WEBVTT

00:00:00.580 --> 00:00:04.320
 Okay, well, welcome again, Watermark. My name is Chris, if you don't know me.

00:00:05.980 --> 00:00:09.540
 I help oversee the community groups here at Watermark.

00:00:09.599 --> 00:00:14.519
 And if you're just visiting or here for the first time, you're just really welcome.

00:00:15.220 --> 00:00:17.620
 Come and grab us afterwards. Come get to know us.

00:00:17.800 --> 00:00:24.260
 We'd love to talk with you and just find out a bit more about you after the service.

00:00:25.320 --> 00:00:29.699
 We're starting a three-part series, which we're calling Start Over.

00:00:30.780 --> 00:00:36.980
 And basically, we're looking in this series at the truths we need to remember for this new year,

00:00:37.219 --> 00:00:42.200
 things we need to have a refresh of because sometimes we forget.

00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:49.159
 And today, we're going to actually start with what is quite a shocking story when you actually understand it.

00:00:49.519 --> 00:00:57.439
 And we're going to dive straight into the story, and then we're going to think about gratitude and grumbling.

00:00:58.239 --> 00:00:59.460
 Okay, so that's where we're going.

00:00:59.519 --> 00:01:00.339
 We're going to look at the story.

00:01:00.619 --> 00:01:03.379
 We're going to look at gratitude and then grumbling.

00:01:04.140 --> 00:01:10.140
 So this story in Matthew, it's actually a very familiar scene if you've been in the Middle East.

00:01:10.140 --> 00:01:13.760
 Even today, the story about workers being hired.

00:01:13.920 --> 00:01:20.900
 Because in that time, workers who didn't have steady employment would be found in one corner of the village,

00:01:21.019 --> 00:01:31.079
 and they would just wait around, waiting for a farmer to come by and offer them extra work if he had some.

00:01:31.079 --> 00:01:33.620
 So they don't have steady labor.

00:01:34.019 --> 00:01:38.480
 And what that means is, in those days, you got paid day by day.

00:01:39.000 --> 00:01:41.280
 And a day's wages was a denarius.

00:01:41.280 --> 00:01:41.560
 Yes.

00:01:42.359 --> 00:01:49.560
 The problem is, if you don't get work for the day, your family goes hungry.

00:01:50.140 --> 00:01:52.060
 Because you live day by day.

00:01:52.359 --> 00:01:53.260
 And it's not just that.

00:01:53.420 --> 00:01:57.019
 If you're the main breadwinner, and you come back at the end of the day,

00:01:57.159 --> 00:02:02.719
 and you have nothing for your family, you are humiliated and ashamed in front of your family.

00:02:03.520 --> 00:02:07.299
 You're meant to be the one who provides, and you can't even provide.

00:02:07.299 --> 00:02:12.520
 That's the context of this story.

00:02:13.500 --> 00:02:22.479
 And this story is a parable that Jesus told, which is quite surprising for any of the original readers if they heard it.

00:02:22.520 --> 00:02:25.639
 There's a number of surprises, and we can miss these.

00:02:25.900 --> 00:02:34.479
 The first surprise is that the employer, the master, goes out into the marketplace throughout the day.

00:02:34.479 --> 00:02:37.219
 Now, you may say that doesn't sound strange.

00:02:37.479 --> 00:02:42.459
 Well, a day's work started at 6 a.m., and would go to 6 p.m.

00:02:42.539 --> 00:02:42.759
 Okay?

00:02:42.979 --> 00:02:43.780
 That's a day's work.

00:02:44.339 --> 00:02:50.199
 And the problem is, if you go out throughout the day, that's not very efficient.

00:02:51.179 --> 00:02:54.120
 What you would normally do is, if you're a good farmer,

00:02:54.719 --> 00:02:58.780
 you would know how much labor you would need for your vineyard for the day.

00:02:58.780 --> 00:03:03.020
 And so, logically, you'd go out at the beginning of the day, hire everybody you need,

00:03:03.180 --> 00:03:07.620
 and then you didn't have to do any extra effort for hiring people.

00:03:08.159 --> 00:03:09.020
 That makes sense.

00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:14.199
 But this master keeps going out again and again.

00:03:14.460 --> 00:03:16.819
 He goes out in the heat of the noonday sun,

00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:22.620
 and he even goes out one hour before the end of work to hire people.

00:03:22.939 --> 00:03:25.060
 That is not very efficient.

00:03:25.060 --> 00:03:28.819
 In Hong Kong, he would not do very well.

00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:37.379
 But the next thing that is a surprise is the owner himself goes out.

00:03:38.020 --> 00:03:41.860
 Now, if you look in the story, you see in the story, there is actually he has a foreman.

00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:43.379
 He has people working for him.

00:03:44.020 --> 00:03:47.240
 And normally, you know, you outsource things to HR.

00:03:47.759 --> 00:03:47.920
 Okay?

00:03:48.199 --> 00:03:50.759
 This owner does not outsource it to HR.

00:03:50.759 --> 00:04:00.000
 He personally goes out and personally hires each of the laborers.

00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:02.939
 Now, think about it.

00:04:03.219 --> 00:04:05.819
 We don't know how far the vineyard is from the marketplace.

00:04:06.280 --> 00:04:11.599
 So he has to keep going out and then coming back and then going out and then coming back himself.

00:04:12.459 --> 00:04:17.180
 He's using his own time, his own effort, which he could have spent on other things.

00:04:17.779 --> 00:04:18.339
 Surprising.

00:04:18.339 --> 00:04:23.639
 The next thing which is surprising is when it comes to paying the workers.

00:04:24.939 --> 00:04:27.019
 You see, he says, pay them the wage.

00:04:27.299 --> 00:04:27.439
 Okay?

00:04:27.959 --> 00:04:30.139
 And he pays them all the same amount.

00:04:30.620 --> 00:04:32.039
 Now, that's shocking in itself.

00:04:32.159 --> 00:04:34.620
 But did you notice what the order that he pays them in?

00:04:35.299 --> 00:04:36.519
 Who does he pay first?

00:04:38.659 --> 00:04:40.439
 He pays the last one first.

00:04:41.799 --> 00:04:46.059
 Normally, you pay the one who's been working longest first, right?

00:04:46.060 --> 00:04:47.980
 Why?

00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:49.740
 Why?

00:04:50.379 --> 00:04:53.420
 Now, imagine for a second you're working.

00:04:54.300 --> 00:04:55.459
 You've been unemployed.

00:04:55.939 --> 00:04:58.180
 And then you're hired for a one-month project.

00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:00.579
 And this is a tough project.

00:05:00.920 --> 00:05:05.920
 And you're working until 9, 10, 11 at night every single day.

00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:09.160
 And you have the bulk of this work of the project.

00:05:09.259 --> 00:05:13.780
 And then two weeks in, your boss decides to hire somebody else to help you out.

00:05:13.779 --> 00:05:17.699
 But they have got the easy part of the project.

00:05:18.039 --> 00:05:20.399
 And so they can leave at 5.30 every day.

00:05:20.859 --> 00:05:23.399
 You're there staying until 10, 11 at night.

00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:25.019
 And they're off 5.30.

00:05:25.239 --> 00:05:26.159
 They're going home.

00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:28.759
 They're having dinner out with their friends.

00:05:28.759 --> 00:05:35.379
 And then two days before the end of the project, your boss decides to hire somebody else.

00:05:36.339 --> 00:05:36.620
 Okay?

00:05:36.759 --> 00:05:38.180
 The project's pretty well done.

00:05:38.680 --> 00:05:38.939
 Okay?

00:05:39.099 --> 00:05:39.939
 Two days left.

00:05:40.159 --> 00:05:41.519
 Your boss hires somebody else.

00:05:41.699 --> 00:05:43.620
 And then it comes to payday.

00:05:43.620 --> 00:05:46.699
 And he gets the person who was there for two days.

00:05:46.899 --> 00:05:49.899
 And he says, hey, here's your check.

00:05:50.920 --> 00:05:55.540
 You get $25,000 for two days' work.

00:05:56.379 --> 00:05:57.300
 Not bad, eh?

00:05:58.860 --> 00:06:01.139
 And then he comes to the next people.

00:06:01.480 --> 00:06:04.800
 And he says, you get $25,000 for a couple of weeks' work.

00:06:05.340 --> 00:06:07.579
 And they're thinking, wow, that's pretty good.

00:06:07.899 --> 00:06:13.300
 If you're the first person, you're thinking, hmm, okay, I wonder what I'm going to get.

00:06:13.860 --> 00:06:18.000
 And then he comes to you and says, here's $25,000 for you.

00:06:19.800 --> 00:06:20.800
 How do you feel?

00:06:23.639 --> 00:06:25.100
 A bit outrageous, isn't it?

00:06:26.699 --> 00:06:28.180
 Look at all the work you put in.

00:06:30.660 --> 00:06:32.680
 That last one worked two days.

00:06:32.680 --> 00:06:34.379
 You worked a whole month.

00:06:35.079 --> 00:06:36.280
 Is that fair?

00:06:36.279 --> 00:06:46.799
 And Jesus tells this story to begin to get to us.

00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:54.799
 Because the story is all about the compassion and grace of the master who is God.

00:06:55.500 --> 00:06:58.259
 And how we respond to his grace.

00:06:59.259 --> 00:07:02.300
 You see, the workers are standing waiting to be hired.

00:07:02.399 --> 00:07:03.800
 They're not sitting down doing nothing.

00:07:04.259 --> 00:07:04.420
 Okay?

00:07:04.500 --> 00:07:04.939
 They're standing.

00:07:05.060 --> 00:07:06.079
 They're wanting to be hired.

00:07:06.339 --> 00:07:11.399
 And the master hires some, first hoping that the rest will be hired by somebody else.

00:07:12.120 --> 00:07:12.399
 Okay?

00:07:12.439 --> 00:07:13.219
 So he hires some.

00:07:13.439 --> 00:07:17.199
 But then he goes back just to check to see whether the workers have been hired or not.

00:07:17.300 --> 00:07:18.659
 He still sees some out there.

00:07:18.699 --> 00:07:19.519
 So he goes back.

00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:20.680
 He hires them again.

00:07:20.680 --> 00:07:22.420
 And then he keeps going back.

00:07:22.720 --> 00:07:26.379
 And he keeps seeing that there are people out there.

00:07:27.019 --> 00:07:30.680
 And he keeps bringing them into his vineyard.

