WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.439 It's great to be in church with us tonight. 00:00:02.439 --> 00:00:03.620 It's been a long day. 00:00:03.700 --> 00:00:04.459 It's been a great day. 00:00:04.560 --> 00:00:07.419 So many new things here at St. Paul's. 00:00:07.879 --> 00:00:09.460 We are sitting sideways. 00:00:09.620 --> 00:00:13.099 It was kind of interesting seeing people come into church this morning and for the first 00:00:13.099 --> 00:00:14.580 time trying to work out, where do I sit now? 00:00:14.859 --> 00:00:16.519 You know, like it's all so different. 00:00:16.780 --> 00:00:20.660 We're faced the wrong way and there's a little bit of confusion, but it's a lot of different 00:00:20.660 --> 00:00:21.780 stuff, a lot of things backwards. 00:00:22.019 --> 00:00:27.300 You know, Sam's got his shirt tucked in tonight and he's wearing a tie and he's had a shower. 00:00:27.300 --> 00:00:30.980 Um, and, uh, you know, Andrew Green, it's summertime. 00:00:31.179 --> 00:00:31.880 It's 27 degrees. 00:00:31.980 --> 00:00:34.700 He's got shoes on and, uh, Nick's got his best thongs on. 00:00:34.859 --> 00:00:39.480 I mean, it's, uh, there's so many things and I'm saving money ready for vision Sunday with 00:00:39.480 --> 00:00:40.719 shampoo and hair care products. 00:00:41.140 --> 00:00:44.760 Uh, so it's, it's, it's a, it's, it's a lot of things different. 00:00:44.760 --> 00:00:49.439 We're coming to church today, uh, and it, it marks a vision month for us. 00:00:49.740 --> 00:00:53.920 Uh, this is the kickoff as Sam has indicated and it's one of the annual highlights, uh, 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:55.120 for me with church calendar. 00:00:55.119 --> 00:00:57.299 Uh, it's, you know, up there. 00:00:57.359 --> 00:01:01.079 I don't want to diminish Easter and Christmas at all, but it's up there in terms of my views, 00:01:01.199 --> 00:01:04.519 in terms of for us and the importance of it for us as a church. 00:01:05.019 --> 00:01:09.739 Um, I'm especially excited for this, uh, four weeks. 00:01:10.060 --> 00:01:13.459 Uh, every time I get the vision month, I think this is going to be the best vision month ever. 00:01:13.459 --> 00:01:15.019 Like this is so important for us. 00:01:15.019 --> 00:01:19.900 And, and this one is particularly important because there is something that has, uh, been 00:01:19.900 --> 00:01:24.700 bothering me for about 18 months now, which has kind of been resolved for me in the 00:01:24.700 --> 00:01:26.100 last couple of months. 00:01:26.659 --> 00:01:32.939 Um, it started for me at the end of our time to build project and the opening of the international 00:01:32.939 --> 00:01:35.560 Chinese school at the beginning of 2015. 00:01:35.560 --> 00:01:42.200 Uh, they were, uh, two major projects that are a significant focus for us over a four year 00:01:42.200 --> 00:01:42.640 period. 00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:48.800 Uh, and both of these major projects and many small ones and a before and after required 00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:49.299 vision. 00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:54.920 Uh, and, but as I saw it, they weren't the vision. 00:01:54.920 --> 00:01:59.959 That is the, the vision for St. Paul's was not to do stuff with our buildings and to start 00:01:59.959 --> 00:02:00.259 a school. 00:02:00.340 --> 00:02:01.140 That wasn't the vision. 00:02:01.239 --> 00:02:03.019 That's, it was something else. 00:02:03.280 --> 00:02:05.900 There was a, they weren't the major goal for us. 00:02:05.979 --> 00:02:09.659 They served a much larger vision, but what was it? 00:02:09.719 --> 00:02:13.280 That was, that was the important and the missing piece for me. 00:02:13.280 --> 00:02:19.060 Uh, and it's an important missing piece because a common vision for a church has a special 00:02:19.060 --> 00:02:20.300 unifying effect. 00:02:20.300 --> 00:02:25.300 It draws people together to a common focus and commitment to see God's purposes achieved 00:02:25.300 --> 00:02:27.520 through them, uh, as a church. 00:02:28.259 --> 00:02:34.099 And so a church without vision, uh, tends to lack cohesion as it clings to present or past 00:02:34.099 --> 00:02:38.500 traditions and resist the possibilities that change can bring. 00:02:38.500 --> 00:02:44.560 And without looking forward to the possibilities of what, uh, God can do, there is no challenge 00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:51.120 to our faith individually or corporately and, and no excitement associated with seeing specific 00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:54.879 targets met become reality as God works amongst his people. 00:02:55.420 --> 00:03:02.599 Now, while we have had a vision that united us, uh, in time to build in the National Chinese 00:03:02.599 --> 00:03:04.060 School, there were very significant things. 00:03:04.060 --> 00:03:08.939 In fact, 95% of the church voted to proceed with both of those things. 00:03:08.939 --> 00:03:12.860 We poured a bunch of resources into a short period of time and made it happen. 00:03:13.319 --> 00:03:15.560 They weren't the vision, the big vision. 00:03:16.379 --> 00:03:19.020 They wasn't the big thing that we're seeking to do together. 00:03:20.199 --> 00:03:22.360 Um, and yet the vision was there. 00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:29.460 Uh, we've, we've actually been working on it, uh, but the vision in fact needed to find us. 00:03:29.460 --> 00:03:35.620 Um, I wrote a vision statement for us in 2000, uh, sorry, I wrote a vision statement for us 00:03:35.620 --> 00:03:40.740 for vision 2020 when I launched it back in, uh, the end of 2009. 00:03:41.180 --> 00:03:43.920 Uh, that vision statement was a mistake. 00:03:44.040 --> 00:03:45.420 It's one thing that I regret. 00:03:45.540 --> 00:03:49.560 You know, we, we went through all this rigmarole, uh, back in the end of 2009. 00:03:49.560 --> 00:03:51.620 We got this thing printed up in a booklet. 00:03:51.620 --> 00:03:57.700 And, uh, basically as soon as the ink was dry in the booklet, it was like, eh, that's, 00:03:57.819 --> 00:04:01.520 you know, uh, I, I, you know, I've, I've worked with everything else in there. 00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:03.379 I continue to push everything else in there. 00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:07.480 But the one regret was the vision statement that I'd wrote in that booklet. 00:04:07.560 --> 00:04:11.300 And it's still in print, still floating around, you know, old things die hard. 00:04:11.300 --> 00:04:21.960 Uh, what has been receiving quite a lot of attention since the end of 2009, uh, is our purpose and our values as a church. 00:04:22.379 --> 00:04:24.740 Our purpose and values are about who we are. 00:04:24.900 --> 00:04:31.420 And since 2009, we've been great on this gradual journey, if you like, of rediscovering who we are as a church. 00:04:31.840 --> 00:04:35.620 Our vision, if you like, has been to rediscover our purpose. 00:04:35.720 --> 00:04:37.199 That's kind of what we've been working on. 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:44.979 And the process of rediscovering the reason why we exist has resulted in the vision finding us. 00:04:45.240 --> 00:04:48.420 As we've captured our purpose, the vision has found us. 00:04:49.319 --> 00:04:57.620 And this vision, uh, that I'll be talking to you about tonight is an intersection of my life and my ministry passion. 00:04:58.279 --> 00:05:00.719 Uh, it, it's, it's also an industry. 00:05:00.719 --> 00:05:07.039 It's also an intersection of the needs of our community and also the gifts and the passion. 00:05:07.199 --> 00:05:08.819 Uh, for us as a church. 00:05:08.819 --> 00:05:15.259 And you bring all those things together and where they meet, you have a common vision of God's purposes being worked out amongst it. 00:05:15.579 --> 00:05:18.279 And so I, I regard it as a God moment. 00:05:18.719 --> 00:05:20.399 Uh, it was in July this year. 00:05:20.779 --> 00:05:24.560 Uh, I was away on retreat with a purpose pastors and one of our wardens. 00:05:24.980 --> 00:05:33.319 And, uh, and our goal was to do as we do these retreats each year is to work out what's, what's the thing that we really need to nail as a church? 00:05:33.319 --> 00:05:34.620 What do we need to improve on? 00:05:34.620 --> 00:05:37.719 And where, where do you think God's heading, uh, for us in the future? 00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:42.819 So we try and work on how to take that next step for us as a church into the next year. 00:05:43.019 --> 00:05:47.240 There was no plan for us at that moment to formulate a vision statement. 00:05:47.639 --> 00:05:54.680 Uh, but the more we talked and reflected on that very first night, it just became clearer and clearer that the vision found us. 00:05:54.680 --> 00:06:04.340 Uh, I went to bed on that first night with my mind just spinning and my heart was just sort of starting to burn again with this passion that I have for us as a church. 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:17.899 And even in the very early stages of this, uh, forming vision, it was connecting so well with, with my passion for ministry, but also, uh, what I would see that we were being shaped here at St. Paul's. 00:06:17.899 --> 00:06:29.219 Uh, since then the staff and the parish council have been kicking it around, sitting on it, praying about it, sharpening it, um, and praying about it and just get to a point where we're just gone. 00:06:29.299 --> 00:06:29.639 That's it. 00:06:30.819 --> 00:06:33.739 It's so closely connected with our, with our purpose. 00:06:33.919 --> 00:06:40.419 Uh, we have had it in visual form since I introduced this new logo back in 2010. 00:06:41.079 --> 00:06:46.479 Back in 2010, I sat with some graphic designers and said to me, so what's your, what's your vision for the church? 