking about

00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:18.319
 circumcision?

00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:20.039
 Does that

00:19:20.039 --> 00:19:20.539
 strike any

00:19:20.539 --> 00:19:20.940
 of you as

00:19:20.940 --> 00:19:21.319
 odd?

00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:22.900
 Because that's

00:19:22.900 --> 00:19:23.440
 something that's

00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:23.900
 a procedure,

00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:24.380
 a medical

00:19:24.380 --> 00:19:25.000
 procedure that

00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:25.480
 happens to

00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:25.900
 little baby

00:19:25.900 --> 00:19:26.700
 boys right

00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:27.079
 after they're

00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:27.340
 born.

00:19:28.440 --> 00:19:29.220
 What is it?

00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:30.220
 A week or

00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:31.259
 ten days or

00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:31.900
 two weeks after

00:19:31.900 --> 00:19:32.240
 they're born?

00:19:32.340 --> 00:19:32.700
 Something like

00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:33.240
 that, right?

00:19:33.380 --> 00:19:33.799
 You take him

00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:34.200
 back in, you

00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:34.400
 get him

00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:34.960
 circumcised.

00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:36.700
 Why is Paul

00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:37.460
 talking about

00:19:37.460 --> 00:19:37.980
 this?

00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:39.660
 Because it

00:19:39.660 --> 00:19:40.180
 was a big

00:19:40.180 --> 00:19:40.860
 controversy.

00:19:41.900 --> 00:19:42.620
 Because the

00:19:42.620 --> 00:19:43.340
 Jews back

00:19:43.340 --> 00:19:43.840
 then were

00:19:43.840 --> 00:19:44.380
 pretty much

00:19:44.380 --> 00:19:45.140
 the only ones

00:19:45.140 --> 00:19:45.840
 circumcising

00:19:45.840 --> 00:19:46.299
 their baby

00:19:46.299 --> 00:19:46.660
 boys.

00:19:46.660 --> 00:19:48.759
 Now are

00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:49.080
 you ready

00:19:49.080 --> 00:19:49.640
 for this?

00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:51.460
 Men, are

00:19:51.460 --> 00:19:51.840
 y'all ready

00:19:51.840 --> 00:19:52.279
 for this?

00:19:53.060 --> 00:19:55.220
 Back then, if

00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:55.920
 you were going

00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:56.460
 to be a

00:19:56.460 --> 00:19:57.040
 follower of

00:19:57.040 --> 00:19:59.060
 Jesus, a

00:19:59.060 --> 00:20:00.320
 lot of those

00:20:00.320 --> 00:20:01.240
 early churches

00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:02.720
 were telling

00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:03.500
 the men that

00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:04.019
 they had to

00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:05.019
 get circumcised

00:20:05.019 --> 00:20:05.480
 if they were

00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:05.880
 going to come

00:20:05.880 --> 00:20:06.320
 join their

00:20:06.320 --> 00:20:06.720
 church.

00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:09.800
 Like adult

00:20:09.800 --> 00:20:10.560
 grown men.

00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:12.779
 I'm sorry,

00:20:12.879 --> 00:20:13.319
 that's not

00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:13.899
 pleasant to

00:20:13.899 --> 00:20:14.500
 think about.

00:20:15.460 --> 00:20:15.799
 Ow!

00:20:16.899 --> 00:20:17.700
 Especially with

00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:18.919
 the relative

00:20:18.919 --> 00:20:19.500
 lack of

00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:20.139
 anesthetic

00:20:20.139 --> 00:20:20.859
 back then.

00:20:21.919 --> 00:20:22.960
 Tough ask.

00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:24.579
 Here we just

00:20:24.579 --> 00:20:25.299
 tell you to

00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:27.079
 give a bunch

00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:27.679
 of money and

00:20:27.679 --> 00:20:29.019
 I'm kidding.

00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:30.319
 We don't

00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:31.139
 really put any

00:20:31.139 --> 00:20:32.440
 obligations on

00:20:32.440 --> 00:20:33.019
 you, restrictions

00:20:33.019 --> 00:20:33.679
 on you if you

00:20:33.679 --> 00:20:34.259
 want to join the

00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:34.759
 church other

00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:35.339
 than do you

00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:35.779
 believe in

00:20:35.779 --> 00:20:36.099
 Jesus?

00:20:36.659 --> 00:20:37.200
 Have you been

00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:38.440
 saved, baptized,

00:20:38.839 --> 00:20:39.519
 and we welcome

00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:40.220
 you into our

00:20:40.220 --> 00:20:41.400
 fellowship as a

00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:41.860
 follower of

00:20:41.860 --> 00:20:42.140
 Jesus?

00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:45.579
 But back

00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:46.259
 then it was

00:20:46.259 --> 00:20:48.100
 yeah man, you

00:20:48.100 --> 00:20:48.539
 got to go under

00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:48.980
 the knife.

00:20:49.339 --> 00:20:49.740
 It's not going

00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:50.100
 to be fun.

00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:52.559
 Well Paul's

00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:53.400
 fighting against

00:20:53.400 --> 00:20:53.579
 that.

00:20:53.660 --> 00:20:54.519
 He's saying no,

00:20:54.940 --> 00:20:56.140
 absolutely not.

00:20:56.660 --> 00:20:57.700
 You are so

00:20:57.700 --> 00:20:58.940
 focused on the

00:20:58.940 --> 00:21:00.819
 outward, the

00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:02.500
 flesh, saying

00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:03.059
 well they've got

00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:03.799
 to look like us.

00:21:03.860 --> 00:21:04.759
 Well first of all,

00:21:04.940 --> 00:21:05.720
 who would even

00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:06.079
 know?

00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:06.880
 You know, I

00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:07.360
 mean come on

00:21:07.360 --> 00:21:07.740
 folks.

00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:10.480
 No, that's

00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:11.279
 not what it's

00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:11.680
 about.

00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:13.180
 It's not about

00:21:13.180 --> 00:21:13.960
 whether on the

00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:15.059
 outside physical

00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:16.240
 appearance you

00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:17.200
 fit in.

00:21:17.880 --> 00:21:18.539
 But that's what

00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:20.319
 these early Jews

00:21:20.319 --> 00:21:21.160
 who had chosen

00:21:21.160 --> 00:21:22.059
 to follow Jesus

00:21:22.059 --> 00:21:23.400
 but they couldn't

00:21:23.400 --> 00:21:24.759
 get past their

00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.740
 rules.

00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:27.559
 They couldn't get

00:21:27.559 --> 00:21:28.299
 past their

00:21:28.299 --> 00:21:29.299
 regulations.

00:21:29.859 --> 00:21:30.660
 They couldn't get

00:21:30.660 --> 00:21:31.440
 past their

00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:32.220
 traditions.

00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:34.240
 Say you've got to

00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:35.180
 do it how we do

00:21:35.180 --> 00:21:35.400
 it.

00:21:35.400 --> 00:21:36.820
 you've got to

00:21:36.820 --> 00:21:37.640
 look like us.

00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:39.700
 It's all about

00:21:39.700 --> 00:21:41.400
 the flesh.

00:21:42.620 --> 00:21:43.820
 God says it's

00:21:43.820 --> 00:21:44.900
 about so much

00:21:44.900 --> 00:21:45.700
 more than the

00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:46.040
 flesh.

00:21:46.360 --> 00:21:47.100
 I'm here to

00:21:47.100 --> 00:21:47.640
 offer you

00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:48.780
 complete fullness

00:21:48.780 --> 00:21:49.800
 in me.

00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:51.660
 So verse 9

00:21:51.660 --> 00:21:52.259
 he says

00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:54.720
 the entire

00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:55.420
 fullness

00:21:55.420 --> 00:21:56.759
 of God's

00:21:56.759 --> 00:21:57.340
 nature

00:21:57.340 --> 00:21:58.600
 is available

00:21:58.600 --> 00:21:59.360
 to you

00:21:59.360 --> 00:22:00.480
 through Jesus.

00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:03.940
 it's so much

00:22:03.940 --> 00:22:04.380
 better

00:22:04.380 --> 00:22:06.220
 than your

00:22:06.220 --> 00:22:06.700
 religious

00:22:06.700 --> 00:22:07.299
 restrictions.

00:22:08.380 --> 00:22:08.559
 So

00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:12.559
 he says

00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:13.099
 this is about

00:22:13.099 --> 00:22:13.819
 a circumcision

00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:15.059
 that's not

00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:15.720
 done with

00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:16.220
 hands.

00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:18.940
 Putting

00:22:18.940 --> 00:22:19.620
 off the

00:22:19.620 --> 00:22:20.180
 body of the

00:22:20.180 --> 00:22:20.579
 flesh.

00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:22.140
 The circumcision

00:22:22.140 --> 00:22:23.160
 is done

00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:23.980
 in Christ.

00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:25.460
 This is how

00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:26.140
 we are united.

00:22:26.759 --> 00:22:27.700
 This is how

00:22:27.700 --> 00:22:28.259
 we are made

00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:28.680
 right.

00:22:28.680 --> 00:22:29.920
 it's all

00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:30.580
 in Jesus

00:22:30.580 --> 00:22:31.620
 not through

00:22:31.620 --> 00:22:32.160
 any physical

00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:32.680
 procedure.

00:22:33.320 --> 00:22:33.560
 And then he

00:22:33.560 --> 00:22:33.960
 continues

00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:34.320
 when you're

00:22:34.320 --> 00:22:34.740
 buried with

00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:34.960
 him in

00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:35.380
 baptism

00:22:35.380 --> 00:22:36.600
 which you

00:22:36.600 --> 00:22:36.940
 were

00:22:36.940 --> 00:22:37.560
 in which

00:22:37.560 --> 00:22:37.799
 you were

00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:38.019
 also

00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:38.460
 raised

00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:38.920
 with him

00:22:38.920 --> 00:22:39.220
 through

00:22:39.220 --> 00:22:39.620
 faith

00:22:39.620 --> 00:22:39.920
 in the

00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:40.160
 working

00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:40.600
 of God

00:22:40.600 --> 00:22:40.960
 who

00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:41.279
 raised

00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:41.420
 him

00:22:41.420 --> 00:22:41.680
 from

00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:41.980
 the

00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:42.279
 dead.

