WEBVTT

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 If you're here for the first time or for the 200th time, I don't know if we've been meeting that long.

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 We've been around for about three years.

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 We've talked about going on a journey.

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 We've talked about the Christian life is a journey.

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 We've talked about all of life is a journey.

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 And sometimes we put an illustration up that's in your bulletin, hopefully, and it's this diagram right here.

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 And we think this diagram best represents what the Christian life looks like as we, as children of God, walk with him.

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 We're on this journey and we're walking through life.

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 And all of a sudden, at some point in our life, God's spirit comes into our life and opens our eyes.

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 And we see A and B.

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 We see our sinfulness and we see God's holiness.

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 And at that point, we invite Christ into our life.

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 Christ comes into our life.

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 He changes us.

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 We enter out of the, Scripture says, from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light.

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 But we continue on this journey after that conversion point.

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 And what Scripture says and what Romans has been teaching us is that as we grow, as we continue to journey,

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 that A and B continue to increase.

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 If we're walking the normal Christian life, we're going to continually grow in our awareness of God's holiness.

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 If we're walking the normal Christian life, we're going to continually grow in our awareness of our sinfulness and our indwelling sin and our fleshiness.

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 And if A and B are growing and getting wider, then the cross fills that space and the cross becomes more beautiful and wonderful and purposeful to us.

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 As Christians, the cross is everything because it's where we are redeemed and brought back to the Father.

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 But the passage today and the things we've been talking about is that it doesn't work like that.

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 That there's this struggle, this indwelling sin in us.

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 And this indwelling sin in us tends to shrink our vision of the cross.

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 It shrinks our vision of what Christ has done for us.

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 It shrinks our idea of our need for redemption and to be saved.

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 Either we say things like, well, you know, God really isn't that good.

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 Because if he was good, he would be doing these things for me.

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 My life would be different than he is right now.

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 And so A shrinks.

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 Or we say things like, you know, I'm really not that bad.

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 I'm really not that bad of a person.

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 When I look at the people in my office, I'm surely not as bad as my boss.

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 My boss is terrible, but I'm not that bad.

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 And so we develop our own righteousness.

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 And so the cross gets smaller and smaller.

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 If A decreases, if we see God as less holy, then what we do is we start to perform.

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 We don't think of God as holy and totally other.

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 We think of him as just Tobin plus 10.

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 And so we think we can do things and we perform and we come to church

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 and we enter the worship team and we preach and we tithe and we serve

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 and we do all these things.

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 But all these things are is our performance in trying to make up for

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 how small God has gotten in our eyes.

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 If B decreases, if B decreases, what we do is we tend to minimize our sin.

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 We pretend.

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 We say, well, we're not as bad as we really think we are.

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 Well, when we go to church, sometimes I get depressed

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 because they talk about how we're totally deprived and we're sinful

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 and things are really bad, but that's not really true.

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 And so we pretend.

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 We compensate by pretending.

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 The Romans says we wear a mask.

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 And so when you come in here, people ask, how are you doing?

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 You go, great, thanks, fine, everything's good.

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 Because we don't want people to see our brokenness.

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 We don't want people to see our need for the gospel.

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 We don't want people to see what we struggle with.

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 We don't want people to see our shadows and our dark places.

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 And so we pretend.

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 And as we pretend or as we perform, what we do is we shrink God.

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 And most of us are on this journey that we want to shrink God down into this little box

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 because we get God into this little box and we can control him or we can rub him

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 and we need to do something and he pops up like a genie.

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 And the passage that we've been talking about throughout Romans and what we're going to talk about today

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 is why this happens in our life as followers of God.

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 And it's this idea of indwelling sin.

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 That sin stays within us and it indwells in us and it changes us.

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 You know, guys, today is this massively difficult and important passage.

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 I think no other parts of scripture besides Romans 6, 7, and 8 have changed my life

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 in the 30 years plus that I've tried to walk with God.

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 What you heard, read today is this idea that there's this indwelling sin in us

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 and it stops our journey.

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 It prevents us from doing what we want to do.

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 You know, my greatest fear is I'm going to do a bad job of covering it today.

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 My greatest fear is it's such a massive and huge thing that I'm going to just slice off a little bit of it.

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 And so I've been praying and praying that we would all see that this struggle is true of all of us.

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 You know, I think about it.

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 When I talk to non-Christians, people who aren't in church, people who are pre-Christians,

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 some of the things they say sometimes is,

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 well, I don't like to be around Christians because it seems like they're always talking about struggle

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 and things are difficult and things are hard.

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 But what I've realized in my journey is that all of us struggle.

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 Even people who aren't in the family of Christ.

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 We all struggle on this journey of life.

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 We all struggle.

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 And we've been reading about it in Romans, Romans 1, 2, and 3.

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 It talks about that we all struggle and that before we come to Christ,

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 we all struggle with God.

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 We all struggle with this idea of God, that he's holy and he's righteous,

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 and so we don't like it, and so we try to make our own righteousness.

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 We try to develop our own purpose.

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 We try to develop our own meaning.

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 We try to avoid this idea of judgment that we talked about in Romans 1, 2, and 3

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 because God would never judge us.

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 We try to think of God in different ways.

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 We try to think of God in our image because it would be easier if God was like Tobin or like you

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 because then you would never have to worry about displeasing him or not being holy

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 because he's just like you and everything's going to be great.

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 And so before we come to Christ, we struggle with this, and we try to avoid God.

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 We try to create God in an image that we can handle, or we try to be God,

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 and we try to serve ourselves.

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 And so even before we come to Christ, we struggle.

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 But the passage that we've been reading says that once we enter into the family,

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 we continue to struggle.

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 I mean, life is this struggle.

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 But now once we come into the family because of the gospel, because of what Jesus has done,

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 now we have this different struggle in us.

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 And this struggle is these conflicts of these beings inside of us.

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 We struggle with our old person, our old flesh, the sinfulness, and our total depravity.

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 Remember we talked about total depravity before?

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 I mean, I don't know if I did a very good job of describing it because people kind of came up and asked questions.

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 But I said, you know, total depravity means that everything about us is tainted, right?

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 We all are tainted with sin and brokenness and selfishness, and we all have this in every part of our life.

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 And if sin were the color blue, that if you looked at you, if you looked at your heart,

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 that every part of you would have this kind of shade of blue.

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 Now, we wouldn't be all blue, but total depravity doesn't mean you're totally sinful.

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 It means that there's not a part of you that isn't touched by sin.

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 And so everything we do, our thoughts, our actions, our deeds, they all are blue.

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 Now that we come to Christ, we struggle with this because we have this blueness in us,

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 but that we have this new spirit that came in us, and it's this righteousness that God put in us,

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 and God saves us, and he gives us this new nature.

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 But when he does it, when he gives us this new nature,

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 the thing that bothers me is he doesn't take away our old nature.

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 The Bible doesn't say that God takes away our old nature.

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 The Bible doesn't say that God takes away our sinfulness.

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 He doesn't take away our corruptedness.

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 We still feel its power.

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 We still feel its pull.

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 We still feel its influence.

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 We still feel its longings on both of us.

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 And so we have this struggle between our old nature and our new nature,

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 between our sinfulness and our total depravity and our righteousness.

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 And the passage says that as long as we're on earth, please listen to me,

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 as long as you're alive, as long as, I call this our earth suit,

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 as long as we're wearing this earth suit, we're going to struggle.

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 And as Christians, we're going to struggle with this conflict between these two natures.

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 Does that make sense?

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 Because I didn't understand that for a long time in my life.

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 For a long time in my life, people said,

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 when you come to Christ, everything's going to be great.

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 When you come to Christ, you get a Rolex, and you get a great job,

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 and you get a great wife, and you get a great house, and you get a great family,

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 and no problems, nothing ever happens wrong.

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 And if something happens wrong, it means that you don't understand it totally.

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 You go back and reboot, and you reboot, and everything's going to be perfect.

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 But the Bible says no.

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 And if you hang around people who say they're perfect and they're not broken,

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 you need to run away from those people.

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 Because those are the people that grab a lot of people around them

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 and go off to some Africa or some country,

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 and they start their little commune, and bad things happen.

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 When you're around perfect people, right?

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 It does.

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 Bad things happen when you're around perfect people

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 because you start to feel how imperfect you are.

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 But the passage doesn't say that.

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 The passage says we have this struggle,

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 and the struggle's always going to be with us.

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 And to me, it's incredibly comforting.

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 Because I grew up thinking I was going to be perfect,

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 but I still felt imperfect, and I still felt this struggle,

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 and I wondered, why am I feeling this struggle?

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 What's wrong with me?

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 How come I can't do these things?

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 And I started reading Romans, and I realized that's normal.

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 That there's a battle within me, and this battle is struggling,

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 and this battle wants control.

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 And so I want to start a dialogue today.

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 I want to begin this foundation of this talk,

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 and we're going to come back to it over and over and over

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 because I'm sure we're going to have to.

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 And what I want to look at in this passage is three things.

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 I want to look at our struggle.

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 So what does the battle look like?

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 Why are we battling in this struggle?

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 What is this conflict?

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 I want to look at what does it look like in our lives?

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 How does it live out here?

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 Because Paul gives three really powerful examples

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 of what his struggle looks like.

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 And then the third thing is I want to see how we can deal with this struggle.

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 Okay, so why do we have this struggle?

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 What does it look like?

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 And how we can deal with it?

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 That's pretty easy.

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 That's the only way I can think simplistically like that.

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 So you guys ready?

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 Because you guys are really quiet, and you're kind of looking at me like,

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 okay, this is a really weird person.

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 I don't know what's going on here.

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 Why do we have this struggle?

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 For thousands of years as Christians,

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 we have been trying to deal with the problem of sin in our life.

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 You know that?

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 For thousands of years,

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 Christians have been trying to deal with the issue of indwelling sin in our life,

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 and people have done amazing things to try to escape the struggle

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 and the conflict within them.

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 I mean, early Christians would go to the desert.

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 Some of my favorite writings and authors were these guys called the Desert Fathers.

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 And these Desert Fathers went to the desert,

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 and they tried to just escape everything around them that caused sin.

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 They tried to just separate themselves,

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 and they did some weird things.

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 I mean, they wrote some great books and articles,

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 but they did some crazy things,

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 and they just tried to separate themselves from the world,

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 tried to separate themselves from evil,

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 tried to create their own little commune,

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 and tried to get rid of all this indwelling sin within them.

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 And they figured, if I can get rid of this stuff,

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 I can get rid of this stuff.

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 Some of us do that today, don't we?

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 I mean, it seems to me that some of us struggle with creating this perfect world.

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 Some of us try to separate things that cause discomfort and pain

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 and tension and sinfulness.

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 It happens all the time.

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 I read about it in America.

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 They're trying to separate these different things from this and this different things,

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 and if we can create this great utopia.

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 They try to do it in Switzerland with Calvin and Zurich and Zwingli,

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 and they try to separate all these things,

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 and so we do these weird things, and we do it today.

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 But the passage says that, and history tells us,

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 no matter how much we try to separate ourselves from the bad influences

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 and the sinfulness and the stuff outside of us,

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 we can't separate ourselves from our heart.

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 We can't separate ourselves from the indwelling sin in our life.

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 No matter how much we try to change our schedule or our regiment,

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 that our heart is still there, and we struggle with this flesh.

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 We struggle with this fallenness.

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 There's a really interesting story in the Desert Fathers.

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 The most holy guy, he'd been in the deserts for like 30 years,

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 and everybody came to listen to wisdom and all the things that he did,

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 and he was just amazing.

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 And so the story says that one day the devil went to tempt him,

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 and the devil went to tempt this Desert Father

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 who'd been in the desert for 30 years,

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 separating himself from all things that would cause sin,

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 and he tried to tempt him with lust, and the guy said, no.

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 Tried to tempt him with power, and the guy didn't take it.

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 Tried to tempt him with money, he didn't do it.

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 And the devil goes, wow, you're really holy.

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 And as the devil was walking out of the guy's hut,

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 the devil turned around and said, hey, I just want to congratulate you on your brother

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 for being nominated the new pope of Rome.

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 What an amazing thing he did.

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 And the story says that all of a sudden this anger rose up within this monk,

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 and he realized that as much as he wants to separate himself

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 from the things that cause discomfort and sin and pain and badness in his world,

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 that he couldn't separate himself from his heart,

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 and the brokenness in his heart.

00:13:46.659 --> 00:13:49.799
 And that's what Paul says here in verse 14.

00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:50.259
 Look at it.

00:13:50.339 --> 00:13:53.819
 He says, I know that the law is spiritual, but I am flesh.