00:07:31.480 --> 00:07:34.079
 Even though he knows it will eat into his profits.

00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:37.199
 He actually doesn't need all that labor.

00:07:37.579 --> 00:07:39.100
 But he's eating into his profit.

00:07:39.220 --> 00:07:39.840
 And he's willing.

00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:46.259
 He would rather that those workers at the end do not go home humiliated, ashamed.

00:07:46.420 --> 00:07:48.540
 But have enough to provide for their families.

00:07:48.540 --> 00:07:51.600
 And he will take the hit with his profits.

00:07:53.740 --> 00:07:58.540
 And he doesn't outsource the hiring process.

00:07:59.379 --> 00:08:05.400
 Because he comes directly at the cost of his own time, of his own effort.

00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:10.259
 Because he personally wants to invite these workers into his vineyard.

00:08:11.280 --> 00:08:13.060
 And he reverses the order.

00:08:13.060 --> 00:08:22.259
 Because he wants to show the first workers the extravagance of his grace to the others.

00:08:23.620 --> 00:08:28.680
 He wants the others to see what kind of master he is.

00:08:28.680 --> 00:08:37.220
 Now, if you were thinking about it logically, you'd think, wow, that's a pretty amazing boss.

00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:38.840
 He would even pay somebody.

00:08:39.100 --> 00:08:41.919
 He would do all of those things of his own expense.

00:08:42.980 --> 00:08:45.299
 But look at the response of the workers.

00:08:45.299 --> 00:08:53.699
 Notice, out of all the workers, there's only one who's on a hired contract, which is the first.

00:08:55.759 --> 00:08:57.500
 The one's from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

00:08:57.979 --> 00:09:02.299
 He says, I will pay you what is just, what is fair.

00:09:02.659 --> 00:09:03.459
 I'll give you a fair wage.

00:09:03.500 --> 00:09:04.939
 He doesn't tell them how much he's going to pay them.

00:09:05.159 --> 00:09:06.059
 He just says it's fair.

00:09:06.259 --> 00:09:07.019
 And they trust him.

00:09:07.019 --> 00:09:12.579
 They trust him because they know that this master is an honorable man in the village.

00:09:13.419 --> 00:09:15.960
 The laborers at 5 p.m., he doesn't even offer them anything.

00:09:16.460 --> 00:09:17.059
 Did you see that?

00:09:17.240 --> 00:09:17.899
 Look in verse 7.

00:09:18.159 --> 00:09:20.319
 He doesn't say how much he's going to give them at all.

00:09:20.860 --> 00:09:23.980
 But, you know, they're grateful to have anything at that hour.

00:09:24.259 --> 00:09:25.840
 You know, you've been waiting there all day.

00:09:26.139 --> 00:09:29.379
 You know you can't pay anything for your family.

00:09:29.779 --> 00:09:33.639
 And just imagine they will take anything, no matter how small it is,

00:09:33.639 --> 00:09:38.019
 and imagine their delight when the master says,

00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:40.299
 you've got a whole day's wages.

00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:45.019
 You can go home to your family with your head held high,

00:09:45.259 --> 00:09:48.559
 and you can be proud that you've provided.

00:09:50.600 --> 00:09:53.319
 And I think the other workers would also feel,

00:09:53.439 --> 00:09:56.439
 this master, this owner, wow, he's generous.

00:09:57.779 --> 00:10:01.639
 He's given us all that we need so that we can provide for our families.

00:10:01.639 --> 00:10:07.539
 But the first ones, you know, it wasn't about the money,

00:10:08.100 --> 00:10:11.899
 because I think if they'd started with $25,000 first, they'd have been happy.

00:10:12.740 --> 00:10:15.039
 It wasn't about the money, it was about the comparison.

00:10:16.620 --> 00:10:21.679
 Because they've taken the bulk of the work, so they expect more.

00:10:21.679 --> 00:10:25.379
 And when the owner gives them only the same amount,

00:10:25.799 --> 00:10:29.719
 they look at the others who've only done one hour's work,

00:10:29.959 --> 00:10:35.459
 and they say, how dare you make us equal to these unemployed scum?

00:10:36.439 --> 00:10:38.759
 Because nobody else would hire them.

00:10:40.779 --> 00:10:42.500
 But look what we did for you.

00:10:43.659 --> 00:10:45.839
 Is it fair that we get the same as them?

00:10:46.779 --> 00:10:47.359
 Is it fair?

00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:58.180
 You see, complaining, grumbling, anger, criticism,

00:10:58.539 --> 00:11:00.620
 they don't care about other people.

00:11:01.320 --> 00:11:04.860
 They don't care that the others actually are able to provide for their family.

00:11:04.980 --> 00:11:06.279
 They're only interested in themselves.

00:11:06.279 --> 00:11:11.720
 And it's really interesting the way the employer replies.

00:11:11.860 --> 00:11:14.279
 He says, yeah, I'm being totally fair to you.

00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:15.620
 I'm being totally fair.

00:11:15.679 --> 00:11:16.759
 We agreed, yeah?

00:11:16.899 --> 00:11:17.379
 It's the deal.

00:11:17.620 --> 00:11:18.639
 We agreed on this.

00:11:19.139 --> 00:11:21.539
 And you can go home with pride to your family,

00:11:21.740 --> 00:11:26.699
 but I want these others to also experience my generosity and my grace,

00:11:26.860 --> 00:11:29.039
 and to go home to their families,

00:11:29.039 --> 00:11:33.620
 and to have that same excitement and gratitude.

00:11:36.819 --> 00:11:37.759
 But it's fascinating.

00:11:37.860 --> 00:11:41.459
 This parable, Jesus tells it in the context he's got religious leaders

00:11:41.459 --> 00:11:44.519
 who think they have worked very hard for God.

00:11:45.740 --> 00:11:49.679
 And then around him, Jesus is coming to tax collectors and sinners,

00:11:49.799 --> 00:11:50.899
 and he's hanging out with them,

00:11:50.899 --> 00:11:52.519
 and the religious people are angry.

00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:56.459
 How can you hang out with scum?

00:11:57.419 --> 00:11:58.620
 Was what they were thinking.

00:11:59.699 --> 00:12:02.939
 But the thing is, in this parable, the parable actually doesn't finish.

00:12:03.079 --> 00:12:09.919
 We don't know how the first laborers respond to the way the master answers them.

00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:12.779
 And you know, Jesus does this quite often in parables.

00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:13.360
 You know why?

00:12:14.500 --> 00:12:16.299
 Because he wants to make you uncomfortable.

00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:21.019
 He wants you to put yourself in the story and to say,

00:12:21.019 --> 00:12:23.559
 okay, who am I in the story?

00:12:24.699 --> 00:12:26.919
 Who am I in that story?

00:12:26.919 --> 00:12:35.099
 How do I respond to the grace and graciousness of my master God?

00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:42.299
 Do I respond with gratitude or with grumbling?

00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:45.240
 Gratitude or grumbling?

00:12:46.899 --> 00:12:48.259
 Because here's the point.

00:12:48.339 --> 00:12:52.279
 There are two ways you can respond to the way God shows grace in your life.

00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:58.360
 You can respond by taking it for granted, by feeling, I'm entitled to it.

00:12:58.839 --> 00:12:59.939
 I deserve it.

00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:02.740
 And then if you don't get what you think you deserve,

00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:06.319
 then you grumble, you complain, you're bitter, you're angry.

00:13:07.199 --> 00:13:09.919
 You're, oh, God is not good.

00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:19.199
 Or you can realize just how generous and merciful and compassionate God is to you personally.

00:13:19.519 --> 00:13:22.240
 Not just in general, but to you personally.

00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:29.279
 And you can rejoice in God's grace to others as well as to yourself.

00:13:30.319 --> 00:13:30.519
 Okay?

00:13:31.319 --> 00:13:34.620
 So I want to just unpack a little bit this idea of gratitude,

00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:35.819
 and then we'll have a look at grumbling.

00:13:35.820 --> 00:13:37.700
 So first think about gratitude.

00:13:37.820 --> 00:13:42.320
 Gratitude, actually, the word comes from a Latin word, which means given gift.

00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:43.260
 Okay?

00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:44.280
 Given gift.

00:13:44.800 --> 00:13:50.120
 And the world's leading researcher on gratitude, which is a great title.

00:13:50.180 --> 00:13:51.140
 I'd love to be called that.

00:13:51.520 --> 00:13:51.680
 Okay?

00:13:51.900 --> 00:14:00.440
 Says, gratitude affirms the goodness in your life, the gifts, the blessings that you have received,

00:14:00.660 --> 00:14:04.020
 and recognizes that none of it comes from you.

00:14:04.019 --> 00:14:07.039
 It is unearned.

00:14:07.419 --> 00:14:08.340
 Because think about it.

00:14:08.919 --> 00:14:13.379
 I don't wake up in the morning, look in the mirror at myself and say,

00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:15.659
 Chris, I'm so grateful for you.

00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:20.439
 That's what we call arrogance, isn't it?

00:14:20.939 --> 00:14:22.379
 It doesn't come from me.

00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:25.939
 It's always got to be someone from outside of me.

00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:26.500
 Okay?

00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:29.779
 And gratitude is not just a feeling either.

00:14:29.779 --> 00:14:34.139
 It's a choice to focus more on what you have than what you don't have.

00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:39.639
 Because ungrateful people always focus more on what they don't have than what they have.

00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:44.740
 Now, I've been looking at a few studies recently.

00:14:44.919 --> 00:14:48.600
 And do you know, gratitude is one of those big areas of research at the moment.

00:14:49.539 --> 00:14:52.620
 Berkeley and lots of other institutions are doing massive amounts of research.

00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:56.500
 There's hundreds and thousands of studies on gratitude at the moment.

00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:58.059
 And do you know what they find?

00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:00.240
 These are secular studies.

00:15:00.700 --> 00:15:04.519
 They find that gratitude is essential for the enjoyment of life.

00:15:05.460 --> 00:15:07.480
 Gratitude is essential for the enjoyment of life.

00:15:08.039 --> 00:15:09.059
 Here's just a few of the results.

00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:09.879
 I could go on and on.

00:15:10.100 --> 00:15:11.259
 It leads to closer relationships.

00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:12.399
 It leads to greater happiness.

00:15:12.759 --> 00:15:15.559
 Grateful people are less lonely, less depressed, more generous, more forgiving.

00:15:15.659 --> 00:15:16.299
 They achieve more.

