WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.200 If you have one of the red Bibles, that's going to be page 1182. 00:00:05.879 --> 00:00:10.380 And I'm going to read Colossians 1, verses 9 through 14. 00:00:11.500 --> 00:00:14.980 And then I'll pray real quick and we'll get going from there. 00:00:16.440 --> 00:00:19.920 Colossians 1, starting in verse 9, and we'll go through 14. 00:00:21.699 --> 00:00:27.440 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. 00:00:28.160 --> 00:00:35.560 We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 00:00:35.780 --> 00:00:41.960 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way, 00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:46.960 bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 00:00:47.420 --> 00:00:50.840 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might, 00:00:51.120 --> 00:00:54.280 so that you may have great endurance and patience, 00:00:54.280 --> 00:01:03.140 and giving joyful thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 00:01:03.140 --> 00:01:10.219 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 00:01:10.960 --> 00:01:14.060 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 00:01:14.560 --> 00:01:15.180 Let's pray. 00:01:15.180 --> 00:01:17.960 Father, we thank you for your word. 00:01:18.080 --> 00:01:19.700 We thank you for the truth that it is. 00:01:20.980 --> 00:01:24.080 We ask, Lord, now that you would open our eyes that we would see, 00:01:24.160 --> 00:01:25.720 that you would open our ears that we would hear. 00:01:27.020 --> 00:01:29.560 Lord, would you soften the soil of our hearts, 00:01:29.640 --> 00:01:32.780 and would you sow your gospel deeply into our souls. 00:01:33.440 --> 00:01:35.620 Remind us again of how great you are, 00:01:35.719 --> 00:01:36.880 how far we have fallen, 00:01:37.280 --> 00:01:39.980 and yet the good news we have in Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:01:39.980 --> 00:01:41.920 Lord, it's in his name we pray. 00:01:42.200 --> 00:01:42.540 Amen. 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:46.359 Well, to start with this morning, 00:01:46.460 --> 00:01:50.780 I just want to do a quick recap of where we've been so far in Colossians. 00:01:51.240 --> 00:01:53.359 This is our third Sunday in Colossians, 00:01:53.460 --> 00:01:56.480 and so far we've just seen a few of the following truths, okay? 00:01:56.939 --> 00:01:58.159 Verses 1 through 8, 00:01:58.580 --> 00:02:00.939 we saw that this is from Paul and Timothy, 00:02:01.600 --> 00:02:04.340 that they are together writing this book. 00:02:04.520 --> 00:02:07.600 Probably Paul is speaking in Timothy's writing, 00:02:07.659 --> 00:02:08.860 or something along those lines, 00:02:08.860 --> 00:02:10.340 but they're the authors. 00:02:11.020 --> 00:02:15.180 And then they're writing to a people in a city called Colossae, 00:02:15.260 --> 00:02:16.320 a church in Colossae, 00:02:17.220 --> 00:02:19.980 that they became this church, God's people, 00:02:20.340 --> 00:02:21.480 by the will of God, 00:02:21.760 --> 00:02:24.900 as a man named Epaphras came and proclaimed the gospel. 00:02:25.220 --> 00:02:26.220 They heard the gospel, 00:02:26.660 --> 00:02:27.900 they believed the gospel, 00:02:28.220 --> 00:02:29.840 and by grace, through faith, 00:02:30.140 --> 00:02:31.620 they became God's people, 00:02:32.060 --> 00:02:34.620 and yet are still in this city of Colossae. 00:02:35.480 --> 00:02:37.680 In short, Paul has identified, 00:02:37.680 --> 00:02:39.800 essentially who he's writing to, 00:02:40.280 --> 00:02:41.840 and who they are in Christ. 00:02:41.939 --> 00:02:43.760 We heard two beautiful stories this morning, 00:02:43.860 --> 00:02:45.939 of someone becoming a new creation, 00:02:46.060 --> 00:02:47.840 a new person in Christ. 00:02:47.980 --> 00:02:49.080 And these are the same, 00:02:49.140 --> 00:02:49.980 they're a new creation, 00:02:50.120 --> 00:02:50.819 they're new people, 00:02:51.159 --> 00:02:53.280 gathered together as Christ's body, 00:02:53.379 --> 00:02:53.980 the church, 00:02:54.340 --> 00:02:55.659 in the city of Colossae. 00:02:56.360 --> 00:02:57.700 Okay, now in today's passage, 00:02:57.780 --> 00:02:58.540 what Paul's going to do, 00:02:58.600 --> 00:02:59.939 he's going to point out, 00:02:59.939 --> 00:03:02.020 that since they are now in Christ, 00:03:02.859 --> 00:03:04.039 they are a new people, 00:03:04.039 --> 00:03:05.900 who live under a new Lord, 00:03:06.460 --> 00:03:07.740 namely Lord Jesus. 00:03:08.539 --> 00:03:10.359 And that life under Lord Jesus, 00:03:10.359 --> 00:03:11.340 is different, 00:03:11.719 --> 00:03:13.300 than life under any other Lord. 00:03:13.900 --> 00:03:15.280 So today's main idea, 00:03:15.379 --> 00:03:15.840 as we have it, 00:03:15.859 --> 00:03:16.360 is just that, 00:03:16.599 --> 00:03:17.680 the Christian life, 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:18.960 is a new life, 00:03:19.460 --> 00:03:20.520 under a new Lord. 00:03:21.219 --> 00:03:22.479 If you could put Christian life, 00:03:22.520 --> 00:03:23.000 in a nutshell, 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:23.680 that's what it is. 00:03:23.699 --> 00:03:24.460 It's a new life, 00:03:24.659 --> 00:03:25.460 under a new Lord. 00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:26.900 And we'll look at the reality, 00:03:26.900 --> 00:03:27.740 of what that means, 00:03:27.840 --> 00:03:29.360 to live a new life, 00:03:29.379 --> 00:03:30.120 under a new Lord. 00:03:30.460 --> 00:03:31.719 The way to live a life, 00:03:31.780 --> 00:03:33.300 that brings joy to our Lord. 00:03:33.379 --> 00:03:34.480 We might not think about that, 00:03:34.600 --> 00:03:34.960 very often. 00:03:35.020 --> 00:03:36.400 But there's a way to live life, 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:38.200 that brings joy to our Lord. 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:40.340 And then the joy of a life, 00:03:40.439 --> 00:03:41.780 lived in the Lord. 00:03:41.900 --> 00:03:43.480 It's okay to be joyful in the Lord. 00:03:43.580 --> 00:03:43.879 In fact, 00:03:43.980 --> 00:03:44.580 scripture says, 00:03:44.860 --> 00:03:46.379 we can and should be joyful, 00:03:46.780 --> 00:03:47.300 in the Lord. 00:03:47.379 --> 00:03:48.480 So we'll look at that as well. 00:03:49.319 --> 00:03:49.780 But first, 00:03:49.860 --> 00:03:51.439 the reality of our new lives, 00:03:51.920 --> 00:03:53.200 lived under our new Lord. 00:03:53.319 --> 00:03:54.520 And here's how Paul puts it, 00:03:54.520 --> 00:03:55.200 in verse 9, 00:03:55.199 --> 00:03:56.239 through just the first part, 00:03:56.299 --> 00:03:56.739 of verse 10. 00:03:57.719 --> 00:03:58.399 He says, 00:03:58.539 --> 00:03:59.679 for this reason, 00:04:00.500 --> 00:04:01.539 and we can pause and say, 00:04:01.619 --> 00:04:01.719 well, 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:02.399 what's the reason? 00:04:02.519 --> 00:04:03.519 And he would say, 00:04:03.659 --> 00:04:05.199 everything I've covered so far, 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:06.339 in verses 1 through 8. 00:04:06.599 --> 00:04:08.019 Because we are God's people, 00:04:08.399 --> 00:04:09.799 because we became His people, 00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:10.439 by grace, 00:04:10.519 --> 00:04:11.039 through faith, 00:04:11.099 --> 00:04:12.179 for this reason, 00:04:13.039 --> 00:04:13.780 since the day, 00:04:13.879 --> 00:04:14.560 Paul and Timothy, 00:04:14.739 --> 00:04:15.739 heard about the church, 00:04:15.819 --> 00:04:16.459 in Colossae, 00:04:17.180 --> 00:04:17.939 they've not stopped, 00:04:17.939 --> 00:04:18.980 praying for them. 00:04:19.939 --> 00:04:20.300 He says, 00:04:20.360 --> 00:04:21.719 we continually ask God, 00:04:21.800 --> 00:04:22.579 to fill you, 00:04:22.659 --> 00:04:23.419 with the knowledge, 00:04:23.500 --> 00:04:24.240 of His will, 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:25.660 through all the wisdom, 00:04:25.900 --> 00:04:26.680 and understanding, 00:04:26.819 --> 00:04:27.819 that the Spirit gives. 00:04:28.180 --> 00:04:29.040 So that, 00:04:29.120 --> 00:04:30.079 this is why they pray, 00:04:30.740 --> 00:04:32.400 so that you may live a life, 00:04:32.460 --> 00:04:33.920 worthy of the Lord, 00:04:34.680 --> 00:04:36.379 and please Him, 00:04:36.540 --> 00:04:37.460 in every way. 00:04:39.180 --> 00:04:39.819 And he just said, 00:04:39.879 --> 00:04:41.759 the reality of the Christian life, 00:04:42.019 --> 00:04:43.300 is that it is a life, 00:04:43.340 --> 00:04:44.759 lived under a new Lord. 00:04:45.800 --> 00:04:47.100 And it's important for us, 00:04:47.100 --> 00:04:47.939 to just pause here, 00:04:48.120 --> 00:04:49.879 and get an idea, 00:04:49.879 --> 00:04:51.040 of how a Colossian, 00:04:51.100 --> 00:04:52.740 would have heard this phrase, 00:04:52.779 --> 00:04:53.560 in the first century. 00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:55.759 This is very specific language, 00:04:55.879 --> 00:04:56.759 Paul just used. 00:04:58.019 --> 00:04:58.219 Okay, 00:04:58.339 --> 00:04:59.399 in Colossae, 00:04:59.959 --> 00:05:01.120 in the first century, 00:05:01.879 --> 00:05:03.439 the ideas of life, 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:04.379 land, 00:05:04.459 --> 00:05:05.339 and lordship, 00:05:05.459 --> 00:05:07.000 are completely bound together. 00:05:07.459 --> 00:05:08.279 They're inseparable. 