00:13:53.899 --> 00:13:55.360
 I am sold into the bodies of sin.

00:13:55.699 --> 00:13:58.399
 When he says I am flesh, he says the law is spiritual.

00:13:58.579 --> 00:14:00.719
 It's been given by God.

00:14:00.980 --> 00:14:03.759
 The word actually means it's been imported by the Holy Spirit,

00:14:04.120 --> 00:14:04.779
 that it's good.

00:14:04.860 --> 00:14:05.799
 It's from the Lord.

00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:07.459
 The law isn't bad.

00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:09.659
 But in me, there's this flesh.

00:14:09.779 --> 00:14:13.139
 There's this sinful nature, this thing that dwells within me.

00:14:13.139 --> 00:14:17.419
 And this battle fights on.

00:14:18.980 --> 00:14:23.539
 We talked about in chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 that people said that the law is bad.

00:14:24.340 --> 00:14:25.899
 The law causes us to stumble.

00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:27.279
 The law causes me to get in trouble.

00:14:27.659 --> 00:14:30.000
 And what Paul is saying is the law is just like this x-ray.

00:14:31.159 --> 00:14:34.939
 This law takes this x-ray of our life, and it shows us what's in our heart.

00:14:35.799 --> 00:14:38.399
 The law doesn't produce the bad things in our heart,

00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:41.240
 but the law shows us our fleshiness.

00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:44.039
 And Paul says it right here that he struggles with this.

00:14:44.379 --> 00:14:46.680
 In chapter 6, he says, even though I have a new nature,

00:14:47.320 --> 00:14:48.980
 I'm not completely changed.

00:14:49.879 --> 00:14:52.039
 He says, I'm not totally like Christ,

00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:55.820
 and I struggle with this sinfulness in me.

00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:59.639
 And this sinfulness in our lives put us under its will,

00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:00.940
 put us under its dominion.

00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:03.480
 And Paul says, I struggle with the darkness within me.

00:15:04.620 --> 00:15:06.320
 He says we all struggle.

00:15:06.700 --> 00:15:09.680
 And the verbs from verse 14 to 25 are all present.

00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:10.779
 They're all active.

00:15:10.899 --> 00:15:11.779
 They're all right now.

00:15:12.019 --> 00:15:13.759
 And what it means is that from here on out,

00:15:13.819 --> 00:15:15.439
 from onward, for the rest of our lives,

00:15:15.599 --> 00:15:18.019
 we are going to struggle with the darkness in our life.

00:15:19.579 --> 00:15:21.079
 He's talking as a Christian.

00:15:22.439 --> 00:15:23.939
 So here's a question for you.

00:15:25.219 --> 00:15:27.059
 What is the darkness that you struggle with?

00:15:27.059 --> 00:15:32.679
 As a follower of God,

00:15:32.759 --> 00:15:36.639
 what is the darkness in your heart that you struggle with?

00:15:38.979 --> 00:15:39.859
 Is it pride?

00:15:42.359 --> 00:15:43.479
 Is it selfishness?

00:15:46.319 --> 00:15:47.159
 Is it comfort?

00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:49.619
 Is it security?

00:15:49.719 --> 00:15:50.719
 I mean, all these things are great,

00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:52.779
 but once they become our idol.

00:15:55.100 --> 00:15:58.899
 One of my favorite authors and pastors in America,

00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:00.920
 he says that we all have a shadow mission.

00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:05.160
 That in our lives, we all have this shadowy side.

00:16:05.300 --> 00:16:06.660
 We all have this shadow mission.

00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:09.100
 And even though we're acting great on the outside,

00:16:09.460 --> 00:16:11.019
 inwardly, we have this shadow mission.

00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:13.360
 And this is the thing that we want to see carried out.

00:16:14.100 --> 00:16:15.200
 And if it's not carried out,

00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:18.000
 we become upset and we become angry.

00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:22.759
 What is the darkness in your heart?

00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:27.740
 Because Paul says that we all struggle with it.

00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:28.500
 We all have it there.

00:16:29.460 --> 00:16:31.160
 C.S. Lewis once said this amazing thing.

00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:34.080
 He says, if we don't realize we struggle,

00:16:35.280 --> 00:16:37.940
 we don't realize what it means to be a Christian.

00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:42.820
 He says that the struggle is the mark of a Christian.

00:16:42.820 --> 00:16:46.140
 And if there's no struggle, there's no true faith.

00:16:48.520 --> 00:16:49.900
 Those are pretty strong words, aren't they?

00:16:51.260 --> 00:16:52.940
 If you're not struggling as a Christian

00:16:52.940 --> 00:16:54.020
 with the darkness in your heart,

00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:55.760
 if you're not struggling with your shadow mission,

00:16:55.840 --> 00:16:57.120
 if you're not struggling with the things you should do,

00:16:57.180 --> 00:16:58.020
 but you want to do, but you don't do,

00:16:58.060 --> 00:16:58.780
 but you do other things,

00:16:59.040 --> 00:16:59.860
 if you're not doing that,

00:16:59.920 --> 00:17:01.940
 Lewis says that you need to ask yourself,

00:17:02.020 --> 00:17:02.760
 do you have faith?

00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:05.039
 He said this.

00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:09.700
 He said, ask Hitler if he's a spiritually bad man.

00:17:11.620 --> 00:17:12.680
 And he would say no.

00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:15.839
 But he said if you ask Abraham Lincoln,

00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:18.919
 if he was, he would say yes,

00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:21.799
 and to a very great degree.

00:17:23.099 --> 00:17:24.119
 Lewis went on to say this.

00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:26.720
 He says, common sense tells us that the worst off we are,

00:17:27.639 --> 00:17:29.359
 the better we feel about ourselves.

00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:31.599
 Did you hear that?

00:17:32.159 --> 00:17:33.879
 The worst off spiritually we are,

00:17:33.939 --> 00:17:35.119
 the better we feel about ourselves.

00:17:35.339 --> 00:17:36.500
 And the better off that we are,

00:17:36.579 --> 00:17:39.319
 the worse we feel about ourselves.

00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:42.200
 Did you hear that?

00:17:44.879 --> 00:17:46.579
 He says, common sense will tell us

00:17:46.579 --> 00:17:47.740
 that the worst off you are,

00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:48.939
 the worst off you are spiritually,

00:17:49.299 --> 00:17:50.819
 the worst off that you are within your heart,

00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:52.679
 the better off you're going to feel about yourselves,

00:17:52.859 --> 00:17:54.139
 the better off you're going to see yourselves.

00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:56.559
 And the better off you are,

00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:58.559
 the worse you're going to see yourself,

00:17:58.659 --> 00:18:00.200
 the worse you're going to feel about yourself.

00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:03.700
 So the question is,

00:18:03.740 --> 00:18:04.779
 how do we feel about ourselves today?

00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:09.380
 We talk about our life with God.

00:18:11.140 --> 00:18:12.319
 We talk about our growth.

00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:14.019
 We talk about that chart as we walk.

00:18:15.120 --> 00:18:16.259
 Do we see ourselves performing?

00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:17.440
 Do we see ourselves pretending?

00:18:18.660 --> 00:18:20.340
 How do we see ourselves today?

00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:23.620
 Paul's going to tell us that in all of our lives,

00:18:23.700 --> 00:18:25.100
 we have this darkness that's hiding,

00:18:25.380 --> 00:18:26.680
 and we often wear masks,

00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:28.080
 and we try to hide it from other people,

00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:30.099
 and we say, you know, that's not me, it's not me,

00:18:30.159 --> 00:18:31.319
 I don't have any of these problems.

00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:34.539
 You know, I wonder sometimes

00:18:34.539 --> 00:18:37.659
 why non-Christians look at us in the church and say,

00:18:38.119 --> 00:18:39.139
 you guys are crazy.

00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:43.639
 Because I see you struggling with those things.

00:18:46.059 --> 00:18:48.419
 I see you anxious and angry

00:18:48.419 --> 00:18:51.980
 and nervous and worried.

00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:54.519
 But when I talk to you about faith,

00:18:54.579 --> 00:18:55.399
 you say, well, everything's perfect,

00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:56.539
 everything's great, come to church,

00:18:56.579 --> 00:18:57.419
 and you'll be good like me.

00:18:58.079 --> 00:19:03.699
 No wonder the non-Christian world around us

00:19:03.699 --> 00:19:06.399
 has a hard time looking at the church

00:19:06.399 --> 00:19:10.919
 and finding attractive things within our lives.

00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:13.939
 Am I going with things this way?

00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:18.419
 I remember the first time I shared with my friend

00:19:18.419 --> 00:19:19.619
 who was not a believer,

00:19:19.699 --> 00:19:20.699
 and we were talking about life,

00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:22.740
 and he was worried about things going on,

00:19:22.779 --> 00:19:23.519
 and I said to him, you know,

00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:25.299
 I worry a lot.

00:19:27.019 --> 00:19:28.819
 I struggle with worry a lot.

00:19:28.900 --> 00:19:30.759
 I struggle with control a lot.

00:19:31.940 --> 00:19:33.500
 I struggle with those things.

00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:34.920
 And he looked at me and goes, you're a pastor.

00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:37.379
 You're not perfect.

00:19:39.559 --> 00:19:41.220
 And he said, you know what?

00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:42.920
 I'm not.

00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:46.160
 And it was like I'd hit him over the head

00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:47.019
 with his sledgehammer,

00:19:47.080 --> 00:19:47.880
 because in his mind,

00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:49.720
 Christians, and especially pastors,

00:19:49.820 --> 00:19:50.660
 were supposed to be perfect,

00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:52.580
 and we never had troubles.

00:19:52.660 --> 00:19:53.519
 We never had struggles.

00:19:53.640 --> 00:19:55.620
 We never talked about those things openly,

00:19:56.620 --> 00:19:58.300
 at least in his world.

00:20:02.500 --> 00:20:03.519
 Let me ask you a question.

00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:07.799
 what would it be like if we were a church

00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:26.980
 where everybody knew they were broken?

00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:29.220
 Everyone desperately needed grace.

00:20:29.619 --> 00:20:31.359
 Everyone knew they didn't have to hide it.

00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:33.899
 and they could encourage other broken people

00:20:33.899 --> 00:20:34.679
 to come in here

00:20:34.679 --> 00:20:37.319
 and go on the journey with him.

00:20:39.899 --> 00:20:40.939
 What would that look like?

00:20:43.719 --> 00:20:44.799
 Would that be a good thing?

00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:51.159
 I wonder sometimes.

00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:54.399
 Because it seems like sometimes in the church

00:20:54.399 --> 00:20:55.619
 we just want perfect people.

00:20:57.939 --> 00:21:00.299
 And when a non-perfect person walks in our doors

00:21:00.299 --> 00:21:02.220
 or a broken person comes into our community group,

00:21:02.460 --> 00:21:03.899
 we don't know how to handle them.

00:21:05.879 --> 00:21:07.480
 We distance ourselves from them.

00:21:07.579 --> 00:21:08.339
 We say, oh, that's bad.

00:21:08.379 --> 00:21:08.839
 That's terrible.

00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:10.000
 Get away from them.

00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:15.839
 But Paul says that's not real life.

00:21:15.940 --> 00:21:17.460
 That's not the Christian journey.

00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:20.200
 What would it be like if we were a church

00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:21.559
 where people knew they were broken,

00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:22.559
 they didn't hide it,

00:21:22.599 --> 00:21:23.599
 they didn't have to hide it,

00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:26.019
 and they encourage other broken people to come in

00:21:26.019 --> 00:21:28.899
 and to be changed by God's grace?

00:21:30.299 --> 00:21:34.740
 The next thing the passage shows us,

00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:37.079
 and it shows us this very small glimpse,

00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:39.419
 a very intentional, personal glimpse

00:21:39.419 --> 00:21:40.799
 of Paul's life and his struggle.

00:21:41.159 --> 00:21:42.740
 It shows us Paul's hopelessness.

00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:44.559
 It shows us that Paul,

00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:47.500
 even after he had been a Christian for all these times,

00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:50.079
 still struggled with his Christian walk.

00:21:50.200 --> 00:21:51.200
 Can you think of this for a second?

00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:55.579
 Someone comes walking into your community group,

00:21:55.579 --> 00:21:59.059
 and they've been a Christian for 30 years.

00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:01.619
 They're Paul.

00:22:03.179 --> 00:22:04.639
 And they say, no, I'm really struggling.

00:22:05.439 --> 00:22:07.220
 I'm really struggling with these areas of my life.

00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:08.740
 I'm really struggling.

