WEBVTT 00:00:00.580 --> 00:00:03.399 As we said, let's pray together, shall we? 00:00:04.940 --> 00:00:08.599 Our gracious Father, we thank you for your word, 00:00:08.900 --> 00:00:14.720 and we thank you that the Lord Jesus taught us that your word is truth. 00:00:16.240 --> 00:00:20.679 And Father, we pray now that in the power of your Holy Spirit, 00:00:21.699 --> 00:00:23.839 we might discern your truth, 00:00:24.420 --> 00:00:28.600 and your truth would impact our lives, 00:00:28.600 --> 00:00:32.079 that we might be the people you call us to be. 00:00:32.399 --> 00:00:36.260 In Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 00:00:37.780 --> 00:00:41.760 In the book of Deuteronomy, we read these words, 00:00:41.880 --> 00:00:45.380 Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God. 00:00:50.640 --> 00:00:54.460 If I think about my own life, 00:00:54.460 --> 00:00:58.660 I think about the things that have gone right, 00:00:58.980 --> 00:01:01.320 and there's so much that's gone right, 00:01:01.380 --> 00:01:06.379 I've always regarded myself as a person who has been very blessed. 00:01:07.939 --> 00:01:11.560 But then I have days when things don't feel so right, 00:01:11.659 --> 00:01:16.000 and on those days, it's very easy to lose perspective. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:22.519 Those of you who know your Bibles will know that if you read a psalm like Psalm 73, 00:01:23.079 --> 00:01:26.140 you're reading about a man called Asaph. 00:01:27.159 --> 00:01:30.239 And clearly Asaph, when he wrote this psalm, 00:01:30.299 --> 00:01:33.480 was what we would call today clinically depressed. 00:01:34.920 --> 00:01:37.859 He had lost all sense of perspective. 00:01:37.859 --> 00:01:41.879 All he could do was look at the people around himself 00:01:41.879 --> 00:01:44.039 and compare himself with them, 00:01:45.039 --> 00:01:52.879 and he would find himself wanting, resentful, angry, 00:01:53.560 --> 00:01:56.719 that even the evildoers, he said, 00:01:56.780 --> 00:01:58.219 are doing better than me, Lord. 00:01:59.980 --> 00:02:01.400 Of course, that's not true. 00:02:02.620 --> 00:02:04.180 As Jesus said in the New Testament, 00:02:04.299 --> 00:02:06.359 the rain falls on the good and bad alike. 00:02:06.359 --> 00:02:09.360 But this man had lost perspective. 00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:12.439 It was all about him. 00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:20.379 I was feeling pretty low recently. 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:23.639 As many of you know, 00:02:23.740 --> 00:02:26.840 and thank you so much for your prayers and care for us 00:02:26.840 --> 00:02:29.740 during the time of Anthea's illness. 00:02:30.199 --> 00:02:31.759 But I was feeling pretty low. 00:02:31.759 --> 00:02:37.599 Being a primary carer is not my default position. 00:02:37.739 --> 00:02:40.659 In fact, to be quite honest with you, 00:02:40.739 --> 00:02:43.500 I would hate to be looked after by somebody like me. 00:02:45.379 --> 00:02:47.879 Unless you particularly like baked potatoes. 00:02:49.359 --> 00:02:50.180 Just saying. 00:02:50.979 --> 00:02:54.120 So I was feeling pretty fed up. 00:02:54.120 --> 00:02:57.400 And then somebody I've known for a long time wrote a card 00:02:57.400 --> 00:03:00.219 and said to me, 00:03:00.340 --> 00:03:02.180 you know, Mike, I know this is tough, 00:03:02.360 --> 00:03:06.420 but you have so many things to thank God for. 00:03:09.099 --> 00:03:10.219 And I was humbled 00:03:10.219 --> 00:03:12.860 because I had forgotten 00:03:12.860 --> 00:03:16.800 to be as thankful as I really ought to be 00:03:16.800 --> 00:03:20.380 for the life that God has given to me. 00:03:20.460 --> 00:03:22.180 Not every day has been great. 00:03:24.740 --> 00:03:26.980 But I don't want to be one of those people. 00:03:27.640 --> 00:03:28.780 You might be one of them. 00:03:29.620 --> 00:03:32.120 Who just ends up being ungrateful 00:03:32.120 --> 00:03:34.160 and slips into a life 00:03:34.160 --> 00:03:36.220 of unrelenting bitterness. 00:03:36.219 --> 00:03:39.359 And my dear friend, 00:03:39.460 --> 00:03:40.300 if that's you, 00:03:40.620 --> 00:03:42.020 what you need to know is 00:03:42.020 --> 00:03:44.780 that people spot a bitter person 00:03:44.780 --> 00:03:47.280 within about 30 seconds of meeting them. 00:03:48.639 --> 00:03:49.400 It's ugly. 00:03:51.599 --> 00:03:53.960 So I'm standing here this morning 00:03:53.960 --> 00:03:56.579 to talk to you about gratitude. 00:03:57.879 --> 00:04:00.579 The Great Gratitude Fadeout 00:04:00.579 --> 00:04:02.139 is the title of the talk today. 00:04:02.139 --> 00:04:05.059 That idea that actually 00:04:05.059 --> 00:04:08.719 we can forget the Lord our God. 00:04:09.739 --> 00:04:13.439 Forget the works of His hand upon our lives. 00:04:15.419 --> 00:04:18.300 And I want to begin by saying to you 00:04:18.300 --> 00:04:20.779 what I'm not talking about this morning. 00:04:22.199 --> 00:04:23.819 Seems a bit weird to say that, 00:04:23.939 --> 00:04:25.639 but I thought there were three ways 00:04:25.639 --> 00:04:26.459 I could approach this. 00:04:26.539 --> 00:04:28.599 Here's one which I'm not talking about. 00:04:29.019 --> 00:04:31.199 This is not a review of the way 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:33.740 human history, 00:04:34.459 --> 00:04:36.019 our view of human history 00:04:36.019 --> 00:04:38.099 has changed in recent years. 00:04:39.259 --> 00:04:41.620 I was born in 1949. 00:04:42.680 --> 00:04:44.980 That means I'm 73 to save you the math. 00:04:48.800 --> 00:04:50.699 In the 1950s, 00:04:51.539 --> 00:04:53.939 whilst recognizing that the history 00:04:53.939 --> 00:04:55.500 of the United Kingdom 00:04:55.500 --> 00:04:58.759 had some pretty awful moments within it. 00:04:58.759 --> 00:05:00.860 say awful, 00:05:01.099 --> 00:05:03.519 I could say wicked moments within it. 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:05.459 But generally at that time, 00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:07.120 people were thankful 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:08.819 to be British. 00:05:10.420 --> 00:05:13.039 They were even patriotic. 00:05:14.740 --> 00:05:16.959 A new queen had arrived on the throne 00:05:16.959 --> 00:05:19.379 promising to give her life 00:05:19.379 --> 00:05:21.659 in service to her subjects. 00:05:21.659 --> 00:05:23.439 Not a word that many of you 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:25.039 are comfortable with. 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:28.500 But people were thankful 00:05:28.500 --> 00:05:29.760 to be British. 00:05:31.220 --> 00:05:32.860 Sixty years on, 00:05:34.080 --> 00:05:36.300 and after what is called today 00:05:36.300 --> 00:05:37.860 revisionist history, 00:05:38.379 --> 00:05:40.879 many of us don't think like that anymore. 00:05:41.939 --> 00:05:43.580 Today, many academics, 00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:45.020 Marxists and others, 00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:47.400 take the view that we need to forget 00:05:47.400 --> 00:05:49.340 any allegiance whatsoever 00:05:49.340 --> 00:05:50.400 to our country, 00:05:51.259 --> 00:05:54.280 any allegiance in terms of patriotism, 00:05:54.279 --> 00:05:56.819 and that the history 00:05:56.819 --> 00:05:57.799 that we were taught 00:05:57.799 --> 00:05:59.159 in the 1950s 00:05:59.159 --> 00:06:01.039 needs to be retold. 00:06:02.379 --> 00:06:03.239 Of course, 00:06:03.699 --> 00:06:05.239 there is something in that. 00:06:05.359 --> 00:06:07.839 It is pretty true 00:06:07.839 --> 00:06:09.839 that actually the history 00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:11.259 that most of us have been termed, 00:06:11.339 --> 00:06:13.519 have been written by white men 00:06:13.519 --> 00:06:14.779 for white men. 00:06:14.779 --> 00:06:18.079 But actually, 00:06:19.299 --> 00:06:21.079 as Professor Nigel Bigger 00:06:21.079 --> 00:06:22.739 in the University of Oxford 00:06:22.739 --> 00:06:23.179 wrote, 00:06:23.299 --> 00:06:24.799 and got cancelled pretty well 00:06:24.799 --> 00:06:25.979 within the university, 00:06:26.939 --> 00:06:27.939 this is a professor 00:06:27.939 --> 00:06:29.459 of moral philosophy, 00:06:31.319 --> 00:06:34.259 he dared to suggest 00:06:34.259 --> 00:06:37.119 that not all about colonialism 00:06:37.119 --> 00:06:38.919 was terrible for the people 00:06:38.919 --> 00:06:40.919 on the receiving end of it. 00:06:40.920 --> 00:06:45.160 Revisionist historians 00:06:45.160 --> 00:06:46.960 hate our colonial past 00:06:46.960 --> 00:06:48.520 and anything to do with it. 00:06:49.580 --> 00:06:51.680 Revered heroes of that history 00:06:51.680 --> 00:06:54.080 are despised and cancelled, 00:06:54.879 --> 00:06:56.540 written out of the history script, 00:06:57.080 --> 00:06:58.960 and their statues torn down 00:06:58.960 --> 00:07:03.139 and thrown into the water. 00:07:03.139 --> 00:07:05.680 So let me be clear, 00:07:05.779 --> 00:07:07.199 that's not what I'm talking about. 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:10.899 Neither am I talking about 00:07:10.899 --> 00:07:12.680 a trend in theology. 00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:15.060 I know this is a moment 00:07:15.060 --> 00:07:16.740 when you might switch off. 00:07:17.699 --> 00:07:18.899 A trend in theology 00:07:18.899 --> 00:07:19.680 that emerged 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:20.939 during the first wave 00:07:20.939 --> 00:07:22.060 of the renewal movement, 00:07:22.159 --> 00:07:22.620 what we call 00:07:22.620 --> 00:07:23.979 a charismatic movement 00:07:23.979 --> 00:07:25.419 back in the day. 00:07:26.719 --> 00:07:28.219 This movement was led 00:07:28.219 --> 00:07:29.959 by an extraordinary 00:07:29.959 --> 00:07:31.519 ex-military man 00:07:31.519 --> 00:07:33.359 called Merlin Carruthers. 