WEBVTT

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 Please have a seat. For those who are visiting, welcome. My name is BK. I have the pleasure of being one of the pastors here.

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 And let me add my blessing to fathers. Father's Day is, I'll be honest with you, it's the only day I feel comfortable wearing a Hawaiian shirt.

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 Call me a legalist. It doesn't matter. But I figure you guys are going to have enough grace on Father's Day for this.

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 So, I hope you're doing well. Please turn with me in your Bibles to Romans chapter 7.

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 Now, today we're not going to be just in Romans 7. We're going to be in verse 15.

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 Which theologians are aligned is one of the most difficult passages in all of Scripture.

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 Now, some passages are difficult because they're hard to understand.

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 Romans 7.15 is difficult because we do understand it.

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 We know exactly what Paul is talking about in this passage.

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 The truth is, we have all experienced the frustration of wanting to do what is right, yet finding another force at work within us.

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 We know this experientially.

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 Have you ever done something and immediately afterward wondered, what in the world was I thinking?

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 Maybe it was something you said.

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 Maybe it was a harsh word, an anger, a selfish decision, a sinful choice.

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 Perhaps a temptation you promised yourself you would never give into it again.

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 And almost immediately after it happens, you find yourself asking,

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 why did I do that?

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 I know better.

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 I didn't want to do that.

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 And I hate that I did that.

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 Yet somehow you did it anyway.

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 Here's the facts.

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 It doesn't matter where you are in life.

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 You understand this text.

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 You can be a teenager who's fighting temptation.

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 You could be a husband losing their temper.

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 A wife who speaks words that she wished she could take back.

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 A believer who falls into the same sin again and again and again.

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 And every single one of us knows something about this struggle.

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 And that is exactly what Paul is talking about in verse 15.

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 Let's look at the text with me.

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 It simply says,

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 Anyone relate?

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 Or just me and Saban on this one.

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 You see, this is Paul's being honest with us.

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 He's being honest about the conflict that rages inside every single human heart.

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 It is a conflict between desire and performance.

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 A conflict between what is right and what I actually do.

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 And it's a conflict that every believer understands at some level.

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 But before we rush to identify with Paul's struggle,

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 we need to remember where we are in Romans.

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 Because Paul is not just sharing some random frustration here.

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 Paul, at the core of this text, is making an argument.

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 And remember I told you, a lot of people struggle.

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 Is Paul talking about himself as he's saved or before Christ?

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 And people really get involved in all of these kind of struggles.

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 That's not the point of the passage.

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 The point of the passage is what is God teaching us in here?

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 Because Paul, like I said, is making an argument.

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 If we forget the argument,

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 we will misunderstand the struggle that Paul is talking about here.

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 Let me give us a quick review of Romans 7.

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 Verses 1 to 6, Paul taught us that we have died to the law and now belong to Christ.

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 Verses 17 to 13 taught us that the law is not sinful.

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 The law is holy.

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 The law is righteous.

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 The law is good.

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 And the fact of the matter is, the problem is not the law.

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 The problem is sin.

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 And remember what sin is.

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 Sin isn't an action that we do that is wrong.

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 Paul's talking about sin as a force that works against us.

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 You with me on that one?

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 Sin is this power that is working against us.

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 And in the last sermon in Romans, we arrived at verse 14.

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 And Paul simply says,

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 The law is spiritual, but I am fleshly.

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 Because we know the law comes from God.

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 The law reflects God's holiness.

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 The law tells us the truth about who we are.

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 But the truth of the matter is,

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 we lack the power to obey it.

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 And now, in verses 15 to 17,

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 Paul is giving us the evidence that we lack the power to obey the law.

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 All right?

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 That's the context.

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 We need to understand this.

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 Notice what verse 15, it starts off with the word for.

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 What he's saying is, in other words,

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 let me show you why I just said what I said.

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 Let me prove to you what life looks like

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 when God's perfect standard confronts human weakness.

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 And what follows was one of the most vivid descriptions

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 of human inability found anywhere in Scripture.

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 Paul is a man who knows what is right.

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 Paul is a man who desires what is right.

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 And a man who even approves of what is right,

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 and yet finds himself doing the very thing he hates.

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 Why?

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 Why do I do the things I hate?

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 And this is the question that Paul wants to answer.

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 And I'm going to tell you something.

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 The answer is far deeper than we have bad habits.

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 The answer is far deeper than I lack discipline.

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 The answer is far deeper than I didn't try hard enough.

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 You with me on that?

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 It's not that.

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 Paul is going to expose a power that operates beneath the surface,

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 a power that the law can reveal,

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 but the law cannot conquer.

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 A power that frustrates human effort.

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 And it's the power called indwelling sin.

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 Indwelling sin.

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 And until we understand the problem of indwelling sin,

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 we will never appreciate the solution.

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 So the fact is,

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 we need to understand Romans 7.

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 Paul is doing two very specific things.

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 One, Paul is dismantling the confidence that we have in ourselves.

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 We always want to have confidence in ourselves.

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 I can handle that temptation.

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 I can get over this.

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 I just need to get up earlier,

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 read my Bible.

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 I just need to try harder.

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 And Paul is stripping away our trust in our own efforts.

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 Paul is bringing us to the place where we stop saying,

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 I can do this.

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 And he's bringing to a place that starts saying,

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 just as the song that we sang this morning,

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 Lord, I need you.

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 This morning, I have one single goal for you this morning.

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 Is that you would understand verse 15.

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 That's all we're going to teach about today.

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 We're going to go phrase by phrase,

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 three phrases and there's three points.

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 The first point is we're going to look at our contradiction.

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 For I do not understand my own action.

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 Number two, we're going to look at our divided will.

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 For I do not do what I want.

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 And the third is we're going to look at our hatred of sin.

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 But I do the very thing that I hate.

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 Before I go any further, let me pray.

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 Dear most holy, loving Father,

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 we need you.

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 I need you.

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 Father, this verse undresses us.

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 We relate to it.

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 This isn't us before we were saved.

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 This is us now.

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 This is the human condition that we all live in.

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 Father, I just pray through the exposition of this text

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 that we would truly understand it.

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 We would truly understand the purpose of his words.

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 And I pray that we would find freedom

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 that can only be found in you

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 and that's trusting you in all things.

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 Father, I pray that our hearts would be exposed,

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 our legalism would be exposed,

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 our lack of discipline would be exposed,

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 our lies that we believe about ourselves and others

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 would be exposed to your absolute and wonderful truth.

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 So God, we thank you.

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 I pray that you give us hearts and minds to understand

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 and hearts to be gripped by your words here

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 about this man 2,000 years ago

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 who's really revealing the depth of his heart to us.

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 I pray that we would not take this text lightly

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 and I pray that you'd give my voice clarity

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 so that we may understand this truth.

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 In your name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 So the first point that I want to look at

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 is I want to look at the contradiction,

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 our contradiction,

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 for I do not understand my own actions.

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 Like I said, we know the truth of the statement.

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 Paul has just said in verse 14,

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 the law is spiritual,

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 but I am fleshly sold under sin.

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 In this section, he's now giving us the evidence.

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 Like I said, that word for means,

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 let me show you what I mean.

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 Let me prove what life under the power of sin looks like.

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 And the proof is shocking.

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 It's I do not understand my own actions.

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 Now, when we first read this statement,

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 we might be thinking that Paul is saying,

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 I don't know what I'm doing.

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 But that's not what Paul means here.

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 Paul is not suffering from ignorance.

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 He's not suffering from lack of information.

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 He's not confused.

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 Maybe this is right.

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 Maybe this is wrong.

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 That's not what he's talking about here.

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 In fact, it's the exact opposite.

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 Paul begins with he knows what is right.

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 He loves what is right.

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 He desires what is right.

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 Yet somehow his actions keep moving

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 in the opposite direction.

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 So when Paul says,

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 I do not understand my own actions,

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 it's key to understand that word understand.

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 It's not just a,

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 this doesn't compute.

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 What it means is that he's generally confused and bewildered.

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 In other words,

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 Paul is expressing that the sinful results of his action

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 simply make no sense to him.

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 He's saying,

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 I can't make sense of this.

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 I,

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 I don't know what I should do.

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 I,

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 I know what God requires.

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 I know what is right.

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 And yet I keep finding myself doing something else.

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 Let me ask you,

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 have you genuinely wanted to trust God?

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 Lord,

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 I'm going to trust you today.

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 You wake up in the morning.

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 I am going to trust you today,

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 but you're full of fear that day.

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 You generally want to forgive that person who hurt you,

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 but you keep repeating that offense in your head

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 over and over and over.

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 And then you find this bitterness keeping resurfacing.

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 And you're saying,

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 Lord,

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 I want to forgive.

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 Have you genuinely wanted to pray,

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 but your heart just seems cold and distracted?

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 Or you generally want to honor Christ,

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 but you find yourself thinking,

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 speaking,

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 or acting in ways that dishonor him.

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 And afterward,

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 you sit there thinking,

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 what was I doing?

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 Why did I do that?

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 I know I'm supposed to forgive.

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 I know I'm supposed to trust.

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 I didn't want that.

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 In fact,

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 I hate that version of me.

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 Anybody been there?

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 Right?

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 You think that way.

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 That's a version of me I don't like,

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 but it's still tangled up in me.

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 The funny thing is,

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 the Puritans used to say that sin is irrational.

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 It never delivers what it promises,

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 and it always over promises and under delivers.

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 Yet somehow,

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 we keep listening.

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 See,

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 what's fascinating here is that Paul

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 is describing something

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 that has been recognized for thousands

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 and hundreds of years before Jesus Christ.

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 In the ancient pagan world,

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 they understood this struggle.

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 There's this poet,

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 a Roman poet,

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 but he famously said,

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 I see and approve the better things,

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 but I pursue the worst things.

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 The Greeks understood

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 that human beings

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 often act against their own better judgment.

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 Who's been there?

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 But Paul goes much deeper

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 than Greek philosophy ever could.

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 You see,

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 the Greeks believed the problem,

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 the reason why you sin

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 is because you have weak self-control.

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 You have a failure of reasoning

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 and a lack of discipline.

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 Anybody here ever think

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 that's the solution to your problems?

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 But I can only be more disciplined, right?

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 I could really get a hold of that.

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 If I just think through this better,

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 maybe I'll talk to a friend

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 and bounce those ideas off them.

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 If I can only develop self-control,

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 this won't be a problem.

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 But Paul's telling us here in this text is,

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 no,

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 that is not the solution.

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 Why?

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 Because the problem runs

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 so much deeper than your behavior.

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 The problem is not merely

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 that we make bad decisions.

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 The problem is that there is a power

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 at work against fallen humanity.

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 A power so deceptive

00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:44.620
 that people often act

00:16:44.620 --> 00:16:47.399
 against their own stated desires.

00:16:49.019 --> 00:16:50.600
 A power, like I said,

00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:51.879
 Scripture calls sin.

00:16:53.460 --> 00:16:56.120
 And this is why self-help ultimately fails.

00:16:56.460 --> 00:16:58.680
 This is why behavior modification

00:16:58.680 --> 00:17:00.820
 never gets to the root of your issue.

00:17:00.820 --> 00:17:03.780
 And this is why simply trying harder

00:17:03.780 --> 00:17:05.519
 cannot solve the problem.

00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:08.000
 One author simply wrote,

00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:09.420
 indwelling is sin

00:17:09.420 --> 00:17:11.180
 is so blinding

00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:12.660
 and so powerful

00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:14.279
 that it continually

00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:16.720
 sabotages our deepest,

00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:17.980
 most determined

00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:19.720
 spiritual resolutions.

00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:24.839
 You see,

00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:26.819
 our problem is deeper than habits.

00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:29.339
 It's deeper than education.

00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:30.519
 It's deeper than discipline.

00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:32.319
 It's a problem

00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:34.140
 that reaches into the very core

00:17:34.140 --> 00:17:36.480
 of who we are.

00:17:38.140 --> 00:17:39.380
 How bad is it?

00:17:41.120 --> 00:17:42.420
 Some of the most people

00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:43.920
 that are fooled mostly

00:17:43.920 --> 00:17:45.400
 by the power of indwelling sin

00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:45.940
 is Christians.