00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:11.059
 I feel like I'm getting beat up by the devil all the time.

00:22:11.339 --> 00:22:13.139
 I'm really, really struggling.

00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:15.019
 What would you do?

00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:15.039
 What would you do?

00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:19.839
 Well, in my life,

00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:21.319
 I might have said,

00:22:21.420 --> 00:22:22.500
 well, you need to read the Bible, dude.

00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:25.220
 You need to read the Bible.

00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:26.599
 If you read the Bible, everything's going to go away.

00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:27.920
 You need to memorize the Bible.

00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:28.759
 What would Paul have said?

00:22:30.099 --> 00:22:32.539
 Yeah, I wrote about a third of the Bible.

00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:35.039
 Oh, okay, okay, okay.

00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:40.619
 Sometimes people come in like that,

00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:41.839
 and some churches say,

00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:43.720
 well, you know, you need to get more spiritual gifts.

00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:46.160
 Your problem is you're not speaking in tongues.

00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:48.299
 You're not having enough spiritual gifts.

00:22:48.360 --> 00:22:49.440
 If you had all those spiritual gifts,

00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:50.500
 then all the darkness would walk away,

00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:51.519
 and you wouldn't struggle with that anymore.

00:22:53.059 --> 00:22:54.720
 Paul would say, yeah, you know,

00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:56.740
 I speak in every tongue.

00:22:59.059 --> 00:23:01.400
 In Corinthians, it says, I have all the gifts.

00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:06.160
 I still struggle with it.

00:23:08.600 --> 00:23:09.839
 Maybe we would say something like this.

00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:11.519
 Well, you don't have a big view of heaven.

00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:12.779
 If you had a bigger view of heaven,

00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:14.279
 if you thought heaven was amazing,

00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:16.200
 if you saw heaven as it really is,

00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:17.559
 if you really saw heaven,

00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:19.980
 then you wouldn't struggle with all this darkness.

00:23:20.139 --> 00:23:21.200
 You wouldn't struggle with the pain.

00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:22.779
 You wouldn't struggle with the evil in your life.

00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:24.200
 You wouldn't struggle with those things

00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:25.079
 if you could just see heaven.

00:23:27.139 --> 00:23:28.819
 Paul would say, you know,

00:23:29.779 --> 00:23:30.799
 I've been in heaven.

00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:33.579
 It's amazing.

00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:36.960
 I mean, I struggle with wanting to go there right now.

00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:39.920
 I wonder, should I stay or should I go?

00:23:40.139 --> 00:23:40.680
 Because I've been there.

00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:41.480
 I've seen God's throne.

00:23:41.539 --> 00:23:42.180
 I've seen it all.

00:23:45.820 --> 00:23:46.779
 But I still struggle.

00:23:49.840 --> 00:23:50.700
 I still hurt.

00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:52.600
 I still conflict.

00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:53.519
 I still battle.

00:23:57.360 --> 00:23:58.500
 Verse 15, he says,

00:23:58.580 --> 00:23:59.240
 for what I'm doing,

00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:00.100
 I do not understand,

00:24:00.600 --> 00:24:02.240
 for I'm not practicing what I would like to do,

00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:05.460
 but I'm doing the very thing that I hate.

00:24:06.420 --> 00:24:07.420
 You gotta listen to these passages,

00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:08.380
 because Paul's not,

00:24:09.220 --> 00:24:11.819
 he's complaining about his actions,

00:24:12.120 --> 00:24:15.559
 but he's not putting responsibility on somebody else.

00:24:16.100 --> 00:24:16.559
 He's saying,

00:24:16.940 --> 00:24:19.880
 all my actions don't line up with who I know I am.

00:24:20.900 --> 00:24:21.960
 I have this new identity.

00:24:22.140 --> 00:24:22.900
 I have this new heart.

00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:23.720
 I have this new mind.

00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:24.660
 I have this new spirit.

00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:26.680
 God has given me all these things,

00:24:26.680 --> 00:24:27.740
 but for some reason,

00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:30.860
 all these things in my actions are out of sync.

00:24:30.979 --> 00:24:32.159
 They don't sync up.

00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:33.139
 They don't work.

00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:35.859
 I mean, I understand that I'm this new man,

00:24:35.979 --> 00:24:37.479
 but within this new man,

00:24:37.559 --> 00:24:39.099
 I have these desires that are,

00:24:39.740 --> 00:24:40.919
 they're bad,

00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:42.159
 and this sinfulness,

00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:44.139
 this indwelling sin,

00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:46.740
 prevents me from doing the things that I wanna do.

00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:47.759
 I wanna do those things,

00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:48.799
 but I don't do those things.

00:24:49.139 --> 00:24:50.199
 I have this conflict,

00:24:50.319 --> 00:24:51.519
 and I can't fight it.

00:24:51.579 --> 00:24:52.359
 I can't do it.

00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:54.479
 What do I do in my life?

00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:57.519
 And when you read verse 17,

00:24:57.639 --> 00:24:57.919
 he says,

00:24:57.920 --> 00:25:00.600
 there's no longer I and the one doing it,

00:25:00.620 --> 00:25:01.840
 but sin which dwells in me,

00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:03.940
 he's not using it as an excuse.

00:25:04.060 --> 00:25:05.700
 He's not saying I'm not responsible.

00:25:05.860 --> 00:25:07.100
 He's not blaming other people.

00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:09.480
 He's not putting our blame on other people like we do

00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:10.160
 or like I do,

00:25:10.300 --> 00:25:11.460
 but what he's saying is

00:25:11.460 --> 00:25:12.940
 that there's a sinful nature in there,

00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:15.460
 and the sinful nature indwells in my heart.

00:25:15.560 --> 00:25:16.680
 It's always gonna be there,

00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:18.160
 and just because I'm a Christian

00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:20.720
 doesn't mean that I don't struggle with indwelling sin.

00:25:20.860 --> 00:25:22.160
 It's never gonna disappear,

00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:24.320
 and the sinful nature is there,

00:25:24.400 --> 00:25:25.300
 and it's struggling with me,

00:25:25.299 --> 00:25:28.099
 but I know that this sinful nature isn't who I am.

00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:33.720
 It's not me anymore as a child of God.

00:25:34.819 --> 00:25:36.139
 As a child of God,

00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:37.119
 I'm different,

00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:39.599
 but this sinful nature hasn't struggled,

00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:41.079
 hasn't disappeared,

00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:42.839
 and I continue to struggle with it

00:25:42.839 --> 00:25:43.799
 over and over and over.

00:25:45.819 --> 00:25:46.779
 Does that make sense?

00:25:48.399 --> 00:25:49.720
 So he's struggling with this,

00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:50.839
 and he's thinking through these things,

00:25:50.879 --> 00:25:51.200
 and he's saying,

00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:53.119
 how do I fight this struggle?

00:25:53.119 --> 00:25:55.579
 What do I do in my life to get rid of sin?

00:25:55.679 --> 00:25:58.019
 How do I deal with this brokenness in me

00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:58.619
 that is there,

00:25:58.679 --> 00:25:59.639
 and I don't want to show people?

00:25:59.919 --> 00:26:00.979
 How do I do with these things?

00:26:03.859 --> 00:26:04.719
 What do I do?

00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:08.379
 You know, in my life,

00:26:08.379 --> 00:26:18.019
 I've tried to walk with the Lord

00:26:18.019 --> 00:26:19.199
 for over 30 years,

00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:23.400
 studied the Bible for years and years,

00:26:24.460 --> 00:26:26.559
 memorized huge passages of it.

00:26:27.160 --> 00:26:28.539
 I've taught most of it.

00:26:29.059 --> 00:26:30.100
 In my heart,

00:26:30.299 --> 00:26:32.559
 I want to do the spiritual thing.

00:26:33.080 --> 00:26:34.319
 You know, after all these years,

00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:35.519
 reading God's word,

00:26:35.620 --> 00:26:36.420
 being in community,

00:26:36.900 --> 00:26:37.580
 leading worship,

00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:39.420
 understanding God's will,

00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:40.799
 communion with the Holy Spirit,

00:26:40.940 --> 00:26:41.240
 praying,

00:26:41.600 --> 00:26:42.660
 after all these years,

00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:45.720
 I understand a very clear path.

00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:50.039
 I understand this very clear path

00:26:50.039 --> 00:26:51.120
 that God wants me to walk,

00:26:52.180 --> 00:26:57.299
 but it still does not take away

00:26:57.299 --> 00:27:02.160
 the control of the indwelling sin

00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:04.220
 in my life.

00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:07.660
 I still hear those voices.

00:27:08.900 --> 00:27:11.039
 I still feel those temptations.

00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:14.399
 You know, chances are very good today

00:27:14.399 --> 00:27:17.299
 that before this day is over,

00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:19.519
 I'm going to hurt

00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:23.259
 everyone I love in my family very dearly.

00:27:24.859 --> 00:27:25.960
 I'm going to hurt them.

00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:28.839
 I'm going to say something mean to them.

00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:31.920
 I'm going to be sharp.

00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:34.259
 I'm going to be focused on myself

00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:34.819
 instead of them.

00:27:35.679 --> 00:27:37.059
 I'm going to say something

00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:40.439
 that's going to really hurt them deeply.

00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:43.879
 And I'm going to have to struggle with sin

00:27:43.879 --> 00:27:45.559
 the moment I leave

00:27:45.559 --> 00:27:46.939
 and even now as I preach.

00:27:47.599 --> 00:27:49.859
 I'm going to have to confess my sin

00:27:49.859 --> 00:27:51.419
 to my family, my friends.

00:27:51.740 --> 00:27:53.299
 I'm going to have to repent of those sins

00:27:53.299 --> 00:27:54.200
 and walk away.

00:27:55.679 --> 00:27:56.879
 I'm going to have to realize

00:27:56.879 --> 00:28:00.639
 every moment of every moment of my life,

00:28:01.639 --> 00:28:03.700
 I need God's grace.

00:28:04.819 --> 00:28:05.679
 in my life.

00:28:07.079 --> 00:28:08.539
 And there's not a time

00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:11.519
 that we will not struggle

00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:12.759
 on this earth

00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:14.519
 as God's people.

00:28:14.839 --> 00:28:15.679
 Does that make sense?

00:28:21.379 --> 00:28:22.720
 No, growing up,

00:28:22.819 --> 00:28:23.759
 I hated struggle.

00:28:24.599 --> 00:28:26.700
 I tried everything in my life

00:28:26.700 --> 00:28:27.639
 to stop struggle,

00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:28.519
 especially as a Christian.

00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:30.399
 I mean, and I'm just being very honest

00:28:30.399 --> 00:28:31.480
 and I'll share things

00:28:31.480 --> 00:28:33.000
 and please don't feel like

00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:34.159
 there's fingers pointing at you

00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:35.380
 because his fingers are pointing at me.

00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:36.460
 But in my life,

00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:37.380
 I've tried formulas.

00:28:38.120 --> 00:28:38.720
 I said, okay,

00:28:38.840 --> 00:28:40.120
 I'm going to do all the right things.

00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:41.440
 I'm going to study all the right books.

00:28:41.660 --> 00:28:43.060
 I'm going to do all the right programs.

00:28:43.140 --> 00:28:44.100
 I'm going to do four steps.

00:28:44.140 --> 00:28:45.080
 I'm going to do 12 steps.

00:28:45.140 --> 00:28:46.320
 I'm going to do stop this.

00:28:46.380 --> 00:28:47.120
 I'm going to do that.

00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:48.360
 I'm going to let go, let God.

00:28:48.620 --> 00:28:49.460
 I'm going to think life

00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:50.420
 is supposed to be easy.

00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:51.240
 If life is hard,

00:28:51.300 --> 00:28:52.420
 then I'm not doing the right formula.

00:28:52.800 --> 00:28:53.700
 If things are difficult,

00:28:53.820 --> 00:28:54.720
 I'm going to get a different formula.

00:28:55.040 --> 00:28:56.259
 It's all about having the right formula.

00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:59.019
 If you have the right formula,

00:28:59.120 --> 00:28:59.820
 then life's going to be easy.

00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:04.579
 In my life,

00:29:04.619 --> 00:29:05.980
 I've tried new experiences.

00:29:07.179 --> 00:29:07.359
 I mean,

00:29:07.379 --> 00:29:08.299
 if I get new experiences,

00:29:08.399 --> 00:29:09.639
 if I get gifts and get tongues

00:29:09.639 --> 00:29:10.720
 and I get the second work of the Spirit,

00:29:10.779 --> 00:29:11.319
 I get lordship.

