WEBVTT

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 Wonderful. Right. Before I get going, a quiz. Okay, so these numbers up on the screen,

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! I just want to set myself up. You're allowed to confer if you want to. See if you can work

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! out what they are and what ties them together. Okay, so just now you're allowed to phone a

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 friend or whatever you need to do. Anyone want to tell me what the first one is? A hundred

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 over 75. Blood pressure. Okay, well done. I'll tell you a little bit more about that in a

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 minute. How about eight hours? Sleep. Sleep. Well done. Good. 2,000. Yeah, so adult male

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 having 2,000 calories per day. A female is supposed to be 1,800 or something like that. Okay,

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 two minutes. Very good, James. And two times a day as well, may I add. Plus flossing, I

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 suppose. Two minutes twice a day. Teeth cleaning. How about 10,000? Steps. Excellent. 22. Anyone

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 know what this one is? Sorry? So that is your, is a body mass index figure. Don't ask me how

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 you work that out. How about five a day? Fruit and veg. And of course they say it shouldn't

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 be five. It should be about 20 or something like that. Anyway, these, any, any ideas what

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 tie those together? Health. Health, yes. They are sort of optimal targets, aren't they? That

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 you get set. And I know some of them are in different bands and depending on your age and

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 all the rest of it. Okay, be honest. When you see something like that, your optimal targets,

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 how do you feel? Some of you are feeling great. Others of you are going, oh man, no, no. There's

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 a mix, isn't there, between a sort of pride, yeah, nailing it, woo, and guilt. A little bit

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 of kind of like, oh, if only. And now, of course, not only do we have the figures, but we have

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 the technology to support the keeping of those targets. Let's have the picture up, Martin.

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 That'd be great. How many of you have one of these or other manufacturers are available?

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 Yeah? Okay, so a smartwatch with an activity tracker. You know, those little loops, if you're

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 unfamiliar with this, they go around and as you hit your targets for steps or sleep or what

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 are the other ones, distance. And they even buzz, don't they, when you've met those targets or when

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 you're supposed to have a movement break every half an hour or whatever it is. So you have this sort

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 of external force trying to help you reach your optimal performance, right? I often wonder what

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 would happen for some people if you took them away. It's an interesting thought. Okay, thank you.

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 We can take that picture off the screen. Otherwise, we'll all be wondering what our step counts are for

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 the rest of the day. But are we all in agreement that targets, when it comes to health and things

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 like that, are good? You know, we're given these guidelines for better health. And I think the word

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 that we put next to it sometimes is, these are things we should be doing. And sometimes it's that

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 sense of should, that sense of obligation, which can make us feel a bit defeated at times.

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 And for those who are particularly intent on reaching those targets, it's almost like we can

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 kind of get slightly addicted to them, slightly enslaved to watching that circle meet at the end.

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 And it's often accompanied, isn't it, by this fear that if we don't reach that target, our well-being

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 will in some way suffer. Or, as it has been said in my household, if you don't brush your teeth,

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 your teeth will fall out. Or, slightly more subtle but still just as fear-mongering, it's okay,

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 you only need to brush the teeth you want to keep.

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 How many of you have been parented like that? How many of us still parent like that?

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 Ooh, I don't want to go there. That's just an example, right? Folks, that feeling of being

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 fear-driven, guilt and anxiety induced, when you've got those targets you know you should

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 meet. For many people, when it comes to their moral or spiritual life,

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 that's often the effect the church has on them. Okay? So for someone who is struggling to hit the

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 spiritual and moral optimal targets, church can feel like the last place you want to go.

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 You know, if you feel bad, come to church and you'll feel worse. I wonder if that's been your

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 experience or perhaps that's perception a family member or a friend of yours has about church.

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 It's all about meeting targets that make us sometimes feel worse when we don't hit them.

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 And today we're going to be exploring a little bit why is it that some people feel like that?

