WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.919 Father, you know that the fragility of each of us, the different ways that we're very fragile, 00:00:10.620 --> 00:00:16.660 and you know the weaknesses of each of us, and you know our sins and our failings, 00:00:16.660 --> 00:00:22.019 you know our strengths and our glories, you know the plan that you have for each one of us as well. 00:00:22.940 --> 00:00:29.379 Father, we give you thanks and praise that you know each and every one of us completely, fully, perfectly. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.640 And yet you love us, and yet you sent your Son to die for us. 00:00:34.039 --> 00:00:37.960 And we thank you, Father, that when we put our faith and trust in Jesus, 00:00:38.679 --> 00:00:42.960 that he comes and dwells each person who puts their faith in him. 00:00:43.320 --> 00:00:50.000 So, Father, we ask that you grow within us a deep hope in Christ, the hope of glory. 00:00:50.420 --> 00:00:52.760 And we ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:00:53.420 --> 00:00:54.439 Please be seated. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:02.280 It's Thanksgiving weekend. 00:01:03.079 --> 00:01:06.359 That's why we have these roses here at the front. 00:01:08.819 --> 00:01:11.000 There's a lot of fear in the world right now. 00:01:12.920 --> 00:01:14.739 There's a lot of tension. 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:19.560 Not everybody's filled with hysteria or filled with fear, but there's a lot of fear around. 00:01:19.560 --> 00:01:26.060 And I regularly come into contact with people, and it just seems to emanate from them, their fear. 00:01:26.420 --> 00:01:31.760 And I don't want to get into a bit of a discussion about the lockdown and how people are responding to it. 00:01:32.700 --> 00:01:34.680 People ask me how I'm doing. 00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:39.219 I tell them I'm trying to live free and without fear. 00:01:39.859 --> 00:01:40.700 That's what I tell them. 00:01:40.780 --> 00:01:43.460 And it actually often surprises them when I say that's my goal. 00:01:43.540 --> 00:01:46.620 I want to live without fear, and I want to live a free life, free and without fear. 00:01:46.620 --> 00:01:51.020 In fact, when I was just between the services, I mentioned that to a person. 00:01:51.180 --> 00:01:55.580 They looked at me quite surprised, and you could tell that they were a person very fearful. 00:01:55.780 --> 00:02:01.420 But then again, they're also working in a coffee shop, and they're probably fearful for their jobs as well. 00:02:02.340 --> 00:02:06.040 But even before, we had the different types of lockdowns. 00:02:06.140 --> 00:02:10.540 And we can see this in the States more than we can in Canada because of the election year 00:02:10.539 --> 00:02:15.159 and because of other issues connected to the real problem of racism 00:02:15.159 --> 00:02:21.000 is that there was a lot of fear in our country, and there's a lot of fear down south about a whole range of issues. 00:02:21.859 --> 00:02:25.719 And university campuses actually are often a place with lots of fear, 00:02:26.319 --> 00:02:32.359 where it's there, it's from places like that that we're most likely to see concerns about trigger warning, 00:02:32.360 --> 00:02:41.800 being triggered, or microaggression, or, yeah, triggering safe places, microaggression. 00:02:42.220 --> 00:02:46.300 Now, I bring these things up not to mock them at all, but just to think about them for a bit 00:02:46.300 --> 00:02:51.660 and to consider how a lot of people, not everybody, but how more and more people in our society often think. 00:02:52.340 --> 00:02:55.820 And I'm going to use two inspirational quotes. 00:02:55.819 --> 00:03:00.359 The tech guy and I were having a bit of a question about this beforehand. 00:03:00.659 --> 00:03:02.759 There's sort of two versions of the same quote. 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:06.139 And if you could put the first one up, that would be very helpful. 00:03:07.799 --> 00:03:14.159 And we are balloons filled with feelings in a world full of pins. 00:03:16.019 --> 00:03:20.180 Many of them, this is actually sort of a not very inspirational-looking poster. 00:03:20.759 --> 00:03:25.199 But if you go and Google this, you can get T-shirts, cups, and posters. 00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:30.019 And a lot of the posters are clearly of the inspirational mode, the soft colors, 00:03:31.079 --> 00:03:34.979 you know, the young person, the balloon floating up into the air. 00:03:35.099 --> 00:03:39.539 And it's obviously intended to be a bit of an inspirational idea. 00:03:40.060 --> 00:03:44.479 We are balloons filled with feelings in a world full of pins. 00:03:45.639 --> 00:03:49.759 And that's sort of a graphic way to explain or to get at. 00:03:52.060 --> 00:03:54.039 Maybe not in that particular image. 00:03:54.039 --> 00:03:59.539 But human beings are weak and fragile. 00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:03.079 And there's lots of danger out there in the world. 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:08.039 And we have to do what we can to stop the danger because I'm weak and fragile. 00:04:08.979 --> 00:04:14.139 And challenges to me are really threats to me. 00:04:14.139 --> 00:04:18.060 And even the smallest little challenge is actually a threat to me. 00:04:18.759 --> 00:04:25.139 And if you threaten me, I could burst and be irreparably damaged. 00:04:25.819 --> 00:04:28.620 In fact, basically almost completely and utterly come to an end. 00:04:29.319 --> 00:04:32.599 And what is very central to me are my feelings and my emotions. 00:04:32.819 --> 00:04:34.959 That's what's really very, very central to me. 00:04:34.959 --> 00:04:41.560 In fact, you know, even to say this, I think it's maybe safe on this, although I don't, I never know who watches this online. 00:04:41.620 --> 00:04:46.699 And occasionally we get comments about things online at the online service to our online congregation. 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:51.299 But in fact, actually much of the rhetoric around Black Lives Matter. 00:04:51.879 --> 00:04:58.560 Now, even when I say something like that, many people say, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, old white guy making comments about that. 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:04.399 Well, actually, isn't that reaction a little bit like this balloon that was just up there a moment? 00:05:05.699 --> 00:05:10.860 The world, we are balloons filled with feelings in a world filled with pins. 00:05:11.699 --> 00:05:16.639 And so if I make any type of comment about it, then that's actually a bit of a triggering type of thing. 00:05:16.699 --> 00:05:18.920 And maybe I'm a pin that's going to burst it. 00:05:19.660 --> 00:05:23.579 But in fact, actually in much of the rhetoric that comes out of critical theory, 00:05:23.579 --> 00:05:28.439 but come into the mainstream of society, mainstream of university, mainstream of media, 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:34.800 is in fact, you can't, a person's feelings about how they're being treated, 00:05:35.500 --> 00:05:39.819 trump any type of research or objective things. 00:05:40.100 --> 00:05:42.240 Because what really matters about us is our feelings. 00:05:42.340 --> 00:05:46.220 And if I'm feeling oppressed in any type of way, if I'm feeling threatened, 00:05:46.379 --> 00:05:48.980 then that's not on me, that's on you. 00:05:48.980 --> 00:05:53.480 Because there should be nothing that ever makes me feel threatened or makes me feel challenged. 00:05:53.480 --> 00:05:55.700 Because fundamentally, why? 00:05:55.780 --> 00:05:56.580 I am a balloon. 00:05:56.879 --> 00:06:00.480 We are a balloon filled with feelings in a world full of pins. 00:06:01.220 --> 00:06:04.640 And so whether it's the state or some other sort of university administrators, 00:06:04.780 --> 00:06:08.560 those pins have to be dealt with because I'm fundamentally fragile. 00:06:09.100 --> 00:06:12.439 But this is actually even better seen in the second version of the same quote. 00:06:12.439 --> 00:06:15.839 So I'm not sure which version came first, by the way, 00:06:15.860 --> 00:06:17.959 and it seems as if it's an anonymous type of quote. 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:19.439 It just developed somewhere in the ether. 00:06:19.959 --> 00:06:24.839 Maybe somebody online or one of you folks can tell me afterwards which is first. 00:06:24.939 --> 00:06:25.579 But notice this. 00:06:26.199 --> 00:06:27.759 There's just two words difference. 00:06:28.199 --> 00:06:32.220 But the two words are very, very significant because it goes to identity. 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:33.180 Right? 00:06:33.180 --> 00:06:40.740 We are just balloons filled with feelings on a world full of pins. 00:06:41.040 --> 00:06:48.939 We are just a world, a balloon filled with feelings on a world filled with pins. 00:06:51.519 --> 00:06:55.060 This is really, in many ways, I mean, for many people, once again, 00:06:55.319 --> 00:07:02.819 these are inspirational ideas that we are balloons filled with feelings in a world full of pins. 00:07:03.180 --> 00:07:06.980 And note one of the things about it which is very, a bit worrisome 00:07:06.980 --> 00:07:10.379 is that it actually, at the very, very heart of it, has we, they language. 00:07:11.220 --> 00:07:16.120 There's we, the good people, the precious people. 00:07:16.540 --> 00:07:18.300 We, the balloons, filled with feelings. 00:07:18.759 --> 00:07:22.199 And then there's they, pins, the world of pins. 00:07:23.500 --> 00:07:30.699 But this permeates the consciousness of much in media and much in the university 00:07:30.699 --> 00:07:31.800 and much in our culture. 00:07:31.800 --> 00:07:37.100 Sort of the complete opposite end of all those technocratic ideas of self-improvement 00:07:37.100 --> 00:07:38.780 and self-empowerment and the secret. 00:07:39.340 --> 00:07:42.160 But it's something which is growing and growing in our society 00:07:42.160 --> 00:07:46.080 and I think helps to understand a lot of the fear which is going on in our world right now. 00:07:46.939 --> 00:07:50.139 Now, once again, I'm not expressing any of these things to mock triggering 00:07:50.139 --> 00:07:52.680 and to mock safe places. 00:07:52.780 --> 00:07:53.660 I'm not doing that at all. 00:07:53.720 --> 00:07:55.240 It's something we need to think and understand. 00:07:55.240 --> 00:07:57.780 And in fact, many people would push back and say, 00:07:57.860 --> 00:08:02.199 George, Christians have their own version of this, don't they? 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:05.920 In fact, I think I heard Shane say when he was reading the scripture text 00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:08.439 that this was the text that you're going to preach on. 00:08:08.500 --> 00:08:13.579 And doesn't that whole text encourage Christians to understand themselves in the same way? 00:08:13.660 --> 00:08:17.180 Wasn't it seeming to be very, very afraid of studying philosophy 00:08:17.180 --> 00:08:20.680 or having arguments or conversations with people 00:08:20.680 --> 00:08:22.879 because if you do, you're going to get captured? 00:08:23.620 --> 00:08:26.740 Like, isn't that sort of, like, aren't what you're describing 00:08:26.740 --> 00:08:29.100 like almost something which the Bible teaches? 00:08:30.439 --> 00:08:34.639 Well, people who comment like that have a lot of validity 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:37.519 because, in fact, it's been a very consistent Christian problem. 00:08:37.519 --> 00:08:40.480 I'm ancient of days. 00:08:41.419 --> 00:08:47.840 I heard Rex Murphy say that he was wrapping the pharaohs in his linen cloths 00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:49.279 before he became a mummy. 00:08:49.740 --> 00:08:52.039 And I sort of feel almost like I'm getting that old myself. 00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:55.360 But in the church that I grew up in, 00:08:55.419 --> 00:08:57.360 and then when I became a Christian that I attended, 00:08:57.980 --> 00:09:02.019 there was very much a deep fear about knowledge and about the world. 00:09:02.879 --> 00:09:06.279 In fact, I had people take me aside and say that I shouldn't go to Carleton 00:09:06.279 --> 00:09:07.220 to study philosophy. 00:09:07.220 --> 00:09:09.019 I should go to Prairie Bible College 00:09:09.019 --> 00:09:13.360 because if I went to Carleton to study sociology and philosophy 00:09:13.360 --> 00:09:15.300 and things, psychology and things like that, 00:09:15.320 --> 00:09:16.639 I would end up losing my faith. 00:09:17.700 --> 00:09:21.519 And there is, in fact, a very large Christian evangelical 00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:22.779 or very Catholic. 