WEBVTT 00:00:00.680 --> 00:00:05.560 Well, let me say, as I said at the beginning of our time together, welcome, especially 00:00:05.560 --> 00:00:06.280 if you're new. 00:00:06.440 --> 00:00:10.220 Happy Valentine's Day and happy Lent. 00:00:12.620 --> 00:00:17.120 If you know anything about Lent, it's sort of odd to say that. 00:00:17.179 --> 00:00:23.400 It feels a bit like there's some tension there between those to which to celebrate, you know. 00:00:23.500 --> 00:00:26.740 Well, I'm celebrating Lent with my black dress. 00:00:26.739 --> 00:00:34.839 But in fact, the concepts around Valentine's Day and around Lent are closer than we might 00:00:34.839 --> 00:00:42.759 think at first glance because in all of our focus during Lent on our brokenness, on the 00:00:42.759 --> 00:00:49.759 brokenness of the world, on the struggle of daily life, on the inevitable fact that things 00:00:49.759 --> 00:00:56.599 fall apart in this world, all of that is meant to drive us deeper into the love. 00:00:56.740 --> 00:01:04.680 Of God to understand that love, to rely on and be nourished by it afresh. 00:01:05.700 --> 00:01:10.640 And so we're beginning a new series with that in mind. 00:01:11.180 --> 00:01:14.879 The series is called Habits of Holiness. 00:01:14.879 --> 00:01:24.079 And I realize as I say that, when you hear Habits, you immediately think of, oh, I'm going to 00:01:24.079 --> 00:01:25.299 leave with a to-do list. 00:01:25.539 --> 00:01:26.319 Not again. 00:01:26.699 --> 00:01:28.619 You know, my list is already so long. 00:01:29.159 --> 00:01:30.239 And then I say Holiness. 00:01:31.140 --> 00:01:37.399 And I think for a lot of us, the word Holiness sort of conjures images of, you know, we think 00:01:37.400 --> 00:01:38.500 of holier than thou. 00:01:38.960 --> 00:01:41.200 We think of holy rollers. 00:01:41.900 --> 00:01:46.000 You know, we think of sort of teetotaling legalists and Bible thumpers. 00:01:46.080 --> 00:01:51.500 That's sort of the connotation for me for years before I was a Christian and even for some years 00:01:51.500 --> 00:01:52.660 after I became a Christian. 00:01:52.860 --> 00:01:54.900 That's really what I thought of when I thought of holiness. 00:01:54.900 --> 00:01:55.100 Holiness. 00:01:56.380 --> 00:02:02.320 And so for most of us, including I think most Christians probably in this room, we don't 00:02:02.320 --> 00:02:07.120 really have a good working understanding of what holiness is and how it might connect 00:02:07.120 --> 00:02:09.840 to something like the love of God. 00:02:09.939 --> 00:02:15.300 They almost sound diametrically opposed when you hear some people talk about it. 00:02:16.560 --> 00:02:20.159 But the thing we need to understand as we sort of move into the passage that we're going 00:02:20.159 --> 00:02:27.879 to look at today is that Christianity is based on the idea that God has initiated a kind 00:02:27.879 --> 00:02:30.780 of cosmic renewal project through Jesus. 00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:35.900 That Jesus didn't just come to die for your sin to make sure that you could get along with 00:02:35.900 --> 00:02:39.539 God, but rather he's come to restore and to make all things new. 00:02:40.079 --> 00:02:43.620 And so being a Christian means that we are a part of that renewal project. 00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:49.219 And understanding that, here's how holiness fits into that understanding. 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:54.939 And this is a quote by N.T. Wright, who's sort of a well-known New Testament scholar. 00:02:55.079 --> 00:03:00.979 He says this, Christians are called to anticipate this renewal that God is doing in the world. 00:03:01.060 --> 00:03:06.099 We're called to be previews of this new heavens and new earth that God is bringing about in 00:03:06.099 --> 00:03:06.620 this way. 00:03:07.240 --> 00:03:13.379 He says, we're called to anticipate this renewal in the present by replacing the slave habits 00:03:13.379 --> 00:03:17.180 of mind, heart, and body with freedom habits. 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:22.659 Habits that both share in God's freedom themselves and bring that freedom to the world. 00:03:22.859 --> 00:03:27.620 That is more or less what Paul's understanding of holiness or sanctification is. 00:03:28.299 --> 00:03:33.219 It's the learning in the present of the habits which anticipate the ultimate future. 00:03:34.300 --> 00:03:35.319 Does that make sense? 00:03:35.319 --> 00:03:35.359 Holiness. 00:03:36.259 --> 00:03:42.879 So the idea of learning how to live in anticipation of what God's doing in the world. 00:03:43.259 --> 00:03:50.340 So by this understanding, holiness is less about being teetotaling legalists and Bible thumpers. 00:03:51.599 --> 00:03:58.000 And it's more akin to the idea of a slave who has been set free, who then has to learn 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:00.500 how to live as a free person. 00:04:01.240 --> 00:04:07.039 Or as a person who's been paralyzed, who has been healed and has to learn how to walk and 00:04:07.039 --> 00:04:07.740 then to run. 00:04:08.900 --> 00:04:13.340 So holiness, the equivalent for a person like that would be sprinting down the road. 00:04:14.340 --> 00:04:14.800 Right? 00:04:15.620 --> 00:04:18.240 Experiencing the freedom of having the power of mobility. 00:04:20.100 --> 00:04:25.139 Or it's like a blind person who's had their sight restored, who then has to learn how to 00:04:25.139 --> 00:04:27.819 see and to make sense of what they see. 00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:30.919 Experiencing the freedom of sight. 00:04:32.120 --> 00:04:37.500 Holiness is a kind of comprehensive spiritual freedom that we're given in Jesus as a gift, 00:04:37.579 --> 00:04:43.599 but we have to learn how to live it through cultivating these habits. 00:04:43.740 --> 00:04:46.419 So this is what it means for Christians to pursue holiness. 00:04:46.419 --> 00:04:50.219 It means cultivating habits, what Wright calls freedom habits. 00:04:50.439 --> 00:04:51.399 I love that phrase. 00:04:51.399 --> 00:04:55.519 That allow us to experience and display the freedom we have in Jesus. 00:04:56.259 --> 00:05:00.459 So during Lent, we're going to be looking each Sunday at some of these habits. 00:05:01.019 --> 00:05:02.239 These habits of holiness. 00:05:03.419 --> 00:05:09.479 And so tonight we're starting with probably what is the most foundational habit, freedom 00:05:09.479 --> 00:05:10.560 habit there is. 00:05:10.879 --> 00:05:12.699 And that is the habit of submission. 00:05:14.679 --> 00:05:15.159 Submission. 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:16.899 It's almost like an S word. 00:05:18.019 --> 00:05:19.859 That's another word that we have a hard time with. 00:05:19.859 --> 00:05:20.699 We're going to get into that. 00:05:21.399 --> 00:05:26.259 But in order to help us understand this, we're looking at James chapter 4, verses 1 through 00:05:26.259 --> 00:05:26.479 10. 00:05:26.519 --> 00:05:29.620 If you want to turn there, if you have a Bible, otherwise it'll be up on the screen. 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:32.919 James chapter 4, verses 1 through 10. 00:05:33.359 --> 00:05:35.599 And we're going to see two things about submission. 00:05:35.779 --> 00:05:39.799 First, submission means realigning our hearts. 00:05:41.079 --> 00:05:42.239 Realigning our hearts. 00:05:42.500 --> 00:05:45.659 And second, submission to God leads to freedom. 00:05:45.660 --> 00:05:47.520 So it means realigning our hearts. 00:05:47.520 --> 00:05:48.880 And it leads to freedom. 00:05:49.320 --> 00:05:52.740 Let's pray for God to lead us in this. 00:05:52.880 --> 00:05:53.460 Lord, we do. 00:05:53.780 --> 00:06:00.400 We recognize that as we talk about something like holiness and such a concept as submission, 00:06:00.600 --> 00:06:03.820 there are so many objections that are immediately raised in our hearts. 00:06:03.860 --> 00:06:04.900 Even in my heart, Lord. 00:06:04.899 --> 00:06:08.060 It's so easy to put off talking about something like this. 00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:10.099 And yet, Lord, we need it. 00:06:10.479 --> 00:06:13.159 And we trust you more than us to know what we need. 00:06:13.219 --> 00:06:17.319 And so we trust you now to do your work in us through your word. 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:21.560 Lord, we know that you love us and we know that all that you do in us is good. 00:06:21.799 --> 00:06:22.839 And so we ask for that. 00:06:23.179 --> 00:06:24.039 In your son's name. 00:06:24.139 --> 00:06:24.399 Amen. 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:31.319 So first of all, submission to God means a kind of a realignment of our hearts. 00:06:32.659 --> 00:06:36.139 As I said a moment ago, I think that submission is something that if you're anything like me, 00:06:37.060 --> 00:06:39.679 we have a really hard time with this concept. 00:06:41.159 --> 00:06:43.159 And I think there's a lot of reasons for that. 00:06:43.339 --> 00:06:45.199 I think we have pretty negative connotations. 00:06:46.359 --> 00:06:50.539 I do think that for many of us, we've either seen or heard about or maybe personally experienced 00:06:50.539 --> 00:06:52.979 people who have abused their authority. 00:06:52.980 --> 00:06:55.080 You know, maybe it was a dad. 00:06:55.180 --> 00:06:55.939 Maybe it was a pastor. 00:06:56.060 --> 00:06:56.900 Maybe it was a boss. 00:06:57.540 --> 00:07:00.980 But people who have abused their authority and maybe we've been hurt by that. 00:07:02.060 --> 00:07:07.420 You know, anybody who's ever been in an abusive situation, you know, this is what comes to mind. 00:07:08.080 --> 00:07:09.600 Because you've seen that authority abused. 