00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:42.799
 Paul

00:22:42.799 --> 00:22:43.120
 says

00:22:43.120 --> 00:22:43.880
 you don't

00:22:43.880 --> 00:22:44.120
 need

00:22:44.120 --> 00:22:44.720
 external

00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:45.279
 religion

00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:46.140
 to make

00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:46.380
 you

00:22:46.380 --> 00:22:46.820
 right

00:22:46.820 --> 00:22:47.140
 with

00:22:47.140 --> 00:22:47.620
 God

00:22:47.620 --> 00:22:48.519
 because

00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:49.140
 everything

00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:49.720
 that needed

00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:49.980
 to be

00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:50.259
 done

00:22:50.259 --> 00:22:50.700
 has

00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:51.240
 already

00:22:51.240 --> 00:22:51.600
 been

00:22:51.600 --> 00:22:51.960
 done

00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:52.340
 by

00:22:52.340 --> 00:22:52.720
 Jesus.

00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.100
 We

00:22:54.100 --> 00:22:54.440
 can't

00:22:54.440 --> 00:22:54.660
 add

00:22:54.660 --> 00:22:55.140
 anything

00:22:55.140 --> 00:22:55.880
 to the

00:22:55.880 --> 00:22:56.240
 gospel.

00:22:56.360 --> 00:22:56.519
 In our

00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:57.100
 starting point

00:22:57.100 --> 00:22:57.380
 class

00:22:57.380 --> 00:22:57.820
 this morning

00:22:57.819 --> 00:22:58.559
 we talked

00:22:58.559 --> 00:22:59.019
 about the

00:22:59.019 --> 00:22:59.439
 gospel.

00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:00.240
 We talked

00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:00.619
 about the

00:23:00.619 --> 00:23:01.159
 good news

00:23:01.159 --> 00:23:01.759
 what it

00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:02.119
 is

00:23:02.119 --> 00:23:02.619
 what it

00:23:02.619 --> 00:23:03.019
 isn't.

00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:03.700
 And I

00:23:03.700 --> 00:23:04.179
 can promise

00:23:04.179 --> 00:23:04.379
 you

00:23:04.379 --> 00:23:05.019
 circumcision

00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:05.519
 had no

00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:05.819
 part

00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:06.220
 of the

00:23:06.220 --> 00:23:06.539
 gospel.

00:23:06.939 --> 00:23:07.419
 That was

00:23:07.419 --> 00:23:07.919
 never a

00:23:07.919 --> 00:23:08.379
 requirement.

00:23:09.819 --> 00:23:10.339
 Neither

00:23:10.339 --> 00:23:11.079
 was faithful

00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:11.359
 church

00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:11.700
 attendance

00:23:11.700 --> 00:23:12.019
 every

00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:12.359
 Sunday.

00:23:12.819 --> 00:23:13.240
 Now you

00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:13.740
 ought to be

00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.200
 faithful in

00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:14.519
 your church

00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:14.799
 attendance

00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:15.339
 every Sunday.

00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:15.720
 Why?

00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:16.720
 Not so you

00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:17.139
 can go to

00:23:17.139 --> 00:23:17.519
 heaven when

00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:17.879
 you die.

00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:20.359
 Not so you

00:23:20.359 --> 00:23:20.799
 can have a

00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:21.359
 good relationship

00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:21.899
 between you

00:23:21.899 --> 00:23:22.299
 and God.

00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:23.099
 The relationship

00:23:23.099 --> 00:23:23.720
 is there

00:23:23.720 --> 00:23:24.279
 regardless.

00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:24.980
 It's

00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:25.500
 for your

00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:25.819
 own

00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:26.240
 benefit

00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:27.240
 and the

00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:27.519
 benefit

00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:27.920
 of the

00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:28.119
 body

00:23:28.119 --> 00:23:28.279
 of

00:23:28.279 --> 00:23:28.639
 Christ.

00:23:28.879 --> 00:23:29.259
 It's

00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:29.720
 because we

00:23:29.720 --> 00:23:30.099
 are good

00:23:30.099 --> 00:23:30.639
 for each

00:23:30.639 --> 00:23:30.960
 other.

00:23:31.859 --> 00:23:32.139
 It's

00:23:32.139 --> 00:23:32.639
 because we

00:23:32.639 --> 00:23:33.220
 need each

00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:33.519
 other.

00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:34.680
 And the

00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:35.240
 Holy Spirit

00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:35.759
 in me

00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:36.500
 communes

00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:36.779
 with the

00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:37.319
 Holy Spirit

00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:37.819
 in Bonnie

00:23:37.819 --> 00:23:38.639
 Hoff and

00:23:38.639 --> 00:23:39.059
 we can

00:23:39.059 --> 00:23:39.700
 fellowship

00:23:39.700 --> 00:23:40.399
 together

00:23:40.399 --> 00:23:42.619
 because we're

00:23:42.619 --> 00:23:43.379
 faithful in

00:23:43.379 --> 00:23:44.019
 attending the

00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:44.819
 gatherings of

00:23:44.819 --> 00:23:45.279
 the body

00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:45.879
 of Christ.

00:23:46.440 --> 00:23:47.039
 When the

00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:47.440
 body's

00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:47.940
 missing a

00:23:47.940 --> 00:23:48.500
 part it's

00:23:48.500 --> 00:23:49.099
 not whole.

00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:51.579
 But that

00:23:51.579 --> 00:23:51.839
 doesn't

00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:52.500
 affect our

00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:53.339
 standing in

00:23:53.339 --> 00:23:53.980
 God's eyes

00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:54.419
 whether we

00:23:54.419 --> 00:23:54.740
 miss a

00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:55.139
 Sunday or

00:23:55.139 --> 00:23:55.419
 not.

00:23:57.099 --> 00:23:57.779
 But we

00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:58.559
 choose to

00:23:58.559 --> 00:23:59.939
 gather because

00:23:59.939 --> 00:24:00.639
 we love each

00:24:00.639 --> 00:24:01.439
 other as

00:24:01.439 --> 00:24:02.199
 Jesus first

00:24:02.199 --> 00:24:03.059
 loved us.

00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:04.679
 That's what

00:24:04.679 --> 00:24:05.859
 fullness is.

00:24:06.699 --> 00:24:07.359
 That's what

00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:08.039
 God's offering

00:24:08.039 --> 00:24:08.359
 you.

00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.139
 Romans chapter

00:24:10.139 --> 00:24:10.839
 3.

00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:13.720
 Romans, I'm

00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:14.159
 sorry, chapter

00:24:14.159 --> 00:24:14.879
 8 verse 3.

00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:15.639
 Romans chapter

00:24:15.639 --> 00:24:16.199
 8 and verse

00:24:16.199 --> 00:24:16.459
 3.

00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:19.199
 I don't have

00:24:19.199 --> 00:24:19.500
 it on the

00:24:19.500 --> 00:24:19.740
 screen.

00:24:19.859 --> 00:24:20.159
 It's a little

00:24:20.159 --> 00:24:20.480
 bit of a

00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:21.099
 passage so if

00:24:21.099 --> 00:24:21.379
 you wouldn't

00:24:21.379 --> 00:24:22.039
 mind turning

00:24:22.039 --> 00:24:22.419
 there real

00:24:22.419 --> 00:24:22.639
 quick.

00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:23.240
 Romans chapter

00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:25.100
 8 and

00:24:25.100 --> 00:24:25.620
 verse 3.

00:24:27.080 --> 00:24:27.520
 It would

00:24:27.520 --> 00:24:27.820
 have been a

00:24:27.820 --> 00:24:28.040
 lot of

00:24:28.040 --> 00:24:28.560
 flipping through

00:24:28.560 --> 00:24:29.700
 slides if I

00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:30.100
 put it all

00:24:30.100 --> 00:24:30.400
 up there.

00:24:30.500 --> 00:24:30.800
 So I just

00:24:30.800 --> 00:24:31.060
 thought we

00:24:31.060 --> 00:24:31.560
 could look at

00:24:31.560 --> 00:24:32.300
 the Bible

00:24:32.300 --> 00:24:32.740
 together.

00:24:33.120 --> 00:24:33.720
 Look on with

00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:34.180
 somebody next

00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:34.480
 to you if

00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:34.680
 you don't

00:24:34.680 --> 00:24:35.200
 have a copy

00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:35.460
 but there

00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:36.540
 should be a

00:24:36.540 --> 00:24:36.960
 copy in

00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:37.280
 front of

00:24:37.280 --> 00:24:37.460
 you.

00:24:38.460 --> 00:24:38.840
 If you

00:24:38.840 --> 00:24:39.040
 need to

00:24:39.040 --> 00:24:39.280
 look at

00:24:39.280 --> 00:24:39.660
 your phone

00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:40.020
 or tablet

00:24:40.020 --> 00:24:40.480
 that's fine

00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:40.840
 too as

00:24:40.840 --> 00:24:41.060
 long as

00:24:41.060 --> 00:24:41.259
 you're on

00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:41.580
 the Bible

00:24:41.580 --> 00:24:42.120
 app and

00:24:42.120 --> 00:24:42.500
 not checking

00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:42.860
 Facebook.

00:24:43.020 --> 00:24:43.120
 Alright?

00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:44.300
 Romans

00:24:44.300 --> 00:24:44.880
 chapter 8 and

00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:45.300
 verse 3.

00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:45.780
 What the

00:24:45.780 --> 00:24:46.480
 law could

00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:47.080
 not do

00:24:47.080 --> 00:24:47.740
 since it

00:24:47.740 --> 00:24:48.280
 was weakened

00:24:48.280 --> 00:24:48.800
 by the

00:24:48.800 --> 00:24:49.300
 flesh,

00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:50.620
 God did.

00:24:51.220 --> 00:24:51.800
 Remember a

00:24:51.799 --> 00:24:52.200
 few Sundays

00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:52.720
 ago when we

00:24:52.720 --> 00:24:53.019
 looked at

00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:53.480
 the law

00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:55.639
 and then we

00:24:55.639 --> 00:24:56.059
 looked at

00:24:56.059 --> 00:24:56.619
 grace.

