WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.600
 Turn, if you will, to Galatians chapter 4.

00:00:03.260 --> 00:00:05.900
 So if you have a black church Bible, it's page 974.

00:00:07.000 --> 00:00:08.460
 And if you want to grab one, they're just by the door.

00:00:08.580 --> 00:00:12.400
 If you've come wanting a Christmas sermon,

00:00:12.620 --> 00:00:13.759
 you're going to be very, very disappointed.

00:00:14.700 --> 00:00:16.899
 But we're in Galatians,

00:00:17.019 --> 00:00:19.500
 and I need to get to the end of Galatians by the end of January,

00:00:19.740 --> 00:00:21.900
 and I'm struggling to get out of Galatians.

00:00:22.240 --> 00:00:24.379
 So I think I've got something,

00:00:24.519 --> 00:00:25.780
 well, I have got something to say tonight,

00:00:26.339 --> 00:00:27.900
 and it'll be a good sermon,

00:00:28.420 --> 00:00:29.440
 I hope, for the end of the year.

00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:33.100
 Galatians is pretty lively, isn't it?

00:00:33.759 --> 00:00:34.679
 It's pretty fiery.

00:00:36.119 --> 00:00:38.519
 And the Apostle Paul is giving a biblical

00:00:38.519 --> 00:00:42.140
 and a theological argument, step by step by step.

00:00:42.219 --> 00:00:43.480
 And what you find with the Apostle Paul

00:00:43.480 --> 00:00:46.039
 is his logic is unanswerable.

00:00:47.760 --> 00:00:48.799
 Relentlessly logical.

00:00:50.840 --> 00:00:53.140
 And I think, very often, when we think of the Apostle Paul,

00:00:53.140 --> 00:00:56.980
 we think of this kind of cerebral, stern, logical man,

00:00:57.079 --> 00:00:58.079
 and we can ask the question,

00:00:58.079 --> 00:01:01.359
 does anything get beyond his mind and reason?

00:01:02.539 --> 00:01:04.039
 People might ask that of churches like ours.

00:01:04.539 --> 00:01:06.140
 Do they feel anything?

00:01:07.959 --> 00:01:09.759
 Seem like stones sometimes.

00:01:10.500 --> 00:01:12.719
 The Apostle Paul, did anything move him?

00:01:14.099 --> 00:01:15.239
 Did he feel?

00:01:16.120 --> 00:01:18.599
 Well, look with me at verses 8 to 20.

00:01:19.539 --> 00:01:20.599
 Look at verse 11.

00:01:20.599 --> 00:01:21.840
 There he's saying this,

00:01:21.840 --> 00:01:23.200
 I'm afraid about you.

00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:25.600
 He's saying to the church in Galatia,

00:01:25.680 --> 00:01:28.939
 I'm afraid that my whole work amongst you

00:01:28.939 --> 00:01:29.700
 has gone down the drain.

00:01:31.100 --> 00:01:32.420
 Verses 15 to 16,

00:01:33.520 --> 00:01:33.980
 he's saying,

00:01:34.100 --> 00:01:34.960
 I'm disappointed in you.

00:01:34.959 --> 00:01:38.640
 I'm really disappointed in you.

00:01:39.739 --> 00:01:40.899
 I've told you the truth,

00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:42.419
 and now you see me as your enemy.

00:01:43.419 --> 00:01:44.759
 And in verse 19,

00:01:44.979 --> 00:01:45.599
 he says,

00:01:45.780 --> 00:01:49.719
 it's as if I'm like a mother suffering birth pains.

00:01:49.979 --> 00:01:51.599
 And I've not suffered birth pains,

00:01:51.979 --> 00:01:53.259
 but neither is the Apostle Paul.

00:01:53.419 --> 00:01:55.339
 But there's certainly feeling, isn't there,

00:01:55.399 --> 00:01:56.179
 in birth pains.

00:01:57.639 --> 00:01:58.259
 He says,

00:01:58.359 --> 00:02:00.359
 I'm like a mother suffering birth pains.

00:02:00.359 --> 00:02:01.819
 And he ensures his aim

00:02:01.819 --> 00:02:04.239
 until Christ is formed in you.

00:02:04.299 --> 00:02:04.579
 He says,

00:02:04.680 --> 00:02:05.280
 I'm in agony.

00:02:06.819 --> 00:02:08.719
 I'm like an apostle with birth pains.

00:02:09.939 --> 00:02:11.780
 That's what he felt for the Galatian Christians

00:02:11.780 --> 00:02:12.900
 on three things tonight.

00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:14.620
 As he speaks to them,

00:02:14.699 --> 00:02:16.180
 he says to the church in Galatia,

00:02:16.740 --> 00:02:20.560
 do not forfeit the freedom of Christ.

00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:24.740
 Don't forfeit the freedom of Christ.

00:02:26.319 --> 00:02:27.560
 He begins by saying,

00:02:28.060 --> 00:02:30.219
 before you came to know the Lord Jesus Christ,

00:02:30.860 --> 00:02:32.320
 you were in bondage.

00:02:33.260 --> 00:02:33.920
 You were in chains.

00:02:34.060 --> 00:02:34.820
 You were enslaved.

00:02:36.360 --> 00:02:38.400
 It was the bondage of paganism.

00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:42.020
 And he's saying that not knowing God

00:02:42.020 --> 00:02:43.060
 isn't actually freedom.

00:02:43.180 --> 00:02:43.900
 It is slavery.

00:02:45.020 --> 00:02:46.060
 When you didn't know God,

00:02:46.160 --> 00:02:47.200
 you weren't slaves.

00:02:48.340 --> 00:02:49.300
 And that's what they were

00:02:49.300 --> 00:02:51.100
 in their paganism and their idols.

00:02:51.520 --> 00:02:52.260
 And then he says,

00:02:52.460 --> 00:02:54.120
 that changed, didn't it?

00:02:54.500 --> 00:02:56.060
 You came to the Lord Jesus Christ

00:02:56.060 --> 00:02:57.620
 and you've had a taste of freedom.

00:02:58.000 --> 00:02:58.580
 Verse nine,

00:02:58.580 --> 00:03:00.760
 when you came to know God.

00:03:01.800 --> 00:03:03.540
 And then he corrects himself.

00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:04.980
 And he says,

00:03:05.020 --> 00:03:06.280
 when you came to know God,

00:03:06.460 --> 00:03:07.060
 or rather,

00:03:07.180 --> 00:03:09.520
 when you came to be known by God.

00:03:11.820 --> 00:03:12.380
 He's saying,

00:03:12.500 --> 00:03:13.960
 you came to know God,

00:03:15.040 --> 00:03:17.180
 but the fact that you came to know God

00:03:17.180 --> 00:03:18.960
 was not because of something that you did.

00:03:18.960 --> 00:03:22.520
 It was not because of an action that you did,

00:03:22.840 --> 00:03:25.159
 but you were known by God first.

00:03:26.379 --> 00:03:27.960
 And that is why you came to know God.

00:03:29.560 --> 00:03:30.379
 That's true, isn't it?

00:03:30.500 --> 00:03:34.180
 It's always his initiative that comes first.

00:03:34.180 --> 00:03:37.760
 You came to know God.

00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:40.340
 And that is freedom and wonderful,

00:03:40.500 --> 00:03:41.960
 but it is an even more wonderful thing

00:03:41.960 --> 00:03:43.159
 to be known by God.

00:03:43.260 --> 00:03:44.379
 It is God's initiative.

00:03:44.580 --> 00:03:46.260
 You love God because he first loved you.

00:03:47.840 --> 00:03:48.960
 But he said to the Galatians,

00:03:49.200 --> 00:03:50.280
 you've known that freedom.

00:03:50.480 --> 00:03:51.860
 You've known a taste of freedom.

00:03:51.860 --> 00:03:54.940
 And you've known a genuine,

00:03:55.640 --> 00:03:58.240
 living relationship with God.

00:03:59.560 --> 00:04:01.360
 And you are known by him.

00:04:02.040 --> 00:04:04.540
 But now you are regressing back into bondage.

00:04:05.860 --> 00:04:07.360
 He says in verses 9 and 10,

00:04:07.420 --> 00:04:08.320
 how is that?

00:04:10.140 --> 00:04:12.960
 How is it that you're turning your back

00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:15.220
 on freedom?

00:04:16.280 --> 00:04:17.840
 How is it that you're turning back

00:04:17.840 --> 00:04:20.000
 to the weak and powerless,

00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:22.319
 elementary principles of the world?

