WEBVTT

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 We're going to be looking at Colossians chapter 3, verses 15 to 17.

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 And if you have your Bibles, if you could turn there to that text.

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 And if you don't have Bibles, there's some Bibles up there that you can take as a gift from us for free.

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 But just as a bit of an introduction to the text,

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 it's not really so much an introduction as a request that you would give me a bit of help over the next couple of weeks.

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 Those of you who have Bibles and you look at 3, verses 15 to 17,

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 you'll see that right underneath that, verse 18 begins with Canada's most popular text,

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 Wives Submit to Your Husbands.

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 And so that's the very next text.

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 And in fact, after that, after it talks about husbands and wives,

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 it talks about parents and children, and then it talks about slaves and masters.

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 So I just ask your prayers.

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 I did actually consider, because next Sunday is the beginning of Advent,

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 I actually did consider that we would just break after this sermon

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 and then reconvene these sermons in the new year.

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 But I decided not to do it for two reasons.

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 One of them was it could give people the impression that we were going to avoid the text altogether.

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 They'd say, oh, okay, George is fine to preach the Bible when it's things he likes,

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 but when it's a bit contraculture or naughty, he skips it.

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 And I didn't want to give that impression.

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 One of the things, you know, for those who are watching this online and those of you who are here,

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 is that we preach through books of the Bible, and that's good.

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 If you're a seeker or you're a skeptic about the Christian faith, it's a good thing.

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 It shows that there's no fine print that you have to worry about later on.

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 We walk towards these texts.

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 The other reason I decided not to hold back on it is it could give the false impression

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 if on January 10th, after our sort of Christmas break, people came back,

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 and the first thing I did was preach a sermon on wives, submit to your husbands,

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 people would go, why does George have a thing about this?

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 Like, what a weird thing to do.

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 So I thought, you know what, we're just going to do with it.

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 And at first I was going to deal with wives and husbands and slaves and masters in the same sermon.

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 And a friend of mine talked me out of it, not because it would be bad to have those two things together.

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 But as you know, there's great events causing turmoil in south of the border and north of the border here in Canada.

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 And for many, many, many people in the chattering classes,

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 it's just assumed that the Bible condones slavery and therefore condones racism

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 and is not at all a source of wisdom.

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 And so he convinced me that I'm...

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 So over the next...

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 Here's the prayer request.

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 Over the next two Sundays, I'm going to talk about the wives and husbands text,

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 and I'm going to talk about the slavery text.

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 And so if you could just give me some extra prayers over these next two weeks

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 that I could do that in a good manner,

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 just bringing out what the text actually says.

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 Now, I don't know how many of you noticed when Shane read the text,

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 but there's a part of what Shane read this morning that can cause a lot of anxiety for Christians.

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 So what we're going to do is we're just going to read Colossians 3, 5 to 15 to 17,

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 and we're going to walk towards this text which causes many Christians anxiety.

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 And we'll read the text and I'll say why it causes anxiety,

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 and then we'll sort of walk towards that.

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 We'll try to figure out what's going on in the text.

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 And here's what the text says again.

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 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

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 to which indeed you are called in one body, and be thankful.

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 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,

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 teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,

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 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

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 And whatever you do, in word or deed,

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 do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,

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 giving thanks to God the Father through him.

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 So what's the part there?

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 Well, there's several things which are a bit problematic.

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 I mean, just if you were, I think, to say to many of your non-Christian friends

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 that Christians want Christ to rule in their heart,

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 they'd think that's very weird.

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 Like who on earth wants some dead guy to rule in their hearts?

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 Like that's just a bit kooky.

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 We'll get to that in a moment.

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 But here's the thing.

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 I don't know.

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 There's enough people here and enough people watching this online

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 that you're probably a wide range of emotions.

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 I would be shocked if there isn't a single person here struggling with anxiety.

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 I would be shocked if there isn't a single person here struggling with depression.

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 I would be shocked if there isn't a person here struggling with loneliness or sadness.

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 There's almost definitely people here who are struggling with these types of issues

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 and other issues similar to that.

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 And so here we have a text that says in verse 15,

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 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

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 to which indeed you were called in one body and be thankful.

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 And I know that for many years as a Christian,

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 I would read texts like this or have texts like this read,

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 and it would actually make me feel worse.

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 Why?

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 Because I didn't have that peace in my heart.

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 I was struggling with anxiety.

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 In fact, I was lucky to struggle with it.

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 Anxiety was winning.

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 Worry was winning.

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 Sadness was winning.

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 Loneliness was winning.

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 Depression was winning.

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 And yet here we have this text,

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 and it makes it sound as if like real Christians are letting Christ rule in their hearts,

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 and they don't feel those types of things.

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 They're not anxious.

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 They're not sad.

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 They're not depressed.

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 They're not lonely.

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 They're not filled with worry.

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 And it would be even harder because I would be sitting in a congregation like this

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 or some other gathering,

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 and inwardly I'm struggling with this,

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 and all around, all the other people,

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 they have their good Christian game faces on,

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 and I would feel as if I was the only one

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 that there was some secret to the Christian life that I had misplaced

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 or hadn't got it,

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 because everybody else seemed as if that was what their life was like,

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 at least that particular moment in the service,

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 and here I was not experiencing these things at all.

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 And so, ironically or paradoxically,

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 the text that should be calling me to peace

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 was actually making me feel more worried,

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 more depressed, more alone, more sad,

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 because somehow or another I had missed

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 whatever it was that everybody else seemed to have.

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 And so, in a sense, the devil used this text,

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 which would be a help to me,

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 to actually make it harder.

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 Why is it that this text is implying

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 that Christians should feel and be a certain type of way,

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 and I was not experiencing that right this instant?

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 Is there something wrong with me?

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 And often, if you're at all,

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 often what happens is that two types of things happen.

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 I mean, one is that you can just feel worse,

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 but often what happens over time

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 is that Christians can become deeply cynical.

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 And by cynical, I mean there's these expectations

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 of the text, which are way up here,

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 and your experience seems to be way down here.

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 And so what ends up tending to happen

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 is you become cynical about the height.

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 And you know you don't go out

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 and try to diss it or anything like that,

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 but you just sort of come to the acceptance

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 that this is what the real Christian life is like.

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 And maybe roll your eyes then

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 when you listen to somebody in the radio

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 or read a book,

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 and they talk about these types of things,

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 and you've become cynical.

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 You've come to think that you've seen

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 through the appearances to reality,

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 and the reality is that the Christian life

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 is not like this,

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 but the Christian life is down here on a good day,

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 and often even lower.

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 And so what's going on in this really odd text then?

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 For those of you who've never struggled

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 with depression, sadness, loneliness, worry, or anxiety,

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 take this as an anthropological moment

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 to understand the rest of humanity.

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 But for those of us who have struggled

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 with these things and lost,

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 what actually is going on in the text?

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 So first of all, this text,

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 those of you who've been charting with us

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 over the last few weeks,

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 you'll know that this is part of a...

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 One way to understand it is that from...

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 Andrew, if you could put the chart up,

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 that would be very helpful.

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 Some of you will be familiar with this

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 if you've been here over the last couple of weeks,

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 and you'll notice that what I've been suggesting

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 is that in the book of Colossians,

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 beginning at verse 16 of chapter 2,

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 right down to chapter 3, verse 17,

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 Paul is actually presenting, in a sense,

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 not six steps to godliness,

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 but in a sense, if you...

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 It's as if there's a...

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 You know, if you shine a light into a diamond,

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 you see a range of, you know, colors

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 and everything that come out of it,

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 and it's as if, if you're sort of to reverse engineer that,

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 there's these six aspects to how it is that God grows you.

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 And so it's not like a step-to-step to success,

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 but it's just trying to bring before you, in a sense...

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 Like if you were to try to break down

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 what it was involved in running or walking,

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 those of you who, if you know occupational therapists

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 or physiotherapists,

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 they break down simple motions

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 into the different aspects

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 to do something which is just one motion.

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 In some ways, what Paul is doing here is describing...

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 And this is one way to put it together in the Bible.

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 There's other ways which are fit with it.

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 The six aspects of how it is that God grows you.

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 And so you might remember...

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 And so what we're looking at in verses 15 and 17

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 is the last two aspects of these six aspects.

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 We're looking at the one

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 where you let Christ rule in your heart

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 and do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 And so it begins, the chart begins,

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 some of you will remember,

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 where Paul says there's this fundamental choice

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 that you have to make.

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 Are you going to grow yourself

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 or is God going to grow you?

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 And for a Christian, you're made right with God,

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 not because of you being able to do it,

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 but because God does everything that needs to be done

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 in the person of his Son

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 and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

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 He does everything that has to be done

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 to make you right with him.

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 But a lot of us, we believe that,

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 but then we go on and act as if

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 becoming more like Christ is mainly up to us.

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 And so Paul has this section

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 and the end of it is,

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 who's going to grow you?

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 Will you grow you?

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 Or will I grow me?

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 Or will I let the Lord grow me?

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 And he hopes that you come to understand

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 that you have to make the choice

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 that God will grow me.

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 And I share, in fact,

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 if you can put up that picture,

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 I shared that, in fact, what happens is

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 we have this, you know,

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 human beings apart from Christ

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 are like a cut rose,

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 cut off from the ground,

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 cut off from the source of life.

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 And when we put our faith and trust in Christ,

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 in a sense, we are reconnected

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 to the source of life.

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 But it's more than that.

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 We're reconnected to the source of eternal life.

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 So all of our self-help projects

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 are really cut rose projects.

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 But God doesn't want to make us

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 into a cut rose.

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 He wants to make us into a giant sequoia.

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 And some people said

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 they didn't know what a giant sequoia is.

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 So I asked Andrew to find a picture.

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 Giant sequoias are the biggest trees

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 on the planet.

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 That's to give you just a tiny little bit

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 of a sense about how big

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 a giant sequoia is.

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 So we, in a sense,

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 one of the wonderful things

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 about being a Christian

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 is God, in a sense,

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 is saying give up your small ambitions.

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 Give up your ambitions

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 to be a better cut rose.

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 Like, die to those.

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 Don't you realize

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 that I want to connect you

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 through Jesus

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 to the eternal life of the Trinity,

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 the Father, the Son,

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 and the Holy Spirit.

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 That's my plan.

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 And I want you to die

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 to your cut rose projects

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 because no cut rose

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 can connect itself back to life.

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 And beyond that,

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 you connect yourself to me

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 in eternal life.

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 I have a big surprise for you.

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 I'm not making you into a rose

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 that's connected to the ground.

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 I'm turning you into a giant sequoia.

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 And only God can do that.

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 And so, if you go,

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 yeah, there's the chart.

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 If you realize that's the first step,

00:12:13.580 --> 00:12:14.480
 that in a sense we have,

00:12:14.540 --> 00:12:15.060
 not the step,

00:12:15.139 --> 00:12:15.840
 but it's one aspect.

00:12:16.440 --> 00:12:17.860
 Only the Lord can grow me

00:12:17.860 --> 00:12:20.700
 into something that will be fit

00:12:20.700 --> 00:12:22.500
 for eternal life

00:12:22.500 --> 00:12:24.440
 and eternal fellowship

00:12:24.440 --> 00:12:25.180
 with the Father,

00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:25.500
 the Son,

00:12:25.540 --> 00:12:26.080
 and the Holy Spirit.

00:12:26.220 --> 00:12:28.720
 Only God can make me

00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:30.019
 so that when I see Jesus,

00:12:30.340 --> 00:12:31.580
 I will be like him.

00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:33.019
 And then, well,

00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:34.300
 what's another aspect of it?

00:12:34.300 --> 00:12:35.379
 The second aspect of it

00:12:35.379 --> 00:12:36.920
 is you set your mind on Christ.

