WEBVTT 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:04.620 All right, y'all, we just sang, you are the same God. 00:00:06.179 --> 00:00:10.960 And there's no truer words than God is the same God now that he's ever been. 00:00:12.580 --> 00:00:14.720 God is capable of all of it. 00:00:15.880 --> 00:00:19.500 I think the only difference is how much you and I get in his way. 00:00:20.420 --> 00:00:22.580 So that's what we're going to talk about this Sunday 00:00:22.580 --> 00:00:28.179 as we conclude our series on new life, 00:00:28.179 --> 00:00:31.140 a fresh beginning with Jesus. 00:00:32.219 --> 00:00:35.320 I'm going to run back through the previous weeks 00:00:35.320 --> 00:00:36.920 in case you're a guest with us this morning, 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:42.280 and you can get a very small summary of what we've covered in this week, 00:00:42.359 --> 00:00:45.019 beginning with the verse you just saw in the video a moment ago, 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:47.179 2 Corinthians 5, 17, 00:00:47.280 --> 00:00:50.320 If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 00:00:50.480 --> 00:00:54.980 The old has passed away, and see, the new has come. 00:00:54.979 --> 00:01:02.319 We began our series talking about how God is clearly doing a new thing in our church 00:01:02.319 --> 00:01:05.939 as we see the evidences of that all around us. 00:01:05.979 --> 00:01:08.219 And then we moved on to say we, you and I, 00:01:08.620 --> 00:01:11.560 have to have a change of mind in that we stop trying 00:01:11.560 --> 00:01:16.079 and start training and understanding that God is training us 00:01:16.079 --> 00:01:17.859 to be who he wants us to be. 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:20.459 When we fail, it's part of the training, 00:01:20.459 --> 00:01:24.679 not us continually trying on our own strength. 00:01:25.599 --> 00:01:28.639 Then thirdly, we covered that we do what we do 00:01:28.639 --> 00:01:32.139 because of what we think of who we are. 00:01:32.619 --> 00:01:38.399 Our identity comes from who we think of ourselves, 00:01:38.799 --> 00:01:41.679 and our identity breeds our behavior. 00:01:42.399 --> 00:01:45.679 So we do what we do because of what we think of us. 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:49.940 Then we jumped into Hebrews chapter 12 and Philippians chapter 3, 00:01:50.040 --> 00:01:51.860 and we had a three-part series that said, 00:01:52.460 --> 00:01:53.920 first of all, lay aside the weights, 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:55.540 and the weights can slow us down. 00:01:55.600 --> 00:01:57.640 We had a very visual foot race 00:01:57.640 --> 00:02:00.720 that showed just how much the weights can slow us down. 00:02:01.020 --> 00:02:02.660 And we said, what are we holding on to? 00:02:02.740 --> 00:02:06.160 Is there something in our life that is slowing us down 00:02:06.160 --> 00:02:08.200 that we need to lay down, lay aside? 00:02:08.600 --> 00:02:13.020 Or is there something or someone that is holding on to us, 00:02:13.020 --> 00:02:15.500 and we need to forget what lies behind 00:02:15.500 --> 00:02:17.659 and reach forward to what lies ahead, 00:02:17.719 --> 00:02:21.420 which brought us into the next portion of that sub-series, 00:02:21.500 --> 00:02:22.860 which was let us run. 00:02:23.200 --> 00:02:26.080 First, lay aside the weights, and then let us run. 00:02:26.780 --> 00:02:28.840 We had these two statements. 00:02:29.060 --> 00:02:30.420 First, start moving. 00:02:31.100 --> 00:02:32.900 Reach forward to what lies ahead, 00:02:32.980 --> 00:02:34.560 to what God has for you. 00:02:35.040 --> 00:02:36.320 Reach forward to that. 00:02:36.920 --> 00:02:39.340 Sometimes we just have to start moving, 00:02:39.340 --> 00:02:41.320 and then secondly, run with endurance, 00:02:41.319 --> 00:02:43.019 so we have to keep going. 00:02:43.539 --> 00:02:44.139 Keep going. 00:02:44.579 --> 00:02:45.280 Don't quit. 00:02:45.979 --> 00:02:49.079 The only difference between a white belt in karate 00:02:49.079 --> 00:02:50.519 and a black belt in karate 00:02:50.519 --> 00:02:53.019 is the white belt never stopped training 00:02:53.019 --> 00:02:55.479 until he became a black belt. 00:02:55.599 --> 00:02:58.459 So we must keep going and run with endurance 00:02:58.459 --> 00:03:03.019 to see the fulfillment of who God is training us to be. 00:03:03.159 --> 00:03:05.719 Then, we got into the third part. 00:03:05.719 --> 00:03:07.139 Lay aside the weight. 00:03:07.859 --> 00:03:09.000 Let us run. 00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:11.240 And finally, look at Jesus. 00:03:11.460 --> 00:03:12.159 Look at Jesus. 00:03:12.360 --> 00:03:14.000 We simply have to put our eyes up. 00:03:14.659 --> 00:03:15.240 Eyes up. 00:03:16.020 --> 00:03:18.439 When we look all around us, we get distressed. 00:03:18.860 --> 00:03:22.879 But when we look at Christ, we are at rest. 00:03:23.780 --> 00:03:26.300 And then secondly, we press toward the prize. 00:03:26.439 --> 00:03:27.199 What is the prize? 00:03:27.340 --> 00:03:30.120 It is the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 00:03:30.360 --> 00:03:32.259 Jesus is ever calling us upward. 00:03:33.219 --> 00:03:35.240 Someday, we'll all go home upward 00:03:35.240 --> 00:03:37.060 to be with him in heaven forever. 00:03:37.060 --> 00:03:40.240 But until that day, he's drawing us ever upward, 00:03:40.480 --> 00:03:43.900 closer to himself, more in the image of who he is. 00:03:44.020 --> 00:03:46.020 The world wants to drag you down. 00:03:46.200 --> 00:03:48.120 Jesus is calling you upward. 00:03:49.260 --> 00:03:52.080 And so we press toward that prize. 00:03:53.180 --> 00:03:59.280 Then, last week, we said that God is a God of continual change. 00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:04.819 And he has called us, you and me, to be agents of change. 00:04:05.060 --> 00:04:08.840 He is changing us from the inside out. 00:04:10.300 --> 00:04:14.000 If you and I are in the same place with our walk with God 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:17.100 as we were last year or six months ago 00:04:17.100 --> 00:04:19.019 or five years ago or ten years ago, 00:04:19.220 --> 00:04:21.839 we're not walking closely with Jesus 00:04:21.839 --> 00:04:24.259 because God wants to change us 00:04:24.259 --> 00:04:27.660 ever upward, ever more into his image. 00:04:27.660 --> 00:04:29.600 So he's a God of continual change. 00:04:29.960 --> 00:04:33.260 And we must embrace the change that he brings to us, 00:04:33.400 --> 00:04:35.380 not push back against it, 00:04:35.420 --> 00:04:38.700 which brings us to where we are this morning. 00:04:39.860 --> 00:04:41.380 Now, let me ask you this question. 00:04:42.220 --> 00:04:44.600 How many of y'all have ever met a celebrity? 00:04:45.020 --> 00:04:45.760 Would you raise your hand? 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:47.580 Anybody ever met a celebrity? 00:04:47.720 --> 00:04:48.560 There's quite a few. 00:04:49.300 --> 00:04:52.640 Like a bona fide, been-on-TV celebrity, right? 00:04:52.639 --> 00:04:57.279 Not just that one time they interviewed you 00:04:57.279 --> 00:04:58.819 on a news station or something. 00:04:58.979 --> 00:05:01.699 I'm saying like a real celebrity, you know? 00:05:01.800 --> 00:05:03.939 They got a Wikipedia page and everything, okay? 00:05:06.019 --> 00:05:07.899 I met a celebrity one time. 00:05:08.819 --> 00:05:09.360 There we go. 00:05:10.139 --> 00:05:11.379 That was downtown Nashville. 00:05:11.579 --> 00:05:13.419 Anybody have any idea who that is? 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:15.259 Yeah. 00:05:15.479 --> 00:05:17.879 So, I mean, he's not like an A-list celebrity, all right? 00:05:17.879 --> 00:05:21.899 But, hey, there was a time when he was on TV a lot. 00:05:21.980 --> 00:05:24.180 His name is Marcus Limonis. 00:05:24.420 --> 00:05:26.100 And he was a celebrity for me 00:05:26.100 --> 00:05:28.879 because I used to really enjoy his show. 00:05:29.100 --> 00:05:31.199 So, here's a little thing about that. 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:32.480 There's no way you're going to be able to read 00:05:32.480 --> 00:05:33.279 what those words are. 00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:34.240 But that's all right. 00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:34.600 It said, 00:05:34.980 --> 00:05:40.240 40,000 businesses want him to come to their rescue. 00:05:40.439 --> 00:05:41.980 So this guy was a famous businessman. 00:05:42.659 --> 00:05:44.899 In short, he started Camping World, 00:05:44.899 --> 00:05:47.480 which is the nation's largest RV retailer. 00:05:47.879 --> 00:05:49.860 And became a billionaire doing that. 00:05:50.139 --> 00:05:52.980 And he got his own show on CNBC 00:05:52.980 --> 00:05:56.159 about coming in and rescuing failing businesses. 00:05:57.019 --> 00:05:58.319 And he would come in. 00:05:58.420 --> 00:05:59.639 It was called The Profit. 00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:01.060 There's a little tagline, 00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:02.439 My Millions, My Rules. 00:06:02.600 --> 00:06:03.399 See, that was the thing. 00:06:03.459 --> 00:06:05.699 He would come in and put up a large amount of money 00:06:05.699 --> 00:06:07.600 by half of their business. 00:06:08.180 --> 00:06:08.939 But he would say, 00:06:09.040 --> 00:06:11.339 I am 100% in charge. 00:06:11.819 --> 00:06:12.939 And for the first week, 00:06:12.939 --> 00:06:15.060 you have to do everything I say 00:06:15.060 --> 00:06:16.879 because there's a reason you're failing. 00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:19.620 It's all these bad business practices that you've had. 00:06:20.259 --> 00:06:23.319 And so he would rescue business after business like this, 00:06:23.379 --> 00:06:25.040 except for some of the times, 00:06:25.139 --> 00:06:28.740 the owners just didn't want to give up control. 00:06:29.659 --> 00:06:33.519 And Marcus Limonis was non-negotiable about that. 00:06:33.719 --> 00:06:34.279 He would say, 00:06:34.439 --> 00:06:37.540 I am 100% in charge. 00:06:38.399 --> 00:06:40.040 Since I've bought half your company, 00:06:40.199 --> 00:06:41.920 technically we're 50-50 partners. 00:06:42.199 --> 00:06:43.319 But for this first week, 00:06:43.379 --> 00:06:44.500 it's not going to look like that. 00:06:44.500 --> 00:06:46.519 I'm going to be 100% in charge. 00:06:46.740 --> 00:06:48.339 That was the deal from the very beginning. 00:06:49.199 --> 00:06:49.879 But inevitably, 00:06:50.100 --> 00:06:51.519 there would be an occasional owner 00:06:51.519 --> 00:06:53.079 who would push back. 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:56.720 And I literally watched an episode of this 00:06:56.720 --> 00:06:58.639 to get this back in my mind last night. 00:06:58.699 --> 00:07:01.639 And I literally heard this owner say, 00:07:01.879 --> 00:07:04.060 I don't care if he's a billionaire or not, 00:07:04.360 --> 00:07:06.660 doesn't mean he knows how to run a popcorn stand. 00:07:06.660 --> 00:07:09.040 I'm like, well, 00:07:09.240 --> 00:07:12.100 he might be able to wrap his head around that concept. 00:07:12.260 --> 00:07:12.860 I don't know. 00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:15.980 And sure enough, 00:07:16.100 --> 00:07:18.740 that business ended up not doing well. 00:07:20.180 --> 00:07:22.920 But what I realized is, 00:07:23.720 --> 00:07:26.060 none of us like to give up control. 00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:29.220 It's easy when you're watching that television show, 00:07:29.220 --> 00:07:32.740 and you know the background of the host, 00:07:32.840 --> 00:07:33.680 the star there, 00:07:33.800 --> 00:07:36.060 and you know what he's capable of 00:07:36.060 --> 00:07:38.280 and all that they're missing out on 00:07:38.280 --> 00:07:40.200 because you've seen how he's helped these other businesses. 