00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:25.480
 Why is it having a taste of freedom

00:04:25.480 --> 00:04:26.579
 you want to go back into slavery?

00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:29.939
 You're observing days and months

00:04:29.939 --> 00:04:31.220
 and seasons and years.

00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:34.399
 Why are you going back to bondage?

00:04:35.819 --> 00:04:36.540
 And so what's going on?

00:04:36.579 --> 00:04:38.399
 What are these days and months

00:04:38.399 --> 00:04:39.339
 and seasons and years?

00:04:39.420 --> 00:04:41.120
 They are days of special celebration

00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:42.300
 in the Jewish calendar.

00:04:43.620 --> 00:04:46.339
 Holidays, Jewish religious festivals.

00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:48.220
 Some of them were Sabbaths,

00:04:48.220 --> 00:04:50.080
 but then there were months.

00:04:50.180 --> 00:04:50.740
 Every new month,

00:04:50.820 --> 00:04:52.500
 there was a new moon festival

00:04:52.500 --> 00:04:53.480
 at the start of each month.

00:04:54.440 --> 00:04:57.420
 Seasons would be more prolonged festivals

00:04:57.420 --> 00:04:58.600
 like perhaps Pentecost

00:04:58.600 --> 00:05:00.300
 or the Feast of Tabernacles.

00:05:01.240 --> 00:05:03.240
 Some of the feasts and the years,

00:05:03.340 --> 00:05:04.100
 the year of Jubilee.

00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:05.540
 And they were commemorated

00:05:06.140 --> 00:05:07.280
 throughout the Jewish calendar.

00:05:07.279 --> 00:05:11.739
 And these teachers who've come to Galatia,

00:05:12.679 --> 00:05:13.939
 they're invading the church

00:05:13.939 --> 00:05:15.639
 and they're saying to these new believers,

00:05:16.279 --> 00:05:19.539
 if you really want to be part of the people of God,

00:05:20.139 --> 00:05:22.379
 if you really want to belong

00:05:22.379 --> 00:05:23.399
 and to know God,

00:05:23.459 --> 00:05:24.779
 you've got to keep the Jewish observances.

00:05:26.779 --> 00:05:28.619
 Paul is not anti-Jew.

00:05:29.059 --> 00:05:29.599
 He was one.

00:05:29.600 --> 00:05:33.800
 He wasn't against observances as such.

00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:36.220
 As long as they were an expression,

00:05:36.939 --> 00:05:37.840
 a voluntary expression.

00:05:38.180 --> 00:05:39.400
 But what he was upset by

00:05:39.400 --> 00:05:40.920
 was these teachers were saying,

00:05:41.280 --> 00:05:41.980
 this is essential.

00:05:43.020 --> 00:05:44.960
 That if you want to be one of the people of God,

00:05:45.020 --> 00:05:46.640
 you've got to keep these observances.

00:05:47.840 --> 00:05:50.540
 That they try to impose on the Galatians

00:05:50.540 --> 00:05:51.879
 as necessary to salvation.

00:05:52.420 --> 00:05:53.220
 He is saying,

00:05:53.879 --> 00:05:56.580
 it's not like the paganism you've come from

00:05:56.579 --> 00:05:57.399
 in one sense,

00:05:58.379 --> 00:06:00.099
 but it is the same bondage.

00:06:01.519 --> 00:06:02.879
 It is the same principle

00:06:02.879 --> 00:06:05.779
 in thinking that outward observance

00:06:05.779 --> 00:06:07.839
 is what really matters.

00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:08.919
 It's a form of legalism.

00:06:10.120 --> 00:06:11.419
 As if by doing,

00:06:11.579 --> 00:06:13.019
 keeping certain days,

00:06:13.919 --> 00:06:15.899
 that is going to claim you credit with God.

00:06:17.639 --> 00:06:18.219
 I wonder how,

00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:20.719
 whether you realise how barren that is.

00:06:22.719 --> 00:06:23.759
 I'm John Wesley,

00:06:23.959 --> 00:06:25.759
 the founder of Methodism,

00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:27.139
 the kind of great 18th century preacher.

00:06:27.259 --> 00:06:28.000
 In his early days,

00:06:28.039 --> 00:06:30.099
 he graduated from Oxford University.

00:06:31.379 --> 00:06:32.379
 And he and his friends

00:06:32.379 --> 00:06:34.060
 formed something like a holy club.

00:06:34.839 --> 00:06:35.560
 Well, that's what it was called.

00:06:36.680 --> 00:06:38.439
 Wesley was the son of a clergyman.

00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:40.659
 And John himself was already ordained.

00:06:42.039 --> 00:06:43.779
 He was quite sound and orthodox in his belief.

00:06:43.959 --> 00:06:45.300
 He was religious in his practice.

00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:47.279
 He was upright in his conduct.

00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:48.180
 He was moral.

00:06:48.279 --> 00:06:49.139
 He was full,

00:06:49.300 --> 00:06:50.579
 overflowing of good works.

00:06:51.719 --> 00:06:52.779
 He and his friends

00:06:52.779 --> 00:06:54.060
 visited inmates

00:06:54.060 --> 00:06:55.980
 in the prison and workhouses

00:06:55.980 --> 00:06:56.579
 around Oxford.

00:06:57.899 --> 00:06:58.920
 John Wesley took pity

00:06:58.920 --> 00:06:59.780
 on slum children.

00:06:59.939 --> 00:07:00.939
 He provided them with food

00:07:00.939 --> 00:07:02.079
 and clothing and education.

00:07:03.699 --> 00:07:04.339
 In the holy club,

00:07:04.399 --> 00:07:05.540
 they not only observed the Sabbath,

00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:07.060
 but they observed Saturday

00:07:07.060 --> 00:07:07.639
 as all hell.

00:07:09.019 --> 00:07:10.040
 They went to church.

00:07:11.079 --> 00:07:12.100
 They had holy communion.

00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:13.160
 They gave alms.

00:07:14.139 --> 00:07:15.259
 They searched the scripture.

00:07:15.399 --> 00:07:16.439
 They did lots of Bible studies.

00:07:16.680 --> 00:07:17.319
 They fasted.

00:07:17.399 --> 00:07:18.040
 They prayed.

00:07:18.040 --> 00:07:20.340
 But they were enslaved

00:07:20.340 --> 00:07:23.200
 by the shackles of religion.

00:07:24.819 --> 00:07:25.920
 And they were trusting

00:07:25.920 --> 00:07:29.280
 in their religious observances

00:07:29.280 --> 00:07:31.200
 and their procedures

00:07:31.200 --> 00:07:34.420
 and not in Jesus Christ alone.

00:07:35.960 --> 00:07:37.600
 And that is barren.

00:07:39.200 --> 00:07:41.060
 That is a dead end street.

00:07:41.060 --> 00:07:44.220
 When you are trusting

00:07:44.220 --> 00:07:45.220
 in that stuff,

00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:46.319
 it is barren

00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:47.899
 and it is a dead end.

00:07:48.019 --> 00:07:49.040
 Can you see the difference here?

00:07:50.540 --> 00:07:51.019
 Freedom,

00:07:51.280 --> 00:07:51.920
 Paul says,

00:07:52.519 --> 00:07:54.660
 is knowing God

00:07:54.660 --> 00:07:56.120
 and being known by him.

00:07:58.040 --> 00:07:58.600
 Bondages,

00:07:59.399 --> 00:08:01.199
 you observe days

00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:02.639
 and months

00:08:02.639 --> 00:08:03.319
 and seasons

00:08:03.319 --> 00:08:03.819
 and years.

00:08:06.360 --> 00:08:07.699
 There is a difference.

00:08:07.899 --> 00:08:08.720
 There is all the world

00:08:08.720 --> 00:08:09.180
 of difference

00:08:09.180 --> 00:08:09.840
 between having

00:08:09.840 --> 00:08:11.280
 a genuine relationship

00:08:11.280 --> 00:08:12.340
 with God

00:08:12.340 --> 00:08:14.319
 and keeping

00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:15.180
 external

00:08:15.180 --> 00:08:16.540
 religious

00:08:16.540 --> 00:08:17.259
 observances.

00:08:20.240 --> 00:08:21.280
 You can carefully

00:08:21.280 --> 00:08:23.379
 be in church

00:08:23.379 --> 00:08:25.160
 and keep the days

00:08:25.160 --> 00:08:25.780
 and keep the seasons

00:08:25.780 --> 00:08:26.420
 and keep the months

00:08:26.420 --> 00:08:27.040
 and keep the years

00:08:27.040 --> 00:08:29.280
 and not know God at all.

