WEBVTT

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 Let's pray as we take a look at, I'm going to focus particularly on the first few verses,

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 the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector.

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 Those other verses that are there are really real life situations reflecting the parable

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 of the tax collector and the Pharisee.

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 So let's pray.

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 Gracious God, as we come to your word now, we ask that you would speak clearly to us

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 particularly, Lord, as we gather in this place, we are more religious than your average Aussie person.

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 And so, Lord, you are eyeballing us when you say these words.

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 Father, if we trust in our religion and not in Jesus, then, Lord, convict us of that tonight.

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 Open up our hearts.

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 May we look only to Jesus and not what you're doing in us.

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 And we ask it for your sake.

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 Amen.

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 I heard the story of a lad who mounted a campaign just before Christmas in order to secure a new bike for Christmas.

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 And so he badgered his parents, as you kind of do at that age.

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 His mother, confusing Jesus with Santa, said to him, well, why don't you write a letter to Jesus and tell him why you deserve to have this bike?

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 And the young lad trudged upstairs and started to write his letter.

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 Dear Jesus, I've been good all year.

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 He thought to himself, no, that's not right.

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 I haven't been good all year.

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 So he screwed up, threw it again, threw it down in the bin.

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 Started writing again.

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 Dear Jesus, I've been good for the last six months.

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 Nah, that's not true either.

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 I mean, he's a realist more than anything, this kid.

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 Strew it up, threw it away again.

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 Started again.

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 Dear Jesus, I've been good all week.

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 Ah, no, hang on a bit.

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 There was that incident yesterday.

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 So he paused, really frustrated, threw that in the bin.

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 Gets up, walks downstairs, walks into the living room, up to the mantelpiece.

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 The nativity scene is there.

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 Grabs Mary out of the nativity scene.

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 Walks back up into his bedroom.

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 Plonks her down on the desk.

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 Sits down and starts to write his letter.

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 Dear Jesus, if you ever want to see your mother again,

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 He had a few things worked out about Jesus.

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 He knew that Mary was Jesus' mother, and that's kind of a start.

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 But in terms of how to relate to God, had no clue whatsoever.

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 In one sense, you could say he's trying to relate to God like a terrorist.

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 He's trying to force God's hand.

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 And this story of the Pharisee and the tax collector really helped us in how we are to relate to God,

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 in our confusion of what it means for us in relating to God.

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 This story is a story where Jesus introduces us to two extraordinary men.

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 They are almost comic characters.

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 I think Jesus draws them so starkly apart so that we can see the issue so clearly.

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 And the issue is there clearly in verse 9.

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 It says there, take a look at it if you've got your Bibles there.

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 It says,

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 But it's not just a parable about looking down on other people.

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 It's kind of got a little bit more depth than me just kind of turning my nose up at people

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 as I walk past them in the street or something.

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 The core issue is where we stand with God.

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 It's spelt out for us in verse 14.

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 I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.

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 That's the core issue.

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 My confidence in my righteousness somehow leading me to be justified before God.

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 That's the issue that Jesus wants to address.

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 The story is about people who are self-confident, who are self-righteous,

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 and somehow it makes them think that I'm okay with God, therefore.

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 And when Jesus tells this story,

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 He is talking particularly to people who make attempts at being religious.

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 You could say that as He tells this story,

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 Jesus is eyeballing people like you and me

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 who would gather in a church and sing hymns

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 and open up the Bible and pray

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 and do all kinds of good Christian kind of stuff.

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 And His message is very clear for us.

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 God is not pleased by self-confidence or self-righteousness.

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 He is only pleased with people who come to Him in humility.

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 So let's have a look at it.

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 Got your Bibles? Turn them open.

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 Luke 18.

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 As you know from verse 10,

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 there are two men who go up to the temple to pray,

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 but in verse 14,

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 it says that only one of them goes home okay with God.

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 Only one of them goes home justified or as a friend of God's.

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 In the movie Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome,

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 there is this post-war scenario.

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 And if two people get into a bit of biff,

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 then what they would do is they would go into the Thunderdome

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 to sort it out.

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 I mean, sort it out to the death was the idea.

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 And as the two people would go into the Thunderdome,

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 this chant would go up,

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 two men enter, one man leaves.

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 Two men enter, one man leaves.

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 And that is what we're dealing with here in this parable.

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 There is a very real sense that as Jesus tells this story,

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 two people go into the temple to do business with God,

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 but only one of them is actually going to walk away

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 having dealt with God,

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 done any sort of business with God in any sort of meaningful way.

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 We are told that one of them is a tax collector,

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 the other is a Pharisee.

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 We need to be careful not to muck it up right from the start,

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 because if you're familiar with the Bible at all,

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 we automatically go boo his to the Pharisee.

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 Because we know that the Pharisee is the dude that Jesus consistently sticks the booting to.

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 The Pharisees are the guys that Jesus always sets up.

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 They always look bad in Jesus' mind.

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 And so we need to try and hear this story

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 as it would have been for Jesus' mates

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 when the very first time they heard it,

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 Peter, James, John and the rest of the boys,

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 when they first heard this,

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 they would have heard it very differently than what we hear it right now.

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 They would have known the tax collector as the scum.

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 The tax collector was the bad guy.

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 He was the guy who wore the black hat

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 and he was the guy who rode around on the mean-looking camels

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 with the doof-doof kind of music.

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 It's kind of difficult for us to find a parallel in this world

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 of someone who was just as much of a scum

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 as what a Pharisee was in first-century Palestine.

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 They were filth.

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 They were traitors.

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 They sold out their God for money.

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 They were not welcomed in any house of worship.

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 They were scum.

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 The Pharisee, on the other hand,

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 was deeply, deeply respected in first-century Palestine.

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 They were highly regarded in society.

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 You know, they were the guys who,

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 they wore the white hats.

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 They were the good guys.

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 They rode around on respectable camels,

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 speed-limited camels,

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 Camry kind of camels.

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 They were not men who made their living out of religion.

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 They were regular church attendees

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 who were deeply serious about God,

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 their relationship with God.