00:07:34.599 --> 00:07:35.519 Merlin Carruthers 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:36.879 was an extraordinary man. 00:07:37.039 --> 00:07:37.579 He'd served 00:07:37.579 --> 00:07:39.399 in a very prestigious division 00:07:39.399 --> 00:07:42.079 of the American Army, 00:07:42.180 --> 00:07:44.240 the 82nd Airborne Division. 00:07:45.500 --> 00:07:46.439 This was a man 00:07:46.439 --> 00:07:47.740 who must have known 00:07:47.740 --> 00:07:48.459 what it was like 00:07:48.459 --> 00:07:49.299 to put himself 00:07:49.299 --> 00:07:51.259 in very tight spots 00:07:51.259 --> 00:07:52.060 in his life. 00:07:53.459 --> 00:07:55.680 What was his theological conviction? 00:07:55.839 --> 00:07:56.539 It was based 00:07:56.539 --> 00:07:58.339 around a very simple idea. 00:07:58.500 --> 00:07:59.039 Incidentally, 00:07:59.579 --> 00:08:00.299 his book, 00:08:00.419 --> 00:08:01.459 some of you may have read him, 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:04.180 his book sold 90 million copies 00:08:04.180 --> 00:08:05.159 and were translated 00:08:05.159 --> 00:08:07.659 into 59 different languages. 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:10.620 The most read of his books 00:08:10.620 --> 00:08:11.680 was a book called 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:14.060 From Prison to Praise. 00:08:16.359 --> 00:08:18.519 His theological trend 00:08:19.219 --> 00:08:21.000 had a very simple idea. 00:08:21.899 --> 00:08:22.599 He said this, 00:08:22.659 --> 00:08:23.879 we should praise God 00:08:23.879 --> 00:08:25.859 in all situations, 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:27.199 not merely in spite 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:28.159 of our problems, 00:08:28.740 --> 00:08:30.680 but for our problems. 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:33.779 Can you imagine that? 00:08:34.919 --> 00:08:35.519 You're going through 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:36.779 a really hard time 00:08:36.779 --> 00:08:37.579 in your life 00:08:37.579 --> 00:08:39.159 and Merlin Carruthers 00:08:39.159 --> 00:08:40.019 is telling you, 00:08:40.319 --> 00:08:40.819 praise God 00:08:40.819 --> 00:08:42.000 for your situation. 00:08:43.439 --> 00:08:43.960 Why? 00:08:44.840 --> 00:08:45.439 Because, 00:08:45.559 --> 00:08:46.840 says Merlin Carruthers, 00:08:47.899 --> 00:08:50.059 when we praise God, 00:08:51.059 --> 00:08:52.039 praise releases 00:08:52.039 --> 00:08:53.179 the power of God 00:08:53.179 --> 00:08:54.620 into situations 00:08:54.620 --> 00:08:56.860 and enables us 00:08:56.860 --> 00:08:57.779 and empowers us 00:08:57.779 --> 00:08:57.799 and empowers us 00:08:57.799 --> 00:09:00.279 to use those problems 00:09:00.279 --> 00:09:02.379 and turn them 00:09:02.379 --> 00:09:04.039 to God. 00:09:05.620 --> 00:09:06.639 Because praise 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:07.620 involves an element 00:09:07.620 --> 00:09:08.440 of gratitude, 00:09:09.279 --> 00:09:11.379 it could be very relevant 00:09:11.379 --> 00:09:12.620 to today's message, 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:13.560 but this is not 00:09:13.560 --> 00:09:15.259 what I want to talk to you 00:09:15.259 --> 00:09:16.639 about today. 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:21.419 there is something 00:09:21.419 --> 00:09:23.460 in what Merlin Carruthers 00:09:23.460 --> 00:09:23.899 said, 00:09:24.460 --> 00:09:25.779 and I wouldn't want 00:09:25.779 --> 00:09:26.580 to lose that, 00:09:27.720 --> 00:09:29.699 but like most trends 00:09:29.699 --> 00:09:30.480 in theology 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:31.580 or new 00:09:31.580 --> 00:09:32.720 or rediscovered 00:09:32.720 --> 00:09:33.679 trends in theology, 00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:36.059 the case was probably 00:09:36.059 --> 00:09:37.439 overstated. 00:09:39.199 --> 00:09:39.819 Pastorally, 00:09:39.899 --> 00:09:41.360 I would suggest to you, 00:09:41.480 --> 00:09:42.360 and we know more 00:09:42.360 --> 00:09:43.220 about this stuff 00:09:43.220 --> 00:09:43.960 these days, 00:09:43.960 --> 00:09:45.580 that to tell people 00:09:45.580 --> 00:09:46.560 to praise God 00:09:46.560 --> 00:09:49.920 for being sexually abused 00:09:49.920 --> 00:09:52.060 seems to me 00:09:52.060 --> 00:09:52.639 to be a bit 00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:53.460 of a long shot, 00:09:54.680 --> 00:09:55.900 or to praise God 00:09:55.900 --> 00:09:57.600 for those spouses 00:09:57.600 --> 00:09:58.860 who suffer from 00:09:58.860 --> 00:10:00.420 extreme control 00:10:00.420 --> 00:10:01.379 from their partners. 00:10:03.620 --> 00:10:04.920 I ask myself 00:10:04.920 --> 00:10:06.200 in those situations, 00:10:07.240 --> 00:10:07.940 who is it 00:10:07.940 --> 00:10:09.139 that really needs 00:10:09.139 --> 00:10:10.139 to learn something? 00:10:12.759 --> 00:10:13.639 Today's theme 00:10:13.639 --> 00:10:15.100 is the great 00:10:15.100 --> 00:10:16.679 gratitude fade-out. 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:18.460 The idea 00:10:18.460 --> 00:10:20.019 that being 00:10:20.019 --> 00:10:21.279 a thankful person 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:22.199 can readily 00:10:22.199 --> 00:10:23.580 become stale 00:10:23.580 --> 00:10:24.799 in our lives, 00:10:25.340 --> 00:10:26.639 can fade out. 00:10:28.019 --> 00:10:28.559 And so I want 00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:29.679 to do two things 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:30.319 this morning. 00:10:31.019 --> 00:10:31.620 Not saying 00:10:31.620 --> 00:10:32.399 I'll achieve them, 00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:34.120 but this is my desire. 00:10:34.519 --> 00:10:34.960 Firstly, 00:10:36.100 --> 00:10:37.700 I want to answer 00:10:37.700 --> 00:10:38.379 the question, 00:10:38.580 --> 00:10:39.939 why is consistency 00:10:39.939 --> 00:10:41.919 in being grateful 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:43.080 important? 00:10:43.080 --> 00:10:44.920 in our discipleship. 00:10:46.460 --> 00:10:47.080 And secondly, 00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:48.500 I want to try 00:10:48.500 --> 00:10:49.080 and give you 00:10:49.080 --> 00:10:50.139 some tips 00:10:50.139 --> 00:10:51.620 on how you might 00:10:51.620 --> 00:10:52.240 maintain 00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:53.500 a consistently 00:10:53.500 --> 00:10:54.600 grateful heart. 00:10:55.980 --> 00:10:56.740 Recognizing 00:10:56.740 --> 00:10:58.220 that this is not 00:10:58.220 --> 00:10:58.840 easy 00:10:58.840 --> 00:10:59.920 when life 00:10:59.920 --> 00:11:00.780 is hard 00:11:00.780 --> 00:11:01.240 for you. 00:11:02.120 --> 00:11:02.840 And for many 00:11:02.840 --> 00:11:03.720 of us in the house 00:11:03.720 --> 00:11:04.220 today, 00:11:04.700 --> 00:11:06.259 life is hard. 00:11:06.259 --> 00:11:09.860 two voices 00:11:09.860 --> 00:11:11.200 from the past 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:12.679 who tell us 00:11:12.679 --> 00:11:13.679 why gratitude 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:15.059 is important. 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:17.100 The first 00:11:17.100 --> 00:11:17.860 is Meister 00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:18.620 Eckhart, 00:11:19.059 --> 00:11:20.379 who is a 00:11:20.379 --> 00:11:21.360 13th century 00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:22.639 German theologian. 00:11:23.720 --> 00:11:25.279 He said this, 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:27.360 if the only 00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:28.360 prayer you said 00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:29.339 was thank you, 00:11:30.220 --> 00:11:31.079 that would be 00:11:31.079 --> 00:11:31.500 enough. 00:11:33.179 --> 00:11:34.079 The second 00:11:34.079 --> 00:11:34.579 voice 00:11:34.579 --> 00:11:36.199 is that 00:11:36.199 --> 00:11:38.179 of Marcus 00:11:38.179 --> 00:11:38.980 Cicero, 00:11:40.279 --> 00:11:41.000 a man 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:41.519 who lived 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:42.480 before Christ 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:43.620 and who 00:11:43.620 --> 00:11:44.179 was a Roman 00:11:44.179 --> 00:11:45.100 statesman, 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:45.559 lawyer, 00:11:45.939 --> 00:11:46.220 scholar, 00:11:46.439 --> 00:11:46.939 philosopher, 00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:48.240 and academic, 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:48.919 all of those 00:11:48.919 --> 00:11:49.299 things. 00:11:50.199 --> 00:11:50.899 He said this, 00:11:50.899 --> 00:11:51.379 gratitude 00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:52.579 is not only 00:11:52.579 --> 00:11:53.220 the greatest 00:11:53.220 --> 00:11:54.139 of virtues, 00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:55.759 but it is 00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:56.360 the parent 00:11:56.360 --> 00:11:57.439 of all 00:11:57.439 --> 00:11:57.860 others. 00:12:01.259 --> 00:12:01.939 Clearly, 00:12:02.980 --> 00:12:03.840 whoever wrote 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:04.299 the book 00:12:04.299 --> 00:12:05.620 of Deuteronomy 00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:06.899 thought that 00:12:06.899 --> 00:12:07.559 the risk 00:12:07.559 --> 00:12:08.159 for God's 00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:08.600 people, 00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:09.699 you and me, 00:12:10.659 --> 00:12:11.139 was that 00:12:11.139 --> 00:12:11.659 they would 00:12:11.659 --> 00:12:12.360 forget, 00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:13.279 we would 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:13.759 forget, 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:14.919 what God 00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:15.620 has done 00:12:15.620 --> 00:12:16.399 for us. 00:12:17.019 --> 00:12:17.460 And the 00:12:17.460 --> 00:12:17.939 consequence 00:12:17.939 --> 00:12:18.539 would be 00:12:18.539 --> 00:12:19.279 a diminished 00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:20.100 response 00:12:20.100 --> 00:12:20.879 of gratitude. 