00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:33.159
 25 years ago,

00:08:33.220 --> 00:08:33.779
 we just got married

00:08:33.779 --> 00:08:34.639
 and we went

00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:35.200
 to Northern Ireland

00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:35.620
 for Christmas.

00:08:35.960 --> 00:08:36.980
 I was running a youth group

00:08:36.980 --> 00:08:38.259
 and the youth group

00:08:38.259 --> 00:08:38.879
 gave me a present

00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:39.340
 for Christmas

00:08:39.340 --> 00:08:40.259
 and they said,

00:08:40.419 --> 00:08:41.659
 don't open it

00:08:41.659 --> 00:08:42.879
 until you get

00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:43.419
 to Northern Ireland.

00:08:44.279 --> 00:08:44.840
 We were getting

00:08:44.840 --> 00:08:45.679
 the earliest flight

00:08:45.679 --> 00:08:46.379
 from Newton Airport

00:08:46.379 --> 00:08:47.299
 a couple of days

00:08:47.299 --> 00:08:47.879
 before Christmas

00:08:47.879 --> 00:08:49.299
 and we arrived

00:08:49.299 --> 00:08:49.899
 at Newton Airport.

00:08:50.059 --> 00:08:51.500
 It was absolutely rammed,

00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:52.240
 easy jet,

00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:53.100
 overbooking flights

00:08:53.100 --> 00:08:53.539
 and all that,

00:08:53.600 --> 00:08:54.399
 absolutely packed.

00:08:54.500 --> 00:08:56.639
 We put our bag

00:08:56.639 --> 00:08:57.620
 through the security

00:08:57.620 --> 00:08:59.159
 and the security

00:08:59.159 --> 00:09:01.340
 alarm went off

00:09:01.340 --> 00:09:02.080
 and started flashing.

00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:05.080
 our bag went through.

00:09:05.180 --> 00:09:06.379
 They took our bag away.

00:09:07.379 --> 00:09:08.660
 They took it to the side.

00:09:09.420 --> 00:09:10.120
 He looked at me

00:09:10.120 --> 00:09:10.900
 and he said,

00:09:11.080 --> 00:09:12.360
 you've got a gun

00:09:12.360 --> 00:09:13.080
 in your bag.

00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:16.240
 I said to him,

00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:16.980
 I've got a gun

00:09:16.980 --> 00:09:17.420
 in my bag.

00:09:17.620 --> 00:09:18.020
 He said,

00:09:18.120 --> 00:09:19.040
 you've got a gun

00:09:19.040 --> 00:09:19.980
 in your bag.

00:09:20.800 --> 00:09:21.900
 Two other men arrived.

00:09:22.940 --> 00:09:23.800
 The bag is there.

00:09:23.860 --> 00:09:24.100
 They say,

00:09:24.139 --> 00:09:24.860
 you've got a gun

00:09:24.860 --> 00:09:25.600
 in your bag.

00:09:25.820 --> 00:09:26.080
 I said,

00:09:26.120 --> 00:09:26.700
 I haven't got a gun

00:09:26.700 --> 00:09:27.180
 in my bag.

00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:28.559
 I haven't got a gun.

00:09:30.359 --> 00:09:31.139
 They opened it up

00:09:31.139 --> 00:09:31.879
 very, very carefully

00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:34.899
 and there in the wrapping paper

00:09:34.899 --> 00:09:36.459
 is a potato gun

00:09:36.459 --> 00:09:37.179
 from the young people.

00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:38.899
 I could have killed them.

00:09:40.219 --> 00:09:41.839
 I could have absolutely killed them.

00:09:42.559 --> 00:09:43.439
 On the x-ray,

00:09:43.819 --> 00:09:44.979
 it looked like a real gun.

00:09:46.179 --> 00:09:46.919
 On the x-ray,

00:09:47.000 --> 00:09:47.419
 you look at it

00:09:47.419 --> 00:09:47.799
 and you say,

00:09:47.919 --> 00:09:48.599
 you've got a gun

00:09:48.599 --> 00:09:49.359
 in your bag

00:09:49.359 --> 00:09:50.459
 but it wasn't a proper gun.

00:09:51.299 --> 00:09:52.079
 It wasn't a real gun.

00:09:52.079 --> 00:09:53.159
 There was the shape

00:09:53.159 --> 00:09:54.359
 and there was the form

00:09:54.359 --> 00:09:56.719
 but there was no reality.

00:09:57.179 --> 00:10:00.059
 And religious practice,

00:10:00.179 --> 00:10:00.599
 even tonight,

00:10:00.679 --> 00:10:01.639
 even coming to church

00:10:01.639 --> 00:10:02.439
 on the last,

00:10:02.699 --> 00:10:03.879
 on graveyard Sunday,

00:10:04.019 --> 00:10:04.699
 Sunday night,

00:10:05.739 --> 00:10:07.959
 it can look real

00:10:07.959 --> 00:10:09.479
 but there'd be no reality to it.

00:10:12.859 --> 00:10:13.699
 And we need to be

00:10:13.699 --> 00:10:14.699
 very careful as a church.

00:10:17.639 --> 00:10:19.039
 Do I really know

00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:19.899
 the freedom

00:10:19.899 --> 00:10:22.799
 of being known by God?

00:10:24.799 --> 00:10:26.919
 The reality of a relationship

00:10:26.919 --> 00:10:29.519
 of really knowing God.

00:10:29.579 --> 00:10:30.379
 We can say that.

00:10:33.219 --> 00:10:34.339
 Or am I caught up

00:10:34.339 --> 00:10:35.199
 in the practice of religion?

00:10:38.120 --> 00:10:39.159
 Why is it that

00:10:39.159 --> 00:10:41.539
 formal religiosity,

00:10:41.839 --> 00:10:42.459
 if I put it like that,

00:10:42.539 --> 00:10:43.860
 is so attractive to some people?

00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:44.740
 Well, for one thing,

00:10:44.799 --> 00:10:45.620
 it's flattering, isn't it?

00:10:47.259 --> 00:10:48.199
 Because we think to ourselves,

00:10:48.259 --> 00:10:49.139
 if I can throw myself

00:10:49.139 --> 00:10:50.419
 into religious observance,

00:10:51.419 --> 00:10:54.719
 then it probably earns me credit with God.

00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:56.820
 God will see how much

00:10:56.820 --> 00:10:57.660
 I'm doing for him.

00:10:59.220 --> 00:11:01.019
 But I think I can do something

00:11:01.019 --> 00:11:03.320
 to earn God's favour.

00:11:06.200 --> 00:11:07.700
 But it's also safe, isn't it?

00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:11.779
 There are some people out there,

00:11:11.800 --> 00:11:12.480
 maybe you tonight,

00:11:12.560 --> 00:11:13.540
 and you are afraid

00:11:13.540 --> 00:11:14.720
 of the language

00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:15.720
 of an intimate relationship

00:11:16.360 --> 00:11:17.100
 with God.

00:11:17.100 --> 00:11:20.960
 You don't want God

00:11:20.960 --> 00:11:23.000
 to get too close to you.

00:11:24.700 --> 00:11:25.840
 And religious observances

00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:26.720
 and practices

00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:27.580
 and formal

00:11:27.580 --> 00:11:28.560
 kind of occasions

00:11:28.560 --> 00:11:30.440
 provide just the right form

00:11:30.440 --> 00:11:31.879
 of structured insulation

00:11:31.879 --> 00:11:34.820
 to keep us away

00:11:34.820 --> 00:11:35.879
 from meeting

00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:36.920
 with the living God.

00:11:36.919 --> 00:11:39.579
 And we have to be careful,

00:11:39.659 --> 00:11:39.819
 don't we,

00:11:39.839 --> 00:11:40.559
 and examine ourselves.

00:11:40.719 --> 00:11:41.819
 Do I know tonight,

00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:42.519
 at the end of this year,

00:11:42.579 --> 00:11:44.839
 the freedom of knowing God,

00:11:44.919 --> 00:11:45.819
 or more accurately

00:11:45.819 --> 00:11:46.740
 and more wonderfully,

00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:48.240
 of being known by him?

00:11:50.279 --> 00:11:51.279
 Or am I merely

00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:52.159
 practising religion?