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 And so, in Jesus' day,

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 the people would go boo his scumbag

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 to the tax collector,

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 but not to the Pharisee.

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 The Pharisee is the guy who is deadly earnest about God.

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 He is a valuable member of society

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 and a very significant contributor

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 to the people of God.

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 Well, that's the two extraordinary men.

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 So now let's look at their two prayers

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 because their two prayers reveal their hearts.

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 First, let's have a look at the Pharisee's prayer.

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 It reveals his heart very clearly.

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 Now, as a bit of amusement,

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 occasionally I read the personal ads in the newspaper.

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 That's revealed something twisted about me.

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 But I can't help but think

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 why a person would want to publicly advertise

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 their finer points

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 in order to find someone else to love them,

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 you know, to do it in a newspaper.

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 And sometimes when you look at the list,

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 there's not a whole lot of good points.

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 They don't really put, you know,

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 they're trying to put their best foot forward.

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 So here's this guy I got,

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 30-year-old, six foot tall, brown hair, green eyes.

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 That's it.

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 Six foot tall, brown hair, green eyes.

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 And he's seeking a lady for a friendship and or relationship.

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 Well, you're going to be ringing that guy up, aren't you?

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 I mean, he's not saying a whole lot about himself, is he?

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 He doesn't appear to have a lot of good points,

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 but at the very least,

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 he's not advertising his bad points.

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 That's one thing that I've consistently noticed

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 in the personal ads.

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 I've never noticed anyone to advertise their bad points.

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 I've never noticed anyone to say,

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 I'm broke, I haven't got a job,

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 I'm looking for somewhere to live,

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 I've got two greyhounds,

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 I want someone to kind of mother me,

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 do my housework,

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 the washing, cook for me,

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 and all that sort of stuff.

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 Anyone interested?

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 I've never noticed that.

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 Because our normal human tendency,

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 when we relate to one another,

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 is to put our best foot forward.

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 That's what we do.

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 By the way, I apologise if you actually have done the personal ad thing

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 and it's worked out for you.

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 Good on you.

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 Our normal human tendency is to put our best foot forward,

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 to promote ourselves.

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 We always do it.

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 And it's no different when we approach God.

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 We outline the wonderful things that we do,

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 who we are,

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 and say,

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 please find me acceptable.

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 And even when we do,

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 at times,

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 mention the things we do wrong,

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 we kind of justify it,

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 or minimise it as much as possible.

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 So, I don't evade tax,

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 I just minimise tax.

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 I don't lie,

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 it's just the occasional white lie.

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 I don't gossip,

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 I just share prayer points.

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 I don't ridicule people,

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 because I was really only joking.

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 I'm not committing adultery,

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 I'm having a midlife crisis.

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 I don't steal stamps from work,

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 I was just borrowing the stamps from work.

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 And so, in the end of it,

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 it's not that bad in the end.

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 But God knows the heart.

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 And this is what the Pharisee prays in verse 11,

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 God, I thank you,

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 that I'm not like other men,

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 robbers,

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 evildoers,

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 adulterers,

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 or even like that tax collector over there,

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 God.

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 I fast twice a week,

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 and give a tenth of all that I get.

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 Now, it's so easy to send this guy up,

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 and I think it's the reason why Jesus actually does set him up like this,

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 because we are to send him up.

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 He basically says,

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 hey God,

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 I'm just ever so terribly marvelous.

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 Ever so terribly marvelous.

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 And do you know what I think is the despicable thing about it?

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 He spiritualizes it so well.

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 He spiritualizes his self-righteousness.

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 God,

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 I thank you.

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 I thank you that you've made a difference in my life.

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 I thank you that I'm not like other people.

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 I thank you that you've changed me.

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 I thank you,

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 God.

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 He at least recognized that it's God who's done it in him,

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 but it's self-righteous at the core.

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 And then he goes on and explains how he's different from other people.

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 He says,

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 I fast twice a week.

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 That is,

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 he goes without food twice a week.

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 General Jewish practice by first century was that they did it once or twice a year,

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 and occasionally they felt like it.

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 This guy does it twice a week.

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 And not just that,

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 he gives a tenth of all that he gets.

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 I mean,

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 this guy is tithing his tomato plant,

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 and his rosary bush,

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 and everything.

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 He's giving a tenth of all that he gets.

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 And what he is saying,

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 in effect,

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 is,

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 God,

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 I'm okay.

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 I'm okay.

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 But the problem is,

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 his evaluation of himself is based on the wrong standard.

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 He looks around him,

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 and says,

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 I'm glad I'm not like those other scum.

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 And God,

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 you've made the difference in me.

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 I know a guy

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 who is

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 serving two consecutive life sentences in Long Bay Jail

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 for a murder of a mother and a baby.

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 And he was in,

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 at one stage,

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 in the same wing of Long Bay Jail

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 as a bunch of guys known as the Milpera bikie massacre guys,

00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:54.019
 the criminals who were charged with murder for that.

00:13:54.100 --> 00:13:56.179
 They gunned down a seven-year-old girl and others.

00:13:57.720 --> 00:13:59.500
 They got this guy that I know,

00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:00.700
 these bikie guys,

00:14:00.779 --> 00:14:01.799
 got this guy that I know,

00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:02.580
 beat him up,

00:14:02.680 --> 00:14:04.120
 poured boiling water all over him.

00:14:04.820 --> 00:14:05.220
 Why?

00:14:05.899 --> 00:14:07.039
 Because he murdered a baby.

00:14:09.659 --> 00:14:12.039
 Even in Long Bay Jail,

00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:14.419
 and even being in Long Bay Jail

00:14:14.419 --> 00:14:16.659
 for the murdering of a seven-year-old girl,

00:14:17.039 --> 00:14:19.100
 you can still find people who are worse than you.

00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:22.000
 You can still find people.

00:14:22.060 --> 00:14:23.899
 You can still look down the line and say,

00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:24.980
 yeah, I might be a murderer,

00:14:25.659 --> 00:14:27.620
 but not as bad as that murderer.