00:09:22.940 --> 00:09:24.920 There's different types of subcultures 00:09:24.920 --> 00:09:27.560 where you just read the right type of literature, 00:09:27.779 --> 00:09:29.080 you read the right type of blogs, 00:09:29.180 --> 00:09:31.040 you watch the right type of movies 00:09:31.040 --> 00:09:33.600 because there are, in fact, many Christians 00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:35.779 who feel that we are Christians. 00:09:35.779 --> 00:09:39.240 We are balloons filled with Christ 00:09:39.240 --> 00:09:41.439 in a world full of pins. 00:09:41.699 --> 00:09:43.319 And so we have to be very, very careful. 00:09:44.199 --> 00:09:46.259 Well, just before we look at this, 00:09:46.299 --> 00:09:48.500 I just want to, you know, when I was playing around with this, 00:09:48.919 --> 00:09:50.980 you always have to be careful about rabbit trails. 00:09:51.079 --> 00:09:52.839 But if you could put the first point up, 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:53.860 that would be very handy. 00:09:53.860 --> 00:09:57.120 There's actually like a type of biblical image 00:09:57.120 --> 00:10:00.379 which is sort of similar to this image 00:10:00.379 --> 00:10:02.060 of we are balloons filled with feelings 00:10:02.060 --> 00:10:05.560 or we are just balloons filled with feelings 00:10:05.560 --> 00:10:08.159 on a world filled with pins. 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:10.300 And it's actually a biblical idea 00:10:10.300 --> 00:10:12.639 which is sort of similar but profoundly different. 00:10:12.779 --> 00:10:16.159 And different, in fact, if you compare the two things, 00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:17.860 I don't know how you'd make a poster out of this, 00:10:17.899 --> 00:10:19.060 an inspirational poster. 00:10:19.059 --> 00:10:22.039 But this is actually a very, very, very different way 00:10:22.039 --> 00:10:23.019 to understand things 00:10:23.019 --> 00:10:25.739 even though it has some similarities to the balloon imagery. 00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:28.159 And what I've done is I've put together 00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:30.239 Genesis chapter 1 with basically 00:10:30.239 --> 00:10:32.859 a big part of the book of Ecclesiastes. 00:10:33.579 --> 00:10:35.059 And in the book of Ecclesiastes, 00:10:35.939 --> 00:10:38.559 which begins vanity of vanities in most translations, 00:10:38.819 --> 00:10:41.379 but vanity of vanities is a very poor translation, 00:10:42.019 --> 00:10:44.179 it's better to understand the Hebrew word 00:10:44.179 --> 00:10:46.239 which is all the way through the whole book, 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:48.220 like constantly, as the word vapor. 00:10:48.820 --> 00:10:51.500 Something which is very, very transient. 00:10:52.480 --> 00:10:53.820 In fact, for Canadians, 00:10:54.080 --> 00:10:56.060 the best image of what the Hebrew word 00:10:56.060 --> 00:10:57.019 is trying to communicate 00:10:57.019 --> 00:10:59.060 is when it gets very cold out in the winter 00:10:59.060 --> 00:11:00.940 in January or February, 00:11:00.940 --> 00:11:02.820 and when you breathe, what do you see? 00:11:02.860 --> 00:11:03.620 You see your breath. 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:04.860 You see vapor. 00:11:05.620 --> 00:11:07.419 And that's actually the type of image 00:11:07.419 --> 00:11:09.019 which the book of Ecclesiastes 00:11:09.019 --> 00:11:10.100 is trying to communicate 00:11:10.100 --> 00:11:11.680 about the fact that human beings 00:11:11.680 --> 00:11:14.039 and all reality is temporary. 00:11:14.279 --> 00:11:14.840 It changes. 00:11:14.840 --> 00:11:16.100 It's fragile. 00:11:16.379 --> 00:11:19.139 It's like the breath that you breathe 00:11:19.139 --> 00:11:21.420 on a very cold winter's day, 00:11:21.480 --> 00:11:22.500 and you can see the breath, 00:11:22.580 --> 00:11:23.720 but you don't see it very long 00:11:23.720 --> 00:11:25.320 because it passes very quickly. 00:11:25.780 --> 00:11:26.899 And it's a message all the way 00:11:26.899 --> 00:11:28.259 through the book of Ecclesiastes. 00:11:29.139 --> 00:11:30.060 But at the same time, 00:11:30.100 --> 00:11:31.259 I think it's in chapter 3, 00:11:31.460 --> 00:11:33.060 it has this profound image 00:11:33.060 --> 00:11:34.700 of how God has put eternity 00:11:34.700 --> 00:11:35.759 into the human heart. 00:11:36.600 --> 00:11:39.139 And he puts eternity into the human heart 00:11:39.139 --> 00:11:41.019 in its context. 00:11:41.019 --> 00:11:42.240 It's talking a little bit 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:43.819 about our longings and our yearnings, 00:11:44.600 --> 00:11:45.899 that even though we are vapor, 00:11:46.059 --> 00:11:47.639 there's a longing and yearning 00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:48.840 for eternity 00:11:48.840 --> 00:11:51.879 and a knowledge 00:11:51.879 --> 00:11:52.819 that there is something 00:11:52.819 --> 00:11:54.360 that is eternal 00:11:54.360 --> 00:11:56.139 that isn't just something 00:11:56.139 --> 00:11:57.139 which is transient. 00:11:58.579 --> 00:12:00.759 And so if you put the Old Testament idea 00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:01.539 of the image of God, 00:12:01.620 --> 00:12:02.500 you get something like this. 00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:03.519 You are like a vapor, 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:04.919 yet you bear the image 00:12:04.919 --> 00:12:05.980 of the triune God, 00:12:05.980 --> 00:12:07.720 and he has put eternity 00:12:07.720 --> 00:12:08.659 into your heart. 00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:10.379 Similar to the balloon image, 00:12:10.460 --> 00:12:11.139 but very different. 00:12:11.700 --> 00:12:13.659 But let's look at this whole question. 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:14.560 If you turn in your Bibles 00:12:14.560 --> 00:12:15.920 to Colossians chapter 2, 00:12:16.039 --> 00:12:18.100 verse 9, 00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:19.620 verse 8 and following, 00:12:19.720 --> 00:12:20.740 let's look at this text 00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:21.580 and see if in fact 00:12:21.580 --> 00:12:23.980 this text could be used 00:12:23.980 --> 00:12:25.279 to say that Christians 00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:26.120 are like balloons 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:27.620 and world filled with pins. 00:12:28.500 --> 00:12:29.379 And in other words, 00:12:29.420 --> 00:12:30.879 there's danger all around us 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:32.340 and that challenges to us 00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:33.820 or hard times to us 00:12:33.820 --> 00:12:35.340 will just fundamentally 00:12:35.340 --> 00:12:36.100 we're weak 00:12:36.100 --> 00:12:37.360 and we're only going to get weak 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:37.980 and challenges 00:12:37.980 --> 00:12:39.160 will just make us weak 00:12:39.160 --> 00:12:40.060 and so we need to live 00:12:40.060 --> 00:12:41.120 very, very protected 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:43.020 and closeted lives. 00:12:43.500 --> 00:12:44.720 Well, let's look at the text again 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:45.500 and see what it says. 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:46.080 And at first, 00:12:46.220 --> 00:12:47.040 it says this, 00:12:47.140 --> 00:12:48.200 see to it that no one 00:12:48.200 --> 00:12:49.100 takes you captive 00:12:49.100 --> 00:12:50.020 by philosophy 00:12:50.020 --> 00:12:51.420 and empty deceit 00:12:51.420 --> 00:12:53.200 according to human tradition, 00:12:53.680 --> 00:12:55.280 according to the elemental spirits 00:12:55.280 --> 00:12:55.960 of the world 00:12:55.960 --> 00:12:57.580 and not according to Christ. 00:12:58.500 --> 00:12:59.180 I'll read that again. 00:12:59.560 --> 00:13:00.020 And in fact, 00:13:00.100 --> 00:13:00.340 actually, 00:13:00.440 --> 00:13:01.700 if this was all you knew 00:13:01.700 --> 00:13:03.020 of this whole topic 00:13:03.020 --> 00:13:03.600 in the Bible, 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:04.480 then you'd have to 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:05.820 sort of maybe think 00:13:05.820 --> 00:13:06.540 that it's talking 00:13:06.540 --> 00:13:07.600 about this type 00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:09.000 of a balloon imagery 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:09.840 of us being very, 00:13:09.960 --> 00:13:10.720 very fragile. 00:13:11.659 --> 00:13:12.580 See to it that no one 00:13:12.580 --> 00:13:13.440 takes you captive. 00:13:13.540 --> 00:13:14.540 It's clearly a warning, 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:15.100 by the way. 00:13:15.220 --> 00:13:15.960 It's a warning, 00:13:16.080 --> 00:13:16.600 a threat. 00:13:18.540 --> 00:13:19.860 That's very clear 00:13:19.860 --> 00:13:20.800 in the original language 00:13:20.800 --> 00:13:21.240 as well. 00:13:21.320 --> 00:13:21.879 It's a warning 00:13:21.879 --> 00:13:22.820 that there's a threat, 00:13:22.899 --> 00:13:23.560 there's a danger. 00:13:24.180 --> 00:13:25.159 And it puts it like this, 00:13:25.180 --> 00:13:25.980 see to it that no one 00:13:25.980 --> 00:13:26.879 takes you captive 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:28.500 and here the idea 00:13:28.500 --> 00:13:29.800 is that you'll become a slave. 00:13:30.200 --> 00:13:31.899 Whether it's ships 00:13:31.899 --> 00:13:33.439 in battle 00:13:33.439 --> 00:13:34.840 taking another ship, 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:35.939 defeating another ship 00:13:35.939 --> 00:13:37.379 and making the crew captive 00:13:37.379 --> 00:13:38.539 or whether it's an army 00:13:38.539 --> 00:13:39.720 that defeats another army 00:13:39.720 --> 00:13:40.980 and so the soldiers 00:13:40.980 --> 00:13:41.480 are caught 00:13:41.480 --> 00:13:42.259 and are captive 00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:43.919 and when you're caught 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:44.879 as captives 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:45.379 at the time 00:13:45.379 --> 00:13:46.120 that Paul was writing, 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:46.919 then you're sold 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:47.639 into slavery. 00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:50.139 And so there's just 00:13:50.139 --> 00:13:50.879 clearly a type 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:51.419 of a threat 00:13:51.419 --> 00:13:52.199 that there's a way 00:13:52.199 --> 00:13:53.980 of encountering people, 00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:54.620 there's ways 00:13:54.620 --> 00:13:55.860 of encountering arguments 00:13:55.860 --> 00:13:57.139 that can lead 00:13:57.139 --> 00:13:58.000 to you being kept, 00:13:58.480 --> 00:13:59.679 being taken captive. 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:01.500 See to it that no one 00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:02.299 takes you captive 00:14:02.299 --> 00:14:03.120 by philosophy 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:03.979 and empty deceit. 00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:04.939 Why? 00:14:05.219 --> 00:14:06.120 Well, because you see 00:14:06.120 --> 00:14:08.939 this philosophy 00:14:08.939 --> 00:14:10.479 is empty, 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:12.339 it's deceptive 00:14:12.339 --> 00:14:14.559 and it's according 00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:15.479 to human tradition. 00:14:15.620 --> 00:14:15.979 In other words, 00:14:16.039 --> 00:14:16.659 it just comes out 00:14:16.659 --> 00:14:17.579 of human beings 00:14:17.579 --> 00:14:18.279 that are in rebellion 00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:18.959 against God. 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:20.059 That's just what it emerges 00:14:20.059 --> 00:14:20.579 out of. 00:14:21.099 --> 00:14:22.000 And it is according 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:23.179 to the elemental spirits 00:14:23.179 --> 00:14:23.859 of the world. 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:25.279 And that's a reference 00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:26.019 to demons, 00:14:26.219 --> 00:14:27.059 by the way, 00:14:27.219 --> 00:14:27.659 fundamentally. 00:14:27.659 --> 00:14:29.059 So, in other words, 00:14:29.339 --> 00:14:30.439 there's things 00:14:30.439 --> 00:14:31.559 which will deceive you, 00:14:32.100 --> 00:14:32.779 they're empty, 00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:34.759 there's philosophies, 00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:35.579 and philosophy here 00:14:35.579 --> 00:14:36.419 means any system 00:14:36.419 --> 00:14:36.939 of knowledge. 