WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080
 Well, good morning, everyone, and Happy New Year. I'll add that to everyone else's this morning.

00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:09.560
 And New Year's resolutions, I'm not sure if you're one of those people who has New Year's

00:00:09.560 --> 00:00:14.919
 resolutions. I personally highly encourage it, at least give you something to sort of work forwards,

00:00:15.120 --> 00:00:21.559
 if you like. I'd be grateful if you could turn 1 Corinthians, grab a Bible, either physical Bible

00:00:21.559 --> 00:00:27.420
 over here somewhere, and also on your app, 1 Corinthians 3 would be fantastic.

00:00:27.420 --> 00:00:33.560
 Top 10 resolutions for last year, New Year's resolutions for last year were number one,

00:00:34.200 --> 00:00:43.179
 only do exercise you enjoy. Number two, healthy eating. Number three, turn off the self-view

00:00:43.179 --> 00:00:51.980
 on your Zoom calls. Number four was review your relationship with alcohol. Number five,

00:00:51.979 --> 00:00:57.819
 find a new hobby. Number six, travel more. Number seven, volunteer. Number eight, meet someone.

00:00:58.279 --> 00:01:05.920
 I'm assuming that's romantic as opposed to just meeting someone randomly. Number nine was to sleep

00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:14.459
 more. And number 10 was to start therapy. So that's not my New Year's, that's New Year's resolutions.

00:01:14.459 --> 00:01:24.419
 Number, so my New Year's resolutions for this year, number one, and I've got five of them. Number one,

00:01:24.939 --> 00:01:32.319
 to forget about myself. Number two, to read the entire Bible and the New Testament and Psalms twice.

00:01:33.060 --> 00:01:41.299
 Number three, to not buy any new pieces of clothing. With two caveats. I don't wear secondhand underwear.

00:01:41.299 --> 00:01:49.759
 And I don't wear secondhand joggers. There's a reason for that. It has something to do with injury.

00:01:50.159 --> 00:01:59.620
 Number four for me is to run my first ever marathon. Number five is to set a PB running a marathon.

00:02:00.700 --> 00:02:03.939
 So providing I do number four, I should automatically do number five.

00:02:03.939 --> 00:02:12.680
 What are your goals for 2023? Particularly, what is your discipleship goals? In other words,

00:02:12.740 --> 00:02:17.079
 the question that we constantly ask ourselves around here is what might be your next step?

00:02:17.900 --> 00:02:24.419
 Now, our summer series here in January is called Running the Race. It's based loosely around Hebrews

00:02:24.419 --> 00:02:28.079
 chapter 12, verses one to three, sorry, one to two, which says,

00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:32.980
 Since we are surrounded by such great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders

00:02:32.980 --> 00:02:38.780
 and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

00:02:39.180 --> 00:02:42.660
 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:52.140
 So what we've got here in January is five standalone messages around the theme of running the race of

00:02:52.139 --> 00:02:58.259
 discipleship. A few of them will be biographies of those who have the, you know, some of the great,

00:02:58.559 --> 00:03:03.479
 greats of the faith from past eras who have run the race and set a great example for us.

00:03:04.599 --> 00:03:13.799
 What is I'm doing today, what is intriguing about today's passage is that it gives us a way to see

00:03:13.799 --> 00:03:21.000
 ourselves, to start this new year in seeing ourselves differently.

00:03:22.139 --> 00:03:25.659
 And seeing particularly how we might change.

00:03:28.059 --> 00:03:33.979
 And it's totally different than traditional culture or contemporary Western culture on how

00:03:33.979 --> 00:03:43.519
 it views we are to change. Up until the 20th century, traditional cultures believed that a

00:03:43.519 --> 00:03:52.119
 too higher view of yourself was the main cause of personal problems and the breakdown of relationships.

00:03:52.139 --> 00:03:53.419
 And society.

00:03:54.939 --> 00:04:06.159
 The Greek word for it is the word hubris, an excessive pride and arrogance and overly high confidence in oneself.

00:04:07.439 --> 00:04:14.079
 In our modern Western culture, we have developed the exact opposite cultural consensus.

00:04:14.080 --> 00:04:23.639
 Our belief today, which is deeply embedded in everything, is that people, when people feel bad about themselves,

00:04:24.180 --> 00:04:26.699
 they do bad things to others.

00:04:28.980 --> 00:04:33.879
 It's that is, the main problem is low self-esteem.

00:04:33.879 --> 00:04:46.779
 And all you have to do is to put people on the right path of self-improvement and you will advance society.

00:04:46.779 --> 00:04:55.619
 And so the question is, do we fix ourselves and fix our own issues, issues between people,

00:04:56.479 --> 00:05:01.819
 by a higher view of ourself or through a lower view of ourself?

00:05:02.339 --> 00:05:03.399
 Which one's right?

00:05:03.399 --> 00:05:17.120
 One Corinthians 3 and into 4 gives us an approach to the way of seeing ourselves that is absolutely different than the traditional way or the contemporary way.

00:05:17.939 --> 00:05:24.519
 The way that we see ourselves in 1 Corinthians is to forget ourselves.

00:05:24.519 --> 00:05:33.740
 Real enduring change can come about when we actually forget about ourselves.

00:05:35.779 --> 00:05:42.859
 So maybe 2023 is the year to find true freedom in your life by forgetting about yourself,

00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:46.959
 which is why, for me, it's number one on my New Year's resolutions.

00:05:46.959 --> 00:05:51.959
 So if you're someone who likes to take notes, I've got three points.

00:05:52.120 --> 00:05:56.399
 The fragile ego, the transformed ego, and how to get a transformed ego.

00:05:57.079 --> 00:05:58.199
 The fragile ego.

00:05:58.979 --> 00:06:02.459
 The Corinthian church, if you read earlier in 1 Corinthians 3,

00:06:03.039 --> 00:06:06.519
 you'd see that it's a church that's filled with all these divisions.

00:06:08.120 --> 00:06:13.560
 Paul shows that the real core issue of those divisions is pride and boasting.

00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:21.600
 In chapter 3, verse 6, he urges them not to take pride in one person over against another.

00:06:22.199 --> 00:06:27.399
 They're flocking to certain leaders and taking their sense of worth attached to a particular leader.

00:06:29.100 --> 00:06:37.319
 The word Paul uses here for pride in chapter 3, verse 6 is in fact an unusual word.