00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:38.759
 And that,

00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:39.919
 I talk about how

00:12:39.919 --> 00:12:41.120
 we set our mind

00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:42.000
 on all sorts of things.

00:12:42.099 --> 00:12:42.699
 The Bible says

00:12:42.699 --> 00:12:43.519
 there's lots of times

00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:44.079
 we should do it.

00:12:44.120 --> 00:12:44.740
 Maybe every day

00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:45.599
 or going into meetings

00:12:45.599 --> 00:12:47.159
 or certain types of situations

00:12:47.159 --> 00:12:48.559
 where I say,

00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:50.099
 God, help me to set my mind

00:12:50.099 --> 00:12:50.740
 on Christ

00:12:50.740 --> 00:12:51.879
 and all his risen,

00:12:52.339 --> 00:12:53.399
 given that he died for me

00:12:53.399 --> 00:12:53.819
 on the cross,

00:12:53.899 --> 00:12:55.039
 set my mind on Christ

00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:56.139
 and all his risen,

00:12:57.199 --> 00:12:57.639
 sovereign,

00:12:57.819 --> 00:12:58.860
 Trinitarian glory.

00:13:00.299 --> 00:13:00.759
 And then,

00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:02.500
 another aspect of that

00:13:02.500 --> 00:13:03.139
 is I'm saying,

00:13:03.199 --> 00:13:03.419
 God,

00:13:03.500 --> 00:13:04.319
 you have to grow me.

00:13:04.440 --> 00:13:05.780
 I put myself in a posture

00:13:05.780 --> 00:13:06.660
 for you to grow me.

00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:08.320
 I'm going to set my mind

00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:08.820
 on Christ.

00:13:08.940 --> 00:13:09.920
 And I come to realize

00:13:09.920 --> 00:13:11.200
 I have to put things off.

00:13:11.379 --> 00:13:12.420
 And they use the illustration

00:13:12.420 --> 00:13:13.080
 of clothing.

00:13:13.920 --> 00:13:15.500
 That I go into situations

00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:18.379
 and I'm motivated by rivalry.

00:13:18.540 --> 00:13:20.180
 I'm motivated by a desire to boast.

00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:21.620
 I'm motivated to show

00:13:21.620 --> 00:13:22.680
 that I'm always right.

00:13:23.160 --> 00:13:23.980
 I'm motivated,

00:13:24.300 --> 00:13:24.580
 you know,

00:13:24.580 --> 00:13:26.360
 maybe by lust

00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:27.400
 or by greed

00:13:27.400 --> 00:13:29.780
 or by desire for power.

00:13:29.880 --> 00:13:31.340
 And I have to put those things off.

00:13:31.700 --> 00:13:33.140
 That's the clothing analogy.

00:13:33.139 --> 00:13:34.399
 And then,

00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:35.759
 the Bible is so wise

00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:37.539
 because it's not just putting off.

00:13:38.299 --> 00:13:39.360
 I think as I shared with it

00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:40.299
 when I was talking about it,

00:13:40.659 --> 00:13:42.159
 one way of defining somebody

00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:43.379
 who only breathes out

00:13:43.379 --> 00:13:44.559
 but never breathes in,

00:13:44.659 --> 00:13:45.600
 it's called death,

00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:47.100
 your final breath.

00:13:47.559 --> 00:13:49.100
 So the Bible doesn't just call you

00:13:49.100 --> 00:13:50.720
 to breathe out the stuff.

00:13:50.779 --> 00:13:51.679
 You have to breathe in.

00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:52.639
 And so,

00:13:53.039 --> 00:13:53.299
 you know,

00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:53.759
 God,

00:13:53.819 --> 00:13:54.679
 only you can grow me.

00:13:55.419 --> 00:13:56.840
 Help me to set my mind

00:13:56.840 --> 00:13:57.399
 on Christ

00:13:57.399 --> 00:13:58.519
 and all of his risen,

00:13:59.159 --> 00:13:59.539
 sovereign,

00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:00.539
 Trinitarian glory.

00:14:00.539 --> 00:14:00.860
 Father,

00:14:01.339 --> 00:14:03.259
 I realize that I have this rivalry

00:14:03.259 --> 00:14:04.299
 or this boasting

00:14:04.299 --> 00:14:05.360
 or this pride.

00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:06.659
 Help me to put it off.

00:14:06.819 --> 00:14:07.740
 I take it off.

00:14:08.039 --> 00:14:08.939
 Help me to take it off

00:14:08.939 --> 00:14:10.199
 and put on,

00:14:10.259 --> 00:14:11.419
 and you put on humility,

00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:12.099
 on love,

00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:13.379
 the different Christian virtues.

00:14:14.360 --> 00:14:16.099
 And now there's these two other steps

00:14:16.099 --> 00:14:17.179
 and it's very important

00:14:17.179 --> 00:14:18.919
 because the Christian life now is,

00:14:19.500 --> 00:14:20.439
 the Christian life,

00:14:20.959 --> 00:14:22.279
 you are in Christ

00:14:22.279 --> 00:14:23.179
 when you put your faith

00:14:23.179 --> 00:14:24.079
 and trust in Jesus.

00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:25.039
 You are in him

00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:25.919
 and he is in you.

00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:27.139
 So you face life

00:14:27.139 --> 00:14:28.259
 not by yourself,

00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:30.479
 but in him and with him.

00:14:31.219 --> 00:14:31.899
 And that's now

00:14:31.899 --> 00:14:33.259
 where these two verses come.

00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:33.819
 And so,

00:14:33.939 --> 00:14:34.379
 just again,

00:14:34.439 --> 00:14:34.860
 what do they say?

00:14:34.919 --> 00:14:35.839
 It says in verse 15,

00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:36.439
 and let.

00:14:37.000 --> 00:14:38.259
 That's give permission.

00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:39.959
 Invite and give permission.

00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:41.279
 That's what let means.

00:14:42.839 --> 00:14:43.279
 Like,

00:14:43.379 --> 00:14:43.799
 in a sense,

00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:45.579
 to say to Christ,

00:14:46.099 --> 00:14:46.299
 Lord,

00:14:46.439 --> 00:14:47.479
 please speak and rule

00:14:47.479 --> 00:14:48.620
 in all of my heart.

00:14:48.679 --> 00:14:50.360
 No area is out of bounds to you.

00:14:50.579 --> 00:14:51.779
 I hold nothing back.

00:14:51.860 --> 00:14:52.799
 Make your home in me

00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:55.639
 so I may live a grateful life

00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:56.319
 for your glory.

00:14:56.779 --> 00:14:57.599
 It's inviting

00:14:57.599 --> 00:14:58.679
 and giving him permission

00:14:58.679 --> 00:15:00.000
 to come in.

00:15:00.699 --> 00:15:01.419
 Verse 15,

00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:02.839
 and let the peace of Christ

00:15:02.839 --> 00:15:04.639
 rule in your hearts

00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:05.599
 to which indeed

00:15:05.599 --> 00:15:06.839
 you were called in one body

00:15:06.839 --> 00:15:07.599
 and be thankful.

00:15:08.139 --> 00:15:09.439
 Let the word of Christ

00:15:09.439 --> 00:15:10.859
 dwell in you richly,

00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:12.120
 teaching and admonishing

00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:12.599
 one another

00:15:12.599 --> 00:15:13.299
 in all wisdom,

00:15:13.459 --> 00:15:14.740
 singing psalms and hymns

00:15:14.740 --> 00:15:16.159
 and spiritual songs

00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:16.919
 with thankfulness

00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:17.839
 in your heart to God.

00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:19.139
 That's the letting.

00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:20.839
 And then the final thing,

00:15:21.079 --> 00:15:22.399
 and whatever you do

00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:23.179
 in word or deed,

00:15:23.259 --> 00:15:24.179
 do everything in the name

00:15:24.179 --> 00:15:24.919
 of the Lord Jesus,

00:15:25.059 --> 00:15:26.299
 giving thanks to God the Father

00:15:26.299 --> 00:15:27.299
 through him.

00:15:28.539 --> 00:15:28.980
 But,

00:15:29.179 --> 00:15:30.000
 once again,

00:15:30.059 --> 00:15:30.879
 there's some of us here

00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:31.559
 who struggle,

00:15:31.799 --> 00:15:33.179
 right now today,

00:15:33.579 --> 00:15:35.039
 are struggling with sadness.

00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:37.199
 We're struggling with grief.

00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:38.659
 We're struggling with anxiety.

00:15:38.840 --> 00:15:39.899
 We're struggling with worry.

00:15:40.419 --> 00:15:42.059
 We're struggling with these things.

00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:44.220
 And we read this text

00:15:44.220 --> 00:15:45.819
 about let Christ rule in your heart

00:15:45.819 --> 00:15:46.759
 with his peace.

00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:49.139
 And we're not feeling that.

00:15:49.139 --> 00:15:50.500
 And maybe even right now,

00:15:50.579 --> 00:15:50.819
 you thought,

00:15:50.919 --> 00:15:51.720
 that's a brilliant prayer

00:15:51.720 --> 00:15:52.300
 that you just prayed,

00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:52.519
 George.

00:15:52.540 --> 00:15:53.720
 I'm going to pray this right now.

00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:55.139
 And dang it,

00:15:55.180 --> 00:15:56.080
 after you pray the prayer,

00:15:56.139 --> 00:15:57.160
 you still feel anxious,

00:15:57.279 --> 00:15:58.180
 you still feel lonely,

00:15:58.259 --> 00:15:59.120
 you still feel sad,

00:15:59.180 --> 00:15:59.980
 you still feel grief.

00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:01.180
 So what on earth is going on?

00:16:02.420 --> 00:16:03.860
 So here's the problem

00:16:03.860 --> 00:16:05.399
 that we Christians have.

00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:07.200
 We Christians,

00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:09.840
 we just think of peace,

00:16:10.040 --> 00:16:10.940
 this type of peace,

00:16:10.980 --> 00:16:11.700
 in one way.

00:16:12.580 --> 00:16:12.920
 In fact,

00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:13.740
 we just think that

00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:15.139
 there's really no other way,

00:16:15.340 --> 00:16:15.700
 ultimately,

00:16:15.860 --> 00:16:16.560
 to think about it

00:16:16.560 --> 00:16:17.820
 other than as a type of,

00:16:17.820 --> 00:16:20.000
 a set of pleasant emotions.

00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:22.860
 And that's what we understand by it.

00:16:23.540 --> 00:16:24.400
 Like in our culture,

00:16:24.400 --> 00:16:26.360
 we talk about negative emotions,

00:16:26.520 --> 00:16:27.500
 negative emotions,

00:16:27.580 --> 00:16:28.500
 and positive emotions.

00:16:28.680 --> 00:16:28.980
 It's just,

00:16:29.280 --> 00:16:30.680
 I hear Christians use that language

00:16:30.680 --> 00:16:31.480
 all of the time.

00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:32.360
 And,

00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:32.820
 and,

00:16:32.900 --> 00:16:33.220
 uh,

00:16:34.060 --> 00:16:34.360
 uh,

00:16:34.820 --> 00:16:35.300
 pleasant,

00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:35.720
 uh,

00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:37.080
 positive emotions

00:16:37.080 --> 00:16:38.480
 are ones that we feel pleasure

00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:39.920
 in having.

00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:41.340
 And negative emotions

00:16:41.340 --> 00:16:42.480
 are ones that we don't feel

00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:43.560
 any pleasure in having.

00:16:44.439 --> 00:16:45.279
 And we just assume

00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:46.719
 that when we see the word peace,

00:16:47.199 --> 00:16:48.579
 that we're asking God

00:16:48.579 --> 00:16:50.239
 to give us this set

00:16:50.239 --> 00:16:51.459
 of positive emotions

00:16:51.459 --> 00:16:53.219
 which we identify with peace.