00:06:46.519 --> 00:06:47.139 What's your passion? 00:06:47.139 --> 00:06:49.419 I went, ah, it's this, this, and this, and this. 00:06:49.659 --> 00:06:50.519 And they drew that. 00:06:51.339 --> 00:06:53.319 And it's like, it's been our logo ever since. 00:06:53.500 --> 00:06:56.019 And so, um, so the vision's been there. 00:06:56.060 --> 00:06:57.339 I'm just slow, you know? 00:06:58.039 --> 00:07:02.879 Uh, you know, as Sam said, we've got our limitations and that's one of my limitations. 00:07:03.079 --> 00:07:05.539 Well, you know, it's, it's been there and it's been obvious. 00:07:05.959 --> 00:07:06.979 Just haven't seen it. 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:08.300 So in case here, so here it is. 00:07:08.500 --> 00:07:15.800 In case you didn't know what St. Paul's, uh, purpose is, uh, it reads, St. Paul's exists to know Jesus, treasure Jesus, 00:07:15.800 --> 00:07:18.660 and represent Jesus for God's glory and the joy of all people. 00:07:19.020 --> 00:07:21.520 That statement is about who we are. 00:07:22.319 --> 00:07:27.579 You, you, it's absolutely essential for us that that statement is about who we are. 00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:29.080 That's the reason we exist. 00:07:29.079 --> 00:07:32.800 We don't exist for any other purpose than that. 00:07:34.740 --> 00:07:39.199 Therefore, given that that's who we are and that's why we exist, this is what we seek to do. 00:07:39.279 --> 00:07:44.979 Our vision is to be united in our desperation for the world around us to encounter Jesus 00:07:44.979 --> 00:07:49.459 and our desire to represent the diversity of Chatswood. 00:07:49.459 --> 00:07:57.120 Now, that vision just there is the basis by which we will evaluate all of our ministry practice 00:07:57.120 --> 00:08:02.159 and determine what we will and what we won't do, what we need to start doing, what we need to stop doing. 00:08:02.539 --> 00:08:08.099 Now, I've been reflecting on that and I've been working with it with parish council and, and, uh, staff since July. 00:08:08.459 --> 00:08:14.159 And, uh, and, and there is so much of my, my personal ministry passion, which is connected to that statement. 00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:19.180 So I don't, I don't expect you in this moment, having just heard it, to sort of all of a sudden, 00:08:19.240 --> 00:08:22.900 oh, praise God, drop to your knees and yes, that's what I've been waiting for, that sort of thing. 00:08:23.260 --> 00:08:26.380 You know, I, you know, give it time, give it time. 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:32.480 And, uh, my, my intention over the next four weeks is to unpack it for us. 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:39.720 Um, and in, and in doing that, I want to make the connections between who we are and what God seeks for us to do, uh, 00:08:39.720 --> 00:08:41.639 to become a little bit clearer for us. 00:08:41.639 --> 00:08:52.379 Um, and that, and that in the hope of that, that your, your hearts will grow in passion for it in such a way that it changes your life. 00:08:52.539 --> 00:08:56.019 As it has already for me since July. 00:08:56.199 --> 00:08:57.639 We'll talk about that in a little bit. 00:08:58.580 --> 00:09:04.500 There are four key words linked in four key ideas here that are my focus over the next four weeks. 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:09.419 The words unity, diversity, us, and the world. 00:09:09.419 --> 00:09:12.019 And today I want to simply focus on the word unity. 00:09:12.259 --> 00:09:14.279 It's there in the first part of the statement. 00:09:14.599 --> 00:09:18.939 It says, we seek to be united in our desperation for the world around us to encounter Jesus. 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:26.179 And I think we want to be united in wanting that outcome because our purpose statement is explicit. 00:09:27.059 --> 00:09:32.039 Absolutely explicit in saying that Jesus is the main thing for us as a church. 00:09:32.459 --> 00:09:34.539 Jesus is our all-consuming passion. 00:09:34.539 --> 00:09:39.959 Now, I said a moment ago that a common vision for a church has a special unifying effect. 00:09:40.059 --> 00:09:40.719 And that's true. 00:09:41.179 --> 00:09:42.799 But it's not the foundation. 00:09:43.659 --> 00:09:47.159 It's not the deepest foundation of our unity together as a church. 00:09:47.500 --> 00:09:53.399 Our unity is founded on the person and the work of the Lord Jesus. 00:09:53.500 --> 00:09:57.839 On the person of the Lord Jesus and his work of redemption through his death and his resurrection. 00:09:57.840 --> 00:10:04.700 In Colossians chapter 1, we get a glimpse of why Jesus is the main thing for us. 00:10:05.040 --> 00:10:09.280 Why he is the ultimate and all other things are not ultimate. 00:10:09.420 --> 00:10:12.379 All other things should take their proper place as being less from Jesus. 00:10:13.480 --> 00:10:17.280 And this is part of the discovery that we've been making as a church. 00:10:18.060 --> 00:10:21.320 Rediscovering our purpose of Jesus being the main thing for us. 00:10:21.320 --> 00:10:30.480 Verses of 14 to 20, we are given, Colossians 1, 14 to 20, we are given a litany of amazing truths about the Lord Jesus. 00:10:30.920 --> 00:10:40.220 And they are probably the most concentrated descriptions of the glories and the majesty of Jesus in the entire New Testament. 00:10:40.660 --> 00:10:43.820 There are at least 15 of them that I want to run through very quickly for you. 00:10:44.120 --> 00:10:45.380 Verse 14, it says, 00:10:45.380 --> 00:10:48.600 In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 00:10:48.600 --> 00:10:51.420 Verse 15, he is the image of the invisible God. 00:10:51.740 --> 00:10:54.620 Verse 15 again, he is the firstborn of all creation. 00:10:54.940 --> 00:10:58.899 That means he is the specially honored firstborn and only son over all creation. 00:10:59.320 --> 00:11:01.220 The inheritor of the estate, so to speak. 00:11:01.560 --> 00:11:02.720 Verse 16, it says, 00:11:03.040 --> 00:11:08.500 By him all things were created in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. 00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:11.940 Verse 16 again, all things were created through him. 00:11:12.040 --> 00:11:14.820 Verse 16 again, all things were created for him. 00:11:15.460 --> 00:11:17.660 Verse 17, he is before all things. 00:11:17.659 --> 00:11:21.120 Verse 17 again, in him all things hold together. 00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:23.240 Verse 18, he is the head of the body of the church. 00:11:23.339 --> 00:11:25.120 18 again, he is the beginning. 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:27.500 18 again, he is the firstborn from the dead. 00:11:27.740 --> 00:11:30.199 18 again, in everything he is preeminent. 00:11:30.339 --> 00:11:34.620 19, in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:38.959 Verse 20, he reconciled all things to himself, whether on earth or in heaven. 00:11:39.079 --> 00:11:43.299 Verse 20 again, he makes peace by the blood of the cross. 00:11:43.299 --> 00:11:53.199 Let me just say, friends, if your heart ever wavers, grows cold to the magnificence and the treasure that Jesus is, 00:11:53.259 --> 00:11:56.759 can I just encourage you just to come to these verses? 00:11:56.759 --> 00:12:04.080 Come to these verses and just reflect again and again who Jesus is, what he has achieved for you. 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:10.039 Memorize this list of glories and ask God, this is the key point as well. 00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:18.759 Ask God to give you affections, to give you passions that correspond to the magnificence and greatness of Jesus. 00:12:18.759 --> 00:12:24.439 Because it is so easy for me to run through a list of that, it's the third time I've done it today, 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:31.000 to run through a list of that and for my heart not to be warmed, strangely warmed. 00:12:31.580 --> 00:12:34.740 It's so easy for me to sit there and go, oh yeah, Colossians 1, I know it. 00:12:34.939 --> 00:12:36.159 Did a Bible study on that. 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:38.460 Memorize it. 00:12:39.220 --> 00:12:41.759 It says here that Jesus created all that is. 00:12:41.860 --> 00:12:43.299 They were created through him. 00:12:43.299 --> 00:12:46.120 And it also says that all things were created for him. 00:12:46.259 --> 00:12:49.719 All that came into being exists for Christ. 00:12:49.819 --> 00:12:56.379 That is, everything exists to display the greatness and the glory and the magnificence of Jesus. 00:12:56.799 --> 00:13:02.620 That means that nothing, absolutely nothing in the universe exists for its own sake. 00:13:03.079 --> 00:13:05.959 There's not a single thing in this universe that exists for its own sake. 00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:11.080 Everything, from the bottom of the oceans to the top of the mountains, 00:13:12.160 --> 00:13:15.200 from the smallest particle to the biggest star, 00:13:15.400 --> 00:13:18.780 from the most boring school subject to the most interesting science experiment, 00:13:19.040 --> 00:13:21.460 from the ugliest cockroach to the most beautiful human, 00:13:21.560 --> 00:13:25.740 from the greatest saint to the most wicked genocidal dictator. 00:13:26.400 --> 00:13:29.019 Everything, everything exists. 00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:33.740 Exists to make the greatness of Jesus more fully known. 00:13:33.740 --> 00:13:37.980 And that means you, it means me, and my life, and your life, 00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:39.639 and it means us at St. Paul's as a church. 00:13:40.180 --> 00:13:44.799 We exist to make Jesus look magnificent as he is. 00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:48.600 He's the sovereign Lord of all. 00:13:49.940 --> 00:13:51.480 He's the center and he's the foundation. 