00:06:38.600 --> 00:06:41.779
 The word literally means to be overinflated.

00:06:41.779 --> 00:06:44.119
 It means to be swollen.

00:06:45.279 --> 00:06:47.859
 Something that is beyond its proper size.

00:06:49.719 --> 00:06:52.919
 It's swollen, inflamed, it's ready to burst.

00:06:53.919 --> 00:06:59.419
 That's the condition, it says, of the natural human ego.

00:07:01.779 --> 00:07:05.519
 And the ego is therefore empty.

00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:12.419
 The ego that is puffed up and overinflated is just a bunch of gas.

00:07:13.879 --> 00:07:16.219
 It's nothing at its centre.

00:07:21.159 --> 00:07:22.479
 The ego is empty.

00:07:22.799 --> 00:07:25.699
 The ego that is puffed up has nothing at its centre.

00:07:25.699 --> 00:07:34.659
 Spiritual pride is the illusion that we are competent to run our lives by ourselves.

00:07:37.300 --> 00:07:39.500
 Achieve our own sense of self-worth.

00:07:40.159 --> 00:07:47.500
 To find a purpose big enough to give us meaning in life without God.

00:07:47.500 --> 00:07:55.560
 Not only is it not possible, but the overinflated ego is also painful.

00:07:55.560 --> 00:08:03.860
 We do not notice our body until something goes wrong with it.

00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:06.220
 That's the nature of it.

00:08:08.699 --> 00:08:10.959
 It'd be pretty rare for us to think.

00:08:11.779 --> 00:08:14.139
 Like, I've never actually gone at the end of it.

00:08:14.279 --> 00:08:16.579
 My goodness, my elbow is working really well today.

00:08:16.579 --> 00:08:20.199
 Just, well done.

00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:25.079
 You know, it's not until something's wrong with the elbow

00:08:25.079 --> 00:08:29.240
 that you notice it's either not working or it's now working brilliantly.

00:08:33.139 --> 00:08:40.059
 The ego often hurts because of something unbelievably wrong with it.

00:08:40.059 --> 00:08:48.319
 It is always making us think about how we look and how we're treated.

00:08:49.459 --> 00:08:53.839
 It is very hard to get through a whole day without feeling snubbed,

00:08:54.139 --> 00:08:56.619
 without feeling ignored, without feeling stupid,

00:08:57.079 --> 00:09:01.119
 without getting down on ourselves in some way or another.

00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:07.559
 That's because there's something unbelievably wrong with our sense of self.

00:09:10.059 --> 00:09:16.019
 And therefore the ego is incredibly busy trying to feel the emptiness,

00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:18.000
 to deal with the pain.

00:09:18.319 --> 00:09:20.079
 It's busy comparing and boasting.

00:09:23.259 --> 00:09:24.459
 In verse 6,

00:09:26.199 --> 00:09:29.379
 there is no full stop after the word pride.

00:09:30.479 --> 00:09:31.079
 It says,

00:09:31.339 --> 00:09:34.939
 then you will not take pride in one person over against another.

00:09:36.219 --> 00:09:39.399
 And that is the very essence of the fragile ego.

00:09:40.059 --> 00:09:43.079
 It tries to feel its emptiness,

00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:49.419
 to deal with its pain by comparing itself to other people.

00:09:52.139 --> 00:09:54.399
 In his chapter on pride,

00:09:54.619 --> 00:09:56.399
 in his classic book,

00:09:56.579 --> 00:09:57.379
 Mere Christianity,

00:09:57.659 --> 00:10:00.299
 C.S. Lewis points out that pride,

00:10:00.519 --> 00:10:02.299
 by its very nature,

00:10:02.879 --> 00:10:03.759
 is competitive.

00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:06.159
 He writes,

00:10:06.279 --> 00:10:09.340
 pride gets no pleasure out of having something,

00:10:10.799 --> 00:10:16.019
 only out of having more of it than the next person.

00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:18.639
 It's competitive.

00:10:19.939 --> 00:10:20.919
 In other words,

00:10:21.379 --> 00:10:24.259
 we're only proud of being more successful,

00:10:24.919 --> 00:10:25.700
 more intelligent,

00:10:25.860 --> 00:10:28.419
 and more good looking than the next person.

00:10:28.419 --> 00:10:31.379
 That's his point.

00:10:33.059 --> 00:10:35.199
 When we're in the presence of someone

00:10:35.199 --> 00:10:37.360
 who is in fact more successful,

00:10:37.579 --> 00:10:38.179
 more intelligent,

00:10:38.339 --> 00:10:39.039
 more good looking,

00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:40.240
 then we are,

00:10:40.379 --> 00:10:43.539
 then what we have there is a loser sense of the pleasure of what we had.

00:10:43.539 --> 00:10:48.620
 It then becomes a problem with us.

00:10:49.319 --> 00:10:52.899
 And so we tend not to gravitate towards people who make us feel bad.

00:10:53.620 --> 00:10:57.019
 We gravitate towards people who make us feel better about ourselves,

00:10:57.079 --> 00:10:59.000
 because we are by nature competitive.

00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:03.279
 The hollow ego is competitive.

00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:06.319
 It's fragile.

00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:14.220
 Anything that is overinflated is always in imminent danger of being deflated.

00:11:15.920 --> 00:11:19.700
 Empty, painful, busy, and fragile.

00:11:20.160 --> 00:11:23.040
 The normal state of the human self without God.

00:11:24.660 --> 00:11:26.720
 And Paul wants the Corinthian church here,

00:11:27.379 --> 00:11:28.060
 and us,

00:11:28.400 --> 00:11:31.660
 to know the difference that Jesus Christ makes.

00:11:33.180 --> 00:11:34.580
 And how the Christian gospel

00:11:34.580 --> 00:11:36.920
 has transformed things for him,

00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:39.080
 and how it can be for us too.

00:11:41.020 --> 00:11:42.220
 Which is my second point,

00:11:42.280 --> 00:11:43.180
 the transformed ego.

00:11:44.920 --> 00:11:46.360
 In verses three and four,

00:11:46.500 --> 00:11:48.680
 Paul shows them how the Christian gospel

00:11:48.680 --> 00:11:52.580
 has transformed his sense of self-worth.