00:16:53.619 --> 00:16:55.219
 And we just so completely

00:16:55.219 --> 00:16:56.459
 and utterly believe that,

00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:58.279
 it's hard for us to imagine

00:16:58.279 --> 00:16:59.479
 that the Bible,

00:17:00.059 --> 00:17:00.719
 like in a sense,

00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:01.439
 if Paul was,

00:17:01.659 --> 00:17:02.679
 he could go back in time

00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:03.359
 and tell Paul,

00:17:03.479 --> 00:17:04.200
 this is your problem

00:17:04.200 --> 00:17:05.079
 with what he just wrote,

00:17:05.159 --> 00:17:06.359
 he would look at you and said,

00:17:07.159 --> 00:17:07.460
 huh?

00:17:08.399 --> 00:17:08.659
 Like,

00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:09.759
 haven't you ever heard?

00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:10.720
 And he would ask you,

00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:11.779
 because obviously they knew

00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:12.659
 that there were feelings

00:17:12.659 --> 00:17:13.319
 and emotions,

00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:13.819
 I mean,

00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:14.859
 it wasn't as if

00:17:14.859 --> 00:17:15.799
 that was just invented

00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:16.839
 by North Americans

00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:17.980
 70 years ago.

00:17:18.460 --> 00:17:20.119
 People had emotions back then.

00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:22.319
 But he would understand,

00:17:22.519 --> 00:17:22.759
 no, no,

00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:23.939
 the text isn't talking about

00:17:23.939 --> 00:17:25.639
 God giving you emotions,

00:17:25.639 --> 00:17:26.539
 it's talking about

00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:27.439
 something objective,

00:17:27.919 --> 00:17:29.460
 to which we would then

00:17:29.460 --> 00:17:30.039
 go to him,

00:17:30.619 --> 00:17:30.939
 huh?

00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:32.159
 Like,

00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:33.200
 how does that even make

00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:33.839
 any type of sense?

00:17:33.879 --> 00:17:34.539
 Do you mean objective?

00:17:34.700 --> 00:17:35.519
 Do you mean it's permanent?

00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:36.639
 No.

00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:38.299
 So here's the analogy,

00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:38.819
 and here's,

00:17:38.899 --> 00:17:39.200
 I think,

00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:40.399
 an analogy that would help

00:17:40.399 --> 00:17:41.759
 you to understand it.

00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:44.059
 Imagine that you're off

00:17:44.059 --> 00:17:44.539
 in the bush

00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:45.740
 or something like that.

00:17:47.660 --> 00:17:48.519
 Compassion gets you

00:17:48.519 --> 00:17:49.759
 to go on some remote

00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:51.440
 little compassion project

00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:53.799
 a week down the Amazon

00:17:53.799 --> 00:17:54.980
 or something like that,

00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:55.879
 and you break your leg.

00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:58.379
 And while you break your leg,

00:17:58.440 --> 00:17:59.500
 they can't really fix it,

00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:00.339
 or they sort of fix it,

00:18:00.359 --> 00:18:01.740
 but they do a really crappy job.

00:18:01.819 --> 00:18:02.400
 You and your buddies

00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:04.680
 do a really crappy job.

00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:07.799
 And it hurts the whole time,

00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:08.299
 and in fact,

00:18:08.340 --> 00:18:09.320
 it even starts to set,

00:18:09.420 --> 00:18:10.660
 but it's not setting correctly.

00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:11.660
 However,

00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:12.700
 it's not that bad

00:18:12.700 --> 00:18:13.700
 because one of the people

00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:16.160
 on the tour

00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:17.140
 have a lot of drugs,

00:18:17.340 --> 00:18:18.080
 and they basically

00:18:18.080 --> 00:18:19.200
 just give you enough drugs

00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:19.799
 all the time

00:18:19.799 --> 00:18:21.120
 that rather than feeling

00:18:21.120 --> 00:18:21.759
 the broken leg,

00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:22.920
 you actually feel pretty good.

00:18:24.220 --> 00:18:25.600
 You have to hop everywhere,

00:18:25.940 --> 00:18:27.519
 but you actually feel pretty good.

00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:29.060
 And so,

00:18:29.220 --> 00:18:30.180
 that's the difference

00:18:30.180 --> 00:18:31.039
 between subjective

00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:31.680
 and objective.

00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:32.160
 You see,

00:18:32.299 --> 00:18:33.640
 what we tend to think of

00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:34.220
 is it's something

00:18:34.220 --> 00:18:35.000
 like a feeling.

00:18:35.140 --> 00:18:35.580
 In other words,

00:18:35.620 --> 00:18:36.620
 what we're really thinking

00:18:36.620 --> 00:18:38.019
 when we read this text,

00:18:38.100 --> 00:18:38.740
 we want God

00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:39.799
 to give us a drug

00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:43.340
 that will make us feel

00:18:43.340 --> 00:18:44.720
 positive emotions.

00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:46.380
 But God said,

00:18:47.140 --> 00:18:47.620
 no,

00:18:48.259 --> 00:18:49.120
 I'm going to fix

00:18:49.120 --> 00:18:49.980
 the broken leg.

00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:52.220
 Like,

00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:53.580
 I'm going to bring you health.

00:18:55.940 --> 00:18:56.600
 That means,

00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:57.500
 I'm going to break,

00:18:57.840 --> 00:18:59.120
 re-break your leg

00:18:59.120 --> 00:19:00.279
 because it didn't help,

00:19:00.820 --> 00:19:01.660
 it didn't set,

00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:02.000
 right.

00:19:02.900 --> 00:19:03.259
 Yes,

00:19:03.820 --> 00:19:04.600
 you heard me right,

00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:04.960
 George.

00:19:05.080 --> 00:19:05.900
 I'm going to re-break

00:19:05.900 --> 00:19:06.440
 that part.

00:19:06.560 --> 00:19:06.700
 I mean,

00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:07.220
 that's what you want

00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:07.860
 the doctor to do.

00:19:08.220 --> 00:19:08.980
 I don't know how many

00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:09.600
 of you have watched,

00:19:09.860 --> 00:19:11.100
 one of my favorite movies

00:19:11.100 --> 00:19:12.180
 is 13 Hours.

00:19:12.620 --> 00:19:13.580
 I'm a sucker

00:19:13.580 --> 00:19:15.120
 for real life

00:19:15.120 --> 00:19:17.980
 war heroism movies.

00:19:18.220 --> 00:19:19.259
 It's like,

00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:20.240
 I'm a sucker for it.

00:19:20.940 --> 00:19:21.740
 And it's based,

00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:23.200
 13 Hours is a movie

00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:24.299
 based on

00:19:24.299 --> 00:19:26.019
 2012

00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:27.539
 Benghazi

00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:28.600
 in Libya

00:19:28.599 --> 00:19:30.119
 when the US

00:19:30.119 --> 00:19:31.299
 ambassador to Libya

00:19:31.299 --> 00:19:32.019
 was killed

00:19:32.019 --> 00:19:33.959
 and the compound

00:19:33.959 --> 00:19:34.759
 was overrun

00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:35.659
 and there was a big battle

00:19:35.659 --> 00:19:36.719
 around another compound

00:19:36.719 --> 00:19:37.219
 and it was

00:19:37.219 --> 00:19:38.379
 a story about

00:19:38.379 --> 00:19:39.019
 these six

00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:40.699
 special forces

00:19:40.699 --> 00:19:41.319
 contractors

00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:41.980
 who basically

00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:42.879
 defend this reel

00:19:42.879 --> 00:19:43.740
 for 13 hours.

00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:43.959
 Anyway,

00:19:44.059 --> 00:19:44.779
 that's the movie.

00:19:45.459 --> 00:19:46.259
 It's not a spoiler,

00:19:46.399 --> 00:19:47.119
 but one of the people

00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:47.799
 in the movie

00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:49.839
 gets hit by a mortar

00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:51.179
 and it wrecks up

00:19:51.179 --> 00:19:52.039
 his leg.

00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:54.399
 Other things happen

00:19:54.399 --> 00:19:55.000
 to the rest of them.

00:19:55.099 --> 00:19:55.519
 And one of the things

00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:56.079
 about the movie

00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:57.039
 is at the end,

00:19:57.079 --> 00:19:57.759
 if you watch the movie

00:19:57.759 --> 00:19:58.339
 right to the end,

00:19:58.399 --> 00:19:58.980
 they show you

00:19:58.980 --> 00:20:00.099
 the picture of the person,

00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:00.779
 what the person

00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:01.519
 really looked like.

00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:03.000
 And I can't remember,

00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:04.000
 but I think to get

00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:05.139
 his leg fixed,

00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:07.019
 it took 13 surgeries.

00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:08.639
 It was something like that,

00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:09.579
 13 surgeries

00:20:09.579 --> 00:20:10.779
 to get his leg fixed.

00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:12.960
 And so you see,

00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:13.920
 that's what's going on.

00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:15.159
 That's what the piece is.

00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:15.680
 That's what you're

00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:16.839
 asking God to do.

00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:18.619
 You're asking Christ

00:20:18.619 --> 00:20:19.200
 to come in

00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:20.279
 and rule in your heart

00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:21.180
 and what you're asking

00:20:21.180 --> 00:20:21.639
 him to do

00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:23.340
 is to do those surgeries,

00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:25.680
 those breaking

00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:26.440
 and re-breaking

00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:27.140
 and the surgeries

00:20:27.140 --> 00:20:27.860
 and the splints

00:20:27.860 --> 00:20:29.300
 and all of the discomfort

00:20:29.300 --> 00:20:30.980
 to be healed.

00:20:32.500 --> 00:20:33.840
 That's what he will do

00:20:33.840 --> 00:20:34.860
 objectively.

00:20:36.380 --> 00:20:36.880
 You see,

00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:38.860
 if we had a friend,

00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:40.000
 like if that person

00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:40.560
 was our friend,

00:20:40.620 --> 00:20:41.180
 the person who needed

00:20:41.180 --> 00:20:42.060
 13 surgeries,

00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:42.520
 and he said,

00:20:42.580 --> 00:20:42.980
 you know what?

00:20:43.780 --> 00:20:44.800
 They can just give me

00:20:44.800 --> 00:20:46.620
 an endless supply of drugs

00:20:46.620 --> 00:20:47.640
 that makes me feel good

00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:48.440
 and I'll just hop

00:20:48.440 --> 00:20:49.640
 for the rest of my life

00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:50.259
 on one leg.

00:20:50.540 --> 00:20:51.380
 You'd say to him,

00:20:51.640 --> 00:20:52.580
 you're nuts.

00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:53.759
 Like who on earth,

00:20:54.080 --> 00:20:55.580
 like what rational person

00:20:55.580 --> 00:20:56.600
 would ever choose that?

00:20:56.920 --> 00:20:57.140
 Right?

00:20:57.180 --> 00:20:58.460
 That's how we would do it.

00:20:59.040 --> 00:21:00.160
 So in the text,

00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:00.740
 when it's saying,

00:21:01.080 --> 00:21:02.220
 when you're saying Christ,

00:21:02.360 --> 00:21:03.300
 because Christ is the

00:21:03.300 --> 00:21:03.980
 Prince of Peace,

00:21:04.060 --> 00:21:04.220
 right?

00:21:04.300 --> 00:21:05.040
 What is Christ?

00:21:05.180 --> 00:21:06.180
 Christ is the one

00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:08.360
 who by his sinless life,

00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:09.259
 the life that you could

00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:10.560
 never live on your own,

00:21:11.220 --> 00:21:12.600
 has lived the life

00:21:12.600 --> 00:21:13.480
 that you need to live

00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:14.080
 but you were never

00:21:14.080 --> 00:21:14.780
 able to live.