00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:14.400 And so when you hear the word submission, you hear it as subjugation. 00:07:15.480 --> 00:07:15.860 Right? 00:07:15.860 --> 00:07:25.100 But I also think that we live in a culture that is very much opposed to the idea of submission 00:07:25.100 --> 00:07:27.220 really in any form. 00:07:27.379 --> 00:07:31.699 And I think it's because we live in a culture that more than any other culture in history, 00:07:31.939 --> 00:07:36.259 by a long shot, values expressive individualism. 00:07:36.259 --> 00:07:43.740 In other words, our culture values the idea that the highest ideal is to be true to yourself 00:07:43.740 --> 00:07:48.000 and to pursue your desires. 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:51.719 That your ultimate loyalty should be to yourself. 00:07:51.959 --> 00:07:57.120 And being true to yourself means living a life where you're pursuing and seeking to fulfill 00:07:57.120 --> 00:07:58.699 the desires of your heart. 00:07:58.819 --> 00:08:00.420 That's expressive individualism. 00:08:00.459 --> 00:08:02.399 And you hear this again and again and again and again. 00:08:02.399 --> 00:08:05.000 The moral of the story is be true to yourself. 00:08:07.579 --> 00:08:12.079 Because we live in a culture that values this so much, we hear something like submission. 00:08:12.239 --> 00:08:14.779 That's anathema to everything that our culture holds dear. 00:08:17.259 --> 00:08:19.019 So I think this is what's going on. 00:08:19.299 --> 00:08:23.560 This idea of expressive individualism, be true to yourself, this sounds great, but when 00:08:23.560 --> 00:08:28.339 you begin to think about it, you begin to see how it actually starts to cause a number 00:08:28.339 --> 00:08:28.899 of problems. 00:08:28.899 --> 00:08:32.699 And that's what James is honing in on in verses 1 and 2 of chapter 4. 00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:35.100 He says, a question. 00:08:35.399 --> 00:08:38.120 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? 00:08:39.559 --> 00:08:43.500 Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 00:08:45.259 --> 00:08:47.379 You desire and do not have, so you murder. 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:50.480 You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. 00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:51.600 So what's he saying? 00:08:52.100 --> 00:08:52.939 He's saying this. 00:08:53.179 --> 00:08:54.179 What's wrong with the world? 00:08:55.720 --> 00:08:57.579 Why can't we all just get along? 00:08:57.580 --> 00:08:59.600 Everybody I know is for world peace. 00:09:00.020 --> 00:09:00.759 Why don't we have it? 00:09:01.860 --> 00:09:04.100 There's nobody who disagrees with that and says, no, I like war. 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:06.900 So why don't we have it? 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:07.960 Why do people fight? 00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:08.800 Why do we fight? 00:09:09.180 --> 00:09:15.540 Why are there factions and divisions and arguments and standoffs and resentment in this church? 00:09:15.620 --> 00:09:16.480 Why does that exist? 00:09:18.680 --> 00:09:20.320 He says the problem is desire. 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:24.580 It's that your passions are waging war within you. 00:09:25.660 --> 00:09:27.820 Your passions, your desires are the problem. 00:09:30.180 --> 00:09:34.940 So, why if somebody asks you, 00:09:36.700 --> 00:09:42.240 why if somebody says, hey, there's this great book that I read and I love. 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:43.240 Have you heard of it? 00:09:43.240 --> 00:09:46.500 Or, oh my God, this incredible band. 00:09:46.600 --> 00:09:48.379 I just saw this amazing show. 00:09:48.440 --> 00:09:49.240 Have you heard of these guys? 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:52.560 And why, if you haven't, 00:09:53.860 --> 00:09:57.200 why do we lie and say, oh yeah, they're great? 00:09:59.060 --> 00:10:00.919 I mean, it's a small little white lie. 00:10:01.019 --> 00:10:03.879 In the great scheme of things, it's rather insignificant. 00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:05.180 But why do we do that? 00:10:06.060 --> 00:10:08.639 I mean, did you wake up that morning and think to yourself, 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:11.220 one of my top goals today is to find somebody to lie to? 00:10:12.379 --> 00:10:13.159 No, you didn't. 00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:15.379 It's just in the moment you're caught up. 00:10:15.419 --> 00:10:16.519 This person's enthusiastic. 00:10:16.919 --> 00:10:19.460 This book or this band or this person seems really important. 00:10:19.840 --> 00:10:23.019 And you're going to feel stupid if you haven't already heard of them. 00:10:23.059 --> 00:10:25.759 And you're going to seem like you're kind of not in the know. 00:10:26.139 --> 00:10:27.059 And so, what do you do? 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:28.840 You say, oh yeah, oh, it's an amazing book. 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:29.799 Oh, I've totally read it. 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:31.679 I've totally seen that band. 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:32.399 Oh, they're incredible. 00:10:32.500 --> 00:10:32.659 Yeah. 00:10:33.539 --> 00:10:34.960 You have no idea what they're talking about. 00:10:35.899 --> 00:10:36.600 Why do you do that? 00:10:36.600 --> 00:10:37.559 It's not because you want to lie. 00:10:37.559 --> 00:10:41.959 It's because in that moment, the desire for approval is way more important. 00:10:42.839 --> 00:10:45.379 And so, a little, little lie come between you and this other person. 00:10:46.599 --> 00:10:47.399 Desire, right? 00:10:49.019 --> 00:10:53.019 Why does the husband who gets married, has a couple of kids, 00:10:53.139 --> 00:10:57.599 and then decides 15 years into the marriage 00:10:57.599 --> 00:11:02.299 that he is in love with another woman with whom he's having an affair, 00:11:03.839 --> 00:11:06.859 leaves his wife, leaves his kids, pursues this other woman, 00:11:06.860 --> 00:11:08.320 and you ask him why, he says, why? 00:11:08.820 --> 00:11:09.940 I'm being true to myself. 00:11:10.919 --> 00:11:15.779 I'm following, this is what I think I need to do to pursue happiness, right? 00:11:16.419 --> 00:11:17.940 That used to be a huge scandal. 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:19.600 It used to be something that nobody talked about. 00:11:19.759 --> 00:11:22.300 But more and more and more, we live in a culture where these kind, 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:25.000 that kind of thing is actually more and more and more, 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:26.159 I would say, almost celebrated. 00:11:26.259 --> 00:11:29.159 It's this idea of, well, this person's being true to themselves. 00:11:29.159 --> 00:11:33.059 This is what, this is the desire of their heart, 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:34.839 and they've got to be honest, and they've got to follow that. 00:11:35.860 --> 00:11:39.539 People say, well, my marriage just isn't really fulfilling me anymore. 00:11:40.139 --> 00:11:40.839 I need to leave. 00:11:40.919 --> 00:11:43.159 I need to find something else, right? 00:11:43.219 --> 00:11:46.159 And increasingly, the culture almost celebrates that. 00:11:46.419 --> 00:11:49.019 But it's desire waging war within us, 00:11:49.139 --> 00:11:52.379 waging war in our relationships, waging war between us. 00:11:52.379 --> 00:11:58.840 And so James is saying, listen, we need to realize that many, 00:11:59.019 --> 00:12:02.399 if not all, of our problems come because we're ruled by our desires, 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:04.639 rather than by God. 00:12:06.039 --> 00:12:08.299 And he's saying, if we continue to be ruled by desire, 00:12:08.379 --> 00:12:10.840 we're going to continue to experience what he says, enmity. 00:12:11.500 --> 00:12:14.600 Enmity between one another and enmity with God. 00:12:15.580 --> 00:12:17.480 So he says in verses 7 and 8, 00:12:18.519 --> 00:12:20.080 the answer to this, 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:23.560 and this is very biblical language, you know, I mean, 00:12:23.680 --> 00:12:25.580 resist the devil 00:12:25.580 --> 00:12:28.840 and submit ourselves to God. 00:12:29.379 --> 00:12:31.520 What we need to understand is the word submission, 00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:33.560 we think of submission as a sort of a passive, 00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:35.560 sort of, like I said, subjugation. 00:12:36.300 --> 00:12:36.720 No, no, no. 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:38.960 Submission is an act of allegiance. 00:12:40.840 --> 00:12:42.340 Somebody says, what side are you on? 00:12:43.680 --> 00:12:45.120 And you declare, I'm on this side. 00:12:46.120 --> 00:12:46.900 It's allegiance. 00:12:46.900 --> 00:12:50.020 The word literally translates to align yourself, 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:53.960 under something or someone, 00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:58.040 to align your life, to align yourself under something. 00:12:58.160 --> 00:13:00.040 So what James is saying is this, 00:13:00.160 --> 00:13:03.139 we need to resist this satanic lie 00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:07.460 that has been whispered ever since the fall of humanity 00:13:07.460 --> 00:13:10.960 that says, the best life is the life that you live for yourself. 00:13:11.639 --> 00:13:12.480 That's freedom. 