00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:47.880
 Religious people.

00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:50.240
 Right?

00:17:50.360 --> 00:17:52.920
 We become especially frustrated

00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:55.080
 because religion tells us

00:17:55.080 --> 00:17:55.800
 try harder,

00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:57.020
 do better,

00:17:57.340 --> 00:17:57.980
 be nicer,

00:17:59.160 --> 00:18:00.200
 work harder,

00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:01.880
 be more disciplined,

00:18:02.040 --> 00:18:02.920
 apply yourself.

00:18:04.320 --> 00:18:05.020
 The fact is,

00:18:05.100 --> 00:18:06.120
 every serious Christian

00:18:06.120 --> 00:18:07.180
 has tried these things.

00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:08.600
 We've all made promises.

00:18:09.020 --> 00:18:10.560
 We've all created plans.

00:18:10.880 --> 00:18:12.100
 We've all started

00:18:12.100 --> 00:18:14.080
 fresh Monday morning.

00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:15.520
 We've all told ourselves,

00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:18.240
 this time it will be different.

00:18:18.940 --> 00:18:21.079
 I won't lose my temper at work.

00:18:21.180 --> 00:18:22.819
 I won't yell at my kids.

00:18:22.940 --> 00:18:25.139
 I won't be discouraged

00:18:25.139 --> 00:18:26.440
 with my parents.

00:18:28.200 --> 00:18:29.480
 Only to discover

00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:30.480
 that the problem

00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:31.519
 is still there.

00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:34.680
 And the reason is,

00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:36.639
 information is not the problem.

00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:39.559
 And here's the thing.

00:18:40.139 --> 00:18:41.960
 Law gives us information.

00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:45.000
 The law tells us

00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:46.980
 what God requires.

00:18:48.120 --> 00:18:49.600
 But the problem is power.

00:18:49.700 --> 00:18:51.019
 The law can tell you

00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:51.420
 what to do.

00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:52.940
 The law cannot give you

00:18:52.940 --> 00:18:53.980
 the power to do it.

00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:56.319
 And that is exactly

00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:57.799
 what Paul is telling us.

00:18:58.920 --> 00:18:59.779
 If you remember,

00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:00.900
 the law is spiritual.

00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:01.600
 It's good.

00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:02.319
 It's holy.

00:19:03.100 --> 00:19:05.299
 The law is not defective

00:19:05.299 --> 00:19:06.200
 in any way.

00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:08.960
 But the law cannot

00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:10.279
 transform a sinner.

00:19:11.500 --> 00:19:13.580
 The law exposes the problem,

00:19:13.740 --> 00:19:16.380
 but it cannot solve the problem.

00:19:17.080 --> 00:19:19.420
 It can diagnose the disease,

00:19:19.640 --> 00:19:21.559
 but it has no power

00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:23.400
 to cure the disease.

00:19:25.620 --> 00:19:25.960
 So,

00:19:26.360 --> 00:19:29.440
 if you're trying to understand

00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:30.600
 Romans 7,

00:19:30.680 --> 00:19:31.480
 and you're not there yet,

00:19:31.559 --> 00:19:32.980
 let me explain this.

00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:37.140
 Romans 7 is the wrecking ball

00:19:37.140 --> 00:19:38.180
 to your own

00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:39.759
 perfect spirituality.

00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:42.860
 Romans 7

00:19:42.860 --> 00:19:45.539
 confronts the fact

00:19:45.539 --> 00:19:46.500
 that most people

00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:47.880
 spend their lives

00:19:47.880 --> 00:19:48.259
 believing,

00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:49.259
 I can fix this.

00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:51.059
 I can overcome this.

00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:52.819
 I can improve myself.

00:19:53.220 --> 00:19:54.319
 I can become

00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:56.720
 the person I should be.

00:19:58.039 --> 00:19:59.339
 Then Paul comes along

00:19:59.339 --> 00:20:00.220
 in Romans 7

00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:01.200
 and destroys

00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:02.480
 that whole way of thinking.

00:20:03.579 --> 00:20:04.480
 Paul here

00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:05.440
 is tearing down

00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:06.960
 every illusion

00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:07.839
 of what is called

00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:09.099
 self-sufficiency.

00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:10.420
 He is showing us

00:20:10.420 --> 00:20:11.599
 that the human problem

00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:13.099
 is so profound

00:20:13.099 --> 00:20:14.460
 that even knowing

00:20:14.460 --> 00:20:15.039
 the truth

00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:15.700
 is not enough.

00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:16.579
 It doesn't save you.

00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:17.880
 But not only knowing

00:20:17.880 --> 00:20:18.480
 the truth,

00:20:19.120 --> 00:20:20.799
 even loving the truth

00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:21.620
 is not enough.

00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:23.880
 You know what else

00:20:23.880 --> 00:20:24.559
 is not enough?

00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:26.220
 Even wanting

00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:27.720
 that truth

00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:28.740
 in your life

00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:29.720
 is not enough.

00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:31.920
 So it doesn't matter

00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:33.299
 if you know,

00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:33.640
 love,

00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:34.180
 or want,

00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:35.759
 something more

00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:36.480
 is needed.

00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:39.120
 Or,

00:20:39.220 --> 00:20:40.000
 should I say,

00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:42.339
 someone more

00:20:42.339 --> 00:20:43.319
 is needed.

00:20:43.319 --> 00:20:45.919
 And that's exactly

00:20:45.919 --> 00:20:46.980
 where Paul is headed

00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:48.319
 in Romans chapter 8.

00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:50.599
 But before you can

00:20:50.599 --> 00:20:52.259
 embrace Romans chapter 8,

00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:53.980
 you need to understand

00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:54.500
 the weakness

00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:55.319
 of the flesh

00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:57.079
 in Romans chapter 7.

00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:57.960
 And that leads

00:20:57.960 --> 00:20:58.819
 directly to

00:20:58.819 --> 00:21:00.740
 the second contradiction

00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:02.299
 that Paul exposes.

00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:04.439
 For he simply says,

00:21:04.639 --> 00:21:05.939
 for I do not do

00:21:05.939 --> 00:21:07.359
 what I want.

00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:08.459
 not only is there

00:21:08.459 --> 00:21:09.259
 confusion

00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:10.779
 that he's expressing,

00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:11.919
 he's telling us

00:21:11.919 --> 00:21:12.659
 there is a

00:21:12.659 --> 00:21:13.699
 divided will

00:21:13.699 --> 00:21:14.359
 and that's where

00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:15.599
 Paul takes us

00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:17.459
 in point number 2.

00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:20.619
 Point number 2

00:21:20.619 --> 00:21:21.259
 simply says,

00:21:21.419 --> 00:21:22.519
 for I do not

00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:23.319
 do what I want.

00:21:24.419 --> 00:21:24.959
 First,

00:21:25.059 --> 00:21:25.579
 he tells us

00:21:25.579 --> 00:21:26.919
 that he's confused.

00:21:27.159 --> 00:21:28.039
 Now he shares

00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:28.500
 with us

00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:29.259
 that I actually

00:21:29.259 --> 00:21:30.259
 contradict myself.

00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:31.619
 I do not do

00:21:31.619 --> 00:21:32.240
 what I want.

00:21:32.919 --> 00:21:33.759
 That word do

00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:34.759
 is to practice.

00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:36.500
 It's to accomplish.

00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:39.399
 Make no mistake,

00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:40.000
 Paul knows

00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:40.579
 what is right.

00:21:41.459 --> 00:21:42.439
 The problem

00:21:42.439 --> 00:21:44.839
 is that what he desires

00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:45.839
 and what he does

00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:46.959
 no longer line up.

00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:49.399
 And this is the war

00:21:49.399 --> 00:21:50.500
 that is taking place

00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:51.079
 within him.

00:21:52.839 --> 00:21:54.059
 One commentator

00:21:54.059 --> 00:21:54.819
 simply states

00:21:54.819 --> 00:21:55.559
 the conflict

00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:56.819
 is between desire

00:21:56.819 --> 00:21:58.000
 and performance.

00:21:58.919 --> 00:22:00.240
 The will is there

00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:02.939
 but the ability

00:22:02.939 --> 00:22:04.339
 is not.

00:22:05.379 --> 00:22:06.159
 And this is what

00:22:06.159 --> 00:22:07.159
 Paul describes.

00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:09.419
 Now I want you

00:22:09.419 --> 00:22:10.099
 to understand

00:22:10.099 --> 00:22:11.419
 this word want.

00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:12.179
 I do not do

00:22:12.179 --> 00:22:13.459
 what I want.

00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:15.179
 He's not describing

00:22:15.179 --> 00:22:16.279
 a fleeting

00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:17.719
 passing wish.

00:22:18.459 --> 00:22:19.119
 This is not

00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:20.059
 I'd like to lose

00:22:20.059 --> 00:22:20.839
 a few pounds.

00:22:21.699 --> 00:22:21.899
 You know,

00:22:22.039 --> 00:22:23.899
 I should exercise

00:22:23.899 --> 00:22:24.899
 more often.

00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:25.699
 That's what my wife

00:22:25.699 --> 00:22:26.439
 tells me every day.

00:22:27.699 --> 00:22:29.059
 I know it to be true

00:22:29.059 --> 00:22:30.159
 and I ought to read

00:22:30.159 --> 00:22:30.959
 more books.

00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:33.640
 No, no, no.

00:22:33.700 --> 00:22:34.640
 It's far deeper

00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:35.180
 than that.

00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:37.980
 The word want

00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:40.660
 means a determined

00:22:40.660 --> 00:22:42.039
 resolution

00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:43.519
 and volition

00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:45.519
 toward what is

00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:46.500
 good.

00:22:48.120 --> 00:22:49.579
 Paul is not saying

00:22:49.579 --> 00:22:50.579
 I occasionally

00:22:50.579 --> 00:22:51.759
 think about obedience.

00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:54.240
 Paul is saying

00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:55.980
 I want

00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:57.079
 righteousness.

00:22:57.079 --> 00:22:59.839
 I want holiness.

00:23:00.639 --> 00:23:01.899
 I want to

00:23:01.899 --> 00:23:02.899
 obey God.

00:23:03.399 --> 00:23:04.339
 And I think we can

00:23:04.339 --> 00:23:04.960
 relate to that

00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:05.839
 very well, right?

00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:07.679
 These are the things

00:23:07.679 --> 00:23:08.559
 that we want

00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:10.740
 and yet somehow

00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:12.199
 there's this gap

00:23:12.199 --> 00:23:13.519
 between what we

00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:14.460
 desire

00:23:14.460 --> 00:23:17.019
 and how we

00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:17.079
 act.

00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:20.500
 And this explains

00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:21.460
 to us why this

00:23:21.460 --> 00:23:22.059
 struggle

00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:23.460
 is so

00:23:23.460 --> 00:23:24.419
 painful.

00:23:24.420 --> 00:23:26.980
 because here's

00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:27.420
 the truth.

00:23:27.500 --> 00:23:28.259
 If Paul didn't

00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:28.720
 care,

00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.200
 there would be

00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:30.820
 no conflict.

00:23:32.100 --> 00:23:33.039
 If he didn't

00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:34.160
 want righteousness,

00:23:34.900 --> 00:23:35.820
 there would be

00:23:35.820 --> 00:23:36.800
 no frustration.

00:23:37.080 --> 00:23:38.580
 If Paul

00:23:38.580 --> 00:23:39.640
 loved sin,

00:23:40.580 --> 00:23:41.320
 there would be

00:23:41.320 --> 00:23:42.000
 no battle.

00:23:44.340 --> 00:23:45.259
 But as we

00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:45.940
 read here,

00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:46.580
 the battle

00:23:46.580 --> 00:23:47.340
 exists

00:23:47.340 --> 00:23:48.900
 because the

00:23:48.900 --> 00:23:49.860
 desire for

00:23:49.860 --> 00:23:50.820
 good is

00:23:50.820 --> 00:23:52.120
 so very

00:23:52.120 --> 00:23:53.180
 real.

00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:55.440
 Now let me

00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:58.519
 expand on

00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:59.480
 this a little

00:23:59.480 --> 00:23:59.720
 bit.