00:12:20.899 --> 00:12:21.220 gratitude. 00:12:22.340 --> 00:12:22.919 And so 00:12:22.919 --> 00:12:23.559 he pleads 00:12:23.559 --> 00:12:23.899 with them 00:12:23.899 --> 00:12:24.620 to remember, 00:12:25.220 --> 00:12:26.340 do not 00:12:26.340 --> 00:12:27.220 forget. 00:12:28.939 --> 00:12:29.679 He tells 00:12:29.679 --> 00:12:30.079 us that 00:12:30.079 --> 00:12:31.100 three factors 00:12:31.100 --> 00:12:32.139 will play 00:12:32.139 --> 00:12:32.799 into our 00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:33.579 fading memories. 00:12:33.699 --> 00:12:34.259 The first 00:12:34.259 --> 00:12:36.039 is disobedience. 00:12:37.679 --> 00:12:38.120 You want 00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:38.439 to live 00:12:38.439 --> 00:12:39.100 your life 00:12:39.100 --> 00:12:39.939 your way, 00:12:40.220 --> 00:12:40.939 as per 00:12:40.939 --> 00:12:41.959 Frank Sinatra, 00:12:43.299 --> 00:12:44.279 then you 00:12:44.279 --> 00:12:45.079 will discover 00:12:45.079 --> 00:12:45.939 that one 00:12:45.939 --> 00:12:47.220 of the 00:12:47.220 --> 00:12:49.279 consequences 00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:50.220 of that 00:12:50.220 --> 00:12:51.259 is that 00:12:51.259 --> 00:12:51.840 gratitude 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:53.160 will slip 00:12:53.160 --> 00:12:53.580 away. 00:12:55.440 --> 00:12:56.120 Isaiah 00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:56.759 chapter 00:12:56.759 --> 00:12:57.580 64 00:12:57.580 --> 00:12:58.139 and 00:12:58.139 --> 00:12:58.540 verse 00:12:58.540 --> 00:12:59.080 6. 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:00.700 We read 00:13:00.700 --> 00:13:01.080 these, 00:13:01.279 --> 00:13:02.139 All of us, 00:13:02.139 --> 00:13:03.899 said Isaiah, 00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:05.040 all of us 00:13:05.040 --> 00:13:05.840 have become 00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:06.480 like one 00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:07.019 who is 00:13:07.019 --> 00:13:07.800 unclean, 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:08.700 and all 00:13:08.700 --> 00:13:09.279 our righteous 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:09.940 acts are 00:13:09.940 --> 00:13:10.680 like filthy 00:13:10.680 --> 00:13:11.220 rags. 00:13:11.940 --> 00:13:12.920 We all 00:13:12.920 --> 00:13:13.720 shrivel up 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:14.500 like a leaf, 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:16.060 and like the 00:13:16.060 --> 00:13:16.440 wind, 00:13:16.660 --> 00:13:17.360 our sins 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:18.019 sweep us 00:13:18.019 --> 00:13:18.399 away. 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:21.480 So let me 00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:22.059 ask you a 00:13:22.059 --> 00:13:22.500 question. 00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:24.279 Would you 00:13:24.279 --> 00:13:25.240 describe your 00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:25.799 life as 00:13:25.799 --> 00:13:26.419 shriveled, 00:13:27.480 --> 00:13:28.439 less than it 00:13:28.439 --> 00:13:29.019 could be? 00:13:32.439 --> 00:13:33.159 Because there 00:13:33.159 --> 00:13:33.699 are things 00:13:33.699 --> 00:13:35.340 going on in 00:13:35.340 --> 00:13:36.039 your life 00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:38.899 that only 00:13:38.899 --> 00:13:39.360 you, 00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:41.259 or maybe 00:13:41.259 --> 00:13:42.360 those who 00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:42.960 are close 00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:43.300 do you 00:13:43.300 --> 00:13:43.560 know 00:13:43.560 --> 00:13:43.960 about. 00:13:47.560 --> 00:13:48.040 It's 00:13:48.040 --> 00:13:48.600 difficult to 00:13:48.600 --> 00:13:49.379 live a 00:13:49.379 --> 00:13:49.740 thankful 00:13:49.740 --> 00:13:50.160 life, 00:13:50.220 --> 00:13:50.560 a life 00:13:50.560 --> 00:13:51.220 of gratitude 00:13:51.220 --> 00:13:51.780 if you 00:13:51.780 --> 00:13:52.660 decided to 00:13:52.660 --> 00:13:53.200 do life 00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:53.620 your way. 00:13:53.740 --> 00:13:54.200 Secondly, 00:13:55.100 --> 00:13:55.740 there is 00:13:55.740 --> 00:13:56.440 the resulting 00:13:56.440 --> 00:13:57.580 complacency 00:13:57.580 --> 00:13:59.120 that comes 00:13:59.120 --> 00:13:59.620 from 00:13:59.620 --> 00:14:00.460 normalizing 00:14:00.460 --> 00:14:01.060 sin in 00:14:01.060 --> 00:14:01.680 your life. 00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:03.040 We pick 00:14:03.040 --> 00:14:03.620 that up in 00:14:03.620 --> 00:14:04.300 Deuteronomy, 00:14:04.400 --> 00:14:04.840 don't we? 00:14:05.580 --> 00:14:06.180 Where the 00:14:06.180 --> 00:14:06.860 writer says 00:14:06.860 --> 00:14:07.379 this, 00:14:08.600 --> 00:14:09.080 I'm struck 00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:09.920 again by it 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:10.659 as Suzanne 00:14:10.659 --> 00:14:11.299 read it to 00:14:11.299 --> 00:14:11.599 us. 00:14:13.039 --> 00:14:13.479 He says 00:14:13.479 --> 00:14:13.679 this, 00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:14.299 be careful 00:14:14.299 --> 00:14:14.679 you don't 00:14:14.679 --> 00:14:15.179 forget the 00:14:15.179 --> 00:14:15.559 Lord your 00:14:15.559 --> 00:14:15.979 God. 00:14:16.319 --> 00:14:16.500 And then 00:14:16.500 --> 00:14:17.019 verse 12, 00:14:17.139 --> 00:14:18.219 otherwise when 00:14:18.219 --> 00:14:18.719 you eat and 00:14:18.719 --> 00:14:19.399 are satisfied, 00:14:19.579 --> 00:14:20.179 when you build 00:14:20.179 --> 00:14:20.839 fine houses 00:14:20.839 --> 00:14:21.399 and settle 00:14:21.399 --> 00:14:21.779 down, 00:14:22.079 --> 00:14:22.519 when your 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:23.000 herds and 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:23.579 flocks grow 00:14:23.579 --> 00:14:24.159 large and 00:14:24.159 --> 00:14:24.719 your silver 00:14:24.719 --> 00:14:25.159 and gold 00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:25.659 increase, 00:14:25.899 --> 00:14:26.659 and all you 00:14:26.659 --> 00:14:27.219 have is 00:14:27.219 --> 00:14:27.819 multiplied, 00:14:28.459 --> 00:14:29.299 then your 00:14:29.299 --> 00:14:29.919 heart will 00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:30.799 become proud 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:31.599 and you 00:14:31.599 --> 00:14:32.919 will forget 00:14:33.699 --> 00:14:35.240 what the 00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:35.799 Lord your 00:14:35.799 --> 00:14:36.539 God has 00:14:36.539 --> 00:14:37.039 done with 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:37.279 you. 00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:39.980 In the 00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:41.100 book previous 00:14:41.100 --> 00:14:42.819 to the 00:14:42.819 --> 00:14:43.279 book of 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:44.019 Deuteronomy 00:14:44.019 --> 00:14:44.720 is the 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:45.079 book of 00:14:45.079 --> 00:14:45.600 Numbers, 00:14:46.039 --> 00:14:46.639 where there 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:47.079 is the 00:14:47.079 --> 00:14:47.339 most 00:14:47.339 --> 00:14:48.199 unbelievable 00:14:48.199 --> 00:14:48.980 scenario, 00:14:49.399 --> 00:14:49.779 and it's 00:14:49.779 --> 00:14:50.179 this. 00:14:50.699 --> 00:14:51.740 Moses has 00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:52.199 led the 00:14:52.199 --> 00:14:52.679 people of 00:14:52.679 --> 00:14:53.539 God out 00:14:53.539 --> 00:14:54.240 of bondage 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:54.819 in Egypt, 00:14:55.139 --> 00:14:56.120 a horrible 00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:56.659 life, 00:14:58.059 --> 00:14:58.819 a life of 00:14:58.819 --> 00:14:59.439 extreme 00:14:59.439 --> 00:14:59.980 violence, 00:15:00.139 --> 00:15:00.519 extreme 00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:01.000 work. 00:15:01.500 --> 00:15:02.159 The Egyptians 00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:02.699 were like 00:15:02.699 --> 00:15:02.939 this, 00:15:03.019 --> 00:15:03.139 right? 00:15:03.179 --> 00:15:03.539 This is the 00:15:03.539 --> 00:15:03.959 kind of 00:15:03.959 --> 00:15:04.759 bosses the 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:05.220 Egyptians 00:15:05.220 --> 00:15:05.679 were. 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:06.919 The task 00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:07.299 was to 00:15:07.299 --> 00:15:07.539 build 00:15:07.539 --> 00:15:07.860 bricks, 00:15:07.959 --> 00:15:08.259 but they 00:15:08.259 --> 00:15:08.879 never gave 00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:09.519 people enough 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:10.240 raw materials 00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:11.879 to make 00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:12.419 the bricks, 00:15:12.659 --> 00:15:13.539 and then beat 00:15:13.539 --> 00:15:14.219 them when 00:15:14.219 --> 00:15:14.639 they didn't 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:15.019 meet their 00:15:15.019 --> 00:15:15.360 quota. 00:15:17.199 --> 00:15:17.979 Let me ask 00:15:17.979 --> 00:15:18.199 you a 00:15:18.199 --> 00:15:18.559 question. 