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:56.500 Our unity is founded in who Jesus is. 00:13:57.360 --> 00:13:59.259 He is, as it says in Colossians, 00:13:59.259 --> 00:14:02.500 he has the supremacy over everything. 00:14:03.740 --> 00:14:06.879 We are also united, not just in the person of Jesus, 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:08.000 but also the work of Jesus. 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:11.399 So we're united in Jesus and by his work on our behalf. 00:14:12.659 --> 00:14:15.259 Have a look at, let me jump to Ephesians chapter 1. 00:14:16.220 --> 00:14:20.440 We get again the magnificence of Jesus and what he has achieved for us. 00:14:20.539 --> 00:14:24.320 Verse 3 of Ephesians 1 is the summary verse of the chapter. 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:26.840 It's about what God has done for us in Jesus 00:14:26.840 --> 00:14:28.940 and what our response to Jesus should be. 00:14:28.940 --> 00:14:29.660 It says, 00:14:30.060 --> 00:14:31.960 Praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:14:32.040 --> 00:14:35.820 who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing. 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:42.560 Every spiritual blessing in Christ. 00:14:43.020 --> 00:14:43.800 Nothing is lacking. 00:14:44.660 --> 00:14:46.000 Nothing is overlooked. 00:14:46.220 --> 00:14:47.860 Nothing is held back by God. 00:14:48.180 --> 00:14:51.380 And then we get a list over the next few verses of what these things are. 00:14:51.460 --> 00:14:52.140 Verse 5, it says, 00:14:52.139 --> 00:14:56.439 We have been adopted as God's children. 00:14:57.960 --> 00:15:00.779 We call the creator of the universe Father. 00:15:02.340 --> 00:15:04.480 And all the intimacy that belongs with that. 00:15:05.139 --> 00:15:07.639 My dad's birthday today, I rang him up this morning. 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:08.939 He's 78. 00:15:11.439 --> 00:15:12.259 Quick calculation. 00:15:14.179 --> 00:15:15.720 Fortunately, I didn't mention it, a number. 00:15:15.720 --> 00:15:18.920 And I rang him up and talked to him and said, 00:15:18.940 --> 00:15:19.340 Hey, Dad. 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:22.879 You know, the privilege of Christians to be able to do that 00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:24.480 with the Father of the universe. 00:15:25.460 --> 00:15:26.300 At any time. 00:15:26.460 --> 00:15:27.620 Direct access to him. 00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:28.639 Through Jesus. 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:32.200 We're adopted as his sons. 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:33.279 Verse 17, 00:15:33.399 --> 00:15:34.040 We have been redeemed. 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:36.680 We were separated from God because of our rejection. 00:15:36.840 --> 00:15:39.879 But a price has been paid by God to buy us back to himself. 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:42.899 Verse 7 again, 00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:43.980 We have forgiveness of sins. 00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:47.420 The very thing that separates us from God has been forgiven. 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:50.460 The offended one, the rejected one, 00:15:52.279 --> 00:15:57.180 paid our debt to get us back to himself. 00:15:58.259 --> 00:15:59.720 And the slate is clean. 00:15:59.820 --> 00:16:01.080 There is no record or wrong. 00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:03.580 Nothing is ever going to be brought back up again. 00:16:04.420 --> 00:16:05.539 There is nothing to pay. 00:16:06.139 --> 00:16:07.019 The debt's clean. 00:16:08.139 --> 00:16:08.980 I've heard this great story. 00:16:09.060 --> 00:16:13.620 In fact, it's a slight difference from the story I told this morning. 00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:16.519 I checked the facts since this morning. 00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:23.179 Bloke bought a Bentley and he's driving his Bentley in Europe. 00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:26.399 And it broke down on a motorway in Europe. 00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:28.840 So he rang his dealer back in London and said, 00:16:28.899 --> 00:16:30.720 Hey, dude, my Bentley's broken. 00:16:31.560 --> 00:16:32.659 And they said, 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:33.679 We'll send a technician. 00:16:34.299 --> 00:16:34.700 And he's like, 00:16:34.980 --> 00:16:35.120 What? 00:16:35.820 --> 00:16:38.600 Send a technician over in Europe from London. 00:16:38.700 --> 00:16:39.399 I mean, it's not very far. 00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:40.220 It's here to Melbourne sort of thing. 00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:43.960 And they flew this dude over on a private jet. 00:16:44.920 --> 00:16:45.980 They got the Bentley, 00:16:46.580 --> 00:16:49.100 took it to the airport and put it on the plane. 00:16:49.220 --> 00:16:51.759 It was a jet that you could put a car on. 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:52.800 Put it on a plane, 00:16:52.940 --> 00:16:55.740 flew it back to London with the guy in the car. 00:16:56.139 --> 00:16:57.879 Now, of course, the guy who owns the car is thinking, 00:16:58.340 --> 00:16:59.540 Crap, this is going to hurt. 00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:01.779 This is going to be very expensive. 00:17:01.779 --> 00:17:05.660 And about four to six weeks later, 00:17:06.119 --> 00:17:06.579 no bill. 00:17:06.899 --> 00:17:08.059 Got his car back, no bill. 00:17:09.119 --> 00:17:11.079 And so he rang up the dealership and said, 00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:13.460 So, what's the damage? 00:17:14.359 --> 00:17:15.079 And they said, 00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:16.460 What do you mean? 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:19.019 They said, you know, fixing my car. 00:17:19.660 --> 00:17:20.259 And they said, 00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:21.039 No, no. 00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:22.660 There's no bill. 00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:23.980 There's no problem with your car. 00:17:25.259 --> 00:17:25.859 Hang on a bit. 00:17:26.039 --> 00:17:28.399 This bloke came over at a private jet and flew my car back. 00:17:28.619 --> 00:17:29.460 No, that didn't happen. 00:17:29.460 --> 00:17:31.200 And they, 00:17:31.360 --> 00:17:32.400 What are you talking about? 00:17:32.680 --> 00:17:33.000 They said, 00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:34.420 Bentleys don't break down. 00:17:35.819 --> 00:17:36.920 Bentleys don't break down. 00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:38.360 And so, 00:17:38.620 --> 00:17:41.240 this guy was just astounded 00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:43.200 at something that should have been 00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:45.259 thousands, thousands, thousands, thousands of dollars. 00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:46.519 The slate's wiped clean. 00:17:47.460 --> 00:17:48.340 No bill to pay. 00:17:49.980 --> 00:17:51.880 And this is the picture here of Ephesians. 00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:53.180 We have forgiveness of sins. 00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:53.799 In verse 8, 00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:56.460 We have been lavished with all wisdom and understanding. 00:17:56.620 --> 00:17:58.559 God doesn't leave his people in the dark. 00:17:58.559 --> 00:17:59.639 He reveals to us, 00:17:59.659 --> 00:18:01.700 as we've just seen in our Proverbs series, 00:18:02.099 --> 00:18:04.039 how things work in this world. 00:18:04.119 --> 00:18:05.119 The way things actually are. 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:05.839 How they work. 00:18:05.899 --> 00:18:07.359 And how do we live in accordance with it. 00:18:08.379 --> 00:18:08.899 Verse 9, 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:11.720 God has made known to us the mystery of his plans for the world. 00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:16.919 We're not in the dark as to what the goal of eternity and time and space and everything, 00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:18.299 where it's all heading for. 00:18:18.639 --> 00:18:19.440 Verse 13, 00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:22.859 We are so intimate with God that we have received the Holy Spirit. 00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:25.419 God lives in us. 00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:26.200 Verse 14, 00:18:26.200 --> 00:18:27.019 Verse 14, 00:18:27.140 --> 00:18:29.620 We are now guaranteed an eternal inheritance. 00:18:30.120 --> 00:18:34.160 We have riches in heaven that would just blow our mind, 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:36.500 that have reserve written all over them. 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:37.240 They're guaranteed. 00:18:38.259 --> 00:18:41.000 And I think that Ephesians 1 is meant to overwhelm us. 00:18:41.100 --> 00:18:47.059 We put it together with cautions of the massive cosmic list of what God has achieved for us 00:18:47.059 --> 00:18:48.720 in the person of the Lord Jesus. 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:52.900 Every single one of these blessings is staggering enough in itself. 