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:10.639 You lived life, 00:05:11.019 --> 00:05:12.000 on a land, 00:05:12.719 --> 00:05:13.800 under a Lord, 00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:15.159 you could call Him, 00:05:15.219 --> 00:05:15.659 Master, 00:05:16.219 --> 00:05:16.939 Landowner, 00:05:17.500 --> 00:05:17.819 King, 00:05:17.819 --> 00:05:19.219 whatever the term might be, 00:05:19.300 --> 00:05:19.920 in your area, 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:20.480 in the world, 00:05:20.800 --> 00:05:21.920 but that it was the Lord, 00:05:21.959 --> 00:05:22.680 of the land. 00:05:23.180 --> 00:05:24.860 And so I think we have a map, 00:05:24.959 --> 00:05:25.620 so Colossae, 00:05:25.980 --> 00:05:27.379 there's a couple important things, 00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:28.099 to note about it. 00:05:28.819 --> 00:05:29.740 It's a small town. 00:05:30.740 --> 00:05:32.240 It's 200 kilometers, 00:05:32.740 --> 00:05:33.139 inland, 00:05:33.699 --> 00:05:34.399 from Ephesus, 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:35.860 which is on the Mediterranean Sea. 00:05:35.939 --> 00:05:36.639 Can you see it okay? 00:05:37.199 --> 00:05:38.219 It's kind of zoomed in, 00:05:38.279 --> 00:05:38.879 up there for you. 00:05:39.860 --> 00:05:40.100 Alright, 00:05:40.159 --> 00:05:41.300 that 200 kilometers, 00:05:41.459 --> 00:05:42.279 is important to note, 00:05:42.379 --> 00:05:42.639 because, 00:05:42.980 --> 00:05:44.079 here's what Rome, 00:05:44.139 --> 00:05:44.860 is interested in. 00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:45.980 Rome wants your money. 00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:46.680 Can you believe that? 00:05:46.680 --> 00:05:47.920 That government wants your money. 00:05:48.340 --> 00:05:49.639 Rome wants people's money. 00:05:50.420 --> 00:05:51.759 And how do they get people's money? 00:05:51.860 --> 00:05:52.019 Well, 00:05:52.120 --> 00:05:54.420 you provide some sort of good. 00:05:55.500 --> 00:05:56.579 And in Colossae, 00:05:56.660 --> 00:05:58.100 the goods are food, 00:05:58.819 --> 00:05:59.519 and wool, 00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:00.180 from the sheep. 00:06:00.280 --> 00:06:00.920 So they're farmers, 00:06:01.100 --> 00:06:01.800 and they're shepherds. 00:06:02.579 --> 00:06:03.139 They then, 00:06:03.139 --> 00:06:04.639 send their goods, 00:06:05.280 --> 00:06:06.259 200 kilometers, 00:06:06.439 --> 00:06:07.420 to the Mediterranean Sea, 00:06:07.560 --> 00:06:08.780 probably at the city of Ephesus. 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:10.280 And that's the maximum, 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:11.980 Rome's willing to really accept, 00:06:12.060 --> 00:06:13.240 any goods over land. 00:06:13.600 --> 00:06:14.460 200 kilometers. 00:06:14.660 --> 00:06:15.180 After that, 00:06:15.439 --> 00:06:16.220 they're not going to bother. 00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:17.600 It's too expensive, 00:06:17.819 --> 00:06:18.759 and it's too risky, 00:06:19.240 --> 00:06:20.300 even with their roads, 00:06:20.360 --> 00:06:21.400 to bring your goods, 00:06:21.459 --> 00:06:22.800 much more than 200 kilometers. 00:06:23.180 --> 00:06:24.780 So Colossae is right at the edge, 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:25.500 of the Roman Empire. 00:06:26.360 --> 00:06:27.300 And then from there, 00:06:27.519 --> 00:06:28.519 once it gets to Ephesus, 00:06:28.980 --> 00:06:30.040 it's going to be brought, 00:06:30.040 --> 00:06:31.319 by the Mediterranean Sea, 00:06:31.720 --> 00:06:32.759 into Rome, 00:06:32.840 --> 00:06:33.600 or into other cities, 00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:34.660 where all those goods, 00:06:34.699 --> 00:06:35.600 are exchanged for money. 00:06:35.860 --> 00:06:37.160 All that money gets taxed. 00:06:37.340 --> 00:06:38.680 All that tax goes to Rome. 00:06:38.960 --> 00:06:39.600 Rome's happy. 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:40.939 So if you're a Colossian, 00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:43.460 your job is to make food, 00:06:43.820 --> 00:06:44.480 and wool. 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:45.800 Send that wool to Ephesus. 00:06:46.140 --> 00:06:47.860 That stuff gets turned into money. 00:06:48.180 --> 00:06:49.180 That money goes to Rome. 00:06:49.460 --> 00:06:50.060 Rome's happy. 00:06:50.260 --> 00:06:51.520 You want to keep Rome happy, 00:06:51.580 --> 00:06:52.379 during that time. 00:06:52.520 --> 00:06:52.640 Okay? 00:06:53.300 --> 00:06:53.780 And, 00:06:53.879 --> 00:06:55.240 and the difference, 00:06:55.280 --> 00:06:57.040 between being a farmer then, 00:06:58.040 --> 00:06:59.180 and being a farmer now, 00:06:59.220 --> 00:07:00.340 is actually quite striking. 00:07:00.339 --> 00:07:03.959 I talked to a number of people this week, 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:04.859 who either owned farms, 00:07:04.919 --> 00:07:06.060 or had parents that owned farms, 00:07:06.500 --> 00:07:06.699 and, 00:07:06.739 --> 00:07:08.439 and I asked them the same question. 00:07:08.799 --> 00:07:09.899 Do you get to grow, 00:07:10.019 --> 00:07:11.319 or do your parents get to grow, 00:07:11.439 --> 00:07:12.779 what they want to on their land? 00:07:13.479 --> 00:07:15.099 Or does somebody tell them what to grow? 00:07:16.120 --> 00:07:16.879 And all of them said, 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:17.000 well, 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:18.879 they could do what they want with their land. 00:07:19.859 --> 00:07:21.620 That wasn't the case in the first century. 00:07:23.079 --> 00:07:24.979 You didn't own the land you worked, 00:07:25.459 --> 00:07:26.500 and you didn't get to choose, 00:07:26.519 --> 00:07:27.339 what it was you grew. 00:07:28.159 --> 00:07:29.439 You lived under a Lord. 00:07:30.339 --> 00:07:31.799 And the Lord of the land, 00:07:31.939 --> 00:07:34.379 he decided what you would grow. 00:07:35.339 --> 00:07:35.560 Alright, 00:07:35.619 --> 00:07:36.939 so you didn't own the land, 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:38.259 the Lord of the land did. 00:07:38.679 --> 00:07:39.859 You didn't choose your crops, 00:07:40.119 --> 00:07:41.560 the Lord of the land chose the crops. 00:07:41.659 --> 00:07:43.299 You might not even choose the methods, 00:07:43.379 --> 00:07:44.659 by which you grew those crops, 00:07:45.039 --> 00:07:46.979 the Lord of the land would choose the methods, 00:07:47.039 --> 00:07:48.939 by which you grew the crops on his land. 00:07:49.919 --> 00:07:51.439 You were not your own person, 00:07:51.439 --> 00:07:53.159 and you'll hear this echo in scripture, 00:07:54.159 --> 00:07:56.120 you belong to the Lord of the land. 00:07:57.679 --> 00:08:00.259 Your happiness was directly linked, 00:08:00.339 --> 00:08:03.259 to your Lord's satisfaction with you. 00:08:04.159 --> 00:08:05.759 That's important to understand. 00:08:05.899 --> 00:08:06.779 For Colossians, 00:08:07.579 --> 00:08:09.939 your happiness was directly linked, 00:08:10.439 --> 00:08:14.139 to your Lord's satisfaction with you. 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:17.620 You live life on a land under a Lord. 00:08:18.359 --> 00:08:19.639 There was really no way around. 00:08:20.939 --> 00:08:22.839 And your Lord probably didn't even live there. 00:08:23.559 --> 00:08:24.419 The Lord of the land, 00:08:24.500 --> 00:08:25.079 the owner of the land, 00:08:25.179 --> 00:08:26.299 probably lived in the city. 00:08:27.300 --> 00:08:29.400 We have writings from first century, 00:08:29.520 --> 00:08:30.579 a guy named Pliny the Younger. 00:08:30.960 --> 00:08:32.240 He writes a ton of letters, 00:08:32.379 --> 00:08:33.299 and in a lot of those letters, 00:08:33.680 --> 00:08:36.320 he's writing to someone who works lands that he owns. 00:08:36.379 --> 00:08:36.659 And he says, 00:08:36.940 --> 00:08:38.279 make sure you grow these things, 00:08:38.419 --> 00:08:40.080 make sure you sell them for these prices, 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:41.060 make sure this, 00:08:41.159 --> 00:08:41.740 make sure that. 00:08:42.080 --> 00:08:43.659 He's nowhere near those lands, 00:08:43.759 --> 00:08:44.960 but he's giving the instructions, 00:08:45.419 --> 00:08:46.139 giving the orders, 00:08:46.340 --> 00:08:48.080 and they're expected to do what he says, 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:49.519 because he's the Lord of the land. 00:08:49.519 --> 00:08:52.439 So with that in mind, 00:08:52.819 --> 00:08:54.220 let's look at Colossians 1, 00:08:54.419 --> 00:08:56.439 verses 9 and the first part of 10 again, 00:08:56.620 --> 00:08:59.360 so that we can hear it the way the Colossians would have heard this. 00:09:00.699 --> 00:09:01.860 For this reason, 00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:04.379 because they're under a new Lord. 00:09:05.259 --> 00:09:06.939 Since the day we heard about you, 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:08.340 we've not stopped praying for you. 00:09:08.840 --> 00:09:12.340 We ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will, 00:09:12.639 --> 00:09:13.319 or in other words, 00:09:13.439 --> 00:09:16.419 we want God to explain to you what your Lord desires. 00:09:16.419 --> 00:09:20.819 Through all the wisdom and understanding that His Spirit gives, 00:09:21.099 --> 00:09:24.279 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord, 00:09:24.579 --> 00:09:27.299 and please Him in every way. 00:09:28.620 --> 00:09:30.240 Okay, again, in the Colossian world, 00:09:30.339 --> 00:09:34.179 your happiness is directly linked to your Lord's satisfaction with you. 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:36.339 So Paul's not writing anything foreign to them. 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:42.959 He's saying we're asking that the Lord would reveal His will to you, 00:09:43.799 --> 00:09:45.519 and that you could please Him. 00:09:46.419 --> 00:09:49.479 As you live out His will for you. 00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:52.839 Right, so what does that mean for a Christian? 