00:13:13.680 --> 00:13:15.080 James is saying that's a lie. 00:13:15.080 --> 00:13:16.280 You need to resist that. 00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:19.320 It's a trap. 00:13:19.960 --> 00:13:24.980 And he says that will lead you to actually being in subjugation 00:13:24.980 --> 00:13:27.320 to your desires for the rest of your life. 00:13:29.560 --> 00:13:31.960 He says instead, you need to align your life, 00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:35.240 align your priorities, align your desires under God. 00:13:36.040 --> 00:13:37.540 That's the only way to have peace. 00:13:37.620 --> 00:13:39.560 It's the only way to have order within and without. 00:13:39.559 --> 00:13:41.019 So think of a solar system. 00:13:42.779 --> 00:13:46.899 All these gigantic planets, asteroids, all kinds of things 00:13:46.899 --> 00:13:50.099 kind of swirling around in perfect harmony, a perfect dance. 00:13:50.419 --> 00:13:52.139 Why aren't the planets crashing into each other? 00:13:53.319 --> 00:13:57.579 It's because they all have a common point around which they orbit. 00:13:58.859 --> 00:13:59.439 The sun. 00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:04.139 In other words, the planets are submitted to the sun. 00:14:04.139 --> 00:14:11.439 Their entire path through the heavens is aligned with the sun. 00:14:12.199 --> 00:14:18.480 And because of that, you have this beautiful symphony of movement 00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:20.240 rather than chaos. 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:21.559 What's the alternative? 00:14:21.779 --> 00:14:23.500 Each planet has its own orbit. 00:14:23.860 --> 00:14:24.639 And what happens? 00:14:24.860 --> 00:14:26.699 They're constantly slamming into each other. 00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:27.340 It's chaos. 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:30.799 That's what James is saying is true about us. 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:34.099 If each of us is going along to our own orbit, 00:14:34.199 --> 00:14:36.199 there's going to be constant collisions and enmity. 00:14:37.779 --> 00:14:40.279 The only way for there to begin to be peace, 00:14:40.379 --> 00:14:42.439 the only way for there to begin to be restoration, 00:14:43.079 --> 00:14:48.879 is if we are all aligned with the same center point, which is God. 00:14:50.359 --> 00:14:51.159 So that's what he's saying. 00:14:51.259 --> 00:14:53.799 Submission first means realigning our hearts 00:14:53.799 --> 00:14:56.219 so that we're no longer submitted to our own desires, 00:14:56.339 --> 00:14:57.240 but instead to God. 00:14:57.240 --> 00:15:00.620 Which means cultivating a habitual humility. 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:05.539 Habitual humility through daily submission to him. 00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:09.439 And I know as I say this, 00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:12.379 there are some of us who are hearing this 00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:13.679 and sort of still skeptical. 00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:15.699 You know, kind of wondering why? 00:15:15.799 --> 00:15:17.599 Why would anybody do this? 00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:19.899 I'm not really sure it's that bad. 00:15:21.199 --> 00:15:23.000 And the next point we see is this, 00:15:23.099 --> 00:15:24.759 that the reason that we would do this, 00:15:24.779 --> 00:15:26.699 and the reason this is something that we're all called to do, 00:15:26.699 --> 00:15:27.039 is this. 00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:31.740 That submission is the only way that we will ever experience true freedom in our lives. 00:15:31.779 --> 00:15:32.839 It's the only way to freedom. 00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:35.480 And if it sounds like a paradox, 00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:37.399 submission leads to freedom, 00:15:37.480 --> 00:15:38.659 it's because it is a paradox. 00:15:39.459 --> 00:15:40.679 You're right, that's a paradox. 00:15:41.659 --> 00:15:43.379 See, Christians actually believe in a lot, 00:15:43.439 --> 00:15:45.000 we believe in a lot of paradoxes. 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:47.860 And one of the paradoxes that we believe in 00:15:47.860 --> 00:15:49.779 is the idea that the road to freedom 00:15:49.779 --> 00:15:51.039 is found through submission to God. 00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:53.360 Right? 00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:55.320 So Christians are people who believe that 00:15:55.320 --> 00:16:00.799 any attempt at freedom apart from God 00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:02.220 actually leads to slavery. 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:05.000 And living in submission to God 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:06.279 actually leads to freedom. 00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:09.759 So if you haven't read the Brothers Karamazov, 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:11.959 I would highly encourage you to do that. 00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:15.539 There are great translations and bad translations. 00:16:16.039 --> 00:16:16.579 For some of you, 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:18.620 probably half of you in this room have started it 00:16:18.620 --> 00:16:20.159 and then never finished it. 00:16:20.220 --> 00:16:22.360 I would encourage you to push through 00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:24.279 because it's really an amazing book. 00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:26.899 And there's a great place in it 00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:30.259 where there's a character, Elder Zosima, 00:16:30.579 --> 00:16:32.679 who's a monk, a monastic, 00:16:32.679 --> 00:16:35.179 and there's this wonderful passage 00:16:35.179 --> 00:16:37.559 where he is contrasting 00:16:37.559 --> 00:16:40.159 sort of our common approach 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:41.899 to an understanding of freedom in the world 00:16:41.899 --> 00:16:45.120 with the Christian definition of freedom. 00:16:45.579 --> 00:16:47.819 And he's talking about the monastic life. 00:16:48.139 --> 00:16:49.500 Now that's not something that's gonna apply 00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:50.979 to many of us, the monastic life. 00:16:51.459 --> 00:16:53.539 Most of us are not monks and nuns. 00:16:53.539 --> 00:16:57.019 But the underlying truth that he's getting at 00:16:57.019 --> 00:16:57.919 applies to everybody. 00:16:58.039 --> 00:16:58.659 He says this. 00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:00.099 He says, 00:17:00.199 --> 00:17:01.799 The world has proclaimed freedom 00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:03.659 especially of late. 00:17:04.139 --> 00:17:06.039 But what do we see in the freedom of theirs? 00:17:06.819 --> 00:17:07.899 Slavery and suicide. 00:17:08.980 --> 00:17:09.359 He says, 00:17:09.419 --> 00:17:10.200 For the world says, 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:12.539 You have needs, therefore satisfy them. 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:14.859 Don't be afraid to satisfy them, 00:17:14.940 --> 00:17:16.220 but even increase them. 00:17:16.639 --> 00:17:18.200 This is the current teaching of the world. 00:17:19.139 --> 00:17:20.720 And in this they see freedom. 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:23.500 But what comes of this right 00:17:23.500 --> 00:17:25.019 to increase one's needs? 00:17:25.779 --> 00:17:29.079 For the rich, isolation and spiritual suicide. 00:17:29.079 --> 00:17:32.579 For the poor, envy and murder. 00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:34.759 For they've been given rights, 00:17:34.859 --> 00:17:36.460 but have not been given any way 00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:37.980 of satisfying their needs. 00:17:40.179 --> 00:17:40.819 So he says, 00:17:40.879 --> 00:17:42.139 This is a recipe for insanity. 00:17:42.299 --> 00:17:44.619 To be encouraged and given the right. 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:45.539 Go out. 00:17:45.819 --> 00:17:46.759 Satisfy yourself. 00:17:46.980 --> 00:17:47.720 Satisfy your needs. 00:17:47.779 --> 00:17:48.599 That's what life is all about. 00:17:48.679 --> 00:17:49.199 That's freedom. 00:17:50.139 --> 00:17:51.579 You're told and encouraged to do this. 00:17:51.639 --> 00:17:52.659 You're given the rights to do it, 00:17:52.740 --> 00:17:54.299 but you're not given the means to do it. 00:17:54.299 --> 00:17:58.200 It's a recipe for futility. 00:17:58.339 --> 00:17:59.740 It's a recipe for despair. 00:17:59.899 --> 00:18:00.940 It's a recipe for insanity. 00:18:02.779 --> 00:18:03.440 And he says, 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:05.359 Very different is the monastic way. 00:18:06.399 --> 00:18:08.960 Obedience, fasting, and prayer are laughed at, 00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:12.319 and yet they alone constitute the way 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:13.460 to real and true freedom. 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:14.639 Why? 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:17.919 Because I cut away my superfluous 00:18:17.919 --> 00:18:19.099 and unnecessary needs. 00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:20.759 Through obedience, 00:18:20.899 --> 00:18:23.139 I humble and chasten my vain and proud will, 00:18:23.140 --> 00:18:24.600 and thereby, with God's help, 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:26.620 attain freedom of spirit. 