00:18:52.900 --> 00:18:59.259 But you put them together and it is an awesome scene of how much God has achieved for us. 00:18:59.620 --> 00:19:07.220 And the big statement right through Ephesians chapter 1 is this little statement in how God has secured all this stuff for us. 00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:09.339 It is in Christ. 00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:11.120 Verse 3, 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:13.400 Praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:14.079 which is what meant, 00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:15.600 that's our response, 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:21.360 who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 00:19:21.620 --> 00:19:22.339 Verse 4, 00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:23.660 God chose us in him. 00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:24.480 That's in Jesus. 00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:25.480 Verse 5, 00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:27.240 We are adopted through Christ Jesus. 00:19:27.380 --> 00:19:27.920 Verse 7, 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:29.539 In Jesus we have redemption. 00:19:29.860 --> 00:19:30.519 Verse 9, 00:19:30.819 --> 00:19:32.039 God purposed these things. 00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:32.759 In Jesus. 00:19:32.920 --> 00:19:33.519 Verse 11, 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:35.059 In Jesus we were chosen. 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:39.839 And please notice the motivation here from God. 00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:42.000 Verse 4, 00:19:42.119 --> 00:19:44.680 In love he predestined us. 00:19:45.379 --> 00:19:45.980 In verse 7, 00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:48.980 We have redemption in accordance with the riches of his grace. 00:19:49.099 --> 00:19:49.799 Verse 9, 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:53.920 He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure. 00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:55.059 Love, 00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:56.240 grace, 00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:57.599 good pleasure. 00:19:58.099 --> 00:19:59.460 Why has God done all this? 00:19:59.539 --> 00:20:01.180 It's because it's his character. 00:20:01.339 --> 00:20:02.460 It's who he is. 00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:03.960 It's not because we're lovely. 00:20:04.140 --> 00:20:05.559 It's because of who he is. 00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:08.980 And notice too that there's a direction. 00:20:10.140 --> 00:20:12.819 For those of you a little bit iffy about vision statements and stuff like that, 00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:14.039 God has a vision. 00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:15.440 Verse 9, 00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:18.980 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, 00:20:19.120 --> 00:20:23.579 which he purposed in Christ to be put into effect when the times would have reached their fulfillment, 00:20:23.579 --> 00:20:32.339 to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. 00:20:32.899 --> 00:20:34.740 That's God's vision of all things. 00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:41.159 God's grand plan is to move all of history towards a single unified goal. 00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:46.960 His vision is to bring all things in heaven and earth together under one head, even Christ. 00:20:47.340 --> 00:20:48.880 The goal of time, 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:50.660 the goal of space, 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:56.960 is all things under the lordship of Jesus as they were meant to be at the beginning. 00:20:56.960 --> 00:21:03.579 And I would suggest, therefore, that the single-minded submission to Jesus, 00:21:03.840 --> 00:21:05.299 single-minded submission to Jesus, 00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:11.779 is essential for the function of the church that's united under Jesus, under his lordship. 00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:16.840 It is practicing now what will be for all of eternity united under the lordship of Jesus. 00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:23.220 And so our purpose statement as a church says that is our main purpose. 00:21:23.459 --> 00:21:28.619 We want to know Jesus and treasure Jesus and represent Jesus for God's glory and the joy of all people. 00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:32.740 And if this vision for all things is to be united under Jesus, 00:21:33.659 --> 00:21:36.000 if that's the vision for all things, 00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:40.199 then that is the vision that shapes our life as a church and our practice as a church. 00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:43.679 Jesus is the primary basis of our unity. 00:21:43.879 --> 00:21:45.240 God has made us one. 00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:46.400 We belong to him. 00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:47.180 He is our lord. 00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:48.019 He is our savior. 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:50.480 And we are mutually accountable to him. 00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:54.579 And what Ephesians goes on from there into chapter 2, 00:21:55.460 --> 00:21:59.859 calls God's people to work out the unity that they already have in Jesus, 00:22:00.180 --> 00:22:00.960 in our life together. 00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:03.200 As we're called to not just have unity, 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:04.839 but also to practice unity, 00:22:05.539 --> 00:22:08.900 Ephesians 2, we see that all the barriers that separate people 00:22:08.900 --> 00:22:11.120 have been broken down by Jesus. 00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:12.660 Jesus is the great leveler, 00:22:12.700 --> 00:22:14.039 the great uniter of people. 00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:15.839 In Ephesians 4, 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:20.839 we are told to live out our status of unity with our fellow believers in Jesus. 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:23.059 In the first two verses of Ephesians 4, 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:26.279 we are told to live as true followers of Jesus, 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:32.379 with an attitude of humility and gentleness and patience and bearing with each other. 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:33.500 Then in the third verse, 00:22:33.579 --> 00:22:36.059 we are called to make every effort. 00:22:36.059 --> 00:22:39.599 That's hard work, in other words. 00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:43.960 Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:48.460 Verse 3 in Ephesians 4 doesn't call us to develop a unity. 00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:53.539 It calls us to maintain the unity that we already have in Jesus. 00:22:53.539 --> 00:23:01.319 And verse 4 names seven key elements that affirm the base of our unity. 00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:03.579 And they all proceed with the word one. 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.559 Seven elements. 00:23:07.079 --> 00:23:09.740 These seven elements are on the front page of our website. 00:23:10.139 --> 00:23:11.819 They were put there in 2010. 00:23:12.180 --> 00:23:13.099 You know, I'm slow. 00:23:13.099 --> 00:23:21.779 One body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God. 00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:24.679 That's who we are as a church. 00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:29.219 What Ephesians affirms is that unity within the church 00:23:29.219 --> 00:23:33.679 is the natural outcome of being reconciled to God through Jesus. 00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:36.000 But we need to work on it. 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:45.759 Ephesians 4 doesn't just refer to behavior that works for unity. 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:48.980 It describes behaviors that, in fact, fractures unity. 00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:54.420 Sensuality, impurity, greed, falsehood, anger, laziness, unwholesome talk, bitterness, 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:57.279 raging, brawling, slander, and malice. 00:23:58.859 --> 00:24:00.599 You see, we've got to work at it 00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:04.660 because the church is made up of natural enemies. 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:07.640 That's who we are by nature. 00:24:09.559 --> 00:24:14.480 And our diversity as a church always, always threatens our unity. 00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:18.299 And what binds us together is not a common education, 00:24:18.460 --> 00:24:20.359 not a common race, not common income levels, 00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:23.740 not common politics, not common nationality, 00:24:23.859 --> 00:24:26.240 not common life experiences, not common accents, 00:24:26.660 --> 00:24:28.380 not common jobs, not common church tradition, 00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:30.480 not common dress, not common hairstyles, 00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:32.660 not common interests, not common denomination, 00:24:32.660 --> 00:24:34.779 not common Bible understanding, 00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:34.800 not common Bible understanding, 00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:38.060 or anything else, a myriad of other things. 