00:24:57.539 --> 00:24:58.039
 These are

00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:58.879
 two opposing

00:24:58.879 --> 00:24:59.500
 forces.

00:25:00.159 --> 00:25:01.180
 God established

00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:02.220
 the law to

00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:02.859
 show us how

00:25:02.859 --> 00:25:03.339
 we couldn't

00:25:03.339 --> 00:25:04.139
 keep it and

00:25:04.139 --> 00:25:04.819
 to bring us

00:25:04.819 --> 00:25:05.440
 to the place

00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:05.799
 where we

00:25:05.799 --> 00:25:06.319
 needed his

00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:06.879
 grace.

00:25:07.659 --> 00:25:08.319
 And all of

00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:08.819
 us are there.

00:25:08.919 --> 00:25:09.220
 We're all in

00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:09.919
 the same boat.

00:25:10.379 --> 00:25:11.039
 So he says

00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:11.599
 what the law

00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:12.319
 could not do

00:25:12.319 --> 00:25:12.980
 since it was

00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:13.460
 weakened by

00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:13.980
 the flesh,

00:25:14.419 --> 00:25:15.200
 God actually

00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:15.700
 did it.

00:25:16.339 --> 00:25:17.119
 He condemned

00:25:17.119 --> 00:25:17.940
 sin in the

00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:18.819
 flesh by sending

00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:19.839
 his own who?

00:25:20.639 --> 00:25:21.500
 His own son.

00:25:21.799 --> 00:25:22.379
 In order

00:25:22.379 --> 00:25:22.839
 that the

00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:23.180
 law's

00:25:23.180 --> 00:25:23.700
 requirement

00:25:23.700 --> 00:25:24.220
 would be

00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:25.059
 fulfilled in

00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:25.599
 us.

00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:27.559
 But wait a

00:25:27.559 --> 00:25:28.139
 minute, how

00:25:28.139 --> 00:25:28.460
 could the

00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:29.119
 law's requirement

00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:29.619
 be fulfilled

00:25:29.619 --> 00:25:30.059
 in us?

00:25:30.379 --> 00:25:30.980
 We don't

00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:31.559
 walk according

00:25:31.559 --> 00:25:31.879
 to the

00:25:31.879 --> 00:25:32.339
 flesh but

00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:32.839
 according to

00:25:32.839 --> 00:25:33.419
 the spirit.

00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:34.559
 That's how.

00:25:35.419 --> 00:25:36.460
 When Jesus

00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:38.079
 forgives your

00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:38.779
 sin and makes

00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:39.220
 you his

00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:41.759
 child, then

00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:43.180
 you move from

00:25:43.180 --> 00:25:43.980
 under the law

00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:44.639
 to under

00:25:44.639 --> 00:25:45.299
 grace.

00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:46.500
 So now we

00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:47.099
 don't walk

00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:47.720
 according to

00:25:47.720 --> 00:25:48.119
 the law

00:25:48.119 --> 00:25:48.579
 anymore.

00:25:49.639 --> 00:25:50.359
 Am I doing

00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:51.139
 okay today?

00:25:51.140 --> 00:25:52.000
 Well, yes,

00:25:52.080 --> 00:25:52.560
 because I

00:25:52.560 --> 00:25:53.180
 fulfilled the

00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:53.860
 law mostly.

00:25:55.020 --> 00:25:55.800
 No, that's

00:25:55.800 --> 00:25:56.259
 not how we

00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:56.620
 judge our

00:25:56.620 --> 00:25:57.140
 day anymore.

00:25:58.060 --> 00:25:58.680
 It's am I

00:25:58.680 --> 00:25:59.560
 walking by the

00:25:59.560 --> 00:26:01.000
 spirit today or

00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:01.580
 am I walking

00:26:01.580 --> 00:26:02.240
 according to my

00:26:02.240 --> 00:26:02.740
 own thinking,

00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:03.360
 my own

00:26:03.360 --> 00:26:03.860
 understanding?

00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:05.000
 All right?

00:26:05.540 --> 00:26:06.220
 So for those

00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:06.540
 who live

00:26:06.540 --> 00:26:06.980
 according to

00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:07.600
 the flesh,

00:26:08.560 --> 00:26:09.259
 in parentheses,

00:26:09.580 --> 00:26:10.080
 the law,

00:26:11.580 --> 00:26:12.820
 they have their

00:26:12.820 --> 00:26:13.440
 minds set on

00:26:13.440 --> 00:26:14.480
 the things of

00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:15.440
 the flesh.

00:26:15.860 --> 00:26:16.480
 But those who

00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:17.259
 live according to

00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:18.279
 the spirit,

00:26:18.879 --> 00:26:19.420
 have their

00:26:19.420 --> 00:26:20.180
 minds set on

00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:21.140
 things according

00:26:21.140 --> 00:26:22.279
 to the spirit.

00:26:23.819 --> 00:26:24.740
 So when you

00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:25.299
 have your

00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:26.480
 mind set on

00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:27.279
 the flesh,

00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:28.980
 you're thinking,

00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:30.119
 am I doing

00:26:30.119 --> 00:26:31.400
 all the

00:26:31.400 --> 00:26:32.200
 rules right?

00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:33.720
 Am I doing

00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:38.079
 all the

00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:38.740
 circumcision?

00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:38.799
 religion?

00:26:41.799 --> 00:26:42.380
 All the

00:26:42.380 --> 00:26:43.539
 things that

00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:44.359
 man-made

00:26:44.359 --> 00:26:46.200
 religion has

00:26:46.200 --> 00:26:47.859
 placed above a

00:26:47.859 --> 00:26:48.920
 relationship with

00:26:48.920 --> 00:26:49.259
 God.

00:26:50.299 --> 00:26:50.920
 They say as

00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:51.319
 long as you're

00:26:51.319 --> 00:26:51.779
 doing that,

00:26:52.839 --> 00:26:53.380
 long as you're

00:26:53.380 --> 00:26:53.920
 not wearing your

00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:54.500
 hat in church,

00:26:55.940 --> 00:26:58.579
 long as I

00:26:58.579 --> 00:26:59.120
 didn't hear a

00:26:59.120 --> 00:26:59.640
 cuss word come

00:26:59.640 --> 00:26:59.920
 out of your

00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:00.240
 mouth.

00:27:01.660 --> 00:27:02.440
 For me growing

00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:03.019
 up, as long as

00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:03.400
 you didn't go to

00:27:03.400 --> 00:27:03.819
 the movies.

00:27:03.819 --> 00:27:06.799
 Is everything in

00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:07.220
 the movie theater

00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:07.460
 wrong?

00:27:07.539 --> 00:27:08.139
 No, but people

00:27:08.139 --> 00:27:08.720
 might think you're

00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:09.240
 watching one of the

00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:09.659
 bad ones.

00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:11.119
 What?

00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:13.619
 Do you have a

00:27:13.619 --> 00:27:13.899
 TV?

00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:15.139
 Isn't that the

00:27:15.139 --> 00:27:15.480
 same?

00:27:15.679 --> 00:27:18.319
 Anyway, the

00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:19.539
 rules can change

00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:20.460
 and they do

00:27:20.460 --> 00:27:21.240
 depending on the

00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:22.179
 church you go to,

00:27:22.579 --> 00:27:23.099
 depending on the

00:27:23.099 --> 00:27:23.980
 person you hear,

00:27:24.159 --> 00:27:24.939
 how they see

00:27:24.939 --> 00:27:25.700
 things, how they

00:27:25.700 --> 00:27:26.799
 think, the rules

00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:27.279
 change.

00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:28.139
 That's why it's

00:27:28.139 --> 00:27:29.039
 never going to be

00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:29.839
 about the rules

00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:31.419
 because you can't

00:27:31.419 --> 00:27:32.359
 follow everybody's.

00:27:32.679 --> 00:27:33.359
 You certainly

00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:33.959
 can't follow

00:27:33.959 --> 00:27:34.599
 God's.

00:27:35.899 --> 00:27:37.240
 It has to be

00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:38.039
 about our

00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:39.099
 listening and

00:27:39.099 --> 00:27:40.000
 being guided by

00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:40.899
 the Holy Spirit.

00:27:41.439 --> 00:27:42.519
 That's the new

00:27:42.519 --> 00:27:43.119
 creation.

00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:44.599
 That's the new

00:27:44.599 --> 00:27:45.159
 way.

00:27:45.439 --> 00:27:46.119
 That's the new

00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:46.979
 command that

00:27:46.979 --> 00:27:48.099
 Jesus gave to

00:27:48.099 --> 00:27:48.500
 us.

00:27:49.019 --> 00:27:49.779
 Some of us are

00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:51.639
 still stuck in

00:27:51.639 --> 00:27:52.119
 the old one.

00:27:53.059 --> 00:27:53.819
 That's called

00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:54.199
 religion.

00:27:55.379 --> 00:27:58.459
 So, the

00:27:58.459 --> 00:27:59.419
 mindset of the

00:27:59.419 --> 00:28:01.979
 flesh is death.

00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:02.979
 Verse 6.

00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:04.599
 The mindset of

00:28:04.599 --> 00:28:05.619
 the spirit is

00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:06.699
 life and peace.

00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:08.199
 In case that

00:28:08.199 --> 00:28:10.599
 wasn't clear enough

00:28:10.599 --> 00:28:11.419
 for you, verse 7,

00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:12.519
 the mindset of

00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:13.339
 the flesh is

00:28:13.339 --> 00:28:15.379
 hostile to God

00:28:15.379 --> 00:28:18.339
 because it doesn't

00:28:18.339 --> 00:28:19.459
 submit to God's

00:28:19.459 --> 00:28:19.979
 law.

00:28:20.979 --> 00:28:22.279
 Your flesh will

00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:23.539
 never submit to

00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:24.159
 God's law.

00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:25.159
 It won't.

00:28:25.939 --> 00:28:26.599
 You're wired

00:28:26.599 --> 00:28:27.119
 differently.

00:28:27.779 --> 00:28:28.679
 You're not going to

00:28:28.679 --> 00:28:29.299
 obey God.