00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:03.519
 This is where

00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:04.600
 some Christians

00:24:04.600 --> 00:24:05.539
 can grow

00:24:05.539 --> 00:24:06.000
 to be

00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:06.640
 discouraged.

00:24:07.860 --> 00:24:09.000
 Some Christians

00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:09.840
 assume

00:24:09.840 --> 00:24:11.080
 that because

00:24:11.080 --> 00:24:12.060
 there's a

00:24:12.060 --> 00:24:13.060
 struggle

00:24:13.060 --> 00:24:14.500
 going on

00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:15.700
 with sin

00:24:15.700 --> 00:24:17.340
 that proves

00:24:17.340 --> 00:24:18.039
 that there

00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:18.279
 is a

00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:18.640
 spiritual

00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:19.140
 failure.

00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:19.640
 You with me

00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:20.080
 on that one?

00:24:20.820 --> 00:24:21.480
 We've been

00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:21.720
 there.

00:24:22.060 --> 00:24:22.500
 We struggle.

00:24:22.620 --> 00:24:23.060
 Why do I

00:24:23.060 --> 00:24:23.460
 have this

00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:23.800
 struggle?

00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:24.399
 And we

00:24:24.399 --> 00:24:25.399
 get discouraged.

00:24:26.460 --> 00:24:27.079
 But the

00:24:27.079 --> 00:24:27.639
 fact is,

00:24:27.700 --> 00:24:28.339
 the opposite

00:24:28.339 --> 00:24:29.059
 is often

00:24:29.059 --> 00:24:29.440
 true.

00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:29.759
 And I've

00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:30.139
 made this

00:24:30.139 --> 00:24:30.480
 point

00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:31.480
 previously.

00:24:32.279 --> 00:24:32.980
 The very

00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:34.059
 existence of

00:24:34.059 --> 00:24:34.680
 the struggle

00:24:34.680 --> 00:24:35.339
 within you

00:24:35.339 --> 00:24:36.899
 reveals that

00:24:36.899 --> 00:24:37.960
 something in

00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:38.579
 you wants

00:24:38.579 --> 00:24:39.220
 God.

00:24:40.279 --> 00:24:40.539
 Right?

00:24:40.659 --> 00:24:41.659
 It wants

00:24:41.659 --> 00:24:43.379
 his ways.

00:24:43.879 --> 00:24:44.859
 You know

00:24:44.859 --> 00:24:46.039
 the law.

00:24:46.659 --> 00:24:47.139
 I remember

00:24:47.139 --> 00:24:47.799
 in university,

00:24:48.019 --> 00:24:48.500
 I was just

00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:48.879
 thinking about

00:24:48.879 --> 00:24:49.440
 two friends

00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:49.960
 this morning.

00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:51.740
 they lived

00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:52.799
 the way

00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:53.120
 of the

00:24:53.120 --> 00:24:53.539
 world.

00:24:53.740 --> 00:24:53.940
 And I

00:24:53.940 --> 00:24:54.120
 remember

00:24:54.120 --> 00:24:54.299
 them

00:24:54.299 --> 00:24:54.960
 opening up

00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:55.480
 to me.

00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:56.579
 And one

00:24:56.579 --> 00:24:57.220
 just feels

00:24:57.220 --> 00:24:58.079
 really guilty

00:24:58.079 --> 00:24:58.860
 every night,

00:24:58.960 --> 00:24:59.579
 every weekend.

00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:00.480
 He's over

00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:01.000
 partying.

00:25:01.100 --> 00:25:01.480
 He's getting

00:25:01.480 --> 00:25:01.799
 into the

00:25:01.799 --> 00:25:02.240
 ways of the

00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:02.480
 world.

00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:03.360
 And you

00:25:03.360 --> 00:25:03.460
 know,

00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:03.740
 when I

00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:04.200
 asked him,

00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:05.180
 he grew up

00:25:05.180 --> 00:25:05.559
 in church.

00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:06.340
 He knew

00:25:06.340 --> 00:25:06.940
 the law.

00:25:07.940 --> 00:25:08.500
 Then there

00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:09.039
 was another

00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:09.819
 guy I knew.

00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:11.380
 And he

00:25:11.380 --> 00:25:11.980
 was just

00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:13.600
 this out

00:25:13.600 --> 00:25:14.240
 of control

00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:15.039
 party guy.

00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:16.980
 but he

00:25:16.980 --> 00:25:17.779
 was never

00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:19.139
 convicted

00:25:19.139 --> 00:25:19.980
 about anything

00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:20.279
 he ever

00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:20.579
 did.

00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:21.159
 Church,

00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:21.899
 the law,

00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:22.460
 Christianity

00:25:22.460 --> 00:25:23.139
 was totally

00:25:23.139 --> 00:25:24.379
 outside his

00:25:24.379 --> 00:25:24.759
 spectrum.

00:25:24.899 --> 00:25:25.359
 He was never

00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:26.339
 exposed to it

00:25:26.339 --> 00:25:27.139
 where he

00:25:27.139 --> 00:25:27.720
 grew up.

00:25:28.339 --> 00:25:29.480
 But he

00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:31.500
 just regretted

00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:32.420
 that on

00:25:32.420 --> 00:25:33.019
 Monday morning

00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:33.480
 he was hung

00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:33.759
 over.

00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:35.940
 But there

00:25:35.940 --> 00:25:36.619
 was no guilt

00:25:36.619 --> 00:25:37.319
 associated with

00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:38.079
 anything that

00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:38.619
 he did,

00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:39.720
 whereas the

00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:40.259
 other one

00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:41.019
 felt this

00:25:41.019 --> 00:25:42.039
 guilt for

00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:42.500
 what he

00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:42.859
 did.

00:25:42.859 --> 00:25:46.879
 You see,

00:25:46.959 --> 00:25:47.179
 when a

00:25:47.179 --> 00:25:47.879
 person is

00:25:47.879 --> 00:25:48.559
 following the

00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:49.379
 desires of

00:25:49.379 --> 00:25:50.059
 the flesh,

00:25:50.699 --> 00:25:51.359
 their motto

00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:52.219
 simply is,

00:25:52.339 --> 00:25:52.839
 if the flesh

00:25:52.839 --> 00:25:53.339
 wants it,

00:25:53.399 --> 00:25:53.719
 the flesh

00:25:53.719 --> 00:25:54.179
 gets it.

00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:56.199
 There's no

00:25:56.199 --> 00:25:56.579
 battle.

00:25:57.559 --> 00:25:58.199
 There's no

00:25:58.199 --> 00:25:58.659
 resistance.

00:25:58.879 --> 00:25:59.199
 There's no

00:25:59.199 --> 00:25:59.439
 grief.

00:25:59.539 --> 00:25:59.859
 There's no

00:25:59.859 --> 00:26:00.159
 sorrow.

00:26:00.439 --> 00:26:00.959
 There's no

00:26:00.959 --> 00:26:01.939
 argument going

00:26:01.939 --> 00:26:02.759
 on between

00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:03.659
 what is right

00:26:03.659 --> 00:26:04.079
 and what is

00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:04.459
 wrong.

00:26:06.099 --> 00:26:06.719
 But when

00:26:06.719 --> 00:26:08.339
 God begins

00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:09.699
 awakening a

00:26:09.699 --> 00:26:10.539
 heart to

00:26:10.539 --> 00:26:11.359
 righteousness,

00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:11.500
 righteousness,

00:26:12.079 --> 00:26:14.039
 suddenly a

00:26:14.039 --> 00:26:15.259
 war happens.

00:26:16.419 --> 00:26:17.339
 Because there's

00:26:17.339 --> 00:26:18.240
 now competing

00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:18.899
 desires.

00:26:19.159 --> 00:26:20.359
 There is now

00:26:20.359 --> 00:26:21.240
 conflicting

00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:22.079
 loyalties.

00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:22.719
 There's this

00:26:22.719 --> 00:26:23.579
 tension.

00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:25.299
 And what we

00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:25.939
 read in this

00:26:25.939 --> 00:26:26.919
 text is there's

00:26:26.919 --> 00:26:27.859
 a divided

00:26:27.859 --> 00:26:28.779
 will.

00:26:29.699 --> 00:26:30.679
 Obey Christ

00:26:30.679 --> 00:26:32.039
 or satisfy

00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:32.679
 yourself.

00:26:33.159 --> 00:26:34.399
 Trust God

00:26:34.399 --> 00:26:35.219
 or trust

00:26:35.219 --> 00:26:35.899
 myself.

00:26:37.319 --> 00:26:37.779
 Pursue

00:26:37.779 --> 00:26:38.359
 holiness

00:26:38.359 --> 00:26:38.559
 holiness

00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:40.199
 or take

00:26:40.199 --> 00:26:40.839
 the easier

00:26:40.839 --> 00:26:41.339
 path.

00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:44.219
 And every

00:26:44.219 --> 00:26:44.959
 believer knows

00:26:44.959 --> 00:26:45.500
 something of

00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.079
 that struggle.

00:26:48.359 --> 00:26:49.179
 And one of

00:26:49.179 --> 00:26:49.579
 the great

00:26:49.579 --> 00:26:50.459
 deceptions of

00:26:50.459 --> 00:26:51.099
 the flesh

00:26:51.099 --> 00:26:52.819
 is that it

00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:53.539
 can become

00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:54.419
 incredibly

00:26:54.419 --> 00:26:55.159
 religious.

00:26:58.079 --> 00:26:58.599
 Right?

00:26:58.639 --> 00:26:59.019
 We have these

00:26:59.019 --> 00:26:59.779
 categories for

00:26:59.779 --> 00:27:00.000
 sin.

00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:01.479
 Right?

00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:01.819
 There's

00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:02.619
 drunkenness,

00:27:02.879 --> 00:27:03.500
 immorality,

00:27:04.339 --> 00:27:04.779
 greed,

00:27:05.240 --> 00:27:06.399
 anger in this

00:27:06.399 --> 00:27:06.719
 bucket.

00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:07.380
 We stay

00:27:07.380 --> 00:27:07.799
 away from

00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:08.380
 that bucket.

00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:10.240
 But here's

00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:10.680
 the thing.

00:27:11.799 --> 00:27:12.559
 The flesh

00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:14.440
 is far more

00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:15.400
 sophisticated

00:27:15.400 --> 00:27:16.039
 than that.

00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:17.500
 The flesh

00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:18.220
 can become

00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:18.579
 religious.

00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.059
 It can

00:27:19.059 --> 00:27:19.700
 attend church.

00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:20.559
 It can

00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:20.960
 memorize

00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:21.460
 scripture.

00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:22.640
 It can

00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:23.180
 serve on

00:27:23.180 --> 00:27:23.519
 missionary

00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:24.140
 teams.

00:27:24.839 --> 00:27:25.299
 And yes,

00:27:25.700 --> 00:27:26.240
 the flesh

00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:26.799
 can preach

00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:27.339
 sermons.

00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:29.519
 All the

00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:30.400
 while seeking

00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:31.079
 recognition,

00:27:31.900 --> 00:27:32.819
 wanting to

00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:33.839
 feel superior,

00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:35.839
 seeking control

00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:36.759
 over self,

00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:38.199
 and reliance

00:27:38.199 --> 00:27:39.099
 rather than

00:27:39.099 --> 00:27:40.259
 dependence on

00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:40.539
 God.

00:27:40.679 --> 00:27:41.379
 I don't need to

00:27:41.379 --> 00:27:41.779
 pray for you,

00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:41.919
 God.

00:27:41.959 --> 00:27:42.319
 I don't even

00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:42.859
 want to bother

00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:43.079
 you.

00:27:43.399 --> 00:27:44.039
 I can handle

00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:44.379
 this.

00:27:47.559 --> 00:27:48.119
 It's funny,

00:27:48.179 --> 00:27:48.480
 one of my

00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:49.819
 buddies tells

00:27:49.819 --> 00:27:50.319
 a story.

00:27:50.899 --> 00:27:51.279
 He's now

00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:51.959
 pastoring a

00:27:51.959 --> 00:27:52.339
 church.