00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:43.080 The key to practicing unity is embracing the wonder of what we have in Jesus. 00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:45.060 The Lord Jesus, as I've already said, 00:24:45.120 --> 00:24:47.920 is the great leveler of humanity. 00:24:48.620 --> 00:24:52.019 The very basic admission requirement into the local church 00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:57.819 and to this church is to see our desperate need for Jesus. 00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:01.859 That's the basic admission requirement, 00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:03.480 our desperate need for him. 00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:05.099 We have every one of us, 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:06.839 every single one of us, 00:25:06.879 --> 00:25:08.920 no matter how well we project from the outside, 00:25:09.859 --> 00:25:12.019 have fallen short of what God expects for us, 00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:14.740 and therefore every single one of us come to Jesus as a beggar. 00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:17.240 Our hands open saying, 00:25:17.359 --> 00:25:18.940 please give me mercy. 00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:21.779 And so whether this is your first time at St. Paul's tonight, 00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:24.039 or whether you've been here for 40 years, 00:25:24.140 --> 00:25:25.180 we're all in the same boat. 00:25:26.259 --> 00:25:27.279 All in the same boat. 00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:30.400 This is a level playing field as a church. 00:25:30.900 --> 00:25:34.180 There is no place of special privilege and acknowledgement, 00:25:34.580 --> 00:25:37.240 only places of grace and responsibility. 00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:40.940 We all began at the cross. 00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:43.059 If you're Christian, you began at the cross, 00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:46.080 and we all finish at the cross. 00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:48.839 And that is humbling, and that is unifying. 00:25:49.319 --> 00:25:51.159 We are just as much in need of his grace. 00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:53.299 Now, when you start the Christian life, 00:25:53.379 --> 00:25:55.960 as what you live, you've done it for 60 years. 00:25:57.899 --> 00:26:01.099 Christians come together because they have been saved by Jesus Christ 00:26:01.099 --> 00:26:02.460 and come under his common lordship. 00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:05.299 And I just cannot put the central, 00:26:05.559 --> 00:26:09.259 central importance of unity any better than the great John Stott 00:26:09.259 --> 00:26:11.359 in his commentary on Ephesians, 00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:12.799 when he wrote, 00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:16.180 it is simply impossible with any shred of Christian integrity 00:26:16.180 --> 00:26:19.180 to go on proclaiming that Jesus by his cross 00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:20.759 has abolished the old divisions 00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:24.400 and created a single new humanity of love, 00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:27.940 while at the same time we are contradicting our message 00:26:27.940 --> 00:26:32.019 by tolerating racial or social or other barriers 00:26:32.019 --> 00:26:33.259 within our church fellowship. 00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:36.220 We need to get the failures of the church 00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:38.379 and our conscience to feel the offense to Christ, 00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:40.559 to weep over the credibility gap 00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:42.680 between the church's talk and the church's walk, 00:26:42.859 --> 00:26:44.460 to repent of our readiness, 00:26:44.640 --> 00:26:47.559 to excuse and even condone our failures 00:26:47.559 --> 00:26:49.420 and determine to do something about it. 00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:52.099 I wonder if anything is more urgent today 00:26:52.099 --> 00:26:54.480 for the honor of Christ and for the spread of the gospel 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:55.900 than the church should be, 00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:57.279 and should be seen to be, 00:26:57.539 --> 00:27:00.000 what by God's purpose and Christ's achievement 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:03.940 it already is a single new humanity, 00:27:04.200 --> 00:27:06.460 a model of human community, 00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:09.279 a family of reconciled brothers and sisters 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:11.779 who love their father and love each other, 00:27:12.140 --> 00:27:14.599 the evident dwelling place of God by his spirit. 00:27:15.180 --> 00:27:19.500 Only then will the world believe in Christ as peacemaker. 00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:24.380 Only then will God receive the glory that is due to him. 00:27:25.759 --> 00:27:27.640 Jesus is our all-consuming passion. 00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:38.000 Now, Agnes Malauka was a renowned deep-sea cave diver. 00:27:38.660 --> 00:27:41.980 It was, in her words, an all-consuming passion. 00:27:43.539 --> 00:27:45.579 She uploaded her thoughts on YouTube, 00:27:45.740 --> 00:27:46.579 and this is what she said. 00:27:46.640 --> 00:27:46.900 She said, 00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:48.640 I dream of caves. 00:27:49.859 --> 00:27:51.259 It's an all-consuming interest. 00:27:51.940 --> 00:27:52.660 It's a passion. 00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:54.039 It's an obsession. 00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:56.799 There is no greater feeling in the world 00:27:56.799 --> 00:28:00.700 than finding a passage that no one ever 00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:03.639 in the history of the world has ever seen before. 00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:07.139 It is like a pursuit that is inherently dangerous. 00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:09.960 If you are pursuing the boundaries of your sport, 00:28:10.139 --> 00:28:12.339 you will find yourself taking bigger and bigger risks. 00:28:12.619 --> 00:28:14.359 And to me, those risks are worth it 00:28:14.359 --> 00:28:16.960 because the rewards are worth it. 00:28:18.379 --> 00:28:20.740 And on the 27th of February, 2011, 00:28:20.740 --> 00:28:22.559 she met that risk head-on 00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:24.740 when she died in one of Australia's 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:28.420 longest underwater caves in South Australia. 00:28:29.859 --> 00:28:32.620 Now, we can admire the passion that drove her, 00:28:33.420 --> 00:28:37.799 a passion for which she paid the ultimate price. 00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:40.720 What Christianity proclaims 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:43.000 and what I want to emphasize for us as this church, 00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:44.120 I want to continue to emphasize, 00:28:44.539 --> 00:28:46.120 I want it to be the banner over my life 00:28:46.119 --> 00:28:48.619 and over your life in an increasing sense, 00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:50.739 week after week, month after month, 00:28:50.839 --> 00:28:51.479 year after year, 00:28:51.719 --> 00:28:53.019 is that there is something grander, 00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:54.319 there is something bigger, 00:28:54.879 --> 00:28:55.959 there is something more majestic, 00:28:56.919 --> 00:29:00.619 more fulfilling to be consumed by than caves. 00:29:04.199 --> 00:29:05.539 Or by your reputation, 00:29:06.399 --> 00:29:08.539 or your vocation, 00:29:08.679 --> 00:29:09.439 or your family, 00:29:09.699 --> 00:29:10.119 your spouse, 00:29:10.219 --> 00:29:10.599 your kids, 00:29:10.739 --> 00:29:11.399 or your possessions, 00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:12.059 or your health, 00:29:12.119 --> 00:29:12.619 or your shopping, 00:29:13.019 --> 00:29:13.739 or your travel, 00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:14.219 or your books, 00:29:14.279 --> 00:29:14.959 or your education, 00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:15.559 or sex, 00:29:15.660 --> 00:29:16.140 or toys, 00:29:16.360 --> 00:29:17.519 or tradition, 00:29:18.120 --> 00:29:18.819 or ministry, 00:29:20.440 --> 00:29:22.019 or even St. Paul's, 00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:24.779 or even the vision statement of St. Paul's. 00:29:26.920 --> 00:29:28.819 In fact, it's not something, 00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:29.600 but someone, 00:29:29.840 --> 00:29:31.180 and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:29:31.319 --> 00:29:32.279 What if the Lord Jesus, 00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:34.759 what if his people were passionate, 00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:37.500 they were obsessed, 00:29:37.640 --> 00:29:39.440 they were consumed by him 00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:41.059 above all other hopes, 00:29:41.340 --> 00:29:41.900 and dreams, 00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:42.600 and visions, 00:29:42.819 --> 00:29:43.400 and identities. 