00:15:16.519 --> 00:15:17.200
 They sleep better.

00:15:17.299 --> 00:15:19.120
 Their health is overall improved.

00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:20.259
 They have lower blood pressure.

00:15:20.580 --> 00:15:21.620
 They have healthier kidneys.

00:15:21.740 --> 00:15:22.759
 They smoke and drink less.

00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:25.179
 And we could go on and on and on and on.

00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:26.899
 Go and look on Google afterwards.

00:15:27.220 --> 00:15:28.360
 Research gratitude studies.

00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:32.720
 You will see across every culture the results are unanimous.

00:15:33.080 --> 00:15:34.840
 Gratitude is good for you.

00:15:35.259 --> 00:15:38.159
 Gratitude is essential to knowing how to live well.

00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:40.700
 That's what all the studies show.

00:15:42.419 --> 00:15:49.360
 And it's clear if you think about Hong Kong that actually there is a gratitude problem.

00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:56.800
 Because I don't know if you realize, but in Hong Kong they're actually researching in hospitals, schools, and businesses.

00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:59.740
 And they're doing what they're calling gratitude interventions.

00:16:00.560 --> 00:16:02.019
 Which sounds like we need help.

00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:02.620
 Okay?

00:16:03.379 --> 00:16:11.240
 Because they recognize that whether it's nurses, doctors, teachers, business people, that people are stressed out.

00:16:12.180 --> 00:16:16.740
 That people actually, there's a figure, 80% of people feel under great pressure of work.

00:16:16.740 --> 00:16:20.560
 And there is huge job dissatisfaction and discontent in Hong Kong.

00:16:20.740 --> 00:16:27.940
 So they're trying to take the research and bring it in and think, if we can make people say thank you a bit more, then maybe they'll be happier.

00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:29.340
 Maybe they'll work better.

00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:32.200
 Maybe the economy will just be far greater.

00:16:33.240 --> 00:16:33.680
 Interesting.

00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:39.960
 But you know, research is simply saying what the Bible's been saying for 3,000 years.

00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:43.039
 They could have saved a lot of money, actually, if they just read the Bible.

00:16:43.220 --> 00:16:45.060
 But we won't hold that against them.

00:16:45.059 --> 00:16:57.599
 But the problem that I find with the secular approach to gratitude is while I think there are many people we can thank who do many good things in our lives,

00:16:58.239 --> 00:17:01.899
 actually so many of the things in our lives don't come from people.

00:17:02.819 --> 00:17:03.579
 Think of your health.

00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:06.299
 Think of just the beautiful sunsets.

00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:13.259
 There are so many things that if you are not a Christian and you don't believe in a personal God, then who have you got to thank?

00:17:14.440 --> 00:17:17.779
 Who have you got to thank when you look out at the trees and you look out at the scars?

00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:28.700
 You know, there's a guy who's a very strong opponent of Christianity, who claimed to be a strong Christian and then turned away from his faith.

00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:31.639
 He's called Bart Ehrman, if you ever heard of him.

00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:33.080
 And it's fascinating.

00:17:33.180 --> 00:17:43.680
 One of the things he said was when he rejected his faith, the thing that he misses most is that when he looks out at the beauty and goodness in the world, he's got nobody to thank for.

00:17:45.080 --> 00:17:46.060
 Isn't that interesting?

00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:55.579
 Because if you've got nobody to thank, then if the research is correct, then your life and your enjoyment of life is going to be depreciated.

00:17:58.519 --> 00:18:03.419
 The Bible says we were made to give thanks and praise to God.

00:18:04.659 --> 00:18:09.539
 In fact, to be a Christian is to be someone who is thankful.

00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:13.740
 That is one of the definitions of what it means to be a Christian.

00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:21.759
 All your service is motivated not by, okay, God, you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.

00:18:21.940 --> 00:18:31.160
 But it's motivated by, God, you have graciously gifted us with so many things and my life is now a thanksgiving offering back to you.

00:18:32.059 --> 00:18:32.579
 Thankfulness.

00:18:34.620 --> 00:18:40.519
 If I was going to put it even more strongly, I can tell you what God's will for you is.

00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:42.779
 You can give me $1,000 afterwards.

00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:50.119
 But I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that I know what God's will for each one of you is.

00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:54.900
 1 Thessalonians 5.18.

00:18:55.180 --> 00:18:55.920
 It says this.

00:18:55.920 --> 00:19:06.039
 Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you.

00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:07.960
 Did you see that?

00:19:07.980 --> 00:19:11.159
 There was a little word in there which was all, okay?

00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:13.099
 Remember that word, okay?

00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:14.799
 That is God's will for you.

00:19:15.099 --> 00:19:17.399
 The Colossians passage that we read, it says,

00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:32.340
 Whatever you do, whether you're cleaning up your child's vomit, whether you're responding to emails, whether you're trying to reply to your annoying boss, whatever you do, do it all in the name of Jesus giving thanks to God.

00:19:32.339 --> 00:19:34.519
 So what is he saying?

00:19:35.339 --> 00:19:48.039
 Everything you say, everything you do, in every circumstance, no matter whether it's good or bad, God's will for you is that you begin to see every situation as a gift of grace from God.

00:19:51.159 --> 00:19:52.619
 Anyone feeling uncomfortable yet?

00:19:52.619 --> 00:19:58.979
 You see, we're meant to live life out of an attitude of gratitude, okay?

00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:04.519
 When your boss takes the credit for the work that you've done, attitude of gratitude.

00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:08.919
 God, thank you that I am growing in my security in you.

00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:12.699
 I don't need approval from anybody else because my value's in you.

00:20:12.700 --> 00:20:22.640
 When your kid is so hyperactive and you just want them to just sit down for a minute, you say, attitude of gratitude, thank you, God, you are teaching me patience.

00:20:24.860 --> 00:20:26.080
 And I love it.

00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:26.680
 No.

00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:31.220
 You see, it's not just a feeling, it's a choice, okay?

00:20:31.799 --> 00:20:41.900
 When your friends post up on Facebook those amazing Christmas vacation pictures and you've been stuck in the office all over Christmas, attitude of gratitude.

00:20:42.700 --> 00:20:46.279
 Thank you, God, that you gave them an amazing time.

00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:53.819
 But how free is that?

00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:57.220
 If you can live like that, how free are you?

00:20:57.680 --> 00:21:06.240
 Because you're free from the bitterness, you're free from the envy, you're free from the jealousy and the frustration that grip us and actually make us so depressed in life.

00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:07.100
 Yeah?

00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:12.460
 So you can go on Facebook and not feel depressed but give praise, okay?

00:21:12.700 --> 00:21:19.080
 Because God commands you to give thanks in all circumstances.

00:21:19.600 --> 00:21:19.700
 Why?

00:21:20.460 --> 00:21:26.120
 Because God knows that when you give thanks, it's actually the way that you will flourish in life.

00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:28.580
 God wants you to flourish in life.

00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:31.200
 That's why he tells you, give thanks.

00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:32.799
 Gratitude.

00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:38.940
 Does that mean that you don't ever struggle, that you kind of float through life with a glorious hallelujah?

00:21:39.139 --> 00:21:39.419
 No.

00:21:40.379 --> 00:21:42.619
 Sometimes we might scream in frustration.

00:21:43.419 --> 00:21:46.919
 Sometimes there are times we just, ah!

00:21:46.920 --> 00:21:51.960
 But if you read Psalm 13, I encourage you, read it afterwards.

00:21:52.580 --> 00:21:56.200
 It starts with, how long, oh God, is this going on for?

00:21:56.440 --> 00:22:03.920
 And it finishes with, I will sing to the Lord for he has been good to me.

00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:09.759
 That's always the trajectory that God is always taking you on in your life.

00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:14.240
 From how long to God has been good for me.

00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:16.480
 That is God's will for your life.

00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:28.400
 But you know, if I'm honest, when I look at my life, yeah, sometimes I do give thanks.

00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:32.500
 You know, I give thanks, you know, before a meal I pray and give thanks to God.

00:22:32.900 --> 00:22:37.519
 But you know, sometimes that can just be a ritual.

00:22:37.880 --> 00:22:38.779
 You know, something I do.

00:22:38.779 --> 00:22:42.220
 It's a platitude.

00:22:43.619 --> 00:22:45.879
 Something I just say for the sake of it.

00:22:47.379 --> 00:22:51.359
 And when gratitude is a platitude, you know you've lost the attitude.

00:22:51.879 --> 00:22:52.000
 Okay?

00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:53.920
 Remember that.

00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:54.879
 Okay?

00:22:55.319 --> 00:23:00.359
 Because when it's just become something I say and it's not come from my heart,

00:23:02.259 --> 00:23:06.119
 I've lost the fact that actually it's a personal gift from God.

00:23:06.119 --> 00:23:10.099
 That food is a personal gift of grace to you.

00:23:11.979 --> 00:23:17.299
 So why does things, if I think in my life that often I end up just grumbling,

00:23:17.739 --> 00:23:23.719
 just being discontent, why do we get to grumble so much?

00:23:24.299 --> 00:23:28.500
 So here we're just going to think about grumbling for a little while.

00:23:29.239 --> 00:23:30.299
 Why do we grumble?

00:23:30.419 --> 00:23:32.859
 Why do the workers in the story grumble?

00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:39.479
 They grumble because they feel entitled to God's gifts.

00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:42.279
 They feel entitled to God's gifts.

00:23:42.839 --> 00:23:48.139
 The first laborers, they forgot that their employment was actually a gift.

00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:49.039
 Did you notice?

00:23:49.319 --> 00:23:50.839
 They were unemployed as well.

00:23:51.479 --> 00:23:51.559
 Yeah?

00:23:51.719 --> 00:23:55.379
 They could have been waiting out there like the people at the fifth hour,

00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:57.759
 like the five o'clock at the end.

00:23:57.759 --> 00:24:02.559
 But no, it was the master graciously gifted them with employment.

00:24:03.900 --> 00:24:07.680
 And he graciously chose how much he was going to pay them.

00:24:07.859 --> 00:24:11.480
 And he was going to pay them as much as they needed for that day.

00:24:12.660 --> 00:24:16.039
 And he comes to them and they've forgotten this.

00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:17.059
 Do you notice?

00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:19.400
 By the end, because they've been working hard, they've forgotten it.

00:24:19.400 --> 00:24:23.519
 And the master in verse 15, he has to say to them,

00:24:24.420 --> 00:24:27.860
 am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?