00:18:27.580 --> 00:18:28.320 And with that, 00:18:29.580 --> 00:18:31.140 spiritual rejoicing. 00:18:33.060 --> 00:18:34.680 So I know this is a long quote. 00:18:34.780 --> 00:18:35.640 What is he really saying? 00:18:35.700 --> 00:18:36.320 He's saying this. 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:37.320 True freedom, 00:18:37.400 --> 00:18:38.940 the kind of freedom we all long for, 00:18:40.820 --> 00:18:43.420 true freedom begins with spiritual freedom. 00:18:44.620 --> 00:18:45.600 Spiritual freedom. 00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:47.759 Freedom of spirit. 00:18:49.060 --> 00:18:49.700 So he's saying this. 00:18:49.860 --> 00:18:51.180 You can have all kinds of stuff. 00:18:51.780 --> 00:18:52.580 You can have degrees. 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:53.639 You can have money. 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:54.279 You can have wealth. 00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:56.699 You can have a laundry list of accomplishments. 00:18:57.480 --> 00:18:58.319 You know, you live in D.C. 00:18:58.359 --> 00:18:59.079 and you meet people, 00:18:59.439 --> 00:19:01.460 and a lot of people don't care as much about money, 00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:03.879 but they care so much about accomplishment. 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:06.379 And you look at people's resumes, 00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:07.359 and you cannot believe. 00:19:07.579 --> 00:19:07.799 You're like, 00:19:07.859 --> 00:19:08.699 in 22 years, 00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:10.779 you've gotten 18 awards and 30 degrees. 00:19:11.139 --> 00:19:12.099 And I can't, you know, 00:19:12.859 --> 00:19:15.500 every year I meet people who just are more amazing. 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:16.059 And I'm like, 00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:18.400 well, time must work differently for you. 00:19:19.180 --> 00:19:20.019 You know, 00:19:20.059 --> 00:19:21.160 I graduated college. 00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:21.599 Yes, 00:19:21.660 --> 00:19:23.559 you graduated four different colleges, 00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:24.440 and got, 00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:24.960 you know, 00:19:25.059 --> 00:19:26.279 you have two PhDs. 00:19:26.539 --> 00:19:27.380 It's incredible. 00:19:28.119 --> 00:19:28.480 He says, 00:19:28.519 --> 00:19:29.759 you can have all this stuff, 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:31.539 and yet never be free. 00:19:32.200 --> 00:19:32.940 Because why? 00:19:33.079 --> 00:19:34.420 Because it's never going to be enough. 00:19:36.740 --> 00:19:37.960 It's never going to be enough. 00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:40.700 You're going to keep going, 00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:41.039 and going, 00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:41.440 and going, 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:41.779 and going. 00:19:41.860 --> 00:19:42.380 You've been given, 00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:43.120 you've been encouraged, 00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:44.400 go out and satisfy your desire. 00:19:44.500 --> 00:19:45.259 But as Osama says, 00:19:45.420 --> 00:19:47.440 you haven't been given the means to satisfy them. 00:19:49.180 --> 00:19:50.140 So you keep going, 00:19:50.220 --> 00:19:50.480 and going, 00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:50.960 and going. 00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:52.740 And he says, 00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:55.180 you'll be enslaved by the tyranny of things and habits 00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:56.460 the rest of your life. 00:19:59.480 --> 00:19:59.819 Now, 00:19:59.880 --> 00:20:01.640 we may not think of ourselves as slaves, 00:20:02.680 --> 00:20:05.220 but all being a slave means, 00:20:05.220 --> 00:20:06.019 all it means, 00:20:06.180 --> 00:20:07.840 is that someone or something else 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:09.319 is calling the shots in your life 00:20:09.319 --> 00:20:11.539 about the most important things in your life. 00:20:12.039 --> 00:20:12.220 Right? 00:20:13.179 --> 00:20:14.259 So if you tell me 00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:15.839 that you can't stop overeating, 00:20:16.359 --> 00:20:17.319 you're a slave to food. 00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:19.259 Right? 00:20:19.299 --> 00:20:21.220 If you can't stop drinking, 00:20:21.399 --> 00:20:22.480 then you're a slave to alcohol. 00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:26.319 If you can't stop losing your temper, 00:20:27.379 --> 00:20:28.659 you're a slave to anger. 00:20:29.679 --> 00:20:30.740 I've promised myself 00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:31.899 that I wouldn't lose my temper 00:20:31.899 --> 00:20:33.859 with my family again. 00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:35.619 And I cannot tell you 00:20:35.619 --> 00:20:37.399 how many times I've made that promise. 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:40.399 Until it has broken my heart 00:20:40.399 --> 00:20:40.980 and made me realize 00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:41.779 that I'm a slave 00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:43.399 to anger. 00:20:45.079 --> 00:20:46.459 And if I don't do something about it, 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:47.679 if I don't find a way 00:20:47.679 --> 00:20:49.679 of being freed from that, 00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:50.579 I'm going to damage 00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:51.199 not only myself, 00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:52.319 but the people I most care about. 00:20:53.439 --> 00:20:54.939 If you can't stop sleeping around, 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:56.619 you're a slave to sexual desire. 00:20:57.419 --> 00:20:57.819 Right? 00:20:57.980 --> 00:20:59.740 If you can't stop conforming 00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:01.299 to what others expect of you, 00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:04.359 then you're a slave 00:21:04.359 --> 00:21:05.639 to the approval of other people. 00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:09.819 If you can't stop compromising 00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:10.759 your faith, 00:21:10.879 --> 00:21:11.419 your values, 00:21:11.539 --> 00:21:12.180 your priorities 00:21:12.180 --> 00:21:14.359 to get some guy or girl 00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:15.019 to like you 00:21:15.019 --> 00:21:15.919 and want to date you 00:21:15.919 --> 00:21:16.559 and be with you, 00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:18.720 if you can't stop compromising 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.659 in all those areas 00:21:19.659 --> 00:21:20.559 just to get somebody 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.379 to want to be with you, 00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:22.879 then you're a slave 00:21:22.879 --> 00:21:23.659 to that person 00:21:23.659 --> 00:21:24.599 and they're your master. 00:21:25.619 --> 00:21:26.639 You see how this works? 00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:29.180 If there's anybody else 00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:30.880 calling the shots in your life, 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:31.780 anything else 00:21:31.780 --> 00:21:32.720 calling the shots in your life, 00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:33.759 then you're a slave. 00:21:35.660 --> 00:21:36.520 So Zosima says, 00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:37.220 what you need 00:21:37.220 --> 00:21:38.500 is freedom of spirit. 00:21:40.060 --> 00:21:41.000 So the question is, 00:21:41.060 --> 00:21:42.980 what sets our spirits free? 00:21:43.160 --> 00:21:45.240 What liberates us spiritually 00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:47.160 at the most foundational level? 00:21:47.740 --> 00:21:48.340 And it's this, 00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:49.100 freedom of spirit 00:21:49.100 --> 00:21:49.800 means knowing 00:21:49.800 --> 00:21:51.440 that our deepest need, 00:21:52.540 --> 00:21:53.640 the need under the need, 00:21:53.700 --> 00:21:54.120 under the need, 00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:54.740 under the need, 00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:56.420 has been satisfied. 00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:59.000 That's freedom of spirit. 00:22:00.080 --> 00:22:01.160 What's our deepest need? 00:22:02.340 --> 00:22:04.020 The Bible would say it's this, 00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:07.740 to know in an ultimate sense 00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:09.340 that we are truly known 00:22:09.340 --> 00:22:10.540 and truly loved. 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:14.080 To know that you are fully known 00:22:14.080 --> 00:22:16.540 and fully loved. 00:22:17.380 --> 00:22:18.140 Both, 00:22:18.280 --> 00:22:21.280 because if you're fully known 00:22:21.280 --> 00:22:22.460 without being fully loved, 00:22:22.520 --> 00:22:23.360 that's terrifying. 00:22:24.320 --> 00:22:25.780 If you're fully known, 00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:28.139 or if you're fully loved 00:22:28.139 --> 00:22:29.220 but not fully known, 00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:31.259 that's kind of superficial. 