00:11:54.099 --> 00:11:54.419
 Secondly,

00:11:54.519 --> 00:11:55.360
 Paul appeals to the church,

00:11:55.399 --> 00:11:55.939
 don't forfeit

00:11:55.939 --> 00:11:56.620
 the freedom of Christ,

00:11:56.699 --> 00:11:57.259
 but he says to them,

00:11:57.379 --> 00:11:58.639
 hold on to the truth of Christ.

00:11:58.699 --> 00:11:59.679
 That's verses 12 to 16.

00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:02.719
 He goes back in his memory

00:12:02.719 --> 00:12:03.219
 and he says,

00:12:03.379 --> 00:12:04.159
 can't you remember,

00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:05.199
 don't you remember

00:12:05.199 --> 00:12:06.439
 how you first received me?

00:12:06.440 --> 00:12:07.760
 When I came to Galatia,

00:12:07.820 --> 00:12:08.540
 don't you remember?

00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:10.860
 The reason I came

00:12:10.860 --> 00:12:11.480
 was because of

00:12:11.480 --> 00:12:12.780
 a bodily ailment.

00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:13.780
 I was unwell.

00:12:14.540 --> 00:12:15.180
 That's how I preached

00:12:15.180 --> 00:12:16.360
 the gospel first to you.

00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:18.640
 What does he mean by that?

00:12:18.680 --> 00:12:20.140
 What is this bodily ailment?

00:12:20.220 --> 00:12:20.700
 We don't know.

00:12:22.180 --> 00:12:22.900
 It was some

00:12:22.900 --> 00:12:24.260
 physical condition

00:12:24.260 --> 00:12:24.920
 that he had.

00:12:26.280 --> 00:12:27.220
 It may well have been

00:12:27.220 --> 00:12:28.340
 because he was persecuted.

00:12:29.680 --> 00:12:30.840
 That had bloodied him

00:12:30.840 --> 00:12:31.860
 and disfigured him.

00:12:33.040 --> 00:12:33.480
 The Apostle Paul

00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:35.340
 wasn't an attractive guy at all.

00:12:36.440 --> 00:12:36.960
 Or it could be

00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:37.520
 that there's something

00:12:37.520 --> 00:12:39.580
 physical that he suffers with

00:12:39.580 --> 00:12:40.240
 that's alluded to

00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:41.480
 in 2 Corinthians 12

00:12:41.480 --> 00:12:42.720
 with a thorn in the flesh.

00:12:44.100 --> 00:12:45.300
 We know that there's

00:12:45.300 --> 00:12:46.380
 loads of different views

00:12:46.380 --> 00:12:46.880
 on this.

00:12:47.320 --> 00:12:48.060
 Did Paul have problems

00:12:48.060 --> 00:12:48.640
 with his eyes?

00:12:48.760 --> 00:12:49.560
 Did he have a squint?

00:12:49.660 --> 00:12:50.640
 There's all sorts of theories

00:12:50.640 --> 00:12:51.020
 out there.

00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:52.340
 No one knows.

00:12:54.440 --> 00:12:55.180
 But Paul says here

00:12:55.180 --> 00:12:56.400
 in verses 13 and 14

00:12:56.400 --> 00:12:57.640
 that although my condition

00:12:57.640 --> 00:12:59.340
 was a trial to you,

00:13:00.440 --> 00:13:01.660
 you did not scorn me

00:13:01.660 --> 00:13:02.420
 or despise me.

00:13:02.880 --> 00:13:03.960
 The word literally there

00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:05.840
 is you did not spit at me.

00:13:07.780 --> 00:13:08.600
 There was something

00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:10.040
 about my physical condition

00:13:10.040 --> 00:13:12.040
 that was repulsive to you.

00:13:13.740 --> 00:13:15.100
 But in spite of that,

00:13:15.220 --> 00:13:16.379
 you received me.

00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:18.639
 How did they receive him?

00:13:19.920 --> 00:13:21.440
 As an angel of God.

00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:23.379
 It's a beautiful description

00:13:23.379 --> 00:13:23.820
 of a preacher.

00:13:25.400 --> 00:13:26.840
 As an angel of God,

00:13:26.920 --> 00:13:27.940
 a messenger of God,

00:13:28.420 --> 00:13:29.519
 as though I were Christ,

00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:30.639
 Jesus himself.

00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:33.220
 And you held on

00:13:33.220 --> 00:13:34.059
 to the truth of the gospel

00:13:34.059 --> 00:13:34.779
 that I brought to you

00:13:34.779 --> 00:13:36.080
 and you were not turned off

00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:37.159
 and you were not discouraged

00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:38.080
 because of the package

00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:38.860
 in which it came.

00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:41.360
 Because the package

00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:42.080
 in which the gospel

00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:42.860
 came to Galatia

00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:43.699
 was not very attractive,

00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:44.159
 was it?

00:13:47.319 --> 00:13:48.299
 And we live in a culture,

00:13:48.379 --> 00:13:48.580
 don't we,

00:13:48.580 --> 00:13:49.639
 that values the packaging

00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:51.340
 more than what's in the package.

00:13:53.559 --> 00:13:54.399
 Where appearance

00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:55.159
 really matters.

00:13:57.019 --> 00:13:58.220
 Where personality

00:13:58.220 --> 00:13:59.360
 really matters.

00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:04.299
 You think of

00:14:04.299 --> 00:14:06.779
 advertising.

00:14:07.659 --> 00:14:09.159
 You think of the popular people

00:14:09.159 --> 00:14:09.879
 in our culture.

00:14:11.299 --> 00:14:12.559
 You think of the social commentators.

00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:13.240
 It's very rare

00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:14.059
 there's a bald one,

00:14:14.299 --> 00:14:14.580
 isn't there?

00:14:15.319 --> 00:14:16.279
 Bald men get a very,

00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:16.980
 very hard time

00:14:16.980 --> 00:14:17.500
 in our culture.

00:14:18.019 --> 00:14:18.799
 There'll never be another

00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:19.659
 bald prime minister

00:14:19.659 --> 00:14:21.199
 or president

00:14:21.199 --> 00:14:23.699
 because the packaging matters,

00:14:23.779 --> 00:14:24.159
 doesn't it?

00:14:24.419 --> 00:14:25.700
 The packaging matters.

00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:28.179
 The church can begin

00:14:28.179 --> 00:14:28.799
 to operate that way.

00:14:28.860 --> 00:14:29.939
 Be very anti-bold men.

00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:31.639
 There's very few

00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:32.199
 bald men are asked

00:14:32.199 --> 00:14:32.779
 to speak at conferences.

00:14:32.860 --> 00:14:33.460
 I'm kidding, alright?

00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:35.460
 But we look for the minister,

00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:35.799
 don't we,

00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:37.059
 who's omnicompetent,

00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:39.259
 socially adept,

00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:40.460
 an executive,

00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:41.819
 somebody who gives off

00:14:41.819 --> 00:14:42.659
 positivity.

00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:45.460
 And if the truth

00:14:45.460 --> 00:14:45.919
 of the gospel

00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:47.179
 relies primarily

00:14:47.179 --> 00:14:48.080
 on personality

00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:48.799
 and packaging,

00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:51.659
 well,

00:14:51.719 --> 00:14:52.439
 oftentimes it would not

00:14:52.439 --> 00:14:52.939
 be accepted

00:14:52.939 --> 00:14:53.919
 because Jesus Christ

00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:54.799
 does not use

00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:55.859
 smooth operators.

00:14:57.819 --> 00:14:58.500
 Let me give you,

00:14:58.639 --> 00:14:59.240
 I've given this

00:14:59.240 --> 00:15:00.019
 illustration this year

00:15:00.019 --> 00:15:00.839
 at the lunchtime talk.

00:15:00.899 --> 00:15:01.279
 I've given it

00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:01.879
 every other year

00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:02.279
 on a Sunday

00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:02.799
 but I don't think

00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:03.199
 I've given it

00:15:03.199 --> 00:15:03.799
 this year on a Sunday.

00:15:03.939 --> 00:15:05.000
 It's the testimony

00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:06.179
 of Charles Hamilton Spurgeon.

00:15:06.459 --> 00:15:06.579
 Alright?

00:15:07.439 --> 00:15:08.179
 I love the story.

00:15:08.319 --> 00:15:09.279
 He's 15 years old.

00:15:11.079 --> 00:15:11.699
 Spurgeon says,

00:15:11.799 --> 00:15:12.559
 I was thinking about

00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:14.299
 salvation one day.

00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:15.639
 He was exercised

00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:16.199
 about his soul.

00:15:16.200 --> 00:15:17.020
 He realised there was

00:15:17.020 --> 00:15:17.640
 a God in heaven

00:15:17.640 --> 00:15:18.700
 he wasn't right with.