00:07:40.580 --> 00:07:42.160 You know all they're missing out on 00:07:42.160 --> 00:07:44.700 by not listening to his way. 00:07:46.780 --> 00:07:49.700 But it's really hard to put yourself in their shoes 00:07:49.700 --> 00:07:52.440 when they started that business from scrap, 00:07:53.640 --> 00:07:55.640 built it from the ground up, 00:07:55.880 --> 00:07:57.360 have thrown their lifeblood, 00:07:57.360 --> 00:07:58.939 their savings, their retirement, 00:07:59.460 --> 00:08:01.439 borrowed money from family sometimes. 00:08:01.819 --> 00:08:05.100 They are completely all in to this business, 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:07.639 and they're terrified that somebody else 00:08:07.639 --> 00:08:09.540 who is not as invested as they are, 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:11.600 if it went under, 00:08:11.660 --> 00:08:12.900 it wouldn't hurt them at all. 00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:16.699 They're scared that that person is going to fail them. 00:08:17.220 --> 00:08:20.020 So they're scared to give up control. 00:08:20.939 --> 00:08:21.120 Right? 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:25.420 When the money's on the table, 00:08:26.080 --> 00:08:26.800 and he says, 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:29.040 I have to be 100% in charge, 00:08:29.460 --> 00:08:31.759 they might be willing to shake his hand 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:32.120 and say, 00:08:32.220 --> 00:08:33.080 okay, we have a deal. 00:08:33.899 --> 00:08:35.340 But when it comes to, 00:08:35.580 --> 00:08:37.560 you've got to change this, 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:39.899 you've got to fire this person, 00:08:40.919 --> 00:08:43.139 you've got to stop doing it this way, 00:08:43.460 --> 00:08:44.879 all of a sudden, 00:08:45.100 --> 00:08:47.100 they don't want him to be 100% in charge anymore. 00:08:48.419 --> 00:08:49.440 That's not the problem. 00:08:50.100 --> 00:08:50.779 The problem is, 00:08:50.820 --> 00:08:52.360 I just don't have enough resources. 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:56.379 The problem's not with me. 00:08:56.379 --> 00:08:58.960 The problem's always with somebody else. 00:08:58.960 --> 00:09:04.000 So we never want to give up 100% control. 00:09:05.920 --> 00:09:07.200 In this scenario, 00:09:09.160 --> 00:09:10.240 First Baptist Church, 00:09:10.320 --> 00:09:11.080 Henrietta, Texas, 00:09:12.120 --> 00:09:13.180 you and me 00:09:13.180 --> 00:09:15.120 are the business owners. 00:09:16.780 --> 00:09:19.600 And I don't think God's ever been compared to Marcus Limonis, 00:09:19.600 --> 00:09:20.740 but in this scenario, 00:09:21.700 --> 00:09:23.139 God is the expert, 00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:24.440 the all-time expert, 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:25.700 we'll never find anyone 00:09:25.700 --> 00:09:28.519 who knows more about what we ought to do 00:09:28.519 --> 00:09:30.540 than our Creator. 00:09:31.540 --> 00:09:33.399 And He's coming in saying, 00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:37.279 I have to be 100% in charge. 00:09:37.279 --> 00:09:39.539 Because if I'm not, 00:09:39.980 --> 00:09:42.860 I can't guarantee the success 00:09:42.860 --> 00:09:46.500 that I want for you so badly. 00:09:49.139 --> 00:09:51.220 It's more than just earthly success. 00:09:52.439 --> 00:09:53.159 Number one, 00:09:53.240 --> 00:09:54.519 it's forgiveness of sins. 00:09:55.419 --> 00:09:57.000 It's an eternal destiny in heaven. 00:09:57.319 --> 00:09:59.079 And if you're not willing to give up 00:09:59.079 --> 00:10:01.879 100% control of that to God, 00:10:02.659 --> 00:10:04.860 and if you're still holding on to hope, 00:10:04.959 --> 00:10:05.240 saying, 00:10:05.559 --> 00:10:06.939 I think I can get there. 00:10:06.940 --> 00:10:08.280 I think I'm good enough. 00:10:08.420 --> 00:10:09.280 Nobody's perfect, 00:10:09.580 --> 00:10:11.640 but I think I've lived a pretty good life, 00:10:11.800 --> 00:10:13.420 and I think I can get there 00:10:13.420 --> 00:10:15.640 by my own strength. 00:10:16.640 --> 00:10:17.840 You'll never get there. 00:10:18.400 --> 00:10:19.200 You'll never win. 00:10:19.940 --> 00:10:22.640 You'll always end up falling short. 00:10:23.220 --> 00:10:25.260 Romans 3.23 reminds us. 00:10:26.640 --> 00:10:26.940 So, 00:10:27.940 --> 00:10:32.060 our topic for today 00:10:32.060 --> 00:10:36.040 is I surrender all. 00:10:36.940 --> 00:10:40.820 The business owner I watched last night 00:10:40.820 --> 00:10:43.680 desperately needed to give up. 00:10:45.300 --> 00:10:47.420 She didn't need to walk away from the business, 00:10:47.900 --> 00:10:50.420 but she needed to hand over control. 00:10:51.080 --> 00:10:53.040 She needed to wave the white flag 00:10:53.040 --> 00:10:54.720 and stop fighting 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:58.760 against the man who was trying to help 00:10:58.759 --> 00:11:01.519 with all of her business acumen, 00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:02.620 all of her experience, 00:11:03.019 --> 00:11:03.939 all of her resources, 00:11:04.100 --> 00:11:04.399 saying, 00:11:04.899 --> 00:11:06.299 I'm invested in this as well. 00:11:06.439 --> 00:11:08.399 I've now invested a whole bunch of money into this. 00:11:08.620 --> 00:11:09.960 I want this to succeed, 00:11:10.059 --> 00:11:11.460 so I get a return on my investment, 00:11:11.819 --> 00:11:13.139 plus my TV show can look good. 00:11:13.139 --> 00:11:17.080 But she just wouldn't stop fighting. 00:11:17.080 --> 00:11:20.400 You and I 00:11:20.400 --> 00:11:22.780 might need to surrender something 00:11:22.780 --> 00:11:23.860 today. 00:11:25.040 --> 00:11:25.620 Today 00:11:25.620 --> 00:11:26.940 is the day 00:11:26.940 --> 00:11:27.920 of surrender. 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:29.139 Throughout our history, 00:11:29.320 --> 00:11:30.540 surrender has never been looked at 00:11:30.540 --> 00:11:31.160 as a good thing. 00:11:31.860 --> 00:11:33.600 Surrender has always been failure. 00:11:34.460 --> 00:11:35.940 But oftentimes in life, 00:11:36.020 --> 00:11:37.200 especially the Christian life, 00:11:37.520 --> 00:11:39.020 surrender is not failure. 00:11:39.460 --> 00:11:40.720 Surrender is victory. 00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:43.300 Surrender is wisdom. 00:11:44.120 --> 00:11:45.379 Surrender is giving up 00:11:45.379 --> 00:11:46.960 to someone greater than you 00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:48.399 who in his goodness, 00:11:48.700 --> 00:11:49.519 in his righteousness, 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:50.860 in his justice, 00:11:51.060 --> 00:11:52.259 and his grace and mercy 00:11:52.259 --> 00:11:53.100 says, 00:11:53.560 --> 00:11:55.519 I want to help you win 00:11:55.519 --> 00:11:56.120 the victory 00:11:56.120 --> 00:11:57.840 that you can't win yourself, 00:11:58.060 --> 00:12:00.680 but you've got to stop fighting me. 00:12:02.300 --> 00:12:04.680 I surrender all. 00:12:05.820 --> 00:12:06.680 I read this quote, 00:12:06.800 --> 00:12:07.580 choosing joy 00:12:07.580 --> 00:12:09.700 involves spiritual surrender 00:12:09.700 --> 00:12:11.020 and sometimes 00:12:11.020 --> 00:12:11.660 we would rather 00:12:11.660 --> 00:12:13.220 hold on to the pain 00:12:13.220 --> 00:12:14.960 than surrender 00:12:14.960 --> 00:12:16.400 our own egos. 00:12:17.080 --> 00:12:17.600 Isn't that true? 00:12:18.480 --> 00:12:19.900 We found ourselves there 00:12:19.900 --> 00:12:20.759 probably more times 00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:21.759 than we'd care to admit, 00:12:22.060 --> 00:12:22.840 but the truth is 00:12:22.840 --> 00:12:24.120 sometimes our ego 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:25.940 just won't allow us 00:12:25.940 --> 00:12:26.840 to let go 00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:28.500 and let God. 00:12:29.440 --> 00:12:30.120 Now let go 00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:30.720 and let God 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:31.700 is not in the Bible, 00:12:32.820 --> 00:12:34.240 but the concept 00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:35.720 of giving up control 00:12:35.720 --> 00:12:36.320 to God 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:37.720 is absolutely there. 00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:39.480 And sometimes 00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:40.300 we fight, 00:12:40.519 --> 00:12:40.740 fight, 00:12:40.920 --> 00:12:41.160 fight 00:12:41.160 --> 00:12:42.519 to do it our own way. 00:12:43.080 --> 00:12:44.340 We'll justify it. 00:12:44.379 --> 00:12:45.940 We'll try to twist 00:12:45.940 --> 00:12:46.660 a verse of Scripture 00:12:46.660 --> 00:12:48.100 to fit what we want to do, 00:12:48.160 --> 00:12:49.019 but in reality, 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:50.240 we know we're fighting 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:51.680 against God Himself. 00:12:52.040 --> 00:12:52.820 And He says, 00:12:53.040 --> 00:12:54.399 just surrender. 00:12:54.840 --> 00:12:55.960 Spiritually surrender 00:12:55.960 --> 00:12:57.279 to me. 00:12:58.420 --> 00:12:59.519 And then you'll find 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:00.200 that joy. 00:13:00.700 --> 00:13:02.080 You'll find that release. 00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:03.480 You'll find that freedom. 00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:04.300 And ironically, 00:13:04.620 --> 00:13:06.379 you'll win the victory 00:13:06.379 --> 00:13:08.620 that God so badly 00:13:08.620 --> 00:13:09.980 wants for you. 00:13:13.460 --> 00:13:15.100 One of the great heroes 00:13:15.100 --> 00:13:16.399 of our Christian faith, 00:13:17.100 --> 00:13:18.639 founder of the Salvation Army, 00:13:18.800 --> 00:13:19.420 William Booth, 00:13:19.519 --> 00:13:19.700 said, 00:13:19.860 --> 00:13:20.300 the greatness 00:13:20.300 --> 00:13:21.759 of a man's power 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:23.039 is the measure 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:24.720 of his surrender. 00:13:26.519 --> 00:13:27.460 Now if you went 00:13:27.460 --> 00:13:28.379 and polled the men 00:13:28.379 --> 00:13:29.100 of Clay County, 00:13:29.659 --> 00:13:30.340 I don't know 00:13:30.340 --> 00:13:31.039 how many times 00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:32.000 we would get that answer, 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:32.299 right? 00:13:33.100 --> 00:13:33.960 What's the measure 00:13:33.960 --> 00:13:34.879 of a man's power? 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:36.960 You'd find all sorts 00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:37.419 of answers, 00:13:37.580 --> 00:13:38.840 but probably not that one. 00:13:39.980 --> 00:13:40.559 But I believe 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:42.000 that is absolutely true. 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:43.620 And it's biblical. 00:13:44.100 --> 00:13:45.460 How much you and I, 00:13:46.019 --> 00:13:46.700 especially talking 00:13:46.700 --> 00:13:47.700 to you men right now, 00:13:48.899 --> 00:13:50.679 how much we surrender 00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:53.139 and bow before God 00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:54.580 and humble ourselves 00:13:54.580 --> 00:13:55.679 and admit 00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:56.960 that we are not enough 00:13:56.960 --> 00:13:59.700 to our God, 00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:02.280 then He can make us 00:14:02.280 --> 00:14:02.800 enough. 