00:22:32.220 --> 00:22:33.899 But if somebody really knows you, 00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:34.759 everything about you, 00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:35.700 and they truly, 00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:36.200 deeply, 00:22:36.399 --> 00:22:37.220 fully love you, 00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:38.980 that begins to speak 00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:39.740 to the deepest need 00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:40.200 of our heart. 00:22:41.299 --> 00:22:42.940 That's what we ultimately need. 00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:43.740 And that's something 00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:45.299 that we can only find in God, 00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:46.220 and that's why the gospel 00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:47.359 is such good news. 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:49.859 Because the gospel says this, 00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:51.359 God fully knows you. 00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:51.859 You know, 00:22:51.899 --> 00:22:52.659 we pray that prayer 00:22:52.659 --> 00:22:53.899 at the beginning of worship 00:22:53.899 --> 00:22:54.439 every week, 00:22:55.179 --> 00:22:56.959 the God to whom all hearts are open 00:22:56.959 --> 00:22:58.219 and all desires known 00:22:58.219 --> 00:22:59.899 and from whom no secrets are hid. 00:23:00.859 --> 00:23:01.240 You know, 00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:02.319 I know that we do that every week, 00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:03.979 and it may be lost on us 00:23:03.979 --> 00:23:04.939 because we do it every week, 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:06.699 but does that not terrify you sometimes? 00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:08.879 I'm praying to the God 00:23:08.879 --> 00:23:10.299 who knows that junk. 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:12.699 And yet, 00:23:12.819 --> 00:23:13.899 because he's that God, 00:23:13.959 --> 00:23:16.000 he knows all of that junk. 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:17.619 And yet, 00:23:17.700 --> 00:23:18.839 he also fully, 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:19.700 completely, 00:23:20.140 --> 00:23:21.200 utterly loves us. 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:21.559 Why? 00:23:22.619 --> 00:23:24.519 Because it doesn't depend on us. 00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:25.420 He loves us, 00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:27.140 not because of what we've done for him, 00:23:27.180 --> 00:23:29.420 but because of what Jesus has done for us. 00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:31.619 So the hinge of this whole passage 00:23:31.619 --> 00:23:33.380 in James is verse 6. 00:23:34.140 --> 00:23:35.019 The simple statement, 00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:37.180 God gives more grace. 00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:40.059 And why is it just a sentence, 00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:41.400 God gives more grace? 00:23:41.900 --> 00:23:42.119 Well, 00:23:42.140 --> 00:23:43.980 it's because no matter what you say, 00:23:44.299 --> 00:23:45.980 God's response is to give more grace. 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:46.099 God gives more grace. 00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.480 Plain and simple. 00:23:50.839 --> 00:23:52.759 If you belong to God through Jesus, 00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:53.980 you say, 00:23:54.880 --> 00:23:55.660 I love you, God. 00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:58.259 I want to worship you every day. 00:23:58.579 --> 00:23:59.700 God gives you more grace. 00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:00.339 If you say, 00:24:00.619 --> 00:24:01.759 God, I'm angry and confused. 00:24:01.900 --> 00:24:03.039 Why didn't you answer my prayer? 00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:03.940 Why did you let that happen? 00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:04.960 God gives you more grace. 00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:05.359 If you say, 00:24:05.420 --> 00:24:06.059 God, forget you. 00:24:06.119 --> 00:24:06.599 I'm out of here. 00:24:06.859 --> 00:24:07.339 I'm leaving. 00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:08.380 I'm never going to church again. 00:24:08.680 --> 00:24:09.779 I'm leaving all this behind. 00:24:10.039 --> 00:24:10.900 God gives more grace. 00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:11.960 If you complain to God, 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:12.400 and you say, 00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:13.880 God, you don't give me enough, 00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:14.960 and you give all these other people, 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:15.599 you bless them, 00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:16.679 and give them the things that they want, 00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:17.359 and look at me, 00:24:17.379 --> 00:24:17.859 and I'm alone, 00:24:17.919 --> 00:24:18.399 and I'm miserable, 00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:19.659 and how could you do this, God? 00:24:19.879 --> 00:24:20.980 God gives more grace. 00:24:22.859 --> 00:24:23.819 No matter what we say, 00:24:23.879 --> 00:24:24.599 no matter what we do, 00:24:24.639 --> 00:24:25.899 no matter how much we rage out, 00:24:25.959 --> 00:24:26.980 no matter how much we betray, 00:24:27.079 --> 00:24:27.980 no matter how much we turn, 00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:28.939 no matter how much we run, 00:24:29.199 --> 00:24:30.199 no matter how much we flee, 00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:31.339 no matter how much we doubt, 00:24:31.619 --> 00:24:32.759 no matter how much we question, 00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:34.659 no matter how much we rage out, 00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:36.560 God gives more grace. 00:24:38.900 --> 00:24:40.220 God gives more grace. 00:24:41.580 --> 00:24:43.220 And you ask, how is that possible? 00:24:43.320 --> 00:24:44.100 And it's because of this. 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:46.720 It's because God can give infinite grace 00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:49.540 because Jesus gave God infinite obedience. 00:24:51.120 --> 00:24:52.640 So when we look at these verses, 00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:54.080 verses 7, 8, 9, and 10, 00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:55.940 all of these things, resist the devil, 00:24:56.300 --> 00:24:58.120 purify your hands, purify your hearts, 00:24:58.240 --> 00:24:59.040 all of these things, 00:24:59.200 --> 00:25:00.720 the first thing we need to realize is 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:03.420 our hope rests not in our ability to do that, 00:25:03.420 --> 00:25:06.660 but in the fact that Jesus has already done these things. 00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:07.700 He's already done it. 00:25:09.340 --> 00:25:11.800 That amazing passage that we reflected on 00:25:11.800 --> 00:25:13.160 in our collect earlier, 00:25:14.120 --> 00:25:15.460 you know, James says, resist the devil. 00:25:15.539 --> 00:25:18.300 That's exactly what Jesus did in the wilderness, right? 00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:21.019 He says, you know, wash your hands, 00:25:21.180 --> 00:25:21.900 purify your hearts. 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:23.180 Jesus had clean hands. 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.660 He had a pure heart. 00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:27.620 It says, draw near to God and he'll draw near to you. 00:25:27.620 --> 00:25:30.000 No one was closer to the Father than Jesus. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:33.519 And yet, for our sake, God turned his back on him 00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:39.240 so that we could be reconciled to God 00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:41.140 in such a way that no matter what we do, 00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:44.119 God would always say to us, more grace. 00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:47.539 So God is always forever on your side 00:25:47.539 --> 00:25:49.799 because of that. 00:25:50.660 --> 00:25:52.859 So freedom of spirit means knowing that. 00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:54.720 It means knowing more grace, 00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:56.640 more grace, more grace, 00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:58.500 no matter what, no matter how much we fail, 00:25:58.500 --> 00:25:59.500 more grace. 00:25:59.619 --> 00:26:01.519 It means knowing that God fully knows 00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:03.319 and fully loves you no matter what. 00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:06.420 And nothing you do can increase that one inch. 00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:09.000 Nothing that you do can decrease that one inch. 00:26:09.079 --> 00:26:10.839 It is yours forever and always. 00:26:11.940 --> 00:26:13.059 That's freedom of spirit. 