00:09:52.979 --> 00:09:55.519 Well, it means we should come to know the will of God, 00:09:55.899 --> 00:09:56.559 our Lord, 00:09:57.299 --> 00:09:58.979 so that we can bring Him joy, 00:09:59.620 --> 00:10:00.939 and enjoy life in Him. 00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:04.240 And if you think about the Colossian again, 00:10:04.319 --> 00:10:04.959 how would you know? 00:10:05.819 --> 00:10:07.659 How would you know how to please the Lord? 00:10:08.899 --> 00:10:10.219 You'd have kind of two options. 00:10:10.319 --> 00:10:11.019 You could guess, 00:10:12.219 --> 00:10:13.759 and then you're just hit or miss, right? 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:14.899 You could say, 00:10:14.980 --> 00:10:16.200 well, I think, I don't know, 00:10:16.279 --> 00:10:17.919 I know a couple things about this Lord. 00:10:18.419 --> 00:10:19.960 I'll just pick some crops, 00:10:20.039 --> 00:10:20.500 I'll grow them, 00:10:20.580 --> 00:10:21.960 I'll hope to get a decent price, 00:10:22.100 --> 00:10:23.259 and then when He returns, 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:25.039 hopefully He's happy with me. 00:10:25.659 --> 00:10:26.519 That's one option. 00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:29.039 The other option is, 00:10:29.559 --> 00:10:30.819 you would just simply ask Him, 00:10:30.980 --> 00:10:31.799 what's your will? 00:10:31.799 --> 00:10:34.339 What is it you want done on your land? 00:10:34.419 --> 00:10:35.059 What do you want me to do? 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:36.819 How can I please you? 00:10:37.659 --> 00:10:39.000 Reveal your will to me, 00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:40.439 so I can please you, 00:10:40.620 --> 00:10:42.539 so that I can continue under your Lordship. 00:10:42.620 --> 00:10:44.599 It was good to be under somebody's Lordship then. 00:10:44.939 --> 00:10:46.039 It meant you had a place to live. 00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:46.839 It meant you had food. 00:10:47.199 --> 00:10:48.339 You would want to please your Lord. 00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:50.399 So for the Christian, 00:10:50.500 --> 00:10:51.359 the reality is, 00:10:52.359 --> 00:10:54.240 the Lord has done just that for us. 00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:57.679 Right, He's given us His revealed will, 00:10:58.179 --> 00:10:59.359 right here in Scripture. 00:10:59.360 --> 00:11:02.340 And that's what Paul's pointing out to this young church. 00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:04.759 The Lord has given you His will. 00:11:05.740 --> 00:11:06.919 He's showing you, 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:08.800 He's telling you through His Word, 00:11:09.100 --> 00:11:12.200 how He wants you to live life under His Lordship, 00:11:12.500 --> 00:11:16.379 so that you can please Him in His life. 00:11:17.899 --> 00:11:19.320 Essentially, he says, 00:11:19.779 --> 00:11:21.259 we've got to know the Word of God. 00:11:21.980 --> 00:11:23.399 We've got to know His will. 00:11:24.740 --> 00:11:26.539 Which leads us into our second point, 00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:28.899 which is that the way to live a life 00:11:28.899 --> 00:11:30.840 that brings joy to our Lord. 00:11:30.919 --> 00:11:32.179 There is a way to live life 00:11:32.179 --> 00:11:34.439 that brings joy to our Lord. 00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:36.779 Sometimes I think we just think 00:11:36.779 --> 00:11:39.379 God's like this big angry being 00:11:39.379 --> 00:11:40.139 up in the sky 00:11:40.139 --> 00:11:41.679 that we can never please. 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:42.699 But He says in His Word, 00:11:42.959 --> 00:11:44.620 there is a way to live life 00:11:44.620 --> 00:11:45.600 under His Lordship 00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:47.799 that is pleasing to Him. 00:11:49.340 --> 00:11:50.980 And Paul starts to bring this out now 00:11:50.980 --> 00:11:52.720 in the second half of verse 10. 00:11:54.019 --> 00:11:54.699 Again, he says, 00:11:54.700 --> 00:11:56.020 we want you to live a life 00:11:56.020 --> 00:11:57.040 worthy of the Lord 00:11:57.040 --> 00:11:58.520 and please Him in every way, 00:11:59.740 --> 00:12:01.500 bearing fruit in every good work, 00:12:02.140 --> 00:12:04.040 and growing in the knowledge of God. 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:05.020 Okay? 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:06.160 And I would encourage you 00:12:06.160 --> 00:12:07.680 to write the word while 00:12:07.680 --> 00:12:09.540 before growing in the knowledge of God. 00:12:09.620 --> 00:12:10.160 Because these are all 00:12:10.160 --> 00:12:11.080 going to start to go together. 00:12:11.520 --> 00:12:13.420 Bearing fruit in every good work 00:12:13.420 --> 00:12:15.920 while growing in the knowledge of God. 00:12:16.220 --> 00:12:16.420 Alright? 00:12:16.460 --> 00:12:16.860 In my head, 00:12:16.920 --> 00:12:18.420 I just say new things to know, 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:19.759 new crops to grow. 00:12:19.879 --> 00:12:21.040 That's how I put it in my head. 00:12:21.039 --> 00:12:23.360 It makes simple sense to me that way. 00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:24.860 If we've got a new Lord, 00:12:24.959 --> 00:12:26.199 if we've got someone else in charge, 00:12:26.259 --> 00:12:27.179 if you've got a new boss, 00:12:27.559 --> 00:12:28.299 new things to know, 00:12:28.379 --> 00:12:29.199 new crops to grow. 00:12:29.379 --> 00:12:29.539 Okay? 00:12:29.819 --> 00:12:30.439 For the Christian, 00:12:30.539 --> 00:12:31.759 there's new things to know. 00:12:32.719 --> 00:12:34.539 And then the knowledge of these things 00:12:34.539 --> 00:12:36.179 leads us into doing God's work. 00:12:36.259 --> 00:12:38.079 So we'll take them one at a time here. 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:39.199 First, new things to know, 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:40.000 or as Paul says, 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:41.899 growing in the knowledge of God. 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:45.179 We are to be, as Christians, 00:12:45.719 --> 00:12:47.279 growing in the knowledge of God. 00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:48.219 I think we heard that 00:12:48.219 --> 00:12:49.740 from both of our ladies today. 00:12:49.740 --> 00:12:52.100 They're growing in the knowledge of God. 00:12:52.200 --> 00:12:53.080 That's what we're called to do. 00:12:54.279 --> 00:12:55.220 There's an interesting book 00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:55.940 in the United States. 00:12:56.019 --> 00:12:57.340 I don't know if it's come out here. 00:12:58.240 --> 00:12:58.799 It's called, 00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:00.980 All I Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:02.799 Which I think you would call 00:13:02.799 --> 00:13:04.039 junior infancy, 00:13:04.200 --> 00:13:04.899 or first year, 00:13:05.100 --> 00:13:06.279 or something like that, right? 00:13:06.379 --> 00:13:06.919 Am I close? 00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:08.600 All I Needed to Know 00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:09.460 I Really Just Learned 00:13:09.460 --> 00:13:10.720 When I Was Five or Six Years Old. 00:13:10.759 --> 00:13:11.299 And it's cute. 00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:12.200 It's a cute book. 00:13:12.539 --> 00:13:13.539 It's a clever book. 00:13:13.700 --> 00:13:15.120 But think about the message there 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:15.519 for a minute. 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:18.360 All I Really Need to Know 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:19.919 to Please the Lords of this World, 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:21.899 I Learned at the Age of Five or Six, 00:13:21.980 --> 00:13:23.039 and I Can Just Kind of Stop 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:23.960 Knowing Things Now. 00:13:25.939 --> 00:13:26.579 And again, 00:13:26.699 --> 00:13:27.279 it's cute. 00:13:27.399 --> 00:13:27.960 It's clever. 00:13:28.860 --> 00:13:30.199 But we really do live 00:13:30.199 --> 00:13:31.199 in a postmodern world 00:13:31.199 --> 00:13:31.659 that says, 00:13:31.860 --> 00:13:33.600 I Can Just Kind of Do Whatever I Want 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:35.379 Regardless of what the Lord Wants. 00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:38.100 We live in a world that says, 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:39.259 We Don't Really Need to Know 00:13:39.259 --> 00:13:40.199 What God Has Said. 00:13:40.200 --> 00:13:41.800 In fact, 00:13:41.879 --> 00:13:42.400 historically, 00:13:42.560 --> 00:13:43.520 we've gone as a people 00:13:43.520 --> 00:13:45.460 from What Has God Said 00:13:45.460 --> 00:13:48.860 to Has God Actually Said Anything 00:13:48.860 --> 00:13:51.879 to Who Cares? 00:13:52.640 --> 00:13:53.980 I'll Just Do Whatever I Want. 00:13:55.680 --> 00:13:57.500 That's been the progression of humanity 00:13:57.500 --> 00:13:59.280 from one country to another 00:13:59.280 --> 00:14:00.440 over and over again. 00:14:00.700 --> 00:14:02.120 What Has God Said? 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:04.300 Has He Actually Said Anything? 00:14:04.560 --> 00:14:05.420 And then eventually just 00:14:05.420 --> 00:14:06.440 Who Cares? 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:08.080 I'll Do What I Want. 00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:10.980 Maybe I Don't Need to Grow 00:14:10.980 --> 00:14:12.720 in Knowledge of God. 00:14:14.460 --> 00:14:15.840 John Calvin once wrote, 00:14:15.940 --> 00:14:16.259 he said, 00:14:16.680 --> 00:14:18.560 Faith does not rest on ignorance, 00:14:19.620 --> 00:14:20.940 but on knowledge. 00:14:21.940 --> 00:14:22.520 And indeed, 00:14:22.680 --> 00:14:24.440 knowledge of God 00:14:24.440 --> 00:14:26.480 and His Divine Will. 