00:15:18.899 --> 00:15:19.179 Would you 00:15:19.179 --> 00:15:19.559 like to 00:15:19.559 --> 00:15:19.860 work for 00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:20.339 an employer 00:15:20.339 --> 00:15:20.939 like that? 00:15:21.899 --> 00:15:22.079 Okay, 00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:22.639 someone say 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:22.959 no. 00:15:24.479 --> 00:15:25.000 No. 00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:26.000 You would 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:26.539 hate that. 00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:30.159 So 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:31.299 complacency 00:15:31.299 --> 00:15:32.599 can easily 00:15:32.599 --> 00:15:33.379 set into 00:15:33.379 --> 00:15:34.240 our lives 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:34.360 peace. 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:35.779 When we 00:15:35.779 --> 00:15:36.180 become 00:15:36.180 --> 00:15:36.960 comfortable, 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:38.860 we can 00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:39.299 forget, 00:15:40.039 --> 00:15:40.519 says the 00:15:40.519 --> 00:15:41.039 writer of 00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:41.460 the book 00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:42.779 of Deuteronomy. 00:15:44.620 --> 00:15:45.500 And the 00:15:45.500 --> 00:15:46.360 third reason, 00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:48.139 and I 00:15:48.139 --> 00:15:48.720 would imagine 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:49.580 the most 00:15:49.580 --> 00:15:50.120 relevant 00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:51.180 reason to 00:15:51.180 --> 00:15:51.700 the people 00:15:51.700 --> 00:15:52.200 sitting in 00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:52.620 the house 00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:53.100 today, 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:54.879 is what 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:55.700 theologians 00:15:55.700 --> 00:15:56.279 call your 00:15:56.279 --> 00:15:56.899 sit in 00:15:56.899 --> 00:15:57.419 laban, 00:15:57.620 --> 00:15:57.980 your 00:15:57.980 --> 00:15:59.480 setting in 00:15:59.480 --> 00:15:59.919 life. 00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:04.299 I 00:16:04.299 --> 00:16:04.740 guarantee 00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:06.899 that if 00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:07.279 you stand 00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:07.500 at the 00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:07.839 back of 00:16:07.839 --> 00:16:08.339 the church 00:16:08.339 --> 00:16:08.939 and people 00:16:08.939 --> 00:16:09.479 walk out 00:16:09.479 --> 00:16:09.860 through the 00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:10.219 door and 00:16:10.219 --> 00:16:11.419 somebody says 00:16:11.419 --> 00:16:11.799 to them, 00:16:12.059 --> 00:16:12.759 how are 00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:12.979 you? 00:16:14.179 --> 00:16:14.539 What are 00:16:14.539 --> 00:16:14.679 you going 00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:15.059 to say? 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:17.000 I'm fine, 00:16:17.099 --> 00:16:17.399 thanks. 00:16:19.439 --> 00:16:19.959 Listen, 00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:20.299 you've got to 00:16:20.299 --> 00:16:20.759 get over 00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:21.019 it. 00:16:23.059 --> 00:16:23.740 Many of 00:16:23.740 --> 00:16:24.079 you in the 00:16:24.079 --> 00:16:24.699 house today 00:16:24.699 --> 00:16:25.379 are far 00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:26.039 from fine 00:16:26.039 --> 00:16:26.919 and nobody 00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:27.679 much knows 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:28.360 about it. 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:31.799 And the 00:16:31.799 --> 00:16:32.259 problem 00:16:32.259 --> 00:16:34.639 with 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:36.139 holding 00:16:36.139 --> 00:16:37.039 on to 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:38.860 the stuff 00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:39.360 that's not 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:40.019 working in 00:16:40.019 --> 00:16:40.699 your life 00:16:40.699 --> 00:16:42.579 is that it 00:16:42.579 --> 00:16:42.979 will grow 00:16:42.979 --> 00:16:43.479 something 00:16:43.479 --> 00:16:44.279 terrible in 00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:44.919 your soul. 00:16:46.439 --> 00:16:46.899 It will 00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:47.799 grow a 00:16:47.799 --> 00:16:48.740 root of 00:16:48.740 --> 00:16:49.079 bitterness. 00:16:50.860 --> 00:16:51.719 I'll tell you 00:16:51.719 --> 00:16:52.000 again, 00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:53.079 if you're a 00:16:53.079 --> 00:16:53.740 bitter person, 00:16:53.899 --> 00:16:54.279 people will 00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:54.799 work it out 00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:55.299 within about 00:16:55.299 --> 00:16:56.099 20 minutes. 00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:57.579 I'm not just 00:16:57.579 --> 00:16:57.980 talking about 00:16:57.980 --> 00:16:58.559 grumpy old 00:16:58.559 --> 00:16:58.779 men, 00:16:58.899 --> 00:16:59.500 incidentally. 00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:01.439 I am. 00:17:01.839 --> 00:17:02.959 I'm an A-level 00:17:02.959 --> 00:17:03.500 student, 00:17:03.599 --> 00:17:03.959 honestly. 00:17:08.339 --> 00:17:09.019 So, 00:17:10.339 --> 00:17:11.220 disobedience 00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:11.839 that results 00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:12.899 in complacency 00:17:12.899 --> 00:17:13.339 in your 00:17:13.339 --> 00:17:14.680 situation in 00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:15.000 life. 00:17:16.019 --> 00:17:16.779 Let's just 00:17:16.779 --> 00:17:17.599 read again 00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:18.399 what God 00:17:18.399 --> 00:17:19.039 says about 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:19.240 that. 00:17:19.299 --> 00:17:19.639 In verse 00:17:19.639 --> 00:17:20.099 7, 00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:21.500 God is 00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:22.099 promising 00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:22.839 his people 00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:23.480 a great 00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:24.000 life. 00:17:24.639 --> 00:17:24.879 They're going 00:17:24.879 --> 00:17:25.139 to come 00:17:25.139 --> 00:17:25.720 out of 00:17:25.720 --> 00:17:26.240 bondage 00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:27.139 in Egypt 00:17:27.139 --> 00:17:28.059 and enter 00:17:28.059 --> 00:17:28.500 a land 00:17:28.500 --> 00:17:28.940 that will 00:17:28.940 --> 00:17:29.140 be 00:17:29.140 --> 00:17:29.859 extremely 00:17:29.859 --> 00:17:30.480 productive 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:31.140 for them. 00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:33.859 Economically, 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:34.680 they're not 00:17:34.680 --> 00:17:34.880 going to 00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:35.059 have 00:17:35.059 --> 00:17:35.700 problems. 00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:36.440 In terms 00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:37.119 of provision, 00:17:37.299 --> 00:17:37.599 they're not 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:37.799 going to 00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:37.980 have 00:17:37.980 --> 00:17:38.380 problems, 00:17:38.380 --> 00:17:39.140 but the 00:17:39.140 --> 00:17:40.019 warning is. 00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:42.240 And is 00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:43.259 this a 00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:43.859 warning for 00:17:43.859 --> 00:17:45.140 21st century 00:17:45.140 --> 00:17:45.839 Europeans? 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:47.959 when you 00:17:47.959 --> 00:17:48.720 get comfy, 00:17:49.899 --> 00:17:50.779 the danger 00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:51.659 is you're 00:17:51.659 --> 00:17:51.839 going to 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:52.059 be 00:17:52.059 --> 00:17:52.919 complacent 00:17:52.919 --> 00:17:53.980 and stop 00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:54.359 thanking 00:17:54.359 --> 00:17:54.679 God. 00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:55.459 Verse 10, 00:17:55.939 --> 00:17:56.539 our text, 00:17:57.119 --> 00:17:57.879 the writer of 00:17:57.879 --> 00:17:58.339 Deuteronomy 00:17:58.339 --> 00:17:58.839 tells us, 00:17:58.959 --> 00:17:59.399 don't forget 00:17:59.399 --> 00:17:59.859 to thank 00:17:59.859 --> 00:18:00.599 God for 00:18:00.599 --> 00:18:00.980 what he 00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:01.419 has given 00:18:01.419 --> 00:18:01.740 you. 00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:05.500 I need 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:05.939 to learn 00:18:05.939 --> 00:18:06.459 that just 00:18:06.459 --> 00:18:07.199 recently. 