00:14:37.059 --> 00:14:37.559 It can refer 00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:38.199 to a religion, 00:14:38.339 --> 00:14:38.860 it can refer 00:14:38.860 --> 00:14:39.639 to an ideology, 00:14:39.899 --> 00:14:40.799 it's just any system 00:14:40.799 --> 00:14:41.419 of knowledge. 00:14:41.839 --> 00:14:42.500 It would be sort of 00:14:42.500 --> 00:14:43.500 a more literal way 00:14:43.500 --> 00:14:44.100 of translating 00:14:44.100 --> 00:14:45.059 into our language 00:14:45.059 --> 00:14:46.799 any system of knowledge, 00:14:46.919 --> 00:14:48.019 any system of thinking, 00:14:48.199 --> 00:14:49.600 any system of discourse 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:50.579 or conversation 00:14:50.579 --> 00:14:51.779 or of religion 00:14:51.779 --> 00:14:52.579 is ultimately 00:14:52.579 --> 00:14:53.839 just something 00:14:53.839 --> 00:14:54.939 that comes merely 00:14:54.939 --> 00:14:55.879 out of human beings 00:14:55.879 --> 00:14:56.339 in rebellion 00:14:56.339 --> 00:14:57.019 against God 00:14:57.019 --> 00:14:57.899 or from demons. 00:14:58.600 --> 00:14:59.799 And you have to be careful 00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:01.079 they don't make you slaves. 00:15:01.579 --> 00:15:02.159 And so this, 00:15:02.319 --> 00:15:02.480 in fact, 00:15:02.539 --> 00:15:03.539 does sound very much 00:15:03.539 --> 00:15:03.860 almost, 00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:04.279 doesn't it, 00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:05.299 as if the world 00:15:05.299 --> 00:15:06.240 is filled with danger 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:06.919 and we have to be 00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:07.600 very careful. 00:15:10.199 --> 00:15:10.600 But, 00:15:11.699 --> 00:15:14.340 but, 00:15:14.340 --> 00:15:17.179 if this was the only verse, 00:15:17.299 --> 00:15:17.799 that's, I think, 00:15:17.899 --> 00:15:18.919 how we'd have to take it. 00:15:18.939 --> 00:15:20.539 But it's not the only verse. 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:21.939 And the verse goes 00:15:21.939 --> 00:15:23.559 in a very surprising direction 00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:25.019 immediately after that 00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:25.840 in verse 9. 00:15:26.419 --> 00:15:27.579 And just before I start 00:15:27.579 --> 00:15:28.879 reading verses 9 and 10, 00:15:28.939 --> 00:15:29.419 I'm going to put 00:15:29.419 --> 00:15:30.439 the big idea 00:15:30.439 --> 00:15:31.779 behind verses, 00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:33.120 one of the big ideas 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:34.899 behind verses 8 to 15, 00:15:35.079 --> 00:15:35.480 and in fact, 00:15:35.559 --> 00:15:36.799 the whole book of Colossians. 00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:37.699 If you could put 00:15:37.699 --> 00:15:38.840 the point up here, 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:40.179 I'll explain it in a moment. 00:15:40.899 --> 00:15:41.740 It is this, 00:15:42.079 --> 00:15:42.840 in Christ, 00:15:43.399 --> 00:15:44.879 you are anti-fragile. 00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:46.899 In Christ, 00:15:47.539 --> 00:15:49.240 you are anti-fragile. 00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:51.759 It's the big idea 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:52.419 of the text. 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:54.039 I'll explain what it means 00:15:54.039 --> 00:15:54.439 in a moment. 00:15:54.539 --> 00:15:55.240 But let's look at 00:15:55.240 --> 00:15:56.519 verses 9 to 10. 00:15:56.620 --> 00:15:56.740 So, 00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:58.599 here we have this apparent danger, 00:15:58.839 --> 00:15:59.620 but yet what happens 00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:00.279 in verse 9? 00:16:00.339 --> 00:16:01.379 It doesn't go on and on 00:16:01.379 --> 00:16:01.879 and on and on 00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:02.559 about the danger. 00:16:02.659 --> 00:16:02.959 In fact, 00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:04.159 it goes in a very, 00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:05.279 very different tact 00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:05.979 to help us 00:16:05.979 --> 00:16:07.079 to understand the danger. 00:16:07.539 --> 00:16:08.379 It goes like this 00:16:08.379 --> 00:16:09.019 in verse 9. 00:16:09.019 --> 00:16:10.240 For in him, 00:16:10.699 --> 00:16:11.500 that's Christ, 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:12.339 in him, 00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:14.099 the whole fullness 00:16:14.099 --> 00:16:16.039 of deity dwells bodily, 00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:18.439 and you have been filled 00:16:18.439 --> 00:16:19.639 in him, 00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:21.120 who is the head 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:22.179 of all rule 00:16:22.179 --> 00:16:23.100 and authority. 00:16:24.440 --> 00:16:25.000 It's a very, 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:25.259 very, 00:16:25.340 --> 00:16:25.840 it's the, 00:16:25.960 --> 00:16:26.659 these two verses 00:16:26.659 --> 00:16:27.639 are the memory verse 00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:28.220 for this week. 00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:28.980 Those of you who look 00:16:28.980 --> 00:16:30.039 at my blog, 00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:30.740 I know there's two 00:16:30.740 --> 00:16:31.480 or three of us, 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:33.220 and after the blog 00:16:33.220 --> 00:16:33.940 comes the growing 00:16:33.940 --> 00:16:34.399 in grace, 00:16:34.460 --> 00:16:35.179 and I always suggest 00:16:35.179 --> 00:16:35.940 a memory verse 00:16:35.940 --> 00:16:36.759 to try to memorize 00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:37.379 for the week. 00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:38.460 And for this week, 00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:39.279 our memory verse 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:40.600 is verses 9 and 10. 00:16:41.139 --> 00:16:41.799 For in him, 00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:43.379 the whole fullness 00:16:43.379 --> 00:16:45.720 of deity dwells bodily, 00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:48.500 and you have been filled 00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:49.720 in him, 00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:50.899 who is the head 00:16:50.899 --> 00:16:51.960 of all rule 00:16:51.960 --> 00:16:52.500 and authority. 00:16:52.600 --> 00:16:53.299 And rule and authority 00:16:53.299 --> 00:16:54.320 there are references 00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:57.179 to demonic powers 00:16:57.179 --> 00:17:00.240 in this particular case. 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:01.899 So notice this very, 00:17:01.980 --> 00:17:02.100 very, 00:17:02.179 --> 00:17:03.299 very powerful image 00:17:03.299 --> 00:17:04.920 that when you put 00:17:04.920 --> 00:17:05.799 your faith and trust 00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:06.440 in Christ, 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:09.039 you go in him. 00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:10.160 And yet, 00:17:10.339 --> 00:17:10.720 in a sense, 00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:12.220 when you go in him, 00:17:12.880 --> 00:17:14.900 he fills you 00:17:14.900 --> 00:17:16.380 with all of his fullness. 00:17:17.140 --> 00:17:18.560 It's a little bit like, 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:19.460 it's almost as if, 00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:19.840 in a sense, 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:20.440 the vapor. 00:17:21.259 --> 00:17:21.960 Remember I said 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:24.300 that you bear 00:17:24.300 --> 00:17:25.360 the image of God, 00:17:26.060 --> 00:17:27.500 and your vapor 00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:28.460 that bears the image 00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:28.920 of God, 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:30.259 and God has put eternity, 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:31.380 the longing for eternity 00:17:31.380 --> 00:17:32.000 into your heart. 00:17:32.060 --> 00:17:33.040 It's as if when the vapor 00:17:33.040 --> 00:17:34.120 enters eternity, 00:17:35.080 --> 00:17:36.480 eternity fills the vapor. 00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:40.140 When you put 00:17:40.140 --> 00:17:42.000 the vapor 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:43.180 into eternity, 00:17:43.180 --> 00:17:45.400 eternity fills 00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:46.220 the vapor. 00:17:48.380 --> 00:17:49.360 And if eternity 00:17:49.360 --> 00:17:50.259 fills the vapor, 00:17:51.160 --> 00:17:52.180 it's eternal. 00:17:55.600 --> 00:17:56.720 So what does this mean? 00:17:56.920 --> 00:17:57.460 So you see, 00:17:57.539 --> 00:17:58.460 the very, very first thing 00:17:58.460 --> 00:17:59.220 it's trying to communicate 00:17:59.220 --> 00:17:59.759 to us is, 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:00.039 yes, 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:01.340 the world is dangerous, 00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:02.100 and I'm going to return 00:18:02.100 --> 00:18:02.799 to that at the end 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:03.960 if I don't yell at me 00:18:03.960 --> 00:18:04.740 or something like that, 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:05.240 and I'll make sure 00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:06.120 that I talk about it. 00:18:06.560 --> 00:18:07.340 But yes, 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:08.519 there are dangers, 00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:09.460 there are demons, 00:18:10.600 --> 00:18:11.420 and there are, 00:18:11.500 --> 00:18:11.880 in fact, 00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:12.880 systems of thought 00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:14.040 that are just human 00:18:14.040 --> 00:18:15.120 tradition and rebellions 00:18:15.120 --> 00:18:15.740 against God. 00:18:15.820 --> 00:18:16.860 That's absolutely true. 00:18:17.320 --> 00:18:18.280 To not think that 00:18:18.280 --> 00:18:19.180 is to be foolish. 00:18:19.660 --> 00:18:20.620 To not think that 00:18:20.620 --> 00:18:21.700 is just literally 00:18:21.700 --> 00:18:22.180 to be foolish. 00:18:22.280 --> 00:18:23.260 There really are dangers. 00:18:23.880 --> 00:18:24.240 However, 00:18:24.360 --> 00:18:24.960 when you're thinking 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:25.800 about the dangers, 00:18:26.300 --> 00:18:27.040 remember this. 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:28.420 Remember that when you 00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:30.300 put yourself in Christ, 00:18:30.460 --> 00:18:32.180 Christ filled you, 00:18:32.820 --> 00:18:35.000 and now you have been 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:37.680 filled in him 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:38.340 who is the head 00:18:38.340 --> 00:18:39.420 of all rule and authority, 00:18:39.420 --> 00:18:40.640 and he is the fullness 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:41.240 of deity, 00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:42.220 and he now 00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:43.660 is filling you. 00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:45.259 In Christ, 00:18:45.900 --> 00:18:48.100 you are anti-fragile. 00:18:48.580 --> 00:18:49.480 So what is this idea? 00:18:49.560 --> 00:18:50.300 It's a very, 00:18:50.580 --> 00:18:51.200 not very, 00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:52.320 very well-known idea, 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:53.440 being anti-fragile. 