00:29:11.379 --> 00:29:12.139
 I got non-lordship.

00:29:12.179 --> 00:29:12.700
 I get cleansed.

00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:14.000
 I get past defeat to victorious.

00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:15.399
 I become victorious to defeated.

00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:16.980
 I get more emotional experiences.

00:29:17.079 --> 00:29:17.740
 I get different worship.

00:29:17.839 --> 00:29:18.500
 I get different church.

00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:19.259
 I get different pastor.

00:29:19.319 --> 00:29:19.960
 I get different spouse.

00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:20.980
 I get my best life now.

00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:23.179
 I've tried all these different experiences in my life

00:29:23.179 --> 00:29:24.419
 and I know that some of you have also.

00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:28.700
 Hoping that with these different experiences,

00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:32.620
 you will deal with indwelling sin in your life

00:29:32.620 --> 00:29:34.620
 and you won't have to struggle with it anymore.

00:29:37.300 --> 00:29:38.100
 Sometimes in my life,

00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:39.980
 I've just tried to avoid this struggle.

00:29:40.100 --> 00:29:41.340
 I've tried to turn away from the struggle.

00:29:41.460 --> 00:29:43.380
 I've tried to remind myself and think,

00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:44.420
 well, it's not really a struggle.

00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:45.019
 It's not there.

00:29:45.080 --> 00:29:45.860
 It's just in my mind.

00:29:45.920 --> 00:29:46.900
 It's not a part of who I am.

00:29:47.560 --> 00:29:48.300
 I'll get, again,

00:29:48.380 --> 00:29:49.360
 get involved in Bible studies.

00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:50.300
 I get involved in programs.

00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:52.240
 I get involved in other things

00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:53.100
 instead of dealing with my sin.

00:29:53.099 --> 00:29:55.179
 You know, sometimes I think in the Christian church,

00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:57.359
 hear my heart here.

00:29:59.500 --> 00:30:01.039
 We have more programs

00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:03.179
 and more Bible studies

00:30:03.179 --> 00:30:05.099
 and more study cues

00:30:05.099 --> 00:30:06.819
 and more things we can do

00:30:06.819 --> 00:30:08.899
 than any other time in the history of the church

00:30:08.899 --> 00:30:11.619
 to help us.

00:30:13.339 --> 00:30:15.240
 And most church historians would say

00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:19.139
 that we are worse off as the people of God

00:30:19.139 --> 00:30:21.919
 than we were before we had all these things.

00:30:23.099 --> 00:30:25.439
 Our influence is worse.

00:30:26.359 --> 00:30:27.699
 Our testimony is worse.

00:30:28.579 --> 00:30:29.819
 Our lives are worse.

00:30:31.879 --> 00:30:33.399
 I mean, it's almost like we feel like we get all these,

00:30:33.799 --> 00:30:36.079
 and I, in my life,

00:30:36.119 --> 00:30:37.079
 and not pointing at anybody else,

00:30:37.139 --> 00:30:37.899
 but in my life,

00:30:38.099 --> 00:30:39.779
 sometimes I had Bible study

00:30:39.779 --> 00:30:41.439
 after Bible study after Bible study

00:30:41.439 --> 00:30:42.899
 and other things that I did

00:30:42.899 --> 00:30:44.319
 throughout the week at my church

00:30:44.319 --> 00:30:46.059
 because I didn't want to have to deal

00:30:46.059 --> 00:30:47.419
 with things going on in my life.

00:30:47.420 --> 00:30:50.640
 Because it was easier to go to a Bible study

00:30:50.640 --> 00:30:53.580
 and pretend that I wasn't struggling,

00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:54.880
 that I didn't have these issues.

00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:57.720
 It was easier to read another book

00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:58.740
 and write out a study

00:30:58.740 --> 00:31:00.480
 than to deal with people in my life

00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:01.960
 and to deal with the brokenness of my life.

00:31:02.140 --> 00:31:03.080
 And I say that

00:31:03.080 --> 00:31:04.420
 because I know that's true of me,

00:31:04.680 --> 00:31:06.039
 and I know that it's true of many of us

00:31:06.039 --> 00:31:07.220
 because many of us get involved

00:31:07.220 --> 00:31:09.120
 in doing, doing, doing things

00:31:09.120 --> 00:31:10.320
 because we don't want to deal

00:31:10.320 --> 00:31:11.440
 with what's going on in our heart.

00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:12.000
 We don't want to deal

00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:12.880
 with the darkness of our heart.

00:31:13.080 --> 00:31:14.580
 We don't want to deal with everything going on

00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:15.699
 in the shadows of our lives.

00:31:16.099 --> 00:31:17.619
 And because we don't want to do that

00:31:17.619 --> 00:31:18.480
 because it's uncomfortable,

00:31:18.819 --> 00:31:21.019
 we try to escape the conflict and the tension.

00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:22.919
 But God says, and Paul says,

00:31:23.059 --> 00:31:25.259
 that you will never, ever do that

00:31:25.259 --> 00:31:28.699
 here on this earth

00:31:28.699 --> 00:31:31.559
 because we all will have tension

00:31:31.559 --> 00:31:33.259
 and we will all struggle with those things

00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:35.399
 and we will all have to deal with those things.

00:31:37.159 --> 00:31:38.879
 The passage says at the end

00:31:38.879 --> 00:31:40.079
 in verse 24 and 25,

00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:42.099
 Paul comes to this realization

00:31:42.099 --> 00:31:42.779
 after saying,

00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:44.500
 I, me, mine.

00:31:44.700 --> 00:31:45.920
 He says it 40 times.

00:31:46.240 --> 00:31:47.420
 And finally in verse 24,

00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:48.180
 he says this.

00:31:48.460 --> 00:31:49.279
 After trying to do,

00:31:49.539 --> 00:31:50.740
 there's three examples of this

00:31:50.740 --> 00:31:51.779
 trying to do it by himself,

00:31:51.899 --> 00:31:52.720
 trying to do it by himself,

00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:53.779
 trying to do it by himself,

00:31:53.879 --> 00:31:55.019
 over and over and over.

00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:56.440
 And he does it all by himself

00:31:56.440 --> 00:31:57.779
 over and over and over.

00:31:58.119 --> 00:31:59.399
 And finally when he comes to the end

00:31:59.399 --> 00:32:00.000
 in verse 24,

00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:00.799
 he says this.

00:32:01.339 --> 00:32:01.839
 He says,

00:32:03.339 --> 00:32:05.279
 Wretched man that I am,

00:32:06.279 --> 00:32:07.779
 who will set me free

00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:08.980
 from this body of death?

00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:12.000
 Wretched man that I am,

00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:12.920
 I'm pathetic,

00:32:13.119 --> 00:32:13.759
 I'm helpless,

00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:14.660
 I'm calloused,

00:32:14.759 --> 00:32:15.240
 I'm miserable.

00:32:15.339 --> 00:32:16.400
 That's what it all means in Greek.

00:32:16.859 --> 00:32:17.579
 I'm terrible.

00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:18.319
 Remember, this is Paul.

00:32:18.400 --> 00:32:19.400
 This is the church father.

00:32:19.700 --> 00:32:20.880
 He's 60 plus years old.

00:32:21.119 --> 00:32:22.299
 He's written one third of the Bible.

00:32:22.660 --> 00:32:23.480
 He's walked into the Lord

00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:24.299
 for over 30 years

00:32:24.299 --> 00:32:25.380
 and he's still struggling

00:32:25.380 --> 00:32:26.799
 with a sin inside of his life

00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:28.180
 that people don't want to talk about,

00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:28.980
 people want to hide,

00:32:29.079 --> 00:32:30.000
 people don't want to be real with.

00:32:30.220 --> 00:32:31.059
 And he says to himself

00:32:31.059 --> 00:32:32.039
 after he's tried to hide it

00:32:32.039 --> 00:32:32.880
 and do all those things,

00:32:33.440 --> 00:32:34.720
 Wretched man that I am,

00:32:35.460 --> 00:32:36.140
 I'm pathetic,

00:32:36.339 --> 00:32:36.940
 I'm helpless,

00:32:36.940 --> 00:32:37.799
 I'm calloused,

00:32:38.140 --> 00:32:38.960
 I'm broken.

00:32:39.940 --> 00:32:41.440
 Who will set me free?

00:32:42.180 --> 00:32:43.600
 I can't fix myself.

00:32:43.900 --> 00:32:45.580
 I can't make myself holy.

00:32:45.820 --> 00:32:47.559
 I can't get rid of my shadow mission.

00:32:47.820 --> 00:32:48.740
 I can't do the things

00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:49.620
 I know I should be doing.

00:32:49.900 --> 00:32:50.539
 I'm helpless,

00:32:50.680 --> 00:32:51.180
 I'm hopeless,

00:32:51.400 --> 00:32:53.059
 I can't rescue myself.

00:32:54.180 --> 00:32:55.539
 Who will set me free?

00:32:55.620 --> 00:32:56.779
 Because I can't do it

00:32:56.779 --> 00:32:58.440
 from this body of sin.

00:32:59.860 --> 00:33:01.259
 It's a very interesting word,

00:33:01.340 --> 00:33:02.019
 body of death.

00:33:02.340 --> 00:33:03.120
 You know, in Rome,

00:33:03.119 --> 00:33:05.079
 if you did a really heinous,

00:33:05.159 --> 00:33:05.859
 heinous crime,

00:33:06.239 --> 00:33:07.179
 I mean, if you did a really,

00:33:07.339 --> 00:33:07.979
 really bad crime

00:33:07.979 --> 00:33:08.819
 and it was really heinous,

00:33:09.099 --> 00:33:09.979
 one of the punishments

00:33:09.979 --> 00:33:10.419
 they would do

00:33:10.419 --> 00:33:11.139
 is they would actually

00:33:11.139 --> 00:33:12.259
 strap the person

00:33:12.259 --> 00:33:12.859
 that you murdered

00:33:12.859 --> 00:33:14.239
 onto your back.

00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:16.500
 And so they would strap

00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:17.159
 this dead body

00:33:17.159 --> 00:33:17.919
 onto your back.

00:33:18.719 --> 00:33:20.759
 And you would walk around life

00:33:20.759 --> 00:33:21.719
 with this dead body

00:33:21.719 --> 00:33:22.539
 on your back.

00:33:22.979 --> 00:33:24.859
 And as this dead body decayed,

00:33:24.879 --> 00:33:26.379
 it decayed into your flesh

00:33:26.379 --> 00:33:28.079
 and it eventually destroyed you

00:33:28.079 --> 00:33:28.799
 and killed you.

00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:29.779
 And this is the imagery

00:33:29.779 --> 00:33:30.679
 that Paul's using there.

00:33:30.679 --> 00:33:31.839
 And he says that dead bodies

00:33:31.839 --> 00:33:32.799
 are indwelling sin.

00:33:33.959 --> 00:33:34.279
 And he says,

00:33:34.359 --> 00:33:34.979
 we're carrying around

00:33:34.979 --> 00:33:35.799
 this indwelling sin

00:33:35.799 --> 00:33:36.519
 on top of us

00:33:36.519 --> 00:33:37.479
 and we're trying

00:33:37.479 --> 00:33:38.000
 to get rid of it.

00:33:38.059 --> 00:33:38.879
 We're trying to hide it.

00:33:38.899 --> 00:33:39.539
 We're trying to get rid

00:33:39.539 --> 00:33:40.219
 of all these things.

00:33:40.259 --> 00:33:40.659
 We don't want people

00:33:40.659 --> 00:33:41.159
 to see it.

00:33:41.419 --> 00:33:41.859
 And he says,

00:33:42.439 --> 00:33:43.699
 wretched man that I am,

00:33:44.879 --> 00:33:45.839
 who's going to set me

00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:46.559
 free from this?

00:33:46.899 --> 00:33:48.179
 I have this body of death,

00:33:48.259 --> 00:33:48.919
 this indwelling sin.

00:33:48.979 --> 00:33:49.579
 I can't do it.

00:33:49.659 --> 00:33:50.500
 What am I going to do?

00:33:52.879 --> 00:33:54.099
 In verse 25, he says,

00:33:55.359 --> 00:33:56.359
 thanks be to God

00:33:56.359 --> 00:33:57.719
 through Jesus Christ our Lord.

00:33:58.919 --> 00:34:00.019
 So then on the one hand,

00:34:00.099 --> 00:34:01.099
 I myself with my mind

00:34:01.099 --> 00:34:02.119
 am serving the law of God,

00:34:02.119 --> 00:34:02.739
 but on the other

00:34:02.739 --> 00:34:03.539
 with my flesh,

00:34:05.839 --> 00:34:06.719
 the law of sin.

