WEBVTT

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 In Jesus' name, amen. Amen. All right. This is not my sermon page, actually. My daughter

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! Just ran up thinking I left a sermon page. This is something else. Thank you, sweetheart.

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! I appreciate that. Yeah! Family in a pinch, baby. I love it. All right. So good morning,

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 everybody. It's good to be with you. Today, we're going to be talking about a topic that is near

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 and dear to my heart, and that is the question of how we change. Or perhaps you want to think

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 of it as how we grow or how we pursue holiness or how we pursue maturity. The Christian word

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 that we use for it often is sanctification. Whatever word you'd like to use, what we're

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 going to be talking about this morning is how we as Christians seek to grow more in the character

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 of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So I'm going to be pulling some ideas from a TDI class

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 that I taught earlier this year. TDI stands for the Discipleship Institute, which sounded

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 cooler than adult Sunday school class. But that's basically what it is. So I'm pulling

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 some ideas from that. The class that I taught was largely based on material from David Powlison,

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 who is a professor and a biblical counselor who I have just deep appreciation for. So this

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 morning, we're talking about change. Our culture has got all kinds of ideas about how to change.

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 It's got self-improvement strategies. It's got atomic habits and successful mindsets.

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 And we can actually find kernels of wisdom in a lot of those ideas. So that's important to recognize.

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 But when our culture thinks about pursuing change, it ignores or sometimes it even suppresses

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 three key realities. And those three realities are, and I'll be reminding you of these as we go through,

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 one is the necessity of God's Word, second is the significance of the heart, and then third would be

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 our dependence upon the living God. Okay? So James Clear's Atomic Habits. It's a great book. It provides

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 a super helpful framework for considering how to build good habits, but James Clear is not going to

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 highlight the sufficiency of God's Word. Stephen Covey, or Covey, however you pronounce his name,

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 he's got some very helpful ideas for how to become a highly effective person, but he's not going to talk

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 about the heart as the governing center of your desires. Sahil Bloom, he's got some great ideas about how to

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 prioritize a meaningful life, but he isn't going to point you to a relationship with the living God as one of his

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 five types of wealth. Okay? So I've benefited from all of these authors. They have some good things to say,

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 but they're missing the most important parts of what it means to truly change. And what I want to point you to today,

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 in today's message, is that for the Christian, the Christian who has been ransomed, saved, claimed,

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 adopted, rescued, and born again through the precious blood of Jesus Christ, for the Christian,

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 pursuing change means tethering yourself to the truths and promises of God's Word.

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 It means understanding the nature of the heart as it's taught in the Bible. And it means seeking after

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 the living God who loved you so much that he gave himself up for you.

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 So that's the threefold focus we're going to be focusing on, is the Word, the heart, and the Lord,

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 the living God. That's where we're going today. As Christians, we don't reject those realities,

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 like our culture does, but we do tend to forget them. We tend to neglect them, and sometimes we

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 can misunderstand them. And I put myself in that category, by the way, as someone who far too easily

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 forgets and neglects these truths. So I need to be reminded of these things as I'm preaching. I am

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 preaching to myself as much as I'm preaching to you this morning. Okay? We are all learners here.

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 Before we dig into these, I want to start by saying why we change in the first place. Why do we even

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 bother with pursuing change? Are we seeking to become our best selves? Are we trying to live our

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 best life now? Are we wanting to change our lives just to make them better and more fulfilling? Like,

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 what's the reason that a Christian would pursue change? Here's the target. It's given to us by

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 Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5, 16. He says this,

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 Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works and do what?

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 Glorify your Father who is in heaven. So the reason that we're pursuing change is so that we can

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 become more like Jesus and so that we can reflect his character and his ways and his priorities in such

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 a way that God is glorified. Okay? So we're not talking about mere self-improvement here today.

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 We're talking about the glory of God. That's what we're going after. So with that in front of us,

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 here's what I want you to do this morning. We're going to get a little personal.

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 I want you to think of a besetting sin in your life. I want you to think of an area in your life

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 that you know that you are deficient in, that you know that you need help in.

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 It could be something as simple as just addiction to constantly checking your phone. It could be raising

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 your voice with your kids when they disobey you. It could be a tendency to slip into words and

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 behaviors with your friends at school that you know that God and your parents would not approve of.

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 It could be an irritation that you carry in your spirit towards your spouse. It could be anger that

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 you have towards a co-worker. In this little bit of time that we have together, I want us to try to

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 make this personal. CCEF, they use this wonderful phrase, the personal God gets personal with us,

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 which I love. I love that phrase. And in order for the personal God to get personal with us,

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 we have to be honest and vulnerable with him about ourselves. So I'm going to invite you to do that

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 this morning as we go through this. First reality of change is the sufficiency of God's Word.

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 It's the sufficiency of God's Word. Let's look at how Jesus Christ, the God-man, the second person of

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 the Trinity, the man who the winds and the waves obey, the one who is holding up the universe right now

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 by the Word of his power. Let's start by considering what he says about the nature of his Word, the Bible,

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 the scriptures, the 66 books that are given to us in his Word. So would you turn with me to Matthew

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 chapter 4? If you've got a Bible in front of you, Matthew chapter 4, because I want you to see this.

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 If you're using a pew Bible, you're going to go to page 809, Matthew 4.

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 It says this,

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 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

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 And after fasting 40 days and 40 nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him,

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 If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.

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 But he answered, It is written,

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 Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

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 So in Matthew 4, we see our Savior facing his greatest temptation in the wilderness,

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 battling not only the physical weariness of a 40-day fast, but also the seductive words of his great enemy,

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 the devil. And with every temptation that the devil throws at him,

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 Jesus responds like a drumbeat. It is written, it is written, it is written.

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 And the first passage of Holy Spirit-inspired Scripture that he fires back at his enemy,

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 is it is written,

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 Man shall not live by bread alone, but by what?

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 By every word that comes from the mouth of God.

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 So I want you to see this.

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 I want you to feel the weight and the goodness and the goodness of what Jesus is saying here.

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 Because according to Jesus Christ, God's word is to our souls what food is to our bodies.

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 Okay?

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 God's word is to our souls what food is to our bodies.

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 Which means that you and I, brother and sister, are utterly dependent on the Bible.

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 Because these are God's words.

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 This is not a book of opinions.

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 This is not man's best attempt to try to understand who God is.

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 This is God himself speaking to you every time that you open up this word.

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 from Genesis to Revelation.

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 So the personal God gets personal with us

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 as we read his words as found in the scriptures.

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 Which means that if you want to change,

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 if you want to grow and you're not anchored

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 in the wisdom of this book,

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 then your growth is going to be stunted.

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 You're never going to get very far.

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 I've never met a mature believer

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 who isn't knee-deep in this book.

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 God's commands and God's words are not burdensome.

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 They are life-giving.

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 You cannot live by bread alone.

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 You live by every word that comes out of this book,

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 and you can't live by it if you don't read it.

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 Here's another astounding claim from God's word

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 that I want you to see.

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 Go with me to 2 Timothy 3, 16 through 17.

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 2 Timothy 3, 16 through 17.

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 Again, if you've got a pew Bible,

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 it's going to be on page 996.

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 This is the Apostle Paul talking.

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 He says this.

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 All Scripture, all Scripture is breathed out by God

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 and profitable for teaching, for reproof,

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 for correction, and for training in righteousness

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 that the man or woman of God may be complete,

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 equipped for every good word.

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 So hear the totality of that statement in 2 Timothy 3, 16 through 17.

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 Here's what that means at a minimum,

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 is that if the only book that you had was a Bible,

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 you didn't have any self-help books,

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 you didn't have any financial advice books,

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 no books on leadership development,

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 you would still have everything that you need

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 in order to faithfully and rightly obey and follow the Lord Jesus Christ

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 in every situation that you encounter in life if you have this.

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 That's the claim of 2 Timothy 3, 16 through 17.

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 So if we want to change,

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 we need to be always growing in our knowledge of the words

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 that God has spoken to us through the Scriptures.

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 There's just no replacement for getting in this book

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 and feasting on this daily.

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 Only man shall not live by bread alone,

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 but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

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 Okay.

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 Now before we move on,

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 so we're talking about the sufficiency of God's Word.

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 Before we move on,

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 I want to be clear about something.

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 I want to be clear about what the sufficiency of God's Word doesn't mean.

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 Okay?

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 Here's what it doesn't mean.

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 It doesn't mean that there's no wisdom to be found in books outside of the Bible.

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 It doesn't mean that.

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 It doesn't mean that we do not need the counsel of wise friends

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 or that we don't need community,

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 because in fact, you've got Proverbs 11, 14,

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 which says that in an abundance of counselors,

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 there is victory.

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 So that verse right there would point us to humbly seek out the help and wisdom of others,

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 especially those who are anchored in the wisdom of this book.

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 So get good counsel from friends.

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 Read good books,

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 and then weigh everything that you were told by God's Word.

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 Okay?

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 I also want to say this.

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 I think that this is important about the sufficiency of the Bible.

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 The sufficiency of the Bible

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 also doesn't mean

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 that Christians should avoid medication to help with things

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 like anxiety, depression, or other mental hardships.

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 Okay?

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 I want you to hear this.

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 God's Word is very honest

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 about the fact that we live in a fallen and sinful world.

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 And one of the effects of the fall

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 is that sometimes our brain can turn into our enemies.

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 Okay?

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 That's an effect of the fall.

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 There are situations

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 where the wisdom of God's Word

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 would encourage you

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 to take medication

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 that helps you to get your head above water

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 so that you can think clearly.

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 But you never stop being dependent

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 on God's Word or on His Spirit.

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 So whatever sin, struggle,

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 that you thought of

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 when we started this sermon,

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 God's Word is up to the task

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 of giving you the wisdom that you need

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 to be complete

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 and fully equipped

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 for every good work.