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:30.080 And then when Paul says, 00:14:30.259 --> 00:14:31.020 of God, 00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:33.600 he's expressing the realm 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:35.440 which one is expected 00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:36.440 to find this growth in. 00:14:36.620 --> 00:14:37.420 Paul doesn't say, 00:14:37.419 --> 00:14:38.860 my prayer is that you would 00:14:38.860 --> 00:14:39.899 grow in knowledge 00:14:39.899 --> 00:14:41.139 of new farming methods. 00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:41.979 It's a good thing. 00:14:42.579 --> 00:14:43.459 That's not Paul's prayer. 00:14:44.439 --> 00:14:44.959 He doesn't say, 00:14:45.019 --> 00:14:46.019 my prayer is that you would 00:14:46.019 --> 00:14:46.819 grow in knowledge 00:14:46.819 --> 00:14:47.899 of all the other gods 00:14:47.899 --> 00:14:49.000 that everybody talks about. 00:14:49.179 --> 00:14:50.299 That's not Paul's prayer. 00:14:51.479 --> 00:14:51.699 He says, 00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:52.879 his prayer is that they would 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:54.519 grow in knowledge 00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:56.259 of God. 00:14:57.779 --> 00:14:59.019 And if I can just be 00:14:59.019 --> 00:14:59.959 candid with you, 00:15:00.019 --> 00:15:00.939 if I can just be frank, 00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:02.419 at least coming from the U.S., 00:15:02.419 --> 00:15:04.159 the Bible is not 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:05.219 as central a part 00:15:05.219 --> 00:15:06.259 of most believers' lives 00:15:06.259 --> 00:15:07.019 as it should be. 00:15:07.419 --> 00:15:08.360 Where I'm from, 00:15:08.419 --> 00:15:08.899 where I live, 00:15:08.939 --> 00:15:09.919 it's just not 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:11.839 as central a part 00:15:11.839 --> 00:15:14.679 of most believers' lives 00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:17.099 as it should be. 00:15:19.099 --> 00:15:20.159 World Religion News 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:20.679 ran an article 00:15:20.679 --> 00:15:21.439 two years ago 00:15:21.439 --> 00:15:23.259 concerning the United States 00:15:23.259 --> 00:15:24.039 in which they said, 00:15:24.439 --> 00:15:26.860 87% of United States homes 00:15:26.860 --> 00:15:28.039 have a Bible in them. 00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:30.519 That's a staggering number. 00:15:31.319 --> 00:15:31.799 Historically, 00:15:31.899 --> 00:15:33.339 that is amazing. 00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:35.440 In Paul's day, 00:15:35.540 --> 00:15:37.120 10% of people could read. 00:15:37.940 --> 00:15:38.780 In our day, 00:15:38.920 --> 00:15:40.220 in the country that I come from, 00:15:40.560 --> 00:15:42.320 87% of people 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:43.120 have a Bible 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:44.560 in their home. 00:15:45.060 --> 00:15:46.899 The revealed will 00:15:46.899 --> 00:15:48.399 of the Lord of the universe 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:49.820 is in their home. 00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:52.240 And yet, 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:53.100 in the United States, 00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:54.780 two-thirds of Americans 00:15:54.780 --> 00:15:56.440 do not read their Bible. 00:15:56.440 --> 00:15:58.060 really, 00:15:58.060 --> 00:15:58.380 ever. 00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:02.940 In the United States, 00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:03.900 you could go into 00:16:03.900 --> 00:16:04.820 a hundred homes 00:16:04.820 --> 00:16:05.760 and see at least 00:16:05.760 --> 00:16:06.780 87 Bibles. 00:16:08.420 --> 00:16:08.960 And yet, 00:16:09.040 --> 00:16:09.960 the majority of people 00:16:09.960 --> 00:16:11.120 have no idea 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:13.900 what the will of the Lord 00:16:13.900 --> 00:16:14.840 is for their life. 00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:18.240 And I'll tell you, 00:16:18.380 --> 00:16:19.780 the results in the United States 00:16:19.780 --> 00:16:20.160 have been 00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:22.199 a spiritual disaster. 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:25.120 It's been utterly terrible. 00:16:26.659 --> 00:16:27.559 And you would think, 00:16:27.620 --> 00:16:28.459 if we could just get 00:16:28.459 --> 00:16:29.299 the will of the Lord 00:16:29.299 --> 00:16:30.019 in people's hands, 00:16:30.079 --> 00:16:30.620 if they could just 00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:31.759 grow in knowledge 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:32.579 of what God wants, 00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:33.740 but the sad thing is, 00:16:33.779 --> 00:16:34.379 it's there. 00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:35.439 It's in their hands. 00:16:38.719 --> 00:16:39.879 And we don't take the time 00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:40.819 to open it up and say, 00:16:41.059 --> 00:16:42.259 what has God said? 00:16:42.980 --> 00:16:44.059 What has the God 00:16:44.059 --> 00:16:45.039 of the universe said? 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:48.079 Practically, 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:49.199 I'll give you two ideas 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:50.420 for how to get to know 00:16:50.420 --> 00:16:51.040 God better. 00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:51.800 Okay? 00:16:52.060 --> 00:16:53.259 And this is very creative. 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:53.640 You ready? 00:16:54.220 --> 00:16:55.300 Read the Bible alone 00:16:55.300 --> 00:16:57.060 and read the Bible 00:16:57.060 --> 00:16:57.600 with others. 00:16:58.940 --> 00:16:59.960 It's about as creative 00:16:59.960 --> 00:17:00.480 as I can get. 00:17:00.520 --> 00:17:00.860 I'm sorry. 00:17:01.800 --> 00:17:02.420 And we heard it 00:17:02.420 --> 00:17:03.820 from Helen this morning. 00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:05.460 I read the Bible alone 00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:06.900 and I read the Bible 00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:07.580 with others. 00:17:08.580 --> 00:17:09.420 Those two things 00:17:09.420 --> 00:17:09.920 right there, 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:10.940 that's what Paul's 00:17:10.940 --> 00:17:11.519 talking about. 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:13.480 Growing in the knowledge 00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:13.819 of God. 00:17:14.180 --> 00:17:15.380 Pick a passage a day, 00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:16.240 work through a book 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:17.360 of the Bible at a time. 00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:18.720 One passage a day, 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:19.700 one chapter a day. 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:21.460 You can have an audio Bible 00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:22.440 on your phone, 00:17:22.539 --> 00:17:23.160 on your computer. 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:25.200 I like to go for a walk 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:26.160 and just listen 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:27.019 to books of the Bible. 00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:28.860 One of my favorites 00:17:28.860 --> 00:17:30.220 is a chronological Bible. 00:17:30.420 --> 00:17:31.900 If you want one of those, 00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:32.819 I'll help you find one. 00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:33.779 It takes the Bible, 00:17:33.880 --> 00:17:34.920 which sometimes historically 00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:35.980 can seem confusing 00:17:35.980 --> 00:17:37.000 because the stories overlap, 00:17:37.360 --> 00:17:38.420 and it just lays it out 00:17:38.420 --> 00:17:39.640 in one story. 00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:40.600 So you can follow along 00:17:40.600 --> 00:17:41.240 in one story. 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:42.880 That's my favorite way 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:43.600 to read the Bible. 00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:44.420 Just read through 00:17:44.420 --> 00:17:45.339 the story of Scripture. 00:17:45.700 --> 00:17:46.940 But read the Bible alone. 00:17:46.940 --> 00:17:48.580 Don't be like 00:17:48.580 --> 00:17:49.820 the majority of Americans 00:17:49.820 --> 00:17:50.759 with God's will 00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:51.940 sitting right in your house 00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:53.160 and never open it up. 00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:54.059 Read the Bible alone. 00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:55.680 And then read the Bible 00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:56.240 with others. 00:17:57.180 --> 00:17:58.180 We have plenty of options 00:17:58.180 --> 00:17:58.460 right here. 00:17:58.519 --> 00:17:59.360 You're here this morning. 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:00.120 Excellent. 00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:01.340 That's a great place to start. 00:18:02.320 --> 00:18:03.420 We read the Bible 00:18:03.420 --> 00:18:04.100 in the Psalms. 