00:14:30.600 --> 00:14:33.200
 Even when you are daily,

00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:35.560
 and for the rest of your life surrounded

00:14:35.560 --> 00:14:38.580
 by the consequences

00:14:38.580 --> 00:14:41.700
 of your sin,

00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:43.660
 you can still

00:14:43.660 --> 00:14:46.300
 self-righteously justify

00:14:46.300 --> 00:14:49.700
 a higher position than someone else.

00:14:52.840 --> 00:14:55.759
 People who should be able to know better in one sense.

00:14:56.800 --> 00:14:59.040
 And so it's a very significant warning for us

00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:02.279
 because we hide it so well.

00:15:03.719 --> 00:15:07.079
 The tax collector is a total contrast to the Pharisee,

00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:09.240
 beats himself on his chest,

00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:11.559
 and he says,

00:15:11.659 --> 00:15:13.299
 God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

00:15:14.599 --> 00:15:16.219
 Who does he compare himself with?

00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:18.699
 Well, in the text,

00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:20.539
 he doesn't really compare himself with anyone,

00:15:21.539 --> 00:15:23.299
 as far as we can tell.

00:15:23.299 --> 00:15:26.939
 A better reading of his statement is this,

00:15:27.159 --> 00:15:29.359
 God, have mercy on me,

00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:30.539
 the sinner.

00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:34.519
 He's not trying to find comfort in the fact

00:15:34.519 --> 00:15:37.079
 that he's part of a large group of people,

00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:38.359
 all in the same boat.

00:15:38.500 --> 00:15:39.419
 You know, we're all sinners.

00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:41.659
 We all fall short of the glory of God.

00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:43.740
 Yeah, sure, I make my mistakes.

00:15:43.859 --> 00:15:44.699
 I fall short.

00:15:45.179 --> 00:15:46.759
 You know, I'm no different than anyone else.

00:15:46.839 --> 00:15:48.479
 I am human after all.

00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:50.579
 He doesn't care about that.

00:15:50.580 --> 00:15:53.180
 He says,

00:15:53.300 --> 00:15:54.660
 God, I am the sinner.

00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:56.139
 I'm the model sinner.

00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:57.680
 I'm the essential sinner.

00:15:58.060 --> 00:16:00.300
 He doesn't compare himself with other people.

00:16:01.560 --> 00:16:04.660
 This guy knows he's not okay with God,

00:16:04.920 --> 00:16:07.660
 and he cries out in despair.

00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:17.400
 And Jesus says that that scumbag goes home justified by God.

00:16:17.399 --> 00:16:22.399
 It's justified, never sinned.

00:16:23.220 --> 00:16:28.459
 He goes home right with God as his friend.

00:16:29.559 --> 00:16:32.840
 The way that we are to approach God is always,

00:16:33.179 --> 00:16:35.579
 God, have mercy on me, the sinner.

00:16:37.340 --> 00:16:38.199
 The sinner.

00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:42.939
 The fulfillment of religious duties doesn't put us into God's good books.

00:16:42.940 --> 00:16:46.580
 There is no way to be right with the God of this universe

00:16:46.580 --> 00:16:48.180
 than to ask him for mercy.

00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:51.820
 And so I want to encourage you to do just that,

00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:55.680
 to throw yourself on the mercy of this God

00:16:55.680 --> 00:16:57.920
 and ask him for his forgiveness.

00:16:58.600 --> 00:17:01.620
 Don't expect to get into his good books via the terrorist method

00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:03.440
 and make demands on God.

00:17:04.620 --> 00:17:08.160
 Don't expect to get into God's good books with a resume method

00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:11.039
 and sort of, you know, write out all your good points

00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:12.899
 and say, God, this should be good enough.

00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:15.500
 Certainly a lot better than a lot of other people.

00:17:17.099 --> 00:17:20.019
 God is not impressed by religious activity.

00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:25.519
 And that should be a warning for us.

00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:29.240
 Let me say it should be a warning for you.

00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:31.519
 Now forget that.

00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:32.559
 It should be a warning for me.

00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:34.759
 Now let's be realistic here.

00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:36.759
 I'm the most religious person here, I'd imagine.

00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:38.720
 I suspect so.

00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:41.759
 I mean, I've got a reverend in front of my name.

00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:45.119
 I've got some theological degrees and some other stuff behind my name.

00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:49.779
 I've been at church three times today.

00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:51.420
 Anyone here beat that?

00:17:51.420 --> 00:17:55.400
 I live at church for goodness sake.

00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:58.240
 I work at church.

00:18:00.820 --> 00:18:02.519
 I'm full-time in ministry.

00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:06.900
 I travel and I speak in different parts of the country.

00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:08.500
 I train leaders.

00:18:08.820 --> 00:18:10.920
 I run youth ministry events.

00:18:11.620 --> 00:18:14.300
 I've even got a special dress that I can wear at 8.30

00:18:14.300 --> 00:18:16.820
 when I do church to make me even look more religious.

00:18:16.819 --> 00:18:21.460
 Are you impressed by that?

00:18:23.379 --> 00:18:24.919
 You wouldn't be if you saw me at 8.30.

00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:29.200
 The fact is you shouldn't be.

00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:31.579
 Because God isn't impressed by it.

00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:33.500
 He's not impressed by it.

00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:37.279
 Don't fall into the trap of thinking that you impress God by what you do.

00:18:38.399 --> 00:18:40.759
 It doesn't matter whether it's regular attendance at church,

00:18:40.839 --> 00:18:41.939
 you're giving lots of money,

00:18:42.939 --> 00:18:45.200
 praying on your knees or standing in your closet.

00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:47.799
 It doesn't matter what it is.

00:18:48.600 --> 00:18:50.059
 It doesn't matter what it is.

00:18:51.420 --> 00:18:56.799
 None of those things contribute anything to you being right with God.

00:18:57.620 --> 00:18:59.440
 God isn't impressed.

00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:05.240
 In fact, I'd go as far as saying that God hates people putting their confidence

00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:07.819
 in their religious activity.