00:21:14.900 --> 00:21:15.600
 And his death

00:21:15.600 --> 00:21:16.520
 upon the cross

00:21:16.520 --> 00:21:18.140
 is a dying

00:21:18.140 --> 00:21:18.600
 for the,

00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:20.059
 all of the consequences,

00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:21.740
 all the just accusations

00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:22.699
 and consequences

00:21:22.699 --> 00:21:23.299
 against you

00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:24.559
 which are properly yours

00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.659
 that,

00:21:25.659 --> 00:21:26.500
 you know,

00:21:26.539 --> 00:21:27.919
 should properly fall on you,

00:21:27.959 --> 00:21:29.019
 properly fall on you,

00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:30.219
 they fall on him.

00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:31.619
 And so he both,

00:21:31.699 --> 00:21:31.980
 in a sense,

00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:32.699
 clothes us

00:21:32.699 --> 00:21:34.480
 with his righteous life

00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:35.759
 and he deals

00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:37.139
 with the consequences

00:21:37.139 --> 00:21:38.059
 of our sin

00:21:38.059 --> 00:21:38.779
 and so when we put

00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:39.579
 our faith and trust

00:21:39.579 --> 00:21:40.139
 in him,

00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:41.659
 he enters into us

00:21:41.659 --> 00:21:43.099
 and we enter into him

00:21:43.099 --> 00:21:44.259
 and he makes us

00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:44.939
 right with God.

00:21:44.940 --> 00:21:47.700
 He reconnects us

00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:49.299
 to the Father,

00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:49.799
 the Son,

00:21:49.840 --> 00:21:50.759
 and the Holy Spirit,

00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:52.380
 the life of the Trinity.

00:21:52.600 --> 00:21:54.500
 He reconnects us

00:21:54.500 --> 00:21:57.559
 objectively.

00:21:59.360 --> 00:22:01.360
 The lowliest person,

00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:02.400
 the worst person

00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:03.220
 who puts their faith

00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:03.680
 in Christ,

00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:05.480
 that's what objectively

00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:06.860
 has happened to them.

00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:08.519
 Not God weighing your merit,

00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:09.519
 saying you're a good boy,

00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:10.400
 pretending you're a good boy.

00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:10.759
 No.

00:22:11.100 --> 00:22:11.620
 He says,

00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:13.559
 you're a really terrible person.

00:22:13.559 --> 00:22:14.460
 I know you're a really

00:22:14.460 --> 00:22:15.319
 terrible person.

00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:15.899
 In fact,

00:22:16.139 --> 00:22:16.759
 God says,

00:22:17.179 --> 00:22:18.359
 you're vastly worse

00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:19.500
 than you even imagined.

00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:20.919
 You're vastly worse

00:22:20.919 --> 00:22:22.460
 than your enemies

00:22:22.460 --> 00:22:23.339
 who think you're bad.

00:22:23.419 --> 00:22:24.200
 You're actually worse

00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:24.879
 than that.

00:22:26.399 --> 00:22:27.480
 But I love you.

00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:29.359
 And Jesus came

00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:30.559
 to die upon the cross,

00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:32.399
 taking all of the worst

00:22:32.399 --> 00:22:34.019
 that you have done

00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:36.419
 and dealing with that

00:22:36.419 --> 00:22:37.659
 in terms of the consequences

00:22:37.659 --> 00:22:38.500
 that were required

00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:39.419
 by justice

00:22:39.419 --> 00:22:40.159
 and by love

00:22:40.159 --> 00:22:41.399
 and by goodness.

00:22:41.400 --> 00:22:43.460
 And the life

00:22:43.460 --> 00:22:44.360
 that you could never,

00:22:44.620 --> 00:22:45.720
 ever possibly live,

00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:47.640
 that is what will clothe you.

00:22:47.820 --> 00:22:48.720
 And when you put your faith

00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:49.880
 and trust in my son,

00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:51.519
 who's risen from the dead,

00:22:52.860 --> 00:22:54.440
 he makes you right

00:22:54.440 --> 00:22:56.400
 with God

00:22:56.400 --> 00:22:58.380
 and reconnects you to him.

00:22:59.600 --> 00:23:00.400
 And so he

00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:01.960
 is the prince of peace.

00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:03.280
 And when we ask him

00:23:03.280 --> 00:23:04.200
 to come and rule

00:23:04.200 --> 00:23:05.480
 in our hearts

00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:06.259
 and our minds,

00:23:06.540 --> 00:23:07.280
 he's saying,

00:23:07.740 --> 00:23:08.540
 well, George,

00:23:08.539 --> 00:23:09.940
 I could give you

00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:11.299
 an overwhelming emotion

00:23:11.299 --> 00:23:12.440
 that would just cover up

00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:13.639
 all those things within you

00:23:13.639 --> 00:23:14.299
 which are broken.

00:23:14.879 --> 00:23:15.839
 I could do that.

00:23:16.359 --> 00:23:17.139
 But wouldn't you rather

00:23:17.139 --> 00:23:18.019
 be fit for heaven?

00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:20.220
 Wouldn't you rather

00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:21.079
 have those times

00:23:21.079 --> 00:23:21.980
 when I break you?

00:23:23.319 --> 00:23:24.440
 Break you out of love?

00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:27.000
 You ask me to rule,

00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:27.819
 I will rule.

00:23:28.019 --> 00:23:29.759
 I will come to break

00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:31.000
 and to heal,

00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:32.279
 to reconnect.

00:23:32.899 --> 00:23:34.220
 And not only that, George,

00:23:34.220 --> 00:23:35.019
 at the end of it all,

00:23:35.139 --> 00:23:36.259
 you won't just be a rose

00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:38.359
 connected to the plant.

00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:42.359
 You will see me

00:23:42.359 --> 00:23:43.160
 face to face

00:23:43.160 --> 00:23:44.220
 and I will smile

00:23:44.220 --> 00:23:44.759
 and say,

00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:45.940
 I am so glad

00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:46.579
 you are here.

00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:48.480
 And then you will see Jesus

00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:49.740
 and your great,

00:23:49.859 --> 00:23:50.900
 complete and utter shock,

00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:51.759
 you will be like him.

00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:53.099
 And I have been working

00:23:53.099 --> 00:23:53.559
 on that

00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:55.059
 and that's my plan.

00:23:55.160 --> 00:23:56.339
 That's what I will work on

00:23:56.339 --> 00:23:57.440
 in you and with you.

00:23:58.259 --> 00:23:59.279
 That's what you're asking

00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:00.079
 Christ to do.

00:24:00.920 --> 00:24:02.039
 You are asking Christ.

00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:02.779
 When you say,

00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:04.400
 Jesus,

00:24:04.400 --> 00:24:04.560
 Jesus,

00:24:04.800 --> 00:24:06.040
 I please speak

00:24:06.040 --> 00:24:07.500
 and rule in all my heart.

00:24:07.620 --> 00:24:09.140
 No area is out of bounds

00:24:09.140 --> 00:24:09.540
 to you.

00:24:09.620 --> 00:24:10.700
 I hold nothing back.

00:24:10.820 --> 00:24:11.780
 Make your home in me

00:24:11.780 --> 00:24:13.340
 so I may live a grateful life

00:24:13.340 --> 00:24:13.980
 for your glory.

00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:15.180
 You put yourself

00:24:15.180 --> 00:24:15.840
 in that posture.

00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:16.759
 I can't grow me.

00:24:16.840 --> 00:24:17.960
 I can't fix me.

00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:19.759
 But I know that when I,

00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:22.160
 as I read your word,

00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:23.360
 because that's what

00:24:23.360 --> 00:24:24.360
 the word of Christ is.

00:24:24.420 --> 00:24:25.240
 The word of Christ

00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:26.320
 is in a sense,

00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:27.160
 it's the good news

00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:27.980
 of the gospel.

00:24:29.040 --> 00:24:29.920
 The good news

00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:30.620
 of the gospel

00:24:30.620 --> 00:24:31.740
 in the context

00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:32.280
 of what all

00:24:32.280 --> 00:24:33.259
 of the Bible teaches.

00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:34.359
 And it's what

00:24:34.359 --> 00:24:35.819
 all of the Bible teaches

00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:37.019
 in the context

00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:37.619
 of the gospel.

00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:38.379
 That's what the word

00:24:38.379 --> 00:24:39.099
 of Christ is.

00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:40.599
 It's not just the Bible.

00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:42.420
 It's the Bible understood

00:24:42.420 --> 00:24:43.460
 in light of the gospel.

00:24:43.619 --> 00:24:44.900
 And it's not just the gospel.

00:24:45.079 --> 00:24:46.359
 It's the gospel understood

00:24:46.359 --> 00:24:47.440
 in light of all

00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:48.079
 of the Bible.

00:24:49.660 --> 00:24:50.599
 That as we read

00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:51.079
 the word

00:24:51.079 --> 00:24:51.900
 and we read the word

00:24:51.900 --> 00:24:52.259
 and we say,

00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:52.579
 Jesus,

00:24:52.720 --> 00:24:53.220
 I'm not just,

00:24:53.579 --> 00:24:55.160
 I know it's not just

00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:56.299
 a matter of reading words.

00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:58.000
 This is the means

00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:58.539
 of grace.

00:24:58.539 --> 00:24:59.619
 You have said

00:24:59.619 --> 00:25:00.960
 that you not only

00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:01.920
 are to rule in my heart

00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:02.960
 but you can't,

00:25:03.180 --> 00:25:04.079
 he can't rule

00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:05.119
 if he doesn't speak.

00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:06.700
 Can he?

00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:09.159
 And how can he speak

00:25:09.159 --> 00:25:09.819
 without ruling?

00:25:11.579 --> 00:25:12.899
 When our kids were young,

00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:14.159
 I would like to tell them,

00:25:14.420 --> 00:25:14.940
 this would be one

00:25:14.940 --> 00:25:15.799
 of those dad things,

00:25:15.879 --> 00:25:16.379
 they'd probably all

00:25:16.379 --> 00:25:17.619
 roll their eyes at me.

00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:18.200
 That's fine.

00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:18.839
 That's kids,

00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:20.059
 dads say things,

00:25:20.139 --> 00:25:20.960
 kids roll their eyes.

00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:21.519
 That's just,

00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:22.819
 it's part of the dance,

00:25:22.879 --> 00:25:23.059
 right?

00:25:23.399 --> 00:25:24.019
 And I'd say,

00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:25.000
 this is a democracy.

00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:26.500
 Every one of you kids

00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:27.220
 has one vote,

00:25:27.619 --> 00:25:28.920
 my vote's worth a billion,

00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:30.700
 your mom's vote worth a billion,

00:25:30.880 --> 00:25:33.140
 let's vote two billion to nine.

00:25:33.319 --> 00:25:33.619
 Okay?

00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:34.799
 I guess we're going to do this.

00:25:34.859 --> 00:25:35.700
 But it's a democracy.

00:25:35.880 --> 00:25:36.579
 I just happen to get

00:25:36.579 --> 00:25:37.160
 a billion votes.

00:25:37.480 --> 00:25:38.420
 It's the same type of thing.

00:25:38.660 --> 00:25:39.440
 If God's speaking

00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:39.980
 into your life,

00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:41.039
 it can't possibly be,

00:25:41.119 --> 00:25:41.200
 well,

00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:42.599
 my wife says this,

00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:43.819
 my daughter says this,

00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:44.759
 and God says this.

00:25:44.839 --> 00:25:45.059
 Well,

00:25:45.160 --> 00:25:45.460
 God,

00:25:45.539 --> 00:25:46.859
 it's two against one.

00:25:47.539 --> 00:25:48.519
 I guess I'm going to do

00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:49.920
 what my wife and daughter says.

00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:50.559
 No,

00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:51.220
 he can't speak

00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:51.859
 without ruling.