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 That's what the Bible claims for itself.

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 Now, as you get to know this book,

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 if you're paying attention,

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 you're going to notice

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 that the Bible talks an awful lot

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 about the heart.

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 Okay?

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 So now we're into our second key reality

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 for pursuing change,

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 the importance of the heart.

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 When I say the heart,

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 you probably have some sense

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 of what I mean.

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 That word gets an awful lot of mileage

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 in the English language,

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 and it does in the Bible too.

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 Across the 66 books

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 of the Old and New Testament,

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 the word, the heart,

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 shows up nearly a thousand times

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 in Hebrew and in Greek,

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 a thousand times.

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 The first time that the heart

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 is used in your Bibles

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 is in Genesis 6, 5 through 6.

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 This is in the account of the flood.

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 It says this,

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 the Lord saw the wickedness of man,

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 that the wickedness of man

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 was great in the earth,

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 and that every intention

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 of the thought of his heart

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 was only evil continually.

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 And the Lord regretted

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 that he had made man on the earth,

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 and it grieved him to his heart.

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 And then at the end

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 of the flood account in Genesis 8,

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 it says,

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 the Lord said in his heart,

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 I will never curse the ground again.

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 The Lord's resolve.

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 He said in his heart.

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 And then after that,

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 it's just off to the races

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 with the phrase,

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 the heart.

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 If you pay attention to it,

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 you're gonna see that

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 all over the surface of the Bible.

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 So what does the Bible mean

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 when it says the heart?

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 We tend to divide

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 the heart and the mind,

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 the heart and the mind

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 in a way that the Bible does not.

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 We tend to classify emotions

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 and feelings and desires,

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 and we put those

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 within the bucket of the heart.

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 And then our thoughts

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 and our reasoning

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 and our decisions,

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 we put those into

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 the category of the mind.

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 And the Bible says

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 that all of those things

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 originate from within

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 the heart of a person.

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 All of those things,

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 mind and heart go together.

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 They're not against one another.

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 We could say it like this.

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 The heart is the fountainhead

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 of your deepest thoughts,

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 your greatest loves,

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 your strongest emotions,

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 and your every desire

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 and decision.

00:17:52.900 --> 00:17:54.460
 The heart is the fountainhead

00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:55.720
 of your deepest thoughts,

00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:57.420
 your greatest loves,

00:17:57.960 --> 00:17:59.200
 your strongest emotions,

00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:01.580
 and your every desire

00:18:01.580 --> 00:18:03.640
 and decision.

00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:05.200
 Or we could say,

00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:06.779
 if I know your heart,

00:18:07.460 --> 00:18:09.019
 then I know you.

00:18:11.380 --> 00:18:13.840
 Now, as Les covered last week,

00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:16.200
 before Jesus saved you,

00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:16.920
 what was the state

00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:17.380
 of your heart?

00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:19.980
 He was dead.

00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:21.299
 Right?

00:18:22.539 --> 00:18:23.600
 Let's do a quick review

00:18:23.600 --> 00:18:24.620
 from Ephesians 2,

00:18:24.759 --> 00:18:25.539
 1 through 3.

00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:27.900
 The Apostle Paul says this,

00:18:27.900 --> 00:18:28.960
 And you were dead

00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:30.720
 in the trespasses and sins

00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:32.040
 in which you once walked,

00:18:32.140 --> 00:18:32.880
 following the course

00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:33.519
 of this world,

00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:35.080
 following the prince of the air,

00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:36.340
 the spirit that is now at work

00:18:36.340 --> 00:18:37.700
 in the sons of disobedience,

00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:39.980
 among whom we all once lived

00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:41.600
 in the passions of our flesh,

00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:43.540
 carrying out the desires

00:18:43.540 --> 00:18:44.660
 of the flesh and the mind,

00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:45.480
 and were by nature

00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:46.540
 children of wrath,

00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:48.340
 like the rest of mankind.

00:18:49.120 --> 00:18:50.019
 Which means that

00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:51.440
 before you came to Christ,

00:18:51.620 --> 00:18:53.640
 your heart was dead.

00:18:53.980 --> 00:18:54.780
 Dead to God,

00:18:55.480 --> 00:18:56.940
 dead to the ways of God,

00:18:56.940 --> 00:18:59.220
 you had no desire

00:18:59.220 --> 00:19:00.720
 to truly love God,

00:19:00.840 --> 00:19:02.100
 or worship God,

00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:03.779
 or follow God.

00:19:03.840 --> 00:19:04.320
 That's the state

00:19:04.320 --> 00:19:05.600
 of every human being

00:19:05.600 --> 00:19:06.700
 when they are born

00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:08.039
 into this world.

00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:09.500
 And then we get

00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:10.539
 to the glorious verses

00:19:10.539 --> 00:19:12.200
 of verse 4 and 5,

00:19:12.900 --> 00:19:13.559
 which says,

00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:15.139
 But God,

00:19:15.919 --> 00:19:17.480
 being rich in mercy

00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:19.359
 because of the great love

00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:20.559
 with which he loved us,

00:19:21.179 --> 00:19:22.339
 even when we were dead

00:19:22.339 --> 00:19:23.599
 in our trespasses,

00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:25.799
 made us alive

00:19:25.799 --> 00:19:27.539
 together with Christ,

00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:31.179
 by grace you have been saved.

00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:33.159
 Which means that

00:19:33.159 --> 00:19:34.359
 if you are in Christ,

00:19:34.940 --> 00:19:36.960
 you've been born again,

00:19:37.619 --> 00:19:38.700
 and you have a new heart.

00:19:38.700 --> 00:19:41.480
 This is what the Lord spoke

00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:42.620
 through the prophet Ezekiel

00:19:42.620 --> 00:19:43.720
 back in Ezekiel 36

00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:44.600
 when he wrote this

00:19:44.600 --> 00:19:45.519
 hundreds of years

00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:47.559
 before Christ's arrival

00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:48.240
 on this earth.

00:19:48.299 --> 00:19:49.160
 This is the Lord speaking.

00:19:49.660 --> 00:19:50.039
 He said,

00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:50.840
 I will sprinkle

00:19:50.840 --> 00:19:52.259
 clean water on you,

00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:53.480
 and you shall be clean

00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:55.539
 from all your uncleannesses,

00:19:55.980 --> 00:19:57.319
 and from all your idols

00:19:57.319 --> 00:19:58.360
 I will cleanse you,

00:19:58.860 --> 00:19:59.880
 and I will give you

00:19:59.880 --> 00:20:01.600
 a new heart,

00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:03.900
 and a new spirit

00:20:03.900 --> 00:20:05.400
 I will put within you,

00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:06.200
 and I will remove

00:20:06.200 --> 00:20:07.039
 the heart of stone

00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:07.859
 from your flesh,

00:20:08.180 --> 00:20:08.799
 and give you

00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:09.759
 a heart of flesh,

00:20:10.639 --> 00:20:11.079
 and I will put

00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:12.420
 my spirit within you,

00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:13.200
 and cause you

00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:14.519
 to walk in my statutes,

00:20:14.579 --> 00:20:15.059
 and be careful

00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:16.259
 to obey my rules.

00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:18.180
 So this is the same thing

00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:19.359
 that Paul is talking about

00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:20.859
 in 2 Corinthians 5.17.

00:20:21.019 --> 00:20:22.259
 A lot of us love that verse

00:20:22.259 --> 00:20:23.019
 when he says,

00:20:23.139 --> 00:20:24.119
 if anyone is in Christ,

00:20:24.500 --> 00:20:27.399
 he is a new creation, right?

00:20:27.859 --> 00:20:29.940
 And this changes everything

00:20:29.940 --> 00:20:33.720
 about how we pursue change.

00:20:34.379 --> 00:20:35.879
 If we are in Christ,

00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:37.940
 our hearts have been transformed,

00:20:38.820 --> 00:20:41.420
 and they have been made new.

00:20:42.060 --> 00:20:43.260
 If you are a Christian,

00:20:43.660 --> 00:20:44.900
 your heart that once cared

00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:45.900
 only for yourself,

00:20:46.040 --> 00:20:48.140
 that was ruled by evil desires,

00:20:48.260 --> 00:20:49.560
 your heart that was once dead,

00:20:49.780 --> 00:20:51.200
 is now under the rule

00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:54.660
 and reign of your Lord Jesus Christ.

00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:56.980
 And now in Christ,

00:20:57.180 --> 00:20:58.580
 you have a desire

00:20:58.580 --> 00:21:00.440
 to know God,

00:21:00.580 --> 00:21:02.340
 and to worship God,

00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:03.180
 and follow God,

00:21:03.280 --> 00:21:04.240
 and trust God,

00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:05.920
 and live your life

00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:07.160
 for God,

00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:08.539
 because your heart

00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:10.599
 has been radically reoriented

00:21:10.599 --> 00:21:11.880
 towards him.

00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:14.299
 That is good news.

00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:18.120
 Now here's the hard reality.

00:21:19.099 --> 00:21:19.359
 All right?

00:21:19.460 --> 00:21:20.460
 And I like how

00:21:20.460 --> 00:21:22.000
 Les put this last week.

00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:24.220
 you are a new creation,

00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:28.559
 and you still have grave clothes

00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:29.740
 that are sitting on you.

00:21:31.380 --> 00:21:32.940
 You are a new,

00:21:33.140 --> 00:21:34.539
 you have a new heart,

00:21:35.319 --> 00:21:38.559
 and there are dead sin cells,

00:21:38.740 --> 00:21:39.660
 not skin cells,

00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:40.859
 sin cells,

00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:43.539
 that are still clinging to you.

00:21:44.039 --> 00:21:45.859
 You've been made new,

00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:48.799
 and God is still at work,

00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:50.079
 he's still in the process

00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:51.519
 of transforming you

00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:53.039
 into his image and likeness.