00:11:52.920 --> 00:11:53.300
 He says,

00:11:53.680 --> 00:11:54.280
 he writes there,

00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:58.200
 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court.

00:11:58.340 --> 00:12:00.100
 Indeed, I do not even judge myself.

00:12:00.500 --> 00:12:01.900
 My conscience is clear.

00:12:01.899 --> 00:12:04.899
 But that does not make me innocent.

00:12:05.100 --> 00:12:06.679
 It is the Lord who judges me.

00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:10.639
 Now the word translated judge here,

00:12:11.159 --> 00:12:14.379
 it has the same meaning as the word verdict.

00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:18.259
 It's referring to that,

00:12:19.059 --> 00:12:19.860
 if you like,

00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:22.579
 elusive stamp of approval

00:12:22.579 --> 00:12:24.439
 that we all crave.

00:12:25.840 --> 00:12:27.039
 We all crave.

00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:30.120
 Some of us have grown up in families

00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:33.599
 where we've never had that elusive stamp of approval.

00:12:34.299 --> 00:12:35.319
 Always striving,

00:12:35.599 --> 00:12:38.319
 always seeking to fill the empty ego.

00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:41.000
 And what says here,

00:12:41.079 --> 00:12:44.719
 Paul's saying his self-worth is not tied to that.

00:12:45.659 --> 00:12:48.339
 He's not tied to the Corinthians' evaluation of him.

00:12:48.340 --> 00:12:55.080
 Now most parents would say to their child at some point,

00:12:56.500 --> 00:12:59.420
 especially when they're having problems with other kids,

00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:01.540
 you know, in the schoolyard or something like that,

00:13:02.340 --> 00:13:03.860
 we would normally say things like,

00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:06.639
 it doesn't matter what your friends think of you.

00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:09.240
 It doesn't matter what other people say about you.

00:13:09.899 --> 00:13:13.120
 Any parent ever heard them repeat those words?

00:13:13.400 --> 00:13:14.800
 It doesn't matter what other people think about you.

00:13:14.799 --> 00:13:18.359
 In our modern world,

00:13:19.319 --> 00:13:21.319
 there seems to be only one way

00:13:21.319 --> 00:13:23.479
 of dealing with low self-esteem.

00:13:24.859 --> 00:13:26.959
 And that is fix it with high self-esteem.

00:13:28.699 --> 00:13:30.059
 We tell someone

00:13:30.059 --> 00:13:34.079
 that they need to see that they are a great person.

00:13:35.219 --> 00:13:37.620
 They need to see how wonderful they are.

00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:41.279
 And Paul's approach here is very different.

00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:45.459
 He cares very little if he is judged by the Corinthians,

00:13:46.199 --> 00:13:50.059
 but he doesn't turn that around and go,

00:13:50.319 --> 00:13:51.600
 well, I think really well of myself.

00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:53.100
 So it doesn't matter what you say about me.

00:13:54.220 --> 00:13:56.419
 He says, I don't care what you think about me,

00:13:57.139 --> 00:13:58.759
 but I don't care what I think about me either.

00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:01.939
 I don't even judge myself.

00:14:03.539 --> 00:14:04.419
 It's as if he says,

00:14:04.539 --> 00:14:05.539
 I don't care what you think

00:14:05.539 --> 00:14:06.600
 and I don't care what I think.

00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:12.139
 Look carefully what he says in verse four.

00:14:12.560 --> 00:14:13.920
 My conscience is clear,

00:14:14.700 --> 00:14:16.360
 but that does not make me innocent.

00:14:17.960 --> 00:14:21.759
 Now, I'm pretty sure that Paul would not say,

00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:23.340
 or that he would say,

00:14:23.680 --> 00:14:25.720
 it's a very significant trap

00:14:25.720 --> 00:14:30.000
 to set your own standard,

00:14:30.560 --> 00:14:31.759
 your own bar of standards.

00:14:32.820 --> 00:14:34.779
 You know, the way you can feel better about yourself

00:14:34.779 --> 00:14:36.659
 is to set your standards so low

00:14:36.659 --> 00:14:39.600
 that you will meet it every time.

00:14:42.579 --> 00:14:43.639
 We feel rotten

00:14:43.639 --> 00:14:46.639
 because we often can't live up to other people's standards,

00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:49.159
 and so the answer is to boost our self-esteem

00:14:49.159 --> 00:14:50.860
 by living up to our own standards,

00:14:50.899 --> 00:14:52.019
 and we just keep dropping them.

00:14:55.620 --> 00:14:56.860
 That can't deliver either.

00:14:56.860 --> 00:15:01.320
 We cannot keep our own standards.

00:15:02.980 --> 00:15:04.800
 Did you know a little bit of a tip for you

00:15:04.800 --> 00:15:06.340
 who do set New Year's resolutions?

00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:10.680
 Only 8% of people will follow through

00:15:10.680 --> 00:15:13.759
 with their self-improving New Year's resolutions.

00:15:15.220 --> 00:15:15.820
 8%.

00:15:15.820 --> 00:15:24.000
 92% will break those resolutions,

00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:26.240
 will give up on those resolutions

00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:27.179
 by the end of January.

00:15:31.019 --> 00:15:32.039
 So what's the answer?

00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:33.639
 Set less resolutions?

00:15:34.299 --> 00:15:36.220
 Set really low resolutions.

00:15:38.019 --> 00:15:39.379
 That makes us feel terrible

00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:41.240
 because we realise that we're the type of person

00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:43.620
 who just constantly lowers the bar.

00:15:43.700 --> 00:15:44.919
 Every time we break our standards,

00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:45.740
 we just lower them.

00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:49.940
 Boosting our self-esteem

00:15:49.940 --> 00:15:52.460
 by trying to live up to our own standards

00:15:52.460 --> 00:15:53.280
 is a trap.

00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:57.040
 And Paul here does not look to the Corinthians

00:15:57.040 --> 00:15:58.660
 for the verdict that he's a somebody,

00:15:59.540 --> 00:16:01.920
 but he also doesn't look to himself

00:16:01.920 --> 00:16:04.180
 to get the verdict that he's a somebody.

00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:09.500
 Now, he's now moving into a territory

00:16:09.500 --> 00:16:14.360
 that very, very few people know anything about.