00:26:14.880 --> 00:26:17.180 So then you ask, well, okay, if that's true, 00:26:18.940 --> 00:26:24.319 then why would I change anything about the way I live? 00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:27.700 I mean, if it's not going to impact the love, 00:26:28.339 --> 00:26:29.879 then why does it matter? 00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:34.379 And it's because we need to learn how to live 00:26:34.379 --> 00:26:37.779 as people who are spiritually free. 00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:42.220 To not do so is like growing up in a cage 00:26:42.220 --> 00:26:44.099 and somebody comes along and unlocks the door 00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:44.799 and opens it, 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:46.659 and you say, well, I'm just going to keep sitting here. 00:26:46.660 --> 00:26:50.800 It's kind of easy to do that 00:26:50.800 --> 00:26:53.200 because after a while you get used to that kind of life. 00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:55.840 It can be scary to do something new and different. 00:26:58.240 --> 00:26:59.320 But we need to understand 00:26:59.320 --> 00:27:01.600 that many of the things that Christians do, 00:27:04.320 --> 00:27:05.640 you know, if we have this idea 00:27:05.640 --> 00:27:06.720 that Christians, 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:08.580 that holiness is really like a slave 00:27:08.580 --> 00:27:09.600 who's been set free, 00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:10.940 the chains have fallen to the ground, 00:27:10.940 --> 00:27:14.100 and now they're free to walk out the door. 00:27:15.600 --> 00:27:16.720 And that can be terrifying 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:18.620 if you've lived your entire life as a slave. 00:27:20.680 --> 00:27:22.180 And yet we've been given our freedom. 00:27:22.940 --> 00:27:24.340 And if you push through the terror 00:27:24.340 --> 00:27:25.640 and the newness and the difference, 00:27:26.320 --> 00:27:27.400 there's life. 00:27:28.360 --> 00:27:29.920 There's life out that door. 00:27:31.360 --> 00:27:33.279 So many of the things that Christians do, 00:27:33.620 --> 00:27:34.500 like fasting, 00:27:36.320 --> 00:27:37.320 like Sabbath keeping, 00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:39.000 listen, fasting is not about 00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:42.700 a 40-day plan to lose weight 00:27:42.700 --> 00:27:43.399 and get healthy. 00:27:45.159 --> 00:27:45.519 No. 00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:47.019 I mean, you can do that if you want. 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:48.960 But it has nothing to do with this. 00:27:50.579 --> 00:27:52.759 The reason Christians do things like fasting 00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:54.200 and Sabbath keeping 00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:55.079 and things like this, 00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:56.539 they're not done for that. 00:27:56.639 --> 00:27:57.919 They're not done to please God 00:27:57.919 --> 00:27:58.879 or to make God happy. 00:27:59.159 --> 00:28:00.359 It's not like if you're really hoping 00:28:00.359 --> 00:28:01.559 that you get into that program, 00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:02.919 so you do some fasting, 00:28:03.059 --> 00:28:03.619 so God's like, 00:28:03.700 --> 00:28:05.339 well, she's extra devoted, 00:28:05.679 --> 00:28:07.240 so I'm going to get her into that program. 00:28:07.319 --> 00:28:08.439 Because she's really shown me, 00:28:08.639 --> 00:28:10.179 she's really putting in the effort. 00:28:10.859 --> 00:28:11.980 That's not how it works. 00:28:12.779 --> 00:28:14.259 The reason that we do these things 00:28:14.259 --> 00:28:15.220 is because, listen, 00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:16.000 listen to this. 00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:19.799 They're small, 00:28:20.179 --> 00:28:24.639 small but vital acts 00:28:24.639 --> 00:28:25.759 of insurrection 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:28.859 against the slave masters of this world. 00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:32.700 They're small but vital acts 00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:33.659 of insurrection, 00:28:33.919 --> 00:28:34.839 of defiance, 00:28:34.839 --> 00:28:37.419 against the potential slave masters 00:28:37.419 --> 00:28:38.720 in our lives. 00:28:40.379 --> 00:28:42.699 So whenever we fast from meals 00:28:42.699 --> 00:28:43.579 or from alcohol 00:28:43.579 --> 00:28:44.679 or from caffeine 00:28:44.679 --> 00:28:45.939 or from screen time 00:28:45.939 --> 00:28:46.399 or whatever, 00:28:46.639 --> 00:28:48.000 these are all small things. 00:28:48.119 --> 00:28:49.859 They're all seemingly insignificant, 00:28:50.119 --> 00:28:50.720 but they're not 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:52.299 because they're small 00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:54.220 but vital acts of defiance 00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:57.059 against those potential slave masters. 00:28:57.699 --> 00:28:58.959 They're you proclaiming, 00:28:58.960 --> 00:29:01.299 I don't belong to you. 00:29:01.400 --> 00:29:02.500 I don't work for you. 00:29:02.620 --> 00:29:03.299 My allegiance, 00:29:03.600 --> 00:29:04.240 my alignment, 00:29:04.380 --> 00:29:05.680 my submission is to Christ, 00:29:06.279 --> 00:29:07.480 the one who set me free, 00:29:08.120 --> 00:29:09.460 the one who does truly know me 00:29:09.460 --> 00:29:10.160 and love me 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:11.259 unlike you. 00:29:13.059 --> 00:29:14.759 So when we take a day 00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:15.980 every week 00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:17.559 and we set it aside 00:29:17.559 --> 00:29:18.680 and we turn from our work 00:29:18.680 --> 00:29:19.600 and make it a Sabbath, 00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:21.500 when we embrace our family 00:29:21.500 --> 00:29:22.360 and our friends, 00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:24.039 our need for rest 00:29:24.039 --> 00:29:24.779 and recreation, 00:29:24.779 --> 00:29:27.740 to have the freedom 00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:28.700 to worship God, 00:29:29.899 --> 00:29:30.859 we do that 00:29:30.859 --> 00:29:31.940 not to make God happy 00:29:31.940 --> 00:29:32.799 but because that's what 00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:33.899 free people do. 00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:35.720 That's what free people, 00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:36.980 that's the definition of freedom. 00:29:37.299 --> 00:29:38.460 So Deuteronomy 5, 00:29:39.399 --> 00:29:40.539 God says to his people, 00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:42.839 I freed you from slavery in Egypt, 00:29:43.319 --> 00:29:45.539 therefore keep the Sabbath always. 00:29:47.579 --> 00:29:48.859 And I said this a few weeks ago 00:29:48.859 --> 00:29:50.420 when we talked about Sabbath, 00:29:50.579 --> 00:29:51.339 what's the connection? 00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:52.079 Why would God say, 00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:53.720 hey, I freed you from Egypt, 00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:55.120 you're no longer slaves, 00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:56.200 therefore keep the Sabbath. 00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:58.200 Why does God say that? 00:29:59.220 --> 00:30:00.360 Because a slave, 00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:01.079 by definition, 00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:02.980 is someone who cannot decide 00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:04.500 when they stop working. 00:30:05.600 --> 00:30:06.559 That's a slave. 00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:08.299 And God says, 00:30:08.420 --> 00:30:09.279 you're not a slave. 00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:11.200 You have the freedom 00:30:11.200 --> 00:30:12.960 to choose to stop working. 00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:14.120 Keep the Sabbath. 00:30:14.259 --> 00:30:14.400 Why? 00:30:14.519 --> 00:30:15.259 Because every time 00:30:15.259 --> 00:30:16.279 you proclaim your freedom 00:30:16.279 --> 00:30:16.880 to the world 00:30:16.880 --> 00:30:19.140 against those former taskmasters 00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:19.839 in your life, 00:30:20.059 --> 00:30:21.620 you're actually glorifying me 00:30:21.620 --> 00:30:22.400 because I'm the one 00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:23.079 who set you free. 00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:27.860 So people who have found freedom 00:30:27.860 --> 00:30:29.360 in God 00:30:29.360 --> 00:30:31.059 desire to live that out. 00:30:32.579 --> 00:30:34.220 So we submit ourselves to God 00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:35.180 not to make Him happy 00:30:35.180 --> 00:30:36.519 or not to earn favor with Him, 00:30:37.180 --> 00:30:38.000 but because we understand 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:38.720 that that is the way 00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:39.880 to train our hearts, 00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:41.480 to habituate our hearts 00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:43.259 toward freedom, 00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:45.000 toward holiness. 