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 And I have to say, very often, it's the people who make out they are living the optimal spiritual and

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 moral life that cause those around them to feel worse rather than better. There's something about

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 religious pride which is really off-putting. And even worse, hypocrisy. Because they just cover

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 things up that they can't admit to themselves perhaps, or particularly to others, where they're

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 missing the mark. And it leads to people, particularly I had to say, people who are employed to talk about

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 Christian things, often walking around like sort of empty shells, speaking the right stuff, but inside

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 they're empty. And in fact, Jesus called such characters whitewashed tombs. Look good on the

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 outside, but inside they're full of death. It's empty. Why am I telling you all this? Why have we started off

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 this quiz? Because actually, this parallels quite closely what is happening in the book of Romans

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 that we are exploring together. This letter to the Christians in Rome, as we've already heard, is a

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 it's quite a long, continuous, logical argument. And she's trying to make several points, but they're all

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 very cohesive into one. And if you remember, if you've been with us, don't worry if you haven't,

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 I'll try and catch us up. Paul wants us to consider, particularly today, how there are two powers

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 at work within us. Okay? Those of you who are with us, or you might know the book of Romans,

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 will remember a few weeks ago, we looked at how Paul speaks of one of these powers being that of

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 godlessness and wickedness, which is taking us away from God. It distorts our minds and our morals.

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 And it's this, it's a universal human condition. That's what he's keen to tell us. And it's almost

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 like a virus that we carry that eventually leads to spiritual and physical death. And Paul calls this

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 power the power of the flesh. Or sometimes that is translated in our English Bibles as the sinful nature.

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 Now, it's really important we don't understand that Paul is saying that our flesh, our bodies,

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 are kind of bad. That is the thoughts of some sort of religious philosophies. It's not that he's trying

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 to say that. But there is a power, he's saying, that is in work in us that opposes the life that God

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 wants for us. And he's very serious about that. And he, as we saw, describes the sort of downward spiral

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 that comes as we live that out unchecked, and we become both complicit in it and victims of it.

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 And it's all a big mess. But as Paul writes on, as we go through the chapters, he introduces another

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 power, if you like, a power that God has introduced to his people to try and help them understand

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 how they must live in order to be a people who are fit to have the holy presence of God

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 live among them. And that power is the law. The law. And when we say the law, it was introduced to the

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 people of Israel on Mount Sinai, if you remember, it's the Ten Commandments and all that. In fact,

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 there's 600-odd guidelines that make up the Hebraic law, that outline for God's people their optimal

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 targets. Yeah? Particularly in the realm of spiritual, moral, and social matters.

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 And by the time we get to Romans chapter 7, Paul is saying, look, this law is good, and it is holy.

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 But when it is introduced to those who are under the power of the flesh, who live in their minds and

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 their hearts by the sinful nature, all that the introduction of that law does is make them

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 realize that they're missing the mark. For example, says Paul, if you say to someone,

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 do not covet, i.e., don't desire other people's stuff, and you start thinking about it, you'll

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 suddenly realize just how much coveting you do. Or if you say, do not give false testimony, that means

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 don't lie or exaggerate to put yourself in a better light. Ooh, just how often do I do that?

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 So that good law, it's good, and it's holy, that is intended to bring life, it produces some kind of

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 death in us. Guilt, fear, anxiety. Because, Paul says, the power of the flesh, the sinful nature,

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 is like in opposition to that good law.

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 And so those, says Paul, who know God's good law,

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 yet are weighed down by the power of the flesh, they live in this agonizing tension. He puts it

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 like this, for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. I do not do the

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 good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do, this I keep on doing. Now, if I do what I do not

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 want to do, it's no longer I who do it, but it's sin living in me that does it. So there's this

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 agonizing tension that even if we agree in our minds that God is, and his laws are good,

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 that isn't enough power to help us meet that target. Because that other power that is working

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 in us is pulling us downwards, it's waging war, if you like, against that good desire. And so willpower

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 is not enough for us to reach God's optimal targets. And so by the end of chapter 7, verse 22,

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 Paul writes, for in my inner being I delight in God's law, but I see another law or power at work

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 in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work

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 within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

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 Wretched. It's a horrible situation to be in. Perhaps you can feel some of that tension.

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 I myself, in my mind, am a slave to God's law, but in my sinful nature, a slave to the law of sin.

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 Do you see this enslavement that's at work, these powers or laws that are at work in the human heart?

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 Do you see this? Do you feel the tension? Do you just get a sense of that?

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 Maybe that's even from your own experience, or you can imagine what it is for those who are in that mindset.

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 Well, let's allow God to release that tension for us.

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 I'm going to read. What I'm going to do this morning is simply take us through those verses that Cheryl read for us

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 and just try and help you unpack the logic of it, because it's all in there.

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 It's such rich, amazing stuff.

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 I'm going to read just a couple of verses each and then just spend a little bit of time making sure we understand it

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 and can get it into our heads and into our hearts.

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 So Paul says, after telling us that about this entrapment that we're in,

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 this enslavement to sin and enslavement to the law, he says,

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 therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

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 Because through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

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 So what Paul calls here the law of the Spirit who gives life, so the word of the Spirit,

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 it sets us free from feeling condemned, from guilt before God,

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 because it frees us, first of all, from the power of sin and death that we've been trapped in.