00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:53.659
 So we call this

00:21:53.659 --> 00:21:54.299
 the already

00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:55.480
 and the not yet,

00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:56.059
 right?

00:21:56.139 --> 00:21:56.859
 Those two together,

00:21:57.059 --> 00:21:58.220
 which means that your heart,

00:21:58.539 --> 00:21:59.259
 even though it's new,

00:21:59.399 --> 00:22:00.259
 is still capable

00:22:00.259 --> 00:22:01.639
 of desiring sin.

00:22:02.359 --> 00:22:02.579
 All right?

00:22:02.639 --> 00:22:03.359
 One day it won't.

00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:04.119
 New heavens,

00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:04.700
 new earth,

00:22:04.899 --> 00:22:05.220
 glory,

00:22:05.639 --> 00:22:06.659
 after this life,

00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:07.559
 when you're in the presence

00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:08.000
 of Jesus,

00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:09.119
 that's gonna be gone.

00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:10.039
 But right now,

00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:11.240
 your heart is still capable

00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:12.919
 of supplanting God

00:22:12.919 --> 00:22:14.419
 and putting idols

00:22:14.419 --> 00:22:16.019
 in his place.

00:22:16.139 --> 00:22:17.159
 Supplanting as in quotes.

00:22:17.160 --> 00:22:17.540
 Of course,

00:22:17.600 --> 00:22:18.940
 you can't totally dethrone God.

00:22:19.660 --> 00:22:21.080
 This is how Jesus puts it

00:22:21.080 --> 00:22:22.120
 in Matthew 15.

00:22:23.300 --> 00:22:23.600
 He says,

00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:24.980
 but what comes out of the mouth

00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:26.779
 proceeds from the heart.

00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:28.620
 Proceeds from the heart,

00:22:28.700 --> 00:22:29.900
 and this defiles a person.

00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:31.720
 For out of the heart

00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:33.700
 come evil thoughts,

00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:34.820
 murder,

00:22:35.060 --> 00:22:35.580
 adultery,

00:22:35.800 --> 00:22:36.680
 sexual immorality,

00:22:37.040 --> 00:22:37.340
 theft,

00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:39.060
 false witness,

00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:40.279
 slander.

00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:41.480
 These are what defile

00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:42.620
 a person.

00:22:42.800 --> 00:22:43.700
 So what he's saying

00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:45.960
 is that anytime you sin,

00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:47.960
 it is out of a desire

00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:49.380
 that originates

00:22:49.380 --> 00:22:51.740
 in your heart.

00:22:52.700 --> 00:22:55.400
 Anytime that you think

00:22:55.400 --> 00:22:57.980
 or speak rightly,

00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:58.900
 okay,

00:22:58.940 --> 00:22:59.960
 you do what is right,

00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:02.519
 that is also out of a desire

00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:03.680
 that originates

00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:05.400
 from within your heart.

00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:06.460
 Jesus puts it like this

00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:06.880
 in Matthew,

00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:07.480
 or I'm sorry,

00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:08.559
 in Luke 645.

00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:11.200
 The good person

00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:12.200
 out of the good treasure

00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:12.740
 of his heart

00:23:12.740 --> 00:23:13.559
 produces good,

00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:15.359
 and the evil person

00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:17.399
 out of his evil treasure

00:23:17.399 --> 00:23:19.079
 produces evil.

00:23:19.859 --> 00:23:20.899
 For out of the abundance

00:23:20.899 --> 00:23:22.000
 of the heart

00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:24.279
 his mouth speaks.

00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:26.519
 So again,

00:23:26.619 --> 00:23:27.500
 you have a new heart,

00:23:27.940 --> 00:23:30.200
 but on this side of heaven

00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:31.299
 you are still capable

00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:32.859
 of desiring

00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:34.139
 and choosing sin.

00:23:34.140 --> 00:23:35.560
 And the Bible

00:23:35.560 --> 00:23:37.340
 is very honest

00:23:37.340 --> 00:23:37.780
 about that.

00:23:37.860 --> 00:23:39.140
 That's why in Ephesians 4,

00:23:39.560 --> 00:23:40.240
 Paul says,

00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:41.140
 he says,

00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:42.259
 put off your old self

00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:43.220
 which belongs

00:23:43.220 --> 00:23:44.259
 to your former manner

00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:44.860
 of life

00:23:44.860 --> 00:23:45.940
 and is corrupt

00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:47.060
 through deceitful desires

00:23:47.060 --> 00:23:48.040
 and instead put on

00:23:48.040 --> 00:23:48.960
 the new self

00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:50.320
 that is created

00:23:50.320 --> 00:23:51.520
 after the likeness

00:23:51.520 --> 00:23:52.100
 of God

00:23:52.100 --> 00:23:52.920
 in true righteousness

00:23:52.920 --> 00:23:54.160
 and holiness.

00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:54.920
 And this is why

00:23:54.920 --> 00:23:56.220
 Hebrews says,

00:23:56.420 --> 00:23:57.500
 put aside every weight

00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:58.040
 in the sin

00:23:58.040 --> 00:23:59.280
 which clings so closely.

00:23:59.620 --> 00:24:00.740
 This is why James says

00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:01.500
 to put aside

00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:02.700
 all filthiness

00:24:02.700 --> 00:24:04.880
 and rampant wickedness.

00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:07.019
 You are a new creation,

00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:08.960
 but you are still

00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:10.019
 in a battle.

00:24:11.599 --> 00:24:12.779
 There is still a fight

00:24:12.779 --> 00:24:14.779
 to press into

00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:16.940
 as a Christian.

00:24:19.339 --> 00:24:20.319
 And so that sin

00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:21.200
 that you've been keeping

00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:22.079
 in the back of your mind

00:24:22.079 --> 00:24:23.119
 that you've been thinking about

00:24:23.119 --> 00:24:24.640
 as we've been talking,

00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:26.119
 the desire for that

00:24:26.119 --> 00:24:27.940
 leads,

00:24:28.900 --> 00:24:30.720
 the desire that leads

00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:31.539
 to that sin

00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:33.460
 is primarily about

00:24:33.460 --> 00:24:35.200
 your relationship

00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:36.380
 with the living God.

00:24:38.299 --> 00:24:39.240
 So if you're following

00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:39.860
 my points,

00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:40.299
 we've reached

00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:42.660
 the third key reality.

00:24:42.860 --> 00:24:43.480
 Without question,

00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:44.620
 this is the most important

00:24:44.620 --> 00:24:45.600
 reality

00:24:45.600 --> 00:24:46.920
 in our pursuit of change

00:24:46.920 --> 00:24:48.640
 and that is

00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:49.779
 your relationship

00:24:49.779 --> 00:24:52.120
 with the living God.

00:24:54.120 --> 00:24:55.460
 Change for the Christian

00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:57.980
 is not primarily driven

00:24:57.980 --> 00:25:00.120
 by habits

00:25:00.120 --> 00:25:01.660
 or disciplines.

00:25:01.660 --> 00:25:02.259
 Those things

00:25:02.259 --> 00:25:03.019
 are important.

00:25:03.380 --> 00:25:04.380
 They are necessary.

00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:06.680
 But real change,

00:25:07.500 --> 00:25:08.480
 true change,

00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:09.279
 the kind of change

00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:09.799
 that God

00:25:09.799 --> 00:25:10.799
 is after

00:25:10.799 --> 00:25:11.960
 in us

00:25:11.960 --> 00:25:13.480
 is primarily

00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:14.460
 relational.

00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:16.660
 It's primarily

00:25:16.660 --> 00:25:18.200
 relational.

00:25:19.620 --> 00:25:20.900
 So Jesus makes this

00:25:20.900 --> 00:25:22.400
 gloriously clear

00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:24.539
 that the foundation

00:25:24.539 --> 00:25:25.140
 of obedience

00:25:25.140 --> 00:25:26.140
 to God

00:25:26.140 --> 00:25:27.759
 is to love God.

00:25:27.800 --> 00:25:28.620
 When he was asked

00:25:28.620 --> 00:25:30.580
 the greatest commandment

00:25:30.580 --> 00:25:31.080
 was,

00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:32.680
 what does he say?

00:25:33.420 --> 00:25:33.880
 He says,

00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:34.820
 you shall love

00:25:34.820 --> 00:25:36.060
 the Lord your God

00:25:36.060 --> 00:25:37.759
 with all your heart,

00:25:38.120 --> 00:25:38.940
 with all your soul,

00:25:39.180 --> 00:25:40.320
 with all your mind.

00:25:40.420 --> 00:25:41.380
 This is the great

00:25:41.380 --> 00:25:42.660
 and first commandment.

00:25:43.620 --> 00:25:44.300
 And the second

00:25:44.300 --> 00:25:45.100
 is like it.

00:25:45.620 --> 00:25:46.520
 You shall love

00:25:46.520 --> 00:25:47.000
 your neighbor

00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:48.460
 as yourself.

00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:50.140
 On these

00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:51.580
 two commandments

00:25:51.580 --> 00:25:52.240
 depend

00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:53.559
 all the law

00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:54.700
 and the prophets.

00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:57.519
 So love God,

00:25:58.180 --> 00:25:59.019
 love your neighbor.

00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:01.039
 Jesus was saying

00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:01.620
 that if you want

00:26:01.620 --> 00:26:02.880
 to follow the Lord,

00:26:02.940 --> 00:26:03.220
 if you want

00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:04.059
 to walk in holiness,

00:26:04.980 --> 00:26:06.120
 then love God

00:26:06.120 --> 00:26:07.160
 with all of your heart

00:26:07.160 --> 00:26:09.420
 and love your neighbor

00:26:09.420 --> 00:26:10.660
 as yourself.