00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:18.240
 And this is the Apostle Paul,

00:16:19.080 --> 00:16:20.279
 to this day,

00:16:20.899 --> 00:16:24.159
 still rated in the top five

00:16:24.159 --> 00:16:27.120
 most influential people in human history,

00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:29.440
 to this day.

00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:35.900
 And this is what he writes

00:16:35.900 --> 00:16:38.540
 in 1 Timothy 1, verse 15.

00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:41.600
 Jesus Christ came into the world

00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:42.580
 to save sinners

00:16:42.580 --> 00:16:45.200
 of whom I am the worst.

00:16:46.780 --> 00:16:48.900
 Not that I was the worst,

00:16:49.660 --> 00:16:51.440
 but of whom I am the worst.

00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:57.700
 We are simply not used to someone

00:16:57.700 --> 00:17:02.020
 who is that incredibly confident,

00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:05.799
 volunteering that sort of opinion

00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:06.539
 about themselves.

00:17:09.820 --> 00:17:12.059
 Someone who is totally honest

00:17:12.059 --> 00:17:15.539
 and aware of all sorts of moral flaws,

00:17:16.440 --> 00:17:18.799
 and yet at the same time

00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:21.400
 has incredible poise and confidence.

00:17:22.380 --> 00:17:25.279
 A man who literally changed

00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:26.880
 the course of human history.

00:17:27.840 --> 00:17:29.660
 A man who Western civilization

00:17:29.660 --> 00:17:30.600
 is built on.

00:17:35.640 --> 00:17:37.360
 When he says that he does not

00:17:37.360 --> 00:17:38.600
 let the Corinthians judge him,

00:17:38.660 --> 00:17:39.580
 nor will he judge himself,

00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:41.240
 he is saying that he knows

00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:43.000
 about his deep failures,

00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:45.440
 but he does not connect

00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:46.640
 those deep failures

00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:48.460
 to his identity,

00:17:49.320 --> 00:17:50.799
 to his sense of self.

00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:55.440
 He does not see his sin

00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:58.440
 and let it destroy his sense of self.

00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:01.059
 Nor does he look at his accomplishments

00:18:01.059 --> 00:18:03.500
 and congratulate himself.

00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:08.819
 He sees all kinds of sin in himself

00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:10.539
 and all kinds of accomplishments,

00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:13.079
 and yet he refuses to connect

00:18:13.079 --> 00:18:14.140
 any of those things

00:18:14.140 --> 00:18:15.200
 to his sense of self.

00:18:18.619 --> 00:18:20.180
 Paul is saying here

00:18:20.180 --> 00:18:24.180
 that his ego is not puffed up,

00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:27.099
 it's filled up.

00:18:27.099 --> 00:18:32.319
 It's like he's reached a place

00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:36.219
 where his ego draws no more attention

00:18:36.219 --> 00:18:37.119
 to itself.

00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:41.599
 When he does something wrong

00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:42.480
 or something good,

00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:44.339
 it's not connected

00:18:44.339 --> 00:18:46.779
 to him anymore.

00:18:49.639 --> 00:18:50.759
 C.S. Lewis again

00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:51.719
 in Mere Christianity

00:18:51.719 --> 00:18:53.159
 makes a brilliant observation

00:18:53.160 --> 00:18:54.740
 right at the very end

00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:55.940
 of his chapter on pride.

00:18:57.160 --> 00:18:58.560
 If we were to meet

00:18:58.560 --> 00:19:00.519
 a truly humble person,

00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:03.259
 we would never come away

00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:04.400
 from meeting them

00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:07.000
 thinking that they were

00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:07.980
 actually humble.

00:19:07.980 --> 00:19:16.740
 They would not be always telling us

00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:18.140
 that they were a nobody

00:19:18.140 --> 00:19:19.579
 because a person

00:19:19.579 --> 00:19:20.480
 who keeps saying

00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:21.400
 that they're a nobody

00:19:21.400 --> 00:19:22.700
 who's got low self-esteem

00:19:22.700 --> 00:19:25.759
 is actually a self-obsessed person.

00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:28.740
 The thing we would remember

00:19:28.740 --> 00:19:30.980
 about meeting a truly humble person

00:19:30.980 --> 00:19:32.640
 is how much they seem

00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:34.660
 to be totally interested

00:19:34.660 --> 00:19:35.920
 in you,

00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:37.240
 in us.

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:39.420
 And how happy

00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:41.160
 and at peace they were

00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:42.900
 whatever the circumstances

00:19:42.900 --> 00:19:43.860
 are in life.

00:19:45.940 --> 00:19:47.220
 The essence

00:19:47.220 --> 00:19:48.860
 of a transformed ego

00:19:48.860 --> 00:19:50.140
 is not thinking

00:19:50.140 --> 00:19:51.500
 more of oneself

00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:53.259
 or thinking less

00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:53.940
 of oneself.

00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:55.400
 It's thinking

00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:56.480
 of oneself

00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:57.400
 less.

00:20:01.700 --> 00:20:03.099
 It's the freedom

00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:05.120
 of self-forgetfulness.

00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:07.799
 It's not a high self-esteem.

00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:09.799
 It's not a low self-esteem.

00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:12.019
 It's not even about self-esteem.

00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:14.420
 A truly humble person

00:20:14.420 --> 00:20:16.980
 is not a self-hating person

00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:19.000
 or a self-loving person.

00:20:19.319 --> 00:20:22.660
 They are a self-forgetful person.

00:20:22.660 --> 00:20:26.920
 For example,

00:20:27.880 --> 00:20:30.220
 the self-forgetful person

00:20:30.220 --> 00:20:31.460
 would never be devastated

00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:32.360
 by criticism

00:20:32.360 --> 00:20:34.840
 because they don't put

00:20:34.840 --> 00:20:35.720
 too much value

00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:37.860
 in other people's opinions.

00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:40.120
 The fragile

00:20:40.120 --> 00:20:40.680
 ego

00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:41.700
 is either

00:20:41.700 --> 00:20:42.440
 devastated

00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:43.300
 by criticism

00:20:43.300 --> 00:20:44.779
 or they're not

00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:45.300
 devastated

00:20:45.300 --> 00:20:46.080
 by criticism

00:20:46.080 --> 00:20:47.000
 because they do not

00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:48.080
 listen to criticism.

00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:49.620
 They won't accept

00:20:49.620 --> 00:20:50.160
 criticism.