00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:54.259 It was developed 00:18:54.259 --> 00:18:55.700 by a Lebanese thinker 00:18:55.700 --> 00:18:57.240 about eight years ago, 00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:59.060 and it was developed 00:18:59.060 --> 00:19:00.000 by a Lebanese thinker 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:00.840 because he thought 00:19:00.840 --> 00:19:02.040 that English 00:19:02.040 --> 00:19:03.900 was missing a word 00:19:03.900 --> 00:19:05.580 for an important idea, 00:19:05.700 --> 00:19:06.680 and because English 00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:07.560 was missing a word 00:19:07.560 --> 00:19:08.580 for an important idea, 00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:10.079 we kept being misled 00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:10.960 in how we understood 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:12.159 and analyzed things 00:19:12.159 --> 00:19:13.839 because it's easy 00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:14.759 for human beings, 00:19:14.859 --> 00:19:15.480 and he's writing this 00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:16.259 in 2012, 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:17.179 to think that we're 00:19:17.179 --> 00:19:18.259 fundamentally fragile, 00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:21.159 that chaos or threats 00:19:21.159 --> 00:19:22.480 are going to always 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:23.779 just make us weaker, 00:19:24.279 --> 00:19:25.119 and so he uses 00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:26.359 these two analogies 00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:27.699 leading up to the third one. 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:29.259 Imagine for a moment now 00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:30.419 that rather than this 00:19:30.419 --> 00:19:33.379 being a Starbucks coffee cup, 00:19:33.419 --> 00:19:34.000 which happens to have 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:35.000 water in it right now, 00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:36.960 and I have a wine glass here 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:37.880 because when it comes time 00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:38.420 for communion, 00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:39.240 I don't want just 00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:40.299 a little tiny bit of wine. 00:19:40.360 --> 00:19:41.440 I want a wine glass 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:42.700 of wine during communion, 00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:44.579 so I brought my own wine glass, 00:19:44.759 --> 00:19:45.539 and it's up here, 00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:47.100 and sometimes I get talking 00:19:47.100 --> 00:19:47.620 like this, 00:19:47.660 --> 00:19:48.640 and I go like this, 00:19:48.700 --> 00:19:49.920 and I knock the wine glass 00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:50.660 off of the table, 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:51.680 and it falls on the ground, 00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:52.440 and what's going to happen? 00:19:53.059 --> 00:19:53.620 It'll break. 00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:54.480 Why? 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:55.200 Because wine glasses 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:55.759 are fragile. 00:19:56.660 --> 00:19:58.079 So I do that one week, 00:19:58.120 --> 00:19:59.500 and then the next week, 00:19:59.740 --> 00:20:01.900 Lisa, realizing that I've 00:20:01.900 --> 00:20:03.059 just broken a wine glass 00:20:03.059 --> 00:20:04.220 and that given how I talk, 00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:04.940 I'm going to break them 00:20:04.940 --> 00:20:05.539 every week, 00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:06.799 she brings me, 00:20:07.339 --> 00:20:07.899 out of the goodness 00:20:07.899 --> 00:20:08.299 of her heart, 00:20:08.339 --> 00:20:09.559 a plastic wine glass 00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:11.319 so that when I get excited 00:20:11.319 --> 00:20:12.659 and I move my hands like this, 00:20:12.700 --> 00:20:14.339 I knock the plastic wine glass 00:20:14.339 --> 00:20:15.240 down to the ground, 00:20:15.339 --> 00:20:16.220 and nothing happens 00:20:16.220 --> 00:20:16.899 to plastic, right? 00:20:16.920 --> 00:20:17.579 I just pick it up, 00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:18.480 wipe it off, 00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:19.240 and I can use it 00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:19.740 time and time. 00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:20.339 Every week, 00:20:20.379 --> 00:20:21.779 I can knock that plastic 00:20:21.779 --> 00:20:23.220 wine glass down on the ground, 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:24.619 and I'll just keep going 00:20:24.619 --> 00:20:25.339 and going and going. 00:20:25.899 --> 00:20:27.159 But human beings, 00:20:27.779 --> 00:20:28.779 and much in reality, 00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:31.299 is neither fragile or plastic. 00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:32.619 There's a different category, 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:33.619 and that's where he developed 00:20:33.619 --> 00:20:35.519 this term anti-fragile. 00:20:36.019 --> 00:20:36.479 That there are, 00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:36.759 I mean, 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:37.259 obviously, 00:20:37.500 --> 00:20:38.759 things which are anti-fragile 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:39.439 can die, 00:20:40.679 --> 00:20:42.459 but a characteristic 00:20:42.459 --> 00:20:43.759 of being anti-fragile 00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:44.339 is that, 00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:45.159 in fact, 00:20:45.679 --> 00:20:46.299 challenge 00:20:46.299 --> 00:20:48.279 is necessary 00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:49.639 for it, 00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:51.159 and challenge 00:20:51.159 --> 00:20:52.259 and threat 00:20:52.259 --> 00:20:53.779 makes it stronger, 00:20:54.399 --> 00:20:55.059 not weaker. 00:20:55.899 --> 00:20:57.579 And he uses two examples 00:20:57.579 --> 00:20:58.639 to try to communicate that. 00:20:58.719 --> 00:20:59.619 The first is bones. 00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:01.479 If I was to decide 00:21:01.479 --> 00:21:02.239 over the next week 00:21:02.239 --> 00:21:03.179 that I want to protect 00:21:03.179 --> 00:21:03.899 my bones, 00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:05.279 my skeletal structure, 00:21:05.399 --> 00:21:06.379 and so all I'm going to do 00:21:06.379 --> 00:21:08.359 is just sit on a couch. 00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:09.439 Occasionally, 00:21:09.459 --> 00:21:10.779 I'll have people lift me up 00:21:10.779 --> 00:21:12.819 so I don't get bed sores, 00:21:13.239 --> 00:21:14.139 but I'm just going to sit 00:21:14.139 --> 00:21:14.619 on the couch 00:21:14.619 --> 00:21:15.299 for a whole year. 00:21:15.399 --> 00:21:16.139 At the end of the year, 00:21:16.199 --> 00:21:17.419 my bones will be weaker, 00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:18.659 not stronger, 00:21:19.219 --> 00:21:20.659 because the fact of the matter is 00:21:20.659 --> 00:21:21.379 is if you want to have 00:21:21.379 --> 00:21:22.019 strong bones, 00:21:22.139 --> 00:21:22.539 walk. 00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:24.079 If you want to have 00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:25.059 strong bones, 00:21:25.539 --> 00:21:26.479 do other things 00:21:26.479 --> 00:21:27.500 with your upper body, 00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:29.559 because if you don't, 00:21:29.619 --> 00:21:30.420 your bones will actually 00:21:30.420 --> 00:21:31.019 get weaker. 00:21:31.140 --> 00:21:32.460 Your bones are 00:21:32.460 --> 00:21:34.140 anti-fragile. 00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:36.160 I can fall off of something 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:37.680 and literally break my bones, 00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:38.319 which obviously 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:39.200 isn't a good thing, 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:41.500 but my bones need 00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:42.420 constant stress 00:21:42.420 --> 00:21:44.400 to actually be healthy 00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:45.559 and to be healthy 00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:46.420 for a long time. 00:21:46.660 --> 00:21:47.579 The other example 00:21:47.579 --> 00:21:47.980 that he used 00:21:47.980 --> 00:21:49.039 was an immune system, 00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:49.839 believe it or not. 00:21:49.859 --> 00:21:51.119 If I got all of a sudden 00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:52.720 very, very unbelievably 00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:54.500 terrified about COVID-19 00:21:54.500 --> 00:21:55.940 and I call up Bill Gates 00:21:55.940 --> 00:21:56.259 and say, 00:21:56.339 --> 00:21:56.920 could you lend me 00:21:56.920 --> 00:21:57.800 a billion dollars 00:21:57.800 --> 00:21:58.880 to create an environment 00:21:58.880 --> 00:22:00.120 where for the next 00:22:00.120 --> 00:22:01.180 six months 00:22:01.180 --> 00:22:01.920 or nine months 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:02.500 or a year 00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:04.180 before a vaccine is found, 00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:04.740 I'm going to be 00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:05.539 in an environment 00:22:05.539 --> 00:22:06.600 that has no germs, 00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:07.320 no viruses, 00:22:07.320 --> 00:22:08.200 it's completely, 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:08.779 utterly, 00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:11.820 1,000% sterile. 00:22:12.200 --> 00:22:13.519 And I was to live in there 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:13.980 and somehow 00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.700 all of the food 00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:15.320 that came in 00:22:15.320 --> 00:22:16.440 was always protected 00:22:16.440 --> 00:22:17.120 against that. 00:22:17.320 --> 00:22:18.480 At the end of the year, 00:22:18.800 --> 00:22:19.860 my immune system 00:22:19.860 --> 00:22:20.940 would not be stronger, 00:22:21.060 --> 00:22:22.779 it would be weaker. 00:22:22.779 --> 00:22:26.039 because immune systems 00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:27.279 actually need, 00:22:27.859 --> 00:22:28.680 like right now, 00:22:28.899 --> 00:22:30.299 for those of you 00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:30.980 who are paranoid, 00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:33.019 welcome to Church of the Messiah, 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:33.759 I will make you 00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:34.460 more paranoid. 00:22:34.639 --> 00:22:35.420 But the fact of the matter 00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:36.200 is we're always 00:22:36.200 --> 00:22:37.559 in contact with viruses, 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:39.000 we're always in contact 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:39.559 with germs, 00:22:39.639 --> 00:22:40.559 we're always in contact 00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:41.779 with all that type of stuff, 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:43.619 and it helps make us healthy. 00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:46.440 Which is why sometimes 00:22:46.440 --> 00:22:47.740 if you use too much 00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:51.720 antibacterial things 00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:53.039 in your soap, 00:22:53.059 --> 00:22:54.620 it'll actually be worse for you 00:22:54.620 --> 00:22:56.880 than using non-antibacterial. 00:22:56.920 --> 00:22:58.039 You need to have experience 00:22:58.039 --> 00:22:58.620 with bacteria 00:22:58.620 --> 00:23:00.259 to be healthy and strong. 00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:02.440 And so, 00:23:02.620 --> 00:23:04.120 what the Bible is saying here 00:23:04.120 --> 00:23:05.100 with this profound truth, 00:23:05.180 --> 00:23:05.400 it's saying, 00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:06.660 yes, there's dangers, 00:23:07.080 --> 00:23:07.340 okay? 00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:09.100 There are people, 00:23:09.299 --> 00:23:10.100 there are movements 00:23:10.100 --> 00:23:12.100 who will try to make you captive. 00:23:12.620 --> 00:23:13.920 There are, in fact, demons. 00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:14.759 There are, in fact, 00:23:14.840 --> 00:23:16.059 teachings which are influenced 00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:18.819 by demons to some degree. 