00:34:07.679 --> 00:34:08.880
 He says, thanks be to God

00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:10.139
 that God loves us,

00:34:10.179 --> 00:34:11.319
 that God saves us.

00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:12.500
 It's not me, but it's God.

00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:13.199
 It's God who comes

00:34:13.199 --> 00:34:13.739
 into my life.

00:34:14.059 --> 00:34:14.480
 I'm struggling,

00:34:14.619 --> 00:34:15.159
 but it's God

00:34:15.159 --> 00:34:16.519
 who comes into those moments

00:34:16.519 --> 00:34:17.159
 when I struggle

00:34:17.159 --> 00:34:19.000
 and he changes them.

00:34:19.279 --> 00:34:20.239
 He makes them less.

00:34:20.339 --> 00:34:21.139
 He makes me able

00:34:21.139 --> 00:34:21.900
 to go through them.

00:34:22.139 --> 00:34:22.500
 How?

00:34:22.779 --> 00:34:23.659
 Through the cross.

00:34:25.339 --> 00:34:26.539
 Through Jesus Christ.

00:34:27.019 --> 00:34:28.199
 Basically, verse 25

00:34:28.199 --> 00:34:29.000
 is the gospel.

00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:30.099
 What Paul is saying there

00:34:30.099 --> 00:34:30.919
 is that there's no way,

00:34:31.259 --> 00:34:31.699
 even after,

00:34:31.779 --> 00:34:32.899
 remember, he's not coming

00:34:32.899 --> 00:34:33.359
 to Christ.

00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:34.859
 He's been a Christian

00:34:34.859 --> 00:34:36.279
 and even as he walks

00:34:36.279 --> 00:34:38.199
 as a Christian in his life,

00:34:38.460 --> 00:34:39.339
 just like before,

00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:40.960
 he had to deal with sin

00:34:40.960 --> 00:34:42.919
 and the wrath and judgment.

00:34:43.399 --> 00:34:44.299
 The cross came in.

00:34:44.399 --> 00:34:45.219
 It dealt with that.

00:34:45.579 --> 00:34:46.559
 Paul is now walking,

00:34:46.779 --> 00:34:47.559
 but he's still dealing

00:34:47.559 --> 00:34:48.480
 with his indwelling sin

00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:49.079
 and he says,

00:34:49.179 --> 00:34:49.899
 the same way we deal

00:34:49.899 --> 00:34:50.679
 with our lives now

00:34:50.679 --> 00:34:51.739
 is the same way we deal

00:34:51.739 --> 00:34:52.639
 with our lives in the beginning.

00:34:52.919 --> 00:34:54.039
 And as we go to the cross

00:34:54.039 --> 00:34:54.739
 and we trust Jesus

00:34:54.739 --> 00:34:55.639
 to come into our life

00:34:55.639 --> 00:34:56.480
 and we realize

00:34:56.480 --> 00:34:57.400
 all that he's done

00:34:57.400 --> 00:34:58.239
 and when we realize

00:34:58.239 --> 00:34:59.039
 that all that he's done,

00:34:59.099 --> 00:34:59.960
 we give our lives to him

00:34:59.960 --> 00:35:00.579
 and we trust him

00:35:00.579 --> 00:35:01.400
 and we walk with him.

00:35:05.559 --> 00:35:06.539
 Wretched man that I am,

00:35:06.599 --> 00:35:07.360
 who will set me free

00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:08.300
 from this body of sin,

00:35:08.360 --> 00:35:09.340
 this indwelling sin,

00:35:09.420 --> 00:35:10.139
 this body of death?

00:35:10.739 --> 00:35:11.739
 Praise be to God.

00:35:12.119 --> 00:35:12.960
 Thanks be to God

00:35:12.960 --> 00:35:14.300
 because he does it

00:35:14.300 --> 00:35:15.000
 through Jesus Christ,

00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:15.420
 our Lord.

00:35:17.079 --> 00:35:17.679
 What he's saying

00:35:17.679 --> 00:35:18.559
 that you and I

00:35:18.559 --> 00:35:19.239
 in Christ

00:35:19.239 --> 00:35:20.719
 as we walk every day,

00:35:20.820 --> 00:35:21.880
 we can be secure.

00:35:21.880 --> 00:35:24.160
 You and I

00:35:24.160 --> 00:35:24.740
 as we walk

00:35:24.740 --> 00:35:26.240
 with Christ every day,

00:35:26.340 --> 00:35:27.079
 we can trust him,

00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:28.019
 we can surrender our lives

00:35:28.019 --> 00:35:28.180
 to him,

00:35:28.220 --> 00:35:29.360
 we can walk in his spirit,

00:35:29.640 --> 00:35:30.260
 we can realize

00:35:30.260 --> 00:35:31.119
 that he's with us.

00:35:31.760 --> 00:35:32.519
 We can realize

00:35:32.519 --> 00:35:33.599
 it's okay to be broken.

00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:35.099
 We can realize

00:35:35.099 --> 00:35:35.640
 that it's okay

00:35:35.640 --> 00:35:36.360
 to have this struggle

00:35:36.360 --> 00:35:37.039
 with indwelling sin.

00:35:37.320 --> 00:35:37.619
 In fact,

00:35:37.880 --> 00:35:38.880
 the more we bring it out

00:35:38.880 --> 00:35:39.599
 into the light,

00:35:40.240 --> 00:35:41.460
 the more we deal with it.

00:35:42.559 --> 00:35:43.460
 I think our biggest problem

00:35:43.460 --> 00:35:43.900
 as Christians

00:35:43.900 --> 00:35:44.640
 is we think everybody

00:35:44.640 --> 00:35:45.500
 thinks we should be perfect

00:35:45.500 --> 00:35:46.220
 and so we never talk

00:35:46.220 --> 00:35:46.920
 about our brokenness

00:35:46.920 --> 00:35:47.880
 and we never bring it

00:35:47.880 --> 00:35:48.480
 out into the light

00:35:48.480 --> 00:35:49.000
 and so the light,

00:35:49.119 --> 00:35:50.200
 God,

00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:50.880
 the Holy Spirit,

00:35:51.119 --> 00:35:51.720
 doesn't have a chance

00:35:51.719 --> 00:35:52.599
 to come in and heal it

00:35:52.599 --> 00:35:53.439
 and fix it and change it

00:35:53.439 --> 00:35:54.419
 because we're afraid of that

00:35:54.419 --> 00:35:55.799
 because we're afraid

00:35:55.799 --> 00:35:56.619
 that if someone sees me

00:35:56.619 --> 00:35:57.519
 broken as a pastor,

00:35:57.719 --> 00:35:58.500
 they're not going to want

00:35:58.500 --> 00:35:59.199
 to come to church

00:35:59.199 --> 00:36:00.859
 because they're perfect people

00:36:00.859 --> 00:36:04.939
 but there are no perfect people.

00:36:08.699 --> 00:36:10.419
 There are no perfect people.

00:36:12.579 --> 00:36:13.659
 What would it be like

00:36:13.659 --> 00:36:15.980
 if we all realized this?

00:36:15.980 --> 00:36:21.800
 What would it be like

00:36:21.800 --> 00:36:22.920
 if we walked through our day

00:36:22.920 --> 00:36:24.860
 and we continually said things like,

00:36:25.599 --> 00:36:26.400
 thanks be to God

00:36:26.400 --> 00:36:28.059
 who saved me

00:36:28.059 --> 00:36:28.960
 through Jesus Christ?

00:36:32.079 --> 00:36:32.699
 You're struggling

00:36:32.699 --> 00:36:33.480
 with the brokenness,

00:36:33.880 --> 00:36:34.340
 the darkness,

00:36:34.539 --> 00:36:35.519
 the shadows in your life.

00:36:35.579 --> 00:36:36.039
 You shared it

00:36:36.039 --> 00:36:36.579
 with your friends.

00:36:37.000 --> 00:36:37.960
 You're about to do the thing

00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:38.880
 that you don't want to do.

00:36:39.179 --> 00:36:39.940
 What if in the middle

00:36:39.940 --> 00:36:40.699
 of that time

00:36:40.699 --> 00:36:41.000
 you said,

00:36:41.099 --> 00:36:41.860
 thanks be to God

00:36:41.860 --> 00:36:44.559
 who saved me

00:36:44.559 --> 00:36:45.460
 through Jesus Christ?

00:36:47.340 --> 00:36:48.059
 You're about to walk

00:36:48.059 --> 00:36:48.579
 into this incredibly

00:36:48.579 --> 00:36:49.259
 hard board meeting

00:36:49.259 --> 00:36:49.739
 and you know things

00:36:49.739 --> 00:36:50.259
 are going to be tough.

00:36:50.320 --> 00:36:50.679
 You know you're going

00:36:50.679 --> 00:36:51.239
 to have to compromise.

00:36:51.420 --> 00:36:51.699
 You know you're going

00:36:51.699 --> 00:36:52.420
 to be trusted.

00:36:52.860 --> 00:36:53.779
 People are going to want you

00:36:53.779 --> 00:36:54.219
 to compromise

00:36:54.219 --> 00:36:55.019
 and your values

00:36:55.019 --> 00:36:56.019
 and all these things

00:36:56.019 --> 00:36:56.400
 and you don't know

00:36:56.400 --> 00:36:56.820
 what you're going to do.

00:36:57.039 --> 00:36:57.559
 What if you said

00:36:57.559 --> 00:36:58.199
 before you walked

00:36:58.199 --> 00:36:58.799
 into that meeting,

00:36:59.799 --> 00:37:01.940
 thanks be to God.

00:37:04.719 --> 00:37:05.759
 God's in control here.

00:37:08.259 --> 00:37:09.299
 I can trust Him

00:37:09.299 --> 00:37:13.320
 because He saved me

00:37:13.320 --> 00:37:15.120
 through Jesus Christ.

00:37:17.600 --> 00:37:18.500
 Does that make sense?

00:37:24.580 --> 00:37:25.539
 I just want to share

00:37:25.539 --> 00:37:28.460
 four closing thoughts.

00:37:28.740 --> 00:37:29.039
 We're done.

00:37:30.440 --> 00:37:31.460
 But I don't think we're done

00:37:31.460 --> 00:37:35.280
 because I want to be a church

00:37:35.280 --> 00:37:38.280
 where broken people come

00:37:38.280 --> 00:37:41.680
 and share their brokenness.

00:37:43.320 --> 00:37:45.700
 and realize it's okay

00:37:45.700 --> 00:37:46.220
 to be broken

00:37:46.220 --> 00:37:49.920
 because we're all broken.

00:37:52.880 --> 00:37:53.860
 And Jesus is doing

00:37:53.860 --> 00:37:54.460
 an amazing thing

00:37:54.460 --> 00:37:55.220
 by healing us

00:37:55.220 --> 00:37:56.080
 and changing us.

00:37:59.160 --> 00:38:00.039
 And we need to talk

00:38:00.039 --> 00:38:00.539
 about that.

00:38:03.039 --> 00:38:03.900
 My first thought.

00:38:03.900 --> 00:38:08.220
 you and I will always be

00:38:08.220 --> 00:38:10.220
 in this very intense struggle.

00:38:11.480 --> 00:38:12.559
 There will always be

00:38:12.559 --> 00:38:13.380
 this intense struggle

00:38:13.380 --> 00:38:14.420
 going on in our lives

00:38:14.420 --> 00:38:15.139
 as we're Christians.

00:38:18.340 --> 00:38:19.240
 The struggle is

00:38:19.240 --> 00:38:20.380
 with our indwelling sin.

00:38:22.559 --> 00:38:23.760
 If we're not struggling

00:38:23.760 --> 00:38:24.340
 right now,

00:38:26.400 --> 00:38:27.960
 the passage says

00:38:27.960 --> 00:38:28.539
 there's something wrong

00:38:28.539 --> 00:38:28.940
 with us.

00:38:28.940 --> 00:38:34.000
 either we've renamed it,

00:38:34.740 --> 00:38:35.860
 we've hidden it,

00:38:36.860 --> 00:38:37.639
 we've closed it away

00:38:37.639 --> 00:38:38.119
 in a closet,

00:38:38.200 --> 00:38:38.760
 we don't want to talk

00:38:38.760 --> 00:38:39.260
 about it.