00:28:29.899 --> 00:28:30.659
 You're going to take

00:28:30.659 --> 00:28:32.000
 every chance you

00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:32.880
 have to disobey

00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:33.240
 God.

00:28:34.279 --> 00:28:34.980
 That's what we

00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:35.720
 all want to do.

00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:37.460
 God's the one who

00:28:37.460 --> 00:28:38.099
 makes us different.

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:40.420
 So, the mindset of

00:28:40.420 --> 00:28:41.220
 the flesh is hostile

00:28:41.220 --> 00:28:41.579
 to God.

00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:42.720
 It doesn't submit to

00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:43.720
 God's law.

00:28:44.220 --> 00:28:44.799
 Verse, the end of

00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:45.880
 verse 7, it's

00:28:45.880 --> 00:28:47.539
 unable to do so.

00:28:48.680 --> 00:28:49.319
 You think you're a

00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:49.880
 good guy without

00:28:49.880 --> 00:28:50.220
 God?

00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:50.680
 You're not.

00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:53.339
 I'm not a good guy

00:28:53.339 --> 00:28:53.880
 without God.

00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:54.539
 Trust me.

00:28:55.859 --> 00:28:56.599
 And I'm not just

00:28:56.599 --> 00:28:57.339
 picking on the guys.

00:28:57.339 --> 00:28:58.200
 You think you're a

00:28:58.200 --> 00:28:58.900
 nice lady without

00:28:58.900 --> 00:28:59.200
 God?

00:28:59.279 --> 00:28:59.600
 You're not.

00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:01.080
 None of us are.

00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:02.720
 We are unable to

00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:03.220
 be so.

00:29:03.860 --> 00:29:04.980
 Verse 8, those who

00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:05.759
 are in the flesh

00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:07.940
 cannot please God.

00:29:08.100 --> 00:29:08.819
 So, I don't care how

00:29:08.819 --> 00:29:09.640
 good you look on the

00:29:09.640 --> 00:29:10.080
 outside.

00:29:10.340 --> 00:29:11.360
 This reminds me of

00:29:11.360 --> 00:29:12.080
 the passage where it

00:29:12.080 --> 00:29:12.620
 says there's going to

00:29:12.620 --> 00:29:13.420
 be people who get to

00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:14.340
 heaven someday and

00:29:14.340 --> 00:29:15.539
 stand before God and

00:29:15.539 --> 00:29:17.340
 they say, God, we did

00:29:17.340 --> 00:29:18.440
 all this in your name.

00:29:19.160 --> 00:29:19.880
 We went to church

00:29:19.880 --> 00:29:20.420
 every Sunday.

00:29:20.779 --> 00:29:21.819
 We gave our tithe.

00:29:22.180 --> 00:29:22.700
 We were good,

00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:23.980
 upstanding citizens in

00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:24.740
 the community.

00:29:24.860 --> 00:29:25.559
 And he's going to say,

00:29:25.900 --> 00:29:26.660
 depart from me.

00:29:26.660 --> 00:29:27.920
 I never knew you

00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:30.000
 because I never had

00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:30.660
 your heart.

00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:32.400
 You were doing it in

00:29:32.400 --> 00:29:33.100
 your flesh.

00:29:33.259 --> 00:29:34.240
 You were doing it under

00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:34.779
 the law.

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:36.500
 You were trying to earn

00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:37.380
 it yourself.

00:29:37.840 --> 00:29:39.840
 And God says, get out.

00:29:40.300 --> 00:29:41.360
 You have no standing

00:29:41.360 --> 00:29:41.620
 here.

00:29:41.700 --> 00:29:42.560
 You have no place

00:29:42.560 --> 00:29:42.800
 here.

00:29:43.040 --> 00:29:43.960
 You never humbled

00:29:43.960 --> 00:29:45.120
 yourself and accepted

00:29:45.120 --> 00:29:47.700
 my grace as a

00:29:47.700 --> 00:29:49.060
 substitute for your

00:29:49.060 --> 00:29:49.400
 religion.

00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:52.540
 Those who are in the

00:29:52.540 --> 00:29:54.700
 flesh cannot please

00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:55.040
 God.

00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:55.039


00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:56.579
 Verse 9, you,

00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:58.680
 however, are not in

00:29:58.680 --> 00:29:59.079
 the flesh.

00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:00.599
 You are in the

00:30:00.599 --> 00:30:02.440
 spirit, if indeed the

00:30:02.440 --> 00:30:03.319
 spirit of God lives in

00:30:03.319 --> 00:30:03.500
 you.

00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:04.619
 And that's what we

00:30:04.619 --> 00:30:05.460
 got to remind ourselves

00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:06.079
 of every day.

00:30:06.639 --> 00:30:07.599
 Does the spirit of God

00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:08.159
 live in me?

00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:10.220
 Then I am not under

00:30:10.220 --> 00:30:10.720
 the flesh.

00:30:10.879 --> 00:30:11.759
 I'm not under the

00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:12.019
 rules.

00:30:12.180 --> 00:30:13.019
 I'm not under the

00:30:13.019 --> 00:30:13.200
 law.

00:30:13.379 --> 00:30:14.299
 I have a real

00:30:14.299 --> 00:30:15.659
 relationship with God.

00:30:15.879 --> 00:30:16.960
 I'm family.

00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:19.879
 I'm family.

00:30:21.319 --> 00:30:22.720
 Let me live like it.

00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:24.240
 Let me live like God

00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:24.819
 loves me.

00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:26.700
 And because he loves

00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:27.579
 me, I can love

00:30:27.579 --> 00:30:28.000
 others.

00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:30.180
 That's the new way.

00:30:31.399 --> 00:30:32.420
 The law could expose

00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:34.500
 sin, but it couldn't

00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:35.059
 erase it.

00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:37.659
 The law was unable to

00:30:37.659 --> 00:30:39.539
 do so much that Jesus

00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:40.839
 instead did for us.

00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:42.879
 The law could diagnose

00:30:42.879 --> 00:30:44.639
 the problem, but it

00:30:44.639 --> 00:30:46.019
 could never deliver a

00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:46.220
 cure.

00:30:47.480 --> 00:30:48.779
 Your religion can

00:30:48.779 --> 00:30:50.559
 expose sin, but it

00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:51.379
 cannot erase it.

00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:52.480
 Your religion can

00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:54.000
 diagnose a problem, but

00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:55.779
 it can never deliver a

00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:55.980
 cure.

00:30:56.099 --> 00:30:56.660
 So where does that

00:30:56.660 --> 00:30:57.059
 lead us?

00:30:57.380 --> 00:30:58.559
 Religion is no

00:30:58.559 --> 00:30:59.720
 substitute for

00:30:59.720 --> 00:31:00.279
 relationship.

00:31:01.059 --> 00:31:02.400
 And Jesus' forgiveness

00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:04.579
 is no substitute for

00:31:04.579 --> 00:31:05.039
 his fullness.

00:31:05.740 --> 00:31:06.819
 You see, it doesn't just

00:31:06.819 --> 00:31:07.920
 start with his

00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:08.299
 forgiveness.

00:31:08.900 --> 00:31:10.099
 Oh, your sin's gone.

00:31:10.460 --> 00:31:11.440
 You get a blank check.

00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:12.619
 You get a get into

00:31:12.619 --> 00:31:13.420
 heaven free card.

00:31:13.940 --> 00:31:15.099
 That's not what it's

00:31:15.099 --> 00:31:15.380
 about.

00:31:15.619 --> 00:31:16.880
 It's about experiencing

00:31:16.880 --> 00:31:18.039
 the fullness of God.

00:31:18.039 --> 00:31:19.359
 God, we have unlocked

00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:23.339
 the fullness of God.

00:31:24.899 --> 00:31:26.680
 His forgiveness was

00:31:26.680 --> 00:31:28.500
 just the path to his

00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:28.819
 fullness.

00:31:29.819 --> 00:31:31.180
 It was what opened the

00:31:31.180 --> 00:31:31.440
 door.

00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:34.819
 Now we can experience the

00:31:34.819 --> 00:31:36.940
 fullness of God, not

00:31:36.940 --> 00:31:38.779
 hollow religion.

00:31:39.779 --> 00:31:43.359
 Finally, from chains to

00:31:43.359 --> 00:31:43.819
 change.

00:31:43.819 --> 00:31:47.240
 religion offers you

00:31:47.240 --> 00:31:48.019
 chains.

00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:50.500
 Jesus offers real

00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:52.099
 lasting change.

00:31:52.439 --> 00:31:53.220
 Look back at verse

00:31:53.220 --> 00:31:53.460
 eight.

00:31:53.519 --> 00:31:54.259
 We skipped it a minute

00:31:54.259 --> 00:31:55.399
 ago, but I want to go

00:31:55.399 --> 00:31:55.879
 back to it.

00:31:55.939 --> 00:31:56.980
 Colossians chapter two

00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:57.599
 and verse eight.

00:31:57.599 --> 00:31:59.240
 Be careful that no one

00:31:59.240 --> 00:32:00.899
 takes you captive

00:32:00.899 --> 00:32:03.619
 through philosophy and

00:32:03.619 --> 00:32:04.980
 empty deceit based on

00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:06.220
 human tradition.

00:32:06.859 --> 00:32:07.439
 Does that sound like

00:32:07.439 --> 00:32:08.099
 religion to you?

00:32:08.159 --> 00:32:08.859
 It does to me.

00:32:10.359 --> 00:32:11.579
 Taking you captive

00:32:11.579 --> 00:32:12.779
 through philosophy and

00:32:12.779 --> 00:32:14.099
 empty deceit based on

00:32:14.099 --> 00:32:16.920
 human tradition, based

00:32:16.920 --> 00:32:18.019
 on the elements of the

00:32:18.019 --> 00:32:19.420
 world rather than

00:32:19.420 --> 00:32:19.839
 Christ.

00:32:19.940 --> 00:32:20.819
 Now skip down to verse

00:32:20.819 --> 00:32:21.259
 16.