00:30:46.700 --> 00:30:47.240 And you know, 00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:48.339 the amazing thing is, 00:30:48.360 --> 00:30:49.880 and I know I've got to wrap this up, 00:30:49.940 --> 00:30:50.460 so I'll just tell 00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:51.860 just three more stories, 00:30:51.940 --> 00:30:52.620 just the first story. 00:30:52.619 --> 00:30:54.399 Just kidding. 00:30:56.839 --> 00:30:57.959 The way that, 00:30:58.199 --> 00:30:59.719 the impact that this kind of freedom 00:30:59.719 --> 00:31:00.479 has on us 00:31:00.479 --> 00:31:01.799 isn't just for us, 00:31:02.039 --> 00:31:02.500 but in fact, 00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:03.639 and I don't know if you've experienced this 00:31:03.639 --> 00:31:03.959 in your life, 00:31:04.179 --> 00:31:05.719 people who have been set free 00:31:05.719 --> 00:31:07.539 through their submission to God 00:31:07.539 --> 00:31:09.299 actually become agents 00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:10.859 of freedom. 00:31:10.979 --> 00:31:12.219 They can help other people 00:31:12.219 --> 00:31:13.739 discover freedom as well. 00:31:14.719 --> 00:31:16.319 I heard this great story 00:31:16.319 --> 00:31:18.339 about a guy like many of us, 00:31:18.419 --> 00:31:19.500 doesn't go to this church, 00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:21.660 but a guy who went to a conference. 00:31:21.779 --> 00:31:23.299 A lot of us go to conferences for work. 00:31:23.859 --> 00:31:25.019 And he went to this conference. 00:31:27.420 --> 00:31:28.660 He's married, has kids, 00:31:28.700 --> 00:31:29.480 but he was there alone. 00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:33.400 And after a full day of sessions, 00:31:33.400 --> 00:31:35.140 he comes back to his hotel room. 00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:37.880 Not five minutes after he walks into the door, 00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:39.640 there's a knock at the door. 00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:41.000 And he opens it, 00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:42.019 and there's another woman 00:31:42.019 --> 00:31:43.299 who's there at the conference 00:31:43.299 --> 00:31:45.700 who, very attractive, 00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:47.259 very provocatively dressed, 00:31:48.019 --> 00:31:49.220 as soon as he opens the door, 00:31:49.319 --> 00:31:50.259 she pushes past him, 00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:51.339 comes into his hotel room. 00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:54.119 Yeah. 00:31:54.879 --> 00:31:56.619 And listen, listen, 00:31:57.299 --> 00:31:57.839 this is, 00:31:57.940 --> 00:31:59.659 this is for most, 00:31:59.779 --> 00:32:00.879 for most guys 00:32:00.879 --> 00:32:02.099 who travel for business, 00:32:03.099 --> 00:32:06.079 this is one of the primary fantasies 00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:07.480 that people talk about 00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:09.240 struggling with when they travel, 00:32:09.879 --> 00:32:10.859 is this idea of kind of 00:32:10.859 --> 00:32:12.379 anonymous sex with a stranger. 00:32:13.779 --> 00:32:15.519 This woman comes into the room. 00:32:16.039 --> 00:32:17.240 She makes it very clear 00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:18.659 that she is, 00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:21.099 she is interested in having sex. 00:32:22.119 --> 00:32:23.819 And he tries to say no. 00:32:24.079 --> 00:32:25.339 She continues to provoke. 00:32:25.639 --> 00:32:26.259 He says no. 00:32:26.379 --> 00:32:27.879 She continues to up the ante 00:32:27.879 --> 00:32:28.899 and provoke even more. 00:32:29.259 --> 00:32:30.480 Until finally, he says, 00:32:30.539 --> 00:32:31.639 you have to leave now. 00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:34.019 Gets her out of the room, 00:32:34.180 --> 00:32:35.419 immediately goes 00:32:35.419 --> 00:32:37.899 and finds two other guys 00:32:37.899 --> 00:32:38.440 that he knows 00:32:38.440 --> 00:32:39.440 who were at the conference 00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:41.000 who were also believers. 00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:43.240 Says, 00:32:43.299 --> 00:32:43.839 I've got to, 00:32:43.960 --> 00:32:44.319 before, 00:32:44.460 --> 00:32:45.639 before I do anything stupid, 00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:46.440 I've just got to tell you 00:32:46.440 --> 00:32:47.500 what happened so you know. 00:32:49.419 --> 00:32:50.039 Tells them all, 00:32:50.119 --> 00:32:50.819 tells them everything. 00:32:51.500 --> 00:32:52.139 And then he says 00:32:52.139 --> 00:32:53.139 he went to bed that night 00:32:53.139 --> 00:32:54.480 and he admits 00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:55.879 that he tossed and turned 00:32:55.879 --> 00:32:56.619 the whole night 00:32:56.619 --> 00:32:57.539 struggling 00:32:57.539 --> 00:32:59.500 with desire 00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:00.980 to go and find that woman 00:33:00.980 --> 00:33:01.980 and take her up on her offer. 00:33:02.460 --> 00:33:03.200 And yet he didn't. 00:33:06.039 --> 00:33:06.399 So, 00:33:06.680 --> 00:33:08.220 four years pass. 00:33:08.220 --> 00:33:10.700 guy goes to a conference. 00:33:12.140 --> 00:33:13.160 Same kind of business. 00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:15.559 Sees the same woman. 00:33:16.759 --> 00:33:18.059 She comes running up to him. 00:33:19.100 --> 00:33:19.299 She says, 00:33:19.360 --> 00:33:20.019 I've got to talk to you. 00:33:20.059 --> 00:33:20.440 He's thinking, 00:33:20.539 --> 00:33:21.120 oh no. 00:33:21.460 --> 00:33:21.600 You know. 00:33:22.759 --> 00:33:23.240 You know. 00:33:23.960 --> 00:33:24.400 I mean, 00:33:24.440 --> 00:33:25.480 he's afraid of all kinds of things. 00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:26.920 What is she going to misconstrue 00:33:26.920 --> 00:33:27.460 what happened? 00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:28.059 Is she going to, 00:33:28.059 --> 00:33:31.099 and she goes, 00:33:31.159 --> 00:33:32.480 that night that you said no 00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:33.379 and you kicked me out 00:33:33.379 --> 00:33:34.379 changed my life. 00:33:35.359 --> 00:33:35.899 She says, 00:33:36.759 --> 00:33:37.720 she confides 00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:39.700 that she had been abused 00:33:39.700 --> 00:33:40.899 as a child, 00:33:41.379 --> 00:33:42.740 that since her early teens 00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:43.659 the primary way 00:33:43.659 --> 00:33:44.619 she had related to men 00:33:44.619 --> 00:33:45.339 was sexually. 00:33:46.339 --> 00:33:47.980 And she's a very attractive woman 00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:49.339 and virtually no man 00:33:49.339 --> 00:33:50.639 had ever turned her down. 00:33:52.039 --> 00:33:53.899 And so what she had realized 00:33:53.899 --> 00:33:54.980 is that she had been caught 00:33:54.980 --> 00:33:55.740 in a cycle 00:33:55.740 --> 00:33:57.119 of reliving, 00:33:57.119 --> 00:33:58.079 recapitulating 00:33:58.079 --> 00:33:59.079 the trauma 00:33:59.079 --> 00:33:59.879 that she experienced 00:33:59.879 --> 00:34:00.399 as a child 00:34:00.399 --> 00:34:01.319 again and again 00:34:01.319 --> 00:34:02.279 and again and again. 00:34:02.479 --> 00:34:03.419 And this is sometimes 00:34:03.419 --> 00:34:04.839 what happened. 00:34:04.899 --> 00:34:05.899 It's a form of slavery. 00:34:07.279 --> 00:34:08.339 But that encounter 00:34:08.339 --> 00:34:08.839 that night 00:34:08.839 --> 00:34:10.059 where he had the ability 00:34:10.059 --> 00:34:11.319 because of his submission 00:34:11.319 --> 00:34:12.000 to the Lord 00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:13.500 to say no 00:34:13.500 --> 00:34:16.039 actually catalyzed 00:34:16.039 --> 00:34:16.779 in her 00:34:16.779 --> 00:34:18.859 a deep soul searching 00:34:18.859 --> 00:34:20.159 that led her to God 00:34:20.159 --> 00:34:21.480 and to the beginning 00:34:21.480 --> 00:34:22.839 of healing in her life. 00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:23.940 She said she had reconnected 00:34:23.940 --> 00:34:24.779 with the church community 00:34:24.779 --> 00:34:25.940 and that she had begun 00:34:25.940 --> 00:34:26.359 to heal. 00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:28.279 So you see freedom 00:34:28.279 --> 00:34:29.219 not only is something 00:34:29.219 --> 00:34:30.099 that is for us 00:34:30.099 --> 00:34:30.579 but it's something 00:34:30.579 --> 00:34:32.259 that freedom begets freedom 00:34:32.259 --> 00:34:33.339 which begets freedom. 00:34:33.799 --> 00:34:34.279 You become 00:34:34.279 --> 00:34:35.359 the more you submit 00:34:35.359 --> 00:34:35.779 to the Lord 00:34:35.779 --> 00:34:36.679 and experience that freedom 00:34:36.679 --> 00:34:37.739 the more you can help 00:34:37.739 --> 00:34:38.460 and cultivate 00:34:38.460 --> 00:34:39.539 and catalyze that 00:34:39.539 --> 00:34:40.279 in other people. 00:34:42.039 --> 00:34:43.619 So very quickly 00:34:43.619 --> 00:34:44.639 to wrap up 00:34:44.639 --> 00:34:45.859 just two points 00:34:45.859 --> 00:34:47.059 about what this looks like 00:34:47.059 --> 00:34:47.639 practically. 00:34:47.960 --> 00:34:48.759 Just two quick things 00:34:48.759 --> 00:34:49.139 I'll say. 00:34:49.239 --> 00:34:49.619 So you say 00:34:49.619 --> 00:34:50.500 what does this actually 00:34:50.500 --> 00:34:51.339 look like day to day? 00:34:51.639 --> 00:34:52.299 Two things. 00:34:54.079 --> 00:34:54.519 Community 00:34:54.519 --> 00:34:56.320 and spiritual disciplines. 