00:27:52.419 --> 00:27:52.899
 It's been over

00:27:52.899 --> 00:27:53.299
 there for a

00:27:53.299 --> 00:27:54.339
 hundred years,

00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:55.500
 but in his

00:27:55.500 --> 00:27:55.959
 first year,

00:27:56.039 --> 00:27:56.500
 some days,

00:27:56.759 --> 00:27:57.099
 they wouldn't

00:27:57.099 --> 00:27:57.539
 have a Sunday

00:27:57.539 --> 00:27:57.779
 school.

00:27:58.899 --> 00:27:59.039
 Okay?

00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:00.039
 Certain grade,

00:28:00.119 --> 00:28:00.519
 they had it all

00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:01.439
 divided by grades.

00:28:01.619 --> 00:28:02.259
 They'd just make

00:28:02.259 --> 00:28:02.839
 this decision.

00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:03.759
 He just would

00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:04.319
 notice that they

00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:04.879
 would be there,

00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:05.599
 or there'd be

00:28:05.599 --> 00:28:06.839
 no PowerPoint,

00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:08.419
 or sometimes

00:28:08.419 --> 00:28:09.200
 the music would

00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:09.980
 be really low

00:28:09.980 --> 00:28:10.319
 grade.

00:28:10.679 --> 00:28:11.079
 And then he

00:28:11.079 --> 00:28:12.599
 found out that

00:28:12.599 --> 00:28:13.819
 everyone at

00:28:13.819 --> 00:28:14.939
 this church had

00:28:14.939 --> 00:28:15.460
 this little

00:28:15.460 --> 00:28:16.139
 fiefdom,

00:28:16.359 --> 00:28:17.859
 and no one

00:28:17.859 --> 00:28:18.939
 trained anybody

00:28:18.939 --> 00:28:19.779
 else on how

00:28:19.779 --> 00:28:20.399
 to do that

00:28:20.399 --> 00:28:20.779
 job,

00:28:20.879 --> 00:28:21.759
 because to do

00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:22.539
 that job was

00:28:22.539 --> 00:28:23.579
 how they

00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:24.259
 worship,

00:28:24.619 --> 00:28:25.619
 and they wanted

00:28:25.619 --> 00:28:26.439
 to be recognized

00:28:26.439 --> 00:28:27.259
 for what's going

00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:27.519
 on.

00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:28.139
 So would I

00:28:28.139 --> 00:28:29.079
 train anybody

00:28:29.079 --> 00:28:30.319
 else to do

00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:30.700
 the junior

00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:31.039
 church?

00:28:31.139 --> 00:28:31.819
 Absolutely not,

00:28:31.879 --> 00:28:32.359
 because I'm the

00:28:32.359 --> 00:28:32.859
 greatest teacher

00:28:32.859 --> 00:28:33.279
 in the world.

00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:34.160
 Why would I

00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:34.639
 submit them

00:28:34.639 --> 00:28:35.079
 to anything

00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:35.359
 less?

00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:36.160
 It's my

00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:36.680
 world.

00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:40.240
 I had this

00:28:40.240 --> 00:28:40.759
 funny story.

00:28:40.839 --> 00:28:41.079
 I was telling

00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:41.720
 Danielle about

00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:42.259
 it last night.

00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:42.839
 I was laughing.

00:28:43.399 --> 00:28:44.119
 We were just

00:28:44.119 --> 00:28:44.519
 getting this

00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:45.220
 women's ministry

00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:45.839
 going at one

00:28:45.839 --> 00:28:46.319
 of my former

00:28:46.319 --> 00:28:46.740
 churches,

00:28:47.399 --> 00:28:48.720
 and the women

00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:49.279
 were growing.

00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:50.180
 They were having

00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:50.779
 this conference,

00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:51.240
 and this was

00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:51.720
 their women's

00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:52.000
 ministry,

00:28:52.119 --> 00:28:53.039
 and this little

00:28:53.039 --> 00:28:53.879
 old lady comes

00:28:53.879 --> 00:28:54.440
 in, and she's

00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:55.299
 got this document.

00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:56.660
 The document was

00:28:56.660 --> 00:28:57.440
 from the 80s,

00:28:57.460 --> 00:28:58.119
 and back in the

00:28:58.119 --> 00:28:59.339
 80s, they had a

00:28:59.339 --> 00:29:00.259
 description in the

00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:01.319
 bylaws about what

00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:02.000
 women's ministry

00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:03.059
 was, and that

00:29:03.059 --> 00:29:03.839
 women's ministry,

00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:04.859
 to be a part of

00:29:04.859 --> 00:29:06.000
 women's ministries,

00:29:06.220 --> 00:29:06.799
 you had to do

00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:07.160
 quilting.

00:29:07.940 --> 00:29:08.759
 You had to do

00:29:08.759 --> 00:29:09.279
 quilting.

00:29:10.519 --> 00:29:11.480
 Otherwise, if you

00:29:11.480 --> 00:29:12.180
 didn't do quilting,

00:29:12.279 --> 00:29:13.440
 you couldn't be

00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:15.740
 accorded to be in

00:29:15.740 --> 00:29:16.240
 the women's

00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:16.619
 ministry.

00:29:18.599 --> 00:29:19.400
 Bless her heart,

00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:20.339
 I let her keep on

00:29:20.339 --> 00:29:21.279
 quilting, but I said

00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:21.819
 some of the women

00:29:21.819 --> 00:29:22.460
 might want to do

00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:22.980
 something else.

00:29:24.859 --> 00:29:25.619
 You see, Paul is

00:29:25.619 --> 00:29:26.400
 showing us that the

00:29:26.400 --> 00:29:28.960
 problem is not

00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:29.759
 merely that we

00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:30.819
 sometimes do bad

00:29:30.819 --> 00:29:31.359
 things.

00:29:32.640 --> 00:29:35.180
 The problem is

00:29:35.180 --> 00:29:35.740
 that there is

00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:36.819
 something fundamentally

00:29:36.819 --> 00:29:38.200
 wrong even with

00:29:38.200 --> 00:29:39.140
 our human effort,

00:29:39.660 --> 00:29:40.900
 even the things

00:29:40.900 --> 00:29:41.779
 that we think

00:29:41.779 --> 00:29:43.680
 are good, even

00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:44.900
 those things we

00:29:44.900 --> 00:29:46.259
 think are directed

00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:48.240
 towards the good.

00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:52.039
 Now, the question

00:29:52.039 --> 00:29:54.839
 is, why does God

00:29:54.839 --> 00:29:55.759
 allow us to feel

00:29:55.759 --> 00:29:56.299
 this tension?

00:29:56.299 --> 00:29:58.419
 Why doesn't he

00:29:58.419 --> 00:30:00.500
 simply remove every

00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:02.039
 struggle immediately

00:30:02.039 --> 00:30:03.200
 when we get saved?

00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:03.720
 Wouldn't that be

00:30:03.720 --> 00:30:04.000
 great?

00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:05.819
 No more struggle.

00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:07.819
 No more battle.

00:30:09.879 --> 00:30:11.299
 And what Paul is

00:30:11.299 --> 00:30:12.200
 talking about here

00:30:12.200 --> 00:30:13.599
 is that God is

00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:14.460
 teaching us something.

00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:16.879
 God is teaching us

00:30:16.879 --> 00:30:18.919
 that holiness is

00:30:18.919 --> 00:30:19.839
 never produced

00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:20.960
 through self-confidence.

00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:25.000
 Holiness is growth

00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:26.079
 through dependency.

00:30:27.339 --> 00:30:28.500
 It's not us,

00:30:28.599 --> 00:30:29.920
 it's God.

00:30:30.980 --> 00:30:32.500
 Romans 7 is about

00:30:32.500 --> 00:30:34.099
 exposing the

00:30:34.099 --> 00:30:34.980
 bankruptcy of

00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:35.700
 self-effort.

00:30:36.700 --> 00:30:37.559
 It is showing us

00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:39.119
 that sincere desire

00:30:39.119 --> 00:30:40.440
 by itself is not

00:30:40.440 --> 00:30:40.779
 enough.

00:30:41.880 --> 00:30:43.140
 Strong resolutions

00:30:43.140 --> 00:30:44.000
 are not enough.

00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:45.559
 Determination is

00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:46.059
 not enough.

00:30:46.420 --> 00:30:47.460
 Willpower is not

00:30:47.460 --> 00:30:47.779
 enough.

00:30:49.579 --> 00:30:50.059
 You see, the

00:30:50.059 --> 00:30:51.039
 Christian life is

00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:52.000
 not lived by

00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:52.500
 grit.

00:30:52.500 --> 00:30:54.700
 it's not lived

00:30:54.700 --> 00:30:55.720
 by personality.

00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:56.640
 It cannot be

00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:57.220
 lived by

00:30:57.220 --> 00:30:58.579
 discipline alone.

00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:01.240
 Because the fact

00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:01.980
 of the matter is

00:31:01.980 --> 00:31:02.980
 flesh produces

00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:03.660
 activity.

00:31:05.220 --> 00:31:06.299
 But the spirit

00:31:06.299 --> 00:31:06.799
 produces

00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:07.460
 transformation.

00:31:09.140 --> 00:31:09.960
 And that's what

00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:10.779
 God wants us to

00:31:10.779 --> 00:31:11.359
 understand.

00:31:14.660 --> 00:31:15.779
 So Paul,

00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:17.539
 so far in this

00:31:17.539 --> 00:31:18.039
 sermon, has

00:31:18.039 --> 00:31:18.579
 shown us two

00:31:18.579 --> 00:31:19.000
 things.

00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:20.759
 One, he's

00:31:20.759 --> 00:31:21.660
 confused by his

00:31:21.660 --> 00:31:22.279
 own actions.

00:31:23.040 --> 00:31:23.960
 And two, he is

00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:25.140
 frustrated because

00:31:25.140 --> 00:31:26.460
 his actions

00:31:26.460 --> 00:31:27.820
 contradict his

00:31:27.820 --> 00:31:28.400
 desires.

00:31:30.100 --> 00:31:30.920
 But here's

00:31:30.920 --> 00:31:31.700
 something else that

00:31:31.700 --> 00:31:32.120
 he says.

00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:33.160
 It's remarkable.

00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:36.220
 He actually says,

00:31:36.340 --> 00:31:36.940
 I do the very

00:31:36.940 --> 00:31:37.580
 things that I

00:31:37.580 --> 00:31:38.140
 hate.

00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:40.200
 This brings us

00:31:40.200 --> 00:31:40.840
 to our third

00:31:40.840 --> 00:31:41.340
 point.

00:31:42.200 --> 00:31:43.140
 Our hatred

00:31:43.140 --> 00:31:44.759
 of sin.

00:31:46.540 --> 00:31:47.500
 Now, Paul's

00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:47.920
 statement,

00:31:48.259 --> 00:31:49.600
 but I do the

00:31:49.600 --> 00:31:50.180
 very thing I

00:31:50.180 --> 00:31:50.560
 hate, is

00:31:50.560 --> 00:31:51.080
 revealing.

00:31:51.660 --> 00:31:52.540
 He's already

00:31:52.540 --> 00:31:53.400
 told us, I

00:31:53.400 --> 00:31:54.300
 do not do

00:31:54.300 --> 00:31:54.940
 what I want,

00:31:55.019 --> 00:31:56.120
 but he takes

00:31:56.120 --> 00:31:56.580
 it a step

00:31:56.580 --> 00:31:56.880
 further.

00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:57.860
 He says, it's

00:31:57.860 --> 00:31:58.240
 not that I

00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:58.700
 don't do the

00:31:58.700 --> 00:31:59.080
 things that I

00:31:59.080 --> 00:31:59.680
 want, I do

00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:00.300
 the things that

00:32:00.300 --> 00:32:01.320
 I hate.

00:32:04.420 --> 00:32:05.080
 Notice he

00:32:05.080 --> 00:32:06.180
 doesn't say, I

00:32:06.180 --> 00:32:06.920
 do the things

00:32:06.920 --> 00:32:07.759
 that I

00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:08.320
 dislike.

00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:09.540
 I do the

00:32:09.540 --> 00:32:10.500
 thing I wish

00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:11.259
 I wouldn't

00:32:11.259 --> 00:32:11.660
 do.