00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:08.779 I've got 00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:09.359 so much 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:09.720 to thank 00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:10.159 God for, 00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:10.639 to sit 00:18:10.639 --> 00:18:10.980 in my 00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:11.279 own 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:11.699 mire, 00:18:12.099 --> 00:18:12.480 feeling 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:13.199 sorry for 00:18:13.199 --> 00:18:14.159 myself as 00:18:14.159 --> 00:18:14.779 a primary 00:18:14.779 --> 00:18:15.399 carer. 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:18.439 It's not 00:18:18.439 --> 00:18:19.480 particularly 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:21.500 a winsome 00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:21.959 trait. 00:18:24.899 --> 00:18:25.459 Somehow, 00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:27.579 we've got 00:18:27.579 --> 00:18:27.859 to get 00:18:27.859 --> 00:18:28.639 past that. 00:18:29.659 --> 00:18:30.159 Third thing 00:18:30.159 --> 00:18:30.379 is, 00:18:30.659 --> 00:18:31.339 verse 11, 00:18:31.939 --> 00:18:32.359 there's a 00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:33.099 reminder that 00:18:33.099 --> 00:18:33.740 we need to 00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:34.500 keep God's 00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:35.099 laws and 00:18:35.099 --> 00:18:35.699 commandments, 00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:36.619 because this 00:18:36.619 --> 00:18:36.959 was to 00:18:36.959 --> 00:18:37.599 old covenant 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:38.139 people. 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:40.299 The old 00:18:40.299 --> 00:18:40.539 covenant 00:18:40.539 --> 00:18:41.500 people who 00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:41.959 did not 00:18:41.959 --> 00:18:42.539 receive the 00:18:42.539 --> 00:18:43.079 Holy Spirit 00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:43.699 in general, 00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:44.539 but if you're 00:18:44.539 --> 00:18:45.000 a Christ 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:45.399 follower, 00:18:45.400 --> 00:18:46.060 you have 00:18:46.060 --> 00:18:46.640 received the 00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:47.220 Holy Spirit. 00:18:47.460 --> 00:18:47.960 What the 00:18:47.960 --> 00:18:48.519 Holy Spirit 00:18:48.519 --> 00:18:49.019 is meant to 00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:49.400 do in 00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:49.880 your life 00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:50.780 is change 00:18:50.780 --> 00:18:51.080 you from 00:18:51.080 --> 00:18:51.660 the inside 00:18:51.660 --> 00:18:52.100 out. 00:18:52.320 --> 00:18:52.880 The Lord 00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:53.360 tried to 00:18:53.360 --> 00:18:53.759 change you 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:54.080 from the 00:18:54.080 --> 00:18:54.900 outside in. 00:18:55.320 --> 00:18:55.880 God had a 00:18:55.880 --> 00:18:56.560 plan B, 00:18:56.920 --> 00:18:57.600 and plan B 00:18:57.600 --> 00:18:58.380 was God 00:18:58.380 --> 00:18:58.840 is trying to 00:18:58.840 --> 00:18:59.259 change you 00:18:59.259 --> 00:18:59.580 from the 00:18:59.580 --> 00:19:00.340 inside out. 00:19:01.380 --> 00:19:02.000 You'll think 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:02.980 that having 00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:03.700 the Holy Spirit 00:19:03.700 --> 00:19:04.100 means you 00:19:04.100 --> 00:19:04.700 might sing a 00:19:04.700 --> 00:19:05.160 bit louder 00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:05.680 or wave 00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:06.120 your arms 00:19:06.120 --> 00:19:06.640 around in 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:06.940 worship. 00:19:07.080 --> 00:19:07.280 No, 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:07.940 it's the 00:19:07.940 --> 00:19:08.640 tough stuff 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:09.880 of transformation, 00:19:10.300 --> 00:19:11.140 change from 00:19:11.140 --> 00:19:11.980 the inside 00:19:11.980 --> 00:19:12.660 out. 00:19:14.339 --> 00:19:14.860 Don't 00:19:14.860 --> 00:19:15.539 forget that. 00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:17.440 And verses 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:17.980 12 and 00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:19.059 14, I 00:19:19.059 --> 00:19:19.480 read that 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:19.740 to you. 00:19:19.819 --> 00:19:20.420 Beware the 00:19:20.420 --> 00:19:21.339 complacency 00:19:21.339 --> 00:19:22.519 when you 00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:23.059 try and 00:19:23.059 --> 00:19:23.460 mix the 00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:24.000 grace of 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:24.720 God with 00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:25.339 your own 00:19:25.339 --> 00:19:26.259 disobedience. 00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:28.259 grace of 00:19:28.259 --> 00:19:29.259 Jesus. 00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:31.640 So, I 00:19:31.640 --> 00:19:32.160 want to 00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:33.379 close by 00:19:33.379 --> 00:19:36.019 telling you, 00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:38.299 suggesting to 00:19:38.299 --> 00:19:40.359 you, that 00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:41.339 an ungrateful 00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:43.220 disciple is 00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:44.359 an oxymoron. 00:19:46.839 --> 00:19:48.140 Anybody who's 00:19:48.140 --> 00:19:48.980 a disciple of 00:19:48.980 --> 00:19:50.339 Jesus should 00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:51.259 be intrinsically 00:19:51.879 --> 00:19:52.440 grateful. 00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:54.700 I don't think 00:19:54.700 --> 00:19:55.259 you'd disagree 00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:56.559 with that, 00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:57.119 but the 00:19:57.119 --> 00:19:57.619 issue is, 00:19:57.859 --> 00:19:58.220 how can 00:19:58.220 --> 00:19:58.839 we stay 00:19:58.839 --> 00:19:59.379 thankful? 00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:01.039 How can 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:01.740 we stop 00:20:01.740 --> 00:20:02.420 the great 00:20:02.420 --> 00:20:02.920 gratitude 00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:03.700 fade out, 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:05.539 not for 00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:06.640 all situations, 00:20:07.559 --> 00:20:08.099 but in 00:20:08.099 --> 00:20:09.039 all situations? 00:20:10.660 --> 00:20:11.759 I realize 00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:13.099 that is 00:20:13.099 --> 00:20:14.160 very challenging, 00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:15.740 particularly 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:16.279 for those 00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:16.720 of you 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:17.480 who are 00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:18.480 finding love 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:20.279 uncompromisingly 00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:21.359 tough at 00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:21.879 the moment. 00:20:21.880 --> 00:20:25.500 so here 00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:26.740 are five 00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:27.260 things, 00:20:27.340 --> 00:20:28.160 very briefly, 00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:28.920 that you 00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:29.580 could do to 00:20:29.580 --> 00:20:30.080 try and 00:20:30.080 --> 00:20:30.680 maintain 00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:32.220 gratitude in 00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:32.800 your life. 00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:33.380 One, 00:20:33.740 --> 00:20:34.340 wake up 00:20:34.340 --> 00:20:34.880 thankful. 00:20:36.260 --> 00:20:37.060 The first 00:20:37.060 --> 00:20:37.580 thing I 00:20:37.580 --> 00:20:38.200 suggest you 00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:38.580 could do 00:20:38.580 --> 00:20:39.280 every day 00:20:39.280 --> 00:20:40.340 is to start 00:20:40.340 --> 00:20:40.900 thinking about 00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:41.700 what can I 00:20:41.700 --> 00:20:42.800 say thank you 00:20:42.800 --> 00:20:43.120 for? 00:20:43.800 --> 00:20:44.200 Well, the 00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:44.780 first thing you 00:20:44.780 --> 00:20:45.440 can thank God 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:46.300 for is your 00:20:46.300 --> 00:20:47.140 breathing still. 00:20:47.140 --> 00:20:54.040 wake up 00:20:54.040 --> 00:20:54.540 thankful. 