00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:54.279
 The person

00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:55.840
 who's a self-forgetful

00:20:55.840 --> 00:20:56.440
 person

00:20:56.440 --> 00:20:57.759
 is the complete

00:20:57.759 --> 00:20:58.240
 opposite.

00:20:59.420 --> 00:21:00.259
 When someone

00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:00.980
 whose ego

00:21:00.980 --> 00:21:02.279
 is filled up

00:21:02.279 --> 00:21:03.800
 gets criticised,

00:21:03.880 --> 00:21:04.160
 they're not

00:21:04.160 --> 00:21:04.759
 devastated,

00:21:05.779 --> 00:21:06.940
 they listen to it

00:21:06.940 --> 00:21:08.220
 and they see it

00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:08.820
 as an opportunity

00:21:08.820 --> 00:21:09.540
 to change.

00:21:16.540 --> 00:21:17.480
 Wouldn't you want

00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:18.480
 2023

00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:19.599
 to be like that

00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:21.099
 for yourself?

00:21:23.559 --> 00:21:24.360
 Wouldn't you want

00:21:24.360 --> 00:21:25.259
 to be a person

00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:26.380
 who does,

00:21:26.900 --> 00:21:27.360
 who neither

00:21:27.360 --> 00:21:28.599
 needs honour

00:21:28.599 --> 00:21:31.720
 nor afraid

00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:31.960
 of it

00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:32.920
 when you receive it?

00:21:35.360 --> 00:21:35.799
 Someone

00:21:35.799 --> 00:21:36.539
 who does not

00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:37.779
 lust for recognition

00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:39.960
 nor,

00:21:40.120 --> 00:21:40.640
 on the other hand,

00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:41.660
 frighten to death

00:21:41.660 --> 00:21:42.940
 of it.

00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:45.339
 Don't you want

00:21:45.339 --> 00:21:45.720
 to be the kind

00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:46.120
 of person

00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:46.739
 who does not

00:21:46.739 --> 00:21:47.439
 admire

00:21:47.439 --> 00:21:48.059
 what they see

00:21:48.059 --> 00:21:48.539
 in the mirror

00:21:48.539 --> 00:21:50.679
 but not

00:21:50.679 --> 00:21:51.179
 cringe

00:21:51.179 --> 00:21:52.719
 by what they

00:21:52.719 --> 00:21:53.599
 see in the mirror?

00:21:55.339 --> 00:21:55.619
 Don't you want

00:21:55.619 --> 00:21:55.779
 to be the kind

00:21:55.779 --> 00:21:56.139
 of person

00:21:56.139 --> 00:21:57.119
 who in

00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:58.099
 your imaginary

00:21:58.099 --> 00:21:58.839
 life

00:21:58.839 --> 00:22:00.579
 doesn't sit

00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:01.739
 around daydreaming

00:22:01.739 --> 00:22:02.959
 about successes

00:22:02.959 --> 00:22:03.759
 that gives you

00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:04.259
 an edge

00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:05.079
 over others?

00:22:06.659 --> 00:22:07.500
 Or perhaps

00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:07.879
 you tend

00:22:07.879 --> 00:22:08.339
 to beat

00:22:08.339 --> 00:22:08.959
 yourself up

00:22:08.959 --> 00:22:10.000
 to be tormented

00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:10.799
 by the regrets

00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:11.559
 of your life?

00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:12.839
 Wouldn't you like

00:22:12.839 --> 00:22:13.779
 to be free

00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:14.899
 of all of those

00:22:14.899 --> 00:22:15.359
 things?

00:22:16.599 --> 00:22:17.200
 Wouldn't you like

00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:18.039
 to be the athlete

00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:19.000
 who wins

00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:19.899
 the bronze medal

00:22:19.899 --> 00:22:22.839
 and yet

00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:23.700
 is thrilled

00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:24.460
 to celebrate

00:22:24.460 --> 00:22:26.559
 with the gold

00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:27.079
 medal winner?

00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:30.500
 Because you've

00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:31.359
 got to be there

00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:32.019
 to experience

00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:32.960
 their brilliance.

00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:39.559
 This is the possibility

00:22:39.559 --> 00:22:40.579
 for you and for me

00:22:40.579 --> 00:22:42.439
 if we keep

00:22:42.439 --> 00:22:43.059
 on going

00:22:43.059 --> 00:22:43.599
 where Paul

00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:44.059
 is going

00:22:44.059 --> 00:22:44.419
 here.

00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:46.240
 We can start

00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:46.859
 to enjoy

00:22:46.859 --> 00:22:47.559
 things

00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:49.039
 that are

00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:49.399
 in fact

00:22:49.399 --> 00:22:50.099
 not about

00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:50.539
 me.

00:22:52.399 --> 00:22:53.019
 We can

00:22:53.019 --> 00:22:53.659
 actually enjoy

00:22:53.659 --> 00:22:54.240
 things for

00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:54.879
 what they are

00:22:54.879 --> 00:22:55.259
 or people

00:22:55.259 --> 00:22:55.619
 for who

00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:56.139
 they are.

00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:57.579
 They are

00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:58.199
 not just

00:22:58.199 --> 00:22:58.819
 there

00:22:58.819 --> 00:23:00.240
 to fill

00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:01.000
 up my

00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:01.919
 emptiness

00:23:01.919 --> 00:23:02.639
 or your

00:23:02.639 --> 00:23:03.159
 emptiness.

00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:05.699
 That's the

00:23:05.699 --> 00:23:06.519
 transformed ego.

00:23:07.179 --> 00:23:07.720
 That's the

00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:08.119
 life,

00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:08.699
 the blessed

00:23:08.699 --> 00:23:09.220
 life of

00:23:09.220 --> 00:23:10.019
 self-forgetfulness.

00:23:10.579 --> 00:23:12.819
 And our

00:23:12.819 --> 00:23:13.419
 society

00:23:13.419 --> 00:23:14.819
 has got

00:23:14.819 --> 00:23:15.939
 no categories

00:23:15.939 --> 00:23:16.799
 for this

00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:17.220
 kind of

00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:17.619
 life.

00:23:18.539 --> 00:23:19.079
 Don't know

00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:19.559
 where to put

00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:20.059
 this kind

00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:20.519
 of life.