00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:04.920 You see the Bible. 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:05.820 You hear the Bible. 00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:06.340 You're going to see 00:18:06.340 --> 00:18:07.720 the results of the work 00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:08.299 done in the Bible 00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:09.400 when we take the Lord's Supper. 00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:10.380 We hear the preaching 00:18:10.380 --> 00:18:11.140 of God's Word. 00:18:11.460 --> 00:18:12.240 We're in the Bible 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:12.920 with others. 00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:13.880 That's an excellent thing. 00:18:13.880 --> 00:18:15.100 If you're not a member 00:18:15.100 --> 00:18:15.600 of this church, 00:18:15.660 --> 00:18:16.520 if you don't live here, 00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:18.140 make sure you go to a church 00:18:18.140 --> 00:18:19.760 that teaches the Bible weekly. 00:18:19.860 --> 00:18:20.820 That's very important. 00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:22.760 If you live here, 00:18:23.120 --> 00:18:24.180 keep coming every Sunday 00:18:24.180 --> 00:18:25.600 and just hear the Bible. 00:18:25.800 --> 00:18:26.800 Read the Bible with others. 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:28.740 We have home groups 00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:29.460 and Bible studies. 00:18:29.620 --> 00:18:30.660 I think ladies Bible study 00:18:30.660 --> 00:18:31.440 Thursday morning 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:33.260 and then home groups 00:18:33.260 --> 00:18:34.080 Wednesday evenings. 00:18:34.320 --> 00:18:35.280 Read the Bible with others. 00:18:35.400 --> 00:18:36.600 It's okay if you don't know much. 00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:38.740 Not many Christians 00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:39.960 really knew much about the Bible 00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:41.740 when they first started reading it. 00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:43.640 We've got to read the Bible. 00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:44.339 Read it alone 00:18:44.339 --> 00:18:45.980 and read it with others. 00:18:46.099 --> 00:18:47.200 If you're new to Christianity, 00:18:47.640 --> 00:18:48.839 if you pick up a Bible 00:18:48.839 --> 00:18:49.259 and you go, 00:18:49.380 --> 00:18:51.059 it doesn't make much sense to me, 00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:52.400 that's absolutely fine. 00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:54.339 It takes time. 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:55.740 I think Helen said that too. 00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:56.440 It took time. 00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:57.680 It took reading it. 00:18:57.740 --> 00:18:58.740 It took getting to know 00:18:58.740 --> 00:18:59.599 God's Word, right? 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:01.200 You don't learn a new boss 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:02.319 in one hour. 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:04.039 It takes time. 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:04.839 It takes time. 00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:06.279 And we're happy 00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:07.019 to do that with you. 00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:08.299 If the Bible's new to you, 00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:08.720 tell us. 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:09.500 We'll sit with you. 00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:10.620 We'll read it with you. 00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:11.519 We'll get you in a group. 00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:12.720 We'll teach you 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:13.720 how to read the Bible. 00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:16.059 But we have to grow 00:19:16.059 --> 00:19:16.940 in the knowledge of God. 00:19:18.859 --> 00:19:19.819 Because growing 00:19:19.819 --> 00:19:21.079 in the knowledge of God 00:19:21.079 --> 00:19:23.839 leads to doing good works. 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:24.420 Paul says, 00:19:24.539 --> 00:19:25.640 we should be bearing fruit 00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:27.980 in every good work. 00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:29.259 Right? 00:19:29.299 --> 00:19:30.279 There's a growing trend, 00:19:30.339 --> 00:19:31.140 at least where I come from, 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:31.539 that says, 00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:32.880 we don't really have to do anything 00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:33.420 as Christians. 00:19:34.700 --> 00:19:35.099 Hooray! 00:19:35.180 --> 00:19:35.680 We're free. 00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:36.279 We're saved. 00:19:36.339 --> 00:19:37.519 We've got our fire insurance. 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:38.740 And now we just, 00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:40.259 I don't know, 00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:41.319 live out some 30, 00:19:41.420 --> 00:19:42.120 40 years, 00:19:42.779 --> 00:19:44.220 make the best of what we've got, 00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:45.559 and then we die, 00:19:45.640 --> 00:19:46.279 and then we go to heaven, 00:19:46.339 --> 00:19:47.279 and then everything's great. 00:19:48.839 --> 00:19:49.460 But Paul says, 00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:49.620 no, 00:19:49.660 --> 00:19:50.180 we're supposed to be 00:19:50.180 --> 00:19:50.940 bearing fruit 00:19:50.940 --> 00:19:52.900 in every good work. 00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:55.339 There is work 00:19:55.339 --> 00:19:56.319 for Christians to do. 00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:58.579 There's work for us 00:19:58.579 --> 00:19:59.900 under our Lord. 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:02.920 Paul says in Ephesians 2, 00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:03.240 he says, 00:20:03.600 --> 00:20:04.980 we are God's handiwork, 00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:07.360 created in Christ Jesus, 00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:08.220 our Lord, 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:10.539 to do good works, 00:20:11.320 --> 00:20:12.259 which God prepared 00:20:12.259 --> 00:20:13.340 in advance for us to do. 00:20:13.420 --> 00:20:14.240 Sometimes we just need 00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:15.340 to pause and remember that. 00:20:15.660 --> 00:20:17.360 God created good works 00:20:17.360 --> 00:20:18.840 for us to do 00:20:18.840 --> 00:20:20.380 under his Lordship. 00:20:23.140 --> 00:20:24.240 I'll give you some more 00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:25.580 just practical examples here 00:20:25.580 --> 00:20:26.560 of good works. 00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:28.620 Sometimes this is a tough one. 00:20:29.740 --> 00:20:31.240 We'll make it real simple. 00:20:31.600 --> 00:20:31.800 All right? 00:20:31.799 --> 00:20:33.279 Doing a good work 00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:35.440 can be going to work. 00:20:35.619 --> 00:20:36.419 Have you ever thought about that? 00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:39.059 You're literally working. 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:40.359 Check. 00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:42.359 You can do it well, 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:44.460 and you can do it unto the Lord. 00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:45.919 You say, 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:47.500 how can I please the Lord? 00:20:47.579 --> 00:20:48.019 Well, you can get up 00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:48.539 tomorrow morning, 00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:49.399 and you can go to work. 00:20:50.259 --> 00:20:51.279 You can do the best job 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:51.740 you can do. 00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:53.359 I'm sure all of us 00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:53.879 have worked with 00:20:53.879 --> 00:20:55.039 really good co-workers, 00:20:55.579 --> 00:20:56.759 and I'm sure some of us 00:20:56.759 --> 00:20:57.279 have worked with 00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:58.599 terrible co-workers, 00:20:58.700 --> 00:20:59.379 and there's a difference, 00:20:59.440 --> 00:20:59.799 isn't there? 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:02.059 We want to be the type 00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:02.559 of people that 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:03.299 when we go to work, 00:21:03.379 --> 00:21:04.779 we do a good work. 00:21:04.859 --> 00:21:06.259 We do it unto the Lord. 00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:07.599 We're working patiently. 00:21:07.899 --> 00:21:08.680 We're kind. 00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:09.299 We're gentle. 00:21:09.460 --> 00:21:10.619 We're loving with others. 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:13.259 That's a simple good work. 00:21:15.139 --> 00:21:17.039 Parenting can be a bit 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:18.079 of a challenge at times. 