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 And he goes on,

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 for what the law, that good law given to God's people, was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,

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 God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.

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 And so he condemned sin in the flesh in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us,

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 who do not live according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

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 So again, what those guidelines for optimal performance did not have the power to do,

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 Jesus, through his death and resurrection, are able to achieve.

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 And what happens is this transaction.

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 Jesus' track record, his perfect life, his perfect submission to God, his sacrifice,

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 his track record becomes ours.

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 I've done that the wrong way, right?

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 Our track record becomes his, as it were.

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 Our sins are identified with him.

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 He takes them, and they are rightly condemned on the cross with Jesus.

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 But all that Jesus has done, and all he has fulfilled,

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 the laws he fulfilled with his perfect life,

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 and his sacrifice is then transferred, is identified with those who believe in him,

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 and who have his Spirit in them.

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 And Paul goes on to describe the difference between these two different mindsets,

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 that of the flesh and that of those of the Spirit.

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 I'll read verses 5 to 8.

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 Those who live according to the flesh have their mind set on what the flesh desires,

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 but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

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 The mind governed by the flesh is death,

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 but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

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 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God,

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 does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.

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 And those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

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 Do you see how they contrast those two different mindsets,

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 those thoughts and purposes,

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 those in the Spirit lead to life and peace,

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 but those that are in the flesh still,

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 still want to be ruled by that,

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 it leads to death.

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 And it's a case, it seems,

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 about who we're governed by,

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 who we allow to govern us.

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 Verses 9 to 11.

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 You, however, are not in the realm,

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 or in the governance,

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 of the flesh,

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 but you are in the realm of the Spirit.

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 If indeed the Spirit of God lives in you,

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 and if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,

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 they do not belong to Christ.

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 But if Christ is in you,

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 then even though your body is subject to death because of sin,

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 the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.

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 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you,

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 he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies

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 because of his Spirit who lives in you.

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 Now, usefully, my iPad,

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 which I'm looking at my notes,

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 has just crashed.

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 So let's go on together.

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 Let's see how much I have lived and prayed this Scripture.

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 Woo-hoo!

00:17:40.020 --> 00:17:41.780
 So if we are governed,

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 and we live in a realm of the flesh,

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 there's a bit of a challenge here, though.

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 I don't know if you noticed that.

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 If indeed you do have the Spirit of Christ,

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 how do we know that we have the Spirit of Christ?

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 Well, for that,

00:17:54.420 --> 00:17:56.019
 we need to just wind back maybe last week.

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 Emma was preaching on Romans 6.

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 We need to tie our lives to Jesus.

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 We need to submit our lives to his ways

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 and submit to his authority.

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 We need to die to our old selves

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 and turn fully

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 and embrace the gift that he offers us,

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 his life.

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 And that is how we receive the Spirit of Christ

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 because we've made ourselves open,

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 killing the old self,

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 opening ourselves to his life.

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 So that's the answer.

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 If indeed you have the Spirit of Christ,

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 that is what we need to look for.

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 And then this is really where it kicks home

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 because if we are in the Christ,

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 in the Spirit of God,

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 there's these wonderful verses.

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 I'm going to read verses 14 to...

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 Just 14 and 15 without notes.

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 For those who are led by the Spirit of God,

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 are the children of God.

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 The Spirit you receive does not make you slaves

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 so that you live in fear again.

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 Rather, the Spirit you received

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 brought about your adoption to sonship.

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 And by him we cry,

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 Abba, Father.

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 So this is like the amazing good news.

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 So whereas before,

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 we might be looking to reach those optimal targets,

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 a bit like a slave or an employee.

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 Oh, if only I can reach those targets

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 to earn God's love.

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 Uh-uh-uh.

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 If you have the Spirit of God,

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 you are made children of God.

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 And that's an entirely different way

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 of relating to God, isn't it?

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 And it's this perhaps curious phrase,

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 the Spirit you received

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 brought about your adoption to sonship.

00:19:40.679 --> 00:19:43.159
 Now this is actually quite a sort of technical term

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 that they've translated like this.