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:19.940 And there's human tradition 00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:21.039 that just merely comes out 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:22.159 of rebellion against God. 00:23:22.259 --> 00:23:22.879 Yes, that's true. 00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:24.960 But you are not 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:25.859 a balloon 00:23:25.859 --> 00:23:27.819 filled with the Holy Spirit 00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:29.659 in a world full with pins. 00:23:30.599 --> 00:23:32.200 You are anti-fragile. 00:23:33.679 --> 00:23:34.519 And, in fact, 00:23:34.579 --> 00:23:36.159 if you just live in your ghetto, 00:23:36.899 --> 00:23:38.819 it's only going to make you weaker. 00:23:40.159 --> 00:23:40.779 I mean, one of the things 00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:41.639 which is so profound 00:23:41.639 --> 00:23:42.419 about this text, 00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:43.179 which is missed 00:23:43.179 --> 00:23:44.279 by people who interpret 00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:45.940 in a fragile way 00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:47.480 rather than an anti-fragile way, 00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:49.360 is that Paul wrote this 00:23:49.360 --> 00:23:51.600 while he was in jail. 00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:55.200 Why was he in jail? 00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:56.920 He was in jail 00:23:56.920 --> 00:23:58.420 because he told people 00:23:58.420 --> 00:23:59.120 about Jesus. 00:23:59.360 --> 00:24:00.380 And when he told people 00:24:00.380 --> 00:24:01.059 about Jesus, 00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:02.440 they would have arguments 00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:03.039 with him. 00:24:05.360 --> 00:24:06.480 And quite literally, 00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:08.759 they weren't able 00:24:08.759 --> 00:24:09.580 to beat him 00:24:09.580 --> 00:24:12.279 because he could respond. 00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:13.360 So what did they do? 00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:15.959 They threw him in jail. 00:24:16.659 --> 00:24:17.319 It's the same thing 00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:18.000 with the Pharisees 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:18.719 and the Sadducees. 00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:19.779 They couldn't beat Jesus 00:24:19.779 --> 00:24:20.479 in arguments. 00:24:20.639 --> 00:24:21.479 So how did they respond? 00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:22.319 We've got to kill him. 00:24:24.179 --> 00:24:25.559 And so the message 00:24:25.559 --> 00:24:26.359 of this text 00:24:26.359 --> 00:24:27.179 is to say, 00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:28.579 Christian, 00:24:28.979 --> 00:24:30.939 you are anti-fragile 00:24:30.939 --> 00:24:31.899 when you are in Christ. 00:24:33.859 --> 00:24:34.859 That's who you are. 00:24:34.859 --> 00:24:37.299 And if you're anti-fragile, 00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:38.699 that means you need 00:24:38.699 --> 00:24:41.139 to seek to do good 00:24:41.139 --> 00:24:42.399 in your workplace. 00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:43.959 And anytime you seek 00:24:43.959 --> 00:24:45.219 to do good in your workplace, 00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:45.959 there'll be people 00:24:45.959 --> 00:24:47.199 who will push back at that. 00:24:47.639 --> 00:24:48.459 You need to seek 00:24:48.459 --> 00:24:48.979 to make sure 00:24:48.979 --> 00:24:49.799 that in your workplace 00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:50.879 there's justice. 00:24:51.639 --> 00:24:52.579 And if you do that, 00:24:52.639 --> 00:24:53.299 there will be people 00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:54.199 who push back. 00:24:54.679 --> 00:24:55.619 In your neighborhood 00:24:55.619 --> 00:24:56.799 or in your community, 00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:57.779 you need to speak 00:24:57.779 --> 00:24:58.719 against racism 00:24:58.719 --> 00:24:59.979 or any type of prejudice 00:24:59.979 --> 00:25:00.619 or discrimination. 00:25:00.939 --> 00:25:01.539 And if you do that, 00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:02.139 there'll be people 00:25:02.139 --> 00:25:03.219 who push back at you. 00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:05.279 And you need to share Jesus. 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:06.279 You need to tell him 00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:07.240 that in fact, 00:25:07.380 --> 00:25:08.180 there is a God 00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:09.039 that does exist. 00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:10.259 And the God that does exist 00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:11.480 isn't the God of Canadians. 00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:12.779 The God that does exist 00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:13.360 is the Father, 00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:13.779 the Son, 00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:14.460 and the Holy Spirit, 00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:15.220 three persons, 00:25:15.360 --> 00:25:15.960 one God. 00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:17.019 And this sounds like 00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:18.140 a bit of an odd idea, 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:19.000 but in fact, 00:25:19.079 --> 00:25:20.039 it is in fact 00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:21.460 the true nature of God. 00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:23.100 And this is a wonderful truth. 00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:24.900 And Jesus is the only way 00:25:24.900 --> 00:25:25.279 to heaven. 00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:27.120 And he is the one 00:25:27.120 --> 00:25:28.059 who can fit you for heaven. 00:25:28.140 --> 00:25:28.559 He is the one 00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:29.740 who can make you anti-fragile. 00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:30.460 He is the one 00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:31.940 that you who are vapor, 00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:32.720 made in the image, 00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:34.140 bearing the image of God 00:25:34.140 --> 00:25:35.500 and with eternity 00:25:35.500 --> 00:25:36.200 in your heart, 00:25:36.539 --> 00:25:37.579 that he is the means 00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:38.460 by which you enter 00:25:38.460 --> 00:25:39.200 into eternity. 00:25:39.339 --> 00:25:39.900 And when you enter 00:25:39.900 --> 00:25:40.460 into eternity, 00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:41.620 you are filled with eternity. 00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:43.480 You are no longer 00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:44.160 just vapor. 00:25:44.680 --> 00:25:45.559 And when you say that, 00:25:45.640 --> 00:25:46.839 people will push back. 00:25:48.420 --> 00:25:49.519 But that's good. 00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:51.579 That's good. 00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:54.539 Still do good. 00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.960 Still be kind. 00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:58.380 Still pursue justice. 00:25:58.960 --> 00:26:00.039 Still share the gospel. 00:26:00.039 --> 00:26:02.099 Brothers and sisters, 00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:04.079 you are anti-fragile in Christ. 00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:06.980 You are anti-fragile. 00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:08.319 And by the way, 00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:11.240 because what happens in Christ 00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:12.079 is we are restored 00:26:12.079 --> 00:26:13.099 to true humanity, 00:26:14.099 --> 00:26:16.319 it means that the model 00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:17.899 of human beings 00:26:17.899 --> 00:26:20.039 fundamentally being anti-fragile, 00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:21.019 which is so common 00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:21.799 in our culture, 00:26:22.059 --> 00:26:22.440 is wrong. 00:26:22.539 --> 00:26:22.720 I mean, 00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:23.899 people in our culture 00:26:23.899 --> 00:26:25.259 being fundamentally fragile 00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:26.299 is not true. 00:26:26.299 --> 00:26:28.200 I mean, 00:26:28.220 --> 00:26:28.519 obviously, 00:26:28.639 --> 00:26:29.079 on one hand, 00:26:29.119 --> 00:26:29.500 it's true, 00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:30.359 people are fragile. 00:26:30.599 --> 00:26:31.960 But this idea 00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:33.839 that to be in a world 00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:34.859 where you can never 00:26:34.859 --> 00:26:36.039 have anybody question you 00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:36.799 or challenge you 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:37.460 is a good world 00:26:37.460 --> 00:26:39.000 is actually fundamentally wrong. 00:26:39.119 --> 00:26:41.460 It's an anti-human idea 00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:43.619 and will only lead to harm 00:26:43.619 --> 00:26:45.419 in any school, 00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:46.359 community, 00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:46.899 neighborhood, 00:26:46.899 --> 00:26:47.940 or country 00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:49.480 where the idea grows. 00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:53.279 Paul goes even deeper 00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:53.700 into this 00:26:53.700 --> 00:26:54.419 to try to argue 00:26:54.420 --> 00:26:55.600 and try to bring home to you 00:26:55.600 --> 00:26:56.880 how important this idea 00:26:56.880 --> 00:26:57.720 is about Christians 00:26:57.720 --> 00:26:58.820 being anti-fragile. 00:26:58.920 --> 00:27:00.200 Look what comes right after 00:27:00.200 --> 00:27:00.860 verse 10 00:27:00.860 --> 00:27:02.400 in verse 11. 00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:03.900 In him, 00:27:04.100 --> 00:27:04.779 so he continues 00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:05.900 to deepen the idea 00:27:05.900 --> 00:27:06.779 and he's going to use 00:27:06.779 --> 00:27:08.420 an Old Testament image, 00:27:08.560 --> 00:27:09.360 what our Jewish friends 00:27:09.360 --> 00:27:10.600 call the Tanakh 00:27:10.600 --> 00:27:11.480 and Christians 00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:12.380 call the Old Testament. 00:27:13.080 --> 00:27:14.820 He uses an Old Testament image 00:27:14.820 --> 00:27:16.380 and he uses a New Testament image 00:27:16.380 --> 00:27:18.160 and he shows how both of them, 00:27:18.580 --> 00:27:20.100 how they point to something, 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:21.860 these rituals and symbolism, 00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:23.640 the symbolism of circumcision, 00:27:23.640 --> 00:27:26.200 for Israel 00:27:26.200 --> 00:27:28.400 and the ritual of baptism, 00:27:28.940 --> 00:27:30.080 point to a reality 00:27:30.080 --> 00:27:31.500 that only God can do. 00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:32.520 And just by the way, 00:27:33.180 --> 00:27:34.580 the Bible only talks 00:27:34.580 --> 00:27:35.820 about male circumcision, 00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:37.480 never female circumcision. 00:27:37.680 --> 00:27:38.700 Female circumcision 00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:39.380 would have been viewed, 00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:40.140 it should be viewed 00:27:40.140 --> 00:27:40.840 as abhorrent. 00:27:42.380 --> 00:27:44.020 No woman should ever 00:27:44.020 --> 00:27:45.080 be circumcised. 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:46.340 It's an abhorrent idea. 00:27:46.440 --> 00:27:47.000 And whenever you see 00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:48.520 circumcision in the Bible, 00:27:48.620 --> 00:27:49.300 it's only referring 00:27:49.300 --> 00:27:50.960 to male circumcision, 00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:53.460 never female circumcision. 