00:38:40.400 --> 00:38:41.159
 But Paul says

00:38:41.159 --> 00:38:41.880
 as His people,

00:38:42.740 --> 00:38:44.059
 as His redeemed people,

00:38:44.179 --> 00:38:45.240
 as His chosen people,

00:38:45.320 --> 00:38:45.800
 as His people

00:38:45.800 --> 00:38:47.019
 who are a holy priesthood,

00:38:47.320 --> 00:38:48.019
 that we're always

00:38:48.019 --> 00:38:48.519
 going to struggle

00:38:48.519 --> 00:38:49.480
 with this indwelling sin

00:38:49.480 --> 00:38:50.179
 in our lives.

00:38:50.179 --> 00:38:52.940
 And if we're not struggling,

00:38:53.119 --> 00:38:53.639
 He says

00:38:53.639 --> 00:38:54.819
 there's something wrong

00:38:54.819 --> 00:38:55.440
 with us.

00:38:59.039 --> 00:38:59.659
 Number two,

00:39:01.419 --> 00:39:02.739
 we are never going to,

00:39:02.859 --> 00:39:03.319
 and this is going

00:39:03.319 --> 00:39:03.960
 to bother people,

00:39:04.799 --> 00:39:05.239
 especially,

00:39:05.480 --> 00:39:05.719
 I think,

00:39:05.779 --> 00:39:06.139
 Americans,

00:39:06.299 --> 00:39:07.139
 because we want victory,

00:39:07.339 --> 00:39:08.379
 we want success.

00:39:09.079 --> 00:39:10.039
 But we're never going

00:39:10.039 --> 00:39:10.559
 to get to a point

00:39:10.559 --> 00:39:11.059
 in this world

00:39:11.059 --> 00:39:12.259
 where we don't need grace.

00:39:15.119 --> 00:39:16.319
 We are never going

00:39:16.319 --> 00:39:17.139
 to get to a point

00:39:17.139 --> 00:39:17.559
 in this world

00:39:17.559 --> 00:39:18.440
 where we don't need grace.

00:39:20.179 --> 00:39:21.460
 We don't need God's empowerment.

00:39:21.659 --> 00:39:22.799
 We don't need God's strength.

00:39:23.359 --> 00:39:24.440
 Even our victories,

00:39:24.679 --> 00:39:25.379
 the Bible says,

00:39:25.559 --> 00:39:26.419
 even our victories,

00:39:26.679 --> 00:39:27.739
 even the good things you do,

00:39:27.819 --> 00:39:28.739
 even when you succeed

00:39:28.739 --> 00:39:29.219
 as a husband,

00:39:29.659 --> 00:39:30.159
 a wife,

00:39:30.480 --> 00:39:31.119
 a worker,

00:39:31.579 --> 00:39:32.679
 you do the great thing

00:39:32.679 --> 00:39:33.480
 and it's an amazing thing,

00:39:33.819 --> 00:39:34.759
 even our victories,

00:39:34.859 --> 00:39:35.339
 the Bible says,

00:39:35.419 --> 00:39:36.059
 even our victories

00:39:36.059 --> 00:39:36.899
 are because of Jesus.

00:39:41.539 --> 00:39:42.319
 Did you hear that?

00:39:44.399 --> 00:39:45.779
 In Revelations 4,

00:39:45.859 --> 00:39:46.279
 it's one of these

00:39:46.279 --> 00:39:47.059
 interesting passages.

00:39:47.239 --> 00:39:47.980
 In Revelations 4,

00:39:48.059 --> 00:39:48.759
 what it says is that

00:39:48.759 --> 00:39:49.980
 as God's people,

00:39:49.980 --> 00:39:50.940
 we will come to heaven

00:39:50.940 --> 00:39:52.320
 and we will see Jesus,

00:39:52.440 --> 00:39:53.179
 the Lamb of God

00:39:53.179 --> 00:39:54.900
 and we will have crowns

00:39:54.900 --> 00:39:55.460
 on our head,

00:39:55.599 --> 00:39:56.420
 crowns of gold

00:39:56.420 --> 00:39:56.920
 and jewels

00:39:56.920 --> 00:39:57.719
 and all these things

00:39:57.719 --> 00:39:58.380
 that we did well

00:39:58.380 --> 00:39:58.940
 for his kingdom

00:39:58.940 --> 00:39:59.900
 and we served him.

00:40:00.380 --> 00:40:00.840
 In the passage,

00:40:00.960 --> 00:40:01.199
 it says something

00:40:01.199 --> 00:40:01.740
 very interesting

00:40:01.740 --> 00:40:02.639
 in Revelations 4,

00:40:02.699 --> 00:40:02.880
 11.

00:40:03.159 --> 00:40:03.920
 What it says is that

00:40:03.920 --> 00:40:04.500
 you and I,

00:40:04.760 --> 00:40:06.240
 we all take off our crowns

00:40:06.240 --> 00:40:06.920
 and what do we do with them?

00:40:10.440 --> 00:40:11.659
 We all take off our crowns,

00:40:11.679 --> 00:40:12.219
 what do we do with them?

00:40:13.539 --> 00:40:15.199
 We lay them at Jesus' feet.

00:40:16.260 --> 00:40:17.119
 Why do we do that?

00:40:17.119 --> 00:40:17.139
 Why do we do that?

00:40:19.980 --> 00:40:22.460
 Because everything we've done,

00:40:23.400 --> 00:40:24.980
 everything good,

00:40:26.099 --> 00:40:26.780
 everything great,

00:40:26.900 --> 00:40:27.699
 everything righteous,

00:40:28.559 --> 00:40:29.260
 everything perfect,

00:40:29.360 --> 00:40:29.900
 everything the way

00:40:29.900 --> 00:40:30.980
 God calls us to do it,

00:40:31.039 --> 00:40:31.800
 everything the Bible says,

00:40:31.860 --> 00:40:32.599
 you do it this way,

00:40:33.179 --> 00:40:34.059
 everything you've beat

00:40:34.059 --> 00:40:34.800
 this indwelling sin

00:40:34.800 --> 00:40:35.260
 in this case

00:40:35.260 --> 00:40:36.119
 and you've really been nice

00:40:36.119 --> 00:40:36.539
 to your wife

00:40:36.539 --> 00:40:36.940
 or your husband

00:40:36.940 --> 00:40:37.480
 or your worker

00:40:37.480 --> 00:40:38.599
 or you've done all these things

00:40:38.599 --> 00:40:39.139
 to your friends,

00:40:39.199 --> 00:40:39.679
 you've been great.

00:40:40.119 --> 00:40:41.460
 All those righteous things,

00:40:41.699 --> 00:40:42.480
 he says at the end,

00:40:42.480 --> 00:40:43.000
 we just lay them

00:40:43.000 --> 00:40:43.679
 at Jesus' feet.

00:40:43.679 --> 00:40:45.679
 Why?

00:40:48.239 --> 00:40:49.159
 Because everything we've done

00:40:49.159 --> 00:40:50.179
 is because of his grace.

00:40:54.019 --> 00:40:54.699
 Everything we've done

00:40:54.699 --> 00:40:55.579
 is because of his power.

00:40:58.419 --> 00:40:59.079
 Everything we've done

00:40:59.079 --> 00:40:59.980
 is because of his strength.

00:41:02.519 --> 00:41:03.799
 But Jesus is the hero

00:41:03.799 --> 00:41:04.460
 of our story.

00:41:08.139 --> 00:41:08.879
 We're not the hero

00:41:08.879 --> 00:41:09.359
 of our story.

00:41:09.360 --> 00:41:13.519
 Number three,

00:41:14.599 --> 00:41:15.880
 no matter where you are,

00:41:16.760 --> 00:41:19.059
 no matter where you are,

00:41:20.980 --> 00:41:22.539
 if you're God's child,

00:41:24.039 --> 00:41:25.760
 he is pursuing you.

00:41:29.760 --> 00:41:31.079
 No matter where you are

00:41:31.079 --> 00:41:33.120
 in your journey,

00:41:34.480 --> 00:41:35.539
 if you're pretending

00:41:35.539 --> 00:41:37.480
 or you're performing

00:41:37.480 --> 00:41:39.619
 or you've shrunken the cross

00:41:39.619 --> 00:41:40.380
 so small that you can

00:41:40.380 --> 00:41:41.199
 just keep it in your pocket

00:41:41.199 --> 00:41:41.740
 and pull it out

00:41:41.740 --> 00:41:42.260
 when you need it,

00:41:43.199 --> 00:41:44.260
 no matter where you are,

00:41:45.139 --> 00:41:46.139
 God's word says

00:41:46.139 --> 00:41:48.679
 that he's pursuing you.

00:41:52.619 --> 00:41:53.679
 He never gives up.

00:41:56.500 --> 00:41:57.119
 He's the God

00:41:57.119 --> 00:41:57.920
 of second chances.

00:42:01.619 --> 00:42:02.699
 You're never by yourself.

00:42:05.199 --> 00:42:05.980
 You're never blown it

00:42:05.980 --> 00:42:06.360
 so badly

00:42:06.360 --> 00:42:07.400
 that he's not looking at you.

00:42:07.480 --> 00:42:09.619
 You never mess up

00:42:09.619 --> 00:42:09.960
 so badly

00:42:09.960 --> 00:42:10.679
 that he's turned his back

00:42:10.679 --> 00:42:11.500
 and he's ignoring you.

00:42:13.320 --> 00:42:14.000
 The passage says

00:42:14.000 --> 00:42:14.760
 he's always,

00:42:14.900 --> 00:42:15.519
 always,

00:42:15.659 --> 00:42:16.659
 always pursuing

00:42:16.659 --> 00:42:17.179
 his children

00:42:17.179 --> 00:42:20.019
 because he loves you

00:42:20.019 --> 00:42:20.500
 so much.

00:42:31.340 --> 00:42:32.139
 One last thought.

00:42:32.139 --> 00:42:33.619
 I love

00:42:33.619 --> 00:42:35.699
 I love

00:42:35.699 --> 00:42:39.859
 Lord of the Rings

00:42:39.859 --> 00:42:40.480
 and Tolkien

00:42:40.480 --> 00:42:41.480
 and a couple of those.

00:42:41.559 --> 00:42:42.319
 I really don't like

00:42:42.319 --> 00:42:43.239
 science fiction that much.

00:42:43.279 --> 00:42:43.719
 I really don't like

00:42:43.719 --> 00:42:44.559
 fantasy that much.

00:42:45.039 --> 00:42:45.739
 But I love

00:42:45.739 --> 00:42:47.159
 the Lord of the Rings.

00:42:47.279 --> 00:42:47.980
 I love Tolkien.

00:42:48.119 --> 00:42:49.259
 I love the story

00:42:49.259 --> 00:42:49.960
 that he tells.

00:42:50.059 --> 00:42:50.940
 I love C.S. Lewis.

00:42:51.039 --> 00:42:51.920
 I think it's amazing

00:42:51.920 --> 00:42:52.420
 how they

00:42:52.420 --> 00:42:53.599
 weave

00:42:53.599 --> 00:42:54.599
 myth

00:42:54.599 --> 00:42:56.059
 into this grand story

00:42:56.059 --> 00:42:56.699
 and they capture

00:42:56.699 --> 00:42:57.379
 our story

00:42:57.379 --> 00:42:58.039
 in life.

00:42:58.039 --> 00:42:58.940
 and I've been

00:42:58.940 --> 00:42:59.619
 thinking about this

00:42:59.619 --> 00:42:59.900
 a lot,

00:42:59.960 --> 00:43:00.219
 you know.

00:43:04.300 --> 00:43:05.519
 When Peter Jackson

00:43:05.519 --> 00:43:07.840
 in New Line Cinema

00:43:07.840 --> 00:43:09.719
 was reading Tolkien

00:43:09.719 --> 00:43:11.920
 and they said,

00:43:11.980 --> 00:43:12.059
 you know,

00:43:12.099 --> 00:43:12.179
 hey,

00:43:12.199 --> 00:43:12.699
 we need to make

00:43:12.699 --> 00:43:13.320
 a movie out of this.

00:43:15.519 --> 00:43:15.980
 This would be

00:43:15.980 --> 00:43:16.460
 a great movie.

00:43:17.559 --> 00:43:17.900
 We don't know

00:43:17.900 --> 00:43:18.380
 how successful

00:43:18.380 --> 00:43:18.719
 it's going to be

00:43:18.719 --> 00:43:19.139
 but this is going

00:43:19.139 --> 00:43:19.599
 to be great.

00:43:20.320 --> 00:43:20.699
 We need to make

00:43:20.699 --> 00:43:21.320
 a movie out of this book.

00:43:21.320 --> 00:43:23.460
 What's the first thing

00:43:23.460 --> 00:43:23.840
 they had to do?