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 In the Roman world,

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 of which the original recipients

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 would have been very familiar,

00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:52.879
 if you were, say, part of the aristocracy,

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 you were rich and you had a sort of portfolio,

00:19:58.840 --> 00:19:59.500
 let's put it that way,

00:19:59.620 --> 00:20:00.600
 but you had no children,

00:20:01.120 --> 00:20:02.900
 then one of the practices they would have,

00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:03.900
 they would find somebody

00:20:03.900 --> 00:20:05.400
 and they would adopt them,

00:20:05.520 --> 00:20:06.860
 always a son, it was always a male,

00:20:07.300 --> 00:20:08.960
 to be their son

00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:09.980
 so that they would inherit

00:20:09.980 --> 00:20:11.680
 and carry on your legacy.

00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:13.400
 This is a well-known practice.

00:20:14.420 --> 00:20:15.880
 And what's interesting about this

00:20:15.880 --> 00:20:18.540
 is that to use that phrase,

00:20:19.060 --> 00:20:21.060
 it's not just men

00:20:21.059 --> 00:20:22.500
 who could be adopted into this.

00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:24.639
 It would be women,

00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:26.099
 it would be the young,

00:20:26.179 --> 00:20:26.879
 it would be the old,

00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:27.500
 it would be the widow,

00:20:27.639 --> 00:20:28.339
 it would be the orphan.

00:20:28.839 --> 00:20:31.139
 Anyone could become

00:20:31.139 --> 00:20:32.940
 an adopted son

00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:35.539
 in God's family

00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:37.139
 and therefore,

00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:38.139
 with Christ,

00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:39.179
 become heirs

00:20:39.179 --> 00:20:40.679
 with him,

00:20:41.220 --> 00:20:42.000
 Christ our brother,

00:20:42.460 --> 00:20:43.399
 and we get kind of

00:20:43.399 --> 00:20:45.839
 drawn into that family

00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:47.220
 as we are adopted.

00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:48.660
 And so,

00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:50.160
 it's interesting today

00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:52.279
 that we're thinking about

00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:53.160
 adoption

00:20:53.160 --> 00:20:54.400
 and being children of God

00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:55.380
 and God as our Heavenly Father,

00:20:55.500 --> 00:20:56.360
 it's Father's Day.

00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:58.279
 And I just wanted to just pause,

00:20:58.420 --> 00:20:59.259
 press pause a bit there

00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:01.380
 because I recognise that for many

00:21:01.380 --> 00:21:04.180
 that actually the idea of God

00:21:04.180 --> 00:21:04.880
 as our Father

00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:06.120
 is a tricky one,

00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:08.640
 even for our own experience

00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:11.759
 and even,

00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:12.620
 I was just talking to someone

00:21:12.620 --> 00:21:13.279
 before the service,

00:21:13.940 --> 00:21:14.799
 even those of us

00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:15.899
 who seek to be fathers,

00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:17.599
 perhaps because of the lack

00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:18.419
 of model of father

00:21:18.419 --> 00:21:19.500
 we've had in our lives

00:21:19.500 --> 00:21:21.019
 or whatever's happened to us,

00:21:21.099 --> 00:21:22.339
 it's very difficult

00:21:22.339 --> 00:21:23.700
 to get hold of this

00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:26.039
 idea of a perfect father.

00:21:27.159 --> 00:21:28.599
 And even the concept

00:21:28.599 --> 00:21:29.180
 of adoption

00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:31.279
 is riddled with complications here.

00:21:31.619 --> 00:21:32.379
 Many of you will know

00:21:32.379 --> 00:21:33.240
 that the Church of England

00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:33.720
 this week

00:21:33.720 --> 00:21:35.659
 made a formal apology

00:21:35.659 --> 00:21:37.339
 for its role

00:21:37.339 --> 00:21:39.359
 in forced adoption practices

00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:41.200
 a few decades ago

00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:43.339
 where rather than,

00:21:43.339 --> 00:21:43.579
 you know,

00:21:43.639 --> 00:21:44.779
 keeping mother and child together,

00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:45.839
 they were complicit

00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:47.460
 and sometimes actively so

00:21:47.460 --> 00:21:48.599
 in separating.

00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:50.940
 So we're in that sort of

00:21:50.940 --> 00:21:54.180
 downward spiral experience, folks,

00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:54.919
 of what it means

00:21:54.919 --> 00:21:56.919
 to be an adopted child.

00:21:57.319 --> 00:21:57.940
 But nevertheless,

00:21:58.779 --> 00:22:00.460
 let's try and clear that fog

00:22:00.460 --> 00:22:01.940
 so that we understand

00:22:01.940 --> 00:22:03.079
 what it is

00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:04.759
 that we are being offered here.