00:29:43.400 --> 00:29:45.759 Our treasuring of the Lord Jesus 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.540 above everything else, 00:29:46.560 --> 00:29:47.180 I believe, 00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:49.400 has risen over the last number of years, 00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:51.660 but I believe it's got to go even further. 00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:53.980 Only when we are taken by the wonder, 00:29:54.180 --> 00:29:54.920 and the glory, 00:29:55.160 --> 00:29:55.780 and the awe, 00:29:55.880 --> 00:29:57.540 and the majesty of the Lord Jesus, 00:29:57.880 --> 00:29:59.460 when we treasure him above everything else, 00:29:59.620 --> 00:30:01.320 will we start to make the choices 00:30:01.320 --> 00:30:02.420 that God calls us to. 00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:04.140 And I think that's the point 00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:05.380 of those two little parables 00:30:05.380 --> 00:30:06.960 that Sam read out for us 00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:08.360 in Matthew 13. 00:30:09.040 --> 00:30:10.259 There's one main point 00:30:10.259 --> 00:30:11.460 in those parables, 00:30:11.460 --> 00:30:12.980 and it's simply this, 00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:14.519 having the sovereign 00:30:14.519 --> 00:30:16.000 and saving reign 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:16.600 of Jesus 00:30:16.600 --> 00:30:17.700 in our lives 00:30:17.700 --> 00:30:18.960 is so valuable 00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:20.920 that if we lose everything 00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:22.299 in order to have it, 00:30:22.360 --> 00:30:24.500 it is a joyful exchange. 00:30:26.100 --> 00:30:26.720 It says, 00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:27.360 the kingdom of heaven 00:30:27.360 --> 00:30:28.120 is like a treasure 00:30:28.120 --> 00:30:28.880 hidden in a field. 00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:29.860 When a man found it, 00:30:30.120 --> 00:30:31.360 he hid it again, 00:30:31.519 --> 00:30:33.000 and then in his joy, 00:30:33.160 --> 00:30:35.079 he went and he sold all that he had 00:30:35.079 --> 00:30:36.039 and he bought that field. 00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:36.620 Now, 00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:39.120 I'm taking the kingdom of heaven there 00:30:39.120 --> 00:30:40.240 to, 00:30:40.600 --> 00:30:42.700 in its full biblical context, 00:30:42.700 --> 00:30:45.100 as the reign of God and Jesus 00:30:45.100 --> 00:30:47.180 triumphing over everything 00:30:47.180 --> 00:30:48.700 that stands between you 00:30:48.700 --> 00:30:49.920 and everlasting life 00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:51.100 and everlasting joy 00:30:51.100 --> 00:30:52.319 in God's presence. 00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:53.779 I'm treating the kingdom of heaven here 00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:55.379 as the rule of God 00:30:55.379 --> 00:30:56.679 to save us 00:30:56.679 --> 00:30:57.819 from eternal destruction 00:30:57.819 --> 00:30:58.879 and to bring us 00:30:58.879 --> 00:30:59.619 into the enjoyment 00:30:59.619 --> 00:31:00.500 of Christ forever. 00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:01.480 And it says here 00:31:01.480 --> 00:31:02.799 that when that man 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:03.659 found that, 00:31:03.899 --> 00:31:05.379 he sold everything he had 00:31:05.379 --> 00:31:06.460 and he did it with joy. 00:31:08.599 --> 00:31:09.639 To know Jesus, 00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:10.779 to be known by Jesus 00:31:10.779 --> 00:31:11.819 is so valuable 00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:13.659 that losing everything else 00:31:13.659 --> 00:31:14.779 in this world 00:31:14.779 --> 00:31:15.939 but getting Jesus 00:31:15.939 --> 00:31:17.259 is a happy trade-off. 00:31:17.599 --> 00:31:19.059 That is phenomenal. 00:31:20.099 --> 00:31:20.839 Or to put it more 00:31:20.839 --> 00:31:21.859 personally specifically, 00:31:22.319 --> 00:31:24.500 you can lose everything 00:31:24.500 --> 00:31:25.539 with joy 00:31:25.539 --> 00:31:28.220 if you gain Christ. 00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:33.139 And so the most basic question 00:31:33.139 --> 00:31:34.019 that God poses 00:31:34.019 --> 00:31:34.939 to each of us, 00:31:35.439 --> 00:31:36.720 to each of our hearts 00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:37.259 tonight 00:31:37.259 --> 00:31:39.200 and I think to us collectively 00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:39.839 as a church 00:31:39.839 --> 00:31:40.980 as we look to the future, 00:31:41.759 --> 00:31:44.539 has something 00:31:44.539 --> 00:31:45.720 or someone 00:31:45.720 --> 00:31:47.079 besides Jesus 00:31:47.079 --> 00:31:48.799 taken title to you, 00:31:49.359 --> 00:31:50.819 to your heart, 00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:52.259 to our collective 00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:52.819 heart, 00:31:53.859 --> 00:31:54.299 that is, 00:31:54.619 --> 00:31:55.240 that is, 00:31:55.339 --> 00:31:56.279 we're looking for something 00:31:56.279 --> 00:31:57.619 else apart from Jesus. 00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:59.119 Something else is our 00:31:59.119 --> 00:32:00.140 functional trust. 00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:01.039 Something else is our 00:32:01.039 --> 00:32:01.839 preoccupation. 00:32:01.960 --> 00:32:02.759 Something else is our 00:32:02.759 --> 00:32:04.200 loyalty, 00:32:04.359 --> 00:32:04.839 our service, 00:32:04.920 --> 00:32:05.400 our fear 00:32:05.400 --> 00:32:06.119 and our delight. 00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:08.379 What is it 00:32:08.379 --> 00:32:09.259 that you're looking to? 00:32:09.900 --> 00:32:10.519 Who is your 00:32:10.519 --> 00:32:11.140 functional 00:32:11.140 --> 00:32:12.180 saviour and Lord? 00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:14.259 I'm not asking you 00:32:14.259 --> 00:32:15.019 whether you've got a fish 00:32:15.019 --> 00:32:15.859 sticker on your fridge. 00:32:16.079 --> 00:32:16.660 I'm not asking you 00:32:16.660 --> 00:32:17.500 whether you've got a cross 00:32:17.500 --> 00:32:18.440 tattered in your head 00:32:18.440 --> 00:32:19.180 somewhere or 00:32:19.180 --> 00:32:20.519 what your daily 00:32:20.519 --> 00:32:22.079 quiet time like 00:32:22.079 --> 00:32:22.859 or whether you can recite 00:32:22.859 --> 00:32:23.539 the prayer book 00:32:23.539 --> 00:32:25.200 or that you give 00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:26.160 vast amounts of money 00:32:26.160 --> 00:32:27.299 to justice and mercy 00:32:27.299 --> 00:32:28.440 stuff around the world. 00:32:28.660 --> 00:32:30.019 I'm asking whether 00:32:30.019 --> 00:32:30.680 Jesus 00:32:30.680 --> 00:32:32.039 has the functional 00:32:32.039 --> 00:32:33.099 title of your heart. 00:32:36.900 --> 00:32:38.259 Ask yourself some questions. 00:32:38.259 --> 00:32:39.599 to who or what 00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:40.640 do I look for 00:32:40.640 --> 00:32:42.420 for life-sustaining 00:32:42.420 --> 00:32:43.059 stability, 00:32:43.279 --> 00:32:43.920 for security 00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:44.619 and for acceptance? 00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:45.980 What is it? 00:32:47.119 --> 00:32:48.519 What do I really want 00:32:48.519 --> 00:32:49.740 or expect out of life? 00:32:49.980 --> 00:32:51.420 What would really, 00:32:51.559 --> 00:32:52.819 really make me happy? 00:32:53.299 --> 00:32:54.619 What would really make me 00:32:54.619 --> 00:32:55.839 an acceptable person? 00:32:56.099 --> 00:32:56.859 Where do I look 00:32:56.859 --> 00:32:57.480 for power, 00:32:57.599 --> 00:32:58.319 for success? 00:32:59.160 --> 00:32:59.759 There's some of the 00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:00.599 questions to ask 00:33:00.599 --> 00:33:00.960 as to 00:33:00.960 --> 00:33:03.059 what has the functional 00:33:03.059 --> 00:33:03.980 title of your heart. 00:33:04.279 --> 00:33:04.859 Now the answers 00:33:04.859 --> 00:33:05.400 to those sorts of 00:33:05.400 --> 00:33:07.240 questions begin to tease 00:33:07.240 --> 00:33:08.779 whether Jesus is in fact 00:33:08.779 --> 00:33:09.740 our true treasure, 00:33:09.920 --> 00:33:10.799 our greatest treasure 00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:12.039 or whether we have 00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:12.779 something else 00:33:12.779 --> 00:33:13.680 which is a functional 00:33:13.680 --> 00:33:14.220 idol, 00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:16.079 something that we're 00:33:16.079 --> 00:33:16.720 looking to 00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:17.799 that takes on 00:33:17.799 --> 00:33:18.960 a God-like status 00:33:18.960 --> 00:33:19.660 for us. 00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:21.819 Whether we're looking 00:33:21.819 --> 00:33:23.160 to Jesus for our hope, 00:33:23.480 --> 00:33:24.220 for our security, 00:33:24.400 --> 00:33:24.839 for our identity, 00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:25.420 for our meaning 00:33:25.420 --> 00:33:25.960 or whether we're looking 00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:26.819 to something else, 00:33:27.099 --> 00:33:27.599 an idol. 00:33:28.680 --> 00:33:28.900 You see, 00:33:28.980 --> 00:33:30.400 everything that displaces 00:33:30.400 --> 00:33:32.299 Jesus from front and center 00:33:32.299 --> 00:33:34.180 in our lives 00:33:34.180 --> 00:33:36.180 displaces him from 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:37.220 the place of supremacy 00:33:37.220 --> 00:33:38.839 the Bible calls it 00:33:38.839 --> 00:33:39.519 an idol. 00:33:40.900 --> 00:33:41.880 In the Old Testament 00:33:41.880 --> 00:33:42.380 especially, 00:33:42.620 --> 00:33:43.279 in the New Testament 00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:44.240 words like inordinate 00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:44.960 desires. 