00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:20.220
 And one Sunday morning

00:15:20.220 --> 00:15:21.540
 he goes to a particular chapel.

00:15:22.940 --> 00:15:23.500
 He wants to go

00:15:23.500 --> 00:15:24.540
 to one particular church

00:15:24.540 --> 00:15:25.080
 and congregation

00:15:25.080 --> 00:15:26.360
 but it's snowing so hard

00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:27.440
 that it forced him

00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:28.660
 to turn down a side street

00:15:28.660 --> 00:15:29.860
 and go into a primitive

00:15:29.860 --> 00:15:31.400
 little Methodist chapel.

00:15:32.700 --> 00:15:33.360
 Spurgeon didn't know

00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:33.780
 anything about

00:15:33.780 --> 00:15:35.480
 the primitive Methodists,

00:15:35.560 --> 00:15:35.980
 he says,

00:15:36.400 --> 00:15:37.259
 apart from he did

00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:38.460
 that they sung so loud

00:15:38.460 --> 00:15:39.300
 it made you a headache.

00:15:40.660 --> 00:15:42.100
 But he said he didn't care

00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:43.980
 if only he could learn

00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:44.680
 how to be saved

00:15:44.680 --> 00:15:46.000
 and get into the kingdom of God.

00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:48.440
 He went in there

00:15:48.440 --> 00:15:48.960
 but the minister

00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:50.160
 hadn't come that morning

00:15:50.160 --> 00:15:51.140
 because of the snow.

00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:52.600
 He was probably snowed in.

00:15:53.300 --> 00:15:54.600
 It came to the sermon time

00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:56.660
 and a rather thin looking fellow

00:15:56.660 --> 00:15:57.740
 who must have been

00:15:57.740 --> 00:15:58.400
 a shoemaker

00:15:58.400 --> 00:15:59.200
 or a tailor

00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:00.379
 made his way to the pulpit

00:16:00.379 --> 00:16:01.580
 and Spurgeon said

00:16:01.580 --> 00:16:02.980
 it is well for ministers

00:16:02.980 --> 00:16:03.740
 to be instructed

00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:04.460
 and educated

00:16:04.460 --> 00:16:05.280
 but he said

00:16:05.280 --> 00:16:07.020
 this man was really stupid.

00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:08.940
 He said,

00:16:09.340 --> 00:16:10.220
 he took his text

00:16:10.220 --> 00:16:11.220
 from Isaiah 45

00:16:11.220 --> 00:16:12.080
 which says

00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:13.200
 look unto me

00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:14.180
 and be saved

00:16:14.180 --> 00:16:15.300
 all the ends of the earth.

00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:17.000
 And Spurgeon said

00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:17.519
 that the man

00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:18.699
 had to stick to his text

00:16:18.699 --> 00:16:19.139
 closely

00:16:19.139 --> 00:16:19.919
 because he didn't have

00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:20.799
 much else to say.

00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:22.839
 He said he didn't even

00:16:22.839 --> 00:16:23.439
 pronounce the words

00:16:23.439 --> 00:16:24.279
 of the text properly

00:16:24.279 --> 00:16:25.399
 but he said

00:16:25.399 --> 00:16:26.120
 that didn't matter

00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:27.079
 if only I could get

00:16:27.079 --> 00:16:27.799
 a gleam of hope

00:16:27.799 --> 00:16:28.339
 from it.

00:16:30.579 --> 00:16:31.139
 Spurgeon said

00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:31.819
 he went on

00:16:31.820 --> 00:16:34.080
 don't take a great deal

00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:34.820
 of pain to look

00:16:34.820 --> 00:16:36.040
 even a child can look.

00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:37.720
 It's not lifting a finger

00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:38.340
 or a toe

00:16:38.340 --> 00:16:39.040
 it's just look.

00:16:40.260 --> 00:16:41.300
 That's all the text says

00:16:41.300 --> 00:16:42.120
 look unto me.

00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:43.140
 Jesus Christ

00:16:43.140 --> 00:16:43.860
 went on and says

00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:44.620
 look to me.

00:16:44.860 --> 00:16:45.740
 Look at me sweating

00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:47.420
 drops of blood

00:16:47.420 --> 00:16:48.060
 in the garden.

00:16:48.460 --> 00:16:49.280
 Look at me hanging

00:16:49.280 --> 00:16:50.080
 on the cross.

00:16:50.440 --> 00:16:51.200
 Look at me dead

00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:51.800
 and buried.

00:16:52.300 --> 00:16:52.860
 Look at me

00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:54.160
 risen again

00:16:54.160 --> 00:16:54.840
 and so on.

00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:56.920
 After ten minutes

00:16:56.920 --> 00:16:57.620
 Spurgeon said

00:16:57.620 --> 00:16:58.360
 he came to the end

00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:58.800
 of his tether

00:16:58.800 --> 00:16:59.600
 and he had nothing

00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:00.180
 else to say.

00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:02.340
 He turned

00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:03.779
 and looked at

00:17:03.779 --> 00:17:04.480
 fifteen year old

00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:05.220
 Spurgeon sitting

00:17:05.220 --> 00:17:05.839
 under the gallery

00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:06.440
 and said

00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:07.180
 young man

00:17:07.180 --> 00:17:08.380
 you look very miserable

00:17:08.380 --> 00:17:09.799
 and you will be

00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:10.480
 very miserable

00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:11.160
 in life

00:17:11.160 --> 00:17:12.460
 and miserable in death

00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:13.599
 unless you obey

00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:14.640
 the words of my text.

00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:16.880
 And then Spurgeon said

00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:17.839
 he lifted his hands

00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:18.539
 and he yelled

00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:19.500
 as only a primitive

00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:20.319
 Methodist could

00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:21.759
 look to Jesus Christ

00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:22.400
 young man

00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:24.220
 look to Jesus Christ

00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:25.140
 look look.

00:17:27.400 --> 00:17:28.259
 Spurgeon said

00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:29.339
 even though the

00:17:29.339 --> 00:17:30.019
 packaging was

00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:30.920
 offensive and

00:17:30.920 --> 00:17:31.799
 repulsive and

00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:32.799
 not refined at all

00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:35.079
 I went out of that

00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:35.960
 primitive Methodist

00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:36.519
 chapel having

00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:37.039
 entered the

00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:37.680
 kingdom of God.

00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:41.220
 Now come back to

00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:41.500
 our text.

00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:42.579
 Paul is saying

00:17:42.579 --> 00:17:43.500
 hold on to the

00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:44.539
 truth of Jesus Christ.

00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:48.799
 There was that time

00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:50.900
 when the Galatians

00:17:50.900 --> 00:17:51.619
 in spite of the

00:17:51.619 --> 00:17:51.960
 packaging

00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:53.059
 in spite of how

00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:53.640
 repulsive the

00:17:53.640 --> 00:17:54.519
 apostle Paul was

00:17:54.519 --> 00:17:56.039
 received the

00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:56.359
 gospel.

00:17:56.359 --> 00:17:58.639
 you nevertheless

00:17:58.639 --> 00:17:59.319
 received the

00:17:59.319 --> 00:17:59.779
 truth of it

00:17:59.779 --> 00:18:01.119
 and now he says

00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:02.819
 we're in another

00:18:02.819 --> 00:18:03.379
 situation.

00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.299
 Look at verse 16

00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:04.939
 it shouldn't be a

00:18:04.939 --> 00:18:05.740
 question mark there

00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:06.219
 it should be an

00:18:06.219 --> 00:18:07.939
 exclamation mark.

00:18:09.439 --> 00:18:10.519
 So then have I

00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:11.459
 become your enemy

00:18:11.459 --> 00:18:12.199
 by telling you the

00:18:12.199 --> 00:18:12.539
 truth?

00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:14.199
 What does he mean

00:18:14.199 --> 00:18:14.539
 by that?

00:18:15.879 --> 00:18:16.699
 He's saying they've

00:18:16.699 --> 00:18:17.419
 come now to another

00:18:17.419 --> 00:18:17.979
 situation

00:18:17.979 --> 00:18:20.719
 in which I've

00:18:20.719 --> 00:18:21.399
 conveyed the

00:18:21.399 --> 00:18:22.039
 truth to you

00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:22.839
 and the truth

00:18:22.839 --> 00:18:24.039
 is unattractive

00:18:24.039 --> 00:18:24.680
 to you.