00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:07.259
 A relationship with God,

00:22:07.339 --> 00:22:08.339
 not that we've earned.

00:22:08.460 --> 00:22:09.919
 I know no adopted child

00:22:09.919 --> 00:22:11.700
 puts out their CV

00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:12.279
 and says,

00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:12.680
 please,

00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:12.680


00:22:12.819 --> 00:22:13.059
 no,

00:22:13.259 --> 00:22:14.119
 they're chosen

00:22:14.119 --> 00:22:16.359
 and they are drawn

00:22:16.359 --> 00:22:17.139
 into the family

00:22:17.139 --> 00:22:18.420
 so that all

00:22:18.420 --> 00:22:19.680
 of the provision

00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:20.519
 of that family,

00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:21.799
 all of the protection

00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:22.559
 that family

00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:24.519
 is offered to them.

00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:26.519
 No conditions.

00:22:27.859 --> 00:22:29.180
 It's unconditional love

00:22:29.180 --> 00:22:30.500
 because they don't have

00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:31.440
 a performance review

00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:31.980
 every year

00:22:31.980 --> 00:22:33.119
 to see how well

00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:33.420
 they're doing.

00:22:33.420 --> 00:22:33.720
 No,

00:22:33.840 --> 00:22:34.560
 they are loved

00:22:34.560 --> 00:22:36.660
 by God's heavenly father,

00:22:38.100 --> 00:22:39.060
 our heavenly father,

00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:40.480
 who we can call,

00:22:40.560 --> 00:22:41.220
 we can cry out,

00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:42.759
 we can come at any time,

00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:44.120
 anything on our heart

00:22:44.120 --> 00:22:44.600
 and cry,

00:22:45.360 --> 00:22:45.640
 Daddy,

00:22:45.820 --> 00:22:46.080
 Father,

00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:46.460
 Abba,

00:22:46.580 --> 00:22:47.660
 that's the sort of

00:22:47.660 --> 00:22:48.840
 intimate name,

00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:49.480
 the father.

00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:54.180
 and it means

00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:55.380
 that

00:22:55.380 --> 00:22:57.620
 we are then

00:22:57.620 --> 00:22:58.279
 united

00:22:58.279 --> 00:22:59.099
 because we have

00:22:59.099 --> 00:23:00.339
 the spirit of Christ

00:23:00.339 --> 00:23:00.900
 in us

00:23:00.900 --> 00:23:03.019
 and the spirit of Christ

00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:04.440
 as it were

00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:05.880
 interacts with

00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:06.779
 our own spirit

00:23:06.779 --> 00:23:08.259
 however healthy

00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:08.900
 it is

00:23:08.900 --> 00:23:10.299
 and it means

00:23:10.299 --> 00:23:11.180
 that he

00:23:11.180 --> 00:23:12.460
 begins to

00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:13.140
 form

00:23:13.140 --> 00:23:14.319
 and shape us

00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:15.460
 into the family

00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:16.180
 likeness

00:23:16.180 --> 00:23:17.279
 and this is an

00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:18.339
 ongoing process

00:23:18.339 --> 00:23:19.319
 and rather than

00:23:19.319 --> 00:23:19.839
 having a sort of

00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:20.539
 external

00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:22.079
 smart watch

00:23:22.079 --> 00:23:22.579
 to buzz

00:23:22.579 --> 00:23:23.159
 every time we

00:23:23.159 --> 00:23:23.579
 go up

00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:24.059
 no,

00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:25.000
 it's much more

00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:25.500
 intuitive

00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:26.959
 guided by the word

00:23:26.959 --> 00:23:27.439
 of God

00:23:27.439 --> 00:23:28.559
 but also

00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:31.419
 getting us in touch

00:23:31.419 --> 00:23:32.500
 with our own spirit

00:23:32.500 --> 00:23:33.659
 as it unites

00:23:33.659 --> 00:23:35.059
 with Christ

00:23:35.059 --> 00:23:36.819
 to guide us

00:23:36.819 --> 00:23:37.259
 in life

00:23:37.259 --> 00:23:38.220
 to help us

00:23:38.220 --> 00:23:39.599
 make good choices

00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:41.199
 and because we're not