00:25:53.859 --> 00:25:55.039
 And he can't dwell

00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:56.859
 without ruling.

00:26:00.819 --> 00:26:02.059
 And so in the text,

00:26:02.159 --> 00:26:02.960
 look at it again.

00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:04.700
 And let the peace of Christ

00:26:04.700 --> 00:26:05.659
 rule in your hearts,

00:26:05.799 --> 00:26:07.059
 to which indeed you are called

00:26:07.059 --> 00:26:07.899
 in one body

00:26:07.899 --> 00:26:08.619
 and be thankful.

00:26:09.079 --> 00:26:10.539
 And let the word of Christ

00:26:10.539 --> 00:26:12.220
 dwell in you richly,

00:26:12.399 --> 00:26:13.519
 teaching and admonishing

00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:14.039
 one another

00:26:14.039 --> 00:26:14.799
 in all wisdom,

00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:16.339
 singing psalms and hymns

00:26:16.339 --> 00:26:17.440
 and spiritual songs

00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:18.659
 with thankfulness

00:26:18.659 --> 00:26:19.619
 in your hearts to God.

00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:20.960
 And some of you are saying,

00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:21.079
 well,

00:26:21.099 --> 00:26:22.559
 this is a bit of a confusing text

00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:23.480
 because it seems to be

00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:24.460
 talking just to you,

00:26:24.460 --> 00:26:25.660
 but then it seems to talk

00:26:25.660 --> 00:26:26.360
 as if it's talking

00:26:26.360 --> 00:26:27.140
 to all of us.

00:26:28.140 --> 00:26:29.460
 And here's one of the things

00:26:29.460 --> 00:26:30.480
 which is so important

00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:31.039
 in the Bible.

00:26:31.940 --> 00:26:32.940
 I know there's a whole pile

00:26:32.940 --> 00:26:33.940
 of Christians which say

00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:35.079
 you're not supposed to dance.

00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:37.000
 But this text

00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:38.299
 is introducing us

00:26:38.299 --> 00:26:39.620
 to the profound call

00:26:39.620 --> 00:26:41.120
 to the great dance.

00:26:41.740 --> 00:26:43.100
 And in that great dance,

00:26:43.180 --> 00:26:43.740
 it's this.

00:26:44.299 --> 00:26:46.000
 The Bible always speaks

00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:47.340
 to us personally.

00:26:47.860 --> 00:26:49.240
 It speaks to me

00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:50.039
 as George.

00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:50.740
 George,

00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:52.579
 you need to die

00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:54.480
 to your cut rose projects.

00:26:54.659 --> 00:26:55.740
 You need to realize

00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:57.559
 that only I,

00:26:57.639 --> 00:26:58.139
 this is in a sense

00:26:58.139 --> 00:26:58.759
 what God is saying,

00:26:59.000 --> 00:26:59.259
 George,

00:26:59.319 --> 00:26:59.839
 you need to realize

00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:01.299
 that only I can grow you.

00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:03.139
 You need to put yourself

00:27:03.139 --> 00:27:04.619
 in a humble posture

00:27:04.619 --> 00:27:05.220
 of obedience

00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:06.839
 so that I can grow you.

00:27:07.619 --> 00:27:08.419
 And set your mind

00:27:08.419 --> 00:27:08.919
 on Christ

00:27:08.919 --> 00:27:10.059
 and put off your sin

00:27:10.059 --> 00:27:11.599
 and put on virtues

00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:13.919
 and call out to me.

00:27:13.939 --> 00:27:14.579
 I'm so wishing

00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:15.259
 for you, George,

00:27:15.299 --> 00:27:16.199
 to call out to me

00:27:16.199 --> 00:27:16.599
 in today

00:27:16.599 --> 00:27:17.279
 and say,

00:27:17.839 --> 00:27:18.359
 Jesus,

00:27:19.439 --> 00:27:21.039
 speak in my heart,

00:27:21.199 --> 00:27:22.139
 rule in my heart.

00:27:22.859 --> 00:27:23.079
 There's,

00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:24.779
 you have all of my heart.

00:27:24.939 --> 00:27:25.859
 I have no conditions.

00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:27.119
 I hold nothing back.

00:27:28.339 --> 00:27:29.719
 In the heights of my heart,

00:27:29.819 --> 00:27:30.740
 the depths of my heart,

00:27:30.859 --> 00:27:31.719
 the widths of my heart,

00:27:31.859 --> 00:27:32.679
 the heights and depths

00:27:32.679 --> 00:27:33.419
 of my life,

00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:34.779
 in every emotion,

00:27:34.939 --> 00:27:35.740
 in every thought,

00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:37.299
 every penny

00:27:37.299 --> 00:27:38.659
 under my control,

00:27:38.819 --> 00:27:39.740
 all my time,

00:27:39.859 --> 00:27:40.579
 come and speak

00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:41.839
 and rule in my heart.

00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:44.299
 I know you will bring peace

00:27:44.299 --> 00:27:44.719
 because you are

00:27:44.719 --> 00:27:45.659
 the Prince of Peace.

00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:48.440
 And God wants us

00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:50.060
 to say that to him

00:27:50.060 --> 00:27:52.960
 in a humble posture

00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:53.500
 of obedience

00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:54.779
 and to say it over

00:27:54.779 --> 00:27:56.000
 and over and over again

00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:57.320
 because we live in time

00:27:57.320 --> 00:27:58.120
 and it's not as if

00:27:58.120 --> 00:27:59.360
 we just say it to him once,

00:27:59.800 --> 00:28:00.840
 just as if I only said

00:28:00.840 --> 00:28:01.759
 to my wife once,

00:28:01.900 --> 00:28:02.680
 I love you

00:28:02.680 --> 00:28:04.300
 and then you should just

00:28:04.300 --> 00:28:04.740
 believe me

00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:05.580
 for the rest of your life.

00:28:05.620 --> 00:28:06.200
 We would all know

00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:07.120
 that that is inadequate.

00:28:07.340 --> 00:28:07.800
 That's not how

00:28:07.800 --> 00:28:08.900
 human beings function.

00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:10.920
 It's no different with God.

00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:13.500
 Like, I don't say these things

00:28:13.500 --> 00:28:14.420
 hoping that if I say it

00:28:14.420 --> 00:28:14.860
 to him enough

00:28:14.860 --> 00:28:15.500
 that he'll finally

00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:16.140
 love me,

00:28:16.640 --> 00:28:19.079
 it comes out of the fact

00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:20.220
 that I said it to him once

00:28:20.220 --> 00:28:21.039
 for him to become

00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:21.880
 my Savior and Lord,

00:28:21.960 --> 00:28:22.680
 that I say it to him

00:28:22.680 --> 00:28:24.180
 time and time and time again.

00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:25.160
 It's because I need to.

00:28:26.220 --> 00:28:27.480
 I need to come to him

00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:28.460
 time and time again

00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:29.339
 because it's so easy

00:28:29.339 --> 00:28:30.319
 to allow rivalry

00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:30.960
 or boasting

00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:31.660
 or pride

00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:32.680
 or envy

00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:33.440
 or greed

00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:35.180
 or impatience

00:28:35.180 --> 00:28:36.559
 to start to rule

00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:37.339
 my life.

00:28:38.619 --> 00:28:39.460
 I need to keep,

00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:39.759
 remember,

00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:40.119
 oh yes,

00:28:40.240 --> 00:28:40.460
 okay,

00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:42.220
 set my mind on Christ,

00:28:42.440 --> 00:28:43.099
 put off this.

00:28:43.099 --> 00:28:43.419
 Father,

00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:44.639
 help me to put on love

00:28:44.639 --> 00:28:45.599
 and humility

00:28:45.599 --> 00:28:48.319
 and let come in

00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:48.819
 and rule

00:28:48.819 --> 00:28:49.500
 and speak.

00:28:49.959 --> 00:28:50.819
 And here's the great dance.

00:28:50.859 --> 00:28:52.319
 It's a personal word to me,

00:28:53.019 --> 00:28:54.639
 but it's a word to all of us

00:28:54.639 --> 00:28:55.599
 at the same time.

00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:56.480
 You see,

00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:57.919
 it's not just that I'm to have

00:28:57.919 --> 00:28:58.879
 my private times

00:28:58.879 --> 00:28:59.599
 reading the Bible

00:28:59.599 --> 00:29:00.939
 or to listening to

00:29:00.939 --> 00:29:02.740
 some beautiful music

00:29:02.740 --> 00:29:04.679
 that has spiritual words

00:29:04.679 --> 00:29:05.599
 and biblical words

00:29:05.599 --> 00:29:06.159
 and wisdom

00:29:06.159 --> 00:29:07.379
 that can speak to my heart,

00:29:07.380 --> 00:29:09.160
 but I need you

00:29:09.160 --> 00:29:10.140
 to tell me things

00:29:10.140 --> 00:29:10.800
 about the Bible.

00:29:10.940 --> 00:29:11.640
 I need you

00:29:11.640 --> 00:29:12.760
 and others to teach me.

00:29:12.840 --> 00:29:14.260
 I need you to sing.

00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:17.740
 I need you to sing

00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:18.680
 while I'm here.

00:29:20.420 --> 00:29:22.000
 And you need me

00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:23.200
 to do that to you too.

00:29:23.420 --> 00:29:24.940
 You need to hear me singing

00:29:24.940 --> 00:29:26.740
 and speaking the word.

00:29:27.360 --> 00:29:27.580
 You see,

00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:28.860
 it's this dance between,

00:29:29.180 --> 00:29:29.440
 if you go,

00:29:29.480 --> 00:29:30.420
 I think there's like 70

00:29:30.420 --> 00:29:31.580
 or 80 times in the Bible

00:29:31.580 --> 00:29:32.460
 the phrase one another,

00:29:32.520 --> 00:29:33.200
 in the New Testament,

00:29:33.340 --> 00:29:34.540
 the phrase one another comes.

00:29:35.060 --> 00:29:35.800
 There's all these

00:29:35.800 --> 00:29:36.640
 one another texts

00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:38.180
 and that's the wonderful dance.

00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:40.000
 We're constantly being reminded

00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:40.820
 of the one another,

00:29:41.420 --> 00:29:42.420
 but we're also constantly

00:29:42.420 --> 00:29:44.920
 being reminded of the one.

00:29:45.060 --> 00:29:45.880
 It's not just the one,

00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:46.160
 the one,

00:29:46.220 --> 00:29:46.440
 the one,

00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:46.700
 the one,

00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:47.000
 the one.

00:29:47.040 --> 00:29:47.900
 It's not just the other,

00:29:47.980 --> 00:29:48.220
 the other,

00:29:48.300 --> 00:29:48.540
 the other,

00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:48.980
 the other.

00:29:49.420 --> 00:29:50.220
 It's the one

00:29:50.220 --> 00:29:51.100
 and the one another.

00:29:51.700 --> 00:29:52.700
 There's this dance.

00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:54.640
 You see,

00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:55.680
 that's why we need

00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:56.600
 to gather and worship.

00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:57.360
 It's why we need

00:29:57.360 --> 00:29:58.480
 to be in small groups.

00:29:58.600 --> 00:29:59.100
 It's why we need

00:29:59.100 --> 00:30:00.740
 to have mentors

00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:02.200
 and spiritual friendships.

00:30:02.680 --> 00:30:03.440
 It's why we need

00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:04.660
 to have Christian families.

00:30:04.660 --> 00:30:04.820
 families.