00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:56.040 It sets a 00:20:56.040 --> 00:20:56.900 tone for the 00:20:56.900 --> 00:20:57.180 day. 00:20:58.520 --> 00:20:59.380 If you wake 00:20:59.380 --> 00:20:59.860 up and the 00:20:59.860 --> 00:21:00.540 first thing you 00:21:00.540 --> 00:21:01.220 think about is 00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:01.800 all the stuff 00:21:01.800 --> 00:21:02.500 you really don't 00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:02.940 want to do 00:21:02.940 --> 00:21:03.420 today, 00:21:04.780 --> 00:21:05.220 that's going to 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:05.840 have a negative 00:21:05.840 --> 00:21:06.780 impact on the 00:21:06.780 --> 00:21:07.259 rest of the 00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:08.060 day as far as 00:21:08.060 --> 00:21:08.560 I can see. 00:21:08.900 --> 00:21:09.380 Wake up 00:21:09.380 --> 00:21:09.740 thankful, 00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:10.120 one. 00:21:10.380 --> 00:21:10.660 Two, 00:21:10.980 --> 00:21:11.920 remember the 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:12.720 most basic 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:13.920 thing that God 00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:14.820 has done for 00:21:14.820 --> 00:21:15.120 you. 00:21:17.140 --> 00:21:18.380 I like to 00:21:18.380 --> 00:21:19.400 quietly say to 00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:20.800 myself that 00:21:20.800 --> 00:21:21.640 verse from 00:21:21.640 --> 00:21:22.680 William Walsham 00:21:22.680 --> 00:21:23.259 Howe's 00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:24.320 wonderful hymn. 00:21:26.220 --> 00:21:26.820 It is a 00:21:26.820 --> 00:21:27.380 thing most 00:21:27.380 --> 00:21:27.880 wonderful. 00:21:28.040 --> 00:21:28.320 It's a 00:21:28.320 --> 00:21:29.080 marvelous hymn. 00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:29.940 I sometimes 00:21:29.940 --> 00:21:30.800 think about 00:21:30.800 --> 00:21:32.340 the cross and 00:21:32.340 --> 00:21:33.320 close my eyes 00:21:33.320 --> 00:21:34.020 and try to 00:21:34.020 --> 00:21:35.340 see the cruel 00:21:35.340 --> 00:21:36.080 nails and 00:21:36.080 --> 00:21:36.680 crown of 00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:37.600 thorns and 00:21:37.600 --> 00:21:39.259 Jesus crucified 00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:40.440 for me. 00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:43.220 If you're a 00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:44.020 Christ follower 00:21:44.020 --> 00:21:45.020 and you don't 00:21:45.020 --> 00:21:45.480 get that, 00:21:45.560 --> 00:21:45.960 you're probably 00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:46.620 not a Christ 00:21:46.620 --> 00:21:47.020 follower. 00:21:47.140 --> 00:21:48.020 You might be 00:21:48.020 --> 00:21:48.480 a church 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:48.880 goer, 00:21:49.060 --> 00:21:49.380 but you 00:21:49.380 --> 00:21:49.840 won't be a 00:21:49.840 --> 00:21:50.540 Christ follower. 00:21:51.980 --> 00:21:52.820 Until you 00:21:52.820 --> 00:21:53.700 understand the 00:21:53.700 --> 00:21:54.160 pain, 00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:55.660 the part of 00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:56.300 the cross, 00:21:56.680 --> 00:21:57.080 until you 00:21:57.080 --> 00:21:57.780 understand the 00:21:57.780 --> 00:21:58.400 peace of the 00:21:58.400 --> 00:22:01.980 cross, 00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:02.820 the peace that 00:22:02.820 --> 00:22:03.540 that brings 00:22:03.540 --> 00:22:04.540 to sinner's 00:22:04.540 --> 00:22:04.900 souls. 00:22:06.860 --> 00:22:07.740 Unless you 00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:08.720 understand that 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:10.440 and thank God 00:22:10.440 --> 00:22:11.160 for it daily, 00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:12.020 you will 00:22:12.020 --> 00:22:12.500 struggle. 00:22:14.380 --> 00:22:14.860 Sometimes 00:22:14.860 --> 00:22:16.460 think about 00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:17.120 the cross. 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:19.380 Maybe we 00:22:19.380 --> 00:22:20.059 all need to 00:22:20.059 --> 00:22:20.579 think about 00:22:20.579 --> 00:22:21.380 that a little 00:22:21.380 --> 00:22:21.799 more. 00:22:22.600 --> 00:22:23.380 Third thing is 00:22:23.380 --> 00:22:24.200 throughout the 00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:24.600 day and 00:22:24.600 --> 00:22:25.380 especially at 00:22:25.380 --> 00:22:25.860 the end of 00:22:25.860 --> 00:22:26.240 the day, 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:27.779 thank God for 00:22:27.779 --> 00:22:28.360 the small 00:22:28.360 --> 00:22:29.420 things throughout 00:22:29.420 --> 00:22:30.740 that day that 00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:31.160 have brought 00:22:31.160 --> 00:22:31.759 you joy. 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:34.519 Be a joy 00:22:34.519 --> 00:22:35.259 hunter. 00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:38.640 Little things. 00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:41.500 I am so 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:42.520 incompetent, 00:22:43.380 --> 00:22:44.200 especially as a 00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:44.640 carer, 00:22:46.080 --> 00:22:46.860 that I thank 00:22:46.860 --> 00:22:47.500 God when 00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:48.140 something goes 00:22:48.140 --> 00:22:48.600 right, it 00:22:48.600 --> 00:22:49.259 gives me joy. 00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:51.420 I try to 00:22:51.420 --> 00:22:51.920 boil an egg, 00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:52.440 can you 00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:52.960 believe this? 00:22:53.080 --> 00:22:53.960 It exploded. 00:22:53.960 --> 00:22:54.080 It exploded. 00:22:54.079 --> 00:23:01.919 Thank God for 00:23:01.919 --> 00:23:02.460 the power of 00:23:02.460 --> 00:23:02.839 nature. 00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:06.939 Being 00:23:06.939 --> 00:23:08.539 thankful for 00:23:08.539 --> 00:23:09.079 the small 00:23:09.079 --> 00:23:09.579 acts of 00:23:09.579 --> 00:23:11.259 grace that 00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:11.799 you see, 00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:13.179 the small 00:23:13.179 --> 00:23:13.720 acts of 00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:14.399 mercy, the 00:23:14.399 --> 00:23:15.220 small acts 00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:16.000 of effort, 00:23:17.139 --> 00:23:18.119 whatever will 00:23:18.119 --> 00:23:18.740 help you 00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:19.259 cultivate 00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:20.819 gratitude for 00:23:20.819 --> 00:23:21.199 the bigger 00:23:21.199 --> 00:23:21.679 things. 00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:23.900 I wonder 00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:24.440 if this is 00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:24.700 true. 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:25.220 It's not 00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:25.860 biblical, but 00:23:25.860 --> 00:23:26.580 it strikes me 00:23:26.580 --> 00:23:27.140 as potentially 00:23:27.140 --> 00:23:28.039 true, and 00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:28.560 that is if 00:23:28.560 --> 00:23:29.140 we're grateful 00:23:29.140 --> 00:23:29.539 for the 00:23:29.539 --> 00:23:30.220 small things, 00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:31.140 maybe we'll 00:23:31.140 --> 00:23:31.620 be grateful 00:23:31.620 --> 00:23:32.000 for the 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:32.640 bigger things. 00:23:34.080 --> 00:23:34.779 But I also 00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:35.220 think that 00:23:35.220 --> 00:23:35.680 works in 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:36.880 reverse as 00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:37.299 well. 00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:40.180 Fourth thing 00:23:40.180 --> 00:23:40.940 is always 00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:41.740 thank others 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:42.640 for anything 00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:43.580 they do for 00:23:43.580 --> 00:23:44.160 you at 00:23:44.160 --> 00:23:45.220 work, at 00:23:45.220 --> 00:23:45.860 school, at 00:23:45.860 --> 00:23:46.960 home, wherever 00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:47.920 God puts you 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:48.420 for the other 00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:49.299 six days of 00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:49.759 the week. 00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:53.000 I think 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:53.700 again, if 00:23:53.700 --> 00:23:54.279 you become 00:23:54.279 --> 00:23:54.900 a person 00:23:54.900 --> 00:23:55.759 who's very 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.320 happy to 00:23:56.320 --> 00:23:57.299 express thanks 00:23:57.299 --> 00:23:57.680 all the 00:23:57.680 --> 00:23:58.460 time, you 00:23:58.460 --> 00:23:58.960 are more 00:23:58.960 --> 00:23:59.500 likely to 00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:00.160 build a 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:00.820 consistently 00:24:00.820 --> 00:24:01.340 thankful 00:24:01.340 --> 00:24:02.279 heart in 00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:02.720 your own 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:03.180 life. 00:24:04.660 --> 00:24:04.920 And 00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:05.700 surprisingly, 00:24:06.299 --> 00:24:07.620 a lot of 00:24:07.620 --> 00:24:08.039 people aren't 00:24:08.039 --> 00:24:08.660 very good at 00:24:08.660 --> 00:24:09.019 this. 00:24:10.340 --> 00:24:10.620 And 00:24:10.620 --> 00:24:11.279 surprisingly, 00:24:11.539 --> 00:24:12.140 even more 00:24:12.140 --> 00:24:13.160 surprising is, 00:24:13.700 --> 00:24:14.160 a lot of 00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:14.660 people in 00:24:14.660 --> 00:24:15.240 churches are 00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:15.640 not very 00:24:15.640 --> 00:24:16.560 good at 00:24:16.560 --> 00:24:16.880 this. 