00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:04.720 Then He can remind us 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:06.660 that He is enough. 00:14:06.860 --> 00:14:07.780 That His Spirit 00:14:07.780 --> 00:14:08.879 can lift us 00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:09.700 where we can't go. 00:14:10.040 --> 00:14:10.720 His Spirit 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:12.140 can save a relationship 00:14:12.140 --> 00:14:13.100 that we can't seem 00:14:13.100 --> 00:14:13.540 to save. 00:14:14.040 --> 00:14:14.660 His Spirit 00:14:14.660 --> 00:14:15.280 can help us 00:14:15.280 --> 00:14:15.960 be the parents, 00:14:16.280 --> 00:14:16.740 the fathers, 00:14:16.860 --> 00:14:17.200 the dads 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:18.140 that we can't figure out 00:14:18.140 --> 00:14:18.600 how to be. 00:14:19.100 --> 00:14:19.759 So the greatness 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:20.759 of a man's power 00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:21.860 is the measure 00:14:21.860 --> 00:14:22.759 of his surrender 00:14:22.759 --> 00:14:23.879 to God. 00:14:23.960 --> 00:14:25.080 Let's look at Romans 12, 00:14:25.160 --> 00:14:25.680 1 and 2. 00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:27.340 We're ending our series 00:14:27.340 --> 00:14:28.480 kind of with the verse 00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:29.519 that we've been going back 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:30.860 to time and time again 00:14:30.860 --> 00:14:31.660 throughout this. 00:14:31.960 --> 00:14:32.639 And it's our text 00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:33.139 for today. 00:14:33.500 --> 00:14:34.240 Romans 12, 00:14:34.420 --> 00:14:36.820 verses 1 and 2. 00:14:36.920 --> 00:14:37.580 Would you join me 00:14:37.580 --> 00:14:38.019 in standing 00:14:38.019 --> 00:14:38.860 if you're able to? 00:14:39.080 --> 00:14:39.920 If you need to keep 00:14:39.920 --> 00:14:40.259 your seat, 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:40.820 that's fine. 00:14:41.060 --> 00:14:41.980 But Romans 12, 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:42.560 1 and 2, 00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:43.080 if you're able, 00:14:43.180 --> 00:14:44.580 let's join together 00:14:44.580 --> 00:14:46.139 and read this. 00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:47.879 You follow along 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:48.580 as I read. 00:14:49.920 --> 00:14:50.560 I'm reading 00:14:50.560 --> 00:14:52.120 from the New Living Translation. 00:14:52.120 --> 00:14:53.379 And so, 00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:54.980 dear brothers and sisters, 00:14:55.139 --> 00:14:56.279 I plead with you 00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:57.720 to give your bodies 00:14:57.720 --> 00:14:58.500 to God. 00:14:59.940 --> 00:15:00.679 That's surrender 00:15:00.679 --> 00:15:01.100 right there, 00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:01.480 isn't it? 00:15:02.200 --> 00:15:03.700 Because of all 00:15:03.700 --> 00:15:04.480 he has done 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:05.179 for you. 00:15:06.139 --> 00:15:07.399 Let them be a living 00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:09.120 and holy sacrifice. 00:15:10.039 --> 00:15:10.940 Don't miss that word. 00:15:11.860 --> 00:15:13.200 The kind he will find 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:13.759 acceptable. 00:15:14.560 --> 00:15:15.580 This is truly 00:15:15.580 --> 00:15:17.539 the way to worship him. 00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:19.460 Don't copy the behavior 00:15:19.460 --> 00:15:20.060 and customs 00:15:20.060 --> 00:15:20.840 of this world. 00:15:20.840 --> 00:15:22.399 But let God 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:23.600 transform you 00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:25.320 into a new person. 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:26.399 Talked about that 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:26.960 last week. 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:28.379 By changing 00:15:28.379 --> 00:15:29.820 the way you think. 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:30.820 Then you will learn 00:15:30.820 --> 00:15:31.320 to know 00:15:31.320 --> 00:15:32.660 God's will for you, 00:15:32.780 --> 00:15:33.540 which is good 00:15:33.540 --> 00:15:34.360 and pleasing 00:15:34.360 --> 00:15:36.000 and perfect. 00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:40.160 Let's pray together. 00:15:40.259 --> 00:15:41.120 God, I pray that you 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:41.980 would show us 00:15:41.980 --> 00:15:42.820 how to surrender, 00:15:43.019 --> 00:15:43.800 how to sacrifice, 00:15:44.160 --> 00:15:45.420 what it means today 00:15:45.420 --> 00:15:46.840 and give men 00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:47.280 and women 00:15:47.280 --> 00:15:47.800 and children 00:15:47.800 --> 00:15:48.720 in this room 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:50.360 the boldness 00:15:50.360 --> 00:15:52.039 to come forward 00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:53.340 and lay something 00:15:53.340 --> 00:15:53.740 down 00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:55.759 in Jesus' name. 00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:56.940 We'll give you 00:15:56.940 --> 00:15:57.340 the glory. 00:15:58.120 --> 00:15:58.759 And it's in your name 00:15:58.759 --> 00:15:59.139 we pray. 00:15:59.340 --> 00:15:59.519 Amen. 00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:00.659 You may be seated. 00:16:00.800 --> 00:16:01.519 Thank you for standing. 00:16:03.860 --> 00:16:05.539 A living sacrifice. 00:16:05.800 --> 00:16:06.700 In your bulletins, 00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:07.440 if you're filling in 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:08.039 the blanks there, 00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:09.340 that is our first blank. 00:16:09.419 --> 00:16:11.000 A living sacrifice. 00:16:11.379 --> 00:16:13.200 This is what it comes 00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:14.080 down to for you 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:14.420 and me. 00:16:14.419 --> 00:16:15.579 A long time ago, 00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:16.240 we're not going to 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:17.159 spend a whole bunch 00:16:17.159 --> 00:16:17.899 of time on this, 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:19.199 but God instituted 00:16:19.199 --> 00:16:20.399 animal sacrifices 00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:22.659 to cover the payment 00:16:22.659 --> 00:16:24.259 for the sin 00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:25.159 of his people 00:16:25.159 --> 00:16:26.199 many years ago. 00:16:26.299 --> 00:16:27.259 Now that did not 00:16:27.259 --> 00:16:28.179 truly atone 00:16:28.179 --> 00:16:29.699 for their sin. 00:16:29.899 --> 00:16:30.759 That was simply 00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:31.819 looking forward 00:16:31.819 --> 00:16:33.039 to the one final 00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:33.579 atonement, 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:34.620 which was the blood 00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:35.399 of his son, 00:16:35.819 --> 00:16:36.159 Jesus, 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:37.139 the spotless 00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:38.500 lamb of God. 00:16:38.579 --> 00:16:39.279 So they would take 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:40.659 a spotless lamb 00:16:40.659 --> 00:16:41.439 without blemish 00:16:41.439 --> 00:16:42.000 years ago 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:42.440 and they would 00:16:42.440 --> 00:16:43.279 kill it 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:45.519 to pay for the sin 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:46.440 of all the people. 00:16:46.820 --> 00:16:47.899 The priest would do this. 00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:49.320 Well now, 00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:51.659 since Jesus died, 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:52.740 no more sacrifices 00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:53.500 have to be made. 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:54.799 He was the one sacrifice 00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:55.759 for all those 00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:56.480 who came before, 00:16:56.740 --> 00:16:57.860 all who were alive then, 00:16:57.899 --> 00:16:58.679 and all of us 00:16:58.679 --> 00:16:59.440 who have come after. 00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:01.659 He is the atonement 00:17:01.659 --> 00:17:02.700 or the sacrifice, 00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:04.519 the substitutionary 00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:05.160 replacement 00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:06.940 covering for 00:17:06.940 --> 00:17:07.980 our sin. 00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:10.720 So God is not asking 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:12.660 for a dying sacrifice 00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:13.160 today. 00:17:13.779 --> 00:17:14.620 God is asking 00:17:14.620 --> 00:17:16.640 for a living sacrifice. 00:17:16.900 --> 00:17:18.539 Just like Jesus 00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:20.920 laid down his life 00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:22.700 unto death, 00:17:23.620 --> 00:17:24.980 God is simply asking 00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:25.960 you and me 00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:26.779 to lay down 00:17:26.779 --> 00:17:27.940 our lives 00:17:27.940 --> 00:17:29.120 as a sacrifice 00:17:29.120 --> 00:17:30.279 for him 00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:30.700 and say, 00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:31.059 God, 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:32.819 my life is yours 00:17:32.819 --> 00:17:33.559 to control. 00:17:33.700 --> 00:17:34.299 I give you 00:17:34.299 --> 00:17:35.539 my body and soul. 00:17:37.160 --> 00:17:39.400 Do what you want 00:17:39.400 --> 00:17:41.100 with my life. 00:17:41.960 --> 00:17:43.320 That is the secret 00:17:43.320 --> 00:17:44.620 to victory. 00:17:45.220 --> 00:17:46.140 It is surrender 00:17:46.140 --> 00:17:48.160 through sacrifice. 00:17:49.120 --> 00:17:49.280 So, 00:17:49.780 --> 00:17:51.920 there are notes 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:53.360 about this sacrifice 00:17:53.360 --> 00:17:54.220 right here 00:17:54.220 --> 00:17:55.240 in Romans 12. 00:17:55.960 --> 00:17:57.040 Give your bodies 00:17:57.040 --> 00:17:57.580 to God 00:17:57.580 --> 00:17:58.320 because of all 00:17:58.320 --> 00:17:59.120 he's done for you. 00:17:59.460 --> 00:18:00.259 Let him be a living 00:18:00.259 --> 00:18:01.600 and holy sacrifice, 00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:02.280 the kind 00:18:02.280 --> 00:18:03.580 that he will find 00:18:03.580 --> 00:18:04.360 acceptable. 