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:20.539 You can be a really good parent, 00:21:20.639 --> 00:21:21.940 and you can be a terrible parent. 00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:23.119 There is a difference. 00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:25.419 God would say, 00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:26.259 I've blessed you with children. 00:21:26.419 --> 00:21:27.480 Now be a good parent 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:28.160 unto the Lord. 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:31.579 You can serve. 00:21:32.099 --> 00:21:32.900 I would challenge you, 00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:33.559 one of the ways 00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:34.279 to just serve 00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:35.279 in your local church, 00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:37.599 one Sunday kind of a service, 00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:38.640 and then one midweek 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:39.319 kind of a service. 00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:40.980 That's a great starting point. 00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:42.500 There's worship team, 00:21:42.860 --> 00:21:44.339 set up, set down. 00:21:44.579 --> 00:21:44.860 All right? 00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:45.720 We would say tear down. 00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:46.380 Set down. 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:47.420 We're more violent, I guess. 00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:48.400 Set down sounds 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:49.220 so much more polite. 00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:50.980 Set up, set down. 00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:52.519 The children's ministries, 00:21:52.980 --> 00:21:54.099 there's all kinds of ways 00:21:54.099 --> 00:21:54.900 to serve. 00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:56.519 Just get on one of those teams. 00:21:56.620 --> 00:21:57.780 Get in one of those rotations. 00:21:58.200 --> 00:21:59.180 Once or twice a month, 00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:00.340 just be serving on Sunday. 00:22:01.040 --> 00:22:01.900 And then during the week, 00:22:01.940 --> 00:22:02.980 there's all kinds of ministries. 00:22:03.120 --> 00:22:04.420 I know they're dialing back 00:22:04.420 --> 00:22:04.960 for the summer, 00:22:05.080 --> 00:22:06.120 so start praying now 00:22:06.120 --> 00:22:07.540 about how can I serve 00:22:07.540 --> 00:22:08.380 when all the ministries 00:22:08.380 --> 00:22:09.340 start up in September. 00:22:10.280 --> 00:22:10.800 I'll tell you, 00:22:10.860 --> 00:22:12.100 we saw Polo this week. 00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:13.160 Parents of Little Ones, 00:22:13.740 --> 00:22:14.300 it's phenomenal. 00:22:15.180 --> 00:22:16.300 I've seen a lot of churches 00:22:16.300 --> 00:22:17.620 in a lot of places. 00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:19.580 It's one of the best ministries 00:22:19.580 --> 00:22:21.180 I've seen a church do. 00:22:21.280 --> 00:22:21.980 It's excellent. 00:22:22.620 --> 00:22:23.660 Pray about joining that. 00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:25.040 Pray about just sitting 00:22:25.040 --> 00:22:26.779 and talking with young ladies, 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:28.300 with people who have children. 00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:29.160 Think about just 00:22:29.160 --> 00:22:30.700 playing with the children. 00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:32.400 Those are good works, 00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:33.320 good things to do. 00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:35.580 So there's plenty for us 00:22:35.580 --> 00:22:36.540 to do right here 00:22:36.540 --> 00:22:38.000 in this church, 00:22:38.100 --> 00:22:38.720 in this city, 00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:40.440 for the Lord. 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:42.140 And a lot of it 00:22:42.140 --> 00:22:43.259 doesn't take a ton of training. 00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:45.800 Paul would say, 00:22:45.900 --> 00:22:47.700 we've got to read the Bible alone, 00:22:47.820 --> 00:22:48.800 read the Bible together, 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:50.259 and then growing 00:22:50.259 --> 00:22:51.359 in our knowledge of God, 00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:53.259 bear fruit in every good work. 00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:53.960 Let's not be 00:22:53.960 --> 00:22:55.180 the people that Jesus 00:22:55.180 --> 00:22:56.000 is speaking to 00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:56.419 and He says, 00:22:56.539 --> 00:22:58.099 why do you call me Lord, Lord, 00:22:58.259 --> 00:23:00.500 and not do what I say? 00:23:03.220 --> 00:23:04.019 Nobody wants 00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:04.940 the Lord of the land 00:23:04.940 --> 00:23:06.180 to return and say, 00:23:06.579 --> 00:23:07.839 what have you been doing? 00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:10.319 You haven't done 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:11.000 what I've said. 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:15.559 There's a way to live life 00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:16.720 that brings joy to the Lord. 00:23:22.180 --> 00:23:23.440 And then the question becomes, 00:23:23.539 --> 00:23:24.440 how do we actually go about 00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:25.200 pulling this off? 00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:27.180 It should feel 00:23:27.180 --> 00:23:28.119 a little heavy right now. 00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:28.940 Does it feel a little, 00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:29.759 oh, 00:23:30.839 --> 00:23:31.619 God's called me 00:23:31.619 --> 00:23:32.599 to do some stuff. 00:23:33.019 --> 00:23:34.079 It should feel 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:35.200 a bit weighty. 00:23:37.700 --> 00:23:38.420 And Paul just 00:23:38.420 --> 00:23:39.640 called us 00:23:39.640 --> 00:23:41.520 to live a life 00:23:41.520 --> 00:23:43.440 worthy of God Almighty 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:45.800 and please the Lord. 00:23:47.820 --> 00:23:49.020 And when I think about it, 00:23:49.080 --> 00:23:49.320 I think, 00:23:49.880 --> 00:23:50.120 Paul, 00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:51.320 if we were able to do this, 00:23:51.380 --> 00:23:52.160 we wouldn't have needed 00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:52.920 Jesus to come 00:23:52.920 --> 00:23:53.820 in the first place. 00:23:54.560 --> 00:23:56.000 If we were really able 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:57.360 to just grow 00:23:57.360 --> 00:23:58.360 in the knowledge of God, 00:23:58.400 --> 00:23:59.500 if we were truly able 00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:00.300 to serve You 00:24:00.300 --> 00:24:01.580 the way that You wanted 00:24:01.580 --> 00:24:02.500 to be served, 00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:04.780 then we could have 00:24:04.780 --> 00:24:05.360 pulled this off 00:24:05.360 --> 00:24:06.200 without Christ. 00:24:09.640 --> 00:24:10.480 The reality is 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:11.200 we haven't been able 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:12.080 to do it on our own. 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:14.800 Which is why I love 00:24:14.800 --> 00:24:15.720 what Paul does next. 00:24:15.860 --> 00:24:16.720 He's going to pick it up 00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:17.420 in verse 11. 00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:20.340 He's going to remind us 00:24:20.340 --> 00:24:21.060 that it's God 00:24:21.060 --> 00:24:22.160 who gives us the ability 00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:23.580 to do what He's called us to do. 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:26.480 See, 00:24:26.540 --> 00:24:26.759 he says, 00:24:27.020 --> 00:24:27.980 bearing fruit 00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:29.300 in every good work, 00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:31.200 while growing 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:32.240 in the knowledge of God, 00:24:32.280 --> 00:24:33.040 and then I'd encourage you 00:24:33.040 --> 00:24:33.520 to add the word 00:24:33.520 --> 00:24:34.120 while again, 00:24:34.520 --> 00:24:35.980 while being strengthened 00:24:35.980 --> 00:24:37.599 with all power 00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:40.180 according to His, 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:40.500 that is, 00:24:40.579 --> 00:24:41.839 God's glorious might, 00:24:43.220 --> 00:24:43.980 so that you may have 00:24:43.980 --> 00:24:44.819 great endurance 00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:45.920 and patience 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:48.480 while giving joyful thanks. 00:24:48.660 --> 00:24:50.539 This is where the Gospel 00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:52.319 starts to change things. 00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:54.400 This is the joy 00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:56.120 of a life lived 00:24:56.120 --> 00:24:57.380 in our Lord. 00:24:58.539 --> 00:24:59.279 Because look what else 00:24:59.279 --> 00:24:59.940 Paul adds to this 00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:01.079 in verses 12-14. 