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:20.860 there are 00:24:20.860 --> 00:24:21.320 not many 00:24:21.320 --> 00:24:22.260 churches that 00:24:22.260 --> 00:24:22.800 will do 00:24:22.800 --> 00:24:23.480 what we 00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:23.800 have done 00:24:23.800 --> 00:24:24.420 this morning. 00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:26.660 And that 00:24:26.660 --> 00:24:27.180 is, ask 00:24:27.180 --> 00:24:27.640 people to 00:24:27.640 --> 00:24:28.480 stand up 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:29.020 who are 00:24:29.020 --> 00:24:29.540 involved in 00:24:29.540 --> 00:24:30.080 a particular 00:24:30.080 --> 00:24:30.680 area of 00:24:30.680 --> 00:24:31.760 ministry so 00:24:31.760 --> 00:24:32.400 we can thank 00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:32.900 God for 00:24:32.900 --> 00:24:33.360 them and 00:24:33.360 --> 00:24:34.080 honor them. 00:24:38.600 --> 00:24:39.460 I have a 00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:40.180 friend who 00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:43.420 was very, 00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:44.720 very involved 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.420 in his 00:24:45.420 --> 00:24:46.080 church in 00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:46.559 France. 00:24:47.639 --> 00:24:48.240 He even 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:48.759 bought a 00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:49.359 house that 00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:50.199 would facilitate 00:24:50.199 --> 00:24:51.480 a congregation 00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:52.119 on a Sunday 00:24:52.119 --> 00:24:52.480 morning. 00:24:52.579 --> 00:24:53.099 It had a 00:24:53.099 --> 00:24:54.799 massive room 00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:55.079 in it. 00:24:56.139 --> 00:24:56.720 He bought 00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:57.460 chairs so 00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:57.839 that people 00:24:57.839 --> 00:24:58.299 could sit 00:24:58.299 --> 00:24:59.399 down, all 00:24:59.399 --> 00:25:00.079 that stuff. 00:25:01.639 --> 00:25:02.099 You know 00:25:02.099 --> 00:25:02.379 what, he 00:25:02.379 --> 00:25:02.819 doesn't even 00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:03.439 go to the 00:25:03.439 --> 00:25:03.819 Church of 00:25:03.819 --> 00:25:04.480 England anymore 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:05.079 because when 00:25:05.079 --> 00:25:05.639 he left, 00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:07.199 not one 00:25:07.199 --> 00:25:07.980 person said 00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:08.559 thank you. 00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:11.199 That's a 00:25:11.199 --> 00:25:11.740 church for 00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:12.259 crying out 00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:12.599 loud. 00:25:14.939 --> 00:25:15.679 We should 00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:16.360 be honoring 00:25:16.360 --> 00:25:16.860 people, 00:25:17.100 --> 00:25:17.460 thanking 00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:19.420 them for 00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:20.180 their dramatic 00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:22.740 and undramatic 00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:24.279 and menial 00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:26.160 acts of 00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:27.120 giving. 00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:28.960 They're just 00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:30.019 talking about 00:25:30.019 --> 00:25:30.560 money, we've 00:25:30.560 --> 00:25:31.000 done that. 00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:36.420 And the 00:25:36.420 --> 00:25:37.240 final thing is 00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:37.720 this. 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:39.660 Remind 00:25:39.660 --> 00:25:40.779 yourself every 00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:42.200 day that 00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:43.139 everything you 00:25:43.139 --> 00:25:43.480 are, 00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:45.859 everything you 00:25:45.859 --> 00:25:46.440 ever will 00:25:46.440 --> 00:25:46.759 be, 00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:49.119 everything you 00:25:49.119 --> 00:25:51.160 have is a 00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:51.519 gift from 00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:51.819 God. 00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:54.799 We're losing 00:25:54.799 --> 00:25:55.720 that sense in 00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:56.399 our secular 00:25:56.399 --> 00:25:57.480 society, aren't 00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:57.680 we? 00:25:59.660 --> 00:26:00.539 Sometimes I 00:26:00.539 --> 00:26:01.680 worry that we 00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:02.160 don't see 00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:03.039 children as a 00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:03.819 gift anymore, 00:26:04.879 --> 00:26:05.960 we just see 00:26:05.960 --> 00:26:06.420 them as an 00:26:06.420 --> 00:26:08.279 acquisition to 00:26:08.279 --> 00:26:08.779 manage. 00:26:13.180 --> 00:26:13.700 Everything 00:26:13.700 --> 00:26:15.359 you are, 00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:16.299 everything you 00:26:16.299 --> 00:26:17.399 will ever be 00:26:17.399 --> 00:26:18.180 is a gift 00:26:18.180 --> 00:26:18.740 of God. 00:26:20.859 --> 00:26:21.359 It might 00:26:21.359 --> 00:26:21.920 not be a 00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:22.420 bad thing 00:26:22.420 --> 00:26:23.200 for you as 00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:24.180 you get 00:26:24.180 --> 00:26:24.720 into bed 00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:25.059 tonight, 00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:25.799 just to do 00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:27.200 a very brief 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:28.240 self-audit 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:30.319 to establish 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:31.639 why it 00:26:31.639 --> 00:26:32.259 might be 00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:33.420 that you're 00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:33.759 not as 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:34.460 grateful as 00:26:34.460 --> 00:26:34.879 you might 00:26:34.879 --> 00:26:35.139 be. 00:26:35.140 --> 00:26:37.160 So let 00:26:37.160 --> 00:26:37.580 me close, 00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:38.060 I want to 00:26:38.060 --> 00:26:38.520 speak to 00:26:38.520 --> 00:26:38.960 you today, 00:26:39.080 --> 00:26:39.520 to those 00:26:39.520 --> 00:26:40.160 of you who 00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:40.920 know full 00:26:40.920 --> 00:26:41.900 well that 00:26:41.900 --> 00:26:42.700 sin and 00:26:42.700 --> 00:26:43.880 complacency has 00:26:43.880 --> 00:26:44.860 overtaken your 00:26:44.860 --> 00:26:45.880 life and 00:26:45.880 --> 00:26:46.320 you've been 00:26:46.320 --> 00:26:47.340 overtaken by 00:26:47.340 --> 00:26:48.820 and obsessed 00:26:48.820 --> 00:26:50.400 with self-gratification. 00:26:54.020 --> 00:26:54.940 Not being 00:26:54.940 --> 00:26:55.600 thankful to 00:26:55.600 --> 00:26:58.520 God, but 00:26:58.520 --> 00:26:59.220 just seeking 00:26:59.220 --> 00:27:00.360 to gratify 00:27:00.360 --> 00:27:01.420 your own 00:27:01.420 --> 00:27:01.960 desires. 00:27:03.580 --> 00:27:04.700 Second, I 00:27:04.700 --> 00:27:04.960 want to 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:05.600 speak clearly 00:27:05.600 --> 00:27:06.080 to those 00:27:06.080 --> 00:27:06.519 of you who 00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:07.380 know that 00:27:07.380 --> 00:27:08.000 a root of 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:08.340 bitterness 00:27:08.340 --> 00:27:09.299 dominates 00:27:09.299 --> 00:27:10.059 your life 00:27:10.059 --> 00:27:11.580 and has 00:27:11.580 --> 00:27:12.039 robbed you 00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:12.360 of the 00:27:12.360 --> 00:27:13.759 joy of 00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:14.180 being a 00:27:14.180 --> 00:27:14.480 grateful 00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:15.120 person. 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:17.019 And finally, 00:27:17.100 --> 00:27:17.420 I want to 00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:17.819 speak to 00:27:17.819 --> 00:27:18.299 those of 00:27:18.299 --> 00:27:19.200 you who 00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:19.519 have 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:20.440 effectively 00:27:20.440 --> 00:27:22.080 discounted 00:27:22.080 --> 00:27:22.779 the cost 00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:23.360 of what 00:27:23.360 --> 00:27:23.840 it cost 00:27:23.840 --> 00:27:25.460 God to 00:27:25.460 --> 00:27:26.059 forgive you 00:27:26.059 --> 00:27:26.860 your sins. 00:27:28.440 --> 00:27:29.039 Maybe it 00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:29.480 was a time 00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:29.819 when you 00:27:29.819 --> 00:27:30.299 were hot 00:27:30.299 --> 00:27:30.700 for that, 00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:31.319 but now 00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:33.500 it's 00:27:33.500 --> 00:27:33.980 barely a 00:27:33.980 --> 00:27:34.919 flicker in 00:27:34.919 --> 00:27:35.679 your remembrance 00:27:35.679 --> 00:27:36.559 of what 00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:37.139 God has 00:27:37.139 --> 00:27:37.619 done to 00:27:37.619 --> 00:27:37.839 you. 00:27:38.839 --> 00:27:39.599 The power 00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:40.139 of God's 00:27:40.139 --> 00:27:41.119 love left 00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:41.879 you behind 00:27:41.879 --> 00:27:42.700 years ago 00:27:42.700 --> 00:27:44.599 and maybe 00:27:44.599 --> 00:27:45.159 coming to 00:27:45.159 --> 00:27:46.139 church is 00:27:46.139 --> 00:27:46.700 born of 00:27:46.700 --> 00:27:47.460 habit now 00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:48.939 rather than 00:27:48.939 --> 00:27:49.379 born of 00:27:49.379 --> 00:27:49.960 conviction. 