00:26:10.779 --> 00:26:11.440
 So he's making

00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:12.920
 the core of obedience

00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:13.900
 to God

00:26:13.900 --> 00:26:15.120
 relational.

00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:17.759
 The personal God

00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:19.279
 gets personal

00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:20.839
 with us.

00:26:20.839 --> 00:26:23.220
 which means

00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:24.059
 that we don't

00:26:24.059 --> 00:26:25.059
 think about

00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:26.480
 facing our sins

00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:27.179
 in terms of

00:26:27.179 --> 00:26:28.619
 a self-improvement

00:26:28.619 --> 00:26:29.480
 project.

00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:31.679
 Instead,

00:26:31.899 --> 00:26:32.720
 we honestly

00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:34.319
 and openly

00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:35.399
 and probably

00:26:35.399 --> 00:26:36.579
 a little painfully

00:26:36.579 --> 00:26:38.599
 search our hearts

00:26:38.599 --> 00:26:39.099
 with the help

00:26:39.099 --> 00:26:39.679
 of the Spirit

00:26:39.679 --> 00:26:41.480
 to see what

00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:42.579
 we are treasuring

00:26:42.579 --> 00:26:43.679
 more

00:26:43.679 --> 00:26:45.039
 than the God

00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:45.779
 who loved us

00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:46.699
 and gave himself

00:26:46.699 --> 00:26:48.399
 up for us.

00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:51.259
 So I want

00:26:51.259 --> 00:26:51.720
 to give you

00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:52.820
 an example

00:26:52.820 --> 00:26:53.320
 of this

00:26:53.320 --> 00:26:54.759
 from my

00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:55.900
 own life.

00:26:56.259 --> 00:26:56.920
 Those of you

00:26:56.920 --> 00:26:57.540
 who know me

00:26:57.540 --> 00:26:58.259
 pretty well,

00:26:58.860 --> 00:26:59.240
 you're going

00:26:59.240 --> 00:26:59.620
 to be aware

00:26:59.620 --> 00:27:00.060
 that this is

00:27:00.060 --> 00:27:00.420
 an ongoing

00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:01.220
 struggle for me.

00:27:01.340 --> 00:27:02.060
 I have a tendency

00:27:02.060 --> 00:27:03.620
 to fall into

00:27:03.620 --> 00:27:04.440
 a pair of sins

00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:05.000
 that run

00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:05.780
 parallel

00:27:05.780 --> 00:27:07.120
 with one another

00:27:07.120 --> 00:27:08.420
 and those are

00:27:08.420 --> 00:27:09.060
 anxiety

00:27:09.060 --> 00:27:10.960
 and irritability.

00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:12.940
 They tend

00:27:12.940 --> 00:27:13.480
 to run along

00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:14.100
 the same

00:27:14.100 --> 00:27:15.120
 track.

00:27:15.119 --> 00:27:17.059
 So here's

00:27:17.059 --> 00:27:17.759
 a very real

00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:18.239
 example

00:27:18.239 --> 00:27:19.279
 from my

00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:19.619
 wife.

00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:21.179
 From my

00:27:21.179 --> 00:27:21.379
 wife.

00:27:21.479 --> 00:27:21.839
 From my

00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:22.219
 life.

00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:23.559
 This involves

00:27:23.559 --> 00:27:25.939
 my wife.

00:27:27.199 --> 00:27:27.759
 Ooh,

00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:28.619
 all right.

00:27:31.099 --> 00:27:31.919
 Could have

00:27:31.919 --> 00:27:32.819
 changed that

00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:33.319
 phrasing.

00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:33.839
 All right.

00:27:35.219 --> 00:27:35.899
 So my

00:27:35.899 --> 00:27:36.899
 wife calls

00:27:36.899 --> 00:27:38.119
 me while

00:27:38.119 --> 00:27:38.539
 I'm in the

00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:38.959
 office.

00:27:39.019 --> 00:27:39.459
 My wife

00:27:39.459 --> 00:27:39.979
 calls me

00:27:39.979 --> 00:27:40.279
 while I'm

00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:40.519
 in the

00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:40.939
 office.

00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:42.459
 She has

00:27:42.459 --> 00:27:43.039
 good news

00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:43.419
 for me

00:27:43.419 --> 00:27:43.759
 and that

00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:44.279
 good news

00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:44.739
 is that we

00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:45.400
 have a pipe

00:27:45.400 --> 00:27:45.940
 leaking in

00:27:45.940 --> 00:27:46.440
 our basement.

00:27:47.900 --> 00:27:48.299
 All right.

00:27:49.299 --> 00:27:50.000
 And the

00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:50.779
 moment that

00:27:50.779 --> 00:27:51.140
 I hear

00:27:51.140 --> 00:27:51.579
 that,

00:27:52.599 --> 00:27:53.779
 the agitation

00:27:53.779 --> 00:27:55.000
 starts to

00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:55.700
 sink in.

00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:56.980
 Right.

00:27:57.859 --> 00:27:58.480
 I've got

00:27:58.480 --> 00:27:58.960
 this phrase

00:27:58.960 --> 00:27:59.380
 that I like

00:27:59.380 --> 00:27:59.920
 to use

00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:01.140
 when things

00:28:01.140 --> 00:28:01.680
 break down

00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:01.960
 in our

00:28:01.960 --> 00:28:02.839
 house and

00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:03.299
 that phrase

00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:03.640
 is,

00:28:03.900 --> 00:28:04.220
 you've got

00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:04.500
 to be

00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:04.960
 kidding me.

00:28:06.220 --> 00:28:06.680
 Does

00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:07.099
 anybody else

00:28:07.099 --> 00:28:07.519
 use that

00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:07.839
 phrase?

00:28:07.940 --> 00:28:08.279
 You've got

00:28:08.279 --> 00:28:08.519
 to be

00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:08.960
 kidding me?

00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:09.579
 Right.

00:28:10.539 --> 00:28:11.200
 After a

00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:11.539
 while,

00:28:11.700 --> 00:28:11.980
 I'm sure

00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:12.259
 that my

00:28:12.259 --> 00:28:12.940
 wife has

00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:13.220
 begun

00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:13.720
 thinking,

00:28:14.220 --> 00:28:14.359
 no,

00:28:14.359 --> 00:28:14.740
 I'm not

00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:15.019
 kidding

00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:15.359
 that our

00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:15.719
 house that

00:28:15.719 --> 00:28:16.079
 was built

00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:16.559
 before the

00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:17.079
 moon landing

00:28:17.079 --> 00:28:17.679
 has a

00:28:17.679 --> 00:28:18.419
 leaking pipe.

00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:20.679
 But in

00:28:20.679 --> 00:28:21.419
 that moment,

00:28:22.219 --> 00:28:22.559
 in that

00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:22.899
 moment,

00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:23.579
 I do not

00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:24.399
 care that my

00:28:24.399 --> 00:28:24.879
 frustration

00:28:24.879 --> 00:28:26.159
 makes no

00:28:26.159 --> 00:28:26.879
 logical sense

00:28:26.879 --> 00:28:27.379
 because all

00:28:27.379 --> 00:28:27.899
 that I see

00:28:27.899 --> 00:28:28.359
 in front of

00:28:28.359 --> 00:28:29.299
 me is a

00:28:29.299 --> 00:28:30.219
 house project.

00:28:30.779 --> 00:28:31.339
 It's going

00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:31.879
 to cost

00:28:31.879 --> 00:28:33.039
 me time

00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:34.339
 and it's

00:28:34.339 --> 00:28:34.619
 going to

00:28:34.619 --> 00:28:35.939
 cost me

00:28:35.939 --> 00:28:36.619
 money.

00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:37.019
 So what's

00:28:37.019 --> 00:28:37.639
 really going

00:28:37.639 --> 00:28:39.059
 on behind

00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:40.079
 you've got to

00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:40.399
 be kidding

00:28:40.400 --> 00:28:41.480
 me is,

00:28:42.140 --> 00:28:43.160
 how dare

00:28:43.160 --> 00:28:44.259
 this home

00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:45.640
 steal my

00:28:45.640 --> 00:28:46.960
 time and

00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:47.860
 my money

00:28:47.860 --> 00:28:48.600
 and my

00:28:48.600 --> 00:28:49.860
 comfort and

00:28:49.860 --> 00:28:50.860
 disrupt my

00:28:50.860 --> 00:28:51.720
 day and my

00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:52.300
 plans?

00:28:53.420 --> 00:28:54.320
 That's what's

00:28:54.320 --> 00:28:55.340
 going on behind

00:28:55.340 --> 00:28:56.240
 you've got to be

00:28:56.240 --> 00:28:56.780
 kidding me.

00:28:57.700 --> 00:28:58.700
 Which means that

00:28:58.700 --> 00:28:59.600
 functionally,

00:29:00.040 --> 00:29:01.480
 at that moment,

00:29:01.600 --> 00:29:02.180
 the God who

00:29:02.180 --> 00:29:03.060
 owns the cattle

00:29:03.060 --> 00:29:03.640
 on a thousand

00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:04.860
 hills and is

00:29:04.860 --> 00:29:05.420
 working all

00:29:05.420 --> 00:29:05.940
 things,

00:29:06.040 --> 00:29:06.600
 including a

00:29:06.600 --> 00:29:07.360
 leaking pipe in

00:29:07.360 --> 00:29:07.800
 my home,

00:29:07.799 --> 00:29:08.419
 all things

00:29:08.419 --> 00:29:08.859
 together,

00:29:09.180 --> 00:29:09.779
 for my

00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:10.220
 good and

00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:10.839
 his glory,

00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:11.799
 the God who

00:29:11.799 --> 00:29:12.759
 rescued me

00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:14.159
 from my

00:29:14.159 --> 00:29:14.639
 sins,

00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:15.099
 who has

00:29:15.099 --> 00:29:15.799
 showered me

00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:16.480
 with grace,

00:29:16.899 --> 00:29:17.859
 who loves

00:29:17.859 --> 00:29:18.059
 me,

00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:18.579
 who is so

00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:19.220
 patient with

00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:19.500
 me,

00:29:19.659 --> 00:29:20.059
 who has

00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:21.019
 good purposes

00:29:21.019 --> 00:29:21.539
 for me,

00:29:21.579 --> 00:29:22.079
 even behind

00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:22.899
 the inconvenience

00:29:22.899 --> 00:29:23.379
 of a broken

00:29:23.379 --> 00:29:24.099
 water pipe,

00:29:24.359 --> 00:29:24.779
 I have

00:29:24.779 --> 00:29:25.740
 dethroned him.