00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:24.919
 So how

00:23:24.919 --> 00:23:25.279
 do we get

00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:25.500
 this

00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:26.000
 transformed

00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:26.259
 ego?

00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:28.759
 Paul tells

00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.119
 us he got

00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:29.460
 to this

00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:29.839
 place.

00:23:29.980 --> 00:23:30.259
 He says,

00:23:30.359 --> 00:23:30.799
 my conscience

00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:31.379
 is clear

00:23:31.379 --> 00:23:32.039
 but that

00:23:32.039 --> 00:23:32.399
 does not

00:23:32.399 --> 00:23:32.759
 make me

00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:33.059
 innocent.

00:23:33.460 --> 00:23:33.939
 The word

00:23:33.939 --> 00:23:34.500
 translated

00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:35.000
 innocent

00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:35.679
 comes from

00:23:35.679 --> 00:23:36.039
 the word

00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:36.599
 justify.

00:23:37.559 --> 00:23:38.039
 He's

00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:38.699
 saying that

00:23:38.699 --> 00:23:39.279
 even if

00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:39.899
 his conscience

00:23:39.900 --> 00:23:41.019
 is clear,

00:23:41.620 --> 00:23:42.340
 that does

00:23:42.340 --> 00:23:42.840
 not

00:23:42.840 --> 00:23:43.740
 justify

00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:44.320
 him.

00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:46.759
 What Paul

00:23:46.759 --> 00:23:47.280
 is looking

00:23:47.280 --> 00:23:48.660
 for is a

00:23:48.660 --> 00:23:49.120
 verdict,

00:23:49.540 --> 00:23:50.220
 the ultimate

00:23:50.220 --> 00:23:51.040
 verdict that he

00:23:51.040 --> 00:23:51.700
 is important,

00:23:51.820 --> 00:23:52.280
 that he is

00:23:52.280 --> 00:23:52.740
 valuable.

00:23:54.180 --> 00:23:55.140
 We look for

00:23:55.140 --> 00:23:55.740
 that ultimate

00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:56.860
 verdict every

00:23:56.860 --> 00:23:57.900
 single day of

00:23:57.900 --> 00:23:58.800
 our life in

00:23:58.800 --> 00:23:59.720
 all kinds of

00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:00.600
 situations and

00:24:00.600 --> 00:24:01.160
 people around

00:24:01.160 --> 00:24:01.480
 us.

00:24:02.160 --> 00:24:02.820
 The problem

00:24:02.820 --> 00:24:04.560
 with self-esteem,

00:24:04.800 --> 00:24:05.259
 whether it's

00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:06.019
 high or whether

00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:06.680
 it's low,

00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:08.039
 is that every

00:24:08.039 --> 00:24:09.180
 single day we

00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:09.579
 are on

00:24:09.579 --> 00:24:10.059
 trial.

00:24:10.379 --> 00:24:10.980
 Every single

00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:11.720
 day you're

00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:12.299
 on trial.

00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:15.460
 There is this

00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:16.980
 prosecution and

00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:17.779
 there is defense

00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:18.559
 sitting on either

00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:19.059
 shoulder.

00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:21.759
 Everything we do

00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:22.440
 is providing

00:24:22.440 --> 00:24:23.720
 evidence for the

00:24:23.720 --> 00:24:24.839
 prosecution or

00:24:24.839 --> 00:24:26.359
 evidence for the

00:24:26.359 --> 00:24:26.859
 defense.

00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:28.579
 And some days we

00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:29.339
 feel like we're

00:24:29.339 --> 00:24:30.160
 winning the trial

00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:31.200
 and other days we

00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:31.759
 feel like we're

00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:32.599
 losing the trial.

00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:33.500
 And Paul says

00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:33.920
 for him the

00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:34.519
 trial is over.

00:24:35.779 --> 00:24:36.380
 It's done.

00:24:39.579 --> 00:24:40.740
 He is out of

00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:41.380
 the courtroom

00:24:41.380 --> 00:24:42.480
 because the

00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.279
 ultimate verdict

00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:44.160
 has come in

00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:44.619
 for him.

00:24:45.640 --> 00:24:46.339
 He knows that

00:24:46.339 --> 00:24:46.799
 the Corinthians

00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:47.619
 can't justify

00:24:47.619 --> 00:24:48.880
 him and he

00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:49.440
 knows that he

00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:50.119
 can't justify

00:24:50.119 --> 00:24:50.660
 himself.

00:24:51.180 --> 00:24:51.900
 He says it

00:24:51.900 --> 00:24:52.980
 is the Lord

00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:54.000
 who judges

00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:54.359
 him.

00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:56.440
 What Paul is

00:24:56.440 --> 00:24:56.940
 saying here,

00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:57.799
 it is only,

00:24:58.079 --> 00:24:59.440
 only in the

00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:00.380
 gospel of the

00:25:00.380 --> 00:25:00.920
 Lord Jesus

00:25:00.920 --> 00:25:02.279
 Christ that Paul

00:25:02.279 --> 00:25:03.400
 and us get

00:25:03.400 --> 00:25:04.060
 the final

00:25:04.060 --> 00:25:04.820
 verdict.

00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:07.160
 And crucially,

00:25:07.360 --> 00:25:07.960
 he says,

00:25:08.320 --> 00:25:09.620
 it comes before

00:25:09.620 --> 00:25:10.920
 any performance

00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:13.180
 on our behalf.

00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:18.280
 Most people

00:25:18.280 --> 00:25:19.360
 get their

00:25:19.360 --> 00:25:20.120
 self-image

00:25:20.120 --> 00:25:20.780
 from being a

00:25:20.780 --> 00:25:21.620
 good person

00:25:21.620 --> 00:25:23.060
 and hope that

00:25:23.060 --> 00:25:23.840
 eventually they

00:25:23.840 --> 00:25:24.600
 will get a

00:25:24.600 --> 00:25:25.320
 verdict that

00:25:25.320 --> 00:25:26.019
 confirms that

00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:26.720
 they are a

00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:27.400
 good person.

00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:31.920
 Performance

00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:33.560
 leads to a

00:25:33.560 --> 00:25:34.180
 verdict, in

00:25:34.180 --> 00:25:34.740
 other words.

00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:36.620
 All the

00:25:36.620 --> 00:25:37.380
 great religions

00:25:37.380 --> 00:25:38.259
 and philosophies

00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:39.080
 of this world

00:25:39.080 --> 00:25:40.400
 work on that

00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:40.920
 principle.