00:18:05.160 --> 00:18:06.040 This is truly 00:18:06.040 --> 00:18:06.640 the way 00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:07.720 to worship him. 00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:08.200 So, 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:08.660 I want to draw 00:18:08.660 --> 00:18:10.640 these key words 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:11.640 from that verse 00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:12.299 to your attention. 00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:14.160 Acceptable 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:14.880 to God. 00:18:16.059 --> 00:18:16.259 See, 00:18:16.339 --> 00:18:17.539 back in Genesis 4, 00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:18.860 Cain made 00:18:18.860 --> 00:18:19.700 a sacrifice. 00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:21.500 Y'all remember 00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:22.299 Adam and Eve 00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:23.400 and their sons, 00:18:23.539 --> 00:18:24.480 Cain and Abel, 00:18:24.620 --> 00:18:25.579 and Cain and Abel 00:18:25.579 --> 00:18:26.400 just couldn't get along, 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:26.759 could they? 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:28.339 Why was that? 00:18:28.579 --> 00:18:29.500 Because Cain 00:18:29.500 --> 00:18:30.620 wanted to do 00:18:30.620 --> 00:18:31.900 what God wanted 00:18:31.900 --> 00:18:33.279 his own way. 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:34.460 Abel 00:18:34.460 --> 00:18:36.279 decided to do 00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:37.180 what God wanted 00:18:37.180 --> 00:18:37.980 the way God 00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:38.680 wanted it done. 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:40.220 And so, 00:18:40.339 --> 00:18:41.079 Abel brought 00:18:41.079 --> 00:18:41.700 a sacrifice 00:18:41.700 --> 00:18:42.420 to God 00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:43.180 of the animal, 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:44.279 exactly what 00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:45.339 God had asked for. 00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:46.139 Cain 00:18:46.139 --> 00:18:47.299 made up 00:18:47.299 --> 00:18:48.279 his own plan 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:49.660 to sacrifice 00:18:49.660 --> 00:18:50.220 to God. 00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:50.420 Now, 00:18:50.539 --> 00:18:51.399 he certainly did. 00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:52.680 He didn't run away 00:18:52.680 --> 00:18:53.039 and say, 00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:53.700 forget God, 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:54.059 I'm not going 00:18:54.059 --> 00:18:54.500 to sacrifice 00:18:54.500 --> 00:18:55.000 to him. 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:55.460 No, 00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:56.200 he absolutely 00:18:56.200 --> 00:18:56.700 brought 00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:57.619 what appeared 00:18:57.619 --> 00:18:58.000 to be 00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:58.799 a sincere 00:18:58.799 --> 00:18:59.440 offering 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:00.220 to God 00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:01.519 of his fruits 00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:02.160 and vegetables 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:02.599 and all 00:19:02.599 --> 00:19:03.019 that he had 00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:03.480 labored 00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:08.279 and he brought 00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:09.720 it to God. 00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:11.960 But it wasn't 00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:13.039 acceptable to God 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:14.660 because it wasn't 00:19:14.660 --> 00:19:15.259 what God 00:19:15.259 --> 00:19:15.980 had asked for. 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:16.539 Church people, 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:17.480 please listen to me. 00:19:19.620 --> 00:19:20.420 Church people, 00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:21.220 non-church people, 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:21.920 whoever's in here 00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:22.360 right now, 00:19:22.360 --> 00:19:26.420 so many times 00:19:26.420 --> 00:19:28.519 we find ourselves 00:19:28.519 --> 00:19:29.779 doing things 00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:30.440 for God 00:19:30.440 --> 00:19:31.140 that God, 00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:32.440 got to be careful, 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:36.539 doing things 00:19:36.539 --> 00:19:37.259 for God 00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:38.160 that God 00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:39.480 never wanted. 00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:41.960 We try 00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:42.580 to please 00:19:42.580 --> 00:19:43.080 God 00:19:43.080 --> 00:19:44.299 our way. 00:19:45.740 --> 00:19:46.019 God 00:19:46.019 --> 00:19:47.220 is very, 00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:48.740 very plain 00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:49.840 on how 00:19:49.840 --> 00:19:50.320 to please 00:19:50.320 --> 00:19:50.539 him. 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:52.019 He's very, 00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:52.720 very plain 00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:53.420 on what 00:19:53.420 --> 00:19:54.160 the church 00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:54.940 should be. 00:19:56.080 --> 00:19:56.519 And often 00:19:56.519 --> 00:19:57.059 times, 00:19:57.180 --> 00:19:57.779 the church 00:19:57.779 --> 00:19:58.880 is not 00:19:58.880 --> 00:19:59.740 making the 00:19:59.740 --> 00:20:00.120 difference 00:20:00.120 --> 00:20:00.799 in the world, 00:20:01.059 --> 00:20:01.600 it's not 00:20:01.600 --> 00:20:02.360 being a light 00:20:02.359 --> 00:20:03.039 in the darkness 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:04.079 because we're 00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:04.719 doing all the 00:20:04.719 --> 00:20:05.279 things that 00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:06.059 we think 00:20:06.059 --> 00:20:06.439 a church 00:20:06.439 --> 00:20:07.000 should do, 00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:08.240 not what 00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:08.699 the scripture 00:20:08.699 --> 00:20:09.519 tells us 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:10.539 God wants 00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:11.000 the church 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:11.399 to do. 00:20:11.819 --> 00:20:12.299 And God 00:20:12.299 --> 00:20:13.139 founded the 00:20:13.139 --> 00:20:13.479 church 00:20:13.479 --> 00:20:13.959 to do. 00:20:15.419 --> 00:20:16.419 I thank 00:20:16.419 --> 00:20:16.959 God 00:20:16.959 --> 00:20:17.839 that we're 00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:18.240 seeing 00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:18.899 fruits 00:20:18.899 --> 00:20:20.759 of the 00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:21.199 labors 00:20:21.199 --> 00:20:21.659 of this 00:20:21.659 --> 00:20:22.119 church 00:20:22.119 --> 00:20:23.699 through parents 00:20:23.699 --> 00:20:24.439 raising their 00:20:24.439 --> 00:20:24.919 kids 00:20:24.919 --> 00:20:26.039 to love 00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:26.459 and follow 00:20:26.459 --> 00:20:27.019 Jesus. 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:28.539 Through 00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:29.339 children's workers, 00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:30.000 Sunday school 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:30.940 class teachers, 00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:32.859 our children's 00:20:32.859 --> 00:20:33.200 minister, 00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:33.960 all throughout 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:34.720 this church, 00:20:34.839 --> 00:20:35.279 people are 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:36.160 working together 00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:36.960 to help 00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:38.559 instruct our 00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:39.539 younger generations 00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:41.059 of God's 00:20:41.059 --> 00:20:41.420 goodness, 00:20:41.579 --> 00:20:42.259 His salvation, 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:43.000 His grace 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:43.559 that's available 00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:44.180 for them. 00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:44.920 And as they 00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:46.000 come to this 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:46.720 understanding, 00:20:46.859 --> 00:20:47.380 God opens 00:20:47.380 --> 00:20:47.880 their eyes, 00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:48.579 and we've been 00:20:48.579 --> 00:20:49.160 seeing them 00:20:49.160 --> 00:20:49.720 making the 00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:50.339 decision to 00:20:50.339 --> 00:20:50.980 follow Jesus 00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:51.720 for themselves, 00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:52.359 and then they 00:20:52.359 --> 00:20:52.960 come up here 00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:53.859 and they testify 00:20:53.859 --> 00:20:54.259 it through 00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:54.740 baptism. 00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:57.079 That is what 00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:57.579 the church 00:20:57.579 --> 00:20:58.059 is called 00:20:58.059 --> 00:20:58.480 to do. 00:20:58.880 --> 00:20:59.279 The church 00:20:59.279 --> 00:20:59.900 is called 00:20:59.900 --> 00:21:00.819 to fulfill 00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:01.660 two commands. 00:21:02.019 --> 00:21:02.519 The great 00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:03.099 commission, 00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:04.240 which is go 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:05.039 out everywhere 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:06.200 and teach 00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:06.720 the gospel 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:07.220 of Jesus 00:21:07.220 --> 00:21:07.900 to everyone 00:21:07.900 --> 00:21:08.259 who will 00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:08.579 listen, 00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:09.460 and then 00:21:09.460 --> 00:21:09.859 secondly, 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:10.400 the great 00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:11.079 commandment, 00:21:11.220 --> 00:21:11.680 which is to 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:12.120 love one 00:21:12.120 --> 00:21:13.140 another as 00:21:13.140 --> 00:21:13.700 God loved 00:21:13.700 --> 00:21:14.059 us. 00:21:15.099 --> 00:21:15.859 Those are 00:21:15.859 --> 00:21:16.519 the missions 00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:17.200 for the 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:17.539 church. 