00:32:11.880 --> 00:32:12.640
 I do the

00:32:12.640 --> 00:32:13.040
 thing that

00:32:13.040 --> 00:32:13.640
 occasionally

00:32:13.640 --> 00:32:14.680
 bothers me.

00:32:16.820 --> 00:32:17.279
 No.

00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:19.980
 Paul uses the

00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:20.779
 strongest language

00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:21.440
 possible.

00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:23.460
 He says, I do

00:32:23.460 --> 00:32:24.740
 the things that

00:32:24.740 --> 00:32:26.619
 I hate.

00:32:27.980 --> 00:32:28.639
 Make no

00:32:28.639 --> 00:32:29.259
 mistake, this

00:32:29.259 --> 00:32:30.099
 word matters.

00:32:31.099 --> 00:32:32.099
 Because what

00:32:32.099 --> 00:32:33.039
 hatred does, it

00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:34.200
 reveals allegiance.

00:32:36.779 --> 00:32:37.660
 Hatred reveals

00:32:37.660 --> 00:32:38.519
 what side you're

00:32:38.519 --> 00:32:38.700
 on.

00:32:39.160 --> 00:32:40.279
 Hatred reveals

00:32:40.279 --> 00:32:41.399
 what you truly

00:32:41.399 --> 00:32:41.940
 love.

00:32:41.940 --> 00:32:44.240
 And Paul

00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:44.680
 says, the

00:32:44.680 --> 00:32:45.519
 very thing I

00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:46.420
 end up doing

00:32:46.420 --> 00:32:47.680
 is the thing

00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:48.500
 I hate.

00:32:49.779 --> 00:32:50.779
 Now, think

00:32:50.779 --> 00:32:51.420
 about that for

00:32:51.420 --> 00:32:51.799
 a moment.

00:32:53.559 --> 00:32:54.360
 Someone who

00:32:54.360 --> 00:32:56.660
 hates sin is

00:32:56.660 --> 00:32:57.500
 not someone

00:32:57.500 --> 00:32:58.400
 who regrets

00:32:58.400 --> 00:32:58.900
 sin.

00:32:59.960 --> 00:33:00.820
 Someone who

00:33:00.820 --> 00:33:02.580
 hates sin is

00:33:02.580 --> 00:33:03.480
 not someone who

00:33:03.480 --> 00:33:04.620
 fears consequences.

00:33:06.420 --> 00:33:07.299
 Someone who

00:33:07.299 --> 00:33:08.680
 hates sin is

00:33:08.680 --> 00:33:09.539
 not someone who

00:33:09.539 --> 00:33:10.620
 just got caught

00:33:10.620 --> 00:33:11.200
 in sin.

00:33:11.940 --> 00:33:14.660
 And the

00:33:14.660 --> 00:33:15.080
 fact of the

00:33:15.080 --> 00:33:15.940
 matter is, who

00:33:15.940 --> 00:33:17.180
 actually hates

00:33:17.180 --> 00:33:17.820
 sin?

00:33:17.980 --> 00:33:18.759
 Because there's a

00:33:18.759 --> 00:33:19.600
 huge difference.

00:33:21.320 --> 00:33:22.660
 Regret is not

00:33:22.660 --> 00:33:23.539
 the same as

00:33:23.539 --> 00:33:24.019
 repentance.

00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:26.740
 Judas

00:33:26.740 --> 00:33:28.559
 regretted

00:33:28.559 --> 00:33:29.180
 betraying

00:33:29.180 --> 00:33:29.680
 Jesus.

00:33:31.320 --> 00:33:32.960
 Pharaoh, or

00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:33.380
 I'm sorry,

00:33:33.539 --> 00:33:34.440
 Judas regretted

00:33:34.440 --> 00:33:35.640
 the consequences

00:33:35.640 --> 00:33:37.000
 of betraying

00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:37.360
 Jesus.

00:33:38.740 --> 00:33:39.400
 Pharaoh

00:33:39.400 --> 00:33:40.340
 regretted the

00:33:40.340 --> 00:33:41.680
 consequences of

00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:42.160
 rejecting

00:33:42.160 --> 00:33:42.759
 Moses.

00:33:42.759 --> 00:33:44.820
 Just like a

00:33:44.820 --> 00:33:45.960
 thief regrets

00:33:45.960 --> 00:33:46.759
 being caught,

00:33:46.920 --> 00:33:48.160
 an adulterer

00:33:48.160 --> 00:33:49.000
 regrets losing

00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:49.519
 a marriage,

00:33:49.660 --> 00:33:51.000
 a liar regrets

00:33:51.000 --> 00:33:52.680
 exposure, or a

00:33:52.680 --> 00:33:53.620
 drunk regrets

00:33:53.620 --> 00:33:54.560
 the damage they've

00:33:54.560 --> 00:33:54.799
 done.

00:33:54.940 --> 00:33:56.019
 The fact is,

00:33:56.840 --> 00:33:57.539
 regret is

00:33:57.539 --> 00:33:58.060
 common.

00:33:59.740 --> 00:34:01.000
 But hatred

00:34:01.000 --> 00:34:03.160
 of sin,

00:34:03.660 --> 00:34:04.420
 that's something

00:34:04.420 --> 00:34:04.860
 else.

00:34:06.900 --> 00:34:07.539
 See, hatred

00:34:07.539 --> 00:34:08.880
 says, even if

00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:09.840
 nobody found

00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:11.599
 out, hatred

00:34:11.599 --> 00:34:12.820
 says, even

00:34:12.820 --> 00:34:14.360
 if there were

00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:15.780
 no consequences,

00:34:16.260 --> 00:34:17.320
 even if I

00:34:17.320 --> 00:34:18.140
 get away with

00:34:18.140 --> 00:34:19.119
 this, I

00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:20.700
 still hate

00:34:20.700 --> 00:34:21.260
 what I

00:34:21.260 --> 00:34:21.900
 became in

00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:22.559
 that moment.

00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:22.940
 Do you

00:34:22.940 --> 00:34:23.440
 understand the

00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:23.840
 difference?

00:34:25.220 --> 00:34:26.180
 And we know

00:34:26.180 --> 00:34:26.440
 it.

00:34:28.380 --> 00:34:29.539
 We may fear the

00:34:29.539 --> 00:34:30.599
 consequences, but

00:34:30.599 --> 00:34:32.420
 when we fear that,

00:34:32.559 --> 00:34:33.619
 when we hate

00:34:33.619 --> 00:34:37.400
 sin, we're

00:34:37.400 --> 00:34:38.079
 lining up on

00:34:38.079 --> 00:34:38.440
 the good

00:34:38.440 --> 00:34:38.880
 side.

00:34:40.279 --> 00:34:40.839
 The Puritan

00:34:40.839 --> 00:34:41.679
 Thomas Watson

00:34:41.679 --> 00:34:42.519
 says, a

00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:43.319
 hypocrite may

00:34:43.319 --> 00:34:44.980
 leave sin, yet

00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:45.539
 love it.

00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:47.519
 As a serpent

00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:48.460
 casts its

00:34:48.460 --> 00:34:49.420
 coat, but

00:34:49.420 --> 00:34:50.159
 keeps its

00:34:50.159 --> 00:34:51.359
 sting, but a

00:34:51.359 --> 00:34:52.619
 sanctified person

00:34:52.619 --> 00:34:54.179
 who can say he

00:34:54.179 --> 00:34:55.819
 not only leaves

00:34:55.819 --> 00:34:56.920
 sin, but

00:34:56.920 --> 00:34:58.380
 loathes it.

00:34:58.380 --> 00:35:01.019
 what a

00:35:01.019 --> 00:35:01.320
 picture.

00:35:01.559 --> 00:35:02.380
 A snake

00:35:02.380 --> 00:35:03.039
 sheds its

00:35:03.039 --> 00:35:04.519
 skin, but

00:35:04.519 --> 00:35:05.960
 it's still a

00:35:05.960 --> 00:35:06.360
 snake.

00:35:08.320 --> 00:35:09.240
 And the sad

00:35:09.240 --> 00:35:10.079
 reality is many

00:35:10.079 --> 00:35:10.880
 people abandon

00:35:10.880 --> 00:35:11.700
 sins, but they

00:35:11.700 --> 00:35:12.300
 still love them.

00:35:13.300 --> 00:35:14.119
 They still miss

00:35:14.119 --> 00:35:14.420
 them.

00:35:15.220 --> 00:35:16.320
 They still long

00:35:16.320 --> 00:35:16.840
 for them.

00:35:17.460 --> 00:35:18.519
 They long for

00:35:18.519 --> 00:35:19.420
 the times.

00:35:21.260 --> 00:35:21.680
 You know, it's

00:35:21.680 --> 00:35:22.180
 interesting, my

00:35:22.180 --> 00:35:22.780
 friend showed me

00:35:22.780 --> 00:35:23.260
 in an article

00:35:23.260 --> 00:35:23.980
 that the

00:35:23.980 --> 00:35:26.420
 greatest reason

00:35:26.420 --> 00:35:27.119
 that is now

00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:27.680
 given in

00:35:27.679 --> 00:35:28.480
 divorce courts

00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:30.399
 are tied to

00:35:30.399 --> 00:35:30.619
 it as

00:35:30.619 --> 00:35:32.099
 Facebook, because

00:35:32.099 --> 00:35:32.899
 people connect

00:35:32.899 --> 00:35:33.500
 with things from

00:35:33.500 --> 00:35:34.279
 their past that

00:35:34.279 --> 00:35:35.319
 they believe that

00:35:35.319 --> 00:35:35.799
 was the good

00:35:35.799 --> 00:35:36.799
 old days, that

00:35:36.799 --> 00:35:37.279
 was better.

00:35:37.539 --> 00:35:38.199
 That girl when

00:35:38.199 --> 00:35:39.460
 she was 17, she

00:35:39.460 --> 00:35:40.519
 understood you so

00:35:40.519 --> 00:35:41.199
 much more than

00:35:41.199 --> 00:35:41.940
 when you're 55.

00:35:48.679 --> 00:35:49.679
 But Paul says

00:35:49.679 --> 00:35:50.519
 something entirely

00:35:50.519 --> 00:35:50.919
 different.

00:35:52.259 --> 00:35:53.179
 He says, I

00:35:53.179 --> 00:35:53.919
 hate it.

00:35:55.799 --> 00:35:56.599
 Now, here's

00:35:56.599 --> 00:35:57.179
 something that

00:35:57.179 --> 00:35:58.619
 often surprises

00:35:58.619 --> 00:35:59.460
 most Christians.

00:36:00.659 --> 00:36:01.319
 See, one of the

00:36:01.319 --> 00:36:02.299
 signs of spiritual

00:36:02.299 --> 00:36:03.219
 growth is not

00:36:03.219 --> 00:36:04.119
 that you become

00:36:04.119 --> 00:36:05.199
 less aware of

00:36:05.199 --> 00:36:06.799
 sin, that you

00:36:06.799 --> 00:36:08.079
 actually become

00:36:08.079 --> 00:36:09.460
 more aware of

00:36:09.460 --> 00:36:10.059
 sin.

00:36:11.179 --> 00:36:11.659
 It's like the

00:36:11.659 --> 00:36:12.619
 closer you get to

00:36:12.619 --> 00:36:13.279
 Christ, the more

00:36:13.279 --> 00:36:14.319
 sensitive your

00:36:14.319 --> 00:36:15.500
 conscience becomes.

00:36:16.779 --> 00:36:17.619
 We have the

00:36:17.619 --> 00:36:18.819
 example of Isaiah

00:36:18.819 --> 00:36:19.819
 in Isaiah 6.

00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:20.899
 He's before the

00:36:20.899 --> 00:36:22.460
 great throne room

00:36:22.460 --> 00:36:22.940
 of God.

00:36:23.199 --> 00:36:23.960
 He doesn't say,

00:36:23.960 --> 00:36:24.539
 what a great

00:36:24.539 --> 00:36:25.900
 prophet I am.

00:36:26.960 --> 00:36:27.699
 No, he says,

00:36:27.860 --> 00:36:30.019
 woe is me.