00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:33.280
 Literally, it says, am I not free to do what I choose with my things?

00:24:35.620 --> 00:24:40.880
 Are you telling me that you think you know how to deal with my things better than I do?

00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:43.380
 Who's the master here?

00:24:43.380 --> 00:24:48.540
 And because they thought they'd worked hard, they thought they deserved it.

00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:51.800
 They thought they were entitled to it.

00:24:52.500 --> 00:24:55.000
 They thought the master owed them something.

00:24:56.640 --> 00:24:57.340
 It's interesting.

00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:59.220
 I was having a shower the other day.

00:24:59.520 --> 00:24:59.980
 I do.

00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:03.760
 And I turned on the hot water.

00:25:04.580 --> 00:25:05.580
 And do you know what came out?

00:25:07.020 --> 00:25:08.960
 Freezing cold water.

00:25:09.420 --> 00:25:10.920
 You know, it's quite cold at the moment.

00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:12.460
 It's not a great combination.

00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:15.100
 A cold bathroom with cold water.

00:25:15.580 --> 00:25:20.240
 At that point, while I was shivering there, cursing the water heater,

00:25:20.759 --> 00:25:23.400
 complaining about how the management was so bad,

00:25:23.820 --> 00:25:27.160
 and then a moment of revelation came to me.

00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:29.800
 I don't know if it does to you in a shower.

00:25:29.880 --> 00:25:30.800
 It does occasionally to me.

00:25:31.380 --> 00:25:35.420
 It said, why did I think I had right to any hot water?

00:25:35.420 --> 00:25:42.940
 I mean, because I remember a long time ago,

00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:44.800
 I worked in a garden center for a while,

00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:50.660
 and I used to have to wash the cups of about 20, 30 workers

00:25:50.660 --> 00:25:56.320
 outside in the middle of the British winter with cold water.

00:25:57.160 --> 00:26:00.460
 Now, if you've ever done that, it was a painful experience,

00:26:00.539 --> 00:26:01.400
 but I got used to it.

00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:05.340
 But here, I've been having hot showers,

00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:08.840
 and never once have I ever expressed any sense of gratitude

00:26:08.840 --> 00:26:09.820
 for having a hot shower.

00:26:10.460 --> 00:26:11.519
 I've taken it for granted.

00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.700
 I'm entitled to it.

00:26:12.740 --> 00:26:16.200
 So when I don't get it, what do I feel?

00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.200
 Frustrated.

00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:19.420
 Angry.

00:26:20.540 --> 00:26:22.380
 Because it's my right.

00:26:22.380 --> 00:26:28.280
 But, you know, actually, as I did without it for a while,

00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:30.400
 we've got hot water now.

00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:30.780
 It's okay.

00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:32.100
 You don't have to invite us around.

00:26:34.120 --> 00:26:36.500
 But as I did without it,

00:26:36.560 --> 00:26:39.880
 suddenly I grew in my appreciation of the fact

00:26:39.880 --> 00:26:43.140
 of the gift that I'd been given all that time,

00:26:43.360 --> 00:26:44.460
 which I'd taken for granted.

00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:47.260
 And, you know, when you do without something,

00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:49.080
 you often notice how important it is.

00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:50.679
 For example, knees.

00:26:52.359 --> 00:26:54.759
 Did any of you think about your knees as you walked in?

00:26:56.879 --> 00:26:57.279
 Anyone?

00:26:58.599 --> 00:27:00.960
 I imagine the only people who thought about their knees

00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:03.179
 were the people who were in any pain, right?

00:27:04.919 --> 00:27:06.199
 Or eyes.

00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:09.460
 This morning, when you woke up, did you say,

00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:11.819
 Hallelujah, I can see.

00:27:12.460 --> 00:27:12.779
 Anyone?

00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:12.859
 Anyone?

00:27:14.920 --> 00:27:15.539
 Why not?

00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:20.779
 Because, I mean, did you do anything to get your eyes?

00:27:21.539 --> 00:27:23.319
 Did you kind of put in, like,

00:27:23.399 --> 00:27:24.980
 help 15 old ladies across the road,

00:27:25.019 --> 00:27:26.160
 and God said, oh, I'll give you an eye?

00:27:26.420 --> 00:27:26.720
 No.

00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:29.339
 Okay?

00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:31.559
 It's pure gift.

00:27:31.859 --> 00:27:32.839
 It's grace.

00:27:32.839 --> 00:27:37.019
 And we could go through thousands and thousands and thousands of things

00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:39.579
 every moment of every single day,

00:27:39.699 --> 00:27:41.359
 which we take for granted,

00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:43.000
 which are pure gift,

00:27:43.319 --> 00:27:43.980
 which actually,

00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:47.500
 we've done nothing to earn them.

00:27:48.899 --> 00:27:52.419
 And the lavishness of the gifts that God graces us with

00:27:52.419 --> 00:27:55.740
 makes Santa look like a cheapskate for giving only once a year.

00:27:55.740 --> 00:28:03.120
 Because when,

00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:06.380
 I think probably the time when this really came across to me most strongly

00:28:06.380 --> 00:28:09.259
 was a few years ago,

00:28:09.299 --> 00:28:10.039
 my brother died.

00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:12.019
 And he had brain cancer,

00:28:12.380 --> 00:28:14.779
 and two weeks later he died,

00:28:14.839 --> 00:28:17.039
 and we were there in the bedroom when he died.

00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:22.559
 And when he took his final breath,

00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:26.859
 and this is going to sound very weird,

00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:31.119
 but actually it was one of the most awesome experiences that I've ever had.

00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:35.579
 Because at that moment when he died,

00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:40.119
 I suddenly realized

00:28:40.119 --> 00:28:43.200
 that it was like someone had just said,

00:28:43.359 --> 00:28:43.879
 time's up,

00:28:44.159 --> 00:28:45.539
 and pulled the plug.

00:28:46.859 --> 00:28:48.099
 And I realized,

00:28:49.099 --> 00:28:50.139
 you know,

00:28:50.140 --> 00:28:52.600
 every breath I breathe

00:28:52.600 --> 00:28:55.520
 is a gift.

00:28:56.940 --> 00:28:58.620
 Somebody could just pull the plug.

00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:02.120
 God could just pull the plug any moment,

00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:03.460
 any time.

00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:05.380
 And yet,

00:29:05.540 --> 00:29:07.720
 he has graced me with another day,

00:29:08.060 --> 00:29:08.759
 another hour,

00:29:09.100 --> 00:29:09.680
 another minute.

00:29:11.280 --> 00:29:12.360
 And it's a gift.

00:29:13.620 --> 00:29:14.460
 It's a gift.

00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:18.799
 And that extra day

00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:20.039
 might be a difficult day.

00:29:21.259 --> 00:29:22.860
 But it's a gift from God

00:29:22.860 --> 00:29:23.920
 to help you grow,

00:29:24.220 --> 00:29:25.340
 to be more like him.

00:29:25.480 --> 00:29:27.900
 So you don't get fixated on his gifts,

00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:29.860
 but you get fixated on the giver.

00:29:30.420 --> 00:29:31.980
 When he takes things away,

00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:33.660
 that's what God's wanting you to do.

00:29:33.900 --> 00:29:36.019
 He doesn't want you to make idols out of his gifts.

00:29:36.019 --> 00:29:38.279
 And if he gives you a good day

00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:39.839
 where you get the things that you want,

00:29:40.119 --> 00:29:41.139
 he's wanting you to get,

00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:42.559
 respond with gratitude

00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:44.839
 to realize his generosity towards us.

00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:48.299
 And so,

00:29:48.639 --> 00:29:49.279
 our intelligence,

00:29:49.539 --> 00:29:50.039
 our health,

00:29:50.139 --> 00:29:50.920
 our education,

00:29:51.119 --> 00:29:51.900
 the opportunities,

00:29:52.279 --> 00:29:53.099
 many of these things

00:29:53.099 --> 00:29:53.859
 have been decided

00:29:53.859 --> 00:29:54.700
 largely

00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:57.119
 without us,

00:29:57.599 --> 00:29:58.799
 outside of us.

00:29:58.799 --> 00:30:00.339
 and yet,

00:30:00.519 --> 00:30:01.399
 we often think,

00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:04.319
 I'm entitled to what I have

00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:06.279
 because of the hard work I've put in.

00:30:07.419 --> 00:30:07.639
 You know,

00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:08.319
 it's a bit like

00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:10.399
 the kid who's given a Christmas present.

00:30:11.299 --> 00:30:11.759
 And you know,

00:30:11.779 --> 00:30:12.839
 it's wrapped very well.

00:30:13.059 --> 00:30:15.019
 And they spend like 10 minutes

00:30:15.019 --> 00:30:15.899
 opening the wrapping.

00:30:16.659 --> 00:30:17.220
 And then,

00:30:17.319 --> 00:30:17.980
 at the end of it,

00:30:18.019 --> 00:30:18.399
 they say,

00:30:18.680 --> 00:30:19.059
 wow,

00:30:19.399 --> 00:30:21.139
 didn't I open the wrapping well?

00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:22.419
 I deserve the present.

00:30:25.419 --> 00:30:26.339
 All of life

00:30:26.339 --> 00:30:27.359
 is a gift

00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:28.700
 from the beginning

00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:29.539
 to end.

00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:31.200
 Our work

00:30:31.200 --> 00:30:32.620
 is the response

00:30:32.620 --> 00:30:33.319
 to grace.

00:30:34.140 --> 00:30:35.559
 It doesn't earn grace.

00:30:37.819 --> 00:30:38.299
 So,

00:30:38.380 --> 00:30:39.100
 that's one of the reasons

00:30:39.100 --> 00:30:39.580
 why

00:30:39.580 --> 00:30:40.640
 we grumble

00:30:40.640 --> 00:30:41.640
 because we feel

00:30:41.640 --> 00:30:42.240
 entitled

00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:43.620
 to what we have

00:30:43.620 --> 00:30:44.600
 and we forget

00:30:44.600 --> 00:30:45.420
 that it's a gift.

00:30:46.759 --> 00:30:47.500
 Another reason

00:30:47.500 --> 00:30:49.400
 is we make

00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:51.019
 self-righteous comparisons.

00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:52.900
 If you look in the story,

00:30:53.400 --> 00:30:53.920
 do you notice

00:30:53.920 --> 00:30:55.100
 that the workers,

00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:56.100
 and we've said this already,

00:30:56.200 --> 00:30:57.360
 the workers were not lazy,

00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:57.920
 right?