00:25:01.299 --> 00:25:01.759 He says, 00:25:01.819 --> 00:25:03.960 the Father has qualified you 00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:04.960 to share in the inheritance 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:06.000 of His holy people 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:07.400 in the kingdom of light. 00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:08.759 For He, 00:25:08.860 --> 00:25:09.100 that is, 00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:09.400 God, 00:25:09.460 --> 00:25:10.420 has rescued us 00:25:10.420 --> 00:25:11.480 from the dominion of darkness 00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:12.440 and brought us 00:25:12.440 --> 00:25:13.019 into the kingdom 00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:14.360 of the Son He loves, 00:25:14.440 --> 00:25:15.779 in whom we have redemption, 00:25:16.660 --> 00:25:17.940 the forgiveness of sins. 00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:19.720 I want you to take notice here 00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:21.860 of who has taken the action 00:25:21.860 --> 00:25:23.140 in all of these verbs. 00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:24.720 There's five verbs right here. 00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:26.620 The Father has qualified us. 00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:27.480 That's God's work. 00:25:27.700 --> 00:25:29.059 The Father has rescued us. 00:25:29.100 --> 00:25:29.840 That's God's work. 00:25:30.079 --> 00:25:31.180 The Father has brought, 00:25:31.299 --> 00:25:31.819 or you could say, 00:25:31.880 --> 00:25:32.740 transferred us 00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:34.100 into the kingdom of the Son. 00:25:34.099 --> 00:25:35.179 That's God's work. 00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:37.439 The Son in whom we have redemption, 00:25:37.659 --> 00:25:38.799 that's God's gift to us. 00:25:38.939 --> 00:25:40.959 In the Son we have forgiveness of sins. 00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:41.539 Again, 00:25:41.619 --> 00:25:42.579 that's God's gift to us. 00:25:42.599 --> 00:25:43.519 It's all God's work 00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:45.259 and all God's gift to us. 00:25:46.819 --> 00:25:48.439 This is why Paul can say 00:25:48.439 --> 00:25:49.559 in verse 11, 00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:52.039 while being strengthened, 00:25:52.179 --> 00:25:53.419 because it's God's work. 00:25:54.159 --> 00:25:55.259 With all power, 00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:55.679 that is, 00:25:55.859 --> 00:25:56.759 God's power, 00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:59.419 according to His glorious might, 00:25:59.420 --> 00:26:01.560 so that we may have 00:26:01.560 --> 00:26:03.019 great endurance and patience 00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:04.580 while giving joyful thanks 00:26:04.580 --> 00:26:05.140 to the Father. 00:26:05.180 --> 00:26:05.500 And we say, 00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:06.880 why would we give joyful thanks 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:07.259 to the Father? 00:26:07.320 --> 00:26:08.560 Because it's all from Him. 00:26:10.300 --> 00:26:11.480 Christianity is not 00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:12.759 a do-it-yourself religion. 00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:15.100 Christianity is not 00:26:15.100 --> 00:26:16.539 make yourself as good 00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:17.200 as you can be 00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:19.060 and hope that that's enough for God. 00:26:19.860 --> 00:26:21.840 It's belonging to God 00:26:21.840 --> 00:26:23.019 because of God 00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:24.660 and being kept by God 00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:26.440 through the power of God. 00:26:26.440 --> 00:26:28.759 It's the joy of a life lived 00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:30.200 in our Lord. 00:26:30.900 --> 00:26:31.759 Paul doesn't say 00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:32.740 strengthen yourselves. 00:26:32.860 --> 00:26:33.200 He says, 00:26:33.500 --> 00:26:34.500 being strengthened 00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:35.700 because it's our Lord 00:26:35.700 --> 00:26:36.539 who strengthens us. 00:26:36.580 --> 00:26:37.120 He doesn't say, 00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:39.180 be strengthened with some power. 00:26:39.259 --> 00:26:39.559 He says, 00:26:39.600 --> 00:26:41.080 be strengthened with all power. 00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:41.460 And you say, 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:44.019 how can I be all power in me? 00:26:44.080 --> 00:26:45.440 It's because our God 00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:46.259 is all powerful. 00:26:47.980 --> 00:26:48.660 He says, 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:49.740 this is mighty power 00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:50.980 working through us 00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:52.120 which causes us 00:26:52.120 --> 00:26:54.480 to patiently endure all things 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:56.000 while we give thanks to God 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:56.859 because we know 00:26:56.859 --> 00:26:58.019 that He is the One 00:26:58.019 --> 00:26:58.920 who has patiently 00:26:58.920 --> 00:27:00.859 endured the cross for us 00:27:00.859 --> 00:27:02.279 which led to the reality 00:27:02.279 --> 00:27:03.180 that through Christ 00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:05.299 the Father has now qualified us. 00:27:05.559 --> 00:27:06.579 He has rescued us. 00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:07.900 He has transferred us 00:27:07.900 --> 00:27:09.259 from the kingdom of darkness 00:27:09.259 --> 00:27:10.700 into the kingdom of light 00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:12.140 where we've been redeemed 00:27:12.140 --> 00:27:12.960 by His Son 00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:15.420 in whom we have forgiveness of sins. 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:17.420 All of it's the work of God. 00:27:17.700 --> 00:27:19.559 And He continues to enable us 00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:20.880 to stay in His kingdom 00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:22.460 and to please Him 00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:23.819 through His power 00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:25.140 by His Spirit. 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:27.819 That's the joy 00:27:27.819 --> 00:27:30.099 of a life lived in the Lord. 00:27:30.619 --> 00:27:31.900 There's no other Lord 00:27:31.900 --> 00:27:32.819 in the world 00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:33.259 who says, 00:27:33.619 --> 00:27:35.059 I want you to live life this way 00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:36.160 and I'm going to make sure 00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:36.960 that you do it 00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:38.000 through My power. 00:27:38.900 --> 00:27:39.980 There's nothing else 00:27:39.980 --> 00:27:40.819 like it in the world. 00:27:45.339 --> 00:27:46.539 I would say 00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:48.900 all of us 00:27:48.900 --> 00:27:52.420 live life to please some Lord. 00:27:52.420 --> 00:27:54.420 just like the Colossians. 00:27:55.460 --> 00:27:56.660 All of us live life 00:27:56.660 --> 00:27:57.600 to please some Lord. 00:27:57.860 --> 00:27:59.100 It might be a family member. 00:27:59.240 --> 00:27:59.900 Your parents, 00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:00.580 your spouse, 00:28:01.140 --> 00:28:01.740 your siblings. 00:28:03.660 --> 00:28:04.940 It might be a boss 00:28:04.940 --> 00:28:05.680 or a co-worker. 00:28:05.840 --> 00:28:07.500 I'm just trying so hard 00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:08.600 to please this boss. 00:28:11.160 --> 00:28:12.700 It might be a group of friends 00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.560 or peers. 00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:14.759 I'm trying so hard 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:16.019 to please these people. 00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:19.759 It could even just be ourselves. 00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:20.759 I want to be Lord 00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:21.539 in my own life. 00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:24.639 We're all living 00:28:24.639 --> 00:28:25.579 to please some Lord. 00:28:27.139 --> 00:28:28.319 I want to show you 00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:28.819 the difference 00:28:28.819 --> 00:28:30.059 between living to please 00:28:30.059 --> 00:28:31.339 all the other Lords 00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:31.779 out there 00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:32.440 and living life 00:28:32.440 --> 00:28:33.359 in the kingdom of God. 00:28:34.839 --> 00:28:35.839 If we put this up, 00:28:35.900 --> 00:28:36.480 this is life 00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:37.579 under all the Lords 00:28:37.579 --> 00:28:38.139 of this world. 00:28:38.220 --> 00:28:38.920 Here's what they say. 00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:41.119 You've got to do stuff. 00:28:42.359 --> 00:28:43.660 You've got to do something. 