00:32:22.819 --> 00:32:23.599
 Therefore, don't let

00:32:23.599 --> 00:32:24.859
 anyone judge you in

00:32:24.859 --> 00:32:26.180
 regard to food and

00:32:26.180 --> 00:32:27.399
 drink or in the matter

00:32:27.399 --> 00:32:28.700
 of a festival or a new

00:32:28.700 --> 00:32:29.839
 moon or a Sabbath day.

00:32:30.079 --> 00:32:30.619
 These were the

00:32:30.619 --> 00:32:31.779
 controversial topics for

00:32:31.779 --> 00:32:32.500
 them back then.

00:32:33.899 --> 00:32:34.779
 Insert your own

00:32:34.779 --> 00:32:35.940
 controversial topics

00:32:35.940 --> 00:32:37.240
 that religions argue

00:32:37.240 --> 00:32:38.299
 about and people argue

00:32:38.299 --> 00:32:38.539
 about.

00:32:38.619 --> 00:32:38.940
 Should I?

00:32:39.059 --> 00:32:39.480
 Shouldn't I?

00:32:39.700 --> 00:32:40.920
 Don't let anyone judge

00:32:40.920 --> 00:32:41.839
 you in regards to

00:32:41.839 --> 00:32:43.539
 these controversies.

00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:45.059
 These are a shadow of

00:32:45.059 --> 00:32:46.119
 what was to come.

00:32:46.459 --> 00:32:48.339
 The substance is Christ.

00:32:48.659 --> 00:32:51.119
 Is your religion a shadow

00:32:51.119 --> 00:32:52.659
 or does it have the

00:32:52.659 --> 00:32:54.359
 substance of Jesus?

00:32:55.539 --> 00:32:57.079
 Because most of what we

00:32:57.079 --> 00:32:58.199
 get in arguments about

00:32:58.199 --> 00:32:59.480
 and we go online and we

00:32:59.480 --> 00:33:00.519
 bash each other about,

00:33:00.699 --> 00:33:01.559
 it's a shadow.

00:33:02.079 --> 00:33:03.559
 It's not the substance.

00:33:04.919 --> 00:33:06.799
 Jesus is not a real part

00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:07.579
 of any of that.

00:33:07.579 --> 00:33:09.359
 It's just people getting

00:33:09.359 --> 00:33:11.539
 caught up in silly,

00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:13.419
 vain arguments.

00:33:14.439 --> 00:33:17.199
 So, let no one condemn

00:33:17.199 --> 00:33:19.559
 you by delighting in

00:33:19.559 --> 00:33:20.619
 ascetic practices.

00:33:20.740 --> 00:33:21.199
 I'm not going to get

00:33:21.199 --> 00:33:22.259
 into asceticism and all

00:33:22.259 --> 00:33:22.419
 that.

00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:23.220
 I preached a sermon about

00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:23.939
 a year and a half ago

00:33:23.939 --> 00:33:24.879
 that talked about

00:33:24.879 --> 00:33:25.879
 asceticism and how they

00:33:25.879 --> 00:33:26.919
 were trying to be more

00:33:26.919 --> 00:33:28.019
 holy than everybody else

00:33:28.019 --> 00:33:29.460
 by renouncing all the

00:33:29.460 --> 00:33:30.179
 pleasures of life.

00:33:30.740 --> 00:33:31.319
 They wouldn't allow

00:33:31.319 --> 00:33:32.220
 themselves any earthly

00:33:32.220 --> 00:33:33.500
 pleasures in saying,

00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:34.779
 I'm more like God

00:33:34.779 --> 00:33:35.960
 because I've done all

00:33:35.960 --> 00:33:36.160
 this.

00:33:36.340 --> 00:33:37.600
 It's not at all what

00:33:37.600 --> 00:33:38.360
 Jesus ever asked them

00:33:38.360 --> 00:33:38.640
 to do.

00:33:39.579 --> 00:33:40.700
 The worship of angels,

00:33:40.860 --> 00:33:41.819
 claiming access to a

00:33:41.819 --> 00:33:42.559
 visionary realm.

00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:43.900
 Such people are inflated

00:33:43.900 --> 00:33:45.160
 by empty notions of

00:33:45.160 --> 00:33:46.559
 their unspiritual mind.

00:33:46.840 --> 00:33:47.819
 He doesn't hold on to

00:33:47.819 --> 00:33:49.640
 the head from whom the

00:33:49.640 --> 00:33:50.920
 whole body, nourished and

00:33:50.920 --> 00:33:51.840
 held together by its

00:33:51.840 --> 00:33:52.700
 ligaments and tendons,

00:33:52.819 --> 00:33:53.940
 grows with growth from

00:33:53.940 --> 00:33:54.380
 Christ.

00:33:55.120 --> 00:33:56.019
 I'm not saying that you

00:33:56.019 --> 00:33:57.420
 can't, God doesn't

00:33:57.420 --> 00:33:59.000
 sometimes give you a

00:33:59.000 --> 00:34:00.100
 vision of something.

00:34:00.259 --> 00:34:01.240
 He certainly did that

00:34:01.240 --> 00:34:01.960
 in the scriptures and

00:34:01.960 --> 00:34:02.759
 he could certainly, if

00:34:02.759 --> 00:34:03.799
 he chose to, do that

00:34:03.799 --> 00:34:04.400
 again today.

00:34:04.400 --> 00:34:06.420
 But it has to be based

00:34:06.420 --> 00:34:07.800
 on the substance of

00:34:07.800 --> 00:34:08.240
 Christ.

00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:09.840
 It can't ever run

00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:11.019
 counteractive to the

00:34:11.019 --> 00:34:13.500
 teaching of Jesus or

00:34:13.500 --> 00:34:14.940
 lead you someplace that

00:34:14.940 --> 00:34:16.240
 Jesus doesn't lead us.

00:34:16.740 --> 00:34:17.720
 He is the head.

00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:18.860
 He is what guides

00:34:18.860 --> 00:34:20.019
 everything else.

00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:20.579
 That's what Paul's

00:34:20.579 --> 00:34:21.059
 teaching here.

00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:22.220
 And so verse 20, if

00:34:22.220 --> 00:34:23.539
 you died with Christ to

00:34:23.539 --> 00:34:24.400
 the elements of this

00:34:24.400 --> 00:34:25.639
 world, why do you then

00:34:25.639 --> 00:34:26.940
 live as if you still

00:34:26.940 --> 00:34:28.099
 belong to the world?

00:34:28.639 --> 00:34:30.079
 Folks, he's not just

00:34:30.079 --> 00:34:30.940
 talking about going out

00:34:30.940 --> 00:34:31.900
 and getting drunk and

00:34:31.900 --> 00:34:33.099
 living like a heathen.

00:34:33.099 --> 00:34:35.179
 He's saying, why do

00:34:35.179 --> 00:34:36.059
 you live as though you

00:34:36.059 --> 00:34:37.519
 belong to this world by

00:34:37.519 --> 00:34:38.799
 submitting yourself to

00:34:38.799 --> 00:34:40.299
 all these rules of the

00:34:40.299 --> 00:34:40.639
 law?

00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:43.679
 And not just submitting

00:34:43.679 --> 00:34:45.639
 yourself, but trying to

00:34:45.639 --> 00:34:46.900
 bring everybody else under

00:34:46.900 --> 00:34:47.519
 it with you.

00:34:49.019 --> 00:34:50.380
 That's the context of what

00:34:50.380 --> 00:34:51.279
 he's talking about here.

00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:55.259
 Why instead don't you

00:34:55.259 --> 00:34:58.019
 release that and live with

00:34:58.019 --> 00:34:59.239
 open hands and say, God,

00:34:59.360 --> 00:35:00.279
 teach me.

00:35:00.280 --> 00:35:02.100
 You guide me now.

00:35:03.180 --> 00:35:04.280
 I'm not going to be stuck

00:35:04.280 --> 00:35:06.880
 in my tradition, my

00:35:06.880 --> 00:35:08.640
 expectations, what I'm

00:35:08.640 --> 00:35:09.660
 used to, what I grew up

00:35:09.660 --> 00:35:09.940
 with.

00:35:10.220 --> 00:35:11.980
 I want you to reprogram me.

00:35:13.360 --> 00:35:15.060
 Change the way I think.

00:35:16.860 --> 00:35:18.060
 Why do you submit to

00:35:18.060 --> 00:35:18.540
 regulations?

00:35:19.100 --> 00:35:19.700
 Don't handle.

00:35:20.120 --> 00:35:20.760
 Don't taste.

00:35:20.980 --> 00:35:21.560
 Don't touch.

00:35:22.060 --> 00:35:22.860
 Anybody ever heard that

00:35:22.860 --> 00:35:23.100
 before?

00:35:24.420 --> 00:35:24.780
 Don't.

00:35:25.160 --> 00:35:26.180
 Don't touch this.

00:35:26.380 --> 00:35:27.300
 Don't be around this.

00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:28.920
 Don't taste this.

00:35:28.920 --> 00:35:30.579
 Why do you submit to

00:35:30.579 --> 00:35:31.059
 these things?

00:35:31.180 --> 00:35:32.180
 All these regulations

00:35:32.180 --> 00:35:33.700
 refer to what is destined

00:35:33.700 --> 00:35:36.800
 to perish by being used

00:35:36.800 --> 00:35:37.240
 up.

00:35:37.920 --> 00:35:39.360
 They are human commands and

00:35:39.360 --> 00:35:39.900
 doctrines.

00:35:40.340 --> 00:35:41.440
 Although these have a

00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:42.980
 reputation for wisdom,

00:35:43.480 --> 00:35:44.059
 isn't that true?

00:35:44.659 --> 00:35:45.840
 Some of this stuff, oh

00:35:45.840 --> 00:35:46.740
 yeah, man, that's the way

00:35:46.740 --> 00:35:47.519
 to live right there.

00:35:48.139 --> 00:35:49.180
 You see how that guy, he

00:35:49.180 --> 00:35:50.180
 doesn't do anything wrong.

00:35:51.599 --> 00:35:52.920
 They have a reputation for

00:35:53.659 --> 00:35:54.000
 wisdom.

00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:55.980
 But why?

00:35:55.980 --> 00:35:57.980
 Verse 23, by promoting

00:35:57.980 --> 00:36:00.559
 self-made religion.