00:25:41.600 --> 00:25:42.160
 Performance

00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:43.600
 leads to the

00:25:43.600 --> 00:25:43.880
 verdict.

00:25:44.660 --> 00:25:45.660
 It is only

00:25:45.660 --> 00:25:46.519
 in the

00:25:46.519 --> 00:25:47.340
 Christian faith,

00:25:47.700 --> 00:25:48.600
 only in the

00:25:48.600 --> 00:25:49.380
 Christian faith,

00:25:49.880 --> 00:25:50.300
 does the

00:25:50.300 --> 00:25:51.460
 verdict lead

00:25:51.460 --> 00:25:52.240
 to performance.

00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:55.900
 in Christianity,

00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:56.700
 the moment we

00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:57.440
 believe, God

00:25:57.440 --> 00:25:58.140
 says, you

00:25:58.140 --> 00:25:58.900
 are my

00:25:58.900 --> 00:25:59.620
 beloved

00:25:59.620 --> 00:26:01.960
 child, in

00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:02.759
 whom I am

00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:03.539
 well pleased.

00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:05.640
 Only in

00:26:05.640 --> 00:26:07.019
 Christianity do

00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:07.819
 you get the

00:26:07.819 --> 00:26:08.960
 praise of the

00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:09.940
 praiseworthy

00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:12.059
 before anything

00:26:12.059 --> 00:26:12.660
 that you've

00:26:12.660 --> 00:26:12.980
 done.

00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:15.559
 And in

00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:16.299
 spite of all

00:26:16.299 --> 00:26:16.980
 the things that

00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:17.740
 you have done

00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:18.059
 that you

00:26:18.059 --> 00:26:18.480
 shouldn't have

00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:18.740
 done.

00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:21.059
 or Romans

00:26:21.059 --> 00:26:21.980
 8 verse 1

00:26:21.980 --> 00:26:22.480
 which says,

00:26:22.859 --> 00:26:23.640
 therefore, there

00:26:23.640 --> 00:26:24.420
 is now no

00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:25.400
 condemnation for

00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:26.000
 those who are in

00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:26.700
 Christ Jesus.

00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:28.779
 The moment you

00:26:28.779 --> 00:26:30.120
 trust in Jesus

00:26:30.120 --> 00:26:31.680
 Christ, God

00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:33.099
 credits Jesus'

00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:34.599
 perfect performance

00:26:34.599 --> 00:26:36.720
 to you as if it

00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:37.720
 was your own.

00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:40.700
 And he adopts us

00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:41.519
 into his family.

00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:42.900
 The verdict is in.

00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:44.799
 And now we

00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:45.900
 perform on that

00:26:45.900 --> 00:26:46.480
 basis.

00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:48.059
 because he

00:26:48.059 --> 00:26:49.019
 loves us and

00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:50.039
 he accepts us.

00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:51.740
 We don't have to

00:26:51.740 --> 00:26:52.500
 do things that

00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:53.460
 just build up our

00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:54.140
 reputation.

00:26:54.380 --> 00:26:55.319
 We are free now

00:26:55.319 --> 00:26:57.579
 to do things

00:26:57.579 --> 00:26:58.839
 for the joy of

00:26:58.839 --> 00:26:59.680
 them, simply for

00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:00.299
 the joy of

00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:00.519
 them.

00:27:01.599 --> 00:27:02.299
 Free to help

00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:03.120
 other people in

00:27:03.120 --> 00:27:03.759
 order to help

00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:04.480
 them, not

00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:05.240
 because it makes

00:27:05.240 --> 00:27:05.779
 us feel better

00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:06.380
 about ourselves,

00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:07.019
 not because it's

00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:07.700
 filling up our

00:27:07.700 --> 00:27:08.339
 emptiness and

00:27:08.339 --> 00:27:09.039
 building up our

00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:09.360
 ego.

00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:12.079
 In

00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:12.620
 Christianity,

00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:13.539
 Jesus Christ

00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:14.400
 went on trial

00:27:14.400 --> 00:27:14.900
 instead.

00:27:14.900 --> 00:27:16.400
 Jesus went into

00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:16.980
 the courtroom

00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:18.180
 on our behalf.

00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:19.140
 He faced the

00:27:19.140 --> 00:27:19.900
 trial that should

00:27:19.900 --> 00:27:20.960
 be ours so

00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:21.640
 that we don't

00:27:21.640 --> 00:27:22.280
 have to face

00:27:22.280 --> 00:27:22.940
 that trial

00:27:22.940 --> 00:27:23.340
 ever.

00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:28.019
 He took the

00:27:28.019 --> 00:27:28.860
 condemnation that

00:27:28.860 --> 00:27:30.300
 we deserve for

00:27:30.300 --> 00:27:30.860
 our lack of

00:27:30.860 --> 00:27:31.540
 performing to

00:27:31.540 --> 00:27:32.200
 God's standards

00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:32.800
 of perfection.

00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:32.879
 perfection.

00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:37.000
 And we just

00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:37.740
 simply need to

00:27:37.740 --> 00:27:38.500
 ask God to

00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:39.359
 accept us on

00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:40.099
 the basis of

00:27:40.099 --> 00:27:40.419
 Jesus.

00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:42.119
 That's it.

00:27:43.980 --> 00:27:44.519
 And when we

00:27:44.519 --> 00:27:46.299
 do, the only

00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:47.240
 person whose

00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:48.700
 opinion actually

00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:50.819
 matters looks at

00:27:50.819 --> 00:27:53.680
 us and he finds

00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:57.519
 in us a person

00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:58.899
 more valuable than

00:27:58.899 --> 00:28:00.099
 all the jewels of

00:28:00.099 --> 00:28:00.599
 the earth.

00:28:04.019 --> 00:28:04.839
 Now, perhaps

00:28:04.839 --> 00:28:05.619
 that's brand new

00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:06.299
 for some of you

00:28:06.299 --> 00:28:06.899
 here today.

00:28:08.279 --> 00:28:09.339
 Don't let this

00:28:09.339 --> 00:28:10.500
 moment pass you

00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:10.899
 at the beginning

00:28:10.899 --> 00:28:11.659
 of 2023.