00:21:17.859 --> 00:21:18.200 Those are 00:21:18.200 --> 00:21:18.539 the two 00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:19.120 things that 00:21:19.120 --> 00:21:19.779 God wants 00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:20.440 us to do. 00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:21.200 Sometimes, 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:22.099 often, 00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:23.700 our church 00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:24.039 is no 00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:24.500 exception, 00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:26.960 those are 00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:27.279 the two 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:28.059 things that 00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:28.740 churches find 00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:29.599 themselves doing 00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:30.319 the least. 00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:32.680 We'll do 00:21:32.680 --> 00:21:33.319 all kinds 00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:33.579 of other 00:21:33.579 --> 00:21:33.880 things. 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:35.559 We'll have 00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:35.980 all sorts 00:21:35.980 --> 00:21:36.420 of committees. 00:21:36.859 --> 00:21:37.240 I'm not 00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:37.539 bashing 00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:37.940 committees. 00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:38.519 They can 00:21:38.519 --> 00:21:39.019 be valuable. 00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:40.460 We'll have 00:21:40.460 --> 00:21:40.960 all sorts 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:41.539 of structure. 00:21:42.279 --> 00:21:42.700 We'll have 00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:43.259 all sorts 00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:44.599 of pageants 00:21:44.599 --> 00:21:45.400 and decorations, 00:21:45.740 --> 00:21:45.980 and we'll 00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:46.779 do all the 00:21:46.779 --> 00:21:47.559 things that 00:21:47.559 --> 00:21:48.299 we equate 00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:49.339 with church. 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:50.900 In a reality, 00:21:51.019 --> 00:21:51.480 those things 00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:51.960 were always 00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:52.500 meant to 00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:53.779 enhance the 00:21:53.779 --> 00:21:54.180 mission, 00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:55.519 and not 00:21:55.519 --> 00:21:55.960 distract 00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:56.519 from it. 00:21:58.799 --> 00:21:59.279 So, 00:21:59.359 --> 00:21:59.799 is our 00:21:59.799 --> 00:22:00.299 sacrifice 00:22:00.299 --> 00:22:01.079 for God 00:22:01.079 --> 00:22:02.440 acceptable 00:22:02.440 --> 00:22:02.880 to Him? 00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:04.579 Or are we 00:22:04.579 --> 00:22:04.859 going to be 00:22:04.859 --> 00:22:05.339 like those 00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:05.720 who stand 00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:06.279 before God 00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:06.920 someday and 00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:07.160 say, 00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:07.420 God, 00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:07.920 I did all 00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:08.339 this in 00:22:08.339 --> 00:22:08.779 your name. 00:22:09.779 --> 00:22:10.640 I did all 00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:11.220 these things. 00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:11.599 Look at 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:11.779 this. 00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:12.160 I kept 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:12.700 a list. 00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:13.839 Look at 00:22:13.839 --> 00:22:14.160 all these 00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:14.599 things I 00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:15.019 did for 00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:15.319 you. 00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:18.079 And heaven 00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:18.460 forbid, 00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:19.059 God look at 00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:19.539 us and say, 00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:19.859 I never 00:22:19.859 --> 00:22:20.440 knew you. 00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:22.600 Or at 00:22:22.600 --> 00:22:22.880 the very 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:23.180 least, 00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:23.380 do you 00:22:23.380 --> 00:22:23.620 look at 00:22:23.620 --> 00:22:23.920 us and 00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:24.200 say, 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:26.000 it's not 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:26.340 what I 00:22:26.340 --> 00:22:27.160 told you 00:22:27.160 --> 00:22:27.400 to do. 00:22:27.460 --> 00:22:27.759 It's not 00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:28.100 what I 00:22:28.100 --> 00:22:29.100 gave you 00:22:29.100 --> 00:22:30.440 to complete. 00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:31.720 That was 00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:32.140 never the 00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:32.539 task. 00:22:33.480 --> 00:22:34.220 The task 00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:34.660 was love 00:22:34.660 --> 00:22:35.039 your neighbor. 00:22:36.059 --> 00:22:36.660 The task 00:22:36.660 --> 00:22:37.100 was tell 00:22:37.100 --> 00:22:38.279 others about 00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:38.700 the only 00:22:38.700 --> 00:22:40.240 way of 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:40.680 salvation. 00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:43.019 That is 00:22:43.019 --> 00:22:43.860 how we 00:22:43.860 --> 00:22:44.360 truly 00:22:44.360 --> 00:22:45.220 worship 00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:45.519 Him. 00:22:46.080 --> 00:22:46.680 We can 00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:47.140 come and 00:22:47.140 --> 00:22:47.480 sing the 00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:47.759 songs. 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:48.640 We can 00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:49.220 set our 00:22:49.220 --> 00:22:49.960 radios in 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:50.359 our car 00:22:50.359 --> 00:22:51.200 to Christian 00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:51.660 radio. 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:53.119 We can 00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:54.200 worship Him 00:22:54.200 --> 00:22:55.519 on the 00:22:55.519 --> 00:22:56.900 surface as 00:22:56.900 --> 00:22:57.539 much as we 00:22:57.539 --> 00:22:58.500 possibly can, 00:22:59.019 --> 00:22:59.779 as often as 00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:00.339 we possibly 00:23:00.339 --> 00:23:00.740 can. 00:23:00.819 --> 00:23:01.180 However, 00:23:02.140 --> 00:23:02.779 John 4 00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:03.700 will not 00:23:03.700 --> 00:23:04.200 go away. 00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:06.359 John 4 00:23:06.359 --> 00:23:06.960 is still in 00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:07.440 the Bible and 00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:07.819 it says, 00:23:08.140 --> 00:23:08.779 true worshipers 00:23:08.779 --> 00:23:09.579 will worship 00:23:09.579 --> 00:23:10.379 the Father in 00:23:10.379 --> 00:23:11.220 spirit and 00:23:11.220 --> 00:23:11.839 in truth. 00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:12.480 The Father 00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:13.079 is looking 00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:13.980 for those 00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:14.299 who will 00:23:14.299 --> 00:23:14.839 worship Him 00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:15.299 that way. 00:23:15.379 --> 00:23:15.559 You know 00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:15.960 why He's 00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:16.259 looking? 00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:16.779 Because 00:23:16.779 --> 00:23:17.240 they're hard 00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:17.720 to find. 00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:19.359 True 00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:20.039 worshipers 00:23:20.039 --> 00:23:20.980 are hard 00:23:20.980 --> 00:23:21.819 to find. 00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:22.480 Y'all look 00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:23.000 around this 00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:23.440 church. 00:23:24.140 --> 00:23:24.640 So many 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:25.000 of us 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:25.460 struggle 00:23:25.460 --> 00:23:26.660 with true 00:23:26.660 --> 00:23:27.359 worship. 00:23:27.859 --> 00:23:28.240 What is 00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:28.839 true worship? 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:29.720 God is 00:23:29.720 --> 00:23:30.099 spirit. 00:23:30.460 --> 00:23:30.879 So those 00:23:30.879 --> 00:23:31.359 that worship 00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:31.940 Him must 00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:32.579 worship Him 00:23:32.579 --> 00:23:33.339 in spirit 00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:34.599 and in 00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:35.140 truth. 00:23:35.879 --> 00:23:36.400 Spirit 00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:36.900 and in 00:23:36.900 --> 00:23:37.140 truth. 00:23:37.299 --> 00:23:37.599 What are 00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:37.960 we talking 00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:38.279 about when 00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:38.500 we say 00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:38.980 spirit and 00:23:38.980 --> 00:23:39.319 in truth? 