00:36:01.619 --> 00:36:02.780
 Y'all, if we had to focus

00:36:02.780 --> 00:36:03.800
 on one verse in this

00:36:03.800 --> 00:36:04.760
 entire chapter, in this

00:36:04.760 --> 00:36:06.199
 entire sermon today, it's

00:36:06.199 --> 00:36:06.920
 verse 23.

00:36:07.980 --> 00:36:09.360
 Promoting self-made

00:36:09.360 --> 00:36:11.679
 religion, false humility,

00:36:12.420 --> 00:36:14.039
 and severe treatment of

00:36:14.039 --> 00:36:14.440
 the body.

00:36:14.679 --> 00:36:16.519
 These are not of any value

00:36:16.519 --> 00:36:18.679
 in curbing self-indulgence.

00:36:19.240 --> 00:36:20.000
 You know why?

00:36:20.780 --> 00:36:22.000
 Because you end up faking

00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:22.199
 it.

00:36:22.199 --> 00:36:25.439
 You end up focused on the

00:36:25.439 --> 00:36:25.939
 outside.

00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:27.799
 You end up focused on the

00:36:27.799 --> 00:36:29.579
 flesh, and your heart is

00:36:29.579 --> 00:36:30.259
 far from God.

00:36:32.299 --> 00:36:35.279
 That's what religion offers

00:36:35.279 --> 00:36:35.539
 you.

00:36:36.500 --> 00:36:36.980
 Chains.

00:36:38.339 --> 00:36:40.079
 Jesus instead wants to

00:36:40.079 --> 00:36:42.919
 change you, not what you

00:36:42.919 --> 00:36:43.359
 do.

00:36:44.179 --> 00:36:44.379
 Hello.

00:36:46.659 --> 00:36:47.939
 The wasp enjoyed the

00:36:47.939 --> 00:36:48.480
 preaching too.

00:36:48.559 --> 00:36:49.339
 He's just like, hey, I

00:36:49.339 --> 00:36:50.339
 got to get a closer look at

00:36:50.339 --> 00:36:50.480
 this.

00:36:50.480 --> 00:36:51.659
 All right, anyway.

00:36:52.860 --> 00:36:53.719
 Y'all, we got to do

00:36:53.719 --> 00:36:54.219
 something about these

00:36:54.219 --> 00:36:54.980
 wasps, all right?

00:36:55.900 --> 00:36:56.699
 It's the devil fighting

00:36:56.699 --> 00:36:57.079
 right there.

00:36:59.760 --> 00:37:01.480
 Jesus wants to bring real

00:37:01.480 --> 00:37:02.719
 change, all right?

00:37:03.780 --> 00:37:05.000
 And the wasp wants to

00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:05.679
 fight against that.

00:37:08.619 --> 00:37:09.780
 That's our final point

00:37:09.780 --> 00:37:11.579
 today, from chains to

00:37:11.579 --> 00:37:12.099
 change.

00:37:12.679 --> 00:37:15.159
 Religion will chain you to

00:37:15.159 --> 00:37:16.880
 performance, but Jesus

00:37:16.880 --> 00:37:18.179
 changes you by his

00:37:18.179 --> 00:37:18.619
 presence.

00:37:18.619 --> 00:37:21.900
 Are you more interested in

00:37:21.900 --> 00:37:23.699
 performing according to

00:37:23.699 --> 00:37:26.099
 religious expectations than

00:37:26.099 --> 00:37:28.319
 you are basking in the

00:37:28.319 --> 00:37:29.539
 presence of Jesus?

00:37:31.119 --> 00:37:32.079
 Galatians 5.

00:37:34.359 --> 00:37:35.679
 Christ has set us free.

00:37:36.339 --> 00:37:37.380
 This means we're really

00:37:37.380 --> 00:37:37.659
 free.

00:37:38.400 --> 00:37:39.619
 Stand firm and don't get

00:37:39.619 --> 00:37:40.900
 tied up again in the what?

00:37:41.859 --> 00:37:42.420
 Chains.

00:37:42.839 --> 00:37:43.639
 In the what?

00:37:44.639 --> 00:37:45.880
 Chains of slavery.

00:37:46.279 --> 00:37:47.460
 Time and time again, this

00:37:47.460 --> 00:37:48.400
 imagery is used.

00:37:49.420 --> 00:37:51.199
 And then in verse 4, he

00:37:51.199 --> 00:37:52.420
 says, if you try to be made

00:37:52.420 --> 00:37:54.960
 right by the law, you cut

00:37:54.960 --> 00:37:56.420
 yourself off from Christ.

00:37:56.940 --> 00:37:58.139
 That's strong language, isn't

00:37:58.139 --> 00:37:58.300
 it?

00:37:58.519 --> 00:38:00.079
 The only thing that counts is

00:38:00.079 --> 00:38:02.260
 faith working through love.

00:38:02.519 --> 00:38:04.280
 Don't cut yourself off from

00:38:04.280 --> 00:38:04.860
 Christ.

00:38:05.860 --> 00:38:07.519
 But you do that when you get

00:38:07.519 --> 00:38:08.720
 out from under his grace and

00:38:08.720 --> 00:38:09.880
 you go try to live according to

00:38:09.880 --> 00:38:10.420
 the law again.

00:38:10.420 --> 00:38:12.960
 That is not what that's about.

00:38:13.159 --> 00:38:14.320
 That's not how this life is

00:38:14.320 --> 00:38:15.059
 meant to be lived.

00:38:15.579 --> 00:38:17.880
 Religion is a cage, but Jesus

00:38:17.880 --> 00:38:18.800
 is the key.

00:38:19.740 --> 00:38:21.260
 That sounds strong, doesn't it?

00:38:22.019 --> 00:38:22.980
 How many of you said when you

00:38:22.980 --> 00:38:24.420
 came to church this morning, I

00:38:24.420 --> 00:38:25.720
 bet he's going to call religion a

00:38:25.720 --> 00:38:26.300
 cage today.

00:38:27.760 --> 00:38:29.139
 When I was writing this last

00:38:29.139 --> 00:38:30.340
 week, I'm thinking, man, how's

00:38:30.340 --> 00:38:30.980
 that going to go over?

00:38:31.079 --> 00:38:32.260
 Religion is a cage.

00:38:32.260 --> 00:38:35.420
 But Jesus is the key.

00:38:35.880 --> 00:38:38.420
 And until he unlocks the cage

00:38:38.420 --> 00:38:39.780
 for you, can I tell you

00:38:39.780 --> 00:38:40.120
 something?

00:38:40.360 --> 00:38:42.540
 Then religion ceases to be a

00:38:42.540 --> 00:38:42.940
 cage.

00:38:43.520 --> 00:38:46.680
 Once Jesus unlocks the door and

00:38:46.680 --> 00:38:48.540
 he lets you out and he says,

00:38:48.640 --> 00:38:49.780
 you don't have to live here

00:38:49.780 --> 00:38:50.180
 anymore.

00:38:50.440 --> 00:38:51.720
 You don't have to live according

00:38:51.720 --> 00:38:52.880
 to these harsh rules and

00:38:52.880 --> 00:38:53.380
 regulations.

00:38:53.740 --> 00:38:55.460
 I have now freed you by my

00:38:55.460 --> 00:38:55.800
 grace.

00:38:56.280 --> 00:38:59.600
 Then religion becomes a house

00:38:59.600 --> 00:39:02.040
 that can be built up.

00:39:02.039 --> 00:39:04.199
 And Jesus is the foundation of

00:39:04.199 --> 00:39:04.480
 it.

00:39:06.159 --> 00:39:07.880
 And then he's building this

00:39:07.880 --> 00:39:09.259
 house and he says, true

00:39:09.259 --> 00:39:12.460
 religion, undefiled by God, is

00:39:12.460 --> 00:39:14.340
 to visit those who need help.

00:39:14.880 --> 00:39:16.340
 It's to be a blessing to

00:39:16.340 --> 00:39:16.800
 those.

00:39:17.559 --> 00:39:19.340
 It's to keep yourself unspotted

00:39:19.340 --> 00:39:20.139
 from the world.

00:39:21.179 --> 00:39:22.739
 It's to not be like everybody

00:39:22.739 --> 00:39:23.960
 else, think like everybody

00:39:23.960 --> 00:39:24.380
 else.

00:39:24.599 --> 00:39:24.880
 Why?

00:39:25.099 --> 00:39:26.659
 Not because we're trying to

00:39:26.659 --> 00:39:27.860
 obey a list of rules.

00:39:28.039 --> 00:39:29.039
 Not because we're trying to

00:39:29.039 --> 00:39:29.940
 check a bunch of boxes.

00:39:29.940 --> 00:39:31.860
 It's because Jesus is making

00:39:31.860 --> 00:39:32.579
 us different.

00:39:33.300 --> 00:39:34.220
 It's because he's changing

00:39:34.220 --> 00:39:34.640
 us.

00:39:34.860 --> 00:39:35.880
 And we're not looking at each

00:39:35.880 --> 00:39:38.900
 other like, huh, that guy, I

00:39:38.900 --> 00:39:39.920
 saw him drinking a beer the

00:39:39.920 --> 00:39:40.300
 other night.

00:39:40.559 --> 00:39:41.400
 No way he's saved.

00:39:41.640 --> 00:39:42.519
 No way he's going to heaven.

00:39:43.559 --> 00:39:47.400
 That's not the religious, the

00:39:47.400 --> 00:39:48.660
 religion that Jesus is talking

00:39:48.660 --> 00:39:48.960
 about.

00:39:50.240 --> 00:39:51.200
 That's the cage.

00:39:52.720 --> 00:39:53.780
 And maybe the Holy Spirit's

00:39:53.780 --> 00:39:55.400
 telling you drinking alcohol

00:39:55.400 --> 00:39:56.400
 would be a terrible thing.

00:39:56.500 --> 00:39:57.240
 Do not do it.

00:39:57.500 --> 00:39:58.680
 Then you listen to that because

00:39:58.680 --> 00:40:00.140
 God's got your best interest in

00:40:00.139 --> 00:40:00.400
 mind.