00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:12.480
 This is

00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:13.419
 fundamentally

00:28:13.419 --> 00:28:14.240
 revolutionary,

00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:16.399
 as it has been

00:28:16.399 --> 00:28:18.019
 for millions of

00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:19.119
 people for

00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:19.799
 centuries.

00:28:21.879 --> 00:28:22.819
 Keep looking,

00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:24.219
 keep digging,

00:28:24.839 --> 00:28:25.579
 keep asking

00:28:25.579 --> 00:28:26.159
 questions.

00:28:26.379 --> 00:28:27.079
 There's a lot to

00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:27.459
 discover.

00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:28.299
 I've covered a

00:28:28.299 --> 00:28:28.880
 lot of ground

00:28:28.880 --> 00:28:29.860
 in a very short

00:28:29.860 --> 00:28:30.720
 space of time.

00:28:31.799 --> 00:28:32.579
 There are lots

00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:33.400
 of pieces of the

00:28:33.400 --> 00:28:34.920
 jigsaw puzzle to

00:28:34.920 --> 00:28:35.640
 put together.

00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:37.360
 But keep looking,

00:28:37.559 --> 00:28:38.220
 keep searching,

00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:39.640
 keep exploring the

00:28:39.640 --> 00:28:40.319
 Christian faith.

00:28:41.160 --> 00:28:41.960
 Understand the

00:28:41.960 --> 00:28:42.559
 whole picture.

00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:44.519
 Make it, can I

00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:45.360
 encourage you to

00:28:45.360 --> 00:28:46.579
 make it of central

00:28:46.579 --> 00:28:47.940
 importance in

00:28:47.940 --> 00:28:48.620
 2023.

00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:53.740
 But maybe you're

00:28:53.740 --> 00:28:54.120
 in a different

00:28:54.120 --> 00:28:54.640
 position.

00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:56.640
 maybe you've

00:28:56.640 --> 00:28:57.500
 already trusted in

00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:58.240
 Jesus, maybe

00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:59.140
 done so for many,

00:28:59.259 --> 00:28:59.860
 many years.

00:29:00.380 --> 00:29:01.759
 But every single

00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:02.640
 day you find

00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:03.440
 yourself being

00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:04.500
 sucked back into

00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:05.240
 that courtroom.

00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:07.200
 Keep getting

00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:08.040
 sucked back into

00:29:08.040 --> 00:29:08.240
 it.

00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:11.540
 And all I can

00:29:11.540 --> 00:29:12.800
 tell you is

00:29:12.800 --> 00:29:13.840
 that you must

00:29:13.840 --> 00:29:14.759
 relive the

00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:16.200
 gospel every

00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:17.120
 single day.

00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:20.500
 We must live

00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.759
 the gospel every

00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:22.259
 single, every

00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:23.080
 moment we pray,

00:29:23.160 --> 00:29:23.580
 every time we

00:29:23.580 --> 00:29:24.140
 gather as a

00:29:24.140 --> 00:29:24.860
 church, every

00:29:24.860 --> 00:29:25.540
 time we feel

00:29:25.540 --> 00:29:26.020
 rejected.

00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:26.900
 Forgetting

00:29:26.900 --> 00:29:27.900
 self-remembering

00:29:27.900 --> 00:29:28.600
 the gospel of

00:29:28.600 --> 00:29:29.820
 Jesus Christ is

00:29:29.820 --> 00:29:30.940
 the key to

00:29:30.940 --> 00:29:32.020
 treasuring Jesus

00:29:32.020 --> 00:29:32.860
 and embracing

00:29:32.860 --> 00:29:33.680
 diversity and

00:29:33.680 --> 00:29:34.520
 discomfort for us

00:29:34.520 --> 00:29:35.060
 as a church.

00:29:35.840 --> 00:29:36.900
 It's the key to

00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:37.860
 letting go and

00:29:37.860 --> 00:29:39.400
 finding true and

00:29:39.400 --> 00:29:40.400
 enduring rest.

00:29:41.060 --> 00:29:41.680
 We have to

00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:42.520
 relive the

00:29:42.520 --> 00:29:44.060
 gospel in every

00:29:44.060 --> 00:29:45.740
 single experience

00:29:45.740 --> 00:29:46.440
 of life.

00:29:46.440 --> 00:29:46.519
 life.

00:29:50.519 --> 00:29:51.759
 We need to relive the

00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:52.759
 Christian gospel on

00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:54.019
 the spot and

00:29:54.019 --> 00:29:55.059
 ask ourselves, am

00:29:55.059 --> 00:29:55.720
 I putting myself

00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:56.279
 back into the

00:29:56.279 --> 00:29:56.960
 courtroom here?

00:29:59.539 --> 00:30:00.640
 Am I turning this

00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:01.420
 around to be about

00:30:01.420 --> 00:30:02.039
 me again?

00:30:04.440 --> 00:30:05.539
 Like Paul, we can

00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:06.700
 actually live day by

00:30:06.700 --> 00:30:07.240
 day saying, I

00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:07.660
 don't care about

00:30:07.660 --> 00:30:08.299
 what you think.

00:30:08.680 --> 00:30:09.720
 I don't even care

00:30:09.720 --> 00:30:10.559
 what I think.

00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:12.500
 only care what the

00:30:12.500 --> 00:30:13.119
 Lord thinks.

00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:16.740
 And he's the one

00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:18.279
 who has said, you

00:30:18.279 --> 00:30:19.099
 put your trust in

00:30:19.099 --> 00:30:20.119
 Jesus, you are my

00:30:20.119 --> 00:30:22.079
 much loved child.

00:30:22.359 --> 00:30:23.559
 The verdict is in.

00:30:23.559 --> 00:30:29.139
 So embrace Jesus and

00:30:29.139 --> 00:30:31.119
 all of his work more

00:30:31.119 --> 00:30:32.200
 and more each day

00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:32.839
 this year.

00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:36.240
 Put self-forgetfulness

00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:38.119
 at the top of your

00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:39.559
 new year's resolutions

00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:41.579
 and pray for the help

00:30:41.579 --> 00:30:42.579
 to remember Jesus

00:30:42.579 --> 00:30:43.799
 moment by moment, to

00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:44.679
 preach the gospel to

00:30:44.679 --> 00:30:45.599
 yourself moment by

00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:47.179
 moment and what he

00:30:47.179 --> 00:30:48.099
 has achieved for you.