00:19:07.819 --> 00:19:16.439
 Anyone who says that there is some kind of religious activity that you must do

00:19:16.439 --> 00:19:20.039
 in order to be friends with God is wrong.

00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:21.839
 Wrong.

00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:25.039
 It's what you call heresy.

00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:31.619
 And the best test case for it is perhaps the first believer.

00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:35.579
 The first person to go to heaven straight after Jesus.

00:19:36.119 --> 00:19:38.740
 You know, the dude is on the cross beside Jesus.

00:19:39.940 --> 00:19:42.659
 And he's stuck up there on the cross beside Jesus.

00:19:43.079 --> 00:19:44.559
 And he turns to Jesus and says,

00:19:44.639 --> 00:19:48.059
 Remember me when you come into your kingdom.

00:19:48.059 --> 00:19:51.599
 You see, it's a statement of faith.

00:19:51.720 --> 00:19:52.960
 It's a statement of trust.

00:19:53.379 --> 00:19:59.519
 He recognizes the bloke who's been crucified beside him is no ordinary person.

00:19:59.940 --> 00:20:01.039
 This guy's a king.

00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:05.619
 And in his death, which is about to happen very soon,

00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:07.379
 he's going to enter his kingdom.

00:20:08.139 --> 00:20:11.480
 This is a kingdom which goes beyond this world.

00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:19.160
 And so what did Jesus say to him as he made his statement of faith and trust in Jesus?

00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:21.220
 Did Jesus say,

00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:22.960
 Yeah, mate, not a problem.

00:20:24.579 --> 00:20:27.740
 Get yourself down off the cross and get off the church with you.

00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:30.539
 And then you can come into my kingdom.

00:20:31.900 --> 00:20:32.900
 No, that wasn't it.

00:20:34.120 --> 00:20:34.819
 Did he say,

00:20:34.920 --> 00:20:37.539
 Okay, disciple guys, bring up the buckets.

00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:39.900
 We're going to baptize this dude here.

00:20:39.900 --> 00:20:42.820
 And then he can be in my kingdom.

00:20:44.080 --> 00:20:48.540
 Or, hey, mate, have a crack at speaking in some other weird languages.

00:20:49.140 --> 00:20:50.680
 And then you can be in my kingdom.

00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:52.800
 No.

00:20:54.540 --> 00:20:57.940
 Today, you will be with me in paradise.

00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:01.360
 Today, you will be with me in paradise.

00:21:02.900 --> 00:21:06.040
 Because this man had placed his faith in Jesus Christ.

00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:10.139
 Christianity is not about self-righteousness.

00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:13.079
 It is about God given righteousness.

00:21:13.079 --> 00:21:21.139
 But this is not just a message for those who need to come to Jesus.

00:21:21.579 --> 00:21:25.379
 It's a message for those who already follow Jesus.

00:21:26.339 --> 00:21:28.460
 Who have already put their trust in Jesus.

00:21:28.759 --> 00:21:31.839
 Because we could stop here right now and we could pray and say,

00:21:32.399 --> 00:21:34.439
 Father, thank you that I'm not like the Pharisee.

00:21:35.099 --> 00:21:36.819
 But that would be wrong.

00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:38.859
 Because we are.

00:21:38.859 --> 00:21:42.059
 We'd miss the whole point.

00:21:42.939 --> 00:21:45.699
 You see, it's so easy to start with faith in Jesus.

00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:48.659
 We look at where we're at.

00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:50.500
 We look at what God has done for us in Jesus.

00:21:50.579 --> 00:21:51.959
 It makes an easy kind of choice.

00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:52.899
 We follow Jesus.

00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:54.059
 We trust in him.

00:21:54.919 --> 00:21:58.199
 But then from that point on, we can start to slide back into religion.

00:21:58.200 --> 00:22:04.080
 It's often a subtle shift, but it's so easy to do.

00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:06.880
 It's easy because the longer you've been a Christian,

00:22:07.059 --> 00:22:09.140
 the more you hang around with Christian people,

00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:12.500
 the more you're involved in church and youth group and Bible studies

00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:14.319
 and Christian activities and stuff like that,

00:22:14.460 --> 00:22:19.039
 the more time God has had to work on you and shape you and mould you and change you.

00:22:19.360 --> 00:22:21.180
 And after a while, you can start to think,

00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:22.940
 Hey God, I'm not too bad.

00:22:22.940 --> 00:22:27.980
 You really have done a marvellous thing in me, God.

00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:29.920
 Of course, I've been working with you on that,

00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:32.019
 but you've done a marvellous thing in me, God.

00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:36.980
 And you can start to look down your nose at others.

00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:40.320
 It is such a danger.

00:22:41.299 --> 00:22:43.580
 It's such an easy thing to do.

00:22:44.580 --> 00:22:48.220
 And let me tell you that the more religious activity you do,

00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:50.680
 the easier it is to do.

00:22:50.680 --> 00:22:57.080
 I find it an enormous temptation to be the Pharisee,

00:22:57.500 --> 00:23:02.640
 to look down my nose at other people who don't come up to scratch

00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:05.539
 and wonder why they don't come up to scratch.

00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:07.160
 That's just in the Gist Church.

00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:08.299
 Forget about anyone else.

00:23:11.120 --> 00:23:17.120
 As if somehow I have mustered up a righteousness all on my own.

00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:24.079
 It's so easy to shift from faith in Jesus back into what I do.

00:23:24.959 --> 00:23:26.079
 And you start to think,

00:23:26.199 --> 00:23:26.979
 I'm not too bad.

00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:29.739
 In fact, Jesus really knew what he was doing

00:23:29.739 --> 00:23:31.359
 when he invited me to be part of his kingdom.

00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:34.779
 And you start to trust in your religion.

00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:40.059
 I got a shocking but marvellous email this week

00:23:40.059 --> 00:23:43.319
 from someone that I know and who's fairly dear to me.

00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:46.299
 This is a person who grew up in a church,

00:23:46.399 --> 00:23:47.720
 went to church all of his life.

00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:49.099
 He's always gone to church.