00:27:53.640 --> 00:27:54.440 But listen to this. 00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:55.800 Verse 11. 00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:57.960 In him also, 00:27:58.100 --> 00:27:59.259 you were circumcised 00:27:59.259 --> 00:28:00.300 with a circumcision 00:28:00.300 --> 00:28:01.600 made without hands 00:28:01.600 --> 00:28:03.220 by putting off 00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:04.400 the body of flesh 00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:05.380 of the flesh 00:28:05.380 --> 00:28:06.280 by the circumcision 00:28:06.280 --> 00:28:06.840 of Christ. 00:28:07.040 --> 00:28:07.320 It's a, 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:08.480 and having been buried 00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:09.360 with him in baptism 00:28:09.360 --> 00:28:10.300 in which you were also 00:28:10.300 --> 00:28:11.120 raised with him 00:28:11.120 --> 00:28:11.680 through faith 00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:12.700 in the powerful working 00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.100 of God 00:28:13.100 --> 00:28:13.720 who raised him 00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:14.200 from the dead. 00:28:14.580 --> 00:28:15.080 They're very, 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:16.140 very dense sentences 00:28:16.140 --> 00:28:17.180 and I don't want to spend 00:28:17.180 --> 00:28:18.240 a whole lot of time with it, 00:28:18.280 --> 00:28:19.140 but what it's saying is 00:28:19.140 --> 00:28:20.120 that if you go through 00:28:20.120 --> 00:28:21.340 and read the whole Old Testament, 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.000 you'll see that 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:23.600 to be a Jewish person, 00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:23.920 you had, 00:28:24.020 --> 00:28:25.700 the male had to be circumcised, 00:28:25.880 --> 00:28:26.980 but it also said 00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:28.980 that in fact circumcision 00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:30.820 pointed to a spiritual reality 00:28:30.820 --> 00:28:32.040 that God wanted people 00:28:32.040 --> 00:28:32.900 to enter into. 00:28:33.360 --> 00:28:34.720 It pointed to something 00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:36.040 that only God could do 00:28:36.040 --> 00:28:37.320 and circumcision was a, 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:38.120 in a sense, 00:28:38.180 --> 00:28:39.240 by dealing with 00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:42.580 the whole process of life, 00:28:42.580 --> 00:28:43.620 there's a sense of a 00:28:43.620 --> 00:28:44.300 cutting away 00:28:44.299 --> 00:28:45.379 of mere human life 00:28:45.379 --> 00:28:46.740 to be separate for God 00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:48.159 and that's something 00:28:48.159 --> 00:28:48.980 which Christ does 00:28:48.980 --> 00:28:49.980 for us on the cross 00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:50.779 and in the same way 00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:51.359 in baptism, 00:28:51.639 --> 00:28:52.839 there's this picture, 00:28:53.220 --> 00:28:54.240 the wonderful picture 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:56.460 of a human being 00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:58.259 being in a sense dying 00:28:58.259 --> 00:28:59.099 but also being 00:28:59.099 --> 00:29:00.339 immersed in the water 00:29:00.339 --> 00:29:01.220 so they're immersed 00:29:01.220 --> 00:29:01.879 in Christ, 00:29:02.539 --> 00:29:03.919 they're immersed in death 00:29:03.919 --> 00:29:04.619 but they're united 00:29:04.619 --> 00:29:05.119 with Christ 00:29:05.119 --> 00:29:06.000 because they're immersed 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:07.419 in water, 00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:08.539 they're immersed in death 00:29:08.539 --> 00:29:10.000 by being with Christ 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:10.839 and then they're raised 00:29:10.839 --> 00:29:11.480 from the dead 00:29:11.480 --> 00:29:12.899 and it's the same image 00:29:12.899 --> 00:29:13.899 that when we put 00:29:13.900 --> 00:29:14.720 our faith and trust 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:15.300 in Christ 00:29:15.300 --> 00:29:17.060 that we are immersed 00:29:17.060 --> 00:29:17.720 in eternity 00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:18.560 and we're immersed 00:29:18.560 --> 00:29:19.240 in his dying, 00:29:19.380 --> 00:29:20.200 we're immersed 00:29:20.200 --> 00:29:21.100 in his resurrection, 00:29:21.380 --> 00:29:22.780 we're now immersed 00:29:22.780 --> 00:29:23.420 in life 00:29:23.420 --> 00:29:24.700 and this is only something 00:29:24.700 --> 00:29:25.700 that God can do 00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:27.560 and then he continues 00:29:27.560 --> 00:29:29.100 to sort of double down 00:29:29.100 --> 00:29:29.820 on this image 00:29:29.820 --> 00:29:30.340 of what it is 00:29:30.340 --> 00:29:31.400 that Christ does for us 00:29:31.400 --> 00:29:33.280 in verses 13 and 14. 00:29:33.800 --> 00:29:34.720 Look how it goes. 00:29:35.420 --> 00:29:36.840 And you who are dead 00:29:36.840 --> 00:29:38.080 in your trespasses 00:29:38.080 --> 00:29:39.300 and the uncircumcision 00:29:39.300 --> 00:29:40.200 of your flesh, 00:29:41.120 --> 00:29:42.100 God made alive 00:29:42.100 --> 00:29:43.259 together with him 00:29:43.259 --> 00:29:44.359 having forgiven us 00:29:44.359 --> 00:29:45.579 all our trespasses 00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:45.859 by, 00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:47.140 and the word here 00:29:47.140 --> 00:29:47.960 is cancelling 00:29:47.960 --> 00:29:48.879 but a better word, 00:29:48.940 --> 00:29:49.819 a more literal word 00:29:49.819 --> 00:29:51.220 would be expunging 00:29:51.220 --> 00:29:52.140 and I think the reason 00:29:52.140 --> 00:29:52.779 the translators 00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:53.460 didn't use the word 00:29:53.460 --> 00:29:54.160 expunge 00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:55.519 is that not many people 00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:57.000 know what that word means 00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:58.900 but it means a complete, 00:29:59.039 --> 00:29:59.519 it would be 00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:00.859 to completely erase 00:30:00.859 --> 00:30:01.799 everything, 00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:02.559 it would be 00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:03.640 to completely remove. 00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:05.039 It would be as if 00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:06.400 somebody 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:07.400 who's been very, 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:07.940 very bad 00:30:07.940 --> 00:30:08.279 and very, 00:30:08.359 --> 00:30:08.980 very naughty 00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:10.000 wanted to run 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:10.599 for president 00:30:10.599 --> 00:30:11.740 and they were 00:30:11.740 --> 00:30:12.359 very worried 00:30:12.359 --> 00:30:13.240 about all of the things 00:30:13.240 --> 00:30:13.819 that they'd said 00:30:13.819 --> 00:30:14.759 in social media 00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:16.039 for the last 20 years 00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:16.619 of their life 00:30:16.619 --> 00:30:17.279 and there was some, 00:30:17.719 --> 00:30:18.859 one of the smart person 00:30:18.859 --> 00:30:19.639 came up with a way 00:30:19.639 --> 00:30:20.599 to expunge 00:30:20.599 --> 00:30:21.219 all of it 00:30:21.219 --> 00:30:21.899 from the internet 00:30:21.899 --> 00:30:23.779 and from everybody's computer 00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:25.159 so that it's not even 00:30:25.159 --> 00:30:25.779 there anymore, 00:30:25.859 --> 00:30:26.559 that's the word. 00:30:27.099 --> 00:30:28.699 And so by expunging 00:30:28.699 --> 00:30:29.619 the record of death 00:30:29.619 --> 00:30:30.399 that stood against us 00:30:30.399 --> 00:30:31.559 with its legal demands 00:30:31.559 --> 00:30:33.099 and rather than legal demands, 00:30:33.179 --> 00:30:33.619 a better word 00:30:33.619 --> 00:30:34.939 is regulations there, 00:30:35.639 --> 00:30:36.679 this he set aside 00:30:36.679 --> 00:30:38.339 or expunged, 00:30:38.679 --> 00:30:39.240 nailing it 00:30:39.240 --> 00:30:40.259 to the cross. 00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:42.279 And here's the image here 00:30:42.279 --> 00:30:42.740 which is very, 00:30:42.880 --> 00:30:43.980 remember this is all him 00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:44.799 doubling down 00:30:44.799 --> 00:30:45.480 on this image. 00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:49.180 So we have cut flowers here, 00:30:49.319 --> 00:30:49.900 we have roses. 00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:51.019 After the service, 00:30:51.720 --> 00:30:53.640 everybody here is welcome 00:30:53.640 --> 00:30:54.720 to take a rose home. 00:30:56.660 --> 00:30:58.000 Just happy Thanksgiving. 00:30:59.000 --> 00:30:59.700 But here it is. 00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:00.200 If you could put up 00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:00.920 the point, Andrew, 00:31:01.140 --> 00:31:02.079 that would be very helpful. 00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:03.039 What the Bible text 00:31:03.039 --> 00:31:04.259 is saying here is this, 00:31:04.779 --> 00:31:07.460 that apart from Christ, 00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:08.700 a human being 00:31:08.700 --> 00:31:09.640 is a cut rose. 00:31:11.180 --> 00:31:12.380 Apart from Christ, 00:31:12.759 --> 00:31:13.620 a human being 00:31:13.620 --> 00:31:14.740 is a cut rose. 00:31:15.660 --> 00:31:16.340 You see, 00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:17.519 these roses, 00:31:17.779 --> 00:31:18.400 they're in water. 00:31:19.620 --> 00:31:21.059 I learned the hard way 00:31:21.059 --> 00:31:21.700 that it has to be 00:31:21.700 --> 00:31:22.360 cold water, 00:31:22.440 --> 00:31:23.400 not hot water. 00:31:24.100 --> 00:31:25.180 And there's whatever 00:31:25.180 --> 00:31:26.640 that little preservative 00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:27.620 food stuff is 00:31:27.620 --> 00:31:27.960 that you get 00:31:27.960 --> 00:31:28.740 when you buy roses, 00:31:28.740 --> 00:31:29.940 it's mixed into the water. 00:31:30.039 --> 00:31:31.559 But these roses are dying. 00:31:32.299 --> 00:31:32.840 In a sense, 00:31:32.920 --> 00:31:33.299 they're dead, 00:31:33.340 --> 00:31:33.740 aren't they? 00:31:34.259 --> 00:31:34.480 I mean, 00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:35.120 they look beautiful. 00:31:35.119 --> 00:31:37.879 But they're not 00:31:37.879 --> 00:31:39.179 planted in the ground. 00:31:40.159 --> 00:31:41.000 And that means 00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:42.299 they're cut off from life. 00:31:43.419 --> 00:31:44.199 They're literally 00:31:44.199 --> 00:31:45.439 cut off from life. 00:31:47.319 --> 00:31:48.459 And every human being 00:31:48.459 --> 00:31:49.379 apart from Christ 00:31:49.379 --> 00:31:50.919 is a cut rose. 00:31:51.399 --> 00:31:51.879 Beautiful. 00:31:52.599 --> 00:31:53.299 Every human being 00:31:53.299 --> 00:31:53.819 is beautiful. 00:31:55.879 --> 00:31:56.939 But a cut rose. 00:31:57.839 --> 00:31:58.739 And one of you 00:31:58.739 --> 00:31:59.719 can correct me afterwards. 00:31:59.919 --> 00:32:01.419 I looked on Google 00:32:01.419 --> 00:32:02.679 and I seem to get 00:32:02.679 --> 00:32:03.399 an answer on Google. 00:32:03.400 --> 00:32:05.019 And if Google tells you 00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:05.360 it's true, 00:32:05.400 --> 00:32:06.060 it must be true, 00:32:06.140 --> 00:32:06.860 as we all know, 00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:08.060 because they only tell you 00:32:08.060 --> 00:32:09.080 the truth on the Internet. 00:32:09.660 --> 00:32:10.700 But from what I understand, 00:32:10.840 --> 00:32:12.180 it's literally impossible 00:32:12.180 --> 00:32:13.259 to take one of these 00:32:13.259 --> 00:32:14.200 and go take home 00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:14.960 and plant it 00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:16.480 or to splice it 00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:17.340 into a rose thing. 