00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:26.619
 This time it's not

00:18:26.619 --> 00:18:27.379
 the packaging so

00:18:27.379 --> 00:18:27.940
 much it's what he

00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:28.240
 said.

00:18:28.359 --> 00:18:29.059
 I brought you a

00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:31.700
 chastening word.

00:18:32.159 --> 00:18:32.960
 I brought you a

00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:33.720
 correcting word, a

00:18:33.720 --> 00:18:34.299
 rebuking word.

00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:35.740
 I've rebuked you

00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:36.599
 for that tendency

00:18:36.599 --> 00:18:37.539
 to depart and

00:18:37.539 --> 00:18:38.180
 drift from the

00:18:38.180 --> 00:18:38.779
 good news of the

00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:39.180
 Lord Jesus.

00:18:41.339 --> 00:18:42.019
 And so now you

00:18:42.019 --> 00:18:42.740
 regard me as your

00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:43.000
 enemy?

00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:46.440
 The truth again is

00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:47.079
 unattractive.

00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:50.240
 But Galatians

00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:51.159
 remember how you

00:18:51.159 --> 00:18:52.319
 originally received

00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:53.759
 it when there

00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:54.539
 was nothing to

00:18:54.539 --> 00:18:55.179
 commend it as

00:18:55.179 --> 00:18:56.439
 far as beauty or

00:18:56.439 --> 00:18:57.240
 attraction or

00:18:57.240 --> 00:18:57.639
 glitz.

00:18:57.879 --> 00:18:58.399
 Am I your

00:18:58.399 --> 00:18:58.779
 enemy?

00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:01.439
 Am I your

00:19:01.439 --> 00:19:02.299
 enemy because I

00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:03.079
 put you under the

00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:03.779
 criticism of the

00:19:03.779 --> 00:19:04.339
 word of God?

00:19:07.399 --> 00:19:08.399
 He's saying hold

00:19:08.399 --> 00:19:09.279
 on to the truth of

00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:10.359
 Jesus Christ even

00:19:10.359 --> 00:19:11.460
 when it criticises

00:19:11.460 --> 00:19:11.759
 you.

00:19:14.579 --> 00:19:15.119
 And that's a

00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:15.439
 great challenge

00:19:15.439 --> 00:19:15.939
 to us, isn't

00:19:15.939 --> 00:19:16.059
 it?

00:19:17.899 --> 00:19:19.079
 Do we hold on to

00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:19.619
 the truth of

00:19:19.619 --> 00:19:20.259
 Christ, the word

00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:21.039
 of God, even

00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:21.700
 when that word

00:19:21.700 --> 00:19:22.700
 rebukes you or

00:19:22.700 --> 00:19:24.460
 criticises you or

00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:25.059
 corrects you?

00:19:25.160 --> 00:19:25.660
 Are we willing to

00:19:25.660 --> 00:19:26.160
 receive that?

00:19:28.859 --> 00:19:29.599
 Are we willing to

00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:30.680
 receive the word of

00:19:30.680 --> 00:19:31.180
 Christ when it

00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:31.940
 comes to us in an

00:19:31.940 --> 00:19:33.000
 unattractive form?

00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:36.279
 When it doesn't

00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:37.180
 comfort but it

00:19:37.180 --> 00:19:37.839
 corrects?

00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:40.579
 When it wounds and

00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:42.779
 when it bruises, do

00:19:42.779 --> 00:19:43.799
 we still receive it as

00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:44.379
 Christ's truth?

00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:48.680
 Proverbs 27, 6

00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:49.539
 famously says,

00:19:49.620 --> 00:19:49.920
 doesn't it?

00:19:49.980 --> 00:19:50.759
 Faithful are the

00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:51.640
 wounds of a

00:19:51.640 --> 00:19:51.920
 friend.

00:19:55.080 --> 00:19:55.880
 And so for us as a

00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:56.640
 church family, do we

00:19:56.640 --> 00:19:57.440
 hold on to the truth

00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:59.360
 of Christ even when

00:19:59.360 --> 00:20:00.080
 it corrects us?

00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:02.740
 When it cuts us?

00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:03.680
 When it pulls us up

00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:03.980
 short?

00:20:07.180 --> 00:20:08.160
 Do you submit to it?

00:20:10.840 --> 00:20:11.519
 Thirdly, there's

00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:12.140
 something else that

00:20:12.140 --> 00:20:12.920
 you must do and

00:20:12.920 --> 00:20:13.880
 this is what's

00:20:13.880 --> 00:20:14.539
 helped me this week

00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:16.079
 is you must evaluate

00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:16.819
 the servants of

00:20:16.819 --> 00:20:17.200
 Christ.

00:20:17.579 --> 00:20:18.740
 That's verses 17, 20.

00:20:18.879 --> 00:20:19.980
 You must evaluate the

00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:20.920
 servants of Christ.

00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:25.680
 You've heard this

00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:26.079
 before.

00:20:26.639 --> 00:20:27.460
 The pastor, the

00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:28.000
 vicar, the minister,

00:20:28.099 --> 00:20:28.659
 whatever we call him,

00:20:28.680 --> 00:20:29.200
 it's still a tough

00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:29.539
 job.

00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:32.440
 If he visits the

00:20:32.440 --> 00:20:33.259
 flock, he's nosy.

00:20:33.980 --> 00:20:34.899
 If he doesn't, he's

00:20:34.899 --> 00:20:35.359
 a snob.

00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:37.440
 If he preaches

00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:38.079
 longer than 10

00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:38.579
 minutes, it's too

00:20:38.579 --> 00:20:38.839
 long.

00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:40.759
 If he preaches

00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:41.460
 less than 10

00:20:41.460 --> 00:20:42.000
 minutes, then he

00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:42.500
 can't have prepared

00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:43.079
 his sermons and

00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:43.559
 what are we paying

00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:43.859
 for?

00:20:44.919 --> 00:20:45.720
 If he runs a

00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:46.079
 car, he's

00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:46.440
 worldly.

00:20:47.059 --> 00:20:47.859
 If he doesn't, he's

00:20:47.859 --> 00:20:48.339
 always late for

00:20:48.339 --> 00:20:48.679
 appointments.

00:20:49.419 --> 00:20:50.319
 If he tells a joke,

00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:50.859
 he's flippant.

00:20:51.399 --> 00:20:52.119
 If he doesn't, he's

00:20:52.119 --> 00:20:52.839
 far too serious.

00:20:53.639 --> 00:20:54.559
 If he starts the

00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:55.319
 service on time, his

00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:56.220
 watch must be fast.

00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:57.159
 If he's a minute

00:20:57.159 --> 00:20:58.279
 late, he's keeping

00:20:58.279 --> 00:20:58.759
 the congregation

00:20:58.759 --> 00:20:59.179
 waiting.

00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:00.500
 If he takes a

00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:01.259
 holiday, he's never

00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:01.700
 in the parish.

00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:03.059
 If he doesn't, he's

00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:03.779
 a stick in the mud.

00:21:03.899 --> 00:21:04.819
 If he runs a gala

00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:05.779
 or a bazaar, he's

00:21:05.779 --> 00:21:06.440
 money mad.

00:21:06.839 --> 00:21:07.720
 If he doesn't, there's

00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:08.679
 no social life in the

00:21:08.679 --> 00:21:09.000
 parish.

00:21:09.619 --> 00:21:10.279
 If he has the

00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:11.039
 church painted and

00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:11.940
 redecorated, he's

00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:12.700
 extravagant.

00:21:13.559 --> 00:21:14.279
 And if he doesn't,

00:21:14.379 --> 00:21:14.799
 the church is

00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:15.179
 shabby.

00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:16.460
 If he's young, he's

00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:17.159
 inexperienced.

00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:18.500
 If he's getting old, he

00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:19.019
 ought to retire.

00:21:19.299 --> 00:21:20.960
 But when he dies, there's

00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:21.659
 no one like him.

00:21:24.779 --> 00:21:25.700
 Well, Paul speaks

00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:27.460
 about himself here, and

00:21:27.460 --> 00:21:29.220
 he speaks about the

00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:30.119
 difficulties of

00:21:30.119 --> 00:21:30.639
 ministry.

00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:33.940
 And he contrasts

00:21:33.940 --> 00:21:34.919
 himself with these

00:21:34.919 --> 00:21:35.419
 false teachers.

00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:36.639
 And I find this very,

00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:37.279
 very helpful.

00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:38.220
 Look what he says in

00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:39.240
 verses 17 and 18.

00:21:39.240 --> 00:21:43.120
 He says, they make

00:21:43.120 --> 00:21:44.180
 much of you.