00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:52.339
 Went through Sunday school, youth group,

00:23:52.460 --> 00:23:53.399
 became a youth leader.

00:23:54.539 --> 00:23:56.859
 He ended up as a warden in his church.

00:23:57.059 --> 00:23:58.460
 I've been involved in this person

00:23:58.460 --> 00:24:00.539
 with a number of events,

00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:02.420
 a youth ministry kind of events.

00:24:03.299 --> 00:24:07.340
 He has worked for an Anglican organisation

00:24:07.340 --> 00:24:09.059
 in a high profile position

00:24:09.059 --> 00:24:10.799
 for a number of years.

00:24:13.340 --> 00:24:15.400
 He then left that

00:24:15.400 --> 00:24:18.259
 and went off to study in Bible College full time

00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:21.720
 and has been going really well at Bible College.

00:24:22.180 --> 00:24:24.420
 Two days ago, I got an email from him and said,

00:24:24.600 --> 00:24:25.960
 Steve, I became a Christian.

00:24:25.960 --> 00:24:30.720
 Two days ago, I became a Christian.

00:24:30.860 --> 00:24:32.880
 And I'm like, what?

00:24:34.340 --> 00:24:36.019
 I was going to give you a job.

00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:37.980
 You had me fooled.

00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:40.759
 You had me fooled.

00:24:42.140 --> 00:24:43.700
 All the time I've known him.

00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:46.039
 Could talk the talk, walk the walk.

00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:52.519
 But he trusted in his own righteousness.

00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:56.779
 Got to a point where he realised

00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:59.460
 that the sin that was there,

00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:01.180
 he couldn't hold it back any longer

00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:02.480
 and he needed to repent.

00:25:03.619 --> 00:25:06.139
 He needed to confess that it's all been a facade.

00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:08.519
 He needed to...

00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:12.180
 And God did an amazing work in his life.

00:25:12.319 --> 00:25:14.839
 He has been blown away by Jesus.

00:25:15.059 --> 00:25:16.299
 He reads the Bible now

00:25:16.299 --> 00:25:17.579
 and he just weeps.

00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:22.159
 He used to put up with the singing at church.

00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:24.299
 Now he enjoys the singing at church.

00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:28.259
 He could never stand singing at church.

00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:29.659
 For some reason, it was a problem for him

00:25:29.659 --> 00:25:31.480
 and now he just loves it.

00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:33.099
 Yeah, same stupid old hymns

00:25:33.099 --> 00:25:34.119
 and he still...

00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:34.839
 And now he loves them.

00:25:36.819 --> 00:25:38.119
 Blown away by Jesus.

00:25:38.659 --> 00:25:40.579
 The other amazing thing is he sits

00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:43.039
 his end of year exams at Bible College

00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:47.240
 and having just gone to his vice principal

00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:48.420
 and soon his principal

00:25:48.420 --> 00:25:52.079
 and repented of the last 12 months

00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:54.819
 and sending emails to all these Christian people he knows

00:25:54.819 --> 00:25:57.019
 and repenting of deceiving them

00:25:57.019 --> 00:25:58.659
 and exposing his sin to them

00:25:58.659 --> 00:26:00.619
 and what he's held close in his heart.

00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:02.119
 And I'm just broken for this guy.

00:26:02.200 --> 00:26:02.899
 I mean, it's just...

00:26:02.899 --> 00:26:04.779
 But awesome stuff

00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:07.000
 as he sits his final exams

00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:09.399
 in the middle of Stuvak right now

00:26:09.399 --> 00:26:11.059
 for the first time in his life

00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:12.000
 he has no fear.

00:26:13.259 --> 00:26:14.480
 He has no anxiety.

00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:18.259
 But

00:26:18.259 --> 00:26:23.839
 he could have been like this Pharisee

00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:25.700
 and walked away.

00:26:26.819 --> 00:26:28.279
 Walked out of the temple

00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:30.259
 and not been justified.

00:26:32.179 --> 00:26:33.679
 And I would have got to heaven

00:26:33.679 --> 00:26:35.980
 and I would have been surprised.

00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:40.740
 The question for us is

00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:44.259
 are we totally looking away from ourselves?

00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:49.559
 When you see yourself standing before King Jesus,

00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:50.920
 the Holy Judge,

00:26:51.579 --> 00:26:53.259
 what are you going to look to?

00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:56.299
 What are you going to trust in

00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:57.720
 in that moment?

00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:03.319
 Friends, it would be shocking for us

00:27:03.319 --> 00:27:05.140
 not to be terrified

00:27:05.140 --> 00:27:07.200
 by those four words

00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:08.720
 in the middle of verse 14.

00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:11.440
 terrified by them

00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:15.819
 rather than the other.

00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:18.480
 I tell you,

00:27:18.579 --> 00:27:19.059
 this man,

00:27:19.120 --> 00:27:20.039
 the tax collector,

00:27:20.339 --> 00:27:22.380
 he went down to his house

00:27:22.380 --> 00:27:23.519
 justified

00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:25.279
 before God

00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:26.579
 rather

00:27:26.579 --> 00:27:27.839
 than

00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:29.100
 the other.

00:27:29.099 --> 00:27:32.079
 the Pharisee,

00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:33.439
 the righteous one,

00:27:33.579 --> 00:27:34.879
 the one thanking God

00:27:34.879 --> 00:27:35.959
 for his righteousness

00:27:35.959 --> 00:27:37.679
 was not justified,

00:27:38.339 --> 00:27:39.719
 he was condemned.

00:27:40.459 --> 00:27:41.679
 People who trust

00:27:41.679 --> 00:27:42.679
 in the righteousness

00:27:42.679 --> 00:27:44.500
 that God has worked in them

00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:46.599
 for the basis of their acceptance,

00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:47.859
 their acquittal,

00:27:48.299 --> 00:27:49.259
 their justification

00:27:49.259 --> 00:27:50.539
 before God

00:27:50.539 --> 00:27:51.980
 do not

00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:53.259
 go down

00:27:53.259 --> 00:27:54.460
 to their house

00:27:54.460 --> 00:27:55.539
 justified.