00:32:17.420 --> 00:32:18.180 That it's literally, 00:32:18.320 --> 00:32:19.440 there's no hope for this. 00:32:20.580 --> 00:32:21.880 Each rose that you take 00:32:21.880 --> 00:32:22.660 will only 00:32:22.660 --> 00:32:24.500 wither and wilt 00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:25.240 and die. 00:32:25.400 --> 00:32:25.980 There's absolutely 00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:26.840 no hope from it. 00:32:27.880 --> 00:32:28.300 And you see, 00:32:28.360 --> 00:32:29.100 this is what actually 00:32:29.100 --> 00:32:30.200 Paul is trying to say. 00:32:30.320 --> 00:32:30.480 You know, 00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:31.360 the whole image, 00:32:31.799 --> 00:32:32.500 the whole image 00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:33.720 of circumcision, 00:32:33.839 --> 00:32:34.319 of cutting, 00:32:34.440 --> 00:32:35.360 is to help emphasize 00:32:35.360 --> 00:32:36.579 that you are a cut rose. 00:32:36.700 --> 00:32:37.279 But what actually, 00:32:37.360 --> 00:32:38.079 there's this profound, 00:32:38.500 --> 00:32:40.099 if your heart is circumcised, 00:32:40.180 --> 00:32:40.839 what God does 00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:42.200 is he takes that part 00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:43.180 of your heart, 00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:44.839 that part of who you are, 00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:45.880 that who you are, 00:32:46.019 --> 00:32:46.920 which is in rebellion 00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:47.579 against God, 00:32:47.620 --> 00:32:48.700 and he cuts it away 00:32:48.700 --> 00:32:49.620 so that you can be 00:32:49.620 --> 00:32:50.940 reattached to God. 00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:51.740 It's a miracle. 00:32:52.579 --> 00:32:53.920 A miracle of grace 00:32:53.920 --> 00:32:55.220 that God does for you. 00:32:55.860 --> 00:32:57.019 And let's use the image of, 00:32:57.360 --> 00:32:57.640 remember, 00:32:57.640 --> 00:32:58.600 I was using that type 00:32:58.600 --> 00:32:59.980 of image of being filled 00:32:59.980 --> 00:33:00.520 with Christ. 00:33:00.700 --> 00:33:01.520 You're in him 00:33:01.520 --> 00:33:02.660 and you're filled in him 00:33:02.660 --> 00:33:03.700 because you're in him. 00:33:04.100 --> 00:33:05.140 And it's the same type 00:33:05.140 --> 00:33:05.540 of thing, 00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:05.840 is that, 00:33:06.180 --> 00:33:07.200 is the same image 00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:08.680 that God does this miracle 00:33:08.680 --> 00:33:10.759 by which this cut rose, 00:33:10.880 --> 00:33:11.240 which is, 00:33:11.680 --> 00:33:13.720 can't be replanted 00:33:13.720 --> 00:33:14.520 and you're like that 00:33:14.520 --> 00:33:15.020 and there's nothing 00:33:15.020 --> 00:33:15.860 you can do about it, 00:33:15.900 --> 00:33:16.740 but in Christ 00:33:16.740 --> 00:33:18.380 you are now immersed 00:33:18.380 --> 00:33:20.759 in Christ in his death 00:33:20.759 --> 00:33:22.140 and immersed in his life. 00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:23.520 And now you are immersed 00:33:23.520 --> 00:33:24.140 in life 00:33:24.140 --> 00:33:25.520 and God does this miracle 00:33:25.520 --> 00:33:27.380 whereby the cut rose, 00:33:27.640 --> 00:33:28.860 is now replanted 00:33:28.860 --> 00:33:30.400 in the source of life. 00:33:30.900 --> 00:33:34.040 You and I are in Christ. 00:33:35.320 --> 00:33:38.480 You and I are in eternity. 00:33:39.100 --> 00:33:40.820 And only eternity, 00:33:41.240 --> 00:33:42.440 which is a bit of a symbol 00:33:42.440 --> 00:33:43.020 for God, 00:33:43.900 --> 00:33:44.820 can do that. 00:33:45.020 --> 00:33:46.060 You can't do it yourself, 00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:47.560 but he does it for you. 00:33:51.360 --> 00:33:52.780 And then just to close 00:33:52.780 --> 00:33:53.220 and then we're going 00:33:53.220 --> 00:33:53.820 to wrap it up, 00:33:54.540 --> 00:33:56.240 look at the very final word. 00:33:57.099 --> 00:33:58.700 We'll read verse 14 again 00:33:58.700 --> 00:34:00.460 by canceling the record of debt. 00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:02.620 This is this idea 00:34:02.620 --> 00:34:03.180 that every time 00:34:03.180 --> 00:34:04.140 you do something wrong, 00:34:04.279 --> 00:34:05.559 there's a type of debt. 00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:06.819 And then when it said, 00:34:07.240 --> 00:34:08.039 that stood against us 00:34:08.039 --> 00:34:09.079 with its legal demands 00:34:09.079 --> 00:34:10.500 and a better image 00:34:10.500 --> 00:34:11.719 is actually regulations. 00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:13.780 And like the different 00:34:13.780 --> 00:34:14.940 regulations of the world, 00:34:15.079 --> 00:34:15.780 Paul's going to develop 00:34:15.780 --> 00:34:16.360 this image 00:34:16.360 --> 00:34:17.920 in the next week 00:34:17.920 --> 00:34:18.679 we'll look at it. 00:34:19.179 --> 00:34:19.860 But everything 00:34:19.860 --> 00:34:20.840 that in fact 00:34:20.840 --> 00:34:22.300 is truly done wrong 00:34:22.300 --> 00:34:23.960 by God's perfect standards 00:34:23.960 --> 00:34:24.539 and everything 00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:25.400 that's done wrong 00:34:25.400 --> 00:34:26.840 according to human regulations 00:34:26.840 --> 00:34:28.360 and how human beings think, 00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:29.679 all of those things 00:34:29.679 --> 00:34:30.280 that cause us 00:34:30.280 --> 00:34:31.039 a sense of guilt 00:34:31.039 --> 00:34:32.159 and a sense of shame, 00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:34.380 God will sort out 00:34:34.380 --> 00:34:35.199 all of those things 00:34:35.199 --> 00:34:36.659 that are human regulations 00:34:36.659 --> 00:34:37.400 that have a grain 00:34:37.400 --> 00:34:38.059 of truth to them 00:34:38.059 --> 00:34:39.179 and those which are just foolish 00:34:39.179 --> 00:34:40.360 or even evil or demonic, 00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:42.019 but they feel like 00:34:42.019 --> 00:34:42.780 they're against us. 00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:43.360 And so, Paul, 00:34:43.420 --> 00:34:44.320 it's this double image 00:34:44.320 --> 00:34:45.360 of, in a sense, 00:34:45.420 --> 00:34:46.420 real moral truth 00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:47.980 and human regulations. 00:34:47.980 --> 00:34:49.699 That's the double image 00:34:49.699 --> 00:34:50.659 here in this verse 00:34:50.659 --> 00:34:51.839 is that what you and I 00:34:51.839 --> 00:34:52.879 have to understand 00:34:52.879 --> 00:34:54.480 is that whatever it is, 00:34:54.519 --> 00:34:55.159 the things which are 00:34:55.159 --> 00:34:56.039 really wrong 00:34:56.039 --> 00:34:57.099 that you've really done 00:34:57.099 --> 00:34:58.019 where there's really a debt 00:34:58.019 --> 00:34:58.940 and you can't deal with it 00:34:58.940 --> 00:35:00.199 and all human regulations 00:35:00.199 --> 00:35:01.239 and God will sort out 00:35:01.239 --> 00:35:02.039 which ones are true 00:35:02.039 --> 00:35:02.819 and which ones are 00:35:02.819 --> 00:35:04.599 just stuff you shouldn't 00:35:04.599 --> 00:35:05.379 even think about, 00:35:06.019 --> 00:35:07.279 all of those 00:35:07.279 --> 00:35:09.460 are nailed to the cross 00:35:09.460 --> 00:35:11.359 when Jesus dies 00:35:11.359 --> 00:35:12.460 to understand that 00:35:12.460 --> 00:35:14.359 Jesus is bearing that for you. 00:35:17.099 --> 00:35:18.500 And then in verse 15, 00:35:18.500 --> 00:35:20.119 he disarmed the rulers 00:35:20.119 --> 00:35:20.760 and authorities, 00:35:20.940 --> 00:35:21.800 once again a reference 00:35:21.800 --> 00:35:22.400 to demons, 00:35:23.539 --> 00:35:24.579 he disarmed the rulers 00:35:24.579 --> 00:35:25.199 and authorities 00:35:25.199 --> 00:35:27.280 and put them to open shame 00:35:27.280 --> 00:35:29.940 by triumphing over them 00:35:29.940 --> 00:35:30.539 in him. 00:35:30.940 --> 00:35:31.760 So two things. 00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:33.900 Most of our culture 00:35:33.900 --> 00:35:34.880 now believes in demons. 00:35:37.280 --> 00:35:38.500 When I was preaching 00:35:38.500 --> 00:35:40.179 back when I first ordained 00:35:40.179 --> 00:35:40.920 in 1985, 00:35:41.500 --> 00:35:43.260 probably very few people did. 00:35:44.119 --> 00:35:45.179 And so I'd have to argue 00:35:45.179 --> 00:35:46.519 for the existence of demons. 00:35:46.820 --> 00:35:48.119 Now we have to argue 00:35:48.119 --> 00:35:49.900 for other types of things 00:35:49.900 --> 00:35:50.519 because the majority 00:35:50.519 --> 00:35:51.559 of our culture accepts them, 00:35:51.599 --> 00:35:52.859 but they don't really accept them 00:35:52.859 --> 00:35:54.239 in the sense that 00:35:54.239 --> 00:35:55.559 they still believe foolish things 00:35:55.559 --> 00:35:56.639 like in Ghostbusters 00:35:56.639 --> 00:35:58.559 that an evil spirit 00:35:58.559 --> 00:35:59.819 can be put in a box 00:35:59.819 --> 00:36:00.819 because if you have 00:36:00.819 --> 00:36:01.900 some type of electricity 00:36:01.900 --> 00:36:02.960 or something like that, 00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:03.940 which is just foolish. 00:36:04.839 --> 00:36:06.219 But if there really is, 00:36:06.279 --> 00:36:06.779 in fact, 00:36:08.199 --> 00:36:08.940 a being 00:36:08.940 --> 00:36:11.279 which is invisible in spirit 00:36:11.279 --> 00:36:12.460 that can affect you 00:36:12.460 --> 00:36:15.500 and is hostile to you, 00:36:15.500 --> 00:36:16.880 then it means 00:36:16.880 --> 00:36:17.360 there can be 00:36:17.360 --> 00:36:18.239 no greater enemy. 00:36:20.159 --> 00:36:21.300 You can't shoot it. 00:36:21.480 --> 00:36:22.440 You can't poison it. 00:36:23.139 --> 00:36:24.360 It doesn't care about Twitter. 00:36:25.360 --> 00:36:26.920 You can Twitter mob the devil 00:36:26.920 --> 00:36:28.480 all day 00:36:28.480 --> 00:36:29.760 around the block 00:36:29.760 --> 00:36:31.559 and only make him happy. 00:36:34.119 --> 00:36:35.280 You can't shoot him. 00:36:35.340 --> 00:36:36.039 You can't do anything. 00:36:36.119 --> 00:36:37.159 You can't starve him. 00:36:37.159 --> 00:36:40.799 And if there is a being like that, 00:36:41.119 --> 00:36:42.239 and that being 00:36:42.239 --> 00:36:43.519 and the demons 00:36:43.519 --> 00:36:44.339 have in fact 00:36:44.339 --> 00:36:45.659 also been disarmed, 00:36:46.339 --> 00:36:47.000 then Christian, 00:36:47.559 --> 00:36:48.899 in Christ, 00:36:49.279 --> 00:36:50.359 you are anti-fragile. 00:36:51.940 --> 00:36:53.399 How does he disarm them? 00:36:53.579 --> 00:36:55.179 Because the main way 00:36:55.179 --> 00:36:56.839 that the demonic world 00:36:56.839 --> 00:36:58.299 affects human beings 00:36:58.299 --> 00:37:00.319 is through accusation, 00:37:00.500 --> 00:37:01.420 lies, and slander. 00:37:01.420 --> 00:37:06.200 You're a terrible person. 00:37:06.619 --> 00:37:07.320 You're a failure. 00:37:07.599 --> 00:37:08.740 You'll never be a success. 00:37:09.760 --> 00:37:10.440 You see that thing 00:37:10.440 --> 00:37:11.000 that you said 00:37:11.000 --> 00:37:12.099 the other day in the party? 00:37:12.280 --> 00:37:13.519 Everybody's thinking about it 00:37:13.519 --> 00:37:14.659 and they all think 00:37:14.659 --> 00:37:16.400 you're a terrible, evil person. 00:37:18.460 --> 00:37:19.280 You're ugly. 00:37:20.539 --> 00:37:22.420 You weigh too much. 00:37:22.519 --> 00:37:23.280 You don't weigh enough. 00:37:23.400 --> 00:37:24.280 You're not strong enough. 00:37:24.440 --> 00:37:24.840 You're too 00:37:24.840 --> 00:37:28.200 over too many muscles. 00:37:28.700 --> 00:37:29.400 It doesn't matter. 00:37:29.400 --> 00:37:32.180 That little voice 00:37:32.180 --> 00:37:33.280 that sits on your shoulder 00:37:33.280 --> 00:37:34.760 that speaks to you 00:37:34.760 --> 00:37:36.099 and to me all the time, 00:37:36.180 --> 00:37:37.300 that's how every human being 00:37:37.300 --> 00:37:38.519 experiences slander. 00:37:40.300 --> 00:37:41.619 Nobody will ever forgive you. 00:37:41.680 --> 00:37:42.940 You will never forgive yourself. 00:37:43.800 --> 00:37:45.079 This is the end of you. 00:37:45.440 --> 00:37:46.000 You're terrible. 00:37:48.200 --> 00:37:48.660 And if, 00:37:49.660 --> 00:37:50.860 when the demon does 00:37:50.860 --> 00:37:52.139 whisper into your ear, 00:37:52.680 --> 00:37:53.800 this is a text to say, 00:37:53.900 --> 00:37:54.240 in Christ, 00:37:54.360 --> 00:37:55.380 I am anti-fragile. 