00:34:57.320 --> 00:34:58.519 The community point 00:34:58.519 --> 00:35:00.259 the community point 00:35:00.259 --> 00:35:01.159 we already made 00:35:01.159 --> 00:35:03.500 the only way 00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:04.179 you can really live 00:35:04.179 --> 00:35:05.039 a life in submission 00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:05.579 to God 00:35:05.579 --> 00:35:07.079 is by living a life 00:35:07.079 --> 00:35:08.139 where you are submitted 00:35:08.139 --> 00:35:08.980 to other people. 00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:10.960 You can't do one 00:35:10.960 --> 00:35:11.599 without the other. 00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:13.980 So this story 00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:14.639 that I just told you 00:35:14.639 --> 00:35:15.659 is a great example of that. 00:35:15.739 --> 00:35:16.239 You know if you've ever 00:35:16.239 --> 00:35:16.820 read the Odyssey 00:35:16.820 --> 00:35:17.500 and you know 00:35:17.500 --> 00:35:18.079 there's that place 00:35:18.079 --> 00:35:18.719 with the sirens 00:35:18.719 --> 00:35:19.519 and Ulysses 00:35:19.519 --> 00:35:20.679 wants to hear 00:35:20.679 --> 00:35:21.599 the sirens right? 00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:22.819 But what's the deal 00:35:22.819 --> 00:35:23.440 with the sirens? 00:35:24.339 --> 00:35:25.599 The minute you hear them 00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:28.339 you lose all control 00:35:28.339 --> 00:35:28.980 and you just want 00:35:28.980 --> 00:35:29.980 to drive the ship 00:35:29.980 --> 00:35:31.219 up to where they are 00:35:31.219 --> 00:35:31.739 to see them 00:35:31.739 --> 00:35:32.299 and what happens? 00:35:32.380 --> 00:35:33.699 The ships run aground 00:35:33.699 --> 00:35:34.599 on the rocks 00:35:34.599 --> 00:35:35.360 that are under the water 00:35:35.360 --> 00:35:36.319 and the ships sink 00:35:36.319 --> 00:35:38.279 and the sailors perish. 00:35:39.119 --> 00:35:40.099 Well Ulysses knows this. 00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:40.360 He says 00:35:40.360 --> 00:35:41.659 when I hear the sirens 00:35:41.659 --> 00:35:42.920 I'm going to lose my mind. 00:35:43.179 --> 00:35:43.980 So what does he do? 00:35:44.860 --> 00:35:45.559 You might know the story. 00:35:45.779 --> 00:35:47.400 He tells his crew 00:35:47.400 --> 00:35:48.860 to plug their ears. 00:35:50.019 --> 00:35:50.960 He says plug your ears 00:35:50.960 --> 00:35:52.599 and lash me to the mast. 00:35:54.079 --> 00:35:55.760 And then when I hear 00:35:55.760 --> 00:35:56.519 the sirens 00:35:56.519 --> 00:35:57.199 I'm going to start 00:35:57.199 --> 00:35:57.860 freaking out. 00:35:57.940 --> 00:35:58.460 He says I'm going to 00:35:58.460 --> 00:35:59.440 start threatening you. 00:35:59.599 --> 00:35:59.960 I'm going to start 00:35:59.960 --> 00:36:01.119 saying crazy things to you. 00:36:01.340 --> 00:36:01.860 I'm going to threaten 00:36:01.860 --> 00:36:02.460 to kill you 00:36:02.460 --> 00:36:03.400 and to throw you overboard. 00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:04.619 I'm going to make 00:36:04.619 --> 00:36:05.400 all these horrible threats. 00:36:05.480 --> 00:36:06.179 I'm going to freak out. 00:36:06.400 --> 00:36:07.340 I'm going to be fighting. 00:36:07.639 --> 00:36:08.059 He says no matter 00:36:08.059 --> 00:36:09.119 what I say 00:36:09.119 --> 00:36:11.000 no matter what I say 00:36:11.000 --> 00:36:12.420 don't listen to me 00:36:12.420 --> 00:36:14.220 until we get out 00:36:14.220 --> 00:36:14.699 of the range 00:36:14.699 --> 00:36:15.360 of their call 00:36:15.360 --> 00:36:16.159 and then you can 00:36:16.159 --> 00:36:16.679 let me go. 00:36:17.760 --> 00:36:18.980 See that's what this guy 00:36:18.980 --> 00:36:19.460 was doing 00:36:19.460 --> 00:36:20.240 at the conference. 00:36:20.960 --> 00:36:22.880 He began to feel 00:36:22.880 --> 00:36:24.059 the pull of desire 00:36:24.059 --> 00:36:25.039 the desire that wanted 00:36:25.039 --> 00:36:26.159 to subjugate him. 00:36:26.840 --> 00:36:27.179 And he said 00:36:27.179 --> 00:36:28.019 I cannot do this 00:36:28.019 --> 00:36:28.460 on my own. 00:36:28.539 --> 00:36:28.980 So he calls 00:36:28.980 --> 00:36:30.440 he goes to these two guys 00:36:30.440 --> 00:36:31.220 he says lash me 00:36:31.220 --> 00:36:31.760 to the mast. 00:36:32.820 --> 00:36:33.599 And this is what 00:36:33.599 --> 00:36:34.500 we do in our lives. 00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:37.079 I know that I made 00:36:37.079 --> 00:36:37.900 vows to my wife 00:36:37.900 --> 00:36:38.440 but I know that 00:36:38.440 --> 00:36:39.099 there will be times 00:36:39.099 --> 00:36:39.820 when I am tempted 00:36:39.820 --> 00:36:40.860 to break those vows. 00:36:41.960 --> 00:36:42.900 You know that you have 00:36:42.900 --> 00:36:43.980 values and priorities 00:36:43.980 --> 00:36:44.619 that matter to you 00:36:44.619 --> 00:36:45.179 but you know that 00:36:45.179 --> 00:36:46.019 time and time again 00:36:46.019 --> 00:36:46.720 you're going to be 00:36:46.720 --> 00:36:47.300 tempted to break 00:36:47.300 --> 00:36:47.960 those things. 00:36:47.960 --> 00:36:49.380 And that you're 00:36:49.380 --> 00:36:50.119 not capable 00:36:50.119 --> 00:36:50.780 of staying true 00:36:50.780 --> 00:36:51.380 to that on your own 00:36:51.380 --> 00:36:52.119 and so you gather 00:36:52.119 --> 00:36:53.260 a community around you 00:36:53.260 --> 00:36:55.340 and you say to the men 00:36:55.340 --> 00:36:55.740 or the women 00:36:55.740 --> 00:36:56.179 in your life 00:36:56.179 --> 00:36:56.579 you say 00:36:56.579 --> 00:36:58.099 if I start getting crazy 00:36:58.099 --> 00:36:58.860 if I start saying 00:36:58.860 --> 00:36:59.539 things that don't 00:36:59.539 --> 00:37:01.240 sound like my faith 00:37:01.240 --> 00:37:02.059 that don't sound 00:37:02.059 --> 00:37:02.679 like me 00:37:02.679 --> 00:37:03.880 then you need 00:37:03.880 --> 00:37:04.400 to lash me 00:37:04.400 --> 00:37:04.920 to the mast. 00:37:05.059 --> 00:37:05.440 You need to 00:37:05.440 --> 00:37:06.579 hold me accountable 00:37:06.579 --> 00:37:07.619 to these deeper 00:37:07.619 --> 00:37:08.519 vows that I've made. 00:37:09.360 --> 00:37:10.280 You need to keep me 00:37:10.280 --> 00:37:11.679 from doing crazy things. 00:37:12.579 --> 00:37:13.519 We all need 00:37:13.519 --> 00:37:13.960 those people 00:37:13.960 --> 00:37:14.500 in our lives. 00:37:14.599 --> 00:37:14.880 Community. 00:37:14.880 --> 00:37:15.000 Community. 00:37:16.640 --> 00:37:17.640 And then the last thing 00:37:17.640 --> 00:37:18.500 I'll say is this 00:37:18.500 --> 00:37:20.180 and we'll talk about this 00:37:20.180 --> 00:37:21.039 for the rest of Lent 00:37:21.039 --> 00:37:22.099 so this is sort of 00:37:22.099 --> 00:37:23.140 an introductory sermon. 00:37:23.539 --> 00:37:24.280 It's understanding 00:37:24.280 --> 00:37:25.119 that the Christian life 00:37:25.119 --> 00:37:26.200 is one that is made up 00:37:26.200 --> 00:37:28.260 of discipline. 00:37:28.720 --> 00:37:29.820 It's one that is 00:37:29.820 --> 00:37:30.800 where we're called 00:37:30.800 --> 00:37:32.039 to cultivate virtue 00:37:32.039 --> 00:37:33.940 and cultivate a character 00:37:33.940 --> 00:37:35.099 that reflects the holiness 00:37:35.099 --> 00:37:36.180 to which we've been called. 00:37:36.579 --> 00:37:37.260 So this is why 00:37:37.260 --> 00:37:37.940 we spend time 00:37:37.940 --> 00:37:38.559 reading scripture. 00:37:39.019 --> 00:37:39.579 This is why 00:37:39.579 --> 00:37:40.400 we pray regularly. 00:37:40.519 --> 00:37:40.920 This is why 00:37:40.920 --> 00:37:41.480 we get together 00:37:41.480 --> 00:37:42.079 and do what we're doing 00:37:42.079 --> 00:37:42.460 tonight. 00:37:42.460 --> 00:37:45.340 It's in all these ways 00:37:45.340 --> 00:37:47.599 we are not trying 00:37:47.599 --> 00:37:48.559 to make God happy. 00:37:48.699 --> 00:37:49.380 We're doing this 00:37:49.380 --> 00:37:50.800 to not necessarily 00:37:50.800 --> 00:37:51.619 to have amazing 00:37:51.619 --> 00:37:52.559 spiritual experiences. 00:37:53.820 --> 00:37:54.699 The goal 00:37:54.699 --> 00:37:56.300 is the cumulative effect 00:37:56.300 --> 00:37:57.599 over time 00:37:57.599 --> 00:37:58.639 on our hearts. 00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:01.440 Habits that allow us 00:38:01.440 --> 00:38:02.639 to be more and more holy. 00:38:03.099 --> 00:38:04.059 Habits that allow us 00:38:04.059 --> 00:38:04.760 to experience 00:38:04.760 --> 00:38:06.440 more and more freedom. 00:38:07.320 --> 00:38:08.059 Let's pray. 00:38:08.059 --> 00:38:11.440 Our Father in Heaven 00:38:11.440 --> 00:38:13.539 we recognize 00:38:13.539 --> 00:38:14.880 that this is only possible 00:38:14.880 --> 00:38:15.900 because of your grace 00:38:15.900 --> 00:38:16.500 and love 00:38:16.500 --> 00:38:18.340 and so we ask 00:38:18.340 --> 00:38:20.039 that if nothing else 00:38:20.039 --> 00:38:21.320 we would be impressed 00:38:21.320 --> 00:38:22.699 in our hearts 00:38:22.699 --> 00:38:23.960 with the love 00:38:23.960 --> 00:38:24.659 that you've shown us 00:38:24.659 --> 00:38:25.820 in your Son Jesus Christ 00:38:25.820 --> 00:38:27.559 that it's his obedience 00:38:27.559 --> 00:38:28.199 not ours 00:38:28.199 --> 00:38:29.000 that gives us hope 00:38:29.000 --> 00:38:30.480 and yet help us 00:38:30.480 --> 00:38:31.099 to understand 00:38:31.099 --> 00:38:32.259 that it is our obedience 00:38:32.259 --> 00:38:33.000 that allows us 00:38:33.000 --> 00:38:33.659 to experience 00:38:33.659 --> 00:38:34.400 the fullness 00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:35.159 of that hope 00:38:35.159 --> 00:38:36.420 in our lives 00:38:36.420 --> 00:38:36.980 here and now. 00:38:36.980 --> 00:38:38.119 We pray this in your Son's 00:38:38.119 --> 00:38:38.599 holy name. 00:38:38.800 --> 00:38:39.019 Amen.