00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:57.940
 People who

00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:59.839
 really believe

00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:01.180
 that the righteousness

00:28:01.180 --> 00:28:01.920
 that God

00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:02.700
 helps them do

00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:03.480
 in this life

00:28:03.480 --> 00:28:04.779
 is a sufficient

00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:05.539
 basis

00:28:05.539 --> 00:28:07.259
 for their justification

00:28:07.259 --> 00:28:08.559
 before God,

00:28:09.059 --> 00:28:10.039
 Jesus says

00:28:10.039 --> 00:28:11.420
 will not

00:28:11.420 --> 00:28:13.119
 be justified.

00:28:13.119 --> 00:28:13.259
 justified.

00:28:16.579 --> 00:28:18.019
 So Paul's

00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:19.079
 friends,

00:28:19.539 --> 00:28:20.359
 this

00:28:20.359 --> 00:28:21.259
 is very

00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:22.419
 serious stuff

00:28:22.419 --> 00:28:23.319
 because

00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:24.199
 Jesus is

00:28:24.199 --> 00:28:25.000
 eyeballing

00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:25.619
 people like

00:28:25.619 --> 00:28:26.459
 you and me

00:28:26.459 --> 00:28:27.579
 when he says

00:28:27.579 --> 00:28:28.299
 these words.

00:28:29.459 --> 00:28:30.939
 We are not

00:28:30.939 --> 00:28:31.539
 justified

00:28:31.539 --> 00:28:32.679
 by the righteousness

00:28:32.679 --> 00:28:33.579
 that Christ

00:28:33.579 --> 00:28:35.359
 works in us

00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:36.459
 but by the

00:28:36.459 --> 00:28:37.000
 righteousness

00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:37.839
 that Christ

00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:38.459
 is

00:28:38.459 --> 00:28:39.299
 for

00:28:39.299 --> 00:28:39.979
 us.

00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:42.980
 And so I

00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:43.720
 plead with you

00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:44.120
 today

00:28:44.120 --> 00:28:44.819
 on behalf

00:28:44.819 --> 00:28:45.440
 of Jesus

00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:47.019
 that for

00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:48.039
 your justification

00:28:48.039 --> 00:28:49.680
 you do

00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:50.339
 not look

00:28:50.339 --> 00:28:50.700
 to

00:28:50.700 --> 00:28:52.019
 or trust

00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:52.539
 in

00:28:52.539 --> 00:28:53.620
 what God

00:28:53.620 --> 00:28:54.279
 has worked

00:28:54.279 --> 00:28:55.160
 out in your

00:28:55.160 --> 00:28:55.700
 life.

00:28:58.099 --> 00:28:58.599
 Instead

00:28:58.599 --> 00:28:59.860
 look to

00:28:59.860 --> 00:29:00.720
 and trust

00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:01.599
 in Christ

00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:02.339
 alone

00:29:02.339 --> 00:29:03.519
 and all

00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:04.180
 that God

00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:05.120
 is for you

00:29:05.120 --> 00:29:06.180
 in him.

00:29:09.980 --> 00:29:14.480
 So hear

00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:14.880
 the words

00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:15.360
 of Jesus

00:29:15.360 --> 00:29:15.860
 again.

00:29:17.500 --> 00:29:17.940
 Everyone

00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:18.819
 who exalts

00:29:18.819 --> 00:29:19.200
 himself

00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:19.680
 will be

00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:20.019
 humbled

00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:21.559
 and he

00:29:21.559 --> 00:29:21.819
 who

00:29:21.819 --> 00:29:22.220
 humbles

00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:22.640
 himself

00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:23.039
 will be

00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:23.519
 exalted.

00:29:24.900 --> 00:29:25.539
 Everyone

00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:26.360
 who exalts

00:29:26.360 --> 00:29:26.839
 himself

00:29:26.839 --> 00:29:27.259
 will be

00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:27.640
 humbled

00:29:27.640 --> 00:29:29.339
 and he

00:29:29.339 --> 00:29:29.960
 who

00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:30.420
 humbles

00:29:30.420 --> 00:29:31.059
 himself

00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:32.220
 will be

00:29:32.220 --> 00:29:33.019
 exalted.

00:29:34.559 --> 00:29:35.259
 This is

00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:35.539
 what we're

00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:35.940
 going to do.

00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:36.299
 We're going

00:29:36.299 --> 00:29:36.559
 to bow

00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:37.059
 our heads

00:29:37.059 --> 00:29:37.900
 and I

00:29:37.900 --> 00:29:38.400
 want each

00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:38.680
 one of

00:29:38.680 --> 00:29:38.940
 you to

00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:39.440
 pour

00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:39.700
 over

00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:39.980
 those

00:29:39.980 --> 00:29:40.460
 words.

00:29:41.819 --> 00:29:42.039
 To

00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:42.500
 think

00:29:42.500 --> 00:29:43.559
 to

00:29:43.559 --> 00:29:44.220
 search

00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:45.160
 to

00:29:45.160 --> 00:29:45.720
 pray

00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:48.360
 am

00:29:48.360 --> 00:29:48.539
 I

00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:48.700
 the

00:29:48.700 --> 00:29:49.299
 Pharisee

00:29:49.299 --> 00:29:49.559
 or am

00:29:49.559 --> 00:29:49.680
 I

00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:49.819
 the

00:29:49.819 --> 00:29:50.140
 tax

00:29:50.140 --> 00:29:50.559
 collector?

00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:52.080
 For

00:29:52.080 --> 00:29:52.400
 some of

00:29:52.400 --> 00:29:52.620
 us here

00:29:52.620 --> 00:29:52.860
 we need

00:29:52.860 --> 00:29:53.120
 to make

00:29:53.120 --> 00:29:53.700
 a choice.