00:30:06.200 --> 00:30:07.060
 It's why,

00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:07.440
 you know,

00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:08.740
 especially during this time

00:30:08.740 --> 00:30:10.040
 of lockdowns

00:30:10.040 --> 00:30:11.880
 when families

00:30:11.880 --> 00:30:13.040
 can't bring their kids

00:30:13.040 --> 00:30:13.740
 to Awana

00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:14.820
 or bring their kids

00:30:14.820 --> 00:30:16.080
 to Sunday school,

00:30:16.140 --> 00:30:17.080
 it's really important

00:30:17.080 --> 00:30:17.840
 for parents

00:30:17.840 --> 00:30:19.200
 to not just watch

00:30:19.200 --> 00:30:20.259
 Messiah Kids online,

00:30:20.259 --> 00:30:22.300
 but to maybe embrace

00:30:22.300 --> 00:30:23.240
 the discipline

00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:25.140
 of doing the New City Catechism

00:30:25.140 --> 00:30:25.960
 with your family

00:30:25.960 --> 00:30:26.720
 throughout the week

00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:29.340
 or the Heidelberg Catechism

00:30:29.340 --> 00:30:30.600
 or making sure

00:30:30.600 --> 00:30:31.740
 there's a time every day

00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:32.380
 when you just read

00:30:32.380 --> 00:30:33.120
 a Bible story

00:30:33.120 --> 00:30:33.760
 with your kids

00:30:33.760 --> 00:30:35.020
 or for moms and dads,

00:30:35.120 --> 00:30:35.680
 but especially,

00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:37.080
 it's often moms.

00:30:37.300 --> 00:30:39.000
 Most of us really learn

00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:39.480
 how to pray

00:30:39.480 --> 00:30:40.280
 from our moms.

00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:42.120
 I'm not saying this

00:30:42.120 --> 00:30:42.660
 so that dads

00:30:42.660 --> 00:30:43.780
 can get let off the hook,

00:30:44.280 --> 00:30:45.600
 but it's often the moms

00:30:45.600 --> 00:30:46.840
 that are really the best

00:30:46.840 --> 00:30:47.780
 at teaching their kids

00:30:47.780 --> 00:30:48.700
 how to pray

00:30:48.700 --> 00:30:50.340
 and to pray for your kids

00:30:50.340 --> 00:30:51.180
 and to say grace,

00:30:51.260 --> 00:30:52.360
 like the means of grace

00:30:52.360 --> 00:30:52.760
 that you need

00:30:52.760 --> 00:30:53.800
 to take on in your home

00:30:53.800 --> 00:30:55.660
 because we need

00:30:55.660 --> 00:30:56.600
 Christian families.

00:30:56.780 --> 00:30:57.920
 We need small groups.

00:30:57.920 --> 00:30:59.800
 We need spiritual friendships.

00:31:00.820 --> 00:31:01.740
 We need that.

00:31:02.140 --> 00:31:03.320
 We need the one another.

00:31:04.580 --> 00:31:05.460
 We need to have it

00:31:05.460 --> 00:31:07.279
 that there's a wide group.

00:31:07.660 --> 00:31:08.140
 And by the way,

00:31:08.200 --> 00:31:09.860
 in case I suggested this

00:31:09.860 --> 00:31:10.220
 to Amy

00:31:10.220 --> 00:31:12.400
 because she's singing today

00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:12.960
 a psalm,

00:31:13.120 --> 00:31:13.340
 a hymn,

00:31:13.400 --> 00:31:14.580
 and a spiritual song,

00:31:14.680 --> 00:31:15.080
 by the way.

00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:16.380
 We sang a hymn

00:31:16.380 --> 00:31:18.240
 at the offertory.

00:31:18.340 --> 00:31:19.519
 We're going to sing a psalm

00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:21.160
 and then we'll sing

00:31:21.160 --> 00:31:22.019
 a spiritual song.

00:31:22.120 --> 00:31:22.940
 That's just a bit of a,

00:31:23.100 --> 00:31:23.440
 I thought,

00:31:23.620 --> 00:31:24.259
 whoa, you know,

00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:25.160
 it can be organized

00:31:25.160 --> 00:31:25.980
 occasionally here

00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:26.840
 at Church of the Messiah.

00:31:27.920 --> 00:31:28.400
 So,

00:31:28.560 --> 00:31:30.640
 just one final thing

00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:31.539
 about this text.

00:31:31.700 --> 00:31:31.820
 So,

00:31:31.880 --> 00:31:32.660
 this is the let,

00:31:32.840 --> 00:31:33.019
 right?

00:31:33.100 --> 00:31:33.960
 The let is just,

00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:34.779
 is saying,

00:31:34.920 --> 00:31:35.820
 having this posture

00:31:35.820 --> 00:31:36.840
 where you say to God,

00:31:40.580 --> 00:31:40.940
 you know,

00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:41.640
 I could go on

00:31:41.640 --> 00:31:42.300
 and on and on

00:31:42.300 --> 00:31:43.080
 and on about this

00:31:43.080 --> 00:31:44.200
 because it helps you

00:31:44.200 --> 00:31:44.840
 to understand

00:31:44.840 --> 00:31:46.060
 why so many things

00:31:46.060 --> 00:31:46.660
 that the world,

00:31:46.900 --> 00:31:47.500
 our culture

00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:48.700
 at a certain particular time

00:31:48.700 --> 00:31:49.300
 says are fine

00:31:49.300 --> 00:31:50.580
 or just completely abhorrent.

00:31:51.580 --> 00:31:51.740
 You know,

00:31:51.820 --> 00:31:52.940
 if you went back

00:31:52.940 --> 00:31:54.220
 in time to 1860,

00:31:54.320 --> 00:31:54.980
 a slave owner

00:31:54.980 --> 00:31:55.660
 couldn't say,

00:31:55.779 --> 00:31:56.820
 Jesus rule in my heart

00:31:56.820 --> 00:31:57.660
 except when it comes

00:31:57.660 --> 00:31:58.300
 to slavery.

00:32:01.340 --> 00:32:02.060
 That would be,

00:32:02.180 --> 00:32:03.279
 a slum landlord

00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:04.240
 couldn't say,

00:32:04.420 --> 00:32:05.080
 can't say,

00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:06.759
 come and rule in my heart

00:32:06.759 --> 00:32:07.700
 except when it comes

00:32:07.700 --> 00:32:08.340
 to how I deal

00:32:08.340 --> 00:32:09.120
 with my tenants.

00:32:10.680 --> 00:32:11.040
 If,

00:32:11.080 --> 00:32:11.320
 if,

00:32:11.400 --> 00:32:12.640
 if you were watching this

00:32:12.640 --> 00:32:13.220
 and you're,

00:32:13.380 --> 00:32:14.440
 and you have a sweatshop,

00:32:14.540 --> 00:32:15.200
 you can't say,

00:32:15.259 --> 00:32:15.420
 Lord,

00:32:15.500 --> 00:32:16.440
 come and rule in my heart

00:32:16.440 --> 00:32:17.420
 except when it comes

00:32:17.420 --> 00:32:17.900
 to how I deal

00:32:17.900 --> 00:32:18.680
 with my employees.

00:32:20.680 --> 00:32:21.620
 You can't say,

00:32:21.720 --> 00:32:21.880
 Lord,

00:32:21.980 --> 00:32:22.880
 come and rule in my heart

00:32:22.880 --> 00:32:23.980
 except when it touches

00:32:23.980 --> 00:32:25.000
 on my sexuality.

00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:26.920
 You can't say,

00:32:27.059 --> 00:32:27.180
 Lord,

00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:28.140
 come and rule in my heart

00:32:28.140 --> 00:32:29.160
 except when it comes

00:32:29.160 --> 00:32:30.140
 to how I handle money

00:32:30.140 --> 00:32:31.019
 and whether I'm going

00:32:31.019 --> 00:32:31.599
 to be generous.

00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:34.119
 And the call is,

00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:35.339
 okay,

00:32:35.500 --> 00:32:36.259
 you can come,

00:32:36.680 --> 00:32:36.839
 Lord,

00:32:37.019 --> 00:32:38.180
 and be the Prince of Peace

00:32:38.180 --> 00:32:40.059
 in my guest room

00:32:40.059 --> 00:32:41.960
 and in the workshop,

00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:42.799
 but everywhere else

00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:43.440
 is out of bounds.

00:32:43.559 --> 00:32:43.759
 No.

00:32:45.259 --> 00:32:46.640
 Lord Jesus Christ,

00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:48.180
 Prince of Peace,

00:32:49.180 --> 00:32:50.480
 I invite and give you

00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:51.380
 permission to come

00:32:51.380 --> 00:32:52.519
 into all of my heart.

00:32:52.519 --> 00:32:54.660
 I hold nothing back,

00:32:55.339 --> 00:32:56.339
 nothing at all.

00:32:57.619 --> 00:32:59.099
 Please rule in it

00:32:59.099 --> 00:33:00.220
 and speak into it.

00:33:01.039 --> 00:33:02.200
 And one just final thing,

00:33:02.359 --> 00:33:03.339
 the final text,

00:33:03.559 --> 00:33:04.000
 the do,

00:33:04.420 --> 00:33:05.160
 verse 17,

00:33:05.259 --> 00:33:06.019
 and whatever you do

00:33:06.019 --> 00:33:06.879
 in word or deed,

00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:07.960
 do everything in the name

00:33:07.960 --> 00:33:09.240
 of the Lord Jesus Christ,

00:33:09.359 --> 00:33:09.900
 Lord Jesus,

00:33:10.400 --> 00:33:11.339
 giving thanks to God

00:33:11.339 --> 00:33:12.299
 the Father through him.

00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:14.079
 It's our memory verse

00:33:14.079 --> 00:33:14.519
 for the week.

00:33:14.599 --> 00:33:15.779
 All of these three verses

00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:16.220
 could have been

00:33:16.220 --> 00:33:16.940
 the memory verses,

00:33:17.079 --> 00:33:17.420
 by the way.

00:33:17.539 --> 00:33:18.379
 They're good verses

00:33:18.379 --> 00:33:18.920
 to memorize.

00:33:19.859 --> 00:33:20.740
 And whatever you do

00:33:20.740 --> 00:33:21.480
 in word or deed,

00:33:21.579 --> 00:33:22.480
 do everything in the name

00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:23.160
 of the Lord Jesus,

00:33:23.299 --> 00:33:24.099
 giving thanks to God

00:33:24.099 --> 00:33:24.980
 the Father through him.

00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:26.099
 And obviously,

00:33:26.339 --> 00:33:27.539
 because it's part of this,

00:33:27.799 --> 00:33:28.460
 in a sense,

00:33:28.559 --> 00:33:29.640
 this set, right?

00:33:29.640 --> 00:33:30.240
 It doesn't mean,

00:33:30.339 --> 00:33:31.319
 oh, I can lie

00:33:31.319 --> 00:33:32.160
 in the name of Jesus.

00:33:32.319 --> 00:33:33.400
 I can cheat

00:33:33.400 --> 00:33:34.259
 in the name of Jesus.

00:33:34.420 --> 00:33:35.660
 I can steal.

00:33:35.799 --> 00:33:36.140
 No, no,

00:33:36.259 --> 00:33:37.180
 those are things

00:33:37.180 --> 00:33:38.120
 that you're putting off,

00:33:38.240 --> 00:33:38.480
 right?

00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:40.680
 And it's not just saying

00:33:40.680 --> 00:33:41.539
 that you should be thankful

00:33:41.539 --> 00:33:42.539
 for the terrible thing

00:33:42.539 --> 00:33:43.400
 that happens to you.

00:33:43.660 --> 00:33:44.319
 It's not calling

00:33:44.319 --> 00:33:44.960
 to be thankful

00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:45.559
 for the fact

00:33:45.559 --> 00:33:46.259
 that the doctor

00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:46.720
 just said

00:33:46.720 --> 00:33:48.039
 you have stage 3 cancer

00:33:48.039 --> 00:33:49.240
 or the doctor

00:33:49.240 --> 00:33:49.920
 just tells you

00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:50.660
 you have a serious

00:33:50.660 --> 00:33:51.420
 heart condition

00:33:51.420 --> 00:33:53.720
 or you've just heard

00:33:53.720 --> 00:33:54.200
 that you've had

00:33:54.200 --> 00:33:55.759
 a terrible financial setback.