00:30:57.920 --> 00:30:59.100
 The workers were not lazy.

00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:01.700
 They worked hard.

00:31:02.380 --> 00:31:03.800
 But they worked harder

00:31:03.800 --> 00:31:04.779
 than the other people.

00:31:05.480 --> 00:31:05.860
 And so,

00:31:05.960 --> 00:31:06.400
 they thought

00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:07.259
 they deserved

00:31:07.259 --> 00:31:08.519
 better treatment.

00:31:09.400 --> 00:31:09.519
 Okay?

00:31:10.320 --> 00:31:10.759
 You see,

00:31:11.180 --> 00:31:11.779
 verse 12,

00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:12.380
 it says,

00:31:12.380 --> 00:31:14.140
 these last work

00:31:14.140 --> 00:31:15.040
 only one hour

00:31:15.040 --> 00:31:16.740
 and you have made

00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:18.080
 them equal

00:31:18.080 --> 00:31:19.160
 to us

00:31:19.160 --> 00:31:20.160
 who have borne

00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:20.740
 the burden

00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:21.480
 of the day

00:31:21.480 --> 00:31:23.420
 and the scorching heat.

00:31:23.420 --> 00:31:24.020
 You see,

00:31:24.200 --> 00:31:25.440
 they've got so wrapped up

00:31:25.440 --> 00:31:26.780
 in what they have done

00:31:26.780 --> 00:31:28.600
 that they've lost sight

00:31:28.600 --> 00:31:29.440
 of anybody else.

00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:30.520
 They've lost sight

00:31:30.520 --> 00:31:31.100
 of grace

00:31:31.100 --> 00:31:32.300
 to anybody else.

00:31:33.020 --> 00:31:34.060
 They're comparing

00:31:34.060 --> 00:31:35.040
 themselves to everyone

00:31:35.040 --> 00:31:35.660
 and they think

00:31:35.660 --> 00:31:36.380
 they're superior

00:31:36.380 --> 00:31:37.260
 and the other

00:31:37.260 --> 00:31:38.460
 is less than them.

00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:40.120
 Now,

00:31:40.680 --> 00:31:41.400
 here's the danger

00:31:41.400 --> 00:31:42.000
 for us.

00:31:43.180 --> 00:31:44.279
 Some of us serve

00:31:44.279 --> 00:31:45.019
 very faithfully.

00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:46.539
 We lead community groups.

00:31:46.900 --> 00:31:47.500
 We help people

00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:48.620
 in the kids' ministry.

00:31:49.079 --> 00:31:50.160
 We serve people

00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:50.799
 meals

00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:51.860
 when they're having babies.

00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:53.160
 And the danger is

00:31:53.160 --> 00:31:54.420
 with all the good things

00:31:54.420 --> 00:31:55.140
 that people do

00:31:55.140 --> 00:31:56.180
 that we begin to say,

00:31:56.299 --> 00:31:57.000
 I'm doing okay.

00:31:57.000 --> 00:31:59.180
 I'm not that bad

00:31:59.180 --> 00:32:00.440
 compared to everybody else.

00:32:03.359 --> 00:32:03.900
 And now,

00:32:04.259 --> 00:32:05.359
 maybe we don't say

00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:05.900
 that out loud,

00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:06.960
 but subconsciously

00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:07.480
 we may admit

00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:09.119
 we actually think that.

00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:10.019
 And do you know,

00:32:10.859 --> 00:32:12.319
 how can we tell?

00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:13.200
 How can you tell

00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:14.440
 if you actually begin

00:32:14.440 --> 00:32:15.819
 to get that full sense

00:32:15.819 --> 00:32:16.720
 of comparison

00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:17.480
 with others?

00:32:18.700 --> 00:32:19.960
 Think how you react

00:32:19.960 --> 00:32:20.460
 to people

00:32:20.460 --> 00:32:22.880
 who don't live up

00:32:22.880 --> 00:32:23.779
 to your standards.

00:32:25.119 --> 00:32:25.240
 Okay?

00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:27.740
 If you are good

00:32:27.740 --> 00:32:28.420
 at disciplining

00:32:28.420 --> 00:32:29.099
 your children,

00:32:30.039 --> 00:32:30.960
 how do you react

00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:32.500
 when somebody comes in

00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:34.120
 and their kids are wild

00:32:34.120 --> 00:32:36.000
 and their parents

00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:36.620
 don't seem to be

00:32:36.620 --> 00:32:37.259
 disciplining them?

00:32:38.359 --> 00:32:39.319
 Do you ever get critical?

00:32:40.279 --> 00:32:40.940
 Do you ever kind of

00:32:40.940 --> 00:32:41.640
 look down on them

00:32:41.640 --> 00:32:42.000
 thinking,

00:32:42.180 --> 00:32:42.279
 well,

00:32:42.420 --> 00:32:43.299
 what kind of parents

00:32:43.299 --> 00:32:43.680
 are they?

00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:45.079
 You know,

00:32:45.259 --> 00:32:45.859
 someone needs to have

00:32:45.859 --> 00:32:46.420
 a word with them.

00:32:47.859 --> 00:32:48.839
 Are you a hard worker?

00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:50.500
 Then you'll probably

00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:51.359
 look down on people

00:32:51.359 --> 00:32:51.900
 who are lazy.

00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:53.940
 Are you caring?

00:32:55.240 --> 00:32:56.120
 Then you'll probably

00:32:56.120 --> 00:32:57.140
 despise people

00:32:57.140 --> 00:32:58.339
 you think don't care

00:32:58.339 --> 00:32:59.740
 enough about other people.

00:33:01.039 --> 00:33:01.620
 Do you know

00:33:01.620 --> 00:33:02.519
 who I look down on?

00:33:04.380 --> 00:33:05.859
 People who jump queues.

00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:08.759
 Because I'm British

00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:10.000
 and queuing

00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:10.980
 is a national sport.

00:33:13.099 --> 00:33:13.660
 You see,

00:33:13.920 --> 00:33:15.099
 I can be waiting

00:33:15.099 --> 00:33:16.720
 patiently in line

00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:17.500
 at the MTR

00:33:17.500 --> 00:33:18.079
 in a good,

00:33:18.160 --> 00:33:18.559
 British,

00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:19.460
 dignified manner

00:33:19.460 --> 00:33:21.000
 and the doors open

00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:22.480
 and then just as

00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:23.620
 I'm about to walk in

00:33:23.620 --> 00:33:25.000
 this little old lady

00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:27.319
 pushes right in front of me,

00:33:27.539 --> 00:33:28.240
 kind of knocks me

00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:28.860
 out of the way

00:33:28.860 --> 00:33:30.640
 and charges into the carriage.

00:33:33.039 --> 00:33:34.279
 My response

00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:36.600
 is a dignified one.

00:33:39.059 --> 00:33:40.400
 It's one of the

00:33:40.400 --> 00:33:41.759
 great British exports.

00:33:41.759 --> 00:33:42.440
 It's the

00:33:42.440 --> 00:33:44.039
 kind of contemptuous

00:33:44.039 --> 00:33:49.819
 Can we all do that

00:33:49.819 --> 00:33:50.180
 for a moment?

00:33:51.779 --> 00:33:52.339
 Beautiful.

00:33:54.220 --> 00:33:54.980
 You see,

00:33:55.680 --> 00:33:56.779
 and then I do the look

00:33:56.779 --> 00:33:57.720
 afterwards.

00:33:58.079 --> 00:33:58.240
 Okay?

00:33:59.440 --> 00:34:00.019
 And you know,

00:34:00.140 --> 00:34:01.379
 it gets even worse

00:34:01.379 --> 00:34:02.879
 when somebody

00:34:02.879 --> 00:34:03.779
 actually offers

00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:04.859
 to stand up

00:34:04.859 --> 00:34:05.900
 and let the lady

00:34:05.900 --> 00:34:06.500
 sit down.

00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:08.400
 At that point,

00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:09.059
 I'm thinking

00:34:09.059 --> 00:34:09.860
 in my mind,

00:34:10.300 --> 00:34:11.420
 what are you doing?

00:34:11.760 --> 00:34:12.960
 Why are you letting

00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:13.880
 that lady

00:34:13.880 --> 00:34:14.620
 sit down?

00:34:14.740 --> 00:34:16.060
 She doesn't deserve it.

00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:17.760
 Don't let her sit down.

00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:18.980
 Kick her in the shins.

00:34:22.020 --> 00:34:23.360
 Is that bad?

00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:23.600
 Sorry,

00:34:23.640 --> 00:34:24.820
 I'm just kind of confessing.

00:34:27.040 --> 00:34:28.280
 We're being honest here,

00:34:28.380 --> 00:34:28.620
 okay?

00:34:29.240 --> 00:34:30.300
 You can come and give me

00:34:30.300 --> 00:34:31.280
 counseling afterwards.

00:34:32.420 --> 00:34:33.020
 You know,

00:34:33.100 --> 00:34:34.280
 for abuse for old people

00:34:34.280 --> 00:34:34.720
 or something.

00:34:34.820 --> 00:34:35.200
 I don't know.

00:34:36.580 --> 00:34:37.020
 But,

00:34:37.220 --> 00:34:38.060
 you know,

00:34:38.120 --> 00:34:38.960
 whatever we think

00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:40.760
 is the acceptable standard

00:34:40.760 --> 00:34:42.420
 and it's our standard,

00:34:43.420 --> 00:34:45.680
 then you'll look down

00:34:45.680 --> 00:34:46.080
 on people

00:34:46.080 --> 00:34:46.940
 who don't seem

00:34:46.940 --> 00:34:47.860
 to make that standard.

00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:49.140
 You'll be critical of them.

00:34:51.840 --> 00:34:53.260
 And maybe that will help you

00:34:53.260 --> 00:34:54.160
 to feel justified

00:34:54.160 --> 00:34:54.920
 about yourself

00:34:54.920 --> 00:34:55.580
 because you'll feel

00:34:55.580 --> 00:34:56.140
 you're okay

00:34:56.140 --> 00:34:56.700
 because you met

00:34:56.700 --> 00:34:57.260
 your standard

00:34:57.260 --> 00:34:59.300
 and they didn't.