00:36:31.320 --> 00:36:32.460
 Peter, when he

00:36:32.460 --> 00:36:33.860
 witnesses the

00:36:33.860 --> 00:36:35.280
 transfiguration of

00:36:35.280 --> 00:36:37.300
 Jesus Christ, he

00:36:37.300 --> 00:36:38.139
 does not dance

00:36:38.139 --> 00:36:39.019
 around and say,

00:36:39.400 --> 00:36:40.179
 hey, I'm only one

00:36:40.179 --> 00:36:40.720
 of the three

00:36:40.720 --> 00:36:42.059
 spiritual guys who

00:36:42.059 --> 00:36:43.280
 get to see Jesus

00:36:43.280 --> 00:36:44.019
 transformed.

00:36:44.579 --> 00:36:45.440
 With these great

00:36:45.440 --> 00:36:46.019
 Old Testament

00:36:46.019 --> 00:36:48.000
 saints, he simply

00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:49.400
 falls down and

00:36:49.400 --> 00:36:50.380
 says, depart from

00:36:50.380 --> 00:36:51.980
 me for I am a

00:36:51.980 --> 00:36:52.660
 sinful man.

00:36:54.300 --> 00:36:55.160
 And then we've

00:36:55.160 --> 00:36:56.000
 got the example

00:36:56.000 --> 00:36:57.119
 of Paul himself.

00:36:58.500 --> 00:36:59.440
 We have his

00:36:59.440 --> 00:37:00.300
 writings that

00:37:00.300 --> 00:37:00.840
 pretty much

00:37:00.840 --> 00:37:01.680
 encompass his

00:37:01.680 --> 00:37:02.680
 whole Christian

00:37:02.680 --> 00:37:03.440
 life and at the

00:37:03.440 --> 00:37:04.039
 end of his

00:37:04.039 --> 00:37:06.200
 ministry, he does

00:37:06.200 --> 00:37:07.039
 not refer to

00:37:07.039 --> 00:37:07.880
 himself as a

00:37:07.880 --> 00:37:08.760
 spiritual giant.

00:37:09.840 --> 00:37:10.619
 He simply

00:37:10.619 --> 00:37:11.960
 says, I am the

00:37:11.960 --> 00:37:13.019
 chief of sinners.

00:37:17.200 --> 00:37:18.200
 The fact is,

00:37:18.280 --> 00:37:19.039
 every day I get

00:37:19.039 --> 00:37:19.700
 into my office

00:37:19.699 --> 00:37:20.359
 and I think it's

00:37:20.359 --> 00:37:21.099
 nice and clean

00:37:21.099 --> 00:37:22.239
 until the

00:37:22.239 --> 00:37:22.919
 afternoon when

00:37:22.919 --> 00:37:23.739
 the light shines

00:37:23.739 --> 00:37:25.980
 in and I see,

00:37:26.299 --> 00:37:26.960
 man, this is

00:37:26.960 --> 00:37:27.639
 really dusty.

00:37:29.639 --> 00:37:30.299
 I've got to

00:37:30.299 --> 00:37:30.879
 clean that

00:37:30.879 --> 00:37:31.659
 computer monitor

00:37:31.659 --> 00:37:32.319
 for the third

00:37:32.319 --> 00:37:32.980
 time today.

00:37:35.219 --> 00:37:35.779
 You see, this

00:37:35.779 --> 00:37:36.419
 is one of the

00:37:36.419 --> 00:37:38.899
 words of one of

00:37:38.899 --> 00:37:39.679
 my mentors just

00:37:39.679 --> 00:37:40.399
 simply saying

00:37:40.399 --> 00:37:40.619
 this.

00:37:40.719 --> 00:37:41.039
 He says, it's

00:37:41.039 --> 00:37:42.059
 not that when I

00:37:42.059 --> 00:37:43.819
 grow older I

00:37:43.819 --> 00:37:44.639
 sin less.

00:37:45.239 --> 00:37:45.519
 You know, he

00:37:45.519 --> 00:37:46.139
 might be avoiding

00:37:46.139 --> 00:37:46.879
 the bigger sins

00:37:46.879 --> 00:37:47.980
 but he starts to

00:37:47.980 --> 00:37:48.819
 be moved by even

00:37:48.819 --> 00:37:49.259
 some of the

00:37:49.260 --> 00:37:50.220
 smaller sins.

00:37:51.220 --> 00:37:51.980
 He says, as a

00:37:51.980 --> 00:37:52.900
 believer grows in

00:37:52.900 --> 00:37:53.840
 his spiritual life,

00:37:53.900 --> 00:37:55.400
 he inevitably will

00:37:55.400 --> 00:37:56.060
 have both an

00:37:56.060 --> 00:37:57.120
 increased hatred

00:37:57.120 --> 00:37:58.680
 of sin and an

00:37:58.680 --> 00:38:00.140
 increased love for

00:38:00.140 --> 00:38:00.820
 righteousness.

00:38:03.620 --> 00:38:04.800
 In church, this is

00:38:04.800 --> 00:38:05.880
 exactly what many

00:38:05.880 --> 00:38:07.540
 believers misunderstand.

00:38:07.720 --> 00:38:09.020
 They assume that

00:38:09.020 --> 00:38:10.680
 because they feel the

00:38:10.680 --> 00:38:12.000
 ugliness of sin more

00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:13.140
 deeply than they

00:38:13.140 --> 00:38:13.960
 used to, something

00:38:13.960 --> 00:38:14.820
 must be wrong.

00:38:14.820 --> 00:38:17.260
 in reality, it

00:38:17.260 --> 00:38:17.920
 might be the

00:38:17.920 --> 00:38:18.840
 evidence that God

00:38:18.840 --> 00:38:19.820
 is opening their

00:38:19.820 --> 00:38:21.800
 eyes more clearly

00:38:21.800 --> 00:38:22.760
 than ever before.

00:38:25.120 --> 00:38:26.660
 And why does this

00:38:26.660 --> 00:38:27.019
 matter?

00:38:29.059 --> 00:38:29.960
 Commentator John

00:38:29.960 --> 00:38:31.039
 Murray simply writes,

00:38:31.160 --> 00:38:32.400
 the unregenerate

00:38:32.400 --> 00:38:34.100
 man hates the good.

00:38:34.980 --> 00:38:36.740
 The man of Romans 7

00:38:36.740 --> 00:38:37.700
 hates the evil.

00:38:39.320 --> 00:38:41.039
 The unbeliever hates

00:38:41.039 --> 00:38:41.760
 God's authority,

00:38:41.960 --> 00:38:42.840
 hates God's standard,

00:38:42.840 --> 00:38:44.800
 hates God's claim on

00:38:44.800 --> 00:38:45.360
 his life.

00:38:46.480 --> 00:38:47.660
 Romans 8 will tell

00:38:47.660 --> 00:38:49.460
 us that the mind is

00:38:49.460 --> 00:38:51.019
 set on the flesh, is

00:38:51.019 --> 00:38:53.320
 hostile toward God, but

00:38:53.320 --> 00:38:54.400
 this person in chapter

00:38:54.400 --> 00:38:56.900
 7 who we meet, he

00:38:56.900 --> 00:38:57.700
 hates sin.

00:39:00.220 --> 00:39:01.700
 He hates evil.

00:39:03.700 --> 00:39:05.240
 And this person agrees

00:39:05.240 --> 00:39:06.280
 with God against

00:39:06.280 --> 00:39:06.800
 himself.

00:39:06.800 --> 00:39:07.740
 And that's remarkable

00:39:07.740 --> 00:39:09.880
 because sin always

00:39:09.880 --> 00:39:10.920
 tries to justify

00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:11.500
 itself.

00:39:12.519 --> 00:39:13.180
 Sin always

00:39:13.180 --> 00:39:15.019
 seeks excuses.

00:39:15.280 --> 00:39:16.660
 Sin always looks for

00:39:16.660 --> 00:39:17.480
 someone else to

00:39:17.480 --> 00:39:17.800
 blame.

00:39:18.560 --> 00:39:19.700
 Adam blamed Eve,

00:39:19.800 --> 00:39:20.580
 Eve blamed the

00:39:20.580 --> 00:39:22.280
 serpent, King Saul

00:39:22.280 --> 00:39:23.120
 blamed the people,

00:39:24.400 --> 00:39:25.039
 and we're not much

00:39:25.039 --> 00:39:25.680
 different, right?

00:39:26.760 --> 00:39:27.860
 We blame our

00:39:27.860 --> 00:39:31.160
 upbringing, our

00:39:31.160 --> 00:39:32.260
 stress, our

00:39:32.260 --> 00:39:33.800
 circumstances, our

00:39:33.800 --> 00:39:35.200
 lack of sleep, our

00:39:35.199 --> 00:39:36.679
 personality, our

00:39:36.679 --> 00:39:39.199
 exhaustion, our

00:39:39.199 --> 00:39:40.099
 spouse, our

00:39:40.099 --> 00:39:40.739
 boss, our

00:39:40.739 --> 00:39:42.379
 culture, but Paul

00:39:42.379 --> 00:39:43.119
 doesn't do that.

00:39:44.639 --> 00:39:45.779
 Paul simply says,

00:39:46.079 --> 00:39:47.299
 I hate what I

00:39:47.299 --> 00:39:48.480
 just did.

00:39:49.439 --> 00:39:50.859
 No excuses, no

00:39:50.859 --> 00:39:52.559
 rationalizations, no

00:39:52.559 --> 00:39:53.939
 minimizing, no

00:39:53.939 --> 00:39:54.699
 blame shifting.

00:39:55.980 --> 00:39:57.419
 Only grief and only

00:39:57.419 --> 00:39:57.819
 sorrow.

00:39:58.779 --> 00:40:00.839
 And only hatred for

00:40:00.839 --> 00:40:01.699
 the sin itself.

00:40:01.699 --> 00:40:06.460
 Now I want to speak

00:40:06.460 --> 00:40:07.559
 to you pastorally

00:40:07.559 --> 00:40:08.039
 here now.

00:40:09.019 --> 00:40:09.980
 Because this switch

00:40:09.980 --> 00:40:10.539
 is going to

00:40:10.539 --> 00:40:10.919
 happen.

00:40:14.019 --> 00:40:14.980
 Paul in Romans

00:40:14.980 --> 00:40:16.019
 7 isn't trying to

00:40:16.019 --> 00:40:16.579
 kill you.

00:40:16.960 --> 00:40:17.939
 He's trying to

00:40:17.939 --> 00:40:19.059
 kill your idea

00:40:19.059 --> 00:40:19.899
 that you can

00:40:19.899 --> 00:40:21.119
 improve yourself

00:40:21.119 --> 00:40:22.119
 without Jesus

00:40:22.119 --> 00:40:22.579
 Christ.

00:40:23.500 --> 00:40:24.339
 That's what he's

00:40:24.339 --> 00:40:24.559
 saying.

00:40:28.139 --> 00:40:28.879
 You see,

00:40:29.879 --> 00:40:30.839
 when we become

00:40:30.839 --> 00:40:31.619
 Christians, the

00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:32.440
 Christian life is

00:40:32.440 --> 00:40:33.759
 not merely about

00:40:33.759 --> 00:40:35.039
 receiving new

00:40:35.039 --> 00:40:35.599
 rules.

00:40:36.440 --> 00:40:37.400
 There's new ways

00:40:37.400 --> 00:40:37.759
 to live.

00:40:37.839 --> 00:40:38.179
 No, no, no.

00:40:38.239 --> 00:40:38.980
 That's not the way

00:40:38.980 --> 00:40:39.960
 Christianity works.

00:40:41.960 --> 00:40:44.019
 Christianity is

00:40:44.019 --> 00:40:45.460
 about receiving new

00:40:45.460 --> 00:40:47.099
 affections.

00:40:47.819 --> 00:40:49.099
 It's about receiving

00:40:49.099 --> 00:40:50.539
 new loves.

00:40:52.119 --> 00:40:52.639
 You see, the

00:40:52.639 --> 00:40:53.179
 Spirit doesn't

00:40:53.179 --> 00:40:54.159
 merely teach us

00:40:54.159 --> 00:40:55.239
 what God loves.

00:40:56.039 --> 00:40:57.259
 The Holy Spirit

00:40:57.259 --> 00:40:58.759
 gradually teaches us

00:40:58.760 --> 00:41:00.080
 to love what God

00:41:00.080 --> 00:41:01.920
 loves and to

00:41:01.920 --> 00:41:03.540
 hate what God

00:41:03.540 --> 00:41:04.460
 hates.