00:43:32.640 --> 00:43:33.100
 They're reading

00:43:33.100 --> 00:43:33.720
 The Lord of the Rings,

00:43:33.800 --> 00:43:34.340
 they're reading Tolkien,

00:43:34.460 --> 00:43:34.640
 they go,

00:43:34.720 --> 00:43:34.800
 wow,

00:43:34.840 --> 00:43:35.460
 this is incredible.

00:43:35.620 --> 00:43:36.820
 I really like this story.

00:43:37.180 --> 00:43:37.840
 This is going to make

00:43:37.840 --> 00:43:38.260
 a great,

00:43:38.380 --> 00:43:38.980
 great,

00:43:39.059 --> 00:43:39.860
 great book,

00:43:40.000 --> 00:43:40.440
 a movie.

00:43:41.140 --> 00:43:41.680
 Let's make it

00:43:41.680 --> 00:43:42.000
 into a movie.

00:43:42.080 --> 00:43:42.539
 What's the first thing

00:43:42.539 --> 00:43:42.880
 they had to do?

00:43:46.000 --> 00:43:46.420
 Come on.

00:43:47.820 --> 00:43:48.300
 What did they have

00:43:48.300 --> 00:43:48.900
 to do first thing?

00:43:52.120 --> 00:43:52.640
 Do what?

00:43:54.539 --> 00:43:54.860
 Wow,

00:43:55.000 --> 00:43:55.380
 Elaine.

00:43:56.180 --> 00:43:56.420
 You know,

00:43:56.580 --> 00:43:57.960
 the first time

00:43:57.960 --> 00:43:58.559
 I heard this

00:43:58.559 --> 00:43:59.100
 I was like,

00:43:59.539 --> 00:43:59.780
 okay,

00:43:59.860 --> 00:44:00.160
 you got to get

00:44:00.160 --> 00:44:00.800
 the right character

00:44:00.800 --> 00:44:01.440
 for Legolas,

00:44:01.700 --> 00:44:02.000
 you got to get

00:44:02.000 --> 00:44:02.680
 the right character

00:44:02.680 --> 00:44:03.519
 for so and so.

00:44:04.059 --> 00:44:04.980
 Maybe I'll do that.

00:44:05.420 --> 00:44:05.600
 You know,

00:44:05.660 --> 00:44:06.120
 you're thinking

00:44:06.120 --> 00:44:06.880
 all these characters

00:44:06.880 --> 00:44:07.300
 or you're thinking,

00:44:07.480 --> 00:44:07.600
 well,

00:44:07.660 --> 00:44:08.140
 where are we going

00:44:08.140 --> 00:44:08.660
 to get the money

00:44:08.660 --> 00:44:09.680
 to produce this

00:44:09.680 --> 00:44:10.140
 and where are we

00:44:10.140 --> 00:44:11.019
 going to shoot this

00:44:11.019 --> 00:44:11.980
 and all these things

00:44:11.980 --> 00:44:12.480
 but no.

00:44:13.920 --> 00:44:14.600
 The first thing

00:44:14.600 --> 00:44:15.320
 they had to do

00:44:15.320 --> 00:44:16.980
 was they had to buy

00:44:16.980 --> 00:44:17.500
 the rights

00:44:17.500 --> 00:44:18.740
 to the book.

00:44:20.100 --> 00:44:20.539
 They had to buy

00:44:20.539 --> 00:44:21.019
 the rights

00:44:21.019 --> 00:44:21.579
 to the story

00:44:21.579 --> 00:44:22.079
 because until

00:44:22.079 --> 00:44:22.380
 they bought

00:44:22.380 --> 00:44:22.860
 the rights

00:44:22.860 --> 00:44:23.400
 to the story,

00:44:23.619 --> 00:44:24.059
 they couldn't

00:44:24.059 --> 00:44:24.659
 keep the story

00:44:24.659 --> 00:44:24.940
 going.

00:44:25.039 --> 00:44:25.340
 They couldn't

00:44:25.340 --> 00:44:25.940
 fix the story.

00:44:26.019 --> 00:44:26.320
 They couldn't

00:44:26.320 --> 00:44:26.800
 change it.

00:44:27.019 --> 00:44:27.280
 They couldn't

00:44:27.280 --> 00:44:27.619
 do anything

00:44:27.619 --> 00:44:28.079
 about it.

00:44:28.320 --> 00:44:28.500
 I mean,

00:44:28.539 --> 00:44:29.420
 even though most

00:44:29.420 --> 00:44:30.179
 movies are different

00:44:30.179 --> 00:44:30.759
 than the books

00:44:30.759 --> 00:44:31.559
 and so there's

00:44:31.559 --> 00:44:32.019
 these changes

00:44:32.019 --> 00:44:32.460
 going on

00:44:32.460 --> 00:44:33.300
 but they wanted

00:44:33.300 --> 00:44:33.900
 to make the movie.

00:44:34.159 --> 00:44:34.780
 The very first

00:44:34.780 --> 00:44:35.219
 thing they had to do

00:44:35.219 --> 00:44:35.619
 was they had to

00:44:35.619 --> 00:44:36.199
 buy the rights

00:44:36.199 --> 00:44:36.800
 to the story.

00:44:41.659 --> 00:44:42.219
 You and I

00:44:42.219 --> 00:44:42.759
 are on a journey

00:44:42.759 --> 00:44:47.400
 and God comes in

00:44:47.400 --> 00:44:49.500
 and he buys

00:44:49.500 --> 00:44:50.059
 the rights

00:44:50.059 --> 00:44:51.759
 to our story.

00:44:56.039 --> 00:44:57.099
 He sees your life

00:44:57.099 --> 00:44:57.400
 and he goes,

00:44:57.500 --> 00:44:57.599
 wow,

00:44:57.659 --> 00:44:58.380
 that's amazing.

00:44:59.579 --> 00:45:00.039
 I don't even

00:45:00.039 --> 00:45:00.400
 worry about

00:45:00.400 --> 00:45:00.880
 who's playing it

00:45:00.880 --> 00:45:01.119
 because you're

00:45:01.119 --> 00:45:01.420
 playing it

00:45:01.420 --> 00:45:02.500
 but what I got

00:45:02.500 --> 00:45:02.659
 to do,

00:45:02.699 --> 00:45:02.940
 I got to buy

00:45:02.940 --> 00:45:03.219
 the rights

00:45:03.219 --> 00:45:03.619
 to that story.

00:45:03.619 --> 00:45:04.000
 How do I

00:45:04.000 --> 00:45:04.400
 buy the rights

00:45:04.400 --> 00:45:04.880
 to that story?

00:45:07.219 --> 00:45:08.159
 I send my son.

00:45:11.599 --> 00:45:12.239
 My son

00:45:12.239 --> 00:45:13.960
 buys the rights

00:45:13.960 --> 00:45:14.559
 to that story.

00:45:14.559 --> 00:45:17.759
 now I have

00:45:17.759 --> 00:45:18.360
 that story.

00:45:20.440 --> 00:45:21.039
 I love

00:45:21.039 --> 00:45:21.579
 that story.

00:45:23.239 --> 00:45:23.860
 I want to make

00:45:23.860 --> 00:45:24.320
 sure that story

00:45:24.320 --> 00:45:25.000
 has an amazing

00:45:25.000 --> 00:45:25.320
 ending.

00:45:27.039 --> 00:45:27.719
 I'm going to make

00:45:27.719 --> 00:45:28.239
 sure that story

00:45:28.239 --> 00:45:28.860
 is filled with

00:45:28.860 --> 00:45:30.739
 grace and mercy

00:45:30.739 --> 00:45:32.320
 and struggle

00:45:32.320 --> 00:45:34.039
 and love.

00:45:34.820 --> 00:45:35.380
 I'm going to make

00:45:35.380 --> 00:45:36.219
 this story amazing.

00:45:36.219 --> 00:45:42.279
 Do you know

00:45:42.279 --> 00:45:42.559
 that?

00:45:46.819 --> 00:45:47.339
 God has

00:45:47.339 --> 00:45:48.339
 bottomed the

00:45:48.339 --> 00:45:48.899
 rights to your

00:45:48.899 --> 00:45:49.219
 story

00:45:49.219 --> 00:45:53.299
 and he wants

00:45:53.299 --> 00:45:53.739
 to do something

00:45:53.739 --> 00:45:54.419
 incredible in your

00:45:54.419 --> 00:45:54.739
 life.

00:45:59.279 --> 00:45:59.879
 He's going to do

00:45:59.879 --> 00:46:00.199
 it through your

00:46:00.199 --> 00:46:00.699
 struggles,

00:46:02.679 --> 00:46:03.019
 through your

00:46:03.019 --> 00:46:03.480
 failures,

00:46:05.159 --> 00:46:05.500
 through your

00:46:05.500 --> 00:46:05.940
 successes,

00:46:07.420 --> 00:46:07.739
 through your

00:46:07.739 --> 00:46:08.420
 hard times,

00:46:09.699 --> 00:46:10.039
 through your

00:46:10.039 --> 00:46:10.719
 good times

00:46:10.719 --> 00:46:12.820
 because he wants

00:46:12.820 --> 00:46:13.239
 to do something

00:46:13.239 --> 00:46:14.219
 amazing in your

00:46:14.219 --> 00:46:14.599
 life.

00:46:16.760 --> 00:46:17.440
 Do you believe

00:46:17.440 --> 00:46:17.659
 that?

00:46:22.119 --> 00:46:22.639
 That's the

00:46:22.639 --> 00:46:23.039
 message of

00:46:23.039 --> 00:46:23.360
 Romans.

00:46:26.559 --> 00:46:27.059
 That's the

00:46:27.059 --> 00:46:27.380
 message of

00:46:27.380 --> 00:46:27.900
 God's word.

00:46:29.619 --> 00:46:30.199
 Father, we

00:46:30.199 --> 00:46:30.639
 thank you for

00:46:30.639 --> 00:46:31.099
 this day.

00:46:32.239 --> 00:46:33.119
 We thank you

00:46:33.119 --> 00:46:33.679
 as we think

00:46:33.679 --> 00:46:34.139
 about the

00:46:34.139 --> 00:46:34.659
 struggle that

00:46:34.659 --> 00:46:35.199
 we face,

00:46:35.199 --> 00:46:35.500
 that we

00:46:35.500 --> 00:46:36.639
 have heroes

00:46:36.639 --> 00:46:37.099
 of the

00:46:37.099 --> 00:46:37.619
 faith like

00:46:37.619 --> 00:46:38.179
 Paul who

00:46:38.179 --> 00:46:38.739
 shows us

00:46:38.739 --> 00:46:39.099
 that the

00:46:39.099 --> 00:46:39.419
 struggle

00:46:39.419 --> 00:46:40.399
 doesn't just

00:46:40.399 --> 00:46:41.000
 stop at

00:46:41.000 --> 00:46:41.559
 one end,

00:46:42.139 --> 00:46:42.659
 but it

00:46:42.659 --> 00:46:43.659
 continues and

00:46:43.659 --> 00:46:44.559
 continues and

00:46:44.559 --> 00:46:45.019
 continues.

00:46:45.859 --> 00:46:46.419
 But in the

00:46:46.419 --> 00:46:46.799
 midst of that

00:46:46.799 --> 00:46:47.159
 struggle,

00:46:47.480 --> 00:46:51.319
 we have a

00:46:51.319 --> 00:46:51.599
 hero.

00:46:53.519 --> 00:46:54.460
 This hero is

00:46:54.460 --> 00:46:55.000
 your son.

00:46:57.299 --> 00:46:57.919
 And this

00:46:57.919 --> 00:46:58.659
 hero comes in

00:46:58.659 --> 00:46:59.179
 and he buys

00:46:59.179 --> 00:46:59.839
 the rights to

00:46:59.839 --> 00:47:00.480
 our story.

00:47:00.480 --> 00:47:00.539
 movie.

00:47:02.820 --> 00:47:03.599
 And it is an

00:47:03.599 --> 00:47:04.539
 expensive movie

00:47:04.539 --> 00:47:07.019
 because the

00:47:07.019 --> 00:47:07.860
 rights cost him

00:47:07.860 --> 00:47:08.519
 his life.

00:47:10.699 --> 00:47:11.420
 But now he

00:47:11.420 --> 00:47:11.760
 has our

00:47:11.760 --> 00:47:12.460
 manuscript in

00:47:12.460 --> 00:47:13.019
 our life.

00:47:14.659 --> 00:47:15.159
 And he's

00:47:15.159 --> 00:47:15.500
 doing an

00:47:15.500 --> 00:47:16.480
 incredible story

00:47:16.480 --> 00:47:17.139
 in our life.