00:35:01.020 --> 00:35:01.500
 And you know,

00:35:01.560 --> 00:35:02.240
 the worst thing is

00:35:02.240 --> 00:35:03.580
 in that kind of situation,

00:35:04.060 --> 00:35:05.220
 sometimes I can be

00:35:05.220 --> 00:35:05.640
 on the way

00:35:05.640 --> 00:35:06.840
 to leading a Bible study

00:35:06.840 --> 00:35:08.200
 about God's grace

00:35:08.199 --> 00:35:08.699
 and how God

00:35:08.699 --> 00:35:09.939
 is so gracious to us

00:35:09.939 --> 00:35:10.519
 and he,

00:35:10.759 --> 00:35:11.299
 hallelujah,

00:35:11.460 --> 00:35:12.279
 he's shown his grace

00:35:12.279 --> 00:35:12.939
 and there I have

00:35:12.939 --> 00:35:13.839
 uttered curses

00:35:13.839 --> 00:35:14.639
 and contempt

00:35:14.639 --> 00:35:15.599
 on somebody.

00:35:17.559 --> 00:35:18.099
 Do you know

00:35:18.099 --> 00:35:18.659
 what that is?

00:35:21.019 --> 00:35:22.059
 That's hypocrisy.

00:35:24.299 --> 00:35:25.460
 That's disgusting.

00:35:27.359 --> 00:35:27.980
 That's me.

00:35:27.980 --> 00:35:32.519
 And you know,

00:35:32.760 --> 00:35:33.960
 I don't think

00:35:33.960 --> 00:35:34.719
 I'm the only one

00:35:34.719 --> 00:35:37.579
 because

00:35:37.579 --> 00:35:41.039
 each one of us

00:35:41.039 --> 00:35:42.679
 has areas of lives

00:35:42.679 --> 00:35:44.139
 where we are hypocrites

00:35:44.139 --> 00:35:45.840
 and you know

00:35:45.840 --> 00:35:46.699
 what we try and do?

00:35:47.699 --> 00:35:49.320
 We try and justify ourselves.

00:35:49.880 --> 00:35:51.340
 We try and shift the blame.

00:35:51.820 --> 00:35:53.539
 We try and defend ourselves

00:35:53.539 --> 00:35:54.940
 and we look down

00:35:54.940 --> 00:35:55.460
 on the people

00:35:55.460 --> 00:35:56.260
 who haven't met

00:35:56.260 --> 00:35:56.760
 our standard

00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:57.080
 and say,

00:35:57.200 --> 00:35:57.280
 well,

00:35:57.340 --> 00:35:58.160
 they didn't do that

00:35:58.160 --> 00:35:58.800
 but I did

00:35:58.800 --> 00:35:59.960
 so therefore I'm okay.

00:36:03.440 --> 00:36:04.320
 And you know what?

00:36:05.000 --> 00:36:06.000
 We're all like

00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:08.400
 that woman on the MTR

00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:11.420
 trying to push our way

00:36:11.420 --> 00:36:12.740
 and push God

00:36:12.740 --> 00:36:13.580
 out of the picture

00:36:13.580 --> 00:36:15.280
 saying,

00:36:15.880 --> 00:36:16.500
 I'm entitled

00:36:16.500 --> 00:36:17.580
 to be here.

00:36:17.840 --> 00:36:18.760
 I deserve

00:36:18.760 --> 00:36:19.920
 to be here.

00:36:20.560 --> 00:36:21.500
 I can dictate

00:36:21.500 --> 00:36:22.440
 the terms

00:36:22.440 --> 00:36:23.700
 of my life.

00:36:23.699 --> 00:36:25.919
 I don't want to do

00:36:25.919 --> 00:36:27.139
 what God tells me

00:36:27.139 --> 00:36:27.859
 to give thanks

00:36:27.859 --> 00:36:28.960
 in all circumstances.

00:36:32.359 --> 00:36:33.659
 That's what we're all like.

00:36:35.519 --> 00:36:36.799
 And God calls us

00:36:36.799 --> 00:36:38.000
 to own that

00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:38.699
 and to say,

00:36:38.980 --> 00:36:40.099
 to stop blame shifting,

00:36:40.379 --> 00:36:41.339
 to stop justifying,

00:36:41.439 --> 00:36:41.819
 to say,

00:36:42.199 --> 00:36:43.919
 that is me.

00:36:45.579 --> 00:36:47.439
 That is me.

00:36:47.440 --> 00:36:49.960
 And when you start

00:36:49.960 --> 00:36:50.519
 naming it,

00:36:50.559 --> 00:36:51.720
 it sounds even worse.

00:36:53.220 --> 00:36:54.019
 But do you know what?

00:36:55.139 --> 00:36:56.159
 Just as we're like

00:36:56.159 --> 00:36:56.820
 that woman

00:36:56.820 --> 00:36:58.380
 going on to the MTR,

00:36:59.980 --> 00:37:01.900
 God does not respond

00:37:01.900 --> 00:37:02.599
 to us

00:37:02.599 --> 00:37:03.820
 the way I respond.

00:37:05.619 --> 00:37:06.720
 Because God

00:37:06.720 --> 00:37:08.800
 doesn't pour

00:37:08.800 --> 00:37:09.579
 his anger

00:37:09.579 --> 00:37:10.639
 onto us.

00:37:11.119 --> 00:37:11.659
 Do you know what?

00:37:11.700 --> 00:37:12.740
 He poured his anger

00:37:12.740 --> 00:37:14.000
 onto his son.

00:37:15.260 --> 00:37:16.220
 And do you know what?

00:37:16.219 --> 00:37:17.659
 He stood up

00:37:17.659 --> 00:37:18.839
 to let us sit down.

00:37:19.819 --> 00:37:20.980
 He was hung

00:37:20.980 --> 00:37:22.099
 and strung up

00:37:22.099 --> 00:37:22.819
 on a cross

00:37:22.819 --> 00:37:24.219
 so that we could

00:37:24.219 --> 00:37:24.819
 be seated

00:37:24.819 --> 00:37:26.279
 at his table

00:37:26.279 --> 00:37:27.259
 and enjoy

00:37:27.259 --> 00:37:28.259
 his blessings

00:37:28.259 --> 00:37:29.619
 even though

00:37:29.619 --> 00:37:31.239
 we are hypocrites.

00:37:31.619 --> 00:37:32.199
 We try

00:37:32.199 --> 00:37:33.559
 and justify ourselves.

00:37:35.579 --> 00:37:36.239
 And you know,

00:37:36.339 --> 00:37:37.199
 in this story,

00:37:38.500 --> 00:37:41.919
 many of us

00:37:41.919 --> 00:37:42.339
 are actually

00:37:42.339 --> 00:37:43.339
 more like the person

00:37:43.339 --> 00:37:44.279
 at the last hour

00:37:44.279 --> 00:37:45.139
 who gets hired.

00:37:46.219 --> 00:37:47.719
 because the last hour,

00:37:48.059 --> 00:37:48.619
 when you begin

00:37:48.619 --> 00:37:49.980
 to own your sinner,

00:37:50.099 --> 00:37:50.219
 say,

00:37:50.339 --> 00:37:50.859
 that's me.

00:37:52.339 --> 00:37:53.339
 And you begin

00:37:53.339 --> 00:37:53.939
 to realize

00:37:53.939 --> 00:37:55.079
 those last workers

00:37:55.079 --> 00:37:55.719
 thought they would

00:37:55.719 --> 00:37:56.579
 get nothing.

00:37:58.619 --> 00:37:59.599
 But he gives

00:37:59.599 --> 00:38:00.159
 them everything.

00:38:01.699 --> 00:38:02.759
 That's what God

00:38:02.759 --> 00:38:03.219
 does.

00:38:04.279 --> 00:38:04.759
 And the thing

00:38:04.759 --> 00:38:05.339
 is this,

00:38:05.739 --> 00:38:06.739
 those last workers

00:38:06.739 --> 00:38:07.739
 knew what gratitude

00:38:07.739 --> 00:38:08.319
 was.

00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:10.179
 Because they saw

00:38:10.179 --> 00:38:10.639
 the depth

00:38:10.639 --> 00:38:11.279
 of their sin

00:38:11.279 --> 00:38:11.919
 and they saw

00:38:11.919 --> 00:38:13.019
 the amazingness

00:38:13.019 --> 00:38:14.559
 of God's grace.

00:38:15.280 --> 00:38:16.039
 And until

00:38:16.039 --> 00:38:17.320
 you admit it,

00:38:18.039 --> 00:38:18.719
 who you are,

00:38:18.860 --> 00:38:19.619
 you will never

00:38:19.619 --> 00:38:20.400
 have that

00:38:20.400 --> 00:38:21.239
 overflowing

00:38:21.239 --> 00:38:22.199
 sense of gratitude.

00:38:23.519 --> 00:38:24.099
 Think about it.

00:38:24.119 --> 00:38:25.019
 When did you last

00:38:25.019 --> 00:38:26.460
 burst with excitement

00:38:26.460 --> 00:38:27.500
 over God's grace?

00:38:28.860 --> 00:38:29.659
 If you've been

00:38:29.659 --> 00:38:30.559
 in church a while,

00:38:30.800 --> 00:38:32.099
 think about that question.

00:38:32.440 --> 00:38:33.820
 When did you last

00:38:33.820 --> 00:38:35.199
 burst with excitement

00:38:35.199 --> 00:38:35.860
 over it?

00:38:36.179 --> 00:38:37.320
 Because we know it

00:38:37.320 --> 00:38:38.239
 here if you've

00:38:38.239 --> 00:38:38.920
 heard it before.

00:38:39.400 --> 00:38:40.180
 But I wonder

00:38:40.180 --> 00:38:40.960
 if it captures

00:38:40.960 --> 00:38:41.659
 our hearts

00:38:41.659 --> 00:38:42.300
 yet again.

00:38:42.500 --> 00:38:43.059
 Because we can

00:38:43.059 --> 00:38:43.619
 become like

00:38:43.619 --> 00:38:44.940
 those first workers

00:38:44.940 --> 00:38:46.000
 who think we've

00:38:46.000 --> 00:38:46.579
 worked hard

00:38:46.579 --> 00:38:47.460
 and we earn

00:38:47.460 --> 00:38:48.099
 his grace.