00:37:56.320 --> 00:37:57.039 In Christ, 00:37:58.119 --> 00:37:58.840 demon, 00:37:59.400 --> 00:38:01.280 when he died on the cross, 00:38:01.900 --> 00:38:03.559 every real thing 00:38:03.559 --> 00:38:05.000 that I've done wrong 00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:06.860 was named by God 00:38:06.860 --> 00:38:08.139 and put on that cross 00:38:08.139 --> 00:38:09.660 and he paid for me 00:38:09.660 --> 00:38:10.900 because he loved me 00:38:10.900 --> 00:38:12.160 and every regulation, 00:38:12.280 --> 00:38:13.340 and I can't figure out 00:38:13.340 --> 00:38:13.840 whether I, 00:38:14.019 --> 00:38:14.920 what I should care about 00:38:14.920 --> 00:38:16.019 all these cultural things 00:38:16.019 --> 00:38:16.639 and which are right 00:38:16.639 --> 00:38:17.400 and which are wrong. 00:38:17.680 --> 00:38:18.519 I can't figure out 00:38:18.519 --> 00:38:19.500 if I should lose weight, 00:38:19.720 --> 00:38:20.500 put on muscle, 00:38:20.880 --> 00:38:21.599 have more money, 00:38:21.740 --> 00:38:22.559 give more money away. 00:38:22.619 --> 00:38:23.420 I can't figure out 00:38:23.420 --> 00:38:24.260 all your regulations, 00:38:24.420 --> 00:38:25.300 but I can tell you this, 00:38:25.360 --> 00:38:26.840 whatever regulations there are, 00:38:27.280 --> 00:38:28.619 that was on the cross too. 00:38:28.619 --> 00:38:31.159 He paid them all. 00:38:32.619 --> 00:38:33.719 So shut up, 00:38:34.059 --> 00:38:34.299 demon. 00:38:36.759 --> 00:38:38.000 Cling to the cross. 00:38:39.039 --> 00:38:39.440 Christian, 00:38:39.719 --> 00:38:41.119 you're anti-fragile. 00:38:41.659 --> 00:38:42.579 I want to conclude 00:38:42.579 --> 00:38:43.739 with the final idea 00:38:43.739 --> 00:38:44.480 and I'm going to just talk 00:38:44.480 --> 00:38:45.039 a little bit about 00:38:45.039 --> 00:38:45.759 the earlier text. 00:38:45.839 --> 00:38:47.319 If you put up the final point, 00:38:47.400 --> 00:38:48.119 that would be wonderful. 00:38:48.480 --> 00:38:49.759 Here's the message of the text. 00:38:50.000 --> 00:38:50.400 Christian, 00:38:51.480 --> 00:38:53.219 brother and sister in Christ, 00:38:53.900 --> 00:38:54.619 if you are here 00:38:54.619 --> 00:38:55.460 and you've put your faith 00:38:55.460 --> 00:38:56.279 and trust in Jesus, 00:38:56.440 --> 00:38:57.059 you are my brother, 00:38:57.059 --> 00:38:58.099 you are my sister, 00:38:59.799 --> 00:39:02.619 you are my brother or sister, 00:39:02.619 --> 00:39:05.380 you walk in the dying days 00:39:05.380 --> 00:39:06.940 of the doomed dragon. 00:39:07.440 --> 00:39:09.119 That's where we live right now. 00:39:09.900 --> 00:39:11.759 We live in the dying days 00:39:11.759 --> 00:39:13.679 of the doomed dragon. 00:39:14.480 --> 00:39:15.059 So remember, 00:39:15.799 --> 00:39:17.219 you have been filled in Christ 00:39:17.219 --> 00:39:20.039 in whom the whole fullness 00:39:20.039 --> 00:39:22.619 of deity dwells. 00:39:22.619 --> 00:39:25.460 do justice, 00:39:25.739 --> 00:39:26.339 do kindness, 00:39:26.519 --> 00:39:26.980 do mercy, 00:39:27.119 --> 00:39:27.920 share the gospel, 00:39:28.359 --> 00:39:29.380 cast out demons, 00:39:30.599 --> 00:39:31.420 counsel people 00:39:31.420 --> 00:39:33.139 who are thinking 00:39:33.139 --> 00:39:34.059 that they get weaker 00:39:34.059 --> 00:39:34.519 and weaker 00:39:34.519 --> 00:39:34.940 and weaker 00:39:34.940 --> 00:39:35.900 all of the time 00:39:35.900 --> 00:39:39.440 and live free, 00:39:39.920 --> 00:39:40.719 live without fear. 00:39:42.759 --> 00:39:43.279 Now, 00:39:43.319 --> 00:39:44.279 the earlier text 00:39:44.279 --> 00:39:46.000 warns us against presumption. 00:39:47.000 --> 00:39:48.599 That's what it warns us against. 00:39:48.599 --> 00:39:49.900 See, 00:39:50.039 --> 00:39:51.900 presumption is the great substitute 00:39:51.900 --> 00:39:53.279 to faith. 00:39:54.579 --> 00:39:55.279 In faith, 00:39:56.420 --> 00:39:57.079 and by the way, 00:39:57.639 --> 00:39:59.000 if you've never read 00:39:59.000 --> 00:39:59.860 the Narnia Chronicles, 00:39:59.960 --> 00:40:00.119 read, 00:40:00.199 --> 00:40:01.420 I think it's Prince Caspian. 00:40:01.500 --> 00:40:03.519 There's this spectacular image 00:40:03.519 --> 00:40:03.980 in the middle 00:40:03.980 --> 00:40:05.119 of Prince Caspian 00:40:05.119 --> 00:40:07.339 where there's this poor kid 00:40:07.339 --> 00:40:08.239 called Eustace 00:40:08.239 --> 00:40:10.239 who's really a miserable kid 00:40:10.239 --> 00:40:11.980 who does all these terrible things 00:40:11.980 --> 00:40:13.900 and he does something 00:40:13.900 --> 00:40:15.239 that turns him into a dragon 00:40:15.239 --> 00:40:16.960 and Aslan is this Christ figure 00:40:16.960 --> 00:40:18.659 and Aslan comes 00:40:18.659 --> 00:40:19.960 and attacks Eustace 00:40:19.960 --> 00:40:21.460 and he feels these, 00:40:21.699 --> 00:40:23.300 the Aslan's claws 00:40:23.300 --> 00:40:25.059 ripping at the flesh 00:40:25.059 --> 00:40:26.360 but what he doesn't realize 00:40:26.360 --> 00:40:27.900 is that as Aslan's claws 00:40:27.900 --> 00:40:28.659 are ripping away 00:40:28.659 --> 00:40:29.179 at the flesh 00:40:29.179 --> 00:40:29.820 that what he's doing 00:40:29.820 --> 00:40:31.159 is he's killing the dragon 00:40:31.159 --> 00:40:33.000 so that the real Eustace 00:40:33.000 --> 00:40:34.139 can stand before him. 00:40:34.179 --> 00:40:35.179 It's a very wonderful image. 00:40:35.240 --> 00:40:35.740 You should read it. 00:40:35.780 --> 00:40:36.639 It's in the Narnia Chronicles 00:40:36.639 --> 00:40:37.860 by C.S. Lewis. 00:40:38.380 --> 00:40:38.960 I know it's written 00:40:38.960 --> 00:40:39.860 for 12-year-olds 00:40:39.860 --> 00:40:41.720 but it's just spectacular stuff 00:40:41.720 --> 00:40:42.440 and you should read it. 00:40:42.760 --> 00:40:43.639 And guess what I'm going to say 00:40:43.639 --> 00:40:45.280 is that no human being's faith 00:40:45.280 --> 00:40:46.820 is so unbelievably pure 00:40:46.820 --> 00:40:48.400 without any type of presumption 00:40:48.400 --> 00:40:49.680 that God's waiting 00:40:49.680 --> 00:40:50.920 until there's no presumption 00:40:50.920 --> 00:40:51.940 until you're only 100%. 00:40:51.940 --> 00:40:53.260 That's another type of works. 00:40:53.740 --> 00:40:54.180 He weighs, 00:40:54.519 --> 00:40:56.120 he doesn't weigh my merits. 00:40:56.460 --> 00:40:57.820 He pardons my offenses. 00:40:58.200 --> 00:40:59.440 He's not waiting for me 00:40:59.440 --> 00:41:02.300 to have only 100% pure faith 00:41:02.300 --> 00:41:03.280 with no presumption. 00:41:03.380 --> 00:41:04.820 He takes that little tiny 00:41:04.820 --> 00:41:07.400 mustard grain of faith 00:41:07.400 --> 00:41:09.620 in the forest of presumption 00:41:09.620 --> 00:41:12.620 and he takes me as his own. 00:41:12.900 --> 00:41:13.580 Praise God. 00:41:13.579 --> 00:41:14.619 That's so wonderful. 00:41:15.039 --> 00:41:16.039 But the presumption 00:41:16.039 --> 00:41:17.440 is the substitute of faith. 00:41:17.699 --> 00:41:18.860 Presumption is this sense 00:41:18.860 --> 00:41:19.679 that somehow or another 00:41:19.679 --> 00:41:22.179 it's because of who I am. 00:41:22.279 --> 00:41:24.199 It's because I'm white. 00:41:24.299 --> 00:41:25.299 It's because I'm black. 00:41:25.440 --> 00:41:26.400 It's because I'm Asian. 00:41:26.539 --> 00:41:28.000 It's because I'm African. 00:41:28.179 --> 00:41:29.239 It's because I'm American. 00:41:29.380 --> 00:41:30.639 It's because I vote for Trump. 00:41:30.719 --> 00:41:31.779 It's because I hate Trump. 00:41:31.880 --> 00:41:33.139 It's because I'm good at church. 00:41:33.440 --> 00:41:35.639 It's because I do all of these types of things 00:41:35.639 --> 00:41:36.960 that God loves me 00:41:36.960 --> 00:41:38.340 and it's a type of presumption 00:41:38.340 --> 00:41:39.659 and this type of presumption 00:41:39.659 --> 00:41:41.099 means you're already dead 00:41:41.099 --> 00:41:42.639 and you're going to fall prey. 00:41:42.639 --> 00:41:43.859 You're already filled 00:41:43.859 --> 00:41:44.739 with human tradition. 00:41:44.879 --> 00:41:46.019 You're already filled with the seed 00:41:46.019 --> 00:41:46.719 and you're just going to be 00:41:46.719 --> 00:41:47.879 more prey to it. 00:41:48.339 --> 00:41:49.039 Because you see, 00:41:49.099 --> 00:41:50.079 real faith says, 00:41:50.859 --> 00:41:53.139 Father, grow in me 00:41:53.139 --> 00:41:54.159 more and more and more 00:41:54.159 --> 00:41:55.980 a sense that apart from you 00:41:55.980 --> 00:41:57.019 I am a cut rose. 00:41:58.679 --> 00:42:00.279 And it's only by the miracle 00:42:00.279 --> 00:42:01.219 of your grace 00:42:01.219 --> 00:42:05.599 that you have done the miracle 00:42:05.599 --> 00:42:06.679 of giving me new life 00:42:06.679 --> 00:42:07.299 and new birth. 00:42:07.300 --> 00:42:10.680 nothing in my hands I have. 00:42:11.360 --> 00:42:12.680 And it's not my sanctification 00:42:12.680 --> 00:42:14.260 that determines my justification. 00:42:14.260 --> 00:42:15.760 It's all grace, 00:42:16.220 --> 00:42:17.180 all grace, 00:42:17.460 --> 00:42:18.600 all the time. 00:42:21.360 --> 00:42:22.820 So if you have a world 00:42:22.820 --> 00:42:25.640 with a doomed and dying dragon, 00:42:26.080 --> 00:42:27.200 the dragon's dangerous. 00:42:28.380 --> 00:42:29.180 But Christian, 00:42:29.380 --> 00:42:30.360 you're anti-fragile. 00:42:30.360 --> 00:42:32.920 You are going to die, 00:42:33.400 --> 00:42:34.420 by the way. 00:42:35.960 --> 00:42:37.000 And maybe you'll end up 00:42:37.000 --> 00:42:37.920 being thrown in jail. 00:42:39.220 --> 00:42:40.660 And maybe all sorts of other types 00:42:40.660 --> 00:42:41.800 of things will happen to you. 00:42:42.160 --> 00:42:42.700 But remember, 00:42:43.700 --> 00:42:44.480 what? 00:42:44.840 --> 00:42:45.519 You walk 00:42:45.519 --> 00:42:47.280 in the dying days 00:42:47.280 --> 00:42:48.240 of the doomed dragon. 00:42:48.500 --> 00:42:49.180 So remember, 00:42:49.599 --> 00:42:50.660 we need to remember it. 00:42:50.700 --> 00:42:51.599 That's why we come to church. 00:42:51.700 --> 00:42:52.940 That's why we have small groups. 00:42:53.500 --> 00:42:54.740 That's why we have spiritual 00:42:54.740 --> 00:42:55.940 and Christian friends. 00:42:56.440 --> 00:42:57.539 That's why we read the Bible. 00:42:57.539 --> 00:42:59.460 Because we need to remember, 00:42:59.739 --> 00:43:01.139 you have been filled in Christ 00:43:01.139 --> 00:43:01.779 in whom 00:43:01.779 --> 00:43:03.219 the whole fullness 00:43:03.219 --> 00:43:03.960 of deity 00:43:03.960 --> 00:43:04.539 dwells. 00:43:06.579 --> 00:43:07.599 I invite you to stand. 00:43:10.059 --> 00:43:11.440 And we're going to close 00:43:11.440 --> 00:43:12.759 by saying together 00:43:12.759 --> 00:43:13.980 the general thanksgiving 00:43:13.980 --> 00:43:15.519 from the Book of Common Prayer, 00:43:16.400 --> 00:43:17.539 which I think is 00:43:17.539 --> 00:43:19.139 just a wonderful, 00:43:19.619 --> 00:43:21.159 especially in the Book of Colossians, 00:43:21.239 --> 00:43:22.360 a wonderful reminder 00:43:22.360 --> 00:43:23.539 of grace 00:43:24.340 --> 00:43:25.579 and how we are 00:43:25.579 --> 00:43:26.519 to live our lives. 00:43:26.519 --> 00:43:28.219 So please pray it with me. 00:43:29.219 --> 00:43:30.219 Almighty God, 00:43:30.639 --> 00:43:32.280 Father of all mercies, 00:43:32.679 --> 00:43:34.400 we are unworthy servants 00:43:34.400 --> 00:43:35.159 to give you 00:43:35.159 --> 00:43:35.940 most humble 00:43:35.940 --> 00:43:37.039 and hearty thanks 00:43:37.039 --> 00:43:38.519 for all your goodness 00:43:38.519 --> 00:43:39.599 and loving kindness 00:43:39.599 --> 00:43:40.280 to us 00:43:40.280 --> 00:43:41.259 and to all people. 00:43:41.880 --> 00:43:42.980 We bless you 00:43:42.980 --> 00:43:44.039 for our creation, 00:43:44.420 --> 00:43:44.780 preservation, 00:43:45.340 --> 00:43:46.300 and all the blessings 00:43:46.300 --> 00:43:47.199 of this life. 00:43:47.599 --> 00:43:48.619 But above all, 00:43:48.759 --> 00:43:50.320 for your inestimable love 00:43:50.320 --> 00:43:51.320 in the redemption 00:43:51.320 --> 00:43:52.079 of the world 00:43:52.079 --> 00:43:53.759 by our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:43:54.239 --> 00:43:55.539 for the means of grace 00:43:55.539 --> 00:43:56.960 and for the hope of glory. 00:43:57.860 --> 00:43:59.059 And we beseech you, 00:43:59.380 --> 00:44:00.920 give us that due sense 00:44:00.920 --> 00:44:02.259 of all your mercies, 00:44:02.559 --> 00:44:03.440 that our hearts 00:44:03.440 --> 00:44:05.119 may be unfeignedly thankful, 00:44:05.699 --> 00:44:06.779 and that we show forth 00:44:06.779 --> 00:44:07.579 your praise 00:44:07.579 --> 00:44:09.139 not only with our lips, 00:44:09.239 --> 00:44:10.380 but in our lives, 00:44:10.880 --> 00:44:12.159 by giving up ourselves 00:44:12.159 --> 00:44:13.219 to your service, 00:44:13.800 --> 00:44:15.519 and by walking before you 00:44:15.519 --> 00:44:16.199 in holiness 00:44:16.199 --> 00:44:17.199 and righteousness 00:44:17.199 --> 00:44:18.340 all our days, 00:44:18.759 --> 00:44:19.860 through Jesus Christ, 00:44:19.960 --> 00:44:20.500 our Lord, 00:44:20.860 --> 00:44:21.639 to whom with you 00:44:21.639 --> 00:44:22.639 and the Holy Spirit 00:44:22.639 --> 00:44:24.059 be all honor and glory, 00:44:24.519 --> 00:44:25.559 world without end. 00:44:26.079 --> 00:44:26.339 Amen.