00:47:18.980 --> 00:47:19.599
 And we don't

00:47:19.599 --> 00:47:19.920
 know what the

00:47:19.920 --> 00:47:20.340
 ending is going

00:47:20.340 --> 00:47:20.820
 to be like

00:47:20.820 --> 00:47:21.460
 because sometimes

00:47:21.460 --> 00:47:22.240
 he rewrites

00:47:22.240 --> 00:47:22.840
 things different

00:47:22.840 --> 00:47:23.420
 than we want

00:47:23.420 --> 00:47:24.000
 them to be.

00:47:24.000 --> 00:47:25.739
 And so we

00:47:25.739 --> 00:47:26.780
 face pain and

00:47:26.780 --> 00:47:27.539
 struggle and

00:47:27.539 --> 00:47:28.300
 tension and

00:47:28.300 --> 00:47:29.260
 conflict and

00:47:29.260 --> 00:47:29.679
 we want to

00:47:29.679 --> 00:47:30.059
 avoid.

00:47:30.159 --> 00:47:30.559
 We want to

00:47:30.559 --> 00:47:30.920
 say you're

00:47:30.920 --> 00:47:31.519
 not in it.

00:47:31.820 --> 00:47:32.280
 You don't

00:47:32.280 --> 00:47:32.780
 love me.

00:47:33.019 --> 00:47:33.699
 If you love

00:47:33.699 --> 00:47:34.059
 me, you

00:47:34.059 --> 00:47:34.340
 would have

00:47:34.340 --> 00:47:34.760
 done these

00:47:34.760 --> 00:47:35.000
 things.

00:47:35.079 --> 00:47:35.360
 You wouldn't

00:47:35.360 --> 00:47:35.739
 let these

00:47:35.739 --> 00:47:36.280
 things happen.

00:47:36.659 --> 00:47:37.219
 Why are you

00:47:37.219 --> 00:47:37.480
 there?

00:47:37.539 --> 00:47:37.940
 You're not

00:47:37.940 --> 00:47:38.420
 good.

00:47:39.880 --> 00:47:40.239
 But your

00:47:40.239 --> 00:47:41.139
 word says that

00:47:41.139 --> 00:47:43.960
 you are and

00:47:43.960 --> 00:47:44.880
 you bought our

00:47:44.880 --> 00:47:47.820
 story and you

00:47:47.820 --> 00:47:48.239
 want to do

00:47:48.239 --> 00:47:48.900
 something amazing

00:47:48.900 --> 00:47:49.340
 with it.

00:47:51.420 --> 00:47:52.000
 And the

00:47:52.000 --> 00:47:52.440
 question is,

00:47:52.500 --> 00:47:52.860
 will we let

00:47:52.860 --> 00:47:53.039
 you?

00:47:54.000 --> 00:47:56.139
 Will we

00:47:56.139 --> 00:47:56.480
 let you?

00:47:58.639 --> 00:47:59.139
 Father, I

00:47:59.139 --> 00:47:59.400
 know there's

00:47:59.400 --> 00:47:59.719
 some people

00:47:59.719 --> 00:48:00.519
 here who are

00:48:00.519 --> 00:48:00.980
 on a journey

00:48:00.980 --> 00:48:01.880
 by themselves

00:48:01.880 --> 00:48:03.119
 and they're

00:48:03.119 --> 00:48:03.559
 still trying to

00:48:03.559 --> 00:48:04.280
 be God and

00:48:04.280 --> 00:48:04.960
 still trying to

00:48:04.960 --> 00:48:06.420
 create God and

00:48:06.420 --> 00:48:07.099
 find God.

00:48:07.179 --> 00:48:07.599
 And I pray

00:48:07.599 --> 00:48:09.800
 today that

00:48:09.800 --> 00:48:10.500
 somehow, Lord,

00:48:10.519 --> 00:48:10.920
 you would open

00:48:10.920 --> 00:48:11.619
 their eyes and

00:48:11.619 --> 00:48:12.340
 their ears to

00:48:12.340 --> 00:48:12.679
 your son,

00:48:12.760 --> 00:48:14.980
 Jesus, that

00:48:14.980 --> 00:48:15.519
 they'd realize

00:48:15.519 --> 00:48:16.039
 that all of

00:48:16.039 --> 00:48:16.599
 life is a

00:48:16.599 --> 00:48:16.860
 struggle.

00:48:16.960 --> 00:48:17.340
 The question

00:48:17.340 --> 00:48:18.460
 is, where

00:48:18.460 --> 00:48:18.800
 is their

00:48:18.800 --> 00:48:19.300
 efforts going

00:48:19.300 --> 00:48:19.800
 to go within

00:48:19.800 --> 00:48:20.360
 that struggle?

00:48:22.579 --> 00:48:23.239
 I pray they

00:48:23.239 --> 00:48:23.619
 would come to

00:48:23.619 --> 00:48:23.920
 know your

00:48:23.920 --> 00:48:24.920
 son and

00:48:24.920 --> 00:48:25.260
 enter into

00:48:25.260 --> 00:48:25.760
 the family.

00:48:25.880 --> 00:48:26.200
 And I pray

00:48:26.200 --> 00:48:26.559
 that when they

00:48:26.559 --> 00:48:27.200
 walk into the

00:48:27.200 --> 00:48:27.680
 doors of this

00:48:27.680 --> 00:48:28.720
 family, they

00:48:28.720 --> 00:48:29.180
 would see a

00:48:29.180 --> 00:48:30.079
 family of people

00:48:30.079 --> 00:48:30.720
 who are broken,

00:48:32.360 --> 00:48:32.880
 people who are

00:48:32.880 --> 00:48:33.820
 being changed and

00:48:33.820 --> 00:48:34.440
 redeemed and

00:48:34.440 --> 00:48:36.780
 honest and

00:48:36.780 --> 00:48:39.460
 real and

00:48:39.460 --> 00:48:39.960
 struggling with

00:48:39.960 --> 00:48:40.900
 indwelling sin and

00:48:40.900 --> 00:48:41.680
 talking about it and

00:48:41.680 --> 00:48:42.300
 praying about it with

00:48:42.300 --> 00:48:42.840
 each other and

00:48:42.840 --> 00:48:43.619
 confessing it and

00:48:43.619 --> 00:48:44.240
 helping each other

00:48:44.240 --> 00:48:44.980
 along the journey.

00:48:44.980 --> 00:48:47.980
 and all along,

00:48:48.980 --> 00:48:51.480
 crying out, praise be

00:48:51.480 --> 00:48:53.940
 to God who

00:48:53.940 --> 00:48:54.800
 changes us through

00:48:54.800 --> 00:48:55.679
 Jesus Christ.

00:48:57.579 --> 00:48:58.219
 I know there's

00:48:58.219 --> 00:48:58.679
 some of us in

00:48:58.679 --> 00:48:59.219
 this room who've

00:48:59.219 --> 00:48:59.639
 been on that

00:48:59.639 --> 00:49:00.119
 journey for a

00:49:00.119 --> 00:49:01.340
 while and we've

00:49:01.340 --> 00:49:01.780
 been on it for

00:49:01.780 --> 00:49:02.440
 so long we've

00:49:02.440 --> 00:49:03.019
 even forgotten

00:49:03.019 --> 00:49:03.539
 where we're

00:49:03.539 --> 00:49:03.800
 heading.

00:49:04.519 --> 00:49:05.039
 We're kind of

00:49:05.039 --> 00:49:05.599
 like the hobbits

00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:06.300
 in the woods and

00:49:06.300 --> 00:49:07.059
 we lose track of

00:49:07.059 --> 00:49:07.780
 the trail and all

00:49:07.780 --> 00:49:08.099
 of a sudden we're

00:49:08.099 --> 00:49:08.519
 in the middle of

00:49:08.519 --> 00:49:10.639
 the mirkwood and

00:49:10.639 --> 00:49:11.119
 we don't know how

00:49:11.119 --> 00:49:11.840
 to get out and

00:49:11.840 --> 00:49:12.539
 we're captured and

00:49:12.539 --> 00:49:12.940
 we're in these

00:49:12.940 --> 00:49:14.139
 webs of sin and

00:49:14.139 --> 00:49:16.840
 indwelling sin and

00:49:16.840 --> 00:49:17.599
 we're waiting for a

00:49:17.599 --> 00:49:18.559
 hero to come and

00:49:18.559 --> 00:49:19.699
 to release us.

00:49:21.199 --> 00:49:22.059
 Lord, I pray for

00:49:22.059 --> 00:49:22.639
 our hearts.

00:49:24.219 --> 00:49:25.380
 Help us to confess

00:49:25.380 --> 00:49:26.099
 our shadows.

00:49:27.619 --> 00:49:28.159
 Help us to be

00:49:28.159 --> 00:49:28.820
 honest and real

00:49:28.820 --> 00:49:29.739
 with you and to

00:49:29.739 --> 00:49:30.440
 repent of our

00:49:30.440 --> 00:49:31.360
 brokenness and to

00:49:31.360 --> 00:49:33.599
 realize that the

00:49:33.599 --> 00:49:34.219
 only way we can

00:49:34.219 --> 00:49:34.779
 make it is through

00:49:34.779 --> 00:49:35.440
 your mercy and

00:49:35.440 --> 00:49:37.159
 grace and that

00:49:37.159 --> 00:49:37.619
 you're doing an

00:49:37.619 --> 00:49:38.400
 amazing thing in

00:49:38.400 --> 00:49:39.000
 our story.

00:49:40.679 --> 00:49:41.599
 I pray for us,

00:49:41.699 --> 00:49:41.980
 Lord, that we

00:49:41.980 --> 00:49:42.440
 would be different

00:49:42.440 --> 00:49:43.220
 people because of

00:49:43.220 --> 00:49:43.679
 your word.

00:49:44.900 --> 00:49:45.420
 I pray that we

00:49:45.420 --> 00:49:45.740
 would be different

00:49:45.740 --> 00:49:46.460
 people because we

00:49:46.460 --> 00:49:47.460
 gather together to

00:49:47.460 --> 00:49:48.460
 worship you and to

00:49:48.460 --> 00:49:49.340
 sing of amazing

00:49:49.340 --> 00:49:50.179
 songs of how good

00:49:50.179 --> 00:49:50.579
 you are.

00:49:51.920 --> 00:49:52.599
 I pray that we

00:49:52.599 --> 00:49:52.920
 would be different

00:49:52.920 --> 00:49:53.760
 people because we're

00:49:53.760 --> 00:49:54.579
 in a community that

00:49:54.579 --> 00:49:55.300
 loves you and

00:49:55.300 --> 00:49:56.240
 reaches out to

00:49:56.240 --> 00:49:56.740
 those who don't

00:49:56.740 --> 00:49:57.420
 know you yet.

00:49:59.039 --> 00:49:59.780
 I pray for this

00:49:59.780 --> 00:50:00.720
 part of Hong Kong,

00:50:00.920 --> 00:50:01.079
 Lord.

00:50:01.260 --> 00:50:02.019
 I know there are a

00:50:02.019 --> 00:50:02.760
 lot of people who

00:50:02.760 --> 00:50:03.659
 are rewriting and

00:50:03.659 --> 00:50:04.300
 writing their own

00:50:04.300 --> 00:50:05.220
 stories and those

00:50:05.220 --> 00:50:06.059
 stories are ultimately

00:50:06.059 --> 00:50:08.380
 going to end up in

00:50:08.380 --> 00:50:09.800
 pain and badness and

00:50:09.800 --> 00:50:10.159
 hurt.

00:50:10.159 --> 00:50:13.299
 help us to be a

00:50:13.299 --> 00:50:14.599
 church that introduces

00:50:14.599 --> 00:50:15.559
 them to the author

00:50:15.559 --> 00:50:17.759
 that can rewrite all

00:50:17.759 --> 00:50:20.139
 things, the one who's

00:50:20.139 --> 00:50:21.639
 willing to buy them

00:50:21.639 --> 00:50:24.779
 whatever it costs so

00:50:24.779 --> 00:50:26.940
 they might have life and

00:50:26.940 --> 00:50:30.420
 hope and mercy and

00:50:30.420 --> 00:50:30.779
 grace.

00:50:30.780 --> 00:50:33.560
 Father, we love you.

00:50:35.040 --> 00:50:35.940
 We desperately,

00:50:36.620 --> 00:50:38.180
 desperately need you.

00:50:42.120 --> 00:50:42.920
 I pray these things in

00:50:42.920 --> 00:50:43.720
 your son Jesus' name.

00:50:44.200 --> 00:50:44.420
 Amen.