00:38:49.460 --> 00:38:49.920
 But you know,

00:38:49.960 --> 00:38:50.280
 if you know

00:38:50.280 --> 00:38:50.780
 you're the worst

00:38:50.780 --> 00:38:51.280
 of sinners,

00:38:52.180 --> 00:38:52.880
 in the middle

00:38:52.880 --> 00:38:53.440
 of a city

00:38:53.440 --> 00:38:54.920
 which is full

00:38:54.920 --> 00:38:56.780
 of dissatisfaction

00:38:56.780 --> 00:38:57.700
 and discontent,

00:38:58.720 --> 00:38:59.119
 where people

00:38:59.119 --> 00:38:59.720
 are never paid

00:38:59.720 --> 00:39:00.099
 enough,

00:39:01.159 --> 00:39:01.980
 never respected

00:39:01.980 --> 00:39:02.320
 enough,

00:39:02.420 --> 00:39:02.960
 never secure

00:39:02.960 --> 00:39:03.380
 enough,

00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:05.039
 God wants us

00:39:05.039 --> 00:39:05.880
 to be a beacon

00:39:05.880 --> 00:39:06.940
 of light

00:39:06.940 --> 00:39:07.880
 of gratitude.

00:39:08.920 --> 00:39:10.280
 so that when

00:39:10.280 --> 00:39:11.200
 the lady jumps

00:39:11.200 --> 00:39:11.720
 the queue,

00:39:12.720 --> 00:39:13.800
 when someone

00:39:13.800 --> 00:39:14.780
 fails your standard,

00:39:15.360 --> 00:39:16.079
 I can respond

00:39:16.079 --> 00:39:16.639
 with gratitude

00:39:16.639 --> 00:39:17.480
 because I say,

00:39:17.900 --> 00:39:18.519
 if it wasn't

00:39:18.519 --> 00:39:19.119
 for the grace

00:39:19.119 --> 00:39:19.680
 of God,

00:39:20.639 --> 00:39:21.380
 if it wasn't

00:39:21.380 --> 00:39:21.740
 for God

00:39:21.740 --> 00:39:22.360
 gracing me

00:39:22.360 --> 00:39:22.900
 with parents,

00:39:23.039 --> 00:39:23.659
 wasn't for God

00:39:23.659 --> 00:39:24.659
 changing my heart,

00:39:24.720 --> 00:39:25.260
 if it wasn't

00:39:25.260 --> 00:39:25.700
 for God

00:39:25.700 --> 00:39:26.639
 teaching me

00:39:26.639 --> 00:39:27.380
 different things,

00:39:27.480 --> 00:39:28.440
 that would be me.

00:39:30.320 --> 00:39:31.539
 And I can respond

00:39:31.539 --> 00:39:32.539
 with thankfulness

00:39:32.539 --> 00:39:34.659
 even when I have

00:39:34.659 --> 00:39:35.980
 situations

00:39:35.980 --> 00:39:36.840
 which I struggle.

00:39:36.840 --> 00:39:36.920
 people,

00:39:37.400 --> 00:39:38.880
 that's where

00:39:38.880 --> 00:39:39.440
 God's grace

00:39:39.440 --> 00:39:40.079
 is amazing.

00:39:46.400 --> 00:39:47.500
 So the exciting

00:39:47.500 --> 00:39:48.360
 thing about this

00:39:48.360 --> 00:39:48.660
 is,

00:39:49.200 --> 00:39:51.800
 it's not about

00:39:51.800 --> 00:39:53.340
 you being entitled

00:39:53.340 --> 00:39:53.820
 or not,

00:39:54.240 --> 00:39:54.980
 it's about

00:39:54.980 --> 00:39:55.840
 the graciousness

00:39:55.840 --> 00:39:56.340
 of God.

00:39:56.600 --> 00:39:57.160
 If you want

00:39:57.160 --> 00:39:57.539
 to know,

00:39:57.980 --> 00:39:58.519
 if you want

00:39:58.519 --> 00:39:59.300
 to have gratitude

00:39:59.300 --> 00:40:00.280
 in your heart,

00:40:00.360 --> 00:40:00.840
 you've got to

00:40:00.840 --> 00:40:02.640
 realize everything

00:40:02.640 --> 00:40:03.820
 in life is a gift.

00:40:03.820 --> 00:40:03.960
 gift.

00:40:05.160 --> 00:40:05.720
 You've got to

00:40:05.720 --> 00:40:06.780
 realize we

00:40:06.780 --> 00:40:08.019
 don't deserve

00:40:08.019 --> 00:40:09.000
 that gift,

00:40:09.280 --> 00:40:10.059
 but God

00:40:10.059 --> 00:40:11.120
 lavishes it

00:40:11.120 --> 00:40:11.680
 on us.

00:40:12.100 --> 00:40:12.580
 So when I,

00:40:12.620 --> 00:40:13.700
 I can't compare

00:40:13.700 --> 00:40:14.380
 myself to

00:40:14.380 --> 00:40:15.039
 everyone else

00:40:15.039 --> 00:40:16.280
 except in my

00:40:16.280 --> 00:40:16.960
 bankruptcy.

00:40:17.860 --> 00:40:18.920
 And that will

00:40:18.920 --> 00:40:20.100
 release you

00:40:20.100 --> 00:40:21.300
 to give gratitude,

00:40:21.660 --> 00:40:22.539
 to have a heart

00:40:22.539 --> 00:40:23.460
 filled with

00:40:23.460 --> 00:40:23.860
 gratitude.

00:40:24.440 --> 00:40:24.920
 We're going to

00:40:24.920 --> 00:40:25.539
 forget that,

00:40:26.400 --> 00:40:27.180
 I assure you.

00:40:27.500 --> 00:40:28.260
 That's why you

00:40:28.260 --> 00:40:28.920
 need community

00:40:28.920 --> 00:40:29.680
 around us.

00:40:29.920 --> 00:40:31.160
 That's why you

00:40:31.160 --> 00:40:31.920
 need people

00:40:31.920 --> 00:40:32.980
 in your life

00:40:32.980 --> 00:40:33.400
 who are going

00:40:33.400 --> 00:40:33.880
 to say,

00:40:34.619 --> 00:40:36.760
 how are you

00:40:36.760 --> 00:40:37.360
 remembering God's

00:40:37.360 --> 00:40:37.960
 grace in this

00:40:37.960 --> 00:40:38.440
 situation?

00:40:40.360 --> 00:40:41.059
 Are you doing

00:40:41.059 --> 00:40:41.639
 God's will?

00:40:45.639 --> 00:40:46.519
 Here's just a

00:40:46.519 --> 00:40:46.760
 couple of

00:40:46.760 --> 00:40:47.420
 suggestions and

00:40:47.420 --> 00:40:47.659
 then we'll

00:40:47.659 --> 00:40:47.900
 pray.

00:40:49.840 --> 00:40:50.720
 Two prayers,

00:40:50.860 --> 00:40:51.360
 one action.

00:40:52.519 --> 00:40:52.840
 You know,

00:40:53.960 --> 00:40:56.840
 God's grace

00:40:56.840 --> 00:40:57.780
 causes us to

00:40:57.780 --> 00:40:58.260
 respond.

00:40:59.519 --> 00:41:00.539
 But I often

00:41:00.539 --> 00:41:01.139
 need to pray

00:41:01.139 --> 00:41:01.440
 this.

00:41:01.440 --> 00:41:01.880
 God,

00:41:02.019 --> 00:41:03.079
 help me to

00:41:03.079 --> 00:41:04.039
 see my

00:41:04.039 --> 00:41:04.559
 need of

00:41:04.559 --> 00:41:04.940
 grace.

00:41:05.240 --> 00:41:05.639
 Because I

00:41:05.639 --> 00:41:06.320
 forget so

00:41:06.320 --> 00:41:06.700
 quickly.

00:41:07.519 --> 00:41:07.980
 Help me to

00:41:07.980 --> 00:41:08.360
 see the

00:41:08.360 --> 00:41:08.780
 depth of

00:41:08.780 --> 00:41:09.380
 my sin so

00:41:09.380 --> 00:41:10.000
 I appreciate

00:41:10.000 --> 00:41:10.860
 what you

00:41:10.860 --> 00:41:11.380
 did on that

00:41:11.380 --> 00:41:11.920
 cross so

00:41:11.920 --> 00:41:12.360
 much more.

00:41:13.840 --> 00:41:14.099
 That's

00:41:14.099 --> 00:41:14.659
 first prayer.

00:41:15.619 --> 00:41:16.019
 Second

00:41:16.019 --> 00:41:16.460
 prayer.

00:41:16.980 --> 00:41:17.280
 God,

00:41:17.480 --> 00:41:18.240
 help me to

00:41:18.240 --> 00:41:19.119
 see your

00:41:19.119 --> 00:41:20.280
 grace in

00:41:20.280 --> 00:41:21.300
 all the

00:41:21.300 --> 00:41:21.960
 circumstances

00:41:21.960 --> 00:41:22.639
 of life.

00:41:23.659 --> 00:41:24.119
 Help me to

00:41:24.119 --> 00:41:24.519
 see it in

00:41:24.519 --> 00:41:25.420
 all, not

00:41:25.420 --> 00:41:26.019
 just a few,

00:41:26.159 --> 00:41:26.559
 not just the

00:41:26.559 --> 00:41:27.240
 happy moments,

00:41:27.539 --> 00:41:28.400
 but in all

00:41:28.400 --> 00:41:29.320
 the circumstances

00:41:29.320 --> 00:41:29.900
 of life.

00:41:29.900 --> 00:41:36.920
 God wants

00:41:36.920 --> 00:41:37.519
 this community

00:41:37.519 --> 00:41:38.139
 to be one

00:41:38.139 --> 00:41:38.639
 which is

00:41:38.639 --> 00:41:39.800
 filled with

00:41:39.800 --> 00:41:40.579
 thankfulness.

00:41:41.860 --> 00:41:42.760
 Thankfulness to

00:41:42.760 --> 00:41:44.920
 God for the

00:41:44.920 --> 00:41:45.599
 people that he's

00:41:45.599 --> 00:41:46.599
 placed around us.

00:41:48.039 --> 00:41:49.660
 Thankfulness for

00:41:49.660 --> 00:41:50.599
 everything that he

00:41:50.599 --> 00:41:51.180
 has done in

00:41:51.180 --> 00:41:51.619
 salvation.

00:41:51.619 --> 00:41:51.699
 salvation.

00:41:53.139 --> 00:41:53.900
 So here's my

00:41:53.900 --> 00:41:54.559
 challenge for

00:41:54.559 --> 00:41:54.759
 you.