00:29:27.639 --> 00:29:28.359
 I have

00:29:28.359 --> 00:29:30.240
 dethroned him

00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:31.240
 in my

00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:33.000
 heart and

00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:33.879
 my actions

00:29:33.879 --> 00:29:34.919
 and my

00:29:34.919 --> 00:29:35.740
 words

00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:37.319
 reveal

00:29:37.319 --> 00:29:40.099
 that comfort

00:29:40.099 --> 00:29:40.740
 and ease

00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:41.019
 are the

00:29:41.019 --> 00:29:41.460
 greatest

00:29:41.460 --> 00:29:42.179
 treasure to

00:29:42.179 --> 00:29:43.439
 me in

00:29:43.439 --> 00:29:44.059
 that

00:29:44.059 --> 00:29:44.859
 moment,

00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:45.599
 not my

00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:46.079
 Lord and

00:29:46.079 --> 00:29:46.399
 Savior,

00:29:47.139 --> 00:29:47.399
 Jesus

00:29:47.399 --> 00:29:48.079
 Christ.

00:29:49.339 --> 00:29:49.740
 And when I

00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:50.439
 get home

00:29:50.439 --> 00:29:51.319
 to scope

00:29:51.319 --> 00:29:51.720
 out the

00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:52.039
 leak,

00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:53.079
 and I'm

00:29:53.079 --> 00:29:53.539
 short with

00:29:53.539 --> 00:29:54.119
 my wife,

00:29:54.259 --> 00:29:54.500
 and I'm

00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:54.919
 short with

00:29:54.919 --> 00:29:55.559
 my kids,

00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:57.000
 I am

00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:57.359
 bringing

00:29:57.359 --> 00:29:58.759
 forth evil

00:29:58.759 --> 00:29:59.419
 out of the

00:29:59.419 --> 00:30:00.179
 evil treasure

00:30:00.179 --> 00:30:00.799
 of my

00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:01.059
 heart.

00:30:01.139 --> 00:30:01.559
 This is what

00:30:01.559 --> 00:30:02.240
 Jesus says,

00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:04.000
 in a situation

00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:05.119
 where God

00:30:05.119 --> 00:30:06.119
 calls me to

00:30:06.119 --> 00:30:06.659
 bear good

00:30:06.659 --> 00:30:07.039
 fruit,

00:30:07.319 --> 00:30:09.480
 instead I

00:30:09.480 --> 00:30:10.500
 bear thorns,

00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:12.439
 thorny,

00:30:12.839 --> 00:30:13.159
 sinful

00:30:13.159 --> 00:30:14.759
 response out

00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:15.419
 of what I'm

00:30:15.419 --> 00:30:15.899
 desiring

00:30:15.899 --> 00:30:17.659
 within my

00:30:17.659 --> 00:30:17.899
 heart.

00:30:17.980 --> 00:30:18.500
 So this is

00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:20.220
 not fundamentally

00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:21.740
 an anxiety

00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:22.259
 problem.

00:30:23.099 --> 00:30:24.279
 At the

00:30:24.279 --> 00:30:24.720
 deepest

00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:25.299
 roots,

00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:26.460
 it's not

00:30:26.460 --> 00:30:27.240
 an anxiety

00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:28.259
 or anger

00:30:28.259 --> 00:30:29.679
 or irritability

00:30:29.679 --> 00:30:30.159
 problem,

00:30:30.899 --> 00:30:32.000
 this is an

00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:32.859
 idolatry

00:30:32.859 --> 00:30:33.839
 problem.

00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:33.899
 problem.

00:30:34.899 --> 00:30:35.939
 It's a

00:30:35.939 --> 00:30:37.059
 treasuring

00:30:37.059 --> 00:30:38.119
 comfort

00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:39.500
 rather than

00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:40.379
 God

00:30:40.379 --> 00:30:41.740
 problem.

00:30:44.119 --> 00:30:44.859
 So you

00:30:44.859 --> 00:30:45.179
 might ask

00:30:45.179 --> 00:30:45.639
 yourself,

00:30:46.079 --> 00:30:47.000
 how has the

00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:47.740
 living God

00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:48.959
 gotten

00:30:48.959 --> 00:30:50.039
 personal with

00:30:50.039 --> 00:30:51.959
 me in my

00:30:51.959 --> 00:30:52.839
 idolatrous

00:30:52.839 --> 00:30:54.619
 craving for

00:30:54.619 --> 00:30:55.759
 comfort and

00:30:55.759 --> 00:30:56.240
 ease

00:30:56.240 --> 00:30:57.459
 recently?

00:30:57.460 --> 00:30:57.559
 family.

00:30:59.100 --> 00:30:59.860
 So first

00:30:59.860 --> 00:31:00.500
 off, I'm

00:31:00.500 --> 00:31:01.120
 very much a

00:31:01.120 --> 00:31:01.400
 work in

00:31:01.400 --> 00:31:01.900
 progress,

00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:02.660
 so just

00:31:02.660 --> 00:31:03.299
 honest about

00:31:03.299 --> 00:31:03.620
 that.

00:31:04.079 --> 00:31:04.680
 But here's

00:31:04.680 --> 00:31:05.079
 a way that

00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:05.480
 God has

00:31:05.480 --> 00:31:05.900
 met me.

00:31:07.360 --> 00:31:07.759
 This is

00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:08.819
 James 1,

00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:09.960
 2 through

00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:10.340
 4.

00:31:12.620 --> 00:31:13.120
 Count it

00:31:13.120 --> 00:31:14.880
 all joy,

00:31:15.880 --> 00:31:17.180
 my brothers,

00:31:17.900 --> 00:31:18.360
 when you

00:31:18.360 --> 00:31:19.160
 meet trials

00:31:19.160 --> 00:31:20.460
 of various

00:31:20.460 --> 00:31:21.539
 kinds.

00:31:23.079 --> 00:31:23.740
 It just

00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:24.660
 covers everything,

00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:25.240
 which is so

00:31:25.240 --> 00:31:25.860
 frustrating.

00:31:25.859 --> 00:31:28.179
 when you

00:31:28.179 --> 00:31:28.799
 meet trials

00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:29.639
 of various

00:31:29.639 --> 00:31:30.379
 kinds,

00:31:31.199 --> 00:31:31.899
 for you

00:31:31.899 --> 00:31:32.619
 know that

00:31:32.619 --> 00:31:33.199
 the testing

00:31:33.199 --> 00:31:33.639
 of your

00:31:33.639 --> 00:31:34.459
 faith produces

00:31:34.459 --> 00:31:35.559
 steadfastness.

00:31:37.219 --> 00:31:38.219
 And let

00:31:38.219 --> 00:31:39.039
 steadfastness

00:31:39.039 --> 00:31:39.359
 have its

00:31:39.359 --> 00:31:40.500
 full effect

00:31:40.500 --> 00:31:41.919
 that you

00:31:41.919 --> 00:31:42.559
 may be

00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:43.359
 perfect and

00:31:43.359 --> 00:31:43.919
 complete,

00:31:44.299 --> 00:31:45.000
 lacking in

00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:45.500
 nothing.

00:31:47.059 --> 00:31:47.740
 So here's

00:31:47.740 --> 00:31:48.039
 what that

00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:49.079
 verse has

00:31:49.079 --> 00:31:50.459
 assured me

00:31:50.459 --> 00:31:50.799
 of,

00:31:51.419 --> 00:31:52.379
 that God

00:31:52.379 --> 00:31:52.679
 is at

00:31:52.679 --> 00:31:53.019
 work.

00:31:53.019 --> 00:31:53.859
 every,

00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:55.619
 he's at

00:31:55.619 --> 00:31:56.099
 work in

00:31:56.099 --> 00:31:56.819
 my character

00:31:56.819 --> 00:31:58.279
 every time

00:31:58.279 --> 00:31:58.539
 that I

00:31:58.539 --> 00:31:59.059
 face a

00:31:59.059 --> 00:32:00.160
 trial of

00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:00.980
 any kind.

00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:02.859
 So that

00:32:02.859 --> 00:32:03.339
 could be the

00:32:03.339 --> 00:32:03.900
 deepest of

00:32:03.900 --> 00:32:04.339
 sufferings,

00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:04.720
 like the

00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:05.220
 hardest of

00:32:05.220 --> 00:32:05.579
 things that

00:32:05.579 --> 00:32:05.819
 you could

00:32:05.819 --> 00:32:06.119
 go up

00:32:06.119 --> 00:32:06.539
 against.

00:32:07.339 --> 00:32:07.859
 And that

00:32:07.859 --> 00:32:08.180
 could be the

00:32:08.180 --> 00:32:09.079
 most trivial

00:32:09.079 --> 00:32:10.579
 of inconveniences

00:32:10.579 --> 00:32:11.119
 of everyday

00:32:11.119 --> 00:32:11.460
 life.

00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:12.119
 I'm stuck in a

00:32:12.119 --> 00:32:12.900
 traffic jam,

00:32:13.139 --> 00:32:13.359
 right?