00:23:41.199 --> 00:23:42.659
 in an employment

00:23:42.659 --> 00:23:43.220
 contract

00:23:43.220 --> 00:23:44.319
 or a slave contract

00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:44.559
 with God

00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:44.859
 because we're

00:23:44.859 --> 00:23:45.799
 children of God

00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:46.779
 all those things

00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:47.459
 that look like

00:23:47.459 --> 00:23:48.159
 could be shoulds

00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:50.439
 now can become

00:23:50.439 --> 00:23:51.459
 coulds

00:23:51.459 --> 00:23:53.319
 and cans

00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:54.299
 because actually

00:23:54.299 --> 00:23:54.839
 we have

00:23:54.839 --> 00:23:55.919
 the spirit of God

00:23:55.919 --> 00:23:56.740
 who actually

00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:58.039
 is more powerful

00:23:58.039 --> 00:23:58.939
 than the power

00:23:58.939 --> 00:23:59.439
 of sin

00:23:59.439 --> 00:24:00.779
 and is more power

00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:01.919
 than just the

00:24:01.919 --> 00:24:02.879
 optimal targets

00:24:02.879 --> 00:24:03.379
 of the law

00:24:03.379 --> 00:24:04.039
 and actually

00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:04.779
 it has the power

00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:06.099
 to put to death

00:24:06.099 --> 00:24:07.019
 some of the sinful

00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:08.480
 stuff that's in our lives

00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:09.939
 and all we have to do

00:24:09.939 --> 00:24:11.079
 to help activate

00:24:11.079 --> 00:24:11.659
 that power

00:24:11.659 --> 00:24:12.919
 is call out

00:24:12.919 --> 00:24:13.799
 Abba Father

00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:15.699
 help me

00:24:15.700 --> 00:24:16.860
 and the desire

00:24:16.860 --> 00:24:16.860


00:24:16.860 --> 00:24:17.519
 that grows

00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:18.440
 not because we

00:24:18.440 --> 00:24:19.200
 first loved God

00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:19.620
 but because he

00:24:19.620 --> 00:24:20.460
 first loved us

00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:20.960
 it's not that we're

00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:21.580
 trying to earn

00:24:21.580 --> 00:24:22.480
 our love with God

00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:23.580
 no he has brought

00:24:23.580 --> 00:24:24.220
 us into his family

00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:24.880
 and we are loved

00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:25.400
 we are loved

00:24:25.400 --> 00:24:25.720
 we are loved

00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:26.380
 and in response

00:24:26.380 --> 00:24:26.960
 to that

00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:27.740
 it's a whole

00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:28.580
 different motivation

00:24:28.580 --> 00:24:29.940
 to live

00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:31.640
 Christ-like lives

00:24:31.640 --> 00:24:32.900
 because we want

00:24:32.900 --> 00:24:33.279
 to please

00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:34.019
 our Heavenly Father

00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:35.680
 and we just want

00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:36.180
 to show

00:24:36.180 --> 00:24:37.299
 our appreciation

00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:38.559
 for what he has done

00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:40.639
 so that is the

00:24:40.639 --> 00:24:43.159
 that's the heart

00:24:43.159 --> 00:24:44.139
 of Paul's argument

00:24:44.139 --> 00:24:45.019
 if you like here

00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:46.339
 to show that how

00:24:46.339 --> 00:24:47.679
 to be led by the Spirit

00:24:47.679 --> 00:24:48.440
 and to become

00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:49.359
 children of God

00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:51.259
 is the ultimate

00:24:51.259 --> 00:24:52.039
 gift of God

00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:53.240
 it brings freedom

00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:54.460
 where there so can

00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:55.359
 often be fear

00:24:55.359 --> 00:24:57.579
 it brings relationship

00:24:57.579 --> 00:24:58.980
 rather than religion

00:24:58.980 --> 00:25:01.460
 and all those things

00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:02.539
 completely turn us

00:25:02.539 --> 00:25:03.379
 inside out

00:25:03.379 --> 00:25:04.779
 and give us

00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:05.740
 the hope

00:25:05.740 --> 00:25:06.960
 both in the future

00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:08.240
 but also now

00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:10.279
 of the freedom

00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:11.259
 of being the children

00:25:11.259 --> 00:25:11.839
 of God

00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:13.779
 unashamed

00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:14.279
 we don't need to

00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:14.920
 cover up

00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:16.160
 our faults

00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:16.799
 and our failings

00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:17.859
 because we are secure

00:25:17.859 --> 00:25:19.140
 in knowing that

00:25:19.140 --> 00:25:19.880
 we are loved

00:25:19.880 --> 00:25:20.920
 because of what

00:25:20.920 --> 00:25:21.680
 Jesus has done

00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:22.359
 because we are

00:25:22.359 --> 00:25:22.940
 in the family

00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:24.980
 and there's a whole