00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:45.960 And it better be good. 00:28:48.080 --> 00:28:50.240 Because you've got to do enough 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:51.560 to prove your worth. 00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:54.460 This is every Lord 00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:54.980 in the world. 00:28:55.620 --> 00:28:56.700 If you do enough 00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:57.900 and you prove yourself 00:28:57.900 --> 00:28:58.940 worthy enough, 00:28:59.180 --> 00:29:01.100 then perhaps you might belong. 00:29:05.400 --> 00:29:07.660 And that's a brutal life to live. 00:29:08.800 --> 00:29:10.040 We live it at work. 00:29:11.160 --> 00:29:12.740 We live it with our friends. 00:29:13.660 --> 00:29:15.759 We do this to ourselves. 00:29:17.300 --> 00:29:18.940 If I can just do enough, 00:29:19.900 --> 00:29:22.060 I can prove that I'm worthy enough 00:29:22.060 --> 00:29:23.380 to belong to some group 00:29:23.380 --> 00:29:25.060 or some Lord. 00:29:27.220 --> 00:29:28.480 I see the Gospel, 00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:29.640 though it's the kingdom of God, 00:29:29.820 --> 00:29:32.220 it's everything in reverse. 00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:34.380 It's the way it should be. 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:35.820 It says, 00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:37.580 the Lord God says this, 00:29:37.960 --> 00:29:38.580 you belong. 00:29:39.140 --> 00:29:40.120 That's the starting point. 00:29:40.119 --> 00:29:41.619 Well, 00:29:41.619 --> 00:29:42.219 Paul says, 00:29:42.339 --> 00:29:43.859 you have been qualified. 00:29:44.059 --> 00:29:45.159 You have been rescued. 00:29:45.399 --> 00:29:46.719 We have been transferred 00:29:46.719 --> 00:29:47.659 into His kingdom. 00:29:47.959 --> 00:29:49.479 We have been redeemed. 00:29:49.659 --> 00:29:51.239 We continue to be forgiven. 00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:54.699 We belong to the kingdom of light, 00:29:54.839 --> 00:29:55.379 Paul says. 00:29:57.119 --> 00:29:58.659 And we belong because 00:29:58.659 --> 00:30:01.239 we were found to be worth 00:30:01.239 --> 00:30:03.939 the very life of Jesus Christ, 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:04.679 the Son of God. 00:30:04.680 --> 00:30:08.779 I think Monica even said it up here. 00:30:08.880 --> 00:30:11.380 She realized she belonged. 00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:14.880 She was worth the life of Jesus Christ. 00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:16.259 And because of that, 00:30:16.440 --> 00:30:17.360 now we go do. 00:30:18.100 --> 00:30:19.620 We go do through Christ, 00:30:19.900 --> 00:30:22.440 being strengthened by the very power of God 00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:23.360 which strengthened Him, 00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:24.700 through the very Spirit 00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:25.720 which enabled Christ 00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:27.360 to endure the cross on our behalf. 00:30:27.640 --> 00:30:29.960 That's what we now live in 00:30:29.960 --> 00:30:31.799 as we go bearing fruit 00:30:31.799 --> 00:30:33.060 in every good work 00:30:33.059 --> 00:30:34.480 and growing in the knowledge of God. 00:30:36.139 --> 00:30:36.859 In short, 00:30:36.960 --> 00:30:38.539 this is the way life was supposed to be. 00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:41.480 This is what God created 00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:42.079 at the beginning. 00:30:43.319 --> 00:30:45.000 This is such a freeing, 00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:46.019 beautiful, 00:30:46.639 --> 00:30:47.839 enjoyable life. 00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:49.539 You won't have to say, 00:30:49.779 --> 00:30:49.899 man, 00:30:49.940 --> 00:30:51.619 I should really give thanks to God 00:30:51.619 --> 00:30:52.740 or I should really be joyful 00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:53.899 because the deeper 00:30:53.899 --> 00:30:55.819 that that sinks into your heart, 00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:57.139 the more you realize, 00:30:57.139 --> 00:30:59.039 I belong to the kingdom of God. 00:30:59.179 --> 00:31:01.740 I was worth Jesus Christ's life. 00:31:01.740 --> 00:31:02.839 Now I can go 00:31:02.839 --> 00:31:04.799 and I can do all the things 00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:06.180 that the Lord of my life 00:31:06.180 --> 00:31:07.099 has called me to do. 00:31:08.200 --> 00:31:09.420 Being strengthened 00:31:09.420 --> 00:31:12.079 by His power. 00:31:13.700 --> 00:31:15.039 Don't live life on your own. 00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:18.559 Don't spend your life 00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:19.279 trying to please 00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:20.359 some second-rate Lord. 00:31:22.319 --> 00:31:23.960 Don't even spend your life 00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:26.460 trying to belong to this God. 00:31:29.539 --> 00:31:30.880 Live life in the Gospel. 00:31:30.880 --> 00:31:32.940 Recognize that 00:31:32.940 --> 00:31:34.180 that you belong 00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:35.180 in the kingdom of light. 00:31:36.640 --> 00:31:37.760 That you are worth 00:31:37.760 --> 00:31:40.140 the life of Jesus Christ, 00:31:40.260 --> 00:31:40.620 our Lord. 00:31:41.820 --> 00:31:43.000 And that by His Spirit, 00:31:43.180 --> 00:31:44.040 through His power, 00:31:44.340 --> 00:31:45.060 being strengthened 00:31:45.060 --> 00:31:46.820 with all power 00:31:46.820 --> 00:31:47.920 by God Almighty, 00:31:48.960 --> 00:31:50.280 we can go do the good works 00:31:50.280 --> 00:31:51.540 that He's prepared beforehand 00:31:51.540 --> 00:31:52.280 for us to do. 00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:55.220 And we will enjoy life 00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:56.900 in our Lord. 00:31:57.420 --> 00:31:57.980 Let's pray. 00:31:57.980 --> 00:32:03.339 Father, 00:32:03.420 --> 00:32:04.400 we thank You so much 00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:05.039 for the Gospel. 00:32:09.660 --> 00:32:10.059 God, 00:32:10.099 --> 00:32:10.740 even as we 00:32:10.740 --> 00:32:12.220 begin to go down 00:32:12.220 --> 00:32:12.700 the road 00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:13.559 of trying to think 00:32:13.559 --> 00:32:15.019 of how could I ever 00:32:15.019 --> 00:32:16.240 grow in enough knowledge 00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:16.480 of You? 00:32:16.539 --> 00:32:17.599 How could I ever 00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:18.759 bear enough fruit 00:32:18.759 --> 00:32:19.799 through enough works 00:32:19.799 --> 00:32:20.559 to please You? 00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:21.880 As we even begin 00:32:21.880 --> 00:32:22.860 to go down that road, 00:32:22.980 --> 00:32:23.099 Lord, 00:32:23.099 --> 00:32:25.579 we feel the weight 00:32:25.579 --> 00:32:27.099 of our efforts 00:32:27.099 --> 00:32:27.799 on our shoulders. 00:32:30.119 --> 00:32:31.000 And oh God, 00:32:31.039 --> 00:32:31.500 we thank You 00:32:31.500 --> 00:32:32.359 that Jesus says, 00:32:32.359 --> 00:32:36.379 my burden is light. 00:32:37.479 --> 00:32:38.659 My yoke is easy. 00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:42.199 We thank You 00:32:42.199 --> 00:32:42.779 that Jesus says, 00:32:42.859 --> 00:32:43.779 come to Me, 00:32:43.879 --> 00:32:45.000 all you who are 00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:46.479 weary 00:32:46.479 --> 00:32:49.139 and heavy laden. 00:32:51.359 --> 00:32:52.099 We thank You 00:32:52.099 --> 00:32:52.839 that in Christ 00:32:52.839 --> 00:32:53.799 we find rest. 00:32:55.779 --> 00:32:56.519 We thank You, 00:32:56.579 --> 00:32:56.699 God, 00:32:56.719 --> 00:32:57.339 that we don't have 00:32:57.339 --> 00:32:58.559 to guess about 00:32:58.559 --> 00:32:59.339 Your will 00:32:59.339 --> 00:33:00.019 for our lives. 00:33:00.119 --> 00:33:01.219 You've given it to us 00:33:01.219 --> 00:33:01.979 through Your Scriptures. 00:33:02.359 --> 00:33:05.479 We thank You 00:33:05.479 --> 00:33:06.500 that the Scriptures 00:33:06.500 --> 00:33:07.799 clearly proclaim 00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:10.240 that we are Yours 00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:10.979 because of what 00:33:10.979 --> 00:33:11.579 You've done. 00:33:13.139 --> 00:33:14.319 That we were worth 00:33:14.319 --> 00:33:15.919 Your Son's life. 00:33:17.679 --> 00:33:18.799 And that You have 00:33:18.799 --> 00:33:19.779 prepared good works 00:33:19.779 --> 00:33:20.539 for us to do 00:33:20.539 --> 00:33:21.839 joyfully, 00:33:22.759 --> 00:33:23.139 thankfully, 00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:25.240 and through Your power. 00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:27.740 God, 00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:28.959 would this truth 00:33:28.959 --> 00:33:30.219 sink deep in our hearts 00:33:30.220 --> 00:33:33.220 and would this be 00:33:33.220 --> 00:33:34.440 the joy that springs 00:33:34.440 --> 00:33:35.240 out from us 00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:37.000 as we worship You 00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:37.660 today 00:33:37.660 --> 00:33:39.059 and through the week. 00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:42.000 By Your Spirit, 00:33:42.120 --> 00:33:42.799 in Christ's name, 00:33:43.700 --> 00:33:43.960 Amen. 00:33:43.960 --> 00:33:44.079 Amen. 00:33:47.079 --> 00:33:48.440 If you would stand with me.