00:32:13.359 --> 00:32:15.819
 my God

00:32:15.819 --> 00:32:17.039
 is using

00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:18.099
 that to

00:32:18.099 --> 00:32:19.000
 shape me

00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:19.979
 and to

00:32:19.979 --> 00:32:20.579
 make me

00:32:20.579 --> 00:32:21.479
 more and

00:32:21.479 --> 00:32:22.419
 more like

00:32:22.419 --> 00:32:23.119
 my Savior,

00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:23.779
 who is the

00:32:23.779 --> 00:32:24.339
 one who is

00:32:24.339 --> 00:32:25.099
 truly perfect

00:32:25.099 --> 00:32:25.759
 and complete,

00:32:26.699 --> 00:32:27.179
 lacking in

00:32:27.179 --> 00:32:27.459
 nothing.

00:32:28.659 --> 00:32:29.319
 I'm not

00:32:29.319 --> 00:32:29.500
 going to

00:32:29.500 --> 00:32:29.979
 pretend that I

00:32:29.979 --> 00:32:30.699
 understand all

00:32:30.699 --> 00:32:30.979
 of the

00:32:30.979 --> 00:32:32.240
 purposes that

00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:33.000
 God has

00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:33.740
 for my

00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:34.039
 trials,

00:32:34.159 --> 00:32:34.579
 but I can

00:32:34.579 --> 00:32:35.319
 take to

00:32:35.319 --> 00:32:36.079
 the bank

00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:36.819
 the promise

00:32:36.819 --> 00:32:37.119
 that he

00:32:37.119 --> 00:32:37.779
 intends to

00:32:37.779 --> 00:32:38.379
 shape me

00:32:38.379 --> 00:32:38.819
 and make

00:32:38.819 --> 00:32:39.659
 me more

00:32:39.659 --> 00:32:40.959
 like him.

00:32:41.099 --> 00:32:41.699
 And God's

00:32:41.699 --> 00:32:42.459
 word says to

00:32:42.460 --> 00:32:43.220
 face those

00:32:43.220 --> 00:32:44.079
 trials with

00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:44.720
 joy.

00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:47.640
 And so

00:32:47.640 --> 00:32:48.180
 the living

00:32:48.180 --> 00:32:48.840
 God, he

00:32:48.840 --> 00:32:50.000
 meets me

00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:51.480
 with the

00:32:51.480 --> 00:32:51.840
 scriptures

00:32:51.840 --> 00:32:52.960
 and with

00:32:52.960 --> 00:32:54.400
 his spirit

00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:56.120
 and I go

00:32:56.120 --> 00:32:56.519
 to him.

00:32:57.819 --> 00:32:58.120
 All right?

00:32:58.259 --> 00:32:58.940
 You can't,

00:32:59.059 --> 00:32:59.819
 this is part

00:32:59.819 --> 00:33:00.279
 of it, is you

00:33:00.279 --> 00:33:01.019
 go to him,

00:33:01.360 --> 00:33:01.920
 to the living

00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:02.480
 God who

00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:03.620
 really hears

00:33:03.620 --> 00:33:04.600
 you, who

00:33:04.600 --> 00:33:05.840
 really listens,

00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:07.299
 who is really

00:33:07.299 --> 00:33:08.579
 intimately involved

00:33:08.579 --> 00:33:09.240
 in your life.

00:33:09.279 --> 00:33:09.880
 And I confess

00:33:09.880 --> 00:33:10.420
 to him,

00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:11.960
 Lord, forgive

00:33:11.960 --> 00:33:12.779
 me of my

00:33:12.779 --> 00:33:13.799
 love for

00:33:13.799 --> 00:33:14.539
 comfort, help

00:33:14.539 --> 00:33:15.299
 me to trust

00:33:15.299 --> 00:33:15.880
 you in this,

00:33:15.960 --> 00:33:16.500
 my heart wants

00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:17.160
 to go this

00:33:17.160 --> 00:33:18.380
 way, forgive

00:33:18.380 --> 00:33:18.960
 me for that,

00:33:19.420 --> 00:33:20.299
 help me, I

00:33:20.299 --> 00:33:21.100
 pray to him,

00:33:22.259 --> 00:33:24.059
 I reach for

00:33:24.059 --> 00:33:25.860
 him, I rely

00:33:25.860 --> 00:33:29.059
 on him, and

00:33:29.059 --> 00:33:30.140
 I increasingly,

00:33:30.579 --> 00:33:31.400
 little by little,

00:33:31.460 --> 00:33:32.059
 this is not a

00:33:32.059 --> 00:33:32.720
 magic wand,

00:33:34.019 --> 00:33:34.819
 little by little,

00:33:34.920 --> 00:33:35.620
 I increasingly

00:33:35.620 --> 00:33:37.160
 choose to seek

00:33:37.160 --> 00:33:39.299
 him rather than

00:33:39.299 --> 00:33:40.660
 ignore him or

00:33:40.660 --> 00:33:41.579
 run from him.

00:33:41.960 --> 00:33:42.960
 glory.

00:33:42.960 --> 00:33:44.100
 And slowly

00:33:44.100 --> 00:33:44.740
 but surely,

00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:45.840
 he transforms

00:33:45.840 --> 00:33:47.500
 me from one

00:33:47.500 --> 00:33:48.740
 degree of glory

00:33:48.740 --> 00:33:49.420
 to another.

00:33:50.720 --> 00:33:51.480
 And I start

00:33:51.480 --> 00:33:52.240
 treasuring my

00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:52.779
 Lord, I start

00:33:52.779 --> 00:33:53.460
 trusting him

00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:55.019
 more, I start

00:33:55.019 --> 00:33:55.460
 being more

00:33:55.460 --> 00:33:56.220
 patient with my

00:33:56.220 --> 00:33:57.140
 family, less

00:33:57.140 --> 00:33:58.340
 irritable, when

00:33:58.340 --> 00:33:59.120
 something breaks

00:33:59.120 --> 00:33:59.980
 in our pre-moon

00:33:59.980 --> 00:34:01.019
 landing house,

00:34:02.299 --> 00:34:03.460
 and the fruit of

00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:04.400
 the Spirit begins

00:34:04.400 --> 00:34:05.940
 to characterize me

00:34:05.940 --> 00:34:07.519
 more and more.

00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:07.579
 more.

00:34:09.159 --> 00:34:09.900
 And again, it's

00:34:09.900 --> 00:34:10.559
 not perfectly,

00:34:10.780 --> 00:34:11.440
 because perfection

00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:13.199
 doesn't come until

00:34:13.199 --> 00:34:14.199
 Christ returns or

00:34:14.199 --> 00:34:16.960
 calls me home, but

00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:17.579
 more and more I

00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:18.400
 begin to look more

00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:19.159
 like my Savior.

00:34:19.159 --> 00:34:19.259
 Savior.

00:34:21.559 --> 00:34:23.480
 The God who showers

00:34:23.480 --> 00:34:24.799
 me with the grace of

00:34:24.799 --> 00:34:26.159
 his forgiveness, he

00:34:26.159 --> 00:34:27.619
 also showers on me

00:34:27.619 --> 00:34:28.279
 the grace of

00:34:28.279 --> 00:34:29.000
 change.

00:34:31.159 --> 00:34:32.259
 Forgiveness and

00:34:32.259 --> 00:34:33.440
 change, his grace

00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:34.899
 sufficient for both

00:34:34.899 --> 00:34:35.579
 of those things.

00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:38.000
 Now, that is not

00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:40.359
 flashy on the

00:34:40.359 --> 00:34:41.039
 surface, it's not

00:34:41.039 --> 00:34:42.679
 super exciting or

00:34:42.679 --> 00:34:45.420
 very dramatic, but I

00:34:45.420 --> 00:34:46.420
 am totally convinced

00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:47.240
 that this is where

00:34:47.240 --> 00:34:48.340
 God meets us.

00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:50.460
 And he helps us to

00:34:50.460 --> 00:34:51.740
 pivot from our

00:34:51.740 --> 00:34:53.000
 thorny, sinful

00:34:53.000 --> 00:34:54.900
 responses and help

00:34:54.900 --> 00:34:56.300
 us to move towards

00:34:56.300 --> 00:34:57.220
 more and more

00:34:57.220 --> 00:34:58.880
 bearing good fruit.

00:35:00.159 --> 00:35:01.079
 And if you are a

00:35:01.079 --> 00:35:02.460
 Christian, I want to

00:35:02.460 --> 00:35:03.680
 say this, if you are

00:35:03.680 --> 00:35:05.840
 a Christian, then you

00:35:05.840 --> 00:35:07.320
 are capable of

00:35:07.320 --> 00:35:08.840
 bearing good fruit and

00:35:08.840 --> 00:35:09.800
 becoming more like

00:35:09.800 --> 00:35:10.800
 Jesus because you

00:35:10.800 --> 00:35:11.960
 have the Spirit of

00:35:11.960 --> 00:35:13.920
 God at work in

00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:14.280
 you.

00:35:14.280 --> 00:35:16.500
 So it doesn't

00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:17.400
 matter how deeply

00:35:17.400 --> 00:35:18.800
 rooted your sin is.

00:35:18.840 --> 00:35:20.120
 If you came in with

00:35:20.120 --> 00:35:21.120
 a sense of despair

00:35:21.120 --> 00:35:22.360
 over a besetting

00:35:22.360 --> 00:35:24.740
 sin, God wants you

00:35:24.740 --> 00:35:25.640
 to know that his

00:35:25.640 --> 00:35:26.800
 grace is sufficient

00:35:26.800 --> 00:35:28.400
 to change that.

00:35:29.019 --> 00:35:29.900
 It doesn't matter how

00:35:29.900 --> 00:35:30.960
 deeply rooted that is.