00:29:54.100 --> 00:29:54.220
 The

00:29:54.220 --> 00:29:54.519
 choice

00:29:54.519 --> 00:29:54.819
 is we

00:29:54.819 --> 00:29:55.039
 actually

00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:55.240
 do

00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:55.380
 need

00:29:55.380 --> 00:29:55.600
 to put

00:29:55.600 --> 00:29:55.740
 our

00:29:55.740 --> 00:29:56.019
 trust

00:29:56.019 --> 00:29:56.220
 in

00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:56.519
 Jesus

00:29:56.519 --> 00:29:58.019
 and

00:29:58.019 --> 00:29:58.180
 for

00:29:58.180 --> 00:29:58.400
 some

00:29:58.400 --> 00:29:58.460
 of

00:29:58.460 --> 00:29:58.559
 us

00:29:58.559 --> 00:29:58.680
 we

00:29:58.680 --> 00:29:58.799
 need

00:29:58.799 --> 00:29:58.880
 to

00:29:58.880 --> 00:29:59.059
 make

00:29:59.059 --> 00:29:59.220
 a

00:29:59.220 --> 00:29:59.580
 choice.

00:29:59.740 --> 00:29:59.799
 We

00:29:59.799 --> 00:29:59.940
 need

00:29:59.940 --> 00:30:00.059
 to

00:30:00.059 --> 00:30:00.240
 say

00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:00.640
 actually

00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:00.940
 I

00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:01.120
 have

00:30:01.120 --> 00:30:01.299
 been

00:30:01.299 --> 00:30:01.660
 swinging

00:30:01.660 --> 00:30:02.140
 towards

00:30:02.140 --> 00:30:02.380
 my

00:30:02.380 --> 00:30:02.720
 religious

00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:03.340
 activity

00:30:03.340 --> 00:30:04.460
 thinking

00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:04.940
 somehow

00:30:04.940 --> 00:30:05.240
 that

00:30:05.240 --> 00:30:05.480
 helps

00:30:05.480 --> 00:30:05.620
 me

00:30:05.620 --> 00:30:05.840
 to be

00:30:05.840 --> 00:30:06.080
 right

00:30:06.080 --> 00:30:06.259
 with

00:30:06.259 --> 00:30:06.620
 God

00:30:06.620 --> 00:30:07.440
 and

00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:07.559
 I

00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:07.700
 need

00:30:07.700 --> 00:30:07.839
 to

00:30:07.839 --> 00:30:08.059
 come

00:30:08.059 --> 00:30:08.460
 back

00:30:08.460 --> 00:30:09.059
 and

00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:09.279
 look

00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:09.639
 only

00:30:09.639 --> 00:30:09.859
 to

00:30:09.859 --> 00:30:10.359
 Jesus.

00:30:16.539 --> 00:30:17.039
 Let's

00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:17.379
 take a

00:30:17.379 --> 00:30:17.659
 moment

00:30:17.659 --> 00:30:18.759
 and

00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:19.059
 search

00:30:19.059 --> 00:30:19.259
 our

00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:19.639
 hearts.

00:30:33.319 --> 00:30:33.839
 Gracious

00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:34.079
 God

00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:34.379
 in your

00:30:34.379 --> 00:30:34.759
 mercy

00:30:34.759 --> 00:30:35.220
 we ask

00:30:35.220 --> 00:30:35.500
 that you

00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:35.899
 pour out

00:30:35.899 --> 00:30:36.099
 your

00:30:36.099 --> 00:30:36.559
 spirit

00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:37.139
 upon us

00:30:37.140 --> 00:30:37.520
 now

00:30:37.520 --> 00:30:39.660
 firstly

00:30:39.660 --> 00:30:40.040
 that we

00:30:40.040 --> 00:30:40.300
 might

00:30:40.300 --> 00:30:40.620
 see

00:30:40.620 --> 00:30:40.900
 that

00:30:40.900 --> 00:30:41.900
 we

00:30:41.900 --> 00:30:42.060
 are

00:30:42.060 --> 00:30:42.680
 justified

00:30:42.680 --> 00:30:44.480
 only

00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:44.800
 and

00:30:44.800 --> 00:30:45.160
 ever

00:30:45.160 --> 00:30:45.740
 only

00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:47.160
 by

00:30:47.160 --> 00:30:47.740
 Christ.