00:33:47.140 --> 00:33:48.319 Romans 1, 00:33:48.400 --> 00:33:49.279 18 to 25 00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:50.100 is very telling. 00:33:50.200 --> 00:33:50.579 I'm not going to read 00:33:50.579 --> 00:33:51.000 the whole thing. 00:33:51.100 --> 00:33:52.299 It says that the reason 00:33:52.299 --> 00:33:53.539 we create idols 00:33:53.539 --> 00:33:55.039 is because we want 00:33:55.039 --> 00:33:56.400 control in our lives. 00:33:57.740 --> 00:33:58.799 Even though we know 00:33:58.799 --> 00:33:59.920 we owe God everything. 00:34:00.059 --> 00:34:00.839 Verse 21 says, 00:34:00.920 --> 00:34:01.900 For although they knew 00:34:01.900 --> 00:34:02.440 God, 00:34:02.720 --> 00:34:04.019 they neither glorified 00:34:04.019 --> 00:34:04.620 him as God 00:34:04.620 --> 00:34:05.980 nor gave thanks to him. 00:34:05.980 --> 00:34:06.819 And then down 00:34:06.819 --> 00:34:07.380 a few verses 00:34:07.380 --> 00:34:07.940 in 25, 00:34:08.360 --> 00:34:09.599 it describes the 00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:10.980 strategy by which 00:34:10.980 --> 00:34:12.019 we take control 00:34:12.019 --> 00:34:12.579 of our lives. 00:34:12.820 --> 00:34:13.340 We get God 00:34:13.340 --> 00:34:14.119 moving over to here 00:34:14.119 --> 00:34:16.039 and this is the 00:34:16.039 --> 00:34:16.860 strategy that we 00:34:16.860 --> 00:34:17.559 take control 00:34:17.559 --> 00:34:18.199 moving God 00:34:18.199 --> 00:34:18.760 out of the way. 00:34:19.139 --> 00:34:19.980 It says, 00:34:20.980 --> 00:34:22.360 we take created 00:34:22.360 --> 00:34:23.019 things, 00:34:23.240 --> 00:34:23.760 good things 00:34:23.760 --> 00:34:24.139 that God 00:34:24.139 --> 00:34:24.800 has made, 00:34:25.880 --> 00:34:26.699 we set our 00:34:26.699 --> 00:34:27.740 hearts on them, 00:34:28.019 --> 00:34:28.940 we build our 00:34:28.940 --> 00:34:30.599 lives around them. 00:34:32.099 --> 00:34:33.099 That's what we do 00:34:33.099 --> 00:34:33.539 according to 00:34:33.539 --> 00:34:34.199 verse 25. 00:34:34.940 --> 00:34:35.659 We take good 00:34:35.659 --> 00:34:36.360 things that God 00:34:36.360 --> 00:34:37.019 has made and 00:34:37.019 --> 00:34:37.599 we make them 00:34:37.599 --> 00:34:38.639 the ultimate 00:34:38.639 --> 00:34:39.139 thing. 00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:42.659 You see, 00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:43.579 because we are 00:34:43.579 --> 00:34:44.599 made by God, 00:34:45.079 --> 00:34:45.639 we are made 00:34:45.639 --> 00:34:46.340 to worship, 00:34:47.300 --> 00:34:48.059 we are worshipping 00:34:48.059 --> 00:34:48.659 beings, 00:34:49.380 --> 00:34:50.119 and we are made 00:34:50.119 --> 00:34:50.480 to worship 00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:50.900 something. 00:34:51.079 --> 00:34:51.539 And because, 00:34:51.840 --> 00:34:52.400 that's because how 00:34:52.400 --> 00:34:53.840 we are created, 00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:54.579 and we cannot 00:34:54.579 --> 00:34:55.519 eliminate 00:34:55.519 --> 00:34:56.920 treasuring Jesus, 00:34:57.059 --> 00:34:57.500 we cannot 00:34:57.500 --> 00:34:58.579 eliminate God 00:34:58.579 --> 00:34:59.480 out of our lives 00:34:59.480 --> 00:35:00.320 without creating 00:35:00.320 --> 00:35:01.519 God's substitutes. 00:35:01.519 --> 00:35:03.340 and every 00:35:03.340 --> 00:35:04.119 single one of 00:35:04.119 --> 00:35:04.659 us does it. 00:35:06.280 --> 00:35:06.739 They are the 00:35:06.739 --> 00:35:07.360 thing we look 00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:08.039 to for hope, 00:35:08.159 --> 00:35:08.619 for identity, 00:35:08.780 --> 00:35:09.360 for contentment, 00:35:09.440 --> 00:35:10.119 for satisfaction, 00:35:10.320 --> 00:35:10.840 for salvation, 00:35:10.960 --> 00:35:11.400 for joy. 00:35:13.099 --> 00:35:14.599 And they never 00:35:14.599 --> 00:35:15.400 give it to us. 00:35:16.860 --> 00:35:17.079 You see, 00:35:17.159 --> 00:35:17.719 all treasures, 00:35:17.860 --> 00:35:18.320 all idols, 00:35:18.480 --> 00:35:19.579 all inordinate 00:35:19.579 --> 00:35:20.780 desires shape 00:35:20.780 --> 00:35:21.360 our identity, 00:35:21.480 --> 00:35:22.119 they demand our 00:35:22.119 --> 00:35:22.480 allegiance, 00:35:22.599 --> 00:35:23.259 they capture our 00:35:23.259 --> 00:35:23.579 hearts, 00:35:23.639 --> 00:35:24.500 and we will give 00:35:24.500 --> 00:35:25.239 our attention to 00:35:25.239 --> 00:35:25.340 them, 00:35:25.380 --> 00:35:25.880 we will spend 00:35:25.880 --> 00:35:26.599 money on them. 00:35:27.659 --> 00:35:28.679 To grow in 00:35:28.679 --> 00:35:29.880 unity in Jesus, 00:35:30.039 --> 00:35:30.719 we need to grow 00:35:30.719 --> 00:35:31.619 in treasuring Jesus, 00:35:31.699 --> 00:35:32.279 but to grow in 00:35:32.279 --> 00:35:32.919 treasuring Jesus, 00:35:33.059 --> 00:35:33.599 we need to 00:35:33.599 --> 00:35:34.299 dislodge the 00:35:34.299 --> 00:35:34.859 other treasures 00:35:34.859 --> 00:35:35.459 that we have 00:35:35.459 --> 00:35:36.279 both individually 00:35:36.279 --> 00:35:37.679 and corporately 00:35:37.679 --> 00:35:38.379 as a church. 00:35:41.239 --> 00:35:41.599 Now, 00:35:41.659 --> 00:35:42.339 every one of us 00:35:42.339 --> 00:35:42.819 has treasures 00:35:42.819 --> 00:35:43.379 that we look to, 00:35:43.480 --> 00:35:44.459 and hopefully on 00:35:44.459 --> 00:35:45.079 your seat tonight, 00:35:45.139 --> 00:35:45.899 I just gave you 00:35:45.899 --> 00:35:46.319 a sheet. 00:35:46.799 --> 00:35:47.359 This is out of 00:35:47.359 --> 00:35:48.159 Tim Keller's 00:35:48.159 --> 00:35:50.919 Gospel in Life 00:35:50.919 --> 00:35:51.739 study book. 00:35:52.139 --> 00:35:52.199 Just, 00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:53.559 the whole book's 00:35:53.559 --> 00:35:54.500 worth the price 00:35:54.500 --> 00:35:55.079 of that sheet, 00:35:55.739 --> 00:35:56.439 but I encourage you 00:35:56.439 --> 00:35:56.879 to buy the book 00:35:56.879 --> 00:35:57.179 anyway. 00:35:57.179 --> 00:35:58.960 And he's also 00:35:58.960 --> 00:35:59.359 got a book 00:35:59.359 --> 00:35:59.759 called 00:35:59.759 --> 00:36:00.960 Counterfeit Gods, 00:36:01.019 --> 00:36:01.519 which also has 00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:02.139 a section on 00:36:02.139 --> 00:36:03.299 how to dislodge 00:36:03.299 --> 00:36:03.919 the idols of 00:36:03.919 --> 00:36:04.579 our hearts. 00:36:05.059 --> 00:36:05.559 What I encourage 00:36:05.559 --> 00:36:05.960 you to do, 00:36:06.039 --> 00:36:06.419 what I encourage 00:36:06.419 --> 00:36:06.799 the whole church 00:36:06.799 --> 00:36:07.179 to do this 00:36:07.179 --> 00:36:07.480 throughout the 00:36:07.480 --> 00:36:08.859 course of this 00:36:08.859 --> 00:36:09.179 week, 00:36:09.239 --> 00:36:10.039 is to go away 00:36:10.039 --> 00:36:11.059 and just reflect 00:36:11.059 --> 00:36:12.199 on this moment. 00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:13.519 What is it 00:36:13.519 --> 00:36:14.179 that's got the 00:36:14.179 --> 00:36:15.139 functional trust 00:36:15.139 --> 00:36:15.940 in my life? 00:36:16.719 --> 00:36:17.399 Let me tell you 00:36:17.399 --> 00:36:18.159 that I am so 00:36:18.159 --> 00:36:19.019 grateful for the 00:36:19.019 --> 00:36:20.079 leaders in this 00:36:20.079 --> 00:36:20.259 church, 00:36:20.339 --> 00:36:20.779 the people I get 00:36:20.779 --> 00:36:21.559 to work with. 00:36:21.559 --> 00:36:23.539 At the retreat 00:36:23.539 --> 00:36:24.299 in July, 00:36:25.420 --> 00:36:25.860 they were, 00:36:26.139 --> 00:36:26.259 they, 00:36:26.980 --> 00:36:27.559 and I know 00:36:27.559 --> 00:36:28.099 they love me 00:36:28.099 --> 00:36:28.920 and they graciously 00:36:28.920 --> 00:36:29.940 love me by telling 00:36:29.940 --> 00:36:30.320 me you were 00:36:30.320 --> 00:36:30.679 failing. 00:36:31.539 --> 00:36:32.440 They graciously 00:36:32.440 --> 00:36:33.219 pointed something 00:36:33.219 --> 00:36:34.139 out which they 00:36:34.139 --> 00:36:34.639 said, 00:36:35.099 --> 00:36:36.239 that thing in you 00:36:36.239 --> 00:36:36.960 Steve gets in 00:36:36.960 --> 00:36:38.179 the way of 00:36:38.179 --> 00:36:38.900 this church, 00:36:40.219 --> 00:36:41.000 this church's 00:36:41.000 --> 00:36:41.299 vision. 00:36:42.400 --> 00:36:43.059 It's the thing 00:36:43.059 --> 00:36:43.559 that's getting in 00:36:43.559 --> 00:36:43.840 the way. 00:36:44.719 --> 00:36:45.559 It was fantastic. 00:36:45.840 --> 00:36:46.360 It was hurt, 00:36:46.619 --> 00:36:46.940 obviously. 00:36:47.900 --> 00:36:48.599 Every prick 00:36:48.599 --> 00:36:48.960 hurts. 00:36:49.960 --> 00:36:50.799 I mean that in 00:36:50.799 --> 00:36:51.539 the pointy sense. 00:36:52.559 --> 00:36:53.820 And they, 00:36:53.960 --> 00:36:55.920 they love me 00:36:55.920 --> 00:36:56.599 enough to say 00:36:56.599 --> 00:36:58.380 to me that, 00:36:58.799 --> 00:36:59.000 Steve, 00:36:59.119 --> 00:37:01.519 even though we 00:37:01.519 --> 00:37:02.320 know you love 00:37:02.320 --> 00:37:02.880 the people of 00:37:02.880 --> 00:37:03.579 St. Paul's, 00:37:03.980 --> 00:37:05.239 it's not always 00:37:05.239 --> 00:37:05.619 evident. 00:37:06.860 --> 00:37:07.719 It's not always 00:37:07.719 --> 00:37:08.239 obvious. 