00:35:31.019 --> 00:35:31.680
 It doesn't matter if

00:35:31.680 --> 00:35:33.860
 you're 12 or 16 or

00:35:33.860 --> 00:35:35.240
 45 or 85.

00:35:35.740 --> 00:35:36.400
 If you are a

00:35:36.400 --> 00:35:37.140
 Christian, you have the

00:35:37.140 --> 00:35:38.720
 Holy Spirit of God at

00:35:38.720 --> 00:35:40.260
 work in you and

00:35:40.260 --> 00:35:41.100
 changing you.

00:35:44.280 --> 00:35:45.019
 He's going to help

00:35:45.019 --> 00:35:47.320
 you to grow in

00:35:47.320 --> 00:35:47.780
 holiness.

00:35:48.620 --> 00:35:49.380
 You're going to have

00:35:49.380 --> 00:35:49.980
 to act.

00:35:50.900 --> 00:35:51.760
 You're going to have

00:35:51.760 --> 00:35:52.519
 to choose.

00:35:53.660 --> 00:35:55.140
 You will have to walk

00:35:55.140 --> 00:35:57.120
 the hard road of

00:35:57.120 --> 00:35:58.060
 obedience, but you

00:35:58.060 --> 00:35:59.019
 will do so in his

00:35:59.019 --> 00:36:00.820
 grace and in his

00:36:00.820 --> 00:36:02.400
 strength, which means

00:36:02.400 --> 00:36:03.440
 that there are no

00:36:03.440 --> 00:36:05.600
 hopeless situations in

00:36:05.600 --> 00:36:06.040
 this room.

00:36:06.039 --> 00:36:10.539
 Do you believe that

00:36:10.539 --> 00:36:13.920
 about yourself and

00:36:13.920 --> 00:36:14.800
 about the brothers and

00:36:14.800 --> 00:36:15.699
 sisters in Christ that

00:36:15.699 --> 00:36:16.079
 you know?

00:36:18.219 --> 00:36:19.039
 That's what we should

00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:19.340
 believe.

00:36:21.719 --> 00:36:23.679
 Okay, I want to leave

00:36:23.679 --> 00:36:24.159
 you with some

00:36:24.159 --> 00:36:26.179
 application that I hope

00:36:26.179 --> 00:36:27.019
 will be helpful in

00:36:27.019 --> 00:36:28.000
 terms of thinking about

00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:29.340
 living this out a little

00:36:29.340 --> 00:36:29.860
 practically.

00:36:30.840 --> 00:36:31.699
 So I've got five

00:36:31.699 --> 00:36:32.179
 applications.

00:36:32.360 --> 00:36:32.820
 I'm going to throw at

00:36:32.820 --> 00:36:34.019
 you fairly rapidly here.

00:36:34.019 --> 00:36:37.320
 Number one, resolve

00:36:37.320 --> 00:36:40.400
 right now to know

00:36:40.400 --> 00:36:41.460
 the Lord and his

00:36:41.460 --> 00:36:42.519
 promises through the

00:36:42.519 --> 00:36:42.840
 scriptures.

00:36:44.119 --> 00:36:45.259
 Make that resolution.

00:36:46.420 --> 00:36:47.860
 Take Jesus seriously

00:36:47.860 --> 00:36:49.500
 when he says that you

00:36:49.500 --> 00:36:50.519
 cannot live by bread

00:36:50.519 --> 00:36:51.239
 alone, but that you

00:36:51.239 --> 00:36:52.000
 need every word that

00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:53.219
 comes from the mouth

00:36:53.219 --> 00:36:53.739
 of God.

00:36:54.360 --> 00:36:55.340
 He also said in John

00:36:55.340 --> 00:36:57.000
 10, 27, my sheep

00:36:57.000 --> 00:36:59.500
 hear my voice, and I

00:36:59.500 --> 00:37:00.920
 know them, and they

00:37:00.920 --> 00:37:02.139
 follow me.

00:37:02.139 --> 00:37:03.699
 So God's word is where

00:37:03.699 --> 00:37:04.960
 you hear his voice.

00:37:06.639 --> 00:37:08.139
 If you need help in

00:37:08.759 --> 00:37:10.279
 knowing how to read the

00:37:10.279 --> 00:37:12.739
 Bible and apply it to

00:37:12.739 --> 00:37:14.619
 your life, I've got 20

00:37:14.619 --> 00:37:16.440
 copies of an article by

00:37:16.440 --> 00:37:17.179
 David Pollison.

00:37:17.339 --> 00:37:17.719
 It's out on the

00:37:17.719 --> 00:37:18.379
 Connect desk.

00:37:18.940 --> 00:37:19.639
 Printed 20.

00:37:19.679 --> 00:37:20.500
 We can print more if we

00:37:20.500 --> 00:37:21.000
 need to.

00:37:22.400 --> 00:37:23.900
 And it is going to be,

00:37:24.199 --> 00:37:25.239
 I believe, helpful.

00:37:25.579 --> 00:37:27.379
 If you are uncertain of

00:37:27.379 --> 00:37:28.679
 how do I apply the Bible

00:37:28.679 --> 00:37:29.960
 to my life, how does this

00:37:29.960 --> 00:37:31.779
 relate to what's going on,

00:37:31.780 --> 00:37:33.500
 grab that article on your

00:37:33.500 --> 00:37:34.580
 way out.

00:37:35.480 --> 00:37:36.480
 It's a version of an

00:37:36.480 --> 00:37:37.380
 article that I hand out

00:37:37.380 --> 00:37:38.620
 in the TDI class that I

00:37:38.620 --> 00:37:38.880
 teach.

00:37:40.320 --> 00:37:41.400
 So number one is resolve

00:37:41.400 --> 00:37:42.440
 to know the Lord and his

00:37:42.440 --> 00:37:43.120
 promises through the

00:37:43.120 --> 00:37:43.380
 scriptures.

00:37:43.880 --> 00:37:47.000
 Number two is begin the

00:37:47.000 --> 00:37:48.760
 hard but good work of

00:37:48.760 --> 00:37:50.420
 prayerfully identifying what

00:37:50.420 --> 00:37:51.280
 rules your heart.

00:37:52.600 --> 00:37:53.200
 Okay, you've got to

00:37:53.200 --> 00:37:55.780
 identify what rules your

00:37:55.780 --> 00:37:56.760
 heart.

00:37:57.740 --> 00:37:58.720
 And one way that you can

00:37:58.719 --> 00:38:00.519
 do that is you ask

00:38:00.519 --> 00:38:02.179
 yourself some difficult

00:38:02.179 --> 00:38:03.719
 but life-giving questions

00:38:03.719 --> 00:38:04.799
 that sound like this.

00:38:06.259 --> 00:38:07.939
 What preoccupies my

00:38:07.939 --> 00:38:08.419
 thoughts?

00:38:10.839 --> 00:38:12.579
 What drives me?

00:38:15.099 --> 00:38:17.000
 What do I feel entitled

00:38:17.000 --> 00:38:17.359
 to?

00:38:17.360 --> 00:38:23.340
 What would put me in

00:38:23.340 --> 00:38:25.099
 despair if I lost it?

00:38:28.180 --> 00:38:30.220
 What do I organize my

00:38:30.220 --> 00:38:31.059
 life around?

00:38:33.400 --> 00:38:35.140
 And the more specific and

00:38:35.140 --> 00:38:36.559
 honest that you can be

00:38:36.559 --> 00:38:37.900
 about what goes on in your

00:38:37.900 --> 00:38:40.360
 heart with the Lord, the

00:38:40.360 --> 00:38:40.579
 better.

00:38:41.280 --> 00:38:42.420
 Those kind of questions are

00:38:42.420 --> 00:38:44.640
 going to reveal things.

00:38:44.639 --> 00:38:44.719
 things.

00:38:45.920 --> 00:38:50.019
 Number three is blame the

00:38:50.019 --> 00:38:51.879
 heart, not the heat.

00:38:53.119 --> 00:38:53.299
 Okay?

00:38:53.859 --> 00:38:56.259
 Blame the heart, not the

00:38:56.259 --> 00:38:56.539
 heat.

00:38:56.980 --> 00:38:59.859
 We are remarkably good at

00:38:59.859 --> 00:39:01.739
 blame shifting when it

00:39:01.739 --> 00:39:03.219
 comes to our sin.

00:39:03.319 --> 00:39:04.739
 That was the first response

00:39:04.739 --> 00:39:06.900
 to the first ever sin in the

00:39:06.900 --> 00:39:07.480
 Garden of Eden.

00:39:07.599 --> 00:39:09.019
 Immediately, Adam passes the

00:39:09.019 --> 00:39:09.539
 buck, right?

00:39:10.059 --> 00:39:12.440
 And we do the same thing with

00:39:12.440 --> 00:39:13.779
 our sinful responses.

00:39:13.780 --> 00:39:14.960
 We think, if only I had a

00:39:14.960 --> 00:39:16.220
 different job, if I had more

00:39:16.220 --> 00:39:17.760
 money, if my spouse was more

00:39:17.760 --> 00:39:19.280
 kind, if my kids weren't so

00:39:19.280 --> 00:39:20.740
 difficult, if my teacher

00:39:20.740 --> 00:39:22.800
 wasn't so harsh, if I didn't

00:39:22.800 --> 00:39:24.800
 have this suffering going on

00:39:24.800 --> 00:39:26.480
 in my life, then I wouldn't do

00:39:26.480 --> 00:39:29.500
 or say or think X, Y, or Z.

00:39:29.820 --> 00:39:32.600
 But Jesus does not say, out of

00:39:32.600 --> 00:39:33.800
 the abundance of your

00:39:33.800 --> 00:39:35.560
 circumstances, the mouth speaks.