00:27:49.960 --> 00:27:50.059 salvation. 00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:57.240 I'm praying 00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:59.880 that right 00:27:59.880 --> 00:28:00.579 now God 00:28:00.579 --> 00:28:01.920 is speaking 00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:04.779 directly 00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:05.640 into your 00:28:05.640 --> 00:28:06.019 heart. 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:08.579 Forget me, 00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:09.039 it's about 00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:09.700 what God 00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:10.240 wants to 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:10.700 say to 00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:10.960 you. 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:13.860 And those 00:28:13.860 --> 00:28:14.120 of you who 00:28:14.120 --> 00:28:14.279 have got 00:28:14.279 --> 00:28:14.980 ungrateful 00:28:14.980 --> 00:28:15.519 hearts are 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:15.759 going to 00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:16.240 find it 00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:16.940 harder to 00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:17.720 listen than 00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:18.180 those of 00:28:18.180 --> 00:28:18.600 you who 00:28:18.600 --> 00:28:18.920 have 00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:19.340 grateful 00:28:19.340 --> 00:28:19.900 hearts. 00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:23.299 is this 00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:23.940 your moment? 00:28:25.620 --> 00:28:26.460 Is this 00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:27.039 your moment 00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:27.799 to stop 00:28:27.799 --> 00:28:28.539 being bitter? 00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:30.700 To stop 00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:31.680 being willfully 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:32.640 disobedient 00:28:32.640 --> 00:28:33.819 to the 00:28:33.819 --> 00:28:34.740 call of 00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:35.220 the life 00:28:35.220 --> 00:28:35.640 that God 00:28:35.640 --> 00:28:36.400 has for 00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:36.700 you? 00:28:39.700 --> 00:28:40.579 Is this 00:28:40.579 --> 00:28:41.140 your moment? 00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:43.779 Let's 00:28:43.779 --> 00:28:44.059 pray. 00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:47.640 Father, 00:28:47.640 --> 00:28:47.759 Father, 00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:49.900 we are 00:28:49.900 --> 00:28:50.599 so 00:28:50.599 --> 00:28:54.839 inconsistent 00:28:54.839 --> 00:28:55.799 somehow 00:28:55.799 --> 00:28:56.420 in our 00:28:56.420 --> 00:28:57.440 discipleship. 00:28:58.059 --> 00:28:58.539 And Lord, 00:28:58.619 --> 00:28:59.420 maybe when 00:28:59.420 --> 00:28:59.839 this 00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:01.019 consistently 00:29:01.019 --> 00:29:02.500 and 00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:03.259 persistently 00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:03.960 comes to 00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:04.740 being people 00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:06.420 who are 00:29:06.420 --> 00:29:06.859 thankful. 00:29:09.420 --> 00:29:10.099 Lord, 00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:10.640 for those 00:29:10.640 --> 00:29:11.180 of us who 00:29:11.180 --> 00:29:11.920 know full 00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:12.720 well today 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:13.640 that gratitude 00:29:13.640 --> 00:29:14.619 has faded 00:29:14.619 --> 00:29:15.359 out in our 00:29:15.359 --> 00:29:15.660 lives, 00:29:15.660 --> 00:29:16.160 we pray, 00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:16.500 Lord, 00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:18.259 that you 00:29:18.259 --> 00:29:18.660 give us 00:29:18.660 --> 00:29:19.220 the courage 00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:19.840 today to 00:29:19.840 --> 00:29:20.500 do something 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.100 about it 00:29:21.100 --> 00:29:21.640 and turn 00:29:21.640 --> 00:29:21.980 up the 00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:22.380 volume 00:29:22.380 --> 00:29:25.580 that we 00:29:25.580 --> 00:29:26.200 might have 00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:26.779 thankful 00:29:26.779 --> 00:29:27.440 hearts. 00:29:29.640 --> 00:29:30.200 Lord, 00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:30.800 let that 00:29:30.800 --> 00:29:31.800 begin now. 00:29:33.700 --> 00:29:34.440 Maybe even 00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:35.060 at the end 00:29:35.060 --> 00:29:35.640 of the service 00:29:35.640 --> 00:29:36.200 we need to 00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:36.600 go to 00:29:36.600 --> 00:29:37.259 somebody and 00:29:37.259 --> 00:29:37.920 thank them 00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:38.660 for some 00:29:38.660 --> 00:29:39.120 small, 00:29:39.220 --> 00:29:40.180 maybe undramatic, 00:29:40.180 --> 00:29:40.539 take a 00:29:40.539 --> 00:29:41.400 menial act 00:29:41.400 --> 00:29:42.180 of service 00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:43.860 that they 00:29:43.860 --> 00:29:44.279 have done. 00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:48.120 Lord, 00:29:48.180 --> 00:29:48.860 maybe we 00:29:48.860 --> 00:29:49.420 need to be 00:29:49.420 --> 00:29:49.860 thankful, 00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:50.680 more thankful 00:29:50.680 --> 00:29:51.380 to the 00:29:51.380 --> 00:29:51.960 staff of 00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:52.680 this church 00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:54.920 who seek 00:29:54.920 --> 00:29:56.840 to bring 00:29:56.840 --> 00:29:57.259 the good 00:29:57.259 --> 00:29:57.759 news of 00:29:57.759 --> 00:29:58.360 the gospel, 00:29:59.360 --> 00:29:59.920 what God 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:00.480 has done 00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:02.420 in Jesus 00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:04.700 to us 00:30:04.700 --> 00:30:05.380 and to the 00:30:05.380 --> 00:30:06.279 wider world. 00:30:06.279 --> 00:30:07.279 God, 00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:12.399 we pray 00:30:12.399 --> 00:30:13.119 your forgiveness 00:30:13.119 --> 00:30:13.779 if we've 00:30:13.779 --> 00:30:14.720 discounted the 00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:16.240 cost of 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:16.619 what you 00:30:16.619 --> 00:30:17.299 did for us 00:30:17.299 --> 00:30:17.599 on the 00:30:17.599 --> 00:30:18.119 cross of 00:30:18.119 --> 00:30:18.660 Calvary. 00:30:20.420 --> 00:30:21.559 Sometimes I 00:30:21.559 --> 00:30:22.240 think about 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:22.920 the cross 00:30:22.920 --> 00:30:24.000 and close 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:24.599 my eyes 00:30:24.599 --> 00:30:25.079 and try 00:30:25.079 --> 00:30:25.720 to see 00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:27.019 the cruel 00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:27.599 nails 00:30:27.599 --> 00:30:28.799 and crown 00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:29.500 of thorns 00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:31.480 and Jesus 00:30:31.480 --> 00:30:32.960 crucified 00:30:32.960 --> 00:30:33.720 for me. 00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:36.960 Holy Spirit, 00:30:37.100 --> 00:30:37.400 would you 00:30:37.400 --> 00:30:38.299 burnish 00:30:38.299 --> 00:30:39.700 that act 00:30:39.700 --> 00:30:40.400 of history 00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:40.980 in our 00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:41.500 hearts 00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:43.079 that we 00:30:43.079 --> 00:30:43.539 might be 00:30:43.539 --> 00:30:44.380 truly grateful 00:30:44.380 --> 00:30:44.940 people. 00:30:45.900 --> 00:30:46.460 And we 00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:47.140 pray these 00:30:47.140 --> 00:30:48.140 things in 00:30:48.140 --> 00:30:48.900 Jesus' name 00:30:48.900 --> 00:30:49.339 and the 00:30:49.339 --> 00:30:49.880 people who 00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:50.360 agreed 00:30:50.360 --> 00:30:51.759 said together 00:30:51.759 --> 00:30:52.660 emphatically, 00:30:53.799 --> 00:30:54.140 Amen.