00:23:39.900 --> 00:23:40.480 Worshiping 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:41.039 God in 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:41.680 spirit and 00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:42.099 in truth 00:23:42.099 --> 00:23:42.599 involves 00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:43.519 giving the 00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:44.259 heart over 00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:44.960 to God's 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:46.059 spirit and 00:23:46.059 --> 00:23:46.500 then letting 00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:47.279 the light of 00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:47.879 His truth 00:23:47.879 --> 00:23:49.099 shine in the 00:23:49.099 --> 00:23:49.619 dark places 00:23:49.619 --> 00:23:50.200 of our life. 00:23:50.879 --> 00:23:51.460 That is 00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:52.240 worshiping in 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:52.960 spirit and 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:53.480 in truth. 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:54.740 Spirit deals 00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:55.180 with the 00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:55.480 heart. 00:23:57.079 --> 00:23:57.879 And then 00:23:57.879 --> 00:24:00.220 light deals 00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:01.599 with truth. 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:03.599 The truth of 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:04.379 God's word will 00:24:04.379 --> 00:24:06.180 expose what's 00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:07.339 wrong with us. 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.440 What we're 00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:09.480 doing wrong. 00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:10.960 That might mean 00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:11.680 you need to quit 00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:12.200 going out and 00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:12.639 getting drunk. 00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:14.600 that might mean 00:24:14.600 --> 00:24:15.140 you need to quit 00:24:15.140 --> 00:24:15.640 running around 00:24:15.640 --> 00:24:16.259 on your wife. 00:24:17.280 --> 00:24:18.220 That might mean 00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:18.700 you need to get 00:24:18.700 --> 00:24:19.500 off social media. 00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:21.900 Or it might mean 00:24:21.900 --> 00:24:22.520 you need to stop 00:24:22.520 --> 00:24:23.340 being so grouchy. 00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:27.259 It might mean 00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:28.080 you need to stop 00:24:28.080 --> 00:24:28.920 giving in to fear 00:24:28.920 --> 00:24:30.440 so much and 00:24:30.440 --> 00:24:31.520 rest in God's 00:24:31.520 --> 00:24:32.300 power and His 00:24:32.300 --> 00:24:32.600 goodness. 00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:34.759 Whatever it is, 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:35.780 the light of 00:24:35.780 --> 00:24:37.060 God's truth will 00:24:37.060 --> 00:24:38.360 reveal the dark 00:24:38.360 --> 00:24:39.940 places in us 00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:40.960 that He wants 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:41.500 to change. 00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:42.279 And when we 00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:42.940 turn that over 00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:43.319 to Him, 00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:44.279 when we shine 00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:44.720 the light, 00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:46.420 that is worship. 00:24:46.920 --> 00:24:47.660 That is an act 00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:48.079 of worship. 00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:48.420 Saying, 00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:49.759 God, I know 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:50.940 that I am not 00:24:50.940 --> 00:24:51.400 there yet. 00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:52.279 I know that 00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:53.200 you're training 00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:53.519 me. 00:24:53.740 --> 00:24:54.519 So shine the 00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:55.579 light in and 00:24:55.579 --> 00:24:56.599 show me what 00:24:56.599 --> 00:24:57.059 I need to 00:24:57.059 --> 00:24:57.420 change. 00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:58.740 What needs to 00:24:58.740 --> 00:25:00.000 change in me. 00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:03.039 So, 00:25:04.359 --> 00:25:05.160 acceptable to 00:25:05.160 --> 00:25:05.400 God, 00:25:06.099 --> 00:25:07.079 that's our 00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:08.079 true worship. 00:25:08.779 --> 00:25:09.259 Number two, 00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:10.099 a new person. 00:25:10.099 --> 00:25:11.579 a living 00:25:11.579 --> 00:25:13.199 sacrifice and 00:25:13.199 --> 00:25:14.339 a new person. 00:25:16.339 --> 00:25:17.219 Verse two 00:25:17.219 --> 00:25:18.579 of Romans 00:25:18.579 --> 00:25:18.980 12. 00:25:19.459 --> 00:25:20.179 Don't copy the 00:25:20.179 --> 00:25:20.679 behavior and 00:25:20.679 --> 00:25:21.319 customs of this 00:25:21.319 --> 00:25:22.159 world, but let 00:25:22.159 --> 00:25:23.299 God transform you 00:25:23.299 --> 00:25:24.959 into a new 00:25:24.959 --> 00:25:26.419 person by changing 00:25:26.419 --> 00:25:27.259 the way you 00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:27.659 think. 00:25:27.919 --> 00:25:28.459 Y'all, do you 00:25:28.459 --> 00:25:29.199 think that maybe 00:25:29.199 --> 00:25:30.099 it's time for a 00:25:30.099 --> 00:25:30.439 new you? 00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:32.839 Maybe we should 00:25:32.839 --> 00:25:33.419 ask your spouse 00:25:33.419 --> 00:25:34.039 that question. 00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:35.679 Ask your kids 00:25:35.679 --> 00:25:36.279 that question. 00:25:36.879 --> 00:25:37.619 Ask your friends 00:25:37.619 --> 00:25:38.159 or coworkers 00:25:38.159 --> 00:25:38.799 or boss 00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:39.659 or employees 00:25:39.659 --> 00:25:40.319 that question. 00:25:40.659 --> 00:25:41.719 Maybe it's time 00:25:41.719 --> 00:25:43.159 for a new you. 00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:43.899 Maybe a less 00:25:43.899 --> 00:25:45.159 selfish, maybe 00:25:45.159 --> 00:25:46.559 less self-absorbed, 00:25:46.979 --> 00:25:48.039 self-centered you. 00:25:48.419 --> 00:25:49.519 Maybe God wants 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:50.779 you, he wants to 00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:51.599 train you 00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:54.699 to fit his plan 00:25:54.699 --> 00:25:56.339 instead of you 00:25:56.339 --> 00:25:57.399 trying to fit him 00:25:57.399 --> 00:25:58.559 into yours. 00:26:00.059 --> 00:26:01.659 God can change 00:26:01.659 --> 00:26:02.279 you. 00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:03.519 He's changed 00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:04.259 way harder 00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:05.339 cases than 00:26:05.339 --> 00:26:05.599 you. 00:26:07.099 --> 00:26:07.960 Case in point, 00:26:08.220 --> 00:26:08.399 me. 00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:10.519 God's changed 00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:11.079 me and if he 00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:11.700 can change me, 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.220 he can change 00:26:12.220 --> 00:26:12.599 you too. 00:26:15.180 --> 00:26:15.859 What does this 00:26:15.859 --> 00:26:16.279 look like? 00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:17.139 God's will 00:26:17.139 --> 00:26:18.399 versus the 00:26:18.399 --> 00:26:19.299 world's way. 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:20.539 That's described 00:26:20.539 --> 00:26:21.779 right here in 00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:22.519 Romans 12. 00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:24.599 Don't copy the 00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:25.399 behavior and 00:26:25.399 --> 00:26:26.519 customs of this 00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:27.039 world. 00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:27.899 Now we do 00:26:27.899 --> 00:26:29.339 that and maybe 00:26:29.339 --> 00:26:30.680 that's going out 00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:31.700 and just living 00:26:31.700 --> 00:26:32.360 for yourself 00:26:32.360 --> 00:26:33.019 and living all 00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:33.960 wild and crazy 00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:34.500 and you're the 00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:34.940 talk of the 00:26:34.940 --> 00:26:35.420 town because 00:26:35.420 --> 00:26:35.940 you're such a 00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:36.259 mess. 00:26:36.980 --> 00:26:38.059 But more likely 00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:39.259 it's not that 00:26:39.259 --> 00:26:39.840 extreme. 00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:41.580 More likely 00:26:41.580 --> 00:26:42.720 it's internal 00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:44.460 as opposed to 00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:45.000 external. 00:26:45.620 --> 00:26:46.000 What are we 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:46.519 talking about? 00:26:46.840 --> 00:26:47.319 Sometimes 00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:48.759 worldliness is 00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:49.819 more inside, 00:26:50.440 --> 00:26:50.740 hidden, 00:26:51.779 --> 00:26:53.080 but the fruit 00:26:53.080 --> 00:26:53.660 of it comes 00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:53.940 out. 00:26:55.059 --> 00:26:55.940 You might look 00:26:55.940 --> 00:26:56.460 like you're all 00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:56.960 cleaned up, 00:26:57.059 --> 00:26:57.460 buttoned up, 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:58.000 you got it all 00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:58.539 together and 00:26:58.539 --> 00:27:00.120 you're a Jesus 00:27:00.120 --> 00:27:00.840 person, you 00:27:00.840 --> 00:27:01.019 know? 00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:02.420 You're one of 00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:02.940 them church 00:27:02.940 --> 00:27:03.220 people. 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:05.019 You might look 00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:05.759 like that, but 00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:06.819 the reality is 00:27:06.819 --> 00:27:07.940 you and I are 00:27:07.940 --> 00:27:08.880 rotten to the 00:27:08.880 --> 00:27:09.140 core. 00:27:09.860 --> 00:27:10.580 The encouraging 00:27:10.580 --> 00:27:11.299 message you came 00:27:11.299 --> 00:27:11.860 to church to hear 00:27:11.860 --> 00:27:12.120 today. 00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:13.380 You're rotten to 00:27:13.380 --> 00:27:14.600 the core and so 00:27:14.600 --> 00:27:15.100 am I. 00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:16.340 In our flesh there 00:27:16.340 --> 00:27:17.120 is no good 00:27:17.120 --> 00:27:17.519 thing. 00:27:18.420 --> 00:27:19.299 The only good 00:27:19.299 --> 00:27:20.240 that is in us 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:21.380 comes from our 00:27:21.380 --> 00:27:21.740 Father. 