00:41:06.040 --> 00:41:07.280
 The Holy Spirit

00:41:07.280 --> 00:41:08.460
 gradually teaches

00:41:08.460 --> 00:41:10.020
 us to love what

00:41:10.020 --> 00:41:11.520
 God loves and to

00:41:11.520 --> 00:41:12.500
 hate what God

00:41:12.500 --> 00:41:12.800
 hates.

00:41:13.220 --> 00:41:14.040
 And you guys know

00:41:14.040 --> 00:41:15.240
 this goes on in our

00:41:15.240 --> 00:41:16.080
 lives as we grow.

00:41:16.420 --> 00:41:16.900
 There's certain

00:41:16.900 --> 00:41:17.720
 things that we can

00:41:17.720 --> 00:41:18.580
 accept in the world

00:41:18.580 --> 00:41:19.740
 and we don't mind.

00:41:20.100 --> 00:41:21.260
 But later on, a few

00:41:21.260 --> 00:41:22.140
 years later, I'm just

00:41:22.140 --> 00:41:23.540
 a little bit squirmy

00:41:23.540 --> 00:41:24.140
 about that.

00:41:24.139 --> 00:41:26.659
 I'm not comfortable

00:41:26.659 --> 00:41:27.659
 with watching that

00:41:27.659 --> 00:41:28.119
 TV show.

00:41:28.299 --> 00:41:28.920
 Well, you watched

00:41:28.920 --> 00:41:29.599
 that 10 years ago.

00:41:29.719 --> 00:41:30.579
 I know that was

00:41:30.579 --> 00:41:30.859
 then.

00:41:31.159 --> 00:41:31.559
 This is now.

00:41:31.619 --> 00:41:32.199
 I'm not that

00:41:32.199 --> 00:41:32.739
 comfortable with

00:41:32.739 --> 00:41:32.980
 this.

00:41:38.359 --> 00:41:39.299
 You see, this is

00:41:39.299 --> 00:41:43.099
 why a true

00:41:43.099 --> 00:41:43.719
 believer cannot

00:41:43.719 --> 00:41:44.500
 make peace with

00:41:44.500 --> 00:41:44.739
 sin.

00:41:49.179 --> 00:41:49.920
 Let me answer

00:41:49.920 --> 00:41:50.239
 a question.

00:41:50.239 --> 00:41:51.500
 Ask a question.

00:41:51.500 --> 00:41:53.920
 Can a believer

00:41:53.920 --> 00:41:54.500
 fall?

00:41:55.059 --> 00:41:55.659
 Yes, he can.

00:41:56.940 --> 00:41:57.940
 Can a believer

00:41:57.940 --> 00:41:58.539
 stumble?

00:41:59.199 --> 00:41:59.679
 Absolutely.

00:42:01.139 --> 00:42:02.179
 Can a believer

00:42:02.179 --> 00:42:02.840
 drift?

00:42:03.800 --> 00:42:04.780
 Sadly, yes.

00:42:05.659 --> 00:42:06.940
 But a true believer

00:42:06.940 --> 00:42:08.039
 can never be

00:42:08.039 --> 00:42:08.880
 comfortable with

00:42:08.880 --> 00:42:09.659
 their sin.

00:42:09.719 --> 00:42:10.059
 You know what I'm

00:42:10.059 --> 00:42:10.500
 talking about?

00:42:10.860 --> 00:42:11.639
 And some of you,

00:42:12.159 --> 00:42:12.739
 if you've made

00:42:12.739 --> 00:42:13.639
 disaster choices,

00:42:13.760 --> 00:42:14.239
 you know what I'm

00:42:14.239 --> 00:42:14.699
 talking about.

00:42:14.760 --> 00:42:15.300
 You're in that

00:42:15.300 --> 00:42:16.840
 moment, whether

00:42:16.840 --> 00:42:17.760
 it's a relationship

00:42:17.760 --> 00:42:19.239
 or a use of money

00:42:19.239 --> 00:42:20.039
 or some other

00:42:20.039 --> 00:42:20.320
 thing.

00:42:20.539 --> 00:42:21.380
 You're doing it.

00:42:21.380 --> 00:42:22.380
 You feel that

00:42:22.380 --> 00:42:22.920
 call, but you're

00:42:22.920 --> 00:42:23.140
 in there.

00:42:23.260 --> 00:42:24.700
 It just doesn't

00:42:24.700 --> 00:42:26.019
 feel good.

00:42:28.420 --> 00:42:29.220
 And that's a

00:42:29.220 --> 00:42:29.680
 good thing.

00:42:30.559 --> 00:42:31.160
 Because that

00:42:31.160 --> 00:42:32.220
 indicates that God

00:42:32.220 --> 00:42:33.240
 has changed

00:42:33.240 --> 00:42:34.800
 your heart.

00:42:38.720 --> 00:42:39.800
 You see, now

00:42:39.800 --> 00:42:40.740
 there is something

00:42:40.740 --> 00:42:43.039
 inside of you

00:42:43.039 --> 00:42:45.260
 that will keep

00:42:45.260 --> 00:42:46.079
 crying out,

00:42:46.340 --> 00:42:47.200
 this isn't who

00:42:47.200 --> 00:42:48.099
 I want to be.

00:42:49.059 --> 00:42:50.039
 This isn't what

00:42:50.039 --> 00:42:50.380
 I love.

00:42:50.380 --> 00:42:51.119
 This isn't what

00:42:51.119 --> 00:42:52.380
 I really desire.

00:42:53.820 --> 00:42:54.940
 And my friends,

00:42:55.039 --> 00:42:55.840
 that is evidence

00:42:55.840 --> 00:42:57.059
 of God at work.

00:42:58.219 --> 00:42:59.440
 Because the battle

00:42:59.440 --> 00:43:00.539
 itself reveals

00:43:00.539 --> 00:43:01.779
 new life.

00:43:01.860 --> 00:43:02.800
 Because those

00:43:02.800 --> 00:43:03.360
 that are dead

00:43:03.360 --> 00:43:03.779
 in Christ,

00:43:03.860 --> 00:43:04.500
 they don't fight,

00:43:04.579 --> 00:43:05.300
 they don't grieve,

00:43:05.420 --> 00:43:06.619
 they don't hate

00:43:06.619 --> 00:43:07.380
 sin.

00:43:08.659 --> 00:43:09.519
 But if you're

00:43:09.519 --> 00:43:10.840
 alive to Christ,

00:43:11.440 --> 00:43:12.719
 you hate

00:43:12.719 --> 00:43:13.699
 sin.

00:43:13.699 --> 00:43:19.980
 So, if this

00:43:19.980 --> 00:43:20.659
 is true, an

00:43:20.659 --> 00:43:21.519
 obvious question

00:43:21.519 --> 00:43:21.960
 emerges.

00:43:22.919 --> 00:43:24.179
 If Paul agrees

00:43:24.179 --> 00:43:25.279
 with God, if Paul

00:43:25.279 --> 00:43:26.500
 hates the sin, if

00:43:26.500 --> 00:43:27.639
 Paul loves

00:43:27.639 --> 00:43:28.759
 righteousness, then

00:43:28.759 --> 00:43:30.519
 what does that say

00:43:30.519 --> 00:43:31.939
 about the law?

00:43:32.939 --> 00:43:34.119
 Does Paul's

00:43:34.119 --> 00:43:34.699
 failure prove

00:43:35.379 --> 00:43:36.559
 that God's

00:43:36.559 --> 00:43:37.319
 standard is

00:43:37.319 --> 00:43:38.119
 somehow

00:43:38.119 --> 00:43:39.019
 defective?

00:43:39.019 --> 00:43:40.739
 does Paul's

00:43:40.739 --> 00:43:41.519
 struggle prove

00:43:41.519 --> 00:43:42.719
 that God's

00:43:42.719 --> 00:43:43.440
 commands are

00:43:43.440 --> 00:43:44.360
 somewhat

00:43:44.360 --> 00:43:45.059
 unreasonable?

00:43:47.159 --> 00:43:47.900
 Verse 6,

00:43:47.980 --> 00:43:48.840
 16 simply

00:43:48.840 --> 00:43:49.239
 says,

00:43:49.360 --> 00:43:50.179
 now if I do

00:43:50.179 --> 00:43:50.739
 what I do

00:43:50.739 --> 00:43:51.420
 not want,

00:43:51.900 --> 00:43:53.320
 I agree with

00:43:53.320 --> 00:43:53.900
 the law and

00:43:53.900 --> 00:43:54.539
 that is good.

00:43:56.539 --> 00:43:57.460
 And what does

00:43:57.460 --> 00:43:58.440
 Paul mean by

00:43:58.440 --> 00:43:58.800
 that?

00:43:59.759 --> 00:44:00.539
 That's what we're

00:44:00.539 --> 00:44:00.900
 going to cover

00:44:00.900 --> 00:44:02.059
 next sermon.

00:44:02.780 --> 00:44:03.639
 Let me pray.

00:44:03.639 --> 00:44:06.379
 Father, I pray

00:44:06.379 --> 00:44:07.039
 that this sermon

00:44:07.039 --> 00:44:07.960
 not only giving

00:44:07.960 --> 00:44:09.960
 us understanding

00:44:09.960 --> 00:44:13.019
 would give us

00:44:13.019 --> 00:44:13.839
 a measure of

00:44:13.839 --> 00:44:14.319
 freedom.

00:44:16.480 --> 00:44:17.619
 To know that

00:44:17.619 --> 00:44:18.339
 in our own

00:44:18.339 --> 00:44:19.319
 struggles is

00:44:19.319 --> 00:44:20.719
 not the battle

00:44:20.719 --> 00:44:22.179
 that we're

00:44:22.179 --> 00:44:23.539
 saved, it's a

00:44:23.539 --> 00:44:26.139
 battle that we

00:44:26.139 --> 00:44:26.839
 just hate the

00:44:26.839 --> 00:44:27.460
 things of this

00:44:27.460 --> 00:44:27.739
 world.

00:44:27.859 --> 00:44:28.599
 We hate what

00:44:28.599 --> 00:44:30.000
 our flesh is

00:44:30.000 --> 00:44:30.980
 drawn to.

00:44:33.639 --> 00:44:35.639
 As I've

00:44:35.639 --> 00:44:36.000
 said many

00:44:36.000 --> 00:44:36.619
 times, Lord,

00:44:36.719 --> 00:44:37.460
 you know each

00:44:37.460 --> 00:44:37.779
 and every

00:44:37.779 --> 00:44:38.599
 story here.

00:44:39.299 --> 00:44:40.239
 And I pray

00:44:40.239 --> 00:44:40.799
 that you would

00:44:40.799 --> 00:44:41.259
 through the

00:44:41.259 --> 00:44:41.960
 power of your

00:44:41.960 --> 00:44:43.079
 spirit relate

00:44:43.079 --> 00:44:44.980
 these scriptural

00:44:44.980 --> 00:44:45.699
 truths to

00:44:45.699 --> 00:44:46.559
 every story

00:44:46.559 --> 00:44:47.179
 here, every

00:44:47.179 --> 00:44:48.420
 background from

00:44:48.420 --> 00:44:49.199
 every nation,

00:44:49.359 --> 00:44:50.359
 every language.

00:44:55.920 --> 00:44:56.739
 Fact is,

00:44:56.819 --> 00:44:57.940
 sometimes Satan

00:44:57.940 --> 00:44:59.139
 attacks us when

00:44:59.139 --> 00:45:00.980
 we're feeling

00:45:00.980 --> 00:45:01.879
 empty and

00:45:01.879 --> 00:45:02.779
 destitute and

00:45:02.780 --> 00:45:03.400
 instead of

00:45:03.400 --> 00:45:04.000
 running to

00:45:04.000 --> 00:45:04.540
 you, oh

00:45:04.540 --> 00:45:05.180
 Jesus, we

00:45:05.180 --> 00:45:05.840
 ran from

00:45:05.840 --> 00:45:06.140
 you.