00:37:10.259 --> 00:37:10.679 And they need 00:37:10.679 --> 00:37:11.119 to know it. 00:37:11.579 --> 00:37:12.119 They need to feel 00:37:12.119 --> 00:37:12.259 it. 00:37:12.380 --> 00:37:12.779 They need to know 00:37:12.779 --> 00:37:12.920 it. 00:37:14.119 --> 00:37:16.460 And I know 00:37:16.460 --> 00:37:18.219 enough about my 00:37:18.219 --> 00:37:19.019 heart to know 00:37:19.019 --> 00:37:21.299 that that there 00:37:21.300 --> 00:37:22.100 is tracking 00:37:22.100 --> 00:37:23.740 down to some 00:37:23.740 --> 00:37:25.019 idol in my 00:37:25.019 --> 00:37:25.420 heart that 00:37:25.420 --> 00:37:25.920 needs to be 00:37:25.920 --> 00:37:26.400 dislodged, 00:37:26.480 --> 00:37:26.780 that I might 00:37:26.780 --> 00:37:27.340 treasure Jesus, 00:37:27.420 --> 00:37:27.680 that I might 00:37:27.680 --> 00:37:28.060 love people 00:37:28.060 --> 00:37:28.380 more. 00:37:29.900 --> 00:37:30.260 And I'm 00:37:30.260 --> 00:37:30.720 grateful for 00:37:30.720 --> 00:37:31.060 them pointing 00:37:31.060 --> 00:37:31.420 it out, 00:37:31.700 --> 00:37:32.160 something I 00:37:32.160 --> 00:37:32.500 knew was 00:37:32.500 --> 00:37:32.820 true, 00:37:32.900 --> 00:37:33.400 but I'm 00:37:33.400 --> 00:37:33.820 grateful they 00:37:33.820 --> 00:37:34.300 pointed it 00:37:34.300 --> 00:37:34.780 out for me. 00:37:35.340 --> 00:37:36.140 Every sin 00:37:36.140 --> 00:37:36.560 has its 00:37:36.560 --> 00:37:37.300 foundation of 00:37:37.300 --> 00:37:37.900 something other 00:37:37.900 --> 00:37:38.340 than Jesus 00:37:38.340 --> 00:37:38.620 being the 00:37:38.620 --> 00:37:39.220 functional center 00:37:39.220 --> 00:37:39.580 and treasure 00:37:39.580 --> 00:37:40.140 of our heart. 00:37:40.139 --> 00:37:40.900 If you 00:37:40.900 --> 00:37:42.199 flip over on 00:37:42.199 --> 00:37:42.639 your sheet, 00:37:42.739 --> 00:37:42.920 or it 00:37:42.920 --> 00:37:43.179 depends on 00:37:43.179 --> 00:37:43.460 what side 00:37:43.460 --> 00:37:43.759 you're on, 00:37:44.019 --> 00:37:44.619 but there's 00:37:44.619 --> 00:37:45.359 a list of 00:37:45.359 --> 00:37:45.900 four things 00:37:45.900 --> 00:37:46.099 there, 00:37:46.179 --> 00:37:46.460 power, 00:37:46.599 --> 00:37:46.940 approval, 00:37:47.099 --> 00:37:47.299 comfort, 00:37:47.480 --> 00:37:47.900 control. 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:50.239 The main 00:37:50.239 --> 00:37:51.779 controlling 00:37:51.779 --> 00:37:52.799 idol in my 00:37:52.799 --> 00:37:53.960 heart is 00:37:53.960 --> 00:37:54.400 control. 00:37:56.539 --> 00:37:57.099 That's a 00:37:57.099 --> 00:37:57.500 good thing 00:37:57.500 --> 00:37:57.940 that God 00:37:57.940 --> 00:37:58.440 has given. 00:37:59.299 --> 00:37:59.940 I'm the 00:37:59.940 --> 00:38:00.519 senior pastor 00:38:00.519 --> 00:38:01.000 of this church 00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:01.739 and so there 00:38:01.739 --> 00:38:02.139 is an element 00:38:02.139 --> 00:38:02.440 where I 00:38:02.440 --> 00:38:02.699 ought to be 00:38:02.699 --> 00:38:03.099 in control. 00:38:03.900 --> 00:38:04.500 But when it 00:38:04.500 --> 00:38:05.039 becomes the 00:38:05.039 --> 00:38:05.839 main thing, 00:38:07.000 --> 00:38:07.379 it's an 00:38:07.379 --> 00:38:07.579 idol, 00:38:07.699 --> 00:38:08.199 it dislodges 00:38:08.199 --> 00:38:08.599 Jesus. 00:38:09.379 --> 00:38:09.899 What I need 00:38:09.899 --> 00:38:10.339 to see to 00:38:10.339 --> 00:38:10.659 grow in 00:38:10.659 --> 00:38:11.199 Jesus is to 00:38:11.199 --> 00:38:11.739 repent where 00:38:11.739 --> 00:38:12.419 I put something 00:38:12.419 --> 00:38:12.879 else, 00:38:13.299 --> 00:38:13.960 success for 00:38:13.960 --> 00:38:14.339 St. Paul's 00:38:14.339 --> 00:38:14.819 vision and 00:38:14.819 --> 00:38:15.480 success as a 00:38:15.480 --> 00:38:15.859 church or 00:38:15.859 --> 00:38:16.319 whatever it is, 00:38:16.579 --> 00:38:17.399 I put that as 00:38:17.399 --> 00:38:17.819 a functional 00:38:17.819 --> 00:38:18.460 thing in terms 00:38:18.460 --> 00:38:19.139 of my identity 00:38:19.139 --> 00:38:19.559 being wrapped 00:38:19.559 --> 00:38:19.899 up in that, 00:38:19.980 --> 00:38:20.259 a sense of 00:38:20.259 --> 00:38:20.819 security wrapped 00:38:20.819 --> 00:38:21.099 up in that, 00:38:21.279 --> 00:38:21.559 a sense of 00:38:21.559 --> 00:38:21.980 purpose being 00:38:21.980 --> 00:38:22.439 wrapped up in 00:38:22.439 --> 00:38:22.619 that, 00:38:22.879 --> 00:38:23.239 and saying, 00:38:23.419 --> 00:38:23.699 no, 00:38:24.259 --> 00:38:25.159 Jesus control. 00:38:25.379 --> 00:38:25.719 I need to 00:38:25.719 --> 00:38:26.699 repent of that 00:38:26.699 --> 00:38:27.480 idol and I 00:38:27.480 --> 00:38:27.980 need to say, 00:38:28.179 --> 00:38:28.539 thank you, 00:38:28.619 --> 00:38:28.839 Jesus, 00:38:28.939 --> 00:38:29.379 because you're 00:38:29.379 --> 00:38:29.739 in control. 00:38:29.839 --> 00:38:30.139 It's your 00:38:30.139 --> 00:38:30.539 church. 00:38:30.859 --> 00:38:31.899 You take that 00:38:31.899 --> 00:38:32.519 idol away from 00:38:32.519 --> 00:38:33.099 me because I've 00:38:33.099 --> 00:38:33.419 got something 00:38:33.419 --> 00:38:33.819 greater. 00:38:34.299 --> 00:38:34.739 I've got Jesus 00:38:34.739 --> 00:38:35.119 who is in 00:38:35.119 --> 00:38:35.719 control of 00:38:35.719 --> 00:38:36.079 his church. 00:38:36.179 --> 00:38:36.539 He's Lord 00:38:36.539 --> 00:38:36.859 of his 00:38:36.859 --> 00:38:37.299 church. 00:38:38.519 --> 00:38:39.059 And he's 00:38:39.059 --> 00:38:39.399 got something 00:38:39.399 --> 00:38:39.679 better. 00:38:40.019 --> 00:38:40.459 My security 00:38:40.459 --> 00:38:40.799 needs to be 00:38:40.799 --> 00:38:41.199 wrapped up in 00:38:41.199 --> 00:38:42.239 him, not in 00:38:42.239 --> 00:38:42.619 this idol. 00:38:42.919 --> 00:38:43.399 Becky Pippitt 00:38:43.399 --> 00:38:43.979 writes in her 00:38:43.979 --> 00:38:44.399 book, Out of 00:38:44.399 --> 00:38:45.059 the Salt 00:38:45.059 --> 00:38:45.439 Shaker, 00:38:45.799 --> 00:38:46.579 whatever controls 00:38:46.579 --> 00:38:47.199 us is our 00:38:47.199 --> 00:38:47.459 Lord. 00:38:47.539 --> 00:38:48.000 The person 00:38:48.000 --> 00:38:48.419 who seeks 00:38:48.419 --> 00:38:49.199 power is 00:38:49.199 --> 00:38:49.679 controlled by 00:38:49.679 --> 00:38:49.879 power. 00:38:49.959 --> 00:38:50.279 The person 00:38:50.279 --> 00:38:50.659 who seeks 00:38:50.659 --> 00:38:51.479 acceptance is 00:38:51.479 --> 00:38:51.939 controlled by 00:38:51.939 --> 00:38:52.259 the people 00:38:52.259 --> 00:38:52.739 they want to 00:38:52.739 --> 00:38:53.039 please. 00:38:53.259 --> 00:38:53.839 We do not 00:38:53.839 --> 00:38:54.719 control ourselves. 00:38:54.839 --> 00:38:55.299 We're controlled 00:38:55.299 --> 00:38:55.879 by the Lord 00:38:55.879 --> 00:38:56.459 of our life, 00:38:56.539 --> 00:38:57.219 whatever that 00:38:57.219 --> 00:38:57.619 is. 00:38:59.419 --> 00:38:59.899 And I want 00:38:59.899 --> 00:39:00.219 to be, 00:39:00.299 --> 00:39:00.539 and I want 00:39:00.539 --> 00:39:01.059 to keep calling 00:39:01.059 --> 00:39:01.519 us to be 00:39:01.519 --> 00:39:02.359 captivated by 00:39:02.359 --> 00:39:03.439 the wonder and 00:39:04.739 --> 00:39:05.279 more of the 00:39:05.279 --> 00:39:05.699 Lord Jesus 00:39:05.699 --> 00:39:06.199 Christ. 00:39:06.479 --> 00:39:07.039 No lesser 00:39:07.039 --> 00:39:07.559 treasures. 00:39:09.459 --> 00:39:10.000 See, when we 00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:10.599 treasure Jesus 00:39:10.599 --> 00:39:11.259 above everything 00:39:11.259 --> 00:39:13.000 else, every 00:39:13.000 --> 00:39:13.699 other treasure 00:39:13.699 --> 00:39:15.439 that leads to 00:39:15.439 --> 00:39:15.979 factions and 00:39:15.979 --> 00:39:16.479 frictions, we 00:39:16.479 --> 00:39:16.899 put in their 00:39:16.899 --> 00:39:17.519 proper place, 00:39:17.539 --> 00:39:17.879 because that's 00:39:17.879 --> 00:39:18.399 what they do. 00:39:18.739 --> 00:39:19.179 These idols 00:39:19.179 --> 00:39:19.619 lead to 00:39:19.619 --> 00:39:21.379 frictions amongst 00:39:21.379 --> 00:39:21.799 us. 00:39:22.899 --> 00:39:23.699 Don't miss 00:39:23.699 --> 00:39:24.739 the word joy 00:39:24.739 --> 00:39:25.959 in this verse. 00:39:27.000 --> 00:39:28.159 In his 00:39:28.159 --> 00:39:29.379 joy, he 00:39:29.379 --> 00:39:29.939 goes and 00:39:29.939 --> 00:39:30.659 sells all that 00:39:30.659 --> 00:39:31.479 he has and 00:39:31.479 --> 00:39:32.059 buys the 00:39:32.059 --> 00:39:32.379 field. 00:39:32.919 --> 00:39:33.539 The loss of 00:39:33.539 --> 00:39:34.239 all treasures 00:39:34.239 --> 00:39:34.699 is not 00:39:34.699 --> 00:39:35.179 sad when 00:39:35.179 --> 00:39:35.500 we gain 00:39:35.500 --> 00:39:35.980 Jesus. 00:39:37.259 --> 00:39:37.739 It's not 00:39:37.739 --> 00:39:38.159 sad when 00:39:38.159 --> 00:39:38.480 we gain 00:39:38.480 --> 00:39:38.919 Jesus. 00:39:39.799 --> 00:39:39.980 And so 00:39:39.980 --> 00:39:40.639 St. Paul's 00:39:40.639 --> 00:39:41.739 friends, we 00:39:41.739 --> 00:39:42.379 exist to know 00:39:42.379 --> 00:39:43.019 Jesus, treasure 00:39:43.019 --> 00:39:43.519 Jesus, and 00:39:43.519 --> 00:39:44.099 represent Jesus 00:39:44.099 --> 00:39:44.539 for God's 00:39:44.539 --> 00:39:44.799 glory and 00:39:44.799 --> 00:39:45.279 the joy of 00:39:45.279 --> 00:39:45.859 all people. 00:39:46.359 --> 00:39:46.679 That's who 00:39:46.679 --> 00:39:47.379 we are, and 00:39:47.379 --> 00:39:48.339 therefore, as a 00:39:48.339 --> 00:39:48.839 result of that, 00:39:48.899 --> 00:39:49.379 the consequence 00:39:49.379 --> 00:39:50.000 is we are 00:39:50.000 --> 00:39:51.199 united in our 00:39:51.199 --> 00:39:52.239 desperation for 00:39:52.239 --> 00:39:52.839 the world around 00:39:52.839 --> 00:39:53.539 us to encounter 00:39:53.539 --> 00:39:55.099 this Jesus, and 00:39:55.099 --> 00:39:55.960 we are united 00:39:55.960 --> 00:39:57.779 in our desire to 00:39:57.779 --> 00:39:58.379 represent the 00:39:58.379 --> 00:39:59.039 diversity of 00:39:59.039 --> 00:39:59.460 Chatswood. 00:39:59.879 --> 00:40:00.439 I want to 00:40:00.439 --> 00:40:00.839 talk about 00:40:00.839 --> 00:40:01.659 diversity next 00:40:01.659 --> 00:40:01.939 week.