00:33:55.840 --> 00:33:56.380
 It's not saying

00:33:56.380 --> 00:33:57.440
 be thankful for these.

00:33:58.259 --> 00:33:59.160
 What it's saying

00:33:59.160 --> 00:33:59.860
 is that

00:33:59.860 --> 00:34:01.039
 you don't walk

00:34:01.039 --> 00:34:01.779
 the Christian life

00:34:01.779 --> 00:34:02.480
 by yourself.

00:34:02.600 --> 00:34:02.740
 I mean,

00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:03.420
 not only do you have

00:34:03.420 --> 00:34:03.880
 the one another,

00:34:03.980 --> 00:34:04.680
 more importantly,

00:34:04.800 --> 00:34:05.539
 you do it with Jesus.

00:34:07.200 --> 00:34:08.159
 And you have to do

00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:09.099
 whatever you have to do

00:34:09.099 --> 00:34:10.079
 to deal with that

00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:11.180
 stage 3 cancer,

00:34:11.420 --> 00:34:12.400
 whatever you have to do

00:34:12.400 --> 00:34:14.180
 to do with the heart problems,

00:34:14.300 --> 00:34:15.500
 whatever you have to deal with

00:34:15.500 --> 00:34:17.539
 to do with the financial setback

00:34:17.539 --> 00:34:19.719
 or the relational setback

00:34:19.719 --> 00:34:20.940
 or the job setback

00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:21.659
 that you've just had.

00:34:21.699 --> 00:34:22.759
 You have to deal with it.

00:34:23.880 --> 00:34:25.039
 But you do it

00:34:25.039 --> 00:34:26.239
 in the name of Jesus

00:34:26.239 --> 00:34:27.239
 giving thanks to the God,

00:34:27.300 --> 00:34:27.619
 the Father.

00:34:27.759 --> 00:34:28.079
 You're doing it,

00:34:28.139 --> 00:34:28.559
 giving thanks.

00:34:28.659 --> 00:34:29.259
 One of the things

00:34:29.259 --> 00:34:30.759
 you're primarily giving thanks to

00:34:30.759 --> 00:34:31.460
 is this.

00:34:32.119 --> 00:34:33.239
 The end of the story

00:34:33.239 --> 00:34:34.599
 changes the whole story.

00:34:36.779 --> 00:34:37.800
 The end of the story

00:34:37.800 --> 00:34:39.199
 changes the whole story.

00:34:41.599 --> 00:34:42.639
 And remember,

00:34:42.840 --> 00:34:43.599
 at the beginning of this,

00:34:43.659 --> 00:34:44.099
 what do you do?

00:34:44.099 --> 00:34:45.400
 You set your mind

00:34:45.400 --> 00:34:47.039
 on Christ

00:34:47.039 --> 00:34:48.420
 in light of the cross.

00:34:48.559 --> 00:34:49.239
 You set your mind

00:34:49.239 --> 00:34:49.739
 on Christ

00:34:49.739 --> 00:34:51.440
 in all his risen,

00:34:51.699 --> 00:34:52.119
 sovereign,

00:34:52.319 --> 00:34:53.360
 Trinitarian glory.

00:34:53.679 --> 00:34:54.460
 Because at the end

00:34:54.460 --> 00:34:55.599
 of the story for you,

00:34:56.519 --> 00:34:57.759
 if you are in Christ,

00:34:58.900 --> 00:34:59.960
 whether the end

00:34:59.960 --> 00:35:00.579
 of the story is

00:35:00.579 --> 00:35:01.739
 because Jesus returns

00:35:01.739 --> 00:35:02.539
 before you die,

00:35:02.619 --> 00:35:03.679
 if you're one of the lucky ones

00:35:03.679 --> 00:35:04.159
 who will be here

00:35:04.159 --> 00:35:04.900
 when he returns,

00:35:05.579 --> 00:35:06.319
 or if it isn't

00:35:06.319 --> 00:35:07.299
 in the moment of death

00:35:07.299 --> 00:35:08.159
 when you see God

00:35:08.159 --> 00:35:08.739
 face to face,

00:35:08.779 --> 00:35:09.339
 the end of the story

00:35:09.339 --> 00:35:10.019
 for you is that

00:35:10.019 --> 00:35:10.719
 God the Father

00:35:10.719 --> 00:35:13.099
 gives you the biggest smile

00:35:13.099 --> 00:35:14.500
 you have ever seen

00:35:14.500 --> 00:35:16.099
 in your entire life.

00:35:17.239 --> 00:35:18.139
 And says,

00:35:18.319 --> 00:35:20.360
 I am so glad

00:35:20.360 --> 00:35:22.219
 you are finally here.

00:35:22.779 --> 00:35:24.279
 I am so glad

00:35:24.279 --> 00:35:26.799
 you can see me

00:35:26.799 --> 00:35:28.659
 with no veil,

00:35:29.539 --> 00:35:30.279
 nothing hidden.

00:35:33.279 --> 00:35:34.739
 And the end of the story

00:35:34.739 --> 00:35:36.159
 is that not only

00:35:36.159 --> 00:35:36.719
 does the Father

00:35:36.719 --> 00:35:38.079
 give you the biggest smile

00:35:38.079 --> 00:35:39.860
 that you have ever seen,

00:35:40.319 --> 00:35:41.719
 radiating warmth

00:35:41.719 --> 00:35:42.679
 is that you then

00:35:42.679 --> 00:35:43.559
 see Jesus.

00:35:44.980 --> 00:35:45.939
 And the next thing

00:35:45.939 --> 00:35:46.239
 you know,

00:35:46.319 --> 00:35:46.879
 you look down

00:35:46.879 --> 00:35:47.359
 at yourself

00:35:47.359 --> 00:35:47.839
 and you don't even

00:35:47.839 --> 00:35:48.819
 recognize yourself

00:35:48.819 --> 00:35:49.459
 because you have

00:35:49.459 --> 00:35:50.219
 become like him.

00:35:51.179 --> 00:35:52.059
 And that is the end

00:35:52.059 --> 00:35:52.739
 of your story.

00:35:55.239 --> 00:35:56.419
 And so you can walk

00:35:56.419 --> 00:35:57.819
 towards difficulties

00:35:57.819 --> 00:35:58.679
 and you can walk

00:35:58.679 --> 00:35:59.539
 towards troubles.

00:36:00.319 --> 00:36:01.159
 And you can walk

00:36:01.159 --> 00:36:01.980
 towards successes

00:36:01.980 --> 00:36:02.739
 and you can walk

00:36:02.739 --> 00:36:03.639
 towards joys

00:36:03.639 --> 00:36:04.419
 and you can walk

00:36:04.419 --> 00:36:05.199
 towards growth

00:36:05.199 --> 00:36:06.219
 and all of those things,

00:36:06.339 --> 00:36:07.219
 but you can do everything

00:36:07.219 --> 00:36:08.299
 in the name of Jesus,

00:36:09.239 --> 00:36:10.219
 giving thanks to God

00:36:10.219 --> 00:36:10.679
 the Father,

00:36:10.839 --> 00:36:12.039
 grateful for grace.

00:36:13.559 --> 00:36:14.519
 Here's this final thing

00:36:14.519 --> 00:36:15.399
 I want to share with you.

00:36:15.559 --> 00:36:15.839
 It's a real,

00:36:15.939 --> 00:36:16.379
 it just,

00:36:16.500 --> 00:36:17.159
 I wasn't going to talk

00:36:17.159 --> 00:36:17.579
 about it.

00:36:17.699 --> 00:36:18.659
 It was in my notes,

00:36:18.799 --> 00:36:20.039
 but as I was driving here,

00:36:20.059 --> 00:36:20.819
 I just really felt

00:36:20.819 --> 00:36:21.699
 that I needed to add it,

00:36:21.759 --> 00:36:22.319
 even if it adds

00:36:22.319 --> 00:36:23.219
 an extra minute or two

00:36:23.219 --> 00:36:23.799
 to the sermon.

00:36:24.699 --> 00:36:26.399
 To understand verse 17

00:36:26.399 --> 00:36:27.439
 is to completely

00:36:27.439 --> 00:36:28.159
 and utterly

00:36:28.159 --> 00:36:30.259
 begin to lose

00:36:30.259 --> 00:36:31.419
 the pagan sense

00:36:31.419 --> 00:36:32.239
 of God's will

00:36:32.239 --> 00:36:33.239
 that captivates

00:36:33.239 --> 00:36:33.839
 the church.

00:36:35.079 --> 00:36:35.699
 You see,

00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:37.000
 many Christians

00:36:37.000 --> 00:36:37.859
 have a completely

00:36:37.859 --> 00:36:38.779
 pagan notion

00:36:38.780 --> 00:36:39.600
 of God's will

00:36:39.600 --> 00:36:41.140
 that if it comes down

00:36:41.140 --> 00:36:42.180
 to me trying to discern,

00:36:42.300 --> 00:36:43.519
 should I go to this school?

00:36:43.620 --> 00:36:44.560
 Should I go to Ottawa U

00:36:44.560 --> 00:36:45.680
 or should I go to Carleton?

00:36:45.900 --> 00:36:47.720
 Should I go to Ottawa U

00:36:47.720 --> 00:36:48.660
 or go to Queens?

00:36:48.840 --> 00:36:50.400
 Or should I get this house

00:36:50.400 --> 00:36:51.360
 or should I go to that house?

00:36:51.400 --> 00:36:52.140
 And a lot of times

00:36:52.140 --> 00:36:52.740
 we Christians

00:36:52.740 --> 00:36:53.680
 have this understanding

00:36:53.680 --> 00:36:54.980
 that if you miss God's will,

00:36:55.060 --> 00:36:56.060
 your life is screwed.

00:36:58.280 --> 00:36:59.340
 You know that the rest

00:36:59.340 --> 00:36:59.820
 of your life

00:36:59.820 --> 00:37:01.720
 is just in turmoil

00:37:01.720 --> 00:37:02.840
 because you should have

00:37:02.840 --> 00:37:04.200
 gone to Ottawa U,

00:37:04.460 --> 00:37:05.360
 not Carleton,

00:37:05.519 --> 00:37:06.760
 or whatever it is.

00:37:06.760 --> 00:37:08.100
 You should have taken job A,

00:37:08.200 --> 00:37:09.120
 not job B.

00:37:09.240 --> 00:37:09.440
 You know,

00:37:09.500 --> 00:37:10.760
 you should have done whatever.

00:37:11.100 --> 00:37:12.560
 And that's a pagan notion.

00:37:13.000 --> 00:37:13.820
 Do you see that anywhere

00:37:13.820 --> 00:37:14.980
 here in verse 17?

00:37:15.680 --> 00:37:16.540
 It doesn't say,

00:37:17.080 --> 00:37:18.400
 and whenever you finally

00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:20.520
 figure out what God's will is,

00:37:20.620 --> 00:37:21.760
 then all these good things

00:37:21.760 --> 00:37:22.180
 will happen,

00:37:22.300 --> 00:37:22.820
 but if not,

00:37:22.880 --> 00:37:24.260
 it sucks to be you

00:37:24.260 --> 00:37:25.140
 because your life

00:37:25.140 --> 00:37:26.120
 is screwed up.

00:37:26.180 --> 00:37:26.340
 No,

00:37:26.400 --> 00:37:27.500
 that's not what it says.

00:37:28.600 --> 00:37:29.580
 What does it say?

00:37:31.820 --> 00:37:32.220
 Obviously,

00:37:32.320 --> 00:37:32.740
 it's not saying

00:37:32.740 --> 00:37:33.880
 choose sin and God will...