00:45:08.460 --> 00:45:09.680
 We try to

00:45:09.680 --> 00:45:11.000
 satisfy ourselves

00:45:11.000 --> 00:45:11.960
 in other ways,

00:45:12.040 --> 00:45:12.460
 whether it

00:45:12.460 --> 00:45:13.880
 could be work

00:45:13.880 --> 00:45:14.900
 or pursuing

00:45:14.900 --> 00:45:15.480
 my own

00:45:15.480 --> 00:45:17.060
 hobbies, other

00:45:17.060 --> 00:45:17.940
 relationships,

00:45:18.900 --> 00:45:19.800
 buying things I

00:45:19.800 --> 00:45:20.620
 did not need

00:45:20.620 --> 00:45:21.180
 nor could

00:45:21.180 --> 00:45:21.660
 afford.

00:45:22.000 --> 00:45:22.519
 There's just

00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:23.460
 many things

00:45:23.460 --> 00:45:24.600
 that sometimes

00:45:24.600 --> 00:45:25.620
 come with very

00:45:25.620 --> 00:45:27.180
 high consequences.

00:45:28.780 --> 00:45:30.019
 But for those

00:45:30.019 --> 00:45:30.700
 who were there

00:45:30.700 --> 00:45:31.480
 and then felt

00:45:31.480 --> 00:45:32.639
 the angst of

00:45:32.639 --> 00:45:33.320
 hating it,

00:45:33.380 --> 00:45:34.380
 not loving who

00:45:34.380 --> 00:45:34.800
 they were,

00:45:34.920 --> 00:45:36.500
 but hating who

00:45:36.500 --> 00:45:37.679
 we were,

00:45:38.760 --> 00:45:40.039
 Father, I say

00:45:40.039 --> 00:45:40.639
 praise the

00:45:40.639 --> 00:45:40.940
 Lord.

00:45:42.280 --> 00:45:43.099
 Praise the

00:45:43.099 --> 00:45:43.860
 Lord that we

00:45:43.860 --> 00:45:44.519
 knew just

00:45:44.519 --> 00:45:45.039
 through that

00:45:45.039 --> 00:45:46.219
 own hatred

00:45:46.219 --> 00:45:47.480
 of ourselves

00:45:47.480 --> 00:45:47.980
 and those

00:45:47.980 --> 00:45:48.940
 actions, you

00:45:48.940 --> 00:45:49.619
 were the one

00:45:49.619 --> 00:45:50.820
 redeeming us,

00:45:51.219 --> 00:45:52.039
 calling us

00:45:52.039 --> 00:45:53.480
 back to you.

00:45:53.480 --> 00:45:57.039
 for those who

00:45:57.039 --> 00:45:58.000
 do not know

00:45:58.000 --> 00:45:58.480
 you, oh

00:45:58.480 --> 00:45:59.000
 Father, and

00:45:59.000 --> 00:45:59.519
 are kind of

00:45:59.519 --> 00:46:00.420
 curious about

00:46:00.420 --> 00:46:01.099
 Christianity,

00:46:01.980 --> 00:46:03.860
 this is the

00:46:03.860 --> 00:46:05.059
 core of it.

00:46:06.460 --> 00:46:07.480
 It's being in

00:46:07.480 --> 00:46:08.280
 harmony with the

00:46:08.280 --> 00:46:09.099
 righteous God

00:46:09.099 --> 00:46:10.000
 to know that

00:46:10.000 --> 00:46:11.559
 there is an

00:46:11.559 --> 00:46:12.500
 power of the

00:46:12.500 --> 00:46:13.500
 indwelling spirit

00:46:13.500 --> 00:46:14.760
 that is stronger

00:46:14.760 --> 00:46:15.619
 than the

00:46:15.619 --> 00:46:16.500
 indwelling sin.

00:46:16.500 --> 00:46:21.179
 And Father, we

00:46:21.179 --> 00:46:21.619
 need to be

00:46:21.619 --> 00:46:22.159
 taught this

00:46:22.159 --> 00:46:22.739
 lesson and

00:46:22.739 --> 00:46:24.039
 I look forward

00:46:24.039 --> 00:46:24.659
 to Romans

00:46:24.659 --> 00:46:25.139
 8.

00:46:31.659 --> 00:46:32.480
 That power

00:46:32.480 --> 00:46:32.780
 of the

00:46:32.780 --> 00:46:34.239
 spirit that

00:46:34.239 --> 00:46:36.619
 we rejoice

00:46:36.619 --> 00:46:37.360
 in the law

00:46:37.360 --> 00:46:37.820
 of God,

00:46:37.920 --> 00:46:39.139
 we rejoice

00:46:39.139 --> 00:46:40.739
 in the

00:46:40.739 --> 00:46:41.619
 affections of

00:46:41.619 --> 00:46:41.980
 God,

00:46:42.699 --> 00:46:43.579
 that we

00:46:43.579 --> 00:46:44.199
 begin to

00:46:44.199 --> 00:46:44.659
 grow

00:46:44.659 --> 00:46:46.379
 and to

00:46:46.379 --> 00:46:46.879
 love what

00:46:46.879 --> 00:46:47.719
 God loves

00:46:47.719 --> 00:46:48.319
 and hates

00:46:48.319 --> 00:46:48.980
 what God

00:46:48.980 --> 00:46:49.399
 hates.

00:46:52.079 --> 00:46:52.759
 So

00:46:52.759 --> 00:46:53.379
 Father, as

00:46:53.379 --> 00:46:54.119
 you prepare

00:46:54.119 --> 00:46:54.960
 ourselves for

00:46:54.960 --> 00:46:55.739
 this communion

00:46:55.739 --> 00:46:56.199
 table,

00:46:57.059 --> 00:46:58.159
 this is a

00:46:58.159 --> 00:46:58.940
 relational

00:46:58.940 --> 00:46:59.639
 exercise,

00:47:00.059 --> 00:47:00.259
 a

00:47:00.259 --> 00:47:03.519
 relational

00:47:03.519 --> 00:47:05.679
 command that

00:47:05.679 --> 00:47:06.079
 you give

00:47:06.079 --> 00:47:06.399
 us,

00:47:08.199 --> 00:47:09.259
 a command

00:47:09.259 --> 00:47:10.159
 that invites

00:47:10.159 --> 00:47:10.879
 us to

00:47:10.879 --> 00:47:11.359
 this

00:47:11.359 --> 00:47:13.119
 wonderful

00:47:13.119 --> 00:47:13.899
 harmony of

00:47:13.899 --> 00:47:14.599
 a relationship

00:47:14.599 --> 00:47:15.199
 with you

00:47:15.199 --> 00:47:16.259
 that can

00:47:16.259 --> 00:47:16.739
 only be

00:47:16.739 --> 00:47:17.360
 experienced

00:47:17.360 --> 00:47:17.839
 with other

00:47:17.839 --> 00:47:18.259
 believers.

00:47:19.539 --> 00:47:20.119
 Not

00:47:20.119 --> 00:47:20.819
 something done

00:47:20.819 --> 00:47:21.440
 at home

00:47:21.440 --> 00:47:22.199
 alone or

00:47:22.199 --> 00:47:23.199
 just with a

00:47:23.199 --> 00:47:23.839
 few friends,

00:47:23.980 --> 00:47:24.659
 but this is

00:47:24.659 --> 00:47:25.860
 meant to be

00:47:25.860 --> 00:47:26.360
 done with

00:47:26.360 --> 00:47:26.940
 the gathered

00:47:26.940 --> 00:47:27.599
 church.

00:47:28.719 --> 00:47:29.319
 It's a

00:47:29.319 --> 00:47:30.119
 testimony that

00:47:30.119 --> 00:47:31.119
 simply says we

00:47:31.119 --> 00:47:32.299
 are gathered

00:47:32.299 --> 00:47:33.440
 in one.

00:47:35.480 --> 00:47:36.239
 Because of

00:47:36.239 --> 00:47:37.039
 that vertical

00:47:37.039 --> 00:47:37.739
 love to you,

00:47:37.799 --> 00:47:38.179
 we have a

00:47:38.179 --> 00:47:38.779
 love for one

00:47:38.779 --> 00:47:39.079
 another.

00:47:39.079 --> 00:47:39.139
 father.

00:47:41.639 --> 00:47:42.819
 So father, I

00:47:42.819 --> 00:47:43.799
 just pray for

00:47:43.799 --> 00:47:45.860
 a time of

00:47:45.860 --> 00:47:46.599
 silence where

00:47:46.599 --> 00:47:48.880
 we can use

00:47:48.880 --> 00:47:49.860
 this time to

00:47:49.860 --> 00:47:52.819
 meditate, to

00:47:52.819 --> 00:47:53.940
 ponder upon

00:47:53.940 --> 00:47:54.860
 these words that

00:47:54.860 --> 00:47:55.159
 have been

00:47:55.159 --> 00:47:55.699
 spoken.

00:47:57.299 --> 00:47:58.179
 Maybe for

00:47:58.179 --> 00:47:58.840
 some it's an

00:47:58.840 --> 00:47:59.599
 opportunity to

00:47:59.599 --> 00:48:00.440
 rejoice because

00:48:00.440 --> 00:48:01.259
 they know the

00:48:01.259 --> 00:48:02.599
 struggle means

00:48:02.599 --> 00:48:03.460
 that you are

00:48:03.460 --> 00:48:04.539
 indeed real.

00:48:04.539 --> 00:48:06.460
 I remember the

00:48:06.460 --> 00:48:07.639
 greatest fear

00:48:07.639 --> 00:48:08.380
 that I grew

00:48:08.380 --> 00:48:09.119
 up with was

00:48:09.119 --> 00:48:09.659
 that you

00:48:09.659 --> 00:48:11.320
 would flee

00:48:11.320 --> 00:48:11.900
 from me.

00:48:12.019 --> 00:48:12.599
 And I didn't

00:48:12.599 --> 00:48:13.480
 mean salvation,

00:48:14.480 --> 00:48:15.980
 but the joy of

00:48:15.980 --> 00:48:16.820
 our fellowship,

00:48:16.820 --> 00:48:17.380
 of being

00:48:17.380 --> 00:48:17.920
 together.

00:48:17.920 --> 00:48:21.400
 I never wanted

00:48:21.400 --> 00:48:22.159
 to damage

00:48:22.159 --> 00:48:22.500
 that.

00:48:23.619 --> 00:48:24.360
 And I still

00:48:24.360 --> 00:48:24.800
 don't.

00:48:27.159 --> 00:48:28.000
 I want to

00:48:28.000 --> 00:48:28.700
 walk in the

00:48:28.700 --> 00:48:30.000
 renewing power

00:48:30.000 --> 00:48:30.659
 of your Holy

00:48:30.659 --> 00:48:31.099
 Spirit.

00:48:34.119 --> 00:48:35.139
 So father, I

00:48:35.139 --> 00:48:35.680
 thank you for

00:48:35.680 --> 00:48:36.460
 this cup that

00:48:36.460 --> 00:48:37.159
 we are about to

00:48:37.159 --> 00:48:38.079
 partake in this

00:48:38.079 --> 00:48:38.480
 bread.

00:48:41.480 --> 00:48:42.519
 May our minds

00:48:42.519 --> 00:48:43.380
 be on you

00:48:43.380 --> 00:48:45.780
 and as we

00:48:45.780 --> 00:48:46.639
 wait until that

00:48:46.639 --> 00:48:47.480
 time when

00:48:47.480 --> 00:48:49.559
 you will come

00:48:49.559 --> 00:48:50.199
 again and we

00:48:50.199 --> 00:48:50.860
 will no longer

00:48:50.860 --> 00:48:52.480
 do this apart

00:48:52.480 --> 00:48:53.179
 from you, but

00:48:53.179 --> 00:48:53.860
 we will do

00:48:53.860 --> 00:48:55.199
 this with you.

00:48:56.139 --> 00:48:57.119
 I ask these

00:48:57.119 --> 00:48:57.659
 things in your

00:48:57.659 --> 00:48:58.139
 most holy,

00:48:58.360 --> 00:48:58.840
 precious, and

00:48:58.840 --> 00:48:59.740
 everlasting name.

00:49:00.519 --> 00:49:00.940
 Amen.