00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:25.579
 load of other

00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:26.599
 implications

00:25:26.599 --> 00:25:27.720
 probably many more

00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:28.400
 if I have my notes

00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:28.819
 but I'll just

00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:30.579
 I'll touch on

00:25:30.579 --> 00:25:31.420
 a few things here

00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:33.579
 on Thursday

00:25:33.579 --> 00:25:35.839
 45 of us met

00:25:35.839 --> 00:25:38.120
 stuck in room 4

00:25:38.119 --> 00:25:39.039
 because this room

00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:39.599
 was being otherwise

00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:40.000
 used

00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:40.679
 in the sweltering

00:25:40.679 --> 00:25:41.059
 heat

00:25:41.059 --> 00:25:42.199
 to discuss

00:25:42.199 --> 00:25:42.579
 and pray

00:25:42.579 --> 00:25:43.039
 about what it

00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:43.459
 meant to be

00:25:43.459 --> 00:25:44.659
 increasingly inspired

00:25:44.659 --> 00:25:45.859
 that was brilliant

00:25:45.859 --> 00:25:46.579
 so thank you so much

00:25:46.579 --> 00:25:46.919
 for coming

00:25:46.919 --> 00:25:47.579
 and I know many of you

00:25:47.579 --> 00:25:48.139
 wanted to come

00:25:48.139 --> 00:25:48.859
 but couldn't

00:25:48.859 --> 00:25:51.159
 and some of the

00:25:51.159 --> 00:25:51.619
 thoughts we were

00:25:51.619 --> 00:25:52.439
 having were

00:25:52.439 --> 00:25:53.359
 well what would

00:25:53.359 --> 00:25:54.159
 our church

00:25:54.159 --> 00:25:55.099
 community look like

00:25:55.099 --> 00:25:55.539
 if we were

00:25:55.539 --> 00:25:56.219
 increasingly

00:25:56.219 --> 00:25:57.239
 what I call

00:25:57.239 --> 00:25:57.879
 inspired

00:25:57.879 --> 00:25:59.079
 which is basically

00:25:59.079 --> 00:25:59.959
 increasingly led

00:25:59.959 --> 00:26:00.559
 by the Spirit

00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:00.959
 of God

00:26:00.959 --> 00:26:01.779
 increasingly

00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:02.819
 allowing our

00:26:02.819 --> 00:26:03.399
 identity

00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:04.540
 as children

00:26:04.540 --> 00:26:05.860
 to be first

00:26:05.860 --> 00:26:06.340
 and foremost

00:26:06.340 --> 00:26:07.000
 and to be

00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:07.980
 the driver

00:26:07.980 --> 00:26:09.120
 in our lives

00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:09.440
 what would it

00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:09.980
 look like

00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:11.240
 and there was

00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:11.660
 just a few

00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:12.320
 indications of

00:26:12.320 --> 00:26:13.820
 people understanding

00:26:13.820 --> 00:26:14.420
 the freedom

00:26:14.420 --> 00:26:15.120
 that brings

00:26:15.120 --> 00:26:16.420
 the conversations

00:26:16.420 --> 00:26:17.080
 that we might be

00:26:17.080 --> 00:26:17.840
 having even over

00:26:17.840 --> 00:26:18.280
 coffee

00:26:18.280 --> 00:26:19.640
 where we're

00:26:19.640 --> 00:26:20.140
 willing to be

00:26:20.140 --> 00:26:20.600
 open

00:26:20.600 --> 00:26:22.240
 about struggles

00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:22.960
 about things

00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:23.720
 that we need

00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:25.180
 because we're

00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:25.820
 free to do so

00:26:25.820 --> 00:26:26.320
 we don't need to

00:26:26.320 --> 00:26:27.120
 worry about our

00:26:27.120 --> 00:26:27.800
 appearance

00:26:27.799 --> 00:26:28.980
 and there was

00:26:28.980 --> 00:26:29.759
 a sense also

00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:30.399
 that actually

00:26:30.399 --> 00:26:31.180
 as we follow

00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:31.740
 the Spirit

00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:32.919
 the more we'll

00:26:32.919 --> 00:26:33.619
 be open to

00:26:33.619 --> 00:26:34.839
 those who are

00:26:34.839 --> 00:26:35.779
 different to us

00:26:35.779 --> 00:26:36.599
 because it's not

00:26:36.599 --> 00:26:37.379
 about conforming

00:26:37.379 --> 00:26:38.119
 to a cultural

00:26:38.119 --> 00:26:38.799
 pattern of

00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:40.519
 you know

00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:41.299
 this is what it

00:26:41.299 --> 00:26:41.779
 means to be a

00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:42.099
 Christian

00:26:42.099 --> 00:26:43.359
 in Clevedon

00:26:43.359 --> 00:26:44.019
 in 2026

00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:44.359
 no

00:26:44.359 --> 00:26:46.119
 this offer

00:26:46.119 --> 00:26:46.539