00:40:00.699 --> 00:40:01.900
 Maybe for someone else he's

00:40:01.900 --> 00:40:04.519
 saying, you worry about you,

00:40:04.759 --> 00:40:05.920
 I'm dealing with them.

00:40:06.920 --> 00:40:08.739
 We don't compare each other

00:40:08.739 --> 00:40:10.039
 and judge each other according

00:40:10.039 --> 00:40:13.279
 to this list of legal rules or

00:40:13.279 --> 00:40:15.279
 regulations or anything else.

00:40:15.839 --> 00:40:17.599
 What our religion espouses, we

00:40:17.599 --> 00:40:20.119
 judge each other according to

00:40:20.119 --> 00:40:21.279
 our pursuit of Jesus.

00:40:22.440 --> 00:40:24.639
 We start right here in our own

00:40:24.639 --> 00:40:24.879
 heart.

00:40:24.880 --> 00:40:28.680
 So, I said this was the last, this

00:40:28.680 --> 00:40:29.300
 is the last one.

00:40:29.980 --> 00:40:31.019
 From guilt to grace.

00:40:32.240 --> 00:40:33.760
 From guilt to grace.

00:40:33.820 --> 00:40:34.700
 This is my favorite part.

00:40:35.280 --> 00:40:36.340
 Verse 13 and 14.

00:40:37.140 --> 00:40:37.940
 Finishing it up.

00:40:38.700 --> 00:40:39.920
 When you were dead in

00:40:39.920 --> 00:40:41.760
 trespasses and in the

00:40:41.760 --> 00:40:43.800
 uncircumcision of your flesh, he

00:40:43.800 --> 00:40:46.280
 made you alive with him, forgave

00:40:46.280 --> 00:40:47.519
 you all your trespasses.

00:40:47.760 --> 00:40:49.559
 He erased the certificate of debt

00:40:49.559 --> 00:40:51.220
 with its obligations that was

00:40:51.220 --> 00:40:53.280
 against you and he opposed you

00:40:53.280 --> 00:40:54.780
 and opposed to you and he has

00:40:54.780 --> 00:40:57.260
 now taken it away by nailing it

00:40:57.260 --> 00:40:58.680
 to his cross.

00:40:59.320 --> 00:41:00.980
 That's what Jesus did.

00:41:02.500 --> 00:41:04.820
 With all your law breaking, all

00:41:04.820 --> 00:41:07.080
 your rule breaking, he took it

00:41:07.080 --> 00:41:08.480
 away so it can't be held against

00:41:08.480 --> 00:41:11.620
 you anymore and he nailed it to

00:41:11.620 --> 00:41:12.280
 his cross.

00:41:12.800 --> 00:41:14.560
 We read in Romans 8 just a

00:41:14.560 --> 00:41:16.540
 moment ago and I want to go back

00:41:16.540 --> 00:41:16.840
 there.

00:41:17.620 --> 00:41:19.600
 There is now therefore no

00:41:19.600 --> 00:41:22.080
 condemnation for those who are in

00:41:22.079 --> 00:41:22.759
 Christ Jesus.

00:41:23.340 --> 00:41:26.079
 No one can condemn you, not even

00:41:26.079 --> 00:41:26.599
 yourself.

00:41:27.880 --> 00:41:29.319
 I don't know about y'all, but I'm

00:41:29.319 --> 00:41:30.799
 way harder on myself than I think

00:41:30.799 --> 00:41:31.639
 anybody else is.

00:41:33.679 --> 00:41:35.579
 I can get myself depressed like

00:41:35.579 --> 00:41:36.659
 hardly anybody else can.

00:41:38.099 --> 00:41:40.259
 I can condemn myself and you can

00:41:40.259 --> 00:41:40.519
 too.

00:41:43.179 --> 00:41:46.380
 But no one can truly condemn you if

00:41:46.380 --> 00:41:47.539
 you are in Christ Jesus.

00:41:47.539 --> 00:41:51.239
 So don't live under religious rules

00:41:51.239 --> 00:41:53.920
 and regulations because that opens

00:41:53.920 --> 00:41:55.000
 you up for condemnation.

00:41:55.699 --> 00:41:56.320
 Yeah, you know what?

00:41:56.340 --> 00:41:57.360
 You didn't follow all the rules.

00:41:58.019 --> 00:41:58.639
 You're a mess.

00:41:59.420 --> 00:42:00.960
 But if you abandon that and say,

00:42:01.059 --> 00:42:02.139
 no, God freed me from that.

00:42:02.880 --> 00:42:04.300
 That's not the world I live in

00:42:04.300 --> 00:42:04.559
 anymore.

00:42:04.820 --> 00:42:06.019
 Now I live under grace.

00:42:06.179 --> 00:42:07.920
 Now I'm in Christ Jesus and he

00:42:07.920 --> 00:42:10.179
 says you can't condemn me and I

00:42:10.179 --> 00:42:11.820
 can't condemn myself and Satan can't

00:42:11.820 --> 00:42:12.300
 condemn you.

00:42:12.420 --> 00:42:13.599
 In the middle of the night when

00:42:13.599 --> 00:42:14.699
 you're having a hard time sleeping,

00:42:14.699 --> 00:42:16.319
 Satan can't condemn you.

00:42:16.719 --> 00:42:18.519
 No one can condemn you because

00:42:18.519 --> 00:42:20.599
 you're not living according to how

00:42:20.599 --> 00:42:22.159
 good you are or how bad you are.

00:42:22.239 --> 00:42:23.899
 You're living according to how

00:42:23.899 --> 00:42:26.839
 great Jesus is, how forgiving he is,

00:42:26.960 --> 00:42:28.179
 how good he is.

00:42:28.579 --> 00:42:30.639
 Say, no, Jesus is my advocate.

00:42:31.179 --> 00:42:32.819
 He's the one who stands in for me.

00:42:34.059 --> 00:42:37.159
 So Max Lucado, a famous Christian

00:42:37.159 --> 00:42:39.719
 writer, said the same hand that

00:42:39.719 --> 00:42:41.980
 still the sea stills your guilt.

00:42:42.379 --> 00:42:44.059
 The same hand that cleansed the

00:42:44.059 --> 00:42:46.000
 temple cleanses your heart.

00:42:46.840 --> 00:42:48.199
 The hand is the hand of God.

00:42:48.279 --> 00:42:49.719
 The nail is the nail of God.

00:42:49.940 --> 00:42:52.019
 As the hands of Jesus opened for

00:42:52.019 --> 00:42:53.759
 the nail, the doors of heaven

00:42:53.759 --> 00:42:54.880
 opened for you.

00:42:54.940 --> 00:42:55.799
 I thought that was beautifully

00:42:55.799 --> 00:42:56.059
 written.

00:42:57.440 --> 00:42:59.659
 This is what Jesus offers to us.

00:43:00.019 --> 00:43:01.440
 It's what he did for us.

00:43:01.900 --> 00:43:03.159
 So you could say it this way, and

00:43:03.159 --> 00:43:04.500
 I read this from Max Lucado, when

00:43:04.500 --> 00:43:07.400
 grace moves in, guilt has to move

00:43:07.400 --> 00:43:07.679
 out.

00:43:08.599 --> 00:43:09.679
 It has to move out.

00:43:10.460 --> 00:43:12.279
 God might convict you of sin after

00:43:12.280 --> 00:43:15.100
 the fact to lead you back to him

00:43:15.100 --> 00:43:16.900
 and away from something that will

00:43:16.900 --> 00:43:18.400
 take you down a wrong path.

00:43:20.400 --> 00:43:21.980
 But you don't get to be overwhelmed

00:43:21.980 --> 00:43:22.880
 by guilt anymore.

00:43:23.940 --> 00:43:25.800
 Say, no, you've got a new standing, a

00:43:25.800 --> 00:43:27.600
 new identity in Christ.

00:43:28.280 --> 00:43:29.060
 We're finished.

00:43:30.560 --> 00:43:31.960
 I want to make this last point before

00:43:31.960 --> 00:43:32.440
 we leave today.

00:43:32.440 --> 00:43:37.900
 Back in Colossians 2, our final text

00:43:37.900 --> 00:43:38.119
 here.

00:43:40.519 --> 00:43:41.380
 Verse 15.

00:43:42.740 --> 00:43:45.559
 On that cross, Christ freed himself

00:43:45.559 --> 00:43:48.539
 from the power of spiritual rulers

00:43:48.539 --> 00:43:49.320
 and authorities.

00:43:50.179 --> 00:43:52.240
 He made a public spectacle of them

00:43:52.240 --> 00:43:55.820
 by leading them as captives in his

00:43:55.820 --> 00:43:57.740
 victory procession.

00:43:58.340 --> 00:43:59.260
 Do you see that?

00:43:59.900 --> 00:44:00.700
 Everybody look up there.

00:44:00.699 --> 00:44:03.699
 His victory procession.

00:44:05.960 --> 00:44:07.599
 Your translation of the Bible might

00:44:07.599 --> 00:44:09.259
 put it a slight different way, but

00:44:09.259 --> 00:44:10.439
 it's saying the same thing.

00:44:12.199 --> 00:44:15.599
 Jesus, when he forgave us from sin and

00:44:15.599 --> 00:44:18.199
 he triumphed over sin through his death

00:44:18.199 --> 00:44:22.199
 and his resurrection, it says he took

00:44:22.199 --> 00:44:24.619
 all the spiritual rulers and

00:44:24.619 --> 00:44:28.599
 authorities, religion, and he made a

00:44:28.599 --> 00:44:30.799
 public spectacle of them by leading

00:44:30.799 --> 00:44:33.619
 them as captives in his victory

00:44:33.619 --> 00:44:34.719
 procession.

00:44:35.500 --> 00:44:38.000
 Do you realize that when Roman

00:44:38.000 --> 00:44:40.420
 generals would come back from

00:44:40.420 --> 00:44:42.159
 fighting in other lands and they would

00:44:42.159 --> 00:44:44.699
 lead back the victory procession of

00:44:44.699 --> 00:44:46.159
 their armies, they would have their

00:44:46.159 --> 00:44:48.819
 captives bound in chains leading them

00:44:48.819 --> 00:44:51.420
 along saying, look who we captured.