00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:23.680 So the closer 00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:24.680 we fly to the 00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:25.360 sun, the more 00:27:25.360 --> 00:27:26.160 of his light we 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:26.580 reflect. 00:27:27.340 --> 00:27:28.000 The closer we 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:29.039 walk with Jesus, 00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:31.420 the more closely 00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:33.399 to his will we 00:27:33.399 --> 00:27:34.099 find ourselves. 00:27:35.619 --> 00:27:37.259 So, Proverbs 00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:37.920 chapter 3. 00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:39.240 My dad drilled 00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:39.839 this verse into 00:27:39.839 --> 00:27:40.480 me growing up. 00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:41.819 My dad was a 00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:43.779 pastor and this 00:27:43.779 --> 00:27:44.319 was a verse that 00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:45.119 he would just not 00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:46.639 stop with over 00:27:46.639 --> 00:27:47.359 and over again. 00:27:48.359 --> 00:27:48.920 Trust in the 00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:49.480 Lord with all 00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:49.980 your heart. 00:27:50.440 --> 00:27:51.220 Do not lean on 00:27:51.220 --> 00:27:51.619 your own 00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:52.180 understanding. 00:27:52.379 --> 00:27:53.039 In all your 00:27:53.039 --> 00:27:53.920 ways acknowledge 00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:55.359 him and he will 00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:56.319 direct or make 00:27:56.319 --> 00:27:57.319 straight your 00:27:57.319 --> 00:27:58.279 paths. 00:27:59.899 --> 00:28:00.740 Jeremiah chapter 00:28:00.740 --> 00:28:01.720 29 and verse 00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:02.079 11. 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:02.879 I know the 00:28:02.879 --> 00:28:03.679 plans I have 00:28:03.679 --> 00:28:04.379 for you declares 00:28:04.379 --> 00:28:04.740 the Lord. 00:28:04.879 --> 00:28:06.539 Plans to prosper 00:28:06.539 --> 00:28:07.639 you, not to 00:28:07.639 --> 00:28:08.059 harm you. 00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:09.059 Plans to give 00:28:09.059 --> 00:28:10.220 you hope and a 00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:10.500 future. 00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:11.899 So, if you 00:28:11.899 --> 00:28:12.639 trusted the Lord 00:28:12.639 --> 00:28:13.099 with all your 00:28:13.099 --> 00:28:14.480 heart, if you 00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:15.399 acknowledge him 00:28:15.399 --> 00:28:16.359 and you don't 00:28:16.359 --> 00:28:16.859 lean on your 00:28:16.859 --> 00:28:17.779 own understanding 00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:18.980 of things, then 00:28:18.980 --> 00:28:19.639 he will make 00:28:19.639 --> 00:28:20.119 your paths 00:28:20.119 --> 00:28:20.500 straight. 00:28:20.839 --> 00:28:21.819 He will prosper 00:28:21.819 --> 00:28:22.659 you, not harm 00:28:22.659 --> 00:28:22.859 you. 00:28:23.099 --> 00:28:23.619 He will give 00:28:23.619 --> 00:28:24.799 you a hope and 00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:25.480 a future. 00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:28.880 That is God's 00:28:28.880 --> 00:28:30.220 will versus the 00:28:30.220 --> 00:28:30.740 world's way. 00:28:31.559 --> 00:28:32.259 The world's way 00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:33.640 never ends in a 00:28:33.640 --> 00:28:34.279 straight path. 00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:35.680 The world's way 00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:36.960 never ends in 00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:37.960 hope and a 00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:38.279 future. 00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:39.860 The world's way 00:28:39.860 --> 00:28:41.440 always ends in 00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:42.079 destruction. 00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:43.120 It always ends 00:28:43.120 --> 00:28:43.860 in grief. 00:28:44.180 --> 00:28:45.079 It always ends 00:28:45.079 --> 00:28:46.079 in heartbreak, 00:28:47.400 --> 00:28:48.360 dissatisfaction, 00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:48.880 bitterness. 00:28:49.620 --> 00:28:50.500 God's will 00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:52.660 always ends in 00:28:52.660 --> 00:28:54.059 prosperity, hope, 00:28:54.059 --> 00:28:54.860 and a future. 00:28:54.859 --> 00:28:55.319 That doesn't 00:28:55.319 --> 00:28:55.919 mean your bank 00:28:55.919 --> 00:28:56.419 account's going 00:28:56.419 --> 00:28:56.799 to look as 00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:57.639 prosperous as you 00:28:57.639 --> 00:28:58.079 want it to 00:28:58.079 --> 00:28:58.279 look. 00:28:59.439 --> 00:29:00.519 It means your 00:29:00.519 --> 00:29:01.240 heart will be 00:29:01.240 --> 00:29:01.919 filled with the 00:29:01.919 --> 00:29:02.619 joy of God. 00:29:02.699 --> 00:29:03.039 That's the 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:03.799 prosperity we're 00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:04.259 talking about. 00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:04.679 That's the 00:29:04.679 --> 00:29:05.759 fulfillment that 00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:06.399 nothing will be 00:29:06.399 --> 00:29:06.959 able to rattle 00:29:06.959 --> 00:29:07.240 you. 00:29:08.500 --> 00:29:09.179 Nothing will be 00:29:09.179 --> 00:29:09.699 able to come 00:29:09.699 --> 00:29:11.459 between you and 00:29:11.459 --> 00:29:12.059 God. 00:29:12.679 --> 00:29:12.979 You might 00:29:12.979 --> 00:29:13.819 experience sadness. 00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:14.240 You might 00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:15.599 experience grief. 00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:16.000 You might 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:17.199 experience tears. 00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:19.279 But Jesus 00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:20.159 wipes those tears 00:29:20.159 --> 00:29:20.459 away. 00:29:20.599 --> 00:29:21.719 Joy comes in the 00:29:21.719 --> 00:29:21.979 morning. 00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:22.980 joy comes in the 00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:23.980 world. 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:25.220 So, that's the 00:29:25.220 --> 00:29:25.420 joy. 00:29:26.339 --> 00:29:27.019 Let's turn over to 00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:27.779 Luke chapter 9 and 00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:28.160 we'll be done. 00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:30.660 For sake of time, I'm 00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:31.099 going to go ahead and 00:29:31.099 --> 00:29:31.299 read. 00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:33.559 Luke 9 and verse 23. 00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:39.039 Jesus is speaking to 00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:39.480 the crowd. 00:29:39.599 --> 00:29:40.460 He says, if any of 00:29:40.460 --> 00:29:42.519 you wants to be my 00:29:42.519 --> 00:29:44.839 follower, just imagine 00:29:44.839 --> 00:29:46.000 him up here speaking to 00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:46.779 this crowd today. 00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:49.440 It's Father's Day. 00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:49.900 we've got a good 00:29:49.900 --> 00:29:50.440 crowd here. 00:29:51.400 --> 00:29:52.500 Jesus is standing up 00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:53.440 here in place of me. 00:29:54.880 --> 00:29:55.759 How great would that 00:29:55.759 --> 00:29:55.960 be? 00:29:57.759 --> 00:29:59.100 And he says, if any 00:29:59.100 --> 00:30:00.460 of you, First Baptist 00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:02.160 Henrietta, whoever 00:30:02.160 --> 00:30:02.960 else is in the room 00:30:02.960 --> 00:30:05.080 today, if any of you 00:30:05.080 --> 00:30:05.840 wants to be my 00:30:05.840 --> 00:30:08.220 follower, you must turn 00:30:08.220 --> 00:30:09.880 from your selfish 00:30:09.880 --> 00:30:10.440 ways. 00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:12.180 And you're looking at 00:30:12.180 --> 00:30:13.259 my selfish ways? 00:30:14.700 --> 00:30:15.640 You don't know me 00:30:15.640 --> 00:30:16.160 very well. 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:17.019 Oh, I dare say he 00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:17.279 does. 00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:19.639 You must turn from 00:30:19.639 --> 00:30:20.859 your selfish ways, 00:30:20.980 --> 00:30:21.460 Sam Bunnell. 00:30:22.519 --> 00:30:23.839 Take up your cross 00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:24.420 daily. 00:30:25.180 --> 00:30:26.420 It wasn't just enough 00:30:26.420 --> 00:30:27.599 for me to take up my 00:30:27.599 --> 00:30:28.579 cross and say, okay, 00:30:28.660 --> 00:30:29.700 God, you want me to be 00:30:29.700 --> 00:30:30.099 a pastor? 00:30:30.259 --> 00:30:31.000 I'll be a pastor. 00:30:31.139 --> 00:30:31.899 There, I took up my 00:30:31.899 --> 00:30:32.160 cross. 00:30:32.379 --> 00:30:33.599 I've got to take up my 00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:35.099 cross every day. 00:30:36.119 --> 00:30:36.879 So do you. 00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:38.899 Take up our cross 00:30:38.899 --> 00:30:41.519 daily and follow him. 00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:42.259 What does it mean to 00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:43.259 take up your cross? 00:30:43.420 --> 00:30:44.920 It means be willing to 00:30:44.920 --> 00:30:46.619 endure whatever comes 00:30:46.619 --> 00:30:47.659 your way just like 00:30:47.659 --> 00:30:49.259 Jesus did on that 00:30:49.259 --> 00:30:49.619 cross. 00:30:50.119 --> 00:30:51.239 It means understanding 00:30:51.239 --> 00:30:52.059 it's not always going 00:30:52.059 --> 00:30:52.500 to be easy. 00:30:52.739 --> 00:30:53.439 There is going to be 00:30:53.439 --> 00:30:53.779 hardship. 00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:55.139 But he said, take up 00:30:55.139 --> 00:30:56.559 that cross daily and 00:30:56.559 --> 00:30:57.379 you'll be able to make 00:30:57.379 --> 00:30:58.899 it through whatever I 00:30:58.899 --> 00:31:00.019 have for you and trust 00:31:00.019 --> 00:31:00.639 me, it's going to be 00:31:00.639 --> 00:31:01.259 worth it all. 00:31:02.399 --> 00:31:03.859 Verse 24, because if you 00:31:03.859 --> 00:31:04.859 try to hang on to your 00:31:04.859 --> 00:31:06.459 life, if you're not 00:31:06.459 --> 00:31:07.239 willing to surrender, 00:31:07.679 --> 00:31:08.539 you're not willing to 00:31:08.539 --> 00:31:11.899 sacrifice, you're going 00:31:11.899 --> 00:31:12.359 to lose it. 00:31:12.359 --> 00:31:16.619 But if you give up, if 00:31:16.619 --> 00:31:18.599 you give up your life 00:31:18.599 --> 00:31:22.179 for my sake, you'll save 00:31:22.179 --> 00:31:22.419 it. 00:31:23.979 --> 00:31:26.659 Jesus said if you give 00:31:26.659 --> 00:31:28.539 up your life for his 00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:30.939 sake, you'll find new 00:31:30.939 --> 00:31:31.339 life. 00:31:32.219 --> 00:31:33.799 You'll find better life. 00:31:35.079 --> 00:31:36.359 You'll find that salvation. 