00:39:36.420 --> 00:39:37.600
 He says it's out of the

00:39:37.600 --> 00:39:40.460
 abundance of our heart that we

00:39:40.460 --> 00:39:43.079
 respond in sinful ways.

00:39:43.840 --> 00:39:46.559
 Which means that situations,

00:39:47.119 --> 00:39:49.559
 hard situations, are

00:39:49.559 --> 00:39:50.679
 significant.

00:39:51.440 --> 00:39:53.199
 God is not unfeeling towards

00:39:53.199 --> 00:39:54.360
 hard circumstances or

00:39:54.360 --> 00:39:54.699
 suffering.

00:39:54.800 --> 00:39:55.539
 He's near to the broken

00:39:55.539 --> 00:39:55.940
 hearted.

00:39:56.360 --> 00:39:57.679
 He saves those who are

00:39:57.679 --> 00:39:58.960
 crushed in spirit.

00:39:59.480 --> 00:40:01.599
 But circumstances are never

00:40:01.599 --> 00:40:04.280
 determinative of our sinful

00:40:04.280 --> 00:40:04.840
 responses.

00:40:04.840 --> 00:40:09.340
 So our trials, they have a

00:40:09.340 --> 00:40:12.000
 way of exposing what is

00:40:12.000 --> 00:40:13.860
 already happening within our

00:40:13.860 --> 00:40:15.840
 hearts, what we already love

00:40:15.840 --> 00:40:16.840
 and value.

00:40:18.039 --> 00:40:19.280
 So own that.

00:40:20.600 --> 00:40:22.700
 Don't let the enemy trick you

00:40:22.700 --> 00:40:25.539
 into blame shifting or

00:40:25.539 --> 00:40:27.840
 excusing your sin or idolatry.

00:40:27.840 --> 00:40:34.840
 Number four, embrace the slow

00:40:35.500 --> 00:40:38.120
 work of sowing and reaping.

00:40:39.380 --> 00:40:39.620
 Okay?

00:40:39.740 --> 00:40:42.840
 This is slow, steady work.

00:40:44.220 --> 00:40:45.660
 If you think just for a moment

00:40:45.660 --> 00:40:47.079
 about the nature of bearing

00:40:47.079 --> 00:40:49.700
 fruit, Jesus could have picked

00:40:49.700 --> 00:40:53.160
 any other image to describe how

00:40:53.160 --> 00:40:53.800
 we change.

00:40:54.059 --> 00:40:56.300
 He keeps coming back to bearing

00:40:56.300 --> 00:40:58.280
 fruit over and over in the

00:40:58.280 --> 00:40:58.800
 Gospels.

00:41:00.000 --> 00:41:02.160
 That is a process that's slow.

00:41:03.080 --> 00:41:03.600
 Right?

00:41:03.680 --> 00:41:05.240
 It starts very small.

00:41:06.260 --> 00:41:08.220
 And over time, it yields

00:41:08.220 --> 00:41:08.880
 fruit.

00:41:08.960 --> 00:41:10.940
 And some people, they bear more

00:41:10.940 --> 00:41:11.780
 fruit than others.

00:41:12.120 --> 00:41:14.100
 But if you are a Christian, you

00:41:14.100 --> 00:41:16.240
 are going to bear fruit.

00:41:16.420 --> 00:41:17.900
 Because at the end of the day,

00:41:18.300 --> 00:41:19.160
 you have a new heart.

00:41:19.280 --> 00:41:20.340
 You have what you need.

00:41:20.920 --> 00:41:22.800
 But don't be discouraged if that

00:41:22.800 --> 00:41:24.460
 process is slow.

00:41:24.460 --> 00:41:26.519
 Be encouraged by the little

00:41:26.519 --> 00:41:27.960
 pieces of fruit that start to

00:41:27.960 --> 00:41:28.780
 show up in your life.

00:41:28.880 --> 00:41:30.159
 Because that's a sign of the

00:41:30.159 --> 00:41:31.860
 Holy Spirit at work in you.

00:41:32.940 --> 00:41:33.980
 Embrace the slow work.

00:41:36.000 --> 00:41:39.039
 And then lastly, I just, I

00:41:39.039 --> 00:41:41.820
 can't, I can't overstate how

00:41:41.820 --> 00:41:42.659
 important this is.

00:41:43.199 --> 00:41:44.980
 Is you have to seek the living

00:41:44.980 --> 00:41:45.340
 God.

00:41:46.440 --> 00:41:49.220
 You have to seek the living God.

00:41:49.880 --> 00:41:51.320
 The Apostle Paul in the book of

00:41:51.320 --> 00:41:53.059
 Galatians, he provides us with

00:41:53.059 --> 00:41:54.019
 what I think is one of the most

00:41:54.019 --> 00:41:56.299
 wonderful verses in all of the

00:41:56.299 --> 00:41:56.519
 Bible.

00:41:56.619 --> 00:41:57.699
 I've alluded to it a couple of

00:41:57.699 --> 00:41:58.840
 times already in the sermon.

00:41:58.980 --> 00:42:00.179
 It's Galatians 2.20.

00:42:01.860 --> 00:42:04.480
 I have been crucified with

00:42:04.480 --> 00:42:04.980
 Christ.

00:42:06.279 --> 00:42:09.480
 It is no longer I who live, but

00:42:09.480 --> 00:42:11.759
 Christ who lives in me.

00:42:12.480 --> 00:42:14.139
 And the life I now live in the

00:42:14.139 --> 00:42:17.239
 flesh, I live by faith in the

00:42:17.239 --> 00:42:20.259
 Son of God who loved me and gave

00:42:20.260 --> 00:42:21.420
 himself for me.

00:42:23.820 --> 00:42:25.440
 So you, dear brothers and

00:42:25.440 --> 00:42:27.220
 sisters, have been crucified with

00:42:27.220 --> 00:42:27.680
 Christ.

00:42:29.220 --> 00:42:32.980
 Which means that your old self is

00:42:32.980 --> 00:42:34.520
 dead.

00:42:35.580 --> 00:42:37.540
 In the sense that it no longer

00:42:37.540 --> 00:42:38.080
 rules.

00:42:39.180 --> 00:42:40.040
 Christ does.

00:42:41.240 --> 00:42:42.940
 And the life you now live in the

00:42:42.940 --> 00:42:46.080
 here and now, in the Monday through

00:42:46.080 --> 00:42:48.100
 Friday, in the day in, day out

00:42:48.099 --> 00:42:50.799
 ordinariness, in the pain of your

00:42:50.799 --> 00:42:52.319
 trials and your sufferings, you

00:42:52.319 --> 00:42:56.559
 live by faith in the Son of God who

00:42:56.559 --> 00:42:59.000
 loved you so much that he gave

00:42:59.000 --> 00:43:00.339
 himself up for you.

00:43:00.440 --> 00:43:01.199
 You are his.

00:43:02.799 --> 00:43:07.199
 You belong to him now and forever.

00:43:07.199 --> 00:43:08.639
 So seek him.

00:43:10.779 --> 00:43:11.559
 Trust him.

00:43:12.399 --> 00:43:14.099
 Ask his spirit for his help.

00:43:15.559 --> 00:43:17.179
 Find him as your refuge.

00:43:17.879 --> 00:43:20.480
 Learn how to pour out your heart to

00:43:20.480 --> 00:43:20.879
 him.

00:43:23.379 --> 00:43:24.599
 And then you act.

00:43:27.039 --> 00:43:28.000
 You obey.

00:43:29.279 --> 00:43:32.779
 You live by faith for his glory.

00:43:32.780 --> 00:43:36.600
 And you do so knowing that his grace

00:43:36.600 --> 00:43:40.840
 covers your every step and that he

00:43:40.840 --> 00:43:43.420
 is with you always to the end of the

00:43:43.420 --> 00:43:43.740
 age.

00:43:44.580 --> 00:43:45.280
 Let's pray.

00:43:49.080 --> 00:43:51.460
 Heavenly Father, we thank you that you

00:43:51.460 --> 00:43:57.860
 are a God who is right now, right

00:43:57.860 --> 00:44:01.120
 now at work completing the good work

00:44:01.119 --> 00:44:02.480
 that you began in us.

00:44:04.619 --> 00:44:07.039
 You are not a God who leaves us to our

00:44:07.039 --> 00:44:07.639
 own strength.

00:44:09.579 --> 00:44:11.579
 You do not leave us to our own power.

00:44:11.759 --> 00:44:14.739
 You are a God who meets us with grace.

00:44:16.079 --> 00:44:19.159
 The grace that we need hour by hour in

00:44:19.159 --> 00:44:21.099
 every circumstance or trial.

00:44:23.000 --> 00:44:25.279
 We thank you for being a God who is

00:44:25.279 --> 00:44:27.440
 intimately involved in our lives.

00:44:27.440 --> 00:44:30.760
 Thank you that you are not a God who

00:44:30.760 --> 00:44:32.159
 keeps us at arm's length.

00:44:33.780 --> 00:44:35.559
 You are a God who draws close.

00:44:37.659 --> 00:44:39.159
 Thank you for being personal.

00:44:41.280 --> 00:44:44.079
 Thank you for the grace that you pour

00:44:44.079 --> 00:44:46.099
 out even when we resist you.

00:44:47.260 --> 00:44:48.740
 Thank you for your patience.

00:44:50.679 --> 00:44:51.599
 You are good.

00:44:51.599 --> 00:44:55.139
 We ask you now for your help as we

00:44:55.139 --> 00:44:58.639
 seek to grow more and more like you.

00:44:59.839 --> 00:45:01.259
 It's in Jesus' beautiful name that we

00:45:01.259 --> 00:45:01.519
 pray.

00:45:01.940 --> 00:45:02.199
 Amen.

00:45:02.199 --> 00:45:02.319
 Amen.

00:45:02.319 --> 00:45:02.319


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