00:44:51.940 --> 00:44:53.960
 Look at the spoils of war.

00:44:53.960 --> 00:44:57.019
 Jesus is saying, I took religion

00:44:57.019 --> 00:44:59.940
 and all those who would legislate

00:44:59.940 --> 00:45:03.519
 against you and I'm leading them as my

00:45:03.519 --> 00:45:05.760
 captives in a victory procession.

00:45:05.800 --> 00:45:07.119
 This reminds me of another victory

00:45:07.119 --> 00:45:07.740
 procession.

00:45:08.000 --> 00:45:09.900
 When Jesus was sitting on a donkey

00:45:09.900 --> 00:45:12.260
 and he was riding into Jerusalem and

00:45:12.260 --> 00:45:14.099
 they were waving the palm fronds saying,

00:45:14.420 --> 00:45:16.320
 Hosanna, Hosanna.

00:45:16.320 --> 00:45:16.440
 Hosanna.

00:45:18.019 --> 00:45:19.740
 You know what Hosanna means?

00:45:20.860 --> 00:45:21.900
 Deliver us.

00:45:22.780 --> 00:45:23.440
 Save us.

00:45:24.340 --> 00:45:26.460
 It's a form of praise saying our

00:45:26.460 --> 00:45:28.840
 deliverer, our savior has come.

00:45:29.220 --> 00:45:30.820
 Please save us.

00:45:31.400 --> 00:45:32.440
 The crowd went wild.

00:45:33.140 --> 00:45:34.660
 They thought Jesus was going to offer

00:45:34.660 --> 00:45:36.180
 them political victory.

00:45:36.539 --> 00:45:37.640
 They thought he was going to free

00:45:37.640 --> 00:45:38.680
 them from those chains.

00:45:39.220 --> 00:45:41.720
 Jesus was offering a different kind of

00:45:41.720 --> 00:45:42.300
 victory.

00:45:42.440 --> 00:45:43.940
 He wasn't interested in freeing them

00:45:43.940 --> 00:45:45.340
 from Roman chains right then.

00:45:45.340 --> 00:45:47.160
 He was interested in freeing them

00:45:47.160 --> 00:45:48.960
 from the chains of religious

00:45:48.960 --> 00:45:49.800
 obligation.

00:45:50.640 --> 00:45:52.900
 Of sin that bound them and held

00:45:52.900 --> 00:45:53.980
 them by their flesh.

00:45:54.260 --> 00:45:55.600
 That's what Jesus was doing.

00:45:55.860 --> 00:45:57.620
 He was coming to go to a wooden

00:45:57.620 --> 00:45:59.980
 cross because his victory was not

00:45:59.980 --> 00:46:01.340
 about a nation winning.

00:46:01.600 --> 00:46:03.260
 It was about salvation winning.

00:46:05.039 --> 00:46:07.380
 And then in 2 Corinthians chapter 2.

00:46:09.380 --> 00:46:11.860
 But thanks be to God who always

00:46:11.860 --> 00:46:14.500
 leads us in Christ's triumphal

00:46:14.500 --> 00:46:15.280
 procession.

00:46:15.940 --> 00:46:17.880
 And through us spreads the aroma of the

00:46:17.880 --> 00:46:19.940
 knowledge of him in every place.

00:46:20.159 --> 00:46:22.159
 That's what this life is.

00:46:22.960 --> 00:46:24.539
 It's a victory parade.

00:46:26.420 --> 00:46:30.699
 This life with Jesus is a victory

00:46:30.699 --> 00:46:31.139
 parade.

00:46:32.039 --> 00:46:34.280
 You're not out there trying to earn the

00:46:34.280 --> 00:46:34.639
 victory.

00:46:35.139 --> 00:46:37.519
 You're not trying to win the game or win

00:46:37.519 --> 00:46:38.219
 the championship.

00:46:38.780 --> 00:46:40.500
 Jesus already didn't.

00:46:40.920 --> 00:46:41.739
 You couldn't.

00:46:41.739 --> 00:46:44.319
 We were destined to lose.

00:46:45.099 --> 00:46:47.639
 The enemy against us was greater than

00:46:47.639 --> 00:46:48.099
 us.

00:46:50.199 --> 00:46:52.759
 But Jesus triumphed.

00:46:53.079 --> 00:46:54.119
 He won the victory.

00:46:54.599 --> 00:46:57.419
 So now he's offering you to go along

00:46:57.419 --> 00:47:00.079
 with him through this life on his victory

00:47:00.079 --> 00:47:00.579
 parade.

00:47:01.079 --> 00:47:02.679
 His triumphal procession.

00:47:04.119 --> 00:47:05.279
 That's the victory.

00:47:05.559 --> 00:47:06.379
 The deliverance.

00:47:06.679 --> 00:47:07.179
 Freedom.

00:47:07.179 --> 00:47:09.679
 He's offering to you.

00:47:10.699 --> 00:47:11.059
 So.

00:47:12.059 --> 00:47:13.799
 With Jesus instead of religion.

00:47:14.539 --> 00:47:16.339
 You're not walking toward victory.

00:47:16.960 --> 00:47:18.199
 You're walking in it.

00:47:20.019 --> 00:47:21.539
 When someone accuses you.

00:47:22.419 --> 00:47:23.960
 Or you feel like you're not meeting all

00:47:23.960 --> 00:47:26.099
 the rules or expectations of religion.

00:47:27.079 --> 00:47:28.119
 I want you to remember.

00:47:28.839 --> 00:47:30.079
 The parade isn't canceled.

00:47:31.219 --> 00:47:32.339
 Jesus still has the victory.

00:47:33.059 --> 00:47:34.299
 And you're on the winning side.

00:47:34.379 --> 00:47:35.199
 Would you pray with me now?

00:47:35.199 --> 00:47:35.679
 God.

00:47:40.319 --> 00:47:42.059
 God we went a little longer today than

00:47:42.059 --> 00:47:42.379
 usual.

00:47:42.500 --> 00:47:43.559
 But I just pray that.

00:47:44.859 --> 00:47:47.159
 I pray that by your spirit you can reveal

00:47:47.159 --> 00:47:47.779
 to us.

00:47:48.179 --> 00:47:49.659
 The freedom you offer.

00:47:50.639 --> 00:47:52.279
 That this is not about.

00:47:53.460 --> 00:47:55.500
 Obeying this church's rules or another

00:47:55.500 --> 00:47:56.559
 church's rules or.

00:47:57.439 --> 00:47:58.239
 Anybody else.

00:47:58.359 --> 00:48:00.139
 This is about having a real meaningful

00:48:00.139 --> 00:48:01.099
 relationship with you.

00:48:01.480 --> 00:48:02.719
 That frees us.

00:48:02.719 --> 00:48:05.259
 And let's just experience your victory.

00:48:06.279 --> 00:48:07.659
 And that we're not guided by.

00:48:07.879 --> 00:48:08.739
 Somebody says.

00:48:09.000 --> 00:48:10.219
 This is what you need to do.

00:48:10.279 --> 00:48:11.519
 Or this is what you shouldn't do.

00:48:11.799 --> 00:48:13.879
 We're instead guided by your Holy Spirit.

00:48:14.059 --> 00:48:15.559
 And that will truly change us.

00:48:16.259 --> 00:48:17.379
 Then we'll become more loving.

00:48:17.480 --> 00:48:18.319
 Then we'll become more.

00:48:20.319 --> 00:48:21.000
 Grace filled.

00:48:21.139 --> 00:48:22.299
 And grace giving people.

00:48:22.300 --> 00:48:27.400
 It's how you treated us.

00:48:27.440 --> 00:48:28.700
 And it's how you want us to treat others.

00:48:31.019 --> 00:48:32.600
 So I pray that you would change your people

00:48:32.600 --> 00:48:33.300
 by your spirit.

00:48:34.120 --> 00:48:34.840
 Through your word.

00:48:36.000 --> 00:48:37.240
 We'll give you the glory for it.

00:48:37.300 --> 00:48:37.980
 In Jesus name.

00:48:37.980 --> 00:48:38.060
 Amen.

00:48:42.640 --> 00:48:43.880
 Church for sake of time.

00:48:43.880 --> 00:48:50.360
 We're going to dismiss in just a moment.

00:48:50.480 --> 00:48:51.059
 Before we do.

00:48:53.220 --> 00:48:54.280
 Linda can you play.

00:48:54.480 --> 00:48:55.200
 Amazing grace.

00:48:55.300 --> 00:48:56.039
 How sweet the sound.

00:48:56.140 --> 00:48:57.140
 That saved a wretch like me.

00:49:01.320 --> 00:49:02.579
 Let's just sing this through.

00:49:02.680 --> 00:49:03.280
 The first verse.

00:49:03.380 --> 00:49:04.079
 One time together.

00:49:04.619 --> 00:49:05.559
 Think about the grace.

00:49:05.559 --> 00:49:06.619
 That God's given to us.

00:49:07.320 --> 00:49:08.420
 How sweet it is.

00:49:08.420 --> 00:49:12.760
 Amazing grace.

00:49:12.760 --> 00:49:17.300
 How sweet the sound.

00:49:17.300 --> 00:49:25.240
 That saved a wretch like me.

00:49:25.240 --> 00:49:30.580
 I once was lost.

00:49:31.200 --> 00:49:34.860
 But now am found.

00:49:35.680 --> 00:49:37.120
 Was blind.

00:49:37.819 --> 00:49:38.779
 But now.

00:49:41.119 --> 00:49:42.119
 I see.

00:49:42.500 --> 00:49:44.559
 Never forget the grace that we've been shown.

00:49:45.019 --> 00:49:46.079
 And let's show it to others.

00:49:46.179 --> 00:49:47.619
 Jared would you come and close us in prayer.

00:49:47.619 --> 00:49:47.940
 Amen.

00:49:47.940 --> 00:49:47.940


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00:49:47.940 --> 00:49:49.940
 Amen.

00:49:49.940 --> 00:49:49.940


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00:49:49.940 --> 00:50:19.920
 Thank you.