 of being

00:26:46.539 --> 00:26:47.680
 children of God

00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:48.200
 is open to

00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:48.740
 everyone

00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:49.819
 and that we

00:26:49.819 --> 00:26:50.480
 might see

00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.599
 increase amongst

00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:52.339
 us a great

00:26:52.339 --> 00:26:53.259
 diversity of people

00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:53.859
 from all sorts

00:26:53.859 --> 00:26:54.200
 of different

00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:54.680
 backgrounds

00:26:54.680 --> 00:26:55.819
 and that we

00:26:55.819 --> 00:26:56.019
 would be

00:26:56.019 --> 00:26:57.000
 attractive to

00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:57.460
 those

00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:58.039
 for whom

00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:58.819
 you know

00:26:58.819 --> 00:26:59.500
 reaching the

00:26:59.500 --> 00:27:00.319
 optimal targets

00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:00.900
 really

00:27:00.900 --> 00:27:02.079
 without the

00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:02.620
 grace of God

00:27:02.620 --> 00:27:03.079
 they'll never

00:27:03.079 --> 00:27:03.500
 do it

00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:04.100
 and that's

00:27:04.100 --> 00:27:04.539
 all of us

00:27:04.539 --> 00:27:04.920
 isn't it

00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:05.620
 we're on

00:27:05.620 --> 00:27:06.259
 11 playing

00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:06.620
 field

00:27:06.620 --> 00:27:07.500
 as children

00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:07.980
 of God

00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:08.420
 because we're

00:27:08.420 --> 00:27:09.460
 just reliant

00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:10.259
 on the Spirit

00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:10.759
 of God

00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:11.400
 to do that

00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:14.160
 and of course

00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:15.360
 if that is our

00:27:15.360 --> 00:27:16.120
 hope for us

00:27:16.120 --> 00:27:16.840
 as a community

00:27:16.840 --> 00:27:19.000
 to be increasingly

00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:20.380
 led by the Spirit

00:27:20.380 --> 00:27:22.299
 the invitation

00:27:22.299 --> 00:27:23.299
 is there for us

00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:24.100
 to make that

00:27:24.100 --> 00:27:25.160
 increasingly so

00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:26.000
 for ourselves

00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:27.539
 so I'm going

00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:27.960
 to end

00:27:27.960 --> 00:27:28.380
 now

00:27:28.380 --> 00:27:29.680
 just by giving

00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:30.019
 us a bit

00:27:30.019 --> 00:27:30.519
 of space

00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:31.200
 to think

00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:31.519
 about

00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:33.460
 what it

00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:33.940
 would truly

00:27:33.940 --> 00:27:34.680
 mean if we

00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:35.559
 stepped into

00:27:35.559 --> 00:27:36.319
 our identity

00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:37.660
 as children

00:27:37.660 --> 00:27:38.279
 of God

00:27:38.279 --> 00:27:39.859
 loved

00:27:39.859 --> 00:27:41.220
 unconditionally

00:27:41.220 --> 00:27:42.759
 loved

00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:45.059
 even when

00:27:45.059 --> 00:27:46.319
 we don't

00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:46.839
 reach those

00:27:46.839 --> 00:27:47.279
 optimal

00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:47.900
 performance

00:27:47.900 --> 00:27:48.559
 targets

00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:50.679
 how else

00:27:50.679 --> 00:27:50.960
 might we

00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:51.740
 be motivated

00:27:51.740 --> 00:27:53.079
 if we just

00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:53.779
 know we are

00:27:53.779 --> 00:27:54.339
 held

00:27:54.339 --> 00:27:56.419
 and if the

00:27:56.419 --> 00:27:57.119
 Spirit of God

00:27:57.119 --> 00:27:58.099
 the love of God

00:27:58.099 --> 00:28:00.039
 is increased

00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:00.899
 in our hearts

00:28:00.899 --> 00:28:03.319
 tell you what

00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:04.599
 it would change

00:28:04.599 --> 00:28:05.079
 the world

00:28:05.240 --> 00:28:05.240


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00:28:05.240 --> 00:28:35.220
 Thank you.