00:41:57.319 --> 00:41:58.259
 Why don't you

00:41:58.259 --> 00:42:00.940
 go to your

00:42:00.940 --> 00:42:03.659
 spouse, to

00:42:03.659 --> 00:42:04.119
 your community

00:42:04.119 --> 00:42:04.619
 group leader,

00:42:05.579 --> 00:42:06.819
 to your elders,

00:42:07.400 --> 00:42:08.039
 maybe to your

00:42:08.039 --> 00:42:08.460
 colleague.

00:42:08.799 --> 00:42:09.299
 Choose two or

00:42:09.299 --> 00:42:11.519
 three people and

00:42:11.519 --> 00:42:12.599
 think of three

00:42:12.599 --> 00:42:14.059
 specific things

00:42:14.059 --> 00:42:14.859
 that you can

00:42:14.859 --> 00:42:15.980
 give thanks for

00:42:15.980 --> 00:42:17.599
 for them.

00:42:17.599 --> 00:42:20.099
 specific.

00:42:20.199 --> 00:42:20.739
 Don't say I

00:42:20.739 --> 00:42:21.279
 thank you for

00:42:21.279 --> 00:42:21.719
 being you.

00:42:21.980 --> 00:42:24.779
 That's rubbish.

00:42:26.679 --> 00:42:27.759
 Specific things.

00:42:29.480 --> 00:42:30.819
 And then, so

00:42:30.819 --> 00:42:32.259
 thank God for

00:42:32.259 --> 00:42:32.799
 those people.

00:42:33.079 --> 00:42:33.559
 Now some of

00:42:33.559 --> 00:42:34.019
 you will be

00:42:34.019 --> 00:42:34.759
 thinking, but I

00:42:34.759 --> 00:42:35.699
 can't see anything

00:42:35.699 --> 00:42:36.400
 to thank God

00:42:36.400 --> 00:42:36.619
 for.

00:42:38.099 --> 00:42:38.539
 Do you know

00:42:38.539 --> 00:42:38.799
 what?

00:42:40.000 --> 00:42:40.980
 That shows you

00:42:40.980 --> 00:42:41.480
 that you're like

00:42:41.480 --> 00:42:41.940
 the first

00:42:41.940 --> 00:42:42.500
 laborer.

00:42:42.500 --> 00:42:46.619
 that shows

00:42:46.619 --> 00:42:47.159
 you that you

00:42:47.159 --> 00:42:48.179
 haven't got

00:42:48.179 --> 00:42:48.980
 grace.

00:42:50.539 --> 00:42:51.460
 But go to

00:42:51.460 --> 00:42:51.739
 them.

00:42:51.880 --> 00:42:52.400
 After you've

00:42:52.400 --> 00:42:52.820
 prayed and

00:42:52.820 --> 00:42:53.300
 given thanks,

00:42:53.400 --> 00:42:53.900
 then go to

00:42:53.900 --> 00:42:54.500
 them and

00:42:54.500 --> 00:42:55.219
 actually tell

00:42:55.219 --> 00:42:55.679
 them the

00:42:55.679 --> 00:42:56.099
 three things

00:42:56.099 --> 00:42:56.539
 you're thankful

00:42:56.539 --> 00:42:56.860
 for.

00:42:59.260 --> 00:43:01.380
 That is so

00:43:01.380 --> 00:43:02.239
 unnatural for

00:43:02.239 --> 00:43:03.000
 many of us.

00:43:03.880 --> 00:43:04.219
 Do you see

00:43:04.219 --> 00:43:05.440
 why God is

00:43:05.440 --> 00:43:05.900
 saying,

00:43:06.900 --> 00:43:08.880
 this is my

00:43:08.880 --> 00:43:09.340
 command.

00:43:09.579 --> 00:43:10.019
 If you're my

00:43:10.019 --> 00:43:12.159
 people, you

00:43:12.159 --> 00:43:12.519
 will show

00:43:12.519 --> 00:43:13.599
 thanks and

00:43:13.599 --> 00:43:13.980
 gratitude.

00:43:14.739 --> 00:43:15.460
 But it's all

00:43:15.460 --> 00:43:16.279
 because God is

00:43:16.279 --> 00:43:16.659
 gracious.

00:43:17.219 --> 00:43:17.940
 It's all because

00:43:17.940 --> 00:43:19.519
 he is good that

00:43:19.519 --> 00:43:21.119
 we can begin to

00:43:21.119 --> 00:43:21.920
 show this to

00:43:21.920 --> 00:43:22.420
 one another.

00:43:23.239 --> 00:43:24.039
 And the world

00:43:24.039 --> 00:43:25.699
 is longing for

00:43:25.699 --> 00:43:26.659
 a community which

00:43:26.659 --> 00:43:28.039
 will flourish like

00:43:28.039 --> 00:43:28.359
 this.

00:43:29.179 --> 00:43:29.940
 Let me pray.

00:43:39.079 --> 00:43:40.079
 Father, just

00:43:40.079 --> 00:43:42.139
 God, I'm

00:43:42.139 --> 00:43:43.759
 aware, so it's

00:43:43.759 --> 00:43:44.380
 easy to say

00:43:44.380 --> 00:43:46.360
 this, Lord, but

00:43:46.360 --> 00:43:48.880
 I so quickly

00:43:48.880 --> 00:43:51.139
 forget the

00:43:51.139 --> 00:43:51.920
 amazing grace

00:43:51.920 --> 00:43:52.440
 that you have

00:43:52.440 --> 00:43:52.759
 shown.

00:43:53.900 --> 00:43:54.659
 Amazing grace

00:43:54.659 --> 00:43:55.539
 can often become

00:43:55.539 --> 00:43:56.659
 boring grace,

00:43:57.159 --> 00:43:57.940
 if I'm really

00:43:57.940 --> 00:43:58.559
 honest.

00:43:59.519 --> 00:44:00.380
 But I pray for

00:44:00.380 --> 00:44:01.019
 each one of us

00:44:01.019 --> 00:44:01.539
 that you'd help

00:44:01.539 --> 00:44:02.259
 us to stop

00:44:02.259 --> 00:44:04.719
 hiding, defending

00:44:04.719 --> 00:44:06.199
 our sin, but

00:44:06.199 --> 00:44:07.019
 seeing that in

00:44:07.019 --> 00:44:07.900
 spite of who we

00:44:07.900 --> 00:44:09.500
 are, your grace

00:44:09.500 --> 00:44:10.880
 is so generous.

00:44:11.740 --> 00:44:12.380
 Help us to be

00:44:12.380 --> 00:44:13.160
 people who can

00:44:13.160 --> 00:44:14.660
 give thanks when

00:44:14.660 --> 00:44:15.579
 other people do

00:44:15.579 --> 00:44:15.940
 well.

00:44:17.400 --> 00:44:18.639
 And praise you

00:44:18.639 --> 00:44:20.740
 when there is

00:44:20.740 --> 00:44:24.880
 difficulties and

00:44:24.880 --> 00:44:25.260
 when there is

00:44:25.260 --> 00:44:25.940
 good times.

00:44:27.099 --> 00:44:27.940
 Lord, I want to

00:44:27.940 --> 00:44:28.539
 thank you for

00:44:28.539 --> 00:44:29.240
 this church.

00:44:29.760 --> 00:44:30.619
 I want to thank

00:44:30.619 --> 00:44:31.099
 you for the

00:44:31.099 --> 00:44:32.579
 people here who

00:44:32.579 --> 00:44:33.400
 serve in such

00:44:33.400 --> 00:44:34.260
 amazing ways.

00:44:34.260 --> 00:44:35.460
 I want to

00:44:35.460 --> 00:44:36.040
 thank you for

00:44:36.040 --> 00:44:37.060
 those who serve

00:44:37.060 --> 00:44:37.540
 in the kids

00:44:37.540 --> 00:44:38.260
 ministry so

00:44:38.260 --> 00:44:39.400
 faithfully every

00:44:39.400 --> 00:44:39.720
 Sunday.

00:44:40.260 --> 00:44:40.940
 I want to thank

00:44:40.940 --> 00:44:41.420
 you for our

00:44:41.420 --> 00:44:42.000
 leaders, whether

00:44:42.000 --> 00:44:42.520
 they're community

00:44:42.520 --> 00:44:43.060
 group leaders,

00:44:43.200 --> 00:44:43.840
 whether they are

00:44:43.840 --> 00:44:45.640
 elders, Lord, in

00:44:45.640 --> 00:44:46.340
 every area.

00:44:46.420 --> 00:44:46.820
 Lord, I want to

00:44:46.820 --> 00:44:47.380
 thank you for

00:44:47.380 --> 00:44:47.620
 that.

00:44:48.240 --> 00:44:49.100
 I want to thank

00:44:49.100 --> 00:44:49.600
 you for those

00:44:49.600 --> 00:44:50.620
 people who reach

00:44:50.620 --> 00:44:51.640
 out and just

00:44:51.640 --> 00:44:52.980
 encourage and

00:44:52.980 --> 00:44:54.120
 love people here

00:44:54.120 --> 00:44:54.580
 in just an

00:44:54.580 --> 00:44:55.260
 amazing way.

00:44:55.560 --> 00:44:56.040
 Thank you.

00:44:56.120 --> 00:44:56.600
 That is a

00:44:56.600 --> 00:44:57.660
 testimony to your

00:44:57.660 --> 00:44:58.900
 amazing grace.

00:45:00.500 --> 00:45:01.100
 Lord, everything

00:45:01.100 --> 00:45:01.960
 we have that is

00:45:01.960 --> 00:45:02.820
 good comes from

00:45:02.820 --> 00:45:03.040
 you.

00:45:04.260 --> 00:45:05.000
 Please help us

00:45:05.000 --> 00:45:05.460
 to remember

00:45:05.460 --> 00:45:06.960
 that and to

00:45:06.960 --> 00:45:08.540
 respond with

00:45:08.540 --> 00:45:09.940
 praise because

00:45:09.940 --> 00:45:10.860
 you're worth it

00:45:10.860 --> 00:45:11.660
 because we were

00:45:11.660 --> 00:45:12.340
 made for it

00:45:12.340 --> 00:45:13.180
 because we will

00:45:13.180 --> 00:45:14.180
 flourish like that

00:45:14.180 --> 00:45:15.540
 and because you

00:45:15.540 --> 00:45:16.680
 are the center of

00:45:16.680 --> 00:45:17.060
 everything.

00:45:17.740 --> 00:45:18.200
 Thank you,

00:45:18.300 --> 00:45:18.500
 Father.

00:45:19.100 --> 00:45:19.400
 Amen.