00:21:46.660 --> 00:21:47.920
 And they zealously

00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:48.660
 seek you.

00:21:50.099 --> 00:21:51.039
 Not out of a good

00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:52.259
 motive.

00:21:53.400 --> 00:21:54.200
 Why do they make

00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:55.000
 much of you?

00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:55.599
 Why do they make a

00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:56.180
 fuss of you?

00:21:56.359 --> 00:21:59.339
 Why do they seek you

00:21:59.339 --> 00:22:00.720
 in order to shut you

00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:02.279
 off and shut you

00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:02.559
 out?

00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:04.960
 And that's what they

00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:05.259
 want to do.

00:22:05.319 --> 00:22:06.500
 They want to shut you

00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:07.680
 out from me, says the

00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:08.160
 Apostle Paul.

00:22:09.600 --> 00:22:10.600
 They want to shut you

00:22:10.600 --> 00:22:12.460
 out in order that you

00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:13.360
 might zealously seek

00:22:13.360 --> 00:22:13.720
 them.

00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:18.060
 So verse 17, evaluate

00:22:18.060 --> 00:22:19.220
 these teachers.

00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:20.200
 Evaluate those who

00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:21.039
 come to you.

00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:23.220
 Evaluate those people

00:22:23.220 --> 00:22:24.940
 who aren't seeking you

00:22:24.940 --> 00:22:25.400
 out of a proper

00:22:25.400 --> 00:22:25.820
 motive.

00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:28.299
 But they're seeking

00:22:28.299 --> 00:22:29.580
 you that you would be

00:22:29.580 --> 00:22:32.160
 zealous after them.

00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:34.080
 And their ministry.

00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:37.279
 And they are seeking

00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:39.139
 you for their own

00:22:39.139 --> 00:22:39.639
 reputation.

00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:42.319
 And for their own

00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:42.819
 ego.

00:22:44.179 --> 00:22:45.299
 And they are seeking

00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:46.740
 your loyalty.

00:22:49.859 --> 00:22:50.659
 And I think this is

00:22:50.659 --> 00:22:51.699
 something really, really

00:22:51.699 --> 00:22:52.059
 subtle.

00:22:52.179 --> 00:22:52.839
 And it can happen in

00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:53.720
 churches like ours.

00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:54.839
 And we can fall for it

00:22:54.839 --> 00:22:55.379
 so easily.

00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:56.139
 And it happens in our

00:22:56.139 --> 00:22:57.199
 constituency, if that's

00:22:57.199 --> 00:22:57.720
 the right word.

00:22:57.720 --> 00:23:01.299
 that we can be made

00:23:01.299 --> 00:23:02.980
 to feel special

00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:04.319
 by Christian leaders.

00:23:08.120 --> 00:23:09.039
 C.S. Lewis has got

00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:10.039
 this beautiful article

00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:11.400
 about the inner ring.

00:23:13.380 --> 00:23:14.559
 And all of us want

00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:16.120
 to be made to feel

00:23:16.120 --> 00:23:16.779
 special.

00:23:18.680 --> 00:23:20.740
 To be made as if

00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:22.059
 we're one of the

00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:22.680
 favourites.

00:23:22.680 --> 00:23:25.680
 And in doing so,

00:23:25.779 --> 00:23:26.660
 what happens when

00:23:26.660 --> 00:23:27.460
 Christian leaders do

00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:28.160
 that is they are

00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:29.720
 demanding loyalty.

00:23:33.860 --> 00:23:34.600
 And Paul says,

00:23:34.940 --> 00:23:35.480
 in contrast,

00:23:35.620 --> 00:23:35.920
 he says,

00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:37.580
 let me show you,

00:23:37.840 --> 00:23:38.460
 in contrast,

00:23:38.560 --> 00:23:39.259
 the heart of a

00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:40.000
 genuine apostle.

00:23:42.100 --> 00:23:42.660
 And so in our

00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:43.200
 constituency,

00:23:43.860 --> 00:23:44.620
 in churches like us,

00:23:44.660 --> 00:23:45.420
 how's it been done?

00:23:45.820 --> 00:23:46.620
 It's been done on

00:23:46.620 --> 00:23:47.380
 special trips.

00:23:47.560 --> 00:23:48.259
 It's been done by

00:23:48.259 --> 00:23:49.100
 giving cards.

00:23:49.220 --> 00:23:49.799
 It's been done by

00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:50.440
 lots of things where

00:23:50.440 --> 00:23:51.299
 people are made to

00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:51.500
 feel,

00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:54.019
 I'm in.

00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:54.980
 I'm in with the

00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:55.299
 minister.

00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:58.359
 But Paul says,

00:23:58.460 --> 00:23:59.599
 let me show you

00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:00.960
 the heart of a

00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:01.480
 genuine apostle.

00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:02.619
 And it's as if he

00:24:02.619 --> 00:24:03.579
 rips open.

00:24:05.380 --> 00:24:06.200
 He throws up his

00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:06.640
 hands and he

00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:07.279
 pleads for them.

00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:07.900
 And look what it

00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:08.160
 says.

00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:08.799
 It's an incredible

00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:09.039
 thing.

00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:09.220
 It says,

00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:09.980
 my little children,

00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:12.259
 for whom I'm

00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:13.359
 again in the

00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:14.299
 anguish of

00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:15.420
 childbirth until

00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:17.059
 Christ is formed

00:24:17.059 --> 00:24:17.660
 in you.

00:24:17.660 --> 00:24:18.259
 That's what we're

00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:18.579
 about.

00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:19.099
 That's what he's

00:24:19.099 --> 00:24:19.299
 saying.

00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:24.319
 And so you

00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:24.819
 want to know if

00:24:24.819 --> 00:24:25.299
 you're a genuine

00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:26.099
 servant of Christ

00:24:26.099 --> 00:24:26.539
 or not,

00:24:27.660 --> 00:24:28.759
 or whether you

00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:29.680
 yourself are

00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:30.140
 genuine.

00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:35.500
 Then you ask in

00:24:35.500 --> 00:24:36.019
 the case of a

00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:36.440
 minister, for

00:24:36.440 --> 00:24:37.019
 instance, Calvin

00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:37.500
 says this,

00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:38.059
 if ministers

00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:38.680
 wish to do

00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:39.359
 anything, let

00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:40.299
 them labour to

00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:41.799
 form Christ,

00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:44.420
 not to form

00:24:44.420 --> 00:24:45.720
 themselves in

00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:46.539
 their hearers.

00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:46.579
 themselves.

00:24:48.579 --> 00:24:49.440
 It's a remarkable

00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:49.720
 phrase.

00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:50.399
 Let them labour

00:24:50.399 --> 00:24:51.599
 to form Christ,

00:24:52.899 --> 00:24:53.680
 not to form

00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:54.359
 themselves in

00:24:54.359 --> 00:24:54.899
 their hearers.

00:24:58.180 --> 00:24:58.759
 So the

00:24:58.759 --> 00:24:59.440
 apostle Paul,

00:24:59.559 --> 00:25:00.000
 he's not

00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:01.639
 content that

00:25:01.639 --> 00:25:04.259
 Christ should

00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:05.279
 just dwell in

00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:05.819
 their hearts.

00:25:05.899 --> 00:25:06.220
 That's a

00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:06.960
 wonderful truth.

00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:09.259
 That Christ

00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:09.899
 dwells in their

00:25:09.899 --> 00:25:10.599
 hearts by faith.

00:25:10.639 --> 00:25:11.000
 That is a

00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:11.680
 glorious truth.

00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:12.039
 But he's not

00:25:12.039 --> 00:25:12.519
 content with

00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:12.680
 that.

00:25:12.759 --> 00:25:13.379
 He wants to

00:25:13.379 --> 00:25:14.519
 see Christ

00:25:14.519 --> 00:25:16.099
 formed in

00:25:16.099 --> 00:25:16.299
 them.

00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:18.859
 He wants

00:25:18.859 --> 00:25:19.480
 to see Christ

00:25:19.480 --> 00:25:20.159
 formed in

00:25:20.159 --> 00:25:21.420
 his hearers so

00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:22.119
 that they take

00:25:22.119 --> 00:25:23.720
 on maturity

00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:25.319
 and wisdom

00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:26.119
 and his

00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:26.639
 likeness.