00:30:50.280 --> 00:30:50.800
 Father

00:30:50.800 --> 00:30:51.160
 we

00:30:51.160 --> 00:30:52.520
 pray

00:30:52.520 --> 00:30:52.800
 that you

00:30:52.800 --> 00:30:52.920
 would

00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:53.180
 help

00:30:53.180 --> 00:30:53.480
 us

00:30:53.480 --> 00:30:53.840
 to

00:30:53.840 --> 00:30:55.080
 see

00:30:55.080 --> 00:30:55.320
 that

00:30:55.320 --> 00:30:55.720
 clearly

00:30:55.720 --> 00:30:57.240
 for

00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:57.460
 some

00:30:57.460 --> 00:30:57.660
 of us

00:30:57.660 --> 00:30:57.780
 here

00:30:57.780 --> 00:30:58.100
 tonight

00:30:58.100 --> 00:30:58.300
 Lord

00:30:58.300 --> 00:30:58.480
 we

00:30:58.480 --> 00:30:58.680
 need

00:30:58.680 --> 00:30:58.960
 to

00:30:58.960 --> 00:30:59.220
 for

00:30:59.220 --> 00:30:59.380
 the

00:30:59.380 --> 00:30:59.640
 first

00:30:59.640 --> 00:30:59.920
 time

00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:00.180
 come

00:31:00.180 --> 00:31:00.360
 to

00:31:00.360 --> 00:31:00.620
 you

00:31:00.620 --> 00:31:01.460
 and

00:31:01.460 --> 00:31:01.600
 we

00:31:01.600 --> 00:31:01.920
 need

00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:02.080
 to

00:31:02.080 --> 00:31:02.460
 acknowledge

00:31:02.460 --> 00:31:02.680
 that

00:31:02.680 --> 00:31:02.780
 we

00:31:02.780 --> 00:31:03.120
 need

00:31:03.120 --> 00:31:03.380
 you

00:31:03.380 --> 00:31:04.759
 we

00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:04.920
 need

00:31:04.920 --> 00:31:05.060
 to

00:31:05.060 --> 00:31:05.420
 acknowledge

00:31:05.420 --> 00:31:05.740
 that

00:31:05.740 --> 00:31:05.880
 we

00:31:05.880 --> 00:31:06.040
 have

00:31:06.040 --> 00:31:06.380
 failed

00:31:06.380 --> 00:31:06.680
 you

00:31:06.680 --> 00:31:06.960
 that

00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:07.299
 we

00:31:07.299 --> 00:31:07.620
 are

00:31:07.620 --> 00:31:08.120
 like

00:31:08.120 --> 00:31:08.519
 this

00:31:08.519 --> 00:31:08.880
 tax

00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:09.400
 collector

00:31:09.400 --> 00:31:10.279
 and

00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:10.420
 that

00:31:10.420 --> 00:31:10.680
 we

00:31:10.680 --> 00:31:10.920
 are

00:31:10.920 --> 00:31:11.060
 the

00:31:11.060 --> 00:31:11.539
 essential

00:31:11.539 --> 00:31:12.259
 model

00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:13.019
 sinner

00:31:13.019 --> 00:31:14.779
 reveal

00:31:14.779 --> 00:31:16.680
 dig deep

00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:17.019
 Lord

00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:18.200
 as difficult

00:31:18.200 --> 00:31:18.539
 as it is

00:31:18.539 --> 00:31:18.779
 for us

00:31:18.779 --> 00:31:19.100
 to do

00:31:19.100 --> 00:31:19.700
 reveal

00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:20.039
 that

00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:20.740
 darkness

00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:21.960
 that

00:31:21.960 --> 00:31:23.680
 that evil

00:31:23.680 --> 00:31:24.740
 that wickedness

00:31:24.740 --> 00:31:25.660
 that blackness

00:31:25.660 --> 00:31:26.320
 which is in

00:31:26.320 --> 00:31:26.680
 us

00:31:26.680 --> 00:31:27.620
 that filth

00:31:27.620 --> 00:31:29.019
 which offends

00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:29.420
 you

00:31:29.420 --> 00:31:30.440
 may it

00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:30.880
 come out

00:31:30.880 --> 00:31:31.140
 in the

00:31:31.140 --> 00:31:31.539
 open

00:31:31.539 --> 00:31:32.220
 so that

00:31:32.220 --> 00:31:32.539
 you can

00:31:32.539 --> 00:31:32.799
 deal

00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:33.220
 with it

00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:34.200
 so that

00:31:34.200 --> 00:31:34.319
 you

00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:34.519
 can

00:31:34.519 --> 00:31:34.880
 forgive

00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:35.220
 it

00:31:35.220 --> 00:31:37.400
 father

00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:37.839
 for some

00:31:37.839 --> 00:31:38.299
 of us

00:31:38.299 --> 00:31:39.120
 we have

00:31:39.120 --> 00:31:39.420
 known

00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:39.839
 your love

00:31:39.839 --> 00:31:40.160
 for a

00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:40.460
 while

00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:40.880
 but we

00:31:40.880 --> 00:31:41.039
 have

00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:41.380
 slipped

00:31:41.380 --> 00:31:41.600
 from

00:31:41.600 --> 00:31:41.880
 that

00:31:41.880 --> 00:31:42.680
 and

00:31:42.680 --> 00:31:42.839
 that

00:31:42.839 --> 00:31:43.000
 we

00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:43.259
 have

00:31:43.259 --> 00:31:43.940
 moved

00:31:43.940 --> 00:31:45.779
 gradually

00:31:45.779 --> 00:31:46.140
 bit

00:31:46.140 --> 00:31:46.740
 by bit

00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:47.980
 at

00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:48.360
 least

00:31:48.360 --> 00:31:49.120
 being

00:31:49.120 --> 00:31:49.799
 pleased

00:31:49.799 --> 00:31:50.420
 by what

00:31:50.420 --> 00:31:50.660
 you're

00:31:50.660 --> 00:31:50.900
 doing

00:31:50.900 --> 00:31:51.480
 in us

00:31:51.480 --> 00:31:52.039
 in such

00:31:52.039 --> 00:31:52.539
 a way

00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:54.200
 that it

00:31:54.200 --> 00:31:54.579
 gives us

00:31:54.579 --> 00:31:55.240
 confidence

00:31:55.240 --> 00:31:56.980
 self

00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:57.600
 confidence

00:31:57.599 --> 00:32:00.559
 our father

00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:00.959
 bring us

00:32:00.959 --> 00:32:01.399
 back

00:32:01.399 --> 00:32:02.219
 to the

00:32:02.219 --> 00:32:02.639
 cross

00:32:02.639 --> 00:32:03.719
 bring us

00:32:03.719 --> 00:32:04.099
 back to

00:32:04.099 --> 00:32:04.639
 the son

00:32:04.639 --> 00:32:06.519
 bring us

00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:06.879
 back to

00:32:06.879 --> 00:32:07.399
 Jesus

00:32:07.399 --> 00:32:09.359
 may our

00:32:09.359 --> 00:32:09.719
 confidence

00:32:09.719 --> 00:32:10.279
 be him

00:32:10.279 --> 00:32:10.619
 so that

00:32:10.619 --> 00:32:10.959
 we might

00:32:10.959 --> 00:32:11.839
 walk away

00:32:11.839 --> 00:32:12.980
 from this

00:32:12.980 --> 00:32:13.459
 place

00:32:13.459 --> 00:32:16.980
 walk away

00:32:16.980 --> 00:32:17.339
 from here

00:32:17.339 --> 00:32:18.079
 justified

00:32:18.079 --> 00:32:19.459
 and walk

00:32:19.459 --> 00:32:20.259
 into

00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:21.299
 eternity

00:32:21.299 --> 00:32:21.959
 with you

00:32:21.959 --> 00:32:22.799
 justified

00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:24.059
 and we

00:32:24.059 --> 00:32:24.359
 ask it

00:32:24.359 --> 00:32:24.699
 for your

00:32:24.699 --> 00:32:25.000
 sake

00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:26.019
 amen