00:31:36.359 --> 00:31:36.919 salvation. 00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:40.299 First, that means salvation 00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:41.240 from your sins. 00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:44.519 But then after that day, 00:31:44.659 --> 00:31:46.139 it means finding that new 00:31:46.139 --> 00:31:47.699 salvation in God that 00:31:47.699 --> 00:31:49.599 saves you from who you 00:31:49.599 --> 00:31:51.199 will be without God. 00:31:51.879 --> 00:31:53.899 Every day, we've got a 00:31:53.899 --> 00:31:54.219 choice. 00:31:54.959 --> 00:31:56.059 Am I going to take up my 00:31:56.059 --> 00:31:56.439 cross? 00:31:57.019 --> 00:31:58.039 Am I going to surrender 00:31:58.039 --> 00:31:59.219 and sacrifice? 00:31:59.759 --> 00:32:00.740 And then where's God 00:32:00.740 --> 00:32:01.419 going to lead me? 00:32:01.559 --> 00:32:02.979 Down that path today. 00:32:03.439 --> 00:32:04.719 Or am I going to run on 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:07.339 the much wider, much 00:32:07.339 --> 00:32:09.740 more populated path with 00:32:09.740 --> 00:32:11.700 everybody else out trying 00:32:11.700 --> 00:32:13.079 to live for themselves? 00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:15.400 Too often, you and I as 00:32:15.400 --> 00:32:17.039 followers of Jesus find 00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:18.500 ourselves on the wrong 00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:19.740 path and Jesus is always 00:32:19.740 --> 00:32:20.579 calling us back. 00:32:20.920 --> 00:32:21.620 He's saying, no, no, no. 00:32:21.900 --> 00:32:22.779 You left your cross over 00:32:22.779 --> 00:32:23.000 here. 00:32:23.460 --> 00:32:24.880 Go pick up your cross and 00:32:24.880 --> 00:32:25.880 get back on that narrow 00:32:25.880 --> 00:32:27.799 way because God has 00:32:27.799 --> 00:32:29.740 something great for you, 00:32:30.400 --> 00:32:31.180 for this church. 00:32:32.079 --> 00:32:33.880 So, it's better to lose 00:32:33.880 --> 00:32:35.220 your life than to waste 00:32:35.220 --> 00:32:35.420 it. 00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:37.900 John Piper, one of the 00:32:37.900 --> 00:32:38.840 great pastors that our 00:32:38.840 --> 00:32:39.820 country has right now, 00:32:39.880 --> 00:32:41.200 says it's better to lose 00:32:41.200 --> 00:32:42.460 your life than to waste 00:32:42.460 --> 00:32:42.620 it. 00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:43.440 He even wrote this book 00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:44.200 called Don't Waste 00:32:44.200 --> 00:32:44.580 Your Life. 00:32:45.440 --> 00:32:46.820 It's so much better to 00:32:46.820 --> 00:32:49.600 lose your life for Jesus 00:32:49.600 --> 00:32:52.680 sake than to waste it on 00:32:52.680 --> 00:32:55.640 the pursuits of this world. 00:32:57.560 --> 00:32:58.720 Let's read it one final 00:32:58.720 --> 00:32:59.080 time. 00:32:59.780 --> 00:33:00.600 Can we read it together? 00:33:00.599 --> 00:33:02.759 Father, don't copy the 00:33:02.759 --> 00:33:04.459 behavior and customs of 00:33:04.459 --> 00:33:06.519 this world, but let God 00:33:06.519 --> 00:33:09.059 transform you into a new 00:33:09.059 --> 00:33:11.359 person by changing the way 00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:12.099 you think. 00:33:12.439 --> 00:33:14.339 Then you will learn to know 00:33:14.339 --> 00:33:16.379 God's will for you, which is 00:33:16.379 --> 00:33:18.139 good and pleasing and 00:33:18.139 --> 00:33:18.500 perfect. 00:33:19.219 --> 00:33:21.259 Now, this time, I'm going to 00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:22.299 have us read this verse 00:33:22.299 --> 00:33:22.619 second. 00:33:22.619 --> 00:33:26.099 Dear brothers and sisters, I 00:33:26.099 --> 00:33:29.099 plead with you to give, let's 00:33:29.099 --> 00:33:30.539 pause, up. 00:33:31.259 --> 00:33:32.559 I put that in parentheses 00:33:32.559 --> 00:33:34.399 there because up is not in 00:33:34.399 --> 00:33:34.819 the text. 00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:36.539 So I looked up the Greek 00:33:36.539 --> 00:33:37.859 word for, you know, the 00:33:37.859 --> 00:33:39.000 Bible, the New Testament was 00:33:39.000 --> 00:33:39.699 originally written in 00:33:39.699 --> 00:33:40.659 Greek, so I look back at 00:33:40.659 --> 00:33:41.339 that Greek word. 00:33:41.399 --> 00:33:42.279 What's it talking about when 00:33:42.279 --> 00:33:44.019 it says give, or your 00:33:44.019 --> 00:33:45.099 Bible might say present? 00:33:46.279 --> 00:33:47.599 It's talking about giving 00:33:47.599 --> 00:33:49.480 an offering, making an 00:33:49.480 --> 00:33:50.899 offering, offering something 00:33:50.899 --> 00:33:52.919 up to someone who deserves 00:33:52.919 --> 00:33:53.139 it. 00:33:54.519 --> 00:33:56.299 So I just took the liberty of 00:33:56.299 --> 00:33:57.299 putting that in, saying 00:33:57.299 --> 00:33:58.519 that's me, that's not the 00:33:58.519 --> 00:34:00.480 Bible, but I think it's 00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:01.639 consistent with what the 00:34:01.639 --> 00:34:02.700 message is trying to tell 00:34:02.700 --> 00:34:02.900 us. 00:34:03.079 --> 00:34:05.519 I plead with you to give up 00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:06.400 your bodies. 00:34:06.920 --> 00:34:08.360 Give up yourselves. 00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:10.500 Give up your bank account 00:34:10.500 --> 00:34:12.139 to God and quit being so 00:34:12.139 --> 00:34:12.599 stingy. 00:34:13.300 --> 00:34:16.119 Let God pass that money on 00:34:16.119 --> 00:34:17.039 to bless somebody else. 00:34:17.679 --> 00:34:19.259 Quit being so stingy with 00:34:19.259 --> 00:34:21.039 your time, your energy, and 00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:23.119 let God use the breath that 00:34:23.119 --> 00:34:24.759 he gives you to bless 00:34:24.759 --> 00:34:26.019 somebody else and further his 00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:26.780 kingdom on this earth. 00:34:26.780 --> 00:34:28.840 Give up, fill in the blank. 00:34:29.760 --> 00:34:31.480 Give up, fill in the blank. 00:34:31.620 --> 00:34:33.400 Surrender, sacrifice it to 00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:35.100 God because of all he's done 00:34:35.100 --> 00:34:35.460 for you. 00:34:35.780 --> 00:34:37.220 Let these things be a living 00:34:37.220 --> 00:34:39.660 and holy sacrifice, the kind 00:34:39.660 --> 00:34:41.100 he will find acceptable. 00:34:41.340 --> 00:34:44.000 This is the way to worship God. 00:34:44.080 --> 00:34:45.100 So here's our takeaway for 00:34:45.100 --> 00:34:45.420 today. 00:34:45.900 --> 00:34:47.940 God, teach me the joy of 00:34:47.940 --> 00:34:49.360 surrender and sacrifice. 00:34:50.440 --> 00:34:52.980 God, teach me the joy of 00:34:52.980 --> 00:34:55.180 surrender and sacrifice. 00:34:55.179 --> 00:34:57.319 Y'all, would you bow your 00:34:57.319 --> 00:34:57.799 heads with me? 00:34:59.399 --> 00:35:00.779 I'm going to challenge you to 00:35:00.779 --> 00:35:01.659 do something today. 00:35:02.579 --> 00:35:03.960 I'm not always going to push 00:35:03.960 --> 00:35:06.179 this hard, but today I 00:35:06.179 --> 00:35:07.199 believe it's appropriate. 00:35:08.819 --> 00:35:10.579 If we have the front of this 00:35:10.579 --> 00:35:12.539 room filled with families who 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:14.519 are praying for God to show 00:35:14.519 --> 00:35:16.339 them how to surrender and 00:35:16.339 --> 00:35:16.960 sacrifice. 00:35:18.019 --> 00:35:19.379 Men, I'm going to challenge you 00:35:19.379 --> 00:35:20.879 on Father's Day to lead your 00:35:20.879 --> 00:35:22.699 sons, daughters, even your 00:35:22.699 --> 00:35:25.379 wives down to the front and 00:35:25.379 --> 00:35:26.939 kneel down here before God 00:35:26.939 --> 00:35:28.119 and just say, God, I 00:35:28.119 --> 00:35:29.819 surrender and then you fill in 00:35:29.819 --> 00:35:30.159 the blank. 00:35:31.799 --> 00:35:33.759 God, I sacrifice, then you 00:35:33.759 --> 00:35:34.439 fill in the blank. 00:35:35.779 --> 00:35:37.500 A long time ago, God asked 00:35:37.500 --> 00:35:39.799 Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. 00:35:40.779 --> 00:35:41.779 Of course, he didn't take 00:35:41.779 --> 00:35:43.239 Isaac's life, but he wanted to 00:35:43.239 --> 00:35:45.299 show Abraham, are you willing to 00:35:45.299 --> 00:35:47.059 give up everything in your 00:35:47.059 --> 00:35:48.559 trust of me? 00:35:48.559 --> 00:35:50.000 I believe that I will take 00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:52.940 better care of what you have, 00:35:53.019 --> 00:35:54.400 what I've given you, than you 00:35:54.400 --> 00:35:54.659 can. 00:35:56.579 --> 00:35:57.759 How's your faith this morning? 00:35:58.759 --> 00:35:59.880 Are you willing to give up? 00:36:00.500 --> 00:36:01.599 Are you willing to surrender? 00:36:01.719 --> 00:36:02.699 Are you willing to sacrifice? 00:36:03.559 --> 00:36:04.619 I've got to ask myself that 00:36:04.619 --> 00:36:05.659 every day because you and I 00:36:05.659 --> 00:36:06.779 always hold something back. 00:36:07.820 --> 00:36:09.119 So God, in this moment right 00:36:09.119 --> 00:36:11.000 now, when you've taught us from 00:36:11.000 --> 00:36:13.619 your word, God, this isn't the 00:36:13.619 --> 00:36:14.940 opinion of Sam Bunnell, this is 00:36:14.940 --> 00:36:16.840 the words of God, and I pray 00:36:16.840 --> 00:36:18.100 that you would instill those 00:36:18.100 --> 00:36:19.140 deep in us. 00:36:23.240 --> 00:36:24.460 I'm going to ask just the organ 00:36:24.460 --> 00:36:26.360 to play right now, very 00:36:26.360 --> 00:36:26.780 softly. 00:36:27.360 --> 00:36:28.280 Y'all don't need to sing. 00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:32.900 We might join in in a little 00:36:32.900 --> 00:36:34.360 bit, but I'm going to sing the 00:36:34.360 --> 00:36:35.680 words to this song over you. 00:36:36.440 --> 00:36:38.460 All to Jesus I surrender, I 00:36:38.460 --> 00:36:39.140 surrender all. 00:36:39.140 --> 00:36:41.220 All to him I freely give. 00:36:41.920 --> 00:36:43.680 I will ever love and trust him. 00:36:44.140 --> 00:36:46.180 In his presence I will daily 00:36:46.180 --> 00:36:46.519 live. 00:36:47.539 --> 00:36:49.120 Would you take this moment to 00:36:49.120 --> 00:36:49.360 pray? 00:36:51.160 --> 00:36:52.700 And I pray that there's somebody 00:36:52.700 --> 00:36:53.960 who would be the first to stand 00:36:53.960 --> 00:36:54.860 up and come down here. 00:36:54.920 --> 00:36:56.320 There's nothing special or 00:36:56.320 --> 00:36:57.900 magical or holy about kneeling 00:36:57.900 --> 00:36:59.820 down here in the front, but I 00:36:59.820 --> 00:37:00.860 think getting up and leading 00:37:00.860 --> 00:37:02.420 your family down is an act of 00:37:02.420 --> 00:37:04.920 worship before God and instills in 00:37:04.920 --> 00:37:07.360 our younger generation what it 00:37:07.360 --> 00:37:08.920 means to humble yourself and bow 00:37:08.920 --> 00:37:11.340 down before God as a family and 00:37:11.340 --> 00:37:11.539 pray. 00:37:11.640 --> 00:37:12.740 So I challenge you families 00:37:12.740 --> 00:37:14.579 across this room, make use of 00:37:14.579 --> 00:37:15.640 this open area at the front of 00:37:15.639 --> 00:37:17.420 the room as I begin to sing. 00:37:17.420 --> 00:37:17.500 Thank you. 00:37:19.559 --> 00:37:20.639 Thank you.