00:25:28.399 --> 00:25:29.159
 He wants

00:25:29.159 --> 00:25:29.659
 them to be

00:25:29.659 --> 00:25:30.920
 growing into

00:25:30.920 --> 00:25:31.940
 the shape of

00:25:31.940 --> 00:25:32.759
 Jesus Christ

00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:33.180
 and the

00:25:33.180 --> 00:25:33.759
 character of

00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:33.980
 Christ.

00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:34.200
 And he

00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:34.799
 says, I

00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:35.299
 have birth

00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:35.859
 pains over

00:25:35.859 --> 00:25:36.159
 that.

00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:38.779
 Until Christ

00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:39.139
 is formed

00:25:39.139 --> 00:25:39.480
 in you.

00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:40.059
 And that is

00:25:40.059 --> 00:25:40.759
 the motive

00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:42.480
 that must

00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:42.899
 dominate

00:25:42.899 --> 00:25:43.420
 Christ's

00:25:43.420 --> 00:25:43.720
 servants.

00:25:43.720 --> 00:25:48.880
 I think

00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:49.319
 many of

00:25:49.319 --> 00:25:49.779
 you here

00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:50.460
 know that.

00:25:53.100 --> 00:25:53.740
 If you

00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:54.059
 are a

00:25:54.059 --> 00:25:54.380
 Christian

00:25:54.380 --> 00:25:55.160
 parent here

00:25:55.160 --> 00:25:55.620
 tonight,

00:25:57.420 --> 00:25:58.880
 you know

00:25:58.880 --> 00:25:59.299
 what it's

00:25:59.299 --> 00:25:59.720
 like to

00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:00.480
 have birth

00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:00.799
 pains.

00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:04.319
 If you're a

00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:04.480
 Christian

00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:05.059
 parent or you

00:26:05.059 --> 00:26:05.420
 grew up in a

00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:06.019
 Christian home

00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:06.500
 and you had

00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:06.740
 Christian

00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:07.079
 parents,

00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:08.220
 let me tell

00:26:08.220 --> 00:26:09.360
 you, in

00:26:09.360 --> 00:26:09.839
 your home

00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:10.400
 your parents

00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:11.040
 had birth

00:26:11.040 --> 00:26:11.440
 pains.

00:26:13.060 --> 00:26:13.780
 All over

00:26:13.780 --> 00:26:15.700
 again, for

00:26:15.700 --> 00:26:16.040
 those you

00:26:16.040 --> 00:26:16.320
 love.

00:26:18.820 --> 00:26:19.240
 Isn't it

00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:19.720
 true that

00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:20.019
 there are

00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:20.280
 Christian

00:26:20.280 --> 00:26:20.759
 parents who

00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:21.080
 in one

00:26:21.080 --> 00:26:21.380
 sense, they

00:26:21.380 --> 00:26:22.019
 felt this,

00:26:22.140 --> 00:26:22.680
 they feel the

00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:23.200
 agony of it,

00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:23.840
 they feel the

00:26:23.840 --> 00:26:24.440
 birth pains.

00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:27.360
 We pray, like

00:26:27.360 --> 00:26:27.660
 we prayed

00:26:27.660 --> 00:26:28.700
 earlier, the

00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:29.480
 sex petition of

00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:29.980
 the Lord's

00:26:29.980 --> 00:26:30.759
 Prayer of the

00:26:30.759 --> 00:26:31.120
 Heidelberg

00:26:31.120 --> 00:26:31.720
 Catechism for

00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:32.060
 our children,

00:26:32.180 --> 00:26:32.420
 don't we?

00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:33.660
 We pray, lead

00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:34.820
 them not into

00:26:34.820 --> 00:26:36.200
 temptation, but

00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:37.200
 deliver them

00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:37.740
 from the evil

00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.040
 one.

00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:40.159
 And isn't

00:26:40.159 --> 00:26:40.680
 it true that

00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:41.180
 some of you

00:26:41.180 --> 00:26:42.099
 tonight, you

00:26:42.099 --> 00:26:43.019
 know, tonight

00:26:43.019 --> 00:26:43.619
 even, those

00:26:43.619 --> 00:26:44.740
 birth pains, that

00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:45.980
 you long for

00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:46.759
 Christ to be

00:26:46.759 --> 00:26:47.240
 formed in

00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:47.440
 them.

00:26:49.399 --> 00:26:49.899
 That they

00:26:49.899 --> 00:26:50.379
 would walk in

00:26:50.379 --> 00:26:51.220
 His wisdom and

00:26:51.220 --> 00:26:52.079
 in His maturity

00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:53.099
 and they'd show

00:26:53.099 --> 00:26:53.920
 His likeness.

00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:55.539
 And surely that

00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:56.000
 should be our

00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:56.579
 desire as a

00:26:56.579 --> 00:26:57.000
 church, isn't

00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:57.180
 it?

00:27:00.200 --> 00:27:01.000
 As individual

00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:02.099
 believers within

00:27:02.099 --> 00:27:02.619
 the church, what

00:27:02.619 --> 00:27:03.460
 are we aiming

00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:03.759
 at?

00:27:03.879 --> 00:27:04.680
 What are we

00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:05.379
 driving at?

00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:05.839
 What do we

00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:06.220
 want you

00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:06.779
 children and

00:27:06.779 --> 00:27:07.420
 young people to

00:27:07.420 --> 00:27:08.019
 grow up like?

00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:11.440
 that Christ

00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:11.759
 would be

00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:12.180
 formed in

00:27:12.180 --> 00:27:14.619
 you, and

00:27:14.619 --> 00:27:15.139
 me and

00:27:15.139 --> 00:27:15.440
 others?

00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:18.700
 And so as we

00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:19.139
 finish the

00:27:19.139 --> 00:27:19.899
 year, Galatians

00:27:19.899 --> 00:27:20.759
 I think for

00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:21.319
 us, some

00:27:21.319 --> 00:27:22.039
 really pointed

00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:22.659
 questions at

00:27:22.659 --> 00:27:23.019
 the end of

00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:23.440
 the year.

00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:26.079
 It asks you

00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:26.619
 tonight, do

00:27:26.619 --> 00:27:27.339
 you genuinely

00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:28.180
 know God?

00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:30.759
 Or are you

00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:31.000
 merely

00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:31.420
 practicing

00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:31.799
 religion?

00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:31.899
 them?

00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:35.419
 And then

00:27:35.419 --> 00:27:39.099
 secondly, Galatians

00:27:39.099 --> 00:27:40.240
 4 asks us,

00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:40.659
 when the

00:27:40.659 --> 00:27:41.299
 word of God

00:27:41.299 --> 00:27:42.440
 brings criticism

00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:44.460
 to you, which

00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:45.119
 it inevitably

00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:45.919
 does, do I

00:27:45.919 --> 00:27:47.200
 turn away from

00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:47.379
 it?

00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:51.700
 If you're like

00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:52.500
 me, you tend to

00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:53.399
 really welcome the

00:27:53.399 --> 00:27:53.980
 comfort of

00:27:53.980 --> 00:27:55.460
 scripture, but

00:27:55.460 --> 00:27:55.940
 refuse its

00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:56.339
 criticism.

00:27:56.339 --> 00:27:56.399
 baptism.

00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:00.619
 And can you

00:28:00.619 --> 00:28:01.419
 say that the

00:28:01.419 --> 00:28:02.379
 supreme yearning

00:28:02.379 --> 00:28:03.559
 of your own

00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:04.139
 life is that

00:28:04.139 --> 00:28:04.659
 Christ be

00:28:04.659 --> 00:28:05.139
 formed in

00:28:05.139 --> 00:28:05.339
 you?

00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:07.779
 Because that

00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.279
 was the

00:28:08.279 --> 00:28:08.779
 apostolic

00:28:08.779 --> 00:28:09.319
 priority.

00:28:12.439 --> 00:28:13.220
 Because the

00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:13.879
 Holy Spirit and

00:28:13.879 --> 00:28:14.779
 the Apostle and

00:28:14.779 --> 00:28:17.379
 his word and

00:28:17.379 --> 00:28:18.339
 his appeal leap

00:28:18.339 --> 00:28:18.740
 over the

00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:19.159
 centuries,

00:28:19.299 --> 00:28:19.519
 tonight,

00:28:19.619 --> 00:28:20.059
 shortly, to

00:28:20.059 --> 00:28:20.439
 the end of

00:28:20.439 --> 00:28:20.959
 2025.

00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:23.200
 And they

00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:24.019
 investigate our

00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:26.900
 hearts, that

00:28:26.900 --> 00:28:27.680
 Christ may be

00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:28.360
 formed in us.

00:28:31.600 --> 00:28:32.279
 Let's pray.