00:37:33.880 --> 00:37:34.060
 No,

00:37:34.140 --> 00:37:34.460
 it's saying,

00:37:34.520 --> 00:37:34.880
 you know what?

00:37:34.880 --> 00:37:37.260
 Think through the best thing

00:37:37.260 --> 00:37:37.840
 about whether you should

00:37:37.840 --> 00:37:38.660
 go to this university

00:37:38.660 --> 00:37:38.980
 or that,

00:37:39.039 --> 00:37:40.220
 or which house you should buy,

00:37:40.340 --> 00:37:42.000
 or which job you should take,

00:37:42.019 --> 00:37:42.980
 or when you retire,

00:37:43.240 --> 00:37:44.280
 or, you know,

00:37:44.360 --> 00:37:45.400
 whether to plant roses,

00:37:45.640 --> 00:37:45.880
 or what...

00:37:45.880 --> 00:37:46.000
 Like,

00:37:46.039 --> 00:37:47.079
 think the best thing you can.

00:37:47.160 --> 00:37:47.280
 Like,

00:37:47.320 --> 00:37:48.240
 pray about it and think about it.

00:37:48.280 --> 00:37:48.940
 God doesn't want to...

00:37:48.940 --> 00:37:50.360
 Do your life with Jesus,

00:37:50.480 --> 00:37:51.059
 but you know what?

00:37:51.400 --> 00:37:52.559
 Whatever you do,

00:37:54.340 --> 00:37:55.220
 whether you go to Ottawa

00:37:55.220 --> 00:37:55.940
 or you're at Carleton,

00:37:56.019 --> 00:37:57.019
 or you work for this job

00:37:57.019 --> 00:37:57.400
 or that,

00:37:57.500 --> 00:37:58.099
 or you...

00:37:58.099 --> 00:37:59.099
 Whatever you do,

00:37:59.160 --> 00:38:00.220
 do it in the name of Jesus

00:38:00.220 --> 00:38:01.180
 with thanksgiving,

00:38:01.380 --> 00:38:02.140
 and you know what?

00:38:02.139 --> 00:38:03.299
 God is going to bless you.

00:38:05.559 --> 00:38:06.779
 He's going to bless you.

00:38:07.659 --> 00:38:08.960
 He's going to make you into...

00:38:08.960 --> 00:38:09.879
 He's only making you

00:38:09.879 --> 00:38:11.259
 into a giant sequoia.

00:38:16.940 --> 00:38:17.739
 It's an invitation

00:38:17.739 --> 00:38:18.579
 to living

00:38:18.579 --> 00:38:20.440
 in a way better way.

00:38:21.159 --> 00:38:21.339
 Andrew,

00:38:21.400 --> 00:38:22.039
 could you put up

00:38:22.039 --> 00:38:23.079
 the final point,

00:38:23.179 --> 00:38:23.339
 please?

00:38:23.420 --> 00:38:24.339
 I'd like you all to stand

00:38:24.339 --> 00:38:25.879
 because I bring the sermon

00:38:25.879 --> 00:38:26.460
 to an end.

00:38:26.960 --> 00:38:28.099
 And the final point

00:38:28.099 --> 00:38:28.980
 is a bit of a prayer,

00:38:28.980 --> 00:38:31.980
 and it's...

00:38:31.980 --> 00:38:34.780
 I put it down as,

00:38:34.940 --> 00:38:35.820
 Lord, speak and rule

00:38:35.820 --> 00:38:36.820
 in all my heart.

00:38:37.079 --> 00:38:38.480
 No area is out of bounds

00:38:38.480 --> 00:38:38.960
 to you.

00:38:39.460 --> 00:38:40.740
 I hold nothing back.

00:38:41.360 --> 00:38:42.420
 Make your home in me

00:38:42.420 --> 00:38:43.260
 so I may live

00:38:43.260 --> 00:38:44.119
 a grateful life

00:38:44.119 --> 00:38:44.740
 for your glory.

00:38:44.840 --> 00:38:45.800
 That's trying to summarize

00:38:45.800 --> 00:38:46.659
 the whole teaching

00:38:46.659 --> 00:38:47.380
 of this text.

00:38:47.880 --> 00:38:49.240
 And it's the culmination

00:38:49.240 --> 00:38:49.960
 of the text.

00:38:51.059 --> 00:38:52.000
 And one of the things

00:38:52.000 --> 00:38:52.940
 which I invite you...

00:38:52.940 --> 00:38:53.079
 You know,

00:38:53.119 --> 00:38:54.679
 you can use your own words.

00:38:54.800 --> 00:38:55.619
 I write this down

00:38:55.619 --> 00:38:56.480
 because maybe it would be

00:38:56.480 --> 00:38:57.380
 something that'd help you.

00:38:57.380 --> 00:38:58.640
 But, you know,

00:38:58.680 --> 00:38:59.360
 for those of you

00:38:59.360 --> 00:39:00.059
 who haven't given

00:39:00.059 --> 00:39:00.940
 your life to Christ,

00:39:01.000 --> 00:39:01.800
 this can also be

00:39:01.800 --> 00:39:03.200
 a conversion prayer for you.

00:39:05.340 --> 00:39:06.440
 Like, it's both,

00:39:06.559 --> 00:39:07.059
 in a sense,

00:39:07.519 --> 00:39:08.960
 very, very real sense.

00:39:09.559 --> 00:39:10.000
 The way,

00:39:10.280 --> 00:39:11.260
 if you haven't...

00:39:11.260 --> 00:39:11.960
 If you've not always

00:39:11.960 --> 00:39:12.640
 been a Christian,

00:39:13.980 --> 00:39:15.880
 and this could be...

00:39:15.880 --> 00:39:17.300
 If you speak to Jesus,

00:39:17.980 --> 00:39:19.119
 he hears it,

00:39:19.200 --> 00:39:20.079
 and he'll do this.

00:39:22.220 --> 00:39:23.900
 He will make his home in you.

00:39:24.380 --> 00:39:25.320
 Like, he will do it.

00:39:25.740 --> 00:39:26.559
 And for those of us

00:39:26.559 --> 00:39:27.300
 who are Christians,

00:39:27.380 --> 00:39:28.840
 it's just part of living out

00:39:28.840 --> 00:39:30.519
 verses 15, 16, and 17.

00:39:31.460 --> 00:39:32.200
 It's a prayer

00:39:32.200 --> 00:39:33.360
 for every day of our life,

00:39:33.400 --> 00:39:34.280
 for the rest of our life.

00:39:35.099 --> 00:39:36.220
 And for those who haven't

00:39:36.220 --> 00:39:37.119
 given their lives to Christ,

00:39:37.180 --> 00:39:38.300
 it's the beginning of new life.

00:39:39.559 --> 00:39:41.039
 So, there's no...

00:39:41.039 --> 00:39:41.760
 You don't have to say it

00:39:41.760 --> 00:39:42.400
 out loud with me,

00:39:42.460 --> 00:39:42.980
 but if the Lord

00:39:42.980 --> 00:39:43.880
 puts it on your heart,

00:39:43.960 --> 00:39:45.099
 if you would join with me

00:39:45.099 --> 00:39:46.079
 in praying this prayer.

00:39:48.079 --> 00:39:48.360
 Lord,

00:39:48.700 --> 00:39:50.400
 please speak and rule

00:39:50.400 --> 00:39:51.619
 in all my heart.

00:39:52.059 --> 00:39:53.800
 No area is out of bounds

00:39:53.800 --> 00:39:54.300
 to you.

00:39:54.780 --> 00:39:56.240
 I hold nothing back.

00:39:56.239 --> 00:39:58.000
 Make your home in me

00:39:58.000 --> 00:39:59.199
 so I may live

00:39:59.199 --> 00:40:00.259
 a grateful life

00:40:00.259 --> 00:40:00.979
 for your glory.

00:40:01.619 --> 00:40:03.199
 We should add in Jesus' name.

00:40:03.279 --> 00:40:03.500
 Amen.

00:40:03.739 --> 00:40:04.359
 So, let's just pray.

00:40:04.459 --> 00:40:04.699
 Father,

00:40:05.259 --> 00:40:06.199
 we ask that you would

00:40:06.199 --> 00:40:07.279
 bring these words home.

00:40:07.500 --> 00:40:08.799
 We thank you, Father,

00:40:08.859 --> 00:40:09.659
 that you don't just want

00:40:09.659 --> 00:40:10.679
 to give us drugs

00:40:10.679 --> 00:40:12.179
 that covers over a leg

00:40:12.179 --> 00:40:12.239
 that...

00:40:12.239 --> 00:40:14.319
 or things in our lives

00:40:14.319 --> 00:40:15.059
 that would require

00:40:15.059 --> 00:40:16.259
 13 surgeries.

00:40:16.259 --> 00:40:16.579
 Father,

00:40:16.619 --> 00:40:17.939
 you don't just give us drugs,

00:40:18.479 --> 00:40:20.539
 leaving us broken

00:40:20.539 --> 00:40:21.259
 and rotting,

00:40:22.019 --> 00:40:24.259
 but that you bring life.

00:40:24.419 --> 00:40:25.579
 You want to reorder

00:40:25.579 --> 00:40:26.619
 and heal us

00:40:26.619 --> 00:40:28.639
 so that we are healthy

00:40:28.639 --> 00:40:29.319
 and whole

00:40:29.319 --> 00:40:30.799
 and fit for heaven.

00:40:31.679 --> 00:40:31.939
 Father,

00:40:32.059 --> 00:40:32.799
 we thank you

00:40:32.799 --> 00:40:33.799
 that you are vast...

00:40:33.799 --> 00:40:35.759
 you have a vastly wiser

00:40:35.759 --> 00:40:37.419
 and better plan for us

00:40:37.419 --> 00:40:38.619
 than what our culture

00:40:38.619 --> 00:40:39.719
 suggests we need.

00:40:40.219 --> 00:40:41.199
 And we ask, Father,

00:40:41.279 --> 00:40:42.079
 that you help us

00:40:42.079 --> 00:40:43.099
 to fix our minds

00:40:43.099 --> 00:40:44.319
 and keep our minds in Christ.

00:40:44.419 --> 00:40:45.419
 Help us to be faithful

00:40:45.419 --> 00:40:46.439
 in reading your word

00:40:46.439 --> 00:40:48.199
 and sharing your word

00:40:48.199 --> 00:40:49.699
 and singing over each other

00:40:49.699 --> 00:40:50.559
 and speaking into

00:40:50.559 --> 00:40:51.480
 each other's lives

00:40:51.480 --> 00:40:53.399
 and speaking and receiving that.

00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:53.719
 Father,

00:40:53.819 --> 00:40:55.299
 help us to be such individuals

00:40:55.299 --> 00:40:56.359
 and such a church

00:40:56.359 --> 00:40:57.500
 all for your glory.

00:40:57.599 --> 00:40:58.319
 We ask not only

00:40:58.319 --> 00:40:58.939
 for those at 8,

00:40:59.019 --> 00:40:59.539
 those at 10,

00:40:59.599 --> 00:41:00.719
 and those who are part

00:41:00.719 --> 00:41:02.039
 of our online congregation,

00:41:02.299 --> 00:41:02.459
 Father,

00:41:02.519 --> 00:41:03.939
 we ask for this wonderful act

00:41:03.939 --> 00:41:04.779
 of reformation

00:41:04.779 --> 00:41:06.419
 and revival in our lives

00:41:06.419 --> 00:41:07.579
 all for your glory.

00:41:08.019 --> 00:41:08.619
 And we ask this

00:41:08.619 --> 00:41:09.439
 in the name of Jesus

00:41:09.440 --> 00:41:10.900
 and all God's people said,

00:41:11.619 --> 00:41:11.880
 Amen.